INT. RUBBLE - MORNING (A SHORT TIME LATER) 120 120

GEORGE

Pull! With a heave, we see the air wardens above brace and pull. Rita screams in pain as the rope tightens around her ribs, she stretches her arms out and holds on to the rope and braces. 106.

AIR RAID WARDENS

One, two, three - heave... It’s working. Slowly Rita is being excavated. As the wardens heave, the rubble begins to collapse and an almighty roar is heard. We see dust bellowing out of the opening from where the wardens are standing. The screen goes black. George, covered in earth, resurrects himself from the dirt along with his torch. Rita is nowhere to be seen.

GEORGE

Mum! Mum! He digs frantically to free Rita, not knowing exactly where she is. He scrapes and digs with all his might until a shoulder emerges and then her face coughing, spluttering and gasping for oxygen. George brushes the debris from her eyes and mouth. He shouts up to the air wardens.

GEORGE

Keep pulling! Rita winces at every pull as her body is freed from the rubble not knowing that at any time there could be another collapse. Finally she emerges from the rubble to the surface. Blood and dust are visible on her body. The fire wardens send the rope down for George, he ties it quickly around his chest and arms and as he is yanked upwards the cavity begins to collapse. George just makes it out in time. Rita is quickly put on a stretcher. George descends the rubble, makes his way to Rita. The silver chain now dangles from his neck. She reaches out to touch it, then caresses his cheek. George falls into his mother’s arms, they embrace. (note: this scene will be revised pending further research around their procedures when excavating bodies/survivors from rubble) PRE-LAP: The sound of a steam train begins to hiss. 107.