THE
GREEN DEATH
BY
ROBERT SLOMAN
EPISODE FIVE
1: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, I've just been on to the RAF. They'll be flying a low level strike with H.E. grenades in...
(He checks his watch.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: ...in just seven minutes. In ten minutes time, they'll be nothing left alive in that whole area.
2: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. COMPUTER ROOM
(Suddenly the VOICE that emits from STEVENS' monitor booms across the room in a friendly, welcoming tone.)
BOSS'S VOICE: How kind of you to drop in, Doctor! I've been looking forward to having a little chat with you.
(The DOCTOR looks for the source of the VOICE in total bafflement.)
DOCTOR: Who are you? Where are you?
BOSS'S VOICE: You disappoint me, Doctor. I should have thought you'd have guessed.
(Behind the DOCTOR is a huge circular screen on which the oscilloscope twitches against a red background.)
BOSS'S VOICE: I am the BOSS. I'm all around you.
(The DOCTOR turns and looks at the red screen.)
BOSS'S VOICE: Exactly - I am the computer!
3: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
(SERGEANT BENTON surveys the slagheap through a pair of binoculars as CLIFF comes running up behind him.)
CLIFFORD JONES: Sergeant?
SERGEANT BENTON: Hello, Professor. Have you come up to have a look at our nasty little maggots, have you?
CLIFFORD JONES: I'm looking for Jo Grant.
SERGEANT BENTON: Oh, you've just missed her.
CLIFFORD JONES: She's in there?
(He looks towards the maggot-infested slagheap.)
SERGEANT BENTON: No, no, no, I wouldn't let her through there.
CLIFFORD JONES: Thank God for that.
SERGEANT BENTON: She's gone off to look for the Doctor, I think.
(BENTON suddenly sees something behind CLIFF'S shoulder and leaves the Professor to harangue two soldiers.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Hey you two! Don't you obey orders any more?
(Left by himself, CLIFF looks across the slagheap. He suddenly stiffens as he sees JO making her way across the area in the distance.)
SERGEANT BENTON: What's the point of me telling you to stop it if you don't carry it out?
(He follows her, unnoticed by the UNIT soldiers.)
4: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. COMPUTER ROOM
BOSS'S VOICE: Well, Doctor, have you nothing to say?
DOCTOR: (Derisively.) Why should I want to talk to a machine?
(He starts to wander around the room as BOSS gives out a short laugh.)
BOSS'S VOICE: Oh really, Doctor! As far as I can gather from your computer record at UNIT, the difficult thing is to stop you talking. (Laughs.) No, no, no, you won't provoke me so easily.
DOCTOR: You're still a machine.
BOSS'S VOICE: And you? And your human friends? Aren't you machines - inefficient and organic machines?
DOCTOR: No.
BOSS'S VOICE: No?
DOCTOR: (Thinks.) Then yes.
(He wanders across to the far side of the room to look at one particular bank.)
DOCTOR: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are more than machines.
BOSS'S VOICE: Ah! Thank you - because in that case, so am I.
DOCTOR: What are you then?
BOSS'S VOICE: I am the first Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor.
DOCTOR: (Spells.) B, O, double S - the BOSS!
BOSS'S VOICE: Precisely!
DOCTOR: (Amused.) Ha!
(He wanders over to another area of the room.)
BOSS'S VOICE: Ah! My designers also found it amusing. I find it suitable.
DOCTOR: You're still nothing but a gigantic adding machine like any other computer.
BOSS'S VOICE: Oh no! No, no, no, no - I am the only computer ever to be linked to a human brain.
DOCTOR: Stevens?
BOSS'S VOICE: Yes - Stevens! And I learned from him that secret of human creativity is inefficiency.
(The DOCTOR starts to leaf through a pile of computer printouts.)
BOSS'S VOICE: The human brain is a very poor computer indeed. It makes illogical guesses which turn out to be more logical than logic itself.
DOCTOR: Yes, infuriating, isn't it?
BOSS'S VOICE: I programmed Stevens to programme me to be inefficient.
(The VOICE starts to take on a ranting tone...)
BOSS'S VOICE: I am now self-controlling, I am self-sufficient, I am the greatest being this planet has ever seen - I am the BOSS!
DOCTOR: Today Llanfairfach, tomorrow the world, eh?
BOSS'S VOICE: How well you understand me, Doctor.
DOCTOR: A machine - a megalomaniac machine...
(He throws the pile of papers into the air.)
DOCTOR: But still a machine!
BOSS'S VOICE: And as such, uniquely fitted to carry out my prime directive.
DOCTOR: And that is?
BOSS'S VOICE: Efficiency, productivity and profit for Global Chemicals, of course. Nothing and nobody can be allowed to stand in the way of that! Not even you, Doctor...
5: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(A maggot hisses at JO, showing its sharp little teeth. JO looks at it in horror. They have her cornered against a rockface. CLIFF catches up with her.)
CLIFFORD JONES: Hey! What the hell do you think you're up to?
JO: I'm looking for a little playmate for you!
CLIFFORD JONES: Shh! I nearly had a fit when I saw you!
JO: I've been a bit worried myself.
CLIFFORD JONES: Look, if anything had happened to you, I...
(He hugs her.)
CLIFFORD JONES: Oh, come on - let's get out of here.
(They run off.)
6: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
(SERGEANT BENTON gives a soldier an order whilst behind him, the BRIGADIER swigs back a mug of tea.)
SERGEANT BENTON: That'll be all, Stevens. Thank you.
(The soldier stamps his salute and walks off as the noise of a helicopter is heard and BENTON'S radio bursts into life.)
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) Greyhound one? This is eagle.
SERGEANT BENTON: (To the BRIGADIER.) It's the helicopter, sir.
(The BRIGADIER comes over and takes the radio from him.)
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) Do you read?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ah, thank you, Benton.
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) Over.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into radio.) Eagle, this is greyhound one - receiving you loud and clear, over.
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) Eagle standing by, over.
(BENTON points into the air.)
SERGEANT BENTON: There she is, sir.
(A small helicopter appears over the ridge of the slagheap.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into radio.) Go ahead, eagle. The area is clear, over.
(The helicopter gets nearer.)
7: EXT. HELICOPTER
(The soldier in the helicopter signals to the pilot.)
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (Into radio.) Thank you greyhound. Commencing first run, over.
8: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(JO and CLIFF run round a corner of the slagheap as the noise of the helicopter gets nearer. They pause and watch as the helicopter starts to drop its bombs which result in large explosions on the ground. CLIFF points.)
CLIFFORD JONES: Over there!
(They dash towards a small man-made tunnel entrance in the face of the slagheap. Behind them, the explosions continue, seemingly consuming the maggots in balls of fire.)
9: EXT. HELICOPTER
(The soldier continues to drop bomb after bomb...)
10: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(and the explosions continue. JO and CLIFF get nearer to the tunnel as fire erupts over more and more of the expanse of black rock. The helicopter shoots overhead but fails to see the two trapped people below as they enter the tunnel - just as a huge explosion erupts on the spot they were stood on.)
11: INT. CAVE
(The inside of the tunnel is a small man-made cave with fallen pit props being testament to its decay. CLIFF watches through the smoke as JO gets a UNIT radio out of her pocket.)
JO: (Into radio.) Hello, Brigadier, this is Jo. Greyhound one, come in please. Hello, Brigadier, this is Jo. Greyhound one, come in please.
(They fail to see that a maggot is writhing in the dark recesses of the cave behind them...)
12: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. COMPUTER ROOM
(The sound of the explosions reach the computer room. The DOCTOR rushes over to the lift doors to listen.)
DOCTOR: What's that?
BOSS'S VOICE: The bombing has started.
DOCTOR: Bombing? What bombing?
BOSS'S VOICE: The Air Force will soon have obliterated those creatures out there. Your Brigadier - he's in charge.
DOCTOR: Fool! What did he want to bring them in for? Doesn't he realise that bombing'll never stop those maggots?
BOSS'S VOICE: Stevens arranged it on my instructions, you see. The facts offer it as the only logical solution.
DOCTOR: Well, it won't work, I tell you.
BOSS'S VOICE: Oh, you are mistaken. I can't be wrong. I am infallible.
(This interests the DOCTOR. He looks at the red screen.)
DOCTOR: Really? Then try this one - if I were to tell you that the next thing I say will be true, but that the last thing I said was a lie, would you believe me?
(For once, BOSS starts to sound uncertain...)
BOSS'S VOICE: Er...the...matter is not relevant.
DOCTOR: Check!
BOSS'S VOICE: (Hastily.) Er, it can be worked out! Yes...erm...
DOCTOR: Go on...
BOSS'S VOICE: Erm...
DOCTOR: Mmm hmm?
BOSS'S VOICE: Your...your statements do not correlate, they are incompatible, it is not a valid query, er...d...give me time, Doctor. I shall work it out.
(Around the room, the tapes start to spin ever faster...)
BOSS'S VOICE: I shall work it out...
(...and the hum of the equipment starts to rise as BOSS grows more frantic to find the answer.)
BOSS'S VOICE: Mmm...it cannot be unsaid....but I will work it out! I shall work it out! I must!
DOCTOR: (Smiles.) Check and mate! You're nothing but a machine after all.
(Satisfied, he heads for the lift as the BOSS starts to rave...)
BOSS'S VOICE: I shall answer it, I shall answer it. I shall, I shall, I shall!
(The DOCTOR reaches the door and takes out his sonic screwdriver.)
BOSS'S VOICE: I shall answer it!
(He opens the doors and they part to reveal an impassive STEVENS and two guards.)
BOSS'S VOICE: I shall, I shall, I shall I shall answer it!
13: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(The helicopter continues its bombing of the slagheap
14: INT. CAVE
(JO moves near the entranceway to get a better signal. The inside of the cave is now very smoky from the explosions outside.)
JO: (Into radio.) Brigadier, greyhound one, come in? Brigadier, greyhound one, come in?
(The maggot hisses and this draws CLIFF'S attention to it.)
CLIFFORD JONES: Jo, look out!
JO: (Into radio.) Greyhound...!
(The maggot shoots across the cave towards them as CLIFF pushes her out of the way.)
15: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(Outside there is a massive explosion...)
16: INT. CAVE
(...the force of which throws CLIFF off his feet and across the cave. JO looks down in shock.)
17: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(The helicopter flies away from the target area.)
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) This is eagle. Greyhound one? Mission accomplished.
18: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
(The BRIGADIER, BENTON and the soldiers have been watching.)
HELICOPTER SOLDIER: (OOV: Over radio.) Over.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into radio.) Thank you, Eagle. Thank you - out.
(He hands the radio back to BENTON and lifts up his binoculars.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right, let's have a look.
19: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(As the flames die down, the maggots would seem to be lifeless.)
20: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
(The BRIGADIER lowers his binoculars with a satisfied look on his face.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, that seems to have done the trick.
(BENTON is looking through his own binoculars.)
SERGEANT BENTON: No, I'm afraid no, sir. Look over there - to the right.
(The BRIGADIER looks again.)
21: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(The maggots are shuffling through the dying flames.)
22: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
(The two despondent men lower their glasses.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Well, that means we're in trouble, doesn't it, sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes.
23: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. COMPUTER ROOM
(The DOCTOR has been sat and secured by his wrists in a small alcove next to the red circular screen. The conditioning headphones have been placed on his head and he sits with his eyes closed concentrating as STEVENS and the two guards look on. An aura of white lights circle his head like a halo.)
BOSS'S VOICE: It is no use begging for mercy, Doctor.
(The DOCTOR mutters numbers under his breath and then opens his eyes, wholly unconcerned.)
DOCTOR: (Airily.) Oh, I'm not. No, I'm merely working out a few sums to keep myself from getting bored. Now, let's see - pie - three, point, one, four, one, six...
BOSS'S VOICE: Power increasing, Doctor.
(The hum of the equipment rises. The DOCTOR, looking wholly unconcerned, continues to mutter. STEVENS starts to look concerned at the lack of progress.)
24: INT. CAVE
(JO kneels next to CLIFF and gently shakes him. He doesn't move.)
JO: Cliff? Cliff, we can go now, it's stopped. Cliff?
(There is no change. JO suddenly catches sight of the radio and picks it up. It would seem to be smashed in two. JO sighs and goes to the entrance.)
25: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(She looks down in concern. Several hissing maggots are shuffling nearer. She retreats back into the cave.)
26: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. COMPUTER ROOM
(The DOCTOR is still muttering his sums. The lights round his head are growing fiercer with streaks of blue and red. BOSS starts to sound angry.)
BOSS'S VOICE: The subject is not responding to therapy!
DOCTOR: Therapy! Oh, what a pretty euphemism! You're not trying to tell me this is all for my own good?
BOSS'S VOICE: It is!
DOCTOR: And that it hurts you more than it hurts me?
BOSS'S VOICE: It does!
DOCTOR: You didn't mean it to though, did you?
BOSS'S VOICE: (Screams.) I will not...!
(BOSS tries desperately to control itself.)
BOSS'S VOICE: ...be angered...I will eradicate anger. It effects efficiency.
DOCTOR: Nonsense. Sometimes it helps, you know.
(He smiles with delight. Suddenly, the halo of lights that surround the DOCTOR'S head cease.)
BOSS'S VOICE: Stevens, take over.
(He bows to the screen and wanders over to the DOCTOR in as friendly a manner as he can muster.)
STEVENS: Doctor, believe me - we wish you no harm.
DOCTOR: Now don't worry, my dear fellah, I'm having a whale of a time!
(STEVENS wanders round the room, as if making a speech.)
STEVENS: In the end, we all want the same thing - an ordered society, with everyone happy, well fed...
DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Global Chemicals taking all the profits...
(STEVENS turns and faces him.)
STEVENS: What's best for Global Chemicals is best for the world, is best for you.
DOCTOR: Such as a little touch of brainwashing?
STEVENS: Freedom from fear, freedom from pain...
DOCTOR: Freedom from freedom?
BOSS'S VOICE: (Furious.) Enough! Stevens - destroy him!
STEVENS: Guards!
(He gestures to the guards who rush as the secured DOCTOR.)
DOCTOR: No, wait! BOSS! BOSS...!
(The guards stop.)
DOCTOR: Now, you're being illogical. If you destroy me, you're destroying your bargaining power. After all, I'd make a good hostage, wouldn't I?
BOSS'S VOICE: Mmm...he's right. We shall not kill him now. We shall postpone that pleasure.
DOCTOR: Pleasure? Well, well, well, perhaps I was wrong about you after all? That last remark was worthy of a human being.
27: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(JO is watching the hissing maggots once more. With a look on her face approaching despair, she goes back into the cave.)
28: INT. CAVE
(There she examines the radio once more. She has a screwdriver and starts to try to repair the device.)
29: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. ROOM
(The DOCTOR is thrown into a darkened room by the two guards. It is bare apart from the Global Chemicals logo on the wall and a set of chains that hang down from the ceiling. The guards throw the DOCTOR'S cloak in after him and then close the door. The DOCTOR starts to look round. There is a very secure grille made up of thick bars, a fire alarm and not much else. He picks up his cloak.)
30: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(The maggots shuffle nearer to the entrance.)
31: INT. CAVE
(JO, still fixing the radio, hears them. She pleads to the still unconscious Professor.)
JO: Please wake up - they're getting closer. Cliff?
(She sighs and carries on desperately trying to fix the radio.)
32: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. ROOM
(The DOCTOR, his eyes closed, rests sat against the wall of his room. He has donned his cloak. He hears the noise of the door being unlocked and jumps to his feet. His back pressed to the wall he waits. The door opens and a figure looks into the gloom. With a cry, the DOCTOR leaps forward, yanks the figure into the room and slams him against a wall. He suddenly sees who he has attacked...)
DOCTOR: Captain Yates, my dear fellow, how terribly sorry I am.
(He lets the soldier go and YATES walks forward a step...)
CAPTAIN YATES: Think nothing of it.
(...and promptly collapses on the floor.)
DOCTOR: Yates! Get up! Get up! Don't mess around there - come on!
(He pulls the coughing and gasping YATES to his feet.)
DOCTOR: Get up, there's no time for horseplay. How did you know I was here?
CAPTAIN YATES: I saw it all on one of the monitors downstairs in the Director's office.
DOCTOR: Well, we've got to get out fast. There's more going on here than I thought.
CAPTAIN YATES: You mean in the mine?
DOCTOR: I don't, I mean all over the world. Come on, we've got to tell the Brigadier.
(He leads YATES out of the room.)
33: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. CORRIDOR
(They come to a junction in the corridor and look round. They set off and a wall camera turns and follows their movement. Suddenly an alarm bell starts to ring.)
DOCTOR: That'll be for us.
(YATES points to a door.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Through here.
(They go through, shutting the door after them.)
34: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. ANOTHER CORRIDOR
VOICE: (Over tannoy.) Phase four alert in central security area. Two intruders in main block.
(The two "intruders" run down a set of steps but the DOCTOR sees two armed guards further down the corridor.)
DOCTOR: Hold it - they're coming!
CAPTAIN YATES: This way!
(He points in another direction and they take it, another security camera following their every movement.)
VOICE: (Over tannoy.) Search the area and detain.
35: EXT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. LOADING BAY
(The DOCTOR runs towards the ledge of a loading bay and jumps down into the yard. YATES is a few yards behind and a door slams down before he can reach it. The DOCTOR turns and sees YATES through the glass of the door. The CAPTAIN mouths to him "Run, Doctor, you get out" as the guards catch up with him. The DOCTOR nods and runs off. The guards lead YATES away.)
36: EXT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. MAIN GATE
(The DOCTOR runs between two buildings and finds his abandoned milkfloat. He jumps into the driver's seat, starts the engine and reverses at the fastest speed possible towards the barrier. The guards can do little but watch as he crashes through the barrier, spilling bottles as he goes. He turns and drives off as the guards start to fire their rifles at the departing vehicle. The DOCTOR weaves the vehicle from one side of the road to the other in an attempt to avoid the bullets, spilling a great number of full milk bottles onto the road.)
37: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. CORRIDOR
(Inside the factory, YATES is thrown against a wall by the guards and then dragged off.)
38: INT. CAVE
(JO has managed to repair the radio.)
JO: (Into radio.) Hello? Brigadier, greyhound one? Greyhound four, do you read me, over?
(She listens for the reply but there is only static.)
JO: (Into radio.) Hello? Brigadier, this is Jo. Do you read me? Hello? Hello?
(She looks desperately towards the cave entrance.)
39: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
SERGEANT BENTON: (To a soldier.) That'll be all, Betts, thank you.
(The soldier moves off and the BRIGADIER walks up. They salute each other.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: At least the creatures seem to be staying around the slagheap.
SERGEANT BENTON: Ah, I expect they want to stay near home, sir. Lie close to their breeding ground?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No, we can't count on it. If they took it into their heads to move off to the country, we'd be in real trouble.
(He hears the noise of a car engine and watches as Bessie rounds comes over the edge of the hill.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ah, the Doctor.
(The car comes to a halt and the two soldiers walk up to it.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, Doctor, the bombing didn't work.
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) No, I didn't expect it to.
(BENTON'S radio suddenly comes to life with a great deal of static.)
SERGEANT BENTON: (Into radio.) Station calling greyhound one. You're very faint. Please repeat, over.
40: INT. CAVE
(JO looks delighted.)
JO: (Into radio.) Hello? Is that you, Sergeant? It's Jo. Look, I'm up on the slag heap with the Professor. He's hurt and we're surrounded by maggots. Please hurry.
41: EXT. EDGE OF THE SLAGHEAP
DOCTOR: I thought they were in the lab?
SERGEANT BENTON: Well, they came up here but I sent them both back.
DOCTOR: Well, we've got to get them out of there. Jump in, Sergeant.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, Benton, you go with the Doctor. I'll alert Wholeweal.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right, sir.
(BENTON gets into the passenger seat and the little roadster sets off. The DOCTOR turns it onto the slagheap.)
42: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(They drive past the scattered maggots.)
DOCTOR: Alright, Sergeant, call up Jo and ask if she can see us.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right. (Into radio.) Hello, Jo - do you read? Can you see us, over?
JO: (OOV: Over radio.) Yes...yes, I can see you. Keep coming straight ahead. We're in the small cave.
DOCTOR: I heard that.
(The cave indicated comes into sight.)
SERGEANT BENTON: There's the cave up there, Doctor - dead ahead.
DOCTOR: Yes, I can see it. Tell Jo to stand by.
SERGEANT BENTON: (Into radio.) Jo, stand by. Stand by, Jo. We're nearly with you - over.
43: INT. CAVE
(JO smiles with relief.)
JO: (Into radio.) Right, standing by.
44: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(Bessie comes to a halt. BENTON gets out and starts to make his way towards the entrance.)
DOCTOR: No, wait, Sergeant, wait.
(The DOCTOR pulls his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket and adjusts it. He switches it on and it starts to emit a high-pitched electronic shriek. BENTON holds his ears in pain.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Steady on, Doc!
(The maggots, now at the very cave entrance, start to retreat and move towards the two men as though attracted by the sound.)
DOCTOR: Right, off you go - now.
(BENTON runs to the entrance and jumps over the maggots.)
45: INT. CAVE
SERGEANT BENTON: Jo! Are you okay?
JO: Sergeant!
(He bends down to help the still unconscious CLIFF.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Give me a hand.
JO: Right.
(They start to lift him up.)
JO: That's it.
46: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(The DOCTOR keeps emitting the signal.)
47: INT. CAVE
(BENTON now has CLIFF slung over his shoulders.)
SERGEANT BENTON: Right, come on, hurry!
(BENTON carefully negotiates himself and CLIFF through the narrow doorway.)
JO: Okay.
48: EXT. SLAGHEAP
(They jump over the maggots, JO doing so with a small squeal. The DOCTOR keeps the screwdriver on the maggots as the party comes back.)
DOCTOR: Get him into the car, quick.
(They do so.)
DOCTOR: You alright?
SERGEANT BENTON: Okay, Doc.
(The DOCTOR switches off the screwdriver and jumps back into the driver's seat. CLIFF is slumped in the back seat with BENTON supporting him. JO is in her customary seat in the front. The DOCTOR reverses the vehicle in an arc and sets off back.)
48: INT. WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY. LIVING ROOM
(A bed has been set up for CLIFF in the living room. He gasps and moans slightly. NANCY takes his temperature and turns to JO.)
NANCY: But how did it happen?
JO: The blast from the explosion, I think. You see, he was trying to save me from the maggots.
NANCY: Oh, don't worry.
(She goes and puts an arm round the upset girl.)
NANCY: I expect it's only concussion. He hasn't broken any bones or anything. He'll be alright - you'll see.
JO: Please God he is. You see, Nancy, it was all my fault...
NANCY: Oh, Jo, you mustn't...
(The DOCTOR comes into the room.)
DOCTOR: Any change, Jo?
JO: No, none.
DOCTOR: I can't understand it. He should have come to by now.
(JO goes over to the young man and strokes his hair. CLIFF'S face is covered in sweat.)
JO: Cliff? Cliff, please wake up, for my sake?
(CLIFF'S eyes open. He stares upwards.)
JO: Cliff!
CLIFFORD JONES: (Faintly.) S...Sssserendipity. Ss...ah...
(He falls unconscious again.)
JO: Cliff? Cliff!
DOCTOR: What did he say?
JO: Serendipity?
DOCTOR: Serendipity?
(JO sighs. NANCY comforts her again.)
NANCY: He'll be alright, love.
(JO suddenly gasps.)
DOCTOR: What is it?
JO: His neck!
(A green glowing patch has appeared on CLIFF'S neck.)
49: INT. WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY. HALL PASSAGE
(The DOCTOR follows the BRIGADIER into the hallway.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Is there anything you can do for him?
DOCTOR: Well, I've given him a broad spectrum antibiotic. That should slow the infection down. No, we must find an answer to those maggots before they pupate. Imagine, thousands of flying insects spreading their infection throughout the world.
50: INT. WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR enters the laboratory.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (From the hallway.) I'd rather not, thank you.
(The BRIGADIER walks off and the DOCTOR leans over a lab bench, thinking furiously.)
DOCTOR: Serendipity? (Tuts.) What on earth did he mean by serendipity?
(Suddenly, and unexpectedly, CAPTAIN YATES rises up from a hiding place behind another lab bench. The DOCTOR turns in surprise and delight.)
DOCTOR: Mike! You don't know how glad I am to see you. How did you get away?
CAPTAIN YATES: They let me go.
DOCTOR: But why?
(YATES raises a small automatic.)
CAPTAIN YATES: To kill you.
(The DOCTOR stiffens. YATES holds the gun in both hands and takes a step forward to aim.)
CAPTAIN YATES: You do see that I have to kill you, don't you?
DOCTOR: Gently, Mike, fight it.
CAPTAIN YATES: It is...necessary...to kill you.
DOCTOR: (Intensely.) No, it is not necessary. Your orders are false. Do you understand me? False!
(The BRIGADIER walks into the room, not seeing YATES.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor, I forgot to mention to you...
CAPTAIN YATES: (Shouts.) Stay back!
(The BRIGADIER turns and sees his CAPTAIN holding the gun.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain Yates, what...?
CAPTAIN YATES: (Shouts.) Stay where you are! I have my instructions!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Barks.) Instructions! Who from?
DOCTOR: Keep quiet, Brigadier, and keep still! (Quietly.) Now, Mike, listen to me. It is necessary for me to show you something.
CAPTAIN YATES: (Puzzled.) Necessary?
DOCTOR: Yes, for increased efficiency. Now, I'm going to take something from my pocket.
(Having warned YATES, the DOCTOR moves his hand into the left-hand pocket of his jacket.)
DOCTOR: Now, it won't harm you...it won't harm you.
(He extracts the blue crystal from Metebelis Three and holds it up in the air, pointing its facets at the CAPTAIN.)
DOCTOR: Watch it, Mike...watch it carefully, Mike.
(YATES' face seems to start to cloud over. He stares at the jewel which seems to have started to emit an intense blue glow.)
DOCTOR: Strange stones these Metebelis sapphires...
(To YATES, the light seems to pulse and the DOCTOR'S voice starts to echo.)
DOCTOR: Watch it...look deep into the blue light.
(YATES' face starts to crease in pain as the light and the DOCTOR'S words start to penetrate his mind.)
DOCTOR: Soon your mind will be locked onto the crystalline pattern...and the neural paths of your brain will be swept clean...and you will be free!
(The reconditioning reaches a climax and YATES drops the gun, clamping his hands to his head. He slumps to the floor and the DOCTOR lowers the crystal.)
DOCTOR: So, you see, Brigadier? My trip to Metebelis Three wasn't wasted after all.
(Receiving no reply, the DOCTOR sees that the BRIGADIER also has been thoroughly put into a trance by the jewel.)
DOCTOR: Oh, good grief! Wake up, Lethbridge Stewart!
(He taps his chin.)
DOCTOR: Wake up.
51: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. ROOM
(In the room that was previously the DOCTOR'S prison, STEVENS walks towards a suited figure. Another employee of Global Chemicals - Mr. JAMES - has been thoroughly conditioned and stares into space.)
STEVENS: Mr. James? Do you hear me, Mr. James?
JAMES: I hear you.
STEVENS: Good. How have you been programmed?
JAMES: To obey the BOSS.
STEVENS: At all times?
JAMES: At all times.
STEVENS: Good. Now then, we must go to work. There is very little time left. Here are your instructions.
52: INT. WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY. LABORATORY
(YATES starts to come to on the floor of the laboratory. The BRIGADIER is also out of his trance.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: He's a trained soldier. He's been taught to withstand that sort of thing.
DOCTOR: Mmm, if he hadn't tried so hard, he's have come in shooting. I'd have been a dead man by now. You too probably.
(YATES suddenly gasps and starts...)
CAPTAIN YATES: Uh! Where am I?
DOCTOR: You're in the nuthutch.
CAPTAIN YATES: What...?
DOCTOR: Professor Jones' house.
(The two men bend over him as he puts a hand to his head.)
CAPTAIN YATES: That blue light...
DOCTOR: Yes, well, you'll be alright now, old chap.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, Captain Yates, you're well out of Global Chemicals.
DOCTOR: I'm afraid he's not. (To YATES.) I'm going to ask you to go back. Do you think you feel up to it?
CAPTAIN YATES: (Sighs.) Right as rain, Doctor.
DOCTOR: I'm sorry to have to ask you to do this but there's some information that I simply must have. Now, here's what I want you to do...
53: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. STEVENS' OFFICE
(STEVENS sits in his chair reading checkpoints off a clipboard as BOSS replies from the wall monitor.)
STEVENS: New York, seven, two, o, three - slave units prepared.
BOSS'S VOICE: Now reading seven, five, eight, zero.
STEVENS: Zurich - one, five, eight, four.
BOSS'S VOICE: In preparation. Slave unit assessment to follow.
STEVENS: Moscow, ten, zero, zero, three.
BOSS'S VOICE: Prepared - one, one, zero, zero, nine, eight.
(There is a knock on the door.)
STEVENS: Permission?
BOSS'S VOICE: Of course.
(STEVENS presses a button on his desk to unlock the door.)
STEVENS: Come in.
(The door opens and YATES enters. He holds the automatic and appears to be a conditioned state again.)
STEVENS: Well?
CAPTAIN YATES: The Doctor...is dead.
(His shoulders slump down. STEVENS appears satisfied and looks up to the monitor.)
54: INT. WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY. LIVING ROOM
(CLIFF'S condition is getting worse. He gasps for breath and the green patch glows brighter. JO tends to him as the DOCTOR fills a syringe.)
JO: Shouldn't we get him to hospital?
DOCTOR: What'd be the point, Jo? You know what happened to the others. Ordinary treatment won't work.
JO: He won't die, will he?
DOCTOR: He means a lot to you, doesn't he?
JO: Yes.
DOCTOR: Well then, trust me, Jo. I'm sure these injections are doing him some good.
(The DOCTOR starts to inject CLIFF'S arm as JO tries to quieten him.)
JO: Shh, it's alright.
DOCTOR: At least it'll give us time to find the real cure.
(JO whispers quietly to CLIFF.)
55: INT. GLOBAL CHEMICALS. STEVENS' OFFICE
(YATES stands transfixed next to STEVENS' desk. The Director holds the pistol with a smile of satisfaction on his face.)
STEVENS: And the girl?
CAPTAIN YATES: No need to worry. She's too concerned about the Professor to make trouble.
STEVENS: All the same, I think it might be advisable to...dispose of her too.
CAPTAIN YATES: I don't think that would be necessary.
(STEVENS looks round at him.)
STEVENS: Don't you now? How very interesting.
(He presses the intercom button on his desk and it buzzes.)
STEVENS: Stella? Ask Mr. James to come in, will you?
(He sits back.)
CAPTAIN YATES: To dispose of the girl would not be efficient.
STEVENS: The time will come. Thank you for your most valuable advice, Mr. Yates.
(The door opens and JAMES enters.)
JAMES: You sent for me?
(STEVENS gets up and hands JAMES the automatic.)
STEVENS: Yes. Wait here with Mr. Yates.
(He walks out of the room and shuts the door. Immediately, CAPTAIN YATES turns to JAMES, smiles and puts his hands into his suit pockets. JAMES raises the gun.)
JAMES: What are you doing?
CAPTAIN YATES: Nothing.
(He raises his hands. The crystal is in the right one.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Just concentrate on the blue crystal, Mr. James.
(JAMES stares at the crystal. YATES' voice starts to echo in his mind.)
CAPTAIN YATES: As you look, you'll see it glow. Watch carefully.
(To JAMES, the jewel starts to give off its blue flare. His face creases as the light burns into his mind. The glow grows more intense until JAMES gives out a gasp and staggers backwards. YATES pockets the crystal and goes to help the little man.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Mr. James?
(He gently slaps the cheek of the uncomprehending man.)
CAPTAIN YATES: Your mind's clear now. You have to tell me what's going to happen.
JAMES: (Gasps.) Takeover...by the BOSS...at four o'clock this afternoon...the computer is going to...
(There is suddenly an electronic howl. JAMES grasps his ears and falls dead to the floor. YATES examines him but a sudden voice makes him look up.)
STEVENS: Just can't depend on anyone.
(STEVENS and two guards stand at the console.)
STEVENS: Can you, Mr. Yates?
Dr. Who
JON PERTWEE
Jo Grant
KATY MANNING
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEY
Stevens
JEROME WILLIS
Clifford Jones
STEWART BEVAN
Boss's Voice
JOHN DEARTH
James
ROY SKELTON
Captain Yates
RICHARD FRANKLIN
Sergeant Benton
JOHN LEVENE
Nancy
MITZI McKENZIE
Written by
ROBERT SLOMAN
Title Music
RON GRAINER
and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Incidental Music by
DUDLEY SIMPSON
Special Sound
DICK MILLS
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
JOHN BURROWES
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
MICHAEL BRIANT
COLOUR
© BBC 1973