LAST HOPE
Written by
The Op Shop West Footscray
Film projects
Based on, If Any
The Op Shop West Footscray Film projects
0408 663 840
CUT TO:
LAST HOPE
INT. LAB
A dimly lit, cluttered lab filled with medical equipment,
beakers, and research notes scattered everywhere. Soft growling
noises can be heard in the background.
DR. TURNER (V.O.)
Day 327. Supplies are running low.
Hope is running lower. But I can't
give up... not yet.
Dr. ALEX TURNER is meticulously mixing chemicals in a beaker,
his face tense with concentration.
INT. LAB NEAR CONTAINMENT UNIT DAY
Dr. Turner approaches a chained up zombie, ZOMBIE PATIENT 1, who
growls and struggles weakly.
Dr. Turner turns on his video camera and records himself, he
fills a syringe with a glowing serum and cautiously approaches
the zombie. He injects the serum into the zombie's neck and
steps back, watching intently.
DR. TURNER (V.O.)
This is my fifth attempt this week,
test number 478. Each failure is a
step closer to giving up, but I
can't afford to fail.
The zombie initially shows no reaction, then convulses slightly
before settling back into its restrained, aggressive state.
DR. TURNER
(Disappointed, muttering)
Damn it. Why won't it work?
Dr. Turner switches off the camera.
INT. LAB - LATER
Dr. Turner returns to his workbench, mixing another set of
chemicals. Closeups of his hands working rapidly and his weary
face.
2.
Montage: He takes notes, adjusts the mixture, and repeats the
process multiple times, each attempt more desperate than the
last.
He turns to his camera that is recording.
DR. TURNER (V.O.)
I've lost count of how many trials
I've conducted. Each one feels like
a step backward. But if there's any
chance to save what's left of
humanity, I have to keep going.
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
Dr. Turner reviews his notes and suddenly has a moment of
clarity. He quickly prepares a new batch of serum, his hands
trembling with anticipation.
DR. TURNER
It must be something the zombie
stopping the process, everything under
the microscope works.
He fills a syringe with the new serum, his face a mix of hope
and fear. He records a final video log.
DR. TURNER (CONT’D)
(To camera) This could be it. This
could be the cure. I'm going to try
injecting the serum directly into the
zombie's brain.
We see the zombie looking fierce.
DR. TURNER (CONT’D)
If you're watching this, it means I
didn't make it work. But maybe you
can. Maybe... there's still hope.
Dr. Turner plays a previous video.
DR. TURNER (CONT’D)
You can see the serum has a momentary
reaction yet lasts but a few seconds,
I'm hoping to stabilize it to become
permanent.
We see a video behind Dr. Turner playing a video of the zombie
he has been experimenting on turn from violent to docile then
back to violent.
3.
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
The lab is eerily quiet, with the growls of zombies faint in the
background. Dr. Turner cautiously approaches Zombie Patient 1
again. As he injects the zombie, it suddenly thrashes violently,
causing Dr. Turner to stumble backwards.
Dr. Turner falls backwards and accidentally injects himself with
the syringe. He looks at his arm in shock and panic.
DR. TURNER
Oh no... What have I done?
He quickly grabs a nearby blood testing kit and pricks his
finger to test his blood.
DR. TURNER (CONT’D)
(Breathing heavily) Please, let me not
be infected...
He waits anxiously for the results, watching the screen as it
analyzes his blood. The results show the serum becoming active
and stable. We see the virus under the microscope once dead now
reanimate.
DR. TURNER (CONT’D)
(Realizing) That's it! The serum needs
a living host to act as a catalyst.
The cure... it works!
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
A sudden noise disrupts the quiet. A zombie (ZOMBIE PATIENT 2)
has broken free and stumbles towards Dr. Turner.
Dr. Turner tries to defend himself, but the zombie overpowers
him and bites into his neck. He screams in agony as the zombie
bites and begins to eat him.
DR. TURNER
(Screaming) No! No!
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
The zombie stands over Dr Turner, its now infected with Dr.
Turner's blood, convulses and begins to show signs of recovery.
The zombie falls to the ground, twitching and writhing. Slowly,
it transforms back into a human, breathing heavily and looking
around in confusion.
4.
FORMER ZOMBIE
(Breathless, confused) What... what
happened?
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
The newly cured human stumbles around the lab, dazed and
disoriented. It knocks over vials destroying the paperwork
containing the formula for the serum. They notice a video
playing on a nearby screen.
The video shows Dr. Turner's earlier research logs, displaying
footage of the newly cured human as a zombie, undergoing various
tests.
DR. TURNER (VIDEO LOG)
(V.O.) Subject shows signs of
aggression and minimal cognitive
function. Efforts to reverse the
infection continue...
FORMER ZOMBIE
(Watching the video, horrified)
That... that was me.
DR. TURNER (V.O.)
The serum when finished should
react as a virus in itself
infecting zombies but instead of
cursing them it will cure.
The former Zombie looks at its hands, then at the dead Dr.
Turner. They wipe the blood of Dr. Turner from their mouth and
realize what they did.
FORMER ZOMBIE (V.O.)
He did it. He found the cure.
The former zombie feels the pulse in their wrist.
DR. TURNER
I'm now the cure.
INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS
The cured human looks around the lab, finding Dr. Turner's notes
and final log entry.
They gather the notes, syringes and supplies and cautiously exit
the building, looking out at the desolate world.
5.
FINAL SHOT: The cured human exits the building cautiously,
heading into the unknown with the potential to save others.
FADE TO BLACK
