INVASION
OF THE
DINOSAURSBY
MALCOLM
HULKEPART TWO
1: INT. LAND ROVER
DOCTOR: And how was I to know it was detention centre transport?
(SARAH laughs.)
SARAH: Oh well, I can see us being locked up for months - sewing mail bags probably. I mean, let's face it - nobody's listened to us so far.
(The vehicle suddenly stops, throwing the two slightly. There is a loud roaring sound. The two look at each other and move to the back from where they can peer through the tarpaulin cover.)
2: EXT. ROAD
(They look in shock as they see a roaring Tyrannosaurus rearing up above the vehicle. The two soldiers jump out of the Land Rover and start to fire at the dinosaur. The bullets hit the reptile but they seem to have no effect. A few yards in front of the soldiers is an abandoned metal dust handcart. They run and take cover behind the cart and continue firing. Back at the Land Rover, the DOCTOR lets down the back hatch and they get out and run off. The soldiers, busy firing at the Tyrannosaurus don't notice their escape. One of the soldiers indicates to the other to take cover which he does. He then throws a grenade at the reptile. It explodes directly in front of it.)
3: INT. GARAGE
(The DOCTOR and SARAH run into a garage and slam the door shut behind them. Within the darkened interior they rest to get their breath back as they hear the shots from the soldiers outside as they resume firing.)
SARAH: (Gasps.) That thing - what was it?
DOCTOR: A Tyrannosaurus Rex - the largest and fiercest predator of all time.(The DOCTOR looks out of the window.)
SARAH: But...but those things died out millions of years ago?
DOCTOR: Yeah, sixty-five million years ago, to be precise.(He looks round and spots a workbench within the tool filled room. Still handcuffed to SARAH, he half-pulls her to the bench...)
SARAH: What...?
(..and searches over it for something with which to free themselves from the handcuffs. They fail to notice that someone wearing furs is in the garage with them and watching from the shadows.)
4: EXT. ROAD
(Another grenade explodes in front of the Tyrannosaurus and it starts to retreat away back down the road, roaring as it goes. Once it is out of sight, the soldiers rise up from their cover of the dustcart and return to the Land Rover and get in.)
5: INT. LAND ROVER
(The soldier in the passenger seat looks through into the back.)
FIRST SOLDIER: They've gone!
SECOND SOLDIER: Oh no!(The First Soldier clambers out to give chase.)
6: INT. GARAGE
(The DOCTOR clumsily picks the lock of the handcuff with a tool. It slips.)
SARAH: Ow!
DOCTOR: Sorry.(He succeeds and frees SARAH'S wrist which she shakes.)
SARAH: Ooh!
DOCTOR: There we are.(He throws the tool down.)
DOCTOR: Right, now let's review the situation. A prehistoric monster's turned up in central London.
(A mini is parked in the garage. SARAH goes over to try the doors...)
SARAH: Well, how...how do you know it's only central London?
(...but it is locked.)
DOCTOR: Cos those soldiers were talking about the central zone, weren't they?
SARAH: But where did that monster come from?
DOCTOR: Ah, that's a very good question, Sarah.(SARAH fails to see that the figure dressed in furs and rags is still watching them.)
SARAH: Suppose...suppose there was an egg, buried in the ground somewhere, and somehow or other it hatched out?
DOCTOR: What - producing a sweet little baby monster?
SARAH: Yes. (Thinks.) Ah...no. Now, how would it, er, grow to that size without anyone noticing it?
DOCTOR: Perhaps somebody kept it as a pet and turned it out when it got too big to feed?!(SARAH sneers at his sarcasm.)
SARAH: Oh!
DOCTOR: Anyway, aren't you forgetting that Pterodactyl that attacked us in the warehouse?
SARAH: I suppose you've got the explanation then?
DOCTOR: Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I have.(The figure in the shadows makes a sudden rush for the door. The DOCTOR steps towards him.)
DOCTOR: Hello, who are you?
(The figure holds up a hand for protection and scream at the DOCTOR. He wears cloth leggings and a fur and leather jerkin. He has long unkempt black hair and a beard.)
PEASANT: Back! Back, accursed wizard!
DOCTOR: Wizard? I'm no wizard, I assure you. You've got no need to be frightened of me.(He takes another step forward and the man holds up a knife.)
SARAH: Doctor! Be careful.
(She puts out a hand. The DOCTOR stops and looks at the frightened man.)
DOCTOR: How did you get here?
PEASANT: The witch - she's cast a spell on me. I'll tell the priest and have her burned!
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, of course. Look, do you know what year it is?
SARAH: What's the name of the King?
PEASANT: Well, Richard, of course. But he's in the Holy Land. John rules now.(The DOCTOR and SARAH look at each other.)
PEASANT: Look, take the curse off me, wizard? Send me home?
DOCTOR: I only wish I could.(The PEASANT'S pleading voice turns into a threatening tone.)
PEASANT: Send me home. Send me home or you die!
DOCTOR: I'm afraid I don't have that power.(The PEASANT roars and rushes at the DOCTOR. He grabs his knife arm and the two men start to struggle. SARAH runs behind the man, grabbing him round the neck and pulling him off the DOCTOR. Suddenly, a high-pitched whine is heard. A reddish ray emanates from the PEASANT and SARAH and they both freeze as the man tries to plunge the knife down. As the seemingly unaffected DOCTOR watches in fascination, time seems to run backwards. SARAH'S run behind the man goes backwards until the PEASANT is once more stood against the garage door and she is watching him. He then fades away and both the reddish rays and the whining sound vanish. SARAH shakes her head and looks round her in astonishment. She sees the DOCTOR is still lying where the struggle took place - on the garage bench and deep in thought.)
SARAH: Well...what happened? He...he was going to kill you.
(The DOCTOR suddenly sits up.)
DOCTOR: Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating! That was a time eddy. For a moment there, time went backwards.
SARAH: What?(They suddenly hear the sound of an approaching and stopping vehicle. SARAH runs to the garage door and peers out.)
SARAH: Soldiers - they're searching!
(As they hear the sound of booted footsteps and calls, the DOCTOR starts to look round.)
SARAH: They're coming nearer!
DOCTOR: Can you bolt that door?
SARAH: No!(The DOCTOR listens at the door as footsteps approach. He somewhat roughly pushes SARAH to one side.)
DOCTOR: Back!
(They both stand either side of the door with their backs pressed up against the wall. The door is thrown open and the DOCTOR raises an arm with a cry to deliver a blow. The arrival though is the BRIGADIER. The DOCTOR lowers his arm, laughing and in embarrassment.)
DOCTOR: Bri...Brigadier!
(SARAH sighs with relief as the BRIGADIER puts his gun away.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What do you think you're doing, Doctor?
7: INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM
(The DOCTOR and SARAH have been taken to UNIT'S temporary HQ. BENTON hands out mugs of tea as the BRIGADIER starts to explain the situation with a jibe...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: It all started just after you, Doctor, and as we later discovered, Miss Smith, went off on your last little jaunt.
SARAH: We were helping you, and if you knew what we'd been through...!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, some other time, Miss Smith, if you don't mind?(SARAH pulls a face as the DOCTOR puts four spoonfuls of sugar into his tea.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: A variety of prehistoric reptiles began to appear in the central London area. There was, as you can imagine, considerable panic and some loss of life.
DOCTOR: How many of these things have been seen up to now?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, the pins the sighting...(BENTON tactlessly interrupts as he explains the map.)
SERGEANT BENTON: It's a colour code, Doctor. We're using red pins for Tyrannosaurus, blue for Triceratops, green for the Stegosaurus and pink for your actual Pterodactyl.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Acidly.) Thank you, Benton. We soon realised that these creatures only appeared in central London. We therefore evacuated the entire area and set up this temporary HQ, which as you can see from the map, is on the periphery of the zone.
SARAH: You've evacuated everybody?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Eight million people. I'm happy to say the evacuation was carried out without a hitch. Course, the criminal element has been taking advantage of the situation.
SARAH: Looters, you mean - like those people we met?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: There's been quite a bit of that, I'm afraid. But we're keeping them under control.(The DOCTOR taps the side of his mug with the spoon and throws it down. He speaks with some sarcasm.)
DOCTOR: Well, that's absolutely marvellous, Brigadier. Now what're you doing about the real problem?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, as soon as these creatures appear, we make sure that they're contained within the evacuated zone, and don't wander off into populated areas.
DOCTOR: Well having contained them, what do you do then?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ah, well that's where you come in, Doctor. So far we've absolutely no idea where they're coming from...or come to that, where they go.
SARAH: Where they go?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, that's one of the few good things about the entire situation. According to my patrols, they seem to...vanish - just disappear. No one sees 'em come, no one sees 'em go.
SARAH: But things that size, w...where could they go?
DOCTOR: Well, that's pretty obvious, isn't it, Sarah?
SARAH: Mmm?
DOCTOR: Back where they came from - into the past.(The door opens and GENERAL FINCH and CAPTAIN YATES walk in. The soldiers stand to attention.)
GENERAL FINCH: Alright, Brigadier, you can have your extra patrols.
(FINCH waves OGDEN back down to his seat at the radio.)
GENERAL FINCH: But I warn you, I shall expect results.
(The DOCTOR walks round the table and, completely ignoring FINCH, shakes YATES' hand.)
DOCTOR: Mike, my dear fellow, how are you?
CAPTAIN YATES: (Smiles.) Doctor...
DOCTOR: Good to see you again.
GENERAL FINCH: (To YATES, puzzled.) Who's this?(The BRIGADIER steps forward.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Er, sir, this is the Doctor - our scientific advisor.
GENERAL FINCH: (Coldly.) Ohh...we've been waiting for you, you know? May I ask where you've been?
DOCTOR: Certainly.(He walks away without another word. There is a silence.)
GENERAL FINCH: Well?
DOCTOR: You can ask but I don't guarantee that you'll get a reply.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: D...Doctor, this is General Finch. He's in overall charge of the entire operation.
DOCTOR: (Smiles.) Oh, is he indeed?(Trying to be more diplomatic, the DOCTOR returns to FINCH with his hand held out.)
DOCTOR: How do you do, General?
(FINCH ignores the gesture and glares at the DOCTOR who gives up and sits on the edge of the table.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: The Doctor's already come up with a most interesting theory, sir. He believes these creatures are coming to us from the past.
GENERAL FINCH: (Sarcastically.) Hmm! Very interesting - how?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, erm...Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, somebody or something is operating a temporal displacement on a very vast scale.
GENERAL FINCH: Never mind your scientific gobbledygook...
DOCTOR: The creatures are being brought from the past into the present, General, staying here for a while and then returning to their own time.
GENERAL FINCH: Rubbish!(The DOCTOR'S own tone and manner grow colder.)
DOCTOR: I take it then that you have a better theory?
GENERAL FINCH: Yes. Some mad scientist fellow has been secretly breeding these things. Now they've all got away.
SARAH: Ah, no, General, now I thought that, but if you think about...
GENERAL FINCH: (Sharply.) Who's this?
SARAH: Oh, Sarah Jane Smith, how do you do?(FINCH cuts her dead and turns to YATES.)
GENERAL FINCH: Civilians are not allowed in this zone. Have her evacuated immediately.
(The DOCTOR crosses to SARAH.)
DOCTOR: Er, Miss Smith is presently acting as my assistant, General. (To SARAH.) You were saying, my dear?
SARAH: Well, we've just met a man from the past - a peasant from the age of King John.(The GENERAL exclaims scornfully.)
SARAH: No, honestly, General - it's true!
GENERAL FINCH: I'm not staying here to listen to this rubbish.(He heads for the door but YATES gently intercedes.)
CAPTAIN YATES: I think you'll find it is worth listening to the Doctor, sir. He's given us a great deal of help in the past.
(FINCH seems to listen to YATES more than he does to the others. He turns back as OGDEN finishes taking a radio message.)
PRIVATE OGDEN: (Into radio.) Okay, out. (To BENTON.) Sergeant? Another sighting.
(He passes him a slip of paper.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Oh, thank you, Ogden.
(BENTON heads to the map with the paper.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Where is it, Benton?
SERGEANT BENTON: Section five, sir.(He points to the map.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Somewhere here.
GENERAL FINCH: Send for the artillery right away. We shall need field guns.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Sir.
DOCTOR: You'll do no such thing, Brigadier.
GENERAL FINCH: (Sharply.) I'll thank you to stop interfering...
DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) General...(He stands over the soldier and speaks softly.)
DOCTOR: We need to study this creature, not shoot at it. How much do you think we'll learn from a dead dinosaur?
(The GENERAL stares at him.)
DOCTOR: Come on, Brigadier. I want you to take me down there right away.
(He leads the BRIGADIER out. The GENERAL watches them go with contempt in his eyes.)
8: EXT. INDUSTRIAL UNIT
(A UNIT CORPORAL and two soldiers stand nervously next to their jeep looking at an industrial building. The BRIGADIER'S jeep draws up and the CORPORAL moves to greet his superior officer as he and the DOCTOR get out.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Alright, where is it?
UNIT CORPORAL: It's behind that building, sir. I've put an observer up on the roof keeping track of it.(They look up to see a fourth soldier on the roof who suddenly points downwards, signalling to a point obscured by the building and then indicating with a wave of his hand that the people on the ground should move back. The DOCTOR does the opposite.)
UNIT CORPORAL: (To the BRIGADIER.) It's coming this way, sir!
(The BRIGADIER holds the DOCTOR'S arm to stop him advancing any further.)
DOCTOR: Good grief! It's a Stegosaurus!
(At the corner of the building stands a huge greenish reptile, a double row of diamond-shaped plates sticking upwards out of it spine. It roars gently at the humans but makes no movement towards them.)
DOCTOR: (Admiringly.) Splendid specimen.
(The CORPORAL raises his gun but the DOCTOR knocks it back down.)
DOCTOR: No, no, don't shoot! I want to take a good look at it.
(The DOCTOR walks towards the reptile.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Be careful, Doctor!
DOCTOR: Don't worry, Brigadier, it's a vegetarian.(Nevertheless, the DOCTOR doesn't move too closely to the Stegosaurus. The large reptile and the smaller humanoid stand in contemplation of each other.)
9: INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM
(CAPTAIN YATES drinks from a mug as he chats to SARAH who sits on the table next to him.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Well, after all that business in Wales with the giant maggots, I had to have a spot of leave. Suppose it was a reaction really?
SARAH: Oof! I'm not surprised.(She gets up and walks over to the window, looking at the deserted streets outside.)
CAPTAIN YATES: As soon as I get back, of course, all this business blows up.
SARAH: It's weird seeing London like this - all those deserted streets.(CAPTAIN YATES has a faintly dream-like look on his face as he smiles.)
CAPTAIN YATES: I rather like it.
(BENTON walks past.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Excuse me, sir.
PRIVATE OGDEN: (Into radio.) Trap two, over.
CAPTAIN YATES: (To SARAH.) Have you noticed the air?
SARAH: Mmm?
CAPTAIN YATES: It's clean - no cars, no people. Do you know yesterday I saw a fox in Piccadilly?
SARAH: And nightingales in Berkeley Square?(She laughs, but YATES appears to take the idea seriously, indeed with some passion.)
CAPTAIN YATES: It's not impossible.
(The smile disappears off SARAH'S face.)
SARAH: No...no, I like London the way it was, traffic jams and all.
CAPTAIN YATES: (Quickly.) Yes, I expect you're right.(He makes it clear from his attitude that the conversation is finished. SARAH looks at him with some puzzlement.)
PRIVATE OGDEN: (Into radio.) Okay, out. (To YATES.) Sir? Message from spotter control, sir.
(He carries the message paper over to YATES.)
PRIVATE OGDEN: The Doctor and the Brigadier have arrived. (To SARAH.) Oh, and the Doctor now has the monster under close observation, miss.
SARAH: (Unimpressed.) Hmm!
10: EXT. INDUSTRIAL UNIT
(The DOCTOR finishes his “close observation” and returns to the BRIGADIER and the soldiers.)
DOCTOR: Right, we'll need some rope and a strong net.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Amazed.) You intend to capture it?
DOCTOR: Yes, of course. I want to observe it under laboratory conditions. (To the CORPORAL.) Have you got any rope?
UNIT CORPORAL: We've got some towing rope, sir.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Amazed.) You're going to tie it up?
DOCTOR: That's my intention, yes.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Alright, Corporal, carry on.
UNIT CORPORAL: Right, sir.(The CORPORAL moves to the jeep to get the rope.)
DOCTOR: That creature has an amiable disposition, Brigadier, and a brain about the size of a walnut. I think we should be able to deal with it, don't you?
(The CORPORAL returns with another soldier. They have lengths of rope slung over their shoulders.)
UNIT CORPORAL: The rope, sir.
(The DOCTOR walks back to the Stegosaurus.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To the CORPORAL.) Well, of all the lunatic schemes. Alright then, let's give him a hand.
(The three soldiers take one pace forward but suddenly the high-pitched whine starts and they freeze into immobility as they are enveloped in the reddish rays. The reptile also stops moving. Once more, only the DOCTOR is unaffected. He turns and watches as the BRIGADIER and the soldiers take one pace backwards and then the reptile fades away. The whine and the rays fade leaving a very puzzled BRIGADIER.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: It's gone!
(The DOCTOR moves back to them.)
UNIT CORPORAL: It must have gone round the corner, sir. Should we go after it?
DOCTOR: (Ruefully.) It's alright, Corporal, don't bother.
11: INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM
(Back at the temporary HQ, BENTON and SARAH watch as the DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER report back to a disbelieving GENERAL FINCH. YATES stands at his shoulder.)
GENERAL FINCH: Disappeared? You mean you disappeared when it got too close?
DOCTOR: No, sir.
GENERAL FINCH: Then what happened? How did you lose it?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I've no idea, sir. One moment we were discussing the possibility of capturing it and the next, it had gone.(The GENERAL tuts and sneers.)
GENERAL FINCH: Vanished into thin air, I suppose?
DOCTOR: Yes, General Finch. That is precisely what happened.
GENERAL FINCH: (To the BRIGADIER.) Did you see this happen?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, not exactly.
DOCTOR: The Brigadier and his men couldn't see what happened, sir - they were temporally affected by a time eddy.
GENERAL FINCH: A what?
DOCTOR: Whenever a creature appears or disappears, the temporal displacement causes a localised distortion in time. Now as far as the people in the immediate vicinity were concerned, time literally runs backwards, so naturally, they'd have no recollection of what had occurred.
GENERAL FINCH: (To YATES.) The man's mad! Temporal displacement! Time travel is impossible - we all know that.
SARAH: I've travelled through time, General. The Doctor knows what he's talking about.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Sir, suppose we accept the Doctor's theory, for the purposes of discussion? (To the DOCTOR.) What happens next?
DOCTOR: Well, we must capture one of the creatures.(He walks over to the map.)
GENERAL FINCH: And what good will that do?
DOCTOR: Well, I think a study of one of these dinosaurs, General, might lead me to the source.
CAPTAIN YATES: It couldn't be a natural phenomenon, could it, Doctor? Something going wrong with time?
DOCTOR: Then why are they contained to this one area? These giant reptiles existed all over the planet, Mike. They'd be popping up everywhere.
SARAH: Doctor, what about that man we saw in the garage?
DOCTOR: Well, I think he was an accident. Whoever's responsible for these apparitions, General, is operating from somewhere in this area.(He taps the map of central London.)
CAPTAIN YATES: You're overlooking one thing - this whole zone has been evacuated.
DOCTOR: Well, that's where you're wrong, Mike. Someone's there and whoever it is is using vast amounts of power.(The GENERAL stares at the floor, listening intently.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: But all power's been cut off in central London - just minimal emergency supplies.
DOCTOR: Then someone, Brigadier, is making their own!
12: INT. CONTROL ROOM
(Some distance away, a range of power figures is displayed on a small monitor. A youngish man with blond hair and wearing a white lab coat over a smart suit writes on a clipboard and reports to an older man - PROFESSOR WHITAKER. He has a thin face, thinning black hair, wears glasses, also has a lab coat and is economic with movement and speech. He sits at a central control desk, absorbed in his tasks.)
BUTLER: Power output holding steady.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: Good.(The darkened room is filled with electronic equipment, monitors, computers and control panels. The younger man - BUTLER - starts to flick switches on a wall control panel.)
BUTLER: The next time transference is due in one hour, Professor.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: It may have to wait.(BUTLER turns in controlled surprise to WHITAKER.)
BUTLER: One must maintain the time transference on schedule. The sequence has been carefully calculated.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: (Quietly.) How can I be expected to work on the main project when I have these constant distractions?
BUTLER: Well these distractions have emptied London for us. We must keep the authorities off balance.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: Very well, Butler, but it will not be my responsibility if the countdown is delayed.(BUTLER sighs.)
13: INT. SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR has set up his own laboratory within one of the school's science rooms. With a small soldering iron, he works on a futuristic-looking weapon of his design. It has a vague gun-like appearance and is filled with electronic circuitry. YATES sits next to him, watching carefully.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Do you really think you can knock out a dinosaur with that thing?
DOCTOR: Naturally.
CAPTAIN YATES: How?
DOCTOR: By a simple molecular reaction.(He starts to rifle through a number of parts on the bench in front of him.)
CAPTAIN YATES: I see.
DOCTOR: I doubt it. The principle hasn't really been developed on Earth yet.(Not finding what he wants, he moves to another bench with parts laid on top.)
CAPTAIN YATES: But what exactly will it do?
DOCTOR: Well, temporarily neutralise creatures' brain cells.
CAPTAIN YATES: I didn't think these creatures had any brains?
DOCTOR: All animals have brains of some sort, Mike.(He returns to his device and carries on working.)
CAPTAIN YATES: What'll happen to the dinosaur when you switch this thing on?
DOCTOR: It'll faint.
CAPTAIN YATES: And what will you do with your monster when you've got it?
DOCTOR: Well, surround it with an electrical field and wait for it to disappear.
CAPTAIN YATES: And what'll that tell you?
DOCTOR: Well, the source of the power that is moving these creatures through time.
CAPTAIN YATES: Will you get an accurate fix?
DOCTOR: Mmm, pretty accurate - enough for the Brigadier and his merry men to round up the guilty parties anyway.
CAPTAIN YATES: Jolly good, Doctor. Well I think I'd better let you get on with it.
DOCTOR: Yes, that would be helpful.(YATES is about to leave but SARAH bursts in.)
SARAH: Doctor? Listen, Doctor, that General Finch is being impossible.
(The journalist in her comes out as she immediately notices the DOCTOR'S device.)
SARAH: What are you making?
DOCTOR: (Frustrated.) Oh no! Look, ask Captain Yates, there's a good girl.
CAPTAIN YATES: Can I help you, Miss Smith?
SARAH: Er, yes, a...that wretched General of yours - he's trying to have me evacuated.
CAPTAIN YATES: (Smiles.) You're a ci...civilian. You've got no official status.
SARAH: Oh, nonsense! I'm the Doctor's assistant, aren't I, Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Not listening.) Mmm? Yes, yes, anything you like.
SARAH: (To YATES.) There you are.
CAPTAIN YATES: Tell you what - I'll fix you up with a temporary pass, but just stay out of sight of General Finch. 'Scuse me.
SARAH: Yes, thank you.(He leaves. SARAH returns to her investigation of the DOCTOR'S work.)
SARAH: What did you say that thing is?
DOCTOR: I didn't.
SARAH: Can I help at all?
DOCTOR: No.
SARAH: Oh, come on, Doctor. I'm supposed to be your assistant. There must be something I can do.
DOCTOR: Well, there is.
SARAH: What?(He looks up from his work.)
DOCTOR: Go away.
SARAH: Oh. Alright. I'll go and chat up that nice Captain Yates.
DOCTOR: Yeah, I'm sure he'll enjoy that.(She laughs and walks out of the door.)
SARAH: I'll leave you in peace then!
(The DOCTOR hurriedly shuts and locks the door she has just left by. However the room has two doors and the BRIGADIER chooses that moment to come in by the other.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ah, there you are, Doctor - now what are you up to?
(The DOCTOR, driven to distraction, clamps his hands to his head and looks as though he is about to scream.)
DOCTOR: Oh no!
14: INT. CONTROL ROOM
(PROFESSOR WHITAKER looks at a small computer print-out and moves over to a control panel. BUTLER walks in, smiles and leans on a control unit.)
BUTLER: Our friend from UNIT is here.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: (Surprised.) What? He has strict instructions never to come here.
BUTLER: He says there's some kind of an emergency, he must see you.(WHITAKER considers.)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: Alright, bring him in.
(BUTLER raises an eyebrow and leaves to escort their visitor in. WHITAKER sighs. A moment later, BUTLER returns.)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: What is it?
(The new arrival is CAPTAIN YATES!)
CAPTAIN YATES: I'm sorry, Professor, but I thought I'd better warn you...
15: INT. SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR also has a visitor who is escorted into the science room by the BRIGADIER. The new arrival is a distinguished looking man wearing a suit and overcoat and carrying an umbrella.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: This is the Doctor, sir, our scientific advisor. Doctor, this is the Right Honourable Charles Grover, Minister with special powers.
(The DOCTOR, jeweller's eyeglass fitted, remains absorbed in his task. GROVER does not seem insulted by the behaviour.)
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: I do apologise for the interruption, Doctor. I realise how busy you are.
DOCTOR: (Not looking up.) Well, I'm glad somebody does.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: I understand you may be able to help us find a solution to this crisis?
DOCTOR: (Not looking up.) Yes, I sincerely hope so.(Suddenly the DOCTOR looks up at the man, takes out the eyeglass and starts to take an interest.)
DOCTOR: Aren't you the chap who started the “Save planet Earth” society?
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: I had something to do with it.
DOCTOR: You also wrote that book - “Last chance for man”, didn't you?
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: Yes, that's right.(The DOCTOR puts down his tools, smiles and walks over to shake GROVER'S hand.)
DOCTOR: Oh, my dear Grover, I'm delighted to meet you. This planet needs people like you.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, of course. You two have a great deal in common. The Doctor's very keen on this anti-pollution business.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: And so should you be, Brigadier. It affects all our lives.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Oh, quite, sir, quite.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: Now I mustn't keep you, Doctor, I just wanted to make your acquaintance.
DOCTOR: Oh, nonsense, nonsense, no need to rush away. Come over here, let me explain to you what I'm doing.(The BRIGADIER retains his temper at this sudden show of hypocritical courtesy as GROVER is led over to the bench.)
DOCTOR: Now then, in the first place...
16: INT. CONTROL ROOM
(YATES has told WHITAKER of the DOCTOR'S intentions...)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: That's absolute nonsense. There's no way he can find us.
CAPTAIN YATES: If the Doctor says he can do it, I believe him. He's probably the greatest scientist on this planet.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: That is a matter of opinion.
BUTLER: (To WHITAKER.) You realise what'll happen if he's right? It'll be the end of Operation Golden Age - everything we've planned will be ruined.(WHITAKER thinks.)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: (To YATES.) Very well, if he's such a danger to us, you will have to deal with him.
CAPTAIN YATES: How?
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: Well, you're the soldier.
CAPTAIN YATES: I'll do nothing to harm the Doctor, nor will I allow him to be harmed. If we descend to that sort of thing, we're no better than the society we intend to replace.
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: Captain Yates, I respect your principles but if the Doctor succeeds in capturing a dinosaur then the whole project may be jeopardised.
BUTLER: But what can we do?(WHITAKER looks up at YATES.)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: You must sabotage the Doctor's stun gun.
(YATES' face betrays his shock.)
17: INT. SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORY
(GROVER looks over the finished device. Blue and silver in colour, it has two barrels at the front, a central round vertical unit from which a power lead emerges and a standard shoulder rest at the rear.)
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: Mmm hmm. Well, I admire your courage, Doctor. I only hope it works.
(The DOCTOR smiles and nods.)
DOCTOR: I think it will.
(He takes the weapon from GROVER and takes it over to the BRIGADIER who sits waiting at a nearby desk.)
DOCTOR: All we need now is a dinosaur to try it out on.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: We're doing our best to get you one, Doctor. All my spotter patrols are on maximum alert.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: Tell me, Doctor, have you any theories as to why all this is happening?
DOCTOR: Yes. I believe these dinosaurs are being used purely as a terror weapon in order to clear central London.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: But why?
DOCTOR: Well, presumably, so that some vast project can be carried out - something for which people will get in the way.
CHARLES GROVER M.P.: Yes, but why London? Who not the Yorkshire moors or the highlands of Scotland?
DOCTOR: Why indeed? Well, there must be some overriding reason. There must be something that they need that's only available to them here.(BENTON walks in and up to the BRIGADIER.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Sir, they've spotted one. Section twelve - power station. The Chief Engineer said if we don't remove it quickly, he'll have to switch off.
(The BRIGADIER leaves the room.)
DOCTOR: Any idea what kind it is?
SERGEANT BENTON: Er, Pato-something?
DOCTOR: (To GROVER.) Apatosaurus, commonly known as the Brontosaurus - large, placid and stupid. That's exactly what we need.(The DOCTOR collects his weapon as the BRIGADIER pokes his head round the door.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Transport standing by, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Will you excuse us, Minister? I'll let you know as soon as we've captured it. Come on, Brigadier.(They walk out leaving GROVER alone.)
18: INT. CONTROL ROOM
(WHITAKER hands a small metallic disc to YATES.)
PROFESSOR WHITAKER: There you are, Captain Yates. Attach this device to the Doctor's stun gun and it will be rendered completely ineffective.
19: EXT. POWER SUB-STATION
(At a small power sub-station, a large Brontosaurus stands somewhat confused between two buildings. UNIT troops have the creature under observation as a jeep with CAPTAIN YATES draws up. The UNIT CORPORAL moves forward to meet him.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Where is it?
UNIT CORPORAL: It's round that corner, sir.(As YATES gets out of the vehicle, the BRIGADIER drives the DOCTOR up in another jeep. YATES moves over to them and points at the corner of the building.)
CAPTAIN YATES: It's round there.
DOCTOR: Jolly good. Right, let's go and take a look at it.(He gets out and walks towards the place indicated. The waiting troops stand to attention and both the DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER salute as they pass. YATES eyes the stun-gun in the back of the jeep.)
UNIT CORPORAL: Right, Collins, put this back there.
SOLDIER: Right, Corporal.(The Soldier reverses YATES' jeep back out of the way as the CAPTAIN joins the BRIGADIER and the DOCTOR at the corner where they stand observing the dinosaur.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: You sure this is the kind you want, Doctor? It's rather large.
DOCTOR: The bigger, the better, Brigadier.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Really, why is that?
DOCTOR: Well, the larger the mass, the greater the temporal displacement for my instruments to measure.
CAPTAIN YATES: Doctor, suppose this gadget of yours doesn't work?
DOCTOR: Then I shall simply turn round and come back - feeling rather foolish.
CAPTAIN YATES: Isn't that thing dangerous?
DOCTOR: Not unless it's roused, Captain Yates. Mind you I wouldn't like to try it on a Tyrannosaurus Rex.(The BRIGADIER and the DOCTOR move away and the BRIGADIER barks out an order to the soldiers.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, bring the Doctor's, erm...that thing in my jeep. Bring it over here.
(Before the CORPORAL can move...)
CAPTAIN YATES: It's alright, Corporal. I'll get it.
UNIT CORPORAL: Sir.(YATES runs over to the jeep. He checks that he is not being watched and then attaches the metal disc under the barrels of the gun.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: We'll be ready with covering fire.
DOCTOR: That won't be necessary.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Just in case, Doctor. (To the soldiers.) Stand by!(YATES returns with the stun gun and its power pack as the soldiers get into position. They set up a small grenade launcher and the BRIGADIER stands with them as the DOCTOR walks down by the side of the sub-station behind a small set of railings with his gun ready. Not noticing the disc, the DOCTOR crouches down, makes a small adjustment to a control on the gun and aims at the Brontosaurus. He fires but there is absolutely no reaction. He looks over the gun in puzzlement and pushes the power lead in further. He then checks his power pack as the BRIGADIER watches in impatience and YATES with some trepidation. As the DOCTOR aims again, the whining sound starts up. The Brontosaurus freezes and the red rays emanate from it. It fades away. The DOCTOR sighs with frustration but suddenly spins round as he hears a loud roar behind him. A Tyrannosaurus has been materialised and looms over the DOCTOR. He swiftly aims his stun-gun at it and tries firing again and again but with no result.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Fire!
(The troops start to launch the grenades at the new arrival as it swoops down towards the DOCTOR...)
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEESarah Jane Smith
ELISABETH SLADENBrigadier
Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEYGeneral Finch
JOHN BENNETTCharles Grover M.P.
NOEL JOHNSONProfessor Whitaker
PETER MILESButler
MARTIN JARVISCaptain Yates
RICHARD FRANKLINSergeant Benton
JOHN LEVENEPeasant
JAMES MARCUSPrivate Ogden
GEORGE BRYSONUNIT Corporal
PAT GORMANWritten by
MALCOLM HULKETitle Music
RON GRAINER
and BBC Radiophonic
WorkshopTitle Sequence
BERNARD LODGEIncidental Music
DUDLEY SIMPSONSpecial Sound
DICK MILLSScript Editor
TERRANCE DICKSDesigner
RICHARD MORRISProducer
BARRY LETTSDirected by
PADDY RUSSELL
COLOUR
© BBC 1973