'But For The Grace of God'

Julia is having the day from hell; the computers have gone down at the Mill; she gets stuck in a supermarket queue; her card is rejected, her money spills everywhere and then she smashes a bottle of wine. She struggles to her car only to be pursued by a homeless woman, Paula (55) who is sleeping in the stairwell of the multi-storey car park.

Julia starts to drive off in her car but Paula steps in front of her. She brakes sharply and bangs her head heavily on the steering wheel.

Fade to white. Julia awakes at the wheel, but it is not Julia, it is Paula. She drives off. Julia awakes in a bed in the stairwell, they have switched lives. From now on the actress playing Julia is the homeless woman called Paula and Paula is a different actress playing our regular character Julia.

At the Mill Paula arrives and is greeted as Julia by Ruth. Gillian (30’s) arrives at the Mill with her baby Thea and is harassed by Julia – a homeless woman. She knew they’d come for a check up and wants to hold the baby. Gillian rushes in and Paula comforts her, sending Ruth to get rid of Julia. Gillian denies knowing the woman outside and sees Jimmi.

After the consult, she rushes outside thinking Julia has gone, but she hasn’t and so calls for help. Paula threatens to call the police and Julia recognises her; she’s Julia Parsons isn’t she? Paula pretends she knows her to give Gillian a chance to escape. Julia realises and is furious at Paula, claiming she ruined her life.

Paula begins to remember who she is, and later tells Lily the woman is called Paula and she was friends with her when she was 14. Lily reassures her she can’t be responsible for Paula’s unhappiness.

Later Gillian opens the door later to Paula who wants to talk about Gillian’s mum - who is the homeless Paula who stepped out in front of Julia before the car accident. Gillian lets her in and reluctantly listens to her story. On her 14th birthday Paula stole drinks from her parent’s cabinet and went out. She met Gillian’s mum, who she knew from school, and they proceeded to get drunk.

That’s all she remembers, but she says she’s responsible for Gillian’s mums drink problem, and asks her if there’s she can give her a chance to see her grandchild. Gillian says she can’t. Just then they hear a noise upstairs and they rush up to discover Julia. Gillian demands she leaves; she won’t let her daughter be upset by her.

Julia rushes off and Paula finds her at the multi-story car park. Julia corrects Paula, she didn’t make her have a drink problem, she saved her life and that was the big mistake. Paula is stunned and it all comes back.

Julia reveals that it was her birthday too and because of the way her abusive dad treated her she just wanted it to end. However Paula saved her and her life has been a mess since. Now she can’t even have a second chance with her grandchild, she just wants to die. Paula won’t let her and tells her that holding your grandchild is worth the wait. Julia breaks down crying and Paula holds her.

Suddenly the door bangs and everything goes white. Julia wakes up at her car wheel as Paula bangs on the side of her door checking she’s ok. It’s that morning again and all is back to normal. Julia recognises Paula and after the bang on her head asks Paula to walk her to The Mill.

Paula agrees as long as she helps her out too - she eyes the bottle of wine in Julia’s shopping. Julia offers to help her but not with the wine. The two women walk away and start to talk.