In the Distance I Exist

In the Distance, I existElla a child born in an unmarried mother's home in 1957, and adopted by an uptight middle class family which contrasts against the naturally exuberant Ella. MOTHER a permanent frown crossing her face, FATHER an inward man who doesn't know how to connect with his family, HARRY Ella's older brother, and her parent's only child, intelligent and withdrawn he spends most of his time constructing or destroying objects of machinery. Ella's parents do not encourage talking and so she lives in an outwardly silent world, which is in direct contrast to her inner world where she journeys with TOM, a spirit friend, too far off lands. Ella learns she has a gift to see and communicate with the spirit world and her experiences grow more vivid, as she meets and learns from MRS. TANNER who sees the light in Ella, she becomes her greatest friend, teacher and influence, when Mrs. Tanner unexpectedly dies, Ella starts to spiral downwards, with no-one to talk to she tries to take her own life. Ella's parents respond by taking her to see a psychologist MISS. TURPIN who instead of believing her stories, insists that Ella has Temporal Lobe Epilepsy places Ella on medication. HELEN and BETTY, identical twins, who live in a rambling old house with uninterested musician parents, are the only other solace in her lonely life they provide the support, friendship, and laughter Ella needs to balance her emotions. When they are killed in a road accident there is no going back for Ella, she descends into the darkness of her mind. Ella reaches the lowest point in her life, and tries to take her own life. Her parents finally get a diagnosis that they feel comfortable with and life settles down, Ella makes a new friend KATE with an older brother DAVID. They become close, after a disastrous night out David is arrested and accused of underage sex with Ella. She was never to see him again. Ella is devoid of support, even from the spirit world, she meets the depths of despair within herself, her parents who have no ability to deal with her, ask Miss. Turpin to recommend and sign her into an asylum. Ella's parents go on holiday, leaving her in the care of a neighbour MRS. HILL, an ex-psychiatric nurse, and arrange for her to be taken to the asylum without telling Ella. Admitted to the asylum Ella is taken to a padded cell where she is stripped naked by two male nurses, this was to be the first of many abuses.