What if the bikers never came in "Dawn"?

[JDFP]

Every now and again I like to think of a good Romero hypothetical just to posit some thoughts from other people here who enjoy the trilogy as much as I do. One of these I've been considering on a recent watch of "Dawn" is: What if the bikers never came and led to the demise of their little haven? Do you think they would have stayed in the mall for some period of time until they eventually ran out of food? Would they have eventually broken down into near madness in their confined consumer prison like the folks of "Day" did in eventually turning on each other? Could Fran's baby have survived in that place without any baby food or medical care (much less Fran herself in loss of blood and any other complications that could have arisen from having a baby)? Would they have eventually had an idea to flee - and if so, where would they have gone? It was a bleak world out there, death awaited them. Anyway, just posting the thought for some thoughts from others here. j.p.

[kidgloves]

No baby food? Its a mall. They have EVERYTHING. Food of every kind would have been there. They probably would have to eliminate meat from their diet as time passed though. Anyway. I've always thought that Stephen would have grown bored of Fran and gone slightly stir crazy causing Fran to turn to Peter. Shit hits the fan with Stephen like he reacted to the bikers and it ends up with Peter having to dispose of Stephen. It would have to be FUBAR for that to happen but Stephen had some serious issues and was a danger to everyone. Many years down the line they would move on out of necessity and curiosity. THE END

[Mr.G]

They wouldn't leave until all supplies/food were gone which could be years. They had it too good there. Outside or being bored, what else is a concern? They had food, supplies, games, water, ammo and the ability to go outside for fresh air. Perhaps they would do short trips on the helicopter in search of survivors or additional resources. My ass would be very satisified given the reality of being safe.

[dracenstein]

I think Fran and Stephen would, in the end, just ignore each other. But then again, maybe the baby might have brought them together again? Nah, probably not. Peter? I think he would probably would want to eventually move on, but probably wouldn't as he would feel the need to protect Fran and baby. Unless Fran, Peter and baby took the helicopter to new pastures (Fiddler's Green? Matool island?) leaving Stephen to wander the Mall like a zombie.

[Ragnarr]

Every now and again I like to think of a good Romero hypothetical just to posit some thoughts from other people here who enjoy the trilogy as much as I do. One of these I've been considering on a recent watch of "Dawn" is: What if the bikers never came and led to the demise of their little haven? Do you think they would have stayed in the mall for some period of time until they eventually ran out of food? Would they have eventually broken down into near madness in their confined consumer prison like the folks of "Day" did in eventually turning on each other? Could Fran's baby have survived in that place without any baby food or medical care (much less Fran herself in loss of blood and any other complications that could have arisen from having a baby)? Would they have eventually had an idea to flee - and if so, where would they have gone? It was a bleak world out there, death awaited them. Anyway, just posting the thought for some thoughts from others here. j.p. Interesting topic JP. My guess would be that if it wasn't that particular biker group that came by, it would've likely been some other group to come knocking at their glass doors. If their mall was not to be raided at all, then I suppose the three characters would've eventually flown to another mall to begin the process of securing it again. This is of course assuming that they didn't "lose their noodles" and kill each other or themselves by suicide. The baby thing could've been a BIG problem for them. The likely possibility of complications during birth, the baby crying at times that they might need it to be quiet in a bad situation, and dealing with all the illnesses babies tend to have requiring professional help would all serve to make this scenario a nightmare.

[Legion2213]

Hold on, they were loading up the helichopper with supplies before the raiders came anyway, and Fran seemed to think she'd got her own way...I thought they were were all set up to leave before raidergeddon.

[kidgloves]

Hold on, they were loading up the helichopper with supplies before the raiders came anyway, and Fran seemed to think she'd got her own way...I thought they were were all set up to leave before raidergeddon. They were just planning ahead. Thats all

[MissJacksonCA]

If it wasn't the bikers it would've been someone else... it was interesting that it was a rag tag group of bikers that compromised the perceived safety of the mall but really for me it was only a matter of time. To me the mall was made into a safe place but they developed this feeling of complacency where they lived like what was happening outside was happening but that they were kind of safe from it. And in some long-term sense its crippling to have that kind of mindset because you're not living every day with the vigilance required to stay sharp and they developed an unsafe attachment to the mall and the easy access to all the schtuff in the mall. Which obviously (don't mean to spoil anything here but its just assumed I'm not going to) led to the downfall of the group. If it wasn't the bikers it would've been looters who used another means of traveling It would've been slightly more interesting in some way to see a group secretly and quietly attack the obviously occupied mall and have the fab four shocked by a sneak attack. I think the movie would make a great 'historical document' to show the necessity for no one place should serve as any long-term shelter, everyone needs to know how to do everyone elses 'job' so the group isn't crippled by the loss of any of its members, and that they needed to get out more and kill some zombies to stay sharp, alert, and aware of the fact that isht is hitting the fan and they need to place that fact above all pregnancies and desires to nest and lull away the reality that zombies are out there waiting to have dinner.

[childofgilead]

I can definitely see the situation with the three of them becoming explosively hostile in the time ahead. Hell, the scene before the bikers attack is Fran and Stephen having a little bit of a standoff over the television set. But honestly, the whole situation was hopeless. Sure, let's say that the birth goes fine and the baby is ok. Sure, they can feed it for a while, people have been having children the hard way for time immemorial. But the mortality rate was appalling. Anything and everything could have happened. What if the baby died in utero? Would that infect Fran? And that place was no worse or better than anywhere else. They had protection from the undead, that's it. Humans got in just fine. If they were to go somewhere else, they'd have to start over again. With a possibly colicky child and a weakened mother tagging along. No. Honestly, the situation was hopeless the moment we found out she was pregnant. And I think Peter realized that. (I'm not saying that women are weak or that pregnant women can't protect themselves BTW. It's just that after repeated viewings, to me the ending is just as sinister and empty as Day's is)

[bassman]

Hold on, they were loading up the helichopper with supplies before the raiders came anyway, and Fran seemed to think she'd got her own way...I thought they were were all set up to leave before raidergeddon. They were just getting prepared in case they needed to make a quick escape. Same reason Fran wanted to learn to fly. Which was a good plan, because they ended up needing it.... As for no bikers? I agree with others that someone else would've eventually came around looking. It might have been the next day or years down the road, but someone would eventually try to get into that mall. In the mean time, things would have continued to deteriorate for Fran, Peter, and Stephen. As Fran says, "what have we done to ourselves?". They would have eventually gone a bit crazy with cabin fever and either decided to take the chance and leave for greener pastures, or stay and sink deeper into depression and eventually commit suicide.

[Mike70]

In the mean time, things would have continued to deteriorate for Fran, Peter, and Stephen. As Fran says, "what have we done to ourselves?". They would have eventually gone a bit crazy with cabin fever and either decided to take the chance and leave for greener pastures, or stay and sink deeper into depression and eventually commit suicide. i've always thought so too. the longer those 3 remained cooped up there, the more depressed they would've become. isolation has an extremely powerful negative effect on the human psyche. could you really stare at the same two people, day after day, month after month, maybe year after year without going a little crazy? i know i couldn't and i love spending lots of time by myself. the biggest problem is that there would be no place to go for a break, for a moment of sanity. you are trapped like a rat in a cage. Fran was dead-on right: the Mall was more of a prison than it would ever be paradise.

[bassman]

Maybe if they could have waited out the winter it wouldn't have been so hard on their minds. I know I would spend nearly all summer up on the roof of that mall. Sunshine and fresh air can go a long way, imo.

[Mike70]

Maybe if they could have waited out the winter it wouldn't have been so hard on their minds. I know I would spend nearly all summer up on the roof of that mall. Sunshine and fresh air can go a long way, imo. true about the weather but you'd still be trapped on the top of roof with no place else to go. even that would real old after awhile. i'm surprised that they didn't try to find more fuel for the 'copter and then use it to look for other survivors. that would've been one of my first thoughts in that situation: how can we get our hands on a supply of fuel, so we can do enough flying to maybe find some other folks. you could also use it to scout out the area and find places that have lower concentrations of the undead. the possibilities would be endless but they don't really even make an attempt.

[Neil]

true about the weather but you'd still be trapped on the top of roof with no place else to go. even that would real old after awhile. i'm surprised that they didn't try to find more fuel for the 'copter and then use it to look for other survivors. that would've been one of my first thoughts in that situation: how can we get our hands on a supply of fuel, so we can do enough flying to maybe find some other folks. you could also use it to scout out the area and find places that have lower concentrations of the undead. the possibilities would be endless but they don't really even make an attempt. Maybe they didn't have enough fuel to risk flying about trying to find aviation fuel?

[bassman]

Maybe they didn't have enough fuel to risk flying about trying to find aviation fuel? Most likely. I believe its Roger that says everyone probably drained all the local airport pumps and took off when everything first started. Their supply around town would be limited, but it would be worth a shot. They could have at least looked for fuel during Fran's training process. Two birds with one stone....