S1: E1: pilot

            An anchorman and anchorwoman appear on the news with a sheet of paper in their hands.

{Caption: July 12, 2009)

[Anchorman]: Well it’s almost as if the world is in on a prank that is stirring chaos.

[Anchorwoman]: It definitely seems that way, Herold. All over the globe, there have been reported sightings of drunken individuals walking around biting the civilians of their towns and cities. Hospital activity increases as men, women, even children, tell the exact same story, “I got bit”. We have Joe Markham reporting live in Atlanta. Now, Joe, from what I have heard, the doctors are saying that so far, every patient reporting a bite from another individual is now suffering extremely high fevers, nausea and just…just suffering what is going on?

[Reporter]: Yes, Pamela, you are absolutely right, I’ve interviewed most of the head doctors in the area and they all claim that every patient between July 9^th and July 11^th have developed symptoms such as: high fever, nausea, fatigue, cramping, increased heart rate, uncontrollable bladder, and even aggression. Doctors have the medicine to treat the symptoms, however stopping them completely and healing the victim to full recovery is becoming a much larger challenge.

[Anchorman]: Are you saying the doctors don’t know what kind of sickness these patients have?

[Reporter]: I’m afraid so-

(Scene goes black.)

{Caption: July 15^th, 2009)

The same anchorman appears. He looks stressed out and scared.

[Anchorman]: Although Pam will not be with us to help me report the news; I will be here to share as much as I know. The western side of the United States, as well as most of the North Eastern area of America has gone dark. We lost contact with all of Europe as of yesterday. Marshal Law has been declared unsuccessful, and we advise that you go to the nearest military base, and you stay there…  

{T.V turns off.}

            Camera pans around to Zach, who sets the remote down. He looks distressed. He pauses for a few seconds before leaning forward in his seat, hands flat palmed against each other and resting them against his face with his eyes closed. His mouth is slightly moving up and down indicating he is praying.

{Execute audio before moving to next scene.}

            Zach is on the phone with Lee. He’s sitting on back porch of his property while Lee is in his room in his neighborhood.

[Zach]: Have you been watching the news lately, man?

[Lee]: Yeah like it’s-

[Zach]: It’s getting worse!

[Lee]: Like I’m starting to get worried; like we need to go to my family’s farm especially since my family right now is living in a neighborhood full of people.

[Zach]: I’m surprised your family hasn’t decided to do that yet.

[Lee]: Oh they’re talking about it. Like I heard my parents talking the other day about fuel and then they mentioned the tractors and there’s no other explanation for that except for my farm.

[Zach]: (Pause.) Yeah.

[Lee]: So how’s your mom and sister? Are they gonna stay in Florida or are they coming back? Because I’m assuming your sister won’t be doing gymnastics over there with all this going on.

            Zach’s dad drives onto property and drives past him. He stands up and waves while still talking to Lee. He then goes walking toward his dad’s car which parks beside his grandparents’ home not far from his house.

[Zach]: Yeah…my dad’s actually talked to my mom on the phone last night. They’re talking about meeting up in Florida.

[Lee]: And then coming back here?

            Zach stops walking.

[Zach]: (Pause.) No, Lee. Staying there, in Florida, with nothing but cities, neighborhoods, heavily populated areas like that.

[Lee]: Is that a joke or…

[Zach]: I’m being serious.

[Lee]: (Pause.) What about you?

[Zach]: Well, my plans were to go Airforce, go to colleague for free, get a girlfriend, get married, and live here in Texas for the rest of my life like I wanted. But now since that’s not happening (Frustration. Starts walking again.) 

[Lee]: (Pause.) Zach… you know you don’t have to go.

[Zach]: Believe me; I’m considering my options.

[Lee]: Just…try to get them to understand that Florida is too populated for that stuff. This thing going around; it’s worse than that Ebola thing that happened a couple of years ago, contagiousness wise.

[Zach]: I know.

[Lee]: Are you going to church tonight?

[Zach]: There’s church tonight? I thought Sunday was the last day Mim’s was having because of everything.

[Lee]: It was last minute stuff they sent an email literally last night.

[Zach]: Well then I’m definitely going.

[Lee]: Ok. Well I’ll see you there then.

[Zach]: Ok. Bye.

[Lee]: Bye.

            Zach hangs up the phone and by then he is at his grandparents’ home where his dad is unloading the car full of groceries. Zach’s brother, Parker, his sister Hannah and his Grandma are helping unload.

[Zach]: Dad,

[Todd]: Yeah, son? Come help me with the groceries.

[Zach]: (As he grabs several bags of groceries.) Are we going to church tonight?

[Todd]: I was planning on it; I saw the email last night I just forgot to tell you about it. Grandma and Papa will be staying home. How’d you know about church tonight?

            Hannah interrupts grabbing the last bit of groceries.

[Hannah]: Daddy, that’s the last bit of groceries in the car.

[Todd]: Ok, Hannah, tell Parker he can’t eat anything else till dinner we gotta make that food last.

[Zach]: Lee told me. (Closes car door.)

[Todd]: Oh.

[Zach]: His family’s going to their farm soon.

[Todd]: Yeah?

            The two start making their way towards the door.

[Zach]: Much more isolated than most places; safer.

            Todd stops walking and then so does Zach. The two face each other.

[Todd]: You don’t wanna go to Florida?

[Zach]: We can do it dad. We can just tell mom and Emily to come here to Texas so we can be with the Baluseks. We’ll be with people we know, we’ll be safe.

[Todd]: It’s too much of a risk having them go to an airport in Florida.

[Zach]: (Sets down grocery bags.) So have them drive back to Texas.

[Todd]: By themselves? An 18 hour trip by themselves?

[Zach]: Then you go to Florida and get them while me Hannah and Parker wait for you here.

[Todd]: (Irritated.) And it’s not safe for me to go on my own as well. We all need to go to Florida together, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. Don’t you want to be with mom and Emily?

[Zach]: (Spread arms out.) Yes, I do, but this is all we know. They can make the drive. Most of it is empty roads anyways.  

[Todd]: It’s different now, son you have to realize that by now-

[Zach]: So then go to Florida, bring them back here because it is much less populated in Texas than it is in Florida and if we’re not gonna get sick like the people on the news, then we need to stay here.

[Todd]: Son, this isn’t like the comic books you read or the movies you watch it’s not like it’s the end of the world.

[Zach]: I’m not saying it is.

[Todd]: Then what are you trying to tell me? My wife who happens to be your mother too and your sister are in Florida alone. I have been away from them for several months now. I need to be with them. Our family needs to be with them. Son, I hate to tell you like this, but you need to drop everything and just be with your family. Tonight is Mim’s last day. You’ll say your goodbyes to Lee, Maddy, Josh, Brittany and everybody else and then Friday, we are going to Florida.

[Zach]: (Tearing up.) Dad no that’s-

[Todd]: Zach…I’m sorry. But we’re going.

            Zach begins to sob. He backs away and then walks off. Todd watches his son walk away; he feels his son’s pain.

{Audio of door knocks before next scene.}

[Lee]: Come in.

            Lee’s mom walks into his room. Lee is sitting on his bed with his phone in hand. His mom sits next to him.

[Robyn]: Lee, I wanted to let you know that we’re going to the farm tomorrow.

[Lee]: (Blinks, turns to look at Robyn.) Wait tomorrow?

[Robyn]: Yes. I already talked to the Chances and Mrs. Garret, and they’re gonna be coming with us, but they won’t get there till Friday. Meagan and Jaden will be there when we get there.

[Lee]: So Brittany is gonna be there with us?

[Robyn]: Yes. So I need you to start packing as much clothes as you can in your suit case and backpacks. I think you should put clothes in the suit case and fill your backpack with your tooth brush, deodorant, that sort of thing, ok?

[Lee]: (Shakes head up and down twice.)

            Robyn stands up and hesitates to walk out of the room.

[Robyn]: Can I get a hug.

            Lee gets up and hugs his mom and then she leaves the room. Lee stays standing and then looks at his phone.

            Zach is sitting up against one of the trees on the property. He looks as if he had been crying. He hears the notification of his phone receiving a text. He pulls his phone out and it is Lee sending him a text.

[Lee]: My family is leaving tomorrow for the farm. Brittany and Haven’s family are gonna be there Friday.

            Zach hesitates before replying to the text.

[Zach]: My family is leaving Friday.  

            Zach sobs as he puts the phone down. He gets a text and looks at it.

[Lee]: What are you gonna do?

           Zach has a blank stare on him.

[Zach]: I don’t know.

[Lee]: This sucks man.

[Zach]: I’ll figure it out.

          Zach puts away phone and sits there for a few more seconds. Afterwards he’s in his dad’s bedroom closet and grabs a rifle and revolver pistol. He walks outside towards the corner of his property where a set of rusty targets are waiting. He suddenly gets a flash back of him as a young boy with his grandpa learning to shoot for the first time.  

[Tray]: Alright now, son, pull the hammer back…

           Zach pulls hammer back and points at target.

           (Go back to present) Zach is walking towards targets, and then setting stuff on a gun table about 30 feet from the targets.

           (Go back to flashback.)  Zach’s right eye is closed shut. Grandpa looks down sights with Zach.

[Tray]: You got your right eye closed?

           Zach closes right eye.

[Zach]: Yes, sir.

[Tray]: Now, pull the hammer again as far as possible, and then get ready to squeeze the trigger.

           (Back to present), Zach starts loading the guns, sets pistol in holster and rests rifle on the table with sling outstretched and half-cocked.

           (Back to past), Zach sets pistol in holster and waits.

[Tray]: Now at the sound of the beep show me a “Nevada Sweep”.

           (There is a half-second switch from past-Zach to present-Zach standing behind table waiting for the sound of the beep.)

[Tray]: (Echoed.) Stand by…

         (Beeping sound.)

                Zach pulls out first pistol and shoots targets accurately and swiftly, does the same with the second pistol, then the lever-action rifle, and empties all his firearms in about ten seconds. He pauses for a second before setting the gun down. He braces arms against table and leans his head forward solemnly.

{Audio of car driving down road before switch to next scene.}

   Zach’s family is driving in their cars towards church. Zach’s head is leaned up against the window watching the road. They drive by stores and gas stations that are all closed, or stations saying “No more fuel”, and some stores blackened with ash as if it caught fire. They see a few people driving past them at dangerously fast speeds.

      Todd looks at Zach for a moment wondering why he would want to stay here in Texas.

    The car pulls into church. The parking lot is somewhat full, and landscape looks untaken care of. Todd stops the car in the parking lot beside the student center. Hannah begins to walk out of the car.

[Todd]: Ok Hannah, Zach will be there in a little bit. Be careful. Have fun.

[Hannah]: Ok. Love you.

[Todd]: Love you.

There is a pause after Hannah closes car door and walks off.

[Todd]: Zach-

[Zach]: Dad I understand. I really do.

(Pause for a second or two.)

[Zach]: I don’t want to, ok. I hate that fact that this is happening…but it is.

[Todd]: (Nods) Ok. I’m sorry son.

Zach nods, and then gets out of the car. He watches as his dad parks beside the sanctuary. Zach walks into the student center. Bailey and Lauren wave to him, Zach waves back. He sees Maddy Balusek sitting beside a table talking to Haven and Emily Chance. She sees Zach and gets out of her chair.

[Maddy]: Lee told about Florida.

[Zach]: Yeah…I…my dad told me this was the last time I’m seeing you guys.

[Maddy]: Lee told me. What are you gonna do?

[Zach]: For now? I’m gonna have a good time with my friends and I’m gonna forget about what’s happening.

[Josh]: Zach!

Zach turns and sees Josh and Alissa Merlet walking towards him.

[Zach]: Josh!

The three hug.

[Alissa]: Our mom talked to your dad about Florida. You’re going with them?

[Zach]: …To be honest I don’t know yet.

[Josh]: Our mom gave us the impression that you were. According to your dad-

[Zach]: I know what my dad said.

There is a slight pause. Alissa guesses that Zach may try to run away.  

[Alissa]: You’re gonna-

[Zach]: No, I haven’t decided yet, but…yeah I’m thinking about it.

Lee and Brittany walks up to Zach. Lee and Zach hug.

[Lee]: You decided yet?

[Zach]: No.

[Josh]: This is just my opinion. But Florida is a much more populated area than Texas and surrounded by other populated states. Go there; you risk a higher chance of getting sick like the people on the news.

[Zach]: Exactly. But my mom and sister are there, and my dad doesn’t wanna risk having them drive here on their own.

[Brittany]: Couldn’t your dad just drive there and pick them up?

[Zach]: Maybe, but it’s also risky for him to go on his own. He’s doing what he thinks is right for the whole family.

[Maddy]: I’m sorry.

[Alissa]: Your family is gonna get sick if you go.

[Zach]: Maybe.

Dylan Smith meets Zach at the door as well. They hug.

[Dylan]: Sup dude.

[Zach]: Everything, man. I’m leaving for Florida a couple of days from now. On that note (Chuckles) what are ya’lls plans? I know Brittany’s family and the Chances are going to your farm, how about you guys?

[Josh]: Well our property is very similar to yours. We’re isolated enough to be safe.

[Zach]: Yeah.

It’s quiet for a moment.

[Alissa]: I’m gonna miss you guys.  

[Zach]: Me too.

{“Forever He” begins to play before transitioning to next scene.}

The youth group is singing and worshiping with the praise band. Lee and Maddy’s parents, Glenn and Robyn Balusek, are there at the student center as well as Kelly McCullough and her son Noah. Dustin McCullough is there as well, Shane Cooper is operating the sound system. The praise band stops singing and Dustin the youth pastor steps onto stage.

[Dustin]: Hey guys so don’t worry about getting your bibles. I wasn’t told in time to have a good last message prepared so instead what we’ll do is-

Suddenly they hear a loud scream downstairs. The students get scared. Glenn gets out of his chair and notices outside the mirror that the entire parking lot is filled with at least two hundred walkers.

[Glenn]: Dustin! We need to lock the doors, barricade them or something!

Dustin looks out window and frantically locks all the doors. Some of the students start screaming and crying.

[Zach]: Use the stage!

Zach, Lee, Josh, Charles, Daniel, Nick, and Dylan use the pieces of the stage and brace them against the doors. Kelly and Robyn are trying to calm the students down. Shane goes into the closet and comes back out with Dustin’s AR-15 and his own shotgun. Shane gives Dustin his AR-15.

[Dustin]: Start making phone calls.

[Robyn]: Everybody get in the game room.

Kids start rushing inside the game room screaming and crying. The older guys are still barricading every door with tables, chairs, and stage platforms.

[Shane]: Lee, Zach, all you guys; get in the game room.

The boys go inside the game room. The rovers heard all the ruckus going on inside the student center and a large portion of them began walking up the stair case and breaking into the building below the student center. Hundreds walked inside the church where gun shots and screams could be heard. 

[Shane]: (Puts down phone) Dustin, no one has answered any of my calls.

[Dustin]: Keep trying Shane, we gotta get these kids to their parents! (Gets answer from parent on phone.) Yes! Hey, you need to get to the youth center and get your son and-(Screams can be heard from phone.) no, no, no!

Just then banging can be heard on the other side of the main entrance. Dustin sets his gun off safety and Shane cocks his shotgun. Inside the game room, some of the students are still crying but the noise has died down a bit. The room is crowded with all the students. Zach, Lee, Maddy, Brittany, Roger, Josh, Alissa, Haven, Rebecca, and Hannah (Golden) are sitting in a group.

[Rose]: (Crying.) I don’t wanna die.

[Danielle]: Where are my parents why aren’t they here yet?

[Daniel]: (To Nick.) Boy as soon as I get the chance I’m getting out of here and nobody gonna stop me.

[Nick]: That’s what I’m sayin. Dude freakin freshmen won’t shuttup.

Hearing all the crying and talking, Zach speaks.

[Zach]: You know what, Nick; maybe they have a reason to not shuttup. That stuff you saw on the news…that’s happening here. There are people getting sick; people dying, ok? But look guys and I’m saying this to everyone: If we calm down, if we relax, and stay focused and we think, we can get through this. We have to work together, have each other’s back, make sure that everybody is safe before we start going off or planning to go do our own thing. Now as far as I know, phones are still working, you need to call them, text them, do whatever you can to contact them let them know you’re ok.

Students attempt to contact their parents. Some of them manage to get a hold of their families while others continuously dial their numbers and call them with no reply.

[Alissa]: Did you call your dad?

[Zach]: Yeah. No reply. Probably fighting them off and didn’t hear his phone ringing.

[Hannah]: We need to get to dad, Zachary.

[Zach]: Hannah we can’t there’s too many out there we can’t reach them. He would want us-

[Hannah]: No Zach we need to get to dad right now.

[Zach]: Hannah-

[Hannah]: Zach! You’re wanting to leave dad and Parker there by themselves?!

[Lee]: Hannah, you really think we can get through all those things out there? Be smart.

[Alissa]: Zach’s right, Hannah he’s doing what he can to make sure both of you are safe when your dad gets here.

[Hannah]: Oh yeah right! Zach just doesn’t want to go to Florida. He doesn’t even wanna be with his family.

[Brittany]: That is not true at all, Hannah you need to chill.

[Zach]: (Aggressive whisper.) Of course I don’t wanna go to Florida. It is a crowded state with thousands and thousands of people, and with this sickness going around the chances of us getting sick is inevitable. But don’t think for a moment that I don’t wanna be with you guys because I do. But there are better ways for a family to be together than to go turning into one of those things out there just so we can get a better view of the dolphins!

Suddenly the lights begin to flicker and then finally they go off. Half of the group starts freaking out, screaming and crying. Robyn and Kelly and the older kids are doing their best to calm the group down. They tell the kids to turn on the lights on their smart phones. They all do so, and the game room is dimly lit.

[Kelly]: (To Robyn.) I’m gonna go check on Dustin and Shane. Will you watch Noah for me?

[Robyn]: Yes of course go ahead.

Kelly walks into worship area to Dustin who has stopped calling people.

[Dustin]: I managed to get a hold of about half of the students here. But the others…none of them-

[Kelly]: It’s ok, there’s nothing else you can do. When are their parents gonna start arriving?

[Dustin]: I don’t know.

Shane then gets a call. He answers it. It’s Mr. Coker. He tells Shane that he’s speeding down to the church and he’s gonna get Carson and Carter.

[Shane]: (Hangs up phone.) It’s Mr. Coker; he’s getting Carson and Carter.

[Dustin]: (Wearily.) Are you serious?!

[Kelly]: I’ll get them.

Kelly rushes to the game room.

[Kelly]: Carter, Carson, your dad is on his way I need ya’ll to come right now.

The three walk back to Dustin.

[Dustin]: I don’t even know how we’re gonna pull this off. Did he say where he was gonna get them?

[Shane]: He said the front of the building.

[Dustin]: Oh my gosh. We have to pull all the stuff back away from the door then. Kelly, go back inside the game room. Lock the door; don’t come out no matter what.

Dustin and Kelly kiss and Kelly runs back inside the game room. Shane, Carter, Carson, and Dustin start pulling chairs, tables, and stage platforms away from the door. When they pull the last part of the barricade away from the entrance, Dustin pulls out the keys. The rovers are piled up against the door growling. The glass is cracked all over and the sound of crunching glass continuing as Dustin prepared to unlock the door.

[Dustin]: Shane, shoot to kill. Carson, Carter, back away and don’t come near until I say so. Ready? One, two, three!

Dustin unlocks the door and steps back. Shane and Dustin shoot their guns at the rovers’ chests but nothing happened. Half a dozen walk inside the youth center and counting.

[Shane]: Shoot the head!

Dustin shoots one in the head and it immediately falls down. He pauses and looks emotionlessly at the body, and then continues.

[Carter]: OH MY GOD…OH MY GOD!!

Dustin and Shane take down enough to where they begin to press forward. They work their way to the balcony shooting more rovers as they come up the stairs.

[Shane]: I gotta reload!

Shane runs back inside the student center and starts reloading. Dustin runs out of ammo but pulls a second clip out of his pocket and keeps shooting. Shane comes running back and shoots as well. Mr. Coker’s car comes speeding around the corner, hitting a few rovers. He stops the car, gets out with his own AR-15 and starts shooting and clearing a path for his sons.

[Dustin]: Come on, kids come on your dads here!

Carson and Carter run out going down the stairs and stepping over the bodies. Carter is crying and scrambling to the car.

[Mr. Coker]: Get in; boys go go go!

All three get back into the car. The car starts leaving the parking lot but a rover’s arm gets jammed into the axel. Dustin and Shane try to shoot the rovers walking towards the car. After a few seconds the rovers surround the car, the windows smash, and they flood inside the vehicle. Dustin and Shane can hear their screams of agony.

[Dustin]: NO!!

Dustin tries to go after the car but Shane stops him and pulls him back into the student center.

[Shane]: (Fighting tears.) You’ll die too; we have to lock the place up so others can’t get in!

Just then, the barricades to the other entrances to the worship center crumble and the doors are forced open. Rovers start walking out towards Dustin and Shane. They race for the game room doors knocking on it as hard as they could as Rovers got closer and closer. Kelly opens the door and immediately shuts them just as the rovers reach the door.

[Dustin]: Push! Keep it closed!

Most of the students scream and cry. Lee, Josh, Zach, Charles, and Dylan run for the door, using the ping-pong table to keep the door shut, and then using the pool table to keep the other door shut on the other side of the room.

After several hours passed, it is completely silent accept for the sound of rovers growling and walking in the student center. Brittany starts singing.

[Brittany]: The moon and stars they wept. The morning sun was dead. The savior of the world was fallen…

Other students started singing with her.

{Continue playing song as different shots follow.}

The rovers filled up the student center, overwhelmed the parking lot, and flooded the church.

{When chorus ends, scene goes black.}

(End credits)