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Ext. University campus

Prologue

It is June, 2012.

Students wander the campus between classes, play frisbee, and
hang out on the quad. They tend to be dressed in shorts and T
shirts, though some girls are in sundresses.

GERARD (20) exits one building with TREY (20). Trey is
dressed like most of the students, but Gerard is dressed in
black pants and a white shirt, with a red tie. He looks good,
but it is more formal than the situation requires.

Perhaps that is what draws him to JANE (20). She wears a
white sleeveless blouse with a ruffled collar, and a blue
linen skirt. It is summery, but also elegant.

Jane is standing in full sunlight, and as she says goodbye to
some friends flashes a brilliant smile. Gerard is struck
instantly.

TREY
Want to go watch the women's
volleyball team practice?

GERARD
What? Oh, no thanks.

TREY
Why not? You should see the racks
on some of them.

This does briefly distract Gerard, and he answers.

GERARD
Because I object to your
objectification of women.

TREY
You're such a fag.

Trey takes off.

GERARD
(to himself)
Yeah, that's my problem.

Gerard turns to look for Jane again. She is heading back to
the dorms.

Gerard sprints up to Jane.

GERARD (CONT'D)
Can I carry your book?

Jane is holding one paperback, not particularly thick, and
looks at Gerard, bemused.

JANE
Does it look that heavy?

GERARD
No. I will take any excuse to talk
to you.

Jane is touched, but reluctant.

JANE
That's really sweet, but I have a
boyfriend so...

Jane pauses, feeling the connection as well.

JANE (CONT'D)
I guess there's no harm in just
walking together.

Jane holds out the book and Gerard takes it and reads the
title.

GERARD
The Odyssey.

JANE
I'm a lit major. Jane Simpson.

GERARD
Gerard White. Everyone calls me
Gee.

JANE
Hi. I'm going to Thornton.

GERARD
I live in Collins. Architecture. So
how serious is this boyfriend?

They continue walking and as they arrive in front of Jane's
dorm, her boyfriend, WES, appears.

Wes may be about the same age as Gerard and Jane, but he is
physically much bigger and more imposing.

Wes puts his arm around Jane's shoulders and pulls her in
possessively.

WES
Hey, Babe. What's this?

Jane shrugs a little, trying to loosen Wes's grip.

JANE
Wes, this is Gerard. He carried my
book for me.

Gerard holds up the book, then hands it back to Jane.

GERARD
I should probably be going.

WES
Sounds like a good idea.

GERARD
Nice meeting you.

Gerard walks off slowly, disappointed.

Wes turns to Jane.

WES
What was that about?

JANE
He was just being nice. Did you
have to be so rude?

WES
I was rude? He was horning in on my
territory!

JANE
Your territory?

WES
Don't start being all feminist now.

That comment rankles Jane greatly, and she is about to let
loose, but a new realization causes her to change direction.

JANE
This is not working.

WES
What?

JANE
Dating you. I can't do it.

WES
Because of that loser?

JANE
I'm sorry about this, but the real
mistake was dating you in the first
place and staying with you isn't
going to fix that.

Wes gets ready to really lay into Jane, but stops.

WES
Fine. Suit yourself.

Wes storms off after Gerard.

Jane sees what is happening and follows, but is unable to
stop what happens.

Wes taps Gerard on the shoulder and as Gerard turns, Wes
punches Gerard in the face.

Caught completely off guard, Gerard hits the dirt, and Jane
rushes over and kneels beside him.

JANE
(to Wes)
You animal!

WES
What was I supposed to do?

JANE
How about not acting like a
Neanderthal?

WES
Whatever. You deserve each other.

Wes stomps off and Gerard sits up, confused.

GERARD
What just happened?

Jane touches Gerard's jaw, feeling for injury.

JANE
I'm so sorry. We just broke up and-

Gerard is starting to catch on.

GERARD
Because of me?

It's not quite that simple.

JANE
Yes, but-

GERARD
Totally worth it.

Gerard kisses Jane.

Jane neither resists nor fully embraces it. As they come
apart she tries to explain.

JANE
I'm really not like this, just
dumping people and kissing guys I
don't know, but...

Jane trails off, not sure what is happening, but Gerard is
confident.

GERARD
I get it. This is different for me
too.

They kiss again. This time, it is both of them.

Gerard and Jane walk on campus together. They watch fireworks
together on the Fourth of July.

Summer goes on. Jane runs up a grassy hill at sunset, pulling
Gerard along with her. They embrace at the top.

It is the end of the summer term, in the evening. On top of
the hill, Gerard and Jane sit under a tree.

Gerard is sketching and Jane is reading Spencer's The Faerie
Queene, but they are together.

JANE
What though the sea with waves
continuall, Doe eate the earth, it
is no more at all ; Ne is the earth
the lesse, or loseth ought : For
whatsoever from one place doth fall
Is with the tyde unto another
brought : For there is nothing
lost, that may be found if sought.

Jane closes the book quietly.

GERARD
Do you think it's true?

JANE
I hope so.

GERARD
I like it.

JANE
I wish I liked the whole poem, but
I really only like that part.

GERARD
You need to know when to stop. It's
important with buildings too.

JANE
How's that one going?

GERARD
Now I wish I hadn't added that
turret.

Jane looks over. There is no turret.

JANE
So you'll be skipping the
gingerbread trim I suppose.

GERARD
I guess, but I'm not ready to stop
drawing. Here we go.

Gerard takes Jane's arm and doodles a heart on the inside.

JANE
Am I wearing my heart on my sleeve?

GERARD
No, that's my heart. It's yours
now.

Jane smiles and kisses Gerard lightly.

JANE
I will treasure it always. Are you
at a good stopping place? Real
classes start tomorrow.

Jane gets up while she talks, but Gerard keeps sketching.

GERARD
I'll just be a few more minutes.
You can go.

JANE
Okay. See you tomorrow.

Jane starts to walk down the hill, and as Gerard's eyes
follow her, he gets a strange feeling of panic.

GERARD
Jane! Wait!

Jane stops and looks back in surprise as Gerard rushes to
Jane and kisses her.

Jane likes the kiss, and she returns it, but she also knows
there is more to it.

JANE
What's wrong?

GERARD
I don't know. Suddenly you walking
away seemed like the worst thing
that could ever happen.

JANE
I'm here. I'll always be here.

GERARD
Promise?

They start walking down the hill together.

JANE
Summer term is a lot easier. We're
not going to have as much time
together now, but for every time I
walk away I'll come back.

Gerard nods and kisses her forehead.

GERARD
Yeah?

JANE
There is nothing lost but can be
found if sought.

GERARD
I think I'm just going to walk you
back to your room right now anyway.

JANE
I'd like that.

They hold hands as the go down, but Jane soon abandons that,
throwing her arms around Gerard's waist and leaning her head
on his shoulder.

The sun continues to go down.



EXT. DESERT, OUT IN THE ZONES

The lush green of campus fades to the infernal brown of
desert surrounded by mountains.

It is June, 2019. The sun is now rising on another scorcher
of a day.

A Trans-Am with a spider on the front races through the
desert. It is the vehicle of the Fabulous Killjoys.

Inside the radio is playing, tuned to the sounds of DR. DEATH
DEFYING (45).

DOCTOR D
Look alive, Sunshine. 109 in the
sky but the pigs won't quit. You're
here with me: Dr. Death Defying.
I'll be your surgeon, your proctor,
your helicopter, pumpin' out the
slaughtermatic sounds to keep you
alive. A system failure for the
masses, anti-matter for the master
plan. Louder than God's revolver
and twice as shiny. This one's for
all of you rock'n'rollers. All you
crash queens and motor babies.
Listen up! The future is
bulletproof! The aftermath is
secondary! It's time to do it now
and do it loud! Killjoys, make some
noise!

The car careens and does doughnuts. At times they do target
practice from the moving vehicle.

This is shown to pay off when they are pursued by two
DRACULOIDS (masked figures all in white) on power cruisers
and FRANK (21) (FUN GHOUL)and GRACE (6)(THE KID) are able to
take them out. Frank and Grace high five.

It all looks very fun.

The car pulls up to an automated gas stop. It appears to be
abandoned, but the machinery is still working.

MIKEY (21)(KOBRA KID) and Grace hack into a dispenser and get
some new batteries, as well as releasing gas for the car.

Frank and RAY (24) (JET STAR) head into the building.

RAY
We're going to find some food.

Mikey continues gassing up.

One more figure, wearing a giant MOUSEKAT mask, gets out of
the car. He starts walking uphill, looking a little stiff.

Grace sits on the hood of the car, watching Mikey refill.

She notices a mailbox around the corner of the building.

GRACE
I'm going to mail my letter to Mom.

MIKEY
Don't go too far.

Grace pulls an envelope with colorful drawings and one large
word, MOM, for the address.

Grace runs around the corner and stands in front of the
mailbox. At times like this it looks less fun. She recovers
and slips the card into the dusty box.

On the other side, Mikey now has the tank full, and is
replacing the hose when he is clubbed by a large FIGURE in a
ghoulish green mask. Apparently the station was not so
abandoned after all.

Mikey is sent sprawling on the ground. He rolls out of the
way of the next attack.

Mikey goes to draw his weapon, but the attacker starts
emitting a high-pitched noise that causes a terrible
headache. Mikey grabs his ears and winces.

Having noticed the commotion, Frank and Ray emerge from the
building and take aim, shooting the attacker. It stops the
noise.

Mikey, Frank, and Ray look at each other.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
Careful. There are flammable
chemicals out here.

Now just Frank and Ray look at each other, but they head over
to the corpse of the attacker, who wears blue and green.

RAY
Doesn't look like a Draculoid. What
do you think?

FRANK
I think I want to know where the
Kid got to.

Now all three look around, a little bit panicked.

Grace has mailed her letter and is walking around the
building. A Draculoid on foot spots her and starts to give
chase, unfortunately in a direction away from the station.

Having much longer legs, he catches up quickly. As he is
about to grab Grace, he shakes with two quick shots to the
back.

The shooter removes the MouseKat head. It is Gerard, now 26.

GERARD
Are you okay?

Grace nods and runs to Gerard and hugs him. The rest of the
Killjoys catch up.

RAY
We should get out of here.

GERARD
Let's go.

The car drives further into the desert.



INT. WHITE HOME

March, 2018.

FRAN WHITE (47) is cooking in the kitchen, while CATHY WHITE
CLARKE (26) and Gerard are playing with Grace, now 5.

Mikey is talking with BOB WHITE (49) at the table, though it
is mainly BOB trying to get a conversation going, and not
having much success.

DON CLARKE (28) enters the room, excited.

DON
I've got a job!

CATHY
What happened?

DON
They finally accepted one of our
proposals for restoring the lines
between here and Battery City.

Cathy's excitement changes to disappointment.

CATHY
You're going away?

Don puts his arms around Cathy. Together they are a study in
opposites. He is tall, dark, and muscular; she is blonde and
tiny. Somehow, though, it is obvious they belong together.

DON
I know, that part's not great, but
it will be so good to be doing
something again. Something I
actually know how to do.

MR. WHITE
Having communication back up will
be great too. I can't believe
they've let it go this long.

MIKEY
They do that on purpose to keep
control.

Both of Mikey's parents get warning looks on their faces, but
Don plays it off.

DON
Well I guess they have enough
control already, and they're
willing to let some go.

GERARD
When do you start?

DON
Tomorrow morning. There's a
terminal hub outside of town that
will be our starting point and
we'll work upward from there.

CATHY
How long will you be gone?

DON
We think it will be two weeks to
get up to the city, but as we get
things repaired, we should be able
to make calls.

MRS. WHITE
Imagine getting phone calls again.

DON
Once we're done, we can come
straight back. I hope it will lead
to other things. It's about time
life started getting back to
normal.

Cathy hugs her Don, resting her head on his chest.

CATHY
I'm not sure I even remember what
normal was anymore.

DON
We'll have to figure it out
together.

MRS. WHITE
Why don't you two go for a walk
until dinner, get some time in
together?

DON
Let's make it three. Want to come
Gracie?

GRACE
Okay!

The three of them head out into the sunlight.

Cathy wraps her arms around Don's waist, leaning on him, and
Gerard notices with a pang.

MRS. WHITE
This is good news. Maybe they'll
start getting everything going
again, like opening the colleges
back up.

MIKEY
They're not going to let me in if I
didn't finish high school.

MR. WHITE
They'd have to make some kind of
allowances. Everyone's in the same
boat.

GERARD
Everyone here. Maybe it's been
different in other places?

MIKEY
It doesn't matter. They're still in
control. They're not going to let
things get that good.

MR. WHITE
Mikey, enough! We've all had rough
times here but your attitude isn't
making things any better.

MIKEY
My attitude? What about his?

GERARD
What's that supposed to mean?

MIKEY
Sure, you help take care of Grace,
otherwise you're always moping in
your room. You all have your eyes
shut!

MR. WHITE
Enough!

MIKEY
Yeah. It's always enough. I've had
enough too.

Mikey gets up and heads for the door.

MRS. WHITE
But what about dinner?

MIKEY
I'm going to Frank's!

Mikey storms out.

Mr. White looks very old.

MR. WHITE
I don't know what we're going to do
with him.

MRS. WHITE
We need to be more understanding.

GERARD
Understanding of what?

MRS. WHITE
In your case, that he misses you!
You are withdrawn, and you got to
do a lot of things that he wanted
to do just because you were older.

GERARD
I can't fix that!

MRS. WHITE
No, but you can spend time with him
now. Show some interest in him.
Maybe you can help him lose some of
the anger.

GERARD
He's going to have to lose a lot of
anger to even make a dent in it.

MRS. WHITE
I know, but what else can we do?

CUT TO:



EXT. WHITE'S NEIGHBORHOOD

Leaving the house, Mikey sees Don, Cathy, and Grace walking
together. They do not see him, but he smiles at them.

Still, he turns and walks in the other direction.



INT. WHITE HOME

It is the next morning, and Don is getting ready to leave.

Gerard takes Don aside.

GERARD
I know this is a long shot, but
when you get to the city-

DON
You want me to see if I can find
her?

GERARD
It's dumb.

DON
No. I hope I can.

Gerard hands Don a slip of paper.

GERARD
That is her name, address, parent's
names, and all relevant phone
numbers.

DON
It's old information.

GERARD
I know. She could have moved. She
could be...well, a lot of things
could have happened, but if there's
any chance-

Gerard stops, not sure how to finish.

DON
I should bring her back with me.

Gerard relaxes into a grin.

GERARD
Even if you have to smuggle her
out.

DON
Don't get me arrested now that I'm
finally working again.

GERARD
Thanks. I'll let you say goodbye to
your wife and child now.

DON
Take good care of them.

Gerard and Don clap shoulders, avoiding a big emotional
goodbye, and Gerard exits to his room as Don goes to say
goodbye to Cathy and Grace.

Don picks grace up and holds her on his right hip as he hugs
Cathy to his left side and kisses her.

CATHY
I'm going to miss you so much. We
both will.

DON
I will too. I'm so glad you're with
your family now. I'm glad we were
together when it happened. Every
day he reminds me what it would be
like if we weren't.

Don tilts his head toward's Gerard's door, and Cathy nods.
They hug tighter, and Don kisses his family goodbye.



INT AIELLO BASEMENT

It is later that same day.

Mikey, Ray, and Frank are sitting around.

Ray is working on some guns with Frank's help, and Mikey is
fiddling with the radio.

FRANK
There's nothing good on. This is
the news hour.

Sure enough, as the static subsides, the daily propaganda can
be heard.

ANNOUNCER
...and Better Living Industries has
announced a new breakthrough in
nutrition with Power Pills, which
are expected to completely replace
power bars...

MIKEY
Yeah, that's news.

Mikey continues turning the dial. Snatches of music fade in
and out, until he comes across some private communication.

DRIVER
We're on our way to pick up the
girl now.

COMMANDER
You have confirmation that the
father is gone?

DRIVER
He left this morning and is not
expected to return.

Ray looks up, puzzled.

RAY
Didn't your brother-in-law leave
this morning?

MIKEY
Yeah, but he's coming back.

COMMANDER
Authorization to use lethal force
granted in case of resistance from
the mother and grandparents.

MIKEY
They can't mean Grace, can they?

The three friends exchange worried glances.

DRIVER
We're turning onto Alder street
now.

Ray picks up his gun.

RAY
Let's go.

CUT TO:



INT. GERARD'S BEDROOM

Gerard is lying on his bed, headphones on, listening to
music.

He is dreaming of that night on the hill, watching Jane
walking away, but when he calls out she does not hear him,
and disappears from sight.

He mumbles quietly in his sleep.

GERARD
Don't walk away.

Suddenly Gerard is pulled from his bed by a bald sinewy man.
This is KORSE.

The headphones come off, and Korse is gripping Gerard's head
as if he intends to crush Gerard's skull with his bare hands.

Korse has the cold stare of a killer.

KORSE
Where's the girl?

Gerard is confused and horrified, and does not answer.

Korse squeezes harder, trembling with rage.

KORSE (CONT'D)
Where is she?

GERARD
What are you talking about?

Without answering, Korse shoves Gerard out the door.

Gerard sees his parents, who have been roughed, up flanked by
Draculoids.

GERARD (CONT'D)
What's going on?

MRS. WHITE
(crying)
They want to take Grace!

GERARD
Why?

Korse pulls out a gun and aims it at Gerard's head.

KORSE
I ask the questions. Where is she?

GERARD
Not a chance.

KORSE
Maybe your parents don't want to
see your brains all over their nice
walls.

Gerard takes a deep breath, and blinks, but is able to speak
fairly calmly.

GERARD
Mom, Dad, I'd rather die.

KORSE
If that's really how you feel.

Korse gives a sickening smile, but this is too much for the
older Whites. They throw themselves at Korse.

There is a struggle, and in the process both Mr. and Mrs.
White are fatally shot by Draculoids, and Gerard is thrown
against the wall and struck unconscious.

KORSE (CONT'D)
Fools! Now they can't tell us
anything!

Korse angrily knocks a table over, then notices some drawings
by Grace, with her kindergarten class name.

KORSE (CONT'D)
We're going to the school.

DRACULOID
What about here?

KORSE
Burn it.

CUT TO:



EXT. WHITE HOME

As the Trans Am pulls up with Ray, Frank, and Mikey, they see
Korse's car pulling away, and the start of a serious fire.

They exit the car and Mikey bounds towards the door.

MIKEY
Mom? Dad?

Inside the house, Mikey finds his parent's corpses.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
Oh no.

Mikey kneels beside them, disregarding the encroaching
flames.

Fortunately, Ray and Frank are right behind Mikey. They
notice Gerard stirring.

RAY
He's still alive!

Ray and Frank help Gerard up and pull him out of the house.

FRANK
Mikey, we have to go.

Mikey reluctantly leaves his parents.

MIKEY
What happened?

GERARD
They came for Grace.

RAY
Did they take her?

GERARD
She wasn't here. They kept asking
where she was, but...

Gerard trails off, realizing that his parents are gone.

MIKEY
Where's Grace now?

GERARD
Cathy went to pick her up at
school. They'll kill her too.

RAY
Not if we get there first.

They load back into the car and race towards the school.

FRANK
They were headed down Main; is
there a faster way?

MIKEY
Cut down Thompson. It's not paved,
but it's shorter.

RAY
Let's try it.

CUT TO:



EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE KINDERGARTEN

Cathy is walking down the street, holding hands with Grace.

Korse's car approaches from one direction, but the Trans Am
comes from the other side and is a bit closer.

They pull up alongside of Cathy.

MIKEY
Get in!

CATHY
What's going on?

MIKEY
They're trying to take Grace!

The Draculoids are out of the car now, and holding guns.

Cathy lifts Grace into the car. Mikey pulls Grace inside and
passed her to Gerard in the back seat.

Mikey takes Cathy's hand just as she goes down, shot in the
forehead.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
Cath!

Ray pulls away as there is more gunfire.

There is also now a car and two cycles in pursuit.

RAY
We need some cover!

A devastated Mikey nods, and he and Frank get up and begin
shooting from the moving vehicle.

Gerard holds Grace, who has her face buried in his chest.

The first hit is struck by the Draculoids, as a taillight
goes out on the Trans Am. Frank is able to get in a shot to
the head, and cycle and rider crash.

FRANK
One down.

A sharp corner causes Frank and Mikey to nearly lose their
balance.

MIKEY
Easy!

RAY
Use it! They'll have to take the
turn too.

MIKEY
Right.

Mikey aims and is able to take out the other cycle's rider.

Korse's car is still pursuing, with Korse inside.

Mikey ducks just as part of the top of the car is blown off.
It is only minor damage, but it's getting too close.

Frank and Mikey duck inside.

FRANK
We need the big gun.

MIKEY
It's in the trunk.

GERARD
We can do this.

Gerard passes Grace to Mikey in the front seat, and slides
forward, tugging on the back seat until it pulls forward.

It is an awkward fit, but Gerard and Frank maneuver the
launcher out, and get it loaded.

RAY
They're getting closer!

GERARD
It's a better shot.

Gerard stands up and launches a missile at the pursuing car.

There is a small explosion and the car flips over several
times, coming to a stop.

RAY
Better reload. We've still got the
gate.

They are approaching the edge of town, and have no clearance
to make it past the checkpoint.

Another missile is loaded.

The gate guards are shocked to see a car barrelling towards
them with three men sticking out, aiming two guns and a
launcher.

The guards wisely ditch their booth, not getting caught in
the impending explosion. They do still try firing after the
Trans-Am, but the escape has been made good. They are out of
bounds, and into the Zones.

MIKEY
We're out.

GERARD
I haven't been out here for six
years.

FRANK
I've never been out of here.

RAY
And we can never go back.

The car speeds on into the hills.



EXT. THE ZONES

It is later that day, almost sundown. The area has turned to
desert, and everything is bathed in an eerie red glow.

An old service station appears on the right. There are no
signs of life.

Ray pulls over and stops the car.

RAY
Maybe we can get some gas.

The four men climb out, but leave Grace sleeping in the car.
It has been a long day.

Frank tries the door, and it works. He and Ray step inside.

Gerard and Mikey look out into the desert. Gerard looks
dazed, but Mikey is angry.

MIKEY
Do you believe me now?

GERARD
What?

MIKEY
All along I've been saying they're
evil, and you can't trust them, and
did anyone listen to me? No!

GERARD
Listen to what? All you ever did
was get mad and say something vague
and storm out of the room! How were
we supposed to know?

MIKEY
Oh right! Because you never slunk
off to your room!

GERARD
I never said anything I didn't back
up!

MIKEY
You never said anything at all!

Gerard turns his back and starts walking away.

GERARD
There was nothing to say.

Mikey runs after Gerard and shoves him.

MIKEY
Don't you walk away from me!

Mikey and Gerard scuffle on the ground.

They break apart and get back up.

GERARD
Is that your answer for everything?
A temper tantrum?

MIKEY
Beats sulking in your room!

GERARD
I'd lost everything!

Mikey punches Gerard in the jaw.

Gerard stumbles, but does not fall.

MIKEY
You lost everything? Then what the
Hell was that today?

Gerard hangs his head.

GERARD
You're right. I focused so much on
what I lost I didn't think about
what I had. You can hit me again if
you want.

Mikey shakes his head.

MIKEY
I don't want to hit you. I want all
of this to never have happened.

Gerard sits down, exhausted, and Mikey joins him on the
ground.

GERARD
I'm sorry I haven't been there for
you.

MIKEY
I know. I am so hungry now.

GERARD
Mom was making your favorite.

MIKEY
Yeah?

GERARD
She's been worried. Hanging out
with a bad crowd and all that.

MIKEY
I bet she'd like them now.

GERARD
Yeah. I can't believe they're...Oh
man, Don doesn't even know. How are
we going to find him?

MIKEY
I don't think we need to worry
about that.

GERARD
What do you mean?

MIKEY
The radio transmission we caught
said he wasn't coming back.

GERARD
So that's it. Everyone we have in
the world is right here.

MIKEY
Yeah.

GERARD
What are we going to do?

RAY
We make sure that she grows up safe
and happy.

FRANK
And small arms proficient.

RAY
Obviously that too.

The brothers turn to see that Ray and Frank have caught up
with them.

Frank is holding a sleepy Grace.

Gerard smiles.

Frank sets Grace down and she walks over to her uncles.

GERARD
You're always the one to keep me
going.

Gerard hugs Grace tightly. He has a lifeline.