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ONE
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(STATIC)
Sam: Look, the headset’s turned on, Maxine! Hello? Runner Five? Runner Five! Oh thank God, you’re alive! I’m so sorry, Five, this is all my fault–
Janine: Mr. Yao. Focus.
Sam: …Right. Sorry. Runner Five, we're going to get you back safe, alright? I’m gonna bring you home. (HE TAKES A STEADYING BREATH) Okay. I’ve got a grainy image of you on long range cams. You’re clear of Van Ark’s base, but there’s no way he’s letting you go without a fight. You need to get as far away as possible before he realizes you’re missing.
Maxine: Come home, Five. Paula…well, we can’t lose that information on the anti-zombie spray. And I know you’re tired and hurting, and I’m truly sorry, but you’ve got to keep running as fast as you can. Those samples will degrade if they’re not refrigerated in the next hour.
Sam: Paula did a really noble thing, Maxine. And think of all the children her notes could save.
Maxine: I’m… yeah, it was the right thing to do. I just wish…
Janine: We’ll get her back, Doctor Myers, I promise you that. We’re in her debt. But first things first. Runner Five? Run.
~~~
TWO
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Sam: You’re making good pace, Five. At this rate you’ll be home in no time. I still have some curly whirlys stocked up, you know. When you get back? Yours. They’re all yours.
Maxine: Wait, what’s that on the long range cams?
Sam: Oh, no. Hey, Five? You’ve picked up a tail. Looks like one of Van Ark’s heavies. Well…oh, wait. It used to be a heavy. Now an undead, heavy zombie.
Maxine: I recognize that zombie! Yeah, he was with Van Ark when Runner Five slit his throat. Look, he’s still got blood all over him.
Sam: Hmm. So even though Van Ark’s not a zom, his blood’s still infectious?
Maxine: Looks like. Interesting data point.
Sam: He uh, he makes quite the uh, distinctive zombie. That guy must be about seven foot tall. And does an eye patch ever not look sinister?
Maxine: He’s big, but he’s slow. Just keep going. You should be able to lose him if you keep a steady pace.
Sam: All things considered, one…incredibly large zombie is an alright problem to have. Doesn’t look like Van Ark’s noticed you’re missing yet, Five.
Maxine: That, or Paula’s leading him on a wild goose chase to buy us more time.
Sam: Right…I really am sorry, Maxine. For a second there, I really thought we might get her back.
Maxine: I did, too. But she had to go back. With what Van Ark was doing to Five…and with the research she had back in his lab…I would have done the same thing.
Sam: We’re gonna get her back, Maxine. And with these samples Five’s carrying, she’s gonna save a lot of lives.
Maxine: (SNIFFLING) Yeah. Only if the samples don’t degrade before we have the chance to study them. Runner Five? Keep going. A lot of lives depend on it.
~~~
THREE
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Sam: I hate to say it, Five, but it looks like Van Ark’s finally got wise and put out a search party for you. About twenty soldiers–living ones this time–are combing the woods outside the compound. You’re a ways off, but they’ve got Jeeps. If they catch your trail, it won’t be long before they’ve caught up with you. Head into those trees to your left for now, away from that clearing. We’ll try to keep them off your trail as long as we can.
(DOOR OPENS)
Sam: Oh, Janine, good you’re back. Listen, Five is going to need some back up. New Canton has guns, they could–
Janine: Negative, Mr. Yao. I just contacted New Canton and informed them of the situation, but they don’t want to risk sending runners so close to Van Ark's base. The best they can do is send additional runners to their lookout stations in the area and be on watch for Five or any sign of Van Ark's men.
Sam: But New Canton's forces are too far out, Five would never have time to alter course and still make it to a lookout station before Van Ark caught up to them!
Maxine: Did you tell them about the samples? What Runner Five is holding could be instrumental in ending this zombie plague once and for all!
Janine: I was thorough in my report, Doctor.
Sam: I should talk to them. Get Nadine on the comms, she still owes Five for nearly getting them killed--
Janine: We've no time for all that, Mr. Yao. I'm sorry, Runner Five, but you're on your own.
Sam: Damn it! You know what? Fine. We’ll do it ourselves. Er–It’s alright, Five, nothing to worry about. We’ve done it before, haven’t we? Just the two of us. Sam and Runner Five, the dream team! You can do this. Just, maybe, you know. Run faster.
~~~
FOUR
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Sam: Alright there Five, you're doing great. Finally picking you up on some of our close range cams. Smile and wave! (NERVOUS LAUGHTER. HE LOWERS HIS VOICE, SPEAKING LIKE A RADIO/TV ANNOUNCER) The Hero returns, resilient and incredibly, super cool--wait. (HORROR DAWNS) Oh, Five. I’m…I’m getting a closer look at you now. Is that..? Yeah, it is, you’re bleeding. What happened to you?
Maxine: (TO HERSELF) That's what she meant.
Sam: What who meant?
Maxine: Paula said Van Ark had Runner Five chained to his Jeep, driving through thistles and packs of zoms. She didn't have time to explain, just took my headset and ran back...I thought she meant Five was chained IN the Jeep so they couldn't escape. But those scrapes, and the raw skin around Five's wrists...I'm so sorry, Five.
Sam: (SLOWLY) You're saying he had Five chained to the back of his Jeep. OUTSIDE his Jeep. While he drove.
Maxine: I don't know why I didn't realize before. He must have...he must have made Five run like that the whole way to the compound.
Sam: That…that evil, vile…erg! You know, why is it, out of everyone we’ve lost, everyone, a person like Van Ark still gets to be just fine? No, he’s better than fine. He’s invincible for God’s sake!
Maxine: Sam, calm down–
Sam: I won’t calm down! I’m tired of it, Maxine! I’m sick of losing people, of watching them get hurt and knowing it’s my fault, because I’m the one that’s supposed to be keeping the runners safe! You know how many times Five has almost died on my watch? Here’s a hint, it’s not zero!
Maxine: Five’s alive and well enough to run. Let’s be glad for that. They’re not home yet. As soon as Runner Five gets back, I’ll take them over to the hospital. (INTO THE MIC) Did you hear that? You’re gonna be okay, Five.
Sam: (MUTTERING) To a Jeep. To a Jeep!
Maxine: Sam, why don’t you step outside for a bit? Get some air. I’ve got things handled here for now.
Sam: No way. I’ve got to keep an eye on the cameras, those soldiers could be on Five any minute–
Maxine: If anything changes, I’ll come get you. Go get some air. Doctor’s orders.
~~~
FIVE
~~~
Maxine:
Runner Five? Uh, you’re doing great. Sam’s still outside the comms shack, talking with Janine. (PAUSE) Sorry for sending him out, it’s just…he’s been really tense since the raid on Abel, and all this with Van Ark…we thought we were going to lose you.
I owe you an apology for that too, Five. I got so excited about the idea of seeing Paula again, I didn’t think of the consequences. It was wrong of me to bring you along without telling you what I was really there for.
I just…(SIGHS) I miss her so much. It makes me crazy how much, to the point that I just don’t…think.
Sam hasn’t said anything, but I know he probably blames me for what happened. I blame me too, honestly. I was naive. I should have known it was a trick, or at least told someone else. If I had, maybe you wouldn’t be out there right now.
But then, if we hadn’t gone, we wouldn’t have potentially life-saving notes on how to stop the serum from hurting children, would we? (SIGHS) I guess that’s the question. Whether any of this–you getting captured, losing Paula again, defying Van Ark–is worth it in the end. I guess it’s my job to make it worth it, isn’t it?
No pressure, right? (LAUGHS TIREDLY)
I’m sorry, Five. Once you get back, I’ll–-oh God. (PAUSE) The soldiers outside Van Ark’s base are moving. Five, they’ve caught your trail. Three jeeps, all headed straight for you. They’re coming!
~~~
SIX
~~~
Sam: I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have left!
Janine: Nothing to be done for it now, Mr. Yao. Van Ark's soldiers are inbound, and Runner Five has little time.
Sam: (PANICKING) You're still too far out for New Canton's snipers, Five, and there won't be any good cover once you pass this line of trees. Oh, everything's going wrong!
Janine: We've got to think of something. We can't lose those notes.
Sam: Forget the notes! We can't lose Runner Five!
Maxine: I hate to say it, Runner Five, but you might just have to hide.
Sam: That'll never work, they've got dogs and super zombies. Five'll be like a sitting duck.
Maxine: The alternative is running out in the open. Even if Five makes it to Abel before they catch up...
Janine: Runner Five would be delivering Van Ark's soldiers right to Abel's front door.
Sam: Then what do we do? Please, I'll take suggestions.
Janine: (SIGHS) Runner Five, I'm sorry, but we need to save those samples. You'll have to drop them, preferably somewhere cool, then run hard and fast in the opposite direction. If those soldiers follow you, we might be able to send out one of our runners to collect the notes.
Sam: What? No. No way. I'm not doing that again. Last time Five ran decoy, they got chained to a Jeep!
Janine: All the runners know what they signed up for, Mr. Yao. And this is war. Some losses are inevitable.
Sam: Don't do that. Don't talk like it's already over.
Maxine: (SADLY) Van Ark's men are close. They'll catch up in just a few minutes. I don't know what else we can do.
Sam: No, I'm not having it. You know what? The runners DO know what they signed up for. They signed up to put their lives at risk, every. single. day. For us! To keep us alive, fed, clothed, and safe. Runner Five has survived a helicopter crash, managed almost an entire night out on their own...hell, they even chased down a train! The runners know what they signed up for, but so do I. And that's keeping my runners safe. All of them.
Janine: Beautifully put, Mr. Yao. But I fail to see what we can do for Five from Abel.
Sam: (PAUSE, THEN EXCITEDLY) Oh, there's something we can do all right. I’ve got an idea. Janine, I'll need your help. Keep an eye on the cameras for me, will you, Doc? I’ll be right back. And Five? Run straight home!
~~~
SEVEN
~~~
(JEEPS APPROACHING)
Maxine: Big burst of speed here, Five, they’re right behind you! Head for cover, anything you can find to lose sight of them. I–I don’t know what else to do, Five. Sam’s gone, Janine’s off somewhere, and I don’t…just run!
(GUNSHOTS)
Simon: (FROM A DISTANCE) Agh, sorry Five! Thought you were a zombie!
Jody: (TO SIMON) Don’t point at Five, point at them!
Maxine: Five, what’s happening out there?
(DOOR OPENS)
Sam: Please say they got there.
Maxine: Who?
Sam: Everyone!
(MORE GUNSHOTS)
Simon: HA! Got their front tire! See, Seven, I don’t always shoot wide.
Evan: And that’s the difference between us, Simon. I never shoot wide. Observe.
Sara: You alright, Five? You look a bit worse for wear.
(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE. GLASS SHATTERS. DISTANT SHOUTING, FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF A JEEP PEELING AWAY)
Sam: That’s it, that’s it! They’re turning around, and they’ve left one of their Jeeps behind! Oh, you’ve done it, guys!
Maxine: What did you do, Sam?
Sam: Oh, I just rallied the troops, Doc! Sorry for interrupting your yoga class, Four. And your sparring practice, Eight and Three. Oh, and your…what was it you were doing, Seven?
Evan: No matter. Always happy to help. We Runners all have to do our bit, don't we?
Simon: You should have seen our Sam, Five. Running around like a chicken with his head cut off, shouting and everything. Faster than I've ever seen him--not enough to beat my record, mind, but still a dead sprint.
Sam: (HUMORLESSLY) I was in a rush. Obviously.
Jody: Of course. No way were we letting Van Ark take Five away.
Sara: Not a second time, you mean.
Jody: Oh...right.
Janine: Good work, everyone. But no relaxing yet. Runner Four, you take Paula’s samples and notes and run ahead to meet me in the lab. We need those refrigerated first thing.
Jody: On it! See you back at Abel, Five. I’m really glad you’re alright.
Sam: Right, Seven, Eight, see if we can’t bring in that Jeep. New Canton won’t be the only ones riding in style soon! Three…(SOFTLY) Five, you just come on home.
Simon: Come on, Five, Abel’s not far. Let’s get you to the Doc. You really do look like one of the undead. You can put your arm around my shoulders if you like. I've been told they're very strong and manly.
Sam: (SNORTS) By who, yourself in the mirror?
Simon: How'd you know, Sam?
Sam: Oh, just a hunch--but wait! I see you! You’re almost home. Come on in, guys! I’ll be right inside.
Maxine: Sam, aren’t you forgetting something?
Sam: Oh, right. Open the gates!
(GATES OPENING)
Maxine: And…he’s gone. I hope you’re a hugger, Five. And welcome home. Abel’s not the same without you.
MISSION COMPLETED. STARTING RADIO MODE.