Chapter 1 Transcript

Writing done by Kc Wayland
Transcription courtesy of Kc Wayland
Edited by Re1ndeer

[hide][top]Part 1

Music Intro

NARRATOR

We're Alive, A Story of Survival, Episode 1, It Begins.

MICHAEL

As I recall, the months leading up to when this all began weren't much to remember. My unit returned home earlier that year from our tour in Iraq. I had spent three-sixty-five on ground working as military intelligence. Our group came up with those playing cards you saw on the news, the 52 most wanted. I was a hard-charged PFC back then.

(Beat)

But, that was the first tour. After our 3rd, I was the tired and depressed Sergeant. Nothing scared me back then. I didn't fear death or what might be there on the other side if today was my last day. That was then, and this is now. I write this not really for anyone to read it, but for my own sanity. Maybe if I go over it from the beginning, it might make more sense to me. Then again, maybe not.


End Intro


MICHAEL (CONT'D)

I was 27 at the time and in my 4th year in college. I started my freshman year in 2001, almost 8 years ago now. I remember the date as if it was burned into my head. May 8th, 2009.

Sounds of campus in the background.

FEMALE STUDENT1

Hey Michael, where you going?

MICHAEL

Class-

FEMALE STUDENT1

Oh, did you study for the quiz today?

MICHAEL

No, not really.

FEMALE STUDENT1

(laughs)

Oh, well neither did I.

MICHAEL

Yeah, well, alright.

FEMALE STUDENT1

Hey are you going to the Omega's party this weekend? It's going to be so awesome, I thought you might want to go with-

MICHAEL

Nope, don't want to. Thanks though.

FEMALE STUDENT1

Why not?

MICHAEL

Is it a better response to say, oh OK, well maybe another time?

FEMALE STUDENT1

Geeze, you don't have to be such a jerk about it.

MICHAEL

I was direct, how is that being a jerk?

Michael opens the door to the classroom.

MALE OLD TEACHER

Once you are done, um, go ahead and put your papers up here and you guy will be free to go.

An explosion way off in the background.

MICHAEL

What the hell?

FEMALE STUDENT1

Did you hear that?

MALE OLD TEACHER

It's probably just the construction going on next door, now please take your seat-

MICHAEL

That's not construction.

MALE OLD TEACHER

Hey! You know there are no make ups for this quiz!

Michael and the and Female Student both leave the classroom and head down the hall.

MICHAEL (V.O.)

I remember seeing everyone gathered around the television. I expected a bombing, or maybe even another attack on U.S. Soil. Part of me was planning for the worst, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

The sound of the TV gets louder as they get closer.

MALE TV ANNOUNCER

I know some of these images much be shocking, but I assure you they are very real. We're receiving reports from all around the Los Angeles area and downtown San Diego. Men and women, attacking each other, biting and thrashing at one another. Local law enforcement is now responding- oh my god they're attacking the police officers.

Sounds of shots fired on the TV.

MALE TV ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)

The attackers seem to have no hesitation as the officers are responding with lethal enforcement.

FEMALE STUDENT1

What the hell is going on? That's only like 20 miles from here. You think it's going to reach us?

Michael's cell phone goes off.

MICHAEL

Hello?

ANGEL (O.S.)

(On Phone)

Michael, it's Lieutenant Angel, where are you?

MICHAEL

I'm at school right now, what's going on?

ANGEL

We need you to come to the unit right away.

MICHAEL

Is this about what's on the TV?

ANGEL

I'm stuck in traffic, so I have no idea. I just got a phone call from the commander and now I'm calling you. How long till you can get here?

MICHAEL

Maybe 30 minutes, but I don't have my uniform.

ANGEL

Don't worry about those, we have a couple spares at the unit, just get there as fast as you can.

MICHAEL

Alright I'm on my way.

Michael hangs up and runs off to his car, starts it up and heads off into the distance. Music Bridge broken by sound of honking.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

What the hell do you want me to do? He's not moving in from of me either!

Honking continues.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

I can't go anywhere! God Damn!

Michael takes a deep breath and clicks on the radio.

RADIO ANNOUNCER

The 101 has been completely shut down in the area of the riot. Do not attempt taking the five freeway as it has stopped due to a massive accident outside Bell in south Los Angeles.

MICHAEL

Great, right before my exit.

He clicks off the radio. Honking continues behind him.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

I swear gonna rip your ass out of the car-

Sound of the car starting to move.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Finally.

(beat)

What the hell is that?

Under the voice over you hear the sounds of the man being attacked.

MICHAEL (V.O.) (CONT'D)

The first time I saw them, I froze. Something inside me told me to not to move. The group of them moved past my car to the man honking behind me.

(Beat)

Their bodies were littered with scars and bruises and their eyes were glazed over. The news made it sound like these were people gone mad, but the way they moved made me think that these may not be people at all.

(Beat)

It seemed almost in slow motion the way they piled onto the honker's car. Within seconds they shattered the glass and pulled him through the windshield. Like a pack of wild dogs they tore him apart. I found my feet seconds later and pushed on the pedal as hard as I could; driving into the grassy medium. The escaping look of mortality on the man's face still haunts me today.

Music Bridge

ELECTRONIC GATE VOICE

Invalid entry. Please try again.

ELECTRONIC GATE VOICE (CONT'D)

Access granted, please enter.

Michael pulls up and parks his vehicle abruptly.

MICHAEL (V.O.)

When I drove up, I saw Lieutenant Angel. The short blond spoiled kid who just got out of officer school, a program tailored to turn men into leaders, but I had more command experience in my thumb than he had in his entire body.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Angel, where the hell is everyone else?

ANGEL

I was told they were on their way. I keep calling the commander, but he's not picking up. Wait, is that his truck? No, it's just Saul.

(beat)

What the hell happened to you? You look pale.

The sound of Saul parking in the background.

MICHAEL

You didn't see it? Weren't you on the five too?

SAUL

Can someone please tell what that was?

ANGEL

I came in off the 710? What was-

MICHAEL

Those things just ran onto the freeway.

SAUL

You see that shit? They tore that car apart like a tin can. Poor angry bastard, actually kinda feel sorry for him now.

ANGEL

What the hell are you talking about?

MICHAEL

You have no idea what's going on?

ANGEL

No, would somebody please explain to me-

SAUL

You're the one who called us in, why don't you tell us-

ANGEL

No one told me a thing. All they told me was to call my squad and get my ass down here right away. I heard about the rioters on the radio, but why the hell would they run onto the freeway?

MICHAEL

Those were not rioters. They attacked a guy who was honking at me on the freeway.

SAUL

They weren't attacking him, they were eating him.

ANGEL

They were what?

SAUL

I wasn't far behind Michael. They were taking big chunks and shoving them in their mouths.

ANGEL

What? Why would they be-

MICHAEL

They were like animals, and they sure as hell weren't like us any more, not with those eyes.

ANGEL

Then what are they?

SAUL

Zombies.

MICHAEL

Come on Saul, this isn't the time-

SAUL

No joke, Sarge, what if they are?

ANGEL

Think about it for just a second.

(beat)

Ok, the mental hospital is not too far from here, what if, what you saw was just a breakout. We probably were brought in to take them down.

SAUL

You didn't see them. What the hell do you know?

ANGEL

Don't you talk to me that way! I'm still an officer, and you're still a lowly Specialist.

Angel picks up his phone and tries calling again.

MICHAEL

Hey, easy Angel, I got this.

(Beat)

Saul, come here.

SAUL

How can he say that shit, you know as well as I do, that hospital is like 10 miles from here, there's no way they could have-

MICHAEL

I agree, I don't think so either. I know he's a pain in the ass, and once he sees one of these things he'll change his mind, but right now, we can't lose our heads. We still have a chain of command, and he is still in charge.

SAUL

I know, I'm sorry Sarge.

MICHAEL (V.O.)

Saul was a great soldier. Sure, he always spoke his mind, and it often got him in trouble. If he had held his tongue, he would have outranked me by now. He came to our unit with the rank of Specialist from a Mountain Division. I guess he got tired of the cold weather. We served overseas together and when we got back he transferred to our unit. He said something about the California-girls calling to him.

Angel hangs up the phone.

ANGEL

Still no answer.

MICHAEL

The rest may be stuck in traffic trying to get here.

SAUL

So what do we do?

ANGEL

I dunno, let's just wait till they get here.

MICHAEL

Lieutenant, you think we can get into the arm's room and at least get a few rifles in case something happens?

ANGEL

We can't.

MICHAEL

Why not?

ANGEL

I have the key for the door, but the commander has the combo for the alarm and the key for the arms racks. We'll just wait for the commander, he'll know what to do.

A loud explosion is heard nearby.

SAUL

That one was close.

MICHAEL

The way I see it, it's better safe than sorry. I say we open the door, clip the locks, and to hell with the alarm.

SAUL

I'll get the bolt cutters from the cage.

Saul runs off.

ANGEL

Wait, I didn't say we were going to.

MICHAEL

Look, Sir, all due respect but my instincts are a lot more field tested then your month out of officer candidate school. I'm trying to help you out and you're not playing ball.

ANGEL

You're acting completely drastic, what you're asking me to do could really get us in trouble. You act as if we're at war.

MICHAEL

Do you HEAR that out there? That's exactly what it sounds like to me.

Saul comes running up out of breath.

SAUL

Got them, you ready?

MICHAEL

Come on, let's open her up.

Music Bridge. Sound of keys into door.

ANGEL

You don't want to wait like 5 more minutes? The commander could just-

SAUL

I don't want to wait for that asshole.

The keys move and the security door swings open. Beeping is heard in the background. 1 Beat every 10 seconds.

MICHAEL

No point in arguing now. Saul clip the locks on cages 12 and 14. Hurry.

ANGEL

Now you're nervous all of a sudden?

MICHAEL

I just have a feeling is all.

ANGEL

That we're in deep shit? I could have told you that.

MICHAEL

How long till the alarm goes off?

ANGEL

Two minutes, more or less.

Saul clips one lock.

SAUL

Got it.

MICHAEL

I'll grab your rifle, just get 14 open.

Michael grabs his rifle and Saul's.

ANGEL

My rifle number's 17.

MICHAEL

When was the last time you oiled this thing?

ANGEL

Just give it to me.

Saul clips the other lock.

SAUL

14's Open.

MICHAEL

Load up two magazines.

SAUL

That's it?

MICHAEL

We'll come back. I don't want to be here loading magazines if or when someone responds to the alarm.

ANGEL

Now you're worried.

MICHAEL

Head outside. Don't chamber a round, unless I say so.

SAUL

Got it Sarge.

They all leave the vault to outside. The beeping can be heard in the distance.

MICHAEL

How long did you say it had?

The alarm blares in the background.

MICHAEL (V.O.) (CONT'D)

We stood there watching the gate, waiting for someone to show up. After a minute or so I started to think of what the consequences were for my actions. Did I jump the gun on this one? Would I get punished? My thoughts of guilt and plea bargaining stopped once I heard the rumbling.

SAUL

You hear that?

ANGEL

How can you hear ANYTHING over that alarm?

The rumbling grows louder.

MICHAEL

It's getting closer.

ANGEL

Come on stop pulling my-

(beat)

Uh, guys.

SAUL

They're coming!

MICHAEL

Shoot the ones dragging down the barb wire.

Shots are fired. Sound of commotion.

SAUL

I'm trying damn it. There's too many!

MICHAEL

Aim for the head!

(beat)

Come on Angel, what the hell you doing?

ANGEL

It jammed!

MICHAEL

Yeah, no shit!

SAUL

They're over the fence!

MICHAEL

Get inside!

SAUL

Where?

MICHAEL

The vault! Move it!

(beat)

Saul, help me with the door!

Sounds of gun shots and the guys shoving the door shut. They are out of breath. There is a long pause as the door is pounded on.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Angel, give me your rifle.

(Beat)

Let go, just let go of it, I'm going to fix it. Alright?

ANGEL

Alright.

MICHAEL

Hey, hey, look at me. I want you to take a deep breath and have a seat.

Heavy breaths in the background.

SAUL

How the hell are there so many? So fast?

ANGEL

Those are what you saw on the freeway?

SAUL

Pfft, yeah, but there were only like 7 of them. That was like a hundred! How the hell are we going to get out of here?

MICHAEL

Take it easy Saul. There's no need to get worked up.

SAUL

What do you mean no need? What we going to do? Oh shit, I gotta call my girl. Tell her-

Saul's phone beeps.

ANGEL

I'm surprised it's even working in here. Let me try.

Beep, Beep, Beep.

MICHAEL

The lines are flooded right now. Why don't you just take a seat and have a breather.

ANGEL

I knew getting into the vault was a mistake, you wouldn't listen, I'm the officer here and-

SAUL

Fuck you, Sir, if Michael hadn't, you wouldn't be here right now. I'd love to see you try and open the door while those things are chasing you down. I saw how fast you were with your rifle, you bout shit your pants.

ANGEL

Don't you get it, they came because we opened it! They heard the alarm.

MICHAEL

We don't know that for sure, maybe they just followed the road- or maybe-

ANGEL

Think about it. You said they attacked the guy in the car behind you because he was honking. They must be attracted to loud sounds.

SAUL

So, you can understand them all of a sudden? Well maybe now you can step outside, talk to them and sort some of this shit out, maybe you can shove your-

MICHAEL

That's enough Saul.

(Beat)

He's right.

SAUL

He's what?

MICHAEL

It makes perfect sense. Why else would they come here in such numbers, and directly here? I caused them to come.

There's a long pause.

ANGEL

You were right, too, if that makes any difference.

MICHAEL

How so?

ANGEL

One of those things that came over the fence, I swear one of them looked like the commander.

SAUL

Serious?

ANGEL

No one else was coming.

MICHAEL

No matter what we did, the longer we waited, less time we would have to prepare.

SAUL

Prepare? Prepare for what?

MICHAEL

Angel, how long till the alarm shuts off?

ANGEL

Not sure exactly, an hour I think. Why?

MICHAEL

Once it goes silent, they should go away, and we can get the hell out of dodge.

ANGEL

Alright, but then what?

(beat)

We don't even know what THEY are.

SAUL

Told you, they're zombies man.

ANGEL

You know what specialist, I swear-

MICHAEL

Whoa, easy, both of you. He may be right. Maybe not exactly Zombies, but there are similarities.

ANGEL

Oh, not you too!

MICHAEL

Military intelligence is my job, it's what I'm good at. I've encountered different tribes on my deployment and the key to managing these situations is to know who you are dealing with.

ANGEL

Military intelligence, pfft. I'm the one who figured out about the sound thing.

MICHAEL

None of that matters now. What else do we know?

SAUL

We know they go after people.

(beat)

They sure as hell aren't no slow moving zombies either.

MICHAEL

So they are quicker than us.

SAUL

Got some strength too, the way they were bending the bars.

ANGEL

Wonderful.

MICHAEL

Head shots seem to drop them like stones.

ANGEL

Is that all we know?

MICHAEL

The rest would be just assumptions based off of what we have seen in movies.

ANGEL

I still don't believe this. Are you listening to what you're saying? Zombies? I mean the dead rising-

SAUL

Who said they were dead?

ANGEL

Whatever-

MICHAEL

What would you have me do? We're dealing with something we've never come close to experiencing before. All I'm trying to do is reason some way through this, something 'they' aren't able to do.

ANGEL

Now who's being presumptuous? How can you be sure they can't reason?

MICHAEL

Because we left the key in the door.

They are all silent for a moment.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

If we're going to make it through this, and I have every intention of doing so, we are going to have to stick together and use our heads.

The alarm shuts off.

SAUL

whoa, That was no hour.

ANGEL

Well, I said I think. No one has set off the alarm before.

MICHAEL

Saul, look out the peephole.

ANGEL

They leaving?

SAUL

No, I don't think so.

MICHAEL

Maybe, it'll just take some time.

SAUL

You sure they can't hear us?

MICHAEL

Not a chance. That door is about a foot thick and the walls are solid concrete.

ANGEL

Give it some time, they could move on.

(Beat)

Alright well, say they clear out enough for us to get through. Where do we go?

SAUL

We couldn't just stay here, and defend this place?

MICHAEL

They are able to climb over the walls, and come from any direction around the base. Not to mention every building has like four or five entrances. There's only three of us.

SAUL

You need some place like a prison.

MICHAEL

Good idea, but not the best place for living.

ANGEL

We would be able to contain the area pretty easily. I could probably get by in a cell, I know you could too.

MICHAEL

This isn't just about us.

SAUL

It's not?

MICHAEL

Look, there are a lot of people out there who are where we are now. Locking themselves in someplace safe, waiting things out, hoping that someone is going to come rescue them.

SAUL

Like the Army.

MICHAEL

But we know that's not going to happen, at least not with our unit. There are no active military stations around here, and there's a lot of people out there that need our help. Don't you feel a little responsible to them?

SAUL

Nope, Not at all. Naw, just kidding.

ANGEL

My girlfriend's apartment building!

SAUL

See now, he's got the right idea, go out with a bang.

ANGEL

That's not what I.

(Beat)

Michael, it's perfect. One main lobby with one stairwell. We could turn off the elevators. That gives us a very small area to contain as the entrance. We could manage it with three people. Best of all the parking garage has a security gate that we can seal off from anyone getting in.

MICHAEL

Could work. Plenty of space for any other survivors, not to mention the amount of supplies throughout the building.

SAUL

Given that we could make it there in one piece.

ANGEL

It's not too far from here.

MICHAEL

It'll work. Depending on how long we're going to hold up, it would last us.

ANGEL

This could just be a local epidemic.

MICHAEL

Given the rate of growth, I highly doubt it.

SAUL

How do you expect to make it to the building? The roads are probably jammed with broken down cars and god knows what else.

ANGEL

We'll take one of the humvees.

SAUL

You won't get too far with the steering wheels chained and locked. You'll only be able to turn like half way.

ANGEL

Then clip the lock with the bolt cutters.

SAUL

So we run out of here, fight through the zombies that are, let me check, yup, still outside the door. Carrying ammo, rifles and bolt cutters all the way to the motor pool being chased by things we know are faster and stronger than us, and want to eat us.

MICHAEL

Yeah, sounds about right.

SAUL

Hey as long as I get the SAW, I'm in.

MICHAEL

Fine, we'll need an automatic weapon anyway. Angel and I can carry an extra rifle, but any more would really slow us down.

Angel opens up another cage.

ANGEL

Here put these on.

SAUL

Do we really need to wear uniforms?

ANGEL

You wear this, people will know who you are and won't think twice about coming with you. There's a lot that this uniform represents that we'll need out there.

MICHAEL

Hey, He's right Saul, come on let's put them on.

ANGEL

Alright, We can do this.

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