HOT ZONE

KARL

Better to be at the epicenter doing

something about it -- ?

REESE

Beats catching it in the Men's room

at the Burger King --

Karl's piercing stare morphs to a grin. He picks up one

end of a field container, Reese the other. He's going.

INT. SLAMMER AREA - MINUTES LATER

Jaxx passes the Post Clinic. She slows looking in the

waiting room window --

HER POV - CLINIC WAITING ROOM

Tiny's Mother is there waiting to have her blood tested.

A Vietnamese family (Loc's); a mother and four small

children, a couple of Biker types -- the room is filled

with potential exposures.

In the corner, Jaxx sees the little Girl from the sandbox

in the arms of her very frightened young Mother.

CLOSER - JAXX

It hits her. Her own home. Her own family. Nobody's

safe.

INT. JAXX'S OFFICE - SAME TIME

She rushes in and answers the ringing phone.

JAXX

(on phone)

Oh, Gerry. I was just going to call

you. It's been so --

She pales. Something's wrong. She sits down hard --

JAXX

(on phone)

Jamie? Oh my God. Hundred and

three? When did the bleeding start?

CUT TO:

INTERCUT: JAXX KITCHEN - SAME TIME

Gerry looks spooked. Jason broods at the glass doors.

Blackhawk whines knowing something is wrong.

GERRY

(on phone)

Doctor Levin came over and gave her

some antibiotics. "A touch of the

flu," he said, "A 24 hour virus."

TO JAXX

JAXX

(on phone)

Doctors always say that! "It's the

flu. Comeback next week."

TO GERRY

GERRY

(on phone)

Nance, we have to assume it's Ebola.

Jaxx is an emotional minefield on the other end.

GERRY

(on phone)

I don't know. Thanksgiving -- when

Pete was here somehow. We may all

be incubating the goddamn thing --

TO JAXX - JAMIES PICTURE IN VIEW

GERRY (V.O.) (PHONE)

Get out here quick --

She hangs up. Her world crashing in. She sobs.

CUT TO:

EXT. HELIPAD - LATE AFTERNOON

Karl and Jaxx face each other. Karl is shocked. The Huey

engine begins to whine.

JAXX

If she's got it. Jamie has about

seven days to live. I'll find an

anti-serum that works if I have to

squeeze it out of my own veins --

Karl embraces her holding her tight.

JOHNSON

Go get your daughter, Colonel.

JOHNSON AND JAXX - COPTER IN B.G.

He salutes her and boards the Huey. Rotors rev up.

THE HELIPAD - WIDER

C.J. leads Jaxx clear as the Huey lifts off and climbs

banking toward the mountains in the distance.

INSIDE HUEY - JAXX IN THE FADING LIGHT BELOW

Karl watches her getting smaller and smaller.

CUT TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

THE JAXX HOME - JAMIE'S BEDROOM - SUNDOWN

Gerry and their Family M.D., DR. LEVIN, tend Jamie who is

burning up with fever. Both wear surgical masks. Gerry

carefully draws her blood --

DR. LEVIN

I can't treat her here, Gerry. We

have to move her to the hospital --

GERRY

(wits end)

Don't you think I know that.

Gerry watches his daughter suffering. He finally agrees.

GERRY

Make them understand she needs

complete and total isolation.

Suddenly the THUD of a helicopter approaches outside.

IN THE MENAGERIE ROOM - CONTINUING ACTION

The THROBBING intensifies. The animals go crazy. Jason

runs outside with Blackhawk.

EXT. JAXX'S BACKYARD - CONTINUING ACTION

A Rescue Copter lands on the hill up behind the house.

JAXX CLIMBS OUT with 3 AIT's carrying an isolator

stretcher.

Jason has never been so glad to see anybody in his life.

JASON

All right, Mom! Yes!

She hugs him on the run trying to hold it together.

CUT TO:

INT. JAXX'S - CONTINUING ACTION

Popsy holds the door open as Jaxx and the Team enter.

JAXX

Popsy -- are you and Mama okay?

He nods weakly. Mama sets food on the table --

TEAM LEADER

Sorry, M'am. We can't, but thank

you.

They follow Jaxx to Jamie's room.

INT. JAMIE'S ROOM - CONTINUING ACTION

Jaxx nearly breaks when she sees her daughter lying there

so still -- as if she's dead.

Gerry braces her up. Jaxx buries her head for a moment in

his shoulder. Then --

JAXX

Let's go for a ride, Princess.

The Team gently slides Jamie into the stretcher.

JAMIE

(her voice faint,

weak)

Mom -- all I did was sip some beer

-- don't be mad -- Am I going to

die?

Gerry and Jaxx trade quietly desperate looks.

JAXX

No way. You have to win the

Olympics.

CUT TO:

EXT. JAXX'S HOUSE - CONTINUING ACTION

They load Jamie into the Copter along with Jason. Gerry

has to coax his parents.

GERRY

You have to come too. You could

have been exposed. I can't leave

you here --

Popsy and Mama look at each other in fear. Then Popsy

takes Mama's hand and helps her into the Copter.

HIGH ANGLE - LOOKING DOWN

The Huey lifts off right at us.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. APPALACHIANS - AERIAL VIEW - SUNDOWN

Flying upriver on Johnson's copter through a canyon

twenty-five feet above the river. Just like Africa --

INSIDE JOHNSON'S COPTER - FLYING UPRIVER

He's transfixed on the rushing water glimmering in the

dying sun. SOUNDS OF AFRICA swell. Going upriver again.

PILOT

Sir -- front's moving in. Snow

expected. Be dark soon.

JOHNSON

(snapping from his

trance)

We have to find that cabin tonight.

How much longer --

PILOT

Ten minutes to the hot zone --

Reese hands Johnson a cup of coffee.

REESE

This is a long shot, Karl. Even by

your standards.

JOHNSON

So was Ebola ever crossing the

Atlantic, remember?

Reese nods Karl's kudos. Karl pulls out Tiny's photo.

JOHNSON

Pete's a long shot to survive. So

is everybody else that shows

symptoms. This guy was exposed

weeks ago with the other handlers

before everyone else -- He threw

antibodies and was still alive two

days ago -- after his partner

checked into the morgue. That's a

good sign. We'd be irresponsible

not to go after him.

REESE

Well -- too bad you never found that

lost tribe in Africa you used to

lecture us about -- You know -- the

ones who passed down immunities over

the generations to just about every

virus emerging.

(half-joking)

You could be back home fishing right

now -- and we'd have all the immuno

anti-sera we need.

JOHNSON

I tell you what -- I would kiss that

tribe member's ass on the fifty yard

line at the Super Bowl if they'd

just walk out of the jungle right

now.

Johnson toasts his coffee to Reese's. They laugh in much

needed release.

PILOT

Sir -- coming up on the zone --

HELICOPTER POV - FLYING - LOOKING FORWARD

The Pilot turns on floodlights as they rise up from the

river up-up-up a steep rugged cliff wall --

There it is. A small cabin on a cliff overlooking the

river and mountains. Tiny's funky green Van is parked

beside it. The van doors stand open.

ON JOHNSON

JOHNSON

Looks deserted. Get in closer.

THE FLOODLIGHT PASSES OVER:

A Deer... hanging from a tree branch -- horribly

dismembered and strewn about. Entrails and Blood are

splattered all over the Van and the cabin.

ON JOHNSON - CLOSER

JOHNSON

The guy's lost it. Dementia.

The DRUMS OF AFRICA beat louder in Karl's head.

CUT TO:

EXT. CABIN - COPTER HOVERING IN VIEW DRUMS CONTINUING

Suddenly an Assault rifle opens up on the Copter. Tiny

stumbles out the front door firing wildly.

TINY - CLOSER DRUMS CONTINUING

His face is pocked with hemorrhages. Blood is caked

around his nose and mouth.

TINY

Leave me alone you fuckers! I know

why you come. I'm dying right here

-- right fucking here!!

THE CABIN - WIDER DRUMS CONTINUING

As Tiny rakes the trees wildly -- hitting the Copter.

THE COPTER - CONTINUING ACTION DRUMS CONTINUING

The Pilot dives down the canyon fighting the controls.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. SLAMMER - NIGHT

JAMIE IS SHOVED THROUGH THE WALL INTO THE SLAMMER.

The isolator rockets toward us with a metallic crunch.

JAMIE

(freaked)

Mom? Where are my Mom and Dad?

Maj. Hoskins calms her through the isolator.

MAJ. HOSKINS