CHARLOTTE, ASH and EMMA have 2 tickets to the Resettlement Zone. Charlie and Emma are at ASH’S PARENTS’ HOUSE, who have revealed that they have 2 TICKETS for the Zone. Ash is at CHARLIE’S SISTER AND FATHER’S HOUSE.

 

Both Ash and Charlie are being offered opportunities to screw over their in-laws to save their partner.

 

Ash has flipped over whether to steal injured Amy’s ticket and leave her behind, or to get Amy medical attention (and lose the opportunity to steal the ticket).

 

11:35pm The coin is heads. When the ANGRY MOB is distracted, Ash scoops Amy up and bolts for the car.

 

Ash takes a winding route home, avoiding SOLDIER PATROLS. He pulls over to answer Amy’s phone and explains the situation o Bill. 

 

Tensions are rising at Ash’s parents’ house as Anand finally snaps. He tells Charlotte they don’t have tickets to the Resettlement Zone. They just didn’t want them to worry. The three decide not to tell Ash - a decision driven by Charlie and Vidya. 

 

PRIVATES BLAKE and WILSON arrive at the PICK UP POINT with an INJURED ‘PICK UP’, who tells SERGEANT JOHNSON he was beaten up by Wilson. Johnson reminds them: they have VIPs on their list. They must behave. Wilson wants a break, but Johnson will only allow them after they’ve picked up ‘the scientist’.

 

12:15am Ash pulls up outside, gets Amy carefully out of the car, and knocks on the door. 

 

As Anand treats Amy, Charlie lets her meet Emma (who is very confused by this ‘second mummy’). Amy tells Charlie she can have her ticket. She hands over her bracelet and tells them all to go to the Pick Up Point. Bill will be on his way.

 

Anand is scared to go to the Pick Up Point but Vidya knows her son - it is important they keep their secret or he’ll do something stupid to try to save them. 

 

12:30am As they’re about to leave, Bill arrives in a hot-wired car. Amy explains her decision to him. He concedes. He forgives Ash for the LETTER HE BURNED and agrees to not tell Charlie. At the end of the world, what’s the point in quibbling. A kindness for a kindness. Charlie and Bill say a polite yet distant goodbye.

 

The two families head off - the Dhumal clan to the Pick Up Point, the Burtons to WILDMAN FARM.

 

1am At the Pick Up Point, the fences swell with protesters and desperate people. 

 

Ash’s old schoolmate (/ enemy), CURTIS, is there. He questions SERGEANT JOHNSON as to why a bus is delayed in leaving. They’re waiting for a VIP. A scientist. He should be there any moment.

 

Ash and Charlie’s bracelets are scanned. They are led through the gates, their electronic devices confiscated. But Anand and Vidya are stopped. Ash panics. Why isn’t Charlie more shocked? What is going on?

 

In the commotion, Curtis comes over. Tells the soldier checking tickets he’ll take it from there. Leads the Dhumal clan into a holding room. 

 

He explains that the only people over 60 given tickets are VIPs and their families. But he’ll try to help.

 

Ash and Curtis have an awkward conversation about how Curtis bullied Ash at school. Curtis has always felt bad. Perhaps he can do something right now. 

 

Curtis leaves and Ash turns on Charlie - this relative stranger is more willing to help his parents than she was. He starts THE CONFRONTATION. Charlie only ever thinks of herself. He shouldn’t be surprised, with her own messed up family life. Charlie throws at Ash: he’s is impulsive, overly principled, and unwilling to think practically. His own mother couldn’t trust him with the truth. 

 

Curtis returns. He cannot recategorise the Dhumals, but as he personally qualifies as an expert, he does get a family allowance. He has one spot left. Either Dhumal parent is welcome to take it. 

 

Ash decides he will stay behind with one of his parents. It’s their best chance of survival. He tells Charlie, who thinks he’s being ridiculous. At least flip a coin. No. No more coin for Ash. Not tonight.

 

Anand is not feeling well. In the bathroom, he overhears soldiers plotting to hijack a bus and enter the Zone early, as civilians. Things are getting too mad here. When WILSON and BLAKE return, with their VIP, their unit is good to go.

 

Meanwhile, after their goodbyes, Charlie and Emma are led onto a bus.

 

Anand returns from the bathroom and tells them what’s happening - it’s Charlie’s bus that is about to be hijacked!

 

They regroup with Curtis and two soldiers that he trusts: BARRETT and BRIDLE. Together, they will try and stop the plot. 

 

Curtis reports the situation to Johnson, only to find that Johnson is in on it! Johnson is sorry, he likes Curtis, but he can’t let him live. He shoots Curts. Johnson’s phone rings, but he misses the call while he deals with Curtis’s body.

 

On the bus, Charlie starts to worry. But as she stands to see what’s going on, a soldier with a rifle threatens her. Makes her sit down. 

 

As Ash and the soldiers plot, he insists that his parents choose who goes to the Resettlement Zone. He has stayed behind for their sake, to make the decision easier.

 

But Anand and Vidya don’t see it that way. They would much sooner stay behind together. But they care most about their son. If they choose, if they give him this, they may be able to convince him to go with his family. And if not, they shouldn’t let his sacrifice be in vain.

 

They each appeal to the other to go, both caring more about the other’s safety than their own. They cannot make this decision.

 

Maybe… no, surely they can’t slip into the bad habit they so encouraged their son to abandon.

 

Anand reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a coin.

 

He flips.