A Decomposed Past

Poster used for the second episode.

"**A Decomposed Past**" is the sixth and final episode of the first season of *The Walking Dead*. It is the sixth episode of the series overall.

## Plot

The group deals with the aftermath the attack, and look toward the road ahead. Jim must make a terrible life and death decision.

## Synopsis

In the morning, the survivors are beginning a clean up of the camp, discarding of the dead that are littered around camp, towards a pile away from the camp with the intent to burn them. Shane is working by the RV, and picks up the roamer he shot first the night before, and is surprised to realize he recognizes it. He alerts Rick, and the two comment on the fact it’s the one to put him in a coma. The two are shocked at the coincidence, and realize he must’ve traveled far. “Glad I finally got to do what I wanted to all those months ago.” Shane comments.

Daryl walks up to a tent, and Carol stops dead. “Think he’s just sleeping?” Daryl asks as he opens the tent, only to spot a roamer inside. He knifes it in the head, and looks back towards her, telling her to look away. He drags out Ed’s corpse, realizing most of his torso and legs had been eaten. He grabs a pickaxe, and is ready to smash the head when Carol walks up, grabbing it from him. Daryl asks if she’s sure, and she nods, but is frozen as she looks down at him, tears flowing. Daryl looks at her, shakes his head, and shoots a bolt into his head, telling her to go rest and spend time with her kids as he walks off.

The camera pulls away from Jim’s arm, wrapped heavily but still bleeding through the bandages, to reveal the group standing around two makeshift graves. The families each huddle together under blankets, with the exception of T-Dog and Jacqui, who share one, and Daryl, Glenn, Jim, and Shane, the latter who forgoes a blanket. Andrea sits in front of Amy’s cross crying while Dale tries to comfort her.

Shane speaks first, saying she always lightened the mood no matter what, and wishes she was here right now to help do the same. Donna speaks next, saying they may not have gotten along, but she loved her, she loves all of them, and they could all learn something from her. Jim speaks next, saying she didn’t deserve this, and should’ve been in college. He says no one deserves this, as the group looks at him. Dale speaks next, saying he’ll never be able to thank her for giving him a will to live. Rick speaks last, saying it just won't be the same now without her. The group begins to walk back, without Andrea, though Carol steps towards Ed’s cross, and spits at it, calling him a son of a bitch, as Daryl looks at her with concern.

As the group walks back into camp, Jim collapses, causing some panic. Daryl tells them he’s not going to risk anyone else, and grabs a pickaxe as Jim coughs up blood. He raises it to swing it, but Rick holds his revolver to his head, and tells him to drop it. Daryl does, saying he needs to stop pointing it at him as Orlando and Allen help him up. Dale tells them to put him in the RV, while Jacqui noticeably begins crying.

The group stand outside the RV, wondering what their next move needs to be. Glenn wonders if there’s anything they can do, and that they hate seeing Jim suffering the way that he is. Carol wonders if there are any working hospitals still, before Shane cuts in, telling them they need to eat first, before they figure out what to do. Allen mentions there isn’t any real food left, and it all was ruined last night. Shane, annoyed, tells them they need to hunt then, and Rick asks if it's the best time? He says of course, and asks him and Daryl to go out with him.

Donna is seen caring for Jim, giving him blankets and water. Jim recounts how he saw his boss turn at the garage he worked in, and he only lasted a few hours, and doesn’t know if anyone could last more than a day, before saying he must be lucky. Donna tells him maybe he won’t turn, no one really knows. Donna tells him to yell for her if he needs anything, before leaving. Allen thanks her for checking, noting he won’t allow men near him and no one else is willing to check. Donna says he’s getting worse, and that based on Dale’s wife, he doesn’t have long. She notes how he is saying he’s freezing, but he’s burning up, but is still there mentally. Allen says maybe he won't turn as they walk towards the fire, where Lori, Carol, Sophia, Anna, the twins, Miranda, and her kids are sitting.

The three men, along with Carl, are hunting. Rick tells him to be quiet and watch them, which he protests. Shane shushes them, and quickly blasts a rabbit. Rick is happy, and says a few more of those and they’ll be set. Daryl comments they’d have more if he didn’t blast half of it away with his shotgun, which angers Shane. Carl says they don’t have to have as much as usual, now that Amy and Ed are dead, and Jim is too sick to eat. Rick says he knows before Shane blows up, telling them it's not his fault. The two go at it as Carl rushes off, causing Rick to go after him.

The four all freeze as they hear something in the woods, and Rick begins to investigate it. As they each scan with their guns raised, Shane's aim lands on Rick. He holds it there for just a few seconds, glaring, his breath heavy, but he hears a sound and his focus breaks. He lowers the gun and then notices Daryl has been watching him. Shane shrugs it off, musing that they need to get reflective vests for the woods.

At camp, T-Dog asks a shaken Jacqui why she doesn’t go in to help with Jim, noting that she loves him as they watch Donna enter the RV. Jacqui is tearful, and admits it hurts too much, and that she just can’t bring herself to see him like this. T-Dog comforts her with a hug, though his face shows him worried more for her.

As the four arrive back at camp, Shane calls a meeting, and he apologizes to all of them, and that he had this hope of maybe the government or the military, or what's left of them coming in to save the day, and that he realizes now how dumb it was. He promises them he’ll never let anything like what happened last night happen again, and that he was weak for it. Rick seems shocked at this, and Shane announces after tonight, they’ll be leaving the camp.

Rick suggests maybe going to the CDC, that the man who saved his life in the beginning mentioned it, and he always thought about trying to check it out, but never got around to it. Shane disagrees, and thinks the army base Fort Benning — 100 miles in the opposite direction — is a safer bet. Rick believes Fort Benning got overrun like every other military cordon they've seen. He says the CDC would be Jim's best chance, and points out that in the event of a nuclear disaster or a terrorist attack, they'd protect the CDC at all costs. Shane, annoyed, relinquishes, and tells them they’ll eat what they have left, and leave for the CDC in the morning.

In the RV, Orlando tells a feverish Jim they're going to get him help as Jim starts to cough blood into a bucket. Jim is delirious and asks Orlando to watch the boat. Orlando begins to wonder if saving Jim will be possible as he promises to watch the boat while Jim nods gratefully.

As the sun begins to set, Rick sits by himself, overlooking the city, and speaks into a walkie talkie, trying to contact Morgan. He talks about the attack on the camp, and warns Morgan to stay out of Atlanta, as the city now belongs to the dead. He then tells him about the new plan, telling him he needs him to be right about the CDC. He also adds that they will be leaving a map taped to a red car with their route drawn out for him and Duane to follow.

Inside the RV, Jim rests quietly as Dale tries to comfort a silent Andrea. Dale begins to realize there is nothing he can do, and sits with her as the two quietly mourn together. Outside, T-Dog is with Jacqui in a tent, T-Dog leading a conversation about the possibilities of the CDC. Suddenly, Jacqui springs on him, kissing him, and the two begin to make out as T-Dog rips his shirt off.

The next morning, Shane announces to the group that Jim made it through the night, but isn’t doing well. He begins to go over where people would go, and gives instructions on staying together when Morales interrupts. He announces that he and his family will not join them, and intends to head back to Birmingham to find their family. Miranda adds to this, saying they thought hard about it since the other night.

Rick hands Morales a .357 Magnum revolver with Shane's terse assumption that the rest of them will fare no better out there, anyway, and they part ways. Miranda thanks them all as Carl, Ben, Billy, Anna and Sophia hug and say goodbye to the Morales' kids, Eliza and Louis. Lori tearfully hugs Miranda while Eliza gives her doll to Anna and runs back to her family. Morales says goodbye to Dale, Allen, and a few others, before they head toward the car. He suggests maybe he’ll check out Fort Benning and will someday tell them how safe it was.

Their car leaves the group, as Rick speaks to the rest, saying he needs to load the gas up and make sure each vehicle has enough, and says he's ready when Dale is. Dale confirms he is, and Rick asks everyone take a look around camp, and then says "lets get the hell out of here.". Dale starts the RV, Orlando, Glenn and Donna entering in the RV along with Andrea. T-Dog asks Jacqui if she wants to go in there instead of staying in his van, but she declines, saying she knows he isn’t going to make it, and can’t stand to see him like that. The group leaves the campsite behind for good, Glenn with the map and Jim's fever worsening in the bedroom of the RV.

On their way to the CDC, close to the city, the RV's radiator hose bursts. While Shane and T-Dog drive ahead to find replacement parts, Donna checks on Jim, who is in agony. Jim knows he is not going to make it, and tells the group to leave him behind. Donna suggests he's delirious, but Jim insists his head is clear.

Rick and Shane help him to a tree, and Jim jokes about being left against a tree again. Donna tearfully says goodbye to him, and Jim thanks her for everything. Jacqui is next, crying heavily as she kisses him on the cheek, before heading towards T-Dog for comfort. Orlando thanks him for the little bit of mechanic work he showed him. Dale thanks him for fighting with them. Rick asks if he’s absolutely sure about this. Jim tells them to leave him, and when he comes back maybe he’ll be with his family again, that maybe they’ll be together again. Rick says goodbye as the group walks away, Jacqui showing the most emotion as T-Dog helps her into the van. Jim watches as the cars slowly pull away, and is shown sitting against the tree, his head down as snow falls on him.

The caravan of cars arrive at the CDC, the cars stopping as roamers litter the area. Rick, Shane, Daryl, and T-Dog work to kill the roamers in the area as they get closer, and are joined by the rest of the group. Shane is horrified as he notices the building is not only abandoned, but looks to have been bombed, and was on fire.

The sight of the building causes panic and anger across the group. Shane and Rick begin to get into it as Jacqui breaks down, and collapses to the ground. Rick and Shane stop their arguing, and Lori and T-Dog attempt to console her. Orlando remarks that it seems like everything is falling apart, while Rick assures him that is not what is happening. Rick sighs, and tells Shane they’ll head to Fort Benning, but they need to stop and rest, and hunt first too.

The group stops on the road, and begins to scout the area of the woods around them. Daryl announces he’ll go hunting, and asks no one else dies while he’s gone. Off to the side, T-Dog, Carol, and Lori try to calm down a still sobbing Jacqui, who refuses to talk to them. They pull T-Dog to the side, and say maybe he should give her some space, and let her get through this herself. T-Dog reluctantly agrees, and heads off with them.

Donna and Allen sit and watch the twins play, and Donna comments how blissfully unaware they seem to be, and envies them. Allen promises her things will be okay, and comments that maybe this fort will be the answer for everything. Donna comments that without Jim, Amy, Morales, Miranda, and the kids, it already feels empty.

Rick and Shane are discussing Fort Benning together, and what backup plans might be as Jacqui walks up to him. Lori, who is with them, says she’s glad to see her seemingly calm. She nods slowly, and then tells Rick she wanted to apologize about when they first met, that she never really got the chance to tell him sorry for shoving the gun in his face, and she was scared, and still is. Rick tells her he understands, and was never mad. Jacqui nods, and heads off as Rick and Shane exchange a look.

Glenn climbs up to the top of the RV where Dale is watching, and he asks about Andrea. Dale mentions she hasn’t even spoken since Amy died, and isn’t sure she’ll speak any time soon. Glenn nods softly, and wonders if leaving Jim was the right idea. Dale says it was his, and that’s all that really matters. Glenn reluctantly agrees, as Jacqui is seen walking into the woods.

Jacqui walks slowly, and spots a roamer which is stuck in the ground, but is trying to get towards her. Instead of showing fear, Jacqui begins to talk to the dead man, mentioning how she never told the group this, but that she lost her husband early on, when her mother turned and ate her brothers and bit her husband, and that the images never left her. She mentions that she watched him come back, and knowing Jim wanted this has just brought those memories right back.

She steps closer, and begins to mention how the group is falling apart, and that no one is safe, and seeing the CDC like that made her realize she lost all hope. She continues to get closer, and admits she feels guilty most about T-Dog, and that he’s so sweet, but she doesn’t love him, and knows she is leading him on. She wonders how he could ever like her, and hopes that the roamer would like her. Dale spots this occurring through the trees, and alerts the group.

Rick, Shane, Dale, Andrea, and T-Dog all approach her as she is only a foot away from the roamer. T-Dog begins to tell her to get away from it as she lets it bite her in the neck, weakly forcing out “Oh, you really do like me” as it rips away her flesh. Shane shoots the roamer instantly as Jacqui falls away from it, and to the ground.

T-Dog rushes towards her, telling her he’s there, and to save her strength. Jacqui tells him weakly “just let me die…” before passing away. T-Dog tearfully wonders if she meant that, and Dale confirms he saw her walking towards it, didn’t think she’d do it, but that’s why he alerted them. T-Dog cradles her in his arms as she suddenly comes back to life, reanimated, shocking them. Andrea quickly reacts, shooting Jacqui in the head before she can bite him. Daryl comes out of the trees, and sees the scene, looking shocked at them as T-Dog cries.

Tomorrow is a Long Time by Bob Dylan begins to play, as snow heavily falls onto the cars. T-Dog is seen in the church van, by himself as he starts up the van. Shane is alone in his jeep, ahead of the pack, while Rick, Lori, Carol, and the kids reside in their vehicle. Daryl is seen in his truck, while Allen’s family are in their car. Glenn, Dale, Orlando, and Andrea are in the RV, as Dale drives off first, the caravan driving down the road as a makeshift grave for Jacqui is seen, snow already collecting on it as the vehicles disappear down the road.

In a post credit scene, a log is seen split in half, before the camera zooms out to show Morgan, in the snow, chopping wood. Duane is seen sitting inside by himself, when Morgan knocks on the door. Duane lets him in, who asks if he has seen any walkers. Morgan reassures him no, and asks if he finished his comic. Duane says yes, and that it’s getting boring reading the same ones. Morgan tells him he has something, and walks over to a Christmas tree, and grabs a present.

Duane protests, saying it might be too early, to which Morgan says he isn’t sure if the calendar is even accurate, and could be two days past now. He tells him he found it last time he was out getting supplies as Duane opens it, finding a Gameboy, along with games and batteries. Morgan tells him to be careful with the batteries as they’re hard to find, and Duane tells him he will.

As Morgan chooses a log to put in the fire, he tells Duane if they should stop worrying about paying for the stuff they've taken. Morgan states that its been five months since the apocalypse started. Morgan goes on to say that he hasn't seen anyone living around since that 'fella' gave them a police car, and that he was helpful giving them the guns. "Food's one thing--we've got no choice there," he states.

After Morgan gives his speech, Duane simply replies with, "Huh?" Morgan's eyes water, and he wipes it away. Lastly, he tells his son Merry Christmas.

## Credits

* Rick Grimes
* Shane Walsh
* Lori Grimes
* Carl Grimes
* Glenn
* Dale
* Andrea
* Carol
* Ed Peletier
* Sophia
* Anna
* Orlando
* Jim
* Allen
* Donna
* Ben
* Billy
* T-Dog
* Morales
* Miranda Morales
* Eliza Morales
* Louis Morales
* Jacqui
* Daryl Dixon
* Reggie
* Morgan Jones
* Duane Jones

## Mentioned

* Amy
* Erma

## Deaths

* Jim (Alive)
* Jacqui (Alive and Zombified)

## Trivia

* Last appearance of Jim.
* Last appearance of Jacqui.
* Last appearance of Reggie (Corpse)
* Last appearance of Ed Peletier (Corpse).
* Last appearance of Miranda Morales.
* Last appearance of Louis Morales.
* Last appearance of Eliza Morales.
* This episode marks the first time Ben or Billy speak.
* The song that plays over the end credits is, "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" by Bob Dylan.
* This is the first episode to feature a post-credits scene.