Took ‘em off them who came looking to take the place from us. Built up quite the stash over the years.

  He offers a .44 MAGNUM to Solara.

  GEORGE

  You know how to fire a gun?

  SOLARA

  My daddy showed me once.

  GEORGE

  Just like riding a bike.

  SOLARA

  I never rode a bike.

  George sighs, turns instead to Eli.

  GEORGE

  How about you, you know how to-Eli is already reloading his shotgun, checking the barrel.

  Readying the weapon in the practiced manner of an expert.

  GEORGE

  Never mind.

  EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

  Redridge steps forward, raises a BULLHORN.

  REDRIDGE

  We know you’re in there! Come on out with your hands up and your weapons on the deck and nobody needs to get hurt.

  SILENCE. No sign of activity inside the house.

  Redridge turns back to his men. Their hands trembling. They didn’t sign up for this, and they’re not ready for it.

  92.

  Redridge turns back to the house. Into the bullhorn: REDRIDGE

  All right, look. I’m gonna make it easy on y’all. Bring out the girl with the book.

  INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

  Eli is crouched beneath the window. George and Martha have taken up positions at other windows, peering out.

  REDRIDGE (O.S.)

  That’s all we want. The girl and the book. The rest of you’s can go your way.

  SOLARA

  What are we going to do?

  BEAT as Eli thinks.

  ELI

  Hand me my pack.

  EXT. HOUSE - DAY

  Redridge waits. Still no sign of a response. His nervous gunmen exchange worried looks.

  CARNEGIE GUNMAN #2

  They ain’t comin’ out. They-

  Redridge raises his hand to silence him. Looks up as an UPSTAIRS WINDOW slides open.

  A CLOTH PACKAGE is tossed from the window. It lands in the dirt outside the perimeter fence a few yards from Redridge.

  Cautiously, he approaches. The package is wrapped in cloth and tied up with twine. It looks like Eli’s bible.

  He picks it up and tugs at the twine, untying it. Folds away the cloth wrapping. Looks for a moment in puzzlement at the object, at the words written on the front of it.

  THIS SIDE TO FACE ENEMY

  It’s a MINIATURE CLAYMORE MINE. The small red light on top of the unit ILLUMINATES WITH A BEEP. Armed.

  REDRIDGE

  Holy shi...

  93.

  He drops the package in the dirt and races for his life back toward the vehicles.

  REDRIDGE

  Get down! Everybody get down!

  He dives across the trunk of the Explorer into cover as THE

  MINE EXPLODES, SHATTERING EVERY WINDOW OF EVERY VEHICLE. The lightweight Mini Cooper takes the main brunt and EXPLODES, cartwheeling through the air, a burning wreck.

  Redridge looks around. Three men lie dead already. Flaming wreckage all around him. Suddenly, it’s a war zone.

  MACHINE-GUN FIRE ERUPTS FROM THE HOUSE, peppering the vehicles’ armor. The gunmen cower behind cover.

  REDRIDGE

  Damn you, return fire!

  Redridge aims at the house and OPENS FIRE. Inspired by his example, the others follow. A HAIL OF BULLETS CRISS-CROSS

  BACK AND FORTH. The house’s faded paint facade is shredded.

  INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

  Martha continues firing wildly with the M-60. Screaming at the top of her lungs, loving every minute of it.

  MARTHA

  Come and get it, you god-damn sons of mother-fucking bitches!

  George and Eli also open fire from their windows, periodically ducking to take cover from incoming fire.

  Solara sits across the room, in the corner, sobbing.

  ELI

  It’s all right. We’re going to be all right. Trust me.

  MORE GUNFIRE splinters the window frame above his head.

  ELI

  You remember what I told you about faith?

  She nods.

  Eli peeks out and FIRES OUT THE WINDOW, dropping one of the enemy gunmen with a crack shot. Ducks back down as the return fire impacts around him.

  94.

  ELI

  We’re going to get out of this alive. Both of us. I know.

  SOLARA

  Because God told you?

  ELI

  Because God told me.

  Amidst all the chaos and gunfire, George has been listening to this exchange.

  GEORGE

  What about us?

  BEAT.

  ELI

  He didn’t mention you.

  BEAT. George chambers a round and RESUMES FIRING.

  EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

  Redridge’s men continue the hail of gunfire. Six of them dead now, six more still standing. No lessening of fire from inside the house. They’re losing.

  Redridge races between the vehicles, ducking from gunfire until he makes it to the back of the Dodge Caravan. Pops the trunk and pulls out a ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE LAUNCHER.

  He sets it on his shoulder, rests on the trunk to steady his aim. And FIRES. The rocket screams toward its target, tearing through the chain fence and TEARING AN ENTIRE CORNER FROM THE

  HOUSE in a fiery explosion.

  INT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

  Filled with smoke. The sounds of COUGHING.

  Dazed, George pushes his way through the smoke, waving his arms to clear it. A BLOODY GASH on his forehead.

  GEORGE

  Martha? Martha!

  He finds her lying on the tile floor in what remains of the kitchen. Or at least her top half. The rest of her is gone.

  George slumps to his knees with tear-filled eyes. Takes his wife tenderly by the hand for a moment.

  95.

  Then the anger returns. He gets up and turns, consumed now by a wild fury. Firing with rage over the torn brick wall. He CLIPS ANOTHER GUNMAN IN THE HEAD, killing him.

  George moves back toward the LIVING ROOM, firing as he goes.

  EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

  Redridge moves between the cars again, staying behind cover.

  George’s hail of gunfire has them pinned down.

  REDRIDGE

  We got any more of those RPGs?

  CARNEGIE GUNMAN #3

  That was it.

  REDRIDGE

  Screw this.

  Redridge jumps into the driver’s seat of the minivan, turns the key in the ignition. Jams the accelerator down with the butt of his rifle, then shifts the transmission into DRIVE.

  REDRIDGE

  Get clear!

  The gunmen leap clear as the minivan HURTLES TOWARD THE

  HOUSE, engine roaring. CRASHES THROUGH THE CHAIN FENCE.

  INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

  Eli looks up from cover and see the van coming RIGHT AT HIM.

  He dives clear as the van CRASHES THROUGH THE WALL INTO THE

  LIVING ROOM. It SMASHES INTO THE FAR WALL, finally coming to a stop.

  More dust and debris, more coughing. Eli tries to get up, but winces in pain. Puts his hand to his side, it comes back WET

  WITH BLOOD. A bad wound. He covers it with his coat, stands and moves through the smoke.

  ELI

  Solara?

  SOLARA (O.S.)

  Eli!

  He finds her in the smoke. She embraces him.

  ELI

  Are you all right?

  96.

  SOLARA

  I’m fine.

  As the smoke clears, Solara sees George PINNED AGAINST THE

  WALL BY THE MINIVAN. His body crushed. Dead.

  SOLARA

  Oh God...

  ELI

  Come on. We’re going out the back.

  We’re running.

  As he helps her to her feet, we hear the sound of MOVEMENT

  THROUGH THE RUBBLE.

  They turn around. The gunmen are ENTERING THE HOUSE, passing through the smoking hole left by the minivan.

  Eli reaches for his sword. Met by the sound of MULTIPLE GUNS

  COCKING. Redridge steps out from among the gunmen. Smiles.

  REDRIDGE

  Go ahead and try it, holy man. You ain’t that fast.

  EXT. HOUSE - DAY

  Eli and Solara are shoved out of the house at gunpoint and marched past the torn perimeter fence to the vehicles.

  Eli has been stripped of his weapons and backpack. Redridge faces him and points a pistol at his head.

  REDRIDGE

  Where’s the book?

  BEAT. Eli doesn’t answer. Redridge cocks the pistol.

  REDRIDGE

  I ain’t playing.

  Redridge stares him down. Eli just stares right back. Totally unflappable. Redridge motions to his men.

  REDRIDGE

  Check the pack.

  The gunman carrying Eli’s pack opens it up and tips its contents out onto the ground. The ghillie suit, battery, some old canned goods, other odds and ends. No sign of the book.

  CARNEGIE GUNMAN #4

  It ain’t here.

  97.

  REDRIDGE

  It’s gotta be.

  Redridge holsters his gun and frisks Eli, going through his pockets. Finds nothing. He opens Eli’s coat and checks the inside pockets. Digs around deep inside.

  REDRIDGE

  Hello, what have we here?

  And then suddenly he SHRIEKS IN PAIN. Yanks his hand out to reveal ELI’S RAT, TEETH SUNK DEEP INTO HIS FLESH.

  Redridge flails around violently, trying to get the rat off him, but it won’t let go. His hand is bleeding badly.

  REDRIDGE

  Fuck! Get it off! Get it off me!

  He finally manages to shake it free. It hits the floor dazed.

  Redridge STOMPS ON IT with his boot, reducing it to a bloody smear in the dirt. Eli lowers his head in sadness.

  Redridge clutches his bloody hand, glares at Eli furiously.

  Pulls his gun again and marches right up to him, pressing the muzzle tight against his forehead.

  REDRIDGE

  If you don’t got the book, what fucking use are you?

  His finger tightens on the trigger.

  SOLARA

  Wait!

  She breaks from the gunmen holding her and rushes toward Redridge. Reaches inside her dress and PRODUCES THE BIBLE.

  SOLARA

  It’s here! I’ve got it! Please don’t kill him.

  ELI

  Solara...

  SOLARA

  It’s just a book, Eli. No book is worth giving up your life for.

  ELI

  You’re wrong.

  98.

  Satisfied, Redridge takes the book. Runs his hand over the leather cover, gazes admiringly at the gold-embossed cross.

  REDRIDGE

  You did good, sweetheart. Your daddy would be proud. He knew you’d come through for him.

  Solara looks at Eli guiltily. She feels terrible.

  SOLARA

  He said he would hurt my mom. If I didn’t help him.

  REDRIDGE

  (smiling)

  Daddy’s little girl...

  Solara stands between him and Eli. Deadly serious now.

  SOLARA

  I want you to let him go.

  REDRIDGE

  What?

  SOLARA

  You’ve got what you came for. You don’t need him. Let him go.

  REDRIDGE

  He’s killed a dozen of my men.

  SOLARA

  If you hurt him, I’m not coming back with you. You’ll have to drag me kicking and screaming.

  Solara glares at Redridge. He sighs. He can tell she means it. It’s not worth the aggravation. He turns back to Eli.

  REDRIDGE

  Take your shit and get out of here.

  Eli gathers up his stuff into his pack. Shoulders it and goes to pick up his sword, but Redridge puts his boot on it.

  REDRIDGE

  No weapons.

  Eli still has a half-dozen guns trained on him. He turns and walks away, toward the road. As he passes Solara: 99.

  ELI

  I told you we’d both live. Now do you have faith?

  A tear runs down Solara’s cheek as she watches him walk away.

  Redridge grabs her by the arm and pulls her toward the vehicles as his men load up and prepare to move out.

  IN THE REARMOST VEHICLE

  Solara sits in the back seat, staring out the rear window as it drives down the road at the tail end of the convoy.

  She watches as Eli moves away down the road, getting smaller and smaller until he is just a speck on the horizon.

  She bursts into floods of uncontrollable tears.

  LATER

  Solara in the back seat, calmer now. The tears dried on her cheeks. She sits staring blankly at the DRIVER in front.

  And then she LUNGES VIOLENTLY FORWARD. Clawing and biting at the driver, who struggles to fight her off. His hands come off the wheel and the car FISHTAILS WILDLY.

  REDRIDGE’S VEHICLE

  The DRIVER sees something odd in the rear-view mirror.

  DRIVER

  What the hell...?

  Redridge turns to see the car behind VEERING ERRATICALLY then SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, stopping in the middle of the road.

  REDRIDGE

  Stop, stop!

  The car screeches to a halt. Redridge watches through the rear window as the driver’s side door opens and the driver is KICKED OUT ONTO THE ASPHALT.

  The door closes again, the engine revs and the car TURNS

  AROUND, racing back down the road in the direction it came.

  REDRIDGE

  Shit. Turn around!

  DRIVER

  We ain’t got the gas for it!

  100.

  REDRIDGE

  She’s getting away!

  DRIVER

  We got the book! And we got barely enough gas to make it back as it is! We can’t go chasin’ her!

  BEAT. Redridge knows he’s right.

  REDRIDGE

  Stupid little bitch...

  (beat)

  Drive on.

  The car moves on, following the rest of the convoy.

  EXT. HOUSE - DAY

  Solara screeches the car to a halt outside the smoking wreckage of the besieged house. She runs from the vehicle to where ELI’S SWORD lies in the dirt and grabs it up.

  EXT. ROAD - DUSK

  Solara races down the road in the car, pedal to the metal.

  SOLARA

  Come on, come on...

  Eventually, she sees him. At first just a dot on the horizon.

  But unmistakably Eli. By now, she’d know him anywhere.

  Suddenly the engine SPLUTTERS. She checks the fuel gauge; the needle deep in the red. She pounds the wheel in frustration.

  SOLARA

  No... No!

  The car grinds to a halt, dead. She flings open the door and leaps out of the vehicle, rushing after Eli on foot.

  ON ELI. As always, his pace steady and slow. The sun directly ahead of him as it sets on the horizon. Headed always west.

  Solara is running up behind him, a hundred yards back.

  SOLARA

  Eli! Eli!

  He doesn’t stop or look back. Just keeps on walking.

  She finally catches up with him, breathing hard, exhausted.

  101.

  SOLARA

  Eli...

  ELI

  Thought you’d gone back to town.

  SOLARA

  I can’t go back there. Eli, I’m so sorry.

  ELI

  For what?

  SOLARA

  For what? I betrayed you! I gave them the book!

  ELI

  You did what you believed you had to.

  SOLARA

  You’re not mad at me?

  BEAT.

  ELI

  I forgive you.

  She continues walking alongside him. Trying to process this.

  This kind of compassion is totally foreign to her.

  She holds out the sword, offering it to Eli by way of atonement.

  SOLARA

  Here. I thought you might still need this.

  Eli seems appreciative that she would think to return it to him. He takes it and slings it over his shoulder.

  ELI

  Thank you.

  SOLARA

  What are you going to do now?

  ELI

  Same as always. Keep heading west.

  SOLARA

  Why? I mean, you don’t have the book any more.

  102.

  ELI

  But I still have my faith.

  They walk on together, into the sunset.

  EXT. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - MONTAGE - DAY

  Eli and Solara follow the road through burned-out towns and retail neighborhoods. Gutted and dead, like every place else.

  But something is different here. Things are greener. Tufts of grass here and there. They attract Solara’s attention.

  SOLARA

  What’s that?

  Eli reaches down and runs his hand through the grass.

  ELI

  It’s grass. It used to grow all over the place.

  SOLARA

  How come it’s here?

  ELI

  I don’t know. Less poison in the air this near to the ocean, maybe.

  They keep walking. Eli groans, clutches his side. Does his best to hide his pain from Solara. She notices anyway.

  SOLARA

  What’s wrong?

  ELI

  Nothing. Just a cramp.

  EXT. FREEWAY - NIGHT

  They walk on through the night. Eli stops and sniffs the air.

  SOLARA

  What?

  ELI

  Do you smell that?

  SOLARA

  Smell what?

  ELI

  Salt in the air. We’re close to the ocean. We’re almost there.

  103.

  EXT. CALIFORNIA ROAD - DAWN

  They keep on along the road. A shallow uphill incline. They follow it uphill, finally reaching its crest, where they stop and take in the view before them.

  THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Straddled by the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - the once-great structure has partially collapsed from decades of neglect and disrepair. The span sags and hangs low over the ocean, the asphalt cracked and ruptured.

  On the other side of the bay, SAN FRANCISCO - or the little that remains of it. The city has been almost TOTALLY

  DESTROYED - entire areas reduced to rubble, the few buildings still standing looking on the verge of collapse.