The Outside

Written and directed by

Brandon Edwards

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and
the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written
will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Corinthians 15:54

EXT. The street – Day – 8th March 2024

A girl, ELIZABETH, 17, walks down the street, clearly not paying
attention to her surroundings. She bumps into a man going the
opposite direction to her.
MAN:
Watch it!

She looks back at the man and continues walking forward. She
continues walking until she reaches the front door of her house,
letting herself in. Her Dad, SAM, stands in the hallway, getting
his coat on.

ELIZABETH:
What are you up to?
SAM sighs.
SAM:
They’ve requested me at the lab.

ELIZABETH:
Again? Seriously? Dad, you haven’t been home for ages.
 DAD:
I know, I know. Look, this one's urgent, okay?
Sam reaches into his pocket. He takes out his wallet and pulls
out £20. He hands Elizabeth the money.
DAD:
Here’s 20 quid, get yourself something to eat. I’ll be back soon.

Sam walks out the door closing it behind him. Elizabeths face
lights up, taking out her phone.

2. INT. Alice’s bedroom – CONTINUIOUS

Alice’s phone rings out of focus, she gets up, sighs, and picks
up the phone.
ALICE:
Hiiiii!

LIZ:
Hey! You wanna come over?

ALICE:
Yeah, sure! But what about your parents?
Liz sighs.
LIZ:
Don’t worry about them.

ALICE:
Alright then, I’ll be there in a bit.
LIZ:
Ok, cool see you there.
Alice gets out of bed. We then see her putting her coat on and
going out her front door. We got shots of Alice as she walks to
the house, and then an establishing shot of Liz’s house.

Liz sits on the sofa. Her Dad hasn’t been home for months. Ever
since he got that job at the lab, he’s been gone. This is not
what Liz needs. Not since her mother passed. She sits on the
sofa, dormant, zoned out. Alice knocks on the door, taking Liz
out of her trance as she goes to open the door. Liz opens the
door for Alice, they both hug.
ALICE:
How you been?
Liz scoffs at this. She knows she’s not alright. But Alice
doesn’t need to know. Right?
LIZ:
Yeah, I’m good.
ALICE:
Thats good. Where’s the pizza? I’m starving. Haven’t eaten in
ages.
LIZ:
It’s on the table in the living room, help yourself.

ALICE:
Niceee.
Alice walks over to the pizza box sitting on the table.
Meanwhile, Liz sits down on the sofa.
LIZ:
Wait what do you mean, not ate in a while?
Alice turns around, pizza in hand.
ALICE:
Huh?
 LIZ:
You said you haven’t eaten in a while. You’re not going back to
old habits, are you?
ALICE:
Oh gosh no. Don’t worry about me, Liz.
LIZ:
Alice...

ALICE:
Seriously Liz, you have more important things to worry about.
Ever since your mother passed...

Liz grimaces at this. Why did she have to bring that up?
LIZ:
Seriously?
ALICE:
Right. Sorry. You wanna,
Alice moves to sit on the sofa with Liz.
ALICE:
Watch something?
LIZ:
Yeah, sure, let's see what's on.
Suddenly an alarm goes off on their phones. They both pick up
their phones to see what it is. Alice’s blood goes cold, her eyes
widening.
LIZ:
Oh my God. It's an emergency broadcast.
THE ANNOUNCER:
Attention, attention, this is an emergency broadcast. Stay
inside. Lock all doors and windows. Whatever you do, do not go
outside. Don’t trust anyone or anything. More information will be
 sent via this emergency broadcast shortly. Keep phones on for
these alerts.
LIZ:
Bet you 10 bucks to go outside.
ALICE:
Shut up, Liz.
LIZ:
Just trying to lighten the mood.
Alice stares. Her blood has ran cold. As she stares off into the
darkness, Liz sits up.
LIZ:
Might as well eat something then.
Liz goes over to the pizza box, grabs a slice and looks back at
Alice, who is still staring.
LIZ:
You alright?
Alice looks up at Liz.
ALICE:
You’re not taking this very seriously, are you?
LIZ:
Am I supposed to?
ALICE:
You never take anything seriously.

LIZ:
Hey, I can be serious when I want to.

Alice gets up and walks to the kitchen.

LIZ:
Hey! Where you going?
 Alice opens the cupboard, getting a glass and filling it with
water from the tap. She begins drinking, shaking. She then puts
the glass down, turns the tap on, and splashes her face with cold
water. She gasps. Alice then looks up and spots something. It's a
guy. Running. Towards the house? Is that? Her eyes widen.
ALICE:
Liz!
LIZ:
Yah?
ALICE:
Get in here!
Liz walks into the kitchen, pizza in hand. She looks out the
window.
LIZ:
What the? Dad? But...
ALICE:
Isn’t he supposed to be at work?
LIZ:
Yeah. And we’re not supposed to be outside. Aha! It's a fake.
Knew it. I’m gonna go get him.

Liz begins to move toward the door, but Alice grabs her arm.
LIZ:
Alice?
ALICE:
Don’t. I have a feeling about this one.
LIZ:
What? The message was a fake. Look, he’s fine.
We hear a knock at the door. It's him.
ALICE:
Liz please.
 LIZ:
Thats my Dad outside. Seriously Alice. Surely you understand.
Alice shakes her head.
DAD:
Hey! Let me in! Please!
The girls both look at the door.
ALICE:
How do we know it's safe?
DAD:
What?
ALICE:
The message. We can’t go outside.
DAD:
I know, please let me in! Before they get here! Please.
LIZ:
They? Who’s they?
DAD:
Them. Those... things. We don’t know what they are.
LIZ:
What do you mean??
DAD:
Look, that doesn’t matter right now, just let me in!
LIZ:
I’m sorry, we can’t.
DAD:
What!? Are you kidding me? Let me in! Please! It's your Dad! My
God please...
ALICE:
We can’t trust him.
LIZ:
 I know. Somethings not right.
DAD:
Please!! You have to trust me!
Another emergency siren blares from the living room.
LIZ:
Another one?
THE ANNOUNCER:
A nuclear strike has been ordered to take place across major
cities in the United Kingdom. We failed to contain the
contaminant. Evacuations have been ordered to take place. Take
this time to ring family and loved ones. God bless you, and God
save the King.
ALICE:
What? Are they gonna bomb us?
Liz, who is still standing in the hall, slumps down on the door.
LIZ:
Looks like it.
The Dad continues to knock on the door, begging to be let in.