1

Hub publications
Hub76
To Email the author click on this link:
RomeshSenewiratne@gmail.com

THE PROFESSORS
SECRET
A PLAY BY
ROMESH SENEWIRATNE

AN IMAGINARY BOARD MEETING OF THE AIDS RESEARCH

INSTITUTION.

2009 Romesh Senewiratne

The venue: An exclusive Mens Club in Melbourne. The year is 2000AD. The
time is getting late.

SCENE ONE:
Professors Jim White, Ross Stooge, John Medico and Geoff Alzheimer are
meeting with Mr. Rod Magnate and Mr. Ray Banker. They are holding an
informal Board meeting, and are seated at a large ornate table. All are
dressed in dark suits with dark ties.

Professor White: We need a fat, black, female doctor with failing vision for
the International Health Team.
Mr Magnate: And a homosexual, alcoholic, male doctor to treat the faggots.
That way no one can say we dont give equal opportunity in our research
institute.
White: What about the rest of the Board of Directors?
Magnate: Well, well definitely need a couple of women, nice respectablelooking ones, but not too bright.
Professor Stooge: Great if we could find an aboriginal representative, that
would give us a lot more credibility among the blacks.

Magnate: Who can we get the dough from?

White: What about the mining industry they always have an interest in
vacant land?
Stooge: They are giving us plenty of support, and we them, but they dont
want to be seen to be influencing health policies in the Third World. Or
anywhere else, for that matter.

Medico: But we mentioned Rio Tinto and BHP as corporate sponsors a

couple of years ago!
Stooge: That was before Rio made a bid for North limited.
Medico: North owns the Jabiluka mine, and is obviously involved in the
nuclear industry, and thus the arms industry. Thats obvious to anyone who
studies the matter, and lots of people are studying this particular matter.
Stooge: North owns the copper mine in Bouganville too, doesnt it?
Magnate: Yeah, CRA is one of theirs. How our work in New Guinea going,
by the way?
White: The epidemic is spreading, and it hasnt been difficult to explain to
the white masses that its all because of the depraved habits of the primitive
blacks
Magnate: And their tendency to addiction, of course.
Stooge: Well, were having a bit of difficulty with that one in New Guinea.
Not part of the culture there, Im afraid.
Magnate: What about grog? Its worked well everywhere else. How about
the booze companies for funding?
White: Wouldnt look good.

Stooge: Not for a health promotion company looking after Aboriginal

health.
Magnate: Our friends in the pharmaceutical trade, then?
Medico: Too obvious. This is a very sensitive stage of the project. We must
be seen to be independent. Theres a perception, these days, of a cosy
relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical
profession. Our friends in pharmaceuticals have looked after us well, but we
dont want to jeopardize our reputation.
Magnate: Besides, youve set up your own drug company, havent you,
John?
Medico: Thats beside the point. Anyway, we dont just sell drugs. Its a
biotechnology company. We are researching all manner of treatments
drugs, vaccines
Alzheimer: What about music?
Medico: Dont be silly, Geoff. Music is not biological.
Alzheimer: What about love? Love is the drug Grace Jones was looking
for.
White: What the hell are you talking about, Geoff?

Alzheimer: Love is the Drug. Its a song by Grace Jones. Quite a charming
song, in fact.
White: We do not have plans to sell love, Geoff. Love is too cheap, and it
brings happiness and peace. Happiness and peace are not good for business.
Not our kind of business, anyway.
Magnate: How about a bit more support from the insurance people, Ray?
Medico: That could work fear of HIV and AIDS have been good for the
industry in the past. Lots of opportunities to screen workers too.
Banker: Just because Im the CEO of an insurance company doesnt mean I
can work miracles. But Ill see what I can do. Not more than a few grand,
though.
Magnate: What about making ourselves a charity that way we wont have
to pay tax, and we can appeal to the generosity of the public?
White: We can appeal to their generosity and their guilt, anyway. We can
still get public cash just set up an AIDS appeal. You know, a couple of
poor little black babies being saved by miraculous new vaccines from our
sophisticated laboratories, that sort of thing. A few smiling faces of grateful
parents, and of course some photos of our friendly, caring, constantly
smiling staff. The public love to give money for medical research. Makes
them feel like theyre doing their bit. People are also getting a bit cynical
about charities and NGOs these days.

Medico: Hes right. If we make our research institute a charity we cant

make a decent profit either, can we?
White: Theres nothing to stop us from setting up another of our own drug
companies. We can sell our expertise, too. Consultancies, expert advice,
strategy development were well placed to capitalize on our position in the
virus industry.
Medico: And the vaccine industry.
Banker: And the insurance industry.
White: And the pharmaceutical industry.
Medico: And the biotechnology industry.
Stooge: Isnt that the same thing?
White: Not at all theyre all separate multibillion-dollar industries and
weve got the whole lot sewn up. And a lot more.
Stooge: What do you mean, a lot more? How much more do we control
how much more is there to control?
White: Well, theres the mining industry. We dont exactly control them
but we dont need to. They are our friends. (laughter)

Banker: The education industry thats ours. And education is where it all
starts. Information. We are at the dawn of the information age. Who controls
the universities controls the minds of the future generations and the best and
brightest minds, at that.
Medico: Wonderful thing, arent they, kids? Except for the drug addicts of
course.
Alzheimer: And there are plenty of them.
Magnate: Too bloody many, if you ask me.
Banker: There are too bloody many kids and theres too bloody many
adults. The worlds overrun by bloody children.
White: Speaking of bloody children, how about a campaign to sell
prosthetic limbs to the poor little victims of landmines?
Magnate: Not a bad idea, should be popular with the orthopaedic people
and the respective governments make it look as if theyre doing
something.
Banker: Good excuse to blame terrorists and hooligans for attacking
innocent children.
Magnate: Bloody hooligans!

White: Bit of an old term, hooligans, you know, old boy. These days we
prefer to describe our enemies as rogue elements and militias. Its
important to use the right words. I also think you should refrain from the use
of too many bloodys. It makes us seem coarse.
Magnate: Sorry, professor. I sometimes forget Im in the presence of
scholars and men of words. Me, Im just a simple magnate. No fancy
qualifications, just heaps of bloody money. And if I want to say bloody a
hundred fucking times in a row, I will. And you know why? I pay the
fucking bills.
Medico: Calm down, boys. Perhaps weve all had a bit too much to drink.
White: Come on, lets adjourn to the cigar room and mull this over a bit
more.

SCENE 2: THE SMOKING ROOM:

White, Alzheimer, Medico, Stooge, Banker and Magnate are sitting in
armchairs in the smoking room of the mens club.
White: Okay, lets get this situation into perspective. We have to plan at
least the outline of a strategy to deal with the current problem. John, can you
give us a progress report?
Medico: Gee, I thought youd never ask. Ive got some exciting news, and I
mean exciting. How exciting? Dramatically exciting. Excitingly dramatic
news. Dramatic. Gee, its so crazily dramatic and exciting that I cant get
this silly grin off my face.
White: Youre not sounding like a professor, professor. Youre sounding
like a lunatic.
Alzheimer: Its because of his excitement, give the man a chance to come
down from the buzz of excitement.
Stooge: The buzz of cocaine, more like. (whispered to White)
White: He doesnt use cocaine, just speed, and not too often, Ive been
assured.
Magnate: Okay John, what you got?

10

Medico: Deals, deals and more deals. The phones been running hot. But
you wont believe this the Government of China wants our help in treating
the Tibetans, the Sri Lankan Government in treating the estate Tamils, the
Indonesians in treating the Melanesians, and thats just the beginning.
White: Havent we been helping the Indonesians deal with the Melanesian
problem for years?
Medico: Sure we have, but now weve got some new jobs.
White: Timor, you mean?
Medico: The Timor deals not finalised yet. Theyre a bit wary of white
guys with needles after their recent experiences.
White: Cant we get some brown guys, or better still, brown girls to give
the injections and take the blood?
Medico: Seems a bit obvious, doesnt it?
White: It may be obvious but its worked for years, hasnt it?
Banker: Profits are soaring, and our stakeholders would like me to pass
their gratitude and regards to the members of the Board.
Stooge: And on behalf of all the poor and needy, whom I represent as a
member of the public, I must voice my appreciation to our benefactors,
whoever they are.

11

Banker: Dont you know, Ross?

Stooge: Of course I do, I was joking.
Medico: Not a very funny joke, Ross. Some of us try very hard to help the
needy. Its only because we truly understand the problems of the Third
World, and specifically the problem of overpopulation, that we undertake
the difficult and demanding work of advising the United Nations on
International Health.
Magnate: You bloody hypocrite, John. We all know what your motives are.
It must be hard for even the public to buy the idea that the director of his
own drug and biotechnology company claims altruism when that company is
producing addictive drugs, chemical restraints and brain toxins. When the
same professor heads a major banking corporations bioinvestment fund it
must be difficult for the most nave to miss the conflict of interest.
Medico: Unless they cant read English or cant access our Annual
Reports.
White: Fortunately, thats most of the people were treating.

Magnate: So how has the last year gone?

White: Very well, Rod. As the director of the most respected newspaper in
the State you will know of the recent statistics. Massive increases in sales in

12

Africa. Improving sales in Nepal, Vietnam, India, Laos, Cambodia and

Indonesia.
Magnate: What of methadone or AZT?
White: Both. But mainly AZT, internationally. Methadone has a better
market back home.
Alzheimer: That should keep the chaps at Wellcome happy.
Medico: Its Glaxo-Wellcome, nowadays, Geoff. They merged quite a few
years ago.
Alzheimer: Does Glaxo control Wellcome or does Wellcome control
Glaxo, then?
White: Neither. Theyre friends, and we all know friends dont try to
control each other.
Banker: Jokes aside, isnt it a problem, since Wellcomes British and
Glaxos American? Theyre surely not working together?
Medico: They sure are. We brothers of the Northern Atlantic Treaty
Organization have long been allies against our common enemies, and there
are enough of them.

13

Banker: I thought the Commies have fallen and the Third World has been
properly subdued?
White: Not at all. Those who strive for our kind of success will always have
enemies, and you should know that given your line of work.
Banker: The insurance industry may feed on fear but that does not make us
parasites or terroristsit makes us the providers of safety and security.
Alzheimer: For the greedy
Banker: Not at allfor the needy those needing security. And everyone
needs security. Therefore everyone needs insurance.
Magnate: I see why you have so many enemies, mate, you could talk the
hindside off a donkey and youve got more front than Myers.
Alzheimer: What a quaint turn of phrase you Australians have.
Stooge: Do you have many enemies, Rod?
Magnate: If I do, they dont get very far. Im a powerful man, from a
powerful family. I have a powerful handshake and a powerful voice. My
dress sense is immaculate and I move in powerful circles. Need I say more?
White: I think youve already said too much, mate. What about you, John?

14

Magnate: You work for the blood industry and direct a vaccine company.
You must count the Jehovahs witnesses amongst your enemies, at least.
Medico: But I save lives, Rod. I am a physician. A medical man. I have
sworn the Hippocratic Oath. It is true that I have also sworn lots of other
times, but my patients and students know that I am a good man at heart.
Even the Jehovahs Witnesses are convinced by my winning smile.
Stooge: Theyre also convinced that the worlds going to end in a few years
time and God is going to come down from the sky in a spaceship.
Medico: Thats not the Jehovahs witnesses thats Hawking and NASA.
Alzheimer: If you gentlemen had studied the MK programs you would
realise that the UFO stuff dates from a long way back. Probably about the
time Professor Hawking was born. Why do you think the alien fads are all so
neatly synchronised? Theyre engineered. By experts.

Banker: Look, were getting off the point our investment. How are needle
sales going, John?
Medico: Not my area, Ray. Ill need to check with the epidemiology
department. We dont sell needles, by the way. They are a necessary and
inevitable evil of modern society. The youth demands needles.
Magnate: When did you start responding to the demands of the youth?

15

Medico: Well obviously that depends on what they demand. I am only in a

position to provide medical treatments. I cant give them what they really
want respect, money, land, houses, carsYou know, the same things we
want. I can give them medical treatments, or at least arrange that they get the
medical treatments they need, such as I can provide.
White: You are the master of rationalization, John.
Banker: Lets drink to thatto the masters of rationalization.
All: To the Masters of Rationalization.

Banker: Okay, forget the needles, how is the overseas program going?
Stooge: Very well. You have heard about the AIDS epidemic in New
Guinea. We were the first ones there, and the epidemic keeps growing. We
have now been engaged to provide consultancy to the United Nations to
provide a framework for a National Response to the epidemic.
Magnate: Which nation will be framing the response? New Guinea,
Australia or America?
Alzheimer: What about Britain?

16

Medico: Forget Britain, Geoff, youre living in the past. The centre of
AIDS research is the United States of America, as you should know. We are
the medical experts of the world and the Great Arsenal of Democracy!
White: Youre such a patriot, John! Those were Roosevelts words, werent
they.
Medico: Indeed they were, and what great words have emanated from our
Presidents mouths. And what great actions. Lincoln freeing the slaves
Stooge: Wasnt that so they would fight with him against the British?
Alzheimer: No, that was earlier they had been returned to slavery after
fighting the War of Independence, Lincoln re-released them.
Medico: Anyway, as I was saying, America is the centre of AIDS research,
and we, or I should say, you, should be honoured that the greatest university
in the Universe, Harvard, should send one of its best men to fight for your
side.
Banker: Who are we fighting against the Commies?
White: Commies are old hat, mate. These days the fight is against
terrorism.
Stooge: And Moslems.

17

White: Same thing.

Alzheimer: What about Commie, Moslem terrorists?
Medico: Theyve been neutralised. In fact they were exterminated when
Hoover was heading the FBI.
Magnate: The fag?
Medico: J. Edgar Hoover was not a fag. He was the head of the most
formidable secret police system in the Free World. He just liked to
occasionally wear womens clothing. Nothing wrong with that.
Alzheimer: What about keeping an FBI file on John Lennon?
White: Well the man was a misfit, and a potential dangera potential
terrorist, in fact.
Alzheimer: John Lennon? Surely not.
Magnate: John Lennon used LSD and everyone knows LSD causes people
to become terrorists.
Alzheimer: Terrified, more like. By the way, did you know we had some
quite good results with Obsessive Neurosis when we studied LSD here in
Melbourne?

18

Stooge: When was this?

Alzheimer: A bit before your time. It was back the late sixties and early
seventies, just after Lilly had bought the rights from Sandoz.
White: Wasnt it back in the fifties that the LSD experiment began?
Alzheimer: Actually LSD was discovered by Alfred Hoffman in the 1940s,
at the beginning of the Cold War. He was working for Sandoz in
Switzerland and sold the patent to Eli Lilly. They provided the drug for the
MK experiments.
White: What were the MK experiments? Sounds like youve had one too
many acid trips yourself, mate. Or one too many drinks.
Alzheimer: Im perfectly sober, Jim. You probably never heard about the
MK programs if you were a medical student in the 1950s or 60s, and I
guess you were, you would not have been told about them. For a simple
reason. You were one of the subjects of the programs, along with all the
other young Australian medical students.
White: What!
Alzheimer: The MK programs were officially conducted from 1953 to
1964, but the programs legacy has been enduring. There were several
interconnected programs, all exploring different aspects of mind control.
Thats what MK stands for, mind kontrol.

19

Stooge: Why the K?

Alzheimer: To be fashionable, or hip as we would have said in those days.
We were influenced by the Beat Generation you know.
Banker: Actually, the Beat Generation was one product of MK-style
attacks on the youth. They coined lots of words and gave confusing
meanings to commonly used words. The programs aimed to confuse
Alzheimer: And corrupt.
Banker: Certainlymakes me think about the words bad and wicked.
It seems the MK programs are alive and well.
White: What do you mean?
Banker: Well, the MK programs were aimed at combating the Commies
brainwashing programs. We figured that if we could clear the Commie
propaganda get a clean slate as it were, we could make our youth good
citizens. By reversing the meaning of words in common parlance we
engineered our youth into good global citizens.
Alzheimer: Who buy Ford Motor Cars, Coca Cola and Time magazine, I
suppose.

20

Banker: Dont be sarcastic, Geoff. The MK programs had several virtues,

and were very scientific. Not least of all, they were very good for the
industry.
Stooge: Which industry?
Banker: Our industry, of course.
Stooge: Which one the drug industry or the banking industry?
Banker: Both. And the education industry. People were lining up to be
programmed. They still are. Whats more theyre prepared to pay more and
more to be programmed by the experts, and lets face it, we are the experts.
White: You said I was a victim of the MK programswhat did you mean?
Alzheimer: I didnt say victim. You are a product of the MK programs.
The programs obviously involved the whole of tertiary education at the time.
All levels of it. The technical colleges taught how to implement the
programs and the universities how to design and modify them.
White: And they didnt know this?
Banker: Of course not. It wouldnt have been a successful program if the
people knew they were being programmed. Until people had been softened
down with TV programs they were rather wary of being programmed,
especially after the Nazis.

21

Alzheimer: Didnt the Nazis themselves help with developing the

programs?
Banker: They certainly did. The Nazis had some brilliant ideas, and the
Allies werent going to let them get into the hands of the Commies. We had
to keep their knowledge within the Free World. They had done amazing
work on brains, you know the Heidelberg collection was in big demand
after the war.
Stooge: Whats the Heidelberg collection?
Banker: A collection of brains and other tissue carefully prepared and
processed. The research was centred at Karl Schneiders laboratory in
Heidelberg in Germany. And with his great interest in eugenics and
anthropology, Professor Schneider labelled his collection immaculately.
When he committed suicide in 1946, I suppose Kurt Schneider got the
brains.
Stooge: Schneider who developed the first rank symptoms of
schizophrenia? Ive heard of him.
Alzheimer: The very same. Actually, he also developed the criteria for
diagnosis of personality disorders too. Did a lot of work on psychopaths and
sociopaths before the war.
Stooge: Didnt the Nazis kill the psychopaths and schizophrenics in their
euthanasia campaign?

22

White: They did. Thats why they needed Kurt Schneider. To decide who
to kill. We all know that some mercy killing is necessary, surely.
Magnate: Lets drink to thatto mercy killing.
All: To mercy killing.

Medico: We are straying from the most important topic, guys. Our
investment.
White: Not at all. Our investment is primarily in knowledge, and ultimately
in minds.
Magnate: Now were talking mines, something I do know about. So how
are the mines going?
White: I was talking about minDs, but okay, lets keep on with the business
report. There have actually been some problems with the mining plans, one
of the reasons I wanted to speak to you gentlemen this evening. The Prime
Minister of South Africa is denouncing the use of AZT.
Magnate: The black fool.
White: Rod, you are showing youre ignorance again. The man has, as you
should know, rather good reasons to suspect the drug of causing mayhem in

23

his country. Apart from the toxicity of the stuff, there is a growing call from
his AIDS inflicted constituents for the drug
Stooge: Thats because they dont know how toxic it is, who is selling it
Medico: And what causes AIDS.
Banker: What does cause AIDS, John?
Medico: You know. Infection with HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.
Banker: Yeah, I know that, but where did this virus come from?
White: I think I know what Rays asking, John. Did we make it or did they
make it?
Medico: I dont know what youre talking about who exactly are we and
they?
Banker: Us or the Commies? You know it must have been one side or the
other.
Medico: I know no such thing. By all accounts it started from monkeys in
Africa.
Stooge: I thought it was from chimpanzees?

24

White: No, the official version is still green monkeys. Weve been saying
this for years
Alzheimer: But its not true
White: It might be true. The biological boys at Fort Detrick have been
using green monkeys for years.
Stooge: And chimpanzees.
Medico: Actually, most of the chimpanzees are in the private labs. Theyve
been useful for the hepatitis work, but there is a lot of strong feeling about
chimp experimentation. What with how much they look like us.
Alzheimer: And the fact they are highly intelligent.
Magnate: Come on mate, they cant even write or count past 10. How
intelligent is that?
White: Be that as it may, if we blame chimps for starting the AIDS
epidemic there is sure to be more attention on the chimps were still using.
Personally, I think green monkeys is a safer solution.
Banker: What about concern about vaccines being used to introduce HIV?
Theres been recent problems with hiding the bleeding obvious.

25

White: Its not that obvious to most people, Ray. People have much faith in
immunization, at least in the places that matter. Even if it does get out that
the modern distribution of AIDS is consistent, even suggestive, of
introduction of HIV via vaccines, most people will now place this event in
the distant past.
Stooge: And its getting more distant all the time. The NIH and CDC are
pushing the point zero for AIDS further and further back. They used to say
1978, or late 1970s, but now they say theyve got evidence that it started
back in the 1950s.
Alzheimer: Thats still not far back enough. The beginning of the African
vaccination program dates back to the 30s. Rhodesia, I think, is where they
started with smallpox.
Medico: Gee, I didnt know that. Maybe well have to do some more work
on the story. Ill have to let the spin doctors know.
Banker: Ive been talking with some friends. They really would like to be
involved, and are trying to change their image after the recent press reports.
White: Events in the Northern Territory?
Stooge: More and more people are talking about genocide in Australia.
White: Not of genocide from Australia, though.

26

Stooge: What do they have in mind, Ray?

Banker: Think the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation sounds too unlikely?
Stooge: How about Young Peoples Health and Wellbeing Project?
Alzheimer: Is it to be available for all young people?
White: No, only the blacks. Weve got a separate surveillance program for
the Chinese and Vietnamese. Were calling it The Asian Harm Reduction
Program.
Banker: Is that where were interviewing the gooks about injecting drug
use?
White: Thats just the local front. Were also doing outreach work in
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Tibet and Indonesia.
Alzheimer: Do the people there want to be reached out to?
Medico: Well, not if the first point of contact is a needle. Thats why were
advising on general health for women and children. Naturally, general health
requires immunization. Anyway, it is not the people themselves we must
deal with to set up treatment programs. Its Governments and NGOs, in the
main. The people need only be convinced to accept the white mans magic.
And weve been very successful at that over the years. Fortunately for us,
the Chinese Government is more than happy for an outside agency to deal

27

with the Tibetans, and the Indonesians have asked us to pay special attention
to the Eastern Islands. Thats where the Melanesians are, of course.
Banker: And people arent seeing the political connection? I mean, the
Chinese dont exactly have a reputation of looking after the best interests of
the Tibetans, do they? The Javanese make it quite clear about how they feel
towards the blacks in the Eastern Islands. Besides, both these areas are
seeking independence. Havent people noticed that AIDS is mysteriously
hitting people who are seeking secession?
White: Not yet, and hopefully not until it is too late. The myth of the white
mans magic is very powerful.
Alzheimer: But isnt it obvious that the white mans magic is making them
sick?
White: Thats the beauty of HIV. It doesnt make people sick straight away.
It takes years. Lots of treatment time, and plenty of alternatives to choose
from.
Alzheimer: Isnt that confusing?
White: Exactly.
Alzheimer: Isnt it evil?
White: Well we need some evil to balance the good, just as Ying balances
Yang and war balances peace.

28

Stooge: Lao Tsu?

White: No, one of my own pearls of wisdom. I hope to publish a book of
such philosophical musings after I retire from the demanding work of global
population work. Its amazing how much more you understand the world
when you study the Eastern Philosophies. I have studied foreigners for many
years, and I think I understand how they think. Especially about war and
colonization. They seem to have a lot of difficulty understanding the
difference between offence and defence, war and peace, good and bad, tall
and short. Opposites, in other words. Asians dont seem to understand
opposites. I put it down to their philosophers. Obsessed by paradoxes.
Alzheimer: How paradoxical.
Banker: Speaking of Asians, how many have we got studying with us?
White: More and more each year. Theyre doing a lot of the donkey work.
You know, the routine laboratory work, growing viruses, handling the
specimens, cleaning up, that sort of thing. Asians like routine. Part of their
culture. They also like being told what to do.
Banker: Part of the colonial legacy, probably. We really did civilize them,
didnt we? They were just a bunch of cannibals and wild-men before we
came along.
Alzheimer: Thats not the Asians, thats the Melanesians. They were the
cannibals.

29

Magnate: What about Borneo and the Philippines?

White: Come on boys, lets not be pedantic. History is as you make it, and
as it has been written. In twenty years time, given good education, everyone
will believe exactly the same things about the past. That is when we will
know that our New World has finally been properly ordered.
Banker: Speaking of the New World Order, I heard some fool in the US
army admitted that HIV would be a poor choice for biological warfare.
Gives the impression that theyve been looking at it for such a nefarious
purpose.
White: They can always say they were checking if the Russians had
released HIV, couldnt they?
Stooge: The Russians already beat them to it. They were claiming that the
Americans released HIV in Africa back in the 1980s.
Alzheimer: They were right, werent they?
White: Of course they were, but who in their right mind would believe the
Soviets about anything?
Stooge: What about the Indian Press? They said the same thing. Also in the
mid-1980s, as I recall.

30

White: Successfully denounced as paranoid Third World ideas. What with

their resentment towards their colonial masters.
Alzheimer: What about the connection between the Zaire epidemic and the
Belgians?
White: Very few people remember what happened in the Belgian Congo.
History books dont mention the worst atrocities. Not when theyre written
by people who committed the atrocities or supported them.
Stooge: What exactly happened in the Congo?
Alzheimer: It was at the turn of the last century. Around 1905 as I recall.
King Leopold of Belgium reigned over the whole of the Congo as his
personal possession. Belgian overseers drove the villagers into the forests to
collect wild rubber. If the ever-increasing quota was not met, hands would
be chopped off. Or heads. Children were kept prisoner by black sentinels
who were under the control of the white overseers. Supposedly the worst of
the colonial excesses in Africa and there were lots to choose from.
White: But we also brought them roads and schools and hospitals.
Magnate: And decent systems of government.
Medico: And we continue to provide medical aid as well as military aid.
What more can the West do? The blacks just insist on fighting amongst
themselves. They are barbaric by nature.

31

Alzheimer: Still, Im sure we have something to learn from the Belgian

Congo atrocities. When the Belgian government took over from Leopold
there were changes, but only superficially. Human rights abuses in the
Congo have continued to this day.
Magnate: Youre getting soft in your old age, Geoff. Am I talking to the
same man who ardently supported lobotomies only a few years ago?
Alzheimer: People learn and people change, Rod. Especially in their
twilight years. I am an old man now and I have lost some of my former
arrogance. I dont know all the answers but I know that Africa has suffered
more than it should have at the hand of white masters colonial and
neocolonial.
White: We shouldnt forget the problems Africans have brought on
themselves. Inter-tribal warfare is a massive problem.
Alzheimer: But who sell them the arms?

32

SCENE THREE: THE INSTITUTE

One year later. In the board room of the Institute.
White: Well boys, its been a big year.
Magnate: And it promises to become bigger.
White: Its my solemn duty to pledge the support of our institute for the
noble cause of warfare.
Stooge: Warfare?
White: The war against terrorism.
Magnate: The bloody Iraqis!
Medico: Its not Iraq this time, its Afghanistan.
Banker: Moslems, though much the same as Iraqis.
White: The war is against rogue states, and we have a long list of potential
rogue states.
Stooge: What makes for a potential rogue state?
White: Opposition to our programs is a fundamental sign, but there are
others

33

Banker: Rogue states dont allow US or Commonwealth military bases to

protect them
White: Rogue states have brown, black or yellow people in the majority
Magnate: Darkies!
Medico: We prefer to call them people of colour, Rod.
Stooge: That means lots of countries are potential rogue states the
majority of countries, in fact.
White: Which is precisely why we need to do our utmost to support the
Governments response against terrorism.
Magnate: Bloody Moslems!
White: Not all the rogue states are run by Moslems. Dont forget North
Korea.
Alzheimer: I was in Korea. Terrible place. Lots of strife the time I was
there.
Stooge: During the Korean War?
Alzheimer: Thats right.

34

Stooge: What were you doing there?

Alzheimer: We were investigating claims the Chinese were using biological
weapons.
Stooge: Who made the claims?
Alzheimer: The Americans.
Stooge: Werent they using chemical and biological weapons too?
Medico: It hasnt been proved
White: Yes, but its different.
Stooge: How so?
Banker: The industry the chemical and biological weapons industry, I
mean, is a complex thing. A bit like terrorism. Depends whose side youre
on as to whether theyre called chemical weapons or invaluable drugs.
White: Depends on whose side youre on as to whether theyre called
exotic infections or bioweapons.
Alzheimer: Nasty business, biological warfare.

35

Magnate: But big business, nevertheless. And were a long way from being
prosecuted.
White: It will never happen.
Alzheimer: Never is a long time.
Banker: So how is the institute going to maximise our present
opportunity?
Medico: Gee, I though youd never ask. Now is the time to stockpile
protection against bioweapons thats what were saying. Antibiotics are the
best protection. A massive market once the fear gets going.
Alzheimer: Your company produces antibiotics, doesnt it, John?
Medico: Thats beside the point. I only have the interests of the public at
heart.
White: As usual.
Magnate: Youre a bunch of bloody hypocrites. What shall we drink to
bloody hypocrites?
White: Dont be facetious, Rod. Well drink to the final solution
Alzheimer: Unfortunate, but necessarythe final solution.

36

All: To the final solution.

White: Lets begin by summarising the state of affairsJohn?
Medico: Well boys, things are going tremendously. Over 30 million people
are infected. The industry in orphans is booming. The UN has readjusted
global population growth estimates always downwards.
White: Do we have to be as explicit as that?
Magnate: Were all friends here. We all know that some ugly things are
necessary to maintain the world as we know it.
Banker: Anarchy would reign if the truth were knownthere would be
revolutionchaos. The markets would collapse.
Stooge: The end of the world?
White: The end of capitalism.
Magnate: Same bloody thing.
White: We cannot have unrestrained population growth. Someone has to
decide who lives and who dies.

37

Medico: May as well be us. Otherwise it could be someone else. Someone

who believes magnates and professors, and magnate professors to be
redundant.
White: Harmful, even.
Alzheimer: Especially if the truth were known.
White: The truth can and will never be known.
Stooge: How can you be sure?
White: We control the media. We control whats in the textbooks, the
journals, the magazines, the newspapers, the sources from which people get
their credible information.
Banker: We have friends in television and radio friends who own entire
stations.
Medico: Friends with access to unimaginable wealth
Magnate: Try me. Ive got a big imagination when it comes to wealth.
Medico: The CIA, the entire war machine.
White: Third World Overpopulation constitutes a significant threat to
American National Security thats how we sold the idea to the president.

38

Stooge: Which one?

Medico: All the US presidents have seen the need to pursue solutions to the
threat of overpopulation.
Stooge: Since Nixon?
Alzheimer: Since George Washington. Washington thought there were too
many Indians. He made every effort to decrease their numbers.
White: Using chemical, biological and psychological weapons. These are
ancient weapons indeed. We have a long and noble legacy to uphold.
Alzheimer: Indeed, without biological and chemical control of the worlds
illnesses, the third world will soon swamp the first world. If we do not use
biological weapons against Africa and Asia, they will soon do so against
us.
White: We are in agreement, then, on the need for the final solution
Banker: It appears so
Magnate: How is it to be done?
White: Well, we first need to identify our friends and enemies.
Medico: Thats not easy.

39

White: We are not sailing blind here we need to take lessons from the
previous wars, especially the Second World War and Vietnam.
Medico: This war is different.
Magnate: Lets start with enemies...
White: No, lets start with friends there are fewer of them.
Stooge: Friends of whom?
Alzheimer: Friends of the biological warfare industry.
White: Friends of the biotechnology industry.
Stooge: Well, theres the drug companies
Alzheimer: And the mining industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the
prosthetics industry, the chemical industry, the radiation industryhave I
forgotten anyone?
Banker: The insurance industry, the banking industry, the construction
industry, the military, the police
Stooge: Why the police?

40

Alzheimer: The police perform surveillance on the public surveillance for

terrorists, surveillance for drug pushers, surveillance for dissidents and
misfits.
Magnate: They keep the blacks under control.
Alzheimer: And the whites.
Stooge: So how do the police benefit from biotechnology?
White: The police use biological knowledge to collect evidence. The
biological knowledge is part of their general scientific knowledge base
used in forensic police work. You know, DNA-typing, fingerprints and so
on.
Alzheimer: A long history, there is, of police working with the medical
profession. They have worked together to put people in jail, and they have
worked together to clear people of crimes.
Banker: As it has turned out, most of the guilty have been poor and most of
the innocent have been rich.
Medico: Our hero Galton taught us many of the reasons for this.
Magnate: The rich are rich because we dont give a shit about the poor. If
we did, wed give away our riches.

41

Alzheimer: And then wed be poor ourselves.

Stooge: Thats a bit unfair, isnt it?
White: Its very unfair. Thats why we need the police and the psych
system to keep the poor under control. Revolution always comes from the
ranks of the poor. The poor are a fermenting seat of trouble trouble for us
and trouble for our friends.
Stooge: So the poor are the enemy, are they?
White: Not exactly. We need the poor. Only the poor will go down into the
mines, grow the food, clean the corridors of power. The machine we control
needs slaves. The poor are the slaves.
Banker: Thats why we need to keep the poor hungry. Only if they are
hungry will they work hard.
Medico: And hard work leaves little time for foolish ideas of revolution.
Stooge: So who are the enemy, then?
White: Actually, there is no enemy. We have beaten all opposition. The end
of the Cold War was the end of the enemy the enemy was defeated. Thats
why we need a new enemy. The industry cannot survive without an enemy.

42

Magnate: Were doing our best. Everyone with a beard is a potential enemy
these days, if you read the crap were publishing. Makes me wonder if
theres a limit to how stupid the public is.
Alzheimer: I sometimes wonder what drives you, Rod.
Magnate: Money and power at least Im honest about it I have no
pretensions of aiding the poor and needy. Humanity is there to be exploited
and if I dont do it someone else will.
White: Bluntly put, but its true. Nature is red in tooth and claw. If we dont
tame nature, if we dont control it, it will control us. If we dont exploit
others, others will exploit us.
Alzheimer: That may not be true, you know. Nature can be very gentle. It is
humans who are the biggest threat to humanity.

Banker: So how is the final solution progressing?

Stooge: What is the final solution, exactly?
White: The final solution to the worlds biggest problem.
Stooge: War?
White: Overpopulation.

43

Banker: War is part of the solution.

Stooge: Ive heard it said that the world isnt overpopulated really.
Magnate: There are too many blacks and Moslems.
White: Bluntly put, but true. There are too many non-whites for the white
race to maintain our position in the long term. Unless action is taken. This
action is the final solution reducing the worlds population to a
manageable level.
Stooge: Whats a manageable level?
White: About 2 billion.
Stooge: But the worlds population is now about 7 billion what is to
happen to the excess 5 billion people?
Medico: They will need to be sacrificed for the good of the rest.
Stooge: How can it be done without people noticing?
Medico: Gradually thats the beauty of this final solution.
Magnate: Well keep the masses distracted, dont worry. Well terrify them
about terrorist threats from rogue states, and tell them what they need to
know about the war.

44

Stooge: Which war?

Magnate: The main one.
Alzheimer: The Third World War.
Stooge: Is the Third World War a likely scenario?
Alzheimer: The Third World War has been going on for several decades.
Hadnt you noticed that theres war going on all around the world? The war
machine grows bigger by the hour.
White: So the war on terrorism is only a small facet of the Third World
War but one which the medical profession can make good use of. I have
had recent discussions with senior psychiatrists who believe that panic
disorder is one of the markets for the future.
Alzheimer: Surely panic can be predicted as a direct consequence of
terror?
Stooge: Which countries are involved in the Third World War?
Alzheimer: Same as were involved in the Second World War and more. In
the Third World War the world is divided into first, second and third worlds.
They are designed to remain in perpetual warfare. The first world has
already defeated the second world and the third world never had a chance.

45

Stooge: If the war has already been won why is it still continuing?
White: And intensifying? Its simple. The War Machine needs to keep
growing the entire worlds economy depends on it. Especially that of the
biggest economy on earth.
Medico: The United States is not the only arms producing nation. What
about Britain and Russia, and Israel, and France and the Scandinavian
countries? And Australia, for that matter. Especially if one counts
unconventional weapons
Stooge: What are unconventional weapons?
Medico: Any weapons that are not conventional bayonets, guns, bombs and
landmines. Biological weapons are unconventional weapons, and so are
chemical weapons.
Alzheimer: What about psychological weapons?
Medico: They are unconventional, too.
Stooge: What about electronic warfare and economical warfare are they
conventional or unconventional?
White: It doesnt really matter they are very much a part of the Third
World War. Economic warfare has won many battles over the past five
decades and weve pretty much beaten the last resistance out of the Third

46

World. They are resigned to long-term poverty and chronic disease. The
Communist world is only a shadow of its former self, mainly as a result of
economic warfare by the west. And electronic warfare, I should add.
Banker: So how is our business going to capitalise on this war on
terrorism?
White: There are many possibilitieswe could sell drugs to protect against
biological attack, we could sell detection kits, we could sell our expertise.
The drug companies are already in there with their promotion of antibiotics
to protect against anthrax. Many other germs apart from anthrax are
available to us.
Alzheimer: Ive been having second thoughts about all of this is it really
necessary? Is the world really that seriously overpopulated? Do we have the
right to take the law into our own hands? Will we be found out?
White: Too late for cold feet now, Geoff. The die has been cast. There is no
turning back from the course of action we and our friends have decided on.
Medico: The plagues are already out there.
Stooge: Couldnt they be stopped?
Alzheimer: Sure they can, but they wont. There is no political will to really
fight against biological warfare. Its too convenient to blame Third World
despots.

47

Stooge: The war on terrorism is a farce, then?

Alzheimer: As was the war on cancer, the war on drugs, the war on crime
and the war on AIDS.
White: They brought in a lot of money and helped our industry a lot, Geoff.
We shouldnt bite the hand that feeds us.
Banker: And insurance demands skyrocketed far in excess of insurance
claims. Fear has its value.
Medico: Lets not forget the effect of fear in modifying behaviour. Condom
use has become part of modern society, and fear of AIDS has been a major
contributing factor. Were still having problems with promoting condoms in
Africa, though, especially with fears that condoms are infected with HIV.
Stooge: Are they?
White: Perhaps in some localities we need to keep the HIV inoculation
rates high. Theyre giving free condoms out in the mines in South Africa.
South African miners have a very high incidence of HIV and continue
working when they have full-blown AIDS. Were encouraging the
prostitutes at the mines to insist that men wear condoms.
Stooge: What if the condoms are infected with HIV?
Medico: Nobody is testing them for it. It will be assumed that they have
caught HIV from prostitutes, or by sharing needles.

48

Magnate: Or fucking each other.

Stooge: What about the President of South Africas opposition to AZT? I
hear that he is onto the biological warfare connection.
White: Mbeki has been confused by Duesbergs book. He doubts that the
HIV virus causes AIDS.
Magnate: Whos this fellow Duesberg?
Medico: Peter Duesberg is respected oncologist who has written a book
questioning the connection between the HIV virus and AIDS. He says that
AIDS is caused by drug use and unidentified factors.
Stooge: Thats not true, is it?
White: No. AIDS is definitely caused by the HIV virus. What they dont
know, although they may be discovering it, is that the HIV virus was
developed by engineering animal viruses. They may, unfortunately be
discovering it because of the Truth and Reconciliation hearings.
Stooge: How so?
Medico: It has been revealed, much to our dismay, that the Apartheid
regime was developing ethno-specific biological and chemical weapons.
They had a covert operation going for years.

49

White: In addition to their conventional weapons exports, South Africa was

exporting military and paramilitary expertise mercenaries, including
experts in chemical and biological warfare.
Alzheimer: And, as usual, the Allies are providing sanctuary for these war
criminals?
White: We prefer to call them scientists, doctors and military experts.
Alzheimer: Just as we did during and after the Second World War.
White: Geoff, youre sounding like a changed man and I dont mean that
in a kindly sense. Have you been reading all that pacifist rubbish again?
Alzheimer: When you get to my age you think about the work you have
done on the planet whether it has been good or bad. Money and status
become less important. History becomes more important. How will I be
remembered? As a hero or as a villain?
White: In a hundred years time you probably wont be remembered at all,
other than through your writings. The same applies to most of us. We must
live for today, and play by the rules of the present. We are fortunate in being
able to make some of these rules ourselves. We shouldnt throw away the
opportunity.
Banker: Besides, we have the ability to create our own versions of history
we can make you a hero if thats what you want. Well certainly make you
out to have lost your marbles if you desert us now.

50

Magnate: Well thrown you in the scrap heap with the other demented old
men!
White: Professor Alzheimer, Im sure you dont mean what youre saying.
You are a scientist, first and foremost. You need to obey the rules of science
and the rules of the scientific establishment. There is no room for deep
musing about morality if you are to function as an effective member of the
Board. This is a Board that makes hard decisions. We are a hard Board. We
need to work hand in hand with the military if we are to control global
population figures.
Medico: And we all know that this is necessary.
Magnate: Total control.
White: Lets drink to thatto total control.
All: To total control.

Alzheimer: Maybe I did not express myself properly. I am most certainly

not a pacifist. Nor am I a Communist. But I am finding it increasingly
difficult to justify capitalism to myself let alone to others.
White: You dont need to call it capitalism. You can call it democracy.

51

Medico: Call it freedomwe live in the Free World, dont we?

Alzheimer: So I am to convince myself that I live in a free, democratic
society?
White: If you can. Itll be good for your health.

52

SCENE FOUR: THE NEW MEMBERS

Six months later. In the Institute Boardroom, Professor White introduces two
new honorary Board Members:
White: Gentlemen, Id like to introduce our two new Board Members. We
have searched high and low for people suitable for this position and I am
glad to inform you that we have replacements for Professor Geoff
Alzheimer, whose untimely death shocked all of us. Our two new members
are Mrs. Coconut, a community representative, and Dr. Homo, who will be
liasing with various AIDS support groups.
Magnate: Mrs. Coconut comes from a background in mediation and
counselling for Indigenous populations, and has worked for the mining
industry. She is involved in business schemes involving selling the art of our
natives here in Australia.
Medico (whispers): We dont call them natives anymore, Rod.
Magnate: Stop being pedantic, mate. Mrs. Coconut knows as well as
anyone that Im not a racist man. Some of my best friends have associated
with blacks. Ive talked to quite a few myself and never have I demonstrated
prejudice against them. Ive even talked to a few black fags. Without the
blacks wed have little industry wed be all chiefs and no Indians.

53

Medico: Were glad to have you aboard, Mrs. Coconut. Were planning on
diversifying into maternal and infant health, and hope you can give us some
guidance.
Coconut: But I dont have any children
Magnate: Youre a bloody woman, arent you? The maternal instinct
should be flowing in your blood.
White: Watch your language, please, Rod. We have ladies present. Let me
introduce Dr. Herb Omo.
Omo: Greetings, lady and gentlemen. Please call me Herb..
Magnate: Youre a fag, right, mate?
Omo: Do you mind, sir? We prefer to use the word gay, not that its any of
your business. Not that Im ashamed of my love for men it has nothing to
do with my expertise as a doctor, or a researcher.
Medico: Please, Herb. Take it easy. We all knew your sexual orientation
before we asked you to sit on the Board. In fact it is because of your
homosexuality that we have asked you to join us. We hope you may give us
insight into how to combat the Gay Plague.
Stooge: Id heard that the plague was under control?

54

White: Only because of efforts such as our own.

Magnate: And condoms.
Medico: And the needle exchange program.
White: Efforts which must be intensified if we are to combat the emerging
epidemic.
Coconut: Where are these epidemics emerging from?
Medico: Thats hard to say, lady. Many of them come from the darkest
Africa, where sexual practices are commonly deviant, and some come from
what we call animal vectors.
Omo: What sort of animals are we talking about here?
Medico: Green monkeys, chimpanzees, other mammals
White: You neednt worry about the details. Suffice to say the plagues we
speak of came to us from the wild. Exactly what animals in the wild is hard
to say. The forests contain all manner of germs.
Banker: What mining companies have you worked for, Mrs. Coconut?
Coconut: Rio Tinto, Shell, and a few others. Ive tried to act as a gobetween between the mining industry and indigenous communities.

55

Magnate: Noble work indeed.

Medico: We are honoured to have you working with us. We are especially
focused on indigenous populations, you know. We advise the World Health
Organisation and other United Nations organizations on HIV/AIDS.
White: And other threats from infectious disease malaria, TB, RSV,
hepatitis
Omo: Some in the gay community are concerned about hepatitis B
vaccinations. They say that HIV was seeded into gay populations in the US
via experimental Hep B immunizations. My reassurances have fallen on deaf
ears.
Stooge: What evidence do they have of this?
Omo: Well it is said that GRID, gay related immune deficiency, developed
precisely in those men who participated in the 1970s trials. By 1984 a
disproportionate number of vaccinated men developed HIV infection and
AIDS.
Medico: Coincidence.
Omo: And others have pointed out the similarity between HIV targets and
eugenics targets from the Second World War.
White: Coincidence.

56

Omo: And still others have pointed out that those countries accused of
being overpopulated in the 1960s have developed AIDS epidemics in the
1980s.
Banker: Coincidence.
Coconut: A lot of coincidences.
White: The world is full of coincidences.
Magnate: Hows our investment going?
Medico: Our investment is in health. We are branching into maternal and
infant health. Immunizations in particular. We all know that immunization is
the most important aspect of preventative medicine.
Omo: What experience do you have in preventative medicine?
Medico: Well, we originated as a virology institute. We all know about the
importance of preventing viral infections in childhood. Hence our emphasis
on immunization. We are working with health care workers across the
spectrum, though.
Stooge: Our work is highly regarded we have been asked to advise the
Government on how best to direct international aid programs.
Coconut: How have you advised them?

57

White: We have advised them that the existing programs are working well.
Through the promotion of condoms and needle exchange we have contained
the epidemic in Australia except for the emerging epidemic among
indigenous people.
Medico: Which is one reason we are pleased to have you aboard, Mrs.
Coconut.
Coconut: I have little experience in these matters I have little scientific
training.
White: Dont worry. Well explain everything to you. We have plenty of
experts here.
Medico: Let me summarise. Our institute is the leading AIDS research
institute in the country. We advise government and NGOs on HIV/AIDS.
Have done for several years. We have now expanded our operations
throughout the Southern Hemisphere we advise on maternal health in
Nepal and elsewhere, on AIDS and immunization in the Pacific Islands,
New Guinea, southern and south-east Asia and Southern Africa.
White: Wherever we are needed.

Omo: Why do you have representatives of the mining industry on the

Board?

58

Magnate: Because we pay the bloody bills.

Medico: The mining industry have always had an interest in health of their
workers. They have always looked after the traditional landowners, too.
Omo: What about in Bouganville?
Magnate: For a newcomer you ask too many questions.
White: The Bouganville situation is unfortunate. If the locals could only see
the benefits the copper mine brings things would be easier. The media are to
blame. They focus on a few dead fish and make out there is an
environmental catastrophe.
Coconut: Its more than a few dead fish from what I hear.
Magnate: Well you hear wrong. Theres nothing wrong with Rios
Bouganville operations. We hear they employed highly regarded academics
to provide environmental reports. They showed that the environment is
better in Bouganville now than it used to be before the mining operations
began. My newspaper has published the findings of an independent
investigation funded by the Government showing that Rio is acting
especially responsibly in Bouganville.
Stooge: The Governments Chief Scientific Officer works for Rio, doesnt
he?

59

White: Dont you start.

Coconut: Before I commit myself to working with the Institute Id like to

convince myself that the work is above reproach. Especially if you are going
to be treating Indigenous people. The health statistics of the Indigenous
population are appalling, as you know. Our infant mortality is more that five
times that of the white population and our life expectancy is twenty years
less that the average Australian life expectancy. How can these problems be
rectified?
White: With difficulty. These are difficult times and we are trying hard to
fight government cut-backs. Theres not much money to go around. Which
is why we need a public appeal for funds. We have good programs in place
now we just need some money to put the programs into action.
Magnate: Lots of money then we can have lots of effect. We can have a
tremendous effect.
Medico: The money will be well spent. We have a pre-eminent position in
our field. We are a highly respected organization. We work with the finest
American and British Universities. Our reputation guarantees that only the
finest of scientists are allowed to work here. They are not paid much but
they work with true passion and dedication. They know about the urgency of
fighting the AIDS epidemic.

60

Omo: I heard that over 1500 people are getting HIV infections every day in
South Africa.
Magnate: Tremendous. I mean tremendously terrible news.
White: The problem in South Africa is of particular interest to some of our
friends in the mining industry. The same hands own gold mines in Southern
Africa and Australia.
Medico: And California.
Omo: Thats not surprising given the history of the discovery of gold in the
19th century. I wrote a paper on it at high school.
Banker: And very good it was, Im sure. Not of relevance to a medical
research institute Board Meeting, though. We invited you to liase with gay
groups about HIV/AIDS prevention. How can you achieve this?
Omo: The gay community understands the need for condom use as a whole.
They dont always use them but they know they should. Im sure the
institutes message has got through but theres more work to be done. We
cant get complacent.
Banker: What do you think about us resurrecting the Grim Reaper ads?
Coconut: What are the Grim Reaper ads?

61

Medico: Shortly after the AIDS epidemic began we ran a very successful
campaign for people to use condoms
Banker: Or else
Omo: Or else what?

Medico: Or else they would face the Grim Reaper. Death. It verged on the
hysterical but it was very effective.
Omo: It was criticised as fear-mongering at the time.
White: Fear induction and fear promotion are important aspects of public
health. Fear is effective at modifying behaviour.
Magnate: Fear is essential for control of the public.
Homo: Does the public need to be controlled?
Magnate (to White): You told me he was a fag. You didnt tell me he was a
bloody anarchist!

Banker: There has been talk of a new campaign promoting condoms for the
new generation those that missed out on the Grim Reaper campaign.

62

White: Anything to prevent the emerging epidemic must be judged to be of

value what do you think Dr Omo?
Omo: Of course. But there is concern that particular batches of condoms
may be infected with HIV. Its a concern in Africa anyway.
Medico: Third World paranoia. Why would anyone want to do something
like that?
Coconut: Genocide?
Magnate: Strong words, lady. No one has proven anything yet.
Coconut: I was asking a question, Mr. Magnate. I was asking if the AIDS
epidemic in Africa could be an example of genocide by neocolonial forces.
It is not beyond the realm of possibility, surely?
White: We prefer to keep out of the politics and get on with the job. Our
programs have been shown to be effective. AZT may not be perfect but it
improves life expectancy by a couple of years. Effective in reducing
maternal-foetal transmission according to our statistics. Condom promotion
has been spectacularly successful in containing the epidemic in the west. We
have introduced the first needle exchange program into India.
Congratulations, rather than criticism are in order.

63

Homo: Im sorry if my direct manner offends you. Im sure your institute is

beyond reproach. I merely voice the concerns of people I have met. I dont
mean to criticise.
Coconut: Im sorry too. I am not used to discussing medical matters with
medical professors. Forgive me my ignorance.
Magnate: Apology accepted. But dont do it again. We like to work as a
team here. Too much disagreement is bad for team spirit.
White: Yes, we like to work as a team, but every team must have a team
leader. I am the team leader of this Board. I welcome discussion but
ultimately what I say goes. I need not mention that I am also the director of
the Board.
Medico: And I am the director of the institute. Jim and I run the show. If
you dont like the way we do things feel free to speak your piece, but
understand that well need to look for someone else to fill your position
your honorary position on the Board.
Homo: That wont be necessary, sir.

64

SCENE FIVE: BACK AT THE CLUB

Back at the exclusive Mens Club. Professors White and Medico are sitting
in armchairs with Mr. Magnate and Mr. Banker.
Magnate: I said we need a poof on the Board, but not a fucking homosexual
anarchist.
Medico: Im sure hes not an anarchist
White: Hes just confused. Been reading too much leftist literature hell
change.
Magnate: Hed better!

65

Banker: Im more worried about Mrs. Coconut. I know we need a black

woman on the Board, but shes too sharp.
Medico: But she doesnt know anything about medicine.
Magnate: She knows bugger all about boongs either, according to my
sources.
White: Im sure we can convince her of our altruistic motives. We might
pay her a small sum or give her an office.
Medico: An office would be a good idea. Offer her an e-mail address. That
way we can keep a close eye on her.
White: And her contacts.
Magnate: Does she still maintain links with the mining industry? If she
does Im sure we can work with her. Our friends in mining are good judges
of character.
Banker: Maybe we can steer her away from indigenous health and ask her
advice on migrants. Migrant health thats a market to explore.
Magnate: Too political dont want the public to think we support
immigration.
Medico: Do we?

66

White: As long as they know their place. Australia needs migrants to work
in factories, to clean the wards of hospitals, to drive taxis and trams.
Magnate: But how are we to keep them under control we could create a
migrant class a cauldron for revolution to brew in.
White: Migrants are too busy trying to fit into Australian society, get a job
and keep it to bother with revolution. We educate them to know their place.
We teach them only what we need them to know. English as a second
language for second class citizens. The system is soundly in place and has
been for several generations.
Medico: What about the boat people?
White: Theyre different. We cant allow people to arrive here by boat. It
spoils the system. These people are all potential misfits and terrorists we
need to lock them up for their own sakes, let alone ours.
Medico: Why are they such a threat?
White: Because they havent been processed. They havent been educated
in our ways. They could bring disease. They could bring disagreement.
Banker: They could bring Communism.
Magnate: Or anarchy.
White: How are drug sales going, John?

67

Medico: Very well, Jim. The public is increasingly worried about their
collective cholesterol readings. The politicians are worried too. Weve even
been having serious talks about adding cholesterol-lowering drugs to the
public water supplies. Weve been arguing that it will lower the incidence of
heart disease.
Banker: Wouldnt that be expensive?
Medico: And dangerous? Very. But very profitable for my company. And
ultimately it will be of benefit to the institute.
White: How so?
Medico: Wellany profits to the pharmaceutical industry flow back into
research funding.
Banker: You draw a long bow, John, but thats why we can do business
together. A very interesting development. What about AZT sales?
Medico: We dont profit directly from AZT sales, but we benefit from more
people seeking treatment for HIV infection symptomatic or
asymptomatic.
White: In fact if we can convince them to take AZT before they get sick we
could dramatically increase our market.
Medico: And the market for both treatment services and other drugs.

68

Banker: Is it true that AZT can cause AIDS?

Medico: It is common knowledge that AZT can cause immunosuppression
thats why it failed as a cancer treatment in the fifties. It is theoretically
possible that it could cause AIDS in those with asymptomatic HIV infection
but were not looking for such connections.
White: Wouldnt be in our long term interests. Nor would it be in the public
interest. Could cause needless panic.
Magnate: That could be useful we might be able to resume the panic
disorder strategy.
Banker: The panic disorder strategy was never abandoned. It merged into
the depression awareness strategy and the national mental health strategy
same drugs being promoted, you see.
Medico: Gee, this could be a lucrative new market for the company. What
with all this fear of anthrax and terrorists there is bound to be more panic
around. Ill have to talk to my associates.
Banker: Perhaps you could devise a blood test for panic disorder.
Magnate: Or develop a vaccine against it.
Medico: Sure. Ill speak to our boys in biochemistry.

69

White: What about sales to the military?

Medico: Weve been looking at that. A lot of work has been done on
promoting SSRIs for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Banker: Thats a new word for shell-shock, isnt it?
Medico: In a modern form, perhaps.
White: People are bound to have nightmares about terrorists and biological
warfare. We can call all nightmares post-traumatic stress disorder. It would
mean a massive increase in the market. Or we could say that all nightmares
are a consequence of depression.
Magnate: Which is more valuable depression or panic? Thats the
question.
White: They both have their uses. Depression inactivates and panic
deactivates.
Banker: What about cancer? Theres a growing market.
White: Lots of effort has already gone into the cancer market numerous
charities are already milking the public senseless. Its still an integral part of
the AIDS market. Cancer treatments are expensive, and expensive drugs are
appealing to people who are dying. Makes them feel special and wanted.

70

Medico: Were developing a new line of cancer drugs already. The great
thing about cancer is you can try out any poison, old or new, and if they die
you can blame it on the disease.
Magnate: Shit, you guys are brutal. I thought I was bad!

Banker: How will we be implementing the mother and infant program?

White: First we identify target populations. This is done in conjunction
with others. Some countries threaten global population statistics more than
others. We start with them.
Medico: The program will be centred on immunization and explaining the
need for the global immunization project.
Magnate: How will we counter opposition? We have the media on our side,
but several scientists, idiots though they may be, have alleged that
immunization is dangerous.
White: The medical profession as a whole strongly backs the current
immunization program.
Medico: So we are on course. Doctors demand evidence-based medicine
these days.
Banker: As long as they dont look at the evidence too closely.

71

Magnate: What is evidence based medicine?

Medico: The new catchword. Everyone claims to be doing evidence based
medicine. The drug companies especially. They provide the evidence after
doing or funding the trials. Double-blind trials are characteristic of evidence
based medicine. Our work is very much evidence based. We provide the
evidence of our programs success and we have the results published in
peer-reviewed journals. We have an outstanding publication record.
Magnate: Thanks to my influence
White: Having a media magnate on the Board helps, but you cannot detract
from the efforts of the staff, especially the research staff. We have some of
the finest young minds working for us.
Banker: Do they know what you do at the institute?
Medico: Of course not not in a holistic sense, anyway. They know were
involved in AIDS research and International Health. They know the hype,
they know the propaganda. They are given the full treatment by the public
relations people when they first come to work for us. Our reputation ensures
the quality of our staff but we train them well too.
White: We train them and protect them by telling them only what they need
to know. They dont need to know about the ugly side of the Institute. It
would only distress them.

72

Magnate: On a related matter, how is the final solution going?

Medico: Its being implemented with new vigour in the light of the war on
terrorism. I mean, we all know where the terrorists come from. The MiddleEast, Africa, South America, South-East Asiaall places with lots of
disgruntled blacks. We might not be able to bomb all of them but we have
quite a few lined up a potential rogue states.
Magnate: Maybe we could promote the idea of a rogue continent?
White: Not a bad idea. We could declare Africa as a rogue continent and
ensure that the place is degraded militarily.
Magnate: And that would mean bombing, wouldnt it?
Medico: We are already using cold weapons at close to capacity.
Banker: Cold weapons?
White: Weapons that dont go bang or boom. Biological weapons, germ
weapons, psychological weapons, electronic weapons, sound warfare and so
on.
Magnate: Cold weapons were how the Cold War was won. Not forgetting
economic warfare.

73

Banker: So you think we can deflect calls to abolish the Third World debt?
Magnate: We can respond to them by giving them more time debt
rescheduling is far better then debt cancellation. If we keep selling them
military hardware and software we can keep them falling deeper and deeper
into debt.
White: Debt that they will not be able to pay off, even in a hundred years.
Magnate: Or a thousand.

Medico: Which vaccines should we contaminate?

White: Particular batches. Well leave that up to the military or the vaccine
producers. Our job is to ensure that the infrastructure is in place that
injections are being given, blood is being collected, and public fear is high.
Thats our job, and it has brought us good rewards so far.
Banker: How will we stop the epidemiologists from seeing the connection
between the needles and the development of HIV infection?
White: Several ways. Firstly, we have our own epidemiology department.
Secondly, well blame breast feeding by infected mothers. And well blame
their husbands for infecting their wives.
Banker: Will it work?

74

Medico: It has so far. Besides, none of the epidemiologists on our side are
looking for the connection between vaccination and AIDS. We can keep a
step ahead if we know whats going on the ground.
Banker: How shall we raise the money?
Magnate: We could have an appeal we need a good slogan and maybe a
new logo any ideas?
Medico: How about when terrorism strikes you need a good doctor?
White: Too vague. What about We need aid to fight terrorism? A bit of a
play on words. Actually what I mean is we need AIDS to fight terrorism.
Magnate: How about just Aids for terrorism?
White: Could give the wrong impression
Medico: Too close to the bone.
Magnate: What about something in the style of old war recruitment ads
say The War on Terrorism needs YOUR dollars. The Institute is on YOUR
side?
White: With a black woman pointing at the camera
Medico: Clutching a crying baby.

75

Magnate: A starving crying baby Im sure we have some photos in

stock.

Banker: Where shall we direct the appeal?

White: Towards middle-class mothers, children and adolescents. They can
pressure the men to donate. Men cant resist the demands of their wives and
children to donate to worthy causes.
Medico: The government is always good for a grant if the work involves
immunization. The drug companies will make sure of it.
Magnate: How about the established AIDS charities? We can use the faggot
to get some money from his friends. Maybe the black woman can get some
of the Abos health budget.
White: Well be meeting with Dr. Homo and Mrs. Coconut next month
Ill see what can be done in the meantime. Maybe you can get some of your
PhD students onto it, John.
Medico: Sure. Ive got some pretty young things working with me these
days. Theyve stimulated me into shaving my beard off. Makes me look ten
years younger, dont you think.
Magnate: I dont bloody think.

76

White: Vanity aside, John, have you got some young people who can work
on a new mother and infant strategy as well as an anti-terrorism strategy?
Someone with the capacity to sew it all together.
Medico: I said sure I do. I have just the woman. She has a doctorate in
public health and she is eager to please.
Magnate: Is she black?
Medico: Lily white, with long brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. Shes
quite a doll. I look forward to working more closely with her. Shes the
daughter of one of our strongest financial supporters, you know. His name is
Ding, Bill Ding. Hes big in construction. Prisons construction, in fact.
Magnate: Does he have dollars to throw into the new projects?
Medico: Well, if he knows his daughters job prospects depend on it

77

SCENE SIX:
A month later at the Institute. Professor Medico introduces Dill Ding,
daughter of Bill Ding, to the group. Dr Homo has called to say hes running
late. Mrs. Coconut was not invited. Professor Stooge is ill.
Medico: I am pleased to introduce one of our talented young staff members
to the Board. This is Dill. She has agreed to join our mothers and babies
team, and to see what can be done to protect them against terrorism.
Ding: Hello all. Daddy sends his regards. He has told me a lot about you. I
am very pleased to meet you all in person, especially you, Mr. Magnate. Ive
heard so much about what you have done for the construction industry.
Magnate: It was nothing, my dear. I am a generous man. I believe that
philanthropic work is an essential part of big business. But you must
understand that I am primarily a businessman. Your work must bring profit
to the institute directly, if possible.
Medico: Im sure Dill knows the ins and outs of business, Rod. Bill Ding
has constructed some of the finest prisons in the world. His name strikes fear
into criminals around the globe. And I understand Dill has something of a
personal experience to share with us about terrorismDill?
Ding: I was once held for ransom they asked for a million dollars. Daddy
was willing to pay, but in the end it wasnt necessary. After sixteen hours
they let me go. I talked them into surrendering. They all got life.

78

Magnate: What a clever young woman you must be. If you need a job when
you finish here
Ding: Thank you, Mr. Magnate.

White: Lets get some plans on the table. John, what has your team come
up with so far?
Medico: Dill, would you like to show them what youve got?
Ding: Well, professors. When I studied public health and anthropology I
went up to Darwin and advised Indigenous mothers about how to look after
their babies. Some of them were very rude to me so I realised how they need
to be cured of their ignorance. I had a word to Daddy and he arranged for the
Northern Territory government to build a new prison to cope with the
mandatory sentencing load.
Banker: Do you have children yourself?
Ding: Of course not. Im not married, yet. Daddy and Mummy would never
allow it until I finished my studies. I dont even have a steady boyfriend.
Medico: Interesting, but lets keep on the topic, Dill. What do you think we
can do to promote immunization among Third World mothers? What are
their particular fears and anxieties? How can we use these anxieties to
further the interests of the Institute?

79

Ding: I have several ideas, professor. Mothers around the world worry that
their children might become ill. They worry about the illnesses they are told
about. The more different illnesses they worry about the more different
treatments can be offered. These treatments can include surgery or drugs.
Medico: Or immunizations.
Ding: All you have to do is indiscriminately increase fear of illness. This is
where fear of terrorists comes in. Fear of biological terrorists or
bioterrorists as I have heard them called is sure to motivate parents to have
their children immunized.
Medico: We could suggest widespread immunization against anthrax,
typhoid, cholera and other known biological weapons.
White: Good work, Dill and John. What other ideas do you have?
Ding: Well we could increase fear of breast-feeding in HIV infected
mothers then we could increase fear of bottle-feeding as a consequence of
possible terrorist contamination of water supplies.
Banker: The water supplies are actually contaminated in many parts of the
Third World.
White: And the first.

80

Medico: This could be a new angle. People will be lining up to be

immunized. We could use up the unwanted stock and make more. Could
explode the market. And think of the other drugs. Antibiotics, anxiolytics,
antidepressants, antipsychotics
Banker: Why antipsychotics?
Medico: I guess anyone who doesnt believe in the terrorist threat should be
judged psychotic. They are out of touch with reality. They need treatment.
Ding: Daddy will have to build hospitals.
Magnate: A bit of a setback for your father, the change in Government in
the Northern Territory
Ding: The abolition of mandatory sentencing? Well those who are already
under sentence will finish their terms. By then well have new laws in place,
I hope. New laws to counter the threat of International Terrorism. And
theres also the new waves of boat people.
Magnate: Public sentiment is against them. My newspaper has made sure of
that.
White: And processing them will need medical services, immunizations,
interrogations and so on. Bill Ding should be pleased at the current
developments.

81

Ding: He is. Hes been so pleased hes been splurging on his cellar.
Unfortunately my father is rarely sober these days.

Magnate: Maybe we can invite him onto the Board. He knows his wines,
your father. And he knows plenty of people in high places.
Ding: He once played golf with the president, you know. The Prime
Ministers office asks him for advice on a regular basis. Hes even been
invited to speak to the Pentagon on security matters.
Magnate: Hes a major player in the war on terrorism, regardless of his
drinking problem. We should consider him for a position on the Board.
Ding: How much does it pay?
Medico: Its an honorary position. But it will be good for his reputation.
Construction magnates are high on the list of public enemies.
Ding: But my father builds hospitals, too. And prisons are necessary for
public safety. Everyone knows that. Everyone also knows that being poor for
a long time makes criminals of people. The poor need prisons to protect
them from themselves. Without prisons there would be civil war.
Magnate: Well said, young lady. You really do have a winner here, John.
Medico: Shes great, isnt she?

82

Enter Dr Omo.
Omo: Sorry Im late, Got held up in the traffic. By a policeman who
insisted on searching my car, God knows why.
White: Thats unfortunate, Herb. Its probably your handle-bar moustache.
You missed an excellent presentation by the newest member of our team
Dill Ding. She is the daughter of famous building magnate Bill Ding. You
will be working closely with her on the new project the mothers and babies
project.
Omo: My experience with mothers and babies is strictly limited. Gay
activism yes, mothers and babies, no.
Medico: Well tell you what to do, dont worry. You wont actually have to
do any field work yourself unless you want to. If you do, however, youll
get to do a lot of travelling.
Banker: First class, too.
Homo: Ive always wanted to travel.
White: We have just the job for you. Wed like you to travel to South
Africa as the head of our international health team.
Homo: What do you want me to do there? Is there a big gay population in
South Africa?

83

White: No, but theres lots of AIDS there. Were trying to draw attention to
the sexual practices of blacks in Africa especially that of miners.
Medico: AIDS is epidemic in the mines.
Homo: Whats caused this epidemic?
Medico: Thats hard to say for sure. Miners live in barracks far from their
families. Their only recreational outlets are drinking and local prostitutes.
Most of the prostitutes are already infected. There is probably a fair amount
of homosexuality in the barracks, too.
Banker: Were promoting the use of condoms. Some of the mines are
giving them out free.
Medico: And were promoting the newest drug treatments.
Ding: The medications your company is developing?
Medico: Amongst others.
White: Wed like the institutes opinion to be conveyed directly to the
Government of South Africa.
Omo: About what, exactly?
White: About the value of AZT and other anti-retroviral drugs.

84

Omo: Even the experimental ones?

Medico: We prefer to call them new medications. Yes, especially the new
drugs.
Omo: Are they expensive?
Banker: People like to spend their money on expensive drugs. Yes, the new
drugs are expensive. They are very expensive. But that is precisely why
dying people want them. It is difficult to resist the wants of the dying.
Especially for families.
Homo: Is it ethical?
White: It is because of concern for ethics that we have asked our newest
Board member, Mrs. Coconut, to head our new ethics committee. Well
discuss the new programs with her next month. In the meantime we
shouldnt depart from the tried and tested formula. More of the same needs
more money, so we need to get the public appeal going. Hows the mothers
and babies project going, John?
Medico: With the addition of Dill Ding to the team, things are going well.
We have a blueprint in place. Dill has plans to fly up to Arnhem Land to
interview some mothers about their babies.
Ding: And give them some advice.

85

Omo: Advice about what condom use?

Ding: Certainly. Condom use and the need for immunization. If women
insist on their men using condoms it will prevent unwanted babies as well as
the spread of venereal diseases, including AIDS.
Omo: What if the men dont want to wear condoms?
Ding: No condom, no sex is what Ill be advising.
Magnate: Good girl!

White: You should be able to make some useful contacts, Dill. You too,
Herb. Contacts we can use in the years to come.
Omo: Ive never been to Africa.
Medico: Start packing your bags, Herb. Africa awaits your expertise.
Omo: Have the Africans invited me?
White: Our institute has contacts there already. We have arranged
everything. Perhaps we can arrange for you to have study leave.
Medico: Maybe we can arrange for you to attend a weekend seminar.

86

Omo: Sounds a bit like a junket, but I wont say no.

Magnate: Watch yourself, young man.
Banker: Loose lips sink ships.
Medico: And dont forget to emphasize that AIDS comes from green
monkeys. Emphasize the benefits of AZT and the newer drugs. And dont
forget to take some condoms with you.
White: Im sure you will take precautions yourself. Having said that, enjoy
yourself and make lots of friends. The same goes for you Dill.
Ding: Thank you, professor. I look forward to returning to the Northern
Territory. I now have a Masters degree in Public Health as well as a diploma
in Indigenous Health and the Rights of Women. Im sure I have lots to teach
them out there in the bush.
Medico: Dont forget to ask them about traditional medicines.
Magnate: Looking for new ideas for the company, John?
Medico: Only in the interests of good medicine, Ray. Who knows what
secrets they have? We might discover some valuable herbs and other
remedies.

87

Magnate: We might discover how to lower our life expectancy to below

50.
White: Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Rod.

SCENE SEVEN: THE ETHICS COMMITTEE

One month later, at the institute boardroom, professors White, Stooge and
Medico meet with Mrs. Coconut.
White: Welcome, Mrs. Coconut. Were glad you could make it at short
notice.
Coconut: Its a pleasure to be of assistance. I understand you need some
guidance for your ethics committee.
Medico: Our ethical standards are very high, but we need to form a formal
ethics committee.
Stooge: And we need someone to head it.
White: You came to mind immediately.
Coconut: Why me? Surely there are others more familiar with the details of
what you do here.

88

White: But none with your particular qualifications.

Coconut: My university degree was in the arts.
Stooge: Juggling ethics is quite an art.
White: Ethics is formally part of the arts. A branch of philosophy.
Scientists know precious little, as a whole, about philosophy. Present
company excluded, of course.
Medico: We need someone from the community to represent community
views. Someone that will have credibility among those populations we are
treating.
White: Someone like yourself.
Coconut: I am honoured. What do I need to do?
Medico: Very little. Itll all be done for you.
Stooge: Youll need to pose for a few photographs, that sort of thing.
White: Well need your signature on a couple of forms. A few pieces of
paper, thats all.
Coconut: What do I need to know?

89

White: What we do is set out in our Annual Report. Ill organise for you to
be sent the past few years reports. Professor Medico will fill you in on the
details hell explain the work in lay terms.
Medico: Well, we started off a virology and immunology institute. Took
the name of a leader in the field on virology. A famous virus collector. Later
we became interested in population and eugenics.
Coconut: Whats eugenics?
White: The science of improving the human race.
Coconut: The name rings a bell thats right, isnt eugenics what the Nazis
implemented?
Medico: They misapplied a very valuable science. Dont want to throw the
baby out with the bathwater, do we? With modern genetic knowledge
eugenics is very much the way of the future. People want to screen their
babies, and their partners for genetic diseases.
Stooge: Like Huntingtons disease, schizophrenia, alcoholism and so on.
Coconut: Its all in the genes, then?
Medico: Many of humanitys most dreaded disorders are caused by
defective genes. We now have the means to prevent the transmission of
these diseases.

90

Coconut: How can they be prevented?

White: By more people using condoms, other birth control measures.
Medico: We must consider sterilization of those unfit to breed.
Coconut: Isnt that what the German Nazis did?
White: Sterilization these days is a painless procedure. People who have
been sterilized are in many ways more healthy than those who have not.
Coconut: I dont see how.
Medico: Think of the number of women who died in childbirth and still
do in the Third World. Surely they would be more healthy if they were
sterilized?
Coconut: Do we have the right?
White: Overpopulation is an international emergency. Even the worsening
AIDS epidemic has barely dented the figures.
Stooge: I thought the population problem was under control.
Medico: Not yet there is a lot of work to be done. With the help of people
like Mrs. Coconut, Im sure well be successful in the long-term. Will you
chair our ethics committee, Mrs. Coconut?

91

Coconut: OK, as long as I am fully informed.

White: Dont worry, I will personally guide your decisions. I will also ask
advice from my friend, Mr. Minister. He is a member of the Church. A man
of God. Ill invite him to our next meeting.
Stooge: Mr. Minister is involved in politics as well, isnt he?
White: Which is why he understands the complexity of ethics. Many ethical
dilemmas affect the political world.

92

SCENE EIGHT: UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS

Two months later at the Institute. The Professors meet with Mrs. Coconut
and Mr. Minister. Dr Homo and Dill Ding have returned from their trips.
Omo: I have bad news, gentlemen.
White: News about the epidemic in Africa?
Omo: News about what the man in the street says about the origin of the
epidemic. Theyre talking openly about ethno-specific bioweapons and have
identified HIV as such a bioweapon.
Coconut: Its not true, is it?
Medico: Of course not.
Ding: There are similar concerns among the blacks in northern Australia.
They point to the surreptitious use of chemical and biological weapons in the
original genocide.
Coconut: I havent heard such concerns.
Omo: What you hear depends on who you speak to. I had extensive
discussions with many people when I was in South Africa. Far from being
reassured by my insistence on the green monkey theory, I was accused
myself of supporting the White Supremacy Movement.
White: How outrageous!

93

Omo: But it made me think. Someone drew my attention to the fact that
gays were subject to genocide by the Nazis. Could the situation be one of
history repeating itself?
Magnate: You should stop this sort of questioning right now, mate. You
poofs are getting more paranoid every day.

Coconut: It appears there is more to the story than I had been led to believe.
Makes me wonder about the ethics of the mothers and babies projects.
White: Dont be hasty, Mrs. Coconut. A few paranoid concerns should not
jeopardise the important work of the Institute.
Coconut: Seems like more than a few concerns. What is this I hear about
HIV being used as a bioweapon?
Medico: Sure. The possibility exists. HIV could certainly be used as a
biological weapon. But we dont believe that it is being used in this way.
Omo: Why not? The epidemiology of the AIDS epidemic suggests such a
possibility.
Medico: Statistics can be confusing. You cant rely on statistics.
Omo: What about the history of the biological warfare industry?

94

White: History is open to many interpretations. There is no proof that the

Allies have engaged in biological warfare.
Ding: What about the use of influenza and smallpox by the British?
Coconut: Yes, even I have heard of this.
White: Rumour. Nothings been proven. The indigenous people of North
America and Australia lacked resistance to these infections. It may have
been accidental. Im sure it was.
Coconut: But they used infected blankets. And strychnine-laced flour. And
arsenic
Medico: So it has been claimed. But this was a long time ago.
Coconut: A hundred years ago is not a long time considering the period of
time our people have lived here.
Omo: And the truth of the matter needs to be clarified.
Magnate: Thats not your job.
White: We should keep on with the programs and forget the politics of it, I
feel. What do you think, Mr. Minister?

95

Minister: That depends on whether I speak as a man of God, or whether I

speak as an aspiring politician. As a man of God I believe that truth is very
important. As a politician I feel that truth is as it is proclaimed to be. A
difficult problem, indeed.
Coconut: As the head of the new ethics committee I believe I have the
responsibility to get to the bottom of this. I was told that everything was
above board. Now it appears that things are not so simple.
Medico: But they are simple. Our job is to promote medical treatments, not
grapple with global politics and history.
Coconut: A knowledge of history is essential if we are to avoid the
mistakes of the past.
Medico: But the history of medicine is glorious. People live much longer
now than they used to.
Omo: Not all people. Life expectancy in Malawi in Africa has dropped to
27 years.
White: Thats because of AIDS. Without AIDS the life expectancy figures
would be much higher.
Omo: And if HIV is being used as a bioweapon?
Ding: A lot of people are going to end up in jail.

96

White: That will never happen.

Omo: How can you be sure?
White: It just wont. Believe me.
Medico: I think we should change the topic.
Coconut: Id rather we didnt. I smell a rat. You didnt invite me here to
listen to my point of view, did you? I am not a fool, you know. It would not
surprise me if you deliberately chose me because you thought you could pull
the wool over my eyes.
White: My dear lady
Coconut: Dont patronise me, professor. I want to know the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth. What do you really know about biological
warfare?
White: Very little. Its outside my field. Perhaps Professor Medico can shed
some light on the subject.
Medico: Gee, its outside my field of expertise, too. I am just a virologist
a simple researcher.
Homo: Who happens to own a drug company.

97

Medico: A small drug company. Im only small fry. Dont expect me to be

able to influence global politics
Coconut: But you move in powerful circles you head a major
bioinvestment fund.
White: Youve been reading the Annual Reports, I see. Well, Mrs.
Coconut, I can see you are having difficulty adjusting to the type of work we
do here. Perhaps well need to find someone else to head the ethics
committee.
Coconut: Perhaps you will. But dont expect me to remain silent about all
of this.
Omo: If Mrs. Coconut leaves the Board so will I. Science needs open
scrutiny and that includes medical science and medical research.
Minister: I am inclined to agree. I dont want to be taken for a sucker,
either. I may be involved in politics but I draw the line at mass-murder.
White: This has gone far enough. Im leaving!
Omo: Not so fast, Professor White. Ive got some questions to ask you.
White: Im not answering any questions.
Medico: Its not your job to ask questions.

98

Homo: If I give up my position on the Board, Ill still be asking these

questions. Or maybe Ill get the media to ask them instead.
White: You can try.
Coconut: Youre acting as if you have a guilty conscience.
Stooge: Professor Whites conscience is his own business, Mrs. Coconut. I
feel you are being unnecessarily confrontational.
Coconut: Confrontation is sometimes necessary. Especially if the truth is to
be known.
Minister: But truth is subject to disagreement. What is truth?
Omo: In this case the it is a matter of factual evidence. Either the AIDS
epidemic is caused by natural infection, regardless of source, or it is a manmade plague. Which one is it, Professor Medico?
Medico: Why are you asking me? Professor White is the man to ask he
heads the Institute. I am just the medical director.
White: Look. If AIDS is a man-made plague its not our fault. We just do
what the scientific and medical community suggest needs to be done. The
needle exchange programs and condom distribution programs have
contained the epidemic in the West.

99

Coconut: So you say. But that doesnt explain the worsening epidemic in
the Third World.
Omo: Or the fact that previous targets of eugenics programs are now
developing AIDS.
Medico: I told you already. Coincidence. An unusual coincidence, it is true.
But coincidence nevertheless.
Coconut: So you say. I cant help noticing, though, that the same countries
and continents that were accused of being overpopulated in the 1960s
developed AIDS epidemics in the 1980s.
Omo: And the same measure being promoted for control of population
numbers, specifically condom promotion, is now being promoted as a
prevention against HIV infection.
Coconut: Why do I get the feeling Ive been taken for a ride?
Stooge: I think we should ask Mr. Minister for his opinion. We may find
him to be a more suitable head for our ethics committee. Mr. Minister?
Minister: My opinion about what? I am hardly familiar with the details of
what you do here. Nevertheless I have the utmost confidence in the Board.
You are all highly educated menand women.

100

Coconut: Education does not necessarily bring wisdom. Especially in the

area of morality. Some of the least moral people have been highly educated.
And some of the most moral people have lacked education.
Minister: This is true. But the Board, I am sure, have the best interests of
society at heart.
Omo: So I had assumed. Im starting to have doubts, though.
Minister: What causes these doubts?
Omo: The reasons I have already mentioned. And the corporate
connections of the Board connections with the mining industry, the
banking industry and the pharmaceutical industry in particular.
White: Leaders of industry have valuable experience and skills skills that
society needs to make the most of.
Medico: It is surely desirable for these industries to support medical
research, isnt it? Especially the pharmaceutical industry where else can
we get funding?
Coconut: But what of their track record?
White: But you yourself have worked for the mining industry.

101

Coconut: Which is why I know that their primary motive is mercenary.

They are not in the habit of giving anything for nothing.
Minister: What about genuine philanthropy and altruism?
Coconut: Sadly lacking, Im afraid. They could conceivably do good acts to
try and improve their image but there is always a hidden agenda with these
people.

Ding: My trip up north opened my eyes. I saw for myself the conditions in
which Aboriginal people live and also how they are treated by the whites.
Homo: How are they being treated?
Ding: With condescension. I decided not to be like that myself and made
several valuable acquaintances.
White: Acquaintances who understand the need of condoms, I hope.
Ding: Among other things. They also appreciate the need for fresh food and
water. And fresh air perhaps more so than people in the city do.
Omo: Whats wrong with the air?
Ding: The air itself is reasonably clean at least compared to the cities. But
the air carries mosquitoes and flies. And these carry disease.

102

Medico: Weve been testing out insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets in

Asia maybe we should look at the use of insecticides in Australia, too.
White: Maybe we should consider spraying DDT again
Ding: I dont think that will provide the answer. Maybe just nets would be a
help, but theres already a problem with insecticide poisoning. Soaking the
nets could result in worsening the existing problem.
Omo: What can be done then?
Ding: Insect screens for houses might help. Mosquito nets, I suppose.
Providing repellants could be useful. Refrigeration of food would help
control the flies especially in domestic areas.
White: I fail to see how the Institute can profit from such measures.

Ding: I think we need to take care that the total toxin load society is
subjected to doesnt increase.
Banker: Whats the total toxin load?
Ding: Exactly that the total amount of poisons an individual or group is
exposed to.

103

Omo: Chemicals, you mean?

Ding: Not just chemicals. Radiation too. And have you heard of
audiovisual toxins? Poisons that enter through the eyes and ears.
White: They havent been proved.
Ding: Audiovisual toxins? What about the increase in violence that
accompanies the introduction of television into remote communities?
Omo: Or entire countries. The amount of violent crime rose dramatically
when they introduced television into South Africa in the 1970s. And this
violence affected the whites as much as the blacks, Im told.
Ding: I understand that there may be other reasons including the social
pressures of apartheid but there can be little doubt that watching violence
on television provides role models for the impressionable.
Minister: And the youth tend to be impressionable.
Homo: I think television violence affects people of all ages, although it
could affect different age groups in different ways. Some become
desensitised to it, others become terrified by it, others learn how to be
violent themselves.

104

Minister: Consider the events in Nepal. The murder of the Royal Family by
the crown prince. Would he have behaved in this way if he had not watched
television violence?
Ding: I dont know what he watched, but I have heard that he glorified guns
thats a sure sign of being influenced by audiovisual toxins things he
heard and saw.
Omo: The West were more than prepared to sell him guns even though he
was said to be depressed.
Ding: The newspapers say he had been treated for alcoholism and
depression hed been given antidepressants.
White: I understood the problem to be hashish.
Ding: Thats what the newspapers reported at the time. Later reports
claimed he also used cocaine. They said, though, that it was a crime of
passion he was angry about not being allowed to marry that girl.
White: That was the official report.
Omo: Then why did he have an expressionless face when he turned the
guns on his family? Doesnt sound like a typical crime of passion. Sounds
more like he was programmed by military training. Have you heard of the
MK programs?

105

White: Professor Alzheimer told us about them. Mr. Banker has some
knowledge of them. Something about Manchurian Candidate programs.
Omo: The Americans did try and create programmed assassins along the
lines of the Manchurian Candidate. That was a fictionalised version of
genuine research and programs.
Ding: How were the potential assassins programmed?
Omo: A number of means. They used various triggers, environmental cues,
to activate previously implanted orders.
Ding: Such as?
Homo: The movie provided the example of specific sequences of playing
cards but there were plenty of other options. Think of the various means of
programming dogs to salivate
Ding: The pioneering work of Pavlov
Homo: Indeed.
White: Surely these are just rumours maybe just fiction.
Homo: The fiction is based on fact. The MK programs certainly existed.
The intent to create assassins existed. As to whether they achieved what they
set out to achieve

106

Medico: Thats conjecture.

Homo: Still, it makes one think about how many other covert programs
there might have been. And it makes one wonder how many related
objectives the MK programs may have had. Controlling the youth, for
example. Creating robots for a range of purposes.
White: Conjecture, as Professor Medico says.
Coconut: Id like to know more. Who ran these MK programs?
Homo: The CIA and Pentagon. Details are still being kept from the public
eye. The existence of the programs is not being denied though. There was
MK Ultra, and MK Naomi and MK Bluebird
Coconut: All with the intent of creating assassins?
Homo: No. The different programs had different objectives. The common
feature was the use of depatterning and reprogramming. They used
various brainwashing techniques.
Ding: In an effort to counter the Communist menace, I suppose.
Coconut: So how were these programs implemented in Australia? Or were
they?

107

Stooge: Professor Alzheimer believed so. He said that medical students

were subjected to MK programming during the Cold War.
Coconut: In that case they could still have relevance today.
Stooge: As far as I am aware the programs were a failure and were
abandoned in the 1960s.
Omo: For several decades they were denied outright. Would they admit it if
the programs were successful?
White: Perhaps not. But these are matters outside our sphere of expertise.
We focus on preventative medicine and health promotion. What has this to
do with conjecture about programmed assassins?
Ding: Well maybe people could be programmed to become depressed, or
psychotic. Maybe the epidemic of depression we see today is related to such
programs.
Omo: Especially if people were programmed into negative or nihilistic
beliefs.
Minister: God knows there are enough of them.
White: This conversation is getting out of hand. We are a research institute.
There is no place for conjecture and supposition about MK programs and the
like. If indeed these programs occurred, as seems likely, perhaps, they have

108

little to do with modern medicine. Especially they have little to do with

international health.
Omo: On the contrary depression and suicide are world-wide epidemics.
The identification of factors that have contributed, or may be contributing, to
depression is surely of importance to the promotion of health generally
including health of the public at home and abroad?
Medico: We should leave that up to the psychiatrists. Depression is a
psychiatric illness we have little expertise in this area.
Coconut: But we should keep these matters in mind, I would say.
Ding: I understand the World Health Organization has predicted a huge
increase in psychiatric disability over the next two decades.
White: I believe they have. But this is a concern for institutes other than our
own. Perhaps excepting panic disorder. We have had some discussions about
this condition in the past. Perhaps there are opportunities. Its better if we
focus on a few conditions rather than casting our net too widely.
Medico: Jack-of-all-trades, master of none.
Omo: But we should keep a holistic perspective, surely? Otherwise we
could end up with tunnel vision.
White: Some degree of tunnel vision is useful for our line of work.

109

Medico: If not tunnel vision, a narrow focus is traditional in these matters.

Our main concern is to get children immunized and to ensure that people use
harm reduction strategies.
Coconut: Harm reduction strategies?
Medico: Not sharing needles, using condoms, that sort of thing.
Omo: What about developing new strategies?
White: The strategies we promote have been tested and shown to be
effective. We must adhere to the principles of evidence based medicine.
Coconut: Well lets look objectively at the evidence, then. While the AIDS
epidemic seems under control in Australia and elsewhere in the First World,
it is still at epidemic levels in the Third World. What is the reason for this?
White: The effectiveness of these harm-reduction measures.
Medico: And the availability of anti-retroviral drugs
Omo: Such as those your company sells?
Medico: Dont be cynical, young man. Our company sells a broad range of
drugs. It so happens that we also sell drugs that are effective against
HIV/AIDS.

110

Homo: New drugs?

Medico: Some.
Homo: What is the difference between new drugs and experimental drugs?
Stooge: The difference is subtle at times, but it does exist.
Medico: New drugs have been extensively tested. Experimental drugs are
in the process of being tested.
White: Testing experimental drugs requires consent forms to be signed,
they need to be passed by ethics committees and so on. New drugs, on the
other hand need no such formalities.
Coconut: Do you use experimental drugs, then?
White: Not at all. We are testing some new vaccines, but they can hardly be
viewed as experimental.
Omo: Why not?
White: Because the individual components of the vaccines have already
been tested. Were trialling various combinations of vaccines.
Coconut: Are they combinations that have been tested before?

111

Medico: Most of them.

Omo: Most?
Medico: Many of them.
White: Enough of them to regard such trials as above board. Eminently
ethical. Im sure Mr. Minister would agree.
Minister: I trust your judgement. I have no other choice. Theology is my
forte, medical science is not.
Homo: And ethics?
Minister: Medical ethics is a complex matter. Especially when giving
preventative treatments to people who are currently well. That much is clear
to me.

SCENE NINE: A NEW CONSPIRACY

Professors White, Stooge and Medico are drinking port at the Mens Club
with Mr. Magnate and Mr. Banker. They are seated in armchairs.
White: Gentlemen, we have big problems. These new board members are
asking too many uncomfortable questions.
Magnate: Well have to get rid of them.

112

Banker: Easier said than done. Theyll ask even more questions if they are
sacked from the Board.
Magnate: Maybe we can arrange for something else. An accident, perhaps.
White: Too risky.
Stooge: Perhaps we can offer them an alternative position?
White: In what area?
Stooge: Administration, perhaps.
Magnate: The ethics committee was a bad idea. An idea thats backfired on
us.
Medico: Maybe. Maybe not. If we can get Mr. Minister to head the ethics
committee he seems to swallow what we say with less cynicism.
White: Hes not a fool, though. Unless we can get rid of Coconut and
Omo were in trouble. Theyre having a bad influence of Dill Ding, too.
Magnate: We should have a word with Bill. Hell soon straighten her out.
Medico: Shes too straight as it is. Any straighter and shell be a complete
square. I thought she was ready for a good time, but I might have been
mistaken. Thought shes be flattered to be hobnobbing with professors.

113

White: Shell settle down if we get rid of the others. That fellow Omo is a
real problem. Hes got enough doubts to sink the whole ship.
Medico: I underestimated his intellect and his courage. He is not
intimidated as easily as I had expected.
Magnate: A sign of insolence, not courage.
Banker: There is a fine line between insolence and courage. It takes a
certain amount of courage to be insolent. I quite like the man, although I
agree that he should not sit on the Board.
White: How do we get rid of him, then?
Medico: We could sent him away on another junket.
Magnate: That would only be a temporary solution. We need to think of
something more permanent.
Stooge: We could sent him as a health adviser to a Moslem country. With a
bit of luck hell end up in jail. Perhaps Afghanistan?
White: Or Iraq.

Medico: We could tip them off about his homosexuality and the possibility
that he might be a degenerate. Homosexuality is forbidden by Islam.

114

Magnate: The man is blatant about his sexuality.

Medico: All the better.
Stooge: Will he go?
White: If we paint the right picture he might. Explain that his role is
invaluable, that sort of thing.

Magnate: What about Mrs. Coconut?

White: Well guide her in the direction of migrant and refugee health.
Medico: And away from indigenous health.
Magnate: Shell not be easily duped, that one.
White: Her lack of scientific training will be an asset.
Magnate: Fortunately, feeling against refugees and migrants is running high
at the moment. The recent election has involved both parties playing the race
card. And the race card is a powerful divider.
Stooge: Especially against refugees.
Magnate: As long as theyre not white.

115

White: White refugees are generally legals. Its the Iraqis and Afghanis
that we really want to exclude.
Banker: And South-East Asians.
Magnate: And Africans. Black Africans, at least. Were giving good
opportunities for white Africans most of whom come from South Africa.
Stooge: We have a long tradition of giving refuge to whites escaping the
black regimes, dont we?
Banker: Since the years of the White Australia Policy.
Magnate: A truly great legacy lets drink to the White Australia Policy.
All: To the White Australia Policy.

White: I have heard it said that the White Australia Policy is in trouble.
People are recognising that the policy was never fully abandoned. Whites
still remain in control, as we know. And its been pertinently observed that
non-whites have minimal political representation, still.
Magnate: The blacks are on the back foot. Theyve been taken in by all this
rhetoric about reconciliation.
Banker: We all think reconciliation is a good thing, dont we?

116

Medico: As long as theres no apology. An apology could result in calls for

compensation.
Magnate: If the blacks are reconciled to their fate it is a good thing. They
are, after all, a dying race.
White: So we have supposed for many generations. Theyre proving
resilient, though.
Medico: They wont be able to resist what we have in store for them.
Banker: Chemical and biological weapons?
Medico: And psychological weapons. Propaganda is a powerful thing. I
have invited an expert in the field, Professor Psycho, to our next board
meeting. He may give us some directions about how to use the media to best
effect.
White: Psycho has studied under the best minds in his field, I hear. Even
spent some time working on depatterning and reprogramming with the
CIA.
Stooge: What if his past associations become known publicly?
Banker: They wont.

117

Magnate: My newspapers can do a series of stories on him. Herald him as a

great healer of minds. He has a kindly face, Im told.
Medico: And a gentle turn of phrase. He is a soft-spoken man with a very
hard heart. Im sure we can do business with him.
White: Perhaps hes the man for our ethics committee.
Medico: Im sure he will be sympathetic to our ideology.
Banker: Hes something of an expert in the MK programs, I understand.
This could be useful to us. He may be able to give us some pointers on how
the institute can develop its potential in the psychiatry market.

Stooge: Our panic disorder strategy?

Medico: Just the tip of the iceberg. Psychiatry is a growing market. And
increasingly relevant to our field of work. Professor Psycho is an expert at
manipulating free will. Hes also an expert at psy-ops.
Stooge: Psy-ops?
Medico: Mass psychological operations. He had training from the best in
the field.
Stooge: The CIA?

118

Medico: Among others.

SCENE TEN: THE NEW ETHICS COMMITTEE

Professors White, Stooge and Medico meet with Professor Psycho and Mr.
Minister at the Institute.
White: Welcome, Professor Psycho. Were glad you could come.
Psycho: Coming always brings me great pleasure. My life has not been the
same since the discovery of Viagra.
White: A Freudian slip, professor. Were glad you could make it, is what I
mean.
Medico: Were hoping that you might join Mr. Minister on our ethics
committee. Our previous choices didnt work well. Their ideas did not sit
well with those of the Board.
Minister: Mrs. Coconut, you mean?

119

White: Mrs. Coconut does not have the qualities were after. She refused to
be properly guided in her decisions. She continues to raise uncomfortable
questions about the Institutes work.
Psycho: In what areas?
White: In the important area of public health, and indigenous health in
particular.
Minister: If only she had more faith in God.
Stooge: If only she had more faith in our leadership.
White: Indeed.

Psycho: I understand that you are moving into my field of interest.

Terrorism and counter-terrorism.
White: An area with much potential, dont you think?
Psycho: Its an interesting field of study. What terrorist threats are you boys
concerned about?

120

Medico: Well. Its complex. Were looking to increase the Institutes

capacity to advise governments on the threat of terrorism. Of course were
most concerned about fundamentalists and religious zealots.
White: And political zealots. Communists, socialists and anarchists are all
potential terrorists, as far as I can see.
Psycho: Indeed that is what our research suggests. They are also potential
revolutionaries, and revolution can be guaranteed to bring terror at least to
some members of society.
White: The important ones.
Stooge: If not terror, at least mild to moderate anxiety.
Psycho: Anxiety is at the root of terror. If people become anxious enough,
it becomes terror. People can be terrified about many things. Tapping into
the source of this anxiety is a fruitful area for any research institute.
Medico: And profitable for those who manufacture drugs for the treatment
of anxiety
Psycho: Indeed. Whats more, people can be programmed into an anxious
response. We proved that in the 60s and 70s.
White: How is it done?

121

Psycho: By exaggeration of existing fears. Identify what people are worried

about and feed the fear.
Stooge: Like the politicians do?

Psycho: Indeed. The politics of fear is an ancient science. Fear can get
people to do many things they would not ordinarily do. It provokes irrational
responses. Especially when combined with the judicious use of certain
drugs. When I was training in the States we tried out a range of drugs for this
purpose LSD, amphetamines, barbiturates, tranquillisers
White: And were they effective?
Psycho: The threatened revolution never occurred, did it?
Stooge: All because of fear?
Psycho: Fear and its accompaniments we developed complex strategies to
counter the Communist brainwashing techniques. Most of them involved
provoking fear.
Minister: Fear of what, exactly?
Psycho: Fear of being different, fear of being or becoming mad, or deluded,
or psychotic. Fear of the Red Peril. Fear of the Asian Hordes. Fear of illness,
and attack, and loss. Fear of God, for that matter.

122

Minister: Fear of God is a good thing. I dont know about the others.
Psycho: The ends justified the means. The end result is that we contained
the situation. What could have been a formidable force of revolutionaries
and activists was reduced to a bunch of hippies turning on, tuning in and
dropping out.
White: And you controlled what they tuned in to?
Psycho: We had our own radio programs and TV programs. We provided
educational materials and courses. We told them what to fear the most.
White: Your experience could be very valuable to us. How do we get them
to fear the right things?
Psycho: You dont have to. Find out what the already fear and exploit these
existing fears. Everyone is afraid of illness make them fear it more. Paint a
gruesome picture. Appeal to their darkest imaginings. Give them graphics.
One picture is worth a thousand words. Use whatever means you have.
Minister: Is that ethical?
Medico: Its all defensible in the interests of national and international
security.
Minister: Is it defensible in the eyes of God?

123

Psycho: God died a long time ago. Science buried God after Nietsche killed
Him. Psychiatry put the nails in the coffin.
Stooge: How so?
Psycho: Belief in a special relationship with God is an indication of
grandiosity. And grandiosity is a sure sign of madness.
Minister: What is the difference between grandiosity and confidence?
Psycho: A fine line, at times. Depends on your station in life. What is
grandiosity in a layman might merely be confidence in a professional.
Stooge: It depends on qualifications, then?
Psycho: Of course. If the average man in the street thinks he is wise enough
to advise the United Nations or National Government, that would be
grandiosity. If people such as ourselves did the same thing it would be
within our right. A sign of confidence, not madness.
Stooge: What about democracy?
Psycho: Democracy is a mirage. Every despotic regime claims to be
democratic. Democracy is as dead as God is.
White: Democracy can never work. The people are too easily swayed by
what the see on television to make rational decisions about how they should

124

be governed. They dont see the bigger picture. If you give people what they
want, chaos would ensue. No. Order comes from strong leadership. The
masses need to be told what to do. They prefer it that way.
Minister: Im inclined to agree. The Church has never been democratic.
Neither could it be.
Medico: We have always been ruled by an oligarchy and thats the way it
should be. Power needs to be concentrated in a few, steady hands.
White: Hands accustomed to power.
Stooge: Such as our own?
Psycho: Indeed.
White: If the peoples will ruled, there would be no taxes.
Medico: Health and education would be free.
Psycho: And that would never do.
Stooge: Why not?
White: Free education would be the thin end of the wedge. The children of
the poor would soon be competing with the children of the rich for jobs. If

125

health care was free people would not appreciate the treatments theyre
given. Theyd shop around for the best doctors.
Stooge: Wouldnt that be a good thing?
Medico: Society would collapse. Doctors would lose their authority. People
would start to think they can manage their own health. That would be a
disaster for the profession.
Psycho: We have spent billions of dollars convincing people that they are
receiving free health and education or reasonably free health and
education. They are used to high taxes, and they are used to the status quo.
People are suspicious of change and thats the way it should be.
White: Change needs to be controlled. By able leaders. The people want to
be led through these difficult times. We can provide advice to the leaders.
That way we remain in control of any change in society.
Stooge: So democracy is a fallacy?
Psycho: Democracy is one of many modern mirages. Along with free will
and free speech. These are important things for people to believe in. They
need to feel free. The reality, though, is that they never can be.
White: The human condition does not allow freedom for all.
Psycho: The human mind is frightened of freedom. If you give people
freedom they dont know how to spend their time.

126

Medico: They need particular freedoms. They need freedom to make

money, within limits. They need freedom to enjoy themselves, within limits.
They need freedom to express themselves, within limits. There are always
limits and somebody needs to set those limits.
Psycho: And somebody needs to enforce them.
White: Our responsibility is to make sure that those who make the
decisions understand the importance of security and order.
Stooge: The New World Order?
Psycho: The New World Order is not very new. We set up the
infrastructure decades ago. The only difference is that instead of two
superpowers there is only one.
Medico: And that Superpower was always more powerful than the other.
White: Capitalism won over Communism. That is clear. Thats why we
need a new adversary.
Psycho: A worthy adversary.
Stooge: The Islamic World?

127

Minister: The Moslems subscribe to a doctrine of war. Mohammed was a

warrior, after all.
Stooge: What did he worry about?
Minister: A warrior. A soldier. Really a commander. The only difference
was that he claimed his commands came directly from God.
Stooge: Not much different to the President of the United States, then?
Medico: Not funny, Ross. The President may claim, from time to time, that
God is on his side. He doesnt claim to communicate directly with God.
Psycho: If he did wed have to regard him as a schizophrenic. Only they
talk directly with God.
Stooge: So Mohammed was a schizophrenic?
Psycho: And so was Jesus Christ, in all likelihood. The man thought he was
the Son of God, for goodness sakes. How much more grandiose can you get?
He also claimed to have special powers. Thats a sure sign of madness.
Minister: What about the miracles?
Psycho: Its easy to convince illiterate fishermen and villagers that you can
perform miracles. Show them a hologram or a television set. Miracles are

128

commonplace. We can all do miracles its a miracle that we placed a man

on the moon. Its a miracle that we unravelled the secrets of DNA.
Medico: Penicillin was a miracle.
Stooge: What about healing the sick and lame?
Minister: What about walking on water and feeding the five thousand?
Psycho: Surely you dont believe these fairy tales? The Bible was written
by people who were actively creating myths. Every religion claims that its
heroes perform miracles. Which are we to believe?
Minister: Only the Christian Bible is the true Word of God.
White: Lets not argue, friends. The Christian Bible is certainly what we
swear upon in courts of law. It is the book on which the foundations of our
society are based. No other religious text should be viewed with the same
credibility. Having said that, the Bible cannot be taken literally by any
thinking person these days.
Minister: The inspired Word of God is to be taken literally.
Stooge: What about the creation of the world in seven days? What about
Eve being created from Adams rib? Surely you dont believe in these
things?

129

Minister: I certainly do. The theory of evolution is just a theory. I know that
my ancestors werent monkeys. Im not sure about the blacks, though, I
must confess. It is possible that only whites are created in the image of
God.
Psycho: So you think God is a white man?
Minister: A being, a spirit, call God what you will. Jesus was a white man,
we all know that.
Stooge: I thought he was a Semite. That would make him a brown man,
surely?
Minister: He was the Son of God. His actual skin colour remains a mystery.
He was all colours and all shapes.
Psycho: He was a brown-skinned political dissident in a country ruled by
white-skinned Romans. He was killed because of his radical teachings and
that was it. The Romans made a religion out of this man because it suited
them, politically, to do so.
White: To unify the Roman territories under one religion.
Minister: So you dont believe in the resurrection?
Psycho: Not as much as I believe in Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy!

130

Stooge: What about the origin of man, Mr. Minister? Surely you can see the
similarity between humans and other apes?
Minister: God created men as men and monkeys as monkeys.
Stooge: Apes are not monkeys. Apes dont have tails. They have faces
similar to our own.
Medico: And behavioural similarities.
Stooge: It is said that we share 98 percent of our DNA with chimpanzees.
Minister: I find that hard to believe. The Bible says that God created man
after He had created all the animals.
Stooge: What about extinct animals? What about the dinosaurs?
Minister: The dinosaurs were failed creations they are proof of what Ive
been saying. They were probably destroyed in the Flood.
White: Preposterous!
Stooge: If the flood occurred, it occurred only a few thousand years ago.
Dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago.
Minister: What evidence do you have of this?

131

Stooge: The fossil record.

Minister: These fossils are open to many interpretations. Some say that they
were created by God out of rock. Models for His later creations. If the world
was created only 6000 years ago, how could there have been life on the
planet 65 million years ago?
Psycho: Indeed the two figures are incompatible. Both cannot be true. It is
incomprehensible to me that people, in this day and age, can believe that the
earth was created 6000 years ago.
White: Incomprehensible.
Psycho: It reflects a failure of the educational system. A failure in the
teaching of science.

Medico: It is impossible to understand biology or geology or physics and

astronomy for that matter without accepting the fundamental tenets of
evolution and the enormous age of the earth.
Minister: It has never interfered with my career. I am a man of God. I
believe in Gods Word. Down to the last letter.

132

SCENE ELEVEN:
A week later. Back at the Mens Club, Professor White meets with Mr.
Banker and Mr. Magnate.
White: I think we have the men for the ethics committee the meeting with
Mr. Minister and Professor Psycho went quite well. The priest knows next to
nothing about science. As long as we can find a biblical quote to justify what
were doing, hell go along with what we want. Professor Psycho is a very
suitable candidate indeed. He shares our ideology.
Banker: He understands the need for a eugenic solution to the population
problem?
White: He does, if his previous work is anything to go by.
Magnate: And he understands the need for secrecy?
White: He is very discreet.

Magnate: How is the biological program going?

White: Not bad. There are a few hitches, but the epidemic is still
spreading.
Banker: According to my sources more and more people are doubting the
altruism of the Sole Superpower. Especially with the bombing of

133

Afghanistan.
Magnate: What about all the War on Terrorism rhetoric? Our newspapers
have been full of it.
Banker: Maybe a limited use of nuclear weapons will distract people from
the truth. At least suggesting it may provoke enough anxiety.
White: It could backfire. People might say that if America is prepared to
use nuclear weapons they would not hesitate at using biological weapons.
Banker: Weve successfully excluded HIV/AIDS from the official list of
bioweapons. People have difficulty seeing what theyre not told about.
Magnate: People are reluctant to believe in conspiracies of this magnitude.
Makes them worry about being paranoid. Thats a big asset to our program.
White: This is an area that Professor Psycho can help us with. Hes an
expert in paranoia.
Magnate: Creating paranoia or treating it?
White: Both. The treatment is even worse than the condition itself. Psycho
is a strong advocate of assertive treatment.
Banker: Assertive treatment?

134

White: Seclusion and solitary confinement combined with injections. Very

effective at stopping people from talking about uncomfortable subjects.
Magnate: What sort of injections? Maybe we have opportunities here.
White: Im sure we do. Professor Medico is rubbing his hands in glee. His
company is moving steadily into the area of psychoactive drugs.
Banker: Chemical restraints?
White: And others. There are drugs available that increase anxiety. Drugs
that stop people from sleeping, and drugs that cause nightmares when they
do go to sleep. There are drugs that cause depression and others that cause
mania. The possibilities are endless.
Magnate: Wont people question our expertise in this field?
White: Not if we have Professor Psycho on Board. He is highly esteemed in
his field. Once a contender for a Nobel Prize, Im told.
Banker: The Nobel Prize for medicine?
White: No, the Peace Prize. Hes still in with a chance, considering his
work regarding terrorism. Hes been identifying likely rogue states and
terrorist cells.
Magnate: Any surprises there?

135

White: No. Hes identified the usual culprits North Korea, Afghanistan,
Iraq, Iran, Libya, Cuba
Magnate: What about Pakistan?
White: Pakistan has performed well recently. They have been supporting
the War on Terrorism. Theyve become flavour of the month. A Moslem
State that supports the American effort.
Banker: And theyve got nukes.
Magnate: Can these Moslems be trusted? The Pakistan Government is, after
all, a military dictatorship.
White: A dictator is merely a strong leader.
Banker: And our Allies supply the Pakistanis with weapons. This is good
for the industry.
White: Dictators are easier to control than democratically elected
governments. Not that there are any genuinely democratic governments in
office.
Magnate: What about here in the West?

136

White: People are given limited choices. Whichever moron is put forward
by the major parties. Thats the choice.
Banker: And the major parties have a common agenda. Theyre all in the
same club. Neither party wants to alienate the business community or the
major corporations.
Magnate: Economic growth requires all governments to support the big
corporations. After all more than half of the worlds biggest economies are
corporations rather than nations.
White: Which augers well for our own enterprise.
Banker: How is the mothers and babies project going, Jim?
White: Not as well as it could. Weve still to get rid of Homo and Coconut.
Dill Ding has also been asking some questions after her trip up north.
Magnate: Maybe Psycho can have a word with her. He seems to be an
expert at getting people to see other perspectives.
White: We can try. What about Homo and Coconut?
Magnate: Send the poofter abroad, like we suggested. If he refuses just give
him the sack.
White: And Coconut?

137

Magnate: I thought she was being redirected to the area of migrant health?
The Abos dont like immigrants. Especially black immigrants.
White: Mrs. Coconut may be an exception. Shes a woman with
surprisingly high principles.
Banker: We dont expect you to tell her the whole story. Just enough to
keep her quiet. Explain that Australia needs to protect her borders against
foreigners. She should identify with that.
White: And the detention camps?
Banker: Explain that the detention camps are really just temporary holding
areas for potential terrorists. Point out that they are mainly Moslems in these
camps. She doesnt like Moslems, does she?
White: We havent explored the matter yet. But I think she is at least
nominally a Christian.
Magnate: Get the priest to speak to her. He can set her straight on the issue.
I understand he has little time for non-believers.
Banker: The problem is the priest is not conversant with the most basic of
scientific facts. Hes quite mad.
Magnate: All the better.

138

White: What are we to do about the global investigations into chemical and
biological warfare? Theyve set up a new court to prosecute those guilty of
genocide.
Magnate: Who has set this up? Our friends or our enemies?
White: Fortunately its our friends. The United Nations. And theyre
controlled by the Allies.
Banker: In that case they will limit their prosecutions. Only Rwanda and

Yugoslavia and the like will be investigated. Maybe they will prosecute
Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.
Magnate: They dont want to look too closely at Hussein. If they do theyll
find that it was the Americans who gave the man chemical weapons.
Banker: Yeah, he was on the CIA payroll for decades.
White: So was Osama Bin Laden, for that matter. The CIA supported Bin
Laden when he was fighting the Russians.
Banker: They supported the Taliban, too. For the same reason.
Magnate: Things can change rapidly. Friends can rapidly become enemies,
and enemies can become friends.

139

White: Friends are not necessarily allies, and allies are not necessarily
friends.
Banker: True. Enemies may be allied against a common enemy.
Magnate: Were playing with fire, but at least weve got control of the
matches.

Banker: What are we to do about China? The AIDS epidemic is not

controlling the population of the most populous nation on earth.
White: Weve got some of our team working with the Chinese
Government. Were advising them on health care for the Tibetans. Were
working on some contracts for Mongolia, too.
Banker: Thats still not good enough. We need some action on the whole
population problem.
Magnate: What about heroin? The British had a lot of success with opium
in the past.
White: The British are still engaged in the Opium Wars, and so are the
Americans. But the Chinese are fighting back with the same weapons. They
are exporting heroin to the West.

140

Magnate: Weve a lot of work to do before injecting drugs becomes part of

mainstream Chinese culture.
Banker: We are increasingly getting access to Chinese TV. We can use fear
of AIDS to introduce more needles. And we can use it to promote condom
use, of course.
Magnate: Maybe we could infect the condoms.
White: People are sure to notice if China follows the same pattern of AIDS
as Africa.
Banker: What about introducing HIV in immunizations?
White: We have to be careful with the Chinese. Theyre more sceptical
about Western help than the Africans.
Magnate: I dont see why. Given the history of the colonial behaviour in
Africa.
White: Africans have always seen America as their great protector.
Remember the reception Bill Clinton received?
Magnate: When he shouted Get back, get back to the over-friendly
Africans?

141

White: Precisely. He was afraid. Terrified. He thought they were going to

attack him.
Magnate: With big grins?
White: He must have had a guilty conscience. Or maybe hes just afraid of
blacks even friendly, smiling blacks.
Banker: Does he know about the cause of AIDS, do you think?
White: I dont see how he could not. He was, after all, the head of the
American armed forces. He must have some knowledge of their biological
and chemical weapons programs.
Magnate: Perhaps not. The CIA are a law unto themselves, as you know.
Banker: Thats how Reagan and Bush managed to keep their hands clean
regarding the Contra scandal.
Magnate: A bloody miracle, that one. They really have the best spin doctors
in the States. Remember the Wag the Dog episode?
White: Too close for comfort, that one. Even the mainstream media were
cynical about the American President ordering the bombing just as he was
threatened with impeachment.

142

Banker: Fortunately weve got a better man in the White House now. Thick
as two planks but hes a friend of the rich. An oil man, like his father.
White: He must know about the cause of AIDS.
Magnate: He must, seeing as his father was head of the CIA.

Banker: How long do you think we can get away with all of this?
Magnate: The current rulers will remain in control. Rather than being found
out, my concern is that any nuclear war might get out of control.
White: I understand we now have tactical nuclear weapons.
Magnate: Are they safe?
White: No nuclear bomb, or any bomb, for that matter, can be described as
safe. It depends on whose hand is on the button.
Magnate: Does Bush have a steady hand?
White: Hell listen to his advisers.
Banker: And his father. The problem is that wars win votes. If he sees his
popularity slipping he may be tempted to use more nuclear missiles than is
wise.

143

White: In which case our mission to control global overpopulation will be

greatly assisted. Provided we ourselves are not affected by the radiation.
Magnate: We have some of the best bunkers. Building more could be good
for the industry.
Banker: Maybe we can get Bill Ding into the bunker business. His
experience in building private prisons could be of help. Might be able to
build some permanent detention camps, too.
Magnate: And have them run by private enterprise?
White: They already are. The Commonwealth Government has long
engaged a private prisons corporation to staff the detention centres. An
American company, Wackenhut Corrections Corporation. Based in Florida.
Magnate: Jed Bushs State?
Banker: Small world, isnt it?

White: Our main problem is the fact that more people are recognising that
HIV could be used as a biological weapon. There have been some recent
exposes.
Magnate: Thats nothing new. They were claiming that back in the mid
eighties.

144

White: This is different. Time has told its story. The epidemiology of the
epidemic is making it more and more obvious.
Magnate: Perhaps a campaign denouncing these people as terrorists?
Banker: That could work.
White: It might backfire. Drawing attention to the connection between
AIDS and terrorism could be dangerous. They might also see the connection
between AIDS and genocide.
Banker: The eugenics connection?
White: Precisely.
Magnate: Perhaps a program of selective assassination? Seems to be
working in Israel.
White: Theres too many of them. Millions are starting to wonder, from
what Im told.
Banker: Perhaps including Mrs. Coconut and Dr. Homo.
Magnate: They can be dealt with.
White: How?

145

Magnate: Well think of something. Its too late to turn back now. We have
to think of something.
Banker: Maybe we can have them arrested.
White: On what charges?
Magnate: Collaboration with terrorists?
White: The evidence of this?
Magnate: We can manufacture the evidence.

SCENE TWELVE
Two weeks later. At the Institute board meeting. Professors White, Stooge,
Psycho and Medico, Mr. Banker, Mr. Magnate and Mr. Minister have
invited Dr. Omo, Mrs. Coconut and Dill Ding to put their plan into action.
White: Welcome. These are difficult times. The War on Terrorism has
dragged on longer than any of us expected. The AIDS epidemic keeps
worsening. We need to come up with some solutions.
Omo: My impression is that the War on Terrorism is a farce.
Psycho: On the contrary. The threat is right on our doorstep.

146

Medico: Gee. Youre not one of those collaborators, are you, Rampant?
Omo: It just seems like a lot of bombing to get at one man.
Medico: This Bin Laden is a shifty character. He shifts from place to place.
Thats why our boys havent been able to get him.
Coconut: And if they do kill Osama Bin Laden will that end the War on
Terrorism?
Psycho: Theres also other rogue states to deal with. We cant stop with just
one terrorist. Weve got to neutralise the lot.
Coconut: Wont many innocent lives be lost in the process?
White: War necessitates a certain number of civilian casualties.
Medico: Im sure our boys are keeping collateral damage to a minimum.
Omo: Thats not what Ive heard
Magnate: You are sounding like a collaborator.
Omo: I am a pacifist. I believe all doctors should be pacifists.
Banker: A dangerous philosophy, young man.

147

Magnate: A stupid bloody philosophy if you ask me.

Coconut: Im a pacifist too. I dont think this war is justifiable either.
White: War is sometimes necessary to establish peace and security.
Omo: Theres not much peace and security in Afghanistan at the moment.
Banker: Thats the fault of the Taliban. Once the Taliban is crushed we can
establish peace.
Omo: How will this peace be policed? With guns and threats?
White: Dont be cynical, Herb. If you think so much of Afghanistan, we
can arrange for you to go there.
Omo: No way.
Medico: Really. They need doctors there. A dangerous mission, sure, but
one that youll cope with, we feel.
Omo: Im not going to Afghanistan.
White: What about Iraq?
Omo: Why Iraq?

148

Medico: They need good doctors there, too. You have expertise in dealing
with Third World populations. We feel your expertise is being wasted here.
Coconut: Wont Herbs homosexuality be a problem?
White: Im sure Dr. Omo can be discreet.
Omo: And if Im not?
White: It would be wiser if you were.
Minister: God did not design men to have sex with men. Homosexuality is
against the law in Iraq, as it is in other Moslem countries.
Omo: Im not going. Find someone else. I did not come out of the closet to
be put in prison for my sexual preference.
Ding: Wise decision, Herb.
Magnate: Goddammit, Omo, someone needs to go there. Youre the best
man for the job. Think about your responsibilities. To the institute and to the
world.
Omo: Why dont you go?
Magnate: Im not a bloody doctor. If I was I probably would.

149

Omo: I find that hard to believe.

Magnate: Are you calling me a bloody liar?
Omo: A liar and a hypocrite. I know how you dislike me. Youre just trying
to get rid of me.
Medico: Not at all, Herb. Youre a talented public health worker. A brilliant
doctor. Wed be sad to lose you, but fortunately it would only be
temporary.
Omo: Not if I get arrested, it wouldnt.
Banker: Maybe we can think of somewhere else. What about Cuba?
Omo: Theres no shortage of doctors in Cuba, as far as Im aware. I
wouldnt mind going there for a spell, mind you.
White: Well see what we can do. There are other possibilities perhaps
Libya. You have experience in Africa. That should help.
Omo: Why do I get the feeling Im not wanted here? If you want me to
resign, just tell me.
Magnate: We want you to resign. Youre a bloody troublemaker, thats
what you are. There. Ive said it. Lets get on with business.

150

Homo: Very well, I resign. But dont think youve heard the last of this.

Dr. Homo storms off.

Coconut: That was a bit harsh, dont you think?

Magnate: Dont you start.
Coconut: I was under the impression that dissent was encouraged by the
scientific establishment.
Ding: So was I.
White: Dissent is fine. As long as the dissent is evidence based.
Banker: And as long as the dissent is politically acceptable.
Magnate: And economically acceptable.
Medico: Dr Omo is foolish to bite the hand that feeds him.
Magnate: We can destroy his career.
White: Not that we would, of course.

151

Stooge: Do you think hell make trouble for the Institute?

Magnate: Whos going to listen to a drunken faggot like Homo?
Coconut: He seemed quite sober.
White: Hes known to have a drinking problem.
Ding: Isnt that just rumour?
Medico: Theres no smoke without fire.
Coconut: Well, he seemed like a very nice man to me. And a conscientious
doctor too.
Magnate: Appearances can be deceptive. Hes a bloody idiot. Whats more
hes a Commie and a collaborator with terrorists.
Coconut: Surely not.
Banker: We have our sources.
Psycho: I think we should leave this matter to the authorities. It is possible,
given this mans behaviour, that he could be suffering from a mental illness.
He seems to be suffering from delusions of persecution.
Magnate: Yeah, hes clearly paranoid.

152

Ding: Do you think so?

White: Anyone who thinks the War on Terrorism is a farce is bound to be
paranoid.
Banker: Or at least seriously confused.
Psycho: Not just confused insane. I think the man may need treatment.
His homosexuality alone is evidence of his illness. He has also shown signs
of being in sympathy with terrorists
Magnate: And anarchists.
Psycho: Ill need to talk to the Doctors Health Advisory Committee. They
may be able to ensure that he gets treatment before its too late.
Medico: Treatment in a locked ward?
Psycho: We prefer to call it a secure facility.

153

SCENE THIRTEEN
A week later. Dr. Homo meets Mrs. Coconut in a local caf.
Coconut: Honestly, Rampant. I think they treated you terribly.
Omo: I was foolish to trust them.
Coconut: Im wondering what to do myself. If I resign, Ill lose the
opportunity to monitor what theyre doing.
Omo: So you believe they need to be monitored.
Coconut: After what Ive heard, they are not motivated by a genuine
interest in public health. They seem to have a pile of vested interests.
Professor Medico seems more intent on developing markets for his drug
company. Mr. Magnate is a dangerous man. And that Professor Psycho. Id
hate to see him heading the ethics committee.
Omo: That seems likely if you resign from the Board.
Coconut: At the same time, I dont see how I can continue to work with
them.

Omo: What do you think they are hiding?

Coconut: About the cause of AIDS, you mean?

154

Omo: Yes.
Coconut: Well, I am not medically trained, but I get the impression that
they are more interested in controlling the population than providing
solutions to international health problems.
Omo: This is true, but what about AIDS, specifically?
Coconut: You mean, do I believe it to be a man-made plague?
Omo: Exactly. There are just too many coincidences. How did the epidemic
spread through the Third World so quickly? Why are the previous targets of
eugenics being specifically affected?
Coconut: The Jews are not being affected, are they?
Omo: No, but all the other targets are. Maybe there are eminent Jews
involved in the genocide.
Coconut: Its possible, but I just dont know for sure. What I do know is
that the mining and insurance industries have shown scant regard for human
rights in the past. I cant see these leopards changing their spots.
Omo: It is a remarkable coincidence that the same continents that were
accused of over-breeding are now affected by AIDS. It defies all odds that a

155

natural epidemic should target American gays and African blacks at

precisely the same time.
Coconut: Is that what happened?
Omo: The first outbreak of HIV in gays occurred in San Francisco, Los
Angeles and New York in the early 1980s. Thats precisely when the HIV
epidemic began in Central Africa. Whats more, the AIDS epidemic spread
rapidly to Asia and the Pacific region to the very populations that were
said to pose a threat to global population statistics.
Coconut: They are remarkable coincidences. But do you have proof?
Omo: Ive been investigating biological warfare research in the 1960s and
1970s. Did you know that in the late 1960s an American military doctor by
the name of Donald MacArthur was granted funds to develop a germ that
could destroy the immune system?
Coconut: I did not.
Omo: His rationale was that if they did not give him the money the
Communists would beat America in the race.
Coconut: The race?
Omo: The race for military supremacy. The mentality was the United States
should be ahead of the Russians in all areas of military capability.

156

Coconut: And this mentality prevailed?

Omo: Cold War paranoia was rife in the 1960s and 1970s. At the same time
there was increasing hysteria that food and natural resources would run out
if the population increase was not countered.
Coconut: And the main continents pointed at were Africa, South America
and Asia, I suppose
Omo: Yeah, the Third World, as its now referred to. Then it was being
called the underdeveloped nations. Later they called then same countries
developing nations. They happened to be the same countries that had just
achieved independence from colonial rule.
Coconut: Do you think revenge might have something to do with it?
Omo: Many terrible things have been done because of revenge. But theres
more to the story. The eugenics movement, for example.
Coconut: Tell me more.
Omo: The term eugenics was coined by Francis Galton. He was Charles
Darwins cousin. The first eugenics society was formed by Galton and
Major Leonard Darwin, Charles son, in the 1880s. They advocated
segregation and sterilization of degenerates and inferior races.

157

Coconut: As did the Nazis?

Omo: The eugenics program of the Nazis was imported from England.
Brought to the Kaisers court, initially, by an Englishman by the name of
Houston Chamberlain. The Germans substituted German supremacy for
British supremacy.
Coconut: Both doctrines supported white supremacy, then?
Omo: They certainly did. And supremacy of established elites. Thats why
eugenics was warmly embraced in Japan, as well. And in the USA as well as
various European states.
Coconut: What about Australia?
Omo: Eugenics was very popular in the universities. You can find proeugenics books in university libraries to this day. I found several such books
when I decided to look into this matter. Of course, Australia was a bastion of
the White Supremacy Movement, along with South Africa.
Coconut: I understand that Japanese were regarded as honorary whites in
South Africa.
Omo: They were. The White Supremacists in Australia accepted several
non-whites into the country, too. During the era of the White Australia
Policy, I mean.

158

Coconut: I get the impression that the White Australia Policy was never
fully abandoned.
Omo: If you look at whos ruling the country today, that impression will be
strengthened.
Coconut: And if you look at the immigration policy of this country
Omo: The same thing becomes evident.
Coconut: So what are we to do?
Omo: Watch and wait.
Coconut: Is that enough?
Omo: And ask questions.
Coconut: What sort of questions?
Omo: Questions about the epidemiology, history and demographics of
AIDS.
Coconut: What about you?
Omo: Im going to ask questions, too. But I fear I wont be returning to the
Institute. You will have to be my eyes and ears.

159

Coconut: Ill do my best. These are hard men. Ill be hard pressed to keep
my position on the Board.
Omo: Theyll try and distract you. Ill be in touch with whats going on,
dont worry.
Coconut: Im very worried.
Omo: Maybe Dill Ding will be helpful.

Coconut: I doubt it. Shes a puppet. Shes too keen for the approval of the
professors
Omo: Well see.

SCENE FIFTEEN: IMMORTALITY

At the Institute. Professor Stooge has a new scheme. He tells Professors
White and Medico. Mr. Banker and Mr. Magnate are unimpressed.
Stooge: Ive been working on a new scheme. Its very exciting. Im selling
THE PHOTOGRAPH and BRAIN PRESERVATION.
White: Why the capitals?

160

Stooge: The PHOTOGRAPH is sure to be a winner. Its a totally intense

photograph of the entire body and brain. You can get the PHOTOGRAPH
taken at any age, and as many times as you like, but it carries a small risk
with each PHOTOGRAPH.
Medico: Tell us more.
Stooge: The PHOTOGRAPH is more than just a photograph, its a
significant life and death decision. It involves the most modern radiographic
techniques, video recordings, infra-red sensors and PET scanning, along
with MRI scans, CAT scans and plain X-Rays. For some of these scans one
needs to take a small radio-active drink. This carries a minute risk, of
course.
Medico: Of causing cancer somewhere down the track. Comparable to the
risk of being struck by lightening, one might say.
Stooge: Indeed one might. But the risk will pale into insignificance when
the benefits are pointed out. This PHOTOGRAPH is a true record left for
posterity. In two hundred years time people will know exactly what Ross
Stooge looked like and what he thought like.
White: How can anyone know exactly what you thought like after you die?
Perhaps theyll get an idea from your writings and other recordings, but
Stooge: What I have in mind is quite different. Brain Preservation. Im
going to start up a new business. It will involve working closely with the

161

pathology and physics departments at the university. Well need the boys in
biochemistry, medical imaging and nuclear medicine as well. The dentists
too they can help localise and label the network.
Banker: The network?
Stooge: The network connected to the third eye. The mental map all of us
have in our brains. Its a neural network. It can be localised, preserved and
studied. Eventually people can travel inside their ancestors brains learn
where they went wrong and right. Study their every action or the
interesting ones at least. No more mystery about what your father or mother
felt like. Find out for yourself. And leave a perfectly accurate record on your
own life for future generations.
Medico: How can it be done?
Stooge: Its a simple plan with a complex strategy. Immortality. Or the next
best thing. Leaving ones body and brain to science but not so that its cut
into slices. Keeping the brain whole, but introducing a radioactive dye and
cholesterol-binder shortly after death will allow accurate records of the
neural network in the entire brain to be made. The additional option is to
have the brain preserved intact until the science to analyse the specimen in
this way is available.
Banker: How much time will you need to develop this idea?

162

Stooge: Give me five years to develop it, 10 years for the physics guys and
another five with the graphics chaps. 20 years in all. We can easily keep
brains for 20 years. Store them in formaline. Well need to make some
special buildings.
Banker: Sounds like this project will cost a lot.
Stooge: I think it will be self-funding. People will love to have the
opportunity at immortality. To be recorded, warts and all, for posterity. Just
to imagine that people can re-create your life from your neural network
blows you away. Everything you see. Everything you hear. Every movement
that you make. All can be checked and rechecked by future generations with
my scheme. What a buzz.
Medico: Gee, it sure is a great scheme if it works. Youll have to
convince me that its scientifically possible.
Magnate: Im not so sure its a good idea. The truth will be known about
our innermost secrets. Nothing can be hidden.
Stooge: But think of the power. Future generations can re-create your
thinking patterns. No more doubts about history theyll be able to check
the truth out for themselves.
Magnate: Thats what Im worried about.

163

White: What preservation technique do you have in mind, Ross?

Stooge: Something permanent. Constructing an exact replica of the brains
neural network out of durable materials a glass-plastic polymer silicone
based, is what Id suggest.
Medico: The brains circulation can be mapped out, even while alive. It
would require an angiogram using radio-opaque dye. This would show
where, exactly, the brains blood flow is directed.
Stooge: Subsequent generations will be able to explore the internal brain
circulation of their loved ones. We can study the brains of the great
contributors to human affairs. The greatest scientists, artists and statesmen.
We can find out exactly what they saw and heard. We can use computer
technology to activate the created neural network find out what exactly
made them think the way they did. We can see them from their own
perspective.
White: The ideas got potential. As long as people are proud of
themselves.
Magnate: Proud of themselves as they really are. Such honesty means that
history cannot be re-written. The proof of false identities will be evident
from the neural network.
Banker: That could be problematic.

164

Stooge: It would put a lot of onus on people to do the right thing.

Minister: Its trying to play God.
Stooge: It could shed light on why people believe in God it gives us an
opportunity to bring people back from the dead. In holographic form, at
least.
White: It wont be the same as genuine immortality.
Stooge: Who knows how far the technology can take us. The human soul is
contained within the brain. This gives a genuine window into the soul. Even
the eyes can be preserved. And the ears.
White: Thinking, seeing, hearing disembodied brains. Dont you think
some people might think that grotesque?
Stooge: Perhaps. But others will grasp at the opportunity to have
themselves remembered in great detail. Many people seek only to be
remembered.
Banker: They may want to be remembered, but not exactly how they
actually are. They want the myth to be remembered. They dont want to
have their dirty secrets remembered too.
Minister: It would place unprecedented pressure on those to be preserved to
live a noble life. I can see a positive side.

165

Psycho: I think the idea is brilliant. Imagine future generations swimming,

in cyberspace, through your ventricles, floating in the CSF, surfing on the
cranial blood flow, binding to particular molecules.
Stooge: Building the best possible molecules in their brain for future
generations to admire could become a primary objective for the older folk.
Something to do before they die.
Psycho: And the PHOTOGRAPH could be taken when the person
concerned is in their prime. Using stem cell research and cloning techniques,
we could add to the possibility of immortality.
Minister: But the brain would be disembodied
Stooge: It wouldnt have to be. We could preserve replicas of the entire
bodys nervous system and circulatory system. Models could be made out of
conductive metals like copper, or silver, or gold. The rich people could get
their brain models made in gold.
White: Making sense of the neural network would be quite a challenge. But
who knows what science can come up with?
Stooge: We can preserve samples of DNA. Then, when the technology
becomes available, we can create soft tissues muscle, skin, internal
organs.

166

Minister: Wouldnt that be playing God?

Psycho: If science has the opportunity to play God, shouldnt that
opportunity be used to the fullest?
Stooge: Think of the contribution we could make to history.
White: And to social order. We could preserve the brains of criminals
find out why they did what they did. See their deeds through their own
eyes.
Magnate: We could insert computer chips into criminals, anyway.
Stooge: This goes much further than computer chips. The technology
available to us can be much more specific. I have had some preliminary
discussions with the pathologists and physicists. If one can create an exact
replica of the neural network we can truly unravel the secrets of the brain.
Psycho: And if we truly understand the brain we can get at the real truth of
human personality.
Stooge: And with developments in nano-technology we can introduce
microscopic machines into the cerebral blood circulation. We can know
exactly what it looks like in a living human brain. Using fibreoptic
techniques we can explore the inside of the brain of people now dead.
Minister: And work out how to bring them back to life?

167

Stooge: Not exactly. We can make robots that are almost exact replicas. We
can even improve on some things. Make the robots out of more durable
materials, for example.
White: Robots with a difference. These ones would have the brains of real
people as the model for their brain circuits. It could work. But would we
want to be that candid with the coming generations?
Minister: Might they not blame us for behaving as we have?
Psycho: A risk that I, for one, would be willing to take. I have made the
best decisions according to the data I have had available to me. I am proud
of the decisions I have made. Some have been hard decisions, but they have
been good ones in the main.
Magnate: I would rather be remembered by what people write about me.
White: People have written some terrible things about you over the years,
Rod.
Magnate: The truth is not something we should leave to history, or science,
or fate. Or to subsequent generations.
Banker: Im inclined to agree. People will blame us for acting the way we
have. Think of all the things you are ashamed of! All will be known. Every
time you looked at someone with envy or lust. Every time you lied. Every

168

time you ran someone down, every time you were unreasonable or irrational.
There would be no more personal mythmaking.
Stooge: But think of the power. To have ones brain live for ever. Who
knows, in the future they might even find a way to regenerate the body from
DNA.
White: By cloning, you mean?
Stooge: By cloning and stem-cell technology.
Minister: Isnt that uncomfortably close to Nazi ideas of creating a superrace?
Stooge: Not at all. This is merely a logical development of existing science.
We would need to trust future generations, of course. But if we train them to
venerate us we could be seen as true masters of the universe. Pioneers and
ground-breakers.
White: Im still interested. Do you have more details, Ross?
Stooge: I certainly do. This is roughly what I have in mind. Everyone has a
unique neural network, do you agree?
Psycho: It appears so. With every new experience, with every new thought
that network is changing, though.

169

Stooge: Precisely. And everyone has a mental map, do they not? And this
mental map corresponds to a neural map a network of nerve cells which is
constantly remodelling and forming new connections.
Psycho: That is true. New axonal and dendritic connections are forming
throughout life.
Stooge: And these reflect our changing experiences what we see, what we
hear, what we do, where we go. By knowing details of this neural network
we can create a model of the real life map of the person down to details of
every place the person went to and everything they said.
Psycho: Theoretically, such a map does exist, buried in the complexity of
the brain.
Stooge: So the more accurately we can image the brain, the more accurately
we can work out how these neural networks function. Using modern
imaging techniques, combined with post-mortem fixation of the brain we
can get a very accurate picture of which cells are connected to which.
Medico: And perhaps the order in which those connections formed.
Stooge: If, for example, we can map the entire neural network of the visual
cortex, and map the connections to the eyes and pineal, we can trace back,
using computer technology, along the formation of the entire visual system.
We can create holographic replicas of what the person has seen throughout
life.

170

Medico: I can imagine that. It means that people could see the world
through your eyes, long after you die.
Stooge: Exactly. And if the same principles were applied to the auditory
system, one could map everything that you have heard and said.
Psycho: There could be no more pretending.
Stooge: Pretension will be discovered.
Banker: That could be very dangerous.
White: But if we control this technology
Medico: If we control this technology, we can modify our own neural
networks even after we die. We can idealise our own brains. Make them
better than they really are.
Stooge: We can create virtual reality images of our own minds. Future
generations will turn to us for guidance.
Banker: Or condemn us forever.

Stooge: This is how it can be done. First, we take the PHOTOGRAPH.

This should be done when the brain is working at its full potential. We

171

make a time record, and an electronic record. The longest time you have
been awake can be used as a starting point. Or you could orient the neural
network according to a map. Record the time and date, create a voice-print
on a mobile phone that way its beamed, via satellite, into outer space. We
could make both digital recordings and analog recordings of voice patterns.
These could be used to create accurate voice patterns in the robots. Then you
create a computer disk. Data can eventually be used to create a hologram
first a cyber-hologram, then a real hologram. With the option of storing
some DNA, we could wait for emerging technology to recreate the body.
Wed use plastic, glass or fibreglass to preserve the brain specimen. To do
this wed need to preserve the neuronal cell-wall, perhaps using a
phospholipid-binder, or maybe a cholesterol-binder. Later wed introduce
fluid into the fibreglass network model. We could also make metal models
out of copper, silver or gold. Wed use them to study neural networks.
Medico: Everything you see and focus on could be recreated
holographically. Whatever the eye has fallen upon. Like a video recording of
ones visual life experiences.
Stooge: The journey of life plotted on a map. We could use dental records,
and the neuromuscular circuit map to re-create speech history. Everything
you have ever said will be recorded for posterity.
Magnate: And you think thats a good thing?

172

Medico: We could alter the volume and cadence, we could edit unpleasant
or untrue statements. We could translate into other languages. Learn from
past mistakes. We could improve humanity.
Minister: Isnt such a pursuit rather vain?
White: Vanity or pride? Or an honest need to be remembered? But how
many will have the honesty? How many times have your eyes been drawn to
what they shouldnt? Would you like your children to witness everything
youve seen through your own eyes?
Banker: No way.
Magnate: Me neither. It would be a bloody disaster.
Psycho: Im not so sure. Im sure we can modify how we are remembered.
We can censor out what we dont want known.
Medico: I dont see how. This technique, if it works, could be close to
infallible. The brains neural networks may tell future generations more than
wed like them to know.
White: There is much that we need to keep hidden. If we are to be
remembered fondly, that is.
Psycho: Id rather be remembered accurately than fondly.

173

White: Despite all the things youve done wrong?

Psycho: Yes. I want to be remembered as I really am. I have much to be
proud about. I have devoted my life to the pursuit of scientific truth. This is
truly a golden opportunity.
Minister: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Stooge: Theres more. Following the PHOTOGRAPH, people would need
to make a record of their journeys for a period of time, maybe even for a few
years. This would be the preparation to match the real life map with the
neural map. The real map would reflect the mental map. This would be
analysed according to connections with the visual cortex-retina-parietal
lobe-limbic system-pineal complex. Immediate postmortem preparation
would be necessary to preserve pineal and hypothalamus-pituitary blood
circulation. The model of the blood circulation could be used for further
study using micro-computers and micro-machines. We could use fibreoptics
to create a cyber-hologram and then real hologram. We could investigate a
range of molecules active in the brain. The possibilities are endless. This
could really be the forefront of the neurosciences.
Magnate: Or the nails in our coffins.
Banker: Id rather be cremated.
Medico: It strikes me that Id rather have my brain preserved than to be
eaten by worms or reduced to ash.

174

Minister: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Thats the way it should be.
White: My only problem is that the truth will be open for all to see. Thats
if your technique works, Ross. And thats a big if.
Psycho: Its an ambitious idea, but I think its got potential. The imaging of
the brain has advanced in leaps and bounds in recent years. This is the
logical development of contemporary medical science.
Stooge: And it will only be available to a few. We would have to keep it
that way.
White: How can we ensure this? We dont want the technology falling into
the wrong hands.
Stooge: Wed patent it for starters. It would be an expensive procedure.
Only the rich would be able to afford this kind of immortality.
Minister: Hardly genuine immortality.

Stooge: Better than anything else currently on offer.

Minister: Youre wrong. I am offering immortality through belief in Jesus.
Psycho: Mere fantasy. Rosss idea is closer to the real thing.

175

Banker: I cant say I want immortality. In fact, I cant think of anything

worse. Imagine the boredom. Besides I dont want anyone knowing my
innermost secrets.
Minister: God knows your innermost secrets anyway.
Banker: Ill take my chances on that.

Stooge: Would I be able to get my strategy past the ethics committee? It is

medical research, after all.
Psycho: Provided you had informed consent, I cant see any problems.
Minister: I can see some ethical dilemmas. You said there would be a risk
involved in the PHOTOGRAPH. You mentioned a radio-active drink.
White: As long as this risk is explained.
Stooge: The risk would be very small. Insignificant, given the larger
scheme of things.
Medico: Wouldnt it increase the risk of cancer?
Stooge: Marginally. But I think enough people would be prepared to take
the risk.

176

Minister: Ego is a frightening thing.

SCENE SIXTEEN: THE CONFRONTATION

Dill Ding and Mrs. Coconut are invited to the final Board meeting for the
year.
Ding: I hear that Professor Stooge has had a new idea. A pretty exciting
one, it seems.
White: This is supposed to be top secret. Keep that in mind Dill. The
strategy is only in its early stages.
Coconut: Whats the strategy?
Medico: Medical research, nothing more.
Stooge: Im working on brain preservation. In the interests of scientific
discovery and truth.
Coconut: Tell me more.

Stooge: Im exploring the possibilities of making technological models of

the human brain.

177

Ding: From dead peoples brains?

Stooge: Not necessarily. That is a later possibility. I need some volunteers
to get involved in the early stages of research.
White: Maybe theres an opportunity for you here, Dill. We need some
people to have comprehensive imaging done of their brains. These would be
used to create models of the neural networks. Down to the last detail.
Coconut: What is this all for? What benefits do you envisage for the human
race?
Stooge: Scientific inquiry needs no further motivation than the search for
truth and understanding. This technique can be used by future generations to
research the brain and nervous system. Its a long-term project.
Ding: What will be done with the models?
Stooge: Electrical activation and the creation of holographic representations
in cyberspace.
Ding: Sounds interesting. I heard it has something to do with the pineal,
too?
Coconut: The pineal? Whats the pineal?

178

Medico: A small, vascular organ in the mid-brain. It secretes melatonin and

other hormones.
Magnate: I thought the pineal is a vestige. It doesnt do much.
White: Thats what they used to think. Now they have discovered its very
important indeed. The pineal is involved in regulating the entire hormonal
system. The endocrinologists have been studying it for many years. Its also
involved in the immune system, and forms the centre of the brains magnetic
sense.
Coconut: Magnetic sense?
Stooge: Many animals, including humans, have a magnetic sense. Its
involved in our intrinsic sense of direction, it is thought. Maybe it also
senses the fields caused by the electrical activity in the brain itself.
Psycho: These things can be studied further using your models.
Coconut: So by studying the pineal we might be able to improve peoples
sense of direction?
Psycho: Thats the least of it. The pineal is involved in many things. Mood
is strongly influenced by pineal hormones, serotonin and melatonin,
especially. The immune system is affected too. Studies have demonstrated
that melatonin stimulates the immune system.

179

Ding: That could be of value in cancer, couldnt it?

Medico: Cancer and AIDS. Were looking at the possibility of developing a
slow-release preparation of melatonin.
Ding: Couldnt that suppress our brains endogenous production of the
substance?
Medico: Theoretically. But we hope that wont happen.
Coconut: Hope? Is that enough?
Medico: Melatonin tablets have been used for many years as a treatment
for jet lag and seasonal affective disorder. Were even giving it to children
as a sleeping tablet. Melatonin causes drowsiness, you see.
Coconut: Is it safe?
Medico: It appears so, at this stage. Time will tell.
Coconut: Provided side-effects are looked for. Scientists only discover
what they look for.
Stooge: The potential of pineal research goes much further than
prescription of melatonin supplements. Have you heard of the third eye?

180

Ding: For seeing truth? An Eastern belief, Ive been told. Not one with
much scientific credibility.
Psycho: On the contrary. The third eye is a valid theory. The pineal is
directly and indirectly connected to the eyes and visual system. This must be
for a reason.
Magnate: I didnt know the pineal is connected to the eyes.
Psycho: Many people dont. The information was taken out of textbooks in
the 1980s.
Coconut: Why was this?
Psycho: It was considered prudent. The SSRI antidepressants such as
Prozac and Aropax, like LSD and MDMA, affect serotonin levels in the
brain. Serotonin is concentrated in the pineal.
Ding: So why did they take pineal information out of textbooks?
White: They thought it might interfere with antidepressant sales.
Coconut: Now that is definitely unethical. If you take the information out of
textbooks, how can future doctors be alert for pineal pathology?
Medico: They cant. Thats why we want to study the pineal and put the
information we gather back into textbooks.

181

Ding: Ive heard of a band called Third Eye Blind. Is it possible for the
third eye to become blind?
Psycho: The pineal calcifies from childhood onwards. Thats one of the
reasons they used to think it was a redundant, vestigial remnant of the
primitive reptilian brain. Some reptiles maintain a the pineal as a lightsensitive third eye on the top of their heads.
Stooge: And some amphibians, too. The pineal is a very ancient organ. The
first evidence of pineals comes from fossil fish 400 million years old.
Magnate: Are you trying to tell me that fish can perceive truth?
Psycho: It is possible. Lying and pretension are human failings. Fish
remember the world as it is. The natural world tends not to pretend.
Banker: Thats not true. What is camouflage, if not acting and pretension?
Pretension is rife in the natural world. Many animals, including fish, pretend
that they are what they are not.
Psycho: Perhaps. But the human being is different. Human lies are very
complex. People deceive themselves, at the same time that they deceive
others.
Stooge: With respect, you are arguing at cross-purposes. The human pineal
is very different to that of other animals, especially lower animals. The

182

mammalian pineal is buried deep in the brain. It is highly vascular, and

probably lacks directly light-sensitive cells. What I am particularly
interested in is its effect on longevity.
White: I have heard that people are already taking melatonin supplements
to extend their lives.
Stooge: That is not advisable, from what I have gleaned so far. As Dill
says, it could have adverse effects on our endogenous production of
serotonin and melatonin. No, what we need to work out, is how to optimise
natural production of these hormones. Also, we need to find out what else
the pineal does.
Coconut: How can this be done?
Stooge: One idea I had was to introduce nano-machines, microscopic
machines, into the brains of animals, and maybe humans. They would be
introduced into the blood stream. The blood would eventually carry the
machines to the pineal.
Ding: Like a mobile computer chip?
Stooge: Something like that. This technology is still in its infancy. Im
hoping that ultimately we could introduce micro-machines that travel within
the pineals intricate blood circulation measuring such things as chemical
concentrations and magnetic fields.

183

Banker: Shouldnt be a problem in a few years, from what I hear.

Psycho: The technology is not the only problem, though. Even if we can
measure the fields and the chemicals, we are still left with many puzzling
questions. Why does the pineal calcify? What is the significance of this
calcification? What can it tell us?
Stooge: I believe it can tell us a great deal. The traces of other minerals and
chemicals that are found in these calcifications tell us what chemicals have
entered the brain over a virtual lifetime. Detailed analysis of the pineals of
people who have died could be of immense value.
Coconut: Why is such research not already part of routine post-mortem
examination?
Stooge: Nobodys thought of it, I guess. Only a few years ago most doctors
were still insisting that the pineal has no function in the human at all.
Minister: Didnt Descartes say that the pineal is the seat of the soul?
Psycho: Actually, he said that the soul cannot be localised to any single part
of the body, but did suggest that the pineal is the seat of the soul. The
importance of the pineal was recognised long before Descartes, mind you.
Stooge: The ancient Greeks regarded the pineal as a very important part of
the brain. Perhaps because of its central location and high vascularity. The
second most vascular organ in the body, in fact, next to the kidney.

184

Ding: That alone suggests its importance, doesnt it?

Psycho: It does. As well as that Kapper discovered that the human pineal is
connected with the visual system via the sympathetic nervous system. This
was a few years after Aaron Lerner discovered that the pineal secretes
melatonin.
Ding: Lerner was a skin specialist at Yale, wasnt he?
Psycho: Thats true. He was looking for a skin-lightening factor.
Coconut: Why did he want to lighten skin?
White: I would have thought that was obvious. Many people, especially
black people, want to lighten their skin.
Coconut: I dont.
White: Maybe so. But there are lots of people of colour who would like to
have less colour in their skin.
Coconut: A myth, surely.
Psycho: A myth with plenty of evidence for it. Even Benjamin Rush, the
father of American psychiatry, recognised that blacks would most often
rather be white.

185

White: He had a theory of negritude, I understand.

Coconut: Negritude?
Psycho: An incipient mental disorder found only in blacks. The theory of
negritude supposed that black skin is the product of disease. We dont
believe in it any more, of course. Not as Rush would have it. But its still
true that many blacks are envious of white skin.
Coconut: Many blacks are proud of their skin colour.
White: Reverse snobbery. How could people be genuinely proud to have
black skin? Studies among white students in the USA showed that they
would not swap skin colour, even for a million dollars.
Coconut: But these students need to coat their skin in chemicals to protect
themselves from the sun.
White: A small price to pay. Youd have to admit that whites rule the
world. They have done for centuries.
Coconut: With the help of horses, guns and cannons.
White: Whatever. Regardless, thats why blacks are envious of whites.
Coconut: Envious of their privileges, perhaps, not of their skin colour.

186

Psycho: It might be worth pointing out that even today some of the richest
people in the world have dark skin.
Coconut: But they are relatively few in number.

Ding: So did Aaron Lerner succeed? Does melatonin cause the skin to
lighten?
Psycho: Only if youre a frog. It causes pigment cells to contract in
amphibian skin. It doesnt have an effect on human skin colour. But it does
have an effect on sleep, mood and on the immune system.
Medico: Are these effects related?
Psycho: They may be. Its common knowledge that the immune system
functions well during sleep. Its also a common belief that people in a good
mood are less susceptible to infections.

Medico: And other health problems. Perhaps cancer, too.

Ding: So there is a potential to improve and extend life if we can
understand the pineal.
Stooge: Thats so. We hope to unlock many secrets using these
techniques.

187

Minister: How long do you think people could live?

Stooge: At least to a hundred, on average. Maybe longer. Perhaps a
hundred and twenty. Im not really sure, but definitely longer than theyre
living at present.
Banker: Couldnt that lead to worsening of overpopulation? Weve got an
aging population as it is. Whos going to feed all these geriatrics?
Stooge: People could work to a greater age. If they remain healthy they
could work till they were eighty or more.
Magnate: That could be good for business.
White: Besides, if we can develop strategies to extend life we have a moral
imperative to investigate them. As doctors and as medical scientists.
Minister: As human beings.

Magnate: All this talk about human imperatives is well and good, but arent
we losing sight of the Institutes main function?
White: AIDS, you mean?
Magnate: And population control.

188

Coconut: Its true then? AIDS is a population control measure?

Magnate: I didnt say, or imply, that.
Coconut: Well, tell me why Dr.Omo is no longer at the Institute.
White: His attitude was found lacking.
Ding: In what way?
Magnate: He asked too many stupid questions.
Coconut: About the connection between AIDS and biological warfare?
White: Not just that. He was obviously becoming paranoid about a range of
things. He seemed to think that homosexuals were being persecuted.
Genocided, even.
Psycho: Gays are prone to imagining all kinds of things.
Coconut: I thought he had some valid concerns.
Psycho: We think he is suffering from a mental illness. He needs
treatment.
Coconut: What sort of treatment?

189

Psycho: The recommended treatment for his type of condition.

Coconut: Which is?
Psycho: We have medications. A brief period of hospitalization may be
necessary.
Coconut: And if he refuses?
White: He may not be given a choice.

SCENE SEVENTEEN:

Dr Omo is home alone in the late evening. There is a knock on the door. He
walks to the door and opens it. Two men are standing at the door. They are
holding a black folder.
Omo: Jehovahs witnesses?
First man: No. Were here from the Royal Dark Hospital. My name is Mark
Myword. Im a psychiatric nurse. This is Neil Down, hes a social worker.
Weve been sent to assess you and bring you to hospital.

190

Omo: Theres nothing wrong with me. There must have been a mistake.
Down: Is your name Omo? Herb Omo?
Omo: Thats right. But theres nothing wrong with me. Who sent you?
Myword: Ill ask the questions, if thats alright. We hear youve been
having some problems.
Omo: What sort of problems?
Myword: No need to get defensive. Can we come in?
Omo: Id rather you didnt.
Myword (to Down): Hostile, isnt he?
Down: You could make it easier on yourself by co-operating. Wed like
you to come with us.
Omo: Where to? You could be anyone.
Myword: You do seem a bit paranoid. We can show you our identification,
if you like. Were members of the Royal Dark Hospital CAT team.
Omo: Whats a CAT team?

191

Myword: Crisis Assessment and Treatment.

Omo: But Im not having a crisis.
Down: Frankly, your name alone suggests you have an identity crisis.
Youre a homosexual, weve been told. And you believe someones out to
kill you.
Omo: Not me specifically. All homosexuals, perhaps.
Down: And who do you think is out to get you?
Omo: I didnt say that anyone is out to get me.
Down: You said someone wants to kill all homosexuals.
Omo: But not me specifically.
Myword: Thats enough quibbling about words. You seem quite unwell.
Are you coming with us or not?
Omo: If I refuse?
Myword: Well have to ask for police assistance.
Omo: Thats ridiculous. Im not breaking the law. Do you have a
warrant?

192

Down: We dont need a warrant. We have the necessary paperwork.

Omo: Can I see it?
Myword: Well show it to you when we get to the hospital.
Omo: Show it to me now.
Myword: I said wed show it to you when you get to the hospital. Dont
you trust us?
Omo: No, I dont. Im not going anywhere with you. Im a qualified
doctor. I can diagnose myself. And Im perfectly well.
Myword: You dont seem very well to us. Your condition is notorious for
lack of insight. If you dont come now, well ask the police to bring you in.
That could be unpleasant for all of us.
Omo: Just piss off, will you?

The CAT team workers leave. One hour later there are three loud knocks on
the door.
Voice: Open up, Police.

193

Omo (opening door with safety chain on): Whos there?

Policeman: Constable Ham from the St. Kilda Police. Open the door.
Omo (frightened): Id rather not. You have a gun.
Ham: And Ill use it, too, unless you open the fucking door.
Omo: The doors open. What do you want?
Ham: You have to come with us. They want you down at the hospital. If
you dont come quietly, well take you by force.
Omo (peering into the dark): How many of you are there?
Ham: Enough, mate. And well call more if we need them. Are you going
to let us in or not?
Omo: No way. There has been some sort of mistake.
Myword: Look, doctor. We could get this over with easily. Just come with
us down to the hospital. If theres been a mistake theyll allow you to come
home again. Well make our own recommendations.
Omo: What sort of recommendations?
Myword: That depends on whether you come quietly or not.

194

Omo: OK, Ill come with you. But tell the cop with the gun to go away.
Ham: Well stay here in case were needed.
Omo (opening door): Ill just get some things.
Ham: No time for that. Grab him, boys.

Two more policemen stride into hallway and grab Dr Homo by the arms.
They handcuff him.
Omo: Hey! Take off these cuffs. Theyre cutting into my wrists.
Ham: When we get to the hospital. Bloody faggot.

Omo is led away, protesting.

195

SCENE EIGHTEEN:

At the Royal Dark Hospital. Dr. Omo is alone in a locked room. A man
walks in. His name is Dr. Beaker Balls.
Balls: Good evening. My name is Dr. Balls. Im here to admit you.
Omo: I thought I was here for assessment. There has been a mistake. Im
not mentally ill. Id like to go home.
Balls: Id like to go home too. But Ive a job to do. Youve already has a
preliminary examination. The consultant psychiatrist will see you in the
morning. Meanwhile, Id like to check your blood pressure and so on. Just a
physical to make sure youre O.K.
Omo: Theres nothing wrong with me. I want to see a psychiatrist tonight.
Balls: Why? Are you feeling distressed? I can write out a script for some
Valium. Maybe something to help you sleep.
Omo: Of course Im feeling bloody distressed. Ive been dragged out of
my home by police. Handcuffed and insulted.
Balls: So there was a struggle?
Omo: I didnt struggle. It was just a turn of phrase.

196

Balls: Thats not what I was told. You wouldnt come quietly, so police had
to be called. There was quite a fracas, I understand.

Omo: Thats just not true. What would you do if two strange men came to
your door and demanded that you go with them?
Balls: Are you saying that health care workers are strange? I hear you
doubted their identity. Surely thats a bit paranoid, doctor?
Omo: Not at all. I just asked to see their ID. I still think theres been some
sort of silly mistake.
Balls: We dont make silly mistakes at the Royal Dark Hospital. Theres
been no mistake. You seem quite ill. You believe people are out to get you,
dont you?
Omo: Not until tonight, I didnt. Look, let me go home and Ill come back
tomorrow.
Balls: That wont be possible. Youll have to stay here tonight. Would you
like me to arrange for some pyjamas? What colour would you like?
Omo: I dont want fucking pyjamas, you idiot. Let me make a phone call to
my lawyer.

197

Balls: If youre going to swear at me, Ill have to terminate the interview.
Ill be writing up some medication. It would be best if you took it.
Omo: What sort of medication?
Balls: A medicine called Haldol. Haloperidol. Itll help you deal with these
troubling ideas of yours.

Omo: What sort of troubling ideas?

Balls: That people are out to get you. Are you hearing voices?
Omo: Only yours.
Balls: How many voices do you hear? What are they saying? That youre a
bad man?
Omo: I just told you. Im not hearing voices.
Balls: You said you were hearing a voice in your head. I remember
distinctly.
Omo: I said the only voice I was hearing is yours.
Balls: So you seem to hear my voice in your head? How long have you
heard these voices?

198

Omo: Only since you walked into the room, you lunatic.

Balls: And before that? What did the voices say before that?
Omo: I give up.
Balls: So youre feeling depressed? Have you thought of killing yourself?
Omo: Not till now. This is ridiculous.
Balls: Youll feel better in the morning. Just take your medication, like a
good chap, and try and get some sleep. The psychiatrist, Dr Rabid Burrow,
will see you in the morning. Goodnight.

199

SCENE NINETEEN:
Dr. Omo is interviewed by Doctors Rabid Burrow and Beaker Balls.
Balls: Good morning Dr. Homo. This is Dr. Burrow.
Omo: Good morning Dr. Burrow. Theres been some sort of mistake. I was
brought in here by CAT team workers and police but I havent done
anything wrong. Im not mentally ill.
Burrow: Thats for me to ascertain. Ive heard that you have a serious
illness. I understand you have been refusing your medication.
Omo: Thats because theres nothing wrong with me.
Balls: He told me he was hearing voices and thought people were out to get
him.
Omo: I said no such thing.
Balls: Are you calling me a liar?

200

Omo: Your words, not mine.

Burrow: So you think youre the Messiah, do you?
Omo: Why do you say that?
Burrow: Dont be evasive, young man. We have been informed that you
think AIDS is the result of biological warfare against homosexuals. Is that
true?
Omo: Id rather not answer that.
Burrow: As you wish. But evading questions wont get you anywhere. The
CAT team told us you were very paranoid when they came to assess you.
Omo: They didnt assess me. They just told me to go with them.
Burrow: Lets not be pedantic. Did you refuse to open the door to the
police?
Omo: At first. I did open it, eventually.
Burrow: And you thought the CAT team members were imposters?
Omo: Only initially.

201

Burrow: Dont you think such behaviour is rather odd? And why is it that
you changed your name to Rampant? Thats a rather unusual thing to do,
isnt it?
Omo: If you say so. Maybe its unusual. But its not a sign of mental
illness.
Burrow: Ill be the judge of that. Its a bit grandiose of you to pre-empt my
diagnosis. So tell me about the voices.
Omo: What voices?
Balls: The voices in your head.
Omo: I dont hear any voices in my head.
Balls: You admitted that you were hearing voices yesterday.
Omo: I said I could hear your voice. You were talking to me at the time.
Burrow: And what were the voices saying?
Omo: Not voices, just one voice. Dr. Balls voice.
Burrow: Yes. What did the voice say?
Omo: Why dont you ask Dr. Balls?

202

Burrow: Because Im asking you.

Omo: He kept saying that I was mentally ill.
Burrow: And do you believe you are ill?
Omo: No.
Burrow: You should realise, as a doctor, that its a classical sign of mental
illness to believe you are well. Its called lack of insight.
Balls: Just what I thought. Hes obviously paranoid about a lot of things.
Burrow: Are you feeling depressed? We heard that youve been imagining
that people are out to get you.
Omo: Who said that?
Burrow: Never mind that. Is it true?
Omo: A lot of people hate gays.
Burrow: So you admit it. And who do you think is trying to persecute
you?
Omo: I never said anyone is trying to persecute me.

203

Burrow: I think were going round in circles here. Well have to leave the
rest of the interview till later this week. Dr. Homo, you are suffering from a
serious mental illness. Ill be prescribing some medication. Youve been
certified, so you better do as your told. Youll get out of here quicker if you
co-operate.
Omo: This is ridiculous. Theres nothing wrong with me. I want to see a
lawyer. I want a second opinion.
Burrow: When youre better you can make some phone calls. Youll have
to limit them to two minutes, though. Ill see what I can do about arranging a
second opinion.
Omo: How long do you intend to keep me here?
Burrow: Youll need to stay for a few weeks. It depends on how you
respond to the medication.
Omo: And if I refuse to take the medication?
Burrow: Youll be here longer. If you refuse oral medication well have to
give it to you by injection.
Omo: What diagnosis have you made, may I ask?
Burrow: Im not certain at this stage. Perhaps delusional disorder. Maybe
youve got schizophrenia. Is there any mental illness in your family?

204

Omo: Not that Im aware of. Please, let me go home.

SCENE TWENTY
At the Mens Club. Professors White, Stooge, Psycho and Medico meet Mr.
Banker and Mr. Magnate.
Magnate: Youve dealt with Homo, I hear.
Psycho: Hes having treatment for his illness. Should be quite a few weeks
before he comes out. I dont think hell be challenging our authority in the
future.
Banker: One down, one to go. What are we going to do about Mrs.
Coconut?
White: Shes not that much of a threat. Especially with Homo out of the
way. Shes accepted that Professor Psycho and Mr. Minister are better
qualified to sit on the ethics committee. We can direct her towards migrant
health, or we can just keep her in no mans land.
Stooge: And shes quite keen on my brain preservation idea.

205

Medico: Only because of how it was presented to her. If she knows the
truth about whose brains will be preserved she may not be so
accommodating.
Psycho: Thats true. But she neednt know. She will be told only what she
needs to know.
Magnate: And she needs to know bugger all.

Banker: Its been a pretty good year, hasnt it? The War on Terrorism is
entering a new phase. Focus on AIDS has centred on the need for harm
reduction measures. The issue of illegal immigrants, which was once a
thorny one, has been successfully dealt with. Drug sales are soaring. Our
mothers and babies strategy is promising. And to crown it all, Rosss brain
preservation strategy
White: Yes. A good year. Our position has hardly been threatened. In fact,
with Bush in power our future looks bright indeed.
Stooge: I must confess that I was worried when Homo and Coconut started
asking questions about the origin of AIDS. But it seems that all is well, after
all.
Psycho: Its all a matter of control. Maintain control and the world is your
oyster. Lose control and things can snowball.

206

White: Control of dissidents can be difficult in a free society. But weve

managed pretty well.
Psycho: The War on Terrorism has been of assistance.
Banker: It certainly has. And it promises to be of much assistance in the
future, as well.
Medico: The President has made it clear that Afghanistan is only the
beginning. This could prove more enduring than the War on Communism.
Magnate: The two war efforts could be combined.
Psycho: It would be easier, I think, to redirect anxiety. The same minds that
were terrified of communism could be redirected towards a fear of
terrorism.
Banker: One is seeing this happen, even as we speak.
White: This could be the strategy America needs to use to get out of the
recession.
Banker: The War on Terrorism could be very good for the economy.
Medico: Especially if its extended to other rogue states.
Magnate: Maybe the War could be extended to client states as well?

207

Banker: The propaganda machine can be used to direct attention and

outrage.
Magnate: Outrage at those supporting Terrorism.
Stooge: How will the US of A escape attention? I mean, how many
millions have been terrified by the American weapons of mass destruction?
Medico: Thats different. Our weapons of mass destruction are under the
control of the free world. Democratic nations like the USA can be trusted
with weapons of mass destruction. Everyone in the free world knows that.
Stooge: The Great Protectors. Big Brother to the little nations.
Medico: We support fledgling democracies around the world. We help
them have free and fair elections. We guide them towards greater freedom
and security.
Stooge: What about peace?
White: Peace is a mirage, Ross. There can never be peace.
Psycho: Perpetual war is the history of humanity. Human nature can never
change.
Stooge: Im not so sure about that. Couldnt people be trained to be
peaceful?

208

Psycho: They can be trained to obey rules. But inner peace is a different
matter.
Medico: Theres no such thing as inner peace. People always compete with
their neighbours. This guarantees ongoing hostility.
Banker: Our job is to control that hostility.
Magnate: And make the most out of it.
White: Competition is what motivates greater effort.
Stooge: So that people can feel theyre better than their neighbours?
Psycho: Precisely. Everyone wants to climb the ladder of success.
White: And we have been blessed with control of the ladder.
Banker: We can adjust the rungs of the ladder.
Medico: We can move it beyond the reach of the masses.
Psycho: Yes. The ladder of success is a wonderful thing. It is the carrot that
we hang in front of the youth.
White: Gives them a sense of achievement. A sense of direction. And a

209

sense of perspective. Keeps them working and keeps them out of trouble.
Banker: Thats the beauty of the democracy myth. Every ambitious young
man or woman believes they can reach the top. At the same time they are
impressed with the fact that they should only aspire to being a cog in the
machine.
Stooge: The war machine?
White: The Great Machine of Democracy and Free Trade.
Banker: Which happens to include free trade in weapons. Weapons are an
important part of the modern world. How else are we to ensure that our
friends are strong and our enemies weak?
Psycho: 80% of the worlds conventional weapons are produced by the five
permanent members of the UN Security Council the USA, Britain, France,
China and Russia.
Stooge: So the UN supports perpetual warfare?
Banker: The continued growth of the global economy depends on it.
Magnate: Hows the genocide going?
White: Even in this safe place, Id rather you referred to it as population
control.

210

Magnate: Whatever. Hows the AIDS epidemic progressing?

Medico: Tremendously. Over 40 million infected according to our figures.
Banker: Whos compiling the statistics?
Medico: The W.H.O., the C.D.C, the N.I.H., and others. They all agree that
the epidemic is unstoppable. Especially in Africa and Asia.
Magnate: Do we have the means to control it? I mean, could it spread to
our part of the world?
White: Unlikely, but possible. If they develop an air-borne strain.
Magnate: That would be formidable. Is anyone working on that?
White: Its likely. Theyve been working on a range of super-bugs and
delivery systems.
Medico: Our boys had to keep up with the Russians. Now we have to keep
up with the terrorists, too. Who knows what horrors they could be dreaming
up in their laboratories?
Banker: What about the Chinese?
White: The Chinese keep their biowarfare programs under close wraps. As
do the Americans, British, French and others. There is no official biowarfare

211

agenda in any of these countries. Nor in China. Or Japan. There was a

comprehensive ban on chemical and biological weapons in 1972. Over 140
signatories, including Russia and the U.S.A.
Medico: But the Russians violated the treaty from the outset.
Stooge: What about the Americans?
Medico: We had to make sure we had the capability to withstand Russian
attack.
Stooge: What did that involve?
Medico: Well, we had to build equivalent missiles to test out delivery
systems. Spray guns, aerial sprays, bomblets that dispersed germs, and so
on.
Stooge: Wasnt that in violation of the treaty?
White: The Cold War featured a great deal of doublespeak.
Psycho: It was all secret, anyway. We could always claim that they were
only to be used in defence. We had to know what our enemies were capable
of. For that we needed to get inside the minds of the most evil men
imaginable. We had to think like them. Do what they would do.
Stooge: And is it true that the Americans supplied Saddam Hussein with
chemical weapons?

212

Medico: We thought he might need them in the war against Iran.

Stooge: But werent the Americans supplying arms to Iran as well?
Banker: All is fair in love and war. The Americans have long been
supplying arms to both sides of conflicts. But then, so have the French, and
the Israelis and the South Africans.
Medico: And the Russians.
Stooge: And the British?
Banker: Especially the British. All these countries geared their economies
to depend on arms sales during the Second World War.
Psycho: It began during the First World War, really.
Banker: Regardless of when it started, the arms race has been the engine of
the economic machinery we all depend on for a long time. We need to
keep that engine running.
Magnate: At any cost.
Stooge: But wont we ourselves be consumed by global warfare?

213

White: Thats the beauty of cold weapons. Biological, chemical and

psychological weapons. Economic weapons and electronic weapons. We can
leave the buildings intact. We can leave the infrastructure unaffected.
Psycho: We can alter the infrastructure ourselves. The Third World, and
now the Second World, too, is crying out for our consultants and experts.
Theyll advise on how the infrastructure should be developed.
Banker: The World Bank and International Monetary Fund demand
changes in the infrastructure. The politicians dont want to lose their main
source of foreign aid.
Stooge: Even though debt repayments are crippling their economies?
White: Not as much as international sanctions do. Any country that defaults
on debt repayments can expect international trade sanctions.
Stooge: Isnt that a form of terrorism?
White: Economic terrorism, perhaps. But terrorism can be defined as we
want it to be defined.
Psycho: Semantics is an essential aspect of politics.

Stooge: And meanwhile the arms industry grows bigger every day?

214

Magnate: To our mutual benefit.

Stooge: Still, how can we control the machine weve built?
White: We have no choice but to try. We didnt build the war machine
ourselves. Our ancestors did that for us. We need to control the machine
without letting it run amok.
Stooge: And become a monster. Its already become a monster.
Psycho: Its true that some might say it has already become a monster. But
it is a monster bedecked with jewels, gold and silver. We can train it not to
bite the hand that feeds it. The fact that we live longer in the West than we
ever have done in the past is proof that we have the war machine under good
control.
White: Well said. When we control disease we control life and death itself.
The amalgamation of biological knowledge with military medicine is
inevitable. The military have always had keen eyes on biology. They
realised its possibilities centuries ago.
Banker: Making the enemy sick is a fairly obvious strategy.
Psycho: One of the oldest strategies of organised warfare.
Stooge: But who decides which enemy poses the greatest threat?

215

Medico: Our political leaders.

Magnate: And the media.
Psycho: The major corporations have a major input.
Stooge: What about the Freemasons?
Banker: Are you on the square?
Stooge: How do you mean? My friends have said I was a square.
Magnate: What the hell is he doing here? I assumed
White: That he was on the square? So did I.
Psycho: You idiots. The secrets out.

SCENE 21: THE ROYAL DARK HOSPITAL

Mrs Coconut and Dill Ding visit Dr Omo in the Royal Dark Hospital.
Dill: Herb, how are they treating you?

216

Omo: With drugs, more drugs and yet more drugs. No, Dill, they arent
treating me too well. Ive been here for three weeks and (voice breaks)I
cant take it anymore. Its so boring. All I do is sit here and stare at the
walls.
Coconut: Dont they have a TV here?
Omo: Im not interested in sport and commercial bullshit. Thats all they
ever show here. I am a doctor. I want to be working and I want my freedom.
Cant you do anything?

Dill: Have you seen a lawyer?

Omo: A solicitor visited me a chap Ive known for a while. He said I can
appeal to the Mental Health Review Board. Its an independent tribunal held
at the hospital every couple of weeks. My hearing is supposed to be next
Tuesday. Apparently, my first appeal was lost, or the form hadnt been filled
out properlythats what I was told, anyway.

Coconut: What are they saying you have? What is it that they are treating
with all these drugs?
Omo: They dont say. They just keep telling me that Im ill. Ive only seen
Dr Burrow a couple of times. Most days I just sit here and the nurses bring
me tablets three times a day.

Dill: What sorts of tablets?

217

Omo: Its changed over the past three weeks. They started with Haldol. That
made me shuffle around dribbling. I could hardly talk and fell asleep all the
time. Then they started me on lithium, which I refused, at first. Thats when
things got rough.

Coconut: Rough?

Omo: Rough. They called security and four big guys appeared in the nurses
station. I hid in the toilet. Of course, they knew where I was. Anyway they
grabbed me and took me to a seclusion room where they pulled my trousers
down and injected me in the arse with either Haldol or Largactil. Im not
sure. All I know is that I was lying there half conscious for hours before they
let me out. Now Im taking the lithium. They do blood tests to check that
Im taking it.

Dill: And to watch for toxicity. Lithium has a low margin of safety, as you
know.
Omo: Thats why I dont want to take it. Apart from the fact that I dont
need it. Lithium is a treatment for mania. I dont have mania. I am not
manic.

Coconut: You seem okay to me. A bit sluggish, but not mad.
Omo: In terms of the drug effects I feel a lot better, I have to admit. Theyve
also got me on Clonazepam and one of the newer antipsychotics. They
stopped the Haldol and the dribbling and stuff got better pretty quickly. But

218

the fact remains that they are keeping me prisoner and giving me drugs I
dont need. What I want to know is who called the CAT team. Who is
behind all this?

Coconut: Id have to say someone at the Board. Magnate or Psycho.

Dill: Id say Professor Psycho has the connections and the influence.
Theyre trying to shut you up.
Homo: About AIDS. Yes, I know. Its not dulled my conviction, mind you.
In fact, its contributed to it.
Dill: Ive been doing some research into this myself. And I found you are
not alone in your suspicions, Rampant. In California, a gay dermatologist by
the name of Dr Alan Cantwell has written two books explaining why he
believes AIDS is being used to kill gays and blacks.

Homo: Does he mention eugenics?

Dill: Im not sure, but he does point to the history of American biological
warfare programs of the 60s and 70s. He claims that the Hepatitis B vaccine
trials in Manhattan, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the 70s were
deliberately contaminated. He and other doctors have pointed to the
Tuskegee syphilis experiments as examples of similar programs in the past.

219

Coconut: Ive read about the Tuskegee experiments. Dozens of black men in
the town of Tuskegee were denied treatment for syphilis for over 20 years
so white researchers could observe the effects of the disease in these mens
families. Ghastly!
And whats worse they only were ended, due to public exposure, in the
1970s.

Dill: Pales into insignificance when compared to AIDS, though. If it is true

that AIDS is genocide due to a genocidal biological warfare program
then it is the worst example of mass-murder of all time.
Homo: I know. Its hard to believe for that reason. Over 30 million people
have already died of AIDS. Another 40 million are said to be infected.
Coconut: Id have to say Ive never been one for conspiracy theories.
Couldnt it have been an accident? I find that more plausible.

Homo: More palatable, maybe, but not more plausible. Accidental

introduction simply does not fit the history of the disease or its
epidemiology. In fact, it fails to explain the most convincing reasons to
believe the epidemic is deliberate to me, at least, the coincidence between
targets of negative eugenics programs and AIDS and the history of
population control these are scientifically observable coincidences well,
scientific and political.

220

Coconut: Actually, since the last board meeting I have found out more about
eugenics and I must admit I discovered some surprising things about how
important eugenics is in terms of the history of Australia and specifically
the treatment of my people.

Dill: How so?

Coconut: During the 1950s and earlier, when assimilation was official
government policy, they used terms like quadroon and octoroon to denote
how much black blood we had. These terms appear to have come from
Francis Galtons eugenics theories, which was exported to Australia and the
other white colonies before federation.

Dill: Before 1901?

Coconut: Yes, the eugenics doctrine was developed by Galton in the 1870s
and he founded the first eugenics society in the 1880s, along with Charles
Darwins son, Major Leonard Darwin.
Homo: Francis Galton was Charles Darwins cousin, wasnt he?
Coconut: He was. He also used Darwins fame and theories to push his own
that whites are 2 grades more intelligent than African blacks and 3 grades
more intelligent than Australian blacks although he never visited Australia.

Homo: And he states this explicitly?

221

Coconut: He does. In the conclusion of his most influential book: Hereditary

Genius. It was published in 1869. In it he argued that rich eminent British
families such as his own were more naturally endowed with genius than
poor families, and that blacks were less gifted than whites on the basis of
statistical analyses.

Dill: Statistical analyses? What sort of statistics did he use?

Coconut: I found the book in the university library and Im still reading it,
but as far as I can gather so far, he measures what he calls civic worth by
how many famous people come from particular families. If a family
produces lots of famous people, they show genius. The essence of his
argument is that a small number of eminent families have produced a
disproportionate number of famous, or eminent men.

Dill: And women?

Coconut: He doesnt have much to say about women except that white
women from eminent families should be encouraged by the state to have
many children, while inferior or undesirable individuals, families and races
should be prevented from breeding.

Dill: Prevented in what way?

Coconut: Thats what the eugenics society was all about. Preventing the best
blood lines in the British Empire from contamination they coined a special

222

word to describe this the product of bad blood contaminating good blood
misceganation.
The strategies they recommended ranged from banning mixed marriages,
voluntary or forced sterilization and segregation as they did in South
Africa and Australia.
Homo: Theres more. Ive spent a while on the internet researching
eugenics. Ive checked out the uni library too. I agree that knowledge of the
eugenics movement is vital for understanding the history of Australia. Its
also vital for an understanding of racism in science and medical science in
particular. And prejudice against gays. It is because of concern about
persecution of gays in the past that I felt, as a man and as a doctor, that I
should be open about my own sexuality. One of the reasons I changed my
name. Plus an element of humour. Its got me into trouble this time, though.
Coconut: Youre very cool about this Rampant. If you remain calm and
rational like this I cant see that they can keep you here past Tuesday.
Dill: I agree. Theyll let you out for sure. They cant keep you locked up just
for saying that AIDS is man-made. Or for changing your name.
Homo: Im not so sure.

223

SCENE 22: THE MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

Dr Herb Omo sits opposite the three members of the Mental Health Review
Board. They are Mrs Sharp, a middle-aged woman with a smiling face, Mrs
Lawyer, a 50 year-old solicitor, and Dr Norman Shrink, an elderly
psychiatrist. All are wearing glasses and have writing pads in front of them.
They sit at a long table. Across the table sits Dr Omo on the left and Doctors
Rabid Burrow and Beaker Balls on the right.
Lawyer: Hello, everyone. Im Mrs Lawyer. I am the legal member of the
board today. This is our community member, Mrs Sharp, and on my left is
Dr Shrink, the psychiatrist member. We like to keep these hearings informal.
Is it alright if I call you Rampant?
Omo: Id rather you called me Dr Omo. Im a doctor, you know, just like
all these other guys.

224

Lawyer: All right, Dr Omo, no need to get angry.

Homo: Im not angryI just think you should use the title Ive earned.
Especially if youre not going to call Dr Shrink or Dr Burrow by their first
names.

(Dr Shrink writes something down)

Omo: Can I ask what youre writing?

Lawyer: We all write notes, Dr Homo. If you would like a copy of our
decision you can put it in writing and well send you a copy after we have
made our decision. Dont worry, youll get plenty of time to talk. But first
lets hear what Dr Burrow has to say.
Burrow: Good morning. Hi Norman. Good to see you. Youve all seen the
report, I take it? Well, I have some additional good news. Though the
treatment has been difficult at times the team is very optimistic about Dr
Homos eventual rehabilitation. As you will see, the most florid symptoms
have subsided, including the auditory hallucinations and the severe paranoia,
although some of the deeply entrenched delusions persist. Dr Balls can give
more details.

Lawyer: Dr Balls?

Omo: Do I get to say anything?

225

Lawyer: Soon, Dr Omo, soon.

(Dr Shrink writes something else down)

Lawyer: What would you like to say, Dr Balls?

Balls: Well, Herbs a lovely chap, as we all know. Very bright, too. But the
type of delusions he currently has is a serious threat to his professional
reputation. Quite paranoid, too. He still has persecutory delusions and some
delusions of grandeur. Whats more, he has little or no insight into his
condition.

(Shrink and Lawyer write notes)

Lawyer: The report says he needs continuing drug treatment. And it seems
you have made a provisional diagnosis of schizo-affective disorder?

Burrow: Possibly schizophrenia with a manic presentation.

Shrink: Which is why he is on lithium and an antipsychotic. Very sensible.

Omo: This is outrageous!

Lawyer: What is outrageous, Dr Homo?

Omo: That Dr Shrink has agreed with a course of drug treatment without
hearing me speak.

226

Shrink: Weve been reading the notes, young man.

Lawyer: We are ready to hear from you now, Dr Homo. What would you
like to add?

Omo: Not add. Subtract. Neither add nor subtract. Correct maybe. Clarify.
God, I feel like Im in Kafkas Trail. All I can say is that I am not suffering
from a mental illness. Ive not got schizo-affective disorder, and I havent
got mania. I havent got schizophrenia and Im not suffering from a
personality disorder either.

Lawyer: Are you feeling better, then?

Omo: No Im not. Better than what. Better than a few days ago, maybe. But
thats because of the Haldol

Burrow: excellent
Omo:being stopped. It made me dribble and shuffle. I could hardly speak.
Burrow: But it did fix the hallucinations, didnt it?
Omo: I wasnt having hallucinations.

Balls: You said you heard voices in your head.

Omo: I said I heard your voice, you idiot. When you were talking to me.
Balls: Thats not what I remember.

227

Burrow: With florid psychosis of this type both denial and poor recollection
are not unusual. I have treated many patients with similar conditions. I am
just glad we were able to get to Dr Homo in time. Catastrophe has been
averted.
Omo: This is bullshit. I wasnt hallucinating, and I wasnt paranoid.

Shrink: It says in the notes that you doubted the identity of the CAT team
workers and that you were quite aggressive with the police.
Omo: No, thats not true. I wasnt aggressive at all. They handcuffed me.
Shrink: Well that must have been for a reason.

Omo: For no reason at all.

Shrink: And you believed the CAT workers were imposters?

Omo: How was I to know who they were? When 2 strange guys appear on
your doorstep in the middle of the night.

Sharp: Middle of the night?

Homo: It was 10 or 11 oclock.

Burrow: Not really the middle of the night.

228

Shrink: Indeed (writing something down)

Omo (angrily): This is ridiculous. This board isnt impartial. Dr Shrink
agrees with everything Burrow says.
Lawyer: We havent made our decision, yet, Dr Omo. Making wild
accusations is hardly likely to help your cause. Do you have anything to add
Dr Burrow, before we ask Dr Omo if hed like to ask you anything?
Burrow: No, thats about it. Ill leave it to the notes and the report.
Lawyer: Dr Omo do you have anything youd like to ask Dr Burrow?
Homo: Yes there is. A lot of questions. Burrow, you say Ive got persecutory
delusions. Are you talking about AIDS?

Sharp: Do you have AIDS, Dr Omo?

Omo: No, but I was working at the AIDS Institute when these guys took me
away, and I had just confronted the Board of Directors about their work.

Lawyer: Confronted them in what way?

Omo: Well to be honest I thought they wanted to get rid of me because I was
asking whether AIDS is man-made. I dont mean get rid of me as in kill me.
Just lose my job. I resigned before they sacked me, but I must admit I
threatened them that I might go to the media.

229

Shrink: You threatened them? (Writing notes)

Omo (angrily): Not with violence with exposure. You keep twisting what I
say taking things out of context. Im trying to be open and candid with you
guys. Im being direct and admitting that I believe that there is substantial
evidence to support the serious allegation that AIDS was developed and is
still being used as a biological weapon.

Lawyer: Why would anyone do such a thing?

Homo: To reduce global population in a world they claim is overpopulated.

Sharp: Why did the Nazis commit genocide?

Omo: Exactly. In fact, the Nazi genocide contributed significantly to my

convictions about AIDS, in that simultaneous with the killing of Jews,
Gypsies and mental patients, the Nazis also killed homosexuals. They were
accused of being degenerate and unfit to breed. Whats more the German
Nazis obtained their ideas about improving the human race by killing socalled defectives from England. Francis Galtons eugenics movement first
established at Cambridge and London in the 1880s and exported to the
colonies including Australia and right here Melbourne.

Lawyer: Is that all you want to say, Dr Homo? Before we ask you and the
doctors to give us some time to discuss this and make our decision?

230

Omo: Ive got lots to say, but whats the point in saying it? All Im asking
the Board to do is to give me my freedom. Im not ill and I want to go home.
Im not harming anyone by believing AIDS is man-made. And I keep telling
you that Ive never heard voices.
Shrink: But you dont think you need the medication?
Omo: Id take it if theyll let me go home.
Burrow: Im afraid thats hardly likely.
Lawyer: All right, gentlemen. If you can give us a few minutes. Well call
you back in when weve made our decision.

(Drs Omo, Burrow and Balls walk out leaving Sharp, Lawyer and Shrink to
make their decision as to whether Dr Homo will be released)

Lawyer: What do you think, doctor?

Shrink: Cut and dried case. The man has schizoaffective disorder, Id say.
Nasty condition. Could take a few months to get him right. Even in the
interview he seemed to have a considerable amount of hostility and
paranoia. Apart from the deeply entrenched systematised delusions.
Sharp: Youll have to translate that into English for me, Dr Shrink. Actually
I didnt think there was anything much wrong with Dr Homo, although Im
not a psychiatrist or a doctor.

231

Lawyer: His theories on AIDS are rather bizarre, dont you think?

Shrink: Bizarre and paranoid. Basis enough for a schizophrenia diagnosis.

Sharp: Hes not the only person who thinks AIDS is man-made and has been
deliberately spread. Why, the recent Nobel Peace Prize winner, Professor
Wangari Maathai, a highly respected Kenyan ecologist has made the same
claim. Its a conspiracy theory of course, but what are conspiracy theories
other than theories about conspiracies.
Shrink: I dont know what youre getting at. Beliefs in widespread
conspiracies of this nature are perhaps culturally appropriate in Africa, but
they are not here in Melbourne. A psychiatric truism we often use is a
delusion is still a delusion, even if it transpires, by coincidence, to be
correct.

Sharp: That sounds like a circular argument. A way of saying you were right
even if proved wrong.
Shrink: Not at all, my dear. Its a psychiatric truism.
Lawyer: As you know, the Mental Health Act doesnt require that we
attempt to make a diagnosis. Merely that we find the patient to have a
significant mental illness. One that requires treatment. My opinion is that
while Dr Omo has improved, in that he no longer hears voices, the
improvement, such as it is, is likely due to the medication hes received. I

232

think that his claim hed take the tablets if he doesnt think hes ill is rather
unlikely.

Shrink: Lack of insight is typical in such illnesses.

Sharp: Doesnt lack of insight, in this case, just mean that he refuses to
agree that his beliefs about AIDS are wrong?
Lawyer: Lack of insight, Ive read, is common in people with schizophrenia
and mania. Is that right, Dr Shrink?
Shrink: Exactly, my dear. Lack of insight means that the person doesnt
realise or accept that they are ill. In the organic psychoses and schizoaffective disorder is perhaps the worst of these, we sometimes call it the
cancer of the mind lack of insight is a big problem.

Sharp: For the patients or the doctors?

Lawyer: For both, Im sure. And for the families and friends. My own son
has schizophrenia, you know. It took a long time for him to understand the
need for medication.

Sharp: Maybe you are not the most impartial of choices for a Mental Health
Review Board, given this.

Shrink: Not at all. Mrs Lawyer was chosen for her position precisely because
of her understanding of the problems the mentally ill face.

233

Lawyer: So we agree then?

Sharp: I dont.
Shrink: It requires only a majority decision, doesnt it, Mrs Lawyer?
Lawyer: Thats right, Norman. Can you call them in, please, Mrs Sharp?

Sharp (opening door): You can come in now, doctors

(Homo, Burrow and Balls enter and sit down)

Lawyer: Dr Omo, we have considered this matter carefully and have come to
a majority decision. We find that you do, in fact, have a mental illness and
that your continued detention at the Royal Dark Hospital is necessary at this
time.

(Passes the decision in writing to Dr Homo across the table)

Omo: You people are fucked. This is a bloody kangaroo court.

Lawyer: Im sorry you feel that way, Dr Omo. We all wish you a speedy
recovery, we really do.

Shrink: Good luck, Dr Omo.

234

Homo: Fuck you.

Burrow: Come on, now, Herb, getting angry will only make things worse for
everyone. Theyve made their decision. Lets go back to the ward.

(Omo walks out with hunched shoulders, followed by Burrow and Balls)

SCENE 23 STOOGE MEETS COCONUT

Professor Stooge is seated at a table in a small caf in Carlton. Mrs

Coconut walks in.

Stooge: Hello, Mrs Coconut. Thanks for coming.

Coconut: You look worried, Ross.

Stooge: I am, Mrs Coconut.

Coconut. Call me Ima, Ross.

235

Stooge: Ima, Ive found out something about the Board that you ought to
know about. Something I was not supposed to find out about.

Coconut: Why are you telling me?

Stooge: I dont know who else to discuss this with. I know youre new to the
Board, but you were on the ethics committee, werent you? And you
suspected that you were being kept in the darkwell, you were. And so was
I.

Coconut: About AIDS?

Stooge: Not just AIDS, but AIDS included.

Coconut: Tell me more.

Stooge: What do you know about the Masons, Ima?

Coconut: The Freemasons? I know that theyre a mens club a secret
society. They meet in lodges theres lodges in every town in Australia.
More than fifty in Melbourne alone. Part of the Old Boy Network, I guess. I
heard they do charity work things like that?

Stooge: Things like that?

236

Coconut: Thats right: Truth, Charity and Brotherly Love thats what their
motto is, as I recall. My husbands father was a mason, you see. Lots of
union men in the 50s and 60s were involved in Masonry here.
Stooge: And do you know much about the history of the organization, or its
rituals?

Coconut: Not much. It was introduced to Australia by the British early in

colonial history in the early 19th century, I suppose. A big presence in the
police, military and judiciary. They identify themselves through secret
handshakes and have initiation rites of some sort. I dont know much about
the rituals or what they do in the lodges. Masons are sworn to secrecy about
that, and women are not allowed in the masons. I do know that they have
degrees 33 I think, and use titles like grandmaster and even worshipful
grandmaster.

Stooge: Did you know that Winston Churchill was a Mason? And so was
Roosevelt and about 20 other American Presidents. And here in Australia,
Six prime ministers, including Menzies and Curtin and Edmund Barton,
our first PM, were also Masons?

Coconut: It must have been a prestigious organization.

Stooge: Prestigious indeed. I fact several British and other European kings
have also been masons. Including the Queens father, George the Sixth. Her
husband, Prince Phillip, is a mason. You can find extensive lists of famous
masons on the Internet. They claim not to be a secret society, you see. They
also say they seek no influence in religion or politics.

237

Coconut: So what does this have to do with the Board and what is it youre
so worried about?

Stooge: Ima, I have to make a confession to you about my medical expertise.

It may explain why it has taken me so long to wake up to whats been going
on around me.

Coconut: What is it?

Stooge: While I have a medical degree, and am therefore a doctor, indeed a

medical professor, my entire working experience has been in administration.
I have never treated patients, and honestly dont know much about the
diseases the institute researches, including AIDS.
My success, such as it has been, has been the result of improved efficiency
and cost-cutting.

Coconut: So why did they ask you to join the board?

Stooge: Im not sure but I do know that they thought, or assumed, that I
was on the square.

Coconut: A Mason.
Stooge: I didnt know what they were talking about at first, but then I
realised. They had been allowing me to hear more than they would have

238

but its taken me a long time to piece it all together. And to decide I had to
do something about it.

Coconut: That the Board is controlled by Masons?

Stooge: No that the Board is engaged in a genocidal final solution.

Coconut: Using AIDS?

Stooge: Precisely.

Coconut: So Herb was right.

Stooge: Dr Omo, and many others.

Coconut: How long have you known?

Stooge: A few months. I sort of half knew, and half denied it to myself. I
must admit I tried not to think about it too much. Focussed on my brain
preservation theory. But that ended up leading me to the same places truth
and history. And, like Professor Alzheimer, I care deeply about how I will
be remembered.
Coconut: Who doesnt?

239

Stooge: Not everyone wants to remembered as they actually are. They want
to be selectively remembered. Idealised. In fact the process of sanctification
begins with the funeral eulogies. They never give a true account. They praise
the dead regardless. And then the newspapers and magazines, and finally the
history books repeat the glories but not the evils.
Coconut: Unless the person who dies is an official villain an enemy of
the media, the state or the writers and publishers of history books.

Stooge: The old saying that who wins the wars writes the histories.
Coconut: Thats the way it always has been.
Stooge: But I can see that changing for the first time in hundreds,
thousands, of years. And the reason is the electronic age specifically
digital technology.

Coconut: Computers?
Stooge: And digital video and audio these technologies are getting cheaper
and therefore more accessible to the public all the time. It used to be that
only the rich could afford a computer. Or communicate rapidly across
continents. That has changed so much in the past 50 years. And especially in
the past 10 years. Millions of people own video cameras with which they are
recording events all over the world. All the time. Re-writing history to suit
the victors of a war will not be easy in the future.

240

Coconut: Im not so sure. Ive heard that most Americans think the USA
won the Vietnam War.

Stooge: It is true that a lie repeated often enough and loudly enough will
mislead many people, even a majority. But that doesnt negate what Ive
been saying. Try an imagine looking back at the millennium from 500 years
or a thousand years in the future. Assuming humanity has not destroyed
itself, and assuming that technological civilization is maintained, the actual
footage and forensic evidence of all the wars of the 20 th century and 21st
century would be reviewed as scientific, anthropological and historical
evidence. This is the crux of what Ive been trying to do with my brain
preservation technique create permanent records of the present, as it is, in
many different media, for future generations.

Coconut: But still, the ideas, opinions and agendas the rich will dominate
those of the poor. Whatever the new technology including your own, can
be afforded by the rich before they can be by the poor.
Stooge: I must confess that I intended it to be that way at first. I was
looking at a prestige market for a prestige technology. I was trained to think
that way. I didnt think there was anything wrong with making a reasonable
profit from my theoretical work. But that was before I thought the whole
thing true. The stakes have risen considerably now.

Coconut: Because AIDS is being spread by the institute?

241

Stooge: It means that because of my immediate actions I will be

remembered as either a terrible villain or a great hero. But I never wanted to
be either. I wanted a comfortable job and a comfortable life. I dont like
making waves. Frankly, Im afraid of these guys. People like Magnate and
White are brutal in many ways.
Coconut: And Psycho look what they did to Herb Omo.
Stooge: Whats happened to Dr Omo? He just disappeared, as far as I heard.
Coconut: Theyre holding him at the Royal Dark Hospital. Dill and I visited
him a couple of weeks ago. He said he had a hearing last week, but I havent
heard from him since then.
Stooge: Dont worry. I can get him released. I am not going to be a yes man
anymore. I know the director of the Royal Dark Hospital. When I explain to
him about the Board and AIDS, theyll have to let Rampant go.

Coconut: Unless the director is a mason too.

Stooge: Even if he is one, hed have to release Herb if other doctors,
including myself and Dill Ding come forward and support his theory about
AIDS. Or at least, his right to espouse his theory.
Coconut: Its not really his theory, is it? People have been making the same
claim for 20 years. Besides, you know the truth. Youve actually heard them
admit to it.

242

Stooge: Well, not exactly. They made a toast to the Final Solution once. But
theyd never admit to it. Theyve never admitted to any of it.

Coconut: So what are you going to do? Go to the media?

Stooge: Im not sure who to go to. I have no special expertise in virology or
epidemiology. If I go to the media theyll crucify me.

Coconut: The media or the board?

Stooge: Both

Coconut: So what are you going to do?

Stooge: Well actually, Mrs Coconut, thats what I wanted to meet you. And
why I have told you what I know Im hoping you, and your friends,
contacts, colleagues, whatever, will be able to do something about it. I will,
however, go to the Royal Dark Hospital and make sure Dr Rampant Homo is
released. I will also discuss the matter with some colleagues I can trust. And
with my wife and family. This is a dangerous situation, and Im not going to
endanger my family. The sort of people who can kill millions and sleep at
night are not likely to baulk at a few more.
Coconut: Youre right. Prudence is the better part of valour. Ill do what I
can, but it may not be enough. Ill speak to Dill Ding and my husband. Im

243

not going to go around saying AIDS is man-made, though. People will think
Im crazy.

Stooge: Is that as much as we can do?

Coconut: Lets hope others do a bit more to expose the secret. The truth will
be known in time. All we can do is wait and hope.