Produced by students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), a dystopic drama set in an alternative reality where two women come to the attention of a ‘secret police’ state because of their sexuality. One of the women, a teacher, faces persecution because of her friendship with the other woman and about the teaching of homosexuality in her classroom. The film is inter-cut with scenes of the drama being filmed by a television crew, the film ends suddenly with the studio being raided...

Produced by students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), a dystopic drama set in an alternative reality where two women come to the attention of a ‘secret police’ state because of their sexuality. One of the women, a teacher, faces persecution because of her friendship with the other woman and about the teaching of homosexuality in her classroom. The film is inter-cut with scenes of the drama being filmed by a television crew, the film ends suddenly with the studio being raided by the police. The production relates to Section 28 or Clause 28 in the Local Government Act 1988 prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality in schools. Although no credits are given, it does features performances from Fiona Turnbull and Gwen Dorin. Two faceless characters, one smoking a cigarette, sit in a darkened room watching a slide prestation of a protest against Clause 28 taking place in Newcastle. A large banner carried by the protestors reads ‘North-East Lesbians Against The Clause’. Two young women are singled out, one of them is identified as being a teacher. More images of them are shown possibly captured covertly. The two faceless characters talk about them and their relationship, one asking for permission to arrest one of them for ‘openly living with a woman’. They talk about a third older woman whom they will also keep an eye on. The camera pans left away from the faceless characters to reveal they are in fact in a television studio. Nearby a man at the controls of a television camera about to film another scene. A second man standing beside him calls ‘Action!’. The living room of a squat with a boarded up-front door and graffiti on the walls. Sitting in the corner one of the two young women seen previously in the slide presentation listening to the radio. The radio announcer speaks of further central government intervention creating a new sub-section of Section 28 Local Government Act indicating the prosecution of any homosexual working in local government who promotes what they call a ‘deviant lifestyle’. In frustration the woman turns of the radio and asks, ‘why can’t they leave us alone!’. An older woman arrives at the squat carrying a bag contain several bottles of wine. As they open a bottle and begin to drink the wine in mugs, the older woman explains that she has lost everything and has nothing left to lose. She lays out on the table a collection of what is believed to be either stolen or cloned credit cards which she used to purchase the wine. They talk about what to use them on next, possibly clean up the house. The older woman talks about running into her son in the street and him ignoring her. As the young woman begins to talk about her friend the teacher the scene is captured on a monitor in a television control room. Those in the control room give instruction to the camerapeople on the studio floor about a change of scene. Back on the studio floor a camera is moved out of the way of the teacher who is writing derogatory words and their meaning for lesbian on a classroom chalkboard; Lezza, Bitch and Dyke. Kneeling in the corner of the set a boom operator holding a mic close to the actress. The Teacher sits at her desk, take out and read a letter from her friend Gloria about the issues she is facing trying to live a life under the rules of Section 28. The viewer also learns from the letter that the teacher’s name is Rocky. In the control booth someone orders a cut to another camera, the scene returns to the squat where the young woman, now identified as Gloria, continues to chat with her older friend over wine. They talk about being ready for the police. A knock at the door with Gloria going over to checks who it is. She smiles when she sees her friend Rocky. She comes in and Rocky talks about being worried about her friend because of the letter, she is introduced to the older woman who is named as Rosetta. Gloria and Rocky take a seat on the sofa as Rosetta leaves to find a cup, Gloria explains it is a celebration. Rosetta returns with another mug and pours a glass of wine for Rocky. The three women argue about Gloria’s situation and lifestyle with Rocky accusing Rosetta of being self-righteous. Gloria calms things by reminding them they are all in the same situation. Rosetta apologies and Rocky confirms the issues she faces being a teacher having to work under the new Section 28 rules. She also explains to Gloria that she was here because of her, the two hug. The film ends abruptly with a camera looking through a window into a Sound Control room, in the background voices asking everyone to stop what they’re doing and to grab all the papers. On the studio floor as well as in the control room people are asked to stop what they are doing, one woman gets up from her seat to ask ‘what is going on?’