178. Dead Weight - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. CITY RUINS - DAY


• The city lies dead, its towers shattered, streets empty of almost all life while a gray sky keeps watch overhead.


• The hills around the city are covered with the remains of battle, thousands of bodies in that flow from the streets onto the once-green slopes.


• A WOMAN in a torn skirt and dirty corset walks slowly through the streets, kneeling at each body for minutes at a time.


• Her face is hidden underneath a thick gas mask.


• A BOY and his FATHER walk quickly through the streets, their faces also covered by masks.


• The boy spots the woman and tugs at his father's sleeve.


• FATHER
• Come on, we can't stop.


• The boy keeps tugging.


• His father looks down at him and the boy points to the woman.


• FATHER
• That's the Death Angel.


• His son's eyes widen.


• FATHER
• Not a real angel, that's just what they call her. They say she holds all the names in her head. All the faces and the names of the dead. I've heard people say the dead sleep insider her mind.


• He speaks softly, almost to himself.


• FATHER
• The weight of that...


• He pulls his son away.


• The woman kneels next to a body and searches for identification.


• She finds dog tags and wipes them off, then reads the name.


• DEATH ANGEL
• Sgt. Rebecca Murcheson. Rebecca. Rebecca. Peace to you Rebecca.


• She touches the sergeant's face and then inhales deeply.


• Holding her breath she pulls her mask off, exposing her face to the toxic air.


• A tear has traced its way to her cheek, about to drip down.


• She catches the tear, then takes it and with it, draws a tear-streaked cross on the sergeant's cheek.


• She pulls the mask back on, then wearily stands and walks to the next body, kneeling slowly.


• FADE TO BLACK.