Chapter 12
Nearly two hours later, the train is moving but has yet to reach Savannah. Debbie is comforting Theresa who is crying, telling that Katjaa and Duck don't deserve to die. Carley, Doug(twdg), and Douglas(rc9gn) were here as well. Lee enters the boxcar to find Clementine, Randy, and Howard sitting at the edge of the doorway and watching the surrounding forest zip by. Lee joins them, asking if they were alright.
Lee: Hey sweet-pea, hey boys.
Clementine, Randy, and Howard: Hey...
Lee: You kids want to talk?
Clementine and Randy said no
Randy: No.
Clementine: Uh uh.
Howard: Okay. What do you wanna say?
Lee: You kids understand what happened?
Randy: About Duck and Katjaa. Yeah.
Howard: Yeah.
Clementine: Yes.
Lee: Okay… What are you kids thinking about?
Randy: I don't think anything.
Howard: Yeah me too.
When Randy and Howard tell Lee they don't think anything until they heard Clementine's word.
Clementine: What Chuck said.
Randy and Howard: Huh?
Lee: What'd Chuck say?
Clementine: That what happened to Duck will happen to me and the others.
Randy and Lee begin to feel furious about it.
Randy: WHAT?!
Lee: What? The fuck he did.
Clementine: Swear.
Lee: Sorry.
Howard: Man, he can't just say that to you, he was supposed to say it to Douglas(rc9gn).
Doug(twdg) and Douglas(rc9gn) heard what Howard said.
Doug(twdg) and Douglas(rc9gn): Hey!
Carley: Howard, it's not polite to talk to your friend like that.
Howard: He's not even my friend, duh.
Lee: Excuse me, I'm gonna go talk some sense into him.
Randy: Yeah, I'm coming too.
Clementine: Don't get mad.
Randy: We won't
Lee and Randy go and they confront Chuck.
Lee: Hey.
Chuck: How y'all doing?
Randy: I don't care what reasons you had for doing it, no reason to go and tell Clem that she, me and my friends gonna end up dead!
Chuck: 'Cause you kids are.
Randy: YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!
Lee: Randy, calm down.
Chuck: Look, I don't know much about you folks, but I can tell y'all, sure as the sun gon' come up tomorrow, that y'all keep going on like this and those kids ain't gonna make it.
Lee: What do you know?
Chuck: I know that you don't have a goddamn plan. We get to Savannah and then what?
Randy: We do what's best for Clem and my friends.
Lee: Yeah and we find a boat.
Chuck doesn't like it.
Chuck: Oh! Well then! Y'all do have it all figured out! Nevermind. Look, sit down and talk with the girl and the other teens. Find a map for Christ's
Sake - I'd give you one if I had it. And if something happens to both of you…
Lee: It won't.
Randy: Yeah.
Chuck: If it WERE, you gotta prepare for the kids, teach them how to use a gun and for Criminy, cut that girl's hair!
Randy: What?! I can't even know how to shoot and Clem's too young for that!
Lee: Yeah, are you trying to make a joke on us?
Chuck turn toward Randy
Chuck: What? She's too young to handle one and you don't know how to shoot a gun? Listen, there ain't too young, not anymore and it's ok if you don't know how to shoot, but practice makes perfect, you know. You gotta consider her a living person. That's it. You either living or no. You ain't little, y'all ain't a girl, y'all ain't strong or smart. You're alive.
And then Chuck turns towards Lee.
Chuck: Listen, look at her hair. Find some scissors in my pack and take care of that hair before a walker does it for y'all. And then show her and a boy right here how to use a gun because like it or not, that's what saves your life from here on out. I don't mean to tell you how to do y'all job, but too many people have died already…
Lee: They have.
Chuck: And seein' the kids die might just do me in.
Lee: I hear you. A plan, a haircut, and a gun. It's good advice.
Chuck: It's something.
Chuck turns to Randy.
Chuck: What about you, kid?
Randy: Me and my friends gonna end up dead…
Chuck: Look, son, I didn't want to upset you. I know you care so much about that girl and your friends but you need to learn how to survive even if you don't know how to shoot a gun. Remember, practice makes perfect.
Randy: Okay, that's a bit of great advice you sent it to me. I will.
Chuck: Good
Lee begins to ask a question to Chuck.
Lee: You have any family?
Chuck: Out there, somewhere. Been sorta on my own the past fourteen years now.
Lee: We're sorry to hear that.
Chuck: No one to blame.
Randy: You're homeless then.
Chuck: Suppose. I've had homes here and there and they just don't work out… I like a drink, you know.
Lee: Yeah.
Chuck: Got any?
Lee: No.
Chuck: What about you, son?
Randy: No, I'm fourteen.
Chuck: Darn.
Lee begins to say about what happened to Duck.
Lee: I shot the kid, you know.
Chuck: I suppose someone had to.
Lee: What a mess.
Chuck: You said it.
Randy: Yeah, especially when Lee said to me not to look but I did.
Chuck: Well, you did the right thing, son. You must learn how to face the pain.
Randy: Yeah… Where are you headed?
Chuck: Uh, that way.
Randy: I mean, when we get to Savannah.
Chuck: Got a few ideas. We'll have a talk when we get there about whether or not you folks want company.
Lee: Be safe up here.
Chuck: Y'all betcha.
When they go inside the engine, Randy spoke to Lee.
Randy: Hey Lee.
Lee: Yes Randy.
Randy: I don't know if I'm going to shoot a gun. I was nervous about this.
Lee: Look, it's okay to be scared, nervous or whatever it is. You need to be strong and protective. I can't protect you, Howard and Clem forever. You know better than anyone, understand?
Randy: Okay.
Lee: Good. Now let's get a gun but where were we gonna get it?
Randy: Maybe we should ask Carley to teach me and Clem how to use a gun.
Lee: That sounds great.
Lee and Randy go to the boxcar but before they entering the boxcar, they saw Ben who look down and he's being
comforting by Bucky, who also looks down and less happy than usual. Lee begins to talk to one of them.
Lee: Hey, you two.
Ben and Bucky: Hey.
Lee: Aren't many of us left.
Ben: Yeah…you, me, Randy, Bucky, and Kenny. Clementine. Carley. Doug(twdg). Those 9th graders. The homeless dude if he sticks around.
Randy: We're all homeless, Ben.
Ben: You two know what I mean.
Lee: There's not much use in describing people by who they were.
Ben: Yeah… I guess not.
Randy: Are you gonna be able to step up?
Bucky: I can do just as much as anyone else.
Randy: Great. I hope it's true.
Randy begins to talk about "Lilly almost shoot Debbie" topics
Randy: Debbie didn't have to die, you know.
Ben: But you taking the bullet to save her… She would've killed me instead.
Randy: Yeah, maybe. But it still hurts.
Ben: I'm sorry to hear that.
Bucky: Yeah and how's your wounded, Randy?
Randy: It hurts but I'm trying to get to used to it.
Bucky: Yeah and I hope you will get healed soon.
Randy: Thanks… See you guys.
Ben: Yeah.
Lee and Randy go to the boxcar to find Doug(twdg) and Carley.
Lee: Hey guys.
Doug(twdg): What's up?
Lee: I'm here to teaching Clem and the teens how to survive.
Carley: How?
Lee: Well, we are going to teach them how to use a gun, give Clem a haircut and make a plan when we arrive in Savannah.
Carley: Ok. Let me guess, you want me to teach Randy and the kids how to use a gun?
Randy: Yeah.
Carley: Ok.
Doug(twdg): Are you sure? I mean, the baby...
Carley: It's ok, Doug. Let's go.
Lee, Randy, and Carley go to find Clem. Carley talks to Theresa, Debbie, and Douglas(rc9gn) while Randy talks to Howard and Lee talk to Clem.
Randy: Hey Big H.
Howard: Did you talk to chuck?
Randy: Yeah he did and the way he said about we're going to die, he made some good points.
Howard: How?
Randy: Look, Lee and I were not going to let anything bad happen to you, Clem and our friends. If we want to survive, we're gonna need a prepare.
Howard: Hmm… make sense. I think Chuck made more than just a good point
Randy: Yeah he is.
While Lee talk to Clementine
Lee: Hey, Clem.
Clementine: Did you and Randy talk to him?
Lee: We did, he had some, uh… he explained himself and made some good points. Look, we're not going to let anything bad happen to you and the teens. But there are some precautions we have to take.
Clementine: Okay, yeah, that makes sense.
Lee: Don't worry, sweetheart.
Clementine: Okay. What should we do?
Lee: Well, we're going to figure out a plan for when we get to Savannah, teach you how to protect yourself and uh, tidy you up a little so you can't get grabbed so easily.
Clementine: I'd like that.
Lee: Good…. What do you think about Chuck?
Clementine: I don't know.
Lee: Me, neither. He might be an okay guy, though.
Clementine: You think?
Lee: We'll keep an open mind about him. He's probably had it pretty rough.
As Lee stand up, Randy and Howard walk to Lee as he tells him that Clem is ready to protect herself. Lee nodded. The three turns to Clem.
Lee: You need to know how to protect yourself.
Clementine: Like hiding or running away, got it.
Howard: Yeah but not only that, but we need to learn how to shoot a gun as well.
Clementine: Oh.
Randy: Carley will teach us how to use a gun. You're okay with that, Clem?
Clementine: I'm ok with that.
Randy: Good.
As they're finished talking, Carley, Theresa, Debbie and Douglas(rc9gn) were here to learn how to shoot a gun as well.
Carley: Ok, let's start. I'll tell you guys when I'm done, ok?
Randy: Sure.
Theresa: Randy, do you think this is a good idea? Clementine is just a little girl.
Randy: Yeah, but we have to teach her how to survive.
Theresa: I understand but...
Howard: Hey guys! Look what I found!
Howard found a bottle of whiskey and scissors in a backpack.
Lee: Well, we are going to use the scissors for trimmed Clem's hair but with the whiskey, I don't know, and we still have to get a map.
Randy: I think there is a map where Kenny is. I'll go get it.
Randy took a bottle of whiskey and go to the engine where Kenny is and he's still depressed.
Randy: Hey Kenny.
Kenny: Hey. I hope we get to the ocean soon.
Randy: You still want to get a boat?
Kenny: It's still the best plan.
Randy: Kenny.
Kenny: It's the best plan.
Randy: Okay… and can I get a map so we can tell Clem about the plan?
Kenny: Can't you just get out of here?!
Randy: Very well.
Randy go to front train to find Chuck.
Randy: Hey Chuck.
Chuck: Hey son.
Randy: We have something for you.
Randy shows Chuck the whiskey.
Randy: I found this in your pack. If you want it.
Chuck: Damn, didn't realize I had it left. Thanks, son.
Randy: You're Welcome.
Chuck gets the whiskey and drinks.
Chuck: Any folks in there want to share a drink, you let 'em know.
Randy: Hmmm... Kenny's sad and drinks a little bit of booze can cheer him up.
Randy go-to the engine to find Kenny again. Randy think about how to get a map without getting Kenny's nerve.
Randy: Hey Kenny, uhmm…. Chuck wanna know if you needed a drink... You know.
Kenny: He's got some?
Randy: Yeah.
Kenny:...
Kenny gets up and goes where Chuck is.
Kenny: Yeah, that'd help.
Kenny leaves the engine. Randy quickly grab the map and Kenny immediately returns.
Kenny: Thanks.
Randy: No problem.
Randy leave and before he entering the boxcar, he sees Ben and Bucky who still look down.
Randy: Hey you two, you guys wanna learn how to shoot?
Lee and Howard show up.
Lee: Hey boys, what's up?
Howard: Hey Cunningham, it's your turn to shoot a gun.
Ben:... It was me.
Randy, Howard, and Lee: Huh?
Ben: I was the one giving the bandits supplies.
Randy, Howard, and Lee: WHAT?!
Ben: It's all my fault.
Bucky: No, Ben, it's my fault too.
Randy: Bucky, you're in it too!
Lee: What for? Why the hell would you two do this?
Howard: You... YOU TWO ARE TRAITORS!
Ben: We're sorry! They said they had my friend, that he was with them.
Howard: What friend?! Wasn't it just you, Travis and Parker?
Ben: No but I thought that maybe one of my friends survived when we escaped. By the time, Bucky and I realize they didn't it was too late… they said they'd kill me.
Bucky: Yeah, Kill all of us. We're sorry, guys.
Howard: Cunningham got shot at the shoulder, Duck got bitten and died and Katjaa killed herself because of you two!
Ben: WE'RE SORRY!
Bucky: Please forgive me and Ben, guys. I knew about what Ben did before the bandits attacked. Ben told me that he was trying to protect his friend so I respected his wishes and told him that I will protect his secret. And that's why I help him as well. So I broke flashlight help, Ben and I stealing the supplies and give the bandits the supplies while you guys can't see what we're doing.
Randy: Bucky...
Ben: We're sorry...
Randy: Ben, Bucky, I forgive you guys but I don't know if the others will.
Howard: Yeah, Cunningham maybe forgive you two but me and Lee won't!
Lee: Ben, Bucky, whatever you guys do, don't tell Kenny. He's going to snap if one of you tell him about the deal.
Ben and Bucky: Ok.
Howard: I can't believe it! This shoobies almost got us all killed!
Randy: They're was just scared Howard, I'm sure they didn't mean to do us harm. I bet that one of us would have done the same.
Howard: Ugh...
Lee: Let's go.
Randy, Howard, and Lee get back in the boxcar. He saw Clem who has now a short hair.
Randy: Hey Clem, cute haircut.
Clementine blush.
Clementine: Thanks.
Randy: How is everyone doing?
Clementine: Good. Carley did taught us how to use a gun.
Carley: Maybe one day you guys will grow up to be a good shot like me.
Debbie: And not know how to put batteries?
Carley: Except that...
Randy: Thanks, Carley. You will be a good mother.
Carley: Thanks… But what about you, Randy? You're not yet to teach how to shoot a gun.
Randy: Maybe later, Carley. I wanna talk to Clem about the plan.
Carley: Okay.
Carley leaves to sit with Doug(twdg).
Lee: Did you got a map, Randy?
Randy: Yeah.
Randy shows her a map.
Randy: We have to make a plan before we arrive in Savannah.
Clementine: A plan would be nice.
Lee: Yeah. And what we're going to do when we get there. We don't know what to expect - the city could be bad or totally under control
Theresa: What plan exactly?
Randy: Well, Kenny said that we are going to find a boat and get out of here. All we had to do is find a boat. It's our best bet at safety.
Clementine: Okay, but, we'll be IN Savannah and my parents were in Savannah?
Randy: Umm… I know, look-
Lee: Clem...
Clementine: No. I don't care about safety, I care about finding them.
Randy: Sure, we will go to Savannah, find your parents and then find a boat.
Clementine: Really?
Randy: Yeah. But first, can you tell us where they are staying?
Clementine: Well, they told me that they were going to the same place it's called uh…hmm.
Lee: Hey. Don't worry, we'll figure it out. Have you ever been there?
Clementine: Once.
Randy: Well, think about it - there are a lot of hotels on here, but read this map and maybe it will get your memory back.
Clementine: They've got really tasty desserts. It's called the M..M something… Mar…
Lee: Is this it? The Marsh House?
Clementine: Yes, that's it!
Theresa: That's where they are?
Clementine: Of course.
Randy: So we'll head there...
Clementine: Yes!
Lee: You guys think we have a good plan?
Clementine: I think it's very good.
Randy: Yeah.
Clementine: Hey, can I… tell my parents? You know.
Lee: Sure.
Clementine: Ok. I'm glad we have a plan.
Randy: And you're a pretty good shot.
Clementine: Thanks.
Lee: I guess we should see how far-
Kenny: OH SHIT! HOLD ON EVERYBODY!
The train suddenly stops.
To Be Continued.