Over the Hills (TV story)

***Over the Hills*** was the twelfth episode of *Series 2*, and the twenty-fifth overall of *Survivors*.

## Synopsis

Society has to re-populate, but should women's equality suffer?

## Plot

At the mill, Melanie leads the youngsters in a game where Alan has to climb a rope that Pete, Dave and two teenage girls, Ann and Barbara, are holding onto. Melanie times them and has each of the youngsters let go of the rope in turn until only Dave is holding it. Alan just manages to make it to the top before his strength gives out. Sally arrives during it and is worried for Alan, while Dave is similarly unimpressed.

Greg and Hubert are looking over the methane engine. Greg calculates they will need to put twelve and a half kilos in a day and it will take twelve days to fill up the gas bag. Greg and Charles discuss the mechanics needed to build a gas holder. Charles is unsure about the need for it, saying they have the water mill. Greg points out the youngsters have taken it over and says they could run a tractor off it. Charles argues that the tractor isn't replaceable but Greg is confident he can work out how to make replacement parts and thinks they need to make progress. They see Alan and Melanie run past.

Alan tries to convince Melanie to cool off with a swim, commenting on how she used to holiday in the south of France while he never went further than Southend. He tries to get intimate with her but she runs off, deciding to swim after all. At the house, Sally tells Pet about the rope game but cuts off before telling her about people letting go. She then admits her period's seven weeks late. Pet advises her to see Ruth. Sally is upset, since she didn't intend to get pregnant.

Melanie and Alan dry off after their swim. Alan points out they've made love before but Melanie refuses to do it at this time of the month and is unconvinced by his claim that her getting pregnant wouldn't be too bad. Meanwhile, Pet fills a delighted Charles in on Sally's pregnancy. Pet warns him that Sally isn't too happy. At the mill, Sally hears from Dave about Alan going off with Melanie. Dave comments that, with four girls and three boys, if they started pairing off, someone would be left older. Sally comments on how her mother was in labour for eighteen hours. Dave realises what she's saying. Alan arrives back and Sally makes caustic remarks about him and Melanie. Dave has a go at Alan for getting Sally pregnant.

Alan follows Sally up to the loft. She says she hasn't been with anyone but him. Alan says everyone will make a fuss of her. Sally wants the two of them to live together but Alan isn't interested. Meanwhile, Melanie tells Greg that Sally would want to marry Alan. She thinks they're better off without marriage. Greg says he'd marry Jenny, and Charles would marry Pet, but it would set a precedent. Pet tries to convince Sally that there's no reason to be together to have a baby.

While taking part in hay making with a group including Hubert and Jenny, Alan complains to Charles about being expected to stay with Sally. He tells Charles about Melanie trying to get the girls to stick to only having sex at safe points of their cycles; Sally stuck to it but got unlucky. Charles thinks the baby is the best thing to happen in this place. Meanwhile, Melanie is arguing against having children to Greg. She seems to have a rather naive view of the future, talking about getting cars again and going to Paris. Greg points out the roads are blocked and recalls his experience in London and how they couldn't raise anyone else. Alan argues to Greg that there must be some cities the plague didn't reach. He says they can't be expected to stay there together.

Charles complains to Pet about the fact Sally seems to think she'll be rejected as a single mother. Pet thinks Sally just wants to be sure someone will look after her and suggests they hold a party to celebrate the pregnancy. Ruth comes in and confirms Sally is six months pregnant. She says Sally is afraid of the birth, pointing out the lack of medical assistance. Charles is dismissive of the fears, which Ruth seems to consider ignorant. She suggests getting Jenny to talk to Sally but Charles says he will, saying they need to have new morals. Pet tells Ruth Charles wants a child of his own.

Charles tried to tell Sally the baby is important to all of them and they'll need to move past having just twenty-eight of them there. He tells her Ruth knows what she's doing. He also discourages her from marrying Alan, saying they'll never all be able to pair off and pointing out the older people who no-one is interested in. Sally notes everyone fancies Melanie, who still dreams of going back to her old life. Charles tells her about the party, which she seems uncertain about. After Charles has gone, Hubert says he's heard Sally's been a naughty girl.

Charles talks to Daniella about organising the party outside. Daniella sees it as a wedding feast, despite Charles trying to tell her no-one is getting married, and also makes plans for Alan and Sally living together. Hubert comes past and says Alan ought to be gelded, also calling Sally a little slut. Sally goes to see Ruth and asks her help in getting rid of the baby. Meanwhile, Charles tries to put on an optimistic viewpoint with Greg and Jenny. He thinks people like Hubert will adjust and is also annoyed about the youngsters trying not to get pregnant, asking Jenny to convince them otherwise.

Charles is shocked when Ruth tells him about Sally wanting an abortion. Ruth says she recommended against it for medical reasons, but is trying to come up with an effective contraceptive. Charles is furious, saying there are too few people. Ruth replies that women have only just gained the right not to have babies and are in danger of just being treated as breeding machines. Charles tries to argue Sally wouldn't have to bring the baby up herself and the community would raise it. Ruth replies that she's fulfilled as a doctor and says Charles has a happier life since the Death but people like Melanie preferred the old world. After she's gone, Charles expresses his furious to Pet about Ruth not wanting to have a child with anyone. Pet morosely suggests Charles might have more luck with Ruth than with her.

Greg, Jenny and John shelter from a storm. Greg reassures John and sends him back to bed. Jenny worries about a tree coming down on the house while Greg ponders the effect on the crops. Jenny comments on the fragile nature of their life and is unconvinced by Charles' opinion that having a baby is a good thing. Next morning, Greg and Charles investigate the damage from the storm. Greg warns him that Jenny might not be the one to convince Sally. Charles insists they need to put down roots there. Greg says the likes of Melanie will always think there's something better the other side of the hill.

That evening, everyone is gathered for the party and drink a toast to Sally. Charles responds to calls for a speech, saying despite all the troubles with the storm, and Jack and the others being away, the baby makes up for it. He says the baby will be a brother or sister to all the other children and they will all be the parents. He says they have to have people to continue to farm the land and this baby will have no memories of the old world. He drinks a toast to the future. Daniella serves people, while Sally talks of wanting oranges. Melanie suggests there might be some in Spain and Alan dreams of going there. Jenny and Ruth take John and Lizzie off to bed. Alan tries to convince Sally everything's all right but Hubert tells her Alan should have stood by her.

Charles takes Melanie for a walk. She is unimpressed by his talk of the new world and the fact he'll expect her to get pregnant. He says someone will need to look after her when she gets old. Melanie doesn't think she will. Charles asks her to be a good influence. Melanie says if he wants a baby farm, he should make himself available to be a father. Meanwhile, Greg is feeling the worse for wear, having accidentally drunk Melanie's gin. Pet takes him back to the house.

Ruth reassures Jenny, who admits any signs of fever makes her nervous. She also admits she pretends to be asleep when Greg comes home and doesn't want another baby. Up at the house, Pet tends to Greg, who was expecting Ruth would be there. He prepares to go home and admits Jenny is often asleep. Pet says Charles is depending on them. She asks him to stay with her, wondering if Charles is with Melanie and regretting not giving him the child he wants. She implies Charles would be pleased if Greg got her pregnant. Greg says Jenny's the only woman for him. Pet apologises and says at least Greg's fathered a child. Greg says Charles has as well, which startles her.

Melanie leads the youngsters back to the mill for a party of their own, leaving Charles alone. Charles goes back to the house and chats to Pet about Greg feeling ill. Pet says Charles just missed him. She asks why he never told her about Isla and the others. Charles says it seems like a century ago now, before he met her. He notes only one child he fathered was born. Pet concludes that she's the problem. She suggests he'd want a baby with Melanie, to encourage the youngsters to do the same. Charles tells Pet he loves her, referring to her as his wife, whether they have children or not.

The youngsters are having a wild party at the mill, with music and dancing and pedal-powered disco lights. Pete runs out of energy to do the peddling so Sally suggests playing the game. Next morning, Daniella is looking for the youngsters and Hubert says they've been up all night. John asks Jenny if he can go to the mill and also tells her and Greg about the rope game. Meanwhile, Dave completes a climb. Sally wants to go. Alan tries to dissuade her but Melanie says anyone can go. She also insists that, because of Sally's weight, only Alan can hold the rope with Ann and Barbara. Dave hurries down to where Sally is climbing, giving her words of encouragement. Melanie tells Alan to let go, leaving Ann and Barbara holding the rope on their own.

Jenny and Greg race towards the mill. Melanie tells Ann to let go and leave Barbara on her own. Alan ends up taking Barbara's place until Dave pulls Sally to safety. Sally tearfully says Alan cheated and no-one would have minded if she'd fallen. She doubles up in pain as Greg and Jenny arrive. Later, Ruth tells Charles and Pet that Sally lost the baby. She thinks it's a shame Sally felt she had to do it that way and it was cruel and unnecessary...but she was entitled. Pet stops Charles' outburst. Ruth says Charles has to meet the youngsters on their own terms and it will be more their world than his. Charles replies that if they don't believe in having children there won't be a world.

Melanie and Alan watch in delight as Greg gets his prototype engine working and dream of potential uses for it as Charles arrives. Outside, John tells Alan he isn't allowed to go to the mill anymore but Alan says they'll have a motorbike soon. Melanie promises Charles there'll be no more climbing and calls the engine the best thing that's happened there. Charles is infuriated by the comment but Greg tells him some people like the old world. Alan brings Ann and Barbara to look at the engine, as Charles rides off on his own.

## Cast

* Greg Preston - Ian McCulloch
* Charles Vaughan - Denis Lill
* Jenny Richards - Lucy Fleming
* Ruth Anderson - Celia Gregory
* Pet Simpson - Lorna Lewis
* Hubert Goss - John Abineri
* John Millon - Stephen Dudley
* Lizzie Willoughby - Tanya Ronder
* Alan - Stephen Tate
* Melanie - Heather Wright
* Sally - June Page
* Dave - Peter Duncan
* Daniella - Gigi Gatti
* Pete - Roger Monk
* Barbara -Linda Robson
* Ann - Nula Conwell

## Crew

* Written by Martin Worth
* Produced by Terence Dudley
* Directed by Eric Hills