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Trudy is still suffering from post natal depression,
and not in a fit state to look after the baby, even if she wanted
to. She hasn't even given her a name yet. Salene looks after
the baby most of the time, because otherwise no one else would.
Besides, she likes doing it, and it gives her more contact with
Bray, which she also wants. But Trudy also wants Bray, and she
comes to resent Salene's constant presence.
Whenever she sees Salene and Bray together, for whatever reason,
Trudy's imagination works overtime. On one occasion Salene freaks
when she finds rats in the kitchen, and runs to Bray. On another,
at Jack's trial for hoarding food, Bray |
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sits next to Salene. Trudy comes to even resent Salene
looking after the baby, even though she can't be relied on to do it
herself.
Trudy's constant outbursts and tantrums, and generally sour attitude,
are what's most likely to drive Bray away from her and into Salene's
arms. Even Amber points that out to her. |
| Giving
the baby a name - Ep.12 |
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On the very night when the girls gather in Zandra's
room to agree a no-work protest against Lex's authoritarian
leadership, an unearthly sound carries through the Mall. Lex
orders all the guys to fall in line with him to investigate.
Bray refuses, laughs about it, as does Trudy. Amber guesses
they know what it is. Indeed they do. It is nothing more sinister
that Cloe's calf, Bluebell. But Bray and Trudy aren't telling!
When the truth is known, Amber reprimands both of them, for
allowing everyone to get in a panic while Lex humiliated himself.
She raises the question of their future in the tribe.
Later, first Trudy, then Bray approach Amber in her room. Trudy
doesn't really want to leave the Mall. She agrees to take responsibility
for her baby, and to treat Salene better. Amber encourages her
to give the baby a name.
The girls prepare a special feast to mark the naming of Trudy's
baby. All the boys willing to share the chores are invited.
In practice that's all of them except Lex. For the first time
ever, both Bray and Trudy are there, at the table. Ryan cuts
the pie, and Trudy announces the name - BRADY. |
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| Everyone is happy, except Lex. Since becoming
leader he has made the girls do all the chores. The other boys
are now prepared to do their share. All except Lex. |
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Trudy has seen a way to sideline Salene - by looking
after Brady herself. In the sweetest way possible (with a sarcastic
undertaste) Trudy thanks Salene for her help.
Next, she asks Bray to help move her bed round. It will enable
her to put Brady where she can look into her mother's eyes.
(Plus there will be more room for Bray to move in with her).
But her relationship with, and attitude toward Brady is unchanged.
It's all show, to make Bray love her. |
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| Continuing
Jealousy over Bray - Ep.13-22 |
The main story is that Cloe has gone missing,
presumably in search of Bluebell, her calf. Everyone is extremely
worried for her - except Lex, who has a hidden agenda - and
Trudy, who is too concerned about herself.
With Salene sidelined, and every hope that Bray will be sleeping
with her soon, Trudy rubs salt in the wound. She invites Patsy
and Paul (not Salene) to say "nighty-night" to Brady,
and tells Brady herself, that Uncle Bray is coming to see her.
The words are meant for Salene, as is her smug gaze toward her. |
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Trudy uses every ploy to get Bray to stay in the
same room, and hopefully the same bed. She claims that Brady
will only settle when he is around.
The following morning Trudy deliberately gives Salene the impression
that Bray slept with her, despite the fact that he didn't.
Bray joins in the search for Cloe with Lex and Ryan, though
for reasons Bray doesn't understand, Lex insists they all search
the City, not the woods.
When it's time for bed Trudy tries to seduce Bray. But right
now his mind is on Cloe, even if she doesn't care. Bray retires
to his own room. |
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The search for Cloe goes on hold while Bray, Ryan
and Salene fetch water from the stream. Trudy throws a tantrum
about that too, accusing Bray when he gets back of having sex
with Salene.
Against all hope, Cloe returns safe and well, albeit with a
sprained ankle. She brings a new friend, someone she met in
the woods and who saved her from Locos. Her name is Tai-San
and she will soon be part of the tribe.
Salene promises to Trudy that she will stop interfering and
trying to take Bray from her.
A party is to be held to celebrate Cloe's safe return. |
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When Tai-San hears that the tribe has no name,
she gathers everyone into a circle. "The Mallrats"
is Lex's suggestion. Trudy wants to be part of it and tells
them all to wait. She fits herself in between Bray and Salene!
During the party, Salene takes Bray aside for a chat. The chat
becomes a kiss. Trudy goes looking for Bray - and finds him...
Trudy slaps Salene's face and demands that Bray choose between
herself and Salene. |
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Bray is sick of being the focus of such jealousy
between Trudy and Salene. He decides to take time out from the
Mall. Plus he can catch up with what the Locos are doing. Unfortunately,
Ebony captures him, and interrogates him about Zoot.
Cloe sees that Trudy is down, and goes in for a chat. Cloe hates
the Mall and everyone in it - except Trudy and Brady of course.
Trudy fears that she has driven Bray away for ever this time. |
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Trudy sinks into deeper depression. Brady is crying,
in need of feeding and changing, but ignored by Trudy who stares
into space.
But it's not Salene who comes to the rescue this time. Trudy
has virtually banned her from coming anywhere near her. It's
Jack and Dal, who take Brady away and hand her to Salene and
Amber.
When Amber learns that Bray has gone, she guesses the rest. Salene
cannot help but admit her part, kissing Bray, and is rather
smug about it. |
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Ep.17: In Bray's absence, detained by Ebony,
life at the Mall goes on. Trudy mopes in her room most of the
time while Lex and Zandra (mostly Zandra) get ready for their
wedding.
There's just one thing bothering Zandra - the wedding night.
As far as they know, Trudy is the only one with any experience.
Against Salene's better judgment they go and ask her.
Trudy can't be bothered to answer their questions. Salene is
determined to score points and claims the next wedding will
be her own with Bray. Trudy responds, attacking Salene. Tai-San
and Amber are obliged to separate them. |
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| Ebony lets Bray escape from the Locos, then follows
him back to the Mall. He is just in time for the wedding. But seconds
later, Ebony follows Bray into the Mall and causes blind panic. Zandra
becomes hysterical. The Mallrats capture Ebony and put her in the
cage, but the wedding is called off. |
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Trudy is relieved that Bray has come back to
the Mall, and concerned that the Locos might have tortured him.
She believes Bray that the kiss with Salene was a spur-of -the-moment
one-off. She kisses him, and is prepared to wait, as long as
it takes, for him to love her.
Paul hasn't been seen around in the Mall all day, not since before
the wedding was called off. Bray gets ready to go out and look
for him.
Salene asks to go with him. Bray refuses, it's way too dangerous
outside. They get talking, and on impulse Bray kisses her again.
From the balcony, Trudy has proof that the "one-off"
is now a two-off. |
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During the night Ebony escapes from the cage. Or rather
Lex inadvertently allows her to escape. The fear is that Ebony will
return with an attack force to trash the Mall. While the Mallrats
set up traps and alarm systems, Bray heads for the railyard to speak
to Ebony. He tells her how Zoot died and hands over Zoot's talisman
to her. In return Ebony agrees not to attack the Mall.
While Bray is gone, Trudy tells Amber a little about what is upsetting
her. She believes Bray will come back for Salene and not her. She
is also terrified what will happen if the Locos discover that Brady
is Zoot's daughter. She has moved her bed to its original position,
backing onto the dividing wall with Furniture/Bedding. |
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Bray comes back and tells the Mallrats about
the deal he made with Ebony. Otherwise things go on as before.
Bray has to take care of Brady much of the time because Trudy
ignores her. He avoids confrontation by avoiding Trudy.
Salene demands to know where his affections lie. Amber warns
Bray that the jealousy between the two girls threatens to crash
the whole group.
Trudy seeks a final solution, sleeping pills, taken from Dal's
bag while he is asleep. In the morning Bray finds her unconscious.
By making her walk, and salt water to makes her throw up, Trudy
makes a full recovery, though she still wants to be dead. |
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Dal generally oversees Trudy's recovery and return
to normal life. Most of the time she stays in her room, not
allowing Bray or Amber in to see her. When Bray goes in anyway,
Trudy drives him out, wielding a knife. Dal then attacks Bray,
though of course Bray easily restrains him.
Dal is the only one Trudy feels free to talk to. They both hate
the Mall and Dal dreams of a farm of his own. They decide to
leave the Mall.
At dawn Trudy leaves a note with Brady. She and Dal set out
to make a fresh start, a new life. |
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Not far out from the City, Dal and Trudy find
a new tribe. Staying out of sight, observing them, they seem
friendly enough. And that breakfast sure smells good! Trudy
decides to step forward and introduces herself - and Dal.
The Nomads are indeed friendly. They have food in abundance
such as Trudy hasn't tasted in ages. And they don't seem to
mind sharing it. It is agreed they will stay and travel with
the Nomads to the Tribal Gathering.
Life is idyllic. But the break from the Mall is what Trudy needed
to begin to understand who she is, and her role in this world.
She decides to go back to the Mall, and the little girl who
needs her.
Dal wanted to fulfill his dream with Trudy, not alone. Trudy
insists he should go on, and find that farm he longs for.
Trudy leaves at dawn without telling the Nomads. When he later
informs them, they are furious. Another traveler Sasha joins
up with the Nomads. He persuades Dal to follow his heart and
go after Trudy. The Nomads lock Dal up, and Sasha with him.
They discover that underneath the to-good-to-be-true exterior,
the Nomads are slave traders. Trudy had a lucky escape. |
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| Return
to the Mall - Ep.25-26 |
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Trudy comes back through the sewers. Amber's
first question on spotting her is to ask about Dal. Amber is
very angry with her, for dumping Brady on everyone, going off
with Dal then dumping him too.
Trudy is a much humbler person now. She accepts all charges
made against her and promises to make amends. It's hard for
Salene to hand Brady over to her, for she dotes on the little
girl. Trudy breaks down in sobs. Tai-San alone welcomes her
back warmly. She understands what it is to find an inner Truth,
and that Trudy has discovered what really matters, like friends. |
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Trudy really has changed. Little by little she
builds new friendships. She tries specially hard with Salene,
admitting she treated her worst. Reluctance comes from Salene
not Trudy. Eventually Salene admits that she found Trudy unconscious
from the overdose and left her to die. It's rather a shock,
but after sleeping on it Trudy forgives even this, for Salene
was the only one to respect Trudy's wish to die.
Trudy tells Amber about the upcoming Tribal Gathering. She and
Bray like the sound of it and ask Trudy to tell everyone about
it in the Café. She is short on details, but does know
that Ebony is organizing it. Bray decides to visit Ebony at
the Hotel. |
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| Bray brings back a favorable report. The Tribal Gathering
is to be part Trading Market, part Carnival. There is also to be a
dance competition. The only thing the Mallrats will have to trade
is power from Jack's wind turbine - assuming he can get it working
by then. It's also a foregone conclusion that Tai-San will enter the
dance competition. |
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