Vic Thatcher is feeling very depressed. While most of the others are out haymaking, he makes a half hearted attempt to shoot himself. He seems to be feeling left out and useless, and that his job as teacher to the children is worthless.Greg and Paul risk a trip into a
town to try to find him a wheelchair so he can get around. They find one in a school, and also decide to bring back a supply of books and other teaching aids, which might help Vic teach more than just 'reading and sums'.
As he is unloading back at the house, Paul sees a lorry coming up the drive. It is a petrol tanker, and inside are 'a bloke and a posh chick', in fact it's Anne Tranter and the man she currently has in tow, who is called Donny. She
is as obnoxious as ever. The tanker is over half full of petrol.
Greg and Anne recognise each other straight away (it's 6 months since the events of episode 2). Greg tells her that Vic is alive and with them in the community. This makes Anne very nervous, and she asks if she can stay upstairs where Vic won't be able to get to her. Greg thinks it better that Vic doesn't know of Anne's arrival.
Donny and Greg join the haymaking party - Greg fills Abby in
on the story of Anne and Vic. She thinks it best that Anne does not stay, however they both feel that the petrol and Donny would be valuable additions to the community.
Meanwhile, back at the house, the children tell Vic of the new arrivals. Vic wonders if the new woman is the same Anne that abandoned him - now he is mobile in his new wheelchair, he decides to go in search of her. He hears her calling out to Donny as he returns from the fields, and
recognises her voice.
Donny doesn't know about Vic, and Anne persuades him that they should leave after the evening meal. Anne stays upstairs to eat, but at the meal Vic says he'd like her to come down so they can clear the air. In front of Anne, Vic tells them all the story, which she admits is true. Donny decides to stay on after all, and Vic tries to persuade Anne to stay also, but she decides she'll leave in the morning.
That night Anne sits upstairs in
the dark, wide awake, while Vic prowls around the foot of the stairs in his wheelchair. Eventually he decides to drag himself up the stairs, pulling himself up on the banister.
Anne had anticipated this, and is waiting for him at the top of the stairs armed with a nasty looking curved-bladed knife. Vic breaks down, and asks Anne to use the knife on him and put him out of his misery - Anne's heartless nature falters for a moment and she drops the
knife and bends to comfort him. Vic takes the chance he's been working for and grabs Anne by the throat and starts to squeeze. Anne tries to reason with him, saying that what she did was just her way of ensuring her own survival. Vic finds he can't go through with the killing anyway. They stay together until first light, when Anne leaves.
Vic watches her walking alone up the driveway in her fur coat and into the distance.
