It's a New Day by Glen Marcus (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📖

SHELIA takes ADAM’S hand in such a way as to say, 'let's go'. Acknowledging the signal, the ESTES (2) turn with their horses to leave.

CUT TO

Pushing his way through the masses, BOBBY gets in the last word.

BOBBY

 

That’s right...run back to your easy chair while we sit here and starve.

CUT TO

EXT. STREETS OF DAWSONVILLE - MOMENTS LATER

The sound of BOBBY’S tirade fades in the distance as the husband and wife lead their animals down the street.

SHELIA

 

Bobby was always one for the dramatic.

 

ADAM

 

Yeah, I guess so.

(grinning)

ADAM (cont.)

 

Or it could be he’s still pissed at me after all these years for stealing you away from him.

SHELIA

(giggling)

Oh baby, you didn’t steal me...I came willingly.

(SOUNDTRACK - Delta Spirit’s ‘Devil Knows You’re Dead’ begins to play in background)

ZOOM OUT SLOWLY: (shot of ADAM and SHELIA headed out of town. In the distance, the crowd is starting to disperse from CITY HALL. Clouds are rolling in from the southern sky, partly shielding the sun’s rays.)

ZOOM IN: On Clouds

FADE TO BLACK

(‘Devil Knows You’re Dead' ends playing in background)


CUT TO

EXT. DOUGLAS HOME - LATER THAT AFTERNOON

ADAM knocks on front door as SHELIA stands beside him.

A curtain in the door window is pulled back slightly revealing the face of CHARLIE DOUGLAS, JASPER and IRENE's adopted son. CHARLIE opens the door to greet the visitors.

ADAM

 

Charlie, good to see you man.

The three shake hands.

CHARLIE is in his late twenties, clean-cut and dressed in jeans and a blue polo shirt.

ADAM (cont.)

 

We brought some medication for your dad from town.

ADAM hands CHARLIE the pill bottle as the young man steps out onto the porch and closes the front door behind him.

CHARLIE

 

Mom and dad are resting.

CHARLIE walks down the front porch steps with the ESTES(2)trailing behind him. He looks down at the pill bottle and holds it up.

CHARLIE (cont.)

 

Thank you for getting this. I got here right after you and Tommy left yesterday. Dad is feeling rough, so I hope these help.

CUT TO

The trio walk towards the big oak tree in the yard as they talk.

SHELIA

 

I guess you got stuck in Atlanta.

 

CHARLIE

 

I wouldn't say stuck as much as hesitant. Last Saturday was a strange day in Atlanta. Nothing was moving downtown and the streets were filled with people just walking around in a daze.

 

ADAM

 

I bet it was an erie thing.

 

CHARLIE

 

It was like a scene right out of a science-fiction movie. From my high-rise I could see cars and buses sitting everywhere. Even the sky was clear with no planes circling around Hartsfield as usual.

(Charlies face tenses slightly)

CHARLIE (cont.)

 

But it didn't take long for things to turn ugly. By Sunday morning there was mass looting and several fires had broken out. I went over to the IBM Tower but security wasn't letting anyone inside.

 

SHELIA

 

When did you start heading north?

 

CHARLIE

 

I figured mom and dad would need me and besides, I was almost out of food and water. They had declared 'martial law' in the city, so I took my mountain bike and left on Tuesday while I still could get out. I made it as far as Alpharetta before I was jumped by a gang of men. They took my backpack and bike, then just laughed at me as they left.

 

SHELIA

 

They didn't hurt you, did they?

 

CHARLIE

 

No, because I didn't resist. But I saw plenty that did. There were beaten and battered people all over the place. By the time I reached Cumming, most all of the businesses were pretty well ransacked. I'm ashamed to say it but I took a bicycle from a house and kept going.

 

ADAM

 

These are desperate times Charlie.

CHARLIE

 

I know. It wouldn't suprise me if the 'locust' didn't get here before long.

 

ADAM

 

The 'locust'?

 

CHARLIE

 

That's what most people I talked to on the way up are calling them. Packs of people that come in and take what they need, no matter the human cost and then move on. The gangs are growing in number and getting more violent every day.

 

SHELIA

 

I guess desperation brings out the worst in some.

 

ADAM

 

Speaking of which, we need to get home and check on the boys. I feel alot better about your parents now that you are here with them.

 

CHARLIE

 

Thanks for looking out for them until I got here.

ADAM and CHARLIE shake hands again and SHELIA gives CHARLIE a hug goodbye.

CUT TO

(shot of ESTES(2) leaving on the horse towards the road.

FADE TO BLACK


FADE IN


EXT. CUMMING GEORGIA BP STATION - MORNING DAY EIGHT

Four 1950's model pickup trucks pull into the gas station adjacent to the GA 400 expressway. Screeching to a halt beside the store, several unkempt-looking men begin to jump out of the vechicles.

SLASH is the driver of one of the trucks and the leader of the gang. He is a large, muscular Samoan with many tattos visible. He barks orders while walking towards the front door of the battered convenience store.

SLASH

 

Get your asses in gear and syphon us up some gas. I'll see if there's any food left in here.

CUT TO

INT. BP STATION - A MOMENT LATER

SLASH steps over debris that was left from previous looters. Finding nothing of value, he exits store.

CUT TO

EXT. BP STATION - MOMENTS LATER

(SLASH'S attention is drawn to the four-lane highway adjacent to the gas station. An older model car is approaching at a slow pace from the east, making its way around the newer models stranded in its path.)

SLASH

(yelling towards gang members)

There's one coming, go get it!

Several of the GANG break off from the underground tank syphoning and grab various type weapons from the old trucks. Running into the roadway, they meet the car as it slows at their human roadblock.

PAN TO

GANG MEMBER 1

(holding up his hand)

STOP THE CAR!.

An elderly couple in their 1958 Plymouth stop about twenty-feet from the line of men in their path. The OLD MAN IN CAR puts the gear shift in park.

The GANG approaches the car and surrounds it. SLASH walks over and begins to inspect the new find.

SLASH

 

Nice ride you've got here grandpa. You've took real good care of her.

Circling around to the front of the Plymouth, SLASH opens the hood.

SLASH (cont.)

 

What's she got inside her?

Peering around the open hood, SLASH looks at the OLD MAN IN CAR behind the wheel.

SLASH (cont.)

 

How much you want for her gramps?

 

OLD MAN IN CAR

(rolling down the window about an inch.)

It's not for sale. Can I please go? I need to get my wife to the hospital, she's very sick.

 

SLASH

 

Oh, you can go but you'll be walking the rest of the way. Now get out of my new ride.

OLD MAN IN CAR rolls the window back up and the frightened couple slide towards each other on the bench seat inside.

SLASH (cont.)

 

If I have to come in after you gramps, you're going to need the hospital too.

OLD MAN IN CAR reaches for the gearshift and looks behind him in the mirror.

SLASH smashes the driver's window with his gloved-covered fist. He drags the OLD MAN IN CAR out of the window before he has a chance to put the Plymouth in reverse.

SLASH places a smashing blow across the OLD MAN'S face, knocking him to the ground.

SLASH

(disgusted tone)

I warned you.

SLASH turns his back to the OLD MAN.


(SOUNDTRACK - Johnny Cash's 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' starts playing in the background)

SLASH (cont.)

(towards GANG MEMBERS)

Get grandma out of there and let's go.

OLD MAN stands up and makes a feeble move towards SLASH.

SLASH, in one fluid-motion, wheels around and produces a semi-automatic handgun. He fires it twice into the OLD MAN'S chest.

SLASH

 

Dumb shit.

The GANG MEMBERS remove the wife from the vehicle and she kneels down crying over her now-dead husband a few feet away.

SLASH takes the handgun and puts a round in the back of her head. She falls in a heap over her husband's body.

SLASH

(coldly)

Go join him lady.

SLASH and four of his GANG slide into the seats of the Plymouth. They pull the car over to the old pickup trucks as the rest are loading the plastic containers of fuel.

SLASH

(from the driver's seat)

Let's get the hell out of here.

CUT TO

One-by-one the vehicles move out of the BP STATION and get back on GA 400 headed north.

ZOOM OUT: Aerial View Over Station With The GANG'S Vehicles Single-File Entering The Expressway.

(shot continues to follow vehicles up the expressway)

ZOOM IN QUICKLY: To SLASH'S Profile In The Plymouth's Driver-Side Window.

('God's Gonna Cut You Down' finishes abruptly)

FADE OUT

CUT TO

EXT. ESTES HOUSE BARN - NOON

ADAM, SHELIA & DANNY are cleaning stalls.

DANNY

 

Why doesn't Tommy have to help with the barn chores today?

 

ADAM

 

He had errands to run.

 

DANNY

(sarcastic)

What...With Sarah over at the lake?

SHELIA

 

He's going to muck all the stalls tomorrow, young man. You just mind your own business.

 

DANNY

(under his breath)

It's still not fair.

ADAM hears a vehicle coming up the gravel driveway. Dropping his muck rake, he and SHELIA trot up to the house to investigate.

CUT TO

EXT. ESTES FRONT YARD - MOMENTS LATER

Arriving in the front yard the ESTES(2) see SHERIFF BROGAN and BOBBY JOHNSON stading in front of a 1930's model flatbed truck.

ADAM

 

Hello Sheriff. I see you found some transportation.

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

Yeah...it's one of the few in town.

 

BOBBY

 

Some of us aren't as fortunate as you.

 

ADAM

(ignoring BOBBY'S comment)

What brings you out our way?

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

We're driving around trying to alert everyone we can. The Town Council has placed Dawsonville under 'martial law'. Everyone needs to gather in town to group our forces.

 

SHELIA

 

Strength in numbers, Sheriff?.

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

Something like that.

 

ADAM

 

So what is Bobby doing with you?

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

The Council has allowed the Sheriff's Department to hire some temporary deputies during this situation. Bobby is one of them.

 

ADAM

(to himself)

Oh great.

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

 

So, what we're asking is to you to gather all the supplies you have and place them on the flatbed. We'll transport it back to town and since you have horse transportation, we'll meet you back there later. Also, once you're settled in, our deputies will need to commendere your horses to patrol with.

 

ADAM

 

Did you say, "asking"?.

(without giving the sheriff a chance to answer)

ADAM (cont.)

 

Did Skip vote for this?

 

SHERIFF BROGAN

(pausing)

Uh no, He was the only one to vote against it.

 

SHELIA

 

So it's a voluntary request?

 

BOBBY

 

Why don't you two just face it...If we don't stick together as a town we won't survive.

 

ADAM

(exploding at BOBBY)

Or the "HAVE NOTS" won't survive...isn't that it? Bobby, I've had just about enough of your liberal "gimme" attitude. You haven't worked a month in the last two years. If it hadn't have been for what your daddy left you when he