[ Index for this Doctor ]
[ Index for this story ]
THE RETURN
Written by
PAUL ERICKSON & LESLEY SCOTT
1: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
DODO: Doctor, Steven, look!
DOCTOR: What is it, my dear, what have you found?(They join DODO who is gazing up at the statue.)
DODO: The statue! They've finished the statue!
(The completed stones structure looms over them. But where the plan showed a human head there is now the head of a MONOID.)
DODO: What's happened? The head, it wasn't meant to be like that.
STEVEN: No. It was meant to be a human being and now it's a Monoid. Wonder why?(They move towards the control desk. Leaves are scattered all over the floor as foliage has started to grow on the control deck.)
DOCTOR: Well I'm not sure, dear boy. However, the statue is finished. That means, er, seven hundred years must've passed since we…last stood here. Hmm?
DODO: Is that why the place looks so grotty?
STEVEN: Must be.
DODO: But we've only been gone a few seconds!
DOCTOR: Yes, I know my dear, it's pretty hard for you to understand.
STEVEN: Yes, well the Guardians said it would take seven hundred years for this spaceship to reach the Planet Refusis II. If that navigation chart’s anything to go by I'd say that they're almost there.(The DOCTOR studies the controls.)
DOCTOR: Yes, I think you're right.
STEVEN: Then where are the guardians? Well at least the descendants of those we knew before, surely they should be here, guiding the ship?
DOCTOR: I don't think that will be necessary, dear boy, it appears they've introduced some form of automatic guiding device.
STEVEN: Yes but you'd think one of them would be standing by to make sure nothing goes wrong.
DOCTOR: Yes, well now, let's have a look at the scanner and see if that may help.(He comes up with an image on one of the small screens on the panel.)
DOCTOR: Ah!
(The image now appears on the large monitor behind the command chair.)
STEVEN: Well that's the room with the Earth's population stored in microform.
(The image changes to show a man holding a glass of liquid.)
DODO: It's one of the Guardians!
(The Guardian places the drink on a table next to an unseen figure in a high-backed chair. A reptilian hand waves him away.)
STEVEN: That looks like a Monoid!
DODO: Yes, but the Guardian's working as a kind of servant.
DOCTOR: Yes, he's not the only one that's doing that.(The image changes again to show a large room. Several Guardians are carrying out chores with food and dishes.)
STEVEN: Looks like some kind of kitchen.
DODO: Yes and they're sort of slaves, aren't they?
2: INT. ARK. KITCHEN
(One of the workers drops a pot on the floor. He bends over to pick it up but another hand appears clutching a long weapon. A cloud of smoke fires at him and he clutches his arm in pain.)
3: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
DODO: What was that?
STEVEN: Looked like some kind of gun.
DODO: But the arm?
DOCTOR: (Gravely.) Yes, it appears the Monoids have become overlords.
STEVEN: (Alarmed.) Doctor, look!(Three MONOIDS and two Guardians have entered. The MONOIDS wear collars with numbers on and carry the same sort of guns as seen on the monitor image. The MONOID at the front, numbered “2”, puts his hand to a small grill at the front of his collar and speaks in a harsh, warbling voice.)
MONOID TWO: Who are you?
STEVEN: Things have obviously changed.
DODO: They can speak, they couldn't before.
MONOID TWO: I asked, who are you? Where did you come from?
DOCTOR: We are visitors to this, er, spaceship. We were here many centuries ago. Er, we come as friends.
MONOID TWO: Friends to whom?
DOCTOR: To all who…travel in this spaceship.
MONOID TWO: You mean of the humanoids, like yourself.
DOCTOR: Well, er, yes. But when we were here some time ago we also were friends of your forebears. They were called Monoids. Things were very different then.(One of the Guardians, YENDOM, whispers to another.)
YENDOM: These strangers, they...
(A MONOID grabs at him and he is silent.)
MONOID TWO: (To the DOCTOR.) You speak of the distant past. Following the recent revolution we are now the masters.
(The time travellers look at each other.)
DOCTOR: I see, and the human beings?
MONOID TWO: They work for us. Is that not true, Yendom?(YENDOM bows.)
YENDOM: Yes.
MONOID TWO: We conquered and you obeyed. And these strangers, they will also obey. Now you will come with us.
STEVEN: Where?
MONOID TWO: To our leader(MONOID TWO points the weapon at the TARDIS crew, forcing them to leave.)
4: INT. ARK. MONOIDS' CHAMBER
(A seated MONOID, wearing the number ONE, places down an empty glass where it is picked up by its human servant. The door slides open and MONOID TWO enters.)
MONOID TWO: Here are the strangers, One.
(The DOCTOR stands in the doorway.)
MONOID ONE: Wait. Look.
(A screen in the wall shows the events of seven hundred years earlier….)
5: INT. ARK. JUNGLE
(A MONOID drives the DOCTOR, STEVEN and DODO through the Ark's jungle, back to the TARDIS. The travellers get off the transporter and enter the ship, DODO waving to the MONOID.)
6: INT. ARK. MONOIDS' CHAMBER
(Having watched this image, MONOID ONE waves them all into the room.)
MONOID ONE: It seems that when you were here before the Guardians of that day didn’t believe that you could travel through time as well as space. Why have you come back?
STEVEN: The TARDIS made the decision.
MONOID ONE: (Incredulous.) Are you telling me that you can't control your own machine?
DODO: (Indignant.) What's it got to do with you?
DOCTOR: Shh, child.
MONOID ONE: According to the history scan you brought a strange fever that killed many of our ancestors.
DODO: But we also helped to find a cure, didn't we? I mean the Doctor did.
MONOID ONE: He thought he did.
DOCTOR: And what do you mean by that, hmm?
MONOID ONE: You controlled the immediate impact of the fever but a mutation of it developed later on that sapped the will of the humans.
DODO: You mean that it was our fault that you took over because of the fever?
MONOID ONE: In part.
STEVEN: There were other reasons?
MONOID ONE: The main reason was the Guardians themselves. They were a simple people.(A Guardian acting as a servant, MAHARIS, looks round furtively at this remark.)
MONOID ONE: They actually encouraged the research from which we developed our voice boxes and heat prods. They were totally unprepared for the conflict when it came.
DODO: What happened to them?
MONOID ONE: Many were killed.(DODO looks at the DOCTOR.)
MONOID ONE: The rest are prisoners. A fact that you will shortly see for yourselves! Two, take them away to the security kitchen and then call a grand council.
(MONOID TWO bows and then points to the door with the gun.)
MONOID TWO: This way.
(As the TARDIS crew leave the DOCTOR glares at MONOID ONE but MONOID TWO raises the gun and he leaves. MAHARIS offers MONOID ONE a fruit bowl.)
MONOID ONE: I trust their return won’t give you any ideas, Maharis?
MAHARIS: (Nervously.) No. I am content to obey.(But when MONOID ONE is looking away MAHARIS gives him a look of hatred.)
7: INT. ARK. KITCHEN
(While the work proceeds two Guardians, a man named DASSUK and a woman called VENUSSA talk in the corner. DASSUK is the Guardian who was fired at earlier in the kitchen as seen on the control deck monitor.)
DASSUK: Who told you?
VENUSSA: One of the subject Guardians whispered it as he passed by the door, just now.
DASSUK: Strangers? What sort of strangers?
VENUSSA: Human beings!
DASSUK: Well I'm afraid the Monoids will make very short work of them.
VENUSSA: Well no, they've been taken prisoner.
DASSUK: Well that proves it's only a rumour. Just like all the other rumours we've been hearing. Look Venussa, you know how far the Ark has travelled and the Earth itself no longer exists, so where could these so-called humans come from?
VENUSSA: From Earth, but as it was millions of years ago. Well they travel through time.
DASSUK: That's impossible. I think you've been a prisoner a little too long.
VENUSSA: Oh, but it could be true, Dassuk. Oh, don't you remember the story? Hundreds of years ago a doctor and a young couple came and then went away again. Well they were the first people to call this ship the Ark!(He places a hand on her shoulder.)
DASSUK: That's just a legend. And legends won't help us regain control of the Ark.
(There is a commotion near the door and the two of them hurriedly return to their work. The door opens and MONOID TWO leads the TARDIS crew in.)
MONOID TWO: Alright Doctor, this way, and bring your friends with you.
VENUSSA: (To DASSUK.) Doctor?
MONOID TWO: You will stay in this place and help with the task of preparing our food. You will sleep like the others of your kind. Above all else, you must always be obedient prisoners.(The MONOID departs. VENUSSA rushes up to them.)
VENUSSA: Doctor? Did he say Doctor? Have you been here before?
STEVEN: (Impatiently.) Yes, we have.(DASSUK follows.)
DASSUK: But... But that's incredible! How in space could you do it?
DOCTOR: If I were to tell you, young man, you wouldn't believe me.
STEVEN: No, besides we've got far more important things to talk about. We've got to find a way to get out of this place.
8: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(A crowd of MONOIDS are watching a star chart on the screen. ONE and TWO are at the back, talking.)
MONOID ONE: In a short while, Refusis will be ours. We will land there, we will create a Monoid world.
(Another MONOID walks up to them. Its collar denotes it as MONOID THREE.)
MONOID THREE: But One, what about the Guardians?
MONOID ONE: I have a simple plan that will destroy them. When we start our life on that planet it will be with no reference of any kind to the time when we were secondary beings!
MONOID TWO: That's as it should be.
MONOID ONE: But at this moment we cannot be sure of what Refusis is really like or what kind of creatures the Refusians are.
MONOID TWO: That's true.
MONOID ONE: So I am sending a forward landing party ahead of us.
MONOID THREE: But in that case the Refusians will be forewarned.
MONOID ONE: I have thought of that. Listen.(They huddle together.)
9: INT. ARK. KITCHEN
(The TARDIS crew, VENUSSA and DASSUK are talking while preparing the food. DASSUK puts some powder into a pot of water and almost immediately the water turns into boiled potatoes.)
DODO: I named this ship “The Ark”. They'd never heard the name 'til I used it.
DASSUK: (Sceptically.) And you brought a strange new fever and then the Doctor cured it.
VENUSSA: Of course. Take no notice of him, Doctor, he was born a cynic.
DOCTOR: He'll probably die one unless we do something quickly about this situation.
STEVEN: Listen, are there many other Guardians like yourselves held prisoner?
DASSUK: Oh, not many. The Monoids only keep us alive because they enjoy being waited on.
DODO: Why don't you just jump on them? They're pretty slow moving creatures, Monoids.
DASSUK: You forget they're armed and we're not. And those heat prods can be pretty lethal.
STEVEN: Right, but we could take the chance and seize one. Challenge them at their own game!
DASSUK: Nah, they're too careful. They never put them down.
DOCTOR: Yes, we shall have to be pretty urgent too, time is running out.
10: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(The room is now empty. MONOID ONE is instructing TWO.)
MONOID ONE: While the others are preparing the launcher, go and get the Doctor and the girl.
MONOID TWO: (Bows.) Yes, One.
11: INT. ARK. KITCHEN
DODO: Do you think you can do it?
DASSUK: We must try. Otherwise...
DODO: What?
DASSUK: There'll be no future for us, and our forefathers might just as well've stayed on the Earth and died with it.(A Guardian who is listening at the door moves back and waves.)
VENUSSA: They're coming back.
(The DOCTOR, DODO and VENUSSA stand behind the table while STEVEN and DASSUK hide by the door. MONOID TWO enters and looks at the Guardians suspiciously. It turns round, sees STEVEN and DASSUK and raises its gun.)
MONOID TWO: What is this? Why aren't you working?
(VENUSSA knocks over a pot and it whirls around to see what the noise was.)
STEVEN: (Shouts.) Now!
(STEVEN and DASSUK attack the MONOID from behind. They have almost overcome it when MONOID THREE enters. It covers them with its gun.)
MONOID THREE: Back!
(Another Guardian approaches THREE but is killed. On seeing this, STEVEN and DASSUK give up. MONOID TWO retreats to the safety of the doorway.)
MONOID TWO: Get back. You are reckless and stupid. Now you have gained only one thing, the death of another of your kind. Doctor! You and the girl will come with me.
(The TARDIS crew reluctantly move towards the door. As they are passing through MONOID TWO stops STEVEN.)
MONOID TWO: You stay here.
STEVEN: Why? Where are you taking them?
MONOID TWO: They will make the first landing on the Planet Refusis. You will be held as a security for their conduct.(The MONOIDS leave and a grim silence descends upon the room as the guardians tend to their dead companion.)
12: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(Watched by MONOID THREE a party of MONOIDS emerge from the Launching Bay. THREE moves over to MONOID ONE in the control area.)
MONOID THREE: The Launcher is ready, One. The Doctor, the girl, the Guardian and Two are aboard.
MONOID ONE: Good. Then let's hope that they succeed in their mission.(ONE presses a button.)
13. EXT. ARK
(A hatch in the side of the Ark slides open and the Launcher begins to emerge.)
14: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(A humming noise begins.)
15: EXT. SPACE
(The Launcher, a cylindrical object, drifts towards Refusis II.)
16: INT. LAUNCHER
(The DOCTOR, DODO, YENDOM and MONOID TWO are seated on padded seats around the tiny pod.)
17: EXT. SPACE
(The Launcher approaches Refusis II.)
18: INT. LAUNCHER
(The humming stops, indicating that they have landed. Part of the wall folds into a doorway.)
MONOID TWO: Out.
(They slowly get to their feet and step out.)
19. EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE
(They have landed in a clearing in a luxuriant jungle. Mountains can be seen in the distance.)
DODO: (Looking round.) So this is Refusis? Where's the red carpet, then?
MONOID TWO: Perhaps the Refusians are hidden somewhere. If so, then we must find them. Move carefully and don't forget that I am still armed.(YENDOM heads off in one direction and the others follow. A fern nearby seems to twitch by itself….)
20: INT. LAUNCHER
(…as do several just outside the door of the launcher. Then, the seat next to the controls sags as if someone were sitting there. One of the levers moves, apparently of its’ own accord. The door closes. A deep voice is heard within the launcher….)
VOICE: Hmm!
(The lever moves the other way and the door opens again. By the open door, a fern moves again.)
21: EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE
(The Launcher party are exploring the clearing.)
MONOID TWO: Still no sign of life. Perhaps the audio/space research that told is of the Refusians was wrong.
DOCTOR: (To MONOID TWO.) Let us return to the Launcher and send a message back to the Ark. Tell them they can make their landings quite safely. I'm sure they'll be extremely delighted to hear it.(DODO picks up the conversation as the DOCTOR wanders off.)
DODO: Yes, I bet it'll take some time to get the whole of the population down here, so the sooner you get started the better, I should think.
MONOID TWO: (In an amused tone.) Don't worry. It may not take as long as you think.
DODO: (Suspiciously.) What do you mean? Are you up to something?(MONOID TWO glances at YENDOM who is listening in.)
MONOID TWO: Er... Nnoo.
(DODO continues to interrogate.)
DODO: No? But you gave yourself away, didn't you? I've got a feeling that when the time comes you're not going to bring the Guardians down here at all, is that it?
YENDOM: But...they promised!
DODO: I don't care, I'm right, aren't I?(The DOCTOR returns.)
DOCTOR: We were all wrong. This place is inhabited. Come, see for yourselves.
(He leads them to a gap in the bushes.)
DODO: It's a sort of a castle!
(At the bottom of the valley are three buildings. The middle one is round, the others are square. Each has a spire.)
MONOID TWO: Why didn't the Refusians see the Launcher arrive or make any moves to stop us?
DOCTOR: Shall we find out?
MONOID TWO: Proceed.(They make their way down. They are unaware that behind them a branch moves seemingly by itself...)
22: INT. REFUSIS II. CASTLE
(The DOCTOR peers through the main door and cautiously enters. The others follow. The walls are lined with decorations and drapes, the floor is painted and there are doors leading off to several other rooms.)
MONOID TWO: It's deserted.
(A crash comes from a door in the corner.)
DOCTOR: Strange. Strange indeed.
(MONOID TWO opens the door and peers in.)
MONOID TWO: There is no one in there.
DOCTOR: How can you be so sure?
MONOID TWO: They must be hiding somewhere. They are just frightened creatures.
DODO: I don't like it. This place is dead weird.
YENDOM: What do you mean?
DODO: Oh, it's just a feeling I've got.
MONOID TWO: I would like to see the faces of these Refusians.
DODO: Not sure I would, if they're anything like you, I've seen enough...
MONOID TWO: What the...?
DODO: (Innocently.) Oh, nothing.
MONOID TWO: I will challenge them like this!(It picks up a vase on a table.)
DODO: Oh no!
(It hurls it to the floor. It picks up some flowers and throws them about as well.)
MONOID TWO: They must be in this place somewhere when they hear what I'm doing.
(It picks up another vase.)
DOCTOR: (Angrily.) Put that thing down! That is no way to establish friendship!
MONOID TWO: The sooner they learn to respect us, the better.(Suddenly a loud voice booms around the room.)
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) Your friend is right! Put it down.
(They all look round in shock.)
MONOID TWO: Where did that come from?
YENDOM: (Pointing to a door.) I think from out there.
DODO: (Pointing to the empty room.) No, it came from the direction of that room.
MONOID TWO: (Looking around.) Where are you? Show yourself or I will smash this...
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) I warned you! Put that down.
DOCTOR: I think it comes from within this room.
MONOID TWO: Nonsense. If the Refusian seeks to challenge me, I will accept it!
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) You have been warned!(MONOID TWO'S arm twists back as if being forced and it puts the vase back on the table.)
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) Thank you.
(The flowers rise off the floor and appear to rearrange themselves into the vase.)
REFUSIAN: As your friend said, I'm here in the room with you.
DOCTOR: (To TWO, laughing.) You won't need that now.(He pushes the gun down.)
23: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(MONOIDS ONE, THREE and FOUR are gathered at the base of the statue.)
MONOID ONE: They must've landed by now. We should be getting a report from Two.
MONOID THREE: Yes, One.(MONOID THREE waves FOUR away.)
MONOID THREE: What was the plan you had for destroying the Guardians and this spaceship?
MONOID ONE: A short while after we leave they will disappear in a cloud of fragmented pieces!
MONOID THREE: You mean a bomb of some kind?
MONOID ONE: A fission device. I had it made secretly and it is ready to be detonated at any time.
MONOID THREE: But where is it?(MONOID ONE points to the top of the MONOID-headed statue. They then turn and walk away.)
MONOID THREE: Excellent, One.
MONOID ONE: The last place they would think of looking…
24: INT. ARK. MONOIDS' CHAMBER
(MAHARIS is spying on the two MONOIDS with the monitor screen.)
MONOID ONE: (On monitor.)…that is if they even suspect its presence before it goes off.
MONOID THREE: (On monitor.) Why should they? Then that will be the end of all human existence!(He switches off the monitor. Looking terrified, he moves off.)
25: INT. ARK. KITCHEN
(VENUSSA and STEVEN are using the powder to create the potatoes. MAHARIS enters. The other guardians back away from him hurriedly.)
MAHARIS: I... bring you news.
STEVEN: (To VENUSSA.) Why does everyone back away from him?
VENUSSA: Because he's one of the subject Guardians. What you'd call a collaborator.
DASSUK: (To MAHARIS.) And what does your news amount to? How much can we trust you?
MAHARIS: But you must! It's important!
VENUSSA: (dismissively.) Go back to your masters.
MAHARIS: What I have to say concerns us all.
STEVEN: Perhaps we should listen.
VENUSSA: No! He speaks with the voice of the Monoids.
MAHARIS: No longer! They intend to betray us all, even those of us who've worked for them.
STEVEN: How?
MAHARIS: They plan to leave us behind when they land on Refusis.
VENUSSA: Would you've expected anything else?
MAHARIS: But there's more! When they go, they'll leave a device behind that will destroy the Ark and everything in it!
STEVEN: (Doubtfully.) Are you sure of this?
MAHARIS: Yes! I overheard One telling another Monoid.
STEVEN: Do you know where the device is?
MAHARIS: No. I only heard them talking, I…I couldn't see where One pointed.
DASSUK: Then somehow we shall have to find out.(They look gravely at each other.)
26: INT. REFUSIS II. CASTLE
(The DOCTOR is seated at the table conversing with the invisible REFUSIAN. DODO is standing by the door, looking out.)
DOCTOR: And that was their aim, to land there and recreate life on this planet.
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) Yes. We've known for some time of the journey of the vessel you call the Ark and we welcomed it. That is why we built places like this.
DOCTOR: I see. Just to make us comfortable. I didn't think you needed places like this for yourselves.
REFUSIAN: (OOV: Laughs.) No. Once we had a shape and form, something like you. Then there was a galaxy accident. A giant solar flare. Now, we no longer have a being that you can see or recognise.
DOCTOR: But, er, can you see each other?
REFUSIAN: (OOV.) Not even that. Oh, we can sense one other but that is all. That is why it would've been good for Refusis to be inhabited again by life and the signs of life, provided that the beings that come to take our place our peaceful. (To DODO.) Child, you are worried.
DODO: I think I can hear them coming back.(The DOCTOR rises from his chair.)
27: EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE
(MONOID TWO and YENDOM move through the jungle. They pause in the clearing.)
MONOID TWO: We must return to the Launcher. We must warn One and the others so that we can prepare to deal with these unseen creatures.
YENDOM: We, meaning only the Monoids. When you spoke of it before you meant that only you and only your kind would make the landings, didn't you?
MONOID TWO: Yendom, I do not have to account to you.
YENDOM: I, I'll not let you contact them!
MONOID TWO: Yendom, stay where you are!(YENDOM reaches out for the heat prod but TWO is ready and they struggle. TWO manages to throw YENDOM to the ground. YENDOM screams as the gun is fired. TWO moves off towards the Launcher.)
28: INT. REFUSIS II. CASTLE
(The DOCTOR and DODO have heard the scream. They look at each other and leave the castle.)
29: EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE
(They find YENDOM'S body.)
DODO: What about the Monoid? Do you think he's gone back to the Launcher?
REFUSIAN: We'll soon see.
30: INT. LAUNCHER
(MONOID TWO is by now trying to contact the Ark.)
MONOID TWO: Refusis to the spaceship Ark.
31: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(MONOID TWO'S image appears on the screen. ONE answers.)
MONOID ONE: Yes Two, give us your report. Are the landings possible?
32: EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE. LAUNCHER LANDING SITE
(TWO can be seen within the launcher...)
MONOID TWO: The planet offers everything we need, but I must warn you. Listen to this carefully.
(…but outside, several of the plants near to the Launcher begin to rustle, getting faster and closer.)
MONOID TWO: When we first arrived, we exited...
(Suddenly the Launcher explodes with TWO still inside it.)
33: INT. ARK. CONTROL DECK
(The monitor goes blank.)
MONOID ONE: Two! Are you there? Two! Answer me!
34: EXT. REFUSIS II. JUNGLE. LAUNCHER LANDING SITE
(The DOCTOR and DODO Stand over the smouldering remains of the Launcher.)
DODO: What will we do now?
DOCTOR: Nothing, my dear. We shall just have to wait until the next party lands.
DODO: (Panicked.) But what if they don't come? What if they decide to find another planet?
DOCTOR: Well, in that case we shall just have to stay here.
Next Episode
THE BOMB
Dr. Who
WILLIAM HARTNELLDodo
JACKIE LANESteven
PETER PURVESMaharis
TERENCE WOODFIELDMonoid Two
RALPH CARRIGANYendom
TERENCE BAYLERMonoid One
EDMUND COULTERDassuk
BRIAN WRIGHTVenussa
EILEEN HELSBYMonoid Three
FRANK GEORGEMonoid Voices
ROY SKELTON
JOHN HALSTEADRefusian Voice
RICHARD BEALETitle music by
RON GRAINER
and the
BBC Radiophonic WorkshopIncidental music by
TRISTRAM CARYStory Editor
GERRY DAVISDesigner
BARRY NEWBERYProducer
JOHN WILESDirected by
MICHAEL IMISON(c) BBC tv
Transcribed by
JOSEPH OLDHAMUpdates / Corrections by
JOHN TOMLINSON