Leslie Staunton

### Occupation

Head of the PTA *(Pre-Apocalypse)*Former leader of the North Plaza survivors *(Post-Apocalypse)*

## Biography

### First Seen

Season 1 Episode 3"The Scary Thing About Clowns"

### Last Seen

Season 5 Episode 4"Before it Gets Better" *(Flashback)*

### Cause of Death

Shot in the head by Jacob Feldman.

"*You'll look back on this day, Mr. Feldman. You'll remember it. When you're a bloodthirsty killer like everyone else! Everyone who's close to you, they'll die, and you - the one your friends know... will be gone.*"
—Leslie to Jacob Feldman before attempting to take his life[src]

Leslie Staunton is a main character and an antagonist in Route to Paradise. She serves as one of the three main antagonists of Season 1 (alongside Skittles the Clown and Michael Hall). She is the ambitious and cunning leader of the north plaza survivors in Willamette Mall who is infatuated with perfection and order.

At the beginning of the apocalypse, Leslie was quick to rally a group of survivors and cast her influence over them, clearing out the supermarket at Willamette Mall and fortifying it. Leslie’s operation continued to expand, allowing her to have a network of survivors working together throughout the north plaza from the supermarket to the gun store, giving her control of major supply points around the mall. Now in charge of a growing empire, Leslie opens trade with other survivors and plans to take over the entirety of the mall.

After meeting with and establishing trade with the survivors from the security room, Leslie continues to make progress around the mall by clearing out the north plaza entirely and making it a safe-zone for any who abide by her rules.

When one of her lieutenants, Teddy Powell, the gun store owner, reports to her that he’s been robbed, an outraged Leslie comes to the conclusion that there are too many survivors roaming the mall who aren’t loyal to her and should not be taking what is rightfully theirs. Believing her rules to be the answer, Leslie comes up with a plan to begin clearing the survivors who refuse to work directly under her.

Over the next few days, Leslie orchestrates a number of targeted attacks on survivors around the mall, instructing those loyal to her to cover themselves so that they are unrecognisable. One of these attacks is directed at the security room survivors in the paradise plaza, however it is unsuccessful and her people are killed.

Believing the security room survivors to be the largest threat to her, a stubborn Leslie refuses to back down and meets with Clyde Rollins, one of their former members who moved into the north plaza. Leslie sends Clyde on a mission to bait some of their group down into the basement so that a surprise attack can be launched on them, but when this is unsuccessful and Clyde is locked up, he spills everything about Leslie’s plans for ultimate control of the mall and they catch wind of her treachery.

Leslie’s empire crumbles as the north plaza is attacked by the security room survivors and all of her loyalists either surrender or are killed in battle. A desperate Leslie flees to the roof where she is confronted by Jacob Feldman. Leslie proceeds to break down, screaming about her philosophy and vision that was ruined, before she attempts to kill Jacob and is shot in the head, falling off of the roof.

## **Pre-Apocalypse**

Nothing is known about Leslie besides the fact she was the leader of the PTA in Willamette, Colorado. She and the organization likely held many protests during their time, as seen in the flashback in "Before it Gets Better".

## **Post-Apocalypse**

### **Season 1**

#### "**The Scary Thing About Clowns**"

At Seon's supermarket in the North Plaza of the mall, Leslie introduces herself to a group of survivors as the leader of the North Plaza survivors. She explains to them all that everybody here is served fairly and equally, and she's confident that order must be kept until the military arrives to rescue them. She then walks back to her office, leaving Jim Butterman to answer any questions the survivors may have.

She returns a while later as the survivors are leaving, and says that she hopes to be able to work with them until they're saved.

#### "**An Unusual Team**"

Leslie is sitting in her office preparing a cup of coffee when she gets a knock at the door. William Reynes enters, there to deliver a message from Teddy Powell. He tells her that Teddy is ready to begin clearing, and that he'll start as soon as Leslie sends out a party. Leslie thanks William for delivering the message and sends him on his way.

Later on when the survivors from the security room visit the supermarket again, Leslie strolls over, greeting them and revealing her plan of clearing the North Plaza to be completely free of zombies to them. She wants help from them, and ensures that they will prevail if they work together. She frowns when Felix Quarterman tells Leslie that he's part of the mall management, and she can't be making rules. Leslie remains calm, and tells Felix that they'll see. She proceeds to wish the rest of the security room survivors good luck before heading back to her office.

#### "**Buddy**"

In her office, Leslie is told by Teddy that Erin Monroe and a group of people came into the gun store and stole most of the guns. Leslie is angered, especially by Erin, who she trusted, but tries to keep a cool head. When asked by Teddy what they should do, Leslie explains to him that they need to take control of the mall and only hand out weapons to those who prove trustworthy. She admits to Teddy that the military are more than likely not coming, and they need to setup an outpost at the mall - without any rivaling factions and people roaming about. Teddy slowly nods before leading to get some rest.

#### "**Guardian Angel**"

Leslie walks down the North Plaza, completely clear of any zombies. She stops in front of Jacob Feldman and the rest of the security room survivors, smiling and welcoming them back into the North Plaza, now deemed safe for all survivors. Clyde Rollins steps forward happily and expresses how nice it is to see a strong woman taking control of the mall. Leslie smiles, allowing them all to roam around the plaza as they wish - but to not steal anything again. She reminds them all to take the Wonderland Plaza exit when they leave. Leslie grins, turning and walking away.

Later on, Leslie is visited by Clyde in her office. Clyde takes a seat, wondering why Leslie requested to speak with him. Leslie sits and immediately begins asking Clyde questions about the security room and their inhabitants. Clyde admits to her that he feels some of them have no respect for the North Plaza, which annoys him. Leslie smiles as she prepares Clyde a cup of tea, explaining that she wants the mall to be safe throughout every plaza and could use his help in doing that. She wants to know *everything* about the security room survivors.

#### "**Life and Death**"

Leslie and her plans to take over the mall completely backfire, and the North Plaza is attacked. In her office, Leslie hears gunfire ringing out all throughout the plaza. She stands with Jim and tells him to stand his ground and kill the raiders. Jim, who is visibly nervous, mutters out an "Okay." before Leslie rushes out of the room.

Leslie is chased up onto the roof of the mall by Jacob. There, she comes to a stop and turns around to face Jacob. She yells at him, complaining that he had ruined the perfect future she was planning. Jacob attempts to get Leslie to calm down, telling her that it's over - but she can still live. Leslie pulls out a revolver and points it at him, ordering him to stop. Jacob has enough, telling Leslie that what she did was wrong-- all the people she manipulated onto her side. Leslie begins to break down, yelling and shaking, as she backs herself up to the edge of the roof. Standing there, she tells Jacob that he'll become a killer like everybody else, and the ones close to him will die. "It's over for me." She says before quickly firing her revolver, hitting Jacob in his shoulder. Jacob flinches before he aims his own pistol up and shoots Leslie in the head. She falls back off the roof and lands on a car below.

### **Season 5**

#### "**Before it Gets Better**"

During a flashback, Leslie is seen protesting in town square, complaining about the police not doing enough to keep the town safe, and that the PTA will. She continues on, talking through a megaphone and saying that she will shut down the local school until it is deemed safe and secure for children.

## **Death**

Killed by
* Jacob Feldman

As Leslie's empire crumbles around her, she flees to the roof of the mall where she's confronted by Jacob. After breaking down and yelling about how Jacob ruined her plans for the future, she takes out a gun and shoots him in the shoulder. In response, Jacob shoots Leslie in the head, sending her body falling off of the rooftop and landing on a car below.

## **Killed Victims**

* Numerous counts of unnamed people *(Caused)*
* Possibly numerous counts of zombies

## **Quotes**

The following is a list of Leslie Staunton's notable quotes

Season 1

"**Felix**: Then lets fucking go. Fuck these cheery clowns. They’ll learn soon enough when they’re being torn apart.**Leslie**: I see you have quite the attitude, young man.**Felix**: I’m the one who was mall management, not you. You and your little plaza can stay, but you’re not gonna make rules here."**Leslie**: I suppose we’ll see.- Leslie's animosity with Felix in 1x04

"**Leslie**: We’re going to take action. This mall is ours. It’s our rules people will follow. And it’s our guns people will be given under trust. Inside this mall - there are hundreds of survivors. Too many. Things in this mall are far worse than I’d feared. The dead roaming is one, and if we wish to set up for the long term--well, let’s be honest - the military aren’t coming. It’s a flicker of false hope. We need to setup our outpost, and we can’t have rivaling factions and people roaming around what’s ours."- Leslie's shift in attitude in 1x05

"**Leslie**: You could help us… be ready for the worst case scenario. We want this mall to be safe… familiar… and known by all of us. But currently, beyond our plaza is an entire mall of the unknown. Get comfortable, Mr. Rollins... And tell me all about the people in the security room."- Leslie using Clyde for information on the security room survivors in 1x06

"**Leslie**: You-- you raiders! You… you’re all SAVAGES! You live in this-- this terrible world, and you do terrible things - to good people like me! I… I wanted to create a paradise. But you -- you EVIL PEOPLE follow your own rules! And - it clashes with what’s CIVIL! I will not have you--or your terrible band of raiders--prevail. I will maintain WHAT’S MINE!"- Leslie's breakdown on the roof during the battle of the North Plaza in 1x08

"**Leslie**: What I did for my people - it HELPED THEM ADAPT SOONER! You’ll see… you’ll look back on this day, Mr. Feldman. You’ll remember it, when you’re a BLOODTHIRSTY KILLER LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! Everyone who’s close to you - they’ll die. And you… the ones your friends know now… will be gone."- Leslie's last words to Jacob before attempting to kill him in 1x08

## **Appearances**

Any episode with a checkmark over it signifies Leslie Staunton appearing in any way.