Escape From New York

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In Chapter 23 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, Jool looks out her high rise window and sees a horde of infected mutant zombies invading Manhattan ...


INT. JOOL’S BEDROOM - DAY
Jool sighs. Tucks the photo in her bag.
Then hears a LOUD NOISE outside.

Gets out of bed.
Shuffles over to the balcony.

EXT. JOOL’S BALCONY - DAY
She looks out at the view.

JOOL
Holy shit.

DOWN BELOW ON THE STREET
It’s complete bedlam.
A horde of SCREAMING ZOMBIES
run down the street
ATTACKING and EATING people.

SCREAMING GRAPHICS FLY ACROSS THE SCREEN --

EMERGENCY NEWS BULLETIN. RED ALERT.
INFECTED INVASION HITS THE REPUBLIC.

INT. NEWS STUDIO - AT THAT MOMENT
Our favorite news anchors
sit at their news desk.

Look into the camera. Grim.
Trying to hide how freaked out they are.

NOBU
We’ve just received word that
several thousand infected aliens
have entered the city --

BROCK
They gained entry through the Holland Tunnel
in lower Manhattan a short while ago --

NOBU
No word yet on how they managed to
blow a hole through the wall that
had sealed the tunnel until now --

BROCK
Everyone is advised to stay indoors,
lock all your windows and doors,
and wait for further instructions.

EXT. GOTTI PLAZA - DAY
The former Rockefeller Center.
Now the seat of power.

And where power puts its seat.
Surrounded by barricades.

Tanks. SWAT trucks.
A mini-army patrols the perimeter.

NOBU (O.C.)
We’re about to go live to
Paul David Brazill at Gotti Plaza,
where the president is
having a press conference.
(touches her earpiece)
Are you there, Paul?

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. GOTTI PLAZA - PRESS ROOM - DAY
A gaggle of REPORTERS sit
packed like sardines, waiting.

Standing off to the side
is PAUL DAVID BRAZILL (40’s),
dark-haired, wearing glasses.
Very Peter Sellers.

PAUL
I am indeed, Nobu.
The air is filled with tension
as the members of the fourth estate
wait for the president
to arrive and make a statement --

NOBU
So I guess it’s pretty tense
there right now, huh?

Paul does a ‘take.’ Frowns.
Shakes his head. Then lights up.

PAUL
Here’s the president now --

PRESIDENT DON GOTTI (50’s) appears.
Slick, big-chested. Fancy suit.
The spitting image of his grandfather.

PRESIDENT GOTTI
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
we are under attack by
infected rabid zombies.
I have directed our troops to use
all our resources to fight this
plague against our great republic.
(quiet, intense)
We ask everyone to stay inside,
and do NOT panic.
We have the situation under control.
There will be no questions. That’s all.

He turns to go. But the reporters
start waiving their hands.
Clamoring for his attention.

PRESIDENT GOTTI (CONT'D)
What part of NO QUESTIONS
didn’t you fuck-heads GET?
Now go cover the fucking INVASION
if you know what’s GOOD for you.
(low)
Or else you gonna sleep with the zombies.

INT. JOOL’S BEDROOM - DAY
Jool turns off the TV.
Eyes wide as saucers.

JOOL
He IS coming back --
with the INVASION.

She slowly gets out of bed.
Stands. Weaves a little.

Unhooks the IV.
Goes to the door. Locks it.
Looks at the window.

JOOL (CONT'D)
Gotta build my strength.
Get the hell out of here
and find him. He’s coming back.
I KNOW it. I just know it.