By Bread Alone (TV story)

***By Bread Alone*** was the eighth episode of *Series 2*, and the twenty-first overall of *Survivors*.

## Synopsis

There are new arrivals at Whitecross, but one has trouble settling.

## Plot

Lewis Fearns, a member of the Whitecross community, is hailed by Judy and Philip, a young couple who have been in quarantine for ten days, having been ill when they turned up. Lewis sees a cow on the loose and fails to control it, heading back to the community to inform Hubert. A few months later, Lizzie leads the cow back in, having got it under control easily. Pet complains about the incident to Arthur and Alan, blaming both Hubert for not building the fence well enough and Lewis for not intervening. Arthur doesn't consider Lewis very practical. Pet has a low opinion of him, watching him help Alan dig a trench, but Arthur is more sympathetic.

Ruth lets Judy and Philip out of quarantine, deciding it was something they ate. Pet complains to Charles about Lewis but Charles believes people should do what they're good at. Ruth shows Judy and Philip where Lewis and Alan are digging the drainage tent. Lewis is struck by a flower growing amid the rocks and walks off. Ruth shows the newcomers around the workshop where Jack is working. Alan comes in, eager to meet Judy in particular.

Lewis has returned to his former post sitting by a tree and murmurs "God, forgive me." Ruth introduces Judy and Philip to Daniella, who used to work in a restaurant, and Arthur, who is dishing out the produce that everyone helps grow. Greg shows John his attempt to construct a gas valve. Hubert is reluctantly helping him by adding slurry to a bag. Charles joins them and asks about Jenny. Greg says she's helping plant sugar beet and insists she does as much work as anyone. Lizzie comes over, saying Jenny wants John and has been at home all morning. Greg tells Charles it's post-natal depression.

Greg blames Lewis for the lack of work on the drainage. Lewis takes off his shirt and puts it on back to front, asking Greg and Arthur to do it up for him. Later, Arthur tells Hubert, Alan and Daniella that it's a dog collar; Lewis is a parson. Daniella is delighted. Up at the house, Lewis talks to Charles, Pet and Ruth about professing his faith, saying he lost his old one in the chaos of the Death and they were all too busy staying alive at the time. Pet is dismissive of the idea. Lewis says he's happy to talk to anyone with faith.

Alan and Philip are working on the trench. Philip says he met Judy in a yacht at Grimsby. Lewis rejoins them and takes his turn with the digging. Back at their home, Greg tries to talk to Jenny about Lewis but Jenny is preoccupied with baby Paul, commenting on the lack of doctors and how one day he'll learn about the life before he was born. She is infuriated at Lewis' stand. Back at the house, Daniella talks to Lewis about the priest where she grew up. Lewis says he doesn't want it to make any difference and is eager to get on with his usual work. Daniella tries to get Judy to do his work for them and make confession. Alan mocks him not doing work and says the trench is nearly finished. Daniella and Judy tell him that Lewis was working on it early. Daniella is unhappy about Judy helping her so Judy volunteers to help Alan.

Lewis helps out Ruth and Hubert, with the latter wondering if he is going to hold church on Sunday. Hubert recalls only going to church at harvest festival. Jack says his dad made him do jobs around the house on Sunday. Lewis says there's no need for formal services but wonder if people want them. He tells Jack he assisted a vicar at a church in Cheltenham. Greg arrives and asks Lewis to talk to Jenny. Jack notes she's been quiet since Paul died.

Alan, Philip and Judy discuss the organised nature of the community. Alan says his father was in the army and he grew up in headquarters. Judy recalls doing a turn as a stripper and sending the money to the church. Alan flirts with her. Meanwhile, Lewis has gone to see Jenny, but she is rather dismissive of his presence and suggests he should help Greg. Jenny is rather cynical about the idea of baptism. She says she is surprised he admitted he was a clergyman. Lewis says God gave Man freedom to make the plague, and trusts that good will come one day. Jenny is scornful of the idea, talking about everything she's having to bring up the baby without. She sends John to hang up the washed nappies and sarcastically apologises for not offering Jenny tea.

Arthur shows Lewis a prayer desk he's found, suggesting Jack could fix it up and Lewis could use it for services. Lewis says he left Cheltenham without his bible. Arthur suggests Lewis borrow his, saying it was a comfort to him after his wife and sons died. Up at the house, Alan "entertains" Hubert, Jack and Daniella with a rendition of While Shepherds Watched, with him and Hubert debating whether it refers to washing socks or watching flocks. Lewis comes in as they're considering making a fresh start. After listening to Alan and Danella's opposing viewpoints, Lewis declares that he'll hold a service on Sunday. He finds Daniella has made him a proper dog collar.

Greg, Pet and Jenny discuss the incident. Jenny complains about the lack of clothes for Paul, while Greg gives a long list of what needs to be done and complains about Charles letting everyone do what they want. Charles turns up and says Jack hasn't fixed the plough. At the workshop, Jack shows Ruth the prayer desk he's fixing, planning to do a carving on the other side. Arthur approves, saying their new world need to get the right values.

Greg tells Charles, Jenny and Pet he's worried Lewis will undermine what they've done. He thinks it's an excuse for expecting things to work out in the next life. Charles thinks people need to find commitment in their own way and Lewis might help. Greg thinks people need to be told what to do and that Charles should do it before Lewis does. Jenny sends Lizzie to feed Paul, dismissing their concerns. Meanwhile, Lewis shows the flower he found to Alan, Philip and Judy, talking about how the natural world goes on without them. Charles complains to them for not sorting out the drainage. Lewis takes the lead in getting the pipes together and tries to convince Alan that the survivors have to come through what's happened. Alan ends up walking off and leaving Lewis to do the work on his own.

Hubert asks Lizzie to milk the cows while he and Jack go on an expedition. They tell Daniella to let Greg and Charles know where they've gone: A surprise for Lewis. Alan ends up joining them. Meanwhile, Jenny helps Greg and John with planting. Jenny admits that religion snapped her out of things. Greg feels bad about losing his temper with Charles and admits he's been feeling guilty about them getting more food than they've earned. Lewis appears, calling to Greg for help.

Charles and Arthur examine the drainage ditch which is now full of water: The digging must have hit an underground spring. Charles goes looking for Hubert, and Lizzie tells him about the three going. Ruth tells Arthur they went to get hymn books. Lewis, who is helping sort out the flood, complains that he didn't ask them to. Daniella tells Charles it was meant as a surprise for Lewis. However, she has no idea where Judy and Philip were.

Charles finds Judy and Philip and confronts them about not helping out with the work. The pair say they intend to leave tomorrow. Lewis criticises Daniella for making him a surplus instead of doing her usual job. Jenny tells them that Judy and Philip are leaving. Charles and Ruth argue with Judy and Philip, who are unimpressed with the regimented life at Whitecross and just want to enjoy the life they have. Lewis overhears them mentioning some of the things he said.

Hubert, Jack and Alan return through the woods, drunkenly singing hymns. Greg tells Charles that Judy and Philip are no great loss and shows him his heat exchanger, which is making gas. He continues to complain about the lack of urgency. Charles says Judy and Philip think Whitecross has too much authority, not too little. It's convinced him he was right in the first place: Everyone has to find their own way of life and maybe Lewis can help with that. They suddenly find Lewis' abandoned dog collar.

Lewis talks to Jenny about expecting to be failure. She wonders why he abandoned his religion in the first place. Lewis says he found it easy not to believe. He thought he could stand up his faith again, but no more than that. He blames himself for Judy and Philip leaving and is uncomfortable with the respect people have shown him. Jenny wonders if it's cowardice motivating him again. Hubert, Jack and Alan greet Daniella with the fruits of their journey. Daniella says there's no service now.

Charles tells Lewis he can't let people down now. Greg agrees and thanks Lewis for helping Jenny. Lewis says people just expect him to do their believing for them. Jenny suggests that might be a start. Meanwhile, Judy and Philip walk off through the countryside. At a service attended by a large number of people including Jenny, John, Lizzie, Pet, Ruth, Jack, Arthur, Hubert, Daniella and Alan, Lewis does a bible reading before announcing they sing To Plough the Fields and Scatter. (Alan again provides his own words.)

Charles and Greg listen to the singing from a distance. Greg notes he thought Charles would be at the service and expect him to attend. Charles says they have a right to their faith too. The singing continues.

## 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
* Arthur Russell - Michael Gover
* John Millon - Stephen Dudley
* Lizzie Willoughby - Tanya Ronder
* Jack Wood - Gordon Salkilld
* Lewis Fearns - Roy Herrick
* Daniella - Gigi Gatti
* Alan - Stephen Tate
* Judy - Julie Peasgood
* Philip - Martin Neil

## Crew

* Written by Martin Worth
* Produced by Terence Dudley
* Directed by Pennant Roberts