Dead city: survival instinct

Chaper 15: Nebraska

As mary is still sobbing as deacon has a hold on her as he tries to contain her
Deacon: don't look don't look.
As Mary runs away
As June is also sobbing as junes mother is on the ground
Mason: wait,wait.
As June pulls the walker bodies off of her dead mother
June: ma? Mama?
As she reanimates and growls at June as June screams
Anna: grab her!
As Arnold's dead body reanimates along with Lacey they attack the others as Mike and deacon try to contain the situation as Anna puts down junes mother along with a recently reanimated Arnold and Lacey
Mike: Jesus.
Matthew: we've been out we've been combing these woods looking for her and she was in there all along ? And you knew?
Jennifer: leave us alone!
Mason: hey Matt stop man.
Matthew: get your hands off me! You knew and you kept it from us.
Phillip: I didn't know.
Matthew: that's bullshit I think y'all knew.
Jennifer: we didn't know.
Matthew: why was she in there ?
Phillip: Otis pull those people in the barn maybe he found her and put her in there before he was killed.
Matthew: you expect me to be believe that ? What do I look like? I look like an idiot to you?
Mason: Matt hey hey.
Phillip: I don't care what you believe!
Mason: everybody just calm down.
Phillip: get him off my land.
Matthew: let me tell you something-
As Jennifer smacks Matthew
Jennifer: hey. Don't touch him! Haven't you done enough!
Phillip: I mean it. off my land.
Mason: what are you doing ? Hey, what are you doing ?
Matthew: deacon almost died looking for her,mason any one of us could have I'm gonna tell you right now that son of a bitch he knew!
Mason: he didn't know he's not like that he opened his home to us.
Matthew: put us all in danger he kept a barn full of walkers.
Mason: so you just start an insurrection hand out guns and massacre his family ?
Matthew: his family is dead mason.
Mason: we'll be doesn't believe that he thinks you just murdered them in cold blood.
Matthew: I don't care what he thinks.
Mason: I was handling it brother I was handling it and you just went ahead-
Matthew: you had us out in those woods looking for a little girl that every single one of us knew was dead that's what you did man you're just as delusional as that guy! As Matthew just scoffs
Matthew: handling it huh?
As we cut to Noah and Jennifer entering the house as the door closes
Noah: I have to ask you did you know she was in the barn ?
As Jennifer just looks at him
Noah: you know maybe in some weird way this is for the best at least we know and now we can move on.
Jennifer: move on ?
Noah: yeah it's just like it meant so much to everyone finding her you know ? And then.
Jennifer: so now you'll just move on ?
Noah: if we can I mean we've lost others but this is Chloe a little girl who likes to paint stories onto her canvas and who looked up to the older adults a little girl who loved fishing with her dad the whole group this one was different.
Jennifer: so what happens now ?
Noah: we bury her with your mom stepmom and stepbrother and your sister and brother and the rest.
Jennifer: and then?
Noah: I don't know.
As we cut to Jon and Laura on the hillside
Jon: thought I'd find her.
Laura: we all did.
Jon: I meant me that I'd be the one to find her like,maybe she would be hiding somewhere in a cave or a tree she'd be safe and I'd find her and bring her back. He did the right thing shooting her like that I would've done it too.
Laura: Harold ?
Harold: yeah?
Laura: could you take Jon to the house please? I want you to rest.
Jon: okay.
Mason: hey you dropped that.
As mason hands Jon his hat as Caleb approaches the scene
Caleb: I heard all that gunfire what happened?
Mason: the barn was full of walkers and we cleared it out and people died.
Caleb: who?
Mason: let's not get into that right now.
Caleb: who dad?
Mason: Arnold,Lacey,Joan and a bunch of other people that were already in the barn.
Caleb: Chloe?
Mason: she was in the barn too she was bit I had no choice I put her down.
Caleb: oh god!
Mike: want us to start burying ?
Anna: we need a service Mary and Richard would want that.
Laura: yeah we all want that let's dig a grave for Chloe Arnold and Joan and Lacey and little Shawn over by those trees and we'll need a truck to move the bodies.
Jimmy: I'll get the keys.
Matthew: I got the truck.
Jimmy: and the others ? That's a lot of digging.
Anna: we bury the ones we love and burn the rest.
Shawn: let's get to work.
Laura: what did Phillip say?
Mason: wants us off the farm,or Matthew at least.
Laura: that's not a surprise his son and daughter was killed I understand and all that gunfire more walkers could've heard it? Baby what is it?
Mason: she was there all the this time.
Laura: and you did everything you could.
Mason: yeah I know I always do don't I ? Went after her protected her killed those walkers but she still got bit Jon still got shot people counting on me and I had them chasing a ghost in a forest.
As mason walks away angrily
As Matthew gets the truck ready as Harold just looks and stares one tries to rile up Matt
Matthew: do you got something to say Harold ? We'll go ahead man mr moral authority huh? The voice of reason let me ask you something man what do you do? Huh what do you do to keep this camp safe huh? What do you do? You fix up an rv babysit some guns man you pointed one at my chest right but you just couldn't pull the trigger could you? If I was such a danger if I was such a threat what did you do to stop me huh? I smashed that barn open I saved Jon that ain't you that ain't mason that's me! Tell you what Harold next time I need a radiator hose I'll give you call man.
As they start digging graves
Laura: Mary,Richard? They're ready come on.
Mary: why?
Deacon: because that's your little girl.
Mary: that's not my little girl that's some other thing my Chloe was alone in the woods all this time I thought she didn't cry herself to sleep she didn't go hungry she didn't try to find her way back Chloe died along time ago.
Richard:are you fucking serious this is our daughter and you're not gonna even try to attend the service for your daughter because his is our daughter Mary! You know what go ahead and sit here moping about it instead of going out there for your little girl to be there for your son who's already having a tough time with this see if I care!
Laura: a few more trips ?
Anna: if that barn had any more we could've been overrun I don't agree with what Matthew did but it has to be done with doing what he did.
Harold: you can't tell me this was right ?
Laura: you're right it wasn't it'll cost us with Phillip.
Anna: he's grieving he'll come around see we had no choice.
Alan: look I got no qualms about it all those walkers in my back yard Mmm Mmm.
Harold: I'm not saying that we shouldn't have taken care of the problem but creating a panic.
Laura: there's no point in arguing about it it's done. There's nothing we can do about it.
Mike: better get moving.
As we cut to Jennifer
Jennifer: so if your group leaves you wouldn't stay ?
Noah: I hadn't really thought about it I mean I didn't know that do you think this is the best time to discuss this I mean?
Jennifer: well I'm not really feeling like there's not a lot of time for anything.
Noah: no there is there is I mean I want...
As June falls down in shock
Jennifer: oh my god!
Jennifer: sweetie can you hear me? What's wrong with her?
Laura: she might be in shock where's Phillip?
Noah: we can't find him anywhere.
Mason: your stepmothers things?
Jennifer: he was so sure she'd recover they're just pickup where they left off.
Matthew: looks like he found an old friend.
Jennifer: that belonged to my grandfather gave it to my dad when he died.
Mason: didn't take Phil for a drinker?
Jennifer: no he gave up drinking when I was born he didn't even allow liquor in the house.
Mason: what's the bar in town ?
Jennifer: haitlins he practically lived there in his drinking days.
Mason: betting that's where I'll find him.
Noah: yeah I've seen the place I'll take you.
Mason: alright I'll get the truck.
Jennifer: what no.
Noah: it's an east run.
Jennifer: like the pharmacy ?
Mason: Jen? I'll bring him back in one piece.
Noah: Jen that was different.
Laura: mason ? You want to have a conversation about this before you leave?
Matthew: you seriously gonna go after this guy with everything that's going on?
Laura: he's right he's right this is not the time to head off,not today you don't always have to-
Mason: of course you agree with him you always do and what don't always have to what go after someone that is grieving the loss of his wife both of em ex wife joan and current wife susan I'm not arguing Laura it's the least I can do for Phil after we ran sacked his barn-
Matthew: what after we what?
Mason: you're right after you tore off the locks off the barn door and put every single one of us in danger hit his kids killed having to bury his loved ones family so I thank you Matt thank you so much! For putting everyone of us at risk!
Matthew: we were already at risk just took two lives for over 15 you do the math mason!
Mason: I did and I say you are hot head who should t have a gun or have a say in what we do as a group leader decision.
As Matthew scoffs
Matthew: whatever.
Laura: mason Jon said he would've shot Chloe himself he's getting cold he's growing up in a world where he needs a fat he like you around,alive and not running off solving everyone else's problems.
Mason: and that's a problem why we are living in a world where people die and you have to do things terrible things to survive and I approve Jon saying that because I don't need my son being soft in this world because these things will kill him and the world is turning people into something that we don't even recognize.
Laura: what are you talking about ? What did you see while you were away what did that do to you?
Mason: it doesn't matter and I'm not arguing and I'm done arguing it's not just Phillips problem I'm tryna solve we need him for the baby or have you forgotten mhm! I'm going after him like it or not! Of course you would agree with Matt!
As he scoffs and walks away
Mason: you ready?
Noah: yeah
As they both head off
As Matthew is cleaning himself up splashing water on himself
As Mary comes out the woods with dirt on herself
Matthew: hey Mary ? Are you alright?
As he seems genuinely concerned
Matthew: come here I just want you to know that I'm real sorry about your little girl.
Mary: thank you.
Matthew: I'm sorry for both of you when I opened that barn I had no idea if I did everybody thinks I'm a- I was just tryna keep everybody safe I had no idea she was in there.
As we cut back to the farm
Harold: This place has gone to hell.
Laura: yea I'm trying real hard to prevent that.
Harold: you won't be able to there are people in this group that think what Matthew did was justified.
Laura: I know you two can't stand eachother but he did something that needed to be done.
Harold: he's dangerous.
Laura: yea he's a hothead.
Harold: no Laura he's dangerous I think he killed Otis.
Laura: Otis was killed by walkers?
Harold: oh my word not you too he knew how to handle walkers hell he was the one that was putting em in the barn.
Laura: you need to be really clear with me right now? What are you saying?
Harold: only me and Anna know I wasn't supposed to say anything but I think I believe that Matt sacrificed Otis I can't prove it but I think he shot him and left him for bait so that he could get away.
Laura: Matt may be a hot head but he's not a murderer and why would he kill someone that was tryna help?
Harold: Laura you can possibly believe that he liked Otis maybe he was pinned down he said it he all but threw it in my face he admitted it to Anna word for word I'm telling you I knew guys like him and sooner or later he's gonna kill somebody else.
As we cut to the road of mason and Noah driving to the bar
Noah: Jennifer says she loves me she doesn't mean it right? I mean she can't she's upset or confused she's probably feeling like-
Mason: I think Jennifer smart enough to know what she's feeling.
Noah: no no she wants to be In love she needs something to hold onto.
Mason: Noah it's pretty obvious to everyone that Jennifer loves,and not just because you're one of the last men standing so what's the problem?
Noah:
I didn't say it back I've never had a woman say that to me before except my mom of course and my sisters but with Jennifer it's different we barely know each other what does she really know about me ? Nothing we're practically strangers but I didn't know what to do with it I just stood there like a jerk.
Mason:
hey that's a good thing something we don't get e Pugh of these days enjoy it and when we get back return the favor it's not like she's going anywhere.
Noah: mason? I knew about Laura her being pregnant I got her those pills.
Mason: yeah I figured.
Noah: I'm sorry I kept it from you.
Mason: look don't be you did what you thought was right it just so happens it wasn't.
Anna: her hearts racing she's burning up we need Phillip.
Laura: would you look in on Jon and Caleb for me ?
Anna: of course.
As Laura goes to talk to deacon
Laura: moving to the suburbs ? Listen June's in some sort of catatonic shock we need Phillip.
Deacon: yeah so what?
Laura: so I need you to run into town real quick and bring him and mason back deacon?
Deacon: your bitch went window shopping you want him fetch him yourself I got better things to do.
Laura: what's the matter with you? Why would you be so selfish ?
Deacon: selfish ? Selfish?! Listen to me olive oil I was out looking for that little girl every single day! I took a bullet and an arrow in the process don't you tell me about getting my hands dirty I did more for that little girl than any one of you combined you want those two idiots have a nice ride! I'm done looking for people.
As Laura leaves
As mason and Noah enter the bar
Mason: Phillip?
Phillip: who's with you?
Mason: Noah.
Phillip: Jennifer sent him?
Mason: he volunteered he's good like that. How many have you had?
Phillip: not enough.
Mason: let's finish this back at home June collapsed and Troy's ankle is hurt she's in some sort of state must be in shock I think you are too.
Phillip: Jennifer's with her.
Mason: yeah but June needs you.
Phillip: what could I do? She needs her mother they all do it rather to mourn,like she should've done weeks Ago I robbed her of that I see that now.
Mason: you thought there was a cure can't blame yourself for holding out hope.
Phillip: hope? When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in your arms, I had little hope he'd survive.
Mason: but he did.
Phillip: that's right he did even though we lost Otis your man Matthew made it back and we saved your boy that was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist only it was a sham a bait and switch, I was a fool mason and you people saw that my daughters and my sons deserve better than that.
Noah: so what do we do? Just wait for him to pass out?
Phillip: just go just go!
Mason: I promised Jennifer I'd bring you home safe.
As Phillip scoffs
Phillip: like you promised that little girl ?
Mason: so what's your plan mhm? Finish that bottle ? Drink yourself to death and leave your girls alone ?
Phillip: stop telling me how to care for my family,my farm! You people are like a plague I do the Christian thing and give you shelter, and you destroy it all! And got my son and my daughter killed! Your man did that!
Mason: the world was already in bad shape when we met.
Phillip: and you take no responsibility your supposed to be their leader?!
Mason: well I'm here now! Aren't I?
Phillip: yes,yes,yes you are.
Mason: come on your girls need you more now than ever!
Phillip: i didn't want to believe you you told me there was no cure that these people were dead not sick I chose not to believe that but when Matthew shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming that's when I knew what an ass I'd been and that Susan and Josette had been dead long ago and I was feeding a rotten corpse that's when I knew there was no hope and when that little girl came out of the barn the look on your face I knew you knew it,too. Right? There is no hope and you know it now, like I do don't you? There is no hope for any of us.
As Mike and Matthew are burning the bodies
Matthew: you ready?
Mike: yeah man, how many times are we gonna have to do this?
Matthew: as many as it takes.
Mason: look I'm done I'm not doing this anymore cleaning up after you you know what the truth is ? Nothing has changed death is death it's always been there whether it's from a heart attack,cancer or a walker what's the difference ? You didn't think there was no hope before, did you? And now there are people back at home trying to hang on they need us even if it's just to give them a reason to go on even if we don't believe to ourselves you know what ? This isn't about what we believe anymore it's about them.
As two random stranger come In the bar
Dave: son of a bitch they're alive?
As Laura gets In a car and heads on the road as she heads to the bar to find mason and Phillip as she looks down at the map as two walkers are in her path she looks up and crashes into one of them as she gets into a horrible wreck
Dave: I'm Dave that scrawny looking douchebag over there is Tony.
Tony: aye eat me Dave.
Dave: maybe someday I will we met on I-95 coming out of Philly damn shit show that was.
Noah: I'm Noah it's nice to meet new people.
Mason: mason Briggs.
Dave: what about you pal? You have one?
Phillip: I just quit.
Dave: got a unique sense of timing my friend.
Mason: his names Phillip he lost a lot people today we all lost a lot people today.
Dave: I'm truly sorry to hear that to better days and new friends and to our dead may they be in a better place. Not bad huh? I got it off a cop.
Mason: I'm a cop?
Dave: this one was already dead.
Phillip: you fellas are a long way from Philadelphia.
Dave: feels like we're a long way from anywhere.
Mason: what drove you south?
Dave: well I can tell you it wasn't the weather I must've dropped 30 pounds in sweat alone down here.
Tony: I wish.
Dave: first it was D.C. I heard there might be some kind of refugee camp,but the roads were so jammed,we never got close we decided to get off the highways and into the sticks keep hauling ass every group we came across had a new rumor about a way out of this thing one guy told us there was the coast guard sitting in the gulf, sending ferries to the islands the latest was a rail yard in Montgomery running trains to the middle of the country in Kansas,Nebraska.
Mason: Nebraska?
Tony: yeah low population lots of guns.
Noah: kind of makes sense.
Dave: ever been to Nebraska kid? There's a reason they call em fly over states.
Dave: how alot you guys?
Mason: fort benning eventually.
Dave: hate to piss in your cornflakes officer but we ran across a grunt who was stationed at benning he said that place was overrun by lamebrains.
Noah: wait so fort benning is gone? Are you for real?
Dave: sadly I am. The ugly truth there is no way out of this mess just keep going from one pipe dream to the next,praying one of these mindless freaks doesn't grab a hold of you when you sleep.
Tony: if you sleep?
Dave: looks like you guys aren't gaming your hats here? You holed up somewhere else?
Mason: not really ?
Dave: are those your cars out front?
Mason: yeah why?
Dave: we're living in ours those kind of look empty you know clean where's all your gear ?
Phillip: we're with a larger group out scouting,thought we could use a drink.
Dave: A drink? Phillip I thought you quit ? Well we were thinking of setting up around here is it safe?
Noah: it can be although I have killed a couple walkers around here.
Dave: walkers? That what you call em?
Mason: yeah.
Dave: that's good I like that I like that better than lamebrains.
Tony: it's more succinct.
Dave: okay Tony went to college.
Tony: two years.
Dave: so what you guys set up on the outskirts or something? That new development trailer park or something A farm? Old McDonald had a farm.
As Tony just laughs
Dave: you got a farm? Is it safe ? It's gotta be you got food,water?
Tony: you got cooze? Haven't had a piece of ass in weeks.
Dave: listen pardon my friend city kids they have no tact no disrespect. So listen Noah.
Mason: we've said enough.
Dave: well hang on a second this farm sounds pretty sweet don't sound sweet Tony ?
Tony: yeah real sweet.
Dave: how about a little southern hospitality we got some buddies back at camp,been having a real tough time I don't see why you can't take in a few more we can pool our resources our manpower.
Mason: look I'm sorry that's not an option.
Dave: doesn't sound like it be a problem?
Phillip: I'm sorry we can't.
Mason: we can't take in anymore.
Dave: you guys are something else I thought we were friends we got people we gotta look after too.
Mason: we don't know anything about you?
Dave: that's true you don't know anything about us you don't know what we've had to do what we had to go through out there,the things we've had to do I bet you've had to do some of those things yourself am I right? Cause ain't nobody's hands clean in what's left of this world we're all the same so come on let's take a nice friendly hayride to this farm and we'll get to know eachother.
Mason: that's not gonna happen.
Dave: mason?
Tony: this is bullshit!
Mason: calm down.
Tony: don't tell me to calm down don't ever tell me to calm down I'll shoot you three assholes and take your damn farm!
Dave: whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Relax take it easy nobody's killing anybody nobody's shooting anybody right mason? We're just friends having a drink that's all now where's the good stuff huh? Good stuff good stuff good stuff. Let's see.
As mason reaches for his gun holster
Dave: hey,look at that. That'll work you gotta understand we can't stay out there you know what it's like.
Mason: yeah I do but the farm is too crowded as is I'm sorry you'll have to keep looking.
Dave: keep looking? Where do you suggest we do that?
Mason: I don't know I hear Nebraskas nice?
As Dave laughs
Dave: Nebraska this guy.
As Dave reaches for his gun mason shoots him in the head and shoots Tony as well as then shoots Tony I. The head as well as Tony body thuds on the ground as mason holsters his gun.