Later, a group of young people arrive, horrifying Jack and the children by apparently slaughtering the cattle...
Ruth explains that the youngsters are the survivors from the stricken settlement she has tried to help. They are the NEW ARRIVALS, and their leader, Mark Carter has in fact been treating ‘clover bloat’ amongst the stock.
Just as a new era of efficiency appears to be dawning at Whitecross, Arthur’s condition worsens...
Carter becomes isolated in his scheme to take over the community as his young companions begin to warm to their hosts. Fun-loving Melanie taunts Carter with
his failings at their former settlement. She generally flirts about the place, casting her spell over all and sundry, seeming not to care about anything other than enjoying life...
Arthur has died, and now Jack falls ill. Although Ruth is satisfied the sickness is not generally fatal, it becomes clear that community morale is now so low that her patients are unable to rally. Pet convinces Charles that Carter’s growing influence on the community is to blame. His policy of intensive labour is the wrong kind of leadership lacking “tolerance and guidance”.
It becomes evident that Carter’s former community collapsed for these very reasons and a confrontation takes place during a mass meeting in the Whitecross yard. Greg finally exposes Carter’s dangerous intolerance and its consequences. The ‘guru’ is unmasked, and his companions desert him for the far more humane leadership of Charles Vaughan.
Writer Roger Parkes brings his considerable agricultural knowledge to SURVIVORS with this episode. It is a matter of speculation as to whether Roger’s experiences of farming may have led him to question whether ‘efficiency’ alone leads to success.
NEW ARRIVALS, recorded in May ’76, is director Pennant Roberts’ final contribution to SURVIVORS. His direction is particularly kind to actress Celia Gregory; certain shots are virtual works of art, combined with the make-up skills of Eileen Mair.
Steve Brailsford
