(Rachel and Charlotte have stopped at an indoor play park. It was raining and she needed Charlotte occupied while she carried out some adult business. Her solicitor arrives, in a full suit, looking very confused and completely out of place among the bright primary colors. He spots Rachel sitting at one of the grown up sized tables. From a distance, with her hair in a braid, the hoodie and trainers, he'd mistake her for some teen-mum. He walks over and tentatively takes a seat. Rachel can't help but find it amusing and relatable how out of place he feels here. When she had nothing in her life but the job, this place would have been her nightmare.)

Solicitor: Interesting choice for a meeting.

Rachel: My daughter's out of school.

Solicitor: Ah. ( He looks over at the kids running up and down the play set.) So, you wanted to talk about the plea bargain. Have you made a decision?

Rachel: I'm sorry I, uh, about yesterday. I reacted too quickly. All I was hearing, was that he was going to get off easy. Bargain, lesser plea, and I couldn't wrap my head around letting that happen again.

Solicitor: If that's how it came off, I'm sorry. I want justice just as-

Rachel: Please let me finish.

Solicitor: Ok.

Rachel: After thinking about it, objectively, taking me feelings out of it and looking at it from a Detective standpoint. I may be willing to accept his plea bargain.

Solicitor: Good. Great.

Rachel: I can accept, er, I do understand, that the rape. Well, it's impossible to prove, isn't it? No evidence. You know the law, you went to all the posh schools and I know how evidence works. So, the assault he's willing to plead guilty to, well, you can hear that can't you? There's no question, listening to that, what's happening.

Solicitor: Right.

Rachel: But you can also hear the beating, can't ya? And, I mean, there's my medical records. He broke my collar bone, the police have photos of the bruises from my back, chest, arm, face. The stitches in my head. He left me... on the floor, bleeding, in a state of semi-consciousness. I concussed, that can cause vomiting. I was just lucky that I didn't asphyxiate on my own sick. If Gill hadn't come in when she did...(she sighs thinking about the fight with Gill)...I could've died. So, I will, I will settle out of court. But only if he also pleads guilty to that. Grievous Bodily Harm, with intent. It is the most serious form of non-fatal assault. I want you to counter that offer, and have him agree to plead guilty to the sexual assault and then we seek permission from the CPS to charge him with GBH. (The solicitor's eyebrows raise.)

Solicitor: Ambitious.

Rachel: Depending on the judge, that's 3 to 16 years. I can accept that. I think I can live with that. It's better than him getting 4, for ya know, what he's willing to admit to- (She can almost feel the cool metal of the back of the knife pressed against her neck as he pulled her mouth open wider. Rachel shakes the memory from her head and anxiously gulps down her water as if washing her mouth clean of him.) Because who are they kidding? He'd get 4 years, maybe, and easily be out on parole in 2.

Solicitor: What have you got for leverage?

Rachel: Leverage?

Solicitor: He knows the rape can't be proved. Like you said, the assault, there is evidence.

Rachel: Same with the GBH.

Solicitor: But if he doesn't agree to plead to that, which like you said 4 years versus 16, he'll likely want to fight that. Are you prepared to go to court?

Rachel: If I have to. But there's no way a jury would see those injuries and think self-defense. He'd be stupid not to take it.

Solicitor: I agree. I just want you to be prepared because if it goes to court you lose the control over the verdict. He could get charged for one, or both, or none.

Rachel: Right. I know. (sighs and nods) I'll just have to trust the system if it comes to that.

Solicitor: Alright, well, I'll get in touch with his solicitor and talk it over.

Rachel: Thank you.

Solicitor: Was that everything? (Rachel nods.) Okay well, if you don't mind then, I'm gonna go. The noise of this place is already giving me a headache.

Rachel: Actually, there is one more thing.