The Maze Runner

Ava Paige:
I am sure by now you all must be very confused... angry, frightened. I can only assure you that everything that's happened to you... everything we've done to you... it was all done for a reason.

Newt:
Great, we're all bloody inspired.

Minho:
Be careful, don't die.

Ava Paige:
Wicked is good.

Thomas:
Chuck, don't let go!

Chuck:
No sh*t!

Thomas:
We found this. It was inside a Griever.

Newt:
These are the same letters we get in our supplies.

Thomas:
Yeah. Whoever put us here obviously made the Grievers. Now, this is the first real clue, the first anything, you've found in over three years. Right, Minho?

Minho:
Right.

Thomas:
Newt, we gotta go back out there. Who knows where this might lead us.

Gally:
You see what he is trying to do, right? First he breaks our rules, and then he tries to convince us to abandon them totally. The rules are the only thing that have ever held us together. Why now are we questioning that? If Alby was here, you know he'd agree with me. This shank, needs to be punished.

Newt:
You're right. Thomas broke the rules. One night in the Pit and no food.

Gally:
Oh, come on, Newt. One night in the Pit? You think that's gonna stop him from going into the maze?

Newt:
No. And we can't just have non-runners running into the maze whenever they feel like it. So, let's just make this official. Starting from tomorrow you're a Runner.

Gally:
Wow.

Frypan:
Gally...

Gally:
Nah, Fry.

Thomas:
Thanks, Newt.

Chuck:
You saw a Griever?

Thomas:
Yeah, I saw one.

Minho:
He didn't just see it. He killed it.

Newt:
Hell of a first day, Greenie. Here. Put some hair on your chest. [Hands Thomas a glass of unfamiliar liquid]

Thomas:
Oh my God! What is that?

Newt:
I don't even know. It's Gally's recipe. It's a trade secret.

Thomas:
Yeah, well he's still an a**hole.

Newt:
He saved your life today. Trust me, the maze is a dangerous place.

Thomas:
We're trapped here, aren't we?

Newt:
For the moment. But... You see those guys? There, by the fire. [Points to 4 boys by the fire] Those are the Runners. And that guy in the middle there, that's Minho, he's the Keeper of the Runners. Now every morning, when those doors open, they run the maze, mapping it, memorizing it, trying to find a way out.

Thomas:
How long have they been looking?

Newt:
Three years.

Thomas:
And they haven't found anything?

Newt:
Its a lot easier said than done. Listen. [Newt points upward, in the direction of the maze] Hear that? It's the maze, changing. It changes every night.

Thomas:
How is that even possible?

Newt:
You can ask the people who put us in here, if you ever meet the bastards. Listen the truth is... The Runners are the only ones who really know what's out there. They are the strongest and the fastest of us all. And it's a good thing, too... Because if they don't make it back before those doors close... Then they are stuck out there for the night. And no one has ever survived a night in the maze.

Thomas:
What happens to them?

Newt:
Well, we call 'em Grievers. Of course, no one's ever seen one and lived to tell about it. But they're out there.

Gally:
Things are changing. There's no denying that. First Ben gets stung in broad daylight. And then Alby. And now our Greenie here, has taken it upon himself to go into the maze. Which is a clear violation of our rules here.

Frypan:
Yeah... but, he saved Alby's life.

Gally:
Did he? For three years, we have coexisted with these things. And now, you've killed one of them. who knows what that could mean for us.

Newt:
Well, what do you suggest we do?

Gally:
He has to be punished.

Newt:
Minho. You were there with him, what do you think?

Minho:
I think in all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a Griever before. When I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank, stayed behind to help Alby. Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid. But whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a Runner.

Frypan:
A Runner? What? Minho, let's not jump the gun, here, all right? All right?

Chuck:
Thomas! Thomas! Thomas! Thomas...

Gally:
Look, if you want to throw the newbie a parade, that's fine. Go ahead. But if there is one thing I know about the maze, it is that you do not... [Alarm Sounds]

Frypan:
Newt, what do you see?

Newt:
It's a girl. I think she's dead.

Gally:
What's in her hand?

Newt:
[Newt takes note from Teresa's hand] "She's the last one... ever." What the hell does that mean?

Teresa:
[Wakes up, gasping] Thomas...!

Thomas:
But why would Alby go into the maze? I mean, he's not a runner.

Newt:
[while chopping a tree by its roots] Things are different now. Alby went to retrace Ben's footsteps before sundown. Are you gonna help?

Thomas:
Okay, so he's gonna go back to where Ben was just stung, and...

Newt:
Alby knows what he's doing, all right? He knows better than any of us.

Thomas:
What does that mean?

Newt:
Well, it's like you've heard, yeah? Every month, the Box sends up a new arrival. But someone had to be first, right? Someone had to have spent a whole month in the Glade, alone. That was Alby. I mean, it can't have been easy. But when those other boys started coming up, one after the other, he saw the truth. And he learned that the most important thing is that we all have each other. Because we're all in this together.

Thomas:
This place... It's not what we thought it was. It's not a prison, it's a test. It all started when we were kids. They'd give us these challenges. They were experimenting on us. And then people started disappearing. Every month, one after the other, like clockwork.

Newt:
They were sending them up into the maze.

Thomas:
Yeah, but not all of us.

Newt:
What do you mean?

Thomas:
Guys, I'm one of them. The people who put us here, I worked with them. I-I watched you guys for years. The entire time you've been here, I... I was on the other side of it. [looking at Teresa] And so were you.

Teresa:
What?

Thomas:
Teresa, we did this to them.

Teresa:
No... That can't be true.

Thomas:
It is. I saw it.

Teresa:
Why would they send us up if we were with them?

Thomas:
It doesn't matter.

Newt:
He's right. It doesn't matter. Any of it. Because the people we were before the maze, they don't even exist anymore. These Creators took care of that. But what does matter is who we are now, and what we do, right now. You went into the maze and you found a way out.

Thomas:
Yeah, but if I hadn't, Alby would still be alive.

Newt:
Maybe. But I know that if he were here, he would be telling you the exact same thing. Pick your ass up and finish what you've started. Because if we do nothing, then that means Alby died for nothing, and I can't have that.

Thomas:
[to Gally] You don't have to come with us, but we are leaving. Anyone else who wants to come, now is your last chance!

Gally:
Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you. All right?

Thomas:
No, I'm not trying to scare you. You're already scared. All right? I'm scared. But I'd rather risk my life out there than spending the rest of it in here. We don't belong here. This place isn't our home. We were put here. We were trapped here. At least out there, we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that.

Ava Paige:
Hello. My name is Doctor Ava Paige. I'm Director of Operations of the World Catastrophe Killzone Department. If you're watching this, that means you've successfully completed the Maze Trials. I wish I could be there in person to congratulate you, but circumstances seem to have prevented it. I'm sure by now, you must all be very confused, angry, frightened. I can only assure you that everything that's happened to you, everything we've done to you, it was all done for a reason. You won't remember, but the sun has scorched our world. Billions of lives lost fire, famine, suffering on a global scale. The fallout was unimaginable. What came after was worse. We called it the Flare. A deadly virus that attacks the brain. It is violent, unpredictable, incurable. Or so we thought. In time, a new generation emerged that could survive the virus. Suddenly, there was a reason to hope for a cure. But finding it would not be easy. The young would have to be tested, even sacrificed, inside harsh environments, where their brain activity could be studied. All in an effort to understand what makes them different, what makes you different. You may not realize it, but you're very important. Unfortunately, your trials have only just begun. As you'll no doubt soon discover, not everyone agrees with our methods. Progress is slow, people are scared. It may be too late for us, for me, but not for you. The outside world awaits. Remember... Wicked is good.

[last lines]

Ava Paige:
Well... I think it's safe to say the Maze Trials were a complete success. I wasn't expecting so many survivors, but the more the merrier. Thomas continues to surprise and impress. And for now, they seem to have taken the bait. It's too soon to say, but they could be the key to everything. So let's move forward. It's time now to begin Phase Two.

Alby:
My name is Alby. Can you tell me anything about yourself, who you are, where you came from? Anything at all. [Thomas is visibly confused and distressed; he looks around distractedly, rubbing his hands together and giving no response] Can you tell me your name?

Thomas:
[Visibly frightened] I... I can't remember anything. Why can't I remember anything?

Alby:
Hey, relax. Relax. It's normal. Happens to us all. You get your name back in a day or two. It's the one thing they let us keep.

Thomas:
What is this place?

Alby:
[Holding his hand out] Let me show you.

Newt:
You hear that? That's the Maze, changing. Changes every night.

Thomas:
How is that even possible?

Newt:
You can ask the people that put us in here if you ever meet the bastards! Listen, the truth is, the Runners are the only ones that really know what's out there. They're the strongest and the fastest of us all, and it's a good thing, too, 'cause if they don't make it back before those doors close, then they're stuck out there for the night. And no one's ever survived a night in the Maze.

Thomas:
What happens to 'em?

Newt:
Well, we call 'em Grievers. Of course, no one's ever seen one and lived to tell about it. But they're out there.

[Thomas has run into the Maze as Minho, Keeper of the Runners, struggled to make it back with an unconscious Alby before the doors of the Maze close for the night. Not even a second after he makes it to Minho the doors slam shut behind him.]

Minho:
Good job. You just killed yourself.

Thomas:
W-what?

[Thomas examines Alby, who has various cuts and a bruise on his forehead]

Thomas:
What happened to him?

Minho:
What does it look like? He got stung.

Thomas:
What happened to his head?

Minho:
I did what I had to do.

[An unearthly screech echoes through the Maze; Minho gets up and starts moving away.]

Thomas:
Alright, help me get him up.

Minho:
We gotta go. The Maze is already changing.

Thomas:
Hey, Minho! [Minho looks back at him] We can't just leave him here.

[Later, as Minho and Thomas are dragging Alby through the Maze, another eerie screech is heard in the distance. Minho puts Alby down against a wall and goes to leave.]

Minho:
This ain't working. We gotta go. We gotta go!

Thomas:
Wait, wait, what're you talking about? We gotta do something, we gotta hide him!

Minho:
Where?

Thomas:
I don't know– Minho, just think. Are you telling me there's not a single place we can take him?

Minho:
[Growls angrily and grabs Thomas] Listen to me, shuck-face. Alright? Take a look around! There's nowhere to go! [There are more screeches and wails in the distance; Minho stands and looks towards the noises] You don't get it. We're already dead.

[Gally arrives to escort Thomas to the Pit, a set of separate holes dug in the ground and covered by a wood shelter and bamboo cage doors, and lock him in for the night.]

Thomas:
Hey, what is your problem with me?

Gally:
Everything started going wrong the minute you showed up. First Ben, then Alby, and now the girl. Everybody saw she recognized you. And I'm betting you know who she is.

[Thomas goes into the Pit and Gally fastens the ropes that "lock" the Pit shut.]

Thomas:
Gally, you know we can't stay here forever, right?

[Gally looks expressionlessly at Thomas, picks up his torch and leaves. Later, a torchlight comes into view as someone approaches the Pit.]

Thomas:
Who's there?

Chuck:
It's just me.

Thomas:
Sorry, Chuck.

Chuck:
[Handing a water bottle and food down] Here. You'll run better on a full stomach.

Thomas:
Thanks, Chuck. [Noticing the object in Chuck's hand] Hey, what've you got there? [Chuck shows it to Thomas; it's a small carved stone figure] Oh, that came out pretty damn good. What's that from?

Chuck:
It's from my parents.

Thomas:
Do you remember your parents?

Chuck:
No. well, I mean, I know I must have them. And wherever they are, I'm sure they miss me. But I can't miss them back because I don't remember them. [Looks out towards the walls of the Maze] What do you think you're gonna find out there tomorrow?

Thomas:
I don't know. But if there's a way out, Chuck, me and Minho are gonna find it.

Chuck:
Here. [Hands Thomas his figurine]

Thomas:
Chuck, why would you give this to me?

Chuck:
Can't remember them anyway. But maybe if you can find a way out you can give it to them for me. [Gets up to leave] Well, get you some sleep.

Thomas:
Hey, Chuck? Come here. [Chuck comes back] Hold out your hand. [Chuck does; Thomas presses the figurine back into his hand] I want you to give that to them yourself. We're gonna get out of here. All of us. Okay? I promise.

[Gally comes striding out of the smoke as the Gladers' gardens burn after a mass-attack by the Grievers, the first time they have openly attacked the Glade at night; Alby was taken in the attack and many others are missing.]

Thomas:
Gally. . . .

[Gally punches Thomas hard, knocking him down and causing shouts of protest to break out]

Gally:
This is all you, Thomas! Huh? Look around!

[Several Gladers restrain Gally and start pulling him away]

Minho:
Back off, Gally! It's not Thomas's fault!

Gally:
You heard what Alby said! He's one of them!

Newt:
One of who?!

Gally:
He's one of them, and they sent him here, to destroy everything, AND NOW HE HAS! Look around, Thomas! Look around! This is your fault! He's one of them, and they sent him here to destroy everything that we've built!

[Gally continues to fight the boys holding onto him, shouting furiously at Thomas, but the Gladers manage to move him farther away.]

Thomas:
What if he's right?

Teresa:
Thomas?

Thomas:
I need to remember, Teresa.

[Before anyone nearby can stop him, Thomas rams the Griever stinger he is holding into his leg; the venom makes him collapse almost instantly.]

Teresa:
Chuck, get the other syringe!

[In the WCKD labs, after watching Dr. Ava Paige in the recorded video]

Chuck:
Is it over?

Newt:
She said we were important. What're we supposed to do now?

Thomas:
I don't know... let's get outta here.

[The surviving Gladers all start for the hallway that leads outside, but halt suddenly.]

Gally:
No.

Thomas:
Gally? [Starts forward, but Teresa holds him back]

Teresa:
Don't. He's been stung.

[Gally has, in fact, been stung by a Griever, he holds a pistol in his right hand.]

Gally:
We can't leave.

Thomas:
We did. Gally, we're out. We're free.

Gally:
Free? You think we're free out there? No, no, there's no escape from this place. [He raises the pistol and aims at Thomas]

Thomas:
Gally, listen to me. You're not thinking straight. You're not. Now, we can help you.

[Minho silently grips a spear, looking at Gally and getting ready to throw it into his heart]

Thomas:
Just put down the gun.

Gally:
I belong to the Maze.

Thomas:
Just put down the gun.

Gally:
We all do.

Gally:
[Hops down into the Box and looks at Thomas] Day one, Greenie. [Grabs Thomas by his shirt] Rise and shine. [Pulls Thomas out of the Box and throws him onto the grass]

[The Gladers gather around Thomas. As they look at him, Thomas gets up and runs away from them.]

Zart:
[sarcastic] Hey, we got a Runner!

[Thomas runs, but trips and falls. The Gladers laugh at this, while Gally just stands watching on. Thomas gets up and looks around the Glade.]

[At night, the Gladers throw flamming spears at the base of a large wooden statue. The flamming spears set the statue on fire. The Gladers celebrate. A boy does a series of acrobatic flips. Gally sits with some boys. The Gladers raise their drinks in a toast. Thomas and Newt sit facing the closed door of the Maze.]

Newt:
Hell of a first day, Greenie. Here. [Gives Thomas the drink] Put some hair on your chest.

Thomas:
[Takes the drink from Newt and takes a sip from it, but spits it out] Oh, my God! What is that? [Gives Newt the drink back]

Newt:
[Takes the drink back from Thomas] I don't even know. It's Gally's recipe. It's a trade secret.

[Thomas and Newt turn around and see Gally wrestling another boy.]

Thomas:
Yeah, well, he's still an a**hole.

Newt:
He saved your life today. Trust me, the Maze is a dangerous place.

Alby:
Alright, guys. Let's tuck it in for the night. Come on. It was a good night.

[As the Gladers walk off, Thomas and Frypan shake hands, then Frypan walks off. As Frypan walks off, Thomas looks towards the Maze.]

[Thomas, Newt, and Zart are working in the gardens.]

Thomas:
Has anyone tried climbing to the top?

Newt:
Tried it. The ivy doesn't go all the way to the top. And besides, where are you gonna go from there?

Thomas:
Okay, what about the Box? You know, next time it comes up, we just–

Newt:
No, we tried that. The Box won't go back down with someone in it.

Thomas:
Okay, what if we–

Newt:
No, we tried it, alright? Twice, alright? Trust me, anything you think of, we've already tried. The only way out of here is through the Maze. Now, look, you wanna be helpful? [Picks up a basket with a shovel inside] Here. [Throws Thomas the basket with the shovel inside. Thomas catches it] Go dig us up some more fertilizer.

[Thomas walks off into the woods with the basket and the shovel. As Thomas walks off into the woods, Newt and Zart continue working in the gardens.]

[Thomas and Teresa sit at the edge of the upper platform.]

Teresa:
"She's the last one." What does that mean?

Thomas:
I'm not sure. Ever since you came up, that Box hasn't gone back down. You know, and I just think it's got everyone a little worried. Especially Gally.

[Thomas and Teresa look down and see Gally, with his arms crossed, looking up at the top of the tower.]

Teresa:
He thinks it's my fault.

Thomas:
Are you sure you don't remember anything else?

Teresa:
I remember water, feeling like I was drowning. These faces staring at me. And this voice, this woman's voice saying the same thing over and over.

Thomas:
"WCKD is good." Ever since I've been here, I've had these dreams. Well, I thought they were dreams. You– You were there. You were there, and you told me that everything was gonna change.

Teresa:
What does it mean?

Thomas:
I don't know. I– I just always get pieces.

Teresa:
And the others don't remember anything?

Thomas:
No. Why are we different?

Teresa:
[Takes out two vials of serum] These were in my pocket when I came up. [Give Thomas the two vials of serum]

Thomas:
[Takes the two vials of serum from Teresa and examines them] "W.C.K.D." "WCKD is good."

Teresa:
What if we were sent here for a reason?

Thomas:
[Remembers something] Alby.

[Thomas and Gally are walking to the Pit, a set of separate holes dug in the ground and covered by a wood shelter and bamboo cage doors.]

Thomas:
Hey, what is your problem with me?

Gally:
Everything started going wrong the minute you showed up. First Ben, then Alby, and now the girl. Everybody saw she recognized you. And I'm betting you know who she is.

[Thomas and Gally arrive at the Pit.]

Gally:
Everybody saw she recognized you. And I'm betting you know who she is.

[Thomas and Gally look at each other before Gally opens the door of the Pit. Thomas goes into the Pit and Gally closes the door of the Pit and crouches down to fasten the ropes that "lock" the Pit shut.]

Thomas:
Gally. You know we can't stay here forever, right?

[A group of boys walk to Thomas, Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Winston, and Jeff. Gally turns to another group of boys.]

Thomas:
Gally, it's over. Just come with us.

[Gally stares at Thomas, knowing he has no choice but to let him, Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Winston, Jeff, and a group of boys leave the Maze.]

Gally:
Good luck against the Grievers.

[As Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Winston, Jeff, and a group of boys run out of the Maze, Thomas stares at Gally and another group of boys, before following Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Winston, Jeff, and a group of boys out of the Maze, with Gally and another group of boys watching on.]

Alby:
This is all we got. We've worked hard for it. If you respect this place, you and I will get along just fine. We only have three rules: First, do your part. No time for any freeloaders. Second, never harm another Glader. None of this works unless we have trust. Most importantly, never go beyond those walls. Do you understand me, Greenie?