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.

 

Ash wins, and heads in to see the Newmans. He’s one of Mark’s neighbours. He has some tough news. 

 

Ash begs the Newmans not to tell anyone who he is. He fears his life may be at risk if they do, and he needs time to work out how to keep his family safe.

 

Mark’s parents are devastated. As the HELPFUL SOLDIER enters, Ash is ready to hand himself over but Mrs Newman stands and thanks her for bringing Mark to see them so quickly. Ash turns pale as he realises the risk he has brought to these two people.

 

Blake returns from the Medical Centre.

 

The helpful soldier announces she must take the professor (i.e. Ash) to the meeting of the Zone Council. Alone.

 

Blake watches as Ash is led away.

 

At the CIVIC CENTRE, Ash sees Curtis, and hides. He sees a COMMS ROOM, where civil servants do broadcasts to the Zone and to the nation.

 

Blake sees the very much alive Newmans through the window of the flat. 

 

Ash discovers that the PRIME MINISTER and her cabinet are dead. But nobody knows what is causing the current crisis. Only one area in CENTRAL WALES remains mysteriously safe. 

 

Blake is all smiles making everyone a cup of tea. Charlie watches as he drips something into the drinks from a SYRINGE. Whatever is necessary, remember. As the Newmans drink, Blake radios his colleagues.

 

Ash’s meeting is long. He’s suddenly asked questions about his area of expertise, and is caught off guard. The HEAD SCIENTIST is suspicious. A council member becomes unwell and is led away. 

 

Blake plays with Emma in the corner of the flat as Charlie watches the Newmans hastily removed by medical personnel. 

 

A group of scientists - led by the Head Scientist - corner Ash. They know he isn’t Mark Newman. They reveal that the Head of the Army will harshly punish anyone who breaks the rules. But, they need Ash’s help, and if he gives it, they won’t have him arrested. They reveal: Mark was an expert in population behaviour. In the next meeting, Ash (as Mark) will be asked whether he thinks the civilian population will accept further limitations on their rations, and he must say that they will. The Head Scientist and his followers believe that they will likely have to abandon certain groups. Thousands may die. But better to save some than none. Ash is disgusted.

 

These roads are closest to a conspiracy thriller - Ash undercover, fighting The Man. (Or, at least that’s how Ash would like it to pan out …)

 

The coast clear, Blake tells Charlotte they must find Ash. So long as he’s at that meeting, he could give them all away. They have to get him out. 

 

Ash sees Curtis again. He decides to come clean and ask for help, but Curtis is panicked. His family haven’t made it to the Zone and he’s sorry, but he’s been called for an urgent meeting. 

 

Ash heads outside for some air.

 

Charlotte, ahead of Blake, finds Ash outside the Civic Centre. He tells her about the vote. It’s morally wrong. He can’t just let it happen. He has to stop them.

 

THE CONFRONTATION begins. Charlotte cannot believe he is willing to risk all of their lives to protect his principles. Blake is already worried about him - he has to keep his head down. He shouldn’t even be here. Just let the real experts do their job if it keeps them (and Emma) safe.

 

Ash is very aware he shouldn’t be here. And they wouldn’t be in this mess if she didn’t trust Blake, a man she’s just 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. She trusts the coin over reason and simple morality! Who has she become?!

 

Ash points out the bigger picture: what if limiting people’s rations goes wrong? This could fuck up the entire Zone, maybe the last of the country even! Charlie thinks it’s worth it if he’ll live to see Emma grow up.

 

Blake listens on.

 

Elsewhere, Curtis meets with the HEAD OF THE ARMY and SERGEANT JOHNSON. As they suspected, they are going to need to make an example of someone, early. And they know Curtis was the source of the leak earlier in the night. He is swiftly led from the room.

 

Charlie goes to her accommodation. Ash uses the bathroom. The Head of the Army uses the urinal beside him. Blake follows Ash into the bathroom, and, when he sees Ash apparently talking with the Head of the Army, makes a snap decision. He draws his gun. 

 

Johnson (seemingly always by the Head’s side) emerges from a cubicle and shoots Blake, who wounds the Head of the Army as he falls. The Civic Centre is in chaos. Curtis takes the opportunity to slip away from his escort, and bumps into Ash as he flees. If your family is in any danger, do whatever they tell you to do. They mean business.

 

Ash is finally led back into the meeting. And faced with a huge buffet spread - no rationing here. There are far fewer participants this time, as more have been ‘taken ill’. JACOB, a young scientist, makes note of this. 

 

Ash sits back down in his chair, rolling the coin nervously along his knuckles. The debate begins, and the Head Scientist poses the rationing question to Ash. A room of bewildered experts looking on, Ash flips the coin.