FicWad

EXT. THE BONEYARD

It is no longer the empty desert scape that Frank first saw.
There is still the occasional wreck, but there are working
cars everywhere, and there are people.

People mill around, trading, smoking, and drinking, waiting
for the first race. Cars are already at the starting point.

The sun is not completely down yet, but bonfires are already
scattered over the area, lit in trash cans.

Frank is working under the hood of a modified Viper. It's
owner, WREN (19), looks on sullenly from inside.

Wren is lean and angular, with spiky black tips in her short
pink hair.

Jane is working out of the back of the van. She wraps a
sprained wrist for a long-haired TEENAGER while Jacob
watches.

JANE
Try not to put any weight on it for
a while.

The patient nods and runs off.

JACOB
I don't think you got through to
him.

JANE
Probably not.

FRANK
It's pretty quiet.

JACOB
It will be until the races start.
That's when all the real damage
starts happening.

JANE
Cars and people.

There is an uncharacteristically angry edge in Jane's voice.

FRANK
You really do hate it here.

JANE
I hate the waste.

WREN
Who are you to judge?

Wren's irritation seems more in character, but she had not
been saying much, so her joining in at all is a surprise.

JANE
I guess I'm just not ready to
accept nihilism.

Wren is ready to retort, but Frank interrupts.

FRANK
Wren, start it up.

Wren turns the keys in the ignition. The engine sounds good.

FRANK (CONT'D)
Okay. Turn it off. I'll finish up
in here.

Gerard is walking around, scanning the perimeter.

Gerard looks at Jane more than he means to. He thinks he
would rather not be there, or not have her there. It was an
awkward drive.

Still, there they both are, and he can't help looking.
Perhaps that is why he notices two other MEN checking her
out.

One of them points at Jane, and the other nods. They run up
to her.

MAN #1
Are you the doctor?

JANE
What's wrong?

MAN #1
There's a girl having a seizure!

Jane grabs her bag.

JANE
Show me where.
(to Jacob and Frank)
I'll be back.

The two men run, leading Jane in a different direction than
they came from.

Gerard hurries up to Frank.

GERARD
What was that about?

FRANK
Seizure. They were getting Jane to
help.

GERARD
No they weren't.

As Gerard is about to pursue, a warning comes from the crowd.

CROWD
Scarecrow!

Frank and Gerard look and see Draculoids entering the area
from different points.

FRANK
This just keeps getting better.

GERARD
You two get out of here. I'll get
Jane.

FRANK
You sure?

GERARD
A diversion would be nice.

Gerard takes off in pursuit, pushing against the crowd.

Frank shuts the van doors.

FRANK
Everyone in the car.

WREN
It's my car!

FRANK
You too.

WREN
No!

FRANK
Do you want to get arrested?

Unfortunately, the lane Gerard is heading down forces a
bottleneck with the crowd going the other way. His efforts
make very little progress.

Jane and the men round a corner into a loading dock between
two buildings. There is no girl.

JANE
What is this?

MAN #1
Have any goodies in your bag?

He pull up the flap on her bag and looks inside.

Jane jerks the bag back.

JANE
Not like that!

MAN #2
That's okay. We do.

He blows powder from an envelope into Jane's face.

Caught off guard, Jane breathes it in before realizing. She
begins to cough.

JANE
What did you do?

With Frank, Jacob, and Wren in the Viper, Frank guns it and
heads for the race starting line, then keeps going.

Not all of the crowd has heard the Scarecrow warning yet.
This includes the drivers getting ready to race. All they see
is that someone is pulling ahead before they have started,
and they will not let that stand.

All of the cars take off now. Draculoids come closer and
start to fire at the cars, and now the entire crowd knows
that they are being raided.

It is pandemonium.

Gerard can still make no headway against the crowd, and he is
getting desperate.

Some drivers are still trying to complete the requisite laps.

Frank is blending in, but on one curve he fakes out, then
veers off to the side, making a clean break. They are out.

Gerard climbs up one building, and begins to go along the
rooftops.

Back in the alley, Jane is still coughing.

More disturbing is that her vision is starting to blur.

MAN #1
It's okay. We're just loosening you
up.

He starts tugging on Jane's shirt.

Jane pulls a scalpel out of her bag, and brandishes it.

JANE
Back off!

It is a good start, but Jane is quickly becoming disoriented.
Images shift before her, and her balance becomes unsteady.

Fortunately, the warning carries here too.

CROWD
Scarecrow!

The scum bags look nervous.

MAN #1
Not worth it.

MAN #2
Let's get out of here.

They take off running.

Jane stumbles to the wall and tries to steady herself.

JANE
I've got to get out of here.

A Draculoid rounds the corner and sees Jane. She only sees a
nightmare figure of blurred white and black.

With a single shot the Draculoid falls, revealing Gerard
behind him.

Gerard approaches Jane

GERARD
Are you all right?

Jane is unable to focus, but still points the scalpel.

JANE
Keep away from me!

GERARD
Jane, it's me! Gerard!

Jane slashes out, barely missing.

Gerard grabs Jane's wrist and wraps his arms around her,
gently taking her down.

JANE
Don't hurt me!

Gerard feels guilty, but he speaks soothingly.

GERARD
I won't. Not any more.

JANE
Gee?

GERARD
It's me. What did they do to you?

JANE
Some drug.

GERARD
We need to get out of here. Can I
have the scalpel?

Jane is startled to find that she is still holding the blade,
and it drops from her hand.

JANE
Did I hurt you?

GERARD
No. Never.

Still keeping a protective arm around Jane, Gerard puts the
scalpel back in the bag, and helps Jane to stand.

JANE
Oh!

The ground lurches, or maybe that is Jane. This is not going
to be easy.

GERARD
Well, it looks like the distraction
worked. Maybe we can just lay low.

There is a door on one side of the dock. Gerard kicks it in,
and finds mostly empty storage space.

The noise and confusion outside does seem to be getting
farther away, but there is still a dead Draculoid body out
there.

Taking a risk, they go in. Gerard shuts and blockades the
door with an old oil drum, so there will be noise if anyone
enters.

There are steps leading to a loft, where they can be
partially concealed. This is where they will spend the night.

Gerard listens, but hears nothing.

GERARD (CONT'D)
I think it's clear. We can wait
here while you come down. How are
you doing?

JANE
I feel like I'm floating away.

Gerard wraps his arms around Jane and pulls her close.

GERARD
Better?

JANE
Now we're both floating, but it
feels safer with you.

GERARD
We'll rest here tonight. I've got
you.

JANE
Tonight. Not tomorrow.

GERARD
Jane-

Gerard stops, not sure what to say.

Jane begins to cry.

JANE
I'm sorry. I know it's not fair. I
just can't turn off my feelings.

Gerard gives a deep sigh.

GERARD
Neither can I.

JANE
Then why are you doing this?

GERARD
I can't get past it. I think of
Mikey, and when he was a kid, and
everything he missed out on, and...

JANE
You feel guilty. We all do that.

GERARD
It's not just being alive. It's
having you, and the times I wasted
with him.

JANE
It won't bring him back.

Gerard begins to walk around restlessly.

GERARD
I still hate it. Everyone dies on
me. You did! I saw you. Losing you
the first time was bad, but the
second was so much worse. But no,
he's still standing.
Maybe we can really screw him up
with number three!

Gerard ends by kicking the wall.

Jane hides her face in her hands.

JANE
I'm sorry.

Gerard sits back down and puts his arm around her.

GERARD
You shouldn't be apologizing. You
gave us more time together. And now
I'm picking on you while you're
high.

Jane gives Gerard a look at the "high" part, and then shrugs,
resting her head on his shoulder.

JANE
I probably won't even remember
tomorrow.

GERARD
Probably not. Just try and sleep it
off, okay?

Jane is so drowsy, but she tries to stay with him.

JANE
But tomorrow?

Gerard sighs.

GERARD
I'm so worn out. Every time I
think, okay, now things are getting
better, I'm wrong. I don't want to
feel it anymore.

JANE
That's not how it works.

GERARD
It doesn't work at all. Nothing
does.

JANE
You're trying to avoid getting
hurt, but you can't. You can only
miss out on everything good.

Gerard is quiet as he lets that sink in.

JANE (CONT'D)
If you'd been too late tonight, and
you found me hurt, or dead, would
you have felt better because you've
been shutting me out?

Gerard involuntarily pulls Jane closer. He can't think about
that.

JANE (CONT'D)
But when you let it all in, then...

Jane isn't sure how to finish, but Gerard is listening.

GERARD
Then what?

JANE
Then...then it's like there's
music. I'm sorry. I'm not
explaining it right.

GERARD
No, you're doing fine. Get some
rest now, all right?

JANE
But tomorrow?

GERARD
We'll talk then. Now sleep.

Jane nods. She can't hold out any longer anyway.

Gerard is still awake, watching Jane sleep.

How many times have you found yourself up on that hill,
begging her not to disappear? Now she's in your arms and
you're going to push her away?

But everything hurts.

Not everything.

They all die. When it was me I was ready for it, but-

Now you need to be ready to live.

Everyone he has lost is present with Gerard now. There is
wave after wave of loss, but it is followed by wave after
wave of love.

You only hear the music when you heart begins to break.

He could no longer avoid listening.



INT. STORAGE SHED

Morning light streams in and Jane wakes up slowly.

Where is she? That's right. The Boneyard.

She is alone.

Jane begins to sit up, but hears a noise below and freezes.

Gerard calls out from below.

GERARD
Jane? Are you awake?

JANE
I'm here.

Gerard's head pops up as he climbs the steps.

JANE (CONT'D)
I was worried.

GERARD
I just went to check things out,
and bring you some water. How are
you feeling?

JANE
Gross, and dehydrated, so good
call, but other than that okay.

GERARD
Way to stay positive.

Gerard hands Jane the canteen and sits next to her.

JANE
You should take some.

GERARD
I already did. I'm good.

JANE
What's it like out there?

Gerard shakes his head.

GERARD
There's a lot of bodies. They're
clearly in kill everyone mode now,
but we knew that. The tires on the
van are slashed, but there's a bike
we can take.

JANE
What about Frank and Jacob?

GERARD
I'm sure they got away. We're still
a monumental failure for supplies.
We should probably get out of here.

Gerard starts to get up, but Jane takes his hand.

JANE
Wait. I'm pretty foggy on last
night, but-

GERARD
I didn't take advantage of you.

JANE
I trust you for that.

GERARD
You want to know if I'm done being
a jerk.

JANE
I wouldn't say that.

GERARD
But you could. Let me ask you
something. Do you think we have a
future?

Janes smiles lovingly and shakes her head.

JANE
No. I really don't.

That's not what Gerard was expecting. It comes with a sense
of loss.

JANE (CONT'D)
If we're even both alive in a year
it will be a miracle, and we've
already had more than our fair
share. But...

And here Jane's voice becomes very emotional but very firm.

JANE (CONT'D)
I never quit hoping for one.

Gerard nods, accepting their situation. She's right.

GERARD
Then let's get married.

Jane laughs in disbelief.

JANE
Just like that?

GERARD
What do you mean, just like that?
We've been engaged for seven years!

Gerard takes Jane's hands in his.

GERARD (CONT'D)
I'm no good at being without you,
and I don't ever want to make you
cry again. Wait, are you crying?

She is.

GERARD (CONT'D)
I don't understand women at all.

Jane kisses him, and they cling to each other.

GERARD (CONT'D)
That's a yes, right?

JANE
Yes.



EXT. ROUNDHOUSE

Gerard and Jane ride up on a commandeered Drac bike.

As they get closer, people start to emerge.

Frank and Jacob are the first to greet them, with Mitch,
Harry, and a returned Latron coming in close behind.

JACOB
You made it!

GERARD
We're fine. The tires on the van
were slashed. We should probably go
back for it.

MITCH
Sounds dangerous.

GERARD
I think they've moved on. They left
a lot of corpses behind. We've
brought no food.

Mitch smiles at seeing Gerard's arm around Jane.

MITCH
Well, maybe it wasn't a total loss.

JACOB
There might be good opportunities
for salvage.

FRANK
If we go for the van, we can look.

GERARD
Well, we have the car now, and how
did you end up with this one?

Gerard points at the Viper.

Wren emerges, sullen.

FRANK
We all got away together.

WREN
Like I had any choice.

JANE
You're lucky to be alive.

WREN
What's lucky about it? Now I'm
stuck in this dump.

Jane whispers to Frank.

JANE
We're not holding her prisoner are
we?

Frank whispers back.

FRANK
No, there's just nowhere to go.

WREN
Like I can't hear you.

Wren makes a disgusted scowl and goes back inside.

GERARD
You mean she doesn't want to stay
with our merry band of rebels?

FRANK
Hard to believe, isn't it?

GERARD
Well now I feel even worse about
the way I've been acting.

FRANK
Oh, we can talk about that?

GERARD
I'm sorry.

Latron has been eyeing Gerard warily throughout the
conversation, but nods here.

LATRON
We're cool.

JANE
You weren't even here for it. Was
there gossip?

HARRY
There was concern, and not much
else to talk about.

JANE
We're fine.

LATRON
Okay, because I was going to rough
him up.

FRANK
I told him you wouldn't like that.

LATRON
You offered to help.

FRANK
Yes, but first I said she wouldn't
like it.

Jane takes both Frank and Latron's hands in hers.

JANE
I am thrilled to know I can rely on
you both.

GERARD
And to tell you our exciting news,
that involves asking Harry for a
favor.

Everyone looks surprised, and slow smiles begin to start.

JANE
Harry, will you marry us?



INT. ROUNDHOUSE

It is the next morning.

Frank has the guitar in his lap. His fingers hover over the
strings, but don't touch down.

Jane comes and sits down beside him.

JANE
What are you up to?

Frank shrugs.

FRANK
I was thinking I could play "The
Wedding March" or something for
you, but...

JANE
It's soon.

Frank shakes his head. It's hard to imagine playing without
Ray there. Still, he tries to shake it off.

FRANK
We still have the medical gown, you
could wear white.

JANE
This will be fine.

FRANK
Not exactly a dream wedding, is it?

Jane considers this, and tries to explain.

JANE
It's not...I know a lot of people
are missing, but I love the people
that are here.

FRANK
Even Wren?

JANE
Especially Wren.

FRANK
Ready to get hitched?

Frank sets down the guitar, and Frank and Jane get up.

Latron bursts in.

LATRON
Come on! You've got to see this!

CUT TO:



EXT. ROUNDHOUSE

A little way away from the main entrance, Latron is pointing
out a small cluster of green leaves with some tiny buds and
one white blossom.

Jane and Frank are looking down at it.

LATRON
This is something Otis planted. I
know it.

FRANK
I guess it can work after all.

Latron grips the straps of his planting bag with a new
appreciation.

Jane kneels by the plant for a closer look.

JANE
It's a strawberry plant. We had
some on the deck at home.

Jane gently strokes a leaf.

LATRON
You could wear it, like a corsage.

JANE
No, let it grow. Let's get married
here though. Now we have flowers.

They are joined by Mitch, Jacob, Harry, and Gerard.

Gerard slips his hand into Jane's.

GERARD
How was your bachelorette party?

JANE
I thought Wren and I could braid
each other's hair, but she doesn't
like being touched.

GERARD
Sounds like a wash.

JANE
Yeah. How was your bachelor party?

GERARD
Pretty wild.

FRANK
We promised never to speak of it.

They are only jokes, but Harry shakes his head and gives a
small frown. He understands what they are doing, but he wants
to give them something more.

HARRY
It's my turn to do the talking.
Gather round.

Wren comes out and joins the group uncertainly.

Jane smiles at Wren, and Wren goes and stands next to Frank.

FRANK
We're pretty much gathered.

Harry does not acknowledge this, but waits with piercing eyes
until everyone is quiet and facing him.

HARRY
It is true that I perform civil
ceremonies, and am not a minister.
No one expects me to give speeches.
It is also true that we have lost
so many of the trappings expected
with a wedding, that to try and
hang on to any shred of ceremony
seems futile at best. Nonetheless,
this is a ceremony, a rite of
passage, a time to celebrate and
reflect.

The joking has faded, and the mood becomes solemn.

HARRY (CONT'D)
Recently we spoke of having a
reason to marry, and why so many
find none. Is love enough? Is
desire? Or does one require hope
for the future? And we had that
conversation at a time that seemed
particularly devoid of hope.

Jane and Gerard look down, remembering, and their hands hold
on tighter.

HARRY (CONT'D)
Yet here we find hope again,
springing up if we will merely
refrain from stamping it out. The
world has not improved. If
anything, it has become more
desolate. But Jane and Gerard have
faced that desolation and have
chosen love, and life, and in our
love for them and belief in them,
we unite our wishes and hopes with
theirs.

Wren seems to have lost her hard edge and might even be
showing a suspicious tear. Frank nearly puts an arm around
her, but merely touches her shoulder briefly, which she
allows.

HARRY (CONT'D)
Gerard Anthony White, do you take
Jane as your lawfully wedded wife,
to have and to hold, to honor and
cherish, in good times and in bad,
from this day forward?

GERARD
I do.

HARRY
Jane Lenore Simpson, do you take
Gerard as your lawfully wedded
husband, to have and to hold, to
honor and cherish, in good times
and in bad, from this day forward?

JANE
I do.

Harry suddenly seems embarrassed.

HARRY
I'm sorry, I should have asked
sooner, but do you have rings?

Gerard starts to shake his head, but before he can answer
Mitch clears his throat and reaches into his chest pocket.

MITCH
It occurs to me that these really
aren't doing anyone any good, but
they can.

Mitch pulls out a pouch containing two gold rings.

JANE
Mitch, you can't. They're yours.

MITCH
Not anymore.

He has been carrying the rings since his wife's death, but
Mitch easily places the rings in Harry's hand.

HARRY
Gerard, will you take hers?

Gerard takes the smaller of the two rings.

HARRY (CONT'D)
Now place it on Jane's finger and
repeat after me: With this ring, I
thee wed.

GERARD
With this ring, I thee wed.

HARRY
Jane.

Jane takes the other ring and places in on Gerard's finger.

JANE
With this ring, I thee wed.

HARRY
Then by the authority invested in
me as judge and magistrate I now
pronounce you husband and wife.
Gerard, kiss your bride.

There is that kiss, followed by many hugs and kisses and
handshakes. You have to take your moments when you get them.

"We are pleased to announce the marriage of Jane Lenore
Simpson, daughter of Harold and Angela Simpson (both
deceased) of Battery City to Gerard Anthony White, son of
Robert and Francine White (both deceased) of Greenvale.

The ceremony occurred on September 12th, 2019, and was
officiated by the Honorable Harrison Jin.

The bride and groom met while studying at Debs College, where
the groom majored in architecture and the bride in
literature. Both ended their studies after the Fall Semester
in 2012, and have not graduated.

Floral arrangements were provided by Otis Thibodeux
(deceased). Rings were provided by Sgt. William James
Mitchell, formerly of the United States Marine Corps.

The bride and groom regret that many friends and family
members were unable to attend, but are grateful for those who
were there."


Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.

From "To his Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell