| Bray
gets a title - "Provisions Man" - Ep.13 |
Lex has proved totally inept at managing and motivating
people. Amber has offered him a way out, to share the leadership with
herself and Bray. Lex hasn't agreed yet but Amber is fairly certain
of it.
Bray returns to the Mall with some chickens for Cloe. One of them
has already laid an egg inside the box. Amber quietly outlines the
announcement she anticipates from Lex, and that Bray will officially
become the "Provisions Man." Sure enough, Lex makes the
appointments, leaving him free to concentrate on what he is best at,
as "Chief of Security." |
| "Operation
Stupid Kid" - the search for Cloe - Ep.14 |
When Cloe goes missing it's a forgone conclusion she
has gone after Bluebell. And the most obvious place to search is the
woods. Bray knows that, and so does Lex, because he watched her! But
Lex has a vested interest in not finding her, because she will blow
his story that the Locos took Bluebell after attacking him. So he
sticks with his Locos story, and orders Bray into the City, not the
woods.
The search for Cloe is called off the next day because they must bring
water from the river. |
| More
problems with Trudy - Ep.13- |
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Trudy hopes that by being a good mom, Bray will
be persuaded to move in with her, and Salene will be sidelined.
To that end Bray helps Trudy move her bed round - to make more
room.
Trudy claims that Brady will only settle when Bray is around.
That way she persuades him to stay the night. Sitting in a corner
reading a book wasn't quite what she had in mind!
In the morning Salene spots Bray leaving Trudy's room. Trudy deliberately
gives Salene the impression they slept together. |
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| In Ep.15 Salene volunteers herself to fetch
water with Bray. Her motives are overtly nothing to do with
water. When he gets back Trudy has another tantrum, accusing
him of having sex with Salene. Paul's interruption is timely.
Cloe is back! |
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| When Cloe came back, she brought Tai-San with her.
Her influence on the Tribe is at first positive, motivating everyone
to adopt a name. So in Ep.15, as the group forms a circle, the "Mallrats"
are born. Even Trudy joins in. Then there's a party - not least to
celebrate that Cloe is back safe. Amid the party atmosphere Salene
comes on to Bray and he responds, kissing her. Trudy, by chance, walks
in on them. Her newfound happiness and optimism at finally feeling
part of the tribe, crashes. |
| Bray
is captured by the Locos - Ep.16 |
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 |
Sick of the jealous rivalry between Trudy and
Salene, Bray takes time out from the Mall, and everyone in it.
Plus, a little spying to see what the Locos are up to is always
useful. Unfortunately Bray gets caught, and Ebony interrogates
him, mostly to find out if he knows anything about the missing
Zoot.
Clearly, even if Bray knows anything, he's not going to tell.
Ebony decides to let him go, then follow him.
So while he is still blindfolded and tied, Ebony cuts the rope
and hides. Seeing no one around, Bray heads for the Mall, having
satisfied himself that no one is following. |
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| Ebony,
an unwelcome guest at the Wedding - Ep.17-19 |
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 |
While Bray was away from the Mall, a lot has
been happening between Lex and Zandra. He returns in the middle
of Tai-San's ceremony to marry them. Seconds later, Ebony suddenly
appears, having followed Bray in through the sewers. Zandra
becomes hysterical and Lex goes after Ebony. Zandra's wedding
will have to wait for another day.
Ebony is invariably caught and put in the cage. Amber draws
up a roster, and people take turns to keep her under guard.
Trudy accepts that Bray kissed Salene as a one-off and it won't
happen again. He's about to go looking for Paul (he suddenly
disappeared the day Ebony came in, though it's more likely to
do with Lex bullying him). Salene drops in and they talk about
the stars in the sky and the wonderful New World that could
soon be a reality...
They kiss for the second time, and Trudy again sees them. Trudy
loses all hope of having Bray; and with it any purpose for living.
Ebony escapes under Lex's watch, leaving him locked inside.
The Mallrats prepare for an all-out invasion, believing that Ebony
will return with an attack force of Locos. |
|
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| Bray
makes a deal with Ebony - Ep.20 |
| While everyone at the Mall gets ready for a Loco attack,
Bray approaches Ebony directly and makes a deal. Their conversation
is very relaxed and friendly, and Bray tells her exactly how Zoot
met his death and about the Warrior's funeral they gave him. He hands
over the Talisman that Zoot wore, and suggests how she might keep
the name of Zoot alive - by becoming as a high priestess to his Name.
In return, Ebony agrees not to attack the Mall. |
| The
Trudy-Bray-Salene conflict comes to a head Ep.20-22 |
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| When Bray returns to the Mall he sets off the
alarm system and finds his way barricaded. Everyone is relieved
it's not the Locos, and that he has (somehow) made a deal with
Ebony. Everyone, that is, except Lex, who has him "arrested"
for interrogation. Salene hugs him and various people (including
Zandra) make jokes at Lex's expense. Needless to say, Bray's
"arrest" is conveniently and rapidly forgotten, along
with Lex's credibility. |
|
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 |
 |
Bray finds that Brady is soaking and hasn't been
changed since yesterday. Trudy doesn't care about her baby -
or anything - except her obsession with Bray. Her response when
Bray tells her about the deal he made with Ebony is one of suspicion
and accusation. She thinks it is highly likely that Bray had
sex with Ebony.
Bray is too tired to argue and takes Brady to his own room where
he cleans and feeds her. Amber calls for a much needed talk
about the conflict between Trudy and Salene that threatens to
break up the tribe. Bray is committed to giving Trudy all the
support she needs, but admits it would be more out of duty than
love.
Bray apologizes to Trudy, for neglecting the duty of care he
owes to both her and Brady. Trudy doesn't want pity, she needs
to be loved, and realizes that Bray can never give her that
love. She never wants to see him again.
|
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|
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 |
The following morning when Bray tries to wake
Trudy, he finds a nearly empty bottle of sleeping pills nearby.
In short, she has taken an overdose and without immediate help
she will die.
Dal advises they must keep her on her feet, to try and make
her walk. Amber administers salt water to make her throw up.
Then Dal sits with her for hours, waiting for her to come round.
Amber has no doubt what made Trudy do it. It was Bray leading
Trudy up a false path, then falling for Salene. Bray can't take
the heat and heads for his room, followed by Salene.
Bray isn't packing his bags to leave the tribe as Salene fears,
just going out to look for Paul. She asks him to kiss her; but
if she was expecting something passionate that's not what she
gets.
When Bray gets back Amber is extremely hostile, and she and
Dal more or less prevent him from seeing Trudy, explaining that
she needs someone reliable, not someone who keeps disappearing
all the time.
|
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 |
Despite Dal & Amber's warning, and now Trudy's,
Bray goes into her room anyway. She's got it all worked out,
how he used her, a pregnant girl, as a way in to the tribe.
And now he's dumping her, since he has no further use for her.
It's a distorted picture, but she believes it.
Picking up a knife she drives Bray from her room. Dal rushes
to the scene and barrels into Bray, who has no difficulty pinning
him to the ground.
Dal and Trudy talk about the Mall and how much they hate it.
For Dal, it has been Jack going on at him continuously to finish
the wind project that has been getting him down. They decide
to leave the Mall at dawn. As for Brady, Trudy believes she
will be better looked after by others like Salene. |
|
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| Life
in the Mall without Trudy - Ep.23-24 |
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With Trudy gone, it might be expected that Bray
would feel free to go with Salene. But that's not how things
work out. Salene has her time taken up looking after Brady,
and she loves every minute of it. Bray tries to talk to her,
maybe even rekindle a relationship, but Salene feels guilty
for her part in driving Trudy away, and above all for finding
her in the night with a bottle of pills and leaving her to die.
Bray gets the Message that she doesn't want to see him again.
Bray calls on Amber, maybe she can help? But Salene has already
talked to her about things earlier on. Again, Salene's wishes
are clear, she doesn't want to be Bray's girlfriend. |
|
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| The
Tribal Gathering - Ep.25-29 |
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 |
Trudy returns to the Mall without Dal. Most would
have preferred it the other way round. But she has changed,
and slowly people begin to accept her.
Bray's relationship with Amber is becoming friendlier. What's
more, Trudy doesn't throw tantrums about it.
Trudy also has news of an upcoming Tribal Gathering that promises
to be a real opportunity for the Tribes to trade and make peace.
Bray and Amber believe it's worth investigating, though Lex
is predictably negative.
Trudy tells all she knows in the Café. Tai-San is very
enthusiastic, even though the entire event is being organized
by Ebony. |
|
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| Bray decides to get more information from Ebony herself,
and as part of his new policy of honesty towards Amber tells her where
he is going. Salene isn't at all happy that Bray is getting closer
with Amber. |
 |
 |
Bray walks to Ebony's new HQ, the Horton Bailey
Hotel, where he talks to her by the pool about the Gathering.
Ebony is still a formidable leader, but she has come to see
that fighting among the tribes is bad news and it's time to
try something new. The Gathering is a gamble, even for her,
so there are no guarantees of safety.
Bray is encouraged by Ebony's apparent change of attitude. |
|
 |
Back at the Mall, interest in the Tribal Gathering
is growing. There's to be a dance competition, and everyone
assumes that the Mallrats will enter Tai-San, including Tai-San
herself, who starts practicing.
Amber and Bray chat about things in his room. Bray believes
that Ebony will probably try to gain control over all the tribes.
Amber is feeling the loneliness of her position as leader. Somehow
all her efforts don't seem quite enough. Bray assures her she
is doing just fine. There is real chemistry between them now. |
|
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| Most of the Mallrats go to the Gathering. Bray and
Amber will attend the Leaders' meeting. The only thing they have to
trade is power from Jack's wind turbine, and he will answer any questions
about it. Lex and Ryan's role is to keep everyone safe, and Zandra
is along for the ride, as are Cloe and KC. Salene, Patsy and Trudy
stay behind at the Mall to look after Brady. |
 |
 |
| Right from the start things start to go wrong. Jack
has to admit that the slight problem with the wind turbine
is actually a major fault that requires a length of copper wire to
fix. But that's not all. KC spots Dal. He's now a slave, sold to Ebony.
Glen and a bunch of Loco thugs beat Lex up. Then Amber loses a wager
with Ebony and joins Dal as her slave. Lex, sufficiently recovered,
has a plan. But guessing it entails violence, Bray tries to stop him.
Undeterred, Lex starts an intertribal riot, mostly non-Locos against
Locos. And in the chaos, Ryan rescues Dal, Amber and Sasha. The Mallrats
return to the Mall, a very dispirited bunch. |
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