All language subtitles for In.Our.Blood.S01E03.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-WH

There's a lot of freaked-out people
coming to see me.

Why would we trust you?

The government hasn't exactly been
pro-gay in the past.

If you can form an alliance,
bring your various groups together,

amalgamate and incorporate,

then we can get funding to you.

Are you the ones who have been
handing out condoms?

Yeah.
We've been doing the same.

A few of us sex workers
up on the streets at the Cross.

DAVID: Is this yours?

I haven't had sex with
your boyfriend. He's a nice guy.

He's just...
He's really not my type.

It's not a big deal, really.
I spend so much time on my own now.

I got lonely.

You need to lighten up.

Please tell me
how I should lighten up.

I am not gonna stay
when I'm not wanted.

Fine.

REPORTER ON TV:
It has been reported today

that three babies
have died of AIDS in Queensland

after receiving contaminated
blood donations from the same donor,

a homosexual man.

(TENSE MUSIC)

'Gay Blood Fear As 3 Babies Die'.

'Hawke Blamed'.

'Blood On Their Hands'.

'The Gay Crisis'.

Have you seen this?
"Die, you deviant"?

I have "Donor walks free"
here somewhere.

What do we know about
what happened to these babies?

The first death was in February.

February. That's...
Nine months, yes.

But this is the first
we've heard about it.

There's another seriously ill
at Brisbane Mater Hospital.

How'd it happen?

They traced the blood
to donations made by a single man

who's gay and a regular donor.

Did he know when he donated blood
that he had the virus?

No. He found out three days ago
that he has HIV.

So, he's had a full 72 hours
to process it

before newspapers started
telling him to die.

We can't let this tragedy
become a political issue,

whatever the intentions were
behind the timing of all this.

Absolutely.

We need to make sure

our parliamentary liaison committee
remains united.

I'll round them up.

I'm, uh, guessing you'd like to speak
to the Queensland Health Minister?

I definitely have things
I'd like to say to him.

The parliamentary liaison group.

Roland, National Party.

Been in Canberra a long time.

Loved by his constituents,
tolerated by his party leader.

Rather short notice,
wouldn't you say, Jeremy?

Right.

Well, it's good to see you all here.

Let me begin by first saying what's
happened in Queensland is a tragedy.

We came together as a group
at the beginning of the AIDS crisis

so that we could step through this
as a united parliament.

I'm hoping...
What does the Prime Minister say?

Lisa, Australian Democrats.

Here to keep the bastards honest.
Their words, not ours.

The Prime Minister is heartbroken

as we all are
at the loss of young lives.

And he's not going to take
any political bait thrown at him.

He's going to rise above it.
Good.

But there's more. David?

The Queensland Government has
pushed through new legislation.

Two years jail and fines of
up to $10,000 for donating blood

if you're in a high-risk group.

So, high-risk being...?

IV drug users, sex workers
and gay men with multiple partners.

Bloody Queensland.

Hang on, hang on. It's not everyone.

The Health Minister,
yes, he's not your ally,

and I've read
some ludicrous comments

from the Queensland Premier,
but there are other...

Did you know this was coming?
I did not know this was coming.

My party is not a hive mind

and I don't appreciate
being spoken to that way, Jeremy.

I apologise.

The leader of your party -
not just anyone -

the leader said, "If it wasn't for
the promotion of homosexuality

"as a norm by the Labor..."

I know what he said. It's appalling.
Lisa, I don't think that we need...

And some choice stuff
about the traditional families.

I've seen commentary from the public

recommending the death penalty
for gay men.

Let's just acknowledge that
the loss of children

has raised a spike of animosity
towards the Labor Party

and gay men in particular.

Some members of my party want to
sabotage things, it's true.

Are you gonna say that
while you're campaigning?

Do you mean when we win?
No! Enough!

We are not going to talk about this
as a way to score points.

Babies in Queensland who died

and the one
who's still clinging to life,

it wasn't because anyone was gay

or because of anything
we did or did not do.

They contracted an infection.

In this room,
we are working together

to stop the spread
of that infection.

Our only enemy is the infection.

We came together
in a spirit of decency,

representing
all the different parties.

Let's not allow this moment
to damage the trust.

You're all still here.
I'll take that as a good sign.

(POP MUSIC)

PAUL: So, where are you living
these days?

St Peters,
two blocks from my parents.

(LAUGHS) You're joking!
Can you believe it?

Oh, I spent so long
trying to escape,

trying to be someone else,

but I'm turning more and more
into my dad every day.

You patched things up, then?

Sort of.

You happy?

I think I am.

Well, here's to old friends.

Sorry to barge in on your date.

Mm. It's not a date.

OK. Do you mind? My mates at the bar
said that you're a doctor.

Can I ask you a couple of questions?
I'll be five minutes, tops.

Take all the time you need.

I'm gonna go get us another round.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Well, I wouldn't usually do
a consultation at the pub,

but seeing as though
you're already here...

I heard that there's a test
for AIDS now. Is it reliable?

It's not perfect,
but the test should identify

if you're carrying
the HIV antibodies in your blood.

OK. Do you think I should get it?
Well, it depends.

Have you had any unprotected sex
or shared a needle?

What, in my life?

In the last three years.
Of course.

Then you could be at risk.
But I always use a condom now.

The incubation period of the virus
could be up to 10 years,

so you could have contracted it
any time since then.

Everyone's telling me not to get it.

Like, what's the point of knowing
if you're gonna die?

But you wanna know?

Yes.

OK, well, if you want the test,

you have to give
your name and address.

It's a legal requirement,

but just between you and me,
I won't be asking any questions

if you tell me that your name
is Neville Wran or Ned Kelly.

So, have a think about whether
you're really and truly prepared

to know the result,
because if it is positive,

that is not something
you can un-know.

We've started offering
the new AIDS tests this week.

We just have to hope that people
actually want to know their status.

DAVID: Well, if they don't,
we'll end up no better than the US.

Some people over there say

their government's turning
a manageable problem

into a global pandemic.

Would you get tested?

I'm very low-risk.

I'm not.

Unlike you, I haven't been in

a committed monogamous relationship
for years

and I've been booted
out of Club 80 at sunrise

more times than I can remember.

(LAUGHS)

I haven't been tested either.

Really?

How do you recommend something that
you're not willing to do yourself?

Well, they rely on me to be strong.

I'm not sure I could be strong
if I knew that I was positive.

I mean, it's not my place
to tell you what to do, Paul, but...

..I couldn't.

I mean, if I thought
there was a chance, I...

I'm worried that
my patients will stop coming

if they knew that I was sick.

It's not exactly rational,
but who'd wanna see the dying doctor?

This is gonna sound
completely paranoid,

but I'm worried that the results
could be seen by someone else.

I've been telling people
to give false names.

Maybe you should
take your own advice.

Hm. I could always be Oscar Wilde.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Let's get a bucket.

SONG: # Ain't nobody
gonna steal this heart away

# When the war is over

# Got to get away

# Pack my bags to no place

# No time, no day

# You and I had our sights
set on something

# Hope this doesn't mean
our days are numbered

# I've got plans

# For more than a wanted man

# All around this chaos and madness

# Can't help feeling
nothing more than sadness

# Only choice to face it

# The best I can

# Ain't nobody gonna
steal this heart away

# Ain't nobody gonna
steal this heart away

# Ain't nobody gonna
steal this heart away... #

Morning! I'm making breakfast.

Um, are you hungry? Did I wake you?
There's loads.

Sorry. Is this a problem?
(EXHALES AWKWARDLY)

I mean, do you want me to leave?

It's fine.

I don't use milk. I just use butter.

(SIGHS)

Let me get that out of your way.

I think I've seen your work before
on a flyer. Could that be right?

Some friends, um, asked me to draw
some pictures for them.

I mean, that's not...
That's not why I do it.

It's my, um, tether, making things.
Is that a word, 'tether'?

Like, the thing that keeps you
from tipping over the edge.

Is that a tether?
Tether, yes.

You know, 'cause otherwise...

The world needs beautiful things
right now.

Yes, but it's also
a political statement.

I mean, the flyer you've drawn

will have a greater impact
than anything I do.

As if. You're actually
making a difference.

I have to watch everything I say
in Canberra,

force myself to keep my mouth shut
all the time.

I could not do it.

We all do
what we have to to survive.

I gave you a hard time
about the watch thing.

It's forgotten.

I don't know if
I'm meant to tell you this, um,

but Gabe has moved to Newtown.

He's staying with Greg and Phil.

Just promise me that
you're not gonna...

I'm not gonna stalk him, don't worry.

Thank you...for breakfast.

Mm.
I'm glad you're here.

You might change your mind
once you've actually tasted this.

(LAUGHS)

Oh! Never mind.

(SIGHS)

Thank you!

Miss, I, um,

I think I saw you on the weekend,

uh, at a bar...

..with your girlfriend?

I'm going to pretend that you didn't
just say that you were at a bar.

I'm not much of a bar-goer.
Must have been someone else.

Nah, I'm pretty sure it was you.

Well, I'm pretty sure that I don't
have a girlfriend, so, thank you.

I'm not gonna tell anyone.

I'm sorry. I just... I, um...

I didn't know who else
I could talk to.

You can talk to me.

Um, my parents reckon that
all gay guys get AIDS and they die.

That's not true.
I don't wanna die.

Are you having sex?
I'm too scared.

But you want to.

If you are going to have sex,
you need to use a condom, OK?

Every time.
That is how you stay safe.

If you can't afford any,

they actually hand them out
at the bars.

Yeah, uh, I took a couple.

Actually...

..this number here is
an information line

and they will be able to help you
with this stuff.

I know things are really hard
and you can't see a future

and for some of us,
like you and like me,

we have to hide ourselves away,

but that won't always be the case.

You are going to meet
the most amazing people.

You're gonna make
your own version of family

and they are going to love you
for you.

You're not alone and you need
to hold onto that, OK?

Sterile water, swab, syringe,

condom, lube, pamphlet,

um, rubber band and you've got
yourself a safe injecting kit.

Why the condom?

Well, when people get high,
they sometimes get horny.

If the condom's there,
it's easier for them to be safe.

So, you never used?
No.

Yeah, me neither.

I saw what it did to my friends

and I met Bryan, who had three kids.

Being a stepmum of three
really keeps you out of trouble.

Can I ask you a question?

How does sex work
fit into the picture?

Well, pays a shitload.

And, you know, I work my own hours,
which is good with the kids.

But I just started studying
part-time,

so it's all a bit of a juggle
right now,

especially with all this.

What are you studying?
Law. (CHUCKLES)

It's ironic, right?
Oh, what's that look for?

You think someone like me
couldn't get into law?

No, not at all.
(LAUGHS) Bullshit.

Oh, I'm just surprised, really.

You're very busy.
It's a lot to take on.

Well, I can't do this forever

and tertiary education's free.

I paid 100 bucks to join the union.
That's it.

Maybe I'll get there one day
when we get through all of this.

Oh!

When they find a vaccine
or a cure or...

Ah, I don't know.

So many people are getting sick now.
I know.

And we've gone from
agitators and educators

to caregivers overnight.

I have no idea what I'm doing.

No-one knows how to deal with
any of this.

Just keep asking questions.

It's how I get by.

Come on. Let's go.

Oh, and I've just gotta stop
somewhere before we hit the streets.

OK.

This is not what I expected.

You looking for whips
and chains and dungeons?

No.
That's the joint next door.

What?
I'm kidding.

Oh.
Can I have some more condoms?

Sure.

It's a constant battle.

I keep leaving them here
and the boss keeps chucking them out.

I mean, honestly.

Uh...

Hey. Saw you come in.
You're not on today.

Well, no flies on you.

What, are you giving tours now?

Well, it's certainly upped
the numbers.

You're gonna make this place
condom-only

or you're gonna
go out of business.

Bullshit, I am.
Don't be stupid.

Condoms are cheap.

Other places are starting to do it
and if you don't get on board,

you're gonna be left behind.

Everyone is shit-scared of this thing
and you should be too.

If one of my girls get it with the
guys they see, we'll all be fucked.

(LINE RINGS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

PHIL ON RECORDING: This is Phil.
GREG ON RECORDING: I'm Greg.

And this is...
GABE ON RECORDING: Gabe.

We're sorry we missed you.

We can't answer now, but leave your
name and number right at this...

(BEEP!)

Uh, hello, Greg and Phil.
It's David Westford.

A message for Gabe.

Uh, wanted to say hi
and just make sure you're alright.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Uh, you have my number.

The guy from Fiedler Research
is here.

(SIGHS)

Is everything OK?

Everything's fine.

I'll be right there.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Uh, David Westford.
Michael Clement.

I think I know why I'm here.

Yes.

Uh, the way the media
has been going crazy about AIDS

in the last few weeks
makes us think...

Yeah, the papers, the shock jocks.
It's a feeding frenzy.

Newspapers need to sell
their product.

It's easier to do that
with villains and victims.

Babies are innocent.
Everyone's innocent.

It's a virus.

But if babies can get AIDS,
then anyone can,

so we need to communicate
with everyone directly.

What do the people know?
What do they think and feel?

What do they want? Are they afraid
to get tested? That sort of thing.

OK, so, what you're asking for is...

Everything.

Specific questions like...

Should we put condom vending
machines into high schools?

Wow. Sure you want
an answer to that?

Mm-hm.

No-one likes the idea of
their teenager injecting heroin,

but when it comes to clean needles...

OK, so, um, "Do you think
we should be doing everything

"to stop the spread
of the infection?"

Right.

And maybe not, "Do you think
we should be making it easier

"for your kids to shoot up?"

I think we're speaking
the same language.

David.
Tony.

You got a sec?
Of course.

How, uh... How are things?

Why?

The press secretary
got a phone call.

Yes?
From a parliamentarian.

About you.

The Health Department?
About you. About you personally.

He knows you're gay...

..and he's planning on saying so
in Parliament.

Why?
He wants to embarrass you.

It would only be embarrassing if
my sexual preference was a secret.

It's not.

(WHISPERS) Never has been.

And you should tell
this parliamentarian

to move with the times.

Homosexuality
has been decriminalised.

If anyone's gonna be embarrassed
here, it's him.

But if he wants
to cast the first stone...

(HANGS UP PHONE)
We have a new problem.

Tell me it has nothing
to do with Queensland.

It has everything to do
with Queensland.

Look, our strategy relies on us

sending funds
to the State governments.

Our friend,
the Premier of Queensland,

is happy to take and spend money
for the treatment of people

who already have HIV and AIDS,
but...

Refuses to distribute funds
for prevention and education.

On what grounds?

They don't believe
the strategy will work.

Homosexuality is illegal
in Queensland

and they refuse to fund immorality.

We've been getting requests
from the current affairs programs,

haven't we?

Yes, but I don't like it.

Every day I stay silent
is a day we lose control.

Let's wait for the polling.
Every new infection is a failure.

Prevention is all we have,
but now...

The aim is to keep politics
out of it.

Going on TV only makes it
more political.

Being drawn out is the mistake
your enemies want you to make

in an election year.

I'm the Health Minister, but
I don't control a single hospital.

Not a single nurse.

All I have is the decision
about where to put the money.

But you can't...
No, no, no. I won't hide.

Not when there are so many questions
about what we're doing and why.

I need to make our case.

I can reassure people,
buy some time.

And if there's blowback,
it needs to fall on me,

not on anyone else.

Hold my hand.

I hate hospitals.

Hello again, Deb.

Hey. How are you?
Good.

And you are?
Michelle.

I'm Sister Robina.

What can I do for you today?

So many of our friends
are getting sick.

Really sick.

And we're trying to help them,
but we...don't know what we're doing.

We're just making it up
as we go along.

Well, you're not the only ones.
Would you like to see our new ward?

('BREAK MY STRIDE'
BY MATTHEW WILDER)

# Last night,
I had the strangest dream... #

We're holding space
for you and your community.

That doesn't mean that we've
stopped our own work, of course,

but we're making space to allow you
to do yours as best suits you.

Come on.

This is our new ward.

# Ain't nothin'
gonna break my stride

# Nobody gonna slow me down

# Oh, no

# I got to keep on moving

# Ain't nothin' gonna
break my stride

# I'm running
and I won't touch ground

# Oh, no

# I got to keep on moving... #

Now, take your time.

Lift the front
and fold it in on itself,

making sure the outside edges
are on the outside

so the soiling stays on the inside.

How does this make you feel?

Exposed.

Ah, see, this is intimate,

so if we keep them talking,
it's less embarrassing.

What football team do you go for?

# Ain't nothin'
gonna break my stride

# Nobody gonna slow me down

# Oh, no

# I got to keep on moving

# Ain't nothin'
gonna break my stride

# I'm running
and I won't touch ground... #

(WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY)

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

JEREMY: I could do 'Four Corners'.

It could be better
to go to a commercial station.

Ratings.

'60 Minutes'?

Haven't had the conversation yet.

I want a solution
to the problem in Queensland.

We could get lost
in a constitutional argument

about State powers versus Federal.

The virus doesn't respect
the Constitution.

I want a solution that works.
They're blocking our funds.

I want our funds
to get around their block.

If you'll allow me...

Mm.

There are people I know

who vehemently disagree with the way
the Queensland Government is acting.

If you're looking for
another legal way

to get that funding into Queensland,

I think they'd be delighted to help.

You might call them
'secret religious insurgents'.

Ready?
Yes.

We're in Queensland,

home of the Big Pineapple
and the Sisters of Benevolence.

(DOOR SHUTS)
This is them right here.

Right.

TELLER: Can we help you?

Um, we would like to
cash this cheque, please.

Of course.

$7,000?

Uh, and this is for cash?

Yes, please.

One moment, please.

Are we about to get arrested?

We're doing nothing wrong.

(COUNTING MACHINE RUMBLES)

Thank you.

(BOTH EXHALE)

Let's get this back
to where it's needed.

So, do we approve of condoms now?

We...we don't approve of them
for contraception,

but we do approve of them
as a way to prevent disease.

(BOTH GIGGLE)

Hey. Heading home?
To work.

Where's work?
Surry Hills.

Oxford Street?
Maybe.

Hey. What's the rush?

I'm a virgin.

Yeah, and I'm the Wizard of Oz.

Nice try, Dorothy.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SIGHS)

You're not working tonight?
Uh, serving drinks here instead.

Gin and tonic?
Sure.

We have more skulls than before.

That is, uh, Lucy.

She was a Hollywood talent agent
from the '30s

who was cryogenically frozen,
but something went terribly wrong.

Voila.
Thanks.

Hey. Wait.

What's going on with your face?
Oh, it's nothing.

I wanna see.
No, really.

I'm fine.

Hey. Hey. Let me see.

What...

You alright?

Let me.

Who did this?
Doesn't matter.

I'm not gonna change who I am...

..no matter what they do to me.

Good.

(SIGHS)

At first only a problem
among homosexual men,

with the deaths of babies
after blood transfusions,

AIDS has spread
into the blood supply,

prompting new fears about the threat
to the wider community.

I'm joined by Jeremy Wilding,
National Health Minister.

Mr Wilding, good evening.

Good evening, Trish.
It's good to be here.

Why has the Commonwealth Government
bowed to pressure

from radical homosexuals?

(WHISPERS) Oh, come on.

All of the evidence suggests
that we will cope best with AIDS

by having a cooperative relationship

between government
and the gay community.

Now, I know there's a lot of fear
and paranoia out there.

But the fear is justified, isn't it,
with no vaccine, no treatment?

Which is why we're doing
everything we can,

funding research
and working with the public.

Speaking of the funding
you're giving to community groups...

Yes.

..we have some examples of
how that money is being spent,

many of them too graphic
to show on television,

but here are some of
the less explicit ones.

By any standard, this is pornography.

(ALL CHEER)
Alright!

Am I famous? I'm famous!
Yes! You're famous!

(SCREAMS)

I'm not going to pretend that
I don't find it confronting. I do.

What do you say to those
who call this 'gay propaganda'?

Let me be clear.
This is not gay propaganda.

It's a sophisticated approach
to health education.

Graphic depictions
of genitalia and sex?

(GROUP CHEERS AND WHOOPS)

Love it. More, please.

It's information.

We're putting funding into
the hands of the people

being clobbered by the virus

so they can communicate
amongst themselves.

I don't decide what they say
to each other. They do.

With no oversight?
We know what we're doing!

All the money is accounted for.

You have Condoman, I believe?
Yes, I do think we have that one.

(GROUP CHEERS)
Blackfellas leading the way.

(GROUP CHEERS)

Condoman was invented by members

of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities in Queensland.

It's a fantastic campaign,
I fully endorse it and it works.

Is a Labor government
running a gay agenda?

Our only agenda is public health.

What do you say to those people

who are calling for HIV-positive
gay men to be quarantined?

CREW MEMBER: OK, everyone,
we're clear. Thank you.

Alright, we'll reset
for the next interview.

You were right.
I shouldn't have done this.

No, I was wrong.

You were clear, you had empathy.

You sounded like
you didn't want anyone to die.

It's exactly what
people want to hear.

Hmm.

Well, let's just hope it pays off.

Congratulations on
the election result.

You're still here.

Thank you. Yes.

Three more years
to nail the strategy.

You said you wanted to know
what people know,

what they think and feel
and what they want.

Hold onto your ankles.

People are afraid.
First, because of misinformation.

OK.

Plenty of people still think
you can get AIDS from kissing.

A significant number of people
believe or suspect

you can get it from
a toilet seat or a telephone,

swimming pools, teacups, mosquitoes.

So, let's call that
'fear around transmission'.

Then there's the disinformation
coming at people

from some of
the more extreme commentators,

and what complicates that
is half the people hate you

because you're the red team.

Exactly why we've been taking
a multiparty approach.

Clearly, that message is
yet to cut through.

Go on.

You said you wanted to know
what people want, so here goes.

They want AIDS
brought under control.

The people are not stupid or cruel,
it turns out,

despite the fear and misinformation.

They want you to do
whatever you have to do.

They want objective,
truthful information

from someone that they trust.

I see.

Extrapolating from that,

they don't trust the people who have
been delivering the message so far.

Yes.

We could always discuss this further
over dinner, if you like.

That's a kind offer, but I can't.
I'm working late tonight.

And every night.

Good luck.

GREG ON RECORDING: Greg.
PHIL ON RECORDING: And this is...

GABE ON RECORDING: Gabe.
We're sorry we missed you.

We can't answer now, but leave your
name and number right at this...

(BEEP!)

It's, uh... It's me.

It's David. Message for Gabe.

I wanna see you.

Can we meet?
Um, when I'm in Sydney, obviously.

Catch up, have a drink.
Something. Anything.

I just...

(SIGHS) You have my number.

(WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY
OVER PHONE)

I'm sorry too.

Yes, it's flat-out.

Will you be back next weekend?

I'll definitely be back
next weekend.

I miss you very much.

Well, I hope the kids feel the same.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

Uh, yes, of course.

OK. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

Hey, mister.
BOY OVER PHONE: Hi, Dad.

I hear you're in the semifinals.
That's great.

Are you gonna be there
next Saturday?

Well, I'll try and swing it,
see you thrash those Eagles.

Oh, great, you're early.

We just lost a set of hands,

so we could use
your expert pamphlet-folding skills.

I don't have a job anymore.
I resigned.

What?

I thought we agreed.

We did agree, Mish.

We need the money right now.
You know that.

There's the new phone lines.

The power bill's
not gonna pay itself.

Can you not do this? Can you not
go all activist right now?

We have to have an income.
Is that what I am? The income?

You get to occupy the moral high
ground while I remain a wage slave?

Oh, this is bullshit.
Really?

Because I know how much you like
being the centre of the revolution.

People are relying on us.

We have both made
a commitment together

to provide something reliable.

I know, but this is not about them
and it is not about you.

This is fucked.

Do not walk away from me.

I'm not walking away. I'm walking
over there to order us some drinks.

I left my job because I didn't want
to give them the satisfaction

of firing me

and I just need a second where
you show me that you give a shit.

You know I do.
Yeah.

There's this kid at school.

He's gay, he's terrified
and he asked for my help

and so I gave him one of our flyers.

And his parents were
snooping through his room

and they found it and they demanded
to know where he got it,

so, of course,
the poor kid told them

and then they went
straight to the principal.

And the private schools,
they all talk to each other,

so, it's like my career is done
and no-one's gonna touch me now.

I just really loved those kids.

Sweetheart.

We're gonna be OK.

I don't know. (SNIFFLES)

You do know.

The research is in.

People don't trust politicians,
but they don't trust doctors either

like these ones here
on the task force.

So, the Department's going to broaden
its resources,

bring in new people.

Another advisory body?

How's that going to work?

It's a rapidly evolving situation,
Mitchell.

You approached us
as the leading haematologists

and epidemiologists
and immunologists.

Yes.

We're talking about a viral agent,
a multitude of diseases.

You have a handpicked stable
of medical experts,

but you wanna get your advice
somewhere else?

Mitchell, you are indispensable.

I need you all very much,

but we need to bring the rest
of the community to the table,

so we're making the table bigger.

Who would be on this advisory group?

Uh, we'll invite representatives
of the States,

the blood banks, the Medical
Association, haemophiliacs,

uh, gay community groups,
IV drug users and sex workers.

Anyone else?
The trade unions.

You're inviting the cause of
the problem to sit at that table?

You can't blame the trade unions
for AIDS.

I'm not the only one
who feels this way.

You have so many
community organisations.

Every five minutes,
there's a new one.

It's enough.

All I've heard so far is
you're offended

and there are too many groups.

What does an IV drug user
know about medical policy?

It's not a medical problem.

It's a social one.
Our polling clearly shows...

All those interests
in one organisation?

(SCOFFS SOFTLY)

I can't see it working.

With all due respect, you're wrong.

And with even greater respect,

it's not the Minister's job
to convince you of anything.

So, who's going to lead
this tambourine caravan of yours?

There was something in the polling,

something about mothers.

Uh...

Mothers are having
the conversations,

worried about husbands and children.

Alright, then, we need a mother.

Someone everybody already knows.

Someone like the woman
in the Panadol ad.

Someone from 'Play School'.
They're actors.

I know they're actors.
Someone with gravitas.

Maggie Tabberer? Carla Zampatti?

(GROANS)

What about Caroline McGarvey?

Wasn't she behind some of the more,
shall we say, unhelpful headlines

when AIDS first appeared?

She knows how to get attention.

Everyone knows who she is.
People trust her.

I don't know anything about her

beyond the fact
that she's a journalist.

Caroline McGarvey has
the intellectual grunt.

She can boil down a complex idea
into a simple argument.

It's audacious, but when she talks,
the conversation changes.

(CHUCKLES) Who's gonna
disagree with her?

We have to get this right.

We need an open and frank
conversation with Australia.

She'll give us that.

Will it look like a stunt?
Not at all.

She can talk to CEOs
and people in supermarket queues

and everyone in between.

That's what we need.

The medicos will hate us putting
a female journalist at the top.

(HALF-LAUGHS)

Especially Mitchell.

Are these the HIV results?
Yep.

(DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)

PERFORMER: Hi, everyone. Eyes on me.

Alright, darlings, shut the hell up!

Said with love.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

I'm handing over
to our darling Cupid.

You all know him. His real name's
Liam, but that's not his fault.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

Because we've got a special event.

Hey!
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)

Hi, everyone!

It's so great
to see all of you here.

Tonight, the door charge is gonna
buy a TV for Ian Thwaite

who can't get out of bed.

Um, a lot of you know him.
(AUDIENCE CHEERS, APPLAUDS)

We've all been dealing with
sick and dying friends,

um, and now it's not safe for us
to walk the streets.

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

But we have some good news.

Um, Betty at the bar over there...
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)

..rounded up some of her girlfriends

and they are offering a ride home
on their bikes

to anyone who would like an escort.

(AUDIENCE CHEERS)

Um, and I just...

I quickly want to thank,
um, everyone

who is working so tirelessly
behind the scenes for us as well.

Um, we see you.

Um, uh, that's it. (GIGGLES)

Alright, get off my stage now.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

This one's for all our angels.

(SINGS) # Ooh, baby,
do you know what that's worth? #

(CHEERING)
# Ooh, heaven is a place on earth

# They say in heaven,
love comes first... #

Hi.

# We'll make heaven a place on earth

# When the night falls down

# I wait for you
and you come around

# And the world's alive

# With the sound of kids
on the street outside

# When you walk into the room

# You pull me close
and we start to move

# And we're spinnin' with
the stars above

# And you lift me up
in a wave of love

# Ooh, baby, do you know
what that's worth?

# Ooh, heaven is a place on earth

# They say in heaven,
love comes first

# We'll make heaven a place on earth

# Ooh, heaven is a place on earth

# Heaven

# In this world,
we're just beginnin'

# To understand
the miracle of livin'

# Baby, I was afraid before... #

Gabe! Why are you making me
chase you? Gabe, just stop!

Hi, David.

Hi.

Look, I know I haven't... I was...

I said some shitty things.

(STAMMERS) And you're angry.

Yes, you have every right to be.

I just...

I miss you.

I miss your face. I miss everything.

Please come back to me.

I had to go to the hospital.

I have cytomegalovirus.

It's an infection.
You get it from cats.

From cats?

You get it if your immune system
doesn't work.

(SOBS)

Hey, you're Caroline McGarvey.
Guilty.

Your poofter friends deserve to die.

Don't you fuckin'
call me an arsehole!

Fuck off!
Do you love me?

Maybe I didn't tell you
because I don't want a nurse.

I want my boyfriend.

We have a choice.

Death in the hundreds

or death in the hundred of thousands.

I'm not gonna let
this thing take me.

(CORK POPS)
DEB: To all the beautiful boys.

We don't need to hold people's hands.

We need to scare
the shit out of them!

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian
Broadcasting Corporation