zombie apocalypse part one

7/31/2019 Zombie Apocalypse Part One

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Fifteen zombie plays page 1

Scenes from

the ZombieApocalypse

Fifteen plays about zombiesfor you to perform

(if you dare)

By Kent Suss


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Authors note:

These plays can be played any way you wish: as comedy, tragedy, social

commentary, or gorefest. They can be done with hardly anything to

distinguish the humans from the zombies, and with understated violence, or

they can be played with lots of makeup, stage blood, and screaming. Its

really up to you. Perform them alone or together, in any order you wish.

In some scenes Ive written actual words the zombies say. In other places,

they say things like Grrr and Hrrrgh! Its up to you to decide how to

make your zombies speak. Can they speak clearly enough to be understood,

or do they just speak in roars and grunts?

Once youve tried out these scenes, why not make up your own scenariosabout zombies and take the story in a new direction? I hope working on

these scenes inspires you to explore the exciting world of acting and writing,

for theatre and film.

Several of these scenes were first performed by students from Frontier

School Division as part of the Royal Winnipeg Ballets Northern

Connections exchange, June 2011. Others were made into short films by

students in the Advanced Film class at Manitoba Theatre for Young People

in Fall, 2011 and screened at the Freeze Frame Film Festival, Winnipeg,

2012.

These plays may be performed royalty free for class projects and non-profit

events. (Publishing and Professional Stage or Motion Picture rights

reserved.)

Kent Suss 2012


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Cast of Characters:

The zombie hunters:

Jeremy Cares about his image, his lingo, his hair. Doesnt hate the zombies so much as

hes disgusted by them.

Ruby Courageous leader of the freedom fighters.

Theo A really nice guy. Hes got room in his heart for the zombies.

Sarah A science nerd who helps unravel the mystery of the zombies.

Vaughn A chivalrous romantic, Vaughn cant get over Janet. The fact that shes a

zombie doesnt matter.

Dustin brags about how tough he is to hide his fear of the zombies.

The adults:Hilda a lunch lady at the school cafeteria

Sally another lunch lady

Sarahs MomSarahs Grandma

The Zombies:Theos mother

Janet

RonaldMany more


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JEREMY

Its right there, lady! (reads) Pork and B. Oh, Pork andBrains. Pork and

Brains?? (he shrugs.) Okay, Ill try the Pork and Brains.

SALLY

Well, you cant.

JEREMYWhy not?

HILDA(warningly) Sally!

SALLY

Because were all out of Pork and Brains, thats why!

(the zombie students turn around, revealing full zombie makeup for the first time.)

ZOMBIES

(ad lib) Wha-? Huh? Out of Pork and Brains? Nooo! Grrr!

(in unison) Pork and Brains! Pork and Brains!

(the zombies rise and begin to stumble around, trying to chase Jeremy and the lunch

ladies.)

SALLY

(running around and freaking out) Hilda! Hilda! The zombies! The zombies are

revolting!

HILDA

Theyre revolting all right.

(the lunch ladies and Jeremy run off.)


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Scene Two: Zombies in the Family (6 or more performers)

Location: Theos house.

Characters: Theo, Theos Mom, Jeremy, Ruby, Dustin, zombies

(Jeremy, Ruby, and Dustin knock on Theos door. Theo opens it for them. Theyenter.)

THEOHi Ruby. Hey guys.

JEREMYYo.

THEOWhats up?

RUBY

Whats up? Theo, where have you been? Whats up is, the zombie apocalypse isupon us, and humans are locked in a life and death struggle with the powers of evil,

and the Freedom Fighters need you.

THEO

Thats cool. Hey, have you guys met my Mom? (Theos mother appears. She is

obviously a zombie.) Mom, this is Ruby, thats Jeremy, and I dont know this dude.

DUSTIN

Dustin.

THEO

And this is Dustin the dude.

DUSTIN

Just Dustin.

THEOS MOM

Hello Justin.

DUSTIN

Dustin!!!

RUBYUm, Theo?


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THEOWhat?

RUBY

Your motheris a zombie.

THEOShe is not!

RUBYShe is so!

JEREMY and DUSTIN

(ad lib) She is, for sure!

THEOShut up! She might hear you! What makes you think that?

RUBY

Look at her! Her eyes are sunken, and her hair is all (She gestures to show howcrazy Theos moms hair is.)

THEO

Shes really tired, ok? She worked late, and she just got up!

DUSTIN

What happened to her clothes?

THEO

Shes hasnt had time to do her laundry.

JEREMY

Her skin is green, man.

THEOS MOM

Hrrrrgh!

(the zombie hunters jump back nervously)

THEOShes having a hard day, ok? She quit smoking this morning.

DUSTINShes eating your cat!


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RUBY and JEREMY

Oh, gross!

THEO

Look, shes craving a cigarette and shes snacking as a self-comforting response.

ZOMBIES

(More zombies come up behind Theos Mom and appear in the doorway. Theysurround Theo and his friends, touching and examining them.) Hrrrgh! Theo, who

are your friends? Such nice young people.

RUBY

(pushing away a zombie who has been touching her hair) Theo, you have to come

with us. Zombies have taken over the school and we need your help to stop them

from taking over the whole world! The world needs you, Theo!

THEOIm not leaving my mom!

RUBY, JEREMY, and DUSTIN

(ad lib) Shes a zombie, man! Face the facts! Use your brain!

ZOMBIES

(ad lib) Brain? Mmm. Brains. (Zombies approach the zombie hunters hungrily.

The zombie hunters retreat, pulling Theo with them.)

JEREMY

Lets go!

THEOS MOM

Theo, where are you going?

THEO

Just out, Mom.

THEOS MOM

When will you be back?

THEO

I dont know, Mom.

THEOS MOM

Dinner is at 6 oclock, Theo. Dont be late for dinner!

ZOMBIES

Dont be late for dinner, Theo!


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Scene Three: The New Guy 6 performers

Location: a shed

Characters: Theo, Ronald, Dustin, Jeremy, Vaughn, Ruby

(Dustin, Jeremy, Vaughn, and Ruby are hiding out in a shed. Vaughn is watching

out a window with binoculars.)

DUSTIN

And then I popped the zombie right in the head.

JEREMY

With a gun?

DUSTIN

No, I used a shovel. Bam! It went DOWN!

JEREMY

Wow.

RUBY

(yawn) Yeah, wow.

DUSTIN

And out of nowhere, ten more showed up! I went ballistic on them! Barely made it

out alive.

JEREMY

Double wow. High Five! (Dustin and Jeremy high five.)

VAUGHN

Theyre coming! Get the door!

(Ruby opens the door and Theo bursts in, supporting Ronald, with Ronalds arm

around his neck. Ruby pulls them in. Vaughn closes the door. Dustin shrinks back

from Ronald.)

DUSTINYikes! Whats he doing here? That guys a freaking zombie!

RUBY

(drily) Youre not afraid, are you? Theo, what happened?

THEO

We got ambushed at the drugstore, and Ronald got bitten.


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DUSTIN(scared out of his pants) I told you hes a zombie! Somebody do something!

THEO

Give him a break he cant help it!

RUBYTheo, no zombies allowed.

THEOThats not a rule.

RUBY

Ronald, you cant stay. Youll have to go join your own kind.

THEOBut hes a Freedom Fighter just like me! Why does he have to go?

RUBY

Theo, its the Freedom Fighters against the zombies. Thats the war. FreedomFighters. Zombies. No mixing.

THEO

What about the Freedom Fighter pledge?

RUBY

What about it?

VAUGHN

Once a Freedom Fighter

THEO, JEREMY, RONALD, and VAUGHN

always a Freedom Fighter.

VAUGHN

Theres nothing in the pledge that says you can be kicked out for becoming a zombie.

If we are going to survive, we have to sticktogether.

DUSTIN

Just keep that freak away from me!

RUBY

(To Vaughn) Were all going to die because of you.


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his neck.) You may be a Freedom Fighter, but youre also a zombie, and I dont trust

you. (She ties the other end to a chair leg and leaves with Vaughn. Ronald and Theoare alone.)

RONALD

Boo boo.

THEOWhat did you say?

RONALD(holds up his finger) Boo boo.

THEO

Hold on, Ron, I have a bandage in here somewhere. (He finds an adhesive bandagein his bag, unwraps it, and puts it on Ronalds finger.) There you go, buddy. All

better.

RONALD

Owwie.

THEO

What?

RONALD(tugging at the rope around his neck) Owwie. Owwie!

THEODoes that rope hurt, Ronald?

RONALD(nodding vigorously) Owwie!

THEO

(unties the rope) I guess we shouldnt be torturing you while youre doing your job!Youre still a Freedom Fighter, after all. There. Youre free.

(The moment he is free, Ronald grabs Theos arm and pulls it to his mouth and bites.Theo screams, and moans with pain, clutching his arm.)

THEOYou bit me! You bit me.

RONALD(smiles and points at Theos wounded arm.) Boo boo.


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Scene Five: Janet (2-6 performers)

Location: a parking lot

Characters: Vaughn, Jeremy, Janet, Ruby, more zombies

(Ruby and Vaughn enter, pursued by zombies. Halfway across the stage, Vaughn

drops his keys.)

VAUGHN

Shoot! I dropped my keys! (He turns back)

RUBY

(grabbing Vaughn by the arm.) Just leave them. Lets go!

VAUGHN

I need those. How am I supposed to get into my house?

(Vaughn pulls free of Rubys grip and goes back for the keys. As he bends down to

pick them up, the zombies surround him, cutting off his escape.)

RUBY

Vaughn! Behind you!

(The zombies close in on Vaughn and grab him.)

RUBY

Ill get help!

(Ruby runs off. The zombies push Vaughn.)

VAUGHN

Dont hurt me! Im innocent!

(The zombies are about to bite Vaughn, when he recognizes one of them.)

VAUGHNJanet? Is that you? Janet!

(The zombies pause and look at Janet. Janet, a zombie, steps forward.)

VAUGHN

Janet! Im so glad to see you! (pause) Why havent you been returning my phone

calls?


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(Vaughn stops dancing, but keeps holding Janets hand. Janet sniffs Vaughns hand

hungrily. Looking the other way, so hes unaware that shes about to bite him, hepulls his hand away and fishes a piece of paper from his pocket.)

VAUGHN

I wrote you this note. Its full of all the mushy stuff I didnt have the guts to say outloud.

(Janet takes the note, unfolds it, and eats it. Ruby enters with Jeremy. Ruby

brandishes a weapon. Zombies shrink back. Jeremy grabs Vaughn and begin to drag

him away.)

JEREMY

Vaughn! Time to go!

VAUGHN

Janet! Dont forget me!

RUBY

She cant hear you, Vaughn.

JANET

Vaughn!

VAUGHNJanet!

RUBYThe lights are on, Vaughn, but theres no one at home.

JEREMYLets get out of here!

VAUGHN

(shouting) Goodbye Janet. Wed make a good couple! Think about it!

(Janet and the rest of the zombies chase Vaughn, Ruby, and Jeremy off.)


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Scene Six: The Corpse (5 performers)

Location: the shed

Characters: Vaughn, Theo, Janet, Ronald, Dustin

(Zombies are gathered around Dustins corpse, Theo is chewing on his fingers, Janet

is biting his leg, Ronald is scooping out his brain and eating it. Dustin suddenlywakes up.)

DUSTINWhats going on? Hey! What are you doing?

THEOHuuhr?

DUSTINYou ate my fingers!

THEO

Hu-hu-huungry!

DUSTIN

I dont care! How am I supposed to play guitar? (he holds up his fingerless hand)Thanks a lot!

JANET

Are you mad?

DUSTIN

Yes Im mad!

JANET

Sorry.

DUSTIN

(sees Ronald the zombie eating a handful of gooey brain matter.) Hey, what are youeating?

RONALDHuh?

DUSTIN

Is that my brain? Give that back! I need that!


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RONALD

Why?

DUSTIN

(He takes the brain away from Ronald and tries to shove it back into his head through

his ear.) Its my brain, stupid. What do YOU think?

(The zombies shrug to one another. Dustin snorts the rest of the brain through hisnose and drives it with a snoring noise up into his sinuses. He gives his head a

shake.)

VAUGHN (offstage)

Janet! Has anyone seen Janet?

(Vaughn enters, and runs to Janet.)

VAUGHNJanet!

JANET

Vaughn?

VAUGHN

Janet, Ive been thinkingI know what you meant when you ate my note!

JANET

You do?

VAUGHN

You meant that youd never forget me. That youd always have me inside youI

mean, my WORDS would be inside you, literally, but not literally in your stomach in your heart not literally,figuratively.

JANET

I did?

VAUGHN

Yes. You did. Didnt you?

RONALD

Listen, buddy, were busy here.

VAUGHN

This is none of your business. Im talking to Janet.


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THEO

Janet, should we kill this guy or what.

JANET

Um

VAUGHNDont just kill me bite me! Make me one of you, make me one of the undead, so I

can live foreverwith Janet!

JANET

Forever?

VAUGHNYes, my love.

(Janet looks anxiously from Dustin to Ronald to Theo and back.)

DUSTIN

(shrugs) Whatever.

RONALD

We could just kill him and eat him, unless you wanthim around gabbing away

forever.

JANET

Maybe we could just bite him for now, and turn him into a zombie on a trial basis?

RONALD

And if he never shuts up

RONALD, THEO, DUSTIN, and JANET

Well eat him.

(The zombies bite Vaughn. Vaughn screams.)


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RONALDI like to swarm.

GRANDMA

Whats that?

SARAHS MOMMom, its one of those things teenagers like to do these days. Its nothing.

GRANDMAId like to know! What is this swarming thing? Is it on Oprah?

RONALD

Lots of us get together, outside, and then we all walk in the same direction, and if wemeet anybody, wewe bite them.

GRANDMAWell! It sounds like you should have a little more supervision. Where are your

parents while youre swarming?

RONALD

They mostly just sit around the house.

GRANDMADo they know what youre up to?

RONALDMy parents dont really understand me.

SARAHS MOMKids these days are different than when you grew up, Mom. At least theyre not just

sitting inside watching a computer screen like some kids I know! Ronalds a big

outdoors enthusiast!

GRANDMA

Maybe he should get a job. What about you, Sarah? Are you into this swarming

business too?

SARAH

II went along once, but

(Ronald and Sarah chuckle)

RONALD

She wasnt very good at it!


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SARAH(touches Ronalds shoulder affectionately) Well, I cant be expected to be very good

on my first try. The walking is no trouble its the biting part I had trouble with.

(suddenly, an eerie foghorn-like sound is heard: the zombie call. Ronald rises andwalks to the window, his body charged with energy from the sound. Sarah follows

him.)

SARAH

Are you leaving, Ronald?

RONALD

(turns to Sarah) Grrhh!

SARAH

Ronald?

SARAHS MOM

Come again, Ronald. Youre welcome over for dinner anytime.

SARAH

Goodbye, Ronald.

RONALDUggh.

(Ronald exits.)

GRANDMA

I still think he should get a job! Is he some kind of juvenile delinquent or something?


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Scene Eight: The Epidemic (4 performers)

Location: a school chemistry lab filled with test tubes, microscopes, and text books.

Characters: Sarah, Ruby, Jeremy, Ronald

(Sarah is reading a text book, taking occasional sips from a drink with a straw. Rubybursts in through the door, followed by Jeremy. They both carry sticks or other

improvised weapons. Sarah raises her hands in surrender.)

RUBY

Drop it, zombie scum!

SARAH

Drop what? My slurpee cup?

RUBY

Just drop any weapons you might have.

SARAH

Nothing. Just a slurpee cup. Unless you consider this book to be a weapon (she lifts

the book.)

JEREMY

Hey, hey, hey. Put that thing down, ok?

RUBY

Jeremy, check her out.

(Jeremy carefully approaches Sarah and examines her for signs of being a zombie.)

SARAHWhats gotten into you two?

RUBYWhats gotten into us? Really?

(music begins)

RUBYBy now you may have noticed a weird phenomenon.There are zombies everywhere. Theres an epidemic on!

SARAH

Oh, that.


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JEREMYAnd it seems to be contagious. Everybodys got the bug. Im seeing

undead people crawling from the graves that we have dug em!

SARAHTell me about it.

RUBY

And theyre dining on the brains of the living what a treat!

And their putrefied remains are walking freely on the street.What on earth is going down?

This used to be a peaceful little town.

Now you cant go out at night

JEREMY

I cant sleep without a light

RUBY and SARAH

Theres a zombie epidemic goin on.

JEREMY

The cause could be an ancient curse.

SARAHA mutant virus?

RUBYRhyming verse?

(takes a sip from Sarahs straw)

SARAH

Pesticides?

JEREMYSharing drinks!

Toxic waste from the kitchen sink.

SARAH

A Cafeteria special gone terribly wrong!

RUBY

The latest Lady Gaga song!


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ALL THREE

What on earth is going down?This used to be a peaceful little town!

SARAH

If its something that they ate,Then I think I can create

An antidote to turn this mess around!

(music stops)

RUBY

You can create an antidote?

SARAHI can try. I just need some blood.

(Ruby and Jeremy look at each other. Ruby jerks her chin at Jeremy. Jeremy rolls uphis sleeve.)

SARAH(giggles) Not your blood Im going to need some of Ronalds blood.

(Sarah goes to the closet and opens the door. Ronald staggers out, growling.)

SARAH

Dont worry, Ronald. This wont hurt a bit. (She pokes Ronalds finger with a pin

and holds his hand over a glass jar, collecting the dripping blood. Once shes hadenough, she lets go of Ronalds hand and puts the blood on a slide under her

microscope. Ronald lumbers off.)


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Scene Nine: Second Class Zombie (3 performers)

Location: on the street

Characters: Ronald, Janet, Theo, other zombies(Ronald walks on, rapping. He is joined by Janet, Theo, and other zombies.)

RONALD

Im a second class citizen,Im out of the mainstream,

Im a visible minority,

An outcast, a refugee.People want me dead,

As if I werent dead already!

I dont get no respect.It sucks to be me!

And I crave human brains!

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains!

RONALDIts my chronic addiction

ZOMBIESBrains! Brains!

RONALD

And I cant concentrate

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains

RONALD

I should be on Ritalin

JANET

I cant manage my angerAnd I have to take classes

Since I bit the quarterbackAfter football practice,I always forget

To treat others with respect

Well I oughtta stop fighting

But I cant stop biting!And I crave human brains!


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ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains!

JANET

Its my chronic addiction

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains!

JANET

And my friends dont call

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains

JANET

I should go to counselling

THEO

My hygiene is poor

But I just dont care.I cant remember last night,

But I have gore in my hair!

And theres blood on my hands

And theres stuff in my teethAnd people run away screaming

When I hit the street

And I crave human brains!

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains!

THEO

Its my chronic addiction

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains!

THEO

And I cant find my shoes

ZOMBIES

Brains! Brains

THEO

And I wish I was you (points to someone in the audience)

zombie apocalypse part one

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