This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
DEAD CASE - BY JAMES ANTHONY MCSLOY
FADE IN:
ANGLE: TELEVISION
On the screen the local news is playing. We see a montage
of various city landmarks and then a title that reads
"BAY CITY NEWS".
Sitting behind the news desk is Joanne Berkley. Blonde,
good looking. Your typical news anchor.
JOANNE
Good evening and welcome to Bay
City News. Today marked the two
Year anniversary of the end of the
gangland drug war that split Our
fair city in two. Memorials have
been held on both sides of the
city for the victims of this
bloody feud. Local MP James Robins
held a press conference earlier
today where he made this statement
"I'm going to wash the scum from
our streets and rebuild the
downtown district to make our city
whole once more".
We PULL BACK from the television and see that it's
playing away to a dark, dank room in:
INT. DAWKING'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Fast asleep in a chair, in front of the television is
HARVEY DAWKINGS, late forties, a man who was once in
great shape but has let himself go a little.
JOANNE (O.S.)
In other news. The police still
have no leads on Lucy Hanover's
murder. This is the fifteenth
murder of it's kind in the last
thirteen months. Lucy's body was
found, horribly mutilated under
the downtown bridge earlier this
week. Her body was also stolen
from the morgue before any
forensic evidence could be taken.
In sports news...
The sound from the TV becomes simple background noise. We
CLOSE IN on Harvey's face.
It begins to twitch, as though he is having a bad dream.
He moans slightly and his expression grows more
desperate.
We begin to hear noises, a woman's SCREAM, a SCUFFLE and
then total silence.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
(whisper)
Harvey.
The man wakes, startled by the noises. He takes a minute,
trying to catch his breath
We finally see the room and it's tiny, and rundown. The
bed is by the wall, covered in folders, photographs, and
pieces of paper with notes scribbled down on them.
The chair is surrounded by half empty take-away cartons
and empty liquor bottles.
The walls are covered with newspaper clippings. The
various headlines read: "Mutilated Body Found", "Slasher
Strikes Again", "Top Cop's Wife Found Butchered", "No
Killer Caught In Bay City Murders".
Dawkings rubs his forehead. He is wearing a well worn
suit. He reaches into the trouser pocket and pulls out a
small bottle of aspirin. He pops a couple into his mouth
and chews them.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
I wake from another nightmare. The
same nightmare I've been having
for the past two months.
We hear a POLICE SIREN pass outside. The light FLASHES
through the window. The blinds casting lines of shadow
across Dawkings's face for a brief moment.
Dawkings reaches over and picks up a carton of cigarettes
from the small table by the chair. He knocks over an
empty bottle of whiskey.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Must have been another heavy
session last night.
He stands up and walks over to the bed. He empties his
pockets, throwing down another empty bottle of aspirin, a
lighter and a police badge.
Dawkings looks down at the badge for a moment.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They used to call me Harvey "the
iron fist" Dawkings. I was the
best and everybody knew it.
But things change. People change
and me, I remember the exact
moment when my whole life changed.
He takes a long drag from his cigarette.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It's been almost three months
since she was taken from me. My
precious Jessica. Ripped away from
me by some monster.
Dawkings moves over to the wall of news clippings. He
pays close attention to the clipping that reads: "Top
Cop's Wife Killed."
Below the headline is a picture of Jessica Dawkings,
smiling. Dawkings touches the photo.
We see the other photo's. Horrible images of death.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
The same monster that's been
stalking the city for the past
thirteen months. A monster that
slaughters its victims like
cattle. If only the guys in the
lab could get a look at them we
might be able to catch this
fucker.
Dawkings heads over to the bed and picks up a sheet of
notepaper. Written on it is a list of names, all of them
have been scribbled out.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I've chased every lead I could
find. Used up all of my resources.
Paid for useless information
that's got me no closer to the
killer.
The PHONE RINGS, startling Dawkings. He answers.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
(into phone)
Dawkings...
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
People are only too happy to stab
each other in the back in this
town, if the price is right.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
(into phone)
Why are you telling me this?
What's in it for you?
(the phone goes dead)
Hello?
Dawkings hangs up the phone. He looks down at it for a
moment, confused.
He picks up his badge, and his gun, which is buried under
a pile of crime scene photos.
He grabs his suit jacket and pulls it on. It's just as
worn and creased as the rest of the outfit.
He looks down at his jacket and picks up some old food
stuck to it.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
There was another killing. Same as
all the others. The difference
with this one. The victim. It's
Julia Domingo. Crime Boss, Tony
Domingo's little girl.
CUT TO:
INT. DAWKINGS CAR - NIGHT (MOVING)
Dawkings drives a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
The killer had just made one huge
mistake. Nobody touches one of
Domingo's. Whoever was stupid
enough to kill Julia was already a
dead man walking.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Dawkings car turns a corner onto the street and down
through a tunnel that divides the town.
On the walkway under the tunnel we can make out the
silhouettes of two drunks fighting. One of the drunks
falls against the other, and seems to be resting on him
for a moment eventually knocking him over.
The standing drunk staggers away, uneasy on his feet.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOMINGO'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Dawkings pulls up to the front of a magnificent looking
house. Standing guard at the front door are two armed
police officers.
Dawkings gets out the car.
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a carton
of cigarettes, pops one in his mouth and lights it.
He takes a long deep drag, expelling the smoke slowly. He
looks up at the amazing, expensive house.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Toni Domingo's place. A house paid
for by dirty money. A place meant
to keep him and his safe.
(beat)
Guess money can't buy you
everything.
Dawkings approaches the two armed police. He flashes his
badge and the two cops step aside.
ARMED COP 1
(to Dawkings)
The Chief will have a fit if he
sees you here Dawkings!
DAWKINGS
Why do you think I'm here?
He shoots the cop a quick smile. He drops the cigarette,
stubs it out with his foot and heads into the house.
CUT TO:
INT. DOMINGO'S HOUSE, LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
The house is in total chaos. There are police officers
and detectives everywhere searching for evidence,
interviewing members of the family and staff.
Dawkings enters and takes a moment to marvel at the size
of the room.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
If only these walls could talk, a
judge would have to put Domingo
away for good, and I would make
sure I was the cop to bring him
in.
A police forensic, VINCE CARTER, late thirties, and bald
makes his way down the stairs.
He doesn't look too good. He holds his hand over his
mouth as if he is holding back his lunch.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
(to Vince)
What's the deal Doc?
CARTER
Just like all the others. Nothing
has been stolen, but the victim
has been murdered and horribly
mutilated. The killer continues to
mutilate the victim even after
death. The weird thing is there's
no indication that a weapon has
been used. Looks like the killer
may have used their bare-hands.
DAWKINGS
Have you found any prints? Hairs?
CARTER
No, and I wont be able to check
for any fibers or fluids until we
get her back to the lab. We'll
have to clean her the body up a
bit. There's too much blood to do
a full analysis here.
DAWKINGS
The Chief better put more guys on
this. If Julia's Body disappears
like the others Domingo will go
ape!
CARTER
There must be some sick gang
stealing these bodies and selling
them on the market. I bet bent
cops sell them on as well. This
town is going to hell.
He pats Dawkings on the shoulder.
DAWKINGS
Anything else I should know Doc?
CARTER
One of my guys found this, it
could have been left by the killer
or it could be some of Domingo's
shit.
He hands Dawkings an evidence bag. Inside is a bottle of
pills.
CARTER (CONT'D)
We found it by the body. Looks
like some kind of drug. We won't
know if Julia ingested any of it
until I do a toxicology. Never
seen anything like it before. You
recognise it?
DAWKINGS
No. Can't say I have. But I'll
take it to be processed if you
want?
CARTER
Sounds good to me. Saves me the
paper work.
He hands Dawkings the bag. Dawkings rolls the bottle
around in the palm of his hand for a moment, studying the
label.
Dawkings begins to walk away.
CARTER (CONT'D)
Oh, Dawkings.
He turns.
CARTER (CONT'D)
Catch this monster before it's to
late.
Dawkings nods.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
For me. It was already too late.
CUT TO:
INT. DOMINGO'S HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Dawkings steps into the hallway and makes his way down
towards a doorway guarded by two ARMED COPS.
He approaches and the COPS and nods.
ARMED COP 2
If the Chief asks I didn't let you
in, okay?
DAWKINGS
I never saw you.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It's a good job I still had
respect with some of the other
guys on the force or I would have
still been standing outside.
He enters the room.
CUT TO:
INT. DOMINGO'S HOUSE, BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
Total carnage.
The dead body is draped over the edge of the bath,
covered by the shower curtain.
Cops dust for prints, and take photo's of the crime
scene. A couple of the forensic technicians look up at
him and then go back to collecting evidence.
Dawkings pulls out a smoke and lights it. He moves
further into the room and stops right in front of the
body.
FORENSIC GUY 1
You're going to have to put that
out. We haven't finished
collecting yet.
Dawkings looks at the guy as if to say, "make me". But he
puts it out in the sink. The Forensic goes back to his
work.
Dawkings looks down at the covered body.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Poor little Julia. Her Father
couldn't protect her from death.
No matter how powerful he was.
Dawkings crouches down by the body. He reaches for the
sheet, hesitates for a moment and then pulls the sheet
back.
We see FLASHES of the horror that is Julia Domingo's
corpse. Bloodied, and disfigured.
Dawkings covers the body and stands in silence for a
moment.
DOMINGO (O.S.)
What the fuck is he doing here?
Dawkings whips his head around to find the source of the
voice.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Everything suddenly got a whole
lot worse.
Charging towards Dawkings is TONY DOMINGO.
A big guy in his forties, dressed in a sharp, expensive
Italian suit, seething with anger.
Hot on his heels is the Chief of Police, HARRY LIME.
Thirties, skinny, and completely stressed out.
DOMINGO
What the hell are you doing here
Dawkings? I heard you stopped
being a real cop a long time ago.
DAWKINGS
Came here to help catch the
bastard who slaughtered your
daughter, Domingo. Not doing any
harm.
LIME
(furious)
Not doing any harm? I thought I
told you to steer clear of this
case. Your too damn close to it
Dawkings. Walk away before you end
up suspended or on Carter's slab.
DOMINGO
(to Lime)
What the hell are you doing
putting washed up cops on this
case? This is my little girl who
has died, not some two bit hooker.
LIME
I assure you. This man is not on
the case and if he doesn't get his
ass out of here now, he'll be
writing parking tickets for the
rest of his working life.
(to Dawkings)
Get the out of here! Now!
Domingo is up in the Lime's face.
DOMINGO
Let me tell you what's going to
happen. You are going to send a
squad over to Nolan's shitty bar
and your going to arrest that
murdering son of a bitch.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Lawrence Nolan, rival crime lord
from poor downtown district.
Couple of years back Nolan's
father and Domingo had an all out
war that crippled the city.
Splitting into two sides, the poor
side, ran by Nolan's father, and
the rich side, ran my Domingo.
Since the passing of Nolan's old
man Lawrence inherited everything,
including his enemies.
DOMINGO
That bastard wants to scare me and
take my turf. Well he'll have to
pry it from my cold dead hands.
(to Lime)
If you don't sort this out. I
will. Got it Lime?
Domingo reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of
cash and throws it at Lime.
The money falls to the floor and starts to soak up the
blood. Domingo storms off leaving Dawkings and Lime
looking down at the money.
LIME
(to Dawkings)
You better stay away from Nolan
and this case Dawkings. Cause if I
hear your name mentioned one more
time. Your through. Understand?
And off he goes, we hold on Dawkings' face for a moment
as he ponders.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
It was time to pay Nolan a little
visit.
CUT TO:
INT. CASSIE'S BAR - NIGHT
The bar is busy. Smoke hangs in the air while men huddle
in round tables, gambling, dealing and drinking.
A GIRL dances for a group of men. One of the men gets
carried away and reaches for her. In an instant the
BOUNCER grabs the guy and drags him out of the bar.
The man falls against the bouncer and BITES him on the
arm.
The bouncer GRUNTS in pain.
BOUNCER 1
Get the hell off me junkie.
He grabs the guy and tosses him out of the pub just as
Dawkings enters. He stands in the doorway from a moment,
taking in the sights of Cassie's.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Cassie's. If you like drugs, drink
and girls, then this is the bar
for you. It's the only place you
can get pussy for a penny. The
owner of this fine establishment;
Lawrence Nolan.
Dawkings makes his way through the busy bar. Behind him a
glass breaks and a fight breaks out between two rowdy
customers.
He passes one of the dancing girls, who begins to dance
up by him. He flashes her his badge and she backs off.
Dawkings approaches the back room, which is guarded by
two huge men, Nolan's personal bodyguards.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
I'm here to see Nolan?
BOUNCER
I'm sorry but Mr. Nolan is busy
right now.
DAWKINGS
I don't think you understand me.
Dawkings flashes the bouncer his badge.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
I need to see Nolan. Now!
The bouncer looks pissed and as though he is going to
turf Dawkings out.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Look we can do this two ways...
BOUNCER
Give me a second.
The Bouncer heads into the back room for a minute. In the
background we hear a SMASH as another fight breaks out in
the bar.
The Bouncer returns.
BOUNCER (CONT'D)
Mr. Nolan will see you now.
Dawkings nudges past the Bouncers and into the back room.
Sitting at a desk at the back of the room is LAWRENCE
NOLAN, forties, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. Very
casual.
Sitting on his lap is the beautiful, SARAH MILLER, mid
twenties, dark hair and piercing green eyes.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
Lawrence Nolan's girl. Sarah
Miller. Everything a man desires
in life. Nolan has many girl's but
Sarah seems to be the flavour of
the month.
NOLAN
Ah. Detective Dawkings. It's been
a while. Hope you're not here to
shoot me again? What can I help
you with?
Dawkings can't take his eyes off her. Nolan notices this.
DAWKINGS
If I was I would aim a little
higher than your knee-cap this
time.
NOLAN
(to Sarah)
You may leave us now.
She nods her head and leans in to give Nolan a long
passionate kiss.
SARAH
Don't be long.
Sarah saunters past Dawkings giving him a sexy, seductive
smile as she leaves.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Nice meeting you Detective.
Nolan gestures for Dawkings to sit.
DAWKINGS
You know why I'm here Nolan. Julia
Domingo.
NOLAN
Ah. Julia. Yes I know the girl.
Went out with her a while back.
Really pissed off the old man.
She's a pretty looking thing. What
about her?
DAWKINGS
Well she's not looking too pretty
anymore. She's dead.
Surprise registers on Nolan's face. He sits in silence
for a moment. Dawkings pulls out a smoke, pops it into
his mouth and lights it.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Murdered.
NOLAN
And you think I had something to
do with it? What a fucking
surprise.
DAWKINGS
Domingo thinks your after his
turf.
Nolan laughs.
NOLAN
After his turf? After what
happened to my old man last time.
Come on! He's more of an idiot
than I thought. Look at me. I have
everything I could ever want,
money, women, power. Why would I
risk all of that by starting
another war with Domingo? It just
wouldn't be smart.
Dawkings thinks for a moment, watching the smoke from his
cigarette rise into the air and then dissipate.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
He's telling the truth. It
wouldn't be smart for him to risk
it all. But Domingo wouldn't care
about that. He wants somebody to
pay and for him that person is
Nolan.
Dawkings rises from his seat.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Oh and one more thing.
He tosses down the evidence bag with the empty bottle of
pills in it.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
What can you tell me about these?
Nolan stares down at the bag. Surprised.
NOLAN
(lying)
Nothing. I've never seen anything
like this before in my life.
Dawkings SLAMS his hand down on the table.
DAWKINGS
Your lying.
Nolan leans over the desk dangerously close to Dawkings'
own face.
NOLAN
(angry)
Who do you think you are Dawkings?
Coming into my place of business
and accusing me of shit like this.
For a washed up cop, you got some
balls.
BAM! Dawkings grabs Nolan and SLAMS his head down onto
the desk. He holds him down as he draws his gun and
presses it against his head.
DAWKINGS
If I find out you've been keeping
anything from me, I'll be back.
Got it?
Dawkings stubs his cigarette out on the back of Nolan's
neck.
Nolan GROANS in pain. Dawkings releases him and walks out
of the room.
CUT TO:
EXT. CASSIE'S BAR - NIGHT
Dawkings exits the bar. He pulls out a smoke and pops it
into his mouth.
SARAH (O.S.)
Need a light?
Dawkings turns. Sarah steps out of the shadows, lighter
in hand. Dawkings allows her to light his smoke. He takes
a long draw and exhales.
DAWKINGS
What can I do for you Ms. Miller?
Dawkings moves towards his car and Sarah follows.
SARAH
It's not what you can do for me.
More of what I can do for you. You
were here about that little
bitch's death. Weren't you?
DAWKINGS
You mean Julia, how did you know?
SARAH
News like that spreads fast in
this part of town.
DAWKINGS
Rumour is Nolan is to blame.
SARAH
Do you believe that?
DAWKINGS
No.
SARAH
Well you should.
Dawkings looks confused.
DAWKINGS
How do you mean?
SARAH
I have something I want to show
you.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOCKS - NIGHT
All that remains of the old town docks are a couple of
derelict factories, and warehouses.
Dawkings car pulls up outside one of the disused
warehouses.
The warehouse has been abandoned for years. Windows are
broken and the place could do with a lick of paint.
In the distance we hear a FOG HORN followed by a Buoy
BELL.
Dawkings and Sarah get out of the car. Dawkings loads up
his six-shooter.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
On the way down to the docks Sarah
informed me that Nolan had been
lying after all. He did know about
the pills, he had paid some guy to
mix the drug and sell it from this
warehouse.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Stay in the car.
SARAH
No. What I have to show you is
inside.
Dawkings reluctantly shakes his head and heads for the
warehouse Sarah in tow.
INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
It's a dark, brick building, filled with old unused
machinery. Most of the windows have been broken or
boarded shut.
The only light is from the outside moonlight, cast in
through the windows.
Dawkings enters. Gun drawn. He slowly and silently makes
his way through the warehouse, Sarah follows closely.
Scattered about the floor and propped up against the
walls are large black bags, which resemble body bags.
Dawkings looks down at one for a moment and then moves on
down a hallway and into another large open part of the
warehouse.
Again there are more "body bags" scattered about.
SARAH
He does his work from in there.
She points to a large metal shutter at the back of the
room. Dawkings approaches it.
He puts his gun away and lifts up the shutter with a
CRASH!
Sarah and Dawkings grimace. Sarah, covers her nose and
mouth from the awful stench, which hits them as soon as
the shutters go up.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Oh. What's that smell?
DAWKINGS
It's coming from in here.
The back room is in complete darkness. All that can be
seen is the shape of a large mound that occupies the
centre -- which is most -- of the room.
Dawkings moves into the room. He reaches into his jacket
and pulls out a small flashlight, shining it onto the
wall.
The wall is covered in bloody hand prints, and claw
marks.
He pans the flashlight down from the wall and across the
floor -- which is covered in more blood, and what looks
like vomit -- and up onto the base of the mound.
The beam of light catches a small decomposed human hand,
the tips of the fingers worn away and bloodied. The light
moves up the mound and we see an arm, a torso and then a
HUMAN HEAD, it's eyes staring vacantly at us. It's mouth
stained with blood and god knows what else.
Dawkings steps back, startled. Sarah gasps in horror.
Suddenly dim lights flicker on and we see that the mound
is actually a huge pile of dead and decomposing bodies.
HARRIS (O.C.)
I see you've found my little
collection. I think one may even
belong to you Dawkings.
They both turn to see DANIEL HARRIS. He's a little
eccentric and looks wild. Standing in the doorway. In his
hand he holds a pistol. He smiles at Sarah.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
Hello Sarah. You've done an
excellent job. Hope you didn't
have to "do" anything to get him
here.
Sarah steps away from Dawkings side.
SARAH
I'm sorry Harvey. But you just
couldn't keep your nose out could
you?
DAWKINGS
This has nothing to do with Nolan
does it?
HARRIS
Nolan.
(laughs)
Nolan can't even wipe his own arse
without help. He's nothing
compared to the real man in
charge. Which reminds me.
He turns to Sarah.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
Sorry Sarah.
BANG! Harris shoots Sarah. She falls back, blood spraying
over the mound of corpses.
Dawkings goes for his gun but Harris is fast. He has his
gun aimed at Dawkings in the blink of an eye.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
I don't think so. Drop the weapon.
Dawkings does as he's told and tosses the gun to the
ground.
DAWKINGS
She didn't need die. You already
have me.
HARRIS
Actually. I don't have
everything...yet.
Dawkings looks at him confused.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
I want the only thing that links
me to this whole mess I believe
you have it.
Dawkings pulls out the evidence bag and looks at the
capsule of pills.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
Got it in one. Give them to me.
Dawkings tosses him the bag.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
I'm surprised you got this far for
such a slow cop I don't know how
you've been causing my boss so
much trouble. Thought you'd be a
little smarter Not that it
matters. You'll be just another
mistake to throw on the pile.
Harris raises his weapon.
With a ghostly MOAN, something LUNGES at him out of the
shadows from behind.
It's A MAN in a dirty hooded jacket and ratty looking
jeans. His skin is ROTTING. He tries to bite Harris but
only manages to knock him over, sending the gun
skittering across the ground.
Dawkings dives to the ground and picks up his gun. He
aims it at the corpse.
DAWKINGS
Freeze! Police!
The corpse keeps on advancing towards Harris, who is
crawling backwards away from it in sheer terror.
HARRIS
What are you waiting for? Shoot
it! Shoot it!
Dawkings fires...once, twice, three times. The man is
shot in the stomach, heart, and neck...but he keeps on
moving towards Harris, blood oozing from the wounds.
Finally, Dawkings shoots him in the head...he falls.
Dawkings quickly reloads. But as he does it, he stares at
the corpse, frowning, weighing life-long belief against
the hideous facts of the moment.
He kicks the corpse with his foot.
DAWKINGS
What the hell was that?
Harris, still sitting close to the mound, is catching his
breath. He notices his gun not far from him. He edges
closer to it.
Dawkings turns, fast, his gun directed at Harris.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Now tell me. What the fuck is
going on here?
HARRIS
This wasn't meant to happen.
DAWKINGS
What?
HARRIS
The drug. It was created as a cure
for the city. It was meant to get
rid of the scum of the town, the
junkies, rapists, dealers, all the
low life. It was designed to cause
them to overdose and die. The lab
tests were fine but we didn't take
the whores into account. The virus
the drug contains is carried in
bodily fluid so when the
prostitutes took the drug they
were passing the virus onto their
customers. Thing is it isn't just
the people in this part of town
that use the hookers. When the
rich started showing signs of the
virus people started asking
questions and the man in charge
pulled the plug.
(beat)
We started gathering the victims
and brought them here for
disposal. But some of them
escaped.
DAWKINGS
So that's where all the bodies
have been going? You have been
stealing them to cover your
tracks.
(beat)
How could a dead body just
"escape"?
HARRIS
I was as shocked as you are. We
managed to round up four of the
escaped six and found that they
were wandering around. Some how
the drug only kills the body but
the brain is still working, driven
by it's most primal instincts.
DAWKINGS
So you're just a henchman? You're
just getting rid of the paper
trail? I want to know who your
boss is?
Harris lets out a laugh.
HARRIS
Are you fucking kidding me. So do
I! I'm on a need to know basis
only.
Harris gets to his feet.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
And if you don't mind. I'd like to
get the fuck out of here before...
We suddenly hear a DULL GROAN from outside of the room.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
It's too late! You've made too
much noise.
A DECAYING HAND from the mound GRABS onto Harris' leg,
pulling him down towards the mound. Harris SCREAMS!
HARRIS (CONT'D)
Dawkings! Help me!
Dawkings shoots into the mound, blood sprays from the
awakening corpses.
More and more of the corpses' eyes open and begin moving.
Dawkings grabs Harris and pulls him out of harms way. A
corpse suddenly grabs Dawkings arm and BITES a chunk out
it.
Dawkings blasts the corpse right between the eyes.
More corpses begin to enter the room. GROANING and
shuffling towards Dawkings and Harris. Dawkings moves
over to Harris and picks him up. Harris looks down at the
bite wound in horror.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
You've been bitten.
DAWKINGS
It's nothing.
HARRIS
I told you it's passed via bodily
fluid.
DAWKINGS
Well get me the cure then.
HARRIS
The cure?
DAWKINGS
There has to be a cure for this
thing.
Harris looks down at Dawkings' gun.
HARRIS
(playing along)
If you get me out of here I'll
give you the cure.
The corpses are close now. Dawkings empties a couple of
rounds into the nearest one but it doesn't fall.
Another corpse lunges for Dawkings, who cracks it across
the head with the but of the gun and shoots it right
between the eyes.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
Come on. This way.
Dawkings shoots at a couple more and follows Harris
further into the warehouse.
DAWKINGS
Why the hell were those things
locked in here? Why didn't you
kill them?
HARRIS
That's why they were here. This
whole building was going to go up
in smoke. Along with those things.
They reach the end of the warehouse and see two zombies
blocking their way. CLICK! CLICK!
DAWKINGS
Shit!
Dawkings quickly reloads.
BOOM! BOOM! The two zombies go down. Dawkings and Harris
head into a small corridor.
Harris looks behind them and sees the corpses are hot on
their tail..
At the end of the corridor is the exit.
BOOM! BOOM! Dawkings continues to fire at the oncoming
zombies.
Suddenly he doubles over in pain.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
(in pain)
Fuck!
He begins to cough and falls to his knees. Harris walks
over to him.
HARRIS
Looks like it's the end of the
line for you. Soon you'll be one
of them and this whole place will
be up in flames. Oh and for your
information...
Dawkings looks up, his face drained of all colour.
HARRIS (CONT'D)
...there is no cure.
Harris smiles and heads for the exit.
Dawkings coughs again, this time coughing up a blood. He
turns and sees the corpses are ridiculously close now.
DAWKINGS
Hey!
Harris turns.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Fuck you.
BOOM! BOOM! Dawkings shoot Harris in the leg and the
stomach. He falls to the ground in a heap.
Dawkings carefully gets to his feet and stumbles into the
nearest door.
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE, STORAGE CLOSET - CONTINUOUS
He slams the door shut behind him.
We hear a horrible MOANING SOUND from outside the door
and then THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! The corpses want in.
The room Dawkings has entered is tiny. The only way in or
out is through the door he's just came in.
He sighs and puts his back against the wall and his foot
against the door.
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE, CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Harris is still on the ground. All we can hear is his
breathing. Short fast breaths. He is still alive and is
trying to pull himself up along the ground towards the
exit.
There is a group of corpses BANGING on the door Dawkings
went into. The rest are making their way towards Harris.
We hear another LOW GROAN.
Harris tries to turn his head to see. His eyes widen with
fear and he opens his mouth to--
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE, STORAGE CLOSET - CONTINUOUS
From inside we hear Harris SCREAM and then silence.
Dawkings sits against the door. He pulls out a smoke,
pops it in his mouth and lights it.
DAWKINGS (V.O.)
I heard his scream and it brought
me a sick sense of pleasure.
Knowing that one of the bastards
who was responsible for killing my
wife was dead.
Dawkings suddenly bursts out into a COUGHING FIT. Blood
SPRAYS FROM HIS MOUTH. The cigarette falls to the floor.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
My insides were burning. I didn't
want to turn into one of those
things! I knew what had to be
done.
The light begin to FLICKER.
He puts the end of the gun against his head and closes
his eyes.
DAWKINGS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
This was it. The end of my story.
He pulls the trigger but the gun jams.
Dawkings opens his eyes and lowers the gun. He can't
believe it.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Son of a bitch.
He opens the chamber and empties the rounds out all have
been spent. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls
out his carton of cigs. Only one left half broken. He
pops it into his mouth and lights it.
The light continues to FLICKER until the BULB SHATTERS
and we are in total darkness.
There is a CRACK and light spills in from outside.
Dawkings looks up and smiles.
DAWKINGS (CONT'D)
Come get me you bastards.
A corpse steps into the light, casting an ominous shadow
over Dawkings and the screen goes BLACK.
BLACK OUT:
THE END
Return to Simply Scripts