Parts Per Billion

Anna and Erik live a life cushioned by wealth, yet Anna grows anxious about how fragile their comfort feels. They clash over seemingly trivial details as Middle East headlines loom in the background. The tension pushes them to seek a shared anchor even as unease grows.

Erik pours himself into composing and his social circle, often at the expense of the couple's day-to-day life. The distance between him and Anna widens despite their ongoing routines. He struggles to reconcile his artistic ambition with the relationship’s needs.

Len, depressed and unemployed, confesses to his sister Sarah that he has taken Mia for granted and longs for purpose again. Sarah, a nurse, offers practical support as she listens. The admission underscores the strain rippling through both couples.

Mia, a capable lawyer, wins a significant case representing Andy, a scientist accused of selling trade secrets. The victory highlights Mia's professional success in contrast to Len's growing despair. The moment intensifies the tension between personal and professional pressures.

Andy's insistence that Erik rely on the family wealth creates a clash, with Erik insisting he wants to prove himself independently. Esther argues the money can be a safeguard, while Andy remains wary of how wealth shapes loyalties. The exchange deepens the rift between generations and sharpens the looming financial strain.

Biological weapons rumors turn to confirmation as the world teeters on the edge; the US urges calm while Europe suffers casualties and toxins drift west on the wind. The outside crisis bleeds into every home and conversation, heightening the sense of impending disaster.

Sarah alerts Len, who escorts Mia into the basement to shield them from chaos as lines fail and panic spreads. The building's safety becomes the couple's immediate concern while the world outside spirals.

Rick, a determined survivalist, tries to purchase a survival kit but cannot secure the funds in time, and is shot by a looter as desperation overwhelms the city. The incident underscores the brutal stakes of scarcity and fear.

Back at home, Erik and Anna endure their crisis in tense silence; flashbacks reveal their carefree early days, flirtations, and Anna's pregnancy. The flashbacks culminate in a stark image of their apparent deaths, leaving the present unsettled.

Esther awakens to the hospital's oxygen crisis while Andy pushes forward, relying on oxygen tanks as a lifeline in a world where every breath matters. Their bond tightens as they navigate the crisis together.

During a hospital run, Esther and Andy uncover Sarah's body, a stark reminder of the toll the crisis has taken. The grim discovery sobers them, yet it also steels their resolve to endure.

Len, wounded by events, pleads with Mia to stay and fight for a future together. Mia admits she failed to protect a coworker who fell for her, and they tentatively decide to hold on and rebuild.

A final image shows a young girl—one of Anna's visions—discovering Anna's ring and presenting it to her mother, a fragile spark of hope that life can continue beyond danger.