WILL
Ah, breakfast and a strategy meeting. I, too, would place my weird map-room directly next to my kitchen.

MASON
It’s the house of a billionaire, Will, you’re never going to make it make sense.

WILL
Still. [pause] Anyway, this map. Is this all of Kitmouth?

MASON
Yeah, looks like the entire city.

WILL
There are these red pins in a few places—that’s the hospital, right?

MASON
Yeah, and that’s the mall… We’re the green pin, I think.

WILL
Where’s that last red pin, then? The one we haven’t been to?

MASON
Oh, that’s the space center.

WILL
So we have been there, we just didn’t really investigate.

MASON
We are doing this so inefficiently.

WILL
Yeah, well, we didn’t have this information before. Maybe Simon was using this map to keep track of his bases across the city. Maybe he’s at the space center right now.

MASON
Well, it is the only place we haven’t investigated. I guess we have to go there. Will the car make it?

WILL
Oh yeah, we’ll definitely be able to make it there. After that, though, I’m not sure.

MASON
Do you know how to siphon fuel out of a car?

WILL
Do I look like a car guy to you?

MASON
[laughs] No, you don’t. Well, let’s just hope the space center gives us one hell of a clue, then.

(fades out)

(car sounds fade in)

MASON
Ooh, I think- I think someone’s calling us? There aren’t many buttons on this thing…

WILL
We’re almost to the space center, might as well accept the call.

MASON
Okay. Hello?

WILDER
Mason! Hello, dear, how are you?

MASON
Mrs. Wilder! We’re doing great, thank you!

WILL
I am completely better now, no longer zombified at all. Zero symptoms.

WILDER
Oh, that’s so nice to hear!

WILL
How are you and Naomi, Mrs. Wilder?

WILDER
Oh, we’re doing well! You remember Voemo, right?

MASON
The guy who said he was going on a ‘pseudo-date’ with you?

VOEMO
[embarrassed] That’s me.

MASON
Oh, hi Voemo! How’s it going?

VOEMO
Well, Wimofrey and I are officially seeing each other now.

WILDER
You can say ‘dating,’ dear.

VOEMO
[laughs] We’re officially dating. You two are important to her, so I wanted to be here to tell you.

MASON
Aw, that’s so sweet.

WILL
We’re wishing you well, both of you.

MASON
So, what’s going on in 6-14?

WILDER
I’d like to say ‘not much,’ but really it’s quite a lot.

VOEMO
We’re a mess over here.

WILL
I’m not surprised. We’ve been listening to some audio logs from the founder, Simon Hubys, and the colonies were definitely a rush job.

WILDER
Simon Hubys? I remember that man, he founded the space center in Kitmouth, didn’t he?

MASON
Yeah, that’s actually where we’re headed right now!

VOEMO
Hmm, he’s that billionaire, isn’t he? I used to be a receptionist at the Kitmouth Hospital, and Mr. Hubys was a regular visitor and big donor.

WILL
Interesting.

MASON
Oh, we’re here! We’d better go, but it was nice talking to you, Mrs. Wilder! And you, Voemo. Treat her well!

VOEMO
I will!

WILDER
Goodbye, Mason, Will!

WILL
Goodbye!

(car shuts off, doors open and close)

MASON
How’s the tank?

WILL
Low. We’ve got maybe one more trip left, if it’s a relatively short one.

MASON
Hmm.

(door opens and closes)

MASON
This place is so fancy.

WILL
Half of it’s for show, they give tours and stuff here.

MASON
Of course they do. The stuff we’re looking for probably isn’t open for the public… is the second floor usually blocked off?

WILL
I don’t know, I’ve never actually been on one of the tours… [hushed] Shit, zombie alert.

MASON
[quietly] It hasn’t noticed us yet. Wanna sneak up on it?

WILL
[quietly] One… two… three!

(sound of a scuffle)

WILL
[panting] Done and done. No bites. You?

MASON
Yeah, I’m fine. I wonder if I could tape blades to the bottoms of my crutches.

WILL
And stab yourself every time you misstep?

MASON
No, you’re right, that’s a terrible idea.

WILL
[amused] Sort of, but that’s okay. Hey, this staircase has an employees-only sign next to it.

MASON
That’ll do!

(walking)

MASON
Ooh, here we go.

WILL
What is it?

MASON
I think it’s a lab? It has Simon’s name engraved on a plaque on the door.

WILL
Jackpot.

(door opens)

MASON
There’s a computer monitor on the wall over there, let me check it out.

WILL
Sure thing. [pause] What was this guy working on, do you think?

MASON
What do you mean?

WILL
I mean, he’s always talking about his ‘work,’ and his labs are all scattered with these strange liquids and chemistry equipment. What do you think he was working on?

MASON
I… don’t know. That’s a good question.

WILL
Any luck with the computer?

MASON
Oh, yes, actually! [laughs] The password was on a sticky note taped to the monitor.

WILL
What’s on it?

MASON
A lot of folders, but… they’re all just documents and sheets full of gibberish.

WILL
It’s probably not gibberish.

MASON
It’s gibberish to me, that’s for sure.

WILL
Maybe it’s his progress on his ‘work,’ whatever that is.

MASON
Hmm. Oh, here’s a folder with stuff other than gibberish in it. Audio files!

WILL
Are they unlocked?

MASON
One of them is, I think he just forgot to lock this one.

WILL
Press play.

(recording starts)

SIMON
[tensely] This is Simon Hubys, log 78, day 60 of the apocalypse. I can’t stop kicking myself. [angrily] I was so close, so close to curing her. I thought I had it! I should have had it!
[deep breath] But I failed, and I have to live with that. Now she might never see the moon like I promised her. [pause] The moon colonies are being useful, though. They were showing good progress with the vaccine last time the councils contacted me. The bitten human, whatever his name was, he hasn’t turned yet. That’s a good sign.
I just… I just have to keep working. I think Edea and I will head back to my lab in the basement of the hospital, since some of my favorite test serums are back there.
[sigh]
This has to work. Eventually, this has to work.
End audio log.