The Great Escape

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In Chapter 33 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, Brick, Gaga and the surviving revolutionaries try to escape the zombie invasion by racing up to the roof of the building. Meanwhile, up on the roof, Rommy tends to an increasingly infected Jool, and turns to Ginger to try figure out a way to escape ...


EXT. CARLING’S MANSION - NIGHT
Gaga and Brick RUN into the building.

INT. CARLING’S MANSION - FOYER - NIGHT
They SLAM the door shut.

BRICK
That’s not gonna hold ‘em long.

GAGA
(nods)
C’mon -- UPSTAIRS.

Gaga and Brick start RUNNING
up the grand staircase.

ON THE ROOF
Nin turns to Ginger.

NIN
We better go warn them.

GINGER
Uh, YEAH.

They RACE toward the trap door,
then BOLT down the ladder.

IN THE HALLWAY
Rommy holds Jool in his arms.
He sees the lesions.

There’s now more of them.
He kisses the top of her head.

ROMMY
You’re NOT gonna die on me.

JOOL
(opens her eyes)
Rommy -- ?

ROMMY
Hold on.
You’re gonna be okay.
You’re gonna be okay.

JOOL
Okay --
(eyes go glassy)
Need to -- sleep.

And she PASSES OUT again.

IN THE FOYER
The front door FLIES OPEN
and the pack of zombies RACES INSIDE.
Start FLYING UP THE STAIRS.

AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS
Gaga reaches the top.
But Brick, still really high,
TRIPS and FALLS. He groans.
Grabs the railing.

BRICK
My ankle --

The zombies RUN UP THE STAIRS
and ATTACK him. Start FEASTING.
Gaga SCREAMS. RUNS down --

THE HALLWAY
Where she sees Rommy
holding a lifeless Jool.

GAGA
They’re COMING THIS WAY --
(off his stare)
Is she okay?

ROMMY
(hoists Jool over his shoulder)
I don’t KNOW.

SCREAMING behind them.

GAGA
C’mon, LET’S GO --

They turn and RUN toward
the steel door, which FLIES OPEN,
revealing Nin and Ginger.

GINGER
Get IN HERE.

Rommy and Gaga FLY into the room.
Ginger and Nin SLAM the door.

Everyone looks at each other.
Breathing heavily.

ROMMY
Thanks. Holy shit was that close.

He carefully lays Jool
down on the bed.
Strokes her hair.

Looks up at them.
Sighs. Then realizes.

ROMMY
Hey. Where’s Brick?

GAGA
Didn’t make it.

NIN
(to Rommy)
Is she okay?

ROMMY
I think so -- for now.
But we gotta hurry.

GINGER
You’re the boyfriend.

NIN
(half-smile)
His name is Rommy.

ROMMY
Nice to meet you. Nin, right?
(off her nod)
Okay, listen to me.
I’ve got a vaccine.
We need to get out of here
so I can go make some.

She keeps going in
and out of consciousness --

GINGER
You’ve got a VACCINE?

ROMMY
Yeah, but it’s not going to
do us any good if we’re DEAD.

The zombies start BANGING
on the door. Everyone looks.
Horrified. Rommy turns to Nin.

ROMMY (CONT'D)
How strong is that door?

NIN
It’s -- pretty strong, but --
(gestures helplessly)
I dunno.

ROMMY
(sees the ladder)
That goes up to the roof?
(off her nod)
Then LET’S GO.

One by one, they start
going up the ladder --
first Gaga, then Nin, then Ginger,
then Rommy, carrying Jool.