THE CLAWS
OF AXOS
BY
BOB BAKER
&
DAVE MARTIN
EPISODE FOUR
1: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(The MASTER stands before a unit that has one large lever. He has his hand on it. He is watched by HARDIMAN, FILER and the UNIT men.)
MASTER: Now, when I pull this handle, the enormous amount of power stored in the TARDIS will be channeled straight into Axos.
FILER: What about Jo and the Doc?
MASTER: They won't stand a chance - they will die with Axos.
(His hand tightens on the lever. The BRIGADIER jumps forward.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No!
MASTER: (Harshly.) Either we destroy Axos or Axos destroys the world - which is it to be, Brigadier?!
(The BRIGADIER agonises, then steps back. The MASTER pulls the lever.)
2: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The energy surges back into Axos. Still struggling to the exit, the DOCTOR and JO are flung from side to side.)
3: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(HARDIMAN is looking at the readings on the console.)
HARDIMAN: Well over maximum now.
(The MASTER, looking stern, walks past the observers and into the TARDIS.)
4: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(Within, he manipulates controls.)
MASTER: ___ old antique - keep working!
5: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The DOCTOR and JO continue to stumble through Axos. Wall tendrils flail at them and hallucinogenic images of the golden Axons appear before them. A screeching noise fills the air. An axon in its raw state stumbles around in front of them. JO screams as they manage to avoid its tendrils.)
JO: (Screams.) I can't! I can't! I can't!
(The ground under their feet moves beneath them as the organic ship convulses. JO is hysterical.)
JO: (Screams.) I can't! I can't! I can't!
(The DOCTOR slaps her face.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Jo! Stop it! Be quiet! Stop it!
(JO covers her ears.)
JO: (Shouts.) What's that screaming?!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) The whole thing's electro-convulsing. The power's creating an...electrical...electrical storm in its brain. We're going right through the centre of the trauma! Come on! Hang on!
(He grabs her hand and they press on. They go through a membrane and see another Axon before them. The attack on their senses becomes too great and they both press their hands to their heads in pain. JO starts to scream again.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Jo! Try and stop it! Try and stop it! Don't...don't let it get a grip on your brain! Don't let it get a grip on your brain!. Listen to me! Answer me! What are three sevens?!
JO: (Shouts.) Twenty-one!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Twenty-one! Keep answering!
(He starts to pull her through the maelstrom again.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Three sevens...times four?!
JO: (Shouts.) Eighty-four!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Minus thirty-five?!
(Golden Axons also stumble past them as they continue towards the doorway.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Think Jo! Think Jo!
JO: (Shouts.) Forty-nine!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Twice that?!
(JO hesitates.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Twice...!
JO: (Shouts.) Ninety-eight!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Plus ten?!
JO: (Shouts.) A hundred and eight!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Divide by nine?!
JO: (Shouts.) Twelve!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Divide by four?!
JO: (Shouts.) Three!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Three sevens?!
JO: (Shouts.) Twenty-one!
DOCTOR: ___!
6: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(The entrance to Axos bursts open and the DOCTOR dives out onto the shingle. JO runs out immediately after him. He picks himself up, grabs her hand and they start running towards the complex.)
7: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(The MASTER exits the TARDIS with a smile on his face.)
MASTER: Well, gentlemen? Your congratulations?
(The BRIGADIER and HARDIMAN look at each other.)
MASTER: (Aggrieved.) I see.
(He heads back to the TARDIS.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Wait!
MASTER: Why? You promised me my freedom - I've earned it.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: We don't know yet what you've achieved.
MASTER: My dear Brigadier, I promised to help you - not sort out all your problems!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir. Parker, McDougall.
(Two UNIT soldiers stood near to the TARDIS stand in front of the doorway with their rifles raised. Meanwhile, the noise from the accelerator starts to rise in pitch again...)
HARDIMAN: Something's gone wrong. They must have reversed the power flow. They're feeding it back at us!
8: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(The Axon eye watches over trashing raw-state Axons.)
VOICE OF AXOS: ___source identified as light accelerator. Concentrate power reversal on this sector. Total destruction essential. Repeat - total destruction essential.
9: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(HARDIMAN addresses the complex. His words echo over the tannoy system...)
HARDIMAN: (Into microphone.) All personnel - your attention please. Evacuate accelerator sector. Shut off all power in your area and proceed to blast wall shelters immediately. That is all.
(He puts the microphone down.)
HARDIMAN: Brigadier, I want everybody out of here.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right. Captain Yates, everyone up to the control box.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Right, Benton____.
(There is a noisy hubbub as BENTON herds the people in the room to safety.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Move! Come on, move!
(HARDIMAN is putting on a pair of protective gloves. The BRIGADIER crosses to him.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What are you going to do?
HARDIMAN: I'm going to disconnect the portals.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, where do we start?
HARDIMAN: No, no, no, Brigadier. This establishment is my responsibility. Yours is with your men.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, but surely...
HARDIMAN: (Interrupting.) I don't any help. I'll be with you in a minute.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Very well.
(The BRIGADIER goes up to the control box as HARDIMAN puts on a protective hood, picks up a tool and goes into the accelerator cubicle. He starts to dismantle the mechanism in the roof of the cubicle. The sound of the reactor running away can be heard again...)
10: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LABORATORY CONTROL BOX
(HARDIMAN'S efforts are watched by the UNIT men, FILER and the MASTER. The latter stands relaxed against a console.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To the MASTER.) How's he doing?
MASTER: Well, he'll have to take out the trigger mechanism before he can disconnect the final cable.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: How much time has he got?
MASTER: Huh, who knows?
11: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(HARDIMAN continues his efforts as the pitch gets higher and higher.)
12: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LABORATORY CONTROL BOX
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Smiles.) He's done it!
13: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(But HARDIMAN is not quite finished yet. He has one more bolt to unscrew. On the verge of success, there is a spark and an explosion. With a cry, HARDIMAN is thrown from the cabinet, through the air and over the railings into the depths of the laboratory.)
14: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LABORATORY CONTROL BOX
(The men rush from the control box.)
15: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Hardiman!
(They almost all rush to the railing and look over...)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain Yates, get some men down here.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Yes sir.
(...all except for the MASTER who takes the opportunity of the distraction to make another run for the TARDIS. FILER spots this and pulls his gun out. The MASTER then makes a run for the door leading out of the lab but these open up before he can get to them and a familiar figure walks in.)
DOCTOR: Going somewhere?
(The MASTER holds up his hands in surrender.)
16: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. OFFICE
(With the MASTER in custody, the DOCTOR addresses the UNIT men and FILER in the office. One of the complex TECHNICIANS is also there.)
DOCTOR: (Angrily.) The claws of Axos are already deeply embedded in the Earth's carcass! Soon, it'll activate its nutrition cycle and the feast will be begin. The Axonite'll cease to be dormant...and it'll continue to grow, gentlemen, until every living thing is consumed.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Unless we can find a way of stopping it?
DOCTOR: Well, I don't think you can stop it.
JO: Well, there must be something we can do, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Well we can but try, Jo. (To the TECHNICIAN.) Can you commandeer the computer banks? I want to make some very complex calculations.
TECHNICIAN: Of course.
DOCTOR: Good, thank you.
TECHNICIAN: I'll have them cleared immediately.
(He leaves the room.)
DOCTOR: Brigadier, can you set up a constant watch on that space dome?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, Captain Yates?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir?
(They step to one side to discuss arrangements.)
FILER: What about the Master?
DOCTOR: I'm going to ask you to hand your prisoner over to me for a while.
FILER: Well now, hold on...!
DOCTOR: (Interrupting.) Look, Bill! I think I can defeat Axos...but I must have the Master's help!
JO: But you know you can't trust him. He'll kill you the first chance he gets.
DOCTOR: Oh, don't worry, Jo. I'll keep him in good order all right - with this.
(He holds up the MASTER'S confiscated laser gun. On the other side of the office, the BRIGADIER and YATES make arrangements.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I shall be setting up HQ in the lab. I want you and Benton in RT contact the whole time.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Yes sir.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, get going.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Right, sir.
(He leaves collecting BENTON on the way out.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sergeant Benton?
SERGEANT BENTON: Sir.
17: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(CAPTAIN YATES carries a closed-circuit TV camera on a tripod from a UNIT jeep. He sets it up looking over the Axon spacedome. He goes back to the jeep and puts on a headset from an RT set.)
18: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LABORATORY CONTROL BOX
(The BRIGADIER receives YATES'S message.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) Trap one to Greyhound, over.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into radio.) Go ahead trap one, over.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) Eyes down. Look in, over.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (OOV: Over radio.) Roger.
(The BRIGADIER switches on a small black and white monitor. The picture of the Axon spacedome appears on it.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (OOV: Over radio.) Receiving your signal. Maintain surveillance, over.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) Roger, wilko, out.
(CHINN walks in, eating a chicken drumstick.)
CHINN: That thing working? Get me the Ministry, will you?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ah, Mr. Chinn. Now where have you been hiding yourself? Canteen?
CHINN: As it happens, I've been doing your job!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Oh yes?
CHINN: Mmm. Trying to do something about the situation.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Which particular situation?
CHINN: Axonite, Brigadier, Axonite! Do you realise that Britain's going to get the blame for all this?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Britain - or you, Mr. Chinn?
CHINN: Well, if you won't get the Ministry...
(CHINN looks round.)
CHINN: Where's Hardiman?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Dead.
(He turns away. At this news, even CHINN is at a loss for words.)
19: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(FILER stands to one side of the lab, looking over the railing and deep in thought. JO approaches him. Behind them, the DOCTOR and the MASTER work in the light accelerator cubicle.)
JO: You look like a disappointed Bloodhound.
FILER: All Bloodhounds look disappointed. It's an occupational hazard.
JO: Why Bill? You've got your man.
FILER: Oh sure - Bill Filer of the New York mounted police.
(He looks behind him at the DOCTOR and the MASTER.)
FILER: I don't like it, Jo.
JO: Well, all we can do is wait.
FILER: I don't mean the hanging around - I'm used to that. I've just got this feeling that something is going on.
(Behind them, the DOCTOR and the MASTER have taken out parts of the light accelerator and stand talking.)
JO: Come on, Bill! Surely you don't think there's a...
FILER: (Interrupting.) I don't think anything. It's a funny time to go collecting junk, that's all - real eager beavers.
JO: But they've got to be - they're working against time.
FILER: Well, why pack off all the technicians? Why can't they help?
(The DOCTOR and the MASTER head for the TARDIS.)
FILER: (To JO.) Why've they gotta go it alone, huh? Why?
20: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR and the MASTER enter the TARDIS. The DOCTOR holds the MASTER at gunpoint with his laser gun. The MASTER puts the mechanism from the light accelerator down on the console.)
MASTER: Well, Doctor? I'm still waiting to hear this, er, this marvellous scheme of yours.
DOCTOR: Actually, there isn't one.
(He puts the gun in his pocket.)
MASTER: Well, then why...?
DOCTOR: Because if you mend the TARDIS, we can both escape.
MASTER: Both? Tell me, Doctor, are, er, are you suggesting an alliance?
DOCTOR: Why not? I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a heap of dust on second rate planet to a third rate star. Do you?
MASTER: Do you mean to say that you are actually prepared to abandon your beloved Earth to the Axon's tender mercies?
DOCTOR: Certainly! After all, we are both Time Lords.
MASTER: Huh, maybe! Look, why should I help you?
DOCTOR: Because if you don't I shall hand you over to UNIT and you'll become a prisoner on a doomed planet.
MASTER: Yes, well, you'll be doomed along with me.
DOCTOR: Exactly - we either escape together...or we die together.
MASTER: Oh, very generous! But look, why not just hand me over to UNIT and...make your escape by yourself?
(The DOCTOR looks sheepish and paces, rubbing his chin and neck.)
MASTER: (Puzzled.) Well?
DOCTOR: Because the Time Lords have put a block on my knowledge of dematerialisation theory - that's why!
MASTER: (Amused.) Oh, I see!
DOCTOR: Yes, well we haven't got much time. What's your decision?
MASTER: All right, I accept.
DOCTOR: Good, well you're the mechanic - what's the answer?
MASTER: The answer, Doctor...is this.
(He takes a small component out of the mechanism he brought into the TARDIS and holds it up.)
DOCTOR: The trigger mechanism from the light accelerator?
MASTER: Yes.
DOCTOR: Yes, of course.
MASTER: Now this will compensate for the deficiencies in your...dematerialisation circuit. Well, with a little ingenuity, I may be able to join one to the other but, erm...it'll take time.
DOCTOR: Well, it'd better not take too much time. Right, you get on with the repairs, I'll go and work out some course co-ordinates.
MASTER: Very well.
(The DOCTOR starts to head out of the door, but a thought strikes him and he steps back. He lifts up a small panel on the console, unscrews a component and holds it up in front of the MASTER.)
DOCTOR: Just in case you were thinking of leaving without me!
(The MASTER laughs gently.)
21: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(Within Axos, the eye hovers as the Axon plan reaches a vital phase...)
VOICE OF AXOS: Data indicates distribution complete. Activate nutrition cycle one. Initiate recall one. Activate nutrition cycle two. Initiate recall two. Activate nutrition cycle three.
22: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(The entire Axon ship starts to rise out of the ground, soil and shingle falling off its curved organic bulk.)
23: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LABORATORY CONTROL BOX
(The BRIGADIER receives a radio message.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) It's surfacing, sir! The whole thing!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into radio.) Pull out, Yates. Back to the complex!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) Yes, sir!
24: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(BENTON gets into the driving seat of the jeep while YATES, still in the open back, disconnects the cable leading to the TV camera. The jeep drives off.)
25: EXT. ROADS
(The jeep speeds along a road to escape the ascending spacedome. It crashes through a gate but up ahead, the road is blocked by two Axons. BENTON drives straight through them however, further ahead, there is another larger group in the road. BENTON speeds the jeep up an incline away from them. The jeep then drives down a rough track past two more Axons who CAPTAIN YATES fires at. Further ahead, another Axon fires one of its tendrils at a tree. With a small explosion, the tree collapses across the road, blocking the jeep's further progress. The Axons clamber onto the jeep where YATES finds that his rifle is now empty. Instead, he uses it as a club and tries to stop the marauding Axons from getting at them.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: ___!
(BENTON, protected in the cab, reverses the vehicle which now has several Axons on board with YATES desperately fighting them off. BENTON does a sudden brake and then drives rapidly forward. The Axon in the back loses its balance and falls off the vehicle. One Axon is left on the front, smashing at the windscreen. YATES sees this, picks up a grenade and pulls out the pin.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Jump!
(He jumps out, followed rapidly by BENTON. They run off as the still propelling vehicle goes over a small ridge and is suddenly rent by a huge explosion, destroying the Axon. The blazing jeep careers down the hill.)
26: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(JO brings the DOCTOR a ticker tape of computer data. FILER sits pensively nearby.)
DOCTOR: Ah, thank you, Jo.
JO: Doctor, what are those figures?
DOCTOR: Er, just some course co-ordinates, that's all.
FILER: (Sarcastically.) What do you want course co-ordinates for, Doc? You're not thinking of leaving us, are you?
(The DOCTOR smiles and walks towards the TARDIS where the MASTER waits. He passes him the roll of paper.)
DOCTOR: Here you are. Everything ready?
(The MASTER mutters a reply.)
DOCTOR: Good.
(The MASTER goes into the TARDIS and the DOCTOR goes back to JO and FILER.)
DOCTOR: Yes, as a matter of fact, we are!
FILER: Not if I can help it!
(FILER runs forward with his pistol.)
DOCTOR: Drop that, Filer!
JO: Doctor!
(The DOCTOR fires the MASTER'S laser gun, destroying the pistol in an explosion which hurts FILER'S hand.)
JO: Doctor!
(The BRIGADIER and CHINN run up.)
DOCTOR: Sorry, Jo. Ah, Brigadier, just in time to say goodbye!
JO: No, you can't!
DOCTOR: I'm sorry Jo, we must.
FILER: We?
DOCTOR: Yes, after all, we are both Time Lords.
(He goes towards the TARDIS.)
DOCTOR: Goodbye, Brigadier, Mr. Chinn, goodbye, Bill. Goodbye Jo, I shall miss you!
(He goes inside the TARDIS and closes the door.)
JO: No!
27: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(Inside, the MASTER waits.)
MASTER: Very neat, Doctor. You know, I must say I never thought you'd go through with it.
DOCTOR: (Irritated.) If we're going, let's go.
(The MASTER gestures at the console and the DOCTOR activates the take-off sequence. There is no response. The two men look puzzled. The MASTER walks away to check a small piece of machinery on one side of the console room whilst a sheepish DOCTOR remembers the small component that he took out of the console earlier and hurriedly replaces it. He does not manage to complete the task in time before the MASTER turns round and the two exchange rueful looks. The DOCTOR pulls the main lever again and this time the familiar dematerialisation sound blasts out.)
28: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(Outside, a sobbing JO pounds on the TARDIS door.)
JO: No, Doctor, you can't! Please! Doc...!
(She runs back from the TARDIS as YATES runs in.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: ___ we're being over-run!
(The TARDIS fades away.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Get the men inside! Get that blast door closed!
FILER: Come on, Jo!
(FILER pulls JO to cover behind a console.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Take the men back ____!
(The UNIT troops pour into the lab and take cover behind consoles and the light accelerator.)
29: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR starts quickly activating controls.)
MASTER: But you can't rematerialise yet! We're not even in space-time!
DOCTOR: This is as far as we're going - for the moment.
(The DOCTOR pulls back the main lever and the TARDIS materialises.)
MASTER: But where are we?
DOCTOR: Oh, you'll recognise it when you see it.
(The DOCTOR opens the doors and points the laser gun at the MASTER.)
DOCTOR: Right - outside! Come on - out!
(The MASTER does as he's told and leaves the ship - the DOCTOR following.)
30: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(They are in the central chamber of Axos. The plain white cube of the MASTER'S TARDIS stands on the other side of the room. Before them, the eye waves to and fro.)
MASTER: But you must be mad! Why have you brought us here?
DOCTOR: Well, you want your TARDIS back, don't you? We can't beat Axos - we may as well join it.
VOICE OF AXOS: Why have you returned?
DOCTOR: That's simple - because you are winning! And we have a proposition - you may have conquered this tiny spec in space but you've yet to conquer time.
VOICE OF AXOS: Well?
DOCTOR: We are prepared to give you this power on one condition; that we join forces against the High Council of the Time Lords.
VOICE OF AXOS: How can we do this?
DOCTOR: By linking our drive systems. In this way, Axos will become a TARDIS and the TARDIS will become a part of Axos.
VOICE OF AXOS: (To the MASTER.) And you?
MASTER: No...my part is finished. All I'm interested in is the return of my TARDIS. Well, I...I will leave you to your new alliance.
(He walks across the chamber to his TARDIS but, just a couple of feet away, hits an invisible force-field.)
MASTER: (Angrily.) I insist on my freedom!
VOICE OF AXOS: When the link is complete. Then you can have your freedom!
31: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(A hole is slowly being burnt in the blast proof door to the lab. The people within watch.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yates?
(CAPTAIN YATES walks close to the doors with a grenade.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Wait for it...wait for it...
(The sound of the burning through operation suddenly ceases.)
JO: What happened, Bill? Why has it suddenly stopped?
CHINN: Don't you think we ought to negotiate?
(A spark of pure energy shoots across the lab from the hole in the door towards the perspex cubicle. The trapped humans jump back.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What happened?
TECHNICIAN: They've energised the light accelerator.
(He looks at the dial that registers the speed of light. It is shooting upwards.)
TECHNICIAN: Good grief!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, is there anything we can do?
TECHNICIAN: Not without the trigger mechanism. The particles will just go on and on accelerating.
FILER: Then what?
TECHNICIAN: Bang!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: The blast wall, sir!
(The hole in the door is now huge...)
32: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR is connecting an organic tendril from Axos into the TARDIS console. The MASTER watches...)
MASTER: Tell me, Doctor, isn't that a rather primitive way to make a link?
DOCTOR: (Snaps.) Look, will you stop pestering me!
MASTER: All right. I'll check the course circuits.
(He turns and sees the scanner screen. On it, a radar-style display shows a spec of light travelling in a figure-8 formation.)
MASTER: You've got it set in a Time loop!
DOCTOR: That's right, yes.
VOICE OF AXOS: Attention! Attention! Nutrition cycle incomplete. Disconnect all systems.
(As the DOCTOR continues his work, the MASTER runs out of the TARDIS...)
33: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(...and into the central chamber. The air itself pulsates with activity.)
MASTER: Stop him! Don't you understand? He's committing suicide and he's taking us all with him! He's doing this for Earth - not for you!
(He runs towards his own TARDIS.)
MASTER: He's putting you all in a Time loop...and you'll never get out of it! Never!
(He runs into his TARDIS.)
34: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR has finished the connection and stands at the console.)
DOCTOR: Come on! Come on, you must take the load! (Shouts.) You must!
35: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(The Axon monsters burst through the remains of the blast doors and into the lab. The people inside scatter but the creatures are coming from all directions. The humans are slowly being hemmed in towards the cubicle of the light accelerator. The UNIT soldiers throw small grenades but they have little effect on the creatures. Bullets likewise do not stop their onward advance. One Axon looms up before JO who screams. A soldier is thrust over the railing by one of the attackers whilst another touches a soldier with its tentacle, killing the man instantly. The trapped humans are slowly losing the battle for life...)
36: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(The exposed ship suddenly dematerialises...)
37: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(YATES fires at an Axon which, to his astonishment, abruptly disappears. BENTON goes to club another of the creatures and it to vanishes. So does another that looms over a floored FILER. All across the room, the invaders fade into thin air...)
38: VORTEX
(Axos travels through the Time loop.)
39: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(Within the TARDIS, a group of Axons pin the DOCTOR down against the console.)
VOICE OF AXOS: Your sacrifice was in vain, Time Lord. You are joined to us forever in this loop of Time. Our fate is yours.
(The DOCTOR desperately reaches for a switch.)
DOCTOR: Not if I can...break through this...Time loop!
40: VORTEX
(Axos continues on its never-ending journey.)
41: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR'S hand edges closer to a control. The figure-8 radar blip traces its course as the DOCTOR succeeds in pulling a lever back...)
42: VORTEX
(...and the TARDIS appears in the vortex, its links to Axos severed.)
43: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(The danger at Nuton is not yet over. The dial on the light speed indicator goes into the danger area.)
TECHNICIAN: Light accelerator's still going! It's going to go!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, everybody outside! Evacuate the whole area.
(They survivors of the battle run for the doors. The BRIGADIER makes sure they all get through.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Go on!
JO: Bill!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Go on!
(He runs out followed by FILER. The TARDIS materialises in the empty chamber.
44: EXT. NUTON COMPLEX
(As a klaxon alarm blares out, the escapees tear down a staircase and out of the main building. The BRIGADIER, JO and CHINN run into a black limousine as a UNIT jeep speeds past. The barrier rises and the cars shoot out.)
45: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. LIGHT ACCELERATION LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR comes out of the TARDIS. He sees the empty chamber and runs across to the console showing the out of control accelerator. He runs back to the TARDIS dodging out of the way as part of the roof collapses.)
46: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(The convoy of vehicles arrives at a deserted spot some distance from the complex. The people get out and look towards the complex.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Get down!
(They all do so but JO suddenly stands up as a thought strikes her...)
JO: What about the Doctor? Suppose he comes back?
(The BRIGADIER pulls her to the ground.)
47: INT. TARDIS. CONSOLE ROOM
(The DOCTOR desperately activates the TARDIS again.)
48: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(The BRIGADIER looks through his binoculars and sees the laboratory destroyed in a huge explosion. JO looks horrified. With the immediate danger over, they all pile back into the cars and head back to the destroyed site.)
49: EXT. NUTON COMPLEX
(The area is now a pile of smoking rubble. The group get out of their cars and approach the remains. As they do so, the TARDIS rematerialises within the ruins. JO smiles up at the BRIGADIER as the door to the TARDIS opens. The DOCTOR gets out and looks through mangled girders at them all.)
DOCTOR: Well! This is a fine welcome, I must say!
50: INT. NUTON COMPLEX. OFFICE
(The office in the complex has also been badly damaged with one whole wall gone and the people inside exposed to the elements. Nevertheless, within there, the DOCTOR attempts an explanation to the BRIGADIER, JO, FILER and CHINN...)
DOCTOR: Well, it's perfectly simple, Brigadier. (Coughs.) A Time loop is...it's, erm, well, it...it...it's a Time loop.
(He waves his hands in a circular motion.)
DOCTOR: One...one passes continually...through the same points in time. Passes through...the same...
(His audience look impassively at him. He realises that he is making no progress with his explanation and gives up.)
DOCTOR: Yes. Well, the Axons said they wanted time travel and now they've got it.
FILER: What about the Master?
DOCTOR: Well, I sincerely hope he's with them.
FILER: Hope?
DOCTOR: Well, I can't be absolutely sure. I was pretty busy at the time. But I'm ninety percent certain though.
FILER: How much?
DOCTOR: Well, pretty certain. (Ruefully.) Well, I suppose he could have got away...
(He sees the BRIGADIER giving him a look.)
DOCTOR: Just.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: This Time loop...thing. How did you get out of it?
DOCTOR: Well I simply boosted the circuits and broke free.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: And you came back of your own accord?
DOCTOR: (Laughs.) Well, I, er...
JO: (Warningly.) Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Seriously.) No. No, I'm afraid not. No, obviously the Time Lords have programmed the TARDIS always to return to Earth.
(JO and the BRIGADIER smile at each other.)
DOCTOR: (Exasperated.) It seems that I'm some kind of a galactic Yo-yo!
Dr. Who
JON PERTWEE
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEY
The Master
ROGER DELGADO
Jo Grant
KATY MANNING
Captain Mike Yates
RICHARD FRANKLIN
Sergeant Benton
JOHN LEVENE
Chinn
PETER BATHURST
Filer
PAUL GRIST
Hardiman
DONALD HEWLETT
Axon Man
BERNARD HOLLEY
Technician
ROYSTON FARRELL
Title Music by
RON GRAINER and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Incidental Music
DUDLEY SIMPSON
Special Sound
BRIAN HODGSON and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Action by
HAVOC
Film Cameraman
A.A. ENGLANDER
Film Editor
BOB RYMER
Visual Effects Designer
JOHN HORTON
Costumes
BARBARA LANE
Make-up
RHIAN DAVIES
Lighting
RALPH WALTON
Sound
DAVE KITCHEN
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
KENNETH SHARP
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
MICHAEL FERGUSON
COLOUR
© BBC 1971