Thank yous

My tentative list of thank yous include:

To Rocky who initially inspired this idea.  Meeting you made me thing that there should be a local romantic comedy that celebrates finding the one that completes you.

To Dekya and Aids, who initially were to be my dream team in shooting this as a short film.  I love Dek's sense of narrative and I am very excited for Aids' skill in post production.  Aids even offered his production house to handle the effects in the story.

To Prince, James, Macy, Urim, and many others, who loved the story from the moment they heard it, and are excited to see it someday shared out there.

To Lei, who offered to provide a song if this ever becomes a movie.

To Carl, who I feel might be the only one who can make a comic version of this if a short film never happens.



To any new readers, I highly recommend you check the area on the right side of the blog, for the proper links on how to read the script in the correct order.

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Tobie Abad

Act Three - The End Part Two

EXT. SUNKEN GARDEN - EVENING
People are all hanging around in the park. Many are hanging around in groups. Others are just standing as couples. There is a festive feeling in the air. The scene is colorful and cheery. People seem to be all waiting for something. 

EXT. SUNKEN GARDEN, CANDLE AREA - EVENING

JIM is where many candles are currently lit. There are flowers and photographs set near the candles, like a MEMORIAL of some sort. Some of the pictures show adults, children, even pets. The people here are more somber. Quieter. 

Jim walks up towards the MEMORIAL. He bends down to look at some of the pictures. He sees a picture of a HAPPY COUPLE. Jim stares at it.  He picks up the picture and finds himself feeling sad... jealous.. of the couple in the picture.

JIM (voice over)

It was all just a case of bad timing, I guess.

JIM (to himself)

Bad timing...

Makes you wonder if someone out there is trying to tell you something.

I mean, think about it.  Zombies.  Aliens.  Super gigantic monsters.

Each one happening on the very day you've set a date

with someone who may just as well be "the One."

I'm a geek, you see.

I'm a believer of signs.

A heartless romantic.

A fool.

I hear a song and I find myself believing the lyrics are a message I'm meant to hear that very moment.   A billboard catches my eye and I realize that a phrase or a statement on the board was a missive sent to me from somewhere out there.

I believe in first sight.  In ever after.  In true love's kiss.

I believe in holding on.  In trying harder.  In not giving up.

I believe someone out there completes you.

And when you find that person, nothing can ever keep you apart.

Jim bends down to return the picture.  Someone in red knee socks walks past him, accidentally knocking him forward into the pictures.  Jim looks up to complain but there are way too many people walking past him.

Jim

Nothing at all.

UNCHAINED MELODY suddenly plays.  People ahead of Jim start to part to the side, as each person looks around for the source of the ring tone.  Eventually, PAM is revealed, with her hands holding what seems to be a damaged cellphone.  She is wearing red knee socks, a thick jacket, and a bonnet.  

JIM 

Unbelievable.

PAM (Seeing Jim)

Hey.

Jim walks to her.  People start to step back to give them space.  Pam never moves.  She stares at Jim as if she was seeing a living miracle, which isn't far from the truth given she thought he had died in the attack of the Kaiju.

JIM

You made it.

PAM

We both did.

JIM

I was so scared that you died in..

PAM

I fell in.  Someone threw me a cellphone. 

I used it to call for help.  

JIM

This.. is impossible.

PAM

Ain't it?

You know, I still don't know your na-

Jim shakes his head and before saying another word, leans into Pam.  Pam leans in as well.  The two enter a magical beautiful kiss, as sparks swirl around them, as bells begin to fill the air, as chanting voices proclaim victory.

The two keep kissing, as the camera seemingly circles around them, then stops to focus on the two.  They are all smiles. They can barely look away from each other.

JIM

I still have Ice cream..

PAM

Ooh.. and marshmallows..

JIM

A whole new bag...

PAM

You barely know me.

JIM

I know you complete me.

Golden light covers them.  The choral rises in tone.  

PAM

I feel you do that to me too.

They lean close, noses touching.  Jim and Pam are constantly smiling.  They have found each other.

JIM

Jim.

PAM

Pam.

JIM

Nice to meet you.

PAM

At last.

The voices singing raise in pitch to Alleluias.  Pam and Jim look up to see the source of the singing.  The sky is filled with golden angels that have descended from the very sky.  Rays of golden light cut through the clouds.  A blue cross burns in the sky.  It is the Rapture.

Pam and Jim audibly sigh full of frustration.

PAM

Talk about..

JIM

... bad timing.

They look at each other and break into a bout of laughter.  They kiss.  Jim gives the angels the finger.

THE END

Act Three - The End Part 1

EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - MID AFTERNOON
JIM stares at a hole in the ground.  Where the convenience store once stood, there is now nothing but a smoking smoldering crater.  Jim is wearing a pair of slightly burnt jeans, a torn jacket, and a cap.  His right arm is wrapped in a bandage and there's a dried blood splotch on it.   He is about to walk away when he realizes he sees something still intact in the wreckage.  He reaches down and lifts out of the debris a BAG OF ICE CREAM CONES.

He cannot help but smile a bitter sweet smile.

(off camera) PAM

I guess all we need now is ice cream?

Jim turns around to see Pam standing along the sidewalk as well.  Pam has some bandages around her arms. A small bruise is visible on her left cheek.   She has dragged with her a grocery cart, and the cart is filled with boxes of canned goods and stuff.

JIM

You!

PAM (mimicking his voice)

Yes me!

The two freeze.  Once can almost imagine them wanting to reach close and hug each other.  Jim opens his mouth, but rather than say anything, he sees the cart, sees the boxes, then sees Pam is about to say something.  He reaches out and plants his hands over her mouth.

Pam stares at him, eye brows raising.  She obviously is asking, "What the heck are you doing?"  Jim tries to pantomime to her not to say anything.  To stay quiet.  Then slowly removes his hands.  He quickly looks around and sees a small rock to use as a writing instrument, then scrapes onto the ground something for Pam to read.  Pam leans closer to read it.  She mouths the words and we see what is written, "No Words. Each Time we Plan..  Shit happens."

Pam almost breaks into a laugh, but Jim again begs her wordlessly not to make a sound.  Pam slowly nods, deciding to go with him on this.  She too drops to the floor to grab a rock.

Pam writes:  Okay, no words.

Jim writes:  Glad you're alive.

Pam writes: Ditto.

Jim writes: Delivering supplies?  

Jim then points to the grocery cart.  

Pam nods and writes in response:  Yes.  Funny how no looting happened.

Jim: Depends where.

Pam glances at her wrist watch for the time.  Her eyes widen.  She rises to her feet and brushes her pants clean.  She then digs into her pocket and pulls out Jim's cellphone.   Jim looks sad and tries not to accept it.  She rolls her eyes amusedly and pulls out a second phone.  She mimes, "That phone, yours.  This phone mine."

Jim takes the phone.  As he fiddles with it, he looks up to ask something but she stops him by causing the phone to ring.  The ring tone is UNCHAINED MELODY.  He looks at it and the caller is listed as "Date"

She cuts the call.  He mimes and mouths again:  1 p.m.  Tomorrow.

She laughs soundlessly.  With her phone, she punches in an answer.  Jim's phone gets a message.  He looks at what it says:

1:00 p.m.

MEGA MALL

By the Building B
Julia Vargas Entrace

Jim looks up to respond, but Pam is gone.

JIM (under his breath)
Just like Batman.
Frigging cool.

INT.  JIM's ROOM - LATE EVENING

We have a happy montage as Jim preps the things he will use for the date.  We see him choosing among a set of damaged clothes in a half-burnt closet the best looking shirt.  Then underwear, then pants.  We see him then go to the corner of the room that is now the bathroom (wider shot reveals where bathroom used to be is now a gaping hole in the side of the building).  He brushes his teeth, then gargles.  Then heads to bed.

JIM (to himself/viewers)

This is it.

DIRECTOR NOTE:  Treatment of the following sequence is as follows.  The screen will be split into two screens.  The LEFT SCREEN will feature Pam.  The RIGHT SCREEN will feature Jim.  The two screen will be one single long shot from the person's home to the meeting area.  

For the LEFT SCREEN
Pam wakes up in her bedroom, which we see has holes in the walls, posters of M. Night Shyamalan and Nolan movies, and Adventure Time bedsheets.  She goes to the bathroom, takes a quick shower, brushes her teeth while she combs her hair, then gets quickly dressed, heads out to walk a bit, before boarding a cab, occupies herself in the cab by reading her copy of a book called The Gossamer Tower, then finally arrives, pays, and steps down from the cab to stare at Mega Mall.

For the RIGHT SCREEN

Jim wakes up in his bedroom, quickly strips off his clothes and runs to the bathroom and nearly falls through the hole, backs up and goes to the corner where he takes a quick shower, towel dries, brushes his teeth then fusses over his nose black heads, gets dressed, walks out of the house, then crosses some street to get to the stairs to the MRT, waits for the train, boards it, and then smiles at himself as he thinks, this is finally it, before he arrives, gets down from the MRT, sees the Mega Mall building, and curries down the steps to make his way to the entrance.

The two screens then converge into one wide shot as we realize the two are practically in the same location, but due to the number of people, still unaware of each other's presence.  But before they notice each other...

SFX

(MASSIVE MONSTER ROAR)

Everyone in the shot looks upwards...

CUT to POV of crowd looking up towards MEGA MALL  BUILDING.  Rising from behind it, towering far higher than it, is a massive KAIJU MONSTER the likes the world has never seen before.  Imagine if Godzilla somehow had a lovechild with Mothra, Cthulhu, King Kong, and the Kraken and that child was one single monstrous being.

In reply, military helicopters and jet planes emerge to fly by and attack it!

CUT back to EARLIER SHOT

Everyone screams and begins to run.  Pam and Jim are so close, but the crowd separates them as they break away to run for shelter.  We hear the KAIJU MONSTER SCREAMING.

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO CUE CARD

WHITE TEXT

Five Days Later

EXT. MEGA MALL RUINS. Early Morning

Jim is sitting on the rubble perimeter.  A policeman asks if he is okay, but he does not respond.

CUT to WIDE SHOT of MEGA MALL RUINS

Similar to the opening shot, we see a massive crater.  Only instead of the store, the crater here encompasses the size of Mega Mall.

Jim is distraught.  We see on his phone "Number cannot be reached."  Jim stands up, throws his cellphone into the hole.  Then walks away.

Act Two - The Middle - Part 2

INT. JIM's ROOM - LATE EVENING

What was once a mess of geek stuff, blank DVDs, and books. Is now a small reinforced shelter with knives stabbed on the walls for easy access, wood nailed across windows to block entry, and lots of canned goods in neat stacks. Most of the geek stuff is gone, although one can still see hints of them in the room.

JIM enters the room with a pile of clothes in his hands. He fumbles with the wireless phone and starts dialing. While waiting for it to connect, he hurriedly places the stack of clothes near the closet door.

As the phone rings, he uses his foot to swivel open the door, revealing a gun he had gathered and kept for safety as well as what looks like riot gear. He starts putting his clothes inside.

The ringing stops.

Jim stares at the phone. Slowly, he moves towards it, almost like someone afraid that it will explode. But nothing, just silence. He picks it up gingerly, then worriedly looks it over.

JIM (towards the phone)

Hello?

Hesitantly, Jim hits the flash button and the dial tone returns. He sighs, takes another deep breath, then hits redial.

The phone begins to ring again.

Jim moves to the bathroom, bringing the phone with him. The mirror is shattered, and there are hints of some dried blood still on the walls or corners of the mirror. Jim grabs the tooth paste and tooth brush, and was about to apply the paste when the ringing stops.

PAM (through phone)

Hello?

Jim, in his eagerness, squeezes most of the toothpaste all over his other hand. He drops it and grabs the phone.

JIM

Hey!

PAM (through phone)

Hey, so sorry about that. You called earlier right?

JIM

We're you expecting someone else?

Jim postures proudly, smearing the toothpaste onto his waist. Whoops.

PAM (through phone)

Ha. Ha. I heard the ringing earlier.

I just didn't recognize it.

JIM

Not the Unchained Melody you were expecting?

Jim realizes he just stupidly brought up her ex. Scowling, he raises his hand to give himself a face palm. Whoops. More toothpaste.

PAM (through phone)

Of course not. He's dead.

The zombies got to him.

JIM

Wha... wait? What?

PAM (through phone)
They cornered him somewhere in Makati.  He tried fending them off but 

there were just too many of them.  When one tore a chunk of his neck, 

we realized there was no way to save him.

JIM

Oh God, I am so-

PAM (through phone)

I'm kidding!

I'm kidding.

The bastard's alive, but that's fine.

They realized he didn't have any brains.

The two fall silent, then break into laughter. Jim wipes himself clean, then ends up sitting on the bed.

JIM

So, what was with all the books?

PAM (through phone)

Manuals.

JIM

Yeah, manuals?

PAM (through phone)

My parents don't believe the zombie outbreak is over. 

 Part of them still believes those creatures might rise up again.

JIM

So they're building a fort or something?

PAM (through phone)

They bought one of those concrete bunkers that are being built somewhere in Marikina?

JIM

Crazy...

PAM (through phone)

They were thinking of reinforcing them further.

JIM

It happened everywhere. Did you read online?

China. Australia. Brazil. Everywhere.

PAM (through phone)

I lost my net access. My dad used the laptop to bar the window.

JIM

Well, I'm glad you're safe.

PAM (through phone)

I'm glad you're safe too.

Jim just smiles. And then his eyes wander onto the bag of MARSHMALLOWS

Simultaneously, JIM and PAM speak up

JIM

Hey, did you ever-

PAM (through phone)

By the way, the-

And again, simultaneously, JIM and PAM speak up

JIM

You first...

PAM (through phone)

You first...

And break into laughter. But while laughing, Jim speaks up.

JIM

No. Come on, you first.

PAM (through phone)

Okay.. the ice cream. I never got to eat it.

JIM

Really?

PAM (through phone)

Yeah, I left it in the freezer when I got home. But before I could get to it-

JIM

The zombies?

PAM (through phone)

My father. He found it and ate it while I was asleep. He ate all of it.

JIM

That was half a gallon!

PAM (through phone)

Obviously, you haven't met my father.

JIM

I haven't met you either.

Tell you what. What if we have a meet up tomorrow.

PAM (through phone)

I'll ask him if he's free.

JIM

No! I didn't mean that.

PAM (through phone)

I know. I'm kidding.

You want to meet up.

JIM

Yes. I can bring a gallon of ice cream.

You can bring cones or bowls or whatever.

PAM (through phone)

And marshmallows?

Jim grabs the bag to his chest.

JIM

Already covered.

A brief pause. A moment of silence. Jim's smile never wavers.

PAM (through phone)

Is this... weird?

JIM

Sorta.

PAM (through phone)

I mean, bad weird?

JIM

What do you think?

PAM (through phone)

I think it is more of a good weird.

JIM

That's good.

I think it is more of a good weird too.

PAM (through phone)

Sometimes, there's so much bad weird that happens you start wondering if there's any sense or reason that things happen. You know what I mean?

JIM

Yeah. I mean, just the other day, right?

Zombies?

PAM (through phone)

That was definitely under bad weird.

JIM

But then you have moments of good weird that happen.

You have no idea how dull and boring that day was.

Had you not stepped in that day, I probably would have also become a zombie.

PAM (through phone)

I have to admit, you're enticing sales talk for ice cream definitely gave that day a different twist.

JIM

Ah, but it wasn't that great. Or you would have eaten the ice cream the moment you stepped out!

PAM (through phone)

Some times, the best things don't need to be rushed.

Again, a moment of silence. Smiles not ending. Jim moves to the table where clippings and papers are taped to the wall. A map of his subdivision is there too. As well as a flyer for "Zombie Bancheto"

PAM (through phone)

So...

JIM

So?

PAM (through phone)

Tomorrow then?

JIM (grabs flyer)

Yes! Tomorrow. We can check out the.. Zombie Bancheto?

PAM (through phone)

Zombie Bancheto?

JIM

Maybe they sell various weapons and armor or something?

PAM (through phone)

But Bancheto means feast?

JIM

Ew...

Both laugh.

JIM

Tomorrow then. Around 10am I guess? Gateway complex at Cubao, okay?

PAM (through phone)

If I didn't know better, you're trying to get an idea where I am from.

JIM

No! Just an honest question! I'm based around here actually.

PAM (through phone)

Gateway it is.

JIM

Great!

I'll see you then.

Oh and my name's-

PAM (through phone)

STOP!

JIM

What?

PAM (through phone)

Don't rush it.

JIM

When we meet then.

PAM (through phone)

I'll see you tomorrow.

CUT to CLOSE UP OF CUE CARD SHOWING TIME

0900

CUE CARD CLICKS TO ONE MINUTE LATER

0901


SFX: ALARM CLOCK BLARING


INT. JIM's ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Jim wakes up and instantly holds an itak ready to defend himself.  He sits up and tries to shake the sleepiness off.  He sees the time, puts the itak down, and gives in to a massive yawn.   While yawning, he reaches over to the window and peers past the wood barrier to check the streets.

The streets are safe.  Quiet.  No zombies.  No panic.  Just people doing their every day thing.

Jim smiles.  Finally a good day.

Then one of the people in the street starts to levitate.  The other stare in shock.  Jim's eyes widen in panic.  He adjusts his gaze to see where the levitating man had gone.

The sky is filled with ufos of all kinds and forms.  Various rays emit from the ufos and begin grabbing people.  Deathrays start burning buildings.

JIM

Shit.

FADE TO BLACK

CUT TO CUE CARD

WHITE TEXT

Four Days Later

INT. JIM'S ROOM - LATE EVENING

The TELEVISION is on. We see a politician on the screen talking to a large gathering of people. People are cheering.  All around them are ruins of tanks, buildings, and dying flames.  We see damaged ufo ships.  We see purple blood in the streets.  We see triumph.

Politician (Television)
...have survived the alien invasion! Together, we united and faced a common foe, one from outside the very planet we call our home...


JIM is sitting on his bed. His face and arms are caked with dried purple blood and brain bits. There is no window anymore, just a massive whole where it used to be.  There is an alien corpse in the middle of the room, its purple blood still painting the floor.  Jim's itak is embedded into the alien's head. He doesn't notice however. All he notices is the landline in his hand.

SFX:
The number you dialed cannot be reached or is out of the coverage area... please try again later...

JIM pulls his legs to his chest. Exhausted. HALFA BAG OF MARSHMALLOWS is still in his other hand.

Act Two - The Middle - Part 1

EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - LATE EVENING

JIM is looking at the closed shop.  The lights are out and he is outside the convenience store, staring at the chained up the doorway.  The place clearly was ransacked during the zombie apocalypse.  He glances at the shut down ice cream freezer a few times, and its clear in his eyes he is still thinking of Pam.

EXT. STREET - LATE EVENING

As Jim heads down the road, we see more glimpses of how much the world has changed. We see how the windows now have bars to protect them from zombies.  We see how gates have been set up to protect doorways.  We see some people with shirts that talk about the zombie apocalypse.  

Jim sees a nearby bookstore that's still open and opts to head inside.

INT. BOOKSTORE - LATE EVENING

Jim walks past a stack of Surviving Zombie Invasions for Dummies and ignores the zombie-themed books that have emerged to replace the Twilight craze.  He heads down an aisle to look for something interesting when he hears a familiar tune suddenly playing from someone's phone.

A smile crosses his face as the first lines of UNCHAINED MELODY begins to play.  He follows the sound and steps out from a shelf to see the source of the sound.  Jim is about to say something witty to say hello, only to realize it isn't Pam.

The stranger answers the phone and starts to walk away from Jim.  Jim looks dismayed, but as he turns away, he walks smack into another person.

JIM (apologetically)

I am so...

PAM

Jim!

Jim looks up and is shocked to see Pam in front of him.  She looks as beautiful as she did when he first saw her.  He tries to say something, but all he ends up doing is smiling.

PAM

I wasn't sure if I would see you again!

I tried passing by the convenience store but-

JIM (happy)

You're alive.

PAM

Yes!  Yes I am alive.

And so are you.

JIM

I tried calling...

PAM

I lost my phone.  Well, actually I had to throw it at a zombie that was charging for me.  Zombies!  Can you believe it?

JIM

I... We...

PAM

Listen, I am so happy to see you survived too but now is not a good time...

JIM (happiness suddenly fading from his face)

It isn't?

PAM

I just ran over here to grab some manuals for my parents and... I have to head off.

JIM

But..

PAM

Give me your number and I'll call you.  

Tonight.  

JIM

Tonight.

PAM

Yes, tonight.

Jim reaches for his pockets to write his number down but can't find any paper to use.  He grabs the nearest book, intent on tearing the page when Pam shakes her head to say no. Jim places the book down.  Looks around, then places his phone in Pam's hand.

PAM

What?

JIM

I know my own number.  

I'll call you.

PAM
You're giving me your cellphone?

JIM
Lending.
Just so you're reachable.

PAM

This is-

JIM

I'll call you.
And you can return it tomorrow.

PAM

Tomorrow?

JIM

The date.

PAM
Ah, yes.  The date.

JIM
Unless of course you changed your mind.

PAM

I haven't.

Pam smiles.  Jim smiles.  Again they have that moment where things seem to melt away.  

PAM

Tonight then.

JIM

Yes.  Will call.

PAM

For tomorrow.

JIM

Yes.  The date.

Pam backs away, showing the manuals in her hand.  Jim smiles and watches as she steps out of the bookstore and hurries down the road.  Jim waves but Pam didn't see him.

Jim is all smiling as he sits down at the nearest chair.  Everything seems brighter.  Better.  He looks up at the top books list and sees the five books on display: You and your Zombie.  Could you just die?  Have a brain?  Walked the Dead.  With Out Warning.  Her Ashes.  Then realizes the top of each title reads:  You Could Have Walked With Her.  Jim rushes to the door but there is no sign of Pam.

JIM

(sighs, whispers to himself)

I'll call tonight.