Jack is an 11-year-old Black boy waiting for the school bus in the early morning dark. He lives with his mom, who works early, and his father works in California, so he rarely sees his dad. He's by himself. He could walk a few blocks and ride the school bus, but Joey Shimkis rides that bus, so Jack avoids it. His mom got him a city bus pass, so he takes that to Richmond Middle School instead. His best friend also rides the city bus because his mother won't let him ride the same bus as Joey. The bus pulls up and Jack gets on.
The bus driver, Mike, knows Jack and asks him if he needs a transfer. He doesn't. As he gets on the bus, he describes the other passengers: the blind Annie and the elderly Mr. Hanso. Jack says his mom works at Albertson's. He starts to fantasize that Mr. Hanso is a martial arts master. The bus picks up Miles Thomas, Jack's classmate and best friend.
Once he sits down, Miles sneakily shows Jack that he snuck one of his brother's Playboy magazines into their backpack and they can check it out later. Sherelle stares at them with disdain, but they don't notice.
The boys play a game where they make up backstories for the other bus riders. The blind woman on the bus makes them uncomfortable. They are certain that the older man, Mr. Hanso, is a retired ninja. They think that a college couple, Carl and Nicki, are "doing it," even though they aren't really sure what "it" is. Miles thinks Sherelle is Queen Latifah and that the blind woman is secretly the wife of a former Nazi, but Jack says that's crazy since the woman looks nothing like Queen Latifah and the older woman is Black and a Black woman wouldn't marry a Nazi. The bus comes to a screeching halt.
Everyone crowds into the front window of the bus and stares out the window. Miles starts mumbling to himself that it's supposed to be saucers. He says not a single story ever told them about flying triangles. The sky is buzzing with dozens of small triangle-shaped alien ships. They're flying around blasting things.
Mike tells them to sit down and he turns the bus around and drives away. Nicki sees something in the pattern that the aliens are flying around. Annie asks Mike what's going on, but he says he'll explain it to her once they are safe. He drives the bus away from the aliens as Jack becomes preoccupied wonder what his fellow bus riders are thinking about.
Miles continues to rant about saucers and triangles. Jack shakes him out of it and Miles calms down. The bus lurches as they get a flat tire. Carl starts to freak out that the aliens are going to come get them. Annie mentions that they are only a few minutes from the Walmart and suggests that they go there for safety. Mike agrees and drives the bus on the flat tire until they get there. The parking lot is empty except for two cars and Walmart is closed.
Mike gets everybody off the bus and says they should get inside and hide. He doesn't think leaving the bus outside and visible is a good idea, so he goes to hide it. Sherelle helps Annie off the bus and the others all get off. Mike drives away.
Jack points out a family standing in front of the entrance, the parents Jennie and Jim and daughters Julie and Joan. Joan carries a Harriet Tubman pillow. Jim bangs on the doors, but no one has answered. Carl asks him how long he's been banging on the door, but before Jim can answer a pickup truck pulls into the parking lot.
Two teens, Mickey and Frank jump out of the truck and demand that everybody get inside. Jim says it's locked and they've been banging on in for half an hour. Carl picks up an ash tray and throws it through the glass doors, shattering them. He clears the broken glass away and they make their way inside.
Inside, they call out for anyone, but no one responds. Mickey and Frank run to get food. Carl wants a beer and he and Nicki head to find one. Miles wants a Twinkie and leads Jack towards the snack aisle.
Morty walks in from the back of the store, he's the manager. He's only got his clothes halfway on and his hair is mussed. Behind him comes a younger employee, Francine, who is putting her clothes on. They were very clearly having sex. Morty yells at someone that they can't have free stuff. And he says they aren't even open for another 25 minutes. Carl can't believe Morty doesn't know what's been happening. They tell him to turn on the TVs.
In the Electronics Department, Morty gets the remote and turns on the TVs and flips through the channels. It's clear there is a natural disaster, but no one seems to know what's going on. Eventually the last of the channels goes off the air and they turn the TVs off.
Glass crashes at the front of the store as Mike the bus driver arrives. With Mike are Joey Shimkis and his crony Carl Lay. Jack and Miles are upset. Mike asks about the phones and Morty checks. The one in Electronics is dead so he goes to the back office to check. Francine follows him. Joey tells the story of being attacked at the bus stop by aliens and how they watched the other kids get killed. Sounds like they're exaggerating. Mike wonders what they're all going to do now.
Jack continues to flip through the channels but Morty tells him hit won't work because the satellites are down. Mike tries to calm Morty down, as he's still reacting to everything like the invasion hasn't happened, keeping control like a manager and asking who is going to pay for everything everyone is taking. Mike takes charge as the highest ranking official left in town. He tells Morty the city will pay for things and to let people eat, because it calms them down.
Later, everyone is still hanging out in the Electronics Department, drinking beer or alcohol or eating snacks. Morty and Francine aren't partaking. Morty frowns while Francine goes hungry. Mike says they should all introduce themselves since it seems like they'll be stuck a while. Mike introduces himself, he's a bus driver with a wife and four-year-old son. He introduces Annie, who is worried she'll be late for work at her telemarketing job.
Carl introduces himself as a student. His girlfriend Nicki gets upset at his use of past tense. She's angry that he's talking about the world as if it's over. Mike tries to calm things down.
Jim isn't sure how he's going to explain this to his kids, but his wife Jennie dismisses those concerns. He introduces his daughters, Julie and Joan. They're from Seattle and were just passing through.
Miles introduces himself and Jack. Joey and Carl make fun of them. Joey introduces himself as a star quarterback. Older guys Frank and Mickey belittle Joey and Carl and declare themselves the REAL athletes in town.
Mike asks Morty to introduce his friend. It's Francine. She's not very talkative. Mike tries to butter Morty up by complimenting his strategy. The last people, Mr. Hanso and Sherelle, introduce themselves. Mr. Hanso makes a joke that reveals he knows about the jokes Miles and Jack make about him. They find it hilarious. He works at the China First restaurant. Sherelle is another community college student, but she was considering dropping out because she's pregnant. Her husband Georgie got a really good job at the factory. Mike congratulates her.
Later, people have spread out a bit more, but the Electronics Department is still the central point. Miles is playing with the TVs, but he doesn't find anything. He asks Mr. Hanso what China was like. Mr. Han Sen reveals that his name is NOT Mr. Hanso. Then he describes that his life in China was a lot like here. There were differences, like movies and laws and language, but a lot of things were the same.
Nicki sits in a recliner reading a Stephen King book. Carl asks her what she's reading. He criticizes her for reading a King book during the apocalypse. She glares at him then goes back to reading. Carl walks away.
Jack tells Miles to follow him and they sneak away. They go to find comic books. Julie and Joan follow them.
Jim complains that they should've stayed home. Jennie asks him if he thinks the invasion is only happening here. When he says yes, she ridicules him and he pretends that he was joking. He walks away.
Carl brings back a bottle of red wine and pours it into a red Solo cup. He offers it to Nicki, but she rejects it when she finds out it's Merlot. They snipe at each other and she goes back to reading.
Jack and Miles leaf through comics. Jack is monologuing about how great Wolverine is. Julie arrives, announcing that Jean Grey is the greatest of all time. Miles agrees.
Nicki is reading the Stephen King book as someone watches her. He steps forward and it's Joey, grossly eating chocolate and staring at her. He offers her some, but she rejects it. He continues to say weird things while she tries to end the conversation. He keeps pressuring her to eat the chocolate until she very clearly tells him no and leaves. He watches her leave.
Julie and Joan introduce themselves to Jack and Miles. Julie tells Jack he's cute and asks if he's ever had a girlfriend. He says he's never been in love and Julie tells him to slow down. Miles says something mildly racist and Joan ignores him to teach him about Harriet Tubman.
Joey arrives and starts making fun of Miles. Joan grabs Miles hand, then says she wants to go color. She grabs a coloring book and Miles follows her. Jack gives Julie an excuse for them to leave and she grabs his hand and they leave. Joey stares after them, something's wrong with him.
Nicki asks about cell phones. Several people in the store have them. Nothing on the phones, but they keep trying. Nicki drops her phone screaming after a high-pitched screeching sound comes through the receiver. She's bleeding from the ear. Carl comforts her. Everyone comes back because of Nicki's scream. Carl warns everyone not to use their cell phones.
Mr. Han sen serves breakfast. Everyone comes back to eat. Miles is vaguely racist and Jack chides him for it. Julie notes that Miles has a lot to learn. Joey is even more racist. Frank and Mickey are already tired of Joey and warn him to shut up when he's around. Joey backs down and Jack, Miles and Julie are happy.
Carl has been trying to figure out why the aliens are here, based on every movie he's ever seen. He thinks they're here for the natural resources.
Frank notes that they're in Walmart, they should get ready for the aliens by getting guns from Sporting Goods. Morty's not so sure, but he agrees. Jim, Frank and Mickey want guns right away, but the others aren't interested. Miles wants to, but he knows they won't let him, so he wants to read more comics.
Morty unlocks the cabinet that holds the guns. They only have hunting rifles. Jim only know how to use handguns, though, so he leaves. Mickey's father is in the NRA. He hands the first rifle to Frank and takes the second. As he brags, he accidentally shoots a bullet into the ceiling. Morty says he's keeping the ammo so they don't accidentally kill him.
In the drink aisle, Annie holds on to Sherelle's arm as they look for a specific drink. They find it and then they start hearing a repetitive beeping sound coming from the front of the store.
Sherelle and Annie emerge from the aisle to see that it's Francine, who is scanning and bagging random groceries. Francine says she knows what they think of her and her relationship with Morty. Sherelle says that nobody thinks anything about it. She says he treats her very well. They are in love. Annie works in telemarketing. Francine hates the job, but only works there because of Morty. Annie loves her job because no one can see her, so they don't act weird around her. Sherelle's brother is an architect and she talks with him a lot because her husband is overworked and tired. The three of them are friends now.
Mickey and Frank play baseball with tennis balls in the sporting goods section. Jack and Miles watch with batting helmets on. Frank throws a pitch and hits Mickey in the butt. Mickey calls his shot and points at Frank. Frank pitches and Mickey hits it right back at his head. Frank catches the ball reflexively. Frank keeps pitching and Mickey starts blasting shots into other parts of the store. Some things break in other departments. Morty rushes over and stops them. He says he's going to lose his job, but they say it's the end of the world, so it doesn't matter. Morty threatens to kick them out, but Nicki shuts that down. She tells him to chill the fuck out. He walks away, angry.
In the Electronics Department, Mike, Mr. Han sen, Nicki, Carl, Jack and Miles hang out. Nicki and Carl tell the story of how they met. They were playing beer pong and Nicki was tired because she stayed up all night watching CSI. They were playing the game and Nicki snuck over and cheated so they could win. Carl nailed the last shot to win.
Jack whispers something to Nicki and she takes it upon herself to calm Miles down. He's freaking out about the aliens. She asks him about his mom, Alexandria, and Miles calms down. He stops obsessing about the aliens.
In the Men's Clothing section, Carl and Mike look through clothes. Carl fidgets with something in his pocket. Mike notices and asks him about it. It's a engagement ring. He was going to propose before the invasion. Mike says that changed things. Carl says hey were already bad before the invasion. He says he wants to be better. He's not as smart as she is. Mike is married to a news anchor. He acted like he deserved to be with her and she was sold by his confidence. Carl runs off to find Nicki.
In the drink aisle, Nicki looks for a giant sugar-free Red Bull. Carl yells her name and she jumps, spilling a little. He tells her to just let him say what he needs to say and then she can smile, walk away and think about it. He tries to lead up to a proposal, but he fumbles it and it gets tense. She walks away.
In periodicals and books, Jack and Miles are back for more comic books. Joey returns and he insults them. Jack asks why Joey's always messing with him. Joey says he knows why, but Jack doesn't. Joey swats the comics book out of Jack's hand. Joey says Jack's dad ruined Joey's family before he moved to California by sleeping with Joey's mom. His dad won't come back. Joey says there aren't any rules anymore and punches Jack in the stomach. Jack calls Joey a coward and that's why he picks on younger kids. Nicki arrives and asks Jack and Miles to take a walk with her. Joey says he'll see Jack later. He's clearly a psychopath.
In a grass field behind Walmart, Miles and Jack hang out while Nicki smokes. She asks what was up with that guy. The boys say he's hates them. Nicki knows that Carlin was going to propose and asks how could he believe he was ready for that. Miles mumbles about the triangles. Nicki has an epiphany that the aliens were attacking anything with a radio or satellite signal. Like the cell phones inside. An alien ship flies over the Walmart and destroys it.
Later, Jack wakes up to the flaming wreckage of the Walmart. Two spacecraft hover over the wreckage before flying off in opposite directions. Nicki, Jack and Miles are unhurt. Jack mumbles that nobody survived and Miles asks what they should do. Nicki says they run. They leave. Jack stops and says he has to go back and check to make sure there aren't others who are still alive. Nicki knows that Carl is alive because she can recognize his footprints. Those of several others lead away from the destroyed building. Jack remembers that Joan said her Nana Vashti lives nearby and he knows where that is.
Nicki leads the way down a street at dusk. A few lights are on at various houses. The street lights come on. Miles plays a game as the work their way through the neighborhood. He says he wants to play it as much as he can before the power goes out. Someone starts throwing rocks at them. Nicki grabs the bat and gives chase. She comes back, not having found anyone.
Jack leads them into a cul-de-sac where one of the houses is on fire. It's a wrong turn. Nicki starts leading them and she stops them from going down one street when she sees one of the aliens. They move into the open, passing a burning car. Nicki wants them to get off the streets because it's too dangerous out.
They arrive at Nana Vashti's house. The shades are drawn but a tiny sliver of light can be seen. Nicki knocks on the door. No answer, even though they can hear movement inside. Jack holds up Joan's pillow and calls out to the girls. Nick calls out for Carl. The door opens and inside are Julie, Joan, Nana Vashti and Carl, who is laid up with an injury. Jack gives the pillow back to Joan, she's super happy. Julie kisses Jack on the cheek and everyone goes inside.
The living room is dimly lit by candles. Carl is on the couch, Nicki kisses him. He stepped in a bear trap. But Nana Vashti was a nurse before she retired, so he's okay. But he can't walk for now. Carl went searching for Joan's pillow because she was really sad. He's feeling sad for himself and she shuts him up to say she's agreed to marry him. He gives her the ring. They kiss.
Nicki shows her engagement ring to Julie and Joan. Vashti comes in and says the ships are gone. Nicky says it isn't over yet. Vashti says she hasn't seen or heard anything in two days. Nicki says they need to be careful and stay safe.
Later, Carl sleeps on the couch and Nicki sleeps on a pallet next to the couch. Jack and Miles are in sleeping bags across the room. A gunshot goes off outside. A second shot hits the front porch. Everyone stirs at the sounds. Nicki puts on her boots. Carl asks what she's doing and she says she's going to make it stop. Vashti warns her not to go, it could be dangerous, but Nicki says she knows who it is and he's not dangerous, just stupid.
Nicki now carries a backpack and baseball bat. Carl says he's doing good. She kisses him and leaves.
Jack and Miles play Go Fish on Nana Vashti's bed. They know that Joey escaped the explosion. Miles says something racist. Jack calls him out for it. Miles says it doesn't mean anything, he learned it from his dad. Jack asks him what other "phrases" he might use. Miles says he didn't mean it like that. Jack points out that Miles' dad is an asshole and Miles doesn't want to be like him. Miles agrees and says he doesn't want to grow up to be like his dad. Or like Joey. Miles stars to cry. He's sorry. Jack says he knows Miles didn't mean anything by it, but it's still wrong.
Miles says he thinks his mom is dead. Jack and Miles hug. Miles realizes Jack's mom might be alive. The diner where she works is owned by a guy who hates computers and TVs and satellites and all that. It's probably okay. They'll go as soon as Nicki gets back.
Nicki walks away from Nana Vashti's house. She listened well earlier and has a good idea where the gunshots came from. Trying to figure out which house he's in, Nicki finds a Kit Kat wrapper. She heads towards the closest house with lights and sound coming from it. She sneaks up and peers in the window. Joey is inside. She heads towards the front door, and notices that it's NOT Joey's house. She sneaks in the front silently.
Joey has devolved into a pure hedonist. The place is a mess with soda and porn and snacks and Kit Kats. Limp Bizkit's "Nookie" plays on repeat. Joey stands up and walks to the bathroom. When he walks out of the bathroom, Nicki is there. She hits him on the head with the baseball bat.
Joey wakes up, he's tied to a chair. Limp Bizkit is no longer playing. Nicki sits on a chair facing him. She asks him why he's following them. She asks him if he likes scaring people. He says sometimes. He says that they said the world ended, that means the rules don't matter anymore. Nicki shows him the gun and tells him that the rules matter more than ever. She says she's going to set him free and if she sees him again, she'll kill him.
Nicki returns, shaken. Carl asks her how it went. She tells him not to ask, but rest assured they won't hear from him again. Jack tells them Miles figured it out. The place where Jack's mom works doesn't use any satellites, so it might not be blown up. Jack says he has to find out. Nicki says, let's do it. She grabs her gun and they head out.
Nicki, Jack and Miles walk into the diner, people have been here recently, but it's empty now. Miles eats some pie. Nicki turns off a running faucet. Jack checks the bathroom. Nicki asks if there's anywhere else she would've gone? She checks to see if he's okay. He says he is, but he wants to keep looking. Miles says they'll find her. Nicki asks what's out back. Jack goes to look.
Everyone exits the diner. Jack runs out back, calling for his mom. She comes out of the storage shed with the rest of the diner's staff. He asks her what they are going to do now. She says they have to get ready.
They dig through the rubble of the Walmart to recover whatever they can. Annie was killed in the destruction of the store.
Later, Jack talks about having the idea for the New Pony Express after all the technology used for communication has been rendered useless. Nicki writes pathways on a map. The others watch in rapt attention. Younger people sew American flag patches onto jackets. Jack talks about an old 2 Pac quote about teaching people and expanding and sharing their knowledge.
A half dozen Riders mount horses in front of the school. The riders head out in different directions. Jack concludes his voiceover saying they know the aliens will be back, but this time, humans will be ready.