Fic: Series 6 Episode 1 part 4/4
Title: Series 6.1 Chapter 4/4
Author: Darkhorse_99
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Pairing: Connor/Abby, Emily/Matt
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Nope, this is set in series 6 episode 1.
Beta'ing: Huge thank you to fredbasset for beta'ing the early draft of this and encouraging me to post it. Also a huge thank you to anonyme1 for giving it a run through. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Summery: Six weeks after convergence the team struggles to adapt to the new reality of the whole world knowing about anomalies. All they managed to keep secret was Burton's New Dawn project, but now everyone has questions for the ARC.
Disclaimer: I don't have anything to do with Primeval or ITV except loving it from a distance.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Back around when series 5 aired, when rumors of the show being cancelled started to swirl, I got the sudden urge to do something just to see how it might look if it was continued into another series. So I did. Enjoy.
EXT. UP THE HILL - NIGHT
Downhill from the team and the other survivors, a huge fire burns as more lava pours out of the anomaly.
The picturesque village is in flames.
The fire service has switched to evacuating the few people remaining and has given up battling the lava.
A thick layer of ash falls over everyone. The giant glittering anomaly is about the only thing clearly visible in the haze and smoke.
They have set up a temporary command centre in the back of one of the trucks.
Connor has his laptop resting on the toolbox in the back. It's plugged into the charger via a cable through the back window. Not even Connor's laptop battery will last forever.
MATT
How do we close that thing, Connor?
CONNOR
We're going to need a helicopter. Jess is having the
military fly another closing device out here.
MATT
Lester's probably not pleased about that.
CONNOR
Not really, no. I'm just not sure if we can take something
metal like a chopper that close to an anomaly.
Matt looks out over the crowd. Everyone that lived anywhere near the inn is now gathered together under some nearby trees, watching their homes burn.
MATT
We'll have to make it work.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Becker's men have set up a landing zone for the helicopter in a field.
The helicopter lands. Some of Becker’s men climb in and heave crates of equipment out.
Connor locates one and frantically unpacks it.
The new closing device!
He pulls it out. Matt helps him tie it securely into the doorway of the helicopter before he climbs in beside Connor.
The helicopter crew slaps helmets down on them and rigs them up with a safety line whilst they warm up the closing device.
The helicopter takes off.
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
Connor and Matt make the last of the connections on the anomaly closing device.
MATT
Connor?
CONNOR
(looks at readouts)
It's charged. Take us in.
MATT
(To pilot)
You heard the man! Take us in.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Abby and Becker watch the helicopter swoop low over the flowing lava.
BECKER
Remember what I said about there
being no creatures to chase? I take
it back. Bring on the raptors.
The helicopter struggles through the air. It’s buffeted wildly by the wind currents from the fires.
ABBY
If only Danny could see us now...
BECKER
I don’t think flying over a volcano
beats playing tag with a G-Rex.
(beat)
But don’t tell Danny I said that.
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
The pilot fights the magnetic pull of the anomaly. He gets as close as he dares.
Connor activates the closing device.
It shoots out - and fades before it gets to the anomaly.
CONNOR
We have to get closer!
PILOT
We can't! It's pulling us in!
MATT
Get away from it! We'll find another way.
Another burst of flaming rocks shoots out of the anomaly!
The helicopter is peppered and starts to crash!
They're tossed around inside and Connor nearly slides out the open door but Matt grabs at him - and misses!
Connor's safety line snaps taut just before he slides out of the open door!
The pilot gets the ‘copter just beyond the very edge of the lava before they land... bounce... crash!
EXT. CRASH SITE - NIGHT
Becker screeches up with a truck full of soldiers and Abby.
A fire engine is a few hundred metres behind them, sirens screaming.
They run over to the wreck.
Abby gets there first. She crawls into the wreck and grabs someone - it's Matt.
MATT
Argh...
ABBY
Can you move?
MATT
Yeah... Oh, damn! My shoulder!
Abby helps pull him from the wreckage, she passes him to the soldiers.
Firefighters work by front of the wreck, they pull the pilot and crew out and carry them to safety.
Matt looks back at the wreck and shakes the soldiers off.
MATT
We got lava coming! Twenty metres.
INT. WRECKED HELICOPTER - NIGHT
Becker and Abby both try to untangle Connor from the straps and webbing he's tangled in.
Becker gives up untangling him, pulls out his penknife and slices the material apart.
MATT (O.S.)
Ten metres! Get out of there!
CONNOR
Closing device! (groan) Grab it!
Abby and Becker drag him out.
Becker grabs the mangled closing device and they get away from the helicopter just as the lava touches the edge!
The spilled fuel ignites in a huge explosion that knocks all three of them to the ground.
The firefighters and soldiers carry them to safety.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
The team sits on the back of their trucks, even further away than they were before because of all the ash and smoke.
A medic wraps Matt’s sprained shoulder up.
BECKER
What happened?
MATT
We can't get close enough.
CONNOR
I don't know how to close it! We'll
have to let the Air Force bomb it.
LESTER
(web cam on laptop)
No! Connor, you have to find a way without involving
them. I do not want that as a precedent.
CONNOR
We can't fly close enough! I can't boost the
power any more. We broke the helicopter!
INT. ARC - DETECTOR - NIGHT
Lester and Jess watch the detectors. Lester's phone rings.
LESTER
It's the minister. I'll be in my office.
Don't let them resort to the military.
He walks back to his office, irritated.
LESTER
(on phone)
Sir. As a matter of fact, I am watching the news...
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Connor paces while the medic attempts to finish bandaging some cuts on his head.
Abby takes the bandage away from the medic and gently makes Connor sit back down whilst she treats him.
MATT
There's must be another way to shut it down.
CONNOR
There's not! We're out of helicopters! We're out of time!
We'll have to call Lester and tell him we’ve failed.
MATT
No. Think, Connor! You can do this. We're making
this too complicated. What closes anomalies?
ABBY
An electric discharge.
BECKER
That's all well and good, but we
can't reach the anomaly. In another
hour we'll have to abandon this camp.
Connor suddenly jumps up and kisses Abby.
CONNOR
You’re a genius. There is a way. Maybe.
MATT
Wanna let us in on this plan?
CONNOR
Doris, does that catapult up the road work?
DORIS
I don't know. The historical society
maintains it. I'll go find out.
Doris jogs across the field toward where most of the villagers are still gathered.
BECKER
It's a trebuchet, not a catapult and seriously, Connor?
You're going to use an ancient, decorative, siege weapon?
CONNOR
Only a little. Mostly I'm going to
need you to help me build a bomb.
Becker’s all over that idea.
BECKER
Well. What kind and how big?
EXT. JUST UPHILL OF THE LAVA - NIGHT
A green tractor carefully backs the trebuchet into place. An older man jumps off the tractor and rubs his hands together with glee.
This is LOUIS, President of the Historical Society and occasional chaser of temporally displaced Pterosaurs.
He shouts to the crowd.
LOUIS
You thought I was mad, didn't you,
I knew it wouldn't cost any more to
build a real one as a replica!
He does an insane little happy dance.
LOUIS
Look who's laughing now!
Matt walks slowly around the giant machine.
MATT
Are you sure you can hit what you're
aiming at? We're only going to get one shot.
LOUIS
Gimme one shot for range and I'll pot it right
in the middle of that shiny target downrange!
Louis winches the arm down.
Becker and Connor drive up with their improvised EM device in the back of a truck.
When they drop the tailgate it's obvious that they’ve cannibalised half a dozen car batteries and the wrecked closing device from the helicopter crash.
CONNOR
That's it then. Radio controlled.
He holds up a detonator.
CONNOR
Is he ready?
MATT
Almost--
A horrible creak as wood splinters makes them all jump.
LOUIS
Fucking hell! The arm's cracked!
Louis climbs up on the machine and runs his hands over the long, jagged crack down the beam.
MATT
Will it still work?
LOUIS
Buggered if I know. I don't think
the crack goes all the way through.
It might work once. Damn woodworm!
He kicks the side of the machine.
LOUIS
I knew I should’ve painted it!
BECKER
One shot then. Typical. What do you need us to do?
LOUIS
Get the hell out of the way. She'll probably shatter when we
release the arm. So... what's your plan if this doesn't work?
MATT
Pray.
LOUIS
Oh. Cheers. Load her up!
Connor and Matt set the cobbled-together device in the arm of the trebuchet.
MATT
Everyone get back!He tries to take Louis’s place.
MATT
I'll do this, it's too dangerous.
LOUIS
The hell you will! I've always
wanted to shoot this thing!
(mutters)
With witnesses.
Louis looks around until he spots Doris in the crowd.
LOUIS
Hey, Doris! So much for my tab, lovey!
Matt leaves him to it and trots over to Becker who, along with the police, tries to keep the crowd back.
MATT
Get them further back.
BECKER
We're trying! Ma'am, you have to
move back, it's not safe here.
An old lady wearing a rose-print dressing gown and a jacket ignores him and snaps away with her camera phone.
OLD LADY
That’s my home down there! I
can take a picture if I want too!
INT. ARC - NIGHT
Jess watches her monitors... They're set to two news channels, twitter and YouTube.
LESTER
(on earpiece)
Matt, what part of keep things discreet was difficult?
EXT. UPHILL FROM THE ANOMALY - NIGHT
MATT
(on earpiece)
James, there's a bloody volcano and half the town is on fire.
I don't think discreet is really a possibility at this point in time.
INT. ARC - NIGHT
LESTER
I'm watching you on the internet!
On the monitor they see Matt twirl around looking for the camera, and fail to locate it.
JESS
The hashtag volcano is trending.
LESTER
Well, maybe we'll get a bigger budget out of this.
EXT. THE FIELD - NIGHT
Everyone except for Louis clusters back at the trucks.
The lava still flows quickly through the anomaly.
The crowd watches and films Louis down by the trebuchet.
Connor stands in the back of the truck where he has a clear line of sight.
He has a small detonator in his hand.
Abby, Matt and Becker join him.
Louis does a little dance and gives a bow, playing to the crowd before he yanks on the rope.
The trebuchet flings Connor's bomb high in the air - and flies apart violently. Louis is knocked down.
MATT
It's going to miss it - it's no - NO! Wait - It's going! YES!
The bomb swings high... and then it curves back down, plunging towards the anomaly.
Connor pushes the button to detonate the EM bomb just before it reaches the anomaly.
It shimmers... and then pulls into a ball, closed.
A wild cheer breaks out from the crowd. Everyone starts hugging, shouting and celebrating. No mere sports victory has ever been celebrated this enthusiastically.
Abby jumps into Connor’s arms and hugs him.
ABBY
You did it! I knew you could.
They kiss.
INT. ARC - NIGHT
Jess and Lester watch the news as they replay footage of Connor's anomaly bomb.
LESTER
Well. I hope Becker doesn't want
one of those catapults. Bit unwieldy.
JESS
He already has one. It's on his desk. He flings
things at Connor when he's bored. Haven't you seen it?
LESTER
Jess, I think that falls into the category of
things I don't really need to know about.
He stands up, straightens his jacket.
LESTER
I hope the minister is watching this. Then maybe
I won’t have to speak to him again tonight.
His phone rings. He answers.
LESTER
Yes, Minister. I'm watching it now.
(beat)
They have been trained to improvise.
EXT. TRUCKS - DAWN
The soldiers and the team are packing what little they have back into their trucks. Doris steps confidently up with her canvas rucksack over one shoulder.
DORIS
You need a geologist. I need a job.
She tosses her rucksack in the truck
DORIS
So budge up.
MATT
Doris, I'm sorry about what happened
to your home, but I can't hire you.
Matt doesn’t want any more strays. Connor doesn’t pick up on that at all.
CONNOR
Lester can.
DORIS
Let's go and talk to your Lester
then, there's sod-all left for me here.
She points at her bag.
DORIS
That’s all that’s left, everything
I own in the world, is in that bag.
You are not leaving me here.
INT. TRUCK - AN HOUR INTO THE DRIVE HOME - DAY
Becker drives. Doris, Connor and Abby are in the back seat, all lost in their thoughts.
Abby fiddles with her engagement ring.
Matt’s in the passenger seat, he looks at a mobile phone picture of Emily and Taylor at his flat.
It seems that Taylor taught Emily all about taking a picture of yourself in the mirror.
PICTURE TEXT FROM EMILY
Mobile phone cameras are very
handy. I approve. I miss you.
Matt looks out of the window and contemplates how complicated his life is now.
Then he sees something across a field. He points.
MATT
Look over there, on the other side of that field. See it?
ABBY
It's those Pterosaurs! Do you think we could catch them?
Becker pulls off the road.
MATT
If we sneak around that stone wall over there...
BECKER
What are we waiting for?
Becker opens his door and steps out.
The bird-size Pterosaurs swivel their heads around to glare suspiciously at the stopped cars.
They stare at Becker for a long moment before the entire flock rises up from where they had been sunning and flies directly away from them.
The flock is mere dots in the distance in less than a minute.
Becker gets back in the truck.
MATT
(Sarcastically)
Damn it, Becker, you spooked them. We could
have caught them if only it wasn't for you.
BECKER
Shut up! You didn't have any better luck chasing them last time you
were out here. At least nobody was around with a camera this time.
MATT
Bloody camera phones.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Author: Darkhorse_99
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Pairing: Connor/Abby, Emily/Matt
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Nope, this is set in series 6 episode 1.
Beta'ing: Huge thank you to fredbasset for beta'ing the early draft of this and encouraging me to post it. Also a huge thank you to anonyme1 for giving it a run through. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Summery: Six weeks after convergence the team struggles to adapt to the new reality of the whole world knowing about anomalies. All they managed to keep secret was Burton's New Dawn project, but now everyone has questions for the ARC.
Disclaimer: I don't have anything to do with Primeval or ITV except loving it from a distance.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Back around when series 5 aired, when rumors of the show being cancelled started to swirl, I got the sudden urge to do something just to see how it might look if it was continued into another series. So I did. Enjoy.
EXT. UP THE HILL - NIGHT
Downhill from the team and the other survivors, a huge fire burns as more lava pours out of the anomaly.
The picturesque village is in flames.
The fire service has switched to evacuating the few people remaining and has given up battling the lava.
A thick layer of ash falls over everyone. The giant glittering anomaly is about the only thing clearly visible in the haze and smoke.
They have set up a temporary command centre in the back of one of the trucks.
Connor has his laptop resting on the toolbox in the back. It's plugged into the charger via a cable through the back window. Not even Connor's laptop battery will last forever.
MATT
How do we close that thing, Connor?
CONNOR
We're going to need a helicopter. Jess is having the
military fly another closing device out here.
MATT
Lester's probably not pleased about that.
CONNOR
Not really, no. I'm just not sure if we can take something
metal like a chopper that close to an anomaly.
Matt looks out over the crowd. Everyone that lived anywhere near the inn is now gathered together under some nearby trees, watching their homes burn.
MATT
We'll have to make it work.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Becker's men have set up a landing zone for the helicopter in a field.
The helicopter lands. Some of Becker’s men climb in and heave crates of equipment out.
Connor locates one and frantically unpacks it.
The new closing device!
He pulls it out. Matt helps him tie it securely into the doorway of the helicopter before he climbs in beside Connor.
The helicopter crew slaps helmets down on them and rigs them up with a safety line whilst they warm up the closing device.
The helicopter takes off.
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
Connor and Matt make the last of the connections on the anomaly closing device.
MATT
Connor?
CONNOR
(looks at readouts)
It's charged. Take us in.
MATT
(To pilot)
You heard the man! Take us in.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Abby and Becker watch the helicopter swoop low over the flowing lava.
BECKER
Remember what I said about there
being no creatures to chase? I take
it back. Bring on the raptors.
The helicopter struggles through the air. It’s buffeted wildly by the wind currents from the fires.
ABBY
If only Danny could see us now...
BECKER
I don’t think flying over a volcano
beats playing tag with a G-Rex.
(beat)
But don’t tell Danny I said that.
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
The pilot fights the magnetic pull of the anomaly. He gets as close as he dares.
Connor activates the closing device.
It shoots out - and fades before it gets to the anomaly.
CONNOR
We have to get closer!
PILOT
We can't! It's pulling us in!
MATT
Get away from it! We'll find another way.
Another burst of flaming rocks shoots out of the anomaly!
The helicopter is peppered and starts to crash!
They're tossed around inside and Connor nearly slides out the open door but Matt grabs at him - and misses!
Connor's safety line snaps taut just before he slides out of the open door!
The pilot gets the ‘copter just beyond the very edge of the lava before they land... bounce... crash!
EXT. CRASH SITE - NIGHT
Becker screeches up with a truck full of soldiers and Abby.
A fire engine is a few hundred metres behind them, sirens screaming.
They run over to the wreck.
Abby gets there first. She crawls into the wreck and grabs someone - it's Matt.
MATT
Argh...
ABBY
Can you move?
MATT
Yeah... Oh, damn! My shoulder!
Abby helps pull him from the wreckage, she passes him to the soldiers.
Firefighters work by front of the wreck, they pull the pilot and crew out and carry them to safety.
Matt looks back at the wreck and shakes the soldiers off.
MATT
We got lava coming! Twenty metres.
INT. WRECKED HELICOPTER - NIGHT
Becker and Abby both try to untangle Connor from the straps and webbing he's tangled in.
Becker gives up untangling him, pulls out his penknife and slices the material apart.
MATT (O.S.)
Ten metres! Get out of there!
CONNOR
Closing device! (groan) Grab it!
Abby and Becker drag him out.
Becker grabs the mangled closing device and they get away from the helicopter just as the lava touches the edge!
The spilled fuel ignites in a huge explosion that knocks all three of them to the ground.
The firefighters and soldiers carry them to safety.
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
The team sits on the back of their trucks, even further away than they were before because of all the ash and smoke.
A medic wraps Matt’s sprained shoulder up.
BECKER
What happened?
MATT
We can't get close enough.
CONNOR
I don't know how to close it! We'll
have to let the Air Force bomb it.
LESTER
(web cam on laptop)
No! Connor, you have to find a way without involving
them. I do not want that as a precedent.
CONNOR
We can't fly close enough! I can't boost the
power any more. We broke the helicopter!
INT. ARC - DETECTOR - NIGHT
Lester and Jess watch the detectors. Lester's phone rings.
LESTER
It's the minister. I'll be in my office.
Don't let them resort to the military.
He walks back to his office, irritated.
LESTER
(on phone)
Sir. As a matter of fact, I am watching the news...
EXT. BASE CAMP - NIGHT
Connor paces while the medic attempts to finish bandaging some cuts on his head.
Abby takes the bandage away from the medic and gently makes Connor sit back down whilst she treats him.
MATT
There's must be another way to shut it down.
CONNOR
There's not! We're out of helicopters! We're out of time!
We'll have to call Lester and tell him we’ve failed.
MATT
No. Think, Connor! You can do this. We're making
this too complicated. What closes anomalies?
ABBY
An electric discharge.
BECKER
That's all well and good, but we
can't reach the anomaly. In another
hour we'll have to abandon this camp.
Connor suddenly jumps up and kisses Abby.
CONNOR
You’re a genius. There is a way. Maybe.
MATT
Wanna let us in on this plan?
CONNOR
Doris, does that catapult up the road work?
DORIS
I don't know. The historical society
maintains it. I'll go find out.
Doris jogs across the field toward where most of the villagers are still gathered.
BECKER
It's a trebuchet, not a catapult and seriously, Connor?
You're going to use an ancient, decorative, siege weapon?
CONNOR
Only a little. Mostly I'm going to
need you to help me build a bomb.
Becker’s all over that idea.
BECKER
Well. What kind and how big?
EXT. JUST UPHILL OF THE LAVA - NIGHT
A green tractor carefully backs the trebuchet into place. An older man jumps off the tractor and rubs his hands together with glee.
This is LOUIS, President of the Historical Society and occasional chaser of temporally displaced Pterosaurs.
He shouts to the crowd.
LOUIS
You thought I was mad, didn't you,
I knew it wouldn't cost any more to
build a real one as a replica!
He does an insane little happy dance.
LOUIS
Look who's laughing now!
Matt walks slowly around the giant machine.
MATT
Are you sure you can hit what you're
aiming at? We're only going to get one shot.
LOUIS
Gimme one shot for range and I'll pot it right
in the middle of that shiny target downrange!
Louis winches the arm down.
Becker and Connor drive up with their improvised EM device in the back of a truck.
When they drop the tailgate it's obvious that they’ve cannibalised half a dozen car batteries and the wrecked closing device from the helicopter crash.
CONNOR
That's it then. Radio controlled.
He holds up a detonator.
CONNOR
Is he ready?
MATT
Almost--
A horrible creak as wood splinters makes them all jump.
LOUIS
Fucking hell! The arm's cracked!
Louis climbs up on the machine and runs his hands over the long, jagged crack down the beam.
MATT
Will it still work?
LOUIS
Buggered if I know. I don't think
the crack goes all the way through.
It might work once. Damn woodworm!
He kicks the side of the machine.
LOUIS
I knew I should’ve painted it!
BECKER
One shot then. Typical. What do you need us to do?
LOUIS
Get the hell out of the way. She'll probably shatter when we
release the arm. So... what's your plan if this doesn't work?
MATT
Pray.
LOUIS
Oh. Cheers. Load her up!
Connor and Matt set the cobbled-together device in the arm of the trebuchet.
MATT
Everyone get back!He tries to take Louis’s place.
MATT
I'll do this, it's too dangerous.
LOUIS
The hell you will! I've always
wanted to shoot this thing!
(mutters)
With witnesses.
Louis looks around until he spots Doris in the crowd.
LOUIS
Hey, Doris! So much for my tab, lovey!
Matt leaves him to it and trots over to Becker who, along with the police, tries to keep the crowd back.
MATT
Get them further back.
BECKER
We're trying! Ma'am, you have to
move back, it's not safe here.
An old lady wearing a rose-print dressing gown and a jacket ignores him and snaps away with her camera phone.
OLD LADY
That’s my home down there! I
can take a picture if I want too!
INT. ARC - NIGHT
Jess watches her monitors... They're set to two news channels, twitter and YouTube.
LESTER
(on earpiece)
Matt, what part of keep things discreet was difficult?
EXT. UPHILL FROM THE ANOMALY - NIGHT
MATT
(on earpiece)
James, there's a bloody volcano and half the town is on fire.
I don't think discreet is really a possibility at this point in time.
INT. ARC - NIGHT
LESTER
I'm watching you on the internet!
On the monitor they see Matt twirl around looking for the camera, and fail to locate it.
JESS
The hashtag volcano is trending.
LESTER
Well, maybe we'll get a bigger budget out of this.
EXT. THE FIELD - NIGHT
Everyone except for Louis clusters back at the trucks.
The lava still flows quickly through the anomaly.
The crowd watches and films Louis down by the trebuchet.
Connor stands in the back of the truck where he has a clear line of sight.
He has a small detonator in his hand.
Abby, Matt and Becker join him.
Louis does a little dance and gives a bow, playing to the crowd before he yanks on the rope.
The trebuchet flings Connor's bomb high in the air - and flies apart violently. Louis is knocked down.
MATT
It's going to miss it - it's no - NO! Wait - It's going! YES!
The bomb swings high... and then it curves back down, plunging towards the anomaly.
Connor pushes the button to detonate the EM bomb just before it reaches the anomaly.
It shimmers... and then pulls into a ball, closed.
A wild cheer breaks out from the crowd. Everyone starts hugging, shouting and celebrating. No mere sports victory has ever been celebrated this enthusiastically.
Abby jumps into Connor’s arms and hugs him.
ABBY
You did it! I knew you could.
They kiss.
INT. ARC - NIGHT
Jess and Lester watch the news as they replay footage of Connor's anomaly bomb.
LESTER
Well. I hope Becker doesn't want
one of those catapults. Bit unwieldy.
JESS
He already has one. It's on his desk. He flings
things at Connor when he's bored. Haven't you seen it?
LESTER
Jess, I think that falls into the category of
things I don't really need to know about.
He stands up, straightens his jacket.
LESTER
I hope the minister is watching this. Then maybe
I won’t have to speak to him again tonight.
His phone rings. He answers.
LESTER
Yes, Minister. I'm watching it now.
(beat)
They have been trained to improvise.
EXT. TRUCKS - DAWN
The soldiers and the team are packing what little they have back into their trucks. Doris steps confidently up with her canvas rucksack over one shoulder.
DORIS
You need a geologist. I need a job.
She tosses her rucksack in the truck
DORIS
So budge up.
MATT
Doris, I'm sorry about what happened
to your home, but I can't hire you.
Matt doesn’t want any more strays. Connor doesn’t pick up on that at all.
CONNOR
Lester can.
DORIS
Let's go and talk to your Lester
then, there's sod-all left for me here.
She points at her bag.
DORIS
That’s all that’s left, everything
I own in the world, is in that bag.
You are not leaving me here.
INT. TRUCK - AN HOUR INTO THE DRIVE HOME - DAY
Becker drives. Doris, Connor and Abby are in the back seat, all lost in their thoughts.
Abby fiddles with her engagement ring.
Matt’s in the passenger seat, he looks at a mobile phone picture of Emily and Taylor at his flat.
It seems that Taylor taught Emily all about taking a picture of yourself in the mirror.
PICTURE TEXT FROM EMILY
Mobile phone cameras are very
handy. I approve. I miss you.
Matt looks out of the window and contemplates how complicated his life is now.
Then he sees something across a field. He points.
MATT
Look over there, on the other side of that field. See it?
ABBY
It's those Pterosaurs! Do you think we could catch them?
Becker pulls off the road.
MATT
If we sneak around that stone wall over there...
BECKER
What are we waiting for?
Becker opens his door and steps out.
The bird-size Pterosaurs swivel their heads around to glare suspiciously at the stopped cars.
They stare at Becker for a long moment before the entire flock rises up from where they had been sunning and flies directly away from them.
The flock is mere dots in the distance in less than a minute.
Becker gets back in the truck.
MATT
(Sarcastically)
Damn it, Becker, you spooked them. We could
have caught them if only it wasn't for you.
BECKER
Shut up! You didn't have any better luck chasing them last time you
were out here. At least nobody was around with a camera this time.
MATT
Bloody camera phones.
FADE OUT.
THE END