WINDFALL:
Chapter 5 - Loss
[Inside a small cabin, decorated crudely with children's drawings. CYRIL is sitting on a bed, looking down at the gun in his hands. MADDIE is standing next to him.]
MADDIE: Cyril. Give me the gun.
CYRIL: [in a low, raspy voice] I'm not gonna use it.
MADDIE: Then you don't need to have it. Give me the gun.
CYRIL: …
MADDIE: Cyril.
CYRIL: I'm just looking at it.
MADDIE: Whatever you're feeling right now…you're not going to find the answer in there—
CYRIL: [explosive] Then where the fuck is it, Maddie?! Where the fuck's my answer?!
MADDIE: …
CYRIL: [hysteric, mournful] She just found us. She was safe. After all the shit she's been through. She was safe…
MADDIE: Nothing's safe anymore.
CYRIL: I just needed a few more days. I should've taught her more. I should've—
MADDIE: Cyril!
CYRIL: [pauses, closing his eyes] …I know…We should get going.
[CYRIL puts the gun down on the bed and gets up to leave. MADDIE moves out of his way, then quickly grabs the gun off the bed and checks it. It's empty. She follows CYRIL outside. All of the survivors at Sundown, around 30 people, have gathered around the metal gate leading out of the settlement. ZHENG is standing by himself in front of the gate, holding a brass urn]
ZHENG: [glances over to see CYRIL, MADDIE, and CLEMENTINE approaching and begins] You all know why I've gathered us here. The recent fire has decimated our resources and made it impossible to keep everyone alive. The names of all the Burdens have been written down and placed inside this urn. The two whose names I draw will be expelled from Sundown. And I'll remind you all that if we lose even a single Worker after today, all Burdens will be expelled. Is this understood?
ALL: Yes, sir.
ZHENG: Then I won't delay things any further. [reaches into the urn and takes out the first name] Noah. [a soft murmur among the survivors as they look back at an old man standing by himself in the back]
NOAH: [slowly makes his way through the crowd of survivors, speaking quietly to himself] Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be His name. [Stops in front of ZHENG] I am ready.
ZHENG: [nods, then reaches back into the urn and pulls out the second name. CYRIL is now visibly shaking.] ...Dilan.
REX: No!
[CYRIL lets out a shuddering gasp, then drops down, and embraces CLEMENTINE. She returns the embrace, but looks over at REX, who is now on his knees, inconsolable and clutching his two children: his 6 year old daughter EMILY and her twin brother DILAN.]
CLEMENTINE: [closes her eyes tightly for a few moments, then gently pushes CYRIL away]…I'm sorry.
CYRIL: [lets go, bewildered] W-what?
CLEMENTINE: [tearfully] I can't stay. [loudly to ZHENG] I want to take Dilan's place!
CYRIL: Clementine! What the hell are you saying?! [Loud murmurings from the crowd]
ZHENG: That's enough! [the crowd quiets down, ZHENG approaches CLEMENTINE] The Lottery is over. The decision has been made.
CLEMENTINE: You only need two Burdens, right? It doesn't matter who it is. I'm a Burden. I can go instead.
CYRIL: Clem! No!
ZHENG: Cyril.
CYRIL: Fuck you, Zheng! I'm not shutting up! And I'm not letting this happen! You picked a name. It was Dilan, not her!
ZHENG: She offered to take his place. I just need a Burden. It doesn't matter who.
CYRIL: It matters to me.
ZHENG: [sharply] And it matters to her…[in a low, soft voice] Maybe she doesn't want to see another friend go either.
CYRIL: [goes to speak but falls silent, then turns to CLEMENTINE] Clem…
CLEMENTINE: [crying] I'm sorry.
ZHENG: [walks in front of CLEMENTINE, then drops down to her eye-level] Has Madelyn informed you about what this means?
CLEMENTINE: [nods]
ZHENG: Then you know that you are never to come near this place again.
CLEMENTINE: [sadly] Yes.
ZHENG: [turns to CYRIL and MADDIE, who is now holding him] They won't enforce my rules. Neither will Rex. I know this. And I know you know this. But they aren't the only ones standing watch. If I ever see you around this place again, I will shoot you. And anyone you bring along. Is that clear?
CLEMENTINE: Yes, sir.
ZHENG: …Then you can leave. Open the gates!
[The gates are pulled up. As CLEMENTINE slowly walks out, REX runs up to meet her, MADDIE following closely behind him]
REX: Wait! [ZHENG signals the men holding the gate to do so, REX kneels down and places his hands on CLEMENTINE's shoulders, struggling to keep composure] I owe you more than I can ever repay. I…I don't know how, but I'm going to try to make it up to you. I swear.
CLEMENTINE: [smiles, then looks at MADDIE sadly] I'm sorry.
MADDIE: [shakes her head] Don't be. I understand. And Cyril does too. He wanted me to tell you that. And that he… [bites her lip, her voice trembling] …We're going to miss you.
[CLEMENTINE goes to hug MADDIE one last time, then continues towards the gate, escorted by ZHENG.]
CLEMENTINE: [As ZHENG leads her pass the threshold, she turns to him] What about Noah? Isn't he coming with me?
ZHENG: Noah has decided that that at his age and in his condition, he'd be more of detriment to you than an asset. And he prefers not to have to face the outside world by himself.
CLEMENTINE: [realizes that ZHENG has taken out his gun] That…
ZHENG: I told you to leave. Close the gates!
[Clementine jumps back as the metal gate drops between her and ZHENG. She stares up at the sheer walls in front of her for a brief moment, then runs the other way as fast as she can.]
END
