Mad World Pilot Episode: Act Three.

Mad World Pilot episode: Act Three.  

It has come.  The first day of madness in a world that has gone mad.  

Here are the Teaser and Act One and Act Two

ACT THREE

EXT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY EARLY MORNING

David hurries up the stairs to the library.  He fumbles with the keys as he looks over his shoulder.

INT. LIBRARY

David tosses his bag on the counter of the info desk.  He grabs a notebook from behind the desk, flips it to a page with a list of names and phone numbers.  He scans down the list with his finger and stops on:

STEVE ORLANDS NEW YORK 555-0980

He quickly dials the number.

SFX. RINGING

STEVE

Hello.

DAVID

Steve? Steve Orlands? 

STEVE

(puzzled)

Um. . . Yea.

DAVID

This is David Mindel. I’m in Sierra Verde, Arizona.

STEVE

Ok?

DAVID

You run the Zombie Preparedness Website right?

STEVE

Umm. . .Yea.

DAVID

Well I have something I need to tell you.

INT. DAVID MINDEL’S HOME – EARLY MORNING

David walks into his kitchen.  A small pot of coffee is already brewed.  He pours some into a thermos and snaps the lid on.  He puts the empty pot into the sink and fills it with water.

He grabs his car keys off the kitchen table and his bag from the back of the chair.  

He opens the front door and steps out into the early morning sunlight.

FRANK

Dave, Morning you dirty Jew bastard!

David turns to see FRANK GRAY, 57, run by on his morning jog.  David waves, smiles, gritting his teeth.

DAVID

(under his breath)

Prick, hope you get hit by a car.

As Frank turns the corner he looks back at David and flips him off. 

STEVE (V.O.)

He really called you a ‘dirty jew’?

DAVID (V.O.)

Yea, but like I said he’s a prick.

David gets into his suburban.  He pulls out of his drive way into the empty street.  He stops at the corner. 

INT. DAVID’S SUBURBAN

NPR news is on the radio.  David drives down the quiet street, too early for people to be out yet. 

From around the corner comes Frank, but this time running like a madman not a skilled marathon runner.  He sees David and runs out into the street.  He is BLEEDING PROFUSELY FROM HIS FOREARM.  He slams himself onto David’s passenger side fender. 

FRANK

David!!  Help me!!!

David slows to a stop.  Bewilderment etches across David’s face. 

Two other men, both covered in blood, run from around the corner.  One of them slams into Frank, tackling him to the ground. 

David quickly gets out of his truck.  He runs around the front and

One man attacks Frank’s neck, BLOOD SPURTS across the pavement.  The other man attacks Frank’s leg. Frank’s screams fill the morning air.

The horror of the scene paralyzes David. 

DAVID

(under his breath)

Oh God!!

As suddenly as it took David, the panic is gone.  He runs back to the driver side of his truck, opens the door and reaches under the seat.  David emerges from the truck with a large crowbar, he slams the door and

The zombie feeding on Frank’s leg looks up; blood and gore cover its face.  It jumps up and scrambles around the front of the truck and lets out a deafening scream of animalistic rage.

The scream is silenced as David slams the crowbar across the zombie’s forehead.  The zombie falls limp.

David walks back around to the passenger side.  Frank’s screams have stopped as the other zombie feeds on Frank’s neck. 

DAVID

HEY!! 

The zombie looks up just as a David swings the crowbar across the temple of the screaming Zombie.  It falls across Frank’s lifeless corpse.  David wrenches the crowbar free and stands over the two bodies.

DAVID

Ah, Frank, you prick.  You deserve better.

David raises the crowbar over his head and

A HAND GRABS THE CROWBAR. The crowbar slips from David’s grip. 

DAVID

What the . . .?

A group of bathrobe and slipper clad neighbors stand a few feet away.  MR. UDALE, 78, stands holding the bloody crowbar.

MR. UDALE

David, what have you done? 

DAVID

(bewildered, looking around)

Mr. Udale, go back inside.  Everyone, go back inside!

MR. UDALE

David, what are talking about, you killed these men. 

David grabs the crowbar from Mr. Udale.

DAVID

You have to listen to me. 

MR. UDALE

No, David, you listen to me. Annie called the cops, they’re on their way, you’ll have to explain all this to them when they . .

SFX. EAR-PIERCING SCREAM

Frank sits up.  Blood pours down his chest, his eyes shoot open and

SFX. ANIMALISTIC PRIMAL SCREAM

The bathrobe clad people all jump back, some tripping over each other in fright.

DAVID

WATCH OUT, UDALE!!!

David pushes Udale clear of Frank’s grasping hands.  He kicks Frank onto his back.  He steps on Frank’s chest as the Zombie tries to get back up. 

DAVID

GO INSIDE, EVERYONE!!!

The people scatter as the zombie manages to force David off him. 

DAVID

God-damn prick!!

Frank scrambles to his feet.  David hits Frank with the crowbar and Frank’s dead weight slams onto the pavement.  The crowbar slips free of David’s bloody hands.  David stares at Frank’s lifeless body.

MR. UDALE

David, you can’t leave?! What’s going on?!  What about the cops!?

David pulls the crowbar free of Frank’s skull.  He walks around the front of his truck.

DAVID

Mr. Udale, go inside. Lock your doors.  When the cops get here don’t open your door for them or anyone else.

David pulls open his truck door.

MR. UDALE

What?  What are you talking about, I can’t let you leave son.  You killed these men. 

DAVID

Tell Annie I said hi. You two be safe. 

David gets into his truck.  As he drives away he watches as Mr. Udale and the other neighbors gather around the bodies.  As he comes to stop at the intersection three zombies run across a yard on the corner.  They stop as they see him, then they see the gathering of people up the street. 

David turns to look out his back windows. 

DAVID

RUN!!  Dammit, Udale, RUN!!!

The zombies begin to run up the block. 

David begins to honk his truck horn, the zombies pause briefly.  Long enough for the people gathered around Frank’s lifeless body to look up and see the three new attackers.

David watches as a few people run back to their homes. 

DAVID

UGHGH!!  You idiots!

He briefly contemplates turning around but he’s too late.  The zombies are upon someone.  David slams his fists into the steering wheel then quickly drives off.

STEVE (V.O.)

Don’t worry about it.  There was nothing you could do.

DAVID (V.O.)

Yea. I know. But maybe.

EXT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY 

David parks his truck in front of the library.  Blood smears the passenger fender.

INT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY

David is flipping through his notebook again.

STEVE

So that’s it?  I was your first call? 

DAVID

Yea. I figured if anyone needed to know it would be you.  You believe me, right?

STEVE

I started that website five years ago.  Now you call me out of the blue with this story.  What are you going to do?

DAVID

I have to make some calls.   

STEVE

K, well, I’ll post it on the website, see if anyone is still reading it.  Be safe. 

Steve hangs up.  Dave holds the phone in his hand, staring blankly into the morning dark of the library. 

He hangs up and quickly dials another number.

SFX. PHONE CALL SIGNAL

EXT. SIERRA VERDE – EARLY MORNING

The quiet of the morning is broken by the wailing of three cop cars.  Their flashing lights catch the attention of Solomon Chase and other townsfolk who stand outside the coffee shop.

The early morning hangout is still closed.  An old, fat dog lies in front of the door next to a bench.  Solomon sits petting the dog. His cell phone begins to ring.

SOLOMON

Dave, where you at?

INT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY

David paces around the desk. 

DAVID

Hey, I’m at the library.  Can you come meet me here, I need to do some stuff real quick and kinda need a hand, if you don’t mind.

EXT. DONUT SHOP

More cars pull up and people mill around the doorway.  Solomon moves away from the growing crowd, the old dog follows him.  

SOLOMON

Yea sure, no problem; the donut shop is closed anyway; I think the Newton’s decided after 40 years they’d sleep in one morning.  No one showed . .

DAVID

WHAT?! 

SOLOMON

I said they aren’t here, their dog, Slick, is though.

INT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY

David has stopped pacing around the desk.  Gloom and dread on his face.

DAVID

Where do they live?

SOLOMON

Huh?  Umm, I think over by the hospital, yea, they do actually.  In that big yellow house. Why, you want me to go check on them?

BEGIN FLASHBACK:

EXT. NEWTON FAMILY HOME - NIGHT

The porch light turns on.  ART NEWTON, 71, steps outside in his bathrobe and slippers.  He holds the door open for Slick. 

ART

Hurry up, Slick.  I don’t have all night.

Slick slowly ambles down the steps, followed by Art. 

Art pulls a plastic bag from his housecoat pocket.  Slick begins to sniff around for a spot to do his business. 

ART

Hurry up, it’s all dirt, don’t worry about where you go, just. . .

Slick starts to growl and bark at the dark. 

ART

Knock it off.  We don’t have time for you to be a tough guy, just take a shi. . .     

Art is tackled to the ground, almost crushing Slick but the dog quickly darts out of the way. 

A zombie takes huge bites out of Art’s arms and shoulders.  Art is unconscious.  A bite to Art’s neck sends blood spraying onto the dirt. 

Slick is growling and barking.

ELVA, 70, slowly opens the door. 

ELVA

Art, stop messing around with that damn dog and get in . . .

She stands in the doorway.  Her mouth slack-jawed, her eyes wide open behind thick glasses.   

The zombie looks up at her, blood dripping from its snarling mouth. 

It scrambles to its feet, up the stairs and tackles Elva.  The screen door slams shut as they disappear into the darkness of the house. 

Slick quickly ambles up the stairs and paws at the screen door as the faint sounds of Elva screaming can be heard. 

END FLASHBACK

EXT. DONUT SHOP

Solomon stands holding the door of his car open.

SOLOMON

You want me to go check on them?

DAVID(V.O.)

NO!!

(beat)

I mean. Nah.  Just head over here.  Sol, do me a favor? 

SOLOMON

Ok.

DAVID

Don’t stop for anyone. I mean it. Don’t stop your car for anyone. 

SOLOMON

David, what’s going on?

DAVID

Nothing.  Just this. . . Oh, screw it, you can see when you get here.

SOLOMON

Ok, see you in a few.

Solomon closes his cell-phone.  He looks down at Slick.

Slick looks at the rear driver side door, then back up at Solomon.

SOLOMON

What?  You wanna go for a ride?

(BEAT)

Ok, get in.

Solomon opens the door. 

INT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY

David scans down the list to another name. 

INSERT:

NORA LARSON: CELL: 444-3902

BACK TO SCENE

David quickly dials the number.

INT. NORA LARSONS HOUSE

NORA’s mother answers the phone.  She’s in her bathrobe and sipping a cup of coffee. 

NORA’S MOTHER

Hello?

DAVID (V.O.)

Mrs. Larson? I thought this was Nora’s cell phone?

NORA’S MOTHER

Oh, David, yea it is. She left it down in the kitchen. Hold on I’ll go wake her.

Nora’s mom heads up the stairs.  She walks to the end of the hallway and taps lightly on the door.  She opens the door.

INT. NORA’S ROOM

NORA lies facing away from the door.

NORA’S MOTHER

Nora? It’s David Mindel from the Library. 

Nora rolls over and opens her eyes. 

Nora takes the phone from her mother. 

SFX. POUNDING ON FRONT DOOR

NORA’S MOTHER

Is that someone at the door?

NORA

Hello?

INT. LIBRARY

David paces between the wide library windows.  He peers between the blinds, watching.

DAVID

Nora? Why are you in Sierra Verde?

INT. NORA’S BEDROOM

NORA, 19, is a beautiful young lady with brown hair and bright green eyes. 

NORA

Hmmmm? Yea David, I came home early, my Spanish professor had to go to Mexico City for some family emergency. So he just canceled class.

DAVID (V.O.)

When did you get here?

NORA

Late last night, why?

DAVID (V.O.)

Can you come to the library in about 20 minutes?

NORA

(puzzled)

20 Minutes?  What?  What time is it? 

DAVID (V.O.)

It’s just a little before six.  We need help preparing for the Book fair. 

SFX. Blood curdling Scream

Nora jumps out of bed.  Her night shirt clinging to her thin frame, her panties barely showing

NORA

What the hell?

DAVID (V.O.)

NORA! NORA!? What was that?

NORA

I think it was my mom.  Hold on.

Nora rushes out of her bedroom. 

DAVID (V.O.)

NORA!! Stay in your room!!! Shut the door and stay in your room!!!

NORA

David, what!? What are you talking about?!

Nora stands at the top of the stairs.  Blood is smeared on the open front door.  Two men are fiercely tearing at her mother’s body. 

Tears fill Nora’s eyes, her hand covers her mouth, the phone still held against her ear. 

NORA

(quietly)

Oh my god?!! What is going on?

INT. LIBRARY

David’s face is frantic.  He has stopped pacing; his hand is clenched around the phone.

DAVID

Nora, listen to me, get your little brother and lock yourself in your room.

There is no answer.  He rushes to the front door.

DAVID

Nora!! Wait there, I’m coming to get you!

NORA (V.O.)

DAVID!!! They’re coming up stairs. . .

SFX. Disconnect.

DAVID

NORA! NORA!

He quickly turns around and runs to the back of the library.  He scurries down the stairs to the basement and through the shelves of books to the cage. 

He fumbles with the keys.  The lock clatters quietly on the carpet.

He pulls a heavy blanket off of a footlocker and he unlocks the army style box. He throws it open.

CUT TO: POV someone walking through the basement towards the open cage. 

RETURN TO SCENE

A collection of handguns are set in packing foam.  David slides one of the guns out. 

He opens another footlocker and pulls out a box of rounds.  He grabs a handful of preloaded magazines.  He pulls a duffle bag off a shelf and begins dropping the magazines into it. 

CUT TO: POV someone stands just outside the cage, watching.

RETURN TO SCENE

David doesn’t bother closing either box.  He turns to leave and

Solomon stands in the doorway.  David almost runs into him. 

SOLOMON

What the hell is going on Dave?

DAVID

Jeez, Sol, you scared the shit out of me.

SOLOMON

Where are you going?  Why do you have a gun?

(peers over David’s shoulder)

Why do you have a lot of guns?

David looks back to the contents of the cage.  Then back at Solomon.  His eyes widen.

He goes over to the foot locker, grabs another gun.

DAVID

You remember that weekend we spent in Eyehole Canyon shooting targets?  Well, here you go.

SOLOMON

What?

Solomon reluctantly takes the pistol.  David hands him some magazines also.

DAVID

You’ll need those. And you’re driving. Let’s go.

EXT. SIERRA VERDE LIBRARY

David exits the library first. 

SOLOMON

Dave? What’s going on? Where we going? 

DAVID

Over to Nora Larsons. 

SOLOMON

What?

David stops short of Solomon’s car.

DAVID

What’s that in your back seat?

SOLOMON

Oh, that’s Slick. The Newton’s dog.  Why do I have a gun?

DAVID

Just in case. 

SFX. Screams in the distance.

Solomon stumbles over the curb as he turns to the direction of the screams.

SOLOMON

What the hell?

DAVID

Come on, Sol. We need to hurry.

As Solomon goes to open his car door a man emerges from between the buildings across the street.  It’s Dillon Spruce. 

Slick begins barking.  Solomon turns just as Dillon sees the two men and lets out a scream of animalistic rage.  In a mad dash of flailing arms and gnashing teeth he sprints across the parking lot and sidewalk, and into the street.

In one fluid motion David inserts the magazine, moves to the back of the car, draws back the receiver of the 9mm, points the pistol at Dillon and pulls the trigger. 

SFX. SAFETY CLICK.

SOLOMON

What the hell!?

Solomon rushes away, around the front of the car.  Slick’s muffled barks barely heard under Dillon’s screams of rage.

DAVID

Shit.

David un-clicks the safety with his thumb as Dillon throws himself where Solomon was standing. 

DAVID

Solomon, Get down.

Solomon ducks down in front of the vehicle.

SFX. GUNSHOT. BODY FALLING.

Solomon stands up slowly.  BLOOD AND GORE are splattered on his hood.  He stares at the mess on his hood.

David walks to the front of the car. 

DAVID

Solomon.  Look at me. 

Solomon slowly takes his eyes off the hood. 

DAVID

We need to go.  Nora is in danger and we need to go get her. 

SOLOMON

But, that was Dillon.

DAVID

You want me to drive?

Solomon nods.  He fumbles the keys out of his hand into David’s. 

INT. SOLOMON’S CAR

David slams the door shut.  Solomon startles a little. 

SOLOMON

He was at the bar last night.

DAVID

He was a zombie.

SOLOMON

He was playing darts with . . . who was that?

David starts the car. 

The car pulls away from the library and Dillon’s lifeless corpse in the street.  It stops at the corner stop sign. 

INT. SOLOMON’S CAR

DAVID

He would have killed you.  I need to you stop freaking out and listen to me. 

SOLOMON

(suddenly quite lucid)

Ok.

(beat)

Are you serious? Zombies?

How does something like that happen?

David smiles. 

DAVID

Yea, No idea.  But when I called Nora she said someone had attacked her mom.  They may have already gotten her but I have to check.

(beat)

Crap.

David pulls out his cell phone.  He dials a number and turns speaker phone on.

SFX. LOUD RINGING, SOMEONE PICKS UP

MARGARET (V.O.)

Hello?

DAVID

Margaret, it’s me.  Hey can you come up to the library in about ten minutes.  I’m not going to be there but I need help unloading those books for the book fair and . . .

MARGARET (V.O.)

Umm, sure David. I’ll be there, let me just get some things together.

DAVID

Thanks, see you in a bit.  Solomon and I have to go take care of something.

MARGARET (V.O.)

So Solomon is with you?

SOLOMON

Yea. Good morning, Mrs Yandel. 

MARGARET (V.O.)

Hello, Sol, we’ll see about that good morning won’t we.

David looks puzzled. 

MARGARET (V.O.)

Be there in a bit.

She hangs up.

DAVID

That was a little strange. 

SOLOMON

You don’t think she knows do you?

David shakes his head.

SOLOMON

So I take it the book fair is off then?

DAVID

There is no book fair Sol, and if there was, yes, it would be.

The car turns the corner.  Dillon’s lifeless body lies in the middle of the street.  Faint screams continue in the distance.

END OF ACT THREE