MONA 
 
By 
Cady​ ​Bright 
Janey​ ​Rusk 
Nyana​ ​Salazar  
Claire​ ​Bedford  
 
 
 
 
   
CAST 
(in​ ​order​ ​of​ ​appearance) 
SCIENTIST​ ​1​ ​-​ ​Steve​ ​Smith 
DEAD​ ​BODY​ ​-​ ​Serena​ ​Bennett 
TINA​ ​-​ ​Tina​ ​Hott 
JESSE​ ​-​ ​Janey​ ​Rusk 
SEAN​ ​-​ ​John​ ​White 
RILEY​ ​-​ ​Sammy​ ​Southworth 
CHARLIE​ ​-​ ​Claire​ ​Bedford 
SKYLAR​ ​-​ ​Skylar​ ​Schultheis 
POLICE​ ​OFFICER​ ​-​ ​Alan​ ​Duncan 
NICK​ ​-​ ​Corbin​ ​Reinhardt 
STUDENT​ ​1​ ​-​ ​Zach​ ​Collard 
PASSREBY​ ​1​ ​-​ ​Gage​ ​Lotfinia 
NEWSCASTER​ ​-​ ​Richard​ ​Dilworth  
FRIEND​ ​1​ ​-​ ​Cole​ ​Elliot 
FRIEND​ ​2​ ​-​ ​Sierra​ ​DesPlanques 
EXTRAS​ ​-​ ​Tina’s​ ​4th​ ​Period​ ​Biology​ ​Class 
 
   
SCENE​ ​1 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ L​ AB​,​ S
​ CIENTIST​ ​1​ ​is​ ​walking​ ​down​ ​the​ ​hallway, 
lights​ ​above​ t ​ hem​ f​ licker​ ​and​ ​footsteps​ ​echo 
 
words​ ​with​ ​a​ ​type​ ​effect​ ​and​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​left​ ​hand​ ​corner​ ​read​ ​DAY​ ​0 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​ROOM​,​ ​enraptured​ ​students​ ​observe​ ​the​ ​lesson​ ​in 
progress.  
 
TINA 
(standing​ ​at​ ​front​ ​of​ ​room​ ​lecturing) 
can​ ​anyone​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​what​ ​antibacterial​ ​resistance​ ​is? 
 
JESSE 
(raises​ ​hand) 
it’s​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​of​ ​a​ ​bacteria​ ​or​ ​similar 
microorganism​ ​to​ ​withstand​ ​the​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​an 
antibiotic 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
(walks​ ​by​ ​the​ ​division’s​ ​seal​ ​on​ ​the​ ​wall) 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​ROOM 
SEAN 
(raises​ ​hand​ ​also) 
it’s​ ​also​ ​a​ ​rising​ ​issue​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​today,​ ​one​ ​of 
the​ ​most​ ​likely​ ​causes​ ​of​ ​a​ ​modern​ ​apocalypse 
 
TINA 
Exactly 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
(swipes​ ​ID​ ​card) 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​ROOM   
 JESSE 
(looking​ ​at​ ​computer) 
it​ ​says​ ​here​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​recent 
strains​ ​to​ ​undergo​ ​testing,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to 
pronounce​ ​it 
 
SEAN 
(looks​ ​over​ ​JESSE’s​ ​shoulder,​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​sound​ ​name​ ​out) 
pseudo-​ ​pseudomonas​ ​aeru-​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know 
 
TINA 
(without​ ​a​ ​single​ ​fault) 
carbapenem-resistant​ ​pseudomonas​ ​aeruginosa 
 
RILEY 
Ick,​ ​sciency​ ​terms.​ ​I’d​ ​just​ ​call​ ​it​ ​Mona.​ ​Like​ ​mono, 
but​ ​nothing​ ​like​ ​mono​ ​at​ ​all. 
 
SEAN 
(facepalms/groans) 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
(logging​ ​into​ ​computer,​ ​typing​ ​in​ ​carbapenem-resistant 
Pseudomonas​ ​aeruginosa​ ​that​ ​can​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​be​ ​seen,​ ​along​ ​with 
a​ ​map​ ​of​ ​cases,​ ​condensed​ ​in​ ​asia,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​corner​ ​in 
the​ ​background​ ​audience​ ​can​ ​see​ ​a​ ​hand​ ​extending​ ​from 
around​ ​a​ ​corner​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor) 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM 
TINA 
I’m​ ​surprised​ ​they​ ​authorised​ ​testing​ ​on​ ​it​ ​at​ ​all, 
much​ ​less​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​into​ ​the​ ​US​ ​-​ ​it​ ​looks​ ​extremely 
hard​ ​to​ ​contain. 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
(starts​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​over​ ​to​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​audience​ ​can​ ​see​ a
​ ​ ​hand 
from​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​looking​ ​over​ ​petri​ ​dishes) 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM 
JESSE 
​ ook​ a
Wow,​ l ​ t​ t
​ his​ ​list​ ​of​ ​symptoms! 
 
song​ ​similar​ ​to​ P
​ inion​ ​by​ ​Nine​ ​Inch​ ​Nails 
​ ​starts​ ​playing​ t​ o​ ​indicate​ ​rising​ ​action 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
pans​ ​closer​ ​to​ ​hand​ ​and​ ​body​ ​is​ ​revealed 
 
JESSE 
in​ ​voiceover  
bleeding​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​eyes,​ ​nose,​ ​and​ ​ears,​ ​rash,​ ​blood 
in​ ​the​ ​lungs…​ ​oh,​ ​this​ ​one’s​ ​interesting​ ​-​ ​bleeding​ ​in 
the​ ​brain,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​worst​ ​are​ ​bruising​ ​of​ ​the​ ​brain​ ​due 
to​ ​the​ ​pressure​ ​of​ ​the​ ​blood,​ ​and​ ​necrosis.  
 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
(looks​ ​over​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​discovering​ ​the​ ​body,​ ​and​ ​throws​ ​up) 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM 
TINA 
This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​really​ ​good​ ​example​ ​-​ ​it’s​ ​ridiculously 
contagious,​ ​and​ ​prone​ ​to​ ​mutation​ ​to​ ​the​ ​point​ ​that 
it’s​ ​practically​ ​impossible​ ​to​ ​cure. 
 
INT.​ ​SCIENCE​ ​LAB 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
​ hrough​ h
(running​ t ​ allway) 
 
JESSE 
in​ ​voiceover  
and​ ​…​ ​if​ ​you​ ​contracted​ ​this​ ​you​ ​are​ ​dead​ ​in​ ​a​ ​matter 
of​ ​days...​ ​it’s​ ​absolutely​ ​lethal​ ​in​ ​100​ ​percent​ ​of 
its​ ​victims. 
 
SCIENTIST​ ​1 
 ​ is​ ​fist​ ​on​ ​a​ ​large​ ​biohazard​ ​button​ ​and​ ​a​ ​loud 
(slams​ h
buzzer​ s​ ounds) 
 
screen​ ​fades​ ​to​ ​black​ ​as​ ​the​ ​buzzer  
echos​ ​and​ ​music​ ​abruptly​ ​stops 
word​ ​“MONA”​ ​appears​ ​in​ ​all​ ​caps​ ​on​ ​black​ ​screen 
 
 
CHARLIE 
​ ​ ​In​ ​voiceover 
​ s​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​how​ ​the​ ​world​ ​ends 
This​ i
 
   
SCENE​ ​2 
 
fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​1”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​CHARLIE​ ​is​ ​lab​ ​partners​ ​with​ ​RILEY,​ ​they 
are​ ​looking​ ​over​ ​their​ ​materials​ ​and​ ​reading​ ​over​ ​lab​ ​report.  
 
pans​ ​over​ ​biology​ ​classroom​ ​doing  
bacteria​ ​lab 
 
CHARLIE 
(Looking​ ​over​ ​lab​ ​instructions​ ​packet) 
Step​ ​one:​ ​clean​ ​the​ ​work​ ​area​ ​and​ ​sterilize​ ​materials 
and​ ​tools​ ​with​ ​Isopropyl​ ​Alcohol 
 
RILEY 
(Picks​ ​up​ ​the​ ​alcohol) 
Step​ ​two:​ ​drink​ ​the​ ​alcohol 
 
CHARLIE 
(Takes​ ​it​ ​from​ ​his​ ​hands​ ​promptly) 
It’s​ ​not​ ​that​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​alcohol,​ ​Riley 
 
RILEY 
Aw​ ​damn,​ ​that​ ​was​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​get 
through​ ​this​ ​lab​ ​anyways.  
 
(Siren​ ​sounds) 
 
CHARLIE 
(Looks​ ​up) 
What​ ​the…? 
 
RILEY 
(Runs​ ​to​ ​the​ ​door) 
Uh​ ​oh,​ ​did​ ​they​ ​hear​ ​my​ ​alcohol​ ​comment?  
(Shouting​ ​down​ ​hallway) 
 I’M​ ​AWARE​ ​THAT​ ​I​ ​AM​ ​UNDER​ ​THE​ ​DRINKING​ ​AGE​ ​OFFICER,​ ​MY 
INNOCENT​ ​SOUL​ ​WOULD​ ​NEVER​ ​DARE​ ​MESS​ ​WITH​ ​THE​ ​LAW​ ​AND 
DANGERS​ ​OF​ ​CONTROLLED​ ​SUBSTANCES 
 
(footsteps​ ​heard​ ​walking​ ​up​ t
​ he​ ​hallway) 
 
RILEY 
(slightly​ ​panicked) 
 
TINA 
(Pulling​ ​RILEY​ ​back,​ ​solemnly) 
Riley​ ​move​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​door. 
 
POLICE​ ​OFFICER 
(Through​ ​megaphone) 
If​ ​I​ ​could​ ​have​ ​everyone’s​ ​attention​ ​please. 
 
TINA 
(shushing​ ​class) 
You​ ​heard​ ​him,​ ​silence​ p
​ lease.​ ​And​ R​ iley,​ ​please​ ​try 
to​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​sarcastic​ c​ omments​ ​to​ a​ ​ ​minimum.  
 
POLICE​ ​OFFICER 
(speaking​ ​through​ ​megaphone,​ ​walking​ ​up​ ​and​ ​down​ ​hall) 
Thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​your​ ​compliance.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​come​ ​to​ ​our 
attention​ ​that​ ​there​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​bacterial​ ​outbreak​ ​in 
this​ ​area​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​a​ ​mistake​ ​in​ ​a​ ​nearby​ ​scientific 
facility.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​temporarily​ ​quarantining​ ​this​ ​area​ ​as 
a​ ​precautionary​ ​measure,​ ​and​ ​students​ ​will​ ​be​ ​free​ ​to 
maneuver​ ​within​ ​the​ ​outlined​ ​perimeter.​ ​We’re​ ​sure 
that​ ​this​ ​will​ ​be​ ​over​ ​quickly​ ​with​ ​minimal 
consequence.​ ​Thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​your​ ​cooperation. 
(leaves​ ​building) 
 
STUDENTS 
(Mildly​ ​panicking,​ ​murmuring) 
 
EXT.​ ​LOWER​ ​LOT​,​ ​NICK​ ​and​ ​STUDENT​ ​1​ ​have​ ​escaped​ ​the​ ​school,​ ​and 
are​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​get​ ​away​ ​as​ ​fast​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​so​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not 
infected/quarantined. 
  
POLICE​ ​OFFICER 
(looks​ ​over​ ​his​ ​shoulder​ ​and​ ​then​ ​acknowledges​ ​students) 
You​ ​guys​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​go,​ ​the​ ​threat​ ​isn’t​ ​that​ ​severe 
yet.​ ​But​ ​no​ ​one​ ​can​ ​know​ ​that​ ​you​ ​were​ ​able​ ​to​ ​leave. 
We​ ​can’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​panic.  
 
NICK 
(Hugs​ ​police​ ​officer) 
Thanks,​ ​Dad.​ ​I’ll​ ​see​ ​you​ ​at​ ​home.  
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​the​ ​students​ ​are​ ​all​ ​still​ ​murmuring 
quietly​ ​amongst​ ​themselves,​ ​wondering​ ​how​ ​the​ ​quarantine​ ​is 
going​ ​to​ ​play​ ​out.  
 
RILEY 
Ah​ ​phew,​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​we​ ​were​ ​going​ ​to​ ​get​ ​busted​ ​for 
drinking​ ​Isopropyl​ ​Alcohol,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​much​ ​better 
 
CHARLIE 
(Smacks​ ​RILEY’s​ ​arm) 
Ry,​ ​not​ ​funny 
 
(JESSE​ ​runs​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​both​ ​of​ ​them​ ​to​ ​the​ ​whiteboard) 
 
RILEY 
(Watching​ ​her​ ​go) 
There​ ​she​ ​goes,​ ​off​ ​to​ ​predict​ ​our​ ​impending​ ​doom 
 
JESSE 
(Scribbling​ ​frantically​ ​on​ ​the​ ​whiteboard,​ ​speaking​ ​very 
fast) 
Okay​ ​SO,​ ​everything​ ​they​ ​just​ ​said​ ​was​ ​a​ ​total​ ​lie. 
Remember​ ​that​ ​lab​ ​we​ ​were​ ​reading?​ ​There’s​ ​a​ ​90% 
chance​ ​that​ ​is​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​they​ ​were​ ​talking​ ​about, 
carbapenem-resistant​ ​Pseudomonas​ ​aeruginosa.  
  
RILEY 
(Yells,​ ​excited​ ​to​ f
​ inally​ ​know​ s
​ omething) 
Mona?! 
 
JESSE 
(affirmatively) 
Mona. 
So​ ​it​ ​originated​ ​in​ ​Asia,​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is​ ​currently 
terrorising​ ​the​ ​poorer​ ​neighborhoods​ ​because​ ​they 
simply​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​the​ ​technology​ ​or,​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is 
antibiotic​ ​resistant,​ ​the​ ​antibiotics​ ​to​ ​control​ ​it. 
They​ ​brought​ ​it​ ​over​ ​to​ ​try​ ​and​ ​find​ ​a​ ​cure,​ ​but​ ​from 
the​ ​state​ ​of​ ​things,​ ​they​ ​still​ ​haven’t.  
 
SEAN 
Remember​ ​to​ ​breathe,​ ​Jess.  
 
JESSE 
(research) 
 
SEAN 
In​ ​summary,​ ​it​ ​is,​ ​as​ ​we​ ​said​ ​before,​ a
​ bsolutely 
lethal,​ ​highly​ ​contagious,​ ​and​ ​almost​ i ​ mpossible​ ​to 
contain- 
 
JESSE 
(interrupts) 
You​ ​guys​ ​don’t​ ​understand​ - ​ ​ ​it’s​ ​so​ ​cool!​ ​We’re​ ​all 
going​ ​to​ ​die​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​SO.​ C​ OOL. 
(Slams​ ​head​ ​down​ ​onto​ ​table) 
 
 
   
SCENE​ ​3 
fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​2”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
INT.​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​at​ ​school​ ​are​ ​passed​ ​out​ ​on​ ​the 
few​ ​couches​ ​and​ ​beanbags​ ​scattered​ ​around​ ​the​ ​school​ ​(B-role), 
using​ ​their​ ​jackets​ ​as​ ​pillows​ ​or​ ​blankets.​ ​CHARLIE​ ​and​ ​RILEY 
are​ ​relaxed​ ​on​ ​a​ ​couch​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​window,​ ​half​ ​asleep. 
 
CHARLIE 
(sitting​ ​on​ ​a​ ​couch​ ​with​ ​Riley,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​phone​ ​with​ ​her 
mother) 
Yeah​ ​Mom,​ ​we’ll​ ​be​ ​quarantined​ ​for​ ​a​ ​few​ ​more​ ​days​ ​at 
least.  
(pauses​ ​to​ ​listen) 
Skylar​ ​is​ ​fine,​ ​so​ ​is​ ​Riley.  
(pauses​ ​again) 
Quarantining​ ​building​ ​by​ ​building?​ ​How​ ​could​ ​it 
spread?​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​that’s​ ​what​ ​they​ ​quarantined​ ​the 
area​ ​around​ ​school​ ​for? 
(pauses,​ ​gasps) 
Two​ ​kids​ ​escaped?​ ​Who?​ ​How? 
(pauses) 
Ugh,​ ​idiots.​ ​They’ll​ ​have​ ​to​ ​quarantine​ ​the​ ​whole 
town.  
(pauses) 
I​ ​love​ ​you​ ​too,​ ​see​ ​you​ ​soon.​ ​Bye​ ​Mom.  
 
RILEY 
(sleepily) 
Was​ ​that​ ​your​ ​mom? 
 
CHARLIE 
No,​ ​that’s​ ​a​ ​random​ ​person​ ​I​ ​just​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​say​ ​“I​ ​love 
you”​ ​to​ ​and​ ​call​ ​“Mom”​ ​because​ ​logic.  
 
RILEY 
(shakes​ ​head) 
 I​ ​would​ ​appreciate​ t ​ he​ ​sass​ ​but​ ​I’m​ ​too​ ​tired. 
 
CHARLIE 
(handing​ ​over​ ​phone) 
Do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​call​ ​yours? 
 
RILEY 
(let's​ ​head​ ​fall​ ​back​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​back​ ​of​ ​the​ ​couch) 
Why​ ​bother​ ​-​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​like​ ​she’ll​ ​pick​ ​up.  
 
BOTH 
(quiet) 
 
RILEY 
This​ ​is​ ​too​ ​much​ ​thinking​ ​for​ 1
​ 2:00AM.​ I
​ ’m​ ​going​ ​back 
to​ ​sleep.  
 
CHARLIE 
(after​ ​a​ ​moment) 
Riles?​ ​I’m​ ​terrified. 
 
RILEY 
Well​ ​duh,​ ​I’d​ ​have​ ​some​ ​serious​ c
​ oncerns​ i
​ f​ y
​ ou 
weren’t.  
(slouches​ ​further​ ​and​ ​closes​ ​his​ ​eyes) 
 
CHARLIE 
(looks​ ​at​ ​her​ ​watch,​ ​it​ ​reads​ ​12:01,​ s
​ ighs,​ a
​ nd​ c
​ loses​ h
​ er 
eyes) 
 
 
   
SCENE​ ​4 
 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​3”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
EXT.​ ​TRAIL​,​ ​NICK​ ​and​ ​STUDENT​ ​1​ a ​ re​ ​stumbling​ ​down​ ​to​ ​the​ ​trail 
coughing,​ ​looking​ ​rugged​ ​after​ g ​ etting​ ​lost​ ​for​ ​the​ ​past​ ​couple 
of​ ​days. 
 
BOTH 
(coughing) 
 
PASSERBY​ ​1 
(turns​ ​around) 
Hey,​ ​are​ ​you​ ​okay? 
 
NICK 
(waves​ ​without​ ​turning​ ​around) 
Sorry 
 
PASSERBY​ ​1 
Do​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​hospital​ ​or​ ​something? 
 
STUDENT​ ​1 
(bends​ ​over​ ​to​ ​cough,​ ​when​ ​they​ ​pull​ ​their​ ​hand​ ​away,​ ​it’s 
dotted​ ​with​ ​blood) 
That​ ​might​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea 
(collapses) 
 
PASSERBY​ ​1 
Crap!​ ​Are​ ​you​ ​okay? 
(runs​ ​over,​ ​kneels​ ​at​ ​STUDENT​ ​1’s​ ​side,​ ​turns​ ​around​ ​to​ ​see 
NICK​ ​with​ ​blood​ ​dripping​ ​from​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​and​ ​nose​ ​as​ ​he 
collapses​ ​next​ ​to​ ​STUDENT​ ​1,​ ​backs​ ​away​ ​slowly) 
What​ ​the​ ​hell? 
 
POLICEMAN 
(walking​ ​down​ ​the​ ​trail​ ​doing​ ​rounds) 
 I​ ​really​ ​wouldn’t​ ​do​ ​that​ ​if​ ​I​ ​was​ ​you.​ ​It’s​ ​highly 
contagious.  
   
SCENE​ ​5 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​6”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
EXT.​ ​DURANGO​,​ ​panning​ ​over​ ​city 
 
CHARLIE 
In​ ​voiceover 
if​ ​you​ ​told​ ​me​ ​a​ ​week​ ​ago​ ​that​ ​my​ ​whole​ ​town​ ​would​ ​be 
infected​ ​with​ ​this​ ​lethal​ ​bacteria​ ​in​ ​less​ ​than​ ​6 
days,​ ​then​ ​I’d​ ​probably​ ​laugh​ ​in​ ​your​ ​face​ ​and​ ​tell 
you​ ​how​ ​ridiculous​ ​you​ ​sound. 
  
INT.​ ​SCHOOL​,​ ​RILEY​ ​and​ ​CHARLIE​ ​are​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​a​ ​window​ ​at​ ​a 
bonfire​ ​created​ ​by​ ​dead​ ​bodies​ ​to​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bacteria 
infesting​ ​the​ ​bodies​ ​even​ ​after​ ​death.  
 
CHARLIE 
This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​second​ ​fire​ ​we​ ​have​ ​seen​ ​this​ ​week.​ ​How 
many​ ​people​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​hit​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​before​ ​they 
realize​ ​that​ ​locking​ ​us​ ​in​ ​this​ ​building​ ​isn’t 
working?  
 
RILEY 
Probably​ ​whenever​ ​the​ ​person​ ​holding​ ​the​ ​key​ ​drops 
dead​ ​too 
 
CHARLIE 
(scoffs)  
I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​key​ ​locking​ ​us​ ​in​ ​the​ ​school.  
 
RILEY 
That’s​ ​not​ ​what​ ​I​ ​meant!​ ​Ya’​ ​know…​ ​they​ ​are​ ​keeping​ ​us 
in​ ​here…​ ​the​ ​key​ ​is​ ​figurative…  
(In​ ​exasperation)  
It’s​ ​not​ ​funny​ ​when​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​it! 
 
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​CHARLIE 
 I’m​ ​going​ ​to​ ​go​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​my​ ​brother. 
(Walks​ ​away)  
 
​ CHOOL​ ​HALLWAY​,​ ​camera​ ​following​ ​Charlie,​ ​who​ ​is​ ​walking 
INT.​ S
down​ h​ allway​ ​to​ ​wherever​ ​SKYLAR​ ​is.​ ​She​ ​collapses. 
 
Screen​ ​goes​ ​black 
 
SKYLAR 
(Nudging​ ​Charlie​ ​awake​ ​worriedly)  
Charlie,​ ​Charlie​ ​are​ ​you​ ​okay? 
 
CHARLIE 
(Slowly​ ​comes​ ​to)  
 
SKYLAR 
Have​ ​you​ ​been​ ​taking​ ​your​ ​medication​ ​lately?​ ​How​ ​many 
doses​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​left? 
 
CHARLIE 
(shakes​ ​head) 
I’m​ ​fine,​ ​I​ ​just​ ​had​ ​to​ ​start​ ​rationing​ ​it​ ​a​ ​little 
bit.​ ​But​ ​we’re​ ​good,​ ​I’m​ ​good.  
 
SKYLAR 
(Looks​ ​worried​ ​and​ ​takes​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​to​ ​calm​ ​and​ ​gather 
himself) 
Why​ ​didn’t​ ​you​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​you​ ​were​ ​running​ ​out​ ​of​ ​your 
medication?​ ​You​ ​know​ ​I​ ​would​ ​find​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​you 
some​ ​more.​ ​Your​ ​condition​ ​isn’t​ ​something​ ​to​ ​screw 
around​ ​with.  
 
CHARLIE 
(gets​ ​up​ ​slowly) 
I​ ​know,​ ​I​ ​know. 
 
JESSE 
(runs​ ​into​ ​journey​ ​moment) 
 Guys!​ ​I​ ​have​ ​reason​ ​to​ b
​ elieve​ ​that​ ​the​ b
​ acteria​ h ​ as 
mutated! 
 
RILEY 
(walks​ ​in​ ​behind​ ​her) 
You​ ​really​ ​shouldn’t​ ​sound​ ​that​ ​excited​ a ​ bout​ ​it​ J​ ess. 
SCENE​ ​6 
 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​12”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
EXT.​ ​DURANGO​,​ ​b-roll​ ​of​ ​a​ ​town,​ ​deserted,​ ​with​ ​smoke​ r ​ ising​ ​up 
from​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​places.​ ​Only​ ​the​ ​wind​ ​can​ ​be​ ​heard,​ ​no​ c ​ ars, 
birds,​ ​etc,​ ​because​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​all​ ​but​ ​abandoned.  
 
CHARLIE 
In​ ​voiceover 
In​ ​just​ ​the​ ​past​ ​six​ ​days,​ ​the​ ​Durango​ ​and​ ​surrounding 
areas​ ​population​ ​fell​ ​by​ ​73%,​ ​and​ ​84%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ill​ ​have 
died,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​if​ ​you​ ​believe​ ​what​ ​the​ ​news​ ​says.​ ​It’s 
due​ ​to​ ​some​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​mutation​ ​in​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​that​ ​I 
don’t​ ​understand,​ ​as​ ​many​ ​times​ ​as​ ​Jesse​ ​and​ ​Sean​ ​have 
tried​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​it. 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​SCENE​ ​at​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​board,​ ​trying 
to​ ​write​ ​down​ ​his​ ​thoughts,​ ​fumbling​ ​with​ ​the​ ​markers.  
 
SEAN 
I’m,​ ​uh,​ ​I’m​ ​sorry.  
(drops​ ​marker​ ​entirely,​ ​and​ ​turns​ ​back​ ​around​ ​to​ ​face 
CHARLIE​ ​and​ ​RILEY) 
 
CHARLIE 
It’s​ ​okay,​ ​how​ ​about​ ​you​ ​just​ ​try​ ​explaining​ ​it 
without​ ​the​ ​whiteboard.  
 
SEAN 
(nods​ ​and​ ​sits​ ​down​ ​at​ ​the​ ​table) 
From​ ​what​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​from​ ​looking​ ​through​ ​the 
microscopes,​ ​each​ ​single​ ​bacteria​ ​divides​ ​every​ ​nine 
minutes,​ ​making​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​of​ ​mutation​ ​incredibly 
high.​ ​They​ ​have​ ​these​ ​things​ ​called​ ​“jumping​ ​genes,” 
and​ ​well…​ ​I​ ​wrote​ ​it​ ​all​ ​down. 
(hands​ ​over​ ​a​ ​long​ ​paper​ ​on​ ​the​ ​bacteria) 
 
CHARLIE 
(takes​ ​the​ ​paper​ ​and​ ​begins​ ​to​ ​read) 
Genetics​ ​are​ ​shown​ ​in​ ​physical​ ​appearance,​ ​metabolism, 
fertility,​ ​behavior,​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​mental​ ​ability. 
Genotypic​ ​variation​ ​is​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​the​ ​differences​ ​in 
structure​ ​and​ ​or​ ​number​ ​of​ ​chromosomes​ ​or​ ​by​ ​the 
differences​ ​of​ ​genes​ ​carried​ ​by​ ​the​ ​chromosome.​ ​Eye 
colour,​ ​body​ ​form,​ ​and​ ​disease​ ​resistance​ ​are 
genotypic​ ​variations. 
In​ ​the​ ​case​ ​of​ ​psue-​ ​psuedom- 
 
RILEY 
Mona.  
 
CHARLIE 
“In​ ​the​ ​case​ ​of​ ​Mona,​ ​variation​ ​occured​ ​when​ ​sections 
of​ ​their​ ​genome,​ ​to​ ​be​ ​known​ ​as​ ​transposable​ ​elements 
for​ ​this​ ​ability,​ ​“jumped”​ ​from​ ​their​ ​original​ ​place 
in​ ​a​ ​genome​ ​to​ ​a​ ​completely​ ​different​ ​location,​ ​thusly 
disrupting​ ​the​ ​very​ ​way​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​functions.​ ​This 
causes​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​to​ ​mutate,​ ​and​ ​through​ s ​ everal​ ​one 
in​ ​a​ ​million​ ​chances,​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​mutated​ ​to​ ​acuire 
the​ ​most​ ​advanced​ ​antimicrobial​ ​resistant​ ​properties 
the​ ​human​ ​species​ ​has​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​encounter.” 
 
RILEY 
(reading​ ​over​ ​CHARLIE’s​ ​shoulder) 
For​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​doesn’t​ ​talk​ ​all​ ​that​ ​often,​ ​you​ ​write 
well​,​ ​Sean.  
(under​ ​his​ ​breath) 
Even​ ​if​ ​I​ ​have​ ​absolutely​ ​no​ ​idea​ ​what​ ​you​ ​mean. 
 
CHARLIE 
(reading​ ​more​ ​of​ ​the​ ​paper​ ​aloud) 
“It​ ​will​ ​either​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​mutate​ ​until​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a 
flaw​ ​in​ ​its​ ​DNA​ ​that​ ​allows​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be​ ​eradicated,​ ​or​ ​it 
will​ ​wipe​ ​out​ ​everything​ ​on​ ​this​ ​planet​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not 
 affected​ ​or​ ​immune,​ ​at​ ​which​ ​point,​ ​the​ ​loss​ ​of 
sustenance​ ​will​ ​cause​ ​it​ ​to​ ​perish.” 
 
SEAN 
(nods) 
RILEY 
​ hat’s​ u
Well​ t ​ nfortunate.  
 
CHARLIE 
(looks​ ​up​ ​from​ ​the​ ​paper​ ​and​ ​lightly​ s​ macks​ ​RILEY) 
​ t…​ ​works?  
Sean​ ​can​ ​you​ ​maybe​ ​show​ ​us​ ​how…​ i
 
SEAN 
(shyly) 
Umm…​ ​yeah.​ ​You’ll​ ​need​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at​ ​it​ ​to​ ​see​ ​what​ ​I 
mean,​ ​so​ ​follow​ ​me.  
 
(CHARLIE​ ​and​ ​SEAN​ ​start​ ​walking​ ​to​ ​the​ ​school​ ​lab)  
 
SEAN 
(looks​ ​over​ ​at​ ​CHARLIE)  
Have​ ​you​ ​seen​ ​Jesse?  
 
CHARLIE 
I​ ​have​ ​never​ ​actually​ ​seen​ ​you​ ​guys​ ​apart. 
(looks​ ​over​ ​her​ ​shoulder) 
I’m​ ​sure​ ​she’ll​ ​show​ ​up​ ​eventually.  
 
INT.​ ​SCHOOL​ L
​ ABORATORY​,​ ​SEAN​ ​leaning​ ​over​ ​a​ ​microscope​ ​while 
CHARLIE​ ​and​ R​ ILEY​ ​watch.  
 
SEAN 
To​ ​understand​ ​what​ ​exactly​ ​this​ ​is,​ ​you​ ​guys​ ​should 
probably​ ​know​ ​what​ ​heredity,​ ​variation,​ ​cell 
replication,​ ​and​ ​mutation​ ​are.​ ​We​ ​were​ ​going​ ​to​ ​learn 
all​ ​this​ ​stuff​ ​this​ ​year​ ​but…​ ​you​ ​know… 
 
RILEY 
 A​ ​highly​ ​dangerous​ s ​ uperbug​ ​was​ ​released​ ​onto​ ​the 
global​ ​population?​ T ​ hat​ ​tends​ ​to​ ​put​ ​a​ ​slight​ ​pause​ ​on 
education.  
 
CHARLIE 
(flips​ ​page​ ​and​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​read​ ​SEAN’s​ ​paper) 
Heredity​ ​is​ ​a​ ​transfer​ ​of​ ​characteristics​ ​and​ ​or 
traits​ ​from​ ​parent​ ​to​ ​offspring.​ ​The​ ​offspring​ ​cell 
and/or​ ​organism​ ​becomes​ ​predisposed​ ​to​ ​the 
characteristics​ ​or​ ​traits​ ​of​ ​its​ ​parents.​ ​Sometimes 
individuals​ ​can​ ​evolve​ ​through​ ​natural​ ​selection​ ​of 
specific​ ​phenotypic​ ​traits.  
(looks​ ​up) 
Thats​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​information​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​no​ ​idea​ ​what​ ​to 
do​ ​with.  
 
SEAN  
There’s​ ​more​ ​-​ ​variation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​little​ ​more​ ​complicated 
than​ ​heredity.  
 
CHARLIE  
I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​I’m​ g
​ oing​ ​to​ ​have​ t
​ o​ s
​ it​ d
​ own.  
 
SEAN 
Variation​ ​has​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​cells​ ​of​ ​our​ ​body​ ​the 
exact​ ​definition​ ​is​ ​pretty​ ​much​ ​any​ ​difference​ ​between 
cells,​ ​individual​ ​organisms,​ ​or​ ​groups​ ​of​ ​organisms​ ​if 
any​ ​species​ ​either​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​genetic​ ​differences 
(genotypic​ ​variation)​ ​or​ ​its​ ​affected​ ​by​ ​environmental 
factors.  
 
Fade​ ​out​ ​on​ ​SEAN​ ​talking 
   
SCENE​ ​7 
 
INT.​ ​SCHOOL​ ​HALLWAY​,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​empty​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ d
​ eaths​ ​and 
un-quarantining.​ ​CHARLIE​ ​is​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​the​ w ​ indow,​ ​with​ ​fire 
reflected​ ​on​ ​the​ ​glass.  
 
CHARLIE 
(staring​ ​out​ ​the​ ​window,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​blank,​ ​numb​ ​expression​ ​on 
her​ ​face) 
In​ ​voiceover 
State​ ​borders​ ​are​ ​now​ ​patrolled​ ​by​ ​the​ ​military,​ ​which 
means​ ​the​ ​school​ ​is​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​quarantined,​ ​but​ ​most 
people​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​place​ ​to​ ​go​ ​home​ ​to​ ​anymore. 
 
RILEY 
(runs​ ​down​ ​hallway)  
Charlie,​ ​hey​ ​Charlie! 
 
CHARLIE 
(is​ ​unresponsive,​ ​still​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​the​ ​window,​ ​numb​ ​from 
the​ ​news​ ​of​ ​her​ ​mother) 
 
RILEY 
(shakes​ ​CHARLIE’s​ ​shoulder) 
I​ ​just​ ​heard​ ​the​ ​news.​ ​Charlie,​ ​cmon,​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me. 
 
CHARLIE 
(still​ ​looking​ ​out​ ​window,​ ​speaks​ ​in​ ​a​ ​monotone​ ​voice) 
I​ ​told​ ​her​ ​that​ ​I’d​ ​“see​ ​you​ ​soon.”​ ​That​ ​was​ ​a​ ​lie. 
I’m​ ​never​ ​going​ ​to​ ​see​ ​her​ ​again.  
 
RILEY 
Charlie,​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry.  
 
CHARLIE 
She​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​thousands.​ ​Everyone’s​ ​sorry. 
 
RILEY 
(puts​ ​a​ ​hand​ ​on​ ​her​ ​shoulder) 
 There​ ​is​ ​nothing​ ​you​ ​could​ ​have​ ​done.  
 
CHARLIE 
(quietly) 
I​ ​know. 
 
RILEY 
​ here​ a
Is​ t ​ nything​ I
​ ​ ​can- 
 
CHARLIE 
(interrupts) 
Skylar.  
 
RILEY 
​ nd​ l
(nods​ a ​ eaves​ t
​ o​ g
​ et​ ​SKYLAR) 
 
CHARLIE 
(turns​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​him​ ​go,​ ​then​ ​turns​ b
​ ack​ t
​ o​ t
​ he​ w
​ indow) 
 
(several​ ​moments​ ​later) 
 
SKYLAR 
(Walks​ ​toward​ ​CHARLIE​ ​until​ ​he​ ​is​ ​standing​ ​behind​ ​her) 
 
CHARLIE 
(turns​ ​around​ ​and​ ​cries​ ​into​ ​his​ ​shirt) 
I​ ​miss​ ​her,​ ​Sky.  
 
SKYLAR 
I​ ​do​ ​too.  
 
BOTH 
(start​ ​walking​ ​down​ ​the​ ​hallway​ ​and​ ​they​ ​go​ i
​ nto​ ​Tina’s 
room​ ​where​ ​Jesse​ ​is​ ​sitting​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor) 
 
JESSE 
(muttering) 
 Not​ ​ok…​ ​variation…​ ​mutation…​ ​not​ ​ok…​ ​sooo​ ​not​ ​okay.​ ​If 
the​ ​bacteria​ ​doesn’t​ ​cease​ ​the​ ​rapid​ ​mutational 
sequenes…​ ​none​ ​of​ ​this​ ​is​ ​ok. 
 
CHARLIE 
(walks​ ​up​ ​to​ ​jesse) 
Are​ ​you​ ​ok?​ ​Where​ ​have​ ​you​ ​been!? 
 
JESSE 
(quiet​ ​panicking,​ ​speaking​ ​very,​ ​very,​ ​very​ ​fast​ ​almsot​ ​to 
herself​ ​and​ ​clutching​ ​book)  
NO,​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​okay​ ​-​ ​this​ ​bacteria​ ​is​ ​insane​ ​and 
everyone​ ​is​ ​dead​ ​and​ ​none​ ​of​ ​us​ ​have​ ​a​ ​home​ ​to​ ​go​ ​back 
to,​ ​mcuh​ ​less​ ​parents​ ​since​ ​they​ ​started​ ​burning​ ​stuff 
down​ ​to​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bacteria.​ ​None​ ​of​ ​us​ ​are​ ​going 
to​ ​live​ ​to​ ​be​ ​17​ ​years​ ​old​ ​and​ ​nothing​ ​about​ ​this​ ​is 
okay! 
(as​ ​an​ ​afterthought) 
Also​ ​one​ ​of​ ​my​ ​favorite​ ​book​ ​characters​ ​is​ ​dead.  
 
CHARLIE 
Is​ ​there​ ​anything​ ​I​ ​can​ ​…​ ​do? 
 
JESSE 
Fight​ ​[author’s​ n ​ ame​ ​here]?  
(nervous​ ​laugh) 
But​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​hiding​ ​under​ ​this​ ​desk​ ​because​ ​I 
was​ ​tired​ ​of​ ​people​ ​constantly​ ​asking​ ​me​ ​questions, 
like​ ​that​ ​one,​ ​not​ ​like​ ​that​ ​one.​ ​There’s​ ​nothing​ ​that 
I​ ​can​ ​do​ ​besides​ ​research​ ​and​ ​even​ ​that​ ​is​ ​difficult 
and​ ​i​ ​just​ ​wish​ ​people​ ​would​ ​stop​ a​ sking​. 
(more​ ​muttering​ ​to​ ​herself) 
 
CHARLIE 
(comforting​ ​Jesse) 
Sorry​ ​about​ ​that…​ ​I​ ​uh… 
(looks​ ​to​ ​Skylar​ ​for​ ​help,​ ​who​ ​just​ ​shruggs) 
​ ​Feel​ ​better​ ​i​ ​guess. 
(pats​ ​JESSE’s​ ​knee​ ​awkwardly) 
 I​ ​should​ ​go.​ ​Sean​ ​was​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​you. 
(leaves,​ ​walking​ ​to​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​with​ ​Skyler)  
JESSE 
(continues​ ​muttering​ ​to​ ​herself) 
 
slowly​ ​zooms​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​classroom  
and​ ​the​ ​scene​ ​goes​ ​black 
 
 
 
   
SCENE​ ​8 
 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​20”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’s​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​where​ ​RILEY,​ ​CHARLIE,​ ​and​ ​SKYLAR​ ​are 
watching​ ​the​ ​news.​ ​Lights​ ​are​ ​off​ ​to​ ​conserve​ ​energy,​ ​and 
CHARLIE​ ​and​ ​RILEY​ ​are​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​thin​ ​blankets​ ​that​ ​they​ ​could 
find​ ​around​ ​school.​ ​(basically​ ​it’s​ ​day​ ​20​ ​of​ ​an​ ​apocalypse​ ​and 
they​ ​look​ ​it) 
 
NEWSCASTER 
It​ ​is​ ​with​ ​deep​ ​regret​ ​I​ ​announce​ ​that,​ ​according​ ​to​ ​recent 
statistics,​ ​over​ ​40%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​population,​ ​and, 
including​ ​these​ ​Americans,​ ​33%​ ​of​ ​North​ ​America’s​ ​population​ ​has 
perished. 
 
INT.​ ​SCHOOL​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​that​ ​has​ ​been​ ​converted​ ​into​ ​SEAN’s 
laboratory,​ ​with​ ​SEAN​ ​working​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​a​ ​microscope.  
 
​ ​SEAN 
(sighs​ ​in​ ​frustration,​ ​adjusts​ ​dials​ ​on​ ​microscope)  
 
JESSE 
(writes​ ​something​ ​down​ ​on​ ​a​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​paper) 
 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​CLASSROOM​, 
 
NEWSCASTER 
This​ ​puts​ ​the​ ​American​ ​death​ ​toll​ ​at​ ​approximately​ ​155 
million​ ​people,​ ​and​ ​global​ ​death​ ​toll​ ​at​ ​approximately 
180​ ​million​ ​people.​ ​As​ ​such,​ ​Canada,​ ​Mexico,​ ​and​ ​the 
US​ ​have​ ​declared​ ​a​ ​state​ ​of​ ​emergency,​ ​and​ ​closed 
their​ ​borders.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​facing​ ​the​ ​greatest​ ​threat​ ​to 
the​ ​human​ ​race​ ​in​ ​histo- 
 
SKYLAR 
 (mutes​ ​the​ ​TV,​ ​frustrated) 
But​ ​what​ ​are​ ​they​ ​actually​ ​doing​ ​about​ ​it?! 
 
CHARLIE 
Nothing,​ ​Skylar.​ ​They’re​ ​doing​ ​nothing.​ ​There’s 
nothing​ ​to​ ​be​ ​done.  
 
INT.​ ​SCHOOL​ ​CLASSROOM​,​ ​SEAN​ ​is​ ​still​ ​looking​ ​into​ ​the 
microscope. 
 
Medical​ ​equipment​ ​in​ ​the​ ​foreground 
SEAN​ ​and​ ​JESSE​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ ​middle​ ​ground,  
can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​from​ ​waist​ ​up.  
 
SEAN​ ​and​ ​JESSE 
(coughs,​ ​pauses,​ ​looks​ ​at​ ​their​ ​hands​ ​in​ ​horror,​ ​then​ ​at 
each​ ​other) 
 
CHARLIE 
In​ ​voiceover 
The​ ​people​ ​who​ ​actually​ ​specialise​ ​in​ ​this​ ​kind​ ​of 
stuff​ ​are​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​died​ ​first. 
 
INT.​ ​TINA’S​ ​BIOLOGY​ ​CLASSROOM 
close​ ​up​ ​on​ ​RILEY 
RILEY 
(on​ ​phone) 
How​ ​convenient. 
SKYLAR 
(still​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​the​ ​news,​ ​frustrated,​ ​gets​ ​up​ ​and​ ​walks 
out;​ ​once​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​hallway,​ ​he​ ​is​ ​overtaken​ ​by​ ​a​ ​fit​ ​of 
coughing,​ ​bends​ ​over,​ ​and​ ​blood​ ​splatters​ ​on​ ​the​ ​linoleum) 
 
RILEY 
(receives​ ​text​ ​from​ ​JESSE​ ​and​ ​SEAN​ ​that​ ​reads​ ​“don’t​ ​come 
into​ ​the​ ​lab,​ ​we’ve​ ​been​ ​infected”​ ​and​ ​looks​ ​up​ ​from​ ​phone, 
shocked) 
Oh​ ​my​ ​god.​ ​We’re​ ​completely​ ​screwed. 
 
 
SCENE​ ​9 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​58”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
EXT.​ ​WOODS​,​ ​CHARLIE​ ​and​ ​RILEY​ ​are​ ​walking​ ​through​ ​the​ ​forest, 
trying​ ​to​ ​find​ ​a​ ​survivors​ ​camp​ ​they’d​ ​heard​ ​about. 
 
CHARLIE 
(reading​ ​the​ ​news,​ ​watching​ ​an​ ​animation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​being 
infected) 
Something​ ​that​ ​I​ ​complained​ ​about​ ​learned​ ​about​ ​in 
school​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​two​ ​weeks​ ​killed​ ​80%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people 
in​ ​this​ ​country,​ ​and​ ​50%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people​ ​worldwide,​ ​in 
just​ ​about​ ​two​ ​months. 
 
RILEY 
I​ ​thought​ ​it​ ​was​ ​more​ ​like​ ​84.54,​ ​and​ ​49.7,​ ​no?  
 
CHARLIE 
(looks​ ​over​ ​at​ ​Riley,​ ​annoyed) 
People​ ​stop​ ​getting​ ​so​ ​specific​ ​once​ ​they​ ​get​ ​into​ ​the 
hundred​ ​millions​ ​and​ ​billions,​ ​Riley.  
(looks​ ​back​ ​the​ ​way​ ​they​ ​came​ ​and​ ​sighs) 
So​ ​why​ ​are​ ​we​ ​alive? 
 
RILEY 
(dramatic​ ​“a​ ​kingdom​ ​for​ ​a​ ​stage,​ ​princes​ ​to​ ​act”​ ​geasture) 
Because​ ​we’re​ ​the​ ​main​ ​characters,​ ​obviously. 
 
CHARLIE 
This​ ​isn’t​ ​some​ ​action​ ​movie,​ ​Riley. 
 
RILEY 
That’s​ ​good,​ ​it​ ​would​ ​suck. 
 
CHARLIE 
(whirls​ ​around,​ ​enraged)  
 Don’t​ ​you​ ​get​ ​that​ ​this​ ​isn’t​ ​funny​ ​anymore?​ ​We​ ​can’t 
laugh​ ​everything​ ​off.  
(choking​ ​up) 
Everyone​ ​I’ve​ ​ever​ ​loved​ ​is​ ​dead​ ​and​ ​you’re​ ​cracking 
jokes.​ ​You​ ​were​ ​insensitive​ ​at​ ​best​ ​before,​ ​now​ ​you’re 
just​ ​being​ ​cruel.​ ​I​ ​guess​ ​that​ ​happens​ ​when​ ​you​ ​never 
learn​ ​to​ ​properly​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​your​ ​emotions​ ​or​ ​be 
remotely​ ​empathetic​ ​and​ ​compassionate.  
 
Flashback 
 
EXT.​ ​SCHOOL​ ​BUILDING​,​ ​CHARLIE​ ​walking​ d ​ own​ a​ ​ r
​ ow​ o
​ f​ b
​ odies​ ​that 
are​ ​being​ ​prepared​ t ​ o​ ​be​ ​burned.  
 
CHARLIE 
(looks​ ​down​ ​at​ ​their​ ​faces,​ ​passing​ ​corresponding​ ​with​ ​the 
names​ ​she​ ​says) 
Sierra.​ ​Zach.​ ​Amanda.​ ​Ms.​ ​Tina.​ ​Jesse.​ ​Sean.​ ​Sky- 
Skylar.​ ​And​ ​so​ ​many​ ​others.  
 
EXT.​ ​WOODS 
RILEY 
Except​ ​me. 
 
EXT.​ ​SCHOOL​ ​BUILDING 
CHARLIE 
(turns​ ​around​ ​in​ ​the​ ​flashback,​ ​surprised) 
Cuts​ ​to​ ​her​ ​turning​ ​around 
In​ ​the​ ​present 
Excuse​ ​me? 
 
RILEY 
Everyone​ ​you’ve​ ​ever​ ​loved​ ​is​ ​dead.​ ​Except​ ​me.  
(nonchalant​ ​gesture) 
I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​not​ ​comment​ ​on​ ​the​ ​other​ ​stuff,​ ​if​ ​you 
don’t​ ​mind,​ ​you’re​ ​at​ ​your​ ​most​ ​cruel​ ​when​ ​you’re 
upset​ ​too.​ ​Doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​you’re​ ​wrong​ ​though. 
 
CHARLIE 
 (mouthing​ ​the​ ​words​ ​‘except​ ​you’,​ ​and​ ​sits​ ​down​ ​slowly) 
Oh​ ​my​ ​g-​ ​Riley​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry,​ ​I​ ​just… 
(heavy​ ​sigh) 
I​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​this,​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​exhausted​ ​and​ ​horrified​ ​and 
sad​ ​and 
(gets​ ​quiet) 
​ ​And​ ​I’m​ ​tired​ ​of​ ​being​ ​all​ ​those​ ​things.  
 
RILEY 
(kneels​ ​by​ ​her​ ​side)  
I​ ​know.​ ​It’s​ ​okay.  
 
CHARLIE 
But​ ​it’s​ ​not.​ ​I’m​ ​taking​ ​it​ o
​ ut​ ​on​ ​you,​ ​when​ ​you’re 
just​ ​as​ ​wrecked. 
 
RILEY 
But​ ​I’m​ ​not.​ ​I​ ​lost​ ​my​ ​mother,​ ​and​ y
​ our​ m ​ other,​ ​who 
was​ ​frankly​ ​more​ ​of​ ​a​ ​mother​ ​to​ ​me​ t​ han​ m ​ ine,​ ​and​ ​my 
friends,​ ​and​ ​your​ ​brother,​ ​but​ ​not​ l ​ ike​ y ​ ou​ ​did. 
You’re​ ​all​ ​I’ve​ ​got,​ ​Charlie.  
 
BOTH 
(hug) 
 
RILEY 
I’m​ ​assuming​ ​this​ ​is​ ​an​ ​inappropriate​ ​time​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the 
“We’re​ ​all​ ​in​ ​this​ ​together”​ ​dance​ ​from​ ​High​ ​School 
Musical. 
(breaks​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​hug) 
 
CHARLIE 
And​ ​I​ ​was​ ​about​ ​to​ ​make​ ​cheesy​ ​comment​ a
​ bout​ ​how 
you’re​ ​all​ ​I’ve​ ​got​ ​too,​ ​wow.  
 
RILEY 
(gets​ ​off​ ​ground​ ​and​ ​offers​ ​her​ ​a​ h​ and​ u
​ p) 
Cmon,​ ​we​ ​need​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​this​ ​camp​ ​before​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​goes 
down.  
 
CHARLIE 
(scrambles​ ​into​ ​a​ ​standing​ ​position) 
Right!​ ​How​ ​many​ ​people​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​are​ l
​ eft?  
(sinks​ ​back​ ​down​ ​to​ ​ground) 
But​ ​then​ ​again…​ ​that’s​ ​just​ ​more​ ​people​ t ​ o​ ​lose. 
 
RILEY 
(pulls​ ​her​ ​back​ ​up) 
Well​ ​I’m​ ​going,​ ​and​ ​as​ ​we’ve​ ​established…  
(starts​ ​doing​ ​the​ ​HSM​ ​dance) 
We’re​ ​all​ ​in​ ​this​ ​together. 
 
BOTH 
​ uietly​ a
(laugh​ q ​ nd​ c
​ ontinue​ ​walking) 
   
SCENE​ ​10 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​147”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
EXT.​ ​PATHOGEN​ ​SURVIVAL​ ​CAMP​,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ruins​ ​of​ ​a​ ​small​ ​town, 
tents,​ ​cardboard​ ​boxes,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​miscellaneous​ ​remnants​ ​of 
society​ ​are​ ​scattered​ ​around.​ ​The​ ​survivors​ ​are​ ​from​ ​all​ ​over 
the​ ​region,​ ​bringing​ ​whatever​ ​they​ ​can.​ ​People​ ​are​ ​milling 
around,​ ​completing​ ​tasks,​ ​etc. 
 
CHARLIE 
(emerging​ ​from​ ​behind​ ​a​ ​tent,​ ​walks​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​down​ ​by​ ​RILEY, 
FRIEND​ ​1,​ ​and​ ​FRIEND​ ​2) 
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
When​ ​I​ ​heard​ ​the​ ​news,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​at​ ​home.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​pretty 
late,​ ​my​ ​sister​ ​had​ ​just​ ​gone​ ​to​ ​bed,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​I​ ​heard 
the​ ​sirens.​ ​The​ ​policeman​ ​came​ ​to​ ​our​ ​door,​ ​talking 
about​ ​a​ ​pathogen​ ​and​ ​a​ ​quarantine​ ​or​ ​something,​ ​but​ ​I 
didn’t​ ​pay​ ​too​ ​much​ ​attention.​ ​It​ ​wasn’t​ ​until​ ​I​ ​was 
watching​ ​television​ ​the​ ​next​ ​day​ ​that​ ​I​ ​understood 
what​ ​was​ ​actually​ ​happening.​ ​My​ ​parents​ ​were​ ​doctors, 
so​ ​I​ ​grabbed​ ​some​ ​of​ ​their​ ​masks​ ​and​ ​stuff,​ ​had​ ​my 
sister​ ​wash​ ​her​ ​hands,​ ​and​ ​drove​ ​to​ ​our​ ​cabin​ ​up​ ​in 
the​ ​mountains.​ ​We​ ​didn’t​ ​come​ ​down​ ​until​ ​I​ ​heard​ ​about 
this​ ​place.  
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
My​ ​story​ ​is​ ​essentially​ ​the​ ​same,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​left​ ​with​ ​my 
girlfriend.​ ​She​ ​didn’t​ ​make​ ​it.​ ​[FRIEND​ ​1]​ ​and​ ​I​ ​met 
up​ ​the​ ​day​ ​after​ ​she​ ​died.  
(addressing​ ​FRIEND​ ​1] 
You​ ​practically​ ​assaulted​ ​me​ ​with​ ​disinfectant.  
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
(laughing) 
Guilty​ ​as​ ​charged. 
 
 RILEY 
It’s​ ​amazing​ ​that​ ​no​ ​one​ ​has​ g
​ otten​ s
​ ick​ ​here.  
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
Yeah,​ ​our​ ​local​ s
​ mart​ ​person​ h
​ as​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​theories 
about​ ​why.  
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
Genetic​ ​disorders​ ​is​ ​the​ ​main​ ​one,​ ​actually.​ ​It 
mutated​ ​in​ ​a​ ​very​ ​specific​ ​environment,​ ​probably 
within​ ​a​ ​family,​ ​and​ ​thusly​ ​targets​ ​very​ ​specific 
points​ ​in​ ​the​ ​DNA.​ ​When​ ​99.5%​ ​of​ ​human​ ​DNA​ ​is 
identical​ ​to​ ​everyone​ ​else’s,​ ​the​ ​pathogen​ ​doesn’t 
exactly​ ​have​ ​a​ ​hard​ ​time​ ​finding​ ​its​ ​targets,​ ​however 
as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​you​ ​throw​ ​a​ ​mutation​ ​of​ ​your​ ​own​ ​into​ ​the 
mix​ ​-  
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
(points​ ​at​ ​herself) 
Sickle​ ​cell. 
(points​ ​at​ ​FRIEND​ ​2) 
Hemophilia. 
(gesturing​ ​around​ ​the​ ​camp) 
Cystic​ ​fibrosis.​ ​Autism.​ ​Bipolar.​ ​Huntington's.​ ​ADHD. 
Thalassemia.​ ​You​ ​name​ ​it,​ ​we’ve​ ​got​ ​it,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​why 
most​ ​of​ ​us​ ​aren’t​ ​older​ ​than​ ​30.​ ​Granted,​ ​procreation 
isn’t​ ​exactly​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​anyone 
can​ ​afford​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​far​ ​ahead​ ​anyways.  
 
CHARLIE 
(quietly) 
Epilepsy.  
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
I’m​ ​sorry? 
 
CHARLIE 
that’s​ ​mine.​ ​I​ ​got​ ​it​ ​from​ ​my​ ​dad,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​died​ ​before 
the​ ​pathogen​ ​was​ ​even​ ​released,​ ​anyways.  
 (glances​ ​briefly​ ​at​ ​RILEY,​ ​because​ ​he​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​a 
genetic​ ​disorder) 
 
RILEY 
(silent,​ ​for​ ​once) 
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
Nice,​ y ​ ou​ g
​ ot​ a
​ ​ ​medicated​ ​one!  
 
CHARLIE 
Yeah,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​only​ ​helps​ ​when​ ​I​ ​actually​ ​have​ ​access 
to​ ​the​ ​medication.  
 
RILEY 
Well,​ ​when​ ​78%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​population​ ​is​ ​dead,​ ​I 
don’t​ ​think​ ​too​ ​many​ ​people​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​care​ ​if​ ​we 
hit​ ​up​ ​a​ ​drug​ ​store.  
 
CHARLIE 
(disapproving​ ​glance) 
but​ ​couldn't​ ​the​ ​bacteria​ ​just​ ​mutate​ ​again​ ​and​ ​wipe 
us​ ​out? 
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
If​ ​it​ ​lives​ ​that​ ​long,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​unlikely.​ ​Someone 
would​ ​have​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​in,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​spend​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of 
time​ ​in​ ​close​ ​proximity​ ​to​ ​another​ ​person​ ​with​ ​very 
similar​ ​DNA,​ ​allowing​ ​it​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​and​ ​then​ ​(more 
science​ ​stuff)​ ​That’s​ ​why​ ​they​ ​keep​ ​[FRIEND​ ​1]​ ​and 
[FRIEND​ ​1’s​ ​sister’s​ ​name]​ ​apart​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​time. 
Sorry,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​go​ ​all​ ​science​ ​nerd​ ​on​ ​you,​ ​but 
I​ ​had​ ​my​ ​heart​ ​set​ ​on​ ​being​ ​a​ ​biology​ ​major.  
 
CHARLIE 
Don’t​ ​worry,​ ​we’re​ ​used​ ​to​ ​it.​ ​Or​ ​we​ ​were,​ ​before​ ​our 
local​ ​science​ ​nerds​ ​died​ ​studying​ ​the​ ​bacteria.  
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry.  
  
CHARLIE 
So​ ​am​ ​I,​ ​but​ ​everyone​ ​has​ ​something​ t​ o​ b
​ e​ ​sorry​ ​about 
these​ ​days.  
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
I’m​ ​tired​ ​of​ ​being​ ​sorry. 
 
CHARLIE 
Aren’t​ ​we​ ​all.  
 
(later) 
 
CHARLIE 
Riles,​ ​are​ ​you​ ​okay?​ ​You​ ​haven’t​ ​been​ ​that​ ​quiet​ ​since 
your​ ​fish​ ​died​ ​in​ ​the​ ​eighth​ ​grade,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​that​ ​was 
only​ ​30​ ​minutes.  
 
RILEY 
That​ ​was​ ​indeed​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​day.  
 
CHARLIE 
Cmon,​ ​what’s​ ​up? 
 
RILEY 
I​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​genetic​ ​disorder. 
 
CHARLIE 
So? 
 
RILEY  
So​ ​I’m​ ​a​ ​likely​ ​vector. 
 
CHARLIE 
Well,​ ​one​ ​way​ ​or​ ​another,​ ​you’ve​ ​survived​ t
​ his​ ​long. 
That’s​ ​not​ ​luck,​ ​Riley,​ ​that’s​ ​fate.  
 
RILEY 
​ lways​ w
You​ a ​ ere​ ​the​ ​superstitious​ o
​ ne.  
 CHARLIE 
​ iley.​ Y
Fate,​ R ​ ou​ h
​ ear​ ​me? 
 
RILEY 
Fate.  
(pauses​ ​and​ ​shakes​ ​his​ ​head​ ​after​ ​a​ ​while) 
Nope,​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​it. 
 
BOTH 
(laugh) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
SCENE​ ​11 
Fade​ ​in 
Words​ ​“DAY​ ​235”​ ​appear​ ​in  
bottom​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​screen 
 
INT.​ ​CHARLIE’S​ ​TENT​,​ ​CHARLIE,​ ​RILEY,​ ​FRIEND​ ​1,​ ​and​ ​FRIEND​ ​2​ ​are 
talking​ ​and​ ​laughing,​ ​relaxed​ ​and​ ​finally​ ​feeling​ ​happy​ ​again 
after​ ​235​ ​days​ ​of​ ​actual​ ​hell.  
 
People​ ​laughing​ ​fades​ ​out 
 
CHARLIE 
In​ ​voiceover 
Things​ ​are...finally​ ​getting​ ​better.​ ​Everyone​ ​lost 
someone​ ​-​ ​a​ ​mother,​ ​a​ ​sister,​ ​a​ ​son,​ ​a​ ​best​ ​friend​ ​- 
but​ ​we​ ​live​ ​on.​ ​Our​ ​region​ ​has​ ​been​ ​clean​ ​for​ ​over​ ​100 
days,​ ​and​ ​as​ ​of​ ​tomorrow,​ ​we​ ​get​ ​to​ ​move​ ​into​ ​actual 
buildings​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​living​ ​in​ ​tents.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​to​ ​build 
them​ ​all​ ​ourselves,​ ​because​ ​most​ ​were​ ​destroyed​ ​or​ ​had 
to​ ​be​ ​destroyed​ ​because​ ​of​ ​potential​ ​retention​ ​of​ ​the 
pathogen.​ ​So​ ​we’re​ ​celebrating​ ​our​ ​last​ ​night​ ​in​ ​the 
wilderness,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​reminded​ ​of​ ​how​ ​grateful​ ​I​ ​am.  
 
Audio​ ​fades​ ​back​ ​in 
 
CHARLIE 
And​ ​then​ ​he​ ​said​ ​“Step​ ​2,​ ​drink​ ​the​ ​alcohol.” 
 
ALL 
(laugh) 
 
FRIEND​ ​1 
Did​ ​he​ ​actually​ ​drink​ ​it? 
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
Of​ ​course​ ​not!​ ​That​ ​stuff​ ​is​ ​liquid​ ​poison​ ​-​ ​it​ ​would 
cause​ ​liver​ ​failure​ ​and​ ​all​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​other​ ​crap.  
 
RILEY 
 (raises​ ​an​ ​eyebrow​ ​as​ ​if​ ​to​ ​indicate​ ​that​ ​he​ ​did) 
 
FRIEND​ ​2 
You.​ ​Did.​ ​Not.  
 
CHARLIE 
​ orry,​ h
Don’t​ w ​ e​ d
​ idn’t.  
 
RILEY 
Charlie,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​the​ ​death​ ​of​ ​my​ ​street​ ​cred. 
 
ALL 
(laugh,​ ​because​ ​there​ ​are​ ​no​ ​more​ ​actual​ ​streets,​ ​much​ ​less 
enough​ ​people​ ​to​ ​live​ ​on​ ​them) 
 
RILEY 
(laughter​ ​dissolves​ ​into​ ​coughing) 
Give​ ​me​ ​a​ ​minute,​ ​I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​run​ ​to​ ​the​ ​bathroom. 
Charlie,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​tell​ ​any​ ​more​ ​embarrassing​ ​stories… 
 
CHARLIE 
(raises​ ​her​ ​eyebrows) 
Like​ ​your​ ​failed​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​woo​ ​Veronica​ ​Smith​ ​in​ t
​ he 
sixth​ ​grade?​ ​How​ ​about​ ​the​ ​great​ ​dance​ ​recital 
incident​ ​of​ ​2011?​ ​Or​ ​literally​ ​anything​ ​that​ ​came​ o ​ ut 
of​ ​your​ ​mouth​ ​in​ ​physics​ ​last​ ​year? 
 
RILEY 
(shakes​ ​head​ ​begrudgingly​ ​and​ ​ducks​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tent) 
 
Laughter​ ​can​ ​be​ ​heard​ ​from​ ​inside​ ​the​ t ​ ent 
 
RILEY 
(laughs​ ​quietly​ ​to​ ​himself,​ ​then​ ​starts​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​away) 
 
CHARLIE 
in​ ​voiceover 
This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​how​ ​the​ ​world​ ​ended,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​the 
story​ ​of​ ​those  
 RILEY 
​ vercome​ w
(is​ o ​ ith​ ​coughing​ ​yet​ ​again) 
 
Cut​ ​to​ ​over​ ​RILEY’s​ ​shoulder 
 
CHARLIE 
In​ ​voiceover 
​ W
​ ho​ ​get​ ​to​ ​see​ ​it​ ​begin​ ​again. 
(hand​ i​ s​ ​splattered​ ​with​ ​blood) 
 
Cut​ ​back​ ​to​ ​RILEY’s​ f
​ ace 
RILEY 
(eyes​ ​go​ w
​ ide​ w
​ ith​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​horror,​ b
​ ut​ m
​ ostly 
exasperation) 
You​ ​have​ ​got​ ​to​ ​be​ ​kidding​ ​me...