Living Proof

- Dr. Slamon? Hi. - Hello.

It's Jamie MacGraw. Work-Study sent me.

My student assistant. Right, right. I'm right up here on the left.

- Okay. - Come on in.

- What are you, biology, chem? - No. English lit.

- You're not a science major? - No.

- No offense... - Jamie.

Jamie. Right. But I'm doing scientific research here,

and I kind of need an assistant who understands what I do.

Well, this wasn't my first choice, either, and no science majors wanted this job.

- What? None? - No.

Well, tell me you at least read science fiction.

Dr. Slamon's office, I mean, lab.

Jamie. Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Slamon. Hold on.

- Here. - Hi.

No, I didn't forget. 6:30 at the latest, right? Okay. Me, too. Bye-bye.

Could you hand me that splicer over there, please?

No, no, no, to the left, to the left. Left, left, left, left.

- Right there. Thank you very much. - Well, thanks anyway.

You know what? I don't really need a science major.

I just need someone to handle my calls, do the paperwork.

Whatever it takes so I can concentrate on my patients and HER-2.

HER-2?

Yeah, it's a growth gene I'm using to try and create a drug to treat breast cancer.

- Like chemo? - No. No, no, no. It's nothing like chemo.

See, chemotherapy works on the principle of killing cancer cells,

and almost the patient, with poison and just hoping the new cells grow back cancer-free.

That doesn't make sense to me.

What I'm trying to do is something that's never been done before.

Take a sort of super-protein from the body

and target the bad cells and turn them off like a light switch.

It won't cure the cancer, but it'll shut it off, which is almost as good.

- That sounds really... - Crazy. Right, I know.

Everyone says that, but it's not. If we can learn how to shut the bad cells off,

that will lead us to a cure.

And, just so you know,

I'm not gonna remember your birthday, or National Assistants' Day.

Not because I don't try or because I don't want to. Hold this, please.

I just won't.

And I'm gonna constantly be after you to stay late and come early,

even if I can't pay you on time.

You are trying to talk me into this job, right?

Yes. But I want to be clear.

200,000 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Getting HER-2 to work could save a lot of those lives.

200,000 a year?

Grams is here!

- Good morning, Samuel. - You're going to sleep in my room.

Well. It's a very small bed for two people.

I'm going to sleep with my mom.

- Hi, Mom. Thank you so much for coming. - Of course, dear.

Although, why Charlie chose to go on the road this particular week,

and why you wouldn't come and stay at my house remains a mystery.

You do still have a room there, you know?

I want to be home. So does Sam. Could we not go over this again?

I was merely pointing out that it would be less stressful for all of us,

you, especially, to be in a house that has adequate space and amenities,

like air conditioning.

This will be fine. I'll just put my things away.

And you, young man, should do the same with that bicycle of yours.

Why does she have to be here?

Because she's my mother and your grandmother.

And next to you and Daddy, she's all I've got.

Oh, Kate, I love that you put that up there.

It's official. Your own shop on Melrose Avenue.

I can't believe it. I'm a real designer.

You've been a designer. The only difference is that now you're a designer with overhead.

Chartreuse, what was I thinking?

- Kate, if nobody buys anything... - That's not gonna happen.

So, get over here and make a toast.

- We got to commemorate the day. - You don't miss a beat. Champagne?

- A good year, too. - What are we going to toast to? Let's see...

I got it.

- To good friends... - Yes.

- Hard work and to kicking some retail ass. - Amen, sister.

It's official. You make the best cup of coffee in the world.

- Yeah. You say that every day. - I mean it every day.

- You decided about summer school? - Someone else can teach it.

I'm going to spend the summer sleeping in and getting fat.

And cleaning out the sun room for my studio.

Finally. With your talent you should be making art instead of teaching it.

Lilly. What are you doing here?

I need an excuse to say hello?

- This is your lab? This little room? - I know. The janitor's closet's bigger.

But the chances of him curing cancer are slim to none, so I got him there.

Lilly Tartikoff, old friend, Jamie MacGraw, new assistant.

- Hi. - Hello.

How's Brandon? Is he okay?

A star, who shall remain nameless, is giving him indigestion,

and the Dodgers are in a slump. But other than that, he's fine.

How's Donna? I owe her a call.

She's good. When you call her, say hi for me.

Poor Donna.

At least I can tell my husband he has to come home. It's not like he's curing cancer.

Here, don't say I never gave you anything.

That is every episode of Hill Street Blues,

which you always miss because you're always here.

You've got to be kidding me.

Being married to the president of NBC Entertainment has its perks.

You didn't have to do this. Thank you so much.

You saved my husband's life. Thank you.

I'm sorry, but I promised Donna I would get him out on time,

- and we still have our rounds. - Good for you. Keep on him.

And you, lives need to be saved. Get back to work.

- Bye. - Bye.

Bye, Lilly. Thank you.

All right. You heard her, let's get back to work.

- I'm sorry. I was trying not to wake you. - That was thoughtful.

But I couldn't sleep after you promised to be home five hours ago and never showed up.

The specimen refrigerator broke and...

- I am so not done. - I'm sorry.

An hour-long recital.

I reminded you today, yesterday. I even put Jamie on the case.

- I did everything but drive you there myself. - I had to do the transfer myself.

- Your daughter was expecting you. - There was no one I could call.

It's my work. If anything happened,

- I'd have to start all over. - Start all over. I know.

I knew when I married you what I was in for.

But they just want their daddy there.

Not every time. But sometimes.

- I'll make it up to her on Sunday. - That would be good.

Okay. I'm officially over it.

- You're sure? - Yeah.

Because you know I'm going to kiss you now.

You smell good.

You, wow, not so good.

So, how was she?

Honestly, she was the best sunflower I think I've ever seen.

You know why? She gets that from you.

You weren't really waiting up for me, were you?

No, I fell asleep reading.

And no offense, but I really want to get back.

Then you won't mind if I go for a run?

'Cause I'm not gonna have time in the morning.

- Yeah. That's not gonna happen. - So not happening?

Okay. I didn't want to run anyway.

- You've done that a thousand times. - Well, that's what science is.

But what exactly are you doing?

- I showed you the plan. - No. You didn't.

That's the plan. Step one is discovery. That's a one-in-a-million shot

linking the HER-2 protein with cell growth in breast tissue.

I did that right here in this lab.

Step two is to create a drug from HER-2.

That's where we are right now. I'm doing some of that work right here.

And they're doing the rest up at Genentech.

- And that's a drug company. - Right.

- It's a biotech company up in the Bay Area. - And biotech is...

Is looking for medicines based on molecular biology.

Step three is the Mouse Protein Experiment.

I'll explain more about that when we get a little bit closer.

Steps four, five and six are the FDA clinical drug trials,

to see if the drug works and how well it works.

Which would lead us to Step seven, the Holy Grail, our drug is approved.

Hey, Blake. Blake. You're not going to believe this new data.

I was trying to catch you before you got on the plane. I've got some bad news.

Okay. How much are they cutting our budget this time?

I'm sorry, Denny. The board has decided not to continue with HER-2.

You did not just say that.

They think cancer research just carries too much risk.

What? They're just deciding that now? We spent six years on this!

Yeah. And they've been dragging their feet every step of the way.

We're getting close. You know we are. The board knows it, too.

Try to see their perspective.

Continuing will cost millions of dollars and the drug might not work.

But it might!

- Take a look at the new data. - I'm a believer based on the old data.

It's a hard pill, Denny, but you got to swallow.

We can't stop. Not until we know what we have.

- Dinner's ready. - I need to finish.

What's going on? You haven't said two words all day.

Genentech is dropping HER-2.

- So you'll take it to another drug company. - I can't.

Genentech owns the rights.

- But you developed the drug. - It doesn't matter, okay?

I did it using one of their genes, so it belongs to them.

Honey, you have been in this position before and you always work it out.

Really not in the mood to be cheered up right now. Okay?

I don't care.

I don't. It's Sunday, the one day of the week that's ours.

And on Sunday, I don't care about cancer, HER-2 or Genentech.

Just our family. That was our deal from day one.

So, stop feeling sorry for yourself,

put a smile on that cute face, and come in for dinner.

Daddy!

You're just in time for the 10:00 tune-up special.

Well, if I were staying, I'd take you up on it.

You should stay. It's his first birthday.

We can have another cake at dinner tomorrow.

A yard full of screaming children is not my cup of tea.

Come on, it'll be fun. I hardly get a chance to see you.

- Really? And that's something you want? - Just as much as you do.

- If she's sleeping, just let her. - Sleeping? This hour?

She's tired. Taking care of two boys is a lot of work, you know.

You mean three.

Yeah.

Your film looks fine. Lie down, please.

Lift your left arm.

Have you noticed any lumps or anything unusual since your last visit?

- No. - Right arm.

Are you doing your weekly self-exams?