Series 1 | Episode 01
[A black van rides through the streets, blaring a message over the speakers]
Code 1, civil priority, isolation now in effect. To avoid the risk of contamination,
please stay indoors and await further instructions. Medical advice will be given.
Code 1, civil priority, isolation now in effect. To avoid the risk of contamination,
please stay indoors and await further instructions.
[Inside their house, a young girl and her parents watch the television anxiously]
TV Newscaster: Authorities are appealing for calm throughout the evacuation process.
All children under the age of 18 years should report to their local sector for transportation.
Mom: You have to go.
Trudy: But what about you? And Dad?
Dad: It's too late for us Trudy, you have to accept that. Save yourself, for your
mother's sake...and mine.
[She turns to him for comfort and cries on his shoulder]
Trudy: No.
Dad: Save yourself.
Trudy: No!
[But it's just a memory...and she wakes to reality. A young man runs down the stairs
as she cries out.]
Bray: Hey. What is it?
Trudy: I had the dream again. Mom, Dad, they were there, here, in the house, like
it was yesterday.
[Flashback to the television announcement]
TV Newscaster: Priority will be given to those children exposed to adults already contaminated.
Trudy: I didn't want to go. I didn't want to leave them, but there was nothing I
could do.
Bray: Trudy, there was nothing anybody could do. Come on, we'd better go. The Roosters
are moving in. [Boys with blue spiked hair move through the territory] We're not safe here.
Trudy: We're not safe anywhere!
Bray: In Sector 10. We may have a chance Trudy, I heard there were only strays and
nomads. [A terrified boy runs through the city with sirens blaring in the background]
We've got to get through.
Trudy: I don't want to go back there - Locos! [Somewhere, graffiti shows through a fire. It
reads, "Rule!"]
Bray: We've got to at least try. There isn't much time.
[In the city, an old newspaper flaps in the breeze. The headline reads: "VIRUS DEATH
TOLL: LATEST" Out of place in the city, a stray calf runs through the street.
Graffiti reads, "Locos take no prisoners," and fires burn in the streets. A little
girl on the street clutches a bear and looks
around at the sound of sirens. A flashing blue light heralds something bad. She
crosses the street but stops at the sound
of a cat's meow. Someone else has heard the sirens as well. A girl and boy with
brightly painted faces peer around a corner
looking for the source]
Dal: They're getting closer, what do we do?
[Two kids rollerblade around the corner just ahead of the source of the sirens]
Amber: We can't outrun them. We'll just have to get out of sight.
[More of the rollerblading kids appear surrounding a patrol car. Two dangerous looking
characters stand in the car's sunroof. The girl
and boy also head off on rollerblades.
[Outside the city, Bray and Trudy make their way along a trail.
They see the Roosters coming and hide in the trees]
Roosters: Come on, hurry up, we haven't got all day.
[Back in the city, the patrol car blares its siren through the streets]
Amber: Come on, Dal, through here.
[She leads him to the loading area of a building and they hide themselves behind the
many boxes stacked there]
Dal: What are the gangs doing here?
Amber: Sunday afternoon drive?
Dal: Is it Sunday?
Amber: Who knows? Get down!
[the patrol car passes and turns the corner]
Dal: Can't have been chasing us after all.
Amber: Unless they're toying with us. Locos do that; they love to catch you off guard.
[In a rail yard, three boys and girl wait inside a railroad car. They too have very
elaborate face painting]
Zandra: Where is he? Lex? Maybe we got it wrong? I mean, are you sure this
is the meeting place? Or maybe we got the wrong time? These guys don't wear watches you know!
Lex: Quiet, I'm thinking.
Glen: Yeah Zandra, let the man think, he can't think, he can't come up with
one of his brilliant plans!
Zandra: I don't like it here, out in the open. Anything could happen.
Lex: Shut up, the both of you. Zoot'll keep his word.
Glen: Where is he then, the legendary leader of the Locos!
Lex: You heard the siren.
Glen: Siren! That could've been anyone. Could've been the Demon Dogs, this is
their patch. Or the Roosters. Any of the gangs. The sector's a war zone!
Lex: The whole city's a war zone in case you hadn't noticed!
[Outside the city, Bray and Trudy continue on. They hear two boys talking about a
pig they're fattening up and try to move
around them without being seen]
Boys: Come on Porky, eat up, then we'll barbecue you! [They laugh] Get some more
meat on ya! You want more? Good! Tasty, tasty!"
[Back in the city, the girl and boy stay hidden behind the boxes as the patrol car
drives around nearby]
Dal: If we could steal their wheels, we'd be out of the city in an hour.
Amber: Forget it. They've got lookouts everywhere, we wouldn't get more than a couple--
[She notices a little girl on the street clutching a teddy bear and bending down to
pick up a cat] Dal, look, they're sure to pick her up.
Amber: What's she doing out there on her own?
Dal: She's a stray.
Amber: Are we talking about the girl or the cat?
Dal: You know the rule Amber, look after number one.
Amber: Yeah well, there's always an exception to the rule.
[She races out from behind the boxes, grabs the girl and pushes her back to the hiding place. The cat falls from the girl's
arms]
Amber: Here, come here, come on, hurry up, come on.
Cloe: Here pussy! Pussy!
Amber: Shhhhh!
[The older girl claps her hand over the other's mouth and pulls her further down behind the boxes. She watches the patrol car
move past and removes her hand from the little girl's mouth when they're safe again]
[Outside the city, Bray leads a tired Trudy
by the hand. They pass by the water on their way to the city and seagulls chatter in the background]
Bray: It's not far now. Come on, if we keep going, we could take shelter in the city by nightfall.
[The patrol car carrying Zoot and his escort are making their way to the rail yard, where Lex, Zandra and the other two boys await
their arrival]
Glen: They're coming.
Lex: What's the matter Glen? Aren't getting scared are ya?
Glen: I wanna know what you've agreed, with Zoot.
Zandra: What do you mean?
Glen: Don't be stupid Zandra. You really think we're gonna be allowed to join the
Locos just like that? Now I'll tell you what's gonna happen. Old Lex here, he'll be in the tribe, you can bet your
life. The rest of us might not be so lucky.
Lex: Anyone who doesn't like the plan can leave. Now.
Glen: And how far would I get before I was hunted down by the Locos? Along with you
and stupid here.
[Lex shoves Glen up against the railcar wall. Zandra appeals to the other member of the group to help break it up]
Zandra: Stop it! Ryan! Do something!
[The fight stops on its own when the sirens become louder and the group realizes that Zoot
has arrived]
Lex: They're here.
Zandra: I thought you said they'd be alone?
Glen: Welcoming committee?
Zandra: They don't look very welcoming to me!
Lex: I'll do the talking.
Glen: Suits me!
[Lex jumps down to go meet the new arrivals. He grabs a bag from the floor of the railcar and pauses as Ryan jumps down
to join him] Not getting scared are you Lex?
[Zoot has gotten out of the patrol car and is joined by a tough looking young woman. Their group follows behind them as
they move to meet Lex]
Lex: Zoot, I was starting to think you weren't coming. Guess time keeping's not
your thing, eh? [He gets no response out of the steely-eyed Zoot] Yeah, me neither, time's dead, it's the old way. We
make the rules now right?
Zoot: What's in the bag?
Lex: Glad you asked friend, glad you asked. [He drops the bag and opens it to reveal a wealth
of junk] Walkie talkies, CD players, batteries, you name it.
Zoot: Food?
Lex: We only have enough for ours--
Zoot: Give it to me!
[Lex looks to Ryan and nods. Ryan takes a bag off his shoulder and hands it to one of
Zoot's men as Glen and Zandra look on]
Why do you wanna be a Locust?
Lex: You guys are the best outfit around. You cut it, you're really--
Ebony: What, really what?
[Lex looks around for some inspiration and sees some graffiti written on a railcar. It reads
"Locos Are Scandalous"]
Lex: You're scandalous.
Zoot: We're what?
[He and the Locos
laugh uproariously. Lex can see this isn't going well and turns to Ryan]
Lex: Get ready to run!
[Lex shoves Zoot with the bag and takes off with Ryan behind him, while Zandra and Glen
leave the railcar. The Locos are not far behind them]
Zoot: Get them! After them!
[The rescuers try to find out more about the little girl]
Amber: It's all right, we're not going to hurt you. What's your name? [She doesn't respond]
I'm Amber and this is Dal. We're friends. Do you have anyone? Any family, brothers and sisters? [Still no response]
Dal: She doesn't understand. Let's just go.
Amber: She needs help.
Dal: We all need help! That's the way things are. I'm sorry Amber. But we decided that we
were gonna leave the city by nightfall. Nothing was gonna change that. You said it. How are we gonna do that
with this thing tagging along? [Amber gives him a look and turns back to the little girl]
Amber: I bet I know his name. Teddy, right? [She nods] What about you?
Cloe: Cloe.
Amber: What are you doing out here Cloe?
Cloe: Playing.
Amber: Can we play?
Cloe: If you like, but there's no room on the swings. Patsy and Paul are hogging them.
There's a slide, you could play on that.
Amber: Yeah. Yeah, maybe I will. [She turns to Dal with a resigned expression] You'll
have to go without me. I can't leave her Dal.
Dal: That's ok, we've come this far together.
[Lex, Ryan, Zandra, and Glen run down an alley trying to escape the Locos. They reach a fence and Ryan helps Zandra over.
Lex follows and kicks one of the boxes away, trapping Glen on the other side]
Glen: Lex, what are you doing?
Lex: Just another one of my brilliant plans! [Zoot reaches Glen and pulls him away
from the fence] Good luck, friend.
[Zandra's not ready to leave him behind though and turns back]
Zandra: Where's Glen?
Lex: They got him. There's nothing we can do. [He grabs her shoulders and turns her around]
Zandra, we have to save ourselves; Glen would've wanted us to. Come on.
[He pulls Zandra away and they run]
[Amber and Dal help Cloe as they make their way over a wall in an alley. Cloe runs ahead
of them]
Amber: You really think it's going to be that different in the countryside?
Dal: Can't be any worse, can it?
Amber: Fewer places to hide.
Dal: There'll be no one to hide from. Look, all I wanna do is find a little place of my
own, which I can call home. A little piece of land where I can grow my own food. Not scratching leftovers like some animal.
Amber: It's a nice dream.
Dal: It's more than a dream. Amber, look around you! There's no future here. The tribes
have got the city. Let them live on tinned food.
Amber: And what happens when the tinned food runs out? [They stop walking and she turn to
Dal] Do you think they're gonna leave you alone on your country estate?
Dal: I don't believe this! You've changed your mind. You're not coming with me.
Amber: No, Dal, I haven't changed my mind. It's just that, I don't know, it feels like
running away. I know there's nothing we can do. We can't stop the tribes from taking over. I just hate to see them get
away with it. This is where I grew up; it's where you grew up, Dal. You might be able to walk away, but I can't. It's not
that simple. [She looks up suddenly] Wait. Where's Cloe. Oh no, we've lost her already.
[As a dog barks, Dal looks around and sees Cloe and some other children playing on a
small playground]
Dal: No, we haven't. Look.
[Cloe climbs the slide, and another girl her age throws a stick to her dog. An older girl is on a swing next to a young
boy]
Patsy: Good boy. Bring it here. Good boy, good boy.
Cloe: Ready Teddy? Whee! [And down they go] Come on, let's do it again.
[Amber and Dal look at each other in surprise]
[Meanwhile, Lex, Zandra, and Ryan are holed up in an abandoned car. In the front seat, Ryan is trying to hotwire it, while
Lex and Zandra wait in the back. Lex is still angry about his close encounter with Zoot, and
Zandra is crying over Glen]
Lex: Did you see that guy? What was his problem? These tribe leaders, they get too much
power. I'll show 'em; I'll get even with them. That's a promise. [He finally notices that Zandra is upset
and puts his hand on her knee] What's the matter, baby?
[Zandra is not impressed and not in the mood. She shoves his hand away, which only irritates Lex]
Zandra: Don't touch me.
Lex: For the last time Zan, I'm sorry about Glen, couldn't be helped. You had a thing about
the guy, is that it?
Zandra: No!
Lex: Then stop your sniveling! He wanted to be a Locust, now he's got his wish. You know
what I think? I think he sacrificed himself, deliberately, to save us. I can't even think about it.
Zandra: Lex.
[Zandra breaks down and puts her head in his lap. This works out well for Lex and he smiles smugly, satisfied that
he's come off as the good guy. Ryan turns around from trying to start the car and is blasted by Lex, so maybe Lex isn't
all that content after all]
Lex: What are you looking at? Is this thing going to start or what?
Ryan: It's out of gas. I did find something though. Gum!
[Ryan seems to be somewhat proud of this discovery but Lex is not amused]
Lex: Let's get out of here.
[At the playground, the younger children amuse themselves while Salene, Amber, and Dal discuss the situation]
Cloe: Whee!
Salene: Who are you with? What tribe?
Amber: We're not with any tribe. We found Cloe a couple of streets away. You obviously know her. I'm Amber, by the way. This is Dal.
Salene: Salene.
[Meanwhile, Lex and friends make their way through an alley. Are they getting closer to the playground?]
Amber: Did you know Cloe wandered off?
Salene: I can't stop her. What difference does it make? We can't run anymore.
[Oh yes, Lex is getting closer. The bark he just heard has given away the children's hiding place. Oblivious to the
potential danger, Salene continues on, revealing her hopelessness and despair]
Salene: I was going to give us up, then I found this place. I thought they could have
a play, one more time before....
Dal: I'll scout around. See if I can find some shelter for tonight.
Amber: Ok, I'll share out the food.
[Lex appears around the fence]
Lex: Yeah, you'd better, friend, you just better. See, I own this city and you're
trespassing. But I tell you what. I'm feeling generous today. Why don't you just give me the bag and I'll
say no more about it. Oh, don't try running. You might get away, but they won't.
Amber: Who are you? I don't recognize your tribe.
[Faces suddenly appear over the fence, surrounding the playground]
Lex: Don't tell me you've never heard of us.
[Ryan sees the danger they're in and grabs Lex's arm to warn him]
What?!
Ryan: Locos!
[Zoot kicks the gate open and, along with his Locos, runs after Lex, Ryan, and Zandra as they take off]
Zoot: Get them!
[The Locos apparently don't care about Amber, Dal, and the others. Before they're noticed, they too
run off]
Dal: Let's get out of here!
[Lex, Zandra, and Ryan have seen the Locos' rival tribe approaching, cutting off their escape]
Lex: Demon Dogs.
[They are now caught between
two of the most dangerous tribes in the city. The tribes face off in the street, forcing the fugitives to hide behind
a flimsy shelter of trash cans and shopping carts]
[The other children have escaped the Locos and are looking for shelter of their own. They walk hurriedly through a parking garage
littered with debris and random fires]
Amber: I wonder where this car park leads to.
Dal: Must be a shopping mall or something. There should be a way out up ahead.
Amber: I hope you're right.
[The Locos and the Demon Dogs continue their violent interaction. Lex, Zandra, and Ryan are lucky and, in the confusion
of the attacking tribes, are able to escape without being seen]
Lex: Come on.
[Amber throws open a door leading out of the garage. The other children follow her down a glass-lined hallway and to
another door. It looks like it leads to the shopping mall, and the older girls exchange glances]
Salene: I hope it's safe.
Amber: Come on, let's check it out.
[The door does lead into the Mall, but the children are not alone. A small hand clasps some kind of lever as they move
further inside. They find themselves in a lobby with a fountain and a statue of a bird. Fairy lights fall from the ceiling,
and another level rises above them]
Patsy: Maybe there's some food here.
Dal: I'll go have a look around. Look's like the place has been looted. But you never
know.
[This appears to have reassured the unknown resident of the Mall, and the hand removes itself from the lever as Dal moves off]
Amber: Dal, be careful.
[Meanwhile, Lex and the others are still running. They swerve off the street into a building]
Lex: Come on, in here.
[Dal looks in one of the stores and sees that most of the shelves are empty. The place has been looted, but there are still
some items left]
[Lex and Zandra rest against a column while Ryan returns from scouting out an upper level]
Lex: What's up there?
Ryan: Nothing.
Lex: We better get back to Sector 12 while it's still light. Come on.
[As they walk off, Lex kicks a can and glances down at his feet. He finds a teddy bear and smiles a nasty grin. They've found the same
parking garage the other children passed through moments before]
[Inside the Mall, the others wait for Dal to return]
Amber: So you're Patsy and your name is? [She points at the silent little boy]
Patsy: Paul.
Amber: And who's this? [She pets the dog]
Patsy: Bob.
[Lex and the others approach through the glass-lined hallway as Dal joins the other children]
Amber: Did you have any luck?
Dal: No.
Amber: Well...[She begins digging through her bag and removing canned food]
Dal: We don't have much, so we have to share.
[Lex, Zandra, and Ryan get closer to the door of the Mall. Unaware of the others approaching, Amber introduces the
children to Dal]
Amber: This is Patsy and Paul. Patsy does all the talking; I think her brother's a
bit shy.
Patsy: He's not shy.
Paul: I'm deaf, that's all.
Dal: Doesn't seem to have any trouble talking.
Patsy: When he feels like it.
[Lex peers around the corner with Zandra and Ryan behind him. They've found the children]
Amber: Oh, I see. Do you lip read Paul? [She smiles and leans over to look at him.
He pats his chest and moves his hands]
Patsy: He says he prefers to sign.
[Paul looks to his left and slowly loses his smile. He's the first to see the others lurking nearby. As Lex, Zandra, and
Ryan move closer, Paul touches Patsy's shoulder to get her attention and signs to her]
Amber: What does that mean?
Dal: [Dal is the next one to realize the danger and points to the intruders with alarm]
It means we're in trouble.
Lex: Now, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?
[But Lex isn't the only one with a surprise. The hand we saw before suddenly pulls on a lever and three gates crash down.
Amber and the others are just as shocked. Lex quickly moves from surprise to anger, with fury not far behind]
How the hell did you do that? We'll find another way in. You're not gettin' away that easily.
[He turns to go out the way they came, but another lever is pulled and another gate drops. Amber may not know how Lex was
trapped, but she's obviously pleased he was]
Amber: Looks like you're the one not getting away.
Dal: What do you want with us? We've got no arguments with the Locusts.
Amber: These aren't Locusts. If they were, they would've done the job right.
Lex: Open it up. Open it up now or you'll regret it. I'm gonna count to ten.
One! Two! Three!
[A new voice picks up the count]
Jack: Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. [They look around to find a young but self-assured boy standing at the top of the stairs]
So what happens now? I think you'll find that was a fairly empty threat. You didn't quite think it through, did you? Not
to worry. [He turns his attention to Amber and the other children] Hi. Oh, I'm Jack and I uh, think you've got something
to say to me.
Amber: Like what?
Jack: Well, in my day, it was thanks, but uh times are changing.
Amber: [Still somewhat surprised by the turn of events] Thanks.
Jack: Don't mention it. Um, these gates can only be lifted with a special wench. I'll
lift the far one when you guys have had a chance to cool off. [He glares briefly at Lex and turns to smile at Amber] Come
on, I'll show you around.
[Finally inside the city, Bray leads Trudy through a tunnel and helps her sit down just outside the entrance]
Bray: Stay here and don't move. You're safe here. [He turns to leave]
Trudy: But what about you?
Bray: Well, I'll scout the area and see what I can find.
[He touches her shoulder briefly and moves off]
[Inside the Mall, the children continue their tour. But Amber wants to know more about Jack's motives]
Amber: Why are you doing this?
Jack: Doing what?
Amber: Helping us. We could be Demon Dogs for all you know.
Jack: [He's amused and gives a little laugh. He gestures at the young children] You guys?
Amber: [Amber can see how ridiculous that might sound and smiles] Maybe not. All the same,
you didn't have to let us in here.
Jack: It's simple. I've been livin' out of a crate of tin beans for the last 6 weeks
and even that's running low.
[Meanwhile, Lex is clearly not having a good time and demands to be let out. The children ignore him]
Lex: Hey! Come on! Let us out!
Amber: Well, we haven't got much food either.
Jack: But, you can help me find some. It's the least you could do after I helped you
with your little problem back there.
Dal: Look, thanks for your help, but we have to move on, first thing in the morning.
Right Amber?
Jack: Suit yourselves. You won't find a better place to crash than this.
[Reaching the top of the stairs, they turn to look down at the first floor of the Mall]
Salene: It's so big and empty.
Cloe: I'm tired.
Patsy: Me too.
Salene: [She looks to Amber] It's getting dark. What are we gonna do about sleeping?
Amber: I've got a blanket. The younger ones can have that. The rest of us will just
have to make do.
Jack: Sounds good, but uh, I can go one better.
[He smiles secretively and the scene jumps to what must have been a bedding store. The children laugh in delight]
Paul: Look beds!
Jack: What do you think?
Amber: It's like...heaven.
Salene: Clean sheets! Real feather pillows!
Jack: Course, I sleep in the electrical shop. I sort of feel attached to the place.
[In case they've been forgotten, Lex decides to make his presence known again. Amber and Jack head out to the balcony to
observe their captives]
Lex: Hey! Open this gate!
Amber: What are we gonna do about those three? Locked in a cage.
Jack: Oh forget it. That's what you do with animals. Lock 'em up.
[Trapped in the gates, Zandra tries to make the best of a bad situation]
Zandra: Hey, look at this couch. [No response from Lex] You're wasting your time.
They're not gonna let us out. Save your strength.
[She picks up her bag from the couch and sits down wearily. Lex joins
her]
Ryan: This place ain't so bad. We've slept in worse places Lex. [He sits down beside a
sulky Lex]
Lex: Who asked you? Give me that.
[He grabs the stick of gum from Ryan, shoves him off the couch, gives Zandra another shove, and settles down to rest.
Ryan folds the teddy bear in half and uses it as a pillow on the floor]
[The other children have settled down to sleep inside the bedding store. Dal watches as Amber tries to comfort Cloe]
Dal: What's wrong?
Amber: She can't find her teddy.
Cloe: I wanna go home.
Amber: I know. It's alright. This is your home. [She looks up at Dal] For now at least.
[In the cage, Lex broods on the couch]
Zandra: Come on, Lex. There's nothing you can do.
Ryan: Right. [They hear sirens and he and Lex get to their feet] Sounds like the
Locos! We're all dead meat.
[Lex grips the gate and gives it a shake]
Lex: You'll see. I'm warning you!
[And in the night, the sirens continue to sound throughout the city. For now at least, the children are safe inside
the Mall]