I am Legend

GO! You stupid thing! GO!

But the dog will not leave him. And the attack begins.

Black BARKS and THREE RUSH IN. Neville's dog meets BROWN, immediately engaging in combat. Neville knows his dog is doomed, but can't think about that now. The OTHER TWO are upon him! He LASHES out with the KNIFE, ripping WHITE open along the ribcage. The beast YELPS and retaliates and BITES into Neville's thigh. Neville SCREAMS- And KNEES White with the opposite leg. GREY BITES into Neville's broken wrist. The PAIN is unimaginable, but Neville STABS GREY in the chest. AGAIN AND AGAIN. Blood bursts from Grey's heart and the dog dies. Neville spins to see WHITE in the air, POUNCING, eyes on Neville's jugular...

But the beast is broadsided by Neville's dog! Battered and bleeding, he FIGHTS with a proud ferocity. Neville sees the badly wounded BROWN coming, LICKING BLOOD from Grey to gain strength. As his dog engages in struggle with White, Neville sees BOXER and DANE move in.

And Neville knows there is only one chance. Summoning every ounce of strength and adrenaline in his body, he RISES to his feet and emits a guttural, primordial SCREAM. Grimacing, denying the pain, he MOVES to the Land Rover, forcing his fragile limbs forward.

As Neville's dog and White engage in a brutal dance, Brown-rushing on the fresh blood--sets his sights on human prey. Neville makes it to the Land Rover. He rests against it-just for a moment--then reaches up and grabs the machine gun. He turns. Just in time to see Brown coming at him.

Neville OPENS FIRE and Brown is ripped in half. Neville WHISTLES and his dog breaks away from White. Neville shoots White, then SPRAYS bullets at the oncoming Boxer and Dane. The automatic weapon fire has the desired effect and the two beasts--sufficiently intimidated--run away.

Neville and his dog relax for a moment, then, almost simultaneously, realize they have forgotten about the leader, the BLACK. Who ERUPTS from behind, knocking Neville to the ground. The Black is about to devour human neck when Neville's dog BITES into Black's hindquarters. The Black YELPS, spins, and LOCKS ITS JAWS onto the dog's neck.

NEVILLE

NO!!!!!!!

Neville SMACKS the Black with the butt of the machine KICKS him away, and OPENS FIRE, emptying the clip into the hellish thing. Until it falls. Dead.

Neville checks his dog. The poor thing is bleeding badly. Fueled by desperation and conviction, Neville LIFTS the dog and deposits him in the Rover. Now well beyond pain-transcendent, really--Neville shuts the doors, climbs behind the wheel, and gets the hell away.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

NeviIle drives in darkness, one hand comforting the dog...

NEVILLE

It's okay, boy. You're gonna be okay.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING NEVILLE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The Hemocytes on their nightly vigil. Cortman observes Neville's house. The lights are off. No music, no signs of activity within. Curious. A trap? Perhaps not. Cortman leaps off the promontory and leads his followers across the barren landscape, toward the outer fence.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville looks ahead, observing the terrain. He's about half a mile away from home and can see the Hemocytes surrounding the compound. He stops the vehicle and turns to the dog...

NEVILLE

I'm going to get us home.

EXT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville exits, opens the trunk, straps on two SHOULDER HOLSTERS with fully loaded automatics and grabs two more clips for the machine gun. He takes a JERRY CAN of gasoline, a rag, and quickly manufactures a king-size MOLOTOV COCKTAIL.

EXT. STREET LEADING TO HOUSE - NIGHT

With its lights still off, the Land Rover slowly moves up the hill. And violently ACCELERATES.

EXT. AREA - SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

The Hemocytes furthest from the fence have no time to REACT to the speeding, armor-plated Rover heading straight at them.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville hits a series of SWITCHES.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

A BURST OF LIGHT! Not only from the LAMPS, but from a RACK OF LIGHTS on the ROOF, two HIGH-BEAM lamps mounted near the side mirrors, and FOUR LIGHTS rigged near the trunk.

The Hemocytes SCREECH and retreat. A few react like deer, frozen, and the Land Rover just PLOWS through them. NEAR THE FENCE, CORTMAN REACTS. He sees the Rover ROARING toward him and realizes Neville is outside the compound! He stands at the GATE--the only way into the compound--and BELLOWS...

CORTMAN

STOP HIM!

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville maintains focus. His eyes stay fixed ahead. He sees the Warriors forming a wall in front of the GATE. Takes a deep breath... And STOPS the Land Rover.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

Hemocytes form a circle around the vehicle. The LIGHT blinds them and SCORCHES their skin, but they must take advantage of this opportunity, they must get Neville!

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville readies the machine gun, undoes a ceiling BOLT.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

A HATCH opens on the ROOF of the Rover and Neville pops up. He SPRAYS MACHINE GUN FIRE in a circle, keeping the Hemocytes at bay. INTENSELY FIRES at the Warriors barring the gate. Neville crawls out farther, rests the machine gun, and pulls out the JERRY CAN. TWO BRAVE HEMOCYTES rush the Land Rover, SMASH a side lamp and headlamp, and crawl toward Neville.

He pulls a sidearm and SHOOTS! Dead shots in their hearts. Takes a LIGHTER from his utility belt. MORE HEMOCYTES move toward the Rover. Neville spots them. Lifts the MACHINE GUN. FIRES, keeping them back--momentarily. He tries to light the rag in the jerry can, but his hand isn't working well and the lighter SLIPS down the windshield. Neville curses, crawls out, REACHES for the lighter...

His arm is GRABBED by a Hemocyte. EVA. They lock eyes. She smiles and TALONS emerge from her fingertips.

Neville's weak hand fumbles for a sidearm and PULLS the trigger. A BULLET RIPS through Eva's shoulder, sending her back, spinning off the vehicle. Neville SNATCHES the lighter, ignites the rag, and THROWS the jerry can at the gate. It lands with a THUD. Neville FIRES the machine gun. Bullets RIP into the can and BLAM! A FIREBALL! At least a dozen Warriors are roasted. They stumble away, SCREECHING.

Cortman knows what Neville has in mind and hurriedly leads a CHARGE at the Land Rover.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville drops into the driver's seat. He reaches up to close the hatch and sees the FACE OF A HEMOCYTE. He FIRES. The shattered Hemocyte face disappears from view and Neville SHUTS the hatch. PRESSES the REMOTE CONTROL.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

THE GATE SLIDES OPEN. Halfway to the Land Rover, Cortman realizes he's made an error.

CORTMAN

BACK! INSIDE! INSIDE!

He changes the direction of the charge just as the Rover ROARS THROUGH THE FIRE. SIX HEMOCYTES manage to jump on THE VEHICLE as it SPEEDS into the compound and abruptly STOPS. Its REAR LAMPS SHINE on the open gate.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville hits the remote.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

The gate starts to shut. Cortman and his Warriors RUN to it. The HATCH on the roof of the Land Rover FLIPS OPEN. Neville emerges, machine gun in hand. First, he BLASTS THREE of the Hemocytes clinging to the Rover. (The other three are smarter and hang onto the SIDES of the vehicle, out of Neville's field of Vision.) Next, Neville SPRAYS the gate with machine gun fire, keeping Cortman and the Hemocytes at bay. Neville can only urge the gate to move faster...

NEVILLE

COME ON! COME ON!

He empties one clip, loads the LAST of the three, takes a few more shots, then relaxes when the GATE IS SHUT.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville accelerates, shuts the hatch, hits another REMOTE.

EXT. COMPOUND - NIGHT

The other GATE--for the inner fence--SLIDES OPEN, as does the DOOR to the garage, revealing the sloping driveway leading underground. The Land Rover ROARS over the moat. the THREE HEMOCYTES holding tight as the Rover descends.

INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE - NIGHT

The Rover SCREECHES to a stop, almost crashing into the wall. The overhead door starts to CLOSE...

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville checks the dog, comforts him, and almost opens the door. He stops when he faintly hears a SCRATCHING on the outer shell of the vehicle.

INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE - NIGHT

The Three Hemocytes quietly release their hold on the Land Rover and set foot on the garage floor. They look to each other and devilishly smile.

INT. LAND ROVER - NIGHT

Neville checks the VIDEO SCREENS. There they are.

NEVILLE

Were you fellas Boy Stouts? You know

what the Scouts always say... ?

He flicks a switch on another remote.

INT. UNDERGROUND GARAGE - NIGHT

The three Hemocytes barely have time to notice the HALOGEN LAMPS lining the walls of the room before they BURST ON. The creatures SCREECH! with pain.

Sunglasses covering his eyes, Neville calmly opens his door, steps out, and proceeds to exterminate the three pests.

QUICK MACHINE GUN BURSTS to the hearts of One and Two. When the clip runs out, a pistol for the Third.

NEVILLE

Be prepared.

As they lay dying, Neville shuts off the wall lamps, opens the passenger door, and gently carries out the wounded dog.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - MEDICAL FACILITY - NIGHT

Neville deposits the dog on an exam table. How can he stand the pain?! His body shinners with sweat from exertion, his eyes barely open, barely conscious. After making sure the dog is stable, he tends to his own wounds. Can't help the dog 'til you help yourself. He goes to a cabinet and INJECTS himself with a small dose of MORPHINE to eliminate the pain. To keep himself alert, he sniffs a capsule of AMYL NITRATE, then injects himself with an ANTIBIOTIC.

He takes a SCALPEL and cuts open his pants leg. The thigh is damn bad. He cleans it--which stings like a mother--bandages it, then releases the tourniquet. God, it hurts! He thinks about another shot of morphine, but he must stay conscious. He painfully removes his boots and cleans and bandages the ankle. Now the wrist. Swollen, throbbing. He feels the tendons, the bones, locates the affected section. He readies a splint, some tape, and more amyl nitrate.

And then, amazingly, Neville sets his own broken bone. The pain is intense. He nearly passes out, but manages to crack open another capsule of amyl nitrate. He applies the splint and tape. It's sloppy, but it does the job.

Neville turns to the dog. He injects the poor thing with a strong dose of morphine, knocking him out. He cleans and bandages, making sure bleeding has stopped, but he knows, and we know, that these wounds are deep and serious. Neville watches the dog's sad eyes as the morphine kicks in. He leans in and pets his faithful companion.

NEVILLE

They will not have you. I promise.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Neville moves to the central SECURITY PANEL. Switches on the monitors, boots up the computer, flicks switches, etc.

EXT. COMPOUND - NIGHT

LIGHTS. On the roof, along the fence, in the compound. EVERYWHERE. Lights at maximum power.

EXT. AREA SURROUNDING COMPOUND - NIGHT

The Hemocytes REACT to the shock of illumination. They scurry for cover, for pockets of shadow and darkness. Cortman defiantly STANDS near the gate, at the fallen BODIES of his soldiers. He screams a FIERCE CRY of anger as his skin sizzles from exposure to the light. CHRISTOPHER runs to his side and PULLS him to safety.

BEHIND A WALL OF RUBBLE, Cortman and Christopher join Eva and the others. The group appears dispirited, disillusioned. Others are angry, ready to attack.

CORTMAN

How many made it inside?

CHRISTOPHER

A half dozen.

CORTMAN

And the others? How many, Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER

Altogether, over twenty dead. (a plea)

our numbers dwindle and we lose strength.

Perhaps it is time for change. Time to move

on. He is just one man.

CORTMAN

After what he has done? The blood he spilled?

All the souls taken? We must never cease,

we--all of us--can never change. Not if change

means allowing Neville freedom, life. That

cannot be.

He looks at the wounded, the dead.

CORTMAN

But you are right about one thing, Christopher.

That must change. We have lost too many.

Neville's death will come, of that I am certain, but it

cannot come at the expense of our lives. No more.

(to his followers) He will not have that pleasure.

But Neville will pay. We will feast on his flesh and

drink his blood.

EXT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - ROOF - NIGHT

Neville manages to pull himself into the crow's nest. He's armed to the teeth--ready for an onslaught. He raises a RIFLE to his eye and looks through the scope.

NEVILLE

All right, Cortman, come on.

HIS POV

No one there. He scans the area around the fence. There's one, two... A few. But their backs are turned and they're walking away. No chants, no drumming. Silence. Defeat. Is he grateful? Astonished? Or disappointed?

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - MEDICAL FACILITY - NIGHT

Neville hobbles over to the exam table and turns his attention to the unconscious dog. He stitches and disinfects--as if this were the most important medical procedure ever performed. He will not let this dog die. He lifts one of the dog's eyelids and despises what he sees.

A faint greyness to the iris.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - BASEMENT - NIGHT

Neville searches for something near the Arsenal.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - MEDICAL FACILITY - NIGHT

Neville rests a heavy KENNEL CAGE / CARRIER on the floor. He puts a child's blanket within, then places the dog inside. Strangely, he CHAINS AND BOLTS the cage to the floor and walls. He gives the dog a sad, knowing look and exits.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Neville sits himself in a chair, elevates his wounded legs, and loads another shot of morphine. He injects himself and finally, mercifully, he sleeps.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - DAWN

The sun has risen.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING

CLANG! CLANG! Neville stirs from his drug-induced slumber. INSTANT PAIN! His legs and wrist are throbbing! CLANG! CLANG! NOISE from the medical facility. He lowers his legs. When the blood returns to them, the pain intensifies. Neville administers another low-level shot of morphine, gets to his feet and hobbles toward the sound.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - MEDICAL FACILITY - MORNING

CLANG CLANG CLANG! The dog is not happy about being in a cage. BARKS at Neville when he enters. Neville prepares a sedative and carefully injects it into the dog.

INT. NEVILLE'S HOUSE - GARAGE - DAY

Neville switches off the power for the exterior lights. Hits the switch for the overhead door and remembers the Hemocytes he encountered here last night.

He steps to the Land Rover. There, on the floor, are one, two corpses. Both are completely drained of blood. There were three. Where's the third? Neville turns... And sees the THIRD HEMOCYTE standing before him. mouth red. Body gorged on blood. Death lust in his evil eyes.

Neville is so tired. And doesn't have a gun! Thank god for the SUN. As the Hemocyte makes his move, the OVERHEAD DOOR slides open. Neville backs up the ramp, into the LIGHT as it cuts into the room and descends upon the horrified Hemocyte. The creature's skin blackens and blisters. With a disturbing intensity, Neville GRABS the Hemocyte by the throat and DRAGS him up the ramp, into the HARSH SUNLIGHT. Tosses him into the compound like a bag of trash.

NEVILLE

(exhausted)

Leave me alone.

EXT. NEVILLE'S COMPOUND - DAY

Neville carries out the morning's grim task: gathering the corpses of the hemocytes killed last night. Because of his weakened state, he builds a PYRE in the moat, adds the one he just finished off. So sick of it. Just sick of it all.

EXT. DESERTED HIGHWAY - DAY

The Rover heads out of the city, crossing the BAY BRIDGE.

EXT. BERKELEY - DAY

The Land Rover speeds through the ravaged, desolate college town and veers toward the UNIVERSITY.

EXT. U.C. BERKELEY - DAY

The campus looks like the scene of a war. Not a riot, a war. It is perhaps even more bleak than anything we saw in the city. The Land Rover heads past a group of dead buildings, buildings which hold a terrible secret. The sign reads:

MEDICAL SCIENCES - KRIPPEN CENTER FOR GENETIC RESEARCH

Spray-painted over the sign is one word: ARMAGEDDON!

EXT. KRIPPEN GENETICS BUILDING - DAY

The Rover stops and Neville hobbles to the bunker-like structure, dragging a PORTABLE GENERATOR. Adorning the exterior wall--and we will see it within, too--is a LOGO. A circle with a spiraling line cutting through the center.

We recognize it as the "mark" of Cortman and his followers.

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - DAY

The LOBBY once saw awful carnage. Dried blood cakes the walls as do scorch marks from fires. Bullet holes are so plentiful, they create an odd "mural." more significantly, there is something ominous about this place. The serpent's lair in the Garden of Eden.

Or Satan's throne room in Hell.

Neville wheels the Generator to a thick metal door. Impenetrable. He removes a panel from the floor and accesses a bundle of electrical wires. He fires up the Generator and attaches feed connections to the bundle. Attaches a bypass circuit and punches in his own code...

G-R-A-C-E.

The mammoth door HISSES, GROANS and OPENS, as if responding to an occult charm.

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - DAY

Neville steps into the first room of a large genetics lab. There are numerous rooms, each color and number coded, i.e. DNA STORAGE - ORANGE 7. The colors and ratings correspond to germ-free environments, biohazard conditions, etc. Amazingly, much of the interior of the Krippen Center is clean and in working order. But there are hints of disaster and violence--a bullet hole here, a blood spatter there.

Neville deposits the dog cage outside a room labeled ANIMAL RESEARCH LAB - RED 9 and walks to a LOWER LEVEL ROOM-ELECTRICAL - BLUE 5. He opens a panel and finds circuit breakers labeled EMERGENCY GENERATORS. Switches them on.

THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY, overhead LIGHTS flicker to life. The empty sterile rooms gleam with an antiseptic sense of dread. We see a few of the ROOMS --- BLOOD LAB - RED 9. AUDIO VISUAL - GREEN 2. VIRUS STORAGE - RED 10.

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - AUDIO VISUAL ROOM - DAY

SHELVES filled with VIDEOTAPES. Neville finds the ANIMAL TESTING section and selects a handful of cassettes.

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - ANIMAL LAB - DAY

Empty cages. Surgical tables. Microscopes. A VCR and TV an A/V CART sit in the corner. Neville pops in a cassette labeled TEST RESULTS/DOMESTIC ANIMALS/KRIPPEN 5/12/98. Sits in a chair, elevates his legs, and watches as the TV plays...

ON THE TV SCREEN, we see the face of DR. JOHN KRIPPEN. An intelligent, passionate face now panicked and deadened. His eyes have seen great disappointments. And even greater horrors. He speaks to a CAMERA which he runs himself.

KRIPPEN

... The viragene appears to have no discernible

impact an birds. When injected into subjects, no

matter the size of the dosage, the result was death.

No mutation. The same results with fish and reptiles.

(gravely) We had no such luck with the feline, canine,

and rodent hosts. All accepted the viragene, all mutated.

The mice and rats exhibited no hostility when infected,

nor did the cats, not really. Their predatory instincts were

elevated, yes, but they maintained a more calculated,

cunning approach to... feeding. The dogs... sadly,

they... We saw the most alarming results with the dogs.

The viragene seems to bring out a savage instinct,

a primal brutality that goes beyond mere survival. (beat)

Just like the humans.

The LARGE IMAGE shows us video footage of a GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG in a strong metal CAGE. The SMALL IMAGE is footage taken through a MICROSCOPE of the dog's BLOOD CELLS.

An LED READ-OUT at the bottom of the screen shows date and time (5/4/98/6:20 a.m.) . Krippen's VOICE provides commentary on one AUDIO TRACK, the SOUNDS from the dog in the cage on the other. There will be abrupt cuts and jumps, the tape having been hastily prepared.

LARGE IMAGE: SCIENTISTS inject the dog. SMALL IMAGE: STRANGE NEW CELLS mix with the others. (5/4/98/6:25 a.m.).

KRIPPEN

Hemocyte viral genetic agent introduced

into normal canine circulatory system.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: the Shepherd is happy and playful. SMALL IMAGE: the strange cells appear to be gobbling up select others. (5/4/98/7:02 p.m.).

KRIPPEN

Just over twelve hours. The viragene has

eliminated any diseased or unhealthy cells

in the host.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: the Shepherd is lethargic, depressed. SMALL IMAGE: the strange cells are eating healthy red blood cells. (5/4/98/11:10 p.m.).

KRIPPEN

Sixteen hours. The viragene turns to

healthy blood cells for fuel.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: the SHEPHERD is magnificently healthy. Very active. Hyper-alert. He glows with remarkable strength. An eerie blue-greyness in its eyes. Its fangs appear sharper, more savage. SMALL IMAGE: fresh blood is introduced and we see the strange cells GROW AND MULTIPLY. (5/5/98/l:38 a.m.).

KRIPPEN

One liter of transfused blood introduced into

canine system. The viragene feeds and

multiplies at a rate of .25 percent per minute.

Multiplication rate increases exponentially to

amount of blood injected into host. Note

increases in muscle strength, bone mass, pulse,

adrenaline flow.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: the Shepard is weak, emaciated, irritable and hostile. He barks and lunges at the scientists near his Cage. SMALL IMAGE: The strange cells are desperately searching for blood cells, devouring them like candy. (5/7/98/2:00 a.m.).

KRIPPEN

Viragene consumes blood at an

astonishing rate. If more blood is not

introduced, subject will perish.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: the Shepard is dying. An awful blackness in its eyes. SMALL IMAGE: the strange cells have eliminated all healthy blood cells. They move anxiously, searching, desperate to survive. They lose momentum and cease movement. (5/7/98/3:33 p.m.).

KRIPPEN

No additional blood has been given to the

host. Subject terminates.

ABRUPT CUT. LARGE IMAGE: The dog's dead form lies motionless. A scientist carefully injects it with blood. SMALL IMAGE: fresh blood cells swim past the dead cells.

They flicker to life. (5/9/98/4:24 p.m.).

KRIPPEN

No heart, respiratory, or brain function in

forty-eight hours. Fifty cc's of blood

injected into expired host.

LARGE IMAGE: the Shepherd's limbs TWITCH with life. The bluegreyness returns to its formerly lifeless eyes.

KRIPPEN

Reanimation occurs in 15.6 seconds.

LARGE IMAGE: the Shepard STAPES at the surveillance camera. Bares its fangs and snarls.

Neville abruptly STOPS the tape. He moves to the dog's cage and unhinges the door. The dog is still sedated and Neville locates a syringe and DRAWS BLOOD. He places a DROP on a glass slide and examines it under a MICROSCOPE. He REWINDS the videotape in SEARCH mode and FREEZES it so he can compare the SMALL SCREEN IMAGE to what he sees under the microscope.

The dog is still in the first stage. Neville notes the LED readout--5/4/98/7:02 p.m.). He FASTFORWARDS in SEARCH mode and STOPS on the IMAGE of the lethargic, depressed, hostile Shepherd. (5/4/98/11:10 p.m.). Sadly realizes how little time he has...

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - OFFICE - DAY

The nameplate on the door tells us this was the office of DR. JOHN KRIPPEN. Neville glances at the mementos on the desk-photos, awards--and wall--diplomas, certificates, a PHOTO of the entire academic staff of Berkeley. Standing among the distinguished gentlemen and ladies is Robert Neville.

FLASHBACK TO:

INT. KRIPPEN CENTER - OFFICE - DAY

DR. KRIPPEN escorts a VISITOR into his office. Offered a chair, NEVILLE sits opposite Krippen. Looking every bit the professor in tweed jacket and corduroys, Neville smiles...

NEVILLE

Thanks for seeing me, Dr. Krippen.

Krippen is happy, energetic, pleased with himself.

KRIPPEN

We don't get too many visitors from the

History Department. (recalls) We met at

the Christmas Party, didn't we?

NEVILLE

Yeah, Jeff introduced us.

KRIPPEN

That's right.

NEVILLE

Listen, I know you're busy, so I'll get

right to it. The work you're doing with

leukemia--from what I read in the paper,

it seems to me the same principles could

apply to other forms of cancer.

KRIPPEN

Absolutely. We chose leukemia because,

well, if we can do it with blood, we can do

it with just about anything in the body.

Once we tackle blood, the rest...

NEVILLE

The lymph system?

KRIPPEN

Down the line, yes.

NEVILLE

How far down the line?

KRIPPEN

What's the problem, Professor ?

NEVILLE

Six months ago my daughter Grace was

diagnosed with lymphatic cancer.

KRIPPEN

How old is she?