(theme song)

MASON

Well, Sesra, it’s about time you got up here.

SESRA

So it seems. Though it’s not my fault Wyncyn kept leaving to talk to you.

MASON

True, I guess someone has to man the kitchen.

SESRA

(flatly) And that someone was often me. But now he’s actually doing his job, so here I am.

MASON

Right. So! Tell me about yourself, about your life before the apocalypse.

SESRA

Well, my name is Sesra, I use she/her. My girlfriend and I ran a coffee shop before the zombies came around.

MASON

Woah, that’s awesome! What’s it called?

SESRA

“The Natural Brew.” We sourced naturally, locally, the whole nine yards. We used to have people lining up outside the store on busy mornings.

MASON

Hey, yeah, I went there a couple times. Pretty sure I had a few job interviews there back when I could still work.

SESRA

Yes, we were a popular spot for interviews and first dates. Our first date was at a coffee shop, actually. That’s part of why we opened The Natural Brew.

MASON

Aw, that’s so cute! Who’s your girlfriend?

SESRA

Hilda. She was the love of my life.

MASON

Oh, shit, I- Was?

SESRA

Yes, she… she was turned at the beginning of the apocalypse. A zombie bit her, this was back when we hardly even knew the virus was transferred by bites. We just tried to clean it normally as we quarantined, but then I woke up one morning to her groaning in the bathroom, and… and I…

MASON

Shit, Sesra. You don’t have to keep going, you can stop, I- I’m so sorry for your loss.

SESRA

It’s okay. Well, it’s not okay, but… that’s how the world is now. You lose people. Hopefully, someday, science can get those people back. But as of right now, that’s not even a possibility. We just have to accept what comes our way.

MASON

That’s… grim, but I guess I understand. You lost your girlfriend. Of course you’re feeling grim. [pause] Shit, uh- we’re getting a call. Can I..?

SESRA

Go ahead.

MASON

(solemnly) Hi, Will.

WILL

Did I call at a bad time?

MASON

Uh, sort of. I was just… (fake cheer) interviewing Sesra here! Sesra, say hello!

SESRA

Hello, Will. It’s nice to meet you.

WILL

Um, right, nice to meet you too. Sorry if I… Anyway. I’m coming up on a coffee shop, do you think they’ll have supplies?

MASON

Oh wow, we were just talking about coffee shops! Sesra used to own one.

SESRA

I’m sure most of their pastries and things are long past edible, if they’re not already gone. Coffee shops don’t exactly hoard many non-perishables.

Will

Damn. You think there’s any real reason to go in, then?

SESRA

Not really. Besides, you’re on a time limit, aren’t you?

WILL

Definitely, but I do need supplies… If you think it’s not worth it, I won’t go. Thanks for the advice.

SESRA

No problem. Perhaps I should get back to work—(wryly) so Wyncyn doesn’t burn down the kitchen.

MASON

Hey, Wyncyn’s not a bad cook!

SESRA

Maybe, but I’ve certainly known better.

WILL

Harsh.

SESRA

Oh well. Bye, Mason.

MASON

Bye, thanks for letting me interview you!

[pause]

WILL

She was… lively.

MASON

Oh, don’t be rude.

WILL

Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a mean way. She’s just very different from your usual guests.

MASON

Yeah, Sesra’s real cool and calm. It’s a shame she hates fighting, because she’s great at keeping her cool during disasters. Kitchen disasters, that is.

WILL

Speaking of kitchen disasters, I am one.

MASON

Oh, are you now?

WILL

Absolutely. I think I could burn soup.

MASON

Well, yeah. Soup can be burnt.

WILL

What? I thought soup was like, one of those things you couldn’t mess up. I was making a joke.

MASON

That’s… very telling.

WILL

Oh, whatever. I’m at the park on Main Street, by the way!

MASON

No shit! That’s where my dad taught me to ride a bike.

WILL

Hey, cool. You’ve never mentioned your dad before, is he at the mall with you?

MASON

Nah, he was up in Canada when the apocalypse hit. I’ve heard Canada was way ahead of the game with evacuation though, so he’s probably fine.

WILL

You haven’t heard from him?

MASON

Aw, geez, don’t make me worry!

WILL

Sorry, sorry! Just curious. I haven’t talked to my parents in years.

MASON

Why’s that?

WILL

‘Cuz they’re shit parents.

MASON

Oh, sorry.

WILL

I think we started this conversation off wrong.

MASON

Yeah, it’s cursed.

WILL

…But I still enjoyed talking to you. Even if it was cursed talking.

MASON

Just because it’s cursed doesn’t mean it wasn’t worthwhile. I enjoyed talking to you, too, Will.

(static)

(theme song)

WILL

Another street safely crossed. God bless.

MASON

God bless. How close are you now?

WILL

A little over halfway there from where I started, I think.

MASON

Before all this, I never would have thought it would take this long to hike across the city.

WILL

You aren’t factoring in the zombies. If I could go straight across each street, that would be way faster—but instead I have to watch out for zombies at every twist and turn.

MASON

It’s kind of impressive that you’ve made it this far. I wonder how many people weren’t as strong or hearty or lucky as you.

WILL

I don’t. If I start to wonder about stuff like that, I’ll never be able to stop.

MASON

That’s fair. I regret wondering already.

WILL

Yeah. So, uh… Tell me how things are going!

MASON

Pretty well, all things considered. Daethie and Sylrie are totally fine, Jule’s up and walking around again—way better than she was yesterday. I think Aaron and Elris are the only ones we’re really worried about.

WILL

That’s a relief. For everyone but Aaron and Elris, I mean. Are they… [clears throat] I mean, what are their… chances?

MASON

Oh, I think they’ll be fine. They just need some rest and someone to tend to their bandages from time to time. They’ll definitely make it to the evacuation, and then they’ll have access to actual healthcare.

WILL

Good.

MASON

I can’t believe I didn’t ask earlier, but what about you? Wyncyn said you got hurt yesterday.

WILL

Oh, I’m fine. I feel… strong. Uh, hearty, like you said. Normal.

MASON

That’s… good…

WILL

Sorry, that was a weird way to put it. My point is that I’m doing fine and I’m on track to reach you in time for the evacuation.

[door opening and closing]

JULE

Hey, Mason.

MASON

Oh, Jule! Glad to see you up and about. What’s up?

JULE

Tairam sent me up to be your next interviewee.

MASON

Awww, he does care.

JULE

He was worried you’d burn the mall down if you got bored.

MASON

Ha, ha. The fact still remains that he cares about me and my radio show!

JULE

In secret, yeah. Deep down in his heart.

MASON

Really deep. Well, Jule, let me introduce you—this is Will! Will, this is Jule.

WILL

Hi, Jule.

JULE

Hi, Will. I’ve heard a lot about you, usually in suspicious whispers.

WILL

People whisper about me?

JULE

Oh yeah. Pretty much everyone knows about you except for Tairam. Hell, even Lily and Xander know who you are.

MASON

They think you’re in league with the tooth fairy.

WILL

Why, did one of them lose a tooth?

MASON

No, but they’re in the market for it. So, Jule! Tell us about yourself.

JULE

Well, my name is Jule Kiggins. I’m 25. My husband and I moved to Kitmouth from Arkmunster about a year ago.

WILL

Ooh, Arkmunster. Our long-standing rival.

MASON

Tell me you didn’t stay loyal to the Arkmunster Cougars.

JULE

Of course not. My husband Luka bought brand new Kitmouth Cubs jerseys as soon as we moved here—something about ‘having a sense of community with our neighbors.’

MASON

Can I ask where your husband is now…?

JULE

He’s fine, don’t worry! At least, last time I checked, he was. He made it to the first evacuation, it was right by his place of work.

WILL

He went without you?

JULE

Oh, calm down, I insisted. I would’ve thrown a real fit if he’d stayed behind just for my sake. Besides, that would be one more mouth to feed. We were better off splitting up.

MASON

Still, I don’t know if I’d be able to leave my wife behind like that. If I had a wife, that is.

WILL

Me neither, I’d worry myself silly. I think I’d rather we both be stuck in the apocalypse together than see them left alone while I escaped.

JULE

He knew I wasn’t alone, though. Our entire neighborhood banded together for a couple of weeks… but then there was a nasty case of infighting, and me and Aaron headed off to ‘find rations’ and just never went back. That’s when we joined Tairam’s crew here at the mall.

MASON

No way, I didn’t know you and Aaron were neighbors!

JULE

Next-door neighbors, too. He and Luka used to go rabid over sportsball.

WILL

Ah, the everlasting tradition of sportsball.

JULE

Oh, hush. It’s not my job to keep up with all that nonsense.

MASON

What is your job?

JULE

To kill zombies, Mason. And I’m damn good at it.

MASON

No shit, you took out like ten before you got hurt the other day.

WILL

Damn. I wish I had your expertise right about now.

MASON

Wait, why? Is something happening?

WILL

…There’s a roadblock. A bunch of abandoned cars over the bridge, and a shit-ton of zombies in the middle. Doesn’t seem like a particularly safe crossing.

MASON

Oh, you’re at the bridge? That’s… Shit, that’s not good. The nearest detour would add a lot of time.

WILL

I think I’m gonna have to do it anyway, there’s no way I can sneak around all those zombies without being noticed.

JULE

Sure you can! You can do this. After all, what have you got to lose?

WILL

Uh, my life?

JULE

Amateur worries.

WILL

I am an amateur!

JULE

Look. Just take a deeeeep breath… and let it out slowly. Now take a look at those zombies.

WILL

[breathes in and out] Okay… I’m looking.

JULE

You said there were a bunch of cars blocking the road, right? Maybe you can use them as cover and go along the edge of the bridge.

WILL

That seems… dangerous.

JULE

But it’ll work! And if you get noticed, you can climb up onto one of the cars and jump from hood to hood to keep out of the zombies’ reach until you get to the other side.

WILL

Planning for failure, great. That’s really encouraging.

MASON

She might be right, Will. You can’t afford to add another day’s worth of travel to your plan, you’ll miss the evacuation.

WILL

…Shit. Okay, okay, fine, I- I’ll sneak across the bridge. Don’t make any noise.

MASON

Uh, what? No sirree, you are hanging up the phone for this one, bud!

WILL

…That’s probably for the best. [call hangs up]

MASON

(quietly) …I still feel like I should whisper.

JULE

He’ll be fine, Mason. I really think he can handle this.

MASON

Probably! But that doesn’t stop me from worrying. I wish we could meet him halfway…

JULE

We just don’t have the people to spare. Even if Tairam was on board with Will joining us, we wouldn’t be able to send a team out to meet him—especially not this close to the evacuation. At best, Daethie will run across him on a scavenging run, but with the evacuation so close…

MASON

I get it. There aren’t many scavenging runs left.

JULE

Exactly. Will is on his own here.

MASON

God, I hate that. No one should be on their own in the middle of the apocalypse. It’s soul-crushing enough to look outside and see good people turned into shambling monsters, but to do it without a support system to keep your head on straight? I’d go insane.

JULE

He has a support system, Mason. It’s you. That’s why he calls you—so he doesn’t go insane.

MASON

(realization) …Huh. Oh, he’s calling back.

WILL

[out of breath] On one hand: I did make it across the bridge! On the other hand, I’m now being trailed by a lot of zombies!

MASON

And you took the time to dial us!?

WILL

It was instinct! I didn’t want to be alone!

MASON

Sweet Jesus. Okay, just- run!

WILL

Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that!