Survivors (1975–1977): Season 2, Episode 9 - The Chosen - full transcript
(HORSES APPROACHING)
There must be somewhere suitable.
Whoa.
How about over there?
Well, it could be. Here.
Got to find somewhere before dark.
Yes.
Here.
Right, let's go.
-Seems fine, eh?
-Yes.
-Not just for a night's shelter either.
-Hmm?
Give it a bit of fiddling,
I reckon I could get this lot working.
Hey! You mean re-shoe Jasper?
I might manage it.
A botched up retread job at least.
Must be something to match
his hoof size around here.
Certainly save your shoe leather
if you could.
Exactly.
-Just one thing.
-Hmm?
You're not chewing anything
this evening on account of
this here is reserved.
-For?
-Cooking!
Oh, that's better.
-Lucky find.
-Handy for the horses, too.
(BIRD SCREECHING)
Odd there aren't more settlements
around here. You don't think...
Shh!
(SCREECHING)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
MAN: Hello in there.
-Who are you?
-Travellers.
-How many?
-Two. In friendship. No weapons.
-Are you well?
-Yeah. Quite well.
Show yourselves, please.
Kim. Nancy.
Greetings in love, brother.
Welcome.
Saw the fire.
Welcome. We're Charles and Pet.
She's dumb.
All right if we kip in with you then,
share the fire?
-Why not?
-Get the cart, kid.
Good place.
Yes. As long as it doesn't rain.
There's also a forge
to re-shoe the horses.
-You've got horses?
-Yes.
We're on our way back to our settlement
a couple of days south of here.
Where are you from?
Around.
I was in Birmingham at first.
-Then...
-What was it like, in the city?
All right at first light,
once you got used to the smell, great.
But?
Had us a load of gear stored away,
didn't we?
Plenty of stuff.
Some kids got onto us.
-Kids?
-Did us over, see.
-Oh, that's tough.
-(SCOFFS) That's the town.
So, then you decided to
try your luck in the country?
Some luck.
Oh, why haven't you
tried to join a settlement?
That's not our bag, is it?
Well, it's better than just
wandering around, surely?
Yeah. Like that mob down the road?
-What mob?
-About five miles, that way.
-How many?
-Never had time to find out, did we?
We left in a bit of a hurry.
Surely, with a limp like yours,
you can't afford to be choosy.
Not us. Them.
Don't want to know. Just dirty hippies,
that's what we are to them.
Don't want to know.
I see.
Would you like a little meat? Rabbit.
I think we might manage them
a little salt too, eh, Pet?
KIM: Great. Salt!
-Hey, where'd you get it?
-Old place up near Chester.
Natural brine ponds.
It's just lying there
thick as syrup in these caves.
-Yeah? That where you been?
-Yes.
We thought we had enough.
But you get through it fast
when you preserve with it.
Here.
-What happened?
-You what?
Has Nancy always been mute like this?
Not like when we first met up.
No, not then.
Had this nipper, didn't she?
Little baby boy.
Rats got it, didn't they?
-Oh, no!
-They're packs of them, see.
In the town. Hunt in packs.
-I'm sorry.
-Leave her.
Don't need your pity.
We'll make out, see.
(CHARLES SIGHS)
Oh!
-Fleas?
-Mmm.
(SIGHS)
Oh, well.
I suppose we could
hardly bar the door to them.
I suppose not.
They've had it, haven't they?
I mean, they can't come to us.
(KIM GROANING)
CHARLES: Hmm.
PET: It's so ironic. Survived the Death
itself and then go under with the shock.
Yes. Except there's no need.
-I wouldn't give this couple very long.
-Oh, I don't know. Given the right help.
(KIM GROANING)
But we're not on this trip to pick up
deranged vagrants.
(RETCHING)
Lord, what now?
Poor devil.
(KIM RETCHING CONTINUOUSLY)
The way they both gulped down that stew,
it's hardly surprising.
Burning...
(KIM RETCHING LOUDLY)
Easy now. What's the matter?
Lungs, throat, burning...
Quickly. Try and get them to drink
as much water as possible.
-But, Charlie...
-Quickly. I saddle up the horses.
-What, and leave them?
-No, no, no, no.
Take them to the settlement
he mentioned down the road.
-In the dark?
-Oh, come on. It'll soon be light.
Well, come on.
(GROANING)
This must be the place.
We're nearly there.
(LOW GROWLING)
Hold it.
-Hello, there.
-What are you after?
-Well, we want some help, actually.
-Keep back.
Uh, look, it's all right,
but we met this couple, you see.
And you can see for yourself
what state they're in.
-Get going.
-Oh, now wait.
You heard.
They're ill.
Had them crawling around here yesterday.
-Get.
-They could die.
Better them than us.
-Now, listen...
-Look.
Haven't you got some sort of
quarantine quarters or something?
Sure. But not for filthy
scavengers like them.
We've got something to trade.
We can pay for the help.
-Pay?
-Yes.
With salt.
For mercy's sake.
All right. But you two,
you're in quarantine with them.
Anything.
The isolation hut. Over there.
-You got a doctor?
-That depends.
Depends. Depends on what?
The committee.
It's like a palace.
It makes our quarantine quarters
look a bit scant.
-They've got paraffin, too.
-Yes, and water.
Get them to drink
as much as we can. Here.
You hold them.
Come on, sit up.
Now, drink.
-Swallow. Swallow, come on.
-Come on.
See what they've got over there.
Come on.
Penicillin, tetracycline.
Drink.
-Various ointments, ear and eye drops.
-Drink it all. Drink it all.
Well, over cautious or not,
they're certainly well organised.
(NANCY CRYING IN PAIN)
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
Toes.
Again.
Again.
Lunge.
Push.
Again.
Again.
And...
Down.
Swing.
Heave.
And rest.
(PEOPLE MURMURING)
Well, Leonard, let's have it.
Well, they say they're from a settlement
to the south of here.
Seems they were camped down the road
and these two termies pitched up.
Around dawn, the termies got sick
so they brought them down here.
-That was presumptuous.
-Sir.
But why, Lenny? You know the rules.
Why'd you allow them in?
Well, they've got salt.
Really.
-Yes, we wondered.
-Of course, as soon as I heard that...
So, what's up with these two termies?
-They're both in a bad way.
-We'll go and check.
-And take care.
-Yes. Of course.
Lenny.
-Is your settlement south of here?
-Yes, that's right.
Where'd you get all this salt?
(CHUCKLES) That's a trade secret.
What's the matter with
these two termies you brought in?
-The what?
-Termies.
Terminals, zombies, vagrants, dropouts,
whatever you call them.
Oh, uh, I should say from the symptoms,
the way it suddenly hit them,
food poisoning.
-Are you two all right?
-Yes.
Any idea what they were eating?
(NANCY GROANING IN PAIN)
A stew of some kind.
They had a cart with them yesterday.
Where is that?
There's some outhouses
a way up the road.
We'll check.
(NANCY SCREAMING IN PAIN)
Would you have
a medical adviser of any kind?
No.
For pete's sake, be quick.
Gone?
What do we do?
There's not much we can do,
is there, stuck in here?
Damn these people.
Why?
We'd do the same thing.
-Would we?
-In these circumstances, yes.
You can't take health risks.
Nobody coming in
and infecting an entire settlement.
Burn it.
(STRUMMING)
-Electric.
-Come on, Sammy, hurry up.
-Oh, no.
-What's the matter?
That's it.
Some of our seed wheat.
From the store?
-Well...
-Well, from where?
-Was it in the store?
-No.
I left it in the shed.
In the little one
out by the planting field.
And now...
Oh, dear God!
It's all right, Sammy.
For once, you made the right mistake.
-She's dead?
-Yes.
What about him?
-Seems to be just a shade better.
-No.
We've been forcing him to drink as much
water as possible. Seems to help.
-Not for long.
-What do you mean?
They stole some of our seed wheat.
It's dressed with mangano oxide powder.
-It's a fungicide containing mercury.
-Oh, my God!
According to our medical books,
if his heart's strong enough
to withstand the initial shock,
he'll die of a kidney failure
within a fortnight.
-Now, if you'd like to come with me?
-Where?
Oh, we find you somewhere
a bit more civilised.
You both look as though
you could use a hot bath.
-Well, I...
-Well, come along, then.
Oh, wait a minute. What about him?
-Lenny will look after him.
-Yes. How?
I imagine a strong pain killer would be
the most effective treatment, Lenny.
-Right.
-Come along.
-All right?
-PET: Hmm! Bliss.
-Nice and warm, is it?
-Ooh! Lovely.
I'll get these sewed up for her.
-You have a shoemaker?
-Among other things.
How are yours?
Oh, they're fine. Thank you.
Well, you the boss of this outfit?
Mr Kershaw is our leader. Max Kershaw.
-Ah. Well, I hope we can meet.
-Well, of course.
You're obviously very well organised.
We accept the need for total discipline.
-Yes, it shows.
-Your late breakfast.
Oh, looks like real five star stuff, eh?
Hello. Thank you very much.
My name is Charles Vaughan.
-Sammy Waters, sir.
-Thank you, Sammy.
Well, that looks good.
-Home brew?
-Yes.
-For you?
-No, thank you.
Oh, that's very good.
-We are pleased with it.
-Mmm. I'm sure.
-Like everything else around here.
-That's right.
Except, perhaps, for salt.
We're a long way from the coast.
It is a problem.
Well, perhaps it might prove some
catalyst for some form
of collaboration, eh?
Mr Kershaw may consider trading,
I don't know.
-Oh. Well, why not?
-Our ideal is total self-sufficiency.
Well, it's fine for a start,
but ultimately...
What?
Well, long term survival against
external threats and so on is going to
depend on inter-settlement cooperation.
-You believe.
-Well, yes.
I don't just mean some sort of
Federal Home Guard or militia,
though that's pretty crucial,
there are lots of other aspects.
-Such as?
-The need for communications either by
connecting telephone wires or
some form of shortwave radio.
-Lots of other mutual aspects.
-Like?
Well, one settlement could specialise in
large scale soap production and another
one could go in for burning charcoal.
The industrial revolution. So soon.
Well, it doesn't have to be
big to start with.
I mean, you've got a shoemaker.
We have a doctor.
(TAPPING GLASS) You make very good wine.
-We have a salt source.
-Where?
(CHUCKLES)
-You take me to your leader.
-All in good time.
When you're all cleaned up
and presentable.
PET: We have been on the road
almost a week, you know.
I can believe it.
He's almost as high as those termies.
PET: Towel, please.
Excuse me.
Well, what system do you follow here?
-System?
-Your social organisation.
The new way of truth.
(LAUGHING) Oh! And what's that?
Foundation of the family
as a unified group.
No crude subdivisions
like individual marriages.
We're dedicated to the disciplines of
purity, selective procreation.
-Physical development.
-All this is new?
-Yes.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
The reason I said that is because,
well, apart from the eugenics bit,
it sounds a bit like
the old kibbutz system.
Mr Kershaw had studied that, of course.
You'll find we've greatly
improved on it.
Oh.
Well, as I said,
"Take me to your leader."
-So, he's a bit of a joker, is he?
-Hardly.
-What sort of a man is he?
-I don't think he has personal ambition.
-They never do to begin with.
-And their horses are in good shape.
One needed a shoe, but otherwise...
So he understands husbandry.
I should hope so.
-That hardly proves anything.
-Of course not. I just thought...
Apart from all this crud
about collaboration,
what did he say about
the actual settlement?
I suppose they have marriages
and individual families.
-I'm afraid so.
-Peasants.
-You can't expect anything else.
-Change terrifies people.
What did he say about
their work schedules?
What did he say about that side of it?
To each according to his ability,
to each according to his needs.
The old Marxist philosophy
of imagined equality.
-MAN: You'd think they'd learn.
-Old habits die hard.
But they must know about the Death.
It was the communists who manufactured
it, released it on the world.
-Surely...
-But there are some people, most people,
you could show them something
as glaring as day against night,
and they'll still deny it.
You see, change, anything new,
is instantly rejected.
-Hopeless.
-Yes.
I don't think they'll want
to stay too long.
-Good riddance.
-Hear, hear.
Yes. But we must find out
where they get the salt.
-Agreed.
-Also Vaughan's anxious to meet you.
To seduce me to federation, no doubt.
-Oh, for pete's sake, Pet, relax.
-I can't.
Look, you've had a hot bath,
you've had good grub, you've had wine,
what more do you want?
To get going.
All right.
But the horses could do with the rest.
I'll make arrangements to leave
at first light tomorrow.
You can't wait to have a go
at their leader, can you?
Well, I won't deny a certain curiosity.
More than that.
You want to recruit him, don't you?
Well, you must admit, wouldn't be
a bad settlement to join up with.
All right, they're a bit far away from
us, but with a communication system...
-Huh!
-Oh, Pet, it could work.
I wouldn't like to bet.
-Why not?
-I don't know.
There's something creepy.
Oh, nonsense.
Listen, while you were
sleeping just now,
I was watching their field workers
coming in for lunch.
-So?
-They were marching.
A dozen people in a nice, neat column.
Left, right, left, right. Halt!
So what?
The woman, Joy Dunn,
she made no bones about it.
She said they all accepted
the need for total discipline.
Even so, marching your field workers?
A bit extreme.
We're in an extreme situation,
all of us.
Well, we don't march anywhere.
Would it do any harm if we did?
Where are you going?
Wanna see if there is a chance
of getting old Jasper shod.
Let's leave, Charlie, please. Let's go.
Look, even if we're agreed on that,
you know very well we can't.
What? Why?
You know very well why.
That woman took your boots.
-Can I help you?
-Ah, just gonna check the horses.
No need, they're fine.
Really? Because the big white fellow
was losing a shoe.
That's right, sir. The groom fixed it.
Ah.
-Well, I'll just take a look.
-I told you, no need.
-Shouldn't you be tending the sick?
-Ah, well, there's need for that either.
-What do you mean?
-He snuffed it.
-Now, damn it! If you...
-No, nothing like that.
He simply crept out the hut, tried to
make off with one of the horses.
You're not serious?
Serious for him. The dogs got him.
Once again, Lord, we thank thee
for preserving us from the Death plague.
By which thee in thy infinite wisdom
sought to purge the world of sin,
ignorance, lust, sloth and corruption.
Guide us thy people, Lord.
Show us who have been chosen,
chosen to survive the holy Death.
Show us the ways of
thy eternal wisdom. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Thank you.
Now, unfortunately due to our visitors,
I must ask the members of the committee
to forego their evening activities,
but just for a while.
The rest of you, please continue.
Max.
See the man on his own.
You're more likely to get information
from him. The woman is antagonistic.
Damned people.
Oh, come on.
We don't know they mean us any harm.
No?
What about that gangster Lenny,
you said he made it perfectly clear.
Only that I had a notice
to stay clear of the horses, that's all.
-There you are.
-Maybe it's just him.
Maybe it's just his manner,
maybe he's just officious.
Damn fascist.
-Oh, nonsense, love.
-Is it?
Look, a fascist, you should have met
that lot we ran into in London.
Well, I didn't.
And this lot frightens me.
Well, why? They haven't disarmed us,
we still got the gun.
-Yeah, sure. But they've got my boots.
-For repair.
All day?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Well, how are you feeling?
Had a good rest?
-I want to know where...
-We're fine. Thank you.
It's just that Pet's a wee bit anxious
about her boots.
-Anxious?
-Well, it's just...
The shoe-man's gluing on new soles.
They'll be ready in the morning.
Oh.
Now, if you'd like to come
and meet the committee.
-We won't keep him very long.
-What about Pet?
She'll be perfectly safe.
The night patrol's on duty.
Eventually, I hope you'll be able to
address the whole community.
Perhaps in the morning.
But that will depend on Mr Kershaw.
Go on. There's a bolt.
(DOG BARKING)
The discipline of procreation.
Which amounts to what,
a programme of eugenics?
As I explained to you this morning, yes.
The controlled breeding
of a master race?
-The world has to be repopulated.
-As a matter of urgency.
Oh, I couldn't agree more.
I'm just a little suspicious
of the way you're going about it.
It would be criminal folly to resume
mating on a random basis like before.
-Really?
-Of course.
Now that we have the opportunity
for planning and selection.
Yes, but how do you plan? How do you
select for the ideal offspring?
The community decides.
Ah.
-By general consensus.
-It's a lot better than your system.
-You think so?
-Marriage, individual family units.
-All part of the old way.
-Which indisputably failed.
-Oh, come on...
-Of course it did.
Man's genetic history, Mr Vaughan,
was a disaster.
Persistent decline
both physically and intellectually.
Civilisation, so called, simply
perpetuated the survival of the weakest.
Which is why
the Death became inevitable.
Mankind had failed.
And a new way had to be found.
Ordained by God.
Are you saying that
the Death was an act of God?
The eradication of 98% of the human race
can hardly be shrugged off
as a random act of destruction.
There has to be
a higher purpose behind it. A meaning.
Well, one can of course
read a divine intent into it.
Can?
-Must.
-Well, all right...
A new way has to be found, Mr Vaughan.
It is the clear duty of those of us
chosen to survive.
-Duty.
-Chosen.
-You disagree?
-Of course we must try
and build again a new society,
one which won't make the same mistake.
But from what sub-leader Dunn tells us,
your methods are those of the old world.
-With modifications.
-From each according to his abilities,
to each according to his needs,
hardly modified.
-The old impractical communism, in fact.
-Not exactly. But what's your answer?
-Discipline.
-Dedication.
As the chosen.
What about these ideas of yours
for inter-settlement collaboration?
-What about them?
-Old ways again.
-Oh, come on...
-What's so new about federation?
There's nothing new...
You admit that is your ultimate aim,
a federation?
Yes, via trade
and a pooling of resources.
Aggression.
You call it collaboration,
to us it's pollution.
-With what?
-Old world ideas.
Creatures like those two filthy termies
you brought in here.
-You associated with them.
-Voluntarily.
We could hardly do anything else.
They found our camp, they asked to
share our fire and our shelter.
-We could hardly turn them away.
-DUNN: No?
Unlike you lot, apparently.
-We have a right to protect ourselves.
-Those two were finished.
Degenerate, filthy deranged scavengers.
-Not chosen?
-No.
-Fit only for destruction?
-For their own self destruction.
Ah, yes, except that your thug Lenny
took it on himself
to accelerate the process,
your so-called pain killer solution.
The man was dying anyway.
Oh, is that another one
of your new ways, euthanasia.
Is that why there are no
old people here? Or cripples.
Priorities, Mr Vaughan.
You must accept that survival of
the fittest is a priority.
Yes, along with your other
fascist priorities.
Like eugenics and group isolation.
They are necessary.
Look, I hope to learn
something from you people.
Some disciplines to benefit
my own settlement.
-Well, you have nothing.
-Sit down.
We have stability.
We have efficiency and purpose.
You have a police state in embryo.
Guns, drilling, uniforms...
We have no frontiers, Mr Vaughan.
Anyone can leave if he so wishes.
You telling me they don't?
Mostly, those who have chosen to leave
have been back within a week.
Begging to be allowed back in. Begging.
Well...
Well, all I can say is,
by comparison with us,
you're far too extreme.
Too advanced, I think.
Few can adapt to change easily,
Mr Vaughan.
I'm talking about qualities you've lost.
Qualities like love, human charity.
You can't exclude compassion.
You must tolerate some failure.
No.
That is precisely why it all failed
before the Death.
Through weakness,
through a criminal liberalism
which tolerated sloth and greed
and ignorance.
Then we have no mutual interests.
Don't forget your salt source,
Mr Vaughan.
I'm sorry, but as long as you
insist upon this policy of isolation,
it's quite out of the question.
-You might trade.
-Oh, that's no good.
Look, why don't you let me put my ideas
to the rest of your community.
-Why?
-Why not?
You say you're not oppressive,
you're not a police state.
All right, let me at least try them.
If so, it will have to be at assembly
in the morning.
Very well.
Then tomorrow morning, at assembly.
Chosen? By divine right?
Well, that's how at least one of them,
a very pregnant young lady
on their committee,
that's how she sees them.
-And Max Kershaw, their leader?
-Ah, well, he's less of an evangelist.
He just reckons the whole world
was incurably bent.
-What are you doing?
-Going to bed, what else.
-Bed, surely...
-Ah, relax, love.
Look, they don't mean us any harm.
It might be a virtual dictatorship,
but at least it's a benevolent one.
Take them to the woman now, Max.
Tell them to go.
-Well, I thought you wanted to...
-That was only for the committee.
We can't risk
letting this man talk to them.
His ideas are dangerous.
-Trade and federation?
-Yes.
This community believes it's special.
They are the chosen.
That policy will only work
in isolation, Max.
Our whole system depends on it.
But they believe in this system,
they're not going to believe him.
I'm not so sure.
Their moods have been changing.
We've had a good harvest.
Plenty of meat on the hoof,
wine in the vat.
No more shortages or hunger.
They're beginning to question us, Max.
The discipline, the hard graft.
They want things easier.
-I think you're mistaken.
-I'm closer to them.
I've heard the whispers,
seen the discontent.
-Why haven't you mentioned it before?
-I was controlling them.
Now, this man with his obsession
about unity.
We can't risk letting them hear him.
Forget the salt, Max.
Just get rid of them.
(DOG BARKING)
Did you hear that?
Oh, Pet.
They did murder that poor devil Kim.
(CHARLES SIGHS)
They put him out of his misery.
You're beginning to sound like them,
you know that?
Well, perhaps they're right
about being chosen.
Perhaps we were chosen.
You and me and Greg.
-And all the others.
-Amen.
(KNOCKING)
-Who's it?
-Kershaw. Let me in.
Here.
Thanks.
Put them on, take your things and go.
Now, please. The patrol won't harm you.
Why, Kershaw?
Because I can't let you face
the assembly.
-You decided I'm a bad risk?
-Will you just go?
Afraid your people might prefer
my ideas?
I'm afraid for you,
as it happens, for your safety.
Oh?
They believe in me, they believe in
everything that we're working towards.
-The new way.
-The new way, that's right, yes.
If I let you speak at the assembly,
if I let you speak
about your damn federation,
it's a heresy against
everything they believe in.
I can't answer for them,
I don't know how they might respond.
-A lynching?
-I'm just saying there's a danger.
You really got them so conditioned?
So ruled by your propaganda?
Hate the termies.
Fear outsiders to the point
of tearing them limb from limb.
They might demand your execution.
I don't know and I can't risk it.
No, you can't. But it's not our future
you're concerned for, Kershaw.
-It's yours.
-Go.
I wasn't prepared for this, you know.
Before the Death, I was
a school master teaching in Liverpool.
What I'm trying to say is that
I had strong feelings about discipline
and self sacrifice
and all that sort of thing.
But I wasn't prepared for leadership.
But they have chosen me as a leader.
And I've grown to understand them.
So, I'm telling you now,
for your own sake,
to go.
Right, let's go.
-Charlie!
-I simply don't believe him.
Does it matter? Does it?
Look, I've seen them in that
big hut there, you haven't.
I've seen the marching bit,
that's enough for me.
But that's it! They're disciplined,
they're not a mob, not a rabble.
Neither were the Nazi minions
at Nuremberg.
-Oh, come on.
-It's no different.
Conditioned by extremes of propaganda.
It's the "them and us" syndrome.
Except that we are not that far gone.
We were fanatics at first. All of us.
You remember those months
after the Death?
The anarchy, the terror.
The dreadful deprivations,
the gang rapes.
And then to find someone
like Max Kershaw.
Strong, morally strong.
The new messiah.
Of course we followed him.
And now?
Now it's the old power complex.
He's afraid of losing his grip.
Which is what is driving him
to these new extremes.
-Such as?
-What Mike told you earlier on,
about people running away.
It was a put-up job.
Trusted men like Lenny,
selected to run away.
And then come back with tales of
persisting anarchy and terror outside.
-Oh, that's cunning.
-Yes.
Sustain the myth.
The "them and us" syndrome
as you call it.
Which is precisely why he can't risk
letting you talk to them.
Letting you tell them the truth.
Why he prefers you dead.
-What?
-You imagined he'd simply let you go?
-Why not?
-I've told you. Extremes.
He sees you, your ideas,
as a sickness, as a disease.
If he were to let you go, you'd spread
the word around the other settlements.
And once you'd organised your federal
militia, you'd be back in strength.
Oh, but damn it.
That's not what federation is about.
It is to Max Kershaw.
It's a direct threat
to his supremacy as leader.
-That's insanity.
-So was Adolf Hitler, insane.
Walk through that door tonight
and you're both dead.
Murderers.
(DOG BARKING)
Keep the door bolted.
Your gun at the ready.
I can save you.
At assembly tomorrow, follow my lead.
I can sway them.
But I need your cooperation.
ALL: Amen.
KERSHAW: Thank you.
This man Charles Vaughan is from
a community to the south of here.
Now, he holds certain beliefs which,
although alien to our ideas,
may be of interest to you.
Consequently, I call on sub-leader Dunn
to examine him on those beliefs.
Mr Vaughan.
I advised you to go.
I think you might regret
that you didn't do so.
Mr Vaughan.
Now then, Mr Vaughan,
I believe you have certain criticisms
of the way this community is organised.
Yes?
Yes, I feel that compared with us,
I feel you're too extreme.
How exactly?
I think you could be carrying discipline
to dangerous lengths.
Only in the interests of survival,
I assure you, Mr Vaughan.
However, let us examine this accusation.
It's hardly an accusation.
You say, as I understood you last night,
you say we're becoming depersonalised.
That in functioning as a group family,
that is free of individual marriages
and so on,
we may be losing
certain human qualities. Yes?
CHARLES: Yes. Qualities such as love
and compassion...
-And narrow prejudices.
-Possibly.
You also condemn our programme
-of eugenics.
-I question it.
And you claim that our policy of
euthanasia is cruel.
When it's applied to old people and
the infirm, to cripples and so on, yes.
You condemn our choice of
non-cooperation
-with outside settlements?
-Most definitely, yes.
So, what's wrong with the ideal
of self-sufficiency?
Nothing for a start.
As the population grows
and stability is re-established,
then inter-settlement cooperation must
follow and the sooner we can start...
You see, Mr Vaughan,
your criticisms would carry more weight
if they were borne out
by your own actions.
-I'm sorry?
-You associated with those two termies.
What's wrong with that?
They needed help.
You brought them here.
You deliberately exposed this community
to what might have been
a contagious infection.
-But you've got quarantine facilities.
-But you didn't know that.
If this is an example
of what you mean by cooperation...
Simple compassion, human charity...
Not if we had been infected.
What you did was criminal.
A callous disregard for the safety
of these people.
(PEOPLE CLAMOURING)
-Look, what is this? A trial?
-No, Mr Vaughan.
Merely an enquiry and your criticism
of this community.
-Well, then...
-You must see
that by associating with those termies,
you exposed yourself
to their physical infection
-and to the degeneracy of their minds.
-Those two?
Proof that no matter
how innocent your intentions,
you must ultimately fail,
be dragged down to their level.
Look, you may not call this a trial,
but that's what it's turning into.
-If I'm not to be allowed to justify...
-Well, maybe it is a trial.
-Why?
-Because I, as leader, want it so.
Because I suspect that your
presence here isn't what it seems.
What do you mean?
Oh, it's not the chance intrusion,
Mr Vaughan.
It's not the Samaritan mission
it appeared to be.
Oh, no. That aspect of it
was only an opportunity
which you ceased upon
to your own advantage.
To my own...
What other motive
could I possibly have had?
The deliberate subversion
of this community.
(CROWD CHATTERING)
-Well, that's insane.
-Ridiculous.
It's not how our leader regards it.
Max Kershaw is a man of vision.
He knows the truth.
Really?
Well, if you ask me,
all he knows is fear.
Fear for his position as leader.
You say that, he doesn't.
He says this community is unique.
That we have a mission
to find the new way, that we are chosen.
Chosen by the divine authority of God.
-ALL: Hear, hear!
-Isn't that right, Max?
And you, you were chosen by God
to be our leader.
-No, Joy, I never claimed...
-No?
Don't you have divine authority?
Aren't you free to disregard compassion?
To condemn human charity as weakness
because he who speaks for God
must be right?
-No, Joy, this is absurd.
-Yes.
Yes, it is, because it's a lie.
-And everything you stand for is a lie.
-What are you talking about?
Discipline, he told you. Purity.
Hate the degenerates outside
because only we know the way.
He is degenerate.
He has lied to you,
he has resorted to criminal deceits.
No, she's mad. Don't you listen to her.
Do you deny plotting to kill
these two people last night?
-Do you?
-Well, of course I deny it.
Did he come to you? Did he urge you
to make a run for it? Did he?
-Yes, he did.
-You heard him.
And I was to be their executioner.
Oh, this is a fabrication,
every single word of it!
Lenny, you were on duty.
Did you see him?
-No.
-At least let him answer.
Did you see our leader
go to their hut last night?
Yes or no.
Yes, yes he went there.
Well, it was her idea.
Mine? You're the leader,
you give the orders.
But she urged me to warn these two off.
Max, please, no more lies.
He's afraid.
Afraid of letting you
listen to this man,
terrified of your learning the truth
about the outside.
No! No! Listen to me!
For some reason
she is trying to deceive you.
He is a liar!
This man has just lied to you all along.
Jack, Fiona, Lenny,
when you ran away and came back,
was that all a put-up job?
Was it? Lenny?
-Yes, yes, it was.
-And you two?
-But you were party to that.
-Only because you ordered it.
Now, now he resorts even to murder.
These two people whose only crime
was to question his power over you.
Now, listen to me. All of you, listen!
Now, she talks of power.
She is the one who is after power.
Can't you see?
DUNN: All right?
PET: That depends.
DUNN: On?
What you've got planned for Max Kershaw?
-The firing squad?
-We're not barbarians.
The usual penalty is banishment.
-He is far more use to me here.
-Hmm?
He's been discredited.
I shall appeal for clemency.
The new regime is much more humane.
He remains here as proof of that.
Hey!
-Where's the salt?
-I gave it.
-What?
-Forget it.
-You gave it to them?
-I wanted to get away.
She set us up, didn't she? Used us.
Yes, Kershaw was becoming
increasingly more extreme,
power going to his head. He was a threat
to their future survival.
Hers you mean. Didn't you notice?
All the other women
were either pregnant or suckling.
Well, if nothing else,
it qualifies her a true survivor.
And a sure-fire candidate
for your first federal prime minister!
(CHARLES LAUGHING)
Well, she's certainly a politician.
And they are always the survivors.
There must be somewhere suitable.
Whoa.
How about over there?
Well, it could be. Here.
Got to find somewhere before dark.
Yes.
Here.
Right, let's go.
-Seems fine, eh?
-Yes.
-Not just for a night's shelter either.
-Hmm?
Give it a bit of fiddling,
I reckon I could get this lot working.
Hey! You mean re-shoe Jasper?
I might manage it.
A botched up retread job at least.
Must be something to match
his hoof size around here.
Certainly save your shoe leather
if you could.
Exactly.
-Just one thing.
-Hmm?
You're not chewing anything
this evening on account of
this here is reserved.
-For?
-Cooking!
Oh, that's better.
-Lucky find.
-Handy for the horses, too.
(BIRD SCREECHING)
Odd there aren't more settlements
around here. You don't think...
Shh!
(SCREECHING)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
MAN: Hello in there.
-Who are you?
-Travellers.
-How many?
-Two. In friendship. No weapons.
-Are you well?
-Yeah. Quite well.
Show yourselves, please.
Kim. Nancy.
Greetings in love, brother.
Welcome.
Saw the fire.
Welcome. We're Charles and Pet.
She's dumb.
All right if we kip in with you then,
share the fire?
-Why not?
-Get the cart, kid.
Good place.
Yes. As long as it doesn't rain.
There's also a forge
to re-shoe the horses.
-You've got horses?
-Yes.
We're on our way back to our settlement
a couple of days south of here.
Where are you from?
Around.
I was in Birmingham at first.
-Then...
-What was it like, in the city?
All right at first light,
once you got used to the smell, great.
But?
Had us a load of gear stored away,
didn't we?
Plenty of stuff.
Some kids got onto us.
-Kids?
-Did us over, see.
-Oh, that's tough.
-(SCOFFS) That's the town.
So, then you decided to
try your luck in the country?
Some luck.
Oh, why haven't you
tried to join a settlement?
That's not our bag, is it?
Well, it's better than just
wandering around, surely?
Yeah. Like that mob down the road?
-What mob?
-About five miles, that way.
-How many?
-Never had time to find out, did we?
We left in a bit of a hurry.
Surely, with a limp like yours,
you can't afford to be choosy.
Not us. Them.
Don't want to know. Just dirty hippies,
that's what we are to them.
Don't want to know.
I see.
Would you like a little meat? Rabbit.
I think we might manage them
a little salt too, eh, Pet?
KIM: Great. Salt!
-Hey, where'd you get it?
-Old place up near Chester.
Natural brine ponds.
It's just lying there
thick as syrup in these caves.
-Yeah? That where you been?
-Yes.
We thought we had enough.
But you get through it fast
when you preserve with it.
Here.
-What happened?
-You what?
Has Nancy always been mute like this?
Not like when we first met up.
No, not then.
Had this nipper, didn't she?
Little baby boy.
Rats got it, didn't they?
-Oh, no!
-They're packs of them, see.
In the town. Hunt in packs.
-I'm sorry.
-Leave her.
Don't need your pity.
We'll make out, see.
(CHARLES SIGHS)
Oh!
-Fleas?
-Mmm.
(SIGHS)
Oh, well.
I suppose we could
hardly bar the door to them.
I suppose not.
They've had it, haven't they?
I mean, they can't come to us.
(KIM GROANING)
CHARLES: Hmm.
PET: It's so ironic. Survived the Death
itself and then go under with the shock.
Yes. Except there's no need.
-I wouldn't give this couple very long.
-Oh, I don't know. Given the right help.
(KIM GROANING)
But we're not on this trip to pick up
deranged vagrants.
(RETCHING)
Lord, what now?
Poor devil.
(KIM RETCHING CONTINUOUSLY)
The way they both gulped down that stew,
it's hardly surprising.
Burning...
(KIM RETCHING LOUDLY)
Easy now. What's the matter?
Lungs, throat, burning...
Quickly. Try and get them to drink
as much water as possible.
-But, Charlie...
-Quickly. I saddle up the horses.
-What, and leave them?
-No, no, no, no.
Take them to the settlement
he mentioned down the road.
-In the dark?
-Oh, come on. It'll soon be light.
Well, come on.
(GROANING)
This must be the place.
We're nearly there.
(LOW GROWLING)
Hold it.
-Hello, there.
-What are you after?
-Well, we want some help, actually.
-Keep back.
Uh, look, it's all right,
but we met this couple, you see.
And you can see for yourself
what state they're in.
-Get going.
-Oh, now wait.
You heard.
They're ill.
Had them crawling around here yesterday.
-Get.
-They could die.
Better them than us.
-Now, listen...
-Look.
Haven't you got some sort of
quarantine quarters or something?
Sure. But not for filthy
scavengers like them.
We've got something to trade.
We can pay for the help.
-Pay?
-Yes.
With salt.
For mercy's sake.
All right. But you two,
you're in quarantine with them.
Anything.
The isolation hut. Over there.
-You got a doctor?
-That depends.
Depends. Depends on what?
The committee.
It's like a palace.
It makes our quarantine quarters
look a bit scant.
-They've got paraffin, too.
-Yes, and water.
Get them to drink
as much as we can. Here.
You hold them.
Come on, sit up.
Now, drink.
-Swallow. Swallow, come on.
-Come on.
See what they've got over there.
Come on.
Penicillin, tetracycline.
Drink.
-Various ointments, ear and eye drops.
-Drink it all. Drink it all.
Well, over cautious or not,
they're certainly well organised.
(NANCY CRYING IN PAIN)
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
Toes.
Again.
Again.
Lunge.
Push.
Again.
Again.
And...
Down.
Swing.
Heave.
And rest.
(PEOPLE MURMURING)
Well, Leonard, let's have it.
Well, they say they're from a settlement
to the south of here.
Seems they were camped down the road
and these two termies pitched up.
Around dawn, the termies got sick
so they brought them down here.
-That was presumptuous.
-Sir.
But why, Lenny? You know the rules.
Why'd you allow them in?
Well, they've got salt.
Really.
-Yes, we wondered.
-Of course, as soon as I heard that...
So, what's up with these two termies?
-They're both in a bad way.
-We'll go and check.
-And take care.
-Yes. Of course.
Lenny.
-Is your settlement south of here?
-Yes, that's right.
Where'd you get all this salt?
(CHUCKLES) That's a trade secret.
What's the matter with
these two termies you brought in?
-The what?
-Termies.
Terminals, zombies, vagrants, dropouts,
whatever you call them.
Oh, uh, I should say from the symptoms,
the way it suddenly hit them,
food poisoning.
-Are you two all right?
-Yes.
Any idea what they were eating?
(NANCY GROANING IN PAIN)
A stew of some kind.
They had a cart with them yesterday.
Where is that?
There's some outhouses
a way up the road.
We'll check.
(NANCY SCREAMING IN PAIN)
Would you have
a medical adviser of any kind?
No.
For pete's sake, be quick.
Gone?
What do we do?
There's not much we can do,
is there, stuck in here?
Damn these people.
Why?
We'd do the same thing.
-Would we?
-In these circumstances, yes.
You can't take health risks.
Nobody coming in
and infecting an entire settlement.
Burn it.
(STRUMMING)
-Electric.
-Come on, Sammy, hurry up.
-Oh, no.
-What's the matter?
That's it.
Some of our seed wheat.
From the store?
-Well...
-Well, from where?
-Was it in the store?
-No.
I left it in the shed.
In the little one
out by the planting field.
And now...
Oh, dear God!
It's all right, Sammy.
For once, you made the right mistake.
-She's dead?
-Yes.
What about him?
-Seems to be just a shade better.
-No.
We've been forcing him to drink as much
water as possible. Seems to help.
-Not for long.
-What do you mean?
They stole some of our seed wheat.
It's dressed with mangano oxide powder.
-It's a fungicide containing mercury.
-Oh, my God!
According to our medical books,
if his heart's strong enough
to withstand the initial shock,
he'll die of a kidney failure
within a fortnight.
-Now, if you'd like to come with me?
-Where?
Oh, we find you somewhere
a bit more civilised.
You both look as though
you could use a hot bath.
-Well, I...
-Well, come along, then.
Oh, wait a minute. What about him?
-Lenny will look after him.
-Yes. How?
I imagine a strong pain killer would be
the most effective treatment, Lenny.
-Right.
-Come along.
-All right?
-PET: Hmm! Bliss.
-Nice and warm, is it?
-Ooh! Lovely.
I'll get these sewed up for her.
-You have a shoemaker?
-Among other things.
How are yours?
Oh, they're fine. Thank you.
Well, you the boss of this outfit?
Mr Kershaw is our leader. Max Kershaw.
-Ah. Well, I hope we can meet.
-Well, of course.
You're obviously very well organised.
We accept the need for total discipline.
-Yes, it shows.
-Your late breakfast.
Oh, looks like real five star stuff, eh?
Hello. Thank you very much.
My name is Charles Vaughan.
-Sammy Waters, sir.
-Thank you, Sammy.
Well, that looks good.
-Home brew?
-Yes.
-For you?
-No, thank you.
Oh, that's very good.
-We are pleased with it.
-Mmm. I'm sure.
-Like everything else around here.
-That's right.
Except, perhaps, for salt.
We're a long way from the coast.
It is a problem.
Well, perhaps it might prove some
catalyst for some form
of collaboration, eh?
Mr Kershaw may consider trading,
I don't know.
-Oh. Well, why not?
-Our ideal is total self-sufficiency.
Well, it's fine for a start,
but ultimately...
What?
Well, long term survival against
external threats and so on is going to
depend on inter-settlement cooperation.
-You believe.
-Well, yes.
I don't just mean some sort of
Federal Home Guard or militia,
though that's pretty crucial,
there are lots of other aspects.
-Such as?
-The need for communications either by
connecting telephone wires or
some form of shortwave radio.
-Lots of other mutual aspects.
-Like?
Well, one settlement could specialise in
large scale soap production and another
one could go in for burning charcoal.
The industrial revolution. So soon.
Well, it doesn't have to be
big to start with.
I mean, you've got a shoemaker.
We have a doctor.
(TAPPING GLASS) You make very good wine.
-We have a salt source.
-Where?
(CHUCKLES)
-You take me to your leader.
-All in good time.
When you're all cleaned up
and presentable.
PET: We have been on the road
almost a week, you know.
I can believe it.
He's almost as high as those termies.
PET: Towel, please.
Excuse me.
Well, what system do you follow here?
-System?
-Your social organisation.
The new way of truth.
(LAUGHING) Oh! And what's that?
Foundation of the family
as a unified group.
No crude subdivisions
like individual marriages.
We're dedicated to the disciplines of
purity, selective procreation.
-Physical development.
-All this is new?
-Yes.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
The reason I said that is because,
well, apart from the eugenics bit,
it sounds a bit like
the old kibbutz system.
Mr Kershaw had studied that, of course.
You'll find we've greatly
improved on it.
Oh.
Well, as I said,
"Take me to your leader."
-So, he's a bit of a joker, is he?
-Hardly.
-What sort of a man is he?
-I don't think he has personal ambition.
-They never do to begin with.
-And their horses are in good shape.
One needed a shoe, but otherwise...
So he understands husbandry.
I should hope so.
-That hardly proves anything.
-Of course not. I just thought...
Apart from all this crud
about collaboration,
what did he say about
the actual settlement?
I suppose they have marriages
and individual families.
-I'm afraid so.
-Peasants.
-You can't expect anything else.
-Change terrifies people.
What did he say about
their work schedules?
What did he say about that side of it?
To each according to his ability,
to each according to his needs.
The old Marxist philosophy
of imagined equality.
-MAN: You'd think they'd learn.
-Old habits die hard.
But they must know about the Death.
It was the communists who manufactured
it, released it on the world.
-Surely...
-But there are some people, most people,
you could show them something
as glaring as day against night,
and they'll still deny it.
You see, change, anything new,
is instantly rejected.
-Hopeless.
-Yes.
I don't think they'll want
to stay too long.
-Good riddance.
-Hear, hear.
Yes. But we must find out
where they get the salt.
-Agreed.
-Also Vaughan's anxious to meet you.
To seduce me to federation, no doubt.
-Oh, for pete's sake, Pet, relax.
-I can't.
Look, you've had a hot bath,
you've had good grub, you've had wine,
what more do you want?
To get going.
All right.
But the horses could do with the rest.
I'll make arrangements to leave
at first light tomorrow.
You can't wait to have a go
at their leader, can you?
Well, I won't deny a certain curiosity.
More than that.
You want to recruit him, don't you?
Well, you must admit, wouldn't be
a bad settlement to join up with.
All right, they're a bit far away from
us, but with a communication system...
-Huh!
-Oh, Pet, it could work.
I wouldn't like to bet.
-Why not?
-I don't know.
There's something creepy.
Oh, nonsense.
Listen, while you were
sleeping just now,
I was watching their field workers
coming in for lunch.
-So?
-They were marching.
A dozen people in a nice, neat column.
Left, right, left, right. Halt!
So what?
The woman, Joy Dunn,
she made no bones about it.
She said they all accepted
the need for total discipline.
Even so, marching your field workers?
A bit extreme.
We're in an extreme situation,
all of us.
Well, we don't march anywhere.
Would it do any harm if we did?
Where are you going?
Wanna see if there is a chance
of getting old Jasper shod.
Let's leave, Charlie, please. Let's go.
Look, even if we're agreed on that,
you know very well we can't.
What? Why?
You know very well why.
That woman took your boots.
-Can I help you?
-Ah, just gonna check the horses.
No need, they're fine.
Really? Because the big white fellow
was losing a shoe.
That's right, sir. The groom fixed it.
Ah.
-Well, I'll just take a look.
-I told you, no need.
-Shouldn't you be tending the sick?
-Ah, well, there's need for that either.
-What do you mean?
-He snuffed it.
-Now, damn it! If you...
-No, nothing like that.
He simply crept out the hut, tried to
make off with one of the horses.
You're not serious?
Serious for him. The dogs got him.
Once again, Lord, we thank thee
for preserving us from the Death plague.
By which thee in thy infinite wisdom
sought to purge the world of sin,
ignorance, lust, sloth and corruption.
Guide us thy people, Lord.
Show us who have been chosen,
chosen to survive the holy Death.
Show us the ways of
thy eternal wisdom. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Thank you.
Now, unfortunately due to our visitors,
I must ask the members of the committee
to forego their evening activities,
but just for a while.
The rest of you, please continue.
Max.
See the man on his own.
You're more likely to get information
from him. The woman is antagonistic.
Damned people.
Oh, come on.
We don't know they mean us any harm.
No?
What about that gangster Lenny,
you said he made it perfectly clear.
Only that I had a notice
to stay clear of the horses, that's all.
-There you are.
-Maybe it's just him.
Maybe it's just his manner,
maybe he's just officious.
Damn fascist.
-Oh, nonsense, love.
-Is it?
Look, a fascist, you should have met
that lot we ran into in London.
Well, I didn't.
And this lot frightens me.
Well, why? They haven't disarmed us,
we still got the gun.
-Yeah, sure. But they've got my boots.
-For repair.
All day?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Well, how are you feeling?
Had a good rest?
-I want to know where...
-We're fine. Thank you.
It's just that Pet's a wee bit anxious
about her boots.
-Anxious?
-Well, it's just...
The shoe-man's gluing on new soles.
They'll be ready in the morning.
Oh.
Now, if you'd like to come
and meet the committee.
-We won't keep him very long.
-What about Pet?
She'll be perfectly safe.
The night patrol's on duty.
Eventually, I hope you'll be able to
address the whole community.
Perhaps in the morning.
But that will depend on Mr Kershaw.
Go on. There's a bolt.
(DOG BARKING)
The discipline of procreation.
Which amounts to what,
a programme of eugenics?
As I explained to you this morning, yes.
The controlled breeding
of a master race?
-The world has to be repopulated.
-As a matter of urgency.
Oh, I couldn't agree more.
I'm just a little suspicious
of the way you're going about it.
It would be criminal folly to resume
mating on a random basis like before.
-Really?
-Of course.
Now that we have the opportunity
for planning and selection.
Yes, but how do you plan? How do you
select for the ideal offspring?
The community decides.
Ah.
-By general consensus.
-It's a lot better than your system.
-You think so?
-Marriage, individual family units.
-All part of the old way.
-Which indisputably failed.
-Oh, come on...
-Of course it did.
Man's genetic history, Mr Vaughan,
was a disaster.
Persistent decline
both physically and intellectually.
Civilisation, so called, simply
perpetuated the survival of the weakest.
Which is why
the Death became inevitable.
Mankind had failed.
And a new way had to be found.
Ordained by God.
Are you saying that
the Death was an act of God?
The eradication of 98% of the human race
can hardly be shrugged off
as a random act of destruction.
There has to be
a higher purpose behind it. A meaning.
Well, one can of course
read a divine intent into it.
Can?
-Must.
-Well, all right...
A new way has to be found, Mr Vaughan.
It is the clear duty of those of us
chosen to survive.
-Duty.
-Chosen.
-You disagree?
-Of course we must try
and build again a new society,
one which won't make the same mistake.
But from what sub-leader Dunn tells us,
your methods are those of the old world.
-With modifications.
-From each according to his abilities,
to each according to his needs,
hardly modified.
-The old impractical communism, in fact.
-Not exactly. But what's your answer?
-Discipline.
-Dedication.
As the chosen.
What about these ideas of yours
for inter-settlement collaboration?
-What about them?
-Old ways again.
-Oh, come on...
-What's so new about federation?
There's nothing new...
You admit that is your ultimate aim,
a federation?
Yes, via trade
and a pooling of resources.
Aggression.
You call it collaboration,
to us it's pollution.
-With what?
-Old world ideas.
Creatures like those two filthy termies
you brought in here.
-You associated with them.
-Voluntarily.
We could hardly do anything else.
They found our camp, they asked to
share our fire and our shelter.
-We could hardly turn them away.
-DUNN: No?
Unlike you lot, apparently.
-We have a right to protect ourselves.
-Those two were finished.
Degenerate, filthy deranged scavengers.
-Not chosen?
-No.
-Fit only for destruction?
-For their own self destruction.
Ah, yes, except that your thug Lenny
took it on himself
to accelerate the process,
your so-called pain killer solution.
The man was dying anyway.
Oh, is that another one
of your new ways, euthanasia.
Is that why there are no
old people here? Or cripples.
Priorities, Mr Vaughan.
You must accept that survival of
the fittest is a priority.
Yes, along with your other
fascist priorities.
Like eugenics and group isolation.
They are necessary.
Look, I hope to learn
something from you people.
Some disciplines to benefit
my own settlement.
-Well, you have nothing.
-Sit down.
We have stability.
We have efficiency and purpose.
You have a police state in embryo.
Guns, drilling, uniforms...
We have no frontiers, Mr Vaughan.
Anyone can leave if he so wishes.
You telling me they don't?
Mostly, those who have chosen to leave
have been back within a week.
Begging to be allowed back in. Begging.
Well...
Well, all I can say is,
by comparison with us,
you're far too extreme.
Too advanced, I think.
Few can adapt to change easily,
Mr Vaughan.
I'm talking about qualities you've lost.
Qualities like love, human charity.
You can't exclude compassion.
You must tolerate some failure.
No.
That is precisely why it all failed
before the Death.
Through weakness,
through a criminal liberalism
which tolerated sloth and greed
and ignorance.
Then we have no mutual interests.
Don't forget your salt source,
Mr Vaughan.
I'm sorry, but as long as you
insist upon this policy of isolation,
it's quite out of the question.
-You might trade.
-Oh, that's no good.
Look, why don't you let me put my ideas
to the rest of your community.
-Why?
-Why not?
You say you're not oppressive,
you're not a police state.
All right, let me at least try them.
If so, it will have to be at assembly
in the morning.
Very well.
Then tomorrow morning, at assembly.
Chosen? By divine right?
Well, that's how at least one of them,
a very pregnant young lady
on their committee,
that's how she sees them.
-And Max Kershaw, their leader?
-Ah, well, he's less of an evangelist.
He just reckons the whole world
was incurably bent.
-What are you doing?
-Going to bed, what else.
-Bed, surely...
-Ah, relax, love.
Look, they don't mean us any harm.
It might be a virtual dictatorship,
but at least it's a benevolent one.
Take them to the woman now, Max.
Tell them to go.
-Well, I thought you wanted to...
-That was only for the committee.
We can't risk
letting this man talk to them.
His ideas are dangerous.
-Trade and federation?
-Yes.
This community believes it's special.
They are the chosen.
That policy will only work
in isolation, Max.
Our whole system depends on it.
But they believe in this system,
they're not going to believe him.
I'm not so sure.
Their moods have been changing.
We've had a good harvest.
Plenty of meat on the hoof,
wine in the vat.
No more shortages or hunger.
They're beginning to question us, Max.
The discipline, the hard graft.
They want things easier.
-I think you're mistaken.
-I'm closer to them.
I've heard the whispers,
seen the discontent.
-Why haven't you mentioned it before?
-I was controlling them.
Now, this man with his obsession
about unity.
We can't risk letting them hear him.
Forget the salt, Max.
Just get rid of them.
(DOG BARKING)
Did you hear that?
Oh, Pet.
They did murder that poor devil Kim.
(CHARLES SIGHS)
They put him out of his misery.
You're beginning to sound like them,
you know that?
Well, perhaps they're right
about being chosen.
Perhaps we were chosen.
You and me and Greg.
-And all the others.
-Amen.
(KNOCKING)
-Who's it?
-Kershaw. Let me in.
Here.
Thanks.
Put them on, take your things and go.
Now, please. The patrol won't harm you.
Why, Kershaw?
Because I can't let you face
the assembly.
-You decided I'm a bad risk?
-Will you just go?
Afraid your people might prefer
my ideas?
I'm afraid for you,
as it happens, for your safety.
Oh?
They believe in me, they believe in
everything that we're working towards.
-The new way.
-The new way, that's right, yes.
If I let you speak at the assembly,
if I let you speak
about your damn federation,
it's a heresy against
everything they believe in.
I can't answer for them,
I don't know how they might respond.
-A lynching?
-I'm just saying there's a danger.
You really got them so conditioned?
So ruled by your propaganda?
Hate the termies.
Fear outsiders to the point
of tearing them limb from limb.
They might demand your execution.
I don't know and I can't risk it.
No, you can't. But it's not our future
you're concerned for, Kershaw.
-It's yours.
-Go.
I wasn't prepared for this, you know.
Before the Death, I was
a school master teaching in Liverpool.
What I'm trying to say is that
I had strong feelings about discipline
and self sacrifice
and all that sort of thing.
But I wasn't prepared for leadership.
But they have chosen me as a leader.
And I've grown to understand them.
So, I'm telling you now,
for your own sake,
to go.
Right, let's go.
-Charlie!
-I simply don't believe him.
Does it matter? Does it?
Look, I've seen them in that
big hut there, you haven't.
I've seen the marching bit,
that's enough for me.
But that's it! They're disciplined,
they're not a mob, not a rabble.
Neither were the Nazi minions
at Nuremberg.
-Oh, come on.
-It's no different.
Conditioned by extremes of propaganda.
It's the "them and us" syndrome.
Except that we are not that far gone.
We were fanatics at first. All of us.
You remember those months
after the Death?
The anarchy, the terror.
The dreadful deprivations,
the gang rapes.
And then to find someone
like Max Kershaw.
Strong, morally strong.
The new messiah.
Of course we followed him.
And now?
Now it's the old power complex.
He's afraid of losing his grip.
Which is what is driving him
to these new extremes.
-Such as?
-What Mike told you earlier on,
about people running away.
It was a put-up job.
Trusted men like Lenny,
selected to run away.
And then come back with tales of
persisting anarchy and terror outside.
-Oh, that's cunning.
-Yes.
Sustain the myth.
The "them and us" syndrome
as you call it.
Which is precisely why he can't risk
letting you talk to them.
Letting you tell them the truth.
Why he prefers you dead.
-What?
-You imagined he'd simply let you go?
-Why not?
-I've told you. Extremes.
He sees you, your ideas,
as a sickness, as a disease.
If he were to let you go, you'd spread
the word around the other settlements.
And once you'd organised your federal
militia, you'd be back in strength.
Oh, but damn it.
That's not what federation is about.
It is to Max Kershaw.
It's a direct threat
to his supremacy as leader.
-That's insanity.
-So was Adolf Hitler, insane.
Walk through that door tonight
and you're both dead.
Murderers.
(DOG BARKING)
Keep the door bolted.
Your gun at the ready.
I can save you.
At assembly tomorrow, follow my lead.
I can sway them.
But I need your cooperation.
ALL: Amen.
KERSHAW: Thank you.
This man Charles Vaughan is from
a community to the south of here.
Now, he holds certain beliefs which,
although alien to our ideas,
may be of interest to you.
Consequently, I call on sub-leader Dunn
to examine him on those beliefs.
Mr Vaughan.
I advised you to go.
I think you might regret
that you didn't do so.
Mr Vaughan.
Now then, Mr Vaughan,
I believe you have certain criticisms
of the way this community is organised.
Yes?
Yes, I feel that compared with us,
I feel you're too extreme.
How exactly?
I think you could be carrying discipline
to dangerous lengths.
Only in the interests of survival,
I assure you, Mr Vaughan.
However, let us examine this accusation.
It's hardly an accusation.
You say, as I understood you last night,
you say we're becoming depersonalised.
That in functioning as a group family,
that is free of individual marriages
and so on,
we may be losing
certain human qualities. Yes?
CHARLES: Yes. Qualities such as love
and compassion...
-And narrow prejudices.
-Possibly.
You also condemn our programme
-of eugenics.
-I question it.
And you claim that our policy of
euthanasia is cruel.
When it's applied to old people and
the infirm, to cripples and so on, yes.
You condemn our choice of
non-cooperation
-with outside settlements?
-Most definitely, yes.
So, what's wrong with the ideal
of self-sufficiency?
Nothing for a start.
As the population grows
and stability is re-established,
then inter-settlement cooperation must
follow and the sooner we can start...
You see, Mr Vaughan,
your criticisms would carry more weight
if they were borne out
by your own actions.
-I'm sorry?
-You associated with those two termies.
What's wrong with that?
They needed help.
You brought them here.
You deliberately exposed this community
to what might have been
a contagious infection.
-But you've got quarantine facilities.
-But you didn't know that.
If this is an example
of what you mean by cooperation...
Simple compassion, human charity...
Not if we had been infected.
What you did was criminal.
A callous disregard for the safety
of these people.
(PEOPLE CLAMOURING)
-Look, what is this? A trial?
-No, Mr Vaughan.
Merely an enquiry and your criticism
of this community.
-Well, then...
-You must see
that by associating with those termies,
you exposed yourself
to their physical infection
-and to the degeneracy of their minds.
-Those two?
Proof that no matter
how innocent your intentions,
you must ultimately fail,
be dragged down to their level.
Look, you may not call this a trial,
but that's what it's turning into.
-If I'm not to be allowed to justify...
-Well, maybe it is a trial.
-Why?
-Because I, as leader, want it so.
Because I suspect that your
presence here isn't what it seems.
What do you mean?
Oh, it's not the chance intrusion,
Mr Vaughan.
It's not the Samaritan mission
it appeared to be.
Oh, no. That aspect of it
was only an opportunity
which you ceased upon
to your own advantage.
To my own...
What other motive
could I possibly have had?
The deliberate subversion
of this community.
(CROWD CHATTERING)
-Well, that's insane.
-Ridiculous.
It's not how our leader regards it.
Max Kershaw is a man of vision.
He knows the truth.
Really?
Well, if you ask me,
all he knows is fear.
Fear for his position as leader.
You say that, he doesn't.
He says this community is unique.
That we have a mission
to find the new way, that we are chosen.
Chosen by the divine authority of God.
-ALL: Hear, hear!
-Isn't that right, Max?
And you, you were chosen by God
to be our leader.
-No, Joy, I never claimed...
-No?
Don't you have divine authority?
Aren't you free to disregard compassion?
To condemn human charity as weakness
because he who speaks for God
must be right?
-No, Joy, this is absurd.
-Yes.
Yes, it is, because it's a lie.
-And everything you stand for is a lie.
-What are you talking about?
Discipline, he told you. Purity.
Hate the degenerates outside
because only we know the way.
He is degenerate.
He has lied to you,
he has resorted to criminal deceits.
No, she's mad. Don't you listen to her.
Do you deny plotting to kill
these two people last night?
-Do you?
-Well, of course I deny it.
Did he come to you? Did he urge you
to make a run for it? Did he?
-Yes, he did.
-You heard him.
And I was to be their executioner.
Oh, this is a fabrication,
every single word of it!
Lenny, you were on duty.
Did you see him?
-No.
-At least let him answer.
Did you see our leader
go to their hut last night?
Yes or no.
Yes, yes he went there.
Well, it was her idea.
Mine? You're the leader,
you give the orders.
But she urged me to warn these two off.
Max, please, no more lies.
He's afraid.
Afraid of letting you
listen to this man,
terrified of your learning the truth
about the outside.
No! No! Listen to me!
For some reason
she is trying to deceive you.
He is a liar!
This man has just lied to you all along.
Jack, Fiona, Lenny,
when you ran away and came back,
was that all a put-up job?
Was it? Lenny?
-Yes, yes, it was.
-And you two?
-But you were party to that.
-Only because you ordered it.
Now, now he resorts even to murder.
These two people whose only crime
was to question his power over you.
Now, listen to me. All of you, listen!
Now, she talks of power.
She is the one who is after power.
Can't you see?
DUNN: All right?
PET: That depends.
DUNN: On?
What you've got planned for Max Kershaw?
-The firing squad?
-We're not barbarians.
The usual penalty is banishment.
-He is far more use to me here.
-Hmm?
He's been discredited.
I shall appeal for clemency.
The new regime is much more humane.
He remains here as proof of that.
Hey!
-Where's the salt?
-I gave it.
-What?
-Forget it.
-You gave it to them?
-I wanted to get away.
She set us up, didn't she? Used us.
Yes, Kershaw was becoming
increasingly more extreme,
power going to his head. He was a threat
to their future survival.
Hers you mean. Didn't you notice?
All the other women
were either pregnant or suckling.
Well, if nothing else,
it qualifies her a true survivor.
And a sure-fire candidate
for your first federal prime minister!
(CHARLES LAUGHING)
Well, she's certainly a politician.
And they are always the survivors.