Recounts the presumed origin of the HIV virus, initially as SIV non-human primates in Central Africa.

A spoken monologue about the arrival of HIV to North America and Gaetan Dugas, the presumed patient-0.

Tabitha helps her father Ken, who has had a stroke. She combs his hair and helps him with his therapy ball, retrieving it each time he drops it.

From the perspective of a beauty mark that progresses into a serious medical complication.

The last ride has left Paul gravely ill. Oscar and Bassett tell him they bet it all, and they’re set for life. Paul asks his mother if she’ll finally be happy- finally smile. She does, but as they leave his room to celebrate, Paul hears the house whisper. There must be more. Paul is desperate, and crawls to his rocking horse for more luck, mo...

As the Democratic Republic of Congo fights for its independence, patients are being hospitalized and dying from AIDS-related illness.

Shanawdithit, dying, speaks to her ancestors. She is ready to leave this world.

Shanawdithit describes the last days of her family as they were pushed from their land and then hunted. She asks Cormack not to speak of their death, but of their life. Cormack is ecstatic and gets lost in the memories Shanawdithit paints. She breaks his reverie with the cold fact that the life she speaks of will never happen again. She colla...

Cormack tries to raise funds for Shanawdithit’s care without success. James Simms offers to care for her while Cormack is away.

Her health fading, Shanawdithit wonders if she’ll be welcomed into the spirit world after so much time with the colonists. Cormack tells her he must leave, and Shanawdithit gives him a sketch of his house to carry with him. He leaves the room to pack. Shanawdithit hears the spirits of her people calling her name. It is time. One spirit in par...

Jaan remains alive. The tribal women suggest she should write to Noor to know what has happen and ease her mind.

Maupin remembers her romance with the Countess de Florensac.

Xiao Lian’s father bitterly reveals that he will die soon. Xiao Lian’s mother appears in spirit form and asks her to forgive her father. She speaks of their happiness together as a family in earlier times. As a child, Xiao Lian had a close connection with the Dragon Boat Festival, known as Duanwu and its hero, the ancient poet Qu Y...

Qu Yuan wanders into the southern wilderness. As he travels, he composes a lament for himself and his lost position in court. In the present, Xiao Lian’s Father senses his end is near. Summoning up his strength, he joins with the spirit of Qu Yuan to tell the final chapter.

All hope is lost as the villagers return and collect Qu Yuan’s possessions. They take the scrolls containing his famous poetry to the Daoist temple, where they will be preserved forever. Xiao Lian returns to the present at the bedside of her dying father. With his encouragement and love, she finally recognizes the value of honourin...

Soloists and chorus sing the numbers attributed to HIV-1 and HIV-2 by the International Comitte of Taxonomy of Viruses.

A father comforts his son as he encourages him to end his life, rather than waiting for him to die of a terminal illness.

Two male lovers come to terms with the fact that one of them is dying of AIDS.

Jacqueline experiences symptoms, but her physical illness is undiagnosed, and she is instead told it is hysterical or psychosomatic.

Malcolm works on his university application; Eugene is sick. Antoine arrives telling them he has been promoted to ambassador, but that they will remain in the country they are currently stationed in.

An ill and delirious Peary reminisces about his polar days; his wife remembers their early love.

Josephine asks for Henson's help, despite Peary's past bad treatment of him.

A mother and son have dinner. The mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and her son has increasing difficulty coping with that fact.

The soloists describe AIDS as a black lion and a pack of hyenas, while the chorus continues listing medications.

In her prime. At a post-gala cocktail party, Jackie ironically confesses she has a terrible disease: glissando-itis.

Delirious, Jackie envisions running to the ocean again through the fields, this time with her sister, Hilary. She asks that Hilary not tell Daniel about the disease.

Jackie tells us how she can blur the lines between fantasy and reality at will. She can escape the confines of her chair by dreaming of bathing in the sea. She wonders where Daniel is, and who he’s seeing.

Eugene is dying. He has left some of his and Antoine's things for Malcolm, but Malcolm is growing angrier at Antoine who still will not write him a letter of recommendation.

Angry and frustrated at her physical inability to play, Jacqueline cancels her remaining performances.

A solo by the mezzo-soprano about nuns sex-shaming in hospitals, while the chorus repeatedly sings "sanctus".

Sitting by the fire, Merk tries to discover what his mentally disabled daughter will remember when he is no longer with her.

Soloists list conspiracy theories about the origin and spread of HIV, while the chorus laughs in the background.

Jaan, who is dying, asks her sister Noor to secretely take her place on her wedding day. Noor reluctantly agrees.

The wedding ceremony. Noor hesitates, then marries Rafique.

Jaan meets group of tribal women in the desert who convince her to stay with them while she dies. Noor takes Jaan's place in the circle.

Noor tells the lie Jaan asked of her to Rafique. Rafique sends her away and tries to figure out what he should do.