Marcus and the Apocalypse - Episode 1
by Emmy Laybourne
Uncle Leon? You there?
…you alive?
Marcus! Thank God! We thought you were lost.
I’m alive. I wasn’t in the city—
I’m on a field trip with my class.
Where are you now? Are you safe?
For now I am…
Have you heard from my mom?
I can’t get through and she’s not answering my texts.
I haven’t heard from her. I’m so sorry.
Is it true what they’re saying on the news? About a bomb?
Yes, Marcus, I’m afraid so.
The bomb took out most of midtown Manhattan.
I’m surprised text is working.
I am too. Most of the cell towers aren’t functional.
Is the electricity on where you are?
Are you watching TV?
The lights are on and there’s a TV in the room.
But they shut it off because kids started to freak out.
Can you tell me what’s going on? I have to reach my mom.
Listen, we need to focus on you right now. Where are you?
Maybe she had a meeting or something and was uptown…
You can’t think about her right now. Where are you?
I can’t think about my mom? Are you crazy?
Marcus, tell me where you are. NOW.
Marcus exhales with frustration.
He brushes a hand over his low-top fade.
I’m in Edison, N.J.
At the Thomas Edison museum.
My whole class from Bronx Science is here.
They locked us in and we’re just sitting in this big room.
Waiting and going crazy not knowing what the hell is going on.
We’ve been in here for hours.
A bomb went off in Times Square this morning.
Took out a two-mile radius.
A nuke, right? That means fallout and all that.
It’s not a nuclear weapon. It’s something different.
There’s not a lot of information.
Still, we need to get you out of the area right away.
That’s not gonna happen.
My teacher says we’re going to some kind of emergency staging place.
No. You’re going to make your way to me and your Aunt Jeannie here.
What? To Scranton?!
Yes, I’ll help you. I’ll head toward you from this end.
I’m sorry uncle Leon, but that’s crazy.
I can get you here safely.
I know you were in the army, but that doesn’t mean I can get to Pennsylvania.
Not army — Marine Corps.
And I’ll tell you exactly what to do.
One step at a time, all the way.
Hold on, they’re turning on the TV. Finally.
Oh my god.
Steady, son. Steady.
They’re saying over a million dead.
I’m here, Marcus. Be strong.
There’s melted steel and dust.
I can’t even look.
We are going to get you here to us in Scranton. You hear me?
If my mom is gone, I don’t wanna go on.
HEY! Stay with me!
I’m here. I’m just…Everyone’s screaming, crying.
I don’t know what to do.
This is the perfect time to get away.
I can’t believe this is happening.
It’s happening. And it’s going to get worse.
How’s it gonna get WORSE?!
The bomb…
I got a text from a buddy of mine in the State Department.
They think it’s a chemical weapon — its effects are unknown.
You need to get as far away as you can.
Look, I appreciate you wanting to help, but I’m gonna stay here.
At least I’m with my friends.
No!
Tell Auntie J I love her.
Marcus! Don’t put your phone down!
I can’t just leave my friends. I’ll keep you posted.
Marcus rests his head against the wall.
His friend Gabi sits down next to him.
She’s a willowy girl with chestnut brown skin and a scattering of dark freckles across her nose and cheeks.
You reach your mom?
No. My uncle. But your folks are okay, right?
Yeah, they’re headed across the bridge to Jersey.
My uncle wants me to leave here now. Try to make it to Scranton.
Huh.
He’s a Marine. He says he can guide me every step of the way.
There’s no way Mr. Hoskins would let you go.
I know, right?
The footage on TV shows thousands of people swarming over the George Washington bridge.
The cars are utterly gridlocked.
Frantic pedestrians are climbing over them.
Some are carrying kids, some are dragging suitcases.
My parents are on that bridge. Oh my God!
At the on-ramp, a reporter stands near an overturned car.
People keep knocking into her as they rush past.
As you can see, there is a feeling of panic and terror in the streets.
The exits to the city are absolutely flooded with people trying to get out.
A man carrying a crate of belongings swipes her and the reporter stumbles.
She puts her hand out to the cameraman.
Jim, we have to stop. This is crazy.
Three people crash into her and she falls out of camera range.
I’m freaking out! My parents are on that bridge!
It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.
Marcus’s phone beeps with a text from his uncle.
Marcus, the reports coming out of the city are bad and getting worse.
I am telling you, son, you must leave NOW.
I’m thinking about it.
Is there a cafeteria there? In the museum?
Just a snack bar. That’s where we had lunch.
Do you have a backpack?
Yeah.
Go to the snack bar now.
Take some bottled water and any food you can find.
But most importantly — get a knife.
Scissors will do if you can’t find a knife.
All right. Give me a minute.
I gotta figure out how to get out of this room.
Marcus turns to Gabi.
Look, I’m leaving. I’m going to try to get to my uncle.
I don’t know what to do.
You should come with me.
Really?
My uncle is a Marine. He’s gonna tell me what do to.
He’s got buddies in the government tipping him off. I think—
Save it — I’m in.
My mom always says to take your moment when it comes.
This is the moment. Let’s go.
15 minutes later
Uncle Leon, I got out.
Yes! Good!
Mr. Hoskins tried to stop us, but this kid named Taylor kicked the door down. It was crazy.
Good! Good!
I went to the snack bar. Most of the food had already been cleared out.
That’s okay. Let’s just get you out of there.
Do you at least have some water?
Yeah. Four bottles. I got some old-looking fruit no one wanted.
Got a couple ham and cheese sandwiches, and a box of protein bars in a back cabinet.
Good. Stow it all in your bag and look for the back door.
BTW this girl Gabi is coming with me.
No. It’s better to travel alone.
She’s cool. She’s tough. You’ll like her.
I don’t like anyone who slows you down or ruins your chance to get out of there alive.
Chill out please. Gabi’s coming with me. End of discussion.
Is she your girlfriend?
No, okay? She’s out of my reach.
Captain of the basketball team. Very pretty.
You get the picture.
But we’re friends and I’m looking out for her.
Again: NOT IDEAL. You’re safer alone. But let’s move on. Did you get a knife?
I couldn’t find a knife but I got a pair of scissors.
Rusted out, but real sharp.
Good. You’ll need them.
App