ReGenesis s01e07 Episode Script

- What's she doing here? - You hired her.
- I did? - I'm confused.
Hello, David.
Why can't two grown drunk people act like two grown drunk people? That's when my dad came up with the idea to make a clone.
He used you to save your brother.
He was diagnosed with leukaemia a year ago.
Do you got any proof that the therapy caused the stroke? I think that the Peterson boy's immune system over-responded.
- But you don't know.
- Neither does Booker.
The boy was sick.
He died of a disease that we were trying to save him from.
You studied the therapy.
Does it work or doesn't it work? He might have suffered a stroke with or without the treatment.
You're willing to bet lives on that, Carlos? The question that we are dealing with here is: if 3,000 kids get this treatment, will 1 die or 1,000? He's in a coma, David.
- Who? - Justin Ricci! You! You signed that boy's death sentence! You! If Mick you know, he had a dream too, - he should like totally go for it.
- Absolutely.
- And I should help him.
- Of course.
- Yeah, okay, bye.
- Bye.
This here is your Mr.
George Edward Plane.
Oh, you're fucking beautiful.
I found it.
A sample of the 1918 flu.
A perfect specimen.
A hundred and two, a hundred and two.
It's Kobe in the heat.
You ever consider table tennis? I thought you were on a flight to Houston.
The cab's on its way.
How's the pathology on Justin Ricci going? I should have results soon.
- You're throwing it at me? - To you.
David, we ran all the tests on the gene treatment.
It checked out.
Shut up and play.
The kid's in a coma, Carlos.
Four hours after taking the treatment in the trial that I sent him to.
I should have been more closely involved.
Oh, what? You're saying you're the only one who could have done it right? The whole lab worked on it, David.
If something was missed, then we all missed it.
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not used to missing.
Have a nice flight.
Hey, David.
Hit me.
Oh, I got the brain scans you ordered on the kids that survived.
Let me see.
Okay.
Of course, these kids didn't have a blast crisis or a cytokine storm.
They look pretty normal.
- What do you think? - I think they look pretty normal.
Mayko? Isn't it a little early for that? It's never too early for basketball.
Did you rerun the comparisons on Peterson's and Ricci's genes? - You want to see the cyto genetic workup? - Yeah.
And all the kids in the trials had the same chromosomal abnormality? Uh-hmm.
An 8-11 translocation.
It's just the kind of messed up chromosomal you expect in an AML patient.
Are we sure the RNA inhibitor got to the leukaemia cells? In all the cases.
The viral injection did what it was supposed to do.
Oh, fuck.
Look, David.
I know I was pushing you.
- I mean, if you had more time you - And I would have made the same call and I would still be wondering why Peterson and Ricci reacted differently to the treats.
There's nothing wrong with the decision to continue the trial.
We made the right call at the time.
Can you explain what happened to the Ricci boy? He had a stroke like the Peterson kid, but not because of the same thing.
What then? Peterson had what we call a cytokine storm, which is too many immune activating proteins in his system.
And that's bad? Too many of anything in the body is bad.
- Okay, what about Justin Ricci? - Ah, he had what we call blast crisis.
Blast cells are these little baby cells, cancerous ones, and you get too many of those guys in your system and the same thing can result.
You know: coma, death.
But caused by something totally different.
Exactly.
So, is it the treatment, or is it a coincidence, something to do with the two kids, or is it just plain old bad luck? - Well? - Place your bets.
Excuse me, can I help you? Yeah, I need everything you've got on Justin Ricci for the last 24 hours: Blood tests, brain scans, a copy of this chart, everything.
Okay.
Carlito! I was just thinking of you.
You look good.
I look good? Oh, my God! Carlos! You're going blind! I didn't know what to get you, so I emptied out the airport gift shop.
Blue Jays mug, salt water taffy, maple leaf-shaped, maple fudge.
Carlos, how am I supposed to keep my girlish figure? Why didn't you let me know sooner? I did.
You're here.
My T-cell count's not so hot, huh? Your CD4+ is 11%.
There are things we can do.
Are we talking cure? We're talking quality of life, Lloyd.
Ah, give me a break.
What about something experimental? Some of this cutting edge technology my broker's always telling me about.
- There's nothing on the market.
- Then we go off-market.
Carlos, what do you know about long-term non-progressors? I've dated a few.
You haven't lost your sense of humour.
David.
Uh-huh? Can I grab a signature from you? What for? I put together the patent application.
Oh, yeah.
Flu strain 777456.
It sounds kind of dull.
Government protocol.
It's all very official.
Hmm.
She'll always be my Spanish lady.
So, after I file, do you want me to get it over to the WHO? - What for? - A vaccine.
Who decided that? They're the biggest, fastest lab equipped to make the vaccine.
- I thought it was a no-brainer.
- No.
None.
No data.
Nothing leaves here.
David, we have a pending patent.
We're protected, they can't like they even would, but they can't rip us off.
I just don't want the WHO, or any lab for that matter, working on my shit.
- Our shit.
- Yeah.
You know what I mean.
No, actually, I don't know what you mean.
We're going to make a vaccine right here.
And then we'll think about letting it out.
You're not serious! Do I look like I'm wearing a clown costume? David, the World Health Organization has more manpower, more equipment, they could probably come up with a vaccine in less than a year.
What's the hurry? We found her, I want to go all the way with her.
Okay, so this is like an ego thing? Yeah, okay, I'll go with that.
Jill, file the patent and we're going to make the vaccine right here, okay? - Whatever you say, boss.
- Thank you.
HIV is killing my CD4s and my CD8s aren't going to respond to a head cold, let alone something more serious.
They're making progress with the virus every day, Lloyd.
No, I've read everything: From the effects of potent anti-retroviral therapy on Kaposi's Sarcoma, to the uses of labelled glucose to study lymphocyte replication.
And finally, you got to long term non-progressors? These people, Carlos, they're HIV-positive and they never get AIDS.
They can save me.
You can save me.
Welcome.
Between Quebec City and the Atlantic Ocean lies a region of stunning beauty, a majestic landscapes of dense forests and breath-taking fjords carved out by ancient glaciers.
Are you okay? Oh yeah, I'm just a little bit stiff from sitting down so Mick, your nose is like, bleeding.
Shit! No, it's okay, it happens all the time.
Yeah, yeah, it happens to my mom too, and, she blames it on thin blood, but I think it's because she's a record producer.
Never mind.
Don't worry, just keep reading, it'll stop in a couple minutes.
Here the Saguenay River meets the mighty St.
Lawrence and many species of whales: the finback, humpback, hunchback, horseback and paperback What are talking about? Just seeing if you're listening.
- Do you have a minute? - What do you want, Wes? Caroline asked me to go through Booker's finances.
Why? We became aware that he gets stock options if the treatment goes to market.
You know, there's this little thing in the Western world called capitalism, Wes.
It can get ugly, but we allow individuals to compete for their own financial gain.
Well, he stands to gain a lot of money if this gene therapy is approved.
Don't you find that a bit unethical? He has a PhD in molecular biology and he gets paid less than an interior decorator.
That's what's unethical.
I'm just suggesting that Booker has a little incentive to push this therapy through.
Okay, so the thinking is what? That after 20 years in a lab, Booker's going to throw away his reputation for a couple of stock options? Actually, $2,750,000 worth of stock options.
Oh.
Yeah? - Hey, Carlos, where are you? - I'm still in Houston.
- How's - Not good.
David, do you know about the research Judy Beewick has been doing on HIV? - Yeah, it's pretty hot there.
- Do you know her? Carlos, I hope you're not thinking what I think you're Do you know her, David? We've met at conferences.
- Have you pissed her off? - Probably, eventually, I piss everybody off.
She works with HIV-positive people who never get AIDS, non-progressors.
Wait a minute, how bad is your friend? His HIV RNA is at a million copies.
Jesus, Carlos, I'm sorry.
- Hello, David? - Carlos? Carlos, you are still there? - Hello? - Call me back.
Great! Ow! Shit! What the hell happened? - Darkness! - My LC/MS run.
I'll lose the vacuum, I need emergency back up.
Bob, relax, it's already tied into the emergency generator.
- Right.
It looks like it's citywide.
- Are we secure? We're good, the system's on back-up.
They say it could be as bad as '03.
Not just Toronto, oh, but the entire North-Eastern seaboard.
I have an announcement to make.
I will be having scrambled leftovers at my place tonight for anyone stranded without a gas stove.
- Bingo! - Free food! Our cells have padlocks, which HIV needs a key to open.
Long-term non-progressors' cells have padlocks without keyholes.
HIV can't get in.
- So, how do you change your lock? - Stem cells.
It's me.
In the dark, how about you? We should boil the drinking water 3 to 5 minutes, not 35 minutes.
No power in Baltimore? How big is this? Any chance it's terrorism? Congresswoman Schuller, I don't think being trapped in an elevator's funny.
No.
Right, right, save your batteries.
Okay, good night.
I'm eating at David's tonight.
Wow! Hey Mom, you have to go out and look at the stars.
No, Mom, electricity doesn't hold up a balcony! Look at the stars.
The stars are unbelievable.
Just like when I was back in Vietnam.
Diane! No, I'm sorry sweetie, I'm losing you.
Can you e-mail me? No, that's not going to work.
Hello? Diane? - So, are you coming for dinner? - Hi! Uh, no, thank you.
You're mad about the patent.
No, David, you're the boss.
All right? Well, is this about Chicago? What? No! Why aren't you coming for dinner? Because! I don't know It's dark and I'm going to go home.
Have a bubble bath, climb into bed.
Can I come? You're hosting a dinner party.
Well, not all night! Come on in, it's open.
Oh hey, Bob.
Come on in, what's up? I brought wine, I had some left over.
My cousin brought it.
Great, come on in.
Gamelon doesn't like being alone in the dark.
- Well, where is she? - Outside.
You want her to come in? Behave yourself.
Go! Go! Hey, hi! So what are we having for dinner? I brought wine, I didn't want it to go bad.
Ah hello, Mayko.
Yeah, okay, so I froze it in my ice cube trays.
- That's a good idea.
- Now, it's melting.
Think of it as ice wine.
- Morrison.
- Caroline, it's me Digby.
- You guys still in the dark over there? - Yeah.
We are.
Our cell phones are off and on so you better get to your point.
Right, I've got an update on our friend Martin Jamieson aka William Zanzinger.
Shoot.
It turns out we're not the only ones looking for him.
- Who else? - Oh, you name it! The South-Africans, Pakistanis, I believe the American expression is "can of worms".
- Yeah.
Why Pakistan? - I don't know yet.
But wasn't that scientist that was murdered outside your office Hira Khan, yeah.
She was Pakistani.
The closer we get, the bigger it gets.
- Caroline? - Digby? - Hello? Hello? - Hello? Thanks.
What do you say? Zucchini or courgettes? It's eggplant, Bob.
I know the difference between an aubergine and courgette.
I don't understand the question then, what do you So, this is kind of romantic.
Candlelight, a dog Did you have a nice day at the office today, honey? Why, yes dear, very nice, I schtuped my secretary at lunch.
Oh again? You are a devil, aren't you? Uh-huh, and then, I made enough crack cocaine to buy you that little house in the Annex you've had your eye on.
Oh, you are so sweet.
Then, I'm going to stop seeing the pool boy.
Any new thoughts on the gene treatment? I'm thinking maybe they should revisit the whole immune response in animals.
You mean, stop the trials? I'm sorry.
Gamelon's been having some digestive problems lately.
Oh, for a second there, I thought it was the wine.
Was this sparkling before you froze it? No.
I think you're reinvented double fermentation.
- Thank you.
- That's a lot of bubbles.
- What about the bubble boy? - What about what bubble boy? You remember the SCID gene treatment trials? The kids with immune deficiency syndrome were treated with a virus that delivered the missing gene.
Oh right.
Then 3 years later, all the kids got leukaemia because the viral DNA inserted itself next to the wrong gene in the cell.
So it replaced the gene.
But, also inadvertently activated a cancer-causing gene.
Are we thinking that might have happened to Justin Ricci? The viral RNAl silenced another gene too? - Maybe.
Maybe What are you guy doing? - Talking to you.
No, I mean tonight.
Let's go to the lab.
Sure.
Gamelon, come on.
Can we eat, first? Okay, whatever you do, just don't smile.
- Why not? - I hate fake smiles.
How do you know it's fake? How do you know I'm not actually happy? So, what do you want to do? - Okay.
- Thanks.
What's wrong? Nothing.
It's just It's weird.
What? We're in a motel.
Yeah.
Together.
Yeah.
All alone.
I guess I Is this whole whale watching thing just some ploy to get me in a motel room with you? Yeah, that's why I caused the black out too.
Like, have you ever done it? Done what? You know what I mean.
- Like, sex? - Yeah.
- No.
You? - No.
You? No.
No? Don't sound so surprised.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to No, it's okay.
What about you? No, not even close.
I was just I was just wondering if you wanted Before you Die? Just to know the feeling.
To know how you feel, like you know, afterwards.
Hey, it's okay.
Don't cry.
Don't cry.
I'm all right.
Just I'm just feeling so bad, Mick.
The process is threefold.
These stem cells will become the new CD4 cells with the defect that will save lives.
Yes? Are there non-progressive stem cells available today? - No, we'd have to grow them.
- But, isn't that illegal? That's why we're trying to change the law.
But a stem cell is a human life.
Well, that would depend upon your definition of human and life, wouldn't it? If the stem cell were to divide and grow, wouldn't it turn into a baby? A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell capable of proliferation, self-renewal, production of a large number of differentiated functional progeny, regenerating tissue after injury Do you think you're right in the eyes of God? This is graduate science class.
Theology is down the hall.
Okay, that's it for today everybody.
Read chapters 6 and 7, and I'll read the New Testament.
Excuse me, Dr.
Beewick? I'm Carlos Serrano, I believe Dr.
Sandstrom in Toronto spoke to you? Ah, yes.
David explained your situation.
How close are you to a human test? Legally, we're ways away.
Scientifically, we just need the right stem cells.
If I could get you those stem cells from two non-progressors, would you include a friend of mine who has AIDS? Where are you going to get these stem cells? Canada.
So you'd what? Culture the cells yourself and bring them to me? If you include my friend in your trial.
You know there are legal issues.
Growing and harvesting stem cells is perfectly legal in Canada, so no laws would be broken there.
See ya.
- How's is it going? - It's good! It's good.
What do you got Bob so happy about? Oh, I just like to make him laugh.
Listen, Mayko, I heard a rumour I slept with him a long time ago.
Oh, you slept with Bob? Oh no! God, no! Oh, yeah, no, I heard a rumour that there's actually a city outside of this building.
- Yeah, it's a big fun city.
- Really? We should go out sometime.
You know, stir up some trouble.
Sure.
- When do you want to go? - He wants to see us.
The microarray analysis shows that the RNAl was doing what's it was supposed to and nothing else.
- Okay, so it's not a SCID.
Shit, I thought we had it there.
Fuck it, you know what? We've got 6 kids in remission, but without this treatment, there'd be 8 kids that are dying.
You know, if I'm wrong, somebody convince me.
So Justin Ricci was just unlucky? Maybe.
- Can we be clear about anything? - I think he was unlucky.
I mean, to have a blast crisis and a stroke, all within 4 hours? That's like having 2 car accidents on the same trip home.
Something like happened to me, I was in college and I went to the laundromat - Bob.
- No wait.
What did you just say? I went to the laundromat and I forgot my clothes, so I went back No.
Justin Ricci couldn't be that unlucky.
- It does seem kind of quick.
- Why are we fighting this? If it couldn't happen in 4 hours, it couldn't happen in 4 hours! He was already in blast crisis when he was given the treatment.
He wouldn't have been accepted in the trial in that condition.
He shouldn't have been accepted into the trial.
David, we have his records.
He wasn't in blast crisis when he was approved for trial.
What records? Hey, did I wake you? I'm sorry.
I'm heading back to Toronto.
I think so.
No, I'm going to make it happen.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay, sleep well.
I just kept wondering if there was something I was missing, you know? No, you made the right decision, David.
I think I did.
The question is, did you? What are you talking about? Treating the Ricci kid when he was already in blast crisis.
How can you think that? I mean, you read his prep charts, didn't you? Yeah, most of them.
His white blood cell counts were being checked daily and they were rising on their way towards a blast crisis.
We have inclusion/exclusion criteria that he met.
For Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
You gave him the treatment on Wednesday.
By Wednesday the Ricci kid was so sick, he couldn't take the treatment, you gave him the shot anyway.
I wasn't aware he was outside the trial parameters.
Oh, what? You didn't read the prep report? All right, cut the bullshit.
You know what I think? I think you palmed Wednesday's report and you gave him the treatment.
If it failed, well it's all due to sudden onset blast crisis, but if it succeeds, well you can tell the world that your treatment's even better than you claim.
The white blood cell count report was lost in the hospital's internal mail.
I've used that excuse a couple of times myself.
You fucking robbed the Riccis of what little time they had left with their son.
You need a reality check, Sandstrom.
- I tried to save their son's life.
- You failed.
- The point is I tried.
- This isn't your call, Booker.
What are you talking about? The Riccis begged me to give their son the treatment.
They knew their son was in blast crisis? Yes, of course.
Jesus! I told them he'd have to be excluded from the trial.
Then why wasn't he? His chances of recovering from blast crisis is 0, David.
They begged me to save their son, they pleaded.
You corrupted the trials on a wild gamble and then tried to cover it up.
That's reason enough to end them.
Would have refused the chance, no matter how small, how remote, to save a child's life? Say nothing, nothing happens.
Judy Beewick thought this was a good idea? - Guess I got her on a good day.
- So what do you want me to do? Well, you know AIDS doctors, you have contacts at in-vitro clinics.
Carlos, first of all, you've got to get a couple of non-progressors, a male and a female.
It's easy, researchers have databases on them.
Yeah, well there's a small minor detail called confidentiality.
We get around it.
We play the professional courtesy card.
Okay.
Then you've got to get them to fertilize.
What? We take an egg and we do it in the lab.
You've got to get them to agree to it first.
It's for research David.
What HIV-positive person would say no? How are you going to smuggle the stem cells into the States? You're going to hide them into a tub of butter brickle ice cream? We send them the way we send all NorBAC samples.
Caroline's never going to let NorBAC get involved in something like this.
Cut the bullshit, David.
Okay? She'll never know.
What the fuck is going on here, Carlos? Lloyd was my first lover.
I had a hard time coming to grips with who I was and he helped me.
Are you okay? Am I HIV-positive? No.
Well it looks like we got a lot of work to do.
Dr.
Hazard, David Sandstrom from NorBAC.
Good, thank you.
Actually, I'm in a bit of a bind.
We're looking to create some long-term non-progressor zygotes and we're in the market for ova and sperm.
Tonight.
Well, can't you miss the first couple of innings? Apparently not.
Hi, my name is Carlos Serrano.
Yes, Dr.
David Sandstrom in Toronto gave me your name.
Hello? Hello? Dr.
Diallo, David Sandstrom.
Well, if I said all of that, it must be true.
I got your name from World Health.
Yes, I'm a research physician working on non-progressors Looking for long-term AIDS non-progressors who might want to donate eggs or sperm.
Sandstrom, David Sandstrom.
You have the sperm? That's fantastic! Yes.
No, no, no, I'll take it.
Okay.
We're going to take care of shipping.
Thank you.
What is it Wes, because I'm kind of busy? I understand you're working on an experimental AIDS therapy.
No, you heard wrong.
You're looking for non-progressor.
I'm HIV-positive.
Are you a non-progressor? No.
But I have a friend who has been HIV-positive for 15 years.
Do you know what I'm planning on doing? Yes, you're going to need an egg from another non-progressor.
Yes.
If she doesn't cooperate, you let me know.
- We never had this conversation.
- Of course.
Are you Iliana? Tell you what.
You don't ask my name, I won't ask you questions.
My name is Carlos, I have a favour to ask you.
Hand job's 20, oral is 50.
You want to stick it in, it's It's not that kind of favour.
You want me to fuck your girlfriend or what? No, no, I'm serious.
Listen to me.
I'm a doctor, okay? A researcher.
I'm working on AIDS.
- I don't have AIDS.
- Well, I know you don't.
Look, you want to have a good time? Okay.
But I don't want to talk about this shit.
Please Iliana, listen to me.
You have an immunity of sorts, something I think that you can pass along.
If you'd be just willing to have a simple medical procedure.
What? We harvest one of your eggs from your ovaries.
- No.
No baby! - No, no, Iliana, it's not to make a baby.
- Just to take some cells from your body.
- Don't waste my time.
You could save a man's life! You could save many lives.
Please.
It will only take a few hours.
You want Iliana for a few hours? You pay! Of course.
200 right now and 200 after the procedure.
- No sex! - No sex.
You've been in Canada too long.
- How's it going? - Almost ready.
Does it look like a good egg? If it's anything like the donor, it will be tough and lively.
I don't know how you do that.
You know, it's a lot easier when somebody isn't standing over your shoulder, Mayko.
Got it.
One false move and the egg's toast, right? I'm getting tense just looking at you.
Ready for the spermatozoa? Okay.
You want to make this a simultaneous orgasm? Phew, that was fantastic, Carlos! You got a cigarette? Wait, wait.
We're like the only ones here.
I don't know, should I take a picture of the whale or you looking at it? How about I do some whale seeing faces and then, you don't have to chose? - Okay, sure.
- Okay.
Look at the whales.
Big whales! Okay.
Lloyd, before we do this, there are a couple of things that you need to know.
I know, you idiot.
I sent you there.
- It may do absolutely nothing.
- Just give it to me.
- Do you know how this is supposed to work? - What do you want to know? How the stem cells actually give my immune system a fighting chance? You want me to diagram the molecular structure of a CD8 cell for you? - Give me that notebook, over there.
- Okay, you've made your point.
Then stop playing doctor.
Although, I must admit I find it very sexy.
Then shoot me up.
There's one more thing you need to know.
What? Ti amo mi querido.
I love you too Carlos.
- You want some? - No, thanks.
- Are you getting cold? - No.
Any whales? Any second.
"Bonjour Monsieur.
" "Nous sommes ici pour les baleines.
" "Oh, les baleines! Ha! Ha! Ha!" "Ce n'est pas la bonne saison.
" - What? Sorry? - No whales.
No whales.
What? Wrong season.
No whales.
Don't listen to him.
We're going to see some.
Seriously, just keep watching, you're going to see one, I know it.
Here, would you like to try? - Hey.
- Hey.
- Have you come to a conclusion? - Yes, I have.
Are you going to share it? The trials should continue.
What about the Ricci and Peterson kids? We couldn't connect their deaths to the treatment.
Oh.
Okay, so Booker's clean? We weren't asked to judge Booker.
We were asked to judge his trial.
I can't know his motivation, but I know his biology and it's good.
Even if he is a pompous asshole.
But, you know, remenber, these are trials, so All I'm saying right now is that there's no reason to say the treatment is bad.
These are very sick kids, so, is the drug going to save them? It saved 6 of them, we need to keep studying it.
- But folding might still be right? - Sure.
And more kids may die? Yeah.
But, ultimately, this treatment could save many lives, so I don't know how you do it.
- How do you play God? - Oh, I try not to.
This was your idea, remember? Oh my God! Look! I think I see a whale! Seriously, look, look! Mick, can you see it? Mick? Mick? Mick? Mick? Hello, Sarah, it's me.
She's fine, sort of.
A friend of hers died and she's No, no, no, natural causes, but she really needs you out here right now.
- How come you're in Toronto? - My God! You look so grown up! Look, I just lost my friend my best friend! All you care about is putting each other down.
Lilith.
The CIA got intercepts of a plan to create a black out and use the chaos to move terrorists from Canada to the U.
S.
Right, blame Canada! So, underground wires seemingly spontaneously combust.
And why do they think it's terrorism? I don't know.
Because that's what you do these days.
You know who's really happy about this black out? Who? That guy on death row who was supposed to get the chair this morning.
Caroline? There's been another explosion.
Chicago.