It's been two days, hasn't it.
Yes sir - he hasn't moved
a muscle in two days.
Strange, isn't it.
That depends a good deal
on the man.
Has he had any offers?
Well, some of the Bethel commune
from across town
came to talk to him.
We need that man.
I'll have to talk with him.
Well, we can holler to him
and tell him to come over.
He'd never hear.
Get a few men together.
You are going to
leave the compound?
If you know a way to get there
without leaving the compound
I'd be happy to consider it.
String beans are coming
along here.
Yes, sir.
But being as dead as they were
I think they're coming
back real fine.
Good stock
Good stock
Yeah - what do you want?
The Baron wants some men
to go with him
to the library
No
What for?
Trying to recruit a new man.
Fighter?
Looks like it.
God knows we could use one
I'm going to talk to the man
at the library.
Be carefull
I hope he's the man
you've been looking for.
So, you can hear me.
What's your name?
I assume you're for hire...
...or you wouldn't be standing here.
Well, I'm called the Baron.
The people of the commune
took to using the term.
Whether it's said in respect
is unknown to me.
What I'm telling you is the
simple fact
that we are not searching out
to destroy.
We do not covet the lives
or goods of any people
We have a good and lasting supply
of fresh water.
And, uh, we grow our own
vegetables.
As our man, you are entitled to
more than the others.
Three adult allotments
of food and water
each meal
I don't know what your
sexual requirements might be, but
anything of that sort will have to be
worked out on your own
Your room will be dry...
...and free of rats.
If you smoke, I have a
large cache of cigars.
I believe that to be
the extent of my offer.
Well, I can only think
that your answer is no.
If you should reconsider,
our compound is two city blocks away
in the direction you are facing.
You'll see the barricade.
Help him, will you.
I'll show you the way.
Carrot!
Baron's place.
Ah, the fighter joined up
with him.
Now why do you figure
the Baron needs him?
He's got all the men he needs...
...or can feed.
I want all of you to meet...
Carson
Carson
He saved our lives just now.
Have some of the girls ready
the room above the old
tobacco shop.
When you are settled
I'd like to talk.
Come right in.
Just push that material
off the setee.
You don't flop in a chair.
Most people flop.
I hope your room was dry.
Oh yes, fine...
...and as you said - no rats.
That brings me to something
that I've been wondering about.
My pitch to you out there
in the street...
...what did I say say that
caused you to join us?
Might have been the promise
of extra portions of food.
No?
Well then, eh, maybe the fact
that we don't seek
the goods or lives of others.
No, nothing so noble.
You have a supply of cigars?
You may be kidding me.
It's interesting what becomes
valuable to us
when most everything is taken away.
Twenty five to the box.
And all of them sealed in
aluminum tubes
and as fresh as the day
they were made.
You can have all you want.
I believe I know this.
Hood ornament
My father had one.
It was the last year
the car was made.
He really suffered when he couldn't
get more gasoline to run it.
I don't believe he ever said
another word
Just sat there...
...while his world was
turned off around him.
And then - the epidemics
No hospitals - no medicine
He was one of the first to go -
he and my mother.
Where were you born?
Detroit
Anybody there now?
Mostly empty.
A few groups -
something like this
I haven't been there in quite
a while - I've been moving around
making my way
Not easy.
You have to be quick.
About this contract of ours...
...I don't know how long I can
work my end of it.
You're on your way somewhere.
I have some family living on an
island off the coast of North Carolina
out of the way of killers.
You know - people are beginning
to eat people out there.
I've been hearing stories.
Interesting what you say
about that island.
Does it have a good supply of water?
Enough
It's Robert Gant. I have to
talk to you.
Is it true there isn't any
powdered milk?
Not none, but not much.
We're worried about
the baby
My wife said she saw Clara take
home some powdered milk today.
Is that true?
Clara got some dried beans.
We put them in one of the
sacks we usually use
for powdered milk.
You want me to go and
talk to Barrie?
It might make it easier.
Beans!
It's what Clara took
home with her.
We put it in one of the
bags we use for milk.
You're lying!
I think they're telling
the truth.
You'd let your own child starve,
wouldn't you.
No, that's not true!
There's powdered milk down in
that old bakery...
...stored up in there.
Nobody knows that.
It's been checked out.
Not really - not completely.
It's always been just a rumor.
It's just down the block -
please, let's check it out.
No
You coward!
These seeds...
...are the entire output
of cultivation.
Every bit of it - I count them
every night.
I can get a lot more.
They'll multiply if we can
find someplace to spread out.
More land
Will you leave your garden...
...start up somewhere else?
I don't want to go...
...but I will...
...If we can find someplace safe
enough for this.
You worked another miracle.
God knows, that's the least
anybody can say.
It's that man that was
at the library.
That's Carrot.
He's always there...
...always waiting
He looks very sure
of himself.
Lots of years since I've seen
things growing like this.
It's Cal's doing.
You think it's smart to climb four
flights in your condition?
I know what I'm capable of.
I came here to say hello.
Hello
The man they call Carrot...
...I saw him
through your bioculars.
We introduced ourselves.
He's tough.
Good organizer
He can call on 30 or 40 men
if he has to.
Should be able to take you over...
...wipe you out.
Obviously - but I don't think he knows
how few people we have left.
He'd like to have our well.
You know - looking at your people,
I get a feeling they figure
they won't last very long.
There's a certain fatalism.
They look to me for salvation.
There will be none.
You see, we've been
doing something here
Well, I say "we"
- it's Cal actually.
He's the man on the roof.
Look - there are other communes
but none has a Cal,
that I have heard about
He's a genius
with things that grow - seeds.
Hybred seeds
So far just odd crops...
...squash, cucumbers,
soybeans, stringbeans...
...and now, Cal believes, tomatos.
The crops are resistant to all the diseases
that wiped out cultivated growth
during the plague.
You're going to give up
on this place.
You got me in here
just to delay the end.
I've been looking for a man...
...who would combine
several attributes.
You are a fighter.
But more important -
I see in you an instinct
for survival.
You seem to make all the correct
moves - intuitively.
A few people are going to be leaving.
Cal, for one.
And I'm asking you to lead them.
Where?
An island I've heard about.
No, we wouldn't hurt any of
the people living there.
But we've got something we
could give to them.
Who else would be going?
You've probably seen the
pregnant girl, Melinda.
She's my daughter.
She carries my grandson.
Or granddaughter.
Have you seen Barrie?
She's not in her room.
Your wife went out
about an hour ago.
Went out?
Did she have the baby?
Yeah, she wasn't going to stop
for anybody.
Take it up! Take it up!
Barrie!
I heard a sound, so I hid.
Where's the baby?
Where's the baby?!
Take him out of there.
We've got to go back.
No! No!
I know where the milk is!
Let go of me!
I'I do it myself!
If I help you, will you leave?
Yes!
We've got to leave.
Even if we don't find any milk,
we won't keep looking.
We've got to take the
baby and go!
I promise!
There's no mistake, Baron
someone's been stealing
from the garden.
And Cal told you this?
I looked for myself -
it was the tomatos.
It had to be one
of our own people.
You could see where he stood.
He really broke up
the plants, too.
Well, start looking around,
will you.
Make a quiet search.
Yes, sir.
Okay!
I knew it, didn't I tell you?
Let's go.
You stay away from there!
Stay away from there!
Let go!
Put me down!
Put me down!
I wonder what they were after?
There's a baby.
Good piece of bait.
I must assume that they're dead.
You'd be quicker to ask me
to go out there and get that baby
if you weren't worried that I'd
get myself killed off.
There'd be no way to get your
grandson out of here.
Those people outside are
waiting for me to go.
I've been getting two extra
portions at every meal.
They'll want me to perform.
(baby crying)
(crying stops)
It's dead.
Get this thing up there!
Alright - the rest of you outside!
Hey, there he is!
In the alley!
(men shouting)
Hey, there he is!
This way!
Come on!
(whistles)
Here he comes!
They were all dead.
The street we're on is 29th street...
...and one line of the entire
system runs under our street...
...through towns and subways.
In the basement of this building
there is a trap door
that goes down into a chamber
where fans used to force
fresh air into the tunnel.
I've outlined the tunnels to get you
close to where you'll have to go.
(knock) Yes?
"They're fighting over rations
in the storeroom."
"I think you'd better come."
I'll be there as soon as I can.
How many people know
you have this plan in mind?
Just Melinda, Cal, and us.
You think the others would object?
Yes - they'd feel betrayed.
They would claim what you
were intimating -
- that I was saving my daughter's
neck at their jeopardy.
But I'll tell you this...
...I'd sacrifice any and all
of this compound
just to get Cal's work
somewhere it would flourish.
It's a matter of values, Carson.
(shouting outside)
I'd better tend to this argument.
You look that over.
You don't want me to go along?
No. It'll be political.
No use in your taking sides.
I'll be back as soon as I can.
You've got you own
damn favorites!
Come on - everybody gets
the same!
Your wife has a stock of her own!
She saved out of her
own rations!
Nobody can save!
Stop!
You'd better put it down, Silas.
Come out.
Him and his wife's
been stealing.
If that is true it will be known.
A man better get his
before there's nothing to get.
If you believed someone was stealing,
you should have come to me, Silas.
You've got your own
problems, Baron...
...what with Melinda, and all.
I'm not inaccessible.
You only need knock
on the door.
We wouldn't want to interrupt you
and Carson being holed up so much.
I don't notice where you've
lost much weight.
Get out of here.
I'll find out if his accusation
is true.
I was found in your room.
Somebody put it there,
I swear it! I swear it!
Who did?
I'd tell you, wouldn't I?
If I knew, I'd tell you!
You were seen on the roof.
There were witnesses.
I went up on the roof.
Lots of people go up
on the roof!
Lots of people go up
on the roof!
I went up on the roof!
Is there anyone here who wants
to speak up for him?
Is there anyone here who
should speak up for him?
Give him to the street people.
No!
You're about a month away from
turning out that baby.
Just about precisely.
That'll be a fine day,
that day.
We think we've got
a place to go to.
Yeah, the Baron was telling me
that Carson knows about some place.
Some island, somewheres.
Bet I've heard that story
two dozen times.
Carson's been there -
he's going back to it.
Father's the only thing that's
keeping it all stuck together.
I know, but it has lasted a lot of years.
It's the only home some of
these people have ever had.
Your own will be born here.
Cal - he's worried that you won't
be ready when it's time.
I'll never really be ready.
But I told the Baron I'd go.
No!
It's Cal - on the roof!
Get up to the roof!
Pull up the rope.
And get rid of those planks.
Is Cal alright?
I'll get you to your room.
I said is Cal alright.
Cal is dead.
That farmer had an answer.
I was afraid you lost your
baby last night.
I loved Cal.
I know you did.
I'm not going.
Not going?
It doesn't make sense to me.
You and Carson
take the seeds...
...get them going somewhere.
What do you suppose Cal
would have said to that?
It seems to me he would have said
"Get out of here...
...find a place for my baby."
Some warm tea - drink it.
You think it over.
(knock) Yeah.
You alright Carson?
Sure
Sit down.
If I did it might suggest
that there is time to talk.
There isn't.
Oh - it's that time.
Carrot can smell something here -
- the weakness.
He's probing.
He must know that Cal is dead.
This place is about lost.
You'll have to go today.
Melinda is very upset - she says
she's not going, but
I'll have her ready.
Cal's death changed her mind.
Yes
Will I have to take her
out by force?
She'll be asleep by the time
you get to my room.
She'll sleep for about an hour.
You drugged her?
If she drank her tea, I did.
Come over here - I'll show you.
From my door, you have to go
downstairs to the right.
It leads to the basement.
You know, of course, you'll
have to deliver the baby
somewhere along the way.
I was wondering when
you'd get around to that.
Joe, wake up.
There's somethng
going on.
Why was he going down there?
Carrying one of those packs...
...backpacks.
Are you sure it was the Baron?
Of course.
Okay - I'll take a look.
If it comes to saving one
or the other...
...save the seeds.
She'll come around soon.
I'm going to close it again...
...so you won't be able
to come back.
Good luck, Carson.
How much food did they
take with them, Baron?!
No more than they deserved.
And how much was that?
Only a few tins of meat that
I had stored for a few years.
Two cans of water.
Why'd they leave?!
You must know something
we don't!
No! I'm still here,
am I not?
A good Goddamn that
does anybody!
Your daughter's got Carson!
Well, I'll get another man.
And we'll build the garden again.
Until then, we'll eat the tinned
meat you've got stored away?
Is that what you're saying?
There were only a very few cans.
You'd better go back
to your rooms.
Turning on our own will
only destroy us.
When the day cools,
we'll go up to the roof
and see about the garden.
He sold us! Damn him!
It's open.
Baron, why?
One of the Baron's men just
walked in here.
He says he's quit the commune.
We got ourselves a traitor.
Starting to break up
over there, eh?
He says the fighter
and the Baron's
daughter took off
down below.
They went underground.
You get me the Harkness
brothers and Lippert.
Welcome, friend.
I hear you've got some
news for us.
So close to the heat.
Tell us about the seeds.
They've got seeds.
Tomatos, right?
They took them.
Took the seeds?
Yes, yes
See these men?
They're the best
underground trackers alive.
You tell them - tell them
about the fighter.
Open your eyes and
look at them!
He went into the cellar.
We want him!
The girl - the girl.
The old man's
daughter, right?
She went with him.
Where'd they go in?
Into the basement commune.
That's the end of
the pipe tunnel.
How long ago?
Ten minutes!
You have anything
else to tell us?
No, no
(screams)
The rats are running.
There must be a reason.
Can you walk?
Billy - go get Carrot.
All ready, eh?
Yeah - we got a line
on them.
Go!
They're coming now.
Two of them.
My screaming back there
gave you away, didn't it.
Something like that.
I won't do it again.
There will be more.
Ambush!
Where's my brother?!
He's dead!
This the way?
Yeah, a mile under
the subway.
I know where they'll be.
I'll get ahead of them.
You just keep moving
him along!
Keep it going, Lippert.
Maybe we'll try the street.
It's rusted through.
I'm getting cramps.
It cannot be time yet, can it?
No, not for two
weeks or so.
Can I just rest a
couple minutes?
The Baron...
...that man is more than
I can believe.
Now, don't you turn out that baby
until we get to the island, right?
I'll try to keep it
where it is.
Are you still mad at us?
I don't think so.
I guess I just felt safe there.
I suppose Cal thought
it was safe, too.
If you last on the streets
as long as I have...
...and you've seen lots of men die...
...after a while, it becomes like
doing push ups - daily exercise.
But that man dying bothered me.
We have to go down below again.
Pull him down.
I've got to stop - got to.
You can make a little
scream if you want to.
I won't - I won't
You have to tie a knot in it.
(baby crying)
Here's your son.
Thanks
Hurry up! He's in here!
Come back here!
I knew they'd be worthless.
We're gonna go together.
Together!