Dead on the Horizon
Chapter 1: Sweet Dreams
Written by Jerred D. Adams
GHOST VO:
If you are hearing this, you’re still alive. The cities have been overrun, I repeat stay away from the cities. I thought I could hold up in my house but it proved to be fatal. Mankind is crumbling before my eyes. Whatever you do, don’t let what happened to me happen to you. Perhaps I should start from the beginning…
INT – DEREKS HOUSE
(ALISON is messing with the remote)
DEREK:
Down in the basement.
ALISON:
The television isn’t working.
DEREK:
Did you not hear me? I said get down in the basement!
ALISON:
Derek, what’s wrong?
DEREK:
Hurry, there’s no time to lose!
ALISON:
Okay, okay!
(The two scramble to the basement. DEREK slams the door behind him)
ALISON:
What’s going on?
DEREK:
I’m not sure.
ALISON:
Well if you’re not sure, why are we in the basement?
DEREK:
Because it’s the best place to be, trust me.
ALISON:
Derek, look at me.
DEREK:
We need to block this door.
ALISON:
Block it? Why?
DEREK:
Do we have any extra wood down here?
ALISON:
Did you not hear me? Why do we need to block the door?
DEREK:
Ask questions later! Right now we have tasks to perform.
ALISON:
I’m not blocking any doors without being given a solid reason.
DEREK:
For Christ sake Alison-
ALISON:
Answer me, Derek!
(The sound of breaking glass is heard from beyond the basement door)
ALISON:
What the hell?
DEREK:
Shhh. Be quiet.
ALISON:
Oh my God. Did someone break into our house?
DEREK:
I said be quiet.
ALISON:
Derek-
(There’s a slamming against the door)
DEREK:
Move!
(ALISON moves only for DEREK to take a gun out from his back pocket. The door is yanked open and a crazed man tries to run down the stairs. DEREK fires)
ALISON:
Ahhh!
DEREK:
Quiet, you’ll attract more.
(Brief silence)
ALISON:
You…you just shot a man in the head.
DEREK:
That’s the thing. He wasn’t a man.
ALISON:
What are you talking about? That was a man! He was walking on two fucking legs and everything!
DEREK:
That wasn’t a man!
ALISON:
Then what the hell was it?
DEREK:
I don’t know! All I do know is that the streets are filling up with them.
ALISON:
What?
DEREK:
Come on. We need to secure this door and make sure nothing else gets down here.
INT – GHOSTS HOUSE
RADIO VO:
I repeat: Stay in your houses. This is not a test. It would appear that a national epidemic is spreading and-
(A rapid knocking is heard at the front door)
GHOST:
I’m coming.
(GHOST walks over and answers the door. In runs HUE)
GHOST:
Um, come in?
HUE:
Close the door dammit!
(GHOST does)
GHOST:
I’m sorry but you weren’t exactly invited in.
HUE:
Well I’m here now aren’t I?
GHOST:
I guess.
(HUE extends a hand)
HUE:
Hue Chinsky.
GHOST:
Arthur Williams but all my friends call me Ghost.
HUE:
Ghost?
GHOST:
Yeah, it was a nickname I developed back in high school computer class. Long story.
HUE:
Listen Ghost, do you know what exactly is going on out there?
GHOST:
Not exactly. All I know is that the television is out and the radio keeps playing the same message over and over again.
HUE:
You mean you haven’t stepped foot outside?
GHOST:
No. I barely do except for grocery shopping and all-
HUE:
Listen, we can work together. This is a pretty sweet set up you have here. You and I, we can survive this thing.
GHOST:
I’m sorry Hue but what exactly is going on that needs surviving?
HUE:
The apocalypse.
GHOST:
Ah, I see.
HUE:
What’s wrong?
GHOST:
I’m calling the cops because I find you insanely crazy.
HUE:
The phone lines are dead. There’s no way to connect to anyone! Listen to reason dammit!
GHOST:
I’m simply using logic-
HUE:
Sometimes logic can’t explain everything.
GHOST:
Now that is illogical.
HUE:
Awe fuck off Spock and look out the window!
(GHOST looks out the window)
GHOST:
Holy Moley.
HUE:
Do you have any guns?
GHOST:
My father left me an old rifle in the basement.
HUE:
I’ll go find it.
GHOST:
Hue…what are those things?
HUE:
From the look of it, those are the bodies of the dead walking among the living.
GHOST:
Jesus.
HUE:
Like I said, I’ll go find the gun.
GHOST:
I’ll close the blinds!
HUE:
Ghost…keep your eyes open for more survivors. There’s always strength in numbers.
GHOST:
Right.
INT – CHET’s HOUSE
(CHET and BRYAN load up their belongings as we hear banging against the front door)
BRYAN:
What the hell do we do?
CHET:
We get the fuck out of here, that’s what we do!
BRYAN:
But where are we going?
CHET:
Wherever those things can’t find us.
BRYAN:
But the radio told us-
CHET:
Fuck the radio!
BRYAN:
Chet, you need to listen to some sense-
CHET:
No, you need to listen to those things trying to break down the front door and snap into our skin like a fucking slim Jim! We’re leaving. Come on!
(CHET opens the back door to the house)
CHET:
Now Bryan!
(CHET and BRYAN exit the house)
INT – DEREK’S BASEMENT
(DEREK sets up an old radio as ALISON watches)
DEREK:
Work dammit.
ALISON:
That thing is over twenty years old. I seriously doubt it works.
DEREK:
I’ll fix it then.
ALISON:
You were never Mr. Fix-It, Derek.
DEREK:
Just hand me a screwdriver.
(ALISON hands him a screwdriver as she starts to cough)
ALISON:
Where did you get the gun?
DEREK:
What does it matter? The important thing is we have one.
ALISON:
I want you to tell me where you got that gun-
DEREK:
Jesus, Alison! Does it matter where I got it? I picked it off a dead cop, I raided a gun store, I found it laying on the ground, pick your choice!
ALISON:
What’s happening to us?
DEREK:
Nothing. It’s simply called survival of the fittest, babe.
ALISON:
Survival of the fittest? All we’re doing is laying low in a basement, tampering with a busted radio!
DEREK:
Let me concentrate-
ALISON:
We need to find help!
DEREK:
This is no help! Believe me!
(Silence)
ALISON:
You always promised you would never let anything bad happen to me.
DEREK:
I’m trying my hardest.
(ALISON turns away and continues to cough. She lays down on the sofa)
DEREK:
Alison…I’m sorry.
ALISON:
I’m sure you are. Just go back to your radio.
DEREK:
I’m trying to apologize here.
ALISON:
I hear your apology.
DEREK:
Then accept it. I’m trying to be heartfelt here-
ALISON:
For God sakes, worry about the radio Derek! That’s obviously all you really care about.
(Silence)
ALISON:
I’m going to sleep. Maybe there I’ll have an escape from this nightmare.
DEREK:
Goodnight…
INT – GHOSTS HOUSE
(HUE comes upstairs with a large rifle. GHOST looks out the window with a pair of binoculars)
HUE:
You see anything?
GHOST:
Just a bunch of corpses.
HUE:
Well try not to be seen.
GHOST:
Not exactly number one on my list right now.
(A rapping comes to the front door)
HUE:
What the hell?
GHOST:
That’s going to attract them!
HUE:
I got it!
(HUE runs to the front door and rips it open. It’s BRYAN and CHET)
HUE:
Hold it!
CHET:
Whoa! Gun down, we’re alive!
BRYAN:
Holy shit, more people.
HUE:
Oh my God. Ghost, we have two more.
GHOST:
Two more? Bring them in pronto!
(CHET and BRYAN run on in. HUE quickly shuts the door and bolts it)
BRYAN:
Thank God we finally found someone. We’ve been hopping fences all day, outrunning those things hoping to find others.
GHOST:
What are your names?
CHET:
I’m Chet and this is Bryan.
GHOST:
Where are you from?
CHET:
Rockville.
HUE:
Rockville? That has to be five miles away!
BRYAN:
Then we got a good cardio workout then.
GHOST:
You didn’t have a car?
CHET:
Had one but it got overrun by those things out there. Had to abandon it.
GHOST:
Jiminy cricket.
BRYAN:
We’re just lucky we found this place.
HUE:
Well we’re happy to take you in, right Ghost?
GHOST:
Of course.
BRYAN:
Wonderful. Do you have any food or water we can have?
HUE:
Follow me.
(BRYAN and CHET follow HUE to the kitchen)
INT – DEREK’s BASEMENT
(DEREK feels ALISON’S forehead)
DEREK:
You’re burning up.
ALISON:
It’s just a cold. It’ll pass in a few days.
DEREK:
It doesn’t feel like a cold. You’re extra warm to the touch.
ALISON:
I’m fine.
DEREK:
Trust me, you’re not. Look at yourself in the mirror. You’re as pale as a ghost.
(She does)
ALISON:
Oh my God…
DEREK:
We’re going to get help. Come on-
ALISON:
We’re not leaving. Not with those things out there.
DEREK:
There has to be working hospitals out there trying to fix this situation right now.
ALISON:
We’ll never make it beyond the front door.
DEREK:
I’m not going to let you die down here.
ALISON:
I’m not going to die. A flu’s a flu, Derek.
DEREK:
People have died from the flu.
ALISON:
I’m not going to be one of those people. I’m strong.
DEREK:
I know you are. You’re one of the strongest people I know.
ALISON:
Then let me tough this out.
DEREK:
Allie…
ALISON:
I love you.
DEREK:
I love you too.
INT – GHOSTS HOUSE
(CHET walks into his new bedroom)
BRYAN:
Looks like we hit the new jackpot.
CHET:
I’d say so.
BRYAN:
So how long do you think we should keep these two alive until we gut them and take their belongings?
CHET:
I don’t know. I actually think we can get away with working with these two.
BRYAN:
You’re kidding?
CHET:
Not at all. Hue looks as though he’s easily assessable and Ghost can come in handy.
BRYAN:
But what if they don’t want to help us?
CHET:
Then we’ll make them. Until then, we’ll sit here nice and pretty.
INT – GHOSTS ROOM
(GHOST fiddles with a radio)
GHOST:
Can anyone hear me?
HUE:
What are you doing?
GHOST:
I’m trying to make contact with others.
HUE:
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that crummy little thing will do jack shit.
GHOST:
Just have a little faith in logic.
HUE:
I left my faith in logic long behind me when the dead started rising from their graves.
GHOST:
Come on Hue. We have two more people right here in this house. That’s double what we had this morning!
HUE:
I’m just saying-
GHOST:
Never doubt me and my magic.
HUE:
Sure. Whatever you say, Ghost.
(HUE leaves)
GHOST:
Hello. Can anyone hear me? Is anyone alive out there?
INT – DEREKS BASEMENT
ALISON:
Do you remember the first time we met?
DEREK:
How could I forget?
ALISON:
It was in eleventh grade.
DEREK:
Mr. Truman’s history class.
ALISON:
I had just transferred from Rockville Private School. We sat next to each other in those uncomfortable desks the school was too cheap to replace. Mr. Truman, being the smartass that he was, decided to give us a group project the first week of school…so he partnered us up. I swear the first time you spoke to me, you could barely get a word out in edgewise. You just stared at me and quivered those lips of yours. It’s like you were intimidated or something.
DEREK:
Because I was! You were the prettiest girl in class. There I was, partnered up with a girl I just fell head over heels for at first sight. Every time I opened up my mouth, I felt like I was going to spit up my scrambled eggs and toast.
ALISON:
But we got the project done: An oral report on the economy.
DEREK:
Oh how I dreaded that subject.
ALISON:
And I didn’t?
(They both give a little laugh)
ALISON:
I remember when you first asked me out.
DEREK:
We were laying out in my mom’s backyard and I told you how special you were to me.
ALISON:
It didn’t surprise anyone that we started going out. Everyone did say we completed each other.
DEREK:
The first time you ever told me you loved me was at our homecoming dance.
ALISON:
You held me in your arms and I felt safe. There’s no place I feel any safer than in your arms, Derek.
DEREK:
Come here.
(ALISON can’t move. She starts to cough)
DEREK:
You okay?
ALISON:
I’m fine.
DEREK:
Let me feel your head.
ALISON:
I said I’m fine.
DEREK:
Let me just-
ALISON:
Derek!
(DEREK touches her forehead)
DEREK:
Fuck! You’re searing.
ALISON:
How many times do I have to tell you? I’m fine.
DEREK:
You’re not fine. Babe, you’re burning up. You’re growing worse by the hour.
ALISON:
Please Derek, stop worrying about me.
DEREK:
Come on. Enough with this bullshit. I’m taking you to the hospital.
ALISON:
We won’t make it.
DEREK:
Yes, we will. I got my pistol and a box full of shells. Now come on!
ALISON:
Derek…I can’t stand up.
DEREK:
You can’t stand up?
ALISON:
My legs feel like bricks. They won’t budge.
DEREK:
Then I’m carrying you.
ALISON:
There’s no way this’ll work.
DEREK:
It’ll work! I’m not losing you.
(DEREK tries to hoist ALISON up into his arms)
DEREK:
Put your arms around my neck.
ALISON:
I don’t feel so good, Derek.
DEREK:
Of course you don’t! That’s why I’m rushing you to the hospital!
(DEREK finally picks her up. He struggles)
ALISON:
Put me down!
DEREK:
We’re leaving!
ALISON:
Put me down!
DEREK:
NO!
ALISON:
DEREK!
(ALISON reaches into DEREK’s pocket)
DEREK:
Alison, what are you doing?
(ALISON pulls DEREKS gun on him)
ALISON:
Drop me or I’ll fucking shoot you!
DEREK:
Alison, that’s my gun.
ALISON:
Put me down. Don’t make me do this.
(DEREK gently puts ALISON down)
DEREK:
Don’t do anything stupid, Allie.
ALISON:
Back up, Derek.
(He does)
DEREK:
Allie…I’m here for you. It’s me. I love you, remember? I just want to help you.
ALISON:
There’s no helping me Derek. Can’t you see? I’m dying.
DEREK:
You’re not dying.
ALISON:
Look at me.
DEREK:
Alison-
ALISON:
LOOK AT ME! My eyes are fucking bloodshot, my skin is as white as porcelain. I can’t even walk for Christ sake.
DEREK:
There’s always hope, baby.
ALISON:
Don’t call me that. Not now. Don’t pamper me.
DEREK:
You can’t be dying. I mean how?
ALISON:
There’s no time for questions. I can feel the changes coming. I sense it.
DEREK:
What changes?
ALISON:
I’m not looking at you as my lover any more, Derek. I’m looking at you as…
DEREK:
As what?
ALISON:
As a feast. I want to tear your skin from your bones and suck them dry.
DEREK:
Huh?
ALISON:
There’s only way to stop this. To make sure I don’t cause you harm.
DEREK:
Alison, what are you thinking about doing?
ALISON:
I’ll always be there for you in your dreams, baby. I love you.
(ALISON puts the gun up to her head)
DEREK:
NO!
(Gunshot goes off. Silence. We then hear slight banging against the upstairs walls from the zombies outside who were alerted by the gunshot. We fade out to “Sweet Dreams” by Marilyn Manson)
