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DOCTOR WHO
GENESIS OF THE DALEKS
Written by
Terry Nation
Part Six
(Overlap from the Doctor attaching the explosives)
[INT. Outside the incubation room]
SARAH: Get it off! Get it off!
(SARAH and HARRY pull at the creature as the DOCTOR lurches about in attempts to dislodge it. HARRY finally manages to get his hand between the creature and the DOCTOR's neck, freeing him. Part of the glob remains in HARRY's hand, and he hurls it back into the room. The DOCTOR throws down the rest of the creature from his front and slams the door. They head some way down the corridor, and the DOCTOR takes the two wires in his hands.)
SARAH: What are you waiting for?
DOCTOR: Just touch these two strands together and the Daleks are finished. Have I that right?
SARAH: To destroy the Daleks? You can't doubt it.
DOCTOR: Well, I do. You see, some things could be better with the Daleks. Many future worlds will become allies just because of their fear of the Daleks.
SARAH: But it isn't like that.
DOCTOR: But the final responsibility is mine, and mine alone. Listen, if someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you and told you that that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives, could you then kill that child?
SARAH: We're talking about the Daleks, the most evil creatures ever invented. You must destroy them. You must complete your mission for the Time Lords.
DOCTOR: Do I have the right? Simply touch one wire against the other and that's it - the Daleks cease to exist. Hundreds of millions of people, thousands of generations can live without fear, in peace, and never even know the word 'Dalek'.
SARAH: Then why wait? If it was a disease or some sort of bacteria you were destroying, you wouldn't hesitate.
DOCTOR: But I kill, wipe out, a whole intelligent life form, then I become like them. I'd be no better than the Daleks.
SARAH: Think of all the suffering there'll be if you don't do it.
GHARMAN: Doctor! Doctor, I've been looking everywhere for you. Davros has agreed to our terms.
HARRY: He submitted?
GHARMAN: He did, but he asked only one thing - that he might be allowed to address a meeting of all the elite, scientific and military.
DOCTOR: He's going to put a case?
GHARMAN: Yes, but a vote will be taken. It's a foregone conclusion. There'll be a complete landslide against any further development of the Daleks. We've won.
DOCTOR: I'm grateful to you, Gharman, more grateful than I can tell you.
GHARMAN: The meeting's about to begin. Will you come?
DOCTOR: Yes.
(He rolls up the wires a bit and, at the door of the incubation room, pulls them free. He sets off to join the others.)
[INT. Laboratory]
GHARMAN: (entering, still with a gun) Everybody is here, Davros.
DAVROS: The issues are simple and clear-cut. I have given my life's work to the survival of our race. The travel machine I designed, the Dalek, will give the creature into which we will mutate its only possibility of continued existence.
GHARMAN: But you have deviated from that intention. You have introduced genetic changes that will alter the mutation into a creature without morals and without ethics.
DAVROS: I have introduced aggression, without which no race can survive.
GHARMAN: But aggression without a conscience.
DAVROS: History will show that co-operation between different species is impossible. One race must survive all others, and to do this it must dominate. Ruthlessly.
(The DOCTOR uses his thumb to point to Gharman's desk. SARAH moves toward his equipment on the desk.)
DAVROS: Now I intend that when all the bickering and battling is over, the supreme victor shall be our race, the Daleks.
(SARAH picks up the etheric beam locator and passes it on. She then passes the sonic screwdriver into the hand HARRY has behind his back, and the DOCTOR pockets that too.)
DAVROS: At this very moment, the production lines stand ready, totally automated, fully programmed. The Daleks are no longer dependent on us. The machinery is ready. They are a power in their own right. If any one of you would destroy everything that we have ever achieved, then here is a destruct button.
(He glides over to a large red button set into a panel, marked 'TOTAL DESTRUCT'.)
DAVROS: Press it, and you will destroy this bunker and everything in it. Only this room will remain. Press it and you will wipe out our entire race, destroy the Daleks forever. Which of you will do it?
(Those gathered in the room look at each other.)
DAVROS: You are men without courage. You have lost your right to survive.
HARRY: (sotto) The time ring isn't here, Doctor.
DOCTOR: (sotto) What?
HARRY: (sotto) The time ring - it's not here.
DAVROS: (to NYDER, who bends down to hear him) Good. We have achieved the delay we needed. Wait a few minutes, then check that everything is ready.
(NYDER steps back. GHARMAN hands the gun to one of the others and approaches DAVROS.)
GHARMAN: You have heard Davros's case. What he has not made clear is that there is another way.
DAVROS: There is no other way!
GHARMAN: Production of the Dalek can continue. We can destroy the genetically conditioned creatures and allow the mutation to follow its own course. Our race will survive if it deserves to survive, but let it have all the strengths and weaknesses that we have, compassion and hate. Let it do good things and evil. But we cannot let it become an unfeeling, heartless machine. That is our choice. Now, we must decide.
DOCTOR: (sotto) We've got to find that time ring.
SARAH: (sotto) Doctor. (She hands it to him.)
DOCTOR: (sotto) Good girl, Sarah. Now all we need is the tape recording, so keep an eye on Nyder.
DAVROS: You've heard our cases. I will give you two minutes to decide. Then you must answer not only to me but to the future.
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
(The three Daleks from outside enter. They glide down the corridor and stop outside a door. BETTAN and her motley crew enter, behind them.
We return to NYDER, who whispers to DAVROS as the others in the room use their two minutes of discussion time. DAVROS flicks a switch on his chair. We return to the Daleks - the door opens.)
DALEK: Advance.
(They do so, heading down the corridor lying ahead of them. BETTAN and company follow at a distance.)
BETTAN: Right, bring out the explosives. Now, lay the charges on each of these main carriers. One charge for each beam should be enough. Are you quite sure this is the only way into the bunker?
SEVRIN: Well, the only other way was from the Kaled dome, and your war rocket caved that in. It can never be cleared.
BETTAN: If we do the same here, we'll entomb the Daleks and those who created them.
SEVRIN: But Sarah and the Doctor are inside. You'll give them a chance to get clear, won't you?
BETTAN: I must blow the roof as soon as the charges are laid. I can't delay. If the Daleks find out what we are doing and attack, I don't have enough men or arms to stand them off.
SEVRIN: How long?
BETTAN: Thirty minutes, perhaps less.
SEVRIN: Then I must get inside and try and warn them.
BETTAN: That's up to you. But you must understand - if you're not back, I must go on. You'll die in there with them.
SEVRIN: I understand.
BETTAN: I'll give you what time I can.
SEVRIN: Right.
[INT. Laboratory]
DAVROS: You have had ample time to decide. Those who would remain loyal to me and to the future of our race, move forward and stand at my side.
(Two of the SCIENTISTS step forward.)
DAVROS: No more? Kravos, will you betray me?
DOCTOR: Now I wonder where Nyder's going at such a crucial moment.
HARRY: I think we ought to find out.
DOCTOR: So do I. Let's go.
(The DOCTOR, HARRY, and SARAH step out the door closest to Gharman's desk.)
DAVROS: Kravos, I saved your life once. In your chest is a tiny instrument which I designed. It keeps your heart beating. Will you now turn that heart against me?
[INT. Corridor]
(SARAH and HARRY encounter NYDER in the corridor. The DOCTOR is behind him as he backs away. NYDER raises his arm, which the DOCTOR grabs. The two struggle, and the time ring falls next to the wall. The DOCTOR picks up the blunt instrument that NYDER had raised.)
DOCTOR: Now where are you going in such a hurry?
NYDER: Davros has lost. I am getting away while I can.
DOCTOR: Oh. Somehow that just doesn't ring true.
SARAH: Why didn't you just join the other side?
DOCTOR: Now that's a good question. Do you have a good answer? Evidently not. Well then, let's try something else. That tape recording you took - where is it?
NYDER: It's put away in a safe in Davros's office.
DOCTOR: Shall we go and see?
NYDER: Down here.
(The DOCTOR leads. NYDER behind him. The other two follow. They enter a room. SEVRIN is searching the corridors. When the shadow of a Dalek starts to appear at the far end of the corridor, he runs round the near corner. Once the Daleks have passed, he continues his search.)
[INT. Davros's office]
(There is a wall safe at the centre of an Elite Scientific Corps symbol. The DOCTOR is examining it as SARAH tours the room.)
DOCTOR: Now, be reasonable and open it for us.
NYDER: Only Davros knows the combination.
HARRY: Come on, Nyder. You can do better than that.
SARAH: Perhaps he's telling the truth.
DOCTOR: Oh, no, no. On the contrary. Now, Davros can't rise from his chair, correct?
NYDER: Well?
DOCTOR: And he has the use of only one hand, this hand. (he raises his own right hand) And Davros never goes anywhere without you, Nyder. So you must open the safe for him. Open it for us.
(He does so and hands the tape to the DOCTOR.)
DOCTOR: Thank you. Now let's destroy it.
(SARAH picks up a Dalek gun from a side table and smiles.)
SARAH: How about this?
DOCTOR: How very apt. A Dalek gun.
(He has placed the tape on the floor and, taking the gun, gives it a zap. NYDER takes the opportunity to flee the room.)
DOCTOR: There.
(HARRY runs after him, but the door closes in his face. He can't get it to open.)
DOCTOR: He's not important.
SARAH: What?
DOCTOR: We've got the time ring, we've destroyed the tape, and Davros's power is broken.
SARAH: What about the Daleks that are already operational?
DOCTOR: Oh, I think we can leave Gharman to destroy them.
HARRY: That means we can leave, then.
DOCTOR: Yes. All we've got to do is touch the time ring.
(There is no time ring on his arm. He checks his other arm too.)
DOCTOR: Ah! I must have dropped it in the struggle in the corridor.
SARAH: Well now we've got to get out of here.
(They approach the door.)
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
BETTAN: How many more charges to go?
MAN: Only four more.
BETTAN: Won't take long. It doesn't give them much time. All right, carry on.
[INT. Davros's office]
DOCTOR: Even the sonic screwdriver won't open this door.
SARAH: (heading into the room further) Doctor.
DOCTOR: Huh?
(He checks what she is looking at - a monitor occupying most of the wall. A view downward into the laboratory appears.)
SARAH: Why is it going on so long?
DOCTOR: Who knows? It's out of character for Davros to submit quite so easily.
[INT. Laboratory]
DAVROS: This is your last chance. Move to join me now, or suffer the consequences.
GHARMAN: Why don't you just accept the fact that you have lost? It's over for you, Davros.
DAVROS: Do you believe that I would let a lifetime's work be ended by the will of spineless fools like you? You have won nothing. I allowed this charade to be played out for one reason only - to find those men who were truly loyal to me and to discover those who would betray me! We, I will go on!
GHARMAN: You are insane, Davros.
(DAVROS flips a switch, and the doors open. Daleks pour into the room.)
DAVROS: Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!
(The corps are being exterminated. For a moment, we see the travellers watching this play out on the monitor.)
KRAVOS: (after GHARMAN is killed by Dalek fire) Stop this, Davros. You must stop them!
(NYDER replies by throwing KRAVOS to the ground, where he dies in agony.)
[INT. Davros's office]
(Hearing footfalls, the three take up position at the sides of the door.)
SARAH: Sevrin!
SEVRIN: I haven't got much time. The Thals have set the explosives at the entrance. They'll detonate as soon as they're ready.
SARAH: What?
DOCTOR: Give me a moment to find the time ring.
[INT. Corridor]
(The DOCTOR picks up the time ring.)
DOCTOR: Ah! Good. Let's go. (Daleks are approaching) Back, back!
(Around the corner they find Daleks.)
DOCTOR: Back!
(They head a different way.)
SEVRIN: We're not far from the main entrance. If we can get through the next section, we'll be safe.
DOCTOR: Sarah.
SARAH: Hmm?
DOCTOR: Take this. (he places the time ring on her wrist) Sevrin, lead them to the main entrance. Get them out of here.
SEVRIN: Right.
SARAH: What are you going to do?
DOCTOR: I'm going back to the incubator room. This time, I'm going to blow it up.
SARAH: Let us come with you.
DOCTOR: No! Get out of here. Hurry. Now, go on.
[INT. Laboratory]
DAVROS: Dispose of the traitors' bodies. The Daleks will assume all military duties necessary for the security of the bunker. As for us, work will commence as soon as possible on the improvement of every aspect of Dalek design.
NYDER: (entering) Davros, the prisoners I locked away in your office have escaped.
DAVROS: They must be found. Seek out the prisoners, and exterminate.
DALEK: We obey.
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
MAN: (as he and others run to BETTAN) That's the last one in position.
BETTAN: Right. Prepare to detonate.
[INT. Outside the incubation room]
(The DOCTOR has reattached the wires inside the room. He leaves it and picks up the ends of the wires. He is arranging them in his hands when two Daleks head down the corridor, firing at him. He drops the wires and ducks out of eyestalk range.)
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
(SEVRIN, SARAH, and HARRY run from the body of the bunker.)
BETTAN: Oh, I'd given up hope. Now, quickly, move away. We're about to detonate.
SARAH: No, you can't, not yet.
HARRY: You must wait.
SARAH: The Doctor's still inside.
SEVRIN: A few minutes, please.
SARAH: Please.
BETTAN: All right, a few minutes. But if there's the least indication of the Daleks moving up that corridor, then I detonate.
(The DOCTOR reaches out across the corridor, trying to grab for the wires. A Dalek fires, and he pulls his hand back. The Dalek begins rolling forward, and the DOCTOR runs out of the way. The Dalek ends up completing the circuit, and there is a flash and report.
Those at the entrance hear the blast and react.)
MAN: We're getting a picture on one of these scanners.
DAVROS [on scanner screen, black and white]: Send a patrol of Daleks to the main entrance. This will remain an area of maximum security.
DALEK [on screen]: I obey.
BETTAN: That's it. I can't wait any longer. Some of you get those doors closed. The rest of you, move away.
HARRY: One more minute, please.
BETTAN: I'm sorry.
[INT. Laboratory]
DAVROS: The automated Dalek production line has been started. I gave no such order. Who did?
DALEK: I gave the command.
DAVROS: You will perform no function unless ordered by me. You will obey only my commands. The production line is to be halted immediately. You heard my order. Obey! Obey! Nyder.
NYDER: Yes, Davros.
(NYDER approaches the console. The Dalek exterminates him.)
DALEK: Production will continue.
(The Daleks move toward DAVROS.)
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
(The doors are nearly closed. HARRY and SARAH peer anxiously through them.)
BETTAN: Fire.
(The THAL raises the plunger for detonation.)
SARAH: No! Wait! He's coming! He's coming!
(The DOCTOR is running down the corridor. He makes it through the gap between the doors. Daleks are not far behind.)
SARAH: Quickly!
(The doors close, amid Dalek fire.)
BETTAN: Now!
(The plunger is lowered, and the resulting explosion causes even the THAL manning it to lose his balance. The DOCTOR goes to the monitor.)
[INT. Laboratory]
DAVROS: You must obey me! I created you! I am the master, not you. I! I! I!
DALEK: Our programming does not permit us to acknowledge that any creature is superior to the Daleks.
DAVROS: You cannot exist without me. You cannot progress.
DALEK: We are programmed to survive. We have the ability to develop in any way necessary to ensure that survival.
DALEK 2: Main exit blocked by explosion for a length of at least one thousand yards.
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
SARAH: The incubator room - were you able to do anything?
DOCTOR: Yes, with a little help from a Dalek. But I'm afraid I've only delayed them for a short time. Perhaps a thousand years.
SARAH: What?
DOCTOR: In the total time scale, no more than that.
HARRY: Look.
[INT. Laboratory]
DALEK: All inferior creatures are to be considered the enemy of the Daleks and destroyed.
DAVROS: No, wait! Those men are scientists. They can help you. Let them live. Have pity!
DALEK: Pity? I have no understanding of the word. It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. Exterminate!
(Davros's two loyal men die.)
DAVROS: For the last time, I am your creator! You must - you will - obey me!
DALEK: We obey no-one. We are the superior beings.
(DAVROS turns to the destruction button, and his hand shakes near it.)
DALEK: Exterminate!
(A Dalek gun activates, and we hear DAVROS's prolonged screams.)
DALEK: We are entombed, but we live on. This is only the beginning. We will prepare. We will grow stronger. When the time is right, we will emerge and take our rightful place as the supreme power of the universe!
[INT. Entrance to the bunker]
DOCTOR: Goodbye, Bettan.
BETTAN: Goodbye, Harry.
DOCTOR: Sevrin.
SARAH: Thank you, Sevrin.
DOCTOR: Goodbye. Thank you.
(The THAL group leave. The DOCTOR holds out his hand, and SARAH holds out the time ring.)
DOCTOR: Hands on the time ring.
SARAH: You don't seem too disappointed. We've failed, haven't we?
(They shimmer almost as if viewed through water, and their bodies rotate against the starry backdrop in almost a dance.)
DOCTOR [OC]: Failed? No, not really. You see, I know that, although the Daleks will create havoc and destruction for millions of years, I know also that out of their evil must come something good.
The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl
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