CHARLOTTE, ASH and EMMA are in the SWANSEA RESETTLEMENT ZONE, but Ash is there under false pretenses.

 

THE RESETTLEMENT ZONE AUTHORITIES BELIEVE Ash is MARK NEWMAN, their next door neighbour, who they actually saw shot in the street. The Dhumals have found themselves in a room with MARK’S PARENTS.

 

PRIVATE BLAKE has led them into the Zone and needs them to do whatever it takes to keep Mark’s parents quiet. He has given Ash a handgun.

 

Charlie believes they should do as Blake says. Ash thinks he should come clean to Mark’s parents, and hope that doing the right thing pays off. 

 

Blake has extracted blood from a corpse in the Zone’s Medical Area.

 

Charlie wins. They will do whatever is necessary. 

 

As Charlie and Ash argue, Emma becomes distressed and vomits. Seeing this, the HELPFUL SOLDIER quickly leads Emma to a MEDICAL AREA - it’s important that these things get checked out. The soldier seems a little panicked. Charlie accompanies them.

 

Ash, terrified, tells the Newman’s there has been a mix up, and he’s sure Mark will be here soon. But the Newmans haven’t mentioned their son’s name…

 

With Emma and Charlie safely in the Medical Area, the helpful soldier heads back to take ‘Mark Newman’ to the Zone Council meeting.

 

Mr Newman tries to leave the flat, but Ash gets in his way. He physically intervenes. The Newmans panic. Ash draws his gun - just as the helpful soldier returns. She draws her handgun, trains it on Ash. BANG!

 

The helpful soldier falls to the ground, Blake behind her. He has to do whatever is necessary. He shoots the Newmans.

 

He turns the gun on Ash. Is this it for Ash?

 

But Blake falls. Charlie standing over him. She grabs Ash and Emma, and they run.

 

We enter into a “lovers on the run” phase of the story. 

 

JOHNSON wakes Blake. They are clearly in cahoots. Blake was a fool to bring these people here. He must find and silence them.

 

As the Dhumals hide, Ash becomes agitated. They have THE CONFRONTATION. They made the wrong decision - typical of Charlie to trust a man she’s never met over him because she’s so hooked on authority, even when the government has gone mad and that man happens to be a murderer. Or to use that fucking coin instead of taking responsibility - offering their fate up to people like Blake. Charlotte points out that they got Emma to the Zone and that was all they wanted, right? No, Ash thinks all she ever wanted was to get herself there. She would have killed Mark herself if she had to. 

 

Ash storms off, to fix things. He’ll find CURTIS and explain. 

 

But Blake finds Ash first. There’s a dramatic chase sequence through the Zone to Curtis’ office. But Curtis isn’t the ally Ash thought he might be. Panic button pushed, Ash is arrested. Curtis is sorry. He had no choice. He has to think about his own family, and he can’t risk any trouble. He will make sure they treat Ash fairly. 

 

His possessions are confiscated, and Ash is thrown in jail. Curtis and Johnson meet with the HEAD OF THE ARMY. Johnson urges the Head not to believe Ash’s story - Blake is a good man, he wouldn’t do any of what is being described. 

 

Before Curtis can argue, the meeting is interrupted as an AGENT enters. Curtis was the source of the earlier leak of government documents. He is swiftly led from the room. Ash is on his own now. 

 

Ash says his wife is here. She will back him up. 

 

But the Head wants to make an example of Ash. If they are going to maintain control, they must have compliance.

 

Elsewhere, Blake finds Charlie. An armed standoff. She needs to stay away from her husband. He’s in prison, and when all this is over he’ll stand a fair trial. At least they’re all safe in the Zone. This is for the best. Kick up a stink and they could all be in great danger. They need to ride this one out. He’ll use his connections to protect her and Emma; ensure they don’t get mixed up in this. He promises. He’s risked a lot to bring them here. Charlie flees.

 

Ash in his cell insists his wife is coming.

 

Charlie is torn. 

 

She looks over at Emma, who is playing with her coin in the dust.

 

She calls her over. She takes the coin.

 

She flips.

​