Planet Z Season 2 Episode 4: Apocalypse Here & Now


NUMB HUMOR STUDIOS PRESENTS:
PLANET Z
Season 2 Episode 4
"Apocalypse Here & Now"
Written by
William Fry & Michael Ledesma






















2.
EXT. THE AMAZON RAINFOREST - DAY
RJ is lying in the helicopter which has landed in a clearing. He wakes up and stands. He rubs his cheek in the area where Frank punched him. He steps out of the helicopter. Frank and Dion are checking their backpacks. RJ sees them and realizes what is going on, pulls out his pistol and points it at the two men.
DION
Did you seriously forget to take his gun?
FRANK
We were in a hurry.
RJ
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you two are going to get back on the helicopter and we are going to go back to the Rig where Richards can decide what to do with you.
FRANK
RJ-
RJ
Shut it! Now move it!
DION
RJ you should listen to what he has to say.
RJ
I don’t give a fuck what he has to say or why the hell we are where we are! Get on the helicopter!
DION
RJ please. Just listen to Frank. If you don’t like what you hear, then we’ll get on the helicopter. Ok?
RJ contemplates.
RJ
Start talking.
Frank recounts what Doctor Gable told him. RJ begins to slowly lower his pistol.

3.
RJ
What do you mean the virus wasn’t an accident?
FRANK
I don’t fully know. That’s why we're here. To find the truth.
RJ
Doctor Brooke and her unit went missing.
FRANK
No, they went rogue. I don’t know why,  but if we find them, then they can tell us the truth.
RJ paces and then stops.
RJ
We find Doctor Brooke and get whatever truth they supposedly have. If it turns out to be nothing, then we go back to the Rig.
FRANK
Yes.
RJ
Ok then. Do you know where they are?
FRANK
No.
RJ
So what’s the plan?
FRANK
We’re gonna go to the base camp. Maybe find a clue as to where they went.
RJ
Oh this gonna be soooooo easy.
The three begin walking. They walk through the jungle. All three wield machetes that they use to cut through the evergreen. After hours of walking, they are now deep in the jungle. They come across a clearing. The abandoned army base camp.

4.
DION
Doesn’t look like anyone’s home. What was this place used for again?
RJ
Research into the virus. They chose this location because it’s far from civilization. Which means it’s far from any zombies.
FRANK
Look around. See if there’s any indication as to where they went.
The three split up and search the camp. RJ walks towards a door. It rattles and RJ stops. He approaches it slowly and swings the door open with his pistol raised. It is an owl. The owl flies out into the forest. RJ relaxes. A zombie runs out the door and tackles him. RJ’s gun is knocked from his hand. RJ and the zombie wrestle. Dion and Frank rush over to him. Nine more zombies exit from the door and charge at them. Frank and Dion begin shooting. More zombies begin pouring from the door. RJ pulls out his knife and stabs the zombie on top of him. He gets up and pulls out his machete and starts killing zombies.
RJ
There’s too many of them!
The three get back to back. The large group of zombies closes in on them. Multiple soldiers emerge from the forest and begin shooting the zombies with ease. The soldiers kill all of the zombies.
DION
Thank goodness you guys came.
The soldiers point their weapons at the three men.
DION
Whoa whoa whoa what the hell?
One of the soldiers steps forward. He is South American and around the age of 30. His name is ROMERO.
ROMERO
Who are you and why are you here?
FRANK
We’re from the Rig we're here to-
The soldiers close in on the three.

5.
ROMERO
Let me guess, Richards sent you?
FRANK
No.
RJ
So what if she did? We thought you guys were dead.
ROMERO
I’m sure that’s what she wants everyone to think.
FRANK
Listen, I need to talk to Doctor Brooke. Do you know where she is?
ROMERO
Even if I did, what makes you think I’m going to take you to her?
FRANK
Doctor Gable sent me.
Romero motions for the soldiers to lower their weapons.
ROMERO
Come with me.
Romero and his soldiers begin walking into the jungle. Frank, Dion, and RJ hesitate for a moment and then follow along.
They walk through the jungle and come across a makeshift camp comprised of the ruins of an ancient civilization. Soldiers walk among the camp. Romero’s soldiers disperse. Romero turns to the three men.
ROMERO
This way.
They walk to a large makeshift tent.
ROMERO
Stay here.
Romero enters the tent.
DION
Frank, this was a bad idea.

6.
RJ
Agreed. Whatever it is you think you're going to find, it can’t be worth all of this.
FRANK
Are you not at all surprised that this unit is alive?
RJ
Of course I am. But look at them, they’ve gone “Apocalypse Now”.
FRANK
We just need to remain calm. Don’t piss anyone off.
DION
No promises.
Romero exits the tent. He points at Frank.
ROMERO
The Colonel wants to see you.
Frank walks over to the tent and enters.
INT. TENT - DAY
Frank stands in the tent entrance. Sitting at a large table is a white woman around the age of 40. Her name is COLONEL SHULTZ.
SHULTZ
Frank Heston. The man who fell from the heavens only to land in hell. Ironic isn’t it?
FRANK
You know me?
SHULTZ
Yes, I do. I, like so many other units, were told of the story of the spaceman.
FRANK
It’s not that much of a story.
SHULTZ
I suppose so. Romero tells me that you want to speak to Doctor Brooke.

7.
FRANK
Doctor Gable sent me. Said that I would find the truth here.
SHULTZ
Oh you've found it alright. The truth.
FRANK
I need to speak to Brooke.
SHULTZ
You’ll have to forgive me Mr. Heston but I still don’t trust you even if Doctor Gable did. You see, you came here with two soldiers one who I know for sure came from the Rig.
FRANK
I’m not a soldier. All I want is the truth. I don’t care that you went rogue. I just want to know what happened.
PAUSE
SHULTZ
When Doctor Brooke told my unit the truth, they almost killed her. Thankfully they still obey me. Are you sure you want the truth Mr. Heston because I can guarantee you, that when you learn it, nothing will ever be the same.
FRANK
I know.
SHULTZ
(Sigh)
Follow me.
Shultz stands up and Frank follows her.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Shultz and Frank exit the tent and start walking. Romero, Dion, and RJ follow. They reach another tent with two guards at the entrance. They enter.

8.
INT. MEDICAL TENT - DAY
DOCTOR BROOKE, a black woman in her thirties is sitting at a table looking under a microscope. She turns and sees Shultz and others.
SHULTZ
Doctor Brooke, allow me to introduce you to Frank Heston and his friends.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Frank Heston? The astronaut?
SHULTZ
That’s right Doctor. He came all this way from the Rig to learn the truth and since you did such a great job telling it to me and the unit, I thought you could tell Frank here the same way you told us.
DOCTOR BROOKE
I’m sorry but no.
SHULTZ
Now why is that Doc?
DOCTOR BROOKE
I only told you because you beat it out of me.
SHULTZ
After one of my men overheard your conversation with the Rig.
FRANK
You tortured her.
SHULTZ
Yes. I don’t like being kept in the dark.
ROMERO
Didn't take long for her to talk.
DOCTOR BROOKE
I’m sorry Mr. Heston but I can’t tell you. It will only put you in more danger.

9.
FRANK
Please Doctor. I need to know. Doctor Gable sent me.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Gable? Is he ok?
FRANK
They locked him up. He told me that you could tell me how the virus actually started.
Doctor Brooke rubs her face in contemplation.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Six years ago, a study showed that the planet was in danger of overpopulation. It would have led to starvation, poverty, death, and war. A group came together and formed to prevent this. I was recruited by this group along with Gable. The group looked at many options to save mankind. At first they seemed small and simple. Grow more food, build a giant space station, things of that nature. Then the ideas became more extreme. Limiting the amount of people born. Sterilizing a percentage of the population. Then... Richards came up with an idea. One that the group felt was more... natural. An idea that couldn’t possibly be traced to the government or the group. The Genesis Protocol.
DION
Sounds biblical.
DOCTOR BROOKE
For the Genesis Protocol, a virus would be created. One that would wipe out a large portion of Earth’s population. Richards, Gable and I created the virus. It was released in every major city.
RJ
Fuck.

10.
DOCTOR BROOKE
The virus did it’s job. It one month, it killed 10% of the population.
FRANK
What the hell was the endgame?
DOCTOR BROOKE
After the population reached a number that the group was satisfied with, we would distribute the cure.
DION
You had a cure this whole time?
DOCTOR BROOKE
Yes.
RJ
Why didn’t you distribute it?
DOCTOR BROOKE
We were about to. Then, we discovered a side effect of the virus. Reports of those killed by the virus returning back to life yet still dead. It didn’t take long for us to realize that the virus not only killed it’s host but also turned them into zombies. Instead of distributing the virus and ending all of this before it began, the group saw this as an opportunity. An even more  natural way of decreasing the population even further.
FRANK
So they decided to let the apocalypse happen.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Yes.
FRANK
This group, do they have a plan to stop all of this.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Yes, but I don’t know what it is. Just that it would start the world anew.

11.
Silence. Frank, RJ, and Dion digest the truth.
FRANK
So there is a cure.
DOCTOR BROOKE
Yes. At the Rig. I’ve been trying to replicate it but most of my work was destroyed by the group.
FRANK
Who is this group?
DOCTOR BROOKE
I don’t know. Whoever they are, they are extremely dangerous. They will kill in order to keep their secret and to keep their plans intact.
PAUSE
SHULTZ
Now you know the truth Mr. Heston. Happy?
Frank exits the tent.
EXT. CAMP - DAY
Frank walks away from the camp and stops at the edge of the jungle. He stares into the jungle. The truth settling in. Shultz appears next to him.
FRANK
At the abandoned camp, where Romero found us. Those zombies...
SHULTZ
One of our men encountered a lone zombie. He got bitten and didn’t tell anyone. Before we knew what happened it was too late. He’d already turned others.
FRANK
I’m sorry.
SHULTZ
Thank you. So, what are you going to do now that you know the truth?

12.
FRANK
I’m going back to the Rig.
SHULTZ
Richards will kill you.
FRANK
Not if I tell my friend. He works close to her. If I can tell him the truth, he’ll protect me from her.
SHULTZ
Still though, you heard what Brooke said. Richards and this group will do anything to protect themselves and their plans.
FRANK
If there’s a cure, then it needs to be distributed. If there’s a chance we can end all of this then we have to do it. Come with us. We can stop them.
SHULTZ
I’m sorry Frank but... I can’t. We can’t. I’m sorry.
FRANK
I understand.
SHULTZ
I’ll have some men escort you safely to your helicopter in the morning.
FRANK
Thanks. What are you going to do with Brooke?
SHULTZ
She’ll continue working on replicating the cure. Just in case you can’t get it. Good luck Frank.
FRANK
Thanks.
INT. THE RIG - DAY
It is morning. Richards enters the room of Doctor Gable.

13.
RICHARDS
Frank Heston, Dion Wilson and Rian Jacobs are missing along with a helicopter. A camera showed that Heston was here. Talking to you.
DOCTOR GABLE
Are you jealous?
RICHARDS
What did you two talk about?
Doctor Gable smiles.
DOCTOR GABLE
I told him where to find the truth.
RICHARDS
If you think they’re going to find anything, you are mistaken.
DOCTOR GABLE
The truth will be set free and you will be exposed.
RICHARDS
I doubt that.
Richards pulls out a small pistol and shoots Doctor Gable in the head. Doctor Gable falls to the floor dead. Richards walks out of the room where two soldiers are standing guard.
RICHARDS
Clean this mess up.
Richards pulls out a radio.
RICHARDS
We have a rogue helicopter heading towards South America. Send a drone to take it out.
THE NEXT MORNING
EXT. THE AMAZON RAINFOREST - DAY
Frank, Dion, RJ, Romero, and three other soldiers reach the helicopter. Romero signals the three soldiers to leave and they re-enter the jungle.
FRANK
You’re coming?

14.
ROMERO
Shultz gave me permission. Thought I could give you a hand.
DION
Welcome to the team.
Dion extends his hand and Romero shakes it. The men board the helicopter and take off.
The helicopter flies over the ocean.
RJ
So what exactly is the plan for when we get back to the Rig? Richards surely knows we’re gone.
FRANK
She may not know why. That’s our advantage.
ROMERO
If she knows, then she'll surely try and kill us.
FRANK
If we can just get to Ulysses, then we should be safe.
Dion sees something in the distance.
DION
What the hell?
It is a drone.
DION
Oh shit! Guys!
The others look out the cockpit window and see the drone.
RJ
Shit!
The drone fires a missile. The missile hits the tail of the helicopter.
DION
Hang on!
The helicopter spins in the air plummeting towards the ocean.
END.

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