The final episode of Survivors
deals with the remnants of Mankind's efforts to get things back to the way they were before the plague. The villain of the piece, Sam, questions whether that is such a good idea.
Sam is travelling to the Highlands of Scotland assisting former Electricity Board engineer Alec Campbell, in his bid to restore electric power to the UK by activating the Hydro-Electric power stations in the region. On their way, they have stopped at every substation to switch off all the supplies to
prevent an overload at switch on.
The episode begins with Sam deceiving Alec that there had not been a train passing where they had camped for the night, when in fact there had been. That train was carrying Charles Vaughan, Jenny Richards, Hubert and Tom. They were travelling North to meet up with Alec and Sam.
The train breaks down and Charles and Jenny seek help, to be met by the local Laird Mc.Allister, who invites them to lunch. He tells them that the plague
had not taken hold quite so much in the Highlands, and there were still about 50,000 people living in Scotland. This makes Scotland the most densely populated area in Britain. The Scots live well, they have peat for their fires, game… but could do with Electricity to get the Tweed Mills and Distilleries going again.
Meanwhile, Alec and Sam are at the last of the substations, where Sam salvages a set of Master Keys from a plague victim who had collapsed there. While there,
Alec thinks that Sam has turned off the supply to Glasgow. This is his first attempt to foil Alec's plan as he turns the supply on…
They are then seen following the pylons to the first power station, Loch Mannoch, and word quickly reaches the Laird. The Laird is concerned that the visitors have come to claim the Hydro-Electric power stations for England, despite Charles's insistence that they have simply come to get them working. The Laird states that the next day they will all
ride out to Loch Mannoch to see what Alec is capable of.
Alec and Sam arrive at the Power Station, with Alec teaching an apparently interested but dim-witted Sam how the power station works. Unfortunately, previous tinkering by the Laird means that the Power Station cannot easily be started up. Otherwise, the station is in excellent order.
Alec decides to start the station by hand. Meanwhile, Sam obtains a large metal spanner. While Alec is explaining things to Sam,
The Laird arrives accompanied by Charles, Jenny and Hubert.
At the final stage of their task, Alec is surprised when Sam suddenly airs his views. He feels that when the power is back on, it could put everyone back on the road to dependency on outside factors, just like before. It was their Duty not to allow this to happen as someone has to be trusted with the power that they will now have in their hands when they can operate the switch. If people could generate their own Power,
they would still be free. Now, Sam knew what it was he had to destroy.
Alec simply tells Sam that he is crazy and to get out of the way. Sam knocks Alec unconscious with the large spanner he was still carrying, then hides Alec under a grille in the floor. He is seen by a local crofter who has been attracted to the power station by the strangers and the noise of the now running power station.
The Laird and his passengers arrive to find the turbines spinning, but no
sign of Alec or Sam. Jenny calls out for Alec, but the unconscious man does not reply. Charles finds the large spanner, dropped there by Sam before he ran off, and picks it up.
Underneath the grille, Alec recovers to hear that Scottish Nationalism is alive and well and Charles and the Laird arguing over the ownership of the Power Station. Charles says that it should be free for everyone, but the Laird says that it should be kept for Scotland. Alec feels that if this is what it
will be like, then perhaps Sam is right.
Jenny sees the now conscious Alec under the floor and he is hastily rescued. Having heard the conversation between Charles and The Laird, he defends Sam. The Laird goes off to look for Sam, and meets the Crofter, who tells what he had seen.
Meanwhile, Alec discovers that the Power Station is inoperative due to an overload somewhere. Charles tries to start another turbine, but Alec states that this will not work.
The Laird returns and confronts Alec with the evidence from the local Crofter. Jenny asks Alec why he is protecting Sam and he explains his reasons and what he has overheard. Laird Mc.Allister angrily leaves, to post guards on every Power Station in Scotland. Sam, meanwhile, steals the master keys and Alec's maps…
Hubert spots Sam carrying a large log into the outhouse in the reservoir, and rushes to tell Charles and Jenny. When Alec hears the news, he sends Charles to stop him,
as Alec does not want to see the Power Station completely smashed. He explains that dropping a log down the shaft will smash the Turbine vanes, which would effectively destroy the whole station. He and Jenny close down the turbines.
Charles and Alec find the outbuilding empty, and close the inlet valve to protect the vanes. Hubert finds Sam's horse, tethered in a nearby quarry. They realise that Sam is still nearby and still at large. Hubert finds the log in the reservoir,
meanwhile Sam darts into the outhouse and locks himself in to open the valve. He attacks Alec. Charles and Hubert use the log to batter the door and Sam bolts and runs off.
The Laird, meanwhile, instructs his guards to shoot Sam on sight.
Back at the substation, Alec turns off the supply to Glasgow. He explains to Jenny that it was the only one that Sam had touched. Jenny reveals that Greg Preston has died.
In the power station control room, Charles
Vaughan and Laird Mc.Allister continue their dispute about ownership of the power station. The Laird tries to give Charles and ultimatum.
At the substation, Alec still has doubts about whether he should give Electric Power back to Mankind. Jenny persuades him, explaining that he alone has the skill and knowledge to give back so much of what Mankind has lost.
Sam is still at large, but Alec says that he's too late. 'Let there be Light', he says as he switches the Power back on…
Alec is dismayed that Charles and the Laird are still arguing about ownership. Alec settles the dispute by telling them both that HE is in charge of the power stations and that HE will find his own helpers, answerable only to HIM, and HE will be answerable to NO ONE. Not the Laird, or Charles Vaughan. He will have to stay, and wishes that Jenny Richards could stay with him. At that point, the station alarm sounds…
Sam has made a final attempt at sabotage. The station's automatic safety
valves systems operate, rendering his attempts useless. He runs out of the station and collides with Hubert, accidentally falling into the water below, where he is sucked down by the current and drowned.
Charles Vaughan and Laird Mc.Allister settle their differences, having realised that Alec Campbell is the man in charge after all. They bid a friendly farewell as the visitors from England prepare to set off on their long journey home.
'Thank-you for bringing Alec Campbell' says the Laird as they leave.
That evening, the Laird and his lady switch off the electric lights and dine by candlelight. The important difference is that they now have a Choice….
