State of Mind/Transcript

*“Vengeance consumes, acceptance sets free.”* *—William*

**Starring:**

Emilia Clarke as KATE BLOODSTONE

Anson Mount as MARCUS DOWNES

David Emge as ALDUS PAXTON

Robert Pattinson as WILLIAM REYNES

Stephen Gevedon as DEAN HOWARDS

Jon Hamm as JON MATTHEWS

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

Kenneth Branagh as CLYDE ROLLINS

Ben Mendelsohn as BENJAMIN TAYLOR

Anthony Ingruber as JACOB FELDMAN

Dave Fennoy as DAMERAE BADRICK

**Also Starring**

Thandiwe Newton as ANGELA JAEGAR

Jim Broadbent as JIM BUTTERMAN

Anthony Carrigan as ROBIN CLARKE

**Guest Starring**

Paul Rudd as SOLOMON REED

Taron Egerton as MIKE SIMPSON

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Chadwick Boseman as BRUCE BOSEMAN

Tim Wersan as KYLE DOUGLASS

Michael McElhatton as MICHAEL HALL

Samuel L. Jackson as DERRICK WILLIAMS

**Co-Starring**

Roscoe Orman as DA’JONTE WOODARD

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**Scene #1**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE EVENING**

A blizzard rages on around JIM BUTTERMAN as he hobbles through the woods, freezing. Somewhere behind him, he hears two voices loudly talking, likely following his footprints in the snow. Panicking, he continues on forward as fast as his legs will allow him.

After a little while longer, Jim finally sees an old wooden building ahead, when suddenly a Rasta jumps out from behind a large tree, punching the old man in the face. Jim falls back into the snow, his glasses shattering. He slowly crawls backwards, as the Rasta approaches him.

***Jim:*** *No -- please!*

The Rasta reaches down to grab Jim, when he is suddenly shot through the side of the head, skull, brain and blood flying everywhere. His corpse falls onto Jim. Panting, Jim pushes the body off of him, weakly sitting up, looking around to see where the shot came from. When he can’t see anything, he stands, using a tree to support him. Jim shoots a look back towards the wooden building, seeing a man exiting, and marching through the snow towards him.

***Michael:*** *Get up. Go inside - I’ll make sure no more are close behind.*

***Jim:*** *I… Thank you.*

***Michael:*** *Don’t thank me yet.*

Jim makes his way over to the building, as MICHAEL HALL scopes around the area with his sniper rifle. When he concludes that it’s clear, he heads back inside.

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**Scene #2**

**FOREST - SLAUGHTERHOUSE**

JIM BUTTERMAN sips on a cup of water slowly, while sitting on a wooden chair, warming up with a jacket he’d been given. He looks up, seeing MICHAEL HALL walking into the room.

***Michael:*** *Apologies - If I knew I was going to have a guest, I’d have prepared a better drink.*

***Jim:*** *I’m… Oh, I’m grateful, no worries. To have water in my hands is a privilege.*

***Michael:*** ***(Nodding slowly)*** *That man who attacked you. Did you know who he was? Was he tracking you for a reason?*

***Jim:*** *He’s part of a vile gang… They--*

***Michael:*** *I know. They’re looking for you, though?*

***Jim:*** *They are-- They are…*

***Michael:*** *I see. It just so happens I’m not too friendly with them.*

He extends his hand to Jim.

***Michael:*** *Michael Hall.*

***Jim:*** *Jim-- Jim Butterman* ***(He shakes his hand)***.

***Michael:*** *You reckon more of them were following you?*

***Jim:*** *I guarantee it…*

***Michael:*** *Why? What did you do to bother them?*

***Jim:*** *I… I came from the Willamette Mall. They--*

***Michael:*** *Say no more.*

***Jim:*** *Wha… What do you mean?*

***Michael:*** *Seems we’re both a part of the same story, we just haven’t met yet.*

***Jim:*** *I…*

***Michael:*** *You seem troubled, I imagine you’ve been through hell. Haven’t we all?*

***Jim:*** *My best friend -- they killed him amidst our attempted escape.*

***Michael:*** *Seems as though it was successful for you.*

***Jim:*** *How do you know all this anyway?*

Michael glances down at his sniper rifle, and then looks up at Jim.

***Michael:*** *I was in the mall at the start… with my boys. I had them taken from me, and I was forced out of there. Nasty business - though I’ve never been one to hold terrible grudges. I found myself working with one of the men who killed them… and then the Rasta’s when they first pulled up to town. I fought your group - aboard a train, actually. And I quickly found out that I wasn’t interested in being a part of Badrick’s team.*

***Jim:*** *And… what did you do?*

***Michael:*** *I left, it was that simple. I found I prefer to be alone these days. I disappeared - and when I saw smoke billowing from the mall I thought that’d be the end of it.*

***Jim:*** *I wish that were so. But Badrick isn’t gone.*

***Michael:*** *Mm. Perhaps I’ll take a shot at him.*

***Jim:*** *You’d be - benefiting a great deal of people but-- I don’t think it’s that easy.*

***Michael:*** *We’ll see. Get some rest and we can figure out what you plan to do afterwards.*

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**Scene #3**

**WILLAMETTE HIGH SCHOOL - FOYER**

LLOYD WALLER stands to the side, watching curiously as JACOB FELDMAN is rummaging through a box of guns. He picks out a shotgun, examining it, before glancing over at Lloyd.

***Jacob:*** *…What?*

***Lloyd:*** *Oh-- nothing, just - I’m just gonna ask straight up… Do I, uh, get one of those?*

***Jacob:*** *One of these?* ***(He holds up the shotgun)*** *No.*

***Lloyd:*** *Oh--*

***Jacob:*** *But like - a pistol? I’d take that as a given. Ever fired one before?*

***Lloyd:*** *Nope.*

***Jacob:*** *This’ll be fun.*

Jacob stands up, walking down the hall.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey so do I just-- Do I just pick one of the… Aaaand he’s gone. Great.*

Lloyd approaches the weapon box, glancing in. He kneels down, excited and intrigued by all the guns.

***Lloyd:*** *Woah… Wherever we got all this - it’s awesome.*

He eventually picks out a small pistol, taking it for himself. Unbeknownst to him, KYLE DOUGLASS comes walking in, shocked to see what’s going on.

***Kyle:*** *Lloyd Waller!*

***Lloyd:*** *Oh -- Uh…*

***Kyle:*** *What is--*

Lloyd juggle with the pistol, trying to conceal it behind his back.

***Kyle:*** *IS THAT--*

***Lloyd:*** *Hey, hey - keep your voice down, man.*

***Kyle:*** *Is that a - PISTOL?!*

***Lloyd:*** *I’ll explain.*

***Kyle:*** *Oh, right, right. Lloyd, Come on, you know we can’t have contraband here! This is a school, are you--* ***(He suddenly gasps)***

***Lloyd:*** *You gotta promise you can’t tell anyone. I’m allowed.*

***Kyle:*** *No way you’re not! Teachers would never allow--*

***Lloyd:*** *The teachers are letting me go on a run with them -- I asked.*

***Kyle:*** *They’re… letting you?*

***Lloyd:*** *I want to be useful out there, man. I wanted to help. And -- I can’t sit cooped up here any longer.*

***Kyle:*** *You’re toying with my head, Lloyd. No, no, no-- You gotta stay here. You’ve gotta listen to my ramblings, you’ve-- You’ve gotta stay here, no way you’re going out there! It is not physically possible for you to survive. You’ve barely even been out there a day before--*

***Lloyd:*** *Kyle, I* ***want*** *to be out there. I know I’m capable. I have to start getting used to it.*

***Kyle: (He sighs)*** *And they truly did ALLOW you.*

***Lloyd:*** *And uh--*

Lloyd turns around, looking back at the box.

***Lloyd:*** *They said I could take a--*

He pauses, seeing something inside. He reaches in, pulling out a grenade.

***Lloyd:*** *Is that a… grenade? Awesome… Maybe this would, uh, come in handy--*

***Kyle:*** *You are SCARING me Lloyd. PUT THAT DOWN. THIS INSTANT. Those are fragile!*

***Lloyd:*** *Hey, wait-- Mr. Feldman said I could only take a pistol but-- What if we have an emergency.*

***Kyle:*** *I’ve read enough world war two documentaries. Grenades can accidentally go off simply by brushing against your sleeve. If that pin comes off, KABLOO-EY! No, no, no--*

Kyle watches as Lloyd puts the explosive into his backpack.

***Kyle:*** *Can we just talk? Dear God this is a complete polar opposite of your figure right now. No, look, look let’s… Let’s take a breather here, alright?*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m going on this run, Kyle. I want to be out there -- start figuring out how I can help properly. We’re all gonna have to eventually.*

***Kyle:*** *No, I’m sure you’re just lost a bet or… Trust me, succumbing to another person's will is not fun. A bet is a bet, come on it’ll wear off, right?* ***(He chuckles nervously)*** *Someone like… dared you to do this, right? Well come on, screw dares.*

***Lloyd:*** *Principal Boseman was clear I shouldn’t tell the other students about this so just… keep it quiet, please? I’ll be back before you know it.*

***Kyle:*** *Wait… You’re serious?*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m serious.*

***Kyle:*** ***(He leans against the wall, flabbergasted)*** *Jeez, this is all happening so fast. Does this mean-- ALL OF US ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT NEXT?!*

***Lloyd:*** *No, no! I asked for this -- I had to persuade them to let me go.*

***Kyle:*** *Great Scott, I could barely even LOOK at those things! Their-- feral descriptions…*

***Lloyd:*** *Kyle, just - go take a breather, maybe read a few comics.*

***Kyle:*** *Comics?! What if you don’t return, what fun is that?!*

***Lloyd:*** *Shh!*

***Kyle:*** *Right…* ***(He quiets down)***

Jacob turns a corner, looking over at Lloyd.

***Jacob:*** *Kid - you ready to go?*

***Kyle:*** *Who else am I gonna tell about the inferno that is Dormammu--* ***(He stops, seeing Jacob, then whispers to Lloyd)*** *Did THIS guy put you up to this?*

***Lloyd:*** ***(Whispering back)*** *Don’t call him ‘this guy’, he’s Mr. Feldman. And no-- He’s actually against me coming. I- I don’t even know.*

***Jacob:*** *What are you two whispering about?*

***Kyle:*** *Girls! Hot-- hot babes! Yes* ***(He nods, giving a fake smile)***.

***Jacob:*** *Girls…*

Jacob goes quiet, being reminded of Erin.

***Kyle:*** *Yeah-- you know. Boobies?*

***Lloyd:*** ***(To Jacob)*** *Look, I know I wasn’t meant to tell him but -- he’ll be discreet and he has no interest in going out anyway so-- Yeah, I’m, uh, ready.*

Lloyd pockets his pistols, nodding.

***Kyle:*** *Do you even know where the safety is on that thing? You can’t be serious, Lloyd. There’s a lot of things that’s wrong with your head, but that can’t characterize you--*

***Lloyd:*** *I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later.*

***Kyle: (Frowning)*** *Be-- safe.*

Kyle watches as Lloyd walks up to Jacob.

***Jacob:*** *Bruce and William are waiting out front, come on.*

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**Scene #4**

**WILLAMETTE PARKVIEW MALL - LEISURE PARK - AFTERNOON**

ANGELA JAEGAR strolls through the food court, looking for Jon. She passes by the graves, but finds no sign of him. She sighs, about to continue on, when suddenly she hears glass shattering nearby. Angela turns, seeing the windows looking into Leisure Park shattering one after another, JON MATTHEWS shooting at them with his pistol.

***Angela:*** *What the hell…*

She walks out to him.

***Angela:*** *Jon? What are you doing?*

***Jon:*** *Target practice. Y’know - for Badrick.*

***Angela: (Sighing)*** *So that’s your priority now?*

***Jon:*** *Damn right it is. It was already a priority before. But it’s personal now.*

***Angela:*** *We really need to get to the others… See if they made it back.*

***Jon:*** *Uh-huh. Can’t leave without Da’Jonte.*

***Angela:*** *He’s back - that’s why I was looking for you. We’re ready to go.*

***Jon:*** *Did he find anything at the cabin?*

***Angela: (She shakes her head)*** *Nobody went back, Jon. They’ll be at the coffee shop - it’s the safest place.*

***Jon:*** *That or the high school. Alright.*

Jon steps into the food court, taking one last look at his friends’ graves, before turning away.

**Scene #4 Cont.**

**WILLAMETTE PARKVIEW MALL - ENTRANCE PLAZA**

Jon and Angela walk out towards the Entrance Plaza, seeing DA’JONTE WOODARD standing by the front.

***Da’Jonte:*** *‘Ello.*

***Jon:*** *We’re about to go - meet everyone else by the coffee shop.*

Da’Jonte nods, frowning slightly as he turns to face the hole in the entrance. Jon and Angela approach the entrance with him.

***Jon: (To Da’Jonte)*** *It’s just me and you left.*

Angela suddenly nudges Jon, hearing something.

***Angela:*** *Jon. Listen.*

Jon narrows his eyes, hearing the sound of a car coming.

***Angela:*** *Could be them back.*

Jon grits his teeth, gripping his rifle and finding cover.

**Scene #4 Cont.**

**WILLAMETTE PARKVIEW MALL - PARKING LOT - AFTERNOON**

KATE BLOODSTONE steps out of the car, kneeling down next to a fresh set of tire marks in the snow. Two other car doors open and close, as MARCUS DOWNES and ALDUS PAXTON look around.

***Kate:*** *You’re sure this is where they came?*

***Marcus:*** *I’m positive. Badrick’s truck left a clear trail.*

***Kate:*** *He wasn’t here that long then.*

Kate frowns, standing up and approaching the front entrance alongside Marcus and Aldus. As they near the blown open entrance, Jon stands up out of cover, aiming his gun, finger on the trigger - but he lets go of it upon recognizing them.

***Kate:*** *Woah--*

***Marcus:*** *Jon? Hey, hey-- it’s us! Steady!*

Jon slowly lowers his gun, as Angela and Da’Jonte appear from out of cover as well.

***Kate:*** *Where’s the rest of the group?*

***Jon:*** *We think the coffee shop. Myself and Angela came here-- met an old friend* ***(He looks at Da’Jonte)***. *Myself, Angela -- and Curtis…*

***Marcus:*** *Curtis?*

Jon simply shakes his head.

***Kate:*** *What happened?*

***Marcus:*** *We followed Badrick here - he has Dean.*

***Jon:*** *He came here. I saw Dean. And I saw Curtis die on their arrival.*

***Aldus:*** *Oh…*

***Jon:*** *They fled afterwards.*

***Marcus:*** *With Dean, still?*

***Jon:*** *Mhm.*

***Kate:*** *Do you know where they might’ve gone?*

***Jon:*** *No…*

***Kate:*** *Jon, I am sorry.*

***Jon:*** *I’m glad you're all here - you can come with us to the coffee shop. See if the rest of the group are there.*

***Marcus:*** *Badrick had Teddy and Jim too. Teddy didn’t make it, we don’t know where Jim is.*

Jon sighs, nodding his head.

***Jon:*** *Light’s burning - we best get on the move.*

***Angela:*** *Are we all going to cram into that car of yours out there?*

***Kate:*** *It’ll be easier for us in the long run, so yeah.*

***Jon:*** *Head in the game, Da’Jonte. We’re moving.*

Jon walks forward towards the car, Angela, Da’Jonte and the others slowly following.

***Kate:*** *Jon. Curtis… was it Badrick?*

***Jon:*** *Yeah* ***(He sighs)***. *Yeah it was. Directly.*

Jon gets into the car.

***Kate:*** *And so what if… What if we continue to track him…*

***Marcus:*** *Kate. We really should find the rest of the group. Make sure they’re okay. We can’t do this forever.*

***Kate:*** *While the tracks are fresh… we can follow them. We still have a chance at saving Dean.*

***Marcus:*** *We don’t even know where the rest of the group are.*

***Angela:*** *Ed will have taken them to the coffee shop.*

***Kate:*** *Then we can split up.*

***Marcus:*** *We aren’t going to do that. We go to this coffee shop - we figure out our plan of action, and then we continue to track him. It’s the smartest thing to do.*

***Kate: (Nodding slowly)*** *Alright…*

***Aldus:*** *Okay.*

Marcus gets into the driver's seat of the car, and once everyone else is in, drives off.

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**Scene #5**

**WILLAMETTE HIGH SCHOOL - COURTYARD - AFTERNOON**

JACOB FELDMAN steps out of the school with LLOYD WALLER by his side, seeing BRUCE BOSEMAN and WILLIAM REYNES standing by the gate.

***Jacob: (To Lloyd)*** *Have you even left the school ground much since all this, kid?*

***Lloyd:*** *Stop calling me that-- I-I can handle myself. But - no. Not much.*

***Jacob:*** *You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that.* ***(To Bruce)*** *You sure you want to bring him?*

***Bruce:*** *It’s his choice. I don’t stem inner growth.*

***Lloyd:*** *I have a question. Where exactly are we going?*

***William:*** *Bruce was just about to tell me.*

***Bruce:*** *So.* ***(He claps his hands)*** *When you left my office yesterday - I took it upon myself to go scouting. Found quite a catch… There’s a cargo ship, docked down at the docks. Full to the brim with food.*

***William:*** *So I assume that’s our location.*

***Bruce:*** *You assume correctly.*

***Jacob:*** *Are we driving or are we on foot?*

***Bruce:*** *I never did think of using a car. I always walked, it was easier, attracted less of the infected.*

***Jacob:*** *Then we’ll do that. It’ll benefit the kid.*

***William:*** *Walking it is then.*

***Bruce:*** *If we’re all ready to head out* ***(He nods at the gate)***.

***Jacob: (To Lloyd)*** *Having any second thoughts?*

***Lloyd:*** *No, this is exactly what I wanted. Look - I’m gonna prove to you guys. I’m meant to be out here.*

Lloyd walks ahead, and out the gate.

***William:*** *Balls of steel.*

***Jacob:*** *You could say that. That or he’s too cocky.*

***William:*** *I say he’s desperate to prove himself.*

William and Jacob step through the gate, followed quickly by Bruce.

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**Scene #6**

**WILLAMETTE STREETS - AFTERNOON**

BRUCE BOSEMAN approaches a zombie, where he quickly does a tornado-kick to it, sending it flying to the ground.

***Jacob:*** *Putting your skills to use, huh?*

***Bruce:*** *Don’t see why not* ***(He smiles)***.

Bruce stomps on the zombie’s head, crushing it.

***William:*** *Ninja.*

JACOB FELDMAN looks around, noticing that someone is missing.

***Jacob:*** *Oh what the hell. Where’s the kid?*

***Lloyd:*** *Don’t worry!*

LLOYD WALLER runs out of a nearby garden with a baseball bat.

***Lloyd:*** *Look at this!*

He tosses a baseball up and smacks it down the street with the bat.

***Lloyd:*** *I figured I’d, uh… find something to - whack them with. That works, right?*

***William:*** *He should’ve made the team.*

***Bruce:*** *Yeah - that works, but don’t wander off without telling us.*

***Jacob: (To Lloyd)*** *Give it a test, then.*

***Lloyd:*** *What do you mean test?*

Jacob points at a zombie in the distance.

**Lloyd:** Oh… Like-- Ohhhhh… Actually - I have an idea! Wait here!

Lloyd runs back towards the garden he ran out of, and disappears.

***Jacob:*** ***(Sighing)*** *What is that kid on?*

***William: (He smiles)*** *Acid.*

The kid comes running back out a few moments later, dressed in football gear; a helmet and shoulder pads.

***Lloyd:*** *Look at this - it’s awesome. Y’know, like, uh… protection.*

***Jacob:*** *Oh my God.*

***William:*** *How did you know that’d be in there?*

***Lloyd:*** *When I was raking around for the bat earlier I saw it.*

***William:*** *Keen eye. Useful.*

Lloyd readies his baseball bat, approaching the zombie pointed out by Jacob. As the zombie lunges forward, Lloyd hits it, enough to stumble it back a bit, but not by much.

***Jacob:*** *Keep it up right, kid.*

***Lloyd:*** *I, uh… yeah. It’s heavier than I expected* ***(He chuckles nervously)***.

When the zombie lunges forward again, Lloyd drops the bat, and slides through the creature’s legs, emerging behind it.

***Lloyd:*** *Woah!*

He pushes it forward, and grabs his bat again, smacking it in the head, sending it to the ground. When it’s down, he beats the zombie’s head in three times until it stops moving.

***Lloyd:*** *Woah! I did it.*

***William:*** *That’s the spirit. Next time - swing for just under the back of the skull, it’s the softest part of the skull. But you’ve got quite an arm to bust his frontal lobe like that.*

***Lloyd:*** *Thanks.*

Lloyd proudly continues down the street, walking with Bruce. Jacob and WILLIAM REYNES trail behind them. As they walk, Jacob glances at William, slowing his pace.

***William:*** *What’s up?*

***Jacob:*** *Nothing, I just-- Stupid stuff.*

***William:*** *Come on, stupid stuff is my favourite.*

***Jacob:*** *I know I’m not in the right frame of mind - I know I’m not. I know I’m not in a good state. A kid simply mentions the fact he was whispering about girls and I…*

***William:*** *Can you really blame yourself for that?*

***Jacob:*** *I can’t take my mind off her. I just want to hold her again, and it’s stupid.*

***William:*** ***(He frowns)*** *Stupid? Far from it. You remember when my sister died?*

Jacob nods slowly.

***William:*** *All I wanted to do--for years after that--was just give her one last hug. It’s not until it’s gone that you realize how much of what you had means to you. And you had something great - amidst all this shit.*

***Jacob:*** *I still see it so clearly. I… I’d saved her, William. She was hanging off the roof… I had her hand -- I pulled her up. I remember looking into her eyes, seeing that relief. And-- I looked down at her stomach seeing… Seeing blood pour out from where my baby was supposed to be. Part of me forgets that it wasn’t just one life that was lost there. I lost my family to be. I just want to see her again, and I won’t be able to rest until there’s a bullet in Badrick’s skull.*

***William:*** *She’d want you to be at peace. She wouldn’t want you getting yourself killed over something as pointless as vengeance.*

***Jacob:*** *And I want her to be with me, right now. Badrick tore that away from me.*

***William:*** *Vengeance consumes, acceptance sets free. I’m not saying move on - I’m saying live peacefully. She’s dead - but that’s the one last favour you could do for her.*

***Jacob: (He nods slowly)*** *I’ll do my best, bud. Thank you.*

Jacob walks ahead, as William sighs to himself.

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**Scene #7**

**WILLAMETTE STREETS - AFTERNOON**

A truck bumps up and down, carefully maneuvering around wrecked vehicles along the street. In the back passenger seat, DAMERAE BADRICK is sitting agitated, his arm throbbing after being poorly patched up. Next to Badrick is DEAN HOWARDS, and next to him is DERRICK WILLIAMS. He’s trapped between the two, while a third Rasta drives the truck.

***Rasta:*** *We are going low on fuel.*

***Badrick:*** *Continue to circle us ‘round the block. We may be in a tricky situation my friends, but this is far from over.* ***(He looks at Dean)*** *You have proven to be a golden goose as you’d promised, Dean. And I assure you, we will find all of your friends and kill them.*

A radio in Badrick’s hand buzzes to life, shuffling being heard on the other side.

***Badrick:*** *Finally. Report. You’re late.*

A voice responds, calmly.

***Manji:*** *Apologies.*

***Badrick:*** *Where the fuck have you been, Fayard? I tried contacting you hours ago. I invested into all of this shit for a reason, so stay in contact with me.*

***Manji:*** *I apologize, my bruddah. What is it you need?*

***Badrick:*** *Things are going terribly here, I’ve lost all of my men but two. I’m going to need you to send a group over from New York.*

***Manji:*** *That can be done--we have plenty over here--the city is under my complete control. Might I ask… what has happened? If it is seriou--*

***Badrick:*** *You needn’t concern. I have it under control.*

***Manji:*** *Allow me to come and assist--*

***Badrick:*** *You will stay right where you are. You are going to keep control of New York and await my return.*

***Manji:*** *Very well…*

***Badrick:*** *Dispatch your boys from New York at once. I want them here within the week.*

***Manji:*** *…The week? Bad--*

***Badrick:*** *I WANT THEM HERE WITHIN THE WEEK!* ***(He swings his arm in frustration)*** *Do you understand?*

***Manji:*** *I understand. I will send them by ship, a few crates of firearms included.*

***Badrick:*** *Then I will await their arrival.* ***(To the driver)*** *Take us to the docks. We will take residence there until then.*

***Manji:*** *Is there anything else you need?*

***Badrick:*** *No. I am signing off for now. Be safe, bruddah.*

***Manji:*** *Of course.*

After Badrick puts down the radio, he hears Dean mumbling.

***Dean:*** *Beer. I want… beer. That’s all I want.*

***Badrick:*** *You tell me where the rest of your friends are - and you will get it.*

***Dean:*** *I need it. Just a drop, is all.*

Badrick punches him in the jaw with his good arm.

***Badrick:*** *Then you tell me where they are… and you will get it. Do you understand?*

Dean nods slightly, rubbing his jaw.

***Badrick:*** *We are on route to the docks. There, we will set up a home until my new group arrives. And when they do - we will level this town and make something beautiful. Something new.*

Badrick pulls out a cigar, lighting it, as the truck continues down the road.

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**Scene #8**

**WILLAMETTE NEIGHBOURHOOD - HOUSE**

CLYDE ROLLINS enters the living room, a huge grin on his face.

***Clyde:*** *The bus is refueled - we’re ready to get back on the road!*

***Robin:*** *How exciting…* ***(He claps slowly)***

***Edward:*** *How exciting indeed.*

***Solomon:*** *Where do we go once we find these people you were with?*

***Edward:*** *Well that’s the question.* ***(He turns to Benjamin)*** *Where do we go? It’s about time you tell us about this little road trip.*

BENJAMIN TAYLOR sighs, nodding at EDWARD REMAR.

***Benjamin:*** *Fine. I’ll tell you all about it.*

***Solomon:*** *Not Texas, I hope.*

***Benjamin:*** *Who said anything about Texas?*

***Solomon:*** *It’s just - I keep seeing this man. He died, but I guess I hallucinate. They put nails in my chest and broke my right finger nail with nails. And it took a few hours to get the nails out.*

***Edward:*** *Everyone here really is delusional.*

***Clyde:*** *I co-starred in the movie ‘Hallucination’. I was meant to be the star but… They chose that joker Ben Reeves over me. Well Ben Reeves hadn’t starred in fifteen action movies.*

***Solomon: (Continuing)*** *But is there any threat here? Aside from the zombies.*

***Robin:*** *Yeah. You not picked up on that yet?*

***Edward:*** *Badrick.*

***Clyde:*** *I mean… is he really still a threat? I mean come on let’s--*

***Edward:*** *He is. We’ve discussed this, Clyde.*

***Clyde:*** *When?*

***Edward:*** *Generally.*

***Solomon:*** *How many men does he have?*

***Edward:*** *I don’t know anymore. And frankly--* ***(He looks back at Benjamin)*** *I’m more interested in hearing about this road trip. So please… enlighten us all.*

***Benjamin:*** *Have it your way. Once I’m done with Badrick here and I see that he’s dead, I plan to rectify one of the biggest problems that’s shrouded my life for the past month.*

***Robin:*** *So dark, isn’t it? You’re gonna love this--*

***Edward:*** *Shut up so I can listen.*

***Benjamin:*** *I’ll tell you bluntly. My role in how this started.*

***Edward:*** *In how ‘this’ started. What is ‘this’?*

***Solomon:*** *What do you mean?*

Clyde coughs, hitting his chest.

***Clyde:*** *You mean like -- this? Like ALL of this?*

Benjamin stands up, pacing around the room.

***Benjamin:*** *I was always fascinated by technology. That's why I centered my company around it-- and it became a business titan. Taylor and Co would be a name that would be heard all around the states. I became known for my military funding, my outstanding technology. Out of this world, they called it.*

***Clyde:*** *Sponsored one of my movies, actually. We had these little coffee cups in the break room. Cute little Taylor and Co labels on them--*

Clyde looks around the room, seeing everyone’s eyes staring at him.

***Clyde:*** *Sorry, go on.*

***Benjamin:*** *My life was perfect. Until it wasn’t. Life loves to take a boxing glove and punch you in the face. Again, and again, and again. My wife Betty got cancer. The love of my life. I’m not one to tell sob stories, but it’s an important part. I became obsessed… Obsessed with finding a cure after I lost her to it. I wasn’t going to let that happen to anyone else. I had the funding - I had the power - and I was going to make a DIFFERENCE!* ***(He takes a deep breath, calming down)*** *And then-- just two years ago… Among all of that--that stress, that depression, of clinging onto something I’d lost--I was approached by another company. A man named Cornelius Dance wanted* ***me*** *to help fund him. Told me he had a team of some of the greatest scientists the world would ever know. Told me he had a similar want to do good in the world. I declined though, he had unethical side projects that I didn’t agree with. Experimentation, testing diseases, all sorts of controversial rubbish that would flood the media. I didn’t need that. I needed a cure. But I wasn’t on the lucky side.*

***Robin:*** *Because life put on another boxing glove.*

Benjamin stares at him, and then at the ground.

***Benjamin:*** *My little girl Sarah - also got cancer just a month later. Do I think any of its fair? No. I wonder if life did that to make me have to pay some kind of price, to have to lose something due to having no other expense. I wasn’t going to let what happened to my wife happen to her. I wasn’t. And I need to… To stop that. Cornelius contacted me again - arranged a meeting between myself and his head scientist Anton Lesser. They promised me they were on the verge of finding a cure -- showed me their work. All they needed… was funding. My little girl was going to be okay. This was it… This was what I needed. It all happened quickly, I was pouring funds into their project - losing track of what they were even doing with it. And before I knew it, they had unleashed something completely different on this world.*

***Edward: (Staring at him, bewildered)*** *Is all of this some kind of joke?*

***Benjamin:*** *Do I seem like a liar to you? I lost everything, and cost the world everything for trusting those psychopaths. And now look around -- look outside. You’ll see what’s happened to most of the population because of it. Whatever they did - choosing to strike on Black Friday.*

***Clyde:*** *I… That’s…*

***Solomon:*** *First off - holy shit. Second, what the fuck?*

***Edward:*** *And the road trip?*

***Benjamin:*** *I want to hunt them down. No doubt they are alive. No doubt they are out there somewhere. I want to make them pay.*

***Solomon:*** *What about a cure?*

***Benjamin:*** *Well that’s it-- this mission could save the world. If they manufactured a disease and spread it, why couldn’t they have a cure?*

***Edward:*** *If they are psychopaths… I would doubt they have one.*

***Solomon:*** *This could take years to make a cure.*

***Benjamin:*** *Unless they already have one made.*

***Clyde:*** *Doesn’t this, uh… seem a lot more important that, uh -- fighting Badrick?*

***Benjamin:*** *I planned to tend to this immediately until he kidnapped my daughter. You know the rest.*

***Robin:*** *I told you it was truly a tragic tale.*

***Clyde:*** *Well then…*

***Benjamin:*** *And that’s why when Badrick is dead, I want to get on that bus… and end this.*

***Edward:*** *It’s far-fetched. Would you even know where to find them?*

***Solomon:*** *And they’d be well protected probably.*

***Edward:*** *You’d need to think it through - you’d be doing all this to have a chance at finding a cure. A tiny chance. And I don’t think psychopaths who want to see the world burn want that. What has happened--has happened--and our main concern right now is Badrick. It needs to remain Badrick.*

***Benjamin:*** *And it will.*

***Solomon:*** *Alright.*

***Clyde:*** *So-- from now what’re we doing? Patrolling around in a bus - hunting him? For all we know he’s left town, or fallen into a ditch and died. I’m happy with either.*

***Edward:*** *I’m not.*

***Benjamin:*** *I’m not.*

***Clyde:*** *Well--*

***Benjamin:*** *I’m going to look him in the eye and ask him why he’s done everything that he’s done. And then I’m going to take both of those eyes away.*

***Edward:*** *And I am completely on board with that plan.*

***Clyde:*** *I’m not against it - I just wonder if he’s even still around.*

***Benjamin:*** *I suppose we’ll find out when we begin looking for him.*

***Solomon:*** *Suppose so…*

Benjamin walks out into the kitchen, leaving the rest of the group in silence.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #9**

**WILLAMETTE DOCKS - AFTERNOON**

JACOB FELDMAN and the others arrive at the docks, looking on at the small cargo ship docked along the river, swaying on the water.

***Jacob:*** *Jesus… if that thing is untouched, then we’ve struck a goldmine.*

***Lloyd:*** *We’re going onto that? That’s awesome.*

***William:*** *Looks brand new to me.*

***Bruce:*** *Pirating a cargo ship. How the mighty have fallen.*

***Jacob:*** *For the greater good.*

They walk forward, coming up to a ramp used to get onto the boat. Jacob slowly starts walking up it.

***Lloyd:*** *So - do people still man this thing or are we gonna be fighting an undead crew?*

***Jacob:*** *Let’s find out.*

***Bruce:*** *I’d rather a skeleton crew over a zombie one.*

***Jacob:*** *I say we split up - anyone willing to take the lower decks?*

***William:*** *Me.*

***Jacob:*** *Take Bruce with you, I’ll scan up here with the kid. Meet back here, see what we’re taking.*

***William:*** *Sounds good to me.*

WILLIAM REYNES, upon arriving on board the ship, throws open a hatch, climbing down. BRUCE BOSEMAN follows.

***Jacob:*** *Come on, kid.*

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**Scene #10**

**WILLAMETTE DOCKS - AFTERNOON**

BRUCE BOSEMAN mashes in a zombie’s head with his knee, dropping onto the ground quietly.

***William:*** ***(Quietly)*** *You’ve still got it.*

WILLIAM REYNES sees a zombie wandering out of an open door. He raises his machete, slicing its head off.

***Bruce:*** *If I still had it - I wouldn’t be on this supply run right now.*

***William:*** *And why’s that?*

***Bruce:*** *Because there’d still be teachers - other able bodies to do it. I have more important duties than this.*

***William:*** *You did the best you could - cut yourself some slack.*

***Bruce:*** *William… you weren’t there when it happened. All the children-- the people in my care… calling my name - as their entrails were stomached by their familiars. And me - unable to do anything but watch… for the greater good. Most of those who survived left. They lost faith in me, they viewed me as a failure. The only ones who stayed -- had no place else to go.*

***William:*** *And look at you - you’ve kept them alive so far. You served the greater good - and the cost was tragic, I know, but-- They say life is a rollercoaster - there’s always a down before an up.*

***Bruce: (He nods)*** *Thank you for remaining yourself. We’ve spent long enough - we need to get a move on.*

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**Scene #11**

**WILLAMETTE DOCKS - AFTERNOON**

Above deck, JACOB FELDMAN smashes his crowbar to break open one of the ship’s containers. After pulling open the doors, he looks inside, seeing boxes and boxes of canned goods. As he’s looking at it, he suddenly hears a clanging sound above him.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey!*

Jacob looks up, startled to see LLOYD WALLER looking down at him, poking his head out of another container he climbed into.

***Jacob:*** *Jesus, kid. What is it?*

***Lloyd:*** *Don’t you think it’s weird that - all of this stuff has just been left like this? I mean-- not been, uh… looted until now?*

***Jacob:*** *Yeah… it’s weird. I’m uneasy about it.*

***Lloyd:*** *How much of this stuff do you think we should take back? I mean how much can we really carry-- Do you think this ship works? Maybe we can just--*

***Jacob:*** *You ask a lot of questions. Questions that I don’t have the answers to.*

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah… heh, sorry.*

***Jacob:*** *You’ve done good out here, kid.*

Jacob begins walking around to the side of the ship, the docks coming back into view.

***Lloyd:*** *You think so?*

Lloyd hops down, following him.

***Lloyd:*** *No sarcasm?*

***Jacob:*** *No sarcasm.*

***Lloyd:*** *Gee, thanks.*

Jacob suddenly slows to a stop, his eyes focused on something in the distance.

DAMERAE BADRICK steps out of his truck from across the docks, an AK-47 in his hands. The other Rasta gets out, following him, followed by DERRICK WILLIAMS, dragging DEAN HOWARDS along the ground.

Jacob’s mouth twitches, his hand beginning to reach over his back to his shotgun.

***Jacob:*** *B… Badrick…*

He retrieves the shotgun, his face scrunching up with anger.

**Lloyd:** Hey, uh-- What’s bad, sorry?

**Jacob:** Kid… I’m gonna need you to go below deck and tell the others to get up here. I can’t miss this chance.

**Lloyd:** Uh… right, but--

**Jacob:** Just don’t worry about it. Go.

Lloyd turns and rushes off.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #12**

**WILLAMETTE DOCKS - AFTERNOON**

Across the docks, DAMERAE BADRICK is standing by a warehouse with DERRICK WILLIAMS, DEAN HOWARDS and the other Rasta. Badrick grins, chuckling quietly.

***Badrick:*** *They don’t seem to realize that we’ve noticed they are on the ship yet.*

Derrick lets out a chuckle, as Badrick readies his rifle.

***Badrick:*** *It appears we’ve found your friends yet again, Dean. You will get to watch them die.*

Dean notices JACOB FELDMAN standing on board the ship in the distance.

***Dean:*** *No, no, come on, please. I-- Come on, not them, alright? Look- we can talk about this. We can settle something!*

***Badrick:*** *This is our home. That ship right there… I claim it. I’ve laid eyes on it…*

***Dean:*** *I’m sure we--*

Badrick appears to ignore him, facing away.

***Dean:*** *No, come on, you need to listen to me. COME ON!*

***Derrick:*** *There’s nothing to talk about, Dean.*

***Dean:*** *JUST LISTEN!*

Derrick punches him hard across the face. Dean’s head swings, blood flying. He coughs, dazed.

Back on board the ship, LLOYD WALLER is seen returning to Jacob, WILLIAM REYNES and BRUCE BOSEMAN with him.

***Jacob:*** *We’ve got a problem.*

William looks over the railing.

***William:*** *Lovely.*

He begins to set up his rifle.

***Badrick:*** *Enough of this.*

Badrick moves forward, aiming his AK-47 at the ship. He unloads his entire clip. The other Rasta moves forward by his side, while Derrick picks Dean up, holding him in a chokehold position while walking with Badrick, using Dean as a human shield.

***Dean:*** *GK--*

Jacob, Bruce and Lloyd duck down in a panic, bullets flying above them, bullets clanging off the metal exterior right beside them. William is unable to duck in time, and is shot in the arm by one of the bullets as he falls back.

***Lloyd:*** *Mr. Reynes?!*

***William:*** *Son of a bitch* ***(He spits)***. *I’ll be okay, kid. Go find cover.*

***Lloyd:*** *What are we going to do?! Fight?*

***Jacob:*** *You aren’t ready to fight!*

***Bruce:*** *We need to go.*

***Lloyd:*** *What about the supplies - everything here?*

***Bruce:*** *Enough of this - fuck it all.*

***Jacob:*** *More so… what about Badrick…? We can take them.*

William sees Jacob drifting off, clenching the shotgun in his hands. He sits up, looking at his best friend seriously.

***William:*** *Stop.*

***Jacob:*** *All of this - one shot could do it! Our group--our FAMILY can be safe again! He’s the primary concern - I can take a shot.*

On the docks, Badrick and his Rasta crew are moving up quickly. Derrick gives Dean a whack with his revolver, forcing him to look at the ship, at his friends being shot at.

***Derrick:*** *Watch.*

***Dean:*** *GAH!*

The four of them near the ship ramp. Dean, struggling to breathe, tries speaking to Derrick.

***Dean:*** *Pl-plea--please… Gh-- I can make them come out-- I can force them to come out. Let me go--*

***Derrick:*** *Not gonna happen.*

Derrick tightens his chokehold around Dean’s neck. The man’s face begins to go blue, as he struggles to get air.

Back on board, William is still trying to tell Jacob it’s time to leave.

***William:*** *Jacob - I’ve probably got a few burst arteries, but I will knock you out and drag you with us if I have to.*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m, uh-- thinking we should go.* ***(He points to a second ramp down the other way)*** *Out the other end.*

***Bruce:*** *Come on, come on* ***(He claps his hands)***.

Jacob finally gives William a nod.

***Jacob:*** *Alright. I’ll cover the exit. Let’s go.*

***William:*** *Wow - okay.*

William, Lloyd and Bruce stay low below the wall, as they move across the ship to the second ramp on the other side. Meanwhile, Badrick steps up onto the first ramp, before signaling for his other Rasta to go first. However, just as the Rasta nears the top, Jacob fires a slug into the man’s face. He tumbles back down the ramp, almost knocking over Badrick, who throws his body into the water. Angered, Badrick fires at the wall where Jacob is, as Derrick steps onto the ramp, still using Dean as a human shield.

***Dean:*** ***(Quietly, struggling to breathe)*** *NO-- DON’T SHOOT--*

On the other side of the ship, William, Bruce and Lloyd have successfully made it to the other ramp. Bruce grabs Lloyd, beginning to carry him down the ramp until Lloyd stops him.

***Lloyd:*** *I don’t need to be carried!*

Lloyd takes out his pistol, flicking off the safety.

***Bruce:*** *Get back here.*

Lloyd looks all the way down the ship, seeing Jacob.

***Lloyd:*** *Wait-- I have an idea. Trust me! Trust me! My backpack!*

He rushes away, Bruce unable to do anything. He reluctantly carries the injured William down the ramp, who’s on the verge of passing out. As they are, Badrick, who’s still on his ramp, turns, spraying in their direction, but missing. Bruce and William vanish behind a warehouse.

On the ship, Jacob is hiding behind a container, when he suddenly notices Lloyd running up to him, hiding behind cover with him.

***Jacob:*** *Kid? What the hell are you still doing here? Get off with the others!*

***Lloyd:*** *You’re meant to be doing the same thing!*

***Jacob:*** *I have unfinished business up here. I gotta--*

Badrick and Derrick step on board the step, both of them shooting towards Jacob and Lloyd. Scared, Lloyd runs off. As Jacob is popping out to take a shot at Badrick, his eyes widen when he sees the man charging at him. He fires his shotgun, but it misses wide, and Badrick is able to knock it away, beginning to beat down Jacob.

***Badrick:*** *Derrick - pursue the KID!*

Derrick grunts, hitting Dean in the back of the head with his revolver, knocking him out cold. He then rushes forward, sprinting after Lloyd. Derrick quickly starts catching up to the kid, however, Lloyd is able to quickly climb up onto one of the containers, jumping across them, losing Derrick. Lost, Derrick runs off in a direction, hoping to be lucky and find the kid.

Meanwhile, Badrick and Jacob go at each other with everything they’ve got, throwing punch after punch. Badrick, stronger than his opponent, is able to get the upper hand, but in response, Jacob squeezes Badrick’s arm wound, making the man let go and yell in pain. The two men continue fighting, until Badrick is kicked down a set of stairs to a deck below. Jacob shoots a quick glance over his shoulder, seeing Bruce and William in the distance.

***Jacob: (Quietly)*** *I’m gonna handle it, trust me.*

Jacob runs forward, attacking Badrick. They continue hitting each other, all the while Badrick tries reaching for a knife in his back pocket, unable to reach it. At one point, Jacob twists Badrick’s hand to stop him from reaching, which angers Badrick enough to punch him off. Jacob slides along the ship, stopping next to the stairs.

***Lloyd:*** *Mr. Feldman!*

He looks up to see Lloyd on the deck above.

***Jacob:*** *Kid - get off the ship! Bruce and William are already gone!*

***Lloyd:*** *You’re meant to be gone!*

***Jacob:*** *Just go - I‘m dealing with this. He took-- everything from me.*

***Lloyd:*** *It isn’t worth it, sir!*

Jacob sees Badrick standing up, having finally pulled out his knife.

***Jacob:*** *Just go…*

***Lloyd:*** *I have this-- to, uh, help.*

Lloyd takes the grenade out of his backpack, dropping it to Jacob.

***Jacob:*** *Where did you get this?*

***Lloyd:*** *Don’t ask - gotta go!*

He runs off, leaving just Jacob and Badrick. Slowly, Jacob stands up, facing his opponent.

***Badrick:*** *You… you are upset about something, mm? Is that what this is? Are you trying to avenge someone? If I hadn’t killed so many people, I’d maybe have a clue as to who it was. Weren’t people like you told that fighting someone in rage distracts you? Lowers the focus?*

***Jacob:*** *You talk too much.*

***Badrick:*** *Because I’m toying with you.*

Jacob abruptly charges at him, wrestling the knife away from his hand. However, he’s unable to knock the knife away, and Badrick jams it into Jacob’s gut.

***Jacob:*** *Gh--*

He loses all his energy in that moment, stumbling back, holding his stomach. Badrick yanks the knife out, pushing Jacob to the ground, dropping the grenade. He tries to crawl to it, but Badrick kicks it away.

***Badrick:*** *Did you intend on throwing your life away when you came to confront me?*

***Jacob:*** *I don’t have… anything to live for… so…*

***Badrick:*** *Anyone in your position would say such things to try and discourage their opponent - ruin the victory.*

***Jacob:*** *Yeah-- well you got my pregnant wife killed… so--*

Jacob swipes his foot under Badrick’s legs, making him trip. Jacob takes the chance, getting to his feet, but immediately falling over from the pain. He crawls towards the grenade, grabbing it with both his hands. Just as he does, Badrick grabs his collar, staring at him. Jacob clutches the grenade, his hand holding onto the pin, ready to pull it.

***Badrick:*** *And what now? Tell me. What now? Is your life really that meaningless to you? Go on. Do it.*

***Jacob:*** *You’re underestimating what I hold dear to me. You’re not understanding what I want most…* ***(He coughs)***

***Badrick:*** *And what’s that?* ***(He grins)***

***Jacob:*** *To see you die.*

He pulls the pin on the grenade.

***Badrick:*** *FUCK!*

Badrick turns, sprinting as fast as he can--but he doesn’t get too far.

The grenade explodes in Jacob’s hand, his corpse being flung from the ship. Badrick is thrown back into a pillar, the explosion severely injuring him--burning him. He looks down at his suit, seeing it on fire. He then touches his face, one side of which is nothing but burnt skin and flesh, his right eye nothing but a spot of blood.

***Badrick:*** *AGHHHHHHHHHHH--*

The cargo ship creaks loudly, a loud snap being heard. The deck snaps in two, opening up the ship. It quickly begins to sink, water flooding the lower compartments. Badrick desperately holds onto the pillar, but can’t hold on. His hands slip, his body being sent through the crack in the ship. He lands in the water below, sinking, vanishing within the dark abyss.

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**Scene #13**

**WILLAMETTE DOCKS - LATE AFTERNOON**

LLOYD WALLER hobbles along the docks, an arm around DEAN HOWARDS’s shoulder, struggling to bring the unconscious man to safety. Suddenly, he hears an explosion behind him. He looks over his shoulder, seeing the ship split into two.

***Lloyd:*** *I…*

WILLIAM REYNES and BRUCE BOSEMAN come walking out, watching as the ship sinks.

***Lloyd:*** *I… I don’t…*

Lloyd notices a body floating towards the shore, a mangled, disgusting looking corpse, that Lloyd immediately recognizes. He tears up, as the corpse rolls up to the shore. William stares at it, before he lets himself fall to the ground. He stares up into the sky, speechless.