THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN
EPISODE SIX
by MERVYN HAISMAN and HENRY LINCOLN
first broadcast - 6th November 1967
1. CAVE
(In the cave, the Intelligence has grown to cover the tunnel floor, and is expanding faster and faster...)
2. COURTYARD, MONASTERY
(TRAVERS has just told the DOCTOR about what he has seen earlier on.)
DOCTOR: It was Songsten who took this pyramid into the cave?
TRAVERS: That's right.
JAMIE: And the Yeti never harmed him?
TRAVERS: No.
DOCTOR: Songsten. He's the link I've been looking for.
THOMNI: But Khrisong is with Songsten now.
DOCTOR: Then he is in danger!
(The four of them rush off to help.)
3. ANTEROOM, INNER SANCTUM
(Outside the doors to the Inner Sanctum, KHRISONG catches up with SONGSTEN...)
KHRISONG: Songsten, danger! You are in great danger! Come away from this place!
SONGSTEN: What madness is this?
(The VOICE of the Great Intelligence, which dominates PADMASAMBHAVA'S own voice, intervenes.)
VOICE: (OOV.) KHRISONG, WHENCE CAME YOU BY SUCH FOOLISH THOUGHTS?
KHRISONG: Don't try and frighten me! Who are you? I demand to know what is happening!
SONGSTEN: (Annoyed.) Demand? You are in the presence of the Master.
KHRISONG: Yes, a master who controls the Yeti. What is hidden in there?
SONGSTEN: Forgive him Master.
PADMASAMBHAVA: Of course, but our brother must not be allowed to depart in the knowledge that I am other than what I am.
(The VOICE returns.)
VOICE: (OOV.) Songsten!
(SONGSTEN goes back into a trance.)
KHRISONG: Why do you put him in a trance?
(The doors to the Inner Sanctum opens...)
VOICE: (OOV.) You understand, Songsten?
SONGSTEN: I understand, Master.
(He bids KHRISONG to enter.)
PADMASAMBHAVA: You may enter, Khrisong.
4. INNER SANCTUM
(KHRISONG starts to enter, a little awed, but then SONGSTEN stops him...)
SONGSTEN: One moment! You may not take weapons into the presence of the Master.
(KHRISONG pauses to think about it...)
VOICE: (OOV.) ARE YOU AFRAID?
(KHRISONG hands over his sword to the Abbot when requested. As soon as his back is turned, SONGSTEN runs him through.)
KHRISONG: Waahh!
(KHRISONG falls to the ground in great pain.)
PADMASAMBHAVA: You have done well, Songsten. You will now...
(PADMASAMBHAVA's real personality starts to re-emerge when he realised what he has done.)
PADMASAMBHAVA: Why are you making me do this? Why? Release me... I beg of you... I am...
(The Intelligence takes control again.)
VOICE: (OOV.) SONGSTEN, YOU WILL NOW GO FORTH WITH THE MONKS. YOU WILL NEVER RETURN.
(During this, the door to the Inner Sanctum close again.)
SONGSTEN: Yes, Master.
5. ANTEROOM, INNER SANCTUM
(The DOCTOR and his companions rush down the corridor...)
JAMIE: Khrisong, where are you?
(The four of them arrive to see KHRISONG'S stricken body and the Abbot with a blood-stained sword in his hands.)
DOCTOR: Khrisong!
THOMNI: What has happened?
JAMIE: Khrisong!
TRAVERS: We're too late.
(SONGSTEN comes out of his trance and discovers the five looking over the body.)
SONGSTEN: What have you done to Khrisong?
TRAVERS: What have we done? Well that's a bit cool, I must say.
THOMNI: You have killed him!
SONGSTEN: I...?
VOICE: (OOV.) SONGSTEN, KILL THEM!
(Immediately SONGSTEN falls back into his trance and charges the group with the sword.)
DOCTOR: Jamie, grab hold of him! His hands!
(They manage to overpower the Abbot and force the sword out of his hand.)
DOCTOR: Quick, get him out of here!
KHRISONG: Doctor!
(JAMIE, THOMNI and TRAVERS drag the Abbot away while the DOCTOR kneels to be by KHRISONG who is in his death throes.)
DOCTOR: It's all right, lie still, I'll get help.
KHRISONG: Too late, my time has come. Closer. My brothers... they are not... to blame Songsten... He was... in a trance.
DOCTOR: I understand now just try...
KHRISONG: Go! Leave.. leave me..
(And so the warrior monk dies and, in sadness, the DOCTOR leave the Anteroom. When they have gone, the room is filled by the hideous laughter of the
Intelligence.)
6. GREAT HALL
(THOMNI and the others enter the Hall to tell the others the news.)
THOMNI: My brothers! My brothers, Khrisong is dead.
SAPAN: Dead?
RALPACHAN: By whose hand?
THOMNI: By the hand of our Abbot, Songsten.
SAPAN: This cannot be.
TRAVERS: Aye, it's true enough.
SAPAN: No. What reason would he have to do such a vile thing?
JAMIE: Obviously he thought Khrisong knew too much.
SAPAN: Songsten, is this true?
(SONGSTEN screams into life and must quickly be overpowered again.)
SONGSTEN: Aaah!
JAMIE: Keep back!
RALPACHAN: Do not interfere, stranger!
JAMIE: No, leave him alone, there's been enough killing...
VICTORIA: Oh, Jamie, no!
THOMNI: Wait! Wait, my brothers, this is no time for rashness.
DOCTOR: He is quite right! He is quite right! You listen to him.
RALPACHAN: Well?
SONGSTEN: Kill them... kill them... kill them...
THOMNI: Look, is this our Abbot who loves peace. Surely you can see he was made to kill Khrisong. He is a helpless puppet!
TRAVERS: But I saw him on the mountain, he was leading the Yeti!
DOCTOR: Yes, but by command, unknowingly. Thomni is right, Songsten is merely a puppet.
SAPAN: Who has done this to him?
(RALPACHAN points a finger at the outsiders.)
RALPACHAN: Is it you?
THOMNI: No! I tell you I saw Songsten change. He was put in a trance, by the Master.
(This causes shock among the monks.)
SAPAN: Have a care what you say.
(The DOCTOR has had enough of the argument.)
DOCTOR: Now listen to me, all of you. Your Abbot is not responsible! But neither is Padmasambhava, he too is controlled. Now do as you'd planned.
Leave the monastery, there is great evil here.
TRAVERS: No Doctor, you're wrong. The evil is on the mountains. It's that hideous thing in the caves.
(SAPAN makes a decision.)
SAPAN: Wherever it may be, what can we do to overcome such a force? My brothers, let us obey the Doctor.
THOMNI: What of you, Doctor?
DOCTOR: I will stay here, Thomni.
JAMIE: Oh, me too.
VICTORIA: Why?
DOCTOR: I have to. This things that's here, this evil, it will spread. It has to be stopped and I think I can do it. Thomni, will you help me? It will be
dangerous.
THOMNI: You can rid us of this evil?
DOCTOR: Yes, I think I can. And if we succeed the monks will be able to return.
THOMNI: Then of course I will help.
(VICTORIA doesn't like the situation.)
VICTORIA: Doctor, you're not going to send me away with the monks, are you?
DOCTOR: Yes, Victoria, I think it best.
VICTORIA: Well, I won't go.
DOCTOR: No, I didn't think you would.
(JAMIE notices a change in SONGSTEN.)
JAMIE: Hey Doctor! Songsten, he's unconscious.
RALPACHAN: Sapan, tend our Abbot.
DOCTOR: No! Wait. There are things I have to find out and only Songsten can tell me.
JAMIE: What makes you so sure he's going to do that?
DOCTOR: Sit him down here, Jamie. Over there.
(They start to move SONGSTEN to the chair. Meanwhile TRAVERS motions RALPACHAN over to him...)
TRAVERS: The Doctor's got it wrong. I've seen that thing in the cave. That's what we've got to destroy.
RALPACHAN: The Doctor thinks the evil is in here...
TRAVERS: I know, I've seen it, he hasn't. He said himself that Padmasambhava was being controlled. And it's that thing that's doing it. I'm going to get
at it. Are you coming with me?
RALPACHAN: Very well!
TRAVERS: Good man, come on.
RALPACHAN: What do you plan to do?
TRAVERS: I don't quite know yet. Get to that cave... the pyramid's the answer... I just have to take a shot at it with this. Come on.
(They leave the room with some warrior monks while the DOCTOR hypnotises SONGSTEN in order to elicit more information about the intelligence and its
purpose...)
DOCTOR: And the Yeti?
SONGSTEN: They were designed to serve the Intelligence.
DOCTOR: I see. Now this intelligence, ah, it is confined to the cave?
SONGSTEN: No.
DOCTOR: No?
SONGSTEN: It has broken its promise. Now it demands the whole mountain.
DOCTOR: I see. Now, Songsten, I want you to help me.
SONGSTEN: I want to help you.
DOCTOR: Now these Yeti, they are controlled?
SONGSTEN: Yes, by Padmasambhava.
DOCTOR: Yes, but the control units, they were made somehow, somewhere?
SONGSTEN: The Master laboured for nearly two hundred years. With the help of the Intelligence he built the creatures and the other wonderful machines.
DOCTOR: These small Yeti models, their movements must be mirrored by the real robots?
SONGSTEN: True.
DOCTOR: But there must be a controller. A machine that gives out the orders. Now, where is that control?
SONGSTEN: The sanctum.
DOCTOR: But I have seen the sanctum?
SONGSTEN: Throne. Behind the throne there lies a hidden room.
DOCTOR: How do I get into it? Songsten, how do I get into it?
(But the Abbot says nothing more.)
7. MOUNTAINSIDE
(TRAVERS, still convinced that the DOCTOR wrong, heads up the mountain towards the cave with RALPACHAN. On their way up they pass several Yeti going down,
towards the monastery.)
TRAVERS: A close one. Heading towards the monastery.
RALPACHAN: Should we not return?
TRAVERS: No, now we've come this far. Let's push on. Come on.
8. GREAT HALL
(The DOCTOR places the Abbot in the charge of SAPAN.)
DOCTOR: Take care of him, Sapan.
SAPAN: I will. He has suffered much.
SONGSTEN: Is it time to leave?
(SAPAN and the Abbot leave the room.)
DOCTOR: Now as soon as the monks have left, we must get into that control room.
JAMIE: How do we get past Padma-thingme?
DOCTOR: I'll deal with him. But remember, as soon as we're in the sanctum, whatever happens, Thomni and you must smash the controls!
VICTORIA: What do you mean, whatever happens'?
DOCTOR: Padmasambhava will use super-normal powers if necessary. For a start he will try to hypnotise you again.
VICTORIA: Well how can I stop him?
DOCTOR: Thomni, you better teach her the 'Jewel of the Lotus Prayer'. It'll give her something to concentrate on.
THOMNI: Yes, Doctor.
(JAMIE notices that TRAVIS is gone.)
DOCTOR: Jamie, where is Travers?
JAMIE: Travers?
DOCTOR: Well he's not here.
JAMIE: Perhaps he's deserted us.
DOCTOR: No, I don't somehow think he's done that, but I'd like to know what he's up to.
9. MOUNTAINSIDE
TRAVERS: Well we're going the right way, there's some sort of path along here.
RALPACHAN: Look! What is it?
TRAVERS: It's that hideous light from the cave. It's spreading all over the mountain.
RALPACHAN: It's blinding me. How can we reach the pyramid?
TRAVERS: We can't it's too late for that now I'm afraid.
RALPACHAN: But it will engulf the monastery.
(Shooting the pyramid is no longer possible. Defeated, they are forced to turn back.)
10. GREAT HALL
(The monks prepare to leave.)
SAPAN: Doctor, why will you not accept the aid of our warrior brothers?
DOCTOR: Because they are needed to guard you and the lamas, Sapan.
THOMNI: Besides brave hearts will not suffice for this battle.
SAPAN: Protect them Thomni. We shall pray for you.
DOCTOR: Thank you. Don't worry, everything will be all right. When it's all over you can come back. I hope.
(SAPAN bows and the monks leave the DOCTOR little group - JAMIE, VICTORIA, and THOMNI. The DOCTOR turns to them to give them a pep-talk.)
DOCTOR: Now don't forget, I will go into the sanctum first and deal with Padmasambhava. And, as soon as it's safe, make for the curtain behind the
throne. That's where the control room is!
THOMNI: When we have destroyed the machine what will happen?
DOCTOR: I haven't the faintest idea.
JAMIE: What?
DOCTOR: Don't worry, Jamie, it's going to be all right.
JAMIE: Hey, we might all be blown to smithereens!
VICTORIA: What am I supposed to do?
DOCTOR: Well nothing I hope, but one of us just might need help. Are we ready? Come on.
11. MAIN GATE
(TRAVERS and RALPACHAN approach the monastery. All the monks have left and three Yeti are standing guard outside the gates. They are activated but immobile -
waiting.)
RALPACHAN: What shall we do?
TRAVERS: Looks as though we're well and truly cooked.
RALPACHAN: Look! There, below us, torches. The monks must have left.
TRAVERS: Yes, but has the Doctor?
RALPACHAN: How can we tell, we are trapped.
TRAVERS: I don't know.
RALPACHAN: We cannot enter the monastery.
TRAVERS: Looks as though... we'll just have to sit tight.
RALPACHAN: Can we not try and join my brothers?
TRAVERS: No! The Doctor may still be in there. I'm sure he is.
12. ANTEROOM, INNER SANCTUM
(The DOCTOR and his party arrive at the Ante-chamber. The Intelligence voice hisses through the air.)
VOICE: (OOV.) WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHY DID YOU NOT HEED MY WARNING? YOU ARE STUBBORN, DOCTOR.
DOCTOR: Who are you?
(The VOICE tries to return to PADMASAMBHAVA's normal voice but can't - the result is a mixture of PADMASAMBHAVA's voice and the Intelligence hissing voice.)
VOICE: (OOV.) YOU KNOW WELL IT IS I THE MASTER, PADMASAMBHAVA, WHO SPEAKS.
DOCTOR: Oh no it isn't. I know Padmasambhava, he's my friend. Where have you come from? Why are you using his body in this fashion?
VOICE: (OOV.) SUCH AS A BRAIN AS YOURS IS TOO SMALL TO GRASP MY PURPOSE.
DOCTOR: Too small?
VOICE: (OOV.) I am much power.
DOCTOR: Much power? Just a...
(A torch lifts from the wall and swipes towards the DOCTOR who ducks. VICTORIA gives a little cry in fright.)
DOCTOR: Simple levitation, a childish trick. Now stop playing games and open these doors. Or are you afraid to meet me face to face?
(The taunt seems to work and the doors to the Inner Sanctum creak open.)
VOICE: (OOV.) YOU ARE RASH.
(The DOCTOR turns to the others one final time...)
DOCTOR: Now anything can happen now, just trust me and above all don't panic.
(As previously planned he goes in first on his own, bringing himself under mental attack from the Great Intelligence. The DOCTOR cries out in pain...)
DOCTOR: (OOV.) Aah Oh!
(And JAMIE nearly runs in after him.)
VICTORIA: No! No! The Doctor said to wait!
DOCTOR: Now!
JAMIE: Come on, Thomni!
13. INNER SANCTUM
(Entering the Inner Sanctum they find themselves held immobile by the Great Intelligence. Sensing victory, it gives out a ghastly laugh, but then the DOCTOR
steps up his efforts and JAMIE and THOMNI break free from its grip.)
DOCTOR: Quickly! Into the control room, smash the controls!
JAMIE: To work, Thomni!
(They run to the control room behind the throne and start smashing up all the alien artifacts within. VICTORIA, still stuck, sees the hand of PADMASAMBHAVA
move over to the models by his side and bring in the Yeti to help him.)
VICTORIA: Doctor, he's bringing the Yeti in!
(The DOCTOR's face is covered in sweat from the mental battle...)
DOCTOR: Victoria, Victoria, I can't hold him! The models... knock over the models! No, Victoria, don't let him! Jewel of the Lotus'! Om mane padme
hum... Om mane padme hum...
VICTORIA: (Chanting.) Om mane padme hum... Om mane padme hum...
(But she was completely unable to move...)
14. MAIN GATE
(Outside the monastery gates, the three Yeti come to life and start moving in, rapidly, towards the Inner Sanctum. TRAVERS and the warrior monk follow them
in.)
TRAVERS: At last! Come on.
15. INNER SANCTUM
(VICTORIA is still chanting away but still unable to move, the DOCTOR is still trying to hold the Intelligence in check and JAMIE and THOMNI is still
destroying the alien equipment.)
VICTORIA: Om mane padme hum. Oh it's no good, I can't move.
DOCTOR: You've got to!
VICTORIA: I... I can't!
DOCTOR: (Turns to see Yeti starting to come into the room.) Jamie! Jamie! Jamie! Yeti's coming!
(JAMIE hears this in the control room.)
JAMIE: Yeti?
THOMNI: But we have destroyed the machines.
JAMIE: Well there must be something else that controls them.
(He recalls a large sphere in there which looks like one of the Yeti control units.)
JAMIE: The control unit, of course the sphere!
(JAMIE and THOMNI find it and when it's smashed the control units in the Yeti explode, just in the nick of time as one's about to come down on the Doctor
with its claw.)
VOICE: (Undeterred.) ONE STROKE OF FORTUNE WILL NOT SAVE YOU.
(TRAVERS, who arrived with the Yeti, fires a shot into the body of PADMASAMBHAVA.)
VOICE: STUPID MAN, DID YOU NOT FEEL ENOUGH OF MY POWER WHEN YOU MET ME IN THE CAVE?
TRAVERS: (Puzzled.) The cave?
DOCTOR: The cave! (Finally putting the pieces of the puzzle together.) Jamie, there was a pyramid in the cave!
JAMIE: There's one here too.
DOCTOR: Destroy it!
PADMASAMBHAVA & VOICE: Noooo!
(As JAMIE and THOMNI smash the pyramid in the control room, PADMASAMBHAVA's body convulses and drops back limp onto the throne, and the pyramid in the cave
bursts in a huge explosion which takes out most of the mountain. The Great Intelligence is defeated - it's links with the Earth severed. PADMASAMBHAVA regains
control of his body for the last time...)
VICTORIA: Look at him.
(PADMASAMBHAVA forces his body to look onto the DOCTOR with his last ounce of strength.)
PADMASAMBHAVA: At last peace... Doctor...
(His eyes close and the old man passes away...)
DOCTOR: (Softly.) Goodbye old friend.
JAMIE: You all right, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, Jamie, it worked. The Intelligence is destroyed.
TRAVERS: Yes, well it a... was most decidedly tricky for a minute or two.
DOCTOR: Yes, Thomni, you can signal the monks, they can return.
TRAVERS: Doctor, are you trying to tell me that that old man was responsible for all this? The Yeti? The cave?
DOCTOR: Oh no, no, no. He was just a tool in the hands of a monstrous brain. It wasn't his fault.
VICTORIA: It's horrible, let's get away from here.
JAMIE: Aye, come on.
(We hear THOMNI slowly sounding the Detsen gong to call the Monks back.)
16. MAIN GATE
(A little later - The DOCTOR and his two companions are dressed ready to leave. THOMNI tries to get them to stay for a little while longer...)
THOMNI: Please Doctor, our Abbot will be most grieved that he did not thank you personally. Will you not wait?
DOCTOR: Ah no, Thomni, we're anxious to get back to the TARD...
(JAMIE coughs obviously trying to tell the DOCTOR not to confuse the young Monk further. The DOCTOR takes the hint.)
DOCTOR: We're anxious to get back.
THOMNI: Goodbye, Doctor.
(TRAVERS appears also dressed in travelling clothes.)
TRAVERS: I'll see them safely up the mountain.
DOCTOR: Goodbye, Thomni.
JAMIE: Goodbye.
VICTORIA: Bye, Thomni.
(They leave with the gong still sounding, advising the monks they can return.)
17. MOUNTAINSIDE
(Halfway up they see the remains of one of the Yeti.)
JAMIE: Aye, well those things won't bother us anymore, Doctor.
VICTORIA: Those horrible things.
DOCTOR: Ah, they were clever machines. Almost a pity to have had them destroyed. Well at least you'll have something to take home from your expedition,
Mr Travers.
TRAVERS: I suppose so. But nobody would believe me, they'd think I'd had it made. No, I'm afraid the expedition's over now.
(Then VICTORIA spots a timid furry creature up the mountain, a real Yeti.)
VICTORIA: Oh Doctor, look!
JAMIE: Oh no!
DOCTOR: It can't be!
TRAVERS: A Yeti! A real Yeti! At last! 'scuse the haste. Goodbye and all that. Mustn't lose this one.
(TRAVERS, excited, sets off to pursue it. The DOCTOR and his companions laugh.)
18. TARDIS, MOUNTAINSIDE
(The three time-travellers talk as they walk towards the TARDIS.)
JAMIE: Do you think he'll ever find his abominable snowman, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Well that we shall never know, Jamie.
(He notices that the young Scot is shivering.)
DOCTOR: What's the matter with you, are you cold or something?
JAMIE: Oh it's all right for you in your home-made Yeti kit.
(He refers to the DOCTOR's large furry coat.)
DOCTOR: Yes, I suppose there is a little bit of a nip in the air.
JAMIE: A nip! A nip, just look at my knees, they're bright blue.
(The DOCTOR looks at the legs.)
DOCTOR: A horrible sight.
JAMIE: Could you not land us somewhere warmer next time?
DOCTOR: Jamie, you never know, do you?
(...and as they enter the TARDIS he starts a little tune on his recorder...)
Next Episode
Doctor Who
PATRICK TROUGHTON
Jamie
FRAZER HINES
Victoria
DEBORAH WATLING
Travers
JACK WATLING
Thonmi
DAVID SPENSER
Khrisong
NORMAN JONES
Rinchen
DAVID GREY
Sapan
RAYMOND LLEWELLYN
Songsten
CHARLES MORGAN
Padmasambhava
WOLFE MORRIS
Ralpachan
DAVID BARON
Yeti
REG WHITEHEAD
TONY HARWOOD
RICHARD KERLEY
JOHN HOGAN
Title Music by
RON GRAINER
and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Story Editor
PETER BRYANT
Film Cameramen
PETER BARLETT
KEN WESTBURY
Film Editor
PHILIP BARNIKEL
Designer
MALCOLM MIDDLETON
Producer
INNES LLOYD
Director
GERALD BLAKE
Transcribed by
LEE HORTON
CHRIS MOORE
Corrections by
MAL