ABOVE THE DEAD . com
Season 2, Episode 1 (season premiere)
"Unsteady"
INTRO
BLACK...
"X Ambassadors - Unsteady" (opening lyrics)
FADE IN: (same scene that ended season 1)
EXT. TREE HOUSE - NIGHT
MUSIC
"Hold, hold on, hold on to me"
Eli (sitting on deck, outside girl's room) looking downward, at a pistol in his hand.
MUSIC
"Cause I'm a little unsteady"
He turns to look at Sam.
MUSIC
"A little unsteady"
She begins shaking her head, intensely...
MUSIC
"Hold,"
SAM
Don't do it...
MUSIC
"Hold on, hold on to me"
POV moving down ladder, toward huffs, longing to get up there.
SAM
(off-screen)
Eli, don't do it!
MUSIC
"Cause I'm a little unsteady"
POV moving over all the huffs, including Rhett...
SAM
EEELLLLIIIII!
MUSIC
"A little unsteady"
That final verse plays, followed with a loud BOOM! A shot is fired, as huffs react, and scene fades to Fish's gravesite.
Song is instrumental for several seconds, with POV of Fish's grave marker. The moment lyrics begin, the POV goes back behind Fish's marker, to another marker.
MUSIC
"Momma, come here"
POV Saara's (Eli's mom) grave marker.
MUSIC
"Approach, appear"
Moving from her marker to next one.
MUSIC
"Daddy, I'm alone"
John's (Eli's dad) grave marker.
MUSIC
"Cause this house don't feel like home"
POV moving up front toward grave marker next to Fish.
MUSIC
"If you love me, don't let go"
Moving over Vincent's grave marker, toward Mark's.
MUSIC
"If you love me, don't let go"
Moving past Mark's, to Greg's.
MUSIC
"Hold, hold on, hold on to me"
POV moves back behind their markers, toward Rhett's marker.
MUSIC
"Cause I'm a little unsteady"
Moving from Rhett to Amy's marker.
MUSIC
"A little unsteady"
Moving to Scott's marker.
MUSIC (skipping to last verse of song)
"Hold, hold on, hold on to me"
Slowly moving by Scott's marker, toward one final marker.
MUSIC
"Cause I'm a little unsteady"
POV slowly focusing on name of marker.
MUSIC
"A little unsteady"
Eli's name revealed on final marker. (song ends)
DARK
EXT. TREE HOUSE - MORNING
POV from the eyes of someone waking up, and instantly looking over at empty bed, on other side of room. Sam throws blankets off, and races outside of boys room, looking all around. She looks down below, where all huffs appear to be gone (besides the ones heard from the pit). She looks out and around. She then runs to the bathroom, looking inside, and running back toward bedrooms, while looking all around down below. Freezing, several steps in front of girls room door, she just stares at the doorway, before closing her eyes and flashing to the night before...
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli sitting there on deck, holding gun and staring at it.
SAM
(shaking head/face full of tears)
Don't leave me...
Sam weeping and closing eyes. A single shot is fired. She quickly opens eyes, and flinches as a second shot is fired. Her view of Eli firing a third shot, down below.
POV down below, where third shot hits one of the many huffs. Rhett then walks into POV, right as fourth shot is fired into his head. He drops, as rest of huffs continue to lunge upward.
Their POV of Eli, looking back down at them, with Sam arriving and looking down. Eli just staring at Rhett's body, as the huffs begin stepping over it. Eli turns back, and again stares at gun.
SAM
No, Eli...you don't have to do that. They're coming back.
My family is coming back for us.
ELI
(quietly)
They're not my family.
Eli looks back down toward his brother, before moving gun toward his head. Sam tries to grab it, but misses, as he pulls it back and becomes angry.
ELI
(yelling)
WHAT DO YOU CARE?!
Sam weeping, and unable to respond.
ELI
Exactly, you don't! You just want a god damn babysitter!
You just want me to get you to your family. MY FAMILY IS
DEAD! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THAT...
Eli stops mid-sentence, realizing his mistake. Sam crying as she glares back at him.
SAM
I don't know how that feels? I just watched my cousin get
shot to death! My dad...(crying)...he not only...died, he
became one of them, and...(bawling as she cries out her
dog's name) Merry.
ELI
But you still have family. I watched both my parents die.
I watched one of them disappear, which actually made
my stupid ass believe just maybe she wasn't really
dead. But she was just (looking down at huffs) one of
them! I didn't even know what one of them was,
which made me feel like maybe I was dead! (looking
down toward Rhett and weeping rest of sentence)
And now that's all I wanna be.
Eli sliding down, sitting, setting gun down and weeping...
Sam standing there weeping, as she watches him. She looks outward, she tries forming words, but only mouths "Zane". She looks toward driveway and tries again, quietly.
SAM
Zane?! Scout?! (louder) ZANE?! SCOUT?! I'M HERE,
COME BACK! ZANE, PLEASE. SCOUT?!
Eli stops weeping, and stares ahead, in a shocked daze.
SAM
UNCLE HUNTER?! ZANE?! ZANE?! ZAAAAANE!
(crying out final word) Pleeeaase!
Sam coughing, before regaining composure, with a look down at Eli (still zoning out), and then to the gun next to him. She reaches down and takes it. Eli just continues zoning. Sam looks at him a moment, then down below at the huffs, before back to the driveway. She just stares, while tears run down her face.
SAM
(quietly)
Please, Zane...where are you? I know you're coming for
me... Please...I can't...(crying out rest of words) I can't
stay here another night.
Sam bawling, as she slowly slides down against side of deck. She lays the gun down, and sobs. Eli still zoning ahead, but takes notice of the gun, and without Sam even noticing, he grabs it back. He places it into his lap, and continues to zone ahead (as background music fades in).
"Evanescence - New Way To Bleed" (midway through song (1.47))
MUSIC
"I can't take it anymore"
Eli zoning...
MUSIC
"I feel it coming over me"
Eli looks down at the gun in his lap, before again zoning ahead, contemplating...
MUSIC
"I'm still a slave to these dreams"
Sam fighting through her emotions, to rise and continue looking out for her family. She glances downward.
MUSIC
"Is this the end of everything?"
Tons of huffs at base of tree, lunging upward...
MUSIC
"Or just a new way"
Sam looking downward, she flashes to the horrid memory of her dad, biting into Merry.
MUSIC
"To bleed?"
Sam closing eyes, at the memory of that terrible night, and leaning head against railing, as scene dissolves.
MUSIC (becoming mellow)
(Instrumental for several seconds)
Time skipping forward (30-60 min) of the kids simply not doing much, other than zoning, Sam looking out for family, Sam fighting sleep...
MUSIC (still mellow)
"I drifted far beyond the end"
Sam sitting against deck railing, as her eyes are becoming very heavy, closing once, then again as head drops.
MUSIC (becoming intense)
"Freedom!"
Sam's head pops back. She begins to rise.
MUSIC
"Freedom!"
She faces driveway, and screams for Zane! (unheard over the music)
MUSIC
"Can't you feel"
Huffs at base of tree, looking up at Sam.
MUSIC
"The ground caving in?"
Sam desperately calling for Zane! (unheard)
MUSIC
"Freedom!"
Sam turning, to look down at Eli.
MUSIC
"Give us a reason to believe again"
Eli's eyes closed, he opens them a moment, again closing...
MUSIC
"I feel it coming over me"
Sam sliding back down, laying on her side, closing eyes, opening and staring toward Eli...
MUSIC
"I'm still a slave"
Sam closing eyes...
MUSIC
"To these dreams"
Dissolve to Sam's dream, of Eli's tombstone...
MUSIC
"Is this the end of everything?"
Dissolve to Sam's eyes waking, from the boys room.
Dissolve to Sam running out onto deck, looking all around.
Dissolve to Sam freezing at girls room door, and closing her eyes.
MUSIC
"Or just a new way to bleeeeeeeeeed"
THEME TUNE/CREDITS.
Evanescence song plays out (rather than the normal theme tune). Brutal shots of the girls room, and of Scott's body, and Amy's dead pregnant body, as opening credits roll…
CUT TO:
EXT. TREE HOUSE - MORNING
Sam in front of girls room, opening eyes after flashing back to the night before. She is extremely hesitant to look into room.
SAM
Eli?
She edges her way closer, as she begins crying...
SAM
Please still be alive...
She slowly comes to the door, and begins covering her eyes. Once at door, she looks just enough to ensure he isn't inside, before running away from door, over to deck railing. All she can do is weep...
Suddenly she looks up, as Eli is heard in the distance, yelling. At least she believes it to be Eli, as she immediately runs to the ladder, and climbs down...
CUT TO:
WOODS - DAY
Eli in woods holding an axe and yelling out to someone/something, with arms raised.
ELI
COME OOOONN! WHERE'D YOU ALL GO?! I'M RIGHT
HERE! COME GET SOME! (waiting a moment) COME ON
YOU BUNCH OF HUNGRY UGLY FREAKY (cut to)
CUT TO:
Sam in yard, not too far from the tree house, now following the faint sound of Eli, finishing the last word of his sentence...
CUT TO:
Eli in woods, violently swinging axe right at POV.
POV of Eli's axe going into tree, as he continues to take his frustration out on it. He goes at it, until wearing out, and eventually stopping. He catches his breath before looking upward, and weeping.
ELI
(sobbing through it)
I can't do it. I can't stay here. Please don't be ashamed of
me. I just can't do it without you. I hate feeling guilty, I
shouldn't have to be responsible for her. I just wanna be
with all of you! I can't help her. Her family didn't even
come back, we're gonna die, anyway.
Eli weeping away.
SAM
(off-screen)
NO, WE'RE NOT!
Sam startling Eli, coming out of brush teary eyed and right for him.
SAM
They will come back for us! THEY WILL! (weeping)
ELI
I told you, they're not my family. I have nothing to live
for, and this world's no longer meant for living anyhow.
SAM
(weeping)
At the compound, it is!
ELI
(shouting)
YOU'LL NEVER SEE THAT COMPOUND, SAM!
Sam just crying and staring at him before responding...
SAM
Yes, I will! WE, will! And my family will LOVE you for
helping me. They will MAKE you family. MY family!
ELI
(throwing hands up)
THEN WHERE ARE THEY? Huh? DEAD, Sam. That's
where they are. Just like my family...or they'd be here.
Sam unable to argue any further, and weeps instead...
She eventually looks up at him, pleading with her expression, for him to provide some comfort. Instead, he suddenly holds up the axe, and charges right for her.
SAM
What are you...
Eli charges past her, and right for the huff coming out of the brush. Without hesitation, Eli chops that huff into pieces. Sam watching, in shock, as he continues to release his rage on the mangled corpse. He begins wearing down, and stops...
Covered in blood and breathing heavily, he drops to a knee, and eventually looks to Sam. She just stares back at him, in silence...
ELI
(quietly)
I'm not scared of these things...
Eli rising, speaking with more intensity and body language, as his mood begins to shift, big time.
ELI
I am NOT scared of these things! They're WEAK!
They're stupid and they can't think! I could probably...
Eli stops mid-sentence, in thought...
He then looks to Sam and even begins cracking a small smile, before suddenly sprinting away, back toward the tree house.
SAM
What? Where you going? ELI?!
CUT TO:
Eli dashing through the woods, with his axe...
CUT TO:
Sam frightened, and trying to hustle after Eli...
SAM
Eli, don't leave me!
CUT TO:
Eli rushing out of brush, into cabin area. He looks toward tree house as he heads toward garage, and right inside, he goes. Sam comes running out of brush, looking all around.
SAM
Eli?! ELI?!
Sam looking all directions, and becoming frantic, then startled as Eli comes out of garage, dragging a large piece of an old fence. He's dragging it toward tree house.
SAM
What...what are you doing?
Eli (very determined) continues right past her. She follows.
SAM
Eli? ELI?!
ELI
Just watch this!
With blood and sweat all over his face, Eli continues dragging the fence, now heading a little off from the tree house. All the huffs in the pit can now be heard, as Eli approaches it.
SAM
You're scaring me!
Eli reaches the pit, and drops down the fence, next to him. He stares down inside at the huffs, while catching his breath.
SAM
What are you doing?
ELI
You might want to go up to the tree house.
SAM
Why? What are you planning on doing? Answer me!
ELI
I gotta catch my breath first, then I'm gonna have some
fun, before I die.
Sam stares at him, while developing more tears...
He begins slowly pacing around, placing hands behind his head, taking deep breaths. He looks over his axe, and then toward the cabin...then to Sam.
ELI
Baseball bat, I know your dad had to of had a baseball
bat, somewhere around here, right?
Sam just crying...
ELI
Sam!
SAM
Why?
ELI
Because I'm a ball player, and I wanna go out as one!
Eli sprinting off toward cabin. Sam watching a second, before following, and weeping.
SAM
Why are you doing this?
Eli not answering, as he disappears into the cabin. Sam stands at the door, waiting. She's frightened and looking all directions, while Eli is heard scavenging around inside...
ELI
(off-screen)
I knew I should've kept that one, I had on the highway.
Wish I had my baby from home. I hit BOMBS with that
baby! AH HA! Score!
Sam still at the door looking inward, as Eli comes out holding his new "baby" (metal bat) and happy to be getting a good feel for it, as he heads back toward the pit, with Sam following.
SAM
You can't go in there. There's too many and you don't
have an adult to watch your back.
ELI
I AM an adult!
SAM
Why are you being like this?!
Eli stopping, answering with intensity and body language.
ELI
Because I don't care! And it feels SOOOOOO good!
SAM
What do you mean?
ELI
Nothing scares me! Not those huffs, not other people,
pretty girls, NOTHING!
Sam just crying and staring at him, before he continues...
ELI
Anxiety doesn't exist anymore! I am on top of the
world! I am the world! People should have anxiety
of MEEE! AHHH!
Eli pumped as he raises his bat, and sprints to the pit. Sam follows, stopping a ways from it, and watching as Eli paces above the pit, before reaching down for the fence.
SAM
Eli, please...
Eli carefully places fence down into pit, providing a ramp for the huffs to exit.
SAM
Oh my god, Eli. No! There are way too many!
Eli picks up his bat, as the huffs begin climbing the ramp.
SAM
Eli, no!
Eli begins swinging the bat, at the heads of the huffs, who first begin coming over the top of the ramp, as Sam just watches and cries. He is in total control, for a bit, before more and more come at him. He begins stepping back some, as they pour out of the pit. Sam begins stepping back.
SAM
Eli...please, come to the tree house.
Eli begins using more caution, but continues to put down huff after huff, with a rage of satisfaction. Sam edges her way more and more toward the tree house.
Huff after huff, come at Eli. He shows no fear, as he bashes in their heads. Sam now rushing for ladder, and up into tree house.
Eli just misses being bitten, before putting that huff down. He takes another close call, before finally retreating, but not far. He takes a few deep breaths, then back at it he goes.
Sam is now holding a gun on the deck, and pointing down below. She is way too scared to fire, and risk hitting Eli. She simply weeps, and takes no shot...
Eli continues killing huffs, and wisely retreating whenever he needs to catch his breath. One sneaks up on him, almost catching him off guard, before he swings left-handed, to take it down.
ELI
Always knew I could switch hit! AHHH!
Eli reaching back for one more boost of raging energy, as he puts down a half dozen or so, in a matter of seconds. He is now in control, as their numbers plummet. He's exhausted, as he steps back away from the few remaining. He looks up at Sam, and points bat her way.
ELI
Ready to pitch hit?
Sam finally stops watching and simply turns around, sitting against deck railing, and sobbing. Down below, Eli can be heard killing the final few, and breathing heavily...
ELI
(off-screen)
YEEEEAAAHHH, BABY! IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?! I
COULD DO THIS ALL DAY LONG!
Sam continues to weep, as down below Eli can be heard beating on the dead huffs...
Suddenly, Sam can hear something...something from the girls room. Sounds like someone trying to breathe. Sam slowly rises, and just as slowly brings herself to the bedroom doorway. The sound getting louder, she takes a few steps inward, then pauses...
SAM
(quietly)
Eli...(louder) Eli? ELI?!
Sam now dashing out of the room, to the deck railing. Eli bashing on the dead/crippled huffs, looking up at Sam, who calls for his attention.
SAM
ELI. GET UP HERE NOW! THE BABY! THE BABY!
Eli freezes, standing there a moment, before racing off to the ladder. Sam waits for him, as he climbs onto deck, and stands there a moment. He can hear it. He looks at Sam, and begins making his way over, and enters. Sam stays behind...
Suddenly, she can hear crying, it's Eli, and she rushes to the doorway. He's in there on his knees. She steps over to him. Careful not to get too close, but far enough to see Eli's face. He weeps while watching the baby, moving from under Amy's dress/nightgown. It's not crying, it's grunting, obviously "dead"...
ELI
(weeping)
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Rhett. I'm so sorry you don't
get to be a father.
Eli drops his head and begins bawling. Sam cries as she watches...
Eli works towards standing. He makes his way to the baby. He looks at his bat (bloody). He looks at Sam, then again to the baby...
ELI
I can't...I don't...
Sam leaves the room. Eli just stares at the baby (under the dress)...
Sam returns and slowly approaches. She kneels down next to the bed and baby, and then uses a knife, to find/secure the head. She looks back at Eli. He just watches...
She sticks the blade in the baby's skull, as it goes silent. She drops the knife, and scoots herself right next to Eli. She pulls into him, and forces him to hug her. He doesn't hug back, but he stands there sobbing, as she holds him...
POV cuts to Ext shot of tree house...
ELI
(off-screen)
RRHHHHEEETT! AHHH, I CAN'T TAKE THIS! (crying)
DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK (day 1)
EXT. ROCKAWAY BEACH (SSH, Sand Series Hotel) - DAY
Zane's brother Troy (24, on phone) and his wife Angela (24, pregnant) in hotel parking lot, with small beach town scene, in background...life looking fairly normal.
TROY
Yes sir. (looking back at hotel) We're almost completely
sealed up and locked down, as we speak. Everything's
going according to plan, and life here still seems normal...
Yes sir... Thanks, Dad.
Troy hanging up.
ANGELA
Do I even want to know?
Troy nervously shaking his head. Woman in background (on street corner) yelling at her daughter (in middle of crosswalk).
TROY
I can't believe it's actually (cutoff)
Suddenly, a car speeding down highway, nails the girl in the road, as everyone around, reacts. The car stops only momentarily, before speeding away. Mother instantly running to her child, but most bystanders stop, as they realize the child is very much dead. The woman screams in agony.
TROY
Wait here!
Troy racing to the scene. He stops, once he takes notice of how mangled the child is. The mother is holding her. Troy takes notice of another child (5-year-old girl), standing close by the mother, crying. He notices another man on the corner, with his three children (2 boys and a girl), all crying/watching. The man is warning his children to stay put, as he goes into road to help the woman.
Troy approaches, as well. Together he and the man try to help the woman. The other man (MELVIN, 50ish) takes the 5-year-old girl, over to his children. Troy works on the mother, who won't leave her dead child. He stops a moment and takes a step back, and takes a deep breath. He again works on removing the woman from the street.
Jagger (Troy's brother, 19), comes running to the scene. Troy simply looks at him, no idea what to do. Melvin comes back, to try and help. Suddenly, Troy notices the dead girl, coming to life. He guides Jagger's attention to it, and before they can make sense of it, the dead child takes a bite out of Melvin's leg. He pulls away quickly and flees, as the dead girl now bites into her mother's (in complete shock) neck, with screams of terror, as the crowd of bystanders instantly begin to scatter.
Both Troy and Jagger stand and watch, in disbelief. The dead child continues to tear into her mother's flesh, bringing her life and the screams, to an end. The child looks right at them. It lunges, but cannot move its mangled body. Troy still in complete shock, as Jagger begins to guide him away.
JAGGER
Get inside! My car's at the market lot, I'll be right back.
TROY
Screw your car, grandpa already sent the bird!
CUT TO:
Jagger and Troy racing up parking lot hill, reaching Angela.
ANGELA
What in god's name is happening?!
TROY
It's worse than Grandpa thought! Get inside. We have to
lock down the hotel, and get you on the chopper, and to
the compound asap!
Troy' phone begins ringing.
JAGGER
I'll get her inside, you get Grandpa on the phone, and see
if he really wants us to bunker down here, after seeing that!
Jagger and Angela keep going, as Troy stops to answer phone. He sees it as "Kate" (sister, 23) calling. He hesitates to answer, as he looks back at all the commotion from the street. He watches the dead girl, still trying to reach the flesh of her dead mother, but unable to. People are panicking and going all directions, except a pair of teens, who stand around corner from it, recording with their phones. Troy shakes his head, and looks down at his phone, finally answering.
TROY
Kate, stay inside. I'll see you up there. I have to call Dad.
Now that everyone's checked out and clear of the hotel,
get those final doors locked down... No, we're all leaving,
it's not safe here, and screw the roads, we're taking the
chopper...
Troy hangs up and immediately dials, as he turns and heads toward hotel, with POV going around corner, where Melvin and four children stood, watching the commotion. Melvin listening to what Troy was saying.
TROY
(off-screen)
We're leaving in the next five-ten minutes!
Melvin looks around corner, as Troy runs off, then down at the bite mark on his leg, and guides the children away. The youngest girl (Trisha, same girl whose mom and sister just died) crying, as the oldest boy (Griffey, 10) guides her along...
CUT TO:
INT. SSH OFFICE - DAY
Troy quickly entering office where Kate, Jagger and Angela, all rush to load up their things (including guns).
TROY
Where's Mary?
KATE
In the other room, on the phone with Dad.
TROY
Is she telling him what just happened?
KATE
What the hell did just happen, out there?
TROY
(looking at Jagger)
You didn't tell her?
JAGGER
(still in shock)
I'm not sure how...
Mary (Leo's wife, 50, Mexican) coming in from other room.
MARY
He still wants us to stick to procedure. Angela and I
fly back, the three of you, hold down the hotel.
TROY
I'm guessing all you told him was a kid got hit. Get him
back on the phone.
MARY
He's trying to reach Fish. Why, what else happened?
Troy zoning off a moment...
JAGGER
Do you think...what we saw out there...is what's happening,
everywhere?
MARY
What the hell happened out there?!
Mary begins dialing as Troy stops her.
TROY
Everyone in the elevator, I'll do my best to explain what I
saw. We can make calls from the chopper.
KATE
Troy? You did get my text about the parking lot side doors?
TROY
(staring at her)
I've had as much time to answer texts, as I have whatever
in the name of god is happening, out there in the street.
JAGGER
(handing his bag to Kate)
I'm on it. I'm the fastest.
TROY
Jagger...(handing him a handgun) Watch your back...
CUT TO:
Jagger stepping outside parking lot doors, and closing gates over them, and locking it down. He locks the doors from the inside, and turns to head toward elevator. He stops as he hears a noise, hesitates a moment before investigating...
CUT TO:
EXT. SSH ROOF - DAY
Pilot (DAVE) rushing into the helicopter while on his phone.
DAVE
Jesus Christ! Okay lock your doors and find a good
hiding place. I'm on my way!
Dave starts up the helicopter, as in background Troy and others can be seen exiting the elevator. Dave takes notice, reaches for a handgun, and climbs out of helicopter. He fires a shot in the air, as Troy and others all freeze.
DAVE
I know you all have weapons, so please don't make me
do something I don't want to, by reaching for them.
TROY
Dave, what in the hell are you doing? You have a home
at the compound. Your WIFE is at the compound!
DAVE
Given the current situation, you make a valid point, on
the home, but if we were truly family, as you've always
claimed, you'd know that the actual love of my life, has
her own home in the city, and she needs my help, right
now.
TROY
It's much worse out there than you think, Dave. You
won't even survive long enough to regret the mistake
you're making!
Dave keeping gun on them as he backs up and climbs into helicopter.
DAVE
Nowhere near as much as I'd regret going on with life,
while god knows what, happens to the woman I love.
He closes helicopter door, and begins to take off, as Troy and others watch, before quickly ducking down as gunfire begins.
POV Mary, unloading her gun on the helicopter...
CUT TO:
INT. SSH ROOM - DAY
Melvin at window (holding phone) looking all around, as the sound of gunshots are heard. All 4 children sitting on bed.
Melvin
Oh my god!
Melvin now watching the helicopter, spinning out of control. It goes behind the building (out of his sight), and can be heard crashing and blowing...
Melvin
(into phone)
I'm not alone, here. Someone just took down the owners,
trying to leave in their helicopter! I'll call you back!
CUT TO:
Jagger in hallway (holding gun), on his phone.
JAGGER
(talking to himself)
Come on, Troy! Come on!
He hangs up and begins racing down the hallway.
CUT TO:
Melvin leading kids out of room, when his phone begins ringing. He goes to look at it (distracting him), as the kids enter ahead of him, into the hallway.
CUT TO:
Jagger in hallway coming to an instant stop, and pointing gun, as children begin exiting room in front of him (sound of phone ringing). Realizing they are just children, he lowers the gun. Melvin comes out, looking from phone to Jagger. He looks downward at the gun, and without thought, he rushes Jagger (dropping phone).
JAGGER
(no time to react)
NOO!
Melvin slams him and gun hand, against wall. The gun drops, and is picked up by Melvin, who again without thought, fires into Jagger's chest. He goes down, assumingly dead.
Children are crying and/or horrified, as Melvin leads them away, leaving phone next to Jagger, which begins ringing again...
CUT TO:
INT. SSH ELEVATOR - DAY
Close-up Mary on phone, shushing everyone, as POV falls back to Troy, Kate and Angela in elevator, with her.
MARY
(on phone)
Baby, you need to come pick us up, right now... What do
you think happened? Your father and his piss poor choice of
compound leader, is what happened! They hired and trusted
a pilot, who in the end cared more about his mistress than he
did his promises, and responsibilities to this family...That's
exactly what he did, but... Yeah, but... Fine, call me back, but
Leo, it's beginning to fall apart here... I love you too.
TROY
Wait, give me the phone!
MARY
He's already gone, on the other line with (rolling eyes) Zane.
TROY
They need to know what we saw outside.
MARY
What they need to know is that your father needs to be
calling the shots! If up to him, he would have flown
here himself, or even Mason.
Elevator opening as they exit and head toward office area.
MARY (CONT'D)
Your grandfather's too soft, as is your uncle, hence the
reason he was chosen over Leo.
TROY
(angry)
I don't fully disagree, but what I do disagree with, is your
decision to shoot down our only helicopter! He might
have returned, or we might have found him, especially
if things get back to normal!
MARY
After pulling a gun on us? And getting back to
normal? Really?
Suddenly, a gunshot goes off, and nails Troy in the chest, taking him down. The women scream, and Angela quickly cries out and goes to his body.
ANGELA
NO, NO, NO! TROY!
POV Melvin aiming gun at them all, and pointing to the corner of the room.
MELVIN
Over in the corner, NOW!
DISSOLVE TO: PRESENT TIME
EXT. TREE HOUSE AREA - AFTERNOON
POV slowly travels over the yard/pit area, of bodies left over from the night before, along with at least a couple dozen dead huffs, that Eli killed. It's quiet and peaceful...
POV works its way to the tree house, passing Rhett's body, and up the ladder, finding Sam and Eli (gun next to him), sitting quietly on deck...
Sam lays down on her side, but keeps her eyes glued on Eli, who stares off another direction. She looks sleepy, but is fighting it. Eventually she closes eyes, but quickly opens, and stares at Eli. She continues this until ultimately, she cannot, and drifts away...
Eli finally moves, as he watches her sleep a moment, before looking down at the gun. He picks it up, stares at it a moment, then turns and points directly at Sam. He holds it on her, for a long moment...
He finally turns it around, at his own head. He holds it there a long moment, before he fires and blows his head off.
Sam instantly wakes, with mild shock, but instant relief, at the sight of Eli, still sitting there motionlessly, against the wall of the boys room. She looks down at the gun, that still lays there. She sits upward, wide awake, and watches Eli...
DISSOLVE TO:
30-60 min later, as Eli comes out from bathroom, walking to where he'd been sitting, and reaches for the gun. He walks on, and into boys room.
Sam quickly rises, and goes in after him...
DISSOLVE TO:
30-60 min later, while Eli sits in his bed... Sam lays in hers, watching him...
DISSOLVE TO:
30-60 min later, Eli still in bed, staring right past Sam, as she is at table, trying to eat some crackers. She opens a water, and takes one quick sip. She walks by Eli, and leaves the water down next to him, and returns to her bed. She watches him...then she turns and looks away...
DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK - (day 1)
INT. SSH OFFICE - DAY
Mary, Angela (kneeling and weeping) and Kate all in corner, with Melvin, somewhat behind desk and still pointing gun on them. He has their phones, as one of them begins ringing. He dumps them in their bags, while looking through them, and taking the guns he finds, and tossing the bags behind the desk.
MELVIN
What kind of people are you? How many more of you are
there?
MARY
That's a question you don't want answered.
ANGELA
Why are you doing this? You killed the father of my son!
(weeping)
MELVIN
I'm sure the owners of this place, who you shot down, are
feeling mighty thankful right about now! I'm just trying to
protect my kids!
KATE
What?
ANGELA
Oh my god.
MARY
We ARE the owners! I shot down the chopper, after
the pilot stole it from us!
Melvin a questionable stare at them, Kate nodding...
MARY
Grab that picture frame on the desk, and have yourself
a look.
Melvin holds gun on them, as he goes back behind desk, reaching over for frame. He looks at it closely. It's a picture of Mary and Leo, with Troy and Angela, at their wedding. He looks from it, to them, as the dread and shame take over his expression.
MELVIN
Oh, mother of god, what have I done?
They all watch him in silence, as he stands behind desk, looking downward, then to them...
MELVIN
I am so sorry. I'm not a bad man; I'm just trying to
protect my children from what's happening, outside.
MARY
So you've said. Where exactly are these children of yours?
MELVIN
They're actually my grandchildren. They're in one of
the rooms.
KATE
Are you going to let us go?
Melvin looking up at them...
MELVIN
What are you going to do to me? To my kids?
KATE
We're not going to do anything. We can tell you made
a mistake.
ANGELA
Please just let us go back to our family.
KATE
You and your grandchildren can even stay here.
He begins looking into their eyes. He gives each Kate and Angela a long stare, each looking sincere. He moves to Mary. She looks ready for blood. Melvin looks worried...
He looks to Kate/Angela again.
MELVIN
I believe you...(looking at Mary) but not her... She
wants me dead.
Both Kate and Angela looking to Mary...
KATE
Tell him that's not true, Mary!
Mary simply stares back at Melvin...
MARY
He just murdered Troy! How are we supposed to
overlook that?
ANGELA
God damn it, Mary!
MELVIN
My children and I watched, as a young girl got run down in
front of her own mom, and baby sis. She was dead, but she
wasn't. She bit (showing leg) into my leg, and killed her own
mom, with her bare teeth, for god's sake. (looking at them
and developing tears) We had no place else to go... I heard
someone here, talking about locking up and retreating. I got
inside, and called my daughter in law. (weeping some) I
heard shots, and saw the chopper go down...
He begins bawling, while placing gun down on desk, and his head in his hands. One of their phones begins ringing, again...
MELVIN
(crying through it)
I didn't mean to kill anyone (Mary grabbing gun). I thought
it was him or me.(Mary pointing gun at him)... I did it for
my children.
Before he can even finish saying "children", he cries out terribly, in pain, scaring everyone. He continues to scream, as Troy begins rising from behind him, while sinking his teeth into his flesh.
Kate and Angela are screaming. Mary still aiming gun at Melvin, who is still screaming. She fires twice, in the heart, and ends his suffering/screaming. Troy continues feeding on him, until his attention shifts to the screams/weeping of Kate and Angela. He leaves Melvin, and rounds corner of desk.
MARY
Troy? Troy!
Mary aims gun at him.
ANGELA
Mary, no! Don't kill him!
MARY
It's not Troy!
Troy going straight for Angela.
ANGELA
Troy baby, you did it; you saved us. Let us help you!
MARY
He's gone, Angela! I have to shoot him!
ANGELA
No!
KATE
Do it!
Troy almost to Angela. Mary fires several shots at his heart. He keeps going and bites into Angela's neck, ripping it apart, just as Mary places gun to his head, and blows it off. He drops dead, next to Angela, who is near death herself. Kate in corner screaming/weeping. Mary looks down at Angela...
MARY
I'm so sorry, baby...
Mary aims gun, and fires at her head. Kate continues crying...
KATE
Is she really dead...or...
MARY
I don't know...I think so.
KATE
Will she come back? Is everyone coming back now? Is
that what's happening?
MARY
(looking at Troy)
Head shot worked on him. I don't think she'll come back.
KATE
Are you sure?
MARY
I DON'T KNOW, Kate! I can't make sense of any of this!
(shaking head) Ever since I met him, your father has
prepared me for every possible world ending event.
This one wasn't on the list...
Her phone begins ringing again, from the bag, behind desk. She goes right for it. Placing gun back behind her pants, she frantically begins going through the bag. She begins losing control of her emotions, as she finds and answers phone, weeping through her words.
MARY
Baby... Yes, I'm fine, but... Troy.
Mary's sobbing prevents her from speaking, before suddenly spooked, at the sound of Melvin coming back to "life".
KATE
Mary!
Mary puts phone down on desk, and reaches behind for the gun, as Melvin is rising, and Kate is making a run for the door. Mary drops gun and goes down to retrieve it, but on her way back up, is bitten in the back.
Kate watches the attack from the door, and decides to retreat as Mary screams. Mary finds the strength to turn the gun around, on Melvin, and fires the fatal shot. They both go down...
CUT TO:
Kate (face full of tears) running down hallway, eventually beginning to slow down, looking behind her, and coming to a stop. Not sure what to do, she simply begins weeping...
Suddenly, she's spooked by the sound of a phone ringing, from around the corner. She becomes relieved.
KATE
Jagger?
The phone continues to ring. She slowly creeps over to the corner. She freezes, as the phone stops ringing...
KATE
Jagger?
She slowly peeks around corner. Her POV of a phone laying on ground, next to some sort of stain, in the carpet. She begins creeping toward it, and develops more tears, at the realization of the stain being blood. She looks all around...
KATE
Jagger?
Suddenly, the phone begins ringing (loudly) again, as Kate jumps/screams!
KATE
JAGGER?!
She picks up the phone. She is about to "skip call", when she notices the incoming caller name, of "daddy's girl". She answers.
KATE
(into phone)
I'm sorry, but if you're calling about your father, he's been
killed. We're at the Sand Series Hotel, in Rockaway Beach,
if you want to come find your children, he said they're
here... I'm sorry, I need to use this phone... I'm sorry, if
you're stuck in New York. I have to use this phone.
She hangs up and dials another number...
KATE
(crying as she speaks into phone)
Daddy...I...(crying and having trouble speaking)...
Troy...he's dead, daddy... (crying while listening) I think
Mary's dead too, and so is Angela...There's this guy, he
accidentally killed Troy, and then Troy...he...he came back.
He killed Angela...
CUT TO:
INT. LEO'S HUMMER, HIGHWAY 6 - DAY
Leo (in shock) on phone (Mason in passenger seat), as he immediately pulls the hummer over, to the side of the road.
LEO
(into phone)
What Guy? What the hell are you talking about, Katie? Jesus Christ,
you're not making any sense! They can't be dead! Tell me
you're wrong?
Mason wide eyed, at mention of people being dead!
MASON
What?!
LEO
Ok, calm down... Yes, do that, find your brother. Call him
right now, then don't stop for nothing, not even your
phone. Just get in the car, and go to that old road where I
taught you how to drive. Go to the spot you thought it
ended, and keep going... Yes, just listen to what I'm telling
you, Katie. The road opens back up, until it comes to a
camp... Because it's too dangerous coming this direction.
Mason and I, got hung up due to a crash, and no idea what's
ahead. Tillamook could be a mess. You should have no trouble
reaching the camp. Now Katie, listen to me. Just get Jagger,
and get to that road. When you find the camp, tell them
you're my kids, and that, curveball, is the safe word.
They will treat you like royalty, and I will be there as soon
as I can... It's okay, I love you too...and Katie... no one
else knows about this camp, not even your grandpa...
Okay, See you soon.
Leo hangs up, and just stares ahead. Mason grabs his shoulder...
MASON
What happened?...Camp?
Leo simply drops his head and begins weeping, he then opens door and fights for air, as Mason hops out, and runs around the side, to his aid...
DISSOLVE TO: PRESENT TIME
EXT. TREE HOUSE DECK - EARLY EVENING
Close-up of Sam sitting on deck, she begins actually forming a small smile. Her POV of Bailey approaching from the bathroom area, toward where Eli sat on the deck...
Bailey goes right up into his lap, but Eli picks him up and sets him down on the deck. Sam's small smile fades away. Bailey tries again, but again, Eli picks him up and places on deck. Bailey heading for Sam.
SAM
It's like he senses it...
Eli eventually throws Sam a look, then back away. Bailey reaches Sam, who begins petting him.
SAM
It's why he climbed in your lap; he knew how you
were feeling.
ELI
(an annoyed look at Sam)
Just because it wants in my lap, it's psychic?
Bailey now climbing into her lap.
SAM
He did the same thing for me, just two long weeks ago.
I can't believe, it's only been two weeks...
Sam kind of zoning off, as Eli throws her another look, and then away...
SAM
Like you, I had a gun, and I wanted to use it, to end my
suffering. (Eli looking at her) Unlike you, I was all
alone... (Eli watching, waiting for more) I think, maybe...
I was going to do it...
ELI
You wanted to kill yourself?
SAM
(nodding)
It was hard to think about anything else. It all felt too
hard or too scary to think about. Ending it felt like...
an escape, and for some reason even thinking about
the rest of my family, wasn't any help.
ELI
What was?
SAM
The first step, was Bailey. He climbed in my lap, and
all I could think, was...about him being alone, if...(shrugging)...
It was like a first step toward wanting to survive, again.
Toward feeling again... Feeling anything...
Eli goes from looking at her, to again looking away...
He eventually speaks.
ELI
We need to bury my family...That can be my first step...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FISH'S GRAVESITE AREA - EARLY EVENING
POV travels over the different tombstones, coming to a new tiny one, with a small hole, as Eli now places a wrapped body, of his baby nephew, down into the hole.
POV from hole, up at Eli, as he begins shoveling dirt into it.
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli dirty and sweaty, as he digs a much deeper grave, Sam is helping...
Eli stops for a moment, looks dizzy. He catches breath, and goes back to it.
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli dragging Rhett's body toward gravesite...
DISSOLVE TO:
POV from grave, up at Eli, as he and Sam shovel dirt into Rhett's grave...
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli and Sam, again hard at work, digging another hole. Eli could not be any more sweaty or tired...
DISSOLVE TO: (LATE EVENING)
Tree house deck, where Sam stands with tears running down her face...
Eli begins dragging Amy out. He drags her to end of deck, and lets go...
ELI
I...I don't know what else to do other than...let her
drop down.
POV from ground, up at tree house, where Eli works hard to move Amy's body over the edge, as it drops right down onto POV.
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli (looking pale) now dragging Amy's body toward grave. He arrives and begins attempting to place her down into the grave, but suddenly becomes extremely dizzy, and works hard to avoid passing out, as he lets go of Amy, and falls to his knees, then to the ground...
SAM
ELI!
Sam runs to Eli's side. She comes down to him, but then quickly runs back toward tree house, and up ladder. She climbs to top, and runs into boys room, running right back out, with two bottles of water.
POV Eli, trying to get back up, but deciding against it. Sam arrives and dumps the first bottle over his head. She forces him to drink from the second.
SAM
(stopping him)
Small drinks! Take a drink then a breath, then another
drink...
Sam just watches him for a few moments...
SAM
You need to eat. I need to eat! It's getting dark, too.
We need to finish tomorrow. It's not safe down here.
ELI
I ain't scared of huffs...
CUT TO:
INT. TREE HOUSE (boys room) - NIGHT
Eli on his bed, biting into a granola bar. He begins demolishing it. He quickly opens a second one, and again is demolishing it as well, but this time stops, just before finishing, and holds it, while his stomach settles.
Sam is slowly eating one of her own, and watching Eli. He finishes his, goes for some water, and opens a third granola bar. Sam drinks some water. Eli eats a little slower now, and sits back, relaxed... They continue this a bit, in total silence...
He finishes and relaxes some more, even begins closing his eyes. Sam watches. Eli drifts. Sam walks over to him, reaches for a blanket, and covers him. She goes over to her own bed, and covers up. She watches him as long as she can, before drifting herself...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TREE HOUSE (boys room) - DAY (Sunny)
Rhett walking into the boys room, holding his baby boy, and smiling. He hands him over to Amy. Scott stands close by, smiling and looking down at the baby.
AMY
You want to hold him, Eli?
Amy a big smile for Eli, who begins walking over to her. She hands the baby over to him. He proudly walks over to the doorway, where he can see Sam out on deck, with Greg. He is showing her how to point a gun...
She fires it. The baby begins crying. Eli turns to hand it over to Amy, (it's dark outside now) but she is laying there dead, hole in her head. Her dad lays on the ground, next to her, with the same wound. Rhett is a huff, who kneels down to begin feasting on Amy...
Eli turns to run out of the room, where Greg is shot, and falling to his death. Sam is holding Bailey, and staring at Eli.
SAM
My family isn't coming.
The baby's cry's, turn to moans. Eli looks down at a baby huff, with giant teeth, coming right at him!
CUT TO: (still dark)
Eli waking in bed. He looks around, then to Sam. He then looks to the gun over on the table, next to the granola bars. He gets up and walks over to it. He grabs it and stares at it, before walking out of the room with it. He goes over toward ladder, and sits down, hanging his legs over the side. He just stares at the gun...
Eventually he looks outward, at the sound of what might be a huff. Sure enough, a huff is walking around over by the cabin. Eli whistles a few times, and the huff begins approaching. He rises and goes into boys room, and to Sam's side. He begins waking her.
ELI
Come on.
He grabs a flashlight and walks out of room. She just groggily watches for a second, but once he leaves room, she hops right out of bed, and follows. He grabs his bloody bat, and heads to ladder.
SAM
What are you doing?
He begins climbing down.
SAM
Eli?
She follows, but stops halfway, realizing there was a huff approaching. She looks at it, then to Eli (with a flashlight), already at bottom, looking up and waiting for her.
SAM
What do you need me for?
ELI
This one is all yours. I'll hold the light for you. (Sam just
staring at him) If I'm forced to live, because I'm too guilty
to leave you here by yourself, then the least you can do,
is learn how to not be scared of these things.
Sam keeps staring at him a second, before a look at the huff, and climbing down.
SAM
I don't want to do this...but you're reminding me of
Zane, right now.
She grabs the bat from him, with a look from him to the gun, in his hand...
SAM
You better not let me die...
Sam walks out toward the approaching huff, as Eli shines the light on him. She positions herself, as it gets close. Eli is just as close, and aiming gun directly at the huff. The huff is towering over Sam, as she is about to swing, but suddenly Eli fires and blows its head off. Sam jumps back, dropping the bat and covering her ears, as she watches the huff go down.
SAM
What the hell! (she pushes Eli) What the hell!
ELI
I...I don't know, it just...
Sam staring at him...
SAM
What?
ELI
It looked like he might get to you, if you didn't connect
hard enough. I panicked...and took the shot while I
still could.
Sam just staring at him...
SAM
You were worried about me?
ELI
I didn't want you to become a huff.
Eli turning and going back to ladder...
SAM
You care about something other than yourself, again...
Sam forming a small smile...
DISSOLVE TO:
Eli sitting in his bed, eating from a can of peanuts. Sam on her bed, eating from a package of crackers. They are quiet, until Sam eventually speaks...
SAM
How did I get in my bed last night?
Silence, as Eli isn't even sure what she's talking about...
ELI
What?
SAM
I can remember watching you, until I fell asleep on the
deck. How did I wake up from bed?
Silence until he eventually answers...
ELI
I didn't carry you there, if that's what you're asking...
Sam just looks at him, not believing him...
ELI
You were on the deck when I left the tree. You must of
woke and came in here without remembering.
SAM
No (shaking her head)...I don't do that. You carried me
in here.
Sam a small smile.
ELI
I did no such thing. All I wanted to do was die. It's all I
still want to do, but I'm stuck here taking care of you.
Sam's small smile, turning to a large frown...
DISSOLVE TO:
Sam crashed out asleep, in her bed, without any covers...
Eli is heard approaching from the bathroom. He enters, walking past her and to the table. He grabs a granola bar, and goes to his bed. He begins eating it, while looking over at Sam...
He finishes it, walks to table for a drink of water, and walks over to Sam, placing a blanket over her. He then goes over to his bed, climbs inside, and closes his eyes...
DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK (day 1)
INT. LEO'S HUMMER - DAY
Mason is now driving. Leo's face is full of dry tears, and remaining shock...
MASON
I really think we should report back to the others. They
should know how serious this is getting. I mean, coming
back to life?
LEO
I told you...they can't know about the camp...I'm trusting
you with that secret. We'll call later, after we get my
children safely in my arms.
MASON
I get having a camp of your own, and Dad always said we'd
build a new world outside the compound, if the world
started over. I just don't get the secrecy.
LEO
Because Dad isn't the law, there. It's not something
for him to know about, and that's something you need
to respect. I just lost half my family. Please allow me to
do what needs being done...
Mason a look at Leo, and back at the road, not sure what to think...
CUT TO :
EXT. ROCKAWAY BEACH - DAY
Birds eye POV of the ocean and beautiful sandy beach on one side of the highway, with lakes, brushy areas and homes, on the others side. Going down the road, the POV comes to people panicking, as they run away from something...
On a back road, two cars collide. Commotion is building...
Eventually, a female huff comes into POV, a pot belly older man is across road, aiming shotgun at it. He fires several shots, one of which nails her shoulder. She turns, it's the woman whose daughter was killed by the car. She gets shot in the chest, but begins crossing road toward man.
He turns and runs back toward his home, and wife at the door waiting for him. Two squad cars come skidding to a stop, on the highway. Officers begin opening fire on the huff. Several shots are fired, before a head shot takes her down...
POV back into full birds eye, and heading back down highway, toward town. There are less and less people. It comes to same corner where child was hit and killed. She is still in street (unable to move) with no one around. The SSH is across the street, and has what looks like a huge courtyard (all sand) in the middle.
As the POV drops lower, Leo's Hummer is seen speeding down highway, and quickly turning at corner of accident scene. Hummer slams to a skidding stop, as it makes the turn. Leo comes running out passenger side, right toward the disabled huff. He stops several feet in front of her. Mason joins him...
MASON
My god...it's all true.
Leo backing up, and running across railroad track, and up the hill into parking lot of hotel. Mason gets back in hummer, and drives up. As POV follows them, and Leo heads toward a side door, you can see the courtyard has a baseball diamond shape to it, and stadium bleachers in certain areas, along with a restaurant and personal decks/balconies. Most of the hotel was surrounding the huge courtyard, along with a large pier, that went out into the ocean.
POV drops down into that courtyard. You can see the leftfield homerun fence is a part of the hotel, with room balconies, facing the field. In center field, is a view of the ocean and the Twin Rocks (from series opening scene), that lay out in the water. Rightfield was a sand wall, with a beachy area above, where people could lay and watch, with the actual beach on the other side. It was a wiffleball stadium.
Leo comes running out a door, into the stadium area. He looks all around...
MASON
(off-screen)
LEO!
Leo turns and runs to Mason. He finds him in the main offices, and comes to a slow. Mason is on the ground, near Mary, who is still alive. Leo runs to her, and kneels down. She looks near death. Mason rises, and backs off. He looks around at all the other bodies, and leaves the room.
MARY
You have to kill their brain...it's the only way.
LEO
What?
MARY
(faintly)
I did everything you taught me. You would have been proud.
But like you always warned...god threw a curveball. (she smiles)
I swung my hardest...I missed.
LEO
(crying)
I failed you my dear, Mary.
Mary smiles...
MARY
(faintly)
Your father failed me...as he failed you. You are the
future of this family.
LEO
It was supposed to be the two of us. You at my side. The
brains of it all. (more emotional) The beauty of my life.
The one who kept me calm. The one...
Mary closes her eyes, and goes...
Leo drops his head on her, and weeps...
Mason in hallway, hanging his head, and walking away...
Leo still weeping as he rises, and stumbles around corner of desk, over to Troy and Angela's bodies. Just the sight of their bodies, cause his sobbing to increase. He drops to his knees, in front of them both. He looks upward, and screams as loud as he can, in complete agony...
Mason is down the hall, closing his eyes, at the sound of Leo screaming...
DISSOLVE TO:
Mason helping Leo outside the hotel, where he's in major need of fresh air, looking pale and faint...
Mason is looking all around...
MASON
I don't see Jagger's car. He and Kate must already be
at your camp.
Leo heading for the hummer, climbing inside passenger side, as Mason goes for drivers side...
POV goes into birds eye, as Mason pulls the hummer out of parking lot. POV follows them a ways, as they come to the dead huff and squad cars, on the highway. They work their way around them, and continue on...
DISSOLVE TO: (EVENING)
Leo's hummer pulling off highway, onto back road, and moving quickly. The road eventually becomes gravel/grass. They turn a corner and come to several trucks, blocking the road, along with a half dozen men, with shotguns. Mason rolls down window, as Leo carefully readies his handgun...
MASON
Any particular reason you're blocking this road?
Man (BILL) approaching (with shotgun), as his buddies all stand by...
BILL
It's been a popular road today. Guessing it has everything
to do with whatever's going (motioning toward highway)
on out there. Everyone's retreating and literally running
for the hills.
LEO
And your problem with that would be?
Bill looking inside at Leo, before motioning back toward his houses/property.
BILL
That's my land, right there. I have the right to protect
my home.
LEO
And just how exactly are you protecting it, by preventing
my people and I from using this road, to get to my land?
BILL
Must be over fifty people up there, already. We have to
survive here. We can't risk being overrun by a bunch of
inexperienced campers, who won't survive a week up
there, before ravishing our land. You need to find
somewhere else to try and survive. This spot is taken.
Leo instantly climbing out, and rounding corner of hummer. Bill and his men become anxious, and for good reason, as Leo turns corner aiming gun, right at Bill. Everyone (except Bill) raises their shotguns, at Leo. Bill holds his hand up, at his men...
LEO
I lost my wife, my son, my daughter in law, and my future
grandson. Just now! So, all I care about, at present
moment, is reaching my other children, who happen to be
up that road! As for my patience in getting there, well, I
must have left that on the ground, next to MY DEAD WIFE!
Silence a moment...
BILL
Everyone take your guns off this man...and put them on
his friend.
Leo a glaring look into Bill's eyes (still pointing gun at him), as his men take aim at Mason, and Bill stares back...
BILL
It's obvious you don't care what happens to yourself, so...
(shrugging) It's also obvious that you're a dangerous man.
Whatever's going on (motioning toward highway) out there,
is probably due to dangerous men, like you...
Leo rolling eyes, and heading back around corner of hummer, while annoyingly throwing hands in air.
LEO
He's coco puffs! Absolutely freaking coco puffs!
Leo climbing into passenger side, standing in/on doorway, poking head over top of hummer.
LEO
If fifty men is what you've already seen come up this
road, so far, just imagine how many more are yet to
arrive. I'll take your fifty and raise you a hundred and fifty!
Mason begins backing up, Leo remains standing from passenger side.
LEO
We're gonna go get some milk, now...
Mason turning hummer around, as Leo climbs in, shutting door, with head out window.
LEO
Can't finish off coco puffs without milk...
Hummer leaving the scene, as Bill's men all share some questionable looks, amongst themselves...
Same POV of them all, but from Mason's rearview mirror, as he drives away, around corner.
MASON
(just shaking head)
I don't know where to even start (Leo dials and puts
phone to ear)... I'm trying to cut you some slack and watch
what I say, but I have a family too, Leo. Your actions back
there almost prevented me from ever seeing them again!
That happens again, and I'm going to forget really quick,
what happened to you today.
Leo frustrated, with no answer, on phone. He dials another number.
MASON
And what the hell do you have going on up there,
anyway?
Leo waiting to respond.
LEO
(into phone)
Come on, Zane, pick up!
No answer, Leo hangs up...
LEO
First of all, what the hell do you mean, what do I have
going on up there? I have my kids going on up there!
I can't even begin to think straight until I know they're
safe. Secondly, why do you think I gave up so easily? I
didn't play with your life, I walked away. Mr. Coco Puffs
knew I would. I didn't even have the chance to prove I
had land up there, which I sure as hell should not have
had to, any damn way! Here, pull over here, and stop.
Leo back on phone.
MASON
You forced that guy to stay aggressive. If you had given
me the opportunity to speak, I would have remained calm
enough to reason with the man.
LEO
(speaking into phone)
Hey, are you by any chance there yet?... Thank god! And
my son, Jagger, and daughter, Kate? Did they arrive?... No?
Shit! You're positive?...(expressing extreme frustration)
Alright, I'll call you back.
Leo just thinking...
MASON
We didn't check the hotel. They could still be there...
Leo just thinking...
LEO
Yeah...but we gotta fix this situation, first.
MASON
(in shock)
Are you kidding me?
LEO
They could still show up, here. Katie didn't have her
phone earlier, and Jagger isn't answering his. I need
this to be a safe place for them, if they show up.
Leo back on phone...
CUT TO:
EXT. BILL'S BLOCKADE - DAY
Bill and his men still in road, with shotguns.
GUY (PETE)
Look, I get it, I was with ya at first, but these aren't just a
bunch of random scared people. They have guns, they
have numbers, and they seem more organized than we are.
GUY (JORDAN)
I agree. If those really are his people up there, and they
have guns of their own (shrugging)...
BILL
They can't all be his people; there's nothing up there!
PETE
He's driving a two-hundred and fifty thousand dollar, vehicle.
He's not just some overly paranoid wannabe survivalist, like yourself!
Pete walks away, over to one of the trucks.
RANDOM MAN
Pete?
Pete climbs in truck, and drives away...
DISSOLVE TO:
Pete's truck coming to a stop, where Leo's hummer blocks the road. He climbs out...
DISSOLVE TO:
Bill and Jordan arguing, as another man parks his vehicle, where Pete had been parked.
BILL
You can follow Pete. You can go out there, where dead
people are taking over the world, and take your chances.
We need good men here, but you can do what you need
to do.
Suddenly, the hummer comes driving around corner, followed by Pete's truck, and pulling up sideways, in the road, next to the blockade. Leo and Mason, hop out of passenger side, and take cover, Pete does the same. Bill and his men take cover, behind their trucks.
LEO
Ooooohh, are you assholes ever screwed now... I've
got a onetime offer, to help you with that, though.
Throw down your guns, and either go home, or join my
people, or...you're just back to being screwed again.
Suddenly, more cars can be heard, coming down the road. Bill and his men nervously turn around, to look. They then look for some sort of cover, as about ten vehicles come speeding up, and stopping several yards away.
Men with guns are in the back of the trucks, with about forty people now aiming guns at Bill and his men, who begin to lower theirs…
Leo and Mason, approaching from hummer. Pete following from behind them.
LEO
God I really wanna be enjoying this moment...but I'm
too busy grieving.
He walks through the trucks, right to Bill...
LEO
And way too (staring right into Bill's eyes) determined to
reach my children.
Leo looks back at the other men.
LEO
Are any of you, family with this man? (looking back at Bill)
Or are you all just league bowling buddies or some shit?
PETE
His wife is up at the house.
LEO
Someone married this piece of shit? No kids though, eh?
I like it.
BILL
My son died overseas, eight years ago, serving his country.
LEO
To get away from you, I imagine. And I guess you expect
some sympathy over that, do ya? Yet none was shown for
me after all of my loss, today. All I wanted was up that
road, to my children, who I now know aren't even there,
yet here I am, having to deal with you, in case they do
show up. You just had to be the tough guy. Now you get
to be the (off-screen, he jabs Bill with knife, in stomach)
dead guy. (looking in his eyes, and twisting knife) No
place in this new world, for an ignorant piece of shit, like you.
Leo pushes knife in deeper, and lets Bill drop to the ground. He turns and faces Bill's other men, as one of Leo's men (a big guy, Anthony, 30ish, Mexican), steps up next to him...
LEO
If any of you have a problem with what I just did, stay
here or hit the road; you're free to go. For those of you
okay with it, and this really is the start of a new world,
(placing hand on Anthony) then I'd like to introduce you
to your camp leader, Anthony, (motioning toward a
different guy) and his number two, Dylan. I myself will be
residing at a different camp, for now. Any family you
have here, (motioning toward Bill) including this man's
wife, is also welcome. You will earn your keep. This is
not vacation, it's life...life...that has all new meaning
today, doesn't it? According to my sources, and from
what I've seen with my own eyes, the dead are coming
back, in a dangerous, demon like manner.
ONE OF LEO'S MEN
It's true, I've seen it, too!
DIFFERENT GUY
Me too.
LEO
So none of us are going anywhere, until (motioning to
Bill) this dead SOB, does just that. A firsthand look at
the new enemy.
MASON
A word, Leo?
LEO
Everyone gather around the dead guy. Just don't get
too close.
Leo walking off a ways, with Mason...
MASON
As curious as I am to witness this coming back to life
nightmare, along with your so called "camp", I need to
get back to my family, before it's too hard to get back.
And what about Kate and Jagger?
LEO
They should be safe at the hotel, with Zane, or even
already on their way back to the compound, with him.
Mason shaking head...
MASON
Zane didn't go to the hotel. After the compound he, Scout
and Dakota, all went for Fish and Samantha. I called them
back at the hotel.
LEO
(pissed)
Why does that not surprise me? (shaking head) God damn
it, Zane! Aright...give me a sec.
Leo walking over to Anthony and Dylan...
LEO
Anthony, a word? Dylan, if he comes back, it takes a
shot to the brain, to take em' down. Don't let anyone get bit.
Walking off with Anthony...
ANTHONY
Again, Leo, I'm so, so sorry about your family. Anything I
can do, just ask.
LEO
Thanks. I didn't know pain like this was possible.
At first, I thought I'd no longer give a damn about the camp,
the compound, any of it... But then...what kind of a
leader would that make of me? Especially on a day like
this. (shaking head) But for now, my friend, I can't even
stick around to watch that dead piece of shit, come back.
I have to go find my kids.
ANTHONY
I'll have the men begin driving South, checking all the
back roads, in case they're on foot. If they show up here,
they'll be well taken care of.
LEO
Thank you, Anthony. (shaking his head) Whatever this is,
it's happening just a few years too early. So much still to
do, up there. Even at the compound. We only have about ten percent
of the artillery we would have had, a decade from now. (looking
at Anthony) No telling when I'll be back. Put up as many of those
yurts as you can. Keep bringing in more people, as many as you
come across. Be severe with the ones who cause you problems,
but be more than fair with those who play fair, themselves. .
ANTHONY
Yes sir...
POV cuts to Mason, on phone.
MASON
(into phone)
Off his meds and completely unsteady...
POV cuts back to Leo...
LEO
Any word from your guy?
ANTHONY
Yeah, but everything there is still running as normal.
LEO
That'll soon change. (walking toward Mason)
Leo reaches Mason, who is on phone, and now handing it to Leo.
MASON
It's Dad.
Leo walks right by, without grabbing phone, and speaks to all the guys, while on his way to the hummer.
LEO
When that guy comes back to life, just remember it's
not really him. When he rises to his feet, do not let him
bite or attack, anyone. Put a bullet in his head, it's the
only way to take them down. Remember that, live by
that. Survive up there...I hope to see you all soon.
A subtle applause from his men. The ones close enough, pat Leo as he walks by.
MAN
Good luck, Leo!
Leo climbs into front seat of hummer. Mason (off phone) begins walking toward passenger side, looking back toward the crowd and the body on the ground. He climbs in, as Leo starts engine.
MASON
Scout called Dad, and said they turned around. Should
be at the hotel within the hour.
LEO
If I don't find those kids, I may just shoot my other two.
Mason simply staring at Leo, who stares out his window (as he's turning the vehicle around), as the dead guy begins to rise, and everyone reacts with shock/excitement. Leo straightens out vehicle, driving away, as a single shot is fired...
CUT TO:
EXT. SSH - DUSK
Hummer heading toward hotel.
LEO
Is your phone working?
MASON
Shit...not at all.
Leo approaching corner, where the girl was hit and killed, as he looks toward her body, still in street. He turns up into SSH parking lot...
LEO
Her car's still here. She's got to be with Jagger, but where?
Leo parks, as they climb out and walk toward side of hotel.
MASON
I know you told Kate to go to your camp, but maybe once she
found Jagger, he insisted on going back to the compound?
LEO
We're talking about Kate and Jagger, not Zane and Dakota...
They actually do as their father says.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SSH HALLWAY - EVENING
Leo unlocks hotel room door, and disappears into room, from one side of the hallway, as Mason does the same from the other side. Several moments later, they return to the hall, and do the same thing in the next rooms over.
Several moments later, they again repeat the process. This time POV enters with Leo, who runs into back room, and glances through bathroom, before going back into hallway.
MASON
Leo...
Leo nervously stops, and looks toward room that Mason is in. He walks inside, finding Mason at window, staring outward. Leo walks over and looks...
POV of crashed helicopter, on the beach. Leo and Mason look from the window, to each other...
MASON
Did Mary tell you (cutoff)
LEO
No.
Leo instantly turning and exiting the room...
DISSOLVE TO:
Quiet empty hotel room...sound at door, of it being unlocked. Leo walks in and looks all around, before leaving...
DISSOLVE TO:
Another hotel room, but this one not so quiet, as POV comes from someone inside, staring at the door. Sound of a child quietly crying, and another quietly hushing her. Door opens, and Mason enters, stopping and staring straight ahead...
MASON
Leo...
Leo nervously enters room, stopping and looking straight ahead. His POV of Melvin's three kids, and little Trisha, who is waking up with dried tears on her face, and new ones, already developing.
GRIFFEY
Where's our grandpa?
Leo looks away, and flashes to the image of the dead man (Melvin), who laid next to his wife. Leo (coming out of flash) looks back at the kids, before turning and exiting the room. He walks into hallway, breathing heavily, and about to freak out, scream or even pass out. He's looking everywhere, yet nowhere...
LEO
(yelling)
KATIEEEEE! (weeps out second half of next name)
JAGgerrrr...
Leo puts head against wall, banging it with his hand, as he weeps in agony. Mason stands at the door, watching, then turns towards children, who are all crying, themselves...
CUT TO:
INT: SSH GAME ROOM - NIGHT
POV traveling through huge game room, where all walls are painted pictures of Leo, his siblings and their families, playing wiffleball on the beach. Some old, and some more recent. There is a long panoramic window, with a view of the wiffleball courtyard/stadium.
There is a backroom that looks like a bar, also with a panoramic window and painted walls of the past. There are also tons of framed random championship teams, from tournaments hosted there at the SSH.
POV comes to a framed photo, reading 2010 Sand Series Champs. It zooms in to see Fish, Greg, Zane, Troy, Jagger, Miles, Wyatt, Chasin and three other unknowns...
Mason eventually enters the game room, with the children.
MASON
See what I told you. Ping pong, air hockey, pool, board games,
video games. You guys can do it all. But I have to leave you
here, until I go find my niece and nephew. You guys sure you
haven't seen them?
Mason shows them a picture, of them on his phone. They nervously shake their heads...
DISSOLVE TO:
Leo standing over Jagger's blood stain in the hallway, as Mason comes from behind him, taking notice of the blood stain. Leo simply begins shaking his head...
LEO
I don't even know what to make of this? I have no idea
what happened in the office, with the helicopter, or
where the hell any of my other children are, or why
they're doing the exact opposite of what I ask. I know
nothing! Nothing makes sense! (freaking out and
screaming down the hall) AHHHHHH!
DISSOLVE TO:
Leo standing in lobby, as Mason returns from a long corridor...
MASON
The cafe and the pool are clear. They're not here.
Suddenly, Griffey is heard screaming for help, as Mason and Leo instantly dash off his direction, but Mason freezes, as something the opposite direction catches his attention. He instantly turns and races off that direction, as Leo continues toward the screaming of Griffey.
POV cuts to Griffey, at top of basement steps (leading to game room) with Trisha (crying), as Leo (gun in hand) come running to them.
LEO
What is it!
GRIFFEY
My brother and sister! Help them!
Leo races down the steps for the game room, where he stops at the door, staring ahead...
His POV of a huff, eating the little girl. He slowly approaches, as the huff looks up. It's Kate. She's been bitten in the shoulder, and once she rises, you can see half of her stomach had been eaten...
She begins walking toward Leo. His face is already filling with tears, as he drops to his knees. He weeps, as she approaches him...
LEO
Katie...
She arrives to him, as he halfheartedly pushes her away. She comes at him more aggressively. He stands, and pushes her to the ground. Over on other side of a pool table, Jagger (a huff) rises, from where he'd been eating Griffey's little brother...
Kate rises, as Jagger turns corner of pool table, right behind her and heading for Leo, who simply stands there in shock. He's shaking, as he gradually lifts and aims his gun. Kate opens wide, and is inches from his flesh, before he finally blows her head off.
POV Zane, Dakota and Mason, rushing to the scene, stopping and in shock, at the sight of Jagger, as Leo holds him by his throat, looking right at him...
LEO
I love you, son.
Leo blows his head off...
He stands there in shock, staring down at his body, then to Kate's...
ZANE
Dad...
Leo freezes a moment, before slowly turning, to face Zane...
He slowly begins walking right toward him, suddenly raising his gun, and holding it directly against Zane's head.
DAKOTA
Dad!
MASON
Leo!
Leo shaking, covered in blood and sweat. Zane just stares back at him, with tears. Dakota gets right up in there.
DAKOTA
Put it down, Dad! (She puts her gun to Leo's head) Put it
down, RIGHT NOW!
MASON
You guys!
Leo looks from Zane to Dakota, then back to Zane. He begins to weep. He slowly puts down arm, dropping gun to the ground. He weeps while looking right at Zane, then instantly wraps him up tightly, in a bear hug, as he cries out in agony...
Dakota drops her gun arm, and begins crying as she watches them, and looks to the ground at her dead siblings. Mason devolving tears of his own. Zane not holding Leo as tight, but face full of tears...
DISSOLVE TO: PRESENT TIME
INT. TREE HOUSE (boys room) - NIGHT
The room is dark with the sound of Sam sleeping. Headlights suddenly come though the room (revealing that Eli is laying there wide awake) as Eli sits up, and looks over at Sam.
ELI
Sam...Sam!
Sam slowly opens eyes, she can hear the sound of the car, and instantly hops out of bed. Eli remains in bed, as she goes to window, looking out. Her POV of one car. No one is getting out...
ELI
(off-screen)
Is it them?
The car begins turning around, and leaving...
SAM
No.
Sam disappointedly heading back and into her bed...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BOYS ROOM - DAWN
Sam sleeping in her bed. Eli wide awake in his. Bailey in his lap. Eli is staring at him, but not petting...
Sam begins waking. She looks over at Eli, and Bailey. She continues laying there, watching them...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TREE HOUSE DECK - DAY
Bailey in Eli's lap, Sam gloomily sitting by the ladder, just staring toward the driveway. Tears develop in her eyes...
SAM
(speaking quietly)
Where are you guys? What happened to you? You were
here. Why aren't you coming back?
Suddenly, a sound comes from the brush, as she turns to look. Eli halfheartedly takes his own look. More sounds are heard. Sam rises. Eli does not, but Bailey runs and climbs up tree.
VOICE
(off-screen, from brush)
All-star?
Eli's eyes go wide, and he quickly rises, going over to Sam, and looking toward brush.
ELI
DJ?
Slowly a young girl walks out of brush, right behind her, is her brother, DJ. He's looking up toward Eli, with a smile...
Eli instantly begins zipping down ladder, and running to DJ.
ELI
(just looking at him)
I can't believe it!
Now simply lunging forward, and embracing him. Sam at bottom of ladder, watching. She forms a small smile...
BLACK
CREDITS
THE END