How it Began (Ep. 1)

It starts like any normal school morning—until it isn’t. When strange reports interrupt the radio and parents begin pulling kids out of class, 7th grader Zack senses something is very wrong. By the time he makes it home, the streets of Maplewood are changing… and Zack may be the only one left inside the Hot Zone. With his dog Scottie by his side and no adults in sight, Zack must figure out what’s happening—and fast. 

Parent Note:
Stay Home Z is a suspenseful adventure story for tweens. While it features zombies and moments of tension, there is no graphic violence or gore. The story focuses on problem-solving, bravery, and friendship. 

Episode 1 Credits:

CAST

Narrator - Jeremy Lipps

Radio DJ - Archie Leach

MUSIC - from freemusicarchive.org

All the Pretty Horses - John Stebbe
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Stebbe/Lullaby_and_Goodnight/lullaby_and_good_night_13_-_john_stebbe_-_all_the_pretty_little_horses/

SOUND EFFECTS  - from freesound.org

Breaking news intro music by humanoide9000
https://freesound.org/people/humanoide9000/sounds/760770/

Toddler laughing (2 years old) by datari (Freesound.com)
https://freesound.org/people/datari/sounds/660407/

Cereal Pour by dj997
https://freesound.org/people/dj997/sounds/493749/

Car - Pulling Away by manychefsbroth
https://freesound.org/people/manychefsbroth/sounds/151876/

Car Arriving Idling and Pulling Away by leonelmail
https://freesound.org/people/leonelmail/sounds/429405/

Car Starting 1 - by theshaggyfreak
https://freesound.org/people/theshaggyfreak/sounds/276272/

Front door open and close by DSISStudios
https://freesound.org/people/DSISStudios/sounds/156001/

old-radio-noise-defective-medium-wave-2 by DrNI

Transcript

Episode 1 - How it Began

“Time to wake up, Zack. School today,” Zack’s mom said gently as she patted his legs through the blanket.

Zack groaned and stretched his body, reaching his arms over his head. He was tired and not excited about another day of school. He fell back asleep.

“Zack!” his mom said sternly. “Get up! It’s time to get ready.”

This time Zack managed to swing his legs over the edge of his bed and put his feet on the floor. Staring at his toes, Zack pondered faking the flu, then he got up and dragged himself downstairs for another day with the bullies, nerds and mean girls of Madison Middle School.

Downstairs, his sister Maggie was already in her high chair eating cereal poured on the tray. She loved Zack and when she saw him come around the corner, tired and unenthusiastic, she wiggled with glee and let out a little shout.

“Hi, Maggie,” he said.

“Good morning Zack, pour some cereal and get eating. We’re late,” his dad said. “We have to leave in 20 minutes.”

Dad had carefully picked out all the marshmallows from Maggie’s Lucky-O’s cereal, so Zack picked a few out of his and gave them to her. She quickly ate the purple and yellow treats and wiggled with joy. On the back of the cereal box was a maze, a pair of kids were being chased by a monster. Zack traced the path through the maze with his eyes.

“That was easy,” he thought to himself. 

Zack’s mom came downstairs and quickly reviewed the day’s schedule, school pickup at 3, flag football at 4, dinner at 6, movie time and bed. “Got it Zack?” Mom confirmed with Zack, ensuring he had some awareness of the day's events.

“Yes, mom,” Zack said.

“And please feed Scottie, bye, love you all!” his mother said as she ran out the door to work.

“Time to go Zack, get dressed and let’s go or you’ll be late,” dad said as he plucked Maggie from her chair to get her ready for daycare.

Upstairs, Zack threw on his school uniform khaki pants and green polo shirt and a pair of all-star shoes. He grabbed his backpack and bounced downstairs toward the front door just as dad and Maggie headed out to the car.

On the way to school Zack’s dad asked a few questions, like if he had any tests that day and reminded Zack to check the office for his latest missing water bottle. “I will,” he said as he noticed the radio host, a morning DJ, make a funny crack about breaking news, monsters on the loose.

“Seems the Northside highway is closed this morning with what people are calling ‘wild people on the loose,’ - sounds like any other Monday morning to me on the highway,” the DJ joked as he played another song.

Dad pulled the car into the school drop off and Zack hopped out. His good friend Rishi was walking past at that moment and they walked toward Miss Sorensen’s classroom together. 

“Did you hear anything weird on the news this morning?” Zack asked.

“No, like what?” Rishi replied.

“Nothing, it’s nothing.” Zack opened the door, entered the classroom and went to his seat.

“Good morning class,” Miss Sorensen said. “I hope everyone is having a great morning. Let’s all open our books to the reading assignment and start with our morning story.” On that note all 25 students opened their books to follow along with Miss Sorensen. Zack loved when Miss Sorensen read to the class, the sound of her gently turning the pages, her soft voice carrying the story’s emotion. 

Just then the classroom door flew open, a parent burst into the class; “Where is Maya?” the woman said in a panic. Right behind her Principal Gallegos came in, “Sandy, you need a form to take Maya out of school.”

“Principal Gallegos, you’ve seen the news, I’m taking Maya home now,” the mother said.

Maya popped up from her desk, grabbed her backpack and left with her mom. Principal Gallegos stood there awkwardly for a moment and as he was about to speak the school secretary came on the loudspeaker: 

“Due to an order from the mayor school is cancelled and parents have been notified to come pick up their students. Please remain in your classrooms until you are called for pick up.”

All the kids cheered. 

Principal Gallegos left in a hurry and Miss Sorensen calmed the kids and continued reading, despite her mounting nervousness. “Where were we… oh yes, Paul Revere mounted his horse…” she said as she picked up the story again.

Zack remembered the radio DJ mentioning the wild people on the highway. He got a little nervous. 

Zack was hoping his mom or dad would come through the door next. Instead Edwin’s dad came, grabbed him without a word and left. Just as Miss Sorensen stood up to stop Edwin from leaving, the phone rang. She answered and the voice asked her to send Cassie, Gwen and Marcos to the office for pick up. Miss Sorensen looked flustered, scared even.

The door flew open again and this time it was Zack’s dad, “Let’s get home, Zack!” Without wasting a moment Zack was up, had his backpack and ran to his dad. 

“Bye Zack,” Miss Sorensen said, as Zack and his dad rushed out the door. “Stay safe,” she added, realizing something bigger than school was happening.

Zack and his dad rushed to the car and hopped in, the engine started and off they went toward Zack’s house. His dad started talking about what had to get done, he was talking very fast.

“I’m taking you home first, Zack. Our house is on the way to Maggie’s daycare and I don’t want you out with me. I’ll be 15 minutes. Mom is in the big city and she’s trying to get home on the train right now, but it’s not running. I may have to drive and get her.”

“What’s happening, dad?” Zack said, trying to understand all the adults' panicked behavior.

“We’re gonna be fine. Everything is fine, I’m going to grab Maggie, and see if I can get a hold of mom, okay?”

Their car pulled into the driveway and Zack got out and went around to the driver side window.

“Dad, when will you be back?”

“Fifteen minutes. I’m going to Maggie’s daycare and coming right back,” his dad replied.

“I’m scared, dad.”

“Everything’s fine, see? And Scottie’s here, too. She can keep you safe. I need you to be brave, ok?”

“Yeah. I’m ok. I’ve got this. Fifteen minutes. Hurry home, dad.”

“You’re a brave kid, you hear me? Don’t open the door for anyone. Now stay home, Z.”

The door shut and Zack was… alone.

Thank you for listening to episode 1, In episode 2, Zack is alone and scared, but he will have to find courage with a little help from his video game hero, Jimbo Rains.