Creation Details
Prompt: “THE UNDEAD: UPRISING OF THE DEATH WISH - EPISODE 1
Title: The first bell
SCRIPT LENGTH: 30 PAGES (Approx. 30 minutes)
SCENE START
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY (0:00 - 3:00)
SOUND of a monotonous history lecture
The sun streams into a typical Japanese high school classroom. MR. KOJIMA drones on about the Edo period.
Most of the Grade 10 students are bored. MERRITT (16, kind-eyed, observant) isn't listening. He watches YUKI (16, a tomboy with a streak of blue in her hair) who is sketching a detailed mech in her notebook.
To his left, SUYO (16, timid, gentle) steals a glance at Merritt, then quickly looks down, blushing, when he shifts in his seat.
SOUND: A loud, disrespectful THUMP
JINU (18, intense, with a psychopathic gleam in his eye) has slammed his textbook on a desk at the front. He's a Grade 12 student who doesn't belong here.
<center>JINU</center>
> (Smooth, condescending)
> With all due respect, sensei, the shogunate didn't fall because of economic pressure. It fell because the leaders were weak. They hesitated.
MR. KOJIMA stammers, unsettled. Yuki looks up from her sketch, glaring at Jinu with defiance. Merritt watches the exchange, annoyed.
SOUND: The school bell CHIMES cheerfully
<center>MR. KOJIMA</center>
> (Flustered)
> Very well. Class dismissed!
The classroom erupts into chaos. Jinu smirks at Yuki's defiant glare before sauntering out.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY (3:00 - 6:00)
The hallway is packed. Merritt tries to catch up to Yuki, but she's walking fast.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> Yuki! Wait up!
Yuki turns, a slight, friendly smirk on her face.
<center>YUKI</center>
> What's up, Merritt? Need help with history?
Before he can answer, SUYO timidly tugs on Merritt's sleeve.
<center>SUYO</center>
> Um, Merritt... did you understand the homework?
Merritt is torn, looking between the two girls.
We see BRUCE (16, protective, strong) leaning against a locker, watching AVA (18, calm, serene) and EVA (18, outspoken) from Grade 12 walk by. His eyes are locked on Ava.
<center>EVA</center>
> (To Ava)
> I'm telling you, I saw Jinu heading to the other classes again. He's so creepy.
<center>AVA</center>
> He's just intense, Eva. Don't be mean.
KADORI (16, tomboy, athletic) jogs up to Bruce, punching his arm playfully.
<center>KADORI</center>
> Staring again, lover boy? Just go talk to her.
<center>BRUCE</center>
> Shut up, Kadori.
From a nearby staircase, we see the younger twins, ASHER (15, time-cautious) and ASHLEY (15, carefree), racing down.
<center>ASHER</center>
> We have precisely seven minutes to get lunch before the crowd hits its peak!
<center>ASHLEY</center>
> You and your schedules! Live a little!
They bump into OLIVER (17, nerd) and ALEX (17, tomboy) from Grade 11, who are arguing about a video game.
<center>OLIVER</center>
> The stats on that weapon are clearly superior, Alex!
<center>ALEX</center>
> Stats aren't everything, Ollie. It's about movement speed!
Further down, Grade 8 students JASON (14) and MILA (14) are laughing, while Grade 7 students ISAAC (13) and EMMA (13, tomboy) chase each other playfully.
<center>EMMA</center>
> You can't catch me, slowpoke!
<center>ISAAC</center>
> Hey, that's not fair!
The scene establishes the entire large cast going about their normal lives.
EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD - DAY (6:00 - 10:00)
The courtyard is buzzing with life. Students eat lunch, chat, and laugh.
Merritt, Suyo, Yuki, Kadori, and Bruce sit together at a bench. Suyo nervously offers a homemade onigiri to Merritt.
<center>SUYO</center>
> (Timidly)
> Merritt, I made an extra one... if you're hungry.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> (Distracted, looking at Yuki)
> Oh... thanks, Suyo.
Yuki is showing Bruce and Kadori her mech sketch.
<center>YUKI</center>
> See the hydraulic system on this arm? It could probably punch through a concrete wall.
<center>KADORI</center>
> You're such a nerd, Yuki. A cool nerd.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling SCREAM rips through the air from the school building. It's cut off abruptly.
The courtyard falls into a confused silence.
SOUND: Another SCREAM, followed by the sound of SHATTERING GLASS
Panic begins to ripple through the students.
<center>BRUCE</center>
> What the hell was that?
Jinu walks past their group, an unnerving smile on his face.
<center>JINU</center>
> Sounds like lunch and a show.
The main doors of the school burst open. A student—TANAKA from their class—stumbles out. His uniform is torn and drenched in blood. Dark liquid drips from his mouth. He snarls, his eyes milky and inhuman.
<center>SUYO</center>
> (Whispering, terrified)
> Tanaka-kun...?
Tanaka lets out a guttural GROWL and lunges at the nearest student, biting into his arm.
Pure pandemonium erupts in the courtyard. Students scream and run in all directions.
<center>YUKI</center>
> (Immediately on her feet)
> What is wrong with him?!
<center>KADORI</center>
> Get back!
Bruce instinctively steps in front of the group, putting himself between them and the threat.
Jinu watches, not helping, his eyes wide with fascination.
<center>JINU</center>
> Look at that. No fear. No pain. Just... hunger. It's beautiful.
Tanaka, having overwhelmed his first victim, turns his gaze towards their group. He charges.
<center>SUYO</center>
> (Screams)
> He's coming this way!
Merritt grabs a stunned Suyo and pulls her behind him.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> Stay close!
Yuki grabs her metal lunchbox, ready to swing it. Kadori adopts a defensive stance. Bruce looks for a weapon.
The zombie-Tanaka leaps. Bruce tackles him, wrestling him to the ground. It's a brutal struggle.
<center>BRUCE</center>
> (Straining)
> Someone... help!
Yuki doesn't hesitate. She swings her metal lunchbox, HITTING Tanaka square in the head with a loud CLANG. The zombie is dazed for a moment.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> The gates! We have to make a run for the main gates!
EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD - MONTAGE - DAY (10:00 - 18:00)
A frantic montage of the group trying to survive and gather others.
1. Merritt's group fights their way through the chaotic courtyard. They see the Grade 9 twins, Asher and Ashley, cornered. Kadori pulls them to safety.
2. They find Oliver and Alex barricaded behind vending machines. Oliver is trying to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon.
3. Bruce kicks a zombie off of Jason and Mila (Grade 8), pulling them into the group.
4. They see Isaac and Emma (Grade 7) about to be surrounded. Yuki creates a loud distraction, allowing them to escape and join the group.
5. They find Ava and Eva (Grade 12) trying to hide in a storage shed. Bruce personally helps them out. Eva is screaming, Ava is eerily calm.
<center>EVA</center>
> What is happening?! Are those zombies?!
<center>JINU</center>
> (Appearing suddenly)
> An accurate, if simplistic, assessment.
Jinu has been following them, observing, a bloody metal pipe in his hand.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> We have to stick together!
The group is now large and terrified: Merritt, Yuki, Suyo, Bruce, Kadori, Jinu, Ava, Eva, Asher, Ashley, Oliver, Alex, Jason, Mila, Isaac, Emma.
They finally fight their way to the main gate, only to skid to a halt.
The main gate is chained shut from the outside. A police car is crashed into the gate, its lights still flashing, but there's no one inside. Beyond the gate, in the distance, they can see smoke rising from the city and hear distant sirens.
Their escape route is cut off.
<center>ASHER</center>
> The schedule... there's no schedule for this...
<center>SUYO</center>
> (Tears in her eyes)
> We're trapped...
INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY (18:00 - 26:00)
The large group now moves cautiously through a dark, blood-smeared hallway inside the school. The power is flickering.
They are trying to find another way out or a place to hide.
<center>OLIVER</center>
> The gymnasium! The back exit by the equipment room is never locked!
<center>JINU</center>
> (Quietly, to Merritt)
> He's right. But it's a long way. Through the heart of the building. Are you sure you can lead these sheep, shepherd?
Merritt ignores him, his jaw set.
They turn a corner and find a horrifying scene. A group of zombies are... feeding. But these are different. They move faster. Their eyes glow with a faint, sinister yellow light.
One of them looks up. It's half its face rotted, but the other half looks almost human, twisted in a cruel smile. It lets out a screech that sounds almost intelligent.
The new, evolved zombies notice them and immediately give chase, their speed terrifying.
<center>BRUCE</center>
> RUN!
The group sprints down the hallway. It's a frantic, chaotic chase.
Suyo trips, falling hard. A zombie is on her in a second.
<center>SUYO</center>
> MERRITT!
Merritt turns back without thinking. He grabs a fallen chair and smashes it over the zombie's back. It barely flinches. It turns its glowing eyes towards him.
Yuki is there in an instant. She jams a sharpened piece of the broken chair into the zombie's eye. It screeches and recoils.
Merritt pulls Suyo up. She clings to him, sobbing.
<center>YUKI</center>
> Don't just stand there! Move!
They keep running, finally barricading themselves inside the SCIENCE LAB.
INT. SCIENCE LAB - DAY (26:00 - 30:00)
SOUND of heavy breathing, desks being shoved against the door
The group is safe for a moment. They are all panting, terrified. Suyo is still clinging to Merritt's arm.
Yuki looks at the barricaded door, then at Merritt and Suyo. A complicated look flashes in her eyes before she turns away.
<center>JINU</center>
> (Leans close to the door, listening)
> They're out there. Waiting. They're learning.
<center>AVA</center>
> (Calmly)
> What were those? They were... faster. Smarter.
<center>JINU</center>
> Evolution, my dear. The next stage.
Bruce stands protectively near Ava and a sobbing Eva.
<center>BRUCE</center>
> We can't stay here forever.
Merritt looks around at the terrified faces of his friends and classmates. Isaac and Emma are huddled together. Oliver and Alex are checking for anything useful. Kadori is peering out the window.
<center>MERRITT</center>
> We need a plan. We need to get to the gym.
He looks at Yuki for backup. She gives him a single, firm nod of support.
<center>YUKI</center>
> He's right. We fight our way through.
Jinu smiles, a wide, crazy smile.
<center>JINU</center>
> Finally. The weak are culled, and the strong are ready to play. This is going to be fun.
The camera holds on the group's determined, scared, and resolute faces. They are trapped, but they are together. For now.
FADE OUT.
SCENE END
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Art Style: Watercolor Anime
Color Mode: Full Color
Panels: 1
Created: