'SLIPBACK'
By ERIC SAWARD
EPISODE 4
Running time : 10:14
First transmitted : 1st August 1985
1.Ducting
(Another six blasts, followed by another, much louder,
explosion.)
Barton : Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrggh. I'm awfully sorry sir, but
I'm feeling rather unwell.
Doctor : Reposition yourself. Move away from the gunfire.
Barton : I'm afraid sir that the only position I can
adopt is a horizontal one.
(Barton falls over)
Doctor : I'm sorry about this, but my friend has had to
withdraw from the game.
Grant : Just keep your hands where I can see them,
otherwise you'll be joining him.
2. Computer System
Computer : Are you there? The drone's been damaged!
Main Comp : Deactivate his conditioning circuit. I see no
reason why the Time Lord shouldn't learn the truth.
Computer : Do you think that's wise?
Main Comp : Whatever the drone tells him will only feed
his curiosity. That will be enough to deliver him into my hands.
3. The Ducting
Seedle : As a rule miss I'm quite keen on exercise, but
strolling up and down dark, dusty ducting is not the most agreeable way of
getting it!
Peri : Well it's difficult to say precisly where he was.
It all looks the same, especially now that bulkhead door's been opened.
Seedle : I'm afraid miss that if you're going to invent
your senario will have to become considerably more plausable than it is at the
moment.
Peri : I'm telling the truth.
Snatch : You must co-operate miss, my collegue has a
history of violently attacking people.
Seedle : I have beaten my fists raw on some of the finest
criminals in the galaxy.
Peri : A-are you policemen?
Seedle : Certainly not miss! You'll just have to accept
the somewhat implausable story that we are environment inspectors.
4. Ducting
Grant : No gun. You must be feeling confident.
Doctor : Never carry one. Causes my pockets to bulge,
ruins the cut of my coat.
Grant : How did you get onto me? Thought I'd managed to
cover my tracks quite carefully.
Doctor : I'm sorry but I haven't the faintest idea what
you're talking about.
Grant : Oh come off it, I know you're the police!
Barton : There you are mistaken sir-
Grant : Shut up! You must be the police, otherwise the
computer would have reported your presence.
Doctor : I'm afraid the logic of that statement defeats
me.
Barton : The police often carry devices to confuse the
sensors of survellance computers, sir. It allows them to abuse their authority
by entering prohibited areas undetected.
Doctor : When you searched me did you find such a device?
Grant : No. So why didn't the computer report you?
Doctor : I think that's a question best put to her. That
is after you've explained why you were so keen to see me dead.
5. The ducting
Seedle : You know Snatch, I think we've uncovered a den
of iniquity here. When we've sorted this little lot out, there could be
promotion all 'round.
Peri : Well, apart from falling on your friend here, what
else am I supposed to have done?
Snatch : Several important art treasures have been stolen
from various planets this ship has visited. We are looking for the person or
persons concerned.
Peri : And you're still denying you're policemen?
Seedle : It's your credentials that are in question miss,
not ours.
Peri : Alright, have it your own way, but I have nothing
to do with the theft of any art treasures
Seedle : Really miss? Then it won't distress you to know
that we are in possession of a gangmember's name.
Peri : Well if you know who this man is, why don't you go
to the Captain?
Seedle : Heh, hardly miss, he may be involed in the crime
himself.
Snatch : Tell her the name sir, we'll know if she's
lying.
Seedle : I think for once you could be right lad. The
name is Shellingborne Grant.
6. Ducting
Doctor : Well Mr Grant, it's fortunate for you I am not a
policeman, neither am I particullary concerned by your petty activities, I'll
leave that to the proper authorities.
Grant : A somewhat pompous statement considering I still
have the gun.
Doctor : I don't care, I have more important things to
argue.
Grant : Like what?
Doctor : Someone on board this ship is illegally
experimenting with time.
Grant : Can't be, impossible.
Doctor : It's a fact. Now who might possess the necessary
skills?
Grant : No-one, apart from the engineering staff who are
drunk most of the time. The only scientific members of the crew are
anthropologists, geologists, that sort of thing.
Doctor : Are you sure?
Grant : This is a census ship. We're making a galactic
survey of all the known inhabited planets. How else d'you think I got close
enough to steal priceless works of art?
Doctor : Could be there on official business.
7. The ducting
Seedle : Come on miss.
Peri : I don't know who this Shellingborne Grant is.
Seedle : Then tell me the name of this Doctor.
Peri : I don't know that either! How many times must I
say it?
Seedle : How miss can you speak to someone on a regular
basis without knowing their name?
Peri : I only know him as 'the Doctor', he's always
maintained I wouldn't be able to pronounce his name.
Seedle : This is indeed a man of mystery.
Peri : Well what does it matter? He isn't Shellingborne
Grant.
Seedle : But how can you be certain miss, paticulary as
he refuses to tell you his name?
Peri : Because he doesn't lie!
Seedle : Such perversion, I'm beginning to find this all
a bit strange Snatch.
Snatch : I think we should look further sir, he can't
have got far.
8. Ducting
(A regular thumping sound. It stops)
Doctor : There has to be someone on board capable of time
experiments. Think man, think!
Grant : I am thinking!
Doctor : The drone. Are you still functioning? Come on,
don't expire yet!
(The Doctor kicks the drone)
Doctor : Oh.
Barton : I do beg you pardon sir, I was composing my
epitaph.
Doctor : Where were you supposed to take me?
Barton : The Solar Lounge sir, I always collect two for
afternoon tea at about this time sir.
Grant : Oh he's rambling.
(The Doctor kicks Barton.)
Doctor : Come on! Hang on to your memory circuits! What's
the name of this ship?
Grant : The Vipod Mor.
Doctor : Drone, where were you taking me?
Barton : To the next level sir. A specially concealed
compartment has been constructed to hide you sir.
Doctor : Location?
Barton : Near bulkhead door 681, sir.
Grant : There is such bulkhead.
Doctor : We're getting somewhere at last. And who gave
you these instructions?
Barton : the source of all my orders sir. The computer.
Doctor (to Grant) : Come on, I want to have
a look at this room.
9. The ducting
Snatch : This ducting goes on forever sir.
Seedle : And you have a knack of stating the obvious
Snatch.
Snatch : Sorry sir.
Peri : Well here's another dilemma for you: stairs. Do we
go up or down?
Seedle : Well these aren't the stairs we came up, are
they?
Snatch : No sir, they were at the other end of the
ducting.
(Barton faintly moans)
Snatch (whispering) : What's that?
Seedle : I think we should investigate.
Snatch : It could be a trap sir.
Seedle : Villains poised to pounce rarely advertise their
presense lad.
Snatch : Sorry sir.
Seedle (to Barton) : Now then, may I
enquire what you are doing, lurking on the stairs in such a disorderly manner?
Barton : Hello boys! (notices Peri) I do beg your
pardon madam.
Peri : Oh don't bother about me, I'm just one of the
gang.
Snatch : He's been damaged by gunfire sir.
Seedle : Really? (to Barton) And what have you
been up to?
Barton : It's no fun being a service maintainance drone
sir.
Seedle : Nah, we'll get no sense from him. Put the thing
out of it's misery.
Snatch : Just a moment sir. (to Barton) Who did
this to you?
Barton : A laser pistol.
Snatch : I said who, not what.
Barton : A fight.
Snatch : Between whom?
Barton : Me, Doctor, Grant.
Seedle : Doctor Grant eh?
Peri : That isn't true.
Seedle (To Peri) : Shut up! (To
Barton) And where is Doctor Grant now?
Barton : Next... level... down...
10. Ducting
Doctor : Here we are.
Grant : I can't see anything.
Doctor : There. That fine line is the edge of the door.
Ah! This must be the opening mechanism.
(Bleeping of buttons being pressed. The door opens.)
Doctor : You wait here, I'd better go in alone.
Grant : Leave the door open, y-you know, just in case.
11. Compartment
Doctor : Hello? Hellooo?
(Computer bleeps)
Computer : Well hello there! I hope you like your room.
Doctor : Very tasteful.
(The door closes.)
Doctor : Wha.
Computer : Sorry about that, there was a terrible draft,
I'd hate if you catch a chill after all the trouble I've gone to to get you
here.
(A throbbing noise can be heard.)
Doctor : Why, that noise?
Computer : You heard it in a dream not long ago. (the
Computer voice changes to that of the Main Comp) A voice calling to you
from afar.
(The throbbing begins to slowly intensify)
Doctor : That's right (The throbbing begins to affect
him.) Huh? W-w-what's happening? D-you're hurting me! A-ah!
Main Comp : Thought transference, Doctor. I'm inside your
head.
(The throbbing begins to really build up.)
Doctor : I can't stand the pain. Your presence is too
powerful.
Main Comp : I am only interested in your knowledge
concerning time travel. Your personal secrets are safe.
(The throbbing is loud and fast)
Doctor : Y-you must reduce you presence.
Main Comp : Co-operate and the pain will cease!
(The throbbing reaches it's maximum level.)
Doctor : You don't understand! you're des-troying me!
You're destroying my miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind!
Move on to the Next Episode
The Doctor
COLIN BAKER
Peri
NICOLA BRYANT
Seedle
RON PEMBER
Snatch
NICK REVELL
Captain Slarn
VALENTINE DYALL
Drone/Maston
ALAN THOMSON
Grant
JON GLOVER
Computer Voices
JANE CARR
Studio Managers
COLIN DUFF
WILFRED ACOSTA
SARAH
ROSEWARNE
Production Secretary
KATE ABERCROMBIE
Sound Effects
DICK MILLS
Incidental Music
JONATHAN GIBBS
Director/Producer
PAUL SPENCER
Transcribed by
Cameron
Mason
6th February 2001