Lorenzo's Oil Page #6

Let us do it our way,

Augusto. Trust us.

- I've got to go.

- OK. Thank you.

Goodbye.

- Nikolais says it's very interesting.

- Interesting? A 50 per cent drop?

But it's too early to draw a conclusion.

Rizzo might consider a trial.

And he asked us

not to tell the other parents.

- What?!

- It's immoral. Something finally...

- The parents have to know.

- We'll tell them. They can judge.

- The foundation has a mailing list.

- We'll call the Muscatines.

I can eat crow

in the name of a good cause.

Michaela...

Mm! Delicious! That was worth

driving 300 miles for.

- Now, my friends... dessert.

- Here, let me move this.

And Loretta... a little science, hm?

Thank you.

"Dear ALD parents..."

- You want us to send this out?

- Yes. We'll pay for copying and postage.

But you're advocating a therapy.

No, we're merely reporting

a positive advancement in the diet.

It would be wrong to keep it

from the other parents.

Mrs Odone, we have an advisory board

of eminent doctors...

...and we take our guidance from them.

They are the ones

with the medical degrees.

Yes, my dear, but Nikolais

already knows about this...

- ...and the wretched man does nothing.

- Because he is a responsible scientist.

- No, because he has another agenda.

- All right, Michaela. Calmati, calmati.

You know, Loretta, sometimes...

...the interest of the scientists is not

the same as the interest of the parents.

Scientists are human

and sometimes they can be wrong.

As president of the foundation,

you represent us, the families.

And you serve the families best

by informing them.

And all we ask is that you please

send this letter to them, that's all.

Our parents suffer enough without

being made the victims of false hopes.

We can't give credence to every jerk

with a pocketful of apricot seeds.

Excuse me, this is not Laetrile. We're

talking about an extract of olive oil...

...an idea that was put forth

by the scientists at the symposium.

And it works in Lorenzo.

It works in an ALD boy

to a degree that is significant.

- Very significant.

- Other parents have a right to know.

We know that this is a deadly disease,

so they have a right to choice.

And if they feel as we do,

they can put pressure on the doctors.

Because, as parents, we should

challenge these guys. We push them.

Unless someone is willing to question,

to provoke, how would there be progress?

Well, we feel there is progress.

Loretta, we know that, but all we say is

start a dialectic with the doctors.

Are you telling us what to do?

We're asking you

to disseminate information.

You gonna teach the doctors?

Where we come from, that's arrogance.

- Arrogance!

- Yes.

It is... arrogance.

It comes from the Latin word... arrogare.

You know it? You know

the root? What it means?

It means to claim for oneself.

That's the root.

It means to claim for oneself.

And I claim the right

to fight for my kid's life.

And no doctor, no researcher, no bloody

foundation, has the right to stop me...

...from asking questions

which might help me save him!

And you have no right to stop

the sharing of information!

- So you think about it!

- Our job is to be there for the parents.

To comfort them,

not to get them stirred up.

If the doctors think you have something,

they will tell us in their own good time.

- Their own good time is not our time.

- What? They are so powerful...

They are so powerful

that you would be silent?

They are not gods!

Do you know, this acquiescence

is so disgusting!

You think you know so much.

Let me tell you something!

When Michael got sick, we looked for

anything that might help him.

And the best thing that happened?

He was taken quickly.

Now, Tommy... he has lasted three years.

For two of 'em, he's been

without his sight, his mind...

...everything that makes him

a human being. He's a vegetable!

Oh, boy! If you would stop all this denial,

you wouldn't do a thing...

...to prolong your boy's suffering

and indignity one minute longer.

Has it occurred to you that maybe

he doesn't want to be around any more?

S, s. Thank you.

It has to be a mistake.

No, Nikolais says not.

- Augusto...

- Oh, sorry.

- Should we risk raising the dose?

- No, he's too fragile.

Any more might harm his liver.

Lorenzo, listen to Mommy.

You're going to have to be brave

as only you know how.

We're gonna count together,

you and I, all right?

Listen to Mommy's voice

and the boo-boo will let go of you.

One, two...

...three, four...

Michaela...

You know, I've been a nurse for 18 years,

eight of them spent in ICU paediatrics.

And I know that you can't always

play by the rules, but...

...this boy shouldn't be at home.

He should be placed

in a properly equipped hospital.

Why don't you say what you mean?

I'm not comfortable with this situation.

Well, Lorenzo and I aren't comfortable

with your lack of comfort.

I can't continue to be a party to this.

I gotta give you my notice.

I'll stay until...

- No, you should finish tonight.

- Michaela! Go easy.

Your agency will receive

a cheque in the morning.

Look, Ruth. We're all

a little strung-out here.

She's talking about placement, Deirdre.

It's a euphemism for "hospice".

Lorenzo has enough to endure. We will

not expose ourself to doubt and despair.

She's exhausted. That's all it is.

Look, I don't know.

Somebody had to say something.

Good luck.

Buonasera, Odone.

Look what I found.

Look at this. Would you look at this!

Let me show you.

Where are we? Right here.

That was June of '83, just 21 months ago.

You know, it's time you guys

take it easy on yourselves.

Deirdre...

If we knew why it only work halfway...

...then we might know what to do next.

Augusto, how many mornings

have I found you asleep...

...under a pile of research papers

with the lights still on?

And then you wake up

and drag yourself into the office.

How long can you keep this up?

If you get sick - and you will -

what are you gonna do for money?

What are you telling me?

For God's sake, he is my kid.

Yeah, so are Cristina and Francesco, and

it's been a year since you've seen them.

Listen to me, OK?

There has to be a life beyond Lorenzo.

What are you telling me?

That I should give up on this now?

Oh, man. We both know that even if

you get his levels down to normal...

...his brain can't fix itself.

How much myelin does he have left?

Do you ever ask yourself that?

- Deirdre, now that's enough.

- No. Don't bullshit me.

I know you do... but she doesn't.

Not ever.

You have to help me with her.

She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep.

I'm afraid for her.

I think she's losing it.

You've seen how she is with him.

She just can't let him go.

Poor Deirdre.

Spoken as only a woman who's

never had a child could speak.

Michaela, Deirdre was

speaking out of love.

I am only telling you what I see.

For both your sakes,

there has to be life beyond Lorenzo.

Do you think that he has no voice?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes