(Meanwhile, back at the Loud House, Lynn Sr. and Rita are watching the news in the living room.)
Johnny Elaine: And scientists are asking all Royal Woods County residents to keep an eye out for the creature. Once again, the pangolin escaped from the facility yesterday, and many people are fearing the worst. Scientists say that even though they have samples from the pangolin, they now don't have what they need for a vaccine.
Chief Scientist: Yes. You see, what we needed was the foreign DNA that was up inside the pangolin. It's whatever that DNA was that was our key to the cure. [someone outside sees Lynn and whistles to him. He looks over and cowers a bit]
Delivery Express Man: Hello! Anyone home?
Lynn Sr.: Hold on, Rita. I'd better check outside.
(Lynn Sr. gets up and goes outside to see who it is. It's a delivery man with a package for them.) Got a delivery here. Needs a signature.
Lynn Sr.: [relieved] Oh, okay.
Delivery Express Man: Oh, he-hey, if you're gonna come any closer, would you mind wearing a, you know, face mask?
Lynn Sr.: Oh, sorry. [reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a face mask and puts it on over his nose and mouth. They approach each other.]
Delivery Express Man: Here you go. Just sign right there. (Lynn Sr. signs a small tablet and hands it to the delivery man, who hands him the package] Have a nice day. (they part ways, but the delivery man turns around) Oh, and hey, I'm loving the pandemic special.
Lynn Sr.: Yeah thanks. (he goes inside and Rita opens the package, but drops it once she says what's inside: two bloody hearts with "YOU'RE BOTH DEAD" written in blood on one of the flaps. Lynn Sr. and Rita are afraid, yet puzzled. Later in the kitchen, Lynn Sr. calls up on Mickey with Rita in the kitchen drinking some red wine.)
Lynn Sr.: Why did you send that to me and my wife?
Mickey: Haha. Because you and your wife are dead people, Loud. It's your DNA that they need for a vaccine! Haha!
Lynn Sr.: Yeah, I know, but I can't just turn ourselves in!
Mickey: This isn't personal, Loud. It's business. I'm having you killed, then secretly we'll send your DNA to the scientists for the vaccine. Haha.
Lynn Sr.: Grrr, This is all your fault, Mickey Mouse! You made the deal with the devil when you sold your Mulan shit to China! And then you took me and my wife out and sold us on how great China was, and how we should all suck their privates! You made me lose my cooking business and anything special that I had-! [stops] Special. Wait a minute. That's it.
Mickey: What's it? Haha.
Lynn Sr.: The Special. The Pandemic Special! That's how we can get my DNA into people! We can vaccinate them without them even knowing!
Mickey: What are you talkin' about?
Lynn Sr.: Just give us a couple of more days before you have us killed. I-I think I know a way out of this.
(Meanwhile, at the Hospital later that night. The hospital has set up a COVID-19 ward. where the sickest patients are housed. In the still of the night, one hears only monitors and ventilators. Ruth is in one room with a picture of herself and Lana, and a sign above his bed wishing him well. Someone pounds on something nearby. Ruth opens her eyes and notices the window... and the spooky figure outside of it. The figure opens the window and jumps in - it's Lynn Sr.)
Aunt Ruth: Lynn?
Lynn Sr.: Shhh. Hey Aunt Ruth.
Aunt Ruth: Wha-what are you-?
Lynn Sr.: It's okay, Ruth. I think I have a cure for COVID.
(He brings out a bottle of Lynn's medicine and opens the lid, then pats Ruth on her shoulder)
Lynn Sr.: You're just gonna have to trust me, okay?
(He pours some of the medicine into a spare teaspoon.)
Aunt Ruth: Uh, uh...
Shhhh, this is gonna be great.
Ruth: No, uh... (Lynn lifts up the oxygen mask and puts the medicine in Ruth's mouth)
Lynn Sr.: It's okay, you're gonna be safe. (He gently lifts up the teaspoon of medicine as it pours into Ruth's mouth.)
(The following day at Royal Woods High School which is now a "QUARANTINE AREA. DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION." In another high school classroom, the students are working on an assignment in silence as the assistant monitors them with a baton in hand. During study hall, another officer monitors Sam Sharp and Maggie as the two girls do their schoolwork like they're supposed to. At the computer lab, a sign next to the door says "PARENT ZOOM VISITATION 5 MINUTES MAXIMUM." An officer stands guard outside. A few kids are inside talking to their parents on Zoom, including Clyde who is talking to his parents, Mr. Harold and Mrs. Holly McBride.)
Harold: (to Clyde) We miss you, honey. We can't wait for quarantine to be over! Huh.
Holly: (to Clyde) Yeah, and we can't wait to be together again after it's over.
(Later, in the school gym, kids are inside playing with various sports balls. Lynn dribbles a basketball until a whistle blows, then stops. In the cafeteria, several kids eat lunch socially distant from each other. A buzzer blares.)
Officer 2: Group 4, your meal is over! Back to your class! [motions the kids to head for the entrance. The kids take their trays, dispose of the meals, and exit]
Officer 3: Alright. Group 5, it's now mealtime. Come in, but keep your social distance. [the next group comes in, including Lincoln and Lori both in one person together, Leni, Luna, Luan and Lynn.] Yeah, that's good social distancing. Real good.
Lori: (to the viewers) I can't believe this. March 16th. It was March 16th. That's how long it's been! There was supposed to be a party! There was supposed to be a big, happy gathering at Build-A-Bear to celebrate Luan being the ultimate prank star of Royal Woods! Then they shut all this shit down. They said we'd have to wait until April. And then it was May. And then they said, "Wait until summer." It's fucking October now! (she then eats more of her lunch before raising her voice.) Why doesn't anyone besides my family tell me the fucking truth?!
Lincoln: Because, Mom, they just don't understand what we say most of the time.
Lori: (sighs) I guess you're right, Lincoln. Maybe I am being a little sarcastic right now.
Luan: Man. I wonder how long it will be before this whole pandemic is over?
Leni: Me too, Luan. I haven't been in a very cheerful mood ever since it started.
Luna: Hey, cheer up, sis. Hopefully, it will all be over by next year. I just know it.
(Meanwhile back at the Loud House, Lynn Sr. is asleep in his jammies. Rita walks up to him.)
Rita: Honey? Where are the car keys? Lynn!
Lynn Sr.: Huh? Uh, what? What?
Rita: I don't mean to brag you, but where are the car keys?
Lynn Sr.: They're probably in my pants pocket. Why?
Rita: I have to get over to the hospital.
Lynn Sr.: The hospital? For what?
Rita: It's Aunt Ruth. Doctor said she's better, so I can take her to our house.
Lynn Sr.: Aunt Ruth's better?
Rita: They said she doesn't have any symptoms, and her tests are showing negative.
Lynn Sr.: Holy shit. (realizing that his medicine might have just saved Ruth's life.)
(Meanwhile, in the basement, Lynn Sr. walks up to a jar of his medicine.)
Lynn Sr.: It works. It can help. (opens the jar and looks further into the medicine into it.) What do you know? I am a genius after all like Lisa. (He then faces shelves and shelves of bottles and realizes he has to fill them all up with his medicine by having to mix it in with several other of his ingredients.) Hoh boy.
(Back at Royal Woods High School, Lori and Lincoln walk down the hall together, Leni catches up to them.)
Leni: Lori, I need to talk to you.
Lori: Hey, Leni.
Leni: Well, we're really worried. About what's going to happen to us. I am just hoping we don't get sick.
Lori: (sighs) I know. And it's also about all the other stuff around us. The isolation and the uncertainty. (She put her hands in her trenchcoat pockets and wanders off.) I'm just really worried what all the stuff around COVID-19 is doing to some kids. You know, not every kid is like us. There's some kids who really can't take it anymore.
Leni: I know. This bullshit sucks. But we will be okay.
Lincoln: [getting emotional] But what if we're not? What if one of us is actually starting to lose their mind? What if someone feels their body shutting down right now?
Leni: You really think it's that bad?
Lori: Lincoln's right, Leni. It's time for us to ask for help. From someone who has more authority at this school than these cops.
(At The White House in the Oval Office, Flip looks out the window, his back to the entrance.)
Male Aide 1: Mr. President, the CDC is on the line. They need to speak with you urgently!
President Flip: Tell them to suck my asshole.
Female Aide: Mr. President, Dr. Fauci is on line 2 and the FDA chief is on line 3.
Flip: Ooo! Tell Dr. Fauci to shove it up his ass, and let the FDA chief know he can eat shit off my balls.
Male Aide 2: Sir! Sir, you have an urgent call on line 4 from a Mr. Slave?
Flip: [turns around in his chair and wonders] Mr. Slave? Okay, go, gogogo! [the aides leave and Flip clears his throat. He picks up the phone] Yes, this is the President of the entire United States.
Lori: Uh, Hi, it's Lori Santiago talking.
Flip: Lori Santiago? Where's Mr. Slave?
Lori: I'm sorry. We had to get your attention. Listen, we're being kept at the school, and one of the students here is really sick.
Flip: Oh, for Christ's sake, here we go again. [rolls his eyes and closes them] Just deal with it. I am busy.
Lori: Nono, Mr. President, please! You gotta come to Royal Woods. Our teachers are shooting people. Everyone's arguing and, and there's a facility outside of town that found the pangolin and are working on a vaccine! You might be able to stop the pandemic.
Flip: Why would I do that?
Lori: ...Huh?
Flip: Lori, this is gonna be very difficult for a child to understand, but I made a promise to the American people- to get rid of all the Mexicans.
Lori: But the pandemic isn't just killing Mexicans. It's also killing Lots of Americans and Brazilians as well.
Flip: It's killing a lot of them. I've gone over the statistics, Lori. [walks over to a chart showing U.S. COVID fatalities by race. Mexicans are by far the most affected ethnicity, and whites the least affected.] All I have to do now is sort of guide the avalanche in the right direction, and I'm fulfilling my promises to the American People. I was doing a crap job until this pandemic happened.
Lori: You're just gonna sit there and do nothing about this shit?!
Flip: I am going to actively not do anything. And you can eat shit off my balls and die. [hangs up]
Lori: God fucking dammit!
(She throws her phone on the floor.)
Lincoln: Mother!
Lori: What? I just overreacted.
(Back at the Loud House, A line of cars waits at the entrance, with horns honking. A small booth is by the mailbox. Lynn Sr. is giving out medicine for everybody.)
Lynn Sr.: (heads to the next customer) Okay, there you go. That's all I can sell you right now. Just make sure you enjoy the medicine, okay? Enjoy the special. [the customer drives off.)
Rita: [comes out of the house] Lynn, honey?!
Lynn Sr.: Yes, dear, what is it?!
Rita: Lynn, you've gotta get in here!
Lynn Sr.: Okay, honey. I'm coming.
(He comes inside.)
Rita: Come inside. Something's wrong with Aunt Ruth! [He comes inside with Rita.] She's just been sleeping for days. [puts her mask on and goes to the master bedroom] They said she was getting better. [Lynn Sr. comes forward] Last night her fever came back. And then a few hours ago, there was something wrong with her nose.
Lynn Sr.: What? [Rita slowly lowers Ruth's mask, and ... it's seems to be a hot nose. His jaw drops]
Rita: Ruth's never been able to have such a high fever.
Lynn Sr.: Huh. That's weird.
Rita: Should I call the doctor?
Lynn Sr.: No! Nonono! Don't call the doctor! They're busy. These are u-un- precedented times. W-we have no idea what caused this.
Aunt Ruth: [slowly] Special...
Rita: What, Ruth?
Aunt Ruth: Pandemic... uh special...
Rita: [looks at Lynn Sr.] Why's she talking about our special?
Lynn Sr.: Everyone's talking about the special, Rita. It's a big deal. She obviously needs it right now.
Rita: I'll be right back, honey, I got to go get the thermometer from Lisa's room.
(Rita walks away. Lynn Sr. quickly walks up to Aunt Ruth.)
Lynn Sr.: (quietly) Ruth, I've got no idea if it's because of the special. No one knows if you could be sick again or not since you're growing old. But besides that, I wish you good luck, dear Aunt Ruth. (He gives Ruth a kiss then walks away.)
(At the hospital, A doctor is checking out Mr. Zhau who has just gotten infected with the virus unexpectedly and is coughing.)
Dr. Doctor: And you say you've never been infected by the virus before?
Mr. Zhau: No! Never! The virus just came to me outta nowhere!
Mrs. Zhau: How can this happen, Doctor?
Dr. Doctor: Have you put anything toxic in your body lately? Any drugs or alcohol?
Mr. Zhau: No! I mean... I've enjoyed a little of the Pandemic Special medicine that Lynn Loud, Sr. gave me...
Dr. Doctor: Oh, nonono. That-that's totally fine.
Nurse Maria: Doctor? You better come to the emergency room!
(They both go to the ER, which is filled with patients, who are infected with the virus. Some even have fevers or are suffering from nausea.)
Dr. Doctor: Holy shit!
(Breaking news. COVID-19 UPDATE?)
Johnny Elaine: Another strain of COVID, or simply more COVID-related symptoms? A reported 1 in 10 people in Royal Woods County are being infected by the deadly coronavirus, and nobody seems to know why. The Mayor has called for help from infectious disease experts, and Dr. Anthony Fauci arrived at Royal Woods Hospital today to give his advice.
(Meanwhile, at the hospital entrance, Dr. Fauci addresses the crowd.)
Dr. Fauci: We aren't sure why some people are getting the virus and some aren't, but we have to do all we can to avoid it becoming even deadlier.
Man 1: Will our chin diapers keep us safe?
Dr. Fauci: Yes, but we must wear them where the mustache would be. We need to wear them over our mouth and nose.
Maggie's Mother: Are you out of your mind? You expect people to wear a diaper over their nose? That's disgusting! Fuck you, Fauci!
(Back to the news report.)
Johnny Elaine: Citizens are asked to stay indoors and just try and relax, and maybe enjoy some of the Pandemic Special.
Lynn Sr.: D'oh! [Rita has her hands over her mouth]
(Later at night, The school gym is shown from above. Thirty students are sleeping there, each in his own circle with Lori and Lincoln in the same one. Lori and Lincoln are wide awake, looking at the ceiling together. An officer sits in the coach's office having one of his meals that was delivered by Lynn Sr. along with some of the medicine.)
Officer 4: Nice.
(Lori sits up and Lincoln follows. They look to their left and sees Death staring back at them through a window, then crawl up to Luan and shake her awake]
Lori: Luan. Luan!
Luan: What is it?
Lori: Don't worry. Lincoln and I are going to save you!
Luan: Okay. Save me from what? [nods off, and Lori walks to the middle of the gym]
Lori: Guys, guys!
(She claps. The kids begin to stir)
Students: What? Who is it?
Lori: Shhh. You guys, we have to get Luan out of here.
Ronnie Anne: Who else can we call, Mom?
Lori: No! We have to get her out of here! Now! We need to take Luan... to Build-A-Bear.
Chaz: Are you nuts, Lori?
Lori: No. I really mean it. We have to go out and do something normal!
Benny: Lori, Build-A-Bear is currently by appointment only, and only a maximum party of four can visit at one time.
Lori: Well, all I'm saying is that we can't wait around and wait for people to figure things out, okay?! It's not gonna happen! They just keep taking everything from us and saying it's for our own good! Well it isn't because it's wrong! But who's to say we can't go out and have a little goddamn fun?! If we want things to go back to normal, then we just gotta go do it!
Lynn Jr.: (stands up) Lori's right. If we want things to go back to normal, we have to do it ourselves.
Lori: They're just gonna be making more restrictions, and more rules, and who's gonna fight to go back to the way things were?
Lynn Jr.: I sure as hell will!
Luna: Well, Lori is saying to us that we can make things normal for all of us again, and make school the way it was!
Lynn Jr.: The way it was! Online, in our own rooms!
Lori: Wait, what? No, in a class, with real teachers!
Lynn Jr.: Wait, what? What normal are you talking about?
Leni: She's talking about normal, like back in March. What normal are you talking about?
Lynn Jr.: I'm talking about normal, like three days ago, when everything was awesome.
Lincoln: Look it all doesn't matter right now, guys. We just gotta break the hell out of here.
(Meanwhile, in the hallway, Luna, Lori and Lincoln run down the hall; the police do not notice. Sam, Francisco, Maggie and Benny follow them, then several others follows them. The rest of the class follows, including Lori leading. At the front of the school, Lori heads towards the bolted doors with bolt cutters.)
Lori: Charge!
(She cuts the bolt, and the chain drops to the floor. The kids rush out the door and pour out of the school triumphantly)
To be continued in Part 5...