Novel 1 2010 21st March

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This may be the soliloquy of a doomed drowning man.

What will become of me?

I look to my past to have a possible view of the future; Im stilloptimistic even though the straights of Life have so often provedotherwise. Well, We, I, must go on to whatever future I chose. Choiceis a difficult thing, sometimes its very clear what to do, others,insanity prevails. What can I do but strive a forward path? Who knowswhere it will lead, but I know as Ulyses said:

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

My life has had so many turns, twists, corners rounded, bridgescrossed, gates closed. Clichs all, but truisms, true for me for this ismy personal view.

Here it is.

There were two ways this could go, either a life of pleasure,fulfilments and opulence, or he could die, leaving me with a lifelooking over my shoulder.

This is a relatively simple tale of want, need and greed.

What is not simple is how events unfold, how timing becomes socritical and how random events become so key to the outcome.

I begin with a narrative of my childhood:

I was born at 4-10 am on 29th May 1959 at Manygates Maternity

home in Dewsbury, west Yorkshire. I was the first child of Patricia andDonald Just and would be followed by my sister Kathryn some twoyears later.

My earliest memories are around the age of 3 years 9 months;playing in the garden of 113 Oakwood Avenue, Flanshaw, WestYorkshire. A large blue Silver Cross pram sat next to the backdoorstep. I only remember the pram, not even aware what wasinside, I just remember being happy and feeling safe.

The next flash of memory I have from maybe a little older, about 4years old was of my nursery school in Flanshaw. It was quite a walk toget to school; I remember that and the fact it was at the top of a

Michael D. Just 2011

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steep hill. But when I was there I felt happy to leave my mum and gothere every day. The smell of boiled potatoes, the clanking of theclanking of the small glass milk bottles in the wire crates. The smell ofthat milk, sort of warm and creamy. Then time for a short sleep all ofus on the classroom floor on small mats taken from the back of the

room. No blankets. Safe and quiet. Calm. Then back home for teatime, playing, reading, having a bath in the very steep sided whitecast iron bath, kisses and finally sleep.

Up until about 6 years old life seemed very simple. I was always doingsomething; going to nursery school, going to the baby clinic near theschool with my sister for her checkups. I think this is the first realphysical memory I can recall of Kathryn, at the clinic on a high up,huge weighing scale with the nurse saying to me youve got a verynice sister and me thinking well maybe but what is it for?.

As we both got older I did find out what it was for playing! We hadso many things to do, mostly the two of us in and around the house,but also at relatives, next door at friends, all over the big world as Isaw it then. The games with the wooden clothes horse and blanketsand sheets. Can we have our tea in the house we made mum?Yes, but dont make a mess How many times over so many yearsdid I hear dont make a mess?

Dad would come home, I cant remember how exactly but he musthave had a car at this time. I know it wasnt the red bubble car hehad when I was about 3 years old. (I only know about this from a

photograph of me standing on the seat holding the steering wheel)Bright orange hair flaming in the sun my eyes screwed up against thesun; a big grin on my face looking really happy. But I was called allsorts of things in times to come because of my hair and copiousfreckles!

When dad was at home we would often do things with him while mumwas cooking, ironing, cleaning and other things around the house. Healways had time for both of us. We did so many different things.During the weekday time we were mostly around the house or gardenbut at weekends we would go in our new black car, (a Ford Prefect,

I was later told), all over the local area. We went to woods, madekites, climbed rocks, and looked for dinosaurs, as we called them,in bits of rock. We would bash the rocks open with a small toffeehammer. I remember very clearly the first time I found a fossil insidea sandstone rock. It was just a blob with lines going out from thecentre. My dad explained what it was, how old it was and how it gotthere. He could always explain anything so simply I could understandit first time round. He never got fed up with me asking how, whyand so on. Im sure he would have been a great teacher. He certainlywas to my sister and I.

My dad was a very gentle man; he loved nature in all its forms. Greatat gardening, growing fruit and vegetables, painting and drawing the


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world he saw around him. He at one time built an aviary on the sideof the big shed in the garden. We had so many brightly coloured,noisy birds. I remember one day, I think it was in about November, Ifelt sorry for them making all the noise, so one evening before thebirds went indoors in the shed for the night I opened the doors of the

aviary and out they all went. Into the trees, all over the ground, onfences, roofs, flying around free at last. And what a sound! Iremember I ran into the house and said to mum and dad that thebirds have got out!, however I didnt say how they had though.

My dad and the neighbours did manage to get some back in, thoughnot many. Next day a lot were dead, as it had been so cold overnightand there were still quite a few in the trees and on the roof tops.When asked what happened I said I just found them like that. My firstBig Lie as I recall. I got away with it. My dad thought he had left thedoors open. I never did tell him.

Mum was around I remember but much more in the background.Enabling. She was usually quiet, very particular about being cleanand neat not easy for me, I just wasnt. I dont remember manyhugs for me; some but not often. Kathryn seemed to get more of hertime, her curly long strawberry blonde hair being brushed and ribbonsput in. I never realised at the time this disparity because I really wasso happy, safe and comfortable.

The family around me on my dads side lived about 300 M away downthe same street at 50 Oakwood Avenue. Grandpa Just, Arthur, was a

stern man but kind and gentle too when he wanted to be. He alwayscame across to me as a firm man not to be crossed. I loved it whenI asked him to draw something for me and I once took him a small toyclockwork train to draw. Some time later he gave me a small bookwith about a dozen drawings in black ink of the train from all angles,both inside and out. He explained how a steam train worked and Iwas fascinated. This was the closest we ever came emotionally.

Grandma Just was very strict. Never touching either Kathryn or myselfin physical punishments she had other ways, which I thought at thetime, were much worse. She would as an example cut off things we

liked or treats such as the weekly comic she bought me. I had tocollect this from her every Friday and she would often ask me to bringsome work from school or do something she wanted me to do like adrawing or learn a particular poem. It was rare that I didnt get myweekly comic!

On my mothers side of the family was my Grandma Outwood, as shewas known, because she and Grandad lived in Outwood, only about 4miles from where we lived. I felt even then that she was the mostimportant person in my life. Her first, my father second, mum andKathryn after that, then so may more. I could write a book on her

alone and as feelings go mine ran deepest with her of anyone in mylife at this time.


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At about the age of 6 and a bit I was told we were moving home toKirkhamgate, a small village about 3 miles up the road in thecountryside. Latterly I thought I wasnt too worried about this butwhen I do go back to my feelings at the time I realise I was scaredand very happy where I was in Flanshaw. But we moved anyway, it

wasnt up to me.

The new house was the last one built on the area known as PippinsGreen. It had a larger garden than the others in the area and for thefirst time I had my own room, albeit the smallest one. My mumthought girls needed a bigger room for some reason. I neverunderstood why at the time. My window looked out at Lindale Hill aswells as the fields and woods. A small balcony under the window and Icould climb out onto it either from the window or from the garage. Ioften sat there.

This was the first time I realized I was very happy with myself. Justbeing alone, appreciating the world around me, fantasising about thefuture, what it may hold for me, how I could change it for myself.

I grew up pretty much alone, even though I had friends and Kathrynaround me I still felt different and somewhat isolated but this was notan uncomfortable feeling. Things were to change very soon. Wemoved house.

This was a time of very big changes for me. New friends, new school,new teachers, new work for my dad (he had been promoted in the

same company) and mum was back to work part time too.At first I didnt like school very much at all. My teacher was old andgave her punishments with a long old ruler across the back of thehand. She would walk up behind her pupils who would be practicingjoined up writing and WHACK!, if what we were doing on thechalkboard with white lines wasnt perfect. I hated her.

The school had only about 90 pupils from age 4ish to 11 years oldwith an old headmaster, Mr. Mills who again was liberal with thecane or slipper depending on his mood and severity of themisdemeanor. He never struck girls.

Very soon after I came to the school he retired and was replaced byMr. and Mrs. Mathewman. My life changed dramatically and my wholesubsequent life also changed because of them too. Gone were thedays of fagging at the school, a tradition where an older boy,maybe 10 or 11 years old would have a fag or effectively a slaveto do whatever he wanted. An archaic and cruel practice. With thearrival of the Mathewmans we had peace and calm also so manyways of doing things. It was like a light had been switched on.

Suddenly I had teachers who did things in the way I most responded

to. They answered all my questions and we worked in a way that wasboth challenging, creative but most of all unbounded. Holistic


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learning at its best. Discovery learning was key. When I look backnow this process was forming my very way of thinking that would lastfor the rest of my life.

We made volcanoes out of papier machee, made them erupt using

our own chemical concoctions. We painted the finished volcano; weset then alight in the school playground where they erupted from thealuminium paint pot that held the chemicals. They fumed furiously,foaming with the hot simulated lava running down their slopes. Wethen wrote poetry and imagined what it would be like to have been inancient Pompeii and how we might feel when we knew we wouldimminently be engulfed in molten lava. Strange stuff but good stuffindeed it turned out to be.

I was always outdoors whenever possible with my friends, GaryTurner, Andrew Strickleton, Phillip Holt, Simon Oats and very often

Grace Austin. The countryside was our playground. Lindale Hill ourterritory and favourite place. We did everything naughty young boysget up to; making fires, stealing farmers food from their fields andcooking it, scrumping apples, building dams in streams, flying kitesand planes. Just about anything we could get away with.

I was a hard and creative worker at school and an avid library user asboth my sister and I had special library cards that allowed us accessto the West Yorkshire Reference Library in Wakefield. I dont knowhow my parents got hold of these tickets, but Im very glad they did. Idevoured the library over many years, going every Monday evening

normally with my dad who would happily drive us there. 14 books aweek on almost every subject; science, art, engineering, travel,cookery, in fact anything except fiction. Never fiction(Id never reada work of fiction fully until I was 11 years old). My sister was thecomplete opposite, she read just about only fiction; maybe thats whyshe went on to become a very successful Head of English in a numberof schools.

I learnt so much from this time. My love of reading and the excellentteaching I received at school set me up for the dreaded 11 plusexam and got me a place at Grammar School. So did my sister some

two years later. She always followed in my footsteps but she alwaysdid everything better than me in just about every way. I neverminded this and was really proud of her, although outwardly didnteven say so. I do think she knew though.

At around this time my dad was promoted to export sales and beganyears of travel to South East Asia. He was very good at his job, alwayskept in touch when he was away and always brought great gift on hisreturn. Boy did I wait for him coming back! Not only for the gifts butas much for his stories and photos. I knew I wanted to travel in future.

I think the best thing he ever brought me back was a camera, aCanon FTb f1.8 55mm. Photography from then on was always very


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important to me and still is to this day.

Passing my 11+ exam was a very important milestone for me. A thattime in 1970 the passing of this exam was crucial. It was thedifference between hope and less hope. Grammar school would lead

to a much higher chance of success, university and a career. Thealternative, Secondary Modern school would result in a much moredifficult life with almost no chance of escape.

Due to the way I had been taught at my Primary school and theholistic approach adopted we never actually learnt separate subjects,such as maths, geography, English and so on. They were allcombined into topics so we as a group and me as an individual foundthe concept of separation very hard. However I did manage to getthrough the written part of the exam and went on to the second partof the day, which was the interview. At this I excelled; being able to

explain things, solve verbal problems, speak coherently and expressmy aspirations for the future. I passed the exam along with some ofmy friends, Andrew, Phillip and Grace.

Suddenly after the last long summer holiday at Primary school I wasbeing bought my first uniform; Blazer, cap, PE kit, Rugby kit and therest. I still have my rugby shirt from that time. It was a very bigchange from Kirkhamgate Primary. No more lunch times runninghome to see if I had received another package from NASA or theRussian Space Programme. Life at school was structured, broken intosubjects and all pretty new to me. Except for science, art and English,

which I felt quite at home with, it was a bit if a slog.

At this time I found I was good at athletics, gymnastics and especiallycross-country running. My dad had been a very good runner in hisday and although he didnt push me he did encourage me to try hard.I feel I was good at this sport because living in the countryside Idalways run everywhere. So hills, mud and fences were normal to me.This was my element.

When there was a choice between rugby and cross-country, oftenseen as a punishment by the other boys. I would choose the latter. I

ran representing the school and later for the County team. I loved it,the harder the better. When it came to rugby I was playing on thewing position because I was fast. Also this allowed me to escape theviolence of the scrum.

From quite an early on I had some very good teachers and interestinglessons. In our first year we were split up into 4 classes but each ofthe 4 of us from Kirkhamgate were in different ones. I had to makenew friends and although most of these were within my own classthere was some intermingling with the other groups. I would sayfriendships were not so important to me but the classes and time

spent outside school certainly were. I was very self-contained but nota total loner.


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Academically, my results were mixed; top of my class in science andart, high comments in PE and in the top quarter in most subjects. Inever really tried hard but did keep my love of books, libraries andphotography. By this time Id built my own darkroom in the loft athome and was even making some money from portrait work and

processing prints for people. Small children and old people were myspecialities.

I was pretty happy and balanced at this time and really had no greatplans at least not just yet..

Tracking forward a good few years my life had had its fair share ofsuprises which I will return to later and especially women. Yesespecially Women!

This may explain a little of what happened:

Film Script: The Paradigm Negotiation 1993 M D. Just

FADE IN :

INT. LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA, 3rd ST SHOPPING MALL, GROUNDFLOOR LEVEL - DAY

ROSA NORTON mid 50s, plump, with 4 shopping bags, looking inshop windows.

PHILLIP McDONNEL age 40 with teenage children; JAMIE and SAHRA,walking towards the food court.

INT. LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA, 3rd ST SHOPPING MALL, 2nd

FLOOR LEVEL - DAY

NICHOLAS BUCHANAN, casually dressed, 35 years old, rear onlyvisible, places large briefcase on floor near the banister rail. With wellmanicured hands he opens a can of Coke and drinks it slowly,

looking over the rail.

INT. LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA, 3rd ST SHOPPING MALL, GROUNDFLOOR LEVEL - DAY

PHILLIP McDONNEL, JAMIE and SAHRA, standing in front of food court,children excited, jumping up and down.

PHILLIP McDONNEL

OK kids calm down. What haveyou decided on today, Chinese or

burgers?


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JAMIE

Please dad, can we have Chinesetoday. Sahra had what shewanted last week. Please!

SAHRA

Ill have Chinese if we can havesome fortune cookies, Dad, OK?

PHILLIP McDONNEL

Right, settled. Tell the man whatyou want and remember only get

what you can eat. I dont want tobe walking round with doggiebags all afternoon

PHILLIP McDONNEL, JAMIE and SAHRA, turn to the Chinese food stalland are seen to order their meals.

INT. LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA, 3rd ST SHOPPING MALL, 2nd FLOORLEVEL - DAY

NICHOLAS BUCHANAN, picks up the briefcase, throws the Coke caninto an aluminium recycle bin and takes the escalator to the first floor

then the ground floor. Passes the table at which the McDONNELfamily are sitting. He looks at them. Exits the shopping mall.

INT. HOME OF PHILLIP McDONNEL, JAMIE and SAHRA, SITTING ROOM- EVENING.

PHILLIP McDONNELWhats wrong Sahra? Was themeal a bit too spicy for you?

SAHRA

(shivering andsweating on thesofa)

Im feeling funny Daddy. Myheads on fire and I think (BEAT)Im going to be sick.

PHILLIP McDONNEL runs to kitchen, brings a bucket and gives it toSAHRA who is violently sick.

PHILLIP McDONNEL


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Its OK darling its only the foodyou ate earlier. Youll feel betternow youve got it up. Here let mewipe your face.

JAMIEDad, I think Im going to heavetoo.

PHILLIP McDONNELHang on a second (BEAT) Ill beright back!

PHILLIP McDONNEL goes to the kitchen for another bucket. He is alsosick in the sink then returns to JAMIE with the bucket.

PHILLIP McDONNELMy God, I hope Mums back soon.

INT. HOME OF ROSA NORTON, BEDROOM - NIGHT.

ROSA reaches out for the phone by her bed and dials 911. She issweating and rolls out of bed still holding the phone.

911 OPERATORWhich emergency department doyou require? (BEAT) Hello?(BEAT) Please respond.

ROSA(almost inaudible)

Im very sick....... help me.

EXT. HOME OF ROSA NORTON - NIGHT.

Emergency Paramedic vehicle with lights flashing seen outside house.PARAMEDICS seen rushing gurney from the house into the vehicle.

EXT. HOME OF THE McDONNEL FAMILY - NIGHT.


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Emergency Paramedic vehicle with lights flashing seen outside house.PARAMEDICS seen rushing three gurneys from the house into thevehicle.

LARA McDONNEL(to herself)

Please get well my loved ones.

INT. SANTA MONICA PUBLIC HOSPITAL, WARD 14 - NIGHT.

Private room off the main ward. Contains four beds. Has dimmedlighting and lots of high-tech hospital equipment.

DR BURTON hurries into the ward and examines each of theMcDONNELS in turn.

DR BURTONNurse, how many cases do thesefolks make that weve seencoming in this evening?

NURSE ALDISWell, since Ive been on shiftthere were seven groups ofadmissions and I hear"Admissions" say we have somemore due any minute.

DR BURTON examines the charts at the end of the beds. He addssome notes and puts them back on the bed.

DR BURTONWere any of the admissions wellenough to talk when they camein? Did they say anything abouttheir illnesses?


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NURSE ALDISMr McDonnel was still consciousand mentioned all his family hadeaten from the "Chinese" in the

mall downtown, Doctor.

DR BURTONOK, it looks like food poisoning,so keep them all on 5% dextroseline and give a bolus of 200milligrams tetracycline. Stat.Follow this up in four hours with400 milligrams of ciprofloxacin.OK?

He signs the nurses order sheet on her clipboard and hands it back toher.

Ill be in the room and see if I canget SMPD to raise the owner ofthe stall. I dont want himopening for business tomorrowand giving us more customers!

NURSE ALDISRight Doctor. Ill get the staffonto it right away.

INT. SANTA MONICA PUBLIC HOSPITAL, MORTUARY - MORNING.

DR BURTON and the Duty Pathologist, DR STEPHANOS look at the

body of ROSA NORTON on the mortuary table.

DR STEPHANOSI dont remember a morning likethis. We have a bank over therethats full almost from last nightalone.

DR STEPHANOS removes his latex gloves and throws them in the bin.


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DR BURTONWe obviously have a major

outbreak of something centredaround here. Its aggressive,whatever it is and its fast.We saw the first deaths withinhours of infection.

DR STEPHANOSIve sent for all the microbiologywork-ups to be done as soon aspossible but as you know thesethings take a little time.

DR BURTONOK, John, lets just hope this wasa one off and weve got a lid on italready. I dont want to see anight like that again in a hurry.

INT. LA CHANNEL 5 NEWSROOM, EDITORS OFFICE - MORNING

Newsroom morning meeting taking place with MICHELLE GOULD,News Anchor, STEVE GRIESBACK, News Editor and three othermembers of the staff. All drinking coffee with sheets of notes in theirhands.

STEVE GRIESBACKThe lead story is a no contest.

We have 14 dead and goodnessknows how many more still in thelocal hospitals.

MICHELLE GOULDWe think it was a food poisoningincident but the hospitals are notgiving out too much at this stagebecause a lot of the relatives stillhave to be notified.

GRIESBACK turns to the phone and dials a number. He connects withthe mobile phone of Reporter, MARTIN SIMPSON at the Santa Monica


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Public Hospital.

GRIESBACKMart, Whats new?...... Yeah,yeah. We have a slot ready torun in 15 and still no feed set upfrom the truck. I dont want thisone going out as a telephonevoice over a still of your uglymug!.......OK, I want you on to Billat Control in the next 10minutes. Right.

GRIESBACK picks up his notes on the story and bundles themtogether. He passes them to GOULD.

GRIESBACKOK Michelle, I think we are onthis story just ahead of the othernetworks so I want you lookingyour sexy best and dont pullanything. If Im right this will be

world syndicated, so lots ofmentions of the network. Right.

GOULD leafs through the notes and scribbles some of her own onto ayellow legal pad.

GOULDOK, Ill do a few secondsbackground then go to a piece tocamera from Mart... if hes ready.

EXT. SANTA MONICA PUBLIC HOSPITAL, STEPS NEAR RECEPTION -MORNING.

CAMERA CREW and MARTIN SIMPSON are seen setting up theequipment for a piece to camera. A crowd can be seen behind withSMPD keeping them behind the Police Line tape.

SIMPSON presses earpiece in further and speaks to Control with thehand mike.


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SIMPSONOK, Bill we can go on your cueand I think we have an

interesting twist. Try and line upsome kind of biotech expert to goto next.

He presses the earpiece in further.

SIMPSONYoull see in a minute. Got to go.The spokeswoman is here.

INT. CHANNEL 5 NEWSROOM. NEWS STUDIO - DAY

MICHELLE GOULD prepares to go on air with last minute look atherself in a hand mirror.

STUDIO DIRECTORQuiet please. On in 10

seconds........ 4. (no sound onlyhand signals 3,2,1, full hand)

MICHELLE GOULD

14 dead and 37 in ICU. (BEAT)Yesterday evening Santa Monicasuffered its worst ever publichealth related incident on record.We go straight over to MartinSimpson at Santa Monica Public

Hospital.


MARTIN SIMPSONThank you Michelle. Channel 5 ishere today after what can onlybe described as an horrific night

of deaths arising from what issuspected to be a food poisoning


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outbreak.

INT. HOUSE IN ENGLAND, SITTING ROOM, TV ON BBC - NIGHT

Family in room watching the TV whilst eating their dinner.

MARTIN SIMPSON(from the TV)

.........what is suspected to be a

food poisoning outbreak.Admissions began at 10 PM andcontinued throughout the night

INT. HOUSE IN GERMANY, SITTING ROOM, TV ON DCC - NIGHT

MARTIN SIMPSON

(from the TV)......... Admissions began at 10PM and continued throughout thenight. By 4 AM the first deathswere occurring and it is still notknown what the eventual deathtoll will be.

INT. HOUSE IN SWITZERLAND, HOME OF KIRSTEN THURLOW,BEDROOM, TV ON - NIGHT

MARTIN SIMPSON(from the TV)

......... By 4 AM the first deathswere occurring and it is still notknown what the eventual deathtoll will be. The medical staffhere at the Santa Monica PublicHospital have been shocked bythe speed and severity of theincident....


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KIRSTEN THURLOW(to herself)

If people will eat out from cheap

market stalls what do theyexpect?

She turns off the TV and picks up some papers from work. Puts on herglasses. Starts to read.

INT. SANTA MONICA PUBLIC HEALTH DEPATMENT, DIRECTORS OFFICE

- DAY

Director, ALFRED NEIDERMIER enters with Research Director, BENOLSON and Chief Pathologist GARY WONG. All sit round a large table.

ALFRED NEIDERMIERWell gentlemen, as you are both

no doubt aware we havesomething of a problem in ourdistrict. The media are alreadytreating this like some kind ofsecond Bubonic Plague. Whathave we learnt? Gary first please.

WONG walks to the front of the room to an overhead projector, takesan acetate from his file and places it on the projector.

GARY WONGThe first thing we found was thatall the deaths are from the sameorganism, but we were expectingthat. What we werent expectingwas this.

He switches on the projector showing a slide of the growth of theorganism with different types of antibiotics present in the growthmedium.


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GARY WONG (Contd)As you can see we have amultiply resistant organism. Wetried all the major antibiotics andsome of the more obscure ones.

(BEAT) Nothing. It just grew likethey werent there.

BEN OLSONYou mean we lost the patientsbecause the antibiotics thedoctors gave them just didnt doany good at all?

GARY WONGJust so Ben. We were back to thedays before Fleming as if it wereyesterday. But thats not reallythe half of it.

He change the slide. Takes out a pointer and indicates an area of theslide.

GARY WONG (Contd)When we ran some DNA probes

we found a lot of things missingwe expected to see and quite afew that we didnt want to see.

BEN OLSONLike what exactly?

GARY WONGYou can see here when youcompare the map of the

organisms DNA with a normalstrain that the area that codesfor susceptibility to antibiotics ismissing. In its place we have adinky little area which codes for anon-bacterial protein. In otherwords this thing has beengenetically engineered.

NEIDERMIER and OLSON exchange looks while WONG sits down.


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ALFRED NEIDERMIERWho else knows about this? Noneof your team yet Ben?

BEN OLSONThis is all new to me, so mypeople wont know a thing yet.

GARY WONGAs far as mine go, the only onesin the know are the two techieswho were on yesterday in the

blotting and autoradiographylabs. Theyve both been here agood while. To them it was justanother job. They dont knowwhere the samples came from.

ALFRED NEIDERMIEROK. Thanks Gary. Ben, do whatyou can to find out all you canabout this thing. Oh, and get mesome samples set up for safeshipping. Ive a strong feelingsome of the Agencies will want alook when I inform them what wehave here.

All three men get up from the table. NEIDERMIER goes to his deskand picks up the phone. WONG and OLSON go towards the door.

BEN OLSON

Sure thing Al. Be ready in half anhour.

ALFRED NEIDERMIERKeep all this to yourselves fornow. No Press (BEAT) and letsmeet back here at 8 this evening.Thanks gentlemen.

WONG and OLSON leave together.


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INT. SANTA MONICA, WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, CJs DELI - DAY

MARTIN SIMPSON and MARK BURNETT employee of OproGen Inc., attable with half eaten sandwiches in front of them.

MARTIN SIMPSONI know what you mean but dontyou think its a little far fetched;a superbug resistant toeverything the doctors threw atit?

MARK BURNETTIts not unknown for it to happen.Theyre seen all the time now.Overuse of antibiotics inhospitals and surgeries. Farmersusing them to make livestock puton weight more quickly. Isuppose it was bound to happen.

SIMPSON calls for the check and gets his money out.

MARTIN SIMPSONListen, have you anything on allthis kind of thing. Im kind ofrusty on this bio-stuff.

MARK BURNETTNo problem! Ill e-mail a file toyou, Scientific American, NewScientist that sort of thing. Evenyoull be able to understand it,its been written by realjournalists! Normal fee?

MARTIN SIMPSONYeah, yeah but stay near yourcomputer, Ive a feeling Ill needyour help again real soon.

INT. HOUSE IN SWITZERLAND, HOME OF KIRSTEN THURLOW,


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BEDROOM - DAY.

She wakes and pushes the cat off the bed. Looks out of the window tosee snow on the ground. Moves through to the kitchen and puts onthe kettle. Switches on the portable TV. Report on TV onEuroCableNews.


MARTIN SIMPSON does a piece to camera.

MARTIN SIMPSONIts now almost 48 hours sincethe first news came of thesituation here at the SantaMonica Public Hospital. Sincethen we have learnt from sourcesthat what looked like simple food

poisoning may in fact be morethan that after all.

He turns to include the Hospital Spokeswoman, RICKI KRASNY into theshot of the TV camera crew.

MARTIN SIMPSON (Contd)

Miss Krasny (BEAT), I Understandthat there is some newinformation about the outbreak.We have material sent to us atChannel 5 News that suggeststhis was not so simple as firstthought. Can you comment onthe Superbug theory?

RICKI KRASNYFirst let me reassure yourviewers that the outbreak is now

contained. We have no newcases coming in and all the


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patients that survived the first 24hours are now stable.

MARTIN SIMPSONWhich Im sure we all agree is

great news. (BEAT) But whatabout the Superbug. What can itdo? Why did so many die?

RICKI KRASNYAll I can say at this stage is thatthe organism responsible has avery wide range of resistance toantibiotics. Most of the ones thatare normally used for prophylaxisin a staphylococcal infectionwere ineffective. This wasunusual but by no meansunheard of... But let me restatethe situation is now mostdefinitely under control. Thankyou.

She turns to go back inside the building. MARTIN SIMPSON tries tofollow her but she is inside and out of his camera shot too quickly.

MARTIN SIMPSON(sarcastically)

Well thank you Miss Krasny. Thisis Martin Simpson........

KIRSTEN THURLOW makes her coffee and takes it through to thesitting room where she takes down a book from her shelf. We see it is

a large microbiology text. She looks in the index and opens at thepage indicated. She looks pensive.

EXT. HOUSE IN SWITZERLAND, HOME OF KIRSTEN THURLOW - DAY.

We see her clearing the snow from her car and getting in. She drives

off into the city.


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EXT. UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTES, GENEVA - DAY

KIRSTEN THURLOW enters the main entrance. Shows her securitypass to the UN soldier at the desk and crossing the lobby area goes tothe lifts. She enters and selects the -2 level. When the lift arrives sheexits and goes towards the doors opposite.

INT. UN HQ, GENEVA , BIODEFENCE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP - DAY

KIRSTEN THURLOW opens the outer door with her security card, walkspast the desk of the groups receptionist. She nods a greeting.

RECEPTIONISTDr Duval would like to see youright away in the smallconference room. By the way Ilike your new hair style.

KIRSTEN THURLOW

Oh thanks! I thought it was timefor a change. Tell him Ill be withhim right away.

She takes off her coat and hangs it on the rack outside her office thengoes towards the conference room.

INT. BIODEFENCE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP CONFERENCE ROOM -DAY

Present are MARCUS DUVAL, UN Senior Officer, BiodefenceImplementation Group and DANIEL GOETZ, Inspector, Interpol andCHRISTIANA NEUBERG, UN/USA liaison officer.

MARCUS DUVALKirsten, please to come in. Letme introduce you to Inspector

Goetz from Interpol. I am sure, Ithink, I hope, you have not been


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meeting our colleagues fromInterpol before but believe me hedoes not bite. Now would you likea tea or coffee before we begin?

KIRSTEN THURLOW(looking puzzled)

Pleased to meet you Inspector.

She offers her hand and he kisses it in the old fashioned way.

DANIEL GOETZMy pleasure, believe me.

MARCUS DUVALThe Inspector is here today, atmy request. I am thinking wehave a problem that is going tocut across departments andagencies. I know you have metChristiana before, Kirsten so whydo we not begin with thebackground. Christiana?

CHRISTIANA NEUBERG moves to the front of the room and switcheson the laptop with the projector fitted above the screen. She takesher infra-red mouse and clicks on the first slide. A picture of the bodyof ROSA NORTON is seen on the mortuary table.

CHRISTIANA NEUBERGRoughly 48 hours ago in SantaMonica, California there was anoutbreak of staphylococcalinfection. At first it was thoughtto centre on a food outlet but asthe hours passed and morepatients were admitted it wasclear this could not be the case.16 people died and 58 werehospitalised.

She changes slide to show the figures of the ages of the affected,then where they lived and finally where they were on the afternoon

before they were admitted to hospital.


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CHRISTIANA NEUBERG (Contd)It killed quickly but did not seemto spread patient to patient. The

doctors had no chance withtreatment, as it had multipleresistance. We now haveevidence that the organism wasengineered. The next slide showswhy we think that.

MARCUS DUVALThere is a file for each of you onthe table with all the details and

for you Kirsten there are samplesof the organism on their way withUSAF.

MARCUS DUVAL (Contd)We dont know why thishappened. We have no threatsand no incidents relatedincidents. At this stage I justwant to be sure we know all wecan. Just in case.

DUVAL picks up information file and opens it.

MARCUS DUVALInspector have you any ideaswhat is happening. Political?money? krankenkopf?

DANIEL GOETZAt this stage we have zero towork with. If possible can youroffices tell us if this could havebeen an accident from one of thebiotech companies that got outor was it deliberate?

KIRSTEN THURLOWWell do what we can as fast aspossible but I think its going to

be hard to say for sure.


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CHRISTIANA NEUBERGIll keep the US end up to speedand the information they getcoming you way as it comes.

INT. BIODEFENCE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP MAIN LABORATORY - DAY

KIRSTEN THURLOW has a meeting with the key workers in the lab. Wepick up the conversation mid-way.

KIRSTEN THURLOWWe should have a sample with usanytime. So first Id like the work

done to confirm what has beendeduced by the people in theStates. Then could you puttogether your best strategy fordealing with this if it happensagain. I want any theories youhave no matter how wild. OK.Just keep me informed all theway.Right go people!

INT. BIODEFENCE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP, KIRSTEN THURLOWSOFFICE - DAY.

KIRSTEN THURLOW sits at her desk reading. The phone rings. Sheanswers.

KIRSTEN THURLOWYes. Thank you Ill be right down.

She dials an internal extension.

KIRSTEN THURLOWMatthaus? Can you meet me inthe main lab in 5 minutes. Ill bebringing the samples from the


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States so have the team readywill you please?

She leaves the room and goes to the lobby of the building and is metby MATTHAUS SCHNEIDER, her Research Assistant. We see the

courier from the USAF hand over a pouch and THURLOW signs for it.

KIRSTEN THURLOWMatthaus, you know what this isand I know I dont have to tellyou to take care but as far asspeed goes do everything you

can to get me the data. I dontthink this is an accidentalrelease. Do you?

MATTHAUS SCHNEIDERFrom what weve heard so far, itcould be. Well I hope so. But itdid happen in America so whocan say. Be sure we will all worktill its done just tell me where

youll be for the results.

KIRSTEN THURLOWPut it up on the network with analert and Ill pick it off. ThanksMatthaus!

INT. BIODEFENCE IMPLEMENTATION GROUP, KIRSTEN THURLOWSOFFICE - DAY.

She is speaking on the phone to ALFRED NEIDERMIER of the PublicHealth Department in Santa Monica, USA.

KIRSTEN THURLOWDr Neidermier, thanks for takingthe call. Have you received the e-mail I sent. Good..good. Yes, we

did get the sample, thanks. Why Iwas calling was we need to


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eliminate the possibility that itwas an accidental release from acommercial company.

ALFRED NEIDERMIER (v.o.)

Were already on that but at themoment we have only a fractionof the companies weve been intouch with come back with areply. It takes time as you know.confidentiality and the rest, butwe are onto it.

KIRSTEN THURLOWI understand and thank youagain. Bye for now.

INT. HOUSE IN SWITZERLAND, HOME OF KIRSTEN THURLOW, SITTINGROOM - EVENING.

KIRSTEN THURLOW is sitting at her computer with the TV on in thebackground. She is staring at the computer screen and eating asandwich.

TV REPORTER (v.o.)The authorities in the area to thesouth of the factory have saidthat it will be months or evenyears before the river willrecover to its former levels ofbiological life.

KIRSTEN THURLOW turns towards the TV and uses the remote toincrease the volume, takes off her glasses. She watches the report.

TV REPORTERControversy continues today withthe announcement by the multi-national company, Torenco, thatthey will go ahead with theprogramme to finally introducethe genetically modified dairycattle to European farmers.

TV shows pictures of demonstrators in Paris and Bonn.


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TV REPORTER (Contd)Environmental groups haveopposed the move but last week

the European Parliament passedthe required legislation. Over toour science correspondent MarkDavenport.

She turns off the TV and goes to kitchen to open some wine. Pouringa glass she hears the computer buzzing an alarm message. When shegets to the computer the screen is showing a file has arrived fromMatthaus Schneider. She sits down and begins to open and read thefile.

INT. HOME OF NICHOLAS BUCHANAN, LABORATORY - DAY.

Room is filled with normal apparatus for a biological laboratory.

NICHOLAS BUCHANAN is wearing a white one piece Tyvek protectivesuit, latex gloves and a 3M mask apparatus to purify his breathingair. He opens an incubator and takes out a petri dish. Examines thisand in a laminar air flow cabinet, opens the dish, transferring a smallsample of the bacteria to a test tube. He adds some chemicals to thetube and then puts it into a polystyrene bucket of ice.

He then goes to the door of the airlock, opens it and closes it behindhim. He sprays himself with a strong biocide then strips of all hislaboratory clothing before opening the second door and enteringanother room of the house.

He picks up the phone and dials.

NICHOLAS BUCHANANIs this Eagle supplies? Good, this

is Doctor Goodson here from APTlimited. Yes, very well thank


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you. I wonder have you thespecial order I placed last weekin yet? Yes Ill hold................Thank you, thats great Illbe over a little later to collect

them. Could you have themready please? Yes, you too andthank you again. Bye.

He walks to his window and looks out. We see a wild country scene.He turns and collecting his coat goes outside to his late model,expensive car and drives off.

INT. CAR OF NICOLAS BUCHANAN - DAY.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN switches on the car radio onto a news radiostation.

RADIO REPORTERControversial plans were

announced by the multi-nationalcompany, Torenco, today. Theysaid they will go ahead with theirobjective to finally introduce thegenetically modified dairy cattleto European farmers before theend of the month. Environmentalgroups have opposed the movebut last week the EuropeanParliament passed the requiredlegislation.

EXT. EAGLE LABORATORY SUPPLIES, CAR PARK - DAY

NICOLAS BUCHANAN parks his car outside in the private parking area.Picks up the fax confirmation of the order he has come to collect.Enters the building from the rear door. He approaches thereceptionist.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN


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Good morning, Im here to collectan order please.

Passes over the fax to the receptionist.

RECEPTIONISTYes sir, good morning. A bit chillytoday but the spring is nearlyhere. Let me just give the storesa call and check its ready.

She phones the stores and a moment later the storesman entersthrough a side door.

STORESMANYes, Dr Goodson, here it is allpacked and ready to go. Just signhere please.Thank you and heres theinvoice. Its been added to thecompany account.

NICOLAS BUCHANANThanks. Appreciate the service.

Good day to you both.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN takes the box and goes to his car. Puts it in theback seat with the seat belt around it. Gets in and drives off.

EXT. HOME OF NICOLAS BUCHANAN - DAY

We see how isolated the house is in a rugged wild landscape. He

takes box from the car and enters the house.

INT. HOME OF NICOLAS BUCHANAN - DAY

We see him taking the box into the double-door entry system to thelab and starting to put on the white Tyvek suit.

INT. HOME OF NICOLAS BUCHANAN - DAY (LATER)


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NICOLAS BUCHANAN is seen packing a large suitcase with variousitems and placing two plastic whisky bottles filled with a cloudy fluidinto a Jenners plastic carrier bag. This also goes into the suitcase.

He is now dressed in his outdoor clothes, takes the suitcase and abriefcase out to his car and drives off.

INT. CITY CENTRE MULTI-STORY CAR PARK - EVENING.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN seen getting out of his car. Waking to the lift.Getting out at the ground floor and hailing a taxi.

INT. MEDIUM SIZED AIRPORT - EVENING.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN gets out of the taxi. Seen collecting tickets fromthe SwissAir service desk and then taking bags over to the SwissAircheck-in area. He hands over his tickets to the girl at the desk.

NICOLAS BUCHANANCould I check this onto the Zurichflight, SA799 please. Yes thatsall. Ill take the briefcase ascabin, thanks.

CHECK-IN ASSISTANTNo problem sir and thank you.Have a pleasant flight.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN walks over to the coffee bar buys a coffee andtakes a seat. The cafe area is very busy and he is joined at his tableby an elderly woman.

ELDERLY WOMANDo you mind ,son. I wont disturb

you. Thank you.


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NICOLAS BUCHANANNo, please have a seat. Are youflying or have you just seensomeone off?

ELDERLY WOMANIm going to see my daughter inAmsterdam you know. Its beenso long and she never seems tohave the time to come to see herold mother so I thought Id goand see her instead.

NICOLAS BUCHANANSounds like a good idea. I hopeyou have a nice visit.

He opens his briefcase takes out a laptop and starts typing. Theelderly woman looks on. In the background a TV is on and a piece isrunning about the changes in peoples diets.

TV REPORTER....one of the otherbreakthroughs made in recentmonths has been the

development of calorie free fatsand oils. These started out life asgood old Soya beans which werethen genetically modified toincrease the length of the fattyacid chains in the oil.

We see what looks like an oil refinery on the screen.

Then the scientists fromOmnimest took the oil into achemical plant to polymerise thefatty acids further. In fact theymade them so long that now thebody can not digest them at all.

We see food being deep fried and eaten by what looks like a super-model.

ELDERLY WOMAN


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I dont know about all thisfangled new stuff. We didnt evenhave enough butter to eat in ourday. You know we had to makedo with 6 ounces a month for

years.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN looks up to the TV, shaking his head.

NICOLAS BUCHANANYes, but times change andscience can do so much morenow. People want to eat moreand not get fat.

ELDERLY WOMANI know that but, well its notnatural is it?I mean where will it end?

NICOLAS BUCHANANIt wont end yet at all in fact itsonly just begun.

(under his breath tohimself)

Yes. It had only just begun.

EXT. ZURICH AIRPORT, RUNWAY - NIGHT.

SwissAir Airbus A-320 lands and taxis to the stand. We see theground crew connecting the auxiliary power leads to the plane andthe ramp being manoeuvred into place.

INT. ZURICH AIRPORT, RUNWAY - NIGHT

We see NICOLAS BUCHANAN coming through the gate from the rampsee him go through immigration control and waiting for his bags tocome through the rubber flaps from the baggage handling area.

EXT. ZURICH AIRPORT, RUNWAY - NIGHT.


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See NICOLAS BUCHANAN waiting at the taxi rank. A large Mercedesestate taxi picks him up and drives off towards the city centre.

INT. SOFITEL HOTEL, ZURICH CITY CENTRE - NIGHT.

We see NICOLAS BUCHANAN checking in and having his suitcasetaken by a porter up to his room.

INT. BAUR AU LAC HOTEL, ROOM 305 - NIGHT.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN opens the suitcase on the bed, takes out theJenners bag and places the two whisky bottles that it contains in thesmall fridge under the desk.

INT. BAUR AU LAC HOTEL, RESTAURANT - NIGHT.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN enters the room and is shown to a corner table.

INT. BAUR AU LAC HOTEL, RECEPTION - NIGHT.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN approaches the receptionist.

NICOLAS BUCHANANI wonder if you would be able toarrange a hire car for me to bedelivered here for 7 in themorning please?

EXT. BERN, SWIZERLAND, HAUPTBAHNHOF RAILWAY STATION, -DAY.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN seen entering the station after parking in thearea outside. He is dressed for a cold day and well wrapped with ascarf and a headband around his ears.

INT. BERN, SWIZERLAND, HAUPTBAHNHOF RAILWAY STATION, 2ND


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FLOOR LEVEL - DAY.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN is carrying his briefcase and uses the centralescalators to go up to the tourist information bureau on the 2nd level.He goes inside and collects some maps from the racks just inside thedoor. He then walks over to the banister rail, puts the briefcase onthe floor and opens the map.

STATION ANNOUNCER (v.o.)Der Zuricher bahn geht lassen imdrei minuten zum Bahnsteigzwanzig.

We see lots of commuters coming out of the various platform tunnelsand converging on the central concourse. NICOLAS BUCHANAN waitsuntil a large crowd of obviously business types appears and hebends down to the briefcase.

He reopens the map and looks at his watch.

EXT. BERN, SWIZERLAND, HAUPTBAHNHOF RAILWAY STATION, -DAY.

We see the commuters leaving the station and going their separateways across into the heart of the business district and city centre.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN is seen leaving the station. Crossing the road tothe parking area in the middle of the road. He unlocks his car, gets inand drives off.

INT/EXT. HIRE CAR, NICOLAS BUCHANAN DRIVING/ PASSING SCENERY- DAY.

We see the signs for the autoroute to Zurich. By the side of the road


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we see many large food companies, pharmaceutical plants andchemical companies. Some of the ones that have been mentioned onthe various news reports are seen. He smiles as he passes them.

EXT. BERN TO ZURICH AUTOROUTE, RESTOP SERVICES - DAY.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN is seen arriving in his car and going inside. Heheads for the toilets with a large plastic container. He is next seencoming out with the container and going back to his car.

EXT. BERN TO ZURICH AUTOROUTE - DAY.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN is seen in his car arriving at the outskirts ofZurich city. He takes the slipway to the city centre.

INT. CENTRAL ZURICH, MULTINATIONAL BURGER CHAIN RESTAURANT- LUNCHTIME.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN takes a table on the first floor and puts downthe coffee he has bought. The restaurant is filled with youngprofessional people at lunch. He adjusts the briefcase to a positionnearer the rail and takes out a paperback book and reads.

EXT. CENTRAL ZURICH, MULTINATIONAL BURGER CHAIN RESTAURANT- LUNCHTIME.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN seen leaving the restaurant and walking back tohis hotel.

INT. BAUR AU LAC HOTEL, RECEPTION - DAY

NICOLAS BUCHANANWhat time is the next shuttle bus

back to the airport?


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RECEPTIONISTThey run every 30 minutes Sir,so the next one will be leaving inabout 15 minutes. Will you bechecking out Sir?

NICOLAS BUCHANANYes, if you could prepare myaccount and Ill be back down ina few minutes. Could you send aporter up for my bags please?Thank you.

EXT. ZURICH AIRPORT, RUNWAY - DAY.

We see an AirFrance Boeing 737 taking off.

INT. AIRFRANCE BOEING 737. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN - DAY

MALE AIR STEWARD

Would you like a paper Sir? Andwhat can I get you to drink?

NICOLAS BUCHANANYes, do you have Le Monde?Thanks and yes Ill have a tomatojuice which brand do you have ontoday.

The steward looks in his trolley and pulls out a can of tomato juice. Heshows it to NICOLAS BUCHANAN. He sees the Torenco logo.

NICOLAS BUCHANANOn second thoughts Ill have aBells whisky and some waterplease.

INT. HOME OF NICOLAS BUCHANAN - DAY

NICOLAS BUCHANAN seen sitting at his computer and typing. We


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hear what he is typing narrated.

NICOLAS BUCHANAN (v.o.)As you will be aware there havenow been three local incidentsinvolving a recalcitrant bacterialinfection. This can be repeated atwill, if required, but as you willexpect there is a way for you toprevent further problems. Anemail will be sent via a one-timeroute, which is of courseuntraceable.

I do hope you will take this in thecorrect way and for the purposeof absolute clarity let me makeyou aware I have the facilitiesand the will to engineer almostany organism I chose. You canimagine the consequences ofnon-compliance if I decidedto step up a gear or two.

My requestno, not yet, no

demands but they will be madeand will be made in my owntime.

Thats when the real fun begins.

Yes the fun began in a period of my life where I lost everything. Atrue insight to life in all its aspects.

Where do we start?Lets start with Love and Life.

Xxxxxx Insert textxxxxInsert text from life history

Its pretty simple. I Love myself. I have alwaysbeen egocentric. Love has been hard for me. Yes Ihave lovedand lost. A clich I know but no regretseither.

Where do I go now? I think I know,

Why say it once, why say it again


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Novel 1 2010 21st March

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Transcript of Novel 1 2010 21st March