Fires Left Behind

Chris Howard (28) is on the run, heading North on the motorway with a mysterious duffel bag on the passenger seat beside him. Unsure where to head he traces the roads on a map to a small village in Yorkshire called Grey Heath. When he arrives in the village he is recognised by old friends and family; his ex-girlfriend Tamsin (28), pub landlady Rita (45), his brother Andrew (25) and his mother Joan (50), none of whom are happy to see him back. Each have their reasons for lamenting his departure seven years prior. Chris tries to make amends with those he hurt, in particular Tamsin whom he still loves and Andrew who was forced to take over the family farm after their father’s death, but none of them want to hear his apology. He refuses to take no for an answer however and insists on helping out at the farm and spending time with Tamsin and her daughter Amy (6) to prove his remorse and slowly gains their trust. However as Chris offers to babysit Amy, an accident makes him question his return and believe everyone is right in saying he brings trouble with him. He decides to leave, saying one last reluctant goodbye to Tamsin, but she doesn’t want him to leave and accidentally reveals the truth that he is Amy’s father. Chris is stunned by this news and vows to stay for good and be a father to her. However Andrew is still suspicious of Chris’ true intentions as to why he returned. Having done the seemingly impossible and restarted his life where he left off, all that is threatened by the appearance of a figure from his recent past, Dominic Vale (30). Having tracked Chris down to the village he grew up in, he has arrived to demand a share of the take from a bank robbery they pulled off in London that went wrong, resulting in the deaths of their compatriots. Chris claims there was no take, but Dominic doesn’t believe him and refuses to leave until he gets his money. He even threatens to expose Chris’ secret if he doesn’t. Thinking Dominic is bluffing, as he would be risking his own freedom if he were to reveal Chris’ true reason for returning home, he ignores his threats. Things become more precarious however as Dominic works his way into Chris’ life speaking to Tamsin and discovering he has a daughter, going so far as to kidnap Amy from school in order to force Chris’ hand on the matter. Chris eventually caves and agrees to split the money. During the turning on of the local Christmas lights, Chris sneaks off to meet Dominic at a bridge outside of the village. He shows Dominic where he hid the money and is ready to give him half, but Dominic pulls a gun demanding all of it. Chris can’t allow him to take all the money and a fight ensues between them, resulting in Chris killing Dominic in self defence. Chris pushes Dominic’s body into the river and watches the current take him away. He then returns to the crowd suppressing the horror he has just encountered. A few weeks later on Christmas Eve, Andrew spots an image in an old newspaper depicting CCTV footage of a man running from a bank robbery. Despite its blurriness, Andrew knows it’s Chris and confronts him on the matter. Chris protests his innocence claiming it not to be him, but Andrew doesn’t believe him. He wants Chris to turn himself in, but Chris won’t. Andrew tells Tamsin the truth, but she doesn’t want to believe it. Andrew warns her he will call the police. Later that day, Tamsin confronts Chris and he confesses to his crime. Although he came back initially to hide out, upon seeing her he realised how much he missed her and she was the reason he stayed. She tells Chris, Andrew is calling the police and he should run, but Chris refuses to leave. He knows a life on the run means never seeing Tamsin and Amy again. They spend their last night together, but Dominic reappears having survived Chris’ attempt to kill him. He threatens to kill Tamsin unless he gets his money. The police arrive to arrest Chris and Dominic panics making a run for it out the back. He is confronted by armed officers who shoot him dead when he tries to fire his gun. Chris is arrested and taken away. The next morning Tamsin finds the money hidden inside a present under the tree. Now in prison, Chris receives a letter from Tamsin with a photograph of her and Amy that he pins to the wall. Tamsin explains she will wait for him and that they will visit as soon as they are able to. She thanks him for the money telling him she has given half to Andrew and made sure she spoiled Amy like he asked. Chris lies on his bed staring at the photo smiling.