Garland's War

The group of survivors encounter a man called John who tells them he is living with a boy
called Peter.

Abby's hopes are dashed when she meets the boy. John tells Greg and Jenny about a
settlement in a large house called Waterhouse where there are some children.

Greg does not want raise Abby's hopes again so soon, and agrees with Jenny that they won't
tell Abby about Waterhouse. Next morning, Greg is angry when he finds that Abby has left in
the Land Rover and discovers that Jenny had relented and told Abby. They decide to stay and
await her return.

When Abby reaches the area she finds a manhunt in progress. The victim is wounded, and
flags Abby down.

They escape the men. The man is called Jimmy Garland. He tells Abby that he is waging a
one-man war with the people at Waterhouse.

He shows Abby the house from a distance and explains that it is rightfully his property, as due
to the death he is now the Earl of Waterhouse.

Jimmy takes Abby to his hideout in the woods. He tells her more about the man, Knox, who
has taken over the estate, and about himself. Jimmy was an explorer and a soldier and is
revelling in the situation as he is more suited to the world brought by the death.

Whilst Abby sleeps he goes back to Waterhouse and steals a Land Rover for her. His pursuers
have not given up. Knox and his men manage to find the hideout and take Abby back to the
house.

Peter is not there. Knox does not mistreat Abby, but asks her to help him negotiate with
Garland to stop their war, as he is tired of the raids.

He says that Garland wants to act like 'Lord of the Manor', making the community live on the
estate rather than in the house, and pay rent for the privilege. He guarantees Garland's safety
if she can bring him to the house to talk. Garland realises that Abby is in the house and
kidnaps a woman from the settlement as an exchange hostage.

Knox lets Abby go. Garland tells Abby his side of the story, feeling that Knox has exaggerated
his demands.

Abby persuades him to go to the house and talk to Knox, who promptly takes Garland
prisoner. Abby is made to leave and soon meets Jenny and Greg on the road.

Garland is badly beaten by Knox and he is forced to show him where the kidnapped woman
is held. He intends to kill him once she is released.

Fortunately Garland told Abby of the girl's whereabouts and Greg, who is lying in wait for
Knox and his men, rescues Garland.

Abby is disappointed when Garland tells her he plans to stay and win his war.

Episode Review

Garland's War is a superb action packed episode which introduces a love interest for Abby in the form of Jimmy Garland. Garland is Terry Nations' vision of the perfect survivor. He is intelligent, resourceful and courageous. The idea of him coming into his own since the death is one of the first positive responses to the disaster, although it has to be said that Abby and Jenny are also gradually beginning to fulfil their potential in response to the challenge of survival. Greg is an interesting contrast to Garland, having neither his charm nor his dashing good looks.

Richard Heffer is perfect for the role of Garland and we too are disappointed when he decides not to join our heroes. The always brilliant Peter Jeffrey plays Knox, a manipulative violent individual, whose true colours we expect from the word go.

Garland's approach to the death is refreshing as is his honesty about his lack of collective grief for those people who have died. He appears to more suited to Abby than her husband, but she is now quite a different person from the privileged woman we met in the first episode.

Rating: 10/10

Episode 6 - Garland's War

writer: Terry Nation
first broadcast: 21st May 1975

Regular Cast:

Abby Grant: Carolyn Seymour
Jenny Richards: Lucy Fleming
Greg Preston: Ian McCulloch
Lizzie Willoughby: Tanya Ronder
John Millon: Stephen Dudley

and introducing...

Jimmy Garland: Richard Heffer

Guest Cast:

Knox: Peter Jeffrey
John Carroll: Dennis Chinnery
Bates: David G. Marsh
Ken: Michael Jamieson
Betty: Susanna East
Sentry: Roger Elliot

designer: Richard Morris
director: Terence Williams
producer: Terence Dudley
episode recorded: 11th - 12th April 1975