EXT. ESTATE 2ND ROW STREET

Barbara looks at the houses. On one side of the street are detached houses, more modest than the front row houses but still large good looking houses. Across the road is another set of solid good looking houses but they are smaller and grouped into semi-detached pairs.

Barbara looks at the contrast, wondering if perhaps this is some experiment after all.

Lotte walks up to her.

LOTTE

Hi. I’m Lotte. I just want you to know, not everyone here is judgemental and unfriendly.

Barbara looks at her a moment and nods absentmindedly.

BARBARA

Barbara.

Barbara takes another look around at the houses.

BARBARA

It’s funny how the houses are arranged. Twimii, one of the people in my house, thinks this is some social experiment. How can we be certain that the awful stuff we saw wasn’t actors? And the fog is just to hide the mechanics of it all?

LOTTE

You walked out into the fog, didn’t you? You were injured, yeah?

BARBARA

Yes, but I think I just got confused and fell into some briars or something.

LOTTE

You got here on the first day, right? It’s much worse now. It’s not just the people who’ve … who’ve lost it out there. There’s something in the fog. And it kills.

BARBARA

Are you sure? How can we be sure?

LOTTE

I’m sure. I’m certain.

BARBARA

Oh … I’m sorry.

Lotte shakes her head, brushing off the condolences and the memories.

LOTTE

So you don’t really believe you’re in a coma?

BARBARA

I don’t believe this is real.

LOTTE

I don’t believe this is real either. But it’s happening.

BARBARA

Are you happy with the house you’re in?

LOTTE

Yeah. No complaints. About that.

She points over to one of the semi-d’s.

BARBARA

Hey would you like come meet the guys in my house?

LOTTE

The furries?

Barbara starts to protest that they’re not furries but Lotte waves it off, laughing.

LOTTE

Love to. It’ll take my mind off this place.

BARBARA

Do you know where Dearbhla lives?

Lotte nods.

INT. DEARBHLA’S HOUSE, HALLWAY

There is a sound of quiet conversation coming from the kitchen. It’s too low to make out the words.

The hall is decorated much like Maura’s house, there is an old style handset phone, etc.

The front door opens and Lotte and Barbara walk through. The murmuring ceases immediately.

LOTTE

HELLOO? DEARBHLA?

Lotte carries on walking into the kitchen and Barbara follows.

INT. DEARBHLA’S KITCHEN

Dearbhla is sitting at the table with a cup of tea in front of her. On the other side, with their backs to Lotte and Barbara, are Paddy and JJ.

Dearbhla is blinking looking around and into the cup of tea.

LOTTE

Hi Dearbhla. We’re not interrupting are we?

BARBARA

We just wondered if you’d like to come over to mine? … There’ll be fresh baked cookies.

LOTTE

Oh? Lovely. Hi Paddy. And who’s this?

PADDY

Well, how are ya Lotte? You’re looking well. This is JJ. Did ye not meet before?

BARBARA

Hi Paddy. Hi JJ.

Paddy nods at Barbara.

LOTTE

Hi JJ. Nice to meet you.

PADDY

(looking at Barbara)

You know ye’d want to watch out for this one. I hear you’re in a cult now. Sure, you wouldn’t know what’d be in those cookies.

Dearbhla still seems confused, unsure what to say, but she’s looking slightly suspicious of Paddy.

Paddy bursts into laughter and stands up. JJ stands up also.

PADDY

Well we’d best be going. I’ll call back this evening Dearbhla. We can finish our talk then.

DEARBHLA

Oh no. Don’t worry. You’re all right. I’m sure you’ve lots of people to …

PADDY

’tis no trouble. - Right.

He slaps JJ on the back and they leave.

LOTTE

We’re sorry for barging in like this…

BARBARA

I’m not in a cult.

Dearbhla looks up at them, worried and confused.

LOTTE

Is everything ok?

DEARBHLA

I’ve no idea how long they’ve been here … Or what we were talking about … Or anything. - I - I

Barbara sits down in the chair next to Dearbhla.

BARBARA

You’re ok. What happened?

DEARBHLA

I don’t know. I … I had finished breakfast, they called … I don’t know when that was though.

Dearbhla looks out the window.

DEARBHLA

I’ve no idea what time it is here.

LOTTE

Yeah we need clocks. I’ll tell Danny.

BARBARA

But Dearbhla what happened?

DEARBHLA

I don’t know. They came in. I asked them if they’d like a cuppa. And we sat down … I don’t know. I don’t know how long they were here or what was said, what I said. I … Until ye came in … I just … I don’t know.

BARBARA

Have you ever had a blackout before?

Dearbhla pauses wondering if that’s what happened. She then shakes her head. She takes the mug and looks at the tea inside.

DEARBHLA

Do you think there’s something in the tea?

BARBARA

We drink loads of that at our’s. If there was anything in it I’d know by now.

LOTTE

Maybe you have an allergy to something in it. Stop drinking it. We’ll ask Danny to get some proper tea.

EXT. ESTATE 2ND ROW STREET

The women are walking down the street. Barbara and Lotte are chatting away. Dearbhla is quietly following along.

SHAY, a man in his 30s/40s walks out of one of the semi-detached houses. He approaches the women, but he’s not brash or intrusive just a little eager to be friendly.

SHAY

Hi. I’m Shay. Thought I’d get to know the neighbours.

BARBARA

Shay. Would you like to come to my house? We’ve got tea and freshly baked cookies? - I’m the one who lives with the furries.

DEARBHLA

What?

Shay hasn’t heard about the furries and looks a little nervous.

BARBARA

They’re not furries. I was just letting him know who I am. - Not that I’ve anything against people’s choices. Whatever - They’re just … they’re not. - And I am not in a cult.

SHAY

Ah…

DEARBHLA

Wait, you’re the one who got wasted and walked out into the fog?

BARBARA

I was stone cold sober when I did that.

SHAY

Wow.

The craziness of Barbara seems to have revived Dearbhla somewhat.

DEARBHLA

Anyone trying to escape this place is alright in my books.

The women start to walk off.

LOTTE

Coming?

Shay’s looking a little less eager but follows them.