Survivors (1975) s01e08 Episode Script

(LAUGHING) What's funny? Oh, I was just thinking of something my father used to say.
-What's that? -"All beginnings are hard.
" That's not funny.
All we ever seem to do is begin.
You don't think that's funny? Oh, funny as your sense of humour.
(BOTH LAUGHING) Have you finished, you two? -Yes, Mrs Cohen.
-Yes, Mrs Cohen.
No.
Aunt Emma.
-Yes, Aunt Emma.
-Yes, Aunt Emma.
All right.
Then you can take Barney's breakfast, hmm? Here it is.
Do you call that finished? Come on, young man.
To the last drop.
Mmm, up, up, up.
That's it.
Now, that's better.
Now, be careful.
Don't run and don't drop it, please.
Ooh, do you think we could have a bone for Ben? No, we can't have a bone for Ben because there aren't any bones for Ben.
Look, all the bones we have go to make soup.
Ben has to earn his own living just like the rest of us.
Now, off you go, off.
And be careful.
MRS COHEN: (GASPS) Oh! Be careful! (LAUGHS) -Any more hot water? -It won't be long now.
(EXCLAIMS IN FRUSTRATION) Oh, for some soap.
Right.
Where do we start? We can't just start anywhere.
Oh, I don't know.
Let's start over there, shall we? -Right.
-All right, then.
Jenny, you go at the back and lift the shares.
-This one? -No, at the back.
-Oh.
-Okay? -All right.
Okay.
Come on, then.
-All right, let's go on.
(CLICKING TONGUE) Come on, boy.
Come on, boy.
-All right.
-Can you go any faster? -You all right? -Yeah.
-Well, shall we give it a go about here? -Yeah.
-All right, then, okay? -Whoa, boy.
-Think he'll be all right? -Yes, he'll eat.
All right.
Well, I'll come over here.
Now the other one.
There.
-All right? -Yeah.
I'll lead, and you have a go.
All right.
Come on then, boy.
All right, then.
Now, then.
All right? -Go on.
-Come on, boy.
Come on.
-Go.
-Come on.
Come on, boy.
Come.
-Come on, boy.
Come.
-Go on.
Oh, no.
Look, you better lead him, I I'll go behind, go on.
Oh.
-You think he can do it? -I don't think he's big enough.
-Come on.
-Hang on.
You've just got to try very hard.
-Okay? -(LAUGHING) The plough is falling.
-Hold on by the handles.
-Yeah, okay.
Come on, try.
-Come on.
-Come on, boy.
Go on, boy.
Go on.
Nearly.
Go on, boy.
-Go on, boy.
-Come on.
-Oh.
-Oh, come on.
Just try, please.
I don't think he will.
He's too small.
-One more go.
-One more go.
Go on.
-Come on, boy.
-Come.
Go on, boy.
Go on.
Go on, go on.
PAUL: You in the market for advice? -Well, who are you? -Paul.
-What are you doing here? -Watching.
He ain't never gonna do it, you know.
-ABBY: Where do you come from? -Does it matter? -Have you been ill? -Yeah.
I've been ill.
This nag will never do.
He's a good pony.
Depends what you mean by "good", doesn't it? Good for what? Where did you get him? -Nick him from a posh livery stable? -No.
He was shut in a little field.
He was starving.
You've got a kind heart.
But he never worked in chains before.
Anyway, there's good grass.
What do want to plough it up for? You have to plough it up, you know, before you can plant anything.
You don't plant good pasture though, do you? What are you going to feed your stock on? You have got stock? -We got some sheep, and a goat, and a -Jenny Look, you need help.
-Who says? -ABBY: Now, look here, Mr -Paul.
-Very well.
Paul How come you know so much about it? -I've been at it a long time.
-Doing what? We had this commune down Winchester.
Haven't you got any men here? TOM: Okay, we'll try it now.
(ENGINE FALTERING) (EXCLAIMING) I don't know.
-It's turning over all right.
-Aye, but it's not catching, see.
I told you now, it's your jet, man.
You should have left it where it was, man, instead of wasting fuel, dragging it up here, see.
-PAUL: Hello.
-Now, who's she now, then? -He.
-Hard to tell though, isn't it? Our own cream cheese.
Thanks.
Look, I don't want to butt in where I'm not wanted but I think I can offer you some advice.
We're in the market for anything we can get.
-Including advice.
-Good.
-How much land have you got here? -About 20 acres.
-And there are, what? -Nine of us.
You should be laughing.
-Is it all pasture? -There's a field of wheat.
There's one field's got cabbages in.
But they're only little ones.
Okay.
Look, I know what you are all thinking.
I mean, "What's this long-haired git doing, "coming here telling us what to do? What does he know about it?" Well, I can't help that.
I'm not here to criticise.
But I'm no good at tact.
I mean, I can't say you're doing a grand job and all that crap.
You got one cow drying out, a riding school hack, six chickens and a field full of spring cabbages.
-And some sheep, and a goat, and -Okay, okay.
But unless you get yourselves organised, you're wasting your time.
-Oh, really? -Yeah, really.
You see, there's no use ploughing up any old bit of land and saying, "Oh, we'll grow this here and that there.
" There's a whole cycle.
You've got to become part of it.
You got to be planning two years ahead all the time.
And rotate your crop, so you never get a bit of land idle or shagged out.
First, livestock.
You need two good horses.
Old work horses like Suffolks or Clydesdales, if you can get them.
But that's unlikely.
But at least something you can get used to pulling a plough.
Yeah, well, you may not have noticed it, but we do happen to have a tractor.
How long you've been tinkering with it? Trying to get it going? -A week.
-No, no, felt like.
We've had it a week.
But we've only been working on it a couple of days, see.
Three days.
In three days with two horses you could have ploughed six acres.
Aye.
But wait till we get the tractor going.
Sure.
You'll do five acres a day.
Easy.
But what about when you're held up because you got to scour the countryside looking for a spare part? And when you're going further and further afield, trying to find diesel? Well, you talk as if nothing will never get back to normal.
And you're talking as if everything's going to get back to what you call "normal" by Christmas.
Well, maybe it will.
I mean, we don't know that, do we? I mean, I met a fellow in the station wagon the other day, piled high with tins and bottles and things.
And he said somebody he'd met had heard the Japs had found a new vaccine.
And I suppose he swam all the way across the Pacific just to tell us.
Look, you may be right.
I don't know.
All I know is, you got to work on the assumption that you're wrong.
That it's never going to change.
Never.
Pessimist.
That's what you are.
Pessimist.
Doom merchant.
Yes, well, we all know that.
So what do you suggest we do? What are you ploughing for? -What are you aiming to plant? -Potatoes.
You got seed potatoes? Yeah.
Well, I found this clump, see, a fortnight ago when we came here.
That's not seed potato.
-You want seed potatoes? -Well, what's the difference then? You want shoots.
You put some aside when you lift them, you stack them on end with the eyes on top and they sprout.
(CHUCKLES) You won't get anything out of them.
Let's have a look at this tractor of yours.
Right.
I'll show you, follow me.
(SIGHING) You know, he could be very useful.
Mmm, if a trifle depressing.
-Do you think he'll fix the tractor? -No, not a chance.
Not without the spares.
-Well, that's that, then.
-No spuds.
Just a minute.
The tractor.
-What about it? -Well, at the quarry.
-What? -Well, they had potatoes there.
I mean, they had everything, they even had yeast.
-What are you talking about? -Can you remember the day I met you, when I was collecting that stuff from the chemist's shop? With that girl Yeah, well, they've got all that stuff together.
I mean, it might still be there.
-Well, she may have gone back there.
-No, no, not with the chap dead.
Well, it was three or four months ago.
Now, do you two mind telling me whatever all this is about? Oh, we told you at the church.
Don't you remember? (STUTTERING) This couple had gone methodically around the country, scouring, looking for provisions.
They got it all stored away in a quarry near Abercastle.
Then the man had an accident with a tractor and died.
Oh, yes, I remember.
You picked her up and she wandered off on her own.
They'd got a fantastic amount together.
Well, do you think it still might be there? Well, it could be.
It was well hidden.
Well, I wish you'd remembered it earlier.
It just never occurred to me.
Well, it's a bit outside our radius even now.
Now, just you stick to the route I've marked, all right? -Yeah.
-And no shortcuts.
In that case if anything goes wrong, at least I'm going to know which road you're on.
Right-ho, now, then.
Don't worry about us, boy.
Yeah.
Is he all right with that gun? Who, Barney? Well, I'll tell you now, boy, he may not be much in the head, but he's a lovely shot, and careful, too.
I taught him that, see.
Isn't that right, Barney? Isn't that right, Barney? -My sheep.
-Yeah, well, don't you worry about your sheep, Barney.
We'll look after them.
Get inside now, my Barney boy.
I'll be with you now in a minute.
That's a good boy.
We're pals, see, him and me.
Well, he's more like a pet, really, see.
Yeah, well, don't try and get too much this trip.
And see if you can get an inventory, as complete as you can.
We'll go and we'll be back before dark.
Yes.
And mind how you go.
(VAN STARTING) And leave the booze alone! It's been planted as a lea .
Look, you're gonna need three tonnes of hay next winter.
If I was you, I'd fence off about an acre and a half, the other end for that.
The rest of it will plough quite easy.
Just plough all this in.
Well, you can use it for grazing, but that's about all.
-Why? -Drainage.
But surely it's well-drained with the stream here.
Just the opposite.
All the water from the rest of the land just swamps down through the field to the stream.
If the stream was on top and running at right angles, you'd be well-drained.
You can dig a ditch over there later on.
Might help.
I'd never have thought of that, would you? Yeah, well, he seems to know what he's talking about.
Oh, come on, Greg.
You're not having your harem challenged, you know.
I got away with one of my kids.
But she took ill near Petworth.
I couldn't do nothing for her.
She was a terror, she was.
I found a church and buried her.
I just sat there beside her for I don't know.
Days.
Still, you've all been through it.
I'll kill that Tom Price.
-No sign? -No.
No, I know him, he's broken open the booze and got drunk.
They won't be back tonight now.
I hope nothing's happened to them.
Where were you going when you came across us, Mr Just Paul.
I don't know, really.
I came out first off looking for my dad.
-You been in London? -No.
Don't.
He worked at King's Cross on the railway.
Anyway, I couldn't find him.
His flat was all tidy but he wasn't in it.
I was lucky to get out alive.
There's snipers everywhere, waiting to pick off anything they see moving for a gold filling or a packet of fags.
(VEHICLE APPROACHING) There they are.
Listen.
Damn fools! Travelling at night.
Now, grab your coats and come give me a hand.
No, you stay here, children, and finish your supper.
Please.
(DOOR SLAMS) -That doesn't look like the van.
-JENNY: Perhaps they found another.
PAUL: It isn't a van, it's a Land Rover.
Jenny, go and get a gun, quick.
Paul, you stand by the lights of the bus.
All right! Now, who are you? Now, turn your lights off and come out with your hands up! Paul! (CAR DOOR OPENS) Don't shoot me! I'm sorry.
I hoped you'd be friendly.
Well, we may be.
What are you doing here? I was just looking for somewhere to park for the night.
I saw your lights.
You make it a habit of driving around at night? No.
In fact, I got quite panicky when it started to get dark, but we just couldn't find anywhere secluded.
-GREG: We? -Mr Russell and I.
I'm Charmian Wentworth.
Do you think I can move out of those lights now? They're rather dazzling.
Yeah, sure.
Go on.
-Well, where is this Mr Russell? -Oh, he's asleep.
At least I hope he's asleep.
I hope we haven't disturbed him.
-You're not ill, are you? -Ill? No.
Oh.
No, we haven't got the Death, if that's what you mean.
Mr Russell had it, but he's quite recovered now.
What's he asleep for, then? And you driving him round? Well, he's my I'm his secretary.
-You're kidding.
-What do you mean? I'm his secretary, I've been his secretary since -He's "the" Mr Russell.
-Oh, "the" Mr Russell.
I'm sorry, Mr Arthur Russell, of Russell Investments.
Taebo Unit Trusts, Anglo-Russell Properties He has an island off the coast of Argyllshire.
That's where we're going.
An island? Like with people? Surfs, vassals and such like? (CHUCKLING) Oh, no.
There's only one tiny house there.
Oh, dear.
He's awake.
What's all this about? I was just stopping for the night, Mr Russell.
Oh, yes.
Well, you'd better get some sleep, then.
Good evening.
-Has he gone back to bed? -Oh, I expect so.
He does so hate to be disturbed.
That's why I didn't want to Isn't he marvellous? (LAUGHING) Oh, no.
No, I don't Really.
Oh, dear.
This is our land you're parked on, and we expect a certain standard of courtesy.
'Cause otherwise we're inclined to throw people off it.
This island of yours may be more inhabited than you expect.
Don't you think a lot of other people have exactly the same idea? Possibly.
But it is my island, I have a legal title to it.
Whose law? Legal title is whatever you lay your hands on now.
Yes, but I don't think anybody would want it, it's quite barren.
How are you gonna live then? Well, it is of course surrounded by fish.
And I suppose Mrs Wentworth will be doing the fishing for you.
Are you being deliberately offensive, young man? Or is this an example of your standard of courtesy? I don't know about him being offensive, I haven't known him long enough.
But it seems to me that for a successful businessman, you don't seem to be showing much foresight.
It's all right.
We have fixed up a room for you.
I hope you wouldn't mind sharing.
If that's all right.
Won't you join us in a drink, Mrs Cohen? Oh, no, no, thank you very much.
-You, Miss -Well, thank you.
-No, dear.
-No, thank you.
You're not short of it.
Not for the moment.
-Charmian? -Yes, Mr Russell? Perhaps we'll stay on here a day or two.
-You could do with a rest.
-Yes.
-Well, good night.
-Good night.
(ARTHUR EXHALES) Come along, you two.
I've got a lot to do with two more mouths to feed.
And take this out to Wendy, please.
Why is Wendy looking after the sheep? 'Cause Barney's not back yet.
-Where is Barney? -With Tom.
-Where's Tom? -Oh, off you go.
-Wendy wants her breakfast, off! -Come on.
-JOHN: Come on, Lizzie.
-Hey, careful.
Careful.
Wouldn't you give them just one more hour? No, no.
They've had time enough.
Even if they waited until it was daylight, they should have been back hours ago.
I didn't think we'd need a caravan.
No, fine.
-Who's driving? -I'll drive.
How are we for gas? There's enough.
Greg, you will take care.
You'll be leaving us pretty depleted if anything happens to you.
No, don't worry.
Nor you.
We'll be back soon.
Probably with a hungover Tom Price.
Yes, well, I hope that's all it is.
Good luck.
Some sort of expedition? -Yes.
-Going far, are they? I do hope you don't mind us borrowing your Land Rover.
But you did say you'd like to stay for a couple of days.
Yes, thank you.
Yes, well, if I were you, I'd get your things out of the caravan.
I loathe arrogance in a woman.
Oh, dear.
Is something wrong? -This Grant person.
-Well, what's the matter? Well, I may be old-fashioned but bossy women all seem to me to have no femininity.
-I know.
-And taking the Land Rover like that, -high-handed in the extreme.
-The Land Rover? Yes, they just drove off in it.
To search for somebody without so much as a by your leave.
-I think they're very worried.
-Of course they're worried.
There's no excuse for that sort of behaviour.
I loathe bad manners.
Perhaps you'd like to move on.
Without the Land Rover? (CHUCKLES) Well, surely it's not gone for good.
No.
No, I'll give them a little more rope.
-I'll watch how things go.
-Right.
Well, don't run away.
I was just going to see if I could be of any use.
To whom? Mr Russell, I think these people need us.
-Oh, do you? -Yes.
Perhaps more than we need them.
Charmian, I think for the time being it might be a good idea not to mention the little we bought with us.
(CHUCKLES) I wasn't thinking of the food and drink.
I was thinking of us.
In what way? How could they need us? Well, there's such a lot to do.
They're not living out of tins, you know.
(SCOFFS) I don't really see myself as a very good farm labourer.
But you are a brilliant administrator, Mr Russell.
I'm sure they'll find that very useful.
Charmian, do you think in the circumstances we might try to be a little less formal? After all, we do know now that my name is Arthur.
Why, thank you, Mr Thank you, Arthur.
I'll do my best.
You always do, my dear.
Oh, the Abby woman suggested we might like to bring our things inside, from the caravan.
Oh, well, perhaps you'd let me have the key.
Well, if we do it, we'll do it in our own time.
Well, there's quite a lot to move.
Yeah, we'll leave it till later and I'll give you a hand.
Thank you, but we shouldn't leave it too late, you know.
Yeah, I suppose not.
Shouldn't we offer them food? What happens if we decide to move on? Well, surely they'd let us have it back.
Possibly, my dear, but I'd rather avoid any embarrassment.
-Looks pretty desolate.
-Yeah.
Not much been around here.
Well, except Tom Price, we hope.
-PAUL: There's the van.
-Yeah, but where the hell are they? PAUL: What did they stop for? The puncture? (GUN FIRING) -MAN: Get back! -Well, that answered your question.
-Can you reverse out? -Like a shot, if you'll forgive the expression.
-Who was it shouted? -Oh, I don't know.
Could have been Tom Price.
Did you see where the shot came from? No.
But if it wasn't from the van, it must have been somewhere around that hut.
Yeah, well, there's nothing for it, I suppose.
We'll have to go and have a look.
I'm not very good with these things.
Yeah, well, now's the time to learn.
Come on.
We'll have to go further on up.
Come on.
(GRUNTING) For God's sake, keep your head down.
It's a bit hard on the elbows, as the Bishop said.
Sorry.
So where the hell are they? They're not still in the van, I suppose.
There they are.
Price! Price! Up here! Where the hell have you been? How many of them are there? About three or four I think.
We can't move neither way.
They shot our tyres out as soon as we appeared.
Every time we make a move, they shoot.
-You can't have been there all night.
-TOM: Well, we have.
You could have got out when it was dark.
You must be joking.
With the moon last night, it was as light as day, man.
Well, where are your guns? In the van.
And my fags.
I've been dying for a smoke.
Well, listen, we just get out of here.
Now, is it just the tyres of the van they got? Yeah, I think so.
You haven't got any fags on you, have you? -No.
-Oh.
How about a white flag and a dignified retreat? Well, I don't see how else we're going to get them out of there.
Have you got a handkerchief down there? -TOM: A handkerchief? -To make a white flag with! Well, I got a handkerchief, but, I don't know about white, though.
You've been cleaning the tractor with that.
But it'll have to do.
I need a stick to put it on.
GREG: Well, isn't there anything down there? -No.
-Yes, there is.
Down to your right.
It's only a few feet along.
What, there? He'll take a pot at me if I go for that.
Barney boy, you be a good boy and go and get it for me.
Wait a minute.
You get it.
No, no, he's quicker than me, see.
-Be less of a target, like.
-You get it! Oh, all right.
Stay here, Barney boy, look out for me.
GREG: Get on with it, Price! (GUN FIRING) (GLASS SHATTERING) Dear, dear, Barney, that was close now, wasn't it? Well, well -It's funny though.
-What's funny about it? It was the same last time, one rifle shot, then a lot of shotguns going off.
Well, perhaps they just take their cue from a leader.
They're not so good though, the rest of them.
Look at the van.
Shall I wave it about at them? (GUNS FIRING) Well, so much for the Geneva Convention.
I'm not doing that again, man.
They got no respect, man.
I didn't see where the rifle shot came from.
But the shotguns are poked out along the wall.
Look, there's one just below that poster or whatever it is.
-See that black square? -Yes.
Another one just along to the right about six feet, and so on.
Yeah, it's not much of a help though, is it? I don't know.
Wonder if the other side's as well protected.
I tell you, boy.
They're animals, they are.
I mean, you respect the flag of truce, don't you, man? Well, well Yeah, well, it's worth having a look.
You keep them busy here.
I'm going to have a go round the back.
Just give me a couple of minutes and then take the occasional pot shot in their direction.
Barney boy, we're not going to get out of this alive.
So you might as well make up your mind to that.
So, enjoy yourself while you can, now, then.
Have another toffee.
(PATTING BARNEY) Good boy, good boy, well done.
What's he doing? What are you shooting at? Just keeping them occupied.
Shooting? (SIGHS) (PANTING) Don't move! Leave it! -You -You don't remember me? Go on then, blow my brains out.
-And get back from the shotguns.
-Why should I? -You think I care what -Go on, get back from the guns.
Now, no one's going to hurt you.
No? Just take everything and leave me to starve.
It's been tried.
Yeah.
Paul! Price! Barney! Come on.
It's all clear! -Come mob-handed, have you? -Oh, yeah.
Like the wolves down on the fold.
I'm sorry I didn't do a better job fixing your legs.
But I'm not a doctor.
I was the one who got you out from under the tractor.
(SCREAMING) (GUN FIRING) Get down! I thought he said it was all clear.
Get down! Leave it! Now, what the hell was that for? You left me.
You left me to die like a pig in my own filth.
You left me in agony.
You just took what you wanted and left me.
I didn't take anything.
Why else would she leave? I went to get some drugs for you.
And I met her on the road.
She told me that you were dead.
Why else would she leave me? Well, maybe she thought you weren't going to be able to provide for her in a style to which she'd become accustomed.
(SOBBING) So she just left me to die.
Yes.
She just packed up her things.
Wouldn't look at me even.
Stuck-up bitch.
"What are you doing?" I said.
She wouldn't say nothing.
I remembered a man there.
It was you.
You'd got round her, that's what I thought.
She wouldn't just leave me.
Well, she did.
She was a lovely girl.
Yeah, while you could provide the goodies.
Yeah, I would have given her anything.
I mean, she was out of my class, I know that.
Oh, she was in a class all by herself.
And she told you I was dead? She told me you were dead.
She's still with you, is she? Is she out there? -Is she out there? -No, she's not out there.
I haven't seen her from that day to this.
-You expect me to believe that? -Well, you'll just have to believe it.
Because it's the truth.
Can't even remember her name.
Anne.
Anne, her name was.
Anne Tranter.
Yeah, that's it.
So, no more funny business.
You can do what you like.
Paul! Come on, Paul.
TOM: Oh, yes.
Come on.
Come on, Barney boy.
Oh, I'd like to find her.
I would.
I'd like to find her.
-I will find her.
-What for? I've got something to live for now.
-What would you do if you found her? -There is no "if".
I'm going to find her.
I'm going to devote the rest of my days looking for that nicely-brought-up lady.
(SCOFFS) Do you know what pain is, real pain? Day after day, month after month.
Forget it.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) -Where's the rest of them? -No, there aren't any others.
Just him? Wow.
Who's the cowboy? Paul.
Sorry.
I can't remember your name.
Yeah, I can't scarcely either.
It's been so long since anybody called me anything.
Ha! Vic Thatcher.
Tom Price, that's me.
Now, I don't mind telling you, you put up a good fight.
I'll be the first to admit that.
But, well, we got some good stuff here, right, lads, huh? What do you mean "we".
All this stuff belongs to him.
Right.
Spoils of war, isn't it now? No, there hasn't been a war.
No, we only came here because we thought this place was unoccupied.
Ah, but But we won, didn't we, see? We won, see, boy.
You can take it.
I can't stop you.
Listen, we're not taking anything.
-Not unless we take you, too.
-Take me? A few us have got a small commune going near Abercastle, about 40 miles away.
What do you mean, take me? I'm all right where I am.
You're not going to be for long.
Listen, there are groups of just scouring the countryside.
They're desperate for stuff like this.
You're the first people I've seen in months.
I'm secluded here.
That's why we chose it.
She might not come back here, of course.
Not if she thinks there's the slightest chance of you being alive.
But then she might.
She's a greedy lady.
So, do you want to join us? I'm not much use to you like this.
No, you're far too modest.
You've done really well for yourself.
Don't worry, we'll find something for you to do.
All right.
What about all my stuff? Do you want to take it with you? Well, our transport's pretty limited.
Can't take much of it with us this time.
What we would need, though, is an inventory.
I've got one of those.
Thirty hundredweight of flour.
Two gross tins of ravioli.
(BREAKS SCREECHING) What did we stop for? Highway code.
At a major road, stop, check that it's clear of oncoming traffic before proceeding.
Oh, yeah.
You know, we could go on a pig hunt tomorrow.
You can't farm land without pigs.
Yeah, pigs are a wonderful animal.
(BOTH LAUGHING)