The Ultimate Warrior

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

1981 Cadillac

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