Derek Monroe

"*I was hoping that she'd succeed. But it seems that - just like as a child - she's a failure. I'm sure you'll find a better woman.*"
—Derek to Jacob Feldman[src]

Derek Monroe is a supporting character and an antagonist, as well as a survivor of the outbreak that appeared in Season 2 of Route to Paradise. He was the owner of a successful whiskey company, and had connections with The Rastas pre-outbreak. Derek is a cold and heartless father to his daughter, Erin Monroe, despite all of his false compassion and apologies. He's a careful person, and a determined man, always looking ahead and not behind, and someone that doesn't care about the people who die along the way.

It's unknown where exactly Derek was before the outbreak, but once the world began to fall apart, Derek took his time getting to the town of Willamette, Colorado, where his daughter Erin was residing. There, Derek takes shelter at a hotel in town while he begins to work with Wilbur Wright and his crew. Eventually Derek discovers Erin to be alive and apart of another group at Willamette Parkview Mall. But the first time they see each other, Erin runs off, not wanting anything to do with him. It takes some time, but once Erin agrees to let Derek say his piece, he apologizes for all of the trauma he caused her growing up, begging for a second chance in this new world.

Erin agrees to give Derek another chance, the two of them making amends. Over the next few days Derek works with Erin's group and Benjamin Taylor's private army in the war against Damerae Badrick and the Rastas. When the group discovers where Badrick is hiding out, Derek asks Erin to do him one favour - to bring Badrick in alive. He doesn't explain why, but Erin, wanting to get along with her father again, agrees to try and do that.

Derek patiently awaits for Erin to meet him at a compound outside of town, but to his surprise, it's Jacob Feldman who shows up, Erin's boyfriend. When Jacob says that Erin was killed, Derek shows zero emotion, and rambles on about how much of a failure she is. He reveals to Jacob that his plan was to ally with Badrick in order to get a boat out of town, and says that the two of them can still do it. When Jacob hears this, he shoots Derek dead.

## **Pre-Apocalypse**

Derek was the owner of a massively successful whiskey company all across the United States. But behind the scenes, the only reason Derek's company prevailed was due to him working with criminals. Two notable criminals he worked with was Damerae Badrick, leader of the vile gang known as The Rastas, and a group of criminals run by Wilbur Wright.

Derek has a wife and a daughter named Erin Monroe. However, he admits to being a horrible father to Erin. He controlled Erin's life, and eventually made her run away ten years before the outbreak. Eight years later, Derek and his wife were driving together in a car when they crashed, resulting in the death of Derek's wife. His wife's last words to Derek, at least according to him, was that he and Erin make amends be together again.

A few weeks prior to the outbreak, Derek was expanding his business to the town of Willamette, Colorado, the town he knew Erin was living in. He was in Willamette when the outbreak struck.

## **Post-Apocalypse**

When the outbreak began, Derek and two of his bodyguards took shelter at a hotel in downtown Willamette. Derek would eventually start working with Wilbur, agreeing to help provide him with some vehicles.

### **Season 2**

#### "**Partners in Crime**"

At Wilbur Wright's warehouse in town, Derek steps out and introduces himself to a group of survivors from elsewhere in town. To Derek's shock, among the survivors is his daughter, Erin Monroe, who he hadn't seen for years at that point. He can't believe his eyes, and starts to approach her while claiming that he came here looking for her. Erin steps back, warning him to stay away, which saddens Derek. Eventually Erin rushes out of the warehouse, while Derek looks down, shaking his head. He informs Wilbur that he has all of the vehicles parked outside ready for him, but that he has to go after Erin.

#### "**Promise**"

Derek jogs after Erin and Jacob Feldman down the road, finally catching up to them. After catching his breath, he pleads with Erin to come with him to his hotel so that they can at least talk. But Erin angrily shoves him away, not wanting anything to do with him. "I only want to make amends," Derek says, before he turns his attention to Jacob, wondering who he is. He learns that he is Erin's boyfriend. After Derek asks Erin once more to give him one chance, Erin, wiping tears away, says that he has ten minutes. Nodding, Derek tells them to follow him.

They arrive at Derek's hotel shortly after, as Derek explains that he and his two bodyguards have been staying here. He leads Erin and Jacob into the lobby, where they take a seat. To start things off, Derek simply says that he's sorry, but Erin replies that it's ten years too late. Erin questions why Derek is even here now, after the world has ended. Derek explains that he was planning on opening up his whiskey business into Willamette, and came here a few weeks ago, before the outbreak to settle some business deals. When Erin asks about her mother, Derek sadly says that she died in a car crash two years ago. While Erin sobs, Derek says that he's sorry for everything. A furious Erin stands, screaming at him for being a monster that controlled and ruined her life. Derek continues to apologize, while trying his best to make amends with her. "Your mother - would've wanted it," Derek says, which gets Erin to finally nod slowly. Erin, now finally opening up, introduces Jacob to her father, before stating that she is pregnant. Derek is lost for words at first, but then he smiles, and says that he's happy for her. Derek says that it's dangerous to have a baby in the apocalypse, but he's happy nonetheless. He asks where Erin and Jacob are staying, and they explain that they're living at Willamette Parkview Mall. When Derek asks if he'd be welcome to visit sometime, Erin sighs and nods. Happy, Derek says that he's going to go speak with his bodyguards, and plan to go visit the mall tomorrow.

#### "**Warzone**"

The next day, Derek, his two bodyguards, Erin and Jacob arrive at the mall. Derek immediately notices that the front entrance was destroyed and repaired with fences. As they step inside, Derek is greeted by one of the mall's inhabitants, Aldus Paxton. Jacob asks Aldus about how the train heist went - and Aldus sadly explains that it was a failure, and Clayton Freeman was killed. Derek looks down with a slight frown, before he walks off into the mall to explore the place.

Later on, Derek is seen walking up on the rooftop with Felix Quarterman, the two men talking about the possibility of working together in order to eliminate The Rastas. Derek explains to Felix that he and the mall survivors will have his full support no matter what now that he knows his daughter lives here. Felix asks about Derek's history with Erin, and Derek says that Erin is still his daughter no matter how rough their history is, and he wants to protect her. Felix understands, remarking about his own issues. As they continue walking, Felix points out Robert Morgan to Derek, the man responsible for repairing the front entrance. "They are lucky to have you," Derek says with a smile, before he and Felix continue walking.

In the security room office, Derek is sitting with Felix and Erin, speaking about the ongoing war in Willamette between The Rastas and Benjamin Taylor's army. The two men hope that the two sides destroy themselves in the fighting, but they'll just have to wait and see. When Felix walks out, Derek finally has some time to talk with Erin alone. He says that they need to fix things. He remembers his wife's last wish was for him and Erin to be back together, and that's why he's here now. Erin thinks it's too little too late, as she thinks back to how much she was haunted by Derek. She says that Derek was the problem, not her. Sighing, Derek asks for forgiveness, reminding her that they're still family at the end of the day. He can't apologize enough, but that doesn't seem to matter to Erin. Leaning forward, Derek asks her again for one more chance, telling her that again that she's family, and he'll love her no matter what. "There is nobody more meaningful," he says, as Erin starts to tear up. Derek hugs her, as Jacob comes walking in, happy to see that things have worked out between them. Erin, nodding slowly, says that it'll take some time, but she is willing to give Derek another chance. As Jacob sits down, Derek leans back and asks Jacob about himself. Jacob explains that he and Erin met on the first day of the apocalypse, and ever since then they've been happy together. Derek nods, glad to see that his daughter is in safe hands. He says that the two of them will have his full support in whatever is to come, especially in the war against The Rastas. He then shocks Erin and Jacob by stating that he knows who the Rasta leader is, Damerae Badrick, as the man used to buy whiskey from him. Derek is ashamed to admit that he was in business with criminals like Badrick and Wilbur Wright, as it was the only way for his business to prevail. Derek says that he's cooking up some ideas for how to deal with The Rastas, but he still needs more time. He stands up, ready to head back to his hotel with his bodyguards. He and Erin hug one more time, and Derek shakes hands with Jacob, thanking him for watching out for his daughter. He then wishes them farewell for now and steps out of the office.

#### "**Fractured Beyond Repair**"

At the museum, Derek is revealed to be working with Benjamin Taylor's army with the goal of eliminating The Rastas. He explains to Benjamin and all of his soldiers that he knows about two different Rasta outposts in town. One is at a junkyard, while the other is at the hotel he was staying at. He talks about how he came back to the hotel to find it occupied by the Rastas, who then killed his two bodyguards. "And we will avenge them, and everyone else," Benjamin says. A little while later, Derek offers to go with Edward Remar and Clyde Rollins back to the mall to ask the survivors there to attack the hotel, while Benjamin's group goes after the junkyard. Benjamin wishes Derek good luck, before Derek leaves with Edward and Clyde.

They arrive at the mall later that day, and Derek explains what the plan is to Jacob and the others. After a group of people volunteer to go attack the hotel, Derek takes Erin aside, where he smiles and says that they have ten years to catch up on.

#### "**Family Business**"

In Wonderland Plaza, Derek walks with Erin, who is showing Derek around the mall, the two of them finally getting along together. Derek comes to a stop, reaching into his pocket, where he pulls out a small pocket watch. He explains that the watch has ran through his family for generations, and originally Derek had tried giving it to his wife. But she refused to take it, knowing how much it meant to Derek. But now Derek wants to give it to Erin. "So you can have something - to celebrate our reunion," he says. Before Erin even has the chance to decline it, Derek puts it into her hands, and says that it's hers now. As they continue walking, Erin talks about how excited she is to have a baby, which Derek is happy to hear. He then switches the conversation rather sharply to the topic of Damerae Badrick. He wants Erin's help with something -- to take Badrick in alive once they find him. Erin is taken aback by this, but Derek says that he has a plan for what to do with Badrick that he can't share just yet. But he tells Erin about a compound he has outside of town that he wants Badrick brought to once they've captured him. Erin is confused and isn't sure what to think, but she at least says that she'll give it some thought. Smiling, Derek thanks her, before he tells her to keep that watch safe.

On the roof, Derek speaks with Jacob. In their conversation, Jacob brings up the idea of marriage - and wants Derek's permission before he asks Erin to marry him. Derek looks on at Jacob for a few moments, before he tells Jacob that he's free to do what he wants, and that he has his approval. Jacob smiles, giddy, as he walks off. Not long later, as Derek is looking off the roof of the mall, he is approached by Erin, who has come to a decision about what Derek asked earlier. She says that she'll do it - she'll try to take Badrick in alive. Derek smiles, proud of her. He then quickly pulls a small map out of his pocket, while pointing to her where his compound is. Erin isn't sure that she can keep this information from Jacob, and Derek says that she doesn't have to. Jacob is welcome to be part of the plan. Before Derek leaves, Jacob comes walking back out onto the roof. Derek recognizes that Jacob is about to propose to Erin, but Derek tells Jacob to save it until after.

Some hours later, Derek is sitting inside of his compound when he hears the door open. Derek looks up, seeing Jacob stepping in, a blank expression on his face. Erin is nowhere to be seen. Derek asks about her, but when Jacob simply shakes his head, Derek understands. Derek looks to the floor for only a moment without a hint of sadness in his face. He then looks up at Jacob, seeing his face tensing up, and asks him why he's being like that. Jacob, bewildered at Derek's calmness, makes it clear to him that Erin is dead, but Derek doesn't seem to care. "A shame indeed," Derek says casually, before asking, "Though - do you have Badrick?" Jacob clenches a fist, perplexed at how Derek is acting. Derek complains that Erin failed him, and all he wanted was Badrick here so that he, Erin and Jacob could have forced Badrick to help them escape Willamette. "I was hoping that she'd succeed," Derek says, "But it seems that - just like as a child, she's a failure." Jacob twitches, staring at Derek with spite, while Derek continues to ramble on about how weak Erin was. He then suddenly says that he and Jacob could form a team, a much better team, and form an alliance with Badrick. Jacob draws a pistol, fuming with rage, pointing it at Derek. He begins to tell Derek that he's a disgrace, and delusional. Derek, remaining calm, tells Jacob to put down the gun. "We both know you won't use it if you're anything like her." With that, Jacob shoots Derek in his chest, blood spraying across the wall. Derek falls into his chair, grabbing onto his chest. Jacob then fires again, and again, emptying the entire magazine into Derek, killing him.

#### "**Home**"

When Jacob returns to the mall, it's revealed that he brought Derek with him -- albeit cut into pieces -- pieces that he dumps onto the roof in front of the rest of his group.

## **Death**

Killed By
* Jacob Feldman

Jacob shows up to Derek's compound to inform him about Erin Monroe's death. But to his shock, Derek doesn't care in the slightest, revealing that he never cared about Erin and was only using her so that she'd bring Badrick to him. When Jacob hears this, he shoots Derek dead, and afterwards cuts Derek into pieces, bringing his remains back to the mall and dumping them on the roof.

## **Appearances**

Any episode with a checkmark over it signifies Derek Monroe appearing in any way.