NUMB HUMOR STUDIOS PRESENTS:
PLANET Z
Season 3 Episode 5
"The Genesis Group"
Written by
William Fry & Michael Ledesma
The truck and the Riders enter Miami. Hendricks, Romero, Ava, and Mayor Gao are waiting for them at the gate. Dion gets out of the truck.
AVA
What happened to you?
DION
We had an accident and then made some friends. Speaking of which, this is Violet.
HENDRICKS
Where’s Frank?
VIOLET
He got shot.
AVA
What?
HENDRICK
Dion?
DION
It’s true. We were being chased by the army. Frank... Frank got shot.
Hendricks takes a seat on the ground, brushing his fingers through his hair.
HENDRICKS
I-I need a minute.
DION
The citizens of Boca... did they...?
ROMERO
They’re all here.
MAYOR GAO
Did you see the army?
Dion nods.
DION
It’s huge, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Bigger than any zombie horde we’ve come across.
VIOLET
Miami doesn’t stand a chance.
MAYOR GAO
We still have time to evacuate the city. We have some boats, we could move to find a new home.
ROMERO
We don’t have enough boats or fuel to evacuate everyone on time.
MAYOR GAO
It’s the safest option. What else should we do?
HENDRICKS
We stay and we fight.
DION
Hendricks, you didn’t see them. Their artillery is superior to ours.
HENDRICKS
We owe it to Frank. We owe it to him to protect Miami.
ROMERO
Hendricks is right, we worked so hard to make this our home. We need to fight for it.
MAYOR GAO
Okay, but we must protect the civilians. We’ll evacuate them into the Command Center, it’s the most secure place.
Pause
HENDRICKS
Alright, it's decided then, prepare for battle.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Frank is lying on a hospital bed unconscious. Frank is bandaged up. His bullet wound is stitched and patched. The hospital room is clean. Everything is white. The sun shines through the windows.
Frank wakes up and looks around at his new surroundings. A nurse walks in and smiles at him. She takes his vitals.
FRANK
Where am I?
The nurse continues to smile at him. A soldier enters carrying a tray of food. He places it in front of Frank. It is steak, potatoes, and green beans. Next to it, is a glass of juice.
The nurse and soldier leave. Frank tries to get out of bed but struggles with his wound. The door to the hospital room opens and Gerald enters. He closes the door behind him and stands near the entrance. He and Frank stare at each other.
GERALD
Hello Mr. Heston.
FRANK
Who are you?
GERALD
My name is Gerald.
FRANK
Where am I?
GERALD
Somewhere safe.
FRANK
I doubt that.
GERALD
Believe me Frank, you’re at the safest place on Earth. Safer than the International Space Station, the army camp, the Rig, and Miami.
FRANK
You've been watching me.
GERALD
Yes, we have.
FRANK
We?
GERALD
Mr. Heston, I'm head of an organization that you may have heard of. Maybe not by its exact name, The Genesis Group.
FRANK
You and Richards created the virus. The Genesis Protocol. You fired the missiles.
GERALD
Yes.
FRANK
You son of a bitch!
Frank gets out of bed and attempts to lunge at Gerald but his wound prevents him. He falls to the ground. Gerald helps him back into bed.
GERALD
Easy there. It may just be a flesh wound but you were still shot. You should eat. Our chef is very proud of his menu.
Gerald takes a seat next to the bed.
Frank knocks the tray over.
FRANK
Fuck you.
GERALD
You hate me. You think I’m psychotic. A monster. Well, Mr. Heston, I’m not going to defend myself. What’s done is done. You couldn’t stop it. The new age has begun. In a few hours, our army will descend on Miami and take it.
FRANK
Your army? It’s your army. Why? Why the cities?
GERALD
Mr. Heston when we enacted the Genesis Protocol, we hoped that in the aftermath, the world would rebuild itself.
FRANK
It did.
GERALD
No, no it didn’t. A few walled-off cities... that’s not rebuilding.
FRANK
And what exactly is your idea of rebuilding?
GERALD
A world built on unity. No more wars. No more division. Just a species with the common purpose of living in harmony.
FRANK
You’re crazy.
GERALD
Everyone’s crazy.
FRANK
Why don’t you just kill me already?
GERALD
Why in the world would I try to kill you?
Pause
GERALD
Well, to be honest, I did try. I considered you a threat. The other members of the group consider you a threat. But now, I see that you are an asset.
FRANK
(Sarcastically)
Oh really.
GERALD
Yes. You see Mr. Heston, this new world of ours is going to need a leader. Someone that people can look up to. Someone they can trust. Someone who has survived the impossible. I can think of no one better than the astronaut who came back to Earth.
FRANK
You want me to lead?
GERALD
Yes.
Frank laughs.
GERALD
All of this is a lot to handle. Think about it. I’ll let you rest.
Gerald gets up to leave.
GERALD
Think about it, Frank.
Gerald turns to leave.
FRANK
Where am I?
GERALD
Somewhere safe.
Gerald leaves.
The Genesis Army nears Miami.
EXT. MIAMI - NIGHT
The citizens of Miami prepare for battle. Hendricks, Romero, RJ, and Freddy hand out weapons such as rifles, pistols, shotguns, and blades. The armed citizens go to the top of the wall and wait. Mayor Gao and Mayor Janson are put in the protected Command Center building along with women and children. Ava gives Hank to a friend who takes him into the shelter. Ava and her doctors prepare medical supplies. As Hendricks helps people get to shelter, he notices Violet and her Riders preparing to leave. He approaches them.
HENDRICKS
Where are you going?
VIOLET
All due respect, this battle is already lost.
HENDRICKS
So you’re running away.
VIOLET
At least we’ll be alive.
HENDRICKS
You said you’d help us.
VIOLET
Yes, I did. However, this is a losing battle, and I have my own people to worry about. If you want, you can come with us. You, your wife, and your son. Leave before it’s too late.
HENDRICKS
No.
VIOLET
Fine. Your loss.
Violet starts her bike.
VIOLET
Frank was a good man. I’d only just met him but... he was a good man.
The gate opens and Violet and her Riders leave. The gate closes.
INT. COMPOUND CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
The Genesis Group is assembled in the conference room.
VALERIE
Are you mad?
GERALD
I’ve never been more clear-minded.
DECKARD
You want Frank Heston to lead our world.
GERALD
Yes.
The Group murmurs among themselves.
GERALD
People, people please. I know what you’re thinking. Frank Heston is not a threat. He is an asset.
GOLDSTEIN
How on earth is he an asset?
GERALD
We can’t lead the world. At least not publicly. We can lead from the shadows. However, to do so we need someone to represent us. Someone that people will trust.
DECKARD
Are you sure about this Gerald?
GERALD
Yes. Everything is going according to plan. In a few hours, our army will have taken Miami and then the time of rebuilding will begin.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Frank stares at the ceiling. A soldier enters to bring him food. Frank pretends to be asleep. The soldier puts the tray on the bed. Frank grabs the guard and slams his head down into the metal tray. The soldier falls to the ground. Frank gets out of bed and picks up his tray. He knocks the soldier out with the tray. Frank takes the soldier’s gun.
INT. THE COMPOUND - DAY
Frank exits the hospital room and runs into the nurse. He knocks her down and continues to quickly limp through the halls. An alarm goes off. He goes up a flight of stairs and through a door.
EXT. ISLAND - DAY
Frank exits the compound. The sun is bright. He looks around at his surroundings. In the distance, is the ocean.
FRANK
What the-
Soldiers swarm around him, their guns raised. Frank drops the gun and raises his hands.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Frank is handcuffed to his bed. The bed is surrounded by guards. Gerald enters.
GERALD
I’m disappointed Frank. I hoped you would join us. I convinced the Group to allow you to become the leader.
FRANK
Sorry to disappoint you.
GERALD
I beg you to reconsider.
FRANK
Go fuck yourself.
GERALD
Think of the world you can create. For you. For Hendricks, Ava, and their child. Please, Frank. There’s nothing more you can do. You can’t stop us. We won. I hate to put it that way but you need to understand. Your fight is not with us.
Gerald turns to the soldiers.
The soldiers leave.
GERALD
Again, think about it.
Gerald walks to the exit.
Frank contemplates everything that Gerald has said. He realizes the situation. That the fight is over.
FRANK
Wait.
Gerald stops.
FRANK
Just... don’t attack Miami.
GERALD
That depends on the citizens.
FRANK
Let me talk to them.
EXT. MIAMI - DAY
It is quiet. The citizens wait. Gripping their weapons nervously.
RJ looks through binoculars. He sees the Genesis Army. An army of at least 10,000.
RJ
Here they come.
The army marches up to Miami and stops.
INT. COMPOUND CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
The Genesis Group sits at their table. Standing in front, are Gerald and Frank.
GERALD
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Frank Heston. Leader of the new world.
The group applauds. A soldier whispers in Gerald’s ear.
GERALD
The army has arrived in Miami.
Gerald picks up a phone.
EXT. MIAMI - DAY
Hendricks’ radio goes off. He answers it.
HENDRICKS
Hello?
GERALD
(Radio)
Citizens of Miami. My name is Gerald. I know you must be scared but you need not worry. Unlike the other cities I have decided to give you a chance to surrender peacefully. My people and I are rebuilding the world. Trying to bring it out of the darkness. Now you don’t know me so I’m going to let someone else talk. Someone who I think will convince you.
FRANK
(Radio)
Hendricks?
HENDRICKS
Frank? Is that you?
FRANK
(Radio)
Yeah.
Ava and Dion hug at the sound of Frank’s voice.
HENDRICKS
Frank, what’s going on? Where are you?
FRANK
(Radio)
I’m on some island.
HENDRICKS
What the hell is going on?
FRANK
(Radio)
Do what they say, Hendricks. It’s over.
HENDRICKS
Frank, what are you saying?
INT. COMPOUND CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Frank stares at the screens showing the Genesis Army and Miami.
FRANK
I’m saying... I’m saying... Give them hell.
EXT. MIAMI - DAY
Hendricks smiles.
INT. COMPOUND CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
GERALD
Guards, take him to a secure room.
The guards drag Frank away.
Gerald picks up a phone.
GERALD
Commence the attack.
A Genesis Army tank advances towards Miami and fires. The shell hits the top part of the wall killing some of the citizens.
AVA
The battle has begun.
Hendricks raises his hand.
HENDRICKS
Ready!
The citizens raise their weapons.
HENDRICKS
Aim! Fire!
END.