Proof of Life is a term used by a special anti-terrorist group. It is a requirement in bartering for the return of a hostage. Burman has been building a dam financed by a rich oil company. Though Burman is not an oil company employee, the ELT thinks he is and anticipates a large ransom from the oil company. Alas, the company Burman works for canceled all ransom insurance for overseas employees.
Extensive programming is spent on marital argumentation, finger pointing and blame-laying.
Arriving in Tecala Thorne interrogates Alice and Janice in the home of the Burmans and establishes a base of operations. As if to say it is expected and normal, Thorne and Alice begin an ever deepening relationship Peter would find offensive. A second captive, a member of the French Foreign Legion, who had been in captivity for 19 months added to the interest and expansion of the presentation by pretending to be a mentally unstable Bible-thumper. The way he pretended added some diverse moments leading the viewer to hope and expect the man was plotting and planning all the while, waiting for that one moment when escape was viable. It also added to the torment of the injured Burman.