THE WILL
(by: Marc Adrian Reyes)
Chapter 1 · Episode 9 - "THE SPREADING"
INT. COMMAND ROOM - DAY
A bank of monitors shows maps and scrolling reports. The RABIES OUTBREAK has gone global - panic is etched into every face in the room.
GENERAL ALVIN GERONIMO stands at the center, exhausted but trying to hold the line. His SQUAD clusters around him.
GENERAL ALVIN
(gravely)
This rabies - it spread faster than we thought.
AGATHA
(frustrated)
We're running out of supplies. People are starving.
JOMARI
(urgent)
Ammo and food - we need both, now.
YNA
(sighs, voice breaking)
The people are getting desperate... they're getting angry.
GENERAL ALVIN
(softly)
I know.
KYLA
(leaning forward)
Last night I saw a kid sneaking into the storage room for food.
ELLA
(panicked)
We need the captain. Now.
YNA
(eyes wet)
My husband's still struggling... he can't-
INT. MARC'S ROOM - DAY
A simple room. MARC (Captain SanDiego) opens the door with a BEER in hand. EATHAN stands on the threshold, knocking again for answers.
EATHAN
(quietly)
Bro. You there?
MARC
(opens, drinks)
What do you want?
EATHAN steps inside. He watches Marc with a pleading look.
EATHAN
How long are you planning to hide here?
MARC takes a slow sip, staring past Eathan like the room is a different country.
MARC
(flat)
Till I die.
EATHAN
(begging)
Marc... people need you. We need you.
MARC
(shrugging)
They have Alvin.
EATHAN
(urgent)
Alvin can't even walk. The bullet- it shattered his leg.
Silence. Marc drinks. The bottle clinks against his teeth.
EATHAN
(soft, almost a confession)
Me and Ivan... we don't blame you for Dad's death.
MARC turns his back, shoulders shaking. He pretends not to hear, but the words hit him.
MARC
(choked)
Really?
EATHAN places a hand on Marc's shoulder - a small, steadying touch.
EATHAN
He didn't die because of you. He died for you. I hope you understand that.
EATHAN exits. The door closes with a heavy click.
MARC collapses into a chair. He CRIES quietly. He throws the beer bottle against the wall - it shatters.
MARC
(whispering, full of regret)
I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry I was so cold.
EXT. COMMAND CENTER - BALCONY - DAY
A CROWD has gathered outside. Anger ripples through them. They shout and throw trash. The mood is volatile - a powder keg.
VOICE IN CROWD
(chanting)
WE NEED FOOD! DON'T LET US DIE! DO SOMETHING!
LEAH runs to General Alvin, breathless.
LEAH
Sir, the crowd is turning violent.
GENERAL ALVIN storms to the balcony and surveys the chaos below. He raises his voice, trying to restore order.
GENERAL ALVIN
(yelling)
Stop! Everyone- stand down!
The shouting continues. A man from the crowd brandishes a KNIFE. The tension spikes. Soldiers tense, fingers on triggers.
Suddenly - CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO steps forward through the crowd, pinning the knife-wielding MAN with a firm, controlled movement. The crowd freezes.
CROWD
(whispering, shocked)
Captain SanDiego?
MARC
(loud, commanding)
Move! Back up. Now.
The crowd parts, eyes wide. THE KNIFE drops. Marc grabs the attacker's collar, holding him at arm's length.
MARC
(anger rising, incredulous)
Is this why you came - to stab those who brought you here? Is this how you repay help?
The man flinches, terrified.
ATTACKER
(stammering)
N-no, sir... we- we just-
MARC takes the knife from him, then turns and throws it to the ground. The soldiers step in, forming a barrier between the crowd and the command center.
MARC
(cold, resolute)
Get out of the way. Let the medics do their job. Let us feed you in order - not with blood.
People shuffle back, subdued by the captain's presence. Whispers ripple - respect, fear, and a fragile hope.
GENERAL ALVIN watches Marc, a flicker of something like relief on his face. Outside, the shouting dies down to mutters. For now, order holds.
---
INT. COMMAND ROOM - NIGHT
The room hums with static from old monitors. Maps and charts glow dimly in the flickering light. GENERAL ALVIN GERONIMO stands in front of a large screen as CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO rushes in. YNA runs to him, throws her arms around him, and kisses him deeply.
GENERAL ALVIN
You finally showed up, Captain...
MARC
What's happening, General?
GENERAL ALVIN
We're running out of supplies to feed these people.
SOPHIA
Captain, we need you...
GENERAL ALVIN
Come look at this, Captain.
(Marc follows him to the screen)
The rabies has spread across the world. In just six months, it's wiped out nearly half of humanity.
MARC
What do you want me to do?
GENERAL ALVIN
I want you to go back... to our old base.
LEAH
But that place belongs to the rabids now...
AGATHA
Yeah, why there? It's crawling with them!
ELLA
Because it has ammunition, weapons, and food.
MARC
And it also has the equipment Dr. Sotto needs to create a cure.
(looks at Dr. Sotto)
What do you think, Doctor?
DR. SOTTO
(takes a deep breath)
I'm fine with that. But I'm coming with you.
JEFF & ARNEL
No!
ARNEL
It's too risky!
DR. SOTTO
Do you even know what I need to finish the cure?
(They fall silent)
I'm coming.
GENERAL ALVIN
Okay... Captain?
(looks at Marc)
MARC
(nods)
Yes, sir.
Everyone, listen up! We move out before dawn. Get some rest - tomorrow's going to be a long, exhausting day.
SQUAD
Sir, yes sir!
---
EXT. COMMAND POST - BEFORE DAWN
The team gathers in formation under a pale, cold sky. Engines hum softly.
GENERAL ALVIN
Captain... if something goes wrong, you run. We can't lose you.
MARC
Yes, sir.
They drive off into the mist.
---
EXT. OLD MILITARY BASE - DAYBREAK
The convoy stops. The base looms ahead, surrounded by barbed wire and silence.
YNA
(staring at the fences)
That's our old base...
SOPHIA
Shit...
The team steps out of the vehicles. Marc stands before them, commanding and calm.
MARC
Listen up!
Yna, Kyla, Jeff - you're with me. We'll head to the cafeteria for food.
Arnel, Ella, Jomari - get to the armory and grab all the ammo you can. Don't shoot unless necessary.
Sophia, Agatha - you'll escort the Doctor to get the medical supplies.
SOPHIA
Why me?
MARC
Don't make this harder, Sophia. Jerome's death wasn't the doctor's fault.
SOPHIA
(bitterly) Fine...
(glances coldly at Dr. Soto)
MARC
Leah, once we've got everything, I'll radio you. Get the truck ready in the garage.
LEAH
Yes, sir.
MARC
Everyone, be careful... and make every shot count.
SQUAD
Sir, yes sir!
The team splits and advances toward the base.
---
MARC'S TEAM POV - CAFETERIA
YNA
Babe... there's too many of them...
MARC
(shushes her, whispers) Stay low...
JEFF
There's the door.
KYLA
How do we get through? There's too many rabids blocking the way.
MARC
(takes a deep breath)
Noise...
YNA
What?
MARC
We need a distraction - noise.
---
JOMARI'S TEAM POV - ARMORY
JOMARI
Holy crap...
ELLA
(in awe) Look at all these weapons...
ARNEL
(throws a bag)
Don't just stare - grab everything you can!
They rush to load bags with guns and ammunition.
---
THE TWINS POV - MEDICAL ROOM
SOPHIA
I can't believe the Captain still wants me stuck with this asshole.
AGATHA
Sis, come on. He's not the reason your boyfriend died.
SOPHIA
Yeah - just the one you kissed.
AGATHA
He's the one who kissed me! Not my fault we share the same face!
They crawl through a small window into the medical room. Agatha stays outside, receiving supplies as Sophia tosses them through.
INT. CAFETERIA - DAY (CAPTAIN MARC SANDIEGO TEAM'S POV)
MARC
(throws his radio)
Babe! Speak into your radio!
YNA
Got it!
(speaks into Marc's radio; the radio clatters to the floor - rabids turn toward the sound)
MARC
Go! Jump!!!
The team leaps through the hallway ahead, slamming the cafeteria door shut.
MARC
Grab all the food you can!
(borrows Yna's radio)
Arnel!
ARNEL (over radio)
Go ahead, sir.
MARC
You got the supplies?
ARNEL (over radio)
Yes, sir. We're heading outside now.
MARC
Good. Tell Leah to get the truck ready.
ARNEL (over radio)
Roger.
Outside, the truck waits with Jomari's team. Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocks the building - the walls shake violently.
MARC
What the hell was that?!
---
INT. MEDICAL ROOM - SAME TIME (SOPHIA & DOCTOR SOTTO POV)
DR. SOTTO
What the hell was that!?
SOPHIA
Agatha!!
Gunfire echoes outside.
AGATHA (O.S.)
(shouting through the small window, firing her weapon)
Quick! Let's get the hell out of here!!! (fires again)
SOPHIA
Go get the supplies!
DR. SOTTO
On it! (frantic, desperate)
The door shakes violently - rabids pounding from the hallway.
SOPHIA
(bracing the door)
Go! You stupid doctor, get your fucking supplies!!!
DR. SOTTO
I'm going as fast as I can!!
The rabids burst through - Sophia struggles to hold them back. One slams her to the ground. She sees Dr. Sotto running away.
SOPHIA
Bastard!
Suddenly, Dr. Sotto returns, slamming an axe into the infected's head. He shoves the door closed and locks it as more rabids slam against it from outside.
---
EXT. MEDICAL FACILITY - OUTSIDE (AGATHA POV)
Gunfire continues. Agatha fires from cover, yelling toward the window.
AGATHA
Sophia! Come on! Hurry up!
Masked men move in, firing automatic rifles. Agatha ducks and returns fire, out of breath.
AGATHA
Faster, damn it! I'm running out of magazines! (fires again)
SOPHIA (O.S.)
Did you get everything!?
DR. SOTTO (O.S.)
Yes! (throws bags through the window)
Agatha grabs the bags, still shooting - suddenly someone grabs her from behind.
SOPHIA (O.S.)
Shit! (pulls Sotto down to cover)
DR. SOTTO
They got your sister!
---
INT. CAFETERIA - SAME TIME (CAPTAIN MARC'S POV)
MARC
(peeking through the door)
The rabids followed the gunfire. We have to move - now!
The team bursts out, fighting through rabids. Yna spots the blocked medical room ahead.
YNA
Babe...
MARC
(rushing forward, stabbing a rabid in the head; his team follows)
Sophia! It's us!
Sophia opens the door - she's exhausted and pale.
SOPHIA
Sir... we're not alone here.
MARC
I know.
DR. SOTTO
They took her sister.
YNA
What!?
KYLA
Come on, we have to help them!
Marc's team rushes toward the exit - but as the doors swing open, dozens of masked men aim their guns straight at them.
MARC
Shit...
---
EXT. COMPOUND - Moments before (JOMARI'S TEAM POV)
Gunfire rages. Jomari and his men take cover behind the truck.
MARC (over radio)
What the hell is happening out there!?
JOMARI
There's a large group of men - army uniforms, animal masks - they're firing on us! (fires back)
MARC (over radio)
What!?
Bullets ricochet around them. Suddenly, one masked man drags someone forward - Agatha, beaten and held at gunpoint.
JOMARI
No... not her.
MASKED MAN
Hold your fire, or I'll shoot her!!!
Jomari's team freezes. The masked men advance, capturing them all.