THE PLANET OF DECISION
Written by
TERRY NATION
1: INT. MECHANUS. CAVE
MECHONOID: ...Hundred...thirty...Mechonoid...English...input...enter.
(Two arms come out of the centre of the robot, almost in a gesture of welcome. The voices of the DALEKS are heard outside the cave...)
DALEKS: (OOV.) Advance. Advance and attack! Attack and destroy! Destroy and rejoice!
IAN: You heard what the gentleman said - let’s go!
(As the DALEK chant continues, the DOCTOR grabs his machine and the time travellers walk towards and into the chamber...)
2: INT. MECHANUS. LIFT
(They walk into the chamber. A door slams down behind them. The travellers have to stand around the very edge of the room as the robot nearly fills the
chamber.)
VICKI: We’re going up.
BARBARA: Yeah, it’s a lift.
(After a pause, the DOCTOR addresses the robot.)
DOCTOR: Yes you...you got us out of a nasty situation there. I supposed you’d like to know who we are and why we’re here, mmm?
(In answer, the instrumentation on top of the ROBOT falls back within the casing.)
IAN: You’re not getting through to him, Doctor, you’re not getting through.
BARBARA: Doctor, ask him where he’s taking us.
DOCTOR: Mmm.
IAN: He’s taking us up to the city, obviously.
3: INT. MECHANUS. CAVE
(The DALEKS sweep into the cave, firing as they go. They halt as they see that the cave is empty.)
FIRST DALEK: They have escaped.
SECOND DALEK: Not possible. Perceptor readings indicated they were here.
FIRST DALEK: Subject walls to seismic detector tests.
(The SECOND DALEK, who has the perceptor, glides up to the back wall. There is a bleeping sound.)
FIRST DALEK: It is required that we penetrate this wall. Section four will return to the time craft for the electrode unit.
DALEKS: We obey.
4: INT. MECHANUS. LIFT
(The robot gives out a series of electronic noises. The instrumentation at the top of the casing rises back into place.)
IAN: We must have arrived.
(The door to the lift slides open...)
5: EXT. MECHANUS. RAMP TO CITY
(...and the robot glides out, still making electronic noises. The travellers also step out.)
MECHONOID: Stop. Follow...follow.
VICKI: Look at it!
DOCTOR: But’s fantastic!
BARBARA: I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s huge!
DOCTOR: Hmm!
(On the long ramp that leads from the mountainside, the robot glides ahead.)
6: EXT. MECHANUS. CITY
(Its destination is the magnificent stilted city that the travellers observed earlier.)
7: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. LANDING
(Within the city, another of the robots waits. The first robot glides up to it and the two swap electronic beeps and signals. They wave their arms at each
other as a sign that they have finished and the second robot glides away. The first one turns to the travellers.)
MECHONOID: English...enter...enter...zero...stop.
IAN: (Puzzled.) Enter, enter, zero, stop? What does he mean?
(BARBARA indicates the doorway next to them.)
BARBARA: It means, er, enter, enter, zero, stop.
DOCTOR: Hmm!
(VICKI imitates the robots’ voice.)
VICKI: Tttthhhaaannnk yyyooouuu!
DOCTOR: (Chiding.) Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha!
BARBARA: Vicki!
(VICKI laughs and the four enter the room.)
8: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
(The room they find themselves in is square with an observation window covered with vertical closed slats to one side. One the other side of the room is a
simple bed. The centre of the room is dominated by an extraordinary wooden structure of staircases and platforms leading to the ceiling. It looks as if it has
been thrown together and somewhat resembles a climbing frame. After they have walked in, a door slams shut behind them.)
DOCTOR: Hmm!
IAN: Mmm.
BARBARA: What an extraordinary looking thing!
IAN: Ha, looks like a monkey’s perch.
(VICKI and BARBARA try the bed as the DOCTOR puts his machine on the floor.)
VICKI: Oh, not bad, eh?
BARBARA: ___.
DOCTOR: Yes, well I don’t like it.
VICKI: Why not? It’s clean, it’s comfortable, the robot’s seem quite friendly.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, robot’s, but haven’t you noticed something very singular about this place?
VICKI: Like what?
DOCTOR: We’ve only seen robots. No animal life, human or otherwise, mm?
IAN: That’s very true, Doctor.
(A figure suddenly jumps down the stairs on the construction in the middle of the room.)
IAN: Stay where you are!
(The figure is a MAN. He is young, dark haired, heavily bearded and dressed in a uniform. He looks at the time travellers in wide-eyed amazement.)
MAN: You real?
(The travellers look at each other.)
IAN: Who are you?
(The MAN steps down to the floor.)
MAN: (In wonder.) You are real! From Earth?
IAN: Yes. Who are you?
MAN: From Earth, that...couldn’t have happened! I...I worked out the odds - two thousand to one ag...hey! I supposed they realised I was on my way back
wh....well, who won the wars?
(He gets no answer.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, I’m Steven Taylor, flight red-fifty.
DOCTOR: Well, we’ve learned something... (Laughs.) His name! Hmm!
BARBARA: (Smiling.) Yes, Steven Taylor.
(STEVEN is dumbstruck at hearing his name pronounced by another human being. He moves towards BARBARA but IAN, still not sure, stops him.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Say that again.
BARBARA: (Unsure as to why.) Steven Taylor?
STEVEN TAYLOR: (His voice trailing off.) Steven Taylor...
(He looks round quickly and picks up a small toy Panda bear from the wooden construction. He throws it to BARBARA.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: That’s my mascot - Hi-fi.
BARBARA: Oh! (She speaks to the bear.) Hi Fi, I’m Barbara!
(They all laugh.)
VICKI: I’m Vicki.
IAN: (To STEVEN, offering his hand.) Ian Chesterton.
STEVEN TAYLOR: (They shake.) Ian Chesterton.
IAN: This is the Doctor.
DOCTOR: (They shake hands.) Well, I’m glad to know you, Steven Taylor. Mmm.
(STEVEN has been somewhat stuck for words, but now he laughs and starts excitedly babbling.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Well...this is great! I...I mean it’s ridiculous. I’m lost for words, I...I thought if ever I met anyone again, I wouldn’t stop
talking for a week!
DOCTOR: Ye-es! Well, you haven’t!
(They laugh.)
DOCTOR: How long have you been here, mm?
STEVEN TAYLOR: As far as I can make out, about two years.
VICKI: Two years? Alone?
STEVEN TAYLOR: Well yes...apart from those fungus things.
DOCTOR: You mean there’s no other human beings here on this planet.
STEVEN TAYLOR: No, nothing except the Mechonoids.
BARBARA: Where do they come from, do you know?
STEVEN TAYLOR: (Amazed.) You don’t know? But this is Mechanus.
IAN: Sorry?
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, about fifty years ago, Earth decided to colonise this planet. Well, it landed a rocket full of robots programmed to clear landing
sites, get everything ready to...for the first immigrants.
VICKI: And they didn’t arrive?
STEVEN TAYLOR: No. The Earth got involved in interplanetary wars an...I suppose this place was forgotten.
IAN: Fifty years ago? But surely these robots’d be worn out by now. They’d have run down.
DOCTOR: No, no, no, no, they’re programmed to do their own repairs.
BARBARA: But if you’re waiting for people from Earth, well why not us?
VICKI: Yes, we could be the immigrants.
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, you’ve got to know their code. I’ve been spending two years trying to break it.
(He realises what he has said and, for a second, becomes emotional.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Ha, two years. I crashed you see, out there in the jungle and wandered around for days trying to avoid those fungus things...of course
then the Mechonoids captured me.
BARBARA: Captured? Do you mean...you’re a prisoner.
STEVEN TAYLOR: (Incredulous.) Well, do you think I’d stay here otherwise? I’m just like you - we’re all prisoners!
(The four travellers look at each other.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Help yourself to a piece of eternity.
(He steps away. IAN runs after him.)
IAN: Now just a minute! There are five of us now. Surely we can do something? We can fight our way, we can fight our way out of here.
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, at the first sign of violence towards them, the Mechonoids destroy.
9: INT. MECHANUS. CITY
(Outside the cell, a MECHONOID robot opens the slatted observation window and looks through.)
10: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
(STEVEN walks over to the window.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Now what’s this? What are they playing at?
(They see the MECHONOID watching them.)
DOCTOR: Yes, I see. We’re being held here...as specimens.
VICKI: What? Like something in a zoo?
STEVEN TAYLOR: (Walking back.) Yes, Vicki. Exactly like a zoo. Only we’re the specimens that are on display. (To the MECHONOID.) Aren’t
we, my fat little darlings?!
11: INT. MECHANUS. CAVE
(The FIRST DALEK has been fitted with a new device in place of its usual arm. It resembles a small radar dish.)
FIRST DALEK: Electrode unit ready.
SECOND DALEK: Operate.
(With a high pitched engine-type whine, the dish starts to revolve.)
SECOND DALEK: Increase power...conveyor descending.
(The FIRST DALEK glides into the newly arrived lift.)
FIRST DALEK: By taking the humans, the Mechons have forced us to take action against them. We invade.
THIRD DALEK: Skaro reports they have many powerful weapons. We may sustain damage.
FIRST DALEK: (Angrily.) The orders of the Dalek Supreme will be obeyed! The humans will be destroyed! The Mechons will not be permitted to stand
in our way! We attack! We attack!
(The other DALEKS glide into the lift.)
DALEKS: Attack! Attack! Attack! Attack! Attack! Attack! Attack!
12: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. LANDING
(The MECHONOID continues to observe its “specimens”.)
BARBARA: Oh, go away! Leave us alone, can’t you?!
(The slatted observation window shuts.)
MECHONOID: Threat...stop.
13: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
STEVEN TAYLOR: There’s only one thing to do to keep yourself sane - that’s to make things. (He gestures to the wooden platform in the middle of
the room.) I built this.
BARBARA: Did you?
STEVEN TAYLOR: All my own work.
BARBARA: Where does it lead?
STEVEN TAYLOR: Up to the roof.
IAN: The roof! Well, why don't we get out that way?
(IAN starts to climb the stairs.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, don’t think I haven’t thought about it myself, but that roof’s fifteen hu...hundred feet above ground level.
BARBARA: Well, we’ve got to get out.
STEVEN TAYLOR: Yes, that’s what I thought at first. You’ll soon find out you’re better off here than out there in the jungle.
IAN: Oh, we don’t give up so easily. We’re going to get out of here...and the first thing we’re going to do is...I’m going to have a look up
here.
STEVEN TAYLOR: Yes, I’m with you, of course, but...what happen when we get down to the ground?
DOCTOR: We make our way back to my spaceship.
STEVEN TAYLOR: Your spaceship? Huh, is it serviceable?
DOCTOR: I certainly hope so!
STEVEN TAYLOR: But I thought...! You see, I assumed you’d crashed.
(The DOCTOR laughs quietly.)
IAN: You coming, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, I’m coming, dear boy, I’m coming.
(The two start to ascend but the DOCTOR turns back.)
DOCTOR: Oh, er, tell me, young man, what happens if these Mechonoids see up there?
STEVEN TAYLOR: Well, there aren’t any. We’re allowed to go up anytime for light, exercise. There are no guards.
DOCTOR: Good, good!
STEVEN TAYLOR: Go on, I’ll show you.
DOCTOR: Splendid.
(STEVEN joins the two as they go up to the roof.)
14: EXT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOF
(The three come out of a building on the roof. The DOCTOR is out of breath by the climb. A breeze blows this high up in the sky and distant views of the
landscape can be seen.)
DOCTOR: Oh, ah, ah...
STEVEN TAYLOR: You see, I told you, no guards. I’ll go and tell the girls.
(STEVEN rushes back in.)
DOCTOR: Yes, wait a minute, dear boy...
(The DOCTOR sees that IAN has stepped back to the very edge of the roof.)
DOCTOR: Chesterton! Well, be careful!
(IAN almost loses his balance and just avoids plunging to the distant jungle which can be seen below. He regains his balance and walks back to the main part
of the roof.)
DOCTOR: Hmm!
IAN: Yes, I see why the...Mechonoids don’t mind us coming up here.
(IAN examines a drum round which is wrapped a long length of cable.)
IAN: Doctor, what do you make of this?
DOCTOR: Oh, it’s some...power aerial, I suppose...erh...
IAN: Doctor, I’ve got it!
DOCTOR: Hmm?
IAN: We can get down to the ground with this!
DOCTOR: Yes...yes, if we can break it.
IAN: Well, there’s a junction box over here.
(They walk over to one end of the cable that terminates at a series of electronic boxes on one side of the roof building.)
DOCTOR: Yeah...
IAN: A few good pulls, this will come away. Come on, let’s get the others.
DOCTOR: Yes, come along, come along!
(They run back inside.)
15: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
(They descend down the wooden platform.)
BARBARA: Well? Any chance?
IAN: Yes, but it’s going to be dangerous.
STEVEN TAYLOR: What? Do you mean the cable?
IAN: Yeah, do you think there’s enough?
STEVEN TAYLOR: Maybe. I thought of trying it myself once. I couldn’t have managed it on my own.
BARBARA: (Nervously.) Hey, wait a minute, where’s this leading us?
IAN: Down to the ground.
BARBARA: (Incredulous.) We climb down...fifteen hundred feet of cable!
VICKI: (Scared.) I’m not very good on heights.
DOCTOR: Yes, it sounds rather risky.
BARBARA: Well, I agree!
STEVEN TAYLOR: Look, the cable’s strong, it wouldn’t break.
IAN: I think it’s the only chance we’ve got.
BARBARA: Well, I don’t like it.
VICKI: Look!
(The slatted window opens...)
16: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. LANDING
(...to reveal the DALEK with the perceptor approaching a MECHONOID.)
SECOND DALEK: Where are the space travellers?
MECHONOID: Zero.
17: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
VICKI: Daleks!
IAN: Well, that settles it!
DOCTOR: Go on, go on!
(They all, except for the DOCTOR, start to ascend the platform.)
IAN: On the roof, quick!
DOCTOR: Go on!
(The DOCTOR turns to his machine which he places in the middle of the floor and sets.)
DOCTOR: Now, I think we’ll leave them something to remember us by, mmm?
(He grabs his stick and follows the others up to the roof.)
18: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. LANDING
(The SECOND DALEK confronts the MECHONOID.)
SECOND DALEK: You will be annihilated!
(It fires. The MECHONOID spins round as it is exterminated.)
19: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
(The DALEK and another then examine the recently vacated cell. One DALEK looks up at the platform.)
FOURTH DALEK: Dispatch a section to the roof area.
SECOND DALEK: I obey.
(The SECOND DALEK glides towards the door. The other turns round...and buffets the DOCTOR’S machine. There is an explosion and smoke. The DALEK spins round
in its death throes.)
FOURTH DALEK: Am exterminated! Am exterminated! Argh...argh...argh...arggghhhh!
(The SECOND DALEK, in watching its companion fails to see another MECHONOID approaching. The robot opens its arms and grasps the DALEK.)
SECOND DALEK: Totally immobilised.
MECHONOID: Trapped...trapped.
20: EXT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOF
(The DOCTOR, IAN, BARBARA and STEVEN pull the cable out of the junction box whilst VICKI stands on the edge of the roof looking in terror at the jungle down
below.)
IAN: I think we’ve fused it.
(They start to unwind from cable from around its drum.)
DOCTOR: Never mind about that. Let’s get on with this. Come along! Quickly! Get that...come on!
(BARBARA notices VICKI and walks over to her.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: That’s all right. There’s plenty___.
(VICKI almost faints but BARBARA grabs her in time.)
BARBARA: Vicki, come and help us.
STEVEN TAYLOR: We’re going to have to lower her.
(IAN and the DOCTOR join BARBARA in trying to reassure VICKI as STEVEN continues to prepare the cable.)
IAN: Vicki...Vicki, listen to me. We’ll tie the cable round you and lower you to the ground.
VICKI: (Terrified.) No!
IAN: You’ll be quite safe.
VICKI: No! I can’t!
(IAN goes back to assisting STEVEN as the DOCTOR pulls his handkerchief out. Behind them, smoke is starting to come out of the exit from the city.)
DOCTOR: Vicki, my dear, I’m going to blindfold you...
VICKI: No! No!
DOCTOR: ...and you won’t be able to see a thing. You’ll be quite safe. Now come along.
VICKI: I can’t, no!
(BARBARA starts to put on the blindfold.)
DOCTOR: Now come along child...
VICKI: I can’t, no!
DOCTOR: Pull your self together...
(IAN and STEVEN have fashioned a noose out of the cable and approach VICKI to tie it round her.)
VICKI: Don’t! No!
DOCTOR: Vicki, come along, come along!
VICKI: I...
(IAN puts the cable round her.)
IAN: Quick, lift up your arms...
VICKI: No...!
IAN: Now... (He hands her the length of the cable.) Now hold onto this, Vicki.
VICKI: No...I can’t.
IAN: There, that’s it.
(BARBARA helps push her to the edge of the roof.)
VICKI: Please! I can’t!
IAN: It’s all right.
VICKI: Please let...
IAN: Right.
(VICKI clings onto BARBARA.)
BARBARA: I know you’ll be safe. All right?
VICKI: No, please...let me...
BARBARA: Look, let go.
DOCTOR: Come along...
VICKI: No...no...no!
(BARBARA manages to free VICKI’S grip and makes her hold the cable.)
BARBARA: Hold on to this.
VICKI: No...no...!
BARBARA: Okay.
(They start to let her down. The DOCTOR notices the smoke.)
DOCTOR: Good gracious! The place is on fire!
STEVEN TAYLOR: But Hi-fi! I’ve got to get the mascot!
(He lets go of the cable and climbs back into the building.)
DOCTOR: No, Steven!
IAN: Steven, what are you doing?!
(IAN also lets go of the cable. VICKI drops with a scream and BARBARA starts to be pulled over the edge.)
IAN: Get hold of her! What are you doing!
DOCTOR: Come back!
(The two men manage to pull BARBARA back onto the roof.)
21: INT. MECHANUS. CITY. ROOM
(In the smoke filled interior of his former cell, STEVEN looks frantically round for his mascot, managing to avoid a DALEK in the process.)
22: EXT. MECHANUS. CITY
(A MECHONOID glides along to ramp to the city. Within the main confines of the city, several MECHONOIDS line up for battle...)
MECHONOID: Follow...Mechonoid....attack....system.
(A group of DALEKS await them...)
FIRST DALEK: To defy Daleks is death!
(More DALEKS glide through the city...)
SECOND DALEK: We await commands!
THIRD DALEK: The operation will proceed at once.
(A MECHONOID stands in front of them.)
MECHONOID: Defend...threat.
FIRST DALEK: They must be destroyed.
(More MECHONOIDS glide into sight.)
MECHONOID: Escalate...output.
(The DALEKS glide to forward to meet them.)
FIRST DALEK: Exterminate them! Exterminate!
MECHONOID: Attack...here.
FIRST DALEK: Annihilate!
(A disc shaped weapon extends from the main body of the MECHONOID.)
MECHONOID: Fire.
(A DALEK glides into position. The MECHONOID fires. Its weapon is a flame thrower. The DALEK fires at the same time and the MECHONOID explodes. Another
MECHONOID explodes under similar fire. The DALEKS and MECHONOIDS join battle as smoke and flame fill the air. One DALEK is grasped in the MECHONOIDS arms. The
flame from another MECHONOID causes a DALEK to explode. Confusion reigns as the battle hots up. More DALEK fire causes another MECHONOID to explode but the two
sides are evenly matched in an inferno of MECHONOID flames and DALEK fire power. Soon the air is filled with massive explosions as the battle reaches a
crescendo...)
23: EXT. MECHANUS. JUNGLE
(The smoke and noise from the battle reach the jungle floor where BARBARA assists an overcome VICKI, the two of them having made it safely to the ground.)
BARBARA: Vicki!
(VICKI coughs again.)
BARBARA: Vicki, are you all right?
VICKI: Yes...yes thanks. How about the others?
BARBARA: They’re fine. Now Vicki, remember the Doctor’s device? Well it worked! The city’s on fire. Look, you can see!
(The DOCTOR reaches the base of the cable which dangles next to one of the city’s stilted columns. He rushes over to the two women.)
DOCTOR: Vicki, my child, are you all right, Mmm?
VICKI: Yes, yes thanks.
DOCTOR: Come along, let’s get back to the TARDIS.
VICKI: Well, what about Steven? Where is he?
BARBARA: Steven...went back to the city.
(IAN is coming down the cable in the background.)
VICKI: What for?
DOCTOR: We don’t know, my child, and his chances of survival in this furnace are utterly...
VICKI: ___.
(IAN reaches the end of the cable and rushes over to the others.)
IAN: Quick! That cable’s on fire! The whole buildings collapsing!
(They start to run off, straight past a hovering fungoid.)
VICKI: (Concerned over STEVEN.) No, we can’t!
24: EXT. MECHANUS. CITY
(The city is a total inferno. Consumed by flames and rent by explosions, the stilts collapse and the structure falls over in a huge ball of fire...)
25: EXT. JUNGLE. DALEK LANDING SITE
(The DOCTOR, BARBARA and VICKI wait nervously outside the DALEK time machine. VICKI goes to step forward but BARBARA holds her back. A DALEK type voice is
heard from within.)
IAN: (OOV: inside time machine and imitating a DALEK.) Halt! You will be exterminated!
(The three step back. IAN walks out, holding his nose to achieve a nasal twang and his other arm out in imitation of a DALEK gun.)
IAN: Exterminated!
BARBARA: Oh, Ian!
(The two women laugh. IAN rushes over to the DOCTOR and shakes his hand excitedly.)
IAN: (Exultant.) Doctor, it’s empty! You’ve done it again! You’ve beaten them!
(VICKI and BARBARA shriek with delight.)
DOCTOR: My dear boy, I could kiss you!
BARBARA: Don’t waste it on him, kiss me instead!
(BARBARA and the DOCTOR hug while IAN spins a laughing VICKI round.)
DOCTOR: Oh ____ delighted!
(The DOCTOR gestures to the DALEK time machine.)
DOCTOR: You know this must be an extremely advanced machine.
IAN: (Laughs.) Yes.
(They walk over to it.)
DOCTOR: Wherever we went, it followed us with...such great precision and accuracy. You could travel anywhere in it.
VICKI: It’s huge inside, you know. Just like the TARDIS.
DOCTOR: Of course, my dear, I’ve forgotten - you’ve taken a trip in it.
VICKI: Er, shall I show you round? (They laugh.)
DOCTOR: My dear, I shall be delighted!
IAN: After you!
(The DOCTOR bows to IAN and follows VICKI into the machine. BARBARA is about to follow but stops on the threshold and turns to IAN.)
BARBARA: Ian...do you realise...we could get home?
IAN: (Quietly.) Home...yes. Do you want to?
BARBARA: (Smiling and nods.) Yes...I...I never realised it before.
IAN: Neither did I. We may never get another chance.
BARBARA: Do you think we could work it?
IAN: Well, would the Doctor take us?
BARBARA: Let’s ask him.
(They rush into the machine.)
26: EXT. MECHANUS. ANOTHER PART OF THE JUNGLE
(Carrying his beloved mascot, STEVEN TAYLOR stumbles through the jungle.)
STEVEN TAYLOR: (Shouts.) Doctor!
(A fungoid attacks him but he manages to scramble away.)
27: EXT. MECHANUS. JUNGLE. DALEK LANDING SITE
(The peace of the jungle is interrupted by the furious tones of the DOCTOR.)
DOCTOR: (OOV.) I don’t want to know! ____.
(He shouting is mingled in with similar yells from BARBARA as they all come out of the machine. VICKI hangs back watching the argument.)
DOCTOR: I want none of this!
BARBARA: ___ common sense!
DOCTOR: (Furious.) I’ve never heard such nonsense in my life! You will end up as a couple of burnt cinders, flying around in pa...in space. You
idiots! You are absolute idiots!
BARBARA: (Shouting.) We are not idiots! We want to go home!
IAN: Yes home! I want to sit in a pub and drink a pint of beer again! I...I want to walk in a park and watch a cricket match. Above all, I want
to...belong somewhere, do something, instead of this aimless drifting around in space.
DOCTOR: Aimless?! I’ve tried for two years to get you both home!
IAN: Well, you haven’t been very successful, have you?
DOCTOR: How dare you, young man. (Louder still.) How dare you sir! (Quieter.) I didn’t even invite you into the ship in the first place.
You both thrust yourselves upon me!
BARBARA: (In exasperation.) Oh, Doctor, stop it!
DOCTOR: Oh, for heavens sake, I’ve never heard such nonsense!
BARBARA: (Quieter.) Look, I know we thrust ourselves upon you, but we’ve through a great deal together since then. And all we’ve been through
will remain with us always. It’ll probably be the most exciting part of my life. Look Doctor, we’re different people...and now we have a chance to go home.
We want to take that chance. Will you help us...work that machine?
DOCTOR: No! No! I will not aid and abet suicide.
IAN: Oh, he’s as stubborn as a mule!
(The two teachers stalk off. VICKI comes up to the DOCTOR and touches his arm. He jumps.)
DOCTOR: Mmm!
VICKI: Doctor...Doctor, you’ve got to let them go if they want to. They want to be back in their own time.
DOCTOR: (Snaps.) Don’t you want to go with them, child, mm?
VICKI: What for? What would I want to be back in their time for? I want to be with you.
(The DOCTOR laughs, somewhat bad-naturedly.)
VICKI: Doctor, you’ve got to help them.
DOCTOR: Don’t you realise, child, the enormous risks?
VICKI: (Nods.) But it’s up to them.
(The DOCTOR considers for a moment, then crosses to the teachers.)
DOCTOR: Do you both realise the enormous risks?
IAN: (Nods.) We do. We still want to go.
BARBARA: Please, Doctor.
(The DOCTOR accepts the situation.)
DOCTOR: Very well, follow me.
(He starts to lead them into the machine, but turns back with one last warning.)
DOCTOR: But you must follow my instructions implicitly, understood? Implicitly! You will both have about a fifty-fifty chance. Follow me, come along.
(They all enter the machine.)
28: EXT. MECHANUS. JUNGLE. DALEK LANDING SITE (LATER)
(Some time later, the DOCTOR and VICKI exit the machine and watch, sadly, as it disappears. Then the DOCTOR leads VICKI away.)
29: EXT. LONDON. STREET
(IAN walks out of a door in a set of wooden gates which have “NO PARKING IN FRONT OF THIS GARAGE” painted on them. He looks across the road and sees the
front of White City underground station across the road. A car is parked in front of the gates. He checks the tax disc in the window. It is has an expiry date
of December 1965. He goes back to the door as BARBARA comes out.)
IAN: Barbara! We made it!
BARBARA: I don’t believe it!
IAN: London 1965!
BARBARA: Hey, we’re two years out.
IAN: Oh, what’s two years amongst friends? We’re home! (He kisses her.) I’ll just go and press that button.
(He goes back through the doors and the bleeping noise of a countdown can be heard. IAN runs out.)
IAN: Run!
(The two run across the street and shelter next to a building. The garage is rocked by a huge explosion.)
IAN: Well, that’s out paid to the Daleks time travelling for a while.
BARBARA: It’ll give the Doctor a breather anyway.
IAN: Yes. I wonder where he is right now?
(BARBARA looks up to the sky.)
BARBARA: Hey, Doctor, wherever you are...
(The sound of many feet running up to the sight of the explosion can be heard.)
IAN: Shh! There’s someone coming.
BARBARA: (Loud whisper.) Goodbye, Doctor! Thanks for the ride!
IAN: (Similar loud whisper.) It was fun Doctor! Goodbye!
(They run off...)
30: EXT. LONDON. IAN & BARBARA’S RETURN
(IAN and BARBARA enjoy an exuberant return to London. In Trafalgar Square, they feed the pigeons and, like children, climb over Landseer’s lions at the
base of Nelson’s column. BARBARA jumps for joy as they run along Albert Embankment but IAN’S impression of one of the faces of the Dolphin lamps that adorn
the embankment is halted when he sees a sight which causes a look of horror to appear on his face - a Police Box! It is, however, the genuine article which they
enjoy playing over. After another childish romp through a park, they end up in Regent Street where they catch a bus...)
31: INT. BUS
(The two collapse exhausted, but happy, into their seats on the bus.)
BARBARA: Ah...oh, I enjoyed that!
IAN: Yes! So did I.
BUS CONDUCTOR: (OOV: To another passenger.) Fare’s please.
IAN: (Looking out of the window.) Oh, it’s great to be back. Nothing seems to have changed.
BARBARA: Oh, you wait ‘til we get back to Coal Hill Sc... (She stops as a thought strikes her.) Hey!
BUS CONDUCTOR: (OOV.) Any more fare’s please?
BARBARA: How are we going to explain our absence?
IAN: Yeah...that’s a point, isn’t it? We’ll have to think of something. It had better be good, eh?
(The BUS CONDUCTOR reaches the two teachers.)
BUS CONDUCTOR: Fare’s please.
IAN: (Reaching into his pocket.) Oh, er, two “three’s” please.
BUS CONDUCTOR: Two “three’s”? You must be joking. Where’ve you been? On the Moon?
IAN: Er, no, but you’re getting warm!
BARBARA: (To IAN.) Shh!
(The BUS CONDUCTOR’S look of confusion causes the two teachers to burst into laughter...)
32: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(Several centuries later, the DOCTOR and VICKI watch this scene on the Time and Space Visualiser. VICKI switches the machine off and hugs the DOCTOR.)
VICKI: Doctor, they made it! They made it!
(The old man hardly responds. VICKI, seeing the sadness in his face, steps back.)
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) I shall miss them. Yes, I shall miss them. (He smiles.) Silly old fusspots.
(He puts his arm round VICKI.)
DOCTOR: Come along, my dear, it’s time we were off.
(They walk off.)
33: EXT. MECHANUS. JUNGLE. TARDIS LANDING SITE
(The TARDIS dematerialises...)
34: VORTEX
(...and free of its pursuers, continues its journeys through time and space.)
Next Episode
THE WATCHER
Dr. Who
WILLIAM HARTNELL
Ian Chesterton
WILLIAM RUSSELL
Barbara Wright
JACQUELINE HILL
Vicki
MAUREEN O’BRIEN
Steven Taylor
PETER PURVES
Dalek Voices
PETER HAWKINS
DAVID GRAHAM
Daleks
ROBERT JEWELL
KEVIN MANSER
GERALD TAYLOR
Mechonoid Voice
DAVID GRAHAM
Mechonoids
MURPHY GRUMBAR
JACK PITT
JOHN SCOTT MARTIN
with
KEN TYLLSON
Title music by
RON GRAINER
and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Incidental music
composed and
conducted by
DUDLEY SIMPSON
Film Cameraman
CHARLES PARNELL
Film Editor
NORMAN MATTHEWS
Costumes Supervised by
DAPHNE DARE
Make-up Supervised by
SONIA MARKHAM
Lighting
HOWARD KING
Sound
RAY ANGEL
Story Editor
DENNIS SPOONER
Designers
RAYMOND CUSICK
JOHN WOOD
Producer
VERITY LAMBERT
Directed by
RICHARD MARTIN
(c) BBC tv
Transcribed By
JOHN TOMLINSON