Unspeakable s01e04 Episode Script
Unsafe (1985 - 1988)
1 Do you really think that Frank could have AIDS? Make sure we're not all going to die.
I'm requesting you resign.
If you want me out, you'll have to fire me.
[ANN.]
: You tested negative for HIV.
We've got a week before the BoB directs the switch to heat-treated.
"Exhaustion of existing inventory.
" That's one way of putting it.
Handing out tainted blood for another seven months - is another.
- You've tested positive I know what it means.
[ALICE.]
: I'm the only one working, and I don't make enough to cover it.
[BEN.]
: Well, maybe you shouldn't give it all to your son! - You got a job? - I'll get right on that.
I'm gay.
I can barely get out of bed.
The Red Cross isn't giving out heat-treated blood because they're using up the old product first.
But the old stuff has AIDS in it.
- Sure you need that? - It's heat-treated.
What are you worried about? [WILL.]
: Armour's heat-treating process isn't effective.
It isn't killing all the HIV in its concentrates.
Ryan took some last night.
I know.
["THE SAFETY DANCE" BY MEN WITHOUT HATS PLAYS.]
- - We can dance if we want to We can leave your friends behind 'Cause your friends don't dance And if they don't dance Well, they're no friends of mine [SINGING ALONG.]
: We go where we want to A place where they will never find And we can act like we come from out of this world Leave the real one far behind And we can dance And sing! We can dance, we can dance Everybody look at your hands We can dance, we can dance Everybody's taking the chance The safety dance Well, the safety dance Five hemophiliacs, all from B.
C.
Previous results were HIV negative.
Now they're positive.
I re-tested to make sure.
I don't get it.
Haven't they all been on heat-treated concentrates for over two years? It's supposed to be safe.
Let's hope it's isolated.
How could this happen? Will's at the joint Hemophilia conference in Houston.
Dr.
Mathews is there as well.
I was going to wait until he got back, but Ryan's had a fever for three days now.
It could just be the flu.
He took his first box of the Armour product one week ago, and the next day, Will read an article that said that their heat-treating process isn't entirely effective at killing HIV.
Let's not jump to any conclusions.
It shouldn't take long.
She's supposed to be somewhere.
It's fine.
Hey, Norm.
It's Peter.
[BREATH RASPY.]
Have you eaten anything today? You hungry? Sorry I'm late.
Mrs.
Sanders You can all relax.
I don't have AIDS.
How do you know? Have you been tested? No.
But even if I had it, here are some facts you should know.
AIDS isn't airborne, so you can't get it from shaking hands, or hugging, or sitting next to someone.
I'm no threat to you, or to the students at this school.
But if you insist on firing me, I will become a threat to you.
Not only will I file a lawsuit, I will go public.
Television, newspapers.
The ignorance surrounding this disease is unacceptable.
So you have a choice.
You can either be a part of the problem, or do your jobs and educate people.
You can start by losing those stupid masks.
10,000 HIV-positive hemophiliacs in the U.
S.
If those numbers play out, soon over half of them will be dead.
[SCRIBBLING.]
[SNIFFS.]
What? I know it's ridiculous, but we've got to say something that's gonna get people's attention.
As far as I can tell, the Red Cross knowingly handed out AIDS-tainted blood product well past the time that they had safer heat-treated product on the shelves, and now it looks like Armour's heat-treatment process could be seriously flawed, and they are doing nothing about it.
[COUGHING.]
They really need a separate smoking lounge.
It's amazing how some people can so easily ignore the truth.
It's all about the strength of the message.
Half of us are already infected, but it's not too late for the other half.
The vote for leadership of the national society goes next month, and I think I've finally managed to get enough support to take over.
A month isn't soon enough.
It's true.
You're going to need to clean house to get anything done, and that's gonna take time.
But even then, the society's medical advisory committee controls all the scientific information that goes into those newsletters.
How about a call for a public inquiry into blood safety? Shed some light on some of the mistakes that have been made.
"Mistakes"? That's kind.
[QUIETLY.]
He doesn't have HIV.
[SIGHS.]
However, his liver enzymes are elevated.
ALT is over 300.
It's hepatitis? One box.
Ann did say he could have gotten it from the Cryo.
Yeah, but the timing of it? We knew there was a good chance.
How'd he, uh, take the news? As usual, in stride.
And Ann did say it's not a major concern right now.
Chronic elevated liver enzymes lead to liver damage.
Increase odds of cancer.
[DISTANT SIRENS.]
[MUSIC BLASTING.]
[KNOCKS.]
Peter? [D.
O.
A.
'S "LET'S WRECK THE PARTY" PLAYS.]
[GLASS SHATTERING.]
Peter? Peter! Wake up.
Goddamit, Peter! Peter! Let's wreck the party Let's Wreck the party! [GASPS.]
What happened? You overdosed.
It was a close call, but you're going to be okay.
How did I get here? Your dad brought you in.
How did He was spying on me? You're damn lucky he was.
I've got four more in my car.
All my notes, phone logs, daily inventory sheets from Red Cross centres, product shipment tracking of heat-treated concentrates If we're going to call for an inquiry, we'll need evidence to back it up.
- Interesting filing system.
- It's chronological.
Don't mess it up.
[PAUL.]
: You said you have more in your car? Yeah, four, and two more at home No, wait three? Three.
You see the latest Lancet? We need to push for vapour-treated.
That process is far superior.
Yeah, and it'll cost a fortune, Will.
Yeah, it's called progress, Lawrence.
We need to keep up.
The health ministers won't pay for it, not without a written recommendation from the BoB.
Are you serious? You think I sound like them.
Well, you're president of the Canadian Hemophilia Society now.
- What was the point? - Change doesn't happen overnight.
Well, how much more of this bullshit are we going to put up with? 10 years ago, my daughter just up and moves to Toronto.
You know, that, that, that really hurt.
I mean, you know, I understand kids gotta find their own path, they gotta make their own way, but she broke my heart.
25 years, after 25 years, she just up and becomes a Leafs fan.
Brutal, right? Yeah.
I was gonna disown her, but then I thought, eh, what am I gonna do? She's my daughter, I love her, you know? - Where are you from? - Winnipeg.
- Oh.
- Winnipeg, yeah.
Jets look good this year, huh? And you know what, it could have been worse.
She could have moved to Montreal and start rooting for the Canadiens and all that, and that would have been unforgivable.
I mean, those people, they don't even know how to spell "Canadian," right? You're not foolin' me.
I see your cup there.
I see the mug.
Come on, I'm just kidding with you here! [LAUGHS.]
Or am I? No, I am.
[LAUGHS.]
Where is Lawry? Is he just No, he's this way, isn't he? Yeah, all right, I'm gonna go find him.
I'll go find him.
[SNAPS FINGERS.]
Habs [CACKLING.]
You can't test for non-A, non-B hepatitis.
No one even knows what that is, exactly, but you can test for elevated liver enzymes.
You're talking about surrogate testing.
Yes, last month the FDA recommended weeding out the blood that tests positive for enzymes.
The New England Journal of Medicine is reporting it will eliminate as much as 43% of hepatitis in the blood supply, and Canada is doing nothing.
We're always one step behind.
Dickwad politicians and bureaucrats won't do shit unless they have to.
Meantime, good honest folk are out there, they don't know something's wrong until it's too late.
Now, decisions affecting our lives are being made behind closed doors by fat cats in bad suits, and corporations with financial interests, and the only way this changes is if we get up and we go out there, and we tell people they are being royally screwed.
Well, I'm not sure who he is, but I'm pretty sure I like him already.
You're not my type.
Jim, great to see you, man.
Will, Paul, this is Jim Krepke.
He's the president of the Manitoba chapter.
Former president.
Oh.
It's too cold there.
I figured since I won the lottery, I'd move closer to my daughter.
- You won the lottery? - Yeah.
Doc told me I had a one in a million chance to catch HIV from contaminated blood, so Ha! Lucky me.
[SIGHS.]
Now, the time of playing nice with these assholes is over.
I got a rifle in the trunk of my car, and I've got nothing left to lose.
Writing sternly worded letters isn't enough anymore.
I mean, I tried to take a stand with the school board, and they fired me anyway.
You think I should have sued 'em? Do we really want to drag Ryan through a big public mess? The problem is the politicians won't do anything without public pressure, and no one wants to come forward and publicly admit they're HIV positive.
I know.
Can you blame them? Look what happened to that poor 13 year-old kid in Indiana, that Ryan White? He and his family were ostracized.
He spent last year in court just trying to go back to school.
But now there's a groundswell of support.
A lot of celebrities are pitching in.
Someone fired a bullet through his family's living room window.
I don't think I ever told you your grandfather drank himself to death.
I know you only met him a few times.
Your dad didn't want you to see him the way he was at the end.
What made him do it? He fought in Korea.
Was never the same after he came home.
Nothing we did would get him to stop.
Your dad always hated the fact that his father had quit on life.
I guess maybe he was hurt that he and his mother weren't important enough to live for.
But who knows what he had gone through.
I guess I'm telling you this because your father thinks you've quit.
I don't.
I don't want to believe that.
You make it sound like I got a choice.
Come home.
Please [DOOR SLAMS AND LOCKS.]
[BEEP.]
Alice, it's Greg.
Your shift started 15 minutes ago.
Um, if you're sick, you gotta call me [TAPE FAST FORWARDING.]
- [BEEP.]
- You're 30 minutes late now.
If you value this job, you'll get Mom.
Mom, wake up.
You're late for work again.
What time is it? [CLEARING THROAT.]
Dammit Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm okay.
No, you're not.
- Good morning.
- Prove it.
Well, what do you know? [CHUCKLES.]
Anything else I can get you? A shot of Canadian Club would be nice.
A little bit early for that, don't you think? Funny how time of day used to matter.
Three more patients using Armour's product have tested positive for HIV in Europe.
Armour is, uh, voluntarily exchanging concentrates made from unscreened product.
If Armour's process was effective, it shouldn't matter if donors are screened or not.
[COUGHING THICKLY.]
Dr.
Card is calling for the Red Cross to investigate.
Everyone's an expert, yet no one has the answer.
Yeah.
It certainly feels that way sometimes.
There's just so much we still don't know.
Why not err on the side of caution? We should be surrogate testing for hepatitis.
The U.
S.
is doing it.
You need to make sure that happens.
We're definitely pushing.
What else? I wasn't kidding about the Canadian Club.
Last week when I examined you, your lymph nodes were inflamed.
Ooh.
Why didn't you tell me? I thought I would wait for your bloodwork to come back.
Betsy unfortunately, you have tested positive for the HIV virus.
AIDS? The virus has been associated with AIDS, but testing positive doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop the disease.
There's obviously been some mistake.
We tested it twice.
There are some questions I need to ask.
Have you taken any intravenous drugs? Don't be ridiculous.
Have you, or your husband, Arthur, had sex with other partners? What? No! For God's sake.
I'm sorry, I have to ask.
Well, it's silly.
Have you ever received any blood transfusions? You've been my doctor for years.
You know everything there is to know about Better to be safe than sorry, right? Arthur Hey.
You made it.
Am I early? Late.
People are terrified.
But you're here.
We have donuts.
[CHUCKLES.]
No, thanks.
So, how's Peter doing? I don't know.
When he was in the hospital after the overdose, they tested him.
You know, we suspected he was HIV positive because of the T-cell tests, but then that was the first time It was a certainty.
He's still living away from home? He's lost.
I can't seem to say or do anything to help him.
I don't blame him.
You know, I I don't know how to cope myself.
It's like I feel like I stepped in quicksand, and the more I try to get out, the deeper I sink.
How's Ben doing? He's as lost as Peter.
You know, sometimes, I look at Emma, and I know I have to do something.
I just don't know what.
My bloodwork.
The question is, how did she get it? Well, there are a number of ways I'll save you the time.
The only way she could have gotten it is from me, and the only way I could've gotten it is from the transfusion I received after my heart surgery.
Now, I've been in to see you many times since then, had lots of bloodwork done.
Did you test me? Yes.
Am I HIV positive? Yes.
How long have you known? Why didn't you tell us? Look, you were recovering from heart surgery, in a severely weakened state.
I didn't want to add more stress.
In your condition, that would do more harm than good.
You've got to be kidding me.
We still don't know what this all means.
Many people remain asymptomatic Many people are dying! What right do you have not to tell me? You let me pass it on to my wife! To be completely honest, in your condition, your age, I really didn't think you were still having sex.
[GASPING.]
Cold turkey, huh? What's happening to our son is bad.
Our reaction to it has been worse.
Both of us.
It doesn't matter if Peter wants our help or not.
I care.
And you need to care too.
What makes you think I don't care? So do something.
Like what? I don't know.
Anything.
Just do something.
Or I'm leaving you.
Well, thanks for taking my call, Roger.
Well, you're the head of the Canadian Hemophilia Society Blood committee now.
So you're saying you had no choice? Better than having you accost me in the parking lot.
Two more seroconversions, both hemophilia patients, both in the U.
K.
, again using Armour product.
It was unscreened plasma, same as the European cases.
Then you have to pull it, all of it, and not just the unscreened product.
That's exactly what I wanted to do.
Okay, so? Someone scared the BoB told them that if Canada pulled the product, it would force the U.
S.
to follow suit, which could destabilize the whole world market, so the BoB agreed to wait for the FDA ruling.
Armour has got to be concerned about liability at this point.
The FDA ruled that Armour's process is adequate.
Adequate? Are you kidding? So long as it's made with screened plasma.
The BoB just directed us to keep distributing it.
And you have to refuse! We have seven million units of Armour's screened factorate sitting on the shelves.
We'll receive another 7.
5 million by the end of the year.
The CBC won't pay to replace it without an order from the BoB.
Our hands are tied.
I think you're making a big mistake here, Roger.
I have to go.
Wait, why-why are you telling me all this? Do you want me to get the word out, or what? I'm not going to be in this position for much longer.
- What? - I've been promoted.
Deputy Secretary General of Operations.
No, wait, wait, Roger.
Roger, we need to talk about - Goodbye, Will.
- surrogate testing for hepatitis.
Roger Where are you guys going? Rep League tryouts.
Rep League? I told you.
I thought I said I didn't want you playing hardball.
- It's too dangerous.
- I'll be fine.
Buddy, we talked about this.
The blood products you're taking are not totally safe Nothing is ever totally safe.
We could get in a car accident on the way to the tryout.
This is something that we can control, though.
I'm sick of this! I have to live my life! At some point, he's got to make his own decisions.
He's 14.
It's me.
Have you had anything to drink? You need to drink.
How many? What? I can't hear you.
How many? How many what? How many? We did what we thought was best.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
What? Just got word that Derek Naylor died this afternoon.
Should we send flowers? How much should I spend? Thanks, man.
For everything.
See you around.
Thanks for coming.
I have to do something.
What are you thinking? I'm really only good at one thing.
Marlin 336.
Kid brother gave it to me ten years ago for my birthday.
You have a brother? Had.
Died a year ago.
Another lottery winner.
Lucky family, huh? I'm sorry.
You and me both.
So what's up? In regards to our push for compensation Our people need money now.
A lot of 'em are gonna die before they benefit, but their families shouldn't have to bear the burden.
I'm, uh, I'm not going to say who, but I got a call from a high-level federal official.
Epp? It was Jake Epp, wasn't it? What this person said was that if we're going to talk seriously about some sort of financial assistance You know, I was thinking about that too.
We should call it "disaster relief.
" 'Cause that's what this is, it's a goddamn disaster.
I agree that they will likely see the term "compensation" as accepting blame.
Even though that's what those bastards in Ottawa deserve.
He asked me to remove you from the committee.
Actually, "demanded" is more like it.
Joke, right? April Fool's? I wish it was.
What, 'cause I'm rattling a few cages? Well, some of the letters you've written I mean, quite a few of them, actually Uh, here you suggest you would like to strangle an MP with his, quote, "ridiculous bow tie.
" Yeah, well, if you want respect, don't dress like Bozo the clown.
Maybe you could just, I don't know, dial it back a bit? No.
No? No! All around the world, civilized countries are recognizing this AIDS thing for the mess that it is.
Except for here.
Here, you finally find a politician who'll say he'll do something about it, and the next day he's gone, replaced by some dipshit who doesn't know what the hell you're talking about.
The last dumbass son of a bitch that we met with asked us, "Why don't you just use condoms?" That was a brand-new cabinet.
You've to cut them some slack They didn't know where the god-damn bathrooms were! Those letters I write get people talking in the House, and what goes on in the House goes on the record for everyone to see.
Maybe just cut back on the death threats, then? - [TELEPHONE RINGS.]
- I'll think about it.
It's Jim, don't make me wanna kill you.
Yeah, he's here.
It's for you.
This is Paul.
The poet W.
H.
Auden said that "the true men of action in our times are not the politicians and statesmen, but the scientists.
" I believe that's especially true when it comes to the AIDS epidemic Talk about late to the party.
Some of his Hollywood pals had to die to get his attention.
Our own prime minister hasn't even acknowledged it yet.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Hey, got your message.
What happened? Tsoukas called.
Frank Schnabel died this morning.
We thought a, uh, toast was in order.
[JIM.]
: Four shots of Canadian Club, please.
[REAGAN.]
: to think we didn't even know we had a disease until June of 1981, when five cases appeared in California.
The AIDS virus itself was discovered in 1984 To Frank.
- To Frank.
- [CLINKING GLASSES.]
[REAGAN.]
: a treatment drug, AZT, has been brought to market in record time How could this happen? [SCOFFS.]
Everyone's an expert Wait a minute, that's impossible.
He's been in the clear for almost two years.
Now you're telling me he's positive? Everyone said that heat-treated concentrates were safe.
Maybe there's been a mistake.
No.
They retested the sample to be certain.
I'm so sorry.
I want to know who's responsible.
An investigation is under way.
It's not going to help our son.
It's criminal, it has to be.
Yeah, well, is it going to be criminal court criminal? I don't know.
It's certainly enough to push for an inquiry.
I'm all for stringing the pricks up.
Again, maybe watch I mean, screw an inquiry! Seven more dead, six kids! There's no excuses.
We need money now.
People are sick, they're losing their jobs, they don't have insurance.
Look, an inquiry means publicity, which will increase pressure for compensation.
Government will just use an inquiry as an excuse to stall.
Right now, we need to focus on this assessment of victims' financial needs, not just medical costs already incurred, but what people would need for the rest of their lives.
You realize that there's no precedent for this in Canada, right? No provincial or federal government has ever given out compensation before.
Catastrophe relief.
I thought we were going with "disaster relief.
" - You changed my - This sounds worse.
Guys! It's not my freakin' fault it keeps getting worse! What? I asked, "What should I get you?" and you said, "Get me whatever you're having.
" [SIGHING.]
I forgot you were on this stupid diet.
Well, it's done wonders for me.
Excuse me.
I'm looking for Will Sanders.
You kept him on Cryo? We figured the odds were better with a smaller donor pool.
We were told that concentrates were safe.
One in a million chance of getting AIDS, right? We were never told that switching back to Cryo was even an option.
Cryo wasn't risk-free.
You were smart.
It was a gamble that paid off.
You know in the U.
S.
, the FDA ordered a switch to vapour-treated Factor 8, but once again, here at home, the BoB has yet to act.
The new guard at the Red Cross is going hard after it.
I, um, I have it on good authority that they may place an order without getting the go-ahead.
Well, that's different.
Doesn't forgive what the old guard did, though.
We need some sort of clear record of what happened.
I agree.
Because despite everything we've been through, there is another battle brewing.
Victims and their families need help.
So, Lawrence said you had an amazing amount of well-organized documentation.
Yeah, it's just part-time for now.
We'll see how it goes.
Tips are good.
- Mmm.
- Helps pay my rent.
And free pizza.
Things are better at home.
Mom quit drinking, Dad's working on something.
I'm not really sure what, exactly.
Look, you don't have to keep doing this, you know? What, hanging out? You're my brother, so No, I mean, like, pretending that there's hope.
Who said I had hope? Dude, you're hopeless.
I gotta get going.
You can take the rest of that.
You gotta fight, Peter.
Too corny? It's just, like, everybody always says that.
How do you fight an incurable disease? You don't have AIDS.
You're not even sick.
It's just a matter of time.
[AIRPORT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN SWEDISH.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SHOUTING ANGRILY.]
I don't understand.
I thought the Red Cross just put in a huge order for vapour-treated concentrates.
Yeah, the provinces won't pay for it.
Of course.
What can I do? Obviously, the manufacturers won't ship until it's paid for, so we need the provinces to give it the green light.
Now, Ontario is most important.
They cover 40% of the budget, so we get them on board, the rest of the provinces fall in line.
Now, the problem is Elinor Caplan - she's holding out.
- I know her.
- She's giving a keynote here.
- [LAWRENCE.]
: That's why I called.
You think you can talk her around? I wonder sometimes.
Maybe Jim and his rifle would get farther.
Yeah, well, let's save that as a last resort.
Nice shirt, Will.
Yeah, my luggage didn't make it.
Minister Caplan, I I don't have time right now.
I hope you'll catch my speech.
It's time people started speaking honestly - about this crisis.
- Oh? I'm going to break a big taboo.
- What are you going to say? - Lots.
I'm going to use the a-word.
"Asshole"? I can think of more than a few people - that deserve that title.
- Not that a-word.
Elinor, if I could just have a moment of your time.
I mean, if I could just 30 seconds.
You need to agree to fund the switch to vapour-treated clotting factor.
Once you're in, all the other provinces are gonna follow suit.
I don't have the money.
Okay, um This, um this is my son.
Good-looking kid.
- Can he hit? - Yeah, and pitch, and But that's not the point.
Um He's HIV negative right now.
Good for him.
He's lucky.
Yeah, well, he got the consolation prize.
Hepatitis.
Heat-treated products aren't safe.
There's still a chance he could be exposed to AIDS.
There's a woman in Bracebridge, Ontario right now with two kids who needs cancer treatment.
Should I cut the funding for that? Of course not, I I would never put my son's life over someone else's.
I only showed you this because I don't have the pictures of all the other kids in your province who need this to happen.
Or the dozens across the country.
Now, I know that no one in your position can look too far forward.
But the cost of failing to do something now is going to be astronomical later.
When it comes down to it, there's always money somewhere even when there isn't.
You want to be remembered for making good decisions.
Make the right one here.
That is one god-awful ugly shirt.
Aw, I wasn't gonna go.
It's gonna be lame and stupid.
Unless you're going? I mean, are you going with someone? Well, if you're going and not going with someone, maybe we could go together? Okay, that'd be awesome.
Cool.
Okay.
Maybe we should, uh, go onto this next problem? [WOLF WHISTLES.]
Oh, no.
- [LAUGHS.]
- What's going on? Well, your son is up in his room on the phone with a girl, and I think he may have just asked her to the junior prom.
I thought he was doing his homework.
Remember how we used to do our homework? Careful, now I thought we should try celebrating good news for a change.
Don't know much about history - You're kidding me.
- Mm-mm.
[LAUGHS.]
Don't know much about science books You got safer blood products into the hands of kids all over this country.
But I do know that I love you Want to enjoy that for five minutes? I didn't do that by myself.
You're the guy that's here right now.
- What? - Come on.
Oh, no.
No, no, no [WILL WHISPERING.]
The neighbours can see us! I don't care.
don't know what a slide rule is for But I do know that I love you Oh, yeah, I'm here No, nothing.
It's just my parents are in the yard acting super weird.
what a wonderful world this would be [LAUGHING.]
History Biology Science books French I took Yeah But I do know that I love you And I know that if you love me too What a wonderful world this would be What am I going to do? I'm going to ignore it.
Look, if anyone asks, we never spoke, but I'm telling you, there's no way the federal government is gonna cave.
Unless you want to open your coffers, you better make sure you're all on the same page.
If this is going to end well, we have to stick together.
I'm requesting you resign.
If you want me out, you'll have to fire me.
[ANN.]
: You tested negative for HIV.
We've got a week before the BoB directs the switch to heat-treated.
"Exhaustion of existing inventory.
" That's one way of putting it.
Handing out tainted blood for another seven months - is another.
- You've tested positive I know what it means.
[ALICE.]
: I'm the only one working, and I don't make enough to cover it.
[BEN.]
: Well, maybe you shouldn't give it all to your son! - You got a job? - I'll get right on that.
I'm gay.
I can barely get out of bed.
The Red Cross isn't giving out heat-treated blood because they're using up the old product first.
But the old stuff has AIDS in it.
- Sure you need that? - It's heat-treated.
What are you worried about? [WILL.]
: Armour's heat-treating process isn't effective.
It isn't killing all the HIV in its concentrates.
Ryan took some last night.
I know.
["THE SAFETY DANCE" BY MEN WITHOUT HATS PLAYS.]
- - We can dance if we want to We can leave your friends behind 'Cause your friends don't dance And if they don't dance Well, they're no friends of mine [SINGING ALONG.]
: We go where we want to A place where they will never find And we can act like we come from out of this world Leave the real one far behind And we can dance And sing! We can dance, we can dance Everybody look at your hands We can dance, we can dance Everybody's taking the chance The safety dance Well, the safety dance Five hemophiliacs, all from B.
C.
Previous results were HIV negative.
Now they're positive.
I re-tested to make sure.
I don't get it.
Haven't they all been on heat-treated concentrates for over two years? It's supposed to be safe.
Let's hope it's isolated.
How could this happen? Will's at the joint Hemophilia conference in Houston.
Dr.
Mathews is there as well.
I was going to wait until he got back, but Ryan's had a fever for three days now.
It could just be the flu.
He took his first box of the Armour product one week ago, and the next day, Will read an article that said that their heat-treating process isn't entirely effective at killing HIV.
Let's not jump to any conclusions.
It shouldn't take long.
She's supposed to be somewhere.
It's fine.
Hey, Norm.
It's Peter.
[BREATH RASPY.]
Have you eaten anything today? You hungry? Sorry I'm late.
Mrs.
Sanders You can all relax.
I don't have AIDS.
How do you know? Have you been tested? No.
But even if I had it, here are some facts you should know.
AIDS isn't airborne, so you can't get it from shaking hands, or hugging, or sitting next to someone.
I'm no threat to you, or to the students at this school.
But if you insist on firing me, I will become a threat to you.
Not only will I file a lawsuit, I will go public.
Television, newspapers.
The ignorance surrounding this disease is unacceptable.
So you have a choice.
You can either be a part of the problem, or do your jobs and educate people.
You can start by losing those stupid masks.
10,000 HIV-positive hemophiliacs in the U.
S.
If those numbers play out, soon over half of them will be dead.
[SCRIBBLING.]
[SNIFFS.]
What? I know it's ridiculous, but we've got to say something that's gonna get people's attention.
As far as I can tell, the Red Cross knowingly handed out AIDS-tainted blood product well past the time that they had safer heat-treated product on the shelves, and now it looks like Armour's heat-treatment process could be seriously flawed, and they are doing nothing about it.
[COUGHING.]
They really need a separate smoking lounge.
It's amazing how some people can so easily ignore the truth.
It's all about the strength of the message.
Half of us are already infected, but it's not too late for the other half.
The vote for leadership of the national society goes next month, and I think I've finally managed to get enough support to take over.
A month isn't soon enough.
It's true.
You're going to need to clean house to get anything done, and that's gonna take time.
But even then, the society's medical advisory committee controls all the scientific information that goes into those newsletters.
How about a call for a public inquiry into blood safety? Shed some light on some of the mistakes that have been made.
"Mistakes"? That's kind.
[QUIETLY.]
He doesn't have HIV.
[SIGHS.]
However, his liver enzymes are elevated.
ALT is over 300.
It's hepatitis? One box.
Ann did say he could have gotten it from the Cryo.
Yeah, but the timing of it? We knew there was a good chance.
How'd he, uh, take the news? As usual, in stride.
And Ann did say it's not a major concern right now.
Chronic elevated liver enzymes lead to liver damage.
Increase odds of cancer.
[DISTANT SIRENS.]
[MUSIC BLASTING.]
[KNOCKS.]
Peter? [D.
O.
A.
'S "LET'S WRECK THE PARTY" PLAYS.]
[GLASS SHATTERING.]
Peter? Peter! Wake up.
Goddamit, Peter! Peter! Let's wreck the party Let's Wreck the party! [GASPS.]
What happened? You overdosed.
It was a close call, but you're going to be okay.
How did I get here? Your dad brought you in.
How did He was spying on me? You're damn lucky he was.
I've got four more in my car.
All my notes, phone logs, daily inventory sheets from Red Cross centres, product shipment tracking of heat-treated concentrates If we're going to call for an inquiry, we'll need evidence to back it up.
- Interesting filing system.
- It's chronological.
Don't mess it up.
[PAUL.]
: You said you have more in your car? Yeah, four, and two more at home No, wait three? Three.
You see the latest Lancet? We need to push for vapour-treated.
That process is far superior.
Yeah, and it'll cost a fortune, Will.
Yeah, it's called progress, Lawrence.
We need to keep up.
The health ministers won't pay for it, not without a written recommendation from the BoB.
Are you serious? You think I sound like them.
Well, you're president of the Canadian Hemophilia Society now.
- What was the point? - Change doesn't happen overnight.
Well, how much more of this bullshit are we going to put up with? 10 years ago, my daughter just up and moves to Toronto.
You know, that, that, that really hurt.
I mean, you know, I understand kids gotta find their own path, they gotta make their own way, but she broke my heart.
25 years, after 25 years, she just up and becomes a Leafs fan.
Brutal, right? Yeah.
I was gonna disown her, but then I thought, eh, what am I gonna do? She's my daughter, I love her, you know? - Where are you from? - Winnipeg.
- Oh.
- Winnipeg, yeah.
Jets look good this year, huh? And you know what, it could have been worse.
She could have moved to Montreal and start rooting for the Canadiens and all that, and that would have been unforgivable.
I mean, those people, they don't even know how to spell "Canadian," right? You're not foolin' me.
I see your cup there.
I see the mug.
Come on, I'm just kidding with you here! [LAUGHS.]
Or am I? No, I am.
[LAUGHS.]
Where is Lawry? Is he just No, he's this way, isn't he? Yeah, all right, I'm gonna go find him.
I'll go find him.
[SNAPS FINGERS.]
Habs [CACKLING.]
You can't test for non-A, non-B hepatitis.
No one even knows what that is, exactly, but you can test for elevated liver enzymes.
You're talking about surrogate testing.
Yes, last month the FDA recommended weeding out the blood that tests positive for enzymes.
The New England Journal of Medicine is reporting it will eliminate as much as 43% of hepatitis in the blood supply, and Canada is doing nothing.
We're always one step behind.
Dickwad politicians and bureaucrats won't do shit unless they have to.
Meantime, good honest folk are out there, they don't know something's wrong until it's too late.
Now, decisions affecting our lives are being made behind closed doors by fat cats in bad suits, and corporations with financial interests, and the only way this changes is if we get up and we go out there, and we tell people they are being royally screwed.
Well, I'm not sure who he is, but I'm pretty sure I like him already.
You're not my type.
Jim, great to see you, man.
Will, Paul, this is Jim Krepke.
He's the president of the Manitoba chapter.
Former president.
Oh.
It's too cold there.
I figured since I won the lottery, I'd move closer to my daughter.
- You won the lottery? - Yeah.
Doc told me I had a one in a million chance to catch HIV from contaminated blood, so Ha! Lucky me.
[SIGHS.]
Now, the time of playing nice with these assholes is over.
I got a rifle in the trunk of my car, and I've got nothing left to lose.
Writing sternly worded letters isn't enough anymore.
I mean, I tried to take a stand with the school board, and they fired me anyway.
You think I should have sued 'em? Do we really want to drag Ryan through a big public mess? The problem is the politicians won't do anything without public pressure, and no one wants to come forward and publicly admit they're HIV positive.
I know.
Can you blame them? Look what happened to that poor 13 year-old kid in Indiana, that Ryan White? He and his family were ostracized.
He spent last year in court just trying to go back to school.
But now there's a groundswell of support.
A lot of celebrities are pitching in.
Someone fired a bullet through his family's living room window.
I don't think I ever told you your grandfather drank himself to death.
I know you only met him a few times.
Your dad didn't want you to see him the way he was at the end.
What made him do it? He fought in Korea.
Was never the same after he came home.
Nothing we did would get him to stop.
Your dad always hated the fact that his father had quit on life.
I guess maybe he was hurt that he and his mother weren't important enough to live for.
But who knows what he had gone through.
I guess I'm telling you this because your father thinks you've quit.
I don't.
I don't want to believe that.
You make it sound like I got a choice.
Come home.
Please [DOOR SLAMS AND LOCKS.]
[BEEP.]
Alice, it's Greg.
Your shift started 15 minutes ago.
Um, if you're sick, you gotta call me [TAPE FAST FORWARDING.]
- [BEEP.]
- You're 30 minutes late now.
If you value this job, you'll get Mom.
Mom, wake up.
You're late for work again.
What time is it? [CLEARING THROAT.]
Dammit Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm okay.
No, you're not.
- Good morning.
- Prove it.
Well, what do you know? [CHUCKLES.]
Anything else I can get you? A shot of Canadian Club would be nice.
A little bit early for that, don't you think? Funny how time of day used to matter.
Three more patients using Armour's product have tested positive for HIV in Europe.
Armour is, uh, voluntarily exchanging concentrates made from unscreened product.
If Armour's process was effective, it shouldn't matter if donors are screened or not.
[COUGHING THICKLY.]
Dr.
Card is calling for the Red Cross to investigate.
Everyone's an expert, yet no one has the answer.
Yeah.
It certainly feels that way sometimes.
There's just so much we still don't know.
Why not err on the side of caution? We should be surrogate testing for hepatitis.
The U.
S.
is doing it.
You need to make sure that happens.
We're definitely pushing.
What else? I wasn't kidding about the Canadian Club.
Last week when I examined you, your lymph nodes were inflamed.
Ooh.
Why didn't you tell me? I thought I would wait for your bloodwork to come back.
Betsy unfortunately, you have tested positive for the HIV virus.
AIDS? The virus has been associated with AIDS, but testing positive doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop the disease.
There's obviously been some mistake.
We tested it twice.
There are some questions I need to ask.
Have you taken any intravenous drugs? Don't be ridiculous.
Have you, or your husband, Arthur, had sex with other partners? What? No! For God's sake.
I'm sorry, I have to ask.
Well, it's silly.
Have you ever received any blood transfusions? You've been my doctor for years.
You know everything there is to know about Better to be safe than sorry, right? Arthur Hey.
You made it.
Am I early? Late.
People are terrified.
But you're here.
We have donuts.
[CHUCKLES.]
No, thanks.
So, how's Peter doing? I don't know.
When he was in the hospital after the overdose, they tested him.
You know, we suspected he was HIV positive because of the T-cell tests, but then that was the first time It was a certainty.
He's still living away from home? He's lost.
I can't seem to say or do anything to help him.
I don't blame him.
You know, I I don't know how to cope myself.
It's like I feel like I stepped in quicksand, and the more I try to get out, the deeper I sink.
How's Ben doing? He's as lost as Peter.
You know, sometimes, I look at Emma, and I know I have to do something.
I just don't know what.
My bloodwork.
The question is, how did she get it? Well, there are a number of ways I'll save you the time.
The only way she could have gotten it is from me, and the only way I could've gotten it is from the transfusion I received after my heart surgery.
Now, I've been in to see you many times since then, had lots of bloodwork done.
Did you test me? Yes.
Am I HIV positive? Yes.
How long have you known? Why didn't you tell us? Look, you were recovering from heart surgery, in a severely weakened state.
I didn't want to add more stress.
In your condition, that would do more harm than good.
You've got to be kidding me.
We still don't know what this all means.
Many people remain asymptomatic Many people are dying! What right do you have not to tell me? You let me pass it on to my wife! To be completely honest, in your condition, your age, I really didn't think you were still having sex.
[GASPING.]
Cold turkey, huh? What's happening to our son is bad.
Our reaction to it has been worse.
Both of us.
It doesn't matter if Peter wants our help or not.
I care.
And you need to care too.
What makes you think I don't care? So do something.
Like what? I don't know.
Anything.
Just do something.
Or I'm leaving you.
Well, thanks for taking my call, Roger.
Well, you're the head of the Canadian Hemophilia Society Blood committee now.
So you're saying you had no choice? Better than having you accost me in the parking lot.
Two more seroconversions, both hemophilia patients, both in the U.
K.
, again using Armour product.
It was unscreened plasma, same as the European cases.
Then you have to pull it, all of it, and not just the unscreened product.
That's exactly what I wanted to do.
Okay, so? Someone scared the BoB told them that if Canada pulled the product, it would force the U.
S.
to follow suit, which could destabilize the whole world market, so the BoB agreed to wait for the FDA ruling.
Armour has got to be concerned about liability at this point.
The FDA ruled that Armour's process is adequate.
Adequate? Are you kidding? So long as it's made with screened plasma.
The BoB just directed us to keep distributing it.
And you have to refuse! We have seven million units of Armour's screened factorate sitting on the shelves.
We'll receive another 7.
5 million by the end of the year.
The CBC won't pay to replace it without an order from the BoB.
Our hands are tied.
I think you're making a big mistake here, Roger.
I have to go.
Wait, why-why are you telling me all this? Do you want me to get the word out, or what? I'm not going to be in this position for much longer.
- What? - I've been promoted.
Deputy Secretary General of Operations.
No, wait, wait, Roger.
Roger, we need to talk about - Goodbye, Will.
- surrogate testing for hepatitis.
Roger Where are you guys going? Rep League tryouts.
Rep League? I told you.
I thought I said I didn't want you playing hardball.
- It's too dangerous.
- I'll be fine.
Buddy, we talked about this.
The blood products you're taking are not totally safe Nothing is ever totally safe.
We could get in a car accident on the way to the tryout.
This is something that we can control, though.
I'm sick of this! I have to live my life! At some point, he's got to make his own decisions.
He's 14.
It's me.
Have you had anything to drink? You need to drink.
How many? What? I can't hear you.
How many? How many what? How many? We did what we thought was best.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
What? Just got word that Derek Naylor died this afternoon.
Should we send flowers? How much should I spend? Thanks, man.
For everything.
See you around.
Thanks for coming.
I have to do something.
What are you thinking? I'm really only good at one thing.
Marlin 336.
Kid brother gave it to me ten years ago for my birthday.
You have a brother? Had.
Died a year ago.
Another lottery winner.
Lucky family, huh? I'm sorry.
You and me both.
So what's up? In regards to our push for compensation Our people need money now.
A lot of 'em are gonna die before they benefit, but their families shouldn't have to bear the burden.
I'm, uh, I'm not going to say who, but I got a call from a high-level federal official.
Epp? It was Jake Epp, wasn't it? What this person said was that if we're going to talk seriously about some sort of financial assistance You know, I was thinking about that too.
We should call it "disaster relief.
" 'Cause that's what this is, it's a goddamn disaster.
I agree that they will likely see the term "compensation" as accepting blame.
Even though that's what those bastards in Ottawa deserve.
He asked me to remove you from the committee.
Actually, "demanded" is more like it.
Joke, right? April Fool's? I wish it was.
What, 'cause I'm rattling a few cages? Well, some of the letters you've written I mean, quite a few of them, actually Uh, here you suggest you would like to strangle an MP with his, quote, "ridiculous bow tie.
" Yeah, well, if you want respect, don't dress like Bozo the clown.
Maybe you could just, I don't know, dial it back a bit? No.
No? No! All around the world, civilized countries are recognizing this AIDS thing for the mess that it is.
Except for here.
Here, you finally find a politician who'll say he'll do something about it, and the next day he's gone, replaced by some dipshit who doesn't know what the hell you're talking about.
The last dumbass son of a bitch that we met with asked us, "Why don't you just use condoms?" That was a brand-new cabinet.
You've to cut them some slack They didn't know where the god-damn bathrooms were! Those letters I write get people talking in the House, and what goes on in the House goes on the record for everyone to see.
Maybe just cut back on the death threats, then? - [TELEPHONE RINGS.]
- I'll think about it.
It's Jim, don't make me wanna kill you.
Yeah, he's here.
It's for you.
This is Paul.
The poet W.
H.
Auden said that "the true men of action in our times are not the politicians and statesmen, but the scientists.
" I believe that's especially true when it comes to the AIDS epidemic Talk about late to the party.
Some of his Hollywood pals had to die to get his attention.
Our own prime minister hasn't even acknowledged it yet.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Hey, got your message.
What happened? Tsoukas called.
Frank Schnabel died this morning.
We thought a, uh, toast was in order.
[JIM.]
: Four shots of Canadian Club, please.
[REAGAN.]
: to think we didn't even know we had a disease until June of 1981, when five cases appeared in California.
The AIDS virus itself was discovered in 1984 To Frank.
- To Frank.
- [CLINKING GLASSES.]
[REAGAN.]
: a treatment drug, AZT, has been brought to market in record time How could this happen? [SCOFFS.]
Everyone's an expert Wait a minute, that's impossible.
He's been in the clear for almost two years.
Now you're telling me he's positive? Everyone said that heat-treated concentrates were safe.
Maybe there's been a mistake.
No.
They retested the sample to be certain.
I'm so sorry.
I want to know who's responsible.
An investigation is under way.
It's not going to help our son.
It's criminal, it has to be.
Yeah, well, is it going to be criminal court criminal? I don't know.
It's certainly enough to push for an inquiry.
I'm all for stringing the pricks up.
Again, maybe watch I mean, screw an inquiry! Seven more dead, six kids! There's no excuses.
We need money now.
People are sick, they're losing their jobs, they don't have insurance.
Look, an inquiry means publicity, which will increase pressure for compensation.
Government will just use an inquiry as an excuse to stall.
Right now, we need to focus on this assessment of victims' financial needs, not just medical costs already incurred, but what people would need for the rest of their lives.
You realize that there's no precedent for this in Canada, right? No provincial or federal government has ever given out compensation before.
Catastrophe relief.
I thought we were going with "disaster relief.
" - You changed my - This sounds worse.
Guys! It's not my freakin' fault it keeps getting worse! What? I asked, "What should I get you?" and you said, "Get me whatever you're having.
" [SIGHING.]
I forgot you were on this stupid diet.
Well, it's done wonders for me.
Excuse me.
I'm looking for Will Sanders.
You kept him on Cryo? We figured the odds were better with a smaller donor pool.
We were told that concentrates were safe.
One in a million chance of getting AIDS, right? We were never told that switching back to Cryo was even an option.
Cryo wasn't risk-free.
You were smart.
It was a gamble that paid off.
You know in the U.
S.
, the FDA ordered a switch to vapour-treated Factor 8, but once again, here at home, the BoB has yet to act.
The new guard at the Red Cross is going hard after it.
I, um, I have it on good authority that they may place an order without getting the go-ahead.
Well, that's different.
Doesn't forgive what the old guard did, though.
We need some sort of clear record of what happened.
I agree.
Because despite everything we've been through, there is another battle brewing.
Victims and their families need help.
So, Lawrence said you had an amazing amount of well-organized documentation.
Yeah, it's just part-time for now.
We'll see how it goes.
Tips are good.
- Mmm.
- Helps pay my rent.
And free pizza.
Things are better at home.
Mom quit drinking, Dad's working on something.
I'm not really sure what, exactly.
Look, you don't have to keep doing this, you know? What, hanging out? You're my brother, so No, I mean, like, pretending that there's hope.
Who said I had hope? Dude, you're hopeless.
I gotta get going.
You can take the rest of that.
You gotta fight, Peter.
Too corny? It's just, like, everybody always says that.
How do you fight an incurable disease? You don't have AIDS.
You're not even sick.
It's just a matter of time.
[AIRPORT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN SWEDISH.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SHOUTING ANGRILY.]
I don't understand.
I thought the Red Cross just put in a huge order for vapour-treated concentrates.
Yeah, the provinces won't pay for it.
Of course.
What can I do? Obviously, the manufacturers won't ship until it's paid for, so we need the provinces to give it the green light.
Now, Ontario is most important.
They cover 40% of the budget, so we get them on board, the rest of the provinces fall in line.
Now, the problem is Elinor Caplan - she's holding out.
- I know her.
- She's giving a keynote here.
- [LAWRENCE.]
: That's why I called.
You think you can talk her around? I wonder sometimes.
Maybe Jim and his rifle would get farther.
Yeah, well, let's save that as a last resort.
Nice shirt, Will.
Yeah, my luggage didn't make it.
Minister Caplan, I I don't have time right now.
I hope you'll catch my speech.
It's time people started speaking honestly - about this crisis.
- Oh? I'm going to break a big taboo.
- What are you going to say? - Lots.
I'm going to use the a-word.
"Asshole"? I can think of more than a few people - that deserve that title.
- Not that a-word.
Elinor, if I could just have a moment of your time.
I mean, if I could just 30 seconds.
You need to agree to fund the switch to vapour-treated clotting factor.
Once you're in, all the other provinces are gonna follow suit.
I don't have the money.
Okay, um This, um this is my son.
Good-looking kid.
- Can he hit? - Yeah, and pitch, and But that's not the point.
Um He's HIV negative right now.
Good for him.
He's lucky.
Yeah, well, he got the consolation prize.
Hepatitis.
Heat-treated products aren't safe.
There's still a chance he could be exposed to AIDS.
There's a woman in Bracebridge, Ontario right now with two kids who needs cancer treatment.
Should I cut the funding for that? Of course not, I I would never put my son's life over someone else's.
I only showed you this because I don't have the pictures of all the other kids in your province who need this to happen.
Or the dozens across the country.
Now, I know that no one in your position can look too far forward.
But the cost of failing to do something now is going to be astronomical later.
When it comes down to it, there's always money somewhere even when there isn't.
You want to be remembered for making good decisions.
Make the right one here.
That is one god-awful ugly shirt.
Aw, I wasn't gonna go.
It's gonna be lame and stupid.
Unless you're going? I mean, are you going with someone? Well, if you're going and not going with someone, maybe we could go together? Okay, that'd be awesome.
Cool.
Okay.
Maybe we should, uh, go onto this next problem? [WOLF WHISTLES.]
Oh, no.
- [LAUGHS.]
- What's going on? Well, your son is up in his room on the phone with a girl, and I think he may have just asked her to the junior prom.
I thought he was doing his homework.
Remember how we used to do our homework? Careful, now I thought we should try celebrating good news for a change.
Don't know much about history - You're kidding me.
- Mm-mm.
[LAUGHS.]
Don't know much about science books You got safer blood products into the hands of kids all over this country.
But I do know that I love you Want to enjoy that for five minutes? I didn't do that by myself.
You're the guy that's here right now.
- What? - Come on.
Oh, no.
No, no, no [WILL WHISPERING.]
The neighbours can see us! I don't care.
don't know what a slide rule is for But I do know that I love you Oh, yeah, I'm here No, nothing.
It's just my parents are in the yard acting super weird.
what a wonderful world this would be [LAUGHING.]
History Biology Science books French I took Yeah But I do know that I love you And I know that if you love me too What a wonderful world this would be What am I going to do? I'm going to ignore it.
Look, if anyone asks, we never spoke, but I'm telling you, there's no way the federal government is gonna cave.
Unless you want to open your coffers, you better make sure you're all on the same page.
If this is going to end well, we have to stick together.