Gone Away (TV story)

***Gone Away*** was the third episode of *Series 1* of *Survivors*.

## Synopsis

Abby is fearful that if survivors break into separate groups, there will be disagreement as different ideas clash. They could have a war on their hands.

## Plot

Tom Price explores a deserted farm. He finds the livestock dead after being shut in barns with no food, and sheep and chickens in the house. Searching and finding little of value, he breaks into a cabinet and retrieves a shotgun. After helping himself to raw eggs, he shoots a chicken at the second attempt, only for a boy he glimpsed earlier to grab the dead bird and runs off into the woods. Price pursues him to a hut where he's living with a man named Phillipson, who says they need food and Price can kill another bird. He also says they've been ill for some days, possibly typhoid from drinking contaminated water. The boy throws down the chicken in disgust but Price is now reluctant to take it.

Jenny, Abby and Greg share a hot meal. Anne had gone when Greg went back to the farm. They discuss how bad the cities must be now. Abby explains about her encounter with Wormley and how she's hoping to use the hall as a base of operations to find Peter. After that, she'll join up with other people and find a way to grow their own food. She says they're going to have to learn what future generations will need to survive. Jenny, starved of company, is happy to stay with her. Abby wants to go scavenging for more food and work out a proper search for Peter. Greg will stay with them for now, until he finds another car.

Price hunts unsuccessfully and sees Abby's party leaving the hall. He finds clothes hung up to dry outside and explores the interior, helping himself to cans of food. Meanwhile, Abby's group refill her car with petrol. Greg isn't keen on the cars for sale there, saying they need something more practical. Price settles down to sleep in the hall.

Abby, Greg and Jenny find a supermarket. It is already infested with rats so Abby says to stick to anything in containers. They find a corpse strung up, with a sign saying "LOOTER". She refuses to leave however, saying they have as much right to the supplies as others, despite Greg's warnings that someone is prepared to kill to protect the supplies. Jenny goes along with Abby. Resigned, Greg helps Abby load up the car. Jenny sees Dave Long arrive with two other men, Reg Gunnel and John Milner. The newcomers follow the three inside. Long insists the contents have to be divided up fairly rather than anyone hoarding it, so they need a chit from their headquarters. He says they didn't kill the corpse, he's just hung up as a symbol. Gunnel says they can shoot looters on sight. Long says they can register or leave the area but Abby refuses to do either. Long insists they have to surrender the supplies and Gunnel starts throwing supplies out of the car. Jenny grabs an unresisting Milner's gun and Abby takes Gunnel's rifle, forcing Long to disarm and throw away his gun. Long tries to intimidate Jenny but Greg takes the gun from her and holds the three at gunpoint while Jenny loads up the car and Abby takes the keys from the men's land rover, which Greg shoots the tyre of before leaving.

Abby and Jenny wonder about Wormley's authority but Greg dismisses them as a criminal gang. Abby thinks they do need some authority and worries about a war between different groups with different ideas. Greg thinks everyone will come together eventually. Abby worries about running into Long again. Greg reminds her of her plan to form a community, saying that makes more sense than living under a paramilitary group. Abby tearfully says she just wants to find Peter. She pulls over and walks away, with Jenny telling Greg to give her a moment. Jenny joins Abby, who says she expected other people to see the same solution as her. Jenny thinks Abby's way is right. Abby is shocked that Jenny considers her a leader. Greg calls over, convincing them they need to get moving. When Abby insists on driving, Greg says she's the boss, reinforcing Jenny's words. Meanwhile, Gunnel manages to get the land rover to start and the three of them drive on.

The group arrive back at the hall and finds Price, who nervously says he only took some food. Abby invites him to eat with them although he isn't certain. Jenny reminds him of their previous meetings. Price says he's been helping the sick and went down to London but didn't see any people; the roads were choked and it smelled. Abby tells him to help unload the car if he's staying. Greg goes with him and Jenny remarks Abby has a new recruit.

Long and Gunnel are looking for the group with binoculars. Long thinks they must have settled near the supermarket. Milner tries to suggest it isn't important to find them but Long tells him to shut up, saying it's personal now. Gunnel is keen to get his hands on one of the women. Meanwhile, Price is sat by the fire while Greg does all the heavy lifting. Greg still says he's not staying with the others and doesn't want to get tied down. Price agrees and proposes getting some more food and wood tomorrow. He says he gave a chicken to a boy three or four days ago. Greg asks where the boy is. Gunnel sees the smoke from the group's fire and Long says to keep an eye on it.

Abby, Greg and Jenny set off to see if the boy is Peter, leaving Price behind. Greg warns Abby there's only a small chance it is him. They find the hut with no sign of life. Greg checks inside and says they're both dead. Abby goes to have a look and says it's not Peter. Long and his men burst into the hall and find Price. Abby and the others arrive back outside. Milner appears and motions for them to stay quiet, saying the others are waiting for them inside and to stay out of sight until they're gone. Milner calls out, saying he saw the three come out of the woods and then run off. He, Long and Gunmel leave, taking Price with them, who says he's happy to register. Gunmel and Long shoot out the tyres of the group's car on the way out.

Abby, Greg and Jenny check inside and find the place has been vandalised. Greg wonders if they'll leave them alone now. Jenny wants to clear it up but Abby says she's not staying: She is going to do everything she said, but not until she knows for sure about Peter.

## Cast

* Abby Grant - Carolyn Seymour
* Jenny Richards - Lucy Fleming
* Greg Preston - Ian McCulloch
* Tom Price - Talfryn Thomas
* Dave Long - Brian Peck
* Reg Gunnel - Barry Stanton
* John Milner - Robert Gillespie
* Phillipson - Robert Fyfe

## Crew

* Written by Terry Nation
* Produced by Terence Dudley
* Directed by Terence Williams