FRONTIER IN SPACE
BY
MALCOLM HULKE
EPISODE ONE
1: SPACE
(A large dull grey space ship cruises silently through space. It has crane-like appendages at the front and rockets at the rear.)
2: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(The bridge has two control consoles at a slight angle to each other. Each has a monitor in the wall and pilot's seat before it. Several personal photographs have been stuck to the walls above the consoles. Occupying the chairs are HARDY and STEWART, the only crew of the ship. They are both in their thirties and wear brown uniforms with large cushioned sleeve-ends and shoulder pads. Both men are in the process of completing flight checks. A microphone on a long stalk protrudes from both of the desks. HARDY speaks into his.)
HARDY: (Into radio.) This is Earth cargo ship C982 on course and on schedule. We shall be entering hyperspace in... (Checks.) ...fifty seconds.
(A counter in the wall clicks away with the revised schedule. STEWART sighs and leans back in his chair as HARDY starts to strap himself into the seatbelt built into his chair.)
STEWART: You know what I'd like?
HARDY: What?
STEWART: A job on one of those luxury space liners. First Officer on the Mars-Venus cruise - that'd suit me.
HARDY: Hmm, you can keep it! Spit and polish, cocktail parties and all those passengers?
STEWART: Gold braid uniform, beautiful stewardesses? (Smiles.) Yeah, I'd take that any time.
HARDY: You're more likely to wind up pushing a battle cruiser.
STEWART: There no...there's not going to be an interplanetary war.
HARDY: Didn't you see the videocast last night? "The President of Earth's government deplores the Draconian attack on two of Earth's cargo vessels."
(STEWART starts to manipulate his bank of controls.)
STEWART: Look, they steal a few of our cargoes, we steal a few of theirs. It'll all blow over. Right, get ready for the jump.
(STEWART straps himself into his own chair.)
HARDY: Preparing to enter hyperspace at twenty two, o-nine, seventy-two, two thousand, five hundred and forty BST. Right.
STEWART: Right.
(STEWART slams a lever home...)
3: SPACE
(and the spaceship accelerates through space, gaining velocity for the jump to hyperspace.)
4: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(HARDY studies his monitor screen intently.)
HARDY: Hey look - a ship!
(STEWART leans across to look at the screen too. A familiar looking blue box with a flashing light on the top spins into view through the dust clouds of space.)
STEWART: That's no ship!
HARDY: It's going to hit us!
(STEWART pulls the lever on his console back.)
STEWART: Pulling out of hyperspace now at twenty two, thirteen, seven-two, seven two, four-zero!
(The whine of the trip through hyperspace dies down.)
STEWART: Phew! That was a close thing.
(HARDY looks at his monitor again. It now only shows the dust clouds.)
HARDY: It vanished. It just vanished!
STEWART: You'd better report it.
HARDY: (Into microphone.) Mysterious object sighted during hyperspace transition. Object resembles large box with flashing light on top. Object disappeared before collision. Present whereabouts unknown.
(HARDY sits back and sighs with relief.)
5: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
(The TARDIS has already solidified in the cargo hold. The light flashes as the dematerialisation noise dies down. The door opens and JO and the DOCTOR step out. They both wear the same clothes as they wore on their previous adventure on Inter Minor. The chamber they are in couldn't be more different from the cargo hold on the "SS Bernice". It is metallic and futuristic. A raised railed platform skirts three edges of the room. The fourth has several viewing portals that look out onto space. Running along the platform are several machine-like containers marked:
DANGER
BULK FLOUR
The hold is well-lit.)
JO: Well, I'm never going in that thing again.
DOCTOR: Oh, come on, Jo, be reasonable.
JO: Only you could manage to have a traffic accident in space.
DOCTOR: Well, we didn't hit it, did we?
JO: Didn't we? Where's this then?
(JO climbs a short flight of steps onto the platform and begins to explore.)
DOCTOR: Well, by a rather brilliant last minute course correction, I've managed to materialise the TARDIS inside the spaceship. But to avoid hitting it, I've had to make a random jump back into normal space.
JO: Terrific, but what do we do now?
DOCTOR: Well, if I'm to get us back to Earth, I'd better find out where we are. I'll just go and check the instruments.
(The DOCTOR goes back into the TARDIS, leaving the door ajar. JO explores further. She sees the containers.)
JO: Mmm, they're carrying bulk flour.
DOCTOR: (OOV: Inside the TARDIS.) What?
JO: (Louder.) They're carrying a cargo of bulk flour.
(JO steps down and walks across the room to one of the viewing portals. She looks through into space and sees a spaceship with pincer-type locking gear flying close by. As she looks, a strange, high pitched pulsating sound increases in volume, hurting her ears. As it does so, the spaceship flares and shimmers. It then returns to normal.)
JO: Doctor?
DOCTOR: (OOV: Inside the TARDIS.) Well, I think I know where we are.
(The DOCTOR walks out of the TARDIS, preoccupied with the notebook he is scribbling in.)
DOCTOR: And I've got a pretty good idea about when.
JO: Come and take a look at this.
DOCTOR: A look at what?
(He looks out of the portal and she points.)
JO: That.
DOCTOR: Well, it's just a space ship, Jo.
(He delves back into his notebook.)
DOCTOR: You know, I reckon we must be somewhere in the twenty-sixth century. Well, interstellar travel's pretty routine by now.
JO: A moment ago, it...it seemed to change shape.
DOCTOR: Mmm?
JO: It was when I heard that noise.
(The DOCTOR looks at her.)
JO: Didn't you hear it?
DOCTOR: Well, I did hear something but very faintly. Come on, Jo. Let's go and find the crew. I want to find the exact date for my calculations.
(He moves off but JO takes a last look outside the portal.)
JO: Doctor! It's coming straight at us!
DOCTOR: What?!
6: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(HARDY has seen the spaceship on his scanner screen.)
HARDY: You won't believe this.
STEWART: Now what?
HARDY: Maybe it's a wreck.
STEWART: Try to make contact. They may need help.
HARDY: (Into radio.) This is earth cargo ship C982 in close proximity to you. Do you read me? Do you read me?
(They switch on the receiver. There is only static.)
STEWART: Try again.
HARDY: (Into radio.) Do you read me? Are you in need of assistance?
(Again they hear static.)
HARDY: It's a weird looking crate.
(Then they too hear the pulsating sound. HARDY and STEWART put their hands to their ears in pain and their expressions change to horror and disbelief as the spaceship shimmers and turns into a weapon-laden battle cruiser.)
HARDY: Draconians!
7: SPACE
(The newly-transformed battle cruiser manoeuvres until it is face on to the cargo ship.)
8: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(The strange noise begins to fade.)
STEWART: What? This close to Earth?
HARDY: They're going to attack us!
STEWART: Get the blasters.
HARDY: You can't take on a battle cruiser!
STEWART: Get the blasters!
(HARDY gets out of his seatbelt and runs out of the bridge as STEWART makes an emergency call...)
STEWART: (Into radio.) Emergency, emergency, red alert. This is Earth cargo ship C982 on co-ordinate eight-nine-seven-two, stroke, six, four, eight, three. We are under attack by a Draconian battle cruiser - galaxy class - equipped with neutronic missiles. Emergency, emergency!
9: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(A sliding door opens. HARDY enters an area immediately behind the cargo hold. He runs over to the keypad to the weapons armoury lock and starts to press the combination buttons.)
10: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
(The DOCTOR and JO are again both looking through the viewing portal.)
DOCTOR: Well, that's interesting. They must be going to do a link up.
JO: What for?
DOCTOR: Well, the two ships are joined together by a sort of tunnel, you see, with two airlocks. Well, then they equalise the pressure allowing the crew to move from one ship to the other without using space suits. Well, otherwise they'd have to get all kitted up and do a space walk.
JO: Fascinating, but let's get back to the TARDIS.
DOCTOR: Look Jo, don't worry. We'll be on our way soon. Now let's go and take look at the ship's calendar.
(As JO sighs with frustration, the DOCTOR walks away from the hold area.)
11: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(HARDY, pulling two blasters out of the armoury, hears him approaching. He steps back and points the weapons as the DOCTOR leaves the cargo hold and walks round the corner. The pulsating noise starts up again and intensifies.)
DOCTOR: (Smiles.) Ah, how do you do? I'm sorry about this intrusion.
(The DOCTOR holds out his hand. HARDY is clearly scared.)
HARDY: Who are you?
(As the DOCTOR offers to shake hands, HARDY'S vision blurs. His view of the DOCTOR changes into that of a green reptilian creature. It has a peaked head with flat skin on the forehead but scaly dimples on the cheeks and underchin. It wears an ornate uniform, part scaly armour, part ornate robe.)
DOCTOR: I said how do you do?
(HARDY steps back in shock.)
HARDY: Dragons! Drop that gun.
DOCTOR: (Amiably.) Gun? I haven't got a gun. This is simply my hand.
(JO appears from the cargo hold. As she runs to the DOCTOR, her image of HARDY shimmers into that of a towering beast with vicious, slavering jaws - a Drashig.)
JO: (Screaming.) No!
DOCTOR: Jo, what's the matter with you?
JO: (Terrified.) It's a Drashig!
DOCTOR: Nonsense, it's simply a man with a gun. Now pull yourself together.
(But JO'S view stubbornly remains that of a terrifying creature such as she saw in the miniscope.)
12: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
STEWART: (Into radio.) This is Earth cargo ship C982. Situation: Red Alert. Draconian battle cruiser is now about to grapple.
(He checks the monitor.)
STEWART: (Into radio.) They are going to lock on now. Repeat: Draconian battle cruiser about to lock on now.
13: SPACE
(The two ships approach each other...)
STEWART: (OOV: into radio.) All anti-boarding procedures carried out. Awaiting instructions. Out.
(...and then lock together.)
14: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(A clipped, precise but alien voice booms out of the communications link and the reptilian face of a DRACONIAN appears on the scanner screen. This one looks like the DOCTOR as he appeared to HARDY but has a small tufted beard.)
DRACONIAN SPACE PILOT: (On monitor.) This is the commander of the Draconian battle cruiser. We are locked onto your vessel and are about to board. If you offer any resistance, you will be destroyed.
(JO and the DOCTOR enter. HARDY is covering them with the blasters.
DRACONIAN SPACE PILOT: (On monitor.) Open the hatch of your airlock.
HARDY: Move!
(STEWART gets out of his seat and looks in fear at the two new arrivals as HARDY quickly gives him a blaster. Both men cover the DOCTOR and JO.)
HARDY: I found these two Dragons in the hold.
STEWART: But that...that's impossible. They're...we're only just locking on.
JO: Doctor, what's happening? What's going on?
DOCTOR: I'm not sure, Jo. Something rather intriguing.
DRACONIAN SPACE PILOT: (On monitor.) If you resist, we can destroy you with our neutronic weapons.
(STEWART sits down again and twists to speak into his microphone as he tries to keep the DOCTOR and JO covered.)
STEWART: (Into intercom.) If you destroy our ship, you won't get the cargo.
DOCTOR: (To JO.) Oh, so that's what it's all about.
DRACONIAN SPACE PILOT: (On monitor.) Open the hatch to your airlock or we shall enter your ship by force.
STEWART: (Into intercom.) We refuse.
HARDY: They can blow us to pieces!
STEWART: I've sent a message to Earth asking for help.
HARDY: Tell them about the prisoners.
STEWART: (Into intercom.) We have captured two of your soldiers. They will not survive if you enter our ship. (To HARDY.) Lock them in the hold.
(HARDY speaks somewhat brutally to the DOCTOR and JO.)
HARDY: Move! Get moving!
(HARDY shepherds the DOCTOR and JO out at gunpoint as STEWART turns back to his microphone.)
STEWART: (Into radio.) Emergency, emergency. Red alert. This is cargo ship C982 on co-ordinate eight, nine, seven, two, stroke, six, four, eight, three...
15: SPACE
(STEWART'S message beams across space towards his home planet: the Earth is seemingly peaceful as it floats in space...)
STEWART: (OOV: into radio.) Draconian battle cruiser has now locked on. They are about to force entry. Repeat: they are about to force entry. ____...
16: EXT. EARTH. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
(The PRESIDENTIAL PALACE is a low futuristic building with two twin tower blocks, a domed conference hall and a ramp leading down to the grassy area outside.)
17: INT. EARTH. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
(Within the office of the PRESIDENT OF EARTH stands another of the DRACONIANS, a PRINCE, looking imperious and with his arms folded. His beard is slightly longer and black. He wears ornate rings on his scaly fingers and his green and brown silken robes fall to the ground. Armoured shoulder protection sticks upwards in an ornate, almost oriental style. The office itself is stark and modern. Predominantly white in colour, it has two glass topped tables at right angles to each other with the PRESIDENT'S desk backing onto a set of full-length windows. The PRESIDENT herself is a distinguished middle-aged woman with a faint Eastern European accent and attired in a knee-length orange dress with a wide collar. One of her aides, GENERAL WILLIAMS, looks out of one of the windows. He is also of middle age with cropped black hair and a grim, cold, face. His uniform is a simple green and brown tunic. The PRESIDENT strides angrily up to the DRACONIAN PRINCE.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: But all these charges are false, your Highness. We are not attacking Draconian ships. We never have!
(The PRINCE speaks in the typical clipped precise style of his kind...)
DRACONIAN PRINCE: Our soldiers have seen the Earthmen attack us. Our cargoes have been stolen. We are Draconians - we do not lie.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: The honour of your race is well known, your Highness. That is why I cannot understand your actions.
DRACONIAN PRINCE: Actions?
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: You attack our ships, you steal their cargoes. You ignore our protests...and just meet them with these counter-charges.
DRACONIAN PRINCE: Our charges are true but yours are false. We do not attack your ships.
(The PRESIDENT picks up a note from her desk.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: This is a transcript of a distress call from one of our ships. (Reads.) "From Earth's cargo ship C982 on co-ordinate eight, nine, seven, two, six, four, eight, three. We are under attack by a Draconian battle cruiser - galaxy class - equipped with neutronic missiles".
(She looks at him accusingly.)
DRACONIAN PRINCE: The treaty between our two empires established a frontier in space. We have never violated that frontier. You have invaded our part of the galaxy many times.
(GENERAL WILLIAMS can stand no more and swings round.)
GENERAL WILLIAMS: In pursuit of your ships when they have raided ours! We've been very patient - perhaps too patient.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: (Warning.) General Williams!
(He falls silent.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: I take it a rescue attempt has been mounted?
GENERAL WILLIAMS: We've established an automatic procedure - because of the frequency of these attacks.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: Then I suggest you go and supervise the matter.
GENERAL WILLIAMS: There's no need.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: (Insistent.) Please do as I say.
GENERAL WILLIAMS: (Reluctantly.) As you wish, Madam President.
(WILLIAMS leaves the office with a cold glance at the PRINCE. He leaves through a sliding door through which a guard can be seen on duty outside.)
DRACONIAN PRINCE: Your General is insolent. We know the hatred he has always felt for our people. Long ago he caused war. Now he wishes to do so again.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: He's a soldier, your Highness, and he's angry. The people of Earth are angry.
DRACONIAN PRINCE: So are the nobles of my father's court!
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: (Pleading.) I must ask you to take my personal appeal to your father, the Emperor. He must put a stop to these attacks. If Draconia has some grievances against Earth, then this is not the way to deal with them.
DRACONIAN PRINCE: Many of our noblemen felt it was a mistake to make a treaty with the Earth men. Perhaps they were right. You attack our ships and when we protest you trick us with lies and evasions.
(He points a scaly arm at the PRESIDENT.)
DRACONIAN PRINCE: I give you a final warning. The path you are treading leads only to war. And in that war, Draconia will destroy you!
18: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
(The door opens to a small metallic room next to the hold. HARDY gestures to JO and the DOCTOR with the blaster.)
HARDY: In there.
(JO enters. The DOCTOR starts to protest.)
DOCTOR: Look...
HARDY: In there.
(HARDY shuts and locks the door as JO sits on a shelf at the side.)
JO: Doctor, what's happening on this ship? Are they both mad or am I? First I see a Drashig and...
(The DOCTOR pulls his sonic screwdriver from his pocket.)
JO: No, you can put that away - bolts.
(She points at the door.)
JO: And why do they keep calling us Dragons?
(The DOCTOR sits next to her.)
DOCTOR: Well, that's the way they see us, I suppose.
JO: Yes, but why Dragons?
DOCTOR: It's got to be some non-human life form. Something that they're frightened of. (Thinks.) Dragons...Dragons...
(He remembers and snaps his fingers.)
DOCTOR: Yes, of course - Draconians.
JO: What?
DOCTOR: Well, if this is the period that I think it is, there are two great empires spreading their way through the galaxy of the Milky Way.
JO: Empires? You mean like Solos?
DOCTOR: Those were the declining years of Earth's planetary empire - this is just the beginning. Now, Earth and Draconia are both been expanding, you see? Colonising one planet after another, and they're sitting on a powder keg.
JO: Yes, but why do they mistake us for these "Dragons"?
DOCTOR: No, Draconians. No, "Dragons" is rather an unflattering nickname. Well, you remember that sound you heard?
JO: Yes.
DOCTOR: And the man that you saw with the gun?
JO: Oh, no. No, no, what I saw was a Drashig!
DOCTOR: No, you didn't, Jo. That sound made you see what you fear most.
JO: How?
DOCTOR: Well, it shouldn't be too difficult. Ultrasonics geared to stimulate the fear centres of the brain, something like that.
JO: How long does it last? How long before they see that we're just people?
DOCTOR: Well, difficult to say. It seems to act like some post-hypnotic command. It will fade eventually, of course.
(JO tuts, sighs and starts to pace the room.)
JO: Why should anybody go to all this trouble to make people see things?
DOCTOR: Why indeed?
JO: Well, we've got to get out of here somehow.
(JO peers through the grille of the door.)
19: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
JO: (Excited.) Doctor!
DOCTOR: Mmm?
JO: I can see the TARDIS!
20: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
DOCTOR: (Calmly.) Well, that's one consolation, isn't it?
21: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
STEWART: Try Earth Control again.
HARDY: (Into radio.) Emergency, emergency, red alert. This is Earth cargo ship C982 on co-ordinate eight, nine, seven, two, stroke, six, four, eight, three...
(They hear a drumming noise coming from the radio.)
HARDY: Argh! They're jamming us.
STEWART: Well, maybe the first message got through. They'll send help.
HARDY: Will they? They're probably still passing memos to each other.
STEWART: (Insistent.) They'll send help.
HARDY: (Panicked.) I know what they'll do. They'll send an urgent protest to the Draconian Embassy. By that time, we'll be finished. Government should have blown the Dragons out of space years ago.
STEWART: And have another war?
HARDY: What do you think this is?
STEWART: Look, the door of our space lock is ninety-nine percent durilium. They're not going to get through that in a hurry.
DRACONIAN SPACE PILOT: (On monitor.) Earth men, this is your last warning. Surrender your cargo and you will be unharmed. Resist and you will be destroyed.
STEWART: Right.
(He grabs his blaster.)
STEWART: Looks like battle stations. We'd better get down to the airlock.
HARDY: You're not going to fight them?
STEWART: If I have to. Do you have a better idea?
HARDY: It's only a load of flour!
STEWART: It's my cargo. And if the Draconians want it, it's going to cost them more than just a few threats.
(He strides out of the bridge. A very nervous HARDY grabs his own blaster and follows.)
22: INT. EARTH. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
(The latest newscast is playing on a giant screen which occupies most of the far wall of the office. The PRESIDENT is handing various papers to her pink-dressed SECRETARY.)
NEWSCASTER: (On monitor.) And the bureau of population control announced today that the recently reclaimed Arctic areas are now ready for habitation. As a special inducement for those willing to live in New Glasgow and New Montreal - the first two totally enclosed cities to be opened - the family allowance will be increased to two children per couple.
(The SECRETARY leaves.)
NEWSCASTER: (On monitor.) News is just coming through of another recorded attack on an Earth cargo ship in space.
(The PRESIDENT looks up and presses a buzzer on her desk.)
NEWSCASTER: (On monitor.) This is the third attack on an Earth cargo ship this month.
(She gets up and starts to angrily pace the office.)
NEWSCASTER: (On monitor.) In a statement issued by the Draconian Embassy on Earth, the Draconian government denies all knowledge of this or any other attacks.
(GENERAL WILLIAMS enters and immediately takes an interest in the newscast after a look of fury from the PRESIDENT.)
NEWSCASTER: (On monitor.) As yet there has been no official comment, but Congressman Brook, Leader of the Opposition has said "The people of Earth will no longer tolerate these unprovoked attacks. It is time for the World government to take a stand and issue a final ultimatum to the Draconian Emperor".
(She switches off the newscast.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: (Angrily.) I thought I ordered a complete security blackout?
GENERAL WILLIAMS: The news services have their own monitors. They probably picked up the distress messages.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: And?
GENERAL WILLIAMS: The rescue ships should rendezvous in seventeen and a half minutes from now. It'll be too late, of course. All they'll find will be dead men and a gutted ship.
23: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK
(Two familiar looking, hairy, ape-like creatures wearing leather tunics hold a lance to the airlock door. They are beginning to make progress in their attempt to cut through.)
24: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(HARDY and STEWART watch the burning line make its way down the door from their side of the airlock.)
HARDY: They'll be through that door any minute!
25: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
(The DOCTOR is making minute adjustments to his sonic screwdriver.)
JO: Doctor, what are you doing?
DOCTOR: I'm reversing the polarity of me ultrasonic screwdriver's power source, thereby converting it into an extremely powerful electro magnet.
JO: Oh. What good will that do?
DOCTOR: You wait and see, Jo.
(The DOCTOR gets up and points the screwdriver out through the grille and bars in the door, trying to magnetically draw back the bolts.)
JO: Is it working?
DOCTOR: Yes, I think so.
26: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(HARDY and STEWART nervously level their weapons at the airlock door.)
HARDY: I'm going to get the prisoners.
STEWART: What for?
HARDY: We're using them as hostages - remember?
(He runs off.)
STEWART: You'd better be quick about it. We haven't got much time.
27: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
(The DOCTOR is still trying to work the bolts with the sonic screwdriver.)
JO: How is it going?
DOCTOR: Nearly there.
28: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
(The bars creak as the DOCTOR works on them.)
29: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
DOCTOR: There you are - that's it.
(The DOCTOR opens the door to find HARDY pointing a gun at him.)
30: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
DOCTOR: Oh, how very embarrassing. Good afternoon.
(The DOCTOR tries to shut the door...)
31: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
(...but HARDY pushes it back open.)
HARDY: Out.
JO: That's just where we were going.
HARDY: We're going to meet your friends.
(HARDY shepherds them out pulling the door to behind them.)
32: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
HARDY: Come on! Get on there!
(The DOCTOR and JO enter at gunpoint.)
STEWART: Come on, they're almost through.
(STEWART grabs the DOCTOR while HARDY takes JO.)
HARDY: Get in front!
(The DOCTOR and JO are held in front of them as shields.)
HARDY: If your friends start shooting, they'll get you first.
JO: But they're not our friends!
STEWART: You are part of their boarding party.
DOCTOR: Well, they haven't boarded yet. They're still breaking through that door. Now, try and be logical, man.
HARDY: They're coming through!
(Now cut through, the airlock door falls to the ground and the invaders burst in. JO recognises them immediately...)
JO: (Screaming.) Ogrons!
(The DOCTOR grabs STEWART by the arm and barrels him towards the invaders.)
DOCTOR: Back to the TARDIS, Jo, back!
(As they run off, an Ogron fires and HARDY falls stunned. The Ogron fires again.)
33: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
(The DOCTOR is hit and falls unconscious.)
JO: Doctor! Doctor!
(JO runs back to help the fallen DOCTOR. She looks up as a grinning Ogron bears down on her.)
34: INT. EARTH. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
(GENERAL WILLIAMS and the PRESIDENT are watching another newscast. The picture shows an image of the cargo ship.)
NEWSCASTER: (OOV.) Distress signals have been received from another Earth cargo ship, reporting an attack by a Draconian battle cruiser. Rescue ships are now on their way.
(WILLIAMS switches off the newscast.)
GENERAL WILLIAMS: There have been anti-Draconian riots in Tokyo and Belgrade, and the Draconian Consulate in Helsinki has been burnt to the ground. In Los Angeles, demonstrators burnt an effigy of you.
(The intercom signals. The PRESIDENT answers. It is her SECRETARY.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: Yes?
SECRETARY: (OOV: Over intercom.) They have just found the cargo ship, Madam President, but it is not responding to signals.
GENERAL WILLIAMS: (Into intercom.) And the Draconians?
SECRETARY: (OOV: Over intercom.) There is no sign of any Draconian ships, sir. They are about to board...now.
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: (Into intercom.) Thank you.
(She turns off the intercom.)
PRESIDENT OF EARTH: We shall soon know what really happened.
GENERAL WILLIAMS: If there's anyone alive to tell them.
35: SPACE
(The cargo ship floats as if abandoned...)
36: INT. CARGO SHIP. HOLD
(Left where he was shot in the hold, the DOCTOR begins to stir. JO'S voice seems to call from far off.)
JO: Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Groggily.) Jo?
JO: Doctor!
DOCTOR: Jo?
(From his position on the floor, he sees that JO has been put back into their former room and the door has been bolted shut again. There is no sign of the Ogrons.)
JO: Doctor, I'm over here!
(The DOCTOR staggers up and walks over to the room.)
DOCTOR: (Still groggy.) Hello, Jo, what are you doing in there?
JO: Oh, Doctor, thank goodness you're all right! I thought they'd killed you.
(He unbolts the door and goes inside.)
37: INT. CARGO SHIP. STARBOARD CUBICLE
JO: Come on, come and sit down.
(She helps him to sit on the low bench. He rubs his head.)
DOCTOR: Must have been some kind of neuronic stun gun. I wonder why they didn't kill me? What exactly happened, Jo?
JO: Well, they took the cargo, threw me in here and...Doctor?
DOCTOR: Mmm?
JO: They also took the TARDIS.
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Oh...
JO: Oh, we're stranded. What are we going to do?
DOCTOR: Well, try and get the TARDIS back, of course. Why should the Ogrons attack this ship?
JO: To steal the cargo.
DOCTOR: No...no, there's more to it than that. That's...that sound that you heard, it...it's all too sophisticated for the Ogrons.
JO: Well, they're gone now.
DOCTOR: Yeah, the question is, where?
JO: Hey, Doctor, last time we met the Ogrons they were working for the Daleks, right? Well, you don't suppose that that...
DOCTOR: No, no, not necessarily. No, the Ogrons are mercenaries. Other life forms use them to do their dirty work. Come on, Jo, let's go and find the crew.
(They leave the room.)
38: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(HARDY and STEWART lay unconscious on the floor. The hole in the airlock door seems to have been welded shut. The DOCTOR and JO enter.)
DOCTOR: Jo, take a look at that one.
(JO goes to the aid of HARDY while the DOCTOR attends to STEWART.)
DOCTOR: Well, they're both stunned, just as I was.
(He notices the welded door and stands up to look at it.)
DOCTOR: That's funny - the Ogrons have repaired the airlock door.
JO: (Sarcastically.) Well, that was nice of them.
DOCTOR: Well, if they hadn't, we'd have both been done for. All the air would have escaped when the ships unlocked.
JO: (Puzzled.) Why should they go to all that trouble?
DOCTOR: Well, maybe they've got kind hearts. There's good in everyone you know, Jo.
(JO sighs in impatience at the DOCTOR'S optimism. Suddenly, a voice carries through the ship, coming from the speakers.)
GARDINER: (OOV: Over radio.) Earth Battle Cruiser to Earth cargo ship number C982. We are now approaching you. Do you read me?
DOCTOR: Look after them, will you?
JO: Right.
(The DOCTOR runs off towards the bridge as JO attends the STEWART.)
GARDINER: (OOV: Over radio.) Do you read me?
39: SPACE
(A large battle cruiser circles the floating cargo ship, turning in order that it can approach its airlock.)
GARDINER: (OOV: Over radio.) Earth Battle Cruiser to Earth cargo ship number C982. We are now approaching you. Do you read me? Over.
40: INT. CARGO SHIP. BRIDGE
(GARDINER appears on the monitor on the deserted bridge. He is a young man in military uniform with a headgear that covers the ears but leaves the top of his head bare.)
GARDINER: (On monitor.) Earth Battle Cruiser to Earth cargo ship number C982. We are now approaching you. Do you read me? Do you read me?
(The DOCTOR runs on the bridge and sits in STEWART'S chair.)
GARDINER: (On monitor.) Prepare to be boarded. Repeat: prepare to be boarded. Do you read me? Over.
DOCTOR: (Into microphone.) Hello battle cruiser, battle cruiser. This is the cargo ship. Over.
GARDINER: (On monitor.) What is your situation?
DOCTOR: (Into microphone.) The ship has been attacked and the cargo stolen. Over.
GARDINER: (On monitor.) Do you have casualties?
DOCTOR: (Into microphone.) Yes, the crew are stunned, but otherwise they're unharmed. Over.
GARDINER: (On monitor.) We shall lock on...five seconds from now.
(The DOCTOR checks his watch, switches off the microphone and leaves the bridge.)
41: SPACE
(The nozzle of the battlecruiser docks with the cargo ship.)
42: INT. CARGO SHIP. AIRLOCK AREA
(The echoing sound of the docking reaches the airlock area. JO is helping STEWART drink from a small flask as the DOCTOR returns.)
DOCTOR: It's alright, Jo. We're being rescued.
STEWART: What happened?
DOCTOR: Well, don't worry, old chap. You'll be all right now. I think...
(STEWART hears airlock lock opening as the cabin pressurises.)
STEWART: Draconians! They're boarding!
(GARDINER enters through the airlock, accompanied KEMP by some heavily armed soldiers.)
GARDINER: Stewart?
(He points his gun at the DOCTOR.)
GARDINER: Who are you?
DOCTOR: Passengers.
GARDINER: I see. Having a fancy dress party? (To STEWART.) What happened?
STEWART: Dragons - attacked us.
GARDINER: Did they get the cargo?
STEWART: I don't know.
JO: Yes, they took everything.
DOCTOR: Including some rather valuable property of mine.
GARDINER: Well, tough luck.
DOCTOR: Oh, thank you very much.
(HARDY gets to his feet.)
HARDY: (Groggily.) Dragons...they attacked us.
(GARDINER goes to help him.)
GARDINER: Yes, we know. (To the DOCTOR.) You say you're passengers. Isn't that a little unusual on a cargo ship?
DOCTOR: Well, we're here, aren't we?
GARDINER: (To STEWART.) Where did you pick these two up?
STEWART: I don't know. I can't seem to remember...
GARDINER: (Harshly.) Pull yourself together! How did they get on board?
(STEWART thinks desperately for an answer.)
STEWART: Stowaways...that's it - they were stowaways. They were sending messages!
HARDY: That's right - they were helping the Dragons! They're traitors!
(The soldiers all raise their blasters to cover the DOCTOR and JO.)
Dr. Who
JON PERTWEE
Jo Grant
KATY MANNING
President of Earth
VERA FUSEK
General Williams
MICHAEL HAWKINS
Draconian Prince
PETER BIRREL
Gardiner
RAY LONNEN
Kemp
BARRY ASHTON
Hardy
JOHN REES
Stewart
JAMES CULLIFORD
Newscaster
LEWIS MAHONEY
Draconian Pilot
ROY PATTISON
Secretary
KAROL HAGAR
Written by
MALCOLM HULKE
Title Music by
RON GRAINER
and
BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP
Incidental Music by
DUDLEY SIMPSON
Special Sound
DICK MILLS
Visual Effects Designers
BERNARD WILKIE
RHYS JONES
Lighting
RALPH WALTON
Sound
BRIAN HILES
Costume Designer
BARBARA KIDD
Make-Up
SANDRA SHEPHERD
Masks by
JOHN FRIEDLANDER
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
CYNTHIA KLJUČO
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
PAUL BERNARD
COLOUR
© BBC 1973