"CONTAGION" (2011)

CONTAGION

by

Scott z.Burns

1/14/09·

Outside the window long lines of planes wait for taxiand take off in theNovember dusk.Their lights blink impatiently.Rush hour at O'Hare.

Her phone chimes.She answers.

She purrs this last part.Smiles at the responsewe never hear. She coughs-- deepand wet.

A GATEANNOUNCEMENTdrowns out the conversation.

She sighsand gathers her stuff.

Fai looks worndownfrom the crossing.A SHIP'SMATE steadieshim at the rail.(Allscenesbetween Chinese Nationalsare in locallanguage).

CONTAGION 1/14/10 2.

Pai makes hisway through thecrowded transportation hub-- past kiosksand advertisements.He leans heavily on the escalator railingand makes hiswaydown toward to the metro. He carriesa small duffel,but struggles against its weight.

Pai sits on the cleanand crowded metro with the duffel in his lap. Behindhimsome veryHIP KIDS arejoking and laughing.Pai shootsthema look,but theKIDS just keep talking and giggling.

He turns on them.

The HIP KIDSlook at each other,convinced he isamadman-- then they burst out laughing even louder.Pai stumblesaway from them and looks out thewindow of the train.

PAI'SPOV

Lights passing byon the tunnel interioranda strange fish- eyed reflection of the people behind him.PAICLINGSTO A METAL POLEFOR BALANCEWITH BOTHSWEATYHANDS.

The bags begin to tumbledown the chute.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 3.

Her bag comesdown the chute and she walkstoward Customs with it.

Irina is through customs.She seesa DRIVER with hernameon a sign. SHEHANDS HIMHER BAG.

Kwun Tong is the most densely populated area in the world. Clothes hang dryingfrom the windows.FAImakes hisway toward an entrance to one ofmany overcrowded housing blocks.

A tiny, well-kept studio apartment.Fai's sister,BAI turns down the radioand goes to respond to theknockon the door.

Fai enters and greets his sister warmly.

Fai sits ona small sofa. She works the acupressure point in his wrist fora moment-- studies his face.

She rummagesaround fora blanket.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 4.

Vegas of the Orient--neonand the sprawling architecture of excess. Familiarnames in lights:TheSands,Wynn, The Venetian, etc.

Thegaming floor is buzzing-- slots,cardsand Asiangames. Rouletteand dice. It could be the floor of the Bellagio, but the clientele is decidedly Asian.

TwoUNIFORMEDMAINTENANCE men skirt the actionand head towarda bank ofel_evators.A walkie-talkie crackles with urgent instructions.A man withaTOOL BELT looks frazzled. He responds.

More urgingfrom the walkie-talkie.TOOLBELT hits the elevator button.

The other MaintenanceMan writesdown theroom numbers as they step ontoan elevator fullofGAMBLERS.Tool Belt coughs,rubs hiseyes.

He enters the school's administrative offices.

An ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT walks back toward the school infirmary withThomas.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 5.

Clark pulls thedoor shut behindhim by thedoorknob ashe

TRUSTAFARIANSandTHE PHYSICALLYBLESSED drinkandsmokeand fight off ennui with anything they can get theirhandson.

Irina is dragginga bit-- she dropsaBEROCCA intoa martini glass. A GOATEEDTRUSTAFARIAN sidlesup beside her.

She smiles athim.

SMASHCUT

CONTAGION 1/14/10 6.

They sit ina stall-- Irina straddling him.

Irina finishesa rail of blowand hands the sterling silver straw back to Goatee.He hoovers ina line of hisownand then licks the straw clean.

She perks up-- hishands bring her mouth to his.They kiss deeply.

She gigglesand grinds.

She kisseshim hard--suckson histongue with all her might.

They both laugh.

Clark Morrow climbs out of bedand makes hiswaydown the hall toward themurmur of his parents.He's dragging ass.

Clark enters.

A lightcomes on. Thomasand Beth are in bed.She isn't looking sogood either.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 7.

She gets out ofbedand staggers to the closet.She gets out herCARRY-ON bag. Takes outsome COUGHDROPSAND TYLENOL LIQUIDFLU MEDICINE.

Thomasgrabs a pillowand heads off.Clark liesdown.

Shekisses Clark's forehead.He's warm.

Fai wakesup in theempty apartment.He coughsa few times thenswallows hard. Sleep seems to havedone little to restore him.

He forcesdown some waterand putson his shoes.The morning sun tortures his eyes.He squints against the day.

Bai's pet birdsquawks at nothing in particular.

Fai fingers theGROUNDFLOOR button.He leans hard against the elevator wall.TWO LITTLEGIRLSand an OLDCHINESE WOMAN eye him with concern.He rubs his temples.Coughs again.

The doorsopen and Fai stumbles out.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 8.

Faiis hallucinatingnow. The worldcomes athim in ways onlyhe understands. He shiftsawayfrom non-existent shapes and curses at the birds in their cages.

PASSERSBY wonder if he'sdrunk ordru9g:ed.Fai uses pedestriansandlamp posts to keephisfeet. Finally,he settlesdown hardon the dirty,damp curb.

The sun hasbecome relentlessly bright-- he shields his eyes against it witha trembling hand.Muttering.

Fai looks back over his shoulder-- what he sees scareshim into rising. Hemoves awayfrom the onslaught ofa seizing brain and takes three blind stepsbackward into the street.

A TRUCK wipes Faioff theface of the earth withasudden mechanical ease.He is pulled half-waydown the block in the suspension beforethe driverknowswhat happened.

People gather round asblood pools outfrom hisbody.Crowds fill the street.Dogs come tocheck out the carnage.

Irina ata commercial casting looking rough ina short skirt. She issweaty and feverishand irritable with thePA.

There are five other girls there,also in short skirts.They sit with their portfoliosintheir laps.

Irina crosses to the water cooler.Takesa drinkand coughs. She is miserable.Squints at the light.She walks outside and lightsa cigarette witha lighter sheborrowsfrom anotherBORED MODEL. Dials her phone.

She hangsup and curses in Ukrainian.Shegoesback and leaves thePORTFOLIO case with thePA.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 9.

Beth stands in the kitchensomehowconfused by the coffee maker. She squints at the morningsun.She drops the coffee pot and pours coffee all over forreasons that it would take a microscope to understand.

Thomas enters.

Hecomes closer to her.

She almost misses the chair.

She puts her headdownon the tableand then begins toSHAKE with seizure.

Thomasjumps back.

He grabs the phoneand dials911.Somewhere another phone rings. A silly ringtone takes us to ...

Bai is shakenby thenews of her brother's death as it is delivered over thephone.She holds onto his duffelbag as if it was his body.The desperate sound of her grief brings people into the hallway.

Bai collapses into thearms ofNEIGHBORS.OneWIPES THE TEARSfrom her face. Another picksup herCELLPHONE as if wasa murder weaponand puts it on the table.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 10.

Shemoves fromhug to hug searching for comfort.The bird squawksand kicks feedfrom the cage onto the floor.

BETHEMHOFF is out ofit--trouble finding words,not making sense. The doctorsand nursesworkon her. Thomas lookson anxiously.

ERNURSE THOMAS

Does shehave a history of I think she's allergic to seizures? Allergies? Other penicillin. medicalproblems?

CONTAGION 1/14/10 11.

And with that she goes into another seizure.TheERTEAM moves to put in anIV and stabilize her head.Shefoams at the mouth.

He searches her pupils for something--nothing there.Dr. Arrant orders Ativanand antibiotics.They putanoxygen mask over her face.

TheER Nurse pullsThomas out of the treatment area.He sits down underneathaCDC poster concerning HlNl-- instructing youhow to cover your mouth when you sneeze.

The Conciergeanda POLISHMAID are at the door.

He takes outa security keyand opens the door.

They enter. The sittingroom is undisturbed.TheTV blares MTV. A bottle ofEVIAN is half-empty on the coffee table.

The Maid steps into thebedroom.Nothing. The bathroom door is not quite closed and the tap is running.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 12.

He enters the bathroom.

HIS POV

IRINA'SDEAD BODY. Half-covered bya bathrobe..Blueand rigid. There are pills scatteredaroundand vomiton the floor by her mouth.

He turns off the waterand closes the door behind him.

The maid looks at him-- searchingly.

He picksup the phone and dials security.

And then into the phone.

Beth Emhoff isona ventilator. She iscomatoseand flat lining. No sign of lifefrom her brain.

The nursesgo about the business of disconnecting herfrom the machines. Tape isgently pulledfrom her-- IV's taken out.

Thomas and Clark watchaMINNESOTAWILDgame onTV.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 13.

THOMAS'POV

A DOCTOR andaSOCIAL WORKER INA BUSINESSSUITcome down the hallway. Thomas seesthem and getsup.

We don't have to hear every word toknow what's being said. Justfragments of conversation punctuated by grim body language. The force of thenews collapsesEmhoff.He squats in the hallwayand holds onto his head.

The Social Worker's voice is soothing.

Thomas tries to take in what hashappened.

Thomasnods.

TheSOCIAL WORKER walkstowardCLARK. Thomas turns to theER DOC.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 14.

ACROSSTHE FOYER

BUSINESSSUIT sits with Clark watching thegame.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 15.

She takes hishand.

A man holdson to a HANDSTRAP on the absurdlycrowdedTokyo subway train.His face is sweaty.He'"JSoughsa couple of times, annoying fellow commuters.He·inuttersto himselfand squints against the flashing lights ofa tunnel.

Suddenly he begins toCONVULSE.He falls to the ground SEIZING violently.Onlookers don'tknow what to do-- they scramble tomakeroom for the man.A YOUNGWOMAN calls fora Doctor,an OLDERMAN hitsan alarm on the inside of the car.

A WELLDRESSED businessman stands with his cell phoneaimed at the seizing man-- still twitchingand struggling like he's the victim of electrocution.He videotapes theman thrashing aroundon the ground.

Slowly themancomes toa halt-- he lies thereon the floor of the train.

The sunlight splashes off the high-rises.A plane vectors in on finalapproach. The whitecaps fire in theGulf of Aden.

PULLBACK TO REVEAL

CONTAGION 1/14/10 16.

Ahrafnods and takesawaya glass of water and plate of eggs.

A WOMAN runs throughasnow flurry atdawn in her bathrobe. She turnsup the driveway toThomas'house.

She issobbing and holding her cell phone.She arrives at the door. Thomas answers.

Thomas starts running toward his neighbor's house.An AMBULANCE red-shiftstoward them.

MRS. TATUM takes attendance--FIVEDESKSAREEMPTY this morning.

The kidsnod. She pretends to sneeze into the crook of her arm.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 17.

Nobody.

Li Bai sits in the waitingroom.An older woman enters pushinga cart witha simpleURNon it. Bai is still in shock.

Mrs.Tatum headsdown the hall toward the office.She passes a COUGHING kid.

She arrives at the office.

I need tospeak to Nurse Lear.My class is shrinking.

The nurse is sick?

MR. GREY,the school principal, enters the office-- ashen.

(to Tatum) You heard?

What? Lesley is sick?

CONTAGION 1/14/10 18.

She followshim into his office.He closes the door.

Rafik's butler,Ahrafdoes his morning prayers.Themen are lined up shoulder to shoulder on their mats.Ahraf is sweating,but so are many of the other men,he rocksbackon his heelsand coughs repeatedly.

The menon either side ofhim are distracted by the coughing-- it disrupts the prayer.Unable to stop,Ahraf makes hisway toward the exit.

The school is beingevacuated in accordance witha plan nobody ever plannedon using.The buses aren't where they are supposed to be.There'schaos in the foyer.MR. GREY wears rubber glovesand stands in thecrowd of kids--he has a directive thathereads from.

Now, you want togoon the same bus that you took to school-- unless your parents droveyou or are picking youup, in which caseyou need to go outside to the baseball field. Again if youhave to cough-- into yourelbow and wash your hands for thirty seconds.Sing the happy birthday song and you'llknow you did it right.

Mrs. Tatum looks at the clusterfuck in front of her.A kid with PIGTAILSapproaches her.

She is reluctant to touch thekid.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 19.

I.NT.EMERGENCYROOM- FAIRVIEWSOUTHDALEHOSPITAL

EMHOFF sits alone inanISOLATIONROOM~-despondent over the loss of his wifeand step-son.A mask of grief.andshock across his face.A sign on the door says"RESPIRATORY ISOLATION." A FACE inanN-95 mask appears in thed'oor.

A knock on the window bringsEmhoffback.He pauses fora momentand then remembers--he pullsa surgical mask over his own face.

THE MEDICALTEAM enters, all wearing protective gear.They regard him asthough he is radioactive.

They present him withacup of pills.They take blood, etc.

He shrugs.

A NURSE handshim hisphone ina plastic bag. Every item is suspicious.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 20.

Emhoff nods. He gets thephone out of the plastic bag.

The MEand theASSISTANTME perform anautopsy on Beth ina drab greenroom. A microphonehangs over the metal table to record their findings.

On thenext table liesCLARK's corpse as well waiting for autopsy.

They begin toopen her skull witha surgicalsaw.They look into Beth Emhoff's brainand are aghast.

The ME isdumbstruck.

The ME looks at the blood and tissue that has been sprayedon both ofthem by thesaw.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 21.

The Assistant does-- frightened.

Bai sits holdingabag with her brother's urn inside of it on her lap. She does notlook well. Sheswallowshard as the bus pulls into the station.

The PASSENGERS gatherup their packagesand produceand line up for the door.Bai seems disoriented.She does not get up. The passenger next to her isCONFUSED and wants to get out.

CONFUSED is baffledby her responseand pushesby her.

Bai is the last off the bus.She almost fallsdown the steps. She too iscoughingnow.

PULLING UPAND AWAY FROMBAI

She walksunevenly through thecrowded bus station.People cross her path oblivious to the threat she poses.She nearly drops her bundleand aYOUNG MAN stops to help her.

He takes her bag and she leanson him.They walk toward the exit together. Vanishing into the throng.

SMASHCUT

CONTAGION 1/14/10 22.

A large diningroom witha stunning view ofLake Michigan. November grayand white capped.A party of ten watchesDR. ELLISCHEEVER (40's)carvea Turkey as the Detroit Lions play the Washington RedskinsonaTV in the corner.

Cheever getsa kissfrom SUZANNEAUBREY (30's)-- the laughing voice.

Platesand plattersare passed around the table.ELIZABETH NYGAARD fills her plate with sal.ad.HerTHREE-YEAROLD DAUGHTER MISTY tugs at her leg.

Her husband--DANIELNYGAARD--chimes in.

ON CHEEVER

His cell phone chirps--and he putsdown the carving knife and answers.

DANIEL CHEEVER

He fries it inan oildrum in I'm sorryI gotta take this. the driveway...

CONTAGION 1/14/10 23.

Daniel continueson about the carnivores of Texas asCheever makes hisway to the kitchen.Misty followshim.

Cheever ends that calland scrolls through hisphone.Hits send. As he waits for the phone to ringhe jotsdownsome noteson a scrap of paper in the kitchen.

ANGLEON THE PAPER

"2 DEAD,16 reported •.. Bloomington,Minnesota ... "

Cheever puts thephoneaway. Takes a small bottleofPURELL out of his pocketand douses hishands.He heads back in to join the othersand resume his dinner.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 24.

ANGLEON COMPUTERSCREEN

A YouTube video of the Japanese man dyingon the Marunouchi Line.

Krumwiede clickson hiscomputer.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 25.

He shows hera tape recorder.

She walksaway.

Emhoff sits in hisbed inan isolationroom.A NURSE in serious protective gear draws his blood.She places the vials directly inaCOOLER and movesfrom his bedside toa sealed vestibule.

Another person stands in the air-lock vestibule waiting-- it's hard to make out much about the personfrom theamount of protective gear they are wearing.But,they holda piece of PUMPKIN PIE.

COOLER andPUMPKIN PIE share the vestibule foramoment.

PUMPKIN PIE nodsand watchesas Cooler leaves the isolation room. She enters.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 26.

Emhoff fightsthrough the fearand loss to put ona brave front for his daughterJORY(15).

Emhoff shrugs.

She tries to understand.

She handshim the pie.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 27.

She sitson the corner of his bed.

He smiles underneath the mask.

She liesdown across theend of his bed-- drapes herself across his feet.

I

CONTAGION 1/14/10 28.

Mears sits with Cheever in the mostlyempty building reading a file.

Mears flipssome pages.

Cheever shrugs.

People file into the buildingona dreary lateNovember day.

ANGLEON THE SCREEN

The Marunouchi Line video-- she watches theman die for the millionth timeon the internet.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 29.

There'sa knock on the door.It's her boss--DAMIANLEOPOLD (SO's).

Leopold movesaround the desk to watch.

She gets up and heads to the movie.

The OLD CHINESEWOMAN enters the elevator withapackage. She does not look well.

ANGLE ON THEBUTTON FORTHE 4THFLOOR

Smudged and smeared with repeated pressing.She presses it.

She presses theDOOROPEN button as well.A MIDDLEAGEDMAN getson as well.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 30.

The elevator arrives atthe4th floor.She shuffles off.He HOLDS THEDOOR OPENBUTTON for her.

Then rubs his nose.

Mears seesa man holdinga sign with hernameon it. She approaches.

They head off.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 31.

Mears,Swanson and otherOFFICIALSfrom different departments sit at tables taking notes.

On the wall isa schematiconbrownbut~her paper of all the cases.

An FRESHLYSCRUBBEDBUREAUCRAT(30's)gives the update.

A DIRELOOKING ASIANMAN chimes in.

CONTAGION. 1/14/10 32.

Seat. DIANE NORDQUIST(40-ish)perksup at this. She's the Assistant Chief of Staff for the Governor.

ORANTES takes the trainhome past postcard-perfect Lake Geneva. Her phonecomes to life.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 33.

·ORANTES How many?

A cargo plane taxis across the tarmac.Thanksgiving weekend. Commercial flights are lined up nose to tail.

Boxes from all over the world are unloaded roughlyby the graveyard shift.

CLOSE ON ABOX

"DANGEROUSBIOLOGICAL MATERIAL.KEEPREFRIGERATED."It is addressed to theCDC.The NIGHTMANAGER considers the box-- reads the waybill.

He puts the box in the next day's pile.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 34.

PAMELANEAL walks with herFOURYEAROLD BOY past theGIANT KELPFOREST towarda bathroom. She. looksoverwhelmedby the crowdsand the pain in her head.

Theboy is meltingdown ina big way."'..She holdsher phone likea divining rod looking fora signal.

Nobody isanswering.

The boy sitsdownand she holdshim close.

She seems tohave forgotten the word.She drops thephone and her son picks it up.She walksawkwardly toward the exit.

EMHOFF is still in isolation.Mears interviewshim.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 35.

Mears considers all the possibilities.

Beat. This isnews to Emhoff.

Mears studieshim.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 36.

Beat.

Emhoff's anger rises at the prospect ofsomeone to blame.

Paramedics are puttingJOSHNEAL intoan ambulance.Pamela looks on. The Paramedic gets right in his face.

PARAMEDIC PAMELA NEAL

Mr. Neal? I wantyou to stay He's breathing right?I with me here. Can you hear couldn't wakehim. We got me? homeand I couldn'twake him.

We both wokeup sick this morning.He had asore throat and hishead hurtfrom the light.

The PARAMEDIC puts his flashlight in her eyes.Checks her pupils.

Emhoff watchesMearsleave through the air lock--only the pen she was using to take notesremainson the side table.

Krumwiede paces while he'sjackedupon coffee.A JAPANESE WOMAN speakson theSKYPEHEADSET on his laptop.Krumwiede coaches her on what to say.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 37.

She translates into the phone.Krumwiede waitsona response.

Krumwiede looks through his notes.

She translates reluctantly.Krumwiede is keyed up.

She takes off the headsetand hands it to Krumwiede.

Krumwiedemakes notes.

Krumwiede hangs up.Dazed.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 38.

Krumwiede gets outa bottle of Purell.

_,.--' KRUMWIEDE (rattled) Uh ... Ithinkyoushould definitely call your parents.

Mearsmakes a flow chart of the diseaseon the wall.It is spreading... More casesnow.Behind her onTVanews report updates the latest information from in front of the hospital.

She kicks it back to theANCHORMAN.

The phone rings.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 39.

Cheever ison the phone in his apartment.

Mears is already taping more paper to the wall.Theflow chart grows.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 40.

A man ina robe RUNSdown the hall.He knocks on the door of an apartment urgently.

He runs to another dooranda third in the hallway opens.A COUGHING manemerges.

More doors are openingnow and the inhabitants are flooding toward the stairwell.

A number of military style trucks are parking anda small army ofMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS in masksmove quickly on the building.

There areARMED PERSONNEL wearing masksas well.They enter the buildingand seal off the exits.A MANWITH A MEGAPHONE speaks.

But, some of the panic stricken residents are makinga run for it. The RUNNINGMAN jumps outa second floorwindow and is heading round the corner when he isapprehended bya SOLDIER.

But, otherRESIDENTS escape scattering into the crowds. Running.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 41.

Two nurses take the temperatures of those whodo not run-- THE OLDWOMAN ANDHER CHILDREN are in line.They call out the RESULTS.

They are put in the truck.Next,theman from the elevator.

And the man is allowed to walkaway.

They move past centrifugesand incubators-- mechanical boxes and microscopes.

They arrive atan air-lockedcompartment in the wall. Eisenberg opens itand retrievesTHEPARCEL. He puts itona table and begins toopen it.Careful not to lance his suit with aBOX CUTTER.

Eisenberg delicately opens the blood samplefrom its containment. He places it ina centrifuge.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 42.

Hextall opens the tissue sample of brain.She places itona tray. Speckles of bloodon her rubber gloves.

The daily briefing.Ten people sit arounda table watching slides of the evacuationfrom theCHRYSANTHEMUMGARDENS housing block inHongKong.

An Asian Doctor is dubious.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 43.

An INDIANDOCTOR startshanding outa report.

The slides arenow of Bangladesh.The world never runsout of the sick.

Cheever headstoward the entry.ROGER theJANITOR (50's, African American)takesa hit off hisINHALER ashemoves some trash bins.

Cheever is clocked byaMANON A BENCHwho is talkingon his cell phone.

Cheever stops.

Cheever shrugs. French finishesup his call.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 44.

Cheever isalarmed by this.

Cheever,Frenchand CDC ASST.DIRECTORLYLEHAGGERTY who is in hisCOAST GUARDUNIFORM. French has photos of the enforced quarantine inKowloon.

Cheever writesdown the numbers.

Cheeverand Haggerty sharealook.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 45.

Beat. Cheeverknows what'scoming.

French is nothappy with thisanswer.

THE VIRUS!Electron microscopyshows irregular spheres with spikes.There are bulbs at theend of spikes that fit into human cells like keys in locks.

A MONITOR

The Virushas been isolated.Eisenbergand Hextall puzzle over it.

Eisenberg clicksa mouseand the virus enlarges.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 46.

Another computer display spells it out in genetic-,sequence. A series of consonantsand numbers spell outa brandnew word.

She watches the Marunouchi Line video againand again.There have now been two million hits. It hasgone viral.

She noticessomething. Pauses the video.Shemakes it full screen.

ANGLEON SCREEN

The man carriesaBAG on his shoulder--when he tumbles,but the contents spill out.

THE DUBIOUSCOLLEAGUEfrom the earlier briefing works across the hall. She yells tohim.

He walks into her office.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 47.

Orantes types quicklyon her computer-- bringsuptheAIR CHINAHOMEPAGE. The colorson the website match the ticket jacket lying near the Marunounchi Man.

The futures floor iscrowded withTRADERS shoulder to shoulder waiting for theday to begin.A MANWITH A ROUGH VOICE getsup witha microphone.

Silence spreads across themen intliepits.They search the top of their shoes for solace.The silence is punctuated with theHOARSE COUGH ofa TRADERBREAKING A SWEAT.

Mears, Swanson and otherMEMBERS ofanINVESTIGATIVETEAM enter the office buildingona mission;They wearDEPT OF HEALTH windbreakers--some wear masks, all wear gloves.They carry vessels forcontainment of biological matter.

A HUMANRESOURCESWORKER points toward the stairs. It feels like anFBI raid.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 48.

Swanson and theteam head into the stairwell.Mearsleads the way with theHR worker.

She hands hera slip of paper.

THE CLEANINGTEAM

Ten strongand fully outfitted.Washingdown every work surfaceand keyboard withammoniaand Lysoland anything else that kills the smalland nasty.They treat it like it'sa hazardous waste spill.

Mears addressesagroup ofELEVEN NERVOUSEMPLOYEES.

Nervouslooks allaround.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 49.

Peoplemove awayfrom her.

HR callsdown to his office.Everyone waitsand watches.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 so.

She hangsup.

A long pause aswe hear Mears trying to remain calm on the other end of the line.

He pulls the wire to signal thebus to stop at the next corner. Anxiety building.

He does.

People mill about.Amdahl is stillon thephone. Freaked out.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 51.

He looks at hisown hands.

INTERCUT

Mears drives to get Amdahl-- sirens blazing.Speaks,to Cheeverwho ison the phonein his office.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 52.

They arrive at Amdahl.He sinks to his knees-- terrified.

He is givenamask and climbs into theambulance.

In a conferenceroom withan American Flag framedon the wall, threeU.S.OFFICIALSIN SUITS sit with Rafik andaHIS LAWYER. Two of the officials wearN-95masksand the third PACES.

They ignore him.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 53.

Beat.

Rafik getsup to leave.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 54.

He slidesan appointment card toward him.

He leaves the card on the table.

Cheever holds forth beforea sea of reporters.Haggertyand a group of other grim faced officials stand behind him.They are activeon their Blackberries--new reports are walked in.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 55.

In the departureslounge,Orantes watches the press conferenceon CNN INTERNATIONAL.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 56.

Emhoff watches the conferenceona localNBC affiliate with Jory.

Beat.

Krumwiede watchesonFOX NEWS.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 57.

Cheever stepsawayfrom thepodium.

The Vikings are playing theGIANTS--MONDAYNIGHTFOOTBALL. There aresomeempty seats.A few fans wear N-95 protective masks,most do not. There isa crawlon the scoreboard that says: "The MinneapolisHealth Departmentremindsyou to cover your mouth when youcoughand wash yourhands frequently."

A SOFTPRETZEL makes itswaydown arow of FANSand a TWENTY DOLLAR BILL makes itsway back toward the vendor who licks his fingersand peels offchange. A conveyor belt of virus spread.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 58.

Mears watches thegameon TV. She hassome soup and salad.

At the barTHREEDELTA FLIGHTATTENDANTS talkamong themselves.

Mears signsher check.

Orantes arrivesfrom Geneva.She is ushered throughan INFRAREDFACE SCAN machine that checks her temperature.The line is outrageously long.Children are checked with ear thermometers.

She steps through the machine.No alarms,no problems.She is fifty feetaway whena kerfuffle breaks out behind her.A man is beingDETAINED. He isa bit olderand speaks English with an accent. She stops.

But he is being ledaway by uniformedandmasked workers.

People givehim awide berth. Orantes keepsgoing.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 59.

A mission control set-up to monitor the progress of the disease. Screens cover the localnews in different cities. Different parts of theroom are dedicated to different regions of the country.

In a glass walled conferenceroom,Cheever surveysa white board covered in marker.A diagram of whatweknow so far-- Minneapolis,Chicago,London,HongKong, Dubaiand beyond-- dotted lines connecting placesand names.It's spreading like a blood stain on themap.

Cheever's cellphone rings.

He looks at the butcher paper flow chart-- eyes Chicago.

Hextall walks in,grim lookon her face.

A tired man in his late 40'scomes out of the science building. His name isDR. IANSUSSMAN--he speaks intoa dictaphone. He isunaware of this butALANKRUMWIEDE isa few steps behind him.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 60.

He recognizesKrumwiede.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 61.

Sussman gets in his Priusanddrives_';;"f',ay.

Mearswakes up to thesound of herown cough. She doesn't give it much thought,but asshe sitsup the force of the headache hits.

She rushes to thebathroom and grabsa batterypowered thermometerfrom her toiletries bag.Handsshaking she puts it in her mouth.Sits on the toiletscared out of her mind.

She checks the thermometer. It's high.Mears rips intoa package of Tamiflu.She takesa pilland swallows with water.

She opensthe drapesand looks outside-- another gray day in Minnesota. But, today is differentTHENATIONALGUARD isnow out.

She picksup the phoneand calls the front desk.

ORANTES wearsa spacesuitand interviewsTHEOLD WOMANfrom the elevator at Chrysanthemum Gardens.Everything goes through aTRANSLATOR (male, 30's).TWOCHINESE HEALTH OFFICIALS·sitin. All wear protective gear.One we will come toknow as Orantes'CHINESECOUNTERPART.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 62.

A Chinese health official discusses the findings with Orantes and the Translator.He switches back and forth between Englishand Chinese with the other officials in theroom.

An animated conversation breaks out in Chinese.Orantes tries to keep track,but clearly theydo not want her tobea part of it.The men gesticulate at the flow charton the wall.

The Chinese Health Official calms his cohorts.

Orantes isn't sure ifshe should believe this.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 63.

CHINESECOUNTERPAfi.T Perhapsyou would liketo"goto the hotel now. We will arrangeameal for later and you can tour the other hospitals.

She studies theflow chart on the wall.

Emhoffand his daughter,Jory,search the aisles foritems. Emhoff asksa SALESCLERK for help.

The sales clerk leadsthem over to the aisle where the.masks might be. They're also sold out.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 64.

INTERCUT

A video-conference call in progress.Leopoldanda host of other Doctorsfrom theWHO convene with officials at theCDC-- Cheever,Haggerty and others.There are also officialsfrom China,Japan and theUK on the phone.

A map of the world is broadcast to all the representatives. The charge of the virus is alarming.It spools out over time.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 65.

TheMap animates to reflect this rate of spread-- exponential increases pool out.Overa million casesaround the world.

In theCDC video conferenceroom,Cheever,Haggerty and Hextallsmirk at this.

An image ofTHEVIRUS is broadcast.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 66.

Beat.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 67.

Cheever and Haggerty sharea look.

Beat.

The Capitol Building ona fallday.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 68.

SENATORBOXER discusses the emerging situation with her staff andsome otherINTERESTEDPARTIES.

Mears lies ina bed ina longrow of beds in the makeshift infirmary. Swanson approaches in protective gear.

Mears nods-- she's miserable.

Swanson hands heraphone ina plastic bag.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 69.

Mears nods--sweatyand miserable.

Orantesand her Chinese Counterpartwander through the Casino with aMAINLANDMAINTENANCEWORKER. Very few gamblers are present. She is escorted asalwaysby other Chinese Health Officialsand CASINOMANAGEMENT.

Orantes scratches hisname offa list.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 70.

Beat.

Orantesgoes backand circles hisname.

An evenmore extensive series ofrooms within rooms-- glass cubes connected by air-locks.In,theinnermost areaaBENCH SCIENTIST works with the VIRUS-- slides aremovedfrom machine to machine. Itsmost basic composition appearsona computer screenTWOROOMSOVER.

HEXTALLand EISENBERG review the results.A short alphabet displayed beforethem likea high stakesgame of scrabble- A,C,T andG.

Another set of resultsappearson the screen.A bell curve wavers from right to left.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 71.

Cheever anda host of other workers monitor screensand answer phones.The map on the wallshows the virushas spread exponentially.Butcher paper spans the area-- butyou can't wrap thisup in butcher paperanymore.They'verun out of walls.

Haggerty walks into the center.

Haggertyand Cheever behind closed doors.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 72.

Cheever nods. Hecan see implications in theshadedmapson the walls.

Orantesand her CHINESECOUNTERPART work backwards against time. Butcher paperup on the wall.A diagram withboxes and names. And amap with pins in it.

She crosses to the window looks out.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 73.

HONG KONG

A plume of darksmoke rises in the distance.

Orantesgoes back to the diagram.

Cheever pacesand stares out at the sea of press standing vigil beyond the gates.He'son thephone·.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 74.

Something in Cheever unravels at this--he starts talking faster.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 75.

He hangsup. From behinda pillar emergesROGER theJANITOR.

A black sedan pullsup to the house.A man ina suit gets out of the carand walks to the door.

Emhoffand Jory sit in the kitchenand work on their computers. Thenews providesa steady stream of fluupdates and school closings.The doorbell rings.

Emhoffgoes to answer it.He doesn't recognize themanand hesitates toopen the door.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 76.

Emhoff considers--beyond BoothaTOWNCAR idles in the driveway.

Aubrey is stocking upon provisions-- she has filled her cart with WATER,CLIFFBARS, CANSOF TUNA,BANANAS--she stands in front of the display forPURELL.She takes asmany bottles as can fit in the cart.

She gets in line--ANOTHERSHOPPER clocks her cart curiously. Aubrey struggles against the desire to share what sheknows.

Aubrey drivesdown thefreeway--NATIONALGUARD trucksmove in the other direction toward the city.SEMI-TRUCKS stand parkedon the shoulder front to back fora mile.

She heads south.Her phone rings-- her friendfrom Thanksgiving dinner.

Nygaard's daughter cries in the background.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 77.

And so it spreads ...

Emhoffand Booth. Emhoff readsa non-disclosure agreement.

Emhoff thinksabout it.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 78.

ANGLE ONTHE CAR

In the backseat sits theREGISTEREDNURSE in question.

Emhoff weighs his options.

Booth getsinto_ the car and drivesaway.No deal.

The Nurse looks ata list.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 79.

TIME LAPSE:We see the Virus replicate overand over again in cells ona monitor. It's exponential charge across the slide is consuming.

Sussman replays theimage overandoVe-ragain.A group of his COHORTS sharea glass of champagne.

ANGLE ONCDC ROOM

Hextall,Eisenberg,Cheever,Haggertyand others-- see the same image. A small victory.

WHO CONFERENCEROOM

So do Leopoldand his counterparts.

A CONFERENCEROOMIN FRANCE

So do Scientists at AVENTIS.A large logoon their wall.

CONFERENCEROOMSIN NYC/LONDON/MOSCOW

Every drugcompany in the world strobesby--all looking at the same image.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 80.

We seea Rhesusmonkey coaxed intoacage and carried away.

He is loadedona truck with other monkeys.

Krumwiede sits wearinganN-95mask speaking toa broker. Most of the offices are empty.

He chuckles.Krumwiede is offended.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 81.

He handsMorgan Stanleya slip of paper.

A trench is beingdug byaBACK HOE. Adjacent to it is another trench lined withTHEDEAD.WORKERSfrom theSTATE HEALTHDEPARTMENT wear protective gearand keep track of the bodiesand where they have been laid.Quantity begins to trump compassionnow.

Swanson appears withsomePLASTICFLOWERS. He seesMEARS' body in themass grave. It is covered withBLUEPLASTIC SHEETING-- it flaps in the wind.He puts in the flowers.

An EARTHMOVER begins to fill in the trench.

Orantes walks in.Her COUNTERPART is havinga veryanimated conversation in Chinese.Pictures ofBAI,IRINA,KHALIFA and MARUNOUCHIMAN are stillon the wall.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 82.

Orantes puts Emhoff's pictureon the wall.

A bridge over the St.Croix River is patrolled by the NATIONALGUARDon both sides. Cars arebacked up in both directionsfrom checkpoints.Searchlightssweep the bare treeson both sides of the river-- they find people heading east.

EMHOFF'SCARAT THE CHECKPOINT

Jory sitsin the backseat.A GUARDSMAN in protective gear stops thecar bysome cones. He usesa megaphone. Keeps his distance.

Emhoff rollsdown the window.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 83.

But,the Guardsman can't hearhimabove the honkingand rotor wash ofa BLACKHAWKHELO.Emhoff gets out of the car.

EMHOFF (CONT'D) GUARDSMAN

I alreadyhad it. Get back in your car,Sir'.

Keep____.,..f~fteenfeetaway.

Down on the riveraJET SKI is makingarun for the Wisconsin side of the river'in the cold water.TWOFIGURESONTHE JET SKI ... one falls offand the Jet Ski doubles back.Guardsman on the Wisconsin side pour into the trees with flashlights and weapons.

Emhoff gets back in the car.Joins the traffic headed back to Minneapolis.

Krumwiede sits there checking hisiPhone madly.ACAMERAMAN stands25 feet away.

Cheever sits,mic-edup withANDERSON COOPER onamake shift set outside theCDC.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 84.

Krumwiede listens throughan ear piece.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 85.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 86.

Krumwiede seethes.

Cheever is stunned.

A long line of people reaches out the dooranddown the street. A BOOTSEMPLOYEE counts the people in line.

Beyond the fifty people are at least anotherTWOHUNDRED folks.

Someone in the back of the pack begins to cough.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 87.

BOOTS --··· We will only be able to give out fifty courses today-- that's our forsythia allotment ...

The crowd reacts.There's pushing.

It's getting ugly.A TOUGHAND HIS GIRL push toward the front.

And with thata melee ensues.Store displays are turned over. People make mad grabs for the herbs.Some climb over the counter.

The Pharmacist clutches the packetsand tries tolock the door. TheCROWD ransacks the shelves.

A row of cages filled withRHESUSMONKEYS..Workers inheavy protective gear survey.Each cage isnumbered with the corresponding vaccine.

Trial and error. The confused monkey faces stare into the camera. They're our astronauts again.

TWO MONKEYS are not moving-- they areremoved.

FLASHBACK- INT. GOLDEN DRAGON CASINO-MACAU

It's thenight in question. Beth Emhoff stands withher co- workers neara FISH-PRAWN-CRABTABLE.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 88.

A traditionalChinese dicegame.The MarunouchiMan gather up the diceand throwsthem.

People laugh.

Her host laughs.

She maneuvers through the crowd toward the MarunouchiMan. He gathersup the dicefor another throw.Rubsthem together. He says something inJapaneseand holds the dice outtoward Beth.

She movescloser-

THEIMAGE CHANGES- THEPICTURE GOESBLACKAND WHITE

It's the securityimageona CCTV. Beth Emhoff leans into theframe andBLOWS ONTHE DICE. The MarunouchiMan rubs the dicein his handsand tossesthem across the table.

It rewindsand plays again.Breath. Transmission.

Orantes is watching theimage ona monitor.Stacks ofDVD's surround her.Other CHINESEOFFICIALS watch other monitors. She crosses to herCHINESECOUNTERPART.

She hands the disc tohim.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 89.

Emhoffand Jory pickaway at the ice-- fourinches thick. Scattered across the frozenlake,other groups are gathered arou.nd exposed holesand in small shacks.Ice fishing.

They break through to open water.Jory putsakernel of canned cornona hook and drops it into the water.

A NEWWOMAN appearsand begins to struggle witha hatcheton the ice. Jorywatches her.

A small celebration breaks out at another hole--a fishhas been caught.

Nothing back.

They talk amongst themselves.

The HATCHETWOMAN pauses.Shouting.

Her voice breaks.

He studies thewoman foramoment-- failing at the ice.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 90.

Emhoff walkstoward the woman.

She drops to her knees.

She looks athim mistrustfully.

Aubrey sits in the livingroom.Tension in the air.Cheever cooks some riceand beans in the kitchen.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 91.

A man ina full PROTECTIVESUIT sitsona bench alone. We can see through hismask that it'sKRUMWIEDE.He waits fora lab door to open.

DR. SUSSMAN

Surrounded byNATIONALGUARDSMAN as security.They walk toward a blackSUV. He's precious cargo.

Sussman keeps walking.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 92.

Sussman pauses.Tired and angry,he turns.

Sussman gets in the car.

Emhoff,Jory andTHE HATCHETWOMAN enter the house.It is coldand dark.

There'sa tree in the next room--a couple stockings hung over the fireplace.Jory clocksthem. Pauses.

Emhoff getsdownon the ground withabook of matches.He hearsa GROAN from another room followedbyacough.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 93.

Emhoff sitsup quickly.

JORY EMHOFF

Dad- Jory get out of here-- don't

touch anything.

Jory scrambles toward the door-- her scarf over her face. Hatchetwoman grabs at Emhoff.

Emhoff looks out the window.Jory is safely outside.He puts his hand on the woman'shead.She shudders athuman contact.

Hatchetwoman nodsand goes to the drawer to find it.Emhoff gets back to the pilot light.

He wonders if it's safe to admit hisimmunity.He decides against it.

PLACES -NIGHT

Leopold holds court over the group.A screen full of monitors.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 94.

Haggerty,Cheeverand Hextall.

MONTAGE-INTERCUT VISUALSOFTHEWORLD-- MASSIVEMIGRATIONS OFPOPULATIONSIN AFRICA

CONTAGION 1/14/10 95.

LOOTINGIN SAOPAOLO

And this ishow it looks in the world...

MARTIALLAW INTEHRAN

EMPTYSTREETS INTIMES SQUARE

CONTAGION 1/14/10 96.

FOODDROPS OUTSIDEOFLONDON

A HUNTERTAKESDOWN A DEEROUTSIDEOF MOSCOW

THENYSE/MOSQUE/MALLOFAMERICA/HYDEPARK/ST.MARK'S SQUARE/SHEDDAQUARIUM-ALL CLOSEDAND EMPTY

MONKEYSIN CAGESAT CDC- ANOTHERDEAD ONEIS REMOVED

CONTAGION 1/14/10 97.

SHEPARD FAIREYPOSTERSOF KRUMWIEDEPLASTEREDACROSSTHE CAPITOL BUILDINGIN DC

Underneath hisimage they say--"PROPHETOR PROFIT?"

·LEOPOLD I think weneed toremain focussed on containment and buying time for the science.

FRENCH OFFICIAL INDIANREPRESENTATIVE

You can't relyon the free We would still like to begin market to motivate people anddiscussions of reparations then complain that with the Chinese. competition causessomeone to lose.

The picture starts clipping-- satellite problems.Some countries break off.

The picture clipssome more.Leopold isgone.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 98.

FLASHBACK- INT.GOLDEN DRAGON CASINO-NIGHT

Bethdemurs adrink and leaves theFish~Prawn-Crabtable.

Oneof her CHINESE HOSTS points across the casino.Bethsets off. She isa little sweaty and clammy.As she walks she checks her purseand takes outa digitalcamera.Shetakesa picture of the flashing lights.

It's earlyand Orantes is still pouring overCCTV footage from the Casino.

ANGLEON BETHON A MONITOR

She enters theLADIES'ROOM and stands at the sink.She stares at herself in the mirror foramoment.And dabs her finger ina pot ofLIPGLOSS. As she does,IRINA emerges from the stall behind her ...

Thetwo women stand next to each other at the sink.Irina searches her purse for something.

Beth offers hers.

They share the lip gloss.

FREEZEFRAMEON THE MONITOR

Orantes leansback. The moment of infection.Shelooksup at theflow chart of transmission.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 99.

Chinese Counterpart shrugs.

He nods.

He nods. Orantes leaves.The Chinese Counterpart picksup the phone. He looks out the window.Someone answerson the other line.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 100.

Orantesgoes fora run.She wearsa mask and gloves.It's a crisp morning inHong Kong.Notmuch traffic. The city is primarily shutdown. A few highend sedans.A few military vehicles. Everyone wearsa mask.

SOMEOF THE AFFLICTED arehuddled together around trash can fires. Bundles offood are left forthem.Orantes steers clear ofthem.

Orantes turnsa corneranda VAN does thesame. It slows to match her pace.She speedsup. So does the van.

She turnsa corner.

The van does,too. The window rollsdown.

She remains suspicious.

She turnsand starts back toward the hotel.She is justa few feetaway when the back of the van opens.THREEARMED MEN INBALACLAVAS get outand give chase.

Orantes runs.But, they are on herand force her to the ground. Her mask getssideways in the fall.She turns her faceaway fromHER ATTACKERSdodging their breathand sweat. Handsand facesand germs.

She turns her face to thepavement and curls ina ball.They pick her upand drag heraway.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 101.

Orantes is thrown in the back.She is cuffed to theframe of the compartment.·The cuffs scratch her wrist openingupa smallwound. She sees anew point of entryon her body opening toa world fullof danger.

Jory sitsby the windowandTEXTS messages tosomebody somewhere. A blanket of bright whitesnow stretches invitingly.

MERRYCHRISTMAS :-(

And she types back.

PAN ACROSSTHE SNOWAND THENUP TO A WINDOWA FEWHOUSES DOWN ...

Througha window and intoaTEENAGE BOY'Sroom. He lays on his bed thinking what boys think about.Hisphone reads:

I WANTTO GO OUTSIDEAND JUMPIN THE SNOW

He typesback. She reads.

I WANTTO JUMP ONYOU

A little smile.

Across the street another family is gathering up the fresh snow inWATER JUGS andPAILS.Emhoff enters the living room-- putting on his warmest clothes.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 102.

She handshim a piece of paper foldedup.

He unfolds it.A picture of thenew iPhone.He is confused.

He walks outside.A STRAGGLE ofNEIGHBORS keeps their distance all walking thesame directionstowarda pre- arranged locale.

She watcheshim leave. Then returns to her texting.She sends:

SNOW ANGELS?

She begins to puton her parkaandsnow boots.

Cages line the walls.Somemore havedied since the last time wehave seen them. Most areemptynow.

TRACKINGDOWN THECAGES

Some LABTECHS in fullspace suits takeasamplefrom another dead Rhesus--number23. They put the animal ina trash bag.

Furtherdown, anotherBENCHSCIENTISTexaminesMONKEY 57. Still alive. Resistant insome way.He pushesan intercom buttonon the wall.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 103.

A MILITARYPLANE fliesover thesnow covered parkanddumps out pallets with parachutes.They crash to thegroundand their foilcovered contents scatter around.

A FEMAMAN

Stands witha megaphone trying to bring order to thefood dispersal.

But, this isn't going to work.Toomany people.Some have shopping cartsand othershave wheel barrels.ASNOWMOBILE appears out of nowhere.

They race for thefood like they're dollar bills.A man has filleda SHOPPINGCART and is trying to push it through the snow.

A man witha BASEBALLBAT cutshim down at the knees-- right in front ofEmhoff.

OtherPEOPLE descend on the shopping cart.A fightbreaks out. BASEBALL BAT menacesanOLDER MAN.

The OLDERMAN reaches into the cart.

The OldMan looksup and spits at him.Baseball Bat recoils and rearsup with the bat.

Emhoff steps in.He stops thedownstroke of the bat.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 104.

The OldMan glares atEmhoff as well.

Emhoff wipes the spit off of Baseball Bat.He putsacouple of MREsin a shopping bagand troops off.

Both on the phone.

Roger the Janitor lingersdown the hallway.Cheever getsup and closes the door.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 105.

ANGLEON HEXTALL

Hextall looks ata vialon her desk.VACCINE #57.

She takes outa syringe.

She injects herself with vaccine.

Jory lieson her back in thesnow makingan angel.She wears her protective mask-- thesame cargo plane fliesover her.

A SHADOW PASSESOVERHER

TheTEENAGE BOY appears.He also wearsa mask.

Her eyes smile.His smile back.

He liesdown on top of her.Their breath making soft clouds. The watch it dissipate in the cold air between them.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 106.

He starts tolower his mask.She turns her head.Holds her breath.

Instead,she unzips her jacket.He rolls over and does the same.

She climbson top of him-- cheek to cheek.Tentative.

He sitsby himself in front of hisweb camera.Sweating. Reading aloudfrom an old tattered book.

He putsa thermometer to his ear.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 107.

The thermometer beeps.

He takessome forsythia tinctureand drops it into water.

He swallows the water.

Cheevercomes running in-- the place has been ransacked.The door is shattered.Cupboards are emptied.Drawers arethrown around.Aubrey issobbing. curled ina corneron the floor.

He gathers her up in his arms.

He carries her into thebedroom.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 108.

He puts herdownon the bed-- steps back.Thinking.

A shadow ofdoubt crossesCheever.

He looks around.

He sitsdown next to her.Embarrassed by hisown paranoia.

But,does he? She moves to kisshim-- nuzzleshim. Mingling breath. He is uncertain at firstand then gives in to it.

They kiss.

THEDRIVER who kidnapped Orantes takes herdowna winding staircase atapace. She ishooded and stumbles to keep up.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 109.

They arrive at thebottom of the stairs.Breathless.

He removes her hood.

He opensa door and pushes her inside.

Orantes'eyes adjust to the light.She sees ...

A HUNDREDKIDS

A few adultsas well. Crowded intoaroom. Scared and hungry. Orantes shrinksfrom them. Terrified.

The driver sayssomething inCANTONESE to the group.She doesn't understand.Panic coming at her.

He moves to the door.

He kills the lights.

DIPTO BLACK

CONTAGION 1/14/10 llO.

SUPER:4 MONTHSLATER

FADE IN:

A cool spring day.People stand in line.Think of it likea polling place.The people keep their distancefrom each other. Signson the wallremindthem:

SIX FEETISSAFE

Other signs tell peoplehow tocough and not to shakehands. A new social order has taken hold in signageand custom.One sign displaysa crest withanEAGLEHOLDINGA SYRINGE against aUS FLAG.

TRACKDOWN THELINE

Toward the front.NATIONALGUARDSMAN keep it orderly.

At the front of the linenow.A MIDDLEAGED man goes intoa curtained cubicle.One of ten.Inside he finds ...

EMHOFF

Dressed in nurse's attire.He administers the vaccine.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 111.

The man tilts his head backandEmhoff"spraystwo burstsup the man's nose.

Emhoffstamps his wrist with theEAGLE/SYRINGE crest likea doorman ata bar-- thestamp worksonceand is discarded.

A group of buildings at the foot of the Tian Tan Buddha.THE DRIVER who abductedORANTEScomesdown the steps ofa monastery building.He carriesa sidearm.

He goesdown the staircase to theLOCKEDROOM.

INSIDE

The same100 childrenand Orantes.She feedsthem. They teach her words ofCANTONESE.She repeats after them and laughs-- then she teachesthem thesame words in English. Her other abductors also tend to the kids.

Everyone is healthy.Isolated.

The DRIVERcomes overand kneelsnext to her.

She smiles-- squeezes hishand.A look passes between them.

Krumwiede stands at thewindow withamicrophoneandan amp. A Shepard Fairey poster on the adjacent window.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 112.

A FEW PEOPLEGATHERAROUND on the street below.Disciples. Among themaMIDDLE AGEDWOMAN who takes notes.

A police car pulls up.

The POLICE disperse thecrowd.

Krumwiede scatters the leaflets in thewind--shuts the window.

Haggerty makes the rounds withTWOARMEDGUARDS.He has with him a cart filled with dosesof MEV-1VACCINE.

Cheever takes the doses.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 113.

Haggerty holdsup hisstamped LEFT WRIST.

He leaves thebox of vaccines with Cheever.

KRUMWIEDE sitsona bench with theMIDDLEAGEDWOMAN from outside hishouse. She is dressed conservatively.He sips waterfrom a NALGENE bottle.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 114.

Krumwiede locksona man in the distance.Theman is with thePARKS DEPARTMENT.He has his finger in hisear--maybe concealingaHEARING DEVICE.

Krumwiede getsupand leaves-- walking briskly.Head ona swivel. ThePARKS DEPARTMENTMAN laysdown his rakeand begins to follow.

Krumwiede looks back at theMIDDLEAGEDWOMAN.She reaches into herbagand gets outa badge.

Krumwiede begins torun across the park.VariousPARKS DEPARTMENTMEN droptheir rakesand converge.Alan isn't much ofan athlete. They quickly convergeonhim.

TheMIDDLE AGEDWOMAN arrives.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 115.

THE AGENTS,in masksand gloves, twist tie his wristsand hood him. They takehim away.

Orantes stands withaGUN TOHER HEAD. It is heldbyTHE DRIVER. Fifty yardsaway areCHINESE AUTHORITIES.Some are armed. In the middle of them isLEOPOLD.

He watches Orantes hopefully.

TWO HOODEDCHINESE NATIONALS pick up the boxes of vaccineand bring it toward the van.

The HOODEDNATIONALS stand next to Orantesand the driver. They rip into theboxes to explore the contents.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 116.

The driver ripsopena packet. Hetil-ts·Orantes'head back and sprays the vaccineup her nose.

The Driver weighs his options.Ona signal theNATIONALS grab the boxesand head toward the van.The Driver drags Orantes back toward the van with him.

They are back at the vannow.Boxesloaded. One of the HOODEDNATIONALS behind the wheel--engine revving.The DRIVER pulls Orantes to the rear of the van.Hiddenfrom sight.

TheVan peels out.Leaving ...

ORANTES

Standing in the street.Hand-cuffsgone. Free. Leopold rushestoward her. He embraces her.

CHEEVER sits alone in theback seat ofaTown Car.Music playson the radio.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 117.

The Driver hasmore questions thana kidon Christmas,but he knowsnot to ask.

Cheever putsdown the window.

ANGLEON THE DRIVER

He is wearinganN-95 particulate respirator mask.A little soiled and tattered.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 118.

DRIVER ____, Left. That's not the way.

Cheever putsa briefcaseon the seat next tohim.He unfolds a slip of paper and hands it forward.TheDRIVER takes it fromhim. Hewears RUBBERGLOVES.

Cheever's car rollsthrough the depressed neighborhood.What theeconomy didn't boardupand destroy theMEV has shuttered. Piles of trashand posters directing people to-- AVOIDHANDSHAKESAND HUGSand WASHTHEIR HANDSFOR THIRTY SECONDS.

People look out their windows at the clean black car.It stops in front ofasimple house.

ROGERIN HIS WINDOW

Cheever walks to the door with his briefcase.

Cheever sits with Roger.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 119.

Cheever nods grimly.

He opensup his briefcase.

Roger calls to his son.

Cheever gets outa dose of vaccine.

Anthony enters withabook.

He holdsup the book--LORD OFTHE FLIES.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 120.

Anthony walks overand Roger holds hishead back asCheever prepares the vaccine.

Roger extends hishand toward Cheever.

Cheever looks at hishand.

Cheever extends hishand--Roger takes it.They shake.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 121.

Closeon a wrist lighting Birthday Candlesonahomemade cake.The wrist has theINSIGNIA on it.ThomasEmhoff.

Jory sits at thehead of the table.Emhoffhands herafolded up piece of paper--asshe did onCHRTSTMAS.A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

He runs upstairs.She unfolds the paper--A BASSGUITARAND AMPLIFIER areon it.

ON EMHOFF

He gets Beth'sCARRY-ONdownfrom the closet. It'sbeen there since the beginning.He gets her digitalcamera out of the bag.

Headsback downstairs with thecamera.

Emhoff smiles at her ashe raises the camera.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 122..

Cheever runsupa flightof stairsand stops at the landing. Heopens his briefcase.Takes out the vaccine packets.He stillhas the stampfromthe dosehe administered to Anthony.

He puts the insignia on hisownwrist-~•-itappearshe has been vaccinated.

Cheever prepares the vaccine for Aubrey.

Cheever kisses her.

She caresses the insigniaon his wrist.He administers her vaccine.Two puffsup her noseand it's over.

Hestamps the inside of her wrist.

\

CONTAGION 1/14/10 123.

Jory hearsaknock on the window.She goes downstairsand turnson the lights in the livingroom.

ANGLE ON THEWINDOW

Alex-- theSNOWANGEL BOY stands withaPIECEOF PAPER pressed against the glass.It says:

HAPPYBIRTHDAY

Jory mouths the words"THANKYOU."He turns over the paper and it says.

10MORE DAYS

She walksup to the window.They kisseach otheron the mouth with the glass in between them.

ANGLEON EMHOFF

In hisroom. He looks at the birthday pictureson thecamera. Jory and the candles,Jory eating thecake ... And then something else.

15 SECONDSOF VIDEO

On thememory stick.Beth stands in the kitchen ofaGOURMET RESTAURANTIN HONGKONG. Next to her is the Chefwho is giving hera tour of the restaurant's kitchen ...

FLASHBACK- HONG KONG RESTAURANT-NIGHT

Beth is escortedbythe Chef and her Chinese Hostwho translatesfor her. Beth narrates forthecamera.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 124.

The Chef takes her by thearm and leads her back toa little room. We can't seewhat she sees initially.We just see the chef bending down out offrame,

TheChef rises intoframe witha smallPIG ina cage. The Chef says something in Mandarin--theword for pig.

Beth takes thecameraand gets in closer with it.

The pig sneezesand everyone giggles.

The Chef puts thecage backdownon theground and thegroup goes back to the dining room.Beth laughs,not knowing that the Bat/Pig/Human virus has justjumped into her body.

We stay with the pig.

Orantesand Leopold wait to boarda flight.

FLASHBACK- HONGKONG WET MARKET-ANOTHERDAY

The pig ina cage. Stackedamong other cages-- baring the logo ofa SPECIFICFARMER. All manner of bird and beast. They are inspected by locals and the restaurant trade.This ishow proteinfinds itsway into humans in much of the rest of the world.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 125.

TheCHEF haggles witha vendor over_price.He doesn' tfeel welltoday and is notup to the struggle ofbargaining.He coughsa couple of time and gives in to theVENDOR'S price.

He purchasestwo pigsand they are transferred to another cageand carted off.Coughing as theygo ... Human Virusjumps into pig.

Orantesand Leopold.

Leopold shrugs.

FLASHBACK-PIG FARM -SOUTHERN CHINA- NIGHT

The pigs are penned together ina long corrugated structure witha large sliding door emblazoned with thesame logo as the cagesfromthe wet market.

CLOSEON THEDOOR

Open by a small margin, but enough to allow inaLARGE BAT. Followed by another and another.A flurry of bats makes their way into the long corrugated building and roost in the rafters.

One batswoopsdownand grabs anAPPLE COREfrom a trough. It returns to the raftersandgnawson the apple core.

The bat loses its gripon the coreand it fallsback down into the troughwherea pig is waiting to eat.Bat virus jumps into pig.

Leopold opens his briefcase.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 126.

Leopold gives Orantes anotherPACKAGEOFVACCINE.

Orantes is stunned.

Shewander~ away.

Moving fasternow-- thinking of the children.

Runningnow.

FLASHBACK- MALAYSIAN JUNGLE- DAY

A tree fallsunder the attack of achainsaw raisinga mist of dirtand dust.Elsewhere earth movers tear at theground.A largeground clearing operation is in progress.LOCAL LABORERS toil in the heat of the jungle day.

A truck pulls onto the site baringalogo--3M.Thesame company thatemployed BETH EMHOFF.AWHITEFOREMAN gets out. As another treesuccumbs to appetites,economicsand gravity.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 127.

CLOSE ON THECANOPY

A FEW FLYING FOXES--abreed of large bat-- flyawayfrom the onslaught of machinery-- then morefollow.They head off toward the relative safety ofagroup ofCORRUGATED buildings. -----

Krumwiede and theMIDDLEAGEDWOMAN.

Beat.

AnotherAGENT enters. He looks resigned.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 128.

Krumwiede smiles.Stands up.

Krumwiede walksaway--down the street, pasta line of people waiting to get their inoculations.He's loose in the world.

A series of air locksand doors.We track with Hextalland Eisenberg in fullspace suitsas they make their way deeper into the secured area.They carry with them a metal case.

Cheever sits withaLAWYER having eggsand bacon.Files spread across the table.PURELL hasnow joined theother condimentson every table.

Hextallremovesa hi-tech cylinderfrom the metalbox. A clear liquidwithin'.It is labeled:MEV-1.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 129.

Eisenberg puts the cylinder intoa bracket.Next to it are other brackets holding other cylinders-- eachone ismarked witha year going back in time.All hard fought victories.

Eisenberg notices Hextall staring in the other direction.

HEXTALL'SPOV- THE OTHERDIRECTION

Beyond the bracket with thenewest virus in itwe see:

MOREBRACKETS

Empty.Extending to theend of focus.Waiting fornew viruses. The future.

CONTAGION 1/14/10 130.