Living Proof Page #3

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- No. Better. That's Ron Perelman.

- Who?

- Who?

He's one of the richest men in America.

He owns Revlon.

I'll be back in two minutes.

Hopefully five.

- Ron Perelman?

- Yes?

We haven't officially met.

I'm Lilly Tartikoff.

So, you're Lilly...

Is Brandon with you?

Almost. He's making his way to the table.

I thought I would take a minute to say hello.

I'm glad you did.

These are my friends Peter and Bindy Hawn.

Lilly is on our products advisory board

and for the past two years has been

sending me suggestions for our ad campaign.

I used to be on that board. But I don't

recall anyone ever sending in a suggestion.

No one did. Until Lilly.

Ask for my opinion, you're going to get it.

I don't wanna take your time.

I wanted to ask a favor.

- Of course.

- Do you see the man at that table there?

That's Dr. Dennis Slamon.

He is on the verge of discovering

something very important.

It's a new kind of drug for breast cancer

And he needs money.

I'm sure he does,

but this is not the time,

nor the place to discuss it.

All I want is a chance

to tell you about his work.

Call my office.

We'll discuss it over lunch.

HER-2 is a growth gene

that controls the...

- The...

- Growth of cells.

Give me that. Give it to me.

You don't need that.

Have you been here the last two hours?

I'm not a memorizer.

Well, I don't want you to memorize.

I want you to understand the concept.

- Lilly, just be conversational.

- No one is more conversational than I am.

But this is the Revlon Foundation board.

I get one shot to get you more money.

- I have to know what I'm saying.

- What you're saying is very simple.

HER-2 is a gene that

controls the growth of cells

in the breast tissue

of a third of all women.

When those women get breast cancer,

it is a very aggressive form.

And there is no treatment

available, not even chemo.

So most of them will die.

If my drug is successful

It's going to offer hope to those women for

the first time, saving 40,000 lives a year.

That's enough to fill the

Rose Bowl every other year.

Maybe if we get you

some lipstick and a wig...

Lilly you'll be fine. Just tell them that

I'm in a make it or break it point.

If I had more money, I could

do the work more quickly.

And if the drug works,

and I think it will,

We can get it approved and on the market

five to six years faster.

Six years times 40,000 is a quarter

of a million lives potentially saved.

By Revlon.

Okay?

Okay. Once more from the top.

Andy, just the man I wanted to see.

Denny, you know I'm a believer in HER-2

and one of your biggest supporters.

- But the answer is no.

- I haven't asked you anything yet.

Have you ever asked me

about anything besides more money?

Last week I asked you about your dog.

Right before you hit me up

for more equipment.

- Which I still need by the way.

- And which you're not going to get.

That's not your call, Reinhart.

No. But I was in the meeting and half

the board members agree with me.

An antibody approach to cancer

is never going to work,

which makes HER-2

a terrific waste of time and money.

So half of them agree with me?

Wow, you see I thought

it was way less than that.

Thanks for the encouragement, Carl.

We're late.

I promise next time we'll talk, okay?

I'll be back on Thursday.

You're gonna be glad you kept

this going. You'll see.

You'll See.

- Matt spilled the cereal on daddy.

- I did not.

How many times have I told you

not to play at the table?

A hundred.

- Could we please not fight?

- Two hundred.

That was Lilly.

She just finished the meeting at Revlon.

She did it.

You mean Ron Perelman said yes?

- Yeah

- Honey, that's great!

How much is he gonna give you?

$50,000? 100,000?

No. $2.4 million.

It's the biggest amount ever given to a

researcher without restrictions.

Oh my god!

Wait. Are you sure?

They're just giving it to you?

There are no strings attached?

Lilly has to throw a fundraiser

every year, to make more.

- More money?

- More money.

Nicole, sweetheart. It's me, mom.

Where is Charlie?

He's downstairs taking

care of the paperwork.

The biopsy was malignant.

I know. I know, sweetheart.

But you're gonna be fine.

Mom

You'll just sleep now, sweetheart.

And when you wake up, we get good news.

Mom

Don't worry. I'll be right here

waiting for you. Charlie too.

Lie down, please.

Lift your left arm.

- Hello to you too.

- Sit up, please.

The film shows a fast growing mass

in your left breast.

From the looks of it, it's cancer.

- But I was just here six months ago.

- As I said, it's fast growing.

How old was your mother

when she was diagnosed?

- 30.

- And you are?

I'm referring you to an oncologist,

Dr. Banks.

Well, if it is cancer, what are my options?

Mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy...

Whatever Dr. Banks prescribes.

But that's what they gave my mom

15 years ago and she died.

They don't work for everyone.

But they're still the standard of care.

- There's gotta be something else.

- Not yet. Good luck.

Honey, come in here.

What's up, baby?

I found a lump in my breast.

Are you sure?

- Yes, it's cancer.

- You don't know that.

Yes, I do.

Beverly Hilton Hotel

B. Hills, California - March 10, 1990

At Progr. Research

Cancer Women's Revlon / UCLA

FIRST ANNUAL:

FIRE AND ICE:

Lilly.

- This is surreal.

- I passed surreal a long time ago.

Good to see you both.

- Thank you for this.

- Tonight is just the beginning.

Hi

- Hi

- Hi

Can you believe it? Everybody came.

I've been sick to my stomach for five months

worrying that they wouldn't.

- You look beautiful.

- You both look like movie stars.

Thank you.

Okay, I've got to work the room.

I will see you at the table.

- Great.

- Okay.

Oh, and tonight is making us $400,000 more,

so, a lot to keep you

in test tubes a bit longer.

- And to get you a bigger lab.

- Wow!

I'll see you. Hi!

I just gotta say I'm really

stoked to be working here.

- That's great.

- When does the HER-2 trial start?

After we do the mouse protein test, which

we're waiting for Genentech to approve.

Mouse protein?

HER-2 is a protein and they grow it in mice,

because it's illegal to grow in humans.

And mouse protein

is the most like human tissue.

So it adds another step, because

they have to test to make sure it's safe.

What if Genentech says you can't test it?

They won't. I'll be back at 14:00.

Don't mind him. We've just been waiting

here for six months.

And if they say no, then it's over.

Could you go next door

and get the boys, please?

I was hoping we could have a cup of tea.

Maybe in the backyard. It's such a

beautiful day. Not too hot, not too cold.

- Okay. That would be nice.

- Excellent. You sit down. I'll get it.

- I'm sorry.

- Don't be silly.

How hard is it to make a pot of tea?

- That you're gonna lose someone again.

- I'm not losing you.

I think it would be easier for everyone,

if we just accept it

and enjoy the time we have left.

Oh yes by all means.

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