Chapter 1: Blue Stone Blues
Outside Fox Rivers blue stone and razor wire walls, cameras, reporters and picketers have gathered.
"Once again Fox River is surrounded by picketers protesting the death penalty as all avenues by Lincoln Burrows legal team have been exhausted and the death sentence is once again scheduled to be carried out within 48 hours." Samantha Wilhem, a local reporter begins her nightly report as in the background amongst the lights and shouting, a young, blonde woman wanders back and forth, looking lost, dishevelled, tears streaming down her face. The woman turns away from the prison walls and her eyes lock onto the camera from behind the reporter. With sudden determination the young woman rushes towards the reporter, pulling a piece of paper from her pocket, but is stopped in her tracks by the reporters' production assistant.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I just…I need to speak to Ms Wilhem…" The young woman replies in an Australian Accent.
"I don't think so, sweetheart…"
"I'm Lincoln Burrows wife."
"…No-one gets… What did you say? Do you have proof?"
The girl hands the crumpled paper to assistant. As he reads, his face lights up.
"Is this real?" He asks the girl, with disbelief.
"Yes. Please you have to help me! My name is Ella Beaumont-Burrows. The guards won't let me inside…" Ella's voice trails off into a sob as tears begin to cloud her vision again.
"I'll do more than help you sweetheart, if you're willing to go on air right now and give us the exclusive." Ella could tell this man thought he'd hit the jackpot. She nods and wipes her cheek.
"Don't do that. Tears add drama. There's a good girl. Come with me. Hurry!" The man hands her the wedding licence and drags her towards the reporter.
"Stand here until I wave you in. Then get nice and close to Samantha and when she asks you about proof hold that licence up nice and high so the camera can zoom in." The man rushes off and whispers into the reporters' ear.
"Breaking news in the Lincoln Burrows execution. As the clock counts down to convicted killer Lincoln Burrows final minutes a young woman claiming to be Burrow's wife has been refused entry to the prison to see the death row inmate."
The man waves Ella towards the reporter.
"Here we have Ella Beaumont-Burrows the woman making these claims. Mrs Burrow, do you have proof of your claim?"
Ella nods, and holds up the wedding licence as the cameraman zooms in. The reporter continues.
"Mrs Burrows is it true that you have been refused entry to see your husband?"
"Yes. The guards won't even listen to me. I've been trying all night."
"But, Mrs Burrows why haven't you tried to see your husband before now?"
"I found out one week ago what was happening from a private detective and have only just arrived back in the country. I was in Australia. I have been desperately being trying to see him but no-one will help me."
"How long have you been out of the country?"
"Eleven months. Lincoln was supposed to be on a flight to Australia the day after police arrested him for murder…" Ella began sobbing. "I know him. He wouldn't kill anyone. He was going to move to Australia. We were going to start a family. He had a job, a baby on the way and a new life waiting for him when he arrived. Why would he throw that all away?" Ella swipes at the tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "He wouldn't. I love him. I just want to be with him. He doesn't even know I'm here. He doesn't even know…" She turns away, her voice brakes and trails off into sobs.
"What doesn't Lincoln know, Ella?" The reporter asks, her fake concern obviously a cover for reckless curiosity and an instinct for a story.
"Ella, please tell me?" Samantha pleads, while gently turning Ella back to face the camera.
"He doesn't know that I… I… lost our baby!" Ella blurts out, her face twisting in agony she puts her head in her hands and begins to cry in uncontrollable, hiccupping sobs.
The reporter turns away from Ella and faces into the camera.
"Just to repeat breaking news…"
Ella turns and steps a few feet away from the reporter, out of sight of the camera. That show should get her inside, which is a start.
