NUMB HUMOR STUDIOS PRESENTS:
PLANET Z
Season 2 Episode 1
"The Rig"
Written by
William Fry & Michael Ledesma
EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - DAY
Open on the open ocean. The roar of the helicopter blades grows louder. A blackhawk flies over the ocean.
INT. BLACKHAWK - DAY
In the passenger's seat are our character Frank, Ava. Hendricks, and Dion. The last surviving members of the group. Piloting the helicopter is RJ. He is young. A rookie, yet comfortable behind the wheel.
RJ
We received a distress call from the supply ship that one of it's crew members got infected. We were sent out to pick you up on the coast but saw your boat. I'm RJ by the way.
HENDRICKS
How much farther to the Rig?
RJ
We're getting close. It's position changes every day. You know, being in the ocean and all.
FRANK
It's safe right?
RJ
Of course it is. Even though the zombies try to get to it.
AVA
Excuse me?
RJ
They may be dead, but those undead fuckers can swim. They're harmless when they're in the water. Makes for good target practice.
The Rig appears. It is surrounded by a small group of battleships and aircraft carriers.
RJ
We lost a few ships to pirates.
3.
FRANK
Pirates?
RJ
Yeah. They're ruthless.
The Blackhawk lands on the Rig and powers down. The group exits the helicopter. A soldier named HARPER approaches them.
RJ
This is as far as I’m authorized to go. Harper here will show you the rest of the way.
HARPER
Richards is waiting for you.
HENDRICKS
Who?
RJ
She runs the place. Logistics and everything. Provides the surviving world leaders with how we're going to end all of this.
Harper gestures towards a stairway.
HARPER
This way.
INT. THE RIG - DAY
They walk down the staircase and make their way through the maze that is the Rig. Soldiers and scientists pass by them.
HARPER
So which one of you is the astronaut.
FRANK
That would be me.
HARPER
Honestly, I'm very impressed. When we heard about you, no one could believe it. We just assumed everyone died.
Frank doesn't reply. They reach a metal door and enter into a command center. There are a group of screens connected together displaying different locations around the world.
In the center is a large table where people are looking at computer screens. One of them is a middle aged woman. This is RICHARDS.
4.
HARPER
Director.
Richards turns to face the group.
RICHARDS
Thank you Harper.
Richards walks over to the group. She stands in front of Frank and extends her hand out. Frank takes it and shakes it.
RICHARDS
It’s good to finally meet you Mr. Heston. We have much to talk about.
FRANK
Yes, we do.
Richards stands back to face the entire group.
RICHARDS
Welcome to the Rig. My name is Eliza Richards. I run all operations here.
HENDRICKS
Sergeant Hendricks. U.S. Camp 3.
RICHARDS
Good to meet you sergeant. Where’s Callahan?
HENDRICKS
He didn’t make it.
RICHARDS
I’m sorry to hear that. We’ve lost too many good soldiers. We have much to discuss but for now, let’s get you settled in. We have quarters prepared for you. Harper will show you the way.
HARPER
This way.
The group follows Harper. They walk down hallways. They pass by a room where a strange humming is coming from. Frank stops and peeks through the door window.
Sitting in the middle of the room is a man wearing a straight jacket. Harper appears next to Frank.
5.
HARPER
That's Doctor Gable, aka “Doctor Crazy”.
FRANK
Why?
HARPER
Cause he went mad trying to look for a cure for the virus. Tried destroying the Rig.
Frank looks back at Doctor Gable. Frank and Harper continue down the hall.
INT. FRANK’S ROOM - DAY
Frank is in his bunk. Across from his room, Dion is sitting on his bunk reading a playboy magazine.
DION
I’m glad the folks here saved the essentials.
Hendricks enters the room.
HENDRICKS
(To Frank)
Richards want us to brief her.
FRANK
About damn time.
Frank stands up and exits the room with Hendricks.
INT. THE RIG - DAY
Frank and Hendricks walk down the halls of the Rig.
FRANK
How’s Ava?
HENDRICKS
Fine. She’s keeping herself busy in the sickbay.
FRANK
At least she has something to distract her.
6.
Frank and Hendricks enter the command center. Richards is looking over reports. She notices Frank and Hendricks enter.
RICHARDS
Ah gentlemen, let’s get started shall we?
They sit at a large table and are joined by other military personnel. As time passes, Frank recounts his experience on the ISS and Hendricks recounts the events at the camp.
RICHARDS
Mr. Heston, what exactly was the message that Mission Control sent you?
FRANK
To not come down. To stay where we were.
RICHARDS
And you had no idea what was happening on Earth?
FRANK
Correct. We had lost communication with Earth.
RICHARDS
So why did you return home?
PAUSE.
FRANK
Our Captain thought it was best. We were running low on supplies and our mental health was beginning to deteriorate.
RICHARDS
I see. Tell me, what happened to the remaining crew?
FRANK
As far as I know, they’re dead.
RICHARDS
Frank, this is going to come as a shock to you, but you were not the only survivor of the ISS.
FRANK
What?
7.
A door opens and Ulysses enters.
ULYSSES
Good to see you friend.
Frank stands up and hugs Ulysses.
RICHARDS
(To Ulysses)
I wanted to wait until he arrived back to tell you. We’ll have to finish his debriefing another time, I believe you two have some catching up to do.
Frank and Ulysses exit the command center.
RICHARDS
As for you Sergeant. Recount the events beginning from the finding of Frank Heston to now.
EXT. THE RIG - DAY
Frank and Ulysses walk along the deck of the Rig.
FRANK
How? How are you alive?
ULYSSES
I almost wasn’t. When the wave hit us, The capsule began to sink and I dragged along with it. I broke free. The others couldn’t get out. I drifted on a piece of wreckage for who knows how long. Finally, a patrol ship found me, brought me here. I’ve become a great asset to the team and Richards seems to have great faith in me.
FRANK
Your wife?
ULYSSES
She didn’t make it. Or the baby.
FRANK
Ulysses I’m sorry.
ULYSSES
I honor them by surviving.
8.
FRANK
Yeah.
ULYSSES
So what about you?
FRANK
One of the camps found me. Stayed there for a bit but then we were overrun by other survivors.
ULYSSES
It’s safe here. No zombies. Although every once in a while one of those fuckers actually swims this way. Makes for good target practice.
FRANK
So I’ve heard.
ULYSSES
Yeah, the only thing we have to worry about are the pirates.
FRANK
Our pilot mentioned that, didn't go into much detail of it.
ULYSSES
Survivors who have taken to the seas. Plunder anything they can get their hands on. They’ve never come here though. I think they know how armed we are.
FRANK
It doesn't matter how armed you are, what matters is the element of surprise.
ULYSSES
Right you are Frank. Right you are.
FRANK
Hey can I ask you something.
ULYSSES
Of course.
FRANK
Doctor Gable. What exactly happened?
9.
ULYSSES
He went crazy before I got here but from what I heard, he thought that there was no hope for a cure. He placed explosives around the Rig and nearly blew everyone to Kingdom Come. Shame, according to his file, he had quite a brilliant mind. They were really banking on him to find a cure. Him and Doctor Brooke.
FRANK
Doctor Brooke?
ULYSSES
She was one of the scientists working on the cure. She’s not here though. She’s in South America. We had an army camp there.
FRANK
Had?
ULYSSES
We lost contact with them.
Hendricks walks up to Frank and Ulysses.
FRANK
How was it?
HENDRICKS
Not as bad as I thought it’d be. Still, I hate having a bunch of suits questioning my decisions.
FRANKS
Hendricks this is Ulysses. Ulysses this is Hendricks. He saved my life.
HENDRICKS
And almost took it a couple times.
The three chuckle.
HENDRICKS
Richards wanted me to say that we’re invited to dinner.
LATER
It is night. The ocean is calm. The Rig is a bright spot on an otherwise black ocean.
10.
Miles away, the pirate VICTOR stares at the Rig through binoculars. His first mate HIRAM stands next to him.
HIRAM
If we pull this off, we’ll be set for life. We’ll rule. The strongest safe haven on the planet.
VICTOR
It’s not going to be easy. Ready the ships.
INT. THE RIG - NIGHT
Frank, Hendricks, Ava, Ulysses, and Richards sit at an elegant dining table. All are dressed nicely. The dining table is filled with food and drink such as seafood, steak, and wine.
RICHARDS
I’m sure you all haven’t had a proper meal in a long time.
HENDRICKS
No ma’am.
RICHARDS
How did you find our sickbay to be Dr. Farroway?
AVA
It’s nice to have a sterile place for once.
RICHARDS
We modified and built the Rig to act as a sort of mini city. In fact, I’m talking to the world leaders about possibly expanding.
ULYSSES
Who knows, perhaps we could build an actual city on the ocean.
FRANK
How close are we to a cure?
RICHARDS
Beg pardon?
FRANK
A cure. How close are we to having one?
11.
RICHARDS
I’m glad you asked Mr. Heston. Sadly, the answer is not good. After the incident with Doctor Gable, we haven't been able to proceed. Gable was the expert on the virus.
FRANK
That’s too bad.
RICHARDS
A tragedy.
FRANK
How did the virus get out?
RICHARDS
I am afraid that is a question that I don’t have an answer for.
FRANK
You people don’t have a theory?
RICHARDS
We have plenty of theories, all of which have lead to dead ends.
FRANK
That just means you haven’t looked into all the possibilities. If you we’re to set up a team, to research-
ULYSSES
Frank.
FRANK
Sorry. It’s just, we finally have someone who can answer questions about the apocalypse.
RICHARDS
I only have a few answers. I’m sorry Mr. Heston. We are doing what we can here.
EXT. THE RIG - NIGHT
RJ and Dion patrol the decks.
12.
DION
I survived a bunch of teen crazies and zombies. How come I don’t get invited to a feast.
RJ
Don’t worry about it. From what I’ve heard, they’re boring. Nothing to talk about, but the apocalypse. Beer?
DION
Fuck yes.
RJ hands Dion a can of beer. The two drink.
A group of about seven heavily armed boats make their way towards the Rig at high speeds. Each filled with well-armed pirates and heavy artillery.
DION
So, you got a girl?
RJ
I had a boyfriend, we knew each other for some time.
DION
Had?
RJ
He was sent to Hong Kong. He and his team never came back.
DION
Sorry.
RJ
Thanks. What about you?
DION
No one. But sooner or later some fine gal is going to need saving and when that time comes, you can bet that Dion will be there. Guns blazing.
RJ chuckles.
There is a loud BANG and Dion falls to the ground. RJ ducks to the floor.
RJ
Dion!
13.
DION
I’m fine! It just grazed me in the shoulder.
Dion and RJ peek over the rail and see the approaching pirates. The pirates begin firing their guns and artillery from a distance but they only hit metal. RJ and Dion take cover.
DION
Who the fuck are those guys?
RJ
Pirates.
DION
Oh that’s just great.
RJ
Here.
RJ hands Dion his sidearm. RJ pulls the slide on his rifle. Dion cocks the pistol.
RJ
Welcome to the Rig.
END.