Original subtitles

BILLION DOLLARS.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> ADAM NEUMANN.

>> EVERYBODY TOLD ADAM NEUMANN

THIS WAS NOT DOABLE.

>> IF YOU TELL A 30 SOMETHING

YEAR OLD MALE HE'S JESUS CHRIST,

HE'S INCLINED TO BELIEVE YOU.

>> EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WAS

AN ABSOLUTE SHOCK.

>> HE WAS USING IT AS HIS

PERSONAL PIGGY BANK.

THE BOARD WENT ALONG WITH IT.

>> REAL ESTATE INVESTORS HAVE

BEEN PREYING UPON

AFRICAN-AMERICANS BECAUSE THEY

OWNED PROPERTY.

>> WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO SELL?

>> I HEARD IT THOUSANDS OF

TIMES.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME SELL MY LAND.

THEN I RESPOND BACK, YES, I CAN.

>> IT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> IT WAS IN THE FAMILY FOR 125

YEARS.

>> YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE IS

GOING TO LOOK LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH.

>>> THE HOPE IS MAYBE ITALY

MIGHT BE GETTING BETTER.

>> HOPE IS THE ONLY THING THAT

REMAINS.

>> YOU PUT ON A VERY TOUGH

FRONT.

I IMAGINE THERE MUST BE A HUGE

EMOTIONAL TOLL.

>> SI.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> HOW DO YOU THINK IT WILL

COMPARE, THE SITUATION IN ITALY

TO THE U.S.?

>> IT WILL BE THE SAME.

♪

♪

♪

>>> FELT LIKE THERE WAS

SOMETHING BEING DONE THAT WAS

UNPRECEDENTED.

>> WE ARE WE.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN'T BE

STOPPED.

THE CASES WERE RATCHETING UP

FURTHER AND FURTHER.

>> THE JAPANESE INVESTMENT FIRM

IS CONSIDERING PUTTING

$4 BILLION IN YOUR COMPANY.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG

NUMBER.

>> EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED FROM

THERE WAS AN ABSOLUTE SHOCK.

>> TODAY THE OBVIOUS STORY THE

WE WORK.

THERE'S A REPORT THAT WE WORK

WILL FIRE 4,000 PEOPLE.

IT MAY FIRE 6,000 PEOPLE.

>> IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

>> THERE'S REALLY NO BETTER WAY

TO LIGHT MONEY ON FIRE.

>> IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE

SPECTACLE IMPLOSIONS WE'VE SEEN

IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

>> WE WORK WAS FOUNDED IN 2010

BY ADAM NEUMANN AND HIS BUSINESS

PARTNER MIGUEL McKELVEY.

THE COMPANY LEASES REAL ESTATE.

CONVERTS IT INTO SHARED OFFICE

SPACE AND RENTS DESKS INSIDE.

AS MUNDANE AS THAT SOUNDS, BY

2019 WE WORK WAS A BIG DEAL

BOASTING LOCATIONS IN 100 CITIES

AND MORE THAN 12,000 EMPLOYEES.

WITH AN IPO LOOMING,

THE WE FAMILY WAS POISED TO MAKE

A TON OF MONEY.

>> WHEN WE WORK TRIED TO GO

PUBLIC IN 2019 IT WAS VALUED AT

$47 BILLION.

TEN YEARS EARLIER THEY WERE

WORKING OUT OF HALF A FLOOR OF

THIS BUILDING.

THIS WAS THE FIRST EVER WE WORK

SPACE.

>> HI, LISA, NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> HI, NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> THIS IS THE PLACE?

>> THIS IS IT.

THIS IS WHERE ALL THE MAGIC

HAPPENED AT WE WORK IN THE

BEGINS.

>> LISA WAS ADAM AND MIGUEL'S

SECOND HIRE.

LISA MET ADAM BY CHANCE IN 2010.

>> YOU WERE IMPRESSED BY HIM?

>> OF COURSE.

ADAM IS AN IMPRESSIVE PERSON.

I HAVE EMAILS THAT SAY GOOD

MORNING.

LET'S CREATE THE LARGEST NETWORK

COMMUNITY ON THE PLANET.

LOOK AT WHAT HE DID.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> WHEN SOMEONE THINKS ABOUT

THAT, THIS $47 BILLION

EVALUATION COMPANY, HOW DOES

THAT HAPPEN?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I THINK ADAM NEUMANN IS HOW IT

HAPPENED.

I HAVE PHOTOS OF OUR TEAM

SLEEPING IN OUR LOCATION, JUST

HUSTLING TO GET IT DONE.

ADAM HAS A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO

JUST KEEP DRIVING PEOPLE.

ADAM SAT IN FRONT OF THE

INVESTORS.

HE SOLD THE VISION.

HE'LL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE

GREATEST SALESMEN IN HISTORY.

>> ADAM HAD A TALENT RAISING

MONEY.

FIRST FROM INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS

AND LATER FROM MAJOR VENTURE

CAPITAL FIRMS AND BANKS.

PART CEO AND PART NEW AGE GURU

WITH A PENCHANT FOR GOING

BAREFOOT AND A LOVE OF TEQUILA

ADAM SAID THE MISSION WAS TO

ELEVATE THE WORLD'S

CONSCIOUSNESS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE

WORLD, START BY CHANGING

YOURSELF.

EVERY PERSON HAS A SUPER POWER.

WE ALL DO.

YOU HAVE ONE.

YOU HAVE ONE.

I KNOW THESE TWO HAVE ONE.

THERE'S AN ENERGY YOU FEEL.

IT'S AN ENERGY OF PEOPLE DOING

THEIR OWN THING WHILE BEING PART

OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN

THEMSELVES.

WE CALL IT THE WE GENERATION.

>> WHETHER ADAM BELIEVED HIS OWN

SPIRITUAL BABBLE OR A MARKETING

EMPLOY, IT WAS WORKING.

IN 2019 WE WORK WAS VALUED AT

$10 BILLION.

THAT COULD MEAN A BIG PAY OUT

ONE DAY FOR EMPLOYEES WITH

SHARES.

TARA JOINED THE COMPANY IN MARCH

2015.

HEY, TARA.

>> COME ON IN.

WHEN YOU START AT A START-UP

THERE'S AN ASSUMED GAMBLE.

LIKE IN ROULETTE, IF IT HITS ON

RED 20, WE'RE ALL GOING TO

RETIRE.

THERE'S THIS VEGAS MENTALITY

WHEN IT COMES TO START-UP

GROWTH.

>> WAS THAT SOMETHING THEY

TALKED TO YOU ABOUT WHEN YOU

WERE SIGNING UP, THERE WOULD BE

POTENTIAL FOR SALARY RAISES OR

EQUITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

IT WAS ABOUT A $10,000 PAY CUT.

>> YOU TOOK A PAY CUT TO JOIN WE

WORK?

>> IT WAS COOL.

>> YOU WENT TO THE SUMMER CAMP

EVENT?

>> I DID.

>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> NUTTY EXPERIENCE.

>> SUMMER CAMP WAS AN ANNUAL

COMPANY RAVE FOR WE WORKERS

FEATURING MEDITATION SESSIONS,

AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL,

AND PERFORMANCES BY ACTS LIKE

THE WEEKEND AND LOURD.

>> IT FELT LIKE A FESTIVAL.

>> ADAM WOULD GIVE LONG AND

UNTETHERED SPEECHES.

ATTENDANCE WAS STRICTLY

REQUIRED.

>> WHAT PUTS US TOGETHER IS

BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO DO

SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE WORLD A

BETTER PLACE AND WE WANT TO MAKE

MONEY DOING IT.

>> EVERYONE WAS ALWAYS REALLY

EXCITED WHEN ADAM WOULD SPEAK.

HE HAD THIS MESSIAH AIR ABOUT

HIM.

WORDS I WAS HEARING WAS YOU HAVE

THIS SEAT ON THE ROCKET SHIP TO

THE MOON AND MARS.

I DON'T THINK HE STARTED TALKING

ABOUT PUTTING WE WORK ON MARS

YET.

I THINK IT WAS A JOKE AT FIRST.

THEN WE HEARD IT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WAS MAYBE BEING CONSIDERED.

>> PUTTING WE WORK --

>> ON MARS.

IT SOUNDS CRAZY WHEN YOU SAY IT

NOW.

YEAH.

>> FOR TARA THE FUN WORE OFF.

HER JOB HELPING RUN WE WORK

OFTEN MEANT STAYING LATE

FOR MEMBER EVENTS.

>> SOME WEEKS WERE 70 PLUS HOURS

A WEEK.

>> HOW ABOUT OVERTIME?

>> I DID ASK HR, THEY SAID

YOU'RE ON SALARY.

YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO OVERTIME.

>> TARA SUED WE WORK OVER WAGE

ISSUES.

THE COMPANY FORCED THE CASE INTO

PRIVATE ARBITRATION.

SHE SETTLED FOR AN UNDISCLOSED

SUM.

WHILE TARA WAS SUING WE WORK,

ADAM WAS A NEWLY MINTED

BILLIONAIRE.

>> WE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN SIZE

OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>> KIDS SITTING NEXT TO THEM.

>> WE PROMISE NOT TO DISAPPOINT.

>> HE MADE AT LEAST SOME OF HIS

MONEY BY LEASING PROPERTIES HE

OWNED BACK TO WE WORK AND HE

USED WE WORK'S MONEY TO INVEST

IN PET PROJECTS.

LIKE A WAVE POOL FOR SURFING.

THEN A JAPANESE CONGLOMERATE

NAMED SOFT BANK STARTING POURING

BILLIONS INTO WE WORK.

SOFT BANK IS RUN BY A FAMED

INVESTOR.

>> SOME OF MY INVESTORS, YOU GET

TOO EXCITED AND TOO MUCH

CONCENTRATION INTO ONE COMPANY.

DON'T GO TOO FAR TOO MUCH.

>> IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST

VENTURE CAPITALIST OF ALL TIME.

I'M AN INVESTOR IN UBER.

I KNOW WHAT THE FIRST LARGEST

ONE WAS.

>> INFUSED WITH SOFT BANKS

BILLIONS, WE WORK ACQUIRED MORE

THAN ONE DOZEN COMPANIES.

ADAM WENT ON A SHOPPING SPREE OF

HIS OWN.

BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE BAY AREA

LISTED FOR $25 MILLION AND A

LUXURY PENTHOUSE IN MANHATTAN

LISTED FOR $18 MILLION.

IN 2019 THE WE COMPANY WAS

VALUED AT $47 BILLION AND RACED

TOWARDS AN IPO.

EVEN THOUGH THE COMPANY SEEMED

LIKE A SUCCESS, NO ONE ON THE

OUTSIDE HAD EVER ACTUALLY SEEN

ITS BOOKS.

TO GO PUBLIC WE WORK HAD TO

REVEAL THESE FINANCIALS IN AN

S-1 FILING.

>> WITH WE WORK, WHAT WAS THE

MOMENT WHEN PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO

LOOK UNDER THE HOOD?

>> FOR ME I GOT THE S-1 EMAILED

TO ME.

IMAGINE IF YOU'RE AN ACADEMIC,

IF YOU GET THE BEST NOVEL, IT

FEELS LIFE CHANGING AND YOU

CAN'T STOP READING.

THE NUMBERS WERE STAGGERING.

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE

IT.

A COMPANY THAT HAD COMMITTED TO

$47 BILLION IN LONG TERM

COMMITMENTS IN THE FORM OF

LEASES, BUT WAS DOING $3 BILLION

A YEAR IN REVENUE.

>> NOT TO MENTION WE WORK WAS

LOSING INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF

MONEY.

NEARLY $2 BILLION IN A SINGLE

YEAR ALONE.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WASN'T

SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE WORRIED

ABOUT WHEN THEY MADE THIS

DISCLOSURE?

>> MY GENERAL EXPERIENCE IS IF

YOU TELL A 30 SOMETHING YEAR OLD

MALE HE'S JESUS CHRIST, HE'S

INCLINED TO BELIEVE YOU.

WHEN EVERYONE IS TELLING YOU

YOU'RE DOING AMAZING WORK AND

YOU HAVE ONE OF THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL INVESTORS OF ALL

TIME, IT'S EASY TO BELIEVE

WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WORKING.

>> WE WORK WASN'T WORKING AND

MAYBE NEVER HAD.

IT NEEDED HUGE CASH INFUSIONS

JUST TO KEEP GOING AND WASN'T

MAKING ENOUGH MONEY BACK.

>> IT'S LOSING A LOT OF MONEY.

>> WHAT IS ADAM DOING WITH THE

MONEY HE'S TAKING OUT OF THE

COMPANY?

>> IT'S JUST BASIC MATH.

>> I DON'T WANT WE WORK ANY

PLACE.

>> THEN WE TANKED.

THE IPO WAS CANCELED.

WITHOUT THE MONEY THEY WOULD

HAVE RAISED FROM GOING PUBLIC,

WE WORK HAD TO SLASH COSTS.

MASS LAY OFFS FOLLOWED.

>> HELLO.

>> I'M TALKING TO FORMER

EMPLOYEES ON THE CONDITION OF

ANONYMITY BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY

SIGNED NDAs.

>> SOME COMPANIES DREAM OF

GETTING TO AN IPO.

WE WERE THERE.

IT CRUMBLED IN THE COURSE OF

THREE WEEKS.

>> WHEN WERE YOU LAID OFF?

JUST AFTER THE IPO?

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS A HUGE, HUGE -- COUPLE

THOUSAND PEOPLE IN ONE DAY.

>> COUPLE THOUSAND IN ONE DAY?

>> YES.

>> WE WORK SAID IN A STATEMENT

THE LAY OFFS WERE NECESSARY TO

CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT

ORGANIZATION AND THAT LAID OFF

EMPLOYEES RECEIVED SEVERANCE.

>> THERE'S GRIEF ON ALL SIDES.

PEOPLE WERE PACKING UP THEIR

DESKS.

THERE WAS A VIVID IMAGE WHEN

ADAM'S STUFF WAS BEING MOVED

OUT.

>> AS THE VALUE OF WE WORK TOOK

A NOSE DIVE, ADAM NEGOTIATED A

$1.7 BILLION EXIT PACKAGE

INCLUDING STOFT BANK BUYING BAC

HIS SHARES.

HE'S BEEN LAYING LOW AT ISRAEL.

>> MIKE EISENBERG.

MICHAEL RUNS ONE OF THE VERY

BEST VENTURE FUNDS IN THE

COUNTRY.

YOU ARE ALSO THE REALLY EARLY

INVESTOR IN A COMPANY CALLED WE

WORK.

>> TRUE.

>> WHAT MESSAGE SHOULD WE TAKE

AWAY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK WE TEND TO BLOW THINGS

OUT OF PROPORTION THAT SINGLE

COMPANIES HAVE MASSIVE IMPACTS

ON THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> EISENBERG'S FIRM REPORTEDLY

MADE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OFF WE

WORK.

>> EVERYBODY TOLD ADAM NEUMANN

IT WAS NOT DOABLE.

REAL ESTATE HADN'T BEEN WORKED

THE SAME WAY.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I SAW,

I WALKED WITH ADAM AROUND ALL

TWO OF WE WORKERS' FIRST TWO

BUILDINGS.

I NEVER MET A PIECE OF REAL

ESTATE OR A BRICK OR WOOD THAT

CREATED THAT KIND OF VIBE.

>> YOU THINK THEY'LL COME BACK?

>> OH, YEAH.

IT'S STILL WORKING.

THE FUNDAMENTAL BUSINESS IS

STILL WORKING.

THEY MAYBE TOOK IN TOO MUCH

CAPITAL INITIALLY.

MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE SHOULD HAVE GONE SLOWER.

MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT

YOUR INVESTMENTS IN WE WORK?

>> SUPER PROUD OF THE

ASSOCIATION.

DOESN'T MEAN THERE AREN'T

LESSONS.

THAT'S TRUE IN EVERY COMPANY,

THE ONES MORE SUCCESSFUL AND

LESS SUCCESSFUL AND FAILURES

WHICH IS 50% OF WHAT I DO.

50% OF WHAT I DO FAILS.

BUSINESS REQUIRES AN IRON

STOMACH.

YOU MUST RESPECT THE

ENTREPRENEURS.

THAT TRY, THRIVE OR EVEN FAIL.

THEY WENT FOR THE JOURNEY.

WE DIDN'T.

>> FAILURE MIGHT BE THE NORM FOR

ENTREPRENEURS.

IT'S HARD FOR EMPLOYEES THAT

BOUGHT SHARES THAT HAVE PLUMMET

PLUMMETED

PLUMMETED.

LAWYERS ARE BRINGING A CLASS

ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ADAM AND

WE WORK.

>> ALL RISE.

>> THE CASE WAS MOVED TO A

DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AT THE LAST

MINUTE.

WE WORK DIDN'T SHOW.

>> SO GENI DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'R

HERE.

>> WHAT'S YOUR PROGRESS NOW?

>> THEY TURNED A SPRINT INTO A

HURDLE, WE'RE THEY'RE PUTTING

EVERY HURDLE IN FRONT OF US TO

JUST GET INTO COURT.

>> THE LAWYERS ARGUE ADAM

BREACHED HIS DUTIES TO SHARE

HOLDERS.

>> HE TRADEMARKED THE NAME OF

THE COMPANY AND FORCED THE

COMPANY TO PAY HIM $6 MILLION

FOR THE NAME THE WE COMPANY.

HE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS

OF DOLLARS IN LOANS.

THE COMPANY GAVE HIM $60 MILLION

TO BUY A GULF STREAM JET.

>> DID HE ACTUALLY BREAK THE

LAW?

>> SOMEONE WHO RUNS THE COMPANY

HAS A FIDUCIARY DUTY.

HE WAS USING IT AS HIS PERSONAL

PIGGY BANK AND THE BOARD WAS

GOING ALONG WITH IT.

THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW UNDER

CIVIL LAW.

ONCE YOU ISSUE SHARES TO OTHER

PEOPLE THAT CHANGES THE GAME.

YOU CAN'T ACT LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN

COMPANY AND THE SHARE HOLDERS

DON'T EXIST.

>> ADAM GAVE BACK THE 6 MILLION

HE WAS PAID FOR THE TRADEMARK.

WE WORK SAYS THE LAWSUIT IS

MERITLESS.

THE NEW LEADERSHIP SAYS COMPANY

IS SOUND.

SOFT BANK PULLED OUT OF ITS DEAL

TO BUY BACK WE WORKERS' STOCK

INCLUDING ADAM'S SHARES.

SOFT BANK CITED INVESTIGATIONS

BY THE F.C.C. AND THE JUSTICE

DEPARTMENT.

ADAM IS STILL HIDING OUT IN

ISRAEL AND SOURCES CLOSE TO HIM

SAY HE'S PLANNING A COMEBACK.

>> YOU CAN'T GIVE UP.

TOOK ME FIVE BUSINESSES TO GET

TO WE WORK.

DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THE FIRST

TIME.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FAIL.

LEARN WHY YOU FAILED AND START

AGAIN.

>>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT

$600,000, $2 MILLION HOMES.

>> YOUR BIGGEST DECISION IS TO

GO TO THE BEACH OR POOL AND WHAT

AM I GOING TO GRILL FOR DINNER.

>> SOUTH CAROLINA, HILTON HEAD,

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES,

EVERYBODY LOVES HILTON HEAD.

>> ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR A

FAMILY TO CREATE WEALTH IS OWN

LAND.

I'M STANDING ON THE BEACH IN

HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, BLACK

PEOPLE OWNED MOST OF IT.

OVER THE DECADES THE LAND WAS

LOST.

TO THIS DAY WE GOT BLACK FOLKS

STILL FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR

PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICANS OWNED

AROUND 16 MILLION ACRES OF LAND,

MUCH ACQUIRED THROUGH PURCHASES

AND HOMESTEADING.

AFTER YEARS OF VIOLENCE AND

LEGAL TRICKERY, MOST WAS TAKEN.

TEXAS A&M LAW PROFESSOR HAS BEEN

TRACKING THAT LOSS FOR TWO

DECADES.

>> AFRICAN-AMERICANS, DESPITE

THIS INCREDIBLE ACQUISITION OF

LAND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, MOST

OF THAT PROPERTY WAS NOT

CONSIDERED PRIME REAL ESTATE.

>> UNTIL 1950, HILTON HEAD WAS

REMOTE AND THE ISLAND WAS OWNED

BY MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

WHAT DOES SOUTH CAROLINA DO?

THEY BUILD A BRIDGE, REAL ESTATE

DEVELOPERS REALIZE THERE'S A

GREAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND

THEY HAVE THE VISIONS OF WHAT

HAS BECOME HILTON HEAD.

THEY STARTED TO BUYOUT

INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY BLACK LAND

OWNERS LEFT.

AS OUR SOCIETY HAS ADVANCED,

AREAS THAT WERE ONCE CONSIDERED

THE BACK WATERS, NO LONGER ARE

THE BACK WATERS.

>> WE'RE ON A MISSION RIGHT NOW.

TO GET THIS TANGERINE.

>> THIS IS WIDE SPREAD

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

EVEN IN MY HOMETOWN OF

TALLAHASSEE, SANDRA THOMPSON

LEARNED HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO

RETAIN POSSESSION OF LAND THAT

DEVELOPERS WANT TO GET THEIR

HANDS ON.

I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN

TALLAHASSEE.

THIS WAS THE STICKS.

I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH PEOPLE WHO

LIVED HERE.

WE WOULD BE LIKE YOU LIVE IN THE

BOONEYS, THE BOON DOCKS.

>> IT'S NOW ZONED URBAN FRINGE.

>> PEOPLE TRIED TO BUY IT?

>> ALL THE TIME.

>> SANDRA'S FAMILY WERE SHARE

CROPPERS ON THIS LAND.

HER GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT IT IN

1946 USING MONEY THEIR SON MADE

IN THE MILITARY.

THEIR WILL DIDN'T IDENTIFY A

SINGLE PERSON WHO WOULD INHERIT

AND MANAGE THE PROPERTY.

>> WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED

AWAY, IT WAS LEFT TO HER

DESCENDENTS.

SO IT BECAME HEIRS PROPERTY.

>> WHAT IS HEIR PROPERTY?

>> COMMUNAL PROPERTY WHERE YOUR

ANCESTORS WOULD HAVE PURCHASED

THE LAND.

ONCE THEY PASSED AWAY, IT

TRANSFERS TO THE NEXT GENERATION

AND THERE DESCENDENTS.

A PROPERTY THAT CAN BE OWNED BY

200 PEOPLE.

ANY ONE OF THOSE HEIRS COULD

SELL THEIR PERCENTAGE.

THAT NEW OWNER CAN GO TO THE

COURT AND SAY WE CAN'T AGREE ON

HOW TO MANAGE THIS.

>> AND FORCE THE REST OF THE

FOLKS TO SELL IT EVEN IF THEY

DON'T WANT TO?

>> YES.

IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO MOVE

IT OUT OF HEIRS PROPERTY STATUS.

THAT PROCESS COSTS FROM PROBATE

TO TITLE CLEARING $10,000.

>> YOU OWN THE LAND, THEN YOU

HAD TO PAY $10,000 TO OWN THE

LAND AGAIN?

>> EXACTLY.

BECAUSE OF THE COST A LOT OF

FAMILIES DON'T CLEAR TITLE TO

THAT PROPERTY.

SO THEN IT KEEPS THEM IN A

VULNERABLE ECONOMIC RISK

POSITION.

>> THE LAND HAS BEEN IN OUR

FAMILY FOR AT LEAST 125 YEARS.

STARTED WITH MY GREAT

GRANDFATHER.

THE LAND IS FOR ME A LOT OF

MEMORIES, PART OF MY ROOTS.

I WAS PROUD OF THE NAME LEWIS.

WE WORKED TO HAVE SOMETHING.

I GUESS WE LOST IT.

>> THE LEWIS FAMILY OWNED 480

ACRES IN NORTHERN LOUISIANA.

BECAUSE THE LAND WAS HEIRS

PROPERTY SEVERAL DISTANT FAMILY

MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO SELL THEIR

SHARE TO A LOCAL TIMBER

DEVELOPER.

HE FORCED THE SALE OF THE LAND

THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

>> MY GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER

RAISED 13 KIDS WHERE THAT HOUSE

SITS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY HEIRS

TIED INTO THE LEWIS PROPERTIES,

IT WILL MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN.

TAXES WERE ALWAYS PAID ON TIME.

WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION NO

ONE PERSON FROM THE FAMILY COULD

UP AND SELL ANY PART OF THE

PROPERTY WITHOUT ANYONE BEING

NOTIFIED.

>> DO YOU ALL KNOW THE RELATIVES

THAT SOLD THEIR PART?

>> I'VE ONLY SEEN ONE ONCE.

>> YOU'RE IN NEW YORK, WHEREVER,

GOING ON WITH YOUR LIFE.

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW NOTHING

ABOUT THIS COUNTRY SPOT RIGHT

HERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

THIS HERE.

MY THING IS THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN

HERE FOR YEARS.

BECAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY YOU UP

UPROOTED A FAMILY.

>> SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE

WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR, THE

SHERIFFS EVICTED MICHAEL.

>> THIS IS WHERE YOUR --

>> MY TRAILER WAS SITTING HERE.

THOSE ARE THE STEPS TO THE FRONT

ENTRANCE.

I CALLED THE SHERIFF.

WELL, IT'S HIS PROPERTY.

HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS.

>> THE SHERIFF IS SAYING TUGGLE

CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS.

>> IT'S HIS PROPERTY.

I SUGGEST YOU MOVE THE TRAILER.

HE SAID THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL

YOU.

>> MICHAEL ENDED UP WITH LITTLE

OVER $2,800.

HE USED TO RELOCATE HIS TRAILER

HOME TO A HALF ACRE LOT NEARBY.

>> STILL GOT TO PUT IN A WATER

LINE.

THE WATER LINE IS ACROSS THE

ROAD.

I COULD BE ANGRY, ANGRY TO THE

PART I WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO

SOMEBODY.

I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 125

YEARS OF FAMILY HERITAGE.

>> MICHAEL INVITED US IN.

>> THIS IS A PETITION THAT CAME

TO US VIA THE SHERIFF'S

DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST DOCUMENT

THAT WE RECEIVED.

YOU'RE HEREBY CITED TO COMPLY

WITH THE DEMAND CONTAINED IN THE

PETITION WHICH OFFICE IS IN THE

TUNE OF HOMER --

>> THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS.

>> THROWED AT SOMEBODY THAT

CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE LINGO SO TO

SPEAK.

WE GET TO THE OFFICE TO FIND OUT

EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THEY'RE

TRYING TO SAY.

>> TO MAKE SENSE OF THESE

DOCUMENTS AND GET A BETTER

UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED

TO THE LEWISES, WE VISITED THE

CLERK OF COURT.

>> ANYTHING INVOLVING A LAWSUIT

IS FILED HERE IN THIS OFFICE.

I'M THE CUSTODIAN OF ALL THESE

RECORDS YOU SEE.

SO YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS OUT IN

FRONT?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE

LEWISES?

>> THEY'RE A FAMILY SPREAD OUT

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

JAMES TUGGLE BUYS INTO THAT

PROPERTY.

HE DIDN'T JUST BUY A SLIVER.

HE BOUGHT SOMEWHERE IN THE

NEIGHBORHOOD OF 20%.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

>> ONCE HE OWNS THAT, HE CAN

FORCE THE ENTIRE THING TO BE

SOLD.

>> THAT'S WHAT HE DID.

>> WHICH HE DID.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF A DECADE

TUGGLE A TIMBER DEVELOPER BOUGHT

THE SHARES OF MORE THAN 20

PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE LEWIS

PROPERTY, MOST FROM OUT OF

STATE.

HE DECLINED OUR REQUEST TO AN

INTERVIEW AND DIDN'T RESPOND TO

OUR WRITTEN QUESTIONS.

>> THE SALE HAPPENS AT THE

SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHERE IT'S

PUBLICLY OPEN FORBID AND SOLD

FOR $555,000.

>> A BARGAIN OF A PRICE.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> FOR 500 ACRES.

>> I'VE SEEN ACRES SOLD FOR

$1,700.

THAT'S DISTURBING.

>> THE SALE HE'S TALKING ABOUT

WAS IN 2001 TO JAMES STEELE WHO

ADVERTISES HIS ABILITY TO SELL

HEIRS PROPERTY.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.

>> THE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE BID IS

$2,994.90.

THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR BIDS.

DO I HEAR A BID?

2,295.25 IS SOLD.

PUT YOUR NAME RIGHT THERE.

>> MORNING, JIM.

>> MORNING.

>> HOW YOU DOING?

>> FINE.

>> WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?

>> WELL, I BOUGHT AN INTEREST IN

A PIECE OF LAND, AN UNDIVIDED

INTEREST.

WHEN IT'S INHERITED AND THERE'S

A LOT OF HEIRS, I OWNED 22 ACRES

OUT OF 52.

>> NOW YOU PURCHASED THE REST.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU PAID IN TOTAL

FOR 52 ACRES?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO ADD THAT UP.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I DO A LOT

OF THESE.

I CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL IN MY

HEAD.

>> HOW DOES HEIRS PROPERTY FIT

INTO YOUR OVERALL BUSINESS

MODEL?

>> TO BE TRUTHFUL IT'S PROBABLY

90%, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE

CIVIL WAR.

WE'RE DOING SOME THAT PEOPLE IN

CIVIL WAR HAD IT.

THEY WERE SLAVES AND THEY HAD

IT.

I'VE HAD OTHER LAND OWNERS COME

TO ME AND SAY WOULD YOU FILE A

LAWSUIT FOR ME AND DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THE BAD GUY.

YOU BE THE BAD GUY.

YOU'RE ALREADY THE BAD GUY.

>> SO YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE

DOING IS PERCEIVED --

>> YOU LOOK AT ME AS EVIL.

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> I'M SHOCKED.

>> NO.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS TO THE FAMILY

MEMBER THAT WANTS TO SELL,

YOU'RE BRINGING THE BANK.

YOU'RE BRINGING THE MONEY.

TO THE FAMILY MEMBER THAT

DOESN'T WANT TO SELL, YOU'RE

EVIL.

>> PROBABLY IN THEIR EYES.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S USUALLY THE ONES THAT

LIVE ON IT AND ARE GETTING FREE

RENT.

>> IT'S THEIR LAND.

IT'S NOT FREE RENT.

>> THEY OWN A MINISCULE PORTION

OF IT.

I HEARD IT THOUSANDS OF TIMES.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME SELL MY LAND.

THEN I RESPOND BACK, I SAY, YES,

I CAN.

>> BUT IT'S MY LAND?

>> WELL, IT USED TO BE.

>> JIM, THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

JIM STEELE WASN'T INVOLVED IN

THE SALE OF THE LEWIS PROPERTY.

JAMES TUGGLE LET GREG STAY ON

THE LAND, BUT HIS MOTHER DECIDED

TO LEAVE.

>> THIS IS MY MOTHER'S HOUSE.

WHEN SHE RETIRED, THIS BECAME

HER HOME.

>> WHY DID SHE LEAVE HERE?

>> SHE LEFT BECAUSE SHE WAS

NERVOUS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HER

MAMA'S HOUSE WOULD BE PUSHED OUT

AND WHETHER HER HOUSE WOULD BE

NEXT.

SHE COULDN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.

SHE JUST DIDN'T FEEL SAFE.

>> GREG'S MOTHER MISS TRUDY

STANLEY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE

LEWIS FAMILY TRIED TO FINALIZE

THEIR OWNERSHIP WHEN THEY FOUND

OUT IT WAS BEING TARGETED FOR

SALE.

MR. TUGGLE OUT BID THEM.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT MISS STANLEY

MOVED IN WITH HER DAUGHTER IN

WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> IT'S PAINFUL TO REALIZE THAT

I DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

I KEPT MY PART.

SOMEONE SOLD THEIR PART AND IT

AFFECTED THE WHOLE FAMILY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THE LAW.

WE COULDN'T PROTECT IT.

SO WE LOST IT.

>> HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE LAND TO

YOU?

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

TO LOSE IT, YOU HAD NO DEFENSE.

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE LOST IT.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

STILL IS.

IT WILL FOREVER BE THAT WAY.

BUT THAT'S THE LAW.

>> WHEN AFRICAN-AMERICANS MOVE

FROM THE STATUS OF BEING

THEMSELVES TO AFTER THE CIVIL

WAR, BEING ABLE TO BECOME LAND

OWNERS, HARDLY ANY OF THESE

FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO STRUCTURE

THE OWNERSHIP IN A WAY THAT

WOULD BE STABLE BECAUSE MOST

AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES HAD NO

ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS.

THERE ARE STUDIES IN VARIOUS

SOUTHERN STATES THAT SHOW IT'S

10 TO 40% OF ALL PROPERTY

AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNS IS HEIR

PROPERTY.

>> THERE'S AROUND $28 BILLION OF

HEIR PROPERTY IN THE STAFF.

THAT'S CONSERVATIVE.

THOMAS MITCHELL DRAFTED

LEGISLATION TO HELP FAMILIES

HANG ON TO THEIR.

IT'S PASSED IN 16 STATES.

>> IF SOMEBODY FILES ONE OF

THESE LAWSUITS AND REQUESTS A

COURT TO ORDER THE FORCED SALE

OF THE PROPERTY, THE OTHER

OWNERS ARE THEN ENTITLED TO

BUYOUT THE PERSON WHO ASKED FOR

THE FORESALE.

THERE HAD BEEN THIS NARRATIVE

THAT BLACK LAND OWNERS WERE

INEVITABLY GOING TO BE EXTINCT

BY NOW.

WHY ARE WE GOING TO SIT BACK AND

WATCH MORE AND MORE PROPERTY AND

LAND AND HOMES GO AND THEN ON

THE BACK END CALL FOR

REPARATIONS AS OPPOSED TO TRY TO

STABILIZE THE OWNERSHIPO IT'S

NOT DISSIPATED 20 OR 30 YEARS

FROM NOW?

>> RIGHT.

>> MY FAMILY HOMESTEADED THESE

PROPERTIES.

THEY RAISED FAMILIES ON THESE

PROPERTIES.

MR. TUGGLE, HE AIN'T GOING TO

BUILD NOTHING ON IT.

IT'S ALL FOR THE TIMBER.

ALL FOR THE TIMBER.

IT WAS IN THE FAMILY FOR 125

YEARS.

>> ALL OF THIS?

>> ALL OF THIS.

MY AUNTS AND UNCLES' HOUSES SAT

ON THE TOP RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU STICK

TOGETHER.

YOU KEEP YOUR INTERESTS

TOGETHER.

YOU HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR INTERESTS

AND, IF YOU PLAN ON DOING

ANYTHING WITH YOUR INTERESTS,

MAKE SURE YOU DO IT TO KEEP IT

IN THE FAMILY.

THAT'S WHERE WE FELL SHORT.

WHATEVER THEY GOT FROM HIM NOW

IS PROBABLY GONE.

JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

♪

♪

♪

>>> THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN

NORTHERN ITALY THE STREETS HAVE

BEEN QUIET APART FROM THE

CONSTANT SOUND OF SIRENS WHICH

IS THESE GUYS RESPONDING TO

CASES OF COVID-19 THAT NEED

URGENT CARE.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> ITALY WAS THE FIRST WESTERN

COUNTRY TO DETECT A MASS

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.

IT NOW HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN

EUROPE.

ITALIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE

CONFIRMED AT LEAST 185,000

CASES, MORE THAN 26,000 HAVE

DIED, BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET.

TESE GUYS ARE JUST PREPPING,

MAKING SURE THEY'RE FULLY SEALED

OFF TO GO INTO THE NURSING HOME.

THEY JUST RECEIVED A CALL TO GO

TO HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> WHAT KIND OF STATE WAS SHE

IN?

SHE OBVIOUSLY WASN'T DOING WELL?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> HOW COMMON IS THAT THAT

YOU'RE BRINGING PATIENTS FROM

NURSING HOMES THAT NEED URGENT

COVID CARE?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> WHAT'S THE EMOTIONAL TOLL ON

YOU GUYS?

YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR WEEKS

NOW.

IT MUST BE HARD.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

GIOVANNI HOSPITAL.

THIS IS A SOPHISTICATED ADVANCED

HOSPITAL, YET THEY'RE SAYING

THEY'VE BEEN COMPLETELY

OVERWHELMED THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THIS IS THE ICU.

>> THESE ARE ONE OF THE ICUs.

>> IN THIS HOSPITAL, HOW MANY

PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE IN ICU RIGHT

NOW?

[ INAUDIBLE ]

>> THE INFECTION RATE HAS

DECREASED, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE

YOU'RE VERY BUSY.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE

ESSENTIALLY BEING MADE TO STAY

ALIVE BY VARIOUS DIFFERENT

RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT.

THIS GUY IS HAVING HIS BLOOD

TAKEN OUT.

HE'S BEING OXYGENATED HERE

BEFORE IT COMES BACK INTO HIS

VEINS.

HE'S ONLY IN HIS 30s.

HE'S HAD A TRACK YOT MY TO HELP

HIS RESPIRATORY RECOVERY.

DOCTORS AND NURSES CAN'T LEAVE

THIS ROOM BECAUSE THE PPE HAS

BEEN CONTAMINATED.

THEY CAN'T WASTE THAT PROTECTIVE

GEAR WHICH IS SO PRECIOUS.

EVEN WITH THESE PRECAUTIONS IN

PLACE 130 DOCTORS AND 30 NURSES

HAVE DIED FROM CORONAVIRUS.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE

THIS BEFORE?

>> NO.

I HOPE I NEVER SEE AGAIN.

>> THE INFECTION RATE IN ITALY

AND DEATH RATE GOES DOWN, IT

LOOKS POSITIVE.

>> YES.

YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

EVERY NATION HAS ITS POLITICS ON

DOING THE TESTING.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DO IS

TESTING SOMEONE WHO IS COMING IN

THE HOSPITAL.

IF YOU'RE AT HOME, NOBODY IS

COMING TO YOU AND TESTING YOU.

IT MIGHT BE THAT NUMERATOR IS

VERY BIG.

>> ARE YOU STARTING TO SEE THE

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

>> MAYBE.

>> MAYBE?

>> I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO

JUDGE FROM TWO OR THREE DAYS

OUT.

>> THE RISK OF INFECTION INSIDE

THESE HOSPITALS IS REALLY HIGH.

OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTH OF THESE

WORKERS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

SO THEY CAN KEEP GOING.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS WRITE THESE

RED LINES.

IF YOU'VE BEEN INSIDE TO TREAT

PATIENTS WITH COVID-19, YOU STAY

ON ONE SIDE.

EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS CLEAN, THEY

STAY ON THE OTHER SIDE TO

PREVENT ANY CONTAMINATION.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> THOSE GOING THROUGH ICU,

THERE ARE SOME FINALLY

RECOVERING.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> WAS THERE A MOMENT WHERE YOU

FELT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE

IT?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> STEFANO WAS LUCKY.

THE SURVIVAL RATE HERE FOR

PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 IS JUST

30%.

IS THERE SOMEONE IN HERE?

MEANING 7 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE HERE

FOR TREATMENT DON'T MAKE IT OUT

ALIVE.

OH, MY GOSH.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALL

PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST FEW

WEEKS.

THESE ARE THE LAST BELONGINGS

THAT THEY HAD IN THE HOSPITAL

BEFORE THEY DIED.

WHAT PROPORTION OF THESE BAGS

BELONG TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED

FROM CORONAVIRUS?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> HOW OFTEN ARE YOU GETTING

THESE PHONE CALLS?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> WHILE THE OFFICIAL DAILY

DEATH TOLLS ARE DECREASING,

CHURCHES ARE STILL OVERRUN.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> UNLIKE OTHER COUNTRIES ITALY

ONLY TESTS PATIENTS WHO MAKE IT

TO HOSPITAL.

THOUSANDS OF OTHERS REMAIN

UNACCOUNTED FOR.

MEANING THE DEATH TOLL COULD BE

MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT WE KNOW.

THE DEMAND FOR CREMATION IS

OVERWHELMING.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH CHURCHES TO

HOLD ALL THE BODIES.

THE OVERFLOW ARE BEING STORED IN

WHATEVER LARGE EMPTY SPACES THE

AUTHORITIES CAN FIND.

THIS IS WHAT DEATH LOOKS LIKE IN

ITALY.

BODY AFTER BODY BEING TAKEN AWAY

IN MILITARY TRUCKS TO

CREMATORIUMS FAR AWAY WHERE

THERE'S SPACE FOR THEM TO

ACTUALLY BE BURNED.

IT'S ALL STARTING TO FEEL SO

CLINICAL.

THESE GUYS ARE DOING THE BEST TO

GIVE THEM A DIGNIFIED DEPARTURE.

IT JUST SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN

THE SHEAR NUMBER OF PEOPLE STILL

DYING HERE.

JUST ACROSS THE STREET THIS MAN

TRIES NOT TO WATCH WHAT'S

UNFOLDING.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

YOU HAVE THE MOST IMMACULATE

BEAUTIFUL LOOKING GARDEN.

OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE ABOUT 10 METERS

AWAY FROM THIS WAREHOUSE WHERE

ALMOST EVERY DAY YOU'RE SEEING

BODIES BEING TAKEN AWAY.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL FOR YOU?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> IT SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERYONE

AROUND HERE HAS LOST SOMEONE.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> HOW OLD ARE YOU IF YOU DON'T

MIND ME ASKING?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> ITALIANS HERE FACE MORE

LONELY DAYS AHEAD.

ITALY PRIME MINISTER HAS

EXTENDED THE NATIONWIDE LOCKDOWN

UNTIL MAY 3rd.

IT FALLS ON THE REGIONAL

GOVERNMENT TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT

THINGS ARE UNDER CONTROL.

IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING TIME FOR

YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON

AT THE MOMENT?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> GIVEN WE ALL SAW WHAT

HAPPENED IN CHINA FROM THE END

OF DECEMBER ONWARD AND WE SAW

BREAK-OUTS IN EUROPE AND

PARTICULARLY HERE IN LOMBARDI,

DO YOU HAVE REGRETS OVER THE

GOVERNMENT RESPONDING TOO

SLOWLY?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ITALIANS

WHO ARE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY FEEL

LIKE THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT

RESPOND QUICK ENOUGH.

IF THEY HAD RESPONDED QUICKER,

MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE SEEING WHAT

WE'VE SEEN PLAY OUT OVER THE

PAST FEW WEEKS.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR

ANSWERS AS TO WHEN THEY'LL BE

ALLOWED TO GET BACK TO THEIR

DAILY LIVES, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY

TO THEM?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> FUNERALS THEMSELVES ARE RARE.

WHEN THEY HAPPEN, THEY'RE

LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY

ONLY.

LIKE THOSE OF 89-YEAR-OLD

THERESA MARIA WHO PASSED AWAY IN

A NURSING HOME WHICH HAS

RECORDED ABOUT FIVE TIMES MORE

DEATHS THAN USUAL.

SHE WAS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF

HAVING THE VIRUS.

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS SHE WAS

NEVER TESTED.

>> WERE YOU CLOSE WITH YOUR

GRANDMA?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> WHAT WAS SHE LIKE?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT

THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO SEE HER

FOR THOSE LAST FEW WEEKS?

>> THIS IS THE MOST -- NOT ONLY

FOR US, BUT FOR HER.

SHE WAS LONELY.

SHE WAS LONELY.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT REAL, LIKE

IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

BUT, I KNOW IT IS REAL.

>> THAT MUST BE SO HARD NOT

BEING ABLE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HUG EACH

OTHER?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US IS

UNREAL.

IT'S UNNATURAL BECAUSE WE'RE

HUMAN.

WE NEED TO HUG.

WE NEED ALL THE PARTS THAT MAKE

US HUMAN.

>> AS THE WORLD FOLLOWS IN

ITALY'S FOOT STEPS AND LOOKS TO

THIS REGION SEARCHING FOR SIGNS

OF HOPE, EVERYONE HERE HAS A

SIMILAR MESSAGE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE OFFICIAL

DATA WE'RE SEEING IS ACCURATE?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

>> THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THAT

THE DEATH RATE MIGHT BE GOING

DOWN.

THINGS MIGHT BE GETTING BETTER.

THE HOPE IS THAT WE'RE PAST THE

WORST OF IT HERE.

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪