Intro Scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSMaT9fahlI&fmt=18

The into scene for Left 4 Dead. This can easily be described as a first for ValvE, the developer of Left 4 Dead, as they have never made an opening cutscene for a game before. As such, it went through many changes through production. Originally, Francis and Zoey would have a sort of romantic tension between each other, and Louis would be a kind of comedic relief. However, this was found as "distracting" and therefore removed.

Transcript
 2 WEEKS AFTER FIRST INFECTION

[ Focus in on deceased hand, thumb missing, flies crawling around on it ]

[ The group walks up into shot ]

Bill: Hold up!

[ Bill crouches, scooping up green goo ]

Bill: Ain't see anything like this before...

Francis: Jesus. Don't let that stop you from smearing it all over yourself.

[ Bill glares at Francis, gets up, and wipes the goo on Francis' vest ]

Bill: They're changing.

Francis: God ... damn it Bill! Augh, it stinks!

[ Francis wipes the goo off while Louis chuckles ]

[ Muffled crying... ]

Zoey: Someone's still alive!

[ Zoey and Bill open a nearby door to a pitch black room ]

Bill: Over there.

[ Zoey turns her flashlight on and pans it across the room ]''

[ The crying gradually grows louder ... ]''

Zoey: Hello? Hello? Hey, it's okay ... we're gonna --

[ Lightning flashes; the Witch is seen crouching in a corner, and is identified as the source of the sobbing ]

Bill: Light's off!

[ Outside, Louis sees a horde approaching; he and Francis open fire ]

Louis: Oh shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! They're coming!

[ Louis shines his flashlight over Zoey and Bill's shoulders, inadvertently startling the Witch ]

Zoey: Run like hell!

[ Zoey and Bill run out of the room while Louis slams the door shut ]

[ Louis fires at the Witch's arm, which claws a hole in the door, while the rest fight the horde ]''

Louis: How are you not dead!?

Francis: Stick together! Hang on!

Zoey: Guys ...?

[ Francis fires his shotgun at two approaching infected ]

Francis: Merry Christmas.

[ Zoey unstraps a pipe bomb from her waist ]

Zoey: Fire in the hole!

[ The bomb flies in slow motion through the air, where it explodes, reducing the remaining infected to a fine mist ]''

[ A helicopter is seen flying overhead through the street, which Louis pursues ]

Louis: Hey! We're over here! We're not infected! Down here!

[ The helicopter proceeds, not seeing him ]

Louis: ... Dammit.

[ A hunter leaps from a nearby building and pins Louis to the ground ]

[ Zoey opens fire with dual pistols as the hunter staggers back; Louis delivers a final headshot with his own pistol, setting off a car alarm ]

Bill: Oh, this is gonna get bad.

[ Waves of infected pour over surrounding fences and streets; a tank is heard roaring in the distance; a car flying through the air heralds its approach ]

Louis: Run ... or shoot? ... Run or shoot?!

Bill: Both.

[ The group clamors into a nearby alley, continually shooting at the tank and its accompanying horde ]''

[ Louis points to a ladder leading up a fire escape ]

Louis: Get to the roof!

Bill: Go! Go! Go!

[ Francis stops at the base of the ladder, aiming his gun at the tank ]

Francis: Come on, come on!

[ Just as the tank is about to smash Francis, Bill opens fire; the tank retaliates by hurling its fist at him; he dodges, sending it through a brick wall; the enraged tank grabs a slab of concrete and hurls it at Louis and Francis, who are now scrambling up the fire escape ]

Louis: Heads up!

[ Bill reaches for the ladder; Zoey is seen staving off the horde from above ]

Zoey: Go on! I'll hold 'em off!

[ The survivors climb the stairs to the roof of an apartment; the tank climbs up the fire escape, but it gives way under its weight, nearly taking Zoey with it ]

Zoey: Francis!

[ Francis grabs Zoey by the arm in time to pull her over the ledge ]''

[ The exhausted survivors take a moment to catch their breath ]

Louis: We made it! I can't believe we made it!

Bill: Son, we just crossed the street.

[ Bill pauses to light a cigarette ]

Bill: Let's not throw a party 'till we're outta the city.