Doctor Who (1963) s01e17 Episode Script

- Barbara! - Miss Wright! They moved The eyes moved! THE WALL OF LIES - Oh, Tegana took a horse, and rode off.
- To the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes? - So I believe my lord.
(Marco turns to Ian.
) When will your companions realise I know what I'm talking about when I say it's dangerous to wander about at night? First Barbara, and now the Doctor goes off, taking Susan and Ping-Cho with him.
- All right, Marco, you can be angry later.
Let's get to this cave.
Do you know where it is? - Yes.
(Ian and Marco sett off for the cave.
) It must be your imagination, child.
These eyes didn't move - it's quartz.
- I saw them move, grandfather.
I swear, I did.
- Oh rubbish, child.
- Look! Look! - Tegana! - What are you doing here? - If you must know sir, we are looking for Miss Wright.
- Well, why would she be in this cave? - I think this is your answer.
We found it.
(Tegana examines the handkerchief.
) - You found that here? - Yes - over there.
In the passageway it is not wise to remain in these caves - they are possessed with evil spirits.
I'm not afraid of ghosts.
Oh yes, I forgot, you're the magician, aren't you? - Doctor! Susan! - It's Ian! - Susan, Doctor! - Ian, we're here! - Have you found Barbara? - No.
She dropped this handkerchief - we found that over there.
- It is Barbara's.
- Leave before the spirits are angered.
- This man thinks this cave is haunted.
- He's not the only one.
- Susan saw the eyes in one of the faces move.
- Oh rubbish child, rubbish.
- Which face Susan? - This one here.
Marco, quick! Look! (Tegana holds up his sword.
) Do not strike them down, great spirits of Hashashins.
Depart! The War Lord Tegana entreats you.
- Is it safe for us to look now? - Do as you will.
(Tegana walks out of the cave.
) - Well, what are you looking for Chesterton? - Susan was right - she did see the eyes move.
- Oh, rubbish, rubbish! - Of course I did! - What proof have you? I've just seen them move myself.
Look - these eyes you see here have been set in from behind.
There must be some sort of a room behind this rock face.
Look! There's a crack there's a door here! Yes all we need now is to find out how to open it.
(As Marco examines the wall, the door opens.
) (As they enter, a Mongol turns to Barbara raising his sword.
) (Marco rushes at the Mongol, killing him.
) (Ian kneels beside Barbara.
) - It's all right, Barbara That dreadful man There were four of them They played dice to see who'd kill me.
That dreadful man and he won he won All right Barbara.
You're safe now Barbara.
Safe now.
Don't worry We were just in time, Tegana.
A moment or two later, and she would have been killed.
- What is that to you? - I'm responsible for their safety.
Why not let go let them go on their way.
My conscience does not permit it.
Look, I took their caravan away from them.
The least I can do is see them safely on their way home.
- You think they hold you in such esteem? - The Doctor, no, with good reason.
The others, yes.
- Marco, which one leads them? - The Doctor.
And leaders are obeyed.
Has not that cunning Susan already won Ping-Cho from your side? - She's a child, Tegana.
- Only a fool defends his enemies!.
Be warned Marco - they will set us at each other's throats by lies and deceit, and then, when they have divided us, then they will destroy us one by one.
- They are harmless Tegana.
- Harmless? They possess a caravan that flies! What power they have is locked inside it, and I have the key.
This very evening, Marco, when we were out looking for this Barbara, Chenchu thought the old man was in his room.
He was not.
Marco, (Tegana points towards the courtyard.
) he was out there with his caravan.
- What are you saying? - I'm saying does a magician need a key to open a door? (Ian, Barbara, Susan and Ping-Cho enter.
) - How are you feeling? - A little bit shaky.
- You realise you're most fortunate to be alive.
- Yes, I know.
Why did you go to the cave? You know my rule about obtaining permission to leave here.
Tell him Barbara.
I followed Tegana there.
Me? I've only been there once, and you were there when I arrived.
- But that's not true! I followed you there.
- I have only been there once! - But why would I lie? I was almost killed.
- Be quiet! Mark well all that I have said.
- Tegana - My friend, mark it well.
(Tegana walks off up the stairs.
) Ping-Cho, you will remove your belongings to another room.
From this night on, you will not share with Susan again.
- But Messr Marco - Obey me! (Listening upstairs, Tegana smiles and walks away.
) Poor Susan and Ping-Cho.
Yet what alternative had I but to separate them? Now my caravan seethes with suspicion and discontent as we journey south-west.
The route takes us to the ancient cities of Su-Chow and Kan-Chow, where the Great Wall of Cathay begins.
Following the wall, we travel south to Lan-Chow, which lies on the banks of the Yellow River.
Here, our route swings north, and with the river always in sight, we journey towards Shang-Tu.
The trouble is, Polo's change of attitude has slowed down my progress on the circuit.
- I think you've done brilliantly to make any progress at all, Doctor.
- How much longer do you think you will need? Well, with a bit more time, and a lot of luck, I should say about another night.
- But that's marvellous Doctor! - The following evening will even be better! - And that's when we say good-bye to Marco Polo.
- Yes, and a jolly good riddance.
Well, I shall be jolly glad to leave here.
In fact, the only regrets I'll have will be for Susan.
- What do you mean? - Oh, I think she and Ping-Cho are very fond of each other.
- It's a pity they've been kept apart so much.
- It's a pity there was any association at all.
- That Chinese child makes me nervous.
- What on Earth do you mean? - She found out about the key.
- What! Yes, on the night that Barbara was captured, Susan and Ping-Cho thought Barbara had gone down to the cave, and met with an accident, so they came looking for me.
Just as I was about to enter the TARDIS, it was then Ping-Cho saw the key.
Ping-Cho, what's the matter? For me, this journey, in spite of all the dangers, was the happiest time of my life, until Tun-Huang.
What did Tegana say to make Messr Marco change so much? - Did you ask Messr Marco? - A hundred times - but he remains silent.
If only we could find out only we could prove that Tegana had seen the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes before.
- It won't make much difference soon - Why not? - You will be leaving.
- Leaving? Your grandfather must have nearly finished the work on your caravan by now.
(Tegana eavesdrops on the conversation.
) - Ping-Cho, he has.
Will you go home? - Will you say good-bye to me before you leave? - Of course I will! - Even if it is very late? - No matter what time of night it is.
- Hey - this will cheer you up! - What? I've forgotten hearing anything about the key.
For the past three days, I have followed the course of the Yellow River as it flows north to the small town of Sinju, which lies nestled against the Great Wall.
(Marco and Ping-Cho are checking through their baggage.
) - Have you seen my er clothing bag, Tegana? - Ah yes, it's in the passageway outside your door.
- Thank you.
- Oh - I want to go into town.
- Very well.
Thank you.
The passageway - why have I not thought of it before? - Susan, Susan! I've got proof.
I can prove it! - What? - That Tegana lied.
- You can prove what? Messr Marco, do you remember Tegana's reply when Miss Wright said she had followed him to the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes? Yes, he said he'd never been there before.
He lied Messr Marco.
You bring a very serious charge, Ping-Cho - I hope you have proof.
When he came into the cave, Susan's grandfather showed him Miss Wright's handkerchief, saying we had found it over there.
And the old lord pointed to a dark corner of the cave.
And do you remember what he said? - He asked if we had found it in the passageway.
- Well? - If he had never been to the cave before, how could he know that a dark corner was a passageway? - Yes! This is your proof? - You call this evidence? - Yes Messr Marco.
And on these grounds you dare to call the War Lord Tegana a liar? You foolish child, how dare you make such a reckless accusation.
Believe me, it will take much more than this to shake my confidence in Tegana.
(Tegana sits in a local tea room.
) It was your fault! - You should have killed them all when you (Tegana throws his cup to the floor.
) You listen to me, Acomat, and you listen well.
The day after tomorrow, the caravan sets out to cross the bamboo forest.
On the second night, I shall silence the guard, and then when all is well, I shall signal you with a burning torch, and then you will move in and slaughter them all.
But with stealth, mind you And the magician's caravan? You will send that on to Noghai, whilst I will continue on to Shang-Tu with terrible stories of bandit attacks.
Polo? Well, I should let Polo die like umm an old woman in her bed.
The ah the old magician - how can you kill him? With a stake through the heart.
(The Doctor and Barbara come down the stairs.
) There isn't very much more to do - I won't be long.
But keep your eyes open - Yes.
(The Doctor slips out into the courtyard.
) (The Doctor spots a guard and ducks back into the shadows.
) (As Barbara watches, the guard moves off.
) (As the TARDIS door shuts Tegana enters the courtyard.
) - Ian? (Barbara moves off to find Ian.
) (Tegana moves away.
) - I think Tegana must have seen him going into it! - Where's Tegana now? - I don't know.
- Stay here.
(Ian looks for Tegana in the courtyard.
) - Not a sign of him.
Where's Marco? - He must be in his room.
Good.
Now listen.
Go and get the Doctor out of the ship, then hide.
I'm going to try a bluff.
If it works, we may be able to turn the tables on Tegana.
Now, go quickly.
(Barbara and Susan leave for the TARDIS.
) - Ah, Marco, I was just coming to have a word with you.
- What about? - Well, I should have thought that was pretty obvious.
- Be more explicit Ian.
- Oh come on Marco, we're friends aren't we? - We were.
Well, why this sudden change? And tell me, why separate Susan and Ping-Cho? - Susan is a bad influence.
- Oh, you can't really mean that.
Ping-Cho's first loyalty is to me, yet she backs you against Tegana.
Perhaps that's because we were telling the truth.
It is possible, you know.
Let me tell you something Ian.
Tegana is a special emissary of Noghai on his way to talk peace with Kublai Khan.
He's a very important man.
You are mysterious travellers from some far off land I know nothing about.
Now, if you were in my position, a servant of Kublai Khan, whose word would you take? - Well, I should keep an open mind.
- Yes Marco, I I have err something err rather interesting err to show you.
- What is it? - The old magician is in his err caravan.
- He is what! Is this true Ian? - Well, err why don't we go outside and have a look? - Are you sure about this? - He's got another key - I saw him go inside.
- So all we can do now is wait for him to come out.
- This you are prepared to do? If it will convince you that Tegana is making trouble, we can wait here all night.
- Tegana, are you absolutely positive? - When the War Lord Tegana says it is so, Marco, it is so.
He is in there.
Doctor, shut the door quickly! I'm sorry I doubted your word Tegana.
Give me the key, Doctor.
- No.
- You're an old man, and I do not wish to use force.
- That is what you'll precisely have to do Polo.
(Tegana twists the key from the Doctor's hand.
) Bear witness, did I not say he had another key? Put that key in the lock, Polo, and you will destroy the ship.
Then where will your precious Khan be, hmmm? You need more than a key to enter my ship.
You need knowledge.
Knowledge you will never possess.
- Tell me.
- No - understand? No! I'd let you wreck it first! Guards! Guards! (Guards bring Barbara and Susan to join them.
) - Let go of me! Bear, witness.
I wear the gold seal of Kublai Khan, and by the authority it invests in me, I do hereby seize and hold your caravan in his name.
Be warned.
Any resistance to this decree is instantly punishable by death.
- You poor, pathetic, stupid savage.
- Take them away! (They are led off by the guards.
) Marco, are you now convinced which of us makes trouble? What a nightmare this journey has become.
Our progress is impeded because Tegana, the bearers and I must constantly be on the alert for any signs of trouble from the prisoners, and Ping-Cho's resentment of me only serves to make my task more difficult.
But I have succeeded in keeping her away from them by setting up a separate tent for the Doctor and his companions.
(A sentry sits guarding the tents.
) - We can't go on like this! We must get out.
(Ian throws a plate to the floor.
) Well, that's easier said than done.
I know Barbara.
I know the odds are against us, but at least we've got to try.
Yes, I quite agree with you.
The ship's waiting outside, with the circuit finished and installed.
- And Polo has both keys.
- Oh, that wretched child! - Grandfather, Ping-Cho wouldn't say anything about the second key.
I know she wouldn't.
- Oh, my dear Susan, if you Oh, don't you worry about that now! We must concentrate on getting one of those keys back.
Yes, and the only way I can see it, is that we should have to capture Polo.
- Why not? Take him hostage! - But we're hopelessly outnumbered! Only by day.
At night, we've got the edge on them.
They've only got one guard, remember.
- Yes, but how are you going to disarm him? - I don't know - somehow.
I'll do it.
Now just a minute.
First things first, young man.
How are we going to get out of here, and remember that guard is out there watching for us.
Hmmm? (Ian picks up a piece of the broken plate.
) - With this - I'll cut my way out.
- That's a very good idea - good! - As soon as I've dealt with that guard, I'll come back for you.
- Right.
- Grandfather, supposing Messr Marco won't give him the keys? Don't worry my child.
I think by the time I've finished with that gentleman, he'll only be too glad to let us go.
(Ian slips out from the tent and looks around.
) (A guard sits some distance away with his back to Ian.
) (Ian approaches cautiously.
) (As Ian grabs the guard, he finds he is already dead.
) NEXT EPISODE : RIDER FROM SHANG-TU