The narrative unfolds on the morning of July 13, 1955, at precisely 8 a.m., within the walls of Holloway Women’s Prison. Joy Okoro, portrayed by Gloria Obianyo, gently hands Ruth Ellis, played by Lucy Boynton, a tray. Ellis offers a heartfelt thank you, her hand nearly trembling and causing the teapot to wobble as a loud commotion echoes outside her cell. Albert Pierrepoint, depicted by Tim Potter, meticulously takes Pierrepoint continues his somber task, measuring the space that will soon witness an irreversible tragedy.
As Ellis applies her makeup, the ritual triggers a vivid flashback to an earlier time when she performed the same ritual before stopping by The Magdala pub in Hampstead. The scene shifts to David Blakely (Laurie Davidson) and Clive Gunnell (Jack Staddon) exiting the establishment, only to be confronted by Ellis, who calls out Blakely's name and, in a moment of despair, pulls the trigger. Clive, overwhelmed with grief, demands to know why she had to resort to such drastic measures.
Flashing back to April 10, 1955, Easter Sunday, Ellis finds herself incarcerated. Later, DCI Davies (Joe Armstrong) and DI Gill (Adam Lawrence) interrogate her about Blakely's murder, his body now resting at Hampstead Mortuary. Confessing her guilt, Ellis speaks of confusion clouding her mind. Another flashback reveals Vicki Martin (Rowan Robinson) assisting Ellis with her lipstick, preparing her for an interview. Morris Conley (Christian Patterson), admiring her hosting prowess, warns that success in her field is rare for someone with her background. Undeterred, Ellis vows to make it. Conley presents her with a hypothetical scenario to navigate.
Over a meal, Vicki shares excitement about her new beau sending her an opulent bouquet from Dorchester's Florist, offering to introduce Ellis to the recently divorced Lord Astor, hinting at a risqué arrangement. Ellis declines, her discomfort evident. Vicki jokes, suggesting only a weekly spanking is required. Ellis covers her son Andre's (Sidney Jackson) ears protectively. Catching Desmond Cussen (Mark Stanley) staring at them, Vicki confronts him, and upon departing, he assures them of his innocence, mentioning a possible visit to Carroll’s Club that evening. Ellis reveals she is working at the Little Club, prompting Desmond to return with a comic strip for Andre, charming him into following her outside for a drink.
Sharing her life's fragility with Desmond, Ellis confides that she and Georgina Ellis’ (Raye Cooper) father are estranged, and Andre's father has passed. He, in turn, speaks of his family's fortune dwindling under his stewardship. Their conversation is interrupted by a chance encounter with Blakely, who mistakes her for the hostess. The bartender enlightens her on Blakely's life as a racecar driver, adding another layer to this complex tapestry of fate and despair.
In the interrogation room, Ellis sits, her claims painting a picture of seething anger towards Blakely. She recounts how he broke his promise to pick her up, choosing instead to indulge in drinks with friends and a woman. Gill’s probing leads to the question of the gun’s origin, to which Ellis responds vaguely, mentioning a faceless man who had given it to her three years prior for her protection. Davies then steps in, asking if she had harbored the intention to use the gun against Blakely when she packed it in her bag. Her response is a curt yes, followed by a revelation about leaving Andre unattended at home.
Later, the scene shifts to Ellis’ flat, where Gill and Mrs. Winstanley (Annie Miles) find Andre nestled in peaceful slumber. Meanwhile, John Bickford (Toby Jones) arrives at the jail after receiving a call, finding Ellis in a predicament – unable to afford a solicitor. As he peruses her case file, he notices she signed a confession without legal counsel. Acknowledging her intent to shoot Blakely, Bickford interjects, inquiring about her treatment at the hands of the police. She assures him of fair treatment but elaborates on the humiliation she endured, when Blakely and his cronies mocked her and hung up on her. By yesterday morning, with still no word from Blakely, her resolve to end his life had hardened.
Bickford suggests that perhaps her imagination had conjured scenes of Blakely with another woman, pushing her over the edge. She refutes this, insisting that her vision was unusually clear. He persists, asking if she has ever sought treatment for mental instability. She firmly denies any madness, emphasizing her sanity.
Returning to her cell, Ellis’ demeanor betrays a palpable anxiety, her mind swirling with the weight of her actions.
In a vivid flashback, Ellis warmly greets Vickie and Cooch, her demeanor exuding charm as she gracefully orders champagne for them. She then attends to Desmond, pouring him a drink with deft precision before turning to find Blakely standing before her, his gaze piercing through the crowded room. Recognizing him instantly from their prior encounter, Blakely remarks on her transformed appearance and gallantly offers to buy her a drink. With a hint of a smile, she reveals her role as the club's manager and returns the gesture by pouring him a drink, her movements deliberate and confident.
As Blakely takes a tentative sip, he winces slightly, commenting that she's added too much tonic. She playfully suggests he try Carroll’s Club instead, to which he retorts by boasting about his frequent visits to the Steering Wheel Club. Attempting to dismiss his profession as a race car driver, she subtly mocks his privilege, labeling him a spoiled brat squandering his father's wealth. Blakely, taken aback, clutches her arm firmly, asserting his determination to get what he wants. At this crucial juncture, Morris' arrival provides Ellis with an opportune moment to extricate herself from the tense conversation.
Later, in a serene setting, Desmond extends a heartfelt invitation to Ellis and her children for lunch, eventually settling on a delightful outing at the zoo. Just as Ellis is about to depart, Blakely reappears, the chemistry between them igniting an intimate encounter that feels both charged and forbidden.
Elsewhere, Bickford meticulously studies Ellis' case file, his eyes scanning every detail with meticulous care. He later confronts Davies, questioning why the gun wasn't dusted for fingerprints. Davies responds pragmatically, pointing out that with six eyewitnesses to the shooting, the presence of fingerprints would be inconsequential. Bickford disputes Ellis' claim that the gun had been confined to a drawer for three years, citing its oiled state and perfect working condition as evidence to the contrary.
Davies paints a vivid picture of Ellis shooting Blakely at point-blank range, urging Bickford to convince her to plead guilty to spare her family the ordeal of a trial. In the hushed confines of the courtroom, the Magistrate informs Ellis that her plea date is ten days hence, the gravity of the situation etched on his stern visage.
Behind bars, Bickford questions Ellis about the gun's origin, his tone tinged with suspicion. She accuses him of taking her case solely because The Mirror agreed to foot her legal bills in exchange for an exclusive interview, her voice tinged with cynicism. He counters by suggesting that someone else manipulated her into this situation, and she is shielding the true perpetrator by withholding information.
During a routine medical assessment, a nurse discovers a telling bruise on Ellis' leg, a silent witness to the violence that shadows her life.
In a poignant flashback, Ellis and Blakely set off for Surrey, their hearts light with the promise of an adventure at the zoo with her children, as Desmond arrives with a vibrant bouquet in hand. However, their joy is momentarily eclipsed by Andre’s melancholic gaze from the window. Subsequently, Blakely introduces Ellis to Clive, Carole Findlater (played by Bessie Carter), and Anthony Findlater (portrayed by Ed Sayer). Carole, with a candid tone, reveals to Ellis the secret affair she once shared with Blakely.
In the stark reality of the present, Muriel Jakabait (Maddy Hill), with concern etched on her face, urges Ellis to invoke the plea of insanity. Yet, Ellis stands resolute, her voice unwavering as she declares her intent to kill Blakely, refusing to shroud her actions in deceit. Bertha Neilson (Amanda Drew) expresses worry for Andre's future, while Ellis assures her that she has made provisions for his care, though she remains tight-lipped about the specifics. Later, Bertha confides in Bickford, lamenting Ellis's intractable nature. Bickford responds with a grim assessment – there is scant foundation for a viable defense. Arthur Neilson (Tony Wadham) interjects, asserting that Blakely physically assaulted Ellis, while Bertha adds that her ex-husband, George Ellis, also subjected her to abuse.
In a private moment, Muriel reveals to Bickford a heartbreaking detail – Ellis suffered a miscarriage with Blakely's child. Another flashback unfolds, where Desmond and Morris witness Blakely and Ellis reconcile in a bustling pub. Blakely, unsteady on his feet after a mishap with a chair, pulls Ellis out abruptly. Later, Morris confronts Ellis, accusing her of improper conduct. She dismisses him sternly, urging him to return to his wife. Jamming the door with his foot, Morris threatens to expose her nightly fees unless she ceases her late-night visitors. Blakely, aware of the situation, issues a chilling ultimatum – his father will inform Scotland Yard if the visits persist. Morris retaliates by ordering her to scrub the pub. Blakely, expressing his desire to cohabit with her, chokes her, demanding fidelity. Ellis struggles for breath, her eyes wide with fear.
Back in the past, Bickford reads aloud the grim litany of injuries Ellis endured at Blakely's hands – a violent blow to her stomach that led to a tragic miscarriage. He queries why she never disclosed this to the authorities, and she responds with a weary sigh, noting that they never inquired. He hints at a potential defense – if Blakely's actions were provoked by a momentary lapse of control. Ellis recalls Andre witnessing Blakely strangle her. Accusations fly as Bickford doubts her alibi about taking a taxi to The Magdala, leading to an abrupt end of their session.
Upon discovering that Desmond has been regularly sending Ellis flowers, Bickford visits him. Later, he confronts Ellis, revealing Desmond's confession about providing her with the gun and dropping her off at the pub. She defiantly insists on his falsehoods, but Bickford warns that reporting it to the police is his legal obligation. Ellis, caught between a rock and a hard place, reluctantly agrees to plead not guilty, on the condition that Desmond's name remains untainted by her trial. Bickford, torn between duty and compassion, nods his reluctant consent.
Ellis dials Jacqueline Dyer's (portrayed by Audrey Brisson) number, anxiety etched in her voice as she inquires about Blakely's wellbeing. Flashing back to a poignant moment, Blakelyconfesses to Ellis that his heart beats solely for her. Meanwhile, Desmond pays her apartment an unwelcome visit, waving a newspaper clipping announcing Blakely's engagement to Mary Davidson in her face. Words exchanged, tempers flare between Blakely and Desmond. Ellis, caught in the midst, inquires about the engagement's validity, to which Blakely replies, claiming obligation to his mother as his motive. She scoffs, branding him a coward hiding behind filial duty, a frightened boy in a man's shoes. Enraged, he retaliates with a punch to her abdomen.
Returning to the present, Ellis pens a heart-wrenching letter to Mrs. Blakely, casting blame on Carole and Anthony for the untimely demise of herself and David. She implores Mrs. Blakely's forgiveness for her affair, asserting that their love was genuine but that Blakely's heart was never meant for monogamy. Her mind drifts to a tender memory—Blakely's head resting in her lap as tears streamed down his cheeks. Elsewhere, Desmond casts aside empty gun cartridges into the murky depths of a canal, his conscience seemingly as dark as the water he pollutes.
Bickford's thoughts revert to his crucial conversation with Ellis. He urges her with urgency to reveal to the authorities that Desmond handed her the fateful weapon. Ellis concurs, granting him permission to argue her case in court—but with a strict condition: Desmond's name must remain unsullied. Inside the courtroom, Ellis pleads her innocence, her fate hanging in the balance. Post-trial, Bickford delivers a grim revelation: Desmond has been summoned as a prosecution witness. He cautions that they will stop at nothing to tear her reputation to shreds on the witness stand. Undeterred, Ellis vows unwavering loyalty to her silence.
Outside the courthouse, Davies swore to ensure Ellis received the punishment he deserved and the execution. Bickford puzzles over the Crown's decision to involve Desmond as a witness, but Davies remains tight-lipped. In a transit van later, Ellis and Desmond's eyes meet, silent yet charged with unspoken words and unresolved tensions.
