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EXT. ROAD TOWARDS BATTERY CITY

It is late.

Frank is driving, with Jane and Gerard in the back seat.

A blur of white appears up the road.

JANE
What is that?

FRANK
Maybe we should turn around.

The white form collapses to the ground.

GERARD
Is that a Drac?

FRANK
It could be a trap. I want to check
it out, but...

Gerard and Jane each draw weapons.

Frank reduces speed as they crawl closer, stopping with the
figure in the headlights.

It is definitely a Draculoid.

Perhaps against their better judgment, the three get out of
the car.

FRANK (CONT'D)
Is it dead?

Jane kneels by the body.

JANE
Still breathing. Help me turn him
over.

Gerard and Frank look at each other.

GERARD
There could be more.

But Jane has now turned him over. He has a nasty shoulder
wound. She pulls off the mask, exposing a very young face.

FRANK
Aw geez. He's just a kid.

JANE
He's lost a lot of blood.

FRANK
Is he dying?

JANE
If we don't help him.

GERARD
And if we do?

JANE
He's going to be pretty weak
already, good chance of infection,
and he'll be starting drug
withdrawal.

FRANK
And if he does recover his job is
to kill us.

GERARD
And if we leave...

Jane grimaces and shakes her head.

JANE
I can't. I know we've got a million
good reasons to walk away, or even
just kill him now, but...

GERARD
But that's not who we are.

The men sigh, but accept it.

FRANK
Okay, we better scout around while
you're treating him, see what else
is out there.

JANE
I hope whoever he was chasing got
away.

GERARD
They got off at least one shot.

FRANK
If their aim were a little better
we wouldn't be in this mess.

Jane tends to the wound in the dark.

As if things weren't already spooky enough, the discarded
mask seems to stare at her. Jane pauses her work long enough
to ball up the mask and throw it into the darkness.

Frank brings the mask back, holding it out to Jane.

FRANK (CONT'D)
Was he bothering you Ma'am?

JANE
Not as much as being alone. Did you
find anything?

GERARD
A few dead Dracs, and tracks
leading away. I doubt they realized
they left one.

FRANK
How's he doing?

JANE
The bleeding's stopped. Now we just
have to worry about everything
else. We shouldn't move him.

FRANK
The ride might be rough but the
exposure out here can't be good.

JANE
There's an old shed over there I
could probably set up in.

GERARD
Jane, just because it's clear now-

JANE
It won't have to be for very long,
but he's going to be a loose
cannon. I think we need to get him
past the detox before we set him in
the middle of all of our people.

She has a point.

GERARD
I guess we can wait a few days.

JANE
I'm not saying that.

FRANK
Then I have no idea what you're
saying.

JANE
Look, the car is overloaded with
supplies anyway, which is great.
Deliver those, fill everyone in,
and see how they feel about taking
him in. Then come back for me.

They will not concede this point.

GERARD
Absolutely not!

FRANK
It all sounded very sensible right
until the part where we were
leaving you with the loose cannon.

JANE
Well I can't leave.

GERARD
I'm not leaving you.

FRANK
If you're both here I guess it's
better, but still...

GERARD
Maybe we should just leave him
here.

JANE
Really?

Jane does not believe him, and the look of resignation on
Gerard's face shows that she is right.

FRANK
Come on. Let's go check out the
shed.

CUT TO:



INT. SHED

The Draculoid is thrashing and moaning.

Jane and Gerard are mainly trying to keep him from hurting
himself. He begins to vomit.

Hours later, things have calmed down.

The patient is still restless, but the worst is over.

Gerard and Jane watch over him, glad for the lull.

JANE
I'm sorry I got you into this.

GERARD
You pick the weirdest date nights.

Gerard is thoughtful for a moment.

GERARD (CONT'D)
You never met Trey, did you?

The name is completely unfamiliar.

JANE
Who was that?

GERARD
We had some classes together. He
was...I shot him at Scarecrow.

JANE
The one without the mask? You knew
him?

GERARD
Yeah.

JANE
That caught you off guard. If I
could have told you it was him-

GERARD
Hey, I thought you knew better than
to play that game.

She does, but the "what if" is hard to shake.

JANE
I wish I had recognized him. Were
you close?

GERARD
No. I didn't even like him that
much, really. Never wanted to kill
him though.

JANE
Wes joined the Draculoids too.

Gerard raises an eyebrow at that.

GERARD
You saw each other again?

Jane smiles at the casual hint of jealousy.

JANE
Not like that, but I did run into
him again in the city, and that's
what he had decided to do.

GERARD
I would understand if you had
gotten...I mean...

Gerard is not sure exactly what he means. It doesn't matter.

JANE
I could never have thought of him
like that, or anyone but you, but
still, he was someone I knew. I did
try and talk him out of it.

GERARD
No luck?

JANE
I guess none of my reasons were
very convincing.

Gerard looks at the restless form in front of them.

GERARD
That might be convincing. Drugged
out, left for dead, and no one
cares.

JANE
They can always get more. We get so
many more kills, and we never make
a dent.

GERARD
But everyone we lose...Do you hear
that?

JANE
Frank?

GERARD
It has to be.

Gerard steps out, and Jane can hear the car stopping.

Gerard returns with Frank.

FRANK
What is that smell?

JANE
Sweat, vomit, the usual. Are we
allowed back?

FRANK
Well, they'd like some assurance
he's not going to start killing us
or bring other ones after us.

JANE
We won't know till he's awake.

FRANK
Is it okay if we wait outside?

That is reasonable. They rearrange themselves so that Frank,
Gerard, and Jane are outside the shed.

The Draculoid is at the open door, and Jane is using a wet
cloth on his forehead through the opening.

FRANK (CONT'D)
What do you think he was on?

JANE
Probably heroin, maybe with some
nitroglycerin. It acted like
heroin.

FRANK
How long does it last?

JANE
It depends, and he's got the injury
going on too.

But Frank is not just asking out of idle curiosity, and his
tone becomes more urgent.

FRANK
Could he be waking up now?

The Draculoid is blinking.

He looks confused, and scared. His voice is weak when he
speaks.

DRACULOID
What's happening?

JANE
You've been shot, and you're going
through withdrawal. How do you
feel?

DRACULOID
My heart won't stop beating.

Jane smiles involuntarily.

JANE
Technically that's a good sign, but
I think I know what you mean.

Jane takes out her stethoscope and listens to his heart and
lungs.

DRACULOID
Is this the Zones?

FRANK
Yes. Do you remember what happened?

Jane removes the stethoscope from her ears. They all listen
intently.

DRACULOID
We were hunting down fugitives.

GERARD
Specific ones, or just anyone?

DRACULOID
We're supposed to kill anyone out
of bounds.

Jane, Gerard, and Frank exchange glances.

GERARD
It's not exactly a surprise.

FRANK
Now what?

DRACULOID
You're rebels. Why are you helping
me?

There is an awkward silence.

JANE
I'm not sure this is helping.
You're in the Zones, with no
weapon, and I don't know what your
options are. Would they take you
back if you could find a unit?

DRACULOID
I can't go back.

GERARD
They wouldn't let you or you don't
want to?

DRACULOID
I'm a deserter now.

FRANK
Not on purpose. I guess that
doesn't matter.

DRACULOID
I'm dead.

JANE
But you're alive. What's your name?

He pauses, searching back in his memory. Names haven't been
important for a while.

DRACULOID
It's Jimmy.

FRANK
Well, Jimmy, I guess you're coming
with us.



INT. THE PEN

A former prison, the Pen had been deserted until now, where
all of the refugees have converged.

Familiar faces are here, as well as new ones, including
CASSIE (34), a tall and elegant black woman.

Gerard and Frank help Jimmy inside with Jane following.

Cassie sees them and nods at Jane, then goes to find Don and
Grace.

Across the room, Grace spots them and makes a beeline for
Gerard.

FRANK
I've got him. Go on.

Gerard meets Grace halfway and kneels down to hold her.

Grace is crying, and Jane knows they are mourning Mikey and
Ray.

Jane shakes herself and goes to help Frank.

JANE
Let me.

FRANK
I'm just going to lay him down in
one of the side rooms. It's okay.

Jane smiles and nods.

Frank helps Jimmy, and Jane finds Don at her side.

DON
I don't know if it's really hit all
the way until seeing him. I mean
that they're gone.

JANE
I think it hits in different waves.
Somes are worse.

DON
I just wanted to say welcome to the
family. We needed some good news.

JANE
Thank you.

Gerard comes over with Grace. Her face is tear-stained, but
she is smiling.

GRACE
I'm your new niece.

As many new family members as she has picked up, Jane is
surprised and touched to find something new in realizing that
she is now legally an aunt, and a sister-in-law.

JANE
I am really glad to meet you.

Gerard and Don clasp hands.

DON
I'm glad to see you. We've been
worried.

GERARD
Us too.
(to Grace)
You've gotten so big!

DON
The bedding and clothes have been a
godsend, for lots of people, but
especially Grace.

Gerard notices Grace is wearing one of the outfits from Bob's
daughters, and smiles, then frowns.

GERARD
That jacket's way too small now. We
need to find something else for
you.

JANE
You know what? I think maybe I've
just been keeping this for you.

Jane pulls off Mikey's jacket and puts it around Grace.

GRACE
Really?

DON
Are you sure?

JANE
I think it's a perfect fit.

Later that evening, Jane, Gerard, Frank and Don sit in a
small circle talking. Grace is leaning on Gerard, asleep.

JANE (CONT'D)
(to Don)
I can't believe I never knew about
you.

DON
I wasn't actually with anyone for
very long.

JANE
Were you just wandering?

GERARD
You never really told us much about
that.

DON
Just that I stayed north. Well, I'm
not really proud of that time.

JANE
You don't have to tell us if you
don't want to.

DON
It's just...

Don pauses and looks over at Grace. She is still asleep.

DON (CONT'D)
Once I got over the first shock and
pain, for a long time all I had was
anger. All I wanted to do was make
it into Battery City and kill as
many Scarecrow as I could.

That was unexpected, but it is met with sympathy.

DON (CONT'D)
Shocking, I know.

GERARD
No, I get it-

DON
I hope you don't. I methodically
worked my way towards the city, and
all I thought about was death. Then
when I got there, and when I
figured out a way to get in, I
didn't know what to do.

FRANK
You couldn't go through with it?

DON
Maybe not. I didn't think of it
that way. I told myself that I
needed to figure out the best way
to do it-where to target, and when,
and how to get a weapon. Maybe I
was fooling myself, but I really
believed that I could kill, and
that it would be right.

JANE
What happened?

DON
Luis found me. I know now that you
knew him. I didn't then. I think at
that point I had given up on ever
finding any connection or any
meaning to anything.

GERARD
I do understand that.

DON
Maybe we all do. Anyway, he saw me
haunting the area around
headquarters, plotting, and
recognized that I was lost. He
found me.

JANE
He was good at that.

DON
Luis got me underground, and then
got me out of the city. I was with
Cassie and Blake for a while, at
the Ranch House.

JANE
I do know Cassie. I hadn't seen her
for a long time, until today.

DON
Blake is dead. We were on the run
after that when we ran into Deanna
and the others. Catching up with
them, well...

Don looks at Grace again.

DON (CONT'D)
If I had followed my original plan,
I'd be dead now. I'd never have
known.

GERARD
But you are here.

DON
I am, and I don't want to kill, and
I don't want to die. I just want to
protect my child and I don't know
how.



INT. PEN

It is the next day.

Jane comes out of Jimmy's room, and finds Grace waiting for
her.

GRACE
Is he okay?

JANE
He's still getting better.

GRACE
I found something in the pocket.

Grace holds out the trifold, and Jane smiles.

JANE
That's right. I did leave it in
there.

Jane sits down and motions for Grace to sit next to her.

They look at the pictures.

GRACE
That's my mom. Did you know her?

JANE
No, but I met your grandparents.

GRACE
Did you like them?

JANE
Yes. I was nervous to meet them,
but they were very kind to me, and
Mikey was a good friend.

GRACE
And that's your mom and dad?

JANE
Yes. They were nice too.

GRACE
I write to my Mom sometimes.

JANE
I guess I never thought of that.

Jane pauses for a moment, thinking.

JANE
Grace, I don't have any pockets
now. Will you hang on to this for
me?

GRACE
Do you really want me to?

JANE
You can keep it safe.

GRACE
I will.

Grace throws her arms around Jane's neck.

GRACE (CONT'D)
I love you Aunt Jane!

JANE
I love you too.

Grace carefully tucks the wallet into the pocket and zips it
up, then runs off.

Jane stands up and finds Deanna watching her.

DEANNA
I can't believe you're alive.

JANE
Neither can I. How are you?

DEANNA
I guess just jealous.

JANE
I'm sorry-

DEANNA
There's nothing to be sorry about.
It's not like...

JANE
But still...

The women stand looking at each other helplessly.

DEANNA
We weren't even like that exactly.
I mean, he was younger, and...

They are interrupted by Jacob calling.

JACOB
Everyone come quickly!

Jane and Deanna squeeze hands and join the group gathering
around the radio.

CASSIE
What's going on?

PARK
He said he had an important
announcement coming up.

The music stops and the familiar voice comes on.

DOCTOR D
Alright children, the lights are
out and the party's over. It's time
for me, Doctor D to start running
and say goodbye for a little while,
and I know you're gonna miss me, so
I'll leave you with this.
You know that big ball of radiation
that we call the sun? Well it'll
burst you into flames if you stay
in one place too long, that is if
the static don't get you first. So
remember even if you're dusted, you
may be gone, but out here in the
desert, your shadow lives on
without you. This is Dr. Death
Defying signing off.

FRANK
He's leaving?

JANE
It's so dangerous out there now.
I'm glad for him.

To everyone's surprise, the strains of The Star Spangled
Banner fill the air.

DEANNA
What? Why?

JACOB
It's how DJs used to sign off.

MITCH
Shh!

It has been so long since anyone has heard it, and so long
since it has had any meaning.

Mitch is the first to react, standing up and saluting.

Startled, the rest get to their feet, putting hands over
hearts, or folding arms, awkwardly and gratefully,
remembering that things were not always like this.

Tears enter some eyes, and just as the music truly begins to
soar, it is interrupted by loud static. It crackles for a
moment and goes dead, leaving his listeners in stunned
silence.

They look at each other, wishing to be wrong, wishing that
did not just happen.

JACOB
Do you think...

GERARD
Maybe he just had to leave early.

FRANK
There were only two seconds left.

HARRY
Maybe it's a joke.

MITCH
It's not a joke. They killed him.

JANE
No!

Don hurriedly picks up an alarmed Grace.

DON
Let's go outside for a little while

Don exits with Grace.

CASSIE
Do you really think he's gone?

MITCH
What else could have happened?

GERARD
He was almost away. He only needed
a few more minutes.

MITCH
And it was a few too many! They've
done it again!

DEANNA
Liu's dead. Korse is dead. It never
matters! What's it going to take?

JANE
I'm so tired of running.

JACOB
We all are.

The truth of that hangs over the group, and then Gerard
speaks.

GERARD
What if we ran towards, instead of
away?

ROGERS
To the city? Wouldn't that be
suicide?

GERARD
Maybe we need to do something
different.

As the initial shock of the idea wears off, people begin to
consider it.

HARRY
As far as they know, the tunnels
have been emptied, and it's a lot
of space.

FRANK
There would be food sources nearby,
more guards though.

GERARD
I may be crazy.

MITCH
No. Let's do it.

Mitch gives his vote and leaves.

JANE
Okay.

FRANK
Okay.

Slowly everyone nods and gives their assent.

CASSIE
Maybe we should work out details
later. I don't think anyone's up to
talking right now.

People begin to drift off to grieve, until it is just Gerard,
Frank, and Jane.

Jane smiles and wipes her eyes.

JANE
I'm going to go check on Don and
Grace, and Jimmy.

GERARD
And Deanna?

FRANK
And Mitch? And Latron?

They are kind of teasing, and kind of right.

JANE
I guess I'll just make rounds.

Gerard nods and Jane exits.

Frank and Gerard sit against the wall, drained.

GERARD
I wish Ray were here.

FRANK
Me too.

GERARD
I was so hung up on losing Mikey,
but I really relied on Ray's
insight.

FRANK
I've been feeling it more since
seeing Bob.

GERARD
Yeah. Frank, if I'm ever a jerk to
you, slap me or something.

The moment is getting a little heavy.

FRANK
Are you hitting on me?

Gerard laughs, but gets serious again.

GERARD
I'm just saying, you're family.

FRANK
So you should be a jerk?

GERARD
Why do I even talk to you?

FRANK
We're cool. We always have been.

There is a pause, as they are both thinking.

GERARD
I'm glad Bob's with his family. You
did the right thing.

FRANK
Frank, defender of relationships.

GERARD
And overall good friend. Thank you.

Frank nods.

FRANK
Any time.

GERARD
Am I crazy?

Frank shrugs.

FRANK
It's not like the sane plans have
been working. I've expected to die
with you a few times now, and I'm
still here.

GERARD
So you're the crazy one.

FRANK
Probably. We could all die
underneath the city, but we could
also die here before we move, or on
the road, or-

GERARD
Is this a pep talk?

FRANK
We don't know, and we have to live
with that.

GERARD
Or die with it.

FRANK
And that's okay too.

GERARD
Yeah.

FRANK
I guess now we do a manly chest
bump?

GERARD
So now you're hitting on me?

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw.
Confirm thy soul in self control,
Thy liberty in law.

From "America the Beautiful" by Katherine Lee Bates