Who Are The Walking Dead? Episode 1 Script

Written by Seth Sipe

Episode 1: Definition

Intro

(Rolling opening credits. The screen is black, but noises are heard in the darkness. A single solid noise is being heard and is building. Other noises are being heard. Sentences of a man over a radio: “Haha! Now that is funny. I’m a little winded from that. Ok. If you heard from this past week- this was pretty weird-this guy went into the hospital for acting without any control and had major schizophrenia. And I just said, Did he say hi to his cousin in Florida?” Static. “There seems to be a virus spreading throughout the states. Citizens are acting delirious, unresponsive, and with uncontrolled violence. If you have witnessed any of these people and any attacks, please call the following number.” Static. Sounds of simple gunshots are heard. Scream. “The killing of the derange man has taken a complete turn. A scientist from Atlanta, Georgia has discovered that the man that was killed was already dead.” Static. A woman begins to speak. “We have discovered that the victim’s organs had all shut off before hand, and decomposition had started long before gunshot.” “Ma’am, are you saying that this man was attacking while already dead?” “Yes.” Static. Screams and ripping and growling are heard. “This invasion of the dead continues, and the casualties mount. They are no longer only located in a few states, but now nationwide. We hope that you are continuing to call the emergency number. We are just receiving word of evacuation camps all across the south. The major ones are in Nashville, TN, Jackson, MS, and Atlanta, GA. Please begin making your way there.” Static. Machine guns are heard and helicopters. “The camps have failed! The DCA have abandoned hope for curing the plague! Nothing seems to be able to hold the dead back! Rounds are pouring from the turrets, but nothing is happening! Whoa!” Growls are heard. Static. The solid noise from earlier has built so much that it can’t be ignored, and then it ends. Microphone is heard. A man sounds out of breath, “Huh. Huh. Listen-agh-Listen everyone. Whoever is left. I am broadcasting on all stations. Take my advice. Hunker down, gather food, stay alive, and whatever you do don’t get bit. If you are bitten, then it is too late. If you are bitten, you –agh- you will be joining me. You will join the dead.” Static.)

(The black screen vanishes. A white church is all that is seen and it remains that way for a few seconds. Then a few people are panting as they run to the church. There is a brown haired woman, a blonde hair teenage girl, an African American man, and an elder in a wheelchair. They run into the church, and shut the doors behind them. The brown-haired girl can’t shut the door.)

Grace: Xavier. Xavier. I can’t get it to shut. (Xavier sets the man in the wheelchair down and investigates. The blonde-haired girl looks around in the sanctuary.)

Xavier: Someone’s dead bolted the door.

Blue Jeans: Xavier! (Xavier comes to her aid. She is staring at a body.)

Xavier: It looks dead. (Grace looks out the door. Growl at the door.)

Grace: Oh sh-(Walker is at the door.) Walker! (Xavier comes to the rescue. Grace opens the door for a second and Xavier stabs under the neck. Blue Jeans slides down the wall to where she sits on the floor. The elder still sits in his chair and in the background the walker sits and slowly begins to move. Xavier pushes him out, and looks, steps outside and sees a group walkers coming. He gets back inside.)

Xavier: (To Grace. Whisper.) There is a whole group of walkers coming our way. Hopefully they haven’t seen us. We need to keep quiet. (The walker inside grabs the elder man’s chair. Blue Jeans screams. He falls out of his chair, pulls his gun, aims--)

Grace: NO! (Fire! Another grabs BJs arm. The elder grabs his knife and stabs it in the eye. BJ pants. Walkers pound on the door.) Ah! Push!

Grouch: (To BJ) Go! (BJ goes to help. Pounding still occurs.)

Grace: Push! Push!

BJ: OH, thank you Grace! (Pounding continues. Then classical music is heard.)

Grouch: What is that? (The pounding has ceased. Then after a few seconds, they look out the door to see walkers have lost interested in them and have begun attacking two other guys who are slaughtering the walkers. From a distance they see a boy shooting the walkers. Soon they are all dead. Chris walks up and Jacob walk toward the group together. Sam catches up.)

Sam: Sup? (The group stares at the three brothers.)

(Intro begins. The Walking Dead theme music plays. Opening credits.)

 

Scene 1: Resurrection

Jacob: I’m Jacob Richards. These are my brothers.

Chris: I’m Chris.

Jacob: That kid over there is our little brother, Sam.

Sam: That kid? (Sam seems to be checking the bodies.)

Jacob: You found anything good yet.

Sam: Lint, lint, lint. Oh look more lint. (He feels around and he seems to have found something.) Wait. A pack of cigarettes. (Sarcastic.) Great. That’s useful.

Jacob: (Suddenly interested.) Then that could mean that he has a lighter. If he has a lighter, we could be a little warmer tonight. (He goes over to Sam.)

Chris: What are your names?

Grace: I’m Grace. This is Xavier. (She looks behind her.) The older gentleman in the wheelchair is Grouch, and the girl helping him up is Brittney. We call her Blue Jeans.

Chris: Interesting nicknames. Very creative. I like that.

Jacob: We’ve got it! We’ve got a lighter! Haha!

Chris: Whoo!

Jacob: That’s a little taste of heaven right there, bud.

Grouch: Keep it down! (Grouch is being pushed by BJ.) I don’t need your help! (He rolls up.) I’m still able. (He rolls up to Chris.) I want to say thank you for helping us today.

Chris: You’re welcome. It wasn’t a problem. (Jacob meanwhile inaudible asks Sam for the cigarettes and Sam gives them to him.) We’d do it again if we had to. (Instinctively Chris looks over at Jacob and notices Jacob receiving the cigarettes.)

Grouch: Yes, yes very grateful. And now that we have all of our gooey sh-

Grace: Grouch.

Grouch: … stuff together again. I hope that you wouldn’t mind if we went on our way.

Chris: Excuse me.

Grouch: You’re excused. We’re heading to a camp that is still operational. Wherever that is. We’ll get out of your hair.

Chris: W-wait.

Grace: Grouch.

Jacob: (Jacob’s overheard.) I think that’s fair.

Chris: Jacob.

Jacob: It’s your choice. We’ll see you down the street. Least we can do.

Chris: We can also give you some supplies. (Jacob gives a faint look of disapproval.) And THAT is least we can do. You’re welcome to stay.

Grouch: Thank you son, but we’ll be nothing but burdens. Come on let’s go. (He begins rolling away.)

Grace: But Grouch… (He strolls a little down the driveway.) These people saved us.

Grouch: Grace, you may be too young to realize the truth about others. (Whispering) Look you trust me, right? I don’t like these boys. They don’t sit right with me.

Grace: Why?

Grouch: I can’t explain it. It’s a gut feeling I have. Look, we’re unarmed, weak desperate people. They are three strong healthy boys. What will happen if they take advantage of that?

Grace: You don’t know that will happen. They could be good guys.

Grouch: Keep up that enthusiasm all you want, but it will cost you. (Grace glares at him.) … But this is your group. Make your own choices. You guys are my legs after all.

Jacob: (Whispering to Chris) What do you think you’re doing?

Chris: (Also whispering) Trying to save lives.

Jacob: Chris you can’t get teary eyed for every stranger that comes our way.

Chris: These are the first strangers that have come our way. We got to do something. Look, can’t we at least get to know them and get the chance to know they’re intentions?

Jacob: I don’t think so.

Chris: Why?

Jacob: What if they’re lying? What if they’re putting on a show? I overheard their names. Blue Jeans, Grouch. Odd names, huh? And what if that guy in the wheelchair is putting on a façade? Plus, I’m looking out for you, man. You can become emotionally attached fast. You know, once you name it you start getting attached to it. You could get hurt. What if they’re lying and I’m right?

Chris: What if they’re not lying and I’m right? Just trust me on this one. We can be careful about this. We can get to know them for the next few days, let them pull their own weight, and put them in the sanctuary at night away from anything valuable. And if there’s a problem, then we can do something about it? We can figure it out. And don’t use me for an excuse ever again!

Grace: Excuse me. We’ve been talking about it and we want to stay. You three seem to have a nice place here. And we’ve been looking for a place like this for a while. (Pause) We’ll pull our weight and everything. Just please don’t send us away. (Chris seems to be waiting for Jacob.) So?

Chris: I’m ok with you staying. But the choice has to be unanimous. (Waiting on Jacob.)

Sam: I don’t have a problem with them staying. You should have seen the walkers they took down inside.

Jacob: You can start by taking the bodies outside and burning them. Then we’ll show you around. (Grace puts her hands over her mouth. Blue Jeans jumps and hugs Xavier. Grouch and Jacob aren’t too happy.)

Grace: Thank you so much.

Grouch: Yeah, Yeah. Keep it down. I have a request, though. If we’re staying, I’m gonna need that pack of cigarettes. (Grouch holds his hand out to Sam. Sam and Chris look to Jacob. Grouch also looks to Jacob, but with an evil grin on his face. Jacob looks unwilling.) I thought you said you didn’t need ‘em? (Jacob pulls out the cigarettes and tosses them to Grouch.) And the lighter. (Jacob squints.) Don’t worry I’ll give it back to you later. (Jacob gives Grouch the lighter. The scene changes. The bodies are piled. The wood is gathered. Everyone is gathered around.)

Xavier: Alright. Let’s do it.

Jacob: Hold on, there’s something we have to do first.

Grouch: (He hands Jacob the lighter.)Let’s hurry up. We want to get settled.

Jacob: Just hang on. (Jacob, Chris, and Sam bow their heads. Xavier, Grace, and Blue Jeans don’t quite know what to do, so they do whatever the brothers do. Grouch doesn’t follow the crowd.) Father, we pray for these souls whoever they were. We don’t know them, but once they were people. They could be father, brother, son, or mother, sister, daughter. We just hope that they knew who you are and what you did.

Chris: You are giver and taker, and you are good. So take these lives and do with them what you wish. And that goes for the souls before us and the ones that stand here. Thank you for giving our guests and for giving us your son. Amen.

Jacob: Amen.

Sam: Amen. (Blue Jeans and Xavier don’t quite know what to do. Then Grace says something. Something she hasn’t said in a long time…)

Grace: Amen. (Pause.)

Grouch: If you’re finished with being with god, that lousy mother f–

Grace: Be nice.

Grouch: I’ll say what I want. Just hurry up so we can get comfortable.

Jacob: Sam.

Sam: I know. I’ll keep an eye out. (Chris shows them into the sanctuary.)

Chris: This way everyone.

BJ: (To Grace.) Can I hang-out here? I’ll go check what’s inside later.

Grouch: No. I don’t want you being alone with one of them.

Grace: You can hang-out here Blue Jeans. (Grouch glares. To BJ.) Go on. (BJ goes to Sam. The others head inside. Sam is sitting on the ground.)

BJ: Can I sit with you?

Sam: In front of a pile of burning, stinking corpses? It’s not very romantic. But sure.

(Back inside…)

Chris: Welcome to our home. You’ve already seen the sanctuary. (There are bloodstains, and the new group covers their nose.)

Grace: It kind of stinks.

Jacob: We let the walkers come in and sit inside for a while.

Grouch: You mean you let walkers in where you sleep? That’s stupid.

Chris: You’re right. That would be stupid. That’s why we sleep here. (He opens the doors.) Home sweet home. We have the kitchen over here. Bathrooms here, although we don’t really use them, because the power doesn’t work, but in case you need some privacy. No showers of course. Oh speaking of privacy, the walls are kind of thin so sometimes we can hear what you say.

Grouch: (Sarcastic.) Oh that’s great. We’re under their thumb now.

Xavier: So why do you let them into the sanctuary?

Jacob: Hey he speaks.

Chris: Well, it’s this plan we have. We figured that if we wipe this thing out we can go back to our everyday lives again. So we use the sanctuary to lure them in and then take them out when they’re trapped. We’ll just keep doing that until the military comes in. (Pause. Grace and Xavier look at each other. Grouch makes a sour face.) What?

Grace: There is no military.

Jacob: What?

Grace: There is no army. No government. Anywhere.

Jacob: Anywhere? What do you mean anywhere? Is this thing worldwide? (Pause) What about the camps?

Grouch: They really don’t know. I knew something was up.

Xavier: Grouch.

Grace: The camps failed. They were trying to cure the plague inside the camps, but the victims turned before they could.

Chris: And it’s worldwide?

Grouch: Idiots!

Grace: Yes. We heard the French were the only ones left trying to figure this out. But they fell to this thing too. (Pause.) Didn’t you guys hear the radio broadcasts?

Chris: Yeah, we heard but we were told by our elder…

Jacob: We did listen to the radio when this first started. We stayed indoors like we were told. Our mom and Dad both got grabbed. We looked to our church. We knew we could find guys who could lead us, but all that was left was one of our elders and some other friends. His name was Robert.

Chris: We called him brother Rob.

Jacob: He held onto the radio. He told us the camps were open two months ago. That’s when everyone else left. Our elder decided it was good for him to stay in case anyone else was left in the town. We stayed to help too. We heard nothing of this.

Chris: That means he kept the truth from us.

Jacob: He went on a run. We never saw him again.

Xavier: What’s a run?

Chris: A run into town. A term I came up with.

Grouch: Well, well, well, looks like your elder was a lying, two-faced, piece of crap and a thief. You fellas had that comin’.

Jacob: We’re saying he never came back. That could mean he’s dead. Don’t assume so quickly.

Grouch: With all of my experiences involving church, I think I’m inclined to assume whatever I want. Don’t judge me son for assuming! (Begins to stroll down the hallway.) I’ve been judged enough by people like you. You hypocritical people with your rules and regulations… (is now muttering to himself.)

Grace: He doesn’t mean to offend you.

Grouch: Shut up!... Can I see that lighter again? (Jacob pulls out a lighter.)

Grace: Can I give it to him? (Jacob gives Grace the lighter.)

Chris: (To Grace. Politely.) Could you ask him to smoke outside, please? It smells fairly bad in here already.

Jacob: Xavier, could you give me and my brother a minute, please?

Xavier: Sure. I need to go check on Blue Jeans anyway. (Xavier walks away. Jacob pulls Chris aside by the arm.)

Jacob:  What was that, huh? What was that?!

Chris: I don’t know what you’re—

Jacob: I just wanted to let them know where we generally sleep and that’s all. You told them and showed them where our food, water, and beds were. What in the world is wrong with you?

Chris: Let go of my arm, man. (Jacob lets go.) Given the circumstances I think there’s a lot more things to worry about than me being a little talkative.

Jacob: You just put our lives in danger.

Chris: What danger?

Jacob: You can’t trust these people so blindly.

Chris: Why? Because of that Grouch guy?

Jacob: Yes.

Chris: He’s just a man in a wheelchair!

Jacob: No he’s not. Sam told me that that little girl outside--

Chris: Blue Jeans.

Jacob: She said that Grouch took down two walkers by himself today, and I can see it in his eyes, bud. He’s a former military man who has spent time in war. And you know as well as I do. He doesn’t like us.

Chris: He has experience. He can help us. Besides that shouldn’t be much of a problem. We used to deal with people like him every day.

Jacob: Then what about that story they told us? That there is no government? There can’t be no government. They’re trying to scare us.

Chris: Brother, there are a lot of things that you can do, and I know one of them is reading others. You can read people like there’s no tomorrow. You just read that poor old man. So you should know they’re telling the truth.

Jacob: If they are lying or aren’t following orders and we aren’t careful, then you have put our lives on the line. And maybe you don’t give a fart about me, but for Sam’s sake be careful.

Chris: A fart?

Jacob: I’m trying to hold back some language right now.

Chris: Look go take a breather. We’ll be ready. (Chris walks away. Grace catches up.)

Grace: Hey, I wanted to give this back.

Chris: Thanks. Jacob. (He tosses Jacob the lighter.)

Grace: I’m sorry about Grouch. He’s a really nice guy once he gets to used you. However, when I was his nurse it took me a few years. So, maybe he won’t get used to you. (They both chuckle.)

Chris: Shame. Jacob and I are starting to like him. (She smiles.) I don’t mean to pry, but what is his… ailment? I’m just trying to put it nicely.

Grace: Oh well, good job then. He struggles with polio. It’s spreading from his legs to his brain. Soon he won’t be able to move his own wheelchair. We’re going to have to start carrying him eventually.

Chris: I’m sorry. How’d y’all meet? (Scene flips over to Sam and BJ.)

Sam: So how did you guys meet?

BJ: Well, I was at my grandfather’s already. Grouch is my grandfather.

Sam: Whoa. Really? (Scene flips back to Grace and Chris.)

Grace: Grouch didn’t normally see Brittney before all this, but they happened to be together when this started.

Chris: And Xavier? (Scene switches again.)

BJ: Just a stranger who helped us and he’s tagged along for the last month or so.  He saved my life at one point.

Sam: Huh? I wouldn’t be able to tell. He’s pretty quiet.

BJ: He doesn’t cause any problems. He just knows, when people need help, he’ll do what he can. (Scene returns to Grace and Chris.)

Grace: He’s a natural leader though. He’ll fill the role of helper or leader if he has to.

Chris: Hmm. He’s a good friend to have then?

Grace: Yeah. (Quick pause.) Hey, I saw what you guys did this morning. I’ve never seen anyone be so clever and quick about taking down walkers. (Scene flips back again.)

BJ: How’d y’all do that?

Sam: We just practiced and planned. Kept together. (Scene flips over again.)

Grace: You guys aren’t military?

Chris: No. I’m, uh, a college student—or was a college student. I did receive some defense training though. Sam is a runner. Jacob’s the hunter. (Scene flips.)

Sam: We just all use what we have and stay in shape. Jacob taught me and Chris to shoot. Chris however, came up with a whole bunch of ideas on how to stop them. He’s really observant of the walkers. He came up with idea of using noise to lure them, and the idea of using the sanctuary to trap them. And if you think that’s all we can do, you ain’t seen nothing yet. (Scene flips.)

Chris: I just thought that if we were going to bring these things down, then we’ve got to study them. And you won’t believe what we found out. We discovered they are attracted to sound, light in darkness, the cover of night, and can smell more than see. Specifically, they can smell what’s living.

Grace: Really. I didn’t know that. I only knew that you shouldn’t get bit or scratched, and aim for the head.

Chris: To be honest, I don’t think scratches do anything, but better not take chances.

Grace: Right. So, when do guys plan to go on another run? Is it soon?

Sam: Jacob doesn’t want to go on a run because he’s worried about me. However, Chris wants to go on a run because he’s worried about me. And you saw earlier, we don’t do anything unless the vote is unanimous. They’re exact opposites my brothers. Jacob is normally worried about our group in general. Chris is worried about anyone and everyone. Me? I’m the grounds between the two of them. They argue a lot when I’m not there though. They’re working on it hopefully. (scene changes again.)

Chris: Well in this case, Jacob’s worried about Sam. I understand. I’m worried about him too which is why I think we should go for a run now, but he wants to put it off for Sam’s sake. He’ll be forced to make that run sooner or later. (Scene switches again.)

Sam: So I hope you don’t mind me asking. Where’s your family? (She looks away.) I’m sorry.

BJ: We were heading to the evacuation camp. When we… they came out of nowhere. I only got away because the walkers were eating my mom and dad. (Sam holds her hand.)

Sam: I feel ya’. (Scene switches.)

Grace: No kid should ever have to go through anything like that. She’s going to need someone who cares for her.

Chris: Well, don’t look now, but I think Sam’s doing a good job with that. (They both look at Sam and BJ.)

Grace: Is your family religious?

Chris: I would say no. But I guess speaking generally, according to the former public, yeah we’re religious.

Grace: Even through this mess?

Chris: Yep.

Grace: And you have no doubts?

Chris: Noo-ho-ho. We’ve been doubting like crazy, but if leave behind our belief, where will we go?

Grace: Hmm. There are others though, and I won’t mention names-Grouch-who would disagree with you.

Chris: He has the right to disagree. We’re still on American soil. It’s still a free country.

Grace: Yeah. But Grouch can’t stand the idea of a loving God or even the idea of talking to someone who believes in one. And I can’t imagine how he would react if he heard his granddaughter was dating a Christian. Maybe, just for good measure, you should let Sam know that. I don’t mean to be blunt, but I don’t want there to be trouble.

Chris: Ok. Well, thank you for the warning. I’ll let him know. Maybe for good measure, you should let Blue Jeans know too.

Grace: I’m sorry I’ve offend you.

Chris: It’s ok. That’s fair.

Grace: But you don’t think that’s going to keep them apart.

Chris: Knowing my little brother. Probably not.

Grace: (Laughing.) Ditto. (Both laughing. Grouch is seen staring at Sam and BJ as they both laugh.)

 

Scene 2: The Place We’re Leaving

(The scene fades in on the church. Some birds are heard. The scene cuts to Grace sleeping and music faintly heard. She wakes up.)

Grace: Xavier. Blue Jeans. Grouch. Wake up. You hear that? Come on. (They all run to the double doors blocking the sanctuary. Chris, Jacob, and Sam are all up playing music. Jacob’s got his guitar, Sam is on the piano, and Chris is on the drum.)

Jacob: Okay you want me to take it down a little? (The brothers see them all come in.)

Chris: Good morning.

Grace: Morning?

Grouch: What in the name of God is this?

Jacob: Good choice of words. It’s the songs we sing Sunday mornings.

Grouch: You’re going to attract walkers.

Jacob: Not unless they can’t hear it. The architect built this place to be generally sound proof. The moment you walk out and close that door, you’ll barely hear a thing. Go on. Try to see if you can hear anything. (Xavier walks out. Jacob starts playing “I Will Worship.”)

Grouch: Cut that out!

Chris: But if he doesn’t play, how will Xavier know for certain the church is sound proof? (Grouch chokes. Xavier comes back in.)

Xavier: I can’t really hear anything.

Grouch: Can you hear something?

Xavier: Just a little, but--

Grouch: I thought so. You punks are endangering our lives for a little kumbaya moment.

Jacob: If it makes you feel better, we’ve done this a hundred times before you came, and we have an escape plan in case things go poorly. We’ve been careful about this. Look, the reason this thing conquers us is because we let it. Music is another form of our humanity that has been lost to us because we’ve been afraid. We’re sick of being afraid.

Grouch: Well, -- not all of us believe in this religious crap of yours. So, you won’t force this on us.

Jacob: You can stay in the hallway if you want.

Grace: Besides they’re not religious. And this is their home which means we live by their rules. I want to listen. (Grouch looks shut down.)

Grouch: Fine. Come on Blue Jeans. We’re going to leave them to their private time.

BJ: I want to stay and listen, too.

Grouch: Brittney come on!!! (He calms down.) You’ll be in their way.

BJ: I’ll stay with Grace.

Grouch: Xavier?

Xavier: I’m ok. (Grouch looks angry. He turns around and rolls away muttering to himself.)

Sam: Ok. Here we go. (Jacob begins playing. “Move” by Mercy Me is the song they play. While they sing that song, scene clips representing the passing of time begins to play. They play as followed:

Grace walks out in front of a girl walker. Walker sees her and goes toward her. Chris comes up behind her and sticks a machete in its head. Then Grace grabs a basket, and starts taking off the jacket it’s wearing.

Sam is teaching BJ how to shoot.

Grace brings a whole basket of gross dirty clothes back. She starts cleaning them.

A walker stands inside this house. Grace and Xavier bang on this window. The walker comes closer. While its distracted, Jacob, Chris, and Sam get in. They steal what they can, and get out.

Grace has the clothes clean. She, BJ, and Xavier try them out.

 Jacob, Sam, Chris, and Xavier are working out together. Xavier is slower than the brothers.

BJ is getting better with her shooting.

Jacob’s found food in the forest.

Grouch is throwing his knife at one of the church walls.)

(Chris is now sitting with Jacob. They’re sitting in this treetop that they obviously constructed themselves.)

Jacob: Haha! Ok how about this? You remember this guy from high school. He wants to be bold, ok? So, he decides to run to McDonalds at lunch and plans to make it back to the class on time, but instead he’s twenty minutes late for class. He comes back to class panting and ready to throw up a lung and the teacher asks, (Impersonating) “Where have you been?” (Panting) “In the bathroom” Get that, he claims his excuse is in the bathroom. So, one the students replies, “Dang, that must have been massive hernia.” (They both laugh.) Oh. Man. I’ll admit. Keeping the new people wasn’t a bad idea.

Chris: Hmm. Glad you’re coming around.

Jacob: Grouch is still stubborn though. He’s going to be hard to get along with.

Chris: Yep. (There’s a brief pause.) So, I wanted to talk to you in private to tell you something.

Jacob: We’re low on supplies, aren’t we?

Chris: I rationed it for the three of us to make it last another month, but with the new people, we’ve only a week left. Even though we’ve ransacked houses, and I mean we’ve stripped them down to the bone, we’re now scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Jacob: As I expected.

Chris: And I wanted to push that idea of going on a run into the town. We can do more than get supplies. We can scout the area, find good safety points, and we can study the walkers in urban areas.

Jacob: What about Sam?

Chris: The kid isn’t a kid anymore. Hello, he’s teaching someone else how to shoot. He’s ready. I know it.

Jacob: (Pause) What about everyone else?

Chris: Come on, man. Grace and Xavier are skilled. And now Blue Jeans can shoot. Blue Jeans can look after her grandfather while we’re gone.

Jacob: Let’s do it. (The scene changes. They’re all in the sanctuary.) Alright, everyone, I’ve talked to my brothers and we’ve found out that the supplies are running low. In a few days, we’ll be out. So, we’ve come to the hard decision to make a run. Which means, Grace, Xavier, buckle up, we’re going to town. Blue Jeans. Grouch.  Look after each other and the fort. Let’s go.

Grouch: Hold on. Hold on. This isn’t your group anymore. It’s our group now. We all need to discuss this. You aren’t going to dictate us.

Jacob: Well, uh, -- ok.

Grouch: So, you’re saying we’re out of food?

Jacob: Yes.

Grouch: Then why don’t you go out and get some Mister hunter?

Jacob: Food is not the only worry. Water too. We’re running out of rain water. We should have a massive supply if we go to the town.

Grouch: Can’t you just keep scouting houses around here?

Chris: They’re picked clean.

Grouch: I don’t believe you.

Grace: They’re picked clean. Believe me. I’m in.

Xavier: Me too.

Grouch: You haven’t heard what I have to say. Who here has seen the supply of food and water other than you three? Cause I know I haven’t.

Jacob: You’re wasting our time. Can’t you just take our word for it?

Grouch: No. I want to see.

Chris: Look it’s been a great week getting to know everyone, but we’re still getting to know you. And we think it’s better we just know where the location of the food is.

Grouch: Well, I’m not doing nothing unless you show me the water supply. Oh by the way, it hasn’t been a pleasure cruise trying to get to know you either. This whole week you all ignored me. I sat inside doing nothing, while y’all went out. Which by the way, no one told me anything about leaving. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway I would have let you go. And I’m perfectly able to help too, but you left me alone. I shouldn’t be too surprised. You would naturally judge me and say, “The old fart’s not worth our time.” You bunch of hateful, judgmental, hypocritical rednecks.

Chris: (Breathes deeply) Fine. (Chris shows Grouch the water supply.) Happy?

Grouch: (He sees the supply.) Why didn’t you tell us about this earlier?

Jacob: Oh, come on. (They all walk out of the church.)

Chris: I know, I know. I shouldn’t have shown him.

Jacob: He got to you, brother.

Chris: I’m sorry.

Jacob: We’ll talk about it later. Where’s Sam? (They both look behind, and see Sam inaudibly talking to BJ. The brothers smile.) Take your time, bro. (Sam hugs BJ.) Blue Jeans. I actually have a favor to ask you. Could you hold on to this? (Jacob gives BJ a walkie-talkie.)  Give us a call if things go bad. (She nods her head.) Alright, everyone. (Jacob pulls a tarp off of the truck the brothers have hidden.) Before we get there, I’ll signal everyone by knocking to try to avoid noise. When we get there, stay together. I’ll give hand signals if walkers are in range.

Chris: (To Grace. While Jacob is talking.) Ladies first.

Jacob: Stay focused though. Anything can happen on the way there and back.  As of right now the only place that is safe is the place we’re leaving. (Chris looks at the church as they drive away. Clips of the truck driving into town. Chris spots a cross in the road and it says God Forgive Us.)

Credits

(As credits roll “Lead me Home” plays. Then Chris’s voice is heard over the credits.

Chris: Next time on “Who are the Walking Dead?”…

Sam: (Someone is grunting like they are in major pain.) Someone help him. Grace you’re a doctor.

Grace: I’m a nurse kiddo.

Xavier: There is nowhere else to go!

Ali: Let go of me!

Jacob: (Walkers scream) Why are the lights on!?

Grouch: Say goodbye to the good ole days boys.

Chris: Maybe God is teaching us: Keep hope alive, and leave fear with the dead.