"The revolution was the easy part," Samuel said, his voice heavy. "This this is the real fight."
"Building a nation," Ariella said, her voice calm. "One hard step at a time."
Samuel looked at her, his eyes filled with worry. "The people are angry. They're losing patience."
"They want results," Ariella said. "And we need to give them something."
"We need a plan," Samuel said. "A way to stop this from falling apart."
Sound of a meeting starting, chairs scraping, voices murmuring.
"We have to be honest," Ariella said, her voice clear. "Tell them the truth. Show them what we've done, even the small things."
"We need to talk to them," Bruno said. "Not just talk at them. Town hall meetings. Let them ask questions."
"But we can't be blind," Damien said, his voice tense. "These groups they're getting stronger. We need to watch them."
"They're using people's anger," Damien continued. "Twisting our words. We need to know what they're planning."
Samuel nodded. "We need to be smart. Open, but careful. We can't let them take back what we won."
"We need to remind them why we fought," Ariella said. "What we're fighting for."
Sound of a sudden, sharp knock on the door, then a voice, hurried.
"Prime Minister, urgent news. They're planning a protest. A big one. And they're not coming to talk."
"When?" Samuel asked, his voice sharp.
"Tomorrow," the voice said. "At the city center."
"Tomorrow?" Bruno said, his voice filled with alarm. "That's too soon."
"We need to stop them," Damien said, his voice hard. "Before it gets out of control."
"The town halls they're a mess," Bruno said, his voice tired. "Some people are listening. Others they're furious."
"They're angry," Samuel said, his voice heavy. "And they have a right to be."
"They want answers," Bruno said. "They want to see change, now."
"I told them the truth," Samuel said. "No lies. Just. the reality."
"It's not enough for some," Bruno said. "They feel betrayed."
"Ariella's working behind the scenes," Damien said. "Talking to community leaders. Trying to find common ground."
"She's reminding them of the revolution," Bruno said. "The sacrifices. The hope."
"She's telling them to be patient," Damien said. "To give us time."
Sound of a heated argument, then a chair scraping.
"They're not listening!" someone shouted. "They're just making excuses!"
"Give them a chance!" another voice yelled. "We fought for this!"
"It's a battle," Bruno said, his voice low. "For their hearts and minds."
"And we're losing," Damien said. "If we don't give them something real, soon."
Sound of a sudden, sharp alarm, then a distorted voice over the comms.
"Prime Minister, urgent update. The protest it's growing. They're heading for the government buildings."
"How many?" Samuel asked, his voice sharp.
"Hundreds," the voice said. "Maybe thousands. And they're angry."
"It's not just angry people," Damien said, his voice grim. "They're organized. Funded. By powerful people from the old days."
"They're spreading lies," Damien continued. "Starting fights. Trying to break us."
"We're walking a tightrope," Samuel said, his voice tense. "We have to fix the problems, but also fight these people."
He looked at Ariella. "We need your help. More than ever."
"The whispers are now shouts," Bruno said. "They're using our town halls to spread their lies."
"They want us to look like the bad guys," Ariella said, her voice sharp. "They want us to lose control."
"They're planning violence," Damien said. "They have weapons. They want a fight."
Samuel's voice was hard. "We won't give them what they want."
"We need to show people the truth," Samuel said. "Who these people really are."
"We fight back with facts," Bruno said. "Show them the lies. Show them what we've done. And who these people really are."
"They're not heroes," Bruno continued. "They're just old power players, trying to get back what they lost."
Sound of a sudden, sharp explosion, then screams.
"What was that?" Samuel shouted.
"Reports of an explosion, downtown. Near the city hall." Damien said.
"They have started." Ariella said. "The violence."
"We have to stop them." Samuel said. "Before it gets worse."
"This plan it's dangerous," Bruno said, his voice worried. "Too much truth. Too much risk."
"They deserve it," Ariella said, her voice firm. "Even the ugly parts. Only then they will trust us again."
"We're telling them everything," Samuel said. "Through every channel we have."
"It's a war," Damien said. "But with words, not guns."
"They're fighting back," Bruno said. "Hard. Lies, rumors they're throwing everything at us."
"The protests are getting worse," Damien said. "They want chaos."
"We have to hold the line," Samuel said. "No more violence from our side."
"It's hard," Damien said. "They're pushing us. We're stretched thin."
Sound of a news report, distorted and angry.
"government corruption broken promises the people demand change"
"They're twisting everything," Bruno said. "Making us look like the enemy."
"They want us to crack," Ariella said. "To show our weakness."
"We won't," Samuel said, his voice hard. "We'll show them the truth."
Sound of a loud, angry crowd, then a sharp, metallic clang.
"What was that?" Damien asked.
"Reports of weapons being brought into the protest," Damien said. "They're not just shouting anymore."
"They want a war," Bruno said, his voice filled with dread.
"I'm running on empty," Samuel said, his voice heavy, staring out the window. "Every day, another fight."
"They're trying to break you," Ariella said, her voice soft, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let them."
"It's hard," Samuel said. "So many problems. So many enemies."
"But we're not alone," Ariella said. "Remember the people who believed in us. They're still out there."
"They're hard to hear," Samuel said, his voice low. "With all the noise."
"We have to make them hear us," Ariella said. "Remind them why we started this."
Samuel looked at her, his eyes filled with a weary gratitude. "You're right. We can't give up."
"We won't," Ariella said. "Not now."
Sound of a faint, hopeful chant, barely audible, coming from outside.
"What's that?" Samuel asked, his voice a whisper.
"Listen," Ariella said. "They're still with us."
Chant grows slightly louder, intermingled with the sounds of angry shouts.
"They're fighting back," Samuel said, a flicker of hope in his voice.
"The tide is turning," Ariella said. "But it's not over yet."
Sound of a sharp, sudden crack, like a gunshot, followed by a scream.
"What was that?" Samuel shouted.
"Reports of gunfire," Damien's voice came through the comms, distorted. "Near the main protest line. They've crossed a line."
"They want a war," Ariella said, her voice cold. "And they're going to get one."
"President Theron," Bruno said, watching a news clip, "he's become a ghost. A silent figurehead."
"He used to be a symbol," Damien said. "Of unity, after the revolution. Now? Nothing."
"His silence is deafening," Bruno said. "He's faded completely."
"Samuel's running everything," Damien said. "He stepped into the vacuum."
"Not by choice, it seems," Bruno said. "Theron just let it happen."
"Maybe he's overwhelmed," Damien said. "Or maybe he just doesn't have the skills for this."
"He attends events, gives speeches," Bruno said. "But Samuel makes the real decisions."
"Foreign leaders, the media they all go to Samuel," Damien said. "He's the face of the government now."
"Even the anger," Bruno said. "It's all aimed at Samuel. He's the one they blame."
Sound of Samuel's voice, tired, coming through the comms.
"President Theron wants to meet. Now. Urgent."
"Why?" Ariella asked, her voice sharp. "What's changed?"
"He didn't say," Samuel replied. "But he sounded different."
"Different how?" Damien asked, his voice tense.
"Like he's finally waking up," Samuel said. "And I don't like it."
"Theron's just gone," Bruno said, watching a live feed of the presidential residence. "Books, garden like he's retired."
"He's still President," Damien said. "But he's not leading."
"He's a spectator," Bruno said. "Watching the country change, but not doing anything."
"Ariella's worried," Damien said. "She sees the danger."
"What danger?" Bruno asked.
"A silent President," Damien said. "It makes us look weak. Like we're hiding something."
"Or worse," Bruno said. "They could use him. The opposition. Make him their puppet."
Sound of Ariella's voice, calm, through the comms.
"Samuel, Theron's silence is a problem. People are asking questions. Is he still in charge?"
"I know," Samuel said, his voice frustrated. "But what can I do? He won't step up."
"You can give him a chance," Ariella said. "A way to be seen again. A platform."
"A platform for what?" Samuel asked.
"To remind people he's still here," Ariella said. "Even a small gesture could help."
Sound of a door opening, then Theron's voice, hesitant.
"Samuel I need to speak with you."
"President Theron," Samuel said, surprised. "What is it?"
"I have something to say to the nation," Theron said, his voice low. "And I need your help."
"Ariella's right," Samuel said, his voice thoughtful. "We need to bring him back. But how?"
"As a partner," Ariella said. "Not a rival. Show people he's still part of this."
"I'll talk to him," Samuel said. "Man to man."
Sound of footsteps, then a door opening, then closing.
"President Theron," Samuel said, his voice gentle. "We need to talk."
"I know," Theron said, his voice quiet. "I've been watching."
"The nation is struggling," Samuel said. "They need to see you. They need to hear you."
"I'm afraid," Theron said, his voice barely a whisper. "Afraid of making things worse."
"We all are," Samuel said. "But we can't hide. We need to face this together."
"I've been quiet," Theron said. "Because I didn't want to make a mistake."
"I understand," Samuel said. "But your silence it's hurting us."
"Ariella suggested" Samuel started, then explained the plan. "A way for you to speak again."
"A chance," Theron said, his voice filled with a flicker of hope. "To be heard."
Sound of a long, thoughtful silence.
"I'll think about it," Theron said, finally. "But I don't know if I'm ready."
"We need you to be," Samuel said, his voice firm but gentle. "The nation needs you."