FADE IN:
EXT. TRAILER PARK - DAY
JAMIE STRAUSS stands outside a trailer, bloody and
bedraggled. He's visibly dazed, staggering forward without a
clear heading. A dense fog licks at his heels.
It's quiet. Too quiet. That is, until he hears a distant
crunch and whips his head around.
JAMIE
HEY!
In the distance, a small man in a baseball cap freezes in
place. Jamie's eyes go wide with recognition.
JAMIE
Daniel?
Jamie's pace picks up as he beelines toward Daniel. Daniel
straightens from his crouch.
DANIEL
(hissing)
how-- keep it down, man.
JAMIE
(loudly)
What the fuck are you doing here?
DANIEL
shut the fuck up or you're gonna
get us killed!
Daniel grabs him by the collar.
DANIEL
shut the fuck up now.
Jamie's eyes go wide. He swallows audibly, but does as he's
told. After a moment, Daniel lets him go and turns away.
DANIEL
anyone else alive?
JAMIE
What do you mean, "anyone else
alive"? What happened?
DANIEL
do i look like i fuckin' know?
whole lotta dead people tryna take
a chunk outta me, s'all i know.
JAMIE
Don't fucking talk like you know
what you're talking about, then!
Daniel's gaze jerks to the side as if he's heard something.
Jamie's follows after a beat, but he sees nothing.
DANIEL
follow me.
JAMIE
JAMIE
What?
DANIEL
(cutting him off)
now.
Daniel leads Jamie around the trailer to a busted-out
window, then motions for Jamie to follow him in. Jamie
hesitates.
JAMIE
(slowly)
Did you break into this place?
Daniel looks back at him, unamused.
DANIEL
you 'bout to arrest me?
INT. TRAILER BEDROOM
Fresh bloodstains are spattered on the walls, as if somebody
took a baseball bat to a balloon filled with red paint. A
body lies on the floor. It looks to be something less than
human, with greying skin and a bloated face. And a pair of
heart-print boxers.
DANIEL
...place was full of these things.
Jamie looks around and makes a face.
JAMIE
I can see that.
DANIEL
lotta knives and guns, too.
Daniel rifles through a duffel bag and begins pulling out
just that: pistols, hunting knives, a rifle. Then he pulls
out the bedside table drawer and fishes out another pistol.
JAMIE
(flatly)
Why are there so many guns in here.
I don't even-- I've never even
fucking fired one before.
DANIEL
not that hard... don't recommend
it, though.
JAMIE
Why?
Daniel jerks his thumb at one of the bodies.
DANIEL
these things're dumb but they can
hear pretty good. don't want 'em to
swarm ya.
Daniel peers under the bed and finds a box of ammo, then
shakes it at Jamie.
Daniel peers under the bed and finds a box of ammo, then
shakes it at Jamie.
JAMIE
(darkly)
Jesus, this feels like a prepper's
wet dream.
DANIEL
(standing back up)
prolly so.
Daniel studies Jamie, gears turning behind his eyes. Taking
in the blood and bruises.
DANIEL
(suddenly anxious)
wait. are you hurt? did any of 'em
getcha?
Jamie touches his arm subconsciously.
JAMIE
I-I-- No, I'm fine. Just a little
beaten up.
DANIEL
good. alright.
Daniel takes a deep breath.
DANIEL
now. can you tell me-- have you
seen anyone else?
JAMIE
No, okay?! I was on my way back to
Bingham Creek and everything went
to shit! The real question is, what
are YOU doing in Muldraugh?
DANIEL
favor. for a tow driver. came over
to look at a van. and then...
Daniel gestures around him with his free hand.
DANIEL
all this.
Jamie stays quiet for a moment, thinking it all over. Daniel
returns to his task.
JAMIE
...Are you okay?
DANIEL
(slowly, as if it's a
stupid question)
yeah? didn't get bit or nothin'.
JAMIE
(huffy)
Well, I meant emotionally, too.
Asshole.
DANIEL
DANIEL
we ain't got time for
'emotionally'. can't sit here and
cry about shit.
Jamie rolls his eyes and folds his arms.
JAMIE
This doesn't bother you, huh?
DANIEL
you can be bothered. long as you
keep your head on straight.
JAMIE
What's your gameplan, then? Since
you don't wanna waste time on
"having feelings about situations".
I, for one, want to go home.
DANIEL
get some supplies. don't get
killed. head outta the city and
wait and see if this blows over.
JAMIE
(derisively)
God, you sound EXCITED about it.
Daniel deliberately sets the pistol on the bed, face flat.
Jamie walks past him toward the kitchen.
DANIEL
(toward Jamie's back)
i ain't happy about this. what the
fuck's wrong with you?
INT. TRAILER KITCHEN
Jamie stops short as he walks in. Two more bodies - one
slumped over the formica table, the other leaning against
the far wall, underneath a broken window. Toothpicks and
spice jars are scattered on the ground. The tell-tale sign
of struggle. There's no broken glass on the inside; the
corpse's fist is bloody and ragged.
JAMIE
(warbling)
Oh, Jesus.
Daniel follows him, not letting the conversation drop.
DANIEL
hey. you really think i'm happy
'bout this?
JAMIE
I'm gonna-- I'm gonna take a
breather. Real quick.
Jamie ducks into the bathroom, which is mercifully devoid of
zombies.
INT. TRAILER BATHROOM
INT. TRAILER BATHROOM
Jamie hovers over the sink, hands braced on either side. He
trembles. Daniel appears behind him, framed in the mirror, a
frown plain on his face.
DANIEL
hey.
JAMIE
(staring directly in
front of him, not turning
around)
What.
DANIEL
(awkwardly)
c'mon, man.
Jamie laughs, high and nervous.
JAMIE
What do you want from me, Daniel?
Why did you bring me here?
DANIEL
(slowly)
the hell kinda question is that?
JAMIE
I don't wanna see this shit! I
don't wanna know what you did to
get this shit!
Daniel's head jerks up. A stark shadow crosses his face.
DANIEL
are you fuckin' serious? after all
i'm tryna do for you--
JAMIE
I didn't ask for it! I just wanted
to know what happened!
DANIEL
(losing his patience)
you SEEN what happened!
Daniel's chest heaves. They glare at one another,
electricity crackling in the air. A violent tension.
And then... something clicks into place. The fire dies down
behind Jamie's eyes. He did see it. He's wearing the
evidence like a heraldic badge.
JAMIE
(voice trembling)
Fine. You're right. I need to-- get
my head on straight.
Jamie fishes out a cigarette from a pack in his pocket, then
lights it with shaking hands.
JAMIE
Let's just-- It's still daylight
out. We should... go somewhere. I
Let's just-- It's still daylight
out. We should... go somewhere. I
don't know. Somewhere that isn't
here.
DANIEL
(tuneless)
...alright.
Daniel watches him as Jamie finishes his cigarette and stubs
it out on his heel. Even now, in the dawn of the zombie
apocalypse, Jamie still throws the butt in the trash before
he leaves.
INT. TRAILER KITCHEN
Jamie tries to open the door outside, but it's been boarded
shut. He sighs. Back out the window it is.
DANIEL
careful gettin' out of here. 's
hard to see in the fog. stick
close.
Jamie doesn't respond. Instead, he checks his phone, as if
he's only just remembered he has one. His face grows more
concerned the longer he scrolls.
JAMIE
Why didn't anyone say anything? No
calls, no texts... no nothing. Just
a couple of posts about zombies on
the Louisville subreddit. I can't
even tell if anyone's taking them
seriously.
DANIEL
i reckon it got bad too fast for
that.
JAMIE
(unsatisfied)
I guess.
DANIEL
(muttering)
went from nothin' to the streets
being full of 'em. and all these
people... these folks was boarded
inside when they turned.
Jamie shudders.
DANIEL
whatever happened... i don't know.
you sure you're good?
JAMIE
Let's go. I don't wanna think about
it.
DANIEL
right...
Daniel gathers their haul up in the duffel bag and presses a
pistol into Jamie's hands.
Daniel gathers their haul up in the duffel bag and presses a
pistol into Jamie's hands.
DANIEL
listen. it's fucked out there.
Jamie hesitates to close his grip. There's trepidation in
his posture, like he's just been handed a rattlesnake.
JAMIE
Yeah, no shit.
DANIEL
and i don't-- i ain't gonna pretend
it ain't. but-- it's-- i don't
know.
A beat passes.
DANIEL
you sure you ain't fired a gun
before?
JAMIE
Yes, I'm sure. And I don't think I
want to start.
Jamie pushes the pistol back into Daniel's hands.
JAMIE
You take it.
Daniel tries to make Jamie take it back, with little
success.
JAMIE
I don't even like touching it, man!
You take the fucking gun!
Daniel scowls at him, but ultimately relents. He checks the
magazine and cocks the slide back, making a quiet noise of
approval. He clearly knows his way around a pistol.
DANIEL:
jesus. look at her.
Jamie watches apprehensively.
JAMIE
Suits you better, anyway.
DANIEL
(whistling)
real nice.
JAMIE
Hurry it up. I don't like being in
here any longer than I have to.
Daniel holsters it in his jeans.
DANIEL
yeah, alright. follow me. i got the
keys to the van i was s'posed to
fix up.
EXT. TRAILER PARK - EVENING
EXT. TRAILER PARK - EVENING
The van waits just around the corner. It's a cornflower blue
behemoth that's seen better days, her paint flecked with
rust and her windshield spattered with blood. The hood and
front bumper show the kind of crumpling you typically only
see after you hit a deer.
JAMIE
...Is this the van? Looks kind of,
uh.
Daniel looks at him.
JAMIE
Bad. It looks bad, man.
DANIEL
(defensive)
i was s'posed to fix it.
Daniel unlocks it, and they both climb inside. Or rather,
Jamie tries to. There's a shotgun in the front passenger
seat, and several blunt force weapons in the back.
JAMIE
Wh-What's with all the--
DANIEL
been grabbin' stuff.
JAMIE
Did you need more fucking guns?
DANIEL
'case one breaks.
Daniel goes still and cocks his head. Jamie does the same,
perplexed. Then Daniel opens the van door again.
DANIEL
hold on. stay here.
JAMIE
What?
Daniel exits the van. Jamie sputters, then follows after
him, closing in quickly with long strides. Daniel presses
himself against the corner of another trailer and peers
around it... but doesn't shoot.
DANIEL
coulda sworn i heard somethin'.
JAMIE
DANIEL!
Daniel presses his finger to his lips.
DANIEL
damnit, jamie, be quiet!
JAMIE
Don't fucking do that!
DANIEL
DANIEL
(perplexed)
do what?
JAMIE
Fucking leaving me behind! Are we
in this shit together or not?!
DANIEL
we are? you were safe in the van.
JAMIE
What if something happened to you
because you went-- fucking--
gallivanting around?! Then what?
DANIEL
(hissing)
pipe down!
JAMIE
(in a stage whisper)
You didn't even leave the key with
me!
DANIEL
you'd know where it was.
JAMIE
The hell I would!
DANIEL
it'd be on the walkin corpse with
the-- uh.
Jamie frowns, hard.
DANIEL
...never mind.
Daniel leans back on his knees and wipes sweat off his
forehead. Jamie stares down at him judgmentally.
DANIEL
what's your plan, then. already
told you mine.
JAMIE
I told you. I just wanna go home,
man. I-I've even got a map to
Louisville if you need it.
Daniel stares back at him in disbelief.
DANIEL
home to-- man, ain't no way the
city is-- ain't you ever seen a
zombie movie before?
JAMIE
(derisively)
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not willing to
entertain the worst case scenario
just yet!
Jamie pushes the loose hair out of his eyes with both hands.
Jamie pushes the loose hair out of his eyes with both hands.
JAMIE
(trying to convince
himself)
Maybe-- Maybe it hasn't gotten
there yet. It hasn't been that
long, right?
DANIEL
come on, jamie.
Jamie looks at him with desperation in his eyes.
JAMIE
We should at least find out.
They lock eyes for a long moment. Daniel's mouth opens and
closes repeatedly, struggling for the right words.
DANIEL
are you... sure you wanna know?
JAMIE
No, but-- but what other choice do
I have? Where else am I supposed to
go?
DANIEL
away. far as we can get. stay alive
until the worst of it passes.
Jamie's face suddenly closes off emotionally. His mouth goes
flat.
JAMIE
Fine. Whatever you say.
DANIEL
(uncomfortable)
hey. man. uh.
Jamie stands.
JAMIE
It's getting dark. We should go.
Daniel stands, too.
DANIEL
maybe it's... i don't know if it's
bad. where you're from mighta
missed it. i just--
Jamie stalks off toward the van.
DANIEL
i ain't a doctor. i can't fix this.
JAMIE
I'm not even asking you to! I'm
just asking you to give it a shot!
DANIEL
and i'm tellin' you to keep
yourself alive.
and i'm tellin' you to keep
yourself alive.
Jamie hops in and slams the door. Daniel takes the driver's
seat, then turns the key in the ignition.
DANIEL
ain't no shame in it.
JAMIE
Will you just drive?
Daniel grunts, glaring at the road.