EXT. LAKE SIDE–DAWN

The sun is rising against a deceptively beautiful scene of nature in fall. It does not show the devastation world war has brought to the states. Scrolled against this backdrop are these words:

2025.

Nuclear world war has brought about devastation to every industrialized nation it has touched. A viral outbreak has wiped out millions, leading some to believe everyone lives on borrowed time.

Now here is the story of six strangers who’ve come together to fight against their premature end.

EXT. FOREST-DAWN

A group of MEN and WOMEN lay sleeping around a campfire. There are six of them. One of them, a WOMAN in her late forties, stirs, and sits up. She tends the fire and begins to fix breakfast.

The next one up is CARL an older gentleman in his late sixties. He smiles at the woman.

CARL
Rose, it’s my turn.

ROSE
You’re sick. Besides, I like
cooking. It makes me feel
normal.

CARL
I may be sick, but I’m no invalid.

ROSE
Don’t argue with me, Carl.
You took care of me when I
first got here. Now let me
do the same for you.
                  
CARL
This isn’t the same darlin’
and we both know it.

Rose looks away and back to the fire.

ROSE
We don’t know that for sure.

A deep gravelly VOICE intrudes upon a private conversation.

MALE VOICE
Yes we do. You’d do well to
prepare yourself for it.

Rose whips around to see DUNCAN BRIDE, a man in his early forties. Scruffy and muscular, he is less than friendly on a regular basis.

CARL
Leave her alone, Duncan.

DUNCAN
I like you, Carl. But we’re
all living on borrowed time.
    
ROSE
Go to hell.

DUNCAN
Already there.

Two WOMEN, both in their early thirties stand together. One, BETHANY is tall, slender, and is not only smart, but eye candy as well. SHAYLA, on the other hand as the ignominious fate of being the heavy girl with the pretty face.

SHAYLA
Maybe I am living on borrowed
time, but I’m not giving up yet.
         
She winks at Duncan, he snarls at her.

DUNCAN
Whatever you say Cinderella,
but your stagecoach is gonna
turn back into a pumpkin at some
point.

SHAYLA
I have a stagecoach? (laughing)
Come on ladies. Let’s go find a
place to do our business.

The last MEMBER of camp, BETHANY’S twenty something sister ALLY doesn’t move. Shayla nudges her with her foot.

SHAYLA
I suggest if you want a posse
to ride with you wake up now.

ALLY
Why are you doing this to me?

BETHANY
Because we don’t want to hear
you bitch later. Now c’mon.

ALLY
Jason’ll take me later.

JASON, a tall, broad shouldered, good looking man in his late forties snorts.

JASON
Now somebody’s dreaming. And
look, it’s not even night time.

ALLY
Bethany?

BETHANY
Not today.

Shayla smiles. Score one for the group.

Ally kicks off the blanket and stands to leave with them.

ALLY
If mom and dad were here
this wouldn’t be happening
and she wouldn’t be here.

She nods in Shayla’s direction. Duncan fixes her with a glare.

DUNCAN
Lucky for your sorry ass she
is. I’d have kicked you out of
camp a long time ago if she
weren’t.

ALLY
What? You like her?

He steps forward, Jason blocks him with his arm.

DUNCAN
I’m looking forward to the
day when Shayla beats your
ass. Because it’ll be just
as sweet for me as it is for
her.

JASON
C’mon, Duncan.

ALLY
You’re sick.

BETHANY
C’mon, Ally.

As Rose hands off cooking duties to Carl and joins the other women in their trek, Shayla turns around and mouths a huge Thank You to Duncan. He smiles slyly and shrugs.

JASON
Why’d you say that?

DUNCAN
Because the kid’s a brat
and needed to be put in
her place.
             
JASON
And you think she’s going to
respond to a threat?

DUNCAN
Trust me. I have it on
good authority that Shayla’s
word is her bond.

Duncan walks away and begins to tend breakfast.

DUNCAN
The woman’s right, old man.
You need to take care of
yourself.

Carl and Jason look at one another and shrug. They have yet to figure out this stranger.

EXT. CAMPSITE–LATER

Jason and Duncan sit on the deck looking out into what once must have been a beautiful place to vacation. For a while they sit in silence. With the women inside tending inside, well, most of them, they watch Shayla tend the fire faithfully without ever looking back.

JASON
Do you think she notices us
watching her?

Duncan takes a long drag off his cigarette and exhales.

DUNCAN
That one? That one 
notices everything.

JASON
I guess if you have to you
you have to.

DUNCAN
How long have you been here,
Jason? A month, a year? Two?

JASON
I don’t know. Does it matter?
According to you we’re just
marking time, right?

DUNCAN
I bet you she can tell you
down to the hour how long
she’s been here.

Jason sizes her up and looks Duncan square in the eye.

JASON
What’s the bet?

DUNCAN
That you take Princess to the
bathroom in the morning so that
Shayla doesn’t get a repeat of
this morning.

JASON
What do I get if she can’t?

DUNCAN
I’ll tell you my secret for
such a long and healthy life.

JASON
Ah hell, I’ll bite. Hey...
hey...hey...

Duncan smirks.

DUNCAN
Shayla.

She stops and turns around.

SHAYLA
Have a question for the porker
do we?

DUNCAN
We have a question for you.

SHAYLA
Whatever.

She begins to turn back to her chore.

DUNCAN
How long have you been waiting
to go home?

Saying nothing, she stands there frozen in place.

DUNCAN
You have a home to go home
to, right? Even I have a home
I want to go back to.

Still she says nothing.

DUNCAN
Now come on, what is it you
say all the time around here?
Be a sport. Answer the question.

SHAYLA
I’m no one’s sport. That bullshit
stopped for me around middle
school.

JASON
Sensitive. It’s just a question.

SHAYLA
It’s just a bet and since I
never liked being the butt
of jokes when I was younger
I don’t intend on carrying
on the tradition now.

Duncan looks her in the eyes and she stares right back.

DUNCAN
I’m sorry I even brought it
up.

JASON
What?                    
                       
DUNCAN
Forget about it.

JASON
If you can’t do it I will.
    
DUNCAN
If you think you can.

JASON
Shayla, how long have you been
away from your family?
                       
SHAYLA
Long enough to know info
like that is on a need to
know basis.

JASON
They must’ve turned you out
or you wouldn’t be acting
like this.

The whole time she keeps eye contact with Duncan. Their expressions never changing. Except for a flicker of hurt, a flash of pain.

SHAYLA
Yeah. That’s it. That’s why I
don’t want to be a part of your
bet. I heard you talking. How
many fat jokes and back handed
compliments do you think I’ve
heard in my lifetime? Ask me
about that and I’ll take up
hours of your time. But what
you’re asking from me now? That’s
off limits.

Jason mutters.

JASON
I can’t believe I let you talk
me into this shit.

Duncan finally looks back at Jason, Shayla goes back to the fire.

DUNCAN
I can’t believe you were stupid
enough to take the bait.

JASON
I’m beginning to think the
brat is right.

DUNCAN
About what, pray tell?

JASON
That there’s something going
on between you Miss Joy and
Light there.

Duncan gazes out at her.

DUNCAN
She’s an interesting woman.
You don’t meet too many of
those in this lifetime.

JASON
Have you seen her friends?
I’d say they’re pretty interesting
too.

Duncan lights up another cigarette and takes a drag.

DUNCAN
Whatever you say, man,
whatever you say.

The two men sit in quiet again, staring out into a relatively abandoned space. As content as the circumstances will allow them to be.

INT. TRAILER KITCHEN–DAY

Rose comes up from the back hallway to join Bethany and Ally who are playing cards. Carl is COUGHING so hard it can be heard from the back. Everyone avoids making eye contact.

The door opens. It’s Shayla. She hands a bucket of steaming water to Rose. Her shoulders sag.

SHAYLA
If you can’t do it I can.

ROSE
He’s been up almost all night.

SHAYLA
No problem.

Shayla picks up a mystery bag of goodies and heads on back. Bethany puts her cards down and starts to follow.

ALLY
Why do you always do that?

BETHANY
Do what?

ALLY
Choose her?

BETHANY
She’s tending to a dying man.
I’m going back there to talk
to her. Rose, would you play
with my sister until I get back.

ALLY
She’s not even related to you.

BETHANY
She’s not selfish. She cares
for others and gets what in return?
Grief from you. You might think about
taking a lesson or two from her.

ALLY
She’s not even a real Christian.

BETHANY
She’s more Christian in action
than you’ll ever be in word.

ALLY
If Dad were here–

BETHANY
If Dad were alive we wouldn’t
be here. Because when push
comes to shove Ally I want someone
like Shayla at my back. Wanna
know why? No, you don’t wanna know
why, but I’m gonna tell you anyway.
Carl, he’s dying. And it hurts Rose
too much to watch him take his
last breath, so you know who’s doing
it now? You? Didn’t think so. Shayla’s
the one person you’re so jealous
of you can’t see straight. So, I’m
going to go back there now so she
isn’t alone when it happens.

Ally doesn’t even blink as she turns back to her cards and ignores her sister altogether.

INT. BEDROOM–DAY

Carl lays in bed COUGHING, pale, and sweating. It is close to the end. Shayla makes a cup of tea and in between coughing fits they manage to get a sip or two down. She dips a rag in the water and presses it his forehead.

CARL
Please, Shayla. Let me go alone.
I know you’ve lost a lot. I don’t
Want to add to that burden.

SHAYLA
You’re no burden. Now here, drink.

He takes a sip.

CARL
What was your dream before all
this? Before the world came
crashing down?

SHAYLA
Girls like me don’t have
dreams.

He coughs, spittles of blood pepper her clothes.

CARL
I’ve seen the way you steal looks
in that Duncan’s direction.

SHAYLA
You’re delirious.

He takes her hand and gazes up into her face, his breathing strained.

CARL
If there was ever a time
for dreams it’s now.

SHAYLA
Rest.

CARL
I have plenty of time for that
where I’m going. Just promise
me that this little dream you’ve
got beating inside of you, that
you won’t let it die.

SHAYLA
Rest, Carl.

CARL
Promise me.

SHAYLA
Okay, I promise.

He smiles and touches her face.

CARL
Rose.

His hand slowly slides away from her and his body deflates against the bed. Shayla swallows hard and bites her bottom lip. She closes his eyelids. There’s a knock at the wall.

BETHANY
Everything okay in here?

SHAYLA
Tell Rose to come in if she
wants. Tell Duncan and Jason
to prepare a grave.

BETHANY
And Ally?

SHAYLA
Tell her what you want to.
She’s your sister.

Shayla stands up and leaves the room.

INT. KITCHEN–DAY

She walks through the kitchen and out the door.

EXT. BACKSIDE OF THE TRAILER–DAY

She doubles over and retches several times over. Then squats down  to the ground. Shayla stares out into the woods, tears in her eyes that refuse to fall.

EXT. FIRESIDE–LATER

Shayla sits on the ground, food sits untouched at her side. Bethany joins her with a plate of seconds.

SHAYLA
Is it done?

BETHANY
Yeah. 

SHAYLA
Ally’s with Rose, right?

BETHANY
Surprisingly, yes.

Looking up from the fire Shayla turns to her friend.

SHAYLA
I don’t hate your sister,
Bethany. And I try not to
underestimate her. She’s just
a pain in the ass.

Bethany blesses the situation with a tired smile.

BETHANY
In some ways that’s a comfort
to me. Having her alive and
bitching is better than not
having her here at all.

SHAYLA
Tell me about it.

BETHANY
We haven’t even been here
all that long and my favorite
stranger is dead.

SHAYLA
Six months, two days, three
hours, and counting.

BETHANY
What?

SHAYLA
That’s how long we’ve been
here.

BETHANY
Really. I wonder how long the
others have been together.

SHAYLA
My guess is that Duncan and
Jason have been here the longest.

BETHANY
We made it a long way on our
own.

SHAYLA
We still are on our own.

BETHANY
With the men and Rose I’d
say we aren’t.

SHAYLA
You’re close to Rose. Ally
Is close to Rose. Jason likes
you two. And Duncan, well
Duncan keeps to himself.

BETHANY
Except to rile Ally, or to
upset Rose. He could have been
kind to her. Everyone knew that
Carl was dying and that she had
taken to him.  

SHAYLA
Have you ever done it, Bethany?
Watched everyone you ever cared
about die? One by one. Sit by
their side and comfort them as
they left you behind? Not just
once, because once rips your heart
out and you’re in pain. You feel
it every time. But after awhile
you start to go numb. And after
that, once you’ve lost everything,
you harden to everything around
you.

BETHANY
We still talking about Duncan?

SHAYLA
I still have you Bethany. Even
if it means Ally is part of the
deal. (smiling) Besides, she
doesn’t have a bad heart. She just
needs a lot.

BETHANY
Sometimes you make it too easy,
Shayla.       

SHAYLA
Trust me, she’ll manage to piss
me off sooner or later. Today’s
not about me. It’s about Carl.
And Rose. They had something
special, you know?

BETHANY
You could see it the day we found
this place. They loved one another.
What I can’t understand is why she
let you sit with him in his final
minutes.

SHAYLA
It’s hard watching someone die. When
it’s someone you love, maybe she’d
just suffered enough with him and
couldn’t bring herself to let go.

BETHANY
I thought us sleeping outside
last night was our way of letting
go.

SHAYLA
We’ve known him six months. We
never asked about how they came
together at this place. They
just took us in. They know as
much about us as we do about them.

BETHANY
Have you ever thought about
just telling them what you’ve
been through?

SHAYLA
Why? What purpose would it serve?
             
BETHANY
I see the way you help all of us.
But you only allow yourself to be
close to me.

SHAYLA
You’re all I need, didn’t you
know that?

Acts as if she is going to kiss Bethany. Bethany laughs and pushes her away.

BETHANY
Get off of me.

Shayla smiles.

SHAYLA
That old guy had his finger
on the pulse of this camp
for sure. He was a nice balance
against He-Man and his buddy Thor.

BETHANY
Duncan’s just a brooder. As for
Jason, now there’s something I’d
like to get a piece of.

Both women laugh raucously. Neither see Jason round the corner.

JASON
Care to let me in on the joke?

Shayla and Bethany look at one another again and burst out laughing again. This time even harder.

JASON
I guess not. Shayla, Duncan’s
looking for you. And I think
Ally is looking for you.

Looking at Bethany, Shayla smiles.

SHAYLA
This conversation is far, far
from over.

They giggle and Shayla stands and disappears around the corner. Bethany stands to go when Jason catches her by the arm.

JASON
We need to talk.

Bethany freezes to the spot.

JASON
Don’t worry, I don’t bite.
Not unless you want me to.

She blushes a deep scarlet as they walk towards the deck and sit down.

INT. KITCHEN–DAY

Shayla walks in. Duncan sits at the table drinking and smoking. When she closes the door he speaks.

DUNCAN
When are you going to tell
her?

She jumps.

SHAYLA
Jesus Christ, people die
from shit like that.

DUNCAN
Or are you going to tell her
at all?

SHAYLA
What are you talking about?

DUNCAN
The reason why you could
sit with the old man. The
reason why you could sit
with any of us if we were
dying.

Digging into a cooler she brandishes a bottled water and sucks down a good portion of it before she speaks.

SHAYLA
You don’t know what you’re
talking about.

DUNCAN
I saw you last night when
you thought no one was looking.

He holds up a bloodied rag.

DUNCAN
The fallout. If it’s gonna get
you it’s gonna bloody your nose
first. So, are you gonna tell
her? Or are you gonna wait until
it’s too late.

SHAYLA
Too late for what? I’m dying.
Like my mom. Like my dad. Like
my whole family. I’m it. I’m
the last of us. The last thing
I want is for my best friend
to suffer with me.

DUNCAN
I see the way you are with her.
The way you tolerate her sister.
I see how close you two are and
I think, now if I had something
like that, I wouldn’t fuck it
up by keeping something this big
from her.

SHAYLA
Duncan, I like you. Even now. Even
though you are stomping all over me
I like you. You know why?

DUNCAN
You’re going to tell me aren’t
you?

Flinching, but moving ahead. She leans against the table and gets in his face.

SHAYLA
Because I look at you and I
see me. Only, you don’t have
that one thing. That one special
thing you would do anything to
protect. My one thing is my friendship
with Bethany. I love her as if she
were my sister. And death? Not
even death is going to touch it
if I can help it.

He sits paralyzed, he begins to speak when her nose begins to bleed. He hops up with the rag and covers her nose, tilting her head back.

DUNCAN
(softly)
Alright, alright, I’ll keep
your secret. You helped the
old man make his transition.
I can help you make yours.

Shayla sits down and keeps the rag over her nose for a moment then pulls it away.

SHAYLA
She can’t know. Not until
it’s time.

DUNCAN
You have my word.

He touches her chin and lifts it. He studies her, then quickly looks away. She gazes down at the rag and hides it.

EXT. DECK–DAY

Bethany sits, fiddling with her hands, she can not bring herself to look up at Jason.

JASON
You’re not about to be punished.
You can look at me.

BETHANY
If you knew what I knew you
couldn’t.

JASON
And what do you know?

BETHANY
Now that I can’t tell you.

He grins devilishly.

JASON
Why Bethany? Are you flirting
with me?

BETHANY
Hardly.

JASON
Then what your nosy sister says
isn’t true.

Bethany jerks her head up to meet his gaze. Jason smiles.

JASON
How old is your sister?

BETHANY
Young enough that you should know
to back off.

JASON
You’d do just about anything
for her wouldn’t you?

BETHANY
Ally and Shayla are all I have
left. They’re my family.

JASON
What would you do if you had to
choose?

BETHANY
I’m not going to have to choose.
What’s this all about?

JASON
This morning, you tried the neutral
thing. I don’t think anyone was
actually happy with that outcome.

BETHANY
I think I liked it better when you
thought I was flirting with you.

JASON
Really? Because I haven’t had anyone
to flirt with in a real long time.

BETHANY
Ha, ha, ha. Why don’t you just
leave me alone?

JASON
You and Shayla, you two, you know...

BETHANY
God knows if we were Shayla
would let the world know about
it. But no, we are not. I
like dick thank you very much.
And should the occasion ever arise
again, I’d jump on it in a heartbeat.

Jason doubles over laughing. Bethany stands to go. She is quite embarrassed at her own frankness and at his reaction. She is humiliated.

BETHANY
I think I’m going to take a
walk.

She makes it three steps when Jason calls after her. She stops, refusing to turn around.

JASON
It’s been a hard day. And I see the
way you and Shayla are together.
You two are tighter than most
sisters ever dream of being.
And you laugh. God you laugh.
Do you know how long it’s been
since there’s been any laughter
here? Please, turn around. Look
at me.

Bethany slowly turns. Tears in her eyes. Jason walks down the steps and wipes her tears away.

JASON
Don’t cry. I want to hear that
beautiful laugh.

BETHANY
She watched him die, Jason. Do
you know how many people she’s
watched die?

JASON
Everyone dies sooner or later.

BETHANY
Something’s different this time.
I know everything about her. You
have no idea what we’ve been through.
It’s like something’s broken. It’s
been like this for a couple of weeks
now. I can’t figure it out, she won’t
tell me, and she keeps pushing me
away.

JASON
If she’s going to open up to anyone
around here it’s you.

Tears glisten in her eyes again, he touches her cheek. Ally comes steam rolling around the corner.

ALLY
I can’t take it anymore. Rose
needs one of you. And since you’re
related to me, Bethany you have
to go to her.

JASON
I’ll go to her.

ALLY
Bethany–

JASON
I said, I’ll go to her. We’ll
talk later.

Bethany nods as he goes to Rose.

ALLY
He’s hot, but what a jerk.
Why are you crying? I’m
not going to have to comfort
you now am I? 

BETHANY
No, Ally. You don’t have to
do anything. Come on, let’s
get Shayla and go to the lake.

ALLY
Does she have to come with us?

BETHANY
Other than the fact she’s
my best friend, it’s safer
to travel in numbers these
days.

Ally rolls her eyes.

INT. TRAILER LIVINGROOM–DAY

Duncan sits reading a book when Ally and Bethany walk inside.

BETHANY
Wait in here, I’ll go get her.

ALLY
Great, I get to entertain Bruno.

Duncan continues to read.

ALLY
What? No snappy come back. No
zinger to put me in my place.

DUNCAN
I’m doing my best to keep the
peace. I suggest you do the
same.

ALLY
Are you telling me what to do
now?

Never looking up, not even once.  

DUNCAN
No. Just making a suggestion.

ALLY
If my dad–

DUNCAN
But he’s not. So can it.

Ally looks ready to explode. It’s been a long time since anyone’s put her in her place.

INT. BEDROOM–DAY

Bethany sits down next to Shayla and shakes her.

BETHANY
Shayla. Shayla. Wake up.

SHAYLA
I’m resting.

BETHANY
Come on. Me and Ally are going to
the lake to wash up. Come with us.

SHAYLA
I’m tired. I’ll go with Rose
or the guys later.

BETHANY
But I’ve got something to tell
you and I don’t want to share it
with Ally yet.

Shayla smiles.

SHAYLA
Jason?

Bethany grins and squeals. Shayla laughs.

SHAYLA
What happened?

BETHANY
I can’t tell you right now.

SHAYLA
Why the hell not?

BETHANY
Because I don’t know if it
meant something or if he was
was just comforting me.

Shayla manages to sit up.

SHAYLA
Did he kiss you?

BETHANY
No.

SHAYLA
Did he touch you?

With excitement.

BETHANY
Yes.

SHAYLA
Where?

BETHANY
My cheek. (pause) Twice.

They both squeal and laugh.

BETHANY
So are you gonna go?

SHAYLA
Being with Carl has just taken
it out of me. You two go ahead.
I’m sure Ally would appreciate the
‘alone’ time.

BETHANY
Are you sure?

SHAYLA
Positive.

Looking at Shayla funny.

BETHANY
Does this have something to
do with Duncan?

Giving Bethany a sheepish grin.

SHAYLA
Maybe.

BETHANY
Oh alright. We’ll be back
in a little while.

SHAYLA
Take a weapon with you. I
don’t think I could stand losing
you. You’re all I got left.

Giving her a mock grin.

BETHANY
Oh, but then you’d have Ally.

SHAYLA
I think you’d best keep your
head on your shoulders, ‘cause
that kid would be on her own.

They giggle.

BETHANY
Keep me up to date on all developments.
I expect a full report when I get
back.

SHAYLA
You be careful.

BETHANY
All right, all right. I’m going.

Shayla lays back down. The door shuts as she closes her eyes.

INT. KITCHEN–LATER

Duncan sits eating an apple, reading the same page, of the same book. Jason chugs on a gallon of milk.

Duncan, without missing a beat, never looking up.

DUNCAN
That’s wasteful, you know.

Smacking his lips and returning the milk to the refrigerator.

JASON
Those girls are getting to you.

DUNCAN
Maybe. Maybe not. You’re
a slob.

JASON
And you’re Mr. Clean?

DUNCAN
Compared to you? Even Carl was
Mr. Clean.

JASON
You miss the old guy don’t
you?

DUNCAN
He’s been with us a long time.
             
JASON
He was always such a pain in
the ass.

DUNCAN
Yeah. Get us some beers and we’ll
toast the old fucker.

JASON
(laughing)
Yeah right. Those belong to
Bethany and her bunch.

DUNCAN
You think Bethany runs that
outfit?

JASON
Don’t you?

DUNCAN
Get the beers.

JASON
What am I? Your bitch?

DUNCAN
Do I have to mollycoddle you too?

JASON
Those ladies are getting to
you. Tell me, is it Ally?
Because if it is you better
watch out for momma bear.

Setting the book down.

DUNCAN
Does Ally seem like the one
who would get to me?

JASON
No the one with the secrets
is usually the one who gets
to you. That one couldn’t
keep anything if her life
depended on it.

DUNCAN
There you have it. I’m fine.

Getting into the cooler, producing two beers, Jason tosses one Duncan.

JASON
Here. Whatever it is talk
about it with Rose.

Taking a huge swig Jason does a double take at Duncan.

JASON
You’re not dying are you?
You’d tell me if you were
dying, right?

DUNCAN
God you’re such a girl.
Yes, yes I’d tell you
if I were dying.

JASON
I am not a girl.

Duncan laughs.

DUNCAN
One of us has to be soft.

JASON
Why’s that?

DUNCAN
The human race has to go on
somehow and I’ve seen the way
you and Bethany have been
looking at each other. All
kissy face and lovey dovey.

JASON
You know what, Bride?

DUNCAN
What?

JASON
You’re an asshole.

Duncan drinks from his beer and smiles.

JASON
I’m getting out of here.

Duncan laughs at Jason as he leaves the trailer. He takes a swig of beer. A bloodcurdling SCREAM, lights a fire under his ass and sends him running to the back of the trailer.