COLD OPEN. Darkness, muffled hum, a horn blares. Light bleeds in — we are on the ground, looking up. Will's face leans into frame (POV from Hannah lying on the street after a car crash). He strains to move something pinning her, can't budge it. "Just hold on for me." He reaches toward us — THE HUM builds, snaps to silence.
Hannah walks slowly up a narrow garden path to Josh's house, holding her grocery bag. Birdsong, the hum of a passing car. She reaches the front door, pulls out keys, hesitates, then pushes the door open.
Hannah bursts out of the house, nearly tripping over the threshold. She fumbles for her phone and calls Lily — goes to voicemail. She leaves a panicked, rambling message about Josh pretending not to know her. She speeds up. Someone grabs her shoulder from behind and spins her around — it's WILL, the man from the crash. "Hannah, hang up." She's terrified. He tells her he was at the crash. Her face freezes mid-sentence. THE HUM builds.
Will and Hannah walk with purpose through a narrow alley, walls covered in old tags and peeling posters. Hannah asks how precise the trip will be. Will explains he can narrow it to the day but they'll end up wherever their bodies were at that moment. "The earth moves through the galaxy at 200 kilometres a second." Hannah rehearses the plan: verify the date, meet Josh at the park café.
Hannah bursts out of the doctor's office and into the street. She takes off down the sidewalk, dodging slow walkers, slipping between couples. Her breath is quick but controlled.
Hannah moves fast through the city street, past storefronts and blurred faces. She rounds a turn — SMACK. She collides full-force with someone. A firm grip catches her shoulders: WILL. But this Will doesn't know her — he's startled. She calls him by name. An awkward exchange: he insists they've never met. She runs off. He calls after her: "Don't make me come find you!"
City park café terrace. Tree shade, distant chatter. Hannah arrives in a rush, spots JOSH reading a book at a table, and sits across from him. She comments on his Flannery O'Connor novel. They flirt — easy, natural chemistry. She breaks down briefly; he kneels beside her. Then JULIA steps into the frame — striking, late twenties. She's Josh's girlfriend. Josh introduces Hannah. Julia notices Hannah looks shaken. Josh and Julia leave; Hannah forces composure until they're gone, then bolts.
City park. Hannah storms away from the café terrace, hands clenched, breathing hard. Will calls her name (O.S.). She ignores him, quickens pace. He catches up, grabs her shoulder. She whirls around — "Don't touch me!" They argue: she says he lied about fixing things, he says they need to go further back. She's furious and desperate. "I WANT TO GO HOME!" THE HUM builds.
RESET. Close up on Hannah — distant, hollow. The same street as the opening, the same moment. She takes a step forward — a hand yanks her back. A car blurs past, air stirring her hair. She turns: it's Will. This time, she's saved.
Sunset on the front steps of a quiet street. Hannah has her knees drawn up; Will walks up and sits beside her. They discuss what went wrong — Josh was with someone else, the original timeline is lost forever. Will talks about destiny and control. Hannah reveals she ran into an earlier version of Will before meeting Josh. They agree to keep trying — Hannah says "We're just beginning."
INTERCUT with 1.18. Hannah walks away down the street at sunset, resolute. With each step she feels more aware of her power, more hopeful. She says she'll call Will at 8 o'clock, same café.
INTERCUT with 1.17. Will alone at sunset. He opens his notebook — ON THE PAGES: dozens of handwritten notes, drawings, and diagrams. He turns a page. A photograph of Will and Hannah as a couple. He watches her walk away. A small, controlled smile.