Doctor Who (1963) s18e05 Episode Script
Meglos, Part One
When ready.
You'd better stop the TARDIS, we don't want any nasty jolts.
Prion you see? We seem to be in the Prion Planetary System.
We'd better land.
No, no, hovering will do.
There's a planet called Tigella.
Tigella? Never heard of it.
There's one called Zolfa-Thura, it's in all the history books.
Well.
They're all in someone's history books.
A great civilisation blown away to sand and ashes.
Now all that's left is the screens.
Quite.
What screens? Screens of Zolfa-Thura.
Oh, those screens - Of course! I've been to Tigella.
You did say Tigella? - That's right.
- I've been there.
- When?.
Oh, some time ago.
Nice chap called Zastor showed me round.
Remind me to get in touch with him some time.
Tell you what, I'll do it now! Please, please.
Can't we just do one thing at a time? - First things first? - Exactly.
Though not necessarily in that order.
*****.
*****.
It's ***** to burn.
- Emergency, emergency! Burn-out on walkway nine.
- And quickly.
Medical and lighting assistance needed immediately.
Medical detail despatch.
Air Purification Unit One is malfunctioning.
Open air vents three to eight in Unit One.
Zastor.
This is no time for ceremony.
Please, be seated.
Irrigation levels holding.
Thank you.
Clearing.
Well, how bad is it? We can't control the power levels much longer.
So much for science.
Without a detailed investigation it's nothing ***** can do.
Believe me, I understand.
- I've always argued.
- That is so.
For thousands of years our lives have been dominated by a mystery.
The Dodecahedron belongs to all of us, not just to the Deons.
Their religion deserves respect.
Religion.
Control to walkway nine.
Update on the burn-out, please.
I'm replacing the transformer.
There'll be no power for about three hours.
Now will you believe? Thank you, Caris.
Understood.
***** a point.
How Caris re-inhabit the surface? It would take years of preparation.
Decades, more likely.
There are better ways, but at least Caris and her friends have a plan.
Which the Deons have declared a blasphemy.
You could over-rule them.
And how long would I remain Leader if I did? As take killer.
Zastor, I tell you as a Savant scientific, one who has to understand these things? Our safe and bountiful city may well be on the edge of total extinction.
No! Zastor is our Leader, but he can not lead us into sacrilege! Resume the Concurrence.
I shall explain, yet again this matter! I understand you are angry, Lexa.
The Power is angered of the *****.
For the moment at least, its anger seems to be under control.
And so perhaps should ours be.
The Savants have some to help, or so they believe.
Belief! It is a word too great for their small minds.
They are children, wilful, ignorant and lost.
We shall all be lost, Deons and Savants alike, if the Power fails us.
Where are we going to the debating chamber? This is not a matter for compromise.
I'm an old man, Lexa, with less faith, perhaps, than you.
- Yet I think you trust my judgement? - Yes Then hear the proposals.
They will not even touch the Dodecahedron.
They will not even enter the Power Room.
Few measurements ***** a calculations.
Not even you, Zastor.
No one can revoke our ancient laws.
And not even your precious Concurrence, Lexa, can revoke the laws of science.
Deedrix, Lexa, we must be here like leaders.
Then lead us by example, Zastor.
Make a decision! I cannot interfere.
I was afraid it would come to this.
Yes, please, ***** the kind.
Ask? Who? ***** Some fifty years ago.
I knew a man who solved the insoluble by the strangest means.
He seemed to see the threads that bind the universe together, and mend them when they break.
A Savant or *****? A little of each and much more of something quite different.
It's near by and he has asked to visit us.
- You've invited an Alien? - Why? You know was you see him.
This situation needs his delicacy of touch.
He'd better stay out of the sea in future, or he'll find himself in deep water.
It's hardly his fault if someone forgot to sea-proof him! Quite.
- Do you know where I put his manual? - Yes, of course.
K9 had better be all right, we may need him on Tigella.
The Tigellans aren't hostile.
The plants are, lush aggressive vegetation.
You don't want to believe everything you read in books.
According to the history books, it was the lush aggressive vegetation that made the Tigellans retreat beneath the surface.
Didn't you notice it when you were there? It was reasonably friendly to me.
Mind you, that was long time ago.
Post Repair Test Questions.
Post Repair Test Questions.
K9, can you hear me? Affirmative, Mistress.
Not the most promising start.
Savants! Deons! Remember the dignity of this place.
Have we come here to squabble? If we cannot have agreement, let us at least have order! I've said all I have to say.
I'm needed back in Main Control.
No.
The Sevants should be arrested for heresy.
And crushed to death, no doubt.
You will respect the Deon laws.
How can one respect a creed that practices primitive sacrifice? You making sacrifices it's now in the name of your monstrous myth? Please, remember where you are.
No! This should be said and before all Tigella.
The Dodecahedron is no god.
It is an artefact, engineered! It's descended from the heavens.
Not the heavens.
From somewhere, anywhere, but not the heavens.
Then where? Sand, nothing but sand.
The whole planet! ***** I never things the Screens of Zolfa-Thura.
I never liked this job.
Male, Caucasian, arround two metres tall.
All right, we've delivered him.
So who pays us? Shut up.
It's trying to say something.
This could be a trap! ***** anyway? Nothing.
I don't know anything.
What have I done? No very knows anything.
Why? Why me? Why any of us? You don't think I do this through choice? Give him another one.
The message was genuine.
We'll wait.
Genuine? We don't even know who sent it.
Let's killing and go.
Let's thinking for a change.
Now why would you send across the galaxy for a thing like that.
Stop.
It must be a trap.
Shut up.
Follow me.
Arrival noted, gentlemen! Welcome.
Don't be afraid.
Who do you think you're talking to? General Grugger and Lieutenant Brotodac, I presume, together with their band of fortune-hunters.
There should also be an Earthling about somewhere.
You, what are you? Forgive me.
Most remiss.
I am Meglos, only survivor of this planet.
Well observed, General Grugger.
I am the plant.
A xerophyte to be precise.
You serve me well, General Grugger.
I now have a real proposition for you This chamber will yield to my authority.
You've lost it.
Delegated it to the Alien.
A Time Lord, a non-believer.
How can we trust him? The Doctor's good faith is beyond question.
Faith! That word again? What we need is knowledge.
The Doctor brings that too.
We have knowledge here, if only you would allow us to use it! These arguments go round and round, and accomplish nothing.
I shall seek guidance from the Power itself.
- I have something to say to this chamber.
- No.
Caris has risked her life often to save this city.
Let her be heard.
Even if we manage to restore the Power or as the Deons would say the power condescends to restore itself.
The bulk stocks will be destroid.
We will have to return to the surface.
***** time.
Let's get our payment and go! Gaztaks! Pillagers of the galaxy! Thousands of little marauding bands like yours.
- And what's it all for? - Loot! The motley collection of trophies! How long have you been accumulating them? We've done it all our lives.
And you accuse me of wasting your time.
What you're asking us to do is impossible.
Not impossible or simply beyond your comprehension.
There's only one way into that city.
And the guards that Dodecahedron with their lives with them.
It's a god.
We reached the thing dangerous to touch.
Really, gentlemen.
I haven't considered the hazards.
But your timidity worries me.
You're not interested in real power.
So if Lieutenant Brotodac will return my Re-dimensioniser, we'll conclude our business.
The Re-dimensioniser ***** from my *****.
Ah fool.
What do you know about mass conversion mechanics? I want to know a lot more about all this.
Bit of a nuisance if we have to reprogramme all his constants.
I'm worried about the power depletion.
This way, he'll need re-charging every two hours.
Oh, I'll soon problem? I happen to be an expert on power sources.
Tigella won't take you long then? No, no, no.
Flying quick service.
What is the energy process? Baryon multiplication? Yes, something like that.
They didn't actually let me look at it last time.
Religious objections The Dodecahedron was made here, on Zolfa-Thura? Of course.
The Tigellans are using only a fraction of its potential.
A fraction? It powers their entire planet! Precisely.
A mere fraction.
These fluctuations are part of its in-built programming.
In its re-start mode, its output will be raised to a point where it could feed an entire galaxy.
That's impossible.
Within your limited frame of reference, yes.
Now, you are clear about the procedure? General Grugger, have I explained the procedure clearly? Yes, it's all right.
Next, it's clear first and then when starts the process.
Excellent! Then let it commence.
Oh, we'll definitely let it commence.
Shouldn't we get on with it? Don't touch the controls *****.
Come on.
He looks ready to me.
Yes, ***** wasn't it? What's the hold-up? I want to get off this planet.
Get the others.
So do I.
But it would be a pity to leave all this.
You've got a plan! We're going locked in there.
Much.
How much do you reckon this would fetch on Pelagos? Five million credits? Oh, it's very nice.
We've struck lucky? Lucky? Brains.
I think before *****.
- Be pretty - It's a nice piece that! I'll get the others.
*****.
***** here.
*****.
- It's shut.
- Then open it! It won't open.
It opened all right when we came in automatically.
Correct, gentlemen.
Automatically! - He's trapped us.
- Didn't trust us.
Nothing so petty.
I knew that as ardent pragmatists you would feel bound to attempt some variation of our arrangement.
I wanted it to come sooner rather than later.
I know you and your kind so well.
If we are to cooperate, I want you to know me! Well, gentlemen? Shall we all descend into the earth together for another thousand years? Or shall we resume our original arrangements? I'm prepared to forget all about this incident! I do hope not.
We'll remember! Good.
Now, the second button please.
I don't believe it.
***** General Grugger.
We must work quickly.
I've intercepted a Tigellan message.
A travelling Time Lord.
Whose travels I shall now interrupt! Now, where is he? And when? Where did you put the magnetics-pliers? - In a cave a sort of shrine.
- Well? - Tigella.
- What? - Magnetics-pliers? - Thank you.
I think ***** Understandable they should be in awe of the thing.
Their whole way of life depends on it.
Oh blast! Here we go again! - What's the matter? - Now his probe circuit's jammed.
Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
Well done, Romana.
Well done.
***** all this? Be coming.
I was better qualified than you when I arrived! K9, what do you know about the Prion Planetary System? There was once an advanced hi-tech society on Zolfa-Thura, that be destroyed itself in a global war.
The planet is now featureless desert.
Good boy, K9.
- Now only Tigella's left? - Affirmative.
Oh blast! Here we go again! - What's the matter? - Now his probe-circuit's jammed! Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
Flies trapped in amber.
Not even the Doctor can escape from a chronic hysteresis! - A what? - A loop inside in a fold in time.
Ah good.
His only respite is the short period when he loops back to the start.
Round and round.
For all eternity! Oh blast! Here we go again! What's the matter? Now his probe circuit's jammed! Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
That's the third time.
What's happening? The TARDIS seems to be working normally.
Yes, then what? Repeated time cycles? Oh no.
It couldn't be a chronic hysteresis, could it? Chronic hysteresis.
I hope not.
If it is, we'll be stuck here forever.
Oh blast, here we go again! So this Meglos can bend time? Right.
In a loop.
I've never heard of that, have you? What does it matter how it's done? The point is, the Doctor doesn't get to Tigella.
But he does, gentlemen.
He does! We mustn't disappoint the Tigellans!
You'd better stop the TARDIS, we don't want any nasty jolts.
Prion you see? We seem to be in the Prion Planetary System.
We'd better land.
No, no, hovering will do.
There's a planet called Tigella.
Tigella? Never heard of it.
There's one called Zolfa-Thura, it's in all the history books.
Well.
They're all in someone's history books.
A great civilisation blown away to sand and ashes.
Now all that's left is the screens.
Quite.
What screens? Screens of Zolfa-Thura.
Oh, those screens - Of course! I've been to Tigella.
You did say Tigella? - That's right.
- I've been there.
- When?.
Oh, some time ago.
Nice chap called Zastor showed me round.
Remind me to get in touch with him some time.
Tell you what, I'll do it now! Please, please.
Can't we just do one thing at a time? - First things first? - Exactly.
Though not necessarily in that order.
*****.
*****.
It's ***** to burn.
- Emergency, emergency! Burn-out on walkway nine.
- And quickly.
Medical and lighting assistance needed immediately.
Medical detail despatch.
Air Purification Unit One is malfunctioning.
Open air vents three to eight in Unit One.
Zastor.
This is no time for ceremony.
Please, be seated.
Irrigation levels holding.
Thank you.
Clearing.
Well, how bad is it? We can't control the power levels much longer.
So much for science.
Without a detailed investigation it's nothing ***** can do.
Believe me, I understand.
- I've always argued.
- That is so.
For thousands of years our lives have been dominated by a mystery.
The Dodecahedron belongs to all of us, not just to the Deons.
Their religion deserves respect.
Religion.
Control to walkway nine.
Update on the burn-out, please.
I'm replacing the transformer.
There'll be no power for about three hours.
Now will you believe? Thank you, Caris.
Understood.
***** a point.
How Caris re-inhabit the surface? It would take years of preparation.
Decades, more likely.
There are better ways, but at least Caris and her friends have a plan.
Which the Deons have declared a blasphemy.
You could over-rule them.
And how long would I remain Leader if I did? As take killer.
Zastor, I tell you as a Savant scientific, one who has to understand these things? Our safe and bountiful city may well be on the edge of total extinction.
No! Zastor is our Leader, but he can not lead us into sacrilege! Resume the Concurrence.
I shall explain, yet again this matter! I understand you are angry, Lexa.
The Power is angered of the *****.
For the moment at least, its anger seems to be under control.
And so perhaps should ours be.
The Savants have some to help, or so they believe.
Belief! It is a word too great for their small minds.
They are children, wilful, ignorant and lost.
We shall all be lost, Deons and Savants alike, if the Power fails us.
Where are we going to the debating chamber? This is not a matter for compromise.
I'm an old man, Lexa, with less faith, perhaps, than you.
- Yet I think you trust my judgement? - Yes Then hear the proposals.
They will not even touch the Dodecahedron.
They will not even enter the Power Room.
Few measurements ***** a calculations.
Not even you, Zastor.
No one can revoke our ancient laws.
And not even your precious Concurrence, Lexa, can revoke the laws of science.
Deedrix, Lexa, we must be here like leaders.
Then lead us by example, Zastor.
Make a decision! I cannot interfere.
I was afraid it would come to this.
Yes, please, ***** the kind.
Ask? Who? ***** Some fifty years ago.
I knew a man who solved the insoluble by the strangest means.
He seemed to see the threads that bind the universe together, and mend them when they break.
A Savant or *****? A little of each and much more of something quite different.
It's near by and he has asked to visit us.
- You've invited an Alien? - Why? You know was you see him.
This situation needs his delicacy of touch.
He'd better stay out of the sea in future, or he'll find himself in deep water.
It's hardly his fault if someone forgot to sea-proof him! Quite.
- Do you know where I put his manual? - Yes, of course.
K9 had better be all right, we may need him on Tigella.
The Tigellans aren't hostile.
The plants are, lush aggressive vegetation.
You don't want to believe everything you read in books.
According to the history books, it was the lush aggressive vegetation that made the Tigellans retreat beneath the surface.
Didn't you notice it when you were there? It was reasonably friendly to me.
Mind you, that was long time ago.
Post Repair Test Questions.
Post Repair Test Questions.
K9, can you hear me? Affirmative, Mistress.
Not the most promising start.
Savants! Deons! Remember the dignity of this place.
Have we come here to squabble? If we cannot have agreement, let us at least have order! I've said all I have to say.
I'm needed back in Main Control.
No.
The Sevants should be arrested for heresy.
And crushed to death, no doubt.
You will respect the Deon laws.
How can one respect a creed that practices primitive sacrifice? You making sacrifices it's now in the name of your monstrous myth? Please, remember where you are.
No! This should be said and before all Tigella.
The Dodecahedron is no god.
It is an artefact, engineered! It's descended from the heavens.
Not the heavens.
From somewhere, anywhere, but not the heavens.
Then where? Sand, nothing but sand.
The whole planet! ***** I never things the Screens of Zolfa-Thura.
I never liked this job.
Male, Caucasian, arround two metres tall.
All right, we've delivered him.
So who pays us? Shut up.
It's trying to say something.
This could be a trap! ***** anyway? Nothing.
I don't know anything.
What have I done? No very knows anything.
Why? Why me? Why any of us? You don't think I do this through choice? Give him another one.
The message was genuine.
We'll wait.
Genuine? We don't even know who sent it.
Let's killing and go.
Let's thinking for a change.
Now why would you send across the galaxy for a thing like that.
Stop.
It must be a trap.
Shut up.
Follow me.
Arrival noted, gentlemen! Welcome.
Don't be afraid.
Who do you think you're talking to? General Grugger and Lieutenant Brotodac, I presume, together with their band of fortune-hunters.
There should also be an Earthling about somewhere.
You, what are you? Forgive me.
Most remiss.
I am Meglos, only survivor of this planet.
Well observed, General Grugger.
I am the plant.
A xerophyte to be precise.
You serve me well, General Grugger.
I now have a real proposition for you This chamber will yield to my authority.
You've lost it.
Delegated it to the Alien.
A Time Lord, a non-believer.
How can we trust him? The Doctor's good faith is beyond question.
Faith! That word again? What we need is knowledge.
The Doctor brings that too.
We have knowledge here, if only you would allow us to use it! These arguments go round and round, and accomplish nothing.
I shall seek guidance from the Power itself.
- I have something to say to this chamber.
- No.
Caris has risked her life often to save this city.
Let her be heard.
Even if we manage to restore the Power or as the Deons would say the power condescends to restore itself.
The bulk stocks will be destroid.
We will have to return to the surface.
***** time.
Let's get our payment and go! Gaztaks! Pillagers of the galaxy! Thousands of little marauding bands like yours.
- And what's it all for? - Loot! The motley collection of trophies! How long have you been accumulating them? We've done it all our lives.
And you accuse me of wasting your time.
What you're asking us to do is impossible.
Not impossible or simply beyond your comprehension.
There's only one way into that city.
And the guards that Dodecahedron with their lives with them.
It's a god.
We reached the thing dangerous to touch.
Really, gentlemen.
I haven't considered the hazards.
But your timidity worries me.
You're not interested in real power.
So if Lieutenant Brotodac will return my Re-dimensioniser, we'll conclude our business.
The Re-dimensioniser ***** from my *****.
Ah fool.
What do you know about mass conversion mechanics? I want to know a lot more about all this.
Bit of a nuisance if we have to reprogramme all his constants.
I'm worried about the power depletion.
This way, he'll need re-charging every two hours.
Oh, I'll soon problem? I happen to be an expert on power sources.
Tigella won't take you long then? No, no, no.
Flying quick service.
What is the energy process? Baryon multiplication? Yes, something like that.
They didn't actually let me look at it last time.
Religious objections The Dodecahedron was made here, on Zolfa-Thura? Of course.
The Tigellans are using only a fraction of its potential.
A fraction? It powers their entire planet! Precisely.
A mere fraction.
These fluctuations are part of its in-built programming.
In its re-start mode, its output will be raised to a point where it could feed an entire galaxy.
That's impossible.
Within your limited frame of reference, yes.
Now, you are clear about the procedure? General Grugger, have I explained the procedure clearly? Yes, it's all right.
Next, it's clear first and then when starts the process.
Excellent! Then let it commence.
Oh, we'll definitely let it commence.
Shouldn't we get on with it? Don't touch the controls *****.
Come on.
He looks ready to me.
Yes, ***** wasn't it? What's the hold-up? I want to get off this planet.
Get the others.
So do I.
But it would be a pity to leave all this.
You've got a plan! We're going locked in there.
Much.
How much do you reckon this would fetch on Pelagos? Five million credits? Oh, it's very nice.
We've struck lucky? Lucky? Brains.
I think before *****.
- Be pretty - It's a nice piece that! I'll get the others.
*****.
***** here.
*****.
- It's shut.
- Then open it! It won't open.
It opened all right when we came in automatically.
Correct, gentlemen.
Automatically! - He's trapped us.
- Didn't trust us.
Nothing so petty.
I knew that as ardent pragmatists you would feel bound to attempt some variation of our arrangement.
I wanted it to come sooner rather than later.
I know you and your kind so well.
If we are to cooperate, I want you to know me! Well, gentlemen? Shall we all descend into the earth together for another thousand years? Or shall we resume our original arrangements? I'm prepared to forget all about this incident! I do hope not.
We'll remember! Good.
Now, the second button please.
I don't believe it.
***** General Grugger.
We must work quickly.
I've intercepted a Tigellan message.
A travelling Time Lord.
Whose travels I shall now interrupt! Now, where is he? And when? Where did you put the magnetics-pliers? - In a cave a sort of shrine.
- Well? - Tigella.
- What? - Magnetics-pliers? - Thank you.
I think ***** Understandable they should be in awe of the thing.
Their whole way of life depends on it.
Oh blast! Here we go again! - What's the matter? - Now his probe circuit's jammed.
Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
Well done, Romana.
Well done.
***** all this? Be coming.
I was better qualified than you when I arrived! K9, what do you know about the Prion Planetary System? There was once an advanced hi-tech society on Zolfa-Thura, that be destroyed itself in a global war.
The planet is now featureless desert.
Good boy, K9.
- Now only Tigella's left? - Affirmative.
Oh blast! Here we go again! - What's the matter? - Now his probe-circuit's jammed! Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
Flies trapped in amber.
Not even the Doctor can escape from a chronic hysteresis! - A what? - A loop inside in a fold in time.
Ah good.
His only respite is the short period when he loops back to the start.
Round and round.
For all eternity! Oh blast! Here we go again! What's the matter? Now his probe circuit's jammed! Oh, that's easy, just waggle his tail.
All right, we've tried everything else! Thank you, Mistress, repairs complete.
That's the third time.
What's happening? The TARDIS seems to be working normally.
Yes, then what? Repeated time cycles? Oh no.
It couldn't be a chronic hysteresis, could it? Chronic hysteresis.
I hope not.
If it is, we'll be stuck here forever.
Oh blast, here we go again! So this Meglos can bend time? Right.
In a loop.
I've never heard of that, have you? What does it matter how it's done? The point is, the Doctor doesn't get to Tigella.
But he does, gentlemen.
He does! We mustn't disappoint the Tigellans!