THE
MONSTER OF
PELADON
BY
BRIAN
HAYLES
PART FIVE
1: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
AZAXYR: The sonic lance has a self-destruct circuit...which I have already pre-set by remote control. If the rebel should try to fire it, it will destroy itself. It will, of course, kill all those in the area.
(SARAH up from the monitor in shock at the Ice Lord.)
2: INT. CAVE OVERLOOKING CITADEL
(The DOCTOR and ETTIS start to grapple with their swords in the middle of the cave. ETTIS kicks the back of the DOCTOR'S leg, knocking him to the ground. He stands on his sword before he can retrieve it and the DOCTOR rolls away to avoid the sudden thrust of ETTIS' free sword downwards. He gets to his feet but unarmed now, he has to avoid each deadly jab of ETTIS'S sword. He manages to grab his arm and throw the man down, dislodging the sword from his grasp and throwing at across the cave.)
DOCTOR: Come on, Ettis, this is pointless.
(ETTIS starts to clamber up.)
ETTIS: Yes, Doctor, you're right. I am a fool!
(He head butts the DOCTOR in the stomach. He falls to the ground. ETTIS picks him up and throws him into the rock face of the cave and then throws him over and onto the floor. The DOCTOR staggers to his feet and ETTIS knocks him back with an almighty punch to the face. He then starts to power up the lance. The DOCTOR manages to get back to his feet again...)
DOCTOR: No, Ettis, no!
(...only for ETTIS to land two more punches on him, once more knocking him to the ground. ETTIS returns to the lance and presses the firing switch. The cave is filled with a massive explosion.)
3: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(SARAH watches events on the monitor in horror.)
SARAH: You killed him! You killed the Doctor!
AZAXYR: I was defending the safety of the citadel. The death of the Doctor was an unfortunate necessity.
(He switches the monitor off.)
AZAXYR: You would do well to accept the situation.
4: INT. CAVE OVERLOOKING CITADEL
(Aside from the drifting smoke, all is still in the cave. The DOCTOR lies to one side. He is not moving.)
5: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
SARAH: (To AZAXYR.) You still haven't won, you know? The rebels control the mines and you can't go down there because of the heat.
AZAXYR: But we have switched off the heating controls. We merely have to wait for the temperature to return to normal.
SARAH: Gebek and his miners know every inch of those tunnels. They won't surrender.
AZAXYR: Again you underestimate me. The mines...
(ECKERSLEY walks into the communications room.)
AZAXYR: Ah, Eckersley.
ECKERSLEY: Yes?
AZAXYR: Just the man I wanted to see. The mines have a ventilation system, have they not, controlled from the refinery?
ECKERSLEY: That's right, yes.
(AZAXYR crosses to SARAH.)
AZAXYR: Your miners can withstand heat, but they cannot live without air. Eckersley, you will go to the refinery at once and you will turn the ventilation system off.
(SARAH runs across the room to plead with ECKERSLEY.)
SARAH: No! No, tell him you won't do it! If they're forced out of the mines, they'll be massacred!
ECKERSLEY: (Laughs.) Of course they won't!
SARAH: They will! He's already killed the Doctor!
(The smile disappears off ECKERSLEY'S face. He looks at AZAXYR.)
AZAXYR: The Doctor was too dangerous to live, Eckersley.
ECKERSLEY: (To SARAH.) Look, I'm sorry about the Doctor, believe me, but...he should never have got involved in local politics, and I'm not making the same mistake.
(He leaves the room.)
AZAXYR: Sskel, take her to the throne room and keep her with the others.
(SSKEL takes SARAH'S arm roughly in his clamp-like hand and drags her from the room.)
AZAXYR: (To ALPHA CENTAURI.) Now, Ambassador, we have work to do. There are several matters I wish to discuss with you concerning the future administration of this planet on more efficient lines. I shall require your help.
6: INT. CAVE OVERLOOKING CITADEL
(Within the cave, there is movement. The DOCTOR comes round and slowly gets to his feet, groaning. He looks at the still-smoking remains of the sonic lance and crosses over to it. He looks round further and suddenly a look of concern appears on his face. He runs from the cave.)
7: INT. TUNNEL
(He makes his way with some speed down one tunnel...)
8: INT. ANOTHER TUNNEL
(...but finds that he is still weak from his battle as he goes further along. He sits down on a rock to rest. No longer has he done so than he hears GEBEK calling from down the tunnel...)
GEBEK: (OOV.) Doctor?
DOCTOR: Gebek?
(GEBEK runs up to him.)
GEBEK: Oh, I was just on my way to find you. Well, did you manage to stop him?
DOCTOR: Well, something did. The whole gun blew up.
(GEBEK sighs with relief and smiles.)
GEBEK: Thank goodness for that. (Puzzled.) But, er, what happened to Ettis?
DOCTOR: I'm afraid he's dead.
(GEBEK looks grim.)
DOCTOR: How are thing's going?
GEBEK: Oh, not too well.
(He sits next to the DOCTOR.)
GEBEK: We drove the Ice Warriors out of the mines but we couldn't break through to the citadel. Now the temperature dropping, soon they'll be able to come in after us. And worse than that...
(He sniffs.)
GEBEK: The air's getting stale.
DOCTOR: Mmm, yes, I've noticed. Well they've probably switched the ventilation system off.
GEBEK: We'll be gradually forced up to the upper levels. There are Ice wai...Warriors waiting at every exit.
DOCTOR: Now where's the ventilation controlled from - do you know?
GEBEK: Yes, the, er, refinery.
DOCTOR: Well, you'd better take me there straight away.
(They get up.)
DOCTOR: And by the way, where's Sarah?
(GEBEK hesitates.)
DOCTOR: Well, answer me, man! Where is she?
GEBEK: I left her looking after Rima, Doctor. But when I went back for her, he was dead. She was gone.
DOCTOR: What?
GEBEK: I'm sorry.
DOCTOR: Well, it's not your fault, is it? Now don't worry, old chap, we'll find her.
9: INT. THRONE ROOM
(SARAH has been taken to the throne room. There, THALIRA and ORTRON attempt to comfort her...)
THALIRA: We will never forget him, Sarah. He was a true friend to Peladon. His name will always be honoured.
SARAH: (Stunned.) I still can't believe it. I...I can't believe that he's dead. You see, he was the most alive person I ever met.
ORTRON: (Softly.) Well, perhaps he escaped somehow? There's always a chance.
SARAH: That's what the Doctor used to say - "There's always a chance, that while there's life..."
(She breaks off, unable to complete the sentence. The awkward silence is broken when a slightly hysterical ALPHA CENTAURI bursts into the room past SSKEL who is stood on guard outside in the passage...)
ALPHA CENTAURI: Your Majesty! I have just had an exhausting meeting with Commander Azaxyr, discussing his plans for his future rule of this planet.
ORTRON: (Outraged.) His rule? Queen Thalira rules Peladon!
ALPHA CENTAURI: In name only from now on. Azaxyr plans an extension of martial law over the entire planet. All able-bodied citizens will be conscripted to work in the trisilicate mines.
THALIRA: (Fiercely.) My people will never submit to this!
ALPHA CENTAURI: I fear your people will have little choice, your Majesty.
ORTRON: But surely the Federation won't approve?
SARAH: Then it's up to us to get a message to the Federation and tell them what Azaxyr is up to.
ALPHA CENTAURI: I've already tried that. Azaxyr has blocked all the communications circuits. I could activate the spatial distress beacon but it only sends a signal on a pre-set frequency - a general call for help.
SARAH: A kind of SOS? Well, let's try it. Was the communications room guarded when you left?
ALPHA CENTAURI: No, it was empty.
SARAH: Then all we've got to do is get there - but how?
ORTRON: (To THALIRA.) There is the secret passage behind the throne.
THALIRA: In full view of the guard?
SARAH: We've got to get past him.
(SARAH jabs at thumb at SSKEL.)
THALIRA: If we could entice him from the doorway, he's far too slow to prevent our escaping.
ORTRON: Our escaping, your Majesty?
THALIRA: Yes, Ortron. We intend to join our people in the mines.
ORTRON: Your Majesty, I forbid it!
THALIRA: (Fiercely.) What would you have me do, Orton? Stay here to become a puppet queen for Commander Azaxyr? See my people made slaves?
(ORTRON drops his eyes.)
ORTRON: Your Majesty, you put me to shame.
(He turns to a smiling SARAH.)
ORTRON: We shall assist you in your escape.
SARAH: Well the first thing we need to do is create a diversion.
(She looks over towards SSKEL outside the doorway and an idea comes to her.)
SARAH: Your Majesty, do you think you could faint convincingly?
(THALIRA smiles.)
10: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM (LATER)
(A short time later, ALPHA CENTAURI bustles out of the throne room and up to SSKEL.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: The Queen is ill.
(SSKEL swings round and sees THALIRA lying on the steps of the throne with SARAH and ORTRON attending to her.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: You must summon medical assistance, immediately.
(SARAH gestures to SSKEL who lumbers into the room. CENTAURI remains in the doorway and watches as he gets near to the Queen. SARAH suddenly pushes him from behind.)
SARAH: Run everybody!
11: INT. THRONE ROOM
(But SSKEL has stepped onto the edge of the Queen's cloak and she is unable to move. She screams. As SARAH and ALPHA CENTAURI run off, ORTRON runs back to help the Queen.)
ORTRON: Your Majesty!
(He grabs SSKEL'S arm and pulls him off the Queen.)
ORTRON: Run, your Majesty!
(THALIRA runs with speed for the door but SSKEL has swung round to face ORTRON and blasts the High Priest with his sonic gun. ORTRON is caught full by the shot and falls to the floor. The Queen looks back and sees what has occurred. She runs to the fallen man.)
THALIRA: Ortron!
(SSKEL raises his gun at her as she tends to ORTRON, but at that moment, AZAXYR stalks into the room.)
AZAXYR: No!
(SSKEL lowers his gun while AZAXYR looks round and sees who is missing.)
AZAXYR: (To THALIRA.) The Ambassador...and the Doctor's companion - where are they?
(THALIRA thinks desperately.)
THALIRA: They went to tunnels. They wanted to join Gebek and...the rebels.
AZAXYR: How very convenient. Let there be no more of this foolishness, your Majesty. You can see for yourself the results of defying the Ice Warriors. Guard her.
(He leaves. SSKEL stands over her as she takes off her cloak and covers the dead man with it.)
12: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(GEBEK leads the DOCTOR through a deserted mine tunnel. He suddenly sees something ahead and gestures to the DOCTOR to hide. They run back a short distance and hide behind a pit-prop and a pillar of rock. An Ice Warrior walks along the tunnel from the way that they would have taken and into a side tunnel. When it has gone, the DOCTOR and GEBEK set off again.)
13: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(They come to the outside of the refinery. The junction box with the alarm equipment has been re-locked but someone is already inside. The DOCTOR gingerly approaches the door but the ever-vigilant GEBEK hears another noise and hurriedly signals to the DOCTOR that someone is approaching them from the same direction that they have just come from. The two hide behind a ledge of rock and watch as AZAXYR and an Ice Warrior come out of the tunnel. They both go inside the refinery and shut the heavy metal door behind them.)
14: INT. REFINERY
(ECKERSLEY is inside the well-lit refinery, sat at a large bank of controls on the right-hand side of the room. On the left-hand side of the room, next to a curtained alcove, is a smaller control on the wall marked "VENTILATION CONTROL". AZAXYR walks up to this to examine it.)
AZAXYR: Good - you have switched off the ventilation system.
ECKERSLEY: Yes, it won't be long now.
AZAXYR: Excellent. The Ambassador and the Doctor's companion have foolishly taken refuge...in the mines.
(ECKERSLEY smiles. Behind them, the door has swung open a few inches...)
15: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR and GEBEK come out of hiding and silently approach the open door. They stop to listen.)
16: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(SARAH and ALPHA CENTAURI have made it back to the communications room. CENTAURI twitches over the communications console, much to the impatient SARAH'S irritation...)
SARAH: Come on, we haven't much time!
ALPHA CENTAURI: I am trying to remember the correct circuit.
SARAH: Oh, hurry up!
ALPHA CENTAURI: Please? You are making me nervous.
SARAH: Oh, erm, sorry, I'll...I'll let you concentrate.
(She tries to calm down. Smiling, she steps back from the console.)
SARAH: I'll check what's going on.
(She crosses to the two monitors and switches one of them on, flicking through pictures of empty passages in the citadel and equally empty tunnels. The fourth image shows the inside of the refinery with AZAXYR, ECKERSLEY and the Ice Warrior. SARAH clicks to another image of a tunnel but, interested more in what she has seen in the refinery, flicks back to this picture.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: It is done.
(CENTAURI crosses to SARAH at the monitor.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: Though of course there is no guarantee that anyone will hear it, or that they will act on it if they do.
SARAH: Look at this.
ALPHA CENTAURI: It's Eckersley and Commander Azaxyr.
SARAH: Oh, I know that. (Suspiciously.) Bit chummy though, aren't they? As if they were...
(She points at the console.)
SARAH: Can you get me sound on this?
(CENTAURI flicks a switch and the sound comes through.)
AZAXYR: (On monitor.) Yes, but I see no further need for this masquerade, Eckersley.
ECKERSLEY: (On monitor.) Well I do. We agreed - till we succeeded, I stay undercover.
AZAXYR: (On monitor.) But this planet is almost ours.
ECKERSLEY: (On monitor.) Almost isn't quite good enough. Things could still go wrong. If they do - well, I'm just an innocent bystander.
AZAXYR: (On monitor.) Very well, just so long as we can soon begin shipping trisilicate to Galaxy Five.
(ALPHA CENTAURI almost screams out...)
ALPHA CENTAURI: They are both traitors!
17: INT. REFINERY
ECKERSLEY: They've agreed our terms?
AZAXYR: Subject to a time limit, so we must conclude matters quickly.
18: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(Outside, the DOCTOR and GEBEK are also listening to the conversation...)
ECKERSLEY: (OOV: Inside refinery.) Well, I'm ready to get things moving. How soon can you regain control of the mines?
19: INT. REFINERY
AZAXYR: Air will run out eventually, and then they must come up.
ECKERSLEY: Yes, but that will take time.
AZAXYR: And time is short!
(ECKERSLEY crosses to the curtained alcove.)
ECKERSLEY: Then we'll smoke them out...with Aggedor!
(He pulls the curtain aside. Within it is a solid statue manifestation of the spirit that has been wreaking havoc in the mines.)
20: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR and GEBEK look at each other in surprise and shock.)
21: INT. REFINERY
(ECKERSLEY crosses to the main control bank.)
ECKERSLEY: That'll get them on the move.
(He presses settings on the console and then moves two adjacent levers in opposite directions. He then presses a large red button which is surrounded by six red lights in a hexagonal pattern. The lights come on and, with its rising electronic burbling sound, the statue fades away.)
22: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(Red and glowing, it materialises in a mine tunnel. A group of four miners jump back in shock but one of them is too late in running away and he is incinerated into nothing as the "ghost" fires at him. The image fades away...)
23: INT. REFINERY
(...and the statue materialises back in the alcove.)
24: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR mouths to GEBEK "stay there". GEBEK nods and the DOCTOR crosses to the other side of the doorway, ready to sneak a look through.)
25: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(SARAH and ALPHA CENTAURI have continued to watch events in the refinery on the monitor.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: It seems the Doctor was right - the appearances of Aggedor were a technological trick...controlled by Eckersley. But, er, why has he been doing this?
SARAH: Well, it's obvious, isn't it? He was deliberately making things worse so he could persuade you to call in his Ice Warrior friends.
(Suddenly, SARAH looks at the image in shock.)
SARAH: Look!
(On the monitor, the DOCTOR can be clearly seen looking through the partially opened doorway.)
SARAH: Ambassador, look. Look, it's the Doctor!
ALPHA CENTAURI: What?
SARAH: (Exultantly.) He's alive! He's alive after all!
(She thinks rapidly.)
SARAH: Erm, you stay here and keep sending that SOS call. I'm going to join him.
(Grinning with delight, she runs from the room.)
26: INT. REFINERY
(AZAXYR and ECKERSLEY receive a message from SSKEL over the intercom in the refinery as the DOCTOR continues to watch through the gap in the door.)
SSKEL: (OOV: Over intercom.) The miners are fleeing from the lower levels. We are destroying them as they emerge.
AZAXYR: (Into intercom.) See that all exits are blocked. They must not escape.
(The DOCTOR carefully and quietly opens the door a little further in order that he can look round it at the statue of Aggedor. He peeks in.)
AZAXYR: It seems that our scheme is working, Eckersley.
ECKERSLEY: I'd better keep up the good work then.
(Having had his suspicions confirmed, the DOCTOR retreats back outside. He continues to watch through the gap as ECKERSLEY re-sets the coordinates, adjusts the two levers and presses the main red switch.)
27: INT. TUNNEL
(Two guards and two miners turn a corner in the tunnel and cry out in fear at the apparition of Aggedor before them. It spits out its deadly fire and all four are vapourised.)
28: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR closes the refinery door and re-joins GEBEK.)
GEBEK: (Whispers.) What's happening, Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) I'm afraid that it's Eckersley that has been summoning up Aggedor. And now he's using him to attack your miners.
GEBEK: Well we must stop him!
(GEBEK makes for the door but the DOCTOR holds him back.)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) No. If we show our faces in there, Azaxyr will wipe us out without a qualm. I'm sorry, Gebek. We've got to wait our chance.
29: INT. REFINERY
(ECKERSLEY switches the console off.)
ECKERSLEY: Well, that should do for the moment. Give them another dose later.
(He crosses to the alcove and closes the curtain.)
AZAXYR: Excellent. Let us return to the citadel.
30: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR nods at GEBEK and the two rush to their hiding place behind the ledge of rock. The three within the refinery come out and ECKERSLEY attaches a small device to the top of the alarm junction box.)
AZAXYR: You have re-set the alarm?
ECKERSLEY: I can't, not from here. The late, lamented Doctor jiggered the control circuits. I'll have to re-set the alarm from the communications room.
(He sets off down the tunnels.)
AZAXYR: (To the Ice Warrior.) Guard the refinery.
(The Ice Warrior nods and stands sentinel and AZAXYR follows ECKERSLEY into the tunnels. The DOCTOR and GEBEK see and hear this.)
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) How long will it take them to get back to the communications room?
GEBEK: (Whispers.) Five minutes, maybe ten - why?
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) Well, that's how long we've got to get rid of our friend here, fix that alarm system and get back into the refinery.
GEBEK: (Whispers.) But how? He'll blast us as soon as we break cover.
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) Yes, I'm well aware of that.
31: INT. TUNNEL
(SARAH quietly makes her way through one of the tunnels.)
32: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(She comes out at the refinery and the Ice Warrior guard swings round to aim at her with its sonic gun. She gasps and then sees that behind the Ice Warrior, the DOCTOR and GEBEK have come out of hiding and that the Peladonian is grasping a large rock in his hands. SARAH raises her hands in surrender and as a distraction.)
SARAH: Don't shoot! No, I'm...!
(GEBEK crashes the rock down onto the back of the Ice Warrior's helmet. The Martian crashes to the floor.)
SARAH: Gebek!
(She rushes up to the DOCTOR.)
SARAH: Oh, Doctor, you...!
(She hugs him.)
SARAH: Oh, you're alive! I...I thought you'd been blown up in the cave?!
DOCTOR: Luckily for me, that was Ettis.
SARAH: I don't know, can't you ever stay out of trouble?
DOCTOR: My dear Sarah, there's nothing I like more than a quiet life.
SARAH: Oh!
DOCTOR: Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got something very important to do in a very short space of time.
(He crosses to the junction box, having to step over the Ice Warrior to do so.)
DOCTOR: Look, can you get him out of the light?
SARAH: Yes!
GEBEK: Yes, Doctor, we'll take him...
(SARAH and GEBEK grab a leg each of the Ice Warrior and start to drag him across the passage.)
33: INT. TUNNEL
(ECKERSLEY and AZAXYR reach the secret entrance to the citadel. The traitorous engineer pulls down the torch bracket and the door swings open. They go through it.)
34: INT. PASSAGE
(Within the citadel, AZAXYR stalks off towards the communications room while ECKERSLEY re-closes the door.)
35: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(Watched by GEBEK and SARAH, the DOCTOR uses his sonic screwdriver to re-open the junction box.)
36: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ALPHA CENTAURI watches this on the monitor. Suddenly, AZAXYR and ECKERSLEY walk in and see him in surprise.)
AZAXYR: Ambassador!
(CENTAURI hurriedly switches off the image before the two new arrivals see it.)
AZAXYR: What are you doing here? I was told you had taken refuge in the mines.
ALPHA CENTAURI: Nonsense. I was simply trying to keep out of the way.
AZAXYR: (Suspiciously.) Yes, but why here?
(He looks round and crosses to the communications console.)
AZAXYR: Could it be that you are trying to send a message to the Federation?
(He spots the setting and hisses in anger.)
AZAXYR: The spatial distress beacon!
(His clamp-like hand slams down and switches the beacon off.)
AZAXYR: You have been very foolish, Ambassador.
ALPHA CENTAURI: I merely thought that things were getting out of control, it would be wise... (Coughs.) ...to summon more help for you.
AZAXYR: (Angrily.) But things are not getting out of control, Ambassador. This planet is firmly under my command. If you disobey me again, Ambassador, you will take the consequences.
ECKERSLEY: (Placatory.) Commander, I'm sure the Ambassador meant it for the best.
(AZAXYR calms down.)
AZAXYR: Very well, Eckersley. I will give you one last chance, Ambassador. You will come with me to the throne room - now!
(AZAXYR storms out with ALPHA CENTAURI behind him. ECKERSLEY is following...)
37: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR continues his re-sabotage of the junction box as SARAH keeps a wary eye on the tunnel.)
SARAH: (Whispers.) How's it going?
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Nearly finished.
38: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(In the doorway of the communications room, ECKERSLEY calls down the outside passage.)
ECKERSLEY: I'll catch you up. I forgot to switch the alarm on.
(He comes back in and heads for the console.)
39: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
DOCTOR: Well, that's the alarm fixed - now for the door.
40: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ECKERSLEY switches the alarm on - just too late - and leaves the room.)
41: INT. THRONE ROOM
(With SSKEL in attendance, a scowling THALIRA sits on her throne and faces AZAXYR as ALPHA CENTAURI listens.)
AZAXYR: Trisilicate production will be resumed immediately, your Majesty, using all available modern tools. I shall expect your Majesty's full cooperation.
(THALIRA can barely keep her temper...)
THALIRA: When my father signed treaties with the Federation, he could not have known it would lead to nothing but bloodshed! However...we must accept the consequences.
AZAXYR: A wise attitude, your Majesty.
(ALPHA CENTAURI cannot keep silent any longer and bursts out...)
ALPHA CENTAURI: Do not believe him, your Majesty! The Federation has no part in this! Commander Azaxyr is a traitor - Eckersley too! They plan to ship the trisilicate to our enemies of Galaxy Five!
AZAXYR: You were warned, Ambassador!
(He steps back to enable SSKEL to have a clear shot at CENTAURI.)
AZAXYR: Sskel!
(SSKEL raises his sonic gun but THALIRA jumps to her feet.)
THALIRA: No!
(ECKERSLEY, as cool as ever, also steps forward.)
ECKERSLEY: No. No, no. Whatever he knows, we still need him.
ALPHA CENTAURI: Thank you, Eckersley, but you are still a traitor.
THALIRA: (Shocked.) Then this is true, Eckersley?
ECKERSLEY: Yes, your Majesty, it's true. But it doesn't make any difference to you, does it?
THALIRA: Peladon has never dishonoured a treaty. Our loyalty is to the Federation.
(AZAXYR steps back forward, hissing angrily.)
AZAXYR: There is your loyalty.
(He points to SSKEL'S sonic gun which the Ice Warrior raises and points at the Queen. She looks down at it coolly.)
AZAXYR: You will obey...or perish!
ECKERSLEY: (To ALPHA CENTAURI.) Now, Ambassador, you must be a lot brighter than you look. How come you're so well informed, hmm?
ALPHA CENTAURI: You were betrayed by your own security system, Eckersley.
ECKERSLEY: What?
ALPHA CENTAURI: When you were conspiring with the Commander, Sarah and I overheard you on the monitor.
ECKERSLEY: Sarah?
AZAXYR: The girl!
(He turns to THALIRA.)
AZAXYR: You said she had joined the rebels in the mines. Where is she?
(THALIRA, without taking her sardonic gaze off AZAXYR, resumes her seat on the throne. The Ice Lord turns to ALPHA CENTAURI.)
AZAXYR: Where is she, Ambassador?
(CENTAURI looks away and blinks. AZAXYR approaches menacingly.)
AZAXYR: You will answer...if you value your life.
(CENTAURI looks at ECKERSLEY for support but gets none. He turns back simpering to AZAXYR.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: She...left before you arrived. When she saw the Doctor on the monitor, she went to the refinery.
(AZAXYR hisses in shock at this revelation.)
AZAXYR: The Doctor!
ECKERSLEY: The refinery!
AZAXYR: Sskel! Go to the refinery at once! If the Doctor is there, destroy him!
(SSKEL lumbers out on his mission.)
42: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR re-wires the two connections and once more the lights within the box start to flash.)
DOCTOR: Right, that's it. In you go.
(GEBEK opens the door and SARAH walks in, followed by the miner. The DOCTOR re-closes the box.)
43: INT. TUNNEL
(SSKEL makes his way towards the refinery.)
44: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The DOCTOR uses his sonic screwdriver to re-lock the junction box.)
45: INT. REFINERY
(He then enters the refinery and GEBEK closes the door after him.)
DOCTOR: Right, the first thing we've gotta do is ventilation back on. Give those miners of yours some air.
(He crosses to the ventilation control, presses a switch and pulls a lever down.)
DOCTOR: There, that should do it.
(SARAH pulls the curtain back from the alcove, revealing the statue within.)
SARAH: How about this, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes, I've seen it.
(He crosses to the console and takes the seat. SARAH follows him and points at the controls.)
SARAH: Well, what's that thing then?
DOCTOR: Mmm?
SARAH: That thing - what is it?
DOCTOR: Oh, that's just a simple matter projector, linked to a directional heat ray. Er, the projector sends an image of that...
(He points at the statue.)
DOCTOR: ...and the heat ray does the damage.
GEBEK: The appearances of Aggedor were all done from here?
DOCTOR: Yes, that's right - by Eckersley or one of his Ice Warrior friends. Very clever piece of work this. Quite an engineer, our friend Eckersley.
46: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(SSKEL arrives at the refinery. He looks round and sees the fallen Ice Warrior on the floor. He then goes over to the door, aims his sonic gun and fires...)
47: INT. REFINERY
(The DOCTOR is still looking over the controls.)
DOCTOR: Directional coordinates are here...
(SARAH sniffs the air.)
SARAH: Something's burning.
(She looks round and sees a tiny pin-point of smoking red on the metal door.)
SARAH: Doctor, look!
48: INT. THRONE ROOM
(THALIRA and ALPHA CENTAURI are still in the throne room with ECKERSLEY and guarded by two Ice Warriors.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: What puzzles me, Eckersley, is your reason for this betrayal.
ECKERSLEY: It's simply a matter of business, Ambassador. I'll get a percentage of all the trisilicate mined on Peladon, just to make me the richest and the most powerful man in the galaxy.
THALIRA: Most powerful?
ECKERSLEY: Yes, your Majesty. When the Ice Warriors have won, I shall be ruler of Earth.
ALPHA CENTAURI: And what of Commander Azaxyr?
ECKERSLEY: No, it's only military glory he's after.
ALPHA CENTAURI: (Puzzled.) But the Ice Warriors have been loyal members of the Federation for many years.
ECKERSLEY: Azaxyr's head of some kind of breakaway group. He wants to return to the good old days of death or glory.
(AZAXYR walks back in.)
ECKERSLEY: Ah, Commander.
AZAXYR: It appears that the Doctor is indeed alive. But Sskel has him trapped...in the refinery.
(THALIRA lowers her eyes at the inevitability.)
49: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(Two more Ice Warriors join SSKEL as he continues to blast at the metal door.)
SSKEL: Help me.
(They line up opposite the door.)
50: INT. REFINERY
(Within the refinery, the DOCTOR frantically re-sets the controls.)
51: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(As the three Ice Warriors blast at the door, more and more of the metal melts away. A larger and larger hole is being created...)
52: INT. REFINERY
(SARAH and GEBEK run back from the door as smoke pours through the gaping hole and over to the DOCTOR.)
SARAH: (Shouts.) Hurry, Doctor! There's a whole crowd of them out there now!
GEBEK: (Shouts.) They'll be through any minute, Doctor!
(Through the hole, the green form of the attacking Ice Warriors can be seen...)
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEE
Sarah Jane Smith
ELISABETH SLADEN
Eckersley
DONALD GEE
Thalira
NINA THOMAS
Ortron
FRANK GATLIFF
Gebek
REX ROBINSON
Voice of
Alpha Centauri
YSANNE CHURCHMAN
Body of
Alpha Centauri
STUART FELL
Azaxyr
ALAN BENNION
Sskel
SONNY CALDINEZ
Fight Arranger
TERRY WALSH
Written by
BRIAN HAYLES
Title Music
RON GRAINER &
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Title Sequence
BERNARD LODGE
Incidental Music by
DUDLEY SIMPSON
Special Sound
DICK MILLS
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
GLORIA CLAYTON
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
LENNIE MAYNE
COLOUR
© BBC 1974