DAY OF THE DEAD (The original script) by George A. Romero

[the Unholy]

NOW MIGUEL IS HIT but he keeps coming, his GUN SPITTING.

   ANOTHER SOLDIER goes down, HIT IN THE MID SECTION.

   THE PLATOON RETURNS FIRE.

   MIGUEL IS HIT SQUARELY IN THE CHEST. He falls to his knees.
   His RIFLE FIRES A LINE OF BULLETS INTO THE EARTH and the
   kicking of the gun knocks him back on his ass. He sits there
   bewildered for a moment, then he looks up to find himself
   directly facing CAPTAIN RHODES.

   RHODES lifts his MAGNUM but MIGUEL is faster with his RIFLE.
   In the next instant the muzzle is aiming straight for the
   captain's stomach. RHODES' smile disappears, re-placed by a
   sudden flush of fear. He freezes.

            MIGUEL
      Kill the priest.

   MIGUEL squeezes the trigger and his weapon CLICKS sharply.
   It's empty.

   The captain's smile slowly returns. He pushes the "Attack"
   button on his belt unit.

   THE RED COATS advance, their PISTOLS reloaded. THEY FIRE,
   stiff-armed and fumble-fingered, at MIGUEL. He sees them
   moving towards him. Something in his mind clicks and he
   recognises the creatures for what they are...walking dead.

   THE FIRST FEW BULLETS MISS. Then ONE HITS HIM IN HIS STUMP
   and reality gets even clearer. He starts to scream.

   THE READ COATS walk closer, their dead eyes showing enjoyment
   of the sport. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

   ANOTHER ROUND HITS MIGUEL IN THE STOMACH. ANOTHER CREASES HIS
   HEAD. He tries to stand up but he's too weak. A BULLET IN THE
   NECK stops his screaming. Then HE'S HIT IN THE HEART. A BALL
   OF BLOOD PROJECTS OUT OF HIS MOUTH and he plops onto his
   back, dead.

   THE READ COATS KEEP FIRING until their guns are empty again.
   RHODES calmly pushes the "Reload" signal and the creatures
   obey.

   MIGUEL'S CORPSE twitches for a short time, then goes rigid.

[the Unholy]

60   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY

   SARAH sinks against a cypress when she sees MIGUEL die.

   CHICO, in a state of blind panic, takes off along the edge of
   the thicket, his WOUND BLEEDING PROFUSELY.

[the Unholy]

61   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY

   CHICO breaks through some brush to find himself face-to-face
   with TOBY TYLER'S GROUP OF SOLDIERS. He stops, reverses
   course, and ducks into a cluster of palms. ONE OF THE
   SOLDIERS FIRES. RATTATATTATATTATATT!!!

   BULLETS RIP THE PALM FRONDS APART. There's a scream and CHICO
   somersaults out into view. NEW WOUNDS BLEEDING ACROSS THE
   CENTER OF HIS CHEST.

62   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY

   SARAH realises that this is her last chance to.escape. She
   takes advantage.of the.confusion and the.NOISE and bolts into
   the jungle at a full run.

63   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY

[the Unholy]

CHICO is still alive. He fumbles for his.HOLSTERED PISTOL but
   before he can draw it.THREE.TROOPERS are on top of him.
   TRICKS tromps.a boot on his hand. TOBY TYLER aims his RIFLE
   squarely at his sweating brow.

            CHICO
      Yes...yes, do it...please...you can't
      let me die this way...please. Destroy
      me. A bullet...in the head...I don't
      want to become...one of...one of them.

   TOBY looks down at the man, at his TERRIBLE WOUNDS, clearly
   fatal ones. TOBY clicks a shell into the firing chamber of
   his RIFLE. His finger is just sliding under the trigger
   shield when CAPTAIN RHODES strides up behind him.

            RHODES
      Take his weapon, Tyler.

   TOBY is startled by the voice at his back. He turns towards
   the captain, then he looks back down at the guerillero,
   hesitating..

            RHODES
      Take his gun, ass hole. He still has
      the strength to pull a trigger.

   Reluctantly TOBY obeys, reaches down for CHICO'S PISTOL.

[the Unholy]

CHICO
      Please...senor...destroy me...one
      bullet...please.

            RHODES
      Maybe. We'll have a little talk first.
      Then....maybe...I can help you out.
      String him up.

   THE THIRD SOLDIER reaches down and grabs the wounded
   guerillero under the arms. TRICKS stoops to help. CHICO
   screams in agony when he is moved. TOBY lunges in to help
   the others, thinking to ease the man's pain.

            RHODES
      They can handle it, Tyler. You've been
      buckin' for a **** detail lately so
      here's one you're gonna love. We've
      got two dead. Cut the heads off and
      get the bodies underground to the
      refrigerators. Fast. It's a hot day.

   TOBY grimaces but doesn't speak. He turns and moves briskly
   towards the clearing. RHODES watches him go.

64   EXT. THE CLEARING - DAY

   TOBY nears the spot where MIGUEL lies sprawled in A POOL OF
   BLOOD. RHODES calls from the edge of the thicket.

            RHODES
      Tyler. Just our men. Not him.

   TOBY looks down at the remains of the one-armed guerillero.

            RHODES
      His head stays where it is. He and I
      never really had the chance to get
      acquainted. When he comes back...I'll
      get another shot at it... Ha ha ha
      ha...

[the Unholy]

65   EXT. THE CLEARING - DAY

   CLOSE ON CHICO. He's dangling from A ROPE which is tied over
   a tall tree, his feet ten feet off the ground.

   ZOMBIES wander here and there. They've all received their
   rations. The picnic is breaking up now. Occasionally one of
   them gets surly but it doesn't amount to anything. SOLDIERS
   stand ready with ELECTRIC PRODS, OTHERS with GUNS.

   PARAPHERNALIA is being packed away. MEN CARRY EQUIPMENT in
   the direction of the elevator.

                     (CONTINUES)

[the Unholy]

65   CONTINUED:

   RHODES walks up beneath where CHICO is hanging. He's careful
   not to step in too close. He doesn't want to get any DRIPPING
   BLOOD on his uniform.

            CHICO
      Please....shoot me.

            RHODES
      And if I don't? If I don't you'll come
      back after your death. You'll come
      back and find yourself hanging
      there...wanting to eat...needing to
      eat human flesh. You hate that
      thought, don't you? That's the
      ultimate sin for most of you fools,
      isn't it?

   CHICO is weeping now. With a found spurt of energy he
   struggles against the rope. No use. It only brings pain.

            RHODES
      After hanging up there a few days you
      will be mad for food...crazed! You
      will lust for it! YOU WILL BE WORSE
      THAN ANY OF THEM!

            CHICO
      NO...NOOOOOOO...SHOOT ME! SHOOT ME!
      SHOOOOOOOOOT MEEEEEEEEE!!!

[the Unholy]

I'll bargain with you. How many of you
      are on the island?

            CHICO
      Two of us...only two of us...me...and
      him. (He nods towards MIGUEL'S
      CORPSE.)

            RHODES
      I don't believe you, rebel. Where are
      your headquarters? On the mainland?

            CHICO
      The mainland...is dead...a dead
      place...nobody there...

            RHODES
      Where are your headquarters, rebel?
      Tell me or I'll let you hang there
      forever...FOREVER!

            CHICO
      There are no...headquarters. There are
      no...rebels. Only the walking dead.
      Don't you see. They have won.

[the Unholy]

RHODES
      Then why did you come here?

            CHICO
      To look...look for a place...a place
      to live in...an empty place...a...
      new...place...

            RHODES
      How did you know we were on this
      island? Do others know? Will others
      come?

            CHICO
      Nooooo. Believe me. There are no
      others...no rebels...nobody...it's
      over...it's ooooo....

   The man collapses, unconscious.

66   EXT. THE CLEARING - DAY

   CLOSE ON THE DISEMBODIED HEAD OF ONE OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS.
   TRICKS is dropping the thing into A LARGE PLASTIC BAG which
   obviously already contains THE SECOND HEAD. TOBY wraps the
   mouth of the bag and begins to walk off. RHODES stops him.

[the Unholy]

RHODES
      Where are you going, Tyler?

            TOBY
      My..."detail", sir. We're going to
      bury the heads.

            RHODES
      No time for that. I'll take care of
      them.

            TOBY
      Just....following procedure, sir.
      They're entitled to burial.

            RHODES
      I said, I'll take care of them. Just
      leave them there. Go help with the
      rest of the gear.

                     (CONTINUES)

[the Unholy]

66   CONTINUED:

   RHODES has it in for TOBY (we'll find out why later), and of
   course the feeling is mutual. TOBY sets the bag down on the
   ground and, seething, he trots off towards the rest of the
   platoon. TRICKS follows.

   After a moment, RHODES motions with his head. THE SOLDIER
   WITH THE LONG NOOSE POLE steps into view with the CAPTIVE
   ZOMBIE, the one that ran amok earlier. The man follows RHODES
   towards the jungle, dragging the gurgling creature along, the
   wire noose digging into the thing's neck.

67   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

   CLOSE: as RHODES' GLOVED HAND jams A HAND GRENADE into THE
   CAPTIVE ZOMBIE'S gaping mouth. THE SOLDIER WITH THE POLE
   releases the noose and the two men take off, running.

68   EXT. THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

   They run to the middle of the clearing where they turn around
   to watch. RHODES lifts A PAIR OF BINOCULARS that are strapped
   around his neck. He stares through the lenses, focusing,
   grinning.

69   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

[the Unholy]

THROUGH THE BINOCULARS: We see THE ZOMBIE staggering in the
   bush, clawing desperately at the thing jammed in its mouth.

70   EXT. THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

   TOBY AND TRICKS are the only ones who seem to notice what
   RHODES has done. TOBY drops THE CRATE he was going to carry
   off. He stares in disbelief, hatred on his face.

71   EXT. THE JUNGLE NEAR THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

   WIDE SHOT as THE HEAD OF THE ZOMBIE DISINTEGRATES WHEN THE
   GRENADE EXPLODES.

72   EXT.   THE CLEARING - DAY HOT D

   RHODES grins as he watches the spectacle.

   Suddenly, A LOUD GUNSHOT startles the captain. He drops the
   binoculars and spins around. He sees...

   ...CHICO'S BODY DANGLING ON THE ROPE. CHICO'S HEAD IS BLOODY.
   He's dead...and won't come back to life. He's been shot
   through the brain.

            RHODES
      WHO FIRED THAT SHOT? WHO FIRED THAT
      SHOT?

   SOLDIERS stand around dumbly. Those with RIFLES in their
   hands quickly sling them onto their shoulders. They're all
   afraid of the captain's wrath. RHODES walks towards the line
   of men with fury in his eyes.

            RHODES
      Goddammit, somebody's gonna tell me
      who fired that shot or I'll have every
      last one of you chopped up for feed!!!

   His eyes spot TOBY, standing behind the crate he dropped
   earlier, his rifle slung.

            RHODES
      Step up here, Tyler.

            TOBY
      Sir!

[the Unholy]

TOBY shouts the word like a West Point cadet and he bravely
   steps forward. RHODES stares him down, his anger turning
   sinister.

            RHODES
      You fired that shot, didn't you?

            TOBY
      No, sir.

            RHODES
      Let me see your weapon.

   TOBY hands over his rifle. RHODES feels the barrel, sniffs
   it.

            RHODES
      It's been fired.

            TOBY
      In the battle, sir.

   RHODES is sure he's found the guilty man and he's glad it
   turned out to be his favourite whipping boy. His body relaxes
   visibly.

                     (CONTINUES)

[the Unholy]

72   CONTINUED:

            RHODES
      It may be that none of these chicken-
      shits will talk while the whole troop
      is present...but I know some of these
      men well. I'm sure that a few private
      conversations will tell me what I
      already know. You may have earned
      yourself some time in the Stalag,
      Tyler.
      (Rhodes glances over at CHICO'S body)
      Cut him down. That's another head for
      you to chop off. Leave it with the
      others. Take the rest of his body down
      to the freezers. Move it, **** hill.

   TOBY moves off. RHODES' grin returns.

   CUT TO:

73   INT. THE CAVE ENTRANCE - EVENING

   There's that GIANT SOUND again, the RUMBLE OF THE ELEVATOR.
   We're inside the place called THE CAVE, in a huge under-
   ground concrete bunker. TECHNICIANS AND ARMED GUARDS bustle
   around. Enormous hydraulic pistons are bringing the
   camouflaged iron plate down from the surface. Riding on
   board, RHODES AND HIS PLATOON prepare to unload their
   paraphernalia.

74   EXT. THE JUNGLE - EVENING

[the Unholy]

SARAH, sweating, exhausted, BLEEDING FROM CUTS made by jungle
   branches, wrings out a piece of cloth torn from her sleeve.
   She has dipped it into a jungle stream. Cautiously she tastes
   the water, decides to chance it and squeezes the cloth into
   her mouth.

   The NIGHT BIRDS suddenly stop their singing and the quiet
   makes SARAH look up. Standing across the stream, only ten
   feet away, is A PARTICULARLY GROTESQUE ZOMBIE. VULTURES stand
   on the marshy ground beside the creature's legs, THEIR SHARP
   BEAKS PICKING BLOODY HOLES IN ITS ANKLES AND FEET.

   SARAH jumps to her feet, fighting back exhaustion one more
   time. She unslings her RIFLE, aims it, then thinks better of
   firing. Grabbing up her SUPPLY PACK she runs into the
   darkening jungle.

75   EXT.   THE JUNGLE - EVENING

   WHAM! TWO BIG HANDS GRAB SARAH by her shoulders. She starts
   to scream but one of those hands shoots up to cover her
   mouth.

            JOHN
      It's alright. It's alright. Don't be
      afraid. We're friends.

   SARAH looks into the strong, good face of JOHN, a tall
   muscular man, a Caribbean Islander with shiny black skin and
   enormous brown eyes that seem instantly trustworthy.