Senator
Hey, no cross talk. I’m Senator and I’m an addict.
All
Hi Senator.
Senator
Well well. I think—
(A huge bang is heard from the other side of the door)
Chris
Shit. Where’s the axe?
Rita
I thought you said they were moving on, Senator!
Senator
They are!
(Door bangs again)
Aaron’s Voice
Help! Someone help me out here!
Ron
Oh my God.
Danny
Aaron?!
Chris
Quick, get the door!
Senator
No! Listen! There are others out there!
Cody
Well, uh, yeah, that’s probably why he wants in.
Senator
If you let him in the others will know we’re here!
True
So, you want us to leave him!
Senator
He shouldn’t have run off. He made that decision.
Danny
And I’m making this one.
(Danny moves the desk and begins to open the door)
Senator
No!
(Danny opens the door. Aaron comes charging in, holding an unconscious girl. Danny helps him. Rita runs to shut the door, but as she does, a slimy hand darts out and grabs her shirt. Rita screams and tries to pull away, but the hand starts to drag her out the door. Senator backs slowly away in fear. Chris runs forward with the axe and chops the undead arm off, just as True shuts the door. Ron and Cody hurry to barricade the door as Senator watches)
Aaron
Fuck fuck fuck fuck!
Chris
(To Rita)
You alright?
Rita
Yeah. God that was close.
Chris
Let me see.
(Inspects Rita)
Chris
Looks like your shirt took most of it. I don’t see a scratch anywhere.
Rita
Seriously Chris, if you hadn’t been there…
Chris
Hey, it’s okay.
(She jumps in his arms. He looks a little startled)
Aaron
Motherfuckers! Those fucking motherfuckers! Fuck!
Cody
What the hell, Aaron? Who is this? What were you thinking?
Aaron
Don’t fucking touch her! I got her, okay? Just back the fuck up!
Senator
Okay, guys, Aaron’s right. Let’s give our guest a little breathing room here.
Cody
Seriously? You almost got us killed, TWICE, just so you could get some apocalyptic pussy?
Aaron
I swear to fucking god, Cody, you keep flapping your fucking mouth…
Danny
Easy Cody. You know how Aaron gets.
Cody
Yeah, suicidal. I know.
Senator
So, Aaron, are you going to remember your manners and introduce us to your, um, lady friend?
Aaron
Just don’t touch her. Everyone, this is Jodi. Jodi, this is everyone.
(Jodi’s still unconscious. Aaron picks up her hand and gives it a little wave)
Aaron
She’s not doing so well. Do we still have water?
True
Right here. Set her down Aaron. She’ll be fine.
(Aaron reluctantly sets her down. True brushes Jodi’s hair way and gives her a little water. Jodi chokes on it and wakes up gasping)
Aaron
Fucking ay.
True
Jodi? Can you hear me?
Jodi
Aaron…it’s me…
Aaron
Hey baby. I’m right here.
Jodi
Guess you’re already at the meeting….
Aaron
What? You’re here too babe.
Jodi
So glad you’re going back…anyway, I’m parked outside, I’ll see you when you’re done…love you…
Aaron
Jodi?
(Jodi passes out)
Danny
She’s delirious. She’s probably had less to eat than us and no water…
Cody
That was her car you saw…
Aaron
She didn’t get bit, I fucking swear. I popped the fucker trying to get in, but then three just came outta nowhere, I had no time to run or fight or anything. She unlocked the door and we’ve been hiding out ever since.
True
How did you get past them?
Aaron
I cut myself and bled on this jacket of Jodi’s. Threw it out the window, hoping they’d go for the smell of fresh blood. Sure enough, fuckers ran toward it like a fag at a Celine Dion concert. I grabbed her and just ran as fast I as fucking could.
Senator
You’re lucky you weren’t killed.
True
We should get her something to eat. Ron, go get a bottle of water and some Ramen.
Ron
On it.
Senator
She’s going to affect our food supply.
Danny
We’ve still got enough for three weeks. She needs to get her strength back.
True
Not too much at once, her stomach won’t be able to take it. Jodi? You there Jodi?
Jodi
…I’m parked outside…see you…done…
True
Come on, Jodi, wake up.
Jodi
Aaron.
Aaron
I’m right here, Jodi baby. Come on. Come back to me.
(Ron comes back with a bowl of Ramen and some more water)
Ron
Here, let’s bring her over here and set this up…
(Aaron picks her up. Danny, True, Senator, Ron and Cody follow to a corner of the room. Aaron lays Jodi down on a table)
Rita
Crazy, isn’t it?
Chris
Yeah. I didn’t even know someone was actually friends with Aaron, let alone dating him.
Rita
Did you ever see her before?
Chris
Well yeah, but I always thought she was his cousin or something.
Rita
Well, addicts need love too, right?
Chris
I guess. But it’s not real, you realize that right? We can’t love. It’s always lust. The way we crave people, want them, desire them, need them, it’s all tied to our addictions. We’re just jumping from one fix to another. It’s like what Danny always talks about, the dangers of cross addiction. You need to stay abstinent from all kind of mood altering substances or you’ll just get sucked in again.
(Chris stares off into the distance. Rita is staring at Chris)
Rita
Uh huh. It must be hard for you to see Aaron reunited with his girlfriend. Do you think yours is still out there?
Chris
I don’t have a girlfriend.
Rita
Oh, that’s a shame.
(Cody approaches Chris and Rita. Looks at them suspiciously)
Cody
Hey Rita, Jodi’s coming around. I think she could use some like, female presence.
Rita
True’s with her.
Cody
Like I said, she could use a female presence.
Rita
Fine. (turns to Chris) Hey, would you mind if I joined you tomorrow for those meditation thingies you do? I could use some relaxation.
Chris
Sure. I like to be in the nursery around 5:00.
Rita
In the morning?
Chris
That’s when you get the best light.
Rita
Okay, sounds great. It’s a date.
Chris
Uh…
Rita
See you then.
(Rita tries to turn and walk away sexy. Doesn’t really work)
(end scene)
