Two

Pip freezes upon seeing Max Hastings across the mediation table, with mediator Hassan Bashir presiding, her supporter Roger Turner beside her, and Max represented by solicitor Christopher Epps. Max taunts her with his ever-present blue water bottle, amplifying her anger.

Epps delivers the opening: Pip’s tweet and blog post allegedly caused Max serious reputational harm, unemployment, and financial loss, and prompted stress for his parents after vandalism at their home. Roger counters that Pip’s wording signaled opinion, not fact, but Epps insists the statement and audio were presented as factual and claims the audio is doctored. Pip interjects repeatedly, calling Max a rapist, escalating tensions.

On damages, Epps seeks £12,000 for lost earnings plus £8,000 for distress, but emphasizes the priority is a public retraction, apology, and explicit admission that the audio was faked. Roger argues the sum is unreasonable for an 18-year-old student. They tentatively negotiate to £5,000 contingent on the retraction and apology.

Pip rejects the deal outright, refusing to retract or lie. She invokes the truth defense, daring Max to sue so the facts and testimonies resurface in court. Max calls her unhinged; Pip doubles down, declaring he should be terrified of another public reckoning.

Pip storms out. In the corridor, Epps delays filing for a month and offers his card, advising her to reconsider and warning of a self-destructive spiral. Pip responds that she would sacrifice everything to destroy Max, leaving with her heart racing and the echo of imagined gunshots in her mind.