HOT ZONE

FOLLOW THE MIST: Swirling up past monkey cages to

ventilators in the ceiling --

TO THE TREATMENT ROOM - CONTINUING ACTION

The fine mist rolls from a ceiling vent DOWN TO: GIRARD

GIRARD

(on phone)

But, well, Management doesn't want

to lose the whole population --

We've got over a quarter million

dollars in these monkeys --

INT. JAXX'S OFFICE - SAME TIME

JAXX

(on phone)

I'd keep that room isolated. We

know SHF isn't lethal to people,

just monkeys -- Make sure your

handlers use normal contagion

precautions. Yeah, get some "B&T"

samples up to us today we'll get on

it. Right --

She hangs up tentatively, then hurries out. PUSH IN ON:

The pipecleaner mice wearing gas masks.

DISSOLVE TO:

MICROSCOPIC VIEW - MONKEY TISSUE

A carpet of living cells takes on a spider web look.

JAXX (O.S.)

Liver cells. Monkey sample #053 --

What do you think?

INT. HOT SUITE (BL3) - NIGHT - CONTINUING ACTION

Jaxx adjusts the view wearing gloves and surgical masks

for Biosafety Level 3 lab.

PETER JAHRLING turns the glass flask containing the cell

culture under the microscope. Late 30's, garrulous, black

heavy glasses; the quintessential lab scientist.

PETER

Looks like Simian to me. The

infected cells have a definite

spider web look.

He studies the magnified image on a video monitor attached

to the microscope.

PETER

What's another bug in this house

anyway -- ?

He points through a glass partition to two industrial

sized refrigerators, both with computer locks. The RED

TREFOIL symbol for "biological hazard" marks the doors

like skull and crossbones.

PETER

We got enough BL4 viruses and

bacteria in there to make AIDS look

like a runny nose.

JAXX

Hey, there's a happy thought. I try

not to think about it.

(checking scope

again)

Let's be sure about this bug. Run

some antigens --

THE LAB BENCH - CLOSER - PLASTIC VIALS

Jaxx removes one labeled "ANTIBODY SERUM - SIMIAN HF."

She draws a drop of the liquid in a pipette -- then

inserts it into the flask.

Peter flicks on the ultraviolet scope light.

PETER

Go for the gold.

VIDEO MICROSCOPE VIEW - MONKEY TISSUE

Cells glow in the ultraviolet. Suddenly, the dark antigen

solution clouds the view. Antibodies surround infected

cells glowing bright fluorescent golden orange.

Jaxx studies the scope as Peter refers to a chart.

THE CHART - CLOSER - "FLUORESCENT ANTIGEN COLOR CHART"

He scans down bar graphs of fluorescent colors to a GOLDEN

ORANGE BAR labeled: "Simian Hemorrhagic Fever."

PETER

Bingo. Positive for SHF. Good news

for us -- bad news for the monkeys.

Jaxx peers into the microscope.

JAXX

Hey -- there's something flaky going

on in this flask --

MICROSCOPE VIEW - MONKEY TISSUE MAJOR MUSIC CUE

Blackholes grow in the carpet of glowing cells as if eaten

by moths. Dead and dying cells float away --

TO JAXX AND PETER

JAXX

That's not like any SHF I've ever

seen. Something is blowing those

cells away. They're off the

plastic.

She doesn't like it. She pulls Peter to the scope.

PETER

Aw, just some crud in the scope.

Pseudomonas bacterium maybe. Really

annoying. Wipes out everything.

You have to start over. The little

suckers smell like Welches grape

juice --

He takes the flask, opens it and sniffs it --

JAXX

Yeah and a virus kills with no odor

-- So what've you got?

Peter continues to sniff. A look of consternation. He

suddenly caps it, getting the creeps.

PETER

Nothing... No... smell.

JAXX

Okay, okay -- so we've got an

"unknown" here, Pete --

Jaxx flares concern. They both stare at the flask.

JAXX

Let's do it by the numbers. How

long will it take you to culture

another isolate and get it on the

big scope so we can see what the

damn thing is?

PETER

(starts to sweat)

I'll need more monkey samples. Ten,

twelve hours maybe. First thing in

the A.M.

JAXX

(heading for door)

Call your wife. Tell her we're

shacking up together. I'm going to

pump C.J. to get us some of those

monkeys --

PETER

You know -- Karl Johnson could tell

just by looking if this crud was

Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, Anthrax --

Peter sets the flask down gingerly. Jaxx lingers.

JAXX

I was a green recruit my first year

here at RIID when Johnson "retired."

I don't think he ever even knew who

I was. How come you mention his

name around here, everyone crawls in

a hole?

PETER

(matter of fact)

Karl thinks the world's got a gun to

its head and there's not a damn

thing anyone can do to keep us from

pulling the trigger.

(a beat of respect)

That scares people in high places...

He's the best bug man there is. Why

don't you ask him?

Jaxx flusters.

JAXX

Yeah, well, okay -- but he's not

here -- We are.

Jaxx exits slamming the door. The warning sign reads:

BIOSAFETY LEVEL 3 - CONTAINMENT

TO PETE

He ponders the flask for a moment. He pulls on his

surgical mask, pours the milky fluid from it into a

test tube, places the tube in a centrifuge and turns it

on.

CLOSER - THE CENTRIFUGE

Whirls to a blur.

DISSOLVE TO:

A PHOTO OF KARL JOHNSON

Staring right at us outside the Yambuku Mission. 1976.

His Field Team and 2 Nuns flank him. One of them is

Sister Genevieve, alive. With Village Children. Smiles

of hope.

CUT TO:

INT. JAXX'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Jaxx is transfixed on the photograph. Thick files fill

her desk. She flips through more photos -- there it is.

A PHOTO OF FIVE YOUNG MEN AND ONE YOUNG WOMEN

Stand in front of a Huey Helicopter all wearing inflated

orange spacesuits with clear bubble helmets. They flank

Karl Johnson beside a biomedical isolator litter. The

caption reads:

ARMY AEROMEDICAL BIOCONTAINMENT ISOLATOR

EVACUATION TEAM - USAMRIID - FT. DETRICK MD.

PUSH IN ON: the young woman -- PFC Nancy Jaxx, age 22.

TILT UP TO: JAXX

She calls up a data base.

ENTRY: SEARCH FOR> JOHNSON, KARL M.

REPLY: LAST RECORDED CONTACT

BOX 11, RT. 3, GALLATIN MONTANA

FAX: 406-586-5409

Jaxx hesitates. She types a message quickly into the

computer.

ENTRY: TO: KARL JOHNSON

FROM: LTC NANCY JAXX - USAMRIID

OUTBREAK IN LOCAL PRIMATE POPULATION

CAUSE: UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME

PLEASE CONTACT ME AT EARLIEST CONVENIENCE

REPLY: FAXING NOW

CUT TO:

INT. BL3 LAB - LATER THAT NIGHT

Peter works in the b.g. WE MOVE IN ON THE TEST TUBE TO A

MICROSCOPIC VIEW: The geography of cells are at war.

CUT TO:

A SHINY GYMNASTICS MEDAL is displayed in a place setting

on the counter.

JAXX ENTERS lugging files. Blackhawk is there to greet

her with licks and whines.

JAXX

Hey, big guy. You hungry? So am I.

She melts seeing the medal. There's a note. She reads:

GERRY'S VOICE (V.O.)

Your amazing daughter took second.

Your amazing son washed the dishes.

And your amazing husband put your

dinner in the microwave. Check the

machine --

Nancy chuckles. While the machine rewinds, she opens a

cabinet and pulls down a can of dog food. The electric

can opener doesn't work.

PETER (V.O.) (PHONE MACHINE)

Nance, Girard just called. Seven

more monkeys kicked. They've got

them on ice. Meet C.J. there at

0800. This guy Girard sounds

spooked.

She rifles the drawer. No opener. She uses a beer opener

punching around the edge. The lid bends in --

Her hand slips into the can -- slicing on the jagged edge.

She holds her fist in pain checking the damage. Nothing.

Then blood leeches from the clean cut on her right hand.

INT. JAXX BATHROOM - NIGHT

Jaxx twines a wide Band-aid over her wound and closes the

medicine cabinet. She jumps with fright at THE FACE

leering right behind her --

JAXX

Jamie -- oh -- hon --

Jamie is half asleep -- still in her gym suit.

JAMIE

(drowsy)

I didn't get first, Mom --

INT. JAMIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mother and daughter enter arms around each other.

JAXX

We're proud of you even if you don't

win. I'm just sorry I had to miss

your big moment --

Jamie falls into bed. Jaxx pulls off her warmups by the

pant legs. Then the jacket. She drifts off. Jaxx kisses

Jamie goodnight.

SHARP CUT TO:

INT. MONKEY HOUSE - NIGHT

The CAMERA ROCKETS along the cages right up to the last

monkey. Death stare. A single stream of blood trickles

from it's nose.

CUT TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

EXT. SCHOOL - MORNING

Kids head for school in packs. CRANE DOWN TO:

JAXX'S CAR - CONTINUING ACTION

Jason and Jamie exit heading for school. Jaxx takes her

daughter's hand. Jamie squeezes back.

JAMIE

(ritual)

"be nice to mice," Mom. Promise.

Remember, "all animals --

JAXX

"All animals are our brothers and

sisters."

(polite parental

tolerance)

I know -- I know, Princess. Do

good, you two -- Love you!

Jaxx watches them head for school. It's a Mom's life.

CUT TO:

EXT. RESTON ALLEYWAY - MORNING (JAXX POV)

Kids romp in the play-yard at the day care center.

SUPER: RESTON, VA. - WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17 - 0830 HRS.

Jaxx's car is parked behind the station down the alley.

She watches the kids from the payphone.

JAXX

(on phone)

Any results yet?

INTERCUT: PETER IN BL3 LAB

He's dragging from no sleep. He spins another test tube

in the centrifuge.

PETER

(on phone)

We've got zip and I'm about out of

monkey parts.

RESUME: JAXX

JAXX