What Comes After/Transcript

*“I got my revenge. It didn’t bring the ones I loved back. Killing them doesn’t even feel satisfying… it just makes you feel empty.”* *—Claire*

**Starring:**

Emilia Clarke as KATE BLOODSTONE

Anson Mount as MARCUS DOWNES

David Emge as ALDUS PAXTON

Robert Pattinson as WILLIAM REYNES

Stephen Gevedon as DEAN HOWARDS

Jon Hamm as JON MATTHEWS

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

Kenneth Branagh as CLYDE ROLLINS

Ben Mendelsohn as BENJAMIN TAYLOR

Tom Payne as ALBERT HANSON

**Also Starring**

Thandiwe Newton as ANGELA JAEGAR

Phil Hartman as FRASER STILLER

Ben Barnes as ZAC BARNES

Steve J. Palmer as AUSTIN KINGSTON

**Guest Starring**

Paul Rudd as SOLOMON REED

Scarlett Johansson as REBECCA DAWSON

Taron Egerton as MIKE SIMPSON

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Jared Leto as JARED KELLINGS

David Boat as LAYTON ZIMMERS

Tim Wersan as KYLE DOUGLASS

Kevin Spacey as WILBUR WRIGHT

Paul Bettany as NATHANIEL SHEPARD

Daniel Bruhl as ALEX WEISS

Keira Knightley as CLAIRE NOBLE

Daniel Sharman as DANIEL ROCKWELL

**Co-Starring**

Nico Bustamante as BERNIE ORTAN

Rocco Rasanio as TONY MARSTON

Shawn Hatosy as NICK PARKER

Dacre Montgomery as GRANT CARVER

Jason Lee as LOLIDA WINDFIELD

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**Scene #1**

**BOWLING ALLEY**

WILBUR WRIGHT stands around a table, looking at CLAIRE NOBLE.

***Wilbur:*** *You got back at the right time.*

***Claire:*** *Not very safe here anymore?*

***Wilbur:*** *That’s right.*

***Claire:*** *Well…*

Claire reaches into her bag, taking out a map. She spreads it across the table. BENJAMIN TAYLOR, SOLOMON REED and Wilbur look down at it with interest.

***Claire:*** *The football stadium I went to scout out… It has inhabitants. But it’s miles away - we won’t be able to get there on foot.*

***Wilbur:*** *And the high school?*

***Claire:*** *I went past on my way here. It’s no longer a functioning community.*

***Wilbur:*** *What do you mean?*

***Claire:*** *Something bad went down there as far as I can tell. Gates have been knocked in, front entrance has been decimated. It’s full of the dead ones.*

***Benjamin:*** *So this football stadium… How many people are there?*

***Claire:*** *I couldn’t get a proper look. I wasn’t going to approach them. I’m not that stupid.*

***Wilbur:*** *Then what say we all venture out that way within the hour?*

***Claire:*** *It seems well fortified, so I say we go.*

Benjamin shakes his head slowly.

***Benjamin:*** *There’s nothing left up here. I’m sick of Willamette. I want to find Badrick, see him killed, and then depart.*

***Wilbur:*** *And where exactly do you plan to go? Chasing a cure?*

***Benjamin:*** *Anywhere that’s far from here.*

***Wilbur:*** *So chasing a cure.*

***Benjamin:*** *I have one of the best leads possible - I was* ***involved*** *in this beginning. Why shouldn’t I? If there’s even a tiny chance of being able to stop this--*

***Wilbur:*** *Listen to yourself. You’d be venturing across the damn country.*

***Benjamin:*** *I’ll take my chances.*

Benjamin turns around, beginning to pack up his things.

***Claire:*** *So you’re just going to leave right now - on the spot?*

Nearby, EDWARD REMAR is standing in a doorway, eavesdropping in on their conversation. He then notices MIKE SIMPSON walking over to him.

***Mike:*** *Clyde is awake.*

Edward’s eyes light up with hope for a second. He gives Mike a brief nod and then walks past him towards the other side of the bowling alley, where CLYDE ROLLINS is laying on a couch.

***Edward:*** *Clyde?*

Clyde turns his head to face Edward, a bandage wrapped around his head, covering his missing eye. He smiles when he sees Edward.

***Clyde:*** *Edward. How do I look?*

***Edward:*** *The bandage suits you. You’re a real action hero now.*

***Clyde:*** *Maybe not a hero. I heard about Robin… Maybe--*

***Edward:*** *I don’t regret what I did. It was his fault you nearly died out there. And his fault that Badrick slipped away. It was his fault for a lot of things.*

***Clyde:*** *I’m not saying it was wrong. But has anyone put any thought into what happens to us all next?*

***Edward:*** *We’ve been waiting for you to regain your energy… But Benjamin does plan to leave.*

***Clyde:*** *The man is on a mission.*

***Edward:*** *A mission I thought we’d all convinced him to leave behind. What’s happened now can’t be stopped. He should be able to see that.*

***Clyde: (He nods slowly)*** *I can’t say I’d be interested in travelling halfway across the country… Perhaps he can be convinced otherwise.*

***Edward:*** *I’m going to try, but I do agree with him about one thing. I want to get out of this town.*

***Clyde:*** *What about Badrick?*

***Edward:*** *We kill him.*

***Clyde:*** *We’ve been talking about that for a while. It’s almost like we’re bluffing now.*

***Edward:*** *We aren’t bluffing… We’re going to kill him for what he did to you, and to Sarah.*

***Clyde:*** *What are our other options?*

***Edward:*** *A football stadium, apparently.*

***Clyde:*** *If it’s secure - why not? It is secure…? Or - ours for the taking?*

***Edward:*** *Not for the taking. A group is there.*

***Clyde:*** *Then why not give that a shot? All we’d need to do is convince Benjamin. I know this isn’t the most functional of groups-- It’s more three groups of pairs - and that friendly fellow over there* ***(He points at Solomon)***. *And Jared… if he’s even alive.*

Edward turns around, seeing Benjamin sitting by himself in the distance.

***Edward:*** *I’m going to talk to him. Get some rest.*

***Clyde:*** *I’m quite good at that.*

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**Scene #2**

**BOWLING ALLEY**

EDWARD REMAR limps across the bowling alley, stopping by SOLOMON REED.

***Edward:*** *What do you think we should do?*

***Solomon:*** *I don’t know. I’m not good at making choices usually. We don’t know if the stadium is friendly. And if we go after the cure, it could be years because science shit takes a while. Up to you. I’d say stadium, but we don’t know if they’re good people.*

***Edward: (He nods slowly)*** *I’ll talk to Benjamin.*

WILBUR WRIGHT glances over at him.

***Wilbur:*** *Good luck convincing him. But I feel the more people we have approaching that stadium, the better.*

Edward hobbles over towards BENJAMIN TAYLOR, who is speaking to MIKE SIMPSON.

***Benjamin:*** *We’re going to need a new ride.*

***Mike:*** *I’ll get to work on it.*

Mike nods, turning to leave. Benjamin watches him go, until he notices Edward walk into view.

***Benjamin:*** *Are you coming with us? Your company is still welcome.*

***Edward:*** *About that. Are you really that hopeful about your plan? What has happened to the world - has happened now. There is no way to undo it. Everything has collapsed.*

***Benjamin:*** *Then tell me. What’s the point in surviving? What are we working towards? Are we not all looking to rebuild society? Nobody has thought about it. Everyone is just content. Happy in their own little communities while they last. There needs to be a goal.*

***Edward:*** *A cure isn’t realistic, Benjamin. Even if you get a hold of one - what then?*

***Benjamin:*** *You slowly begin to fix--*

***Edward:*** *Everyone who has been infected - is DEAD. We can’t make their hearts beat again!*

***Benjamin:*** *If we can develop something that can stop the virus spreading after a bite…*

***Edward:*** *Is that really worth it? All the trouble for a tiny chance? If you ask me… You - like the rest of us - came together alongside the rest of us. We’re all together now… We still want to kill Badrick… and if we move into this stadium we’ll have plenty of chances. It’s far enough from the town to where you can forget about all the awfulness that’s happened here. But ask yourself why you’re really looking for a cure.*

***Benjamin:*** *To help people…*

***Edward:*** *No. Dig deeper. You’re looking because you feel guilty. You feel guilty that this apocalypse tore your final moments with your daughter away from you, and ended any chance of* ***her*** *being cured. Fuck feeling guilty, those assholes you spoke about would’ve found a way to cause all of this shit either way! It’s* ***Badrick*** *who ripped your final moments with her away. And Badrick who did this to us. That’s all the closure you need.*

Benjamin looks away in silence.

***Benjamin:*** *I miss her…*

***Edward:*** *Of course you do - so don’t go and journey across the country to do the impossible. Remain with us.*

Benjamin slowly looks over at Mike. He nods his head, agreeing with Edward.

***Edward:*** *We’re all on board.*

***Wilbur:*** *Excellent, let’s get out of this dump and hit the road.* ***(To Mike)*** *If you can find us a ride within the hour, we’ll be set.*

***Claire:*** *I’ll head out with you for this one. We won’t be long, Wilbur.*

***Wilbur:*** *I hope not.*

CLAIRE NOBLE and Mike exit the bowling alley.

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**Scene #3**

**OFFICE BUILDING**

DEAN HOWARDS lays on the ground, his head pressed against the floor. Below, he can hear footsteps shuffling around, zombies rummaging around rooms. He stares off into space, thinking about Jim and Owen and Curtis, thinking that it’s his fault they all died. After snapping out of it, Dean slowly stands up, using a desk to help him. He limps across the room, looking down at the bandage on his leg, seeing it soaked completely with blood, though it’s painless. As Dean approaches a desk, he finds a rotten, decayed corpse in a chair, a revolver in his hand, a picture of a woman and a child in the other hand. Dean grunts, sliding down next to the desk. He frowns, grabbing the picture from the corpse’s hand. He looks at the woman and child in it, remembering his ex-wife. He then recalls Jacob and Erin, remembering what had happened to them. He drops the photo, laying back against the desk, sobbing quietly.

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**Scene #4**

**WILLAMETTE NEIGHBOURHOOD - MID AFTERNOON**

KATE BLOODSTONE comes to a halt, stopping the others. She turns around to look down the back lane.

***Kate:*** *I think we’ve come far enough.*

***Fraser:*** *We’re gonna wait - here?*

***Kate:*** *If we go too far-- we won’t be able to find the others. We need to make sure they’re okay.*

***Zac:*** *Who do we know we’ve lost?*

***Kate:*** *I didn’t see much… I saw Jim… and Apollo… I don’t know where Owen and Dean went.*

***Marcus:*** *He’s taken too much from us.*

***Fraser:*** *W-who?*

***Zac:*** *Who do you think? Badrick.*

***Marcus:*** *Every time we build something - every time we try to get comfortable. He comes along and knocks it down like a sand castle.*

***Fraser:*** *So-- maybe we can just… When we* ***do*** *find the others… Maybe we can just - leave.*

***Zac:*** *Leave?*

***Fraser:*** *L-leave… yeah. Why-why not?*

***Kate:*** *Nobody is ever going to be satisfied until Badrick is dead. I know vengeance isn’t healthy. But he’s taken so much from all of us.*

***Nathaniel:*** *Sounds like a real tragedy.*

NATHANIEL SHEPARD emerges from the back of a nearby house. Seven armed men step out with him. Marcus draws his gun, pointing it up and around.

***Nathaniel:*** *Easy… We’re not here to hurt anyone. And if we were - it’d be quite foolish to aim at this many armed men.*

***Marcus:*** *I’ll take my chances.*

***Nathaniel:*** *Well that’s rather silly of you. We’re not here to hurt anyone -- we’re here to recruit people. Some will come willingly… others will warm up to us in time.*

***Kate:*** *Well I’m sorry but--*

***Fraser:*** *Maybe we can hear him out.*

***Kate:*** *Fraser…*

***Fraser:*** *We can still find the others-- But we don’t have anywhere to go!*

***Nathaniel:*** *That’s the spirit. We need a lot of people to get behind our cause. So I’m going to make this quick. Come with me and my people - we’ll show you exactly what we mean.*

***Zac:*** *You gonna offer us candy while you’re at it? Get lost, creep.*

***Nathaniel:*** *I’ve done absolutely nothing that indicates hostility in any way.*

***Marcus:*** *Except turn the corner with a firing squad.*

***Nathaniel:*** *If they were a firing squad, I imagine they’d have fired by now.*

***Kate:*** *I’m sorry - but we can’t come with you. We have to find our friends.*

***Nathaniel:*** *And we can help you. Is kindness usually turned down this coldly these days?*

***Zac:*** *Kindness isn’t so common anymore. I get really bad vibes from you.*

***Nathaniel:*** *Bad vibes--*

***Zac:*** *Y’know, like someone who touches children.*

***Marcus:*** *Zac.*

***Nathaniel:*** *Well that’s… hardly appropriate.*

***Zac:*** *In truth… if you’re really a kind group, you’re not gonna have any problem with us walking away right now. Mm?*

***Nathaniel: (He smiles)*** *The deal we have should interest everyone. We’re part of something far bigger than you can imag--*

***Zac:*** *And we’ve had enough action for one day - so we’re all gonna back off. Come on.*

***Fraser:*** *But what if--*

***Zac:*** *No, we’re going to back off. Right now. I do not like this man.*

***Fraser:*** *Then why are you saying that in front of him?!*

***Zac:*** *I’m an honest person - now let us go. Thank you, kind sir, but we are heading off.*

ZAC BARNES turns around, intending to walk away. MARCUS DOWNES holsters his revolver.

***Nathaniel:*** *I’m afraid… I cannot allow that.*

***Kate:*** *Why the hell not?*

***Zac:*** *Because he isn’t a kind man, Kate.*

***Nathaniel:*** *Just lay down your weapons… And we will be fine.*

***Zac:*** *I’m not laying down anything for you people.*

***Marcus:*** *Zac. It’s not worth it.*

***Nathaniel:*** *You wouldn’t want to die a meaningless death.*

***Marcus:*** *We’re coming with you - willingly. So we shouldn’t have to drop anything.*

***Nathaniel:*** *I’m afraid I can’t trust that.*

***Kate:*** *What about the trust on our end?*

***Nathaniel:*** *I really don’t have the time for this.*

Nathaniel looks back at his people, waving a hand. Immediately, they rush forward.

***Fraser:*** *Uh - what’s the--*

One of them smacks FRASER STILLER with their gun, knocking him out. Two more whack Zac to the floor. Kate backpedals quickly, reaching for her pistol, but she kicked to the floor, dropping it. Marcus rushes to help her, but two men grab him, punching him until he falls to the ground. Kate crawls backwards slowly, trying to reach her gun. Before she can get to it, a man punches her across the side of the head, knocking her out.

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**Scene #5**

**WILLAMETTE HIGH SCHOOL - COURTYARD**

DEAN HOWARDS limps down the road, walking over zombie corpses. He approaches the courtyard, where he trips next to the blown open gate, landing face first. He grunts, grabbing at his forehead, feeling a small cut. He shakes his head, getting back up, and stepping into the courtyard, bullet shells breaking beneath his feet. He looks around at the corpses, seeing some of them blown to pieces; unrecognizable. Horrified, he starts walking around the side of the building, leaving the courtyard, trying to find anybody. When he arrives at the back side of the school, he finds a locked door. He bangs on it desperately.

***Dean:*** *ANYONE! ANY--*

He turns, rushing back to the front side of the building as fast as possible, where he pushes open the front doors. Inside, it’s eerily quiet, and corpses litter the floor. Dean takes a few deep breaths, before he limps into the building, searching for anyone.

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**Scene #6**

**WILLAMETTE STREETS - LATE AFTERNOON**

LAYTON ZIMMERS abruptly slams on the breaks, bringing the cement mixer to a stop. In the back, people bounce around, banging their head and limbs off everything.

***Jon:*** *Alright- ALRIGHT! No more!*

JON MATTHEWS swings open the hatch and jumps out onto the street, dizzy as ever. The others stumble out behind him, struggling to stay on their feet.

***Albert:*** *Bumpy ride…*

***Aldus:*** *Do we know where we are going to go?*

***Jon: (He shakes his head)*** *Everyone’s separated. If you ask me - we’re all fucked.*

***Aldus:*** *Well I do have an idea. If there was a radio tower, we could try and make a signal. Then get out of this town…*

Layton and ANGELA JAEGAR step out of the two front seats. Layton wipes his hands.

***Layton:*** *There - and we all made it far away. You’re welcome.*

***Angela:*** *We’re in the middle of town, Layton.*

***Layton:*** *That’s right. That is where we are.*

***Angela:*** *What made you think that this was a good idea?*

***Layton:*** *The important thing is we all made it out. Not everyone was that lucky.*

REBECCA DAWSON looks down, shaking her head.

***Rebecca:*** *It’s happening again. It’s happening all again…*

***Jon:*** *What is?*

***Rebecca:*** *This is what happens to every group - they all get broken up and diminished--and it all ends up being pointless.*

***Jon:*** *We’re all here - this is still a group. Just a fractured one.*

***Angela:*** *What now then? Are we just going to wander aimlessly - or go back to the school?*

***Layton:*** *Go back? Only the biters will be left there.*

***Albert:*** *The man’s right. We can’t go back there. Nothing left there for us anyway.*

Jon lets out a deep sigh, looking around.

***Aldus:*** *We could shoot a flare if we found one… just to see if the others would check.*

***William:*** *Yes, let’s attract every infected in the region to our location.*

***Aldus:*** *…I’m just saying we need to find the rest then get out of Willamette. It’s a mess here.*

***Jon:*** *Now THAT I agree with. Getting the fuck out of this town.*

***Aldus:*** *Each safezone here ends with it being destroyed. By who?*

***Jon:*** *Badrick.*

***Aldus:*** *I say we find the rest, then find and kill Badrick and LEAVE knowing no loose end will catch up. Since he’s been in this town as long as we’ve known him.*

***Angela:*** *I’m with you on that.*

***Jon:*** *Count me in.*

***Layton:*** *I, uh-- well, yes let’s do that.*

Jon glances around, looking at ALBERT HANSON, then AUSTIN KINGSTON and WILLIAM REYNES.

***Jon:*** *You in?*

***Albert:*** *Yeah - sure.*

William nods, while Austin stays silent, barely even listening to them.

***Angela: (To Austin)*** *Just say you’re in.*

He gives Angela a thumbs up.

***Jon:*** *Rebecca… Are you with us?*

Rebecca sighs, looking up at him.

***Rebecca:*** *Jacob brought me into this group. When I was brought in - you guys were a fractured group then, having problems with the same man who destroyed the school. He caught up to you all. He fractured this group even more. But what kept me around originally was the promises Jacob made. And the optimism he had… And the - family you all were.*

***William: (Quietly)*** *Were…*

***Rebecca:*** *The family you all* ***are*** *- I still hope. I wanted to be a part of it. I-- felt at a few times I maybe was getting there. I felt like an intruder, wasn’t willing to open up to anyone. But I did open up to Jacob.*

***William:*** *Jacob - had that effect on people.*

***Rebecca:*** *I opened up to him within the first day -- and losing the first person I’d trusted in a while wasn’t good. I can’t imagine how it was for all of you. But--* ***(She looks at Aldus)*** *The things you’ve been saying just now - it reminds me of Jacob. That optimism. That’s why I’m opening up to you all now. I’m in.*

***Jon:*** *Beautiful* ***(He nods)***.

ALDUS PAXTON narrows his eyes, seeing something stumbling down the street towards them.

***Aldus:*** *Jared?*

***Angela:*** *Who?*

***Aldus:*** *He was one of ours…*

JARED KELLINGS staggers forward, getting closer to them.

***Aldus:*** *Jared are you alright--*

***Layton:*** *I think he’s a biter! Shoot it!*

***Aldus:*** *JARED!*

***Jared:*** *WHO?*

***Albert:*** *I didn’t know biters could yell.*

***Layton:*** *It’s all a conspiracy… They must be evolving.*

Aldus approaches Jared, stopping him.

***Aldus:*** *Aldus. We’re looking for you and anyone else alive. Anyone else alive that you saw?*

***Jon:*** *This guy was at the mall, right?*

***Jared: (To Aldus)*** *Who-who are you again?*

***Aldus:*** *I never talked to you much, I was busy. I’m Aldus. Jacob’s group. The mall.*

***Jared:*** *Is Kate still alive? I’ve been dying for a living woman. You know the feeling.*

***Aldus:*** *Yeah… but we don’t know where she is. And, uh - Jacob died.*

***Jon:*** *A lot of damn people died.*

***Jared:*** ***(Nonchalantly)*** *Yeah… tough.*

***Aldus:*** *But we did meet some people at a high school he and William worked at. Was anyone from the mall with you?*

***Jared:*** *Honestly, I was with the army boys. Robin. Benny--*

***Aldus:*** *What about Edward and Clyde?*

***Jared:*** *Wow, that’s an oddly specific couple of people to remember who happened to coincidently be with me.*

***Albert:*** *Benjamin…*

***Jon:*** *Benjamin waged war on Badrick… we could use him if he’s still kicking around.*

***Jared:*** *JKHD ain’t sure of that anymore. I just decided to walk away. I was done in that sausage fest.*

***Aldus:*** *Well where are they?*

***Jared:*** *I don’t care. I ain’t tellin’ you.*

Jared walks past Aldus and up to Rebecca.

***Jared:*** *Helloooo. My name’s Jared. JKHD--*

She punches him in the face, sending him to the ground.

***Rebecca:*** *Don’t get any ideas.*

Jared groans, before passing out.

***Jon:*** *Is he down for the count? Oh well - where should we leave him?*

***Layton:*** *W- leave him?! We can’t just leave someone, can we?*

***Jon:*** *Do you think he gives a fuck about us?*

***William:*** *We should take him. I’ll carry him.*

William bends down and picks Jared up, hoisting him over his shoulder.

***Jon:*** *Why?*

***William:*** *Despite the fact he’s a dickhead, he’s an extra gun, at the very least. Or - a deterrent for the infected, if we need one. Nobody tell him I said that.*

At the very end of the street, a truck turns the corner, heading towards the group, headlights shining directly at them.

***Layton:*** *Al-- Alien!*

***William:*** *And it’s situations like these that we’d need an extra gun.*

Layton takes a small packet of pills out of his pocket and takes one. He rubs his eyes, looking back towards the headlights.

***Layton:*** *Oh that’s better.*

The truck rolls to a stop in front of them, the headlights flicking off. DANIEL ROCKWELL steps out of the truck first, looking at them suspiciously. LOLIDA WINDFIELD, NICK PARKER and GRANT CARVER jump out of the truck after him, all carrying guns.

***Aldus:*** *What do you all want--*

***William:*** *Quiet. Not the time.*

***Daniel:*** *We were driving through… saw you out on the road. Got curious… Look, I don’t want to waste your time, but we’re not from around here… Our group moved to Willamette from Denver just recently. The city has fallen, it’s fucked. We have a- sizeable group. We actually set up at a football stadium -- about seven miles from here.*

***Jon:*** *Why are you telling us all of this?*

***Daniel:*** *We need people… you might need a place to stay. I think we can help each other.*

Jared’s eyes flicker open. He looks over at Daniel, still being carried by William.

***Jared:*** *Hello! JKHD is back--*

William drops him upon hearing that he’s awake. Jared smacks onto the pavement, grunting.

***William:*** *You’re off your head - the drop will make you feel better.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah…*

William glances back towards Daniel.

***William:*** *Considering you’ve not tried to run us over…*

***Daniel:*** *I know trust isn’t an easy thing to gain anymore. But let’s start simple, shall we? I’m Daniel. This is Grant. Lolida. And Nick.*

***William: (He nods)*** *William. And here we have Jon. Aldus. Angela. Rebecca. Layton--*

***Layton:*** *That’s my name. My name is being called-- Yes?*

***William:*** *Albert. Here on the ground, we have Jared. And Austin.*

***Jared:*** *I’m Jared. JKHD. You know I’m a-- I had followers.*

***Daniel:*** *What a pleasure it is to meet you all.*

***Jared:*** *You forgot Jon.*

***William:*** *Nice try, drunken master. I got everyone.*

***Jared:*** *Shiii…*

***William: (To Daniel)*** *Like you said - we have aligning interests.*

***Jon:*** *Well… presuming they’ll help us kill Badrick.*

***Daniel:*** *Badrick?*

***William:*** *Jamaican gang leader. Killed my best friend - and a few others. A really, really bad man.*

***Lolida: (To Daniel)*** *Can’t we have a meeting, at least? About this--*

***Grant:*** *Grow up.*

***Lolida:*** *Look, all I’m saying here is - why do we have to kill people? Why can’t we just make up with them, hugs and whatever.*

***Daniel:*** *Look -- we’re seeking to grow our community… and if there’s bad people on the loose… I’m sure we can take them* ***(He eyes Lolida)***. *So chill for the time being.*

***Grant: (To Lolida)*** *You’re a fucking pillow.*

***Layton:*** *Hey everyone-- If there happened to be like - a lot of people in the distance… What would we do?*

***Jon:*** *What?*

***Layton:*** *Oh it’s just - I’m watching that horde approach from afar and--*

***Jon:*** *What?!*

Jon pushes Layton out of the way, looking down the street, seeing a horde of zombies stumbling their way, coming from the direction of the school.

***Jon:*** *Layton for fuck’s sake.*

***Layton:*** *Yeah that one. Do we--*

William glares at the horde, before he looks back at Daniel.

***William:*** *I speak for the group when I say we’re all in. Provided - we do deal with the aforementioned bad people sooner or later.*

***Daniel:*** *I can  talk to our leader about that and have it arranged, yeah.*

Daniel looks over at the incoming horde, their groans getting louder.

***Daniel:*** *We can take them, folks.*

***Jared:*** *Infact! I always wanted to say this--*

Jared stumbles towards Daniel.

***Jared:*** *Take me to your leader.*

***Daniel:*** *Yeah, you’ll get taken like everyone else ya’ dunce. Now prepare.*

Daniel raises his pistol, firing at a zombie.

***Daniel:*** *Let’s just look at this as a team-building exercise. Get more trustworthy.*

Lolida glares at Jared, then whispers in Grant’s eat.

***Lolida:*** *Is this guy fucking serious?*

***Grant:*** *I don’t want your shitty, 2-bit ASMR. If you have a problem, say it out loud.*

***Lolida:*** *OH - I SAID: IS THIS GUY FUCKING SERIOUS!*

***Daniel:*** *Grant, the fuck’s up your ass today?*

***Grant:*** *I’m being molested by a boyscout.*

***Lolida:*** *It’s union, boy. But yes, I was in the boyscouts.*

***Grant:*** *Why don’t you ask him if he’s serious or not?*

Lolida clears his throat, approaching Jared, all the while everyone else is up shooting at the horde.

***Lolida:*** *Ahem, sir - are you fucking serious?*

***Rebecca:*** *How about you all help us out?*

Lolida shrugs and turns around, approaching a couple of zombies, stabbing them with his bayonet. Gunfire is heard all around, as people use up their ammo on the horde. Zombies drop like flies, and pretty soon, the horde is almost completely diminished.

***Daniel:*** *Few… That went well. I think we all deserve a pat on the back for that. Except maybe you* ***(He points at Austin)***. *You didn’t do much.*

Austin grunts, standing up slowly. Meanwhile, Jared stumbles up to Lolida with his arms out.

***Jared:*** *Let’s hug it out!*

***Lolida:*** *I don’t want to get whatever disease you have, boy.*

Lolida steps aside, going around Jared, as he cleans the blood off his bayonet.

***Daniel:*** *Now - you can either get in the truck with us - it might be a little crowded… Or you can tail us in your… cement mixer?*

***Layton:*** *I found that cement mixer myself!*

***Angela:*** *We aren’t taking the cement mixer again.*

Austin huffs, stumbling over towards the truck.

***William:*** *Get yourself in shape.*

***Austin: (Under his breath)*** *Fuck you, too.*

***William:*** *I’ll take the truck.*

***Daniel:*** *Everyone pile on into the truck, it’s late.*

Everyone starts heading over towards Daniel’s truck, everyone except Layton, who gets into his cement mixer, and Jared, who approaches Lolida again.

***Jared:*** *What kind of dumbass names you Lola? Did they realize you didn’t have a dick before you were born?*

***Lolida:*** *Nah, I named myself Lolida. Didn’t really like my real name.*

***Jared:*** *Alright. So I’m hitting a transgender, then.*

Jared swings his fist into Lolida’s face. He stumbles back, grabbing at his jaw. Seeing this, Daniel gets out of the truck and hurries over to Jared, shoving him back, and punching him until he is on the ground, groaning in pain.

***Daniel:*** *We’re all meant to be on the same side* ***(He spits on Jared)***.

Sighing, William walks over to Jared, lifting him up.

***William:*** *I told you to sober up.*

He carries Jared to the cement mixer and places him into the seat next to Layton.

***Layton:*** *Looks like Jared is driving with me! Lucky fella. We’ll tail the truck! Fun times ahead, Jared.*

Once Daniel and William return back to their truck, and everyone else is inside, or sitting in the flatbed, it drives off. Layton follows it with the cement mixer.

***Jared:*** *You’re the nicest - out of the new bunch.*

***Layton:*** *Awww, thank you chum! I think we’re gonna get along great.*

***Jared:*** *Any - wise elder tips on how to get into a mean woman’s pants? Yeah, I, uh, I know it’s bad, but the only women I could look at for a long time have been the dead ones.*

***Layton:*** *I’m sure you’ll get there eventually. Chase your dreams. That’s what I think!*

***Jared:*** *Yeah!*

***Layton:*** *My wife left me.*

Layton drives on in silence.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #7**

**BOWLING ALLEY**

CLAIRE NOBLE comes walking back into the bowling alley.

***Claire:*** *We’ve got a ride. You all ready to go?*

***Solomon:*** *Yep.*

***Wilbur:*** *Yeah, I just hope you got something that we’re all gonna be able to sit in comfortably.*

***Claire:*** *It’s a fairly sizable truck. Mike is waiting outside.*

***Wilbur:*** *Efficient as always. Come on, loonies. We’re going on a trip to the football stadium.*

BENJAMIN TAYLOR and the others walk on towards the front door.

***Clyde:*** *Well - at least it’ll be a change of scenery for the… The eye. Eye… Hm. For the eye, indeed.*

***Edward:*** *At least you have a sense of humour about it.*

***Clyde:*** *It’s like my movie ‘Dazed and Confused’ where I played a man who lost his eye. Wait, I think he was entirely blind. I hope that isn’t foreshadowing of my eventual--*

***Wilbur:*** *Come on.*

They step out of the building, and get into a large truck outside, where MIKE SIMPSON is waiting in the driver’s seat.

***Claire:*** *It shouldn’t be too long of a drive.*

Once everyone is on board, Mike drives off.

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**Scene #8**

**WILLAMETTE STREETS - EVENING**

BENJAMIN TAYLOR leans his head against the window, looking out at the buildings as they pass by. One of the buildings they pass by is the High School. Seeing the destruction and corpses in front of the building, Benjamin sits up.

***Benjamin:*** *Stop the truck a moment, Mike.*

MIKE SIMPSON slows down the truck.

***Solomon:*** *Oh shit…*

***Claire:*** *This is what I was talking about. The school fell - I still don’t know how. Whoever was there is gone.*

***Clyde:*** *Perhaps… Perhaps it still has plenty of supplies? If we turn up to a new community with - well, offerings… They might be more friendly toward us. Don’t you think?*

***Benjamin:*** *That’s not a terrible idea. Mike, stop the truck.*

***Edward:*** *You seem to want any excuse to explore that place. You don’t think it was--*

Mike slams on the brakes. EDWARD REMAR swings forward in his seat.

***Edward:*** *Jesus!*

***Clyde:*** *Woah!*

***Mike:*** *Almost hit a wild roadspike.*

***Wilbur:*** *If you’re all going into the school I’m waiting in the truck. Don’t be long.*

Benjamin nods and climbs out of the truck.

**Scene #8 Cont.**

**WILLAMETTE HIGH SCHOOL - COURTYARD - EVENING**

Benjamin and the others excluding Mike and WILBUR WRIGHT walk towards the courtyard, looking on at the corpses, and the destroyed front gate.

***Edward:*** *It’s like the aftermath of a battle… Reminds me of--*

***Clyde:*** *The mall.*

***Clyde:*** *You’re all oddly concerned for some reason.*

***Edward:*** *We haven’t told you, have we? Surely Wilbur has said SOMETHING about Badrick.*

***Claire:*** *Wilbur doesn’t really speak about much of anything regarding the past. Even if it was a few days ago.*

***Clyde:*** *Mm. Fair enough - he’s quite a shady guy. But… As you’ll have heard Benjamin mention. There’s a man named Damerae Badrick.*

***Claire:*** *And that’s about all I know. He’s some terrible psychopath… that’s it. You want him dead because I imagine he did something terrible to you.*

***Edward:*** *He’s done something terrible to most of the people we’ve met. And he’s going to pay for it.*

***Claire:*** *So are you looking to kill him as justice for everyone? Or just personal vengeance?*

***Edward:*** *Personal vengeance… But it’s still justice for everyone. Him being dead IS justice for everyone.*

***Claire:*** *That seems to be the driving motivation of you both* ***(She looks at him and Benjamin)***. *Vengeance, vengeance, hatred, vengeance.*

***Benjamin:*** *Because there’s no settling down without him being dead first.*

***Claire:*** *So he took something from you… or someone… or maybe even both. You want revenge - I understand, trust me. But I was once like you. I got my revenge. It didn’t bring the ones I loved back. Killing them doesn’t even feel satisfying… it just makes you feel empty.*

***Edward:*** *It’s going to feel satisfying. Trust us, too.*

***Claire:*** *Maybe. I thought it would feel satisfying too. I thought it was everything. I was wrong. But hey - we’re all different. Maybe it will be satisfying.*

***Edward:*** *It will be.*

**Scene #8 Cont.**

**WILLAMETTE HIGH SCHOOL - FOYER**

Edward steps into the school, pushing open the front doors slightly. He looks around at the mess, at the corpses littering the halls, at stained blood on the walls and lockers.

***Clyde:*** *My god… What could’ve happened here?*

Everyone suddenly hears a sound coming from the side of the room; a shuffling sound, like an animal.

***Solomon:*** *Hello?*

***Clyde:*** *Uh…*

CLYDE ROLLINS looks over, seeing a disheveled man with clothes wet and stained with dirt. Clyde wearily approaches, before he realizes who it is.

***Clyde:*** *Dean. Dean!*

He rushes over to DEAN HOWARDS, a huge smile on his face. He stops just before him, looking down.

***Clyde:*** *What happened here?*

Dean slowly looks up at him, his face beaten and bruised. His eyes fill with tears, staring up at Clyde.

***Dean:*** *--Badrick.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #9**

**CELL**

KATE BLOODSTONE awakes in a dark room. Coughing, she sits up, looking around the room.

***Kate:*** *G-guys?*

MARCUS DOWNES looks over at her, while sitting against a wall. ZAC BARNES is next to him.

***Marcus:*** *Are you okay?*

Kate nods, crawling over to him, and hugging him. Meanwhile, Fraser groans, waking up.

***Zac:*** *And that’s everyone… We’re all going to rot here in a dark and dingy cell together.*

***Fraser:*** *At least it’s together…*

Fraser sits up, looking around.

***Marcus:*** *They don’t want us to rot. They clearly want us for something.*

A door opens up nearby, and a light turns on. NATHANIEL SHEPARD approaches the cell, looking at them through a set of steel bars.

***Nathaniel:*** *You’re finally all awake. I am relieved. I have so much to tell you - about what we’re going to be doing.*

***Zac:*** *Man… you are such a creep* ***(He smirks)***.

***Nathaniel:*** *You won’t be laughing for long. Not when you’re sent to work. Our operation has expanded across Colorado - we’ve been in contact with survivors of the outbreak who aren’t even in the country with us. And we need people to help keep everything running… To help us build a new world. Don’t you find it amazing? That within just a month of the outbreak, people can come together--*

***Kate:*** *By force… And no. I don’t find it amazing… we’ve only seen a cell.*

***Nathaniel:*** *You may think I’m a bad person. But this is for the greater good - trust me here.*

***Zac:*** *Trust you…*

***Nathaniel:*** *We’re building civilization. Not here - not in Colorado… but-- Once people have built the walls - the defenses around our location…* ***Everyone*** *benefits from it. Everyone gets to reap the reward of what they worked for. Safety.*

***Zac:*** *Why are you telling us all this as if it matters…*

***Nathaniel:*** *Because you’re here just in time to be shipped off in the next week to start working. Banoi is a difficult island to maintain. But - it’s a paradise. A beautiful resort… And if we can make a beautiful paradise like that - a fortified location for life to blossom. Then we’ll recruit hundreds of workers like you to help make it a possibility.*

***Kate:*** *You’re insane. It’ll be like a class system - all your workers will be in slums for all we know. Nobody is interested in being forced to serve you.*

***Zac:*** *I’m not interested in serving this molester. Do your worst.*

***Marcus:*** *Zac…* ***(He shakes his head)***

***Zac:*** *What have we got to lose? Really?*

***Nathaniel:*** *I’m going to leave you all to get settled in.*

Nathaniel turns, walking back through the door he came in through.

***Fraser:*** *This has been a grim week…*

Fraser looks around, seeing the others quiet, avoiding eye contact with each other.

***Fraser:*** *I-- Aren’t you all gonna - suggest how we can get out of this?*

***Zac:*** *How can we? Look around.*

***Fraser:*** *I just--*

***Zac:*** *There’s nothing. We. Can. Do. And that isn’t me just being my same old self. It’s the truth.*

***Fraser:*** *I…*

Fraser looks towards Marcus, who simply nods his head, before looking away.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #10**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON**

LLOYD WALLER, KYLE DOUGLASS and BERNIE ORTAN sit inside a ditch in the middle of the woods, resting on logs. Lloyd stands up, pacing around, snow crunching. Bernie bites on his nails trying to calm down, while Kyle is looking around the woods paranoid.

***Kyle:*** *So-so what’s our goal?! We’re stuck out here--alone, cold--*

***Lloyd:*** *We just - have to wait until Tony gets back. He said he was going to look at the school… See what happened.*

***Kyle:*** *We-- This isn’t safe! We need a better spot, it’s too open.*

***Lloyd:*** *Kyle, just - I know--*

***Kyle:*** *Open spaces always equal bad outcomes! I’ve read books, watched movies.*

***Lloyd:*** *Just stop stressing, it isn’t helping.*

Kyle sighs.

***Kyle:*** *I-- I’m just very frightened of the possibility of-of coming across one of those things.*

Lloyd rubs his face, trying to wipe away a small blood splatter, but it doesn’t do anything to help.

***Kyle:*** *You, uh… You look quite-- out of place.*

***Lloyd:*** *I know… I just-- I don’t know what to do.*

Lloyd looks down at Bernie, using what little sign language he knows of to communicate with him.

***Kyle:*** *Neither do I, but-- This isn’t safe. I say we go in there and- and check for Tony, and if he doesn’t come out-- We need to… migrate? I don’t know, it’s not safe here, we have that established.*

***Lloyd:*** *He told us to wait here - if we leave and he comes back, then we’re separated. He-- he knows what he’s doing. We are lost without him.*

***Kyle:*** *One man could hope.*

Kyle swivels his head around upon hearing the sounds of something approaching. He hears a quiet groan.

***Kyle:*** *Oh-- oh no. I can’t deal with this--*

Lloyd takes out his knife, approaching the source of the sound.

***Kyle:*** *Lloyd, no! What if there’s more than one! We just need to be quiet--*

Lloyd looks on at a zombie tangled up in a few branches. It reaches its arms forward, trying to grab Lloyd, but is unable. Kyle and Bernie watch in horror at the zombie, moments before Lloyd stabs it in the head. Kyle stares at the zombie corpse, looking at its rotting skin and milky white eyes.

***Kyle:*** *I, uh… I was going to say we could - cure them, but-- Huh… If it’s already in the far stages of rigor mortis - then they’ll remain dead. It’s puzzling. These were once humans, same as us. But something, I speculate in their genetic code, went AWOL. A disease can’t make you turn into a feral, monstrous beast-- That’s impossible, it’d have to be-be advanced, HYPER advanced. But that’d take years--*

***Lloyd:*** *Kyle, just chill.*

***Kyle:*** *I’m trying, I need something to put my mind on!*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m gonna go and get Tony. Wait here - together. Don’t move.*

***Kyle:*** *Wh-- no, no, no, no way, Lloyd.*

***Lloyd:*** *I will not be long. If he comes back - just wait for me.*

***Kyle:*** *You’re smart! Stay here! Lloyd--*

***Lloyd:*** *Stay hidden in the ditch. The sooner we find him the better.*

***Kyle:*** *It’s not hidden-- Just…* ***(He sighs)*** *Be safe. Otherwise, we’re all damned out here, too.*

***Lloyd:*** *I won’t be long - I promise.*

Lloyd uses sign language again to tell Bernie to stay alert.

***Kyle:*** *Make sure you HURRY. H-U-R-R-Y. I don’t wanna be used as bait. I don’t taste good, I’m sure of it - I haven’t showered in weeks! I don’t wanna put it to the test.*

***Lloyd:*** *Just… sit quietly and you’ll have less monsters to worry about.*

Lloyd turns, stomping off through the woods.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #11**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON**

LLOYD WALLER walks through the woods for a while, glancing up at the setting sun, realizing that it’d be dark soon. As he nears the school, Lloyd begins to notice an unusual amount of zombies stumbling through the trees. He approaches one of them and jams his knife into its head, killing it. He looks back up, seeing more zombies.

***Lloyd:*** *What the hell…*

Lloyd stumbles through a few large trees and bushes, losing sight of the zombies. As he steps out into an open area of woods, a zombie lunges at him, but it is quickly kicked to the ground by TONY MARSTON, who finishes it off with an axe to the head.

***Lloyd:*** *Tony--*

***Tony:*** *You can start running. They’re heading straight for home anyways, just get everyone out and away. And here, kid - take this.*

Tony swings off his leather jacket, throwing it into Lloyd’s arms.

***Lloyd:*** *I… Why are you doing this? We need you with us-- You’re the one holding us all together.*

***Tony:*** *I’ve got a fever to burn off.*

Tony pulls up his sleeve, showing Lloyd a zombie bite on his wrist. Lloyd looks at it, starting to breathe heavily.

***Lloyd:*** *How-- How and--*

***Tony:*** *By being a reckless idiot.*

***Lloyd:*** *The school…*

Tony tosses his pack of chewing gum over to Lloyd.

***Tony:*** *Make it last. You’ve got the nerve and the spirit, kid. You’ll do fine.*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m just a scared kid - I can’t lead people to safety--*

Lloyd turns around in a panic, seeing another zombie charging at him. Tony swings his axe at it, bringing it down.

***Lloyd:*** *No - please. Please, we need you. I--*

***Tony:*** *You’re scared, but you’re a man now. Be scared, but be brave.*

Lloyd looks around, scared. He sees the horde of zombies nearing them.

***Lloyd:*** *Come with me. You’ll have time -- at least to--*

***Tony:*** *No can do.*

***Lloyd:*** *Come on…*

Tears start to well in his eyes, as he steps back away from Tony and the zombies.

***Tony:*** *If I can thin the flock a bit, I’ll do it. Run like hell, kid.*

Lloyd turns around, running through the woods, hyperventilating.

Tony brings his axe down onto a zombie. He swings it again, and again, taking down zombie after zombie. He swings until his arms completely give up on him, and he drops the weapon, completely exhausted.

***Tony:*** *Not done yet…*

Tony raises his fists and weakly swings at a zombie as it lunges at him. The zombie pushes Tony to the floor, where more zombies stack on top. Crying in anger and pain, Tony swings his fists at the horde until they rip him apart.

**Scene #11 Cont.**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON**

Lloyd rushes down into the ditch where KYLE DOUGLASS and BERNIE ORTAN are.

***Lloyd:*** *We-- we gotta go. We can’t stay here… it isn’t safe. Come on - we don’t have time!*

He grabs Kyle, pulling him to his feet, while signing to Bernie, who stands up in an instant, frowning. Hearing the groans of the undead closing in, the three of them rush off.

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**Scene #12**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EVENING**

***Daniel:*** *Here we are.*

He stops the truck next to the entrance, stepping out. The others climb out behind him.

***William:*** *Highschool memories* ***(He smiles)***. *Willamette Ravens Football Team.*

LAYTON ZIMMERS parks his cement mixer next to the truck. He looks over to JARED KELLINGS, who’s half-asleep.

***Layton:*** *How you holding up, chum? I hope it's good - because we’ve arrived at our beautiful destination.*

He and Jared climb out of the cement mixer, following the others towards the entrance.

***Daniel:*** *We’ll take you all on inside… show you around, get you to meet the folks.*

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**Scene #13**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - ENTRANCE**

DANIEL ROCKWELL leads them all inside, where people are seen walking about.

***William:*** *You guys ever play matches here?*

***Daniel:*** *Sadly not. The pitch is occupied by various tents and vehicles. We’ve got a big group here - a lot of things at play.*

***William:*** *Respectable.*

***Daniel:*** *Hey, Nick - run ahead and go alert the boss man for me, will ya’?*

***Nick:*** *Will do.*

NICK PARKER turns, walking off down the hall.

***Daniel:*** *While we wait. I want to thank you for not causing us any hassle. So many people just - don’t get the memo. Some people aren’t so easygoing. But you guys have been great.*

JON MATTHEWS narrows his eyes, looking at him.

***Layton:*** *That’s us - easygoing, indeed.*

Daniel turns his head, seeing Nick returning with NATHANIEL SHEPARD.

***Daniel:*** *Oh, he’s got the boss man already* ***(He grins)***.

Nathaniel approaches the group, a smile on his face.

***Nathaniel:*** *Wow, just wow. More new faces. I’m over the moon. Fantastic work, Daniel.*

***Daniel:*** *You should expect no less.*

WILLIAM REYNES glances between Daniel and Nathaniel, growing suspicious.

***Nathaniel:*** *This next part… may seem rather cruel - but you’ll all understand quite soon.*

Nathaniel waves his hand, and all of the guards by the entrance suddenly raise their guns, pointing it at William and the group.

***William:*** *Of course…*

***Layton:*** *Wait a second - they are aiming at us.*

***William:*** *No shit. Sadistic cannibals? Rapists? One of the two, is my guess.*

***Nathaniel:*** *If you’d please, Daniel - have them all taken to the cells.*

The guards move forward, pushing William’s group forward. They grudgingly follow Daniel down the hall.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #14**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - CELL BLOCK**

The last of WILLIAM REYNES’ group is thrown into the cell, all of their belongings having been stripped away from them. The cell door slams shut, and is locked by a guard. DANIEL ROCKWELL looks at them all.

***Daniel:*** *Nothing personal, folks. It’ll all make sense soon.*

Daniel walks down the hall and out of the room. JON MATTHEWS grits his teeth, looking around.

***William:*** *Working for a fucking bespectacled nerd.*

***Jon:*** *This just keeps getting better and fucking better.*

William slams his fist into the walls in rage, while REBECCA DAWSON looks around the cell curiously. By the corner, she sees something moving in the darkness. Jon glances over.

ALEX WEISS shuffles out of the corner, looking at them.

***Alex:*** *Oh… Hello.*