Dead end screenplay

DEAD END

FADE IN

EXT. DIRT ROAD - NEVADA - DAY
A beat up car drives past a road sign reading: “DEAD END.” The car continues to drive into the distance, leaving the sign behind in a cloud of dust. It continues to move forward into the sunset, casting a shadow on the road behind it.
SUPER TITLE. NEVADA, USA.

INT. CAR
A thin man with short brown hair (Chris) sits at the wheel, turning the dial of the car radio in search of a frequency. He hears a break in the static, and listens to a radio broadcast left by a group of survivors in the city.

VOICE
(over radio)
If you are hearing this, you are one of the lucky ones…
(static)
…Without any feedback from our government on what we’re dealing with…
(static)
…I’m afraid any hope for the human race is very slim…
(static)
…That being said, if you can hear this broadcast, please make your way towards the city as soon as possible…
(static)
…We’ll find you there…

The message starts to repeat. Chris switches the radio off, and rubs his eyes to help stay awake. It’s been 24 hours since he has slept. On the road ahead, he notices a dark figure standing in the middle of the road. Who is oblivious to the car rapidly approaching.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - NEVADA
Chris pulls the car to a stop. The engine sputters, and releases a cloud of smoke from under the hood. Chris opens the door to yell out to the figure.

CHRIS
Hey!

The figure looks up from the path. The sunlight shines upon his face, revealing his pale grey skin, and bright yellow eyes. It’s a zombie. It starts to walk towards Chris. Chris reaches for his pistol. He points it at the zombie. The zombie continues to stagger towards him slowly, but surely. Chris pulls the trigger, but he forgot to chamber the first round. He pulls the hammer back, and readjusts his aim. Before he can pull the trigger again, another zombie grabs him from behind, and pulls him down to the ground.

INT. BEDROOM - CHRIS’S TRAILER – DAY - FOUR WEEKS LATER
Chris wakes up from the dream breathing heavily. He looks around the room, looking for the zombie that had grabbed him. He lets out a sigh of relief, when he realizes it was...

CHRIS
Just a dream.

After calmingdown, he glances over at an alarm clock on the bedside table. It reads 10:12. He slowly gets out of bed, and walks over to a calendar on the wall. He uses a black marker to cross off one of the panels. It's May 16th 2014. A gunshot echoes outside making him drop the marker on the ground. He runs outside by the second gunshot.

EXT. BALCONY - CHRIS’S TRAILER
Two men (Sergei and Alf) are shooting zombies behind a fence with a hunting rifle. Alf is a redneck no doubt, with a slack jaw and missing teeth. While Sergei is a handsome, well-built man with black hair. The kind any woman would like to date. Alf fires a shot through the air. It hits an unaware zombie in the back of the head. Alf smiles, pleased with his accuracy. Before he can fire another shot, Chris enters the scene and protests.

CHRIS
Alf what are you doing?

ALF
What does it look like?

CHRIS
A waste of ammo.

ALF
Relax Chris. Sergei here was just about to go and get some more.

Chris and Sergei stare at each other for a second, before shaking hands. Alf fires another shot.

CHRIS
But you’re just attracting more towards us! What are we going to do when they overrun us?

ALF
That’s why we built the fence. Nothing can get in or out as long as it stands.

CHRIS
And when we run out of the supplies we have now? Then what happens?

Alf starts to answer, but is cut off by Sergei.

SERGEI
Listen guys…
(clears throat)
…I’d love to stay and chat, but even in this day and age I have things to do.

Sergei jumps over the side railing onto the grass below. He makes his way towards the street, crossing several yards to get there. Chris decides to follow.

ALF
Pick me up some buckshot while you’re out! I’m running low!

CHRIS
No shit.

EXT. SIDEWALK - TRAILER PARK
Chris runs up beside Sergei breathing heavily. An awkward silence follows. Chris clears his throat, and breaks the silence.

CHRIS
So Sergei, what’s your story?

SERGEI
I was a security guard.
(showing Chris his badge)
I was out on disability when the outbreak began.

CHRIS
What disability?

SERGEI
A broken leg. One of the nurses had to escort me out of the hospital in a wheelchair when the outbreak began. I’ll never forget what she did for me… And how little I did to repay her…
(a look of grieve on his face)
…So how about you?

CHRIS
Cashier at Raley's. It's uh... A grocery store near Vegas.

SERGEI
Oh.

CHRIS
Epic I know. As soon as I heard shit was going down… I left in my car. Then it got epic for real.

SERGEI
Where were you headed?

CHRIS
Phoenix. I've heard word that there’s refuge there.

SERGEI
Yeah I heard that broadcast too. But if it's legit, it’s a good thing to fall back on if things go sour here.

CHRIS
With the way things are right now, it could happen sooner than you think. So where are we going?

SERGEI
I know a guy down the street. He ran the surplus store downtown before… Well you know.

CHRIS
What makes you think he’ll give us ammo?

SERGEI
I have something he wants.

EXT. PATIO - RICHTERS TRAILER
Sergei walks up to the front door with a bag slung over his shoulder, and knocks. Moments later, a very rugged man (Richter) opens the door with a crossbow. Richter recognizes
Sergei, and lowers the crossbow.

RICHTER
What do you want?

SERGEI
Ammo. Whatever you can spare.

RICHTER
Not this time. I have needs of my own you know.
(closing the door)

SERGEI
I have what you want!

Richter opens the door again. Sergei hands Richter the bag through the doorway. Richter opens the bag, and pulls out a large container of alcohol among many others. Richter invites them inside.

INT. LIVING ROOM - RICHTERS TRAILER
Chris and Sergei follow Richter into the living room. The room is littered with empty liquor bottles. Richter points to a closet across from the TV. The screen is broken, with an arrow sticking out.

RICHTER
Take what you want from in there. On one condition. Don’t give any of it to that red neck staying with you.

CHRIS
That’s not your problem.

RICHTER
(angrily)
Who the hell asked you?

SERGEI
Relax Richter.
(putting his hand on Richter’s shoulder)

Richter nods, and opens one of the liquor bottles to take a drink.

INT. CLOSET - RICHTERS TRAILER
Chris and Sergei open the closet doors from the outside, revealing ammunition inside. They both smile.

CHRIS
Not bad.
(opening up a duffle bag)
Not bad at all.

Chris and Sergei grab all the ammo they can carry, and walk towards the door, before being interrupted by Richter.

RICHTER
McDermott wanted me to tell you that there’s a meeting at 11:00 tonight. He wants everybody present. Everybody including Alf.

CHRIS
Another? We just had one two days ago!

RICHTER
That was a weekly checkup. This is important.

SERGEI
Think you’ll be sober this time around Richter?

RICHTER
No guarantees.
(taking another drink)

EXT. SIDEWALK - TRAILER PARK
Chris and Sergei exit the trailer, and begin the walk back to Chris’s trailer. (The gunshots continue as they walk).

CHRIS
What’s the point of buying ammo? He’ll only use it all up anyways.

SERGEI
Yeah well that’s the thing you’ll come to learn about red necks. They do the stupidest things without ever considering the consequences.

CHRIS
Yeah, well McDermott’s going to be pissed. Remember what happened last week?

SERGEI
(chuckles)
I’m trying to forget it.

INT. BEDROOM - CHRIS’S TRAILER - NIGHT
Chris lays in his bed dreaming. He grips the bed sheets with his hands, and tosses his head from side to side. (Begin dream sequence 2 where the last dream sequence left off).

EXT. DIRT ROAD - NEVADA – DAY - 4 WEEKS EARLIER
Chris is pinned to the ground by a zombie, while the other zombie shuffles towards them. Chris reaches for his gun on the ground next to him, but cannot reach. Instead he pulls his knife out of his pocket, and uses it to stab the zombie in the head. It falls to the ground beside him. Chris gets up, and searches the ground for his gun. Another dark figure picks it up, and uses it to kill the other zombie. The sunlight creates a silhouette, keeping the figures identity a secret.

INT. BEDROOM - CHRIS’S TRAILER – NIGHT - 4 WEEKS LATER
Chris wakes up from the dream before the figure is revealed. He looks over at his alarm clock on the bedside table. It reads 11:28.

CHRIS
(getting out of bed)
Shit, shit, shit!

INT. GARAGE - McDERMOTT’S TRAILER
Sergei, Alf, and Richter sit at a table in the middle of the room, along with five others. (All of which have loaded guns underneath the table, aimed at each other). A military leader (McDermott) sits at the far end, flipping through a stack of papers.

McDERMOTT
I have a number of complaints about an increasing number of gunshots in this facility.
(moving the stack of papers aside)  
Perhaps one of you can tell me why?

RICHTER
I think we all know who the culprit is captain. He’s the only one dumb enough not to see that he is actually causing more damage than he is preventing it.

ALF
What the hell is the point of owning guns if you can’t even use them?

RICHTER
Just remember who gave you those guns in the first place asshole.

McDERMOTT
It seems to me, that some of us would feel better if Alf left the community.

RICHTER
(scoffs)
Some of us is an understatement. I think I speak for just about everyone in this room, when I say that Alf should leave, and find out how long he can last on the open road.

SERGEI
Then you can throw me out as well!

CHRIS
(entering the room)
Me too!

The room goes silent.

McDERMOTT
Tomorrow morning then.
(taking three points off the population counter)
Take the blue pickup truck across the street.
(throwing the keys to Alf)
The gate will be unlocked for you. In the meantime you can get your things together.

RICHTER
About goddamn time too. At least now he can die because of the corpses. It’ll save me the trouble of doing it myself.

ALF
You know, you should have killed me sooner Richter. It would have saved your life.
(aiming his gun across the table at Richter)

A Mexican standoff is formed around the table. Chris and Sergei point their guns at everyone in the room except for Alf, and each other. They exchange glances.

McDERMOTT
So what’s your plan Alf? Kill Richter only to be shot down by everyone else in the room? That being said, I pull this trigger…
(cocking gun)
…And we all die. It’s a chain reaction Alf.

Alf looks over at Chris and Sergei. Sergei shakes his head. As if to say: “Don’t do anything stupid.” Alf ignores him, and aims his gun across the table at McDermott.

ALF
I like my odds.

Shots are fired around the room, sending Alf, Richter, and four civilians to the ground. (Leaving Chris, Sergei, and McDermott left standing). McDermott blows the smoke from the barrel of his gun, and takes five points off the population counter. Only one point remains. Chris and Sergei run over to Alf’s dead body.

McDERMOTT
It’s his own fault he’s dead… Like I said …It’s a chain reaction.

Seconds later, Richter is resurrected as a zombie. He grabs McDermott by the leg, and bites his shin. McDermott kicks him off, and shoots him in the head, splattering blood on the wall behind. He runs out the door screaming, and shuts it behind him. The other five zombies rise from the ground. Chris and Sergei gun them all down. First the four civilians. Chris aims his gun at Alf but hesitates to pull the trigger. He lowers his gun, and turns to face Sergei.

CHRIS
(handing Sergei his gun)
You should do it.

Sergei nods, and shoots Alf at point blank.  

SERGEI
Let’s get back to the house, and gather up some supplies. We got a long drive to Phoenix.

CHRIS
Even longer if it turns out to be fake.

EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE - TRAILER PARK
McDermott stands at the trailer park entrance, staring down at the combination lock. He forms the crucifix, and begins to decode the lock. (13, 3, 13). The lock falls to the ground, allowing the zombies outside to pile inside.

EXT. STREET - TRAILER PARK
Chris and Sergei are walking from Chris’s trailer, towards the pickup truck McDermott had left for them. Chris turns and notices the horde of zombies marching toward them. He empties the rest of his clip into the zombies in front. They run towards the truck, followed closely by the zombie horde. They throw the bags in the back of the truck. Sergei enters the driver’s seat, while Chris enters the passenger seat.

INT: TRUCK
Sergei searches his pockets for the keys to start the truck.

SERGEI
Dammit! Who had the keys?

CHRIS
…Alf…
(looking over at McDermott’s trailer)

INT: GARAGE - McDERMOTT’S TRAILER
Chris and Sergei enter through the front door, with a group of zombies following close behind them. Sergei closes the door, and wedges a chair against the doorknob.

SERGEI
The door, will not hold them forever. Let’s just find those keys and get out of here.

Chris leans over Alf’s dead body, and searches his pockets for the keys. He finds the keys in his right pocket.

CHRIS
I got them!

He turns around to face Sergei only to find that he has been taken hostage at gunpoint by McDermott. McDermott’s skin has turned pale, and his eyes have started to turn red.

SERGEI
We could have built a society. We could have thrived in a world overrun by the undead. Until you three came along.

CHRIS
McDermott we had nothing to do with this! It was him.
(pointing at Alf)
And him alone.

McDERMOTT
Six people are dead because of him. So far at least.

SERGEI
McDermott stop screwing around and let us go!

McDERMOTT
You think I’m screwing around here?
(jabbing Sergei in the ribs with the barrel of his gun)
We’re all going to die at some point. Whether I let you leave or not.

CHRIS
At least give us a chance! We can find a place to hole up in, and wait it out.

McDERMOTT
Wait for what? The government? The government left the picture long ago Chris. We’re on our own.

SERGEI
Just, give us a chance. Please…

The sound echoes in McDermott’s head. McDermott lowers his gun, and salutes, before shooting himself in the head.

CHRIS
No!

Sergei walks over to the population counter, and takes off the final point. Just then, the zombies break down the door, and start crowding into the room. Sergei uses the fallen chair to knock one of the zombies over onto the table. Another zombie leaps forward at Chris. Chris picks up Richter’s crossbow, and shoots the zombie in the head. It falls forward into Chris’s arms.

SERGEI
Come on! Let’s get the hell out of here!

Chris drops the zombie on the ground, and runs toward the back door with Sergei.

EXT: STREET - TRAILER PARK
Chris and Sergei exit through the back door of McDermott’s trailer, leaving the zombies inside. They sprint towards the truck again. Two zombies are waiting there already, looking at their reflections in the rear view mirrors of the truck. Chris beheads one of them with a baseball bat, while Sergei shoots the other with his pistol. The remaining zombies outside hear the gunshot, and begin to chase after them. Sergei starts the truck, while Chris jumps in the back.

CHRIS
Drive!

INT. TRUCK
Sergei steps on the gas pedal, and speeds away.

EXT. STORAGE COMPARTMENT - TRUCK
Chris reloads his gun, to shoot the oncoming zombies. He manages to shoot two as they drive towards the front gate. However one of the zombies catches up to the truck, and climbs in the back with Chris. The zombie tackles him to the ground, and tries to bite him. Chris uses his leg to hold the zombie away from him, giving him a clear shot with his pistol. But before he can pull the trigger, he flashes back to the dirt road. (Start flashback, where the last dream sequence left off).

EXT: DIRT ROAD - NEVADA – DAY - 4 WEEKS EARLIER
The dark figure comes into focus, revealing it to be McDermott. He helps Chris up off the ground, and hands him his gun.

McDERMOTT
Your safe now.

CHRIS
(holstering his gun)
Thanks to you.

EXT: STORAGE COMPARTMENT - TRUCK – DAY - 4 WEEKS LATER
Chris shoots the zombie in the head, creating a shower of blood in the air. Chris kicks the zombie onto the side of the road. It lands in a crooked position on the side of the road. Chris holsters his gun, and looks back at Sergei through the rear view mirror. As if to say: “We made it.” Chris and Sergei continue to drive off into the sunrise, while the song: “Highwayman” by the “Highwaymen” plays. They slowly disappear into the distance, but their shadow lingers behind them.

ROLL CREDITS

FADE OUT

The song ends, and is followed by another broadcast over the radio.

VOICE
(over radio)
It’s been 4 weeks since the start of the outbreak…
(static)
…And I still haven’t heard from anybody…
(static)
…I don’t even know why I’m still here…
(static)
…Talking into this damn microphone. It’s not like anyone is going to answer back…
(static)
…Except maybe a zombie…

A zombie moans in the background, followed by a series of gunshots. The message starts to repeat. The radio switches off.

THE END