Dopesick (2021) s01e05 Episode Script
The Whistleblower
1
Call notes are starting
to come in that patients
are showing signs
of addiction.
Anecdotes about abuse are not a scientific analysis of the drug's safety, so until you can prove the drug is dangerous, I don't see how we can put restrictions on it.
I want to look into launching OC in Germany, under a relaxed status.
I had a doctor tell me he had two patients taking way more pills than he prescribed.
If people are suffering, they need a higher dose.
It is really difficult to find anything without the proper resources.
Guys, I get it, trust me.
We'll just keep pushing.
You sell poison, Billy.
Doc, anyââ Everyone in this room is here because we're very concerned for your health.
Will you commit to a program? Is there a specific flower you'd like for the service? Pink silk roses.
They were my daughter's favorite.
And please mention what a wonderful mother she was to Brian.
She loved him so much.
Didn't she, sweetie? Mommy changed after taking that pill.
What pill? Oxy.
She was weepy all the time.
No, no, no, no.
Something isn't right here.
My daughter was healthy, okay? The medical board needs to look into Purdueââ Yes, this is Marianne Skolick for the U.
S.
Attorney.
Yes, I'm very aware what time it is.
I have done all my research.
Tell him to call me back! Please direct anyone at the FDA to my new website oxydeaths.
com.
There's tons of information in there about Purdue Pharma and their crimes against humanity.
Thank you, ma'am.
We'll look into it.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes? Hello.
Uh I'm Rick Mountcastle, Assistant U.
S.
Attorney in Virginia, and I'd like to speak to you about Purdue Pharma.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes, yes, I'm here.
Sorry, just surprised.
You're the first person to ever call me back.
This, uhââthis back injury just keeps flaring up, doc.
You think you could write a script for me? I'm only in Tennessee for a couple of days.
It's an old back injury.
Think you could write a script for me? I'm only here in Kentucky for a couple days.
Lower back, you think you could write a script for me? I'm only here in North Carolina for a couple days.
That's it.
Separate those greens.
I think I burned out Stone Gap Pharmacy.
They're getting suspicious.
Yeah, hey.
Go to Knoxville for these.
Be good to keep a little distance.
You bet.
Maybe that would Hey, how's Sue's cough? That ginger and sugar work out? Oh, like a charm! It's pretty much gone.
She'sââshe's feeling much better.
She still hates your guts, though.
Tell her that makes two of us.
This is a lot of work to keep us from getting dopesick.
What are you up to per day now? 400 mg.
Welcome back.
Pearls, huh? Uhâhuh.
All right, let's see.
You know what, for a pretty little thing like you, though, I could do another 30 if you want to come on back to the back room.
What do you think? Uh Come on.
Good.
In 1997, we sold one million prescriptions.
And in just two years, we have tripled our sales.
If we continue as projected, I believe OxyContin could soon become Purdue's first billionâdollar drug.
Is that so? How soon? Less than three years.
And to cross into this threshold, I think it necessary to make a key move.
We will soon be releasing a 160âmilligram tablet.
Mort? Since sales are increasing at such a fast rate, wouldn't this be a good time to start distributing larger profits to A shares and B shares? Ah, yes, greedy little piggies want their money right away.
Since you've sat on your ass and done nothing to make any of this happen, I completely understand while you feel so entitled.
I demand an apology from B shares.
That is an outrageous accusation.
You'll get thatââyou'll get that when Hell freezes over.
Please, gentlemen.
Please! Gentlemen, please, please, I want to assure A shares and B shares there will soon be the largest profits this company has ever seen.
But in order to get us across that finish line, I think it's time we rethink our leadership structure.
How so? I believe, if I were named president of Purdue, I could cut through any type of red tape or family dissension and create billions in profits every single year.
But of course, it would require a majority vote in both A shares and B shares.
Oh, that's a good one, Richie.
That's really good! You are out of your fucking mind! You're being ridiculous, truly.
Just let it go.
It's not worth the fight.
I understand, but we sent in the request six weeks ago.
Yes, I'm sure we sent it to your department.
Don't pass me off.
Hello? Come on.
Y'all go wash up for dinner.
Hey, hey.
The kids are starting to ask why you're gone so much.
I'm doing the best I can.
Morning, everyone.
Morning, Sharon.
How's the financials looking? Deceitful, confusing, unwieldy, fraudulent.
You know, just another day with Purdue Pharma.
Morning.
He's in a mood today.
Oh, yeah, what time did he come in this morning? Usual, 5:00 a.
m.
might be more chill if he got some sleep.
Why's he always come in so early? He always faxes Purdue between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning.
That way, they think we got people working on this around the clock.
Oh.
Yeah, he does it on the weekends, too.
I got sprinkles.
I got glazed.
I got some cremeâfilled.
Can we get started? Let's all try to be on time in the future.
Sharon, what do you got? Yeah, so, I'm still working my way through the '98 internal budgets, but the sales rep bonus structure incentivizes reps to push for higher doses over longer periods of time.
I don't think I've ever seen a pharma company do that before.
Do you have management specifically pushing reps to sell higher doses? Not yet, but it is implied.
I don't need implied.
I need a direct link.
I need examples that show reps dangerously pushing higher doses for profit.
Well, we might find that in the call notes.
We just completed cataloguing all of them, and a part of me thinks that there could be some information in there.
I need orders from management, not with the sales reps or telling management.
Can I finish, Rick? We might find something that leads us to a sales rep who's willing to flip on the higherâups.
How? These call notes contain everything that they wrote to their managers after every doctor's visit.
So maybe there's a rep that said people are getting addicted, but they got ignored, and now they want to talk about it.
We might find a whistleblower.
Right, well, since we haven't found a smoking gun in the higherâups, then whistleblower would be our best bet, wouldn't it? That is a wonderful idea, boss, and I wish that I had had it.
I can't believe you boys spent two years on this case without these computers.
Nobody would give us the funding.
What made them change their mind? They didn't.
Rick convinced the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Unit to give us the funding.
So how's this work? Every call note has been inputted into the system.
So you give me a keyword, and it automatically searches for all of them.
What's taken you months will now be accomplished in just a few seconds.
Okay, well, let's get the party started.
Try "Sackler.
" No.
Nothing.
Well, makes sense.
Why would the sales reps be discussing Sacklers? What types of things would you want to see them discussing? I want to know if they were reporting drug abuse.
All right.
I'll print it off.
You know, you might get more hits if you're even more specific.
What kind of abuse? Try "crush" and "snort.
" When you were a sales rep, you wrote to your manager that patients were snorting their pills.
No, I never wrote that.
Oh, you never wrote that? But that's actually what you did write in your own call notes that you sent over to your manager.
I got it right here in my notes.
You wrote, "A doctor said a patient crushed her medication into powder, like it was cocaine.
" Hello? Yes, I wanted to ask about your call notes from June 6, 1998, in which you referenced a growing culture of OxyContin abuse.
Um, I'm sorry.
This isn't a good time.
I just got home from work.
Oh, perfect, I'm actually outside your place right now.
I'd love to just come in and chat with you real quick, if I might.
Come in.
You can sit.
Can I see your ID? Of course.
If it's a fake, it's pretty convincing.
I assure you, ma'am, I'm an Assistant U.
S.
Attorney working under John Brownlee in the Western District of Virginia.
I know I'm acting crazy.
The first six months after I was fired, I thought that I was being followed.
Did upper management know that the drug was being abused in 1997 or '98? I don't see how they couldn't.
I mean, we all knew.
So it was widely known amongst the sales force.
Look, sales reps are like a bunch of frat boys that just want to make money.
Deep down, they all know it's built on a lie.
And what is that lie, exactly? That the drug's less addictive than other opioids.
But, you know, when you have an FDA label that says it's safe, you can convince yourself it's fine.
Um did any higherâlevel executives ever discuss drug abuse with you? I know this is tough.
But in order for us to truly bring accountability and to end this cycle of rampant abuse, we need someone inside the company to testify.
I've carried this on my conscience for such a long time.
When I was fired, I had a choice.
I could walk away with nothing or get a severance and sign a strict NDA.
I signed it.
There is no way I'm gonna cross Purdue.
If I could, it would cost me everything.
Look, I've already said too much to you.
I'mââI'm sorry.
You have to leave.
Uh, theââthe grand jury testimoniesââ No, no, you have to go.
Howard Udell's office.
Maureen, can I talk to you? Yep.
Let me call you right back.
Okay.
So I've got an assignment for you.
No need to take notes on this.
Okay.
Have a seat.
Actually A few call notes have been coming in about people abusing the drug, snorting it in parking lots, teenagers stealing it.
Well, there's diversion with all narcotics.
Exactly, we know OC is basically nonâaddictive, but I'd like to get a better sense of street abuse.
Can you go online into drug chatrooms under an alias and see what people are saying? Absolutely, sir.
I'll get right on it.
It's probably just teenagers getting high.
Exactly.
Thanks, Mo.
Mmâhmm.
I saw a guy in the parking lot of the clinic snorting meds.
And, uh, the security guard just, like, shrugged it off.
You know? Like he sees it all the time.
How do you know it was Oxy? Because that's all the clinic sells now.
And I put it in my call notes, but, like, no one's gotten back to me.
Why would you report it? Why wouldn't I report it? Because your job is to sell the drug.
What happens after isn't your concern.
Okay.
I grew up in Bumfuck, Oregon, with two fat, stupid brothers in a oneâbedroom shack.
I do not need you fucking up our golden goose.
I'm not trying toââwhere are you going right now? I have a date.
What? Nothing.
We've talked about what this is.
Yeah, no, I know.
Just, uh, you know, make sure you leave some money on the dresser when you leave.
Oh, please.
You should be paying me.
I'm serious.
This is San Francisco in 1849, and we are the first miners.
There's nothing like this in the history of pharmaceuticals.
We're so lucky to have this job.
You're right, we're very lucky.
Fine, bye.
Have fun on your date.
Hope it's awesome.
"I chopped a 40âmilligram tablet "into fine powder, snorted half of it, "and instantly felt the most amazing high.
"It's so easy to get around their timeârelease.
"Just pop it into your mouth for 30 seconds.
"Crush the pill, eat it, snort it, or inject it.
"Stepped up from 10âmilligram to 30âmilligram.
"I never, ever want to leave the world of Oxy.
It's pure bliss.
" Hey, Susan, what is that? It's the new 160âmilligram.
We're releasing a 160? Oh, yeah, we had to make it oblong, 'cause the circle wasn't big enough to write 160 on it.
I have found many discussions of misuse and abuse of OxyContin in numerous drug chatrooms, where the drug is quickly becoming more popular than cocaine or heroin.
There's an entire drug subculture surrounding OxyContin, where people teach each other how to bypass the timeârelease system, as they describe in detail how OxyContin is the best high of their lives.
Still can't believe I married a cook.
Swoon.
Sure I can't help? No.
You hear back from Purdue? Oh, yeah, they sent a letter saying they would look into the actions we discussed, which is pharmaâspeak for "go fuck yourself.
" So what's your next move? I don't know.
It's tricky.
The FDA has all the power to limit the amount of pills on the streets, so my only move is to get them to act.
But right now, all they seem interested in is parroting all of Purdue's talking points.
You know, in the game of power politics, if DOD is pissed at State because they won't do what they want them to do, they'll plant a story in the Times, create national pressure for State to act.
So I should go after Purdue in the press to create pressure on the FDA to take action against them? Exactly, but you don't have to do it.
You just leak it.
That way, if it backfires, your fingerprints aren't on it.
Or I can hold a press conference so the FDA and Purdue know exactly whose high heel is up their ass.
Yeah, but then, uh, you'd be creating a public press war.
You know what I like about that? The word "war.
" Nonâaddictive? He quotes Purdue's talking points like they're the fucking gospel and didn't even reach out to me for a quote.
Can you please send a real reporter to our press conference today? Please and thank you.
I mean It's looking like a good turnout.
We're, uh, expecting a dozen outlets there.
Great.
But there's an issue that's concerning us.
What is it? You.
We're worried your temper could be a distraction.
What? Fuck you.
Exactly.
You're confrontational with the press, like we just saw.
It doesn't help.
Okay, so when you're confrontational, you're tough, but when I do it, I'm an angryââ Don't want to get into a whole gender debate here.
Oh, don't you? We just want to launch the press war Sounds like it.
In a successful manner.
Oh, because the idea I brought to the table I would not want to be successful? Bridget, we're on the same team.
Just want it to be successful.
Grant, you take point.
Right? Let's have the nice, pretty white boy out front.
He's a pretty motherfucker.
And he's nice.
They like nice.
I need you to be aggressive.
Purdue and the FDA will not move unless we punch hard.
So don't be a fucking pussy out there.
I'm glad you're doing the press conference.
Yeah, me, too.
Reports of abuse have become too large and too frequent to ignore, and Purdue Pharma's continued unwillingness to take action demands a government response.
Today, I'm announcing, for the first time in DEA history, we are targeting a specific prescription drug.
Excuse me, over here! Mr.
Simmons, are you declaring war on Purdue Pharma? Yes.
No.
We just want to shield the public from a growing threat to their health and safety.
We're trying to protect the American people from the dangers of OxyContin.
Picture perfect.
Other questions.
Will this be in conjunction with the FDA? Hello, Rick.
Certainly is nice to see you.
Pastor Doug.
What, uh, brings you by? My wife mentioned that one of your young parishioners had passed away.
I'm so sorry.
It's a, uh, tragedy, especially with someone so young.
Ria Frimer was special.
But the devil has taken a hold of so many parts of this community.
Ria Frimer? Look at all this Purdue swag.
Site is definitely run by a former employee.
Well, if a former Purdue employee is running oxydeaths.
com, then I think we definitely found our whistleblower.
You see a contact on there? Marianne Skolick.
Give it a go.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes? Hello, uh, I'm Rick Mountcastle, Assistant U.
S.
Attorney in Virginia, and I'd like to speak to you about Purdue Pharma.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes, I'm here.
Sorry, I, um I'm just surprised.
You're the first person to ever call me back.
Who have you called? The FDA, the DEA, medical boards, U.
S.
attorneys all over the country.
Nobody seems to care about what I have to say.
I am so sorry, Ms.
Skolick, but I'm happy to speak to you.
So on your website, you posted pictures of Purdue merchandise.
How'd you get those? Did you work there? God, no, I'd never work for that vile company.
I was, uh, collecting evidence to show how Purdue marketing their drug in a dishonest way with stuffed animals and CDs for senior citizens.
I bought it all on eBay.
Who'd you buy it from? Uh, mostly one woman.
She worked at Purdue but was fired.
What did she do? She was Howard Udell's secretary.
Head of legal Howard Udell? Yes, that's him.
All right, you think she'd be willing to talk to us? I know she would.
Morning, everybody.
Hey, darling.
Hey.
How are you? Doctor, your patients have been waiting almost a half hour.
Oh, okay, well, sorry.
Don't send me to the principal's office.
Why did I come here? Oh.
I don't know, half hour.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Let me get your bag.
All right.
You know what we should get here? What's that? Music.
Okay.
We could do some dancing.
Okay.
Remember that.
Don't eat my lunch.
I won't eat your lunch.
You know who I like? George Strait.
I like George Straitââhey.
We're ready for the procedure.
Are you okay? Yeah.
How you doing, Randy? I'm good, Dr.
Sam.
Good, good, good.
You know, we've been through this.
We know what we're gonna do.
We've numbed this area.
You shouldn't feel anything.
And if you do feel some pain, tell us.
All right, here we go.
All right, you're gonna feel a little pressure here.
Everything okay? Yeah, I mean, I'm good.
Okay.
Mm.
Mm.
You all right? Dr.
Sam.
I got it.
Dr.
Finnix.
Ahh, Dr.
Sam.
Dr.
Finnix.
Dr.
Finnix.
Ahh! Samuel! Ahh! Call an ambulance! Ahh! Call an ambulance now.
Ahh! Now! So what happened? Everything was fine, and he jerked suddenly, kind of violently, and the blade slipped.
It's a pretty wide incision for one sudden movement.
Believe me, I know.
I couldn't believe it myself.
What is his status? You're lucky you got him in here before the blood loss was too extensive.
He's pretty rattled, but he'll be okay.
Oh, that's good, all right.
Doc, while I got you here, uh, I've got a torn ligament in my knee, and taking Percocet doesn't put a dent in it.
You tried OxyContin? I haven't, no.
Could you write me a script? I can start you on 10 milligrams.
Okay, good.
10 isââyeah, I wouldn't start my patients on 10.
That seemsââ that doesn't seem to affect them.
About 20 or 40 usually.
To justââ Dr.
Finnix, is this yours? Yeah, those are myââ uh, my patients', uh, empty pill bottles.
Well, why didn't you dispose of them? Sheriff, can I talk to you? Think he's a drug addict.
Where'd you get those? You know where.
Hey, hey, don't worry about it.
Place your hands behind your back.
You're under arrest.
Well, let's justâânow, I don't knowââ I said place your hands behind your back now.
Oh, this is a mistake.
I'll talk to you about this.
This is nothing to worry about, honey.
All right, let's go.
Don't worry.
I'll talk to you.
I'll talk you later.
Hey.
Where is it? What? Where's what? Your momma's wedding ring.
What'd you do with it? IâI don't know what you're talking about.
You're a liar and a thief now? Huh? You disgust me, Bets.
You have become a disgusting human being.
Now where is it? Huh? Where is it? Give me it now! No, stop, stop! What? Stop! What? Please, Dad, stop.
Where is it? Dad, Dad.
No, uhâuh.
I sold it! I sold it! I sold it.
Where? At the pawn shop in Bristol.
And my grandmother's brooch? I sold all of it.
You've beenââ you've been going to AA.
That's where I get my pills.
What? Dad? Get your god damn pills.
No.
Dad, no! No, Dad, no! The only thing you care aboutââ Dad, no! Get your hands off of me! Please, Dad! Where's the goddamn pills? No, please, Dad! Uhâhuh, right here! You sold your momma's precious heirlooms for this trash, huh? Give them back! Dad, Dad! Betsy! Dad, no! Ahh! No, no! No, Dad, no, ahh! No, Dad, I'll die! No, Dad, please! My daughter's destroyed our damn family! Get your hands off of me! No, please! Please, Dad, no! No! No, no, no, no! No! What? What theââstop! Bets, don't! No, don'tââDiane! I hate you! I hate you! I hope you burn in hell! Director Melton, you wanted to see me? I did.
Come in.
So how was your weekend? I hope you got some wellâearned rest.
Is this the new, friendly Bridget? Why, yes it is, nonâthreatening and docile, just like every woman should be.
Have a seat.
Look, I'm sure it wasn't fun letting your subordinate hold a press conference on your own investigation, but I think you made the right call.
I know you think you need to be tougher than a guy to prove yourself, but you already are tougher.
You don't have to be tougher.
Does that make sense? Um, sir, if I'm not forceful enough, then I'm a weak woman that shouldn't be in this job, but if I push too hard, then I'm an outâofâcontrol bitch.
And this job requires that I push.
And sometimes you do push too hard, and your approach doesn't work.
Example: Purdue requested another meeting with us, and this time, Richard Sackler is going to join.
That means the press war is already working.
It is, but Purdue also requested that you not attend the meeting.
Is Purdue Pharma dictating who attends DEA meetings now? No, but there is a feeling we might have more success with a different approach, since ultimately, we need them to act voluntarily.
And if I go for Sackler's jugular, it might scare him to act.
Or not.
Sometimes being a hardâass isn't as effective as being politic.
So we're gonna try a different approach.
Of course, sir.
Yes, I understand.
Thank you for coming.
Oh, sure.
Thank you.
Good to see you again, sir.
How are you? And thank you.
Thank you for coming.
Thank you.
Dr.
Sackler.
Hello, everyone.
Pardon my tardiness.
Deputy Director Meyer.
We were gonna stop by and say hello before we left.
Oh, so glad I could save you the trip.
Dr.
Sackler, I'm glad you could make it.
Bridget Meyer, Diversion.
Nice to meet you.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Shall we? Sure.
Sir, pardon me To reduce sporadic incidences of abuse, we would like to join your efforts.
We will finance and organize training sessions for pharmacists to help them better spot signs of illegal diversion.
And we will also develop a tamperâproof prescription pad that we will distribute at no cost to prescribing physicians around the country.
With these steps and others, we can help ensure drug abusers will not prevent pain patients from receiving their crucial medication.
Thank you.
Well, thank you, Dr.
Sackler.
We appreciate you being proactive with these excellent ideasââ But unfortunately, it's not enough.
Not even close.
You're trying to put a BandâAid on a gunshot wound.
The real problem, as you know, is a powerful and extremely addictive drug being prescribed by all kinds of doctors for minor ailments, in increasingly higher doses, without adequate safeguards.
Dr.
Sackler, I'm not going to stop until you, your company, and the FDA have curbed excessive prescribing.
People are dying! And I'm not going to back down.
I want pills off the streets.
Do you understand that? I think I understand that.
Thank you, gentlemen and lady.
Uh, we appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give Bridget and me a moment.
Sir, he was playing you, I promise you.
These are the same tiredââ Bridget, stop.
What's your next move? Well, they're not gonna take any action after this meeting.
So I will use that fact and the negative press that we've generated to go back to the FDA to make another set of demands to restrict access to this drug.
And if that doesn't work, we'll do another round in the press and keep wearing the FDA down until they finally make a move against Purdue.
Good.
You were right.
Their offer would have placated me.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Hey.
Good morning.
You okay? Something happened at work yesterday.
I didn't want to talk about it last night.
What happened? My boss called me in to his office to tell me that his dad needs OxyContin for his back pain.
Are you serious? Tells me it saved his life, and he is concerned that the DEA is trying to block a drug that helps millions of people.
He read about your case in, uh, USA Today.
Yeah, bullshit piece Purdue planted.
And he just wanted you to know that he is scared you're gonna take away his dad's medicine.
Well, you can tell him that I know Richard Sackler, and I'm sure that I can get his dad all the OxyContin he needs.
This isn't funny.
Okay, what do you want me to do? Drop the case? No, no.
I wasn't asking you to.
Okay.
Can you think about how what you're doing might be affecting me? No, I can't.
I'm sorry.
I'm trying to, you know, prevent a corrupt company from selling prescription poison to teenagers.
I can't believe you didn't even flinch when I asked if you were concerned about how this was affecting me.
I'm sorry.
Gentlemen, this is the woman I was telling you about, Maureen Sera.
Randy Ramseyer.
And her attorney, Paul Handler.
Rick Mountcastle.
Nice to meet you, Randy.
Mr.
Udell asked me to do some online research regarding abuse of the drug, so I sent a memo to him and various people in upper management, um, about what I had found.
Who all did you sent it to? Michael Friedman, Paul Goldenheim, Jonathan Sackler, Kathe Sackler, Richard Sackler.
Did any of them respond? Only Mr.
Udell did.
He screamed at me for sending it to them.
And then he told me to delete and destroy every copy.
He said, if it ever came out in discovery, we'd be screwed.
Did you keep any copies of the report at all? No, I did what I was told.
I shredded it.
And as for my emails, I lost access to my inbox when I was fired.
And were you fired over this email? No, it was something else.
It's okay, Maureen.
Yeah, okay.
Um shortly after all of this happened, I was in a car accident, and some of the injuries lingered.
One day at work, Mr.
Udell saw me limping, and so he took me into his office, and he said He said, "We've got to get you on OxyContin.
" And at first, it was great.
But then, the pain kept coming back, and I needed more and more, until finally, I was hooked.
And then they fired me for being a drug addict.
I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that.
It is truly unjust.
Can I ask, are you clean now? Yes, I am.
That's great.
Did you ever sign an NDA? No, she did not.
We're actively pursuing litigation against the company for wrongful termination.
Would you be willing to testify in front of a grand jury what you just told us? Mmâmm.
I'm I've seen what they do.
If they know that I testified, theââ the harassment and intimidation will never end.
Well, they'll never know.
Grand jury testimony is sealed and secret.
Ms.
Sera, your story is precisely what we're looking for.
'Cause see, it shows that the highest levels of the company knew exactly how dangerous the drug was.
You could even do this tomorrow, and then you could go home right after.
They won't know? Mmâmm.
Okay.
Okay, I'll testify.
Samuel Finnix? Yeah.
Come with me.
All right, just take a look around, and I'll be right back to check you in.
All right.
All right.
No, no! Relax, Betsy.
It's okay.
It's okay.
No! No, no, no! No! Betsy, relax.
No! It's okay.
No, no, no! It's okay.
Ahh! Oh, my That's all we got.
I think it is.
It's everything.
Yep.
Um My ring.
I know.
So I could probably do 3,000 for the lot.
Or I could do 1,500 for the wedding ring.
Oh, no, no, sir.
You don't understand.
That'sââthat's all our property.
Ourââour daughter, uhââ well, she stole it from us.
Yeah, you know, I hear that all the time.
You calling me a liar, huh? Honey, honey.
No, no, look, if it's yours, press charges.
Come on back with the police.
Otherwise, it's gotta stay here.
Maybe that'd be good for her.
We're not gonna do that.
But Diane We're not doing that.
What else has worked? Let's just get out of here.
How about 2,500? Just keep it.
Come on.
God is watching you, son.
You have a good day, sir.
You're a fucking asshole.
Come on.
God bless you, too.
Uncle Mortimer, despite our differences, we share a certain ambition to keep striving when others would settle.
They told me we couldn't get relaxed status in Germany, and I'm still fighting.
There's a reason people are repelled by you, and that's never going to change, not even if you become president of Purdue.
So don't feel bad that that's never gonna happen.
I'm so sorry, but Germany is officially dead.
We tried everything we could, but BfArM just won't budge.
The Germany regulators are justââthey're too strict.
You were all defeatists from the getâgo.
That's why it failed.
Because no one ever believed in it, none of you.
No, that'sââthat's absolutely not fair.
It's fine, Jon.
It's fine.
We all pushed as hard as weââ Jon! Thank you.
I know you thought this was your big play to become president, but Mortimer will never let it happen.
You really should just let it go.
Ah, I see.
Thank you.
I just don'tââ Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Jesus, Richard.
Germany didn't happen.
It was never going to happen.
You gotta get over it.
Enough of the map.
You know it's my weakness, obsessing over things, driving everyone crazy.
Oh, you? No.
I'm aware I'm not the most popular member of the family.
But, uh, I always felt like we had a special bond.
Oh, yeah? We're the outsiders, hmm? The different ones.
I always hated the way some people judged your girlfriends, like you had a social disease.
It brought me so much joy when I met Susan.
I knew you two would end up together.
I remember telling your father that I felt that you two made a wonderful couple.
I remember him saying that you said that, and I, uhââ I really appreciated it.
It makes me so happy you get to be with the woman you love.
Well, look, IââI always hated how your father used money to control you, your choices, your life.
I hated that.
I don't know about you, but I think it's time we moved beyond what the family thinks is best for us.
It's time for some new traditions.
Like what? Richard Sackler has requested a vote for president, which requires separate majorities from A shares and B shares.
Per his request, B shares will vote first.
All in favorite of elevating Richard Sackler to president, please raise your hand.
Oh, almost lost your brother on that one, didn't you, Richie? B shares agree to promote Richard Sackler to president.
A shares will now vote.
All in favor of promoting Richard Sackler to president, please raise your hand.
What the hell's going on? A shares have a majority, and Richard Sackler is now named president of Purdue Pharma.
Thank you so much.
My first act as president is to request the allotment of profits be increased significantly and distributed immediately to both A shares and B shares.
I also nominate Kathe Sackler to be vice president.
Looks like the kids pulled one over on you, Morty.
God damn you! God damn all of you! Sorry, Dad, but it's time.
She's right, Morty.
It's time.
Hey, hey, hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Get your hands off me! Hey! You are a miserable son of a bitch! Don't touch me! Sorry.
Hi, um, Mr.
Mountcastle? Um, this is Maureen Sera.
And I justââ I'm having a hard time.
If you could just call me back, that would be great.
Okay, bye.
Please! Please, you have to help me! I need something for the pain.
Please! You don't know.
I just need some Oxy or a Vicodin.
All I need isââ The doctor said there was nothing wrong with you.
That's not true.
Please, can you help me? I'm so sorry.
Ms.
Sera, we can't.
Then get the fuck out.
You don't understand.
Don't touch me.
I'm dying.
You're not dying.
It's okay.
She's relapsing from the stress.
God, I feel terrible.
I do, too.
She can't testify.
No.
So you, umââyou weren't always religious, were you? I converted in 1995.
Wow, that's not, uhââ that's not very long ago.
Eight years.
Did something happen thatââ that caused you to convert? I just want to be a better person.
Were you ever religious? No.
Samuel, you have a visitor.
Hey, Billy.
Hey.
Thank you for coming.
I know this, uhââthis probably isn't easy on you.
No, of course.
Um How long you here for? 90 days, mandatory.
It's, um, lucky I'm not in jail.
I'm only on probation, 'cause it's my first offense.
Lost my medical license.
Oh, my God.
I'm sorry.
Sit.
Don't be.
It'sââyou know I'm lucky I'm alive.
I, umââ I promise, when I first came to you, I didn't know they were addictive.
You know, I really believed what they were telling me.
Of course you did.
Of course you did.
Whyââwhy wouldn't you? They showed us all this data from famous doctors Uhâhuh.
And think tanks.
You know, it was really convincing.
Sure.
You know, at a certain point, you start to realize there's a problem, but you can't stop selling, because you're addicted to the money.
And we were making so much, and it's all legal.
Yeah.
And, um, I lied to you about, um, my dad.
He never had cancer.
And I think I, uhââ I said that because I wanted you to be comfortable with me, you know? And I'm so sorry.
It's all one big lie, and I know that now.
But IââI don't know how to stop, you know? It's the first time in my life I feel like I'm something.
I have things.
IââI have everything I ever wanted, butââ Hey, hey, hey.
It's okay.
Life's hard, you know? It takes someââ takes some crazy turns, right? I didn't ask you to come down here to, you know, tell you, "Hey, you should leave your company and get on out of there.
" I didn't askââthat's not why I called you down here.
Youââyou didn't? No, no.
Hey.
You think you can get me some pills? So here we go.
Hi there.
Thank you.
You can take a look at these.
Great.
Howard.
So as you can see, it's a gorgeous glass building.
It's 450,000 square feet, sits on five acres.
It's located in Stamford's Central Business District, so walking distance to restaurants, shops.
What's the listing price? 84 million.
You sure about this? We won't even be able to move in for a few years.
What if we pay all cash? Yes, I'mââI'm sure that could help the negotiation.
Good.
Tell them we'll be making an allâcash offer.
Well done, Mr.
President.
Anecdotes about abuse are not a scientific analysis of the drug's safety, so until you can prove the drug is dangerous, I don't see how we can put restrictions on it.
I want to look into launching OC in Germany, under a relaxed status.
I had a doctor tell me he had two patients taking way more pills than he prescribed.
If people are suffering, they need a higher dose.
It is really difficult to find anything without the proper resources.
Guys, I get it, trust me.
We'll just keep pushing.
You sell poison, Billy.
Doc, anyââ Everyone in this room is here because we're very concerned for your health.
Will you commit to a program? Is there a specific flower you'd like for the service? Pink silk roses.
They were my daughter's favorite.
And please mention what a wonderful mother she was to Brian.
She loved him so much.
Didn't she, sweetie? Mommy changed after taking that pill.
What pill? Oxy.
She was weepy all the time.
No, no, no, no.
Something isn't right here.
My daughter was healthy, okay? The medical board needs to look into Purdueââ Yes, this is Marianne Skolick for the U.
S.
Attorney.
Yes, I'm very aware what time it is.
I have done all my research.
Tell him to call me back! Please direct anyone at the FDA to my new website oxydeaths.
com.
There's tons of information in there about Purdue Pharma and their crimes against humanity.
Thank you, ma'am.
We'll look into it.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes? Hello.
Uh I'm Rick Mountcastle, Assistant U.
S.
Attorney in Virginia, and I'd like to speak to you about Purdue Pharma.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes, yes, I'm here.
Sorry, just surprised.
You're the first person to ever call me back.
This, uhââthis back injury just keeps flaring up, doc.
You think you could write a script for me? I'm only in Tennessee for a couple of days.
It's an old back injury.
Think you could write a script for me? I'm only here in Kentucky for a couple days.
Lower back, you think you could write a script for me? I'm only here in North Carolina for a couple days.
That's it.
Separate those greens.
I think I burned out Stone Gap Pharmacy.
They're getting suspicious.
Yeah, hey.
Go to Knoxville for these.
Be good to keep a little distance.
You bet.
Maybe that would Hey, how's Sue's cough? That ginger and sugar work out? Oh, like a charm! It's pretty much gone.
She'sââshe's feeling much better.
She still hates your guts, though.
Tell her that makes two of us.
This is a lot of work to keep us from getting dopesick.
What are you up to per day now? 400 mg.
Welcome back.
Pearls, huh? Uhâhuh.
All right, let's see.
You know what, for a pretty little thing like you, though, I could do another 30 if you want to come on back to the back room.
What do you think? Uh Come on.
Good.
In 1997, we sold one million prescriptions.
And in just two years, we have tripled our sales.
If we continue as projected, I believe OxyContin could soon become Purdue's first billionâdollar drug.
Is that so? How soon? Less than three years.
And to cross into this threshold, I think it necessary to make a key move.
We will soon be releasing a 160âmilligram tablet.
Mort? Since sales are increasing at such a fast rate, wouldn't this be a good time to start distributing larger profits to A shares and B shares? Ah, yes, greedy little piggies want their money right away.
Since you've sat on your ass and done nothing to make any of this happen, I completely understand while you feel so entitled.
I demand an apology from B shares.
That is an outrageous accusation.
You'll get thatââyou'll get that when Hell freezes over.
Please, gentlemen.
Please! Gentlemen, please, please, I want to assure A shares and B shares there will soon be the largest profits this company has ever seen.
But in order to get us across that finish line, I think it's time we rethink our leadership structure.
How so? I believe, if I were named president of Purdue, I could cut through any type of red tape or family dissension and create billions in profits every single year.
But of course, it would require a majority vote in both A shares and B shares.
Oh, that's a good one, Richie.
That's really good! You are out of your fucking mind! You're being ridiculous, truly.
Just let it go.
It's not worth the fight.
I understand, but we sent in the request six weeks ago.
Yes, I'm sure we sent it to your department.
Don't pass me off.
Hello? Come on.
Y'all go wash up for dinner.
Hey, hey.
The kids are starting to ask why you're gone so much.
I'm doing the best I can.
Morning, everyone.
Morning, Sharon.
How's the financials looking? Deceitful, confusing, unwieldy, fraudulent.
You know, just another day with Purdue Pharma.
Morning.
He's in a mood today.
Oh, yeah, what time did he come in this morning? Usual, 5:00 a.
m.
might be more chill if he got some sleep.
Why's he always come in so early? He always faxes Purdue between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning.
That way, they think we got people working on this around the clock.
Oh.
Yeah, he does it on the weekends, too.
I got sprinkles.
I got glazed.
I got some cremeâfilled.
Can we get started? Let's all try to be on time in the future.
Sharon, what do you got? Yeah, so, I'm still working my way through the '98 internal budgets, but the sales rep bonus structure incentivizes reps to push for higher doses over longer periods of time.
I don't think I've ever seen a pharma company do that before.
Do you have management specifically pushing reps to sell higher doses? Not yet, but it is implied.
I don't need implied.
I need a direct link.
I need examples that show reps dangerously pushing higher doses for profit.
Well, we might find that in the call notes.
We just completed cataloguing all of them, and a part of me thinks that there could be some information in there.
I need orders from management, not with the sales reps or telling management.
Can I finish, Rick? We might find something that leads us to a sales rep who's willing to flip on the higherâups.
How? These call notes contain everything that they wrote to their managers after every doctor's visit.
So maybe there's a rep that said people are getting addicted, but they got ignored, and now they want to talk about it.
We might find a whistleblower.
Right, well, since we haven't found a smoking gun in the higherâups, then whistleblower would be our best bet, wouldn't it? That is a wonderful idea, boss, and I wish that I had had it.
I can't believe you boys spent two years on this case without these computers.
Nobody would give us the funding.
What made them change their mind? They didn't.
Rick convinced the Virginia Medicaid Fraud Unit to give us the funding.
So how's this work? Every call note has been inputted into the system.
So you give me a keyword, and it automatically searches for all of them.
What's taken you months will now be accomplished in just a few seconds.
Okay, well, let's get the party started.
Try "Sackler.
" No.
Nothing.
Well, makes sense.
Why would the sales reps be discussing Sacklers? What types of things would you want to see them discussing? I want to know if they were reporting drug abuse.
All right.
I'll print it off.
You know, you might get more hits if you're even more specific.
What kind of abuse? Try "crush" and "snort.
" When you were a sales rep, you wrote to your manager that patients were snorting their pills.
No, I never wrote that.
Oh, you never wrote that? But that's actually what you did write in your own call notes that you sent over to your manager.
I got it right here in my notes.
You wrote, "A doctor said a patient crushed her medication into powder, like it was cocaine.
" Hello? Yes, I wanted to ask about your call notes from June 6, 1998, in which you referenced a growing culture of OxyContin abuse.
Um, I'm sorry.
This isn't a good time.
I just got home from work.
Oh, perfect, I'm actually outside your place right now.
I'd love to just come in and chat with you real quick, if I might.
Come in.
You can sit.
Can I see your ID? Of course.
If it's a fake, it's pretty convincing.
I assure you, ma'am, I'm an Assistant U.
S.
Attorney working under John Brownlee in the Western District of Virginia.
I know I'm acting crazy.
The first six months after I was fired, I thought that I was being followed.
Did upper management know that the drug was being abused in 1997 or '98? I don't see how they couldn't.
I mean, we all knew.
So it was widely known amongst the sales force.
Look, sales reps are like a bunch of frat boys that just want to make money.
Deep down, they all know it's built on a lie.
And what is that lie, exactly? That the drug's less addictive than other opioids.
But, you know, when you have an FDA label that says it's safe, you can convince yourself it's fine.
Um did any higherâlevel executives ever discuss drug abuse with you? I know this is tough.
But in order for us to truly bring accountability and to end this cycle of rampant abuse, we need someone inside the company to testify.
I've carried this on my conscience for such a long time.
When I was fired, I had a choice.
I could walk away with nothing or get a severance and sign a strict NDA.
I signed it.
There is no way I'm gonna cross Purdue.
If I could, it would cost me everything.
Look, I've already said too much to you.
I'mââI'm sorry.
You have to leave.
Uh, theââthe grand jury testimoniesââ No, no, you have to go.
Howard Udell's office.
Maureen, can I talk to you? Yep.
Let me call you right back.
Okay.
So I've got an assignment for you.
No need to take notes on this.
Okay.
Have a seat.
Actually A few call notes have been coming in about people abusing the drug, snorting it in parking lots, teenagers stealing it.
Well, there's diversion with all narcotics.
Exactly, we know OC is basically nonâaddictive, but I'd like to get a better sense of street abuse.
Can you go online into drug chatrooms under an alias and see what people are saying? Absolutely, sir.
I'll get right on it.
It's probably just teenagers getting high.
Exactly.
Thanks, Mo.
Mmâhmm.
I saw a guy in the parking lot of the clinic snorting meds.
And, uh, the security guard just, like, shrugged it off.
You know? Like he sees it all the time.
How do you know it was Oxy? Because that's all the clinic sells now.
And I put it in my call notes, but, like, no one's gotten back to me.
Why would you report it? Why wouldn't I report it? Because your job is to sell the drug.
What happens after isn't your concern.
Okay.
I grew up in Bumfuck, Oregon, with two fat, stupid brothers in a oneâbedroom shack.
I do not need you fucking up our golden goose.
I'm not trying toââwhere are you going right now? I have a date.
What? Nothing.
We've talked about what this is.
Yeah, no, I know.
Just, uh, you know, make sure you leave some money on the dresser when you leave.
Oh, please.
You should be paying me.
I'm serious.
This is San Francisco in 1849, and we are the first miners.
There's nothing like this in the history of pharmaceuticals.
We're so lucky to have this job.
You're right, we're very lucky.
Fine, bye.
Have fun on your date.
Hope it's awesome.
"I chopped a 40âmilligram tablet "into fine powder, snorted half of it, "and instantly felt the most amazing high.
"It's so easy to get around their timeârelease.
"Just pop it into your mouth for 30 seconds.
"Crush the pill, eat it, snort it, or inject it.
"Stepped up from 10âmilligram to 30âmilligram.
"I never, ever want to leave the world of Oxy.
It's pure bliss.
" Hey, Susan, what is that? It's the new 160âmilligram.
We're releasing a 160? Oh, yeah, we had to make it oblong, 'cause the circle wasn't big enough to write 160 on it.
I have found many discussions of misuse and abuse of OxyContin in numerous drug chatrooms, where the drug is quickly becoming more popular than cocaine or heroin.
There's an entire drug subculture surrounding OxyContin, where people teach each other how to bypass the timeârelease system, as they describe in detail how OxyContin is the best high of their lives.
Still can't believe I married a cook.
Swoon.
Sure I can't help? No.
You hear back from Purdue? Oh, yeah, they sent a letter saying they would look into the actions we discussed, which is pharmaâspeak for "go fuck yourself.
" So what's your next move? I don't know.
It's tricky.
The FDA has all the power to limit the amount of pills on the streets, so my only move is to get them to act.
But right now, all they seem interested in is parroting all of Purdue's talking points.
You know, in the game of power politics, if DOD is pissed at State because they won't do what they want them to do, they'll plant a story in the Times, create national pressure for State to act.
So I should go after Purdue in the press to create pressure on the FDA to take action against them? Exactly, but you don't have to do it.
You just leak it.
That way, if it backfires, your fingerprints aren't on it.
Or I can hold a press conference so the FDA and Purdue know exactly whose high heel is up their ass.
Yeah, but then, uh, you'd be creating a public press war.
You know what I like about that? The word "war.
" Nonâaddictive? He quotes Purdue's talking points like they're the fucking gospel and didn't even reach out to me for a quote.
Can you please send a real reporter to our press conference today? Please and thank you.
I mean It's looking like a good turnout.
We're, uh, expecting a dozen outlets there.
Great.
But there's an issue that's concerning us.
What is it? You.
We're worried your temper could be a distraction.
What? Fuck you.
Exactly.
You're confrontational with the press, like we just saw.
It doesn't help.
Okay, so when you're confrontational, you're tough, but when I do it, I'm an angryââ Don't want to get into a whole gender debate here.
Oh, don't you? We just want to launch the press war Sounds like it.
In a successful manner.
Oh, because the idea I brought to the table I would not want to be successful? Bridget, we're on the same team.
Just want it to be successful.
Grant, you take point.
Right? Let's have the nice, pretty white boy out front.
He's a pretty motherfucker.
And he's nice.
They like nice.
I need you to be aggressive.
Purdue and the FDA will not move unless we punch hard.
So don't be a fucking pussy out there.
I'm glad you're doing the press conference.
Yeah, me, too.
Reports of abuse have become too large and too frequent to ignore, and Purdue Pharma's continued unwillingness to take action demands a government response.
Today, I'm announcing, for the first time in DEA history, we are targeting a specific prescription drug.
Excuse me, over here! Mr.
Simmons, are you declaring war on Purdue Pharma? Yes.
No.
We just want to shield the public from a growing threat to their health and safety.
We're trying to protect the American people from the dangers of OxyContin.
Picture perfect.
Other questions.
Will this be in conjunction with the FDA? Hello, Rick.
Certainly is nice to see you.
Pastor Doug.
What, uh, brings you by? My wife mentioned that one of your young parishioners had passed away.
I'm so sorry.
It's a, uh, tragedy, especially with someone so young.
Ria Frimer was special.
But the devil has taken a hold of so many parts of this community.
Ria Frimer? Look at all this Purdue swag.
Site is definitely run by a former employee.
Well, if a former Purdue employee is running oxydeaths.
com, then I think we definitely found our whistleblower.
You see a contact on there? Marianne Skolick.
Give it a go.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes? Hello, uh, I'm Rick Mountcastle, Assistant U.
S.
Attorney in Virginia, and I'd like to speak to you about Purdue Pharma.
Ms.
Skolick? Yes, I'm here.
Sorry, I, um I'm just surprised.
You're the first person to ever call me back.
Who have you called? The FDA, the DEA, medical boards, U.
S.
attorneys all over the country.
Nobody seems to care about what I have to say.
I am so sorry, Ms.
Skolick, but I'm happy to speak to you.
So on your website, you posted pictures of Purdue merchandise.
How'd you get those? Did you work there? God, no, I'd never work for that vile company.
I was, uh, collecting evidence to show how Purdue marketing their drug in a dishonest way with stuffed animals and CDs for senior citizens.
I bought it all on eBay.
Who'd you buy it from? Uh, mostly one woman.
She worked at Purdue but was fired.
What did she do? She was Howard Udell's secretary.
Head of legal Howard Udell? Yes, that's him.
All right, you think she'd be willing to talk to us? I know she would.
Morning, everybody.
Hey, darling.
Hey.
How are you? Doctor, your patients have been waiting almost a half hour.
Oh, okay, well, sorry.
Don't send me to the principal's office.
Why did I come here? Oh.
I don't know, half hour.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Let me get your bag.
All right.
You know what we should get here? What's that? Music.
Okay.
We could do some dancing.
Okay.
Remember that.
Don't eat my lunch.
I won't eat your lunch.
You know who I like? George Strait.
I like George Straitââhey.
We're ready for the procedure.
Are you okay? Yeah.
How you doing, Randy? I'm good, Dr.
Sam.
Good, good, good.
You know, we've been through this.
We know what we're gonna do.
We've numbed this area.
You shouldn't feel anything.
And if you do feel some pain, tell us.
All right, here we go.
All right, you're gonna feel a little pressure here.
Everything okay? Yeah, I mean, I'm good.
Okay.
Mm.
Mm.
You all right? Dr.
Sam.
I got it.
Dr.
Finnix.
Ahh, Dr.
Sam.
Dr.
Finnix.
Dr.
Finnix.
Ahh! Samuel! Ahh! Call an ambulance! Ahh! Call an ambulance now.
Ahh! Now! So what happened? Everything was fine, and he jerked suddenly, kind of violently, and the blade slipped.
It's a pretty wide incision for one sudden movement.
Believe me, I know.
I couldn't believe it myself.
What is his status? You're lucky you got him in here before the blood loss was too extensive.
He's pretty rattled, but he'll be okay.
Oh, that's good, all right.
Doc, while I got you here, uh, I've got a torn ligament in my knee, and taking Percocet doesn't put a dent in it.
You tried OxyContin? I haven't, no.
Could you write me a script? I can start you on 10 milligrams.
Okay, good.
10 isââyeah, I wouldn't start my patients on 10.
That seemsââ that doesn't seem to affect them.
About 20 or 40 usually.
To justââ Dr.
Finnix, is this yours? Yeah, those are myââ uh, my patients', uh, empty pill bottles.
Well, why didn't you dispose of them? Sheriff, can I talk to you? Think he's a drug addict.
Where'd you get those? You know where.
Hey, hey, don't worry about it.
Place your hands behind your back.
You're under arrest.
Well, let's justâânow, I don't knowââ I said place your hands behind your back now.
Oh, this is a mistake.
I'll talk to you about this.
This is nothing to worry about, honey.
All right, let's go.
Don't worry.
I'll talk to you.
I'll talk you later.
Hey.
Where is it? What? Where's what? Your momma's wedding ring.
What'd you do with it? IâI don't know what you're talking about.
You're a liar and a thief now? Huh? You disgust me, Bets.
You have become a disgusting human being.
Now where is it? Huh? Where is it? Give me it now! No, stop, stop! What? Stop! What? Please, Dad, stop.
Where is it? Dad, Dad.
No, uhâuh.
I sold it! I sold it! I sold it.
Where? At the pawn shop in Bristol.
And my grandmother's brooch? I sold all of it.
You've beenââ you've been going to AA.
That's where I get my pills.
What? Dad? Get your god damn pills.
No.
Dad, no! No, Dad, no! The only thing you care aboutââ Dad, no! Get your hands off of me! Please, Dad! Where's the goddamn pills? No, please, Dad! Uhâhuh, right here! You sold your momma's precious heirlooms for this trash, huh? Give them back! Dad, Dad! Betsy! Dad, no! Ahh! No, no! No, Dad, no, ahh! No, Dad, I'll die! No, Dad, please! My daughter's destroyed our damn family! Get your hands off of me! No, please! Please, Dad, no! No! No, no, no, no! No! What? What theââstop! Bets, don't! No, don'tââDiane! I hate you! I hate you! I hope you burn in hell! Director Melton, you wanted to see me? I did.
Come in.
So how was your weekend? I hope you got some wellâearned rest.
Is this the new, friendly Bridget? Why, yes it is, nonâthreatening and docile, just like every woman should be.
Have a seat.
Look, I'm sure it wasn't fun letting your subordinate hold a press conference on your own investigation, but I think you made the right call.
I know you think you need to be tougher than a guy to prove yourself, but you already are tougher.
You don't have to be tougher.
Does that make sense? Um, sir, if I'm not forceful enough, then I'm a weak woman that shouldn't be in this job, but if I push too hard, then I'm an outâofâcontrol bitch.
And this job requires that I push.
And sometimes you do push too hard, and your approach doesn't work.
Example: Purdue requested another meeting with us, and this time, Richard Sackler is going to join.
That means the press war is already working.
It is, but Purdue also requested that you not attend the meeting.
Is Purdue Pharma dictating who attends DEA meetings now? No, but there is a feeling we might have more success with a different approach, since ultimately, we need them to act voluntarily.
And if I go for Sackler's jugular, it might scare him to act.
Or not.
Sometimes being a hardâass isn't as effective as being politic.
So we're gonna try a different approach.
Of course, sir.
Yes, I understand.
Thank you for coming.
Oh, sure.
Thank you.
Good to see you again, sir.
How are you? And thank you.
Thank you for coming.
Thank you.
Dr.
Sackler.
Hello, everyone.
Pardon my tardiness.
Deputy Director Meyer.
We were gonna stop by and say hello before we left.
Oh, so glad I could save you the trip.
Dr.
Sackler, I'm glad you could make it.
Bridget Meyer, Diversion.
Nice to meet you.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Shall we? Sure.
Sir, pardon me To reduce sporadic incidences of abuse, we would like to join your efforts.
We will finance and organize training sessions for pharmacists to help them better spot signs of illegal diversion.
And we will also develop a tamperâproof prescription pad that we will distribute at no cost to prescribing physicians around the country.
With these steps and others, we can help ensure drug abusers will not prevent pain patients from receiving their crucial medication.
Thank you.
Well, thank you, Dr.
Sackler.
We appreciate you being proactive with these excellent ideasââ But unfortunately, it's not enough.
Not even close.
You're trying to put a BandâAid on a gunshot wound.
The real problem, as you know, is a powerful and extremely addictive drug being prescribed by all kinds of doctors for minor ailments, in increasingly higher doses, without adequate safeguards.
Dr.
Sackler, I'm not going to stop until you, your company, and the FDA have curbed excessive prescribing.
People are dying! And I'm not going to back down.
I want pills off the streets.
Do you understand that? I think I understand that.
Thank you, gentlemen and lady.
Uh, we appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give Bridget and me a moment.
Sir, he was playing you, I promise you.
These are the same tiredââ Bridget, stop.
What's your next move? Well, they're not gonna take any action after this meeting.
So I will use that fact and the negative press that we've generated to go back to the FDA to make another set of demands to restrict access to this drug.
And if that doesn't work, we'll do another round in the press and keep wearing the FDA down until they finally make a move against Purdue.
Good.
You were right.
Their offer would have placated me.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Hey.
Good morning.
You okay? Something happened at work yesterday.
I didn't want to talk about it last night.
What happened? My boss called me in to his office to tell me that his dad needs OxyContin for his back pain.
Are you serious? Tells me it saved his life, and he is concerned that the DEA is trying to block a drug that helps millions of people.
He read about your case in, uh, USA Today.
Yeah, bullshit piece Purdue planted.
And he just wanted you to know that he is scared you're gonna take away his dad's medicine.
Well, you can tell him that I know Richard Sackler, and I'm sure that I can get his dad all the OxyContin he needs.
This isn't funny.
Okay, what do you want me to do? Drop the case? No, no.
I wasn't asking you to.
Okay.
Can you think about how what you're doing might be affecting me? No, I can't.
I'm sorry.
I'm trying to, you know, prevent a corrupt company from selling prescription poison to teenagers.
I can't believe you didn't even flinch when I asked if you were concerned about how this was affecting me.
I'm sorry.
Gentlemen, this is the woman I was telling you about, Maureen Sera.
Randy Ramseyer.
And her attorney, Paul Handler.
Rick Mountcastle.
Nice to meet you, Randy.
Mr.
Udell asked me to do some online research regarding abuse of the drug, so I sent a memo to him and various people in upper management, um, about what I had found.
Who all did you sent it to? Michael Friedman, Paul Goldenheim, Jonathan Sackler, Kathe Sackler, Richard Sackler.
Did any of them respond? Only Mr.
Udell did.
He screamed at me for sending it to them.
And then he told me to delete and destroy every copy.
He said, if it ever came out in discovery, we'd be screwed.
Did you keep any copies of the report at all? No, I did what I was told.
I shredded it.
And as for my emails, I lost access to my inbox when I was fired.
And were you fired over this email? No, it was something else.
It's okay, Maureen.
Yeah, okay.
Um shortly after all of this happened, I was in a car accident, and some of the injuries lingered.
One day at work, Mr.
Udell saw me limping, and so he took me into his office, and he said He said, "We've got to get you on OxyContin.
" And at first, it was great.
But then, the pain kept coming back, and I needed more and more, until finally, I was hooked.
And then they fired me for being a drug addict.
I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that.
It is truly unjust.
Can I ask, are you clean now? Yes, I am.
That's great.
Did you ever sign an NDA? No, she did not.
We're actively pursuing litigation against the company for wrongful termination.
Would you be willing to testify in front of a grand jury what you just told us? Mmâmm.
I'm I've seen what they do.
If they know that I testified, theââ the harassment and intimidation will never end.
Well, they'll never know.
Grand jury testimony is sealed and secret.
Ms.
Sera, your story is precisely what we're looking for.
'Cause see, it shows that the highest levels of the company knew exactly how dangerous the drug was.
You could even do this tomorrow, and then you could go home right after.
They won't know? Mmâmm.
Okay.
Okay, I'll testify.
Samuel Finnix? Yeah.
Come with me.
All right, just take a look around, and I'll be right back to check you in.
All right.
All right.
No, no! Relax, Betsy.
It's okay.
It's okay.
No! No, no, no! No! Betsy, relax.
No! It's okay.
No, no, no! It's okay.
Ahh! Oh, my That's all we got.
I think it is.
It's everything.
Yep.
Um My ring.
I know.
So I could probably do 3,000 for the lot.
Or I could do 1,500 for the wedding ring.
Oh, no, no, sir.
You don't understand.
That'sââthat's all our property.
Ourââour daughter, uhââ well, she stole it from us.
Yeah, you know, I hear that all the time.
You calling me a liar, huh? Honey, honey.
No, no, look, if it's yours, press charges.
Come on back with the police.
Otherwise, it's gotta stay here.
Maybe that'd be good for her.
We're not gonna do that.
But Diane We're not doing that.
What else has worked? Let's just get out of here.
How about 2,500? Just keep it.
Come on.
God is watching you, son.
You have a good day, sir.
You're a fucking asshole.
Come on.
God bless you, too.
Uncle Mortimer, despite our differences, we share a certain ambition to keep striving when others would settle.
They told me we couldn't get relaxed status in Germany, and I'm still fighting.
There's a reason people are repelled by you, and that's never going to change, not even if you become president of Purdue.
So don't feel bad that that's never gonna happen.
I'm so sorry, but Germany is officially dead.
We tried everything we could, but BfArM just won't budge.
The Germany regulators are justââthey're too strict.
You were all defeatists from the getâgo.
That's why it failed.
Because no one ever believed in it, none of you.
No, that'sââthat's absolutely not fair.
It's fine, Jon.
It's fine.
We all pushed as hard as weââ Jon! Thank you.
I know you thought this was your big play to become president, but Mortimer will never let it happen.
You really should just let it go.
Ah, I see.
Thank you.
I just don'tââ Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Jesus, Richard.
Germany didn't happen.
It was never going to happen.
You gotta get over it.
Enough of the map.
You know it's my weakness, obsessing over things, driving everyone crazy.
Oh, you? No.
I'm aware I'm not the most popular member of the family.
But, uh, I always felt like we had a special bond.
Oh, yeah? We're the outsiders, hmm? The different ones.
I always hated the way some people judged your girlfriends, like you had a social disease.
It brought me so much joy when I met Susan.
I knew you two would end up together.
I remember telling your father that I felt that you two made a wonderful couple.
I remember him saying that you said that, and I, uhââ I really appreciated it.
It makes me so happy you get to be with the woman you love.
Well, look, IââI always hated how your father used money to control you, your choices, your life.
I hated that.
I don't know about you, but I think it's time we moved beyond what the family thinks is best for us.
It's time for some new traditions.
Like what? Richard Sackler has requested a vote for president, which requires separate majorities from A shares and B shares.
Per his request, B shares will vote first.
All in favorite of elevating Richard Sackler to president, please raise your hand.
Oh, almost lost your brother on that one, didn't you, Richie? B shares agree to promote Richard Sackler to president.
A shares will now vote.
All in favor of promoting Richard Sackler to president, please raise your hand.
What the hell's going on? A shares have a majority, and Richard Sackler is now named president of Purdue Pharma.
Thank you so much.
My first act as president is to request the allotment of profits be increased significantly and distributed immediately to both A shares and B shares.
I also nominate Kathe Sackler to be vice president.
Looks like the kids pulled one over on you, Morty.
God damn you! God damn all of you! Sorry, Dad, but it's time.
She's right, Morty.
It's time.
Hey, hey, hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Get your hands off me! Hey! You are a miserable son of a bitch! Don't touch me! Sorry.
Hi, um, Mr.
Mountcastle? Um, this is Maureen Sera.
And I justââ I'm having a hard time.
If you could just call me back, that would be great.
Okay, bye.
Please! Please, you have to help me! I need something for the pain.
Please! You don't know.
I just need some Oxy or a Vicodin.
All I need isââ The doctor said there was nothing wrong with you.
That's not true.
Please, can you help me? I'm so sorry.
Ms.
Sera, we can't.
Then get the fuck out.
You don't understand.
Don't touch me.
I'm dying.
You're not dying.
It's okay.
She's relapsing from the stress.
God, I feel terrible.
I do, too.
She can't testify.
No.
So you, umââyou weren't always religious, were you? I converted in 1995.
Wow, that's not, uhââ that's not very long ago.
Eight years.
Did something happen thatââ that caused you to convert? I just want to be a better person.
Were you ever religious? No.
Samuel, you have a visitor.
Hey, Billy.
Hey.
Thank you for coming.
I know this, uhââthis probably isn't easy on you.
No, of course.
Um How long you here for? 90 days, mandatory.
It's, um, lucky I'm not in jail.
I'm only on probation, 'cause it's my first offense.
Lost my medical license.
Oh, my God.
I'm sorry.
Sit.
Don't be.
It'sââyou know I'm lucky I'm alive.
I, umââ I promise, when I first came to you, I didn't know they were addictive.
You know, I really believed what they were telling me.
Of course you did.
Of course you did.
Whyââwhy wouldn't you? They showed us all this data from famous doctors Uhâhuh.
And think tanks.
You know, it was really convincing.
Sure.
You know, at a certain point, you start to realize there's a problem, but you can't stop selling, because you're addicted to the money.
And we were making so much, and it's all legal.
Yeah.
And, um, I lied to you about, um, my dad.
He never had cancer.
And I think I, uhââ I said that because I wanted you to be comfortable with me, you know? And I'm so sorry.
It's all one big lie, and I know that now.
But IââI don't know how to stop, you know? It's the first time in my life I feel like I'm something.
I have things.
IââI have everything I ever wanted, butââ Hey, hey, hey.
It's okay.
Life's hard, you know? It takes someââ takes some crazy turns, right? I didn't ask you to come down here to, you know, tell you, "Hey, you should leave your company and get on out of there.
" I didn't askââthat's not why I called you down here.
Youââyou didn't? No, no.
Hey.
You think you can get me some pills? So here we go.
Hi there.
Thank you.
You can take a look at these.
Great.
Howard.
So as you can see, it's a gorgeous glass building.
It's 450,000 square feet, sits on five acres.
It's located in Stamford's Central Business District, so walking distance to restaurants, shops.
What's the listing price? 84 million.
You sure about this? We won't even be able to move in for a few years.
What if we pay all cash? Yes, I'mââI'm sure that could help the negotiation.
Good.
Tell them we'll be making an allâcash offer.
Well done, Mr.
President.