Saying Goodbye is Harder Than It Looks

In the RV, Nathan is ranting.

Nathan: Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Walter: Okay, we need to talk about what that was back there!

James: Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit....I-I'm sorry.

Ashley: It's okay, James.

Walter: Is it? We need to figure out what just happened. We just lost another home.

Billy: Well, we're lucky to have this RV and nobody is dead.

Nathan: Nora's fucking head is split open! We need to stop and treat!

Nora: I'm fine, Nathan! Really.

Kyle: They attacked us, because we killed Miguel.

Nathan: Well, shit, Kyle, if you hadn't-

Sarah: Nathan, this isn't his fault!

Nathan: Sarah, stay of this!

Nora: Nathan, no.....it's not his fault.....I was the one who killed Miguel....

Nathan: Nora.....

Nora: I'm sorry....I-I couldn't risk it.....

Billy: It's getting dark....

Nathan: So, what do you suggest we do?

Kyle: Pull over and stop the RV so we can get some rest.

Nathan: No.....we keep going.....find something.....anything.....until we reach Midtown Manhattan.....

Walter: Midtown Manhattan? The fuck we going to Midtown Manhattan for?

Kyle: That's where Miguel said our medicine and weapons were....so that's where we're headed.

Walter: That's a long ass fucking drive, dude!

Kyle: You see any other options?

Nora is taking a moment to catch her breath.

Nathan: Are you all right?

Nora: I'm fine.

Nathan: Everyone get some rest.....it's going to be a long ass trip...

Kyle walks back as Ashley is sitting with Billy while Walter stands up with his hands leaning on the sink. Kyle sits down and sighs, before Sarah walks over and lays down.

Sarah: Fuck....

Kyle: Yeah...that's how I feel.

Sarah: I miss Dante.....I miss Colin.....I miss my Dad.....

Kyle: So do I...you know, back in Cratersville, your dad, Dante and Colin were about the only men who seemed to trust me....

Sarah: Billy trusts you....Nora does....so do I.....

Kyle: Your brother doesn't.

Sarah: He'll start too....

Kyle: what about Ashley?

Sarah: She's still deciding....but she'll come around....can I lay on your lap?

Kyle: Think your brother would like that?

Sarah: Eh...

Sarah rests her head on Kyle's shoulder as Kyle gives a look of concern on what to do next. Nathan looks back and gives a stern look towards Kyle. The next morning, Nathan stops the RV.

Nathan: Shit....

A tree is blocking their path as Kyle, Walter, Nora, James, Billy, Sarah and Ashley walk up to the front.

James: Crap.....

Kyle: Well, least it's just a tree.

Walter: Well, we ain't going anywhere til we move this thing.

Nathan: Let's move it out of the way then.

The survivors step out of the RV. On their way to the tree, Nora coughs rapidly.

Kyle: Nora....

Nora: I'm fine....

Nathan: You sure?

Nora: Yeah.....just a little winded.

Nathan: all right...this tree should be easy to move....Kyle. Help me with this tree. Everyone else, look around. See what we can use.

As the others look around the environment, Kyle and Nathan moves the tree out of the road.

Nathan: Saw you talking to my sister last night.

Kyle: Nathan...look.....there's nothing going on between me and your sister....

Nathan: mm-hmm....

Kyle: Look, man...your sister comes to me when she can't talk to you about things.....or Ashley....I wouldn't do anything to hurt her....you know she trusts me ever since what happened back there at the Butcher Shop.

Nathan: You have my trust and that's all you have....what exactly did happen back there at the Butcher Shop?

Kyle: That's something you're going to have to talk to her about.

Meanwhile, during Nora and James search around the environment, Nora begins to cough again. This time, she coughs up blood onto her hands, before quickly wiping it away. Suddenly, Nora begins to feel woozy and sweaty as she shakes her hand.

James: Nora?

Nora: I'm okay....I'm fine....

Nora then falls to the ground as James tends to her.

James: Oh, no! Nora! Nora!

Walter, Billy, Sarah and Ashley return to Kyle and Nathan.

Walter: Y'all got the tree out of the way?

Kyle: Yeah....

Nathan: Just waiting on Nora and James.....

Suddenly, James steps out of the forest, carrying Nora.

James: Help! guys! Help! Help!

Kyle, Nathan, Billy, Walter, Sarah and Ashley run over and tend to Nora, before lying her down.

Nathan: Nora...Nora...baby...can you hear me?! 

Nathan turns to James.

Nathan: James! What happened?!

James: I don't know, man! She just started feeling woozy and then she fell to the ground! She's coughing up blood, I think.

Billy checks Nora.

Billy: She's dehydrated. 

Billy checks her pulse.

Billy: Her pulse is low....

Nathan: Fuck! It's her head injury! Something must've got in through her opened wound!

Ashley: I'll see if there's a med pack in the RV.

Nora: No.....it's-

Nathan: Nora, no, we need to help you.

Nora: It's not the head injury....

Nathan: What?

Nora gives a saddened look, before she removes her upper shirt area on his chest, revealing a bite from the Skinner that attacked her. Kyle, Billy, Walter, Nathan, James, Sarah and Ashley give a look of sadness and concern.

Nora: Happened back at "Shit-Canned".....

Nora turns o Nathan.

Nora: I'm sorry. I knew the look on your face if I were to tell you.....

Nora coughs and spits up blood.

Billy: She's getting worse.....

Ashley: What do we do?

Nathan: What do you think we do?! We find a way to-to help her! We save her!

Walter: There is no way to save her, man.....I'm sorry, Nathan, but you know what happens when...well, when you know.

Nathan sighs.

Nathan: We keep going....

Sarah: Nathan!

Nathan: We keep fucking going!

The survivors step into the RV with Billy carrying Nora into the RV. At the Prime Kronos Facility, Shawn is shooting a rifle in the gun range as Brock monitors him. Shawn shoots most of the targets without missing a shot.

Brock: Shit, son.....you got the devil in you, boy. You're Burton's boy, right?

Shawn: Yeah....

Brock: Name's Lieutenant Quinton Brock.

Shawn: Shawn Burton, sir. Sergeant.

Shawn and Brock shake hands.

Brock: I'll be handling your weapons for missions. Administrator Ryder told me to give you specific access to our more "special" weapons.

Shawn: let me see what you got.

Brock smiles as he shows Shawn the armory, before Brock grabs an advanced assault rifle.

Brock: This beauty right here is an M6-4K Assault Rifle. Holds up to sixty rounds. Kicks back a hell of a lot more than a bi-bi rifle. Brock hands Shawn the assault rifle.

Brock: Here, take a look and see how it feels.

Shawn takes the assault rifle.

Shawn: Lot heavier than I remember.

Brock: well, that's cause the freaks in this damned wasteland are getting better. The bigger the gun. The better the hurt.

Shawn gives the assault rifle back to Brock, who places the rifle back on stock, before grabbing a rocket launcher.

Brock: This is no ordinary rocket launcher. This is a 2014 Nuke-Rocket Launcher. This beauty is as powerful as a nuclear warhead. Will turn your enemies into molting and smoking meat. Think of it like barbeque.

A dead cow hanging on a chain is brought out in the gun range.

Brock: See that dead cow?

Shawn: Yeah....

Brock: Show me what you can do with it.

Shawn: Yes, sir.

Shawn aims the Nuke-Rocket Launcher at the dead cow.

Brock: Nuke firing!

Shawn shoots the Nuke Rocket Launcher at the cow as the impact of the rocket decimates the dead cow.

Shawn: Holy shit.

Brock: I know, but that's not the surprise....

Brock grabs a giant energy cannon before handing it to Shawn.

Shawn: What the fuck?

Brock: This here is the ENF1 Energy Cannon.....well, I can't explain how it works.

Another dead cow on a chain is brought out as Shawn aims the ENF1 Energy Cannon at it, before opening fire, releasing a barrel of energy rays that causes the dead cow to perish.

Shawn: Dude....I think I like this one.

Catherine walks up as Shawn and Brock.

Catherine: Sergeant Burton. Lieutenant Brock.

Brock: Ma'am.

Shawn: Dr. Ramirez. How are you?

Catherine: Good. Administrator Ryder wanted me to hand you a debrief on a mission that's coming up.

Shawn: Well, that's sweet coming from you.

Catherine, slightly annoyed, gives a look.

Catherine: Anyways, in two days, we're going out to search up samples of radioactive areas to recover some radioactive fluid samples....see why this is moving so fast into the Earth.

Shawn: Hmm.....sounds cool....

Catherine: Thing is the fumes created from the radioactive fluid are developing this disease that's killing most of settlement's in the East.....the civilians are calling Wasp's Eye.

Shawn: "Wasp's Eye"? Why make a disease related to a wasp sting?

Catherine: Some side effects included Metallic taste in your mouth, dry mouth, sore throat, neck pain, nausea, vomiting, which is usually mild constipation or diarrhea, fatigue. Unusually low (hypothyroidism) or unusually high (hyperthyroidism) thyroid levels.

Shawn: Doc, can we pretend I flunked science back when I was in high school?

Catherine: You know, science is required to become any staff member of Kronos, right?

Shawn: I passed Biology...with a C-....

Catherine: Okay, how do you dissect a frog?

Shawn: Uh.....don't you start by cutting off its penis?

Catherine: Oh my-

Brock laughs.

Meanwhile, in the RV, Nathan continues driving while Nora is sleeping. Her condition is worsening because of the infection as her skin is pale and the infection of the bite is spreading. Billy speaks to Kyle.

Billy: It's not that hard, son. It's just five adults taking care of three kids....

James: Dude....

Billy: no offense.

Kyle: You forget there were more of us.

Billy: Yeah, there were.

Sarah is tending to Nora, who suddenly coughs up orange blood.

Sarah: Shit! Kyle! Kyle! Can you get that off her face?

Kyle walks over to Nora, before grabbing a napkin and wiping her face.

Kyle: Her blood is starting to change.....

Sarah: What do we do?

Nora: (weakly) Kyle.....you have to talk to Nathan....tell him-

Nora coughs.

Nora: tell him to stop the RV....I can't...I can't do it anymore.

Kyle: Okay.....

Kyle walks over to the front of the RV and speaks to Nathan.

Kyle: Nathan.....you have to stop the RV.

Nathan looks back, giving Kyle a dirty look, before looking forward at the road. Kyle touches Nathan's shoulder.

Nathan: Get your hands off me!

Nathan shrugs Kyle's hand off.

Kyle: I'm sorry. I just want to talk. We've got to stop this RV because your sisters need you. Nora is out of time, man. She wants you to stop the RV.

Nathan: She's going to be okay.

Kyle: Your sisters need you, Nathan.

Nathan: Nora will be fine!

Kyle: Wake the fuck up. You know what happens when you get bit by a Skinner.

Nathan: Don't you fucking tell me to wake up! I've got my own family to protect unlike you! You've only been with us a few days! You don't know shit about us!

Nathan gives Kyle an angry look.

Kyle: Calm down....I didn't come in here to fight you. I just-

Nathan: How the hell do you calm down the pass few days?

Kyle: By just talking.

Nathan: What's the goddamned deal? She's a little sick. So, what?! We can treat her, man! I'm-I'm not giving up on her....I can't.....It's just a bite mark. All of you are just pissing me off and making the situation worse!

Kyle: Nathan.....Stop. The. RV.

Nathan: Fuck you, Kyle!

Kyle: You think you're the reason Nora's bitten. That's it, man! It's not like this is on you.

Nathan: Goddamn it, man. I-I can't, man....Nora...she....she's all I've got.....her and the girls....they're all I have.....

Kyle pits his hand on Nathan's shoulder, who does not shrug him away this time.

Kyle: Nathan...please...stop the RV.

Nathan finally relents, stops the RV and pulls to the side. The survivors step out with Walter carrying Nora.

Walter: Nathan....man.....she's dying....I think it's time.

Kyle: Then we shouldn't waste it.

Billy: There ain't nothing left to waste.

Kyle: I'm saying we shouldn't stay out in the open like this. We're an easy target. We have to make this quick.

Ashley is in tears at the loss of her friend while Sarah comforts her sister.

Nora: Nathan....Nathan 

Nora grabs Nathan's hand.

Nora: Please....don't....I-I can't become one of those things.

Nathan turns to the other survivors.

Nathan: Hang on, guys.....what-what if-what if she doesn't turn....maybe she-

Sarah: Nathan, look at her....she can't go on like this....what you're saying; that she may not turn....is bullshit....she'll turn into one of the Skinners if we don't-

Nathan: But....Fuck! Fuck, man! I-(crying) I can't fucking do this!

Billy: C'mon, son...

Nathan: Well...who then? Who should do it?! Who?!

The survivors think for a moment.

Sarah: I could do it....

Nathan: No, Sarah.....

Sarah: Nathan....

Kyle: Guys.....

Nathan: I'll do it....

Walter: Nathan, man. You could barely-

Nathan: Walter! I can do it!

Kyle: Walter's right, man.....

Nathan: I can....I have to.

A short pause.

Kyle: Okay....I'll go with you.

Nathan: Sure.

Kyle carries the dying Nora into the forest with Nathan carrying a pistol behind them. Kyle sets Nora down before Nora speaks.

Nora: Kyle.....thank you.....

Kyle gives a look of sadness as he looks down, before Nora touches his face and kisses his cheek.

Kyle: You were always so kind to me.....for that I thank you....You'll always be with us, Nora....always...

Kyle kisses Nora's hands, before smiling and standing up, wiping away a tear for the loss of one of his closest friends.

Nora: Nathan....come here.....

Nathan walks over to Nora and kneels as Nathan sheds tears, before Nora touches his face.

Nora: It's okay, baby.....this-this is what I want....

Nathan: I'm sorry.....I'm so fucking sorry....

Nora: Don't be....if this is God's will to home to my family...to my brother, then who the hell am I to argue?

Nathan: We've been fighting so much lately, and I can't stop to think about that. In a way....it's kind of like this struggle to survive, you know? There's so much shit out there, so much bad, traumatizing shit....Why are we fighting? I feel so fucking stupid. I'm sorry, Nora. Whatever this is we're fighting for....I wish we could've ignored it. Maybe start a life together, be happy a little longer.

Nora: No matter how bad this world was after....even in the dark, you made my light, Nathan Stahl....and for that, I admire you....please, don't lose yourself.....keep fighting....for your sisters....please...I-I love you, babe.

Nathan stares at Nora with grief, before sharing one final kiss.

Nathan: I love you too, baby.

Nathan stands up and turns around, before walking back next to Kyle. Nathan pulls out his pistol and aims at Nora's temple. After a few moments, Nathan hesitates to pull the trigger, before Kyle places his hands on the gun.

Kyle: Come on, man....give it to me.....give it to me...c'mon...it's okay...

Nathan releases his grasp on the gun, before Kyle takes the pistol and aims it at Nora. Nathan turns his head, before a short pause as a saddened Kyle shoots Nora in the head, ending her life and suffering as an act of mercy. The gunshot is heard by James, Billy and Walter, who look down in sadness and mourning as Ashley cries, before Sarah comforts her, shedding a tear for the loss of Nora. Nathan mourns as Kyle puts his hand on his shoulder, before the two Kyle and Nathan make their way back to the RV. After burying Nora, the survivors continue in solemn silence with the loss of Nora.