Day By Day/Transcript

*“I talk a lot about being optimistic and hopeful, but that doesn’t mean I’m not realistic. Tomorrow could be a bad day. We have to accept now that anything can happen.”* *—Kate*

**Starring:**

Robert Pattinson as WILLIAM REYNES

Emilia Clarke as KATE BLOODSTONE

Nick Frost as RANDALL FORSTER

Jon Hamm as JON MATTHEWS

Anson Mount as MARCUS DOWNES

Scarlett Johansson as REBECCA DAWSON

Kenneth Branagh as CLYDE ROLLINS

Stephen Gevedon as DEAN HOWARDS

Steve J. Palmer as AUSTIN KINGSTON

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

David Emge as ALDUS PAXTON

Jared Leto as JARED KELLINGS

Tom Payne as ALBERT HANSON

**Also Starring**

Dan Aykroyd as ED ANDERSON

Keira Knightley as CLAIRE NOBLE

Daniel Sharman as DANIEL ROCKWELL

Paul Rudd as SOLOMON REED

Jason Lee as LOLIDA WINDFIELD

**Guest Starring**

Colin Ford as BRENDEN TREVORS

David Boat as LAYTON ZIMMERS

Daniel Bruhl as ALEX WEISS

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**Scene #1**

**FOREST - QUARRY - MORNING**

It emerges out from behind a tree, calmly walking through the woods. There’s nothing but the sound of the wind howling and leaves rustling. Then there’s a loud snap from somewhere in the bushes. The deer bolts off, dashing through the trees and coming out beside a quarry, where it slides to a stop, seeing a group of zombies. The animal panics, looking for a way out, as zombies circle it.

LLOYD WALLER jogs to a stop at the treeline, breathless. He looks ahead, where he sees the deer getting tackled by the zombies, and piled onto, quickly being devoured.

***Lloyd:*** *No, no--*

ALDUS PAXTON walks up beside him, lowering his rifle. He’s carrying several carcasses of small game over his shoulder.

***Lloyd:*** *I’m sorry that I startled it.*

***Aldus:*** *Don’t worry, you’ll improve. You killed a few rabbits, so there’s that. I did too, but you got the most* ***(He chuckles lightly)***.

***Lloyd:*** *I guess…*

Lloyd frowns, still looking ahead at the horde of zombies ripping into their kill.

***Aldus:*** *We better leave right now, no reason to stir up the zombies.*

The boy nods slowly, frustrated by his mistake. He slowly turns around and follows Aldus in the opposite direction of the quarry.

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**Scene #2**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - PARK - EARLY AFTERNOON**

ED ANDERSON sprawls out a map of Kansas across a table in the middle of a gazebo. He scans through it, until pointing at a road.

***Ed:*** *Here. We’ve been walking down this road, we came thirteen miles down this way since I last checked, I know we’re on the right lines.*

***Kate:*** *So we’re just next to Garden City.*

***Ed:*** *Precisely. Now that we’re here… what exactly are we… aiming for next? Direction wise…*

WILLIAM REYNES looks down at the map, thinking to himself. He stands up straight, looking around, noticing JARED KELLINGS dozing off on one of the many benches. He kicks his shin.

***William:*** *JK, wake up.*

***Jared:*** *I’m-- I’m awake!*

Jared shoots to his feet, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.

***William:*** *Hi awake, I’m dad.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah, yeah…*

William bends down in front of the map again, looking at it closely.

***William:*** *Well - I’m beat.*

***Kate:*** *We need to consider how much more travelling we can even take.*

***William:*** *I can’t muster a realistic idea right now -- I’ll need some time to think on it. For now - I say we head into the heart of the city, and make use of what shelter we can.*

***Ed:*** *The-- the heart of the city?*

***William:*** *It’s a gamble. But what are our other options?*

***Jared:*** *Stay here and starve to death? Beats getting eaten alive, right?*

***William:*** *Aw, you’re volunteering to get left behind? We’ll miss you. Not.*

Jared shakes his head, flipping him off.

***Ed:*** *I think we should play this safe… maybe just-- Maybe we can just check out one of the neighbourhoods on the edge of the city.*

***William:*** *Well - if we’re being cautious about it, I guess that’s the best we can do, right?*

William looks back at the map, carefully examining Garden City. He notices a small residential looking section of the city towards the outskirts, and points at it.

***William:*** *Would here do?*

***Ed:*** *Yeah, that is close enough.*

***Kate:*** *Then we’ve got our aim for today.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah - sure, whatever.*

Ed starts to roll up the map, as KATE BLOODSTONE walks out of the gazebo.

***William: (To Jared)*** *You’re your usual bubble of optimism.*

***Jared:*** *I am to please.*

William and Ed leave the gazebo next, leaving Jared to retake his seat on the bench.

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**Scene #3**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - PARK - EARLY AFTERNOON**

DANIEL ROCKWELL looks on at the gazebo from a distance, narrowing his eyes. His eyes lock onto JARED KELLINGS, who steps out of the gazebo, swaggering away. He grumbles, turning away, going back to cleaning his pistol.

LOLIDA WINDFIELD comes walking by his friend, taking a sip from a water bottle. Daniel glances up at him.

***Daniel:*** *No matter how much we’ve questioned that bastard… and no matter how much he’s managed to deny it… We both know what he did.*

***Lolida:*** *Yeah… we do.*

***Daniel:*** *Prick’s been playing nice ever since. Getting in the good books of everyone around us. They’re stupid. They are all stupid to trust him.*

***Lolida:*** *I hate to say it… but they’re idiots… all of them. Idiotic for trusting a MONSTER like him…*

***Daniel:*** *It had to be him. It had to be. There’s no other way. Isaac-- When I saw him hanging there in that security footage, from the ceiling… There was barely anything left of him.*

Lolida looks down, sighing.

***Lolida:*** *We should’ve stayed back at the stadium… Maybe Isaac would still be here.*

***Daniel:*** *I’m sick of watching him walk freely among us, and I’m sick of William defending him.*

***Lolida:*** *We need to do something.*

Daniel stops cleaning his gun, looking up at Lolida.

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**Scene #4**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - PARK - EARLY AFTERNOON**

CLYDE ROLLINS swings back and forth slowly on a swing set. CLAIRE NOBLE is on another swing next to him.

***Claire:*** *It’s peaceful out here. I like it.*

***Clyde:*** *It’s peaceful everywhere now, don’t you think? I suppose… when guns aren’t firing at least, or the dead aren’t clustered.*

Claire looks at him, noticing something off about his demeanor.

***Claire:*** *Something’s wrong.*

***Clyde:*** *Oh… it is?*

***Claire:*** *Something has been wrong for a while.*

***Clyde:*** *I suppose being on the road is just starting to catch up to me. Yes, yes, even me, the masterful Clyde Rollins… is beginning to get a little fed up of our adventure across the states. For no matter the blistering weather we traverse through… or the devilish fiends we defeat in our path… it has… lost its thrill.*

***Claire:*** *We’ve traversed one state, Clyde.*

Clyde looks around, noticing EDWARD REMAR walking through the park, passing by them at a distance. He sighs.

***Claire:*** *That’s what’s wrong.*

***Clyde:*** *What? Hm?*

***Claire:*** *Surprisingly, you aren’t a very good actor when it comes to trying to play dumb. What’s wrong with you and Edard? You haven’t spoken in weeks. And don’t tell me it means nothing, something had to have happened.*

***Clyde:*** *In truth… Yes… I think Edward has… had a need to be alone as of late. He won’t open up to anyone… and I would imagine it’s - exactly as you told him before. He banked everything on killing Badrick… He finally did, and just as you told him… he wasn’t satisfied. And* ***that*** *is why I believe Edward doesn’t want to talk to anyone right now… Including me.*

***Claire:*** *You should try and talk to him. Maybe that’s what he needs.*

***Clyde:*** *Maybe…*

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**Scene #5**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - PARK - EARLY AFTERNOON**

As WILLIAM REYNES is walking through the park, he spots LLOYD WALLER and ALDUS PAXTON stepping out of the trees across the street, walking towards him.

***William:*** *How’d it go?*

***Aldus:*** *We had a quiet trip.*

Lloyd walks past William, not saying a word, making his way towards a climbing frame. William frowns slightly, then looks up at Aldus, and the dead animals over his shoulder.

***William:*** *Enough to feed us?*

***Aldus:*** *Yeah, I’ll probably go out in the morning for more. I did see a few rabbits around the area, so I’ll have my eye on that to watch for. Is it good here too?*

***William:*** *We’ll be fine. We’re moving out soon. Get some rest.*

Aldus nods, as William turns away, walking off to catch up with Lloyd. When he catches up with him, he climbs up onto the climbing frame, sitting down next to him.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey there, boss man.*

***William:*** *Boss man? That’s a new one* ***(He smiles)***. *So. What’s the matter? And don’t say nothing, I saw that frown on your face earlier.*

***Lloyd:*** *I messed up out there today. We were tracking a deer, we were so close to having it, and it was my shot. But I stepped on a stick or something, and the noise spooked it. Deer ran off, and before we could get to it, the biters did. That deer could’ve fed a lot of people.*

***William:*** *Hey - chin up, champ. If things always went according to plan, the apocalypse wouldn’t have happened.*

***Lloyd:*** ***(Mockingly)*** *Chin up, champ…*

***William:*** *I’m your new pep talk man, sue me. Don’t let something so small get you down.*

***Lloyd:*** *I messed up today when I shouldn’t have, and it’s not like it’s meaningless. Feeding everyone here is important. And that’s why you don’t bring a stupid kid along with you on a hunting trip, I guess.*

***William:*** ***(Sternly)*** *Hey - don’t talk shit about yourself like that. No. You’re not a stupid kid, don’t say stuff like that about yourself.*

***Lloyd:*** *I just want to be better.*

William goes silent, zoning out of the conversation. He gazes away, before shaking his head, snapping back into reality.

***William:*** *Just want to be better - huh. We all wanna improve. And you’re doing just fine.* ***(He taps Lloyd on the head)*** *Like Bob Marley once said - don’t worry, be happy.*

William hops down off the climbing frame, walking off.

***Lloyd:*** *Huh…*

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**Scene #6**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - PARK - EARLY AFTERNOON**

DEAN HOWARDS sits quietly on a bench, trying to thread together a dreamcatcher. As he’s working, he accidentally snaps a thread. He clicks his tongue, annoyed, and lets go of it, watching as he flies off, disappearing into the vegetation. ALBERT HANSON sits beside him, staring off into the distance.

***Dean:*** *It’s been a while, huh? Being on the road - and all. I’ve had to replace my shoes maybe… eight times. These boots are held together by duct tape* ***(He snickers softly, then sighs)''***. Oftentimes I forget when I had the opportunity to lie down and rest. It’s been so long, hasn’t it?

Dean pulls out a second dreamcatcher that he’s been working on, and starts to work on it.

***Albert:*** *Yeah - it’s been a while. Feels like we haven’t had a break in months - yet it’s only been a few weeks. Ever since Denver-- we haven’t come across a single person, have we? It’s deserted of people out here.*

***Dean:*** *Feels like we’re the only ones left. I still feel scared. Some nights - I can’t sleep. There’s no reason to be scared, though. It doesn’t feel like we’ve stopped running. Running is all I knew - for a month. Being scared. Always knowing that-- Maybe the next day, you wouldn’t be alive anymore. That’s all I knew. And… And I can’t shake that feeling anymore. That’s the paradox. You see?*

***Albert:*** *Mhm…*

***Dean:*** *All this time - I guess it snagged onto me.*

Dean looks back down at his dreamcatcher, working quietly.

***Dean:*** *I’m sorry.*

***Albert:*** *No need to be sorry.*

***Dean:*** *I’ve-- I’ve been trying to keep myself busy. With so much time to myself now, I guess - well, I’ve been trying to* ***find*** *myself. So--*

He holds up the dreamcatcher.

***Dean:*** *I’ve been holding onto some hobbies. Making these.*

Dean sets it down, and takes out a journal out of his bag, flipping through some pages.

***Dean:*** *Cataloging events - drawing.* ***(He shows Albert a mediocre drawing of some hills)*** *I don’t do a very good job at drawing* ***(He chuckles)***. *But I enjoy it. I - I hope to get better.*

***Albert:*** *It’s a good way to pass the time. I’m no better at drawing than you. Keep doing it* ***(He nods)***.

***Dean:*** *Aw, I appreciate that, but - I’m bottom of the barrel. I’ve been trying to woodwork, too - wood sculptures, what not.*

Dean quiets down, as he hears someone yelling in anger across the park.

***Dean:*** *Oh. Oh, uh-- we could continue this later.*

Dean picks up the dreamcatcher, handing it off to Albert.

***Dean:*** *For good luck. I don’t need this one, I’ve got a spare. On me.*

Albert nods with a smile, taking it from him. He pockets it, and then starts to walk off towards where the commotion is coming from.

DANIEL ROCKWELL speedwalks after JARED KELLINGS, who’s actively walking away from him.

***Daniel:*** *Stop for a fucking second, and listen to me.*

***Jared:*** *Would just fuck off about it? I’ve already told you EVERYTHING you wanted to know!*

Daniel catches up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to stop.

***Daniel:*** *Yet you haven’t looked me in the eyes about it once.*

Jared growls, turning around. He glares at him.

***Jared:*** *You want me to look you in the eyes? He died. In one of that bastard’s traps. Understand? Great - glad this is over.*

***Daniel:*** *No, it’s not over. I think you’re a fucking worm. I think you’re deceiving everyone here, but not me and Lolida. Everyone else made it out of there. Yet the one guy who was with you… He didn’t.*

***Jared:*** *Oh, you and Lolida, huh? What do you want me to say? I’ve had to listen to your shit for the last seven weeks.*

LOLIDA WINDFIELD jogs over to them, hearing the commotion. Pretty soon, a small crowd starts to form.

***Lolida:*** *Danny - Danny, easy.*

***Daniel:*** *No-- No, listen to me. Why are people trusting this fucking snake?!*

***Jared:*** ***(To Lolida)*** *Ah, hello. Can you get your friend off my ass for ten fucking minutes?*

***Lolida:*** *Shut your mouth for a goddamn minute, Jared.*

Daniel looks around at the crowd, pointing at JON MATTHEWS.

***Daniel:*** *Jon - you!*

***Jon:*** *What ‘bout me?*

***Daniel:*** *Do you trust this rat’s word?*

***Jon:*** *Do I trust that asshole? Fuck no.*

***Jared:*** *Aw, thanks babe.*

***Daniel:*** *So you’d agree with me? That he got our friend killed?*

***Jon:*** *I think he’s changed, Daniel. I like to think that the beating I gave him hit some sense into that brain of his. As far as I’m concerned, he’s* ***less*** *of an asshole than he was.*

***Daniel:*** *Are you all fucking tools? ARE YOU ALL FUCKING TOOLS?*

Daniel reaches into his pocket, trying to pull out his handgun.

***Jon:*** *Hey!*

Jon charges at him, knocking him to the ground.

***Jared:*** *Woah, woah--*

***Daniel: (To Jared)*** *You’re a piece of shit! And I see through your bullshit!*

***Jared:*** *I didn’t fucking kill your friend. There’s no ‘bullshit’ to see through!*

WILLIAM REYNES comes rushing over to the scene.

***William:*** *Holy shit - easy, easy!*

William draws his pistol, keeping it aimed at the ground.

***William:*** *Everyone - stop. Back the fuck off from each other.*

Jon gets off of Daniel, stepping back.

***William:*** ***(To Daniel and Lolida)*** *Enough with the fucking accusations already. As much as I hate to say it - Jared’s been doing better this past while. You’re entitled to your opinion -- but there’s no solid fucking proof. The only thing I’ve seen is him improving. So do us all a favour -- and drop it.*

***Daniel:*** *You’re a fucking joke, William.*

***Jon:*** *Easy.*

Daniel gets back up on his feet, looking back at Jared -- who he sees trying to hide a smile.

***Daniel:*** *You’re defending that smug little prick over there!*

He lunges at Jared, but stops when William raises his pistol, pointing it straight at Daniel.

***William:*** *Back the fuck off.*

***Jared:*** *Would you calm the hell down?*

Daniel steps back towards Lolida, smiling.

***Daniel:*** *All good… All good.*

***William:*** *The only one being destructive here is you. So drop it. Right now. The last thing we need right now is infighting. I don’t give ultimatums because they’re too decisive -- but you’re forcing my hand. Stop this bullshit. I’m sure you have your reasons - but they’re ridicu--*

Daniel turns around, shaking his head. He walks off with Lolida. William holsters his gun, shaking his head. As everyone starts to walk off, Jared approaches William.

***Jared:*** *Thanks, William.*

***William:*** *Yeah - yeah.*

***Jared:*** *That psycho has been on me for weeks. I didn’t kill Isaac. You know that right? I liked him.*

***William: (He nods slowly)*** *I’m putting my faith in you. Please… Please, I’m praying to God or whatever higher power there is here -- that you don’t disappoint me.*

***Jared:*** *You got it boss. Thank you. I’ll be on my way now.*

Jared and William turn away, walking off.

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**Scene #7**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET - LATE AFTERNOON**

WILLIAM REYNES leads a small team down one of the residential streets on the outskirts of Garden City. This particular street is vacant and quiet, with houses on either side.

***William:*** *Okay - so we don’t have much time before nightfall, so we have to move fast. Let’s check these houses, get ourselves some shelter. Everyone got that?*

***Kate:*** *Got it.*

***Marcus:*** *Yeah.*

***Solomon:*** *Got it too.*

JON MATTHEWS nods, walking along with the others. DEAN HOWARDS hums quietly, looking at the houses, while AUSTIN KINGSTON trails at the back of the group, carrying a shotgun.

***Kate:*** *Wow… It’s like we’re in Willamette again.*

***Dean: (Looking at one house)*** *This is a nice looking house. I would’ve bought this one. I had a - crap chute of a place.*

***Jon:*** *I say we focus on these two first ones at the end of the street. I’ll take the smaller one with William, the rest of you deal with the bigger one. We’ll meet back out here when we’ve cleared ‘em.*

***Solomon:*** *Sounds good.*

***William:*** *Agreed. Take your time, get everything sorted. Just -- make sure it’s cleared.*

The group splits off to search the two houses.

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**Scene #8**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

KATE BLOODSTONE cautiously opens up the front door, finding that it’s been left unlocked. She steps inside warily, keeping an eye out. MARCUS DOWNES, DEAN HOWARDS, SOLOMON REED and AUSTIN KINGSTON follow her inside.

***Kate:*** *…Wow, this house* ***is*** *nice. This would’ve been a nice place to settle down* ***(She smiles at Marcus)***.

***Marcus:*** *Heh. You - settling down anywhere that isn’t in the city? I doubt that.*

***Kate:*** *Hey, I like the idea of being in a peaceful neighbourhood like this too. It’d be a-- a nice community to be a part of. But the city life, I’ll admit I like the atmosphere more… I mean not anymore. But I did. Now it just represents the most dangerous place you can be.*

***Marcus:*** *I suppose this place is close enough to the city, anyways. I only ever lived in an apartment before all this. I wasn’t at home very often. Was always all over the place, working different cases.*

Solomon and Dean look around the house, examining things. Dean picks up a dusty picture frame, looking at a photo of a father, wife and a kid on it. He smiles to himself, then lowers the frame back onto the table he picked it up off. Solomon meanwhile finds a worn down guitar in one of the cabinets.

***Solomon:*** *Nothing useful in here.*

***Marcus:*** *Alright. Solomon, Austin.*

***Austin:*** *Mmm?*

***Marcus:*** *This place has a basement, you guys clear that. I’ll handle the upstairs. Kate and Dean, downstairs.*

***Dean:*** *Sure.*

***Marcus:*** *We’ll meet back here when we’re done.*

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**Scene #9**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

SOLOMON REED walks down the basement steps, the wooden boards creaking under his shoes with each step. AUSTIN KINGSTON slowly stomps down the steps behind him.

***Solomon:*** *Last basement I was in burned.*

***Austin:*** *Don’t know why you’d tell me that…*

They reach the bottom of the stairs, looking around the darkness.

***Solomon:*** *Look for a switch.*

Austin turns a corner, feeling his hand around the wall until he finds a light switch -- which of course doesn’t work when he flicks it. Grumbling, he takes out a flashlight from his pocket, shining it around the dark. The basement turns out to be spacious and empty - and is split into two different sides. Austin points towards one side of the basement, where there is a large lounge area and a couple of doors at the far end.

***Austin:*** *You check over there.*

Solomon nods, beginning to stroll over. Austin turns around to go explore the other side of the basement. He immediately comes across a door - and only one door. He opens it, shining the light around, revealing some sort of game room filled with an arcade machine, a pool table, an air hockey table, among other smaller things. After checking every corner and crevice inside the room, Austin walks over to a dusty cabinet in the corner. He puts the flashlight in his mouth, then grabs both handles of the cabinet, opening it. Inside of it are bottles upon bottles of different alcoholic beverages. Whiskey, wine, vodka, all calling to Austin. He stares at it for a long time, before he closes the cabinet doors with force, causing a few bottles to topple over onto their side inside.

Meanwhile, Solomon is exploring the other side of the basement. He discovers clothes scattered on the floor, and cardboard boxes full of empty and full cans of food. A large radio sits on a table in the corner of the lounge. As Solomon is looking around some more, he finds a note resting on the TV stand. He reads through it quickly, discovering that the family’s son had been killed by zombies. The wife, distraught, leaves her husband, who writes down that he is going to go out to find her. But when Solomon flips over the paper, he finds a second, messily written message saying that the husband had been bit, and was going to wait out his time in the basement. Solomon lays down the paper, as he hears a low growl from somewhere in the room. He spins around, and sees a zombie standing up from behind the couch, stumbling towards Solomon. Solomon whacks the zombie to the ground, then beats its head in with his prosthetic hand.

Austin steps in, looking around.

***Austin:*** *Solomon?*

***Solomon:*** *Alive.*

***Austin:*** *Hmm.*

He stands up, looking over.

***Solomon:*** *Had to kill a squatter. I found food and a radio.*

***Austin:*** *Good - good. There was nothing in the other room. I suppose we, uh, shall head upstairs?*

***Solomon:*** *Suppose so. Poor guy, though…*

The two of them leave the room, heading back upstairs.

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**Scene #10**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

Up on the first floor, KATE BLOODSTONE and DEAN HOWARDS are walking around the house, searching the place.

***Dean:*** *This would be a nice place to live in. I heard you - talking about the neighbourhood earlier, and I-- thought about that pretty hard.*

***Kate:*** *Yeah…*

***Dean:*** *It’s all I think about.*

***Kate:*** *I know it’s been on your mind a lot, Dean. Finding a place to settle down in… like the mall?*

***Dean:*** *It doesn’t feel like it’ll ever happen again. I see so many nice places.*

***Kate:*** *I know it feels that way. I remember when we first left Jim’s cabin for the hardware store and how much you hated it. I can’t imagine the effect of the last seven weeks have had on you.*

Dean huffs, leaning against the kitchen counter.

***Dean:*** *It feels like all we do is run. I just wanna rest. I’m so - tired.*

***Kate:*** *I believe that if we keep fighting, some good will come of it. Something has to.*

***Dean:*** *I’m tired, Kate.* ***(His voice breaking)*** *I’m so-- tired. I just wanna -- go home.*

***Kate:*** *That’s what we’re aiming for, right? What else are we doing all of this for? Listen. We’re getting by out here, day by day. But as bad as things might seem for all of us right now… we’re doing it in the hopes of finding something. Of improving our situation. Look how far we’ve come already.*

***Dean:*** *Day by day - we keep passing by so many places. It’s been weeks. When is this going to end? Why can’t we just stop already?*

***Kate:*** *When it’s safe…*

***Dean:*** *When is it going to be safe? When is this - going to be over? Can it really be safe?*

***Kate:*** *All we can do is keep fighting. I’m holding out hope. Marcus means the world to me… I want to have a life with him. I want to settle down with him. And if I have to fight for a few more weeks, or a few more months to have that chance… I will.*

Dean looks down, rubbing his face. He doesn’t believe in what she’s saying, and Kate can tell.

***Kate:*** *Everyone is feeling a little down right now. It’s exhausting. Moving everyday, traveling the distance we’ve had to walk on foot since we lost our cars… On such a small diet. But we’re still here. We survived Badrick to be here. We shouldn’t let him win. It was him, he’s the one who took our home from us, caused this terrible chain of events. If we bounce back from that, find a new place, then he failed. I know it’s not much to go off of… but all we can do is try. Keep trying. Keep fighting. Every day.*

Dean takes a deep breath, glancing up at her.

***Dean:*** *Yeah… I’ll try.*

***Kate:*** *Talk to me whenever you need to, okay? I’m going to go check on Marcus upstairs.*

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**Scene #11**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - SMALLER HOUSE**

WILLIAM REYNES and JON MATTHEWS enter the home, carrying their respective melee weapons.

***Jon:*** *Alrighty.*

Jon whistles loudly, getting the attention of whatever might be inside.

***William:*** *Oh - we’re taking the direct approach.*

***Jon:*** *Let’s see if there’s any stubborn fucks in here hoping to take a bite out of their guests.*

A loud groan comes from down one of the halls. Jon readies his axe, looking over. A zombie walks through a doorway, tumbling down the hall towards Jon, who raises his axe, bringing it down onto its head.

***Jon:*** *Come on!*

William enters the living room, seeing another two zombies. He swiftly decapitates one of them with his sword.

***Jon:*** *Ah, you’re going to demonstrate some badass ninja moves.*

William stabs the other zombie through its head. He looks around, spotting one more zombie walking out from the kitchen.

***William:*** *Badass ninja moves? Gladly.*

He runs up to the zombie, performing a roundhouse kick to it, sending it towards Jon, who slams his axe down onto its head.

***Jon:*** *Jesus, the hell did you learn that?*

***William:*** *I took lessons with Bruce. You remember Bruce, right? He was a black belt with three gold stripes - in nearly everything, really.*

***Jon:*** *Bruce, Bruce… I don’t think I had the pleasure of meeting the man, not properly. But I remember he was the principal. Hell, I don’t remember many people’s faces… Angela’s has stuck with me. I’m at peace with what happened to her, but she was something special. In the short time I knew her and got with her. I fell for her fiery attitude.*

***William:*** *I’m -- really sorry about that.*

***Jon:*** *I’ve come to peace with it. I’m in a better place now.*

***William:*** *That would’ve ripped an unfixable hole in my heart. I don’t know how you cope.*

***Jon:*** *You and Rebecca. Going strong for seven weeks.*

***William: (He smiles lightly)*** *A lucky break is all. You and Angela were something special.*

***Jon:*** *What me and Angela had never truly got a chance to shine. We had a liking for each other, but the goddamn day we started expressing feelings, the school got fucked up by Badrick, and we got jailed in the stadium. Before I knew it, she was gone. I could blink looking back on my life and miss her. It annoys me, but that’s what shit does to you. We’re all only empty shells of who we used to be, at least when we’re out here. This isn’t living. It’s just surviving. Me personally? I’m okay with that. I wasn’t a great guy before this either, but William. I see it getting to you. Daniel’s words earlier, did they get to ya’?*

***William:*** *A little more - than I like to admit. He’s right though. He really is. We’d be better off with someone more -- decisive leading us.*

***Jon:*** *Really, what is there to be decisive about? The direction we’re heading in? Ask anyone else for a better fucking suggestion, I guarantee they’ll choke on their tongue trying.*

***William:*** *I can’t help but shake the feeling that I should be doing more, you know?*

***Jon:*** *Why don’t you look at it this way. Your rules and way of direction everyone has kept us all alive for seven weeks, it’s kept us out of any real trouble for seven weeks now. Sure, things have been bad, we’re all exhausted, we’re low on food, but we’re alive, we’ve managed to avoid any real conflicts for all that time. It just seems so bad now because we’ve actually had the time to reflect on it. People look to you for a reason. You stepped up when nobody else did. Being a leader is a lot of responsibility, carries a lot of weight. That weight would break most people’s backs. Not yours.*

***William:*** *I just look back on how happy people were back when Jacob was around -- compared to how we are now. I mean - did Jacob ever have to pull a gun on his own friends to stop them arguing?*

***Jon:*** *Wait until you find a place to settle down in. Things’ll be better then.*

***William:*** *I really hope so.*

***Jon:*** *Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, it’s gotten us this far. We’re clear here, let’s regroup with the others and get everyone here. I think this’ll do just fine for one night.*

***William:*** *Yeah - yeah, good call.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #12**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

Later that night, the majority of the group are inside the bigger of the two houses, sitting around the house, eating cooked rabbit for dinner. REBECCA DAWSON, WILLIAM REYNES and LLOYD WALLER are sitting at one table.

***Rebecca:*** *It’s delicious, thank you, Lloyd.*

***Lloyd:*** *Huh?*

***Rebecca:*** *It was your hunting talents that helped get us this meal tonight, wasn’t it?*

***Lloyd:*** *…I guess, thanks. Aldus taught me… a lot. We would’ve had more if I got that deer…*

***William:*** ***(He slams his fist into the table)*** *That - deer - does - not - matter. You did the best you could. Stop being so hard on yourself. Really.*

***Rebecca:*** *The rabbits have done just fine at feeding all of us. On top of all that, there were plenty of cans of food in the basement here. We’re eating better tonight than we have in weeks. You did good out there, kid.*

***William:*** *If I beat myself up over* ***literally*** *everything I did wrong, I’d have strung myself up like a lightbulb by now. ‘Cause believe me - I do a lot wrong. A lot.*

***Rebecca:*** *But you do more than enough right. I’m sure it balances itself out.*

***William:*** *Hardly.*

William looks up from his plate, seeing JARED KELLINGS shuffling over. William grimaces, then forces a smile.

***Jared:*** *You mind if I take a seat, scooby doo gang?*

***William:*** *Sure thing, Shaggy. Sit. Eat.*

***Jared:*** *Thanks, it gets lonely in this big house* ***(He sits down with his plate)***.

***William:*** *Lonely - huh. You of all people - lonely? Surely the great charismatic Jared Kellings isn’t feeling lonely now, is he?*

***Rebecca:*** *Is it just me, or are you two starting to get along… genuinely?*

***William:*** *Huh? What? No. Gross.*

***Jared:*** *If you’re worried I’m gonna steal your boyfriend, yes, I am. Don’t take it personally.*

***Rebecca:*** *Funny.*

Rebecca stands up, taking a few of the empty dishes to put them away. When she’s gone, Jared looks over at William.

***Jared:*** *Hey, uh… Thanks again for the save earlier. You know - from Daniel.*

***William:*** *Water under the bridge. He was being ridiculous. As long as you’re genuine. We’ll all be fine. The last thing I need right now - is my trust broken.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah… Ridiculous. No worries on that front. Anyways, I’ll leave you alone. See you, loser.*

Jared stands up, walking off.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #13**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

In the living room, CLYDE ROLLINS and CLAIRE NOBLE are sitting in a couple of chairs. Clyde picks at his food, while looking around the room.

***Claire:*** *You concerned?*

***Clyde:*** *…Partly.*

***Claire:*** *Clyde, go and find him. You really need to talk it out. Bring him something to eat, he might as well while we have food at our fingertips.*

***Claire:*** *Alright, alright… I’ll go looking for him.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #14**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE - LATE EVENING**

In the backyard, DEAN HOWARDS is sitting on the steps, holding some scruffy old toy in his hands. He doesn’t notice him at first, but when Dean hears footsteps, he looks up to see EDWARD REMAR standing at the backyard fence, cutting off a zombie’s arm through the fence with a cleaver. Edward chuckles, until he finishes it off by stabbing it in the head. Dean watches, disturbed, but doesn’t say anything. Edward turns away from the fence as the zombie corpse slides down the fence, leaving behind a blood trail. He walks up to Dean, immediately noticing his disgust.

***Edward:*** *Mm. You must have a poor judgement of me. Why are you sitting out here alone, Dean?*

***Dean: (He shrugs)*** *Thinking.*

***Edward:*** ***(He shrugs as well)*** *Enjoy.*

Dean looks up as Edward is beginning to turn.

***Dean:*** *You ever think about a home? A - place we can really stay at and be at peace? I was -- just wondering. That’s what I was thinking about.*

***Edward:*** *As far as I’m concerned… that’s not possible. Not unless you have an army big enough to sustain it. You need* ***power***.

***Dean:*** *…Yeah. That’s about what I expected. It isn’t sustainable.*

***Edward:*** *It isn’t… because why put your faith in other people?*

***Dean:*** *You thinking about anything, too? Other than a home-- I know that Badrick… He hurt you, bad.*

***Edward:*** ***(Defensively)*** *Badrick is dead. He is dead. I won.*

***Dean:*** *I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have--*

***Edward:*** *I killed Badrick. He is gone…*

***Dean:*** *At some point, I guess we’ve all gotta move on, right? It’s so hard. It feels like you’re-- you’re trying to drown yourself.*

***Edward:*** *Precisely, Dean… I’ll be next door. I need some peace.*

***Dean: (He nods)*** *I understand.*

Edward limps off with his cane, leaving Dean behind.

A few minutes later, CLYDE ROLLINS comes walking out the back door, noticing Dean sitting on the steps.

***Clyde:*** *Oh -- goodness. Dean, it’s you. Why are you sitting out here in the cold alone? I expected to find Edward-- I’m looking for him.*

***Dean:*** *Edward? He went that way* ***(He points at the smaller house next door)***. *He-- he was killing that zombie over there. He made a real stir of it. Chopped it up to bits, laughed the whole way through. I don’t think he’s right, Clyde. I’d give him space.*

***Clyde:*** *I need to talk to him, don’t worry… I know what I’m doing. Thank you.*

Dean nods as he watches Clyde go next door.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #15**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

Back inside the house, RANDALL FORSTER is sitting around a table, chowing down on some rabbit with some other members of the group.

***Randall:*** *Mm* ***(He wipes his mouth)***.

***Aldus:*** *Good, isn’t it?*

***Alex:*** *Ah, yes. Cooked rabbit. My favourite.*

***Randall:*** *Hell yeah. You aren’t such a bad cook either.*

***Aldus:*** *Thank you. I made sure to read those books about cooking a while back on the road. They pay off well.*

***Randall:*** *We’re eating better now than we have in a while… Shame we’re always movin’ about.* ***(He looks up at Kate and Marcus)*** *Bet these two lovebirds would love a chance to settle, especially.*

***Marcus:*** *I like to think it won’t be much longer out on the road. We haven’t stayed at one place for more than a few nights since the stadium now, and I don’t really count that… It was used as our prison after all.*

***Kate:*** *…That reminds me…* ***(She frowns)***

***Marcus:*** *What’s up?*

***Kate:*** *It’s Dean. I think I’m going to look for him, make sure he’s had something to eat.*

KATE BLOODSTONE stands up, picking up a plate with some rabbit on it. She walks off in search of Dean.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #16**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE - LATE EVENING**

In the backyard, LAYTON ZIMMERS is sitting next to DEAN HOWARDS, babbling on, while Dean looks around, uninterested.

***Layton:*** *I tell ya’, soon enough the teeth in those things are gonna decay and rot and so much that them biting us won’t even be a threat anymore! In fact… surely soon enough, those things will just… decompose. Right? Right.*

***Dean:*** *Oh-- uh, yeah, yeah - surely after enough time.*

***Layton:*** *I wonder… I really do… These things… why did someone want to bring them into existence… I mean it was surely intentional… we learnt that much from Mr. Taylor. Maybe people intended to… weaponize them. The Russians…?*

***Dean:*** *Maybe, Layton. Maybe.*

***Layton:*** *We don’t know how many people were involved with this.*

KATE BLOODSTONE opens the back door, stepping out into the evening chill. She looks on at the backs of Layton and Dean on the steps.

***Kate:*** *Layton. Do you mind if I have a word with Dean?*

***Layton:*** *Oh… sure, absolutely. I just saw him sitting out here alone in the cold. We’ll talk later, pal.*

Layton pats Dean on the shoulder, before getting up and marching inside. Dean lets out a sigh of relief.

***Dean:*** *He’s - got a lot to say.*

***Kate:*** *Tell me about it. I originally thought he’d run out of things to talk about… but he gets more talkative every week. He has his moments.*

***Dean:*** *It’s charming. But I didn’t sit out here to listen to theories.*

Kate sits next to him, offering him the plate of food.

***Kate:*** *You’ve been sitting out here all night, you almost missed dinner, so…*

***Dean:*** *Yeah. Yeah, I’ve just been thinking is all.* ***(He looks at the food)*** *I-- I appreciate it but-- I’m really not hungry. Really. You have it.*

***Kate:*** *But you should anyways, who knows when we’ll next get a good chance.*

Dean looks back again at the food, but shakes his head, looking away.

***Kate:*** *I talk a lot about being optimistic and hopeful, but that doesn’t mean I’m not realistic. Tomorrow could be a bad day. We have to accept now that anything can happen.*

***Dean:*** *I was thinking about what you said earlier.*

***Kate:*** *Thought so.*

***Dean:*** *I don’t know yet - if I can believe it. That-- all this fighting will mean anything. But… But I do appreciate it. I appreciated it enough that - I missed dinner to think about it* ***(He chuckles softly)***.

***Kate:*** *It’s not going to be easy to buy into, or to start relying on… but it* ***is*** *what we’re fighting for, and it is possible. We just have to find the right place.*

***Dean:*** *It just feels like we’re always lost, you know? I may get angry sometimes - or upset at people but it’s-- it’s not their fault. I don’t mean it. I don’t - like to shut you all out. You’re-- you’re family to me. You’re all - well, what I have left. I’m just… I’m thinking a lot more.*

***Kate:*** *It’s the same for all of us. All we have out here is each other. We haven’t even encountered a person since Denver. Maybe… Maybe it’s going to be a lot more of a rarity from now on.*

***Dean:*** *Yeah. I was talking with Edward before. He, uh… stopped by to talk to me. I asked him - if he believed a community was possible. He-- Well, he didn’t think so. It’s not sustainable. He thought that - you can’t rely on people to really… manage it.*

***Kate:*** *Edward… he’s… well… I think his view on* ***people*** *has always been tainted.*

***Dean:*** *Yeah. He didn’t seem in the greatest of spirits when he talked to me.*

***Kate:*** *He’s always dealing with something, but I prefer not to interfere.*

***Dean:*** *I feel bad for him. He’s lost so much.*

***Kate:*** *We all have… but like you, we all have our own ways of dealing with our grief. Come on, you should join us inside.*

***Dean:*** *Ahh, I… I’m peaceful out here, I am. But-- but maybe I should take a break. Just - enjoy things for a while. You’re right.*

Dean nods, standing up, taking the plate of food off her.

***Dean:*** *I appreciate the company. Of you, and even Layton. Even if he does tend to, well, you know, do his thing.*

***Kate:*** *It’s nothing, in fact it’s the least I  can do.*

Kate gets up, walking back inside with Dean.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #17**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - SMALLER HOUSE**

Inside the house, EDWARD REMAR is seated at the kitchen table, in the dark. His cleaver is in his hands, and he’s cleaning it with a cloth until he can see the blurry reflection of himself in it.

***Edward:*** *Mm…*

CLYDE ROLLINS opens the back door, stepping in. Edward immediately looks up and sees him.

***Edward:*** *Clyde.*

***Clyde:*** *…Edward… How… How are you?*

***Edward:*** *I’m doing fine. I just came here for some peace and quiet.*

He stands up, grabbing his cane and getting ready to go.

***Clyde:*** *Wait, wait. Before you… Before you do the usual…*

***Edward:*** *The usual?*

***Clyde:*** *You know what I mean, you’ve avoided talking to me for weeks beyond the odd greeting.*

***Edward:*** *I have avoided talking to most people.*

***Clyde:*** *Ever since--*

***Edward:*** *No. Not just that. These aren’t my people. Nobody is. If you are here to finally try and confront me about* ***that***… *I was wrong to ever open up to you. I let myself grow weak for you, my mind started to wander, it is true. It was a mistake.*

***Clyde:*** *Ed--*

***Edward:*** *No. All my life people have done* ***nothing*** *for me. And I was wrong to let myself start relying on someone. You cannot rely or trust anyone, not truly.*

***Clyde:*** *…What about Sarah? I saw what that little girl--*

***Edward:*** *You say it every time. That I had sympathy for a poor little girl who was slowly dying, who had been kidnapped by a psychopath? My heart’s not black, it’s not like I don’t have the ability to show any kind of remorse for another person. But look at what happened to her, and now to her father. Both of them are dead. Her, because she was weak, and this world wasn’t for her, as tragic as it is. Him, because he cared about her obviously, and he couldn’t live without her. She made him weak. That’s all other people do now, Clyde. They make you weak.*

***Clyde:*** *…I assure you, there’s a lot more to it than that.*

***Edward:*** *A lot more that I do not want to hear. You all act like seeing Badrick die didn’t satisfy me, and while I would’ve liked to have done a lot worse to him…* ***(He grins)*** *It brings me… so much joy… every time I think back to him weakly crawling across that parking lot, coughing up his insides. More joy… than you could possibly imagine* ***(He chuckles)***. *There was nothing for me before this, and I openly admitted that I* ***like*** *the way the world is now. I’ve just wasted too much time caring about things that aren’t my concern. When really… These last few weeks I’ve had time to think about it… and I’m ready to thrive now. There’s an entire planet for the taking, Clyde… and I intend to carve out my fair share of it.*

***Clyde:*** *I… I don’t… entirely know what you mean. If you’re… referring to a group… you’d need to be relying on… people… and-- you claim you don’t like people.*

***Edward:*** *It’s different to a group like this. Do you think Badrick truly cared about any of his people? Do you think they were all expected to have a bond with each other?*

***Clyde:*** *Oh dear, you surely aren’t comparing what you want to do to what Badrick did.*

***Edward:*** *Of course not… He was an impractical psychopath, he didn’t seek to build anything, only to destroy.*

***Clyde:*** *Because he wanted to kill all of us. And look at the lengths you went to in order to see him die, you threw everything away for it. You became irrational too, Edward.*

Edward turns away, picking his cleaver up off the table.

***Edward:*** *I’ll always appreciate what you taught me, Clyde. I learnt through you to be compassionate, and I do acknowledge… you are one of the only friends I have ever had.*

***Clyde:*** *…Are we still friends? Edward… you’re my best friend. We had a little inconvenience, but before that, we were the dream team, don’t you recall? No matter what, I will be here for you. And you are a good person at your core, you shouldn’t tell yourself otherwise. What you did for Sarah was heroic. And if you recall, it was you who helped* ***me*** *step up. You encouraged me to do what was right, and before I knew it, I felt like a real action star, rescuing a little girl from a-- a gang! Just because you’ve had some bad experiences with people in your life does not mean you are meant to be alone. The group next door to us right now, they are a great group of people, and the closest thing I have to family now.*

Edward looks at him for a few seconds, before opening his mouth to speak.

***Edward:*** *Yes, Clyde. We’re still friends. I respect you.*

He starts walking towards the back door.

***Clyde:*** *But -- can’t we talk this out…?*

Edward opens the back door, glancing over his shoulder momentarily, before stepping out.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #18**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

Upstairs, REBECCA DAWSON sits on a small stool by the window, gazing out at the night sky. WILLIAM REYNES sits on a bed inside the room, sighing. Rebecca turns to face him.

***Rebecca:*** *Talk to me. I’m all ears.*

***William:*** *It’s - nothing. I’m just being an idiot over small, baby problems that I shouldn’t be getting so worked up over.*

***Rebecca:*** *Small baby problems, huh?*

***William:*** *Yeah.*

***Rebecca:*** *Tell me about your small baby problems, then.*

***William:*** *Well - to start with, I -- am completely lost.*

***Rebecca:*** *You want me to fetch the map to remind you of where we are* ***(She smirks)***.

***William:*** *My sense of humour must be contagious* ***(He smiles slightly)***.

***Rebecca:*** *What do you mean by lost…?*

***William:*** *I mean - I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how to-- live up to the leadership role I’m meant to be in.*

***Rebecca:*** *Right now… we’re sitting in a cozy house for shelter, our bellies are full because we’ve eaten well, and nobody is hurt or dead. Nobody has been in any real danger for weeks now.*

***William:*** *Nobody’s been happy either.*

***Rebecca:*** *Do you think if someone else was leading us we’d all be smiling like some circus freaks? You are doing your best to get us by every day until we can find somewhere safe to settle down.*

***William:*** *Well - if it was a ringleader -- probably* ***(He smiles)***.

***Rebecca:*** *The things people are moping about don’t indicate that you are doing anything wrong. We’ve all just got to make the best of our shitty circumstances. We’re all getting sick of moving, but we have to. People look up to you more than you realize, Will. People admire what you’re doing for them, even if everyone is too quiet or down to mention it. Lloyd looks up to you like a father, you’re all he’s really had. You have Jon’s respect too, and I think that says a lot on its own.*

***William:*** *Lloyd looks up to you too, you know. He needs someone he can talk to - and that can’t always be me.*

***Rebecca:*** *He’s a good kid* ***(She nods)***. *I wish he knew that.*

***William:*** *Jon and I had a talk earlier. He was doing what you are doing right now, actually.*

***Rebecca:*** *Then I rest my case.*

***William:*** *But that doesn’t mean he was right* ***(He shakes his head)***.

***Rebecca:*** *You are doing great, William, nobody else could step up to the task quite as well, and nobody else wants to. It’s grueling, and it’s stressful, and it’s exhausting, more than people like Daniel give you credit for. I get where he’s coming from, but it’s been weeks, he has to put it to rest, there’s no real evidence to go off of. He’s hanging onto something that is really grasping at straws, he’s basing it entirely on what he’d heard about Jared before, someone he barely knew. But I don’t think it’s all that. He’d calmed down about it for a few weeks, I don’t think his anger is all directly related to what happened to Isaac. I think he’s just breaking down out here… And he’s aiming his anger at an easy target. Daniel is an example of why you are a good leader. You haven’t let all of this break you down. You’re staying strong for everyone in this house. Because you care about them, and their well-being, truly. And that’s all there is to it.*

William smiles slightly, nodding.

***William:*** *You’re right, I guess. Maybe I’m just overthinking things.*

***Rebecca:*** *You are.*

William crawls under the covers of the bed, while Rebecca stays at her stool near the window.

***William:*** *What’s on your mind?*

***Rebecca:*** *I’m gonna get up early tomorrow, I don’t like how quiet it is out here. Randall is going out tomorrow to look further into the city, to see if it’s safe. I’ll take another group out down our marked route on the map, see if I can get any supplies. I don’t want to settle here, we have to remember we’re in a city. Ed was anxious enough to come here in the first place, and he was right to be.*

***William:*** *You’re definitely one of a kind.*

Rebecca slowly stands up, climbing into bed next to him.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #19**

**GARDEN CITY - NEIGHBOURHOOD - BIGGER HOUSE**

Early the next morning, WILLIAM REYNES is awoken by the sun shining through the window onto his face. He sits up, yawning and stretching, noticing that Rebecca has already gotten up and left. He rubs his eyes, getting up, getting dressed and going downstairs.

Downstairs, JARED KELLINGS sits at a table, munching down on dry, expired cereal.

***William:*** *How - long was I asleep?*

***Jared:*** *Uh… A while, I guess.*

***William:*** *Real helpful. Has Rebecca already left to go - scouting?*

***Jared:*** *I don’t know, I just got up, too. You know there’s no milk - like anywhere, right?*

***William:*** *Yeah - maybe we’ll milk you instead.*

***Jared:*** *At least buy me dinner first.*

***William:*** *Is that an invitation?* ***(He chuckles, looking at the fridge)***

***Jared:*** *You’re not my type - also there’s no milk in there, I checked. If there was, it’d be expired.*

Jared perks his head up, hearing the front door to the house open.

***Jared:*** *Who’s that?!*

***William:*** *Your dad. He came back with his packet of smokes.*

***Jared:*** *Really?*

RANDALL FORSTER stomps into the house, and into the kitchen, alongside CLAIRE NOBLE.

***Randall:*** *It’s me, ya’ prick.*

***Jared:*** *Aw…*

***Randall:*** *Got some, uh, bad news.*

***Jared:*** *What sorta bad news?*

***William:*** *Spill the beans, sis.*

***Jared:*** *Really? Sis?*

***Randall:*** *Aight, in short… the city is fucked, mate.*

***William:*** *Fucked?*

***Randall:*** *We ventured in a bit, it’s infested, you’d think it was the superbowl.*

***Claire:*** *The reason it’s so quiet out here, they are all grouped up in the city. Clustered together.*

***Jared:*** *Well that’s good, right?*

***Claire:*** *It won’t be long before they make their way out here.*

***Jared:*** *Oh… nevermind.*

***William:*** *How many are we talking?*

***Randall:*** *Didn’t really count, just saw a sea of dead people. That was enough to make me wish I’d worn my brown pants. Because fuck that, I didn’t want them to spot me.*

***William:*** *Well, shit. We’ll have to get moving soon, then. Rebecca and a few others are out on an expedition right now.*

***Claire:*** *We can be ready to move when they get back. I think it’s for the best. I don’t think anyone imagined we’d be staying here long anyway.*

***Jared: (He raises his hand)*** *I did. This is a nice place…*

***Randall:*** *Pity it’s on the edge of an infested city, I’d rather not take any chances…*

***William:*** *In future - I want you all to avoid large hordes like you saw earlier.*

***Claire:*** *That’s the best thing to do, yeah. Staying clear of them is what has gotten us this far without much trouble.*

***William:*** *It’s way too risky. No point in luring them -- no point doing anything. Too dangerous.*

***Randall:*** *Aight then, so we’re gonna get ready to move out?*

***William:*** *Yeah. Everyone pack up, get ready to roll out.*

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**Scene #20**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - MORNING**

REBECCA DAWSON walks down the road, nothing but flat land filled with trees on either side of them. JON MATTHEWS, SOLOMON REED, AUSTIN KINGSTON and ALBERT HANSON are trailing behind her.

***Jon:*** *…So, uh, where exactly are we aiming to go here?*

***Rebecca:*** *Well, I didn’t want to venture into the city, we don’t know if it’s safe at all, we can’t afford to be rash… And we need supplies. So I’m hoping we’ll encounter something in this direction, whether it be a farm, a gas station, a smaller town… Anything that can stock us up on food.*

***Jon:*** *Fair play. I mean we’ve walked out pretty damn far from the city now, and we haven’t found* ***shit*** *yet, how far do you want to go?*

***Rebecca:*** *As far as we need to. It’s early hours, we have the time, as long as you all don’t mind walking.*

***Jon:*** ***(Jokingly)*** *Oh, no. I love walking, don’t get enough of it. But I will admit, with all the walking we’ve had to do over the last few weeks on our little journey across the states… I am hoping we’ll find some cars again. Decent ones too. So many have been scrapped for cars, or have crashed.*

***Solomon:*** *Yeah, hopefully there’s a vehicle.*

Rebecca looks ahead, seeing a sign appearing from behind a few bushes.

***Rebecca:*** *…Yeah… hopefully.*

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

***Austin:*** *Finally? Something?*

***Rebecca:*** *We’re in luck, a motel just off the side of the road.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #21**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - MORNING**

REBECCA DAWSON and the others crouch down in the woods across the street from the motel, looking on at it. The parking lot is infested, dozens of zombies crowded inside it. Up on the balcony of the motel are a few more zombies banging on one of the doors.

***Jon:*** *…Well, shit.*

***Austin:*** *Goddamn.*

***Jon:*** *That has to be about sixty to seventy dead fucks clustered in there.*

***Austin:*** *The one building we find in - God knows how many miles. Infested with the infected* ***(He sighs)***.

***Rebecca:*** *We all know the rules, it’s not worth it.*

***Solomon:*** *Now, what if we made a distraction?*

***Rebecca:*** *It’s not worth the risk.*

A muffled gunshot comes from somewhere inside the motel.

***Albert:*** *Is someone in there?*

***Jon:*** *…Maybe some sorry bastard just took the easy way out and we came at the wrong time.*

***Austin:*** *Poor guy.*

***Albert:*** *What if they didn’t - what if someone is actually alive in there? We need to at least find that out.*

***Jon:*** *There isn’t much we can do for them, and on top of that, it could be some hostile asshole.*

***Albert:*** *No, no-- you don’t know that. This is the first sign of another person since Denver. We can’t just walk away.*

***Rebecca:*** *…He’s right. We have to try… as risky as it is… we have to do something.*

***Jon:*** *Well… standing around discussing it isn’t gonna do us any good… or whoever is in there.*

JON MATTHEWS raises his axe, beginning to cross the road.

***Rebecca:*** *Jon - wait, no. We can’t be reckless about this. Listen. We have to handle this as a team.*

***Jon:*** *Fine, fine. We’ll do it your way.*

***Rebecca:*** *Solomon-- I want you and Austin to head into the parking lot, get on top of one of the cars and make as much noise as possible to divert some of their attention.*

***Solomon:*** *Huh? Okay.*

***Rebecca:*** *Albert, Jon and I will deal with the rest of the stragglers and make our way up to where the gunshot sounded. Let’s hope this is worth the trouble… Now.*

Rebecca nods to SOLOMON REED and AUSTIN KINGSTON, who get up, jogging across the street into the parking lot. Austin bashes his shotgun against a car window, shattering it. Solomon does the same but with his prosthetic arm. Austin climbs up onto a car, while Solomon makes his way up into the back of a pickup truck. To really get the attention of the horde, Austin aims his shotgun in the air and fires it. The sound echoes around the area, as almost every zombie in the parking lot starts making their way over.

Meanwhile, the other three quietly go across the street, approaching the side of the motel. They hop over a fence, and start making their way around, cutting down any zombies in their way. Zombie after zombie drops dead, the three of them slicing them down with ease - until a pathway towards the balcony is finally cleared. Jon bolts ahead, jogging up the stairs onto the second floor balcony. He then slows down, swinging his axe into a lone zombie, causing it to fall over the railing below. He continues forward, until arriving at a group of walkers banging on one particular door. He hacks through them with his axe, blood spraying everywhere - but doesn’t manage to get all of them. By the time he can see the door that the zombies were banging on - it’s already been busted open. He looks inside, seeing two zombies stumbling inside towards the far end of the room. He pauses for a moment, hearing the sound of a guitar playing inside, and quiet singing.

***Jon:*** *…The fuck.*

He steps in, kicking down the first zombie, pinning it down with his boot. He then lays down his axe, drawing his knife as the second zombie approaches him. He swiftly stabs it in the head, then kneels down to finish off the second one. He stands back up, exhaling, exhausted, and covered in blood and sweat. He looks towards the bed inside the motel, where he spots a young man sitting on the bedside, a guitar in his hands - though he’s not playing it anymore, and the singing has ceased.

***Brenden:*** *Holy shit, another human being.*

Rebecca and ALBERT HANSON finally catch up, stepping inside.

***Jon:*** *Now, correct me if I was hearing things. But I am led to believe you were just fucking singing while those assholes burst in here.*

***Brenden:*** *They had me cornered, I was out of ammo* ***(He points to his gun on the end table)***. *Might as well die doing something I love, right?*

***Jon:*** *Goin’ out with style, I can respect that, even if I think it’s a bit loopy. That said, you’re most certainly welcome, because they are all dead now. Step out and see for yourself, but first…*

Jon approaches the table, snatching the gun up. He narrows his eyes, skeptical of Brenden, as he checks to see if the gun has any ammo. It doesn’t.

***Jon:*** *Gotta be safe.*

Brenden stands up, walking around the room, and then out onto the balcony, looking at all the corpses.

***Brenden:*** *I can respect that. I can’t thank you enough, seriously. You saved my life.*

***Rebecca:*** *Has it been a while for you too then? Since you encountered anyone.*

***Brenden:*** *I was with a group a few days ago… My band, actually. We were checking out this mill… Nevermind, uh, yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen other people.*

***Rebecca:*** *I’m Rebecca. With me is Jon, Albert, Austin and Solomon.*

Solomon and Austin, who are finishing up with the rest of the zombies below, look up at Brenden, nodding and giving a slight wave.

***Brenden:*** *I’m Brenden, nice to meet you all.*

***Rebecca:*** *It’s been a long time since we’ve seen anyone, we were skeptical to even come and help you, in truth, but Albert insisted.*

***Jon:*** *This place… Do you stay here or did you just happen to be here when we found you?*

***Brenden:*** *I was staying here for a few days, seemed like a good enough spot. Had beds at least. Me and my band hunkered down here for a bit, rabids followed me back here when I was running from a bad scavenging trip…*

***Jon:*** ***(He turns to Rebecca)*** *It’s got fences, it’s got space… It’s further out from the city.*

***Rebecca:*** *…Yeah, this could work for a while, even if it’s just for a few days. No harm in giving it a shot.* ***(To Brenden)*** *Would you mind if we brought our people here?*

***Brenden:*** *Not at all, uh, so long as you got some supplies, my group and I didn’t really have that much, or really scavenge the place up and down, so don’t really know much food and water is here.*

***Rebecca:*** *Mutual problem… but that’s a bridge we can cross together.*

Rebecca looks down into the parking lot of the motel, seeing Austin and Solomon finishing the last of the zombies. For the first time in a long time, she looks hopeful for the future.