Spring has arrived. Some of the men are digging a drainage ditch. One, called Lewis is rather impractical and something of a dead loss at this type of work.It turns out that he was a parson before the sickness, but had a crisis of faith afterwards. However,
with the arrival of spring he finds his faith again, wearing his shirt back- to-front to resemble a parson's dog-collar.
Reactions are mixed - Daniella, a devout Catholic, starts making vestments for him, expecting him to take mass and hear her confession. Jack the carpenter spends time repairing a prayer desk for him, instead of mending a plough.
The leading figures in the community, Greg, Jen, Charles, Pet and Ruth see Lewis as a diversion from the
real work of survival, but most of the others welcome some spiritual guidance.
Even Greg asks him to stop by to have a word with Jenny, who is suffering from depression. She is not very nice to him, but having someone to sound off at lifts her mood considerably.
Lewis agrees to take a service on Sunday morning for any who wish to attend. In the meantime, he works as hard as he is able on the drainage ditch.
Jack and Hubert go off for a morning, hunting for
some hymn books for the service. While they are away, the drainage ditch floods causing a minor panic.
Two young arrivals come out of quarantine, called Philip and Judie. After spending a few days at the settlement they decide to move on. They say that they don't want to settle, feeling there is more to life than working for the 'ruling class' they see forming at the community Charles begins to realise that the people need more in life than simply
survival, although Greg is not so sure.
Lewis feels he may be to blame for Philip and Judie leaving, and considers packing it all in again, feeling unworthy to influence others in such a way. Ironically, Greg, Jen and Charles talk him back into holding his service.
Attendance at the service is quite high, with only Charles and Greg absent.
