INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Andrew, Edison, and Megan sit on the couch watching TV.
EDISON
Do you ever wonder if we live in a simulation?
ANDREW
Okay, what’s wrong?
EDISON
Nothing. This year’s just been weird. Just makes you wonder.
There is a flash of light. Andrew, Edison, and Megan stand up. Megan pulls out her taser. In front of them on the floor, is Daniel and Joel.
EDISON
What in the world!
Daniel and Joel stand up.
DANIEL
Hello.
Megan raises her taser. Joel materializes his Katana gun.
JOEL
Easy.
ANDREW
Who the hell are you guys?
DANIEL
My name is Daniel and this is Joel. We… well, it’s kinda hard to explain.
MEGAN
We’re listening.
EDISON
I’m sorry, but is that a katana with a gun for a handle? Also, why do you have a katana?
JOEL
Why don’t you?
EDISON
Because...
Edison pulls out his snub nose revolver and points it at Joel.
EDISON
I have a gun!
ANDREW
Edison, Megan, let them explain.
DANIEL
Thank you.
INT. WOODS - DAY
There is a flash of light and Bailey and Tyler fall onto the ground.
TYLER
Ow, I think I landed on a rock.
Bailey helps Tyler up.
TYLER
Where do you think we are?
BAILEY
Don’t know.
Bailey looks at her gauntlet.
BAILEY
Whatever it is, Boss is here.
There is a growling moan.
Tyler and Bailey turn around. Standing in front of them are three zombies. Bloody drool drips from their mouths and their piercing black eyes stare hungrily at the two.
TYLER
Uhhhhhhhhhh what?
Bailey materializes her spear.
BAILEY
Wait here.
Bailey casually walks over to the zombies and prepares to pierce each of their heads.
The zombies dodge her strikes and one of the zombies tackles her. The other two zombies charge at Tyler.
TYLER
Oh shit.
Tyler materializes his staff and points it at one of the zombies. He shoots a beam of blue light and disintegrates the zombie. The other zombie pounces on him and attempts to bite him but Tyler blocks the zombie's jaw with his staff.
Bailey kicks the zombie off her and plunges her spear into its chest. The zombie walks forward allowing the spear to plunge deeper. Its mouth thrashes at Bailey.
There's a gunshot and the zombie goes limp. Bailey slides her spear out. Standing next to her is Frank Heston.
The zombie on top of Tyler gets closer to his neck. A machete hits the tops of the zombie’s head, and it goes limp. Standing in front of him is Dion.
DION
You good brother?
TYLER
Uhhhh yeah.
Dion helps Tyler up. Frank and Bailey join them.
DION
So, you wanna tell us where you're from, cause I’ve never seen a weapon like yours.
BAILEY
That depends.
FRANK
You can trust us.
BAILEY
Can we?
FRANK
Look, I know it’s hard to trust people nowadays, but you can trust us. We have a small camp North from here. It isn’t much but… it’s safe.
TYLER
Oh my gosh. You’re… you’re Frank Heston.
FRANK
How do you-
TYLER
This is “Planet Z”.
DION
Planet what?
TYLER
Then that makes you Dion. Holy shit, I love this show.
BAILEY
Ummmm Tyler. What are you talking about?
TYLER
The zombie tv show. You know, about the astronaut who returns to Earth only to find out it’s been overrun with zombies.
FRANK
How did you know I was an astronaut?
Dion pulls out a pistol and points it at the two.
DION
We should kill them, for all we know, they could be raiders.
TYLER
What? No, those are the bad guys.
FRANK
Prove it.
TYLER
Uhhhhh well, it’s kind of hard to do that cause you see, we’re not from around this world.
DION
That’s it, I’m killing them.
BAILEY
This is all a simulation!
DION
Yeah, definitely killing them.
Dion points his pistol at Tyler.
BAILEY
Shit!
FRANK
Dion no!
DION
Listen Frank, I respect your whole trusting people thing but sometimes, you just have to think about yourself.
Bailey taps her gauntlet, and she swipes through some files and stops. Displayed on the holographic display, is the information of the television series known as “Planet Z” Frank reads the information. Dion slowly lowers his gun.
FRANK
You’re telling the truth.
BAILEY
Yeah. Now, if I can explain everything.
Frank and Dion nod.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Andrew, Edison, and Megan sit on the couch contemplating everything that Daniel has said.
ANDREW
So, you're saying that our entire existence is not only a simulation, but a tv show?
Daniel nods.
EDISON
“The Edison Show”. Has a nice ring to it.
ANDREW
What makes you think the show is about you?
EDISON
Andrew, look at me. I’m obviously the main character. The show is about me having to live with you two.
MEGAN
If anyone’s the main character, it’s me. A lesbian having to live with two men.
JOEL
The show is about all of you guys surviving college.
EDISON
For real? Who would want to watch something so depressing? At least tell me we’re on NBC.
DANIEL
The CW actually.
EDISON
Awww man.
DANIEL
Look, as much as we’d love to discuss the show with you, we’re kind of on a mission.
ANDREW
You're looking for Boss and a piece of the antivirus.
JOEL
Nice to know SOMEONE was paying attention.
Edison grips his pistol.
ANDREW
Well, we haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary. Well, except you two.
MEGAN
He could be on campus. That's how we spend the rest of our time. IF a piece of the antivirus is here, it could be there.
Edison stands up.
EDISON
Okay then, let’s go find this McGuffin.
Meanwhile, in PLANET Z…
Frank sits on a log. Dion leans against a tree. Both contemplate everything that Bailey has told them.
FRANK
So, I’m just… a character.
TYLER
A very cool character.
BAILEY
Tyler.
TYLER
Sorry.
BAILEY
Look, I know that all of this is hard to handle. I still haven’t fully processed it, but we need your help.
Frank stands up.
FRANK
You got it.
TYLER
Awesome.
BAILEY
Okay, have you seen an object out of the ordinary? Something with glowing numbers or letters.
FRANK
Uhhhhhh, no?
DION
To be fair, this place has a lot of stuff that’s out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, seven zombies emerge from the dense part of the woods.
DION
Hold on a sec.
Dion raises his pistol and shoots one of the zombies in the head. Nothing happens. The zombie continues moving towards them despite having a hole in its head.
DION
That’s not supposed to happen.
BOSS
I thought I’d raise the stakes.
The four turn around and standing in his battle armor, is Boss.
Bailey and Tyler materialize their weapons. Dion and Frank raise theirs.
BOSS
(To Tyler)
I see your face has healed nicely.
TYLER
No thanks to you.
BOSS
There’s no antivirus here by the way.
BAILEY
So why are you here?
BOSS
Just thought I'd say bye considering you two are going to die. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to be somewhere.
Boss disappears in a flash of light.
The four turn to face the zombies.
BAILEY
Tyler, in the show, are there other ways to kill the zombies other than the head.
TYLER
No. It’s always been the head.
FRANK
What do we do?
BAILEY
Tyler, do you think you can do your wizard thing?
DION
What’s she saying?
TYLER
I can try.
Tyler raises his staff and brings it down. Nothing happens. He tries again.
TYLER
I don’t understand. It should work.
BAILEY
It’s okay.
Bailey charges at the zombies and impales one of them in the head with her spear. It continues trying to bite her.
Frank and Dion shoot at the other zombies but they don’t go down. They continue walking towards them.
Bailey withdraws her spear and the zombie pounces on her. She holds back its jaws with her spear.
BAILEY
Tyler!
TYLER
(To Himself)
Okay okay. C’mon Tyler you got this. So, what if you got your face smashed in by Boss. You're a wizard. No, you're a Wizard KING.
Tyler’s staff begins glowing blue. He raises it and brings it down. A blue light wave shoots from the ground and vaporizes all the zombies. Bailey gets up. Tyler falls to his knees.
BAILEY
Tyler!
Bailey runs to Tyler.
BAILEY
Are you okay?
TYLER
Yeah. Yeah, I’m just tired.
BAILEY
So am I.
FRANK
So, what now?
BAILEY
Us two are going to follow Boss. My guess is that he’s where our friends are.
FRANK
We’re going with you.
Bailey nods. She helps Tyler up and taps her gauntlet.
BAILEY
Hold on to me.
The three men place their hands on Bailey. Bailey taps her gauntlet, and they disappear in a flash of white light.
Back in COLLEGE…
Daniel, Joel, Andrew, Edison, and Megan walk around campus.
DANIEL
I’m not seeing anything.
JOEL
Me neither.
ANDREW
What could it be?
DANIEL
Anything. Something random to something personal.
Edison pulls out a small black box.
EDISON
Like this?
The group examines the little black box.
JOEL
What is that?
Edison opens the little black box. Inside, is a diamond ring with glowing numbers and symbols.
ANDREW
Is that for who I think it’s for?
MEGAN
Holy shit that diamond is huge. How were you able to afford that?
EDISON
Over the years, I’ve been stealing money from Andrew’s wallet.
ANDREW
Dude!
EDISON
Yeah. I was thinking of asking Britt tonight. Of course, our whole relationship is nothing but a storyline in a comedy series.
DANIEL
You know, you two probably knew each other in the real world. Maybe the show was you two finding each other again.
EDISON
Thanks. See Andrew, that’s what a friend is supposed to say.
ANDREW
Well forgive me Edison. I, like you and Megan, just found out that we’re living in a simulation.
EDISON
You and your excuses.
There is a flash of light and Boss appears near the group.
BOSS
Oh good, you’re all here. I don’t have to hunt you down.
Boss materializes his mace.
BOSS
Let’s not make this difficult. Hand over the antivirus.
MEGAN
Is that Boss?
Daniel and Joel nod.
MEGAN
He’s shorter than I expected.
BOSS
C’mon now, hand it over. Besides, do you really want a repeat of what happened on Battle Island?
ANDREW
What happened on Battle Island?
JOEL
Oh not much. We just got our asses kicked by him.
ANDREW
Uh huh.
DANIEL
Hand over the antivirus pieces.
BOSS
I’m sorry, did you just ask me that?
Daniel materializes his tomahawks. Joel materializes his katana gun. Edison pulls out his snub nose and Megan pulls out her taser.
ANDREW
Uh guys, I don’t have a weapon.
MEGAN
Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.
Daniel steps towards Boss.
DANIEL
I won’t ask again.
BOSS
Neither will I.
Daniel and Boss start running towards each other. Daniel starts pixelating and falls to the ground. He starts screaming in pain.
JOEL
Dan!
Boss walks over to Daniel.
BOSS
My goodness, I thought you would at least put up a fight.
Daniel tries to get up but struggles. Joel shoots at Boss and hits his armor.
JOEL
Andrew, Megan, we need to surround Edison.
ANDREW
I still don’t have a weapon.
MEGAN
Edison, give him your gun.
EDISON
What!
JOEL
Give it to him! You have the last piece of the antivirus.
Edison hands Andrew his gun. Andrew and Megan stand on either side of Edison.
BOSS
Look, I am tired of fighting you all. It’s always the same. We fight and I beat all of you. Aren’t you sick of that?
Daniel stands up.
DANIEL
Yeah, I am.
Daniel swings his tomahawk but pixelates. The tomahawk disappears and Boss grabs him by the throat.
BOSS
What has gotten into you lately?
Daniel continues pixelating and then goes limp. His eyes go blank.
JOEL
What did you do!
BOSS
Nothing. I’m just as surprised as you are.
Boss drops Daniel.
BOSS
Shame. I was really hoping our last moment together would be more climatic. Oh well, at least I can kill you all.
Joel raises his weapon.
JOEL
If he kills me, run. Hide until the others find you. Whatever you do, do not let him take the antivirus.
Andrew and Megan nod.
Joel runs towards Boss and swings his katana. Boss blocks it with his mace. The force knocks Joel to the ground. Boss prepares to bring his mace down. There is a flash of light and Bailey, Tyler, Frank, and Dion appear. They raise their weapons and surround Boss.
BAILEY
It’s over. Hand over the antiv-
Bailey sees Daniel’s body.
BAILEY
Daniel!
(Turns towards Boss)
What did you do!
BOSS
Bailey, I can explain-
Bailey throws her spear at Boss and it lodges itself into his armor. She runs at Boss and punches him in the face. Boss stumbles back. Bailey throws another punch, but Boss catches it and throws her to the side. Joel shoots his Glock. Boss covers his face and deflects the bullets. Tyler shoots an energy beam out of his staff and hits Boss. Boss flies back and hits the ground. Frank and Dion shoot at Boss who tries getting up.
Boss lets out a battle cry and hits the ground with his mace. The shockwave knocks everyone to the ground. Boss walks over to Edison. Andrew shoots at Boss. Boss hits Andrew with his mace and knocks him out. Megan shoots her taser, but it doesn’t affect Boss.
Boss stands over Edison.
BOSS
Hand it over.
EDISON
No.
BOSS
Okay then.
Boss raises his mace and prepares to bring it down.
Behind him, Bailey jumps and brings her spear down through his chest. Boss yells in pain and falls to his knees. Bailey drives the spear deeper into him.
BAILEY
Tyler!
Tyler runs over to Boss and taps his gauntlet.
TYLER
Accessing his inventory. Transferring all the pieces of the antivirus.
BOSS
Noooooooooooooo!
TYLER
Got it!
BAILEY
Joel, now!
Joel prepares to swing his katana at Boss’s head but before he can do so, Boss disappears along with Daniel’s body.
JOEL
What… What happened?
BAILEY
Programmer! Programmer! Answer me!
THE PROGRAMMER
Do you have the pieces of the antivirus?
Edison hands the diamond ring to Tyler.
TYLER
We do now.
THE PROGRAMMER
I’m pulling you out.
BAILEY
What happened to Daniel!
THE PROGRAMMER
I’ll explain everything when you return.
Joel walks over to Andrew, Edison, Megan, Frank, and Dion.
JOEL
Thank you, for your help.
FRANK
No problem.
MEGAN
So, what now?
JOEL
We go back to the real world. Hopefully, the antivirus can be repaired, and the simulation can be saved.
EDISON
Does this mean my show’s getting canceled?
ANDREW
Again, it’s not your show.
JOEL
No, but hopefully life will return to… our kind of normal.
DION
Whatever the hell that was.
THE PROGRAMMER
Initiating exit procedure.
Joel, Bailey, and Tyler disappear in a flash of light.
INT. MEDICAL WARD - DAY
Greg wakes up in a hospital bed. Sitting in front of his bed is Freddy Dobson. He is looking over a file. A rolling cart with a black duffle bag is stationed next to him.
FREDDY DOBSON
You took quite a beating.
Greg rubs his head.
GREG
Where are the others?
FREDDY DOBSON
They’ve retrieved all the pieces of the antivirus.
GREG
That’s great!
FREDDY DOBSON
Yes, it is. But that doesn't mean we’re out of the clear yet.
GREG
The Luddites?
FREDDY DOBSON
Adrian and his people still pose a threat. I’d like to take care of that threat.
Freddy Dobson gets up and places the file on Greg’s lap. Greg opens it. The file contains a picture of Adrian and his info.
FREDDY DOBSON
Ready to save humanity?
GREG
When do we start?
Dobson walks over to the large duffle bag.
FREDDY DOBSON
I had the armory make this for you. Call it a special order.
Dobson pulls out a minigun with a chainsaw mounted on it like a bayonet. Greg gets out of the hospital bed and takes the weapon.
GREG
Groovy.
END.