THE
MONSTER OF
PELADON
BY
BRIAN
HAYLES
PART SIX
1: 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...)
2: 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!
3: INT. THRONE ROOM
AZAXYR: It appears that the Doctor is indeed alive. But Sskel has him trapped...in the refinery.
(THALIRA lowers her eyes at the inevitability.)
4: 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.)
5: INT. REFINERY
(Within the refinery, the DOCTOR frantically re-sets the controls.)
6: 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...)
7: 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: Right, keep your fingers crossed - here goes.
(SARAH literally crosses her fingers as the DOCTOR moves the two opposing levers and presses the main red switch. Across the room the statue vanishes.)
8: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(The Ice Warriors swing round in alarm as the statue materialises in front of them. Its blast catches two of the Martians who vanish within a searing hot red glow. Stood slightly apart from them and therefore unaffected by the attack, SSKEL turns with surprising speed and runs down the tunnel away from the refinery. The image of the statue vanishes...)
9: INT. REFINERY
(...and rematerialises back in the refinery. SARAH is ecstatic...)
SARAH: (Shouts.) It worked! You've done it, Doctor! ___!
GEBEK: (Shouts.) Congratulations, Doctor! They've all gone!
(SARAH runs over looks through the melted hole in the door at the empty tunnel outside.)
SARAH: Oh!
DOCTOR: Right, we've got a chance to win now. Gebek, get back to the mines and rally your men.
GEBEK: Oh, I can try, Doctor, but many of them have been killed. They think Aggedor's turned against them.
DOCTOR: Well, we'll have to make them think differently, won't we?
GEBEK: Well, how?
DOCTOR: My dear chap, it's perfectly simple. Now all we have to do is to arrange a time and a place between us in advance. Then get all your men together...
10: INT. THRONE ROOM
(SSKEL reaches the throne room.)
SSKEL: Commander Azaxyr...
AZAXYR: Ah, Sskel.
(Satisfied and confident, AZAXYR turns to the Queen.)
AZAXYR: Your Majesty, the Doctor has been destroyed.
SSKEL: No, he is still in the refinery.
(AZAXYR swings round in disbelief.)
AZAXYR: Alive?!
(Hissing angrily, he approaches SSKEL.)
AZAXYR: What happened?
SSKEL: He used Aggedor as a weapon against us.
AZAXYR: (Furiously.) I shall send more Ice Warriors!
SSKEL: We cannot approach the area. The heat from the monster will destroy us.
ECKERSLEY: (Confidently.) Don't worry, Commander. I'll get him out for you. I built that refinery. It's got one or two tricks the Doctor doesn't know about. Come on.
(He walks out.)
AZAXYR: (To SSKEL.) Guard them!
(He follows ECKERSLEY.)
11: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(GEBEK has reached his men and the guards, but...)
MINER: How can we fight on, Gebek? Aggedor's turned against us.
GEBEK: No, you are mistaken.
MINER: He has slain us! He drove us into the guns of Azaxyr's warriors!
(Several miners say "yes" in agreement.)
GEBEK: (Shouts.) That was trickery by your enemies. Aggedor fights for us!
(The miners start to jeer him.)
GEBEK: Protects the people of Peladon as he has always done! Do you not believe me?
MINER: No.
(Other miners say "no".)
GEBEK: (Shouts.) Then I will show you!
(He steps up onto a shelf of rock and points into the air.)
GEBEK: (Whispers.) Now...watch...
(The miners turn and look towards where he points. But nothing happens. GEBEK looks up expectantly and waits.)
12: INT. REFINERY
(The DOCTOR counts down the seconds on his watch.)
DOCTOR: Well I hope Gebek's timing's right. Just about...now, I think.
(He pulls the two levers and presses the main switch.)
13: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(The miners and guards are growing restive...)
MINER: Well, Gebek? Why do we wait?
GEBEK: Have patience! Have patience!
(One miner is saying "come on!" when the electronic burbling sound that heralds the appearance of the "spirit" echoes through the tunnel.)
GEBEK: Look!
(The ghostly image of the royal beast appears. The observers crowd back in fear but GEBEK speaks warmly and walks toward the manifestation.)
GEBEK: Do not be afraid. Aggedor will not harm us. He destroys only our enemies.
(The image fades away and GEBEK turns to the men.)
GEBEK: Now, lads, will you fight?
(The miners and guards raise their arms, smile in delight and yell "yes!")
14: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ECKERSLEY and AZAXYR watch this on one of the monitors in the communications room.)
ECKERSLEY: Looks pretty nasty, doesn't it?
AZAXYR: Don't worry. My warriors will soon destroy those primitives.
ECKERSLEY: Not while those primitives have got Aggedor working for them. Time for a word with the Doctor, I think.
(He turns a microphone towards himself and changes the image to that of the refinery. The DOCTOR is still sat at the console.)
15: INT. REFINERY
SARAH: Well, how did you know where to send it?
DOCTOR: Oh, there are pre-set coordinates for almost everywhere. Eckersley's worked it out very well.
ECKERSLEY: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Thanks for the compliment, Doctor.
(The two look round.)
SARAH: He...he must be in the communications room.
ECKERSLEY: (OOV: Over tannoy.) That's right. You can't see me, but I can see you.
DOCTOR: (Into tannoy.) Ah! Then you must know that I'm in complete control of Aggedor? So may I suggest that you give yourself up straight away?
16: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
ECKERSLEY: (Into tannoy.) No, I admire you, Doctor, I really do. But you're the one who's gonna have to give himself up.
17: INT. REFINERY
SARAH: What's he talking about?
DOCTOR: Ah, he's just bluffing.
ECKERSLEY: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Oh no, I'm not. Remember my little security system? It works inside as well as out.
(The maelstrom of light and sound that SARAH experienced when she first came across the refinery starts up again but at a lower level than before. SARAH winces in pain and puts her hands to her head. The DOCTOR screws his eyes up a little but is otherwise unbothered.)
ECKERSLEY: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Now that's just the lowest level, Doctor.
18: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
ECKERSLEY: (Into tannoy.) Surrender now, or I'll step it up.
19: INT. REFINERY
DOCTOR: Sarah, get out of here, straight away. Warn Gebek - they're probably waiting for him. I'll try and help out with Aggedor.
SARAH: Well, you can't mean to stay in here?!
DOCTOR: Now this sort of nonsense doesn't worry me - you know that.
SARAH: No, I can't leave you in here!
DOCTOR: Sarah, please, go!
(SARAH is unable to take the pain any more...)
SARAH: Oh!
(...and does as instructed while the DOCTOR starts to operate the equipment again.)
20: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
ECKERSLEY: He won't be able to stand very much more of that. He'll surrender soon - or collapse.
AZAXYR: Excellent. I shall go and prepare my warriors for the attack.
(He leaves the communications room.)
ECKERSLEY: (Into tannoy.) Well, Doctor? Escape with the girl while you've still got chance - and don't try sending Aggedor up here. The communication room is shielded.
21: INT. REFINERY
(The DOCTOR doesn't slow down his pace of operating the system.)
DOCTOR: (Into tannoy.) Sorry, old chap, I can't stop and talk now. I'm rather busy.
22: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ECKERSLEY is almost admiring...)
ECKERSLEY: Obstinate devil!
(He adjusts the controls...)
23: INT. REFINERY
(...and the swirling vortex of white lights grow stronger and more colourful. Their effect on the DOCTOR though seems negligible. He moves the two opposing levers ready of another transfer.)
24: INT. TUNNEL
(Away from the effect of the security system, SARAH runs at full pace down a tunnel.)
25: INT. ANOTHER TUNNEL
(Further along, SSKEL patrols a tunnel, walking back and forth between two archways. SARAH steps out but luckily the Ice Warrior's back is turned on her at that point. She hurriedly steps back into hiding. SSKEL walks towards where she is hidden behind one arch and then turns to walk forwards. SARAH silently steps out behind him and follows his pace. As he turns in his lumbering fashion to face the other way, she keeps behind his large bulk and is therefore able to go through the archway unseen and continue her journey.)
26: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(GEBEK leads the Peladonians down a mine tunnel. Suddenly he stops and gasps as an Ice Warrior steps out from behind a pit prop, his sonic weapon raised. The tunnel is suddenly filled with a monstrous roar and the Ice Warrior turns to see that the ghostly image of the transported statue looms over him. Its eyes light up, it spits out its heat ray and the Ice Warrior vanishes in a red glow.)
GEBEK: Now do you believe that Aggedor is with us?
(The miners and guards cheer.)
GEBEK: Come on!
(He leads them onwards.)
27: INT. TUNNEL
(SARAH runs down another tunnel. She stops briefly to get her breath and then carries on.)
28: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ECKERLSEY watches the monitor with the view of the refinery. His face betrays his growing concern. A furious AZAXYR enters the room.)
AZAXYR: The Doctor is still using Aggedor to attack in the mines!
ECKERSLEY: I know.
AZAXYR: My warriors are being destroyed! You must stop him!
ECKERSLEY: (Into tannoy.) This is your last chance, Doctor. Surrender now or I'll step it up to maximum.
29: INT. REFINERY
(The vortex of light continues...but so does the DOCTOR.)
30: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
ECKERSLEY: (Into tannoy.) Your brain will be totally destroyed.
(ECKERSLEY presses several switches...)
31: INT. REFINERY
(...and the maelstrom reaches a peak of intensity. The DOCTOR'S face shows the pain he is feeling but he struggles to complete his task.)
32: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
AZAXYR: He is still resisting.
ECKERSLEY: It won't be long now. He'll keel over any minute.
(SSKEL comes into the room.)
SSKEL: Commander, the miners are almost at the citadel.
AZAXYR: Keep up the pressure, Eckersley. I shall prepare an ambush.
(He sweeps out.)
33: INT. REFINERY
(The DOCTOR is now suffering badly under the effects of ECKERSLEY'S system.)
34: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(SARAH runs through one of the mine tunnels. She stops for a moment to get her bearings and then carries on.)
35: INT. TUNNEL
(GEBEK, the miners and the guards get nearer to the citadel.)
36: INT. PASSAGE
(Within the citadel, AZAXYR leads SSKEL and another Ice Warrior down one of the passages. He chooses a spot on one side of the passage and points to it.)
AZAXYR: There.
(The second Ice Warrior stands in the spot indicated. AZAXYR points to another point on the other side of the passage.)
AZAXYR: There.
(SSKEL moves into this position and AZAXYR moves to a point further down the passage nearer to the tapestry covering the secret entrance.)
37: INT. TUNNEL
(GEBEK and his men reach the point in the tunnel which is the other side of this opening.)
GEBEK: (Whispers.) Now, you understand? First we will make sure the Queen is safe, then we capture the aliens. And remember - Aggedor is with us!
(There are whispered cries of "right!" from the men as GEBEK reaches for the torch bracket.)
38: INT. ANOTHER TUNNEL
(SARAH continues to make her own way towards the citadel.)
39: INT. TUNNEL
(The door in the tunnel swings open and GEBEK signals to his men to follow him through.)
40: INT. PASSAGE
(On the other side, GEBEK checks that the way ahead is clear and silently indicates for the others to follow. They fail to spot AZAXYR hidden behind a pillar and the MINER and the Guard Captain, now at the front, walk straight past him, then...)
AZAXYR: Destroy them!
(They spin round and see AZAXYR. As they turn back round, SSKEL steps out and blasts the two men down.)
GEBEK: Back! Back!
(GEBEK pulls the other men who have made it through the entrance back into the tunnel.)
41: INT. REFINERY
(As the assault on him continues, the DOCTOR, now in obvious discomfort, pulls the two levers and presses the main switch. The statue disappears...)
42: INT. PASSAGE
(...and reappears in the passage where it spits out its flame at SSKEL and the other Ice Warrior. They are both vapourised. AZAXYR runs off in alarm.)
43: INT. TUNNEL
(GEBEK has seen this through the curtain and yells to his men who are running back down the tunnel away from the citadel.)
GEBEK: Come on! Aggedor fights for us!
(The men cheer and run back.)
44: INT. PASSAGE
(They come through the entrance and see that the passage is now clear of the Martians.)
GEBEK: On! On!
(The men run towards the throne room.)
45: INT. REFINERY
(The effect on the DOCTOR of the attack reaches its peak. His head starts to judder and twitch. His face covered in sweat, he starts to fall slowly back in his chair and suddenly collapses with his head on the back rest. He is quite still.)
46: INT. TUNNEL
(SARAH reaches the entrance to the citadel which is still open from when GEBEK'S men passed through it. She takes the same route.)
47: INT. PASSAGE
(Within the citadel, she quickly comes across the bodies of the MINER and the guard. She sees a dropped Federation weapon on the floor next to the guard and picks it up. She carries on.)
48: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(Despite the DOCTOR'S collapse, ECKERSLEY has not switched the security system off and he watches the swirling light and sound that surrounds the DOCTOR'S prone form on the monitor with a grin on his face. SARAH runs into the room with the gun pointed straight at ECKERSLEY.)
SARAH: Turn it off!
ECKERSLEY: You wouldn't use that.
(He turns back to the screen.)
SARAH: Wouldn't I?
(She steps closer and speaks quietly and meaningfully.)
SARAH: Turn that alarm off.
ECKERSLEY: (Calmly.) Okay, okay.
(He switches the system off and on the small monochrome monitor the haze of light around the DOCTOR'S head disappears.)
ECKERSLEY: It's served its purpose anyway. The Doctor's dead.
(SARAH keeps the gun pointed at him but hesitates.)
SARAH: I don't believe you.
ECKERSLEY: Well have a look.
(SARAH circles round the back of him until he can see the monitor. She looks at the screen and instantly her attention is caught by the sight of the lifeless DOCTOR. ECKERSLEY is waiting his chance and twists her arm. He pushes her across the room, grabbing the gun from her grasp.)
ECKERSLEY: I had a nice little scheme going until you two arrived! I ought to...
(He raises the gun. SARAH looks down its barrel.)
ECKERSLEY: Turn round!
(SARAH does so.)
ECKERSLEY: Put your hands up!
(SARAH, her back turned to him, raises her hands and closes her eyes, awaiting the blast from the gun. Her eyes flicker open and closed in fright. There is a crack and SARAH cries out in fear. She looks round and sees that she is alone. The door is closed and the sound she heard was it being shut. She runs to it and pulls the handles but the doors remain fast.)
SARAH: (Shouts.) Oh! Open this door!
(She hammers on the doors.)
SARAH: (Shouts.) Let me out!
(She runs back to the monitor. The image displayed still shows an unmoving DOCTOR.)
49: INT. PASSAGE
(ECKERSLEY, the gun concealed behind his back, runs down a torch-lit citadel passage checking that he is not spotted at every step. He is about to go on when he stops, heads back slightly the way he came and then hides in an alcove. GEBEK, the miners and guards surge past him on their way to the throne room. After they have gone, ECKERSLEY comes out and moves down the passage but a straggling MINER runs towards him after his comrades. He stops when he sees the engineer.)
MINER: Eckersley! Gebek has given orders for your capture.
ECKERSLEY: Get out of my way.
MINER: No, you are my prisoner.
(He unsheathes his sword and points it.)
ECKERSLEY: Sorry, chum.
(ECKERSLEY pulls out the gun from behind his back and fires at the MINER. As the Peladonian falls, he runs past him.)
ECKERSLEY: Got too much to do.
50: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM
(GEBEK and his men reach the throne room. They burst through the closed doors...)
51: INT. THRONE ROOM
(...and past ALPHA CENTAURI but stop in their tracks when they see AZAXYR with his sonic gun held up to the Queen who sits on her throne. SSKEL stands nearby.)
AZAXYR: Surrender, Gebek.
(AZAXYR turns the gun towards them.)
AZAXYR: Tell your men to lay down their arms, or the Queen will die.
(GEBEK hesitates and then gestures to the miners and guards who lay down their swords and Federation weapons. AZAXYR approaches GEBEK.)
AZAXYR: Very sensible, Gebek.
(GEBEK takes slow steps towards the Martian.)
GEBEK: It seems we had no choice, Commander.
(A guard takes a run at SSKEL as GEBEK and another guard attack AZAXYR. SSKEL throws his guard off and turns and blasts him with a sonic wave. The guard screams as he falls and SSKEL turns his weapon to defend his commander. However, AZAXYR is struggling with both his arms pinioned by the Peladonians. SSKEL hesitates not daring to fire. GEBEK has AZAXYR'S gun arm and pulls it up to face the Ice Warrior. He then presses the trigger and SSKEL is hit. AZAXYR continues to struggle with his attackers and manages to throw them off.)
AZAXYR: Now that's enough!
(He aims his gun at one dislodged guard who rushes back and stabs the Martian in the stomach. AZAXYR staggers on his feet, aiming his weapon at the Queen but death overtakes him and he falls to the floor. As some of the group rush to the fallen guard, GEBEK runs to the shaken Queen and takes her hand.)
GEBEK: Are you harmed, your Majesty?
THALIRA: No, Gebek.
(She sits on the throne and looks over the battle.)
THALIRA: Ambassador?
ALPHA CENTAURI: Your Majesty?
THALIRA: (Shaken.) I think you should try to contact the Federation as soon as possible...to inform them of our situation.
ALPHA CENTAURI: At once, your Majesty.
(ALPHA CENTAURI turns...)
52: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM
(...and scuttles out of the throne room away on the errand.)
53: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(SARAH, still locked inside the communications room, lies with her head slumped down on the console.)
54: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(ALPHA CENTAURI bustles towards the entrance of the room. He unlocks it and pushes the doors open.)
55: INT. COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
(CENTAURI moves swiftly in towards the communications console. He looks round as he does so and sees SARAH.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: Sarah! I wondered where you'd got to.
(He starts to activate the communications device.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: (Brightly.) Good news! The Ice Warriors are defeated and Azaxyr is dead.
(SARAH doesn't move.)
SARAH: Fine.
ALPHA CENTAURI: What's wrong?
SARAH: Eckersley killed the Doctor.
ALPHA CENTAURI: (Shocked.) What?! Are you are?!
(He bustles towards her and SARAH raises a tear-stained face to look at the monitor image.)
SARAH: Take a look.
(The DOCTOR is still not moving.)
SARAH: I'm going down there.
(She hauls herself to her feet and walks out of the room as a shocked CENTAURI continues to look at the monitor.)
56: INT. PASSAGE
(A weary SARAH walks down towards the tapestry covered entrance to the tunnels and wearily activates the torch bracket device. She goes through the curtain.)
57: INT. TUNNEL
(On the other side of the entrance she reaches up to adjust the adjoining bracket but suddenly cannot be bothered. She heads into the tunnels leaving the entrance open.)
58: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM
(GEBEK and his men carry the casualties of the fight out of the throne room on stretchers. GEBEK himself and a guard carry AZAXYR'S corpse out. They walk past another tapestry which moves after they have gone, revealing ECKERLSEY concealed behind it.)
59: INT. THRONE ROOM
(THALIRA is left inside the throne room with ALPHA CENTAURI who has returned there. The Queen is mournful and shocked.)
THALIRA: I find it hard to believe that Eckersley could do something so wicked.
ALPHA CENTAURI: He had nothing to lose, your Majesty, and he's totally ruthless. We must not forget that he is still at liberty.
(ECKERSLEY suddenly rushes in. His gun is pointed at the Queen who rises to her feet.)
ECKERSLEY: Alright, your Majesty! You're coming with me!
ALPHA CENTAURI: Eckersley! What is the purpose of this outrage?!
ECKERSLEY: I've got a space shuttle hidden on the other side of the mountain. Her Majesty here is gonna be my safe conduct!
ALPHA CENTAURI: I shall summon assistance. (Shouts.) Help! Guards!
(ECKERLSEY turns and clubs CENTAURI on the back of the head as THALIRA rushes for the curtained secret entrance at the back of the throne room. As CENTAURI falls, crying out in pain, ECKERSLEY swings the gun back round on the Queen.)
ECKERSLEY: Stay there, your Majesty! Don't move.
(He approaches her and pulls back the curtain.)
60: INT. TUNNEL BEHIND THRONE ROOM
(He looks into the gloomy tunnel beyond.)
ECKERSLEY: Yes...we'll go this way.
(He pulls the scared Queen through by the hand and into the tunnel.)
ECKERSLEY: Come on!
61: INT. TUNNEL OUTSIDE REFINERY
(SARAH runs down the tunnel towards the refinery but, on its threshold, emotion takes over and her pace slows. Hugging herself she approaches the hole melted in the door by the Ice Warriors.)
62: INT. REFINERY
(Looking through, she sees that the DOCTOR'S position is still unchanged. He lies back in his chair with his face covered in a film of sweat. SARAH pushes open the door and slowly walks towards him. Her composure starts to break and a tear falls onto the DOCTOR'S face. His eyes shoot open and SARAH gasps as if in pain.)
SARAH: Huh, ow!
(As she looks down on him in a mixture of shock and surprise, he wipes the tear off his cheek and lifts his head up.)
DOCTOR: Tears?
(SARAH is stifling her sobs and surprise.)
DOCTOR: Well anyone would think you thought I was dead.
(He gets up out of the chair. SARAH starts to become defensive.)
SARAH: Well...of course I did! You looked dead!
DOCTOR: Well, even I couldn't stand the row from Eckersley's patent alarm system any longer, so I put myself into a complete sensory withdrawal.
(SARAH'S mouth moves silently in her puzzlement, then...)
SARAH: What?
DOCTOR: Well, a sort of trance, I...shut myself off.
SARAH: You did it on purpose? (Shouts furiously.) You mean I had all that worry for nothing?!
DOCTOR: Well, don't sound so aggrieved.
(He taps her chin and heads for the door.)
DOCTOR: Anybody would think you preferred me dead. Come on, let's go and find the others.
(A still angry SARAH follows him out of the room.)
63: INT. THRONE ROOM
(ALPHA CENTAURI lies twitching and helpless on the floor of the throne room. Having deposited the bodies, GEBEK and his men come back. They rush to him.)
GEBEK: Alpha Centauri! Well, what happened?
(GEBEK looks at the empty throne.)
GEBEK: Where is the Queen?
64: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(ECKERSLEY still grasps the struggling Queen by the wrist as he drags her down a mine tunnel.)
ECKERSLEY: (Shouts.) This way, your Majesty! Come on!
65: INT. PASSAGE OUTSIDE THRONE ROOM
(The DOCTOR and SARAH walk towards and into the throne room...)
66: INT. THRONE ROOM
(...where ALPHA CENTAURI is being put back on his feet.)
GEBEK: Doctor! Thank goodness you've come! Eckersley has kidnapped the Queen.
DOCTOR: (Whispers.) What?
67: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(ECKERSLEY pulls the Queen with little ceremony along another tunnel.)
ECKERSLEY: (Shouts.) Come on! Come on!
THALIRA: (Shouts.) No!
68: INT. THRONE ROOM
(The DOCTOR looks through the curtain at the back of the throne room and into the passage beyond. He returns to the others.)
DOCTOR: How well does Eckersley know these tunnels?
ALPHA CENTAURI: (Sadly.) He made a most thorough survey when he first arrived.
GEBEK: It won't be easy to find him, Doctor. The mountain's riddled with these tunnels. Even the miners don't know them all.
SARAH: He must have quite a start on us too.
ALPHA CENTAURI: (Sadly.) We could search for days and never find them.
(The DOCTOR rubs his lip in thought.)
DOCTOR: Yeah, well don't worry. I think I know a way we can track him down.
(He stalks out of the throne room. SARAH and GEBEK look in puzzlement at each other and then they and GEBEK'S men follow.)
69: INT. MINE TUNNEL
(GEBEK continues to pull the Queen along.)
ECKERSLEY: (Shouts.) Come on! Quickly!
70: INT. ANOTHER MINE TUNNEL
(He pulls her into a tunnel littered with the bodies of dead Ice Warriors and Peladonians.)
ECKERSLEY: (Shouts.) Come on!
(THALIRA pulls from his grasp and looks in horror at the corpses.)
THALIRA: Look! Look what you've done!
ECKERSLEY: Never mind.
(He grabs her wrist again and pulls her onwards.)
THALIRA: No!
71: INT. ANOTHER MINE TUNNEL
(Through an archway in the rock, AGGEDOR, freed from his pit, lumbers after escapee, followed by the DOCTOR, GEBEK, SARAH and the other Peladonians.)
72: INT. TUNNEL FORK
(ECKERSLEY drags THALIRA past several side passages...)
73: INT. TUNNEL END
(...and into the end of the tunnel. It leads nowhere. THALIRA smiles in satisfaction.)
THALIRA: We're trapped.
74: INT. TUNNEL FORK
(Nearby, AGGEDOR and the others approach.)
75: INT. TUNNEL END
ECKERSLEY: We've come clear through the mountain. My spaceship...is just on the other side.
THALIRA: (Shouts.) Well then go! We'll be well rid of you!
(She tries to pull her arm out of ECKERSLEY'S grasp but fails.)
ECKERSLEY: I still need you for a hostage! Come on!
(He pulls her back down towards a small side tunnel when a voice rings out.)
DOCTOR: Don't move, Eckersley!
(They stop. The DOCTOR walks into view with a gentle hand on AGGEDOR.)
ECKERSLEY: So that's how you found me.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes. Aggedor may be getting on a bit but he can still sniff out a trail. I'm sorry, old chap, but it's all over.
ECKERSLEY: No...unless you want a new ruler on Peladon, you'll stand still.
(THALIRA suddenly bites his holding hand. ECKERSLEY cries out in pain and is forced to let go. The DOCTOR pushes AGGEDOR forward.)
DOCTOR: Get him!
(AGGEDOR lumbers at ECKERSLEY and grabs him. Man and beast swing round in a deadly embrace as ECKERSLEY tries to aim his blaster at the roaring AGGEDOR.)
ECKERSLEY: (Shouts.) Help me! Help me! Help me, Doctor!
(ECKERSLEY gets an aim and fires. A blue flash illuminates the tunnel and AGGEDOR cries out in pain. Both he and ECKERSLEY fall to the floor at the same time. The DOCTOR runs forward and examines first the engineer and then the animal. He looks up at a saddened Queen and shakes his head.)
76: INT. THRONE ROOM
(The DOCTOR and SARAH are before the smiles Queen who is stood on the steps of the throne.)
THALIRA: Once again, Peladon owes you a great debt, Doctor - just as in my father's time. But this time, I hope that you'll stay long enough for us to show our gratitude.
DOCTOR: Yes, well, as a matter of fact, your Majesty, I...
THALIRA: (Interrupts.) I shall want your help and your advice , Doctor.
SARAH: Oh, your Majesty! You stood up to Ortron and to Azaxyr and the Ice Warriors - you don't need anyone's help.
THALIRA: (To the DOCTOR.) I shall be needing a new chancellor. I had hoped that you might stay.
DOCTOR: Well, I know just the man, your Majesty - Gebek.
(THALIRA looks shocked at the suggestion. She recovers her composure and smiles.)
THALIRA: We have the greatest admiration for Gebek...but he has no title. He's only a miner.
SARAH: There's nothing "only" about being a miner, your Majesty, anymore there was about being a girl.
(THALIRA smiles at the reminder.)
DOCTOR: It's the man that counts, your Majesty. You can always give him a title.
THALIRA: It seems that all I can give you is my thanks.
DOCTOR: Well, I shall always be grateful for the honour, your Majesty. But I'm quite certain that Gebek is the right man.
(ALPHA CENTAURI bursts into the room in excitement and bows.)
ALPHA CENTAURI: Your Majesty!
THALIRA: Ambassador?
ALPHA CENTAURI: I have just heard from Federation HQ. The war is over! Once Eckersley and Azaxyr's scheme had failed, Galaxy Five became most anxious to negotiate a peace treaty.
DOCTOR: Well, that's splendid news, splendid!
(GEBEK comes in and salutes the Queen.)
GEBEK: Excuse me, your Majesty.
(He turns to the DOCTOR.)
GEBEK: Er, Doctor, that blue box you were asking about.
DOCTOR: Yes?
GEBEK: We've found it. In the, er third gallery off the main cavern.
DOCTOR: Thank you, Gebek. Thank you very much. I'll go and check on it straight away.
(He turns back to the Queen and gives a short bow.)
DOCTOR: Oh, with your Majesty's permission?
THALIRA: Of course, Doctor.
(He heads for the door with SARAH. THALIRA looks troubled at what she knows is a parting.)
THALIRA: Goodbye, Doctor!
(The DOCTOR and SARAH stop in their tracks. They look at each other with a smile. They turn and bow to the Queen and then, with a smile at CENTAURI, walk from the room. THALIRA takes her place on the throne.)
THALIRA: Gebek?
GEBEK: (Puzzled.) Your Majesty?
(The new and as yet unaware Chancellor approaches the throne.)
77: INT. TUNNEL
(The TARDIS still stands in the tunnel where the DOCTOR and SARAH left it. They approach its Police Box exterior. As the DOCTOR unlocks the door, SARAH adopts a teasing tone...)
SARAH: You're sure you don't want to stay and take the job, Doctor? Civil service post, with a pension?
(The DOCTOR purses his lips and turns stony-faced to his young companion.)
DOCTOR: In you get, Sarah. I think it's time I took you home.
SARAH: I mean, I'd hate to stand in the way of your career!
(He grabs her right ear and pulls her towards the door.)
DOCTOR: (Meaningfully.) In...you...go!
(SARAH laughs as she enters. The DOCTOR smiles on the threshold and follows her. With its familiar sound echoing through the torch-lit tunnel, the TARDIS takes its leave of Peladon.)
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEE
Sarah Jane Smith
ELISABETH SLADEN
Eckersley
DONALD GEE
Thalira
NINA THOMAS
Gebek
REX ROBINSON
Voice of
Alpha Centauri
YSANNE CHURCHMAN
Body of
Alpha Centauri
STUART FELL
Azaxyr
ALAN BENNION
Sskel
SONNY CALDINEZ
Aggedor
NICK HOBBS
Miner
MAX FAULKNER
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
Film Cameraman
KEITH HOPPER
Film Sound
JOHN GATLAND
Film Editor
WILLIAM SYMON
Visual Effects
Designer
PETER DAY
Costume Designer
BARBARA KIDD
Make Up
ELIZABETH MOSS
Studio Lighting
RALPH WATSON
Studio Sound
TONY MILLIER
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
GLORIA CLAYTON
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
LENNIE MAYNE
COLOUR
© BBC 1974