"I know what you're all thinking. Who's this long-haired git, coming here
telling us what to do. What does he know about it?" - Paul Pitman


Greg and Tom are attempting to get an old tractor to work, whilst Abby and Jenny fail to
make a horse plough one of the meadows. They are watched by a stranger who soon offers
his assistance. The man's name is Paul Pitman.

He lived in a commune before the death and is knowledgeable about self-sufficiency.  He had
been to London to try to find his father, but soon left the dangerous chaos there for the
countryside. He offers them some advice on how to organise, and thinks they have started
poorly.

Greg resents Paul's interference at first as he clearly challenges his position and discusses the
situation with Abby and Jenny.

Greg and Tom continue to have little success with the tractor. Greg suddenly remembers the
tractor in the quarry in Genesis and also Anne and Vic's stock of food. Tom and Barney set off
to check it out. They do not return at nightfall. Greg thinks Tom may have found the liquor
store at the quarry. Some more survivors arrive that night. They are Charmian and Arthur.


They are still carrying out the same roles as before the death. She as his secretary and he as
her boss. They are heading North to Arthur's private island but clearly have very little idea
about survival.

The next morning Charmian tells Arthur she would like to stay at the grange. Later,
Greg commandeers Arthur's Land Rover so that he and Paul can go after Tom and Barney.
Jenny and Abby see them off.

They find them pinned down by gunfire in the quarry and soon spot Tom and Barney down
below.

Tom and Barney appear to be under threat from several gunmen housed in the portakabin.
Greg suggests that Tom tries to wave a flag of surrender. He does so but is shot at.

After surveying the scene with Paul, Greg climbs down the rear of the quarry and looks
through the window of the portakabin. He is amazed to see Vic Thatcher who has several
guns rigged together to defend his position.

Vic has been there ever since Anne left him. He has survived due to the food stores but his
legs are useless.


Greg convinces him that he hadn't realised that Anne had lied to him and offers him a place
in the community. Vic wants to stay where he is at first, as he is convinced that Anne will
return to claim her stockpile of goods, and he wants revenge. However he eventually agrees.


Episode Review

This episode rather clumsily adds another four characters to the community taking the total number to thirteen. The sudden influx of survivors feels somehow artificial. Such a large cast inevitably means that in this and future episodes, events will have to focus around certain characters, whilst others fade into the background. Later still some members of the community will not appear for episodes at a time! Wendy is the casualty here, receiving no development at all.

Paul is an excellent addition to the series and the community. His knowledge and authority on farming matters is nicely tempered by an obviously hippy laidback approach. Its good to see Greg feeling inadequate and threatened for once. Charmian and Arthur are strange additions to the community who add little to the plot and appear to be there just to bolster up numbers. Arthur's life experience will come in useful in later episodes, but Charmian unfortunately remains nothing more than a weak cipher. The double act of Tom and Barney is nicely played out here, as we see the former show obvious affection for the simpleton. This plot texturing will pay dramatic dividends in the next episode.

The continuity with Genesis is the kind of touch that makes Survivors great. The episode ultimately belongs to Terry Scully, whose half-deranged Vic is at once menacing and pathetic. Anne Tranter's terrible lie has caused Vic unimaginable pain and loneliness and one can truly identify with his desire for revenge.

Rating: 7/10



Episode 9 :  Spoil of War

writer: M K Jeeves
first broadcast: 11th June 1975

Regular Cast:

Abby Grant: Carolyn Seymour
Greg Preston: Ian McCulloch
Jenny Richards: Lucy Fleming
Tom Price: Talfryn Thomas
Barney: John Hallet
Emma Cohen: Hana Maria Pravda
Wendy: Julie Neubert
Vic Thatcher: Terry Scully
Lizzie Willoughby: Tanya Ronder
John Millon: Stephen Dudley

and introducing...

Paul Pitman: Christopher Tranchell
Arthur Russell: Michael Gover
Charmian Wentwoth: Eileen Helsby

designer: Richard Morris
director: Gerald Blake
producer: Terence Dudley
episode recorded:  28th April - 1st May 1975


NEXT EPISODE: LAW AND ORDER by M K Jeeves


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