TERROR
OF THE
AUTONSBY
ROBERT
HOLMESEPISODE FOUR
1: EXT. PHONE BOX
MASTER: Hello Doctor, is that you?
2: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR sits down as he at last hears the voice of his nemesis.)
DOCTOR: Who is this? What do you want?
3: EXT. PHONE BOX
MASTER: Simply to say goodbye, Doctor.
(The MASTER smiles and holds up a small tube-like electronic device next to the mouthpiece. It starts to give out a signalling sound.)
4: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(In the lab, the long flex comes to life, starting to wrap itself round the DOCTOR'S head and upper body and threatening to strangle him...)
5: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. CORRIDOR
(Walking along a corridor, the BRIGADIER hears the DOCTOR'S cries...)
DOCTOR: (OOV) Help Brigadier! Help!
(He turns and runs back towards the laboratory.)
6: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(Pushing the door open, he sees the DOCTOR held in the cable's coiled grasp. The DOCTOR struggles the speak.)
DOCTOR: Cable...pull it out...pull it out!
(The BRIGADIER reaches down and yanks the cable sharply out of its socket. He starts to unwind the now slackened cable from around the DOCTOR.)
7: EXT. PHONE BOX
(The MASTER hears that the connection has been broken. His face dark with anger, he angrily switches the signalling device off and slams the phone down on its receiver.)
8: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(The BRIGADIER finishes unloosening the DOCTOR who groans with relief, putting his hand to his forehead.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: You all right, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, more or less.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I'm afraid I cut your connection.(The DOCTOR gives him a look.)
DOCTOR: (Dryly.) Oh, very amusing.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What happened?
DOCTOR: Well, remember what I told you, Brigadier? The Nestenes can put life into anything made of plastic...(He holds up a length of the phone cable that the BRIGADIER is still holding.)
DOCTOR: ...anything at all.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Grimly.) I see - and there's a lot of plastic around.
9: EXT. ROAD
(The coach continues its journey along a country road. It passes a motorcycle rider hidden in some bushes who starts his machine up and starts to follow.)
10: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(In the lab, the DOCTOR plays his Bunsen burner near to the daffodil which is now secured in a clamp.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Doctor? Doctor?
(The DOCTOR tuts at the CAPTAIN and carries on for a moment with his experiment. Giving up with a sigh, he puts the Bunsen burner down.)
DOCTOR: (To himself.) Well I was wrong - it isn't heat. (To YATES.) Well?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Message from the Brigadier.
DOCTOR: What is it this time?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Oh, it's about these daffodils.
DOCTOR: What about them?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: You remember we had a report of a plastics promotion tour?
DOCTOR: Mmm mm.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Well, er, they're handing out daffodils.(CAPTAIN YATES has the DOCTOR'S attention. He turns from the daffodil.)
DOCTOR: Who are?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Well, chaps in weird carnival masks, touring round in a coach.
DOCTOR: Mmm...did they say how many they'd given out?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: No they didn't. We've got no idea at all I'm afraid. We don't even know how long they've been doing it. (Embarrassed.) The thing is...ha...the Brigadier wants to know if the daffs are dangerous!
DOCTOR: That, Captain Yates, is what I'm trying to find out.(He turns back to the immobilised daffodil.)
10: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(The BRIGADIER is taking a phone call at his desk, a large map hangs on the wall behind him...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into phone.) Excellent, where was it? (He listens.) Well give me the grid reference. (He writes it down.) Yeah... (He listens.) No, just maintain contact. I want to tackle them in open country. (He listens.) Good, keep me informed.
(He puts the phone down and picks it up immediately.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into phone.) Lethbridge Stewart here, I want a call to the RAF please. Priority red-one strike command.
11: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(JO is sat at one of the lab benches, looking over a piece of equipment as the DOCTOR walks up, a microscope slide in his hand.)
DOCTOR: 'Scuse me, Jo.
(JO moves out of the way and the DOCTOR sits at the bench. He puts the slide onto a small flat device and switches it on.)
JO: What are you doing?
DOCTOR: Well this is a section of that daffodil. I'm trying to find out its molecular structure.(He adjusts the controls. A small black and white monitor sits on the bench. On its screen is a pattern resembling a poor television signal.)
DOCTOR: No...
(The DOCTOR continues to adjust controls and a picture emerges of various circular patterns.)
DOCTOR: Hello, what's this? A programme pattern.
JO: A programme pattern?
DOCTOR: Mmm. Yes, these daffodils have their instructions imprinted on every cell. It's a weapon of some sort. but...what sort?
JO: Well, will those signs help you find out?
DOCTOR: They will if I can translate them.(The door to the lab opens and the BRIGADIER and YATES walk in, dressed in combat fatigues.)
DOCTOR: My word! You look very fierce.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: We've located that coach load of Nestene Autons distributing those daffodils, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Good.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: They're hiding in that same quarry where they took you.
DOCTOR: Well that's curious. Was the Master with them?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I couldn't say. You might be able to identify him afterwards.
DOCTOR: Afterwards?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I've got the R.A.F. to lay on a rocket strike. In a few hours time, that coach will be a pile of scrap iron.
DOCTOR: (To JO) The military mind at its most scintillating! Faced with a problem they blast it off the face of the earth.
JO: What do you think we should do?
DOCTOR: Nothing. Keep them under observation for a while...and give me a chance to find out the purpose of these flowers.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I'm sorry, Doctor. I can't afford to take that risk. If that coach moves to a populated area, it'll be impossible to destroy it. The strike will go ahead as planned.(The two soldiers turn and start to walk out.)
DOCTOR: Captain Yates?
(YATES turns back at the door as the BRIGADIER carries on.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Yes, Doctor?
DOCTOR: How long have we got?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: About an hour and a half. The RAF boys are setting things up now and we have established an observation point at the quarry.(He turns to go again.)
JO: Mike, can we reach you there?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sure - we'll be in radio contact with HQ and with the RAF. You can get us on one of these.(He reaches into his pocket and passes a small radio to JO.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: See you, Doc. Bye Jo.
(He follows the BRIGADIER. The DOCTOR turns to JO.)
DOCTOR: An hour and a half.
(He nods and turns back to his work.)
12: EXT. QUARRY
(The coach stands in the quarry next to a run-down hut. REX stands in the doorway of the coach, anxiously looking out. He turns back inside...)
13: INT. COACH
(...to where the AUTON LEADER waits.)
REX FARREL: Everything seems quiet.
AUTON LEADER: The humans are watching us.(Alarmed, REX looks out of the open door.)
REX FARREL: How do you know?
AUTON LEADER: We were followed to this place.(Still alarmed, REX looks round...)
14: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
JO: But won't that profile pattern be a Nestene?
DOCTOR: (Pleased with her logical deduction.) Yes, well done. That's why I'm converting it to visual symbols.(He manipulates more controls and the picture on the monitor resolves into a vague but nevertheless more coherent picture...)
DOCTOR: Ah, here it comes.
JO: That's a face! A part of one...
DOCTOR: Yes...yes, a nose and a mouth.
JO: What does that mean?
DOCTOR: I've no idea.
JO: So what next?
DOCTOR: Well, if it is a weapon, we must find out what triggers it off. Jo, get in touch with the Brigadier, will you? See if he can hold up that air strike. I must have more time.(JO switches on the radio that YATES gave her.)
JO: (Into radio.) Hello Greyhound, this is trap one. Do you read me? Over.
(All she receives is static.)
JO: There seems to be something wrong. (Into radio.) Hello Greyhound, this is trap one. Do you read me? Over.
(On the other lab bench, the clamped daffodil starts to turn of its own accord.)
DOCTOR: Jo look!
JO: It's alive!
DOCTOR: Short wave radio! You must have triggered it off with that walkie-talkie. Of course, they must be planning to set them all off at once with a gigantic radio signal.(He snaps his fingers and wanders across the lab, muttering as he goes.)
DOCTOR: If I could only find out directional____.
(Left behind, JO moves closer to the still moving daffodil.)
JO: It seems to be looking for something.
DOCTOR: Jo, be careful.(Jo moves nearer.)
DOCTOR: Jo!
(Suddenly, the daffodil sprays out a liquid from within onto JO'S face. She gasps and falls back, desperately clawing at her face. The DOCTOR rushes over to where she stands against a wall and tries to pull away a plastic film that covers her nose and mouth. Failing, he rushes over to the lab bench, picks up and aerosol can and sprays it over the plastic film. He manages to pull the 'mask' away. JO gasps for breath. The DOCTOR pulls her over to a chair.)
DOCTOR: It's all over. You all right?
JO: (Gasping.) Just a bit short of breath...what happened?
DOCTOR: Well, your nose and mouth were...sealed off with this.(He holds up the plastic.)
JO: What's that?
DOCTOR: Plastic film - you would have been unconscious in two minutes, dead in under ten.
JO: So all those people were killed by the daffodils?
DOCTOR: Yes...(He looks at the now inert daffodil and walks back towards it.)
DOCTOR: Yes, they must have triggered them off accidentally - just as you did. Jo, do something for me will you?
JO: Yes, of course.
DOCTOR: Get in touch with that idiot Brownrose. See if plastic daffodils were found at the scenes of any of those deaths - oh, and ask him if anybody was using short wave radios, will you?
JO: Okay.(She starts to walk out.)
DOCTOR: You all right?
JO: Fine Doctor...and thank you.
15: EXT. QUARRY
(On a cliff-top at the edge of the quarry, SERGEANT BENTON, another soldier next to him, is speaking into an R/T unit...)
SERGEANT BENTON: Thank you Eagle, message confirmed. Over and out.
(He looks over to where a crouched and hidden BRIGADIER, binoculars in hand is observing the quarry next to CAPTAIN YATES.)
SERGEANT BENTON: That's it then sir. Air strike confirmed.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right.(The BRIGADIER looks through his binoculars at the stationary coach.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (Quietly.) No word from the Doctor then sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No...the air strikes due to begin in... (He checks his watch.) ...thirty-seven minutes. If the Doctor's coming up with anything, he'd better be quick.
16: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(Alone in the lab, the DOCTOR puzzles over the remains of the plastic face mask which he holds in his hand.)
DOCTOR: Now why wasn't this stuff found on the bodies?
(On an impulse, he breathes hard on the plastic and watches as it starts to shrivel in his upturned palm. Quickly it dissolves to nothing...)
DOCTOR: Yes of course! Dissolved by carbon dioxide from the lungs.
(He hears a familiar voice behind him...)
MASTER: Good afternoon, Doctor.
(He turns quickly. The MASTER is coming down the metal spiral staircase. He holds the same implosion device in his hand with which he killed Goodge - aimed at the DOCTOR.)
MASTER: I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?
DOCTOR: No, no, indeed not.(The MASTER quickly looks round the lab to ensure that they are alone.)
DOCTOR: You've come here to kill me of course?
MASTER: But not without...considerable regret.(He leans a nonchalant arm against one of the lab benches. The DOCTOR, smiling also rests against the other bench.)
DOCTOR: How very comforting.
MASTER: You see Doctor, you're my intellectual equal...almost. I have so few worth opponents. When they've gone, I always miss them.
DOCTOR: How did you get in here?
MASTER: Oh, don't be trivial, Doctor. I see you've been working on the Nestene Autojet. My own small contribution to their invasion plan.
DOCTOR: Mmm, viscous, complicated and inefficient - typical of your way of thinking.
MASTER: Now, come, come Doctor. Death is always more frightening when it strikes invisibly.
DOCTOR: Tell me, how do you intend to activate these flowers?
MASTER: (Matter-of-factly.) Oh, by a radio impulse which the Nestenes will send. I shall open the channel for them. We've distributed four hundred and fifty thousand of these daffodils, so when four hundred and fifty thousand people fall dead, the country will be disrupted.
DOCTOR: And in the confusion the Nestenes will land their invasion force?
MASTER: (His tone grows more menacing.) Exactly. It's a shame that you can't be here to enjoy the chaos and destruction with me. Goodbye Doctor.(He aims the implosion device at the DOCTOR as the lab door opens and JO walks in...)
JO: You were quite right...
(Whilst the MASTER is distracted, the DOCTOR lunges for an object on the lab bench, then quickly stands back.)
DOCTOR: Wait! Don't shoot!
MASTER: (Mocking.) Doctor, you do disappoint me. We Time Lords are expected to face death with dignity.
JO: (Horrified.) Oh no!
DOCTOR: (To JO.) Don't worry, he's not going to kill me.
MASTER: That is your last mistake.(The MASTER aims again...)
DOCTOR: If you fire that thing, you will never be able to leave this planet.
MASTER: You're bluffing on an empty hand, Doctor.
DOCTOR: I'm not bluffing and my hand, as you can see, is not empty. If you kill me, you will destroy the dematerialisation circuit from your own TARDIS.(The DOCTOR'S shot fires home - the MASTER sang-froid disappears...)
DOCTOR: You recognise it, I feel sure.
MASTER: Where did you get that?
DOCTOR: The circus.
MASTER: You underestimate me, Doctor. Let me be quite plain - either you hand that unit over to me now... (He changes his aim.) ...or I kill Miss Grant.(The DOCTOR considers watched by an agonised JO. After a moment, he accepts the inevitable.)
DOCTOR: Touché
(He is about to hand over the circuit but JO leaps forward pleadingly to him...)
JO: (Shouts.) Don't! He's beaten already! (To the MASTER.) They're going to bomb the quarry!
(The DOCTOR yells an admonition as she gives the game away...)
DOCTOR: Jo!
(Jo hangs her head. The MASTER is plainly surprised at this revelation.)
MASTER: Oh...there's been a slight change of plan, Doctor. I've decided to let you live - for a little while.
17: EXT. QUARRY
(UNIT are still observing...)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (To the BRIGADIER.) Not long now, sir.
18: INT. COACH
(REX is starting to panic...)
REX FARREL: What's happening out there?
AUTON LEADER: The human's are planning to attack us.
REX FARREL: We...we should try and leave.
AUTON LEADER: We shall leave soon. Our task is not yet completed.
REX FARREL: He's left us! He's deserted...!(REX clutches his forehead in pain. His face then clears as his memory does the same...)
REX FARREL: How did I get here? I'm not part of this!
(He makes for the door but the AUTON LEADER chops his neck and he falls to the floor with a cry.)
19: EXT. QUARRY
(The BRIGADIER counts down on his watch as YATES continues to observe through his binoculars...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: 29...28...
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Look sir!(The BRIGADIER stops counting as he looks down into the quarry and sees Bessie drive up to the coach. The DOCTOR is in the driving seat with JO next to him. The MASTER sits in the back, his gun still aimed. The MASTER gets out and indicates that his prisoners should do the same. They do so as he waves them towards the coach. The BRIGADIER yells to BENTON behind him who is still next to the R/T unit.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Shouts.) Benton, stop that air strike!
SERGEANT BENTON: It's too late sir!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well try man, try!(BENTON picks up the microphone of the R/T unit and starts shouting into it...)
SERGEANT BENTON: Eagle, eagle, eagle, abort, abort, abort!
20: INT. COACH
(Inside the coach, the DOCTOR, JO and even the MASTER looks skywards as the roar of a jet comes closer...)
21: EXT. QUARRY
(The BRIGADIER watches as the jet screams over without striking. He and YATES breathe a sigh of relief.)
22: INT. COACH
(The immediate danger passed, the MASTER turns to the Autons and snaps his fingers.)
MASTER: Now tie these two up.
(The carnival masked figures grab the two.)
23: EXT. QUARRY
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Not a sign of life down there.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What do we do if they try to move out?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I don't know.
24: INT. COACH
(As the DOCTOR and JO continue to be tied up, the MASTER spots the unconscious FARREL.)
MASTER: Farrel?
AUTON LEADER: Farrel became undependable.
MASTER: Did he? (Smiles.) His father would have been proud of him.(He is distracted by the groans and cries of JO as she and the DOCTOR are left on the floor at the front of the coach - securely bound.)
JO: Ow! Ah!
MASTER: Yes Miss Grant, they are a little heavy handed. I apologise for your last moments on earth being so uncomfortable, Doctor.(He delves into the DOCTOR'S pocket and pulls out the dematerialisation circuit.)
MASTER: Er, thank you. (To the Autons.) Right, you come with me.
(The MASTER walks over to another seat where the constantly pulsing Nestene sphere sits in a cardboard box.)
MASTER: Now, because of the change in circumstances, we're going to have to bring our schedule forward. What we're going to do is this: It's absolutely essential that we...
(The MASTER continues outlining his plan whilst, left on the floor, the DOCTOR quietly whispers to JO...)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) Jo, you know where we are, don't you.
JO: (Whispers.) Roughly, why?
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) We're just three or four miles from the radio telescope.
JO: (Whispers.) So?
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) The Master will activate the daffodils from there.
JO: (Whispers.) Oh...what are you doing.
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) I'm going to warn UNIT. If I can just reach these brake pedals.(He starts to reach out with his feet.)
JO: (Whispers.) Doctor, if you're going to drive, I want to get off!
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) No, only hope the Brigadier's keeping his eyes open.(JO breathes a sigh of relief as the DOCTOR struggles to reach the pedal.)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) Got it!
25: EXT. QUARRY
(Outside the coach, the brake lights start to flash in a Morse code signal. YATES spots this through his binoculars. He turns and whispers urgently to the BRIGADIER who joins him lying at the edge of the cliff-top.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir! Sir! The brake lights are flashing.
(The BRIGADIER looks through his own binoculars.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, you're right. Somebody's signalling.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: The Doctor!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Benton?
SERGEANT BENTON: Yes sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Get this down - E...S...T...
26: INT. COACH
(The DOCTOR continues to press the pedal whilst lying awkwardly bound.)
JO: (Whispers.) Do you think they're getting it?
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) If I can just keep trying...(He does so whilst the MASTER can be heard in the background still giving his instructions to his plastic allies...)
27: EXT. QUARRY
(The BRIGADIER continues to dictate the signal...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: ...I...O...N. That's it. Read that back, Benton.
SERGEANT BENTON: "Daffodils are lethal. Activated soon. Destroy immediately. Guard radio research station."
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Benton, send an alert to the civil police. I want radio and TV warnings, loudspeaker vans, house to house, the lot.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right away, sir.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain Yates, rustle up every available man and put a guard on that radio research station.
SERGEANT BENTON: (Into R/T unit.) Hello, bluebottle three? This is greyhound, do you read me?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I'll stay here with the coach.(YATES nods and moves away.)
SERGEANT BENTON: (Into R/T unit.) Do you read me? Over.
28: INT. COACH
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) You know, Jo, it's a pity escapology wasn't part of your curriculum.
JO: (Whispers.) Funny you should say that - look!(She holds up a free hand.)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) Well done!
JO: (Whispers.) Careful!(The MASTER finishes his conference and turns back to his prisoners.)
MASTER: Well I hope that you two have enjoyed your little rest. Right, the time has come for our final move.
(He snaps his fingers. The Autons move forward and pick up the DOCTOR and JO from the floor and start to drag them towards the back of the coach. One of the Autons gets into the driving seat as REX starts to come round. The coach engine starts up.)
29: EXT. QUARRY
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: They're on the move. Come on, Benton.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right sir.(The BRIGADIER gets up from his observation point.)
30: INT. COACH
(On a seat further back in the coach, the DOCTOR turns to JO.)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) That's it, I'm free.
31: EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
(Driven by the carnival masked Auton, the coach continues onwards, driving through a large puddle of water as it goes. A moment later, the UNIT staff car follows.)
32: INT. COACH
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) If he slows down, we might be able to jump for it.
JO: (Whispers.) Right.
33: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The coach drives round the perimeter of the Research establishment, taking the same route as that used by Bessie on the DOCTOR'S first visit. At the entrance gate, YATES sees the coach approaching and yells to the UNIT troops.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Right, take your positions! Quick!
(The quickly do so, guns aimed.)
34: INT. COACH
(On the front seat, FARRELL'S face clears as he remembers. He dives forward and starts to wrench the steering wheel round whilst it is still in the Auton's grasp.)
MASTER: Get back, Farrel!
35: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The coach swerves from side to side across the road as it approaches the entrance. The UNIT troops dive out of the way as the coach misses the front gate and, driving through the entrance sign, ploughs into a field that adjoins the Research Establishment. As it careers across the stubbled ground, the emergency exit door swings open and the DOCTOR falls out, rolling across the ground to break his fall. He sits up as JO also falls out. He runs over to her and helps her up.)
36: INT. COACH
(Within the coach, the MASTER gives up struggling to free FARREL'S grasp of the wheel and delivers him a vicious blow across the back of the neck. With a cry, FARREL falls to the floor.)
37: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The coach glides to a halt on the other side of the field. The DOCTOR helps JO to the perimeter fence of the Research Establishment. She sits on the ground, obviously in pain.)
DOCTOR: Are you all right?
JO: It's my ankle.
38: INT. COACH
(The MASTER opens the door of the coach in order to exit it.)
AUTON LEADER: The two humans have escaped.
MASTER: (Angrily.) Never mind about them! I must get to the radio telescope.
AUTON LEADER: The Autojets are being destroyed. It's too late.
MASTER: No!(He points to the emergency door.)
MASTER: Get out there - all of you. Keep those soldiers back!
39: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The emergency door opens again and the carnival masked Autons jump out of the coach one by one. They hold their hands up in readiness. The lead Auton's fingers drop down and the gun emerges. A UNIT soldier runs forward but is blasted to the ground - an orange flash and smoke erupting him his chest. YATES throws a grenade and an Auton is flung into the air by the detonation. The UNIT staff car carrying the BRIGADIER and BENTON with another soldier drives up as a furious gun battle erupts. The DOCTOR runs over to it and shouts through the open window.)
DOCTOR: Brigadier, those daffodils...
(JO runs up, pointing at the pylon.)
JO: Doctor, look!
(The small figure of the MASTER can be seen ascending the metal stairway.)
DOCTOR: The radio telescope! We must stop him reaching the control - he'll open the channel for the Nestenes.
(He runs off as the MASTER continues his journey upwards. A white-jacketed technician coming down from the control cabin meets him half way. The MASTER hits out at him and the technician falls over the side and to the distant ground below. The DOCTOR, JO, the BRIGADIER and BENTON run up to the fallen man as they approach the pylon.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Benton, get a stretcher party - and get some more men.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right sir.(BENTON runs off. JO stays with the technician as the DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER start to ascend the stairway.)
40: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(In the control cabin, the MASTER frantically turns the wheel controls and then looks out of the window - a look of triumph on his face.)
41: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The two telescopes turn into alignment and this time face each other.)
42: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(Satisfied, the MASTER turns back to the controls.)
43: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER reach the door of the control cabin. An swirling alien noise starts to fill the air as the DOCTOR tries to open the door.)
DOCTOR: It's locked.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Stand back, Doctor.(He does so and the BRIGADIER shoots the lock.)
44: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(They burst into the cabin to see the MASTER smiling and looking out of the window. He points and shouts above the alien cacophony.)
MASTER: Too late, Doctor! The Nestenes are here.
(The two new arrivals turn and follow his gaze.)
45: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(A form is starting to materialise between the two aerials of the telescopes. White and shimmering, it shape vaguely resembles that of an octopus.)
46: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
MASTER: Amateur landing of course, not the way I planned it.
DOCTOR: If only we can shut off the power.
MASTER: Impossible - they've taken control. No one can stop them now. Your precious little planet is finished!
DOCTOR: If we're finished, then you're finished too!
MASTER: (Indignant.) Nonsense! I helped them to come here.
DOCTOR: Do you really think that that thing will distinguish between you and us?(The MASTER considers this unforeseen point...)
47: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(YATES stops momentarily to observe the materialising creature but quickly returns to the battle with the Autons. UNIT troops have set up a machine gun and start firing but the Autons quickly blast them. One by one, the soldiers are being massacred by the plastic robots. Lying on the ground and firing his pistol, YATES is joined by BENTON who scrambles to his side.)
SERGEANT BENTON: It's no good sir, we just can't hold them!
(With no choice but to carry one, YATES continues to fire as the shape of the Nestene continues to shimmer between the telescopes.)
47: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(The MASTER continues to ponder the DOCTOR'S observation as the BRIGADIER shouts above the sound of the alien noise...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Can't you do anything, Doctor?!
DOCTOR: Not unless we change the polarity.
MASTER: Whilst the transfer shift is still open?
DOCTOR: It will fling them right out into space.
MASTER: (Realising.) You're right!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, you'd better try it and quick!
DOCTOR: Get onto the transfer bank - I'll switch the power through.(The MASTER runs over to one control console whilst the DOCTOR mans another.)
DOCTOR: Are you ready?
MASTER: Yes!
DOCTOR: Right, now!(They each frantically start to manipulate the controls. There is a small explosion on the console that the DOCTOR is working on and the whole room is suffused with a white flare as the occupants are thrown from side to side. At the same time the alien noise begins to diminish.)
48: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(Outside the shimmering Nestene starts to float out of alignment from the telescopes and, as it does so, it fades away. YATES and BENTON see this from their point of cover on the ground. They then look over towards the Autons who start to stagger on their feet, as if intoxicated, then one by one they fall to the ground amongst the bodies of their soldier victims.)
49: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER picks themselves up off the floor.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well Doctor, it worked.
DOCTOR: Yes, but only just. Another minute and we'd have been too late.(The BRIGADIER looks round and sees that they are alone in the cabin.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: He's gone!
DOCTOR: After him, quick!(They run out.)
50: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(His pistol carefully aimed, YATES reaches out to examine one of the disabled Autons on the ground when JO suddenly cries out.)
JO: Look!
(YATES looks up and sees the figure of the MASTER running behind the coach on the other side of the field. He fires several shots as the DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER run up.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir! He's in the coach sir, we've got him now!
DOCTOR: Don't be too sure.(The emergency door of the coach opens and the MASTER jumps out. Hands raised he starts to make his way across the field towards the UNIT group.)
DOCTOR: Don't trust him, Brigadier, it's a trick.
(The renegade walks nearer and nearer. As he gets close he whips out a gun. YATES fires immediately and the MASTER staggers as the bullets catch him. One final bullet finishes him off and he falls to the ground, face down. All except the DOCTOR run forward. He watches suspiciously, then follows. YATES turns the body over.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Well, that's the end of him.
(The DOCTOR reaches down...and tears the MASTER'S face away - it is FARREL. The DOCTOR holds the mask in his hands.)
DOCTOR: I told you not to be too sure.
(The coach engine suddenly starts up.)
JO: Look out!
(The group dive for safety as the coach, driven by the MASTER bears down on them. It swerves, aiming especially for the DOCTOR but he dodges to one side again, then watches as the coach mounts the road and drives off. The DOCTOR gives a slight smile.)
51: INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS. LABORATORY
(Later, the BRIGADIER, still in his combat fatigues reports to the DOCTOR and JO.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, we found the abandoned coach but the Master disappeared completely.
JO: He's probably left Earth by now.
DOCTOR: Oh no.
JO: What makes you so sure?(The DOCTOR reaches into the tripod-like device that he was working on earlier and picks out a dematerialisation control.)
DOCTOR: Well his TARDIS can't go anywhere - not without this.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: And what the dickens is that?
DOCTOR: Well that's a dematerialisation circuit. It's very complicated.
JO: (Realising.) So the one he took from you...
DOCTOR: ...belonged to my TARDIS, yes...yes, I've been trying to repair it for months.
JO: And now he's stuck here on Earth.
DOCTOR: (Smiles.) Yes, I'm afraid so.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Think he'll turn up again, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Mmm, bound to.
JO: Well, you don't seem very worried about it.
DOCTOR: I'm not. As a matter of fact, Jo, I'm quite looking forward to it!
Dr. Who
JON PERTWEEBrigadier Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEYThe Master
ROGER DELGADOJo Grant
KATY MANNINGCaptain Mike Yates
RICHARD FRANKLINSergeant Benton
JOHN LEVENERex Farrel
MICHAEL WISHERAuton Leader
PAT GORMANAuton Voice
HADYN JONESTitle Music by
RON GRAINER and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOPIncidental Music
DUDLEY SIMPSONFilm Cameraman
JOHN BAKERFilm Editor
GEOFFREY BOTTERILLVisual Effects
MICHAEL JOHN HARRISAction by
HAVOCCostumes
KEN TREWMake-up
JAN HARRISONLighting
ERIC MONKSound
COLIN DIXONSpecial Sound
BRIAN HODGSON and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOPScript Editor
TERRANCE DICKSDesigner
IAN WATSONProducer
BARRY LETTS
COLOUR
© BBC 1971