WINDFALL:

Chapter 2 - Prize

[A fortress with huge concrete walls and barbed wire all around it. There's a large metal gate in front. Two armed guards, REX and TED, are standing watch at a guard post on top. Both men are in their early 40s.]

REX: [looking out through a pair of binoculars] Vehicle approaching! Sedan. Grey. I think it's Maddie!

TED: Cyril still with her?

REX: Looks like.

TED: Damn.

[The car stops several yards from the wall. CYRIL gets out.]

CYRIL: [waving both arms] Hey, it's us! We found a survivor!

TED: Did he just say "survivor?!"

REX: Damn it. Come on. [They both hurry down.] Open it up!

[The large metal gate lifts open, pulled by several large men. The car drives through.]

CYRIL: Hey, Rex. Ted! Long time no—[TED grabs CYRIL by the collar and slams him up against the car] Jesus!

TED: Have you lost your fucking mind?! A survivor?! You brought a fucking survivor back here?! We're barely scraping by with what we got and you go out and bring back some sad sack o' shit to sop up the rest of it?!

MADDIE: [gets out of the car] Ted, let him go. It was my choice just as much as his.

TED: Bullshit! Did the bitch get you with his sob story again?

MADDIE: Ted. Stop.

TED: About that little shit he let die?

MADDIE: Ted.

TED: Well get the fuck over it! I've lost a hell of a lot more than this sorry shit. If he thinks he can use it to fuck with what we got going here…

MADDIE: I swear to fucking God, Ted, if don't let him go right now—

ZHENG: Madelyn. [Everyone stops. ZHENG walks over: a tall, East Asian man with an athletic build and imposing presence. His manner of speaking, as well as his actions, is cold and deliberate.]

TED: Zheng, I—

ZHENG: Save it. [he approaches MADDIE] Where is It?

[MADDIE goes to open the back door of the car. CLEMENTINE nervously steps out, glancing around, her hand clasping her wrist. ZHENG's eyes shift towards CLEMENTINE and then refocus on MADDIE, now with fury.]

ZHENG: [his voice still calm] …You brought a child to my camp.

CYRIL: Z-Zheng, it was…it was my idea. I just thought—

ZHENG: [still glaring at MADDIE] I know what you thought. And I know whose idea it was. I expected this kind of bullshit from you. She should have known better.

[MADDIE's eyes dart to the ground. ZHENG goes to approach CLEMENTINE. She takes a step back.]

ZHENG: I want to talk to her. Alone. If I can use her, she'll stay. Otherwise, she's gone. [turns to CYRIL and MADDIE] And one of you goes with her. Is that understood?

MADDIE: Yes, sir.

CYRIL: …Yes, sir.

ZHENG: [to CLEMENTINE] Come with me.

[CLEMENTINE hesitates and looks over at MADDIE, who nods. CLEMENTINE then timidly follows ZHENG into a nearby cabin. As he holds the door open for her, ZHENG notices the gun CLEMENTINE has with her.]

ZHENG: [to MADDIE, incredulous]…You didn't take her weapon?

MADDIE: She wouldn't let us. Said she'd rather not come with us than give it up.

ZHENG: Hmm. [with a slight smirk] That's a good start.