Chapter 1 Transcript

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.