INT. MOUNT WEATHER – LAB

Sharon sits in the corner of the room, her hands over her face. She looks up and studies the creature strapped to the table. It MOANS.

She walks to the lab door and presses her ear against it. There's no sound. from the other side and she slides the bolt back and opens the door.

The hall is empty.

She creeps to the corner adjoining the main street area of the complex. Rich Cowen still lies in the middle of the underground street.

Around the corner she walks right into a zombie SOLDIER, who reaches for her. She stumbles away and notices that the area is over-run with the dead who howl in unison. They turn enmasse and move in her direction.

She backs away and runs down the hall to the lab. From the doorway she watches them approach with stiff, ungraceful steps. Another creature turns the corner ... it’s Brownlow! Sharon locks the door behind her.

Sharon scans the room. She dumps a drawer’s contents to the floor, looking for some kind of a weapon. She finds a knife, then drops it, realizing its uselessness.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD – DAY

A sign reads: SKYVIEW SCHOOL FOR BOYS in front of an old Victorian house.

Peterson feels as though he’s being watched. His eyes dart from side to side. He stops, frozen in place. A scruffy TEEN (EDDIE) with a rifle trained on him jumps in his path. More BOYS are hidden in the woods along the road, only now visible.

                     EDDIE

           Say something or I’ll blow your brains out.

                     PETERSON

It’s okay, son. I am a man of God.

There is no need for your weapons.

The other Boys move in, all in their late teens.

                     EDDIE

God is dead. He must be. The devil

has control of things now.

Eddie reaffirms his aim ... takes a step closer.

                     PETERSON

No, young man, that’s not true.

God has spoken to me and told me

of what will pass. Are you from

the school?

     EDDIE

There is no school. Not anymore.

It’s just a place now. Our place.

     PETERSON

I am Father Peterson. Where are

your teachers? Are they still

at the school?

     EDDIE

No, they’re gone. They’re all gone.

     PETERSON

Where did they go?

     EDDIE

Some left, some are dead.

     PETERSON

I’m sorry. God has been watching

over you for you to survive this

long. He sent me here to help you.

     EDDIE

There is no GOD.

     PETERSON

I can assure you there is. I was

told to come here and make

you strong, to lead you into a

new world. I can do that, you

know.

     EDDIE

What’s happening?

     PETERSON

It’s the end of the world. The

end for all of them, the

beginning for us.

INT. MOUNT WEATHER LAB

Sharon Darney sits in a chair at her desk and speaks into a hand-held tape recorder.

                     SHARON

           October third… I must attempt

an escape. The Mount Weather

facility has been over-run by

the reanimates. If something

happens to me, hopefully someone

will find this and maybe it will

help them in their research.

It is definitely a virus, origin

unknown. It appeared out of

nowhere three weeks ago. I believe

it to be man-made, though no

government has claimed responsibility.

The virus itself only affects the

body after death. Somehow it

reactivates the brain of the

diseased, which in turn motorizes

body movement. This virus has spread

to all human life.

Once reanimated, they are seemingly

driven by instinct to feed on the

living. Their bite is infectious.

Like a of the Komodo Dragon, their

mouths are a breeding ground

for bacteria and filth. There

is no known cure and death

occurs in only a matter of days. 

Destroying the brain stops them.

The brain is key, which leads me to

wonder why anyone here reanimated at

all.

Sharon lays the recorder on the desk at watches the creature that is strapped to the table. It moans pitifully.

INT. RESCUE STATION - LARGE ROOM – DAY

The room is cramped with unkempt survivors. Sweat and Kerosene fumes fill the air of the makeshift sanctuary. Mick stands at the front and asks for their attention. Amanda stands with Felicia near the back.

MICK

I’ve got some news for you if I

can get your attention.

The room quiets.

                     MICK

           In the morning a few of us will be

           Going out to the prison to check into

           The possibility of making a move

           there. We thought the situation would

           be dealt with much quicker and this

place would only be temporary. Things

have gotten out of hand and that is

obviously not the case. Martial law

is in effect in all major U.S. cities.

We are on our own for now.

Mayor Woods steps forward.

                     WOODS

           And how do you plan to get us all to

           The prison? …On your backs?

                     MICK

           We will use buses from the schools.

                     WOODS

           Sounds like another hellhole to me.

           There’s got to be a better place.

                     AMANDA

                (walking away)

           I’ve seen enough of this.

                     FELICIA

           Where are you going?

                     AMANDA

           For a walk and a bath.

Jim notices her as she makes her way for an exit.

                     MICK

           It will be secure. The fences around

          the prison will offer us the protection

we need…

INT. RESCUE STATION - CONTINUOUS

Amanda ventures down the steps and into the basement of the shelter, where it is dark. She feels her way to the door, a crack of light showing her where it is. She opens it and the room floods with light.

EXT. RESCUE SHELTER

Amanda hurries down a path to the river, mindful of her surroundings. She finds a secluded spot and lays her rifle on the riverbank and sheds her clothes down to black panties. She wades into the water, lets it run over her body, bobs up and down like a child.

She submerges once and reappears, slicking wet hair away from her face. She goes under again, relishing the cleansing experience. When she surfaces, a GHOUL stands at the river’s edge, its arms beckoning, moaning pitifully. Amanda eyes her rifle, out of reach and makes a dash for it.

The ghoul advances and meets her just as she grabs the weapon. A struggle ensues and the rifle is wedged between her and the rotting corpse.

Amanda fights until the rifle is freed and the ghoul staggers back. It gives her the time to shoot it in the head.

Another GHOUL appears from the trees, dragging a mangled leg. Amanda takes aim again, but the weapon is empty. She flips it around so she is holding the barrel end and crushes its skull. The creature falls dead.

The bushes thrash and Jim Workman appears. He sees the two ghouls on the ground.

                     JIM

           You okay?

                     AMANDA

           I think so.

She realizes her nakedness and attempts to cover her glistening, erect breasts. She points at her clothes while trying to cover them.

                     AMANDA

           I’m okay. Would you ...?

                     JIM

           Oh, of course. (tosses clothes

           to her) I didn’t mean to walk

           up on you like that but it looked

           like you could use some help.

     AMANDA

I feel like a fool. I’m such

an idiot.

     JIM

It looked like a pretty good

idea to me.

A MAN appears from the tree line and Jim whips around, weapon ready. He relaxes when he sees it is one of the Guards.

                     GUARD

           You all right?

                     AMANDA

                (annoyed that she’s half naked

and drawing a crowd)

           Jesus!

                     JIM

                (to guard)

Everything’s fine.

(to Amanda)

Next time, let me know when you

want to come down here. I’ll

come along. Don’t worry,

I’ll turn my head.

The Guard pushes the Creatures into the water and watches them float away. The water turns red as the bullet hole releases blood and brain matter. A school of minnows gathers around the carcass to feast on its offerings.

                     AMANDA

                (wanting them to turn around

so she can get dressed)

           Would you?…

The guard shades his eyes and leaves.

Jim grins and turns. Steals a peek from the corner of his eye.

INT. RESCUE STATION – EARLY MORNING

Amanda awakes next to Felicia. A young, fair-haired GIRL is curled tightly against Felicia now, Felicia’s arm protectively around her. Amanda brushes a wisp of silky hair from the little girl’s face. She looks to be about seven years old.

The unfamiliar touch sets off an internal alarm. The Child gasps and her eyes spring open in terror. The sudden movement brings Felicia to a state of semi-wakefulness. Instinctively, she wraps an arm around the child.

                     FELICIA

           What’s wrong?

                     AMANDA

           Nothing. It seems you have

           another new friend ... Breakfast

           time. If you sleepy-heads want

           something to eat, you’d better

           get up.

Felicia lowers the blanket and sits against the wall. The little girl mimics her actions exactly.

                     FELICIA

           What’s your name, sweetheart?

The child looks Felicia in the eyes but says nothing. She touches Felicia’s long blond hair. They smile as though volumes of spoken communiqué have taken place. The sight is a bit unsettling to Amanda.

                     FELICIA

           What are they having?

                     AMANDA

           It looks like oatmeal.

They watch survivors shove handfuls of oatmeal into their mouths. Some stand, others sit on the floor, a scene that mirrors the actions of the living dead. Almost trance-like, they fill their stomachs, oblivious to their surroundings.

                     FELICIA

           I think I’ll wait a bit.

Felicia looks at the child.

                     FELICIA

           How ‘bout you, Isabelle? Want

           some oatmeal?

Isabelle wrinkles her nose.

                     AMANDA

It looks like it’s the only

thing on the menu, so we’d

better learn to like it.

Amanda pulls them to their feet and leads the way to the food line. Amanda turns to Felicia and nods to the child.

                     AMANDA

           Do you know her?

                     FELICIA

           No. Never seen her before in my

life

                     AMANDA

           Then how do you know her name

           is Isabelle?

                     FELICIA

           It was Grammy’s name. It sounded

as good as anything.

Bewildered, Amanda wrinkles her brow.

INT. RESCUE STATION -CONTINUOUS

Chuck is asleep on the floor, a thin blanket wrapped around him. Jim nudges him in the side with the toe of his boot. Chuck rolls over and GROANS, pulling the blanket up higher.

Jim lets him have it again, this time a bit harder. Chuck throws the blanket away with a jerk, growling and ready to pounce, until he sees Jim standing over him with a crooked grin and two cups of coffee.

                     CHUCK

           What time is it?

                     JIM

Seven o’clock. You’re gonna

sleep half the morning away.

We’ve got a lot of work to do.

Jim hands him one of the cups.

                     CHUCK

           I like mine with cream and sugar.

                     JIM

                (walks away)

Better without it. Now come on,

we need to get going. We’re

burning daylight.

Chuck takes a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and grimaces upon seeing only one left.