Doctor Who (1963) s09e16 Episode Script

But I'm not an Overlord! I've come to help you! Now, you fool! Shoot! No, you can't! I said fire! Alert all ground stations.
Your friend won't get far without a mask.
_.
No Overlord can exist without a mask.
How many more times do I have to tell you I'm not an Overlord? I want both of them.
Do I make myself clear? Sir.
_ outside.
The atmosphere is poisonous! No Overlord can exist for more than a few hours without a mask.
Well, what am I going to do? Well you will stay here.
I shall make a run for it.
No, I'm coming with you! Look, I warn you - my life is more important than yours - to Solos and my people.
I cannot stop to help you.
I'm coming with you.
Shh, guards! Come on! Alright? Fine so far.
Good.
Bad news.
For you Doctor, for your friend - they have escaped on to the surface of Solos.
Ah.
Still, without a mask But never fear, Doctor, we shall find her - or her body.
Would you kindly explain that remark, sir? During the hours of daylight no human can survive on Solos without an oxymask.
The soil contains a nitrogen isotope unknown on Earth.
The ultra-violet rays of the sun cause a kind of poisonous mist.
How poisonous? I give your friend an hour, possibly less depending on how fast they're travelling.
I could, of course, step up the search.
May I suggest that you do so immediately? Or I could call off the search altogether - let them escape.
And let her die? You can't do that! I can do as I please, Doctor.
And since the unfortunate assassination of the Administrator, Solos is under Martial Law - my law.
How very convenient for you.
Now look, are you going to search for Miss Grant or not? That depends on you, Doctor.
Does it? Well, I thought you said this box was intended for Ky? Apparently.
Then I shall want to know what's in it - before he does.
No, I'm sorry.
That would be completely unethical.
Then I shall be forced to recall my men, Doctor.
We're stretched very thin on Skybase.
So many demands on our resources, you know.
Alright.
I'll try and open the box for you, but I shall need your most advanced laboratory facilities.
Calling Solos - intensify the search.
Marshal! The girl must not be harmed.
That's better.
This way.
Funny? Only one now.
Only one trace registering.
Well? Adequate.
Not quite what I hoped for but adequate.
Adequate! What do you mean "adequate"? It's the finest laboratory it's possible to build.
Well, I was rather hoping for a particle reversal set-up.
You know, something that would Turn the box inside out, but well all this stuff, it seems for geared for atmosphere modulation.
And this circuits about to overload for a start.
What is it anyway - weather control? Well, something of the sort.
Now, tell me, Doctor What the blazes is going on in here?! Oh, it's you Marshal.
My apologies.
But there was tampering with one of the circuits.
Yes, I'm terribly sorry.
I'm afraid that was me.
I'd no idea that the thing was operational.
One of your circuits was about to overload.
Marshal, I must insist! The experiment has reached a critical stage.
I'm working here alone and against time and, with respect, I can't afford to have you or anyone else interfering with it whenever you feel like doing some stupid guided tour! Jaeger, that's enough.
You give full priority to atmospheric regeneration and then you expect Jaeger! Jaeger! For the moment, Jaeger, I want you to give full priority to this little problem here.
What? What is it? Who is this man? An emissary from Earth - or so he claims.
Mmm? Varan's son's in your office, Marshal.
Good.
Hold him there.
I'm sorry, gentlemen, I cannot stay.
The assassination, you understand? A man is being held.
Jaeger, I want you to give the Doctor all the help he needs to get that thing open.
Doctor, I'll keep you informed about Miss Grant, and you'll keep me informed about your progress.
Won't you? It's now two.
Come on.
Greetings, son of Varan.
Why have I been brought here a prisoner? It was upon your orders that I killed the Administrator.
You said he was an enemy of our people.
You've done well.
Now for your reward.
Amusing little device, isn't it? Works perfectly.
So No regrets, Varan.
First the Administrator, now an attempt to kill me.
He was in league with Ky.
You lie! You ordered us to kill the Administrator! Others will believe me! Attention! Attention! This is the Marshal speaking Solonion Varan has gone mutant.
He is at large on Skybase.
If taken, he must be dealt with immediately.
Calling Solos, calling Solos.
This is the Marshal.
Stubbs and Cotton, come in.
But we're almost on them, sir.
I want you up here immediately - out.
Stay here.
Thanks.
Stubbsy? Yeah? Someone's pinched his mask.
I'll send some medics down to pick him up.
You know, I can't think why you people ever came here.
Thaesium, Doctor.
This planet is one of the richest fuel sources in the galaxy - or it used to be.
Are the deposits now exhausted? More or less.
So, now you plan to colonise the planet in earnest, if you can change the atmosphere? That's my problem, not yours.
Well, there are other people concerned, you know? Such as? Well, the Solonians, for example.
After all, it is their planet.
Was, Doctor.
It is "Doctor", is it? I think you'll find that That that should hold the Proton beam steady, "Professor"! I think that this whole thing is a senseless waste of time! Particle reversal! Nobody has ever achieved it! On the contrary, my dear chap, I found it a very useful research technique.
Er, what do you expect to happen? I expect the particles to reverse and the box to turn itself inside out.
What's on the outside will be on the inside, and what's on the inside will be on the outside - where we can see it.
Rubbish! You think so? Come over here and see for yourself.
You ready? Then watch.
What is this place? A disused mine.
One of many on Solos.
I remember running.
I nearly left you to die.
What about the mask? A guard's.
He! He'll be alright if he takes it easy.
You won't need this while you're in here.
It's the daylight makes the air poisonous to Overlords.
You are from Earth, but you are not The Doctor! We came to help you.
Ah, the Overlord with the box.
For goodness sake! I'm sorry.
My people know Earthmen only as Overlords.
It's difficult to think otherwise.
The box! It was for you! But, that's why I followed you.
Me? Why? I don't know.
Is it weapons? I don't know! Who sent you? I we must ask the Doctor.
How? Well, there are bound to be one or two snags to begin with.
But but it worked? Well, of course it worked.
But theoretically it's impossible.
I don't suppose you saw what it was, did you? I mean inside, I mean? Not clearly, but the process Was all over in a flash.
Yes, I know.
Is Varan here? Who? Jaeger, have you seen him - Varan, the Mutt? Another mutant? He was heading this way.
Jaeger! No, Marshal, I haven't seen him! I've got more important things to do.
So long as that Mutt stays alive, he's a menace to everybody on this Skybase.
He was behind the assassination plot with Ky.
And now you say he's mutating? Mutant Varan hiding in storage section,sir.
They've located him, sir.
Alright, Stubbs, you know what to do.
Sir.
Marshal? Mmm? I wonder could I perhaps go on this "Mutt hunt" with you? Out of the question.
I'm sure the Doctor has good reason.
He'd find it most interesting.
What? Oh, very well.
Stubbs? Sir? Keep an eye on him.
Yes, sir.
I will.
Well? With that man's help, I could the whole atmosphere regeneration project operational within a week.
What?! He understands particle reversal.
He could speed up the whole process.
Then we must be sure he stays with us.
Yes, his assistant's the key to that as well.
How long before they track us down? Caverns run for miles.
They'll never find us.
Well that means neither will the Doctor? We must wait.
My people will tell me when the Doctor comes.
Your people? The dispossessed, the outcasts, the terrorists as the Overlords label them.
Tell me about the caverns of Earth.
The what? The caverns - where you live on Earth.
I live in London! A sky city.
No, London.
London on the ground.
No, I have seen pictures of Earth.
No one lives on the ground.
The air is too poisonous.
And soon, Solos will be the same.
The Overlords only promise independence so they can go on plundering our resources, turning our green fields into their grey slagheaps.
Am I not right? Is it not true? I don't know.
It's rather a long time since I left Earth.
Once my people were farmers and nomads.
Now look at them.
Slaves in factories and mines! Already the pollution is causing mutations.
The "Mutts" as the Marshal calls them.
Mutts! What happens to them? Well they are killed.
Hunted down and killed.
Or if they escape they hide in places like these.
What is this place anyway? What's it for? Seed propagation.
Earth crops for Solos.
Varan? Varan? It's no use, me old son.
Let's get it over with.
Get it over with? You don't intend shooting him in cold blood, do you? It's the only way.
How do you know? Come on, Varan.
Varan? Make it easy on yourself! Varan is no Mutt, Overlord! I am a warrior and I fight like a warrior! Varan, no! Varan! Varan, wait! Don't be a fool, Stubbs! Can't you see? There's no sign of any mutation.
But the Marshal said he was a mutant! The Marshal has murdered my son! I think you'd better tell us what you know - quickly! We're your only chance.
I thought you knew, sir.
The guard's mask was gone when we found him.
No, Cotton, I did not know! I'm surrounded by incompetents! Sir.
Sir? Well? At least it means the girl is still alive.
Yes, Cotton.
But Ky has got her and not us.
I want that girl found - understand? One more thing; as far as the Doctor is concerned, we have already got her.
Sir? We have already got her, Cotton.
She's in hospital - on Solos.
Right? You mean His Nibs fixed up the whole thing? Had the Administrator done in and then swung the blame on the natives? That's right.
You heard Varan's story.
I see.
And if there's independence, the Marshal's out of a job.
Yes, exactly.
But now the planet's under marshal law, "his nibs", as you call him, means to keep it that way.
So what do we do? Keep Varan in hiding, tell the Marshal he's been dealt with.
I can't move against him openly until I am sure Miss Grant is safe.
I'll just have to play for time.
Ah, Doctor, good news.
Stubbs, did you find Varan? He's been dealt with, sir.
Dealt with! Mmm, these Mutts are a bigger menace than you realise, Doctor.
As no doubt Miss Grant will tell you.
You've found her then? When can I see her? Cotton? She's receiving oxygen treatment - in a day or so.
A day or so? Possibly longer.
She was in pretty poor shape when Cotton found her.
What about Ky? Ky left her to die, Doctor.
The whole planet will remain under marshal law until the full of the assassination dies down.
Meanwhile, Doctor, Professor Jaeger could use you on a project of some urgency.
It will pass the time.
Until you let me see Miss Grant, you mean? Exactly! What I propose to do is to bombard these layers of the atmosphere with ionisation rockets at these points.
This will provide a barrier against the ultra-violet rays which create the poison mist.
What you're proposing - and do correct me if I am wrong - is an all out rocket attack on a defenceless planet.
But these aren't military rockets! Well, try telling the Solonians that.
I can't understand your concern, Doctor.
This planet, as it stands, is no longer of any use unless we make the atmosphere breathable.
Even if it means wiping out every Solonian in the process? Earth is fighting for its survival.
The side-effects are of no importance! Genocide as a side-effect! You ought to write a paper on that, Professor! Perhaps you have an alternative suggestion? Yes, perhaps.
Particle reversal, no doubt? Your little forte? Particle reversal is one way.
Not as violent as yours, of course, but the result will be the same.
The question is, Doctor, can it be done? Well, we could try an experiment, couldn't we? The Marshal wants to see you, Professor.
Can't it wait? You know the Marshal.
Oh, very well, I know.
Sir? Mmm? I've been chatting with Stubbs.
He's a kind of mate of mine.
Oh, yes? About Varan? And about Miss Grant.
When can I see her, Cotton? That's it her, sir - you can't.
We didn't find her.
What? As far as we know, she's still with Ky.
That means I've got to find both of them.
How am I going to do that? All the guards have orders to stop you leaving this section.
Is there any other way to the transfer station? 'Fraid not, sir.
Cotton, is there an emergency power supply to the transfer station? Yes, it Why, sir? What would happen if I blew the main power supply to the whole of Skybase? Sheer chaos.
Yes, exactly.
But if the emergency power supply to the transfer station were already switched over? You could slip down to Solos in the confusion.
Yes, exactly.
Can you get the power switched over? I can try.
Good, now I'll tell you what I want you to do Cotton, who told you that the Marshal wanted to see me? He did, sir.
Then one of you must be mad.
Oh, yes sir.
Sorry, sir.
Maybe he changed his mind, sir.
Professor, I've been thinking.
Perhaps we could try an experiment, er, just to prove whether I'm right or wrong - about particle reversal.
Good.
But we'll need to link up to the main power supply.
Orders to check stand-by equipment.
Varan! Listen - we're going to try and get you off Skybase.
Now when I go, I shall leave this door unlocked.
How do I know this is not just another Overlord trap? When the time comes, you head straight for the transfer station, but wait for the signal first.
What signal? You'll hear them announce a power failure.
That'll be your chance.
When will this signal come? That's it - we don't know! You'll just have to trust us, Varan.
Surely you'll overload the whole power supply? Oh, not a bit of it, old chap.
That modulator's utterly reliable, but I'd be very grateful if you'd keep a close eye on it, would you? Well, are you ready? Yes.
Well, here goes.
It's alright, don't worry.
Just you keep your eye on that centre dial.
Skybase One - Emergency! Emergency! We have power failure.
Emergency! Emergency! Stop or I fire! Die, Overlord, die!