Flint (2017) - full transcript

(Birds chirp)

(Water laps gently)

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Babe,
Mama be back in a minute ♪

♪ Gotta hustle
and handle my business ♪

Nayyirah: Welcome to Flint,
the City I call home.

Not sure that you
would have heard

anything pleasant about it
for the past 30 years or so.



♪ Mama is workin' it out,
know Mama's able ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ I gotta run, run, run, run ♪

♪ I'm superwoman,
flying through the city ♪

♪ There is only one way
to make it ♪

♪ Babe, go and get it ♪

♪ Overworked, underpaid ♪

♪ Lord knows I need a raise ♪

♪ But when I walk by
the guys say, ♪

♪ Baby, do you wanna go
for a ride ♪

- My name is Nayyirah Shariff,

and I've been an activist
in Flint for over a decade.

Okay, what I'm going to tell
you about our water crisis



is not the whole story
because let's face it,

the deeper you dig the more
complicated this thing gets.

♪ I'll be right back
when I'm done ♪

♪ I gotta run, run, run, run ♪

♪ Me or mine, me myself and I
and my babe ♪

♪ I tell no lie
I try for my baby ♪

♪ Every night,
I pray for my baby ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ I swim the deepest sea ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

- Lot's of people in Flint
protesting.

Screaming and shouting
about something,

usually taken for granted;
tap water.

♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na-na ♪

♪ Mama's gonna be there
with you ♪

♪ Mama's gonna be there
when you're down ♪

♪ I love you, baby ♪

♪ So now... ♪

♪ I've gotta run run run run run
run run run run run run run ♪

♪ Yeahhhhh! Baby! ♪

- All right. Well,
I guess we should start.

It's not the fanciest of places

but everybody is all set to go?

- Yeah.
- Yeah? All set?

All right, here we go.

Do you need a count down?
- Why not.

- Yeah? All right.

3... 2... 1...

Nayyirah: One flick of a switch
to Flint river water

instead of Lake Huron,

while we wait for the new
pipeline to be built.

Which was gonna be so much
cheaper.

- Here is to Flint!
All: Flint!

(Shutters click)

♪

- Hmhm. Yeah.

(Shutters click)

- Woo!
- Watch out!

(Playful laughter)

- Here. Here!

(Playful laughter)

Oh yeah!

(Music playing through
the headphones)

- What are my guys up to?
They help you clean up?

- No. Of course not.

Playing football in the yard.

- (into mic)
"That was "Goodbye Gemini"

by Blood Ceremony.

I just got to see them
live with All That Remains,

and they absolutely tore up
the stage!

Okay, we have a listener
named Ariel,

who wants to hear
"Day of the Intruder,"

by none other than Avenue Sky.

My oldest loves this song.

Thanks for listening to
the Indi-Grace Showcase.

This is Melissa Mays, your host.

("Day of the Intruder" starts)

(Birds chirp)

- It's not red.
It's more like a copper rinse.

- Well, you know,
how I feel about change.

It's for the young
and indecisive.

- Well, "Wholesome Chestnut
Number 31"

could use an update, Mom.

I can do a vegetable dye

it'll fade out in like two
to three weeks.

- You want me to go through
this every three weeks?

No way...

Oh, maybe I go blonde.

- Blonde!

- That was a joke, honey.

- Better be.

(They chuckle)

- You can't handle me blonde.

- I don't think the world
could handle you blonde.

How is that leg?

- Well, it's okay.

I won't be competing against
Usain Bolt any time soon.

So tell him to stop calling me

(Jamaican accent) talkin' about
"wha'happen with the rematch?"

(They laugh)

Could you imagine?

- Uh, Jake has a friend
who is a lawyer

and he specializes
in freak accidents...

- No.

- Come on, Mom.

It-it's not fair that a
hit-and-run should get away

without any consequences.
It wasn't your fault.

And please don't tell me
that "life isn't fair."

- Okay...

"what's done is done."
- (Huffs)

- I'll get advice for the claim
from Doctor Mona.

You know the one
at the hospital.

And what "lawyer friend"
does Jake have?

- All right, all right.
- Please.

- I'll stop.

It's your biscuits!

- That's right,
it's my biscuits!

(Birds chirp)

(Light thud)

(Water pours)

- The water smells gross.

- What do you mean?

- I don't know,
like it's gone bad.

- Water doesn't go bad.

(Sniffs)

Hmm.

When did you change
the filter last?

- Four weeks ago.

(Ahem) Yeah?
- Yes.

Both: Bless us, O Lord,
for these Thy gifts

which we are about to receive,
from Thy bounty

through Christ our Lord we pray.
Amen.

(Scratching sounds)

♪ Will you follow
me to another world ♪

- I packed that place!
- Wish we could've been there.

- No no no no, that set started
at 11:00 P.M. on a school night!

I'm not that terrible of a Mom!

Hey, you okay? What's wrong?

- I don't feel so good...

- Oh no. Your tummy?

Maybe it's something you ate.

- What's wrong?

- The middle man doesn't feel
so good.

- All right. Well...

if you don't feel better
in the morning, buddy,

we'll take you to the doctor.

'Til then crackers and
chamomile tea for you.

- (Groans)
- (Chuckles)

- Hey, what time is your mom
coming home?

- Not until 10.

She's going to dollar movie
night with a friend.

- Oh.

Hey, don't make it too
hot again.

- I like it hot.

- Yeah... I know...

(Water runs)

- Turn on that light.

♪

(Sniffs) It smells.

- You should probably get your
pipes fixed, babe.

(Taps squeak closed)

- Gross.

Should we just... go to my room?

- (Enthusiastic) Yeah.
- (Giggles)

- Hmm. Hmm.

Let's see.

It's contact dermatitis.

He's probably coming
into contact

with something he's allergic to.

- He's-he's never been allergic
to anything before.

So I don't...

- Well, kids can develop
allergies.

Um, you could try Cortisone
cream.

- Okay.

- It could also be scabies.
Mites.

How often do you change
their sheets?

- How often do you change yours?

- Permethrin cream
is an insecticide.

Two applications,
one week apart.

- Okay.
(Prescription rips off)

Thank you.

- How you doing?
- I'm fine.

- Oh, we'll see.

(Low hum of chatter,
baby crying, coughing)

Woman: uh excuse me...
Man: Yeah...

- Any idea how long the wait is?

- A few hours.
- Hours?!

- Yeah. We're understaffed.

And it's been non-stop rashes,
diarrhea, fever.

- Damn.
- Ma'am?

Are you okay?

- Mom? Mom?

Mom?

- Yeah. I just need...
- Ma'am?

Hillary.

- Mom?

- (Grunting)
- It's okay.

- Mom, what is it?
- It's okay.

See. Shh...

- (Grunting)

- Okay. Yeah.

(Pills rattle)

- I never had a seizure
in my life.

(Paper rustles)
Adam...

Flint's in violation of the

"Federal Safe Drinking Water
Act?"

- And that's from the city.

- Mhmm.

- Total... Trihalomethanes.

A carcinogen.

- Well, that doesn't sound good.

- We're supposed to boil
the water.

- I told you it tasted weird.

- Yeah, you were right.
It did taste funny.

- And we've been cooking
with it... bathing in it.

(Wind gusts)

(Footsteps thud)

(Knocking)

- (Knocks) Bring in the mail.

(Lid squeaks)

- I need a new job.

- Why? You love your job.

That office is like the DMV
every single day.

It never used to be this hectic.

We're gonna have to get
new benches

to put in the waiting room

because patients are standing
around.

- Since when did the water bill
go from $90 to $210?

- I'll check it out.

Uh, operational costs.

- Jake's smart, mom.

- Yes, Jake can read.
What does that mean?

- Well, one of my cousins got
hired for the renovation

down at the water plant. He...
- Renovation?

I mean, what are they covering
them in gold?

All we need to do
is get the rust out.

How we're supposed to pay this?

- What?

- One, two, three, four,
five, six...

Oh my God, I'm late.

♪

- Hey, you know what?

Just portend that
it's sunscreen.

- It doesn't smell like
sunscreen.

- I know.
- Smells like...

- Dog poo...

(Laughing)

- All right, you're done. Next.

- Dog poo... (chuckles)

- Your turn for some dog poo.
Here.

Hang on to the dog poo.

(Hockey game playing on TV)

(Water runs)

(Slams kettle)

Announcer: poke checking it,
takes the shot... nice shot.

He rebounds on the inside...

he's looking for an open man,
clears it...

Announcer 2: As John said,

a great position by
the goaltender there.

Announcer 1: Well done. You
know, after a season of rehab,

he's really coming back into
his own with confidence.

Announcer 2: It's a hard injury
to come back from but...

(Notice rumples)

Announcer: And now he's
cycling on the inside

looking for the pass.
Clears it. No off side.

- (Groans)

♪

(Mouse clicks)

♪

(Traffic sounds)

Nayyirah: It's one thing to
feel that there is a problem,

to do your research,

to have a suspicion
that something is wrong.

But it's a whole other ballgame

to make people in charge listen
or care.

- Hi. Hi, I'm here for
the council meeting.

- Yeah, just through those
doors.

- Okay. Thank you.

Man: I know you guys don't
know about this

otherwise, you know,
you do something, right?

But it's sagging on seven, there
is actually the stop sign,

it's about half way down.
I mean, if you can't see it...

I mean, I know it's there
cause I live down the street.

I also noticed when I'm driving
around Store Street

that the lights are out and,

I mean, there's not even
a traffic controller there

you got cars coming...

- First time?

- (Small chuckle)
Is it that obvious?

- Just haven't seen you before.

Nayyirah Shariff.
- LeeAnne Walters.

- he could have been killed.
He was lucky not to be killed.

- Thank you. Your concerns
have been noted.

Are there any other speakers
for this public hearing?

- Yeah. Hi.

Hi. I'm LeeAnne Walters.

I'm just a Mom from Flint.

But I'm here today because
when my sons take a bath,

they get a rash right
at the water line

all the way down their bodies.

Now last summer after the
switch to the Flint River water

and then this year we got
warning from the city

about TTHMs,
total Trihalomethanes...

- Mrs. Walters,
if I may interrupt,

Jerry Ambrose,
Emergency Manager.

We changed water sources,

there is a natural adjustment
period.

- Okay. Adjustment for,
for what?

- We-we changed in April.

It's January.

And now there is a cancer
chemical in our water.

when it was detected
in the water last year.

The TTHMs are a by-product of...
- They cause cancer!

I mean, this is our water,

that we use bathe,
to do our laundry,

to cook for our families.

- We're already working with
the EPA and the MDEQ -

- Who?

- With the Environmental
Protection Agency

and the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality

to make sure that Flint
passes its next round

of test with flying colors.

Water experts that I have
the utmost respect for

have assured us that
there is absolutely

nothing to worry about.
- Thank you for your question.

Are there any other speakers
for this public hearing?

- Yeah. Let's wrap it up.

Got a couple of meetings
to get to.

(Low hum of chatter)

- He didn't answer anything...

and the Mayor didn't even speak.

- Yeah, Ambrose is appointed
Superman.

The Governor brought him in

when Flint couldn't handle
its budget.

He has absolute say.

- What is he?
Appointed dictator?

- He's an appointed dick.

- (Chuckles)

(Low hum of chatter)

♪

- Mr. Mayor! Mayor Walling.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Listen, I'm no expert,
but this is our drinking water,

and I don't wanna take any
chances.

Is there gonna be any
sort of follow-up -

- Of course! This is of great
concern to me.

- Oh, okay.

- I want families feel safe
in their own homes.

I have children, too.

If you have any more worries
just call my office anytime.

And I'll do all that I can.
Okay?

- Okay. Thank you.
I really appreciate that.

- You're welcome.
All right. Have a good day.

- Yeah.

Nayyirah: Hey... um,
what'd he say?

- That he'll take care of it.

I mean, I-I think
that's what he said.

- Good luck. I called City
Utilities.

They had me on hold
for over an hour.

And then they said,
there's nothing wrong,

that it's all fine.
- Yeah. Right.

How can it be fine?
When it smells like a sewer.

- The GM Flint Engine Plant
said,

that the Flint River was
corroding their engines.

- Corroding engines?
- Mhmm.

- Wow, that's...

- What do you think it's
doing to our bodies?

- I mean, was that even
in the news?

Why aren't there more
people here?

- Because not every ward's
water is equally as bad.

And some service lines
are older than others.

Some peoples water
is still clear.

And not everybody got
or read that city warning.

- I mean don't, don't you think
that we should we tell them?

- (Laughs) I am trying, okay?

- Do you have kids?

Because I...
I'm a stay-at-home mom

and that I is my
main concern right now.

- Honestly I have 30.

- (Giggles)

- Or at least I used to
until they took the funding

for the youth program
that I coordinated.

- She's our local resident
hero. (Laughs)

- Yeah. Besides that.
I'm a single lady.

No shackles or diapers.

I fight for democracy
and I can cook.

So...

if you wanna stop by any time,
you know,

I'll whip something up for you!

- Well, I-I would love that.

- Yeah. Okay.

Um, yeah. I'll call
and make an appointment.

Hhmm.

Okay. Thank you, Doctor.

(Beeps phone off)

Well, um, great news.

Dr. Almansour says
I'm positive for...

(reads)
"antinuclear antibodies."

Um, which are basically
attacking my joints,

brain and um... liver.

And I'm in the early stages
of cirrhosis and thyroiditis.

(reading)
Oh, and osteoarthritis.

Emphasis on "early stages"...

but when is the last time
you heard of someone

getting cirrhosis
from drinking water?

- They say it was from
the water?

- No, of course not. Officially
they don't know the cause.

- Yeah, hell they don't.

- He thinks I'll be okay...

with a lot of treatment.

Adam... this is really pissing
me off...

- Yeah. Me too.

But hey, what's the one thing
we're good at

when we're pissed off?

- Being obnoxious?

- Yes. And you are very,
very good at that.

- I'm not an activist.

- Okay. Well,
then just sit back

and enjoy cirrhosis and...

(he stumbles over the word)
ost... osteoarthritis?

- Osteoarthritis?

- Come here.

(Deep exhale)

♪

(Footsteps thud)

(Chanting)
"Water is a human right!"

"Water is a human right!"

"Water is a human right!"
"Water is a human right!"

"Water is a human right!"
"Water is a human right!"

Security: Sorry. Sorry,
y'all can't be here.

- Oh, yes, we can.
This is public property.

We can be here all day long
if we want to!

"Water is a human right!"

- Hey, hey, hey. I don't wanna
get you all arrested.

Okay? Why don't you just be
on your way

and head on back home.
- We want answers

and we deserve them.

Why are you selling us
poison water?

It's no good,
and you all know it!

Adam: Yeah!

Security: I'm not gonna say it
again, you gotta leave.

- We want answers!

- Look, I don't make
the rules around here.

Okay? I'm just doing my job.

- You should think about
what you're doing!

- Why'd you wanna stay here

and wave some stupid signs
around anyway?

Lady, nobody cares.
- Well, we'll make them care!

- Yeah? Really?

I don't see no cameras nowhere.

(Crayon rasps)

- Hi.

♪

♪

(Cupboard closes)

(Objects clutter)

- I hate math!

I don't wanna do it ever!
- Okay.

Hey, hey. I'm here.
- Don't make me do it!

- Okay.
- I just hate it.

(Sobbing)

I don't wanna do it.

- Shhh. Shhh.

(Birds chirp)

(Water runs)

- We're flushing hydrants
all over the city.

Don't worry; this is all
gonna be cleared up in a week.

- "Lead"?

You're testing for lead?

- Oh yeah, lead and copper,
it's all standard.

(Water runs)

(Iza Sighs)

- You don't even need
that parka, Adina.

It's not so cold...

- Yeah, you're right.

Even smells like spring.

- I knew I shoulda planted
those crocuses.

I just never got my energy
back from last winter.

Getting old sucks.

- You're not old, mom.

- I feel like hell.

- You should try my diet.

- Pistachio ice cream
and onion rings

is not going to make me younger.

- Mmm.

Yeah. You gotta admit Jake's
been pretty cool

about everything.

- Yeah, he's even thinking
about getting a job?

- We're gonna get married, mom.

Everything is gonna be totally...

- "Legit?" What, you think
I don't listen to you all

with your little slang.
Totes. Legit.

- Totes. Legit.
Oh my goodness.

- (Laughs)

- I don't know what to say.

- I'm already 18 weeks!
- I know.

And I can't even imagine how
you must be feeling right now.

- What...

What happened?

- I really don't know.

- You said everything looked
fine!

You said the baby looked great!

- We can go through a very late
D-and-C

since he's still just
the size of an orange.

It's a fast,
it's a simple procedure.

- No.

- Honey, it's going
to be all right.

We're going to get through this.

I'm right here.

Okay?
- (Crying)

- I'm so sorry.

- (Crying)

- What did I do wrong?

- You ain't do anything wrong,
baby.

- I wanted that baby, Mama!

- I know... I know.

But you're still young.

Ain't nothing to say that
you can't try again.

And should you decide to try it
with someone other than Jake...

I fully support that, too.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean that.

Just joking.

- No, I think you meant that,
Mom.

- I was just scared you were
too young

and Jake couldn't to handle
the responsibility, that's all.

I wanted that baby for you, too.

Of course I did.

Hey, the doctors at your office
ever say

anything about the drinking
water?

- The water?

Not that I know of.

(Door creaks open)

- Hello.
- Hi.

- May I come in? I need
to test your water again.

- Yeah. Sure. Sure.

Um, test is again? Why?

- Well, your lead and copper
number came in at 104.

- I'm sure there
is no prize for that.

What's it supposed to be?

- Not over 15. Not over 15
parts per billion.

Your lead levels are seven
times higher than that.

- What-what does that mean?

- Well, it means I have to do
more tests

to make sure it's not a mistake.

In the meantime, just don't let
your kids drink it.

- Okay.

- No cooking, no brushing teeth,

no showers, no dishes.

- Well, that all sounds
just fantastic.

And you should probably flush
it for at least 25 minutes

before any other usage.

- Well, what does that do?

- Might flush out what ever
is leeching the lead.

- Oh, well... that's good.

Melissa: Clean water!
We want clean water now!

Nayyirah: All over town we were
finding each other.

With the same stories,
the same health issues.

The same suspicions.

- what's in our water.
We want a public meeting.

We can't let this continue.

This our-our health and
our lives. Look at this.

These are city lines.

For a lot of us water's coming
to our houses through these.

- The Mayor has to see us.

- Yeah, it's easier to get
to meet the Pope...

- Okay, listen, my place
just tested 104 for lead.

- Did you say 104?

- Yeah. Listen, the city's own
utilities manager

never seen a number like that.
I mean, nobody one has.

It's like...

I've been in and out
of doctors offices

for the past four months.

And my eyebrows are practically
gone... look at that.

That's a make-up job.
- (Small chuckle)

- You?
- Oh yeah. Hair loss, too.

I got rashes, vomiting,
allergies, seizures...

Those are fun.
- Oh wow.

- Hhmm. I got a whole laundry
list.

I didn't think lead
was an issue though.

You're saying your water's
discolored,

but ours is coming out
pretty clear.

- This is the thing, is that...

when we moved to Flint
back in 2011,

our house was one of those
that was boarded-up.

You know, they took everything.
Totally stripped it.

So we had to redo a lot
from scratch.

And one of the things we had to
totally redo was the plumbing.

- Holy. Some douche canoe
took your plumbing?

- Yeah. You know for the scrap.
- Oh, my God...

- Put it all new pipes.
Brand new.

Plastic.

- Plastic doesn't leach lead.

- Nope.

- So they're what,
carrying Flint River water

that's already contaminated?

- Yeah, and they put it right
into your tap.

I mean, at least that's
what I think. You know?

I don't have any proof.

Okay. It's okay. It's okay.

Got it.

I know.

- We'll call you as soon as
we have the results, Ma'am.

- That's okay.
We-we're gonna wait.

- It could be a few hours.

- Yeah. I said, we,
we're gonna wait.

Man: What do we want?
Crowd: Clean water!

Man: When do we want it?!
Crowd: Now!

Reporter: Since the source
of Flint's drinking water

was moved from lake Huron
to the Flint River

there have been protests
throughout Flint

about the quality of the water.

The mayor of Flint, Dayne Walling,
claims the water is safe

and that the problem is
localized and exaggerated.

- It's your standard tap water.

You can taste a little
of the chlorine,

but it's safe to drink.

I think it's more a matter
of perception.

My family and I, we drink
and use it every day.

- And the Governor is aware
of Flint's water problems?

- We've been in touch,
of course,

and his office has assured me

that Flint's water system
is producing water

that meets all state
and federal standards.

(Crowd chants)
No justice, no peace!

(Car rumbles up)

(Dog barks in the distance)

(Door opens and shuts)

(Footsteps thud)

- What happened?

- (Stammers) My kids...

I just...

I had my kids lead level tested.

And um...
- Yeah? And?

The average kid in America
has a blood level of two.

Anything over five is poison.

And Gavin is at 6.5.

That's lead poisoning.

You know, and the Mayor
is out there on TV,

drinking water, telling
everybody it's safe!

Lead's a neurotoxin that can
cause permanent brain damage!

Garrett is acting out,
he has these spurts of anger

and...

(Door opens)
Nayyirah: Hey...

Hurry up, before I
forget everything.

Yeah.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Thank you for having us.
So nice.

- Hi, I'm Nayyirah.
- Melissa.

- Hi. Nice to meet you.
- This is Claire.

- Nice to meet you.
- Melissa.

- Hi. So nice to see you.
- Good to see you again.

- Come on in. Come on in.

Okay.

Okay. Eat.

- Corn or wheat?

- Wheat.

- Ah, damn.

- No gluten for me. Not anymore.

Melissa: Same for me.

And I gotta stay low-sodium
and lactose-free. It sucks.

- I can eat it all.

- (Laughs) Thanks.

So...

I spent the morning with a

Mechanical Engineering
professor at Kettering,

and she laid it out for me.

- Okay. Do we need Ph.D.'s
to understand this?

Because if we do...

- No. No.

But we need as much education
on plumbing as possible.

Melissa: Yeah.

- Ooh.
- You okay?

- Focus. Uh...

Yeah, I'm all right, I just...
(Retches)

- Oh Nayyirah...
- Are you okay?

Everything all right?

- Yeah, just give me a sec.

- Well, this is our lives now.

We get up, have our breakfast,
brush our teeth,

listen to music,
surf the internet

and then dash to the bathroom
to vomit our guts out.

- This has got to stop...

What-what is all of that?

- Oh uh...

Prednisone and Tylenol.

Lisinopril and
Hydrochlorothiazide

for the kidney damage.

Metroprolol and Neurotnin
for the seizures...

And guess what?

Side effects include
muscle cramps, nausea,

fatigue and dizziness.

Claire: You all right?
- Yeah.

Where was I? Um...

Okay. Okay.

Basically, this is what I was
saying.

This country is sitting
on like 7.3 million

ancient lead service lines.

If you run just any old water
through them,

without like protection,

the water will take pretty much
anything in those pipes

right along for the ride...
straight into our taps.

- Okay. What's this
"protection"?

- Um, water treatment.

It's called Corrosion Control.

- And we have that?
- Yeah...

I mean, I don't know exactly
what we're using or how much,

but I do know that every city
has to have it.

- Sure.

- So corrosion controls coats
the inside of old pipes.

So that when we have to pump
disinfectants,

like chlorine and ammonia,

into the system to kill
bacteria...

Corrosion control stops
those disinfectants

from eating through the metal.

It stops them from releasing
lead and iron and copper,

and all that, you know, stuff,
into our water.

- Then why do my kids have lead
poisoning?

- Well, remember when last year

All: Yeah?

- Boiling only concentrates the
lead in the water more! Right?

- Yeah.

(Disbelieving exhales)

- Okay. Okay.

So, we either drink deadly
bacteria

or we drink brain-damaging lead?

- It's ridiculous that anyone
would think

that that river would be
okay to drink.

The car industry and the plants
have been dumping chemicals

into that water for a century!

And then there's the sewage,
the road salt...

- Yeah. They've even found
a couple of bodies.

- Yeah. Yeah, but that doesn't
actually matter.

That's what water treatment
facilities

are supposed to handle.

They, they treat water at
the beginning, at the source.

- With this corrosion control?

- Yes.

- So then that should've been
the end of it?

- Yeah.

- Then what's going on?

- We gotta find out.

(Big exhale)

- I've been getting a lotta
complaints about the water

from my constituents.

The smell, the taste, the color.

It's come up in the council
time and time again

that using the River Water
in the interim

hasn't been of the kind of
quality that we've had before.

All: (In agreement) Yeah.
Absolutely right.

For sure.

- Therefore the council has
voted on the matter.

- (Coughs)

- It is the council's decision
seven to one

to return to Detroit Lake Huron

as the city's main water
source immediately.

(Applause)

- Yes! Thank you!

(Applause)

- Mr. Ambrose, will you review
the council's decision?

- I will.

It's an incomprehensible
decision.

Going back on Detroit water

will cost this already-broke
city

tens of millions of dollars
that we don't have.

- What do we do in the meantime?

- What?
- Look, I'm realistic.

The city is on the verge
of financial disaster

ever since many of the car
plants closed down.

We need to make some aggressive

and radical decisions
about how to save money.

- Right. Like making us drink
poison?

Is that what you're talking
about?

- You understand? To save Flint
we have to save money.

Detroit water is simply
too expensive.

As the appointed emergency
manager

I herewith overrule
the council's decision.

- (Upset murmuring) Oh my God!

Hey! Hey! Hey listen!

Of GM pull out of this,
why can't we?

- That's apples and oranges.
- No!

- Just because there have been
a few isolated cases

doesn't mean there's
a city-wide problem.

Melissa: Isolated cases?!

Listen, my son has been
diagnosed with lead poisoning!

Our hair's falling out, we are
sick and nauseous everyday!

- Have you even looked at these?

Or are you just trying
to save money...

- Wait a minute.
It wasn't my decision

to disconnect from Detroit
water.

That was a long-standing plan

that's was meticulously
budgeted out,

approved by this council.

- No. We never agreed to use
Flint River Water!

We agreed to the KWA Pipeline!

- That's right.
- (Applause)

- And while we're building
the KWA Pipeline,

we switched to Flint River Water

as a temporary cost-saving
measure.

Now look, we can't have a bunch
of housewives

taking on our experts!
- Excuse me?!

- And when someone wants
to make a point,

they dunk some tea bags...
- What?! Come on!

- Hey! Hey! Excuse me, sir!
Did you just call me a liar

and stupid?
We're your experts?

Nobody's dunking tea in the
water, that's ridiculous!

- Listen, we can't trek back
and forth to the store

for bottled water!
- Everyday!

Ambrose: Look! Look!
You're broke!

Your city is broke!

There's nothing else I can do.

- What do you expect it's a
reelection year for the Mayor.

- Can he do that?

- He's not gonna side with us
'cuz we don't have a say.

He just wants to play
hooky with the Governor.

- Look, they can all try
to shut us up.

But I know what I know.

Look, I've been worried
from the start.

Since we switched
to the river water.

Just keep fightin', lady.
Ladies...

- We will. Thank you.

(Doorbell rings)

- Mrs. Walters?
- Yeah.

- Miguel Del Toral from the EPA.

We spoke on the phone.

- Yeah. Hey. You're our lead
and copper expert!

- In the flesh.

Never seen anyone get so excited

about seeing me before.
- Well, you know what?

I'm, I'm just glad that you
actually made it out here.

- Well, Chicago is right around
the corner. This is my job.

(Both chuckle)

(Water runs)

- So when the city came out
to test,

what was their procedure?

- They told me not to keep
the water stagnant

for more than eight hours.

- Huh. They capped it?

- Yeah, they said otherwise
it disqualified the result.

And then they flushed it
for 25 minutes

before they took a sample.

- Huh.

- Oh, I, I have one of those
test bottles.

That's what they used.
- Huh.

- Okay. You keep saying that
a lot.

- It's a very small bottle
opening.

- Yeah?
- If it's that small,

you have to run the water
really slowly.

Now slow flow doesn't really
capture a realistic situation.

- What, what do you mean?

- I like to call that
a "loop hole".

- For what?
- For passing inspections.

- Hey, can I ask you something?
- Sure.

- What sort of corrosion
control is the city using?

- Do you know what that is?

- Yeah, it's coating on
the inside of the pipes

so that they don't leach copper
and lead into the water.

- You should be doing my job.

- Well...

- But yes, the MDEQ told me
they had a program in place.

- Is it effective?

- I'm not sure.

That's why I'm here doing
a test.

- You don't come to most
people's homes, do you?

- No.

- So, why did you come to mine?

- Those were some scary numbers.

I kinda had to see it
for myself.

- Yeah.

(Low hum of chatter,
carts rattle)

- Look, I don't know how to say
this, so I'm just gonna say it.

I don't think the city's gonna
own up to anything.

- They have to.

- You know, it doesn't even
matter if you're right...

- They have to-they have to put
out official warnings out there

for all these families who
don't know what's going on!

- But you're not experts.
You're not scientists.

And you're not politicians.
- I shouldn't have to be.

Listen just because we don't
have college degrees

or we're not pulling in
big paychecks.

Doesn't mean we're stupid.
This is important.

- I know it is, but I think
you're wasting your time.

Clerk: Sorry. Next delivery...
- Maybe you're right...

- Tuesday?
- That's our delivery schedule.

- You need to ration out
that water

and stop hiking up prices!

- I don't make those rules,
Ma'am.

We can't stop people
from buying the water

if that's what they wanna do.

- So we're supposed to just
drink the polluted stuff,

is that what you're saying?

- I'm saying,
if we don't have water,

there's another store
that probably does.

- I'm tellin' ya all,
it's summer time

and we're all gonna be fighting
over these jugs.

- You know I've almost gotten
used to making my kids' pasta

with bottled water, you know.

- This is it.
That's our "new normal".

You know, we drinks bottled
water,

we take showers at our friends'
houses

that live outside of town...
the doctors bills!

I mean, we have been at this
for six months!

And I feel like we just have
to get our lives back.

Nobody knows. And nobody cares.

I-I think...

I think I'm done.

- We can't stop.

We stop they win.

- She's right.

You don't know what it means
to perseverance until

you, you have gotta persevere.

- Did you just come up
with that?

- I did. I don't know...
- That's good. I like it.

I like it. It's catchy.

Listen, I'm an Army brat, okay?

My dad was a drill Sergeant.
You're married to an Army guy.

You know, we don't cry.

We punch something,
we don't cry.

- Look, you thought it was
a sprint, but it's not.

This is a marathon.

You in or you out?

♪

- I'm in.
Melissa: Yes.

- I'm in. I mean, I am in!

- Yes!
- That's it!

♪

(Doors open and shut)

- Hi.
- Hi.

- We need copies of Flint's
Water Quality Reports

from 2013 to today.

- I'm sorry. I'm not
authorized to release those.

- Oh, yes, you are.

Those are public records
that the city is required

to make available to anybody
who wants to see them.

- My Mom wants to see them.

- I don't have that kind
of time.

- If you don't make the time
I'm gonna get real cranky.

- Oh, women. Every month.
- Excuse me!

- There are thousands
of reports.

- Oh, I know.

They are gonna be filled
with information.

♪

Nayyirah: To be honest
when we first started

looking at these reports
we didn't know what we'd find.

♪

(Cars whoosh)

- Look, I like to have
a car there.

Yeah. Okay.

No, the timing on it it's fine.

I just wanted to know.

No, that'll work for me.

If you can make that work on
your side, that's great.

♪

(Low hum of chatter)

(Door opens)

- I like to see Mayor Walling.

- I'm sorry. He's not in
the office right now.

- That is bullshit!

I just saw him walk in here!

- He's in a meeting.

- He's in a meeting. Okay.

You tell him that
Miguel Del Toral from the EPA

personally came out to my place

and tested the water
for lead concentration.

It came back as twice as toxic
as hazardous waste!

Okay. My son...

has lead poisoning.

You tell the Mayor that
he needs to figure out

what he's gonna do to keep
my children safe.

Thank you.

(Sighs)

- This is for you.
- What's this?

- It's a standard agreement

so we can get started on your
city pipeline replacement.

For free. Once you sign,

we take care of the one
$1100 cost incurred.

- Waiver of... no, no, no.

This is... no.

This isn't why I'm here.
It's not about the money.

I just...

I wanna know what you're gonna
do to protect my family!

- Okay. We can't start the work
until you sign this,

and it would be in the best
interest of your family

if you did.

Melissa: This is just a waiver.

This says that they're not
responsible

for any kind of harm
that has been taking place

in the past or will be
in the future.

LeeAnne, if you sign this,

you'll get a free new city
service line,

but then they're off the hook.

- You'll be signing
your rights away

for something they have
to take care of anyway.

- I'm so sick... of this.
- Atta girl.

- This is nice.
- Is it?

Cause if I never ever have
to compare "MCLG"s

and "MCL" s again,
it won't be soon enough.

- Yeah, it's just I'm usually
at the bullhorn on my own.

It gets a bit... lonely.

Where... where is the corrosion
control...

the othophosphate.

- What's up?
- I can't find it.

I can't find the orthophosphate
numbers for 2014.

- I have 'em for 2013.

Lake Huron water was definitely
treated,

but it was treated by Detroit.

- Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa!

So since the date of the switch,

there's no records about
corrosion control.

- We have no corrosion control?

- Oh my God...

They are not treating water,

that is like, like 20 times
more corrosive

than Detroit's water ever was.

- Well, that can't be right.

There's gotta be a mistake.

There's gotta be something they
are treating the water with!

- No, no that's it.

That is the reason that
we are all being poisoned,

because these guys wanted to do
everything on the cheap

from beginning to end.

Claire: Oh my Lord...
- Wow...

Just... wow.

- You know what people say
they find a "smoking gun"

I think we just found ours.

- Okay. What do we do with it?

- (Sighs)

I think I know who to call.

(Slams phone)
- Hm. They lied to me.

- Who?

- The MDEQ! Can you believe it?!

The Water Plant has
no corrosion control!

Which is mind-boggling,

considering the whole city
is piped with lead!

- The whole city?
How do you know that?

- I've been talking
with the residents.

- The soccer moms?

- Well, those soccer moms
are better investigators

than anyone I know.

(Water splashes)

- All right, stand up straight.
Here we go.

Okay. You are 51 inches.

- Garrett grew two inches...

- Yeah. Hey... listen that
is good water, Okay?

I promise you, that is fresh,

it is right from a Colorado
spring

and then straight into your
tub. Okay?

- I haven't grown?
- Listen kiddo, look at me,

we are gonna make them pay
for that bad water.

You got it?

- You're scary, Mommy.
- Am I? Good.

All right. Let's get in
the tub, guys. Come on.

- So I just burst it and this
one guy who's faster than me

and I like tipped it and then
I got it with like two hands

and then I burst it
to the touchdown.

- Hey!
- Beauty. Yes!

- You got it?
- Did you win?

- Yeah.
- Of course.

(All laugh)

(Sizzling)

- Hey mom, I gotta show you
something.

I've been staying late at work
for a month

so nobody would notice,

but these are copies of blood
work reports

for kids that were brought in
for lead poisoning.

They're kinda scary.

- You can get fired for that.
- I know.

Do you think you can show these
to Dr. Mona?

Mom, lead poisoning can lead
miscarriages. Right?

- Yeah. And a long time ago
women were given lead pills

to control their family size.

- Wait. To abort?

- I'm just saying is,
it wouldn't be nothin' new.

(Bottles clank)

(Door shuts)

So uh, what happened to Jake?

Have you two been in touch?

- Nope. He ghosted me.

I don't know maybe
he was just...

waiting around
for the baby to come.

- Adina, my darling,

I know I must be biased
but he didn't deserve you.

- I love him.

- Well...

(Pancakes sizzle)

(Low hum of chatter)

♪

- Iza! It's been forever!

How on Earth have you been?
- Still breathing...

I'd be better if you gave me
the $5 you owe me.

- Girl, you know,
you owe me that $5.

I'm gonna charge you
interest too.

- You right, you right.
Next time. Is she in?

- Yeah, she's expecting you.
Go on in.

(PA announcement,
phones ringing)

- You never noticed more
of the kids had rashes,

diarrhea, vomiting...
- No, I'm supervising;

I don't deal with patients
as much anymore.

- Well, doesn't Hurley have
a central blood test system

for the children?

- Yes. Why?

- There's been some problems
with the drinking water.

I think it's lead.
I have proof.

- No, it's okay.

All the children that
go through our system

get a blood test automatically
that includes lead levels.

- Can you access that system?

- Yes, I just have to find
those numbers and do some math.

40% of the kids we see
live below the poverty line.

And you're telling me they put
lead in their water?

- That's exactly
what I'm telling you.

- (Exhales)

- So you'll look into it?

Look, Dr. Mona,
I know I like to joke,

and I'm not an alarmist.

But if what I'm thinking
is right...

this ain't good.

Mayor: I can get you box seats
anytime.

Stephen: Oh Yeah? I might take
you up on that.

That would be fantastic.

- Hey guys.
- Hey.

- Something for me, Mike?
- In a way.

I have to go over this
with Stephen...

- Oh, go ahead...
- Nice to see you.

- Right.
- About those tests

the MDEQ asked me to submit...
Well, here's the thing...

we got in a bit of a snag.

The service line records are
useless, they're handwritten.

Basically, we don't have
a data base.

So we test it as many
as we could.

- And how many is that?
- 71. Should be 100.

- 71 is not bad.
Could be the new 100.

- They weren't all high-risk
homes.

We don't need that.
We need a cross-section.

- Well, that's true but...

there's no way to verify
they're all lead service lines.

- Can you verify they aren't?
- Well, No.

Not unless we dig them up.

- Well, that's not really
an option. So... we good?

- Only if I take out
the highest two samples.

- Well, if there is only two,

then they're probably anomalies.

- Right.

- So, we're in compliance?
- Yes... just...

- You don't worry, Mike,
this is all gonna work out.

Okay? We're gonna keep
monitoring the situation.

- So... submit this report?

- Absolutely. It's good work.

(Low hum of chatter)

(Footsteps thud)

- Hi.

Thank you so much
for meeting me here.

- Always a pleasure.

- Okay. So how's the EPA been
treating you?

- They wanna handle the matter
internally.

You know, talk to
the state-level guys

and see if they'll fix it.

- What did they say about
corrosion control?

- That there must have been
a mix-up,

some sort of miscommunication,
and that I'm overreacting.

- Are you?
- Not a chance.

- Okay.
- You'll love this guy.

He's a top water expert
in the country.

Edwards: The thing about lead
is...

if you're not looking for it,
you won't find it.

Our bodies think it's calcium,
but it's not.

It's poison that can be
absorbed simply by touch.

And lead poisoning causes
irrevocable damage.

- TIME magazine called him
"The Plumbing Professor".

- But... by 1970,
when we figured all this out

it was too late.

Lead pipes were already
in the ground.

So what do we do now?
- We pray?

(Students chuckle)

- It's not a question of "if"
lightning strikes.

It's "when" and "where".

Now we've fought the
authorities and... (Chuckles)

I think every protocol
at the EPA, for years,

to replace all lead service
lines in D.C.

Five years of wading through
thousands of emails,

piecing together data,
congressional investigations...

Five years of hundreds
of children drinking water

with unacceptable lead levels.

Change... change is expensive.

And terrifying.

- I wrote the memo a while ago,

but the EPA
hasn't responded yet.

I don't think it's just
a couple of homes.

Without corrosion control
it's gonna be widespread.

And every day that goes by,

another child is drinking
that crap!

- We need someone on the
outside to test the water.

You know, somebody who has
nothing to gain or lose

regardless of the results.
- That's where you come in.

- Well, I wanna help.
I mean, you know.

- Of course I do.
But it's not a cheap operation.

- I'm gonna have to apply
for a grant.

Which may take a while
to cut through the red tape

and push it through the system.

- My son's blood lead levels
were through the roof.

He loves swimming,
he has not been in a pool

for over a year.

- Okay. Okay.
I'll do whatever I can.

But it's never just about water
and it's always...

- About politics.
- About politics.

(Low hum of chatter)

Woman: Is this seat taken?

♪

- We're gonna start.

If everyone could please
take their seats.

That'd be great.

First of all I want to thank
everyone for coming today.

Over the past few months

there's been a lot of concerns
about the water.

And we have Stephen Busch
here today,

from the Michigan Department
of Environment...

Environmental Quality,

and we're hoping that he'll
clear up some of these issues.

Stephen?
- Thank you, Mayor.

First, the good news.

Since last year's round
of monitoring,

we have balanced the level
of chemicals in the water

to safe levels.

- It's not chemicals,
you jackass. It's lead.

All: Yeah. It's about the lead.
Yeah! (Applause)

- Is there still a risk
in the short-term

with exposure to some of these
chemicals?

Well... that's up to you.
It's an individual thing.

You should consult
with your doctors

and after that you can make
the judgment.

- Is it me or did that just
make no sense whatsoever?

How is this an
"individual thing"?

- It's not you.

Busch: Some of the cloudiness
that's coming from your taps,

some of the water bottles
I'm seeing,

that's probably other materials
that are coming off your pipes.

- It's lead!

- Water professionals
are dealing with this

all over the country
it's not just here in Flint.

- You wanna drink this crap?
Take sip! Be my guest!

- That's right.

You drink it. You drink it.
All: Yes. (Applause)

- If everyone, if everyone
could just calm down.

(Applause)
- Let's stay calm, all right,

we're just trying to figure out
the facts.

Claire: You're telling us
that everything is okay,

I'm telling you it's not okay!
- Not okay!

(Applause)

- There have been studies
on cancer and tap water,

thirty, forty-year studies,

and that's where our
standards have come from...

- Nothing's changed in thirty
or forty years?

- Someone has to study
what's going on with you

and your water supply.
- Okay.

Who's gonna pay for that?
The city needs to do that!

- We need the federal
government's help!

- Just get alternative water.

- Are you got a supply that
for us?

- From where? From where?

- If this was a rich community
we wouldn't even be here!

It'd be fixed!

Claire: I call bullshit!
Bullshit!

- That's right. That's right.
- Bullshit!

- Hey. Hey.

We have, we have a list
of doctors,

we have a list of ailments.

We have photographs
of our rashes...

- We're paying the bill!
Why didn't we have a say

in what system is delivering
our water?

- We have gone over this
and the water experts

have said so too:
- Oh my God!

- we've conducted all
necessary tests,

and though there are households
that have older,

and therefore more affected
service lines,

the city clearly passed every
test this year...

Claire: We don't need to test!
We know there is a problem!

- That's right.
(Applause)

Walling: We decided to build...
- Come on!

- We decided to build-

the decision to build
the KWA pipeline

was so that our costs
wouldn't go up as fast.

- That plan did not work.

- Just please! Sit down! Okay?
Just sit down.

- Okay. Excuse me.
Mister Mayor.

I think that the people here
feel that their lives,

their bodies and their wellbeing
has being compromised.

- Yes! Yes!
(Applause)

- Thank you!

- We are a community that's not
merely concerned.

We're angry.

(in agreement)
- Mhmm. That's right.

- Yes, we are.

- I for one am sick
that we even baptized children

in our Church with that water

before we knew anything
about it!

All: That's right.

Walling: Look, we just-please,
just...

We'll stick to the agenda,
all right.

We're talking about
affordability.

- We are following the agenda!
We've been sitting here,

listening to all of your
excuses...

- We don't want any more
excuses! Okay?

- No more excuses!
- We need some answers!

- No more excuses!
- Give us some answers.

(Applause)

- She's right.

We need answers.

For this.

(Shocked murmuring)

♪

- I'm scared of what's
happening here.

And my daughter was 18 weeks
pregnant when she miscarried.

That kid was wanted.

It was already loved.

Ambrose: Ma'am, excuse me,

this is not the forum
to be making accusations...

- No, no, excuse ME!

Now, you've been telling us

that the elderly
and pregnant women

shouldn't drink the water
back since January.

Now that's not an accusation
that is a fact.

All: Yeah! That's right.
- That's fact.

- Who else got their flyer?

Ambrose: Ma'am! I'm gonna have
to ask you to sit down.

- And you sent out a flyer
for something this serious?

Shame on you!

Now either you're lying to us

or you're completely
incompetent.

Which one is it?

- Completely incompetent.
- Yeah.

(Applause)

- And we love this damn city.
Right?

I mean, we call ourselves
Flintstones,

but how much of your excuses
you think we can take?

And let me ask you something,
Mister Emergency Manager,

are you gonna tell
my 24-year-old daughter

she'll have no problem
with another pregnancy?

Can you make that promise
to any woman in this room?

- Wow.

- Right. You have anything
to say. Right?

Because as soon as we call you
out on your lies,

it gets damn good and quiet
in here. Huh?

Real good and quiet in here.
- Hhmm.

A bunch of damn liars.
A bunch of liars.

They know good and damn well
there is lead in this water.

- Whatever happened to
"what's done is done", mom?

- We're gonna have to change
that...

cause it "it ain't done
til it's done".

- That's right.

♪

(Keys clack)

♪

- I'm heading off. Good night.

- Samantha, how do I see if one
of my reports has been opened?

- Check the receipts section.

(Keys clack)

Yeah. They got it,
and opened it.

So, looks like they read it.

- Of course, deafening silence.

- See you in the morning.
- Good night.

(Keys clack)

♪

(Sighs, clicks screen off)

- A woman in Flint
named, LeeAnne Walters

just forwarded to me
an internal memo

that you wrote to your
superiors at the EPA.

She says that
you cc'd her on it?

- Yeah, that's all true.

- Well, this data is...
extraordinary.

You're saying that their water
is officially toxic waste?

- And Mrs. Walters' home could
be a canary in a coal mine.

- Can I print that?

- Put it on a mural.

I can take the heat.

I'm not afraid of it.

- I'm here with Stephen Busch,

from the Department of
Environmental Quality.

There are concerns
of a cover-up.

Concerns that have been brought
to light by the ACLU

about water pollution.

- Look, our spokesperson
has said,

that anyone who's concerned
about lead

in the drinking water in Flint
can relax.

We have said this on the record:

- Come on.
- There is no cover-up,

and our tests show the problem
is not widespread.

- So what about the cases
that have rung alarm bells?

- We're looking into that,

and I have to reiterate
that as far as we can tell

these cases remain isolated.

- But isn't that simply
because you haven't yet

conclusively tested city-wide?

- We're following protocol
and still testing,

and I really don't think...
(Turns it off)

- Enough of that bullshit.

(Phone rings)

- Hey, Curt.
Good news on the Flint story.

It's about time the media
got involved.

- All thanks to you and Miguel.
- How's Miguel doing?

- You didn't hear?
- No, what?

- He's unreachable.
There is no more exclusives.

EPA officials just say
he's been "handled."

- What, they put him on a leash?

- Yeah, he's off the case.

I guess, you don't send around
unauthorized memos

and call supposedly okay water
"hazardous waste".

So what's happening with
that emergency grant

you applied for?
When would that come in?

- I don't know, as soon as
I hear something definite,

you will know about it.

- Okay.

(Chanting)
"Cause the water will kill!"

"Cause the water will kill!"

Justice for Flint!
(Cars honking)

(Sounds of traffic)

- I was scratching so hard,

I had bruises on my arms
and legs.

You know what the Doctor said?

He said, "you sure it's not
psychosomatic?" Psychosomatic?

- Wait, they all think
we're going coo-coo.

- Mhmm.
- Right.

- We moved. To Flushing.
And guess what?

This is the first week Dexter
hasn't broken out.

- First week he ain't reeking,
either.

(All laugh)

(Phone rings)

- Hi, this is LeeAnne?
Who's this?

- Professor Edwards,
Virginia Tech.

I-I got the grant approved

for the independent testing
of your water.

- That's good news.
That's such good news!

Okay, why do you still sound
so nervous?

- So if we can get 300 samples
spread out over the city,

we'd get a handle on how bad
the situation is.

But in order to get it done
right, there's a catch...

- What's the catch?

- The grant doesn't really
cover manpower,

going door to door...

basically distribution
and collection.

I'll need volunteers.
Lots and lots of volunteers.

What do you think?

(Low hum of patron chatter,
dishes clink)

- You know what? If there's
anything this town has

it's fightin' spirit.

♪

♪

♪

- All right, I'm trying to think

if there's anything else
I'm missing.

Uh, we have... sorry. Hey guys.
- Hey.

Professor this is all
of them here.

- Okay, good. Good job, Daniel.

So now, usually, I get back,
a ratio of 25 percent,

but if I can get 70 kits
back here, I'll be very happy.

- 70? Out of 300?

- You-you're gonna get all
the kits back.

- Okay. If you say so.

- No, no, seriously, you will
get all of these kits back.

- Great.

Now where is all my volunteers?

- (Nayyirah sighs) I don't know.

I-I put the word out...

- Maybe they got caught
in traffic.

- Or maybe they just suck.

- Maybe they just suck. Okay.

(Door creaks open)

- Well, look who I found waiting
around in the pews upstairs?

- (Laughs)

- Next time you want your
volunteers to find you

and not the Lord our Savior,

give 'em clearer instructions!

- Oh! Basement. Basement.

- Maybe I forgot that part.

Lead water.
(Claire laughs)

- Oh, hey, guys. Hey, Hey!
Yeah! Over here.

Come on in.

Come on, guys,
I got reinforcements.

- Yes!
- Thanks for coming.

- Come on, guys, don't be shy,
come right up!

- Listen up, everybody!

You're all gonna get a list
of addresses.

You can give one kit
to every address.

But please make sure and adult
understands the instructions.

- You have to make sure
you talk to someone, okay?

You don't wanna just leave
the kit on the doorstep

and then walk away.

- A lot of people might think
it's still all right.

I mean, if the Mayor's
drinking the water...

- No, no, no, it's not all
right. It's nasty

and it's making us sick, none
of us should be drinking it.

(Applause)

Have faith. The Lord has healed
before, he'll do it again.

- Amen!
All right everybody, come on!

- Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

- Come on, grab as many boxes
as you can.

Come on, come on.
Pastor Harris: Let's go, guys.

- Everyone, grab as many as
you can hold.

- Guys, you did it.

- I didn't do anything.
We all did it.

Wait a minute,
aren't you leaving?

- Why? Where are you going?
- Oh, it's our anniversary.

We were gonna go to Cedar Point.

- "Were" gonna go?
- Yeah. I had Adam cancel.

- Wait a minute,
but it's your anniversary!

- Yeah, I know
but we have one every year.

It's kinda sorta more important
that I stay here this weekend.

- All right, I totally I agree.

Because we can't do this
without our best fighter.

- Adam already knows
I'm cheating on him

with all of you guys.
He thinks it's hot.

- Of course he does.

- I'm good.

- Good job. Thank you.

♪ Dirty water ♪

♪ I ain't drinkin' no more

♪ I ain't drinkin' no more ♪

♪

♪ You could serve a dirty water
from a golden cup ♪

(Water runs)

♪ You can try to lock up
the truth ♪

♪ But the door won't shut ♪

♪

♪ Cause the truth
just comes out ♪

♪ Like blood from a cut ♪

♪

♪ Dirty water ♪

♪ Now what's that for? ♪

♪

♪ Dirty water,
I ain't drinkin' no more ♪

- All the instruction
are inside.

We'll be back to pick it up.
Thanks.

♪ I ain't drinkin' no more ♪

♪

Jake: Hey Adina!

(Car squeals to a stop)

(Footsteps thud lightly)

- Hey...
- Hey...

- I got a job.

- Yeah. I can see that.

Congratulations.

- I haven't heard from you
in a while.

- Yeah. I know. I was...

I was a bit... outta sorts.

- Really? Because...

I had to pick up all the pieces

and put them back together,
by myself.

But you?

You vanished.

- I'm sorry. Okay?

I knew that you were upset...
and I...

I figured somehow seein' me
around might,

might make it worse.

Look...

can I, can I maybe call you
sometime?

- Don't look at me.
It's your biscuits.

- Sometime soon.

(Dog barks in the distance)

- Okay.

- Okay. Okay.

(Door opens and shuts)

(Birds chirp)

(Beeping, whirring)

♪

- 277 samples.

That's over 90%.

Yeah. That's unprecedented.

Min: What do we do
with the results?

- Those are extraordinarily
high.

We need to call everyone with
elevated lead levels in their house.

- Now?
- Yeah.

- There's a lot of them...
- No, now.

I mean, if your water lead
levels were this high,

wouldn't you wanna know
as soon as possible?

- Yeah. Come on.
- Let'S go.

Just run it again.

♪

Dr. Mona: I have compared
children's blood lead levels

from their medical records
in our hospital files.

Since the City of Flint
stopped using Detroit water

and started drawing water
from our local river,

the percentage of Flint infants
and children

with above average lead
levels has nearly doubled.

(Shocked gasps)
Woman: Oh my God!

- And it has nearly tripled

amongst children in high risk
areas.

We strongly recommend
to limit further exposure.

For infants on formula,
no tap water.

Lead clearing filters
are a good idea,

more public education is needed,

and we would advocate
for a re-connection

to a Lake Huron water source.

Melissa: Yes!

(Applause)

♪

Edwards: This is Flint's
untreated water.

It's basically disintegrating
the nail.

Flint's water is doing the same
thing to distribution pipes

all over the city.

Here, just take a look,
pass it around.

- Flint is the only city in
this country that we know of

that does not have a corrosion
control plan in place.

How is that decision
being rationalized?

Woman: That's horrible.
Woman 2: A disgrace!

- Do you think I've been
listening to the wrong people?

Or I just hear what I wanted
to hear?

- I don't know, sir.

We should've been listening
to those people out there.

- They are responsible
for a community.

They're getting paid.

So they decide they're gonna
poison an entire city

and then they're gonna lie
to us about it?

How dare they?

Come on! Shame on them!

(Chanting) Shame! Shame!

- How do you feel now that
people are finally listening?

- We're glad the tide
is turning,

but we have a long way to go.
- That's right.

Reporter: How do you mean that?

- Well, we need new service
lines,

we need continuous testing,
monitoring.

We need a support system
for these kids

that have been drinking
this water.

- Our trust in authority
is gone.

- Yeah!
- Gone.

- And it can't be fixed by
the flip of a switch.

- Yes.
- That's right.

- Clean water now!
- Clean water now!

(Chanting) Clean water now!
Clean water now!

Clean water now!
Clean water now!

Clean water now!
Clean water now!

Clean water now!
Clean water now!

(Low hum of chatter)

- There they are right there!

Woman: Mayor Walling! Oh!

- Mr. Glasgow? Mr. Glasgow...

- Mayor Walling! Mayor Walling,
just a moment, sir, please?

Please sir.

I just have a couple of quick
questions for you, sir.

I wonder if you can tell us

how it was you were unable
to determine

which homes had lead service
lines and which ones didn't?

- Well, sometimes records
get lost. So...

- Right, so you didn't have
all the records?

- That's a possibility.

- What about the corrosion
control?

Did you know about that?
- Yes, of course.

State officials didn't think
that was necessary.

They said they'd do two rounds
of six-month

lead and copper testing instead.

I never thought the system
was ready for the switch.

- Did you tell them that?

- I did. They didn't care
what I thought.

- There was never a termination
notice from Detroit,

isn't that right?

- Look, we inherited this
situation.

Our Public Works director said,

that there was over a billion
dollars

in infrastructure cost
coming to Detroit

and that it wasn't sustainable
for us...

- I have a letter from
the Emergency Manager,

Detroit didn't kick off Flint
off its system,

that is a flat-out lie.

Detroit offered Flint
an immediate 48% discount,

which would have been cheaper
than anything

Flint would have gotten
from the KWA.

- I know that the state
and our Public works

made evaluations based on
the best course of action

for the City of Flint,
and that was the determination.

- All the way to the Governor's
office?

- That's all I have to say
about that.

- So you're unsure how
the Virginia Tech team

got its results?

- I'm saying is that we're not
entirely surprised.

This particular team loves
looking for lead issues.

It's what they do.

- What about Dr. Hanna
Attisha's research

into children's blood lead
level numbers?

- I respect Dr. Hanna-Attisha's
work,

but she shouldn't have held
a press conference

before having her findings
verified.

I'm not dismissive but
our spokesperson says,

this whole controversy
borders on near-hysteria.

- So is the State's data
inconsistent with hers?

- Yeah, and the Department
of Health and Human Services

said so publicly.
So who would you believe?

(Slams down her spice)

♪

(Low hum of chatter)

♪

(Doors squeak open)

Reporter: There it is.
Here we go.

(Low hum of chatter)

Woman: They're coming out.
Get the shot.

- What did they say?

- The Governor called this
his Katrina.

He admitted that some mistakes
were made in the switch,

and that it was poorly planned.

- And...

- That things were not fully
understood.

- And?!

- There are plans to distribute
thousands of water filters.

- That's it?!
- Water filters.

- Excuse me?! Filters?!

Don't drink the water?
After all that? Come on!

- You've gotta be kidding me!

(Traffic whooshes)

(Crickets chirp)

LeeAnne: Okay, so that's it.

We're just have to live
with the lead?

And just figure out some
way to deal with it?

- Listen, all I gotta say is,

if the country won't listen
to a couple of white ladies,

we're all screwed.
(All laugh)

- God, I really wanna punch
something.

- Don't look at me, Melissa.

- Oh my God, I almost forgot.

Thank God, I brought this.

- Mmm.
- Yeah. Great.

(Big exhale)

- Oh, no, no, no.
I don't, I don't drink.

- Why not?
- I'm Muslim.

- Muslim?
- Yeah.

- Cool.
- Well, I'm not Muslin so...

- This is perfect.
- Fill me up.

(They chuckle)
- Thanks.

(Wine pours)

- You gotta like this potato
salad.

(All in agreement) Uh...

LeeAnne: So um...

we're moving.
- What? Where?

- Virginia.

Dennis re-enlisted
for active duty.

And it's, it's just better
for everybody. I...

- Wow. Hmm...

Well, what about,
what about the house?

- We're gonna keep it.

I mean, it's not you can
really sell a house

in Flint right now.

(Sighs)

It's about that kids, you know.

I want them to be able
to wash their hands

with something other than hand
sanitizer so...

- You know what,
I don't blame you.

If we could move we all would.

- But we're stuck.

- Yeah, I am.

Great.

Get your ass on out of here.

Just ride off into the sunset.

- That's not fair!

I couldn't have done
any of this without you.

I know that.
- Yeah, cool beans, whatever.

- Melissa.

- She just means
she'll miss you.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I will miss her, too.

Gonna miss you all.

Thank you.

(Footsteps thud)

- Well, what did they say?

- Dr. Eden Wells compared
my analysis

against that of the state
epidemiologists.

You know why they claimed
the state results

were inconsistent with mine?
- Hit me.

- The state's number included
kids from outside Flint!

- Okay. So what does that mean?

- It's confirmed!

The state's own data analysts
now confirms all our numbers.

- That's amazing. And terrible.

- Genesee County is declaring
a public health emergency.

- So we did it.

There's no way they can talk
themselves out of this now.

- Oh, I'm so relieved!

- Thank you so much.

Is it weird to be celebrating

a public health emergency
declaration?

- Yeah. It's a little weird...

- Okay. Well, it's gonna have
to be weird.

It's gonna have to be weird.

(Low hum of chatter)

Nayyirah: We'd already have
been let down by the State,

but now with the press behind us

we knew we were being heard.

The question
on all our minds was

whether the city could really
ignore our outcries

and a mountain of evidence...
any longer.

- Effective today,
the City of Flint

is reversing the decision
of four emergency managers.

We fought back to get us
on Detroit water.

The State's results confirmed
that Flint's drinking water

was contributing to high lead
levels, it made me furious.

This community was rightly
outraged.

A group of citizen-heroes

made sure this testing
was done well and done right.

The city could not have funded
a better study of our water.

The City of Flint is
reconnecting to Detroit's

Department of Water and Sewerage

as the sole water source
at 5 p.m. today.

- Woo! Yes!

(Applause and cheering)

Nayyirah: It was our first
victory.

And maybe in the scheme
of things

it was a small victory but...

a victory all the same.

(Applause and cheering)

♪

(Low hum of chatter)

(Door shuts)

- Miguel!

You're late, but you're here!
Oh hey!

- What did I miss?

- Flint's going back
on Detroit water!

- We did it!
We freakin' did it!

- It's about time!

I thought they'd come up with
another good excuse not to!

- Yeah.
- Thank you!

(Laughing)

- I-I've heard so much
about you.

- Hey.
- You are all inspiring woman.

A little stubborn...

(Laughing)

You know, you're like the women
with the vote...

- Suffragettes?
- Tip of my tongue!

- Well, listen at least
we didn't have to

starve ourselves, huh?
- They might of got the vote,

but I don't think this
is over yet.

- It's not gonna change
overnight.

- That's right.
- A lot of damage has been done.

- Yeah, who knows how long
that's gonna take

to fix that so...
- It's a first step.

But we're not gonna quit now.

- That's right.
- That's right

(Celebratory laughter)

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

(Chanting)
No justice, no peace!

No justice, no peace!
No justice, no peace!

Flint lives matter!
Flint lives matter!

Flint lives matter!
Flint lives matter!

(Michelle and Joey)
♪ Row, row, row your boat ♪