Bill's Town/Transcript (2024)

The following is the full transcript of "Bill's Town", the fourth chapter of The Last of Us Part I.

Transcript[]

The Woods[]

[The scene opens to Joel Miller and Ellie Williams walking on a rural road, surrounding them are woodlands. Joel points off into the distance.]

Joel: Now there we go… [The camera cuts to the town of Lincoln, Massachusetts, in the distance. He looks down the nearby guardrail.] Yeah, it'll be faster to go through here.

[They vault over into a forested area. The player now takes control of Joel.]

Ellie: Man…

Joel: What?

Ellie: Nothing. It's just… I've never seen anything like this, that's all.

Joel: You mean the woods?

Ellie: Yeah. Never walked through the woods. It's kinda cool.

[Joel leads the way. Small animals can be spotted in the woods around them.]

Ellie: Why don't you just take me back to Marlene?

Joel: If she was up to the task, why'd she drop you off on us?

Ellie: Well, maybe she's better now.

Joel: Kid, I don't mean to upset you, but your friend's chances of survival weren't too high to begin with.

Ellie: She's a lot tougher than you think.

Joel: It don't matter. 'Cause I doubt I could get either one of us back into the city in one piece. Trust me, I wish there was some other option.

[A rabbit darts across the trail.]

Ellie: Whoa… Hey, buddy.

[They emerge from the woods and arrive at the town's far gate. Joel attempts to open it, but it is locked.]

Joel: Well, sh*t. [Sighs]

Ellie: Should we climb it?

Joel: Nah, wire on top of it. We gotta find a way to go around.

[Joel vaults over a log on the left side of the gate. Several fireflies surround Ellie behind him.]

Ellie: [Laughs] Whoa, look. [Joel turns around.] Fireflies. I mean, real fireflies.

Joel: Yeah, I see that.

Ellie: [Pauses] Sorry, I… I lost myself for a sec.

[Joel attempts to walk around the back side of the fence, only to find it leads to a dead end.]

Joel: sh*t. Yeah, not around here either.

[He turns around and climbs onto the top of the small building.]

Joel: Let me get up here, and I'll get a look. [Looks around and mutters] Yeah…

[He gets down and finds a nearby plank. He positions it to span the gap between the two buildings.]

Joel: Here we go.

[The pair cross the plank onto the other roof. The player is prompted to press , and Joel examines smoke coming from the town in the distance.]

Joel: That you, Bill?

Ellie: Where do you usually meet him?

Joel: Huh? Different places.

Ellie: You've never been here, have you?

Joel: I know this is where he lives, but… no, I ain't never been here, personally.

Ellie: And that smoke, you think that's him?

Joel: Sure as hell better be.

Ellie: Well, let's go check it out then.

Joel: All right, come on.

[They drop down from the roof, now on the other side of the fence, and continue towards the town. Joel approaches a fence to the right.]

Joel: Yeah, I ain't breaking that. C'mon, there's another way around here.

[Joel leads Ellie to an opening in a nearby fence.]

Joel: Down here. Just watch your step. It's a good drop.

[They drop down and approach a brick building. They hear a clicking noise nearby.]

Ellie: What is that?

Joel: [Quietly] Oh, sh*t.

[Joel spots a clicker in the shed in front of them.]

Joel: [Whispers] Oh, sh*t. Stay back. [They continue through the back alley. He finds another clicker hiding behind a wall and mutters.] Oh, f*ck.

[Joel chooses to either sneak past or kills them. He approaches another locked fence nearby.]

Joel: [If he sneaks past] sh*t.

Joel: [If he kills them] Goddammit.

[He turns around and enters the building through the backdoor, leading to the first floor of a liquor store.]

Joel: Through here.

[They forage the second floor for supplies. Ellie begins blowing air.]

Joel: Are you all right?

Ellie: I'm trying to learn how to whistle. [Continues blowing.]

Joel: You don't know how to whistle?

Ellie: Well does it sound like I know how to whistle? [Continues blowing.]

Joel: [Searches the next room] Just give me a second.

[They finish scavenging and exit the building. Joel goes to open the fence on the opposite side, but it is blocked by a pipe.]

Joel: Ah, sh*t. It's jammed from the other side.

Ellie: Here, boost me up.

[The player is prompted to press and Joel looks up at the top of the fence.]

Joel: No, no, that's not such a good idea.

Ellie: Well, I can't boost you up. How else are we gonna get over there?

[Joel concedes. He approaches the gate and prepares to boost her.]

Joel: All right, c'mere. Gimme your foot. [Boosts Ellie up] Now listen, you just open it, okay? Nothin' else.

Ellie: Sure thing.

Joel: Easy, easy. [She drops to the other side.]

Ellie: Okay. [Removes the pipe and opens the gate.] Okay. Ta-da.

Joel: Good job.

Ellie: Thank you.

[They enter onto the main street of Lincoln. Joel leads Ellie as they walk around.]

Ellie: So, let's say we get a car from this buddy of yours. Then what?

Joel: Well, then we go find Tommy.

Ellie: Marlene said he's your brother?

Joel: And more importantly he was a Firefly. He'd know where to take you.

Ellie: Oh, okay.

Joel: He lives far from here which is why we need the car.

[They walk into the backyard of a flower shop. Spread on the ground are garden gnomes.]

Ellie: Hey, look. Gnomes.

Joel: Yeah. Those are gnomes.

Ellie: Man, I had an art book filled with these. I always thought they were super cute. [Chuckles] Not fairies though. They creep me out.

Joel: All right, then.

[They walk across the street and into an abandoned pizzeria. There's an old arcade machine against the wall, The Turning.]

Ellie: Oh… look at that.

[She approaches the arcade machine and Joel follows, prompting the player to activate the ninth optional conversation of the game. It triggers the following.]

Joel: What, you play this before?

Ellie: [Walks towards the machine.] Nah. But I had a friend that knew everything about this game. Apparently, there's this character called Angel Knives who'd… What was it? She'd punch a hole through your stomach before kicking your head off.

Joel: [Scoffs] Well, I was never a big fan of these things.

Ellie: I wish I could play it.

[The pair move back outside and continue walking down the street. It is filled with abandoned cars. Ellie spots an old FEDRA sign.]

Ellie: [Reading] "Mandatory evacuation." Evacuate to where?

Joel: Where you think? Quarantine zone. See, some places got a head's up before the infection showed up. Most didn't.

Ellie: Man, must be hard. Just… leaving all your stuff behind like that.

Joel: That ain't the hard part.

[They keep walking down the street until they notice a makeshift barbed wire barricade blocking off a side street.]

Joel: Hmm. Yeah, that's Bill's handiwork.

Ellie: Anybody else live in this town?

Joel: Far as I know, it's just him.

[Joel climbs on top of the nearby RV and picks up a collectible Firefly pendant.]

Ellie: Fireflies were everywhere, huh?

Joel: Yeah, they were. [Sarcastically] Hoping to restore the country to what it was.

Ellie: Well… with a vaccine, maybe they will.

Joel: [Scoffs] Maybe.

[The two enter the nearby Marquis Music Store.]

Ellie: Whoa. Look at this place.

[She looks around as Joel loots the back room. He comes back out as she starts inspecting some vinyl records on display.]

Ellie: Man, this is kinda sad.

Joel: What is?

Ellie: All this music that's just sitting here. No one's around to listen to it. [Pauses] I don't know. Doesn't seem it.

[They exit and enter an alley on the side of the music store. A clicker comes out from around the corner, but it stumbles into a bomb's tripwire, killing it in a loud explosion.]

Joel: Jesus!

Ellie: Whoa, Nelly. Wha—? What the hell was that?

Joel: That… would be one of Bill's traps.

Ellie: Wha—? Your friend a bit paranoid, maybe?

Joel: Now that's putting it lightly.

Ellie: What's the deal with this guy?

Joel: Well, he helped us smuggle stuff into the city. He's… He knows how to find things.

Ellie: Well, let's hope we don't blow up trying to find him.

Joel: Just watch your step. You'll be fine.

[The pair turn the corner to find an infected corpse stuck full of arrows. Joel collects the arrows.]

Ellie: Geez. Bill good with a bow?

Joel: I reckon he is.

[Joel uses a ladder to climb onto a box truck. On top, a bow leans against a chair, representing a lookout spot. He picks up the bow.]

Joel: Hey… Look at that.

Ellie: Let me use that. I'm a pretty good shot with that thing.

Joel: How 'bout we just leave this kind of stuff to me.

Ellie: Well, we could both be armed. Cover each other.

Joel: I don't think so.

[The two cross a plank onto the nearby building. Joel waits for Ellie to cross and picks up the plank.]

Joel: Here, we can actually use this. [He sets the plank against the wall and climbs a ladder.] It's all clear, come on up.

Ellie: All right.

[Ellie climbs up. Joel walks towards the ledge of the roof, in-between him and the opposite building is a gap. He looks down.]

Joel: Ah, sh*t.

[He turns around and picks up the plank, positioning it so they can cross onto the opposite roof. They do so, only to find a clicker just up ahead.]

Joel: Ah, sh*t. [Draws bow] Let's give this baby a whirl.

[Joel kills the clicker.]

Joel: Now, listen. Bill ain't exactly the most… stable of individuals. So, when we get there, you let me do the talkin'. You understand?

Ellie: I understand.

Joel: We gotta be clear on this. He… He don't take too kindly to strangers.

Ellie: All right.

Joel: Bill's a good guy, he just definitely needs some time warming up to you, that's all.

[They continue traversing the rooftops. Upon reaching the end, they descend a ladder and drop down to an alley. In front of them is another tripwire bomb.]

Joel: See that wire? Stay underneath it, okay? Just keep your head low and you'll be fine.

Ellie: All right. [They duck under the tripwire. Banging erupts from a door to their left.] You hear that?

Joel: Yeah. [He approaches the door and the banging stops.]

Ellie: Oh, sh*t, you're gonna go in there?

Joel: I wanna see what we can find.

Ellie: You're gonna find my body when I die from a heart attack.

Joel: Don't worry. I got this.

[Joel enters the building and climbs the stairs to an apartment. A runner runs out from the bathroom and towards Joel.]

Joel: Oh, sh*t! [He kills the runner.]

Ellie: Geez! That thing scared the sh*t outta me.

Joel: Well, while we're here, let's—let's search the place.

[They start searching the apartment for supplies. Ellie approaches a table with the the word "Rachel" and an arrow written on the wall above it.]

Ellie: Rachel…

[Lying on the table is a note to Rachel. If Joel picks it up and reads it, it will trigger the following conversation.]

Ellie: You think they ever found each other?

Joel: How the hell would I know?

Ellie: Well, I'd like to think they did.

[They leave the apartment and Joel starts descending the stairs.]

Joel: C'mon, let's get the hell outta here.

Ellie: Okay.

[They exit the building and back into the alley. They find two tripwire bombs blocking a fence door.]

Joel: sh*t. Look at this. [He aims a brick or bottle at the bombs.] All right, stand back.

Ellie: All right.

[He throws it and hits a bomb, tripping them.]

Ellie: Oh, sh*t. Those things are kinda awesome.

Joel: That's one way to do it.

[They go through the door and continue down the alley, shortly before coming across another tripwire.]

Joel: Yeah, see that? Get back. [He triggers the trap.] Come on. [He enters the nearby building.] Just stay close. [He opens the next door.] Ellie, come on, just…

[As he opens the door into a garage, he sets off a weight trap, stringing him by his leg.]

Joel: Oh, sh*t!

[It slams him into the ground then hangs him upside down from the ceiling.]

Ellie: Joel!

Joel: God…

[Ellie runs over to Joel.]

Ellie: Here… I got you.

Joel: Goddammit, Bill…

Ellie: [She steadies Joel.] What just happened?

Joel: It's another one of Bill's stupid traps! [Looks around] There, that fridge. It looks like that's the counterweight.

Ellie: Okay. [She runs to the fridge and climbs on it.]

Joel: Cut that rope and it'll bring me down!

Ellie: On it!

[She starts cutting the rope with her switchblade. Meanwhile, infected start approaching in the distance.]

Ellie: Joel?

Joel: [Draws his revolver] sh*t, here they come!

[Joel defends himself from the incoming infected as Ellie continues to the cut the rope.]

Ellie: Joel! [Looks at him.]

Joel: Just tend to the rope! [He continues shooting the infected.] Ellie, how's it looking?

Ellie: I'm going as fast as I can! [She continues cutting] Oh, f*ck!

Joel: [Infected continue to appear.] Ellie!

Ellie: Agh, I need a bit more time!

[Joel manages to kill the first wave of infected.]

Joel: Anytime, Ellie.

Ellie: Hold on!

[She drops the fridge, but it only strings Joel higher, who now finds it difficult to aim.]

Ellie: f*ck!

Joel: You all right?

Ellie: Yeah!

Joel: C'mon. You can do it.

Ellie: Okay… [She tosses him some ammunition and continues cutting the rope.]

Joel: Thanks.

[Joel notices more infected breaking through in the distance.]

Joel: Goddammit.

Ellie: [Struggling] Come on! It's not cutting!

Joel: Just hurry!

[More infected charge into the garage as Joel defends Ellie. shooting them dead.]

Joel: Ellie, they're gettin' close!

[Ellie finally cuts the counterweight, dropping Joel hard to the ground.]

Ellie: Okay.

Joel: Damn it…

[As Joel begins to stand, a runner charges at him.]

Ellie: Joel, watch out!

Joel: All right—

[The runner tackles Joel back into the ground. He struggles to push it off but it is suddenly struck in the head by a machete. After Joel pushes the runner away a hand holds out to him. It is Bill, wearing a gas mask. Joel grabs his hand.]

Bill: Get off your ass and on your feet. [Lifts Joel to his feet.]

Ellie: Wha—?

[Bill leads them out of the garage. He slices a chain, causing the garage door behind them to fall down, blocking off the infected.]

Bill: All right. This way. Keep up. [The sound lures more infected lurking nearby.]

Joel: Oh, sh*t.

Ellie: Oh, f*ck.

Bill: Ah, goddammit! [Shoots at the invading infected] Back! Get back!

Joel: Which way?

Bill: All right, we'll, ah… We'll cut through. [Leads them down an alley.] C'mon, here! [Mutters] Oh, goddamn.

Joel: Run, Ellie!

Ellie: I'm going.

Bill: [He leads them to a locked door.] Where's that goddamn key?

[As Bill goes to take out his keys, the infected close in.]

Ellie: Guys—behind us!

Joel: Bill, come on!

[Bill starts kicking the door, opening it just in time. The three rush inside a laundromat as Bill slams the door behind them.]

Ellie: sh*t.

Bill: Don't slow down. This place ain't secure.

Joel: [Infected start coming in from the other side] Bill, they're coming through the door!

Bill: f*ckin' knew it. Take 'em out. That's our only way through.

Joel: Ellie, stay back! Stay back!

[The trio are forced to kill the oncoming infected.]

Bill: All right, come on—we're almost there. Follow me.

[Bill leads them outside the other end of the laundromat. A group of infected start to break through a barricade.]

Joel: Oh, sh*t. Goddammit, they're coming over!

Bill: C'mon! They're gettin' through! Keep going, this way—through the truck! [They climb through a box truck and out the other end.] All right.

Joel: Move, Ellie! Move!

Ellie: I'm going, I'm going!

[Bill reaches a door and opens it. A clicker continues to chase Joel and Ellie.]

Bill: It's open, c'mon!

[Joel runs through the door. The cinematic "I need a car" begins. The three run into a diner and slam the metal door shut. The clicker on the other side bangs against the door. Bill eventually seals the door shut.]

Ellie: [Exhausted] Man… that was close. [Bill approaches Ellie] Uh… thanks for the heroics and all. [Bill takes off his gas mask and reaches behind his back.] Uh, Ellie. [Ellie reaches out her arm for a handshake. Bill grabs her wrist and quickly handcuffs it.] Hey, what are you—Joel?!

Joel: [Turns around] Bill?

Ellie: What are you doing?! [Bills handcuffs her to a pipe.]

Joel: Bill!

Ellie: [Struggling] Let me go!

Bill: [Pulls out a pistol on Joel.] Turn around and get on your knees.

Joel: [Hands up] Just calm down a second.

Bill: [Demanding] Turn around and get on your knees!

Joel: All right! [Bill knees him in the back of the leg, causing him to fall to the floor.]

Bill: Don't test me!

Joel: Just… [Winces] take it easy.

[Ellie forcefully tugs to get free and the weak pipe begin to wiggle.]

Bill: [Searching Joel] You got any bites?

Joel: No.

Bill: Anything sprouting?

Joel: No, goddammit, I'm clean!

Bill: Well, if I see so much as a twitch—

[Ellie successfully loosens the pipe from the wall. As Bill turns to her, she strikes him with the pipe.]

Bill: Ow! [Falters back.]

Joel: [Catches Ellie's next swing and takes the pipe.] Stop!

Bill: [Painfully] Son of a bitch!

Joel: [Pauses and points at Bill] You done?!

Bill: [Looks up at Joel] Am I done…? You come into my house, you set off all my traps, you damn near break my shootin' arm. [Looks at Ellie] Wh-who the f*ck is this punk and what's she doing here?

Ellie: [Aggressively] I am none of your goddamn business, and we're here because you owe Joel some favors. [Raises cuffed wrist] And you can start by taking these off!

Bill: [Walking off] I owe Joel some favors, is this some kind of joke?

Joel: [Drops pipe and walks near Bill.] I'll cut to the chase. I need a car.

Bill: Well, it is a joke. Joel needs a car. [Sharpens machete] Well, if I had one that works, which I sure as hell don't, what makes you think I'd just give it to you? Huh? [Sarcastically] Yeah, sure Joel, go ahead, take my car. [Continues sharpening blade] Take all of my food too while you're at it.

Ellie: By the looks of it, you could lose some of that food.

Bill: [Points machete at Ellie] You listen to me, you little sh*t—

Ellie: [Loudly] No, f*ck you! You handcuffed me—

Joel: [Holds Ellie back] I need you to shut up. [Ellie scoffs] All right?

Bill: [Sharpening blade] Whatever favors you think I owe ya, it ain't worth that much.

Joel: Actually, Bill, they are.

Bill: Well, it don't matter 'cause I don't have a car that works.

Joel: But there is one in this town.

Bill: Parts. There are parts in this town.

Joel: Meaning that you could fix one up.

Bill: [Exhales and drops blade] All right. [Straightens out a map] If I'm gonna do this, there's some gear I'm gonna need.

Joel: All right.

Bill: [Points at map] It's on the other side of town. Now you help me go gather it, and maybe I can put something together that runs. But after this, [Reaches into pocket] I owe you nothin'. [Slams keys on the table.]

Joel: That's fine. Couple days from now, we'll probably be dead anyway. [Uses keys to remove Ellie's cuff.]

Bill: Good. [Joel drops cuffs] Follow me. Whole goddamn town's booby trapped, best stay right on my ass. [Walks off.]

Ellie: Can't miss it…

Joel: [Turns around. Quietly] Knock it off.

[He pulls Ellie forward as they follow Bill. The cinematic "I need a car" ends.]

Safehouse[]

[Now inside of the diner safehouse, the player regains control of Joel.]

Bill: All right. Whatever supplies you may want or need, I suggest you grab them.

Joel: All right, thank you. Ellie, take a look around and see if there's anything we can use.

Ellie: All righty.

[They search the area for supplies. Ellie follows Joel into the back room.]

Ellie: [Of Bill] Man. He's got a f*ckin' stick up his ass.

Joel: Just… stay out of his way.

[The pair catches up to Bill. Joel approaches a chessboard at one of the booths, activating the tenth optional conversation of the game. Joel looks at the board, reminiscing. Ellie walks in from behind.]

Ellie: Hey, you know how to play this?

Joel: Yeah. Pretty badly, yeah.

Ellie: I always wanted to learn. [She goes to touch the board.]

Bill: [Shouts at Ellie] Hey, Bobby Fischer—don't touch anything on that board!

Ellie: Bobby what?

Joel: Just let it go.

[Joel and Ellie regroup with Bill at the exit.]

Bill: Found everything you need?

Joel: We're good.

[Bill unlocks the door and heads up the staircase. Joel holds the door open for Ellie.]

Joel: All right, Ellie. Come on. [Ellie enters.]

Bill: [To Joel] Don't leave the door open.

Joel: I got it. [He closes the door.]

Bill: We have to cross to the other building. Up the stairs. Let's move it.

Ellie: Psh.

Joel: [To Ellie, quietly] Just, stay with me. [They two ascend the stairs and follow Bill.]

Bill: [To himself] Can't believe you agreed to this bullsh*t, Bill. What you shoulda done was just left them back there.

Ellie: [To Joel] You weren't kidding about him.

Joel: Yeah, he's one of a kind.

[At the top of the stairs, Joel turns right to explore a nearby room.]

Joel: [To Bill] I'm gonna take a look around up here.

Bill: Nothin' in there that I need. Go ahead, take whatever you want.

Joel: Thanks.

[Joel searches the room and catches up with the other two. They follow Bill through a destroyed portion of the building.]

Bill: So what kind of trouble are you in? Where the hell's Tess?

Joel: It's just a job. A simple drop-off.

Bill: What are you delivering? [Joel chuckles, Bill does the same] That little brat?

Ellie: [Sarcastically] Haha. f*ck you, too.

Bill: [Belly laughs] Y'know, I—I hope you know what you're doin'.

Ellie: [Scoffs] Are you kidding me with this guy? [They continue following Bill.]

Joel: So, where we goin', Bill?

Bill: My other safehouse. It's more of an armory.

Ellie: Wait, I thought we were gonna fix up a car?

Bill: We? You know how to fix a—

Joel: Bill, just…

Bill: It's like I said, what I need is on the other side of town. Now, that side I don't ever go to 'cause it's filled with infected. So, we're gonna need more guns.

[They continue into a different section of the building. They descend a staircase and enter a kitchen. An infected knocks something over and cries in the next room.]

Joel: Shhh. There's one inside. [They enter the room to find a runner caught in one of Bill's traps.]

Bill: Oh… I've been meaning to take care of that. Relax, it's nothin'. So, you didn't answer my question about Tess. I mean, I thought the two of you were inseparable.

Joel: She's busy.

Bill: Yeah, sure… Busy. [He walks over to the infected and starts hacking at it with his machete.] Sounds to… me… like might be trouble in paradise.

[He kills the infected, its blood splattering all over the floor.]

Ellie: Aw, gross.

Joel: Yeah, somethin' like that.

Bill: All right… here we go.

[Bill unlocks a door and holds it open for Joel and Ellie. They exit into a parking lot.]

Ellie: [To Bill] So… why don't you fix one of these cars?

Bill: [Sarcastically] Oh, my God, you're a genius. I mean the whole time, why on earth hadn't I thought about fixin' one of these cars?

Ellie: Okay… don't be a dick.

Bill: Their tires are rotted and their batteries are dead.

Ellie: [Sighs] Are you done?

Bill: Can't even begin to think what the inside of the engine blocks look like. Only ones making new car batteries are the military.

[Infected come from around the back of the parking lot and start attacking the group.]

Joel: Goddammit.

Ellie: Infected!

Bill: Ah, sh*t. Lock and load.

[They successfully kill the infected.]

Bill: All right… [To himself] You gotta check the barricades again. You neglect the simple sh*t and now you're paying for it. You know what that means… taking all the supplies from the warehouse and lugging it to the east fence… again. Then it'll take you—

Ellie: Okay, well now he's talking to himself.

Joel: Yeah… Bill?

Bill: Joel? This way. [He unlocks a nearby gate leading to his safehouse, the St. Paul's Lutheran Church.] And up we go. [Joel and Ellie follow him.]

Joel: You picked a hell of a place to hole up, didn't ya?

Bill: You know, as bad as those things are, at least they're predictable. It's the normal people that scare me. [Shuts the gate behind them] You of all people should understand that.

Ellie: What does that mean?

Joel: Nothin'. [They start ascending the stairs to the church.] You sure that gate's gonna hold 'em?

Bill: Well, I locked it. They don't have a key.

Joel: [They come to the church's backyard.] So, which way?

Bill: We're here. It's in the cellar. [Joel opens the cellar door] All right, down here.

[The cinematic "Let's get on with it" begins with Bill leading Ellie and Joel down the steps to the church's basem*nt.]

Bill: Well, here we are. [Turns to Ellie] You. Don't touch anything. [Ellie shrugs. To Joel] And you close the door.

[Joel complies and closes the cellar doors. They walk into the dark basem*nt as Bill lights a nearby lamp.]

Bill: Let's gear up.

Joel: [Follows Bill, but stops Ellie.] Uh-uh.

Ellie: What? I need a gun.

Joel: No you don't.

Ellie: Joel, [Softly] I can handle myself.

Joel: No. Just… stay here [Walks away]

Ellie: [Scoffs] Fine. I'll just wait around for you two to get me killed.

Bill: [Opens a container and takes out a shotgun.] Well this goes on record as the worst f*cking job you've ever taken.

Joel: Yeah, it's up there.

Bill: [Shuts container and stands up] How in the hell is Tess okay with this suicide mission?

Joel: It's actually her idea.

Bill: [Places shotgun on counter. Surprised] Really? Well, then the broad's not as smart as I thought she was. [Joel looks to the side] But… f*ck her. [Puts a bucket on the table] Seriously, you gotta take that kid back to where ya found her.

Joel: [Rests on counter] Bill, I can't just take her back.

Bill: Then send her packing, let her find her own way. Look, let me tell you a story. [Loads shotgun] Once upon a time, I had somebody that I cared about. [Pauses. Joel looks at him.] It was a partner. Somebody I had to look after. [Pumps the shotgun and drops it on the counter] And in this world, that sort of sh*t's good for one thing: gettin' ya killed. [Grabs another shotgun] So, you know what I did? I wisened the f*ck up. And I realized it's gotta be just me.

Joel: [Looks away. Hesitantly] Bill, it ain't… it ain't like that. It's—

Bill: Bullsh*t. It is just like that— [Pauses. Looks off into the distance] Hey! [The camera cuts to Ellie touching his belongings.] What did I say to you when we walked down the steps? [Ellie hesitates] What'd I say?!

Ellie: [Stops touching] I'm just fixing your stupid pile!

Bill: [Sternly] Don't. Touch!

[Ellie scoffs and gives Bill the middle finger.]

Bill: Goddammit. [To Joel] You keep babysitting long enough and eventually it's gonna blow up in your face.

Joel: Bill. [Stands up and faces him] Can we please just get on with it?

Bill: [Loads final shell] Here. [Tosses shotgun to Joel] Let's get on with it!

[Bill picks up his own shotgun and pumps it. The cinematic "Let's get on with it" ends.]

Graveyard[]

[Joel inspects his newly-acquired shotgun.]

Bill: All right, before we go any further, I got somethin' I gotta show you.

Joel: Whatcha got?

Bill: New toy from the toy box. [He approaches a table, Joel follows.] This… is a nail bomb. [Sets it on the table and steps away.] You gotta be really careful. This thing blows, it shreds anybody standing nearby.

Joel: Yeah, I've seen your handiwork.

Bill: Pretty good, huh?

[Joel picks up the nail bomb and inspects it. A tutorial appears onscreen, teaching the player how to use them. Joel stores the bomb in his backpack.]

Joel: So we got shotguns and bombs. What the hell are we doing with 'em?

Bill: Well, every few weeks this military caravan rides through town. I assume they're out looking for supplies. I mean, you'd be amazed at the sh*t they overlook. Anyway. Few months back, they were rolling through and they get overrun by this horde of infected. They were all over the truck. It plows right into the side of the high school. Still sitting there with the battery in it.

Joel: So we take that battery and put it in another car.

Bill: Bingo. I wanted to get it, but it seemed too dangerous with all the infected on that part of town. But, f*ck it… Joel needs a car.

Joel: What if it's damaged?

Bill: Nah. Those trucks are like tanks. It's just sittin' there.

Joel: Actually might work.

[Bill and Joel walk over to Ellie, still looking at Bill's magazines.]

Bill: Kid, I swear to God… if you took anything—

Ellie: Hey, man. I don't need any of your sh*t. Trust me.

Bill: Joel, you are keeping an eye on her, right?

Joel: Like a hawk.

[Bill leads the group upstairs and into the church's nave. Joel and Ellie look around.]

Ellie: Wow.

Joel: Nice place you got here.

Bill: Well, if you got anything to confess, this'd be the place to do it.

[Joel spots the church's vestry near the altar and enters. Inside are two mattresses and supplies.]

Bill: That's not the confessional booth, that's my room.

Joel: All right, I'm not touchin' anything. Just…

[Joel exits the room and meets Bill at the window exit.]

Bill: All right… time to sack up. [He opens the window and climbs out. Joel follows.]

Joel: Ellie, c'mon.

[They climb outside onto a roof overlooking the nearby graveyard. Bill points into the distance.]

Bill: Look. [The camera cuts to the school.] There's the school.

Joel: All right.

Bill: Ready? [The camera cuts back.]

Joel: Guess we'll find out.

[They jump down to ground level and start walking towards the graveyard's gate. Ellie approaches a pile of burning infected corpses.]

Ellie: Oh, man.

Joel: Yeah, c'mon, you don't need to be lookin' at that.

Ellie: [Scoffs] I've seen worse.

Joel: All right then.

Bill: Let's get a move on.

[The duo joins Bill at graveyard's entrance.]

Bill: Past this gate, it's all new territory to me.

Joel: I'm on it.

[They enter the graveyard. They hear clicking coming from the area ahead.]

Ellie: Hey, hey. You guys hear that?

Joel: Keep quiet.

[They enter the next area where many clickers wander. The trio either sneaks past or kills the infected. If the player opts to kill all the clickers, it triggers the following.]

Joel: I think that's it.

Ellie: Good job.

Joel: We ain't in the clear yet.

[They reach a locked gate at the end of the graveyard. Joel tries to open it.]

Joel: Ah, sh*t. Locked.

Bill: Hold up. I got a key for that gate. [He unlocks the gate and peeks around the corner.] I suggest we move quietly.

[They enter an alley leading to a residential neighborhood. Several infected lurk in the area.]

Joel: Easy, easy. [They turn onto the street, where another runner stands.] You weren't kiddin' about this place, were ya?

[They make their way to the end of the street, which is blocked by a large truck.]

Bill: Street's blocked. Back up. Let's go through those backyards.

[Joel and Bill choose to either sneak past or kill the infected in the area. If they kill a pack of infected, Ellie will comment.]

Ellie: If you guys would give me a gun, I could help you kill some of these f*ckers!

Bill: [Quietly] Shut up. Just shut up.

[After cutting through the backyards, they enter a garage on the other end of the street. Joel goes to open the side door.]

Joel: This way. [He tries to open the door, but it's tied shut.] It's tied on the other side.

Ellie: What about going through here?

Bill: What, the doggy door?

[Joel pries the plank off the lower flap.]

Joel: Be very careful.

Ellie: Of course. [She crawls through.]

Bill: Maybe you should've given her a gun.

Joel: Okay, Bill.

Ellie: [Unlocks the door and opens it] There's more of those clicker things inside the house.

Joel: [Mutters] Oh, sh*t. [They approach the house.] They ain't seen us yet. Just stay down.

Ellie: Careful.

[They make it through the house and out the other side.]

Bill: All right, c'mon, let's get up. On the RV and over. We should be clear.

[They climb onto the RV and cross a plank into a treehouse.]

Ellie: Who the hell left this here? You got friends in town?

Bill: No. Although I have got idea who mighta come through here. School's on the other side of this house. Let's get inside.

Joel: C'mon, Ellie. [They drop out of the treehouse and into another backyard.] All right, I think we're good.

Bill: For now. Goddamn those things. Nobody's bitten, right?

Ellie: Nope. I'm good.

Joel: We're all fine. Let's just keep going.

[They enter the house and rummage for supplies. Joel goes upstairs and enters a child's bedroom. Ellie follows him.]

Ellie: Hey, you got a second?

[The player is given the choice to respond, triggering the eleventh optional conversation of the game.]

Joel: Yeah?

Ellie: I… I just want to say, I'm sorry. About Tess. That's it. I won't bring it up again.

Joel: Ellie, you don't need to worry about me. We should go check on Bill.

Ellie: Okay.

[Joel and Ellie return downstairs to find Bill by the door to the garage.]

Bill: [Calling out] Hey, Joel!

Joel: Yeah? [He joins Bill in the garage.]

Bill: Gimme a hand with this.

[They both raise the garage door and the trio takes cover behind a car overlooking the Lincoln High School. A large sum of runners roam the parking lot.]

Bill: What'd I tell ya. There's that truck, [Points at it] sticking outta the school right there. C'mon. There's a bunch of 'em up there, so try not to make a sound.

[They start sneaking their way through the parking lot. As they pass between two buses, the runners become aware of the group's presence and attacks them.]

Joel: Ellie, run! Run!

Ellie: Oh, they're coming from everywhere!

Joel: Christ!

[They defend themselves against the horde of incoming runners, killing them all.]

Bill: Well, that was easier than I thought it'd be. They must be holed up somewhere else.

Joel: Well, let's not test our luck. How do we get inside? [They briefly look around.]

Ellie: Someone left a ladder on the bus. Here, get me up there and I'll drop it to you.

[The player is prompted to press to focus on the ladder. Joel boosts Ellie on top of the school bus.]

Bill: Don't get killed up there.

Ellie: Thanks, Bill.

[Ellie drops the ladder down. Bill and Joel use it to climb up.]

Bill: We're okay. We just need to get to the hood of the truck. [They drop down the other side of the bus and hear an incoming swarm of infected in the distance.] sh*t. You hear that? They're coming. Move it, kid! [They start running.] All right, we're gonna get in quick. We're gonna get the battery. We're gonna get the hell outta here.

[Bill and Joel run towards the main doors and tries to open them. Ellie notices the horde of infected beginning to run towards the fence.]

Ellie: Oh, f*ck. They're piling on this fence over here. [Pauses] It's not gonna hold!

Bill: [If Bill tries to open the door first] The door's locked!

Joel: [If the player tries to open it first.] Goddammit. They're locked!

[They run around to the side of the school. There, they find a nearby window. Joel runs to the window and opens it.]

Joel: Go, go, go, you two! Go! [They climb through and Joel follows.]

[Or, if the player takes too long to find the window, Bill will approach it instead.]

Bill: We have to get inside to get the battery! [He approaches the window.]

Joel: Come on, Bill!

Bill: [He opens it] I got it—window's open! Hurry! [He climbs in and Ellie follows.]

Ellie: [If the player waits a moment] Joel! We got a way in! [Pauses] This way!

[The cinematic "It's empty" begins. Just as Joel goes to follow them through the window, a clicker jumps on his back.]

Ellie: Joel!

Joel: sh*t.

Bill: All right, come on!

[Bill grabs Joel and pulls him through the window, then kills the clicker with his shotgun.]

Ellie: sh*t! [She closes the window.] That's not gonna hold.

Joel: Bill, make it fast! [The infected start banging on the main doors. To Ellie] Grab this.

[The two barricade the main doors with a metal shelf and hold it in place as Bill attempts to open the truck's hood.]

Joel: [Struggling] Please tell me you're done!

Bill: [Uses his shotgun to break open the hood. He looks inside] It's empty.

Joel: What?! [He moves to the truck, seeing it is empty.]

Bill: It's f*ckin' empty!

Ellie: Guys! [Continues to hold back the barricade.]

Joel: Bill, where to?

Bill: Uh.

Joel: [Shouting] Bill, where?!

Bill: Anywhere but here.

[Joel runs to Ellie and pulls her from the door.]

Joel: Get ready to haul ass. C'mon.

[They duo runs offscreen. The cinematic "It's empty" ends.]

High School Escape[]

[The trio runs through a pair of doors leading into the main school. The infected break through the barricaded door behind them.]

Bill: They've broken through!

[The horde of infected come rushing towards them but they manage to close the door. The player now resumes control of Joel.]

Bill: Let's, um… We'll sneak out the back.

Joel: You two, follow me. I'll get us outta here.

Bill: Be my guest.

[Joel leads Bill and Ellie through the school corridors, where several infected roam. They kill the group of infected.]

Bill: Down the hall. I bet we can cut through those classrooms.]

[They enter a science classroom. A clicker and several runners enter the room from the opposite side.]

Bill: There's a way through. We gotta make it past these guys.

[They make it past the infected and enter another corridor, where more runners are roaming.]

Joel: Looks like there's a path down this hallway.

[They kill the group of runners and reach the end of the hallway. Joel attempts to open a set of doors blocked on the other side.]

Joel: [To Bill] Help me open this. [Bill complies and stands next to him.]

Bill: All right. Ready? [They start pushing] One more time.

[The doors open. The trio run inside to enter a gymnasium.]

Joel: C'mon.

Bill: sh*t. There's more on the way. Barricade the doors.

[Joel pushes the barricade back to the door.]

Joel: This ain't gonna hold them for long.

[They hear a loud cry at the other end of the gym.]

Joel: That doesn't sound good.

[A large, grotesque infected, dubbed a bloater, bursts through the doors of the equipment room.]

Joel: Oh, no…

Ellie: What the f*ck is that?

Bill: It's a goddamn bloater!

Ellie: A what?

Joel: Ellie, take cover. I got this.

[Meanwhile, more infected attack them from different angles. The bloater throws its spore bombs at the group.]

Ellie: What the f*ck is it throwing at us?

Joel: Ellie, just stay away from it!

[Joel looks up at an open window by the stacked bleachers, continuing to fight off the infected.]

Joel: We gotta get up there!

Bill: We can't climb those bleachers with all the infected around!

[In time, Joel and Bill kill the bloater and surrounding infected.]

Joel: There.

Ellie: Ah, geez… What was up with that big guy?

Joel: He's been infected for a long time. We call them bloaters.

Ellie: Bloater… Okay. Got it.

Bill: I hate to interrupt your little biology lesson, but can we get the f*ck outta here? Please? Let's get on top of these bleachers. Gimme a boost, Joel.

[Joel prepares to boost Bill up onto the bleachers.]

Bill: Let's go, people.

Joel: All right.

Bill: Here we go. [Joel boosts him up. He reaches his hand down for Ellie and pulls her up.] All right, c'mon, c'mon.

[As Bill turns to help Joel, two more runners come jumping down from a gap in the wall. The player is prompted to press to focus on them.]

Bill: Joel, behind ya!

Joel: Son of a bitch!

Ellie: Holy sh*t.

Joel: I got it, I got it!

[Joel kills the two runners but a third one shortly follows.]

Bill: You're down to the last one. Finish it off already!

[Joel defeats the last runner.]

Ellie: Oh, I f*cking hate those things!

Bill: All right, you got 'em. Let's go. Come on up. [He extends his arm down to Joel.]

Joel: Pull me up. [Bill pulls him up.] There.

[They climb through the open window and drop out the backside of the school.]

Bill: This way! [A runner runs towards them. They go through an opening in the nearby fence and into a ditch.] We're sittin' ducks here.

Ellie: There's another ladder over here!

Joel: Keep going! I'm right behind you!

Bill: Hurry, Joel!

[Infected close in on them as they climb the ladder and over the picket fence into another residential area. The cinematic "He was my partner" begins. The trio drop down from the fence with infected banging and shouting on the other side. Bill uses a rake to knock down the ladder.]

Bill: Inside the house. Now!

[They take refuge inside of the nearby house. Bill slides the door shut behind him.]

Ellie: So, that worked out well. [Joel glares at her, anxiously.] Okay, ah, I'll go check out this side of the house. [Exits the room.]

Joel: Bill?

Bill: Somebody had the same idea. They stole my sh*t.

Joel: [Angrily] Well then what the hell is plan B?

Bill: [Irritated] You ought to be thankful you're still drawing breath. That was plan A, B, C, all the way to f*cking Z. And furthermore, tell Tess that she can take this job—

Joel: [Points at Bill and shouts] Don't you bring Tess into this!

Bill: [Shouts over Joel] —she can shove it right up—

Joel: [Even louder] This has nothin' to do with—! [Bill stops and stares behind Joel. Joel turns around to see a hung body. He mutters] Jesus. [Looks at Bill and back at the corpse] What? You know this guy or something? [Walks towards the body.]

Bill: [Somberly] Frank.

Joel: Who the hell's Frank?

Bill: He was my partner. [Joel stares at Bill and looks back at the body. Bill takes out his machete.] And he's the only idiot that would wear a shirt like that. [Cuts the rope, causing the body to fall.] He's got bites… Here. [Points] And… [Snivels.]

Joel: I reckon he didn't want to turn, so he…

Bill: Yeah, I guess not. [Bill realizes Joel is watching him. He recollects himself.] Well f*ck him.

[Suddenly, Joel and Bill both turn their heads to the sound of a car engine revving up. They both run to the garage to see Ellie sitting in the front seat of a pickup truck.]

Ellie: [Looks at Joel and Bill] Look what I found. It's got some juice in it.

Bill: [Walks to the open hood] That's my battery! [Looks at Joel] That f*ckin' asshole. [Slams the hood shut. To Ellie] Get out. [Walks closer. Demanding] Get. Out.

Ellie: Okay, geez. [Climbs out of the driver's seat as Bill replaces her spot.]

Bill: [Attempts to start up the truck] Battery's drained but the cells are alive.

Joel: Meaning?

Bill: [Climbs out] Meaning we push it, get it started and the alternator will recharge the battery. [Walks past]

Joel: [Scoffs] Is that your guess?

Bill: [Turns to Joel] Look, you wanted a "plan B". This is as good as it gets. [Continues walking]

Ellie: [To Joel] What're you thinking?

Joel: I'm thinkin' you drive and we push.

[The cinematic "He was my partner" ends. Ellies climbs into the driver's seat as Bill moves to the corner of the garage, where he finds a duffel bag with several shotguns and ammo stored inside.]

Bill: Jesus… that's more of my stuff. [Stands up and leans against the front of the truck] So what? You just… just gonna steal my sh*t and run off? Is that it, Frank? [To Joel] You should probably search the house. I'm sure there's more supplies.

Joel: That's a good idea.

[Joel walks over to Ellie in the driver's seat, allowing the player to activate the twelfth optional conversation of the game. Joel approaches the window.]

Joel: You gonna be okay with this?

Ellie: Yeah, not a problem.

Joel: You're doin' a good job. I figured you should know that.

Ellie: [Nods] I won't let you down with this.

Joel: All right… [He backs away.]

[Joel exits the garage to search the house for supplies.]

Bill: Let me know when you're ready to finish this thing!

Joel: I'll give you a holler.

[He searches the rest of the house. While searching the room on the opposite end, Joel can find a note by Frank. Once he's done searching, he returns to the garage.]

Bill: Ready?

[They player can choose to deliver Frank's letter to Bill or not. If he does, it activates the thirteenth optional conversation of the game.]

Joel: Bill, I, uh… I found this in there and I… I figured you should have it. [Hands the note to Bill.]

Bill: [Reads it] So that's how you feel. Well, f*ck you too, Frank. [He crumples up the note and throws it to the ground.] f*ckin' idiot. [To Joel] You ready to go?

[Joel moves to the back of the truck. He prepares to start pushing.]

Joel: All right, Bill, let's do it.

Bill: [Opens the garage door. To Ellie] All right, put 'er in first.

Ellie: Already did it.

Bill: [Bill moves to join Joel behind the truck.] Just keep your foot on the clutch and when we get to roll—

Ellie: [Interrupts him] I know how to pop a clutch.

Bill: [Him and Joel start pushing the truck.] How the hell do—? Y'know what, I don't care. Just don't f*ck it up!

Joel: All right, Ellie, get ready… [The truck rolls down the driveway.] Now! Now, hit it. Hit it!

[The pickup rolls into the road before dying. It sits stationary in the street.]

Bill: [Mutters] Perfect. [To Ellie, sarcastically] Hey—good job, kid.

Joel: Bill, not helpin'. Ellie—we're gonna give it another go. Just stay focused!

Bill: Jesus. Just keep turning right. Let's get to the hill at the end of the street. [They keep pushing] Look, if we just make it to the hill. We just get it over the edge…

[A few infected wander from the nearby houses towards the truck. Ellie calls them out.]

Joel: Oh, sh*t. [They kill the incoming infected.]

Bill: All right, we're good. Back to the truck.

[Joel and Bill continue pushing the truck down the road.]

Ellie: We gotta go faster!

Bill: Keep pushing, keep pushing.

[More infected linger towards them from a house on the right. Joel and Bill defeat them.]

Joel: C'mon. We don't have much time. Back to pushing! [They keep pushing the truck.]

Bill: [Struggling] You have really f*cked my day up, you know that, Joel, huh?

[Another wave of infected rush at them, and the two once again defend the truck and kill the enemies.]

Bill: We got a break. We'll get 'er to that hill.

[They return to the truck and push it towards the hill, finally reaching it.]

Joel: All right, Ellie, get ready… [The truck rolls down the hill.] All right, Ellie, start it up!

[Ellie manages to start the truck. A horde of infected suddenly rush out from the surrounding area.]

Joel: You hear that sound, Bill?

Bill: Yeah, well that means the infected hear it, too. Let's get in the f*ckin' truck. [If the player waits a moment] Joel, leave 'em. Let's get outta here! [If they wait even longer] Go, go, go! Jump in the truck.

[Joel and Bill jump into the bed of the truck as infected close in on them.]

Bill: Go, go!

Joel: [Taps on the window] Floor it!

[Ellie accelerates and drives the trio down the road as they outrun the horde of infected chasing them. The scene cuts and the cinematic "He ain't even hurt" begins. Joel and Bill are still sat in the truck bed as Ellie drives through town. The sun sets in the background.]

Bill: [To Ellie] All right, this'll do! [Pounds on the side of the truck] Stop!

[Ellie stops the truck as Bills climbs out. She and Joel look at each other through the rear window.]

Joel: Just keep 'er running, all right? [Ellie gives a thumbs up. Joel stands up.]

Bill: That girl nearly got us killed.

Joel: You gotta admit— [Jumps out] she did hold her own back there.

Bill: [Walks off chuckling] You ain't gonna make it. [Continues walking but stops] Oh, oh, ah… [Bends over and reaches into his bag] Here. [Tosses a siphoning hose.]

Joel: [Catches it] What's this?

Bill: You'd be amazed at how many cars still got gas in 'em.

Joel: Appreciate it. [Inches closer to Bill] Look, Bill, um… about your buddy back there. Uh… That's a tough deal. And I'm, uh… [Pauses]

Bill: We square?

Joel: We're square.

Bill: Then get the f*ck out of my town.

[He looks at Joel momentarily before walking off. Joel watches him leave then turns back to the pickup truck. Walking over to it, the camera pans to the sky, showing lightning and rumbling thunder in the distance. The cinematic "He ain't even hurt" continues in the beginning of the next chapter.]