ZHEYUAN
The Nine Dragons have a chokehold on the city, and that’s no accident.

ZHEYUAN
Sable says we’re family, but we’re leeches, feeding off of crime, black markets, and open trade.

EVELYN
So what does that have to do with me?

ZHEYUAN
Because that glass vial could burn this city to the ground.

ZHEYUAN
And the thing about parasites, they won’t go down without a fight.

KAIROS [OVER INTERCOM]
Kill them quickly.

RIDLEY [AV PROJECTION]
You really need to learn the rules if you want to play the game so badly.

MARIA
Just you wait until I get my hands on you!

SABLE
Fancy equipment can only get you so far.

ZHEYUAN
Trust the wrong person and-

EVELYN
Then we find out who’s at the top of the pyramid.

RIDLEY [AV PROJECTION]
You only have one night.

EVELYN
Then let’s make it count.

EVELYN [VOICEOVER]
COSMIKO: Neon Night.

EVELYN [VOICEOVER]
Available now on the COSMIKO podcast.

(radio static)

(theme song)

MASON

(worried) He still hasn’t called, guys. He still hasn’t called!

WYNCYN

(reassuring) It’s okay, he’ll call! Just give him time!

ESME

He’s probably rushing to get here as soon as possible.

WYNCYN

Yeah, what they said!

[Scout barks]

ESME

Even Scout agrees! He’s going to get here with plenty of time, Mason. Just take a deeeep breath and don’t panic.

MASON

I am breathing, I am breathing, but I’ll be honest: I’m panicking too.

WYNCYN

Hey, the light’s red!

MASON

Will!

WILL

I’m almost there, Mason! I’m so close, I bet I can make it there in a couple of hours.

MASON

Oh thank god. I was really getting worried.

ESME

Uh, what’s happening outside?

WYNCYN

What do you mean?

ESME

Out the window, all the trees’ leaves are blowing around like crazy, and-

MASON

Is that a helicopter!?

WILL

Oh no.

[door opens]

DAETHIE

Guys! The evacuation crew is here!

MASON

Shit. Shit. Shit!

DAETHIE

What’s wrong?

ESME

Will’s not here yet!

WILL

I’m going as fast as I can, I swear, but I’m over by Penrose. It’ll take me another two or three hours to get to the mall.

MASON

We can’t go, Daethie!

[door opens]

WILDER

It’s time to go, everyone, the military wants to leave this area as soon as possible.

MASON

We can’t! Will isn’t here, we can’t leave without him!

DAETHIE

Mason, the military isn’t going to like waiting. They have a schedule to stick to, other areas to evacuate. If we don’t go now, we’ll have to wait for the next evacuation in our area, and that could be weeks from now.

MASON

I know, but-

WYNCYN

We can try, but I don’t think we’ll be able to convince them to stick around for that long. They’re usually pretty strict.

[door opening]

TAIRAM

What is taking you all so long? Is there a party up here?

WILDER

It’s Mason, they’re worried about their friend.

MASON

Will is still a few hours away, I- We have to wait for him! If the military will just wait a little bit, o-or maybe we could meet him halfway-

DAETHIE

I told you, Mason, they have a schedule. They’re not going to listen to you.

TAIRAM

We need to go now.

WILL

I… I’m sorry, Mason. I really thought I could make it, I- I should never have called you. I got you wrapped up in my life, I made you worry about me, and- and I’m so sorry for that.

ESME

Will…

[silence]

MASON

…I’m staying here.

WYNCYN

What?

MASON

I’m not going. Will is going to be here soon, so we’ll- we’ll wait for the next evac together. I’m not going to leave him behind.

TAIRAM

Mason, you can’t- We are going.

WYNCYN

If Mason’s staying, then I’m staying. There’s no way I’m gonna let my best friend in the world stick around in the middle of the zombie apocalypse with a near stranger for weeks on end. I’m with you, Mace.

DAETHIE

Wyncyn, you- Mason. You’re disabled. I’m sorry to say it, but you stand less of a chance than any of us. You need to evacuate.

MASON

I’m not going. I can run if I have to, I’ll just pay for it later. And anyway, the mall is easy to defend. Plus, I’ll have Will and Wyncyn. I’m staying.

DAETHIE

Well… [sighs] then I guess I’m staying too.

ESME

That’s that, then! Scout and I are sticking around as well!

WILDER

I’m-

TAIRAM

No! You just had a baby, you and Naomi are going with the evac crew. Sesra, Jule, Aaron, Elris, Sylrie, and you two, you’re all getting evacuated.

[pause]

TAIRAM

And so are the rest of you. This is non-negotiable, you are not staying here in the middle of the apocalypse just for a stranger.

MASON

But he’s not just a stranger, he’s my friend! I care about him, I’m not going to leave him behind.

WYNCYN

And if Mason won’t go, then the rest of us won’t either. We’re sticking together.

TAIRAM

(sigh) You… you’re really set on this, huh?

MASON

I really am.

TAIRAM

Then I guess… there’s no choice. I’m staying too. We’ll wait for Will, for the next evac.

[chair scoots loudly]

TAIRAM

Ope- Ok, we’re hugging now.

MASON

Oh, sorry, I-

TAIRAM

No, it’s okay. I don’t mind.

MASON

Thank you, Tairam, really. You don’t know how much this means to me.

ESME

Phew, that was kind of tense for a while there!

WYNCYN

So who’s gonna tell the military that half of us are staying behind?

DAETHIE

I’ll tell them, I know one of the men on the helicopter. Mrs. Wilder, why don’t you bring Naomi downstairs with me to tell everyone else?

WYNCYN

I’ll come too, to say goodbye to everyone!

ESME

Ooh, me too!

TAIRAM

Come say goodbye when you’re ready, Mason.

[door closes]

MASON

Will?

WILL

I’m sorry, I- I’m speechless.

MASON

That’s okay.

WILL

I just- I never could have imagined that anyone would do that for me. Stand up for me like that, risk their life for me like that. Mason…

MASON

Hey, it’s no big deal.

WILL

But it is a big deal! Mason, I- Shit…

MASON

What’s wrong?

WILL

I… I really, really care about you, Mason. I know I haven’t known you long, it’s only been a few days, but… I’ve been listening since you first started your show at the beginning of the apocalypse. And I- I think- [pause] I think I’m falling in love with you.

[silence]

WILL

Mason?

MASON

…Give me time on this one. I really like you too, Will. My heart beats like crazy when I’m worried for you, but- I need time to know you in other, less worried ways. I want to meet you in person, learn more about you, get to know you better. And then… then, maybe we can be something more than friends.

WILL

That’s all I’m asking for. A chance. No matter how long it takes.

MASON

Thank you, Will. And thank you for calling in, that first day. You’ve made the apocalypse a lot more interesting, you know.

WILL

Oh, have I?

MASON

For sure. It was so boring before.

WILL

[laughs] Then I’m glad I could lighten it up a little.

MASON

I think on that first day you called me—what was it? Just ‘the radio person?’

WILL

Well, I wasn’t wrong, was I? You’re the radio person.

MASON

Technically, you are right, but you’re on thin ice, bud.

WILL

…Thanks, Mason. For everything.

MASON

No problem. See you in a couple hours?

WILL

Finally off the air.