SCREENPLAY
One year into 'lockdown' and the nation is in turmoil. The streets are manic with hunger and disease and the poor are being contracted to massacre their own kind.
CHARACTER PROFILES
OPHELIA
Age: 36 years
Gender: Female
Profession: Former Factory Supervisor-turned Government Assassin
Cultural Background: Council Estate stock.
Relationship to the Story: Our eponymous anti-hero, Ophelia is a widowed mother to a young daughter Marcie, who is terminally ill with cancer of the brain.
Offered the chance step up in class and, with that, the opportunity to have her daughter seen by the best doctors in the world - she accepts a commission to become an assassin for the government.
This isn’t just any old assassin, no - her role is to exterminate the poor to reduce the welfare bill.
It is one year into the lockdown and nothing is getting better -“so the poor are expendable…” - according to the countries ‘fearless’ leader.
Ophelia is gifted at this role - so much so that she is almost to the magic number of 100 that will see them all promoted to the next level.
Her daughter is surviving - just - and Ophelia is blessed to have her mother Gersha around to watch Marcie. Her mother also happens to have advice that is invaluable to any kind of assassin, given her history.
Ophelia has to see out the remaining ‘kills’ in a Urban Council Estate in the north east of the Country. There she will be protected by an old comrade Jamal - as she completes the ‘clean up’.
Despite an immense amount of physical activity Ophelia can see some light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps her daughter can be saved.
That is until the news comes through:
“The Prime Minister has died”.
Instead of this being a cause for celebration it is a distinct call for alarm as Ophelia must leave and quick before chaos reigns.
She hasn't head from her mother in days and has no proof that her daughter is still alive.
JAMAL
Age: 32 years
Gender: Male
Profession: Community Leader
Cultural Background: British / Asian.
Relationship to the Story: A local boy who became a Government Agent, much to the chagrin of most of his people.
But, no-one is going to actively confront him. At least not yet.
He still lives within his his community and helps them in whatever way he can.
A family man and a leader always - his loyalty must still remain with his Government.
That is why he has agreed to aide his old friend Ophelia complete her ‘clean up’ list.
Despite what opinions he may have about her mission, he understands all too well that family is everything.
Once the major news breaks Jamal knows that he must get Ophelia out and quick - as his estate will surely turn back into the lawless society that it once was and people like him will be hung, drawn and quartered as traitors.
GERSHA
Age: 54 years
Gender: Female
Profession: Retired seamstress
Cultural Background: Slovakian Middle Class to British Council Estate by choice.
Relationship to the Story: The mother of Ophelia and doting grandmother to Marcie - she spends her days by Marcie’s side praying for a higher power to save her life.
She believes - she really does - but something inside her knows that a life saved means a life lost - but who would be giving up their life for this little girl?
Gersha is too old - and close to death anyway - so, who does that leave?
When Ophelia informs her Mother that she is close to the illusive 100, a heavy load is lifted and Gersha hopes that this may well be the answer to their prayers.
But, nothing is ever that simple.
When the Prime Minister dies all public services move into chaos mode and they are threatening to remove Marcie’s medical ‘privileges’.
They are just about holding on, but Ophelia needs to return soon with that illusive number if they have any chance of saving their little girl.
ROCHA
Age: 48 years
Gender: Male
Profession: Prime Minister
Cultural Background: Eton-educated child of French / English immigrants.
Relationship to the Story: The Leader of this little island by accident, he cares more about self-gratification than the welfare of his people. Something which is particularly disturbing as the world is now under lockdown.
His people are dying - and they are financially done and his flagship ‘Assassination Program seems to be working well - it wasn’t really his idea, but he will take the credit anyway.
But, there is light at the end of this tunnel. The virus seems to be waining and life has a chance of getting back to some kind of normality.
That is until he is suddenly struck down with the dreaded sickness. It may have been transmitted via his regular trysts with executive assistant Jonty James, but we will never know. As he quickly slips into a coma and is fading fast.
He dies alone.
Witnessed from afar by Jonty.
A legacy of bullshit behind him.
And a lot more destruction to come.
JONTY
Age: 32 years
Gender: Female
Profession: Prime Minister’s Aide
Cultural Background: Cheltenham Ladies College graduate - Privileged Northern England native.
Relationship to the Story: Failed to graduate University but worked her way from the ‘bottom’ in record time.
She knows exactly how to get what she wants. And now she has the ear of the General. At least that what she thinks.
Jonty cultivates a consensual relationship with Prime Minister Rocha that is both professional and sexual and at risk of turning into something a little more serious.
Is this something she wants? Or something that she thinks the Prime Minister wants? Either way Jonty is willing to ride this out.
She is with the Prime Minister in his Nuclear Bunker. They have been here a while now, but it now looks like their lives can return to some kind of normality as the virus is waning.
But, as is life, hope turns to despair as the Prime Minister is suddenly struck down with the virus.
It is terminal.
And quick.
Jonty watches Rocha die and is bereft. Possibly the first time she recognises how much she liked this man. But, she has to remain stern as his wife will be flown in soon and professionalism is key.
No-one should ever know how close they were.
It was just between them.