When We Rise Parts IV and V (Season 1, Episode 3)
TV Episode | 85 min | Drama

When We Rise

Parts IV and V (Season 1, Episode 3)

TV Episode | 85 min | Drama

Part IV. 1992. The gay male and lesbian movements are merging closer and closer to being one cohesive and supportive family. The AIDS epidemic has devastated the gay male community, with Cleve, Ricardo, Ken and Richard all having tested ...See morePart IV. 1992. The gay male and lesbian movements are merging closer and closer to being one cohesive and supportive family. The AIDS epidemic has devastated the gay male community, with Cleve, Ricardo, Ken and Richard all having tested positive for the virus, some having been close to death, but all who have watched most of their gay friends die. Both Cleve and Ricardo, and Ken and Richard have vowed to each other that they will stay with each other to the end, through what will most likely be a painful death. Those vows may be difficult to keep if and when the time comes. In their own individual health situations, Cleve has so far refused to take AZT, wanting to feel better without the drug than feel crappy with the drug, with no real proven evidence that the drug will prolong life. Cleve may have to go to "the other side" to get access to more promising experimental drugs. He will get some unexpected support in the matter. And under changing circumstances, Ken decides he has no other option but to request VA medical services. Ken and Richard in particular will discover what their rights are as individuals in the life and death decisions for the other. Cleve has continued to fight for gay rights, his calls having fallen on deaf ears in the White House through the Reagan and Bush administrations. He is now touring with the AIDS quilt, it not only a symbol to the memory of the fallen gay men, but what Cleve hopes will be visual reminder of what gay men are fighting for. The organized gay community does not all have the same perspective of the quilt that Cleve does, some who want to burn it. Incoming President Clinton has promised many of those rights for which Cleve has been fighting. The gay and lesbian communities will discover how much Clinton will keep to his promises in these political times. Roma and Diane have now been living together for a few years with Diane's now ten year old daughter, Annie. Although Diane has been able truthfully to tell Annie that she does not know who the sperm donor was, Annie wanting to know who her father definitively is comes much earlier than Diane or Roma had expected. If they oblige Annie's request to try and discover his identity, they may not like the outcome. And Cecilia goes through some emotional highs and lows in her desire to become a full fledged female. Part V. 1997. Annie, now in her mid-teens, is acting out, feeling like an outsider, but wanting to fit in as she sees it. That's why she dresses and acts like a Latina, to mimic her friends in their Mission neighborhood. Her outward anger is largely directed at her mothers, in they living like a "normal" family when she sees they aren't. When Diane and Roma discover the extent of Annie's misbehavior, they decide to take what they consider extreme action. Annie, who does see life a little differently in her new environment, decides to take a direction that she feels will get her to a short term goal. Ken is still in the VA hospital. Against regulations, he has been drinking and using illicit drugs, which may place Cecilia at risk as his sponsor, she having gotten her life on track following her gender reassignment surgery. Ken does find a kindred spirit in fellow support group member David, who Ken will discover is going through his own issues beyond the HIV. And Cleve, having moved to Palm Springs for health reasons, has felt one disappointment with the Clinton administration after another, most specifically Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. Clinton creating a new position of Senior Advisor on Gay and Lesbian Issues does not placate Cleve. The person in that position is well-intentioned Richard Socarides. Cleve will learn that Richard is the son of Dr. Charles Socaridies, who has worked his life in the study of homosexuality being caused by an overbearing mother and absent father, and whose testimony has partly been the reason for the success of a multitude of anti-gay legal cases. Cleve will also learn that Richard is gay, and has a "don't ask, don't tell" relationship with his father, despite Richard knowing that his father knows he's gay. Richard also divulges to Cleve that his own growing up does not support his father's thesis, Richard who has done nothing professionally to discredit his father. In his personal life, Cleve makes an unexpected connection with a neighbor named Courtenay, a relationship with her which is a first of its kind in his life, but one which may have a difficult road because of his HIV status. Written by Huggo See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
75 cast members

Name	Known for
Rachel Griffiths Diane Jones Diane Jones See fewer	Six Feet Under (2001)
Mary-Louise Parker Roma Guy Roma Guy See fewer	RED (2010)
Guy Pearce Cleve Jones Cleve Jones See fewer	Memento (2000)
Michael Kenneth Williams Ken Jones Ken Jones See fewer	The Wire (2002)
Austin P. McKenzie Young Cleve Jones Young Cleve Jones See fewer	Unhinged (I) (2020)
Emily Skeggs Young Roma Guy Young Roma Guy See fewer	Dinner in America (2020)
Jonathan Majors Young Ken Jones Young Ken Jones See fewer	The Harder They Fall (2021)
Fiona Dourif Young Diane Jones Young Diane Jones See fewer	Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)
T.R. Knight Chad Griffin Chad Griffin See fewer	The Flight Attendant (2020)
David Hyde Pierce Dr. Jones Dr. Jones See fewer	Frasier (1993)
Balthazar Getty David David See fewer	Lord of the Flies (1990)
Melora Hardin Carole Midgen Carole Midgen See fewer	17 Again (2009)
Sam Jaeger Richard Richard See fewer	The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
John Rubinstein Dr. Charles W. Socarides Dr. Charles W. Socarides See fewer	Family (1976)
Dylan Walsh Dr. Marcus Conant Dr. Marcus Conant See fewer	Congo (1995)
Todd Weeks Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano See fewer	Perry Mason (2020)
Gideon Adlon Teenaged Annie Jones Teenaged Annie Jones See fewer	Blockers (2018)
Ivory Aquino Cecilia Chung Cecilia Chung See fewer	Batgirl
Rafael de la Fuente Ricardo Canto Ricardo Canto See fewer	Empire (2015)
Seth Fisher Senior Advisor Senior Advisor See fewer	The Night Agent (2023)
Brian Markinson Ken's Lawyer Ken's Lawyer See fewer	Painkiller (2023)
Douglas Smith Young Man Young Man See fewer	Big Little Lies (2017)
Charles Socarides Richard Socarides Richard Socarides See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Jayne Taini Eloise Eloise See fewer	Unbelievable (2019)
Donald Adams Veteran Veteran See fewer	Power Rangers (2017)
Daniel Smith Arnold Jake (as Daniel Arnold) Jake (as Daniel Arnold) See fewer	Lawrence & Holloman (2013)
Willam Belli Jason Snyder Jason Snyder See fewer	Because I Said So (2007)
Lydia Boland Preteen Annie Jones Preteen Annie Jones See fewer	Good Kids (I) (2016)
J.J. Boone Leslie Leslie See fewer	Nothing to Lose (1997)
Leanna Brodie Parishioner #3 Parishioner #3 See fewer	Parallel (II) (2018)
Ronda Cavanagh Parishioner #2 Parishioner #2 See fewer	DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Vincent Dangerfield Counselor Counselor See fewer	Valley of the Boom (2019)
Don Frankel President Bill Clinton President Bill Clinton See fewer	Free Lunch Express (2020)
Evan Frayne Defense Lawyer Defense Lawyer See fewer	Fairly Legal (2011)
Ken Godmere Larry Kramer Larry Kramer See fewer	Allegiance (2024)
Jasmine Gish Lizzie Lizzie See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Christianne Hirt Marjorie Marjorie See fewer	The Accused (1988)
Phillip Joseph Tim Tim See fewer	Great Expectations (1981)
Terry Lewis Old Army Vet Old Army Vet See fewer	Timeless (2016)
Andy Maton Board Member #1 Board Member #1 See fewer	Rat Race (2001)
Brenda Matthews Parishioner #1 Parishioner #1 See fewer	Family Law (2021)
Michael P. Northey Ron Ron See fewer	Fido (2006)
Martin Novotny Mike Smith Mike Smith See fewer	The Man in the High Castle (2015)
Edwin Perez Hernandez Hernandez See fewer	Far Cry 6 (2021)
Cindy Piper Cecilia's Mom Cecilia's Mom See fewer	Deadpool (2016)
Christopher Pray Bystander Bystander See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Sean Owen Roberts Lookout Man Lookout Man See fewer	Billy the Kid (2022)
Teryl Rothery NRC President NRC President See fewer	Stargate SG-1 (1997)
Kerry Sandomirsky Cleve's Mom Cleve's Mom See fewer	The Good Doctor (2017)
Paula Shaw Carlotta Carlotta See fewer	Mr. Young (2011)
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Michael St. John Smith Judge Philip Ralston Judge Philip Ralston See fewer	I, Robot (2004)
Howard Storey Jerry Jerry See fewer	Antitrust (2001)
Jeff Evans-Todd Carl (as Jeff Todd) Carl (as Jeff Todd) See fewer	When We Rise (2017)
Carri Toivanen Anne (as Carri Ann Toivanen) Anne (as Carri Ann Toivanen) See fewer	Fringe (2008)
Mel Tuck Landlord Landlord See fewer	Unforgotten (I) (2017)
Colleen Wheeler Donna Donna See fewer	Attic Trunk (2021)
Rick Lasquete Ross Mirkarimi Ross Mirkarimi See fewer	Unlucky Stars (2015)
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Phillip Joseph Steward Tim Tim See fewer	Timeless (2016)
Debra Winger Elena Kagan Elena Kagan See fewer	Terms of Endearment (1983)
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Simon C. Hussey Cop (uncredited) Cop (uncredited) See fewer	Riverdale (2017)
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Sheila Tyson Mailer (uncredited) Mailer (uncredited) See fewer	Almost Human (2013)
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