Two Winters Past

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY. 

LOGAN, TARTELL, VILLOFF, STOKES and RICHARDS are still arguing. 

LOGAN: We have scouts as far as Damascus? 

RICHARDS: There are so many cars, and those cannibals are all gone. Last of the living bene gone a year or more.

TARTELL: That’s what we thought before he showed up. Didn’t give a name, cut us to ribbons, took our carts. Fifteen big men, running like dogs from lightning.

VILLOFF: They was spooks every last one of em.

RICHARDS: You don’t know that.

VILLOFF: Was you there? Did you see with your eyes? My men said they was black as night. Probably came up from New York City.

LOGAN: New York City is gone. I brought in new recruits today, came up that way last month. The entire city is overrun with monsters.

RICHARDS: Could it be another nation? Have we been invaded? Did someone find a way to shut off our power?

TARTELL: If they got enough guns, they’d sweep us up.

RICHARDS: We’d be helpless.

VILLOFF: I’m telling you it was coons. We should throw out those we got here before they turn and cut our throats.

LOGAN: Enough, Villoff. We’re not throwing anyone out.

VILLOFF: And when they turn on us?

LOGAN: When that problem arises, I will eagerly seek your advice. This army is bigger than ours, and they attacked on sight. They are the enemy, and we must respond. We need a plan for defense.

Hesitation:

RICHARDS: While you were away, we organized our own defense of the castle. Each of us commands one section of the wall. 

STOKES: (embarrassed) Not much communication between them.

LOGAN: Your fights are small and put us in grave danger. Communication must be upheld. I want to know every movement anyone makes, you got me? Don’t give your soldiers leave to shit without asking me first. If Damascus gets a single man over the wall, we will be in a crisis.

RICHARDS: How many new recruits?

STOKES: Three.

LOGAN: One was a woman, but the other two can fight. If you let me send two runners I can have twenty more men here in a week.

VILLOFF: Where you going to find twenty men to travel and fight by our side?

LOGAN: Men who believe in the Preacher’s teachings. We are not alone in the world. 

VILLOFF, RICHARDS, and TARTELL agree and exit. LOGAN and STOKES are silent a minute.

LOGAN: Do we have enough spears if we need to arm the women?

STOKES: (Beat) More than enough.

LOGAN: (shakes his head, holds it in his hands.) That’s still not enough.