Mum! David took my hairbrush.
David, give your sister her brush back.
One minute.
♪ The sun came up With no conclusions ♪
♪ Flowers seeping In their beds ♪
♪ The city Cemetery's humming ♪
♪ I'm wide awake It's morning ♪
♪ I have my drugs I have my woman ♪
♪ They keep away My loneliness ♪
♪ My parents they Have their religion ♪
♪ But sleep in Separate houses ♪
♪ I read the body count Out of the paper ♪
♪ And now it's written All over my face ♪
♪ No one ever plans To sleep out in The gutter ♪
♪ Sometimes that's just The most comfortable place ♪
♪ So I'm drinking Breathing writing Singing ♪
♪ Every day I'm On the clock ♪
♪ My mind races With all my longings ♪
♪ But can't keep up With what I got ♪
Quit it.
You know, the keyboard of the typewriter was actually designed
to slow people down.
Oh, yeah?
♪ A telephone To talk to strangers ♪
♪ Machine guns ♪
Here we go.
♪ So when you're Asked to fight a war ♪
♪That's over nothing ♪
♪ It's best to join The side that's Gonna win ♪
Overdose. PCP.
[Indistinct)
♪ How all of this Got started ♪
♪ But we're gonna make 'Em goddamn certain ♪
♪ How it's gonna end ♪
♪ Oh yeah we will Oh yeah we will ♪
Dammit. Keep him still.
My bad. I'm trying to give him a.
Shit! Shit!
What?
It got stuck.
Go. I got this.
What happened?
She got stuck.
All right, let's get this thing moving.
I took April's regular into the VIP room
and he gave me $7,000.
I don't give a fuck. Fuck that bitch.
She freak out?
Yeah. Is there anything more unflattering
than patterns on hotel rooms?
- I know. - Why can't they just use solid colors?
It's easier to hide the stains.
That's so right.
We gotta get that fucker on the stand.
Oh. What are you waiting for?
Hi, Mike.
Don't you know what time it is?
The Fire chief is responsible for all decisions made from the Fire department, right?
Uh, for the most part, yeah.
If the chief of the fire department was deleting work orders
which directly resulted in sending non-working trucks to a fire, that's his fault?
Yeah, I guess you could say that.
Then it's all bullshit they fired a guy for falsifying his resume.
It's 'cause he exposed the work orders.
It's a little late to change our tactic, isn't it?
He was wrapped up in the price of repairs but it didn't matter
because they were never gonna do the repairs.
Hey, shut the fuck up.
Mike, where are you?
Just hanging out with some friends.
You know what? You get some sleep. I got this, okay?
Bye!
Hi.
Are you still sleeping?
Yes.
Ah.
You're joining the jury. The reason my client is fired
was because he falsified his resume,
not because he went above your head
and reported that trucks were not getting fixed and people were dying as a result.
Say yes.
Yes.
You also said you only went to review my client's resume
after he went to the media. Correct?
On May 9th, a truck went to the house of Alex Foreman with a broken wafer pump.
That resulted in Mr. Foreman burning to death.
On June 17th, another truck went to the house of Crystal Dougan
also with a non-working pump,
also resulting in Ms. Dougan burning to death.
Is that true?
It is.
No shit? Damn.
He knew he sent non-working fire trucks to houses on fire?
He says he didn't.
You said the trucks were broken because the work orders were deleted.
The work order could be anything. It could be a tire alignment,
it could be a tear in the fucking seat fabric.
But it wasn't a tear in the fucking seat fabric.
The damn pumps wouldn't work, right?
So, if the work orders had been deleted
and you didn't know the trucks needed to be fixed,
they were never gonna be repaired to begin with.
After you realized the paperwork system for the work orders were so screwed up
that you accidentally approved two fire trucks
that didn't actually have working water pumps,
realizing this, because my client
exposed the fire department's bureaucratic mess to the public,
after you realized this, you felt the best usage of your time
would not be to go back and fix the system
in an effort to prevent the death of more innocent people.
You thought the first thing you should do
was looking to my client's job application and resume
even though he'd already been working for the department for four years.
That may be what it looks like.
I'm sorry, sir, it's a simple question. Which did you look into first?
The work order system that had just caused the death
of two innocent people,
or a four-year-old job application of an employee
that had just publicly humiliated you?
And I remind your, sir, that you're under oath.
I guess that the application was first.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident
due to the negligence of another person?
Call Danzinger and Weiss. The phone call is free
and so is the consultation.
You need professional, experienced trial lawyers
that care about their clients
to get the cash settlements that you and your family deserve.
Don't wait. Call today.
Are you serious?
The fact is that auto accidents
and negligence result in higher personal injury awards
and higher jury awards. 90% of them never even see the court room.
You should really take me serious.
You should have a drink, counselor. We're celebrating.
I remind you that we would've made more money
if we had settled today's case before the trial.
Should I remind you that we won?
Oh, damn.
We won't stay long. Like five minutes, okay?
Oh, no, thanks.
Have you seen my husband?
Oh, no.
Beer, tequila, Jack, rum?
Fine.
Mike 's my legal aide.
Please, tell me you're joking.
Uh, no.
He really hasn't changed since eighth grade, has he?
No, he hasn't.
Have you seen my fucking husband?
I think he might be out back.
I haven't ever heard of a goddamn coaster, you fucking animal!
Can we go now?
How did you get to teach your class tonight, by the way?
I didn't.
You can't keep canceling your class. The students have been complaining.
Why? They're all here.
Oh. And the lady, she's still waiting on those articles on the transportation.
Jesus Christ, you're worse than all legal acts. No more talk about work.
Everybody, no more talk about work. This is a party.
It's an interesting party, too, Mike.
Hey, what's going on?
Hey. What the fuck is that?
It's an alligator.
It's just left outside, walk around.
Hey, listen, guys.
I can't keep having my firm give you work
is gonna take you twice as long...
Twice as long to find the 1994 case of Kings County vs. Stevenson
which protects the rights of people with disabilities to keep their pets,
including animals used for emotional support in cases like depression.
Regardless of the landlord's policy
making the eviction of your client illegal,
and upping the value of what will now be a really nice settlement.
You're welcome. I'll have it for you by Monday.
Thank you.
You guys are gonna go see that nurse tomorrow, right?
Yeah.
All right. I gotta go.
What do you mean you gotta go?
I can't stay. Rita's in the car right now.
Your lizard tried to bite her foot.
Was she wearing white shoes? He hates those.
Don't go. You just got here.
I got a white supremacist I want you to straighten out.
Are you serious?
It'd be a great conversation.
Jamie, what the fuck? Are you nuts? There are people upstairs.
In our bed, in our fucking bed, you asshole!
Jamie, we should talk about this, but this is not the way.
Apologize.
Apologize!
♪ We are the same ♪
I'm sorry.
I want a divorce.
♪ We are the same ♪
I'll see ya.
All right, everyone, drama's over.
Fuck.
Why do you still have this piece of crap?
I love this car. You can drive it.
That drink smells like wide open ass.
Good for the body, good for the soul.
Mr. Health Nut.
You treat your digestive tract like a sewer.
All that soda is gonna destroy your esophagus.
So, did you get your gun back?
Not yet.
You all right?
She'll be back soon.
So, after I got over myself a bit, I decided to fight.
Oh, thank you, sweetie.
I mean, AIDS isn't a death sentence any more.
And the medicine gets better and better every year.
Oh, sure, yes, of course.
This is all we had.
David, a glass?
That's fine. We're okay. Thank you, David.
Can I play with Mr. Deedles?
Of course, hon. Of course.
Anyway, Daryl said if anybody could help, it'd be you fellas.
My friend Jeffrey invented this after my accident.
It's a safety needle.
Can't prick yourself, can't be reused.
A safety needle like this could prevent incidents like mine from ever happening.
And the hospital refuses to even look at if.
Excuse me, so you were injured on the job,
but are you receiving worker's compensation?
Yes, they've kept up with that end of it.
Uh, unfortunately
I don't think there's anything else that can be done.
That's all of the law provides for and, uh...
It's really all we can get you.
But I-I don't want anything else.
Not personally anyway. You see, my case is not an isolated incident.
This thing is happening to front line health care professionals all the time.
We 're very sorry.
We have to make them use this. The bottom line is,
the hospitals are knowing they're putting their employees at risk
letting them get hurt. People are dying.
And then again I feel this tap.
More like a late dump.
it's a babe.
What I'm saying is we've been netting on average
for each injury settlement about 50 to 20 K, right?
Keep stringing a few of these together a month
and we can actually be in the black by February.
How often do you think that needle stick thing happens?
You think it's like a daily thing?
I don't know. There's no case here anyway.
If we could prove the hospitals were negligent,
our clients could be every hospital worker in the country.
Mike, we can't afford to go on a fishing expedition right now.
I think we should go meet that guy.
The guy that invented the safety needle.
If you come with me to meet Jeffrey the inventor,
I'll give you three focused days.
Three extremely focused, eight-hour days,
interviewing as many accident victims trying to squeeze the insurance company
for an extra $12 as you want. Deal?
Deal.
Give me that clamp.
Jeffrey Dancort.
That's me.
Paul Danzinger. We're lawyers from Danzinger and Weiss.
He a lawyer, too?
This is Mike Weiss, my partner.
I was working as a mechanical and structural engineer when Vicky got stuck.
So, you guys met her?
Uh, yeah, we did. It's a terrible shame.
She's my best friend 's kid. That really hit me.
I spent about a year working on developing the concept.
Sooner or later the National Institute of Health gave me a $50,000-grant
to develop a prototype for reproduction.
Anyone ever use it?
San Antonio Memorial Hospital used it for two years.
How's that working out?
Not a single needle stick incident in two years.
So, there's no way you can get stuck with this thing.
Can't get stuck with it, can't reuse it.
Doctor's love it and nurses are begging for it.
Only San Antonio Memorial will buy it.
Why?
I thought you guys could tell me that.
To start you should call at least 200 hospitals over the next couple of weeks.
Two hundred hospitals.
I know it sounds a lot, but we 're gonna need to do is get a data base...
I've already approached 2,000 hospitals.
What'd say when you showed them the needle?
They asked me to leave.
Is there any way we can sue a hospital for not buying something
that saves people's lives?
So called miracle drug allegedly causes client to suffer a stroke.
He's currently waging his battle against another pharmaceutical company.
Top personal injury, attorney Mark Lenier.
This is absolutely outrageous.
This is big pharma deciding that they can take my client
and make him a Guinea pig,
test their medicines on him, make their money off of him,
and then just disregard him and throw him away when he breaks.
And that's outrageous and we're gonna stop it.
We're gonna stop it right here in this court house.
He's good.
He's very good.
Thank you for agreeing to talk with me.
Sure, no problem. Talk.
On the phone you said you were aware of the high number
of accidental needle sticks.
How about 800,000 a year?
Is that an accurate number?
You don't believe me?
No, it's not that I don't believe you.
I just wanna know if it's an accurate number.
I, Karen Brown, head of the Texas Nurses' Association District Five
do officially swear that that number is accurate. Better?
I'm just trying to get a better understanding here.
Good. Then here's what you need to understand. Okay?
The major cause of these diseases,
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV,
affecting all front line health care workers
is because of accidental needle sticks.
Okay?
Okay. The reason I'm here is 'cause my client
has invented a safety needle that can prevent this from ever happening again.
Then don't talk to me.
Who should I talk to?
The purchasing department.
Purchasing. Thank you.
Mr. Weismann.
Weiss. Mike, please.
Mr. Weiss, I cannot and will not look at your needle.
Because of the purchasing contract that the hospital has.
Will you at least look at this data?
No.
Would you mind telling me why?
I don't want you to show me your data,
and I don't want you to show this product to my nurses
because they'll want it, and they can't have it.
What kind of a shirt was it?
Was it a nice shirt?
- Yes, Mr. - Paul, it was nice.
Was it a special shirt?
Special?
Maybe it was, a, uh, gift.
It was just a shirt.
How much did you say it cost?
Uh.
I don't remember.
Let's say $70.
Sylvia, could you, uh, try Mike again, please?
Not if you wanna leave with all ten of those tiny little fingers, young man.
I just left him a fifth message.
Mike.
Paul, you're awake. You're not gonna believe this.
I worked my way into a meeting with the director of Infection at the hospital.
What?
That was today? Oh, shit, man.
Hello?
He said that Safety Point is fucking essential to the safety of hospital...
I mean, we're looking at a shitload of violations under State Law.
Several violations on a shitload of counts under false claims.
I'm looking for it.
Take it, take it. And I'll call him after lunch.
All right.
I'll call him after lunch.
The Nursing Association I represent requested I call
in hopes that you'd help them with their campaign in regards to this matter.
If you'd give me a call back, that'd be great, if not...
Senator O'Hara's from Nebraska.
Nebraska?
Yeah, there's only 100 centers. We could call...
You mean we're like a team?
That we agreed upon things then we do them together?
I said I was sorry.
Twenty-two straight hours...
I'm sorry. Did you get the file I sent over?
I got it. GPO's have been bribed to buy certain products for the hospitals.
I sent it over to Dancort already.
In the '80s, these GPO's got so big, they managed to pass a bill in Congress
allowing them a 3% commission from the manufacturers
they're supposedly negotiating with.
We have a great case here.
Yeah, we do.
I'm sorry, what was your name?
Susie.
Would you give us a second, please?
Sure. I'll be right outside.
Look. Mike, I think that we have a great case here,
potentially really great, but I need you to be practical with me for a minute.
Like hospitals letting people die
because Safety Point costs five cents more?
Mike, I'm in, all right? I'm in. It's just that if this thing gets too big,
you need to let me bring in another firm to help out.
This thing is gonna settle by Christmas.
It could drag for years. It's a monopoly case and we're not an antitrust firm.
What kinda firm we wanna be, Paul? This is gonna make us.
It could break us. It's gonna be extremely expensive.
Dancort can't afford to pay us and I can't do enough injury cases on my own.
What do you want me to say? I'm sorry, all right?
I'm sorry I messed the fucking line.
Mike, listen to me. I'm telling you that we don't have the resources
to take this thing all the way, so please.
I need your word that when I tell you that the well is running dry,
we bring in another firm to help out, okay?
Yeah. Yes. Can we get to work now, please?
Sorry. Am I interrupting something?
No, not at all. Come in.
Thanks for coming down.
Have a seat.
Well, right here I got an invitation
to a supplier's to attend a conference
from the United Medical Health Supplies people.
Largest group purchasing organization in the country.
And guess how much it costs to attend the conference?
How much?
$25, 000.
Twenty-five grand?
What does that get you?
I went to one of these dog and pony shows about three years back
for the low price of 75 grand, and I didn't get jack shit.
Hey. Mike Weiss.
How are you?
I am excited.
These GPO guys represent over 4,000 health care providers in the US
and they supply 'em with $80 billion
in medical products every year.
Walkers and canes and wheelchairs,
commodes, bedpans.
The only way to get your product into hospitals
is to go through these fuckers,
so you have to pay thousands of dollars
for the opportunity to grovel in front of a couple
of United Medical Health Supply muckety-mucks.
Mike Weiss.
Thanks for coming.
But it's all just horse shit.
You need real money to get anything done...
Gonna help prevent accidents from happening to your patients and employees.
And over time, it's gonna save you money and it's gonna save lives.
Does that sound like something that might interest you?
Are you aware there are over 800,000 accidental needle sticks a year?
For 25,000, you can't even stay for lunch.
How much does it cost to stay for lunch?
Millions.
♪ Take me to see The voodoo queen ♪
♪ Let her put A spell on me ♪
♪ A little Bit of change 7'0 ease my pain ♪
♪ Gonna set a Young man free ♪
Whatever you do, don't let me fall asleep.
I think you'll be okay. For four hours only.
Want a hand job?
Sure.
They're gonna videotape me?
We're gonna be okay.
Hi. Paul Danzinger.
Over here?
Yeah. Let's have a seat.
Oh, fuck! Fuck!
Gentlemen.
Thank you for coming. It's much appreciated.
Paul Danzinger.
You must be Mr. Dancort.
This grip. You golf?
No, I don't golf.
Why so grumpy?
You get the chance to eat? Breakfast's the most important meal of the day.
Would somebody please bring Mr. Dancort a cup of coffee and a Danish?
So, let's get down to it. Are we waiting for one more?
Let's just begin.
Okay. Mr. Dancort, we are here today
so we can ask you some questions regarding your allegations against my client.
Before we begin, I would like to establish for the record
that you're aware that the deposition is sworn testimony under oath.
Yeah, yeah.
The court reporter will be recording the session
in the event that we would choose to show the jury your testimony
in a court of law. If at any time during these proceedings
you feel the need for a break, please feel free to do so.
Is everything clear so far?
Is that a yes or a no, sir?
Yes.
Thank you. I'd like to start by asking questions
about your background. Would you please tell me your full name?
Jeffrey Matthew Dancort.
Could you spell that, please?
Jeffrey, J-E-F-F-R-E-Y.
Matthew, M-A-T-T-H-E-W.
Dancort, D-A -N-C-O-R- T.
Thank you. Current address, please.
1429 Merryweather drive,
Houston, Texas, 74561.
Thank you. Is that an apartment or a house?
It's a house.
For how long have you lived there?
I don't know, about ten years.
About ten years or exactly ten years?
We moved in there in 1986.
That would be 12 years.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Sounds right or is right? If you moved there in 1986, that would be 12 years.
Be polite.
Yes, that's right, sir.
One moment, please.
Right.
Oh, Shit.
Oh, fuck.
Fuck.
Fucking.
Fuck!
Besides football, did you play any other sport?
What the hell are we talking about football?
We case here to discuss the case. Let's discuss the case.
We wanted to get some simple background information.
I'd like to request that my client take a break now.
Let the record reflect that the plaintiff's attorney has asked for a break
without answering the question.
That's okay. Keep going. Just keep going.
Continuing, besides football, did you play any other...
Excuse me. Nathaniel Price.
I am.
Mike Weiss. Guess I'll be seeing you in court.
I'm looking forward to it.
Good.
Excuse me.
Where the fuck were you?
Not here. Outside.
And what was the name of your first dog, Mr. Dancort?
Oh, well, Rufus. And how do you spell that, Mr. Dancort?
R-U-F-U-S. And were you fond of this dog, Mr. Dancort?
Not particularly. Does that mean you dislike dogs, Mr. Dancort?
They showed themselves today.
They wouldn't have brought up the big guns if they weren't scared of you.
Yeah, they're terrified. Scared fucking shitless all twelve of them.
The reason I wasn't there today is 'cause I was talking to a good buddy of mine.
Henry Matthews, editor-in-chief of the Houston Chronicle.
They're going to run a story on you.
I'll see you guys back at the office.
Houston Chronicle.
This is attorney Mike Weiss calling for Henry Matthews.
We don't have a Henry Matthews. We have a Henry Mathers.
That's what I meant. Henry Mathers. Thank you.
He's not in. Would you like his voice mail?
Sure.
One moment, please.
As soon as the sun goes down, I'll be over there.
Hey.
Law and order. What's up? What you need?
Two hundred.
This is Mike.
What the hell kinda friends have you got, Mike?
Maybe you got some other friends who can help us out.
It's how these people operate. They must've threatened the paper.
I don't know what they did or how they did it.
I've just spent hours on the phone dealing with my investors,
my wife, my mother. This article claims I'm having an affair with my assistant.
Are you having an affair with your assistant?
No.
Then what are you worried about? They're just trying to smear you.
This is to be expected.
They're gonna try and make as many people hate your guts as possible
before we go to trial.
Paul is making a lot of traction with a lot of investors for you.
When I get these motherfuckers in front of the judge,
we're gonna get your needle in every single hospital in the country.
Stay strong. I'll see you in court.
Is that Armani?
Believe it.
Is that a tux?
It's Armani.
All rise.
The United States Federal District Court is now in session.
The Honorable Judge William Black presiding.
Be seated.
Right.
We are here on plaintiff's motion
to compel the production of documents
that the plaintiff claims are necessary.
Since the defendants are not allowing him...
Your Honor, the defendant's client has...
No, no, Mr. Weiss.
Sorry, Your Honor.
It's an extraordinary large request for production.
Which documents must you have and why?
Request for production one.
All exclusive long term and multi-product contracts
between United Medical Health Supplies and all hospitals
over the last ten years. We feel this information will prove the GPO
is engaged in anticompetitive behavior, price fixing,
and a contract that requires the company to buy products
even though they may not be the safest available.
Under Dakota vs. PMI Industries,
the Supreme Court found this information.
Mr. Price, your response.
Judge, this is a fishing expedition with no merit.
To expect thousands of pages of documents
is unduly burdensome to my client's time and money.
And the Dakota case is not on point.
Next request.
Request of production 75.
All donations made by the defendant to health care organizations
or political entities.
Political contributions are not discoverable under Benet vs. Lappin.
Contributions to health care organizations are not political.
Next request, please.
All purchase history of syringe manufacturers made by the GPO
in the past ten years. We feel that this information proves
that United Medical Health Supplies has created a monopoly
by buying syringe manufacturers, then jacking up the price.
Your Honor, the purchase and sale of businesses are all of public records.
My client shouldn't have to go through the expense.
Your Honor, we've submitted cases supporting our position.
The law clearly states we're entitled to these documents.
All right. My decision is as follows.
The court denies document production one, two, three.
Your Honor, we have the right...
Request of production 1 through 12 denied. 13, 14, 15 are firm,
but I'm limiting production to one year, not ten years.
Sixteen through twenty-nine, denied. Court adjourned.
You must be so relieved.
We are ecstatic. It's been three years in the making
and we finally got some justice.
How do you suppose the jury arrived at a $53 million verdict?
I think the jury took that figure from the profits the company made
off not putting the safety feature on.
They are not gonna let corporate greed trump the value of human life.
Let's talk about the family. We're dealing with an eight-year-old boy.
How are they doing right now?
They're doing okay, but the eight-year-old boy, he goes home with...
Safety Point's a bigger case than that.
You know that every American will get into at least one car accident in their lifetime?
You know what the biggest reason is that people get into car accidents?
Eating while driving?
Mm. No, that's only 49%.
Talking to the other passenger, 81%.
Fascinating.
Where are you going?
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Hi, fellas.
Are you boys hungry?
Yeah, sure.
Well.
The process is one where you fight in the courtroom
for three weeks, and then you've got an appeal going.
And then we'll have that fight and we'll win that fight.
Could you bring us a couple of orders of shrimp cocktail, please?
I'm allergic to shellfish.
Good to see you.
Listen, I-I don't wanna be here today as a law firm.
I'd like to talk. One person to another.
What do you want?
I'll tell you what I don't want.
I don't wanna see you two going down, and you're going down.
Do I care who wins or loses?
Hardly. I have a job, I do my job
and I get paid at the end of the day either way.
How much you get paid?
You're funny, Mike.
I like that you have a sense of humor.
What can we do for you?
You know who my client is.
You're looking at 300 attorneys,
two dozen of the top anti-trust experts in the country,
millions of dollars in resources, connections in every corner
of the health care system, not to mention the justice system.
Don't forget the newspapers.
The banks.
Mm-hm. That's correct.
Your client,
he's something else. He's an idealistic bumpkin
who's been knocking on every door in the city
trying to get a loan.
And you know why he's not getting one?
'Cause my client didn't want him to.
So, are you saying that there's a possibility
of us actually settling this fairly?
Absolutely not. 7'hat's the only thing that my client can't afford.
If they gave you a settlement, they'll be looking at lawsuits the rest of their lives.
They aren't gonna do that.
So, just do yourselves a favor. Cut your losses now.
You guys got no case. No way out.
Well, we appreciate your concern.
Son, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit.
Good day.
Bob.
She left a note.
Come on, buddy.
Providing the best health care products
from Asia to Africa
to here at home.
United Medical Health Supplies.
Together in caring.
What's up?
My new equity partners just backed out on Dancort.
That was the last investor.
Sorry.
Me foo.
Is there anything I can do?
Can you convince another firm to come on board and take over the case?
Sorry. You need something?
Bills. The most pressing being the electric and the phone.
I got an extension till Monday.
It's okay. I'll just figure something out.
Hey, hon. Sorry. I should be about ten more minutes...
No. No, no, no, no. Can you drive? Okay.
Get in the car and go straight to the hospital.
I will meet you there. No, get straight to the hospital.
Take the express route that we mapped out.
♪ When I die Lord ♪
♪ Won't you put my Soul up on a train ♪
♪Won't you send It southbound ♪
♪ Give it a cool Bluesman name ♪
♪ I've been lost out On those beck reeds ♪
♪ So many times I've gone blind ♪
♪ Losing faith In my family ♪
♪ Had drove me right Out my damn mind ♪
♪ But on the south Side of heaven ♪
♪ Won't you Take me home ♪
Nicole Morris, sex therapist. Who am I speaking with?
Hey, I'm Mike.
Are you okay, Mike? Do you need someone to talk to?
I've been better.
My wife left me.
She, uh, she took all my furniture.
Oh, I'm sorry, baby.
Yeah.
At least she left me my alligator.
You know my alligator is 49 years old?
Wow. So cool for a pet.
Actually not for an alligator.
You don't sound that old, Mike.
Me? No. No, I'm, uh,
I'm in my prime.
Is that your baby crying?
No. That's the, uh,
that's the office next door. It's a pediatrics therapist.
A little late for a baby to be at the doctor, isn't it?
Tell me what's on your mind, Mike.
I don't like to be alone.
It feels better now that you're talking to someone, doesn't it?
Yeah.
Hey, you think we could meet up?
Possibly.
Mike, do you have a credit card?
Yeah, hang on.
Immediate medical attention.
I 'd like to encourage you to fake yourselves to our clinic.
It's just two blocks away on Main Street. Please.
If you have a stomach ache, a sprained ankle,
anything that does not need immediate medical attention...
- Pete, don't. - You're gonna get fired.
They're not gonna kick me out today.
What's going on? Who's getting kicked out?
Welcome to the hospital.
I 'm sorry.
They canceled my insurance today.
Pre-existing conditions.
What kind? Propensity to be stabbed by sharp objects?
Some goddamn thing.
Let me go talk to somebody.
No, no, no. Please, it's okay. I'll take care of it.
Pete, why don't you get the boxes for him?
David, Kia, you go help him out, okay?
Come on, guys.
Hey, guys.
Why don't you let me talk to somebody, Vicky?
You okay?
Thank you.
Sure. You all right?
What about you?
Oh, that's... Yeah. I, uh, I'm good.
Jill, this is Mike.
Hello.
So strange being on the other side of things.
Having all the floor nurses stand over me.
I trained some of them.
They got these crazy patterns on their shirts these days,
like supposed to calm the patients but...
it ends up making you feel dizzy.
Mm.
So, you said you had something for me.
You know, it's true what they say about the stages you go through.
Denial, anger, acceptance,
blah, blah, blah.
But it doesn't happen quite as cleanly as the pamphlets tell you.
In reality,
it's a stew.
Everything happens all at the same time.
Just because
you can't really get over the dark parts,
it doesn't mean you can't get to the good ones.
Sometimes the brightest light comes from the darkest places.
There you go.
Thank you.
Where did you get this?
Don't worry where we got them from.
Hey.
Thompson Needles is coming out with their own line of safety needle.
You think they're threatened by Safety Point or what?
These are internal documents from United Medical Health Supplies proving...
Mike, stop it. Kim had to go to the hospital last night.
What?
She's fine. False alarm.
Is everything okay?
No, everything's not okay. Our insurance lapsed.
What do you mean our insurance lapsed?
You told Sylvia to pay for you to attend the United Medical Health Supplies dinner
from the firm's account, and that you would pay the insurance bill later.
I'm sorry. It's not how I meant for it to happen.
That's not how you meant for it to happen. Kim is pregnant, Mike.
Look,
I don't see how we can possibly continue the case.
Mike, we agreed that we would drop this.
I agreed to take in another firm. I never agreed to drop anything.
I've called 50 firms and no one will touch it.
I'm not dropping the case.
That's not your decision to make.
Do you wanna call Dancort or should I?
It's too big, Mike.
I have Senator O'Reilly calling from Washington, D.C. for you, Mike.
Hello?
Then the GPO, in our case United Medical Health Supplies
will draw up an exclusive contract with Thompson Needles,
who in turn give them a kickback for every needle sold.
Boxing out any competition regardless of how superior
or how much safer their product is.
If Thompson Needles is gonna come out with a safe needle they'd have to retool,
recast the molding. They'd have to replace their entire assembly line.
Something they're not interested in doing because of the high upfront costs.
Hm. Ingenious.
This is a tremendous innovation.
As you know, I've been addressing safety issues for hospital workers for years.
I'm intrigued by your product, Mr. Dancort, to say the least...
Thank you.
This is a bill proposal mandating the use of sound needles.
We're in the process of circulating a petition
in every single hospital across the United States,
so we can mobilize nurses' unions an associations to help you lobby.
Right. We have some interest from some financial institutions
regarding investment packages,
and we're gonna try and get them in every hospital across the country.
Senator, you're giving us the impetus to safe thousands of lives.
Incredible. That was incredible.
Great job.
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
Are you happy?
Excuse me, Mr. Weiss. Could I speak with you for just a second?
Yeah.
Senator.
Mr. Weiss.
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and your colleagues
bringing this to my attention.
As I said, the safety and well-being of health care workers
has been high on my agenda from day one,
and we also agree that urgent action is what is called for.
That's great. It's...
it's just-it's good to meet someone who is on board to fight the good fight.
It would be an honor to offer my support,
but only if you drop this case
and let Mr. Dancort team up with another firm.
The cocaine under your nose.
That's, um...
I 'm not judging you, Mike.
You're not the first person to lobby a Senator hopped up on narcotics
and I'm sure you're not even the first person to do so today,
but there's absolutely no way we can put you before the House Committee
let alone the Senate.
Wait, just...
My client has approached every law firm in Texas. They've all said no.
He's broke.
This is...
This is a major antitrust case.
You know the type of money and muscle that goes into it.
Mr. Dancort does not have the money
to sit across from the receptionist at some of these firms.
My partner and I are the only ones who are willing to take this risk.
We believe in this case.
We believe in it.
Give me a chance.
I'll go back to Houston. I'll get myself cleaned up.
Okay.
But know this.
You only get one chance. Don't fuck it up.
Understood.
They're talking to fucking Senators now.
They're knocking on doors, chickens with their heads cut off.
We need to fix this now, Nathaniel.
I'll take care of it.
They're losing patience.
I just need a bit more time.
I'll try.
But you need to hurry.
Or it's not gonna be good for any of us.
This is a waste of time.
Mike.
Show some respect, huh?
I'll show some respect by winning the case that put her in the ground.
Fuck this.
Fuck.
Come on.
The reason you...
The reason why you should invest in Safety Point is because it's safe
and it's affective. It's a life saving...
it's a life saving device. It's a life saving device.
Your involvement...
Are you all right, Mike?
Yeah, I'm fine.
You want something?
I was always more of a tinkerer than a businessman.
It's how I thought about myself anyway.
My first office was in the corner of a bicycle shop.
My first customer was an amputee with an artificial leg.
Hi. Good evening.
I'm Paul Danzinger, and, uh, I'd like to welcome you
on behalf of my partner, Michael Weiss,
and of course the man who really brought us all together tonight,
Mr. Jeffrey Dancort.
I've been doing this a long time, you know.
Long, long, long time.
And what I've come to realize is that there's just people out there
that all they wanna do is fuck you up.
Right. You know what I'm talking about.
So, on this one I just decided to say fuck it.
'Cause you know what? A good idea is a good idea.
We're talking about people 's lives here.
Saving people's lives.
This girl is dead because of what we're talking about here.
So, who gives a shit about the bottom line?
Well, I'll tell you who gives a shit.
The goddamn miserable sorry ass motherfuckers
who won't let the hospitals use my needle.
None of us in here might even make ever a dime.
The point is,
that it's... The point is Safety Point.
And I want you all to
think about helping us out.
It's just a good thing to be part of and...
Thanks for being here.
Good night.
Thank you very much for coming and...
How are you doing, Mike?
I'm sorry.
Oh, Shit, Mike.
People don't bring checkbooks to these things.
I can't do this any more.
Paul, let's go home.
Hey, Sylvia.
Call ahead and tell them I need an anesthesiologist.
Put naltrexone on. And I want the full treatment.
I want the implant under the abdomen.
Not the posterior... Not the posterior rear.
I don't want anything in my ass that doesn't have to be.
Collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves,
few abscesses. The beginning of liver disease.
Minor pulmonary complications and what could be the start of pneumonia.
Christ.
Typical. He's going through withdrawal.
I had no idea. I mean, I...
I know he's taking some painpills for his leg,
but I didn't...
He's a pretty heavy user.
I guess the good thing I reactivated the insurance.
By the way, the treatment he requested is gonna run about 25,000,
and it's not covered by insurance. Just a heads up.
Great.
What the...
Hey.
Hey. You got my clothes?
Yeah.
Whoa. Hey, don't you want me to get someone to checkout? I'm gonna find a nurse.
That's a great idea. We're always underestimating nurses.
I'll be right with you, Mr. Weiss.
You wouldn't happen to be a member of the nursing association, would you?
I'm standing in front the the Houston Community National Hospital
with a few hundred nurses and assorted health care workers in protest.
Joining me now is Karen Brown, President of the Texas Nurse...
Every needle stick accident costs the hospital thousands of dollars in follow up testing.
If it's with an infected needle, it's between 500,000 and $1 million per case.
In this country there are roughly one million needle stick accidents a year.
Think about that. You do the math.
We're fighting for the right of every citizen to live in a country
that values human life over profits.
Mr. Weiss, the hospital...
Senator O'Reilly's office.
This is attorney Mike Weiss for the Senator.
Hi, Mr. Weiss. She just ended a meeting. Can I take a message?
Sure.
Why are these here? They were supposed to go out yesterday.
They sent it back.
What the hell is that? I thought we had a contract.
Tell the Senator to return my call as soon as possible.
It's regarding the San Antonio Memorial Hospital
canceling their contract with Safety Point Syringes.
The CEO of San Antonio Memorial hospital
has been invited to sit on the board of United Medical Health Supplies.
Yeah, you think she'd like to hear that in the news or return my call?
Please, have her call me back. This is attorney Mike Weiss.
I'm about to book a flight to DC. This is bullshit.
The Senator's chief aid called this morning. She's tabling the issue.
Tabling the issue?
What the fuck does that mean? I'm going down there.
United Medical Health Supplies just made a very generous contribution
to the Senator's reelection campaign.
What's this?
Kim gave birth last night to a baby girl.
Six pounds, eight ounces.
Sam. She's beautiful.
Congratulations.
I'll be home with them if you need me.
What are we gonna do about the Senator?
Nicole Morris, sex therapist.
I like sex therapy.
Nice to meet you.
She creeps me the fuck out.
I should say something, right?
Probably.
You wanna be the one?
No.
Me neither.
Oh, hey, thanks for being flexible attending the case.
I 'm a little behind.
It's okay. You don't have to worry about it.
I know. I'm just gonna check a few facts and then I'll get it to you.
No, I mean, we don't need it from you any more.
Look, I didn't... I didn't wanna bring this up here but...
I'm really sorry. My firm won't let me subcontract
any more work to you guys.
Not while you're working on the Safety Point case.
Are you serious?
I'm sorry.
I mean, you can keep the retainer.
I wish there was something else I could do, but...
I understand.
Excuse me.
I'm not sure that's gonna work for us.
Well, yeah, I don't...
Okay.
Let me talk it over with my partner and my client.
I'll get back to you in an hour.
All right.
That was Price. He wants us to come out to his house tomorrow.
His house? Why?
You said that we'd settle by Christmas. Maybe you're right.
I gotta call Dancort.
Mike!
Hand me that bag.
Mike, come on.
Just give me the fucking bag!
Gentlemen. Thanks for coming out.
Give me a few minutes to wash up. I'll be right with you.
Stephanie will show you the way to the library.
If you need anything, she'll be happy to get it for you, okay?
Right this way, gentlemen.
Dial nine if you need to get an outside line.
And I'll be just down the hall there to the left
if there's anything else I can do for you gentlemen.
We're fine, thank you.
Great.
You got any fresh squeezed juice?
Uh, I can check.
Orange is fine. Grapefruit is preferable.
I'll see what I can do.
Where 's your bathroom?
It's right here.
How long do we have to fucking wait?
Gentlemen. It's nice, isn't it?
Fresh air.
Mm. Okay.
Let's get down to business.
First of all,
thank you for coming all the way out here. It's much appreciated.
Now, putting aside
the fact that Safety Point Syringes is having financial difficulties,
one of our manufacturing clients is ready to put an offer
for it which I think you're gonna find satisfactory.
Where 's that girl? The girl that showed us in?
I'm not sure, Mr. Weiss.
Waiting on some juice.
I'm sure she'll bring it when she can.
Like I said, one of our manufacturing clients is interested in your company
and the needle and has been for quite some time.
This generous manufacturer wouldn't happen to be Thompson Needles, would it?
They would like to remain anonymous until there's an accepted offer.
And this anonymous client would then own the patent to Safety Point?
That's right. My client is interested in purchasing the equity
that comes from Safety Point Syringes.
Would there be a contractual provision guaranteeing a certain production
and distribution of the Safety Point Syringe?
Once my client purchases Safety Point Syringes,
they'll have the right to do with it as they see fit.
And what do they see fit?
Mr. Dancort,
my client is prepared to make a more than generous offer.
This is great. You know your client is in direct violation
and federal and state antitrust laws.
You damn well know you won't win this case if you go to trial.
You are a brilliant engineer, Mr. Dancort.
Try applying some of that towards your business sense.
I didn't sacrifice everything because I was looking for a big payday.
I just want my needles in those hospitals.
I'm sorry, Mr. Dancort. I truly am.
I won't take any pleasure in seeing you ruined.
That proposal is only valid for three days.
No amendments, no negotiation.
Now, gentlemen, I have taken up enough of your Saturday.
Stephanie will see you out. I look forward to your response.
We have to take it.
Excuse me?
The offer. We have to take the money.
What do you mean?
That offer at Dancort Is not fair.
They made the offer 'cause they know they can't win. They're scared.
They're not scared, Mike.
They're scared we'll take it to trial.
Do you even really care
if Safety Point needles end up in hospitals?
No, seriously, I-I'm asking you a question.
Do I care? Yes. People are dying.
7'haz"s what you care about? People dying?
Really?
We're taking the settlement.
No, we're not.
You want Dancort to walk away from millions of dollars, and then what?
What happens to him when we go to court years from now
and he's lost his business and his house?
And then, then after all that we lose the case?
We won't lose the case.
Okay, fine, we don't lose.
How do you want us to survive until then, Mike?
We are broke. Broke, broke.
We have three weeks of overhead left In the bank.
United Medical Health Supplies has pretty much paid off
or pressured everyone in the United States of America from giving us any new work!
How are you gonna go and rally people behind Jeffrey in court
when you don't have a phone to call them and to tell them where to show up?
I'm ending this...
I'm not ending shit. I'll take a loan on my house.
You are so fucking delusional.
You're a big fucking pussy who'd rather chase ambulances
then use the law to save peoples lives.
So you care about people 's lives?
Yeah, I do.
Whose? The troop of hookers you pay to hang out with? Your wife?
Fuck you, Paul. Like you really give a shit about those pathetic scam artists.
We do neck braces and fucking crutches.
Not just the settlements they bring in, right?
You just wanna win. That is all you've ever cared about.
At least I have the courage to lose for what's right!
I'll call Dancort and tell him you're no longer involved with the case.
I'll walk from here.
Hey, man.
How are you doing?
Thanks.
Excuse me.
I'm all set, man.
Mr. Weiss, I used to work for Thompson Needle Manufacturers.
Then go fuck yourself.
I was a friend of Vicky's.
She asked me to come talk to you.
Thought it might be helpful.
You got a car?
Yeah. Follow me.
It's right over here.
You see, up until the 1960s.
Needle syringes were made of glass
which hospitals sterilized with heat.
Thompson Needle Manufacturers refused to switch to plastic needles
despite the money they'd make
because plastic needles can't be sterilized.
The founder of the company, James Thompson,
he was quoted to saying, "We'll switch to plastic needles over my dead body."
Sure enough. In 1966,
the year he died, Thompson Manufacturers
switched to plastic needles.
Within ten years,
hepatitis C and AIDS were on the map.
They knew that they'd be responsible for spreading epidemics around the world.
This tape
has footage taken by a Peace Corps worker in Nigeria.
Look.
You see those kids?
Children.
They get paid pennies to bring used needles and syringes
to local pharmacies.
The clinics save on health care by reusing needles
up to 200 times.
This is what's going on everywhere.
Thompson Needle Manufacturers,
they're not only not acting on this,
they're actually suppressing knowledge of it.
The plastic syringe is the root
of the AIDS epidemic all across Africa and Russia and India.
I'm sorry, they made an offer to buy Safety Point.
We're advising our client to take it.
Oh, come on, Mike!
You know if they buy it, they're not gonna use it!
That needle
can save more than nurses here.
It can save millions of lives around the world.
Yeah, well I'm just a personal injury lawyer.
Not exactly in the best place to go around
saving people's lives.
You know something, Mike?
Sometimes the brightest light
comes from the darkest places.
Get it before it wakes the baby.
Hello?
Jesus Christ, Mike, you're gonna wake the baby.
I'm hanging up now, all right? We can talk about it tomorrow.
Okay. Sorry.
Is she up?
I like people that are nuts.
Keeps things interesting.
Do you know anything about the original glass needle manufacturers?
Or anything about plastic syringes?
You know, Michael? Everyone goes to law school
to become a good guy. To fight the good fight for justice.
Is that what you did?
Yes, I did.
How is that working out?
Do you remember the big tobacco law suits?
Of course.
Seven CEOs under oath lying in front of Congress and on camera.
And every state in the Union suing them, right?
That's right.
You remember what happened after that?
Yeah. We shelled out a $165 billion settlement. That's what happened.
No, nothing happened. Cigarettes are everywhere.
You know, new teenagers start smoking every day.
Billions of people smoking worldwide.
Millions of people dying every year.
Nothing happened.
Big tobacco got a spanking. Slap on the wrist.
And the y were right back to business as usual.
Hm. I assume you came here tonight to try convince me to do the right thing.
You know, I'd look in your eye
and I'd go, "Oh, my God, you're right!"
Then what?
Guys like me are like cafeteria trays.
Take one off the top and there's another one right underneath it.
Now I bet you spent your whole life
waiting that you, you were born to do something great.
Make a difference, do something special.
Important.
But Michael.
It's the most ordinary thought anybody's ever had.
I'll see you in court.
That might be difficult since your client and partner
have already accepted the offer.
You're right.
You might've settled with them, but you haven't settled with me.
I'm gonna travel the country making every hospital worker
who's ever been infected by a needle stick my client.
Every mother that's lost a child,
every child that's lost a parent.
I'm gonna put them on the stand,
and I'm gonna tell them that your client has a needle
the could've prevented it from ever happening,
but he keeps it locked up 'cause it costs too much to make.
Trust me.
You're about to see just how ordinary I can be.
Good morning.
Good morning to you.
What is this?
That is a bonus
for all the hard work you've been doing.
Are you serious?
I am.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Um, listen, there's along rambling message
on the machine from Mike.
Figures.
There he is now.
You're up early.
Yes?
You're his partner?
Yeah.
Died in his sleep.
So, here 's your partner, Michael Weiss.
He die...
He die alone?
The detectives will be able to answer some of those questions.
They'll wanna talk to you also.
Have you seen these needles before?
That's, uh, it's a safety needle.
They were used.
That'll explain why there're so many of them.
Are you okay, Mr. Dancort?
Can we offer you something to drink? Some tea perhaps?
No, that's all right.
Mr. Danzinger.
Sorry to hear about Mr. Weiss.
We offer our most sincere condolences.
So, since we're all here we should probably...
Hello, Nat. It's been a long time.
You and me?
We're going to court on this one.
Looking forward to it.
♪ So you ♪
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♪ Hold on ♪
♪ To another plan ♪
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♪ From the ♪
♪ Size of♪
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♪ Flying through My window ♪
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♪ Tell it's ♪
♪ Winter ♪
♪ From the ♪
♪ Size of♪
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♪ Got a lump in my throat ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Planted still ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪Can't move on ♪
♪ And it feels ♪
♪ Just like ♪
♪ The ground ♪
♪ Trapped in Another way ♪
♪ Just still in the ground ♪
♪ And it feels ♪
♪ Just like ♪
♪ The ground ♪
♪ Trapped in Another way ♪
♪ Just still In the ground ♪
♪ The ground ♪
♪ So you ♪
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♪A star♪
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♪ At least you can ♪
♪ Move on ♪
♪ To that better plan ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Planted still ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
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♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Planted still ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Planted still ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Planted still ♪
♪ Rusted wheel ♪
♪ Can't' move on ♪