GUARD

You’re going to feel a slight poke.

WILL

What is it?

GUARD

New vaccine, ‘sposed to protect you from the zombie virus. Just a precaution. You’ll still need to quarantine for three days.

WILL

Huh, thanks.

[they walk to the quarantine rooms]

WILL

[surprised] Are you recording this?

MASON

Um, yeah. How often do you get let into a moon colony, Will? This is history in the making!

WILL

Good point. Are you going to record the entire quarantine?

MASON

No, I don’t think my phone has enough space for that. God, I hope I get assigned to the radio. I hope they have a radio.

WILL

I’m sure they will.

DR. ELORA

[over speakers] Welcome to Colony 7-2. I am speaking to you from the viewing room adjacent to you so that I may monitor you during your quarantine to look for signs of zombification.

WILL

[sarcastically] How welcoming.

DR. ELORA

It’s just a precaution. In three days, assuming you don’t turn, you’ll be integrated into the colony and assigned a job and a room. You’ll then have full access to our facilities. [pause] Could you put that away while I speak, please?

MASON

Oh, yeah, sorry!

[recording stops, starts up again]

TOUR GUIDE

Congratulations on getting through quarantine! Just follow me, and I’ll give you a quick tour of the compound on the way to the mess hall.

MASON

Hey, where are our friends?

TOUR GUIDE

Probably still filling out the paperwork. I’m sure they’ll join you before you’re finished with lunch.

[pause]

TOUR GUIDE

Through that door is the gym… Over here is the library… Oh, there’s the radio station.

MASON

(whispered) Yesssss.

Will

[laughs] When do we get to know our assigned duties?

TOUR GUIDE

We should get back to you by the end of the day with that. Oh, and this door- we’re not allowed in there. Some science-y thing, I just leave that to the scientists and the council.

MASON

It’s hard to resist a ‘stay out’ sign. Maybe that room needs exploring.

TOUR GUIDE

Please don’t. And here we are, the mess hall! Go ahead and get your lunch and then take a seat wherever you like. I’ll tell your friends that you’re already here.

WILL

Thank you!

[walking]

WILL

God, this place is huge.

MASON

It has to be, with how many people are here in this one compound. Shame we couldn’t be with Mrs. Wilder and the others, though.

WILL

Yeah, sorry about that.

MASON

Hey, not your fault. You were going as fast as you could—I’m just glad you made it to the mall safely, and that we lasted the extra two weeks to the next evac.

WILL

Daethie was a life-saver, literally. I wish she didn’t have to go back with the military.

MASON

Yeah, it would’ve been nice to have her around here. Still, at least we’ve got Wyncyn, Esme, and Tairam. We’re not totally alone.

WILL

They’re letting Esme keep Scout, right?

[sound of them sitting down at table]

MASON

Yep! They didn’t even have to beg for it. I think Tairam might have had something to do with that.

WILL

Who knew that dog’s biggest nonbeliever would become its greatest ally.

MASON

Ha! Yeah, yeah.

[someone groaning]

MASON

Hey, what- [mason gets out of chair] Oh my god, are you okay?

[more groaning]

MASON

You’re not looking too good, are you- gah!

WILL

Mason!

[sounds of a scuffle, zombie noises]

UNNAMED PERSON #1

Shit, someone just turned!

WILL

Look out!

MASON

Oof-

[zombie bite sound, more scuffling, crutches hitting zombie. Zombie hits floor]

WILL

[panting] Thanks, Mason. Guess those crutches come in handy as a weapon sometimes.

MASON

Yeah, next time don’t throw yourself in front of me, please?

WILL

You were going to get bitten!

MASON

You could’ve gotten bitten!

WILL

I- Oh shit, not again.

MASON

What? Will, what do you mean?

WILL

…Do you think this is a scratch, or a bite?

MASON

Oh, fuck. That’s- That’s definitely a bite, Will.

UNNAMED PERSON #1

He’s bitten!

GUARD

Step aside, please.

[struggle]

WILL

Hey, hands off!

MASON

Yeah, leave him alone!

GUARD

If he’s been bitten, he must quarantine for at least three days. We’re not risking an outbreak here.

MASON

But we just got out of quarantine!

GUARD

And now he’s going back in. End of discussion.

MASON

Well- Well, I’m coming too! There’s, like, a viewing room, right? We could talk through the mic and speakers there?

GUARD

You can walk with us if you want, but whether or not you’re allowed to stay is up to Dr. Elora.

WILL

It’s okay, Mason. I’m sure it’s just a scratch, I- I’ll be fine. And we got that vaccine, right? I’m sure this is just a precaution!

MASON

Does it matter? You got bitten for me, Will. I’m going with you.

Will

(genuinely, relieved) …Thanks.

[walking, silence]

GUARD

Right this way.

[door opens, closes]

MASON

Yeah, yeah. We just came from here.

[pause, door opens again]

DR. ELORA

Why, hello there. I’m Dr. Elora. I hear someone got bitten during the altercation in the mess hall?

MASON

Or scratched. It might just be a scratch.

WILL

Hey-

DR. ELORA

Hmm… It doesn’t look like a scratch to me. This is almost certainly a bite. Let’s get this disinfected, quick.

MASON

Can I stay?

DR. ELORA

Not in the quarantine area.

MASON

No, I mean- In the viewing room. I know you have one, you were talking to us through the speakers. Can I use that set-up to talk to him?

DR. ELORA

Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt anything… [pause] Oh, why not. The poor man will need someone to keep him company anyway, and I’m not much for conversation.

MASON

[relieved] Thank you.

DR. ELORA

Come with me. What was your name again?

WILL

Will.

DR. ELORA

Come with me, Will.

[walking, door opens and closes]

MASON

…History in the making.

GUARD

Hey, it’s only three days.

MASON

Till what?

GUARD

Till you know. Either he turns, or he doesn’t. Simple as that.

MASON

[sarcastically] Wow, thanks.

GUARD

I’ll pray for him.

MASON

[mutters] Dear God, I know you were cool with letting the zombie apocalypse happen, but could you save this one person from being turned?

GUARD

You don’t have to be rude about it.

MASON

…Sorry.

GUARD

It’s fine. Really, I hope he gets through this.

MASON

Me, too.

[door opens, closes]

MASON

Now, let’s see here… Will? Can you hear me?

WILL

Mason! Yeah, I can hear you. Wish I could see you.

MASON

Yeah, this viewing window is only one-way. …But you’ll see me again. Three days, Will.

WILL

Three days.

MASON

History in the making.