The Last Breath

Season 2, Episode 12

## Cast Guide

Starring
Chyler Leigh as Harper Lodge
Finn Wittrock as Declan Lodge
Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Riley Lodge
Chris Hemsworth as Kari Andrews
Patrick Dempsey as Ben Monroe
Brett Dalton as Brandon
Ellen Pompeo as Alexa Reed
Nick Zano as Matt Archer

Also Starring
Ronen Rubinstein as Avery Stanson
Juliana Harkavy as Janine
Gavin McIntosh as Jason Andrews
Hayden Panettiere as Carley Jonas
Alberto Frezza as Theo
Noah Centineo as David Welles
Christine Adams as Lindsay Gwennith

**The Last Breath** is the twelfth episode of the second season of Coda.

## Plot

The fractured group crosses paths with one another numerous times, failing to reunite, as an enemy lingers over them.

## Episode Transcript

### Act One

Janine stomps her boot onto a walker’s head, crushing it into the wooden panelling beneath her of the boating exhibit. Ben interjects, pulling the walker’s body outside to burn alongside the rest of them. Riley stands over Tara’s body, as Declan approaches behind her, grabbing her hand.

“So you were with her?” Declan sighs, looking at Riley and kissing her forehead.

“We were with her after Crawford fell. We got separated, and…” Riley shakes her head, “I guess you know what happened next.”

“Me, Janine, and Kari found her. She had turned. I had to…” Declan tells her, as Riley quickly embraces him.

“You did what you had to do.” The two kiss, as Ben reaches them.

“Damn…” Ben looks at Tara’s corpse, “You told us she didn’t make it, but…”

“Yeah.” Declan turns to Ben, “So what’s our next move?”

Ben shakes his head as he looks at Tara, “We bury her. Burn the rest.”

Riley nods in agreement, as Janine and Kari approach, with Kari perking up especially, “Then we look for the others, right? And Jason?”

“Of course.” Riley tells him, grabbing his forearm, “We’re not abandoning him or the others.”

“Yeah. No way in hell am I leaving my sister out there to die.” Declan nods, glancing at the others.

“Well…” Ben sighs in conclusion, “Let’s get started with the bodies, then.”

### Act Two

Harper walks alongside Matt toward the old town of Wilkerson where many of the previous days’ events had taken place. The group moves tired and stressed from the ongoing torment and threat of Jonathan’s new group, said threat looming over their collective shoulders.

“So...about Alexa.” Harper looks to Matt, bumping his shoulder, “Did you get scared? Worried? Or was not helping her your ‘idea’ of dealing with the Amelio situation?”

“I…” Matt sighs, half-smiling at Harper, “I couldn’t tell you. I really don’t know.”

“If you ever need help...just a talk, or something. Let me know, alright?” Harper tells him, glancing with a side eye in worry. She looks over her shoulder, as well, staring at David, dragging his feet all alone.

“Yeah. You got it, boss.” He nods, as the two catch up to the rest of the group.

Theo approaches Harper’s side, nudging her, “So, you’re sure Alexa is this way?”

“Don’t worry, Theo. I’m sure she’s fine and she’s at Wilkerson waiting for us. David and…” Harper groans in distress, “David told me how Amanda escaped and that guy saw her with Alexa.”

Theo quickly nods, biting his nails, “We better find her, Harper.”

Harper looks at him and nods. The group reaches Wilkerson, as Theo eagerly begins searching buildings. Matt glares at Harper, who shakes her head. Jason joins Theo, hoping to see Kari there, as well.

“We’re not gonna find them, are we?” Matt asks. Harper slightly shakes her head.

“I hope we do, Matt.”

### Act Three

Ben stands over a burning pit of fire, the corpses of the undead decaying in the flames in front of him. Declan walks behind him, stopping just beside him.

“So now?” Declan looks to him, disconcerted.

“Now…” Ben looks to Riley, Janine, and Kari as they approach, “Now we head back into town and find the others.”

Declan and Riley look to each other, both in agreement. Riley’s tone shifts to that of one with a seed of doubt, “I think...what if the others come here to find us? Some should stay behind and we meet back up here later.”

Ben nods, as Kari does, as well, looking at Riley, “I’ll go to town. If Jason’s out there, I wanna be there when we find him.”

“Yeah. I’m gonna join you. I found you guys out in the wilderness, it seems I got pretty good luck when it comes to chance encounters.” Janine smiles at the others, “I mean, chance encounters brought me to you guys ten months ago, right?”

Ben chuckles, “Alright, it’s settled. Me, Janine, Kari, and Carley will head to Wilkerson.”

Declan agrees, nodding once more, “Alright. Me and Riley will keep everything in line here while you’re gone. Good luck, guys.”

“You, too.” Ben smirks, ready to head out.

### Act Four

Jason quietly walks along the floor of an old pharmacy, a combat knife in his right hand and a flashlight in the left, “Dad?” He quietly called out, hoping to see his father turn a corner. He hears a rustle from behind a couple of shelves, and his face is flushed.

“Shit.” He begins walking toward it slowly, and places his hand across the shelf, moving it quickly to the side to reveal a snake swallow a mouse whole, “GROSS.”

He turns to exit quickly, and bumps into something, falling down. He flashes his light, revealing a walker right in front of him.

“OH GOD!” He screams out, reaching for his knife under the shelf, as the walker leans down to grab him. Desperate at this point, Jason kicks it in the shin, causing it to fall. He quickly moves out of the way of its point of impact, getting up and running toward the exit. Harper, standing just outside, notices him running.

“What happened!?” Harper yells out, reaching for her pistol, as Jason falls over a curb in a scramble.

“WALKER!” He yells, cradling his bruised knee. Harper looks to Theo, who helps Jason up. Harper grabs her knife and heads inside. The walker lied on the ground, attempting to get up, but unable to from a broken leg. She sighs, stomping on the back of its head multiple times, putting it down.

“It’s not safe here.” Harper tells the others, exiting the pharmacy, “Matt already had to clear a couple of buildings that were infested. There are god knows how many buildings here and we CAN’T clear them all. We have to get back to the exhibit and wait for them there.”

“This is fucking ridiculous, we can’t keep going back and forth with no end in sight.” Theo outrageously exclaims, “for all we know, we’re walking in circles around each other.”

“I can’t leave if my dad’s probably on his way here.” Jason tells her, standing next to Theo.

Harper sighs, looking toward Matt, who nods at her. She shakes her head, “If those people came back and attacked them, there’s no chance they’re coming back here. Our best bet is getting somewhere we KNOW is safe.”

Theo looks toward Jason, groaning in defeat. Moments later, the group is leaving the town.

### Act Five

“We there yet?” Janine asked, adjusting her rifle strap across her torso. She sighs at the silence in response, looking toward Carley, who lagged behind her and Ben.

“Carley?” Ben insists, stopping to speak to her. Janine takes note, but keeps walking slowly.

“I have…” Carley mumbles, almost incoherently, “I have a...feeling.”

“A feeling?” Janine asks, stopping in her tracks, letting out a chuckle. She turns around with a smirk, to see Carley with her head bowed. Her expression changes to doubt, “A feeling.”

“It’s...stupid, forget it.” Carley groggles hesitantly, “It’s just...you ever hear that story about the woman who could smell lemons right before she died? And then her grandson smelled lemons right before he died?”

Ben raises an eyebrow, “Yeah, I…think so?”

Carley sighs, “I smell the lemons.”

Janine rolls her eyes, “This is ridiculous. Let’s go.”

Carley looks at Ben, who begins walking toward Janine. She grabs his forearm, “Ben.”

He turns around, and points his head to follow Janine. Carley groans and follows.

“We’re here.” Janine smirks, onlooking the town, “I think.”

“It looks like the place.” Ben glances at the ‘Wilkerson’ sign at the entrance, then focuses his sight to Carley, as she’s rubbing her arm.

“Are you okay?” Ben asks her, “You’re not acting like your normal self.”

“Yeah, let’s...just go. I think Janine needs you over there.” Carley points to Janine as she picks up something off the ground in front of a pharmacy. Ben approaches her.

“What is it?” He asks, looking over her shoulder.

“A note.” Janine opens the seal on the well-conditioned note, reading it aloud: “Mimi, the targets evaded capture. Follow the North trail. From, Steve.”

"Who the hell are they?” Ben asks, as he hears a click from behind him. He quickly turns around, coming face to face with a woman.

“Mimi. That’d be me.” She tells him, his breath hitting the barrel of her pistol. Janine’s eyes quickly wander - Carley is nowhere to be seen.

### Act Six

“Alright.” Declan exclaims, standing up from his seat, “I think we need to go.”

“*Go*? What do you mean *go*?” Riley asks, standing up from beside him, “Whatever. I’m so sick of this moving from place to place chasing our own damn tails for nothing.”

“Riles…” Declan concedes, grabbing her forearm and kissing her forehead, “I don’t want to ditch this place either, but it’s our best bet. Carley, Ben, and Janine’ve been gone too long and I just don’t think we can count on them being all alone out there.”

“It was our best bet last time we moved around, too, right?” She pushed him away, “I mean, what sense does all this make?!”

Kari intervened, pulling Riley aside to help her keep her cool, “Are you good?”

“I’m fine. I’m just so sick of this moving around shit. It’s getting tiring, and I need a break.” Riley coldly responded, avoiding eye contact with him.

“Are you sleeping okay?” Kari insisted, raising an eyebrow.

“What do you think?” Riley stated a little louder.

“Okay. I’ll talk to them.” He responded, shaking his head and walking away, noticing Riley loosely clutch her stomach.

“Something’s up with her, Dec.” Kari softly told him, interrupting a conversation with Brandon and Avery.

“Yeah, but he’s right. We can’t stay here, especially after what happened to Tara.” Brandon quickly interjected. Riley rubs her eyes in defeat, and nods, overhearing the mutual agreements.

“Let’s go then.” Riley joins in, grabbing her bag, “Fine.”

### Act Seven

Jason is the first to rush inside of the boating exhibit, looking for any trace of his dad, Kari, “Hello?!”

Theo quickly catches up, grappling his shoulder and pulling him back as a walker emerges from the side. Theo yanks Jason backward, and stabs the walker in the side of the head, killing it.

"Shit…” Theo mutters, as Harper, Matt, and David enter the building, “No one’s here.”

Harper bows her head, “Goddammit. Why can’t everyone just stay in one fucking place?”

Lindsay enters, as well, holding Izzie, who is crying, “We need to find some more food for this girl. That should be our main concern.”

“You don’t think I understand that? Everything’s just...it’s piling on. We can’t catch a single break.” Harper kicks a bucket lying on the ground, and groans.

“Hey, hey…” Matt gently grabs her forearm, “Let’s calm down. They could be nearby.”

“Yeah, or they’re dead.” David coldly responds, leaning against a wall.

“Not helping.” Matt glares at him, and David raises his hands.

“If it wasn’t the others here, it was probably our new friends.” David insists, sitting atop a small box.

“So what now?” Jason asks, “We have to find my dad.”

“We will. We just gotta take some time to get our bearings. Figure out our next move.” Harper stands before the rest of her group, “We WILL find them.”

### Act Eight

“I have had...a LONG day.” Mimi mutters, gun pointed toward Ben and Janine as she rubs the bridge of her nose, “Had to clean up one of your friends’ corpses for Jonathan. Now this?”

Janine gasps in response to this, noticing Carley retreating from a bush, coming toward the group, slowly and gun drawn, as Ben maintains his focus on Mimi, “Who’s corpse?” He asks softly, slightly tilting his head.

“Some redhead bitch. Riddled with bullets, no doubt Steve’s work.” She chuckled, as Janine glares once more toward Carley. ‘’Just keep her talking’’, she thinks to herself. Mimi takes note of Janine’s glances, and quickly turns over her shoulder. No one there.

Carley sits at the corner of an alley, her breaths slow and precarious. She holds her weapon close to her chest, as Mimi turns back around quickly, just as Ben is advancing toward her.

“Ah ah ah!” She lifts the gun up closer to his forehead, “Not so fast.”

Carley is now right behind Mimi, when she notices a woman exiting a small hardware store just down the street. Alexa. Mimi, now fully aware of the situation due to Janine’s unsubtle looks, turns and bashes her gun across Carley’s face.

“SHIT!” Carley yells, attempting to get up, as Mimi points her gun toward her. Mimi fires, just as Carley rolls to her right, narrowly avoiding a quick death. Carley kicks toward the gun, sending it up in the air, as Ben jumps into action, tackling Mimi to the ground.

“Alexa!” Janine yells, with Mimi’s gun sliding toward her. Alexa quickly picks up the gun, and as Mimi gets up off the ground, Alexa begins firing at her, causing her to retreat quickly into a nearby building.

“GO AFTER HER!” Carley shouts, getting up off the hot pavement of the abandoned road.

“There’s no point.” Ben sighs, hands on his knees, “We’re safe.”

“Like hell there’s ‘no point’ she tried to fucking kill us!” Carley exclaimed, short of breath.

Janine rolls her eyes at this overdone conflict, waving Alexa over to them, “Are you okay?”

Alexa, clearly battered and weathered from her abandonment, nods, “Yeah. I’m good. Are you?”

“We’re good. Thanks for the assist.” Janine hugs her, and they turn to face Ben and Carley.

“Okay. You wanna go after them so bad, help yourself, but WE are getting out of here.” Ben looks to Janine and Alexa, who hesitantly approach him.

“Ben…” Alexa mutters under her breath, “They killed Amanda. I can’t just let that go.”

Janine nods in agreement, determined to get revenge and protect the rest of the group - no matter where they are.

“You guys are crazy!” He laughs in distress, before letting out a deep sigh, “Fuck it...but we’re getting the rest of the group first. We can’t do this alone.”

“I’m game.” Janine smiles, looking to Alexa, who returns the smile.

The four, unified, set off to reunite with their group. They know this conflict will only end in one way.

### Act Nine

“How ya feeling?” Brandon asks Avery, lagging behind the rest of the group to talk to his friend.

“I’m okay. I just really hate how little of us there are, y’know?” Avery wipes his brow, letting his fingers rest on his temple.

“I get it. You know we’ll find the others, right?” Brandon asks him gently, placing his hand on the other’s shoulder.

“Yeah. I think so.” Avery smirks to him, reciprocating with his hand on Brandon’s.

“Is that…” Kari yells, and the two look toward him, as he points in the distance to four figures, “It’s them!”

“Who’s with them?!” Declan notices a fourth figure, unable to make out who it is. Riley looks to him, recognizing the figure.

“It’s Alexa.” She smiles, and Declan sighs, disappointed its not his sister, “Dec, we’ll find her. And the others.”

“I know.” Declan rubs his eyes, and Riley hugs him tightly, as the rest of the group reaches each other.

“Alexa? Where have you been?!” Kari chuckles, glad to see their old friend.

“I was with a lot of others. Kari, Jason’s alive. He’s with them and they’re safe but I got separated from them.” Alexa tells them, as Kari sighs deeply in relief, “Okay, so, those guys that attacked you were crazy. I watched them kill Amanda while we were looking for David and Leah. I haven’t seen them since. I’m sorry.”

The group laterally shared a moment of silence, contemplating the events that have unfolded collectively over the past few weeks.

“We’re gonna find them.” Avery insisted, looking over at Brandon and offering a smile, “We’ll find the others, and we’ll be fine. I know it.”

“God, I hope so.” Alexa responded, “I think Harper came after me so maybe she found them?”

“Harper?” Declan insisted, quickly approaching Alexa, “She’s alive?”

“Yeah. I probably should’ve led with that.” She seethed, “Okay, I was with her, Matt, Jason, and Theo. Also Lindsay and the baby.”

“Any idea what their next move was?” Riley asked, grasping Declan’s hand.

“They wanted to head to the boating exhibit, but that was a few days ago, I have no idea what they’re gonna be doing now.”

“Guys, I’m sorry, but we can’t go after those people that attacked us when we have a REAL chance to find our friends and family.” Ben jolted in, much to Carley’s chagrin.

“Y’know what, fine. Whatever.” Carley walks off, toward the exhibit, “Y’all coming?”

The group follows her, and they head back to the exhibit. Again.

### Act Ten

“So it’s been a few days, right? That’s when you last saw Jason? And he’s okay? Right?” Kari softly interrogates Alexa, who’s nodding in response to every question. His breath visibly begins calming.

“He’s got some hard hitters that have his back. I think he’s definitely fine.” Alexa comforts him, as Janine approaches from behind, getting between the two.

“Guys, I don’t wanna worry y’all but…” She peers over her shoulder slowly and subtly, “I think we’re being followed.” She whispers.

“What? What do you mean?” Kari asks, looking behind them unsubtly.

“Act normal.” Janine pinches his side, “I saw someone just beyond the treeline.”

“Could’ve been a walker.” Kari insists, causing Janine to roll her eyes.

“Walkers don’t jump to the ground the moment you turn your head to them.” Janine tells him, “What the fuck do we do?”

“We could jump them. Take them out before they know what’s even happening.” Alexa chimes in.

“No. If you’re right, there’s too many of them for us to take on with barely any firepower.”

“Well...any ideas?” Kari asks.

### Act Eleven

Harper gathers Theo, David, Lindsay, and Matt into a small conference room of the exhibit, where they all take a seat.

“Jason’s got Izzie in a few rooms down. He’s getting some sleep, finally.” Lindsay informs them, smiling.

“Good. He needs it. We ‘’all’’ do.” Matt looks around, then focuses his attention on Harper, “So, what’s up?”

“Alright. We gotta come up with a plan, and I think I have some ideas.” She tells them, placing her hands on the table, “Our best bet right now is to stay here and wait for the others. If Alexa got to whoever survived, she’ll tell them we were gonna meet here. It’s just a matter of waiting.”

“Bullshit. ‘’If’’ Alexa made it?” Theo jumps up, pointing accusingly at Harper, “We have to find her.”

David swings his hands up in defeat, “Great. Leaving AGAIN.”

“No, we’re not going anywhere.” Harper hushes him, “Theo, trust me, I understand, I REALLY do. My brother and his wife are out there and I want nothing more but to find them. But sometimes, the best search and rescue strategy is to stay. Put.”

“My brother’s out there, too,” Theo responds, as Matt winces from besides him begrudgingly, “and my girlfriend. You said you had a few ideas...what are the others?”

“Alright. David told me he saw Riley and Ben get taken by some ‘Jenn’ girl. We could send a small team to Wilkerson to find them or send a few people toward Savannah and test our luck there.” Harper looks around, as Matt nods to her, “IF we send a team, the rest of us will stay here. No questions asked.”

### Act Twelve

“Hey, Ben, can we talk for a sec?” Kari asks, Janine by his side. The three walk together, Ben in the middle.

“Talk.” He unwaveringly responds.

“We’re being followed.” This catches Ben’s attention, as he turns his head to Kari, and then to Janine.

“You’re joking, right?” Ben asks them, stopping in place.

“Keep. Walking.” Janine whispers, pulling on Ben’s arm. Carley takes note of this, as she walks alongside Brandon and Avery.

“What’s going on with them?” Carley asks, nudging Avery’s arm. Avery looks over to them, suspicious, which also gathers Brandon’s attention.

“I don’t know…” Avery responds, looking over at Brandon, “Should we ask?”

“I got it.” Carley answers, walking ahead to join the conversation, “What’s going on, you guys?”

“Nothing.” Janine tells her, shoving her input aside.

“Bullshit.” Carley, annoyed at this point, pulls Ben’s arm, “Tell me.”

Kari and Janine continue walking ahead, as Carley notices them get their gun ready, and Ben sighs, “We’re being followed. Kari and Janine are gonna lag behind in the woods and sneak up on them.”

“I can go.” She tells him, as he grovels in response, “I can! I’m a better shot than Janine. Plus, I’m pretty sure she’s still a little shaken up from...everything, so I can handle it.”

“I don’t want you to.” He insists, causing her to raise an eyebrow.

“Why the hell not?” Her voice raising quite a bit.

“I…” Ben takes a deep breath, “I don’t wanna see you get hurt.”

Carley is taken aback by this, “I won’t. We can take them on easily, I’d have Kari’s back and he’d have mine.”

“I mean you...specifically, you.” Ben stops, facing her.

“Oh…” She looks around a little, “Ohhh.”

“Yeah.”

“Well…” Carley rubs her arm, “To be honest...this isn’t the time or the place to talk about this. And there WILL be a time. And a, uh, a place. Just...let me cover Kari. Trust me. I can handle myself, you don’t have to worry.”

“Fine.” Ben tells her, as Janine conveniently pops in.

“We’re ready to head out.” Janine tells him, a bit curious on their conversing.

“Change of plans, Janine. Carley’s gonna go with Kari, I need you here.” Ben tells her.

“Fine by me. Just be careful, guys. We’re counting on you.”

Carley smiles and nods, joining Kari.

“Where’s Janine?” He asks, looking over her shoulder to the rest of the group.

“I’m coming with you, Ben needs Janine here.” Carley replies, “What’s the plan?”

“We’re gonna slip into the woods, carefully. If I’m right, they’ll only be about twenty meters deep. So we’ll hit forty until they pass us and we’ll trail them from there.”

“Alright. Let’s do it.”

### Act Thirteen

“Should I check on them?” Ben quietly asks Alexa, walking alongside her, revealing his walkie talkie.

“It’s only been about fifteen minutes, but if you’re that worried, go ahead.” She tells him, understanding of his worries.

“Alright.” He holds down the button on the walkie talkie, “W-Team, what’s your status?”

Silence.

“W-Team, what’s your status?” He repeats, genuinely concerned at this point. Alexa grabs his forearm, worried.

“SHIT!” Brandon yells out, drawing his gun to see Steve, Mimi, and Jenn exit the woods, alongside three others, all holding rifles toward the group.

“Dammit…” Ben mutters, quickly concealing the walkie in his bag, and then raising his hands alongside the rest of his group.

“Alright, here’s how this is gonna go…” Steve announces, “You’re ALL coming with us.”

### Act Fourteen

Matt stomps across a trail, knife in hand, stabbing a lone walker to death, dropping its body in a ditch. Lindsay and Theo follow just behind him, each killing a walker on their way.

“The plan?” Theo coldly asks, causing Matt to roll his eyes.

“We head to Wilkerson and find them. Simple enough for you?” Matt blankly answers him, not turning around.

“Boys, let’s chill with the melodrama and just find them.” Lindsay scoffs, putting her knife away.

“I’m not doing anything!” Matt laughs, not gaining any sort of response from Theo, “What’s your problem?”

“I heard you.” Theo tells him, “Right before we lost Alexa, you were arguing. Suddenly, she’s in the woods, and Harper’s following her. But YOU stayed behind. Why is that?”

“Someone had to stay with you guys.” Matt tells him, finally turning around to address him.

“Yeah, well, we were fine. She wasn’t. And you just let Harper take all the responsibility of finding her.” Theo gets in his face, “What were you even arguing about?”

Matt remains silent, as Lindsay gets between the two, “Let’s just...calm down.”

“Yeah. I’m calm.” Theo moves ahead of the others, as Lindsay and Matt exchange looks, before following. The three stop dead in their tracks when their trail ends onto a main road, where a bit of commotion can be heard.

“Is that…?” Lindsay asks, and watches as Matt takes point.

“Yeah…” He tells her and Theo, watching as Steve, Jenn, and Mimi hold Declan, Riley, Ben, Janine, Brandon, Avery, and Kari at gunpoint, “It’s them.”

“Shit...what do we do?” Theo asks, getting his gun ready.

“Theo, we need to stay here and follow them. Lindsay, head back to the exhibit and get the others. We’re gonna need all hands on deck for this one.” Matt tells them. Lindsay nods in response, and subtly retreats back to the exhibit, “Let’s hope they get here in time.”

### Act Fifteen

“You think they’ll be okay?” Jason asks Harper, watching her as she feeds Izzie through a bottle.

“I think so. We’ve come this far, we’re a tough bunch. They’ll find the others and we’ll figure out where to go from here. I promise.” Harper smiles at him, handing him the baby, “Support the back of her neck...there ya go.”

She stands up, approaching David, who leans up against a wall nearby, watching, “You doing fine?”

“No.” David tells her, sighing, “But I’m here.”

“Yeah. We are.” Harper pats his shoulder gently, and he offers a smile.

“I just really wish things could’ve gone down differently at that warehouse. Maybe…” He scoffs self-loathingly, “I could’ve done something.”

“No.” She tells him, “If you’d done anything differently, she would’ve died right then and there in the warehouse. And so would’ve we. You did everything right. The cards just weren’t in our favor.”

He mumbles something, just as Lindsay bursts inside the main door, alarming the three, “Lindsay, what’s going on?!”

“We found them.” Lindsay tells them, “And we need help.”

## Co-Stars

* Jessy Hartel as Jenn Russo
* Cress Williams as Steve Latvi
* Sasha Grey as Mimi Turner