Apocalypse Now

Happy Thursday, crime slicksters. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where the girls are hot, the drinks are cold, and the hardboiled-pulp-noir action is non-stop, right here, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 19 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, while the zombie invasion rages outside, Rommy's father Orson barricades the doors to his downtown brownstone. Meanwhile, uptown, Jool's uncle Carling tries convince her to stop thinking about Rommy ...


INT. ORSON’S BROWNSTONE - DAY
Orson and Clio watch the news
on TV with NODDY HOLDER (50’s),
his campaign manager.

Tall and thin with a belly.
Orson clicks the remote.
Shuts it off in disgust.

CLIO
I’m scared, Orson.

ORSON
Don’t worry.
We’ve got bars on the windows,
and the front door is solid oak.

NODDY
I have to go check on my wife --

ORSON
You heard the president.
It’s too dangerous to go outside.

NODDY
Fuck that.
My apartment’s only five blocks away,
and I’m not going to stay HERE
when my wife is in danger --

He goes to the front door.
Puts his hand on the knob.

ORSON
Noddy, no. Don’t.
You’re acting crazy.

NODDY
Then I’m crazy.

Noddy opens the door.

A HORDE OF ZOMBIES rush by
on the street outside.

He SLAMS it shut.

NODDY
Holy SHIT --

Suddenly there’s a loud
POUNDING on the door.

CLIO
Oh my GOD, it’s THEM --

ORSON
You stupid FUCK -- they SAW you.
Now we have to act fast.
Help me move some furniture
in front of the door.

NODDY
Okay, okay --

Orson and Noddy grab the couch.
Start moving it.

CLIO
What can I do?

ORSON
(over his shoulder)
You know that bottle of
thirty-year old scotch
we’ve been saving
for a special occasion?

EXT. CARLING’S MANSION - DAY
The joint’s in lockdown.

A massive barricade of SOLDIERS
in riot gear patrol the perimeter.
A TANK is parked in front.

INT. JOOL’S BEDROOM - DAY
Jool stands with her legs apart.
Holds a pair of small barbells.

Starts to do arm curls.
Then gets dizzy. Stops.

JOOL
C’mon. Don’t be a wimp.
You can DO it.

A KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK at the door.
The doorknob JIGGLES.

JOOL
Hold on a sec --

CARLING (O.C.)
The door is LOCKED.
Why did you lock the door?

JOOL
Just a MINUTE --

She quickly hides the barbells.
Grabs the IV cart.

Attaches the tube to her arm.
Shuffles over to the door. Opens it.

Carling and Nin stand there.
Carling, livid. Nin, concerned.

CARLING
I DEMAND to know why
you locked the door.

JOOL
I wanted to get some rest --
and not be disturbed.
(beat)
And I’m scared.

CARLING
Don’t worry, my child.
We have the best
security there is.
No infected mutants
will get inside MY house.

JOOL
I could give a shit
about the zombies.
I’m worried about HIM.

CARLING
But you’re sick, Jool.
It’s best you forget about him.

JOOL
I’ll NEVER forget about him --
and he’s never going to
forget about ME.
He’s coming back to RESCUE me.

CARLING
Hush, now.
Enough silly fantasies.
Now go to bed
and get some sleep,
and I’ll see you
in the morning.

He leaves.
Nin comes over to the bed.

NIN
You really think
he’s coming back?

JOOL
Of course he is.
I can feel it in my gut.
Always trust your gut.
It’ll never steer you wrong.

NIN
That’s my Jool.
The incurable optimist.

She smiles.
Leaves the room.

Jool scratches an itch
on her nose with her finger.

Her sleeve drops.
Sees a RED LESION.

PUSH IN ON her face.
Horrified.

JOOL
Oh, no --