Lights of London - Part 2

***Lights of London - Part 2*** was the second of a two-part story, the fourth episode of *Series 2*, and the seventeenth overall of *Survivors*.

## Synopsis

The trip to London is proving an ordeal. Ruth is in a new community and Greg and Charles are attacked by rats.

## Plot

Greg and Charles are rescued by Wally, who fires his gun into the air and leads them away from the rats. Charles has been bitten in the leg. Wally says their only chance is to go to "the Centre". He leads them down the railway tunnel and they explain they came from the West Country to look for Ruth. Wally recalls seeing her arrive five days ago. He asks them to put a word in with him, admitting he doesn't see eye to eye with the people that run things. He says there's 500 of them and one of him.

Manny, Barbara and the doctor are holding a conference. Manny seems keen to delay things while the doctor wants to get started. Both Manny and Barbara feel Ruth isn't on board yet. Barbara says they need to arrange transportation and fuel. Meanwhile, Greg, Charles and Wally are seen arriving at the railway platform by Benjie and other workers. Wally leads the group across the area with alarm and searchlight. They are greeted by a suspicious George. Amul arrives and takes charge, identifying Greg and Charles. He disarms Wally and forces him back outside, telling him to get back across the road before they turn the lights off. Greg argues that Wally saved them.

Amul takes Greg and Charles to Manny and Penny. Greg makes it clear they don't intend to stay or to leave Ruth there. Amul takes Charles to the surgery, with Manny telling them to leave their guns at the armoury. He genially tells Penny that they might have trouble. At the surgery, Greg and Charles are reunited with Ruth. She treats Charles' leg and he tells her there was a unanimous vote that they should come after her. Ruth tells them about the London sickness. Charles protests that Whitecross need her as a doctor as well and Greg says there's already a doctor there. Ruth tells them about Manny's "Big Move" plan and how it needs a doctor at either end. She's vague about when it will take place and Charles says it will take years. Ruth tells them about the lack of reports on the radio and how the London population are at the limit needed for the human race to survive. The doctor arrives and greets them. He encourages Greg to stay.

Amul and George bring Wally back inside and take him to Manny, who is running through inventory with Penny. Greg and the doctor arrive. Greg confirms Wally saved them. Wally says his face doesn't fit and calls them a fascist state. Manny insists they discuss and agree on everything: Nearly everyone voted for Manny as leader ahead of Wally but he still refused to go along with things. Wally was told to go and live in the country but insists he belongs in London. The doctor suggests using Wally as a messenger back to Whitecross. Wally deduces he's being sent because he won't be missed and asks if he'll be let in if he returns. Penny and the doctor both agree but Wally wants to hear it from Manny.

Greg, Charles and Ruth relax in her room, enjoying the comforts. Charles accepts the doctor's claim that 500 people is the lowest survival rate. Ruth argues about needing strong leadership. Greg says he's only interested in saving his family and friends, not the human race. Ruth asks what will happen to his baby when he grows up. She confirms that Abby left six or seven weeks ago. Greg thinks she'd have come back to them if she'd made it.

Nessie gives Wally an innoculation and supplies, as well as advice on how to survive. She says she doesn't want to lose him, although Wally isn't convinced Manny feels the same way. Wally again asks about being let back in if he returns and Manny agrees. After Wally's gone however, he tells Nessie he'll think about it and thinks Wally's trouble. He accuses Nessie of being interested in power. Next day, Greg, Charles, Amul and George set out on motorbikes to explore the roads.

Manny, the doctor and Barbara go over the routes out of London. Barbara asks about the advanced party and setting up a route back. Manny is seen to send Greg and Wally ahead first, before the advanced party, to sort out rats with poison. Meanwhile, Greg and Amul find several streets blocked with abandoned cars. Amul gets through to Penny on the radio and gets told to come back rather than continuing to search forr routes.

At the surgery, Ruth and the doctor discuss the progress of the sickness. The doctor talks about proceeding with the move but then has an attack and collapses. Ruth calls Nessie for help. Round the dinner table, Greg and Charles talk with Manny, Penny and Barbara about the route they have available. Manny procrastinates about pressing ahead. Barbara brings up Manny's plan to send Greg on ahead. Wally returns from Whitecross and passes on messages to Greg and Charles from Pet, Jenny and Hubert. Manny tells him to go and clean up. Wally sulkily says he'll come back for the leftovers.

The doctor is mumbling feebly. Nessie admits to Ruth that she never really knew him and say he's dying. The doctor gestures for Ruth to bring him a folder but he dies first. Penny comes in wondering where they are and Nessie snaps at her to go. Soon after, Manny makes an announcement of the doctor's death over the radio. He says Ruth will take his place and they'll make the Big Move "in time". Ruth picks up on the phrase and Nessie says there's a lot Manny hides from people. Manny comes in to visit the doctor's body. Ruth tries to question him and Manny says it's bound to take longer now.

Everyone is sat around Manny's quarters. Penny tries to get everyone to eat, while Greg advises Charles to go and check on Ruth. Barbara also turns in. Charles overhears Manny and Nessie arguing: Manny insists the move was always intended to last two or three years and wants to send Greg and Charles on ahead. Nessie says she and Ruth can handle the move. Manny says once Ruth has trained people up, Nessie won't be indispensable.

Back at the quarters, Manny insists it would take years to make the move. Greg continues to argue for pressing ahead and also says Ruth won't last long working under the same conditions as the old doctor. He thinks Manny isn't showing much sign of agreeing in democracy. Wally joins the two of them, Penny and Amul, as Greg suggests sending Wally or someone to look for another doctor, even agreeing to go himself. Manny largely shrugs off the suggestion, saying he'll think about it and see if it's a good idea. He tells Greg there's one chain of command and he's at the top, which Wally mockingly agrees with. After Greg's gone, Manny calls Nessie, saying not to give medical supplies to anyone without his permission. Wally recalls Manny saying he had a plan for him. Manny says the two of them and George are going to look for petrol tomorrow.

Charles tries to tell Ruth about what he heard. Greg arrives and says they need to get out, agreeing Manny has no interest in getting out of London, only in his own power. Ruth still argues that the people there need her. Charles says there's no future for the London community and the move will never happen. Next morning, Manny tells Wally to go off on a motorbike, telling him an area to search. He then tells him to leave the bike. Realising something's going on, Wally drives off and Manny shoots him. Manny and George leave.

Back at the hospital, Ruth and Nessie treat the worsening cases of sickness. Nessie is dismissive of the fact people will die, saying she only became a nurse to get away from home and ended up with the MBE. She encourages Ruth to leave and go back to her settlement, saying she'll manage there and deal with Manny. Ruth gives her a brief hug and some supplies. Meanwhile, Greg and Charles tell Penny and Amul they're leaving: They have retrieved their guns and want petrol. Penny cheerily says Benjie will give them some. She passes Amul a note saying to let the pair go but not Ruth. After she's alone, she calls Manny to say she has good news.

Charles, Greg and Amul go to find Ruth, who is now happy to go with them. Amul protests and, realising what he intended, Greg takes him prisoner. They hear Manny and George returning up the tunnel and Greg knocks Amul out when he tries to call for help. The trio head towards the platform. Penny greets Manny and tells him Greg and Charles have gone home. Manny accepts they're better off without them. He goes to check on the medical wing and is shocked to find Nessie running things, describing herself as senior medical officer. Manny runs to get George, realising Ruth has gone with the others.

Charles and Ruth rest on the platform as Greg and Benjie load up the petrol on a cart. Manny and George arrive. The trio jump down onto the track and Manny fires wildly, killing Benjie. He continues firing in a rage, largely ignoring Greg pointing out that he could kill Ruth as well, and saying if she doesn't stay, nobody goes. George tries to get Manny to let them go but Manny insists his orders must be obeyed. George tries to run off and Manny shoots and incapacitates him. He takes George's gun and leaves him to the rats.

Greg, Charles and Ruth try to get the cart moving, with Greg and Charles making a failed attempt to shoot out a light. They manage to head off down the track, Manny following. When they stop to change the points and unload the cart, Manny catches up with them. Charles thinks Manny only has one bullet left so will lose either way. Manny responds by firing George's gun into the air twice. As he is threatening to kill Ruth, a gunshot rings out and Manny falls, dead. Wally steps into view and says Manny tried to kill him but he just got a knock on the head. Greg invites him to come with them but Wally says he'll go and find a doctor to help Nessie. The four of them head out down the tunnel into the light.

## Cast

* Greg Preston - Ian McCulloch
* Charles Vaughan - Denis Lill
* Ruth Anderson - Celia Gregory
* Manny - Sydney Tafler
* Doctor - Patrick Holt
* Penny - Coral Atkins
* Amul - Nadim Sawalha
* Nessie - Lennox Milne
* Wally - Roger Lloyd-Pack
* Barbara - Wendy Williams
* George - Lloyd McGuire

## Crew

* Written by Jack Ronder
* Produced by Terence Dudley
* Directed by Pennant Roberts