Charles, Jenny and Hubert arrive at a settlement based around a working mill. The community there has been influenced and led by former personnel headhunter Frank Garner (Edward Underdown) and Rutna, a young Indian woman. Their guiding principle is the belief that man died (during 'the death') and now needs to be re-born to a new way of life. Frank makes several failed attempts to speak to Charles alone and is clearly uneasy about something. When Charles, Jenny and Hubert's horses are poisoned with yew branches they have no choice but to stay another day...

Charles, Frank, Jenny and Hubert are now searching for former electrical engineer Alec Campbell (William Dysart) with a view to using his skills to restore electrical power to the nation. However, they discover Alec to be withdrawn and unco-operative and still mourning his long dead wife. When he continues to refuse to help, Frank resolves to take stronger measures which involve some pethadine and Jenny...

Charles, Jenny, Hubert, Frank and Alec arrive at a settlement based at an old coal mine. The settlement's leader, Leonard Woollen, is anxious to get the mining equipment working again and enlists Alec and Charles's help. Another man, Sam Mead (Robert Gillespie) is opposed to the idea fearing a return to the age before 'the death'. Jenny is becoming increasingly emotional about the absent Greg. Charles pushes her too far in relation to Alec...