· I..
36
NIOHr OF 1HE LIVINO DEAD
NIOHr OF 1HE UVINO DEAD
TOM. There's a key on here that's labeled for the gas pump.
BEN. I'm not really that used to the truck. I found it aban­
doned.
TOM. I can handle the truck. no sweat.
TOM. Well, the television said that's the right thing to do.
We've got to get to a rescue station.
JUDY. I don't know.
TOM. Come on, honey. You're starting to sound like Mr.
Cooper now.
ruDY. Why do you have to go out there?
TOM. Look. I know how to handle that truck. And I can
handle the pump. Ben doesn't know anything about that
(JUDY enters with a sheet and sits. She does nothing
with the sheet.)
BEN (to TOM). You're it then. You and I will go. (Pause.)
We'll put together whatever lumber we can find behind
the cellar door. (To HARRY.) You can go upstairs and toss
the cocktails from a window. Tom, you and I will have
to unboard this door. After you toss the cocktails, hustle
back down here and lock this door. It's no good to board
it up 'cause we have to get back in quickly. After we get
the gas and get back into the house, then we'll worry about
getting everybody into the truck. Now let's move it.
(HARRY and BEN exit to kitchen with kerosene and jars.)
TOM (kneels down to JUDy)' You always have a smile for
me. How can you smile like that all the time? (Picks up
the sheet.) Come on, honey. We've gotta move.
JUDY. Tom. are you sure about the phone?
TOM. The phone is dead out. All you get is a recorded
message.
JUDY. If I could only call the folks. They're going to be so
worried about us.
TOM. Everything's going to be all right. As soon as we get
to Willard. we'll call them. They might even be there.
JUDY. I know. (Pause.) Tom? Are you sure we're doing
the right thing. Tom?
TOM. What, about getting out of here?
ruDY. Yeah.
37
stuff.
ruDY. But we're safe in here.
TOM. For how long, honey? We're safe now, but there's
gonna be more and more of those things.
ruDY. I know. I know all that. (Pause.)
TOM. Listen. Remember when we had the big flood? Re­
member how difficult it was for us to convince you that
it was right to leave? Remember? Remember we had to
go to Willard then? This isn't a passing thing, honey.
It's not like just a wind passing through. We've got to
do something. And fast.
JUDY (stands. They embrace). I just don't want you to go,
that's all.
TOM. Where's that big smile for me? Boy, I sure could use
that now. (Pause.) I got work to do, honey. And you,
you­
(They kiss. BEN and HARRY enter from kitchen with the
box containing Molotov cocktails. HARRY snatches the
sheet from JUDY and quickly tears two strips.)
HARRY (indicating BARBARA). We gotta get her down­
stairs.
38
NIGHT OF TIlE LIVING DEAD
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
39
JUDy (sits next to BARBARA). We have to go downstairs
now, Barbara.
BEN. She's right. You have to go downstairs now. Just for
a little while. Until we get back. Then we can all leave.
(BEN offers her his lumd. She stands.)
BARBARA. Oh, I'd like to leave. Yes. (BARBARA and
JUDY exit to cellar. As BEN and TOM unboard the
door, HARRY exits upstairs with the box of cocktails and
the strips ofsheets.)
BEN (to TOM). Good luck. (Shouts to HARRY.) You ready
upstairs?
HARRY (from upstairs). Yeah!
BEN (to HARRY). Okay, toss 'em!
:
I
BIES close
ing it. At the last,
board is in place,
the face, knocking him
shirt and throws him to
his nose.) I oughta take
those things! (HELEN and
HELEN (leads BARBARA
HARRY). It isn't ele:z:enlock
be another broadcast
ev ..n
HARRY. Ten minutes. . its
ten more minutes?
BARBARA. Oh.
We can leave. Oh, we
utes to eleven.
BEN (loading
. To HELEN). You know
this area a 1'1 Is Willard the nearest town?
HELEN (
usted). I don't know. We were just
otel before dark.
said these things turned your car over. You
can get it back on its wheels and drive it?
is it?
ing cocktail, then a second. Explosions and fire
Y and TOM exchllnge a long look. TOM
nuirldv shuts the door behind him as,JIn.n.n.
wrenches
'fARfTt0cks the door behind
wi~. HELEN to cellar door.)
(shouting offstage). The truck's on
the pump!
Jlllr(DJ'lIU1..l
I
enters, blotting his wounds with a kitchen rag.)
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