Garland's War (TV story)

***Garland's War*** was the sixth episode of *Series 1* of *Survivors*.

## Synopsis

Abby and her friends encounter a man who says he is living with a boy called Peter. Could it be her lost son?

## Plot

A man, John Carroll, is sawing logs as Abby, Greg, Jenny, John and Lizzie arrive in their two vehicles. Carroll nervously aims a shotgun at them. Abby asks him if he's been exposed to the disease and Greg assures him they're not armed. Abby explains they heard he had a boy with him and she's looking for her son. Carroll calls out for "Peter", who is in the woods. Abby excitedly goes rushing to find him, but he isn't her son.

Carroll hosts Greg, Jenny and the children in the kitchen. He hasn't been moving around much. They explain that people are starting to come together and offer him a chance to join them but he is reluctant. Abby is outside on her own. Peter recalls there are children with a settlement at a nearby country house, Waterhouse, which Carroll points out on a map. Carroll says the people there told him to drive straight out of the area without taking anything. Greg tells Jenny they shouldn't tell Abby yet and rounds up John and Lizzie to join her.

That night, after they've camped, Abby reflects on her search for Peter and says now they'll find somewhere to settle, since she has nowhere else to search. Next morning, Greg wakes Jenny and realises she told Abby about Waterhouse, since Abby has gone off on her own. Jenny says she had to after what Abby was saying. Greg isn't happy about the idea of traipsing around after any child they've heard of. Jenny says if all goes well, Abby will be back by tonight.

Abby is driving and hears gunfire. A group of men with guns are trying to flush out Jimmy Garland, chasing him across a field. One of them, Bates, corners him but Garland refuses to obey his instructions, knocking him down and fleeing. The men fire after him, injuring his leg. He comes across Abby's land rover and jumps in, convincing her to drive on. One of the men shoots out her tyre and they are forced to stop at a farm. Abby asks what it was about and Garland says it was the first organised search for him and he considers them to be at war, even though he's the only one on his side. He says he'll find another car for her. Abby says she's going to Waterhouse to look for her son. Garland suggests for now they move on, since she's involved in his war now.

As Garland leads Abby through the woods, the other group's leader, Knox, finds the discarded vehicle. He tells Bates and the other man with him, Harris, to keep searching since Garland is wounded now. Garland shows Abby a rabbit he's caught with a snare. He shows her Waterhouse in the distance and says it's his ancestral home. He was the fourth son of the earl, but with the rest of his family having died out, he now owns the house and title. However, Knox and his group have taken it over, hence their dispute.

Bates and Harris return to Waterhouse. The sentry tells them that Betty checked a store house and Garland had broken into it during the night. Garland helps Abby avoid a tripwire attached to his alarm system and leads her to the cave he is using as his camp, an old childhood hideaway. He dresses his wounded leg and apologises for getting her into the situation. Abby refuses to leave without checking the house. Knox is searching on his own. Harris calls him over to one of Garland's snares. Knox is determined to keep searching even though it's getting dark, saying to send Ken back for some lanterns.

Abby and Garland have finished a meal. Garland produces some brandy he took from Waterhouse's cellars on one of his foraging. He explains he went on expeditions to the Sahara and the Congo, then joined the army. He has been on other trips to South America and Africa in between but notes there isn't much unexplored now. He thinks he's made for the world as it is now. Abby asks if the millions that died mean anything to him. Garland says you can't mourn a whole world and he was a misfit in the old world. Once he has his house back, he will teach others. Abby asks if he has to be the leader rather than just joining them, then realises he does. Garland heads out to find a car, after which he'll take her close enough to the house to see the children: There are four boys there Peter's age.

Garland slips past the searchers to Waterhouse, where he checks the land rovers. Betty brings Ken some tea: He is on guard while the others are searching and takes the opportunity to steal a kiss. Abby is asleep in the cave. Knox and Harris find the alarm system and Knox sends Harris to get reinforcements. Ken and Betty get into a car for a liaison, allowing Garland to hotwire a land rover and steal it. Ken fears retribution from Knox. Meanwhile, Greg and Jenny are worrying about Abby. Greg suggests she might have found Peter and decided to stay but Jenny is sure she's in trouble. Greg says they'll search when it's light.

Garland takes the stolen land rover to a secure bunker and covers it. Abby is woken by Knox and Harris, who take her away with them. Garland watches them from the bushes. At Waterhouse, Knox looks at a photo of Peter and tells Abby he's not there. He says she isn't a prisoner but wants her help with Garland. He denies trying to kill him but says he can't let him go on terrorising them: He's burned down a barn, driven off their stock, stolen their food and sniped warning shots at their people. Knox says there's twenty-one of them there and they can't let Garland stop them. Abby suggests making Garland their leader. Knox says Garland wants everyone to move out of the house into the farm cottages and pay rent to him as his subjects. He wants her to talk to Garland, who he is sure will come for her.

Next day, Garland grabs Betty while she's tending the vegetables, dragging her away. Harris tells Knox and Abby. Abby suggests he took her because he thinks Garland has her, and doesn't think he'd harm Betty. Garland snipes at Bates and Harris outside and other men run to join them. However, when Garland changes position, they quickly take refuge inside. Knox decides to go out, since Garland obviously isn't shooting to kill. He calls out to Garland, who he finds standing next to him. Garland says he'll let Betty go when Abby is released, refusing to discuss anything else. Knox sends Abby out, promising no harm will come to Garland if he talks to them. Abby leaves with Garland, who says he'll release Betty when they're safely away.

Garland takes Abby to where he's hidden the land rover. Abby asks about burning down the barn. Garland says it was before the settlers came and was the funeral pyre to those who died in the house and cottages. Abby asks him to talk to the settlers. Garland denies wanting to be a feudal baron: He wants Waterhouse to becoming a working society and insists everyone will have a way in how it's run. Abby urges him to tell Knox and the others what he really wants. Garland wonders if he should release Betty, who he's keeping in a hut, first. Abby says they can send someone to fetch her after they see Knox.

Abby and Garland drive up to the house. Bates tells them to go in, which Knox reiterates. Garland offers his hand but Bates knocks him unconscious. Abby is disgusted. Knox says the value of a promise means nothing anymore and they have to survive. He tells Ken to take Abby back to her car, where she is provided with a spare wheel and left to fit it herself. Knox, Bates and Harris beat Garland to try and find out where Betty is.

Abby is driving from the area and runs into Greg, Jenny and the children. Distressed, she tells them Garland is going to be killed by the people at Waterhouse. Garland agrees to lead Knox to Betty. Knox indicates to Ken that Garland won't be coming back. Garland leads them to the hut. Bates and Harris go to check it and are knocked down by Greg, who was hiding inside. Holding the pair at gunpoint, he forces Knox to hand his gun to Garland. The three men are locked inside as Greg and Jimmy leave with Abby in a land rover.

Some miles down the road, Abby explains they were going to trade Betty for Jimmy until they saw Knox coming and switched plans. Greg and Jenny note they'll have to steer clear of the area from now on. Garland refuses to go with them, still determined to reclaim Waterhouse. He kisses Abby goodbye as the group drive off.

## Cast

* Abby Grant - Carolyn Seymour
* Jenny Richards - Lucy Fleming
* Greg Preston - Ian McCulloch
* John Millon - Stephen Dudley
* Lizzie Willoughby - Tanya Ronder
* Jimmy Garland - Richard Heffer
* Knox - Peter Jeffrey
* John Carroll - Dennis Chinnery
* Bates - David G. Marsh
* Ken - Michael Jamieson
* Harris - Robert Oates
* Betty - Susanna East

## Crew

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