Little Man/Transcript

*“A hand is a price worth paying for the chance of saving a life. That much I’m sure of.”* *—Brenden*

**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

Steve J. Palmer as AUSTIN KINGSTON

Tom Holland as LLOYD WALLER

Robin Lord Taylor as EDWARD REMAR

David Emge as ALDUS PAXTON

**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

Chris Evans as KURT KLEIN

**Guest Starring**

Colin Ford as BRENDEN TREVORS

David Boat as LAYTON ZIMMERS

Daniel Bruhl as ALEX WEISS

Anthony Mackie as LANDON KIMBER

Talulah Riley as MOLLY MASSEY

Angela Sarafyan as BONNIE HARRELL

Christopher Mintz-Plasse as ELLIOTT ROWE

Martin Cummins as CARSON BURKE

Sean Gunn as STANLEY PECK

Ritchie Coster as LEONARD THORNE

Kat Dennings as NANCY WARNER

Bill Nighy as CALVIN SCHULTZ

Emma Stone as GENNA BROHEM

Okea Eme-Akwari as WAYLON

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**Scene #1**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - AFTERNOON**

BONNIE HARRELL sits at the wheel of the car, driving along happily, slowly leading the band of horses and carriages. KURT KLEIN and MOLLY MASSEY are sitting in the back seats, staring out the window.

***Kurt:*** *We’re not far… Only a little longer.*

***Molly:*** *Oh, I can’t wait! A whole amusement park to ourselves! I get all giddy just thinkin’ about it.* ***(To Bonnie)*** *God, why do you gotta drive so damn slow?*

***Bonnie:*** *Oh. I’m sorry. Hehe. I thought we had to allow the carriages to keep up with us.*

***Molly:*** *Pfft.*

Molly looks across at Kurt.

***Molly:*** *Hey. Back on the bridge, that little twerp… why are we still letting him come with us?*

***Kurt:*** *…Because I enjoy his company, of course* ***(He smiles)***. *How could you… not love to be around such a little twisted fuck like him? It’s a nice reminder that I’m not too far gone - he’s a walking example of it.*

***Molly:*** *Hmph… well… when you put it like that. He’s just so disrespectful, I mean it’s not--*

***Bonnie:*** *Ohhhh! You talking about Edward? You know, I thought he was a little mean at first… but after the bridge yesterday… seeing him inspire everyone like that to save Calvin… it was beautiful, wasn’t it? It really brought us all together in such a nice way.*

***Kurt:*** *He went against what I told him to do. Nothing about that is ‘beautiful’. He’s lucky I didn’t leave him to get chowed on like the little toothpick he is. I’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to the guy, though.*

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**Scene #2**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - AFTERNOON**

Behind the car, EDWARD REMAR is sitting in the back of one of the empty carriages, zoning out. When he snaps back to it, he looks around, noticing LANDON KIMBER giving him a cold stare from atop his horse. Edward frowns, turning away, and instead deciding to listen in on CALVIN SCHULTZ and ELLIOTT ROWE’s conversation beside him.

***Calvin:*** *--and out of the bucket came this big - this huge rat. Gigantic. A real viscous little thing… actually bit me in the finger… the scar is right here* ***(He holds his hand out)''***. And, unfortunately for me, I didn’t have anything in the workplace I could use to**deal**with the vermin. Perhaps I should’ve gotten around to inventing some kind of giant rat net sooner**(He chuckles)***.* So I had to settle for a broomstick. It was quite the spectacle.
***Elliott:*** *My god. It really left a mark-- damn things. I got bit by one once too -- hurt real bad. Anyhow - that was certainly a story. Couldn’t have been easy chasing that thing around with a stick.*

***Calvin:*** *Mm. It wasn’t, but come now, I’m sure your bite was just as exciting, no?*

***Elliott:*** *Oh - no, no. I was only a kid - my parents were frightened I had contracted some disease -- but I was fine. It just snuck up on me while I was out playing in the yard with my brother.*

***Calvin:*** *Can’t say I blame them. Dirty little creatures rats are… but… fascinating. What about you, Edward? Have you ever been bitten by a rat?*

***Edward:*** *No. I haven’t. What do you find so fascinating about rats anyway?*

***Calvin:*** *Oh there’s plenty to find fascinating about rats… a lot more than just their sharp teeth. Their memory is amazing… Their ability to navigate a route they’ve gone through before is spectacular, quite like Elliott here, not to say you’re a rat, dear boy, forgive me. You know what I mean though… you have an excellent memory too… you’re intelligent. We shrug rats off as if they are nothing… but really… if they weren’t so disgusting, people would give them more credit.*

***Edward:*** *Rats are mischievous.*

***Calvin:*** *And mischievous is* ***interesting***. *Don’t you think?*

***Edward:*** *Hm. Did you think you were going to die yesterday?*

***Calvin: (He leans back)*** *I hadn’t ruled it out. But I sure as hell felt a lot safer with that gun. It did, after all, save my life. The rest of you helped to save my life too… and that was your doing, was it not?*

***Edward:*** *I was just doing what anyone should’ve done.*

***Calvin:*** *But the ones who were the most equipped to do so did not. Well, if they want me to die so badly, then curse them all to hell. That’s what I think. As of now, I am still standing… barely… my back is sore most days.*

Edward glances in Landon’s direction, who’s out of earshot. He looks back down at Calvin and Elliott.

***Edward:*** *Don’t you want to see things change?*

***Elliott:*** *Change-- change like how?*

***Calvin:*** *I’m afraid that what you’re proposing is beyond the realm of possibility. We have to be realistic… and we don’t get to make the rules here.*

***Edward:*** *All Kurt does is bully you people. It’s pathetic.*

The carriage suddenly comes to a stop. Edward looks down the road to see the car leading the group having also come to a halt.

***Calvin:*** *It appears that we have stopped.*

Edward grabs his cane, exiting out the back of the carriage.

***Edward:*** *But why?*

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**Scene #3**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - AFTERNOON**

MOLLY MASSEY crosses her arms, staring at a fallen tree blocking the road.

***Molly:*** *Oh, well that’s just great. That’s just fucking great… just the goddamn time-waster we needed.*

***Bonnie:*** *Such a sleepy tree.*

***Molly:*** *Stupid fuckin’ thing. Hey, boys, wake your asses up! Come with me and get some damn tools, will ya? This tree ain’t gonna move itself.*

***Carson:*** *Yes, ma’am* ***(He sighs)***.

LEONARD THORNE and SOLOMON REED join CARSON BURKE to go gather some tools to help cut the tree.

***Nancy:*** *Yeah, uh… just take what you need, guys.*

***Carson:*** *It’s never simple.*

The three men grab some axes from the supply wagon, before heading over to the tree in the road. As they go ahead, EDWARD REMAR approaches NANCY WARNER.

***Edward:*** *So that’s why we stopped.*

***Nancy:*** *It sure is. Why, eager to get back on the move? I didn’t know you liked roller coasters so much.*

***Edward:*** *No. I really don’t. I just think* ***this*** *is a bad place to stop.*

He gestures at the tall trees and overgrown grass surrounding them on either side.

***Nancy:*** *Well, I can’t argue with that. Are you afraid of snakes?*

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

***Nancy:*** *You know… snakes? The reptiles?*

***Edward:*** *I know what a snake is!*

***Nancy:*** *Hey, I’m just saying, you better be careful one doesn’t wrap around your leg in the grass there. Seriously, I’m pretty sure a small snake wouldn’t have any trouble wrestling you to the ground.*

***Edward: (He sighs)*** *I’m going back now.*

Edward is about to turn and go, when he suddenly spots KURT KLEIN making his way over to him.

***Kurt:*** *No… no, you’re not. You… my friend, are coming with me. We’re going out into the big, wide world. I wanna see how you hold up.*

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

***Kurt:*** *What? You getting cold feet already? Relax, it’ll be fine. You’ll have big daddy Kurt watching your back.*

***Edward:*** *What the hell are you talking about? Why do you want to go out there?*

***Kurt:*** *Why not? We’re stuck here for the next while, might as well get some use out of it. Capice?*

***Edward: (He narrows his eyes)*** *Fine… if you insist. But I’d rather not waste my time with this.*

***Kurt:*** *Atta boy. Tell you what - I’m gonna go get myself all geared up. I’ll see you in five, Eddie.*

Kurt walks off.

***Nancy:*** *Wow… lucky you. You get to spend some quality time with the big man himself.*

***Edward:*** *You’re not funny.*

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**Scene #4**

**FOREST - WOODS - AFTERNOON**

A knife in hand, EDWARD REMAR treks through the woods, following KURT KLEIN, who’s cutting down the overgrown grass ahead of him with a machete.

***Kurt:*** *Wow… gotta love this fresh air, huh? Must be a bit of a… new experience for you* ***(He grins)***.

***Edward:*** *I’m surprised you decided to leave the* ***real*** *work to your subordinates… I thought you were meant to be the beacon of strength around here. Oh, wait. I’m not surprised. I take that back. You left us to do all of the work on that bridge too.*

***Kurt:*** *Are you sure that’s the tone you wanna start this off on, Eddie?*

***Edward:*** *Oh, please. You didn’t bring me out here to enjoy the fresh air* ***(He scoffs)***.

***Kurt:*** *What, is it so alien for me to want to take my dearest friend out on a hunting trip?*

***Edward:*** *Oh, so it’s a hunting trip now. Am I going to watch you behead rabbits with a machete?*

***Kurt: (He half-smiles)*** *You’re a funny guy, Eddie. That’s why I like you. You’re good at telling jokes - and doing funny, dumb shit. Like what you did back on the bridge.*

***Edward:*** *What I did back on the bridge was save Calvin’s life after you abandoned him. Coward.*

***Kurt:*** *See, that’s not exactly how I remember it happening. From where I was standing, it looked like you went against a direct order I gave you. Then dragged everybody else into that little mess of yours.*

***Edward:*** *Well that’s a moronic way to view it.*

Kurt stops, kneeling down in the grass, touching something in the grass, before he looks on at fresh rabbit tracks leading off.

***Kurt:*** *Watch your footsteps, Eddie. The shit’s warm… it’s around here somewhere.*

***Edward:*** *Hhh… you really are just wasting time, aren’t you?*

Edward taps his foot, while Kurt ignores him, waiting patiently in the grass until a flash of white appears next to him. He lunges at it, and grabs onto a rabbit. The animal squeals, as Kurt stands up, holding it by its ears.

***Kurt:*** *There’s a few things we gotta get straight between us, okay? You aren’t in charge. You will never be in charge. This isn’t your group. It’s mine.*

Kurt pulls out a smaller knife from his boot, and uses it to stab the rabbit through the heart. He looks back at Eddie, the rabbit carcass in one hand, the bloody knife in the other.

***Kurt:*** *You’d do well to remember your place. Sure, I did a great thing by bringing you in under my wing… but all dogs need to know there’s a line they can’t cross.*

Kurt walks past Edward, flinging some of the blood off the knife and into his face, before walking past him. Edward wipes his face, while gritting his teeth in anger.

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**Scene #5**

**FOREST - CHURCH - EARLY MORNING**

KATE BLOODSTONE wakes up in a cold sweat, looking around frantically. She sits up in her chair, blinking a few times while coming back to her senses. She glances out of a nearby window, seeing nothing but darkness. Slowly, she gets up, quietly walking across the room so as to not wake up MARCUS DOWNES, who’s fast asleep in a chair next to hers, all the while she hears the distant screams of a child in the back of her mind. She finally makes it out of the room and out into the church’s main hall, where she stumbles down the aisle, finding it hard to breathe, as if the walls were closing in on her. Her vision darkens and distorts, as images of mangled, rotten faces chewing on flesh flash in her head. The scream of a man being devoured accompanies it, and the screams of a woman having the same thing happen to her. Finally, she reaches the front doors, opening them and walking outside, almost falling down the steps. She closes the doors behind her, and sits down on the steps, sighing in relief, a cold gust of air hitting her. She briefly looks around the dark, seeing nothing. She then looks down, burying her head in her hands, sobbing quietly.

A dark figure approaches Kate from behind, before the person taps her on the shoulder. Kate gasps, turning around in an instant to see ALEX WEISS.

***Kate:*** *Oh… it’s… it’s you.*

***Alex:*** *Yes, yes it’s me. So… Kate. Why are you crying?*

***Kate:*** *It’s… it’s nothing.* ***(She shakes her head)*** *I just couldn’t sleep.*

***Alex:*** *No one cries because they can not sleep. Did a bad dream catch you off-guard or something like that?*

***Kate:*** *Yeah… something like that. I’m a wreck, Alex.*

Alex sits down next to her.

***Alex:*** *We have all experienced a bad dream once in our life. It’s nothing to worry about, and you aren’t a wreck. You seem sane to me.*

***Kate: (She shakes her head)*** *But I am… I* ***am*** *a wreck. I’m the reason we lost the motel… I’m the reason that Dean is missing. I risked everything we had to go and save those people and… I couldn’t even do that.*

***Alex:*** *Yeah, I totally agree with you on that. That was not the best plan you’ve had. And the executing seemed pretty poor as how things turned out, but look at it like this, at least we are alive. We are doing great as long as we are alive, but we should try to keep on surviving and not risk our lives, you know?*

***Kate:*** ***(She stands up)*** *I just wanted to help people. I just… I hope Dean is okay. That’s all that matters now.*

***Alex:*** *It’s very honourable that you wanted to help people, but you really have to see the whole picture, Kate. We can’t afford to lose more people.*

Alex stands back up.

***Alex:*** *You should definitely try to sleep again. Tomorrow’s always a better day.*

***Kate:*** *It’s funny hearing that come from you… Obviously you’ve come a long way from murdering a man in cold blood. What changed?*

***Alex:*** ***(He sighs)*** *Nothing really changed. You just learn to adapt to your surroundings -- and you people aren’t that bad.*

***Kate:*** *You’ll never fail to confuse me, Alex…*

She turns to go to the door, before stopping.

***Kate:*** *Alex? Why are you out here?*

***Alex:*** *I am not much of a sleeper. I just like to admire the night.*

***Kate:*** *Right. Goodnight, Alex.*

***Alex:*** *Goodnight, Kate.*

She opens the door, heading back inside.

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**Scene #6**

**FOREST - CHURCH - MORNING**

In the morning, JON MATTHEWS and WILLIAM REYNES are walking around the perimeter of the church, which is located deep in the woods, with only a small dirt path leading up to it.

***Jon:*** *Place isn’t much… but it’ll do for now. I can’t say I was ever a man of God, but it gives our wounded a place to rest and a roof over our head.*

***William:*** *At this stage we’re at right now, anything that isn’t full of the dead will suffice. Of course - it’d be much better if we didn’t have to be out on the road to begin with.*

***Jon:*** *It’s not ideal. My bad that you had to come back yesterday to that shitshow. I should’ve done more to stop Kate.*

***William: (He shakes his head)*** *There was nothing more you could’ve done. They’re just lucky you got them out of the shitshow they walked themselves into. Either way - it’s completely on them, they caused all of this.*

***Jon:*** *As for Dean… I circled back to the motel earlier this morning… It’s still infested. I left a few notes on some nearby cars. For now, the best we can do is hope he sees them… if he’s even alive.*

***William:*** *Wouldn’t surprise me if Kate ended up getting him killed too. Seems like that’s all that was accomplished.*

***Jon:*** *I blame all of them. They all possess higher-order thinking skills, even if what they did was stupid as fuck, they can all think for themselves. But there’s no use in fighting about it now, unless you’re planning to deal some form of punishment?*

***William:*** *No point… I think living with the shame of that utter fuck-up is punishment enough. So long as shit like this isn’t repeated - ever again - we should have a fresh start ahead of us.*

***Jon: (He nods)*** *How’s Rebecca?*

***William:*** *The same. Catatonic - if that word even applies anymore. Last thing I needed* ***(He sighs deeply)***.

***Jon:*** *Shit. Sorry.*

***William:*** *I just hope she comes through… Between her, Lloyd and you - my sanity is hanging on by a thread.*

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**Scene #7**

**FOREST - CHURCH**

Inside of one of the church’s offices, LLOYD WALLER is sitting by REBECCA DAWSON’s bed, looking down at her, frowning. He reaches out, placing a hand on hers. Nearby, Lloyd hears a quiet groan. He looks over to see BRENDEN TREVORS sitting up, his eyes flickering open. Lloyd stands up immediately, walking over.

***Lloyd:*** *Oh-- hey - you’re awake again. Here-- uh - I’ll get you some water.*

Lloyd grabs a water bottle, and fills up a cup, placing it on the bedside. Brenden instinctively goes to grab it with his missing hand, but quickly realizes.

***Brenden:*** *Man… that’ll take some getting used to.*

***Lloyd:*** *How are you feeling?*

***Brenden:*** *Like a pirate. But it was worth it. At least we - tried, right?*

Lloyd thinks for a moment, as he retakes a seat near Brenden.

***Lloyd:*** *Yeah… I’m… I’m kind of amazed you’re still optimistic about all that… Was it really worth your hand?*

***Brenden:*** *Definitely. A hand is a price worth paying for the chance of saving a life. That much I’m sure of.*

***Lloyd:*** *But… I don’t know if we can afford to throw things away for chances anymore. Taking chances is dangerous…* ***(He looks at Rebecca)*** *And it can lead to us losing the ones we love.*

***Brenden: (He looks at Rebecca, frowning slightly)*** *Is life worth living if you’re standing on a mountain of the corpses of the people you could have saved, though?*

***Lloyd:*** *We’re gonna be standing on a mountain of corpses no matter what… I’ve realized that… I’ve come to terms with it. I’m sorry about what happened to those people… but as selfish as it sounds… I’d rather stand on the corpses of strangers than those of the ones I care about.*

***Brenden: (He takes a sip of water)*** *That may be so, but I don’t think I’ll ever regret doing what we did. Maybe William was right in sending them away - I think morality becomes a questionable subject in the apocalypse - but if I could go back in time to have another shot at saving those people - I’d do it all again.*

***Lloyd:*** *I… I don’t think what you guys did was wrong. I wanted to save those people too. It’s just… complicated. There are people who deserve to die… and the people you went to save weren’t among them. Those men on the road* ***were***. *But when you’re forced to abandon the people who don’t deserve to die… it’s rough, and I understand that… but after seeing what happened out on the road… I care for the safety of my own people more than anything… and I don’t want to see it at risk ever again.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… I suppose I can’t fault you there. Hell, if it was my friends - I’d probably say the same thing. What matters is that we’re all still in… one piece* ***(He glances at his stump)***. *Or two.*

***Lloyd:*** *I’m sorry about what happened to you… The best thing you can do right now is rest.*

Brenden looks back up at Lloyd.

***Brenden:*** *You’re not a bad guy, and your heart is in the right place. Just thought you should know.*

Lloyd nods slowly, not knowing how to reply. He stands up, walking towards the door and exiting the room.

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**Scene #8**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - LATE AFTERNOON**

EDWARD REMAR limps down the road, approaching the supply wagon. A drop of blood from when Kurt flicked the blood at him is still on his cheek.

***Nancy:*** *Wow, you look like you had a fun time. You’ve got red on you. You didn’t get attacked by a snake, did you?*

Edward frowns, wiping his face again.

***Edward:*** *No, but if you must know, I was very casually threatened.*

***Nancy:*** *Oh. Yeah. Kurt does that.*

***Edward:*** *And you’re all okay with it. You just let it happen.*

***Nancy:*** *Oh, I’m sorry, do I look like I could take on Kurt in the ring? You sure as hell don’t.*

***Edward:*** *Oh, knock it off already, that joke got old! Listen. Maybe if you weren’t all subservient little insects, you wouldn’t be getting mistreated by some douchebag. Maybe you’d even get to remove that stupid child safety lock you all live behind and actually equip yourself with guns… But ohhh nooo… Kurt and his friends don’t allow it, and they’re the ones who protect you, so that’s just how it is. Of course, my bad for forgetting!*

He turns away, storming off.

***Nancy:*** *Well jeez.*

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**Scene #9**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - LATE AFTERNOON**

CALVIN SCHULTZ and ELLIOTT ROWE are sitting in the back of a carriage, both doing their own things quietly, when suddenly EDWARD REMAR comes stomping by. He stops by the carriage, looking in at them. Calvin lowers his book, looking at him.

***Edward:*** *You know,*

***Calvin:*** *Oh, hello, Ed--*

***Edward:*** *You were right! Rats* ***are*** *fascinating. Because I find it fascinating that even rats are more intelligent than the lot of you and would probably sooner take action against Kurt and his cronies rather than just SITTING AROUND getting FUCKED!*

***Calvin:*** *Having a bad day, are we?*

***Edward:*** *Maybe you should all DO something rather than sit around like SPINELESS, MINDLESS SHEEP!*

***Calvin:*** *You know something, Edward--*

***Edward:*** *NO! I don’t care!*

Edward storms off again, headed down the road.

***Elliott:*** *That’s, uh… He’s not very happy. Where do you think he’s going?*

***Calvin:*** *Wherever it is… I think I’ll go and fetch him.*

Calvin stands up, climbing down from the wagon, grabbing his cane. He sets down his book in the carriage.

***Calvin:*** *Don’t worry about me, a little walk would do me some good. Make sure nobody steals my copy of Mein Kampf while I’m away.*

***Elliot:*** *What--*

Elliott looks over at said book, just to realize that it’s not in fact Mein Kampf, and is instead some generic inventor's book.

***Elliott:*** *Of course! It’ll be right here when you return.*

***Calvin:*** *Thank you, dear boy.*

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**Scene #10**

**KANSAS BACKROADS - LATE AFTERNOON**

After a few minutes of walking, CALVIN SCHULTZ manages to reach EDWARD REMAR, who’d stopped by the side of the road to look at a nearby lake. Huffing, Calvin walks up beside him.

***Edward: (He sighs)*** *Why did you follow me all the way down here?*

***Calvin:*** *To talk to you, of course. So, please, don’t leave this poor old fool out here alone… I’ve already made the trip.*

***Edward:*** *Fine.*

***Calvin:*** *Nearly everything you said was right. We’re all hopeless out here, and that has allowed Kurt and his friends to take complete control of our lives… because without them, most of us would be left alone to die. Though, I do like to defy them when I can. Their rules don’t mean anything to me… I often like to test their limits* ***(He chuckles)***.

***Edward:*** *It’s absurd. To see you all whipped back there. It’s… pathetic.*

***Calvin:*** *My, oh my, you really are developing something of a hatred for Kurt, aren’t you? But tell me, why do you stay? I most certainly enjoy your company, Edward… but do you enjoy our company, is that it?*

***Edward:*** *I do, actually. Beyond Kurt and his psycho friends… you people aren’t so bad… And you could be made so much better if you were given more freedom to… oh, I don’t know… actually hold a firearm.*

***Calvin:*** *Well, if you don’t plan on leaving, what do you plan on doing about it?*

***Edward:*** *I plan to make change.*

***Calvin:*** *What kind of change?*

***Edward:*** *I want to make people more confident in themselves. I want them to feel like they can rely less on Kurt’s protection.*

***Calvin:*** *Oh, that sounds like a snooze. Edward, those words sound strange coming out of you. Tell me, are you more used to killing people to get your way over rationalizing with them?*

***Edward:*** *Well… I…*

***Calvin:*** *I see* ***(He nods)***. *Usually, you just kill the people in your way. Well, if you feel that would be… less favourable among the people you are aiming to please, then I understand. So, you want to make a change… Well, I believe you can… Look at what you’ve already done without realizing it. The people rallied behind you on that bridge yesterday. They stepped up and displayed courage… bravery… initiative. All the things you want from them. Treat these people as your own and you will accomplish what you so desire. Clearly you’re a natural. Bravo.*

***Edward: (He smiles lightly)*** *Aha. You may be onto something.*

***Calvin:*** *Now… you don’t mind helping me back to the wagon, do you?*

*Edward approaches him, beginning to help him down the road.*

***Edward:*** *You’re an interesting man, Calvin.*

***Calvin:*** *Likewise, Edward.*

From up the road, Stanley comes jogging up to them.

***Stanley:*** *Hey, you two. We cleared the tree up ahead… we’re ‘bout to be back on the move… but boss man Kurt says we’re gonna set up camp for the night in a few miles before it gets dark.*

***Calvin:*** *Dark already? Where does the time go?*

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**Scene #11**

**GARDEN CITY - STREETS - AFTERNOON**

A cold, dead breeze flows across the ground, old newspapers being blown across the street. A rusty door to an abandoned car sways gently in the breeze, as birds fly above. And in the middle of the road, a lone figure hobbles down the street, his feet barely lifting above the ground with each step. His clothes are filthy, covered in dry blood and dirt, his hands drip with blood, his head bobbles up and down with each step, his face and hair a mess of blood and dirt, his eyes sunken in. You’d almost think that DEAN HOWARDS was a zombie if it weren’t for his dry coughs. At one point, he falls to his knees, his legs having given out. Dean presses his hands against the asphalt, using every bit of energy to push himself up. He coughs again, making his way down the street and onto the sidewalk. His body tumbles into a glass pane, cracking it, but not breaking it. Dean wheezes in pain, grabbing at his throat, finding it difficult to breathe. Dehydration had set in long ago -- and when Dean sees a coffee shop logo on the window of the building, his face lights up with excitement. He drags himself along the wall until he reaches the front door, pushing through it. He hurriedly shuffles his way over to the counter. He slides himself along the counter until he finds a mug. Desperately, he picks it up, putting the mug to his lips, trying to get anything out of it - a drop of something. But there’s nothing.

***Dean:*** ***(Quietly, dry voice)*** *Please-- please. Please!*

The mug slips out of his hands, shattering on the floor. He stares at it, his body twitching.

***Dean:*** *Plea--*

His head begins to hang, his vision becoming darker, before he hears the snarl of a zombie, bringing him back to reality. Dean turns, stumbling towards the front door, pushing it open. He looks down the street, seeing a zombie staggering around, a backpack strapped to it -- with a canteen in the backpack pocket. Dean’s eyes fixate on the canteen, as his hand begins to dig through his own pocket, pulling out what’s left of a broken screwdriver, still covered in blood. Dean gets its attention, and the zombie starts to shuffle its way over, snarling at him, its jaw hanging open, tongue flopping out. Dean raises his hand with the screwdriver, finding even that challenging to do. The zombie groans, as it reaches towards him. Dean brings the screwdriver down -- only for it to simply bend and bounce off its forehead, unable to penetrate the skull. Dean’s eyes widen for a moment, as the zombie tackles him back into the same window he’d cracked before. This time it shatters, sending Dean flying through onto the floor. His back is punctured by a few pieces of glass, making Dean yell in pain, barely. He struggles to hold the one zombie off him, as the sounds begin to draw more zombies from down the street. The zombie begins to push Dean deeper into the glass, as it cuts into him.

Sudden footsteps are heard rapidly approaching. A hand grabs the zombie from behind, ripping it off of Dean. A machete is raised in the air, being swung down into the zombie’s head, slicing it in half. Its corpse flops to the ground. Dean stares up at a blurry, masked figure.

***Dean:*** *Pl-- ple…*

He passes out.

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**Scene #12**

**FOREST - CHURCH**

WILLIAM REYNES swings open the doors to the main hall, stepping inside, head lowered. He begins to walk down the aisle, passing by LAYTON ZIMMERS and ED ANDERSON who are conversing. When Ed sees William, he stands up.

***Ed: (To Layton)*** *Give me a minute.*

He walks out into the aisle to catch up with William.

***Ed:*** *Oh, hey-- Just thought I’d offer you a little update… I’ve taken the liberty of getting everything we have together in the storage room and frankly, as expected, it’s not looking very good. Uh, thankfully, we do have the supplies we got from the supermarket… That’ll tide us over for a few days* ***(He nods)***. *But after that, done. That means… we’ll run out of supplies.*

***William: (He nods slowly)*** *Don’t… worry about it. We’ll live, I’ll find a way.*

***Ed:*** *Alright, sure, you got it, boss man.*

Ed goes back to Layton, as William continues walking. As William is nearing the office with Rebecca in it, he is approached by KATE BLOODSTONE.

***Kate:*** *William…*

He ignores her, opening the office door.

***Kate:*** *We need to talk.*

***William:*** *No.*

He enters the office, closing the door in her face.

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**Scene #13**

**FOREST - CHURCH**

***Marcus:*** *We did the right thing. Those people needed our help. That was the bottom line. We never shied away from that in the past, not even with Badrick breathing down our necks. We’ve* ***never*** *had enough supplies, not since the mall, so just because we were running low at the motel* ***didn’t*** *mean our situation wouldn’t improve. If anything, we could’ve brought those people in to earn their own keep… It just felt wrong sending them away. So we took action ourselves.*

ALDUS PAXTON nods along as he’s speaking. The two of them are sitting inside the main hall.

***Aldus:*** *I know it was the right thing, and I hated seeing them sent away too, but we didn’t have much even before they showed, and adding more under the roof when we’re barely holding on wasn’t gonna help. But they definitely knew the area, so I guess we’d have slowly went back to how we were beforehand if they’d have stayed and earned their keep.*

***Marcus:*** *Yeah… My point is… nobody is in the wrong here. We all need to come together in order to move forward… Right now… things are needlessly tense.*

***Aldus:*** *Yeah, I was gonna mention… that there wasn’t anybody in the wrong. That’s why I, uh… stayed to the side during the arguing. Like you said, we gotta come together again to move forward. Whole place is on edge worse than we’ve ever been. If we don’t come together anytime soon, we’re gonna die. We just need somewhere good, plenty of supplies and what not, and to unite.*

MARCUS DOWNES nods with a sigh, looking up at a ceiling for a moment, before he hears somebody sitting down beside them. He looks back down to see KATE BLOODSTONE sitting beside him with her arms crossed.

***Marcus:*** *Hey… What is it?*

***Kate:*** *William won’t even speak to me.*

***Aldus:*** *Give it some time, it’s only been a day. I’m sure he’ll come to eventually.*

***Marcus:*** *He shouldn’t be avoiding us like this… he should be looking to move forward. Though considering what happened to Rebecca… I get it… it’s just frustrating.*

Kate suddenly stands up.

***Kate:*** *What are we even doing? Are we here to catch our breath? We don’t have anything, maybe I should be out there looking -- for supplies - for Dean -- just something to be helpful.*

***Marcus:*** *Kate - relax.*

***Kate:*** *Even though I believe in what we did… It's still partially my fault we ended up like this.*

***Marcus:*** *It was an unfortunate chain of events… It’s not your fault. We did what we did and we should own that.*

DANIEL ROCKWELL snorts with laughter from behind the three of them, scoffing. He slowly approaches them.

***Daniel:*** *Holy shit. Listen to yourself. I mean… really. Do you know who’s fault it is that we’re even worse off now than we were before? It’s yours. You guys. All you. And what annoys me the most is that I still have to listen to your bullshit. Can’t you just do everyone a favour and shut the fuck up? At least give me the satisfaction of some peace and quiet, if nothing else.*

***Marcus:*** *That’s enough. What is their to gain from arguing about it now?*

***Daniel:*** *Maybe it’ll help drill a fucking lesson into your heads.*

***Marcus:*** *There’s no lesson to be learned, Daniel. We didn’t anticipate everything leading back to the motel. Besides, you seem to hate people in general. Even if we did have supplies, I really doubt you’d have wanted to help them.*

***Daniel:*** *Because why the fuck should we?*

***Kate:*** *Daniel… if you don’t mind, I would like to try and talk things out with you--*

***Daniel:*** *Fuck no. Isn’t that what we’re doing anyway? Why don’t you just… be grateful nothing bad happened to you. Let the rest of us take it from here.*

***Marcus:*** *You’re a real piece of shit, you know that?*

***Daniel:*** *Oh?*

***Aldus:*** *Okay guys, we should take it easy. It’s been one day. Just--*

***Clyde:*** *What’s going on?*

CLYDE ROLLINS and CLAIRE NOBLE come walking over, as they see Marcus standing up, glaring at Daniel.

***Claire:*** *This can’t be good.*

***Daniel:*** *Oh, look at that, two more of you. Great, you’re getting the whole band back together.*

***Claire:*** *Oh, give it a fucking rest, will you?*

LOLIDA WINDFIELD comes limping over upon hearing the commotion. He looks towards Claire.

***Lolida:*** *Watch how you talk to him, ma’am.*

***Clyde:*** *I think we all need to calm down… we can talk this out… just… let’s all take it easy.*

The church main doors open, as JON MATTHEWS and AUSTIN KINGSTON come strolling in as well.

***Jon:*** *The fuck is going on?*

***Aldus:*** *Guys, please, just… We shouldn’t be fighting for one day. We’ve already went through hell so much, we shouldn’t…*

***Jon:*** *Aldus is right. Break it up. William doesn’t need more of this shit on his plate.*

***Marcus:*** *Yeah. You’re right.* ***(To Daniel)*** *So get lost.*

***Lolida:*** *Hey, lay off.*

***Daniel:*** ***(To Lolida)*** *No, no -- it’s alright. It’s totally fine.*

Daniel smiles, looking at Marcus.

***Daniel:*** *Yeah? Totally fine…*

***Austin:*** *We don’t need to fight. Come on, now.*

***Aldus:*** *We’re supposed to be a group… Don’t you people understand we’re supposed to be united, not divided in our beliefs of what’s right and wrong or smart and stupid.*

Daniel takes a few steps forward.

***Kate:*** *This isn’t what I wanted…*

***Daniel:*** *Nobody gives a shit about what you wanted… Is it really all about you?*

***Marcus:*** *Stop.*

***Daniel: (He smirks)*** *Fuck it.*

Daniel quickly throws a punch at Marcus, hitting him across the face. Marcus stumbles back after taking the hit, before he immediately lunges towards Daniel in retaliation. As Daniel is tackled to the ground, Lolida pulls out his gun.

***Clyde:*** *No!*

Clyde hits the gun out of Lolida’s hands, and in response, Lolida tackles Clyde to the ground.

***Kate:*** *Stop!*

Kate runs towards Marcus and Daniel, who’re throwing punches at each other, rolling around on the floor. In the heat of the moment, Daniel throws a punch at Kate, hitting her in the face and sending her stumbling back. When Marcus sees this, he slams Daniel against the ground, starting to choke him, his hands wrapped around Daniel’s throat.

***Austin:*** *WOAH--*

***Jon:*** *Enough!*

Jon and Austin charge over, prying Marcus and Daniel apart.

***Daniel:*** *Thanks.*

As soon as they get separated, Daniel kicks Marcus in his ribcage. As this is happening, Lolida scurries across the floor, picking up the gun that had been knocked out his hands. Daniel looks over to him, gesturing for him to toss over the gun.

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

Lolida goes to toss over the gun, but as he does, Claire shoves Lolida to the ground, causing the gun to go off, a bullet shredding through the wall. The gun slips out of Lolida’s hands, landing beside Daniel, who immediately picks it up, waving it around.

***Marcus:*** *What? What the fuck are you gonna do now? Kill us?*

***Austin:*** *Put the damn gun away - what the hell are you people doing?*

***Jon:*** *You fucking idiots.*

Daniel slowly lowers the pistol, as he glares around at everyone. At the far end of the church, WILLIAM REYNES is seen exiting one of the offices. He casually saunters over to everyone, hands pocketed.

***William:*** *Can you all… just shut the fuck up… for three fucking seconds. Seriously. Give me a break. Last thing I need is you assholes giving me a fucking headache. Solve your shit yourselves - don’t make me your scapegoat for everything.*

And with that, he turns back around, heading back to the office.

***Jon:*** *William. You can’t just turn--*

William closes the office door after he steps inside. Daniel can’t help but wheeze with laughter.

***Daniel:*** *Man, what a fucking mess.*

***Jon:*** *Shut the fuck up. Austin, Aldus, you’re with me. That gunshot will have drawn any dead in the surrounding area, we need to deal with them. The rest of you monkeys should just sit the fuck down and BE quiet.*

Jon storms outside, with Austin and Aldus following along.

***Daniel:*** *Look at that. You’ve driven the poor bastard past breaking point.* ***(To Marcus)*** *What? You down for the count just like that?*

***Kate:*** *Daniel. You’ve done enough.*

***Daniel:*** *Yeah. So have you. You made this group fall apart, after all. I hope you enjoyed watching that kid get eaten, and I truly hope it haunts you for the rest of your days, you foolish, stupid bitc--*

Kate yells out, punching him across the face once, before following it up with three more. Daniel, taken off guard, drops the gun, tumbling back.

***Kate:*** *I DIDN’T ASK FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HAPPEN!*

Lolida steps in to try and stop her, but she shoves him back into the ground.

***Kate:*** *I DIDN’T WANT ANY OF US TO END UP LIKE THIS! AND MOST OF ALL, I DIDN’T WANT TO SEE THAT FUCKING KID GET EATEN ALIVE!*

She punches Daniel square in the face once more, sending him to the ground, down for the count.

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**Scene #14**

**FOREST - WOODS - EVENING**

DEAN HOWARDS’ eyes flicker, barely staying open. The only thing he can hear are the sounds of leaves rustling. His body is being dragged, but he can’t see by who. His vision is blurry, and all he can manage to make out is the bright sky above, and passing trees.

The next time Dean’s eyes open, it’s dark out. He’s not being dragged anymore. He briefly brings his hands towards his face, seeing that they had been cleaned up. But before anything else can happen, he passes out again.

Again, he opens his eyes. Darkness. Dean sits up, looking around to see that he’s inside of a tent. Weakly, he shuffles along the ground, feeling around the sides of the tent until he feels a zipper. He crawls out of the tent, his back still in pain from the glass he’d landed on. Immediately, Dean sees a campfire nearby, and a couple of logs around it. Dean slowly but surely stands up, walking through the leaves, as he looks around the camp warily. He notices wires tied around trees, creating a protective barrier almost. A cold breeze washes over Dean, which instinctively makes him walk towards the campfire, taking a seat on one of the logs. He begins to warm his hands, feeling relieved.

A twig snaps nearby. Dean perks his head up, looking all around. There, he sees a masked figure stepping through the wire, a bundle of small sticks in their hands.

***Dean:*** *I-- I’ll go. I’m sorry.*

***Waylon:*** *No, please. I insist you stay.*

WAYLON approaches the crackling fire, kneeling down beside it. He begins to place a few sticks from his bundle into it.

***Dean:*** *…Thank you. Seriously, I-- I was a goner.*

***Waylon:*** *My pleasure. You were lucky I got there when I did.*

Dean coughs, grabbing at his throat again.

***Dean:*** *--Thirsty.*

Waylon removes a backpack off his shoulders, unzipping it. He takes out a water bottle, handing it to him.

***Waylon:*** *Here.*

***Dean:*** *I can?*

***Waylon: (He nods)*** *There’s another bottle if you’re still thirsty.*

Dean takes the bottle, undoing the cap. He starts to gulp down the water.

***Waylon:*** *What’s your name?*

***Dean:*** *…Dean. What’s yours? And… I was lucky you showed up. Thank you.*

***Waylon:*** *Waylon.*

***Dean:*** *This is a nice setup you have. Are you alone out here? Do you have a group or--*

***Waylon:*** *Been alone for quite some time now - I lost track. This is my home right here, I guess.*

***Dean:*** *I, uh- I have a group. We can take you back, give you some supplies, or - if you want, you can stay for a while. I don’t know how to repay you for helping me. But, we can shelter you, keep you somewhere safer for a while. We, uh… I got separated from there. But I can take you back with me.*

***Waylon:*** *A group - hmm? I appreciate the offer, Dean, but I think I’m fine. You said you got separated from them? Is that what happened in the city - you got separated?*

***Dean:*** *…Something like that.*

Waylon lifts his mask, revealing a young man. He sits close to the fire, letting the warmth hit his face.

***Dean:*** *We, uh… found a group, not sure if you met them yourself. Tried to let them in, but-- I don’t know. It was a mess. We tried to get them out of the city, few of us tried to bring them back, but there were so many zombies out there-- I hope they got out okay. I’m glad you showed up when you did, really. I’m hoping luck went on to them as well.*

***Waylon:*** *I’m glad you have hope for your friends. The city is completely infested, I only came into the city myself to gather up some supplies from a store - I hope your friends are okay, too.*

***Dean:*** *There’s a gigantic mess of them over by the office block, don’t go through there. Please, whatever you do. Are you sure you don’t wanna come along with us? I don’t know if you could -- well, stay, but-- Just get supplies, rest up for a night. There’s hordes nearby.*

***Waylon:*** *I don’t like traveling with groups - bad experiences. You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want, though. Rest up - you were in pretty rough shape when I found you in that coffee shop.*

***Dean:*** *…I- I don’t want to take more from you than I already have. I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I really didn’t think there was good people left in the world. That zombie, the one with the backpack-- I hope you didn’t know him. He looked… fresher. It’s getting bad lately…*

***Waylon:*** *I didn’t. You’re the first alive person I’ve seen in a few weeks. Your group - you know how to get back to them? I can help you get you there if you want. It’s nice to be able to talk to somebody.*

***Dean:*** *I remember the path back, I’m hoping they got back okay - didn’t lead the horde with them. I can take you with me, like I said, we’ve got some supplies to spare. At least water - some food, and shelter. I feel bad about taking from you.*

***Waylon:*** *Don’t be. I help people whenever I can - with all the evil in the world-- all the bandits and killers roaming about out there - I need to help out when I can, you know? You can take whatever you want back with you, I’ll be fine with what I have.*

***Dean: (He smiles softly)*** *You sound like a friend I know back home. I hope she’s okay.*

Dean stands up, grunting. He rubs at his back, feeling that it had even been bandaged.

***Dean:*** *Thank you - for that too. You saved my ass.*

***Waylon: (He nods)*** *A few more seconds-- I don’t know if I would have gotten to you in time.*

Dean looks back towards the tent he’d exited, and sees his backpack sitting up against the side of the tent. He reaches over, picking it up, slinging it over his shoulder.

***Dean:*** *I’ve got to get back and make sure everyone’s okay. You sure you wanna stay here?*

***Waylon:*** *I’m sure. Oh - and Dean, before you go.*

Waylon digs through his own backpack.

***Dean:*** *I don’t need anything, believe me-- You’ve done well over enough, Waylon--*

Waylon pulls out a notebook from the bag - Dean’s notebook.

***Waylon:*** *This is yours - right?*

***Dean:*** *…Yeah. Thanks for grabbing it.*

Waylon zips up the bag, approaching Dean and handing him the notebook.

***Waylon:*** *On the last page-- Read it when you get back home… It’ll help you and your group out* ***(He smiles, nodding)***.

***Dean:*** *Hey, thank you man. Seriously, I appreciate it. If I see you again out here - I’ll try to make up for all the help you’ve done. Keep doing what you’re doing but - be cautious. Some people out there are… not good. I’m sure you already know, but be safe. Please. We need more people like you out in the world.*

***Waylon:*** *You be careful too. It was good meeting you, Dean.*

***Dean:*** *It was good meeting you too, Waylon. You’re a good man.*

Dean turns, walking off with the notebook and the bottle of water in his hands. He carefully steps through the wire surrounding the camp, before walking off into the woods, a smile on his face.

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**Scene #15**

**FOREST - WOODS - EVENING**

EDWARD REMAR sits on a log beside SOLOMON REED, staring at the campfire some distance away from them, where everyone else from the group is sitting around, talking and eating.

***Edward:*** *So… what do you think? Of these people?*

***Solomon:*** *I think that aside from a few people, everyone is good.*

***Edward:*** *Yeah, aside from a few people.*

Edward looks forward, as he sees NANCY WARNER walking over to them.

***Nancy:*** *You guys had something to eat yet? Food’s ready over by the fire.*

***Edward:*** *How accommodating of you.*

***Nancy:*** *Yeah, well, it’s important everyone gets a bite to eat. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat anything.*

***Edward:*** *I’m just not hungry.*

***Nancy:*** *I’ll save you a plate, ‘kay?*

***Edward:*** *If you insist. Just… Thank you.*

***Nancy:*** *Don’t mention it. What about you, Solomon? You coming with?*

***Solomon:*** *Yeah.*

Solomon stands up, beginning to walk off towards the campfire.

***Nancy:*** *Cool. I’m right behind you.* ***(She looks back at Edward)*** *About what you said earlier… You were right… and… that’s why it felt so good to do what we did on the bridge yesterday. It felt right… and… maybe you’re not so lame.*

***Edward:*** *You’re… not so bad either. Just a little annoying.*

***Nancy:*** *Yeah, well, maybe you’re just a* ***little*** *bit of a twerp.*

She smiles, turning and walking off.

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**Scene #16**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE EVENING**

Later on that evening, after most people had gone to sleep in their tents, EDWARD REMAR finds himself walking through camp. He eventually notices somebody sitting by themselves on a log off to the side. Edward approaches, and quickly realizes that it’s CALVIN SCHULTZ.

***Edward:*** *What are you doing out here?*

***Calvin:*** *I’m on watch duty.*

***Edward:*** *Are you sure you’re the right man for the job? I almost crept up on you.*

***Calvin:*** *No you didn’t. I knew you were coming. Trust me.*

***Edward:*** *Don’t you want to get some sleep?*

***Calvin:*** *I don’t sleep much anymore, at least not during the night. This is one of the few things I can do to help these days. It’s nice out… I like to feel the cold air… and I like to enjoy the silence. It’s soothing. It’s… peaceful.*

***Edward:*** *This forest gives me the creeps. It’s dark… overgrown… restricting. I hate to think how many of those things are stumbling around in it.*

***Calvin:*** *Heh.*

Calvin looks over at Edward, a curious look on his face.

***Calvin:*** *Where do you come from, Edward?*

***Edward:*** *Hm?*

***Calvin:*** *What’s your story?*

***Edward:*** *Oh, right.*

***Calvin:*** *I tell so many stories these days that… I don’t get to hear many in return. Tell me your story.*

***Edward:*** *I was in the town of Willamette, Colorado when the outbreak started…  trying to pitch an invention to a retailer at the shopping mall… the usual. I spent quite some time there… alone… because I thought that was the best thing for me. To be a lone wolf. But then I met some people… and once I met those people… we worked together to achieve a few common goals… and I left the mall… but I found myself going back. I realized… I quite like being around people. It wasn’t so bad after all, even if most of them were annoying. I made some enemies… and I was in a bad place for a while because of that… but I conquered them all in the end… and… I made a good friend. My first friend.*

***Calvin:*** *And where is your friend now?*

***Edward:*** ***(With hesitation)*** *He’s dead. So I… was alone again… and I decided to just… see where the road would take me.*

***Calvin:*** *Fascinating… Tell me… what was it like to lose your first friend? I am sorry to pry… but--*

***Edward:*** *It was, uh… sad… and… tough.*

***Calvin:*** *You’re robotic.*

***Edward:*** *Huh?*

***Calvin:*** *What happened to your friend, Edward?*

***Edward: (He sighs)*** *I left him. And everyone else I was with. Again. This time for good.*

***Calvin: (He nods slowly)*** *Why? Because you wanted to be a lone wolf? That can’t be right, you joined us after all. So -- why?*

***Edward:*** *Because they made me weak. I grew committed to him. I had to act a certain way for him. And I had ambitions of my own… ambitions that didn’t line up with what he or the rest of those people wanted. Because I’m meant for something greater.*

***Calvin:*** *Hm. That you may be. You want to lead… That’s where you think you belong? Perhaps you’re right. Look at what you’ve managed to accomplish here already. I must say… there is something truly--*

A gunshot from nearby makes Calvin pause mid-sentence. For a moment, an eerie silence follows it, as birds flee from their nests above.

***Edward:*** *What…?*

Edward turns to the woods, staring into the overgrown vegetation, as he begins to see bushes startling to rustle.

***Calvin:*** *Oh dear, oh dear.*

At first, only a single zombie emerges from the vegetation, but more follow it - stumbling towards the source of the gunshot.

***Edward:*** *How did this happen… How did this happen?!*

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**Scene #17**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE EVENING**

**Seven Minutes Earlier**

MOLLY MASSEY leans against a tree, looking at LANDON KIMBER, who’s lighting up a cigar.

***Molly:*** *You know… I’m pretty sure that new little freak in camp has a thing for me. I mean, I’m beautiful, so naturally he’s always lookin’ over at me and I think he’s giving me like ‘I want to fuck you’ eyes, but I’m pretty sure in reality he’s the kinda weirdo that wants to get pegged.*

Landon takes a puff from the cigar, as he looks at her.

***Landon:*** *A thing for you? Really? You think he’s that much of a freak?*

***Molly:*** *I do! He is a total little freak. I bet he undresses me in his mind like… all the fuckin’ time. Do you know how many times I think about slipping a little ricin into his drink? Only problem is I can never fuckin’ catch him drinking anything… He probably does some weird shit…*

***Landon:*** *…Yeah, him and that little bloodsucker buddy of his. They seem like the circle-jerk type. You can tell just by looking at them.*

***Molly:*** *Pfft… tell me about it. Little weirdos should be showing a whole lot more respect than they do.*

Molly pauses, as she hears a loud *crack* come from the trees behind them.

***Molly:*** *Oh, fuck! You hear that? Fuck, it came from over there.*

Landon puts a hand on his pistol, narrowing his eyes. Molly slowly begins to approach the bush that it came from. She pushes the shrubbery aside when she gets there -- seeing SOLOMON REED standing on the other side.

***Molly:*** *Oh, what the FUCK! Gross! What the hell are you DOING, pervert?*

***Solomon:*** *Sorry. I, uh-- had to pee. I stepped on a stick I think and it broke.*

***Landon:*** *Holy shit… speak of the devil, and he’ll show his face.*

Landon approaches Solomon, reaching into his pocket to pull out a lighter. He offers Solomon the lighter, but he rejects it.

***Solomon:*** *You have two hands that work. But look, sorry for the, uh… scare, but I’ll head back now--*

***Molly:*** *Excuse you? You think you’re some kinda hotshot?*

Landon rests a hand on Solomon’s shoulder, offering him the lighter again. He gestures to the cigar in his mouth.

***Landon:*** *I want you to light it. So light it.*

Solomon takes the lighter from him reluctantly, and lights the cigar.

***Landon:*** *Good boy. Was that so hard?*

He smiles, patting Solomon roughly on the back.

***Molly:*** *Oooh… I got an idea, boys. How’s about a little cutesy contest? It’ll be funnnnn.*

***Landon:*** *Fuck are you on about?*

***Molly:*** *I’m sayin’ like… cool shit… see who’s the* ***better*** *man… You can do stuff like throwing knives and all that manly shit, you know.*

***Landon: (He nods slowly)*** *Yeah… yeah, I’m game. What about you, Simon?*

Solomon stares at him for a moment.

***Solomon:*** *Sure, Lyle.*

Landon frowns, before he punches Solomon square in the nose.

***Solomon:*** *Ow! Sorry, I meant Lou-- wait, wait, Landon! Now I remember your name.*

***Landon:*** *A slip of the tongue… that’s what I’ll pass it up as. For your sake.*

Molly cackles, as she steps back, her boot crushing a small bush -- which unbeknownst to her has a snake sleeping in it. In retaliation, the snake starts to wrap around Molly’s leg.

***Molly:*** *Oh my-- what the fuck-- OH - WHAT THE FUCK! GET IT OFF ME -- GET IT THE FUCK OFF--*

She screams, as the snake bites into her knee.

***Molly:*** *THE LITTLE BASTARD BIT ME-- LANDON DO SOMETHING!*

Landon looks over, giving a sigh. He paces over, grabbing the snake by its tailside, before pulling it off of Molly’s leg, tossing it aside. The reptile quickly begins to slither away.

***Molly:*** *Oh, no you don’t! Little FUCK! GET BACK HERE!*

***Solomon:*** *Use a rock and crush it, don’t--*

She pulls out her pistol, and fires a single shot at it.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #18**

**FOREST - CHURCH**

WILLIAM REYNES sits quietly inside the office with LLOYD WALLER sitting near him. REBECCA DAWSON is still laying unconscious on a bed, while BRENDEN TREVORS is sleeping on the other side of the room.

***Lloyd:*** *Is, uh… is everything okay out there?*

***William:*** *It’s - fine. Just don’t worry about it. Doesn’t matter.*

Lloyd nods slowly, not wanting to press any further.

***Lloyd:*** *Hey, uh…* ***(He looks at Brenden)*** *I know that you’re upset with a lot of people right now, him included, but… he’s a good kid… and he sacrificed a lot on that mission… Go easy on him… if not for his sake then for mine. If she were awake right now, she’d… probably tell you the same thing, right?*

***William:*** *Maybe… I don’t know. She’d probably tell me a lot of things, to be honest. But… yeah, I’ll, uh… give him the respect he deserves, don’t worry about it.*

***Lloyd:*** *But… you believe the things she tells you, right? You don’t just think it’s bullshit. It’s… comforting… and logical… because that’s the type of person she is. We could all use her rational right now. So… even though you don’t have her to turn to right now… you know her so well that maybe… maybe you do… and I know it’s not the same… but… it’s something.*

William sits there, considering his words. He smiles slightly.

***William:*** *You’re a good kid, Lloyd. You shouldn’t be so concerned about me… You got yourself to look out for. I’ll be fine - I just… have some thinking to do is all.*

Lloyd stands up, beginning to slowly walk towards the door.

***Lloyd:*** *But I am concerned about you… so please… don’t shrug off what I said, okay?*

***William: (He nods)*** *Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Thank you.*

Lloyd nods back to him, before he steps out of the room, closing the door. Just seconds after he’s gone, Brenden flips over to look over at William.

***Brenden:*** *He’s a good kid, isn’t he? Lloyd - I mean.*

***William:*** *How much of that were you awake for?*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah… uh - half of it, I guess?* ***(He smiles, unsure)*** *He’s right though - you should listen to him. Really.*

***William:*** *With… all due respect - nobody who went into the city has the right to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do.*

***Brenden:*** *Sorry, sorry. That - wasn’t my intention. I mean that… well, it’s not doing you any good, being like this… I can’t say I know her very well, but I’m sure Rebecca wouldn’t want you sitting here, mentally… catatonic?*

***William:*** *Yeah, well… she’s not awake right now, she can’t exactly have an opinion.*

William’s gaze shifts down to Brenden’s missing hand.

***William:*** *You lost a lot going in there.*

***Brenden:*** *Yeah - and I don’t regret a bit of it. I know you’re not gonna agree with me here, no matter what I say, but I’d lose my other hand just as fast if it meant getting an opportunity to make things right.*

William inhales and exhales sharply, looking at the floor. He clenches a fist.

***William:*** *Right, right… and I’m sure your hero complex would be worth throwing the rest of us under the bus for, too.*

***Brenden:*** *Not really… I mean, no - not at all. I just think-- there’s gotta be a balance. An equilibrium, y’know? I mean, surely we don’t have to forsake doing the right thing just to stay alive, right? From what I hear, you of all people would know that best. You lost a lot. You and your group got by, by doing the right thing, despite overwhelming odds. And you're still in one piece. A lot of you are.*

***William:*** *Those were different times. Believe me when I say… I’d have helped those people if I had the opportunity to. But things aren’t that simple. They never will be. All that doing the right thing taught me is that prioritizing being a humanitarian over being alive gets people killed. And it’s my job to keep as many of you people alive as I can - so if that means making the hard decisions nobody else will - then I’m going to do just that. We won’t see eye to eye on that. You’ve still got a lot of growing up to do before you’ll be able to grasp it.*

William stands, walking towards the door.

***Brenden:*** *I know this won’t mean much to you, but… despite all that… Thank you. You’re doing your best. That much I can tell you. I just hope life treats you better from here on out. You deserve it.*

***William:*** *Yeah… yeah, thanks. You too. Get some rest.*

William continues walking, exiting the office.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #19**

**FOREST - CHURCH**

In another room, MARCUS DOWNES is sitting beside KATE BLOODSTONE, wrapping a bandage around Kate’s bloody hand.

***Marcus: (Quietly)*** *He went too far. He deserved it.*

***Kate:*** *I know.*

***Marcus:*** *If you ask me… it was a long time coming. He really did cross the line.*

***Kate:*** *I know… Believe me… I know. It… felt good.*

***Marcus:*** *I bet… Listen, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you in the office block.*

***Kate:*** *Don’t be silly. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. Just…*

Kate pauses, her eyes watering.

***Kate:*** *All I hear… All I hear is that child screaming. I had him. I promised I’d--*

***Marcus:*** *Hey- hey.* ***(He takes her hand)*** *Breathe.*

***Kate:*** *He was a boy, Marcus. Just a young boy. And I couldn’t…*

Tears stream down her face, as Marcus hugs her.

***Marcus:*** *It’s alright, let it out.*

***Kate:*** *Fuck. I’m so sorry I failed.*

She shakes her head, crying into his shoulder.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #20**

**FOREST - WOODS - LATE EVENING**

EDWARD REMAR jams his knife into a zombie’s head, as more and more begin to stumble out of the bushes. CALVIN SCHULTZ slowly stands up, grabbing his cane.

***Edward:*** *Come on! We need to get back to the others, now!*

Back at camp, NANCY WARNER unzips her tent, climbing out. She looks over at her neighbouring tent, where ELLIOTT ROWE is poking his head out, looking around in a fright.

***Nancy:*** *Shit, did you hear that? Who am I kidding -- of course you did!*

She stands up, looking around - where she sees a zombie tumbling towards Elliott’s tent.

***Nancy:*** *Oh, SHIT! ELLIOTT, LOOK OUT! I’LL GET TO THE SUPPLY WAGON!*

***Elliott:*** *AHH!*

Elliott tumbles back inside of his tent, as the zombie tries getting inside. Others begin to climb out of the tents.

***Carson:*** *Oh, fuck. EVERYONE!*

***Stanley:*** *I gotcha!*

STANLEY PECK comes running over to Elliott’s tent, whacking the zombie outside it dead. Elliott scurries out of his tent, before making a break for the supply wagon to get a weapon, like many others are doing.

KURT KLEIN himself steps out of his tent, topless, carrying a fireaxe that he’d brought into his tent with him. He analyzes the situation, seeing everyone from his group running around in a panic, as zombies wander around.

***Kurt: (He smiles)*** *Finally… some real fucking FUN!*

He grips the fireaxe, and starts roaming through the camp, slicing down zombies.

BONNIE HARRELL gets backed up against a tree, no weapon in hand, a zombie coming at her.

***Bonnie:*** *No!*

Elliott suddenly comes running over, raising his bat. He slams it down onto the zombie’s head, killing it.

***Bonnie:*** *Oh-- thank you - thank you so much!*

She runs off to safety, just as Edward and Calvin are seen returning to camp.

***Edward:*** *WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?*

***Solomon:*** *Someone used a gun on a snake!*

***Edward:*** *WHAT?*

***Molly:*** *OH, GET OVER YOURSELVES, IT’S JUST A FEW ZOMBIES, YOU BABIES!*

MOLLY MASSEY aims her pistol at another zombie, shooting it dead.

***Leonard:*** *It was probably a wendigo! It was a snake trying to mure you, Molly! I mean - a skinwalker! Your lucky to have killed it!*

Edward starts storming through the camp - until suddenly Kurt swings his axe into a zombie, launching its corpse into a second zombie. That second zombie happens to fall on top of Edward, causing him to drop his knife.

***Edward:*** *WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?*

Slime drips off of the zombie’s face, as it snaps its jaw at Edward, trying to bite him.

***Nancy:*** *Edward!*

Nancy comes running up, swinging her bat into the side of its head, knocking it off Edward. She then beats its head in quickly, before offering Edward a hand. He takes it, standing up.

***Kurt:*** *C’mon, Eddie, you gonna let yourself get put down by a biter! That’s no fun.*

***Edward:*** *Is this a GAME to you?*

***Leonard:*** *If we’re talking about games, I’m going to beat their heads in with this rock down here by my feet.*

LEONARD THORNE picks up said rock, smashing it over a zombie’s head.

***Molly:*** *That’s the spirit! Good one, Len!*

***Leonard:*** *Thanks!*

***Kurt: (To Edward)*** *How ISN’T it a game to you?*

Kurt laughs, as he looks ahead at another two zombies, charging at them with his arms out to the side, throwing them to the floor, one of them bumping into Edward.

***Edward:*** *Fucking MORONS!*

Another zombie grapples onto Edward, which he struggles to hold off, his knife still on the ground. Molly looks over at him, but chooses to look away. CARSON BURKE suddenly rushes over, shoving the zombie off of Edward. He nods to him, before beating the zombie’s head in. Towards the back of camp, Calvin begins to become surrounded by a few zombies, as he weakly holds up a knife, grappling with one of them. SOLOMON REED sees this and comes running over to help.

***Leonard:*** ***(To Solomon)*** *You mongrel! He has it! The old man managed to sneakily steal a gun, he’s fine!*

Leonard beats down another zombie with his rock, grinning.

***Leonard:*** ***(To the dead zombie)*** *The precious brain. Shame that it’s wasted from your stupid self getting infected. You idiot.*

Kurt, after dealing with all the zombies he clotheslined, sees another zombie. He glances over at Edward, getting an idea.

***Kurt:*** *Hey, Eddie, think fast.*

He grins, grabbing the live zombie and shoving it over to Edward.

***Edward:*** *OH, GODDAMN YOU!*

***Leonard: (He chuckles)*** *Nice one!*

Edward overpowers the zombie this time, throwing it off him. Meanwhile, Leonard pulls out some kind of needle from his pouch, injecting it into his arm.

***Leonard:*** *I need the adrenaline for this fun.*

He then uses the used needle to stab a zombie in both of its eyes.

***Leonard:*** *Stupid fuck, you can’t see but you can hear.*

By this point, most zombies in the camp had been killed, and very few remain.

***Kurt:*** *Alright, now that we’re… almost done here! Stan, Carson, Lenny. Perimeter check. Go!*

***Carson:*** *Got it.*

Carson and Stanley jog off to check the perimeter, while Leonard continues having his fun stabbing the zombie with no eyes. Finally, he kills it.

***Leonard:*** *Ten points.*

***Kurt: (He glares at Leonard)*** *I said go, dumbass.*

***Leonard:*** *Sorry, boss.*

Leonard finally turns to go with Carson and Stanley. Edward, meanwhile, exhales loudly, catching his breath. He looks towards Kurt.

***Edward:*** *What… the hell… was that?*

***Kurt:*** *A good workout* ***(He grins)***.

***Molly:*** *Few… that sure was fun… but fuck. Goddamn stupid little snake. Slippery bastard.*

***Edward:*** *You’re a psychotic bitch.*

***Molly:*** *Oh quit your whining. Nobody got hurt!*

***Solomon:*** *I’ll be honest, that snake may have been poisonous but I dunno. Also, you could’ve just skinned it and eaten the meat afterwards.*

In the background, Calvin hobbles towards a tree, in obvious pain. He collapses down beside it. Edward and Elliott are the only two who hurry over to him.

***Edward:*** *Calvin.*

***Calvin:*** *I feel so cold.*

Edward looks down at Calvin, noticing the bite mark on his shoulder.

***Calvin:*** *Oh, I know, I’m silly, I shouldn’t have let it get me, but there was just so much going on* ***(He chuckles softly)***. *It was so overwhelming.*

***Elliott:*** *Oh, no-- Calvin--*

***Calvin:*** *Elliott, don’t worry about it. It’s okay.*

Kurt approaches the old man slowly, looking down, without a hint of remorse in his eyes.

***Kurt:*** *Wow. That’s a shame* ***(He smiles)***. *I’ll take care of this.*

***Edward:*** *No. Not you. You and your goons have done ENOUGH!*

***Kurt:*** *Yeah… Yeah, you’re probably right, Eddie. You should be the one to have the honour of killing your new best friend. Make sure you get the job done. Hope you sleep well - cause I sure fucking will.*

He turns, swaggering off back to his tent, not bothered in the least.

***Calvin:*** *Don’t worry about him, Edward. Everything is okay. Just… Edward, Elliott, join me one last time, will you?*

Elliott nods slowly, wiping away tears.

***Nancy:*** *Calvin* ***(She nods to him)***.

***Calvin:*** *Farewell, Nancy. Stay strong.*

She turns, walking off, leaving just Edward and Elliott by Calvin.

***Calvin:*** *Don’t you boys worry about me. This was inevitable. My life story has already been told. But your stories… they are just beginning… and what great ones they will be, no? Elliott… you can proudly call yourself the smartest man in camp now* ***(He smiles)***. *Don’t let them whip you like a mule anymore, be your own man.*

***Elliott:*** *I-- I’m sorry, Calvin. I should have been there to defend you - I -- I won’t let them.*

***Calvin:*** *You are so kind and compassionate… never let anyone beat that out of you. It is your greatest strength. Anything else would be… unnatural. And you, Edward. What a fascinating little man you are. What these people consider to be your weaknesses… can also be turned into strengths that I know you will go on to use against them. They underestimate you. Whatever you do from here on out will begin to make things right for everyone here. Your potential in this world… is limitless. I am sorry that I won’t be here to see it all unfold.*

***Edward:*** *I won’t forget you, Calvin Schultz. Thank you.*

***Calvin:*** *Heh…*

Calvin shuts his eyes, leaning back into the tree. His breath stops. Elliott sniffles, wiping more tears away.

***Edward:*** *Do you want to do it or will I?*

***Elliott:*** *I-- I don’t think I can.*

***Edward: (He nods)*** *Get me a knife.*

Elliott nods, as he stands up, slowly walking across camp, looking at the ground the entire time. He grabs a knife from the supply wagon, and heads back, handing it off to Edward. Slowly, Edward gets to a knee, lining the knife up to the side of Calvin’s head.

***Edward:*** *I’m sorry, friend.*

He gently stabs him through the head, putting him down.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

**Scene #21**

**FOREST - CHURCH - AFTERNOON**

CLYDE ROLLINS leans up against a tree just outside of the church, looking on at the small graveyard beside it. CLAIRE NOBLE comes walking up from behind him, taking her place beside him.

***Claire:*** *You alright?*

***Clyde:*** *Yes. Yes, I’m… quite alright. And you, my lady?*

***Claire:*** *Enough* ***(She smiles lightly)***. *But yes, I’m alright, thank you. What’re you doing?*

***Clyde:*** *I suppose I’m just… pondering. You know, the state of things, all of that, I, uh… well, it feels different here, to say the least, and I don’t like it. You know, with everything happening, everyone at each other’s throats and…*

***Claire:*** *And Edward being gone.*

***Clyde:*** *Yes… I think about that a lot. It’s so strange not having him around… I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. Still, I know wherever he is right now, he’s doing okay.*

***Claire:*** *Hey… for the record… Just in case you thought I gave you too much of a hard time back at the office block… I was maybe a little impressed. You really stepped up, Clyde. That wasn’t just acting… It was real bravery, real courage, even if a little stupid. I’m proud of you.*

***Clyde:*** *Oh, well, I was not expecting that* ***(He grins)***. *But, as the fair knight that I am, I accept the honourable lady’s words of--*

***Claire:*** *Okay, now you’re pushing it. Just enjoy the moment.*

A bush rustles nearby, causing Clyde and Claire to go alert. Slowly, a figure emerges out from the bush - a familiar one at that. DEAN HOWARDS looks up at the church, not even noticing Clyde and Claire at first.

***Claire:*** *Dean?*

***Clyde:*** *What-- Dean!*

Dean looks down at them, his eyes lighting up.

***Dean:*** *You’re both okay! You’re okay!*

Dean shuffles his way over to them, smiling.

***Clyde:*** *We’re all okay - are you okay?*

***Claire:*** *We’ve been so worried about you.*

***Dean:*** *I-- I got some help. Stranger - out on the road, he nursed me back to health for a time. He decided it would be best if he stayed on his own-- Good man. His name was Waylon. Is everyone else okay?*

***Clyde:*** *…For the most part, yes. We’re all… alive. But thank goodness you’re back, everyone will be so relieved to see you.*

***Dean:*** *I’m glad you’re all okay. What a mess. A church seems to be what we need right now.*

RANDALL FORSTER comes walking out of the church, seeing them.

***Randall:*** *Dean? Fuck me, it’s Dean fucking Howards!*

He stops, grabbing at his chest in pain for a second.

***Randall:*** *Sorry, sorry* ***(He stretches)***.

***Dean:*** *Hey, hey, rest up for a moment. You alright?*

***Randall:*** *I’ve had enough rest, man, I’m sick of that shit. What’ve you got there?*

***Dean:*** *Oh! Uh-- Friend on the road helped me out, got me this bottle of water here and--*

Dean takes off his backpack, unzipping it. He digs through it for a moment, taking out his notebook.

***Dean:*** *He said he wrote some things here that could help us. Not sure what. On the last page. I figure it’s best we look at it together.*

Dean flips to the last page, as Clyde, Claire and Randall walk over to get a look. Randall takes it, examining it.

***Randall:*** *Huh… It’s, uhhhh…*

***Claire:*** *Give me that* ***(She takes it)***. *It’s… a map… with notes.*

***Clyde:*** *A map? With notes?*

***Claire:*** *Yes, that’s what I said - it’s… these. Dean, who was this guy?*

***Dean:*** *Supply caches… Waylon, he was just a traveler he said. Holy crap… What a nice motherfucker.*

***Randall:*** *No fucking way… you think they are legit?*

***Clyde:*** *If he helped Dean, then yeah -- I think there’s a good chance they are.*

***Dean:*** *He had a lot of good, said I could take anything I wanted. I refused, had to get out to find you lot. I trust him, he was a nice man -- younger.*

***Claire:*** *This is a goldmine. And it’s exactly the kind of thing we needed… Come on… let’s get you inside, Dean.*

***Dean:*** *That’d be good.*

Dean smiles, as they all start walking back towards the church.

***Randall:*** *Yeah, you’ve missed quite a lot, but we’ll, uh, get you up to date soon enough, it’s good to have you back, buddy* ***(He pats him on the shoulder)***.

***Dean:*** *It’s good to be back.*

The group makes their way inside the church.

From a tall hill far off in the distance, a pair of binoculars watch them as they enter the church, before they’re lowered, revealing a young woman, GENNA BROHEM, behind them. She smiles faintly, before adjusting the backpack over her shoulders, and turning to walk down the hill.