Back ] Home ] Up ] Next ]


Frontios

by Christopher H. Bidmead
Part Two


1, EXT: FRONTIOS

(The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough are sheltering from the bombardment.)

TEGAN: It's getting lighter.
DOCTOR: The attacks nearly over. Let's get out of here. Come on - the TARDIS.

(They get up and move out of their shelter, and all walk very slowly over to where the TARDIS was.)

TEGAN: The TARDIS - what's happened?!

(All that seems to be still remaining of the TARDIS is the hat-stand. It stands alone amongst a pile of rubble.)

TURLOUGH: It's gone.

(The Doctor goes over and touches the hat-stand.)

DOCTOR: The TARDIS has been destroyed...
TEGAN: The TARDIS can't just...disintegrate!
TURLOUGH: I'm afraid it has.

(The Doctor turns around to see Plantagenet, Brazen and lots of Orderlies coming towards them. One Orderly points a gun at them. The Doctor has simply had enough and he snaps.)

DOCTOR: Oh marvellous! You're going to kill me! What a finely tuned response to the situation!
BRAZEN: Best to dispatch him now!

(Norna runs in front of the gun.)

NORNA: Wait!
PLANTAGENET: GET OUT OF THE WAY!
DOCTOR: Be careful Norna.
NORNA: Why did Captain Revere dedicate the whole of his life to analysing the rocks of Frontios?
BRAZEN: Remove her.
PLANTAGENET: No, wait. Why do you ask when the reason is well known? My father sought the precious minerals beneath the soil.
NORNA: What precious minerals? Did he find any?
PLANTAGENET: He knew there must be some reason for the perpetual carnage our neighbours inflict upon us.
NORNA: Well, if the Doctor is an invader, he has the answer to that question.

(Range walks up, worried about his daughter.)

RANGE: Um, Norna, I need some help with the lighting.
PLANTAGENET: No, wait. You go.

(He indicates to Tegan.)

TEGAN: I don't know anything about lighting.
BRAZEN: Get on with it!
DOCTOR: Best to do as they say. We'll be safe as long as we remain calm, now trust me.

(Tegan leaves with Range.)

PLANTAGENET: Well Doctor. Can you enlighten us as to the reason for these bombardments?
DOCTOR: In time, if you let me investigate. (sarcastic) If on the other hand you're going to kill me, you'd better get on with it!

(Plantagenet is unimpressed, so he turns to the Orderly with the gun.)

PLANTAGENET: Kill him.
NORNA: No!

(Norna attempts to physically stop the Orderly from shooting, while two more Orderlies restrain the Doctor.)

DOCTOR: This wasn't what I had in mind at all.

(The guard has managed to get past Norna and holds the gun on the Doctor. Turlough, meanwhile, goes back and pulls out the hat-stand from the ground. It makes an explosion when it comes out and all the Orderlies retreat. Turlough looks as astonished as everyone else, not expecting the explosion. He brandishes the hat-stand threateningly.)

NORNA: What was that?
DOCTOR: Oh, just residual energy from the TARDIS.

(Plantagenet and Brazen obviously haven't seen a hat-stand before, and are visibly worried.)

PLANTAGENET: What is it?
BRAZEN: The thing that brings down the bombardment...


2, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Someone fills the battery with more acid.)

RANGE: That's enough.
TEGAN: That battery had better work after all our efforts.
RANGE: It's in good condition; we're just topping it up.
TEGAN: The Doctor is safe, isn't he?
RANGE: For the time being - though death is a daily occurrence on this planet, as you can see. The constant state of panic, and the growing number of Rets...
TEGAN: Rets?
RANGE: Retrogrades. It's what we call the deserters. More of them leave every week to...hunt out in the wastes like animals.
TEGAN: Orderlies shoot deserters?
RANGE: If they have to - oh yes it's a waste of life, but discipline is paramount.
TEGAN: But every death increases the danger of extinction!
RANGE: Do you think I'm not aware of that?

(Tegan walks over to grab a lamp from the wall, and a patient on a stretcher beneath her grabs her leg.)

PATIENT: Water...
TEGAN: ...Water. He needs some water!


3, EXT: FRONTIOS

(Outside, Turlough still holds everyone back with the hat-stand. Plantagenet moves as close as he dares to make a speech.)

PLANTAGENET: Now at last, the colonists of Frontios are face to face with their persecutors. For my father's sake, Doctor, I should like that question answered.
DOCTOR: What, the precious rocks under the soil business? Well, so would I. Whatever's going on here has put paid to my TARDIS.
PLANTAGENET: You deny you're at war with us?
DOCTOR: If it is war - and I'm not so sure about that - then you and I, Plantagenet, are in the same shell-hole. Now...

(He bends down and picks up one of the meteorites.)

DOCTOR: ...Does anyone know where these are coming from?
NORNA: Well, we know it's one of the other planets in the Veruna system...
PLANTAGENET: Without instruments it's impossible to tell which one.
DOCTOR: This rock analysis...you've been investigating the 'why fors', I think you should be looking into the 'where froms'. Mr. Range tells me you have a Research Room...
BRAZEN: The research room was sealed up, by the orders of the late Captain Revere.
DOCTOR: (annoyed) Well if you want answers, you'd better unseal it!
PLANTAGENET: There's nothing in that room that could possibly be of any use to us.
TURLOUGH: That's not true! It's full of invaluable equipment.
DOCTOR: You've been inside it?
TURLOUGH: It's where we found the battery...

(The Doctor seems to have a plan, and while smiling knowingly at Turlough he indicates towards the colonists.)

DOCTOR: The trouble is, if these good people don't want us inside...
TURLOUGH: Yes Doctor...I er...I think I know how to change their minds.

(With that, Turlough quickly turns around and brandishes the hat-stand again, and the crowd of people steps backwards in fear.)

PLANTAGENET: Order the Research Room to be opened!


4, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Range is giving the patient some water, whose head collapses back onto the pillow.)

RANGE: Thank you, you can get back to your work now.
TEGAN: It's no good, is it?
RANGE: I'm afraid not.


5, INT: CORRIDOR OUTSIDE RESEARCH ROOM

(Two Orderlies are breaking down the grille barrier on the Research Room door. The Doctor stands behind them, with Turlough who still carries the hat-stand.)

TURLOUGH: HURRY UP!
DOCTOR: Yes uh...Careful with that thing.

(The door is opened, and the Doctor, Norna, Brazen and Plantagenet go in, followed by Turlough. On his way past the Orderly, Plantagenet takes his crowbar quietly.)


6, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(The Doctor has found something that interests him.)

DOCTOR: Well, here we are then. This should keep us busy. Ah...Turlough, you can help.
TURLOUGH: I um...I don't know a lot about chemical tests.
NORNA: I do.
DOCTOR: Good! Good. I want to run a series on halides and silica. And do stop waving that thing around.

(The Doctor nearly runs into the end of the hat-stand, so Turlough puts it down. As he does do, Plantagenet swings the crowbar at Turlough.)

NORNA: LOOK OUT!

(But he doesn't even finish the attack; he yells, clutches his chest and collapses to the ground. Brazen runs forward, thinking Turlough attacked him. Turlough quickly turns the hat-stand on him.)

TURLOUGH: I wouldn't! (to the Doctor) What did I do?
DOCTOR: I think this joke's gone far enough.

(The Doctor takes the hat-stand and puts it on the ground. They all walk over to Plantagenet. The Doctor begins to investigate what is wrong.)


7, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(A body is being taken away. Range writes on a small board. He finishes, goes over to a small set of draws and begins typing a code into the keypad. The draw opens and he starts writing on the thing he takes out.)

WOMAN (OOV): MR. RANGE!

(He runs over to where the acid jar is overflowing. He starts to fix it. Meanwhile, Tegan has been working on the lights, she goes over to the drawer which is still open, and she notices an envelope which reads "DEATHS UNACCOUNTABLE".)

TEGAN: "Deaths unaccountable"...

(Suddenly she is startled by a noise, so she quickly puts back the envelope, and then shuts the drawer. She turns around to see Range still busy, so she turns back to the drawer, which is of course now locked.)

TEGAN: ...Rabbits!

(She starts typing numbers on the keypad.)


8, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(The Doctor finishes looking at Plantagenet.)

DOCTOR: Medical Centre, quickly!
BRAZEN: So, he was hit.
DOCTOR: Delayed effect of a glancing blow. (to Norna and Turlough) Now, I want you to stay here, and start those tests.


9, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Tegan now attempts to open the draw with a knife. A hand closes around her wrist, it is Range.)

RANGE: What do you think you're doing?
TEGAN: I'm...I'm trying to get the drawer open if you really want to know.
RANGE: Curiosity is dangerous on Frontios.
TEGAN: Not as dangerous as ignorance.
RANGE: What do you know? What have you seen?
TEGAN: Deaths unaccountable.
RANGE: You must forget that you saw that!
TEGAN: There's something going on here, isn't there. Some racket you're into.
DOCTOR (OOV): TEGAN!

(The Doctor runs in and points at the wall.)

DOCTOR: Ah...those wires.
TEGAN: What about them?
DOCTOR: Rip them down.
TEGAN: I've only just put them up!
DOCTOR: Well jolly good, now you can rip them down again! Damp cloths, anything damp!

(Plantagenet is carried onto a small bed.)


10, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Norna is doing the tests; Turlough doesn't seem to be helping.)

TURLOUGH: I wouldn't put up with it.
NORNA: Well, we have to; we don't have the technology to go anywhere else.
TURLOUGH: Yes, I'm er...I'm beginning to know the feeling.

(He picks up the hat-stand and moves it out of the way.)


11, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

BRAZEN: What's the matter with him?
DOCTOR: Fibrillating.
TEGAN: What?
RANGE: It's his heart; the Doctor's going to get it going again.

(He takes the cloths from Range, the wires from Tegan, and turns to Range who is now over at the battery.)

DOCTOR: Are we ready?
RANGE: Ready.
DOCTOR: Now.

(Range presses down the plunger of the battery.)


12, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

TURLOUGH: Why didn't you dig deep bunkers? The Arar-Jecks of Heiradi hollowed out a huge subterranean city under their planet during the 20 aeon war.
NORNA: Well there was a quarry, where the stone came from to build the medical shelter - converted that into a place to get away from the bombardment.
TURLOUGH: It sounds very sensible.
NORNA: We always used to go there to shelter. Then all that got stopped.
TURLOUGH: Why?
NORNA: Captain Revere made a law against it.
TURLOUGH: Oh, as simple as that - he made a law.
NORNA: Forbidding any digging under the ground.
TURLOUGH: Surely there must have been a reason?
NORNA: Captain Revere never gave reasons...Except once. When I was very small, I was sitting on his knee in the State Room, and I asked him why we couldn't go underground anymore. He said...it was a child answer - seemed quite sensible at the time.
TURLOUGH: What did he say?
NORNA: He said the earth was...hungry.


13, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(The Doctor listens to Plantagenet's heart. He quickly holds the wires in place again.)

DOCTOR: Again!

(Range pushes the plunger and Plantagenet's body arches and then collapses.)


14, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Turlough holds out an instrument to Norna.)

TURLOUGH: There...
NORNA: That's not a pressure filter.
TURLOUGH: Oh, sorry, I er...I was just wondering...these rocks.
NORNA: What about them?
TURLOUGH: Well...they're all labelled with dates. They must've come from somewhere.
NORNA: They did; the quarry.
TURLOUGH: Yes, but some of the dates are recent. You told me that quarry had been closed for years!

(He runs off to the other part of the room.)


15, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(The Doctor listens to Plantagenet's chest again. His expression is unreadable.)

BRAZEN: You've killed him.

(Plantagenet's eyes slowly open.)

DOCTOR: I admit it was touch and go for a minute.


16, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Turlough is examining the pulley system that they used before.)

NORNA: What are you up to?
TURLOUGH: Well...they obviously didn't install this just for us.
NORNA: It's for lifting equipment.
TURLOUGH: What equipment? What's so heavy in here that needs a block and tackle?


17, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Plantagenet is now awake.)

DOCTOR: Try to get some rest.
PLANTAGENET: Rest...death is the only kind of rest you bring to Frontios!

(Brazen holds him down.)

BRAZEN: Don't exert yourself, Leader. We have everything under control.
PLANTAGENET: I have responsibilities. Frontios depends upon me.
BRAZEN: Nevertheless, you should take the Doctor's advice.
PLANTAGENET: So you've changed your mind about him too?
BRAZEN: I wouldn't commit myself on that, but it was the Doctor that saved your life.
TEGAN: The Doctor's alright. You must've realized that by now.
PLANTAGENET: You saved my life? Is this true?
DOCTOR: Not a word to the Time Lords.


18, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Turlough brings the block and tackle over to a different place, still deep in thought. He walks back out to where Norna is.)

NORNA: Very ingenious.
TURLOUGH: No, not really. The block and tackle is a simple enough invention.
NORNA: I mean you and your excuses to get out of helping.
TURLOUGH: How long ago were you in the Research Room.
NORNA: When I was very small. I came with my father when he was still Captain Revere's personal science assistant.
TURLOUGH: And was that up there then?

(He points to the block and tackle.)

NORNA: No.
TURLOUGH: Exactly.

(He walks out to the other part of the room again.)

TURLOUGH: These floor plates are solid metal - heavy, solid metal. Norna? Come here.

(Norna arrives.)

TURLOUGH: We are about to find out where Captain Revere got his rock collection. That hook goes in...here.

(He opens a small flap in the floor.)


19, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(The Doctor sits at Plantagenet's side. Tegan comes back with another pillow for Plantagenet.)

PLANTAGENET: So you see, Doctor, Frontios is not the easiest planet to rule.
DOCTOR: After 30 years of bombardments, yes I take your point.
TEGAN: Your friend Brazen doesn't trust us an inch.
PLANTAGENET: Ah, he's a good man - if a little narrow in his outlook.
TEGAN: He's planning to move you to your quarters in the colony ship.
PLANTAGENET: The colony ship? No, I must stay here with my people!
DOCTOR: Democratic touch, eh?
PLANTAGENET: Hardly democracy, Doctor. I must remain in public sight. If the people of Frontios think for one moment that I am dead, there will be anarchy!


20, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Turlough now pulls on the rope; the hook is attached to the ground. One of the floor plates is being lifted; Norna attempts to pull it out.)

NORNA: Come on, pull!
TURLOUGH: What do you think I'm doing?!

(They succeed in putting the floor plate aside.)

NORNA: I wonder what's down there...
TURLOUGH: Let's take a look.


21, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Brazen and Range are now standing with the others as well.)

DOCTOR: Now, what's making you so vulnerable to attack is the thin atmosphere on Frontios.
PLANTAGENET: Why do they come so frequently now?
DOCTOR: Yes...I have some theories about that, and with your permission I'll return to the Research Room and confirm them.
PLANTAGENET: Thank you Doctor.
DOCTOR: Tegan...

(Tegan starts to get up.)

PLANTAGENET: Ah, your assistant may stay here with me. That way we'll all...trust one another.

(The Doctor doesn't look impressed.)

DOCTOR: Then perhaps you'll come with me, Mr. Range.
RANGE: Yes, of course.
DOCTOR: Good. See you later.

(They leave. As they go, Brazen approaches an Orderly.)

BRAZEN: Keep an eye on them.

(The Orderly leaves.)


22, INT: MINES

(Turlough descends the ladder down into the mines, followed by Norna.)

TURLOUGH: Careful...Come down slowly.

(They look around for a while.)

TURLOUGH: This rock, it's sort of moth-eaten.
NORNA: Hey look! There's a way through.

(Turlough doesn't follow her.)

NORNA: Don't tell me you're frightened?
TURLOUGH: No, it's just like something I remember...

(They go deeper into the mines.)


23, INT: COLONY SHIP

(The Doctor and Range are walking towards the Research Room.)

DOCTOR: You know, Mr. Range, if I'm right, these so-called missiles of yours are nothing more or less than natural meteorites.
RANGE: Meteorites? In such quantities?
DOCTOR: Oh, it's unusual I grant you, but one of the planets in the Veruna system may have disintegrated with long-term fallout.
RANGE: Surely Captain Revere could have detected that?
DOCTOR: Oh, I think he did.


24, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Tegan is tending to Plantagenet, who is asleep. Brazen approaches.)

BRAZEN: He'll fill out - find his strength. I saw his father grow the same. The odds were terribly against us, you know, but...he held this colony together with a will of steel.
TEGAN: I'm beginning to understand the problems of this planet, what with all the deaths accountable and unaccountable.

(Brazen's proud smile vanishes, and Tegan straight away regrets even speaking.)

BRAZEN: What do you know about deaths unaccountable?
TEGAN: Just a phrase I heard...
BRAZEN: Heard where?!
TEGAN: I don't know, just...heard it somewhere...

(Tegan knows she has dug herself even deeper, and tries an innocent smile.)

BRAZEN: Or in some records?!
TEGAN: You know about the data store then?

(Brazen grabs Tegan.)

BRAZEN: Data store?

(He leads her off quickly.)

BRAZEN: Right!
TEGAN (OOV): Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I just came across it in a book somewhere. It sounds like a title - 'Deaths Unaccountable'. You can't do that to Mr. Range's records...

(As Tegan speaks, Plantagenet opens his eyes and seems to lose control of his body, which stands to move off the bed by itself.)


25, INT: CORRIDOR OUTSIDE RESEARCH ROOM

DOCTOR: What puzzles me... is how it managed to crash in the first place - with er...all that autonomous guidance on board.
RANGE: Well the systems failed.
DOCTOR: What, before the crash?
RANGE: Yes, without the failure there would've been no crash. The guidance systems - everything went together.
DOCTOR: Did they now? I see why you call it the day of catastrophe.

(They go inside the Research Room.)


26, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(The Doctor goes over to the bench and picks up Norna's experiments, while Range goes to look for Norna and Turlough.)

RANGE: They've gone - exploring by the look of it.
DOCTOR: Oh. A rock analysis - they look like Widmanstatten patterns to me, which would seem to confirm...

(Range is standing over the hole leading to the mines. The Doctor joins him.)

DOCTOR: ...What's the matter?
RANGE: I'm afraid they may be in danger down there.
DOCTOR: Turlough wouldn't risk an unsafe tunnel.
RANGE: No, not that. I've suspected for a long time that Captain Revere ordered the quarry closed because of something he found.
DOCTOR: What sort of something?
RANGE: A geological feature, perhaps? Something beneath the surface...it might be dangerous to disturb.


27, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Brazen has found the envelope with 'Deaths Unaccountable' on it.)

BRAZEN: So, it's Mr. Range who's been spreading these rumours.
TEGAN: What rumours?
BRAZEN: Disinformation about the status quo! (To an Orderly) You, keep an eye on things down here!

(He runs out. Plantagenet, meanwhile, is on the soil next to the bed.)

PLANTAGENET: Aaa.....help....help!

(Tegan runs over to him.)

TEGAN: Plantagenet!

(She physically tries to lift him up, but he is unable to be moved. He is being sucked down into the ground. Within seconds, the leader of Frontios is nowhere to be seen - eaten by the earth.)


28, INT: MINES

(Norna and Turlough are continuing through the mines. It is clear that Turlough is uncomfortable.)

NORNA: Bring the light here a minute.

(He goes over to her.)

NORNA: The walls are quite different here.
TURLOUGH: Smooth like glass. Perhaps we ought to go back.
NORNA: In a minute. I want to see where this leads to.

(She runs off excitedly again.)


29, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Range passes a lamp down the hole to the Doctor.)

RANGE: Are you sure, Doctor? ...


30, INT: MINES

RANGE: ...I want to help.
DOCTOR: You will, Mr. Range, by staying here. These sort of adventures depend on a well-manned home base.


31, INT: MINES

(Norna has led Turlough to another different part of the mines.)

TURLOUGH: Can we go back now? Please.
NORNA: Look, come on chicken...
TURLOUGH: I'm not frightened! I'm just thinking.
NORNA: Well I'll leave you to it then. I'm going on.
TURLOUGH: No wait...I'm coming!

(He hurries off after her. After they are both gone, two shiny 'features' of the wall where they were standing start to move and, as they turn around, it can be seen that they are two large insect-like creatures with dark shiny shells. They slowly move off following Turlough and Norna.)


32, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Brazen is back, and he is inspecting the soil where Plantagenet disappeared.)

TEGAN: It's true. It's as if something was sucking him through the floor! I must get the Doctor!
BRAZEN: I don't think so!

(He grabs her arm when she tries to run past him.)

BRAZEN: We're going to need you here.

(Suddenly a large group of colonists start running into the medical shelter. Brazen walks over and notices Cockerill amongst them.)

BRAZEN: What's the meaning of this crass behaviour?!...Cockerill! What's going on?
COCKERILL: I'm...trying to control the crowd, sir. There's unrest about the leader.
BRAZEN: You're an Orderly, aren't you. So keep order! That's the meaning of the word!

(Cockerill quickly ushers the crowd out.)

BRAZEN: Go on, out!
COCKERILL: They think Plantagenet's dead.
BRAZEN: Come on!


33, EXT: FRONTIOS

BRAZEN: You've come to show them he's alive, I suppose, eh? What do you think this is - a waxworks museum? Some right retrograde material amongst you lot! Go on...get back to your business! Let Plantagenet and myself get back with ours!

(He throws a metal bar that one of the people had carried onto the ground. They all walk off.)


34, INT: MINES

(The Doctor walks along the mines. Suddenly he hears a noise, so he hides. But it is only Range. He walks right up next to the Doctor without seeing him.)

RANGE: Doctor? Are you there?
DOCTOR: I thought you were supposed to be guarding the rear.
RANGE: It's my daughter, Doctor. I can't let you take all the risk.
DOCTOR: (unimpressed) Oh well, a risk shared is a risk doubled. Come along.


35, INT: MEDICAL SHELTER

(Tegan tries to sneak out past the Orderly, but he notices her.)

ORDERLY: Hey!

(Tegan grabs the loose wires from the lights, intending to use them as a weapon, but Brazen has cut her off at the top of the stairs.)

BRAZEN: Now now! We'll have none of that activity here.

(Tegan puts the wires together, causing a bright flash, which blinds Brazen for a while. She runs out of the building...)

BRAZEN: Ah! Quickly stop her!


36, EXT: FRONTIOS

(She closes the door and barricades it with the metal bar Brazen threw before.)

BRAZEN (OOV): She's getting away!

(She runs away from the medical shelter, only to see a large group of Orderlies running from the ship bulkhead with crates of food that they have stolen.)

TEGAN: The looting's started already!


37, INT: MINES

(Norna is still leading Turlough around. Turlough is now visibly worried.)

NORNA: Oh come on, stop daydreaming.
TURLOUGH: It's more like a nightmare.
NORNA: What is?
TURLOUGH: I keep glimpsing something out of the corner of my eye.
NORNA: Yes, they're funny these reflections.
TURLOUGH: And there's a word that goes with it....Tractators...that's it...
NORNA: Oh come on, just a little bit further.
TURLOUGH: Tractators....tractators.

(Turlough eventually follows Norna, whispering the word to himself.)


38, INT: RESEARCH ROOM

(Tegan is surprised to find the Research Room empty.)

TEGAN: Doctor?

(She finds the entrance to the mines. She grabs a lamp and looks down.)

TEGAN: Doctor? Is there anybody down there?


39, INT: MINES

(The Doctor stops Range.)

DOCTOR: Ssh.
RANGE: I can't here anything.
DOCTOR: Listen.

(There is a bloodcurdling yell from somewhere in the mines. It is Turlough.)

RANGE: I heard that.

(Turlough runs into view of the Doctor, who has to physically stop him from running past him.)

DOCTOR: Turlough! Turlough...

(Turlough is delirious, he looks totally petrified, and his staring eyes are made to look even more insane by the slight green glow of the lamps.)

TURLOUGH: Tractators! I'VE SEEN THEM!
DOCTOR: Mr. Range? Look after Turlough. I'm going on alone.

(Range takes Turlough, who is staring blankly into nothing, and breathing heavily. The Doctor walks off.)


40, EXT: FRONTIOS

BRAZEN: (OOV) Get this door open!

(The door starts to get broken down with a makeshift battering ram.)


41, INT: MINES

(Range makes Turlough sit down. Tegan runs up.)

TEGAN: So here you are. Is he alright?
RANGE: Yes, I think so.
TEGAN: What happened?
RANGE: I don't know. The Doctor's gone to investigate.
TEGAN: You take care of him. The Doctor will probably need some help.
RANGE: No! Wait!

(Tegan doesn't stop though.)

RANGE: What happened in there? Please tell me. Is my daughter safe?

(But Turlough seems incapable of responding. He looks dazed.)


42, INT: MINES

(In a large cave, Norna is surrounded by a group of scaled, insect-like creatures - Tractators. They seem to be exerting some sort of force on her, holding her immobile. Elsewhere, the Doctor is watching.)

DOCTOR: So they're Tractators.

(Suddenly, the Doctor spots Tegan across the other side of the cave.)

DOCTOR: No Tegan! Get back!

(He ducks behind a boulder, and Tegan stays out of view. One of the Tractators, bigger than the others and with a different face, turns around. The Doctor gradually puts his head up to see, but is immediately captured by the force emitted by the Tractator. It is seemingly a tractor beam of some sort and the Doctor is helplessly herded into the circle to join Norna...)


The Doctor
PETER DAVISON

Tegan
JANET FIELDING

Turlough
MARK STRICKSON

Brazen
PETER GILMORE

Norna
LESLEY DUNLOP

Range
WILLIAM LUCAS

Plantagenet
JEFF RAWLE

Gravis
JOHN GILLETT

Cockerill
MAURICE O'CONNELL

Tractators
GEORGE CAMPBELL
MICHAEL MALCOLM
STEPHEN SPEED
WILLIAM BOWEN
HEDI KHURSANDI


Incidental Music
PADDY KINGSLAND

Special Sound
DICK MILLS
BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP


Production Manager
ALEX GOHAR

Production Associate
JUNE COLLINS

Production Assistant
VALERIE LETLEY

Assistant Floor Manager
JOANNA GURITZ


Visual Effects Designer
DAVE HAVARD

Video Effects
DAVE CHAPMAN


Technical Manager
ALAN ARBUTHNOTT

Camera Supervisor
ALEC WHEAL


Vision Mixer
PAUL WHEELER

Videotape Editor
HUGH PARSON


Lighting
JOHN SUMMERS

Sound
MARTIN RIDOUT


Costume Designer
ANUSHIA NIERADZIK

Make-Up Designer
JILL HAGGER


Script Editor
ERIC SAWARD

Title Sequence
SID SUTTON


Designer
DAVID BUCKINGHAM


Producer
JOHN NATHAN-TURNER


Director
RON JONES

©BBC MCMLXXXIII


Transcribed by
Robbie Parkes 2006

Back ] Home ] Up ] Next ]