31.

  ELI

  Sorry. It won’t happen again.

  The bartender looks at Hog nervously.

  BARTENDER

  Hey, how about another drink, Hog?

  HOG

  That cat’s been comin’ in here for nigh on two years. It got more right to be here than you. Who the fuck do you think you are?

  ELI

  I don’t want any trouble.

  Hog grabs him by the arm.

  HOG

  Well, that’s too bad, ‘cause-Blink. Suddenly Hog’s head is pinned to the bar by nothing more than Eli’s thumb. Pressed deep into a nerve cluster in his neck. Eli leans in close as Hog whimpers, paralyzed.

  ELI

  I know you. Murderer of innocent travelers on the road. You’re going to spend eternity drowning in a lake of fire for the things that you’ve done. Did you know that?

  The other bikers stand and approach, the OTHER CUSTOMERS

  following suit. Eli senses the trouble gathering behind him.

  ELI

  You go on back to your table and I’ll be on my way. All right?

  It’s all Hog can do to just barely nod his head. Eli releases his thumb. Hog staggers backward, gasping for breath.

  Eli stands and makes toward the door, but the bikers and other patrons have moved to block his exit.

  BURLY PATRON

  You push Hog, you push all of us.

  Eli sighs, looks down at the floor. He’s been pushed one time too many today. For the first time, we see anger in his face.

  32.

  ELI

  Cursed be the ground because of you. By toil shall you eat of it.

  Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you. From the ground were you taken. For dust you are.

  The patrons look at Eli strangely. Who is this guy?

  Eli reaches back and draws the samurai sword. Carves a line in the dirt at his feet with the tip of the blade.

  ELI

  And to dust you shall return.

  INT. PALLADIUM - CARNEGIE’S BEDROOM - DAY

  Carnegie has Claudia pinned against the wall, his pants bunched around his ankles, ass bared as he pounds away at her. Not making love. This is mechanical, loveless sex.

  Claudia stares vacantly over his shoulder into space as Carnegie thrusts into her again and again. Deeply uninterested, just waiting for it to be over.

  Suddenly, we hear a CRASH O.S. Carnegie stops and listens.

  CARNEGIE

  Did you hear that? What was that?

  Claudia sees an opening to get out of this.

  CLAUDIA

  Maybe you should go check.

  BEAT. Carnegie keeps listening. Then comes another CRASH.

  CARNEGIE

  What in the hell is going on?

  He pulls up his pants, grabbing a RIFLE propped by the door as he rushes out. Claudia just stands there for a moment, then reaches down and pulls up her panties.

  She moves from the wall and makes her way across the room, feeling her way with her hands, gazing off into nothingness.

  Only now do we finally realize that she is BLIND.

  INT. PALLADIUM - MAIN LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

  Carnegie emerges from the bedroom onto the balcony. Looks down over the railing - and is stunned by what he sees.

  33.

  CHAOS in the bar below. Eli cutting a one-man swath of mayhem through the dozen brawlers. Most already lie dead. TWO MORE

  MEN ATTACK Eli and are effortlessly felled by his sword.

  Carnegie rushes hurriedly along the landing, banging loudly on the doors of the upstairs rooms.

  CARNEGIE

  Get your asses out here!

  ON ELI. Surrounded by the dead, only one man left standing.

  Hog. He backs away as Eli circles him like a predator. Sword held ready, the blade glistening with dark red blood.

  SOLARA re-emerges from the back room with Eli’s refilled canteen. She stops and emits a horrified GASP when she sees the bloody carnage laid out in the bar before her.

  She watches, mortified, as Eli moves toward the helpless, terrified Hog, going in for the kill. Raising his sword...

  Suddenly, Solara steps forward and CRIES OUT: SOLARA

  Stop!

  Eli FREEZES. Sword hanging in the air, poised to strike. He turns his head to where Solara stands behind the bar.

  SOLARA

  Please don’t.

  BEAT as Eli considers. He looks back at Hog, still completely at his mercy... and then LOWERS THE SWORD.

  ELI

  Go.

  HOG

  (confused)

  ...What?

  ELI

  It ain’t for me to judge you. Your time for that’s gonna come. Believe me. Now go on. Get out of here.

  Hog stumbles backward through the door, into the sunlight.

  Eli moves toward Solara, who stands petrified behind the bar.

  Reaches out and gently pries the canteen from her loose grip.

  ELI

  Thank you.

  34.

  In the exitway, Hog turns back inside, grabbing up a BROKEN

  BOTTLE from the bloody floor as he goes.

  Hog rushes Eli from behind. Solara sees him coming and goes to SCREAM - but before any sound can come, Eli flips his sword backward and Hog runs right onto it, SKEWERING HIMSELF.

  BEAT. Hog just stands there for a moment, eyes wide, frozen in shock. His fingers go limp, dropping the bottle.

  He slides off the sword and collapses to the floor, dead.

  Eli wipes the sword clean and sheathes it. Looks around at the bloodied, fallen bodies. Then back at Solara.

  ELI

  I’m sorry for all the mess.

  As he turns and heads toward the door: CARNEGIE (O.S.)

  Hold it right there.

  Accompanied by the sound of MULTIPLE GUNS COCKING.

  Carnegie is on the landing, training his rifle down at Eli.

  Alongside him, FIVE GUNMEN do the same. They’ve got him cold.

  INT. PALLADIUM AUDITORIUM - CARNEGIE’S BOX

  Carnegie sits at his desk, the huge auditorium and stage area visible behind him. Eli stands before him. Around him are the other gunmen, who keep their weapons trained on him.

  Standing at Carnegie’s side are REDRIDGE and CLAUDIA.

  CARNEGIE

  So, who are you?

  ELI

  Nobody. A walker in the outland.

  CARNEGIE

  I’ve met walkers before. Not a particularly civilized bunch. Some have even taken to eating their own kind, did you know that? You wouldn’t be one of those savages now, would you?

  Carnegie’s gunmen look him over, inspecting him warily.

  CARNEGIE GUNMAN

  He ain’t got the shakes.

  35.

  Carnegie’s confident gaze remains fixed on Eli throughout.

  CARNEGIE

  Good. This is a civilized town.

  Under God. Do you know what that means?

  Eli can’t help but react at the mention of that word.

  CARNEGIE

  It means we have laws here. Laws set down long before any of us ever walked this earth. And one of them is, you don’t eat the flesh of your brother. Else you’re no better than an animal. And not welcome here.

  Eli doesn’t respond. Just stands there in Carnegie’s gaze.

  CARNEGIE

  So what’s your business here, friend? Walkers don’t usually come into town less they want something.

  ELI

  I had a battery needed charging and a canteen needed filling. I didn’t come here looking for trouble.

  Barely noticeable, Carnegie gestures to one of the gunmen, who nods in acknowledgement and leaves.

  CARNEGIE

  Well, you sure as hell found it. Do you know who I am?

  ELI

  No.

  CARNEGIE

  My name’s Carnegie. I own this bar.

  I own the whole town. You’ve never heard of me?

  ELI

  That’s you out there on the street.

  CARNEGIE

  Remarkable likeness, isn’t it?

  You’d never guess half the men who built it were blind. A small tribute from a grateful people. I was deeply touched.

  36.

  ELI

  You had slaves build you a monument to yourself?

  The mention of that word rankles Carnegie. He walks around the desk toward Eli, waves an admonishing finger at him.

  CARNEGIE

  Don’t call them slaves. That’s an old word. I’m not a slaver. I’m trying to help these people.

  Carnegie can’t help himself - once again he is in his natural element, spinning the argument his way, pitching. Selling.

  CARNEGIE

  In the outland the sightless are preyed upon like sick animals. Here at least they’re protected. They do the essential work others don’t want. And in return they eat, they drink, they survive. Last year, a couple of them even got married -

  performed the ceremony myself.

  (beat)

  You see, I’m not exploiting these people - I’m saving them! Any one of them is free to leave whenever they wish. But here they stay. And they thank me every single day for their salvation!

  An impressive, impassioned performance. He sounds just like an old-school TV evangelist. But Eli is unmoved.

  ELI

  It’s none of my business what you do here. Like you said, it’s your town. I just want to be on my way.

  CARNEGIE

  What’s your name, walker?

  Eli doesn’t respond. Just stands there.

  CARNEGIE

  All right, I guess we just call you Walker. Don’t see too many folks your age these days. You lived in the world before? You can read?

  ELI

  I read every day.

  37.

  CARNEGIE

  That’s good. Good man. We educated folk, we need to stick together, if we’re ever going to rebuild this world. People like you and me, we’re the future.

  ELI

  What do you want with me?

  CARNEGIE

  Straight to the point. I like that.

  Fact is, you could be in a lot of trouble. This is a peaceful town.

  You walk in here, armed, and the next thing a dozen of my good citizens are dead. I’ve hanged men for less. I could hang you.

  (beat)

  Or, you could come work for me.

  ELI

  What?

  CARNEGIE

  I never once saw anyone handle themselves the way you did down there in that bar. I don’t know where you learned it, but I sure as hell could use it.

  ELI

  I’m not interested.

  CARNEGIE

  People who work for me can live better than any walker ever

  dreamed. Real beds, clean water, hot food. Women, even. You could do a lot worse, my friend.

  ELI

  I’m not your friend. And I’m not staying. I got someplace I need to be. Out west.

  CARNEGIE

  West? There is nothing west. It’s all gone, a long time ago.

  ELI

  I’ve been told different.

  38.

  CARNEGIE

  By who?

  Eli doesn’t reply. Carnegie smiles, dials up the charm.

  CARNEGIE

  All right, look. I’m going to make you an offer of goodwill. Stay the night, think it over. Try a little local hospitality. We’ll talk again in the morning. If you’re still not interested, you’re free to go. No hard feelings.

  ELI

  Thank you for your offer. But I’d prefer to just leave right now. So you can either let me out of here, or I can kill my way out.

  The gunmen bristle, exchange nervous looks. Carnegie appears unfazed. He smiles. BEAT. He looks to the gunman at the door.

  CARNEGIE

  Let him go.

  The gunman opens the door. Eli turns and exits.

  INT. ENGINEER WORKSHOP - DAY

  The engineer stands behind the counter, looking worried. His heart sinks when he sees Eli enter.

  ENGINEER

  Oh, shit...

  ELI

  How’s my battery?

  ENGINEER

  It’s, uh... it’s gonna take a little longer than I thought.

  ELI

  How much longer?

  ENGINEER

  It’s gotta charge overnight. You, uh, you can always stay here in town, pick it up in the morning.

  Eli leans in a little closer. He smells a rat.

  39.

  ELI

  You remember what I said would happen if I came back here and you didn’t have my battery?

  ENGINEER

  It’s right here! It’s just gonna take a while longer. I swear.

  Eli looks at the engineer. Hard to be certain, but he’s pretty sure he’s lying. Somebody got to him.

  INT. PALLADIUM AUDITORIUM - CARNEGIE’S BOX

  A VIOLENT COMMOTION is heard from down the hall. Suddenly one of Carnegie’s henchmen comes flying into view as he is THROWN

  HARD INTO A WALL and slumps to the floor, unconscious.

  Eli storms into the box, pissed. MORE GUARDS rush in behind him. Carnegie, seated behind his desk, waves the guards off as he stands to greet Eli, smiling ingratiatingly as ever.

  CARNEGIE

  I knew you’d reconsider.

  ELI

  Yeah? How’d you know that?

  CARNEGIE

  None of the walkers I’ve seen come here from the outland were ever what you’d call smart. I mean all those years out there alone on the road, some with their brains half-fried from eating each other - it’s understandable why you people aren’t the brightest bulbs in the box. But I never met one so dumb that he’d turn down a meal and a bed if it was offered.

  ELI

  So you didn’t send someone across the street to the engineer?

  CARNEGIE

  Engineer? I don’t know what you’re talking about. If there’s something wrong, maybe I can help.

  Carnegie is a practiced liar. Much more difficult to read.

  40.

  CARNEGIE

  This is Redridge. He’s kind of my right-hand man around here.

  Redridge - one of the two men who chased Eli into the room -

  steps forward. He regards Eli with a distrustful eye.

  CARNEGIE

  He’ll show you to your room.

  INT. PALLADIUM - GUEST BEDROOM - DUSK

  Redridge opens the door and ushers Eli inside.

  It’s another of the dressing rooms converted into a bedroom, less well-appointed than Carnegie’s own. A threadbare rug.

  Bed with relatively clean sheets. A sink for washing.

  REDRIDGE

  Enjoy your stay. There’ll be someone outside your room all night. If you need anything.

  Redridge smirks and closes the door, leaving Eli alone. Eli paces across the room. Finally sits down on the creaky old bed. Trying to figure out how he managed to get stuck here.

  He unshoulders his pack, sets it down. Lies down on the bed.

  It’s been a while since he felt a real bed on his back.

  A KNOCK at the door. Eli gets quickly to his feet.

  ELI

  Hello?

  The door opens and CLAUDIA enters. Carrying a metal tub of water in both hands and, atop that, a dinner tray.

  CLAUDIA

  I have this for you. Water for washing and some food.

  Eli just stands there. Totally unfamiliar with this kind of situation, it’s been too long. She smiles, embarrassed.

  CLAUDIA

  Well... are you going to take it?

  ELI

  Oh. Thank you.

  He takes the stuff from her, sets it on the table.

  41.

  CLAUDIA

  You’re very welcome.

  We get the impression that Claudia is as unfamiliar with this kind of polite interaction as Eli. But she likes it.

  CLAUDIA

  It’ll be dark soon.

  She strikes a match and lights the oil lamp on the table. The room is lit by its flickering glow.

  CLAUDIA

  Can I get you anything else?

  ELI

  No, thank you.

  CLAUDIA

  Well. Have a good night.

  As she turns for the door:

  ELI

  You’re Carnegie’s woman?

  CLAUDIA

  Why do you ask?

  ELI

  Just making conversation is all.

  Haven’t had one of those in a while. Not a real one, leastways.

  Claudia smiles. Neither has she.

  CLAUDIA

  He found me in the outland. I was sixteen, my family had been...

  well, they were gone. There was just me and my baby.

  ELI

  You had a baby?

  CLAUDIA

  I’d met some men on the road. Bad men. They...

  BEAT. She trails off, struggling with this unhappy memory.

  Eli gets it, raises a hand reassuringly.

  ELI

  It’s all right.

  42.

  CLAUDIA

  I was on the road for a year after that. I couldn’t feed myself, let alone my little girl. And then Bill found us and he promised he’d take care of us. He told me he was going to make a place where we could be safe. And he did. He did all that.

  He built this whole town. He kept us safe. And he raised that child like she was his own. He’s been so good to both of us. He saved us, really.

  There’s a bittersweet quality to Claudia’s words. As though there is more to the story than she is telling.

  Eli pulls out a chair at the table, offers it to her.

  ELI

  You want to eat some?

  She smiles and sits. Eli sits across from her.

  ELI

  When did you go blind? In the war?

  You get caught in a flash?

  CLAUDIA

  No, I was born this way. I think I’m lucky like that.

  ELI

  Lucky?

  CLAUDIA

  It’s not like I ever knew what I’m missing. I was already used to being like this by the time... by the time it all happened. So I got around pretty good even when I was on my own. And now it’s easy. I know every creaky old floorboard in here, and it’s not like I ever go any place else. Bill would never allow it. He worries about me so much.

  Again, bittersweet. The sense that Claudia feels trapped.

  Thinking about it begins to upset her. She gets up.

  CLAUDIA

  I should go. He’ll be wondering where I am.