Last Resort

Tanya arrives with her 10-year-old son Artyom in London, hoping to be reunited with her fiancé Mark. When he fails to appear, panic drives her to claim political asylum, triggering confinement in Stonehaven’s designated holding area. The move sets the stage for a prolonged limbo in a seaside town repurposed for refugees.

Tanya and Artyom are moved to a shabby apartment building overlooking an abandoned amusement park. Guards patrol the area to prevent escapes, and their daily routine feels provisional and tense. Tanya clutches a framed illustration from her past as a symbol of what she’s lost.

Les, an Internet pornographer, approaches Tanya with an opportunity to perform webcam videos. Desperate for money, she hesitates at first but eventually agrees to try, hoping it might stabilize their situation. The offer marks a troubling turn in her choices within the holding area.

Tanya dons the costume Les provides and begins the webcam session, but she collapses into tears and cannot go through with the recording. The failed attempt underscores how far she is willing to go for money and how fragile her situation is. She leaves Les's place with a lingering sense of desperation.

To fund their survival, Tanya seeks other means of making money, including donating blood. She also manages to use the holding area’s single payphone to attempt contact with Mark. The payphone call is fraught with disappointment as Mark breaks up with her.

Using the holding area’s payphone, Tanya finally gets through to Mark, but the conversation ends in heartbreak as he breaks up with her. The personal rejection compounds her sense of isolation. With fewer options, she feels the squeeze of her precarious future.

Tanya tries to withdraw her petition, telling officials she would return to Russia. She learns the review could still take months, leaving her no immediate escape from the holding area. The option to restart life elsewhere hangs over her and Artyom.

Alfie, a former boxer who runs the local arcade, takes pity on Tanya. He helps her use the phone and brings basic necessities for her and Artyom. A quiet bond forms as he witnesses their struggle firsthand.

Artyom gravitates toward Alfie, joining the bruised town's makeshift family. The two repaint the drab flat they share, transforming a bleak space into something warmer. This rebuilding gesture deepens Artyom’s trust in Alfie and cements the unusual family unit.

Tanya begins a romance with Alfie, despite her fears of heartbreak. She confides about previous marriages, and Alfie offers a comforting, steady presence. The relationship gives her a glimpse of stability she has not felt since arriving.

Artyom starts hanging out with a group of tough kids who drink, smoke, and steal. His behavior echoes the town’s rough edge and increases Tanya’s worry about their future. Alfie remains protective, trying to keep them out of trouble.

Les comes to Tanya with money for a first completed video, promising more if she continues. Alfie overhears the exchange and questions the nature of their business. Tanya denies any ongoing involvement, maintaining a boundary for her and Artyom's safety.

Angry at the exploitation, Alfie bursts into Les’s home during a shoot and destroys the camera and furniture. He then vows to get Tanya and Artyom out of Stonehaven. The confrontation crystallizes the decision to flee together.

The trio hides in a small, abandoned sailboat on the beach as the water rises. They sail away under the cover of night, slipping past the security guards who patrol the shore. The escape marks a fragile turning point toward freedom, even as danger lingers.

Alfie arranges a truck to take Tanya and Artyom to the airport, signaling the end of their immediate escape. Tanya accepts that she must return to start a new life, even as Alfie and Artyom want her to stay. She leaves Alfie behind, gifting him the framed illustration as a final token of their bond.