THE WALKING DEAD"Impedimenta"

bySamantha Wallschlaeger

Samantha Wallschlaeger208 Osceola St. Room 577Oshkosh, WI 54901

4th DraftDecember 7, 2011

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

RICK clutches a shotgun as he meanders through the remains of an affluent suburban neighborhood. Large brick houses line the street, nestled into overgrown lawns gnarled with weeds. Most of the front doors dangle by their hinges, busted in by looters. Inside the contents are haphazardly strewn.

Rick passes a cul de sac complete with a fountain at the end, its water a murky brown. A few bodies lie at its base. The fountain stopped long ago, and now the neighborhood is silent.

Rick looks gaunt, like he hasn’t eaten in days. His breath is visible in the cold air. He walks haltingly but with purpose, his eyes scanning the neighborhood.

He spies an obnoxious red Hummer resting in a driveway. There is a scrape running from the door to the tailpipe. He peers into the window and sees that the ignition has no keys.

Then he notices the girl in the backseat. She’s dead, skin decaying, slumped over in her seat. Her fingers move slightly, clenching and unclenching.

The girl raises her head and stares vacantly at him, too weak to move her body. Rick backs away warily, clutching his shotgun tighter.

Rick’s radio crackles at his hip as DALE’s voice comes through.

DALE (O.S.)Find anything yet? Food, blankets, anything?

Rick shakes his head. He lifts the radio as his eyes survey the area.

RICKLooks like a lot of people got here first. Everything is ransacked.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP - DAY

DALE sits in a lawn chair back at camp. GLENN stands behind him, listening. Both look haggard.

DALEWell, keep looking. We got a lot of people counting on you here. Can’t last much longer on what we got.

Dale puts down the radio and glances back at Glenn, who has a faraway look. Glenn shivers, pulling his jacket tighter. He seems uncharacteristically quiet.

DALE (CONT’D)You okay, son?

Glenn’s eyes are distant. A beat.

GLENNSee the moon last night?

DALENo, I didn’t...

GLENNNew moon...it was a new moon.

He looks up with weary eyes. Then, abruptly, he wanders off. Dale watches him, concerned.

DALE(to radio)

And Rick? Hurry.

CUT TO:

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

RICK(wearily)

Yeah.

Rick heaves a sigh and returns the radio to his hip. He massages his forehead, suddenly looking much older.

Rick sees movement. He brings his shotgun up and whips around. In front of him stands a labradoodle, wearing a blue satin collar with a silver tag. It, too, looks like it hasn’t had a meal in a long time.

2.

The dog remains a few yards from Rick and stares at him, panting with a jackal-like grin. Rick hesitates, then aims carefully at the dog.

RICK (CONT’D)(mumbling)

Gotta eat...

His finger inches to the trigger. The dog stops panting and closes its mouth, tilting its head.

Guilt flits over Rick’s face. He sighs and lowers the gun.

RICK (CONT’D)(shooing)

Go on, get out of here.

He steps toward the dog and it shies away, running off BARKING. Rick watches the dog go, then turns and heads toward a large Tudor house.

EXT. TUDOR HOUSE YARD - DAY

RICK crosses the back yard. The house stands out against the brick ones. He steps up to the open back door and peers in.

INT. TUDOR HOUSE - DAY

The house is empty, like the others, but not as messy. Kitchen cupboards and drawers hang open.

EXT. TUDOR HOUSE YARD - DAY

Discontented, Rick crosses the patio and heads back through the yard. In the overgrown grass he steps into a hidden trip wire tied between two shrubs. The wire causes a row of TIN CANS tied to it to CLINK together loudly.

Rick turns, and in an instant a GUNSHOT cracks through the silence. Loud CAWING is heard as a flock of CROWS flee.

Rick clutches his arm and falls, groaning. He drops the gun and cries out in pain.

His radio drops and lies in the grass unnoticed.

When he looks up, the a rifle barrel points directly in his face.

3.

ACT ONE

INT. BUNKER - DAY

A large nuclear bunker is lit with florescent overhead lights. Rows of shelves are stocked with food and supplies. Everything is organized with precision.

Next to the supplies, JASON AVERY, a well-kept man in his early fifties, lounges on a cot with satin sheets reading The Sun Also Rises. He taps his foot to CLASSICAL MUSIC playing from a turntable.

The walls are lined with useless objects and art pieces. They frame Jason like the cavernous hoard in a dragon’s lair.

In the middle of the bunker there is a bearskin rug in the center on the floor. On it, LILY AVERY, 13, sits hunched over, doodling in a notebook. Lily sullenly glances up to the other side of the bunker.

MARIE AVERY, an attractive woman in her early forties, leans against the wall on yet another cot. This one is near a ladder leading up to a hatch. She reads a tattered Good Housekeeping magazine.

The family sits in silence, save for the classical music. They are together in the bunker, yet miles away from each other.

Marie peers over her magazine at the turntable. She narrows her eyes.

MARIEYou’re wasting electricity with that music.

Jason ignores her, humming along with the music. Marie watches him for a beat, irked.

MARIE (CONT’D)Jason.

He sighs and turns a page. His fingers dig into the sides of the book. Lily’s hand pauses above her page, preparing for the storm. A beat.

MARIE (CONT’D)(irritated)

You gonna answer me?

Jason slams down the book.

4.

JASONI am trying to enjoy myself. Can’t I get a little enjoyment around here?

Marie puts her magazine down, too. It FLAPS on its way down.

MARIE(through gritted teeth)

The generator is running low, Jason. We can’t afford to--

JASONDamn it, woman! I can afford whatever I want!

He tosses his book. Lily’s head jerks up.

Marie and Jason stare each other down.

MARIEWe need to think about how long we’re going to stay here.

JASONHow long? As long as we damn well want!

MARIEWe can’t just stay here forever! The supplies will run out and--

JASONI left my house, my car, my goddamndealership--

MARIEWe need to start planning--

JASONAnd I’m not going to leave here! It’s all we have left!

MARIEYou can’t keep holding on to these things!

Marie gestures violently at his useless collection of objects.

Lily’s doodles become darker and darker. The pencil tears the paper.

Jason leaps up in a rage points menacingly at Marie

5.

JASONYou know how hard I worked? To give you all this? And you want to leave it?

Marie stands, too, holding her ground. She throws her arms in the air.

MARIEYou don’t get it, do you? None of it matters anymore!

Drops fall on the paper. They leave tiny stains behind and blur the pencil marks. The pencil rips through a few more sheets of paper.

JASON(sarcastically)

Oh, not this again. Save it, honey; we’ve heard this before.

MARIE(exploding)

Look what you’re doing to your daughter!

She gestures to Lily but doesn’t even glance at her.

MARIE (CONT’D)Do you want her to live to her next birthday?

JASONWhat the hell does that have to do with anything?

The record skips, playing a crescendo of strings over and over again.

MARIEWe have to go somewhere--

JASONJust shut up!

The record skipping seems to build in volume.

MARIEYou’re the one who--

JASONOkay, fine! No more music!

6.

Jason rips the needle off the record. He shatters the record, scattering the pieces across the floor.

Lily throws her notebook down and covers her ears.

LILYStop it! Stop it!

Marie rushes to her daughter. She tries to hold her, but Lily flinches away. Marie whirls around to face Jason.

MARIENow look what you did.

JASONOh, great. Make me the bad guy.

They stare daggers at each other.

A muffled barking is heard somewhere outside.

The entire family peers upward. A nervous silence falls over them. Marie and Jason exchange a stiff look, temporarily forgetting their fight.

MARIE(solemnly)

I’ll go check it out.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAMP - DAY

The group at the camp is pale and sluggish. CAROL lounges on the ground, idly picking at a flannel blanket. LORI and CARL boil a pot of water together, gazing into the fire. DARYL and ANDREA sit at another fire pit, roasting a single small rabbit.

Glenn emerges from a tent, clutching a half-empty bottle of gin. His face is uncharacteristically solemn.

As he passes the fire pit, Daryl jerks his head up, noticing the bottle.

DARYL(angrily)

Hey!

He scrambles up and strides over to Glenn.

7.

DARYL (CONT’D)(hostile)

You get that from my tent?

Daryl stands in front of Glenn, blocking him off. Andrea rises, ready to intervene. Everyone stops mid-action to gawk.

DARYL (CONT’D)You stealin’ from me? Goin’ off to drink my property?

ANDREADaryl. Cut it out.

GLENN(quietly)

It’s not for me.

Daryl snorts, inching closer.

DARYL(snidely)

Is that so? Then who’s it for?

GLENNMy parents.

Daryl is taken aback. Glenn steps around him, unaffected, and disappears into the trees. Andrea takes a step toward the forest, concerned.

Daryl doesn’t follow him, but turns his head to meet Dale’s eyes across the camp. He marches over, with Andrea following.

DARYLWhat--

DALEI don’t know.

He shakes his head and sighs.

DALE (CONT’D)But I’m worried.

ANDREAWhat does he mean, “his parents?”

Dale peers into the trees. Daryl and Andrea follow his gaze.

DALEYour guess is as good as mine.

CUT TO:

8.

EXT. TUDOR HOUSE YARD - DAY

In the grass, a slit opens and Marie’s eyes peek through the crack. Cautiously, she opens the hatch. A rifle pokes out.

She climbs out of the hatch and slams it shut. Crouching low, she rushes to a nearby pine tree, clutching the rifle. She scans the yard.

While she scouts, she mumbles quietly to herself.

MARIEMake you look like the bad guy...well, guess what? You are the bad guy...get out of here as soon as...

She sighs, then quickly holds her breath when she hears shuffling FOOTSTEPS in the yard. She flattens her back against the tree and gets ready to shoot.

MARIE (CONT’D)(whispered)

Goddamn biter...

She loads her rifle, her fingers fumbling over the chamber in frustration.

Her head turns to follow the footsteps from one side of the yard to the other.

The footsteps scratch roughly as they traverse the concrete of the back patio. They pause for a moment, silent.

MARIE (CONT’D)(low)

Come on, you bastard.

Her eyes are distant. It’s unclear whether she’s talking to the footsteps or to Jason.

She COCKS the rifle with purpose, almost like an old-school action hero.

The footsteps start back up again. They cross back over the cement and resume shuffling in the grass. After a bit, the sound she’s been waiting for: the CLINKING of TIN CANS on her trip wire.

Marie whips out from behind the tree and--

CRACK!

She fires.

9.

A group of CROWS scatter, CAWING noisily. Their shadows pass over the grass.

The FIGURE clutches its arm and crumples, writhing in pain. Marie curses herself; she missed the head. She reloads the rifle as quickly as she can, fumbling a bit under pressure.

From a distance the figure cries out in pain.

Marie stops cold.

MARIE (CONT’D)What the hell...?

She keeps low, running forward. As she gets close, she sees it’s a male. She sticks the barrel of the gun in its face, poised to shoot again.

He squints up at her, his face contorted in pain.

RICKNo...please...

Marie drops the gun to her side.

MARIEOh god, you’re human...

10.

ACT TWO

INT. BUNKER - DAY

Marie bursts through the hatch and climbs frantically down the ladder, leading Rick behind her. Rick struggles to climb down, drenched in a cold sweat. Blood seeps through his sleeve.

Marie leads Rick to her cot and helps him sit. An irate Jason leaps up.

JASONWho the hell is this?

Marie ignores him. She pushes the sleeve of Rick’s uniform up.

JASON (CONT’D)Well, the secret’s out now! We’ll be robbed blind!

Marie examines Rick’s wound. There is a large chunk out of the skin, but no bullet hole.

MARIE(to Rick)

It doesn’t look too bad. I think I grazed you.

She pulls out a first aid kit and opens it, taking out a cotton swab and hydrogen peroxide.

JASONMarie, what were you thinking?

Marie clenches her teeth as she swabs the gash.

MARIEI though he was a biter and shot him.

Jason gapes at her.

JASONAnd? Now you brought him here to loot us?

MARIEJason, I shot him! I have to help him!

11.

RICK(weakly)

Sir, my name is Rick Grimes. And I have no intention of robbing you.

Jason eyes Rick’s uniform and stops his tirade.

JASONYou an officer?

RICKI was.

Jason gives a short laugh and puts on a salesman-like front.

JASON(to Marie)

Leave it to you to shoot a man of the law.

Marie clenches her jaw, not answering. She pulls out a roll of gauze. Rick gazes around the room.

RICKWhere are we?

MARIEAn old nuclear bunker. It came with the house when we bought it.

JASON(with pride)

Not just any nuclear bunker. We got us the finest facilities money can buy!

He peacocks around the room, gesturing to the various “features” as if it’s a brand new car.

JASON (CONT’D)Here we have ample fluorescent lighting any time of the day! We got a generator through that door there.

He points to the back of the bunker.

JASON (CONT’D)Past that is a toilet and shower, with hot running water!

He saunters to the middle of the room. Marie shakes her head and winds the gauze around Rick’s arm.

12.

JASON (CONT’D)And, of course, the finer comforts in life. Dupioni silk curtains and a Pissarro on the wall! Not original, of course.

Jason stands proudly and surveys his possessions like a king. His eyes fall on Rick.

JASON (CONT’D)Also got lots of guns, in case you try anything funny.

Rick’s gaze has wandered to Lily, huddled between two sets of shelves, doodling again. Her face is blank.

Jason notices.

JASON (CONT’D)Ah! Lily, come up here!

Lily reluctantly stands and shuffles over. He puts a possessive arm around her.

JASON (CONT’D)This here is the jewel of the South! Lily, say hello to Officer Grimes.

Lily gives a half smile but says nothing. Jason’s fake smile disappears.

JASON (CONT’D)Ah, fine. Be a mute.

He brushes her off. She returns to her spot and sits with her head turned away.

MARIEJason. Leave her alone.

JASON(through his teeth)

Don’t embarrass me in front of our guest.

MARIEI’m just--

JASONForget it.

He snatches his book.

13.

JASON (CONT’D)I’ll be in the back. Don’t bother me.

He marches off through the generator door, slamming it shut. Marie glares after him, then fastens the gauze together, sighing heavily. A beat.

RICK...Are you okay?

Another beat. She stands and puts the kit away.

MARIEYou can stay the night if you want.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST - AFTERNOON

Daryl creeps through the trees, his crossbow poised. Andrea falls in behind him with a gun.

DARYLYou and me, we’re gonna eat like kings tonight.

Andrea looks solemn.

ANDREAI don’t remember what it’s like to not be hungry.

Daryl grins cockily.

DARYLI’ll just have to fix that.

She gives a half smile in return.

A TWIG CRACKS nearby. Daryl and Andrea snap to attention. They whirl around and point their weapons.

A walker stumbles out of the trees, groaning. It’s a middle-aged man in a filthy Hawaiian shirt. His right arm and right ear are missing. He lunges forward.

Daryl and Andrea step back.

DARYL (CONT’D)How many bullets you got left?

Andrea checks the chamber.

14.

ANDREATwo.

DARYLI got one arrow. Let’s make ‘em count.

He shoots his arrow. It sinks deep into the walker’s eye, and the walker collapses.

Andrea lowers her gun.

ANDREAWell, that was easy.

Daryl approaches the walker and kicks it. He puts a foot on its chest for leverage and yanks at the arrow.

It doesn’t budge.

He pulls harder, grunting. The arrow snaps neatly in half.

DARYLDamn it!

He throws the crossbow down and storms off.

ANDREADaryl?

No response. Andrea picks up the crossbow and follows him, keeping her distance.

EXT. CAMP - AFTERNOON

Daryl pounds on the door of Dale’s camper. Andrea lingers in the background, still clutching the crossbow. Dale emerges with a radio in hand.

DARYLJust broke my last goddamn arrow. What the hell are we gonna do?

Dale sighs.

DALEWhat can we do? Wait for Rick. Maybe he found something.

DARYL(seething)

Yeah? And what if he doesn’t? Then what?

15.

Dale shrugs, shaking his head.

DARYL (CONT’D)We’re all starving!

DALEGetting angry doesn’t change anything.

Daryl softens. A beat.

DARYLAny response from him?

DALENot yet.

(a beat)Don’t tell Lori.

Glenn re-emerges from the trees. They stop to watch him warily. Glenn strides over to a stack of dishes drying in the sun and takes two bowls. He then takes a burning stick from the fire pit.

Lori steps in front of him and puts a gentle hand on his forearm.

LORI(carefully)

Glenn? What are you doing?

Glenn shrugs noncommittally.

GLENNJust getting ready.

He steps to the side and carries his loot back through the trees. Lori approaches Dale and Daryl.

LORI(to Dale)

You have to talk to him.

DALEAbout what? He’s not hurting anyone.

DARYLHe’s stealing!

LORIPeople are starting to worry. He’s not acting himself. Last time...

16.

Dale nods.

DALEJim. I know.

DARYLSo what do we do?

Dale rubs the side of his face. A beat.

DALEI wish I knew.

CUT TO:

INT. BUNKER - NIGHT

Rick lies on the bear rug. He rolls onto his back and gazes at the dark ceiling, repositioning his bandaged arm.

A slight glow comes from one side of the bunker. Rick sits up. Lily is still awake, sitting with her knees hugged tight, staring into space.

She sees Rick, and peers through the darkness at him.

LILY(quietly)

You should leave as soon as you can. This place sucks.

RICKI don’t understand...

Lily nods to her parents, who sleep in separate cots.

LILYEvery day it’s worse. They don’t care about each other.

She lowers her head.

LILY (CONT’D)Or me.

RICKLily, that’s not--

LILYThat’s not true? What do you know? This family is messed up.

17.

She sighs.

LILY (CONT’D)I bet the biters are easier to deal with.

RICKLily...

He has nothing to say. He sighs, then lies back down, eventually falling asleep.

FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO:

INT. BUNKER - MORNING

Rick awakens to shouting. He sits up abruptly. Marie stands at the hatch, calling.

MARIELily! Lily!

Rick gets up and stands below Marie on the ladder.

RICKWhat’s wrong?

MARIE(frantically)

Lily’s gone. She must have slipped out last night.

She takes a step up the ladder.

MARIE (CONT’D)(louder)

Lily!

Jason rises from his cot.

JASONShut up! You’ll attract walkers. Or worse, looters.

Marie climbs back down the ladder and sweeps around the bunker, hastily packing a duffel bag.

She moves to another shelf and grabs an axe and her rifle.

18.

MARIEWe have to find her.

She starts to hand the rifle to Jason, but he recoils and steps away.

JASONI can’t just leave the bunker for anyone to raid!

He points at Rick.

JASON (CONT’D)How do we know we can trust him?

MARIE(losing it)

We have to find our daughter!

He shakes his head and backs up another step, clinging to a shelf as though he’s afraid it’ll fly away.

JASONThe bunker’s all we have left. I won’t leave it.

Marie stares him down, aghast. Then she turns and zips her bag, fuming. She storms to the ladder, but Rick catches her by the arm.

RICK(quietly)

I can help you.

A beat. Marie nods and climbs up the ladder. Rick steals a look back at Jason, who doesn’t meet his eyes.

Jason turns away, still clutching the shelf. Rick lingers a moment, then climbs through the hatch and slams the door.

19.

ACT THREE

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Rick rushes to catch up to Marie, who charges ahead at a frantic speed.

MARIELily! Lily!

Her call echoes.

RICKMarie!

He grabs her arm and tries to stop her.

RICK (CONT’D)Jason was right. You’ll attract walkers if you yell like that.

Marie rips her arm away.

MARIE(icily)

Don’t you talk to me about Jason.

She runs ahead, her eyes scanning haphazardly, still calling Lily’s name.

RICKMarie, stop--

Ahead of Marie, a sewer grate lies crooked, exposing a gaping hole. Marie steps down and the sewer grate caves in. She disappears, cracking her head on the street as she goes.

Rick sprints to the sewer. He crouches and peers down into it.

RICK (CONT’D)Marie?

MARIE (O.S.)I’m okay...

INT. SEWER - DAY

Marie struggles to sit up. Blood trickles from her scalp, but she seems unfazed.

20.

RICK (O.S.)Do you see a ladder?

Marie doesn’t answer. She stares into the blackness. SHUFFLING FOOTSTEPS get faster and louder.

MARIE(panicked)

Rick?

Two walkers come into view. Their gray eyes train on Marie, and they quicken their pace. They lunge toward her. Marie shrieks and scrambles up.

MARIE (CONT’D)Rick!

RICKFind a ladder!

Marie dives to the ladder and frantically climbs. A walker grasps her ankle and she screams. She shakes her foot, trying to dislodge it.

Rick aims his shotgun at the walker and fires.

CRACK!

The walker goes down. Marie clamors up the ladder and the other walker begins climbing.

CRACK!

Marie takes it down. With a great leap, she hoists herself out.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Marie throws herself onto the concrete and splays out, panting.

MARIEOh god...

Rick forces her to sit on the curb. He kneels in front of her.

RICKYou see what I mean? We gotta keep our heads. Understand?

Marie nods weakly.

21.

RICK (CONT’D)(gently)

Now, running around blind won’t help us find her. We gotta think. Do you know where she could be?

Marie shakes her head.

MARIEI don’t know...oh god...

She puts her head in her hands.

RICK(solemnly)

Marie, Lily thinks you two don’t care about her.

She raises her head.

MARIE...What?

RICKShe told me last night.

Marie looks faint.

RICK (CONT’D)Marie?

She doesn’t respond.

RICK (CONT’D)I shouldn’t have told you.

MARIE(weakly)

We’re not bad people...

RICKI know. But now we have to find--

MARIEHe won’t leave that stupid bunker...

RICKMarie, we need to think--

MARIEHe would rather stay there than find his own daughter!

22.

She breaks into angry tears. Rick takes her by the shoulders and shakes her.

RICKMarie! Calm down!

Marie stares up at him, wide-eyed, looking like a child.

RICK (CONT’D)Listen to me. Is there anywhere, anywhere you can think of? Where would she go?

MARIE(faintly)

I don’t know...the arcade...

Rick roughly pulls her to her feet. She flops like a ragdoll, but stands.

RICKYou need to be strong for me. Can you do that?

She nods weakly.

RICK (CONT’D)Lead the way.

Marie starts shambling forward, but turns back to Rick.

MARIE(searching)

He’s not a bad person. We all have that useless thing we’re left clinging to, right?

Rick says nothing. She gestures to his deputy uniform.

MARIE (CONT’D)Why do you still wear that?

Rick is unable to answer. A beat.

RICKWhat’s yours?

After some thought, she answers.

MARIEMy marriage.

CUT TO:

23.

EXT. CAMP - EVENING

Andrea carries a pot of water to the fire pit. She walks slowly, struggling under the weight. Behind her, Daryl holds a small dead squirrel by its tail, swinging it as he walks.

She stumbles once. Daryl instinctively reaches out to catch her. She brushes him off.

ANDREAI’m fine.

She sets the pot down by the fire and sits next to it, resting her head on her knees. Daryl crouches next to her.

DARYLYou okay?

ANDREAI don’t know how many more nights of...

She eyes the squirrel warily.

ANDREA (CONT’D)...squirrel soup I can take.

Daryl holds the squirrel up and studies it. He gives a slight smile.

DARYLNow, now. This ain’t squirrel soup. What we’re makin’ here is a nice, juicy steak.

He leans in close to the pot of water and inhales deeply.

DARYL (CONT’D)Mmm. That is some damn good-smellin’ gravy.

Andrea gapes at Daryl as if he’s lost it. Daryl continues, grinning.

DARYL (CONT’D)With mashed potatoes and a pecan pie for dessert.

He nudges Andrea.

DARYL (CONT’D)You see it?

She gives a weak laugh.

24.

ANDREAAnd chocolate ice cream. Lots of chocolate ice cream.

DARYLNow that’s more like it.

They smile at each other.

Carol storms out of her tent, brandishing an empty burlap bag.

CAROLThat bastard!

Andrea whips around to face Carol.

ANDREAWhat’s wrong?

Carol shakes the bag furiously.

CAROLHe took it! He took it all!

Dale emerges from his camper, with Lori following behind. They cross over to Carol. Carol throws the bag at Dale.

CAROL (CONT’D)There was cup of rice left, and now it’s gone!

Andrea and Daryl stand.

A beat.

LORIGlenn?

CAROL(crazed)

Who else? He’s taking everything! We’re going to starve because of him!

Dale steps forward and tries to put a hand on her shoulder.

DALENow, Carol--

She steps back, swatting his hand.

25.

CAROLDon’t you see what he’s doing? He’s hoarding!

The group is silent. A beat.

DARYLHe’s gonna take off and leave us...

CAROLAnd let us all starve!

DALEHe wouldn’t--

CAROL(shrill)

I won’t let him! I won’t let him!

She marches to her tent and comes back with a shotgun.

CAROL (CONT’D)He’s can’t just rob us like this! We have to do something!

LORICarol, stop--

ANDREANo...she’s right.

DALEAndrea, she has a gun! This is Glenn we’re talking about!

DARYLAll I know is, something has to be done.

LORIThis is ridiculous!

Carol takes off toward the forest. The rest of the group runs frantically after her.

LORI (CONT’D)Carol, no!

EXT. FOREST - EVENING

Carol bursts through the trees with a crazed look. Her shotgun points at an unseen Glenn.

26.

Dale emerges behind her. He wrenches the shotgun from her hand and throws it aside, casting a scornful look on her.

The rest of the group falls in behind him.

DALE(stern)

Glenn, we need to talk.

CUT TO:

EXT. MALL PARKING LOT - EVENING

Rick and Marie crouch behind a mini-van.

Through a binocular view, a sea of walkers spreads out before them. A smallish mall looms in the center. The walkers bump into each other lazily, unaware of the presence of two tasty snacks.

RICK(whispering)

Are you sure?

MARIEThe arcade is her favorite place in town.

RICKThere’s no way she made it past all of--

MARIELook. You asked where she could be. This is my guess. Now you can come with me if you want, but I’m going in there.

Her eyes are wild. Rick closes his eyes and sighs. A beat.

RICKWe need a plan.

MARIEYeah. Run in there and take out as many biters as possible.

RICK(hissing)

Quiet! That’ll attract them all to the entrance. It’ll be impossible to get back out. We need to go quietly. None of them can see us.

27.

He rises slightly and creeps to the edge of the van. Marie moves with him. A beat. Rick dodges to a station wagon a few yards up, Marie following him.

RICK (CONT’D)So far so good...

They move again, this time to a pickup truck. A walker perks up and shuffles toward the truck. They hold their breath.

A beat.

The walker turns and shambles off. Rick wipes the sweat from his forehead.

RICK (CONT’D)Okay. Now--

Marie impatiently rushes forward again, ducking behind a blue convertible. Its ALARM goes off, a deafening HONK that causes every walker’s head to whip in her direction.

RICK (CONT’D)Damn it!

He yanks Marie away from the car as the walkers scuffle quickly toward it.

The car alarm sets off another a few yards away, which sets off yet another. The sound is ear-splitting.

Rick and Marie sprint from car to car, Rick pulling Marie along as she stumbles. They duck out of sight as more walkers head toward the alarms.

With a final sprint, they make it to the entrance of the mall undetected.

INT. MALL - AFTERNOON

Rick uses Marie’s axe to block the door.

RICKDo you know--

Marie breaks into a frenzied sprint, making a bee-line to the arcade. Her FOOTSTEPS ECHO against the flagstone. Rick rushes to catch up.

MARIE(frantic)

Lily! Lily!

28.

RICKMarie! Quiet!

He clutches her arm and spins her around. She attempts to escape, but he holds her there.

RICK (CONT’D)(angrily)

You need to calm down.

MARIEBut--

RICKWe could’ve died out there. You’re getting careless, and it’s gonnakill us.

Marie’s eyes well up.

RICK (CONT’D)Now. Are you gonna calm down for me?

She nods. He releases her, and they rush forward.

They pass bodies lying mangled on the floor, their insides strewn. Collapsed tents litter the floor near them. Rick covers his face, fighting the stench.

Marie trips and spills onto the floor, knocking her knees with a loud CRACK. Rick races to help her up.

MARIEStop! I can do it.

She takes off running again, limping slightly.

She reaches the arcade and skids to a stop.

EXT. ARCADE - AFTERNOON

Blood smears adorn the entrance.

RICKBe careful...

Marie nods, meeting his eyes. She marches inside.

INT. ARCADE - AFTERNOON

Darkness.

29.

Large games loom eerily in the shadows. Marie looks frightened. Her eyes are crazed as she searches.

MARIELily?

Nothing.

Stepping over mangled stuffed animals, her pace quickens. She slips once, making a complete circle of the arcade.

Empty.

She sinks to the floor, defeated.

MARIE (CONT’D)She’s not here. Oh god...

Rick notices a photo booth in the back corner. He inches closer to it, his gun poised.

Pink shoes stick out beneath the curtain.

RICKMarie...?

She looks up, and he points with his gun to the shoes.

There are legs attached.

Marie scrambles up and runs to the photo booth. As she approaches, she slows down, suddenly terrified.

Her hand hovers near the curtain. She locks eyes with Rick next to her, and he nods.

She tears the curtain open and gasps.

Lily sits slumped against the wall of the booth, her eyes closed. Her arm is covered in blood. Marie speaks in a whisper.

MARIE(shakily)

Lily...?

She crouches down and gently caresses Lily’s hair. Lily opens her eyes slowly. She looks pale. When she sees her mother she begins to cry.

LILYMom...

Marie nods, holding back tears.

30.

MARIEI’m here, sweetie. I’m so sorry...

She starts to reach for Lily.

LILYMom...I got bit...

Marie pauses. She looks down at Lily’s arm. The edges of the wound are gray with spidery blue veins.

A beat.

MARIE...Bit?

She begins to cry, too. She takes Lily into her arms.

MARIE (CONT’D)I’ll take you home...everything will be okay...everything will be better...

Marie cradles her, both of them crying. Rick watches helplessly.

RICKMarie...

She glances back at him for a beat, then pulls away to face her daughter.

MARIE(tearily)

Let’s go home, sweetie.

Lily nods, looking terrified. Marie pulls her to her feet and Lily stands weakly. They hold hands, smiling sadly at each other.

INT. MALL - EVENING

Rick dislodges the axe from the door and hands it to Marie. He pulls open the door and they step out.

EXT. PARKING LOT - EVENING

Orange dusk light bathes the three as they stare out into the parking lot. Marie gasps.

Hundreds of walkers stand facing them, staring straight back.

31.

ACT FOUR

EXT. PARKING LOT

The walkers stare at the humans for a terrifying moment. Marie pulls Lily close and grips her axe. The car alarms still blare in the background. A beat.

A walker charges.

RICKRun!

The walkers storm forward.

Rick leads the way, cutting straight through the horde. He fires his SHOTGUN.

CRACK.

It takes a few down, creating a path.

Marie follows, clutching tightly to Lily’s hand. She swings wildly with the axe, splattered in walker blood.

The walkers are endless. They pile up on Marie and Lily Rick fires off several more shots, making marginal space for them to run.

He runs out of shots and swings at them baseball-style with the butt of the gun. They begin to close in.

The edge of the horde is close. Rick sprints for it, with Marie close behind.

He bursts through, reaching open space. Turning, he sees Marie struggling at the edge.

MARIENo!

Lily is caught in the walkers’ grasp. Their reaching hands claw at her, pulling her back. Marie clutches tightly to her hand, trying desperately to extract her from the throng.

Rick whacks at the walkers’ heads, taking a few down. Gnarled hands grip Lily’s hair, yanking her head back. She lets out a high-pitched scream in agony.

LILYMom!

32.

Blood appears on Lily’s scalp where the hair is being ripped out. More hands drag her down.

Marie gives a great tug on Lily’s hand and she screams again in pain. Lily’s fingers slide through Marie’s grasp until her hand slips out.

Lily disappears into the writhing mass.

Marie lets out a horrible scream.

MARIELily!

She attacks the walkers, chopping wildly with her axe in a blind fury. She covers the axe and herself in blood, shrieking Lily’s name.

Rick grabs Marie by the waist and drags her back out. She struggles against him.

RICKMarie, stop! It’s too late.

She wilts in his grasp.

A torn pink shoe hits the ground.

MARIENo!

She wrenches herself from his arms and dives into the horde, hacking at limbs. Soon she is swallowed by the pile of moving bodies.

RICKMarie!

Rick leaps forward and swings at the walkers, trying to get to her.

She’s gone.

Dozens of walkers stoop forward, tearing at an unidentifiable body. The hands grope at Rick and he stumbles backward, freeing himself.

He stares in horror for a moment at the crowd advancing on him. Then he staggers back and sprints away.

CUT TO:

33.

EXT. FOREST - EVENING

DALE(sternly)

Glenn, we need to talk.

The group stands behind him, displaying varying levels of confusion at the sight before them.

Glenn sits cross-legged on the forest floor, staring up at them in alarm. In front of him sit a bowl of rice and an empty bowl beside it. A tiny fire burns next to the bowls. The bottle of gin is poised in his hand.

LORIGlenn...what’s going on?

GLENN...You wouldn’t get it.

DARYL(snarling)

Try us.

Glenn lowers his eyes. He takes a moment before speaking.

GLENNIt’s for my parents.

ANDREAGlenn...your parents?

Glenn nods.

GLENN(distantly)

A new moon in winter. It’s the Korean New Year tonight.

DALEAnd?

GLENNYou have to make an offering to your ancestors. I figured...I figured my parents....

His voice falters. He pours a tiny amount of gin into the empty bowl.

GLENN (CONT’D)It’s not perfect...but it’s the best I could do.

34.

The group stares, saying nothing. Daryl’s expression softens a bit.

GLENN (CONT’D)I always thought this tradition was stupid.

His voice cracks as he speaks.

GLENN (CONT’D)I guess I never thought I’d be doing it for them this year.

CAROLHe’s wasting everything! This is--

DALEThat’s enough, Carol.

A long silence follows.

Andrea slowly steps forward. She cautiously sits across from Glenn and reaches a hand out.

ANDREA(quietly)

For Amy?

Wordlessly, Glenn hands her the rum. She pours a bit into the bowl. Her face is solemn.

After a beat, Daryl sits next to her. He takes the bottle and pours.

DARYLMerle never said no to gin.

Glenn meets his eyes and gives a small laugh.

Dale sits as well, taking the bottle from Daryl. He pours.

DALE(fondly)

My wife always loved tradition. She would’ve appreciated this.

GLENNI haven’t spoken to my parents in years, did you know that?

Dale shakes his head.

35.

GLENN (CONT’D)(distantly)

It all seems so...stupid now. In comparison.

Dale puts a hand on Glenn’s shoulder. He turns back to Carol, who stands warily behind him and offers her the bottle.

DALE(gently)

Come remember Sophia.

Carol hesitates for a beat, then takes the bottle. She sits down, and Lori and Carl nestle in next to her. She pours.

The group stares at the offering, their faces illuminated by the glow of the small fire. Daryl puts a hand on Andrea’s shoulder. She smiles sadly at him.

CUT TO:

INT. BUNKER - EVENING

Rick climbs slowly down the ladder. Blood stains his uniform in gory spatters.

Jason leaps up as Rick descends. Rick stands facing him. Jason’s eyes search for his family.

JASONWhere are they?

Rick shakes his head, looking down.

JASON (CONT’D)What? What? Where is my family?

Rick meets Jason’s eyes.

RICK(solemnly)

They didn’t make it.

Jason gapes at him, unable to comprehend. A beat passes.

JASON(crazed)

What do you mean they didn’t...

He starts toward Rick.

JASON (CONT’D)What did you do?

36.

Rick steps back.

RICKWalkers. There was nothing I could do. Lily was taken, and Marie--

JASONYou let them die!

He grabs a rifle and whirls around, aiming it at Rick. His eyes bulge in rage.

Rick puts his hands up and flattens his back against the ladder.

RICK(quietly)

Jason...

Jason keeps the gun on him, shaking.

A beat.

He drops the rifle and slumps against the wall. His shoulders shake as he lets out rattling sobs.

Rick takes a tentative step forward.

RICK (CONT’D)I tried to--

JASONI never thought...oh god...

Jason pounds on a shelf and it RATTLES, sending cans to the floor. He looks around the bunker, suddenly disgusted by what he sees.

He grabs a large duffel bag and swipes cans from their shelves, filling the bag.

RICKJason?

When one bag fills he grabs another, stuffing it furiously with dry goods. He picks up a small, ornate vase and stares at it, then chucks it at the wall.

CRASH. It shatters.

Rick flinches. Jason picks up another, then another, hurling them at the wall.

CRASH. CRASH.

37.

RICK (CONT’D)Jason, they’re gone.

He stops, looking defeated. Then he grabs a backpack and fills that, too, haphazardly shoving food into its pockets. He steps forward and thrusts the three bags at Rick.

JASONThere. You got what you came for.

RICKBut--

JASONJust take them, damnit!

Rick reaches out hesitantly and takes the bags.

JASON (CONT’D)Now go.

RICKWhat?

JASONI said get out of here!

Rick lingers for a moment, staring at Jason. Jason stands with his back turned.

JASON (CONT’D)(quietly)

Just go.

A beat. Rick climbs up the ladder and out of the hatch, closing the door on Jason.

Jason stands in the center of the bunker, gazing at the objects around him. His treasure.

EXT. TUDOR HOUSE YARD - EVENING

Rick trudges away from the hatch. As he crosses the yard, a muffled GUNSHOT sounds from inside the bunker.

Rick halts.

He closes his eyes for a beat. Then he readjusts the bags and keeps walking.

38.

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - EVENING

A CRACKLING noise comes from the grass nearby. Rick stoops to pick up his radio.

RICKDale?

DALE (O.S.)Rick! Goddamn it, we were worried. You all right?

RICKYeah. Listen, tell the others I found--

He sees a figure in the distance.

Then another, and another.

The horde.

RICK (CONT’D)I’m gonna have to get back to you...

DALE (O.S.)What--

Rick switches the radio off and runs.

The bags clunk against him, dragging him down. His run is clumsy.

Dozens of walkers chase after him, drawing closer and closer.

Rick glances back; the walkers are nearly on top of him. One grabs his duffel bag and he wrenches it away, stumbling.

He stares, tormented, at his bags while he runs.

A beat.

RICKDamn it...

He throws the bags aside and sprints ahead.

He bursts into a garage. Taking one last look at the bags, pulls the door shut.

39.

INT. GARAGE - EVENING

FISTS POUND against the door.

Rick brings out the radio, nearly in tears.

RICKDale...

DALE (O.S.)Rick? You found something? You got food?

RICK(anguished)

No...nothing...

A beat.

DALE (O.S.)Rick...where are you?

Rick bangs his fist against the garage door.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - EVENING

The walkers pile up. They RATTLE the GARAGE DOOR as they hit it. More and more join, writhing.

INT. GARAGE - EVENING

Rick sinks to the floor.

DALE (O.S.)Rick?

Rick bangs the back of his head against the garage door.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - EVENING

The horde pummels on the door, scratching the paint.

DALE (O.S.)...Rick?

FADE OUT.

THE END.

40.