Table Read: “Night Of The Living Dead – Act 1”

Podcast by Manifest Media / TABLE READ
Episode Date: October 14, 2025

Overview

The premiere episode of Table Read delivers a riveting, cinematic audio experience by presenting a live read of the raw, original script for George A. Romero's genre-defining "Night of the Living Dead." This Act 1 performance leans into the rough edges and improvisational qualities of the unfinished draft, complete with atmospheric sound design and performances by a robust cast. Listeners are transported to the roots of both zombie cinema and collaborative filmmaking, offering a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into a first draft that ultimately redefined a genre.

Main Theme and Purpose

• Theme: Exploration and performance of the original, unrefined script of "Night of the Living Dead," providing insights into how the zombie genre was shaped and what the classic film looked like before its final polish.
• Purpose: To blend theater, film, and studio-quality audio into a live script reading—honoring both the creative process of script evolution and the actors’ contributions to story development.

Key Discussion Points & Narrative Events

1. Prologue and Significance of Romero's Classic (00:00–02:42)

• Host Introduction (Scott Sigler):
  Sets the historical context of zombies in pop culture; details how Romero’s work reimagined zombies from voodoo-controlled servants into flesh-eating monsters.
  • "Before 1968, the word zombie referred to reanimated corpses... more servant or slave than ravenous eater of human flesh. So what happened in 1968 to change that? George A. Romero's seminal flick, Night of the Living Dead." (A, 00:34)
• Highlights that the film’s script was unfinished during filming, leading to name changes, altered dialogue, and improvisation—showcasing the collaborative nature of the cult classic's creation.
• Quote: "Every legend begins as a first draft. And before Night of the Living Dead changed everything. It began as this." (A, 02:40)

2. Cemetery Sequence – Sibling Arrival (02:46–11:50)

• The episode dives into a detailed audio performance, beginning with atmospheric descriptions of the cemetery at dusk and introducing siblings Johnny and Barbara as they arrive to visit a grave.
• Authentic touches: dialogue about time changes, fatigue from long drives, family obligations.
• Memorable Moment: Johnny’s teasing of Barbara regarding her childhood fears, foreshadowing the horror to come.
  • "They're coming for you, Barbara. They're gonna get you." (C, 11:17)
• The tension escalates subtly, with haunting descriptions of their surroundings and mounting darkness.

3. Shocking Attack – The First Ghoul (11:50–15:00)

• The slowly building dread erupts when a strange figure (the first ghoul) attacks Barbara, resulting in a violent, chaotic struggle involving Johnny.
• Johnny is overpowered and left limp on the ground, as Barbara escapes in panic.
• Quote: "She flails about, choking, trying to yell. The man is all over Barbara, ... he seems to be trying to bite her arm." (B, 12:20)
• Visceral sound effects and performances drive home the terror of the iconic opening scene.

4. Barbara's Flight & Isolation (15:00–21:30)

• Barbara’s frantic, disoriented escape is vividly rendered: fleeing across the cemetery, breaking into a car, wrestling with mechanical failures, and finally sprinting to an abandoned house for shelter.
• Efforts to call for help are thwarted, amplifying the isolation and helplessness—calls only trigger busy signals and indifferent operator recordings.
• Heightens the listener's sense of claustrophobia and dread.

5. Arrival of a New Survivor & Tensions Build (25:00–31:33)

• A scrappy, strong truck driver appears, bursting into the house and aggressively assessing the situation.
  • "Are you one of them? I seen two look like you." (E, 25:26)
• He attempts to strategize while coming to grips with the horror—his dialogue blends confusion and urgency, as he searches for food and ways to barricade themselves.
• Attempts at escape are hampered by rising numbers of attackers and Barbara’s increasing hysteria.

6. Brutal Confrontations and First Twists of the Undead (29:42–35:53)

• A series of intense, kinetic battles ensue between the survivor and the intruding ghouls.
• Graphic detail is given to the physicality of these fights; the uncanny resilience and grotesque description of the attackers is emphasized:
  • "They are dead things, and flesh on their faces is rotting and oozing. ... They are ghoulish beings, staring up at the truck driver." (B, 28:55)
• The truck driver drags an inert ghoul outside, lights it on fire—discovering that flames both destroy and repel the undead.
• Quote: "Shut your eyes, girl. I'm getting this dead creep out of here." (E, 33:25)
• Concludes with a burning corpse on the lawn, the porch standoff echoing the primal terror and defiance at the heart of the story:
  • "I'll get you. I'm gonna get you. All of you." (E, 35:47)

7. Act One Closure (35:55–36:20)

• The episode ends mid-crisis, with tension drawn tight between the barricaded survivors and the gathering undead masses, marked by primal defiance:
  • "He stands defiantly on the little porch, the flaming corpse separating from the things that wait. End of Act One." (B, 36:14)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote / Moment | Speaker | |-----------|----------------|---------| | 00:34 | "Before 1968, the word zombie referred to reanimated corpses..." | A (Scott Sigler) | | 02:40 | "Every legend begins as a first draft. And before Night of the Living Dead changed everything. It began as this." | A (Scott Sigler) | | 11:17 | "They're coming for you, Barbara. They're gonna get you." | C (Johnny) | | 25:26 | "Are you one of them? I seen two look like you." | E (Truck Driver) | | 29:45 | "Come get some of this crowbar." | E (Truck Driver) | | 33:25 | "Shut your eyes, girl. I'm getting this dead creep out of here." | E (Truck Driver) | | 35:47 | "I'll get you. I'm gonna get you. All of you." | E (Truck Driver) | | 36:14 | "He stands defiantly on the little porch, the flaming corpse separating from the things that wait. End of Act One." | B (Narrator/Stage Direction) |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:42 – Introduction & significance of “Night of the Living Dead”
• 02:46–11:50 – Arrival and character setup in cemetery
• 11:50–15:00 – First ghoul attack and Barbara’s escape
• 15:00–21:30 – Barbara alone in the house, failed phone calls
• 25:00–31:33 – New survivor, attempted barricading, first coordinated ghoul assault
• 31:33–35:53 – Dragging, burning the ghoul; repelling undead; survivor’s mounting defiance
• 35:55–36:20 – End of Act One

Summary Thoughts

Night of the Living Dead – Act 1 on Table Read brings vintage horror to life with a blend of raw scripting, visceral acting, and immersive audio. By reviving the unfinished draft in front of the audience, the episode both celebrates Romero’s foundational role in creating the modern zombie and illuminates the messy, collaborative origins of classic genre cinema. For listeners, it’s an unnervingly fresh way to rediscover a cultural touchstone—and the palpable chaos that fueled its birth.