Unspeakable (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
_
How quickly people forget.
Many of you know what happened.
Some of you lived through it.
It might surprise you
how many people out there
aren't aware of it at all.
Some have a vague idea, but
so few know the details.
It's shocking.
It's hard to believe.
It was, even at the time.
Back then, there was no Internet.
There was no Facebook or Twitter,
or whatever the kids are using today.
People didn't have cell phones
to connect them instantly
to the latest news and information.
As a former journalist,
it was my job to inform the public.
To warn people if they were in danger.
To get to the truth.
Quite simply, we failed.
Ahem.
I've read studies that suggest
human beings feel more empathy
for one single victim
than they would for thousands
affected by the same event.
So let me try and put this story
in a more personal context.
I'm doubly responsible.
It was not only my job as a journalist
to get to the truth...
it was my job as a father.
_
_
- Excuse me.
- Can we get in there, please?
- My son is bleeding.
- Ma'am, you have to register.
No, we've been here three times already!
- He needs help now!
- These people are ahead of you.
He was circumcised yesterday.
They said the bleeding
would stop in an hour.
- You have to register.
- Look!
Come with me.
I know, it looks like
we're torturing him,
but it's much easier
to get the I.V. into a vein on his head.
The blood tests show
that his clotting factor
is very low.
Less than 1%.
What does that mean?
Have you heard of hemophilia?
It's an inherited genetic disease.
The body doesn't produce
clotting factor,
which means serious
bleeding goes unchecked.
It's something that's passed
on through the mother.
Women are carriers and
often don't know it.
- I had no idea.
- It's not very common.
Roughly one in 10,000.
In the past, the prognosis was not good.
But, very recently,
developments have been made
in clotting factor
replacement therapy...
something called "cryoprecipitate."
That's what we're administering now.
Please...
just tell me...
is he gonna be okay?
Hey.
You should get some sleep.
This is not your fault.
I spoke to my mother.
I had an uncle who died
young. I never knew why.
It turns out it was hemophilia.
She didn't warn you?
She didn't understand
how it was passed on.
She said they used
to duct tape pillows around him
when he was a boy.
They wheeled him around in a wagon
so he wouldn't hurt himself.
We're gonna be all right.
I love you.
We have a beautiful boy,
and he's gonna be fine.
We just have to be a
little more careful.
- _
- Back door, back door. Here, here.
Slap it, slap it!
_
Stay down, homo, if you
know what's good for you.
You okay?
_
You shoot up before the game?
No.
Don't worry.
I got your back.
That dickhead's going down.
_
I hate this shit.
It never dissolves properly.
Hi.
Hi.
What happened?
I just hurt my shoulder.
Playing road hockey.
I thought we decided
that was a bad idea.
You decided.
Hey, Mom. We're really hungry.
Can we have a snack?
Oh, it's okay.
It's just my brother.
He does it all the time.
Yeah. It doesn't hurt or nothing.
Oh! Oh, jeez...
I'll call her mother.
_
_
All right, come on. We're late.
Why do I have to go to the dentist
on my one day off school?
Because it's also my day off school.
I'm done.
You think I'm gonna need a needle?
Oh, what's the problem?
You just took one.
Yeah, but it wasn't in my mouth.
_
_
_
You know, you should really
spruce up the place a little.
Why does nothing ever work?
These keys keep sticking.
Hey, I thought we agreed that
last cup makes another pot.
- Sorry.
- Also,
I'm not the receptionist.
Noted. For the record, who is?
Well, okay, right now, it's me,
but you need to check
the resumes I left on your desk,
and Margaret's on line two.
Next time, you might
want to lead with that.
Hi! Everything okay?
Uh, it's fine, yeah. We're
just at the dentist.
I know, that's why I was asking.
If something can be
transmitted sexually,
it would be also transmitted
by blood, right?
Theoretically. Why?
There's an article in The Times...
You didn't finish the
crossword, did you?
Oh, forget about that.
There's a new disease
emerging in the gay
community in the U.S.
They're calling it
"pre-cancer syndrome."
Yeah, I think I heard of that.
It's, um... "G.R.I.D."
"Gay-related immune deficiency."
This article is saying that the
Centers for Disease Control
thinks it might be an infectious agent.
This new concentrate
that Ryan is taking,
it's pooled from how many blood donors?
Is it 20,000?
I know you probably think
I'm overreacting, but...
No.
No, I'll... I'll call the CDC.
_
Vancouver Daily News.
Mysterious disease no one
knows anything about.
A few gays in the U.S.
That's a few hundred cases.
And the death rate is high...
it's almost all of them.
Homosexuals?
Oh, so because it's gay
people, nobody cares?
Oh, look, it's buried in the back.
The Times doesn't care either.
Not everything's gonna
be Clifford Olson.
11 grisly murders in our own backyard.
Gonna be tough to top that.
We have a big gay community here.
Really? I hadn't noticed.
So, how many people have this thing?
Well, as of March,
there's one reported case in Canada.
It's a guy in Windsor,
but that doesn't mean...
Get me something else.
♪ The silence can be... ♪
It must hurt.
Who hit you?
Doncaster.
Asshole.
Does he know you're a bleeder?
- ♪ ... Just between you and me ♪
- I hate that word.
Sorry.
I'd rather he run me over
than treat me like a pussy.
Why do you play
when you know you could get hurt?
♪ ... Just between you and me... ♪
Because I like it.
I'm not just gonna stop living.
I just take a shot if I need it.
Your parents must worry about you.
Yeah? How about yours?
They know you're smoking weed
in the park with boys?
Not "boys."
One boy.
Why do it?
Because I like it.
♪ Just between you and me ♪
_
There's nothing to worry about.
_
Well, actually, my husband Will,
he works for Public Health,
and he spoke with the CDC,
and they're worried.
This disease is spreading fast,
and there's already one case in Miami
where a heterosexual hemophiliac
is showing symptoms.
What if he got it from
factor concentrate?
No classes today?
A substitute is covering
for me this morning.
This was too important to wait.
I'd like to switch Ryan back to cryo.
That would be a big step backwards.
The new product is more convenient,
but each vial is made up
from a pool of up to 20,000 donors.
That's a lot of exposure
to potential infection.
Hepatitis, as well as, um...
whatever this new thing is.
There is no evidence of
any increased threat
of transmitting blood-borne pathogens,
particularly here in Canada.
But each unit of cryo comes
from only one donor.
It would be much safer.
And besides, the Connaught
concentrate is terrible.
It doesn't reconstitute properly.
Well, there are definitely
some kinks to be worked out.
Look, I am the medical
professional here.
All our patients will
remain on the concentrate.
The Red Cross has not expressed
any concerns about its safety
beyond the already-indicated risks.
I'm sorry, are you saying that
you won't give Ryan cryo,
even though it's readily available?
That's what I'm saying.
So you can get back to
teaching the A-B-Cs now.
_
_
Dr. Furesz is on the phone.
John Derrick.
- _
- Uh, John, have you seen the news
out of the recent CDC meeting?
You're talking about A.I.D.S.?
Just a heads-up that
we're drafting a notice
asking you to study possible
transmission through blood,
and we would like you
to alert all physicians
to increase surveillance
of hemophilia patients' symptoms.
I don't foresee a problem here.
Of course.
There is the matter of
importation of plasma
from the U.S. for the
Canadian clotting factors.
By all rights,
we should be able to collect and process
enough Canadian blood to
supply our own needs,
but we can't get the provinces
to approve the budget.
Well, that is between you and them.
I leave it in your capable hands.
I wouldn't worry.
There are no cases
of transfusion-related
A.I.D.S. in Canada.
_
Frank Schnabel?
- Yes.
- I'm Dr. Tsoukas.
Nice to meet you.
Dr. Strawczynski asked
me to look in on you.
Never good news when a specialist
is forced to call in
another specialist, is it?
Well, uh, not a specialist yet.
I'm actually a resident,
currently studying hay fever.
I understand that you
want your T-cells tested.
- That's right.
- Okay.
Well, let's take it one step at a time.
- You have hemophilia?
- Yes.
I understand you're the founding member
of the Canadian Hemophilia Society?
Someone had to do it.
Dr. Strawczynski says
that you were one of her first patients
to switch from Cryo
to the new concentrated
factor-VIII product?
Changed my life in many ways.
I can travel freely now.
In fact, I was just in
Europe for a conference.
Had to treat myself. Elbow.
Roughly a week later, I
came down with this rash.
Fever, night sweats and chills.
There are a number of
causes for those symptoms.
This is what's about to be published
in Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly, in the U.S.
No one wants to admit this thing
isn't just a gay disease.
There are three cases in
hemophiliacs down there.
It's in the blood products.
Uh... I-I'll look into it.
I know what's going on.
I'm a heterosexual man
and I have A.I.D.S.
_
Technically, this is an adult clinic,
but there are no hard and fast rules.
So you don't think
Dr. Mathews will have a problem
giving Ryan cryo?
Oh, it shouldn't be an issue.
That's great.
But, to be clear,
we haven't been given
any reason to worry
about concentrates,
and cryo is not risk-free.
I know.
But thank you.
What's your problem?
Come on.
I gotta go.
Dude...
Grow up. It was a joke.
I know.
Going to screw your girlfriend, I hope.
Yeah, I wish.
I hear Peter has a girlfriend.
I don't know what's going on.
It's not like he brings her around.
What's Andy say?
Not much.
Just that, uh, he doesn't see Peter
as much as he used to.
Oh, I'm sure there's nothing wrong.
Those two are such good friends.
Andy hasn't really been himself lately.
He's not talking much anymore,
and when he does, it's
just snapping at me.
Yeah, Peter's no different.
Teenage boys.
He's always talked to me, though.
Maybe it's just because
it's the two of us.
I'm probably making too much of it all,
but I can't help it.
Adam got the same way before he left.
Do you think it's drugs?
No! Do you?
I don't know.
I smelled pot on Peter's
jacket once or twice.
Well, I've looked.
All I found was nudie magazines.
Boys.
_
I spoke with the doctor following
one of the three American
hemophiliacs with A.I.D.S.
Name's Man-Chiu Poon.
And what's he say?
If the disease is indeed coming
through the blood supply,
it's surviving the filtration process,
which means the culprit responsible
has to be extremely
small, possibly a virus.
Your patient, Mr. Schnabel,
has an imbalance of T-cells
that matches the American cases.
Do you really think that
Frank could have A.I.D.S.?
The T-cell abnormality could be a result
of exposure to foreign
proteins in the blood product,
o-or even a genetic connection
to the hemophilia itself.
Far as I know, there's never been
a study on the immune system
of hemophiliacs here in Canada.
I'm applying to start one.
I'll encourage my patients to volunteer.
I'd appreciate that, thank you.
Thinking about changing your major?
- Maybe.
- I'm this way.
Ah. Dr. Strawczynski?
If they ask you what the study is about,
what are you going to tell them?
I'll tell them exactly what it is.
A general study of the immune system.
I know it's early,
but have you considered
putting something
in the Hemophilia Society newsletter?
You know, getting info out
to patients directly?
It's been discussed.
We don't want to panic anyone just yet.
That's the thing about, uh,
you know, infectious diseases...
by the time you start to
panic, it's often too late.
Well, surely, we're not there yet.
_
_
Dr. Herst?
Hi. William Sanders.
You're, um, you're Deputy Director
of the Toronto Red Cross Centre, right?
- Yes.
- I just started volunteering.
My son has hemophilia.
What can I do for you?
Well, I didn't want to
interrupt the meeting,
but I was just wondering
why nothing was discussed
about product safety.
I don't see why it would be.
Well, with everything
going on in the U.S.?
Recommendations are being made.
The, um, the National Hemophilia
Foundation down there
is saying people should
move back to cryo.
Not everyone.
I-I'm sorry?
The NHF is recommending
cryo for newly-diagnosed,
mild hemophiliacs,
and those under the age of five years.
That's not "everyone."
True, that is true, but
isn't that an indication?
Well, things are different in the U.S.
There's no cases of A.I.D.S. here.
Actually, we have 12.
12 reported cases of A.I.D.S.
Those are from high-risk groups...
homosexuals, Haitians, and heroin users.
I hear they've being dubbed
the "Four-'H' Club"...
fourth being hemophiliacs.
None has been tied to blood transfusions
of any kind... that's what I meant.
Well, I'm just saying
why not be cautious?
Inform people and give them the choice.
Hemophiliacs need to treat their bleeds.
The last thing that we want
to do here is promote fear.
Excuse me.
Oh. Yeah.
Thank you for chiming in.
Yeah, well, we really rang her bell.
Mm.
Lawrence Hartley, treasurer.
Uh, William Sanders. Concerned father.
Christ. I can't stand it.
That's still broken.
I can see that.
_
As far as the directive from the B.O.B.
regarding the potential
transmission of A.I.D.S.
to hemophiliacs,
a working group was established.
According to the latest
minutes, after six months,
any evidence that hemophiliacs
are at risk is in...
Son of a bitch!
That window is painted shut.
I asked for it to be fixed!
You also asked for the
thermostat to be fixed.
Unbelievable.
So how are the plans
for the new building
coming along?
Still trying to get budget approval.
So, no cases of A.I.D.S. transmission
in Canadian hemophiliacs yet?
According to the study,
the odds of getting A.I.D.S.
from blood in Canada
are one in a million.
We've fielded calls suggesting
that homosexuals and
other high-risk groups
refrain from donating blood.
That's ridiculous.
These people don't realize
what we're up against here.
It's a balancing act.
Last thing we need is
to scare away donors.
And we can't single out
a specific group without cause.
I mean, imagine people
being asked questions
about sexual activity and orientation?
We're relying on the assumption
that only good people give blood
and good people would think twice
if they thought they had
a communicable disease.
Of course, they would.
What if they didn't know they had it?
Can you imagine if donations declined?
There are real consequences
to any reduction of the blood supply.
People need to understand
there is something worse
than a possible contagion in the blood.
No blood at all.
My understanding
is that four donors with A.I.D.S.
would throw the whole
system into jeopardy.
Nothing is without risk.
The odds of dying in a car
accident are 1 in 5,000.
One in a million.
I think that's fair to say.
_
You can't tell us to stop having sex.
That can't be the answer.
Well, you can use condoms.
- What's the government doing?
- Nothing. They refused
our request for funding.
We're on our own.
Nobody cares if a few faggots die.
They can't say it's not
happening here anymore.
12 cases have been reported in Canada.
That number's total bullshit!
We all know it's much higher than that.
How many of us go back and forth
to San Fran and New York?
A.I.D.S. doesn't give a
shit where you live.
Ben Landry, right? Vancouver Daily?
12 reported cases.
Not one mainstream article yet.
Look, it's not me.
Oh, it's just everyone else.
I'm doing a piece on the
safety of the blood system.
Well, I can tell you... gay men take
a great deal of pride in
the act of donating blood.
Even if they could be
spreading A.I.D.S.?
You want us to self-defer?
- I hate to be morbid...
- But what you really need
is proof that A.I.D.S. is a threat
to the hetero population.
Real people.
You want headlines? Bring me a body.
Andy!
What the hell are you doing?
You could've burnt
this whole house down!
I'm not gonna burn the house down!
Just leave me alone!
No! I will not leave you alone!
What has gotten into you?
Just stay away from me!
Hey, Will? Take a look at this.
A baby died in San Francisco.
_
You know what this means?
Yeah, proof that A.I.D.S.
is transmitted by blood.
They tracked the blood back to a man
who had no symptoms when he donated.
He had no idea he was infected.
We knew there was an incubation period,
but it could be much longer
than anyone suspected.
Who knows how many people
are walking around with
it and don't know it?
And giving blood.
How bad is it?
I don't know.
That's the problem.
It's in the blood,
it's gonna hit the general population.
Probably already has.
No one likes to hear the word.
They say it's fear-mongering.
Epidemic?
That's Doncaster's house.
What's happened?
Was anyone inside?
We don't know.
T-cells assist
in a normal functioning immune system.
And low T-cells
indicate a compromised immune system.
There are a variety of causes.
Uh, prolonged presence of
acute or chronic infections,
which may or may not be treatable.
There are a few rare syndromes...
some genetic, some acquired,
and of course, certain
types of cancers...
According to this article,
more than half of the
hemophiliacs in your study
have abnormally-low T-cells.
Yes.
Were you surprised with that result?
Well, yes, uh, but it
was a small sampling.
32 subjects.
We're expanding the study.
No one's actually ever
tested the T-cell ratios
of hemophiliacs before.
We really don't know why
we're seeing this result.
You believe hemophiliacs
are at risk of contracting A.I.D.S.?
Possible, yes.
Uh... but there's no,
uh, proof right now.
The Red Cross says
that Canadian blood products are safe.
Would you agree with that?
I would agree that that
is, uh, their position.
There's no point in beating
around the bush here.
If I'm going to get
this story published,
I need a quote highlighting
the dangers of A.I.D.S.
transmission through blood,
something that wasn't in this article.
Do you believe that half
of the hemophiliacs in your study
have been infected with A.I.D.S.?
I've... I've said all I can.
Uh, it would be irresponsible of me
to speculate further right now.
Will you test my son?
You understand what I'm saying?
These... these results don't mean
that the people with diminished T-cells
have A.I.D.S.
I'm asking you to test my son.
Andy? It's me.
Go away.
Andy...
Get out!
Andy, please.
- Don't touch me!
- Andy!
How could you do this to me?
- Andy!
- Ahh!
I hate you! I hate you!
I hate you!
Ahh!
I would never have turned him in
if I knew that this would happen.
That place that they're keeping him...
... It's no better than a prison.
You should've seen the look in his eyes.
Wasn't my son anymore.
He's seen a doctor, though, hasn't he?
They seem to think it's...
in his head.
Like he's had some sort
of a mental breakdown.
Ben met with a doctor in Montreal.
He's doing a study on hemophiliacs.
For what?
Low T-cells.
It's what happens to people
when they get A.I.D.S.
It's possible it could be transmitted
through blood products.
- Why hasn't anyone told us about this?
- I don't know.
I'm only telling you this because...
Look, I could be way off.
The most common symptoms
are swollen lymph glands,
fever, chills, things like that...
but apparently, some people experience
behavioral changes.
Mood swings, memory loss...
They're saying, in some cases,
it can affect the brain, cause dementia.
Well, the doctor, he never...
The doctor who saw Andy
might not know any better.
"There is no question
"that gay men should not donate blood
until the issue is resolved."
Who's this "Shuster"
guy they're quoting?
I interviewed Tsoukas,
who did the study,
but he wouldn't go on record.
That quote is from his supervisor.
Who was willing to go on record.
Oh, okay.
So, you're, uh...
you're saying it's my fault
that some dinky, little journal
scooped us, is that it?
What are the Red Cross saying?
What they've been saying all along!
That science supports their position,
that there's not a
problem here in Canada,
but that's bullshit!
Everything is not fine!
The Red Cross is a
humanitarian organization
doing countless good works
for the sick and the vulnerable
for what, the past century?
If you're gonna call them liars,
you better be able to prove it.
Ben... Ben!
What?
Look, I know this is personal for you...
Unbelievable.
- _
- You were just in New York.
It's just business, that's all.
If you say so.
Emergency meeting?
Mm.
What's it about?
Ask the NHF.
They've got nothing new.
They're just reacting
to the CDC conference.
It's all just a bunch of hysteria.
Still... maybe we should say something.
I just did.
I told the media
we're not gonna single out gay donors.
I mean, look at what's
happening in the U.S.
The hostility and violence toward gays
is up across the board.
They called it... "gay plague."
And then "gay-related
immune deficiency."
I'm not gonna fuel the fire.
The truth is...
... they'll be happier
when we're all dead.
You don't have it.
I don't have it.
I wish I knew for sure.
This place has really gone downhill.
I'm not ordering from them again.
We were victims of a crusade
long before A.I.D.S.
threw gas on the flames.
They think we deserve it.
But it'll only get worse
if they think we're giving it to them.
I can't eat this.
If the NHF is gonna
recommend screening donors,
then right or not,
we're gonna look like we're late.
We ask all high-risk groups
to voluntarily exclude themselves.
Keep it to a press release.
No face-to-face required.
Earlier today,
Haitian protesters gathered
outside of Red Cross headquarters
to protest a new policy
that singles out high-risk groups.
They say it's racist propaganda
and that there's no
significant relationship
between Haitians and A.I.D.S.
Response to the Red Cross press release.
Targeted high-risk
groups are going nuts.
On one hand, they say
there is no evidence
of A.I.D.S. transmission through blood
and then they single out
homosexual and bi-sexual men
with multiple partners,
newly-arrived Haitian immigrants,
and I.V. drug users, and
ask them not to donate.
Now they're all crying discrimination.
I wanted them to reach out
and cooperate with the communities,
not dictate to them.
Now it's about human rights
instead of safe blood products.
I'm sorry it's taken so long.
I, um, I wanted to run the test twice.
And?
Normal T-cell count
is between 500 and 1200
per cubic millimetre.
Peter's level is 412.
That's obviously below normal,
but I-I don't want you
to jump to conclusions.
Mr. Landry, are you there?
Yes. I'm here.
Mr. Landry, this... this does not mean
that Peter is sick or-or
is ever going to get sick.
We, uh... don't know what it means.
Please...
Dr. Tsoukas, I think we
both know what it means.
Yesterday,
the CDC called an emergency
meeting in Atlanta
to press for measures
to control the spread of A.I.D.S.,
a deadly disease
which began in the gay community
and now appears to be threatening
the American blood system.
Those infected are dying
at an alarming rate.
Today, we have learned
that U.S. blood bankers
are drafting measures to
screen high-risk donors,
while here, at home,
the Canadian Red Cross
continues to assure the public
that there is little to no risk
of contracting A.I.D.S.
from a transfusion.
All these representatives
of the fractionators are
arguing the economics.
I mean, they are literally
weighing the cost of changing their ways
versus potential lawsuits
when Don Francis slams
his fist on the table
and he says, "How many
people have to die?
How many deaths do we need?"
What did they say?
Nothing.
It's disgusting.
The New England Journal of Medicine
just published a preliminary study
suggesting that cryo
is safer than concentrates.
The next day,
the National Hemophilia Foundation
added recommendations
for donor screening.
Why are we so far behind the U.S.?
I mean, isn't it insane to think
that the border will just act
like some sort of filter?
Particularly when more
than half the concentrates
used in Canada are made from
plasma collected in the U.S.
I mean...
... can't say we don't
have an A.I.D.S. problem.
Why aren't we seeing any of this
in the Canadian society newsletters?
Medical Advisory Committee
controls the release
of all the scientific
and medical information,
and the doctors on the committee
don't want to promote panic.
Plus, most of them also
work for the Red Cross.
It's the RC's position that baffles me.
So John Derrick came out of
that emergency NHF meeting
and he said there still
wasn't any evidence
that A.I.D.S. is
transmitted through blood.
They're hiding behind absolute science.
But you can convict a murderer
on enough circumstantial evidence.
It just doesn't make any sense.
I mean, when you think of the Red Cross,
you think first responders,
disaster relief.
Well, the provinces control
the purse strings.
As usual, it all comes down to money.
Look, the problem is,
no one wants to admit the danger.
More like they're denying it.
Publicly.
What about privately?
So I'm at this conference two weeks ago,
and I find myself in line,
talking to Roger Perrault.
And he asks me
if I've switched back to cryo.
The National Director of Blood Services
asked you?
Yeah. And I say, "yeah, I have."
And then he says?
He says...
"Keep it that way."
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Frankly, I don't blame him.
He said not to panic,
that it didn't mean Peter had...
A.I.D.S.
Say it.
"A.I.D.S."
Andy has A.I.D.S.
Andy and Peter took
the same concentrate,
the same lot numbers in
some cases, I checked.
They really have no idea
what all this means.
Andy is dying!
I know.
Oh, God. I can barely breathe.
There's nothing anyone
can do at this point.
What are we gonna tell him?
He's only 15.
Nothing.
We're not gonna tell him anything.
Hey.
Hey, buddy.
I, uh... I brought you these.
Why?
Do I need a reason?
Yes.
I just don't want a
girlfriend right now, okay?
Did I do something wrong?
I already told you, it's not about you.
Is it because I wouldn't
have sex with you?
No!
I told you, it was gonna happen.
Just don't press it.
Peter, please. Just talk to me.
No.
We're over. Okay? That's it.
Fuck you.
I'm glad I didn't sleep with you.
You have no idea.
Ew, that's gross.
What the hell?
Em, go play in your room.
We need to talk to Peter.
Why can't I hear?
It's adult stuff, honey. Go on.
Andy passed away.
We're so sorry.
Why didn't you guys tell
me I have A.I.D.S.?
I heard you talking.
Your T-cells are slightly below normal,
but nobody knows what that...
- that means yet, so...
- It means I have A.I.D.S.
Like Andy.
Why didn't you come to us?
You... You guys didn't come to me.
You didn't want me to know.
We didn't want you to worry.
Because I'm gonna die!
Stop it.
I don't want that to
even enter your mind.
- How could it not?
- Because you're not sick!
The doctor who tested you
said there's a number of reasons
why your T-cells could be low.
- Peter! Where are you going?
- Peter!
Will Sanders.
Will, it's Lawrence. Listen to this.
It's a draft of Hemophilia Today
that's about to come out,
and I am quoting Rosalyn Herst.
"Hemophiliacs should
continue to treat as usual."
Jesus Christ!
"The media reports you may be reading
"are alarmist and distorted.
"None of the 30 known
cases of A.I.D.S. in Canada
"have been related to transfusion.
"Blood products are safe
"and the risk of damage from bleeds
"far outweighs any theoretical risk
of viral transmission."
I don't care what you guys
say, I know I'm going to die.
How quickly people forget.
Many of you know what happened.
Some of you lived through it.
It might surprise you
how many people out there
aren't aware of it at all.
Some have a vague idea, but
so few know the details.
It's shocking.
It's hard to believe.
It was, even at the time.
Back then, there was no Internet.
There was no Facebook or Twitter,
or whatever the kids are using today.
People didn't have cell phones
to connect them instantly
to the latest news and information.
As a former journalist,
it was my job to inform the public.
To warn people if they were in danger.
To get to the truth.
Quite simply, we failed.
Ahem.
I've read studies that suggest
human beings feel more empathy
for one single victim
than they would for thousands
affected by the same event.
So let me try and put this story
in a more personal context.
I'm doubly responsible.
It was not only my job as a journalist
to get to the truth...
it was my job as a father.
_
_
- Excuse me.
- Can we get in there, please?
- My son is bleeding.
- Ma'am, you have to register.
No, we've been here three times already!
- He needs help now!
- These people are ahead of you.
He was circumcised yesterday.
They said the bleeding
would stop in an hour.
- You have to register.
- Look!
Come with me.
I know, it looks like
we're torturing him,
but it's much easier
to get the I.V. into a vein on his head.
The blood tests show
that his clotting factor
is very low.
Less than 1%.
What does that mean?
Have you heard of hemophilia?
It's an inherited genetic disease.
The body doesn't produce
clotting factor,
which means serious
bleeding goes unchecked.
It's something that's passed
on through the mother.
Women are carriers and
often don't know it.
- I had no idea.
- It's not very common.
Roughly one in 10,000.
In the past, the prognosis was not good.
But, very recently,
developments have been made
in clotting factor
replacement therapy...
something called "cryoprecipitate."
That's what we're administering now.
Please...
just tell me...
is he gonna be okay?
Hey.
You should get some sleep.
This is not your fault.
I spoke to my mother.
I had an uncle who died
young. I never knew why.
It turns out it was hemophilia.
She didn't warn you?
She didn't understand
how it was passed on.
She said they used
to duct tape pillows around him
when he was a boy.
They wheeled him around in a wagon
so he wouldn't hurt himself.
We're gonna be all right.
I love you.
We have a beautiful boy,
and he's gonna be fine.
We just have to be a
little more careful.
- _
- Back door, back door. Here, here.
Slap it, slap it!
_
Stay down, homo, if you
know what's good for you.
You okay?
_
You shoot up before the game?
No.
Don't worry.
I got your back.
That dickhead's going down.
_
I hate this shit.
It never dissolves properly.
Hi.
Hi.
What happened?
I just hurt my shoulder.
Playing road hockey.
I thought we decided
that was a bad idea.
You decided.
Hey, Mom. We're really hungry.
Can we have a snack?
Oh, it's okay.
It's just my brother.
He does it all the time.
Yeah. It doesn't hurt or nothing.
Oh! Oh, jeez...
I'll call her mother.
_
_
All right, come on. We're late.
Why do I have to go to the dentist
on my one day off school?
Because it's also my day off school.
I'm done.
You think I'm gonna need a needle?
Oh, what's the problem?
You just took one.
Yeah, but it wasn't in my mouth.
_
_
_
You know, you should really
spruce up the place a little.
Why does nothing ever work?
These keys keep sticking.
Hey, I thought we agreed that
last cup makes another pot.
- Sorry.
- Also,
I'm not the receptionist.
Noted. For the record, who is?
Well, okay, right now, it's me,
but you need to check
the resumes I left on your desk,
and Margaret's on line two.
Next time, you might
want to lead with that.
Hi! Everything okay?
Uh, it's fine, yeah. We're
just at the dentist.
I know, that's why I was asking.
If something can be
transmitted sexually,
it would be also transmitted
by blood, right?
Theoretically. Why?
There's an article in The Times...
You didn't finish the
crossword, did you?
Oh, forget about that.
There's a new disease
emerging in the gay
community in the U.S.
They're calling it
"pre-cancer syndrome."
Yeah, I think I heard of that.
It's, um... "G.R.I.D."
"Gay-related immune deficiency."
This article is saying that the
Centers for Disease Control
thinks it might be an infectious agent.
This new concentrate
that Ryan is taking,
it's pooled from how many blood donors?
Is it 20,000?
I know you probably think
I'm overreacting, but...
No.
No, I'll... I'll call the CDC.
_
Vancouver Daily News.
Mysterious disease no one
knows anything about.
A few gays in the U.S.
That's a few hundred cases.
And the death rate is high...
it's almost all of them.
Homosexuals?
Oh, so because it's gay
people, nobody cares?
Oh, look, it's buried in the back.
The Times doesn't care either.
Not everything's gonna
be Clifford Olson.
11 grisly murders in our own backyard.
Gonna be tough to top that.
We have a big gay community here.
Really? I hadn't noticed.
So, how many people have this thing?
Well, as of March,
there's one reported case in Canada.
It's a guy in Windsor,
but that doesn't mean...
Get me something else.
♪ The silence can be... ♪
It must hurt.
Who hit you?
Doncaster.
Asshole.
Does he know you're a bleeder?
- ♪ ... Just between you and me ♪
- I hate that word.
Sorry.
I'd rather he run me over
than treat me like a pussy.
Why do you play
when you know you could get hurt?
♪ ... Just between you and me... ♪
Because I like it.
I'm not just gonna stop living.
I just take a shot if I need it.
Your parents must worry about you.
Yeah? How about yours?
They know you're smoking weed
in the park with boys?
Not "boys."
One boy.
Why do it?
Because I like it.
♪ Just between you and me ♪
_
There's nothing to worry about.
_
Well, actually, my husband Will,
he works for Public Health,
and he spoke with the CDC,
and they're worried.
This disease is spreading fast,
and there's already one case in Miami
where a heterosexual hemophiliac
is showing symptoms.
What if he got it from
factor concentrate?
No classes today?
A substitute is covering
for me this morning.
This was too important to wait.
I'd like to switch Ryan back to cryo.
That would be a big step backwards.
The new product is more convenient,
but each vial is made up
from a pool of up to 20,000 donors.
That's a lot of exposure
to potential infection.
Hepatitis, as well as, um...
whatever this new thing is.
There is no evidence of
any increased threat
of transmitting blood-borne pathogens,
particularly here in Canada.
But each unit of cryo comes
from only one donor.
It would be much safer.
And besides, the Connaught
concentrate is terrible.
It doesn't reconstitute properly.
Well, there are definitely
some kinks to be worked out.
Look, I am the medical
professional here.
All our patients will
remain on the concentrate.
The Red Cross has not expressed
any concerns about its safety
beyond the already-indicated risks.
I'm sorry, are you saying that
you won't give Ryan cryo,
even though it's readily available?
That's what I'm saying.
So you can get back to
teaching the A-B-Cs now.
_
_
Dr. Furesz is on the phone.
John Derrick.
- _
- Uh, John, have you seen the news
out of the recent CDC meeting?
You're talking about A.I.D.S.?
Just a heads-up that
we're drafting a notice
asking you to study possible
transmission through blood,
and we would like you
to alert all physicians
to increase surveillance
of hemophilia patients' symptoms.
I don't foresee a problem here.
Of course.
There is the matter of
importation of plasma
from the U.S. for the
Canadian clotting factors.
By all rights,
we should be able to collect and process
enough Canadian blood to
supply our own needs,
but we can't get the provinces
to approve the budget.
Well, that is between you and them.
I leave it in your capable hands.
I wouldn't worry.
There are no cases
of transfusion-related
A.I.D.S. in Canada.
_
Frank Schnabel?
- Yes.
- I'm Dr. Tsoukas.
Nice to meet you.
Dr. Strawczynski asked
me to look in on you.
Never good news when a specialist
is forced to call in
another specialist, is it?
Well, uh, not a specialist yet.
I'm actually a resident,
currently studying hay fever.
I understand that you
want your T-cells tested.
- That's right.
- Okay.
Well, let's take it one step at a time.
- You have hemophilia?
- Yes.
I understand you're the founding member
of the Canadian Hemophilia Society?
Someone had to do it.
Dr. Strawczynski says
that you were one of her first patients
to switch from Cryo
to the new concentrated
factor-VIII product?
Changed my life in many ways.
I can travel freely now.
In fact, I was just in
Europe for a conference.
Had to treat myself. Elbow.
Roughly a week later, I
came down with this rash.
Fever, night sweats and chills.
There are a number of
causes for those symptoms.
This is what's about to be published
in Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly, in the U.S.
No one wants to admit this thing
isn't just a gay disease.
There are three cases in
hemophiliacs down there.
It's in the blood products.
Uh... I-I'll look into it.
I know what's going on.
I'm a heterosexual man
and I have A.I.D.S.
_
Technically, this is an adult clinic,
but there are no hard and fast rules.
So you don't think
Dr. Mathews will have a problem
giving Ryan cryo?
Oh, it shouldn't be an issue.
That's great.
But, to be clear,
we haven't been given
any reason to worry
about concentrates,
and cryo is not risk-free.
I know.
But thank you.
What's your problem?
Come on.
I gotta go.
Dude...
Grow up. It was a joke.
I know.
Going to screw your girlfriend, I hope.
Yeah, I wish.
I hear Peter has a girlfriend.
I don't know what's going on.
It's not like he brings her around.
What's Andy say?
Not much.
Just that, uh, he doesn't see Peter
as much as he used to.
Oh, I'm sure there's nothing wrong.
Those two are such good friends.
Andy hasn't really been himself lately.
He's not talking much anymore,
and when he does, it's
just snapping at me.
Yeah, Peter's no different.
Teenage boys.
He's always talked to me, though.
Maybe it's just because
it's the two of us.
I'm probably making too much of it all,
but I can't help it.
Adam got the same way before he left.
Do you think it's drugs?
No! Do you?
I don't know.
I smelled pot on Peter's
jacket once or twice.
Well, I've looked.
All I found was nudie magazines.
Boys.
_
I spoke with the doctor following
one of the three American
hemophiliacs with A.I.D.S.
Name's Man-Chiu Poon.
And what's he say?
If the disease is indeed coming
through the blood supply,
it's surviving the filtration process,
which means the culprit responsible
has to be extremely
small, possibly a virus.
Your patient, Mr. Schnabel,
has an imbalance of T-cells
that matches the American cases.
Do you really think that
Frank could have A.I.D.S.?
The T-cell abnormality could be a result
of exposure to foreign
proteins in the blood product,
o-or even a genetic connection
to the hemophilia itself.
Far as I know, there's never been
a study on the immune system
of hemophiliacs here in Canada.
I'm applying to start one.
I'll encourage my patients to volunteer.
I'd appreciate that, thank you.
Thinking about changing your major?
- Maybe.
- I'm this way.
Ah. Dr. Strawczynski?
If they ask you what the study is about,
what are you going to tell them?
I'll tell them exactly what it is.
A general study of the immune system.
I know it's early,
but have you considered
putting something
in the Hemophilia Society newsletter?
You know, getting info out
to patients directly?
It's been discussed.
We don't want to panic anyone just yet.
That's the thing about, uh,
you know, infectious diseases...
by the time you start to
panic, it's often too late.
Well, surely, we're not there yet.
_
_
Dr. Herst?
Hi. William Sanders.
You're, um, you're Deputy Director
of the Toronto Red Cross Centre, right?
- Yes.
- I just started volunteering.
My son has hemophilia.
What can I do for you?
Well, I didn't want to
interrupt the meeting,
but I was just wondering
why nothing was discussed
about product safety.
I don't see why it would be.
Well, with everything
going on in the U.S.?
Recommendations are being made.
The, um, the National Hemophilia
Foundation down there
is saying people should
move back to cryo.
Not everyone.
I-I'm sorry?
The NHF is recommending
cryo for newly-diagnosed,
mild hemophiliacs,
and those under the age of five years.
That's not "everyone."
True, that is true, but
isn't that an indication?
Well, things are different in the U.S.
There's no cases of A.I.D.S. here.
Actually, we have 12.
12 reported cases of A.I.D.S.
Those are from high-risk groups...
homosexuals, Haitians, and heroin users.
I hear they've being dubbed
the "Four-'H' Club"...
fourth being hemophiliacs.
None has been tied to blood transfusions
of any kind... that's what I meant.
Well, I'm just saying
why not be cautious?
Inform people and give them the choice.
Hemophiliacs need to treat their bleeds.
The last thing that we want
to do here is promote fear.
Excuse me.
Oh. Yeah.
Thank you for chiming in.
Yeah, well, we really rang her bell.
Mm.
Lawrence Hartley, treasurer.
Uh, William Sanders. Concerned father.
Christ. I can't stand it.
That's still broken.
I can see that.
_
As far as the directive from the B.O.B.
regarding the potential
transmission of A.I.D.S.
to hemophiliacs,
a working group was established.
According to the latest
minutes, after six months,
any evidence that hemophiliacs
are at risk is in...
Son of a bitch!
That window is painted shut.
I asked for it to be fixed!
You also asked for the
thermostat to be fixed.
Unbelievable.
So how are the plans
for the new building
coming along?
Still trying to get budget approval.
So, no cases of A.I.D.S. transmission
in Canadian hemophiliacs yet?
According to the study,
the odds of getting A.I.D.S.
from blood in Canada
are one in a million.
We've fielded calls suggesting
that homosexuals and
other high-risk groups
refrain from donating blood.
That's ridiculous.
These people don't realize
what we're up against here.
It's a balancing act.
Last thing we need is
to scare away donors.
And we can't single out
a specific group without cause.
I mean, imagine people
being asked questions
about sexual activity and orientation?
We're relying on the assumption
that only good people give blood
and good people would think twice
if they thought they had
a communicable disease.
Of course, they would.
What if they didn't know they had it?
Can you imagine if donations declined?
There are real consequences
to any reduction of the blood supply.
People need to understand
there is something worse
than a possible contagion in the blood.
No blood at all.
My understanding
is that four donors with A.I.D.S.
would throw the whole
system into jeopardy.
Nothing is without risk.
The odds of dying in a car
accident are 1 in 5,000.
One in a million.
I think that's fair to say.
_
You can't tell us to stop having sex.
That can't be the answer.
Well, you can use condoms.
- What's the government doing?
- Nothing. They refused
our request for funding.
We're on our own.
Nobody cares if a few faggots die.
They can't say it's not
happening here anymore.
12 cases have been reported in Canada.
That number's total bullshit!
We all know it's much higher than that.
How many of us go back and forth
to San Fran and New York?
A.I.D.S. doesn't give a
shit where you live.
Ben Landry, right? Vancouver Daily?
12 reported cases.
Not one mainstream article yet.
Look, it's not me.
Oh, it's just everyone else.
I'm doing a piece on the
safety of the blood system.
Well, I can tell you... gay men take
a great deal of pride in
the act of donating blood.
Even if they could be
spreading A.I.D.S.?
You want us to self-defer?
- I hate to be morbid...
- But what you really need
is proof that A.I.D.S. is a threat
to the hetero population.
Real people.
You want headlines? Bring me a body.
Andy!
What the hell are you doing?
You could've burnt
this whole house down!
I'm not gonna burn the house down!
Just leave me alone!
No! I will not leave you alone!
What has gotten into you?
Just stay away from me!
Hey, Will? Take a look at this.
A baby died in San Francisco.
_
You know what this means?
Yeah, proof that A.I.D.S.
is transmitted by blood.
They tracked the blood back to a man
who had no symptoms when he donated.
He had no idea he was infected.
We knew there was an incubation period,
but it could be much longer
than anyone suspected.
Who knows how many people
are walking around with
it and don't know it?
And giving blood.
How bad is it?
I don't know.
That's the problem.
It's in the blood,
it's gonna hit the general population.
Probably already has.
No one likes to hear the word.
They say it's fear-mongering.
Epidemic?
That's Doncaster's house.
What's happened?
Was anyone inside?
We don't know.
T-cells assist
in a normal functioning immune system.
And low T-cells
indicate a compromised immune system.
There are a variety of causes.
Uh, prolonged presence of
acute or chronic infections,
which may or may not be treatable.
There are a few rare syndromes...
some genetic, some acquired,
and of course, certain
types of cancers...
According to this article,
more than half of the
hemophiliacs in your study
have abnormally-low T-cells.
Yes.
Were you surprised with that result?
Well, yes, uh, but it
was a small sampling.
32 subjects.
We're expanding the study.
No one's actually ever
tested the T-cell ratios
of hemophiliacs before.
We really don't know why
we're seeing this result.
You believe hemophiliacs
are at risk of contracting A.I.D.S.?
Possible, yes.
Uh... but there's no,
uh, proof right now.
The Red Cross says
that Canadian blood products are safe.
Would you agree with that?
I would agree that that
is, uh, their position.
There's no point in beating
around the bush here.
If I'm going to get
this story published,
I need a quote highlighting
the dangers of A.I.D.S.
transmission through blood,
something that wasn't in this article.
Do you believe that half
of the hemophiliacs in your study
have been infected with A.I.D.S.?
I've... I've said all I can.
Uh, it would be irresponsible of me
to speculate further right now.
Will you test my son?
You understand what I'm saying?
These... these results don't mean
that the people with diminished T-cells
have A.I.D.S.
I'm asking you to test my son.
Andy? It's me.
Go away.
Andy...
Get out!
Andy, please.
- Don't touch me!
- Andy!
How could you do this to me?
- Andy!
- Ahh!
I hate you! I hate you!
I hate you!
Ahh!
I would never have turned him in
if I knew that this would happen.
That place that they're keeping him...
... It's no better than a prison.
You should've seen the look in his eyes.
Wasn't my son anymore.
He's seen a doctor, though, hasn't he?
They seem to think it's...
in his head.
Like he's had some sort
of a mental breakdown.
Ben met with a doctor in Montreal.
He's doing a study on hemophiliacs.
For what?
Low T-cells.
It's what happens to people
when they get A.I.D.S.
It's possible it could be transmitted
through blood products.
- Why hasn't anyone told us about this?
- I don't know.
I'm only telling you this because...
Look, I could be way off.
The most common symptoms
are swollen lymph glands,
fever, chills, things like that...
but apparently, some people experience
behavioral changes.
Mood swings, memory loss...
They're saying, in some cases,
it can affect the brain, cause dementia.
Well, the doctor, he never...
The doctor who saw Andy
might not know any better.
"There is no question
"that gay men should not donate blood
until the issue is resolved."
Who's this "Shuster"
guy they're quoting?
I interviewed Tsoukas,
who did the study,
but he wouldn't go on record.
That quote is from his supervisor.
Who was willing to go on record.
Oh, okay.
So, you're, uh...
you're saying it's my fault
that some dinky, little journal
scooped us, is that it?
What are the Red Cross saying?
What they've been saying all along!
That science supports their position,
that there's not a
problem here in Canada,
but that's bullshit!
Everything is not fine!
The Red Cross is a
humanitarian organization
doing countless good works
for the sick and the vulnerable
for what, the past century?
If you're gonna call them liars,
you better be able to prove it.
Ben... Ben!
What?
Look, I know this is personal for you...
Unbelievable.
- _
- You were just in New York.
It's just business, that's all.
If you say so.
Emergency meeting?
Mm.
What's it about?
Ask the NHF.
They've got nothing new.
They're just reacting
to the CDC conference.
It's all just a bunch of hysteria.
Still... maybe we should say something.
I just did.
I told the media
we're not gonna single out gay donors.
I mean, look at what's
happening in the U.S.
The hostility and violence toward gays
is up across the board.
They called it... "gay plague."
And then "gay-related
immune deficiency."
I'm not gonna fuel the fire.
The truth is...
... they'll be happier
when we're all dead.
You don't have it.
I don't have it.
I wish I knew for sure.
This place has really gone downhill.
I'm not ordering from them again.
We were victims of a crusade
long before A.I.D.S.
threw gas on the flames.
They think we deserve it.
But it'll only get worse
if they think we're giving it to them.
I can't eat this.
If the NHF is gonna
recommend screening donors,
then right or not,
we're gonna look like we're late.
We ask all high-risk groups
to voluntarily exclude themselves.
Keep it to a press release.
No face-to-face required.
Earlier today,
Haitian protesters gathered
outside of Red Cross headquarters
to protest a new policy
that singles out high-risk groups.
They say it's racist propaganda
and that there's no
significant relationship
between Haitians and A.I.D.S.
Response to the Red Cross press release.
Targeted high-risk
groups are going nuts.
On one hand, they say
there is no evidence
of A.I.D.S. transmission through blood
and then they single out
homosexual and bi-sexual men
with multiple partners,
newly-arrived Haitian immigrants,
and I.V. drug users, and
ask them not to donate.
Now they're all crying discrimination.
I wanted them to reach out
and cooperate with the communities,
not dictate to them.
Now it's about human rights
instead of safe blood products.
I'm sorry it's taken so long.
I, um, I wanted to run the test twice.
And?
Normal T-cell count
is between 500 and 1200
per cubic millimetre.
Peter's level is 412.
That's obviously below normal,
but I-I don't want you
to jump to conclusions.
Mr. Landry, are you there?
Yes. I'm here.
Mr. Landry, this... this does not mean
that Peter is sick or-or
is ever going to get sick.
We, uh... don't know what it means.
Please...
Dr. Tsoukas, I think we
both know what it means.
Yesterday,
the CDC called an emergency
meeting in Atlanta
to press for measures
to control the spread of A.I.D.S.,
a deadly disease
which began in the gay community
and now appears to be threatening
the American blood system.
Those infected are dying
at an alarming rate.
Today, we have learned
that U.S. blood bankers
are drafting measures to
screen high-risk donors,
while here, at home,
the Canadian Red Cross
continues to assure the public
that there is little to no risk
of contracting A.I.D.S.
from a transfusion.
All these representatives
of the fractionators are
arguing the economics.
I mean, they are literally
weighing the cost of changing their ways
versus potential lawsuits
when Don Francis slams
his fist on the table
and he says, "How many
people have to die?
How many deaths do we need?"
What did they say?
Nothing.
It's disgusting.
The New England Journal of Medicine
just published a preliminary study
suggesting that cryo
is safer than concentrates.
The next day,
the National Hemophilia Foundation
added recommendations
for donor screening.
Why are we so far behind the U.S.?
I mean, isn't it insane to think
that the border will just act
like some sort of filter?
Particularly when more
than half the concentrates
used in Canada are made from
plasma collected in the U.S.
I mean...
... can't say we don't
have an A.I.D.S. problem.
Why aren't we seeing any of this
in the Canadian society newsletters?
Medical Advisory Committee
controls the release
of all the scientific
and medical information,
and the doctors on the committee
don't want to promote panic.
Plus, most of them also
work for the Red Cross.
It's the RC's position that baffles me.
So John Derrick came out of
that emergency NHF meeting
and he said there still
wasn't any evidence
that A.I.D.S. is
transmitted through blood.
They're hiding behind absolute science.
But you can convict a murderer
on enough circumstantial evidence.
It just doesn't make any sense.
I mean, when you think of the Red Cross,
you think first responders,
disaster relief.
Well, the provinces control
the purse strings.
As usual, it all comes down to money.
Look, the problem is,
no one wants to admit the danger.
More like they're denying it.
Publicly.
What about privately?
So I'm at this conference two weeks ago,
and I find myself in line,
talking to Roger Perrault.
And he asks me
if I've switched back to cryo.
The National Director of Blood Services
asked you?
Yeah. And I say, "yeah, I have."
And then he says?
He says...
"Keep it that way."
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Frankly, I don't blame him.
He said not to panic,
that it didn't mean Peter had...
A.I.D.S.
Say it.
"A.I.D.S."
Andy has A.I.D.S.
Andy and Peter took
the same concentrate,
the same lot numbers in
some cases, I checked.
They really have no idea
what all this means.
Andy is dying!
I know.
Oh, God. I can barely breathe.
There's nothing anyone
can do at this point.
What are we gonna tell him?
He's only 15.
Nothing.
We're not gonna tell him anything.
Hey.
Hey, buddy.
I, uh... I brought you these.
Why?
Do I need a reason?
Yes.
I just don't want a
girlfriend right now, okay?
Did I do something wrong?
I already told you, it's not about you.
Is it because I wouldn't
have sex with you?
No!
I told you, it was gonna happen.
Just don't press it.
Peter, please. Just talk to me.
No.
We're over. Okay? That's it.
Fuck you.
I'm glad I didn't sleep with you.
You have no idea.
Ew, that's gross.
What the hell?
Em, go play in your room.
We need to talk to Peter.
Why can't I hear?
It's adult stuff, honey. Go on.
Andy passed away.
We're so sorry.
Why didn't you guys tell
me I have A.I.D.S.?
I heard you talking.
Your T-cells are slightly below normal,
but nobody knows what that...
- that means yet, so...
- It means I have A.I.D.S.
Like Andy.
Why didn't you come to us?
You... You guys didn't come to me.
You didn't want me to know.
We didn't want you to worry.
Because I'm gonna die!
Stop it.
I don't want that to
even enter your mind.
- How could it not?
- Because you're not sick!
The doctor who tested you
said there's a number of reasons
why your T-cells could be low.
- Peter! Where are you going?
- Peter!
Will Sanders.
Will, it's Lawrence. Listen to this.
It's a draft of Hemophilia Today
that's about to come out,
and I am quoting Rosalyn Herst.
"Hemophiliacs should
continue to treat as usual."
Jesus Christ!
"The media reports you may be reading
"are alarmist and distorted.
"None of the 30 known
cases of A.I.D.S. in Canada
"have been related to transfusion.
"Blood products are safe
"and the risk of damage from bleeds
"far outweighs any theoretical risk
of viral transmission."
I don't care what you guys
say, I know I'm going to die.