INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Jamie blearily navigates downstairs, to the distant sounds
and smells of something clattering in the kitchen. He rubs
his eyes with a fist.
JAMIE
Huh.
Daniel glances back at him, grunts in acknowledgement, then
quickly returns to chopping.
JAMIE
(groggy)
What are you making?
DANIEL
food.
JAMIE
Neat.
He lurches through the kitchen in search of something to
eat. There's a healthy amount - fruits, vegetables, boxes of
cereal, a half-full jug of milk. Jamie sets out a bowl. It
clatters.
DANIEL
(sharp)
ain't ready yet.
Utterly baffled, but too tired to question him, Jamie slowly
returns the bowl to the cabinet.
He sits on the couch and zones out until Daniel stiffly
extends a plate to him, some indeterminable amount of time
later. It's a pile of scrambled eggs and sausage and cheese,
glistening on top of a tortilla. Open-faced.
JAMIE
...What is this?
DANIEL
breakfast. burrito.
Jamie blinks at him. Something about it has shocked him into
consciousness at last. His expression hardens, recalling
last night's argument.
JAMIE
(chilly)
I can tell it's a burrito.
DANIEL
just. y'know. need your-- we gotta.
keep our strength up.
JAMIE
Yeah, well. I can feed myself.
Daniel stands there silently, unsure of what to say. Jamie
pokes at it with a fork.
JAMIE
What's with the, uh, open-faced
concept? On this one?
DANIEL
(abashed)
didn't know how to fold it.
Jamie lets out a stifled snort of laughter. Then he
demonstrates, with the artful technique of a man who has
worked way too long at Chipotle.
He takes a very big, very awkward bite, chewing
uncomfortably. Daniel picks at his own slop; the burrito is
folded like shit and partially torn.
JAMIE
(mouth full)
Did you sleep at all?
Daniel shrugs.
DANIEL
fine.
JAMIE
You're just-- you're up early.
DANIEL
yep.
A beat goes on a moment too long.
JAMIE
The bed's comfortable.
DANIEL
that's. good.
JAMIE
(staring at his food)
Didn't really-- I don't know how I
feel about-- Sleeping. In someone
else's bed.
DANIEL
could wash the sheets.
JAMIE
(after a quick,
hysterical laugh)
That is *not* what I meant.
DANIEL
(chewing)
...ain't home, that's for sure.
Jamie grunts in affirmation, then stands up, abandoning his
breakfast.
JAMIE
I'm gonna take a look around. Take
stock.
He pokes around the kitchen while Daniel largely ignores
him. It's as well-stocked with amenities as any other
suburban home. Even the fridge is loaded up with food...
among other things.
Jamie opens the crisper and gags.
JAMIE
Don't tell me we ate out of this
fucking thing, Daniel.
DANIEL
huh?
JAMIE
There's bugs in here!
Daniel peers over his shoulder, remarkably unfazed.
DANIEL
how 'bout that.
Jamie gingerly lifts up a sluggish, dirt-covered worm
between two fingers.
DANIEL
it's bait.
JAMIE
I don't care what it is, we are NOT
keeping them in here!
DANIEL
(smugly, arms folded)
you ain't keen on bugs?
JAMIE
They're fine! *Outside!*
DANIEL
never ate a cricket or nothin'?
Jamie's head whips around, mouth agape.
JAMIE
NO?
DANIEL
not even on a dare?
JAMIE
(emphatically)
No!
DANIEL
ain't that bad. these ones ain't
even wigglin'.
JAMIE
(laughing incredulously)
You're insane! *You* eat them!
DANIEL
(perplexed)
why?
JAMIE
Since you like them so much!
DANIEL
just sayin'. that they ain't that
bad. not sayin' i'm gonna.
Jamie pulls all the containers of bugs out of the fridge and
sets them on the counter.
DANIEL
you eat 'em.
JAMIE
Executive decision: no one is
eating any fucking worms today!
EXT. HOME BASE - DAY
The grave sits in plain sight as soon as Jamie exits the
house. It gives him pause, but he quickly sets his jaw and
starts dumping out piles of worms on the grass.
Daniel creeps out behind him, quiet as a whisper, and
disappears.
A University of Kentucky baseball cap staked in the ground
serves as the grave's only marker. Jamie can't help but
approach it, his expression perturbed. Daniel wears a
similar one, after all... there's a path that ends just like
this, with Jamie hammering his stupid hat into the dirt, the
only reminder that this poor mountain boy ever lived or
died.
Jamie's fist clenches, his face just out of frame. Then it
loosens.
JAMIE
(calling out)
Hey, Daniel?
No response.
JAMIE
...Daniel?
Suddenly, the distinct sound of an engine roaring to life
splits the air. Jamie turns just in time to watch Daniel
peel out of the driveway. The soft, concerned expression on
his face rapidly hardens.
JAMIE
(muttering)
Oh, sure, just take off without me.
He storms back inside.
EXT. HOME BASE - EVENING
The camera remains in place as the sun slowly sets, offering
glimpses of Jamie rummaging and tantruming through the gaps
in the curtains. Eventually, Daniel's van returns to the
same spot in the driveway.
When he enters the back door, Jamie can be faintly heard
from outside.
JAMIE
(loudly)
Hey! Where *were* you?
INT. KITCHEN
The interior of the house has been rearranged in Daniel's
absence, and not entirely for the better - entire drawers
and cabinets lie upended, where Jamie's made a half-hearted
attempt at cataloging and organizing.
Jamie himself stands in the middle of the kitchen, a piece
of notebook paper in hand. He's red-faced and sweaty, hair
coming loose from his ponytail. And he is very, very angry.
DANIEL
out.
JAMIE
(passive-aggressive)
Thanks for keeping me posted!
DANIEL
i was around.
JAMIE
Well, while you were *around*, I
went through the house. Took stock.
Made a list.
He gestures with the paper for emphasis. Daniel grunts.
JAMIE
Organized.
DANIEL
(disinterested)
uh-huh.
Daniel slings his duffel bag off his shoulders and pulls out
his haul: a propane torch. Jamie raises his eyebrows, then
dutifully adds "torch" to his list.
JAMIE
Should I ask where you got that?
DANIEL
prob'ly not.
JAMIE
Duly noted.
Daniel unpacks the rest of the things he brought back and
places each in its rightful place, stepping around the mess
like one might a pile of dogshit. Jamie follows him with his
gaze, slowly pivoting.
JAMIE
I've got all our medical supplies
in this suitcase over here. If you
wanna put that rubbing alcohol in
there.
Daniel doesn't respond out loud, but he does as Jamie
suggests nonetheless.
JAMIE
Just in case we need to, uh. Jet.
DANIEL
mm.
JAMIE
The shed's got tools in it, too.
Bunch of, like, carpentry shit...
not really sure where to start with
that. But I bet we could finish
boarding up the rest of the windows
if we found some two-by-fours.
DANIEL
(not paying direct
attention)
tackle that... tomorrow. i've used
a hammer before.
JAMIE
(slowly)
Uh, so have I, man.
Daniel wraps up and sets his duffel bag in the exact same
spot he left it last night. When he makes like he's about to
shuffle off upstairs without a word, Jamie sighs heavily.
JAMIE
(loudly calling after
Daniel)
Look, I'm sorry, okay? Will you
just talk to me already?
A few beats of silence. Then Daniel slowly steps back down
the stairs, just enough to look him in the eye. No further.
Another beat passes.
JAMIE
I liked the burrito.
DANIEL
...thanks.
JAMIE
I'm not trying to be like this.
DANIEL
figured.
Jamie grabs his arm and stares off to the side.
DANIEL
it's fine.
JAMIE
(in a quick burst, like
he's been itching for the
opportunity)
I don't know what to do with
myself! It's like I'm waiting for
the other shoe to drop, and it's
making me *crazy*, and--
DANIEL
(cutting him off)
i get you. it's all been kinda
crazy.
JAMIE
I think I need to do something.
With my hands. Keep busy. You know?
Jamie pats down his pockets looking for his lighter. Daniel
grunts.
DANIEL
yeah.
Jamie steps away and cracks open a window to smoke. The
stairs creak as Daniel follows him. Something rattles in
Daniel's hand - a box of long nails.
DANIEL
lil' elbow grease never hurt.
JAMIE
(curious, nonjudgmental)
I thought you were going to bed.
DANIEL
changed m'mind.
JAMIE
...Do you want a hand?
DANIEL
yeah. c'mon. grab a plank.
Jamie ashes his cigarette and helps Daniel board shut the
rest of the windows in a quick montage. Daniel holds the
boards up while Jamie nails. Once they're done, Jamie shoots
him a little smile.
Daniel smiles back. Just a little.
JAMIE
Is that everything?
DANIEL
on the ground floor. figured they
ain't learned to climb yet.
JAMIE
(slight nervous chuckle)
We should probably look for some
more boards. I don't want to find
out the hard way.
DANIEL
yeah... that'd be good.
JAMIE
Like... nobody's here anymore,
right? As far as we know? We can
just find some?
DANIEL
(interrupting him, a
little too eager)
yeah? you wanna go out and look? we
could, uh. make a scavengin' trip.
JAMIE
If we make it out of this, I'll--
I'll send these people a check. Or
something.
Daniel huffs out a single 'ha'.
EXT. SUBURBAN ROAD - DAY
Jamie and Daniel walk to the house next door, duffel bags on
their backs and crowbars in hand. The front door is locked,
but a kitchen window is unlocked, so Daniel crawls in and
unlocks the door from the inside.
Jamie waits, visibly tense and eyes darting around, until
the door clicks.
INT. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE - DAY
The coast is clear. Once Jamie and Daniel realize this, they
tear into the cabinets with the unbridled delight of people
who have just realized that society is fake and you can do
whatever you want. It's all fair game - superglue,
batteries, smoked salmon, a Playboy, a tiny vial of
Blanton's tucked deep in the back of a cabinet.
Jamie sneaks that Playboy down his shirt.
Boards, as a generic item, are in short supply in the real
world. But cheap Ikea bookshelves are not, and Jamie and
Daniel start to tear them down.
JAMIE
(sweating)
This... is insane.
Daniel kicks the side of a bookcase to detach it from the
main body.
DANIEL
it's kinda... fun. in a weird way.
Jamie cracks up laughing, high and breathless. Daniel stares
at him.
JAMIE
It is! Oh God. It is.
DANIEL
we're like. the show. with the,
uhh... home renovations. in
reverse.
Jamie crows and claps him on the back. Daniel rocks forward
with the force, a little winded, but smiles to himself.
They move on to other pieces of furniture, stripping the
upholstery and hacking chairs into kindling. They're
sweating and grunting and taking out all their frustrations
on the cheap tat of the nouveau riche.
JAMIE
Dude, I suck at this. I just keep
beating this shit into splinters.
DANIEL
might just be a bad chair. bad
wood.
JAMIE
What the hell does *bad wood* look
like?
DANIEL
ain't you some kinda... forestry.
person. you know wood.
JAMIE
C'mon, that's not the same!
Daniel pauses to catch his breath, and his eyes linger on
Jamie. He's flushed pink with exertion and his shirt's
soaked through with sweat. Daniel swallows.
DANIEL
i think you're gettin' better at
it.
JAMIE
Yeah? You think so?
DANIEL
(mouth dry)
yeah.
JAMIE
I'm just letting the hammer take me
where it will.
DANIEL
(amused)
uh-huh.
Daniel pulls at his collar in an attempt to fan himself.
DANIEL
(muttering)
jesus. sweatin' like a hog.
Jamie peers over at him surreptitiously.
JAMIE
Yeah. Christ. You ever thought
about taking off the hoodie?
DANIEL
(wiping his forehead with
a sleeve)
what? no.
JAMIE
This isn't hoodie weather, man.
DANIEL
(defensively)
is too.
He rolls up his sleeves to prove a point.
JAMIE
Suit yourself.
Jamie stretches out on the tile with a groan. Daniel watches
him intensely, like his gaze has been magnetized.
JAMIE
Oh, I get it. I get why cats do
this now.
DANIEL
(distracted)
huh?
JAMIE
(sighing)
Cold.
DANIEL
um.
Jamie's neck cranes up just enough for him to look at
Daniel.
JAMIE
What's up?
Daniel doesn't answer. Instead, he just sits down with his
back to the wall.
JAMIE
You tired, too? I think we did
pretty good.
The camera pans around the wreckage of the room. Not a
single item is intact.
DANIEL
...yeah.
Jamie grins tiredly at him and extends his hand for a fist
bump. Then he drops it after a long moment in which Daniel
doesn't reciprocate, just stares at him.
DANIEL
(turning his head to face
the window)
it's rainin'.
JAMIE
Huh.
He glances out the same window at the dull grey sky, then
leans his head against the counter.
JAMIE
Sounds kinda nice. Kinda makes you
forget about it all.
He closes his eyes. Daniel stares unabashedly at him now
that he has the opportunity. His ears go pink when Jamie
cracks an eye back open, and his gaze immediately darts
away.
DANIEL
it's gettin' late.
He gets up and leaves without a word.
INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
They've spread out their haul, transforming their ordinary
suburban kitchen into a junkyard. Daniel's laid out some
food on the counter as Jamie finishes bringing the last of
their stuff in.
JAMIE
Are you gonna cook something? I
could eat a horse right about now.
DANIEL
thinkin' 'bout it.
Jamie comes up behind him.
JAMIE
(awkwardly)
You, uh... want any help?
Daniel glances back at him, blinking in surprise.
JAMIE
I could chop.
DANIEL
(after a pause)
sure. if'n you want.
Daniel sets aside some peppers and onions for him. He's
confident in the kitchen, slicing open sausage with a calm
focus and tossing onions in his skillet. Jamie is less so -
his hands shake on the knife, his cuts are uneven. But
Daniel doesn't complain.
JAMIE
Smells good.
DANIEL
mmhm.
JAMIE
Whatcha makin'?
DANIEL
food.
Jamie raises his eyebrows and grins with the corner of his
mouth.
JAMIE
Not much of a talker, are you?
Daniel makes a noncommittal sound.
JAMIE
No big deal. I can talk enough for
the both of us. Do you like to
cook?
DANIEL
s'pose so.
JAMIE
(eyeing the food)
I'm picking up on a, uh, Tex-Mex
kind of vibe.
DANIEL
(dismissive)
you'll like it.
Jamie watches him work, stealing a piece of sausage out of
the pan and getting his hand smacked with a wooden spoon for
it.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Daniel and Jamie curl up on opposite ends of the couch with
steaming bowls in their hands. All the lights are off, and
their faces are pale from the backwash of the TV. They watch
intently - a newscaster is speaking.
NEWSCASTER
Evacuation orders have been issued
for Breckinridge, Bullitt, Hardin,
and Meade Counties. Officials warn
that access to water and
electricity in the area may be
affected in the days to come...
JAMIE
(hopeful)
They haven't said anything about
Jefferson.
DANIEL
(darkly)
yet.
JAMIE
Don't be like that. I think things
are going pretty well. No zombie
outbreak today, how about that?
DANIEL
...it's an improvement.
JAMIE
(looking back at the TV)
It's funny. It almost doesn't...
feel like it happened. Like it's
not real.
Daniel stretches out his arm, showing off the bandages Jamie
had wrapped around it just days before.
DANIEL
this help?
Jamie looks at his arm for a long moment, lost in thought,
then shudders.
JAMIE
I'm gonna get a shower.
DANIEL
(lowering his arm)
right.
JAMIE
Don't stay up too late.
He walks upstairs, leaving Daniel alone. Daniel blankly
stares at the TV, before turning it off and sitting in the
darkness.
Daniel dozes off.
The sound of a screech from upstairs jolts him awake. Daniel
bolts upright, clambering up the stairs without a second
thought. Pure instinct.
INT. UPSTAIRS HALL - NIGHT
Daniel's head whips around, looking for Jamie's attacker.
DANIEL
(shouting)
JAMIE?
INT. GUEST BEDROOM - NIGHT
DANIEL
JAMIE!
JAMIE
FUCK!
Jamie's standing next to the bed, shoulders hitched up to
his ears and body tense. There's no attacker in sight. No
zombie clawing at his throat. Daniel's face pinches in
confusion.
He flinches at Daniel's approach.
DANIEL
jesus man, i thought you--
JAMIE
The BED. Is WET!
Daniel stares.
JAMIE
Guess how I fucking found out?
He turns around, allowing Daniel to see the giant damp patch
on the back of Jamie's shirt.
DANIEL
oh.
JAMIE
If it's not one thing, it's
another! Why is it WET!
DANIEL
(pointing at the ceiling)
look, there's-- there's rain.
drippin' through. whole ceilin's
damp.
Jamie drags his fingers through his hair and groans.
JAMIE
I don't know how to fix this, man!
Daniel fidgets with his sleeves.
DANIEL
uh. you.
Jamie starts to pace around the room.
JAMIE
God. Fuck. Fuck!
DANIEL
hey... hey.
He touches Jamie's arm on his next approach. Jamie stills,
but otherwise doesn't react.
DANIEL
jamie. ain't that big a deal. just
take the other bed.
JAMIE
It feels like a big deal to me! I
can't fix this! I can't fix
*anything*!
DANIEL
(insistently)
jamie.
JAMIE
(neurotically, spinning
to face him)
WHAT?
DANIEL
take my bed.
JAMIE
I don't wanna do that!
DANIEL
it's too fancy for me, anyways. i'd
get lost in that thing.
JAMIE
I'm-- I'm not gonna--
Daniel tugs on his elbow.
DANIEL
yes, you are. c'mon.
JAMIE
(weakly)
What are you gonna do, then? Just
sleep on the floor?
DANIEL
couch.
JAMIE
Come on, man.
DANIEL
told you. ain't no big deal.
JAMIE
(defeated)
...feels like a big deal to me,
Daniel.
He follows Daniel's lead anyway, all the fight knocked out
of him.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jamie sits limply on the bed. Daniel double-checks the
windows, then the closet, then the armoire; it's big enough
to hide a person in. No people here, though - just a strange
array of costumes.
JAMIE
What is that?
DANIEL
(pulling out a sleeve)
...firefighter jacket.
Jamie leans forward, curious. Daniel gingerly pushes some of
the clothes aside, but isn't any more pleased with what he
pulls out next: a lacy black corset.
DANIEL
think i found somebody's
playthings.
Jamie cackles.
JAMIE
It's just your size!
DANIEL
(turning pink)
i ain't wearin' it. *you* wear it.
He tosses it on the bed.
DANIEL
you think any of this stuff is
real, or...?
JAMIE
(after a pause)
Do you *not*?
DANIEL
(abashed)
could be for. y'know. like. a sexy
getup. like the firefightin' gear.
i dunno.
JAMIE
Daniel, what do you think people
wear corsets for anymore? That's
literally the point.
DANIEL
(mumbling)
...support.
He pulls out a long strip of leather with a loop at the end.
JAMIE
The leash is... certainly a choice.
DANIEL
(weighing it in his
hands)
nice quality, too. some perverts of
taste.
Jamie sputters, like he's trying not to laugh.
JAMIE
I don't think you should touch
that, man! You don't know where
it's been!
DANIEL
probably clipped to a collar. i'd
guess.
JAMIE
Daniel.
DANIEL
ain't no collar in here. think
there's a zombie out there still
wearin' it?
Jamie lets out a burst of ugly, honking laughter. Daniel
hides a pleased smile by turning back around to face the
armoire.
JAMIE
Don't *say* that!
DANIEL
(putting the leash back)
i'll be good.
He closes the armoire doors.
DANIEL
anyways. i'm gon' get some sleep.
i'll, uh. see you in the mornin'.
Jamie's bright smile slowly fades.
JAMIE
Yeah. You too.