Right at Your Door

This film contains very strong language.

'Good morning. It's a sunny 65 degrees. I'm Neil Simmons.

'Today is Monday, May 15th.

'From LA's KDHP, this is the morning news.

'The President meets at the White House today with the Prime Minister of Norway.

'The United Nations Security Council debates on an amended US resolution

'on sanctions against non-cooperative nations.

'Also in this hour, George Finnerty asks the question, "How organic are your organic vegetables?"

'Los Angeles traffic is next. Considerable heavy volume of traffic today.

'We have a Sig Alert on the southbound 101 into downtown at Alvarado.

'There's an apparently broken-down delivery truck inadvertently blocking the number two and three lanes.

'There's a parked tractor trailer on Sepulveda Boulevard

'blocking the northbound airport exit from the 105 East.

'The driver has locked himself inside his cab.

'The LAPD is rerouting local traffic off Sepulveda at Century Boulevard and La Tijera Boulevard...'

ALARM BLARES

-Baby, coffee.

-Thank you, sir.

-Mmm.

-Mmm.

Uh-uh, uh-uh.

No.

-A little make up for last night?

-No.

-Oh, I gotta get up and get ready.

-Here's your latte.

-Thank you.

-Right there?

-Mm-hm.

-I put the sugar in the thing.

-Thanks, babe.

-Do you want me to run the shower?

-Mm-hm.

-Hey, you got that, er... whatever it's called tonight?

-Yeah.

Sorry. Last one...

-Paper down.

-Hmm, they found us.

Yeah, took them two weeks.

Oh, man, I forgot to charge my phone.

-I don't think I can go to work.

-Aw...

-Well, don't go.

-Quit it. Come on. I have to.

Where's my car charger?

Hey, baby, it's 8:19.

-Earlier, they said the 101 is fucked up. You might want to take side streets.

-Thanks, babe.

-You guys rehearsing today?

-Uh, no, but, um...

-I got some calls to make.

-The cable guy's coming?

-He's supposed to.

-Do you mind getting my dry cleaning?

-Yes, dear.

I love you.

-Thanks for cooking last night.

-Pretty good, right?

-Yeah.

Oh, I'll finish unpacking the bedroom boxes tonight. I promise.

-Yeah, that's...?

-It was so-so.

-That's it, yeah?

-Yeah!

-It was good!

-Yeah?

-Yeah, that's it.

Drive safe!

ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

MUSIC STOPS, STATIC TONE ON RADIO

'We interrupt regular programming for a KDHP emergency news break.

'This is Neil Simmons reporting from KDHP's Pasadena studios.

'Multiple explosive devices were detonated simultaneously

'across Los Angeles moments ago.

'The crowded streets of downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills,

'essentially LA's heavy volume of commuter traffic, is the target.

'I understand KDHP's Kathy Reynolds is in our downtown studio reporting from her cell phone

'with an intense update. Kathy, are you there?' BUSY TONE

'Debris from a building is falling! People running through the streets!

'Smoke is everywhere. People are... Figueroa Street!

-'Neil, can you still hear me?

-This is an incredible...'

-ON PHONE:

-'Message DF-56.'

-'Another boom! There was another boom.

-Where is your vantage point?

'I'm running up Figueroa between 8th and 7th. Another explosion just occurred.

'There is a man covered in blood! He just fell. People are...'

'Kathy? Kathy, can...can you hear me?

'OK, er... I have just received word that, er...

'that apparently a second explosion has been witnessed

'in Beverly Hills near the Century City Plaza.' ALARM BLARES

-TELEPHONE RINGS ^

-Shit!

-Lexi!

-Brett, it's Steve. You got the news on?

-I know, you hear all this shit?

-Jesus Christ, where's Lexi? She downtown?

-Yeah, I gotta go.

'I have just received word that there was just another explosion at

'Los Angeles International Airport on the departures...'

-'All circuits are busy.'

-Fuck!

'We've lost contact with Kathy, and what is occurring downtown.

'New eyewitness reports from a vantage point on Chavez Ravine

'say that incredible plumes of smoke are rapidly rising from the downtown skyline.'

ALARMS BLARE, HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

Shit.

'Los Angeles is on a red alert. A red alert has been...'

EXPLOSION OUTSIDE, RADIO GOES DEAD

Fuck!

RADIO CRACKLES, THEN GOES DEAD AGAIN

HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD, ALARMS BLARE

-Come on, work.

-TELEPHONE RINGING

'Hi, this is Lexi. Leave me a message.'

Lexi, baby, it's me, I've been trying to call you.

I'm going to head downtown and come get you.

Call me when you get this and say what route you're taking back.

Just call me and tell me that you're OK. All right.

I love you. I'm leaving now.

-RADIO STARTS

-'Another explosion just occurred.

'People are scattered all over the street. I can see glass everywhere.

'They are evacuating buildings. There is smoke...'

'Do not attempt to enter any of the disaster areas.

'An official statement from authorities now released.

'Los Angeles streets need to be left open for rescue vehicles.

'OK, now I understand we have Kathy Reynolds back on the line. Kathy? Kathy, can you hear me?'

'Yes, I can hear you. When I lost contact with you, Neil, I was trying to get a better vantage point.

'The police asked me if it was a question of life and death

'and I said, "Come on, I have to get close there."

'A portion of the library tower exploded.

'People are screaming and running up North Figueroa.

'Everybody is just trying to find a way out of here. Police continue to try and contain the masses.'

-'Now, we have Juan Martinez from the streets of Beverly Hills. Juan, are you there?

-Yes, Neil.

'Someone came running into the lobby of the Beverly Grand just prior, yelling about an explosion downtown.

'It was at that moment when this first explosion rattled...'

-Damn it!

-Are you OK?

Are you OK? My kids are at school. Are you OK?

-Oh, shit!

-ALARMS BLARE

'..when the first explosion went off on Santa Monica Boulevard.'

'Authorities are barricading access into the three impact zones.

'Hollywood to downtown and East LA, Century City,

'Beverly Hills and adjacencies,

'LAX and the surrounding beach communities.

'They urge everyone to stay at home and leave the rescue to authorities.

'OK, we go right back to Kathy Reynolds downtown.

-'Kathy, what is happening?

-I am in an immense crowd off Figueroa onto 5th street and back towards Hill.

'Police blocked the street. What I could gather at this point

'is that all of downtown Los Angeles is a crime scene

'and no-one is allowed to leave, as...'

That's what I heard. How many explosions was it?

-Do you have tyre patches?

-No time! The news is saying get home as soon as possible, especially right now!

NEWS IN SPANISH ON THE RADIO

-MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-Hello? Hello?

-Everybody out! Right now! Let's go!

-Shit!

Oh, they're open. God, tell me they're open. Batteries and water.

'..now, suspect potentially toxic chemicals have been released with the explosions

'and potentially deadly toxins are travelling in the smoke from the fires.

'An official recommendation to stay home, close and seal your house the best you can.'

-Please, one at a time.

->

Another five minutes!

'All main streets are being barricaded from civilians.

'Police are urging, if you have to abandon your car, to please pull it off the side of the road.

'Rescue vehicles need the right of way.

'Officials continue to caution the explosive devices could be, quote, "dirty bombs" or chemical bombs.

-'No details are available what is meant by this.'

-This road's closed!

'As explosions continue to be detonated, rescue officials are taking all necessary precautions.

'The immediate goal is to extinguish the fires, which continue to burn,

'spreading alleged toxic smoke into the air.

'Authorities urge everyone to return home and to...

'OK, now, now we go back to Juan Martinez in Beverly Hills.'

POLICE SIRENS BLARE

-'The instant gridlock may be helping authorities keep the event contained...'

-Stay in your car!

-You're contaminated!

-Freeze! You will be quarantined!

'It seemed as if every car was abandoned. Traffic came to an immediate dead stop.

-'It was instantly impassable.'

-You!

-Leave your window up! Were you near one of the blasts?

-No.

Turn around! Go home!

-Sir, my wife is downtown.

-Downtown, Beverly Hills, LAX are shut down.

The smoke from the fires is moving this way. That ash is deadly.

-I'm not just going to leave her out there!

-I'm not giving you a choice!

Turn around! Go home! There'll be more information on the news telling you what to do.

Don't move! Get back in your car!

Freeze!

This is your last warning! Get back in your car!

-Fuck! I told you to stay in your fucking car!

-Shit!

'..definitely heightened anxiety. Unfortunately, I can not see a way out at the moment.

'People continue to panic, demanding information from any authority figure, who are,

'quite frankly, unsure what to do themselves.

'For the moment, they are trying to extinguish...'

'Authorities are issuing a daylight curfew on the city.

'The surge of people that have attempted

'to enter the disaster areas has hindered the rescue efforts.

-'Police are arresting anyone attempting to enter areas impacted by these explosions.'

-Son of a bitch.

'They are detaining all those who are...'

-Hey, kid. What's your name?

-Timmy.

-Where do you live, Timmy?

You need to go home right now. Something really bad has happened, OK? Come on. Go, go, go.

Run!

-VOICES CONTINUE ON RADIO

-'..is also elevating a panic...'

Lex! Lexi!

Come on, fuck.

Fuck!

'Authorities are trying to contain the crowds. There are still sirens everywhere.

'Many people have submitted to the crowd control method of the authorities. However,

'hundreds are still trying to push past the barricades, and riot police...

-'They keep pushing us in circles... Are we on 8th? Are we on 8th?'

-SIRENS BLARE

'..up and down 8th Street. Ash continues to rain from the sky.

'There is black debris, and as you say, Neil, this ash is confirmed toxic.

'They'll have a much bigger problem on their hands and so will we.

'..has become unbearable, Neil.

'The panic over the severity of the toxic level is definitely rising.

'I have my shirt wrapped around my face as I speak to you.'

RADIO IS ON

'..others cover their nose and mouth with scarves, newspapers,

'almost anything. People huddle under awnings...'

-'Please try your call again later.'

-Fuck!

-Sir, I work next door.

-I know, I've seen you before.

-What the fuck are you doing in my house?

-I'm sorry. I don't mean to be here.

Mr Gallagher's not home. The bus...the bus is stopped in its tracks. I got no car.

-Please.

-You gotta go home.

I have nowhere to go. Please. Please.

I don't know what to do. I won't make it.

-HE DIALS NUMBERS

-Shit. Come on!

Come on.

-INTERFERENCE ON RADIO

-Sir, is it OK to...?

-Listen, my wife's out there.

-Can I...?

Fucking...

RADIO IS RETUNED TO A SPANISH STATION

-DEAD TONE ON PHONE

-Fuck!

Sir... Sir?

What are they saying? I don't know what that means. What are they saying?

No, I can't believe it.

I can't believe it.

'..Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Playa Vista,

'Baldwin Hills, Westchester, Inglewood...'

What are you doing? What were they saying?

What were they saying? What did you hear?

-What did you hear?

-Sir... Sir, we need to close up the house.

-'Of course, Beverly Hills and Century City. All areas considered Beverly Hills adjacent.'

-Sir...

-Listen to me, you got a wife?

-She's home.

-Don't you want to be with her?

-She wouldn't want me to kill myself to get there.

Sir, please?

Please? Sir. Sir!

We have to close the house!

-Please!

-Listen, we're not doing anything until my wife gets home.

'Hollywood, Glendale, Atwater Village...'

Come on, the fucking line...

-'..if you are living in an area considered part of an immediate threat zone...'

-Fuck!

'..you will soon be instructed what steps to take in order to ensure the safety of you and your family.'

-SIRENS BLARE '..testing the sites for chemical readings, have confirmed...'

-Sir?

-'I repeat, confirmed...'

-What?

-'..the use of dirty bombs...'

-How long are you going to wait?

'..recommending that anyone within a three-mile radius of any of the three impact areas

'should seal and close themselves off from external air.

'All necessary precautions should be taken.

'These three to eight mile areas the authorities are considering the red zones,

'and consider these areas contaminated by the toxic ash, which travels in the smoke from the fire.

'Chemical bombs have been detonated across Los Angeles. This is an official word from city authorities.

'All adjacent areas to the three main red zones are considered to be in imminent danger.

'A quarantine is in effect.

'I have never seen anything like this. There is ash from the fires falling all over the neighbourhood.

'Cars are being coated with soot from the fire.

'The entire area for blocks contained like an oversized crime scene.'

-'Beverly Hills is engulfed in smoke and flames.'

-'I stand with hundreds of people,

'and I swear we can feel the heat from four or five blocks away.

'I was lucky to obtain a dust mask which was handed to me by a helpful security guard from the hotel.

'We had the wherewithal to grab a first aid kit before evacuating.

'I've been given numerous answers to the question, "How toxic is the gas?" '

'It seems all structures have been evacuated, but there is nowhere to go.'

'No information on who is responsible for these coordinated attacks

'on the innocent people of Los Angeles is available from authorities.

'Officials do not yet fully understand the lethal properties of the toxin,

'but continue to caution that it is acutely fatal.'

'I am in the middle of a full-on riot down here!

'Toxic ash rains from the sky! People are fighting to exit the quarantine area.

'Police struggle to contain the crowd.

'Police on horses are kicking their way into the massive crowds, injuring dozens.

'A police car was overturned just a few moments ago. The fires have spread.

'People are knocked to the ground. Many have been trampled...'

'Authorities have been giving numerous answers to medical questions.

'How toxic is the ash? Is there medicine?

'Mostly semi-positive answers to the queries, obviously, to reduce the level of panic.

'From what I can see, I can confirm that the city is under siege,

'and this area is being quarantined as an enormous crime scene as well as

'the potentially toxic crowd of individuals that are a threat to the rest of the city.

'The levels of tension in the crowd is immense.

'Everyone is concerned about the toxic levels of the ash...'

HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

'An immense crowd has been corralled here on Beverly Drive...'

'..organising a way to move this crowd safely away from the immediate dangers.

'The fires still burn. Ash still rises into the sky.

'Hundreds of people who ran from vehicles seek to re-enter their car, only to find someone else inside.'

'Juan, I'm sorry to interrupt you.

'I understand we have Heather Malone, a city official,

'now speaking from a Burbank Sheriff's office in the valley.

'Please stay safe, Juan. We'll check back with you as soon as we can.'

She's safe. She'll be OK.

We're all going to be OK.

Everything. We're safe.

Seal it.

'Fire departments are busily trying to extinguish the fires.

'We have determined that the explosive devices used have let off

'immense amounts of deadly molecular toxins

'that are now travelling in the smoke from the fires.

'Due to gridlocked streets, the fires had a larger head start.'

TELEPHONE RINGS ON THE LINE

'..full understanding of what kind of toxins, their lifespan,

'the full effects are still being determined.

'A team of specialists are gathering samples...'

LINE GOES DEAD '..and a team of scientists are arriving on the scene to run tests.

'Mobile labs are set up across the city. Antibiotics will be distributed to those quarantined in red zones.

'So please, do not attempt to join someone who has been quarantined.

'If by chance, someone who was near one of the blasts

'approaches your home, refrain from contact.

'All air traffic in the south-western United States has been grounded.

'California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico have no flights.'

'..taking shelter under awnings, inside cars, but it seems to be covering everything.

'It is harder and harder to breathe, Neil. Everyone here

'has their faces wrapped with shirts, towels, jackets, whatever they can get their hands on, Neil.

'There is a gentleman lying on the ground here.

'Civilians are actually tending to him. He's bleeding profusely from his head.

'I asked if he was hit by debris, and a bystander said, no, he was run over by all the people fleeing.'

TELEPHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-Brad! Jesus!

We've been trying to reach you all day.

-Mrs Fontana.

-Is everything OK?

-Yeah.

-You're OK, right?

-Yeah, we're fine.

-Oh! They're OK!

-Yeah, um...

-They're OK!

-Lexi took the freeway.

-She took the freeway!

-I guess the phone lines are jammed?

-All day. Can I speak with Lexi, please. Can I speak with her?

-Er...

What? You're OK, right?

-You know, we sealed the house.

-Good. They say that's good.

Oh, God. We saw the whole thing on the news.

They say the chance of survival for anybody near the explosions is most likely zero.

Brad, I need to speak with my daughter. Brad?

HE HANGS UP

'All circuits are busy. Please try your call again later.'

'A total of three explosions in downtown,

'three more blasts near the Century City Plaza in Beverly Hills.

'Yes, OK, we would like to correct an earlier report.

'It is now confirmed that the blast at LAX was on the arrivals level,

'not the departures, between terminal 6...'

I should have fucking went.

It's suicide.

No-one really knows what's going on yet.

'Anyone approaching your home who has been exposed to the deadly ash

'must remain quarantined until further instruction.

'Please do not tend to the medical needs of anyone contaminated.

'Refrain from contact.

'They are highly toxic, considered lethal, and need professional attention.

'Authorities have reported that some who were within blocks of the blasts

'fled to other parts of the city.' HE SOBS

SHE COUGHS

CAR HORNS AND SIRENS BLARE, HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

'..isolate the people who were near the impact areas.

'The civilians, police and other rescue authorities

'that were unfortunately near one of the blasts are being held

-'in a high-security quarantine in downtown Los Angeles.'

-< Brad!

COUGHING AND SOBBING

Brad!

-Lex!

-Thank God you're home. Oh, God. You're home.

Honey, open up! Open the door, honey. Honey!

-SHE COUGHS VIOLENTLY

-Oh, Jesus Christ.

The bombs were half a block from my car.

The cop threw me up against a wall with his club. It hurts to breathe.

Someone picked me up off the ground, and the sirens were so loud.

The entire block was on fire. Open the door, sweetie.

Open the fucking door!

-SHE PANTS

-Open the door. What are you doing?

-Baby, we'll get you checked out. We'll get you to a hospital as soon as we can.

-Open the door!

Baby...they were dirty bombs. It's chemical shit.

-Open the door.

-You're contaminated, I can't.

-The news said you must be isolated.

-What?!

-The shit's airborne. Nobody knows what's going on.

-Wait...

-Everybody on the radio said guys were wearing toxic suits.

-What are you doing, Brad?

I didn't know what to do. They said tape up the house.

It's some kind of poison. I saw these cops.

-You're just going to leave me out in it?!

-It won't be for long.

-Brad!

Go around back. Get away from the front of the house.

-I didn't know if you were OK.

-Well, here I am!

-You gotta get to the back of the house.

-Oh, my God.

-Lexi...

-Go around the back and we'll figure this out.

-Brad, open the door.

I can't.

Baby... Baby, listen to me.

What the fuck is this?

-The news said that people need to be isolated.

-People? It's me!

-Did you plan this?

-They said to seal the house and you weren't here...

-Who the fuck is "they"?

Fox fucking news?! What the fuck do they know?! You're quick to lock me out of my own home!

Baby, the, uh...the...

-the neighbours' handyman is inside.

-What?

-What?

-Well, he didn't have any...

-And not me! Fuck, you idiot!

Look, I know it's fucked up! I couldn't just... He had nowhere to go, I couldn't...

Yeah, well, join the fucking club!

We saw the ash and the dust cloud roll across the sky and we didn't have a choice.

I was there, Brad! Half of somebody's fucking arm flew in my goddamn car!

It's, er... You know, everybody's a little...

Once we get some information, it'll be better in a while.

You know, they'll have answers. It's just hysteria right now.

I... I love you. We just... We gotta calm down for a second.

OK, just calm down for a second.

I'm sorry.

Take this.

'..have not released an official report regarding the name of the toxin as of yet.

'They believe it to be a hybrid of several durable, toxic chemicals

'with an unrecognisable viral strain with lethal properties.

'Local authorities indicated that they had full federal support...'

How long?

They, er... They don't really know anything.

I'll be here with you, OK?

I'll stay right here with you. We'll get some help.

'However, it's the long-term effects that everyone has been and will be concerned with.'

'911 emergency is experiencing a high volume of calls.

'Please try your call again...'

'The smoke and ash still hangs in the air.

'The enormous rescue lights pretty much have obliterated...'

I thought duct tape was stupid.

It IS stupid.

-It just... It was... He said it was the only way to...

-What?

Honey, I left the door, the front door open. I left it open as long as we could.

I...I just thought... I was hoping that you were safe somewhere.

-Are they sugar coating it?

-No. They don't fucking know enough to sugar coat anything.

I mean... We're going to be fucking smart about this.

When we figure it out, we're going to get help.

-They got to be sending fucking help.

-'There's still fire all around...'

Thanks for the travel tip.

What were you going to do today, anyway?

So how's the phone work?

It's, er... It's in and out.

There's no internet either. Why? Do you want me to try to call somebody?

No.

-When you listen to your voicemail.

-Yeah?

Ignore my messages.

'Sorry to interrupt, Kathy, but we have just received word

'of another city press conference in progress at the Burbank Sheriff's Department.'

'We estimate that those who have fled, and are affected by any of the immediate blasts and toxic ash,

'should remain quarantined for several days.

'We do not have a specific number of days. Three, five, ten. We just don't have any idea.'

Fuck! Lexi! What the fuck! Get out!

You sleep out here! I'm going to die! I don't want to die!

-Lexi, fucking stop it! Stop it!

-Why?

-You want to fucking kill me?

-Why do you want to kill me?

-Stop, stop.

The radio said the medical team will be in this area by morning.

They're running tests. We'll know everything's OK in the morning. They'll be in this area.

-Let me do this.

-You got it?

-Yeah. Go on. Yeah.

-Fuck!

'..near the impact zones.

'You will be turned away. There is an emergency hotline being set up.

'Please call that number. Describe your situation and location and help will be dispatched accordingly.

'The investigation into who is responsible for this horrific action is well underway.'

-Lex.

-What are you doing? You want to live without me?

Lexi, come here.

It's not you.

-I'm not locking you out, OK? You understand that?

-Yeah.

-I love you. You know that, right? You know that.

-Yeah.

I'm glad you're safe.

I'm going to get some help here. We're going to fix this.

OK.

'911 Emergency is experiencing a high volume of calls.

'Please call the 24-hour hotline 888 777 4432.'

'The Los Angeles Emergency Hotline is experiencing a high volume of calls.

-'Please try your call again later.'

-Fuck.

-RADIO: 'Juan, how is morale there?

-Well, as I mentioned earlier,

'everyone is a bit suspicious of how long, when, what,

'but seem to remain calm, despite the anxiety.'

TELEPHONE RINGS ON THE LINE

Answer the phone, Mary. Please.

Please.

Answer the phone.

'There was a word of caution to use bottled water until tests

'have been completed.' MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

'The President made it clear in his statement that an investigation into the evil-doers...'

It's your mom.

-She called earlier today.

-She did?

What did you say?

I told her that we were OK.

Then I hung up on her.

Thanks.

'..and our resolve will hold firm, and our values...'

'It started out on a typical, beautiful day...

'The Los Angeles Emergency Hotline is experiencing a high volume of calls. Please try...'

'..the longest day for all of us here.

'I did hear some gunshots a couple of blocks away.

'It's hard to imagine what is going on elsewhere in the city.'

'Authorities urge everyone to stay at home. Help is on the way.

'The, er, city's red zones will remain under quarantine for an undetermined amount of time.'

TELEPHONE RINGS ON THE LINE

SIRENS BLARE OUTSIDE

TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING

SIREN BLARES, IT COMES NEAR THEN PASSES

Fuck.

Lex!

Lexi!

HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

< VOICES ON RADIOS

Yeah. I got it. I got it.

Copy.

Meet you back at the complex.

HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

SIREN BLARES

Brad.

Brad. Brad.

Brad. Brad!

-Brad.

-What?

-I saw some guy with cops. They just handcuffed some guy and hauled him off.

Stay back here. They're not fuckin' around. I saw a cop shoot a guy.

-What?

-Yeah, when I went to get you.

-You went to get me?

Of course I went to get you.

-Where are the doctors? That guy said they'd be here by the morning.

-He lied.

-Are you fucking kidding me?

-I think it was to calm us down.

Tell him to come and die alongside me. How about that for an idea?

-Fuck!

-Look, nobody's going to die, OK?

Not now, not later.

Look at me. Nobody. OK?

Fuck him!

Can I have my phone?

Yeah. Sure.

Just don't... Don't go anywhere any more.

Give me a minute.

TAPE IS TORN INSIDE

OK, Lex.

HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD

ANNOUNCEMENT: Please be patient. Help is on the way.

Lex, you can open the door.

-You sure?

-Yeah.

Oh!

I talked to the Hotline.

What'd they say?

That they're doing everything they possibly can at this time.

What did they really say? Did they say I'm dead?

Can we just talk?

Six years, you've never said, "Can we just talk?" What'd they say?

-Am I dead? Just say it!

-Lexi...

Brad!

-Nobody is sure, 100%, of anything right now.

-Can anyone help me?

-They said that the toxins have to be like 1.5 microns in...

-What?

-..diameter, or something like that.

-What?

They're distributing antibiotics.

-When?

-They're using the help of the US postal service.

The hospitals and rescue centres are overwhelmed.

-They're turning people away, so we're going to have to, um...

-No!

-..just wait. Whatever they have, it could help.

-Brad!

SHE SOBS

No!

'Help and medicine will be dispatched accordingly.

'Do not attempt to go to rescue centres or hospitals.

'Help will come to you. The President has activated 10,000 reservists

'to help in the rescue efforts.' MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

'They're being flown into Edwards Air Force Base, briefed, and driven by school bus into the red zone.'

It's my mom.

-Mom...

-Lexi! Finally!

-Hey.

Brad told you we got disconnected yesterday, right?

-Yeah.

-Oh, I'm so happy to hear your voice! You're doing OK. You're safe.

-A little confused.

-Well, me too. It's terrible.

Everybody thinks it'll happen here next. But you're doing OK.

You and Brad have enough supplies?

-Lex? You're... You're OK, right?

-No.

-What? Brad said...

-Doesn't matter what Brad said, Mom, I was there.

-Oh, God. What are you saying?

-I just don't know what to do.

Jesus, why did Brad lie? Oh, God! OK. OK, Lex.

-Listen to me. There are places you can go...

-There's nowhere to go.

They're arresting people for crossing the street. Your news is not what's really happening.

-Calm down.

-Stop telling me to calm down, Mom. It's so easy to say.

-I'm sorry, honey. I'm sorry. What can I do to help you, huh? How can I help, sweetie?

-You can't.

All right, Lex. Hang up with me and call for help. Call for help!

-Mommy?

-Call the hospital.

Mommy, the entire city is a crime scene. Everything is overloaded.

Get to the hospital, Lexi! Get to the hospital.

-They have health stations.

-They said to stay put.

-I see it here. It's in the news...

-They said they'd bring us antibiotics to calm us down.

-Lexi, you cannot just sit there!

-God, Mom. You're stressing me out, OK? I don't want this either!

You always think you know how to make everything right, but this is fucking real stuff!

-You can't just make it disappear!

-Take a breath! I'm sorry.

-SHE COUGHS

-I love you. Let's take it... Are you all right? Listen to you!

-CAR ALARM BLARES

-Oh, God. Listen to you, Lex. Lexi, you need to get help!

-Hey!

-Honey...

-Hey!

-What's happening?

-Hey!

-Lex, talk to me. Lex!

Are you OK?

-I love you. I got to go.

-Don't hang up, honey.

-I love you.

-Tell me you'll be OK.

-Tell Dad and Jason I love 'em.

-Just stay on the phone!

-Gotta go.

-I want to help you...

Hey, come here. Come here, come here.

Where are you going? What's going on?

Where are your parents?

-At work.

-What's your name?

-Timmy. MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

-My mom...my mom... My mom and dad's at work.

-They're at work?

-ANNOUNCEMENT: A curfew is in effect...

-Want some water? Come on. I have crackers, too.

TELEPHONE RINGS

TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING

'New York City subways, Chicago's L-Train service, Boston's MTA

'and Washington DC's Metro are all resuming normal schedules.'

-Sir?

-What?

Don't you care?

That's your choice.

I know where my wife is, OK? I left my deadbeat family a long time ago.

So whoever the fuck that is, I don't feel like telling them,

"Hey, everything's fucking fine," cos it's not fine!

Listen, if you got any problem at all, you can stop sucking my oxygen and get the fuck out of my house.

-Look, I didn't mean anything by it.

-Then what did you mean?

I don't know.

You're saying that I don't love my wife?

No. No.

That's not it.

We both made the same decision.

So what, you got nothing to say, now?

We didn't decide anything.

It was instinct.

It was just instinct.

'When you call about your location, your condition, the situation you and your family are in, er,

'authorities are surveying each household and deciding what to do.'

-I want to clean him up.

-I saw that kid in the street yesterday.

-I made him go home. I watched him run.

-Yeah, well, now he's here.

-We're OK. Right?

-Why can't we go in there?

-Well...

Er, we're just... We're trying to keep that dust out.

Yeah. That's a good way to look at it.

Timmy, how come you didn't run home?

Remember when I told you to run home?

What happened?

-I was scared.

-You were scared to go home?

Why?

Because...the bomb.

You know about the bomb?

What did you see?

Half of the Earth blew up.

Well, we're going to get you cleaned up now.

-Yeah, we just want to get you clean. OK? Take a shower?

-OK?

I'm going to give you...

I'll give you guys the bathroom.

Yeah. We'll get this dust off us, OK?

'The men and women have learned they have to withdraw from distributing the antibiotics...'

Look, er...

I'm going to leave.

Look, I didn't mean what I said, OK?

That's not it.

I need to be with my wife.

Nobody answered the phone?

I reached my cousin. He hasn't heard from her.

Well, er,

try somebody else.

I'm sorry I put you through all the trouble.

It's no trouble, um... Why don't you try a neighbour?

She could be safe, you know, next door or something.

OK.

You take care of Lexi. Make sure that she knows she's not alone.

God help us.

Hey.

You don't have to leave.

Don't do this, man.

I'm going through the office. You seal the door to the hallway.

I should have never came.

I would have never gotten the house sealed up in time.

KETTLE WHISTLE SQUEALS

'..connected to very large oxygen tanks strapped to the back of trailers.

'So I urge everyone to call the 24-hour emergency hotline.

'State your location and condition of you and all your family members,

'and they are prioritising houses, and will bring the proper medicine to you.

'Do not attempt to go to a hospital or a rescue centre...'

HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, TAPE IS TORN ON THE OTHER SIDE

'You will be turned away. You will not receive medicine.

'Authorities are trying to contain the already overwhelming crowds.

'National Guard reservists continue to be briefed at Edwards Air Force Base,

'and then bussed into the city where they are to help with the curfew.'

'No new news has surfaced in the last several hours.'

It's a goddamn sauna in here.

-Do you have water?

-I think.

Alvaro left.

Just walked out.

You think the shower's safe?

You know what, honey? I think it'll be just fine.

Yeah.

The, er... very special and important

people in charge of this disaster said that it was OK.

In fact, they phoned today, and they said,

"Sorry to interrupt your busy fucking day,

'but in case you were wondering if your wife can take a nice, hot shower, she can,

"cos the water is safe. There's no toxins in it."

Brad? Timmy.

And they also speculate that boys like Timmy in general...

Of course, you have to leave it up to interpretation what "general" means.

..that boys like Timmy

are immune, too, because they have built-in antibiotics.

Can you believe that? I mean... They forgot to mention that.

Oh, shit.

Because I haven't seen my family in ten years,

and I fit the classic profile of the out-of-work musician

living off the bread-winning coat tails of my wife,

that I'm immune too.

Since all the hospitals...

are overloaded and we're told to stay put at the time...

..I think everybody's immune to this mystery poison.

I think it's just one big goddamn public service announcement.

All right, I'm done.

You OK?

Yeah.

SHE COUGHS

Oh, God...

I hope the mailman's carrying some good drugs.

DOG BARKS

Were your parents supposed to pick you up?

Yeah, they s'posed to pick me up at school.

Don't worry. We'll find 'em, OK?

METAL RATTLES

Brad?

-Brad?

-Yeah?

-Did you hear that?

-No. What is it?

-Sounded like someone at the back gate.

Shit. I'll get a flashlight.

-Brad, what do you see?

-Hang on a second.

-Do you see anything?

-Are you sure you heard something?

Lex! Get out of the bedroom! Get away from the back of the house!

-There's someone in the backyard! Run!

-Lock the doors! Lock the doors!

-You see anyone?

-I can't see! He went around the side.

-Let me see.

-Stay in the bathroom.

-Lexi, what do you see?

-I can't see.

Lex! Get back in the bathroom! Get away from the door, Lexi!

He's on that side of the house!

Brad? I can't see him!

-Help!

-Timmy, what is it?

-Oh, God. Timmy?

-What? What is it?

-I saw something in the window.

-Lexi!

-What is that?

-BANGING >

Someone's out there!

Lock the door and stay in the bathroom.

-Brad, what is it? Brad!

-I can't see! I'm going to check around back.

-Who is it?

-Come on, it's me, Rick!

-Rick?

-Lexi!

-Oh, my God. It's Rick!

-What?

-Oh, my God! Thank God.

Are you OK?

-Are you OK?

-No, I was downtown.

What the fuck is he doing here?

-I was downtown.

-Oh, fuck.

-Oh, my God. Thank God it's you.

-I'm sorry.

-I'm in trouble.

-Where's Brad?

-He's safe. He sealed himself in.

-Good.

-He didn't know where I was.

-No, he's doing the right thing.

-RICK COUGHS

-Oh, that's terrific(!) Lexi!

-I've been trying to get hold of you. Gail couldn't get in touch with you either.

-Lexi, I need to talk to you.

-We gotta get help.

-But...

-They're setting up an airlock at the children's hospital. I'm going.

-Come with me.

-We want antibiotics. The news said stay.

-Fuck that! Fuck that!

-Lex!

-There's a Navy ship docking off of...

-HE COUGHS

-Oh, my God, Rick.

-Don't go near that man.

-There's a Navy medical ship docking off of San Pedro.

Really?

We gotta get help.

Lexi!

Rick, here. Here, here!

-Lexi!

-What?

-I need to talk to you.

-What?

-Brad, there's a Navy ship at San Pedro.

-Don't get near that guy.

-He has real information.

-He could be fucking worse off than you.

-What?

-He sounds awful.

-So what? I sound awful.

-You never really liked him.

-The guy's a scumbag. You told me!

-Are you fucking kidding me?

-He's dying. I'm dying. Stop playing God.

-What is that supposed to mean?

-Fuck!

All we have to do is get on the right side of the barricades at the hospital. OK? Let's go.

-Come on, we gotta do something, all right?

-OK, we'll go.

-OK?

-Fuck.

-'Symptoms continue to worsen. The first round of medicine...'

-You're right. I'm sorry. I just...

It's just that I feel like I should be taking you to the hospital.

I think it's a good idea, it's just all over the news...

Fuck the news. Baby, fuck the news. We're dying. I gotta go.

I gotta take Timmy, too.

Listen, are you...?

Are you sure that you want to go out there?

It's my only chance. I have to go.

I'm going to be back, OK?

I have no choice.

-I promise.

-'..clearly in over their heads.

'They are understaffed and, you know, quite frankly, they seem ill-equipped.

'As soon as they receive any new information from the labs,

'they disseminate it through the crowd on slips of paper...'

'Information about the toxin is still being analysed in remote labs.

'No official understanding of its dangers is available.

'It's understood to be a viral hybrid which attacks the respiratory system first.

'Symptoms have rapidly increased as precious time continues to slide by.'

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Sir, I'm Corporal Marshall from the Special Emergency Medical Epidemiology Nexus.

-Jesus Christ.

-I need you to remain inside your house and answer the following questions.

Were you anywhere near the accident?

Er...no.

-My wife was.

-Are you the one that called the hotline?

Yeah.

My wife's been locked outside for two days, because that's what you said to...

-said to do.

-Do you have any children?

-What?

-Do you have any children?

-No.

-Do you have any pets?

-No.

-Do you have a gun?

-No. Wha...?

-What? What is this?

-How well is your house sealed?

-It's very sealed.

-Keep your house sealed and remain inside.

Is your wife around back?

No.

She, er...

She walked to... She walked to the hospital.

Sir, we need everyone to stay home until we do a pre-screening process.

Have you or your wife started coughing?

-Yeah, I mean...

-You?

-Not me.

I need you to stay inside your house if you want to live.

-And if your wife returns, instruct her to stay put.

-Do you guys have any medicine?

We're surveying each household and gathering data and trying to decide what to do.

We cannot leave medicine behind.

-We cannot waste any medicine on a maybe.

-My wife's not a maybe!

We don't know the full limits or lethality of the toxic ash yet. Has she been inside?

Er...

Well, I mean, er...

No, I mean...

-You know, not really.

-She has?

-She hasn't been inside, but she broke a window.

-Did you touch her?

No, I didn't touch her. She just used her cell phone and broke a window and...

-Did the toxin get inside?

-I don't think so. I mean, there might have...

been a little something on it. I threw a rug over it.

-Did you reseal the window?

-Yeah. Right away.

How long ago did she break it?

Um, like, er...

Like a day, day and a half.

-You have air-conditioning?

-No, it's 100 fucking degrees in here!

I'll need you to gather a sample for me.

Well, there... There's ash all over the street.

We have that. I need a sample of the ash your wife was in contact with.

I'm not opening the door.

Which window did she break?

She, er...

She broke a window in the back.

It's right here, sir.

Put some in a bag, and put it through the broken window pane.

And I want you to put some plastic on the inside and seal it, make it air-tight.

-I'm not touching that.

-Put some in a bag.

-What about my wife?

I can't answer that question at this time, sir.

It won't kill you and after we're downtown, we'll have it analysed.

KNOCKING ON THE WINDOW

All right. Fuck.

-Here.

-I'll take this through the centre, sir.

We'll check in later. Keep inside your house and keep it sealed.

-It's your only chance of survival.

-Yeah, what kind of chance?

Stay put. And instruct your wife to do the same. If she returns, refrain from contact.

Why can't you tell me what's going on? What's the big fucking secret?

-We're not trying to cause any more panic than there already is.

-Yeah.

1621 Russell Avenue. Red tag.

What the fuck does that mean, red tag? What does that mean?

Where are you guys fucking going? Son of a bitch!

TEARING AND RUSTLING

Hey!

What the fuck are you guys doing?!

I answered all your fucking questions.

If you're not going to fucking do anything, get out of my house!

Listen, if you don't have any fucking medicine, then get the fuck out of my house, OK?

What the fuck are you guys doing? Get out of my house.

What are you looking for?

If you're not going to help me, get the fuck out of my house!

'..is researching its properties.

'Increased dosages do not seem to help either.

'The extensive search for those who fled downtown in Beverly Hills and in LAX has heightened.

'The President has activated another 5,000 more reserves in Southern California.'

-ANNOUNCEMENT:

-Please stay inside your homes.

The 24-hour curfew for Los Angeles County remains in effect.

Please stay inside.

PANTING

Brad.

Brad?

Brad. Brad.

-Jesus-fucking Christ! Lex, did you get help?

-No, I couldn't get in.

-What?

-They took Timmy, all the children, and gave them medicine.

-Well, that's good.

-SHE COUGHS

The cops got Rick. They shoved five guys in a van and took off.

-I started running.

-Get away from the street. Medical people came by.

They're not doctors. They're fucking soldiers.

-SHE COUGHS VIOLENTLY

-Lex! Lexi, please go around back!

Lex, get around to the back of the house!

-What is this?

-Who cares!

-SIREN BLARES

-What does it mean?

-Who cares what it fucking means! Go around back!

-It's gotta be bad.

-Lexi, please! Would you please go around back?

-OK.

SIRENS CONTINUE

Do not leave your homes.

What the fuck is this? Fuck! Fuck, Brad!

-Lexi!

-There's fucking thousands of people at the hospital!

Pushing, screaming and climbing over each other, jumping from a car park across an alley way into a window.

Cop cars are blocking the doors. I mean, what is that?

-Fuck!

-Motherfuckers!

Oh, Brad...

SHE COUGHS AND HACKS

I mean, what is that?

That's not help.

No-one's coming here with medicine.

'..remain weary of the ash they continue to stand in and...'

SHE COUGHS '..I feel the same. I noticed licence plates on the rescue...'

-Maybe you should go rest in the bedroom.

-I'm good here.

-'..many of the 50 states...'

-The air feels good.

-'..Illinois, another from Texas.

'They must've been put on the road immediately by authorities,

'which is one comforting thought...'

< RUSTLING IN THE BACKYARD

RUSTLING CONTINUES

-What is it?

-I don't know.

Baby, get in the back. Go in the bedroom.

RUSTLING CONTINUES

CRACK!

-Lex, where are you?

-It's dead birds. There's dead birds everywhere.

-Are you OK?

-I'm OK!

I'm OK, it's just me.

It's just me.

-MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

-'Lexi, it's me. I'm going to head downtown and come and get you.

'Call me and tell me you're OK. I love you. I'm leaving now.'

'Lexi, it's Mom. I hope you're getting help.

'Dad needs to speak with... You know how he is.

'Jason is up at the house, too. We're worried sick.

'Please call us, sweetie. We love you, OK? We love you.'

'Lexi, it's me, Rich.

'No-one was at the office and Gail said she couldn't reach you.

'I'm headed your way.'

'Lex, it's Gail. I love you.

'That's all.

'I...'

SOBBING ON THE LINE

-'I pray that you're safe.'

-SOBBING CONTINUES

'Lexi, it's Mom.

'We love you. I know that you know that. We're praying for you, baby.

'Please call us.'

'Lex, it's Jason, um...

'I talked to Mom and, um...

'..if you get this, um...

'I don't know.

'I love you.

'If there's anything I can do, if I can... Just call me.

'I'll do anything, um... Mom's driving me fucking crazy.

'I don't know what to say. All I know is...

'I miss you.

'Call us.

'Bye.'

SHE DIALS A NUMBER

TELEPHONE RINGS ON THE LINE

-Lex! Are you OK?

-Hey.

-What the hell is going on?

-It's bad.

-Mom said. Where are you?

-It's really bad, Jas.

-Fucking Christ, Lexi!

Listen, there's nothing anyone can do, OK?

-I just...I just want to talk to you.

-What? Lexi, did you get help?

-Did you go to the hospital? They said on the news...

-Jason, I tried.

-There's nothing I can do!

-SHE SOBS

-Lexi...

-Please just talk to me, OK? I just want to hear your voice.

Just talk, OK?

Please?

Jason?

Um...

What do you want to talk about?

I don't know.

Anything.

How are you?

It's OK.

I'm sorry.

It's OK if you can't.

-I, um... I drove by the house with Dad yesterday.

-You did?

Yeah.

How is he?

He's...the same.

The house is brown now.

-No! Really?

-Yeah. Really ugly.

-Weird.

-Yeah.

-SHE COUGHS THEN RETCHES

-Lexi, are you OK? Lexi?

Lexi, are you OK?

Listen.

-I better go, OK?

-What? Don't...

-I'm tired now.

-Don't.

-Jason.

-Lexi, is there anything I can do?

I'm going to go be with Brad. I love you, Jason.

No, don't hang up! Don't...

MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES, SHE SOBS

'The President is said to hold a press conference tonight...' LEXI COUGHS

'..where he will ask for assistance from other allied nations for professional and scientific relief.

'In the meantime, National Guard reservists continue to be briefed

'at Edwards Air Force Base then bussed into the neighbourhoods.'

You know...

-You did an amazing thing.

-What?

You saved Timmy.

Brad...

I'm sorry for...

-anything.

-Ugly.

No, I'm... I don't know.

The fights seem...

Stupid fights seem stupider now.

-They seemed stupid the other night.

-Yeah.

It's just...

I was...

working so much and keeping so busy and thinking about the future.

SHE COUGHS

When we were...

When we were getting married, I had doubts about you and me.

Why are you telling me this?

I don't know.

I never had any.

What else should we talk about?

Why don't we talk about the children that we never had?

We would have screwed them up anyway.

You know what's going to happen, right? We're going to...

..end up on one of those daytime talk shows.

Like a... a real sappy one, you know?

I mean, we'll take their calls and...

-..I'll ramble on about how we managed to...

-HIS VOICE CRACKS

..to survive and, you know, all about how much I love you

and how much...you mean to me.

You're the reason that I get out of bed every morning,

and how you make...

..my life complete.

We'll just... We'll rip their hearts out.

We'll jam 'em right through the phone lines.

You'll tell 'em how we met?

-Your version or my version?

-The only version.

SHE COUGHS

I love you.

How much?

To Catalina and back.

SHE COUGHS

Oh, fuck...

I'm sorry.

No.

It's not our fault.

You stay with me, OK?

-I need you to stay.

-Brad.

Listen, baby...

You'll be OK.

It's OK.

I'm OK.

-VOICES ON RADIOS

-Brad! Brad! Let me in! Brad!

Don't you touch her! Don't fuckin' touch her!

-Let go of her! Get the fuck off of her!

-Brad!

Open my fucking door! Open my fucking door!

-Don't you fucking touch her!

-We're here to help you!

-Get your hands off of her!

Let go of her! Don't you fucking touch her!

Baby, don't fight them! Don't you fucking touch her!

-You motherfuckers!

-Get the man!

-VOICES ON RADIOS

Stay put! Don't fucking move!

KNOCKING ON WINDOW

Your wife is safe. The best thing you could've done was to keep her sealed outside here.

-What?

-The toxic level in there has reached an irreversible level.

Your airtight house has incubated the ash into an airborne hybrid.

-You've created a breeding ground for the poison.

-What are you saying?

The air in your house is a deadly supply,

and you're a lethal carrier.

-I'm sorry, sir, but there's nothing we can do.

-HAMMERING AND BANGING

Please don't struggle.

Wait a minute!

What'd you do with my wife? Hey!

HAMMERING AND BANGING CONTINUES

Jesus Christ.

Oh, fuck! Hey!

DRILLING

Hey!

HISSING

Hey, stop! Fuck!

HE COUGHS

Stop! I'm still in here!

HAMMERING AND BANGING CONTINUES OUTSIDE

COUGHING CONTINUES

Stop!

No!

COUGHING CONTINUES

Stop it! I'm still alive!

I can't breathe!

Please fucking stop! Lexi!

I'm still alive!

Brad! Brad, get out! Brad!

-Brad!

-Help me!

-Brad, get out! Somebody help him!

Brad! Brad!

No! Brad!

I'm still alive, you fucking assholes!

Come on, come on, come on!

Somebody help him! Brad!

I'm still alive!

-Get out! Brad!

-Agh!

BRAD!

Help him!

Brad!

Brad!

Pump the gas for another 20 minutes. It'll suffocate the disease.

HE CHOKES

SHE SOBS AND WAILS

There's nothing we could've done for your husband. The virus grew to an uncontrollable proportion

inside the house. It's lethal. The condition is irreversible.

Say a prayer. You might just make it.

MOBILE PHONE VIBRATES

'Condemned structures will be razed, barrelled and shipped

'to an undisclosed location for final analysis.

'Plans to honour the specialised rescue teams

'are underway in Washington.'

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail: [email protected]