Sleep With The Zombies

Happy Tuesday, 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 17 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, Jool lies at home in bed quarantined with the zombie virus, and we flashback to the end of her first date with Rommy. Meanwhile, we see a TV news bulletin that zombies have invaded Manhattan. We then cut to president Don Gotti giving a press conference ...


INT. JOOL’S BEDROOM - DAY
Jool lies in bed, staring at a picture.
Deep in thought.

EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE - STREET FAIR - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
The fair is ending.
People are cleaning up.

Rommy and Jool stand on a street corner
holding hands. They both look sad.

JOOL
She was killed before
you had a chance to make love?

ROMMY
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have --
(beat)
Talking about the ex on the first date.
Definite no-no.

JOOL
At least you had someone you wanted to --
(sighs)
I always scare them off.

She looks down. Bites her lip.

ROMMY
Hey. Wait a minute. This is great.
We’ve got something in common.
My first girlfriend, your parents.
We could start a support group.
'Adult Survivors of Zombie Abuse.'

She laughs despite herself.
Looks up. Points at his shirt.

JOOL
You got ice cream on your --

ROMMY
(looks)
Whoops. Can’t tell if it’s Ben or Jerry.

Pause.

JOOL
(softly)
I really had a great time.

ROMMY
So did I. A great time.
What a concept. Been awhile.
I could get used to it.

JOOL
I don’t want to go.

ROMMY
Then don’t go.

JOOL
I have to.
My uncle is going to KILL me.

ROMMY
I’ll come see you.

JOOL
Soon?

ROMMY
Soon.
(beat)
Real soon.

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
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.