CHARLOTTE, ASH and EMMA have 3 tickets to the Resettlement Zones. 

 

Because their tickets are from different places, Ash was due to go to a different Zone to his family. At the last minute he told Charlie to go for ‘PLAN B’.

 

But they never agreed what ‘Plan B’ was. So now Ash has to decide whether to go to CORNWALL or WILDMAN FARM.

 

And Charlie has to decide whether to stay on the BUS to a Resettlement Zone with Emma, or get off and try to find Ash. 

 

Heads. Ash will go to the farm where Charlie spent her childhood holidays.

 

Heads. Charlie will get off the bus.

 

Searching empty houses, Ash finds car keys on a kitchen counter.

 

He drives through the night. England is chaos.

 

Charlie demands to be let off the bus. The SOLDIERS ESCORTING THEM are reluctant, but she causes a commotion, and other PASSENGERS start to panic. The soldiers let her off. The bus leaves.

 

Charlie hotwires a car, and her and Emma set off - she knows where Ash is going.

 

Ash hits a ROADBLOCK staffed by SCARY SOLDIERS.

 

He turns back, and stops the car.

 

If he can’t get to the farm, probably Charlie can’t either. Where would she go instead …? He sees something in the near distance, and he knows.

 

Charlie’s driving. She hears a rumble, accelerates to get the car under a bridge and screeches to a halt -

 

Just before a shockwave from a bomb hits them. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM HAVE BEEN BOMBED. It’s 3.32am.

 

Charlie sets off again, shaken.

 

5am  Charlie’s driving. She sees the sign for a ROADSIDE DINER. 

 

We flash back to a family holiday where they ate at a ROADSIDE DINER NEAR CORNWALL. Charlie looks a little uneasy - she explains she feels like she spent her life in these places, with HER FATHER dragging her between places. But they could never afford anything. Emma wants pancakes. So Charlie orders them all double-stacks of pancakes. Emma looks on in awe as they arrive.

 

Charlie grins. She knows Ash. He’ll be thinking of the same thing. She turns off.

 

Meanwhile, Ash sits in a DINER BOOTH. Him and the diner have been hit by the bomb blast, but he’s ok. He’s set the table, waiting for them.

 

Charlie gets Emma out of the car. Storms up to the diner. Bursts in -

 

Empty. It’s the roadside diner near Cornwall. A sign outside says ‘Portsmouth 10 miles’.

 

A sign outside Ash’s diner says ‘Birmingham   5 miles’.

 

7am Ash sits at his diner’s counter, waiting. Playing with batter he’s whisked. He’s sure Charlie will come.

 

Charlie waits in her diner with Emma, both drinking TAP WATER. They’re sure Ash will come.