Doctor Who (1963) s07e15 Episode Script
The Ambassadors of Death, Part Four
Doctor Who Transcript Project Doctor Who Season 7 The Ambassadors of Death 4 of 7 Will you let go of my arm? You're hurting me.
I've brought you some company I thought they told you to get both of them.
He wouldn't keep the appointment.
She's a scientist.
She can give you a hand.
Doctor Lennox.
Somebody remembers you.
How are our zombie friends? Surviving, but only just.
I didn't expect them to be dancing a jig.
- Start making yourself useful.
- What if I don't? I might just lock you in there with them.
I've issued Miss Shaw's description to every police force in the country.
Why? Do you expect her to be wandering the streets? No sir, just a formality.
I took the liberty of examining the things found on the bodies of those two men.
They should have gone to Forensics, sir.
Untouched.
No need for that, Forensics can't tell us anything, we can't see for ourselves.
Look a newspaper cutting in a foreign language.
Anyone can buy a foreign newspaper, General.
What about this comb then, with the makers imprint on it in the same language? Let me look.
Very remiss of them keeping this.
They could have been planted, sir.
No, the only people who could set up an organisation of this size, would be foreign agents with enormous resources behind them.
And hair combs.
They want to use the radiated astronauts as a weapon.
I've told you where your astronauts are, General.
They're still in orbit.
That's ridiculous.
Is it? When your Professor Heldorf had the aliens in his care, he started to record some sort of radio communication impulses.
Astronauts do have walky-talkies in their helmets, you know.
Then, why didn't Heldorf talk to them? Yes, well perhaps he was recording the level of radioactivity in their bodies? Yes, well I don't think so.
Well,I'm going down to the Space Centre, use the computer.
I trust your man, Taltalian, won't hold a gun on me this time.
Doctor, nothing is to be gained by deciphering these impulses.
Our objective should be to find the missing astronauts.
General, how many times must I tell you, your astronauts are still in orbit.
My objective is to find out what these aliens are trying to say to us.
What's the K factor? Fuel, one thousand two hundred, ninety-seven tons.
No other available source? Liquid fuel in production two thousand tons.
Well, that can be speeded up.
The new M3 Variant's highly volatile.
It was not intended for manned spaceflight.
We'll have to use it.
The lift-off rate would crush the astronaut.
What about reducing the Gs by mixing K and M3? I will compute that.
But you will still have to get your rocket built.
Well, the minister is putting up every possible objection.
What do you expect? This Doctor's theory is ridiculous.
I thought you were supposed to be helping me, or do you intend to commit more sabotage? I was ordered to do that by General Carrington.
I have computed the assembly of the rescue rocket as you asked me.
You're not armed, I hope? I would not have used that gun not on a fellow scientist.
Thank you.
I'm much relieved.
- Have they found your assistant? - No, not yet.
May I have the use of your computer? Yes, certainly and I'm sure Doctor Taltalian will be only too pleased to help you.
Er, when you have a moment, I'd like to see you in the control room, about the Recovery Capsule.
I'd like to programme these impulse records, if I may.
What do you hope to learn from them? Well if I knew, I wouldn't need a computer, would I? To make a start, we must have some idea.
Well, I suspect some sort of pattern.
This could take a long time.
Well, it mustn't Taltalian, it mustn't.
Doctor, I am not trying to obstruct you.
Excuse me.
Hello, Taltalian here.
Yes.
Who is that? A moment, please.
It is for you.
Hello, yes? Yes, it is.
Who is this? My assistant, Liz Shaw.
They have found her? No, someone threatening to kill her if I don't stop interfering.
Well, let's get back to work shall we? Two million rads, dropping to two million, minus fifty thousand.
Minus five, o, thousand.
You'd better tell Reegan, we've only got one more canister left.
Well? Do you want them to die? You'd better be right.
It's no use, they lock it.
Are you a prisoner? That's a matter of opinion.
Are you or aren't you? I can come and go as I please.
But I haven't got anywhere to go.
You were a respected scientist, once.
Grossly underpaid.
Can you help me? I I lost my key somewhere for that door up there.
They'll find me in the cubicle, locked and bolted from the outside, do you understand? Yes, of course.
Why don't you come with me? Where would I go? These impulses are mathematical formulae for building an electronic device.
What sort of a electronic device? Well, I'll have to build it to find out, won't I? In defiance of the message threatening Miss Shaw's life? Well, how are these people going to know what I'm doing unless somebody tells them? Who would do that? You for instance? You are being most insulting.
And you are being continually obstructive.
I acted under the orders of General Carrington.
Did you? Or are you involved with the people who are really behind this? What people are you talking about? The people who kidnapped Miss Shaw who kidnapped the three astronauts? Have you told the Brigadier about your suspicions? No, not yet.
Why not, if you are so sure of your facts? Well, I thought I'd offer you some sort of alternative a ruthless investigation by the Brigadier or a few quiet words with me, and your name kept out of things.
I don't know what you are talking about.
I think you do, Taltalian.
And I'm going to give you a little time to think it over.
Right, well, if you'll excuse me, I must see what can be done about building this machine.
Think over what I've said.
I shall expect to hear from you very soon.
Doctor Talt - alian.
- Get in, Miss Shaw.
I tell you, nobody helped me that door was left open.
You might have killed poor Lennox, locking him in with those things.
He should have thought of that before he joined you.
Get over there and help him.
- Go on.
- Don't touch me you.
And Will, make sure that door is kept locked.
Did you bring it? These are the operating instructions.
This is the communication code.
It's quite simple.
A little too simple.
- What does that mean? - I need to talk to those things.
You have a list of simple signals and commands transmit and they will obey.
And if they don't? You threaten to cut off their supply of radiation there is a signal for that too.
And translating their replies? There's a machine for that? Yes, in my computer room, you don't need it.
I'm the one dealing with these creatures.
You will use these creatures to carry out a series of raids on carefully chosen targets.
You know enough to do your job, but I have further instructions for you Have you now? Your call to the Doctor threatening the girl's life was stupid.
- It might have slowed him down a little.
- On the contrary, it merely made him more determined and suspicious.
- Suspicious of me.
- Too bad.
He has got to be put out of the way, permanently.
To save your neck? He is about to discover how to construct one of those machines.
- Clever.
- And he has got to be stopped.
All right, I'll deal with him.
And since your own skin's in danger, you can help me.
Taltalian? Do you have you any proof? No, not a scrap.
Then, why accuse him? Something even his computers don't have intuition.
I think I rattled him.
Taltalian was acting under Carrington's orders.
Quinlan explained that.
Yes, I know, I heard him.
- And I didn't believe a word of it.
- Why not? Well, first they try keeping us in the dark altogether and when that didn't work, they fall back on some prepared cover story.
Contagious radiation indeed.
Then what is happening, Doctor? I don't know.
Perhaps I'll know better when I've built this device.
- What's this? - Advanced electronic equipment.
- I need it at once.
- Right, I'll see to it.
Good I'll be in my laboratory.
I suppose there's no news? Miss Shaw? No, nothing.
We're doing all we can.
Yes, of course.
Thanks for keeping quiet.
Do you think he suspects you helped me? He suspects everyone.
If at first you don't succeed - You won't get another chance.
- We'll see.
How did they get you back? I ran into an old friend.
I have got to get back.
It's a delicate operation.
It's quite simple.
All you have to do is set the dial to the time you require.
How long do you need to get clear of the building? - Ten minutes, maybe more - Let's say quarter of an hour.
We can't have you taking risks.
Now, you leave the case as near to the Doctor as you possibly can.
You slide these catches together, and that starts the mechanism.
Fifteen minutes later, no more Doctor.
But, what if he should try to open the case while I am still away? The same result, a little earlier.
It's too risky.
It's you he's after.
Very well.
Doctor Taltalian? Do as you're told and your troubles will be over.
Every available astronaut is suddenly not available, not fit, transferred to other duties, waiting for security clearance.
Is that all? All? Well, what good's a rocket without a pilot? I'll take the rocket up for you myself.
Thank you, Doctor, but I don't think you realise just what's necessary.
My dear man, I've spent more time in space than any astronaut on your staff! Not I'll admit in the rather primitive contraptions that you use, but I'll manage.
- I don't think you realise what's - I can also withstand considerably more G-force than most people, even though I do say so myself.
Well if you insist.
You can take the tests.
Tests, simulations, anything you like.
When that recovery capsule is ready, I'll take it up.
Hello, Doctor, I was just coming over to see you.
Well I've saved you a journey, haven't I? Do you have the computations for lift-off? All but the final phase.
Well, let me have them as soon as possible will you? I'll see about those tests, Doctor.
Have you, thought over what I spoke to you about? - Yes.
- And? I will tell you everything, if you will give me a chance to get away.
Very well.
The information I need is in my car, I will go and fetch it.
You will wait for me here? Yes, all right.
I think I've got it now Send "stand up" Forward.
Send "stop".
There can be no problems with that thing? It's simple enough even you might be able to manage it.
We can do without the back-chat, let me have it.
Taltalian gave you this thing didn't he? Never you mind.
That case you gave him.
What was it? Well, you could say it was a way of killing two birds with one stone.
You seem to have been right about Taltalian.
A lot of good it did me and him.
He was obviously trying to plant a time bomb on you.
- Lucky for you the mechanism was faulty.
- I'm not sure that it was, look at this.
See this is set to zero.
Taltalian must have thought he had plenty of time to get away, when in fact this bomb was set to go off instantaneously.
So whoever gave it to him wanted to get rid of both of you? Yes.
Taltalian was a weak link, you know.
I think his employers wanted him out of the way.
- Another dead-end, then? - Yeah, I'm afraid so.
Brigadier, look at this.
What's that? Well, it's something very similar to the machine, I'm trying to build.
And Taltalian had one all the time.
Well, time's running out.
Cornish is almost ready to put up that recovery rocket.
You were supposed to stop him, sir.
Don't you think I've tried? I've tried every possible delay.
You must keep on trying, Sir James.
That Doctor's even volunteered to pilot the recovery rocket.
He must be stopped.
We could tell him the truth? No.
We know too little about him.
There may be not alternative.
There's got to be.
If that rocket goes up, it means disaster for the entire world.
Now don't you worry, sir.
Everything's going fine.
Yes, it's a pity about that.
This Doctor fellow must have nine lives.
Tonight? Well it's a bit soon.
All right, if I must, I must.
I'll see to it.
Right.
Will, go and get the van.
There's a good fellow Okay, Mr.
Reegan.
You're taking them away? No, Just a little excursion.
Open the door.
This thing can it work the other way round, so they can talk to us? No, just sends impulses they seem to understand.
But there could be a machine? I imagine so.
I think I'll be paying two visits tonight.
Halt! Halt or I'll fire! I tell you, it converts radio impulses into human speech.
The aliens in Heldorf's Laboratory were trying to communicate with him.
So you were right, they aren't human.
I never believed they were.
Now, if I could only build the other half of this thing.
We could contact the astronauts or whatever they are.
Yes, probably- if you were to hurry up with those parts that I've ordered.
Most of them are coming from Japan, Doctor.
Yes? Yes he's here.
Sir James Quinlan.
Hello, yes, Sir James.
Doctor, I'd like to know, if it's still your intention to pilot the recovery rocket? Most certainly.
I can't persuade you that you're action would be disastrous? You might.
If you were to tell me the truth, Sir James the whole truth.
Then you leave me no choice.
Will you come and see me, please, me at once? Very well, Sir James.
Thank you.
He wants me to come and see him.
He says he's going to tell me the whole truth.
Well, I'm coming with you.
Sir James.
I've brought you some company I thought they told you to get both of them.
He wouldn't keep the appointment.
She's a scientist.
She can give you a hand.
Doctor Lennox.
Somebody remembers you.
How are our zombie friends? Surviving, but only just.
I didn't expect them to be dancing a jig.
- Start making yourself useful.
- What if I don't? I might just lock you in there with them.
I've issued Miss Shaw's description to every police force in the country.
Why? Do you expect her to be wandering the streets? No sir, just a formality.
I took the liberty of examining the things found on the bodies of those two men.
They should have gone to Forensics, sir.
Untouched.
No need for that, Forensics can't tell us anything, we can't see for ourselves.
Look a newspaper cutting in a foreign language.
Anyone can buy a foreign newspaper, General.
What about this comb then, with the makers imprint on it in the same language? Let me look.
Very remiss of them keeping this.
They could have been planted, sir.
No, the only people who could set up an organisation of this size, would be foreign agents with enormous resources behind them.
And hair combs.
They want to use the radiated astronauts as a weapon.
I've told you where your astronauts are, General.
They're still in orbit.
That's ridiculous.
Is it? When your Professor Heldorf had the aliens in his care, he started to record some sort of radio communication impulses.
Astronauts do have walky-talkies in their helmets, you know.
Then, why didn't Heldorf talk to them? Yes, well perhaps he was recording the level of radioactivity in their bodies? Yes, well I don't think so.
Well,I'm going down to the Space Centre, use the computer.
I trust your man, Taltalian, won't hold a gun on me this time.
Doctor, nothing is to be gained by deciphering these impulses.
Our objective should be to find the missing astronauts.
General, how many times must I tell you, your astronauts are still in orbit.
My objective is to find out what these aliens are trying to say to us.
What's the K factor? Fuel, one thousand two hundred, ninety-seven tons.
No other available source? Liquid fuel in production two thousand tons.
Well, that can be speeded up.
The new M3 Variant's highly volatile.
It was not intended for manned spaceflight.
We'll have to use it.
The lift-off rate would crush the astronaut.
What about reducing the Gs by mixing K and M3? I will compute that.
But you will still have to get your rocket built.
Well, the minister is putting up every possible objection.
What do you expect? This Doctor's theory is ridiculous.
I thought you were supposed to be helping me, or do you intend to commit more sabotage? I was ordered to do that by General Carrington.
I have computed the assembly of the rescue rocket as you asked me.
You're not armed, I hope? I would not have used that gun not on a fellow scientist.
Thank you.
I'm much relieved.
- Have they found your assistant? - No, not yet.
May I have the use of your computer? Yes, certainly and I'm sure Doctor Taltalian will be only too pleased to help you.
Er, when you have a moment, I'd like to see you in the control room, about the Recovery Capsule.
I'd like to programme these impulse records, if I may.
What do you hope to learn from them? Well if I knew, I wouldn't need a computer, would I? To make a start, we must have some idea.
Well, I suspect some sort of pattern.
This could take a long time.
Well, it mustn't Taltalian, it mustn't.
Doctor, I am not trying to obstruct you.
Excuse me.
Hello, Taltalian here.
Yes.
Who is that? A moment, please.
It is for you.
Hello, yes? Yes, it is.
Who is this? My assistant, Liz Shaw.
They have found her? No, someone threatening to kill her if I don't stop interfering.
Well, let's get back to work shall we? Two million rads, dropping to two million, minus fifty thousand.
Minus five, o, thousand.
You'd better tell Reegan, we've only got one more canister left.
Well? Do you want them to die? You'd better be right.
It's no use, they lock it.
Are you a prisoner? That's a matter of opinion.
Are you or aren't you? I can come and go as I please.
But I haven't got anywhere to go.
You were a respected scientist, once.
Grossly underpaid.
Can you help me? I I lost my key somewhere for that door up there.
They'll find me in the cubicle, locked and bolted from the outside, do you understand? Yes, of course.
Why don't you come with me? Where would I go? These impulses are mathematical formulae for building an electronic device.
What sort of a electronic device? Well, I'll have to build it to find out, won't I? In defiance of the message threatening Miss Shaw's life? Well, how are these people going to know what I'm doing unless somebody tells them? Who would do that? You for instance? You are being most insulting.
And you are being continually obstructive.
I acted under the orders of General Carrington.
Did you? Or are you involved with the people who are really behind this? What people are you talking about? The people who kidnapped Miss Shaw who kidnapped the three astronauts? Have you told the Brigadier about your suspicions? No, not yet.
Why not, if you are so sure of your facts? Well, I thought I'd offer you some sort of alternative a ruthless investigation by the Brigadier or a few quiet words with me, and your name kept out of things.
I don't know what you are talking about.
I think you do, Taltalian.
And I'm going to give you a little time to think it over.
Right, well, if you'll excuse me, I must see what can be done about building this machine.
Think over what I've said.
I shall expect to hear from you very soon.
Doctor Talt - alian.
- Get in, Miss Shaw.
I tell you, nobody helped me that door was left open.
You might have killed poor Lennox, locking him in with those things.
He should have thought of that before he joined you.
Get over there and help him.
- Go on.
- Don't touch me you.
And Will, make sure that door is kept locked.
Did you bring it? These are the operating instructions.
This is the communication code.
It's quite simple.
A little too simple.
- What does that mean? - I need to talk to those things.
You have a list of simple signals and commands transmit and they will obey.
And if they don't? You threaten to cut off their supply of radiation there is a signal for that too.
And translating their replies? There's a machine for that? Yes, in my computer room, you don't need it.
I'm the one dealing with these creatures.
You will use these creatures to carry out a series of raids on carefully chosen targets.
You know enough to do your job, but I have further instructions for you Have you now? Your call to the Doctor threatening the girl's life was stupid.
- It might have slowed him down a little.
- On the contrary, it merely made him more determined and suspicious.
- Suspicious of me.
- Too bad.
He has got to be put out of the way, permanently.
To save your neck? He is about to discover how to construct one of those machines.
- Clever.
- And he has got to be stopped.
All right, I'll deal with him.
And since your own skin's in danger, you can help me.
Taltalian? Do you have you any proof? No, not a scrap.
Then, why accuse him? Something even his computers don't have intuition.
I think I rattled him.
Taltalian was acting under Carrington's orders.
Quinlan explained that.
Yes, I know, I heard him.
- And I didn't believe a word of it.
- Why not? Well, first they try keeping us in the dark altogether and when that didn't work, they fall back on some prepared cover story.
Contagious radiation indeed.
Then what is happening, Doctor? I don't know.
Perhaps I'll know better when I've built this device.
- What's this? - Advanced electronic equipment.
- I need it at once.
- Right, I'll see to it.
Good I'll be in my laboratory.
I suppose there's no news? Miss Shaw? No, nothing.
We're doing all we can.
Yes, of course.
Thanks for keeping quiet.
Do you think he suspects you helped me? He suspects everyone.
If at first you don't succeed - You won't get another chance.
- We'll see.
How did they get you back? I ran into an old friend.
I have got to get back.
It's a delicate operation.
It's quite simple.
All you have to do is set the dial to the time you require.
How long do you need to get clear of the building? - Ten minutes, maybe more - Let's say quarter of an hour.
We can't have you taking risks.
Now, you leave the case as near to the Doctor as you possibly can.
You slide these catches together, and that starts the mechanism.
Fifteen minutes later, no more Doctor.
But, what if he should try to open the case while I am still away? The same result, a little earlier.
It's too risky.
It's you he's after.
Very well.
Doctor Taltalian? Do as you're told and your troubles will be over.
Every available astronaut is suddenly not available, not fit, transferred to other duties, waiting for security clearance.
Is that all? All? Well, what good's a rocket without a pilot? I'll take the rocket up for you myself.
Thank you, Doctor, but I don't think you realise just what's necessary.
My dear man, I've spent more time in space than any astronaut on your staff! Not I'll admit in the rather primitive contraptions that you use, but I'll manage.
- I don't think you realise what's - I can also withstand considerably more G-force than most people, even though I do say so myself.
Well if you insist.
You can take the tests.
Tests, simulations, anything you like.
When that recovery capsule is ready, I'll take it up.
Hello, Doctor, I was just coming over to see you.
Well I've saved you a journey, haven't I? Do you have the computations for lift-off? All but the final phase.
Well, let me have them as soon as possible will you? I'll see about those tests, Doctor.
Have you, thought over what I spoke to you about? - Yes.
- And? I will tell you everything, if you will give me a chance to get away.
Very well.
The information I need is in my car, I will go and fetch it.
You will wait for me here? Yes, all right.
I think I've got it now Send "stand up" Forward.
Send "stop".
There can be no problems with that thing? It's simple enough even you might be able to manage it.
We can do without the back-chat, let me have it.
Taltalian gave you this thing didn't he? Never you mind.
That case you gave him.
What was it? Well, you could say it was a way of killing two birds with one stone.
You seem to have been right about Taltalian.
A lot of good it did me and him.
He was obviously trying to plant a time bomb on you.
- Lucky for you the mechanism was faulty.
- I'm not sure that it was, look at this.
See this is set to zero.
Taltalian must have thought he had plenty of time to get away, when in fact this bomb was set to go off instantaneously.
So whoever gave it to him wanted to get rid of both of you? Yes.
Taltalian was a weak link, you know.
I think his employers wanted him out of the way.
- Another dead-end, then? - Yeah, I'm afraid so.
Brigadier, look at this.
What's that? Well, it's something very similar to the machine, I'm trying to build.
And Taltalian had one all the time.
Well, time's running out.
Cornish is almost ready to put up that recovery rocket.
You were supposed to stop him, sir.
Don't you think I've tried? I've tried every possible delay.
You must keep on trying, Sir James.
That Doctor's even volunteered to pilot the recovery rocket.
He must be stopped.
We could tell him the truth? No.
We know too little about him.
There may be not alternative.
There's got to be.
If that rocket goes up, it means disaster for the entire world.
Now don't you worry, sir.
Everything's going fine.
Yes, it's a pity about that.
This Doctor fellow must have nine lives.
Tonight? Well it's a bit soon.
All right, if I must, I must.
I'll see to it.
Right.
Will, go and get the van.
There's a good fellow Okay, Mr.
Reegan.
You're taking them away? No, Just a little excursion.
Open the door.
This thing can it work the other way round, so they can talk to us? No, just sends impulses they seem to understand.
But there could be a machine? I imagine so.
I think I'll be paying two visits tonight.
Halt! Halt or I'll fire! I tell you, it converts radio impulses into human speech.
The aliens in Heldorf's Laboratory were trying to communicate with him.
So you were right, they aren't human.
I never believed they were.
Now, if I could only build the other half of this thing.
We could contact the astronauts or whatever they are.
Yes, probably- if you were to hurry up with those parts that I've ordered.
Most of them are coming from Japan, Doctor.
Yes? Yes he's here.
Sir James Quinlan.
Hello, yes, Sir James.
Doctor, I'd like to know, if it's still your intention to pilot the recovery rocket? Most certainly.
I can't persuade you that you're action would be disastrous? You might.
If you were to tell me the truth, Sir James the whole truth.
Then you leave me no choice.
Will you come and see me, please, me at once? Very well, Sir James.
Thank you.
He wants me to come and see him.
He says he's going to tell me the whole truth.
Well, I'm coming with you.
Sir James.