The Good Fight (2017) s06e06 Episode Script
The End of a Saturday
1
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [P.A. BEEPS, ECHOES]
- RI'CHARD: You want some candy?
- [WRAPPER CRINKLES]
Want some vegetables?
[SCOFFS]: Oh. [PATS HIS LAP]
I know what you want.
- Ta-da!
- [SCOFFS]: Unc, I'm not a kid.
Oh, this is not a toy.
It's a medical device.
See, you put all your hurt in this end.
Well, go ahead. Want to give it a try?
"I'm Dustin, and my favorite uncle
just got me this
because he thinks I'm five years old
and that it'll make
the bone marrow transplant
suck less".
And then out the other end
[HIGH-PITCHED VOICE]: I'm Dustin,
- and my favorite uncle just got me this
- [LAUGHING]
because he thinks I'm five years old
and that it'll make
the bone marrow transplant
suck less.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Yes, and we planned for surgery today.
- Do you know how much pain
- he's been going through?
- What-what's going on?
[STAMMERS] They canceled the transplant.
No. We didn't cancel it.
We're ready to go.
- Then what happened?
- The donor canceled.
He was supposed to be here by 8:00.
RI'CHARD: Why? Why did he cancel?
All we know is that
he promised his bone marrow
- to someone else.
- DELIA: No!
We-we-we need to talk to him.
He insists on maintaining his anonymity.
I'm feeling manipulated.
It's voluntary, of course.
The bone marrow donor can
back out whenever he wants.
Who are you calling?
I'm calling work.
Unfortunately, there's
no plan B here, sir.
We're lawyers.
There's always a plan B.
What do you want me to do about it?
Find out who did it.
Check the elevator security camera.
- They were off.
- The cameras were off?
What the fuck?!
- Maintenance was working on them.
- Are you kidding me?
The one day some white supremacist puts
"Blood and Soil" stickers
all over our elevator,
- and the surveillance cameras are off?
- They've been off for a while.
- [PHONE RINGING]
- Check the lobby camera.
There's one hour when
somebody could've done this.
Reddick and Associates.
RI'CHARD: Reddick & Ri'Chard.
Reddick & Ri'Chard.
How can I help you, Mr. Lane?
- Who's in today?
- No one. It's early.
Uh, I want all the partners
on a Zoom call in 15 minutes.
And any associates you can
scrounge up, bring them in.
Can I tell them what this is regarding?
It's a life-or-death situation.
[MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
[GRUNTING]
Unhand her right now,
you son of a bitch!
FEMALE VOICE: Thank you, Julius.
I knew you'd come.
[LAUGHS] You did? How'd you know that?
Because who else comes into
the office on Saturday morning?
- [LAUGHS]: Well
- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Ri'Chard wants everybody
on a Zoom call in 15 minutes.
[STAMMERS]: Wait. W Why?
- Life or death.
- LIZ: Isn't this fun?
Clean air.
- And fresh living.
- Bugs.
No toilet.
Come on, just-just mother and
son just bonding over a fire.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- Just
MALCOLM [SIGHS]:
We're not going camping.
[GIGGLING]
[PHONE CHIMES]
[SIGHS]
WOMAN: What are you doing?
I, uh, got to go.
What? Where?
To work.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
- I'll go with you.
- [CHUCKLES]
Um, no, no. I will, uh
I'll see you at St. Barts.
Are you hiding me?
Come on.
Stop it.
They don't know you're gay, do they?
Um
They don't know I'm anything.
[KISSING]
Lock the door.
Why, why am I always
doing things for you?
Everybody else does things for me.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SPEAKING IN HEBREW]
[THUD ON FLOOR]
[GRUNTING]
- [THUD]
- [GROANS]
[CONTINUES IN HEBREW]
[PHONE CHIMES]
I got to get this.
[ZEV SPEAKING IN HEBREW]
- We're all here?
- ALL: Yes.
This is about
my 11-year-old nephew, Dustin.
He has sickle cell disease.
And he's been in and out of hospitals
- half his life. He was supposed
- [ZEV SHOUTING IN HEBREW]
Whoever that is, can you
Yes, sorry.
He was supposed to get
a bone marrow transplant.
Uh, he's facing organ failure, uh
he's alredy lost his spleen,
but just this morning
uh, we found out that
the bone marrow is going
to somebody else.
How hard is it to find another match?
It it could take years.
Um, and and the doctor thinks
that Dustin might have another
week to live.
- Oh, my God!
- Yes. This is not good.
And my worry is this donor
is being paid to donate
his bone marrow to someone else.
- Which is illegal.
- Yes, but not unlikely.
I need legal solutions.
- Do you know who the donor is?
- No. We only know he's a male
- in his 30s, who lives locally.
- JAY: Okay, I could do some research.
- Do we have any legal options?
- I don't think there's any way
to force him to go through
with the transplant.
Unless we can prove some
manipulation of the process.
No. Legally, you can't force someone
to follow through on a gift
What about promissory estoppel?
You'd have to prove
to detrimental reliance.
E-Either way, uh,
let's work up the lawsuit.
Uh, I'm getting court time at noon.
So we have to move fast.
Uh, Carmen and, um
- Marissa.
- Right, um
we need you to go through
the donor database
and turn over every stone
for another option.
CARMEN: On it.
The-the status on the database
changes hour to hour,
so something might come up.
- Uh, and meanwhile, I need the partners
- Okay, I'll come in.
I'll-I'll work on the estoppel.
Thank you.
I'm not giving up on Dustin
until the Good Lord tells me to.
[LAPTOP CLOSES]
Unfortunately, I think I have to go.
Can we schedule another
session on Monday?
Certainly. I hope you don't mind.
I couldn't help overhearing
your Zoom call.
The nephew of one of
our partners, it's just awful.
I heard sickle cell.
You know, we volunteer here
helping sickle cell patients
with pain management.
It's way past that.
He-he has a week to live.
I'm just saying, from my work,
I'm on the board for clinical trials.
Well, what trials?
Gene-editing technology.
You've heard of CRISPR?
It's like that.
Trials are proving it cures sickle cell.
Keep going.
It works like a tiny pair
of scissors, snipping off
the segment of the DNA
that causes sickle cell.
- That's been done? Successfully?
- Yes.
Well, then why would anyone
need a bone marrow transplant?
They wouldn't.
Gene editing is so new,
it's-it's only in trials.
But the results are amazing.
I know the doctor doing the trials here
in Chicago, and I could introduce you.
- You would do that?
- Of course.
Bone marrow matches are very rare.
So I'm gonna need you both to
Came from the gym.
I'm gonna need you to scour
the donor databases.
There are three or four.
- And what are we looking for?
- According to Ri'Chard,
these are Dustin's
leukocyte antigens markers.
What's our deadline?
Well, the operation can be pushed back
till Monday, but that's about it.
- This Monday?
- Yes.
We should check social media, too.
That's up to you.
Uh, don't you want
to work off the same computer?
It's better if we work separately.
[SHOUTING, CLAMORING]
Dr. Singh, thank you for hearing me out.
No problem. Uh, come on.
They need me in triage.
- Is it normally like this?
- No.
I came in to check on the trials,
and protestors started
fighting around the corner.
Give me the rushed version.
Uh, his name is Dustin Gish. Here he is.
He's already in Chicago.
He can start right away.
In fact, he has to start right away.
I told her you had one slot for
a compassionate use exception
for sickle cell. Life or death, Singh.
Christina. We'll need
the paperwork ASAP.
Just tell me where to send it.
We have it all collected.
Clear a sickle cell
gene-editing examination for ?
- Dustin Gish.
- No, what day?
- Oh, Monday.
- Monday morning.
- How old is Dustin?
- 11.
- Oh, shit.
- What?
- Christina, never mind.
- What's wrong?
11 is too young.
- Who says?
- The FDA.
I don't have authorization for
patients under 12. I'm sorry.
Wait.
[STAMMERS] He's only
three weeks from his birthday.
It doesn't matter. This is the FDA.
Wait until his birthday.
He'll be dead by his birthday.
Come on, Singh, what can you do?
Nothing. I don't make
these stupid rules.
If I get an "all clear" from the FDA,
will you put Dustin in your trial?
Diane, I don't understand.
This isn't about bone marrow?
No, it's gene splicing.
Like CRISPR.
We may have a chance for
a sickle cell clinical trial.
The board has agreed
to a compassionate acceleration
on its trial protocols.
Wow. Uh, how did you manage that?
Uh, one of the board members is a
a friend. But we have to get
an exemption from the FDA.
What exception, Diane?
The patient has to be 12.
I don't know when
Dustin's birthday is
but I lied and I said
it was in three weeks..
Uh, no. Three months. But, uh
I'll file an emergency motion,
get a judge involved. Uh,
how much time do we have?
The clinical trial starts on Monday.
Judge Nilsson. He's, uh,
he's on weekend call.
- And he doesn't like bureaucrats.
- Good.
I'll make the call. So, Diane,
he-he'll need to hear
from someone on
this clinical trial board.
Can you get your friend to testify?
I'll try.
Thank you.
I just made the introduction.
You made the argument.
- Now I'm embarrassed.
- What for?
I need to ask another favor.
RI'CHARD: Your Honor,
we're ready to go right now.
Yes. Okay, where? Okay.
Thank you, Your Honor. Make a U-turn.
- [STAMMERS] The courthouse is in this direction.
- He's home.
He wants us to come there.
Hyde Park. South Langley.
[TIRES SCREECH]
LIZ: We need to provoke
this other attorney.
This judge will rule
for us, if he thinks
his authority is being undercut.
Oh, good. That's doable.
Is being a lawyer always this exciting?
- No.
- All the time.
Hey, you got another one of those?
I sure do.
RI'CHARD: Do you know the words
to "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord"?
- MALCOLM: No.
- Okay, well,
you're gonna learn them.
I sing it to myself
every time before I go into court.
If you don't like your brother ♪
Don't carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just hold him to your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
If you don't like your brother ♪
Don't you carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just take him in your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
If you don't like your preacher ♪
Don't you carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just take him in your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord. ♪
[CHILDREN CLAMORING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
RI'CHARD: Your Honor, this
is a life-or-death situation.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
Your Honor, absent court intervention,
- Dustin Gish is going to die.
- Can we keep this
on a rational rather
than emotional level?
Counselor, please confine
your remarks to the merits of the case.
LIZ: Your Honor, Dustin Gish
has sickle cell disease
and it has advanced to the point
where the only possible option
for treatment for him is a gene therapy,
which is currently in clinical trials.
Has young Dustin
been accepted into
these clinical trials?
- Yes, he has.
- The FDA has no word on that, Your Honor.
We will have a witness here very soon.
RI'CHARD [OVER PHONE]:
Diane, how far off are you?
Minutes away. We went to the courthouse.
Understood.
The sooner you get here, the better.
- We're getting close.
- [PHONE BEEPS OFF]
[STAMMERS]: You You're
not seeing things, are you?
Because I can drive.
No, no. I'm good.
- Was that a large chicken?
- Yes.
And how old is Dustin?
Eleven, Your Honor.
But he'll turn twelve
during the course of treatment.
And while the FDA has the authority
to establish testing criteria.
the Constitution prohibits
exercising that authority
in a manner arbitrary and capricious.
However tragic this
set of circumstances,
the court has no authority to
supersede the policy directives
of a federal agency.
RI'CHARD: Really?
Tell us more about the judge's
limited role here.
ATTORNEY: I'm just saying,
the court has no authority.
- So, you're saying, that, uh
- [TIRES SCREECHING]
federal agencies aren't subject
to judicial review?
[CAR DOORS OPENING, CLOSING]
N-No, I'm not saying that
as a general rule, Your Honor,
but I don't think this court
is prepared to rule
on the safety of gene therapy
for children.
Your Honor, here is our witness.
Your Honor, this is
Dr. Lyle Bettencourt.
Uh, he's on the board of
Ex vivo gene-based blood
disorder therapy.
NILSSON: Welcome, Doctor.
Your board isn't worried
about the age of this patient?
On the contrary, Your Honor.
This inherited syndrome
makes no distinction
between young and old I don't
see why our trial should.
ATTORNEY: 'Cause the FDA
is the controlling agency.
BETTENCOURT: No, the FDA
is the advising agency.
Hasn't this administration been saying
follow the science, not the politics?
And you believe that the science
will benefit this young patient?
I wouldn't be here if I didn't
believe it, Your Honor.
Okay. And what about you,
young man? Anything from you?
I'm from next door.
NILSSON: Oh.
All right, come on.
Come on. Tommy's up in his room.
Okay, here's the thing.
Motion is sustained.
The court will allow
the admittance of Dustin
- Gish.
- Gish
be accepted into this clinical trial.
Now it's Saturday, and I have
to play with my grandkids.
Thank you for
the entertaining distraction.
DIANE: Thank you, Your Honor.
Uh, we-we're gonna need
your signed approval,
per the judge's ruling.
I can text it to you right now.
- The only problem
- LIZ: Yes?
The judge passively overruled
the FDA permission.
The FDA disagrees,
but will honor his ruling
but that doesn't mean the FDA
will pay for the clinical trial.
Oh, come on!
$9 million.
That's how much one gene therapy
clinical trial costs.
LIZ: Damn it.
The FDA doesn't approve the funding.
- What about the NIH?
- What about it?
2019 medical journal.
Article says NIH systematically
underfunded sickle cell research
for racist reasons.
Does the family qualify for Medicaid?
I-I don't know.
Um, they're not rich.
It's a possibility. Sue Medicaid.
O-Okay, all right, Ri'Chard
and I will take on NIH.
- Diane, you take Medicaid.
- DIANE: Good.
- Okay.
- Okay, good, good.
One hurdle cleared, onto the next.
Thanks a lot, sir.
- You were fantastic.
- Thank you.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
He doesn't say that to many people,
so thank you.
- I'm in.
- Great.
The donor number is 341-A67.
Can you get the personal info?
JAY: Rowan Carter.
Brownsville, Tennessee.
There's a number.
Marissa, you are defying
the laws of physics right now.
I'm What?
You're in two places at once.
Um
- What are you doing here?
- Hmm?
Oh, I delayed my trip to St. Barts.
I brought us some crab cakes and grits.
I also thought you might need this.
- Mm, Mindy, I'm working.
- [COMPUTER CHIMING]
Well, I can just take the phone
right back with me.
I-I need to get this, okay?
Please.
[CHIMING CONTINUES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
- Hello?
- Rory.
Finally we connect.
Thank you so much
for your bone marrow offer.
It-it just, um, means
the world to my client.
Your client?
Wait, when I saw your picture,
I thought you were the client.
No. Is that a problem?
I want my bone marrow in a woman,
preferably a hot woman.
Well, Rory, uh, let me send you
a photo of my client
and then you can be the judge.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]
'Cause she approves of me
sending some photos
- from a recent lingerie shoot.
- [COMPUTER WHOOSHES]
She's a little worried with recent chemo
that she might be a little thin.
But she still has her hair, right?
Oh, yeah.
Luckily, she's one of the 35%
that didn't lose her hair.
Except on her genitalia.
RI'CHARD: We can't get in?
Aren't you sharp this
afternoon, Mr. Lane.
No, we can't get in.
The National Institutes of Health
would be happy to wait until Monday,
- if you prefer, Your Honor.
- JUDGE: No, you don't.
No one gets to use this nonsense
to avoid making an argument.
You dragged me away
from my Saturday card club
for an emergency hearing,
so we're gonna hold the damn hearing.
Everyone get set up.
- Uh, where, Your Honor?
- Here.
Why not? "The halls of justice" indeed.
This article, "Racial Bias
in Clinical Trials",
lays out the NIH's chronic,
pervasive underfunding
of sickle cell research,
and according to its author
Right. "Its author".
Who is this author, Your Honor?
- Where is he?
- Doctor, uh, Mitchell Wattly
is a distinguished professor
of medical history
and a licensed medical doctor
who teaches at
the University of Chicago.
Defendant moves to exclude.
I can't cross-examine an article.
Mr. Lane, why haven't
you brought Mr. Wattly
- Dr. Wattly.
- Your Honor,
this is an emergency hearing,
- it's a Saturday
- I'm here.
She's here.
Dr. Wattly can put down
his tennis racket and join us.
I would be honored to testify.
I'm very proud of that article.
RI'CHARD [OVER PHONE]: Good, good, um,
can we send a car for you?
Uh, where-where are you?
I can't right now.
- LIZ: Wh uh, why?
- [DOOR OPENS]
Doctor, we need you now.
Actually I'm in rehab.
Although to be clear,
I'm not an alcoholic.
- Okay.
- But my wife disagrees.
[STAMMERS]: Okay. Uh,
are you in the Chicago area?
Evanston. Why?
How about we, uh, swing by,
uh, pick you up
so you can give your testimony
and then, uh, we'll drop you back off?
Please, doctor.
A little boy's life is on the line.
The cut-off for Medicaid eligibility
is $1,481 a month.
The Gishes earn too much to qualify.
Your Honor, these pay stubs clearly show
that Ms. Gish, a single mother,
earns no more than $1,400 a month.
The family, including Dustin,
- is eligible for Medicaid.
- GLATT: Where is she?
- In fact, where is the family?
- DIANE: I'm sure you understand,
Your Honor, Dustin has just gone through
what's known as a vaso occlusive crisis.
He is in terrible pain.
And is in the process of recovering.
Yes, but I need to decide
based on something.
Ms. Gish, I'm a lawyer working
with your brother, Ri'Chard.
Oh, yes, I know, um
Thank you so much for
doing what you're doing.
You're welcome. So we are dealing
with the financial end of this case
and it would be very helpful
if you would come into court
and talk about the money
that you're spending on hospital bills.
Sure, sure.
Do you want Dustin, too?
Your son. Is he
[STAMMERS] Uh, how's his health?
The doctor is sending us home
until there's word on a new donor.
That would be helpful.
I mean, for the doctor
I mean, for the judge to see.
Is is Dustin in a wheelchair?
Is your name Richard or Ri'Chard?
- Richard.
- Hmm.
But I changed it to Ri'Chard.
Why?
RI'CHARD: I'm going to tell you
the most important thing
you'll ever be taught.
- Okay?
- MALCOLM: Okay.
Draw attention to yourself.
Dress to draw attention.
Speak to draw attention.
Excel to draw attention.
Make yourself a brand.
It's the only way to make
a place for yourself
in a world not build for you.
- What's your name?
- Malcolm.
[LOUDLY]: Malcolm, huh? [CHUCKLES]
It is no longer.
I am christening you
bing
Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm?
- Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm.
Maybe he changed his mind.
No. Look.
Oh.
LIZ: Oh, my God. We're going to hell.
Not yet though.
[SQUEAKING]
[WATER FALLING]
[WATER STOPS]
Uh, I'm Ri'Chard, this is Liz,
and this is, uh,
our cocounsel, Mal-Calm.
Good to meet you.
How long do I have before court?
Uh, we're headed there right now.
Uh, Dr. Wattly, we are so impressed
with your insights
into racial disparity
I have this really bad taste
in my mouth.
Could-could we make a stop up ahead
so I can get a pack of gum?
Uh, it'll only take a minute.
Oh, there!
LIZ: Uh I don't know.
I-I just need some gum.
It-It's no big deal.
[LIQUID POURING]
So you're Carmen's ?
Workmate.
And you're
Her girlfriend.
Hmm.
So you noticed ?
That we look alike? Yep.
Is it ?
Weird?
Oh, yeah.
What are we to read into that?
I have no fucking idea.
But tell Carmen to figure out
who she really wants to sleep with.
JAY: Marissa, I've got another.
Oh, uh, okay.
- It was just taken down from the database.
- Okay.
MARISSA: Hello, is
this Patrick Stringer?
Yes, it is, but I can't help you.
Uh, sir, just give me a minute.
Uh, you turn out to be a perfect match
for an 11-year old
in a hospital right now,
desperate for your bone marrow.
- All he needs is
- This is Dustin Gish, right?
How did you know?
I'm the donor who backed
out this morning.
I can't help you.
Wait. Uh, don't hang up.
Why not? What's wrong?
If you're worried about the operation,
it's not as painful as
No, I'm not worried about the operation.
Who do you think I am?
I don't know. Tell us.
My sister just had a kidney failure.
I-I can't donate bone marrow
and give my kidney to her.
I have to make a choice,
so I choose my sister.
I wanted to help that kid.
But, I can't.
My sister is more important
than a stranger.
Wait. What if I found another
kidney for your sister?
If I found a kidney for your sister,
you could donate your
bone marrow to Dustin.
When's your sister's operation?
- Next week.
- Okay.
Send me the information
on your sister's kidney
and give me until
the end of the day, okay?
We're experts at this kind
of organ search.
Promise me?
That's all I need. Just hope.
Okay. I'll send you
the blood type and diagnostics.
The doctors worry my kidney is too large
and they'll have to break a rib,
so find a female kidney,
and I'll gladly do what you want.
[PHONE DISCONNECTS]
Okay. A kidney. How hard could that be?
The donor's name is Patrick Stringer.
And he wasn't giving
his bone marrow away
- to somebody else.
- Then what's the problem?
His sister's kidney is failing,
and he can't donate
his bone marrow and his kidney,
So, we're looking for
a new one for his sister.
- Any leads?
- A few.
We're following on.
All right, Carmen, anything?
I've got a donor match,
but it's in a donor fetishist group.
I'm sorry, what?
There are groups of fetishists
who get off on donating organs,
blood and marrow to sexy women.
Okay, okay.
Uh, we-we're suing the NIH
to pump more funds
into sickle cell research.
And we're going after Medicaid.
Good, good. Uh, thank you all.
I'm-I'm, um
I'm moved.
Um, we-we'll keep in touch.
[DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]
Dr. Wattly, you were
just supposed to get gum.
I did. Let's go.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
The doctor should be calling
within the next hour
to set up the appointment.
You're saving Heather's life
and she is gonna be so grateful.
Uh, do you think I get to meet her?
As soon as she's recovered from surgery.
I know that she is gonna want
to thank you personally.
- WOMAN: What's going on?
- Uh
- Who is that?
- No, it's just, uh, someone. Uh.
You've got ten seconds
to tell me who you are, lady.
- Who are you?
- I'm his mother,
that's who, and I'm ending
this conversation.
- Don't contact him again.
- Mom.
You need to stop promising
your organs to strangers.
[SMACKS ON HEAD]
[LAPTOP CLOSES]
- [POURING LIQUID]
- Getting anywhere?
- No. You?
- No.
Oh, your-your friend
said she had to leave.
Thanks.
I saw you two talking.
What was what was that about?
Nothing.
The weather, favorite colors,
how we look so much alike.
Yeah, I noticed.
Really? Just today?
'Cause your friend said to tell you,
"Figure out who you want
to sleep with, then call".
Oh, Marissa, I met her in a club.
She is nothing like you. Nothing.
And she started doing
her hair like that later.
Got it.
Are we not friends because of that?
No, we're friends.
What are you talking about?
No, we're not.
We were, but we're not now.
Look, I was short with you that time
because I was frustrated.
I can't show weakness in my job,
and when I'm around you, I tend to be
nicer.
I make you nicer?
No, that is not what
Well, okay, y-you do. Okay?
Because I'm a good person: just say it.
You are a good person.
Okay, good, because I've been
missing you as a friend.
Yeah, I've been missing you.
Clearly. You've been fucking
my doppelgaänger.
Okay, I'm going back to work.
[LAUGHS]: Wait.
How've you been doing?
Not great.
Work is hard.
Yeah. Me, too.
Is that why the combat pants?
Krav Maga, baby.
I think I'm going
to ask my instructor out.
Oh, really?
I think he likes me.
He'll probably drag me back
to a kibbutz,
and want 12 children.
- I could see that.
- All boys.
You'll have to come visit me,
and we'll have a torrid affair.
[LAUGHS]
Would it be weird if we hugged?
Okay, help me out.
I think I have a lead on a kidney.
CARMEN: Good.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Thank you. Thank you so much, Delia,
for coming down here.
Hi, Dustin. How are you?
Great.
Yes, actually, you-you look great.
I'd say this is one of
his better days, right, honey?
It's, uh, the painkillers.
Well, I'm happy to hear that.
Um Delia, can I talk to you a second?
Yeah.
Listen, we're trying
to convince the judge
to finance Dustin's gene therapy,
so we said he would die within a week.
That is true.
But he doesn't look like that.
You want him to look not so good?
I don't want to ask that.
Just give me ten minutes.
Dustin knows what you want.
When I did my research
on funding for sickle cell,
I wanted to compare it
to the funding available
for another similar condition.
And what was that?
Cystic fibrosis.
Like sickle cell disease,
it's inherited [HICCUPS]
And, uh, were there any
important differences?
Sickle cell affects 1 in 365 people,
and cystic fibrosis
affects 1 in 2,500 people.
So sickle cell disease
is much more common?
Yes. Much more.
Much, much more.
- Much, much
- Okay, so, uh,
what did you conclude, Doctor?
The main difference in funding
is sickle cell affects
mostly Black people,
and cystic fibrosis affects white.
Objection, Your Honor. Not in evidence.
- We just put it in evidence, Your Honor.
- Overruled.
Seems pretty racist to me.
Okay. I've heard enough.
Give me 30 minutes and I'll rule.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Dustin has spent the last three years
in and out of the hospital,
and I'm a single mom.
So even if I get a windfall
or-or a gift or
[COUGHING]
Um, Your Honor, can I
Oh, yes, please.
[COUGHING CONTINUES]
ATTORNEY: Your Honor, even
if Mrs. Gish's yearly income
DIANE: Ms. Gish. She is a single mom.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Malcolm really likes you.
[LAUGHS QUIETLY]
I like kids.
What are your plans for my firm?
I think it's our firm, isn't it?
Your story about being
embarrassed by that firm
the name partner showing
how inadequate you were
by using a laser pointer
that was my dad.
Let's talk about this another time.
I'd rather right now.
No. No.
Now is about my nephew.
JUDGE: Okay.
[SIGHS]: Here's the bottom line:
this court finds
the National Institute of Health
liable for racial discrimination
and rules that they cover the cost
of the gene editing procedure.
Your Honor, the NIH intends to appeal.
Ms. Kuo, if you appeal,
this boy won't have a definitive
answer for another year.
Likely two.
- He will die waiting.
- Actually, the unseemly haste
with which this hearing
has been conducted
is one of the issues I intend to take up
with the Seventh Circuit
Court of Appeals.
What have you got?
LIZ: We won,
but NIH is appealing.
DIANE: Yeah, same here.
Medicaid will pay, but first,
they want to exhaust
their legal options.
So, what've we got?
Carmen and Marissa.
Unfortunately, we
Yes, we're doing our best
to make it work for today.
- No, unfortunately not that late.
- Uh-huh. Yeah, today.
CARMEN: We have a skin
graft if you need it,
but we're gonna have to have
a promise from you.
Oh, no, you wouldn't need
to do that. We would send
Well, it is getting a little bit
complicated with where
we're getting the organs from
but everything's gonna work out fine.
Oh, no, I'm-I'm sure
we can make that work.
So Patrick donates his
bone marrow to Dustin Gish
and in exchange, he gets a
kidney for his sister, Jenny,
- but
- The kidney was donated
by the Valdez family from
a daughter dying of COVID,
and they also have a son who
needs a lung lobe to survive.
Jesus.
I am inspired and depressed
by what it takes to stay alive.
CARMEN: So we got the lung
lobe from the O'Briens.
They need a skin graft
due to a recent infection.
So where does that leave us?
CARMEN: Uh, one step away.
We got the skin graft from a
young woman in Detroit, but
LIZ: But what?
She wants an egg donor.
We don't have access
to any egg databases
so fun times.
We were just about to flip a coin
to see who gives up an egg.
- Oh, my God. [LAUGHS]
- I actually think
we were going to arm wrestle for it.
- Okay.
- But, uh, we warned them
that the mother would either
be Black or Jewish
so either one half of America
will hate their child,
or the other half will.
Oh, why stop there?
Maybe both halves will.
You two are amazing.
Three.
RI'CHARD: Three.
I wish I had words. I don't.
Wh-When Dustin is 20 years old
and about to go to college,
I'm bringing him back here to
meet the people who saved him.
You are all amazing.
And, um, I have officially adopted you.
[LAUGHS]: We're all family now.
- [RI'CHARD LAUGHS]
- All right.
Heads or tails?
Uh tails.
They're getting him ready right now.
We've got the bone marrow,
so we're ready.
Thank you. It has been
such a strange day.
- Thank you.
- Wait.
Can I talk to my uncle?
Yeah, uh, wait, Rich?
Dustin's about to start the treatment.
He wants to tell you something.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- [SQUEAKS]
- [RECORDING]: Uncle Rich,
you're the best thing
that happened to me,
and I'm going to spend my life
making you proud.
[CRIES QUIETLY]
[SIGHS, SNIFFLES]
Kiss him for me.
And, uh, just so you know,
we're-we're celebrating here.
Tell him to get better soon,
because he has made his uncle
too emotional tonight.
I'll let you go. Love you.
- RI'CHARD: Don't be stingy.
- [UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [LAUGHING]
- Thank you, man.
- JAY: Yeah.
- [LAUGHTER]
RI'CHARD: Hey, Liz!
Mal-Calm! Come on!
All right, just give me one second.
I'm rearranging our camping trip.
Who wants to camp?
Camp here. We got pizza.
MALCOLM: Oh, pizza is my survival food.
[EXCITED CHATTERING]
[MUSIC AND CHATTERING CONTINUE]
I found a great idea
for a glamping site. I'll call.
Butlers will bring you pheasant.
It's wonderful.
[LAUGHS]
First, here's to a successful day.
So, um, are we having it out now?
Well, I have some questions
that I want answered,
so you tell me.
Let's have it out now.
What are you doing with my firm?
Turning it into the top firm in Chicago.
Not the top Black firm,
not the top medium-sized firm;
just the top fucking firm.
With the Lord's help.
- As revenge against my father?
- Yes.
Sure.
Which means kicking me out?
No. Because you're gonna help me.
Do you know why?
I originally thought
I would get rid of you
and all your partners.
But
Today.
The way your team works together.
It's moved me.
How sweet.
[LAUGHS]: Look, Liz,
I am a brand.
Your father was a brand,
but he's toxic now.
And that's why I'm taking over.
But I want to keep all of you.
Ri'Chard & Associates.
[LAUGHS]
- Oh, my God.
- What?
The arrogance here is just blinding.
My lawyers don't want
to work for a brand.
Oh, sure, they do.
If it's that or unemployment.
We want to make a difference,
not sell T-shirts.
Oh, my goodness, Noam Chomsky.
How do you think we make a difference?
By all screaming and waving our arms?
No, by falling in behind one name.
One man. One parade.
Ri'Chard.
[LAUGHS]
You are so egotistical, it
Damn right, damn right, and
that's how you get things done.
One name and an army behind it.
It'd be your name, except
"Reddick" is over.
My name is the next revelation.
Well, we're gonna fight for this.
Oh, yeah.
But first, we get rid of STR Laurie.
Then we can go at each other.
[MUSIC AND CHATTERING
CONTINUE IN OTHER ROOM]
[GLASSES CLINK]
[PHONE BEEPS]
Dr. Bettencourt, um, I mean Lyle, hi.
I just want to say thank you
for all you did today.
It actually worked out.
Dustin is going to get
his bone marrow transplant.
So, just want to say thank you
- and I hope I can repay you
- [BODY THUDS BEHIND]
[GASPS]
[TRAFFIC SOUNDS]
[CREAKING]
[TIRES SCREECHING, HORNS HONKING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [P.A. BEEPS, ECHOES]
- RI'CHARD: You want some candy?
- [WRAPPER CRINKLES]
Want some vegetables?
[SCOFFS]: Oh. [PATS HIS LAP]
I know what you want.
- Ta-da!
- [SCOFFS]: Unc, I'm not a kid.
Oh, this is not a toy.
It's a medical device.
See, you put all your hurt in this end.
Well, go ahead. Want to give it a try?
"I'm Dustin, and my favorite uncle
just got me this
because he thinks I'm five years old
and that it'll make
the bone marrow transplant
suck less".
And then out the other end
[HIGH-PITCHED VOICE]: I'm Dustin,
- and my favorite uncle just got me this
- [LAUGHING]
because he thinks I'm five years old
and that it'll make
the bone marrow transplant
suck less.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Yes, and we planned for surgery today.
- Do you know how much pain
- he's been going through?
- What-what's going on?
[STAMMERS] They canceled the transplant.
No. We didn't cancel it.
We're ready to go.
- Then what happened?
- The donor canceled.
He was supposed to be here by 8:00.
RI'CHARD: Why? Why did he cancel?
All we know is that
he promised his bone marrow
- to someone else.
- DELIA: No!
We-we-we need to talk to him.
He insists on maintaining his anonymity.
I'm feeling manipulated.
It's voluntary, of course.
The bone marrow donor can
back out whenever he wants.
Who are you calling?
I'm calling work.
Unfortunately, there's
no plan B here, sir.
We're lawyers.
There's always a plan B.
What do you want me to do about it?
Find out who did it.
Check the elevator security camera.
- They were off.
- The cameras were off?
What the fuck?!
- Maintenance was working on them.
- Are you kidding me?
The one day some white supremacist puts
"Blood and Soil" stickers
all over our elevator,
- and the surveillance cameras are off?
- They've been off for a while.
- [PHONE RINGING]
- Check the lobby camera.
There's one hour when
somebody could've done this.
Reddick and Associates.
RI'CHARD: Reddick & Ri'Chard.
Reddick & Ri'Chard.
How can I help you, Mr. Lane?
- Who's in today?
- No one. It's early.
Uh, I want all the partners
on a Zoom call in 15 minutes.
And any associates you can
scrounge up, bring them in.
Can I tell them what this is regarding?
It's a life-or-death situation.
[MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
[GRUNTING]
Unhand her right now,
you son of a bitch!
FEMALE VOICE: Thank you, Julius.
I knew you'd come.
[LAUGHS] You did? How'd you know that?
Because who else comes into
the office on Saturday morning?
- [LAUGHS]: Well
- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Ri'Chard wants everybody
on a Zoom call in 15 minutes.
[STAMMERS]: Wait. W Why?
- Life or death.
- LIZ: Isn't this fun?
Clean air.
- And fresh living.
- Bugs.
No toilet.
Come on, just-just mother and
son just bonding over a fire.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- Just
MALCOLM [SIGHS]:
We're not going camping.
[GIGGLING]
[PHONE CHIMES]
[SIGHS]
WOMAN: What are you doing?
I, uh, got to go.
What? Where?
To work.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
- I'll go with you.
- [CHUCKLES]
Um, no, no. I will, uh
I'll see you at St. Barts.
Are you hiding me?
Come on.
Stop it.
They don't know you're gay, do they?
Um
They don't know I'm anything.
[KISSING]
Lock the door.
Why, why am I always
doing things for you?
Everybody else does things for me.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SPEAKING IN HEBREW]
[THUD ON FLOOR]
[GRUNTING]
- [THUD]
- [GROANS]
[CONTINUES IN HEBREW]
[PHONE CHIMES]
I got to get this.
[ZEV SPEAKING IN HEBREW]
- We're all here?
- ALL: Yes.
This is about
my 11-year-old nephew, Dustin.
He has sickle cell disease.
And he's been in and out of hospitals
- half his life. He was supposed
- [ZEV SHOUTING IN HEBREW]
Whoever that is, can you
Yes, sorry.
He was supposed to get
a bone marrow transplant.
Uh, he's facing organ failure, uh
he's alredy lost his spleen,
but just this morning
uh, we found out that
the bone marrow is going
to somebody else.
How hard is it to find another match?
It it could take years.
Um, and and the doctor thinks
that Dustin might have another
week to live.
- Oh, my God!
- Yes. This is not good.
And my worry is this donor
is being paid to donate
his bone marrow to someone else.
- Which is illegal.
- Yes, but not unlikely.
I need legal solutions.
- Do you know who the donor is?
- No. We only know he's a male
- in his 30s, who lives locally.
- JAY: Okay, I could do some research.
- Do we have any legal options?
- I don't think there's any way
to force him to go through
with the transplant.
Unless we can prove some
manipulation of the process.
No. Legally, you can't force someone
to follow through on a gift
What about promissory estoppel?
You'd have to prove
to detrimental reliance.
E-Either way, uh,
let's work up the lawsuit.
Uh, I'm getting court time at noon.
So we have to move fast.
Uh, Carmen and, um
- Marissa.
- Right, um
we need you to go through
the donor database
and turn over every stone
for another option.
CARMEN: On it.
The-the status on the database
changes hour to hour,
so something might come up.
- Uh, and meanwhile, I need the partners
- Okay, I'll come in.
I'll-I'll work on the estoppel.
Thank you.
I'm not giving up on Dustin
until the Good Lord tells me to.
[LAPTOP CLOSES]
Unfortunately, I think I have to go.
Can we schedule another
session on Monday?
Certainly. I hope you don't mind.
I couldn't help overhearing
your Zoom call.
The nephew of one of
our partners, it's just awful.
I heard sickle cell.
You know, we volunteer here
helping sickle cell patients
with pain management.
It's way past that.
He-he has a week to live.
I'm just saying, from my work,
I'm on the board for clinical trials.
Well, what trials?
Gene-editing technology.
You've heard of CRISPR?
It's like that.
Trials are proving it cures sickle cell.
Keep going.
It works like a tiny pair
of scissors, snipping off
the segment of the DNA
that causes sickle cell.
- That's been done? Successfully?
- Yes.
Well, then why would anyone
need a bone marrow transplant?
They wouldn't.
Gene editing is so new,
it's-it's only in trials.
But the results are amazing.
I know the doctor doing the trials here
in Chicago, and I could introduce you.
- You would do that?
- Of course.
Bone marrow matches are very rare.
So I'm gonna need you both to
Came from the gym.
I'm gonna need you to scour
the donor databases.
There are three or four.
- And what are we looking for?
- According to Ri'Chard,
these are Dustin's
leukocyte antigens markers.
What's our deadline?
Well, the operation can be pushed back
till Monday, but that's about it.
- This Monday?
- Yes.
We should check social media, too.
That's up to you.
Uh, don't you want
to work off the same computer?
It's better if we work separately.
[SHOUTING, CLAMORING]
Dr. Singh, thank you for hearing me out.
No problem. Uh, come on.
They need me in triage.
- Is it normally like this?
- No.
I came in to check on the trials,
and protestors started
fighting around the corner.
Give me the rushed version.
Uh, his name is Dustin Gish. Here he is.
He's already in Chicago.
He can start right away.
In fact, he has to start right away.
I told her you had one slot for
a compassionate use exception
for sickle cell. Life or death, Singh.
Christina. We'll need
the paperwork ASAP.
Just tell me where to send it.
We have it all collected.
Clear a sickle cell
gene-editing examination for ?
- Dustin Gish.
- No, what day?
- Oh, Monday.
- Monday morning.
- How old is Dustin?
- 11.
- Oh, shit.
- What?
- Christina, never mind.
- What's wrong?
11 is too young.
- Who says?
- The FDA.
I don't have authorization for
patients under 12. I'm sorry.
Wait.
[STAMMERS] He's only
three weeks from his birthday.
It doesn't matter. This is the FDA.
Wait until his birthday.
He'll be dead by his birthday.
Come on, Singh, what can you do?
Nothing. I don't make
these stupid rules.
If I get an "all clear" from the FDA,
will you put Dustin in your trial?
Diane, I don't understand.
This isn't about bone marrow?
No, it's gene splicing.
Like CRISPR.
We may have a chance for
a sickle cell clinical trial.
The board has agreed
to a compassionate acceleration
on its trial protocols.
Wow. Uh, how did you manage that?
Uh, one of the board members is a
a friend. But we have to get
an exemption from the FDA.
What exception, Diane?
The patient has to be 12.
I don't know when
Dustin's birthday is
but I lied and I said
it was in three weeks..
Uh, no. Three months. But, uh
I'll file an emergency motion,
get a judge involved. Uh,
how much time do we have?
The clinical trial starts on Monday.
Judge Nilsson. He's, uh,
he's on weekend call.
- And he doesn't like bureaucrats.
- Good.
I'll make the call. So, Diane,
he-he'll need to hear
from someone on
this clinical trial board.
Can you get your friend to testify?
I'll try.
Thank you.
I just made the introduction.
You made the argument.
- Now I'm embarrassed.
- What for?
I need to ask another favor.
RI'CHARD: Your Honor,
we're ready to go right now.
Yes. Okay, where? Okay.
Thank you, Your Honor. Make a U-turn.
- [STAMMERS] The courthouse is in this direction.
- He's home.
He wants us to come there.
Hyde Park. South Langley.
[TIRES SCREECH]
LIZ: We need to provoke
this other attorney.
This judge will rule
for us, if he thinks
his authority is being undercut.
Oh, good. That's doable.
Is being a lawyer always this exciting?
- No.
- All the time.
Hey, you got another one of those?
I sure do.
RI'CHARD: Do you know the words
to "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord"?
- MALCOLM: No.
- Okay, well,
you're gonna learn them.
I sing it to myself
every time before I go into court.
If you don't like your brother ♪
Don't carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just hold him to your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
If you don't like your brother ♪
Don't you carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just take him in your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
If you don't like your preacher ♪
Don't you carry his name abroad ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Just take him in your bosom ♪
And carry him home to God ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name ♪
Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪
Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord. ♪
[CHILDREN CLAMORING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
RI'CHARD: Your Honor, this
is a life-or-death situation.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
Your Honor, absent court intervention,
- Dustin Gish is going to die.
- Can we keep this
on a rational rather
than emotional level?
Counselor, please confine
your remarks to the merits of the case.
LIZ: Your Honor, Dustin Gish
has sickle cell disease
and it has advanced to the point
where the only possible option
for treatment for him is a gene therapy,
which is currently in clinical trials.
Has young Dustin
been accepted into
these clinical trials?
- Yes, he has.
- The FDA has no word on that, Your Honor.
We will have a witness here very soon.
RI'CHARD [OVER PHONE]:
Diane, how far off are you?
Minutes away. We went to the courthouse.
Understood.
The sooner you get here, the better.
- We're getting close.
- [PHONE BEEPS OFF]
[STAMMERS]: You You're
not seeing things, are you?
Because I can drive.
No, no. I'm good.
- Was that a large chicken?
- Yes.
And how old is Dustin?
Eleven, Your Honor.
But he'll turn twelve
during the course of treatment.
And while the FDA has the authority
to establish testing criteria.
the Constitution prohibits
exercising that authority
in a manner arbitrary and capricious.
However tragic this
set of circumstances,
the court has no authority to
supersede the policy directives
of a federal agency.
RI'CHARD: Really?
Tell us more about the judge's
limited role here.
ATTORNEY: I'm just saying,
the court has no authority.
- So, you're saying, that, uh
- [TIRES SCREECHING]
federal agencies aren't subject
to judicial review?
[CAR DOORS OPENING, CLOSING]
N-No, I'm not saying that
as a general rule, Your Honor,
but I don't think this court
is prepared to rule
on the safety of gene therapy
for children.
Your Honor, here is our witness.
Your Honor, this is
Dr. Lyle Bettencourt.
Uh, he's on the board of
Ex vivo gene-based blood
disorder therapy.
NILSSON: Welcome, Doctor.
Your board isn't worried
about the age of this patient?
On the contrary, Your Honor.
This inherited syndrome
makes no distinction
between young and old I don't
see why our trial should.
ATTORNEY: 'Cause the FDA
is the controlling agency.
BETTENCOURT: No, the FDA
is the advising agency.
Hasn't this administration been saying
follow the science, not the politics?
And you believe that the science
will benefit this young patient?
I wouldn't be here if I didn't
believe it, Your Honor.
Okay. And what about you,
young man? Anything from you?
I'm from next door.
NILSSON: Oh.
All right, come on.
Come on. Tommy's up in his room.
Okay, here's the thing.
Motion is sustained.
The court will allow
the admittance of Dustin
- Gish.
- Gish
be accepted into this clinical trial.
Now it's Saturday, and I have
to play with my grandkids.
Thank you for
the entertaining distraction.
DIANE: Thank you, Your Honor.
Uh, we-we're gonna need
your signed approval,
per the judge's ruling.
I can text it to you right now.
- The only problem
- LIZ: Yes?
The judge passively overruled
the FDA permission.
The FDA disagrees,
but will honor his ruling
but that doesn't mean the FDA
will pay for the clinical trial.
Oh, come on!
$9 million.
That's how much one gene therapy
clinical trial costs.
LIZ: Damn it.
The FDA doesn't approve the funding.
- What about the NIH?
- What about it?
2019 medical journal.
Article says NIH systematically
underfunded sickle cell research
for racist reasons.
Does the family qualify for Medicaid?
I-I don't know.
Um, they're not rich.
It's a possibility. Sue Medicaid.
O-Okay, all right, Ri'Chard
and I will take on NIH.
- Diane, you take Medicaid.
- DIANE: Good.
- Okay.
- Okay, good, good.
One hurdle cleared, onto the next.
Thanks a lot, sir.
- You were fantastic.
- Thank you.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
He doesn't say that to many people,
so thank you.
- I'm in.
- Great.
The donor number is 341-A67.
Can you get the personal info?
JAY: Rowan Carter.
Brownsville, Tennessee.
There's a number.
Marissa, you are defying
the laws of physics right now.
I'm What?
You're in two places at once.
Um
- What are you doing here?
- Hmm?
Oh, I delayed my trip to St. Barts.
I brought us some crab cakes and grits.
I also thought you might need this.
- Mm, Mindy, I'm working.
- [COMPUTER CHIMING]
Well, I can just take the phone
right back with me.
I-I need to get this, okay?
Please.
[CHIMING CONTINUES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
- Hello?
- Rory.
Finally we connect.
Thank you so much
for your bone marrow offer.
It-it just, um, means
the world to my client.
Your client?
Wait, when I saw your picture,
I thought you were the client.
No. Is that a problem?
I want my bone marrow in a woman,
preferably a hot woman.
Well, Rory, uh, let me send you
a photo of my client
and then you can be the judge.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]
'Cause she approves of me
sending some photos
- from a recent lingerie shoot.
- [COMPUTER WHOOSHES]
She's a little worried with recent chemo
that she might be a little thin.
But she still has her hair, right?
Oh, yeah.
Luckily, she's one of the 35%
that didn't lose her hair.
Except on her genitalia.
RI'CHARD: We can't get in?
Aren't you sharp this
afternoon, Mr. Lane.
No, we can't get in.
The National Institutes of Health
would be happy to wait until Monday,
- if you prefer, Your Honor.
- JUDGE: No, you don't.
No one gets to use this nonsense
to avoid making an argument.
You dragged me away
from my Saturday card club
for an emergency hearing,
so we're gonna hold the damn hearing.
Everyone get set up.
- Uh, where, Your Honor?
- Here.
Why not? "The halls of justice" indeed.
This article, "Racial Bias
in Clinical Trials",
lays out the NIH's chronic,
pervasive underfunding
of sickle cell research,
and according to its author
Right. "Its author".
Who is this author, Your Honor?
- Where is he?
- Doctor, uh, Mitchell Wattly
is a distinguished professor
of medical history
and a licensed medical doctor
who teaches at
the University of Chicago.
Defendant moves to exclude.
I can't cross-examine an article.
Mr. Lane, why haven't
you brought Mr. Wattly
- Dr. Wattly.
- Your Honor,
this is an emergency hearing,
- it's a Saturday
- I'm here.
She's here.
Dr. Wattly can put down
his tennis racket and join us.
I would be honored to testify.
I'm very proud of that article.
RI'CHARD [OVER PHONE]: Good, good, um,
can we send a car for you?
Uh, where-where are you?
I can't right now.
- LIZ: Wh uh, why?
- [DOOR OPENS]
Doctor, we need you now.
Actually I'm in rehab.
Although to be clear,
I'm not an alcoholic.
- Okay.
- But my wife disagrees.
[STAMMERS]: Okay. Uh,
are you in the Chicago area?
Evanston. Why?
How about we, uh, swing by,
uh, pick you up
so you can give your testimony
and then, uh, we'll drop you back off?
Please, doctor.
A little boy's life is on the line.
The cut-off for Medicaid eligibility
is $1,481 a month.
The Gishes earn too much to qualify.
Your Honor, these pay stubs clearly show
that Ms. Gish, a single mother,
earns no more than $1,400 a month.
The family, including Dustin,
- is eligible for Medicaid.
- GLATT: Where is she?
- In fact, where is the family?
- DIANE: I'm sure you understand,
Your Honor, Dustin has just gone through
what's known as a vaso occlusive crisis.
He is in terrible pain.
And is in the process of recovering.
Yes, but I need to decide
based on something.
Ms. Gish, I'm a lawyer working
with your brother, Ri'Chard.
Oh, yes, I know, um
Thank you so much for
doing what you're doing.
You're welcome. So we are dealing
with the financial end of this case
and it would be very helpful
if you would come into court
and talk about the money
that you're spending on hospital bills.
Sure, sure.
Do you want Dustin, too?
Your son. Is he
[STAMMERS] Uh, how's his health?
The doctor is sending us home
until there's word on a new donor.
That would be helpful.
I mean, for the doctor
I mean, for the judge to see.
Is is Dustin in a wheelchair?
Is your name Richard or Ri'Chard?
- Richard.
- Hmm.
But I changed it to Ri'Chard.
Why?
RI'CHARD: I'm going to tell you
the most important thing
you'll ever be taught.
- Okay?
- MALCOLM: Okay.
Draw attention to yourself.
Dress to draw attention.
Speak to draw attention.
Excel to draw attention.
Make yourself a brand.
It's the only way to make
a place for yourself
in a world not build for you.
- What's your name?
- Malcolm.
[LOUDLY]: Malcolm, huh? [CHUCKLES]
It is no longer.
I am christening you
bing
Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm?
- Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm.
- Mal-Calm.
Maybe he changed his mind.
No. Look.
Oh.
LIZ: Oh, my God. We're going to hell.
Not yet though.
[SQUEAKING]
[WATER FALLING]
[WATER STOPS]
Uh, I'm Ri'Chard, this is Liz,
and this is, uh,
our cocounsel, Mal-Calm.
Good to meet you.
How long do I have before court?
Uh, we're headed there right now.
Uh, Dr. Wattly, we are so impressed
with your insights
into racial disparity
I have this really bad taste
in my mouth.
Could-could we make a stop up ahead
so I can get a pack of gum?
Uh, it'll only take a minute.
Oh, there!
LIZ: Uh I don't know.
I-I just need some gum.
It-It's no big deal.
[LIQUID POURING]
So you're Carmen's ?
Workmate.
And you're
Her girlfriend.
Hmm.
So you noticed ?
That we look alike? Yep.
Is it ?
Weird?
Oh, yeah.
What are we to read into that?
I have no fucking idea.
But tell Carmen to figure out
who she really wants to sleep with.
JAY: Marissa, I've got another.
Oh, uh, okay.
- It was just taken down from the database.
- Okay.
MARISSA: Hello, is
this Patrick Stringer?
Yes, it is, but I can't help you.
Uh, sir, just give me a minute.
Uh, you turn out to be a perfect match
for an 11-year old
in a hospital right now,
desperate for your bone marrow.
- All he needs is
- This is Dustin Gish, right?
How did you know?
I'm the donor who backed
out this morning.
I can't help you.
Wait. Uh, don't hang up.
Why not? What's wrong?
If you're worried about the operation,
it's not as painful as
No, I'm not worried about the operation.
Who do you think I am?
I don't know. Tell us.
My sister just had a kidney failure.
I-I can't donate bone marrow
and give my kidney to her.
I have to make a choice,
so I choose my sister.
I wanted to help that kid.
But, I can't.
My sister is more important
than a stranger.
Wait. What if I found another
kidney for your sister?
If I found a kidney for your sister,
you could donate your
bone marrow to Dustin.
When's your sister's operation?
- Next week.
- Okay.
Send me the information
on your sister's kidney
and give me until
the end of the day, okay?
We're experts at this kind
of organ search.
Promise me?
That's all I need. Just hope.
Okay. I'll send you
the blood type and diagnostics.
The doctors worry my kidney is too large
and they'll have to break a rib,
so find a female kidney,
and I'll gladly do what you want.
[PHONE DISCONNECTS]
Okay. A kidney. How hard could that be?
The donor's name is Patrick Stringer.
And he wasn't giving
his bone marrow away
- to somebody else.
- Then what's the problem?
His sister's kidney is failing,
and he can't donate
his bone marrow and his kidney,
So, we're looking for
a new one for his sister.
- Any leads?
- A few.
We're following on.
All right, Carmen, anything?
I've got a donor match,
but it's in a donor fetishist group.
I'm sorry, what?
There are groups of fetishists
who get off on donating organs,
blood and marrow to sexy women.
Okay, okay.
Uh, we-we're suing the NIH
to pump more funds
into sickle cell research.
And we're going after Medicaid.
Good, good. Uh, thank you all.
I'm-I'm, um
I'm moved.
Um, we-we'll keep in touch.
[DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]
Dr. Wattly, you were
just supposed to get gum.
I did. Let's go.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
The doctor should be calling
within the next hour
to set up the appointment.
You're saving Heather's life
and she is gonna be so grateful.
Uh, do you think I get to meet her?
As soon as she's recovered from surgery.
I know that she is gonna want
to thank you personally.
- WOMAN: What's going on?
- Uh
- Who is that?
- No, it's just, uh, someone. Uh.
You've got ten seconds
to tell me who you are, lady.
- Who are you?
- I'm his mother,
that's who, and I'm ending
this conversation.
- Don't contact him again.
- Mom.
You need to stop promising
your organs to strangers.
[SMACKS ON HEAD]
[LAPTOP CLOSES]
- [POURING LIQUID]
- Getting anywhere?
- No. You?
- No.
Oh, your-your friend
said she had to leave.
Thanks.
I saw you two talking.
What was what was that about?
Nothing.
The weather, favorite colors,
how we look so much alike.
Yeah, I noticed.
Really? Just today?
'Cause your friend said to tell you,
"Figure out who you want
to sleep with, then call".
Oh, Marissa, I met her in a club.
She is nothing like you. Nothing.
And she started doing
her hair like that later.
Got it.
Are we not friends because of that?
No, we're friends.
What are you talking about?
No, we're not.
We were, but we're not now.
Look, I was short with you that time
because I was frustrated.
I can't show weakness in my job,
and when I'm around you, I tend to be
nicer.
I make you nicer?
No, that is not what
Well, okay, y-you do. Okay?
Because I'm a good person: just say it.
You are a good person.
Okay, good, because I've been
missing you as a friend.
Yeah, I've been missing you.
Clearly. You've been fucking
my doppelgaänger.
Okay, I'm going back to work.
[LAUGHS]: Wait.
How've you been doing?
Not great.
Work is hard.
Yeah. Me, too.
Is that why the combat pants?
Krav Maga, baby.
I think I'm going
to ask my instructor out.
Oh, really?
I think he likes me.
He'll probably drag me back
to a kibbutz,
and want 12 children.
- I could see that.
- All boys.
You'll have to come visit me,
and we'll have a torrid affair.
[LAUGHS]
Would it be weird if we hugged?
Okay, help me out.
I think I have a lead on a kidney.
CARMEN: Good.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Thank you. Thank you so much, Delia,
for coming down here.
Hi, Dustin. How are you?
Great.
Yes, actually, you-you look great.
I'd say this is one of
his better days, right, honey?
It's, uh, the painkillers.
Well, I'm happy to hear that.
Um Delia, can I talk to you a second?
Yeah.
Listen, we're trying
to convince the judge
to finance Dustin's gene therapy,
so we said he would die within a week.
That is true.
But he doesn't look like that.
You want him to look not so good?
I don't want to ask that.
Just give me ten minutes.
Dustin knows what you want.
When I did my research
on funding for sickle cell,
I wanted to compare it
to the funding available
for another similar condition.
And what was that?
Cystic fibrosis.
Like sickle cell disease,
it's inherited [HICCUPS]
And, uh, were there any
important differences?
Sickle cell affects 1 in 365 people,
and cystic fibrosis
affects 1 in 2,500 people.
So sickle cell disease
is much more common?
Yes. Much more.
Much, much more.
- Much, much
- Okay, so, uh,
what did you conclude, Doctor?
The main difference in funding
is sickle cell affects
mostly Black people,
and cystic fibrosis affects white.
Objection, Your Honor. Not in evidence.
- We just put it in evidence, Your Honor.
- Overruled.
Seems pretty racist to me.
Okay. I've heard enough.
Give me 30 minutes and I'll rule.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Dustin has spent the last three years
in and out of the hospital,
and I'm a single mom.
So even if I get a windfall
or-or a gift or
[COUGHING]
Um, Your Honor, can I
Oh, yes, please.
[COUGHING CONTINUES]
ATTORNEY: Your Honor, even
if Mrs. Gish's yearly income
DIANE: Ms. Gish. She is a single mom.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Malcolm really likes you.
[LAUGHS QUIETLY]
I like kids.
What are your plans for my firm?
I think it's our firm, isn't it?
Your story about being
embarrassed by that firm
the name partner showing
how inadequate you were
by using a laser pointer
that was my dad.
Let's talk about this another time.
I'd rather right now.
No. No.
Now is about my nephew.
JUDGE: Okay.
[SIGHS]: Here's the bottom line:
this court finds
the National Institute of Health
liable for racial discrimination
and rules that they cover the cost
of the gene editing procedure.
Your Honor, the NIH intends to appeal.
Ms. Kuo, if you appeal,
this boy won't have a definitive
answer for another year.
Likely two.
- He will die waiting.
- Actually, the unseemly haste
with which this hearing
has been conducted
is one of the issues I intend to take up
with the Seventh Circuit
Court of Appeals.
What have you got?
LIZ: We won,
but NIH is appealing.
DIANE: Yeah, same here.
Medicaid will pay, but first,
they want to exhaust
their legal options.
So, what've we got?
Carmen and Marissa.
Unfortunately, we
Yes, we're doing our best
to make it work for today.
- No, unfortunately not that late.
- Uh-huh. Yeah, today.
CARMEN: We have a skin
graft if you need it,
but we're gonna have to have
a promise from you.
Oh, no, you wouldn't need
to do that. We would send
Well, it is getting a little bit
complicated with where
we're getting the organs from
but everything's gonna work out fine.
Oh, no, I'm-I'm sure
we can make that work.
So Patrick donates his
bone marrow to Dustin Gish
and in exchange, he gets a
kidney for his sister, Jenny,
- but
- The kidney was donated
by the Valdez family from
a daughter dying of COVID,
and they also have a son who
needs a lung lobe to survive.
Jesus.
I am inspired and depressed
by what it takes to stay alive.
CARMEN: So we got the lung
lobe from the O'Briens.
They need a skin graft
due to a recent infection.
So where does that leave us?
CARMEN: Uh, one step away.
We got the skin graft from a
young woman in Detroit, but
LIZ: But what?
She wants an egg donor.
We don't have access
to any egg databases
so fun times.
We were just about to flip a coin
to see who gives up an egg.
- Oh, my God. [LAUGHS]
- I actually think
we were going to arm wrestle for it.
- Okay.
- But, uh, we warned them
that the mother would either
be Black or Jewish
so either one half of America
will hate their child,
or the other half will.
Oh, why stop there?
Maybe both halves will.
You two are amazing.
Three.
RI'CHARD: Three.
I wish I had words. I don't.
Wh-When Dustin is 20 years old
and about to go to college,
I'm bringing him back here to
meet the people who saved him.
You are all amazing.
And, um, I have officially adopted you.
[LAUGHS]: We're all family now.
- [RI'CHARD LAUGHS]
- All right.
Heads or tails?
Uh tails.
They're getting him ready right now.
We've got the bone marrow,
so we're ready.
Thank you. It has been
such a strange day.
- Thank you.
- Wait.
Can I talk to my uncle?
Yeah, uh, wait, Rich?
Dustin's about to start the treatment.
He wants to tell you something.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- [SQUEAKS]
- [RECORDING]: Uncle Rich,
you're the best thing
that happened to me,
and I'm going to spend my life
making you proud.
[CRIES QUIETLY]
[SIGHS, SNIFFLES]
Kiss him for me.
And, uh, just so you know,
we're-we're celebrating here.
Tell him to get better soon,
because he has made his uncle
too emotional tonight.
I'll let you go. Love you.
- RI'CHARD: Don't be stingy.
- [UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [LAUGHING]
- Thank you, man.
- JAY: Yeah.
- [LAUGHTER]
RI'CHARD: Hey, Liz!
Mal-Calm! Come on!
All right, just give me one second.
I'm rearranging our camping trip.
Who wants to camp?
Camp here. We got pizza.
MALCOLM: Oh, pizza is my survival food.
[EXCITED CHATTERING]
[MUSIC AND CHATTERING CONTINUE]
I found a great idea
for a glamping site. I'll call.
Butlers will bring you pheasant.
It's wonderful.
[LAUGHS]
First, here's to a successful day.
So, um, are we having it out now?
Well, I have some questions
that I want answered,
so you tell me.
Let's have it out now.
What are you doing with my firm?
Turning it into the top firm in Chicago.
Not the top Black firm,
not the top medium-sized firm;
just the top fucking firm.
With the Lord's help.
- As revenge against my father?
- Yes.
Sure.
Which means kicking me out?
No. Because you're gonna help me.
Do you know why?
I originally thought
I would get rid of you
and all your partners.
But
Today.
The way your team works together.
It's moved me.
How sweet.
[LAUGHS]: Look, Liz,
I am a brand.
Your father was a brand,
but he's toxic now.
And that's why I'm taking over.
But I want to keep all of you.
Ri'Chard & Associates.
[LAUGHS]
- Oh, my God.
- What?
The arrogance here is just blinding.
My lawyers don't want
to work for a brand.
Oh, sure, they do.
If it's that or unemployment.
We want to make a difference,
not sell T-shirts.
Oh, my goodness, Noam Chomsky.
How do you think we make a difference?
By all screaming and waving our arms?
No, by falling in behind one name.
One man. One parade.
Ri'Chard.
[LAUGHS]
You are so egotistical, it
Damn right, damn right, and
that's how you get things done.
One name and an army behind it.
It'd be your name, except
"Reddick" is over.
My name is the next revelation.
Well, we're gonna fight for this.
Oh, yeah.
But first, we get rid of STR Laurie.
Then we can go at each other.
[MUSIC AND CHATTERING
CONTINUE IN OTHER ROOM]
[GLASSES CLINK]
[PHONE BEEPS]
Dr. Bettencourt, um, I mean Lyle, hi.
I just want to say thank you
for all you did today.
It actually worked out.
Dustin is going to get
his bone marrow transplant.
So, just want to say thank you
- and I hope I can repay you
- [BODY THUDS BEHIND]
[GASPS]
[TRAFFIC SOUNDS]
[CREAKING]
[TIRES SCREECHING, HORNS HONKING]