The Road Ahead/Transcript

*“My fault or not, I still have to live with their blood partly on my hands.”* *—Lloyd*

**Starring:**

Jon Hamm as JON MATTHEWS

Robert Pattinson as WILLIAM REYNES

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

Kenneth Branagh as CLYDE ROLLINS

Nick Frost as RANDALL FORSTER

Emilia Clarke as KATE BLOODSTONE

Anson Mount as MARCUS DOWNES

Ben Mendelsohn as BENJAMIN TAYLOR

Steve J. Palmer as AUSTIN KINGSTON

David Emge as ALDUS PAXTON

Tom Payne as ALBERT HANSON

Stephen Gevedon as DEAN HOWARDS

**Also Starring**

Daniel Sharman as DANIEL ROCKWELL

Jared Leto as JARED KELLINGS

Paul Rudd as SOLOMON REED

Scarlett Johansson as REBECCA DAWSON

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Keira Knightley as CLAIRE NOBLE

Thandiwe Newton as ANGELA JAEGAR

**Guest Starring**

Joe Morton as ISAAC MOSES

David Boat as LAYTON ZIMMERS

Jason Lee as LOLIDA WINDFIELD

Dan Aykroyd as ED ANDERSON

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**Scene #1**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PITCH - EARLY MORNING**

JON MATTHEWS walks across the pitch in the pitch black, approaching Angela’s grave. It’s still a couple hours away from dawn, and he’s the only one up. Jon kneels down next to her grave, breathing out cold air. He sets his axe aside for a second, and then picks up Angela’s shotgun that had been placed on her grave. He looks at the gun for a second, before grabbing his axe with one of his hands, and walking off with both weapons.

**Scene #1 Cont.**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

He walks out into the parking lot, looking over towards a fence, where a few zombies have built up overnight. He approaches the fence, aiming the double barrel shotgun at its face through the fence, before he stops, exhaling. He sets the gun down, and grips his axe instead. He swiftly jumps up, vaulting over the fence and landing on his feet below. In his anger, he slices the first zombie’s head off, then splits the second zombie’s head in half like a wood log. He rips the axe out, and looks towards a third and final zombie. Jon kicks it to the ground, and stands over it, bringing the axe down into its face. Blood spurts out, covering Jon and the pavement in red. Jon exhales loudly, looking up.

***Angela:*** *Are you doing this for me, darling?*

Jon opens his eyes, looking around in a panic. He sees nothing.

***Angela:*** *Tut-tut, surely not.*

Jon grips his axe, looking everywhere, yet he still finds nothing. He shakes his head.

***Angela:*** *I’m not in front of you, are you going mad?*

***Jon:*** *No.* ***(He puts a hand on his head)*** *No.*

Jon turns, jumping up and over the fence. He picks up Angela’s shotgun, before walking across the parking lot. Eventually he arrives near the RV, where he spots a couple of smashed bottles lying on the ground outside. He lays down his axe, holding the shotgun with both hands, slowly opening the door to the RV. He steps inside, aiming the gun around, but when he spots AUSTIN KINGSTON lying on the chair inside, he lowers it.

***Jon:*** *Jesus. It’s you.*

***Austin:*** *Ugh-- Yeah, it’s me. What about me?*

***Jon:*** *You look like a mess.*

***Austin:*** *I feel terrible, man. Had - too much to drink.*

***Jon:*** *You had a little party in here last night, huh? Y’know, I’ve been doin’ some thinking. And damn, if I knew there were drinks in here, I’d have joined you. You should probably clean this shit up though.*

He looks down at the floor of the RV, seeing glass shards everywhere, and booze staining the floorboards.

***Austin:*** *I- I will, just give me like - three hours.*

***Jon:*** *I think people are gonna start wakin’ up real soon.*

***Austin:*** *So? We aren’t leaving yet, are we?*

***Jon:*** *We’re leaving in a few hours. At the crack of dawn.*

***Austin: (He sighs)*** *I’ll do-- do what I can.*

Jon turns, heading out of the RV.

***Jon:*** *It’s never fun the morning after.*

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**Scene #2**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

An hour or so later, ED ANDERSON is outside in the parking lot, doing a last minute check on the vehicles they have. LAYTON ZIMMERS walks alongside him.

***Ed:*** *Well… we have one car and the RV at least… it’s gonna be a tight fit though.*

***Layton:*** *Anddddddd this baby* ***(He points at the cement mixer)***. *I mean, we need the space.*

Ed frowns, shrugging. But after giving it some thought, he nods, sighing.

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**Scene #3**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

Another hour or so later, RANDALL FORSTER is seen walking towards the RV carrying a bag of supplies. The sun is just beginning to dawn. Randall steps inside the RV, first noticing the mess of broken glass on the floor, and then AUSTIN KINGSTON still seated on a chair inside.

***Randall:*** *Eh. It’s only broken glass anyway, right?*

He walks past Austin, setting his bag down.

Outside, MARCUS DOWNES and ALDUS PAXTON come walking out of the stadium carrying a crate of guns together. They slowly make their way towards the RV, where KATE BLOODSTONE is standing.

***Kate:*** *It’s a tight fit in there already… but guns are guns* ***(She shrugs)***. *Good luck setting them down.*

***Marcus:*** *Yeah… thanks.*

Marcus and Aldus carefully and painfully slowly move the crate into the RV.

***Aldus:*** *I will say - this is a lot of firearms. But I gotta add, I’ll miss Willamette. We never got to do much besides fortify and shoot, which we did good at. Hopefully in Denver we can have fun and maybe go hunting and stuff.*

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**Scene #4**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

Later on, REBECCA DAWSON is being helped out of the stadium and towards the RV by WILLIAM REYNES. LLOYD WALLER slowly walks on behind them, carrying his backpack.

***Rebecca:*** *You know… I could’ve managed on my own.*

***William: (He smiles)*** *Of course you could’ve.*

***Rebecca:*** *Yet you’re a gentleman anyway.*

***William:*** *That’s a first. I’ll even hold the door open for you - that’s where the real chivalry lies.*

***Rebecca:*** ***(Jokingly)*** *Wow. You continue to impress me.*

William opens up the door to the RV, and lets Rebecca climb inside.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey, uh - William.*

***William:*** *What’s up?*

***Lloyd:*** *You, uh - you mind if I come in the RV with you. Just cause I’m -- familiar already.*

***William:*** *You think I’d have it any other way? Of course you’re coming in the RV.*

***Lloyd:*** *Thanks* ***(He smiles faintly)***. *And, hey, uh… Are you and her, uh…*

***William:*** *Wishful thinking* ***(He nods)***.

***Lloyd:*** *I’m real happy for you, sir.*

Lloyd steps up into the RV.

A car pulls up into the parking lot. As it comes to a stop, DANIEL ROCKWELL, LOLIDA WINDFIELD and ISAAC MOSES get out, walking over towards William.

***Daniel:*** *Hey. We went out and found this bad boy early this morning, figured space would be an issue, so we got our own car to tag along and help people breathe a little.*

***William:*** *You beat me to it. Thank you for being self aware enough to consider it.*

***Daniel:*** *Makes things easier for all of us. Listen, uh… Denver. Any of your people ever been out that far in all this? Because… I hope everyone in that RV knows what to possibly expect.*

***William: (He shakes his head)*** *It’ll be a shitshow. But I’ve got faith enough in them that we’ll find a way to pull through.*

***Daniel:*** *Alright, then* ***(He nods)''***.
***Isaac:*** *It’s better than staying here. Place’s got a bad mojo.*

Daniel turns back to Isaac and Lolida.

***Daniel:*** *Which of you pricks wants to drive, because it certainly ain’t gonna be me.*

***Isaac:*** ***(He turns to Lolida)*** *His head’s still pretty - hurt. Maybe I could carry the keys, huh?*

Daniel tosses the keys to him.

***Daniel:*** *I call shotgun.*

***Lolida:*** *…Last time I was in the back, a two-faced man bashed my head against a window.*

***Daniel:*** *Let’s not talk about that. Just get in.*

Lolida grumbles, getting into the back seat. Isaac and Daniel get into the front seats.

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**Scene #5**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

CLYDE ROLLINS and CLAIRE NOBLE come walking out towards the vehicles later in the morning.

***Clyde: (Smiling)*** *Lovely day, eh?*

***Claire:*** *Are we in the RV?*

***Clyde:*** *I believe so.*

As they approach the RV, they spot EDWARD REMAR standing nearby.

***Clyde:*** *Edward - good morning, I haven’t seen you.*

***Edward:*** *…Morning.*

***Clyde:*** *Are you coming into the RV?*

***Edward:*** *No.*

***Clyde:*** *You - aren’t?*

***Edward:*** *No, I’ll… I’ve never liked RV’s.*

Edward walks away from them, heading towards DANIEL ROCKWELL’s car. He opens up the back door.

***Edward:*** *I hope you don’t mind if I join you for this trip.*

He climbs into the car anyway.

***Clyde: (Quietly)*** *See you on… the other end.*

Clyde turns to the RV, getting in with Claire.

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**Scene #6**

**FOOTBALL STADIUM - PARKING LOT - EARLY MORNING**

WILLIAM REYNES stands in front of the RV, looking back towards the stadium. All of the supplies have been packed in, and they’re ready to go. William looks over towards BENJAMIN TAYLOR, who he sees walking towards him.

***Benjamin:*** ***(Quietly)*** *Where am I…?*

***William:*** *With us, of course. You - are one of us* ***(He points at the RV)***.

***Benjamin:*** *Am I? I think the people in that RV would speak quite differently. The man who blew open the front doors to their mall, the man who had a part in starting all of this.*

***William:*** *The people in that RV know you didn’t know what would happen. Benjamin - really. It’s water under the bridge. You’re one of us* ***(He smiles)***. *Anyone who objects to that is just an idiot at this stage.*

Nodding slowly, Benjamin warily steps up into the RV. When William looks back towards the stadium, he sees JARED KELLINGS swaggering over. His smile fades away.

***Jared:*** *Hey, boss - you mind if I get in?* ***(He smiles)***.

William looks back at the RV, then back at Jared, thinking it all over, dragging out the moment. Jared sucks on his teeth, and taps his foot, waiting.

***William:*** *Y’know what - fuck it. I’ll give you a chance.*

***Jared:*** *Thanks, you won’t regret it!*

Jared shoots finger guns at him, before starting to climb in.

***William:*** *And Jared.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah?*

***William:*** *Don’t sit near Rebecca. Please.*

***Jared: (He frowns)*** *Whatever you say, bossman.*

William looks at the stadium a final time, before he follows Jared into the RV, shutting the doors.

LAYTON ZIMMERS hops up into his cement mixer, starting the engine, which sputters and bangs before it finally turns on. ED ANDERSON, sitting next to him, frowns.

***Ed:*** *Uh…*

***Layton:*** *Oh it’s fine, it happened the first time I found it.*

***Ed:*** *Uh… Do the headlights work?*

***Layton:*** *Huh? Oh, no. But who needs headlights? If you ask me… driving in the dark is a lot like driving in the light, you just can’t see anything.*

***Ed:*** *Oh boy…*

In the second car, MARCUS DOWNES is behind the wheel, with KATE BLOODSTONE, SOLOMON REED and JON MATTHEWS sitting in the different seats. Solomon looks out the windows towards the stadium.

***Solomon:*** *Adios estadio.*

Marcus starts the car, and drives forward towards the parking lot exit. DANIEL ROCKWELL’s car follows along, followed by the RV, and then Layton’s cement mixer.

The convoy of vehicles drives back into town, passing by the destruction. Corpses of zombies and people alike are still sitting out on the streets from the war between Badrick and Benjamin. Storefronts are destroyed, vehicles flipped over. The group passes by the high school - or what’s left of it after the fire. And then, as they near the edge of town, they drive past Willamette Mall, looking at it through the windows until it disappears behind lines of trees. The vehicles turn onto a two-lane highway, heading out of Willamette once and for all.

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**Scene #7**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - RV - MORNING**

AUSTIN KINGSTON sits towards the back of the RV, leaning his elbow, staring out a window. Nearby, ALBERT HANSON and DEAN HOWARDS are sitting at a table, the latter of whom reading a Harry Potter book he’d taken from the high school library. Albert glances at Austin, before looking at Dean and his book.

***Albert:*** *You a Harry Potter fan?*

***Dean:*** *No. No, I’ve just been really bored* ***(He chuckles)***. *I couldn’t get past a few pages, so - I’m stuck in the dark. Here, look.*

Dean shows Albert the book, showing him a bunch of missing pages, or ones that are water damaged so badly they can’t be read.

***Dean:*** *Now I’m on chapter four - rest of two and three are screwed. No clue what happened, so now I just jumped down into four.*

***Albert:*** *I see…*

***Dean:*** *I realized, I haven’t talked to you often, have I? I’m sure you know my name, I know your name. I’m sorry we haven’t formally talked.*

Dean holds his hand out and Albert shakes it.

***Dean:*** *It sucks. We’ve been in a group, all of us, for so long. Just - never thought to speak. It’s-- it’s nice though, all of us being in this RV together. It provides for that.*

***Albert:*** *This is the first time in a while that - we’re all together. The last time was at the mall.*

***Dean:*** *The mall… You know, I’m nostalgic of it, sort of. I mean, everytime I go by there though, there’s really nothing standing. It also has a lot of bad ones. What’s your FULL name, though? I’m Dean Howards.*

***Albert:*** *Albert Hanson.*

***Dean:*** *Saying my last name makes me feel so gross cause - well, my grandpa was a-- a screwed up guy. I -- we had a really nice guy who was with us. Jim. He filled that role for me, gosh it feels like so long ago since I’ve talked to him. I know you probably met him.*

***Albert:*** *I met him right near the start of all this. He was - a good guy, yeah.*

***Dean:*** *He was a damn gem. He was always the same. There when you needed him all the time. Didn’t matter what day. His worst days, his best. He was always there. And he was a fine person.*

Dean flips open his book again.

***Dean:*** *Wanna read with me? I’ll start back at the beginning.*

***Albert:*** *Sure.*

***Dean: (He flips to the start)*** *Here we go.*

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**Scene #8**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - CAR - MORNING**

SOLOMON REED exhales loudly, bored.

***Solomon:*** *We could play I spy to pass the time to Denver.*

***Kate:*** *I spy… We’re in a moving car, it might be difficult to play. But go for it.*

***Solomon:*** *I’m gonna start off easy, then we can take turns. I spy something big.*

***Kate:*** *Uh… a tree? That we passed a few seconds ago now.*

***Solomon:*** *No, the RV.* ***(He frowns)*** *You can go next, though.*

***Kate:*** *I spy… uh… What do I spy?*

***Marcus:*** *I don’t know, what do you?* ***(He smiles)***.

JON MATTHEWS leans his head against the window, drowning out their voices. He stares at the passing trees, before looking ahead down the road - where he spots someone. He sits up, rubbing his eyes. He realizes that the person standing by the road is ANGELA JAEGAR. Jon shakes his head.

***Jon:*** *The fuck is this…*

KATE BLOODSTONE and Solomon look at him.

***Kate:*** *Jon?*

Jon looks down, rubbing his eyes again. When he looks up, all he sees by the road is a lone zombie. No Angela. It speeds past it.

***Kate:*** *Are you good?*

***Jon:*** *…Yeah.*

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**Scene #9**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - RV - MORNING**

RANDALL FORSTER sits behind the wheel of the RV, following the two cars in front of him. BENJAMIN TAYLOR is sitting in the passenger seat beside him, while WILLIAM REYNES is leaning against the wall just behind them both.

***Randall: (To Benjamin)*** *So, uh… You always planned to come here?*

***Benjamin: (He nods)*** *It’s my home. I just got caught up. There were delays.*

***Randall:*** *…Yeah, can imagine that. I, uh, witnessed a lot of them. Never did get a chance to say, uh - sorry ‘bout your daughter, mate. Unless it’s a bad time to bring that up.*

***Benjamin:*** *Your condolences are appreciated. She’s in a better place now.*

William looks over towards Randall.

***William:*** *So - chief - how long do you think we’ll be driving for?*

***Randall:*** *Pfft, chief… I was never cut out for that position. But to answer your question, assuming it all goes well… I reckon another hour of driving and we’ll be there. Might need to stop for fuel.*

***William:*** *And for quick piss* ***(He half-smiles)***.

***Randall:*** *Yeah, I’m sure you’ll be able to take the time to have a leak, too.*

***William:*** *You holding up okay, driver sir?*

***Randall:*** *Doin’ just fine, thanks.*

***William:*** *Well - catch you guys later.*

William steps into the back of the RV, walking down the tiny aisle, passing by people, until he comes across REBECCA DAWSON lounging on a chair - JARED KELLINGS having sat himself across from her, disregarding what William had told him. William glares at Jared, who’s back is to him. He approaches slowly.

***Jared:*** ***(To Rebecca)*** *Listen, uh - I’m sorry for being -- you know, an asshole. A horny asshole to be specific.*

***Rebecca:*** *You’re-- sorry? You?*

***Jared:*** *Yeah, me.*

***Rebecca:*** *Okay… that’s a start… Why?*

***Jared:*** *Call it, uh… Me trying to change, if you will.*

***Rebecca:*** *I mean…* ***(She nods slowly)***.

***Jared:*** *I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore, you guys are cool and-- You know.*

William aggressively puts his hand on Jared’s shoulder. Jared shudders at the feeling, turning slowly to look at him.

***Jared:*** *Uh-- Hi?*

***William:*** *What were you guys talking about?*

***Rebecca:*** *Yours truly has just received… an apology… from the one and only JKHD.*

***Jared:*** *Look - I’ll go sit somewhere else now. Yeah, uh, bye.*

Jared stands, pushing William’s hand off, and going off to find a new seat. William watches him go, before he looks at Rebecca, confused.

***William:*** *An apology? From - him?*

***Rebecca:*** *From him* ***(She nods)***. *Yeah, I shit you not. Does he seem out of character to you? Maybe it’s all bullshit, but…*

***William:*** *Don’t know if it’s a genuine change, or him pulling my leg.*

***Rebecca:*** *I guess to truly get an answer to that, we’ll just have to wait and see. See if it keeps up. Maybe taking a beating from Jon really taught him something.*

***William: (He smiles)*** *Made him lose his sense of entitlement.*

***Rebecca:*** *I sure hope so.*

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**Scene #10**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - CEMENT MIXER - MORNING**

ED ANDERSON sits beside LAYTON ZIMMERS in the cement mixer, staring ahead at the vehicles in front of them.

***Layton:*** *Wow, isn’t it great to be out on the road again?*

Layton rolls the window down.

***Layton:*** *…Taking in that beautiful fresh air from the road trips I used to take with my wife… just mmm… Of course this was before the dark times… Before she met that… that muscular man on the beach in Florida. I think she had an affair with him in our RV. Oh well, sad times, right? Ed? Are you listening? You don’t sound very interested.*

***Ed:*** *Layton, you’ve-- you’ve told me this story four times.*

***Layton:*** *Well, a reminded is never harmful--*

***Ed:*** *Once already on this trip.*

***Layton:*** *Huh… Guess the memories are really flooding back, eh? You know, I used to always tell my wife before she’d sneak out of the house to lay with another man that I loved her. Even when I knew she was sleeping around, I was happy that she’d at least saw something in me… briefly.*

***Ed: (He frowns, looking over)*** *Now… you never did tell me the parts like this.*

***Layton:*** *Oh well, they are miserable! She never did like all of my theories and conspiracies about the government, but I bet she’s out there right now… She’s thinking about me, and she’s saying ‘Oh Layton, I’m so sorry I didn’t invest our holiday fund into that nuclear shelter in the garden, oh please take me back…’* ***(He chuckles lightly)***

Ed sits up, as he feels the vehicle beginning to shake. He narrows his eyes, looking out the window, seeing pebbles falling down the mountainside next to them.

***Ed:*** *Layton…*

***Layton:*** *And I bet she--*

***Ed:*** *Layton! Stop! Do you--*

***Layton:*** *Huh?*

***Ed:*** *Oh, shit--*

Ed looks up the mountainside, seeing a chunk of the mountain collapsing, falling towards the road. A landslide.

***Ed:*** *SHIT - IT’S COMING RIGHT FOR US--*

A wave of large rocks and dirt hits the road. Layton slams on the breaks, as rocks slam against the side of the truck. Ahead of them, the RV and one of the cars manages to stop, avoiding being hit by any big rocks - but Daniel’s car is hit by a massive boulder, sending it off the road into a ditch, flipped over.

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**Scene #11**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - MORNING**

DANIEL ROCKWELL crawls out of the car wreck through a smashed open window. Glass cuts into his arms, but eventually he’s out. He coughs, standing up. When he looks around, he sees EDWARD REMAR already out of the car, brushing himself off.

***Daniel:*** ***(Dizzy, confused)*** *What the fuck…*

***Edward:*** *Oh great… Just great.*

Edward stares at the road in front of them, which had been covered with rocks, blocking the road and even entrapping the other vehicles, surrounding them with the rocks.

LOLIDA WINDFIELD, still in the car, groans in pain. His hands are holding onto his head.

***Daniel:*** *Christ…*

Daniel kneels down, offering Lolida a hand through one of the broken windows.

***Daniel:*** *Take my hand, get outta there.*

Lolida looks around, taking a few seconds to process everything, before he grabs Daniel’s hand. Daniel grunts, pulling Lolida through the window, straining his cut arm.

***Daniel:*** *You good?*

Lolida shakes his head, tears welling in his eyes.

***Daniel:*** *Fuck… I need to get you to the grass. I’ll lay you down. One. Two. Three--*

He hoists Lolida up, slowly escorting Lolida towards a patch of grass.

***Daniel:*** *You know… one of these days we aren’t gonna get so lucky in a fuckin’ car crash.*

He sits Lolida down onto the grass, leaning him up against a rock.

***Daniel:*** *Sit tight. I need to get Isaac.*

As Daniel makes his way back towards the wrecked car, Edward limps over to the rest of the vehicles, where he spots RANDALL FORSTER forcing open the RV door, having to use all his strength due to a rock blocking the door from the other side. When he steps out, he coughs, waving dust away from his face.

***Randall:*** *Fuck…*

BENJAMIN TAYLOR steps out after him, looking around.

***Benjamin:*** *Well, that’s gone and screwed us over.*

He glares up at the mountain.

The others slowly begin exiting the vehicles, looking around and surveying the road and the damage done.

***Ed:*** *Oh jeez. Look, uh… We can still come back from this… It’s just put us in a bad place but… we can clean it up.*

***Solomon:*** *I’ll be damned. A landslide.*

***Jared: (Stretching his arms)*** *Shit… Well - we’re fucked it would seem. Just our motherfucking luck.*

***Rebecca:*** *We’re not fucked. Hold on. Ed. You’re the expert - what can you see us doing?*

***Ed:*** *Well… we’ve taken a bad hit from this - but if we just spend a few hours cleaning it all up -- we can get back on the road.*

Daniel walks over to them, sighing.

***Daniel:*** *Well… our car is fucked. It’s not coming back from anything.*

***William:*** *You and your crew can join us in the RV, then.*

***Daniel:*** *Sure, but… I don’t suppose we have anyone who has medical experience?*

***Marcus: (He frowns)*** *Not… anymore.*

***William:*** *Why?*

***Daniel:*** *Lolida is in bad shape.*

***William:*** *I’ve - got a doctorate in biology. I’ll, uh… take a look at least.*

As the conversations continue, JARED KELLINGS walks off towards Daniel’s wrecked car, where he sees a window being kicked open, shattering. ISAAC MOSES begins to pull himself out, grunting. When he’s out, he sits on the ground, his knee bleeding.

***Jared:*** *You good, dude?*

***Isaac:*** *I… What happened?*

***Jared:*** *Well - bad luck. And a landslide.* ***(He looks at his knee)*** *Come on, you’ll be fine. Walk it off. Bad choice of words but -- come on. Lemme get you in the RV.*

***Isaac:*** *Thank you.*

Isaac groans, standing up with the help of Jared. He begins helping him over to the RV.

***William:*** *Hey - uh, everyone. We’ll get through this mess. I just want you guys to stay put and stay calm - just bear with us. We’ll be okay. Just… take a minute to recover.*

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**Scene #12**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - MID MORNING**

Not long after the incident, ED ANDERSON is looking into the engine block of the RV, scratching his head. He looks around, seeing people slowly clearing the rocks from the road.

WILLIAM REYNES approaches Ed, looking down at him.

***Ed:*** *Oh, uh, hi. Sorry I-- I know it’s a mess right now. I’m just, uh… I’ve been organizing everyone. I feel bad having taken some charge - that’s your job.*

***William:*** *Hey - hey. Don’t sweat it. You’re the expert here.*

***Ed:*** *Oh, uh, well, I do my best, but -- this… I know it’s caused us some problems but it’s nothing we can’t get out of. We should, uh… be back on the road in no time… And by that I mean - a couple hours. I’ve got pretty much everyone clearing rocks off the road.*

***William:*** *I don’t doubt it. Look - Ed, I have a favour to ask you.*

***Ed:*** *Uh… sure. I mean - yes, what’s the favour?*

***William:*** *You know what you’re doing here. Could you take charge for a bit? I’m gonna go gather up some supplies.*

***Ed:*** *Me? In-- in charge?*

***William:*** *Yeah, I trust you. You’re a solid guy. Just in case this proves impossible to fix - I’ll also be looking for a suitable building to hold up in, so don’t go giving yourself a heart attack over it.*

Ed nods slowly, watching as William turns, strolling around to the side of the RV. Suddenly, LLOYD WALLER walks up behind William.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey. Do you mind if I tag along?*

William turns around, startled.

***William:*** *Jesus - Christ. What ninja school did you go to?*

***Lloyd:*** *Hah… uh, sorry.*

***William:*** *Uh - tag along?*

***Lloyd:*** *You know… come with you. I want to help.*

JARED KELLINGS pokes his head out from on top of the RV, looking down at them.

***Jared:*** *Can I come too?*

William raises a finger to Jared, as he turns to look at REBECCA DAWSON, who’s standing at the door of the RV. Jared grumbles, going back to push the rocks off the roof of the vehicle.

***Rebecca:*** *William. You aren’t going out there alone.*

***William:*** *Damn. You caught me* ***(He smiles)***.

***Rebecca:*** *You never know when you’ll need someone’s help. I’m serious. I don’t want to find you as some - chewed up corpse later.*

William frowns, looking towards Lloyd.

***William:*** *Alright - alright. Just don’t go dying on me, kid.*

***Lloyd:*** *I won’t disappoint you.*

Jared looks down at them again.

***Jared:*** *What about me, dad?*

***William:*** *The runt of the litter* ***(He laughs, looking at Jared)***. *I’m pulling your leg.*

***Jared:*** *Good one, good one…* ***(He rolls his eyes)***

***William:*** *I don’t see the harm in it. Might make yourself useful out there, who knows.*

William takes out his knife, handing it up to Jared.

***Jared:*** *Thanks.*

***Rebecca:*** *Don’t go out too far, and don’t come back late. And--* ***All*** *of you be careful.*

***William:*** *Don’t worry, mom, we’ll play nice.*

***Jared:*** *Wow -- did she just tell me to be careful?*

***Rebecca:*** *You’re about as shocked as I was when you apologized to me.*

She turns around, limping back into the RV to find a seat.

***William:*** *Let’s go. We’re burning daylight.*

***Jared:*** *I’m amazed…*

Jared hops down off the RV, following William and Lloyd towards the woods.

***William:*** *Hi amazed, I’m William.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #13**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - MID MORNING**

JON MATTHEWS presses his back against a large rock, pushing it backwards with all his strength until it rolls down into the ditch. He wipes sweat off his forehead while looking around, and notices a zombie deep in the woods, roaming around.

***Angela:*** *Come to me, darling.*

Jon shakes his head, going to move another rock off the road.

***Jon:*** *You’re not real. You’re in my head. It’s all just…*

Jon stops, looking back into the woods. He looks down at the road, and bends down to pick up his axe and Angela’s shotgun. He wanders into the woods, with RANDALL FORSTER being the only one to see him go.

***Randall:*** *Huh.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #14**

**COLORADO RURAL ROADS - MID MORNING**

In the RV, AUSTIN KINGSTON is sitting by himself, crunching up a piece of paper in his hands. He turns to look out the window, seeing ALBERT HANSON pushing a few rocks off the road next to the RV. He looks away from the window, having a long thought, before he sets down the paper and gets up.

Austin stumbles out the door, and walks along the side of the RV until he arrives at Albert, who’s just finished moving a large rock into the ditch.

***Austin:*** *Uh… hello.*

Albert glances up at him, only for a second.

***Albert:*** *Oh, you. What do you need?*

***Austin:*** *I just came over to, uh… say sorry. You know - about yesterday when you found me in the RV. I told Ed and them I wouldn’t drink after the hunting manor - but I couldn’t help it. But after yesterday -- I’m telling you now, I won’t touch another bottle. Never.*

***Albert:*** *That so? Well - I accept your apology. I didn’t mean to get all angry at you… It was just a-- reaction of anger…*

***Austin:*** *Yeah, thank you.*

RANDALL FORSTER comes strolling over to the two of them.

***Randall:*** *Sup, fuckers.*

***Albert:*** *Hey.*

***Randall:*** *I just witnessed Johnny-boy going for a stroll in the woods. Seemed pretty abrupt* ***(He shrugs)***.

***Austin:*** *I-- I can go after him - see what he’s up to.*

***Randall:*** *You want to, Austin?* ***You***? *Want to - go out?*

He nods.

***Randall:*** *Well, shit, what changed in you, my man? I mean if you aren’t planning to get pissed again, then by all means go and keep an eye on Jon. Everyone’s worried for the cunt.*

***Austin:*** *Yeah - I will. Just to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. Something stupid like I did.*

***Randall: (He nods)*** *By all means* ***(He points in the direction Jon went)***.

Austin turns, walking off into the woods.

***Randall: (To Albert)*** *That’s - different for him, right?*

***Albert:*** *He just came up to me… told me he wasn’t going to touch a bottle ever again. Not sure how true that is.*

***Randall:*** *Those are big words. But, uh… power to him, I guess.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #15**

**FOREST - WOODS - MID MORNING**

In the woods, LLOYD WALLER and JARED KELLINGS are following behind WILLIAM REYNES, who’s holding his sword. He tosses the sword into the air, catching it effortlessly.

***William:*** *Easy there, Rambo.*

***Jared:*** *Showoff.*

***William:*** *Hey - it’s a demonstration. Took lessons in sword fighting since the age of thirteen. Knew it would come in handy.*

***Jared:*** *Not all of us took sparring lessons. Thanks for the knife by the way, haven’t had one of these in a while. Lost my old one.*

***William:*** *It’s all good. Just don’t lose it.*

Lloyd looks ahead of the two, seeing a building through the trees. He stops in his tracks.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey, uh - found something ahead.*

***Jared:*** *Whad’ya got, kid?*

***William:*** *What he said.*

***Lloyd:*** *There’s a -- building just ahead. A lodge, I think. Looks big.*

***Jared:*** *Jackpot.*

***William:*** *Jackpot? You’ve not even seen the inside yet. We could be about to enter our coffin, for all you know.*

***Jared:*** *It’s something that isn’t more woods. Sounds good enough to me.*

The three of them walk through the trees, coming into a clearing, where they can get a good look at the lodge itself. Jared slowly takes out his knife, fiddling with it.

***Jared:*** *Just in case it IS a coffin.*

***Lloyd:*** *Holy… this place is awesome.*

***Jared:*** *Pretty cool.*

***William:*** *On the offhand chance I die - run back home. As fast as you can.*

***Jared:*** *Relax, dad, you’ll live forever to nag at me.*

***William:*** *And Lloyd. Kick his ass if he comes near Rebecca* ***(He smiles)***.

***Lloyd:*** *Uh-- yes, sir.*

William and Jared start to approach the lodge.

***Lloyd:*** *Wait - are we, uh, going in?*

***Jared:*** *I guess, right?*

***William:*** *Of course we are.*

**Scene #15 Cont.**

**LODGE**

William opens the door with one hand, his sword in the other. The hinges creak loudly as it opens, revealing a dark entrance room, with the only light coming through the windows and the open door. Jared and Lloyd slowly step inside behind him.

***William:*** *Jared. I trust you’ve grown up enough to handle the second floor by yourself* ***(He nods towards the staircase in front of them)***.

***Jared:*** *Of course… But, you know just in case I’m not, I’ll come running down.*

Jared begins to climb up the steps.

***William:*** *And Jared.*

***Jared:*** *Yes, dad?*

***William:*** *Best of luck, son.*

He grins, turning to go up the stairs. William and Lloyd look towards a doorway, starting to walk around the first floor. As they’re exploring the dark and dusty building, William notices Lloyd looking down. He sighs, looking away from William.

***William:*** *What’s wrong? You’re giving off some pretty down vibes.*

***Lloyd:*** *It’s nothing… I’ve… I’ve spent enough time moping around you. I didn’t want it to catch up to me.*

***William:*** *Hey. Talk to me. It’s okay* ***(He smiles)***.

***Lloyd:*** *I dunno why I came out here with you. But I think deep down… I still want to prove myself. The last time I came out with you somewhere… it was the-- It was when it happened. When I gave him that grenade.*

William looks away from Lloyd, his smile fading away. He tightens his fist for a moment, which Lloyd notices. He frowns.

***William:*** *That - wasn’t on you. That was… my bad. I should’ve been able to talk him out of it.*

***Lloyd:*** *It wasn’t your bad. I didn’t want to make you feel that way, I just… I don’t know if I’m cut out to be out here after all. After I lost all my friends the last time. My fault or not, I still have to live with their blood partly on my hands.*

***William:*** *You - need to stop blaming yourself. I lost my best friend. I still don’t know if I could’ve made a difference. What matters is that I tried. Same way you tried to save your friends. Stop beating yourself up, you’re a good kid. I mean it. You belong out here.*

***Lloyd:*** ***(He nods slowly)*** *I-- I just… Do you know that feeling when-- you wish things could’ve turned out different-- and it feels like they could’ve… Like they could’ve went as well as you wanted them to… But just - just maybe one wrong misstep, one thing caused a chain of bad events. That led to it all going wrong.*

***William:*** *All the time. All the damn time. If I stopped Jacob going out on that mission, he’d be alive right now. But I couldn’t have.*

***Lloyd:*** *I guess there are just - things beyond our control sometimes, and it sucks. But I hate telling myself that. Feels like I’m lying to myself.*

***William:*** *That’s life for you, kid. That’s how the big world works. You wake up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat. You lie to yourself and say - this is what living is like. Most things are just glorified lies. But at least this bears a semblance of truth.*

***Lloyd: (He nods slowly)*** *Thanks.*

***William:*** *But enough philosophy. You gotta dispel the darkness, focus on the light. It works for me* ***(He smiles)***. *Go take a breather, kid. You got a lot of weight on your shoulders.*

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah… okay… I’ll, uh-- I won’t be long.*

William pats him on the shoulder, and turns to go explore the building. As he’s looking around, he hears a closet door banging nearby. He narrows his eyes, raising his sword as he approaches. He thinks about opening the door, but instead he listens… hearing the sounds of snarling inside. He puts his sword to the wooden closet door and shoves the blade through the wood. Silence. And then he suddenly hears a groan behind him, and footsteps. As he looks behind him, he sees four zombies stumbling into the room. He goes to pull the sword out of the closet door, but he drops it to the ground in a panic. He reaches out, failing to grab it. A zombie growls, throwing itself towards William.

Jared comes down the stairs after hearing a commotion, turning into the room William’s in.

***Jared:*** *William - you good-- Oh - shit.*

Jared runs forward, jamming his knife into the back of the skull of the zombie on William. He pulls it off him.

***William:*** *Thank you, JKHD. Something I’d never thought I’d say* ***(He picks up his sword)***.

***Jared:*** *You good, man? Come on, there’s still more.*

Jared turns back to another zombie, stabbing it in the head. William, back on his feet, raises his sword, swinging it and decapitating the final two zombies. Their heads bounce off the floor, rolling into the wall.

***Jared:*** *That was fun.*

***William:*** *Yeah - needed a good workout* ***(He nods to Jared)***.

***Jared:*** *Where’s Lloyd?*

***William:*** *Outside, taking a breather.*

***Jared:*** *Also, where’d all those fuckers come from? Could still be more.*

***William:*** *It was a small janitorial room. There’s no more.*

***Jared: (He nods)*** *You guys find anything, or… I poked around a bit upstairs. Not much.*

***William:*** *No. Nothing much here, but we’ll keep looking. But anyway - thank you.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #16**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE MORNING**

AUSTIN KINGSTON trudges through the woods, stepping past a dead zombie sitting by a tree. He steps onto a small road, looking ahead at what appeared to be a small village, a few buildings along one road. He ventures further down the road, coming across one building in particular with a freshly killed zombie leaning against the wall by the door. Austin looks up at the building sign, discovering that the building was a bar. Sighing, Austin opens the door.

**Scene #16 Cont.**

**BAR**

He steps inside, looking around. He looks towards the bar counter, seeing the back of someone sitting on a stool.

***Austin:*** *Jon?*

JON MATTHEWS takes a sip from a glass filled with whiskey. He sets it back onto the counter next to his axe and the shotgun.

***Jon:*** *I know that fucking voice. Isn’t it perfect that you’re the one who followed me here. Let me get you something to drink, it’s about damn time we had one together.*

Jon stands up to reach for a bottle.

***Austin:*** *Maybe-- maybe not.*

Jon stops, looking at him with a puzzled face.

***Jon:*** *You’re declining a drink?*

***Austin:*** *Uh…*

***Jon:*** *You of all people?*

***Austin:*** *I am declining it, yes. I am - not drinking anymore…*

***Jon:*** *Well, shit, that’s a surprise. Your hangover this morning must’ve really been shitty* ***(He grins, sitting back down)***.

Austin approaches the bar, sitting down onto a stool. He watches as Jon refills his glass.

***Jon:*** *You sure?*

***Austin:*** *I’m sure…*

***Jon:*** *I’m so happy I found this place. I’d been needing a drink… an escape. From all this shit. It came at the perfect time* ***(He takes a sip)***. *My spirits did need some lifting.*

***Austin:*** *Yeah - just a drink or two, right? You aren’t getting all drunk like I did, right?*

***Jon:*** *Well usually, Austin - when people drink, they drink to forget things. Which is why I myself have already indulged in my fair share of the bottle. My old man always used to tell me… Not my real old man, my step dad. God knows whatever became of my real old man. But anyways, what he always used to fucking tell me when I was just a little twerp, was that people don’t drink to quench their thirst, hell no, we all know it. They drink to feel good and forget. And I’m more than capable of handling myself. With a few drinks or not… Not like we’re doing anything fuckin’ important right now.*

***Austin:*** *You can do some pretty stupid things while drunk - like shooting a gun* ***(He looks at the shotgun)***. *I would go for a drink right now - but--*

***Jon:*** *Here… before we continue this--*

Jon stands up, wobbling a bit, before he walks around the counter, reaching down and grabbing a can of pop.

***Jon:*** *Don’t make me be here drinking alone. The whiskey is… still on offer.*

Austin glances at the whiskey bottle, his mouth watering. But he shakes his head, grabbing the pop can.

***Austin:*** *I’ll have the soda - no alcohol.*

He opens the can, taking a sip.

***Jon:*** *Wow… that is some newfound restraint.* ***(He sits on the counter)*** *I admire that shit. How’d it come to be though? That shit doesn’t just happen.*

***Austin:*** *Well, uh… Albert got real -- real mad at me last night. He found me drunk - real drunk. Told me I was just a fucking alcoholic - worthless. Now, uh, I only ever told Kate this, but I had a wife before. What Albert told me last night - reminded me of her. Not in a good way. She called me the same thing before -- worthless. That I was a terrible father. Yes, I had a kid.*

***Jon:*** *Alcohol took its toll on your life long before all this then, huh?*

***Austin:*** *It very well did. I came home almost every night drunk. I would get yelled at by her, called names. I’m honestly shocked she never left me…* ***(He pauses, before taking another sip)*** *I’m just saying here, Jon - drinking like this, it’s not going to do you any good. You’ve got to just - be a man, face it.*

Jon stares at his drink, then back at Austin.

***Jon:*** *Tell me. What happened to your family?*

***Austin:*** *Same thing that happened to everyone else’s family. I found them dead. It was the worst day of my life.*

***Jon:*** *I keep… fuckin’ seein’ her. I keep hearing her. Doesn’t and hasn’t mattered how many of those dead fuckers I’ve dispatched trying to forget. This--* ***(He points at his drink)*** *--this* ***was*** *plan B.*

Jon leans over to the whiskey bottle, tipping it over. They watch as it rolls towards the edge, and falls over, smashing on the floor.

***Jon:*** *You’re really done with drinking?*

***Austin:*** *I-- I’m done. It isn’t helping me in any way. It just makes me worse of a person than I already am.*

***Jon:*** *Then I’m not gonna get lost in that same downward spiral. Not that I ever thought I was… The drinking hadn’t consumed me, but I found myself craving it more and more after she… It’s an easy thing to turn to. A cheap thing to turn to. Pretty sure my real father was a drunken fuck when he left me anyways, no offense.*

Jon hops off the counter, grabbing his axe and the shotgun. Austin stands up, following him towards the door.

***Jon:*** *Let’s get back. We’ve got fucking rocks to clear.*

They step out into the fresh air, and for a moment, Jon sees another zombie stumbling around in the distance. He stares at it for a moment, before turning and going the other direction with Austin.