A Good Man/Transcript

*“All we do is go here, go there, dwindling place to place -- and it’s a cycle of insanity over and over again.”* *—Dean*

**Starring:**

Robert Pattinson as WILLIAM REYNES

Emilia Clarke as KATE BLOODSTONE

Nick Frost as RANDALL FORSTER

Jon Hamm as JON MATTHEWS

Anson Mount as MARCUS DOWNES

Scarlett Johansson as REBECCA DAWSON

Kenneth Branagh as CLYDE ROLLINS

Stephen Gevedon as DEAN HOWARDS

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

Jared Leto as JARED KELLINGS

Tom Payne as ALBERT HANSON

**Also Starring**

Dan Aykroyd as ED ANDERSON

Keira Knightley as CLAIRE NOBLE

Daniel Sharman as DANIEL ROCKWELL

Paul Rudd as SOLOMON REED

Jason Lee as LOLIDA WINDFIELD

**Guest Starring**

Colin Ford as BRENDEN TREVORS

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**Scene #1**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

ED ANDERSON lifts out a wooden plank from the back of a truck inside the motel. He huffs, hauling the wood towards the motel fence, placing it down into a pile of other wood planks. He exhales, wiping his forehead and taking a step back.

***Ed:*** *Yeah, yeah… I can do something with this, make this place a whole lot safer.*

Nearby, JON MATTHEWS and RANDALL FORSTER are dragging zombie corpses out the front gate.

***Jon:*** *Great news… yeah.*

Randall breathes loudly, exhausted. He lets go of the corpse at the gate, needing a minute to get his energy back. Sweat trickles down his face.

***Jon:*** *You just run a marathon?*

***Randall:*** *Yeah, yeah… Where, uh… Or - how far are we gonna take these pricks?*

***Jon:*** *Some place far enough to burn ‘em.*

***Randall:*** *How, uh… how far?*

***Jon:*** *A fair bit away from the motel.*

Randall eyes him like a sad puppy, before glancing at all the other corpses still in the parking lot.

***Randall:*** *…That’s a lot of hauling these guys about…*

***Jon:*** *Then we better get a move on. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.*

Randall gives him a thumbs up, as he grabs the zombie corpse by its legs again, starting to drag it.

***Randall: (Under his breath)*** *Fuck…*

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**Scene #2**

**MOTEL - BRENDEN’S ROOM**

BRENDEN TREVORS sits inside his room, looking around awkwardly at WILLIAM REYNES, REBECCA DAWSON, KATE BLOODSTONE and ALBERT HANSON. It’s silent until Kate finally breaks it.

***Kate:*** *So what happened here? To you, that is.*

***Brenden:*** *Well, in short, me and my band, uh, we hunkered down here for a bit, weren’t planning on staying forever mind you, but we still needed supplies, there weren’t many in the motel. But a quick search around the area showed a few potential spots. Me and my band - we decided to go check out a nearby mill… It didn’t go well. Place was crawling with rabids, I got separated from my group. I ran back here, but none of the others have come back… Rabids followed me here, and well, I was probably gonna die if you folks didn’t come along.*

***William:*** *What’s a -- what’d you call them? Rabid?*

***Brenden:*** *Rabids, yeah.*

***Kate:*** *So I take it you don’t have much in the way of supplies here.*

***Brenden:*** *Not really.*

***Kate:*** *We’ve had a similar problem for a while now. Often… we barely just get by with enough to eat each night. Aldus is out hunting right now, but it’s not enough, even if he does get really lucky.* ***(She turns to the others)*** *If we want to lead a sustainable life here, even if it’s just for a short while, we’re going to need supplies, more than we’ve had already moving place to place.*

***Rebecca:*** *Yeah… we’ll have to get some runs going.*

***Albert:*** *Well we have an entire town to loot - one that isn’t in an all out war.*

***Rebecca:*** *Preferably not into the city… We want to avoid it.*

***William:*** *The city is gone to the - well, dogs, so to speak. Anybody who goes in there - won’t come out.*

***Kate:*** *Not to forget the horde Randall and Claire spotted, it’s why the neighbourhood we were in was so quiet. The dead have all converged in the middle. We can’t risk going back there.*

***Rebecca: (To Brenden)*** *You and your group… Did you know the area around here decently? Did you have plans on potential hotspots to loot before it all went bad? Because we have a map, and if you can show us, we can work on hitting them ourselves.*

***Brenden:*** *I know the surrounding area pretty decently, I think. Yeah, we did have plans on looting hotspots. Had them marked on a map we had, but another member from my band was carrying it… I can probably show you the areas if I can see this map anyways.*

***Kate: (She nods)*** *Ed.*

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**Scene #3**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

ED ANDERSON lays out the map onto the hood of one of the trucks sitting in the parking lot.

***Ed:*** *Here ya’ go.*

BRENDEN TREVORS leans forward, looking through the massive map, until he points at a forested area outside of Garden City.

***Brenden:*** *There’s the mill I was talking about earlier.*

***Ed:*** ***(Confused)*** *It’s there?*

***Brenden:*** *You can’t see it on the map since the mill was only opened a little bit before the outbreak. This is a bit of an older map from the looks.*

***Ed:*** *Ah, that makes more sense. Yeah, I had to work with what I could find, but wow. What kind of place is it?*

***Brenden:*** *Cereal production, I think.*

***Ed:*** *Oho… now that is ideal.*

***Brenden:*** *Far more potential than the second location we thought about.*

He points out another area on the map, closer to Garden City, but still on the outskirts of it. A drive-in theatre.

***Brenden:*** *There might be some vehicles and stuff we could get from there as well.*

***Ed:*** *Man I loved the movies… Look, this is great. Thank you, sir.*

***Brenden:*** *Glad I could help.*

Ed turns to face KATE BLOODSTONE and the others.

***Ed:*** *I think this could work out pretty well.*

***Kate:*** *If we can get a large quantity of cereal from that factory, we could live on it for a few weeks if it’s still well stocked… Dry cereal is fine enough, it would give us time to figure things out.*

***Ed:*** *And the drive-in’s usually have snack bars, maybe they have some good stuff in addition to a few vehicles. Hell, who knows what loot we could find in some of the cars.*

***Brenden:*** *Just a warning about the mill, place is still probably crawling with rabids.*

***Kate:*** *If we get a group together to head there, would you be interested in going with? I can’t tell if you’ve seen your fair share of action or if you want to try and find your friends.*

***Brenden:*** *I might as well try to find my bandmates.*

As he’s passing by with another zombie corpse, RANDALL FORSTER stops, wobbling over to them, tired.

***Randall:*** *Aight, aight. A few issues worth addressing if there’s gonna be people going out.*

***Kate:*** *Shoot.*

***Randall:*** *Actually, it’s about that. We aren’t gonna be shooting much anytime soon by the looks of it.*

***Rebecca:*** *Oh dear… How much ammunition do we have?*

***Randall:*** *Was going through our stockpile this morning, and we’ve got a few rounds that can fill a couple handguns, that’s it. We’re going to have to rely on crackin’ skulls for a while. In honesty, it’s amazing we got this far without going low on ammo. We did fight in a war after all. If I were to give my useless piece of mind on the situation, I recommend those going on runs take what ammo we have with them in case of emergency, even if it’s just a bullet or two each. As long as people only use them for emergencies, it could save lives.*

***William:*** *Limit the use - yeah. Ammo is one thing we can’t run out of -- or we’re fucked.*

Ed looks back at the map, pointing at a building in downtown Garden City.

***Ed:*** *Garden City Police Department. I’ll put a pin on it. It’s in the city, but if we make a quick trip there in the future, it could be a goldmine.*

***Rebecca:*** *Dangerous… but would be worth the risk if it paid off… Yeah, put a pin on that for now.*

***William:*** *Definitely worth the risk. A small team - in and out. Minimal risk. We’ll review it later.*

***Rebecca:*** *Until then, we’ll put together some small teams to go out and hit the drive-in and the cereal factory while everyone settles in.*

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**Scene #4**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

WILLIAM REYNES walks idly through the parking lot with REBECCA DAWSON.

***Rebecca:*** *I’m eager to get out there, don’t wanna remain cooped up too long. I think I’ll handle the drive-in theatre.*

***William:*** *By yourself? That’s not the best idea in the world. I know you can handle yourself, maybe even better than I can, but a little backup never hurts.*

***Rebecca:*** *You’re right. It’d be stupid to go alone, but don’t worry. I have someone in mind who can tag along, someone who’s most likely* ***just*** *as eager to get out and help.* ***(She smiles)*** *I’ll see you when I’m back. Enjoy holding the fort, yeah?*

***William:*** *Yes sir, captain sir.*

Still smiling, Rebecca turns, walking off.

JARED KELLINGS waits until Rebecca has walked off until he comes strolling up to William.

***Jared:*** *Yo, boss man, am I needed for anything?*

***William:*** *Well, I’m holding down things here, gonna get everything set up -- but…*

***Jared:*** *Buuuutttt?*

William gazes towards ALBERT HANSON and BRENDEN TREVORS, who are sitting and chatting nearby.

***William:*** *You can join those two, they’re headed to a cereal factory, sniffing it out.*

***Jared:*** *The soft soy boy and the new guy? Alright, thanks honey.*

***William:*** *No problem, sugar* ***(He grins)***.

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**Scene #5**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

***Albert:*** *So…*

***Brenden:*** *Something on your mind?*

***Albert:*** *Those, uh - bandmates of yours… You really think they’re alive…?*

***Brenden:*** *I don’t really know if they’re alive or not to be honest… But I’ve got to find out. I’ve known most of the guys since I was in high school* ***(He frowns)***.

ALBERT HANSON looks down, before he looks back up towards BRENDEN TREVORS, trying to look hopeful.

***Albert:*** *Well… Let’s just hope they’re still alive. I’m sure they are…*

***Brenden:*** *What’s the saying - hope for the best, prepare for the worst?*

***Albert:*** *That’s it.*

WILLIAM REYNES strolls over to them, JARED KELLINGS swaggering behind him.

***William:*** *Evening, ladies.*

***Jared:*** *Ah, new guy! Good to see you.* ***(He looks at Albert)*** *And, uh… you.*

Jared leans forward, shaking Brenden’s hand.

***William:*** *You lot are heading out to the cereal factory. Jared’s going with you. Smile and shine.*

***Albert:*** *Sounds good…*

Albert stands up, clicking his tongue. He approaches William, speaking to him quietly.

***Albert:*** *You know, uh - Daniel and Lolida, they said they’re going to the factory as well.* ***(He looks back at Jared)*** *It’s not a good match - the three of them.*

***William:*** *That’s gonna be a problem. Here, I’ll go have a word with Daniel right now.*

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**Scene #6**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

LLOYD WALLER sits quietly by himself, his back against the wall of the motel. He looks up, seeing REBECCA DAWSON approaching.

***Rebecca:*** *I knew I’d find you moping around somewhere* ***(She smirks)***.

***Lloyd:*** *Oh… hey… Yeah, I, uh… Sorry about that.*

***Rebecca:*** *Not out hunting with Aldus again?*

***Lloyd:*** *I, uh… didn’t wanna mess up like I did last time. The trip is important, whether or not he gets anything is a big deal. I’d rather just practice with him when there aren’t so many people relying on it.*

***Rebecca:*** *If you’re feeling useless and want to do something, you can tag along with me if you want. I’m going to check out a drive-in theatre nearby… see what there is to see. Should be a quiet trip, but it’s something to do, and we might find something, could be worthwhile.*

***Lloyd:*** *Hell yeah.*

Lloyd springs to his feet.

***Lloyd:*** *I mean -- yes, I’d like to come. Thrilled to, actually.*

***Rebecca:*** *That’s the spark I’ve been hearing about from William. Good to hear.*

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**Scene #7**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

Out towards the side of the motel, DANIEL ROCKWELL and LOLIDA WINDFIELD are sitting on a bench, readying their pistols. Daniel loads three bullets into his pistol, sighing. He hands two more bullets over to Lolida.

***Daniel:*** *Looks like for this factory we’re gonna be relying on our good ‘ol stabby tools for protection. Limited ammo is gonna be an ass until we can find some more. It was easy to take it for granted up to this point.*

***Lolida:*** *Ah… sure it is. But hey - we can do almost anything with melee.*

WILLIAM REYNES comes walking around the corner, finding them.

***William:*** *We need to talk. Peacefully.*

Daniel looks up, glaring at him.

***Daniel:*** *If that means you aren’t gonna put a gun to my head this time, sure. We’re still helping out. We’re going to the factory, what could I have done wrong this time? I’ve stayed away from that asshole since the last outing.*

***Lolida:*** *I can confirm he has.*

***William:*** *It’s nothing you’ve done wrong* ***(He shakes his head)***. *It’s - a request. I need you to-- drop this whole Jared thing. He’s going on the same run as you, and I can’t come to play peacekeeper.*

***Daniel:*** *Why the fuck is he coming? Does that seem wise to you? It’s one thing to ask me to drop it, but to spring it on me that his sorry ass is gonna be with me in a few minutes?*

***William:*** *So person to person, face to face - I want to ask you to try and give him the benefit of the doubt. To keep the peace, at the very least. It’s been seven weeks, not a scrap of evidence to show for it.*

***Lolida:*** *Are you saying… we should give up on our search for proof? For justice for Isaac?*

***William:*** *I’m saying - this is bigger than whatever civil dispute you three are caught up in. If Jared fucks up, or if any evidence comes to light - you can use that opportunity to tear his head off. Just not now. Keep the peace. For the group.*

***Daniel: (He sighs)*** *Listen, you were nice enough to let us come with you, even after we captured you and threw you into a cell. You’re a good guy, you’ve got good intentions. If it’ll make you happy that I don’t mistreat your lapdog today, then I can drop it for now. But I’m telling you…* ***(He stands up)*** *This is a mistake.*

***William:*** *If it is - then it’s one I’ll work like hell to repay.*

***Daniel:*** *Don’t you trust him?* ***(He frowns)***

***William:*** *I-- have faith I’ll be able to one day.*

***Daniel:*** *Are you shitting me? You yourself have doubts.*

***William:*** *I’m confident he’s changed. Don’t get me wrong. The day you put us in the cells, I beat the shit out of him. I was in your shoes. Believe me when I say he’s changed. For the better. And he’ll give you a reason to trust him.*

***Daniel: (He shrugs)*** *Fine. We’ll do it your way. Come on Lolida, let’s go get ready.*

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**Scene #8**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - LATE MORNING**

JARED KELLINGS crosses his arms, looking at DANIEL ROCKWELL and LOLIDA WINDFIELD as they approach him, ALBERT HANSON and BRENDEN TREVORS.

***Daniel:*** *Alright. Everyone gather ‘round, I have a few things to say. For those who don’t know yet, our ammunition supply is depleted, out the fucking window.*

Daniel goes around, passing a pistol off to Albert.

***Albert:*** *Thanks.*

***Daniel:*** *Firearms should only be used as a last resort now. You all have two bullets in your pistols.*

Daniel offers a pistol to Brenden.

***Daniel:*** *Know how to use this?*

***Brenden: (He takes it)*** *Yeah.*

Daniel turns, slowly walking over to Jared, staring at him. He holds his hand out, offering him a pistol. Jared takes it off him.

***Jared:*** *Thanks.*

***Daniel:*** *If I see you even looking in my direction funny with that, you won’t see the end of it.*

He turns, walking back towards Lolida.

***Jared: (Under his breath)*** *Well… fuck you, you cocksucker.*

***Daniel:*** *I want everyone to listen to me while we’re out there. Understood? If I give an order, you follow it.*

***Albert:*** *Mhm.*

***Brenden:*** *Got it, Sarge.*

***Daniel: (To Brenden)*** *You’ve been to this place before. I want you to help scope it out when we get there, better than going in completely blind. I hear it didn’t go so well for you, let’s not make the same mistake. Now let’s move out people.*

Daniel turns, walking towards the road. Jared, Lolida, Albert and Brenden follow him out of the parking lot.

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**Scene #9**

**MOTEL - BALCONY - LATE MORNING**

EDWARD REMAR leans forward on the railing of the motel balcony, watching as DANIEL ROCKWELL’s team leave the motel. His eyes look elsewhere once they start heading down the road. His gaze eventually finds CLYDE ROLLINS, CLAIRE NOBLE and ED ANDERSON standing by the fence, helping to hammer in some of the wooden planks for better protection. He stares at them in deep thought, not aware of WILLIAM REYNES walking up next to him.

***William:*** *So what do you think? Of where we are today?*

Edward snaps out of it, looking over at him.

***Edward:*** *What?*

***William:*** *The motel. Big change from the mall. You were the first person me and-- Jacob met after all this kicked off. Your opinion means something to me.*

***Edward:*** *It doesn’t make much of a difference to me, if you must really know. I’m glad to be out of Willamette. There was nothing left there but rubble and ashes. That town brought everyone nothing but misery… and I’m glad that chapter is closed, so I can focus on new things.*

***William:*** *New things. I feel you. I know you must feel like - well, an outsider, right?*

***Edward:*** *What makes you think that?*

***William:*** *You’re - not a social butterfly. You’re perfectly content by yourself most of the time, and hey - you’re an independent thinker.*

***Edward:*** *No. You’re right there. I’m not much of a people person. I can be when the occasion arises, but naturally, no.*

***William:*** *And that’s not a bad thing. But either way, Edward. You’re always welcome with us. Always. I’m surprised you stayed with us, actually. Pleasantly surprised.*

***Edward:*** ***(Semi-sarcastically)*** *Your words are too touching. I’m amazed that you’re still… like that out here. You’re still just a soft high school biology teacher, and it amazes me that you’ve kept your sense of humour. I couldn’t tell you apart now from day one, but I can’t claim to know many of you here* ***that*** *well. Despite being on the road for seven weeks with you all.*

***William:*** *You really think I haven’t changed? Even after - Jacob?*

***Edward:*** *Of course, Jacob. How could I forget him and Erin. Their deaths must’ve hurt you, even I was rather saddened to hear of them too. It’s easy to forget I’ve known so many of you since the start, that we’ve faced and suffered to the same evils. But everyone has hardened a bit one way or another through loss.*

***William:*** *He was my best friend since high school. But anyway - don’t forget you’re one of us, okay?*

Edward glances back out into the parking lot.

***Edward:*** *Do you think you’ll settle here? Is that your planned path for the group?*

***William:*** *Settle here? Probably not. Stay here for a while - hell yeah. Too dangerous to overstay our welcome though.*

***Edward:*** ***(He nods)*** *It’s been nice talking to you, William.*

***William:*** *You too.*

William smiles, before walking past Edward.

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**Scene #10**

**MOTEL - KATE & MARCUS’ ROOM**

KATE BLOODSTONE shuts one of the drawers next to the bed, before taking a seat. MARCUS DOWNES glances at her from a table, cleaning his revolver.

***Marcus:*** *What’s on your mind?*

***Kate:*** *There’s a lot of potential in this place if we can get a hold of supplies to keep us going. Even if this place is just to tide us over for a while, act as a pit stop. Maybe let us catch our breath, get a few weeks to a month off the road.*

***Marcus:*** *That does sound good, and it’d be healthy for everyone’s morale.*

***Kate:*** *I think I’m just ready to sleep under a roof consistently in a place I can feel confidently safe for a while. Sleep in a proper bed with you, too, not just sleeping bags on the floor. I’m never taking a bed for granted again.*

***Marcus:*** *I’ll admit. This… could be a nice place for a while. A place to relax. I think everyone needs it. And… it’s a taste.*

***Kate:*** *A taste?*

***Marcus:*** *You know… a taste of what living would be like again, not just surviving. I want a life with you, one where we aren’t moving day by day.*

***Kate:*** *One where we can wake up, have a normal breakfast…*

***Marcus:*** *Yeah. One like that. Where we can take a walk, live our lives together happily and go to sleep that night knowing tomorrow will be the same. I have a lot of sleepless nights now, often just wondering what could be in store for us in the morning. And I just want to wake up knowing I'll be next to you, and we won't have to worry about all of the stresses out here.*

***Kate:*** *I want the same* ***(She smiles)***. *And that’s what makes getting by everyday worth it.*

***Marcus:*** *That’s what I’m fighting for, yeah. Fraser and Zac… I think about them a lot, and how they won’t get to see it. When I used to picture my life with you when we were locked up in that stadium cell, they were a part of it. And now they’ve died fighting for it, died fighting for us and our group. I want to do them proud, keep everyone safe, and finally settle down again.*

***Kate:*** *We will. We* ***will***. *We just have to remain optimistic about it. I’m going to go check on Dean, I haven’t heard from him today, I’m not sure how he’s settling.*

Marcus nods, as Kate gets up to leave.

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**Scene #11**

**MOTEL - DEAN’S ROOM**

DEAN HOWARDS sits on the bed, an open and scavenged suitcase beside him. Dean holds a glass bottle in his hands. He wipes the dust off the label, reading it; whiskey. He stares at it, licking his lips, before hastily opening the bottle and drinking it down. He immediately stops when he hears a knock come from the door.

***Kate:*** *Dean?*

He pulls the bottle away from his lips, fumbling to put the cap back on the bottle.

***Kate:*** *Are you in there? I was just wondering if you had a minute.*

KATE BLOODSTONE gently opens the door, knocking again. As she looks in, she sees Dean sitting on the bed, the bottle still in his hands. He looks at her with guilt, before breaking eye contact, and taking another swig of the drink.

***Kate:*** *I guess you had a little scavenge of your room.*

***Dean:*** *I--I just wanted-- I just want to forget, and before you say anything, I know it’s wrong. I KNOW, believe me I-I do. I’ve just been - so stressed. Dammit, I didn’t wanna go back to this but-- I mean, this motel? It’s not gonna work, no other place has worked - we can’t settle down ANYWHERE. All we do is go here, go there, dwindling place to place -- and it’s a cycle of insanity over and over again.*

***Kate:*** ***(She sighs quietly)*** *As a matter of fact I came to see you about that, to find out how you were settling… Not well, I now know.*

***Dean:*** *Yeah… not very well at all.*

***Kate:*** *I was just talking to Marcus about this, and I spoke to you about it too. I know it’s easy for things to look bleak, but to be fair, this motel is one of the better things that’s happened to us. I mean - we all have our own secure rooms, we have beds to sleep in. We have fences. This is a break from being on the road, it’s letting us get our energy back.*

***Dean:*** *And then we’ll just move, Kate. It never lasts. I just wanna stop moving. You’re all so passionate, and hopeful. You all really believe that someday we’ll find something, but I-- I just can’t. And I just can’t stop FEELING this way. I can’t, and it hurts so much. I’m the odd man out, I feel like. Like I’m a burden, in a way. So I just wanna forget.*

Dean takes another sip from the bottle.

***Kate:*** *Temporarily forget. You can’t truly escape forever by turning to the bottle. You will have to face these things head on sooner or later.*

Dean cringes at the thought, staring at the bottle.

***Dean:*** *I thought I’d changed.* ***(He chuckles lightly)*** *I-- I’m still the same fucking weasel.*

He angrily throws the bottle. It shatters against the wall, the broken glass and liquid falling to the floor.

***Kate:*** *You’re stupid if you think that. At the start of all of this, I was a mess too, a cowardly wreck who was out for herself. We’ve both changed since then, especially you. But… you’re stronger than* ***that***, *Dean* ***(She eyes the broken bottle)***. *A little bit of drink is fine, I’m not going to give you shit for it… But you’re drinking for unhealthy reasons.*

***Dean:*** *I just wanna feel like there’s nothing to worry about anymore. And that’s one stupid thing to expect to happen to you, especially now.*

***Kate:*** *Right now… I can’t tell you what you want to hear… there will always be many things to worry about. But we’re fighting for the chance at ending up with a life where we don’t have to be like that anymore. So long as we’re all here for each other, look on the bright side. This motel is like a refueling station, get your energy back, relax a little, find a hobby to do for the next few days. I’ll come check on you tomorrow just promise me you won’t hit the bottle too hard.*

***Dean:*** *I, uh-- I promise. And - WAIT. Please. Don’t tell anyone. I’m-- ashamed.*

***Kate:*** *Your secret is safe with me, but your breath might be an indicator, and your actions if you become a bit tipsy. It’ll never be as dramatic as when I first met you. You lived on booze back then.*

***Dean:*** *I’ve always been a stupid drunk* ***(He shakes his head, grinning)***.

***Kate:*** *If Austin has managed to quit drinking and resist the temptation for seven weeks, I have faith you’ll pull through too, because to be fair, you sobered up when you realized you needed to crack down and take things seriously. Anyways, take it easy Dean.*

Dean nods, watching Kate leave. He then stands up, scooping up the suitcase on the bed. He slides it underneath the bed, before going back to sit on the bed, sighing.

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**Scene #12**

**DRIVE-IN THEATRE - AFTERNOON**

A zombie steps through the gates of the drive-in, stumbling towards REBECCA DAWSON. She raises her nunchucks to it, bashing it across the face, and then tripping it up to make it fall. As the zombie hits the ground, Rebecca plants her boot onto its head, caving it in.

***Lloyd:*** *You’re, uh - really good with those things. But, uh… what made you choose nunchucks?*

***Rebecca:*** *That’s… a good question. The truth is… I found it pretty easy taking out the dead. It’s not that I wanted to get used to it… but it was inevitable that after being on my own so long that dispatching them would become second nature to me. I chose nunchucks because… I came to learn pretty quickly that people are the real threat. So, yeah, in truth, these aren’t the best choice against a walking corpse… but… against a bag of meat, against one of us? They work pretty damn well. Not to mention, they are super cool.*

***Lloyd:*** *Huh… pretty cool.*

LLOYD WALLER pockets his hands, stepping into the large dirt lot, looking at the big screen on the other end.

***Rebecca:*** *So… did you go to the movies much? You know… before.*

***Lloyd:*** *Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah. All the time. My friend Kyle, he, uh, he’d always force me to go and see whatever the new blockbuster was. Heh* ***(He smiles lightly)***. *I say force, but I really enjoyed it. My dad was a pretty big lover of movies too, but… I try not to think about him so much these days.*

***Rebecca:*** *Why not?*

***Lloyd:*** *Oh, it’s nothing bad… It’s just - hard. You know? I know that he and my mom are gone now, and when I think about them, I think about when life was better. So I just… try to forget.*

***Rebecca:*** *Hey… You shouldn’t force yourself to forget, kid. You should want to remember them, even if the small amount of warmth that makes you feel turns to sadness, it’s not worth throwing away their memories. Every parent will always watch over their child, no matter what. If yours meant a lot to you… you should fight to keep their memory alive, just to make them extra proud of you, yeah?*

Lloyd walks quietly, considering her words. He and Rebecca approach the projection booth of the drive-in, as well as a small concession stand.

***Rebecca:*** *Wow, this really does take me back. I wonder how difficult it would be to get one of these things working again. You wanna check out the snacks stand? That’s probably our best bet for supplies.*

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah - sure.*

Lloyd approaches the stand slowly, holding his bat at the ready.

***Lloyd:*** *Maybe we can even gather some car parts or something* ***(He shrugs)***.

***Rebecca:*** *It’s funny you say that. I don’t know shit about cars. You?*

***Lloyd:*** *Yeahhhh, not really. Oh well. We didn’t come here for that anyway.*

***Rebecca:*** *You know, that’s actually how I met William and the rest. It was at a hardware store back in Willamette. I needed people to help hotwire a car for me, so I made a deal with them. Back then, I wasn’t so open to trusting people as I am now.*

***Lloyd:*** *What changed that?*

***Rebecca:*** *William and Jacob did. I opened up to them before anyone else, and now I do that pretty easily. I feel better because of it. Having people I can rely on, people who can rely on me in return.*

Lloyd freezes up hearing the name.

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah. They’re great.*

***Rebecca:*** *Something wrong?*

***Lloyd:*** *No, no - why would there be?*

***Rebecca:*** *Listen, kid. I don't want to be intrusive, but I can see you're someone who doubts yourself regularly. I wanted to take you out because I didn't like seeing you moping around the motel. You must have a lot of baggage, and I know William wants you to be the best you can be. So, why don't you spit it all out, if you feel comfortable? I'm willing to lend an ear* ***(She shrugs)''***.
***Lloyd:*** *I, uh… I…*

***Rebecca:*** *I put you on the spot? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m not so good at--*

***Lloyd:*** *I feel like a bystander. I feel… like a bystander because… everything is just… happening to me. And… I don't feel like I have any control over anything important. When I do make a decision… one that really* ***means*** *something… I don't even know if it's right. I don't know if it was right to try and help Jacob with that grenade back on the boat. It led to his death. The one time I* ***did*** *do something, I don't even know if it was right. I just…*

Lloyd looks down.

***Lloyd:*** *My friends… Kyle… and Bernie… I was going to keep them safe. I was going to protect them. I thought I did everything right! I was taking precautions and - I still lost them. And I don’t know what else I could’ve done. It just happened. It just happened and I feel like I broke my promise to them. I want to make William proud, I do. He’s always been there to boost me back up and he’s always encouraging me, and telling me to keep trying, but I just feel like I’m not doing enough. Everything just* ***happens*** *to me, and all I can do is stand there and take it.*

Rebecca takes a step forward.

***Rebecca:*** *You’re right. But Lloyd, you’re a smart kid, pretty exceptional for your age… but still just a kid. You can't expect to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders… you have a group of people to share the burden with now, you can't expect to do it all alone. Look, for the short time I knew Jacob, I could tell he had a lot of baggage of his own, he was in a dark place, and what happened to him probably would've went the same regardless of what you did. You can't blame yourself for everything. The world is shitty. You lost your friends. It's awful. I know, believe me, I know. We're all suffering through the same thing. But listen to me. You'll never be able to make a change or feel better if you continue to carry yourself this way. You have to learn to face what's happened. I had a newborn baby boy. His name was Jack. I lost him and my boyfriend a while back. And I thought I did everything right too, I did. Like you, I wanted to be in control, but the truth is, I wasn't. We don't always have that luxury anymore. But we can't burden ourselves because of it. I know it's shitty to feel like all you can do is react to something, but if you carry yourself more positively, if you have more optimism, it'll allow you a better chance at saving the ones you love. You just have to stay strong, as hard as it can be to do that sometimes.*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m so sorry for your loss, I didn’t ever--*

***Rebecca:*** *No, no - it’s okay. I don’t talk about it much, but it’s not about that right now. Your friends and loved ones wouldn’t want to see you spend the rest of your days moping until their sacrifices were in vain. You have to step up, and move on, and cherish their memories, keep fighting for them, and it will make you stronger, I promise you. Okay? I promise you.*

***Lloyd:*** *I…*

Lloyd steps forward, hugging her, crying into her shoulder.

***Rebecca:*** *It’s alright. Let it out. Nobody’s judging you.*

After a minute or so, Lloyd backs away, rubbing away the tears from his eyes.

***Lloyd:*** *I’m sorry about that. Thank you. For everything. I owe a lot to you and William.*

***Rebecca:*** *You’re a good kid, Lloyd. You’re smart, and brave, and everyone back at the motel knows that. You’re doing your part, whether it be learning to hunt with Aldus, or being out here with me. Let’s try and get finished up here, yeah?*

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah, see what we find, huh?*

Lloyd approaches the snacks stand again, his chin up, and bat at the ready. Rebecca smiles, following him.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #13**

**FOREST - HILL - LATE AFTERNOON**

DANIEL ROCKWELL crouches down on top of a hill, looking ahead of them, where a huge factory sits in the middle of the woods, surrounded by chain link fences. He looks back at BRENDEN TREVORS.

***Daniel:*** *Map says this is the place right here.*

***Brenden:*** ***(Nervously)*** *Yeah… yeah, this is it alright.*

***Daniel:*** *You’re scared. You think your friends are in there?*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah. No doubting it.*

***Daniel:*** *Alright then.*

Daniel stands up, and approaches LOLIDA WINDFIELD, pulling him aside.

***Lolida:*** *What’s up?*

***Daniel:*** *I’m about to offer some last words of wisdom to our merry little team. Keep an eye on the prick.*

***Lolida: (He nods)*** *With pleasure.*

Daniel turns to Brenden, ALBERT HANSON and JARED KELLINGS.

***Daniel:*** *Alright. Everyone present and at attention?*

***Albert:*** *I’m here.*

Jared looks at Daniel, smiling.

***Daniel:*** *We’ve got a busy day ahead of us, folks. We’re here seeking exactly the thing in the name… cereal, and a whole lot of it. This place mass-produced it, just thought I’d clarify that for anyone who might not understand* ***(He eyes Jared)***. *Remember… if you ever come to use one of these…* ***(He raises his pistol)*** *…You’ve only got two shots. Make them count. We’re gonna dig around the perimeter first, make sure the outside is clear, and then we’ll head in. Albert and Brenden, take the left side. The douchebag can take the right with me and Lolida. You don’t leave our sight, understand?*

***Jared: (He smirks)*** *Yes mother, I promise.*

Brenden nervously glances at Albert, who slides the magazine out of his pistol, ensuring it’s loaded. When Albert notices his nervous look, he turns to him.

***Albert:*** *Only in an emergency - I doubt we’ll need it* ***(He holsters the pistol)***.

***Brenden:*** *Don’t like the thoughts of using one of these* ***(He frowns)***.

***Jared:*** *It’s not so bad once you get used to it.*

***Lolida:*** *Be careful in there, all of you.*

***Daniel:*** *Okay then, gang. Let’s split up and get moving. We should meet up around the back of the building, provided everything goes smoothly.*

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**Scene #14**

**CEREAL FACTORY - BACK PARKING LOT - LATE AFTERNOON**

BRENDEN TREVORS carefully makes his way down the hill, ALBERT HANSON following behind. A small knife is in Brenden’s hand - yet his fingers keep twitching nervously. Brenden takes a deep breath, slowing his pace.

***Albert:*** *You alright?*

***Brenden:*** *Just… don’t wanna be faced with the truth just yet. I like living in denial. I don’t wanna see their faces. Not unless they got lucky somehow.*

***Albert: (He frowns)*** *I understand - I couldn’t imagine the feeling. But at some point, you’ve got to face the truth. They might be alive, hiding out in here, they could have survived. I-- I have hope that they did.*

Brenden continues walking, a worried look on his face. In an effort to stop thinking about it, he changes the topic.

***Brenden:*** *What about you? What keeps you going?*

***Albert:*** *In truth, it’s the people around me. I never got the chance to return home when the outbreak hit, never got a chance to see my family again. The people back at the motel, they’re good people - they’re my family nowadays. Without this group, I don’t think I’d be able to go on. Once you get to know them - you’ll feel the same.*

***Brenden:*** *I - like to think so, yeah. You guys have done nothing but good by me so far, and I wanna do my best to pay that back in full. Do you think that - maybe someday, you might be able to go home again? See your family?*

Albert approaches the fence surrounding the factory. He looks down, thinking.

***Albert:*** *I hope so, Brenden. My mother and father were strong, I believe they’re still out there, waiting for me to return home. If I get the chance - I think I’d have to.*

***Brenden:*** *Well here’s hoping, then. We could all do with a little good fortune right now.*

***Albert:*** *That we could.* ***(He looks through the fence)*** *See anything?*

***Brenden:*** *Outside the usual few stragglers… no, not really. Almost feels deserted for whatever reason.*

***Albert:*** *It’s unusual to say the least.*

Albert walks along the fence, eventually finding a hole that’d been cut in the fence.

***Albert:*** *We can get in through here.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah, good call.*

Brenden walks up to it, pushing it open and climbing through. He hold it open for Albert as he climbs through after him.

***Albert:*** *Thanks.*

Albert looks ahead into what looks to be some kind of back parking lot for the factory. While scanning the area, he sees the stragglers that Brenden had been talking about.

***Albert:*** *I’ll get these guys over here - you take those two over there* ***(He points)***.

***Brenden: (Nervously)*** *Sure thing.*

Brenden approaches the two zombies, while Albert walks up to four zombies, easily taking down one of them. Meanwhile, Brenden makes it to his two zombies, keeping just out of their reach. He carefully walks up to the first one, grabbing its long, greasy hair to hold it still, before sliding his knife into its eye, killing it. He lets go of the corpse, and turns to the second zombie, who rapidly approaches him. He backs up, before rushing at it and pushing it down. Before it can get back up, he kneels down to stab it in the head. He takes a breather, until he hears another growl come from behind him. He gets back up, ready to kill it -- but he freezes up, and drops his knife. He looks at the face of the zombie, recognizing it to be one of his bandmates. He stares at it, horrified, unable to move in fear and shock.

Albert finishes killing his second zombie, when he notices Brenden.

***Albert:*** *Brenden!*

He ditches the two remaining zombies on his side, sprinting over to him, charging into the side of Brenden’s reanimated bandmate. Both Albert and it fall to the ground, before Albert quickly gets control of his knife again, plunging it into the side of the zombie’s head. He stands up, exhaling loudly.

***Albert:*** *Are you okay?*

Brenden lifts his arm, pointing at his dead friend, his hand shaking. Tears build up in his eyes.

***Brenden:*** *That… That was my-- one of my friends.*

***Albert:*** *Fuck-- I’m sorry, Brenden. I--*

Albert looks back towards the two remaining zombies walking over to them. He swiftly deals with both of them, before turning back to Brenden.

***Albert:*** *I’m glad you’re alright. I - I’m sorry about your friend.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah - I, uh… I should’ve seen it coming. I’m gonna need some water when we get back…* ***(He wipes his eyes)*** *We should go regroup with the others, see how they’re getting along. It’s quiet over here, could be worse on their side.*

***Albert:*** *You’re right. Let’s go.*

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**Scene #15**

**CEREAL FACTORY - LOADING BAY - LATE AFTERNOON**

DANIEL ROCKWELL hops over the fence, landing on the other side. He draws his knife, looking towards two zombies stumbling towards him.

***Daniel:*** *Come on, you fuckers.*

He approaches the two zombies, quickly stabbing one, and shoving the other to the ground, before crushing its head underneath his boot.

***Daniel:*** *All clear. Come on over.*

***Jared: (He glances at Lolida)*** *You first.*

***Lolida:*** *Cut the bullshit, you first.*

***Jared:*** *Wha-- Fine, I was trying to be courteous to a lady such as yourself, but fine.*

JARED KELLINGS climbs over the fence, and is followed by LOLIDA WINDFIELD.

***Daniel:*** ***(To Jared)*** *Cut the backchat. We don’t want to hear it from you.*

***Jared:*** *Bro, we’re supposed to be on the same team.*

***Daniel:*** *Yeah, we’re supposed to.*

***Jared: (Under his breath)*** *You dick.*

Daniel stares at him, before continuing on around the side of the factory. Jared shakes his head, following him and Lolida. After walking for just a minute, Daniel sees something in the ground ahead. He comes to a stop.

***Daniel:*** *Holy shit.*

***Jared:*** *Hm?*

***Lolida:*** *What is it?*

Jared shuffles up to Daniel, where he can get a good look at what he’s seeing -- a giant circular hole in the ground, at least ten or fifteen feet deep. Corpses of the dead are piled up at the bottom -- while some zombies are still alive, crawling around.

***Daniel:*** *Looks like they were building a silo here or something. Damn. We’re staying clear of that shit.*

***Lolida:*** *Jesus…*

***Jared:*** *I wonder if some of that Brenden guy’s friends are down there.*

Daniel ignores Jared, continuing to walk along, going past the hole. Eventually, they spot a couple of closed garage doors.

***Daniel:*** *If we’re lucky, there’ll be a few trucks inside here that we can fill to the brink with cereal from the machines in this place, provided we get them up and running. Guess we’ll find out when we get inside.*

***Jared:*** *If we’re lucky…*

***Lolida:*** *Only one way to find out, huh?*

***Daniel:*** *Yeah. Come on, the others should be just around the corner. We’ll meet with them and head inside to see if this was worth the trip.*

The three of them walk further down the side of the factory, eventually arriving at the back of the building, where they find ALBERT HANSON and BRENDEN TREVORS waiting.

***Daniel:*** *All good?*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… only a few - stragglers on our side.*

***Albert:*** *We cleared them - we’re good--*

***Jared:*** *Find any of your friends on your side?*

***Albert:*** *Jared - not now, Jared.*

***Jared:*** *What?*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… goes to show what’s in store for the rest of them…*

Jared narrows his eyes at Brenden, as Daniel goes around handing out flashlights that he takes out of his bag.

***Jared:*** ***(Taking the flashlight)*** *Thanks, babe.*

Once the lights are handed out, Daniel looks at everyone.

***Daniel:*** *Alright, we don’t know what’s in store for us inside, but it’s presumably a lot of zombies. Our goal is simple… so here’s how it’s gonna go. We’re gonna go in, secure the building, take it slow. Once it’s clear, we’re gonna open up those garage doors down there and check to see if any of the trucks are working. If they are, great, we’ll hook them up to the machines in there. I saw electrical boxes back there, that means they have a backup generator, presumably in a basement area. If we can get that working, then the machines will power up and we can fill the trucks with cereal to our heart’s content. We’re gonna be here for a couple of hours folks, but ideally, we’ll be leaving by the time it gets dark. So, is everyone with me?*

***Albert:*** *You got it, boss.*

***Jared: (He rolls his eyes)*** *You got it.*

Brenden and Lolida nod. Daniel then approaches one of the back doors to the factory, trusting it open to reveal pure darkness inside. He shines his flashlight inside, and bangs on the metal door.

***Daniel:*** *Alright then, get ready for the first wave. It’s safer to take them on out here.*

Daniel slams his fist against the door a few more times, before stepping back, readying his knife. The others get their knives ready, as they hear groans coming from inside the building. After just a few moments, the first zombie is seen coming out of the darkness, towards the light outside. More are quickly seen coming behind it.

***Daniel:*** *Keep a steady formation, don’t let them break us in two.*

Daniel stabs the first zombie, as more funnel out the door. The zombies are dealt with one after another, corpses starting to pile up.

***Jared:*** *…Gonna be a busy day, huh.*

Another zombie stumbles towards Jared. To keep it off him, Jared grabs its throat, while he stabs it in the head with his free hand. He lets go of its neck, his hand now covered in rotting flesh.

***Jared:*** *Awh-- fuckin’ gross…*

Lolida looks ahead as one more zombie approaches him. He raises his knife and sticks it into its eye socket, letting its corpse drop.

***Lolida:*** *God bless your soul.*

The last zombie tumbles out the back door, and is swiftly stabbed through the head by Daniel. Everyone takes a moment to catch their breath.

***Albert:*** *Everyone alright?*

***Jared:*** *Yeah. Fine.*

***Brenden:*** *Tiring… I’ll never get used to this.*

***Albert:*** *It gets easier.*

***Lolida:*** ***(To Daniel)*** *We live to see another day, it looks like.*

***Daniel:*** *That we do, brother.*

Daniel steps through the back door, walking over the corpses. He shines the light around as he gets deeper into the factory, eventually discovering a row of box trucks parked in front of the garage doors.

***Daniel:*** *Sweet. That’s what I like to see. I’m gonna go check how many of these are working. Albert, see if you can find the generator and get it switched on.*

***Albert:*** *I’ll get on that* ***(He walks off)***.

***Daniel:*** *Lolida. Stay with the kid. The two of you scout on ahead and make sure the room is clear.*

***Brenden:*** *Got it.*

***Lolida: (To Brenden)*** *Lead the way, ol’ buddy.*

***Daniel:*** *Jared will stay with me.*

***Jared:*** *Yes, mommy.*

***Daniel:*** *Will you shut the fuck up already?*

***Jared:*** *Hm? I didn’t say anything. Must’ve been the wind* ***(He smirks)***. *Take it easy. I’m not some child that’ll stick his fingers into an electrical socket when you take your eyes off me for a moment.*

Daniel ignores him, walking off towards the trucks, with Jared trailing after him.

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**Scene #16**

**CEREAL FACTORY - FACTORY FLOOR**

BRENDEN TREVORS walks around the factory floor, shining his light around. LOLIDA WINDFIELD walks on just behind him.

***Brenden:*** *We should be in the clear… I think.*

***Lolida:*** *Looks that way. Stay behind me, kid. Don’t need to lose you in this hellhole.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… sure thing.*

Lolida takes charge, as Brenden slows down to follow him instead.

***Lolida:*** *What did you do before all this? Besides school.*

***Brenden:*** *Funny you mention, actually* ***(He forces a smile)***. *Me and my friends-- the ones that are… probably dead in this very factory… we, uh, we played in a band together. I was the lead guitarist.*

***Lolida:*** *Band, huh? That sounds… cool, truly is. I mean, I tried to get into all that music stuff as a kid, never really had the talent I suppose.*

***Brenden:*** *It’s kinda art, in a sense. Everyone’s got their own way of playing -- and well, practice makes…*

He trails off, and comes to a stop, hearing something - something quiet. A crunching sound.

***Lolida:*** *The fuck is that?*

Slowly, Brenden walks forward to a corner, peeking his head around. His light shines onto a pool of blood on the floor. As the light moves further down the floor, it eventually lands on another zombie with its back to him. It’s knelt over, tearing into a corpse, munching down onto flesh. Brenden drops his flashlight as he realizes that both the zombie and the corpse it's chowing down on are his other bandmates. He screams in grief, fear and emotional torment. He falls to his knees, frozen in place again. Lolida catches sight of the zombies, staggering back slightly.

***Lolida:*** *Get back! Kid! Get back to the others, now!*

Brenden, still horrified, slowly gets back up, frowning deeply.

***Brenden:*** *No - no, no… It’s just a… just a zombie right?*

He leans against the wall, tears in his eyes, fumbling to get his knife out, trying to overcome his fear.

***Brenden:*** *It needs to be put down. This - has to happen.*

Brenden slowly approaches his undead band member, who’s only just gotten up onto their feet. It snarls at Brenden, but falls silent as he jams the knife through the back of its head. He shuts his eyes, slowly setting the zombie to the floor.

***Brenden:*** *We’ve got to keep going… right?*

Brenden looks down at the corpse of his other friend. He looks away, as he shuts her eyelids. He picks up the flashlight, standing up.

***Brenden:*** *We should get moving upstairs…*

Lolida frowns, tearing up as he thinks back to Isaac. He puts a hand on Brenden’s shoulder.

***Lolida:*** *I’m proud of you, kid.*

***Brenden:*** *It… needed to be done. This trip isn’t about me - what happened, happened. Gotta accept that now. What matters is that we-- that we get what we came here to do.*

Brenden and Lolida silently head up a flight of stairs, where they are immediately met with a large glass window overlooking the second factory floor that they hadn’t explored yet. Down below, on that factory floor, are *hundreds,* if not *thousands* of zombies. A dozen or so zombies are busy banging on one of the doors that lead into the part of the factory they’re in - and Brenden realizes that is was likely because of his scream.

***Brenden:*** *That’s… not good. Okay - okay. We need to get back to the trucks and report what we found.*

***Lolida:*** *You got it.*

The two of them turn around, hauling ass back down the stairs.

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**Scene #17**

**CEREAL FACTORY - FACTORY FLOOR**

DANIEL ROCKWELL hops out of the last truck, closing the driver’s door. He turns, walking back over to JARED KELLINGS.

***Daniel:*** ***(Mumbling)*** *Two of them work. Which is good enough for us.*

Daniel immediately looks away from Jared, not wanting to interact with him any more than he needs to. As he glances around, he sees BRENDEN TREVORS and LOLIDA WINDFIELD speedily walking back out towards all them.

***Brenden:*** *There’s some sorta -- mega horde in the adjacent production floor from here.*

***Daniel:*** *What?*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… a ton of the undead. More than I’ve ever seen before. Thousands maybe -- all gathered in the next factory floor from here.*

***Daniel:*** *Oh come on now, kid - ‘thousands’? You gotta have the numbers wrong, maybe you’re a little freaked out. Come on, show me.*

ALBERT HANSON comes walking back over to them.

***Albert:*** *Generator’s on.*

***Daniel:*** *That’s great news. Thank you, Albert. We’ll check that in a second.*

Lolida looks at Daniel sternly.

***Lolida:*** *Daniel. He isn’t overexaggerating.*

***Brenden:*** *They’re banging at the door, and that won’t hold long.*

***Daniel:*** ***(He nods slowly)*** *Alright, just… calm down a second. Everybody calmmmm down.*

***Albert:*** *Wait - what’s going on? Where?*

***Daniel:*** *Don’t worry, Albert - just you push those buttons on the wall over there - right over there to open the garage doors 2C and 2E. The working trucks are behind those ones. Now, as long as the dead fuckers are though there - and we’re through here - we’re okay for now. There’s nothing to panic about. We have time to get the machinery working and the trucks loaded.*

Albert marches over to the buttons Daniel is talking about, and hits the ones for 2C and 2E. The two garage doors open up, sunlight beaming it, finally giving the factory some light.

***Daniel:*** *See? Now these two trucks are working, I checked ‘em myself. I’m gonna go get this machinery up and running, connect the little cereal tube to the truck and fill it. Simple? Simple.*

***Albert:*** *Sounds easy enough.*

***Daniel:*** *Hey, kid. Come show me what you were talking about.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… yeah, sure.*

Brenden walks up to Daniel leading him towards the staircase. After a short walk, he leads Daniel up the stairs, and to the window, where Daniel can get a good look at the horde below for himself.

***Daniel:*** *Alright, okay. For one, it’s dark as shit, but I do see them. Listen, there’s like six-hundred at most. Alright. Now, that’s still bad - but it’s not a thousand. Alright, alright - why don’t you board up the door that’s separating them from us? Just in case, okay? I’ll go and get the machinery up and running.*

***Brenden:*** *Either way -- we better be gone before they break that door, or we’re… screwed.*

Brenden follows Daniel back down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Jared approaches Albert, the two of them and Lolida still at the trucks.

***Jared:*** *Seriously? There’s ‘thousands’ of dead guys just a little ways away from us, and he wants to keep going?*

***Albert:*** *They’re just gonna take a glance at it - we’ll be out of here in no time.*

***Jared:*** *Still. It’s not a good idea to fuck around here when there’s so many close to us.*

Daniel is seen walking back up to them.

***Lolida:*** *The prick is right. How much I hate to admit it, he’s right.*

***Jared:*** ***(He smirks at Lolida)*** *The prick is indeed right.*

***Daniel:*** *The prick is most certainly not right. Do you know how much food we could be leaving with here? We’re sitting on a fucking goldmine, people.*

***Jared:*** *I don’t know if you know or not, but you can’t exactly eat when you’re dead.* ***(He glances at a dead zombie)*** *Well… Maybe that’s not entirely true.*

***Lolida:*** *Danny, we come back with more people then. Look at us! IF that door breaks down, we’re fucked. Why risk it?*

***Albert:*** *If I had to give my opinion - let’s get these trucks running first, have an escape route ready for us.*

***Daniel:*** *Alright, that’s enough. Are you all going to turn your back on me now? We’ve come THIS far. We’ll be away from here by the time it’s dark - the door is still standing. Now shut up so I can focus.*

***Jared:*** *Look, man. I’m all for riskin’ my life for a bowl of lucky charms* ***(He sneers)***.

Daniel approaches the control panel, ignoring Jared. He starts examining it, pressing button after button. The machinery for moving cereal eventually turns on, tubes beginning to fill with cereal and fly out on the other end.

***Daniel:*** *Alright - Albert, there’s a large tube on your left, connect it to the port in the back of the first truck! Quickly, now!*

Albert hurries into action, lifting the tube up that’s actively shooting out cereal. He hauls to the truck and shoves it into a port on the back of the truck, connecting it. He lets go, watching as cereal enters the truck.

***Daniel:*** *Now we wait for it to fill, and then we do the second one.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #18**

**MOTEL - BALCONY - EVENING**

EDWARD REMAR leans on the railing, looking out into the darkness, his cane in one hand, the other holding the railing. Nearby, CLYDE ROLLINS exits his room, and immediately spots Edward, deciding to walk over to him.

***Clyde:*** *Oh, Edward, I was just coming to find you.*

***Edward:*** *Evening, Clyde. How can I help?*

***Clyde:*** *Yes, lovely night, isn’t it?*

***Edward:*** *Clyde?*

***Clyde:*** *Oh, right, of course. I was coming to find you, yes, I, uh, I wondered… if you wanted to come in. Me and Claire are about to eat, and we wondered if you’d like to join us - on this fine evening.*

***Edward:*** *I really appreciate it, Clyde, but I can’t.*

***Clyde:*** *Oh. Well, that’s alright, what are you up to?*

***Edward:*** *Oh, nothing. I’ve just already eaten. I appreciate it, Clyde, I do* ***(He smiles)***. *But you know me. I’m set in my ways.*

***Clyde:*** *Uh. Yes. I suppose I do. Well, you’re always welcome, Edward. Always.*

***Edward:*** *Hm… Oh, and Clyde.*

***Clyde:*** *Yes?*

***Edward:*** *Thank you. You’re a good friend.*

***Clyde:*** *Oh, of course, uh, anytime, Edward. You will always be my best.*

Clyde nods with a smile, before turning around and heading back to his room. Frowning, Edward watches him go. He looks down, clutching his cane. After a long sigh, he turns, hobbling over to his motel room, stepping inside. He reaches into his pocket, laying down a note onto his bed. He promptly exits the room, closing the door behind him. Edward limps down the steps and out into the parking lot, looking around to check for anyone. He can’t see anyone. It’s quiet. When he decides that it’s clear, he makes his way over to the one the cars the group had fixed up at the motel, and opens the door.

***Solomon:*** *What are you doing this late at night?*

Edward turns to see SOLOMON REED standing behind him, looking at him curiously.

***Edward:*** *Oh, Solomon, it’s you.* ***(He nods)*** *As a matter of fact, I’m just going for a drive.*

***Solomon:*** *You driving to someplace or…?*

***Edward:*** *Hm… Persistent as always, aren’t you? I suppose… if you’re willing to keep it between us, I can spill the beans. We’ve been together long enough to where I trust you.*

***Solomon:*** *Yeah, I mean there’s definitely more to this considering we hardly know the area, but I’ll keep it between us. Go ahead and spill the mystical beans, and also I appreciate your trust in me.*

***Edward:*** *If you must know… I’m leaving. I don’t know where I’m going. I have no destination in mind. But there’s a whole world out there for the taking, Solomon, and it’s where I belong… unlike here.*

Solomon nods slowly, looking to his sides, before looking back at Edward.

***Solomon:*** *I wanna come with too, honestly. I’d have asked what you mean, but I’m the kind of guy who loves adventure and exploring and being on the road, and I appreciate everyone here being good folks and providing trust and all that, and I know you’re gonna say no, but hear me out. I’ve known you since I met you at the bus depot, you’d have my trust in wherever the road takes us.*

***Edward:*** *You want to come with me?*

***Solomon:*** *Hell yeah.*

***Edward:*** *I suppose… it won’t hurt having a companion on my travels. You* ***are*** *reliable. Very well then, Solomon. If you really want to come along, you can, but make sure it’s really what you want… We aren’t coming back.*

Edward gets into the car, as Solomon goes to grab a spare backpack, before getting into the car next to him.

***Solomon:*** *We’ll need backpacks for our supplies if we run out of fuel.*

Edward looks out the window at the motel, before he starts up the car.

***Edward:*** *Here’s to the road.*

He pulls out of the motel, turning and driving off down the road before anyone in the motel has time to figure out what’s happening.

***Solomon:*** *To the road indeed, friend. To the road indeed.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #19**

**MOTEL - PARKING LOT - EVENING**

A little later on, WILLIAM REYNES is out standing by the entrance to the motel, unaware of Edward and Solomon’s departure earlier. He glances down the road, finally seeing REBECCA DAWSON and LLOYD WALLER returning, each of them carrying multiple bags of supplies.

***William:*** *Welcome home, you two.*

***Rebecca:*** *Wow, Ed’s really managed to jazz the place up.*

The two of them step into the motel.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey. We pulled a good haul of snacks and garbage out there.*

***Rebecca:*** *Yeah, the drive-in didn’t disappoint.*

***William:*** *About time we got some good news. How was it, any trouble out there, or was it smooth sailing?*

***Lloyd:*** *You know, it went really well, smooth sailing all the way. But I’m beat after carrying all that stuff, so I think I’m gonna hit the hay now.*

Lloyd nods, turning to walk off. As he does, Rebecca approaches William.

***Rebecca:*** *I think I broke new ground with the kid today.*

***William:*** *See, you two are getting places. Leave your bags here, I’ll bring them in, in a bit. Go get warm, you deserve it.*

***Rebecca:*** *Yeah, alright, see you in a bit.*

Rebecca sets down the bags, walking off to their room. A little while after she does, KATE BLOODSTONE walks out of her room, making her way to William at the entrance.

***Kate:*** *It’s getting dark, are you expecting the others to be back soon?*

***William:*** *Not so much expecting as much as hoping… I just wanna be sure nothing went wrong out there for them.*

***Kate:*** *We can only hope that Daniel, Lolida and Jared are all getting along.*

***William:*** *I don’t even want to imagine it. They’ll do each other’s heads in. I’ve got high hopes for Jared, though. He’s… not the devil.*

***Kate:*** *You know… we’re short one car. I heard someone driving off earlier, but I never caught who it was.*

***William:*** *That’s… weird. I wasn’t here when they took off. We’ll have a meeting when everyone’s back, and they’ll probably be back by then. It’s a thing of nothing.*

***Kate:*** *Don’t dwell on it too hard, you have enough to think about as it is, just thought I’d inform you. I’m slightly worried it might’ve been Dean. He’s not in his room, but… I’m off to look for him now, I won’t be long.*

***William:*** *Alright… take care.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #20**

**FOREST - WOODS - MID EVENING**

A flashlight in hand, KATE BLOODSTONE trudges through the overgrown grass, pushing past bushes. She shines her light on yet another zombie corpse, freshly killed. She’s been following a trail of them. Starting to get worried, she continues on through the woods, where she stops in her tracks, seeing DEAN HOWARDS hunched over in front of another corpse.

***Kate:*** *Dean?*

Dean turns his head, immediately falling over to the side, shaking his head. There’s two more zombie corpses around him. He’s covered in blood and sweat.

***Dean:*** *Oh-- oh, God. Kate is that you? Please, don’t look at me -- don’t.*

A whiskey bottle falls from Dean’s hands, as he shuffles his back against a tree. He covers his face in shame.

***Dean:*** *Please don’t look at me… please.*

***Kate:*** *Oh, Dean… Why did you come out here?*

***Dean:*** *I-- I just wanted to prove that I’m still - capable of something. Anything. God, all I can do is - fucking drink. Complain, and I just-- I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m a mess. I’m a goddamn mess. I thought I changed. Maybe- maybe I could’ve been better. Something better. For - everyone. I’ve never changed. I’m a weak, sad fucking slob. That’s all I am.*

Kate frowns, slowly walking over to and kneeling in front of him.

***Kate:*** *Dean.*

***Dean:*** *Look at me. Take a look. I’m sorry. I-- I know you try to help me - I don’t want you to feel like I don’t listen. I-- You really help me. You do, I’m-- I’m just not strong enough to get any better. I’m just… not.*

***Kate:*** *You are strong enough. Things will get better.*

***Dean:*** *No.*

He stands up suddenly, stumbling around.

***Dean:*** *No.*

***Kate:*** *Hey, easy, easy.*

***Dean:*** *No, no they won’t. We’ve been stuck on the road, we can’t find anything, we won’t find anywhere. All the homes we’ve tried to build - anything - it’s gone. People, friends, EVERYONE. We can’t settle down, we can’t - properly fucking live. It’s all I wanted, all we do is LOSE. No, no, no - I’m sorry but no. You can say that ALL YOU WANT.*

***Kate:*** *I know it seems hopeless. But that’s why we have to keep fighting. Look at how far we’ve come already.*

***Dean:*** *Kate. Kate, ‘how far we’ve come’? We’re barely fucking getting by. Everyone. I mean - I- I mean all of this. It’s hopeless. Completely, can’t you see? You have to see this, please.*

He stumbles around, shaking his head.

***Dean:*** *I’m so tired. I’m so tired - of FIGHTING.*

***Kate:*** *It’s not hopeless! We have people to fight for out here. It’s not just hopes and dreams that we’re getting by on, it’s each other!*

Dean avoids eye contact now, huffing quietly, staring off into the dark woods.

***Kate:*** *Take my hand… please.*

He glances at her.

***Dean:*** *…I-- I’m sorry.*

He stumbles forward a bit, grabbing her hand. She puts an arm around his shoulder to keep him from falling over.

***Kate:*** *Alright. It’s okay, it’s okay. We’re just gonna walk back, alright? You need to get cleaned up. I’m gonna be with you every step of the way… it’s just not safe to do this out here. Not now. Just take it easy, and walk with me.*

She begins helping him back through the woods towards the motel.

***Dean:*** *I-I don’t want it to end… I don’t want it to end like this… please… not like this. I--I can’t.*

She looks at him, confused.

***Dean:*** *I could’ve saved him… right? Couldn’t I? I could’ve saved him. I- I could’ve, I know. I know I could’ve.*

***Kate:*** *You mean… You mean Jim.*

***Dean:*** *Jim… I killed him. Why… I could’ve saved him. I-- know… I know.*

***Kate:*** *It's not your fault, Dean. It never was. Jim was killed by a monster. You’re not a monster. Just let me get you home. Just let me get you home…*

They continue walking through the woods, as Dean goes silent, hearing the sounds of something scraping against asphalt in his head - a haunting reminder of what happened to Jim.

***Kate:*** *It’s going to be okay, Dean. You’re going to be okay.*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #21**

**MOTEL - CLYDE & CLAIRE’S ROOM**

CLYDE ROLLINS sits on the side of their bed, looking at the ground, fidgeting with his hands. CLAIRE NOBLE lifts her head up from a book that she’s reading, looking at him.

***Claire:*** *Something wrong?*

***Clyde:*** *Hm? Oh, nothing at all, darling. I’m feeling quite splendid if I do say so myself* ***(He grins awkwardly)***.

***Claire:*** *Clyde. You’re being weird.*

***Clyde:*** *Not at all… I’m - sitting.*

***Claire:*** *Sitting there fidgeting, so what’s on your mind?*

***Clyde:*** *Ahh, it’s Edward, my dear. My gallant friend appeared to make up with me earlier on - he was so nice about everything. It’d been a while since we’d spoken like that.*

***Claire:*** *Well, that’s good, isn’t it? I mean, that’s great - it’s progress.*

***Clyde:*** *Yes… I suppose. It just - it felt so off and out of the blue.*

***Claire:*** *Edward’s a peculiar man… That seems… normal for him, doesn’t it?*

***Clyde:*** *I could be overthinking it, still, I feel I ought to check on him.*

***Claire:*** *There’s the door* ***(She points)***. *I’ll still be here if you get lost.*

***Clyde:*** *Thank you, darling. I shan’t be long.*

Grinning, Clyde stands, exiting the room and heading down the balcony until he arrives at Edward’s door. He knocks on it.

***Clyde:*** *Ahem. Edward? Edward, are you there? My apologies if you’re sleeping, I do not mean to disturb, though you are often up in the late hours of the night.*

Clyde peers through the window when Edward doesn’t reply. The room inside is dark, hardly visible.

***Clyde:*** *Uhh…*

Clyde opens the door slowly, stepping in.

***Clyde:*** *Edward?*

He approaches the bed, seeing not Edward, but rather a piece of paper. He picks it up, holding the paper near the window so he can read it off the moonlight.

*“Clyde*

*I decided to write you a letter, not because I wanted to, but because I felt I owed it to you for being a true friend to me during our time together. I’m going to keep it simple. I am leaving the motel, and I know that if I confronted you about this in person, you might have convinced me to stay, and I can’t allow that to happen. You taught me the meaning and the values of friendship, but like I said to you when we last spoke, I cannot let it hold me back anymore. I have to find my own way, to pursue what I want to achieve in this new world and play to my own strengths. For you, strength is found in family, and having a close group of individuals around you. But for me, strength is something else, something I intend to get for myself.*

*Know that I truly respect you Clyde. You are the only true friend I have ever had. You’re a far better man than you were the day I met you, and you have become a true survivor. The group is lucky to have you. While our journey together ends today, it is merely a chapter in both of our own individual stories, and I have no doubt yours will be a magnificent one. I hope to hear it some day.*

*Regards,*

*Edward.”*

Clyde drops the letter onto the bed, as he frowns deeply.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #22**

**CEREAL FACTORY - FACTORY FLOOR**

After forty-five minutes of sitting around waiting for the trucks to fill, DANIEL ROCKWELL and the others are starting to get bored. Dusk is upon them, and soon they won’t have any light coming through the open garage doors.

***Daniel:*** *Taking… longer than I thought it would. How’s that door holding, Brenden?*

BRENDEN TREVORS looks over at him from the door that the zombies are banging on, which has now been barricaded up.

***Brenden:*** *It’ll hold for a bit longer… but they’ll get through sooner or later.*

There’s another loud bang at the door, which causes JARED KELLINGS to flinch all the way over at one of the trucks. He looks around, but calms down after realizing the door is still intact.

All of a sudden, the machinery above them starts cracking, sparks flying off it. The tube that had been getting the cereal into the trucks starts to shake.

***Jared:*** *That don’t look good.*

***Daniel:*** *The fuck? Albert - disconnect the tube!*

***Brenden:*** *What’s happening?*

Before ALBERT HANSON can even start moving, the tube bursts open, cereal flying everywhere.

***Albert:*** *What the fuck-- what happened?*

***Lolida:*** *What the…?*

***Daniel:*** *I don’t know what the fuck is going on, give me a second!*

Daniel hurries up a small set of stairs to where the control panel for the factory is.

***Daniel:*** *Stupid fucking thing, you really gonna die on me now?*

***Jared:*** *Can’t we just leave-- like now? We have enough, right?*

***Albert:*** *For once I agree with him. I think it’s time we hit the road.*

The control panel in front of Daniel starts to fry, sparks going everywhere. He steps back, getting away from the thing.

***Daniel:*** *What the fuck…*

As the control panel is freaking out, it opens the garage doors **behind** the crew, over near Brenden. When Daniel looks over, he sees the zombies that had been kept on the other side of the factory pouring through the garage doors.

***Albert:*** *Holy shit…*

***Daniel:*** *Alright, everyone, into the trucks, now!*

He bolts down the stairs, rushing towards one of the trucks they’d filled with cereal. He jumps into the driver’s seat. Jared looks around, confused.

***Jared:*** *Hey, what’s the problem--*

He lays eyes on the wave of zombies making their way towards him.

***Jared:*** *WHAT THE FUCK? HOW COME YOU FUCKED THAT UP?!*

***Daniel:*** *I DIDN’T FUCK IT UP!*

***Albert:*** *Come on!*

***Lolida:*** *WHAT THE FUCK?!*

Albert and LOLIDA WINDFIELD jump into the second loaded truck, while Jared jumps into the one with Daniel. They close the doors just as the horde reaches them.

Brenden, meanwhile, is unable to make it to the trucks with the rest of them. When he sees an opening towards the back door they’d entered through, he makes a run for it.

Daniel tries starting up his truck, but all he gets is a short sputter from the engine.

***Daniel:*** *No, no, no. Fucking COME ON!*

***Jared:*** *One job! Operate a FUCKING CONTROL PANEL!*

***Daniel:*** *The longer we sit here, the worse it’s going to get.*

The zombies surround the trucks, starting to shake them. They get in front of the truck too, making it difficult for them to drive out of there if the trucks turned on in the first place.

***Daniel:*** *Fuck it.*

Daniel forces open the driver’s side door, booting a zombie back.

***Jared:*** *YO - WHAT THE FUCK?!*

He hurriedly climbs up on top of the truck. Just as he does, the garage doors in front of the trucks suddenly slam shut due to another malfunction from the control panel. They’re left in pure darkness.

***Daniel: (To Albert and Lolida)*** *You two! Get up on top!*

Albert and Lolida do the same thing Daniel did, while Jared looks at them all, dumbfounded.

***Jared:*** *God really wants us dead, huh…?*

Jared looks towards where Daniel had been sitting in the driver’s seat, and notices a zombie crawling into the truck through the door Daniel had left open when he climbed out.

***Jared:*** *Fuck… You bitch, Daniel.*

Jared forces his door open as well, and speedily climbs up on top of the truck with Daniel.

***Daniel:*** *Alright, Albert, Lolida, get ready to follow my lead. We’ll get out of this.*

***Lolida:*** *I’m with you, brother.*

***Jared:*** *Yeah, I’m here too!* ***(He scoffs)***

***Daniel:*** *Yeah. You are. Alright, we have no choice but to jump in and push our way through, let’s go!*

Daniel looks down, squinting his eyes to see through the darkness. When he sees a small spot for him to jump, he goes for it. As soon as he lands, he starts moving forward through the crowds of zombies, clearing a path, trying to get to the closest door.

***Daniel:*** *Lolida, you first, through the door!*

Lolida hops off into an opening, closely followed by Albert. Jared is the last to jump down. He breathes heavily, pushing zombies off him as he follows behind Albert. Daniel eventually arrives at the door he’d seen, somewhat clear of zombies for the time being. Lolida arrives just after him, and so does Albert. Jared, however, is caught by a zombie. It grabs his boot, pulling him down. He starts to kick at it, panicking, his breath trembling.

***Jared:*** *FUCK!*

A nearby zombie falls forward onto Jared, but he manages to stab it in the head, shoving it away.

***Daniel:*** *He’s gone. Can’t stay put.*

Daniel opens the door, stepping in with Lolida, as zombies start to surround them.

***Daniel:*** *Albert, come on!*

***Jared:*** *DANIEL! YOU FUCKER!*

Jared eventually kicks the zombie at his boot off, and gets back up. Another zombie grabs the back of his coat, yanking him back.

***Albert:*** *No-- no.*

Albert rushes back into the middle of the horde, leaving behind Daniel and Lolida, who slam the door closed as zombies get to it. Albert shoves zombie after zombie out of the way until he makes it to Albert. He kicks back another zombie coming for him, and then stabs the one grabbing his coat. Jared looks at him, relieved.

***Albert:*** *Come on, quickly!*

***Jared:*** *Sure thing, my savior!*

Albert and Jared charge through the horde, clearing a path.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #23**

**CEREAL FACTORY - JANITOR’S CLOSET**

DANIEL ROCKWELL puts his back against the door, as dozens and dozens of zombies try to force their way through on the other side. He and LOLIDA WINDFIELD are trapped in a tiny janitor’s closet with no other exit.

***Lolida:*** *GODDAMN IT!*

***Daniel:*** *Aghhh! LOLIDA!*

Daniel points at a vent towards the top corner of the room.

***Daniel:*** *The vent! We need to use the vents!*

***Lolida:*** *YEAH, I HEAR YOU!*

***Daniel:*** *CLimb up onto the shelves and get it open! I’ll… hold… the door!*

***Lolida:*** *What about you?!*

***Daniel:*** *I’m right behind you* ***(He grunts, struggling to hold the door)***.

Reluctantly, Lolida starts climbing up the metal shelf inside the closet. He grasps the vent, pulling the plate off, and pulling himself inside. He forces himself to turn around inside the vent, looking back into the closet.

Daniel is no longer able to keep the door closed. It bursts open, sending Daniel tumbling forward. He immediately starts climbing the shelf as zombies swarm in. Daniel makes it towards the top of the shelf, when a zombie grabs his boot, trying to yank him back down.

***Daniel:*** *Oh fuck.*

***Lolida:*** *DANIE-- I GOT’CHA!*

Lolida extends a hand out to him, and Daniel grabs it. He tries pulling his friend up with all of his strength, but it isn’t enough. The zombies continue to pull Daniel back down, turning it into a game of tug of war. It eventually comes to the point where Lolida is starting to get pulled out of the vent from the strength of the zombies.

***Daniel:*** *No - stop. Lolida, LET GO!*

Daniel forcibly lets go of him, and grabs hold of the shelf, trying to stay up.

***Daniel:*** *I’ll find my own way out, I’ll be alright, do you hear me? I’ll be fine. I’ll pull myself out of here and I’ll figure things out, you go on ahead and find us a way out.*

***Lolida:*** *I--*

Lolida gulps, but ultimately nods his head, listening to Daniel. He turns around, slithering through the vents.

***Daniel:*** *I’ve got this in the bag, Lolida! Don’t you worry!*

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #24**

**CEREAL FACTORY - FACTORY FLOOR**

ALBERT HANSON pushes another zombie out of the way, as he and JARED KELLINGS struggle to find their way around the factory. Everywhere they go, all they see is zombies.

***Jared:*** *WHERE’S THE FUCKING EXIT?!*

***Albert:*** *I DON’T KNOW!*

Albert, having lost his knife, resorts to beating zombies over the head with his pistol instead.

***Albert:*** *I can hardly fucking see in this dark!*

***Jared:*** *I lost my flashlight back in the truck!*

Albert reaches for his own flashlight, only to discover that it’s not there anymore.

***Albert:*** *I must’ve dropped mine too.*

When Albert and Jared finally make it into a small clearing, they take the few seconds that they have to look around the area. Albert notices a stack of crates in the distance, and points at it.

***Albert:*** *See that? Go there!*

***Jared:*** *Huh?!*

Jared darts after Albert, as he makes his way towards the crates. When they make it there, Albert leaps off the ground, just barely managing to grab the top of the crates. He pulls himself up, then immediately turns around to offer a hand to Jared. Before Jared can take his hand however, a zombie grabs him. Without thinking, Jared sticks his pistol under the zombie’s chin and fires, blowing its brains out. He then jumps up, grabbing Albert’s hand, and getting pulled up.

***Jared:*** *Thank you!*

Breathless, Albert stands up.

***Albert:*** *No problem.*

He looks around them, seeing dozens of zombies surrounding them on top of the crate, with many more on their way thanks to the gunshot.

***Jared:*** *Well… We’ve got three bullets left, and… how many dead ones?*

***Albert:*** *Fuck knows - how are we getting out of this?*

Jared snaps his head around, trying to find an exit in the darkness of the factory. Albert tries looking for any kind of opening on the floor that they could jump to, but sees nowhere safe that they could land.

***Albert:*** *Jared - if you have any ideas, now would be the time to say it.*

Jared’s gaze shifts down to the snarling, rotting monsters below him, snapping their jaws in his direction. He forgets where he is for a second, terrified. He gulps.

***Jared:*** *Fuck… FUCK!*

He starts to hyperventilate, pacing around on top of the crates.

***Albert:*** *Hey - hey, calm down, man. We can’t be freaking out here. Daniel, Lolida, Brenden, they know we’re here.*

***Jared:*** *They’re gonna push the crates over…*

Albert looks down at their feet, seeing the crates they’re on beginning to wobble. He’s right, Albert realizes. Jared starts to calm down, as he thinks of something.

***Jared:*** *We don’t know if they’re even still alive. We saw them leave, but they could’ve run into a dead end for all we know.*

***Albert:*** *Okay - okay, well. There’s no way we can make a run for it. We’ll be dead in a second--*

***Jared:*** *Albert.*

***Albert:*** *Yeah?*

***Jared:*** *Thank you. Really. Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve been killed back there.*

***Albert:*** *Don’t thank me, Jared. I wouldn’t leave you - even if I don’t agree with everything you say.*

The crates below them start to shake. One section of the crates comes topping over, leaving the two men with less room.

***Albert:*** *Fuck…*

Jared regains his balance, as he approaches Albert.

***Jared:*** *You’re a good man, Albert.*

He suddenly raises his arms, shoving Albert backwards. He falls into the horde.

***Albert:*** *NO-- JARED!*

Albert lands on top of a couple of zombies, as the rest of them pile on top of him. He screams as they rip into him, tearing him apart limb by limb. But his screams only last a matter of seconds before his throat is torn open, cutting open his vocal cords.

Jared whimpers, looking away from Albert. He starts to look around, and notices a door on the far side of the factory. He waits patiently as most of the zombies start to make their way over to where the screaming had come from, creating an opening for Jared to jump into. He gets a run up, then hurls himself off the crates, landing on the floor, rolling. He gets back to his feet, and sprints across the factory, making a break for the door he saw.

The factory goes quiet, as Albert’s remains are feasted on. The smell of death fills the air, and from within a vent, LOLIDA WINDFIELD, in a state of shock, had witnessed it all.