INFERNO
by
DON
HOUGHTON
EPISODE 2
1: INT. NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL ROOM
(The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER rush into the switch room closely followed by SERGEANT BENTON and PRIVATE WYATT. The DOCTOR instantly spots BROMLEY on the floor.)
DOCTOR: Look.
(They bend down to examine him. On the other side of the room, another door is thrown open and the roaring, snarling SLOCUM bursts in. They all stand up and BENTON steps forward to tackle the half-human but the DOCTOR holds him back.)
DOCTOR: No, don't move! It'll only antagonise him.
2: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(The alarm continues to blare and smoke is still coming from the drill-head. GREG SUTTON and the technician manage to turn the wheel on the coolant pipe. GREG turns a waiting PROFESSOR STAHLMAN.)
GREG SUTTON: ___ don't worry. She'll calm down now the coolant's flowing.
(STAHLMAN'S tone is less than gracious.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Thank you, Mr. Sutton.
(He walks off leaving a smarting GREG behind.)
3: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(PETRA adjusts various switches on a wall unit. STAHLMAN walks up and looks at the dials with her.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Still too much power from the nuclear reactor.
PETRA WILLIAMS: I think the Doctor went to deal with it.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Irritated.) What? Well, check it please, Petra.
4: INT. NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL ROOM
(The stand-off between a wary SLOCUM and the others continues...)
DOCTOR: (Calmly.) There's nothing to be frightened of, old chap.
(At that moment, a wall phone starts ringing. SLOCUM looks round at it in alarm and PRIVATE WYATT uses the diversion to run behind a rack of computer units, out of sight. He readies his rifle.)
5: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(The coolant is taking time to have an effect on the drill-head and the situation with the smoke pouring out of the pipes seems just as bad.)
6: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(PETRA is on the phone, trying to get a reply. STAHLMAN storms up to her.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well?
PETRA WILLIAMS: There's still no reply from the main switch room.
(He grabs the phone from her.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: What do those fools think they're doing? (Into phone, crossly.) Hello? Hello?!
7: INT. NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL ROOM
(The phone continues to ring in the switch room but no one dares move to answer it and thus alarm SLOCUM. WYATT signals to his colleagues to move to one side and they do so slowly with SLOCUM breathing like a chased animal as he watches them. WYATT edges from behind the computer rack to get a shot at SLOCUM but the engineer sees the barrel of his rifle and runs forward. WYATT gets a shot at SLOCUM which seems to get him square in the chest but after staggering back slightly, he goes on the attack again and grabs the UNIT soldier round the neck. After half-strangling him, the effect of the bullet finally seems to have an effect on SLOCUM and, roaring like a bestial animal, he falls to the floor as the DOCTOR edges towards the power switch.)
8: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(STAHLMAN is still waiting to an answer to the phone call as SIR KEITH GOLD approaches him.)
SIR KEITH GOLD: There's still not a Red-One emergency.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Brusquely.) I know.
SIR KEITH GOLD: Shall I give the order?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Not until I consider it necessary. Why does nobody answer this phone?
9: INT. NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL ROOM
(SLOCUM is slumped against a wall. He is weakened but still growling and watching the people in the room. The BRIGADIER and BENTON drag BROMLEY away and then the BRIGADIER, pistol drawn, joins the DOCTOR who is keeping a wary eye on SLOCUM. The DOCTOR reaches out for the power switch and SLOCUM lets out a bellow of anger. Nevertheless, the DOCTOR tries again but quickly snatches his hand away from the red hot switch. He turns to the BRIGADIER.)
DOCTOR: Pistol?
(The BRIGADIER looks puzzled at this request.)
DOCTOR: Pistol!
(The DOCTOR grabs the cold metal pistol off the BRIGADIER and uses it to push the power switch back. SLOCUM growls in anger and reaches out but this final effort seems to cost him his life and he slumps to one side. Behind him, the wall he was leaning against is badly scorched. The whine of the reactor power reducing can be heard. The BRIGADIER is about to go to SLOCUM but the DOCTOR stops him.)
DOCTOR: No, no! Don't touch him. Look at that wall - it's scorched.
(The DOCTOR then moves over the room to the incessantly ringing phone and answers it.)
DOCTOR: (Into phone.) Hello? (He listens.) Oh, it's you, Stahlman. (Listens.) Thank you, we've dealt with the matter ourselves.
(He slams the phone down.)
10: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(Slowly, the smoke stops to come out of the drill-head and the blaring alarm finally ceases.)
11: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(In the main control room, GREG is surrounded by a group of grinning and sweating, but nevertheless triumphant, technicians. They all dab at themselves with handkerchiefs.)
GREG SUTTON: Well done, everyone. I'll have a new medal struck - "The Order of the Turkish Bath"!
(The good atmosphere is ruined as STAHLMAN, with PETRA, steps up behinds them and barks out an order.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: The emergency has been contained. Return to your normal duties everyone.
(The technicians move off but GREG rounds on the PROFESSOR.)
GREG SUTTON: (Angrily.) We contained it by the skin of our teeth. We may not be so lucky next time.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: The main operation was not at fault. Those idiots at the nuclear reactor boosted the power too high.
GREG SUTTON: All right, so it was some kind of accident. They happen, you know? You have to make allowances, take precautions.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Coldly.) I can make no allowances for incompetence, Mr. Sutton.
(He stalks off and PETRA moves to follow him.)
GREG SUTTON: Petra?
(She turns back.)
GREG SUTTON: Is that man a complete nut?
PETRA WILLIAMS: (Sharply.) I don't think so, Mr. Sutton.
(GREG tuts at her loyalty and turns away from her. PETRA assumes a warmer manner though.)
PETRA WILLIAMS: Thank you for helping with the emergency.
GREG SUTTON: Well, if you really want to show your gratitude, there are one or two things.
PETRA WILLIAMS: Like what?
GREG SUTTON: Like call me Greg, for instance. It's my name. All this "mister"ing makes me nervous.
PETRA WILLIAMS: (Smiles.) And second?
GREG SUTTON: Well, I've got one or two ideas.
PETRA WILLIAMS: What about?
GREG SUTTON: Safety precautions at the drill-head area. Now Stahlman listens to you. If you could convince him I'm talking sense, we might get somewhere.
12: INT. NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL ROOM
(Without touching him, the DOCTOR has made an examination of SLOCUM'S slumped body. The BRIGADIER has been watching him.)
DOCTOR: Both bullets right through the heart.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: But he was alive and moving for several minutes.
DOCTOR: Abnormal resistance, abnormal strength, and that is not all.
(BENTON enters the room.)
SERGEANT BENTON: 'Scuse me, sir. The medics are on the way over.
DOCTOR: (To BENTON.) Look, they'd better not touch the body for a while. It's radiating a good deal of heat.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right, sir.
(He leaves.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Puzzled.) The man's dead, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Heat, Brigadier. Like the wrench that killed that technician. Like that switch over there.
(The BRIGADIER nods at WYATT and BROMLEY who lie against the opposite wall to SLOCUM. They are pale in the face and BROMLEY would appear to be unconscious. However, WYATT'S eyes are open but he just stares into space.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What about these two?
DOCTOR: Well, there don't seem to be any major injuries.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Shock?
DOCTOR: Possibly, I don't know.
(The BRIGADIER stands over the soldier.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Wyatt? Private Wyatt?
(WYATT'S lips twitch but, otherwise, he doesn't move.)
13: EXT. STORAGE TANK AREA
(The BRIGADIER and the DOCTOR climb onto a high catwalk between that runs between several large round storage tanks. From here, they have a panoramic view of the vast site with its buildings, towers, tanks and chimney's.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor, I need some answers.
DOCTOR: Mmm?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What did happen to Slocum?
DOCTOR: Some sort of retrogression of the body cells, I think.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I don't understand.
DOCTOR: Neither do I - not fully, not yet.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: It looked as if he was turning into some sort of...animal.
DOCTOR: Yes. But the process was relatively slow and it wasn't completed.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I'll have the devil of a job keeping this quiet.
DOCTOR: (To himself.) Why wasn't the metamorphosis completed?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: That noise he was making - I've never heard anything like that before.
DOCTOR: I have.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Where?
DOCTOR: Krakatoa, the Sundra Straits...during the volcanic eruption of 1883.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor, are you telling me that there's some link between Slocum and the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa?
DOCTOR: There could be.
(The clanging of boots on the metal staircase is heard and they look down to see SERGEANT BENTON climbing up. He joins them and salutes the BRIGADIER.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Sir, Wyatt and the technician - they've disappeared.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What?
SERGEANT BENTON: They cleared off before the medics could look at them.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Come on.
(The two soldiers climb back down and the DOCTOR watches them go. He then idly looks round and up...and suddenly sees movement on an even higher catwalk above him.)
DOCTOR: Wyatt?
(The soldier, crouched like an animal, sees that he has been spotted and runs off.)
DOCTOR: Wait!
(The DOCTOR is about to go after the BRIGADIER and BENTON but thinks better of it and starts to climb a ladder on his own catwalk, following WYATT. He gets to the top level and starts to give chase after the soldier who runs on. The DOCTOR reaches the end of the walkway and another staircase back down to a slightly lower level which he takes at some speed, sliding down part of the way. When he gets to the bottom, he sees that round a corner, WYATT is crouched on a pipe waiting for him. Rifle in hand held like a club, his face is now green and he drools and hisses at his pursuer.)
DOCTOR: Now Wyatt, listen to me. You need help.
(WYATT jumps off the pipe and starts to stalk the DOCTOR. He backs off and WYATT swings at him with his rifle. He misses as the DOCTOR lunges back. WYATT tries again and a third time. This time, his swing is too strong and he falls over the railing of the catwalk. With a strange animal-like cry, he plunges to the ground and falls with a clang upon another metal surface. The DOCTOR looks down and sees a UNIT soldier approach the body. The DOCTOR yells down...)
DOCTOR: Don't touch him! Whatever you do, don't touch him!
(He runs off to a stair-ladder that will take him down to the ground. At the top of the staircase that he came down previously, another green-faced shambling figure appears - BROMLEY.)
14: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(PETRA walks into the drill-head area. A pleased STAHLMAN is there with his notebook. He calls to her over the noise of the drilling.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: According to my calculations, Petra, we can accelerate the drilling speed by twelve percent without any adverse effects.
PETRA WILLIAMS: Professor Stahlman, will you...
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Interrupting.) This will advance the time of penetration of the Earth's crust by nearly five hours...
PETRA WILLIAMS: (Interrupting.) Professor Stahlman, would you please come to central control? Sir Keith wants you to look at something in there.
(STAHLMAN'S good humour disappears...)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well, what on Earth is it?
PETRA WILLIAMS: ___.
(They walk through to the control room.)
15: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(A small metal box lies on a trolley in the control room, watched over by GREG, SIR KEITH and a white-coated lab technician.)
GREG SUTTON: Do you reckon he'll know what it is?
SIR KEITH GOLD: Well if he does, he's a darn sight cleverer than the rest of us.
(The DOCTOR walks in.)
DOCTOR: Hello? What have we got here?
(STAHLMAN and PETRA join them.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well, what is it, Sir Keith.
SIR KEITH GOLD: (To the technician.) Open it please.
(The technician, wearing white heat-proof gloves undoes a clasp on the box. He takes out of it a thick glass, metal topped specimen jar. It is filled with the same green substance that was seeping from number two output pipe. He closes the lid of the box and places the jar on top of it.)
SIR KEITH GOLD: Now, we've been getting traces of this stuff from number two output pipe for some time now. Recently it's started coming out in greater quantities.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Analysis report?
SIR KEITH GOLD: None - so far the substance has defied analysis.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Ridiculous! If it exists, it can be analysed.
SIR KEITH GOLD: The labs say they can't get near enough to the stuff to carry out a proper examination. It took them all their time to syphon some off into that heat resistant jar.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Smiles.) Then we shall just have to wait till it cools down a bit, won't we?
DOCTOR: Well I doubt whether it will cool down.
(STAHLMAN rounds on him to everyone's embarrassment.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: And who the devil asked you?!
DOCTOR: I was just venturing an opinion.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Based on what?
DOCTOR: Krakatoa actually!
(STAHLMAN raises his eyebrows at the assembled group. The BRIGADIER has joined them.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Professor, I have to speak to you and Sir Keith on a matter of great urgency.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Oh, not just at this moment, if you don't mind.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I must insist, sir - this is vital!
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well then, talk to our good friend, Sir Keith. He's, er, got time for talking, I haven't.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Insistent.) Professor, in the last few hours, three men have died in this establishment. Died violently. I must talk to you...in my office, now.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (With bad grace.) Oh, very well.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Sir Keith?
(They walk off. GREG goes leaving just the DOCTOR. LIZ joins him and nods at the jar.)
LIZ: I examined that stuff in the labs. What do you think?
(The DOCTOR peers closely at the jar.)
DOCTOR: I wish I could hear it, Liz.
LIZ: Hear it?
DOCTOR: I wonder if it screeches?
LIZ: Doctor, I think you ought to come and look at the main computer.
DOCTOR: Why? Something interesting?
LIZ: Something downright frightening if you ask me.
16: INT. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(The conference is not going well...)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Oh, but surely, Brigadier, this matter comes under the jurisdiction of the medical section or...security? It's a personnel problem. It's got nothing whatsoever to do with the technical side of this operation.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Professor, three men have died.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: I'm sorry for that. But it's none of my responsibility.
SIR KEITH GOLD: How can you say that? These deaths concern all of us.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: The Doctor believes there is some connection between the...
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Interrupts angrily.) That Doctor has no authority in this establishment! How many times do I have to repeat that?
SIR KEITH GOLD: His calculations on initial stresses were invaluable to this project. Without them...
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Interrupts.) I would have come to the same conclusion.
SIR KEITH GOLD: He came to his answers in ten minutes! You had a team of mathematicians working on it for a month.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: That's hardly the point, Sir Keith.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Gentlemen, please. I am still waiting for some decision on my particular problems.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well, as you say, Brigadier, they are your problems. Please deal with them as you see fit.
(The DOCTOR enters and goes straight up to STAHLMAN.)
DOCTOR: A question?
SIR KEITH GOLD: (Irritated.) Yes?!
DOCTOR: Isn't anybody going to pay any attention to that computer out there?
SIR KEITH GOLD: That computer is over-sensitive. Its data is unreliable.
DOCTOR: You talk about the thing as though it was your maiden Aunt!
SIR KEITH GOLD: My own calculations are more specific.
DOCTOR: Yes, well I'll tell you something that should be of vital interest to you, Professor.
SIR KEITH GOLD: Well, what?
DOCTOR: That you, sir, are a nitwit!
(STAHLMAN seethes but before he can answer PETRA runs in.)
PETRA WILLIAMS: Professor! Come quickly!
(She runs out as STAHLMAN barks at the BRIGADIER.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: That man ought to be locked up!
(He follows as the DOCTOR smiles and nods at LETHBRIDGE STEWART.)
17: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(The cause of the alarm is the glass specimen jar. Its contents are bubbling and the glass is cracked in several places. A group of interested technicians are gathered around the trolley.)
PETRA WILLIAMS: I think the jar's going to shatter!
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Stand back everybody!
(They all stand back as PETRA and STAHLMAN approach. They are followed by the group from the BRIGADIER'S office and LIZ. The PROFESSOR reaches out with ungloved hands for the jar.)
DOCTOR: No, Professor, don't.
(STAHLMAN looks angrily at him. He then clasps the jar in his left hand and opens the metal box. His hand shakes with the pain of the heat as he drops the jar into the box and shuts the lid.)
DOCTOR: Yes, well I wouldn't have done that if I was you.
(STAHLMAN wipes his hand with a handkerchief as he speaks to the technician from the lab.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Have that deep frozen at once.
(The trolley is wheeled away.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Right, return to work everybody. The entertainment's over.
(All leave but the BRIGADIER notices that STAHLMAN is still wiping his hand on his handkerchief, as if there were something there that he cannot get rid of.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Are you all right?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Yes, of course. The jar was hot. It's nothing.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Then perhaps we can continue our discussion?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: I hardly think that's necessary. As far as I'm concerned, everything's been covered.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Sarcastically.) Thank you for your co-operation!
(He walks off and STAHLMAN is joined by an agitated SIR KEITH and the DOCTOR.)
SIR KEITH GOLD: What about the computer?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Well, what about it?
SIR KEITH GOLD: Well, you can't just ignore it.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: I prefer to rely on my own judgement. I've been concerned with this operation for eleven years and I know more about the details surrounding it than any machine.
DOCTOR: I hope so, because its message is perfectly clear.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: What message?
DOCTOR: Well, come and see for yourself.
(They walk over to the computer bank.)
DOCTOR: It warns that drilling should be stopped immediately.
(STAHLMAN doesn't concern himself with the readings but instead takes out his ubiquitous notebook.)
DOCTOR: Well, look at it man! Are you blind?!
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: That computer, as I have said, is inaccurate.
(The DOCTOR has had enough.)
DOCTOR: (Curtly.) You please yourself, sir. I've done the best I can to convince you. I may as well get back to my own work.
(He starts to walk off.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: You may find that rather difficult. We can't supply you with any more nuclear power.
DOCTOR: Oh, why not?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: We need all the energy we can get. I propose to accelerate the drilling by twelve percent.
(He goes over to the power unit where a technician stands.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Cut the power to the Doctor's hut. Not to be reconnected under any circumstances.
DOCTOR: That's an incredibly childish attitude to take!
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: If you will excuse me.
(He storms off.)
SIR KEITH GOLD: I'm sorry, Doctor.
DOCTOR: So am I, Sir Keith.
18: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(PETRA is at the drill-head and has just finished speaking to a technician when STAHLMAN walks in.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Petra, listen carefully. Start the acceleration in exactly...
(He checks his watch.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: ...twenty-five minutes time. That will make the time of penetration zero exactly in...forty-nine hours from now.
PETRA WILLIAMS: (Uneasily.) Professor Stahlman, shouldn't you at least consider what they're saying.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: If I'd listened to all the others, Petra, this project would never have begun. If I listen to them now, it'll never be completed. Have all systems modified to this new programming.
PETRA WILLIAMS: Yes, Professor.
(She leaves the drill-head. After she has gone, the PROFESSOR starts to look unwell. He takes out his handkerchief and again starts to wipe at his hand - but this is now green in colour. STAHLMAN'S eyes are wide open, not just in shock, but also as if he was struggling against an inner turmoil.)
19: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(PETRA speaks to two technicians and then crosses to the one at the power unit.)
PETRA WILLIAMS: Mr. Phillips? Professor Stahlman has decided to modify the drilling rate. Could you join us?
(The technician walks away. On the other side of the control room, the DOCTOR has seen this. He is with LIZ who is looking over some figures on a clipboard.)
DOCTOR: Liz? Go and check the trigamma circuits on the console again, will you?
LIZ: What do you want me to do that...
DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Look, please. Don't ask any questions. There's a good girl.
LIZ: (Smiles.) All right.
(She leaves. The DOCTOR slowly crosses the room, making his way as unobtrusively as possible to the power unit. He makes sure that PETRA and Phillips are not watching him and quickly flips the switch for power to his garage. He then walks away from the unit. He is not the only one on a mission of stealth however. STAHLMAN also walks into the room and, seemingly unseen, make his way to the computer. Bending down, he opens a small inspection hatch and takes out a small glass micro-circuit. He shuts the hatch, pockets the circuit and walks towards the BRIGADIER'S office.)
20: INT. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(Once inside, he looks over the contents of the BRIGADIER'S desk. His usual brisk manner is slightly different, more cat-like and possessed. He finds the BRIGADIER'S swagger stick in a drawer. He places the micro-circuit on the desk and raises the stick to bring it crashing down when...)
DOCTOR: Professor!
(The DOCTOR is in the doorway. He points an accusing finger.)
DOCTOR: What are you doing with that micro-circuit?
(STAHLMAN hastily pockets the circuit as the DOCTOR walks over.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: You'd do well to mind your own business, Doctor!
DOCTOR: That computer is a threat to you, isn't it? It could prove you wrong. Now give me that micro-circuit.
(STAHLMAN raises the stick to club down the DOCTOR but he is too quick for him and, with an oriental-type cry, places a two fingered nerve hold on STAHLMAN'S neck. The paralysed PROFESSOR drops the stick as the BRIGADIER rushes in.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor! What on earth do you think you're doing?
DOCTOR: Venusian Karate. It's very effective. Hold it long enough. The subject remains permanently paralysed.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Then I suggest you let him go.
DOCTOR: Oh, very well.
(He releases the hold and STAHLMAN staggers forward. The BRIGADIER catches him and helps him stand.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Will someone please explain what's going on here?
DOCTOR: (To STAHLMAN.) Shall I tell him or will you?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: (Furiously.) Brigadier, have that man expelled from this establishment!
(He storms out of the room.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, Doctor? Will you please tell me what's going on here?
DOCTOR: Look, don't you start asking me questions. Just keep your eyes open and follow me.
(They follow the PROFESSOR.)
21: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(STAHLMAN is stood near the computer, still trying to recover his self-control.)
DOCTOR: Professor, there are some questions that we would like to ask you.
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Brigadier, this man is trying to sabotage my project.
DOCTOR: Would you mind telling us what you have in your left-hand pocket?
(STAHLMAN hesitates.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Quietly.) Professor?
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Oh, very well.
(He pats his waistcoat pockets.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Nothing.
(He takes his notebook out of his left-hand jacket pocket...)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Left-hand...
(...and a bunch of keys out of the other.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Right-hand. Satisfied? Now get that man out of my sight!
(He storms off as the DOCTOR whispers urgently to the BRIGADIER.)
DOCTOR: I tell you - he had a micro-circuit in his pocket.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, it isn't there now, and after all, he is in charge.
DOCTOR: Yes...well, I suppose I've got something better to do with my time anyway.
(He starts to walk out. The chatter of the computer's printout suddenly stops and two technicians run forward to attend to it.)
DOCTOR: (To the BRIGADIER.) You see, it's packing up already!
(He walks out. The BRIGADIER also goes. STAHLMAN sees that the coast is clear and near a wall, drops the circuit. He places his heel on it and grinds it to powder, kicking the debris away.)
22: INT. DOCTOR'S GARAGE
(The doors to the garage close as the DOCTOR pockets his sonic screwdriver and climbs out of Bessie. He joins LIZ who is working on a unit at the base of the console.)
DOCTOR: Did you find any damage to the main circuits?
LIZ: Two of the by-pass wires have burnt out. But apart from that, everything seems all right.
DOCTOR: Did you replace them?
LIZ: Yes.
DOCTOR: Good, good.
(He goes over to the junction boxes a flicks the switch for the power to reach his garage.)
LIZ: What was all that business at central control?
DOCTOR: Oh, just a little contretemps between myself and Stahlman. Nothing of any importance.
LIZ: Well, with the nuclear power cut off, we're just wasting our time, aren't we?
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't think so.
LIZ: At least you won't be able to make any trial runs.
DOCTOR: Liz, it wasn't the console that was to blame. It was that nuclear power surge.
LIZ: I'm afraid you'll never know for sure, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yeah, would you do me a favour?
LIZ: Yes?
(He takes a notepad out his pocket.)
DOCTOR: Nip down to the control centre, will you? And feed these figures into the spare bank of the computer. They're some epsilon co-ordinates.
(He hands her a sheet of paper.)
LIZ: Epsilon co-ordinates? You usually work those out in your head?
DOCTOR: Yes, I know, but I'm a bit tired.
LIZ: Yes, all right.
(She puts on a white coat and picks up her handbag. She goes over to the closed door.)
LIZ: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Hmm?
(He sees that she is waiting for him to open the door.)
DOCTOR: Oh, I'm so sorry.
(He takes out his sonic screwdriver and buzzes the door open. LIZ smiles and bobs a curtsey.)
LIZ: Thank you.
(The DOCTOR closes the doors and, now that he is alone, starts to frantically adjust controls on the console.)
23: EXT. COMPLEX
(LIZ walks through the complex. She passes a small brick blockhouse. After she has gone, BROMLEY comes out of hiding in a small entranceway and watches her go.)
24: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(LIZ walks into the control room, note paper in her hand. She sees a couple of technicians working away at the computer watched over by a worried BRIGADIER.)
LIZ: What's happened to the computer?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: It's broken down.
(LIZ looks at her slip of paper.)
LIZ: Oh well, the Doctor'll just have to work out these calculations in his head after all.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Alerted.) The Doctor sent you?
LIZ: Yes, I've just come from the hut.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: But he was here when the machine broke down.
LIZ: What?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Didn't he tell you?
LIZ: No.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Stahlman's demanding that I get rid of him. It looks as though he sent you on a wild goose chase.
LIZ: Just a minute.
(She pushes past him and goes over to the power unit. She sees that the red light is on.)
LIZ: Brigadier, come on!
(They run out of the control room.)
25: INT. DOCTOR'S GARAGE
(The console is literally shaking as power floods through. The DOCTOR holds onto it.)
26: INT. DRILL-HEAD
(STAHLMAN and PETRA stand at a console watching the progress of the drilling.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Twenty-four. Sixty-eight...
(Suddenly the lights in the room start to dim. STAHLMAN looks round in alarm.)
PROFESSOR STAHLMAN: Someone's using extra power! That...Doctor!
(They run off into the control room...)
27: INT. CENTRAL CONTROL
(...and straight over to the power unit. STAHLMAN flicks the switch off.)
28: INT. DOCTOR'S GARAGE
(The garage doors buzz open and LIZ and the BRIGADIER run in. The TARDIS dematerialisation noise starts up.)
LIZ: Doctor!
(They watch as Bessie, the console and the DOCTOR fade out of existence...)
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEE
Liz Shaw
CAROLINE JOHN
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEY
Professor Stahlman
OLAF POOLEY
Sir Keith Gold
CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN
Greg Sutton
DEREK NEWARK
Petra Williams
SHEILA DUNN
Sergeant Benton
JOHN LEVENE
Private Wyatt
DEREK WARE
Harry Slocum
WALTER RANDALL
Bromley
IAN FAIRBAIRN
Action by
HAVOC
Title Music by
RON GRAINER AND
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Visual Effects by
LEN HUTTON
Film Cameraman
FRED HAMILTON
Film Sound
GRAHAM HARE
Film Editor
MARTYN DAY
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
JEREMY DAVIES
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
DOUGLAS CAMFIELD
COLOUR
© BBC 1971