Doctor Who (1963) s21e08 Episode Script

It's getting lighter.
The attacks nearly over.
Let's get out of here.
Come on - the TARDIS.
The TARDIS - what's happened?! It's gone.
The TARDIS has been destroyed The TARDIS can't just disintegrate! I'm afraid it has.
Oh marvellous! You're going to kill me! What a finely tuned response to the situation! Best to dispatch him now! Wait! GET OUT OF THE WAY! Be careful Norna.
Why did Captain Revere dedicate the whole of his life to analysing the rocks of Frontios? Remove her.
No, wait.
Why do you ask when the reason is well known? My father sought the precious minerals beneath the soil.
What precious minerals? Did he find any? He knew there must be some reason for the perpetual carnage our neighbours inflict upon us.
Well, if the Doctor is an invader, he has the answer to that question.
Um, Norna, I need some help with the lighting.
No, wait.
You go.
I don't know anything about lighting.
Get on with it! Best to do as they say.
We'll be safe as long as we remain calm, now trust me.
Well Doctor.
Can you enlighten us as to the reason for these bombardments? In time, if you let me investigate.
If on the other hand you're going to kill me, you'd better get on with it! Kill him.
No! This wasn't what I had in mind at all.
What was that? Oh, just residual energy from the TARDIS.
What is it? The thing that brings down the bombardment That's enough.
That battery had better work after all our efforts.
It's in good condition; we're just topping it up.
The Doctor is safe, isn't he? 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 Rets? Retrogrades.
It's what we call the deserters.
More of them leave every week to hunt out in the wastes like animals.
Orderlies shoot deserters? If they have to - oh yes it's a waste of life, but discipline is paramount.
But every death increases the danger of extinction! Do you think I'm not aware of that? Water Water.
He needs some water! 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.
What, the precious rocks under the soil business? Well, so would I.
Whatever's going on here has put paid to my TARDIS.
You deny you're at war with us? If it is war - and I'm not so sure about that - then you and I, Plantagenet, are in the same shell-hole.
Now Does anyone know where these are coming from? Well, we know it's one of the other planets in the Veruna system Without instruments it's impossible to tell which one.
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 The research room was sealed up, by the orders of the late Captain Revere.
Well if you want answers, you'd better unseal it! There's nothing in that room that could possibly be of any use to us.
That's not true! It's full of invaluable equipment.
You've been inside it? It's where we found the battery The trouble is, if these good people don't want us inside Yes Doctor I er I think I know how to change their minds.
Order the Research Room to be opened! Thank you, you can get back to your work now.
It's no good, is it? I'm afraid not.
HURRY UP! Yes uh Careful with that thing.
Well, here we are then.
This should keep us busy.
Ah Turlough, you can help.
I um I don't know a lot about chemical tests.
I do.
Good! Good.
I want to run a series on halides and silica.
And do stop waving that thing around.
LOOK OUT! I wouldn't! What did I do? I think this joke's gone far enough.
MR.
RANGE! "Deaths unaccountable" Rabbits! Medical Centre, quickly! So, he was hit.
Delayed effect of a glancing blow.
Now, I want you to stay here, and start those tests.
What do you think you're doing? I'm I'm trying to get the drawer open if you really want to know.
Curiosity is dangerous on Frontios.
Not as dangerous as ignorance.
What do you know? What have you seen? Deaths unaccountable.
You must forget that you saw that! There's something going on here, isn't there.
Some racket you're into.
TEGAN! Ah those wires.
What about them? Rip them down.
I've only just put them up! Well jolly good, now you can rip them down again! Damp cloths, anything damp! I wouldn't put up with it.
Well, we have to; we don't have the technology to go anywhere else.
Yes, I'm er I'm beginning to know the feeling.
What's the matter with him? Fibrillating.
What? It's his heart; the Doctor's going to get it going again.
Are we ready? Ready.
Now.
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.
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.
It sounds very sensible.
We always used to go there to shelter.
Then all that got stopped.
Why? Captain Revere made a law against it.
Oh, as simple as that - he made a law.
Forbidding any digging under the ground.
Surely there must have been a reason? 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.
What did he say? He said the earth was hungry.
Again! There That's not a pressure filter.
Oh, sorry, I er I was just wondering these rocks.
What about them? Well they're all labelled with dates.
They must've come from somewhere.
They did; the quarry.
Yes, but some of the dates are recent.
You told me that quarry had been closed for years! You've killed him.
I admit it was touch and go for a minute.
What are you up to? Well they obviously didn't install this just for us.
It's for lifting equipment.
What equipment? What's so heavy in here that needs a block and tackle? Try to get some rest.
Rest death is the only kind of rest you bring to Frontios! Don't exert yourself, Leader.
We have everything under control.
I have responsibilities.
Frontios depends upon me.
Nevertheless, you should take the Doctor's advice.
So you've changed your mind about him too? I wouldn't commit myself on that, but it was the Doctor that saved your life.
The Doctor's alright.
You must've realized that by now.
You saved my life? Is this true? Not a word to the Time Lords.
Very ingenious.
No, not really.
The block and tackle is a simple enough invention.
I mean you and your excuses to get out of helping.
How long ago were you in the Research Room.
When I was very small.
I came with my father when he was still Captain Revere's personal science assistant.
And was that up there then? No.
Exactly.
These floor plates are solid metal - heavy, solid metal.
Norna? Come here.
We are about to find out where Captain Revere got his rock collection.
That hook goes in here.
So you see, Doctor, Frontios is not the easiest planet to rule.
After 30 years of bombardments, yes I take your point.
Your friend Brazen doesn't trust us an inch.
Ah, he's a good man - if a little narrow in his outlook.
He's planning to move you to your quarters in the colony ship.
The colony ship? No, I must stay here with my people! Democratic touch, eh? 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! Come on, pull! What do you think I'm doing?! I wonder what's down there Let's take a look.
Now, what's making you so vulnerable to attack is the thin atmosphere on Frontios.
Why do they come so frequently now? Yes I have some theories about that, and with your permission I'll return to the Research Room and confirm them.
Thank you Doctor.
Tegan Ah, your assistant may stay here with me.
That way we'll all trust one another.
Then perhaps you'll come with me, Mr.
Range.
Yes, of course.
Good.
See you later.
Keep an eye on them.
Careful Come down slowly.
This rock, it's sort of moth-eaten.
Hey look! There's a way through.
Don't tell me you're frightened? No, it's just like something I remember You know, Mr.
Range, if I'm right, these so-called missiles of yours are nothing more or less than natural meteorites.
Meteorites? In such quantities? Oh, it's unusual I grant you, but one of the planets in the Veruna system may have disintegrated with long-term fallout.
Surely Captain Revere could have detected that? Oh, I think he did.
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.
I'm beginning to understand the problems of this planet, what with all the deaths accountable and unaccountable.
What do you know about deaths unaccountable? Just a phrase I heard Heard where?! I don't know, just heard it somewhere Or in some records?! You know about the data store then? Data store? Right! 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 What puzzles me is how it managed to crash in the first place with er all that autonomous guidance on board.
Well the systems failed.
What, before the crash? Yes, without the failure there would've been no crash.
The guidance systems - everything went together.
Did they now? I see why you call it the day of catastrophe.
They've gone - exploring by the look of it.
Oh.
A rock analysis - they look like Widmanstatten patterns to me, which would seem to confirm What's the matter? I'm afraid they may be in danger down there.
Turlough wouldn't risk an unsafe tunnel.
No, not that.
I've suspected for a long time that Captain Revere ordered the quarry closed because of something he found.
What sort of something? A geological feature, perhaps? Something beneath the surface it might be dangerous to disturb.
So, it's Mr.
Range who's been spreading these rumours.
What rumours? Disinformation about the status quo! You, keep an eye on things down here! Aaa help help! Plantagenet! Bring the light here a minute.
The walls are quite different here.
Smooth like glass.
Perhaps we ought to go back.
In a minute.
I want to see where this leads to.
Are you sure, Doctor? I want to help.
You will, Mr.
Range, by staying here.
These sort of adventures depend on a well-manned home base.
Can we go back now? Please.
Look, come on chicken I'm not frightened! I'm just thinking.
Well I'll leave you to it then.
I'm going on.
No wait I'm coming! It's true.
It's as if something was sucking him through the floor! I must get the Doctor! I don't think so! We're going to need you here.
What's the meaning of this crass behaviour?! Cockerill! What's going on? I'm trying to control the crowd, sir.
There's unrest about the leader.
You're an Orderly, aren't you.
So keep order! That's the meaning of the word! Go on, out! They think Plantagenet's dead.
Come on! 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! Doctor? Are you there? I thought you were supposed to be guarding the rear.
It's my daughter, Doctor.
I can't let you take all the risk.
Oh well, a risk shared is a risk doubled.
Come along.
Hey! Now now! We'll have none of that activity here.
Ah! Quickly stop her! She's getting away! The looting's started already! Oh come on, stop daydreaming.
It's more like a nightmare.
What is? I keep glimpsing something out of the corner of my eye.
Yes, they're funny these reflections.
And there's a word that goes with it Tractators that's it Oh come on, just a little bit further.
Tractators tractators.
Doctor? Doctor? Is there anybody down there? Ssh.
I can't here anything.
Listen.
I heard that.
Turlough! Turlough Tractators! I'VE SEEN THEM! Mr.
Range? Look after Turlough.
I'm going on alone.
Get this door open! So here you are.
Is he alright? Yes, I think so.
What happened? I don't know.
The Doctor's gone to investigate.
You take care of him.
The Doctor will probably need some help.
No! Wait! What happened in there? Please tell me.
Is my daughter safe? So they're Tractators.
No Tegan! Get back!