The Passengers

Preceding the chapter content, a UK news site reports that schools are “in chaos,” as parents try to retrieve children but school officials bar their entry.

While her car speeds along the roads, Claire clutches her belly and notices a drone following her car. Overcome by a pressing need, she urinates in the passenger seat. Afterward, she watches a video of her husband, Ben, when she revealed to him that she was pregnant. Soon, a convoy of police and army vehicles begins to escort her car.

Remembering how she relied on her brother, Andy, as a child, Claire decides to take control. She performs for the cameras, speaking to her unborn son, Tate, to manipulate the jury’s sympathy. She decides that, if freed, she must disappear before the truth is revealed. She mentally selects juror Jack Larsson as her representative.

In another car, actress Sofia Bradbury complains to her dog, Oscar. She’s still convinced that the event is a reality show called Celebs Against the Odds. She demands to speak to her agent while drinking brandy and taking painkillers. She thinks resentfully about Claire Arden’s pregnancy and worries about what her husband, Patrick, might be doing.

Interrupting her delusion, fellow Passenger Sam Cole appears on her monitor and tries to explain that the situation is real. Sofia dismisses him until Sam informs her that people have been murdered. The reality of her hostage situation dawns on her, and she fears that she has been chosen because of her secrets.

A Bedford, UK, online news report prefaces the chapter content, stating that police are doing everything they can to save Detective Sergeant Heidi Cole, a respected member of the Bedfordshire community.

From her car, Heidi tells her husband, Sam, to stop bullying Sofia Bradbury. Heidi reflects that she had planned to begin divorce proceedings against Sam that day. In his car, Sam feels a surge of bitterness, believing that the public already favors his wife.

Heidi stays calm and suggests to Sam that they logically decide which one has a better chance of survival, proposing that the other should sacrifice their chance. Internally, Sam rejects this. He resolves that he has more to live for and decides to campaign against Heidi to convince the jury to save him.

Prefacing the chapter content, a Qatari media network reports that the second car explosion killed Shabana Khartri and dozens of bystanders.

As the jurors watch news coverage of Shabana’s car exploding and the many casualties, Cadman explains that the graphic broadcast reflects new social media standards. Muriel, distressed, clutches her crucifix.

The Hacker’s voice taunts juror Jack Larsson, saying his dream of autonomous roads is being destroyed. Libby Dixon accuses the Hacker of planning to kill all the Passengers, but he promises that one will survive. He instructs Jack to begin the interview process by questioning Claire Arden.

As Jack Larsson begins his interview with Claire Arden, a 10-minute countdown appears. Claire gives an emotional performance, speaking about her work with children and the eight miscarriages she had before her current miracle pregnancy. Jack expresses empathy, sharing that he and his wife likewise experienced pregnancy loss. Claire mentions that she met her husband, Ben, through a service called Match Your DNA, which confirmed their genetic compatibility.

Just as the timer runs out, the Hacker interrupts, asking why her husband’s dead body is in the trunk of her car. The camera feed switches to the trunk, revealing Ben’s corpse.

Preceding the chapter content, a social media site called “ChatWithPix” prompts users to select a BBC story about Claire’s trunk, a story from The Washington Post on the US president stopping autonomous vehicle testing, and/or a report from The Daily Star on Sofia’s sexiest movie moments.

The jury reacts with shock to the sight of Ben’s body. Fiona remarks that Claire doesn’t seem surprised. Before Claire can explain, her microphone is muted. Cadman ignores the horror, celebrating the event’s record-breaking social media engagement.

Libby and Matthew, a pathologist, confront Cadman for his callousness, and Matthew threatens him. Libby argues with the Hacker, who claims he gave Claire a chance to tell the truth. The Hacker announces that due to public interest, the next interview is with Sofia Bradbury, whom Fiona will question.

Fiona begins her interview with Sofia, who portrays herself as a selfless national treasure, discussing her long career and extensive charity work. A connection forms when Fiona reveals that one of Sofia’s charities saved her daughter’s life.

When asked why she never had children, Sofia claims it was because of a hysterectomy. The Hacker intervenes, revealing that this is a lie and that Sofia chose to be sterilized to avoid getting pregnant by her husband, Patrick, a pedophile whose crimes she knowingly covered up. Before Sofia can respond, her audio is cut.

After Sofia’s exposure, Libby is stunned. She realizes that all the Passengers were chosen because they’re hiding devastating secrets. This insight makes her worry about what Jude Harrison might be hiding.

Libby confronts Jack Larsson, accusing him of keeping a low profile and theorizing that the Hacker has leverage over him, which Jack denies. Cadman reports that social media has turned on Sofia, who is now being called the most hated woman on the planet. The Hacker announces that Sam Cole’s interview is next.

In his car, Sam decides to lie by omission and campaign for public support at the expense of his wife, Heidi. The juror, Muriel, begins the interview. Sam delivers an impassioned argument, steering every question toward the societal bias he claims values mothers over fathers. He shows the camera several photos of himself with his children.

Cadman reports that Sam’s strategy is effective, and his popularity is rising. Immediately after the interview, the Hacker reveals Sam’s secret: He’s a bigamist who has a second wife and another family.

Hearing the accusation against her husband, a furious Heidi Cole demands proof. The Hacker plays video evidence showing Sam with his other family. Juror Matthew Nelson then begins Heidi’s interview, sharing his own past infidelity to build a rapport.

Heidi gives an angry speech about Sam’s betrayal and her difficult role as a parent. She then refuses to participate further, ending her interview early. As public support for her surges, the Hacker reveals Heidi’s own secret: She has known about Sam’s second family and has been extorting him.

The revelation about Heidi’s extortion scheme shatters Libby’s trust in her own judgment, and she now fears what secret Jude Harrison is hiding. Her interview with Jude begins, and they share a warm exchange about the night they met. Jude reveals he used CCTV footage to try and find her again. They talk about what might have been.

With time running out, Jude insists on revealing his own secret. He looks at Libby through the camera and tells her he was on his way to Scotland’s Forth Bridge to end his life that morning.

Continuing his confession, Jude Harrison explains his lifelong struggle with crippling depression. He reveals he recently lost his job, was evicted, and is now living in his car. He admits the only thing that stopped him from taking his life sooner was the hope of seeing Libby Dixon again.

Libby shares her own trauma, explaining that her brother, Nicky, died by suicide, an event that led her to become a mental health nurse. Jude tells her that she can’t save him, just as she couldn’t save her brother. As he finishes, the countdown clock reaches zero.