24 - Breathe

BREATHE
Written by
Doug Simon
Writ Large
323.553.4300
Verve
310.558.2424
BREATHING... in... out... in...
A MAN’S FACE inside the helmet of an Environmental Suit. A

tube connected to the chin of his visor leads to a backpack.
This is JOEL (40) and he’s working hard on something that we

don’t see. Sweat drips off his nose, dotting the visor.
We don’t know where he is, but there is a REDDISH hue to the

atmosphere surrounding him.
TILT DOWN to a push broom in his hands as he clears dust and

dirt off of a solar panel. He finishes, moves on to another.
BLEEP-BLEEP... BLEEP-BLEEP...
Joel looks at a digital O2 gauge on his forearm. 20 min. He

silences the alert, then speaks into his helmet’s headset.
JOEL/HEADSET
Two minutes, then let’s head inside.
WIDEN OUT to reveal...
Joel on the roof of a BARN with a bank of SOLAR PANELS. He

gazes off and we get our first look at...
A SUN SCORCHED LAND. The ground is all dirt and rock. The sky
carries a red haze. And there isn’t a single soul in sight.
200 feet from the barn is a burnt, collapsing FARMHOUSE. An

entire wall is gone, exposing a ramshackle kitchen.
A wrought iron sign reads, Garrett’s Farm.
It’s like someone built a farm on Mars...
But this is not another planet...
This is Earth.
INT. FARMHOUSE/UPSTAIRS BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT
MIKE (60’s, fit and able), also in an EV Suit, rummages

through a bookshelf in a dilapidated bedroom.
JOEL/HEADSET
Dad, you copy or what?
Mike speaks into his headset mic.

2.
MIKE/HEADSET
Quit your yapping. Perimeter’s secure.
I ducked into the house for something.
JOEL/HEADSET
Dad, I hate when you wander off
like this?
MIKE/HEADSET
Consider it practice for when I’m
old and senile.
EXT. BARN ROOF - THAT MOMENT
Joel CHUCKLES, looks at the farmhouse, and sees his father

through the bedroom window.
JOEL/HEADSET
Funny. What’re you doing in there?
Mike finds what he’s looking for. An old, frayed book, The
Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson.
MIKE/HEADSET
Just getting something for Meg.
Mike pockets the book, strolls to the window, and watches

Joel dust off the last of the solar panels.
Joel places his hand over an EXHAUST PIPE, making sure air is
blowing out. The pipe travels down the side of the barn wall
and disappears into the dirt ground.
INT. FARMHOUSE/UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - THAT MOMENT
Mike heads down the hall when -- CRACK -- the floor CAVES IN
underneath him, he PLUMMETS through the wood floor.
INT. FARMHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - THAT MOMENT
Mike CRASHES through the ceiling in the living room, but his
foot gets wedged between two wood beams.
As his upper body continues to fall, he SMACKS his helmet,

the O2 tube attached to his helmet SEVERS. OXYGEN HISSES OUT.
3.
With his foot stuck, Mike dangles upside down from the
ceiling. His O2 gauge rapidly sinks, 5 min...4 min...3 min...
MIKE/HEADSET
Joel! JOEL!
All Mike hears is STATIC and realizes his headset is damaged.
EXT. BARN - THAT MOMENT
Joel is climbing down a ladder.
JOEL/HEADSET
Dad, you coming or what?
Frantic, Mike tries to yank his leg free.
His O2 gauge reads 1 min. He inhales two huge lungfuls of air

just as, 0 min. The OXYGEN ALARM inside his helmet BLARES.
OUTSIDE
By the barn, Joel dusts himself off. When he doesn’t get a

response through his headset, he heads toward the farmhouse.
INSIDE
OUT OF OXYGEN, Mike GASPS FOR AIR, his face is TURNING RED,
his eyes are starting to BULGE.
OUTSIDE
Joel jogs across the front yard.
INSIDE
The VEINS in Mike’s forehead look like they’re going to BURST

through his skin when --
Joel runs into the living room and sees his dad, swaying back
and forth in a PANIC, ASPHYXIATING.
JOEL
OH GOD. DAD!
Joel jumps for his dad’s trembling hands, but they’re out of
reach. Joel SPRINTS up the staircase.
4.
ON MIKE
HIS LIPS ARE TURNING BLUE -- BLOOD VESSELS BURSTS IN THE

WHITES OF HIS EYES -- HIS EYEBALLS ROLL BACK IN HIS HEAD --
UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
Joel grabs his dad’s legs, dislodges his foot from the beams.
He wrests Mike out of the hole and rolls him onto his back.
Mike’s BLOODSHOT EYES are WIDE and VACANT. PURPLE SPLOTCHES

mar his face and neck from INTERNAL HEMORRHAGES.
Joel just stares at his father, nothing he can do at this

point. Joel slumps forward, onto his dad’s body.
INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER
We’re now in a dimly lit, windowless basement with cement

walls and a low ceiling. We don’t know where we are yet.
In the middle of this room is a couch and coffee table, which

faces a television set propped up on a dresser.
Metal shelving racks line the walls, full of meticulously

labeled storage bins: batteries, blankets, M.R.E’s.
One shelf has a MONITOR, which displays night vision

surveillance footage of a stairwell.
There are FOUR DOORS, one on each wall. Three of the doors
are normal bedroom doors. The other is a HEAVY, SUBMARINE
DOOR WITH THREE DEADBOLTS.
AMY (40), hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Crisp white T-

shirt tucked into jeans. She’s staring at a notebook of math
problems. With a red pen, she draws an “X” on an equation.
Waiting across from Amy is MEGAN (18). Long, unruly hair. Her
baggy BUFFALO BILLS sweatshirt and sweatpants are wrinkled.
She subconsciously bites her nails.
AMY
Meg, that’s distracting and
unhygienic.
Megan glares at Amy, stops. Amy goes back to the notebook.
AMY (CONT’D)
Good work. Fix this.
Amy slides the book to Megan, who looks at the equation.

5.
MEGAN
Wait, but my answer’s correct.
AMY
But you didn’t show your work.
MEGAN
Mom, gimme a break.
AMY
Meg, it’s important for me to see
how you got there?
MEGAN
Yeah, cause I cheated.
(re: the empty room)
Off who?
AMY
Off ‘whom.’ English class is next.
Megan MUTTERS something under her breath, starts correcting

her work, and biting her nails. Cleary there is some tension
between these two. Amy is about to protest when --
We HEAR a mechanical CLICK at the submarine door. The locks

turn in unison. A WHOOSH of suction as the door opens...
Megan looks up with a smile as her dad, Joel, lumbers inside.

But her joy vanishes when he shuts the door.
MEGAN
Where’s grandpa?
He removes his helmet, takes a big inhalation of air. When

they see the despair in his face, they know the awful truth.
Amy, Megan and Joel sit at the table, mourning. Even in this
moment of loss, Amy refuses to slouch. But the sadness in her
eyes can’t be hidden. Megan wipes her tears on her sleeve.
JOEL
I have to bury him tomorrow.
AMY
Of course... I’ll help you.
JOEL
No, I’m taking him to my mother.
Amy and Megan look at each other, huh?

6.
AMY
But, your mother’s in a cemetery.
Two miles away.
JOEL
It’s where he belongs, it’s the
right thing to do.
MEGAN AMY
Dad... You need to rest. It’s not
safe--
JOEL
We’ve been down here for three
years now. When was the last time
we saw anyone?
AMY
But you could trip, your O2 pack
could break. Accidents happen,
Joel, as evidenced by today.
MEGAN
I can go with you, Dad.
Amy turns to Megan, looks at her like she’s nuts.
JOEL
No, Meg, you’re staying here.
AMY
This is crazy. Both of you. No one
is going anywhere.
Joel simply gets up and shuffles into his bedroom. Amy turns
to Megan, annoyed. Megan stands and goes into her room.
INT. AMY AND JOEL'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
The room is bare. A bed, dresser, wood crate nightstand, and

a floor lamp. Books are stacked up high against the walls.
Joel is resting in bed. Amy enters, still peeved, and shuts

the door. She lays down next to Joel.
AMY
Honestly, is this something you
need to do?
JOEL
Somebody has to.
Amy nods to herself, places a loving hand on Joel’s chest.

7.
INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - THE NEXT DAY
Joel zips up his EV suit while Megan sits on the couch. He

walks towards a constant WHIR...
A boxy, 4x3 machine encased in plexiglass. Tubes extend out

of the machine to a vent in the ceiling. This is an OXYGEN
GENERATION SYSTEM, and it’s what keeps them alive.
Attached to the O2 generator via a hose is an O2 cylinder. He

unhooks it, checks the digital O2 level: 100%/5hrs.
He places the cylinder inside a bulky backpack and connects

the tubes. This is a PLSS (Portable Life Support System).
MEGAN
What was grandpa doing up there?
JOEL
I don’t know, Meg.
(changing the subject)
I need you to do me a few favors.
One: Check the levels on the
generator. Two: Check in on your
mom. And three: Try not to kill
each other while I’m gone.
Megan chuckles.
MEGAN
One: yes. Two: yes. Three: maybe.
You know how she can get.
JOEL
I know how you can get too. You two
have to get along. She loves you.
And you love her.
(beat, dorky smile)
And I love both of you.
Joel gives Megan a hug.
MOMENTS LATER
Joel is suited up. He pockets a HANDGUN.
He looks at Amy, who is standing in their bedroom doorway,

disapproving.
On the opposite side of the room is Megan. Joel looks at her,

forces a smile, and gives her a hug and a kiss.
8.
He goes to the submarine door, turns the deadbolts, and pulls

it open. He steps out and Megan shuts the door.
INT. STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS
Dark. Joel flips on a miner’s light attached to his helmet,

illuminating a twenty foot staircase leading up.
He grins and waves at a security camera mounted above the

door he exited. We notice a keypad on the door and a lever.
INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
Megan sees her dad on the monitor. PUSH IN on Megan...
MEGAN (V.O.)
I was fifteen when our planet
officially turned to shit...
Megan smirks and waves back.
When Joel turns away from the camera, his smile fades and is
replaced by sadness and dread. He climbs the staircase. At
the top is a METAL HATCH in the ceiling with a combo padlock.
MEGAN (V.O.)
We reached a tipping point. It all
happened so quickly, like a virus
that spreads in a zombie movie...
Joel turns the dial and unhooks the lock. He places his back
against the hatch and pushes until it opens up... BRIGHT,
BLINDING, RED LIGHT POURS IN FROM ABOVE...
EXT. FARM - DAY
Joel pokes his head out of an ACCESS HATCH in the ground,

next to the barn. Their shelter is hidden under this barn.
MEGAN (V.O.)
In a matter of months, trees and
plant life failed to exist...
He pulls himself out and closes the hatch. It’s disguised

with rocks and dirt to blend in with the ravaged terrain.
9.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The sun blasts as Joel treks across a burnt field, hauling a

wagon with the tarp wrapped body of his dad. Brittle trees
are toppled over, turning to dust.
MEGAN (V.O.)
Soon, you couldn’t go outside
without a breathing device.
EXT. MAIN STREET - SUNSET
Joel trudges down a small-town main street. Crumbling

storefronts are boarded up. Abandoned cars, with NY STATE
license plates, haphazardly clog the road.
MEGAN (V.O.)
People banded together, for a
little while.
The ground is littered with the dead from asphyxiation. Skin

purple. Mouths wide. Bulging eyes. The fear in their final
moments frozen on their faces.
MEGAN (V.O.)
Lucky for us, in addition to my dad
being an engineer, he was also a
survivalist. For years people said
he was a nut. And in a sense, they
were right. You had to be slightly
crazy to prepare like he did.
Joel checks his O2 gauge: 4hrs, 35min.
MEGAN (V.O.)
So, when the shit-hit-the-fan, we
were physically prepared to survive
a world without oxygen.
Emotionally, not so much.
Joel’s breathing grows faster and faster and FASTER.
CUT TO BLACK:
B R E A T H E
INT. SHELTER/BEDROOM - UNKNOWN
Amy lays in bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts elsewhere.

10.
Her wristwatch BEEPS. She snaps out of it and rolls over,

facing an EMPTY half of the bed.
SUPER: 5 months later
Amy sits at the kitchen table, eating breakfast by herself.

Across the room, Megan’s door is closed.
EXT. FARM - DAY
The access hatch opens. Amy, wearing an EV suit, peers out.

She clutches a shotgun, scans the area.
EXT. BARN ROOF - MOMENTS LATER
Amy sweeps the solar panels. Working hard and fast, her
breath fogs up her mask.
EXT. SIDE OF THE BARN - MOMENTS LATER
Amy kneels next to a patch of dried soil. She scoops up a

handful, studies it, then tosses it aside in frustration.
Amy grabs a gardening shovel, digs a one-foot hole.
She unzips a fanny pack, takes out a handful of SEEDS and

PITS, and drops them into the hole.
Amy unhooks a canister from her belt. As soon as she takes

the lid off, the liquid inside starts to fizz and evaporate.
She quickly pours it onto the seeds and pits and heaps dirt
on top of them. She stands, looks at the dirt, hopeful...
INT. BARN - MOMENTS LATER
Amy weaves around a TARP covered VEHICLE and places the

shovel on a hook, next to other gardening tools.
INT. STAIRWELL/SHELTER DOOR - MOMENTS LATER
Amy punches in a code, then reaches for her belt and grabs a
BLACK KEYCARD attached to a retractable keychain. She places
the card against the door, six inches above the pad. CLICK.
11.
Amy peels off her EV suit and O2 backpack. Her grey T-shirt is
soaked with sweat. Heaving, Amy plops down on the couch.
THUD... THUD... THUD...
Amy narrows her eyes at Megan’s bedroom door where something

is repeatedly hitting against the wall.
Amy ignores the noise, stands and connects her O2 cylinder to

the O2 generator. The oxygen level ticks up... 30%... 31%.
But Amy notices something odd on the O2 generator. Annoyed by

what she sees, she turns a dial, correcting the issue.
She looks up at Megan’s room... THUD...
INT. SHELTER/MEGAN’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Megan lays flat in bed, throwing a SOFTBALL at the cement

wall and catching it in a mitt. She is pale and thin with
greasy hair and dark rings under her eyes.
Her walls are adorn with sketches of landscapes, photos from

her school days with friends playing softball, and a Bob
Marley poster. An inmate making the best of their cell.
Her room is also a DISASTER. Clothes are thrown everywhere.

DIRTY BOWLS and crusty, EMPTY CANS of food litter the floor.
A KNOCK at the door.
MEGAN
(sarcastic)
Who is it?
Amy thrusts open the door.
AMY
Did you forget something today?
Megan sits up, scrunches her brow.
AMY (CONT’D)
Check the ECO levels?
MEGAN
No, because it hasn’t been 12 hours
since my last check. At least wait for
me to forget before yelling at me.
12.
AMY
There’s the problem. If I had
waited, we’d already be sick from
oxygen toxicity.
MEGAN
Then instead of yelling at me, let’s
decrease the time between tech checks.
That’s the real problem, right?
AMY
(beat, deep breath)
You eat today?
MEGAN
I’ll get something soon.
AMY
Saving your appetite for tomorrow?
MEGAN
Tomorrow?
AMY
Thanksgiving.
MEGAN
Now that I did forget.
Megan lays back down, resumes throwing the softball at the

wall. Amy lingers, eyeing the food cans and dirty laundry.
AMY
You know the saying ‘cleanliness is
next to godliness?’
MEGAN
You don’t believe in God.
AMY
But I can see your room is a mess.
It’s been a disaster for months.
Please, throw out the cans and wash
your clothes.
MEGAN
Seriously? You’re giving me crap
about my room?
AMY
You’re being careless.
MEGAN
It’s my fucking room.
13.
AMY
Hey. Watch your mouth.
MEGAN
You watch my mouth. Fuck.
AMY
Enough.
MEGAN
We can only go outside for as long
as we can hold our breath and you’re
upset about socks on the floor.
AMY
It’s not just about socks and you
know it. Dirty clothes means germs.
Old food means bacteria. Germs and
bacteria mean we can get sick. And
we cannot risk getting sick.
Amy leans in close to Megan’s face.
AMY (CONT’D)
But most of all, it means not
giving up. Clean your fucking room.
Amy storms out. Megan gets up and slams the door shut.
INT. SHELTER/AMY’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Amy lays down in bed and looks up at the ceiling. Her anger
gradually subsides and is replaced with guilt and regret.
She rolls onto her side, stares at a photo on the nightstand:

Amy, Joel and two year-old Megan are in front of a WATERFALL.
EXT. THE NIAGARA GORGE - DAY (FLASHBACK)
A beautiful hiking path surrounded by tall, lush GREEN TREES.
Amy (tan, fit, healthy and all smiles) treks up the mountain.
On her back is two year-old Megan, inside a baby carrier.
AMY
One of these days you’re gonna have
to give dad a turn.
Joel, cleanly shaven, chews on a stick of beef jerky. He

smiles back, adjusts the heavy backpack he’s lugging.
14.
JOEL
I tried carrying her, but she’s
definitely in a mommy mood today.
CUT TO:
MOMENTS LATER, Amy, Joel and Megan camping and eating lunch.
Megan stands up. It looks like she wants to take a step.
CUT TO:
MOMENTS LATER, They reach a clearing overlooking a waterfall.

Joel takes Megan out of the baby carrier. He holds up his
phone and takes a selfie. As he SNAPS a PHOTO we CUT TO:
INT. SHELTER/AMY’S ROOM - PRESENT DAY
Amy reaches for a NOISE MACHINE on the crate nightstand,

switches it to the “rain” setting, and shuts her eyes.
Megan tiptoes out of her bedroom, puts an ear to her mom’s

door, and hears the “rain.”
INT. SHELTER/MEGAN’S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Megan slides a storage bin out from under her bed. She pops
the lid, removes a blanket, revealing a handheld HAM RADIO.
MOMENTS LATER
Megan has set up the radio. She quietly talks into a mic.
MEGAN
Joel Reed...? Are you out there, Dad?
STATIC.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
It’s been a while since we talked.
I gotta say, I’m becoming quite the
artist. I think you’d be proud...
Megan probably knows her dad is not listening. We get the

sense that this is perhaps more therapeutic than practical.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
And, per your orders, mom and I
haven’t killed each other yet. So,
I’m being pretty good...
15.
Megan regards her messy room.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Well, most of the time.
(moving on)
Anyways, everything seems to be
okay for the moment. Still alive.
Still breathing--
A CRACKLE in the static. Megan snaps her head up.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Dad? Dad?!... HELLO?
But the CRACKLE is gone. Just PURE STATIC again and no

response. Disappointed, Megan leans back in her chair.
INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - THE NEXT DAY
Amy exercises on a vertical mountain climbing machine.
Amy is on a yoga mat, legs crossed, eyes closed, focusing on

her breathing... In... Out... In...
INT. SHELTER/HYDROPONIC GARDEN ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
A room we haven’t seen yet: Half the room has LED LIGHTS and
a sprinkler system on the ceiling. Underneath is a rack with
bins of micro-greens labeled: peas, broccoli, spinach.
The other half is a lab. Amy is hunched over a worktable,

reading a textbook on “Plant Life.” On the table are test
tubes, beakers with chemicals, and sacks of fertilizer.
She combines several liquids and transfers them into the

CANISTER we saw her use outside on the seeds and pits. She
shakes up the canister and sets it down.
Amy exits the garden room. She’s about to walk into her
bedroom, but stops and looks at Megan’s closed door.
Amy KNOCKS. No answer. She opens the door a crack to see

Megan sleeping. Amy sits on the bed, stirring Megan awake.
Amy caresses Megan’s head. As she does, she feels Megan’s

greasy and stringy hair between her fingers.
16.
AMY
How about a spa day before dinner?
MEGAN
A ‘spa day?’
Megan is leaning over a sink. Amy pours a pitcher of sudsy

water over Megan’s long hair and begins to scrub.
Megan sits in a chair, sporting a sour look and a garbage bag

for a smock. Amy is behind Megan, holding a pair of scissors.
AMY
So tell me, ma’am. What can I do
for you today?
MEGAN
Go short.
AMY
My pleasure. How short?
Megan thinks about it, then pulls her hair into a tight
ponytail, takes the scissors, and lops off the entire thing,
instantly giving herself a medium length “bob cut.”
MEGAN
That short.
Amy tilts her head to the side, appraising the cut.
AMY
I like your work.
Amy grabs the scissors and cuts off her own ponytail.
MEGAN
(laughing)
Mom?!
AMY
What? You thought I was lying?
Megan doesn’t want to smile, but she can’t help it.
QUICK SERIES OF SHOTS: A can opener winds its way around a

can of CAMPBELL’S CHUNKY TURKEY DINNER soup. Amy picks micro-
greens from the garden. Amy and Megan set the kitchen table.
17.
A red checkered tablecloth is draped over the table.

CLASSICAL MUSIC plays from a stereo. Amy and Megan each have
a bowl of soup, garnished with micro-greens.
AMY
Thanks for listening to this music.
I know it’s not really your thing.
Amy uncorks a bottle of Pinot Noir and pours herself a glass.

Megan stares at her cup of water, drinks it, then holds out
the empty cup for a pour. Amy squints, “I don’t think so.”
MEGAN
Really? Afraid we’ll get arrested?
Amy laughs, then gives Megan a small pour of wine. Amy raises
her glass. They cheers. Megan takes a sip and winces.
AMY
Want to watch a movie tonight?
Since I picked the music, you can
pick the movie.
Megan doesn’t answer, something weighs on her mind.
MEGAN
Tomorrow, I want to go look for Dad.
AMY
We’ve been over this. I looked.
MEGAN
And never found him. He might still
be, I don’t know... out there?
AMY
Meg, Dad’s gone.
Megan clenches her jaw, takes another sip of wine.
AMY (CONT’D)
We just need to keep focus on
what’s important. I’m making
headway in the garden. We just have
to keep working it. If we can get
something to grow out there--
MEGAN
You’ve been trying for years. Just
because you milked cows and grew
corn for a living, that doesn’t
make you a biologist, or whatever.
18.
AMY
You know, I’m doing all this on my
own here. Maybe if I had a little
help from time to time--
MEGAN
Bull crap, I’ve tried to help! And
every time, you’ve gotten on me for
some stupid little thing. Like
today with the generator. I was
gonna check it, but you didn’t even
give me a chance. And that’s the
way you’ve been my whole life,
before we even became cellmates.
AMY
Megan, we can’t keep fighting like
this. Really, enough already.
MEGAN
No, I don’t have to do everything
the way you do it. You just have to
trust me.
AMY
Believe me honey, I would love for
that to be the case.
Stung, Megan gets up, storms into her room, and SLAMS the
door. Amy tries to eat, but can’t. She throws down her fork.
INT. SHELTER/AMY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Amy lays in bed, unable to sleep. She turns on the noise

machine and lets it “rain.”
INT. SHELTER/MEGAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
Megan is at her desk, drawing in her sketchpad. Her eyes are

red from crying. She looks up at the landscapes and photos.
She lands on a photo of her and Amy hugging at a school

graduation, sees how they were once happy together...
INT. HYDROPONIC GARDEN ROOM - THE NEXT DAY
Amy pours another mixture of liquids into the canister.

19.
Amy is in her EV suit and O2 backpack, about to head out.
Megan steps out of her room. She has on an EV suit and O2

backpack. A BEAT as each waits for the other to talk.
MEGAN
Want some help?
Amy glances inside Megan’s room and sees that it’s been
cleaned up. Amy smiles, touched by the peace offering.
Megan sweeps the dirt off the solar panels while Amy kneels
beside the exhaust pipe, appraising the airflow.
EXT. BARN/DIRT PATCH - MOMENTS LATER
Amy hovers behind Megan as she places the seeds in the dirt.
Megan pours the solution from the canister onto the seeds.
Megan hands Amy the push broom. She hangs it up on a hook.
AMY
Thanks, honey.
Amy’s O2 gauge BLEEPS: 15 min
AMY (CONT’D)
Shoot, let’s get inside.
Amy turns, but Megan isn’t there and the barn doors are open.
EXT. BARN - CONTINUOUS
Amy walks outside, but still doesn’t see Megan.
AMY
Meg?
Amy jogs around the side of the barn.
AMY (CONT’D)
Megan?!
20.
Amy is GRABBED from behind and THROWN against the barn --

It’s Megan and she immediately starts SHUSHING her mother.
MEGAN
Quiet -- I think... I see someone.
AMY
What? No.
MEGAN
Yes. Look.
Amy peeks around the corner of the barn.
ACROSS THE OPEN FIELD
Through the wavy heat, two small dots bounce up and down,
cresting a hilltop one hundred yards away.
As the dots get closer, they take shape. TWO PEOPLE. In EV

suits, O2 backpacks, pushing a tarp covered shopping cart.
One person carries a shotgun, the other wields a rifle.
AMY
Shit...
Amy looks at the access hatch on the other side of the barn.
If Amy and Megan make a run for it, they’ll be seen.
MEGAN
Maybe they’re... help?
Highly fucking skeptical, Amy looks back at the two figures.
Nearing the farmhouse, we can more clearly make them out. A

HEFTY MAN pushing the cart and a TALL WOMAN. They’re hunched
over in exhaustion, each step taking a great deal of effort.
The Tall Woman motions to the farmhouse. The Hefty Man racks
his shotgun, and enters through a back door.
AMY
Listen to me. When she turns away,
we run for the hatch. Okay?
Megan nods, “yes.” Amy looks back at the Tall Woman, who is
heading towards the front of the farmhouse.
INT. FARMHOUSE - THAT MOMENT
The Hefty Man walks upstairs, gun at the ready. Through his
visor, we notice his left eye is permanently BLOODSHOT. He
moves with fluidity and precision. Maybe military trained?
21.
Amy peers around the side.
AMY
She’s near the front of the house.
Amy grabs Megan’s hand, ready to bolt.
AMY (CONT’D)
Get ready.
The Tall Woman turns her back to the barn.
BLEEP--BLEEP, Amy’s O2 gauge sounds: 10 min
Amy retreats back behind the barn and silences the alert.
ON THE TALL WOMAN
Hearing the alarm. She turns to the barn... aims her rifle.
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Crouched behind the barn, not making a move.
ON THE TALL WOMAN
Hyper-cautious, she inches toward the barn. She gets to the

door and taps it with the rifle muzzle.
TALL WOMAN
Anyone in there?
The Tall Woman’s voice is calm, almost sweet, and devoid of

any shake. Her even-keeled tone is mysterious and unnerving.
When she doesn’t get a reply, she nudges the door open with
her gun to see the tarp covered vehicle and gardening tools.
The Hefty Man inspects the area. He glances out the window to
see the barn door open and the Tall Woman nowhere in sight.
Then, he notices something else. On the side of the barn, he

spots what looks like... is that a foot peeking out?
He moves to get a better angle and sees Amy and Megan pinning
themselves up against the side of the barn.
The Hefty Man bangs his fists on the window.

22.
HEFTY MAN
TESS! TESS! THERE THEY ARE!
Amy and Megan startle, lock eyes with the Hefty Man.
ON THE TALL WOMAN (TESS)
As she runs out of the barn and looks up at the Hefty Man,
frantically pointing at something down below.
HEFTY MAN (CONT’D)

OVER THERE! ON THE OTHER SIDE!
Tess rounds the side of the barn and WHAM! She’s clocked in
the face with the shovel by Amy. Tess hits the dirt.
INT. FARMHOUSE/STAIRS - THAT MOMENT
The Hefty Man flies down the steps.
Amy and Megan round the side of the barn, toward the hatch.
ON TESS
Shaking off the blow, picking herself up.
TESS
WE’RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU!
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Amy throws open the hatch, they climb inside.
Megan and Amy sprint down the steps.
Over their shoulders, FOOTSTEPS are heard racing after them.
ON TESS
Staggering down the stairs, seeing Amy and Megan at the door.
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Amy punches in the code. Uses the keycard. Opens the door.
They run inside the shelter and slam the door shut just as
Tess RAMS into the door with her shoulder.
23.
TESS
NO! NO! NO!
Tess pounds her hands on the door as the Hefty Man comes
bounding down the steps.
TESS (CONT’D)
They got inside.
The Hefty Man raises his shotgun.
TESS (CONT’D)
What the hell’re you doing?!
BAM! He FIRES at the door. The PELLETS RICOCHETS OFF.
Amy and Megan scramble behind the couch.
The Hefty Man racks the shotgun, aims, but Tess shoves the
gun up and BAM! He fires into the ceiling. Cement rains down.
TESS
You’ll kill us.
The Hefty Man comes back down to Earth. The dust settles as
Tess and the Hefty Man catch their breath.
TESS (CONT’D)
Hey. Can you hear me in there?
Amy peeks her head up over the couch.
TESS (O.S.)
(muffled)
I’m sorry, he shouldn’t have done
that. We don’t want to hurt you.
Tess is still catching her breath.
TESS
My name is Tess. My overreacting
friend here is Lucas.
(MORE)
24.
TESS (CONT'D)
Us, along with nine other people,
have been living in a shelter fifty
miles north of here at Claremont
Farms.
Amy and Megan exchange a look.
TESS (O.S.)
But our air filtration system is
failing. We tried fixing it, but we
can’t. We’re living on reserves and
only have a week’s worth left...
Still winded, Tess puts her hand on the door for support.
TESS
Lucas and I left our shelter three
days ago... to come here.
Amy and Megan look at each other, To come here?
TESS (O.S.)
I know your husband, Joel Reed.
Megan’s eyes light up.
MEGAN
Maybe they found Dad?
AMY
(ignoring Megan)
What -- What are you talking
about?! How do you know Joel?!
Tess spots the security camera above the door. She turns her
back to the camera and motions to it with her eyes for Lucas.
AMY (O.S.)
HEY! How do you know Joel?!
25.
TESS
I was a colleague of his at the
school. I’m an engineer, like him.
Amy and Megan crawl to the monitor and zoom in on Tess.
AMY
I have no idea who you are. I knew
everyone that Joel worked with.
Desperate, Tess stares up at the security camera.
TESS
Not everyone, because you don’t
know me. But I do know what he was
trying to build. And it looks like
he succeeded, because you’re still
breathing. I’m talking about the O2
generator.
Amy glances at the O2 generator.
TESS (O.S.)
That machine is unique, far more
advanced than anything we have. I
came here to talk to Joel. I need
to learn how to replicate it.
Amy looks at Megan, then back at the monitor... Debating...
AMY
Joel’s not here.
Tess raises her head.
AMY (O.S.)
He’s dead.
Tess processes the news when BAM! She whips around and sees
Lucas SLAMMING his fist into the cement walls.
26.
LUCAS
DAMNIT! Shit! FUCK!
Amy and Megan watch Lucas on the MONITOR as he has a mini-

meltdown. Tess places a comforting hand on his shoulder, but
he throws it off. Tess turns back to the door.
TESS
Okay, Amy. That’s your name, Amy?
Amy is taken aback by this woman knowing her name.
TESS (CONT’D)
And that’s your daughter, what’s
her name again? Megan?
Megan looks at her mom.
TESS (CONT’D)
I’m sorry to hear about Joel.
(beat)
But I still need to know how to
replicate that machine. And in
order to do that, you have to let
us in.
Amy’s eyes dart between the monitor and Megan.
TESS (CONT’D)
We don’t have enough oxygen to make
it back home. And if we don’t make
it home, there are people there
that will die. Nine people. Four of
them children. Children.
AMY
And how do I know that?
TESS
Claire, Thomas, Jackson, Molly.
Those are their names. They’re real.
AMY
This room can’t fit any more
people. The system could crash with
more bodies in here.
TESS
I promise, I’ll be quick.
27.
AMY
Right... And if you can’t replicate
it, I’m just supposed to believe
you’ll walk away? How do I know
you’re not just trying to get in
here and take over this space?
TESS
Because you have my word.
MEGAN
(whispering)
What if she’s telling the truth?
Amy glares at Megan, Are you fucking serious?
AMY
I have no idea who this woman is.
MEGAN
She knew your name, she knew my
name, somehow she knows us. If
she’s being honest, and she can
potentially replicate Dad’s
invention...? This could be the
beginning of something... big.
AMY
We haven’t seen anyone for a year.
Your father goes out a few months
ago and now these people show up?
That can’t be a coincidence.
Tess has an ear planted against the door, eavesdropping.
LUCAS
What’s goin’ on in there?
TESS
Shut up and I’ll tell you.
Megan and Amy are still debating.
MEGAN
So you’re saying what exactly?
These people found Dad and that’s
how they know about our place?
28.
AMY
I’m saying we don’t know. And we
didn’t get this far by taking
chances on things we don’t know.
MEGAN
You’re right. We don’t know. Maybe
they did something to Dad, maybe
they didn’t. But here’s something I
do know: If we didn’t know Dad and
he knocked on our door, we wouldn’t
have let him in. We’d be doing
exactly what we’re doing to these
people right now. So it’s people
like us that would’ve let him die.
Amy reluctantly considers Megan’s impassioned plea.
Tess is still listening at the door.
AMY (O.S.)
Get away from the door!
Tess steps back and raises her hands.
AMY (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Now listen: I don’t know if you’re
telling the truth. But that doesn’t
mean you’re lying.
Amy glances at Megan, unsure she’s making the correct choice.
AMY
If we’re going to let you in, you
need to follow our instructions. If
you veer from those instructions,
we will leave you out there to die.
Understand?
TESS (O.S.)
Yes, I understand. We understand.
AMY
First: Put down your weapons.
29.
Tess drops her rifle. She turns to a hesitant Lucas.
TESS
What’re you waiting for?
Lucas begrudgingly lays his shotgun on the floor.
AMY (O.S.)
Back away from the door until your
heels touch the stairwell.
Tess and Lucas do as they’re told.
AMY (CONT’D)
Now go outside, walk one hundred
feet from here, get on your knees,
and put your hands in the air.
LUCAS
(whispering)
This is bullshit.
TESS
(whispering)
Quiet and do what she says.
AMY (O.S.)
Believe me when I say I’m looking
for a reason not to let you in
here. And you whispering to each
other is giving me a good reason.
TESS
No, we’re sorry! We’ll do what you
said. One hundred feet. Kneel.
Hands in the air. We’ll be waiting.
ON THE MONITOR: Tess and Lucas disappear up the stairwell.
AMY
Whatever happens outside, do not
open this door unless I say the
word. Understand?
Amy zips up her EV suit and reattaches her O2 backpack.
MEGAN
It’s gonna be okay.
30.
AMY
That’s not what I asked. Now answer
me, directly for once.
MEGAN
Whatever happens, don’t open the
door unless you say the word.
Amy grabs the shotgun and slings the strap over her shoulder.
She turns the deadbolts and cracks the door.
The coast appears to be clear. Amy picks up the weapons Lucas

and Tess left behind and relays them to Megan.
Amy gives Megan one last look before pulling the door shut.
Amy looks up the stairwell. All she can see is the open
access hatch above and the red glow of the sky.
AMY’S POV THROUGH HER MASK, panicked breaths fog the visor,
making it hard to see. She cautiously ascends the stairs.
She reaches the top and pokes her head outside to see: Tess
and Lucas on their knees, one hundred feet from the barn.
EXT. FARM - CONTINUOUS
Amy climbs out and closes the hatch. She gathers herself,
tentatively approaches them, and stops twenty feet shy.
AMY
T-Tell me your names again. First
and last.
TESS LUCAS
Tess Grainer. Lucas Tomek.
AMY
Goddamnit, slower and one at a time.
TESS
Tess Grainer.
LUCAS
Lu-cas. To-mek.
AMY
Tess Grainer? Again, never heard
Joel mention your name.
31.
TESS
Again, we were colleagues.
AMY
And what’s your deal, Lucas Tomek?
TESS
His job was to get us here.
AMY
And before then?
LUCAS
Getting people to where they need
to be has always been my job.
AMY
And the shelter you came from?
TESS
A bread mill. Built during the Cold
War with a fallout shelter. On the
day things turned, my car stalled
and I just happened to be at the
right place at the right time.
Never met the family before in my
life, but they let us in.
Amy eyes Tess, That’s a good story. Almost believable. Amy

shifts her gaze to Lucas who remains silent.
AMY
Okay Tess. Tie up Lucas.
Amy pulls a ZIP-TIE out of her pocket and tosses it to Tess.
TESS
Amy, this isn’t necessary.
Amy refuses to engage and keeps the shotgun leveled at them.
TESS (CONT’D)
Fair enough. Just be careful with
that thing. You seem a little shaky
and we don’t need a misfire.
AMY
No shit. Hands behind his back.
Lucas shakes his head in disgust. Tess crawls to the zip-tie,

then scurries back to Lucas.
32.
Amy perspires inside her mask, sweat drips into her eyes. She
blinks it away, glances at her oxygen levels: 15 min
TESS
Ah shit...
AMY
What?
TESS
I messed it up.
AMY
Messed what up?
TESS
The tie broke.
Amy stares at Tess, Are you serious?
TESS (CONT’D)
I swear, I don’t know -- It was
weird when you gave it to me --
Amy takes out another zip-tie and throws it at Tess.
AMY
Mess up again, you lose your invite.
Tess nods, fiddles with the zip-tie until ZZZZIIIIIPPP.
LUCAS
Owww. Shit, too tight!
AMY
Quiet. Show me.
Lucas winces as he turns around and shows his tied wrists.
AMY (CONT’D)
Now lay down. On your stomachs.
Feet facing me.
Tess and Lucas do as they’re told. Amy walks over to them and
stops by their feet.
Amy takes out another zip-tie. In a hurry, she pulls Tess’s

hands behind her back and zip-ties them.
Amy frisks Tess. Clean. She moves on to Lucas and pats him
down. Also clean.
Amy quickly steps back, BREATHING HEAVY and FAST.

33.
AMY (CONT’D)
Okay... Okay... Stand up.
Tess and Lucas stand.
AMY (CONT’D)
No. Just her. You sit.
LUCAS
What?
AMY
He stays out here.
TESS
Amy, look at his oxygen levels.
Amy glimpses at Lucas’s O2 gauge: 1hr 2min
She checks Tess’s O2 levels, also: 1hr 2min
AMY
You’re wasting his time. Things go
well inside, we’ll see about him.
TESS
(to Lucas)
It’s gonna be okay. Promise.
Amy stares at Lucas. Maybe these people are telling the

truth? Amy shakes the thought from her brain.
Amy digs her shotgun into Tess’s back, nudging her towards
the access hatch.
Megan watches on the MONITOR: Amy and Tess come into view.
Amy gives a thumbs up to the security camera.
We HEAR Megan unlatching the deadbolts. The door opens.
FOOTSTEPS are heard stomping down the stairs.
AMY
I said stay put!
Amy whips around to see a third person in an EV suit, NOT

Lucas, charging down the steps with a sniper rifle.
34.
TESS
MICAH! NO!
MICAH (30) raises his gun at Amy and BANG!
A SHOT RINGS OUT!
Micah falls backwards, BLOOD BURSTS from his shoulder.
In the shelter doorway, Megan is clutching a SMOKING GUN.
Tess takes cover in the stairwell corner.
Megan takes aim at Micah, pulls the trigger -- CLICK.
Realizing she’s out of ammo, Micah leaps up and TACKLES

Megan. They both fall into the shelter.
TESS MAKES A BREAK FOR THE DOOR --
AMY STICKS OUT HER LEG --
TRIPPING TESS, she lands FACE-FIRST onto the cement, slightly

CRACKING her mask.
Amy crawls inside the shelter as Tess clambers after her.
Amy KICKS the door shut right in Tess’s face.
Tess SMACKS the door over and over again.
TESS (CONT’D)
NO! NO! NO! MICAH, YOU IDIOT!
Megan, trembling, reloads the gun, points it at Micah who is

on the floor, cupping his bleeding shoulder.
Amy shakes herself back to reality and stands with vigor. She
goes to a shelf, opens a bin, and grabs a roll of duct tape.
AMY
Against the radiator.
Micah squirms over to the radiator. Amy duct tapes his hands
to it, using up half of the roll.
Tess, hands still zip-tied, rams her shoulder into the door.
35.
TESS (O.S.)
AMY! I’M SORRY!
Amy runs up to the door.
AMY
What the hell was that?!
TESS (O.S.)
I’m sorry, I should’ve told you.
That’s Micah -- He was our lookout--
AMY
‘Lookout?!’
TESS (O.S.)
You have to understand. I didn’t
know if I could trust you either. I
wanted someone to stay behind and
watch.
MICAH
(in pain)
I saw you cuffing them... I didn’t
know what you were doing... I
didn’t know if you were taking her
hostage or what...
AMY
‘Hostage?’ You’re so full of shit.
TESS (O.S.)
No! It was a misunderstanding!
AMY
Get away from the door or I’ll
shoot him. I swear.
TESS (O.S.)
Go ahead, shoot him. Our shelter is
out of oxygen, so we’re dead
anyway. Remember what I said? There
are kids there. Lives depend on us.
AMY
Bullshit! There aren’t any kids. So
stop saying that.
Tess is about to shout back, but stops herself. Breathes.

Regains her composure and returns to a calm voice.
36.
TESS (O.S.)
Amy, I’m sorry about what happened.
But I need to see that machine. And
I will see it, one way or another.
Amy and Megan exchange a look, What’s that mean?
TESS (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Now you have the option of whether
or not anyone else gets hurt. So
before you answer, take a minute...
think it through, think about your
daughter, do the smart thing.
AMY
(considering, then)
Fuck off.
Tess’s face hardens, checks her O2 gauge: 48 min
EXT. FARM - SECONDS LATER
Tess runs out of the stairwell and up to Lucas.
TESS
Are you two trying to screw this
up?
LUCAS
Me? Micah’s the one who lost his
shit.
Tess sits on the ground, swoops her zip-tied hands under her
butt and over her feet so that her hands are in front of her.
Tess dashes over to the shopping cart Lucas was pushing. Two
bungee cords are fastened over a tarp.
She releases the cords, flings back the tarp revealing

supplies: O2 cylinders, I.V. drip bags, tools, handguns.
Tess pulls out a LEATHERMAN KNIFE, hands it to Lucas. He

slices her free. She returns the favor.
TESS
We thought this could happen. Get
to work.
There’s an INDUSTRIAL DRILL taking up the bottom of the cart.

37.
LUCAS
(shaking his head)
It’s not gonna work. All I saw on
that door was a keypad. No lock to
drill or anything to pick.
TESS
So what are you saying? That we
lugged this heavy piece of shit all
three days for nothing?
LUCAS
Tess.
TESS
You said you could get us inside.
That’s the whole reason you’re here.
LUCAS
No. I said I’d get us here. And I
did.
Tess bites her tongue.
TESS
Okay... We both have forty-seven
minutes left in these tanks.
Overwhelmed by their impending doom, Tess and Lucas stare at

each other, silently sharing the grim prospect.
TESS (CONT’D)
So how the hell do we get in there?
Tess scans the area, settling on the farmhouse.
Amy digs inside a bin and pulls out a heavy pair of SCISSORS.
She walks to Micah, who is pale and woozy from blood loss.
Micah recoils in fear as she leans forward with the scissors

and slices open his EV suit at the shoulder.
Blood seeps out of a bullet hole in the meaty part of Micah’s

shoulder. She examines his back, finds an exit wound.
Amy goes into her room and comes back with a belt. She ties a
tourniquet around his shoulder, staunching the blood.
MICAH
You’re not gonna let me die?
38.
Amy goes to a FIRST AID KIT mounted on the wall, retrieves

gauze and tape, and starts dressing Micah’s wound.
AMY
This is your fault.
MICAH
Sorry.
AMY
I wasn’t only talking to you.
Amy shoots Megan a harsh stare.
AMY (CONT’D)
I never should’ve let you talk me
into going out there.
MEGAN
So it’s my fault?
AMY
And my fault for listening to you.
Megan eats the jab.
MICAH
(groggy)
Is... that it?
They look at Micah, who is transfixed by the O2 generator.
AMY
Not an engineer like your friend?
MICAH
Locksmith.
AMY
...Locksmith?
Micah blinks hard, focuses, realizes what he just said.
AMY (CONT’D)
Well, I don’t know what supermarket
kiosk you worked at, but you never
stood a chance against this place.
Micah hangs his head.
MEGAN
Why’d you run at us out there?
39.
MICAH
I told you, all I saw was my
friends getting hogtied and you
leading ‘em into this place. I
freaked, I’m sorry.
AMY
Don’t listen to him.
(to Micah)
And don’t talk to my daughter.
MICAH
She asked me a quest-- AWW!
Amy squeezes the gauze tight, silencing Micah.
AMY
Don’t talk to me, either.
Amy storms off, into the garden room.
MICAH
(whispers to Megan)
I talk when I’m nervous.
INT. FARMHOUSE/GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER
Tess and Lucas, HUFFING and PUFFING, tear open bins,

searching for anything that could help.
Tess’s eyes fall on something in the corner of the garage. We

don’t see what it is, but she reaches for it...
INT. SHELTER/HYDROPONIC GARDEN ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Megan strides in to see Amy sitting at the worktable, staring

off into space.
AMY
You still believe him, don’t you?
MEGAN
I want to.
(beat)
And so do you.
Amy turns to Megan, confused.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
That’s why you bandaged him up. Just
in case they’re telling the truth.
40.
Amy takes Megan’s hands in hers, lovingly, yet firmly.
AMY
Honey, we gave them a chance and
they threw it away.
MEGAN
At least hear me out.
AMY
I did hear you out and look where
it got us. Now it’s my turn. We’re
not letting them in, so get that
thought out of your head.
Megan looks off, annoyed.
AMY (CONT’D)
I can’t be worrying about you and
them. I need us working together.
MEGAN
(sarcastic)
Together. Right, sure.
AMY
Please, please do not fight me on
this. Not now.
MEGAN
But--
AMY
But nothing! All I want to hear is,
‘Yes, mom, we’re together on this.’
Megan hesitates.
AMY (CONT’D)
Megan.
MEGAN
Yes, yes, we’re together.
Amy lets go of Megan’s hands.
AMY
Good. Now, when I was outside, I
saw they each only had about an
hour of oxygen left. All we have to
do is outlast them. One hour.
41.
MEGAN
(nodding)
Yeah... got it... One hour.
BANG--BANG--BANG on the shelter door.
Amy runs up to the MONITOR: The screen is BLACKED OUT.
Black electrical tape covers the security camera lens.
Lucas swings a sledgehammer into an outer layer of sheetrock,

creating a hole. He keeps bashing away until -- CLANK.
Tess peers inside the hole. He’s hit a lead wall.
TESS
Whole thing’s encased in a lead
shell. We could throw a grenade at
it and it wouldn’t make a dent.
(thinking)
The only way inside is for them to
open that door for us.
Tess thinks for a moment.
TESS (CONT’D)
Stay here. I have an idea. When
they open the door, which they will
do, secure them. Then get me.
Tess runs up the stairwell.
Tess scales the ladder, climbs onto the roof. She grazes her
hands over the solar panels.
She crouches down, scans the roof floor, searching for

something in particular, until her gaze lands on something...
Amy sits in a chair with the shotgun aimed at Micah. Megan is

at the MONITOR: Lucas is still standing guard.
42.
AMY
She back yet?
MEGAN
Just the guy right now.
BEEP--BEEP--BEEP
An alarm on the O2 generator sounds and a RED WARNING LIGHT

blinks. Amy checks the ECO levels on the side panel.
AMY
Shit.
WHAM--WHAM--WHAM
On the ceiling, a CO2 detector BLARES and FLASHES.
Megan and Amy clasp their hands over their ears. In this
confined space, it’s like a SIREN blasting inside their head.
EXT. BARN ROOF - CONTINUOUS
Tess stands over the EXHAUST PIPE that Joel checked earlier.
It’s CLOGGED with a tarp, obstructing the free flow of air.
Amy silences the alarms, then looks at the digital panel on

the O2 generator -- THE CO2 LEVELS ARE RAPIDLY CLIMBING.
AMY
She’s blocking the expulsion of
carbon dioxide. We’re not scrubbing
it fast enough.
MEGAN
How long before it’s dangerous?
AMY
At these levels? Five minutes.
Quick, grab your cylinder and mask.
The O2 cylinders are plugged into the O2 generator, refilling.
Amy looks at her O2 gauge: 20m
Megan checks hers: 22m

43.
AMY (CONT’D)
They’ve got at least forty minutes
out there. They’ll outlast us.
LOUD CLANKING -- Megan and Amy whip around to see Micah

smashing his O2 pack with his heel until a tube is severed.
Amy swipes it away, frantically tries to reconnect it as the

O2 levels dwindle: 40m... 21m... 19m... 5m
AMY (CONT’D)
You idiot!
MICAH
I ain’t gonna help you. Let ‘em in.
Amy, attempting to hide her fear, turns to Megan.
AMY
They’re only trying to scare us.
(shouts at the door)
YOU’RE ONLY TRYING TO SCARE US!
Lucas hears Amy shouting.
LUCAS
SCARE YOU? NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT
FEELS! OPEN THE DOOR!
The CO2 detectors go off again -- WHAM--WHAM--WHAM.
AMY
IF YOU KILL US, YOU’LL NEVER MAKE
IT IN HERE!
Micah bursts with laughter.
MICAH
If they don’t make it in here,
they’re dead anyway.
AMY
(fuck, he’s right)
We have to stop her.
44.
MEGAN
How? She’s on the roof and that
other guy’s probably waiting for us
outside the door.
Amy gets an idea. She pulls a bin from a shelf and spills the
contents onto the floor. Random knick-knacks fall out.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
What’re you doing?
Amy doesn’t find what she’s looking for, so she goes for
another bin, dumps out more items.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Mom, answer me.
AMY
The garage door clicker.
MEGAN
The garage door...?
AMY
It might still work.
It dawns on Megan why she’d be looking for it. Megan helps,

pulling down more bins and searching.
MEGAN
I found it!
Megan gives Amy the garage door clicker. She pops off the
back. The batteries are corroded.
AMY
I need two double A’s.
Megan gets the batteries and gives them to Amy. She quickly
replaces them.
Amy moves as close to the door as possible and presses...

click... click... click...
EXT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
WIDE SHOT of the farmhouse. The garage door doesn’t move.
Amy mashes the button faster, click, click, click.

45.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Suddenly, the garage door on the farmhouse LOUDLY SQUEALS and

GROANS open as it begins to rise.
From over his shoulder, Lucas hears a loud GRINDING of GEARS

and METAL coming from outside. What the hell...?
He turns around, inches up the staircase.
Amy plants her ear to the door, hears the faint SOUND of feet
shuffling away.
Lucas emerges from the access hatch to see the garage door
going up. Gun out and up, he approaches the farmhouse.
Amy puts on her O2 backpack, checks the gauge: 20m
AMY
Megan, put on your mask.
MEGAN
What about him?
Amy places Micah’s mask on his face.
AMY
I guess he has five minutes.
Amy grabs a rifle, leans in close to Megan.
AMY (CONT’D)
Remember, do not open the door
unless I use the word.
Amy unlocks the door, opens it a crack. No Lucas. Amy steps

outside, Megan slams the door shut, then turns back to Micah.
46.
Amy quietly pads up the stairs. When she reaches the top, she
peeks her head out to see the open garage and no Lucas.
INT. FARMHOUSE/GARAGE - THAT MOMENT
Lucas is looking around. Behind him, only we see Amy dart out
of the hatch and hide on the other side of the barn.
AMY’S POV: Looking up at the roof, not seeing Tess.
LUCAS (O.S.)
TESS. C’MERE. QUICK.
Lucas is standing outside the garage, waving for Tess.
TESS
WHAT IS IT? GET BACK DOWN THERE!
LUCAS
THERE’S SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE.
Lucas ducks back into the garage. Tess glances at the clogged
pipe, then runs to the ladder and climbs down.
ON AMY
Kneeling on the other side of the barn, watching Tess rush

towards the garage.
Amy aims at Tess, the crosshairs on her back, about to pull

the trigger only to lose her shot as Tess enters the garage.
INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - THAT MOMENT
Micah thrashes back and forth, checks his O2 gauge: 1 min.
MICAH
Please, I got a kid back there.
Megan sits across from him, knees nervously bouncing, the gun
rattling in her lap and pointed at Micah.
MEGAN
Yeah...? What’s their name?
MICAH
...Claire... She’s six.
47.
Claire. The name registers with Megan, Tess did say it

earlier. Megan rises up... reaches out... then:
MEGAN
I’m sorry.
Megan can’t watch what Micah’s about to go through. She

rushes into her room, leaving him alone.
MICAH
YOU HEARTLESS SHIT. DON’T LEAVE ME.
MEGAN’S ROOM
Megan clamps headphones over her ears, presses play on a CD

player. Music BLARES, drowning out Micah.
MAIN CHAMBER
Micah is SCREAMING like a madman when -- BLEEP-BLEEP-BLEEP.

His O2 GAUGE BOTTOMS OUT AT ZERO. He starts to WHEEZE.
MEGAN’S ROOM
Megan sits on her bed, eyes closed tight, trying to forget

what’s happening on the other side of her door.
MAIN CHAMBER
Micah GASPS, face turning RED, his eyes CLOSING...
His mask is suddenly ripped off and a new one is put on.
Micah’s eyes SNAP open as he inhales two lungfuls of oxygen.
Megan is kneeling in front of him, giving him a pull from her

O2 cylinder. She whisks it away and puts it to her mouth.
MEGAN
I want to trust you. So I’ll make
you a deal. I’m going to ask you a
question. For every honest answer
you give me, I’ll give you one
minute to breathe.
Micah wildly nods, Yes! Fucking yes!!
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Did you kill my father and is that
how you know about this place?
She puts the mask on him. He inhales, savoring every breath.

48.
MICAH
No... we didn’t kill your father...
And no... that’s not how we know
about this place...
Megan pulls away the mask, takes some oxygen for herself.
MEGAN
Did that lady really work with my
dad?
Megan gives Micah a turn with the mask.
MICAH
Yes... We’re the good guys... Your
mom is wrong... You’re right...
Trust your instincts...
Micah’s eyes give nothing away. He seems genuine.
MICAH (CONT’D)
If you let Tess in here, maybe she
can improve on your dad’s creation?
Maybe she can do more than even he
was able to do.
Megan starts to take away the mask.
MICAH (CONT’D)
No, no, no, wait! One more thing!
Micah inhales, like it’s the last breath he’ll ever take.
MICAH (CONT’D)
But... if you let Tess die out
there, we’ll never know what she
could have done.
Megan slowly takes the mask back. She holds his stare,
ruminating over his words. Then:
WHIRRRRR -- The O2 generator starts up with a WHOOSH of air

rushing out the vent. The CO2 levels begin to wane.
Megan places her hand over the vent, feels the airflow
restored, breathes a sigh of relief. Looks back at Micah.
Lucas leads the way through the room, passing under the hole
in the ceiling. Tess is shielded behind him, on high alert.
49.
TESS
We can’t waste time in here. If
they die down there we’ll never get
in. Do you hear me?
LUCAS
I do, and if there’s someone else
out here, they can let us in. A
garage door doesn’t open itself.
Then, something occurs to Tess.
TESS
Shit.
Tess races into the kitchen with the missing wall and heads
for the barn when --
PFFFT! PFFFT!
Two bullets tear through a cabinet.
Amy is flat on her stomach, taking aim with her rifle at

Tess. The exhaust pipe has been unclogged.
INT. FARMHOUSE/KITCHEN - THAT MOMENT
Lucas tackles Tess as a bullet whizzes by her head. He drags

her out of the kitchen, no longer exposed to the outside.
LIVING ROOM
Tess picks herself up, kicks the wall. Pissed beyond words,
she stares at Lucas, then looks at her O2 gauge: 34 min.
LUCAS
I’m sorry, I thought--
Tess puts up a hand, doesn’t want to hear it. Instead, she

peers around a corner at the barn.
TESS
WELL, YOU’RE OUT HERE NOW. WHY
DON’T WE TRY TALKING AGAIN?
Amy scans the house, searching for a clear shot.

50.
TESS (O.S.)
I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE
LEFT, BUT IT CAN’T BE THAT MUCH.
Amy checks her oxygen gauge: 18 min.
AMY
Shit...
Amy knows they have more oxygen than her.
Lucas crawls under a window, gets the roof in his sights.
TESS
COME ON. SAY SOMETHING. ANYTHING.
When Tess doesn’t get a reply, she turns to Lucas.
TESS (CONT’D)
For all we know she’s got a full
tank. We have to get to her.
LUCAS
Yeah, I know.
TESS
So you go around the left side of
the barn. I’ll go on the right side
to distract her--
LUCAS
What? No, Tess--
TESS
Don’t interrupt. Let me finish--
LUCAS
I can’t let you do that.
TESS
Do what?
LUCAS
I can’t let you run out there like
a sitting duck.
TESS
There’s no other way. We’re running
out of time.
(MORE)
51.
TESS (CONT'D)
We need to get to her, because
she’s the only way we can get
inside now.
LUCAS
Huh?
TESS
By coming out here, she’s given us
something we can use: Her.
LUCAS
‘Her?’
TESS
We get our hands on her, what child
wouldn’t open the door for their
mom? She’s our ticket inside.
LUCAS
(beat)
She’ll tell her kid not to open up.
TESS
I know, but I heard the girl
talking. She wants to trust us.
Amy has the living room window in her crosshairs, just

waiting for Tess and Lucas to show themselves.
She steals a glance at her oxygen gauge: 16 min
Tess and Lucas finish discussing their plan of attack.
TESS
You understand what you need to do?
LUCAS
Uh huh.
TESS
Good, go do it.
They sync their wristwatches, Lucas crawls out of the room.
DINING ROOM
52.
Lucas slinks into the dinning room and up to a screen door

that leads out to the backyard.
From here, he sees the back of the BARN. If Amy keeps her
sights on the house, she won’t spot Lucas from this angle.
LIVING ROOM
Tess eyes her watch as seconds tick by: 10... 9... 8... 7...
DINING ROOM
Lucas is staring at his watch: 6...5...4...
ON TESS’S WATCH, 3... 2... 1
Tess raises a gun and FIRES TWO SHOTS... BANG...BANG!
Amy STARTLES as two bullets hit the edge of the roof.
INT. FARMHOUSE/DINING ROOM - THAT MOMENT
Lucas BURSTS out the backdoor towards the barn.
Tess clocks Lucas SPRINTING across the yard and FIRES another
SHOT at the roof to keep Amy down.
EXT. FARM - THAT MOMENT
Lucas bolts across the dirt field, until he makes it safely

to the back of the BARN.
Amy is reluctant to lift her head.
TESS’S POV: Lucas delicately places one foot on the ladder.

53.
Amy is still keeping her head low. Only we see the top of the
ladder shimmy. Amy, however, is too preoccupied to notice.
Tess watches Lucas gradually inch his way up the ladder. He

stops, just before reaching the top.
TESS
AMY, I’VE HAD ENOUGH! I DON’T HAVE
TIME FOR THIS SHIT!
ON AMY
Remaining still, trying to make out Tess’s words.
TESS (CONT’D)
I’M WALKING OUT. IF YOU WANNA SHOOT
ME, GO AHEAD.
ON TESS
Taking a deep breath, before walking out into the open.
TESS (CONT’D)
I’M STANDING RIGHT HERE.
ON AMY
Not believing it, but finding the courage to peek above the
ledge. Tess is indeed standing in the middle of the yard.
Amy has Tess in her sights. Her finger is on the trigger,

about to squeeze off a shot.
CREAK...
Amy blanches, whips around just in time to see Lucas swinging

the butt of his shotgun into her face.
Megan has her gun trained on Micah. She looks at the MONITOR.
Still a BLACK SCREEN. Amy forgot to remove the black tape.
In the reflection of the black screen, we see something move

behind her.
Megan turns around, but she’s grabbed by the hair and pulled
to the floor. She hits the cement with a hard THUD.
54.
Micah towers over her. Duct tape hanging off his free hands
and gripping the scissors Amy used to cut open his EV suit.
MICAH
Against the radiator.
Megan scurries away, but Micah grabs her foot and drags her
kicking and screaming across the floor, over to the radiator.
MEGAN
NO!! NO!!!
He binds her hands with duct tape, ties her to the radiator.
Micah digs into some bins until he finds TWINE. He wraps it

around her neck, securing her entire body to the radiator.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
It’s hard... to breathe...
MICAH
Yeah, I know the feeling.
Micah, a bloody mess, stands back. Megan is shaking with fear

when -- a KNOCK on the other side of the shelter door.
TESS
MEGAN. I NEED YOU TO LISTEN.
Megan’s head snaps up.
TESS (CONT’D)
I HAVE YOUR MOTHER.
MICAH
Tess?
TESS
(surprised)
Micah?!
MICAH
Yeah, I got free.
TESS
Did you just say you got free?!
MICAH
YEAH!
TESS
WELL THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
OPEN THE FUCKIN’ DOOR.
55.
Micah looks at the monitor, but it’s still blacked out.
MICAH
TAKE THE TAPE OFF. I WANNA BE SURE.
ON THE MONITOR: The tape is removed, revealing Tess and Lucas

holding Amy hostage at gunpoint.
Megan SHUDDERS at the image.
MICAH (CONT’D)
I’M COMING.
Micah goes to the door, unlocks the first deadbolt. But when
he reaches for the second lock, he starts to wildly blink
MICAH (CONT’D)
(to himself)
Whoa...
Micah is having trouble with his balance and coordination.
MEGAN
(cringing)
Uh... Your back...
MICAH
Wh... what?
MEGAN’S POV: Micah’s entire back is DRENCHED with BLOOD. His

tourniquet fell off during his fight.
MICAH (CONT’D)
I’m...
Micah steadies himself. As he reaches for the lock, his eyes

flutter. He falls back, SLAMMING his head into the floor.
He stares straight up. Eyes wide and vacant. He lets out a

shivering breath and goes still.
MEGAN
Oh my God...
INT. STAIRWELL - THAT MOMENT
Lucas has his gun on Amy. Tess KNOCKS on the door.
TESS
Micah? What’s going on?
56.
Blood rivers from the back of Micah’s head and shoulder.
TESS (O.S.)
MICAH?! ANSWER ME.
MEGAN
HE’S DEAD.
Tess and Lucas exchange a look.
MEGAN (O.S.)
HE JUST, HE COLLAPSED. HE WAS
BLEEDING AND... HE’S DEAD.
Lucas shakes his head, laughing in disbelief.
LUCAS
Bullshit.
TESS
(to Amy)
Tell her to open up.
AMY
No.
Lucas MASHES Amy’s face into the door.
Megan desperately tries to pull herself free, but all she

does is slice her wrists on the sharp zip-ties and twine.
LUCAS (O.S.)
I’m done with this shit! If this
door isn’t open in five seconds,
your mom is dead.
LUCAS (CONT’D) MEGAN

One... two... I can’t open it! I’m tied up!
TESS
Wait, what’d she say?
LUCAS MEGAN (O.S.)

THREE! YOUR FRIEND TIED ME UP!
57.
TESS
Lucas, shut up, I can’t hear what
she’s saying--
LUCAS
FOUR... FIVE...
Tess rips the gun from Lucas.
MEGAN
DON’T SHOOT, I’M TIED UP, I SWEAR
TO GOD, I CAN’T MOVE.
LUCAS
She’s fuckin’ with us. She ain’t
tied up.
MEGAN
PLEASE, BELIEVE ME. I SWEAR. I
CAN’T MOVE.
Tess looks at Amy who has concern in her eyes.
AMY
Megan? It’s mom. Tell me, can you
really not get to the door?
MEGAN
I SWEAR, MOM. I SWEAR.
TESS
What’s the key code.
AMY
6, 2, 9, 8, 0, 5
Lucas goes to the keypad, but forgets the code.
LUCAS
Again, but slower.
AMY
It won’t work. It takes dual
authentication from outside. You
need a keycard.
LUCAS
(not believing)
Just tell me the code again.
AMY
6, 2, 9, 8, 0, 5
Lucas enters the code, pulls the lever. Locked.

58.
LUCAS
Where’s the keycard?
AMY
Inside the shelter.
Lucas frisks Amy, searches inside her pockets.
AMY (CONT’D)
In case I was caught, I didn’t want
you to get in there.
Lucas jams his gun into Amy’s cheek.
TESS
There has to be another way in.
Amy shakes her head, “no.”
TESS (CONT’D)
No? Well you better figure out a
way, because if you don’t, how’s
your kid gonna eat, huh? It’ll only
be a matter of time until--
AMY
I KNOW.
Amy looks off, contemplating something.
TESS
What? What’re you thinking?
BLEEP-BLEEP-BLEEP -- Amy’s O2 gauge sounds with an alert. She

completely forgot about it: 5 min
AMY
Oh shit.
TESS
Amy, listen to me. Think. Is there
another way inside?
AMY
I -- I don’t --
TESS
Think. You have five minutes to
save your kid.
AMY
Okay, yes -- Maybe -- But -- But --
59.
TESS
But what?
AMY
But neither of us have enough
oxygen to do it.
TESS
To do what?
AMY
There’s another keycard -- But it’s
not here -- It’s half a day’s hike.
We’d never make it with the oxygen
we have left.
MEGAN (O.S.)
MOM? WHAT’S GOING ON?
BLEEP-BLEEP, 4 min
TESS
If I can keep you breathing, can
you get us that keycard?
AMY
(beat)
Keeping me breathing is the only
way to find out.
Tess races upstairs. Amy and Lucas follow.
Tess sprints to the shopping cart of supplies. Inside are

three oxygen cylinders.
TESS
Our last tanks. Each with five
hours of oxygen.
Tess turns Amy around, disconnects her empty tank, and

connects a fresh tank. Amy’s O2 gauge jumps: 5hr
AMY
...thank you... thank you... But...
LUCAS
‘But?’ Of course there’s a ‘but.’
TESS
Let her talk.
60.
AMY
The place we need to go is a 16
hour walk, round trip. Even if we
gave one person all three tanks,
they still wouldn’t make it there
and back...
Then, something occurs to Amy. She rushes into the barn.
INT. BARN - CONTINUOUS
Amy slides the tarp off the VEHICLE. It’s a dented and
chipped hunk of metal. An ELECTRIC CAR on it’s last legs.
TESS
When was the last time you used
this thing?
AMY
I make sure to check the charge
once a month, but...
Amy removes an ALUMINUM HEAT SHIELD from the windshield. She

sits in the driver’s seat, presses the ignition. Nothing.
LUCAS
Shit!
But she tries again... click, click, click...
HUMMMMMM...
They all look at each other, excited, before the gravity of

the situation takes back over.
AMY
It’s about a thirty minute drive.
We’ll see how long the car can
last. The solar panels will absorb
the heat, so maybe we’ll be okay.
TESS
Maybe...?
AMY
Thirty minutes to get there. One
hour to get the key. Thirty minutes
to get back. A little over two
hours in total, if we’re lucky.
TESS
Getting lucky is our only chance.
61.
Tess grabs an O2 cylinder for herself, places it in the back.
TESS (CONT’D)
So, where the hell are we going?
AMY
I’ll tell you, but only after I say
goodbye to Megan.
Megan is still fighting to get herself loose.
AMY (O.S.)
Megan. I’m going to take care of
this. But I have to go somewhere.
MEGAN
What?! Where?!
Amy hesitates to answer.
AMY
I can’t get into it, but, I think I
know where there might be another
key. But... Just...
MEGAN (O.S.)
WAIT! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!
AMY
It’s going to be okay. I can’t -- I
just have to go -- I love you.
Amy can’t bear her daughter’s pleas anymore, she needs to go.
MEGAN (O.S.)
MOM!!! WAIT!!! MOM!!!
Megan doesn’t get an answer. She stares helplessly ahead.
Amy digs inside a storage bin and pulls out HIKING GEAR:
BUNGEE CORDS, ROPE, CARABINERS, and a CLIMBING HARNESS.
62.
Amy tosses them in the backseat, then gets behind the wheel.
Confused by all the gear, Tess hops into the passenger seat.
TESS
Where are we going with all this?
AMY
The last place I ever wanted to go.
We’re going to see my husband.
Tess’s head snaps up. Amy drives off.
EXT. STREET - DAY
The hot sun beams down on the car as it glides down a main
strip. Everything is abandoned and sun-baked.
Fallen, brittle, and leafless trees are toppled over. Some of

them in the middle of the road, which Amy avoids.
INT. AMY’S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Amy cautiously navigates the terrain.
TESS
Is Joel still alive?
Amy shakes her head, “no.”
TESS (CONT’D)
But we’re going to see him?
AMY
We’re going to see what’s left of
him.
TESS
Enough off this cryptic shit. What
happened to him?
AMY
...Five months ago, Joel’s father
died while they were outside
performing maintenance on the
oxygen generator. The next day,
Joel left to bury him. Joel never
came back.
Amy maneuvers around a down tree.

63.
AMY (CONT’D)
That night, I found a note under my
pillow...
Amy looks at Tess, debating if she should go on.
AMY (CONT’D)
Apparently, Joel always knew his
invention couldn’t sustain everyone
forever. Even without his father,
the system was still pushing too
hard and would eventually fail. It
was only a matter of time. The way
Joel figured, his presence was
cutting the lives of his family in
half. He couldn’t figure out how to
optimize the machine.
Amy looks at Tess, lets a glimmer of hope slip out.
AMY (CONT’D)
Maybe when you get down there,
you’ll figure out what he couldn’t.
TESS
Maybe.
AMY
But I never told Megan...
Megan is still tied up.
AMY (V.O.)
Even though I get what Joel did, he
gave up. I couldn’t let Megan think
giving up was ever an option.
Megan tries to kick over a bottle of water so she can drink,

but she’s unsuccessful.
Lucas is sitting with his back against the wall.
AMY (V.O.)
After burying his father, Joel
decided to go to a place that
reminded him of better times. In
fact, one of his favorite times.
That’s where we’re going.
64.
INT. AMY’S CAR - THAT MOMENT
Amy shakes her head in disbelief.
AMY
But, for being such a smart guy, he
was also pretty stupid. He forgot
he had the only other keycard on
him. So... I’m hoping that keycard
is still with him.
TESS
Or what’s left of him.
Megan surveys the room, her eyes land on the stereo. She
stretches out her toe and presses a button. The CLASSICAL
MUSIC she grudgingly listened to on Thanksgiving plays.
Lucas lifts his head after hearing the music.
LUCAS
Hey! D’you get free?!
Megan STARTLES.
MEGAN
My toe did. I hit the stereo.
Lucas shakes his head, not sure what to believe. But what
choice does he have? Lucas backs down, let’s the song play.
LUCAS
It’s good to sit at least.
Lucas grimaces as he massages his boot.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Been on my feet for three days.
They both sit in silence, letting the music wash over them.
Under normal conditions, Megan couldn’t turn this music off
fast enough. But right now, it somehow gives her comfort.
65.
EXT. ROAD - EVENING
The sun is setting.
Amy and Tess pull up next to a clearing. Amy parks the car
and gets out. They check their O2 levels: 4hr 31min
EXT. NIAGARA GORGE - NIGHT
Lugging the hiking gear, they reach a clearing. The same

cliff we saw from earlier. Amy stares at the open space...
FLASHBACK
Joel takes Megan out of the baby carrier. He holds up his

phone and takes a selfie. They all smile, one happy family.
PRESENT DAY
Amy looks over the ledge. No waterfall anymore. Completely

dry. It’s a few hundred feet down and pitch black.
TESS
He’s down there?
AMY
It’s what he said in the note.
Dubious, Tess eyeballs Amy.
AMY (CONT’D)
One of us goes down there, the
other stays up here with the line.
Amy hammers two BOLTS into the rock and threads a bungee cord
through. Amy tugs on the cord, then hands it to Tess.
AMY (CONT’D)
Careful not to get rope burn.
Amy puts on the CLIMBING HARNESS, tethers herself to the

cord, and affixes a carabiner and brake strand.
With her back to the clearing, she makes sure the rig is
holding her weight. When she’s satisfied it’s secure --
She kicks off, rappelling down, down, way down into the dark
until --
Her boots hit the rocky bottom.

66.
She flips on a light attached to the helmet of her EV suit

and scans the area. Nothing, just rocks and dirt.
AT THE TOP OF THE CLIFF
Tess shines a flashlight down, but she can’t see anything.
BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF
Amy sweeps her light over the ground...
...CRUNCH...
Amy has stepped on something... She shines her light on...
A MUMMIFIED CORPSE inside an EV suit.
Amy reels back and looks away.
Breath hastening, she takes a moment to collect herself, then

slowly cranes her head back at the corpse.
Overwhelmed, she stares down at what’s left of Joel. Amy is

frozen in this moment, overcome with emotion...
Then, she remembers the task at hand. She fights back tears
and inches forward... kneels next to Joel’s corpse...
She spots a HANDGUN, the one Joel had when he left the
shelter. She pockets it, continues to search for the keycard.
Amy, queasy, feels inside his pockets.
AT THE TOP OF THE CLIFF
Tess shines her flashlight over the ledge and waves her hand
in front of it, creating a strobe effect.
BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF
Amy notices the flickering light. She shines her light up and
signals back.
Amy continues to dig through his pockets, starting to panic

when she can’t find it.
Then, Amy sees his backpack a few feet away. She tears it
open, supplies spill out. She fans them out when --
She sees it. Amy snatches up the KEYCARD. She holds it, hands
shaking with adrenaline. She wants to cheer, shout, cry...
But she keeps it together, puts the keycard in her pocket and
zips it up. Amy stands, looks down at her husband’s remains.
67.
Amy starts to tear up... But needs to push on...
WITH TESS
The cord RATTLES, indicating that Amy is climbing up. Tess

shines her flashlight on Amy as she scales the mountain.
Amy GRUNTS LOUDLY as she pulls herself up. Rappel ascension

is clearly taking more muscle and focus than rappelling down.
TESS
You get them?
Amy can’t answer, keeps climbing, BREATHING FAST and HEAVY,

on a mission -- The CORD SNAPS.
TESS (CONT’D)
NO!
Tess GRASPS the cord, but it SLIPS through her hands and she
watches it disappear over the cliff.
ON TESS
Cupping her mouth as she slowly approaches the ledge. She

looks over to see...
AMY
Hugging the side of the mountain for dear life. Her foot
wedged in a foothold and her fingertips latched onto a rock.
Amy shimmies over to a rock where there’s enough room to

stand. She lets go of the mountain.
AMY
(heaving)
I’m okay -- I’m okay --
Amy squeezes her hands. She looks up at Tess, she’s at least

TWENTY FEET from the top.
AMY (CONT’D)
Throw down another cord!
Tess picks up a bungee cord.
TESS
Did you get the key?!
AMY
Y-yes.
Tess drops the cord to Amy.

68.
AMY (CONT’D)
You won’t be able to pull me up by
yourself. I’d end up pulling you
over. You need to secure it.
TESS
Okay. But first show me the key.
Amy takes out the keycard. Tess can’t contain herself.
TESS (CONT’D)
You did it! Quick, tie the key to
the cord, let me pull it up first.
Amy glares at Tess, No fucking way!
TESS (CONT’D)
We can’t lose that key. If this
cords snaps like the other, you’ll
fall and take the key with you.
Amy considers the prospect.
TESS (CONT’D)
I promise to get you up here, but
the key is most important. Think
about Megan.
Amy lowers her head. Whether Tess is telling the truth or

lying, she’s right. The key is what’s most important.
Amy slides the cord through a keychain on the keycard.
Tess carefully pulls it up and unties the key. She holds it

in her hand, the most beautiful thing in the world.
TESS (CONT’D)
Keep holding on.
AMY’S POV: Tess moves out of view. Seconds past as Amy looks
up at nothing. All she hears is Tess SHUFFLING about.
AMY
HEY!
Tess comes back into view and tosses the cord down to Amy.
TESS
I was securing it. Feel.
Amy tugs on the cord. It feels secure. Amy looks up at Tess

as if to say, okay, I got no other choice.
69.
Amy tethers herself to the cord... and climbs... Never taking

her eyes off Tess as she pulls herself up...
7 feet away... 6 feet... 5 feet... She’s within Tess’s reach.
As Amy extends her hand, her foot slips off a rock --
AMY SWINGS INTO THE MOUNTAIN, CRUSHING HER LEG INTO THE SIDE.
AMY
AHHHHHH!
Tess grips Amy’s hand.
TESS
Climb. C’mon! I got you!
Amy winces when she puts weight on her LEFT LEG.
Tess pulls with all her strength until Amy reaches the top
and claws her way over the cliff.
Breathless, Tess and Amy look at each other, elated and

verging on tears.
AMY
Thank you.
Amy tries to stand, but her knee buckles under the pressure.
TESS
Let’s just get to the car.
Tess lifts up Amy, and helps her to the car. Tess eases Amy
into the passenger seat.
Tess gets behind the wheel and starts the car. She hits the
peddle, peels out, but the car stalls after going ten feet.
Tess tries the car again, but it doesn’t start. FUCK! Amy
checks the battery light. Dead.
Amy looks at her oxygen gauge: 4hr
Tess also checks her oxygen gauge: 4hr
In agony, Amy looks down at her injured leg. Then, Amy looks
up at Tess. With resignation in her voice, Amy says:
AMY
We made good time on the climb...
So if you run, you might make it.
70.
TESS
No, come on. You’re walking.
Tess gets out, runs to the passenger side, and pulls Amy out.
Tess drapes Amy’s arm over her shoulder and tries to jog, but
Amy’s leg buckles again and they both fall.
Tess struggles to pick her up, but Amy throws her off.
TESS (CONT’D)
You’re not even going to try?
AMY
You only have four hours! You’ll
barely make it as is. You can’t
wait for me. I’ll slow you down and
neither of us will make it.
Torn, Tess looks at the path ahead, then back at Amy.
AMY (CONT’D)
Just promise me, you won’t hurt my
daughter.
TESS
...I promise.
AMY
Are you a mother?
TESS
...I was.
Pain in Tess’s eyes.
AMY
Now go. Fast.
TESS
I’ll come back for you if I can.
AMY
That’s nice of you to say.
Tess runs off, disappearing into the dark. Once Tess is out
of sight, Amy curls up and bawls.
Amy starts to SHIVER as the temperature falls. She crawls

into the car. Tries the ignition again. Nothing.
71.
EXT. ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
Tess is running her ass off, FOGGING up her mask. She looks
at her tank: 3hrs 50min
EXT. CLIFF SIDE - MOMENTS LATER
Amy is still behind the wheel. She reaches into her pocket
and pulls out the photo of her, Joel, and Megan.
She props it up on the dashboard. Through the window is the

new, bleak mountain view. But Amy remains fixed on the photo.
CUT TO BLACK:
3 HOURS LATER
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Tess, bone-tired and FREEZING from her prolonged exposure to

the PLUNGING TEMPERATURE, is jogging down the road.
She looks at her oxygen gauge: 50 min
Her lungs are burning, her muscles are fucking shot. Her legs
give out and she drops to her knees, heaving inside her mask.
She scans the area, no idea where she is. She shines her
light into the dark and... Wait, is that the farmhouse?!
Tess wills herself to her feet and sprints toward it.
INT. STAIRWELL - MOMENTS LATER
Lucas HEARS FOOTSTEPS and raises his gun as Tess comes

stumbling down the stairs.
Tess collapses into his arms out of sheer exhaustion. They

hug each other tight.
LUCAS
The keycard?
Out of breath, she takes the keycard out of her pocket.
Lucas rips it out of her hand. He punches in the code and

places the keycard above the keypad. CLICK.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
FUCK YEAH!
72.
TESS
(catching her breath)
Amy... got hurt...
LUCAS
(not caring)
That sucks.
TESS
I need to go back for her.
LUCAS
What? We need to get you in there
and look at that machine.
Megan is sleeping when she HEARS the door GROAN open.
MEGAN
Mom?
Tess and Lucas hurry inside. Lucas quickly shuts the door
after himself and locks it. Megan’s face falls.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Where’s my mom?
Tess and Lucas lift their masks and slip off their O2 packs.
After 3 days on the road, breathing never felt so damn good.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Answer me! Where is she?!
Tess kneels beside Megan, goes to untie her, but stops.
TESS
Your mother hurt her leg when she
climbed up from getting the key--
MEGAN
(totally confused)
Her leg? Climbed up? From where?
What the hell are you talking
about? Where the hell is she?!
TESS
I’m trying to tell you--
MEGAN
Wait -- That’s my dad’s key.
Tess follows Megan’s gaze to the keycard.

73.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
How’d you get my dad’s key?
LUCAS
Tess, come look at this thing.
Lucas runs his hand over the O2 generator, marveling at it.
TESS
(to Lucas)
Hang on.
(to Megan)
I wish I wasn’t the one telling you
this, but... your dad knew this
machine couldn’t sustain all of you
for as long as he wanted it to.
LUCAS
What? What’s that mean?
TESS
(ignoring Lucas)
He left here so you and your mom
could live longer. She just didn’t
want to tell you because--
MEGAN
This is bullshit.
LUCAS
Tess, stop wastin’ time.
TESS
Give me one second, Lucas.
MEGAN
I don’t believe you. You killed
her. Probably him too. Didn’t you?
TESS
No. Trust me. She may still be
alive. I’m going back for her. Does
this thing refill tanks?
Tess motions to the O2 generator.
MEGAN
Yeah.
LUCAS
Jesus Christ, you’re not going
anywhere, Tess.
74.
TESS
I promised I would.
LUCAS
What about your promise to our
friends back home? You’re not
risking your life, again.
TESS
Lucas--
LUCAS
‘Member why we came here?! We came
here so you could look at this
thing and see if you can build
another. And if you can’t--
TESS
I’ll look when I come back.
Lucas aims his gun at Megan.
TESS (CONT’D) MEGAN

LUCAS! OH MY GOD!
LUCAS
(to Tess)
I can’t kill you, but I can kill
the reason you want to go back for
that bitch. Now look at that thing!
TESS
Okay, just put the gun down.
LUCAS
I’m not gonna ask again. LOOK!
Tess kneels next to the O2 generator and starts inspecting

it. She gently removes the protective plexiglass.
TESS
Screwdriver? Phillips?
Megan, petrified, motions with her head to a tool bin. Lucas

rips it off the shelf, tools spill out.
Tess picks up a screwdriver, unscrews a metal panel. Inside

is a mass of color-coded wires, a tangled mess of confusion.
TESS (CONT’D)
I need to take it apart to really
figure this out.
75.
LUCAS
Then take it apart. Do what you
need to do.
TESS
But it takes time.
LUCAS
We have time.
TESS
Amy doesn’t.
LUCAS
Are you outta your mind? Can you
replicate it?
TESS
I don’t know.
LUCAS
Holy shit. Three fuckin’ days we
hike here. Three. We gave you
everything. Food. Water. Air. And
now that you’re here, you wanna
leave?
TESS
It’s the right thing to do.
LUCAS
I’m putting an end to this.
Lucas aims his gun at Megan.
TESS
I CAN’T REPLICATE IT.
Lucas stops.
TESS (CONT’D)
I can’t fix it.
LUCAS
You barely looked at it.
TESS
I’m... I’m not an engineer.
On Lucas, “WHAT?!”
TESS (CONT’D)
I’m not an engineer.
76.
LUCAS
...I heard you. Now explain what
the fuck it means.
TESS
I lied to all of you. I lied so
that I’d be able to come here.
LUCAS
No, no, then how’d you know all
this shit about her dad?
Tess looks at Megan, reluctant to say.
TESS
I would listen to her over a radio.
LUCAS
Radio?
TESS
I have a HAM radio. I kept it
hidden from everyone. And when
Megan would talk...
(to Megan)
I would listen. I waited until I
had enough information I could use.
Megan’s face fills with anger and fear.
LUCAS
Everyone back home, who’s life
depends on you, you lied.
Lucas can’t believe what he’s hearing. He slumps into a

chair, all hope draining from his being.
TESS
I’m sorry. To both of you.
Lucas raises his gun.
And shoots Tess in the head. Her body drops in front of

Megan. Tess’s vacant eyes stare back.
Megan SCREAMS.
MEGAN
WHOA! WHOA! OH MY GOD!
Lucas, like a zombie, shuffles to the couch, and plops down.
LUCAS
You can’t trust anyone, can you?
77.
He looks at Megan who is hyperventilating.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
I’m not going to hurt you, but I
can’t untie you just yet. You seem
a little... unstable at the moment.
And I just don’t want you to do
anything stupid. Okay?
But Megan is in too much shock to answer, unable to take her

eyes off Tess’s lifeless body.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Let me fix that.
Lucas rips the red checkered tablecloth off the table and
drapes it over Tess. Splotches of blood instantly soak in.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Eh, good enough... now, I assume
you’re wondering, ‘What’s his
plan?’ Fair question. And from my
point of view, it’s pretty simple.
Lucas unstraps his O2 pack and unzips his EV suit. Underneath

is a bodysuit with cooling tubes snaking all around.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
The place I was staying at has a
failing system. Tess was the only
one who said she could fix it. Tess
can’t fix it. And now I’m here,
with a working system. So, it
appears to me like you have a new
roommate.
Lucas winces as he slowly peels off his blood-caked socks.

His bare feet are beet red, raw and full of blisters.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Got any aloe?
MEGAN
H-hey... I--I know you’re upset...
Lucas snickers, no shit. He stands and walks on his heels to

the first aid kit.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
But all I want, is to get my mom.
LUCAS
Your mom’s dead... Sorry.
78.
MEGAN
Tess said she could be alive?
Lucas scoffs at the idea as he points at Tess.
LUCAS
Her? Miss Engineer over there?
You’re gonna believe her?
(yelling at Tess)
Miss Just Get Me There And I’ll Fix
Everything!
MEGAN
Just untie me. Gimme a chance to--
LUCAS
You’re not leaving. Besides, you’re
the only one who knows how this
shelter functions. I’d be a fool to
let you go until I know how
everything operates. You’re the tour
guide and I’d be lost without you.
MEGAN
Please, let me--
Lucas slams his fist on the table.
LUCAS
Megan! I’m trying real hard to keep
things civil. Don’t make me...
Just... I need quiet. I need to
think and I need quiet. It’s been a
long week and...
Lucas lays down on the couch and closes his eyes.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
...and I’m fuckin’ done.
EXT. CLIFF SIDE - MORNING
The sun is coming up. Amy’s car is still where we left it.
INT. AMY’S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Amy stares blankly ahead. At first we think she might be

dead, but then she looks at her O2 gauge: 39 minutes
She watches the sun on the rise. Then, something on the

ground catches her eye outside the car.
79.
She opens the door, swings her injured leg out, and limps
toward something.
TILT DOWN to a lone GREEN WEED popping out of the dirt.
Amy holds it gently in her hand. If there’s plant life here,

there might be oxygen in the atmosphere.
Amy takes off her mask and tries to inhale, but she starts
GASPING. The air is too thin to breathe.
But this weed means there’s hope... Maybe the planet is

healing and replenishing itself?
As the sun climbs higher in the sky, it doesn’t take long for
it to heat up. Amy is struck with an idea.
Amy crawls to the trunk of her car and pulls out an aluminum
heat shield that was in the windshield.
She holds it up to the sun and reflects the rays onto the
solar panels on the roof.
With her climbing gear and ropes, Amy rigs the shield so that
it will continually direct sunlight onto the solar panels.
She gets into the driver’s seat and presses the ignition
button. It turns on, but the battery level is only at 2%.
AMY
Come on... Get me to ten.
The car battery ticks up to 3%
EXT. BARN - DAY
The access hatch is pushed open from the inside. Lucas

emerges, the keycard dangling from his belt.
He climbs out, then reaches back into the stairwell, and

begins to drag something heavy.
He pulls Tess’s body out of the stairwell and across the

dirt, leaving a trail of blood.
EXT. BARN - MOMENTS LATER
Lucas drops Tess’s body next to Micah’s. He has the gardening

shovel in his hands, then looks up at the hot sun.
Is it even worth the trouble of burying them? Lucas shrugs,

fuck it, and trudges off.
80.
Lucas stomps back inside, shuts the door, and locks it.
Bloody handprints are smeared on his EV suit.
He lifts his mask and brushes dirt off himself. He looks at a

still tied up and stoned-face Megan.
LUCAS
Better, right? They were shitty
roommates.
Lucas laughs at his own joke.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
I have a good sense of humor.
You’ll learn that about me.
Megan just nods.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
People are always telling me how
funny I am.
MEGAN
(beat)
Yes, you are funny.
LUCAS
That’s what people tell me.
MEGAN
Where were you staying again,
before here?
LUCAS
Claremont Farms. You hungry?
Lucas opens a cupboard, pulls out a can of soup.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Ho-ly shit. You guys got Campbell’s
Chunky style? Where’s the can
opener?
MEGAN
Claremont Farms? That’s like, over
fifty miles from here?
LUCAS
Yes. Can opener?
Lucas opens a drawer.

81.
MEGAN
And you feel okay about letting
them die?
Lucas slams the drawer shut.
LUCAS
I’ll tell you something. And listen
up, because this applies to you
too. To hell with everyone else. Do
I feel bad for them back there?
Sure. Did anyone else raise their
hand saying they’d escort that
lying bitch here? No! They didn’t.
So, screw everyone else. Now...
where the hell is the can opener?!
Lucas stares at Megan for a long BEAT --
The LIGHTS GO OUT and the ELECTRICITY SHUTS DOWN... TOTAL

DARKNESS... But the WHIR of the O2 generator remains...
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Goddamnit. Now what?!
MEGAN
This happens sometimes.
LUCAS
Where’s a flashlight. I can’t see
sh--
The SOUND of Lucas BUMPING into furniture.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
SHIT! AWWWWW!
MEGAN
The O2 generator is running on
reserves. We have about fifteen
minutes before we’re screwed. We
need to go outside. It could be the
solar panels.
LUCAS
(breathing, trying to
remain calm)
Okay... Where’s a flashlight.
MEGAN
There should be one by the door.
Use the wall as a guide.
82.
Lucas stumbles around in the dark. Eventually, we HEAR a

click and a flashlight go on.
LUCAS
Finally.
Lucas shines it at Megan, but she’s not there. The radiator

where she was tied up is empty.
Lucas frantically shines the light around.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Come on now, don’t do this.
Lucas creeps into the hydroponic garden room, shines the

lights on the plants and micro-greens.
He moves into Megan’s bedroom. He shines his light across the

room. Looks under her bed. Nothing.
Lucas stands up. Only we see a figure come out of the dark,
CHARGING at him from behind.
At the last second, Lucas HEARS the FOOTSTEPS, turns and sees
Megan charging at him with her SOFTBALL BAT.
Megan SWINGS, he BLOCKS it with his forearm. Lucas SCREAMS.
She winds up and swings at Lucas’s head -- WHOOSH -- Lucas

ducks at the last second -- He grabs her wrist and twists.
MEGAN
AWWWW!
Megan drops the bat. Lucas throws her into the wall.
LUCAS
Is this how it’s gonna be? Huh? If
so, I swear, I’ll end it right now.
More resources for me.
Lucas lets go of Megan. She falls to the floor, gasping.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
You wanna live, prove you’re worth
keepin’ around. You said this
blackout happens from time to time?
Fix it.
MOMENTS LATER
By the door, Megan is suited up in an EV suit and O2 pack.

83.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Wait, one second.
Lucas abruptly unhooks a tube from her backpack. O2 SPEWS OUT.
MEGAN
What the hell?
Megan’s O2 gauge plunges.
LUCAS
Keeping you on a leash. This way,
you know I mean it when I say you
only have fifteen minutes.
When Megan’s O2 gauge gets to 15 minutes he reconnects it.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
You have fifteen minutes.
Lucas pushes Megan out the door.
Megan runs up the staircase.
Megan hurries into the barn and grabs a ladder.
Megan climbs onto the roof.
She inspects the solar panels and their connections.
That’s weird, one has been disconnected?
WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)

Honey.
Megan nearly jumps out of her skin. She whips around to see
Amy, huddled in a corner, holding her leg in pain.
Megan runs over to her mom and leaps into her arms. If there
was time to cry, they would.
AMY
Are you okay?
84.
MEGAN
He killed Tess. You were right. She
was lying to us, she was lying to
him even, she wasn’t an engineer.
AMY
Then...? How’d she know about dad,
about the generator...?
MEGAN
The HAM radio. I would...
(knows she messed up)
I would try to talk to Dad and...
Sometimes I said too much and... I
just wanted to talk to someone...
Amy hangs her head.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
I know, I screwed up, I’m sorry --
AMY
No, it’s my fault for not listening
to you. And I should’ve told you
about dad. I just, didn’t want you
to give up. But that doesn’t matter
right now. Nothing matters except
protecting our home.
Megan looks at her O2 meter: 3 min
Amy checks her O2 levels: 8 min
AMY (CONT’D)
I have an idea.
Amy reconnects the solar panel.
The lights and O2 generator turn on, making Lucas grin.
Amy gives Megan the HANDGUN she found with Joel’s body.
AMY
You can do this.
Megan nods. Her O2 gauge reads: 2 min
Amy looks at hers: 7 min

85.
Amy and Megan share a look.
AMY (CONT’D)
I love you, honey.
MEGAN
I love you, too.
Megan takes off running.
Megan runs to the door, waves at the security camera.
LUCAS (O.S.)
Who is it?
MEGAN
Very funny. Let me in. I’ve only
got two minutes.
LUCAS (O.S.)
Yeah, I don’t think I need you
anymore.
MEGAN
What’re you talking about? Lemme in!
LUCAS (O.S.)
I’m sorry, but I’d have better luck
on my own then worrying about you
slitting my throat in my sleep.
Megan POUNDS on the door.
Amy is at the top of the stairwell, peeking down. She can

HEAR Megan YELLING. Amy inches closer to get a better angle.
Megan’s O2 meter beeps: 30 seconds
MEGAN
Open the door. I’ll listen. I
promise.
10 seconds...
86.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Listen to me for christ-sake.
5 seconds...
Megan helplessly watches the seconds tick by... 4... 3...
2... 1... She takes a deep breath...
BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP!

Eyes wide with terror, Megan BANGS her fists on the door.
Amy peers down the stairwell when a FIGURE emerges from the
dark, running up the stairs. It’s a fully panicking Megan.
AMY
W-what’s happening?
Megan shakes her head that she can’t talk, that she’s out of
O2 and holding her breath.
Without a moment’s thought, Amy takes off her own O2 pack and
gives it to her daughter.
Megan shakes her head, “no”, but Amy isn’t backing down. Amy
takes a deep inhalation of air, then gives Megan the mask.
Megan looks at the O2 gauge: 5 min
Amy signals to Megan to stay put and limps to the ladder.
ON MEGAN
Watching Amy climb on top of the roof, using her one good
leg, pulling herself up by her arms.
ON AMY
Going for the solar panels and disconnecting them.
INSIDE THE SHELTER
Lucas is still at the door when all the lights go out.
LUCAS
Bitch...
87.
ON TOP OF THE BARN
Amy runs to the ladder, but trips and falls. She goes to get
up, but her EV suit pant leg is caught on a piece of metal.
ON MEGAN
Moving to the bottom of the ladder.
MEGAN
MOM?!
ON AMY
In a frenzy, trying to free herself, face turning red as she

holds her breath.
Amy pulls her leg free, ripping open her EV suit. The extreme
heat from the sun instantly burns her exposed skin.
Amy holds in a SCREAM, refusing to let air escape her body.

She covers the tear with her gloved hand.
ON MEGAN
Watching Amy unsteadily place her foot on the ladder. One

hand is on the ladder, the other hand covers her leg.
ON AMY
Halfway down the ladder she starts getting woozy. Her hand
slips off a rung... Amy falls backwards..
She lands hard on her back. Megan runs over, unhooks the O2
tube from her mask and connects it to her mom’s.
Megan violently shakes her mother until Amy’s eyes peel open.
She stares up at her daughter.
Megan places her mother’s hand on the rip in her EV suit,

then runs inside the --
BARN
Megan races over to a gardening bin and sifts through it.
FARM
Megan runs back outside, holding a roll of green GARDEN TAPE.

She wraps tape around the rip in Amy’s EV suit when --
They hear the SHELTER DOOR OPENING.

88.
IN THE STAIRWELL
The nozzle of a shotgun sticks out of a crack in the door.
Lucas pokes his head out, looks up the stairwell, only sees
the open hatch. Lucas closes the shelter door behind him.
He cautiously walks up the stairs, emerging into the light.
OUTSIDE
The first thing he sees is Megan, face down in the dirt. He

moves toward her body, reaches out to touch her -- BOOM!
Blood bursts from Lucas’s shoulder. He whips around to see

Amy, firing the handgun at him.
Lucas raises his shotgun to FIRE -- BANG! It’s kicked up in

the air by Megan who is wearing the O2 pack.
Amy moves in for the final shot and CLICK. Out of bullets.
Lucas raises his gun, but Megan KICKS him in the groin. He
rolls over in pain.
Amy sees the KEYCARD in his pocket and snatches it from him.
Amy and Megan make a break for the stairwell.
STAIRWELL
Amy and Megan, both out of O2, fly down the stairs to the
door. Megan punches in the code -- Amy uses the keycard.
Megan pushes the door open, they run inside the shelter. Amy
turns to shut the door when it’s RAMMED OPENED by Lucas.
All three fall into the SHELTER. The door SHUTS behind them.
SHELTER
The electricity is still out and it’s dark. The only air left
is whatever the O2 generator has in reserves.
Lucas crawls on top of Amy, wraps his hands around her neck.
But Megan pulls Lucas off by his O2 pack.
Megan rips the O2 pack from Lucas and pulls off his mask. He
turns around, searching for Megan, but can’t see her.
AMY
Put on his mask.
89.
Amy is by the O2 generator and claws her way up it, using it

to help her get on her feet.
Lucas stands up as well, with a shotgun aimed at Amy. But if

he fires, he will hit the O2 generator.
AMY (CONT’D)
Put the gun down -- You shoot me --
you’ll hit the generator --
LUCAS
Move away then --
AMY
Everything you’re doing right now --
I understand it -- You’re scared --
But behind her back, Amy turns a dial on the O2 generator.
LUCAS
SHUT UP. GET AWAY FROM THAT THING.
AMY
When I was outside, I saw something
growing. It was only a weed, but
with time to study it, maybe I can--
LUCAS
Bullshit. You didn’t see anything.
AMY
I swear. And if you put the gun
down, we can talk. We can, I don’t
know, we can work something out--
LUCAS
You’re so full of shit! EVERYONE,
EVERYONE IS... is...
Lucas starts to blink and slur his speech.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Wha... wha...
He stumbles, catches himself on the couch.
Amy is also suddenly unsteady on her feet. She falls back

against the wall, slides down.
AMY’S POV: Staring at the dials and knobs on the O2 generator

It’s emitting 100 percent, pure oxygen.
While talking to Lucas, Amy turned up the amount of oxygen

being pumped into the room to its highest level.
90.
Amy and Lucas, who ARE NOT wearing masks, have been inhaling
pure oxygen and are succumbing to oxygen toxicity.
Megan, who IS wearing a mask and inhaling the correct amount

of oxygen, emerges from the dark and sprints to her mother.
ON LUCAS
Trying to stand.
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Amy’s body is limp. Megan shares her oxygen mask with Amy.
ON LUCAS
Trying to focus, blindly groping the floor for the shotgun.
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Megan drags her mother out of the room as a wobbly Lucas

grips the shotgun.
MEGAN
DON’T SHOOT. THERE’S TOO MUCH
OXYGEN. IT’LL EXPLODE.
Lucas raises the shotgun.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
YOU’LL KILL US ALL.
Lucas doesn’t seem to understand or care what is being said.

All Megan can do is get the fuck out of here.
ON LUCAS
As he tries to follow them.
ON MEGAN AND AMY
As they hobble out the door and up the stairwell.
ON LUCAS
As he tries to climb the steps.
ON AMY AND MEGAN
Clawing their way out of the ACCESS HATCH.

91.
ON LUCAS
As he reaches the top of the steps. Blinking wildly, he sees

Amy and Megan are running to the farmhouse.
He takes aim. But his eyes roll back in his head. Lucas falls
backwards, and tumbles down the stairwell.
Lucas lands HARD on his back, directly in front of the

SHELTER, the SHOTGUN GOES OFF --
In a split second, the SPARK from the GUN BLAST reacts with
the overabundance of oxygen inside the SHELTER --
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Megan and Amy fall forward as the GROUND SHAKES from the
EXPLOSION under their feet.
Once Amy has her bearings, she stands up in pain. Sharing the
O2 cylinder, they trudge over to the barn.
The door has blown off into the MAIN CHAMBER.
INT. SHELTER - CONTINUOUS
A smoldering, blackened shell. Like the inside of a furnace.

All their goods? GONE. The O2 generator? BLOWN TO SHREDS.
Amy staggers, has to sit. Her leg is broken and seared. She’s
got nothing left. Amy holds her head, nearing passing out.
MEGAN
Let’s get you upstairs.
Megan sets her mom down in the shade of the barn.
Megan looks at the O2 meter she’s wearing. It’s the one she
pulled off Lucas during the fight: 3hrs.
As they talk, they pass the oxygen mask to each other.

92.
MEGAN
Is that true, about seeing a weed
growing? Or were you just saying
that?
AMY
(nodding)
With more time, I could’ve studied
it, seen how it was capable of
doing that. Maybe the planet is
replenishing itself, maybe it’s not
and it’s a fluke... But now...
They look at each other, sharing the same awful thought.
MEGAN
(lightbulb goes off)
What if we go to where Tess and
Lucas came from? Claremont Farms.
Amy considers this.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
It’s worth a shot.
AMY
(beat, then)
You go. Take the car. Fast.
MEGAN
What? You’re coming with me. We’ll
be fine. We’ll share the tank.
AMY
How... we can’t be... passing it
back and forth... the whole way...
I’m... I’m done, Megan...
MEGAN
No, just, hang on. I have an idea.
I’ll be right back.
AMY
Just listen to me! For once!
MEGAN
No! I’m not leaving you. This time,
we’re trying things my way. Please,
trust me.
Holding her breath, Megan runs back into the shelter.

93.
IN THE SHELTER
Megan sifts through debris, finds the FIRST AID KIT.
She runs into the HYDROPONIC GARDENING ROOM, digs inside a

bin with various garden accessories. Finds a HOSE SPLITTER.
BACK OUTSIDE
Amy is fading when she sees Megan climb out of the hatch,
clutching the items and a GARDEN HOSE.
Amy drops the items on the ground. With the scissors, she
cuts off both ends of the garden hose, giving her TWO PIECES.
With the two pieces of hose, she screws each of them into a
nozzle of the hose splitter.
Megan indicates to her mom to take a deep breath. Amy does as

she’s told. Megan shuts the valve on the cylinder. Then:
Rips out the tube connected to her mom’s mask. In a hurry,

Megan attaches the loose end of the tube to the splitter.
She takes the end of a garden hose, puts it into the opening
on Amy’s mask and duct tapes around it so no air leaks out.
Megan opens the valve on the O2 cylinder -- An audible WHOOSH

of air flows into Amy’s mask. Amy gives a thumbs up.
Megan quickly repeats the steps for herself and takes two
GIGANTIC lungfuls of fresh air.
Megan helps Amy stand.
INT. AMY’S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
Megan speeds down the dirt road as the O2 tank dwindles.
SERIES OF SHOTS: As the car travels down a debris littered

highway, past crumbling homes and buildings.
EXT. ROAD - MOMENTS LATER
Megan passes a sign, “WELCOME TO CLAREMONT FARMS”
INT. AMY’S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
Megan arrives at where Tess’s place is supposed to be.

94.
She drives around a corner expecting to see a house, but it’s

just wide open land. Dirt for as far as the eye can see.
MEGAN
No...
Amy wakes up and sees they’re in the middle of nowhere. She

looks at Megan who is starting to sob.
AMY
It’s okay.
They look at the O2 tank they’ve been sharing: 2 min
AMY (CONT’D)
It’s okay.
Amy holds out her hand. Megan takes it.
AMY (CONT’D)
I love you, honey.
Then, Amy takes a piece of paper from the glovebox and writes
the location of the weed at the Niagara Gorge as well as a
FORMULA. She places it on the dashboard.
AMY (CONT’D)
If we’re ever found... It’s to help
get something to grow... with the
little O2 in the atmosphere, it
might be all we need.
BLEEP--BLEEP -- The O2 tank is going off.
They hug each other tight, sharing their last breath as one.
But then, the ground opens up, like a trap door of sorts.
Megan can barely keep her eyes open as BLURRY FIGURES rush
out of the ground... Is this real?
And as the figures approach, Megan’s eyes gently closed...
FADE TO BLACK...
SILENCE...
FOR AN EXTENDED MOMENT...
Until we wonder, is this the end...?
WE’RE HIT WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT

95.
An oxygen mask is placed over Megan’s face. She opens her

eyes and sees a MAN dressed in grimy winter gear.
Megan doesn’t understand what’s happening, but is apparently

being dragged towards a massive hole in the ground.
MOMENTS LATER
Amy and Megan are being rushed inside someplace. Another

UNDERGROUND SHELTER...
BLACK
Megan in a bed.
BLACK
Megan is sleeping on a cot. She opens her eyes and we’re in

her POV, staring up at a palm tree hanging overhead.
OUTSIDE the room, she hears mumbling and plates CLANKING.
Megan sits up and sees that the palm tree is fake. She’s in a
beach themed bedroom. Confused, she walks to the door.
INT. TESS’S SHELTER - CONTINUOUS
Megan opens the door to see NINE PEOPLE, just like Tess
described. Five adults, four children.
Amy is hovering over their air filtration system with tools,

attempting to fix it.
Megan looks around, no idea where she is. A MAN, the one who
dragged them inside, walks over.
MAN
How’re you feeling?
MEGAN
...yeah... okay...
MAN
Your mother told us everything.
Come sit. Let me show you your new
home.
Megan isn’t sure if they’re to be trusted...
MAN (CONT’D)
It’s okay... You’re safe...
Megan sits down at the table with the rest of the folks.
96.
MAN (CONT’D)
This is...
And as the man goes about introducing people, we FADE OUT...
INT. TESS’S SHELTER - DAYS LATER
Amy is in a main living area, surrounded by people, laying on

a couch, recovering from all her injuries.
In the background, Megan is in the kitchen area, grabbing

something from the shelf. It’s a bunch of seeds and pits.
EXT. OPEN LAND - MOMENTS LATER
Megan makes sure the coast is clear as she finds her way to a
patch of soil. Clearly attempts at planting something...
MOMENTS LATER
Megan is finishing planting the pits. She stands and looks

around, taking in her new environment.
Then, she looks back at the ground where she just planted the
seeds... She turns around and heads back inside...
But we STAY WITH THE SOIL...
The CAMERA starts going down in the dirt where Megan planted
seeds earlier... we go deeper, DOWN, DOWN, WAY DOWN, until we
see something... something green...
Something that looks a lot like hope.
THE END

24 - Breathe

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BREATHE

A MAN’S FACE inside the helmet of an Environmental Suit. A

This is JOEL (40) and he’s working hard on something that we

We don’t know where he is, but there is a REDDISH hue to the

TILT DOWN to a push broom in his hands as he clears dust and

Joel looks at a digital O2 gauge on his forearm. 20 min. He

WIDEN OUT to reveal...

Joel on the roof of a BARN with a bank of SOLAR PANELS. He

200 feet from the barn is a burnt, collapsing FARMHOUSE. An

A wrought iron sign reads, Garrett’s Farm.

It’s like someone built a farm on Mars...

But this is not another planet...

INT. FARMHOUSE/UPSTAIRS BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT

MIKE (60’s, fit and able), also in an EV Suit, rummages

Mike speaks into his headset mic.

EXT. BARN ROOF - THAT MOMENT

Joel CHUCKLES, looks at the farmhouse, and sees his father

INT. FARMHOUSE/UPSTAIRS BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT

Mike pockets the book, strolls to the window, and watches

EXT. BARN ROOF - THAT MOMENT

INT. FARMHOUSE/UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - THAT MOMENT

INT. FARMHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - THAT MOMENT

As his upper body continues to fall, he SMACKS his helmet,

All Mike hears is STATIC and realizes his headset is damaged.

EXT. BARN - THAT MOMENT

Joel is climbing down a ladder.

INT. FARMHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - THAT MOMENT

Frantic, Mike tries to yank his leg free.

His O2 gauge reads 1 min. He inhales two huge lungfuls of air

By the barn, Joel dusts himself off. When he doesn’t get a

Joel jogs across the front yard.

The VEINS in Mike’s forehead look like they’re going to BURST

HIS LIPS ARE TURNING BLUE -- BLOOD VESSELS BURSTS IN THE

Mike’s BLOODSHOT EYES are WIDE and VACANT. PURPLE SPLOTCHES

Joel just stares at his father, nothing he can do at this

INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER

We’re now in a dimly lit, windowless basement with cement

In the middle of this room is a couch and coffee table, which

Metal shelving racks line the walls, full of meticulously

One shelf has a MONITOR, which displays night vision

AMY (40), hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Crisp white T-

Megan glares at Amy, stops. Amy goes back to the notebook.

Amy slides the book to Megan, who looks at the equation.

Megan MUTTERS something under her breath, starts correcting

We HEAR a mechanical CLICK at the submarine door. The locks

Megan looks up with a smile as her dad, Joel, lumbers inside.

He removes his helmet, takes a big inhalation of air. When

INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER

Amy and Megan look at each other, huh?

Amy turns to Megan, looks at her like she’s nuts.

INT. AMY AND JOEL'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The room is bare. A bed, dresser, wood crate nightstand, and

Joel is resting in bed. Amy enters, still peeved, and shuts

Amy nods to herself, places a loving hand on Joel’s chest.

INT. SHELTER/MAIN CHAMBER - THE NEXT DAY

Joel zips up his EV suit while Megan sits on the couch. He

A boxy, 4x3 machine encased in plexiglass. Tubes extend out

Attached to the O2 generator via a hose is an O2 cylinder. He

He places the cylinder inside a bulky backpack and connects

Joel gives Megan a hug.