Dead city: survival instinct

Chapter 14: pretty much dead already

As mason zones out as he stares blankly at Matthew behind his back
Laura: where'd you go ?
Mason: I'm here.
As Noah approaches to tell everyone
Noah: um,guys so the barn is full of walkers.
As everyone goes silent
As everyone approaches the barn as they hear moans and snarls
Matthew: you cannot tell me you're alright with this ?
Mason: no I'm not but we're guest here this isn't our land.
Mathew: god this is our lives man!
Shawn: Lower your voice.
Anna: we can't just sweep this under the rug.
Matthew: it ain't right not remotely we've either gotta go in there and make things right or we've just got to go, now we have been talking about fort benning for a long time.
Mason: we can't go !
Matthew: why,mason,why?!
Richard: cause my daughter our daughter is still out there.
Matter: okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility.
Mason: Matt were not leaving Chloe behind.
Deacon: I'm close to finding this girl just found her damn doll two days ago.
Matthew: you found her doll deacon that's what you did you found a doll.
Deacon: you don't know what the hell you're talking about!
Matthew: I'm just saying what needs to be said you get a good lead in the first 48 hours.
Mason: Matt! Enough!
Matthew: let me tell you something else man if she was alive out there saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and geek around your neck she would run in the other direction.
As deacon comes at Matthew as everyone is shouting indistinctly
Anna: back off!
Matthew: keep your hands off me.
Mason: now let me talk to Phillip let me figure it out.
Matthew: what are you gonna figure out!
Mason: if we're gonna stay if we're gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it this is his land.
Harold: Phillip says he sees those things in there as people sick people,his wife,his stepson.
Mason: you knew!
Harold: yesterday I talked to Phillip.
Matthew: and you waited the night ?
Harold: I thought we could survive one more night we did! I was waiting till this morning to say something but Noah wanted to be the one!
Matthew: the man is crazy mason if Phillip thinks those things are alive or no.
As the walkers are growling and tries getting out of the barn
As Noah tries his best to talk to Jennifer
Noah: Jennifer hey,Jennifer! Just talk to me.
Jennifer: give me your hat you said talk to you I'm taking to you give me your hat.
As he hands her his hat as she puts an egg in his hat and back on his head with extreme force
Noah: why would you waste an egg like that ?
Jennifer: I think it was rotten.
With a smirk on her face
Jon: does Matthew think Chloe's dead ?
Laura: Matt is just scared.
Jon: of the walkers in the barn ?
Laura: yeah.
Jon: mom,I'm not leaving until we find chloe and I don't want to go even after that.
Laura:well we're not leaving,jon you finish those problems.
Jon: I just think she's gonna like it here,this place it could be a home.
As deacon tries to lift a saddle after he succumbs to his injuries he's not quite all the way healed up yet as deacon grunts
Mary: you can't.
Deacon: I'm fine.
Mary: look Phillip says you need to heal you can't put to much on your body or you'll go into shock.
Deacon: yeah,I don't care.
Mary: well I do, mason is going out later to follow the trail.
Deacon: yeah well I ain't gonna sit around and do nothing.
Mary: no you're gonna go out there and get yourself hurt even worse we don't know if we're gonna find her deacon we don't I don't.
Deacon: what ? Mary: I can't lose you too what else do you have to prove you've already proven yourself enough you don't owe us anymore than what you've given deacon you've earned your place.
As deacon gets pissed and throws the saddle to the ground and hurts himself as he grunts
Mary: are you alright ?
Deacon: just leave me be,stupid bitch.
As Noah goes up to the RV
Noah: Anna's looking for you.
Harold: thank you,Noah.
Noah: any chance you got an extra hat ?
Harold: nope.
As Harold throws up his hunting hat to him
Noah: thanks.
As Anna is in the RV loading up guns
Anna: going off with mason to look for Chloe.
Harold: I thought he was taking with Phillip ?
Anna: he is we're gonna go after.
Harold: what happened with Matthew yesterday you've been acting really weird lately did he do something? Say something ?
Anna: no he just mentioned Jessica and I threatened him.
Harold: oh I'm sorry I know how much she meant to you your sister I mean.
Anna: no I know it's just that when I said it I really meant it I wanted him gone,dead after what he said I had the gun in my hand if he would've wanted me too I would have shot him dead right there no hesitation what's wrong with me ?
Harold: no there isn't anything wrong with you it's this world it's changing us in ways that aren't humane.
Anna: he wants me to head down to the barn and and keep watch duty.
Harold: does mason ?
Anna: we all know where he stands.
As Anna leaves out of the RV
Noah: Harold you okay ?
Harold: yeah,you mind running and getting me some water ? I just need a second.
Noah: you'll keep watch ? Harold ?
Harold: yeah,sure.
As mason knocks on Phillips door
Phillip: come on in.
As mason sees Phillip reading the paper
Phillip: a little light reading for lunch ? I've been working so hard lately I get my studying where I can.
Mason: you know we can help you out with your work.
Phillip: it's my field to tend.
Mason: we found the barn.
Phillip: leave it be.
Mason: well I'd like to talk about it,but either way,your barn,your farm,your say.
Phillip: I don't want to talk about the barn, I don't want to debate.
Mason: not a debate a discussion.
Phillip: I need you and your group gone by the end of the week.
Mason: I talked to Harold you and I have our differences with the way we look at the walkers, those people they may be dead,they may be alive but my people,us,we are alive right now,right here,right in front of you, you send us out there and that could change.
Phillip: I've given you safe harbor my conscience is clear.
Mason: this farm is special you've been shielded from what's been going on out there Harold said you saw everything happen in the news well,it's been a long time since the cameras stopped rolling the first time I saw a walker, it was just half a body snapping at me from the ground my inclination wasn't to kill it but what the world is out there isn't what you saw on tv, it is much much worse and it changes you either into one of them or something a lot less than the person you were.
Phillip: please stop! My ex wife was bitten on the face and I intended on putting her down I just couldn't because she bared my first child Arnold we were separated before I had any other children Joan and the rest of my family is all I have left Joan already had a son Shawn my stepson is in that barn my ex wife Barbara, and my youngest step daughter Bethany I couldn't do anything about it so I put 'em in that barn there. There's the secret.
Mason: I'm so very sorry but you gotta worry about the people that's here now I'm begging you please do not send us out there again.
As Phillip storms off as mason blurts out
Mason: my wife's pregnant that's either a gift here or a curse out there if we were to stay we could help you with the work, with securing the place, we can survive together.
Phillip: mason I'm telling you we can't.
Mason: just think about what you're doing.
Phillip: I've thought about it.
Mason: think about it!
Phillip: I've thought about it!
Mason: think about it again we can't go out there!
As mason storms off outside to Matthew waiting by the tractor
Matthew: what's it going be man ? Which way does this thing go ?
Mason: I don't know yet.
Matthew: well what did he say?
Mason: we're negotiating.
Matthew: you're... clock is ticking mason.
Mason: no it isn't Matthew look the barn is secure we didn't even know about it till this morning.
Matthew: we didn't well, we know about it now right ? We know there's over a dozen walkers in there we know that it's about a stones throw from our camp,mason where we sleep, so look, if we're not gonna go in there and clear it out, then we got to go.
Mason: we're not gonna clear it out and we're not gonna go.
Matthew: we atleast need our guns.
Mason: we can't have them,not here.
Matthew: why do you wanna stay when it's not safe I just don't understand ?
Mason: we can make it safe.
Matthew: how are we gonna do that ?
Mason: we will okay ?
Matthew: how mason how?!
Mason: we just gonna have to!
Matthew: no,man it is not okay,mason.
Mason: Matt!! Laura's pregnant !
As Matthew looks shocked as he has flashbacks to when they hooked up for the first time
Mason: I know you don't like it anymore than I do but we need to stay.
Matthew: we need our guns.
Mason: no I can work this out, you good ?
Matthew: yeah I just- Laura's having a baby man congratulations.
Mason: thank you.
As mason thinks to himself he wants to knock out his teeth so bad but holds back his pride
Phillip: hi honey, Jon doesn't need anymore of my help.
Jennifer: so that's it ?
Phillip: mason was trying to make a case it'll be hard but they'll have to be careful but he was being dramatic they're a strong group they've done well on their own they're just gonna have to go out and find they're own farm there's plenty of them now to choose from.
Jennifer: daddy wake up! They're aren't every one of them are either burned out or full of walkers!
Phillip: walkers ? Is that what you're calling them now and not by their names?
Jennifer: that's what the are.
Phillip: so we just keep these people here forever? How are they my responsibility ?
Jennifer: a new command I give to you love one another as I have loved you that's what you told me right I was mad when I found out you and mom were splitting I was 14 years old and I was more angrier than ever I was more awful to you than any of all I wanted to do was smoke and shoplift, love one another that's what you told me.
Phillip: Jennifer that was different.
Jennifer: no you're different I am but we are not, I love you that's part of this.
Phillip: is this about you and the Dominican boy do you want me to-
Jennifer: No! His name is Noah he saved my life yesterday when one the people you think is sick tried to kill me how's that for dramatic things aren't what you think they are they aren't don't do this okay? This isn't about me and Noah it's not about me and you it's about you! It's about who you are who you're gonna be.
Jimmy: Phillip! It happened again.
Mason: also shows she could have been moving this way,south if Chloe kept in that direction, she might have gotten out of the forest and into the farmland so we take 74 up to ivy road,then push down south on foot through the forest till we hit Christopher, go east a couple miles and then double back.
As Phillip approaches
Phillip: mason.
Mason: Phil we just have our guns out because we're gonna go look for Chloe.
Phillip: before you do that I could use your help with something.
Anna: count me in.
Phillip: thank you but I just need mason.
Anna: ok well I'll be down at the barn keeping watch until you're ready.
As Matthew comes up to Laura about the baby
Matthew: I thought he was dead.
Laura: Matt I don't.
Matthew: then when he came back,right then,right there,you see, I wished he was not because you wouldn't be mine but because I knew sooner or later he'd be dead see,mason he ain't built for this world,not for what it is now or for what it's about to become.
Laura: you're wrong,you're wrong.
Matthew: how many times has he saved your life ? I just I want to know how many times because by my count,I've saved your life on four different occasions,including Jons and Caleb's too, so I just want to ask you, how many times has mason saved your life ?
Laura: that night at the camp at the motel when it was overrun and the fish fry.
Matthew: No,no,no. See that was me too you see,mason he showed up late because he went on a suicide mission over nothing yeah,he joined in but see we wouldn't have been in that situation if he hadn't left because he felt that he needed to leave to save a drug dealer with the help of no hood douchebag army dudes and so we lost Jessica and we lost drake and we lost Tim we lost so many more see mason told me.
Laura: told you what ?
Matthew: and I know the reason why you didn't is because you know it's mine.
Laura: it's masons
Matthew: okay you know, we carried on quite a bit before mason got back Laura it's mine and you know it's mine.
Laura: Matt no you're wrong but even if it was it's not gonna be yours it's never gonna be yours and there's nothing you can do to change that and for the record he didn't go out to save a drug dealer he went out to get those guns and those guns saved the rest of our lives he went out for supplies even when you wouldn't and me and you it was one time and anything after that you were just a part time babysitter for Jon I've never entertained the idea of a me and you even if I thought he was dead one time you know why because he's my husband till death do us part he's the man I wanted to grow old with ever since college and his brother you have been nothing but a pain in mine and his side ever since this bullshit happened.
Matthew: I don't need to.
As Matt walks away pissed off
Jon: hey Matt! Can I talk to you for a sec ?
Matthew: yeah
Jon: I know you think Chloe is dead and that we should stop looking for her but that's bullshit.
Matthew: hey, man watch you mouth.
Jon: we're gonna stay here until we find her.
Matthew: you think that's what we should do ?
Jon: it's what I know we should do.
Matthew: then we stay that means we got to do whatever we go to do to make that happen hmm ?
Jon: like help out with chores ?
Matthew: like help out with chores.
Laura: Jon come here for a minute ?
Matthew: why don't you go see what your mom wants,huh ? Go on.
As Jon walks off
Matthew: hey Jon ! Don't let me hear you talk like that again.
As Matthew storms off to the RV he goes inside to find the guns
Noah: s'up ?
Matthew: son of a bitch! You see where he went ?
Noah: who ?
Matthew: don't even try and shit me, okay ?
Noah: what ?
Matthew: Harold, Noah did you see where Harold went ?
Noah: yeah he asked me to run and get him some water he said he'd cover my watch.
Matthew: and he was gone when you got back huh?!
Noah: yeah you think he's okay ?
Matthew: yea he's fine.
Noah: so why did he bail then ?
Matthew: so you wouldn't tell me which way he went.
Noah: I don't get it.
Matthew: no,man, you don't.
Phillip: the silt on the bottom is like glue you just sink in, that's Lou bush.
Mason: you knew him ?
Phillip: Lou as in Louise she has a farm up the road sweet corn mainly worked at hapmans bar on weekends the man I don't know him,but the coveralls I've been to where he worked, how many have you killed ?
Mason: too many to count.
Phillip: can you stop ? There are people out there who haven't been in their right minds,people who I believe can be restored.
Mason: you're not talking about the walkers are you ?
Phillip: it doesn't matter if you see them as human beings anymore but if you and your people are going to stay here my farm,my barn,my say.
As mason takes a grip of the harness
Deacon: did you see it ?
Mary: see what ?
Deacon: I'll find her hey,sorry about what happened this morning.
Mary: You wanted to look for her I get it but why? This whole time I wanted to ask you.
Deacon: cause I think she's still out there truth is what else I got to do ? We'll find her we will.
Mary: I see it.
As we cut back to Phillip
Phillip: Otis said if you get them halfway out they'll do the rest of the work.
Mason: how many time did he do this ?
Phillip: if one wandered onto the property,Otis would get them into the barn now we have to.
Mason: what happens when the barn gets full ?
As Phillip lightly chuckles
Phillip: get the pole!
Mason: Jimmy,Jimmy you got it?
Phillip: easy mason easy lead him Jimmy will spot for us you're the carrot,not the stick.
Mason: what?
Phillip: you heard me just lead him he'll come to you.
Mason: you told me he handled them easy this is easy ?
Phillip: it's easier than some things.
Jimmy: alright it's clear this way.
Noah: Jenny,hey Jenny just stop for a second ?
Jennifer: you talked about it you told Harold,fine I asked you to do one thing one thing!
Noah: I couldn't do it.
Jennifer: my dad's gonna kick you guys out now he told me.
Noah: no masons gonna work something out with your dad okay? I had to tell them.
Jennifer: you did not.
Noah: no I did okay, I wanted to you see, I forgot okay I forgot or I stopped thinking about it or maybe I didn't wanna think about it I let them lower me into that well like it was fun, like I was playing portal it's a video game.
Jennifer: of course it's a video game.
Noah: and then the pharmacy happened yesterday and I realized something I forgot that they're dangerous I don't care if they're sick people or dead people,they're dangerous and then I realized something else, that I don't want you in danger ever so, I hate to blow your dads big secret but I'm sick of secrets secrets get you killed and I'd rather have you pissed at me and alive,than liking me and dead so, that's why I told them.
Jennifer: hey,walker bait.
Noah: don't call me that.
Jennifer: okay,Noah.
As they start to kiss and chuckle
As we cut to the swamps as we see Harold getting fresh water from the river as he lays down his rifle as Matthew catches him by surprise
As Harold quickly reaches for his rifle
Matthew: man this is a good hiding place we ain't been in the swamps much huh?
Harold: imagine if you applied your tracking skills to find Chloe.
Matthew: how bout you give me that bag huh ?
Harold: I'm not gonna do that.
Matthew: yeah you are harry.
Harold: don't call me that my wife called me harry so don't call me that.
Matthew: fine but you do have that rifle pointed at me so?
Harold: what you gon kill me like you did Otis huh? Tell another story ?
Matthew: no man and first of all he was a racist and he got Jon shot and could've gotten me and him killed cause he couldn't keep up hell,when you look at it In the cold light of day,you're pretty much dead already just give me the guns okay do it now!
Harold: you think this is gonna keep us safe ?
Matthew: mmm hmm I know it is.
Harold: mason is trying to get Phillip to...
Matthew: Harold just shut up just shut up and give me the guns.
Harold: am I gonna have to shoot you ? Do I have to kill is that what's it's gonna take ?
As Matthew just laughs and scoffs as he looks at Harold and he's serious as he takes a step forward
Matthew: yeah that's what it's gonna take.
Harold: this is where you belong, Matt.
Matthew: how's that Harold?
Harold: this world,what it is now, this is where you belong and I may not have what it takes to last for long, but that's okay cause least I can say when the world goes to shit I didn't let it take me down with it.
Matthew: fair enough.
As Matthew walks off with the guns as we cut back to the farm
Jennifer: you look like you should be in line for the early bird special go get your cap I'll wash it for you,okay ?
Anna: do you know what's going on where is everyone ?
Shaun: you haven't seen mason he went off with Phillip.
Anna: we were supposed to take off a couple hours ago.
Mike: yeah you were ? What the hell ?
Anna: mason told us he was going out.
Deacon: damn it isn't anybody taking this seriously we got us a damn trail,ah here we go.
As Matthew approaches the house with the bag of guns
Deacon: what's all this ?
Matthew: you with me man?
Deacon: yeah
Matthew: time to grow up you already got yours ?
Anna: where's Harold ?
Matthew: he's on his way.
Mike: thought we couldn't carry ?
Matthew: we can and have to look,it was one thing picking daisies when we thought that this place was supposed to be safe but now we know it ain't how about you,man ? You gonna protect yours ?
As he holds the shotgun up to Noah for him to grab it as Noah grips the shotgun and takes it
Matthew: that's it can you shoot ?
Jennifer: can you stop ? You do this, you hand out these guns, my dad will make you leave tonight.
Jon: we have to stay Matt.
Matthew: we ain't going anywhere okay? Now look Phillip he's just gonna understand okay he's gonna have to now we need to find Chloe am I right?
As he hands Caleb a gun as he tries handing jon a gun
Matthew: now I want you to take this yo take it, Jon and you keep your mother safe you do whatever it takes you know how go on, take it.
Laura: mason said no guns it's not your decision to make.
Mike: oh shit!
As everyone looks up to see what Mike is seeing as Matthew makes a run for it as mason and Phillip are leading walkers into the barn
Matthew: what the hell is that?! Aye what the hell you doing?
Phillip: why do your people have guns ?
Matthew: you see who you holding onto?
Phillip: I see who I'm holding onto! Arnold,Jacob hold the barn door!
Arnold: but dad?
Phillip: Now!
As the get the harness doors secured to open
Matthew: nah man you don't! These things ain't sick they're not people they're dead! You hear me they're dead! These the things that killed Jessica they killed Otis and they kill all of us right here!
Mason: Matt enough!
Matthew: hey Phillip let me ask you something if it was living breathing person could they walk away from this!
As he lets off 3 shots
Matthew: that's 3 rounds to the chest someone's who's alive could they just take that why is he still coming?!
As he lets off more shots
Matthew: that was his heart it's lung why is he still coming?!
Mason: Matt enough!
Matthew: yeah you right man that is enough!
As he puts the walker down by shooting it point blank in the head
Matthew: enough! Risking our lives for a little girl who's gone! Enough living next to the things that's trying to kill us enough! Mason it ain't like it was before! If y'all wanna live if you wanna survive you gotta fight for it I'm talking about fight right here right now!
As he runs to the barn door pushes the two boys out the way as he takes a pick axe banging on the door
Mason: Matthew stop do not do this brother please!
Laura: Matt stop it!
As Matthew pries the door open
Mike: oh shit!
As Mike,deacon,Anna and Richard step up to the plate waving they're guns around
Laura: Jon get behind me!
Matthew: come on!
As walkers come crawling out the barn as they are shot one by one as Arnold tries to get away he twist his ankle falls to the ground as a walker notices him and goes for him as Phillip sits there in disbelief and shock
As the walker tears into Arnold killing as he is tearing him apart as Lacey goes for Arnold but is bit in the process
Jacob: Arnold! Lacey!
As the shooting continues as Noah ask Jennifer if it was okay
Noah: Jen?
As Noah steps forward and lets off shots
As Jennifer and Phillip are in shockful emotions as more gun fire is let off Matthew shoots the walker that mason is holding as the gun fire quiets down as the smoke clears as they're are still moans in the barn as a freshly turned walker comes out the barn it appears to be Chloe as she was bitten on the neck as she walks out everyone in disbelief as Richard is broken about his little girl
Mary: oh god Chloe Chloe!
As deacon grabs her by the waist
Deacon: na uh come on!
Mary: Chloe!
As walker Chloe just growls as mason with a guilty conscience takes it upon himself to put her down to relieve her suffering as he steps forward pulls out his gun and points it at her as he hesitates for a moment before pulling the trigger as he fires the gun she falls to the ground
As Mary lets out a painful wailing scream as mason just looks at all the walker bodies
As the screen fades to black as a moment of silence for the fallen