THE MUTANTS
BY
BOB BAKER
AND
DAVE MARTIN
EPISODE FIVE
1: EXT. SKYBASE ONE
(From exit holes, a rain of rockets emerges...)
2: SPACE
(VARAN twists in space, his mouth open in silent agony.)
3: INT. SKYBASE ONE. BACTERIAL DECONTAMINATION SECTION
(The MARSHAL grips to the edge of the gaping hole in the wall as the air is sucked out.)
TANNOY VOICE: Emergency! Emergency!
(The others have formed a human chain from COTTON'S handgrip to KY'S arm. STUBBS holds onto his leg with one hand and JO in the other but they are all being pulled towards the gaping hole...)
TANNOY VOICE: Hull fracture in section three. Depressurise and isolate!
4: EXT. SOLOS
(The DOCTOR and SONDERGAARD walk out of a large cave opening. They look around themselves as they proceed when, without warning, there is a loud explosion mere feet away as one of the rockets lands. The two dive into the shrubbery for cover and lie on the ground, covering their heads. A second explosion goes off. SONDERGAARD raises his head, only for a third explosion to occur just above where they lie. As dust rains down on them, they cautiously sit up.)
SONDERGAARD: What is it? What's happening?!
DOCTOR: It's rockets! That fool Jaeger's bombarding the planet with rockets!
(They dive their heads back down at a fourth explosion. After a quiet moment, they look up again.)
DOCTOR: Well, it seems to have died down for the moment. Let's get out of here and find Miss Grant and the others.
(They get up and move off.)
5: INT. SKYBASE ONE. BACTERIAL DECONTAMINATION SECTION
(The five people in the bacterial decontamination chamber are still struggling for their lives, desperately holding onto either each other or tenuous grips on the walls.)
TANNOY VOICE: Section three isolated. We are about to de-pressurise.
COTTON: (Shouts.) Pressure will ease in a minute! We've got to get out before the air goes!
(Skybase starts to right itself. As the angle of the room becomes less acute, STUBBS struggles to his feet. He grips a wall handle and helps the still bound JO to stand. COTTON manages the same with a similarly bound KY. They all struggle towards the door.)
6: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR
(They stumble out into the corridor.)
STUBBS: Quick, the door!
(COTTON activates the palm-print sensor and the door closes. They all struggle to get their breath back as STUBBS and COTTON start to un-bind the other two.)
COTTON: (To KY.) ___.
STUBBS: (To JO.) Are you alright, Miss?
JO: Yes, I think I'm o...
(Her words freeze as she looks up. The MARSHAL has also escaped and is stood watching them.)
MARSHAL: Very touching. Guards!
(Armed guards quickly surround the four.)
MARSHAL: Bring him!
(The captives are led away.)
7: EXT. SOLOS
(The DOCTOR and SONDERGAARD have made it to some high grassland where the mists are clearer. The DOCTOR looks around and then takes a telescope out of his pocket and looks through it.)
8: EXT. SOLOS. VARAN'S VILLAGE
(He sees the deserted village through the eyepiece.)
9: EXT. SOLOS
(He lowers the telescope.)
DOCTOR: No, there's no sign of them.
SONDERGAARD: Or of Varan?
DOCTOR: No. Well, he said he was going to attack Skybase. If he ran into any of the others... Come on. Let's make for the transfer station.
10: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(The four captives have been taken to the MARSHAL'S office. All four now have their hands bound behind their backs but rope has been replaced by metallic restraints with their arms wrapped around the rail at the edge of the podium. The MARSHAL looks on in satisfaction.)
MARSHAL: This time, as you see, we are taking no chances.
(A SKYBASE GUARD enters and stands to attention.)
SKYBASE GUARD: Squad ready, sir.
MARSHAL: Good.
(He walks down the line of the four, quickly pronouncing sentence...)
MARSHAL: Cotton - Treason. Stubbs - Treason. Ky - Conspiracy, Sabotage, Terrorism. Miss Grant... such a pity.
KY: Miss Grant had nothing to do with it!
MARSHAL: Guard!
(The GUARD steps forward.)
MARSHAL: Call the squad in.
(The GUARD goes to the door and calls out into corridor as JO and KY look at each other in alarm but also as much reassurance as they can muster.)
SKYBASE GUARD: Squad - forward!
(Three other guards enter with their commander and stand in line and to attention facing the condemned. KY manages a smile.)
KY: Once again, the justice of the Overlords!
MARSHAL: Exactly.
KY: You will never win, Marshal. You will never take over this planet. As long as one of my people remains alive, you'll never be safe. My death is unimportant. It will only help our fight for freedom. There will be others after me.
MARSHAL: Always the speechmaker, Ky, but you're wrong. There will be no one after you. We are making sure of that.
(He stands behind his desk.)
MARSHAL: Ready...aim...
(The four executioners raise their guns as the office door slides open and an enraged JAEGER comes running in, shouting at the top of his voice and carrying a binder.)
JAEGER: (Shouts.) No good!
(He stands between the four men and their victims, knocking one of the guns out of the way in his anger.)
JAEGER: (Shouts.) The whole operation ruined, Marshal - thanks to you!
MARSHAL: Later, Jaeger - I am busy!
JAEGER: I see! So tell them to get out! This is far more important!
MARSHAL: Jaeger, I am warning you...
(JAEGER pushes his way through the four men and slams the binder down on the desk, opening a page.)
JAEGER: Marshal, do you want to know what's happened to Solos or are you too busy playing soldiers, mm?!
(The MARSHAL glances at a page of the binder.)
MARSHAL: Guards - wait outside. (To JO and the others.) You'll forgive a short postponement, I trust?
(JAEGER points at the binder.)
JAEGER: Here are the figures - total failure! Every one of those rockets malfunctioned in one way or the other. If they had been properly checked out as I insisted, Marshal...
MARSHAL: Jaeger, what happened?
JAEGER: I'll tell you what happened! None of the ionisation rockets exploded in the atmosphere. Every single one hit the surface!
MARSHAL: So?
JAEGER: So?! Instead of seeding the atmosphere with ionisation crystals, the planet's surface itself has been contaminated! You've made yourself master of a desert, Marshal. A lethal desert! No one will be able to set foot on Solos for centuries now, once the crystals have taken effect. No one! Not you and certainly not the Investigator!
(The MARSHAL glances at his four captives as they take this information in.)
MARSHAL: Jaeger, will you shut up!
JAEGER: (Quieter.) As for this display of megalomania, how do you hope to conceal it from the Investigator? They are not all of them as loyal as those guards. Someone will talk, if only to save his own skin.
MARSHAL: Someone like you, Jaeger?
JO: Jaeger's right, you know? Someone will talk!
MARSHAL: And I dispose of you all first?
STUBBS: You can't silence the whole of Skybase. You've got a problem, Marshal. None of the men want to stay here.
(Goaded, the MARSHAL jumps forward.)
MARSHAL: My men do as I tell them!
STUBBS: That's not true, Marshal. Cotton and I aren't the only ones, you know?
JO: The Investigator's going to find out everything - the Administrator assassinated, native leaders dead or missing and a contaminated planet. Now that's not a very successful record, is it, Marshal?
MARSHAL: Very good, Miss Grant. Very convincing. You forget one thing - the Investigator still has to get here, and his ship is no match for Skybase.
STUBBS: Agreed, you could dispose of the Investigator too. (To JAEGER.) But how reliable are your rockets, Professor?
(JAEGER looks dubious.)
STUBBS: (To the MARSHAL.) As for the advance warning system, the Doctor and Miss Grant landed, Marshal - landed without being detected. And the Doctor's still free.
MARSHAL: (Screams.) Doctor! Always the Doctor!
JO: But no one else can help you, or Solos for that matter. Do you think we didn't know about the Investigator? Well, why do you think we were sent? He's coming to confirm the Doctor's findings.
MARSHAL: (Smiles.) Where is your precious Doctor now?
KY: (Smiles.) He's on Solos, Marshal - with Sondergaard. And both of them are very much alive.
11: EXT. SOLOS
(The DOCTOR is helping the struggling SONDERGAARD across the poisoned surface of Solos. It becomes too much for the scientist...)
SONDERGAARD: Ah, no!
(...and he falls to the ground. They have fallen in some decaying shrubbery, a part of which the DOCTOR breaks off to examine more closely.)
SONDERGAARD: What's happening here?
DOCTOR: Well, it's started already - the contamination from the ionisation crystals. We've got to get out of here, Sondergaard.
SONDERGAARD: (Gasping.) It's no good. I can't. You'll have to leave me.
DOCTOR: My dear chap, I wouldn't hear of it.
SONDERGAARD: You've got to get to that laboratory on Skybase, Doctor. You stand a better chance on your own. I'll be alright. I'll rest here for a while and then go back to the caves. I'll be safe there. Now go, please.
(The DOCTOR considers.)
DOCTOR: Yes, alright. You take care, alright?
(He moves off.)
12: EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SOLOS
(A Skybase Guard sweeps round his detector, checking the reading. He picks up his radio microphone.)
13: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(...and a short time later, the MARSHAL lowers his radio baton...)
MARSHAL: You're right, Miss Grant. Your friend, the Doctor, is alive, and on Solos. And we know where he is.
JO: Then why don't you arrest him?
MARSHAL: Oh, we shall - never fear.
JAEGER: You see, Miss Grant, there's a technique known as particle reversal. We wish to use the Doctor's knowledge of this technique to...as it were, sweep the dust under the carpet before the Investigator arrives.
JO: And supposing the Doctor refuses to cooperate?
MARSHAL: (Smiles.) Mmm, oh, he will cooperate. He will, Miss Grant. You are our guarantee. Now I shall to Solos, supervise his capture. Guard!
(He sweeps out of the office. JO looks concerned.)
14: EXT. SOLOS
(Down on the grey surface and wearing his oxymask, the MARSHAL addresses four of his men.)
MARSHAL: Drive him this way! Remember - keep the pressure on! I want the Doctor here, in one piece. (Screams.) Right, get on with it!
(The four guards stand to attention and move off in different directions.)
15: EXT. ANOTHER PART OF SOLOS
(The DOCTOR makes his way through the dead foliage, but detector carrying guards are not far behind him. The DOCTOR is making steady progress but the guards are pursuing at a run. The DOCTOR increases his pace through the mists hearing the bleeps of the nearby detectors. He runs through a thick patch of mist as the bleeps of the detectors get faster. All of sudden, a guard is in front of him. He punches the detector out of his hand and grabs his arm, twisting it round.)
DOCTOR: Goodbye!
(And with that, he knocks the man back and into unconsciousness and runs off into the murk. A minute later, the three other guards run up and find their colleague still on the ground and his detector lying nearby.)
SOLOS GUARD: He's heading for the transfer station. After him! Come on, move it!
(They give chase.)
16: INT. SOLOS. TRANSFER STATION. AIRLOCK
(The DOCTOR has reached the transfer station. Within the airlock, he pulls the door to and twists the locking dial. He then opens the inner door.)
17: INT. SOLOS. TRANSFER STATION
(He sprints along the corridors towards the transfer cubicles and jumps one. Back along the corridor, the inner airlock door re-opens and two pursuing guards enter the transfer station. They immediately aim at the DOCTOR'S cubicle. He jabs a switch and waves to the guards as the air within the cubicle flares to a brilliant blue as he transmits.)
18: INT. SKYBASE ONE. TRANSFER SECTION
(He reappears on Solos. He jumps out of the Solonian cabinet, checks that there is no one around and runs off. A moment later, both cubicles flare to blue and a guard appears in each. They look round and give chase.)
19: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(Further ahead, the DOCTOR hears them coming. He hides behind a buttress near to the door to the MARSHAL'S office. He waits until they have run past and then enters the MARSHAL'S office.)
20: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(The four captives are still restrained where they were left. The DOCTOR smiles at the first of the four he sees as he quickly dashes in.)
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Cotton.
(The others are as pleased to see him.)
STUBBS: (Quietly.) Doctor!
JO: (Quietly.) Doctor!
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Hello, Jo. Now then, we'll soon get you out of this.
(The DOCTOR starts to use his sonic screwdriver on the restraint on JO'S hand but the buzzing that the device emits means that he fails to hear the office door opening. He only becomes aware that they have company when a set of keys are dropped in front of him.)
MARSHAL: Use the key, Doctor.
(Disappointment shows on all their faces as the MARSHAL walks in with the SKYBASE GUARD and another guard.)
MARSHAL: But before you do, consider what might happen to Miss Grant.
(The armed SKYBASE GUARD holds up his gun at the DOCTOR and his hands out for the keys. The DOCTOR hands them over.)
SKYBASE GUARD: And the other thing.
(The DOCTOR slaps the sonic screwdriver into his hand.)
DOCTOR: Well, what do you want?
MARSHAL: As you're no doubt aware, Jaeger's made a complete hash of my plan to make the planet habitable. He seemed to think you could help him put it right.
DOCTOR: And if I do?
MARSHAL: Then you will live.
(He looks meaningfully at JO.)
MARSHAL: Both of you.
DOCTOR: And if not?
MARSHAL: Oh, come now, Doctor, surely you can guess?
DOCTOR: Yes, only too easily.
MARSHAL: Then why the delay?
(He looks at KY, STUBBS and COTTON.)
MARSHAL: It's not just their lives - the whole planet is at stake.
DOCTOR: (Nods.) Very well then.
MARSHAL: Yeah... Oh, one more thing - your superior will be arriving shortly.
DOCTOR: (Puzzled.) Superior?
MARSHAL: Yes, Earth Control has seen fit to have my project investigated. I want my reforms to have their approval. You and your friends here will confirm the necessity of stern measures. Outbreaks of plague and rebellion must be controlled, don't you agree?
DOCTOR: Marshal...you are quite mad.
MARSHAL: (Laughs.) Only if I lose.
21: SPACE
(A thin spaceship makes its way towards Solos - the "Hyperion".)
22: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
(JAEGER is making notes at a console when the door to the laboratory glides open and the DOCTOR is shown in by the SKYBASE GUARD and one of his colleagues - both of them keeping their guns carefully trained on their prisoner. The DOCTOR looks down on JAEGER from the upper level.
JAEGER: Ah, here you are.
DOCTOR: Well, I gather that you've made a complete hash of things.
(JAEGER ignores the jibe. He reports matter-of-factly and the DOCTOR steps down and looks at his readings.)
JAEGER: This is the situation: as far as we can tell, the centres of crystal contamination have already started to spread, and in some cases link up.
DOCTOR: Mm hm.
JAEGER: All the living organisms seem to be affected.
DOCTOR: Well, whatever we do, we're bound to leave a few bald patches.
JAEGER: It wasn't my decision, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Oh, no. No, no, of course not. You were simply obeying orders. That's a common excuse, Professor.
(He looks round.)
DOCTOR: Right, now I'll need a macrovisor. The strongest one you've got.
(He goes over to the cylindrical unit.)
JAEGER: Well, there's only one.
DOCTOR: The one you use in the transfer system?
JAEGER: Yes, but you can't use that.
DOCTOR: Well, we've gotta use it! We'll have to train it on each affected area in turn, like a searchlight.
JAEGER: I thought you were going to use the particle reversal?
DOCTOR: I am, Jaeger, I am. But we shall...we shall need the beam to transfer the effect from this laboratory to the contaminated areas.
JAEGER: Oh, I see. (Puzzled.) Er, why?
DOCTOR: Well, we can hardly set it up on the surface of the planet now, can we? You've seen to that!
JAEGER: I shall have to get the Marshal's authority.
DOCTOR: The Marshal's?
JAEGER: It's not going to be easy. It means isolating Skybase.
DOCTOR: (Snaps.) Look, for heaven's sake, stop dilly-dallying and let's get on with it! These unstable reactions are dangerous.
(He starts to search round the laboratory.)
DOCTOR: I shall need some equipment.
(He pauses in his search to throw one last insult at JAEGER.)
DOCTOR: If we don't come up with an effective control system, we'll particle reverse Skybase and we'll be in a bigger mess than we were before!
23: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(The SKYBASE GUARD has returned to the MARSHAL'S office to keep an eye on the prisoners. Somewhat deficient in his duties, he wanders round the room, taking his eye off his charges. KY watches and then nods a signal to JO. She starts to try and ease her hands out of her restraints. They watch as the bored GUARD sits on one of the chairs around the central table, puts down his gun and rests his himself. JO works at her restraint some more. She then waits. KY watches carefully, then...)
KY: (To JO, whispers.) Right.
(JO gasps and sinks to her knees.)
STUBBS: Guard!
JO: (Wearily.) Oh...
STUBBS: The girl's collapsed!
JO: (Wearily.) Help...
(The GUARD hesitates.)
STUBBS: Well, come on, man! Get over here - quickly!
(The GUARD picks up his gun and goes over to JO.)
JO: (Wearily.) Please, help me...
STUBBS: Hurry up!
(As the GUARD bends down to help her, she snatches the gun with her freed hands and jumps to her feet pointing it at him.)
JO: Right! Key.
(The GUARD hands the keys over from his trouser pocket...)
JO: And the other thing.
(...and the sonic screwdriver which is secured in his belt.)
JO: Thank you.
(Keeping the gun trained on the guard, she unlocks KY's hands. He takes the gun from her while she frees STUBBS and then COTTON.)
COTTON: Well? Now what?
JO: Well, now we've got to get onto somebody in authority and tell them what's happening here.
STUBBS: That's it, Miss - contact the Investigator.
COTTON: We can use the Marshal's communicator.
(STUBBS spots the MARSHAL'S baton on his desk as COTTON runs over to it.)
STUBBS: There it is. Right, you do that, I'll block the door.
(JO, pocketing the sonic screwdriver, joins COTTON as he switches the baton radio on.)
COTTON: (Into radio.) This is Skybase One calling "Hyperion". Skybase One calling "Hyperion". Come in "Hyperion". This is urgent, repeat: urgent!
(The ominous sounds of guns firing comes from the other side of the closed door. STUBBS waits with the gun while KY uses a set of the restraints on the GUARD.)
STUBBS: Hurry up, Cotton. I won't be able to hold them once they get in!
COTTON: (Into radio.) Skybase One! Skybase One! Come in "Hyperion"! Skybase One calling "Hyperion"!
(The door is blasted open but STUBBS is quicker and has the gun trained on the three guards outside before they can react.)
STUBBS: Stay where you are, lads. I don't wanna shoot unless I have to. (Shouts.) Go on, get back!
(The guards start to retreat.)
COTTON: (Into radio.) Come in "Hyperion"! This is urgent! Skybase One on open channel!
24: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(The MARSHAL stalks along the corridor.)
MARSHAL: What's going on here?
(He sees STUBBS with the gun and shouts at the guards...)
MARSHAL: Get him! Get him!
STUBBS: (Within the office.) Get back, Marshal!
MARSHAL: (To the guards.) Give me that, will you?!
(He grabs out and snatches one of the guard's guns, firing it into his office.)
25: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(STUBBS jumps back and returns the fire.)
COTTON: (Into radio.) Skybase calling "Hyperion"! Skybase calling "Hyperion"!
26: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE
(The MARSHAL jumps back as the shot just misses him.)
27: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE
HYPERION VOICE: (Over radio.) Go ahead, Skybase One. It's "Hyperion".
COTTON: Stubbsy, we've got 'em!
STUBBS: Well, get on with it then!
(He ducks from another shot from outside the door.)
COTTON: What do I say?
JO: Here, let me.
(She snatches the baton in her multi-ringed fingers and speaks into it desperately as gunfire shots are exchanged between STUBBS and the party outside the office.)
JO: (Into radio.) Situation on Solos critical. Marshal's attempts to convert atmosphere is causing severe loss of life. The Administrator assassinated on Marshal's orders. Marshal attempting to maintain complete control of entire planet. He must be replaced immediately! Over.
HYPERION VOICE: (Over radio.) Message received, Skybase One. Request identification. Official information soonest. "Hyperion" out.
(JO grins. At that moment, a critical shot is fired. STUBBS receives a direct hit which explodes on him and he falls back with a cry. COTTON is distraught.)
COTTON: Stubbsy!
(They all rush over to him. COTTON and JO cradle STUBBS' head in their hands.)
STUBBS: (Weakly.) Did you get through?
COTTON: Yes.
STUBBS: (Weakly.) Good lad, Cotton. Good...
(He falls back.)
COTTON: C...come on, Stubbsy. Stubbsy, man?
(A look of determination appears on COTTON'S face as he realises that he has lost his partner. KY has snatched up the fallen gun and is returning the fire.)
KY: Quick! Get out - I'll follow!
(Another shot it fired from without.)
JO: But what about him?!
COTTON: No need to worry about him. We'd better make for the transfer section. Come on.
(JO looks at the doorway which looks tantalisingly onto the transfer cubicles down the corridor - between which are the MARSHAL and the guards.)
JO: We can't!
COTTON: Not that way! Follow me!
(He pulls her across the office, past the secured GUARD towards and through a second door marked:
NO UNAUTHORISED ENTRY
KY follows. The MARSHAL and his men rush in.)
MARSHAL: After them!
(The MARSHAL punches the restrained GUARD.)
MARSHAL: Fool!
28: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
(The sound of the gunfire reaches the DOCTOR and JAEGER in the laboratory.)
DOCTOR: What's that?
JAEGER: Ready to isolate transfer macrovisor.
DOCTOR: What? Oh, right. Carry on.
(Concerned, the DOCTOR goes to the door where two armed guards stand on duty.)
DOCTOR: Excuse me.
GUARD: No.
(The guard stops him proceeding at the point of his gun. The DOCTOR gives up and steps down into the well of the room. He hears another faint gunfire shot and looks back in concern.)
29: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR
(The reduced party runs as fast as they can along a corridor. Shots are fired which narrowly miss them. KY does his best to stave off the pursuers with their single gun. After they have gone, the MARSHAL is at the vanguard on his men, all of them pausing for cover behind bulkheads before moving on.)
30: INT. SKYBASE ONE. TRANSFER SECTION
(The three reach the transfer section. COTTON bundles JO and KY into a cubicle.)
31: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
JAEGER: Transfer system isolating...now.
(The DOCTOR nods and JAEGER presses a button.)
32: INT. SKYBASE ONE. TRANSFER SECTION
(All three escapees have squeezed into one cubicle. COTTON desperately tries to operate the transmat. The door refuses to close. The MARSHAL and the guards run up. KY fires a shot which misses by a mile.)
MARSHAL: Guards!
(The lead guard drags KY from the un-opened cubicle and kicks the gun out of his hand. Defenceless, they all are quickly held by the guards.)
MARSHAL: Your friend, the Doctor, again I'm afraid, Miss Grant. He's cut off the power, no doubt. Take these two to the radiation chamber.
(KY and COTTON are dragged away.)
MARSHAL: Now, Miss Grant, perhaps you'd be good enough to come with me?
(At the point of a gun that the MARSHAL is holding, JO is led away.)
33: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR lowers in a glass rod into the exposed top of the cylindrical console.)
DOCTOR: Er, you do realise, Professor, that the slightest accident in this stage of the proceedings...
(JAEGER, stood on the gantry, almost drops another rod as he hands it to the DOCTOR who tuts as he grabs it. He lowers it carefully into the exposed console as he speaks.)
DOCTOR: The slightest accident in this stage of the proceedings...and we'd all reverse instantly into anti-matter. Blasted out to the other side of the universe, a flash of electro-magnetic radiation. We'll all become un-people, un-doing un-things un-together! Fascinating!
(He finishes lowering it in.)
DOCTOR: Got it. Right, all we've got to do is switch on now and...see what happens. Or un-happens as the case may be. Alright, lower away, will you?
(JAEGER presses a wall switch and then joins the DOCTOR in holding the top panel of the console as it descends from a small ceiling pulley and lowering it into place.)
DOCTOR: By the way, I didn't tell you, did I, Professor Sondergaard and I think we've discovered the secret behind the mutations. It's not a disease at all.
34: EXT. SOLOS. CAVE MOUTH
(Down on Solos, SONDERGAARD, clutching onto the rock wall for support, makes his way towards the cave mouth.)
35: INT. SOLOS. CAVE PASSAGE
(Once within a falls amongst a fall of rock. he collapses. A moment later, a Skybase Guard comes along on patrol with his searchlight. He quickly spots SONDERGAARD with the light and aims his gun at him. The Professor stands and awaits the fatal shot but a mutant comes up behind the guard and clubs him to the ground. SONDERGAARD looks on warily as the mutant and others approaches him roaring. He starts to plead with them...)
SONDERGAARD: Please...wait a minute, please. Can you understand me? Can you?
(They surround him.)
SONDERGAARD: You saved me from the guard. Do you know who I am? You know me? I help you - Sondergaard. I help all the mutants, you remember?
(One of them nods.)
SONDERGAARD: Good, now listen. How many are there left...after the rockets? How many mutants?
(One of the creatures speaks in a deep guttural voice...)
MUTT: Sick...sick...
SONDERGAARD: No, not sick. We know now. You are supposed to become like this. You are supposed to change.
(This disconcerts the MUTTS. They rear up, roaring in consternation.)
SONDERGAARD: Now listen to me, please? But the Overlords experiments with the air of Solos have made the mutation rate, made the change happen wrongly. Do you follow me?
(The mutants nod to each other.)
SONDERGAARD: The change can be put right. We know that now. The mutation rate can be made to go as it was meant to. But you must help me. You must help me find the Doctor. Will you come with me...and find him. To save your people?
(The mutants roar at him. He nods.)
36: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR sits at a side console while JAEGER operates the cylindrical console.)
DOCTOR: Now let it build up, Professor.
(JAEGER pulls down a level on the side of the console. A hum starts to build up and race...)
DOCTOR: More...more.
(JAEGER pulls the lever full down.)
JAEGER: You have full power now.
DOCTOR: Right, now here goes.
(He presses several buttons on his console.)
DOCTOR: Activation beginning.
(The hum is at its peak. JAEGER holds the lever down.)
37: EXT. SKYBASE ONE
(A purple flare emanates from a satellite dish on the side of Skybase and onto the surface of the planet. After a second it ceases and another takes it place, but onto another part of the surface of the planet.)
38: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY
(JAEGER is looking through a telescope-type device.)
DOCTOR: What's the reading?
JAEGER: Planet surface no longer contaminated.
DOCTOR: The nitrogen isotope level?
JAEGER: Exactly as it was before my rockets landed.
DOCTOR: Good, then that's how it stays.
(The DOCTOR presses a switch and the hum rapidly decreases, but...)
MARSHAL: Not so, Doctor.
(The MARSHAL has entered the laboratory with a guard.)
MARSHAL: You'll continue to operate this device for me until Solos has an atmosphere breathable by humans - and only by humans.
(The DOCTOR stands and slams the console in determination.)
DOCTOR: No!
MARSHAL: Very well. Bring in Miss Grant.
(The DOCTOR looks on in concern as JO is led in by another guard and a gun pointed at her head.)
MARSHAL: Well, Doctor.
(Suddenly, the tannoy bursts into life.)
HYPERION VOICE: (Over radio.) Attention Skybase. Attention Skybase. This is Earth Investigator space shuttle "Hyperion". We are about to dock.
(JO grins in delight.)
HYPERION VOICE: (Over radio.) I repeat: we are about to dock.
DOCTOR: Well, Marshal, it seems as if your superiors have arrived. What are you going to do now?
MARSHAL: (To the guard.) Get her out of here. Take...put her with the others.
(JO is led out.)
MARSHAL: And now, Doctor, shall we welcome the Investigator...together?
(He gestures at the open door.)
39: EXT. SKYBASE ONE
(A docking port extends from the huge bulk of Skybase. "Hyperion" floats upwards and connects with it on the top of its hull.)
40: INT. SKYBASE ONE. RADIATION CHAMBER
(A porthole-type hatchway is opened and JO is thrust through it by the guard. KY and COTTON in the chamber beyond catch her as she falls to the ground, the hatch being at chest level.)
COTTON: (To JO.) Are you alright?
JO: Well, yes, I...I think so.
(The guard slams the hatch shut, locking them within.)
COTTON: What's happening?
JO: The Investigator's arrived.
KY: And the Marshal?
JO: Well from what I could gather, he's taken the Doctor to meet the Investigator.
KY: (Delighted.) Then at last my people can expect justice!
COTTON: Doubt it.
KY: Why not? The Doctor will tell him everything.
JO: Well why do you think we've been shoved down here? We're hostages, Ky, to make sure the Doctor says the right thing.
COTTON: Come on. Let us stay away from that wall.
(The room they are in is almost square in shape. The wall with the hatch in it is made up of the triangular cells. The right hand wall has a circular well in it over which light patterns are played. KY is stood next to this but COTTON leads him away.)
JO: Well, why? What's wrong?
COTTON: We're in the refuelling lock, next to where we store the radioactive thaesium. That's what makes the walls glow.
JO: Thaesium?
COTTON: Nuclear fuel, Miss. We use it to power Skybase, spaceships, practically everything.
KY: How dangerous is it - this radiation?
COTTON: Safe enough for short time. Stay here too long though and, well, it builds up.
JO: Well, how long's the Marshal going to keep us down here?
COTTON: Who knows? Don't suppose he's worried.
(A thought strikes COTTON...)
COTTON: Wait a minute - refuelling!
JO: Well, what is it?
COTTON: The shuttle!
KY: What do you mean?
COTTON: They'll need to refuel "Hyperion" - the Investigator's shuttle. They should be putting a probe out any minute now.
(He looks towards the circular well.)
COTTON: Then live thaesium will start flooding through there! We'll all be done for!
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEE
Jo Grant
KATY MANNING
Marshal
PAUL WHITSUN-JONES
Ky
GARRICK HAGON
Stubbs
CHRISTOPHER COLL
Cotton
RICK JAMES
Jaeger
GEORGE PRAVDA
Sondergaard
JOHN HOLLIS
Skybase Guard
MARTIN TAYLOR
Solos Guard
DAMON SANDERS
Mutt
JOHN SCOTT MARTIN
Title Music by
RON GRAINER
and BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Incidental Music by
TRISTRAM CARY
Special Sounds by
BRIAN HODGSON
Film Cameraman
FRED HAMILTON
Film Sound
DICK MANTON
Film Editor
DAVE KING
Visual Effects Designer
JOHN HORTON
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
JEREMY BEAR
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
CHRISTOPHER BARRY
COLOUR
© BBC 1972