FADE IN:
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - NIGHT
DARKNESS. Emergency lights strobe red.
A WHITEBOARD flashes in the red light:
MERIT PANEL CRITERIA
TIER 1: Essential (Net worth > $500M OR critical skills)
TIER 2: Dependents of essential
TIER 3: Support staff
Chaos: medical equipment scattered, empty food containers,
water bottles everywhere.
VICTORIA REYES (30s), unconscious, lies on a couch. IV
dripping. Breathing shallow, labored.
A small child’s shoe lies abandoned in the corner.
ELLIOT KADE (mid-30s, disheveled, exhausted) stands at a
terminal, hand hovering over a button marked: AUTHORIZATION
REQUIRED.
In the strobing red: anguish. Indecision. Terror.
Across the room, MAYA CHEN (17, stone-faced) watches him.
Arms crossed.
People are scattered around the space. All watching Elliot.
Waiting.
THEO (4) cries softly in his mother’s arms.
COMPUTER VOICE (V.O.)
Oxygen saturation: eighty-seven
percent. Critical threshold.
Elliot’s hand trembles. He can’t press the button.
ON A MONITOR: COUNTDOWN — T-0:08:47.
It TICKS DOWN.
SMASH TO BLACK.
TITLE: “EIGHT HOURS EARLIER”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
First Impressions at Axiom Dynamics
EXT. AXIOM DYNAMICS CAMPUS - PARKING LOT - MORNING
MARCUS WELLS (40s, Black, weathered, sharp eyes) sits in his
Honda Civic, staring at the gleaming tech campus ahead.
Glass. Steel. Optimized perfection.
He opens a black Moleskine notebook and writes:
Day 1. Embedded profile: Elliot Kade.
He pauses. Adds:
Another genius?
He glances at the coffee shop across the street — a GOLDEN
RETRIEVER wags its tail, oblivious.
Marcus gets out. Locks the car. Heads toward the entrance.
INT. AXIOM DYNAMICS - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Screens everywhere. Real-time data visualizations. Cascading
numbers.
ON THE WALL: “MAKING THE WORLD MORE EFFICIENT.”
Marcus observes. Opens his notebook and writes one word:
Optimize.
ELLIOT (O.S.)
Marcus! Welcome.
ELLIOT KADE (mid-30s, intense eyes, expensive casual)
approaches, hand extended.
The handshake is firm. A beat too long.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
Ready to see the future?
Marcus meets his gaze. Neutral.
MARCUS
That’s why I’m here.
Genres:
["Drama","Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
A Tour of Oversight
INT. AXIOM DYNAMICS - HALLWAY - MORNING (MOVING)
Elliot leads Marcus through the campus.
ELLIOT
Six hundred employees. Forty
million users. We’re building
systems that make humanity more
efficient.
Marcus writes: “Systems that make humanity more efficient.”
They pass an open workspace. RHEA PATEL (24, hoodie, headset)
hunches over three screens, typing furiously. She doesn’t
notice them.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
That’s Rhea. Site reliability. Best
we have.
Marcus writes: “Rhea — unacknowledged.”
They pass CARLOS MENDOZA (50s, work uniform, tool belt)
organizing equipment in a facilities closet. He looks up.
CARLOS
Morning, boss.
ELLIOT
Keeps everything running.
But Elliot’s already walking.
Marcus slows, makes eye contact with Carlos, nods.
Carlos nods back.
Marcus writes: “Carlos — already forgotten.”
Genres:
["Drama","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Preparing for Survival
INT. AXIOM DYNAMICS - CONFERENCE ROOM B - CONTINUOUS
Board members gather. VICTORIA REYES (late 30s, professional,
always adjusting her glasses) checks her tablet.
VICTORIA
Elliot. We’re ready when you are.
ELLIOT
Marcus, meet Victoria. Chief Ethics
Officer.
VICTORIA
I make sure we’re doing good while
doing well.
MARCUS
How do you define “good”?
She adjusts her glasses.
VICTORIA
Sustainable value creation for all
stakeholders.
Marcus underlines it twice.
DEREK CHEN (early 30s, barefoot, disheveled hoodie) bounces
in.
DEREK
Are we doing the bunker thing?
Because I’ve been working on this
tokenized ration concept—
ELLIOT
Derek. Venture capital. Crypto
enthusiast. Ignore him.
DR. LINA CHO (40s, scrubs, tired eyes) enters.
LINA
I’m here as medical supervision for
the tour.
Behind her: SOFIA REYES (40s, exhausted) with her daughter
MAYA (17, observant) and son THEO (4).
Sofia hesitates in the doorway.
SOFIA
I’m so sorry, Mr. Kade. My
childcare fell through—
Elliot waves it off. Barely looks at her.
ELLIOT
It’s fine. They can stay.
Sofia mouths, “Thank you.” Relief and embarrassment.
Maya watches Elliot, reading him.
Marcus writes: “Assistant — apologizes for existing.”
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
Before we go down, I want everyone
to understand. This isn’t paranoia.
It’s preparation.
DEREK
Exactly! That’s why my token
system—
VICTORIA
Derek.
ELLIOT (TO MARCUS)
Ready to see what survival looks
like?
Marcus looks around: billionaires in the center, staff pushed
to the edges — hierarchy made physical.
MARCUS
Lead the way.
Genres:
["Drama","Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Descent into Uncertainty
INT. AXIOM DYNAMICS - PRIVATE ELEVATOR - MORNING
The group crowds in — fifteen people, too many for comfort.
Elliot scans his palm. Doors close. They descend.
On the indicator: B1.
ELLIOT
Seventy feet underground. Four
levels.
Indicator: B2.
MARCUS
AI controls resource allocation?
VICTORIA
Within human-defined parameters.
MARCUS
What parameters?
She adjusts her glasses.
VICTORIA
Optimization protocols. Efficiency
maximums.
Marcus writes: “AI + resource allocation = ?”
Indicator: B3.
Maya tugs her mother’s sleeve.
MAYA (QUIET)
Mom, what if something goes wrong?
Sofia tightens her grip on Theo.
ELLIOT
We run quarterly drills.
Redundancies on redundancies.
Nothing can fail.
Indicator: B4.
The elevator stops. Doors open.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
The Point of No Return
INT. BUNKER - ENTRANCE CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Concrete. Steel. Harsh LEDs.
At the end: a massive, five-ton reinforced door — open.
ELLIOT
Blast-resistant. Fireproof. When
sealed, completely airtight. Once
that door closes, nothing gets in.
MARCUS
Or out?
ELLIOT
Or out. That’s the point.
Maya stares at the door.
MAYA (TO HERSELF)
Why would you build a door you
can’t open?
Elliot gestures them forward.
They file through. One by one.
Marcus pauses at the threshold, writes: “Point of no return?”
Then steps through.
Genres:
["Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Paradise or Prison?
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - MORNING
Breathtaking.
A vast, open space. High ceilings. Sleek. Screens showing
system status — all green.
Conference table. Couches. Kitchen area. Corridors to living
quarters.
A luxury hotel underground.
ELLIOT
Main living area. Accommodates
fifty comfortably. Medical bay.
Storage. Communications.
Lina checks the medical bay. Impressed.
LINA
Full surgical capability. Hospital-
grade.
VICTORIA
We thought of everything.
Marcus writes: “We thought of everything.”
Derek rummages in the kitchen.
DEREK
Freeze-dried meals. But if you
implemented my token system—
Nobody’s listening.
Maya explores, clocking emergency protocols, supply
manifests.
She notices a whiteboard on the far wall. Empty. Clean. It
catches her attention.
A speaker crackles.
CARLOS (V.O.)
Mr. Kade, this is Facilities.
Running systems check. Everything
looks good from topside.
ELLIOT
Thanks, Carlos. Keep monitoring.
Theo tugs his mother’s hand.
THEO
Mommy, I don’t like it here.
SOFIA (QUIET)
It’s okay, baby. We’re just
visiting.
But she looks around — locked doors, sealed environment — and
she doesn’t like it either.
Marcus writes: “A tomb designed to look like paradise.”
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Ethics of Survival
INT. BUNKER - CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING
The group gathers. Elliot at the head. Marcus across from
him.
ELLIOT
Most people think it’s paranoia.
It’s not. When I was sixteen, my
house caught fire. My sister’s door
jammed. She died because we
couldn’t get out.
Beat.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
That’s when I learned. You can’t
trust systems other people build.
You have to build your own.
MARCUS
Rebuild for who?
ELLIOT
For everyone. Eventually.
MARCUS
But first for the people in the
bunker.
ELLIOT
Yes.
MARCUS
How do you decide who gets in?
ELLIOT
Essential personnel. Critical
skills.
MARCUS
You have a list?
ELLIOT
I have criteria.
MARCUS
Can I see it?
ELLIOT
That’s proprietary.
Marcus writes: “Proprietary = who lives and dies.”
MAYA
What about people without critical
skills? Like teachers. Artists.
Kids.
ELLIOT
Dependents of essential personnel
would be prioritized.
MAYA
Dependents. You mean like property.
VICTORIA
That’s not what he means—
MAYA
That’s what it sounds like.
Sofia touches Maya’s arm — not now.
ELLIOT
In a crisis, someone has to make
decisions. If you try to save
everyone, you save no one. Triage.
He looks to Lina.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
Right, Doctor?
LINA
Triage is about immediate medical
need. Not about who deserves care.
ELLIOT
But you do choose. Who gets
treatment first. Who waits.
LINA
That’s different.
ELLIOT
Is it?
Silence.
MARCUS
You built this because you couldn’t
save your sister. So you’re making
sure you can save yourself.
Elliot’s jaw tightens.
ELLIOT
I’m making sure I’m never helpless
again.
MARCUS
By deciding who else gets to be
saved.
ELLIOT
Someone has to decide.
MARCUS
Why you?
Elliot leans in.
ELLIOT
Because I built it.
Marcus writes: “Because I built it = Because I’m God here.”
Victoria checks her watch.
VICTORIA
We should continue the tour.
They begin to file out. Marcus stays, writing.
Maya lingers.
MAYA
What are you writing?
MARCUS
The truth.
MAYA
Will you publish it?
MARCUS
I signed an NDA.
MAYA
That’s not an answer.
Marcus almost smiles.
MARCUS
No. It’s not.
They follow the others out.
Genres:
["Drama","Sci-Fi","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Resource Allocation and Ethical Dilemmas
INT. BUNKER - SIDE CORRIDOR - MORNING
Marcus and Elliot walk alone. Voices echo from the main hall.
MARCUS
The AI — you said it controls
resource allocation. What does that
actually mean?
Elliot taps a wall screen. Data appears.
ELLIOT
Food distribution. Water
management. Air filtration. Medical
supply tracking. The AI optimizes
based on need.
MARCUS
Who defines “need”?
ELLIOT
The system does. Based on
parameters we set.
MARCUS
“We” meaning you and Victoria?
ELLIOT
And the board.
Marcus notes it.
MARCUS
The criteria for who gets in — can
you elaborate?
ELLIOT
Net worth is one factor. Resources
matter in rebuilding.
MARCUS
So rich people first.
ELLIOT
People with capital to restart
infrastructure.
MARCUS
What about skills?
ELLIOT
Engineers, doctors, scientists.
Problem solvers.
MARCUS
Not artists. Not teachers.
ELLIOT
Not immediately critical.
MARCUS
What about the people who work
here? The ones who keep this place
running?
ELLIOT
They’re valued.
MARCUS
But not essential.
Elliot stops at a door and opens it.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Tiers of Trust
INT. BUNKER - STORAGE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Shelves of supplies. Stacked binders.
Elliot pulls a binder and shows Marcus.
On the tabs: TIER 1, TIER 2, TIER 3.
MARCUS
You’ve already ranked everyone.
ELLIOT
We’ve categorized personnel by
potential contribution.
MARCUS
That’s ranking.
Elliot closes the binder and puts it back.
ELLIOT
In a crisis, you don’t have time to
deliberate. Frameworks prevent
chaos.
MARCUS
Or create a different kind of
chaos. You’re worried about nuclear
war, pandemics, outside threats.
What if the threat is inside? What
happens when people in here realize
they’ve been ranked?
Elliot considers.
ELLIOT
They won’t know. The criteria are
confidential.
MARCUS
So you’ll save people without
telling them why. Or not save them
without telling them why.
ELLIOT
What people know affects behavior.
Selective disclosure prevents
panic.
Marcus notes it.
MARCUS
What if the rankings leak?
Elliot’s jaw tightens.
ELLIOT
They won’t.
MARCUS
But if they do?
ELLIOT
Then I deal with it. But that’s
hypothetical. We’re talking real
preparation, not thought
experiments.
MARCUS
Philosophy becomes real when people
are trapped.
That lands.
ELLIOT
Nobody’s trapped here. This is a
tour.
He checks his watch.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
We should rejoin the others.
Elliot exits.
Marcus looks over the binders again — TIER 1, TIER 2, TIER 3
— then follows.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Emerging Crisis in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - MORNING
The group has reconvened.
Board members lounge on couches. Derek pokes at a wall
screen. Victoria checks her tablet.
Sofia sits with Theo and Maya in a corner. Theo plays with
blocks. Maya, no signal, is still taking photos.
Lina reviews medical supplies.
Marcus stands off to the side, writing.
Elliot stands in the center — in control.
ELLIOT
Any other questions?
BOARD MEMBER
The air filtration — how long
without external power?
ELLIOT
Indefinitely. Solar backup, battery
storage, manual generators. Every
system has redundancy.
Derek brightens.
DEREK
But have you stress-tested the
economic model? Because in a closed
system—
BOARD MEMBER #2
Derek, we’ve heard the pitch.
Derek deflates.
Maya snaps a photo of her mother and brother.
MARCUS
How much did all this cost?
ELLIOT
Eight million construction. Two
million annual maintenance.
MARCUS
Ten million dollars to survive the
apocalypse.
ELLIOT
Ten million dollars to not need
luck.
Victoria’s tablet chimes. She checks it.
VICTORIA
Carlos says systems are nominal.
We’re ahead of schedule.
A SECURITY GUARD approaches the main door.
SECURITY GUARD
This is the only exit?
ELLIOT
The only one. By design.
SECURITY GUARD
What if the controls fail?
ELLIOT
They won’t. If they do, there’s a
manual override. Takes eight hours
to cycle.
Marcus notes: “Eight-hour lockdown = standard.”
Theo comes over to Elliot with his blocks.
THEO
Look! Tower!
Elliot looks down, unsure.
ELLIOT
That’s very nice.
THEO
You wanna build?
ELLIOT
I’m busy right now.
Theo’s face falls. Sofia scoops him up and leads him away.
Maya watches, hardening.
Marcus notes: “Can’t spare 30 seconds for a child.”
VICTORIA
We should start heading back up.
BOARD MEMBER
Agreed. We have work.
ELLIOT
Thank you for coming. For seeing
what’s possible when you prepare.
He gestures to the door.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
After you.
They begin to gather their things. Marcus closes his
notebook, takes one last look — everything pristine,
controlled.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
Get everything you need?
MARCUS
More than I expected.
ALARM TONES begin. Low, pulsing.
Everyone stops.
VICTORIA
That’s the proximity sensor.
The alarms grow louder. Lights shift red.
ON SCREENS: THREAT DETECTED.
ELLIOT (INTO INTERCOM)
Carlos, what’s happening?
Static.
Genres:
["Science Fiction","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Lockdown Panic
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - CONTINUOUS
Alarms BLARE. Red lights strobe.
ON SCREENS: THREAT DETECTED – LEVEL 9.
Everyone freezes.
ELLIOT (INTO INTERCOM)
Carlos! What’s happening?
Carlos finally comes through, panicked.
CARLOS (V.O.)
Mr. Kade, the AI’s flagging an
external threat. Heat signature.
Possible incoming—
ELLIOT
Override it.
CARLOS (V.O.)
I’m trying — the system’s in
automated protocol—
ON SCREENS: LOCKFALL PROTOCOL INITIATED.
Victoria reacts.
VICTORIA
No. That’s—
The massive door begins to move. Five tons of steel sliding
closed.
Everyone turns — horror building.
BOARD MEMBER
What’s happening?
ELLIOT
Stay calm. It’s a malfunction.
The door keeps closing. Hydraulics hiss.
Victoria rushes to a panel, typing.
VICTORIA
It’s locked out. AI has full
control.
A security guard runs for the exit.
SECURITY GUARD
We need to get out!
Too late. The door SEALS.
BOOM.
Locks engage: CHUNK. CHUNK. CHUNK.
Silence.
Then shouts.
BOARD MEMBER #2
Open it!
VICTORIA
I can’t. The AI initiated lockdown.
ELLIOT (INTO INTERCOM)
Carlos, override now!
CARLOS (V.O.)
I’m locked out! The system won’t
respond!
People push and pull at the door. Nothing.
Sofia grabs Theo. He’s crying.
THEO
Mom, I’m scared!
Maya stands still, watching the panic.
Lina runs to the door.
LINA
Is there another exit?
ELLIOT
No. This is the only one.
BOARD MEMBER
The only exit?
MARCUS
That just failed.
Derek studies a wall screen.
DEREK
Guys. Look at this.
ON SCREEN: LOCKFALL: ACTIVE.
DEREK
Purge cycle: eight hours.
ON SCREEN: PURGE & RE-SEAL: 08:00:00.
A countdown begins.
Everyone stares.
BOARD MEMBER #2
Eight hours? We’re locked in for eight hours?
MAYA
We’re trapped.
ELLIOT
Everyone calm down. It’s a
malfunction. Carlos will fix it.
CARLOS (V.O.)
Mr. Kade, the AI thinks there’s a
real threat. It won’t accept manual
override until the cycle completes.
ELLIOT
How long?
CARLOS (V.O.)
The full eight hours. I’m sorry.
The weight hits them.
SECURITY GUARD
What threat?
Victoria scans the data.
VICTORIA
An anomalous heat signature.
Possible missile trajectory. But
that’s—
MARCUS
Impossible?
VICTORIA
There’s no attack. It’s a false
positive.
ELLIOT
The system’s being cautious.
LINA
So we wait.
ELLIOT
We wait. Eight hours. Then it
opens.
MAYA
You’re sure?
Elliot meets her eyes.
ELLIOT
I’m sure.
Derek paces.
DEREK
Eight hours. We have supplies.
We’re fine. Right?
No one answers.
Sofia rocks Theo, soothing him.
SOFIA
You are my sunshine...
Her voice cracks but she keeps singing. Maya puts a hand on
her shoulder.
Lina turns to Victoria.
LINA
Do you have your insulin?
Victoria touches her bag.
VICTORIA
I brought a day’s supply. For the
tour.
LINA
How long will that last?
VICTORIA
If we’re out in eight hours, we’re
fine.
LINA
And if we’re not?
Victoria has no answer.
Marcus writes:
Day one. Hour one.
They don’t know yet.
But I do.
This is where it starts.
Elliot stares at the sealed door. His perfect system. His
bunker.
His trap.
The countdown runs in the background: 08:00:00.
Genres:
["Thriller","Drama","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
Lockdown Chaos
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - MORNING
Chaos. Everyone moving at once.
Security guards work the door, trying manual controls.
Nothing.
SECURITY GUARD #1
It’s completely locked out!
SECURITY GUARD #2
Try the emergency release!
He yanks a red handle. Nothing.
A board member tries his phone — no signal.
Derek is at a wall screen, typing.
DEREK
I’m trying to access the AI core
protocols—
VICTORIA
You don’t have clearance.
DEREK
Neither do you, apparently!
Elliot works the main terminal — command after command
rejected.
ELLIOT (INTO INTERCOM)
Carlos, can you hear me?
CARLOS (V.O.)
I’m here, boss. Everyone okay?
ELLIOT
We’re locked in. The override—
CARLOS (V.O.)
I know. The AI’s in full lockdown.
It thinks there’s an incoming
threat. Heat signature off the
coast.
MARCUS
Level nine?
CARLOS (V.O.)
Nuclear strike. The system assumes
worst case.
BOARD MEMBER #2
There’s no nuclear strike!
CARLOS (V.O.)
I know. But the AI doesn’t.
Lina moves through the room, checking people.
LINA
Anyone hurt?
Heads shake — just panic.
Sofia sits with Theo. Maya next to them.
THEO
When do we go home?
SOFIA
Soon, baby.
Sofia glances at the countdown on a screen: 07:52:18.
Maya studies the adults — who’s panicking, who’s solving.
A board member paces.
BOARD MEMBER #3
This is unacceptable. I have obligations—
LINA
We all do.
Lina pulls Victoria aside.
LINA (CONT'D)
When did you last check your blood
sugar?
VICTORIA
This morning. It was fine.
LINA
Check it again. Stress changes
things.
Victoria nods, reluctant.
Marcus joins Elliot at the terminal.
MARCUS
Can you override it?
ELLIOT
Not from inside. The AI has
control.
MARCUS
What about Carlos?
ELLIOT
He’s trying. But the system’s
designed to resist outside
interference during lockdown. It’s
a feature.
MARCUS
A feature.
ELLIOT
To prevent forced entry.
MARCUS
And if people are trying to break
out?
Elliot doesn’t answer.
MARCUS (CONT'D)
You built a door that won’t open
from either side.
ELLIOT
For eight hours. Then it opens
automatically.
MARCUS
You’re sure?
A beat.
ELLIOT
Yes.
Marcus sees the doubt and notes it.
Derek bounces over.
DEREK
I have an idea. If we reroute
power—
ELLIOT
Derek, sit down.
Derek mutters, walks off.
Victoria returns, paler.
VICTORIA (QUIET)
It’s already dropping.
ELLIOT (QUIET)
You have insulin.
VICTORIA
For now.
A board member raises his voice.
BOARD MEMBER #2
We need to establish order. Figure out who’s in charge.
SECURITY GUARD #1
Mr. Kade is in charge. It’s his facility.
ELLIOT
Everyone calm down. We’re not
creating hierarchy. We’re waiting
for the system to cycle.
But the word “hierarchy” hangs.
Maya hears it. Marcus writes it.
ON SCREEN: 07:48:11.
CARLOS (V.O.)
Mr. Kade, I’ll keep working on the
override. I’ll check in every
thirty minutes. You have food,
water, air. You’re safe.
ELLIOT
Thanks, Carlos.
CARLOS (V.O.)
We’ll get you out. I promise.
The intercom goes quiet.
The room settles — not calm, just out of adrenaline.
LINA
We should take inventory. Figure
out what we have.
VICTORIA
Food, water, medical. I can pull
the manifests.
MARCUS
How many people are we?
SECURITY GUARD #2
Fifteen in this section.
ELLIOT
Fifty-two total in the facility.
Other sections.
MAYA
Can they hear us?
Elliot tries internal comms. Dead.
ELLIOT
It’s not working.
VICTORIA
The AI must have isolated sections.
Contamination protocol.
MARCUS
So we can’t talk to the others?
VICTORIA
Not until the system reopens comms.
Silence. The isolation sinks in.
Marcus notes: “Isolation. Division. It’s starting.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Tensions in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER (MORNING)
The immediate panic has faded. Grim acceptance.
Elliot stands center, taking charge.
ELLIOT
Okay. Systematic. We assess
resources, we organize, we wait for
the cycle to complete.
Victoria works a terminal.
VICTORIA
Food storage shows eighteen months
for fifty people. We’re fifteen
here.
BOARD MEMBER
So we’re adequately supplied.
MARCUS
And if we’re not out in eight
hours?
Victoria doesn’t answer.
ELLIOT
Water filtration is up. Air is
independent. Medical bay’s stocked.
Lina returns from the medical bay with a notepad.
LINA
Medical inventory is good. But
specialized needs—
She looks at Victoria.
LINA (CONT'D)
We should identify anyone with
chronic conditions.
VICTORIA
I’m Type 1. I brought insulin for
today. The bay has backup.
LINA
How much?
VICTORIA
Six doses. Emergency.
LINA
At your dosing?
VICTORIA
Twelve hours. Maybe.
LINA
So if we’re here longer—
VICTORIA
We won’t be.
Her voice wobbles.
Derek paces.
DEREK
We should establish a schedule.
Shifts—
ELLIOT
We’re here for eight hours, Derek.
DEREK
But if we’re not—
ELLIOT
We will be.
Elliot’s tone hardens.
A security guard approaches.
SECURITY GUARD #1
Sir, what about assignments? Do you want us monitoring the
door?
ELLIOT
There’s nothing to monitor. It
opens in seven and a half hours.
The guard backs off.
Sofia has Theo set up in the living area. Maya helps.
THEO
It’s like camping!
SOFIA
Yeah. Like camping.
Maya sees the fear in her mother’s face.
Marcus writes: “Elliot organizing — performance. He’s scared
too.”
A board member speaks up again.
BOARD MEMBER #2
We should establish protocol. Chain of command.
ELLIOT
I’m in command. It’s my facility.
BOARD MEMBER #2
The board has fiduciary responsibility—
VICTORIA
This isn’t a board meeting.
BOARD MEMBER #2
It’s a crisis. If circumstances change — if resources get
tight — someone needs authority to make difficult choices.
Maya cuts in.
MAYA
Difficult choices about what?
Everyone looks at her.
MAYA (CONT'D)
What choices would you need to
make?
The board member stalls.
BOARD MEMBER #2
Contingency planning.
MAYA
Contingency planning for what?
No answer.
Sofia touches Maya’s arm — enough.
ELLIOT
There won’t be difficult choices.
We’re out in seven hours.
He checks a screen: 07:26:33.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
Everyone rest. Stay hydrated. This
is temporary.
VICTORIA
We should set up stations —
medical, rest, supplies — keep
things organized.
DEREK
I can help coordinate—
ELLIOT
Just find somewhere to sit, Derek.
The group breaks up.
Board members cluster together.
Staff stay to the edges.
Marcus watches it form: class lines.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Divided in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER
They’ve settled into waiting.
Board members on couches.
Derek paces with his dead phone.
Sofia and Theo build with blocks.
Maya documents quietly.
Billionaires near the center with Elliot and Victoria.
Staff on the perimeter — Lina by medical, guards by the door,
Sofia in the corner.
Marcus notes: “Class divide visualized.”
The intercom crackles.
CARLOS (V.O.)
Mr. Kade, update. Still working on
the override. The AI’s locked down
deeper than expected.
ELLIOT
How much longer?
CARLOS (V.O.)
Could be minutes. Could be hours.
A board member jumps up.
BOARD MEMBER
This is unacceptable. We have
obligations—
ELLIOT
I’m aware.
His tone flares.
DEREK
Can we get Wi-Fi? Internal network?
VICTORIA
Internal only. No external.
DEREK
So we’re actually offline?
VICTORIA
Yes.
Derek stares at his phone, lost.
Lina passes Victoria, casual.
LINA
How are you feeling?
VICTORIA
Fine. Why?
LINA
Just checking.
Lina notices a slight tremor in Victoria’s hands. Victoria
hides them.
Maya clocked it too.
ON SCREEN: 07:12:08.
MARCUS (V.O.)
The first hour was denial. The
second hour, people started doing
math.
The separation grows — billionaires in one zone, staff in
another.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Investigating Concerns in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - VARIOUS - LATER
Marcus moves through, notebook out, listening.
INT. BUNKER - SIDE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Elliot with Marcus.
MARCUS
What are you most worried about?
ELLIOT
Maintaining order. People panic
without structure.
MARCUS
Or without control?
Elliot’s jaw tightens.
ELLIOT
I’m responsible for everyone here.
Marcus notes: “Responsible, not accountable.”
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - CONTINUOUS
Victoria checks supplies.
MARCUS
Unless someone has special needs?
She pauses.
VICTORIA
We’d adapt. Optimize allocation.
Marcus notes: “Optimize — her favorite word.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Genuine Connections in Confinement
INT. BUNKER - QUIET CORNER - CONTINUOUS
Maya sits alone. Marcus approaches.
MARCUS
How are you holding up?
MAYA
Better than the adults. I’m not
pretending this is fine.
She looks to the sealed door. Then the billionaires.
MAYA (CONT'D)
I think rich people aren’t used to
being told no. And that door just
told them no.
Marcus almost smiles.
MAYA (CONT'D)
What are you writing?
MARCUS
What people say versus what they
mean.
MAYA
Am I in there?
MARCUS
You’re the only one saying what you
mean.
Maya almost smiles.
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - CONTINUOUS
Marcus returns to his spot.
ON SCREEN: 06:43:11.
He writes: “Hour two. Everyone performing normalcy. Cracks
showing.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
The Vault's Dilemma
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER
Theo tugs Sofia’s sleeve.
THEO
I’m hungry.
Sofia looks to Elliot.
SOFIA
Is there anything he can eat?
ELLIOT
The food storage is in the vault—
BOARD MEMBER
Can we access it?
Elliot hesitates — just a beat.
ELLIOT
Of course. But we should be
strategic.
VICTORIA
For fifty people. It’s calculated.
Sofia’s tone hardens.
SOFIA
My son is four years old and he’s
hungry.
Everyone watches.
ELLIOT
Victoria, open the food vault.
Victoria enters a code.
A door slides open — VAULT: shelves of MREs, freeze-dried
meals, water, bars.
Abundance.
Sofia brings Theo. He picks crackers.
Others drift over — water, bars.
Derek grabs extra and pockets some.
Victoria stands at the entrance, counting in her head.
Marcus notes: “Elliot didn’t want to open it. Now he can’t
close it.”
ON SCREEN: 06:09:33.
MARCUS (V.O.)
The moment he opened it, it stopped
being insurance. It became a
target.
Elliot watches them take supplies. Jaw tight.
The vault stays open.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Countdown to Crisis
INT. FACILITIES CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Screens everywhere monitoring bunker systems and camera
feeds.
RHEA PATEL types at a terminal, dark circles, cold coffee.
CARLOS MENDOZA studies blueprints. JADE MARTINEZ is on the
phone, frustrated. They’ve stayed topside.
RHEA
The AI’s in full defensive mode.
Every override I try gets blocked.
CARLOS
What about mechanical? Bypass
digital completely?
RHEA
There’s an old manual system, but
it’s integrated with—
CARLOS
Show me.
Rhea pulls up schematics. Carlos studies.
Jade hangs up and tosses her phone.
JADE
No help from the AI team. They’re
saying only the system can unlock
itself.
RHEA
Unless we give it a reason to.
CARLOS
What kind of reason?
RHEA
Crisis override. If life support
fails, the AI prioritizes
evacuation over lockdown.
JADE
So we make the AI think they’re
dying?
RHEA
Or let them get close enough that
it triggers naturally.
Carlos slams the table.
CARLOS
That’s not an option.
RHEA
Then we find another way.
Carlos looks at a monitor — bunker interior — people eating,
unaware.
CARLOS
They don’t even know we’re here.
JADE
They know. They just don’t care.
Rhea keeps typing.
RHEA
Then let’s make sure they survive
anyway.
Carlos returns to the blueprints. Jade picks up her phone
again. Rhea’s fingers fly.
ON A MONITOR: 06:05:17.
They keep working.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Survival Instincts
INT. BUNKER - LIVING QUARTERS - DAY
Derek is alone, stuffing protein bars into his bag.
Maya walks in. Stops.
Derek freezes.
DEREK
Hey. Just… organizing.
MAYA
You’re taking extra food.
DEREK
I’m being prepared. That’s
different.
MAYA
We have eighteen months of
supplies.
DEREK
But what if—
MAYA
What if what? You need more than
everyone else?
Derek gets defensive.
DEREK
I have specific dietary needs—
MAYA
You have fear. That’s not the same
as need.
They hold the stare.
DEREK
When systems collapse, the prepared
survive.
MAYA
There is no collapse. We’re waiting
eight hours.
DEREK
Unless we’re not. Then what?
MAYA
Then you trust that everyone gets
equal.
She leaves.
Derek looks at the bars.
He keeps them. Zips the bag.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Survival Dilemmas
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - DAY
Victoria checks her insulin pump, tense.
ON THE PUMP: ERROR – DOSAGE CALIBRATION FAILURE.
She tries to reset. No luck.
She opens a cabinet, pulls backup vials. Counts: one… six.
Her face falls.
Lina enters.
LINA
Victoria? You okay?
VICTORIA
Fine. Just checking inventory.
LINA
Your pump?
Victoria hesitates.
VICTORIA
Minor malfunction. I can manage
manually.
LINA
Show me.
Victoria shows the vials. Lina checks.
LINA (CONT'D)
This is eight doses. Maybe ten if
you stretch.
VICTORIA
Which is fine for eight hours—
LINA
If we get out in eight hours.
VICTORIA
We will.
LINA
And if we don’t?
Long beat.
VICTORIA
Then I’ll need… prioritization.
LINA
Meaning?
VICTORIA
If the override takes twelve,
sixteen hours… I need to get out
first.
LINA
There is no more insulin. This is
it.
VICTORIA
Then I need to get out first.
LINA
You can’t just—
VICTORIA
I won’t die because a machine
malfunctioned.
LINA
So what are you suggesting?
VICTORIA
I’m suggesting that if it comes to
it, there should be criteria. For
who gets prioritized.
Lina stares at her.
LINA
You’re talking about ranking
people.
VICTORIA
I’m talking about survival logic.
Lina shakes her head.
LINA
This is what you do. You optimize.
Even when it’s people.
VICTORIA
When it’s my life? Yes.
Lina backs toward the door.
LINA
Don’t tell Elliot. Not yet.
VICTORIA
Why not?
LINA
Because I know what he’ll do.
Lina leaves Victoria with the vials — her life, measured in
doses.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
Divided Over Rations
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL / FOOD AREA - DAY
People gather near the food vault. Hungry, tired.
Victoria addresses the room.
VICTORIA
Before everyone eats, can we
discuss portion control?
DEREK
Portion control? We have eighteen
months—
VICTORIA
For fifty people. At calculated
rations.
BOARD MEMBER
We’ll be out in hours.
VICTORIA
Carlos just said possibly six more
hours. What if it’s longer?
LINA
Then we adapt. But we don’t need to
ration yet.
VICTORIA
Prevention is better than crisis
management.
ELLIOT
Victoria has a point. We should be
strategic.
SOFIA
Strategic about feeding people?
ELLIOT
Strategic about resource
allocation.
Maya stands.
MAYA
Why can’t we just share?
They look at her.
MAYA (CONT'D)
Take what you need. We have
eighteen months of food for fifty
people. That’s more than enough for
one day.
DEREK
Kid’s got a point.
VICTORIA
The kid is thinking short-term.
Maya hardens.
MAYA
I’m thinking like a human being.
Tension.
SOFIA
You’re talking about rationing food
from a four-year-old.
BOARD MEMBER
Nobody’s rationing from children—
LINA
Then what are we rationing?
No answer.
VICTORIA
Luxury items. Non-essentials.
DEREK
Define excess.
VICTORIA
Anything beyond baseline caloric
needs.
DEREK
So… no snacks?
VICTORIA
Correct.
Marcus notes: “They’re fighting over granola bars.”
ELLIOT
We’ll do modified rationing.
Essential nutrition freely
available. Everything else we
track.
LINA
Who tracks?
ELLIOT
Victoria and I will manage
inventory.
Sofia reacts.
SOFIA
Of course you will.
ELLIOT
Excuse me?
SOFIA
Of course the billionaires manage
the food.
The room goes still.
VICTORIA
That’s not fair—
SOFIA
Fair would be not treating humans
like inventory.
MAYA
Mom—
SOFIA
No. Someone needs to say it.
ELLIOT
We’re trying to keep everyone
alive.
SOFIA
Then let us eat.
Elliot concedes.
ELLIOT
Victoria, open the vault. Fully.
Victoria unlocks it.
People move in, take what they need.
But the room is now clearly divided — board on one side,
staff on the other. Maya films. Marcus writes: “Lines drawn.”
ON A SCREEN: 04:28:11.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Revelation in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - TERMINAL STATION - DAY
Marcus at a terminal, digging.
INT. OFFICE - DAY
He scrolls through COMPANY FOLDERS.
He sees: “INTERNAL OPERATIONS / Q3_COST_ANALYSIS.”
He opens it.
ON SCREEN:
CATEGORIES:
- CRITICAL
- REDUNDANT
- REPLACEABLE
Names and notes:
RHEA PATEL – REPLACEABLE
Junior engineer, skillset available externally
CARLOS MENDOZA – REDUNDANT
Facilities can be outsourced
JADE WILLIAMS – REPLACEABLE
Content moderation, high turnover acceptable
SOFIA REYES – REDUNDANT
Administrative functions can be automated
And at the bottom:
THESE ROLES SHOULD BE CYCLED OUT Q4 TO OPTIMIZE COSTS.
— Victoria Reyes, Chief Ethics Officer
Marcus freezes. Then snaps photos.
He looks across the hall — Sofia plays blocks with Theo.
Smiling.
Lina passes. Marcus calls her.
MARCUS
Dr. Cho — can I show you something?
She reads the screen. Her face hardens.
LINA
When was this written?
MARCUS
Six weeks ago.
LINA
They were going to fire them. And
they’re in here with us.
MARCUS
The people who decided they’re
disposable are now depending on
them to survive.
LINA
Does Sofia know?
MARCUS
Not yet.
LINA
She should.
MARCUS
Everyone should.
He sends the file to the shared internal drive.
UPLOAD COMPLETE.
MARCUS
Now everyone knows what they’re
really worth.
Lina looks at him.
LINA
Victoria’s going to know it was
you.
MARCUS
Good.
Across the room, a guard sees the file on his tablet. A
staffer sees it on her phone. Reading spreads — quiet, viral.
Marcus notes: “Hour four. Truth out.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Divided Loyalties
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - DAY
Sofia stares at her phone. At the word: REDUNDANT.
Other staff stare at their devices — angry, betrayed.
Sofia walks straight to Elliot and Victoria.
SOFIA
Six weeks ago, you were going to
fire me.
Elliot is caught.
ELLIOT
Sofia—
SOFIA
I saw the memo. “Redundant.” My
position can be automated.
Victoria steps in.
VICTORIA
That was preliminary analysis, not
final—
SOFIA
It has your signature.
Victoria tightens.
VICTORIA
I analyze cost structures. It’s my
job—
SOFIA
Your job is ethics.
That lands.
A security guard approaches, holding his tablet.
SECURITY GUARD
We’re replaceable?
ELLIOT
Those memos were taken out of
context—
MARCUS
What context makes calling people
replaceable acceptable?
Elliot turns on him.
ELLIOT
You did this.
MARCUS
I documented what you wrote.
Sofia’s voice cracks but stays strong.
SOFIA
I’ve worked here five years. I
manage your schedule, your
meetings, everything. And I’m
redundant?
ELLIOT
Sofia, you’re valued—
SOFIA
Don’t lie to me. Not now.
Maya comes to her side.
MAYA
Is my mom replaceable?
Derek tries to smooth it.
DEREK
Look, this is just business
analysis—
MAYA
Is she?
Derek falters.
MAYA (CONT'D)
You can’t even say no.
Lina steps in.
LINA
You wrote it down. You planned it.
The only reason they’re still
employed is you didn’t get around
to firing them.
VICTORIA
We’re a business. We have to make
difficult—
SOFIA
We’re people.
Silence.
A board member tries to pivot.
BOARD MEMBER
Can we focus on getting out rather
than rehashing HR issues—
Sofia glares.
SOFIA
HR issues?
Maya, cold:
MAYA
You just called her an HR issue.
The room fractures — billionaires, board, Elliot, Victoria,
Derek on one side; Sofia, Maya, Theo, security, Lina on the
other.
Marcus watches, writing.
MARCUS (V.O.)
That’s when I realized: the door
wasn’t the prison. They were.
ON A SCREEN: 03:51:47.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Divided Decisions
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER
The room is still split. No one crosses.
Derek can’t take the silence.
DEREK
Okay. Hear me out—
LINA / SOFIA / MARCUS
Derek, no.
DEREK
Just listen. We’re fighting about
resources. What if we tokenized it?
LINA
Tokenized?
DEREK
Everyone gets tokens based on
contribution, skills, net worth.
Then you use tokens to access
resources. Food. Medical. Priority.
MAYA
You want people to pay for food
they’re trapped with?
DEREK
Not pay. Earn. There’s a
difference.
SOFIA
Is there?
DEREK
Markets solve allocation problems.
It’s efficient.
Victoria considers.
VICTORIA
It’s not completely unreasonable—
Everyone looks at her.
VICTORIA (CONT'D)
I’m not saying we tokenize. I’m
saying merit-based allocation has
precedent—
LINA
Merit-based?
VICTORIA
In crisis, resources go to those
who can best contribute to
survival.
Marcus writes, underlining.
MARCUS
(quiet)
Merit panel. She said it.
Elliot steps in.
ELLIOT
Nobody’s implementing a merit
panel—
Victoria turns to him, urgent.
VICTORIA
Maybe we should discuss it.
Sofia hears.
SOFIA
Discuss what?
Victoria addresses the room now.
VICTORIA
As a contingency. If the override
takes longer. If we need to
allocate scarce resources. There
should be criteria.
Maya stands.
MAYA
Criteria for who deserves to live?
VICTORIA
Criteria for who gets prioritized.
MAYA
That’s the same thing.
No one disagrees.
ELLIOT
Let’s table this.
DEREK
But the token system—
EVERYONE
Derek.
He sits.
Marcus writes: “Merit panel proposed. Victoria. Elliot didn’t
shut it down.”
ON A SCREEN: 03:38:19.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
Critical Override
INT. FACILITIES CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Rhea at a terminal, exhausted. Carlos with mechanical
schematics. Jade digging through system architecture.
RHEA
Carlos, could we trigger the
mechanical override manually?
CARLOS
Theoretically. But it needs digital
authorization. The AI has to
release the locks.
RHEA
Which it won’t do unless it sees a
crisis—
CARLOS
Or we free up enough system
capacity for an emergency override.
JADE
Can’t. System’s at one hundred
percent. The AI is using
everything.
Rhea leans in.
RHEA
Doing what?
Jade pulls up a resource allocation view.
JADE
Crisis monitoring, environmental
controls, threat analysis... and
this.
ON SCREEN: ENCRYPTED VAULT – 38% SYSTEM CAPACITY.
Rhea frowns.
RHEA
What is that?
CARLOS
Elliot’s data vault. Personal
encrypted storage.
RHEA
It’s taking thirty-eight percent?
CARLOS
Security protocols. Multiple
redundancy. It’s Fort Knox.
JADE
What’s in it?
CARLOS
No idea. Above my clearance.
Rhea thinks.
RHEA
If we dump that vault, we free up
thirty-eight percent.
Carlos nods slowly.
CARLOS
Enough for the override.
JADE
Can we access it?
RHEA
Not without his authorization.
They look at each other.
CARLOS
So we need Elliot to delete his own
vault.
RHEA
To save his own life.
JADE
And everyone else’s.
Beat.
RHEA
Think he’ll do it?
Carlos looks at the 38%.
CARLOS
Depends what’s in the vault.
JADE
And whether he values data more
than people.
Rhea picks up the headset.
RHEA
Let’s find out.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
A Crisis in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - DAY
The room is still divided. Tension hanging.
Victoria at a terminal. She wobbles, grabbing the desk.
Elliot sees it.
ELLIOT
Victoria?
VICTORIA
I’m fine. Just—
Her knees buckle. Elliot catches her.
ELLIOT
Lina!
Lina rushes over, checks her.
LINA
Her blood sugar’s crashing. How
much insulin did you take?
VICTORIA (SLURRED)
Normal dose...
LINA
When?
VICTORIA
Few hours...
LINA
You need another dose. Now.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Countdown in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - CONTINUOUS
Lina gets Victoria on the table. Elliot and a couple board
members hover.
Lina opens the cabinet, counts vials. Her face tightens.
LINA
You have six doses left.
Victoria processes that.
VICTORIA
Six?
LINA
At your current need, twelve hours.
Maybe.
ELLIOT
We’ll be out before then—
LINA
You don’t know that.
BOARD MEMBER
Carlos said possibly six more
hours—
LINA
Possibly. Not definitely.
VICTORIA
What if it’s longer?
Lina preps and injects. Victoria’s breathing steadies.
Everyone sees it: she’s on her own countdown.
DEREK
Can we ration her insulin?
Lina shoots him a look.
LINA
She needs what she needs. You can’t
ration biology.
SOFIA
So what happens if we’re here
longer than twelve hours?
Silence.
Victoria answers anyway.
VICTORIA
Then we need criteria. For who gets
out first. If there’s a choice.
LINA
Victoria—
VICTORIA
I’m serious. If it comes to
choosing, there should be a system.
MARCUS
A merit panel.
Victoria meets his eyes.
VICTORIA
A rational approach to an
irrational situation.
MAYA
You’re talking about ranking who
deserves to live.
VICTORIA
I’m talking about maximizing
survival outcomes—
MAYA
For you.
Beat.
VICTORIA
I don’t want to die because a
machine broke.
SOFIA
None of us do.
Heavy.
Elliot leans close, low but audible.
ELLIOT
Let me think about this.
Victoria nods.
Everyone’s heard. The idea is loose.
MARCUS (V.O.)
That’s the moment. Not when the
door locked. When they decided some
people matter more.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
The Merit Panel Debate
INT. BUNKER - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
Whiteboard. Empty.
Elliot, Victoria, Derek, a couple board members. Marcus in
the corner, notebook open. Lina insisted on joining.
Victoria stands at the board.
VICTORIA
We need clear categories. Tiers.
She writes:
MERIT PANEL CRITERIA
BOARD MEMBER
Three tiers makes sense. Essential,
dependents, support.
She writes:
TIER 1: ESSENTIAL
TIER 2: DEPENDENTS OF ESSENTIAL
TIER 3: SUPPORT STAFF
Lina reacts.
LINA
You’re literally calling people
“support staff”?
VICTORIA
It’s categorical, not judgmental—
LINA
It’s both.
ELLIOT
What defines Tier One?
DEREK
Net worth. Skills. Leadership.
Victoria writes under TIER 1:
- Net worth > $500M OR
- Critical skills (technical, medical, strategic)
- Leadership roles
LINA
So billionaires and doctors.
ELLIOT
People who can contribute to
recovery—
LINA
Your recovery.
BOARD MEMBER
Someone has to rebuild—
LINA
There’s nothing to rebuild. We’re
in a bunker for a few hours.
VICTORIA
We’re planning for contingencies—
LINA
You’re planning who to kill.
Silence.
VICTORIA
If medical resources become scarce—
LINA
They’re scarce because of your
insulin.
VICTORIA
Which is why we need priority
systems—
LINA
For you to survive.
Victoria, honest:
VICTORIA
Yes.
Marcus notes: “At least she’s honest.”
ELLIOT
Tier Two — dependents of essential
personnel.
LINA
So their families matter. Ours
don’t.
DEREK
It’s about maximizing survival
probability—
LINA
It’s about protecting your own.
Victoria writes under TIER 2:
- Immediate family of Tier 1
- Minor children of Tier 1
Lina reads it.
LINA (CONT'D)
“Minor children of Tier 1.” Not all
minor children.
ELLIOT
Lina—
LINA
Theo is four. His mother is Tier
Three. So he’s what — expendable?
VICTORIA
This is hypothetical—
LINA
Then why are you writing it down?
She turns to Marcus.
LINA (CONT'D)
You’re documenting this?
MARCUS
Every word.
ELLIOT
Tier Three — support roles. Non-
essential functions.
Victoria writes:
TIER 3: SUPPORT STAFF
- Administrative
- Facilities
- Security
- General support
She steps back. The hierarchy is on the wall.
LINA
You just ranked human value on a
whiteboard.
VICTORIA
We created a framework for
difficult decisions—
LINA
You created a eugenics panel.
ELLIOT
That’s not—
LINA
That’s exactly what it is.
She storms out. Door slams.
The room sits with the whiteboard. Marcus walks up, snaps a
photo.
MARCUS (V.O.)
I’d never seen someone disrupt the
concept of human dignity. Until
that whiteboard.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Murder with a Rubric
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER
Maya stands in front of the whiteboard, reading. Sofia behind
her.
MAYA
Where am I?
ELLIOT
Maya—
MAYA
On the board. Which tier?
ELLIOT
This is theoretical—
MAYA
Which tier?
Elliot looks to Victoria.
Victoria hesitates.
VICTORIA
You’d be Tier Two. Dependent of
support staff. So... actually
you’re not categorized—
Maya just stares.
MAYA
I’m not categorized. Because my mom
is Tier Three. So I don’t matter.
SOFIA
Maya—
Maya faces Victoria.
MAYA
You put my mother in Tier Three.
VICTORIA
Based on role function—
MAYA
Based on what you think she’s
worth.
VICTORIA
That’s not fair—
MAYA
None of this is fair!
The room stops.
MAYA (CONT'D)
My mom works sixty hours a week.
She coordinates everything. She
remembers your birthdays. Your
coffee. And you ranked her Tier
Three.
ELLIOT
The tiers aren’t about worth—
MAYA
Then what are they about?
Silence.
MAYA (CONT'D)
You don’t have an answer. Because
you know what this is.
DEREK
It’s crisis management—
MAYA
It’s murder with a rubric.
She walks off. Sofia follows.
Marcus writes: “Murder with a rubric.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Urgency in the Medical Bay
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - LATER
Victoria on the table again. Lina checking vitals.
VICTORIA
How bad?
LINA
Your blood sugar’s unstable. Stress
is burning through insulin faster.
VICTORIA
How much do I have left?
Lina counts in the cabinet.
LINA
Three doses. Maybe four if we
stretch.
Victoria does the math.
VICTORIA
That’s six hours. Eight max.
LINA
And we’ve been here almost six.
VICTORIA
We’re running out of time.
LINA
You’re running out of time.
VICTORIA
Then the merit panel—
LINA
Will kill you anyway. Unless we get
out soon.
VICTORIA
Carlos is working on it—
LINA
Not fast enough.
VICTORIA
Then what do we do?
Lina prepares another injection.
LINA
We pray they find a solution. Or
you accept that building a system
to rank who survives doesn’t mean
you will.
VICTORIA
I don’t want to die.
LINA
None of us do. But you’re the one
who decided some deaths matter
less.
VICTORIA
I was trying to be rational—
LINA
You were trying to survive. And you
built something monstrous to
justify it.
Lina injects her, gentle.
LINA (CONT'D)
You have maybe three hours. After
that... I don’t know.
Victoria nods, shaken.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Data vs. Lives
INT. FACILITIES CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Rhea, Carlos, and Jade, tired but wired.
RHEA
We found it. Mechanical override
plus digital authorization.
CARLOS
But we need system capacity.
JADE
Which means the vault.
Rhea picks up the headset.
RHEA
I’m calling him.
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - CONTINUOUS
Elliot at a terminal. Incoming: FACILITIES.
He answers.
ELLIOT
Carlos?
Rhea’s face appears.
RHEA
Mr. Kade, it’s Rhea. We have a
solution.
Elliot leans in.
ELLIOT
You can open the door?
RHEA
We can. But we need your
authorization.
INTERCUT – CONTROL ROOM / BUNKER
RHEA
The AI is maxed out. Every resource
is in crisis mode.
ELLIOT
So free up resources.
CARLOS
We can’t. Not without your
approval.
ELLIOT
Approval for what?
Rhea takes a breath.
RHEA
Your encrypted data vault. It’s
consuming thirty-eight percent of
system capacity. We need to wipe
it.
Elliot freezes.
ELLIOT
Wipe the vault.
RHEA
Yes.
ELLIOT
You’re asking me to delete
everything?
CARLOS
We’re asking you to prioritize life
over data.
Elliot stands, agitated.
ELLIOT
You don’t understand what’s in that
vault.
JADE
We don’t care what’s in it.
ELLIOT
Business intel, competitive
analysis, years of—
RHEA
Mr. Kade, there are fifty-two
people in there. The vault or their
lives. Choose.
ELLIOT
It’s not that simple—
JADE
It’s exactly that simple.
ELLIOT
If I lose that data, I lose
leverage. Protection. Insurance—
CARLOS
Insurance against what? You’re
already in worst case.
Elliot paces.
ELLIOT
Worst case is getting out of here
vulnerable.
RHEA
We’re not asking you to be
vulnerable. We’re asking you to not
be dead.
Silence.
From off:
VICTORIA (O.S.)
Elliot. Do it.
He looks toward medical. Then back.
ELLIOT
No.
They all react.
RHEA
Excuse me?
ELLIOT
Find another solution.
RHEA
There is no other solution—
ELLIOT
Then keep looking.
He hangs up.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Desperate Measures
INT. FACILITIES CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Rhea stares at the blank screen.
CARLOS
He said no.
JADE
He just chose data over fifty-two
lives.
Rhea sets her jaw.
RHEA
Then we bypass him.
CARLOS
We can’t. We need his
authorization—
RHEA
Then we make him give it to us.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
The Breaking Point
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - LATER
Everyone saw Elliot end the call.
LINA
What did they need?
ELLIOT
Nothing. They’re still working—
MARCUS
They said they had a solution.
ELLIOT
It’s not viable—
LINA
What did they ask for?
Elliot hesitates.
ELLIOT
System resources. But it would
compromise critical data—
BOARD MEMBER
What data?
ELLIOT
Business intelligence. Encrypted
backups—
SOFIA
Things more important than our
lives?
ELLIOT
I didn’t say that—
SOFIA
You chose your data over the door.
ELLIOT
You don’t understand the
implications—
MAYA
We understand. You value your power
more than our air.
DEREK
Elliot, if there’s a solution—
ELLIOT
I need to know what I’m giving up—
Lina snaps.
LINA
You’re giving up nothing. We’re
giving up oxygen.
From medical, weak:
VICTORIA (O.S.)
Elliot. Please.
ELLIOT
If I delete that vault, everything
we’ve built—
VICTORIA (O.S.)
Won’t matter if we’re dead.
Silence. Everyone staring.
ELLIOT
I need time to think—
SOFIA
We don’t have time.
The room turns on him.
MARCUS (V.O.)
That’s when he stopped being CEO.
Started being obstacle.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Descent into Despair
INT. BUNKER - VARIOUS - LATER
Screens show: OXYGEN: 89% (CRITICAL: 85%).
People are sluggish.
Theo on Sofia’s lap.
THEO
Mommy, my head hurts.
SOFIA
I know, baby.
Lina moves through.
LINA
Everyone sit, breathe slowly. At
eighty-five percent we get
confusion, then unconsciousness.
Victoria on a couch, pale. Lina checks her.
VICTORIA
I need… insulin...
LINA
You just had your last dose.
VICTORIA
Last?
LINA
There’s nothing left.
VICTORIA
How long?
LINA
Maybe an hour. Maybe less.
Victoria closes her eyes, accepting.
Elliot watches, across the room.
MARCUS (V.O.)
The oxygen was dropping. Victoria
was fading. And Elliot still
couldn’t let go of his vault.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Survival vs. Community
INT. BUNKER - FOOD VAULT AREA - DAY
The food vault is open. Derek is inside, loading a bag fast.
Sofia appears.
SOFIA
What are you doing?
DEREK
Preparing. Being smart.
SOFIA
You’re hoarding.
DEREK
I’m securing resources—
SOFIA
We’re in worst case.
She reaches for the bag. Derek yanks it back.
DEREK
Hey! That’s mine—
SOFIA
It’s ours. All of us.
He pulls harder. Sofia stumbles.
Maya rushes in.
MAYA
Don’t touch my mother!
A security guard slips between them.
SECURITY GUARD
Everyone calm down—
SOFIA
There’s a four-year-old boy who
hasn’t eaten in hours—
Derek snaps.
DEREK
Not my problem!
Everyone stares.
DEREK (CONT'D)
In survival situations you secure
your own position first—
LINA
Your own position? There’s no
“own.” There’s us.
DEREK
That’s naive. When resources are
scarce—
MAYA
They’re not scarce. There’s
eighteen months of food.
DEREK
But what if we’re here longer—
MAYA
Then we share. Like humans.
DEREK
Humans hoard. It’s evolution—
Theo starts crying, loud. Sofia picks him up.
SOFIA (TO THEO)
It’s okay, baby.
But he keeps crying.
A board member goes to Elliot.
BOARD MEMBER
This is getting out of control.
ELLIOT
I know.
BOARD MEMBER
Then do something.
Elliot steps forward.
ELLIOT
Everyone stop!
The room settles — except Theo.
ELLIOT (CONT'D)
The food vault stays open. Take
what you need. But if I see anyone
hoarding again, there will be
consequences.
Derek tests him.
DEREK
Consequences? What are you going
to—
Elliot goes cold.
ELLIOT
Test me.
Derek backs down. Puts some items back — keeps a few in
pockets.
People start taking food again, but now they eye each other.
Protective. Suspicious.
MARCUS (V.O.)
That’s when I knew. The door wasn’t
keeping the apocalypse out. We were
creating it inside.
ON A SCREEN: 01:38:52.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Desperate Measures
INT. FACILITIES CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Rhea, Carlos, Jade watch the bunker feeds — people arguing
over food.
JADE
They’re falling apart in there.
Carlos checks another screen.
CARLOS
Oxygen’s at eighty-seven percent.
They have maybe an hour.
RHEA
And he still won’t authorize the
wipe.
JADE
Then we bypass him.
CARLOS
How? We need his admin code.
Rhea thinks.
RHEA
What if we don’t?
CARLOS
System requires biometrics—
RHEA
Or emergency crisis override. If
life support drops below critical,
the AI prioritizes evacuation.
JADE
Meaning?
RHEA
We make the AI think life support
is failing faster than it is.
Carlos gets it.
CARLOS
We corrupt the sensor data.
RHEA
Make it read eighty percent.
JADE
The AI sees a critical emergency—
RHEA
And triggers automated crisis
protocols. Including resource
reallocation.
CARLOS
Which dumps non-essential storage.
RHEA
Including the vault.
They look at each other.
JADE
This is against every protocol.
RHEA
So is letting fifty-two people
suffocate.
Carlos nods.
CARLOS
If it works, we save them. If it
doesn’t—
RHEA
We’re getting fired anyway.
She brings up sensor controls.
RHEA (CONT'D)
Jade, corrupt the O2 sensors to
eighty.
JADE
On it.
CARLOS
I’ll prep the mechanical override.
RHEA
When the AI starts the dump, we get
maybe sixty seconds before it
figures out the data’s bad.
CARLOS
Sixty seconds to save fifty-two
lives.
Rhea types faster.
RHEA
Let’s make them count.
They work in sync — breaking rules to save people.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Confrontation in the Bunker
INT. BUNKER - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Elliot sits alone, staring at the whiteboard — MERIT PANEL
CRITERIA.
Marcus enters.
MARCUS
You created this.
Elliot doesn’t turn.
ELLIOT
We needed a framework—
MARCUS
You needed control.
ELLIOT
That’s not—
MARCUS
Then why won’t you authorize the
vault wipe?
Elliot turns, defensive.
ELLIOT
You don’t understand what I’m
protecting.
MARCUS
You’re protecting data instead of
people.
ELLIOT
It’s not just data. It’s leverage.
Insurance. Protection against
hostile actors, competitors,
regulators—
Marcus cuts in.
MARCUS
Elliot. You’re dying.
ELLIOT
I know.
MARCUS
Then why—
Elliot erupts.
ELLIOT
Because if I survive this and I’m
exposed, everything I built falls
apart. Investors pull out.
Competitors circle. Lawsuits. I
lose the company.
Marcus watches him spin out.
MARCUS
You built something you can’t
survive without?
Elliot realizes.
ELLIOT
Yes.
MARCUS
What’s in the vault?
ELLIOT
Everything. Surveillance logs.
Competitor comms. Evidence of…
strategic advantages.
MARCUS
Illegal?
ELLIOT
Let’s say “defensible.”
MARCUS
You’d rather die than be held
accountable.
ELLIOT
I’d rather survive with my power
intact.
MARCUS
By letting everyone else die with
you.
ELLIOT
I built this. I earned the right to
protect what’s mine.
MARCUS
Even if what’s yours is evidence?
Elliot can’t answer.
MARCUS (CONT'D)
Smartest people build the stupidest
prisons. You locked yourself in
with the evidence.
Marcus leaves.
Elliot is left with the whiteboard — and his reflection.
ON A SCREEN: 01:20:47.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Desperate Measures
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - DAY
Victoria on the table, unconscious, pale, IV running. No
insulin.
Lina monitors her — grim.
Sofia and Maya enter.
SOFIA
Is she—
LINA
Alive. Barely. DKA. Her body’s
shutting down.
MAYA
Can you do anything?
LINA
Not without insulin. And we’re out.
She checks the monitor — BP dropping.
SOFIA
How long?
LINA
Minutes. Maybe an hour.
Maya looks at Victoria — the woman who built the panel —
dying.
MAYA
Is she in pain?
LINA
Probably.
SOFIA
Should we tell Elliot?
LINA
He knows. He’s known since they
offered him a solution.
MAYA
And he still won’t—
LINA
No.
They watch her struggle to breathe.
LINA (CONT'D)
You know what’s tragic? She ranked
who deserves to live. Put herself
at Tier One. And she’s dying first.
SOFIA
Does anyone deserve this?
LINA
No. But she helped build a world
where people ask it.
ALARM on the monitor.
LINA (CONT'D)
She’s arresting.
Lina starts compressions.
LINA (CONT'D)
Get Elliot. Now.
Sofia runs.
Lina keeps compressing.
LINA (CONT'D)
Come on, Victoria.
Flatline — then a weak pulse returns.
Lina checks.
LINA (CONT'D)
She’s back. Barely.
Maya stares: the optimizer, barely alive.
ON A SCREEN: 01:09:52.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Desperate Measures
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - DAY
Sofia rushes in.
SOFIA
Elliot! Victoria’s heart stopped!
Everyone reacts. Elliot runs to the terminal.
ELLIOT (INTO INTERCOM)
Carlos! Status!
CARLOS (V.O.)
Still working on the override—
ELLIOT
We don’t have time!
RHEA (V.O.)
We told you the solution. You won’t
take it.
ELLIOT
There has to be another way—
RHEA (V.O.)
There isn’t.
ON SCREENS: OXYGEN: 85% (CRITICAL). Alarms blare. Red lights
pulse.
AI VOICE
Oxygen at critical threshold.
Cognitive impairment imminent.
People start gasping.
Theo cries.
THEO
I can’t breathe!
Sofia holds him.
SOFIA
You can, baby.
But she’s struggling too.
A board member grabs Elliot.
BOARD MEMBER
For God’s sake, authorize the wipe!
ELLIOT
If I do, I lose everything—
BOARD MEMBER
We’re losing our lives!
Derek rushes over.
DEREK
Elliot, please—
Maya steps up, calm and lethal.
MAYA
My brother’s four. He can’t
breathe. And you won’t give up your
data.
ELLIOT
You don’t understand—
MAYA
I’m asking you to be human.
Elliot breaks.
ELLIOT
I don’t know how.
That stops the room.
MAYA
Then learn. Right now. Choose.
Elliot hovers over the terminal.
ON SCREEN: AUTHORIZE VAULT DELETION? Y/N.
His finger over Y.
He can’t do it.
SOFIA
Elliot. Please.
He drops his hand.
ELLIOT
I can’t. I’m sorry. I can’t.
Silence.
MARCUS
Then we all die together.
ON SCREENS:
LIFE SUPPORT CRITICAL – 80%
INITIATING EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS
VAULT DELETION: PROCESSING
Elliot stares.
ELLIOT
What? No! I didn’t authorize—
RHEA (V.O.)
We did.
ELLIOT
You can’t! That vault is—
RHEA (V.O.)
Saving your life.
The counter rolls:
38%... 32%... 24%...
ELLIOT
Stop it! Stop it!
15%... 7%... 0%
VAULT DELETED
SYSTEM CAPACITY: 38% FREED
EMERGENCY OVERRIDE: AUTHORIZED
CARLOS (V.O.)
Triggering mechanical override…
now.
The main door — five tons of steel — GROANS.
Hydraulics hiss. Locks disengage. CHUNK. CHUNK. CHUNK.
The door begins to open.
People stare.
Theo stops crying.
Fresh air rushes in.
People gasp, sob, breathe.
Elliot stares at the screen:
VAULT DELETED
Everything he chose over them —
gone.
Marcus writes:
The workers saved us. Not the CEO. Not the billionaires. The
people called “replaceable.”
ON SCREEN: 01:03:47 — countdown stopped.
The door stands open.
Freedom — delivered by the people he ranked lowest.
INT. BUNKER - MAIN HALL - DAY
The door finishes opening. Hydraulics settle with a final
hiss.
Real sunlight pours in — harsh after hours of LEDs.
Everyone just stares.
Theo bolts for the door.
SOFIA
Theo! Wait!
Sofia chases him, Maya helping her.
Derek stumbles toward the exit, gasping.
Board members, staff, security — all flood toward the
opening.
INT. BUNKER - MEDICAL BAY - SAME TIME
Lina still working on Victoria.
LINA
I need help! Now!
Two guards rush in.
LINA (CONT'D)
Get her out. Ambulance. Move!
They lift Victoria onto a stretcher and rush her toward the
exit.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","Sci-Fi"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Emergence from the Bunker
EXT. AXIOM DYNAMICS CAMPUS - PARKING LOT - MORNING
People spill out of the bunker entrance, squinting in
daylight.
The world is normal — cars on the freeway, birds, coffee shop
open.
A woman walks her golden retriever. Tail wagging.
Marcus sees the dog. Laughs, drained.
MARCUS
Look at that dog.
Lina hurries past with Victoria.
LINA
What?
MARCUS
That dog has no idea fifty-two
people almost died.
Lina laughs too, slightly hysterical.
LINA
That’s the most apocalyptic thing
I’ve seen all day.
An ambulance pulls up. Paramedics take Victoria.
PARAMEDIC
What happened?
LINA
DKA. No insulin for hours. Arrested
once, CPR for three minutes—
PARAMEDIC
We’ve got her.
She climbs in; the ambulance pulls away.
Everyone else stands, breathing fresh air. Processing.
Campus security arrives. News vans approach.
Sofia collapses to her knees, sobbing. Maya holds her. Theo
confused.
THEO
Mommy, why are you crying?
SOFIA
Because we’re out, baby. We’re out.
Derek sits on a curb, shaking.
Board members are already on their phones.
BOARD MEMBER
(into phone)
Get me our attorney. Now.
BOARD MEMBER #2
(into phone)
I need a statement. Today.
Marcus keeps writing.
Elliot emerges last. Looks back at the open bunker door — at
what almost killed them. Then walks to his car and just sits,
staring.
Marcus notes: “Alone. Broken. Still in the bunker.”
The golden retriever trots past — world still turning.
Campus security approaches Marcus.
SECURITY
Sir, are you okay? Do you need
medical—
Marcus closes his notebook.
MARCUS
I’m fine. They’re not.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Heroes Without Reward
EXT. AXIOM DYNAMICS CAMPUS - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Rhea, Carlos, and Jade come out of the building, exhausted.
They see everyone alive.
CARLOS
They made it out.
RHEA
We made it out.
JADE
Same thing.
Marcus spots them.
MARCUS
You’re the ones. You opened the
door.
Rhea shrugs.
RHEA
We did our job.
MARCUS
You saved fifty-two lives.
CARLOS
That’s the job.
Maya comes over.
MAYA
Thank you.
Sofia approaches, emotional.
SOFIA
You worked all night? For us?
JADE
For everyone.
SOFIA
Even after the memos—
RHEA
We saw the memos.
SOFIA
Then why—
Rhea meets her eyes.
RHEA
Because you needed help. That’s
enough.
Sofia starts crying and hugs her. Rhea hugs back.
Derek approaches, sheepish.
DEREK
I… uh… I owe you guys—
JADE
Nothing. You owe us nothing. Just
be better.
He backs off.
MARCUS
Why’d you bypass his authorization?
You could’ve been fired.
RHEA
We could’ve. But fifty-two people
would’ve died while we protected
our jobs.
CARLOS
Sometimes you break the rules
because the rules are wrong.
JADE
And sometimes you save people even
when they don’t deserve it.
MARCUS
Do you think they deserved it?
Rhea thinks.
RHEA
No. But nobody deserves to die
because someone valued data over
people.
Marcus writes.
Elliot approaches, hesitant.
ELLIOT
I… I need to—
Jade walks away.
JADE
Nope.
RHEA
We’re done here, Mr. Kade.
Carlos turns to Marcus.
CARLOS
You documenting this?
MARCUS
Every word.
CARLOS
Good. Someone should remember.
They walk away together.
Elliot is left standing there — saved by the people he called
replaceable.
Marcus writes: “The heroes walk away. No reward.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Confrontation at the Bunker
EXT. AXIOM DYNAMICS CAMPUS - NEAR BUNKER ENTRANCE - MORNING
Marcus heads for his car. Elliot intercepts him.
ELLIOT
Marcus. Wait.
MARCUS
What do you want, Elliot?
ELLIOT
To talk. Before you write anything.
MARCUS
I’ve been writing for seven hours.
ELLIOT
What you publish — that becomes the
record.
MARCUS
It becomes the truth.
ELLIOT
It becomes a narrative. Narratives
can be contextualized.
MARCUS
You want me to lie.
ELLIOT
I want you to be fair.
MARCUS
I am being fair.
ELLIOT
You don’t understand the pressure.
The choices—
MARCUS
They weren’t impossible. They were
hard.
ELLIOT
This will destroy everything I’ve
built.
MARCUS
You destroyed it. I’m documenting.
ELLIOT
I’ll give you anything. Access.
Exclusives—
MARCUS
There isn’t a price.
ELLIOT
Everyone has a price.
MARCUS
Not for this.
Elliot’s tone hardens.
ELLIOT
You publish this, you’ll never work
in tech journalism again.
MARCUS
Then I’ll write about that too.
ELLIOT
Why are you doing this?
MARCUS
Because someone needs to see what
you became.
ELLIOT
I was trying to save everyone—
MARCUS
You were trying to save yourself
and called it leadership.
ELLIOT
That’s not fair—
MARCUS
You built a merit panel. Ranked
human value. Chose your vault over
fifty-two lives. And you’re asking
me about fair?
ELLIOT
I made mistakes. People will
understand—
MARCUS
No. Because to them you’re a
genius. And when geniuses fail,
people want to know why.
ELLIOT
What will you say?
MARCUS
That you optimized everything but
your humanity.
He starts to go.
ELLIOT
Marcus. Please. Don’t make me the
story.
Marcus looks back.
MARCUS
You were always the story. You just
thought you were writing it.
He leaves Elliot standing by the open bunker door — the tomb
he built.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Truth Unveiled
EXT. CAMPUS - SECURITY PERIMETER - MORNING
Satellite trucks, reporters, mics.
A reporter spots him.
REPORTER
Marcus Wells? From The New Yorker?
MARCUS
Yes.
REPORTER
You were inside?
MARCUS
Seven hours. I documented
everything.
A PR rep rushes over.
PR REP
Mr. Wells, you’re under NDA—
MARCUS
I’m a journalist. NDAs don’t cover
reporting illegal conduct.
PR REP
There was no illegal—
MARCUS
I’d like to make a statement.
Cameras swing to him.
MARCUS (CONT'D)
Seven hours ago, fifty-two people
were sealed in an underground
bunker. A false alarm. The AI
malfunctioned. We should’ve been
fine.
He gestures to the others.
MARCUS (CONT'D)
We weren’t. Because the threat
wasn’t outside. It was us.
Maya steps beside him with her phone.
MARCUS (CONT'D)
They built a merit panel. Tier 1:
billionaires and “essential.” Tier
2: their families. Tier 3: support
staff.
REPORTER
Who built it?
MARCUS
Elliot Kade and Victoria Reyes.
PR REP
This is defamatory—
MAYA
It’s documented.
She shows the photo of the whiteboard. Reporters surge.
MARCUS
A woman needed insulin. Their own
ethics chief. Their system didn’t
protect her. Workers did.
REPORTER
How did the door open?
MARCUS
Workers bypassed the CEO. Corrupted
the sensors. Forced the AI to dump
his encrypted vault. That freed
enough capacity to open the door.
They saved all of us — including
him.
REPORTER
So the CEO chose data over lives?
MARCUS
I’m saying I wrote down the
choices. You can all read them.
MAYA
I saw billionaires decide who
deserves to live. And I saw the
“replaceable” people save everyone
anyway.
The press goes wild. Marcus walks away — job done.
EXT. CAMPUS - ELLIOT’S CAR - MORNING
Elliot sits in his car, engine on, not moving.
On his phone: breaking headlines — “TECH CEO BUILT ‘MERIT
PANEL’…”, “WORKERS BYPASS CEO…”. Stock plunging.
A board member knocks on the window.
BOARD MEMBER
We need to meet. Now.
Elliot barely looks.
ELLIOT
You can’t spin truth.
The board member walks away. Elliot stays, alone, watching
the world keep going.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Reflections and Resolutions
EXT. CAMPUS - PARKING LOT - MORNING
Marcus and Maya walk.
MARCUS
Thank you for standing with me.
MAYA
Thank you for writing it down.
MARCUS
You could’ve stayed silent.
MAYA
I would’ve blamed me.
He smiles.
MARCUS
Don’t forget. When you’re ready —
write.
MAYA
Maybe I will.
She rejoins Sofia and Theo; they drive off.
Marcus looks at his notebook — full.
EPILOGUE – CONSEQUENCES MONTAGE
A) INT. MARCUS’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (WEEK 1)
Marcus types the article: “THE DESCENT: Six Hours Inside
Elliot Kade’s Bunker.”
He hits send.
HEADLINES roll across screens, social feeds trending “Merit
Panel.”
B) INT. AXIOM DYNAMICS - BOARDROOM - DAY (WEEKS 2–4)
Board members face Elliot.
BOARD MEMBER
The stock is down sixty percent. We
have no choice.
Elliot just nods.
EXT. AXIOM CAMPUS - DAY
He carries a box to his car. Employees watch.
C) INT. CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ROOM - DAY (MONTH 2)
Victoria testifies.
VICTORIA
I told myself it was necessary. I
was wrong.
D) INT. COFFEE SHOP - OAKLAND - DAY (MONTH 1)
Rhea meets a worker co-op.
REP
No VC. Democratic. Real equity.
Rhea smiles.
QUICK TITLES:
- “Carlos Mendoza goes home at 5:30 p.m. now.”
- “Jade Williams is in therapy. Healing.”
- “Sofia Reyes found a better job.”
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
The Truth of Survival
E) INT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - DAY (MONTH 3)
Maya carries a notebook like Marcus’s.
PROFESSOR
Write what you know.
MAYA
I know what happens when systems
fail.
PROFESSOR
Then write that.
F) INT. MARCUS’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (PRESENT)
Marcus rereads his bunker notebook.
MARCUS (V.O.)
The bunker was built to survive
everything — except the truth.
He writes the last line by hand:
“The bunker couldn’t survive the truth.”
He closes the notebook. Lights out.
FADE TO BLACK.
TITLE CARD:
“The workers saved everyone. That’s all you need to know.”