Threads

Threads, tells the story of the nuclear holocaust, through the eyes of two Sheffield familes. The events in the start of the film are the unremarkable affairs of the characters, dotted here and there with television news reports, talking of a war. Soon, fears are raised that the conflict could escalate into a National emergency. Fears grow when, Protect and Survive radio programs are aired, Protect and Survive Booklets are distributed, demonstrations in the centres of major cites begin.

The film opens, with a courting couple, Jimmy Kemp and Ruth Beckett, sat in a car on a hillside overlooking Sheffield. The radio is playing behind them talking, and we get a tiny snippet of a news broadcast.

Ruth informs Jimmy that she is pregnant. Jimmy asks her to marry him. The background news reports tell us that Soviet Troops launch incursions into Northean Iran, to the anger of the West.

Jimmy informs his parents of Ruth's pregnancy. They suggest abortion, and are afraid that Jimmy is only marrying Ruth because it is what is expected of him. Jimmy's teenage sister, Alison overhears the conversation, and when she hears the word abortion, it all falls into place. A family argument begins.

Rumours are beginning, that a US Submarine, the USS Los Angeles, has been sunk in the Persian Gulf.

Ruth and Jimmy, view a flat that they intend to move into and decorate. Ruth plans a nursery for the baby, whilst Jimmy plans a pigeon loft for the garden area.

We learn of the emergency powers in Britain. In the event of a nuclear crisis, the country will delegate into Local authorities. In Sheffield the responsibilities are handed to the city's Chief Executive

Sheffield's chief executive recieves a message from the central government, telling him that war preparations should begin as soon as possible. He must contact a list of other emergency officials, who will all assume duties.

The chief executive begins to assure that food stocks are kept, and that blanket supplies are taken to schools.

RAF Fininngly is on high alert, a possible target, 17 miles from Sheffield and 5 miles from Doncaster.

Jimmy and his friend, watch News reports about the escalating war. Neither of them fully understand the situation, and it is clear that Bob, is unware of the real danger of Nuclear weapons stating that he wants to be right underneath it and pissed out of his mind, if it should drop.

The US deliver an ultimatum to the Soviets to withdraw from Iran. It expires at Noon on the 22nd. Soviet troops begin to gather on the West German border.

B52 Bombers attack Moshad air base in Iran. Soviets defend the base with a nuclear tipped air defence missile. The US retaliates with a single nuclear weapon on a Soviet Base.

Storeable household items are in short supply sue to the panic buying. Riots and civil disorder are widespread.

People attempt to escape the major population centres, in fear of an attack. They discover though that most major roads are reserved for military uses only. Most motorways are clogged with people trying to escape. The Kemps' neighbours try to escape to the countryside near Norwich. They are trapped on the road.

The US carrier Kittyhawk is sunk in the Persian gulf. Washington announces a naval and air blockade of Cuba. Anti Soviet demonstrations begin in US cities.

Hospitals in the UK are cleared to make way for emergency casualties. Ruth's grandmother among them.

Petrol stations close, and all known subversives are located and arrested. Civil liberties are suspended.

Evidence of two nuclear explosions is detected in the East. Their origins are not determined. Sheffields chief executive is asked to take his place in the secret bunker, much to the concern of his wife.

Public information programs air to explain the procedures people should take to protect themselves.

Ruth is too ill to go to work, part of her morning sickness. Her mother tries to phone in sick for her, but discovers a dead line. All civilian phone lines have been cut.

Schools are closed. Mrs Kemp asks Alison to go to the corner shop, and get any food or drink she can.

8.32am - the attack warning is recieved. They immediately set about their duties, in a confused manner. Many of them do not know what they are doing.

8.35am - single nuclear warhead, airbursts at high altitude over the North Sea. The skies brighten, and the ElectroMagnetic Pulse knocks out power grids, and damages communications.

8.37am - The first salvo of missiles hit NATO Military Targets. RAF Fininngly is hit. People in Sheffield see the blinding light, which lasts for a number of seconds. The mushroom cloud is then visible over the rooftops. The sight of it causes panic, and people instinctivly run in the opposite direction. One woman urinates on the street at the sight of the billowing mass of smoke and fire.

Jimmy runs through the streets, in search of Ruth, leaving Bob staring into the mushroom cloud. After this point in the film, Jimmy is not seen again. A groundburst at Crewe also sends winds tearing through Sheffield.

The attack escalates to involve cities. Sheffield, being a major industrial city is a target. The first salvo of Military targets totaled 80 Megatons.

A bomb airbursts over Sheffield. The heat causes milk bottles to melt down, people to burn to nothing and all kinds of combustion. Buildings cave in and exlode violently in the blastwave.

The East and West exchange a total of 3,000 Megatons. The UK recieves 210 Megatons. Two thirds of all houses in the UK within fire zones. Fallout is imminant and rescue attempts are unlikely.

The first traces of fallout decend on Sheffield, from the burst at Crewe, an hour and a half later. It is impossible for many people to escape it, with shattered windows and exposed roofs.

The Kemps lie in their shelter. Mrs Kemp has horrendous radiation burns, whilst Mr Kemp is comparatively unharmed. Both however are suffering from severe radiation sickness. But at this early stage, the symptoms are identical for radiation sickness and panic.

They eventually leave the shelter to look for their son, Michael. They find him dead in the garden, in the rubble of the pigeon loft. Alison too is presumed dead, as she was out at the shops at the time of the attack.

The staff in the bunker have manage to gain contact with Stockbridge Police Station. They are told in graphic detail of the awful situation above ground. The Chief Executive is told that the area of his home is in a high radiaton area. He fears for his wife.

The bunker is buried under the rubble of the town hall, which collapsed on top of it, and at this stage there are no means of clearing it, and it could be anything up to two weeks before anything can be done.

Ruth is convinced that Jimmy was killed in the blast. In her despair she wishes for the baby to be dead. Her parents try to comfort her, but she is deeply depressed.

Ruth's grandmother dies, and her parents lay the body in one of the upper rooms in the house. Whilst they do this Ruth leaves.

500 million tons of dust, and 100 million tons of smoke, have been left in the atmosphere by the bombs. The nuclear winter begins and land masses such as Russia and the USA suffer temperature declines as high as 25 degrees centigrade.

Ruth walks the devastated streets of Sheffield, and sees first hand, the destruction. People dwell in the ruins of their homes, crying out for loved ones. Some have been burned to death in the merciless firestorms, and only bones and ashes remain. Mental unbalance amongst the public is already evident as people become reluctant to communicate, and dwell on their losses; many lose hope.

A group of survivors try to fight there way into a food stockpile locations. The soldiers guarding it,shoot CS Gas pellets at them to keep them back. Food is being kept until instructions are given about it's strict distribution.

Ruth and a large crowd of survivors come to a hospital, with intact buildings. However, with no electricity and medical supplies, the doctors are no better equipt for dealing with the casualties than the next person.

The Chief executive decides not to waste food on those who will die for certain anyway. Only those who can work will be rewarded with food, but "not even enough to keep a flea alive". Communications are breaking down in the bunker, as the staff begin to bicker amongst themselves, and slowly they run out of food.

Ruth's parents are murdered by looters, who are going around houses collecting food. In this case they are caught immediatly outside the house, and shot down.

Healthy survivors are ordered to report for reconstruction duties, and in return they will be given small amounts of food and drink to keep them going.

Money is no longer of any use. People are only willing to exchange things for food. The horrific truth is that the weak will die, leaving more food for more able people.

10-20 Million dead bodies are lying across the UK, decomposing. Crematoriums cannot operate, as fuel is a precious resource; burial pits would need too much man power.

Detention camps have been established across the country to keep law and order. One is established at a Sheffield Tennis Club, where we catch a brief glimpse of a girl, who could possibly be Alison Kemp.

The Sheffield bunker is finally uncovered, and the emergency council representatives are discovered dead through lack of oxygen.

Special courts of justice are given complete control over criminals, and they also have the right to execute them by firing squad.

The police have begun to assign people to abandoned buildings, and houses with extra room. Ruth is taken to a house in Buxton, owned by an elderly man, but she is subsequently turfed out by him. She escapes with some food, and she runs into Bob, Jimmy's friend from earlier in the film.

Upon finding a dead sheep in a field, Ruth and Bob argue about whether they should eat it. They do not fear that it is contaminated, agreeing that everything is. They eat it, and use the coat to keep warm.


	Synopsis Threads Picture Gallery \| Sounds Page \| Links \| Cast and Crew Information \| Home Threads, tells the story of the nuclear holocaust, through the eyes of two Sheffield familes. The events in the start of the film are the unremarkable affairs of the characters, dotted here and there with television news reports, talking of a war. Soon, fears are raised that the conflict could escalate into a National emergency. Fears grow when, Protect and Survive radio programs are aired, Protect and Survive Booklets are distributed, demonstrations in the centres of major cites begin. It reaches a height on May 26, when the attack warnings are received. Here is the story. Saturday 5th March The film opens, with a courting couple, Jimmy Kemp and Ruth Beckett, sat in a car on a hillside overlooking Sheffield. The radio is playing behind them talking, and we get a tiny snippet of a news broadcast. Thursday 5th May Ruth informs Jimmy that she is pregnant. Jimmy asks her to marry him. The background news reports tell us that Soviet Troops launch incursions into Northean Iran, to the anger of the West. Sunday 8th May Jimmy informs his parents of Ruth's pregnancy. They suggest abortion, and are afraid that Jimmy is only marrying Ruth because it is what is expected of him. Jimmy's teenage sister, Alison overhears the conversation, and when she hears the word abortion, it all falls into place. A family argument begins. Soviet tanks enter Iran. Wednesday 11th May Ruth's family and Jimmy's family meet at Ruths middle-class home to discuss marriage plans. Rumours are beginning, that a US Submarine, the USS Los Angeles, has been sunk in the Persian Gulf. Thursday 12th May Ruth and Jimmy, view a flat that they intend to move into and decorate. Ruth plans a nursery for the baby, whilst Jimmy plans a pigeon loft for the garden area. Another naval exchange in the gulf results in severe damage to a Soviet cruiser. We learn of the emergency powers in Britain. In the event of a nuclear crisis, the country will delegate into Local authorities. In Sheffield the responsibilities are handed to the city's Chief Executive Tuesday 17th May The Us President sends paratroopers into Iran to hold back Soviet armies. Sheffield's chief executive recieves a message from the central government, telling him that war preparations should begin as soon as possible. He must contact a list of other emergency officials, who will all assume duties. Panic buying in shops is begining as shelves are emptying and as a result prices rise. Wednesday 18th May The chief executive begins to assure that food stocks are kept, and that blanket supplies are taken to schools. RAF Fininngly is on high alert, a possible target, 17 miles from Sheffield and 5 miles from Doncaster. Thurday 19th May Jimmy and his friend, watch News reports about the escalating war. Neither of them fully understand the situation, and it is clear that Bob, is unware of the real danger of Nuclear weapons stating that he wants to be right underneath it and pissed out of his mind, if it should drop. The two make moves on two young woman in the pub, as this is the last chance that Jimmy will get. Saturday 21st May Anti war demonstrations begin, and thousands of people are stranded at UK airports. The US deliver an ultimatum to the Soviets to withdraw from Iran. It expires at Noon on the 22nd. Soviet troops begin to gather on the West German border. Sunday 22nd May Noon - US ultimatum expires. B52 Bombers attack Moshad air base in Iran. Soviets defend the base with a nuclear tipped air defence missile. The US retaliates with a single nuclear weapon on a Soviet Base. Storeable household items are in short supply sue to the panic buying. Riots and civil disorder are widespread. Tuesday 24th May People attempt to escape the major population centres, in fear of an attack. They discover though that most major roads are reserved for military uses only. Most motorways are clogged with people trying to escape. The Kemps' neighbours try to escape to the countryside near Norwich. They are trapped on the road. The US carrier Kittyhawk is sunk in the Persian gulf. Washington announces a naval and air blockade of Cuba. Anti Soviet demonstrations begin in US cities. Hospitals in the UK are cleared to make way for emergency casualties. Ruth's grandmother among them. Petrol stations close, and all known subversives are located and arrested. Civil liberties are suspended. Wednesday 25th May Evidence of two nuclear explosions is detected in the East. Their origins are not determined. Sheffields chief executive is asked to take his place in the secret bunker, much to the concern of his wife. Trade Unions threaten to strike in response to the escalating crisis. Major art works are removed from galleries across the country and placed in lead containers. Public information programs air to explain the procedures people should take to protect themselves. Ruth is reduced to tears by the situation. Fire engines are deployed to safe locations. Thursday 26th May Ruth is too ill to go to work, part of her morning sickness. Her mother tries to phone in sick for her, but discovers a dead line. All civilian phone lines have been cut. Schools are closed. Mrs Kemp asks Alison to go to the corner shop, and get any food or drink she can. At 8.00am we are told that, this is the time when Western response will be slowest. Banking is suspended. The emergency staff in the bunker are preparing ready for an attack. 8.32am - the attack warning is recieved. They immediately set about their duties, in a confused manner. Many of them do not know what they are doing. Air raid sirens sound over Sheffield and people caught in the open rush for shelter. 8.35am - single nuclear warhead, airbursts at high altitude over the North Sea. The skies brighten, and the ElectroMagnetic Pulse knocks out power grids, and damages communications. 8.37am - The first salvo of missiles hit NATO Military Targets. RAF Fininngly is hit. People in Sheffield see the blinding light, which lasts for a number of seconds. The mushroom cloud is then visible over the rooftops. The sight of it causes panic, and people instinctivly run in the opposite direction. One woman urinates on the street at the sight of the billowing mass of smoke and fire. Jimmy runs through the streets, in search of Ruth, leaving Bob staring into the mushroom cloud. After this point in the film, Jimmy is not seen again. A groundburst at Crewe also sends winds tearing through Sheffield. The attack escalates to involve cities. Sheffield, being a major industrial city is a target. The first salvo of Military targets totaled 80 Megatons. Communications are in chaos, and Command and control links are failing. A bomb airbursts over Sheffield. The heat causes milk bottles to melt down, people to burn to nothing and all kinds of combustion. Buildings cave in and exlode violently in the blastwave. The East and West exchange a total of 3,000 Megatons. The UK recieves 210 Megatons. Two thirds of all houses in the UK within fire zones. Fallout is imminant and rescue attempts are unlikely. The first traces of fallout decend on Sheffield, from the burst at Crewe, an hour and a half later. It is impossible for many people to escape it, with shattered windows and exposed roofs. Friday 27th May The Kemps lie in their shelter. Mrs Kemp has horrendous radiation burns, whilst Mr Kemp is comparatively unharmed. Both however are suffering from severe radiation sickness. But at this early stage, the symptoms are identical for radiation sickness and panic. They eventually leave the shelter to look for their son, Michael. They find him dead in the garden, in the rubble of the pigeon loft. Alison too is presumed dead, as she was out at the shops at the time of the attack. Sunday 29th May The staff in the bunker have manage to gain contact with Stockbridge Police Station. They are told in graphic detail of the awful situation above ground. The Chief Executive is told that the area of his home is in a high radiaton area. He fears for his wife. The bunker is buried under the rubble of the town hall, which collapsed on top of it, and at this stage there are no means of clearing it, and it could be anything up to two weeks before anything can be done. Thursday 2nd June (attack + one week) Ruth is convinced that Jimmy was killed in the blast. In her despair she wishes for the baby to be dead. Her parents try to comfort her, but she is deeply depressed. Mr and Mrs Kemp are on deaths door. Ruth's grandmother dies, and her parents lay the body in one of the upper rooms in the house. Whilst they do this Ruth leaves. Sunday 5th June 500 million tons of dust, and 100 million tons of smoke, have been left in the atmosphere by the bombs. The nuclear winter begins and land masses such as Russia and the USA suffer temperature declines as high as 25 degrees centigrade. Ruth walks the devastated streets of Sheffield, and sees first hand, the destruction. People dwell in the ruins of their homes, crying out for loved ones. Some have been burned to death in the merciless firestorms, and only bones and ashes remain. Mental unbalance amongst the public is already evident as people become reluctant to communicate, and dwell on their losses; many lose hope. Monday 6th June A group of survivors try to fight there way into a food stockpile locations. The soldiers guarding it,shoot CS Gas pellets at them to keep them back. Food is being kept until instructions are given about it's strict distribution. Saturday 11th June Ruth and a large crowd of survivors come to a hospital, with intact buildings. However, with no electricity and medical supplies, the doctors are no better equipt for dealing with the casualties than the next person. The Chief executive decides not to waste food on those who will die for certain anyway. Only those who can work will be rewarded with food, but "not even enough to keep a flea alive". Communications are breaking down in the bunker, as the staff begin to bicker amongst themselves, and slowly they run out of food. Friday 17th June Epidemics of Cholera, Typhoid and Dysentery are likely. Ruth's parents are murdered by looters, who are going around houses collecting food. In this case they are caught immediatly outside the house, and shot down. Healthy survivors are ordered to report for reconstruction duties, and in return they will be given small amounts of food and drink to keep them going. Money is no longer of any use. People are only willing to exchange things for food. The horrific truth is that the weak will die, leaving more food for more able people. 10-20 Million dead bodies are lying across the UK, decomposing. Crematoriums cannot operate, as fuel is a precious resource; burial pits would need too much man power. Attack + One Month Detention camps have been established across the country to keep law and order. One is established at a Sheffield Tennis Club, where we catch a brief glimpse of a girl, who could possibly be Alison Kemp. The Sheffield bunker is finally uncovered, and the emergency council representatives are discovered dead through lack of oxygen. Special courts of justice are given complete control over criminals, and they also have the right to execute them by firing squad. Ruth returns to her house and finds that her parents are no longer there. Attack + Five Weeks No power No Water Large herds of survivors leave Sheffield in search of a better place to live. Radiation sickness deaths are reaching their peak. The police have begun to assign people to abandoned buildings, and houses with extra room. Ruth is taken to a house in Buxton, owned by an elderly man, but she is subsequently turfed out by him. She escapes with some food, and she runs into Bob, Jimmy's friend from earlier in the film. Attack + Six Weeks Upon finding a dead sheep in a field, Ruth and Bob argue about whether they should eat it. They do not fear that it is contaminated, agreeing that everything is. They eat it, and use the coat to keep warm. More to Come Soon!