The Dropout (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Old White Men - full transcript
Walgreens is enticed by Elizabeth to seal the deal on a new partnership with Theranos. Ian tries to investigate what's going on behind closed doors.
- I searched for Richard Fuisz.
If she ever wants to put
a blood-testing device
in someone's home,
she'll have to license
my invention.
She's suing me?
- It doesn't work.
It is not even close to working yet.
- It's not supposed to work.
It's a trial.
- Did you do trials on
terminal cancer patients
with a prototype that didn't work?
- I'm going to call for a vote
of no confidence from the board.
- I need a $20 million investment.
- So the board will keep you as CEO.
- And you can be COO.
We should forget
pharmaceutical companies
and try to target retail.
♪
So, Sunny Balwani
provided you with $20 million
to keep the company afloat,
but by 2010, that money was also gone.
Is that correct?
- Yes.
And isn't it correct
that the Edison machine
was still not consistently working in 2010
when you pitched Walgreens
the plan to put your device
into their stores?
Did you share that information
with Walgreens?
...is under an ethics investigation
for accepting improper gifts, then--
That means tuition hikes, and for--
Reveals
a set of national standards for math.
♪ Katy Perry's Fireworks playing ♪
♪
♪ Do you ever feel like a plastic bag ♪
♪ Drifting through the wind,
wanting to start again? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
feel so paper-thin ♪
♪ Like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
already buried deep? ♪
♪ Six feet under screams,
but no one seems to hear a thing ♪
♪ Do you know that
there's still a chance ♪
♪ upbeat music ♪
- Hi.
Nice to see you.
♪
Cold out there today.
♪
Have a great day!
Alright, how we all doing?
Brian! Up top.
Oh! Mike. Alright.
Are they here yet?
- Yeah.
- Bring 'em in, Dave.
I'm ready to grill 'em.
- We are ready to provide you
with the opportunity
to be on the cutting edge of healthcare.
- Look, I should warn you,
I've been a physician for 30 years.
So when it comes to people claiming
that they've invented
some big medical breakthrough,
I'm skeptical.
- Dr. Rosen--
- J, please, Dr. J.
Because I used to play basketball.
- Dr. J.
Dr. J, in 1992,
you had the foresight
to encourage doctors
and hospitals to transmit
records electronically--
- Intellihealth.
- Intellihealth.
Exactly. That was a breakthrough.
- Oh, I don't know about that.
But it did win a Webby.
- In 1999.
Because it was visionary.
You've always understood that
giving people information on their health
is not only good for the world,
it can...
how shall I put this,
be very profitable.
And if Obama's healthcare bill passes,
millions more people will be motivated
to start prioritizing their health.
- But look, Walgreens
tried in-store clinics in 2007,
and it was a bust.
- In-store clinics
makes me think of sick people
waiting for a flu shot.
You're thinking too small.
What we want to offer
are wellness centers.
Here, the customer waits
for his painless, efficient,
low-cost Theranos blood test
in America's favorite drugstore.
- He looks really relaxed.
Strong messaging.
And it's been approved by the FDA?
- We are looking to make
strategic relationships
to move that along.
But I kind of agree with Mark Zuckerberg
when he said,
"Move fast and break things."
- Ha.
♪
Hey. Wade!
- Hey, J, what's up?
Hey. Up top.
- Yeah.
- Hey.
- I'm busy with
the Express Scripts deal.
- I know you are.
Have you gotten a chance
to look at the proposal
for the Theranos pilot program?
I'm having trouble getting traction on it.
- Yeah. Well, we tried in-store clinics.
- Oh no, no, no, no.
This wouldn't be an in-store clinic.
This would be a wellness center.
- Wellness center.
- Yeah.
- What does that even mean?
- Also, you shouldn't be eating
those pastries in the morning.
It screws up your metabolism
for the rest of the day.
- Well, I'm not giving up pastries.
I lived in Geneva too long.
- Here, why don't you let me
take it off your hands?
- When did you live in Geneva?
- Procter and Gamble,
he was the head of finance
for all of Western Europe.
- He knows, Roland.
- Wade, 192 tests
off a single drop of blood.
Come on.
Mm-hmm.
- Let's bypass
the review committees.
- I don't know. Maybe.
- We got, we got to get going.
- Walgreens still sends faxes
to physicians.
- Technically, secure faxes--
- Yeah, well, we're in a recession,
and Facebook is valued
at $23 billion.
- Rich, I love what you're doing, man.
- Twenty-two billion dollars, Wade.
- Keep that, keep that going.
- This is the future,
and Walgreens is a hundred years old.
- A hundred and nine,
if you can believe that.
- Yes, you tried in-store clinics,
but you did it a full year after CVS.
And now CVS owns that market.
- CVS?
Wait, wait.
Wait, Theranos is talking to CVS?
- They might be.
They're shopping it.
Wade, low-cost blood testing
while you wait.
They estimate dozens more people
in stores per day.
We're talking hundreds
of millions in extra revenue.
This is the kind of tech
we want our name on.
I need-- Look, I need to find a woman.
- What?
- Okay. Hang, hang, hang right here.
Hang right here.
Excuse me. Hi, Dr. J.
Wade McClellan, our CFO,
the CFO of all of Walgreens.
I need a female point of view.
Now, excuse me.
Imagine a future where
you could detect breast cancer
before a mammogram at a Walgreens.
- That sounds great.
- See.
- Yeah, I think you'd still
probably need the mammogram.
- Thank you! See?
She says it sounds great.
See what I'm talking about.
- Yeah. Alright,
what are their financials?
- I'm looking into it.
- They got a windfall of cash
when their COO, Sunny,
um, Ba-Ba--
- Balwani.
- Balwani. Right.
Sunny Balwani got there
three years ago,
and now they're just looking
for a more permanent deal
to, you know,
keep investors happy.
- So go out there. Where are they?
- Palo Alto. California, baby.
Say what's up, dawg?
- Go out there and check it out,
but hire someone who knows about labs
to take a look at everything.
Okay? Who's that guy
we worked with?
- Oh, uh, Kevin.
Kev-Kevin Hunter. Hunter.
- Who's Kevin Hunter?
- You know what?
It doesn't add up.
Um, excuse me.
Hi, can I get
a couple more pretzels, please?
- Jesus, Kev.
- What?
Hey, why isn't Theranos just going
for the straightforward FDA approval?
- I went over this.
While they're waiting
for the FDA to come around,
they found a way
to move forward without them.
- It's a workaround.
And it's a legal gray area.
If you say that the tests
are lab developed
and you can just bypass
FDA approval--
Oh, thank you.
- You storing those up for the winter?
- They're free.
But look, if you, if you say
that the tests are lab developed,
that only works
if the blood samples are tested
in a certified lab,
not in a portable device.
- They're going to have food there,
you know.
- So then why are they claiming
that they're doing the testing
on a portable device?
Do you see what I'm saying?
- Yeah, yeah. But it's just for now.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Hey.
Did you happen to catch
the end of The Blind Side?
- I didn't, I didn't watch it.
Alright, folks,
we're going to start preparing
for our descent into San Francisco.
It's a beautiful California day.
Sixty-five degrees.
- Oh, hello, Cynthia.
- You know my name?
Most people call me
Elizabeth's new assistant.
- Tell me, how are things
in the carpeted world?
- Excuse me.
We have to keep the lobby clear.
Sorry. It was nice meeting you.
- Has anyone else noticed
there seem to be more armed guards
in the lobby than usual?
Hi, Brendan.
- Ian.
- Always wonderful to see you.
How are you?
- Uh, where are the rest of the tests?
- Well, I told you yesterday.
The assays aren't ready.
They're not reproducible in the device.
Huge CVs.
- Okay, well, have you tried approaching
the problem systematically,
like with a staggered nested design
or are you having more fun
just complaining
and making tea
and being so fucking British?
- I'm having more fun
being so fucking British.
Do you have another mug?
Hey, everyone.
Fuck me, here we go.
Listen up!
We are going to have some big meetings
in the next couple of days.
- Who are they meeting?
High-level business!
- They must be out of money. Again.
- We are going to need you all
to stay in the labs
unless you are specifically told
you can leave.
- What if we have to pee-pee?
- Or poo-poo?
- It's just for a few hours, okay?
Oh, and tacos for dinner tonight?
Tacos!
Oh, tacos make everything better.
Thank you, Daniel!
- Sunny's fucking minions.
- Uh, as far as the assays are concerned,
Frances knows where--
- Oh, Frances doesn't
work here anymore.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, Sunny fired her.
HR came down and marched her
right out the building.
She got disappeared.
- Oh, you're kidding.
That's it. That's it!
Sunny, I have to speak with you.
I understand you've let Frances go.
- She let her husband into the lab
without permission.
She was punished.
- Punished?
These are scientists, not children.
I'm very sorry,
but I have to say this.
Ever since you started working here
the, the joy,
the, the camaraderie has disappeared.
Elizabeth won't talk to me, all she cares
about is money and investors.
This is a poisonous--
- Ian. We're done.
I have a full day.
- Yes, I know you have a big meeting.
What is that meeting incidentally?
Who are you meeting?
- Ian, we're done.
- Project Beta.
What's Project Beta?
- You are on a need-to-know basis.
- I'm the head of chemistry.
- Go!
Now.
You don't need Frances.
Hire a new chemist.
Everyone is replaceable.
♪ Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall ♪
♪
Check it out. Wow.
Vidi vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
- That's just I saw, I conquered.
There's no veni.
- The "came" is implied.
♪ Suddenly I see
Suddenly I see ♪
♪ This is what I wanna be ♪
♪ Suddenly I see
Suddenly I see ♪
♪ Why the hell it means so much to me ♪
- Hello, Walgreens.
Welcome to Theranos.
We're so happy you could make it
all this way to California.
- This is Daniel Young,
senior director of Theranos Systems
and Computational Biosciences.
He comes to us from MIT.
- Hey, nice to meet you guys.
- Jay Rosen.
But call me Dr. J because
I used to play basketball.
- Dr. J was
a famous basketball player,
but that he's not.
You're not.
- I'm Roland. Hi.
- Hi.
- So do you want to get started
by showing us the laboratory?
I'm Kevin Hunter.
Walgreens hired me to assess
the lab and the tech.
- Oh, uh, we didn't realize
that you'd be here in person.
- Here I am.
So...
where is the lab?
- Why don't we, uh,
why don't we sign some NDAs,
and we'll have some snacks.
- NDAs and snacks.
Exciting.
♪
This place is nice
Who wouldn't want to work here?
I told you they'd have food.
Look, Clif bars.
- Oh, please don't open that in here.
I have a peanut allergy.
- Did they really think I wasn't going
to come and see the labs?
I mean,
you don't think this is suspicious.
It's a start-up.
They're just figuring out some stuff.
When I ran my start-up, I played--
- Yeah, when was that?
- Back in the '90s.
I'm just saying, it's tough work.
Stressful.
But, wow,
I can't get over this space.
Open floor plan. Very cool.
Do you have an open floor plan?
- I have a pharmacy consulting company
in Florida, Jay.
You should try it.
An open floor plan means
people can share, connect.
No hierarchy. Best idea wins.
- A lot of security for a place
with an open floor plan.
- Yeah, and I tell you what.
You don't have security like this
if you're not working
on something big.
- Right. That's right.
- Dr. J, could I speak,
uh, with you privately?
- Sure.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- This is about Kevin, isn't it?
Wade wants some assurances
that you guys are ready
to take this into stores.
We just need to look at the labs.
It can be fast.
Why not just get it over with?
- This is serious.
I have to talk to you
about something very... sensitive.
- Of course.
- Does anyone need more juice?
- Oh, you know, I'm all filled up.
- My, my security ran
a background check on Kevin.
Did you know that he used
to work at Quest Diagnostics?
- Oh, I thought it was serious.
Yes. We knew that.
That's why we hired him.
- Well, between us,
we have evidence
that Quest is trying to duplicate
our technology for themselves.
- Really? What's the evidence?
- I'm not able to disclose that.
I'm sure you understand.
P-people do these things.
- Yeah. Sure. Corporate espionage.
- So we're obviously a little reluctant
to have Kevin Hunter
walk through our labs at this stage.
- Wait, you don't think that he's still
in touch with them, do you?
♪
- How long have you known
Elizabeth for?
- A few years.
- Oh, that's great.
She seems nice.
- Okay, so, Kev,
we're not going to see
the labs today, buddy.
- What? Why not?
- You didn't give them enough notice.
- Yes, I did.
I told your office two weeks ago.
I have to see the labs.
This, this is why you hired me.
It's the whole reason I'm here.
I can't do my job if I can't see the labs.
- Should we, uh, continue the tour?
- No.
- Do you need something, Kevin?
- I'm sorry, I--
Can I use the bathroom?
- Let me take you.
- No, it's okay, I'll find it.
- Please, I insist.
- You, uh
you really don't have to do this.
- I don't want you to get lost.
- You coming in with me?
- I'll wait outside.
You know, I am just trying to do
the job you hired me to do.
Mm-hmm. Thank you. Very good.
Is that Jack Dorsey?
- Who's Jack Dorsey?
The Twitter guy.
- The Twitter guy?
It is!
Uh, it's not.
- I need them to administer
a vitamin D test.
I need to see the labs.
- Hey, it's Wade. Hey, Wade.
Hey.
Hey, guys.
- Hi, Wade.
- How's everybody?
- You know, you don't have a chair.
Go ahead and take mine.
Where are we?
Fill me in. Oh.
- How'd it go with Express Scripts?
- Finishing that sandwich?
Any closer to a deal?
How was your flight?
- Who gives a fuck how my flight was.
What's going on?
What's your assessment of the labs?
- Would you like to tell him?
- Yes.
They're very concerned
about security.
Okay?
They have very strict protocols.
- We didn't see the labs.
- What do you mean
you didn't see the labs?
- They give us a tour
of their offices instead.
And, uh, Sunny Balwani
showed us a sleeping bag.
- Why didn't you see the device?
- Honestly, they're concerned
that Kevin used to work at Quest.
Quest is their main competitor.
- Quest isn't a competitor.
Quest doesn't even know
that they exist.
They are paranoid.
He followed me to the bathroom.
- What?
But did you really have
to go to the bathroom?
- That part doesn't matter.
- Who followed you into the bathroom?
Sunny Balwani,
the man with the sleeping bag.
Yes, yes.
But isn't the fact that they have
such tight security proof
that they are legitimate?
- If they would administer a test
and show us the labs,
that would prove
that they're legitimate.
- You don't know
how these start-ups work.
- No, I know how labs work,
and something is going on here.
Why, why are they not
actively seeking FDA approval?
- Start-ups make deals
before FDA approval all the time.
- Right, but who is vetting them?
- Right.
- All we know is what they
put in their own literature,
th-that Theranos has been,
uh, what is it?
- Microgreens. Awesome.
- What's microgreens?
- Salad.
"Theranos has been thoroughly
validated over the last seven years
by a majority of the largest
pharmaceutical companies."
I called the pharma companies,
no one will even call me back.
Look, it's a risk,
but everything is risky right now.
The economy is tanking.
Start-ups are the only thing making money.
Look around this hotel.
Twitter is worth $3.6 billion.
- Twitter's not taking blood.
- UberCab was valued last year--
- What's UberCab?
- I believe it's where it lets you pay
for a cab on your phone.
- Right? Is that right?
That's right.
- Jesus!
I could have thought of that.
- You could have used that, right, Wade?
- What do you mean?
- Because of that DUI you just got.
Come on, we can laugh
about that, right?
- We're out of the deal unless we see
the device, the labs, everything.
Kevin, take the lead.
- Thank you.
- Oh.
This is spicy.
- The client filed
10 months after she claimed.
It's open and shut.
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Ian.
- Well--
They're holding secret meetings.
I don't understand what they're about,
but... I don't have a good feeling.
- Elizabeth won't tell you
who she's meeting or why?
- No, no.
- You're the head of chemistry.
I mean, you've been
working there for years.
- What I don't understand is that
Elizabeth doesn't talk to me at all.
- Well, who will talk to you?
♪ light techno music ♪
- Cynthia.
- Ian, hi.
- Listen, I know you're really busy,
but I just wondered, uh,
is everyone here yet
for today's meeting?
- They're in the conference room.
Elizabeth's with Sunny
finalizing something.
They should be in there
in a minute.
Were you going to that meeting?
I didn't have your name down.
- No, no, no. You, you won't see
my name there.
Um, E-Elizabeth asked if I could go
over the presentation materials.
I just wondered if you had a copy.
- Um--
- Uh, she did say that I should ask you,
um, about Project Beta.
- Project Beta. Absolutely.
Retail pitch deck tailored to Walgreens.
- Wal-Walgreens?
- Or did you want to see
the one for Safeway?
- No, this is, this is fine.
- I never know what you guys
are doing down there in the labs,
but it's so exciting.
And Theranos is going
to be in stores! Hopefully.
Let's see how the next couple days go.
- Thank you, Cynthia.
- Oh, I think
they're coming out now.
Did you want to give her your thoughts?
♪
♪
♪
- Gentlemen. Hello, hello, hello.
Hello, Wade.
We are so happy you can join us here.
- Great, thanks.
But I want to talk to you about why my--
- Actually, we, uh, we'd like to present
to you something very special.
In World War II,
Walgreens put up a nonprofit pharmacy
in the Pentagon
to give servicemen
the medicine they needed.
And in the same spirit of patriotism,
on behalf of all of us here at Theranos,
we would like you to have this.
This flag was just flown over
the battlefields of Afghanistan.
- Wow.
General Mattis has joined our board.
- As you can see,
Elizabeth has signed the flag,
especially for you, Wade.
- You autographed a flag.
- This is great. Thanks.
But we need to see the labs.
- Wade, it's not possible
unless we have a deal in place.
- Shall we discuss over dinner?
We have--
- Reservations right now
at one of the best restaurants
in the city.
- Right now?
It's 3:30.
- We have a private room.
For security reasons, we recommend
leaving at staggered intervals
so no one will see us together.
- Oh, great idea. Should we?
I mean, do you want us to go first or--
Looks like this place has
some really good reviews on Yelp.
Does it say if they have,
like, teriyaki or something?
Oh, don't ask for teriyaki.
Why?
- There's teriya-- they do teriyaki.
- Yeah, but this is like the premier
sushi restaurant in town.
You don't want to order teriyaki.
- You can get teriyaki.
- I've never had sushi.
- No, it's insulting.
It's like ordering a cheeseburger.
- I had teriyaki in Tokyo.
It was fine.
- Hey, Wade.
Hey, guys.
Hey, Wade.
Oh, it's a big fucking secret
they're here.
I mean, that's the most
recognizable car I've ever seen.
- It's cool, though, huh?
You know, Wade, it's really good
that they're being so careful
because you never know
who's watching you in Silicon Valley.
- Jay, this is ridiculous, okay.
They're stalling.
And if they can't commit to showing us
the labs at this dinner,
we're walking, understood?
- Good.
- Okay? Alright, let's go.
- Thank you.
- Come on.
Give us some sort of a signal
if you want us to leave.
I think that's a Countach.
It's a style of Lamborghini.
- They, uh, they gave us
a code name for the reservation.
- Oh, Jesus. What?
- Project Beta.
Dr. J:
So this is the number one place in town?
Two steps.
- Hi.
- Hi.
So what are we eating?
Does everyone like hamachi kama?
- Oh, my favorite.
It's yellowtail cheeks.
Um, you--
Should we sit?
- Okay. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
I'll go over here.
Okay.
You alright? Oops.
- I'm fine. I'm fine.
Okay? Alright.
- Yup.
- Thanks.
- So what's going on?
- Um--
- Ian, what is it?
Is it the, the cancer?
- No.
No, no, no. It's, it's--
- Elizabeth.
- I'm concerned.
- Well, then I'm concerned.
- Things--
Things have changed so much.
She's changed so much.
The voice, the turtleneck,
her whole demeanor.
And Sunny, problematic.
- He's not everyone's cup of tea.
- It's not just him.
What has she told you?
- About Sunny?
- No, about... what's happening?
At Theranos?
- I know everything you know.
Ian, talk to me.
If there's something wrong,
I want to know.
I brought you into this.
- I know.
- I wanted to do this with you.
- I know!
- Well, then, so if there's
something that--
- She's planning to put
the machines into stores.
With actual patients!
Patients, Channing!
- Oh, this is about Walgreens?
- Did you know about that?
- Of course. I'm on the board.
- And... and you're all...
you're all okay with it?
- Of course, we are.
From what I understand,
the technology is almost there,
and once it's out there,
she wants to try to expand the board,
make some government connections,
try to fast track
the regulatory process.
What--
W-what's, what's the problem?
- What's the problem?
The technology doesn't work.
It's years away. People will be at risk.
Actual people, Channing.
Actual... people.
- Do we put soy sauce on this?
- Just, just so I'm clear,
when you're doing the PT test,
you're adding the tissue factor
during the CBC.
What about the anticoagulants?
- That's proprietary information.
- Well, is it
proprietary information
that I know you're talking
to Steve Burd at Safeway?
Are you playing us?
Because Safeway is a grocery,
and we're a drug store.
So how wide a net
are you casting exactly?
- As wide a net as we want.
Our technology is
extremely valuable.
- Really? Because I don't think
you're acting like a company
that's financially solvent.
I think you guys burn
through money fast,
and now you're groping around
for a lifeline.
- We're not the ones in need
of a lifeline here, Wade.
- Oh yeah?
- Why were you a day late
to our meeting?
- That's proprietary information.
- You were in the middle
of trying to renegotiate your deal
with Express Scripts.
Express Scripts is, what,
seven percent of your revenue,
and, and they know that.
And now they're gouging you
on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies.
And you have to eat it.
So you're going to have to find
a new source of revenue.
For example, a wellness center.
- Oh, you're good.
She's good.
- Everyone is saying wellness,
what does wellness even mean?
- To be well.
- Guys, okay.
So what else do you know about us?
- Retail's in freefall.
- Yeah, it's a recession.
- And yet CVS's share
of prescription revenue
has risen in the past year.
- CVS sucks.
We hate CVS.
- Are you talking to them?
Are you talking to CVS?
- As I said, we are looking
for the right partners,
partners who understand our vision.
- So you're not going to tell us
who you're talking to.
- I went to your website,
and I saw that you are
really embracing widgets.
Is that, is that how you're going
to compete with Amazon
because I think that you know, Wade,
that you need to make a big move
and you need to make that soon.
- Well, I can't make any moves
until Kevin can assess the lab.
- Yes, please.
- Tomorrow morning?
- Tomorrow morning.
That's a guarantee?
- Can we get that in writing?
- Uh, you'll have to excuse me.
Ian.
- Elizabeth.
- I hear you wanted
to speak with me.
- Where did,
where did you hear that?
- From Channing Robertson?
He called me.
- Channing called you?
- You went to a board member
behind my back.
- But Channing is one
of my oldest friends.
- You went behind my back.
- I-I would have gone
just to you, but--
Well, we don't speak anymore, do we?
And ever since Sunny started--
- Don't blame this on Sunny. He's--
He kept this company alive, okay.
He understands the business.
- You can't put this in stores!
You can't let people,
human beings,
be tested with this machine.
- What-- what do you want me to do?
I'm trying to keep your research funded.
- It's not about my research!
- We need a long-term contract.
- No. No!
- Which we couldn't get
from pharmaceutical companies.
- No.
- So now we're trying with retail.
- You must get your money from
somewhere else. You've done it before.
- I don't need your advice on this, Ian.
You don't understand the business.
- And you don't understand the science!
You don't understand the implications
of what you're doing.
- No.
You're wrong.
I understand exactly what I'm doing.
You're fired.
- No.
You can't--
We built this together.
I-I'm part of this.
- No, we don't share
the same vision anymore.
- I need to work.
I, I want to work.
- Your belongings will be sent
to your home address,
and you will sign the paperwork
that the legal team
sends to you immediately.
- Please.
- Go. You need to,
you need to leave.
- I don't need to be escorted out.
- It's protocol.
♪ opera blaring over loudspeaker ♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
When did you get home?
Ian.
What's going on?
How much did you drink?
- She fired me.
- What? Who fired you?
Elizabeth?
- I went to see Channing
to tell him what was going on.
- Mm-hmm.
- And it turns out
he can't keep a secret.
- Jesus Christ!
Fucking Channing.
- And the, the silly thing is
I thought she was my friend.
- You need to lie down, Ian.
You need to sleep this off.
- I believed in her.
I looked in her eyes and I thought,
I thought I could see the future.
- Hmm.
Sleep, love.
- I'm pathetic.
- No, you're not.
- I believed in her.
♪ opera continues ♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
What's going on?
Get back to your labs.
It's against protocol to talk
to anyone outside your department.
- Did you fire Ian Gibbons?
- Get back to your lab, Brendan.
- If you fired Ian,
you'll have to fire me.
You want to fire me?
You might find you'll have to fire
a few people, isn't that right?
♪
- Mm.
Hello.
- Ian.
Ian, hi, it's Sunny.
Elizabeth feels terrible
about what happened,
and she'd like you to come back to work.
- What? El--
Elizabeth wants me back?
She does.
And we all know how important
you are to your team
and to this company.
We need you, and you need us.
And, and will I still have
the same position I had before.
- Uh, they're both here.
- We'll talk about it
when you get here, Ian.
It's good talking to you.
What do you want to do today?
Then I worked out.
That's great.
- I-- so I did use the gym.
- Good protein
and then you worked out.
- Yeah.
- That's great. I swam.
- No, I did the whole thing.
I did--
What?
Well--
- Is that--
- Steve Burd.
Safeway.
- What the fuck?
♪
What the fuck?
♪ dramatic music ♪
♪
♪
- Hey, guys. If you don't mind,
can I have you come wait
in the brainstorming room?
♪
♪
♪
♪
- What time is it?
- Eleven-oh-six.
- We've been sitting on these balls
for an hour and a half.
She doesn't get to treat us like this.
We're fucking Walgreens,
and we're walking!
- Whoa, hold on.
Give 'em, give 'em a chance.
- I've given them a chance, Jay.
Too many chances.
Enough's enough.
Oh, there you are. We've been sitting here
for over an hour and a half.
- I'm so sorry for the delay.
I, I wanted to deliver
the news to you in person.
I don't think that
this is going to work out.
- What do you mean?
What's, what's not going to work out?
- The partnership.
- What?
- I think that Walgreens is
a little old-fashioned in culture.
Which I absolutely respect.
But we need synergy.
And I'm not feeling a synergy here.
- Your reputation is about to eat shit.
- You know that, right?
- Before you go,
we're going to need you
to sign another NDA.
- Well, congratulations, Steve,
I guess you won.
Good luck with that one.
What a nightmare.
- What the hell are you talking about?
She turned us down.
I thought she went with you.
Your flight will start boarding
in about 45 minutes.
- Will the car be waiting
for us in Boston?
- Yeah. A limo will meet you
right on the tarmac.
And it should be an hour drive after that.
Oh, and you're already
checked into the hotel.
- Okay, thank you, Cynthia.
- Have a nice trip.
- CVS.
CVS is an hour from Boston.
- Fuck this, man.
Fuck her. We're done.
♪
♪
- Well, I'm relieved.
♪ Do you ever feel
like a plastic bag ♪
♪ Drifting through the wind,
wanting to start again? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel,
feel so paper thin ♪
♪ Like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
already buried deep? ♪
♪ Six feet under screams
but no one seems to hear a thing ♪
♪ Do you know that there's ♪
- Okay, stop the car.
- What, what?
- Roland, stop the car, man!
Okay, okay!
- Stop the car.
♪ Firework continues ♪
Hey, Wade!
- I don't know--
- Wade! Wait, wait.
- What the hell is he doing?
♪ 'Cause baby, you're a firework ♪
- You have got to make an offer.
- No.
No, no. After all that.
- Oh, I know, yeah.
He's throwing a Hail Mary.
It's too risky.
I've got to present to the board.
I've got to take it all--
- Oh Jesus, this guy, shit.
He's so relentless.
Sir, please lock the doors.
- Excuse me.
Is this a meeting?
- If it is, I feel like
maybe I should be--
- She's going to CVS.
- No, she's bluffing.
- Maybe she is bluffing,
maybe she's not.
- We still haven't seen the labs.
- We'll see the labs.
I'll make sure of it.
But that's not what's
going on here I think.
I think that you're scared.
- I'm not spending millions on this
just because you call me chicken shit.
- No, I'm saying
I'm chicken shit, too.
There's kids here running
billion-dollar companies.
It's all changed,
and everything's changing.
Fuck.
- It's a new world.
These kids, they don't overthink,
they don't get bogged down
in the way things always used
to be done.
They don't want
review committees, bureaucracy.
They want
to get things done now.
We're old, Wade.
We're dinosaurs.
It's just like that song.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
- What?
- The truth is, they're coming for us.
And if you walk away now,
they'll run right over you.
- Hi. Thank you.
Wade, I'm just, I'm telling you,
I think it's too dangerous.
- Oh, thank you.
You're so great.
Thank you.
Welcome back.
Please.
We should, um,
we should get back to work, eh?
Yeah.
Mr. Gibbons.
- Yeah.
- I need you to follow me.
This is your new desk.
- But-but my lab's downstairs.
Will-will this get me into my lab?
Will I be able to work in my...
lab?
♪ melancholy music ♪
♪
You know, in the mid-'80s,
under President Reagan,
I, I worked on the issue
of Soviet Jewry,
trying to win their freedom
from the USSR.
And there was one particular person
I had met in Moscow
but lost track of.
A refusenik, as they were called.
I thought for certain she was dead.
But one day,
I'm in my office in the White House
and the phone rings,
and there's this familiar little voice
on the other end.
And she says,
"George, it's Ida,
and I'm in Jerusalem."
So...
at least one person was better off,
and I had something to do with it.
In the end, what matters most,
what moves you the most, always,
has a human face.
- That's a beautiful story.
Thank you for sharing it.
- I don't know why
I've been rambling on.
Forgive me.
I haven't thought of it in years.
But I guess there's something about you.
- You know, that's exactly why
I think Walgreens and Safeway
both decided to invest millions
of dollars in the company.
Because of the human element.
We are looking to make
a strategic connection
in government
to move along the regulatory process
with the FDA.
If you would even consider it,
having George Shultz with us
would be a game changer.
- Me? You want an old man?
I'm 90 years old.
- Mr. Schultz, you are
a force of nature,
and it's inspiring
just being in your presence.
- I must say,
I have never met anyone
quite like you, Mrs. Holmes.
♪
I want to thank this guy,
Dr. Jay Rosen, get up here,
Get up here.
Come here.
Come on, come on. Come on.
Now we got to thank this guy
for his hard work to make
this partnership a reality.
Amazing. Amazing. Project Beta!
- You know, we're still waiting to get
those sample tests on the device.
When do you think we'll get those?
- Come on, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Holmes.
- Paging Elizabeth Holmes.
- Elizabeth Holmes.
Since you created
something special for us,
we wanted to create
something special for you.
Are you ready, Roland?
- Hit it.
♪ What I Like About You
playing on loudspeaker ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪
♪ What I like about blood ♪
♪ You just need one drop ♪
♪ One drop, baby ♪
♪ Put it in the box and then ♪
♪ You get your results ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Low-cost testing
for all the blood ♪
♪ Tell us all the things
that we want to know ♪
♪ Well, it's true ♪
♪ That's what I like about blood ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
Dr. J: Yeah!
♪ song continues ♪
♪
♪ What I like about blood ♪
♪ It can save your life ♪
♪ Do 200 tests on it ♪
♪ And we'll tell you what's wrong ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Low-cost testing
for all the blood ♪
♪ Tell us all the things
that we want to know ♪
♪ 'Cause it's true ♪
♪ That's what I like about blood ♪
♪ Yeah... ♪
♪ What I like ♪
♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪
If she ever wants to put
a blood-testing device
in someone's home,
she'll have to license
my invention.
She's suing me?
- It doesn't work.
It is not even close to working yet.
- It's not supposed to work.
It's a trial.
- Did you do trials on
terminal cancer patients
with a prototype that didn't work?
- I'm going to call for a vote
of no confidence from the board.
- I need a $20 million investment.
- So the board will keep you as CEO.
- And you can be COO.
We should forget
pharmaceutical companies
and try to target retail.
♪
So, Sunny Balwani
provided you with $20 million
to keep the company afloat,
but by 2010, that money was also gone.
Is that correct?
- Yes.
And isn't it correct
that the Edison machine
was still not consistently working in 2010
when you pitched Walgreens
the plan to put your device
into their stores?
Did you share that information
with Walgreens?
...is under an ethics investigation
for accepting improper gifts, then--
That means tuition hikes, and for--
Reveals
a set of national standards for math.
♪ Katy Perry's Fireworks playing ♪
♪
♪ Do you ever feel like a plastic bag ♪
♪ Drifting through the wind,
wanting to start again? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
feel so paper-thin ♪
♪ Like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
already buried deep? ♪
♪ Six feet under screams,
but no one seems to hear a thing ♪
♪ Do you know that
there's still a chance ♪
♪ upbeat music ♪
- Hi.
Nice to see you.
♪
Cold out there today.
♪
Have a great day!
Alright, how we all doing?
Brian! Up top.
Oh! Mike. Alright.
Are they here yet?
- Yeah.
- Bring 'em in, Dave.
I'm ready to grill 'em.
- We are ready to provide you
with the opportunity
to be on the cutting edge of healthcare.
- Look, I should warn you,
I've been a physician for 30 years.
So when it comes to people claiming
that they've invented
some big medical breakthrough,
I'm skeptical.
- Dr. Rosen--
- J, please, Dr. J.
Because I used to play basketball.
- Dr. J.
Dr. J, in 1992,
you had the foresight
to encourage doctors
and hospitals to transmit
records electronically--
- Intellihealth.
- Intellihealth.
Exactly. That was a breakthrough.
- Oh, I don't know about that.
But it did win a Webby.
- In 1999.
Because it was visionary.
You've always understood that
giving people information on their health
is not only good for the world,
it can...
how shall I put this,
be very profitable.
And if Obama's healthcare bill passes,
millions more people will be motivated
to start prioritizing their health.
- But look, Walgreens
tried in-store clinics in 2007,
and it was a bust.
- In-store clinics
makes me think of sick people
waiting for a flu shot.
You're thinking too small.
What we want to offer
are wellness centers.
Here, the customer waits
for his painless, efficient,
low-cost Theranos blood test
in America's favorite drugstore.
- He looks really relaxed.
Strong messaging.
And it's been approved by the FDA?
- We are looking to make
strategic relationships
to move that along.
But I kind of agree with Mark Zuckerberg
when he said,
"Move fast and break things."
- Ha.
♪
Hey. Wade!
- Hey, J, what's up?
Hey. Up top.
- Yeah.
- Hey.
- I'm busy with
the Express Scripts deal.
- I know you are.
Have you gotten a chance
to look at the proposal
for the Theranos pilot program?
I'm having trouble getting traction on it.
- Yeah. Well, we tried in-store clinics.
- Oh no, no, no, no.
This wouldn't be an in-store clinic.
This would be a wellness center.
- Wellness center.
- Yeah.
- What does that even mean?
- Also, you shouldn't be eating
those pastries in the morning.
It screws up your metabolism
for the rest of the day.
- Well, I'm not giving up pastries.
I lived in Geneva too long.
- Here, why don't you let me
take it off your hands?
- When did you live in Geneva?
- Procter and Gamble,
he was the head of finance
for all of Western Europe.
- He knows, Roland.
- Wade, 192 tests
off a single drop of blood.
Come on.
Mm-hmm.
- Let's bypass
the review committees.
- I don't know. Maybe.
- We got, we got to get going.
- Walgreens still sends faxes
to physicians.
- Technically, secure faxes--
- Yeah, well, we're in a recession,
and Facebook is valued
at $23 billion.
- Rich, I love what you're doing, man.
- Twenty-two billion dollars, Wade.
- Keep that, keep that going.
- This is the future,
and Walgreens is a hundred years old.
- A hundred and nine,
if you can believe that.
- Yes, you tried in-store clinics,
but you did it a full year after CVS.
And now CVS owns that market.
- CVS?
Wait, wait.
Wait, Theranos is talking to CVS?
- They might be.
They're shopping it.
Wade, low-cost blood testing
while you wait.
They estimate dozens more people
in stores per day.
We're talking hundreds
of millions in extra revenue.
This is the kind of tech
we want our name on.
I need-- Look, I need to find a woman.
- What?
- Okay. Hang, hang, hang right here.
Hang right here.
Excuse me. Hi, Dr. J.
Wade McClellan, our CFO,
the CFO of all of Walgreens.
I need a female point of view.
Now, excuse me.
Imagine a future where
you could detect breast cancer
before a mammogram at a Walgreens.
- That sounds great.
- See.
- Yeah, I think you'd still
probably need the mammogram.
- Thank you! See?
She says it sounds great.
See what I'm talking about.
- Yeah. Alright,
what are their financials?
- I'm looking into it.
- They got a windfall of cash
when their COO, Sunny,
um, Ba-Ba--
- Balwani.
- Balwani. Right.
Sunny Balwani got there
three years ago,
and now they're just looking
for a more permanent deal
to, you know,
keep investors happy.
- So go out there. Where are they?
- Palo Alto. California, baby.
Say what's up, dawg?
- Go out there and check it out,
but hire someone who knows about labs
to take a look at everything.
Okay? Who's that guy
we worked with?
- Oh, uh, Kevin.
Kev-Kevin Hunter. Hunter.
- Who's Kevin Hunter?
- You know what?
It doesn't add up.
Um, excuse me.
Hi, can I get
a couple more pretzels, please?
- Jesus, Kev.
- What?
Hey, why isn't Theranos just going
for the straightforward FDA approval?
- I went over this.
While they're waiting
for the FDA to come around,
they found a way
to move forward without them.
- It's a workaround.
And it's a legal gray area.
If you say that the tests
are lab developed
and you can just bypass
FDA approval--
Oh, thank you.
- You storing those up for the winter?
- They're free.
But look, if you, if you say
that the tests are lab developed,
that only works
if the blood samples are tested
in a certified lab,
not in a portable device.
- They're going to have food there,
you know.
- So then why are they claiming
that they're doing the testing
on a portable device?
Do you see what I'm saying?
- Yeah, yeah. But it's just for now.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Hey.
Did you happen to catch
the end of The Blind Side?
- I didn't, I didn't watch it.
Alright, folks,
we're going to start preparing
for our descent into San Francisco.
It's a beautiful California day.
Sixty-five degrees.
- Oh, hello, Cynthia.
- You know my name?
Most people call me
Elizabeth's new assistant.
- Tell me, how are things
in the carpeted world?
- Excuse me.
We have to keep the lobby clear.
Sorry. It was nice meeting you.
- Has anyone else noticed
there seem to be more armed guards
in the lobby than usual?
Hi, Brendan.
- Ian.
- Always wonderful to see you.
How are you?
- Uh, where are the rest of the tests?
- Well, I told you yesterday.
The assays aren't ready.
They're not reproducible in the device.
Huge CVs.
- Okay, well, have you tried approaching
the problem systematically,
like with a staggered nested design
or are you having more fun
just complaining
and making tea
and being so fucking British?
- I'm having more fun
being so fucking British.
Do you have another mug?
Hey, everyone.
Fuck me, here we go.
Listen up!
We are going to have some big meetings
in the next couple of days.
- Who are they meeting?
High-level business!
- They must be out of money. Again.
- We are going to need you all
to stay in the labs
unless you are specifically told
you can leave.
- What if we have to pee-pee?
- Or poo-poo?
- It's just for a few hours, okay?
Oh, and tacos for dinner tonight?
Tacos!
Oh, tacos make everything better.
Thank you, Daniel!
- Sunny's fucking minions.
- Uh, as far as the assays are concerned,
Frances knows where--
- Oh, Frances doesn't
work here anymore.
- What do you mean?
- I mean, Sunny fired her.
HR came down and marched her
right out the building.
She got disappeared.
- Oh, you're kidding.
That's it. That's it!
Sunny, I have to speak with you.
I understand you've let Frances go.
- She let her husband into the lab
without permission.
She was punished.
- Punished?
These are scientists, not children.
I'm very sorry,
but I have to say this.
Ever since you started working here
the, the joy,
the, the camaraderie has disappeared.
Elizabeth won't talk to me, all she cares
about is money and investors.
This is a poisonous--
- Ian. We're done.
I have a full day.
- Yes, I know you have a big meeting.
What is that meeting incidentally?
Who are you meeting?
- Ian, we're done.
- Project Beta.
What's Project Beta?
- You are on a need-to-know basis.
- I'm the head of chemistry.
- Go!
Now.
You don't need Frances.
Hire a new chemist.
Everyone is replaceable.
♪ Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall ♪
♪
Check it out. Wow.
Vidi vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
- That's just I saw, I conquered.
There's no veni.
- The "came" is implied.
♪ Suddenly I see
Suddenly I see ♪
♪ This is what I wanna be ♪
♪ Suddenly I see
Suddenly I see ♪
♪ Why the hell it means so much to me ♪
- Hello, Walgreens.
Welcome to Theranos.
We're so happy you could make it
all this way to California.
- This is Daniel Young,
senior director of Theranos Systems
and Computational Biosciences.
He comes to us from MIT.
- Hey, nice to meet you guys.
- Jay Rosen.
But call me Dr. J because
I used to play basketball.
- Dr. J was
a famous basketball player,
but that he's not.
You're not.
- I'm Roland. Hi.
- Hi.
- So do you want to get started
by showing us the laboratory?
I'm Kevin Hunter.
Walgreens hired me to assess
the lab and the tech.
- Oh, uh, we didn't realize
that you'd be here in person.
- Here I am.
So...
where is the lab?
- Why don't we, uh,
why don't we sign some NDAs,
and we'll have some snacks.
- NDAs and snacks.
Exciting.
♪
This place is nice
Who wouldn't want to work here?
I told you they'd have food.
Look, Clif bars.
- Oh, please don't open that in here.
I have a peanut allergy.
- Did they really think I wasn't going
to come and see the labs?
I mean,
you don't think this is suspicious.
It's a start-up.
They're just figuring out some stuff.
When I ran my start-up, I played--
- Yeah, when was that?
- Back in the '90s.
I'm just saying, it's tough work.
Stressful.
But, wow,
I can't get over this space.
Open floor plan. Very cool.
Do you have an open floor plan?
- I have a pharmacy consulting company
in Florida, Jay.
You should try it.
An open floor plan means
people can share, connect.
No hierarchy. Best idea wins.
- A lot of security for a place
with an open floor plan.
- Yeah, and I tell you what.
You don't have security like this
if you're not working
on something big.
- Right. That's right.
- Dr. J, could I speak,
uh, with you privately?
- Sure.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- This is about Kevin, isn't it?
Wade wants some assurances
that you guys are ready
to take this into stores.
We just need to look at the labs.
It can be fast.
Why not just get it over with?
- This is serious.
I have to talk to you
about something very... sensitive.
- Of course.
- Does anyone need more juice?
- Oh, you know, I'm all filled up.
- My, my security ran
a background check on Kevin.
Did you know that he used
to work at Quest Diagnostics?
- Oh, I thought it was serious.
Yes. We knew that.
That's why we hired him.
- Well, between us,
we have evidence
that Quest is trying to duplicate
our technology for themselves.
- Really? What's the evidence?
- I'm not able to disclose that.
I'm sure you understand.
P-people do these things.
- Yeah. Sure. Corporate espionage.
- So we're obviously a little reluctant
to have Kevin Hunter
walk through our labs at this stage.
- Wait, you don't think that he's still
in touch with them, do you?
♪
- How long have you known
Elizabeth for?
- A few years.
- Oh, that's great.
She seems nice.
- Okay, so, Kev,
we're not going to see
the labs today, buddy.
- What? Why not?
- You didn't give them enough notice.
- Yes, I did.
I told your office two weeks ago.
I have to see the labs.
This, this is why you hired me.
It's the whole reason I'm here.
I can't do my job if I can't see the labs.
- Should we, uh, continue the tour?
- No.
- Do you need something, Kevin?
- I'm sorry, I--
Can I use the bathroom?
- Let me take you.
- No, it's okay, I'll find it.
- Please, I insist.
- You, uh
you really don't have to do this.
- I don't want you to get lost.
- You coming in with me?
- I'll wait outside.
You know, I am just trying to do
the job you hired me to do.
Mm-hmm. Thank you. Very good.
Is that Jack Dorsey?
- Who's Jack Dorsey?
The Twitter guy.
- The Twitter guy?
It is!
Uh, it's not.
- I need them to administer
a vitamin D test.
I need to see the labs.
- Hey, it's Wade. Hey, Wade.
Hey.
Hey, guys.
- Hi, Wade.
- How's everybody?
- You know, you don't have a chair.
Go ahead and take mine.
Where are we?
Fill me in. Oh.
- How'd it go with Express Scripts?
- Finishing that sandwich?
Any closer to a deal?
How was your flight?
- Who gives a fuck how my flight was.
What's going on?
What's your assessment of the labs?
- Would you like to tell him?
- Yes.
They're very concerned
about security.
Okay?
They have very strict protocols.
- We didn't see the labs.
- What do you mean
you didn't see the labs?
- They give us a tour
of their offices instead.
And, uh, Sunny Balwani
showed us a sleeping bag.
- Why didn't you see the device?
- Honestly, they're concerned
that Kevin used to work at Quest.
Quest is their main competitor.
- Quest isn't a competitor.
Quest doesn't even know
that they exist.
They are paranoid.
He followed me to the bathroom.
- What?
But did you really have
to go to the bathroom?
- That part doesn't matter.
- Who followed you into the bathroom?
Sunny Balwani,
the man with the sleeping bag.
Yes, yes.
But isn't the fact that they have
such tight security proof
that they are legitimate?
- If they would administer a test
and show us the labs,
that would prove
that they're legitimate.
- You don't know
how these start-ups work.
- No, I know how labs work,
and something is going on here.
Why, why are they not
actively seeking FDA approval?
- Start-ups make deals
before FDA approval all the time.
- Right, but who is vetting them?
- Right.
- All we know is what they
put in their own literature,
th-that Theranos has been,
uh, what is it?
- Microgreens. Awesome.
- What's microgreens?
- Salad.
"Theranos has been thoroughly
validated over the last seven years
by a majority of the largest
pharmaceutical companies."
I called the pharma companies,
no one will even call me back.
Look, it's a risk,
but everything is risky right now.
The economy is tanking.
Start-ups are the only thing making money.
Look around this hotel.
Twitter is worth $3.6 billion.
- Twitter's not taking blood.
- UberCab was valued last year--
- What's UberCab?
- I believe it's where it lets you pay
for a cab on your phone.
- Right? Is that right?
That's right.
- Jesus!
I could have thought of that.
- You could have used that, right, Wade?
- What do you mean?
- Because of that DUI you just got.
Come on, we can laugh
about that, right?
- We're out of the deal unless we see
the device, the labs, everything.
Kevin, take the lead.
- Thank you.
- Oh.
This is spicy.
- The client filed
10 months after she claimed.
It's open and shut.
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Ian.
- Well--
They're holding secret meetings.
I don't understand what they're about,
but... I don't have a good feeling.
- Elizabeth won't tell you
who she's meeting or why?
- No, no.
- You're the head of chemistry.
I mean, you've been
working there for years.
- What I don't understand is that
Elizabeth doesn't talk to me at all.
- Well, who will talk to you?
♪ light techno music ♪
- Cynthia.
- Ian, hi.
- Listen, I know you're really busy,
but I just wondered, uh,
is everyone here yet
for today's meeting?
- They're in the conference room.
Elizabeth's with Sunny
finalizing something.
They should be in there
in a minute.
Were you going to that meeting?
I didn't have your name down.
- No, no, no. You, you won't see
my name there.
Um, E-Elizabeth asked if I could go
over the presentation materials.
I just wondered if you had a copy.
- Um--
- Uh, she did say that I should ask you,
um, about Project Beta.
- Project Beta. Absolutely.
Retail pitch deck tailored to Walgreens.
- Wal-Walgreens?
- Or did you want to see
the one for Safeway?
- No, this is, this is fine.
- I never know what you guys
are doing down there in the labs,
but it's so exciting.
And Theranos is going
to be in stores! Hopefully.
Let's see how the next couple days go.
- Thank you, Cynthia.
- Oh, I think
they're coming out now.
Did you want to give her your thoughts?
♪
♪
♪
- Gentlemen. Hello, hello, hello.
Hello, Wade.
We are so happy you can join us here.
- Great, thanks.
But I want to talk to you about why my--
- Actually, we, uh, we'd like to present
to you something very special.
In World War II,
Walgreens put up a nonprofit pharmacy
in the Pentagon
to give servicemen
the medicine they needed.
And in the same spirit of patriotism,
on behalf of all of us here at Theranos,
we would like you to have this.
This flag was just flown over
the battlefields of Afghanistan.
- Wow.
General Mattis has joined our board.
- As you can see,
Elizabeth has signed the flag,
especially for you, Wade.
- You autographed a flag.
- This is great. Thanks.
But we need to see the labs.
- Wade, it's not possible
unless we have a deal in place.
- Shall we discuss over dinner?
We have--
- Reservations right now
at one of the best restaurants
in the city.
- Right now?
It's 3:30.
- We have a private room.
For security reasons, we recommend
leaving at staggered intervals
so no one will see us together.
- Oh, great idea. Should we?
I mean, do you want us to go first or--
Looks like this place has
some really good reviews on Yelp.
Does it say if they have,
like, teriyaki or something?
Oh, don't ask for teriyaki.
Why?
- There's teriya-- they do teriyaki.
- Yeah, but this is like the premier
sushi restaurant in town.
You don't want to order teriyaki.
- You can get teriyaki.
- I've never had sushi.
- No, it's insulting.
It's like ordering a cheeseburger.
- I had teriyaki in Tokyo.
It was fine.
- Hey, Wade.
Hey, guys.
Hey, Wade.
Oh, it's a big fucking secret
they're here.
I mean, that's the most
recognizable car I've ever seen.
- It's cool, though, huh?
You know, Wade, it's really good
that they're being so careful
because you never know
who's watching you in Silicon Valley.
- Jay, this is ridiculous, okay.
They're stalling.
And if they can't commit to showing us
the labs at this dinner,
we're walking, understood?
- Good.
- Okay? Alright, let's go.
- Thank you.
- Come on.
Give us some sort of a signal
if you want us to leave.
I think that's a Countach.
It's a style of Lamborghini.
- They, uh, they gave us
a code name for the reservation.
- Oh, Jesus. What?
- Project Beta.
Dr. J:
So this is the number one place in town?
Two steps.
- Hi.
- Hi.
So what are we eating?
Does everyone like hamachi kama?
- Oh, my favorite.
It's yellowtail cheeks.
Um, you--
Should we sit?
- Okay. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
I'll go over here.
Okay.
You alright? Oops.
- I'm fine. I'm fine.
Okay? Alright.
- Yup.
- Thanks.
- So what's going on?
- Um--
- Ian, what is it?
Is it the, the cancer?
- No.
No, no, no. It's, it's--
- Elizabeth.
- I'm concerned.
- Well, then I'm concerned.
- Things--
Things have changed so much.
She's changed so much.
The voice, the turtleneck,
her whole demeanor.
And Sunny, problematic.
- He's not everyone's cup of tea.
- It's not just him.
What has she told you?
- About Sunny?
- No, about... what's happening?
At Theranos?
- I know everything you know.
Ian, talk to me.
If there's something wrong,
I want to know.
I brought you into this.
- I know.
- I wanted to do this with you.
- I know!
- Well, then, so if there's
something that--
- She's planning to put
the machines into stores.
With actual patients!
Patients, Channing!
- Oh, this is about Walgreens?
- Did you know about that?
- Of course. I'm on the board.
- And... and you're all...
you're all okay with it?
- Of course, we are.
From what I understand,
the technology is almost there,
and once it's out there,
she wants to try to expand the board,
make some government connections,
try to fast track
the regulatory process.
What--
W-what's, what's the problem?
- What's the problem?
The technology doesn't work.
It's years away. People will be at risk.
Actual people, Channing.
Actual... people.
- Do we put soy sauce on this?
- Just, just so I'm clear,
when you're doing the PT test,
you're adding the tissue factor
during the CBC.
What about the anticoagulants?
- That's proprietary information.
- Well, is it
proprietary information
that I know you're talking
to Steve Burd at Safeway?
Are you playing us?
Because Safeway is a grocery,
and we're a drug store.
So how wide a net
are you casting exactly?
- As wide a net as we want.
Our technology is
extremely valuable.
- Really? Because I don't think
you're acting like a company
that's financially solvent.
I think you guys burn
through money fast,
and now you're groping around
for a lifeline.
- We're not the ones in need
of a lifeline here, Wade.
- Oh yeah?
- Why were you a day late
to our meeting?
- That's proprietary information.
- You were in the middle
of trying to renegotiate your deal
with Express Scripts.
Express Scripts is, what,
seven percent of your revenue,
and, and they know that.
And now they're gouging you
on behalf of the pharmaceutical companies.
And you have to eat it.
So you're going to have to find
a new source of revenue.
For example, a wellness center.
- Oh, you're good.
She's good.
- Everyone is saying wellness,
what does wellness even mean?
- To be well.
- Guys, okay.
So what else do you know about us?
- Retail's in freefall.
- Yeah, it's a recession.
- And yet CVS's share
of prescription revenue
has risen in the past year.
- CVS sucks.
We hate CVS.
- Are you talking to them?
Are you talking to CVS?
- As I said, we are looking
for the right partners,
partners who understand our vision.
- So you're not going to tell us
who you're talking to.
- I went to your website,
and I saw that you are
really embracing widgets.
Is that, is that how you're going
to compete with Amazon
because I think that you know, Wade,
that you need to make a big move
and you need to make that soon.
- Well, I can't make any moves
until Kevin can assess the lab.
- Yes, please.
- Tomorrow morning?
- Tomorrow morning.
That's a guarantee?
- Can we get that in writing?
- Uh, you'll have to excuse me.
Ian.
- Elizabeth.
- I hear you wanted
to speak with me.
- Where did,
where did you hear that?
- From Channing Robertson?
He called me.
- Channing called you?
- You went to a board member
behind my back.
- But Channing is one
of my oldest friends.
- You went behind my back.
- I-I would have gone
just to you, but--
Well, we don't speak anymore, do we?
And ever since Sunny started--
- Don't blame this on Sunny. He's--
He kept this company alive, okay.
He understands the business.
- You can't put this in stores!
You can't let people,
human beings,
be tested with this machine.
- What-- what do you want me to do?
I'm trying to keep your research funded.
- It's not about my research!
- We need a long-term contract.
- No. No!
- Which we couldn't get
from pharmaceutical companies.
- No.
- So now we're trying with retail.
- You must get your money from
somewhere else. You've done it before.
- I don't need your advice on this, Ian.
You don't understand the business.
- And you don't understand the science!
You don't understand the implications
of what you're doing.
- No.
You're wrong.
I understand exactly what I'm doing.
You're fired.
- No.
You can't--
We built this together.
I-I'm part of this.
- No, we don't share
the same vision anymore.
- I need to work.
I, I want to work.
- Your belongings will be sent
to your home address,
and you will sign the paperwork
that the legal team
sends to you immediately.
- Please.
- Go. You need to,
you need to leave.
- I don't need to be escorted out.
- It's protocol.
♪ opera blaring over loudspeaker ♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
When did you get home?
Ian.
What's going on?
How much did you drink?
- She fired me.
- What? Who fired you?
Elizabeth?
- I went to see Channing
to tell him what was going on.
- Mm-hmm.
- And it turns out
he can't keep a secret.
- Jesus Christ!
Fucking Channing.
- And the, the silly thing is
I thought she was my friend.
- You need to lie down, Ian.
You need to sleep this off.
- I believed in her.
I looked in her eyes and I thought,
I thought I could see the future.
- Hmm.
Sleep, love.
- I'm pathetic.
- No, you're not.
- I believed in her.
♪ opera continues ♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
What's going on?
Get back to your labs.
It's against protocol to talk
to anyone outside your department.
- Did you fire Ian Gibbons?
- Get back to your lab, Brendan.
- If you fired Ian,
you'll have to fire me.
You want to fire me?
You might find you'll have to fire
a few people, isn't that right?
♪
- Mm.
Hello.
- Ian.
Ian, hi, it's Sunny.
Elizabeth feels terrible
about what happened,
and she'd like you to come back to work.
- What? El--
Elizabeth wants me back?
She does.
And we all know how important
you are to your team
and to this company.
We need you, and you need us.
And, and will I still have
the same position I had before.
- Uh, they're both here.
- We'll talk about it
when you get here, Ian.
It's good talking to you.
What do you want to do today?
Then I worked out.
That's great.
- I-- so I did use the gym.
- Good protein
and then you worked out.
- Yeah.
- That's great. I swam.
- No, I did the whole thing.
I did--
What?
Well--
- Is that--
- Steve Burd.
Safeway.
- What the fuck?
♪
What the fuck?
♪ dramatic music ♪
♪
♪
- Hey, guys. If you don't mind,
can I have you come wait
in the brainstorming room?
♪
♪
♪
♪
- What time is it?
- Eleven-oh-six.
- We've been sitting on these balls
for an hour and a half.
She doesn't get to treat us like this.
We're fucking Walgreens,
and we're walking!
- Whoa, hold on.
Give 'em, give 'em a chance.
- I've given them a chance, Jay.
Too many chances.
Enough's enough.
Oh, there you are. We've been sitting here
for over an hour and a half.
- I'm so sorry for the delay.
I, I wanted to deliver
the news to you in person.
I don't think that
this is going to work out.
- What do you mean?
What's, what's not going to work out?
- The partnership.
- What?
- I think that Walgreens is
a little old-fashioned in culture.
Which I absolutely respect.
But we need synergy.
And I'm not feeling a synergy here.
- Your reputation is about to eat shit.
- You know that, right?
- Before you go,
we're going to need you
to sign another NDA.
- Well, congratulations, Steve,
I guess you won.
Good luck with that one.
What a nightmare.
- What the hell are you talking about?
She turned us down.
I thought she went with you.
Your flight will start boarding
in about 45 minutes.
- Will the car be waiting
for us in Boston?
- Yeah. A limo will meet you
right on the tarmac.
And it should be an hour drive after that.
Oh, and you're already
checked into the hotel.
- Okay, thank you, Cynthia.
- Have a nice trip.
- CVS.
CVS is an hour from Boston.
- Fuck this, man.
Fuck her. We're done.
♪
♪
- Well, I'm relieved.
♪ Do you ever feel
like a plastic bag ♪
♪ Drifting through the wind,
wanting to start again? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel,
feel so paper thin ♪
♪ Like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in? ♪
♪ Do you ever feel
already buried deep? ♪
♪ Six feet under screams
but no one seems to hear a thing ♪
♪ Do you know that there's ♪
- Okay, stop the car.
- What, what?
- Roland, stop the car, man!
Okay, okay!
- Stop the car.
♪ Firework continues ♪
Hey, Wade!
- I don't know--
- Wade! Wait, wait.
- What the hell is he doing?
♪ 'Cause baby, you're a firework ♪
- You have got to make an offer.
- No.
No, no. After all that.
- Oh, I know, yeah.
He's throwing a Hail Mary.
It's too risky.
I've got to present to the board.
I've got to take it all--
- Oh Jesus, this guy, shit.
He's so relentless.
Sir, please lock the doors.
- Excuse me.
Is this a meeting?
- If it is, I feel like
maybe I should be--
- She's going to CVS.
- No, she's bluffing.
- Maybe she is bluffing,
maybe she's not.
- We still haven't seen the labs.
- We'll see the labs.
I'll make sure of it.
But that's not what's
going on here I think.
I think that you're scared.
- I'm not spending millions on this
just because you call me chicken shit.
- No, I'm saying
I'm chicken shit, too.
There's kids here running
billion-dollar companies.
It's all changed,
and everything's changing.
Fuck.
- It's a new world.
These kids, they don't overthink,
they don't get bogged down
in the way things always used
to be done.
They don't want
review committees, bureaucracy.
They want
to get things done now.
We're old, Wade.
We're dinosaurs.
It's just like that song.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
- What?
- The truth is, they're coming for us.
And if you walk away now,
they'll run right over you.
- Hi. Thank you.
Wade, I'm just, I'm telling you,
I think it's too dangerous.
- Oh, thank you.
You're so great.
Thank you.
Welcome back.
Please.
We should, um,
we should get back to work, eh?
Yeah.
Mr. Gibbons.
- Yeah.
- I need you to follow me.
This is your new desk.
- But-but my lab's downstairs.
Will-will this get me into my lab?
Will I be able to work in my...
lab?
♪ melancholy music ♪
♪
You know, in the mid-'80s,
under President Reagan,
I, I worked on the issue
of Soviet Jewry,
trying to win their freedom
from the USSR.
And there was one particular person
I had met in Moscow
but lost track of.
A refusenik, as they were called.
I thought for certain she was dead.
But one day,
I'm in my office in the White House
and the phone rings,
and there's this familiar little voice
on the other end.
And she says,
"George, it's Ida,
and I'm in Jerusalem."
So...
at least one person was better off,
and I had something to do with it.
In the end, what matters most,
what moves you the most, always,
has a human face.
- That's a beautiful story.
Thank you for sharing it.
- I don't know why
I've been rambling on.
Forgive me.
I haven't thought of it in years.
But I guess there's something about you.
- You know, that's exactly why
I think Walgreens and Safeway
both decided to invest millions
of dollars in the company.
Because of the human element.
We are looking to make
a strategic connection
in government
to move along the regulatory process
with the FDA.
If you would even consider it,
having George Shultz with us
would be a game changer.
- Me? You want an old man?
I'm 90 years old.
- Mr. Schultz, you are
a force of nature,
and it's inspiring
just being in your presence.
- I must say,
I have never met anyone
quite like you, Mrs. Holmes.
♪
I want to thank this guy,
Dr. Jay Rosen, get up here,
Get up here.
Come here.
Come on, come on. Come on.
Now we got to thank this guy
for his hard work to make
this partnership a reality.
Amazing. Amazing. Project Beta!
- You know, we're still waiting to get
those sample tests on the device.
When do you think we'll get those?
- Come on, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Holmes.
- Paging Elizabeth Holmes.
- Elizabeth Holmes.
Since you created
something special for us,
we wanted to create
something special for you.
Are you ready, Roland?
- Hit it.
♪ What I Like About You
playing on loudspeaker ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪
♪ What I like about blood ♪
♪ You just need one drop ♪
♪ One drop, baby ♪
♪ Put it in the box and then ♪
♪ You get your results ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Low-cost testing
for all the blood ♪
♪ Tell us all the things
that we want to know ♪
♪ Well, it's true ♪
♪ That's what I like about blood ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
Dr. J: Yeah!
♪ song continues ♪
♪
♪ What I like about blood ♪
♪ It can save your life ♪
♪ Do 200 tests on it ♪
♪ And we'll tell you what's wrong ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Low-cost testing
for all the blood ♪
♪ Tell us all the things
that we want to know ♪
♪ 'Cause it's true ♪
♪ That's what I like about blood ♪
♪ Yeah... ♪
♪ What I like ♪
♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪