24 - Breathe
24 - Breathe
24 - Breathe
Written by
Doug Simon
Writ Large
323.553.4300
Verve
310.558.2424
BREATHING... in... out... in...
BLEEP-BLEEP... BLEEP-BLEEP...
JOEL/HEADSET
Two minutes, then let’s head inside.
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.
This is Earth.
JOEL/HEADSET
Dad, you copy or what?
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.
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.
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.
Mike heads down the hall when -- CRACK -- the floor CAVES IN
underneath him, he PLUMMETS through the wood floor.
Mike CRASHES through the ceiling in the living room, but his
foot gets wedged between two wood beams.
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!
JOEL/HEADSET
Dad, you coming or what?
OUTSIDE
INSIDE
OUT OF OXYGEN, Mike GASPS FOR AIR, his face is TURNING RED,
his eyes are starting to BULGE.
OUTSIDE
INSIDE
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
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.
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.
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.
AMY (CONT’D)
Good work. Fix this.
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
Where’s grandpa?
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
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.
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.
AMY
Honestly, is this something you
need to do?
JOEL
Somebody has to.
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.
MOMENTS LATER
MEGAN (V.O.)
I was fifteen when our planet
officially turned to shit...
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...
MEGAN (V.O.)
In a matter of months, trees and
plant life failed to exist...
MEGAN (V.O.)
Soon, you couldn’t go outside
without a breathing device.
MEGAN (V.O.)
People banded together, for a
little while.
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.
MEGAN (V.O.)
So, when the shit-hit-the-fan, we
were physically prepared to survive
a world without oxygen.
Emotionally, not so much.
CUT TO BLACK:
B R E A T H E
INT. SHELTER/BEDROOM - UNKNOWN
Amy sweeps the solar panels. Working hard and fast, her
breath fogs up her mask.
She quickly pours it onto the seeds and pits and heaps dirt
on top of them. She stands, looks at the dirt, hopeful...
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.
MEGAN
(sarcastic)
Who is it?
AMY
Did you forget something today?
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.
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 (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.
Amy lays down in bed and looks up at the ceiling. Her anger
gradually subsides and is replaced with guilt and regret.
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
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:
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 (CONT’D)
And, per your orders, mom and I
haven’t killed each other yet. So,
I’m being pretty good...
15.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Well, most of the time.
(moving on)
Anyways, everything seems to be
okay for the moment. Still alive.
Still breathing--
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Dad? Dad?!... HELLO?
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.
Amy exits the garden room. She’s about to walk into her
bedroom, but stops and looks at Megan’s closed door.
AMY
How about a spa day before dinner?
MEGAN
A ‘spa day?’
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
I like your work.
Amy grabs the scissors and cuts off her own ponytail.
MEGAN
(laughing)
Mom?!
AMY
What? You thought I was lying?
AMY
Thanks for listening to this music.
I know it’s not really your thing.
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
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.
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.
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.
Amy hovers behind Megan as she places the seeds in the dirt.
Megan pours the solution from the canister onto the seeds.
AMY
Thanks, honey.
AMY (CONT’D)
Shoot, let’s get inside.
Amy turns, but Megan isn’t there and the barn doors are open.
AMY
Meg?
AMY (CONT’D)
Megan?!
20.
MEGAN
Quiet -- I think... I see someone.
AMY
What? No.
MEGAN
Yes. Look.
Through the wavy heat, two small dots bounce up and down,
cresting a hilltop one hundred yards away.
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?
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.
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
She’s near the front of the house.
AMY (CONT’D)
Get ready.
Amy retreats back behind the barn and silences the alert.
Hearing the alarm. She turns to the barn... aims her rifle.
TALL WOMAN
Anyone in there?
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.
He moves to get a better angle and sees Amy and Megan pinning
themselves up against the side of the barn.
HEFTY MAN
TESS! TESS! THERE THEY ARE!
Amy and Megan startle, lock eyes with the Hefty Man.
As she runs out of the barn and looks up at the Hefty Man,
frantically pointing at something down below.
Tess rounds the side of the barn and WHAM! She’s clocked in
the face with the shovel by Amy. Tess hits the dirt.
Amy and Megan round the side of the barn, toward the hatch.
ON TESS
TESS
WE’RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU!
ON TESS
Staggering down the stairs, seeing Amy and Megan at the door.
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.
TESS (CONT’D)
What the hell’re you doing?!
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?
TESS (O.S.)
(muffled)
I’m sorry, he shouldn’t have done
that. We don’t want to hurt you.
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.
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.
TESS (O.S.)
I know your husband, Joel Reed.
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
I have no idea who you are. I knew
everyone that Joel worked with.
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.
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
Joel’s not here.
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!
TESS
Okay, Amy. That’s your name, Amy?
TESS (CONT’D)
And that’s your daughter, what’s
her name again? Megan?
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.
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
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.
LUCAS
What’s goin’ on in there?
TESS
Shut up and I’ll tell you.
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 (O.S.)
Get away from the door!
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
What’re you waiting for?
AMY (O.S.)
Back away from the door until your
heels touch the stairwell.
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.
AMY
Whatever happens outside, do not
open this door unless I say the
word. Understand?
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.
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.
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
Okay Tess. Tie up Lucas.
TESS
Amy, this isn’t necessary.
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.
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.
TESS (CONT’D)
I swear, I don’t know -- It was
weird when you gave it to me --
AMY
Mess up again, you lose your invite.
LUCAS
Owww. Shit, too tight!
AMY
Quiet. Show me.
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 frisks Tess. Clean. She moves on to Lucas and pats him
down. Also clean.
AMY (CONT’D)
Okay... Okay... Stand up.
AMY (CONT’D)
No. Just her. You sit.
LUCAS
What?
AMY
He stays out here.
TESS
Amy, look at his oxygen levels.
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 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.
AMY
I said stay put!
TESS
MICAH! NO!
TESS (CONT’D)
NO! NO! NO! MICAH, YOU IDIOT!
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
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 (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
(considering, then)
Fuck off.
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.
TESS
We thought this could happen. Get
to work.
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
Okay... We both have forty-seven
minutes left in these tanks.
TESS (CONT’D)
So how the hell do we get in there?
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.
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
This is your fault.
MICAH
Sorry.
AMY
I wasn’t only talking to you.
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.
MICAH
(groggy)
Is... that it?
AMY
Not an engineer like your friend?
MICAH
Locksmith.
AMY
...Locksmith?
AMY (CONT’D)
Well, I don’t know what supermarket
kiosk you worked at, but you never
stood a chance against this place.
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
Don’t talk to me, either.
MICAH
(whispers to Megan)
I talk when I’m nervous.
AMY
You still believe him, don’t you?
MEGAN
I want to.
(beat)
And so do you.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
That’s why you bandaged him up. Just
in case they’re telling the truth.
40.
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.
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
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.
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 (CONT’D)
Stay here. I have an idea. When
they open the door, which they will
do, secure them. Then get me.
Tess scales the ladder, climbs onto the roof. She grazes her
hands over the solar panels.
AMY
She back yet?
MEGAN
Just the guy right now.
BEEP--BEEP--BEEP
AMY
Shit.
WHAM--WHAM--WHAM
Megan and Amy clasp their hands over their ears. In this
confined space, it’s like a SIREN blasting inside their head.
Tess stands over the EXHAUST PIPE that Joel checked earlier.
It’s CLOGGED with a tarp, obstructing the free flow of air.
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.
AMY (CONT’D)
They’ve got at least forty minutes
out there. They’ll outlast us.
AMY (CONT’D)
You idiot!
MICAH
I ain’t gonna help you. Let ‘em in.
AMY
They’re only trying to scare us.
(shouts at the door)
YOU’RE ONLY TRYING TO SCARE US!
LUCAS
SCARE YOU? NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT
FEELS! OPEN THE DOOR!
AMY
IF YOU KILL US, YOU’LL NEVER MAKE
IT IN HERE!
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.
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 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
Megan, put on your mask.
MEGAN
What about him?
AMY
I guess he has five minutes.
AMY (CONT’D)
Remember, do not open the door
unless I use the word.
Amy quietly pads up the stairs. When she reaches the top, she
peeks her head out to see the open garage and no Lucas.
Lucas is looking around. Behind him, only we see Amy dart out
of the hatch and hide on the other side of the barn.
LUCAS (O.S.)
TESS. C’MERE. QUICK.
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
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.
MEGAN
I’m sorry.
MICAH
YOU HEARTLESS SHIT. DON’T LEAVE ME.
MEGAN’S ROOM
MAIN CHAMBER
MEGAN’S ROOM
MAIN CHAMBER
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
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.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
Did you kill my father and is that
how you know about this place?
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?
MICAH
Yes... We’re the good guys... Your
mom is wrong... You’re right...
Trust your instincts...
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.
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:
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.
TESS
Shit.
Tess races into the kitchen with the missing wall and heads
for the barn when --
PFFFT! PFFFT!
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
WELL, YOU’RE OUT HERE NOW. WHY
DON’T WE TRY TALKING AGAIN?
TESS (O.S.)
I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE
LEFT, BUT IT CAN’T BE THAT MUCH.
AMY
Shit...
TESS
COME ON. SAY SOMETHING. ANYTHING.
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.
TESS
You understand what you need to do?
LUCAS
Uh huh.
TESS
Good, go do it.
DINING ROOM
52.
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
Tess clocks Lucas SPRINTING across the yard and FIRES another
SHOT at the roof to keep Amy down.
Amy is still keeping her head low. Only we see the top of the
ladder shimmy. Amy, however, is too preoccupied to notice.
TESS
AMY, I’VE HAD ENOUGH! I DON’T HAVE
TIME FOR THIS SHIT!
ON AMY
TESS (CONT’D)
I’M WALKING OUT. IF YOU WANNA SHOOT
ME, GO AHEAD.
ON TESS
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.
CREAK...
Megan has her gun trained on Micah. She looks at the MONITOR.
Still a BLACK SCREEN. Amy forgot to remove the black tape.
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.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
It’s hard... to breathe...
MICAH
Yeah, I know the feeling.
TESS
MEGAN. I NEED YOU TO LISTEN.
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
TAKE THE TAPE OFF. I WANNA BE SURE.
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...
MEGAN
(cringing)
Uh... Your back...
MICAH
Wh... what?
MICAH (CONT’D)
I’m...
MEGAN
Oh my God...
TESS
Micah? What’s going on?
56.
TESS (O.S.)
MICAH?! ANSWER ME.
MEGAN
HE’S DEAD.
MEGAN (O.S.)
HE JUST, HE COLLAPSED. HE WAS
BLEEDING AND... HE’S DEAD.
LUCAS
Bullshit.
TESS
(to Amy)
Tell her to open up.
AMY
No.
LUCAS (O.S.)
I’m done with this shit! If this
door isn’t open in five seconds,
your mom is dead.
TESS
Wait, what’d she say?
TESS
Lucas, shut up, I can’t hear what
she’s saying--
LUCAS
FOUR... FIVE...
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.
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
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
Where’s the keycard?
AMY
Inside the shelter.
AMY (CONT’D)
In case I was caught, I didn’t want
you to get in there.
TESS
There has to be another way in.
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.
TESS
What? What’re you thinking?
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
Our last tanks. Each with five
hours of oxygen.
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...
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...
LUCAS
Shit!
HUMMMMMM...
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 (CONT’D)
So, where the hell are we going?
AMY
I’ll tell you, but only after I say
goodbye to Megan.
AMY (O.S.)
Megan. I’m going to take care of
this. But I have to go somewhere.
MEGAN
What?! Where?!
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!!!
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.
The hot sun beams down on the car as it glides down a main
strip. Everything is abandoned and sun-baked.
TESS
Is Joel still alive?
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 (CONT’D)
That night, I found a note under my
pillow...
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 (CONT’D)
Maybe when you get down there,
you’ll figure out what he couldn’t.
TESS
Maybe.
AMY
But I never told Megan...
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.
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.
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
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 (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.
Amy and Tess pull up next to a clearing. Amy parks the car
and gets out. They check their O2 levels: 4hr 31min
FLASHBACK
PRESENT DAY
TESS
He’s down there?
AMY
It’s what he said in the note.
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.
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 --
...CRUNCH...
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.
Tess shines her flashlight over the ledge and waves her hand
in front of it, creating a strobe effect.
Amy notices the flickering light. She shines her light up and
signals back.
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.
WITH TESS
TESS
You get them?
TESS (CONT’D)
NO!
Tess GRASPS the cord, but it SLIPS through her hands and she
watches it disappear over the cliff.
ON TESS
AMY
Hugging the side of the mountain for dear life. Her foot
wedged in a foothold and her fingertips latched onto a rock.
AMY
(heaving)
I’m okay -- I’m okay --
AMY (CONT’D)
Throw down another cord!
TESS
Did you get the key?!
AMY
Y-yes.
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.
TESS (CONT’D)
You did it! Quick, tie the key to
the cord, let me pull it up first.
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.
TESS (CONT’D)
I promise to get you up here, but
the key is most important. Think
about Megan.
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 SWINGS INTO THE MOUNTAIN, CRUSHING HER LEG INTO THE SIDE.
AMY
AHHHHHH!
TESS
Climb. C’mon! I got you!
Tess pulls with all her strength until Amy reaches the top
and claws her way over the cliff.
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.
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.
AMY (CONT’D)
Just promise me, you won’t hurt my
daughter.
TESS
...I promise.
AMY
Are you a mother?
TESS
...I was.
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.
Tess is running her ass off, FOGGING up her mask. She looks
at her tank: 3hrs 50min
Amy is still behind the wheel. She reaches into her pocket
and pulls out the photo of her, Joel, and Megan.
CUT TO BLACK:
3 HOURS LATER
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?!
LUCAS
The keycard?
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
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
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.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
How’d you get my dad’s key?
LUCAS
Tess, come look at this thing.
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?
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
(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
Screwdriver? Phillips?
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.
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
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.
LUCAS
Everyone back home, who’s life
depends on you, you lied.
TESS
I’m sorry. To both of you.
Megan SCREAMS.
MEGAN
WHOA! WHOA! OH MY GOD!
LUCAS
You can’t trust anyone, can you?
77.
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?
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 (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 (CONT’D)
Got any aloe?
MEGAN
H-hey... I--I know you’re upset...
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
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
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 (CONT’D)
...and I’m fuckin’ done.
The sun is coming up. Amy’s car is still where we left it.
She opens the door, swings her injured leg out, and limps
toward something.
Amy takes off her mask and tries to inhale, but she starts
GASPING. The air is too thin to breathe.
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.
Lucas stomps back inside, shuts the door, and locks it.
Bloody handprints are smeared on his EV suit.
LUCAS
Better, right? They were shitty
roommates.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
I have a good sense of humor.
You’ll learn that about me.
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 (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?
MEGAN
And you feel okay about letting
them die?
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 (CONT’D)
Goddamnit. Now what?!
MEGAN
This happens sometimes.
LUCAS
Where’s a flashlight. I can’t see
sh--
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
Finally.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Come on now, don’t do this.
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
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 (CONT’D)
You wanna live, prove you’re worth
keepin’ around. You said this
blackout happens from time to time?
Fix it.
MOMENTS LATER
LUCAS (CONT’D)
Wait, one second.
MEGAN
What the hell?
LUCAS
Keeping you on a leash. This way,
you know I mean it when I say you
only have fifteen minutes.
LUCAS (CONT’D)
You have fifteen minutes.
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...
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.
AMY (CONT’D)
I have an idea.
Amy gives Megan the HANDGUN she found with Joel’s body.
AMY
You can do this.
AMY (CONT’D)
I love you, honey.
MEGAN
I love you, too.
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
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...
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.
ON MEGAN
Watching Amy climb on top of the roof, using her one good
leg, pulling herself up by her arms.
ON AMY
LUCAS
Bitch...
87.
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
MEGAN
MOM?!
ON AMY
Amy pulls her leg free, ripping open her EV suit. The extreme
heat from the sun instantly burns her exposed skin.
ON MEGAN
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.
BARN
FARM
IN THE STAIRWELL
Lucas pokes his head out, looks up the stairwell, only sees
the open hatch. Lucas closes the shelter door behind him.
OUTSIDE
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.
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 (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 --
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 (CONT’D)
Wha... wha...
Amy and Lucas, who ARE NOT wearing masks, have been inhaling
pure oxygen and are succumbing to oxygen toxicity.
ON LUCAS
Trying to stand.
Amy’s body is limp. Megan shares her oxygen mask with Amy.
ON LUCAS
MEGAN
DON’T SHOOT. THERE’S TOO MUCH
OXYGEN. IT’LL EXPLODE.
MEGAN (CONT’D)
YOU’LL KILL US ALL.
ON LUCAS
ON LUCAS
ON LUCAS
He takes aim. But his eyes roll back in his head. Lucas falls
backwards, and tumbles down the stairwell.
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.
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 looks at the O2 meter she’s wearing. It’s the one she
pulled off Lucas during the fight: 3hrs.
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...
MEGAN
(lightbulb goes off)
What if we go to where Tess and
Lucas came from? Claremont Farms.
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.
IN THE SHELTER
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.
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 quickly repeats the steps for herself and takes two
GIGANTIC lungfuls of fresh air.
MEGAN
No...
AMY
It’s okay.
AMY (CONT’D)
It’s okay.
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.
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?
FADE TO BLACK...
SILENCE...
MOMENTS LATER
BLACK
Megan in a bed.
BLACK
Megan sits up and sees that the palm tree is fake. She’s in a
beach themed bedroom. Confused, she walks to the door.
Megan opens the door to see NINE PEOPLE, just like Tess
described. Five adults, four children.
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.
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...
Megan makes sure the coast is clear as she finds her way to a
patch of soil. Clearly attempts at planting something...
MOMENTS LATER
Then, she looks back at the ground where she just planted the
seeds... She turns around and heads back inside...
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...
THE END