Original subtitles

There is no definitive profile.

We need to bring the rest of the community to the table,

so we're making the table bigger.

What about Caroline McGarvey?

When she talks, the conversation changes.

I'm sorry. It's crazy here.

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

What?

Theo. Here's to old friends.

I haven't been tested either.

They rely on me to be strong.

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

Gabe! Why are you making me chase you?

Gabe, just stop!

I have cytomegalovirus. You get it from cats.

From cats?

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

(CHEERING AND CHANTING)

(MOTORCYCLE ENGINES RUMBLE)

(DOOR SQUEALS, CLOSES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(THUNDER BOOMS)

Happy Mardi Gras, my darlings! Yes!

(KATRINA AND THE WAVES'S 'WALKING ON SUNSHINE' PLAYS)

SONG: # I used to think maybe you loved me

# Now, baby, I'm sure

# And I just can't wait till the day

# When you knock on my door

# Now every time I go for the mailbox

# Gotta hold myself down

# 'Cause I just can't wait till you write me

# You're coming around

# I'm walking on sunshine

# Whoa

# I'm walking on sunshine

# Whoa

# I'm walking on sunshine

# Whoa

# And don't it feel good? Hey! #

ALL: Happy Mardi Gras!

# And don't it feel good? Hey!

# And don't it feel good? #

Anal sex. I'm not used to saying that, but I'm getting better.

It just takes practice.

Bisexuality, prostitutes, promiscuity.

See? It's getting easier.

MAN: Tell 'em, Caroline.

(CHUCKLES) (AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

We all need to talk about these things openly and honestly.

All of us. Now.

Engaging in any of these behaviours without using a condom

puts me and you at high risk of contracting AIDS,

a disease for which there is no cure as yet

which can be fatal.

We need to talk about IV drug use, another high-risk activity.

Each time you use a needle, it has to be a clean one.

Sharing needles is not safe.

Miss McGarvey, I don't know what to do.

My daughter won't listen to me. She thinks I'm stupid.

Well, let's face it. None of our kids listen to us. It's their job.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)

Look, these are embarrassing, awkward conversations.

You'll stumble and blush and get tongue-tied,

but we all have to tackle this.

Our kids are not safe.

Our partners are not safe.

We're not safe.

Tell her that you love her and that you wanna keep her healthy.

Keep any judgement out of it, but you must have that conversation.

When are you gonna run for prime minister?

(CAROLINE AND AUDIENCE LAUGH)

Well, I'm a bit busy right now.

These behaviours are not the problem. Silence is the problem.

Hypocrisy is the problem.

But the more we talk about them, the easier those conversations will be.

Don't risk your life or the life of someone you love

or that you just met.

Now...

Good luck with your daughter.

Ooh, I'll grab this. Thank you. Lovely to meet you.

It's obvious how much they trust you.

A flawless session.

I was just getting warmed up,

although I do have to repeat myself endlessly.

"No, you can't get it from a coffee cup or a toilet seat

"or through a conversation."

I get flooded with letters as well

asking the same thing over and over again.

Can we take you to lunch to thank you?

Not unless lunch is at the Leichhardt High School canteen, no.

Mm... No. No time for lunch any day this week.

I have a prison, another school,

a government department, a couple of universities

and a gay men's sports club.

Oh, and I did ask the Catholic Archbishop

for a spare hospice for people living with AIDS.

He was very polite.

He said he'd consider it, of course,

but they do get snapped up quickly, apparently.

I'm sure they do. Mm.

You still got a cough? Just at night.

Antibiotics working?

What are the antibiotics for? I had pneumonia.

When? Two weeks ago.

Look up for me.

See any spots? Have any blackouts?

Not so far.

If that happens, you come in here straightaway.

Why?

The CMV will cause eye damage, sometimes blindness,

and it'll leave you open to any infection going,

but we can slow it down if we put you on a course of drugs

as soon as the symptoms appear.

What about this new drug in the US, AZT?

We'll have to wait for your blood test results to come back.

Why?

They're just at the trial stage here

and it's for patients with a CD4 count below 200.

I'd say you're close, but the places are limited.

Does it work?

The results in the US are promising.

We don't know if it's a cure,

but it's the closest thing that we have so far.

It's not cheap, though.

How much is it?

$10,000 for a year's treatment.

Why didn't you tell me you had pneumonia?

Why? Are you gonna give up your job? Cook for me? Change my sheets?

Wipe my arse?

You don't want that. I'll do whatever I have to.

Now I'm sick, you suddenly have all this time for me.

That's not fair. This is your chance, David.

You can leave. I won't be angry. I won't blame you for anything.

Do you love me? Oh, my God...

Because I'm not going anywhere.

Don't I get a choice? No!

Unbelievable!

I'm dying and you still wanna tell me how to live my life!

You're not... You're not dying.

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

I want my boyfriend.

Gabe...

G...

How many are eligible for this AZT? About a thousand.

So, what's that? (CLEARS THROAT) 10 million.

I need to ask the Treasurer for an extra $10 million?

What choice do we have?

If we wait for the results of the trials?

Even more people will get sick. We can't afford that.

Treatment this costly, if infections rise, it won't stop at 10 million.

No, it won't. Right.

So, AIDS needs its own line in the Budget.

Everyone will support it -

doctors, community groups, liberals, democrats.

Then it's time to put it all together into one package

and make a submission to Cabinet.

The Treasurer might not agree with us.

We should prepare ourselves for that.

If we can prove that the programs are pushing infection rates down,

how can he say no?

Latest infection results.

Rates among gay men are trending down

for the first time since this thing took off.

Condom use is up, peer-to-peer education is working.

And the needle exchange programs?

Infections are down significantly and drug use has not increased.

Brilliant on both counts.

I can take these figures to the Treasurer,

demonstrate to him that a healthy person is cheaper in the long run.

Loitering with intent?

You were up there a long time. We had a lot to discuss.

Did the Treasurer agree to what we asked for?

No. Did he read the figures?

He did. He can't argue with facts, surely!

He didn't. Then?

We got more.

What? A lot more.

He was impressed with the results

and wants to cement support for our initiatives in the Budget

and give us money to fund AZT treatment

if we can guarantee that infection rates continue to drop.

But infections are rising rapidly in Africa, the US, Italy, Spain -

mostly injecting drug users,

but also heterosexuals with multiple sexual partners.

As much as 17% of all new infections.

Look, it was one thing

when AIDS was restricted to one small, identifiable community,

but the landscape has changed.

We need to act quickly to avoid complete disaster.

So, what's happened so far has only been an incomplete disaster, then?

To put it in layman's terms,

there's a second wave about to hit and it's a tsunami.

Which is exactly why we've been turning our attention

to the broader community.

Not good enough. This requires a completely new approach.

Couldn't agree more,

which is exactly why we're expanding our national strategy -

make every person in the country understand

that it's their problem too.

As it's always been.

You provide the research, we respond with the strategy.

Right, how exactly are we going to do this?

I just promised the Treasurer infection rates would stay low.

We take the prevention model we used on known high-risk groups

into the wider population.

Aren't we doing that already with Caroline?

We need to broaden our reach, but the intention is the same.

Provide information that speaks directly to the target community -

young heterosexuals, mums and dads.

Go on.

What's one thing they all do? Well, I think that's pretty obvious.

Watch TV.

So, we create a mass media campaign with TV at the centre.

It worked for Medicare when we rolled out the cards.

We had a 90% sign-up.

I'm not sure we should have the PM as the face of this campaign,

but we need what he brought with him - broad appeal.

Broader than Caroline.

I don't think she's a great fit for your average football fan.

Hey, you're Caroline McGarvey.

Guilty.

Why are you trying to ruin our sex lives?

Would you mind getting out of my way?

Is it 'cause you're not getting any?

Get out of my way.

Your poofter friends deserve to die.

No-one deserves to die, not even you,

as tempting as that thought is right now.

Let me past.

WOMAN OVER PHONE: Um, my boyfriend reckons I'm joking,

but isn't AIDS something that could kill you?

A great question, Jessica. It is literally a matter of life and death.

Condoms are the safest tool we have against AIDS,

but if you wanna be 100% safe,

then celibacy is the only sure way to avoid infection.

Is that what you're doing?

It is, actually,

and it's not as hard as I thought it would be

and I can get so much more done.

WOMAN ON RECORDING: You're listening to Caroline McGarvey on 2GT Radio.

Can I get you a coffee? Oh, no, thanks.

I've already had three.

I just wanna give you a heads-up.

There are whispers that some people upstairs aren't happy

that you're spending so much time on AIDS.

It's the number one issue right now.

I'm just passing down what I've heard.

You're getting leaned on. No, no.

This is just me on my own, trying to look out for you.

I can imagine there are plenty of complaints coming through.

There are. Good!

Means people are listening.

Upstairs is keeping an even closer eye

on everything going through right now.

If upstairs were really paying attention,

they would know I watch the figures religiously.

Our audience share has increased.

They should get their facts straight before they try and strong-arm me.

(ATMOSPHERIC SYNTH MUSIC)

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

What are you doing here?

I'm your driver.

If I were you, I'd surrender.

I'm very dangerous. I know. I've seen you drive.

Are you coming or not?

Where are we going?

It's a surprise. You'll see.

The suspense is killing me.

I, um, don't suppose there's a fax machine?

(LAUGHS)

No work, David Westford.

I have champagne.

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

(UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYS)

Saving your money?

Pacing myself.

I'm so tired, I've turned into a very cheap drunk.

Oh, um, a guy's been handing these out.

I don't know if you knew him, but just in case.

I'm sorry.

It's drinks on the house.

Fuck, he was beautiful and he knew it.

He milked it for all it was worth. Total heartbreaker.

Look at those eyes.

I met Theo here, my first night here a hundred years ago.

Walked past the door five or six times

before I got up the guts to come in

and then I strode in.

I wanted to make it look like I'd been here dozens of times

before I went straight up to the bar just over there

and only when I got there,

wedged into the corner with my arse against the wall,

was I game enough to look around.

You know how many guys were in here?

Five. (LAUGHS)

Five of us big old nannas. (LAUGHS)

It was only nine o'clock.

I had no idea that things didn't get started until midnight.

Those five men, they were everything.

Five men like me.

And Theo was one of them.

He came over and he sat next to me

and we talked and we talked and talked and the hours disappeared

and when I next looked around,

there were maybe 200 guys like me, like Theo,

dancing, partying, flirting.

Then he kissed me.

(SIGHS)

Cute.

I've done all the things that he did,

but he is dead and I'm negative.

How do you explain that?

To beautiful Theo and to the beautiful world that we've lost.

For now.

Whoa!

(CLEARS THROAT)

You keep them coming. (CHUCKLES)

Liam told me you'd become a little grumpy.

Did he? Mm-hm.

I told him it was because you were half Irish...

That's discrimination.

..and find it difficult to express emotion...

(LAUGHS) Oh, fuck off.

..and you compensate by being blunt.

(CORK POPS)

I didn't make the AZT trial.

My T cell count is too high, which is good,

but it means I'll have to wait.

They don't have enough places. Oh, Gabe.

No, but if my T cell count is stable,

I might not even need it.

Paul said that I was doing OK.

I'm gonna call him. Oh, stop.

You can't fix everything.

And tonight, I don't wanna think about any of it

and you're not allowed either.

We need music.

(CLEARS THROAT) Two schooners.

Two?

Want a closer look? I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...

These two are on the house.

Sure. I'll take that.

Sorry.

Where's Tina, Dolly, Whitney, Madonna?

What kind of gay man's record collection is this?

Aha!

Aww, I love this song.

('HEAVEN (MUST BE THERE)' BY THE EUROGLIDERS PLAYS)

# Oooooh!

# Ooh, I want to find a better place

# Oooooh!

# Ooh, I'm searching for a better land

# Heaven, must be there

# Well, it's just got to be there

# I've never

# Never seen Eden

# I don't want to live in this place

# Oooooh!

# Ooh, I'm tired of living in the sand

# Oooooh!

# Ooh, I'm searching for a better land

# Oooooh!

# Ooh, I'm always trying to escape

# Oooooh! #

You are done, sunshine.

Oh, when thou has done, thou has not done.

That guy down there is freaking everyone out.

Could you maybe tell him to leave?

He's fine.

Maybe you're the one who should leave.

No-one asked you, Mrs Mangel.

You might be the next one to get sick.

You might already be infected.

I'm not listening. You wanna be treated like a leper?

No, I just don't wanna feel like I'm in a hospital ward

on my Friday night.

You're a selfish prick. Yeah, and you're an arsehole.

Don't you fuckin' call me an arsehole!

Fuck off!

Hey! Hey! Hey! That's enough!

(GROWLS)

Paul, stop. (SHOUTS)

Paul, Paul, come on. Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

(STAMMERS) Are you OK?

(BOTH SING) # Heaven must be there... #

Come on, come on, come on.

# Well, it's just got to be there

# I've never ever seen Eden

# I don't wanna live in this place

# Heaven must be there

# Well, it's just got to be there

# I've never ever seen Eden

# I don't wanna live in this place. #

What did we do? Hm?

What? I can undo the wrongs.

I can repent.

Did you really send this disease to cleanse us?

Well, you're a lazy god

because men have been fucking each other since time began.

If this is you being angry, then you're a moody fuckin' deity.

Amen. (CLEARS THROAT)

I'd be angry too.

How do you stand it? It's hard.

Truly, I rail, I swear.

I swear I'll never speak to God again.

But then I come here and somebody needs my help

and I just have to get on with things.

I'm not cut out for this.

If certain Christian ministers think they're a saviour from God,

then why can't you?

Everything and everyone told me I was wrong.

But I knew deep inside...

..that they were full of shit.

That's divine love. That's God wedging his message in the cracks.

Not in the cracks I've seen.

(LAUGHS)

These men trust you. They see and feel that divine love through you.

I may not have a direct line to God, but I sense things

and I know that you're one of us.

You belong here.

You have shown great strength in exposing the forces of bigotry,

complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.

Yes, you can be wild. (HALF-LAUGHS)

(CHUCKLES) But your heart is pure

and as a senior sister, I...

How senior?

(WHISPERS) Don't ruin this.

I anoint you an honorary Sister of Charity.

Welcome.

(WEEPS)

(LAUGHS)

(WHISPERS) You're one of us now. Oh, God.

I needed that. (CHUCKLES)

(BIRDS SING IN DISTANCE)

(SIGHS)

I only saw the sunrise when I was coming home from a double shift.

I barely noticed it most of the time.

I should have looked up more.

I'm sorry I was such an arsehole.

It was not your fault. Huh.

I brought you to Sydney.

I followed you because I love you.

I'm not gonna let this thing take me.

No wonder this place has been vacant for six months.

All this stuff needs to be cleared out

and the whole place needs to be cleaned.

I mean, really cleaned.

Broken windows need replacing,

power needs to be checked by a qualified electrician.

You see that loose wiring over there? That looks completely dodgy.

(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)

I'm happy to see to all of this work,

and that is a lot of work,

if you knock 100 bucks off the rent.

You're not gonna get a better offer.

Your girlfriend is brilliant!

I have found a way to move the revolution out of our kitchen

to a proper office.

I paid the bond and the first month of rent.

You are going legit, baby!

A home for all of the action groups,

a place for people to come in for information and support.

Deb? Are you there?

Yeah.

There's enough money to pay an administrator.

(LAUGHS) Honey! Deb!

Sorry. You were saying some...something about a home?

What happened, honey?

This was slipped under the door.

Oh, God, not Theo.

Fuck this thing! Fuck it!

It's not just Theo.

It's the third memorial on that day.

There's also Bubble and Miguel.

How are we meant to choose?

We can't, so we go separately

and we just make sure that there's one of us at every single one.

They just keep coming. I know.

It's like all the work we've done...

What's the point?

The point is that there aren't a hundred memorials that day

or 200 or even 500.

I don't... I don't know.

You do know.

Come on.

Right now, we are going to drink this

because they deserve to be celebrated.

(CORK POPS)

To Theo and all the beautiful boys.

To Theo.

I heard what happened with your job. I'm sorry.

Oh, you probably heard before I did.

First I knew was when some journo stuck a mic in my face

and asked how I felt about losing my radio show.

They don't like what you're doing for us.

If they're too gutless to tell me to my face that I'm sacked,

I don't wanna work for them.

There is an upside.

I can drop down to a 14-hour day now.

Hmm.

Ready?

After you. Thank you.

It's clear we need to do more to educate the public.

I've consulted with experts on the advisory committee

and we believe the time is right for a major public health campaign -

television, radio, print.

Make it inescapable. Ah. (CHUCKLES)

Don't, um...

Don't take this the wrong way,

but my constituents won't want this shoved down their throats.

We know that 60% of teenagers

have had their first sexual encounter by the time they're 15.

How old are your daughters, Roland?

17 and 19.

Mm.

We all want to pretend this doesn't happen, but it does.

Your constituents and their children need to know the risks.

So, what will the ad actually say?

The facts, simple and direct.

Prevention is the only cure we have.

If you have sex, wear a condom. Will you be in it, Caroline?

(LAUGHS) Me?

No, no, no, I don't need to draw any more attention to myself

or my sex life.

But we do need to stress that AIDS is a serious threat

to the heterosexual population.

I accept something has to be done,

but don't you think we should wait a bit?

I mean, there's no proof this supposed second wave

is actually gonna turn into something.

We have to act now. There's no time for endless meetings.

It's only a threat if we do nothing.

This campaign will be impossible to ignore

and we're asking you and your parties to support it unequivocally.

(UPBEAT SYNTH POP MUSIC)

DEB: I'm tilting. GABE: OK.

Just be careful of the door frame. I just paid the bond.

I thought lesbians were meant to be practical.

Well, it was free. I think we're doing very well.

OK. So, there we go.

Almost, yeah. Great.

You don't look so good. (COUGHS)

Come on. It's fine.

Hey. Here.

(SIGHS)

Thanks.

David came around with lasagne again last night.

Ooh!

This time, he cooked it properly. (LAUGHS)

You two have been spending a bit of time together.

He cooks, he cleans, he irons.

There is such a tenderness to him.

He'd kill me for saying that.

I don't know how I'd cope without him.

Well, you have all of us.

I know and you all have been my angels, seriously.

I just didn't expect to fall in love with him all over again.

He can be such a pain in the culo.

(LAUGHS)

But he's all I want.

He makes me so happy.

Please do not make me cry again. No crying. That's the new rule.

OK? Happy crying, sad crying - all banned.

LIAM: Amen.

"Ah, men."

Oh, you just never stop, do you?

It's why you love me. You know it.

You right, Gabe?

Gabe?

Gabe?

Shit.

Gabe.

What happened? (WHISPERS) He just collapsed.

What did the doctor say?

I got sent out when they were examining him.

Thank you for taking care of him. Of course, of course.

Gabe, can you hear me?

Hi. I'm Sister Robina. Hello.

You must be David?

I spoke to the doctor.

Gabe has picked up meningitis

and most likely listeria in his gut.

How can he have two infections? He already has CMV.

We know that he already has...

I don't understand how this can happen so quickly.

We'll know more once the test results get back.

We're taking good care of him.

Can I see the doctor?

She's with another patient. I'll wait! I'll...I'll...

I'll wait.

OK.

(WHISPERS) You scared me.

You should be at work.

Don't worry about me.

What happened?

You don't remember?

You've just woken up disorientated. It's OK.

I'll go get us something to eat.

No. Wait.

Five more minutes.

Stay with me.

Kill for a biscuit.

What?

No news.

Thank you.

You look tired.

Been doing the night shifts?

As long as numbers keep rising, we're all doing double shifts.

(SIGHS) Fuck it.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

I'm weary. That's my excuse.

One thing AIDS has taught me is to never underestimate a nun

or her vocabulary.

I wasn't born a nun, you know.

Go home, the lot of you.

There's nothing you can do right now.

I'll sort it. Go. Get out of here.

'Bye.

Let's take a seat.

I thought, um...

..maybe I'd earn some brownie points.

Never thought it would come for someone I love.

(SOBS)

Yeah, it's bright, it's distinctive.

It states the facts clearly and calmly.

And then there's this one,

which is much more focused on the mothers and children.

These are looking promising.

The key thing, as we've discussed, is to alleviate panic.

(SCOFFS)

That's the last thing we need to do.

Why isn't everyone panicking already?

Why isn't every single person in this entire country

breaking down our doors and asking for information?

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

We need to scare the shit out of them.

That is the only way they'll do anything,

when they're in fear for their lives like I am.

Like all...

..all my friends are.

We need to end the 'us and them' mentality.

We need to create a campaign that reaches into people's lounge rooms

when they're having dinner together as a family

and grab them by the throat,

ordinary mums and dads with their 2.5 kids,

and give them nightmares.

We already have hundreds of people dead.

How many more infected?

We were too slow off the mark.

We cannot make the same mistake again.

We have a choice.

Death in the hundreds

or death in the hundreds of thousands.

It's your call.

DEB: I really appreciate that. Thanks for your patience.

Yes, so I'll see you Friday, 10:00.

OK. 'Bye.

Oh, hey! Come on in.

This place looks amazing. It's pretty good, right?

Bank accounts, boards, rented office spaces.

Look at us.

So, I think we need to employ someone

to administer the organisation.

We're a volunteer organisation. Isn't that the point?

We were, but now we're accountable to the government.

There are all sorts of legal compliances

that we need to be on top of.

Yeah, well, we've got people that can handle that side of things -

lawyers, bank managers.

It needs to be a dedicated full-time person.

This epidemic is only going to get bigger. We'll need to expand.

We've only just amalgamated.

Even if infections drop, the deaths will rise.

It's only logical.

Well, we don't want to profit off other people's suffering.

We also don't want to fuck it up.

We need to be a legitimate, impeccably run business

so when the bigots come for us,

they won't find anything they can use to shut us down.

She's right.

Ah, you want the gig.

She's been wrangling teenagers for years.

She knows how to manage people, write reports,

throw a fundraiser, unjam a photocopier.

You can't make it a high-paying job.

The money has to go primarily to the community.

Of course. I'm not looking for money.

I'm just looking for a way to contribute

because I'm sure as hell not going back to a job

where I have to lie about who I am.

Apologies for the delay. Unavoidable.

You can still stay to watch the shoot?

We'd love to, but we have to get back.

Ah. Maybe for the follow-up campaign.

I don't think there's gonna be one of those. Do you?

(CHUCKLES) No. We might be drummed out of the country by then.

Come on, it's the biggest build we've ever done,

that anyone has ever done for an ad.

The scale is mind-blowing.

It's a frickin' horror movie.

That's what we asked for.

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

VOICEOVER: At first, only gays and IV drug users

were being killed by AIDS.

But now we know every one of us could be devastated by it.

The fact is, over 50,000 men, women and children

now carry the AIDS virus.

That in three years, nearly 2,000 of us will be dead.

That if not stopped, it could kill more Australians than World War II.

But AIDS can be stopped and you can help stop it.

If you have sex, have just one safe partner

or always use condoms.

Always.

We only have 60 seconds.

We don't want there to be any confusion.

It's real, it's here and it's coming for you.

The ad is the headline

and there'll be a follow-up of information brochures in the mail

to 6 million homes.

When will it go to air? Sunday night, seven o'clock.

Airing on every channel at the same time.

There's no escaping it. Jesus Christ!

It has to be memorable. It has to shock.

That is beyond shocking. It's alarmist and offensive.

Exactly. It's perfect.

REPORTER: The wildly anticipated public campaign on AIDS

began last night

and it's been criticised for its gothic imagery of Death.

MAN: I didn't sleep a wink.

WOMAN: My six-year-old son doesn't wanna go to school

because he thinks he's gonna be hit by a bowling ball.

MAN: I don't think it went far enough.

WOMAN: I'm a good person and this has nothing to do with me.

MAN: I was sick to my stomach.

WOMAN: Gays and druggies want to kill themselves,

that's fine by me,

but don't try to tell me that I am as perverted as them.

MAN: I have HIV and this ad tells everyone that I'm the Grim Reaper,

spreading death, spreading disease and killing innocent Australians.

This will only cause more violence and hatred

towards me and my friends.

I refuse to die in shame. I haven't done anything wrong.

We've even managed to upset the owners of bowling alleys.

I had a call from a man begging me to take the ad off air

because it was bad for business.

He said people were afraid they'd get AIDS

if they stuck their finger in the ball.

Um... I won't miss those calls.

I'll miss you fielding them for me.

So, you have something lined up?

No. I'm gonna take some time off for a while.

Hmm.

Holiday?

Not quite.

Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?

Your reference.

Does it, um, say what a pain in the arse I am?

(LAUGHS) It's all in there.

(HALF-LAUGHS)

(DAVID SIGHS)

Thank you, David.

Any time, Jeremy.

(REPORTERS CLAMOUR) Minister! Minister!

Minister, critics are claiming this to be a blatant scare campaign.

I appreciate that it's confronting,

but the campaign was designed to be high-impact

and cut through the static.

AIDS is real and it kills.

A government that does not warn its citizens of this fact

or advise them of the methods of protection

is a very negligent government indeed.

(REPORTERS CLAMOUR)

Well, we've got everyone's attention.

Phone lines are jammed, clinics are booked out with tests.

It's working.

It's taken four years, but it feels like everyone's finally listening.

I know you're listening too.

You've, uh, been listening to me crap on for 10 years.

How about hanging around for a bit longer?

A lot longer.

(BREATH RATTLES)

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

DAVID: Gabe loved this place.

He loved you all.

You were his family.

He said, um...

..if you looked from above at the dance floor at Patchs...

..it wasn't just straight lines of two by two,

but, um...

..spirals of people weaving together like the veins in your body...

..pumping blood to one giant beating heart.

Everything connected.

I think this is where he'd like to stay.

Don't leave me this way.

I can't survive.

Can't stay alive without your love.

Oh, baby, don't leave me this way.

I can't exist.

I will surely miss your tender kiss.

So, don't leave me this way.

(SOLEMN MELODIC HUMMING OF 'DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY')

(HUMMING INTENSIFIES)

SONG: # Oh!

# Baby!

# My heart is full of love and desire for you

# Now come on down and do what you gotta do

# You started this fire down in my soul

# Now can't you see I'm burning out of control?

# Come on and satisfy the need in me

# 'Cause only your good lovin' can set me free

# Set me free, set me free, set me free... #

Australia didn't have a second wave of AIDS infections.

Because of its response,

Australia is seen as a world leader in tackling epidemics.

An estimated 50,000 lives were saved.

Australian public and political support has been sustained

for these HIV/AIDS policies for 40 years.

But we still lost so many people. Too many.

Wherever they are, though, I know there's a dance floor.

# So don't leave me this way

# Ohhhh!

# Baby!

# My heart is full of love

# And desire for you

# Now come on down and do what you gotta do

# You started this fire down in my soul

# Now can't you see I'm burning out of control?

# So come on down and satisfy the need in me

# 'Cause only your good lovin' can set me free

# Set me free, set me free... #

(DREAMY SYNTH POP MUSIC)

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation