Zee's Life in Belfast

Zee (short for Zara) lives in a quiet suburb of Belfast, with an apparently idyllic family life. But Zee's father was shot dead in front of them all, and the whole family is still struggling with the extent of grief and pain that this has caused.

Family and Community Tensions

Her brother Gary has become a rabid anti-Catholic, and a fervent Orange-man. And Zee? She’s trying desperately to continue a normal life. Unfortunately, as a teenager, this means finding boyfriends, and she is irresistibly drawn to local boy Conor, who’s from the token Catholic family.

Gary will kill him if he realises, and even the adults will separate them by all means if they are discovered. As Zee and Conor keep up a double life, and argue over the need to do so in what is, after all, their own hometown, the jealousies and petty hatreds of those around them come to a head.

Tragedy and Consequences

Conor is beaten up — but Zee pays for her 'disloyalty' by having her face slashed unmercifully and losing her looks forever.