CHARLOTTE, ASH and EMMA have 2 TICKETS to the RESETTLEMENT ZONE, no other ideas for how to ensure Emma’s safety, and their PICK UP TIME is here. Their relationship has deteriorated to outright animosity. Outside, England is burning.

 

Charlotte believes she has to go to the Resettlement Zone with Emma, and she can’t talk Ash into it.

 

Ash believes he has to go to the Resettlement Zone with Emma, and Charlotte would never let him.

 

Our heroes started out a loving family planning how to beat the apocalypse together, but they’ve ended up in the midst of a vicious and dangerous divorce. Unfortunately for Emma, her parents have been unable to communicate, understand each other’s position, or make decisions without the COIN. This road is a tragedy.

 

Ash and Charlie flipped over which one of them goes with Emma to the Resettlement Zone.

 

THE COIN IS TAILS. ASH WINS – Ash takes Emma to the Zone.

 

Charlotte feels so sick she can’t even say the result of the flip. Ash sees that he’s won, and immediately exits the LOUNGE without a word. It’s 4.55am. 5 minutes until Pick Up Time.

 

A jeep races through their city’s streets, dodging burning cars, bodies, and RIOTERS. Inside, PRIVATES BARRETT and BRIDLE (last glimpsed in Chapter 2A’s platoon of soldiers) are covered in sweat and blood, glancing from their GPS to the smokey chaos outside.

 

Ash enters Emma’s room, and gathers up his sleepy daughter. He’s a little unsteady on his feet – FLASH OF: Ash drinking WHISKEY earlier.

 

He’s angry that Charlie clearly never planned to take him. This lying and manipulation is why they’ve reached this point – 5 minutes to go and no other options. He’s scared of this Charlotte he barely recognizes – who wanted to join up with the psychopath PRIVATE BLAKE (FLASHES OF); who seems obsessed with doing terrible things to survive, even in the Resettlement Zone (FLASHES OF). If she’s so good at surviving, she can be the one who stays behind (FLASHES OF him saying this, in Chapter 4B). And, beneath all this – but rising – he’s scared, his survival instinct is becoming overwhelming.

 

Charlie’s downstairs, frozen, staring at the HUNTING KNIFE. She loves Ash but she knows in her gut he can’t deal with the future that’s coming (FLASHES OF Ash resisting self-defence training). She’s sure he’ll get Emma killed – what else is there to say. And, beneath all this – but rising – she’s scared, her survival instinct is becoming overwhelming. 

 

So the PROBLEM is: both parents still think the other parent is a danger to Emma. And their survival instincts are ready to help them make some fast and stupid decisions.

 

When Ash turns around, Charlotte’s in the doorway to Emma’s room.

 

He panics and moves quickly towards her –

 

Charlotte puts her hands up: stop! Ash shoulders her into the doorframe –

 

She hits her head, hard; collapses, but strikes an arm out –

 

Catching Ash’s leg, and he tumbles onto the landing with Emma.

 

He scrabbles up and rushes clumsily down the stairs. Emma’s screaming. Charlotte woozily starts to get up.

 

In the lounge, there’s a voice. It’s coming from the LANDLINE -  the HELPLINE OPERATOR, on the call Ash placed earlier. She’s saying that she’s sorted out the problem, she’s gotten his wife a TICKET.

 

The jeep weaves through the streets of suburbia. Bridle’s hopeful because they’re heading to their last pick up. Barrett’s panicking cause he’s driving and he can’t see a fucking thing. 

 

Ash is outside, heading to their car, reaching for his – Wait where are his keys? On the KEY HOOK, fuck! He turns back to get them –

 

Charlotte’s in the front doorway. Ash panics, and starts to run – off their drive, onto the pavement, out of the cul-de-sac.

 

Charlotte gives chase, screaming at Ash to stop. Ash is slow – he’s PUT ON WEIGHT RECENTLY and he’s no match for CHARLOTTE’S FITNESS.

 

Charlotte catches him and grabs his back, pulling him and Emma down to the pavement –

 

Ash and Charlotte are on top of Emma, all screaming – Ash has noticed and is trying to roll them off.

 

He heaves upwards and off of Emma, carrying Charlotte heavily onto the concrete. She starts to clamber over him but he grabs her and drags her down again.

 

Emma, dazed, stands up and totters backwards –

 

Into the path of the oncoming jeep.

 

Ash sees it happen and screams. Charlotte looks up and sees the aftermath.

 

Barrett and Bridle climb out of the jeep, horrified.

 

7am. The TV’s on in MARK NEWMAN’S HOUSE. It plays a SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT, given by the HEAD OF THE ARMY: Britons, if you are still alive, stay in your homes. The government is working on a plan.

 

It’s light outside now. The wreck of a house across the street smolders. ILL CITIZENS stumble about, apparently lost. There’s rifle fire nearby.

 

None of this matters. Charlotte and Ash sit on the pavement, in the same spot, Emma’s body on their laps.

 

FLASHES OF: Barrett crying beside the jeep. Bridle shaking Ash – we have to go! Barrett and Bridle arguing. Barrett putting a space blanket around Charlie.

 

Ash strokes Emma’s face. They’re going nowhere.