Mom! David took my hairbrush.
David, give your sister her brush back.
One minute.
¶ The sun came up With no conclusions ¶
¶ Flowers seeping In their beds ¶
¶ The city Cemetery's humming ¶
¶ I'm wide awake It's morning ¶
¶ I have my drugs I have my woman ¶
¶ They keep away My loneliness ¶
¶ My parents they Have their religion ¶
¶ But sleep in Separate houses ¶
¶ I read the body count Out of the paper ¶
¶ And now it's written All over my face ¶
¶ No one ever plans To sleep out in The gutter ¶
¶ Sometimes that's just The most comfortable place ¶
¶ So I'm drinking Breathing writing Singing ¶
¶ Every day I'm On the clock ¶
¶ My mind races With all my longings ¶
¶ But can't keep up With what I got ¶
Quit it.
You know, the keyboard and the typewriter...
was actually designed to slow people down.
Oh, yeah?
¶ A telephone To talk to strangers ¶
¶ Machine guns ¶
Here we go.
¶ So when you're Asked to fight a war ¶
¶That's over nothing ¶
¶ It's best to join The side that's Gonna win ¶
Overdose. PCP.
[Indistinct)
¶ How all of this Got started ¶
¶ But we're gonna make 'Em goddamn certain ¶
¶ How it's gonna end ¶
¶ Oh yeah we will Oh yeah we will ¶
Dammit. Keep him still.
My bad. I'm trying to give him a.
Shit! Shit!
What?
It got stuck.
Go. I got this.
- What happened? - She got stuck.
All right, let's get this thing moving.
I took April's regular into the VIP room...
and he gave me $7,000.
I don't give a fuck. Fuck that bitch.
She freak out?
Yeah. Is there anything more unflattering...
than patterns on hotel rooms?
I know. Why can't they just use solid colors?
It's easier to hide the stains.
That's so right.
We gotta get that fucker on the stand.
Oh. What're you waiting for?
Hi, Mike.
Don't you know what time it is?
The Fire chief is responsible...
for all decisions made for the Fire department, right?
Uh... for the most part, yeah.
If the chief of the fire department was deleting work orders...
which directly resulted in sending non-working trucks to a fire,
that's his fault?
Yeah, I guess you could say that.
Then it's all bullshit they fired a guy for falsifying his resume.
It's 'cause he exposed the work orders.
It's a little late to change our tactic, isn't it?
He was wrapped up in the price of repairs but it didn't matter...
because they were never gonna do the repairs to begin with.
Hey, shut the fuck up.
Mike, where are you?
Just hanging out with some friends.
You know what? You get some sleep. I got this, okay?
Bye!
What?
Are you still sleeping?
Yes.
Ah.
So you're joining the jury. The reason my client is fired...
was because he falsified his resume,
not because he went above your head...
and reported that trucks were not getting fixed...
and people were dying as a result. Correct?
Say yes.
- Yes. - Now you also already said...
that you only went to review my client's resume...
after he went to the media. Correct?
Yeah.
On May 9th, a truck went to the house of Alex Foreman with a broken water pump.
That resulted in Mr. Foreman burning to death.
On June 17th, another truck went to the house of Crystal Dougan...
also with a non-working pump,
also resulting in Ms. Dougan burning to death.
Is that true?
It is.
No shit? Damn.
He knew he sent non-working fire trucks to houses on fire?
He says he didn't.
Look, you just said the trucks were broken because the work orders were deleted.
The work order could be anything.
It could be a broken ladder, it could be a tire alignment,
it could be a tear in the fucking seat fabric.
But it wasn't a tear in the fucking seat fabric.
The damn pumps wouldn't work, right?
So, if the work orders had been deleted...
and you didn't know the trucks needed to be fixed,
they were never gonna be repaired to begin with, were they?
So, I'm sorry...
after you realized the paperwork system for the work orders were so screwed up,
that you'd accidentally approved two fire trucks...
that didn't actually have working water pumps.
Realizing this by the way, because my client...
exposed the fire department's bureaucratic mess to the public.
After you realized this, you felt the best usage of your time...
would not be to go back and fix the system...
in an effort to prevent the death of more innocent people.
You thought the first thing you should do...
was looking to my client's job application and resume...
even though he'd already been working for the department for four years.
That may be what it looks like.
I'm sorry, sir, it's a simple question. Which did you look into first?
The work order system that had just caused the death...
of two innocent people,
or a 4-year-old job application of an employee...
that had just publicly humiliated you?
And I remind your, sir, that you're under oath.
I guess that the application was first.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Have you or someone you love been injured in an accident...
due to the negligence of another person?
Call Danzinger and Weiss. The phone call is free...
and so is the consultation.
You need professional, experienced trial lawyers...
that care about their clients...
to get the cash settlements that you and your family deserve.
Don't wait. Call today.
You serious?
The fact is that auto accidents...
and negligence result in higher personal injury awards...
and higher jury awards. 90% of them never even see the court room.
Fantastic.
You should really take me serious.
You should really have a drink, counselor. We're celebrating.
Should I remind you that we actually would've made more money...
if we'd settled today's case before the trial.
Should I remind you that we won?
Oh, damn, is this gonna take long?
We won't stay long. Like five minutes, okay?
- Wanna sip? - Oh, no, thanks.
Have you seen my husband?
Uh, no.
Beer, tequila, Jack, rum?
Fine.
Mike's my legal aide.
Please, tell me you're joking.
Uh, no.
He really hasn't changed since eighth grade, has he?
No, he hasn't.
Have you seen my fucking husband?
I think he might be out back.
I haven't ever heard of a goddamn coaster, you fucking animal!
Can we go now?
How did you get to teach your class tonight, by the way?
I didn't.
You can't keep canceling your class. The students have been complaining.
Why? They're all here.
Oh. And the lady, she's still waiting on those articles on the transportation.
Jesus Christ, you're worse than all legal acts.
No more talk about work.
Everybody, no more talk about work. This is a party.
It's an interesting party, too, Mike.
Hey, what's going on?
Hey. What the fuck is that?
It's an alligator.
It's just left outside, walk around.
Hey, listen, guys.
I can't keep having my firm give you work...
it's gonna take you twice as long...
Twice as long to find the 1994 case of Kings County vs. Stevenson
which protects the rights of people with disabilities to keep their pets,
including animals used for emotional support in cases like depression.
Regardless of the landlord's policy...
making the eviction of your client illegal,
and upping the value of what will now be a really nice settlement.
You're welcome. I'll have it for you by Monday.
Thank you.
Hey, you guys are gonna go see that nurse tomorrow, right?
Yeah.
All right. I gotta go.
What do you mean you gotta go? You just got here.
I can't stay. Rita's in the car right now.
Your lizard tried to bite her foot.
Was she wearing white shoes? He hates white shoes.
Don't go, man. You just got here.
I got a white supremacist running around here,
I want you to straighten out.
- Are you serious? - Yeah,
It'd be a great conversation.
Oh, shit!
Jamie, what the fuck? Are you nuts? There are people upstairs. You gotta...
In our bed, in our fucking bed, you asshole!
Jamie, we should talk about this, but this is not the way.
Apologize.
Apologize!
¶ We are the same ¶
- I'm sorry. - ¶ We are the same ¶
- I want a divorce.
¶ We are the same ¶
I'll see ya.
All right, everyone, drama's over.
Fuck.
Why do you still have this piece of crap?
I love this car. You can drive it.
That drink smells like wide open ass.
Good for the body, good for the soul.
Mr. Health Nut.
You treat your digestive tract like a sewer.
All that soda is gonna destroy your esophagus.
So, did you get your gun back?
Not yet.
You all right?
She'll be back soon.
So, after I got over myself a bit, I decided to fight.
Oh, thank you, sweetie.
I mean, AIDS isn't a death sentence any more.
And the medicine gets better and better every year.
- Oh, sure, yes, of course. - This is all we had.
David, a glass?
That's fine. We're okay. Thank you, David.
Can I play with Mr. Deedles?
Of course, hon. Of course.
Anyway, Daryl said if anybody could help, it'd be you fellas.
My friend Jeffrey invented this after my accident.
It's a safety needle.
Can't prick yourself, can't be reused.
A safety needle like this could prevent incidents like mine from ever happening.
And the hospital refuses to even look at it.
Excuse me, so you were injured on the job,
but are you receiving worker's compensation?
Yes, they... they kept up with that end of it.
Uh... unfortunately...
I don't think there's anything else that can be done.
That's all of the law provides for and, uh...
it's really all we can get you.
But I... I don't want anything else.
Not personally anyway. You see, my case is not an isolated incident.
This thing is happening to front line health care professionals all the time.
We're very sorry.
We have to make them use this. The bottom line is,
the hospitals are knowing they're putting their employees at risk...
letting them get hurt. People are dying.
And then again I feel this... tap.
More like a late dump.
It's a babe.
Babe, hurry up.
What I'm saying is we've been netting on average...
for each injury settlement about 50 to 20 K's, right?
Keep stringing a few of these together a month...
and we can actually be in the black by February.
How often do you think that needle stick thing happens?
You think it's like a daily thing?
I don't know. There's no case here anyway.
If we could prove the hospitals were negligent,
our clients could be every hospital worker in the country.
Mike, we can't afford to go on a fishing expedition right now.
I think we should go meet that guy.
The guy that invented the safety needle.
If you come with me to meet Jeffrey the inventor guy,
- I'll give you 3 focused days. - Focused?
Three extremely focused, eight-hour days,
interviewing as many lying accident victims trying to squeeze the insurance company...
for an extra 12 dollars as you want. Deal?
Deal.
Give me that clamp.
Jeffrey Dancort.
That's me.
Paul Danzinger. We're lawyers from Danzinger and Weiss.
He a lawyer, too?
Uh... this is Mike Weiss, my partner.
I was working as a mechanical and structural engineer when Vicky got stuck.
So, you guys met her?
Uh... yeah, we did. It's a terrible shame.
She's my best friend's kid. That really hit me.
I spent about a year working on developing the concept.
Sooner or later the National Institute of Health gave me a 50,000 dollar grant...
to develop a prototype for reproduction.
Anyone ever use it?
San Antonio Memorial Hospital used it for two years.
How's that working out?
Not a single needle stick incident in two years.
So, there's no way you can get stuck with this thing.
Can't get stuck with it, can't reuse it.
Doctor's love it and nurses are begging for it.
Only San Antonio Memorial will buy it.
Why?
I thought you guys could tell me that.
Okay, to start...
you should call at least 200 hospitals over the next couple of weeks...
and let us know exactly what the responds is.
Two hundred hospitals.
I know it sounds a lot, Mr. Dancort, but what we're gonna need to do here...
- is get a data base... - I've already approached...
2,000 hospitals.
What'd say when you showed them the needle?
They asked me to leave.
Is there any way we can sue a hospital for not buying something...
that saves people's lives?
That so-called miracle drug allegedly causes clients to suffer a stroke.
He's currently waging his battle...
against another multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company.
Top personal injury attorney, Mark Lenier.
This is absolutely outrageous.
This is big pharma deciding that they can take my client...
and make him a Guinea pig.
Test their medicines on him, make their money off of him...
and then just disregard him and throw him away when he breaks.
And that's outrageous and we're gonna stop it.
We're gonna stop it right here in this court house.
He's good.
He's very good.
Thank you for agreeing to talk with me.
Sure, no problem. Talk.
On the phone you said you were aware of the high number...
of accidental needle sticks.
How about 800,000 a year?
Is that an accurate number?
You don't believe me?
No, it's not that I don't believe you.
I just wanna know if it's an accurate number.
I, Karen Brown, head of the Texas Nurses' Association District Five...
do officially swear that that number is accurate. Better?
Look, I'm just trying to get a better understanding here.
Good. Then here's what you need to understand. Okay?
The major cause of these diseases,
hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV,
affecting all front line health care workers...
is because of accidental needle sticks.
Okay?
Okay. The reason I'm here is 'cause my client...
has invented a safety needle that can prevent this from ever happening again.
Then don't talk to me.
Who should I talk to?
The purchasing department.
Purchasing. Thank you.
Mr. Weismann.
- Weiss. - Mr. Weiss.
- Mike, please. - Mr. Weiss,
I cannot and will not look at your needle.
Why not?
Because of the purchasing contract that the hospital has.
Will you at least look at this data?
No.
Would you mind telling me why?
I don't want you to show me your data,
and I don't want you to show this product to my nurses,
because they'll want it, and they can't have it.
What kind of a shirt was it?
Was it a nice shirt?
Uh... yes, Mr. Paul, it... it was nice.
And was it a special shirt?
Special?
Maybe it was, a, uh... gift.
It was just a shirt.
How much did you say it cost?
Uh...
- I don't remember. - Let's say 70 dollars.
Sylvia, could you, uh... try Mike again, please?
Not if you wanna leave here with all ten of those tiny little fingers, young man.
I just left him a fifth message.
Mike.
Paul, you're awake. Great, listen. you're not gonna fucking believe this.
I worked my way into a meeting with the director of Infection for the hospital.
He's...
What?
That was today? Oh, shit, man.
Hello?
He said that Safety Point is fucking essential to the safety of hospital, uh...
I mean, we're looking at a shitload of violations under the State Law.
Several violations on a shitload of counts under the false claims act.
I'm looking for it.
Take it, take it. And I'll call him after lunch.
All right.
I'll call him after lunch. I have leave.
The Nursing Association I represent requested I call...
in hopes that you'd help them with their campaign in regards to this matter.
If you'd give me a call back, that'd be great, if not... shh...
Senator O'Hara's from Nebraska.
- Nebraska? - Yeah.
There's only 100 centers. I figure between the two of us, we could call...
Us? Oh, you mean that we're a team?
That we agree upon things and we do them together?
I said I was sorry.
22 straight hours, you decided that I'm...
I'm sorry. Did you get the file I sent over?
I got it.
GPO's are been bribed to buy certain products for the hospitals.
See, it's fucking payolas, I send it over to the damn court already.
In the '80s, these GPO's got so big, they managed to pass a bill in Congress.
Allowing a 3% commission from the manufacturers...
they're supposedly negotiating with.
We have a great case here.
Yeah, we do.
I'm sorry, what was your name again?
- Susan. - Susan,
would you give us a second, please?
Sure. Be right outside.
Look. Mike, I think that we have a great case here,
potentially really great, but I need you to be practical with me for a minute.
Like hospitals letting people die...
because Safety Point costs five cents more?
Mike, I'm in, all right? I'm in. It's just that if this thing gets too big,
you need to let me bring in another firm to help out.
Trust me, this thing is gonna settle by Christmas.
It might no.
They could drag it for years. It's a monopoly case...
- and we're not an antitrust firm. - What kinda firm we wanna be, Paul?
Come on, this is the one. This is gonna make us.
It could break us. It's gonna be extremely expensive.
Dancort can't afford to pay us and I can't do enough injury cases on my own.
Alright, for fuck sake, what you want me to say?
I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry, I missed the fucking line.
Mike, listen to me. I'm telling you that we don't have the resources...
to take this thing all the way, so please.
I need your word that when I tell you that the well is running dry,
we bring in another firm to help out, okay?
Yeah. Yes. Can we get to work now, please?
Sorry. Am I interrupting something?
No, not at all. Come on in.
Thanks for coming down.
Have a seat.
Well, right here I got an invitation...
to a supplier to attend a conference...
from the... United Medical Health Supplies people.
Largest group purchasing organization in the country.
And guess how much it costs to attend the conference?
How much?
- 25,000 dollars. - 25 Grand?
What does that get you?
Well, I went to one of these dog and pony shows about three years back...
for the low price of 15 grand, and I didn't get jack shit.
Hey. Mike Weiss.
How are you?
I am excited.
These GPO guys represent over 4,000 health care providers in the US...
and they supply 'em with 80 billion dollars...
in medical products every year.
Walkers and canes and wheelchairs,
commodes, bedpans.
The only way to get your product into hospitals...
is to go through these fuckers.
So you have to pay thousands of dollars...
for the opportunity to grovel in front of a couple...
United Medical Health Supply muckety-mucks.
- Mike Weiss. - Hey. Thanks for coming.
Oh, absolutely, thank you.
But it's all just horse shit.
You need real money to get anything done...
Gonna help prevent accidents from happening...
to your patients and employees.
And over time,
it's gonna save you money and it's gonna save lives.
Does that sound like something that might interest you?
- Let's see what you have. - Alrighty.
First off. You aware there are over 800,000 accidental needle sticks a year?
800,000. Every time I ask...
for 25,000, you can't even stay for lunch.
How much does it cost to stay for lunch?
Millions.
¶ Take me to see The voodoo queen ¶
¶ Let her put a spell on me ¶
¶ A little bit of change To ease my pain ¶
¶ Gonna set a young man free ¶
Whatever you do, don't let me fall asleep.
I think you'll be okay. For four hours only.
Wanna hand job?
Sure.
They're gonna videotape me?
We're gonna be okay.
Hi. Paul Danzinger.
- Here? - Yeah. That's us. Grap a seat.
Oh, fuck! Fuck!
Gentlemen.
Thank you for coming. It's much appreciated.
I'm Paul Danzinger.
You must be Mr. Dancort.
This grip. You golf?
No, I don't golf.
Why so grumpy?
You get the chance to eat?
See, breakfast's the most important meal of the day.
Would somebody please bring Mr. Dancort...
a cup of coffee and a Danish?
So, let's get down to it. Are we waiting for one more?
Let's just begin.
Okay. Mr. Dancort, we are here today...
so we can ask you some questions...
regarding your allegations against my client.
Before we begin, I would like to establish for the record...
that you're aware that the deposition is sworn testimony under oath.
- Yeah. - Okay.
The court reporter will be recording this session...
in the event that we would choose to show the jury your testimony...
in a court of law. Now, if any time during these proceedings...
you feel the need for a break, please feel free to do so.
Is everything clear so far?
Yeah.
Is that a yes or a no, sir?
Yes.
Thank you. I'd like to start by asking questions...
about your background. Would you please tell me your full name?
Jeffrey Matthew Dancort.
Could you spell that, please?
Jeffrey, J-E-F-F-R-E-Y.
Matthew, M-A-T-T-H-E-W.
Dancort, D-A-N-C-O-R-T.
Thank you. Current address, please.
1429 Merryweather drive,
Houston, Texas, 74561.
Thank you. Is that an apartment or a house?
It's a house.
For how long have you lived there, Mr. Dancort?
Well, I don't know, about ten years.
About ten years or exactly ten years?
We moved in there in 1986.
That would be 12 years.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Sounds right or is right? If you moved there in 1986, that would be 12 years.
Be polite.
Yes, that's right, sir.
One moment, please.
Right.
Shit.
Oh, fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck it...
Fuck!
Besides football, did you play any other sport?
Football? What the hell are we talking about football?
We came here to discuss a case. Let's discuss the case.
I instructed you the we wanted just get some simple...
background information outta the way.
I'd like to request that my client take a break now.
It's your call.
Let the record reflect that the plaintiff's attorney has asked for a break...
without answering the question.
That's okay. Keep going. Just keep going.
Continuing, besides football, did you play any other s...
Excuse me. Nathaniel Price?
I am.
Mike Weiss. Guess I'll be seeing you in court.
- I'm looking forward to it. - Good.
- Excuse me. - Alright.
- Where the fuck were you? - Not here.
Outside.
And what was the name of your first dog, Mr. Dancort?
- Oh, well, Rufus. - And how do you spell that, Mr. Dancort?
R/U/F/U/S.
And, uh... were you fond of this dog, Mr. Dancort?
Well, not particularly.
Does that mean you dislike dogs, Mr. Dancort?
- I mean giving... - They showed themselves today.
They wouldn't have brought in the big guns if they weren't scared of you.
Yeah, they're terrified. Scared fucking shitless all twelve of 'em.
The reason I wasn't there today is 'cause I was talking to a good buddy of mine.
Henry Matthews, editor-in-chief of the Houston Chronicle.
They're gonna run a story on you.
I'll see you guys back at the office.
Houston Chronicle.
Hi, this is attorney Mike Weiss calling for Henry Matthews.
We don't have a Henry Matthews. We have a Henry Mathers.
Yeah, that's what I meant. Henry Mathers. Thank you.
He's not in. Would you like his voice mail?
- Sure. - One moment, please.
As soon as the sun goes down, I'll be over there.
Hey.
Law and order. What's up, man? What'd you need?
Two hundred.
Right here.
This is Mike.
What the hell kinda friend have you got, Mike, huh?
Yeah, maybe you got some other friends who can help us out.
That's how these people operate. They must've threatened the paper.
I don't know what they did or how they did it, but somebody must've gotten to 'em,
Yeah, I just spent hours on the phone dealing with my investors,
my wife, my mother. This article claims I'm having an affair with my assistant.
Are you having an affair with your assistant?
No.
Then what're you worried about?
They're just trying to smear you, that's all.
This is to be expected.
They're gonna try and make as many people hate your guts as possible...
before we go to trial.
Look, Jeffrey, Paul's making a lot of traction with a lotta investors for you.
And when I get these motherfuckers in front of the judge,
we're gonna get your needle in every single hospital in the fucking country.
Stay strong. I'll see you in court.
Is that Armani?
Believe it.
Is that a tux?
It's Armani.
All rise.
The United States Federal District Court is now in session.
The Honorable Judge William Black presiding.
Be seated.
Alright.
We are here on plaintiff's motion...
to compel the production of documents...
that the plaintiff claims are necessary.
Since the defendants are not allowing him...
Your Honor, the defendant's client has a...
- No, no, Mr. Weiss. - request...
Sorry, Your Honor.
It's an extraordinary large request for production.
Which documents must you have and why?
Request for production one.
All exclusive long term and multi-product contracts...
between United Medical Health Supplies and all hospitals...
over the last ten years. We feel this information will prove the GPO...
is engaged in anticompetitive behavior, price fixing,
and a contract that requires the company to buy products...
even though they may not be the safest available.
Now under Dakota vs. PMI Industries,
the Supreme Court found this information.
Mr. Price, your response.
Judge, this is a fishing expedition with no merit.
To inspect thousands of pages of documents...
is unduly burdensome to my client's time and money.
And the Dakota case is not on point.
Next request.
Request for production 15.
All donations made by the defendant to health care organizations...
are political entities.
Political contributions are not discoverable under Benet vs. Lappin.
Contributions to health care organizations are not political.
Next request, please.
Request for production 29.
All purchase history of syringe manufacturers made by the GPO...
in the past ten years. We feel that this information proves...
that United Medical Health Supplies has created a monopoly...
by buying syringe manufacturers, then jacking up the price.
Your Honor, the purchase and sale of businesses are all of public record.
My client shouldn't have to go through the expense.
Your Honor, we've submitted cases supporting our position.
The law clearly states we're entitled to these documents.
All right. My decision is as follows.
The court denies document production 1, 2, 3.
Your Honor, we have the right...
Request for production 1 through 12 denied. 13, 14, 15 are firm,
but I'm limiting production to one year, not ten years.
16 through 29, denied. Court adjourned.
You must be so relieved.
We are ecstatic. It's been 3 years in the making...
and we finally got some justice.
Mr. Lenier, how do you suppose the jury arrived at a 53 million dollar verdict?
Well, I think the jury basically took that figure...
from the profits the company made off...
not putting the safety feature on.
They are not gonna let corporate greed trump the value of human life.
Let's talk about the family. We're dealing with an eight-year-old boy.
How are they doing right now?
Well, you know they're doing okay,
but the eight-year-old boy, he's going home with a...
Safety Point's a bigger case than that.
You know that every American...
will get into at least one car accident in their lifetime?
You know what the biggest reason is that people get into car accidents?
- Eating while driving? - Mh-hm.
No, that's only 49%.
Talking to the other passenger, 81%.
Fascinating.
- Where you going? - I'm gonna go talk to him.
Hi, fellas.
You boys hungry?
Yeah, sure.
Come in.
The process is one where you fight in the courtroom...
for 3 weeks, and then you got a... got a, uh... an, an appeal going.
And then we'll have that fight and we'll win that fight.
Could you bring us a couple of shrimp cocktail, please?
I'm allergic to shellfish.
Doesn't like shrimp, you see?
- Good to see you, Matthew. - Yeah...
Listen, I... I don't wanna be here today as a law firm.
I'd like to talk, from one person to another.
What do you want?
I'll tell you what I don't want.
I don't wanna see you two going down, and you're going down.
Do I care who wins or loses?
Hardly. And I have a job, I do my job...
and I get paid the end of the day either way.
How much you get paid?
You're funny, Mike.
I like that you have a sense of humor.
What can we do for you?
Well, you know who my client is.
You're looking at 300 attorneys,
two dozen of the top anti-trust experts in the country,
millions of dollars in resources, connections in every corner...
of the health care system. Not to mention the justice system.
Don't forget the newspapers. The banks.
Mm-hm.
That's correct.
Your client,
he's something else. He's an idealistic bumpkin...
who's been knocking on every door in the city...
tryin' to get a loan.
And you know why he's not getting one?
My client doen't want 'em to.
So, are you saying that there's a possibility...
of us actually settling this fairly?
Absolutely not. That's the one thing, the only thing, my client can't afford.
If they gave you a settlement, they'll be looking at lawsuits...
the rest of their lives. Umh-uh.
They aren't gonna do that.
So, just do yourselves a favor. Cut your losses now.
You guys got no case. No way out.
Well, we appreciate your concern.
Son, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit.
Good day.
Bob.
She left a note.
Come on, buddy.
Providing the best health care products...
from Asia to Africa...
to here at home.
United Medical Health Supplies.
Together and caring.
What's up?
My new equity partners just backed out on Dancort.
That was the last investor.
Sorry.
Me foo.
There anything I can do?
Can you convince another firm to come on board and take over the case?
Sorry. You need something?
Bills. Uh... the most pressing being the electric and the phone.
I got an extension till Monday.
It's okay. I'll just figure something out.
Hey, hon. Sorry, I should be about ten more minutes...
No. No, no, no, no. Can you drive? Okay.
I want you get in the car and go straight to the hospital.
I will meet you there. No, get straight to the hospital.
Take the express route that we mapped out.
¶ When I die Lord ¶
¶ Won't you put my Soul up on a train ¶
¶Won't you send It southbound ¶
¶ Give it a cool Bluesman name ¶
¶ I've been lost out On those beck reeds ¶
¶ So many times I've gone blind ¶
¶ Losing faith In my family ¶
¶ Had drove me right Out my damn mind ¶
¶ But on the south Side of heaven ¶
¶ Won't you Take me home ¶
Nicole Morris, sex therapist. Who am I speaking with?
Hey, I'm Mike.
Are you okay, Mike? Do you need someone to talk to?
I've been better.
My wife left me.
She, uh... she took all my furniture.
Oh, I'm sorry, baby.
Yeah.
At least she left me my alligator.
You know my alligator is 49 years old?
Wow. So cool for a pet.
Actually not for an alligator.
You don't sound that old, Mike.
Me? No. No, I'm, uh...
I'm in my prime.
Is that your baby crying?
No. That's the, uh...
that's the office next door. It's a pediatrics therapist.
A little late for a baby to be at the doctor, isn't it?
Tell me what's on your mind, Mike.
I don't like to be alone.
It feels better now that you're talking to someone, doesn't it?
Yeah.
Hey, you think we could meet up?
Possibly.
Mike, do you have a credit card?
Yeah, hang on.
If you don't need immediate medical attention.
I'd like to encourage you to take yourselves to our clinic.
It's just two blocks away on Main Street. Please.
If you have a stomach ache, a sprained ankle,
anything that does not need immediate medical attention...
Pete, don't. You're gonna get fired.
They're not gonna kick me out today.
What's going on? Who's getting kicked out?
Welcome to the hospital.
I'm sorry.
They canceled my insurance today.
Pre-existing conditions.
What kind? You can't say you've been stabbed by sharp objects?
Some goddamn thing.
Let me go talk to somebody.
No, no, no. Please, it's okay. I... I'll take care of it.
Hey, Pete, why don't you go get the boxes for him?
Alright.
David, Kia, you go help him out, okay?
Come on, guys.
Hey, guys.
Why don't you let me talk to somebody, Vicky?
You okay?
- Thank you. - Sure.
You all right?
What about you?
Oh, that's... yeah. I, uh... I'm good.
Jill, this is Mike.
Hello.
So strange being on the other side of things.
Having all the floor nurses stand over me.
I trained some of them.
They got these crazy patterns on their shirts these days,
like it's supposed to calm the patients but...
it ends up making you feel dizzy.
Mm.
So, you said you had something for me.
You know, it's true what they say about the stages you go through.
Denial, anger, acceptance,
blah, blah, blah.
But it doesn't happen quite as cleanly as the pamphlets tell you.
In reality,
it's a stew.
Everything happens all at the same time.
Just because...
you can't really get over the dark parts.
It doesn't mean you can't get to the good ones.
Sometimes the brightest light comes from the darkest places.
There you go.
Thank you.
Where did you get this?
Don't worry where we got 'em from.
- Hey. - Hey.
Thompson Needle's coming out with their own line of safety needle.
You think they're threatened by Safety Point or what?
- I think we need to talk. - Yeah, we do.
These are internal documents...
- Mike, listen... - United Medical Health Supplies proving...
- that my... - Mike, stop it, please.
Listen, Kim had to go to the hospital last night.
What?
She's fine. False alarm.
Is everything okay?
No, everything's not okay. Our insurance lapsed.
What do you mean our insurance lapsed?
You told Sylvia to pay for you attending...
the United Medical Health Supplies dinner...
from the firm's account, and you would pay the insurance bill later.
I'm sorry. It's not how I meant for it to happen.
That's not how you meant for it to happen. Kim is fucking pregnant, Mike.
Look,
I don't see how we can possibly continue the case.
Mike, we agreed that we would drop this.
I agreed to take in another firm. I never agreed to drop anything.
I've called 50 other firms and no one will touch it.
Well... I'm not dropping the case.
That's not your decision to make.
You wanna call Dancort or should I?
It's too big, Mike.
I have Senator O'Reilly calling from Washington, D.C. for you, Mike.
Hello?
And then GPO, in our case United Medical Health Supplies...
will draw up an exclusive contract with Thompson Needles,
who in turn give 'em a kickback for every needle sold.
Boxing out any competition regardless of how superior...
or how much safer their product is.
If Thompson Needles is gonna come out with a safe needle they'd have to retool,
recast the molding. They'd have to replace their entire assembly line...
then starting from scratch.
I guess that's something they're not interested in doing...
because of the high upfront costs.
Hm. Ingenious.
This is a tremendous innovation.
As you know, I've been addressing safety issues...
for hospital workers for years.
I'm intrigued by your product, Mr. Dancort, to say the least...
Thank you.
This is a bill proposing mandating the use of sound needles.
We're in the process of circulating a petition...
to every single hospital across the United States,
so we can mobilize nurses' unions an associations to help you lobby.
Right.
Now we have some interest from some financial institutions...
regarding investment packages...
and we're gonna try and get them in every hospital across the country.
Senator, you're giving us the impetus to safe thousands of lives.
Incredible. That was awesome.
- Good job. - Great job.
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
Are you happy?
- Excuse me, Mr. Weiss. - Yeah.
Can I speak with you for just a second?
Yeah.
Senator.
Mr. Weiss.
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and your colleagues...
bringing this to my attention.
As I said, the safety and well-being of health care workers...
has been high on my agenda from day one...
and we also agree that urgent action is what is called for.
That's great. It's...
it's just... it's good to meet someone who's on board to fight the good fight.
It would be an honor to offer my support,
but only if you drop this case...
and let Mr. Dancort team up with another firm.
The cocaine... under your nose.
That's, um...
I'm not judging you, Mike.
You're not the first person to lobby a Senator hopped up on narcotics...
and I'm sure you're not even the first person to do so today,
but there's absolutely no way we can put you before the House Committee...
let alone the Senate.
Wait, just...
My client has approached every other law firm in Texas. They've all said no.
He's broke.
This is a...
this is a major antitrust case.
You know the type of money and muscle that goes into it.
Mr. Dancort does not have the money...
to sit across from the receptionist at some of these firms.
My partner and I are the only ones who are willing to take this risk.
We believe in this case.
We believe in it.
Give me a chance.
I'll go back to Houston. I'll get myself cleaned up.
Okay.
But know this.
You only get one chance. Don't fuck it up.
Understood.
They're talking to fucking Senators now.
They're surely around knocking on doors, chickens with their heads cut off.
We need to fix this now, Nathaniel.
- I'll take care of it. - They're losing patience.
I just need a bit more time.
I'll try.
But you need to hurry.
Or it's not gonna be good for any of us.
This is a waste of time.
Mike.
Show some respect, huh?
I'll show some respect by winning the case that put her in the fucking ground...
to beginn with, that's all.
Fuck this.
Fuck.
Come on, you son of a bitch.
Come on, son of bitch!
The reason you...
The reason why you should invest in Safety Point, because it's safe...
and it's affective. It's a life... saving...
it's a life saving device. It's a life saving device.
Your involvement...
You're all right, Mike?
Yeah, I'm fine.
You want some?
I was always more of a tinkerer than a businessman.
That's how I thought about myself anyway.
My first office was in the corner of a bicycle shop.
My first customer was an amputee with an artificial leg.
Hi. Good evening.
I'm Paul Danzinger, and, uh... I'd like to welcome you...
on behalf of my partner, Michael Weiss,
and of course the man who really brought us all together tonight,
Mr. Jeffrey Dancort.
I've been doing this a long time, you know.
Long, long, long time.
And what I've come to realize is that there's just people out there...
that all they wanna do is fuck you up.
Right, uh... you know what I'm talking about.
So, on this one I just decided to say fuck it.
'Cause you know what? A good idea, is a good idea.
We're talking about people's lives here.
Saving people's lives.
This girl is dead... because of what we're talking about here.
So, who gives a shit about the bottom line?
Well, I'll tell you who gives a shit.
The goddamn, miserable, sorry ass motherfuckers...
who won't let the hospitals use my needle, I asume.
None of us in here might even make ever a dime.
The point is,
that it's... The point is Safety Point.
And I want you all to...
think about helping us out.
It's just a good... thing to be part of and...
thanks for being here.
Good night.
So, uh... thank you very much, uh... for coming and uh...
How you doing, Mike?
I'm sorry.
Oh, shit, Mike.
People don't bring checkbooks to these things.
I can't do this any more.
Paul, let's go home.
Hey, Sylvia.
Call ahead and tell them I need an anesthesiologist.
Put naltrexone on. And I want the full treatment.
I want the implant under the abdomen.
Not the posterior... Not... not the posterior.
I don't want anything in my ass that doesn't have to be.
Collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves,
few abscesses. The beginning of liver disease.
Minor pulmonary complications and what could be the start of pneumonia.
Christ.
Typical. He's going through withdrawal.
I had no idea. I mean, I...
I know he's taking some painpills for his...
leg, but I didn't, uh...
He's a pretty heavy user.
I guess the good thing I... reactivated the insurance.
By the way, the treatment he requested is gonna run about 25,000...
and it's not covered by insurance. Just a heads up.
Great.
What the...
Hey.
- Hey. You got my clothes? - Yep.
Whoa. Hey, uh... don't you want me...
to get someone to check you out? I mean, I'm gonna go find a nurse.
That's a great idea. We're always underestimating nurses.
I'll be right with you, Mr. Weiss.
I have a question for you:
You wouldn't happen to be a member of the nursing association, would you?
I'm standing here in front the the Houston Community National Hospital...
with a few hundred nurses and assorted health care workers in protest.
Joining me now is Karen Brown, President of the Texas Nurse...
Every needle stick accident cost the hospital...
thousands of dollars in follow up testing.
If it's with an infected needle,
it's between 500,000 and a million dollars per case.
Now in this country there are roughly one million needle stick accidents a year.
Think about that. You do the math.
What we're fighting for is the right of every citizen to live in a country...
that values human life over profits.
Mr. Weiss, the hospital...
Senator O'Reilly's office.
This is attorney Mike Weiss for the Senator.
Hi, Mr. Weiss. She just ended a meeting. Can I take a message?
Sure.
Why are these here? I thought they were supposed to go out yesterday.
They sent it back.
What the hell is that? I thought we had a contract.
Yes, please tell the Senator to return my call as soon as possible.
It's regarding the San Antonio Memorial Hospital...
canceling their contract with Safety Point Syringes.
You'd be interested to hear the CEO of San Antonio Memorial hospital...
been invited to sit on the board of United Medical Health Supplies.
Yeah, you think she'd like to hear that on the news or return my call?
Please, have her call me back. This is attorney Mike Weiss.
I'm about to book a flight to DC. This is bullshit.
The Senator's chief aid called this morning. She's tabling the issue.
Tabling the issue?
What the fuck does that mean? I'm going down there.
United Medical Health Supplies just made a very generous contribution...
to the Senator's reelection campaign.
What's this?
Kim gave birth last night to a baby girl.
Six pounds, eight ounces.
Sam. She's beautiful.
Congratulations.
I'll be home with them if you need me.
What're we gonna do about the Senator?
Nicole Morris, sex therapist.
I like sex therapy.
Nice to meet you.
She creeps me the fuck out.
I should say something, right?
Probably.
You wanna be the one?
No.
Me neither.
Oh, hey, thanks for being flexible attending the case.
I know I'm a little behind, I should've said something.
It's okay, you don't... have to worry about it.
I know. I'm just gonna check a few facts and then I'll get it to you.
No, I mean, we don't need it from you any more.
Look, I didn't... I didn't wanna bring this up here, but...
I'm really sorry, my firm won't let me subcontract...
any more work to you guys.
Not while you're working on the Safety Point case.
You serious?
I'm sorry.
I mean, you can keep the retainer.
I wish there was something else I could do, but...
It's okay, I understand.
Excuse me.
I'm not sure that's gonna work for us.
Well, yeah, I don't...
Okay.
Let me talk it over with my partner and my client.
I'll get back to you in an hour.
All right.
That was Price. He wants us to come out to his house tomorrow.
His house? Why?
You said that we'd settle by Christmas. Maybe you're right.
I'll go call Dancort.
Mike!
Hand me that bag.
Mike, come on.
Just give me the fucking bag!
Gentlemen. Thanks for coming out.
Just give me a few minutes to wash up, I'll be right with you.
Stephanie will show you the way to the library.
If you need anything, she'll be happy to get it for you, okay?
Right this way, gentlemen.
Dial nine if you need to get an outside line.
And I'll be just down the hall to the left...
if there's anything else I can do for you gentlemen.
We'll be fine, thank you.
Great.
You got any fresh squeezed juice?
Uh... I can check.
Orange is fine. Grapefruit's preferable.
I'll see what I can do.
Where's your bathroom?
It's right here.
How long do we have to fucking wait?
Gentlemen. It's nice, isn't it?
Full of fresh air.
Mm. Okay.
Let's get down to business.
First of all,
thank you for coming all the way out here. It's much appreciated.
- Our pleasure. - Now, putting aside...
the fact that Safety Point Syringes is having financial difficulties,
one of our manufacturing clients is, is ready to put an offer for it...
which I think you're gonna find satisfactory.
Where's that girl? The girl that showed us in?
I'm not sure, Mr. Weiss.
Waiting on some juice.
I'm sure she'll bring it when she can.
Like I said, one of our manufacturing clients is interested in your company...
and the needle and has been for quite some time.
This generous manufacturer wouldn't happen to be Thompson Needles, would it?
They would like to remain anonymous until there's an accepted offer.
And this anonymous client would then own the patent to Safety Point?
That's right. My client is interested in purchasing the equity...
that comes with Safety Point Syringes.
Would there be a contractual provision guaranteeing a certain production...
and distribution of Safety Point Syringe?
Once my client purchases Safety Point Syringes,
they'll have the right to do with it as it sees fit.
And what do they see fit?
Mr. Dancort,
my client is prepared to make a more than generous offer.
This is great. You know your client is in direct violation...
of federal and state antitrust laws.
You damn well know you won't win this case if you go to trial.
You are a brilliant engineer, Mr. Dancort.
Try applying some of that towards your business sense.
I didn't sacrifice everything because I was looking for a big payday.
I just want my needles in those hospitals.
I'm sorry, Mr. Dancort. I truly am.
I won't take any pleasure in seeing you ruined.
That proposal is only valid for three days.
No amendments, no negotiation.
I feel that I have taken up enough of your... your Saturday.
Stephanie will see you out. I look forward to your response.
We have to take it.
Excuse me?
The offer. We have to take the money.
What do you mean?
That offer at Dancort is not fair.
They made the offer 'cause they know they can't win. They're scared.
They're not scared, Mike.
They're scared we'll take it to trial.
Do you... even really care...
if Safety Point needles end up in hospitals?
No, seriously, I... I... I'm asking you a question.
Do I care? Yes. People are dying.
That's what you care about? People dying?
Really?
We're taking the settlement.
No, we're not.
You want Dancort to walk away from millions of dollars, and then what?
What happens to him when we go to court years from now...
and he's lost his business and his house?
And then, then after all that we lose the case?
- We won't lose the case. - Okay, fine, we don't lose.
How do you want us to survive until then, Mike?
We are broke, broke, broke.
We have three weeks of overhead left in the bank.
United Medical Health Supplies has pretty much paid off...
or pressured everyone in the United States of America from giving us any new work!
So, how you're gonna go and... and rally people behind Jeffrey in court...
when you don't have a phone to call them and to tell them where to show up?
I'm ending this...
I'm not ending shit. I'll take a loan on my fucking house.
- You are so fucking delusional. - Yeah, you're a big fucking pussy...
who'd rather chase ambulances...
then use the law to save peoples lives.
So you care about people's lives?
- Yeah, I do. - Really? Whose?
Your revolving troop of hookers you pay to hang out with? Your wife?
Oh, fuck you, Paul. Like you really give a shit about those pathetic scam artists.
With they're neck braces and fucking crutches.
Not just the settlements...
- they bring in, right? - You are so righteous.
You just wanna win. That is all you've ever cared about.
Yeah, well at least I have the courage to lose for what's right!
I'll call Dancort and tell him you're no longer involved with the case.
I'll walk from here.
Hey, man.
How you doing?
- Thanks. - Yeah.
Excuse me.
I'm all set, man.
Mr. Weiss, I used to work for Thompson Needle Manufacturers.
Then go fuck yourself.
I was a friend of Vicky's.
She asked me to come talk to you.
Thought it might be helpful.
You got a car?
Yeah. Follow me.
It's right over here.
You see, up until the 1960s.
Needle syringes were made of glass...
which hospitals sterilized with heat.
Thompson Needle Manufacturers refused to switch to plastic needles...
despite the money they'd make...
because plastic needles can't be sterilized.
The founder of the company, James Thompson,
he was quoted to saying:
"We'll switch to plastic needles over my dead body".
Sure enough. In 1966...
the year he died, Thompson Manufacturers...
switched to plastic needles.
Within ten years,
hepatitis C and AIDS were on the map.
They knew that they'd be responsible for spreading epidemics around the world.
This tape...
has footage taken by a Peace Corps worker in Nigeria.
Look.
You see those kids?
Children.
They get paid pennies to bring used needles and syringes...
to local pharmacies.
Clinics save on health care by reusing needles...
up to 200 times.
This is what's going on everywhere.
Thompson Needle Manufacturers,
they're not only not... acting on this,
they're actually suppressing any knowledge of it.
The plastic syringe is the root...
of the AIDS epidemic all across Africa and Russia and India.
I'm sorry, they made an offer to buy Safety Point.
We're advising our client to take it.
Oh, come on, Mike!
You know if they buy it, they're not gonna use it!
That needle...
can save more than nurses here.
It can save millions of lives around the world.
Well I'm just a personal injury lawyer.
Not exactly in the best place to go around...
saving people's lives.
You know something, Mike?
Sometimes the brightest light...
comes from the darkest places.
Get it before it wakes the baby.
Hello?
Jesus Christ, Mike, you're gonna wake the baby.
I'm hanging up now, all right? We can talk about it tomorrow.
Okay, sorry.
Is she up?
I like people that are nuts.
Keeps things interesting.
You know anything about the original glass needle manufacturers?
Or anything about plastic syringes?
You know, Michael? Everyone goes to law school...
to become a good guy. To fight the good fight for justice.
Is that what you did?
Yes, I did.
How's that working out?
Do you remember the big... tobacco law suits?
Of course.
Seven CEO's under oath lying in front of Congress and on camera.
And every state in the Union suing them, right?
That's right.
You remember what happened after that?
Yeah.
We shelled out a 165 billion dollar settlement.
That's what happened.
No, nothing happened. Cigarettes are everywhere.
You know, new teenagers start smoking every day.
Billions of people smoking worldwide.
Millions of people dying every year.
Nothing happened.
Big tobacco got a spanking. Slap on the wrist.
And they went right back to business as usual.
Hm. I assume you came here tonight try to convince me...
to do the right thing.
You know, I'd look in your eye
and I'd go, "Oh, my God, you're right!"
Then what?
Guys like me are like cafeteria trays.
Take one off the top and there's another one right underneath it.
Now I bet you spent your whole life...
waiting that you, you were born to do something great.
Make a difference, do something special.
Important.
Michael...
it's the most ordinary thought anybody's ever had.
I'll see you in court.
That might be difficult since your client and partner...
have already accepted the offer.
You're right.
You might've settled with them, but you haven't settled with me.
I'm gonna travel the country making every hospital worker...
who's ever been infected by a needle stick my client.
Every mother whose lost a child,
every child that's lost a parent.
I'm gonna put them on the stand,
and I'm gonna tell them that your client has a needle...
the could've prevented it from ever happening,
but he keeps it locked up 'cause it costs too much to make.
Trust me.
You're about to see just how ordinary I can be.
Good morning.
Good morning to you.
What is this?
That is a bonus...
for all the hard work you've been doing.
Are you serious?
I am.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Um... listen, there is a long rambling message...
on the machine from Mike.
Figures.
There he is now.
You're up early.
Yes?
- You're his partner? - Yeah.
He died in his sleep.
So, here's your partner, Michael Weiss.
He die...
he die alone?
The detectives will be able to answer some of those questions.
They'll wanna talk to you also.
Have you... seen these needles before?
That's, uh... it's a safety needle.
They were used.
That'll explain why there're so many of 'em.
Are you okay, Mr. Dancort?
Can we offer you something to drink? Some... tea perhaps?
No, that's all right.
Mr. Danzinger.
Sorry to hear about Mr. Weiss.
We offer our most sincere condolences.
So, since we're all here we should probably...
Hello, Nat. It's been a long time.
You and me?
We're going to court on this one.
Looking forward to it.
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