Portrait of two men on Brighton Beach

Giorgio scans the beach, looking for a vacant spot amongst the sunbathing crowds. Where can we sit, he asks himself. Where can we sit where one will notice us? He sets off down the beach, his rotund belly wobbling with every step, and suddenly veers off sharply to the right, the rounded pebbles crunching noisily under his smart black shoes. Looking back at his friend, he nods, smiles to himself and calls out, "Luca, come." Like an obedient puppy, the other man bounds along the beach towards Giorgio, his long brown hair flaying out behind him in the sea breeze. Giorgio climbs a bank of stones and slides down the other side, swearing softly in Italian as he almost slips and falls. Carefully, he lifts the camel-brown leather satchel over his head and places it on the ground before lowering himself next to it, groaning as his ageing bones creak their dissatisfaction. Behind him, Luca skids to a halt, chucks a lurid green carrier bag in Giorgio's direction and flops elegantly to the ground. He pulls a baseball hat from his back pocket, wedges it firmly onto his head, grins at his friend and lies down. Giorgio retrieves the carrier bag and, looking nervously around to check he'll be undisturbed, he takes out a small tin, opens it and begins to roll a joint.

Two men , moved to Brighton from Brazil (??) because they were persecuted for being gay.

To research ... Attitude to homosexuality in South America

South America pretty open to homosexuality generally, so moved characters to Tunisia - only 2% of people surveyed n 2013 think it should be accepted by society. Same sex activity illegal, up to 3 years in prison. No legal recognition or social support. Minister for Human Rights said in 2012 homosexuality was "perversion" and should be "treated medically". Gays often subject to harassment, followed and assaulted. People claim to be tolerant but aren't. Associated with paedophile a, sex addiction, sin. Difficult to be openly gay.

So story ..... 2 Tunisian men, gay, want to be openly together, one was married, the other was threatened with some sort of medical treatment (RESEARCH). Fled the country and settled in Brighton, but someone followed them.

What if ... The person who followed them was one of them' lover? Wife? A contract killer?

What if ... They were still being persecuted in Brighton - but for being foreign, rather than gay?

What if ... One of them was ashamed of being gay and was secretly having some "medical treatment"?

Character + conflict = plot

Giorgio - escapes from Tunisia to be with Luca. Gay. Loving. However ....l is actually bisexual and embarks on a series of affairs with women.