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