DAWN
OF
THE
DEAD
(The original script)
by George A. Romero
1 We see the face of a young woman. She is asleep. It is very
quiet at first, as credits appear. The woman’s face begins to
twitch, as though she is having a bad dream. She moans slightly
and her expression grows more desperate.
A mix of subtle sounds begin to fade in. As they get louder, we
can discern what sounds like a busy office area. It is actually
a frantic television studio with the hum of panic in a national
emergency.
The woman’s
moans get louder and more desperate as the
background
sounds reach full volume and the credits stop. The
woman sits
up, snapping awake.
2 She lurches
forwards into the arms of a strong young man. She is
Francine,
twenty three years old and very attractive, although
she is
gritty with dirt. Her hair is hanging, dishevelled and
sweaty. Her
jeans and blouse have been worn for several days.
She is
sitting on the floor, where she has slept the last
several
hours, covered by an old overcoat.
Tony:
YOU OK?
Fran stares
at the young man. She is shaking. She doesn’t speak.
Tony:
THE SHIT’S REALLY HITTING THE FAN.
The girl
tries to clear her head as the young man moves on to
where others
sleep on the floor. He wakes them up one at a time.
We begin to
hear voices over the busy hum of the studio. They
have an
electronic tinniness, as broadcast over a monitor. Fran
looks about.
She is still shaken from her dream.
3 We see the
television studio. Reporters buzz about madly.
Everybody
looks dishevelled and exhausted. Technicians man
monitors, and
we see people on the little screens, arguing
emotionally.
4 Voice:
WHAT’S MAKING IT HAPPEN? WHAT THE HELL
DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, WHAT’S MAKING IT
HAPPEN.
Voice:
YES, BUT THAT’S...
Voice:
THAT’S A WHOLE OTHER STUDY. THEY’RE TRYING...
Voice:
BUT IF WE KNEW THAT, WE COULD...
Voice:
WE DON’T KNOW THAT! WE DON’T KNOW THAT!
WE’VE GOTTA OPERATE ON WHAT WE DO KNOW!
5 The room is
pandemonium. People run in with wire copy; others
organise the
stacks of bulletins as they arrive. Others trip
over cables
and generally get in each other’s way.
6 Francine
stares at the madness, still trying to clear her head.
Man’s voice:
I’M STILL DREAMING.
Fran turns
her head. Another young man sits next to her on the
floor. He is
one of the ones Tony awakened.
Fran:
NO YOU’RE NOT.
Woman:
MY TURN WITH THE COAT.
Fran looks
up. A young woman is offering her coffee in a paper
cup. She is
next in line for the overcoat and a few hours sleep.
Fran takes
the coffee and struggles to her feet.
Woman:
THE GUYS ON THE CREW ARE GETTING CRAZY.
A BUNCH OF ‘EM FLEW THE COOP ALREADY.
I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER WE’LL BE ABLE
TO STAY ON AIR.
7 Fran
staggers over to the control consoles. The technicians are
at the end
of their ropes.
Technicians:
(all at once)
WATCH CAMERA TWO...WHO THE HELL’S ON CAMERA
TWO, A BLIND MAN...
WATCH THE FRAME...WATCH THE FRAME...
ROLL THE RESCUE STATIONS AGAIN.
Technicians:
WE GOT A REPORT THAT HALF THOSE RESCUE
STATIONS HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT.
SO GET ME A NEW LIST.
SURE, I’LL PULL IT OUTA MY ASS.
Fran focuses
on the monitors. She is incredulous... stunned by
the madness
which surrounds her. She realises the hopelessness