Escape From New Jersey

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Friday. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 21 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, Rommy, Merk, Brick and the revolutionaries successfully smash through the walled Republic of Manhattan ... while being followed by a horde of screaming, rabid infected mutants ...


ON THE FIRE TRUCK
Brick lights a big cigar.

BRICK
C’mon, kids. Let’s go take a
bite out of the rotten apple.

He JAMS the truck into gear.
Starts heading toward the tunnel.

Jag drives the missile launcher next to him.
The engine SPUTTERS and COUGHS.
Then dies. Brick stops.

BRICK (CONT’D)
What’s wrong?

JAG
Outta gas.

BRICK
Everybody get on the truck. HURRY.

Jag, Reno, Monster and Hammer JUMP
off the missile launcher.
SCRAMBLE onto the fire truck.

BRICK (CONT'D)
Let’s MOVE OUT --

Brick starts driving.
Reno sees something behind them.

RENO
There’s more coming. STEP ON IT.

Everyone looks, sees --

IN THE DISTANCE

Another wave of zombies fills the skyline.
There’s gotta be A THOUSAND of ‘em.
Scary shit. Brick HIS the gas. Yells out --

BRICK
Get ready with the HOSES.

Jag and Reno each grab a FIRE HOSE.
Monster climbs over to the side near the pump.
The truck ROARS into the tunnel.

IN THE TUNNEL
The fire truck HAULS ASS.
Headlights BLAZING in the darkness.

OUTSIDE THE TUNNEL
The wave of zombies reaches the entrance.
Start POURING IN.

IN THE TUNNEL
Brick drives like a maniac.
Sees ABANDONED VEHICLES up ahead.

BRICK (CONT’D)
Shit, shit, shit --

MERK
Just plow into ‘em.
The truck’ll fuck ‘em UP.

BRICK
Here goes nothing --

ROMMY
Omigod, we’re all gonna DIE.

Rommy DUCKS DOWN just as the fire truck
SMASHES through a cluster of cars -- BANG.
Metal and debris goes FLYING.

BEHIND THEM IN THE TUNNEL
A wave of ZOMBIES fill the roadway
like spiders on speed.

SCREAMING, CHATTERING, SCRABBLING
down the pavement.

ON THE FIRE TRUCK
Reno cocks her head. Hears them coming.

RENO
Zombies APPROACHING. Get ready --

Jag and Reno brace themselves. Aim their hoses.
THE ZOMBIES get closer. See them. Go NUTS.

JAG
Gimme UNLEADED, baby --

Monster FLIPS on the pump.
Gasoline SPRAYS out the hoses.

Jag and Reno SHOOT them with gas.
The mutants fall back, SCREAMING.

Their skin BUBBLES into a WHITE MIST.
They HIT the ground and DISSOLVE
into a gooey puddles of pulp and bones.

But the infected behind them keep coming.
Jag and Reno hit THEM with gasoline,
and they go down.

But more and more keep coming.
Reno turns to Jag. Yells --

RENO
There’s TOO MANY OF ‘EM --

JAG
Keep SPRAYING --

IN THE TRUCK
Brick keeps driving like a maniac.
SMASHES into another car.

Rommy BOUNCES around in the back.
Freaking out.

SIDE POV
We see the fire truck
FLYING down the tunnel.

SMASHING into abandoned cars,
the zombies right behind them.

They get HOSED, EXPLODE, and
another wave takes its place.

ON THE TRUCK
The hoses stop spraying.
Jag and Reno look at each other.

JAG (CONT'D)
We’re outta GAS --

IN THE TRUCK
Brick JAMS his foot on the gas.
The truck LURCHES forward.

ON THE TRUCK
The zombies reach the rear end.
Start climbing on.

BRICK
Sees them in the rear view mirror.

BRICK
JAG. SHOOT the fuckers --

Jag pulls out an Uzi and SPRAYS
them with machine gun fire.

As each gets HIT,
they EXPLODE IN A GREEN MIST.

EXT. HOLLAND TUNNEL ENTRANCE - DAY
The fire truck FLIES out of
the tunnel, trailing zombies.

INT. FIRE TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
Brick GRABS the steering wheel --

BRICK
Hold onto your tits --

And SWERVES into a hard right.

EXT. MANHATTAN - VARICK STREET - CONTINUOUS
The truck’s cab turns north.
The rear end JERKS forward
with centrifugal force, and
the zombies hanging on GO FLYING.

Then JERKS to the right into an alley.
SCREECHES to a stop.

IN THE TRUCK
Everyone watches a new wave of zombies
come ROARING DOWN THE STREET
behind them in the distance.
They all exhale.

BRICK
God-DAMMIT.
(to Jag)
How much ammo do we have left?

JAG
One more clip. That’s it.

ROMMY
Cowers in a corner.
Pulls a snapshot out.
Stares at it.

THE PHOTO
Is a Polaroid taken at the street fair.
It’s a close-up of Jool. Holding a
large, multi-colored ice cream cone.
Big grin. Eyes filled with lust.

ROMMY
Puts it back in his pocket.
Blinks back tears.

ROMMY
(whispers)
Don’t worry, Jool. I’m coming.
(beat)
Even if it kills me --