[ Index for this Doctor ]
[ Index for this story ]
Doctor
WhoThe Krotons
Episode Four
By Robert Holmes
1, INT: UNDER-HALL
(The Doctor looks upwards as the split in the ceiling widens and a chunk of concrete dislodges, falling to the ground.)
DOCTOR: Oh...oh!
ZOE: Doctor!(A stream of rubble falls from the hole in the ceiling burying the Doctor completely.)
DOCTOR: Argh...oh!
2, INT: LEARNING HALL
(Thara and Vana descend the steps to the hall and gaze towards the entrance of the machine, the ground juddering and there is a loud rumbling.)
THARA: I'm going down. You go back.
(He begins to descend to the under-hall.)
VANA: Well be careful Thara!
3, INT: UNDER-HALL
(Zoe coughs and looks up from where she is lying, covered in dust.)
ZOE: Doctor!
(Thara rushes over and helps her up.)
THARA: Are you alright Zoe?
ZOE: Yes, I think so.(Thara takes her by the hand.)
THARA: Come on, this way.
ZOE: No, we must find the Doctor!
THARA: Well where is he?
ZOE: S-somewhere over there, I saw him fall.
THARA: I'll look for him. You stay under here.(He moves off to search.)
4, INT: LEARNING HALL
(Selris helps a few survivors from the under hall evacuate, and runs across Vana.)
SELRIS: Vana, what are you doing here? Why aren't you in the hills?
VANA: Because Thara and I stayed behind with Beta to make some acid. We were bringing it here for the Doctor when we felt the earthquake.
SELRIS: The Doctor!(He looks around.)
SELRIS: Has anyone seen him?
VANA: He's probably buried down there with the digging party.(Selris rushes down to the under hall again.)
5, INT: UNDER-HALL
(Thara rounds one of the machine's cracked support struts. He spots the sprawled figure of Doctor lying in a depression in the ground, surrounded by fallen rock.)
THARA: I've found him Zoe!
DOCTOR: Oh...(Thara helps the Doctor up.)
THARA: Are alright Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, I think so. I don't think there's any bones broken.(He glances at the ceiling.)
DOCTOR: But if they don't get that vibration under control soon..!
THARA: We must hurry, there's gonna be a...
DOCTOR: Oh look out!
THARA: Look out!(Thara pushes the Doctor away as another rain of rocky debris falls from the ceiling, this time it mainly lands on Thara.)
DOCTOR: Oh!
(The Doctor walks around a the strut and back to where Thara lies with a large rock on his leg.)
DOCTOR: Oh, Thara! Ah, don't worry, we'll get it off you. Zoe!
ZOE: Oh Doctor.(Together the Doctor and Zoe heave at the rock.)
6, INT: ENTRANCE SHAFT
(Jamie tries to keep his footing as the Dynotrope rumbles and judders about. He is attempting to open the door leading into the learning hall, but it proves impassable. He changes his mind and moves back through the mass of pipes towards the exit shaft.)
7, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
(The Krotons are at the control panel, their blank heads still spinning away.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: CUT AUXILIARIES.
KROTON: AUXILIARIES CUT.
KROTON-COMMANDER: OUTPUT ZERO.
KROTON: FEED IN EMERGENCY POWER.
KROTON-COMMANDER: GRAVITATION FEED CHECK.
KROTON: STATIC.(The heads stop spinning.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: DYNOTROPE BALANCE NORMAL.
(The Kroton slithers around and examines a monitor. It views the people in the under hall.)
KROTON: THE GONDS HAVE ATTACKED THE DYNOTROPE.
KROTON-COMMANDER: THE TWO HIGH-BRAINS ARE THERE. BRING THEM HERE.(The Kroton moves away.)
8, INT: UNDER-HALL
(Zoe examines Thara's leg while the Doctor stands about nervously with a piece of wood in his hand.)
ZOE: Could be a fracture.
THARA: Feels painful enough.
ZOE: I'll strap it. Oh Doctor, give me the wood.
DOCTOR: Yes w..hurry up Zoe! We've got to move out of here you know.
VANA: You think there'll be another earthquake?
DOCTOR: Oh that was not an earthquake.
VANA: Oh no, it was coming from the machine.(She listens for a moment.)
VANA: It's stopped.
DOCTOR: Yes. That means the Krotons are free to deal with us. Haven't you finished yet Zoe?
ZOE: No I haven't. Hey, can I borrow your braces?
DOCTOR: No!(Zoe pulls one of his braces, then to the Doctor's annoyance lets it twang back.)
DOCTOR: Ooh!
(He offers her the handkerchief from his top pocket.)
DOCTOR: Here, I'd much rather you use this.
ZOE: Oh alright.
DOCTOR: Hello...(He looks up at the machine.)
SELRIS: Yes Doctor, I'm afraid we have failed. The machine is unharmed.
DOCTOR: I'm not so sure - look at that.
9, MODEL SHOT: KROTON MACHINE
(The spherical honeycombed belly of the Dynotrope can be clearly seen to be leaking an oily, black mucus from a structural wound.)
10, INT: UNDER-HALL
SELRIS: What is happening to it?
DOCTOR: I-I'd say it was no longer functioning under full power. Vana, how is Beta getting on with the acid I asked him to make?
VANA: Oh, he sent this Doctor.
DOCTOR: Oh good.
VANA: He only made a small amount to start with.
DOCTOR: Yeah...Uh-huh.(He unscrews and takes a cautious sniff.)
VANA: Is it alright.
ZOE: Pooh, sulphuric acid isn't it?
DOCTOR: Yes, well basically...with a few things added.(Vana reaches towards the bottle.)
DOCTOR: Uh-uh, don't touch - it'll burn you.
ZOE: Doctor what about Jamie?
DOCTOR: Jamie! I'd forgotten all about him in the excitement!
ZOE: Has anybody seen him?
SELRIS: But he followed you.
DOCTOR: Followed us? What, in there?
SELRIS: Yes, I tried to...
ZOE: Well how long ago?!
SELRIS: About an hour after you and the Doctor.
ZOE: But Doctor, Jamie wouldn't be any use to them! His mind is completely untrained.
DOCTOR: Yes, and if the machine rejects him like the others... Come on!(He and Zoe rush away. Vana remembers the bottle, but they have already left.)
VANA: Doctor!
(She looks curiously at the bottle of acid.)
12, INT: EXIT SHAFT
(Jamie to open the door into the wastelands, but it is as solid as the one into the learning hall. He looks around for something to prise the door open, and notices something by his feet.)
JAMIE: The Doctor's piece of mica.
(He compares the mica with the size of the hole in the wall.)
13, INT: LEARNING HALL
(Eelek and his cronies have returned to the learning hall. He faces Selris sternly.)
EELEK: Well? Are you satisfied with your efforts?!
AXUS: Seven of his working party are unaccounted for, there are four badly injured - and I think two of them are going to die.
SELRIS: They will all be attended to. I am making arrangements.
EELEK: No, you've done enough already.
SELRIS: But you are the one who wanted to fight with the Krotons!
EELEK: I'll fight them... In my own way, in my own time.
SELRIS: I tell you my way is better. Inside the machine the Krotons are invulnerable. But if we can draw them out...
AXUS: You've had your chance and look what you've done! The learning hall is ruined, out people are dead and wounded and the machine is untouched!
SELRIS: The machine is damaged!
EELEK: Damaged! It must be destroyed! I will launch a mass attack with slings and fireballs. They are in position now.
SELRIS: And the Krotons will turn our city into another wasteland. Don't be a fool Eelek!(Eelek pulls a piece of junk aside to reveal a corpse.)
EELEK: Do you see what your stupidity has done? You are a traitor, you were dismissed as leader of then council. You had no authority to order this attack!
SELRIS: The leadership of this council is hereditary! My son Thara will replace me!
EELEK: No, I have replaced you! Arrest him!(The guards approach Selris.)
SELRIS: Wait! Eelek, this is no time for us to be fighting among ourselves. We need to organise...
EELEK: I have no need of your help.
SELRIS: I said I would bring the Krotons out of the machine!(The hatch slides open and the Kroton wobbles to the ramp. Eelek approaches.)
KROTON: STOP! WHERE ARE THE HIGH-BRAINS?
EELEK: I don't understand.
KROTON: THE TWO ALIEN CREATURES ARE NEEDED. WHERE ARE THEY?
SELRIS: He means the Doctor and Zoe. What do you want with them?
KROTON: UNIMPORTANT. PRODUCE THEM.
EELEK: They're not here.
KROTON: WHERE ARE THEY?
EELEK: You say you need them? Why are they so important to you? You never left your machine before.
KROTON: DO NOT ARGUE!(The Kroton sprays it's disintegrator at a nearby, Gond burning him from existence.)
SELRIS: Why did you do that?! He was doing you no harm!
KROTON: PRODUCE THE HIGH-BRAINS IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.
EELEK: If we give you the strangers, will you leave us in peace?
KROTON: THE HIGH-BRAINS WILL ENABLE US TO OPERATE THE DRIVE MECHANISM OF THE DYNOTROPE.
EELEK: You mean you will go? You will leave our world?
KROTON: YES. BUT IF THE TWO HIGH-BRAINS ARE NOT BROUGHT TO THE DYNOTROPE, YOU WILL ALL BE DISPERSED. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
EELEK: Very well. If you leave us, you shall have them.
14, INT: EXIT SHAFT
(Jamie presses the mica into the slot, but unfortunately the Dynotrope power is only sufficient to raise the door a little. He gets down and attempts to squeeze through small crack which barely wide enough for a person.)
DIRECTOR: Cut!
15, INT: LEARNING HALL
SELRIS: But why Eelek? It's only a few hours since you wanted to fight the Krotons!
EELEK: If we give the the strangers they will leave us in peace.
SELRIS: But the Doctor and Zoe are our friends. They risked their lives for us!
EELEK: I put the interests of our own people first!(He glances at Axus.)
EELEK: Now keep them all under guard!
16, INT: BEHIND THE DYNOTROPE
(Jamie's head and upper body poke out under the partially open door.)
JAMIE: A-argh...aah...ah Doctor!
DOCTOR: Jamie!
JAMIE: Quick!(The Doctor and Zoe rush up to help him.)
DOCTOR: Jamie, watch out for the poison jets!
JAMIE: It's just on my back!(The both tug at Jamie.)
ZOE: Oh!
DOCTOR: We've got to get you out of here!
JAMIE: I know!
ZOE: Oh!
DOCTOR: Jamie!
JAMIE: It's just another inch I think.
DOCTOR: I think you're getting free.
JAMIE: Argh.
DOCTOR: Oh!
ZOE: Oh quick!(They manage to pull him through the gap just as the gas jets extend and spray their deadly toxin into the air.)
DOCTOR: Oh!
JAMIE: What's been happening? I though that machine was going to shake itself to pieces!
DOCTOR: There's no time to explain Jamie. How are you feeling?
JAMIE: Well I...
DOCTOR: Good.
JAMIE: Eh?
DOCTOR: There's something I want you to do for me.
JAMIE: Oh not again!
DOCTOR: Now Beta is making some special sulphuric acid for us, I want you to go and tell him to make it in bulk.
JAMIE: Yes, but...
DOCTOR: As much as you can.
JAMIE: Oh, b-b-but Doctor...
DOCTOR: There's no time to argue, now hurry. We'll see you back at the learning hall.(The Doctor and Zoe scamper away leaving Jamie behind.)
JAMIE: Eh...ah.
17, INT: LEARNING HALL
EELEK: The strangers are coming back. You two stay here, the rest come with me.
VANA: They're going to walk into a trap!
SELRIS: Yes. Eelek claims to act for the people. But he's only concern is his own skin.
VANA: Oh, if only we could warn the Doctor! He and the girl could get away in their space-machine.
SELRIS: I agree. We owe them the chance to escape.
18, INT: BETA'S HOUSE
(In Beta's lab area he attends to his bubbling pots and cauldrons as he attempts to complete the Doctor's acid. Both he and Jamie have ragged cloths fastened tightly over their noses and mouths, despite this they are still having trouble breathing.)
JAMIE: How long will it be? How long will it be?
BETA: I don't know.(There is a flash from one of the pots of volatile mixture.)
JAMIE: It's not going to explode is it?
BETA: I don't know.
JAMIE: What?
BETA: I don't know!
JAMIE: Well I thought you were supposed to be the scientist?
BETA: Well I've never worked with acid before...(He tests a little diluted mixture on the tip of his finger.)
BETA: Ooh! The Krotons forbid it. Shall we put a bit more in?
JAMIE: Well why ask me?
BETA: Let's see what happens. We can only blow ourselves up.(Jamie backs away nervously as Beta begins to tip a pile of ground sulphur into his bubbling cauldron. He jumps as the contents of the pot next to him explodes in a puff of smoke. Beta examines the contents of his cauldron curiously, then turns to Jamie.)
BETA: Do you think that's enough?
JAMIE: Aye, well it's enough for me anyway. Quite enough.(The mixture in the cauldron explodes in a searing flash.)
19, INT: LEARNING HALL
VANA: Listen, you distract Axus's attention while I slip away.
SELRIS: But there are men on the stairs.
VANA: I might be able to dodge by them. Anything's worth trying!
SELRIS: Yes, there is just a chance. But be ready.(He walks over to Axus.)
SELRIS: Axus, a minute.
AXUS: What is it?
SELRIS: In the past you have always accepted my judgement. Believe me, the Krotons are not to be trusted.
AXUS: I don't trust them. But Eelek's right, we're doing the only thing we can.
SELRIS: But if we surrender the Doctor and Zoe, we ourselves will be killed.
AXUS: What do you mean?
SELRIS: I'm sure of it! The Krotons don't care for us, they never have. But while we have the Doctor and Zoe we have a means of negotiation.
AXUS: And if we don't hand over the strangers they'll kill us anyw-anyway. You're getting old Selris, you're arguments make no sense.(He notices Vana as she tries to slip away.)
AXUS: Stop! Stop that girl!
(Two guards round Vana up and lead her away, as she struggles she drops the bottle of acid.)
VANA: Oh! Let me go! Doctor, Doctor! Oh no..!
(Selris notices the bottle of acid lying on the floor and picks it up.)
20, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
KROTON-COMMANDER: BALANCE ZERO PLUS TWELVE.
KROTON: WE HAVE RESERVE POWER FOR TWENTY-SEVEN MORE MINUTES.
KROTON-COMMANDER: THEN WE SHALL EXHAUST! OUR FUNCTION WILL END.
21, INT: LEARNING HALL
(The Doctor and Zoe pause on the steps.)
ZOE: Oh, what do we do next?
DOCTOR: Well if only we can get inside that machine again, Zoe.(Eelek appears behind the Doctor.)
EELEK: You can Doctor.
DOCTOR: Oh?
EELEK: We'll help you into it.
DOCTOR: Oh, that's very good of you...(The guards appear brandishing their pikes.)
DOCTOR: What?! What's all this?
ZOE: Oh...oh Doctor!(They are shoved towards the machine.)
22, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
(The Krotons watch on the video-screen.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: THE HIGH-BRAINS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED! BALANCE CHECK?
KROTON: ZERO PLUS NINE.
KROTON-COMMANDER: EXHAUST TIME TWENTY-TWO MINUTES.
KROTON: SHALL I OPEN THE DYNOTROPE?
KROTON-COMMANDER: ONLY THE TWO HIGH-BRAINS MUST ENTER.
23, INT: LEARNING HALL
EELEK: Well take them up!
(He motions to the guards who usher them across the hall.)
DOCTOR: Oh really! We will not be bullied! Don't push! Vana, Vana have you got that bottle, it's vital!
KROTON-COMMANDER OOV: THE HIGH-BRAINS WILL ENTER IMMEDIATELY!
ZOE: I think we'd better do as they say Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes... V-Vana...oh!(They get herded through the open doorway.)
24, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
KROTON-COMMANDER: THE HIGH-BRAINS ARE ENTERING THE DYNOTROPE. PREPARE FOR TAKE-OFF. PHASE ONE.
KROTON: PHASE ONE READY. SHALL I DESTROY THE GONDS NOW? THEY ARE OF NO VALUE.
KROTON-COMMANDER: NO, THE DISPERSION UNITS USE POWER. WE HAVE NO POWER TO WASTE.
25, INT: LEARNING HALL
VANA: That bottle Selris?
SELRIS: It's alright, I have it here.
VANA: The Doctor needs it, he says it's vital!(Selris runs towards the machine and dives through the doorway as it begins to close.)
VANA: Come back!
26, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
(The interior door slides open and the Doctor and Zoe walk into the centre of the Kroton's operations. The crystalline captors turn to face their high-brains.)
DOCTOR: I believe you wish to speak with us.
(Just then, Selris runs through the doorway and presses the bottle of acid into the Doctor's hand.)
SELRIS: Doctor!
DOCTOR: Look out!(The Kroton sprays a jet of gas. Selris turns and tries to run back, but the door blocks his escape. He frantically scrabbles at the smooth surface.)
SELRIS: No!
(His scream is cut short as he evaporates. Zoe turns to the Doctor, who sadly places an arm around her.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: SET THE INTERGALACTIC LINK.
KROTON: TAKE OFF PHASE TWO.
KROTON-COMMANDER: PREPARE TO TRANSFER.
KROTON: ALL SYSTEMS SET.(A small pulsing console extends from the floor. Upon it are a pair of headsets similar to those in the machines of the learning hall.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: YOU WILL ASSIST US NOW.
DOCTOR: Assist you? In what way?
KROTON: THE DYNOTROPE WILL EXHAUST IN TWELVE MINUTES.
ZOE: Well that's your problem.
DOCTOR: Er, no Zoe. If this machine does run down there will be the most colossal release of energy. Enough to destroy us, the Krotons and most of the planet.(He addresses the Commander.)
DOCTOR: Er... If you want us to help you, you must explain what it is you want us to do. What is this thing?
KROTON-COMMANDER: IT TRANSFERS THE DYNOTROPE BACK TO OUR OWN COSMOS. IT OPERATES THROUGH MENTAL POWER.
DOCTOR: You've discovered a way of using mental power?
ZOE: And you Krotons haven't enough.
KROTON-COMMANDER: FOUR HIGH-BRAINS ARE NEEDED IN RELAY. THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF US.
ZOE: Then how did you get here?
KROTON-COMMANDER: NO MORE QUESTIONS!
DOCTOR: If you want us...if you want us to cooperate you must expect questions!
KROTON-COMMANDER: UNLESS YOU DO AS WE ORDER YOU WILL BE DISPERSED!
DOCTOR: Very well, but that won't help you, will it?
KROTON-COMMANDER: WE'RE WASTING TIME! THE DYNOTROPE WAS PART OF A BATTLE FLEET, TWO OF OUR CREW WERE EXHAUSTED BY ENEMY FIRE.
ZOE: Do you mean that they were killed?
KROTON-COMMANDER: CEASED TO FUNCTION. WE CARRIED OUT THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND LANDED ON THE NEAREST PLANET. TO CONSERVE POWER WE SET THE DYNOTROPE IN PERPETUAL STABILITY.
DOCTOR: Ooh I see! And you set the-the machines systems to educate the Gonds up to the standard you require.(Without moving the Doctor moves the bottle behind his back, tapping it lightly against her behind. She takes it.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: YES. THEY WERE PRIMITIVES.
ZOE: Well you didn't have to kill them to do that!
KROTON-COMMANDER: GOND SAMPLES WERE BROUGHT IN FOR TESTING AT INTERVALS. THE DYNOTROPE ABSORBED THEIR MENTAL POWER INTO IT'S CIRCUITS - THE WASTE MATTER WAS REJECTED.
KROTON: AND DISPERSED. NINE MINUTES TO EXHAUST TIME, COMMANDER!
27, INT: LEARNING HALL
(With cloths still over their mouths, Jamie and Beta, struggle into the hall. Between them they are dragging large three-foot high earthenware urn, a steaming mixture bubbling within. A number of Gonds rush past them on their way out.)
BETA: Look out!
JAMIE: Hey now, careful. Hey watch it!
BETA: Watch it, it's deadly.
JAMIE: Cue back davit.
BETA: Ad admonito.(Axus bars their way aggressively.)
AXUS: Where do you think you're going? What's that?
BETA: It's something called acid. The Doctor asked me to make it for him.
AXUS: He won't be needing that now. You've been wasting your time.
JAMIE: W-where is he then?
AXUS: He's joined the Krotons.
BETA: You mean he's gone into the machine?
JAMIE: Well what about Zoe?
VANA: Zoe too. The Krotons wanted them, and Eelek surrendered them.
JAMIE: You did what?
EELEK: The Krotons need your friends to enable them to leave our world.
JAMIE: And you just handed them over, did you?
EELEK: If the Krotons will leave our world, they're welcome to your friends.
JAMIE: Ya miserable...(Beta stands between Jamie and Eelek.)
BETA: Careful Jamie!
EELEK: It's time we were leaving.
BETA: Leaving?
EELEK: Unless you want to die.
BETA: What are you talking about Eelek?
EELEK: Beta, for a scientist you're very stupid. The learning hall and most of our city is built around that Kroton's machine, and once that machine starts moving off...
BETA: The whole place will come down.
EELEK: Exactly, and you'll be buried alive.
JAMIE: Aye, well I'm staying. Somehow I'm gonna get the Doctor and Zoe out of there. Beta?
BETA: Yes, I'll stay here and help you.
EELEK: Vana?
VANA: I'll stay here and look after Thara. I'm not sensible enough to run away and leave my friends.
EELEK: No. Let them stay, and let them die.
BETA: He could be right you know.
JAMIE: Aye, maybe so. But I'm not going down without a fight. Now where do we put this stuff?
28, INT: CONTROL-CENTRE
KROTON-COMMANDER: PUT ON THE HEADSETS.
DOCTOR: Now just a moment. If we're going to help you transfer the Dynotrope back to your own planet, what's going to happen to us?
KROTON-COMMANDER: YOU WILL SUFFER NO HARM.
DOCTOR: Well how can we be sure of that? We die without oxygen you see. Er, just as you would die if anyone was to upset the stuff you're drawing from that tank.
KROTON-COMMANDER: TAKE UP YOUR POSITIONS.
DOCTOR: I was merely trying to say that if anyone was to contaminate what was in that tank, you'd know what it was like to breathe poisoned air!(Behind her back, Zoe unscrews and tips the bottle of acid into the swirling tank of fluid, dropping the bottle in for good luck.)
KROTON: SIX MINUTES.
KROTON-COMMANDER: YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. PUT ON THE HEADSET.
DOCTOR: Oh well, I suppose we had better just take your word for it then.
KROTON-COMMANDER: SET THE TRANSFER LINK.
KROTON: FINAL PHASE ON AUTOMATIC.
DOCTOR: Oh. Now then ah, where do you want us to stand?
KROTON-COMMANDER: UNIMPORTANT.
DOCTOR: Oh. Well I'll stand over here then.
ZOE: Oh... Oh Doctor I wanted to stand over there.
DOCTOR: Oh my dear, oh well you stand there and I'll stand here. Better still, a much better idea. I'll stand here and you stand...
KROTON-COMMANDER: PUT ON THE HEADSETS OR YOU WILL BE DISPERSED!
DOCTOR: Alright, alright. How do, how do you wear these things?
ZOE: Nothing seems to be happening.
DOCTOR: Alright, give it time, give it time.(The Doctor puts the headset on sideways and pretends to make it slip from his head.)
DOCTOR: Oh, ha-ha! Butterfingers!
(He picks it up again.)
ZOE: Oh Doctor you are clumsy!
(Zoe puts on her headset.)
KROTON-COMMANDER: ENOUGH OF THIS! PUT ON THE HEADSETS!
DOCTOR: Well it's your fault, you're making me nervous!(Zoe seems to be in silent pain as the headset tunes in with her mental energy. Suddenly the Krotons begin to gurgle horribly as they were choking on their fluid. The creatures collapse to the floor. The Doctor whips the headset off Zoe.)
DOCTOR: Down Zoe!
(The Doctor and Zoe throw themselves to the floor as the falling Kroton activates the dispersion unit which fires harmlessly into the air above them, then runs down until it is empty. They stand up and glance down at the once imposing forms of the Krotons that now lie on the floor, like a couple of broken and defeated toys.)
DOCTOR: Are you alright Zoe?
ZOE: Yeah. Look Doctor, it's dissolving.(The Kroton's heads begin to sizzle and melt away.)
DOCTOR: Yeah...yeah. It's returning to it's basic form.
ZOE: Oh Doctor! These fumes, they're choking!
DOCTOR: Yes, we must get out of here. Zoe, look!(The walls begin to run like molten wax.)
DOCTOR: The machine, it's melting! Come on, let's get out of here before we're trapped.
29, INT: LEARNING HALL
(Jamie and Beta have enlisted some help, and between them they struggle to pour the acid from two large urns over the base of the machine. The amount of smoke it seems to be generating indicates that the acid is rapaciously feasting upon the crystalline structure. The Doctor and Zoe rush through the doorway which has opened again, probably due to the circuits malfunctioning.)
JAMIE: Doctor, Zoe!
BETA: What happened?
JAMIE: Did you get out alright?
DOCTOR: Yes.
JAMIE: How are you?
DOCTOR: Yeah..yes, well I'm a little bit shaken; but ah, not half so bad as the Krotons I can assure you. What're you doing here?
THARA: Look at the machine!
VANA: It's working Thara! Look, it's working.
30, MODEL SHOT: MACHINE
(The huge honeycomb bulk of the machine continues to blister and melt away.)
31, INT: LEARNING HALL
ZOE: Well what made you think of pouring acid on it?
BETA: Well we reckoned that if the Doctor thought it worthwhile experimenting with a few drops, we'd see what a few gallons would do.
DOCTOR: Oh Well done!(He chuckles.)
ZOE: But how did you know that the machine would dissolve?
DOCTOR: Mm? Oh, well the machine was eighty percent tellurium, Zoe. And tellurium is soluble in sulphuric acid.
ZOE: But the machine wasn't pure tellurium.
DOCTOR: Well the acid wasn't pure sulphuric acid, but it worked didn't it? Come on, let's get away. I don't like goodbyes.(Silently, they creep away.)
32, MODEL SHOT: MACHINE
(The melting machine begins to come away in chunks, dribbling from the widening wounds in it's surface like rivers of poisonous pus.)
33, INT: LEARNING HALL
VANA: It's finished now, isn't it?
THARA: Yes it is finished - the end of the Krotons. We're free at last!
VANA: We still have Eelek to deal with.
THARA: That will be my pleasure. I shall take over from my father as leader of the Gonds whatever Eelek thinks.
BETA: And we can develop our own science, the Doctor can help...(He looks around.)
BETA: Doctor?
THARA: They've gone.
BETA: But I wanted to ask his advice! There's so much to be done!
THARA: We'll have to find our own answers now, Beta.
34, INT: CLIFFSIDE
(High up on a cliffside, a blue "POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX" contrasts vividly against the yellow landscape. Slowly, it begins to judder as tired engines grind into their own curious, painful melody. The box begins to slip out of phase with the reality around it, fading away like a summer breeze. With nothing to bear witness to it's passing except a cluster of silent, sulphurous rocks.)
The Doctor
Patrick TroughtonZoe
Wendy PadburyThara
Gilbert WynneVana
Madeleine MillsSelris
James CopelandEelek
Philip MadocAxus
Richard IresonJamie
Frazer HinesKrotons
Robert La'Bassiere
Miles NorthoverBeta
James CairncrossKroton Voices
Roy Skelton
Patrick TullTitle music by
Ron Grainer and the
BBC Radiophonic
WorkshopSpecial Sound
Brian Hodgeson
BBC Radiophonic
WorkshopSpecial Effects Deigned By
Bill King
(Trading Post)Costumes
Bobbi BartlettMake Up
Sylvia JamesLighting
Howard T. KingSound
John HolmesFilm Cameraman
Alan JonasFilm Editor
Martyn DayScript Editor
Terrance DicksDesigner
Raymond LondonProducer
Peter BryantDirected by
David Maloney(C) BBCTV 1969
Transcribed by
Rynad