Episode 8 - Paradigm Shift
ANNOUNCER
Even though the full course of treatments can cost over $100,000, Tenebra continues to be a record-breaking drug for Cadmus. Congress authorized legislation that requires insurance companies to cover the cost of the drug.
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SENATOR HARRIS:
I think it’s important that we make Tenebra as broadly accessible as possible.
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GAME SHOW THEME MUSIC
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ANNOUNCER (cont).
The new French government continues to resist repaying its so called “dishonorable debt” - refusing to return sixty billion euros extorted from Haiti between 1825 and 1947. This comes after negotiations between Haiti, the United States, and France’s new right-wing government ground to a halt.
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GAME SHOW MUSIC PLAYS
HOST
Welcome back. We have K here playing for the $32,000 prize. All lifelines still intact. How are you feeling K?
K
Pretty good, pretty good! I honestly didn’t think I’d get this far.
HOST
(laughs)
All right, let’s play “Do You Want To Win a Million Dollars?”
DRAMATIC THEME
HOST
Here we go. In 1803, Napoleon sold Louisiana to the United States for three million dollars. Why did he do that?
A: To pay off France’s national debt.
B: France lost profitable sugar colonies in Santo Domingo.
C: To finance his wars in Europe.
D: All of the above.
K
(long beat)
Let’s see. 1803 was before Waterloo, so I think Napoleon would have needed the money.
(long beat)
I’ve never heard of Santo Domingo. That sounds like a Spanish colony.
(long beat)
I’ll say C.
HOST
Are you sure?
K
I’m sure. C.
DRAMATIC PAUSE
WRONG ANSWER sfx
HOST
I’m sorry, B was the right answer.
K
Aww, are you serious? Man … damn.
HOST
Santo Domingo is the other name for Haiti.
K
Ahh, I see.
HOST
France made a lot of money from its sugar colonies there. It was pretty brutal to the slaves though.
K
Wait, they used slaves to grow sugar?
HOST
Yes. At huge profits too. If France had managed to keep Haiti, Napoleon would probably have never sold Louisiana.
K
I guess it worked out for all of us? (laughs)
HOST
Yeah. You managed to win $16,000! That’s pretty-
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NEWSREADER
Our final story before you head out to get those Black Friday deals regards Tenebra, the drug sold by controversial pharmaceutical giant Cadmus. Valerie Hawkins explains.
HAWKINS
Two years ago I reported the story of Kevin Fields, a man whose life came to a tragic end in part due to the phenomenon we have come to call “Black Friday.” Now the drug that could have reversed his transformation, and maybe even saved his life, has been shown to have an effect on people of African descent. Here is CEO John Cambyses explaining.
CAMBYSES
When we developed Tenebra we did it to reverse the activation of a random melanization mutation in the human genome. If you were affected by the Black Friday phenomenon, this would effectively reverse that change.
AARON (over the TV)
BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW YOU TESTED IT.
MILES
Shhh. This is interesting.
HAWKINS
But you’re saying that in people of African descent that this drug would … turn them white?
CAMBYSES
Put bluntly yes.
HAWKINS
Has the FDA approved this use?
CAMBYSES
We are seeking FDA approval, and we expect to get it given that it’s been shown to be safe over the last several months it has been on the market.
HAWKINS
Have there been any cases of people taking the drug for this new purpose?
CAMBYSES
I’m not at liberty to discuss the methods we used to test Tenebra, or confidential patient information.
AARON (over the TV)
That’s what this drug was always FOR.
MILES
Hang on, let me pause this.
(pauses the TV)
(beat)
What do you mean?
AARON
Don’t you GET it? This WHOLE Black Friday thing was just a CONSPIRACY to push this drug out. Next they’ll be making BLACK people take it.
MILES
Why would they do that?
AARON
Because that’s the ONLY way America can have a “post-racial society.” By drugging the BLACKNESS out of us.
MILES
If they wanted to turn us into white folks, they’d have just laced the stuff into our water.
AARON
How do you THINK this whole Black Friday thing spread? The FIRST thing they did was turn white people black. Every week they’d dose the water in a couple of cities and boom. White people are FREAKING OUT. Then they want Congress to do something.
Enter JEFFREY
JEFFREY
What are you two arguing about now?
MILES
Aaron thinks that Black Friday is a government conspiracy against black people.
AARON
Jeff, man back me up. It wouldn’t be the first time America decided to experiment on black people.
JEFFREY
It’s not a government conspiracy, Aaron.
AARON
It CAN’T be a coincidence though! I mean, they’re selling a PILL that says it will turn you into a WHITE GUY.
JEFFREY
So? People can take it if they want. Won’t
change what they are on the inside.
MILES
Hold up Jeff. Are you saying that you’d take this stuff?
JEFFREY
No, I’m saying it’s no one’s business whether or not I will take it. My life, my body, my decision. Same rule applies to everyone. You have the right to choose.
AARON
But what about your obligation to your fellow black men?
JEFFREY
(sighs)
Why would taking this drug make me less of a black man?
MILES
(sarcastically)
The drug that turns you into a white dude? That drug? I wonder why …
AARON
Yeah, I mean, I agree with you that it’s your choice, but why would you turn your back on your identity? Your people?
JEFFREY
Yeah, well, ‘my people’ turned their back on me a long time ago, so.
MILES
Jeff, that’s the old folks. It’s the 21st century. No one cares that you’re … you know.
JEFFREY
Gay?
(long beat)
Plenty of people care. Especially the people who count.
Miles, your mom is always playing those Terry Calwell tapes whenever I visit. Terry fucking Calwell! The Curse of Ham guy! Who betrayed black people more? Me, or your mom who listens to that racist fucking homophobe?
MILES
The old folks grew up on that shit. They went through a lot. They don’t know any better-
JEFFREY
So you think they know better on how I, or you, or anyone should live their lives?
AARON
Hey, wait. They sacrificed a lot for us. We owe them something-
JEFFREY
(angry)
Owe them what? What the fuck do I owe them?
(beat)
Just because they sacrificed a lot I owe them? I did everything right! I got good grades, went to a good college, got a good job, started my own business, never got in trouble and-
(beat)
They threw me out. Like I was trash.
AARON
Jeff, man …
JEFFREY
Fuck if I’m going to let them tell me how to live.
MILES
Jeff, we’re sorry. We didn’t mean it that way.
AARON
Yeah. Look, sorry man.
(long beat)
JEFFREY
I wouldn’t take it.
MILES
I know.
JEFFREY
I mean, it would make my romantic life a lot easier to be honest.
AARON and MILES
Yeah?
JEFFREY
What? Don’t you both look at me all indignant like that.
AARON
(laughs)
I’d only take it if it came with a GIANT reparations check.
MILES
Aaron, that was a terrible joke.
AARON
What? Look, America is NEVER going to stop being racist. That is what this drug is. It is an ADMISSION by America that says “look, we’re always going to be SCARED of you negroes. So take this pill. It’ll make you look like US on the outside.”
That’s WAY better than pretending we’re a “post-racial society” if you ask me.
JEFFREY
What happened to the obligation we have to black men, Aaron? Where did that go?
AARON
I’m not obligated to get a beatdown from the police while they yell SIR STOP RESISTING! SIR STOP RESISTING. You’re telling me I take this pill and all of that shit goes away?
MILES
Aaron you are the flippiest floppiest motherfucker that ever walked the Earth.
AARON
I’m just saying that … for some people, maybe Tenebra gives them a reprieve from all the other shit they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis?
(beat)
Like an antidepressant. In the end, I’m still me. Just … you know … less likely to get an ass kicking from the police.
MILES
Does it turn your hair into like … white people hair?
JEFFREY and AARON
Probably
AARON
Or just get it RELAXED, man. The old folks used to do it back in the day.
(beat)
You never saw those pictures of Malcom X with his perm?
JEFFREY
Aaron, I’ve known you since you were two years old. You didn’t have hair then. You sure as fuck don’t have any now. What the fuck do you know about hair?
AARON
You think they can’t FIX that? Here’s a magic pill that can turn you into a white guy but, I’m sorry sir, there’s nothing we can do about your hair?
JEFFREY
Lack of hair.
AARON
Nigga, we are talking about a paradigm shift. Hair is but a footnote.
MILES
I can’t believe either of you would even consider it.
AARON
I can’t speak for Jeff, but I’m NOT going to do it.
(beat)
At least I’m probably not.
(beat)
But yeah. There’s a world where I definitely would.
(beat)
Having the option is nice, is all I’m saying.
MILES
I’d never do it.
AARON
Never?
MILES
Never.
AARON
Yeah, your mom would have your hide.
MILES
No. Actually, I think my mom would … she would want me to take it. I think she would take it.
JEFFREY
Don’t look so shocked, Aaron. Miles’ mom is into White Jesus.
AARON
Miles, your mom and grandmother MARCHED for civil rights! There is no WAY any of them will be in line for Tenebra.
MILES
Yeah. Well.
(beat)
Did I ever tell you about my mother’s half-sister? She died a few years ago.
AARON and JEFFREY
No
MILES
She was really light-skinned. Like, pass the paper bag test light skinned. She would often pass for white, and she basically lived as a white woman. Married a white dude. Their kids look white. It’s a whole lot of family drama around that.
AARON
I have a great uncle that went incognegro to cover lynchings way back when.
(beat)
But that was a different time.
MILES
I mean, it was. But how is it different than this pill, right? It’s just going incognegro in a pill.
JEFFREY
Aaaron, a minute ago Miles was saying that he’d never take it.
AARON
Yes Jeff, I remember him saying that.
MILES
And I never will. I’m just saying that … maybe we’ve always taken it? Or something like it? That being able to “look white” is something that black people have always done. Often they did it to survive.
JEFFREY
But it’s the 21st century, right? We do more than survive now.
(beat)
Right?
AARON
That first dude - what was his name? - Kevin Fields.
MILES
What about him, Aaron?
AARON
They said on the news that, if they had Tenebra around, he probably would never have gone through what he did.
(beat)
So, I mean … the lack of this drug probably meant life or death for him.
JEFFREY
Aaron, what kind of choice is that though? Insulin is life or death because your body needs it. Tenebra doesn’t fix anything that’s wrong with you.
AARON
I don’t know, Jeff. This shit is confusing.
(beat)
Can we talk about something else?
JEFFREY
Look. We can sit here spinning our wheels all night. Or we can go get some doorbusters on this Black Friday.
MILES
After this discussion we just had, going shopping on Black Friday feels really weird.
AARON
Yeeaahh.
(beat)
We’re still gonna go, right? Jeff’s the one with the truck AND the space.
JEFF
And the only reason I came was to pick you guys up so ...
MILES
(sighs)
Let me get my shoes on.
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ANNOUNCER
Tenebra is a new medication designed to halt and reverse the effects of the BLACK FRIDAY phenomenon.
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HAWKINS
You’re saying that in people of African descent this drug will … turn them white?
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FASCISTS CHANTING
YOU WILL NOT REPLACE U-
JEFFREY
Tenebra doesn’t fix anything that’s wrong with you.
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ANNOUNCER
Tenebra continues to be a record-breaking drug-
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CALWELL
Then Noah said, may the children of Ham be the slaves of Japheth-
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PRESIDENT HENSLEY
The question before us is simple. Does American justice, American liberty, and American law protect us all?
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GREGOR/FIELDS
A feeling. I guess. Something in the world, maybe in the universe changed. I’m just one way it showed up.
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NEWSREADER
Thanks Valerie. The FDA might not get a chance to even look at the drug. Right before the Thanksgiving recess, Congress voted to ban sales of Tenebra to people of African descent effective immediately. The President is likely to veto the bill, but has not issued a statement.
To date, the EU, Australia, Zambia, Kenya, and Rhodesia all have similar bans in effect. The ban is expected to be challenged in court, and could go all the way up to the Supreme Court.
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CALLER
Whatever they’re calling it, I think it’s God’s will-
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NEWSREADER
This has been the news on this Black Friday.
Have a great weekend.
END