Index for this Doctor ]
Index for this story  ]

DOCTOR WHO
UNDERWORLD

Written by
Bob Baker and Dave Martin


Part Three

(Overlap from the Doctor waving his scarf in the tunnels)

[EXT. Tunnel]

(Before succumbing to the gas, the DOCTOR completed his tinkering. When it takes effect, the gas is sucked out the way it came in, very quickly. Beside the bulkhead that came down in front of Herrick earlier, the remaining three members of Jackson's crew stand with shield guns at the ready.)
JACKSON: Right. Blast it.
(The beams converge, and the bulkhead is obliterated. HERRICK remains on the other side.)

[INT. Control room]

(We see GUARDS begin to pass out as fumigation gas enters the control area. The camera more closely approaches the control room now.)
TARN: Yes, I will, immediately. Thank you, Master. (to RASK) Round up the slaves to watch the sacrifice.
(He looks up from his work and sees what's going on. Gas is already entering the room.)
TARN: Gas! Shut down the gas! Fumigation! Shut down the fumigation!
(Both enter a coughing fit.)

[EXT. Tunnel]

(The DOCTOR's head rises.)
DOCTOR: I wonder where it all went.
(Elsewhere in the tunnel system, the Minyans take stock of their situation.)
JACKSON: Did you find it? Did you find the way to the P7E?
HERRICK: No, sir, but this man tried to kill me. Look at this. (He produces the communication device.)
TALA: Who was he?
HERRICK: I don't know, but the communicator kept calling him Officer Klimt.
JACKSON: Looted from the P7E.

[INT. Command deck]

IDAS: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Sssh.
LEELA: Doctor!
DOCTOR: Hmm?
LEELA: I found another weapon.
DOCTOR: What? Good.
LEELA: Well, we've got to protect ourselves somehow.
DOCTOR: Hmm.
IDAS: Are you, are you really from the stars?
LEELA: Yes.
IDAS: The stars really exist, then?
LEELA: Of course they do.
IDAS: And that is not the sky?
LEELA: That is the roof.
IDAS: Roof?
LEELA: Yes.
IDAS: (earnestly) Will you take me with you when you return to the stars?
DOCTOR: (from his work on the ship) Yes.
LEELA: No.
DOCTOR: But we've got problems with the ship.
IDAS: Ship?
LEELA: Yes. With this, here.
IDAS: Yes, your citadel. Yes, we have a citadel too.
DOCTOR: (standing) You do?
IDAS: Yes.
DOCTOR: Where is it?
IDAS: It's where the Seers live, in metal rooms like this. It's where they hold the sacrifices. It's where my father is.
DOCTOR: Could you take us there?
IDAS: No.
DOCTOR: Why not?
IDAS: There's no time.
DOCTOR: No time? Don't say that to me, I'm a Time Lord. Come on!
LEELA: Do not worry. He has saved many fathers. Come on!

[INT. Citadel]

(IDMON lies with metal bands over his arms and body, restraining him. He is gagged also.)
ANKH: Slaves must see the sacrifice, to show them who rules. See to it, Tarn, or you will be next.
TARN: Yes, Master.
RASK: Make the most of these few moments, slave. Enjoy them to the full. They are your last.

[EXT. Tunnel]

DOCTOR: I see. The Oracle tells the Seers.
IDAS: And the Seers tell the guards, and the guards tell us.
DOCTOR: Ah.
LEELA: And you do the work?
IDAS: Yes.
LEELA: Revolution! Wait, Idas. Has no-one ever thought of revolution? Has no-one ever rebelled?
IDAS: My father did.
LEELA: And?
DOCTOR: Sssh, shhh.
(The DOCTOR whispers to K9.)
K9: Ready.
(He then takes the printout that emerges from K9's side.)
DOCTOR: Yes, good. Idas, K9 has made us a map of the tunnel. K9, find Jackson, bring him back here, then follow us. (patting K9) Off you go.
K9: Retrieve and follow. Affirmative.
DOCTOR: (pointing to a spot on the map) Recognise that?
IDAS: The Tree. We call it the Tree.
DOCTOR: The Tree at the End of the World. Where are we?
IDAS: Here.
DOCTOR: Where's your father? (IDAS points) I see. Can we get from there to there quickly?
IDAS: No.
DOCTOR: Why not?
IDAS: It's forbidden.
DOCTOR: Why?
IDAS: It's guarded by invisible dragons. Not even the guards can use it, only Seers. They have special powers.
DOCTOR: So do I, Idas. So do I. (rolling up the map and heading off) The Tree at the End of the World's always guarded by dragons. They're fire dragons, aren't they, with tongues of flame?
LEELA: Do not worry. Come on.
(She takes him by the hand, and they continue for a while.)
IDAS: No, Doctor. That's where the dragons live.
DOCTOR: Really? We'll see if they're at home, shall we? Here, try that.
(He hands LEELA an apple. She promptly takes a bite.)
DOCTOR: No, throw it, don't eat it.
LEELA: Oh.
(She tosses it ahead of them, and forks of energy bathe the width of the tunnel in light.)
DOCTOR: See the source? (throwing an apple himself) Got it with that one?
LEELA: Got it.
DOCTOR: Give it a blast.
(She fires the shield gun.)
DOCTOR: Now the door.
(She shoots at the hexagonal door at the end of the tunnel, and it is no more.)
DOCTOR: Phew.
(He runs up the stone steps leading to a darker area, then runs back to the others.)
DOCTOR: In you go.
LEELA: Oh, no. There's nothing there.
DOCTOR: Yes, there is.
LEELA: No, there isn't.
DOCTOR: Yes, there is. Gravity.
LEELA: Gravity makes things fall.
DOCTOR: Towards the centre. This is the centre. Centre of the planet. Zero gravity, as in space. Watch.
LEELA: Come on. How do we move?
DOCTOR: Just push.
LEELA: Just
DOCTOR Push.
(IDAS and LEELA follow him, as a camera monitors them.)
DOCTOR: Ready?
LEELA: Yes.
DOCTOR: And push.
(They push upward with their arms and float gently downward.)
DOCTOR: And push. You all right, Idas?
(They continue floating downward, through a rounded area framed by metal piping. TARN sees this on his monitor.)

[INT. Control room]

TARN: Gate patrol! Alert! Alert!
(A klaxon sounds.)

[INT. Citadel]

(The view is familiar. Lights spin on wheel-shaped machines and other equipment similar to what we saw on the R1C deck. Several TROGS stand against the wall in the dim red lighting as IDMON is wheeled to the area where we would expect to see a crystal-based control system.)
ORACLE: (a strong whisper) Is the time right?
ANKH: The time is right.
ORACLE: Is the slave ready?
ANKH: He is ready.
ORACLE: And those who watch?
ANKH: They are full of fear.
ORACLE: Then shall not the sword ask its question?
ANKH: It shall be done. (we see a sword hanging from brocade fabric) Let the Lamp of Life be lit.
(A figure places fire in a brass cup hanging from chains, then carefully pulls a chain until the lamp, now with a healthy flame, touches the fabric.)
ANKH: Lamp, burn.
ALL: Lamp, burn.
ANKH: Sword, fall.
ALL: Sword, fall.
ANKH: Ask the question that hangs over all.
ALL: Ask the question that hangs over all.
(The fabric is now burning.)

[INT. Column]

(IDAS, the DOCTOR, and LEELA are still slowly floating down.)
IDAS: And then the sword falls.
LEELA: Why go to so much trouble?
DOCTOR: Intimidation. The more ritual and mumbo-jumbo, the greater deterrent. That's the whole point of official sadism, hmm.

[EXT. Tunnel]

(The Minyan crew are nearing the top of the shaft. K9 waits beyond them.)
K9: Faster. Imperative move faster.

[EXT. Gate]

(Now almost on terra firma, IDAS and friends come upon a small bridge with wooden slats. They run out onto it, and GUARDS surround them immediately.)
RASK: Don't move! Throw down the weapon.
DOCTOR: Throw it down.
RASK: Move!
(Under guard, they cross.)

[INT. P7E airlock]

(IDAS hesitates at the door.)
RASK: Inside! Just in time to follow your father. Move!

[INT. Citadel]

(The fabric is burning very slowly. A black-clad GUARD raises his hands.)
ANKH: Ask.
RASK: The intruders, Master. Captured.
ANKH: Bring them forward.
(The flame and cup are lowered.)
RASK: In.
ANKH: They too will answer the question of the sword. Continue.
(The chalice is raised again.)
IDAS: No!
(He rushes in, pushing IDMON out of the way. The sword plunges down.)
ANKH: Kill him! Kill him!
(In the pandemonium, LEELA subdues the GUARDS as shots are fired. The TROGS, though terrified and screaming, help her.)
LEELA: Go! Come on, come on!
IDAS: Yes.
DOCTOR: Into the tunnels! You'll never beat them here!
LAKH: Kill her!
ANKH: Kill them!
(These shouts are repeated as IDAS releases IDMON from his bonds.)
DOCTOR: Into the tunnels.

[INT. P7E corridor]

RASK: (into his communicator) Gate patrol! Break-out! Slaves! Stop them!
(Two TROGS are shot right in front of the DOCTOR. He pauses for a moment.)

[EXT. Gate]

(The Minyan crew are now at the bottom of the column.)
HERRICK: This is more like it! Come on!
(He has heard the fighting across the bridge and starts to run across.)
JACKSON: Herrick, come back! (He follows.)

[INT. P7E corridor]

LEELA: They've got us on both sides.
IDAS: We could try a rush. Well, we must do something.
IDMON: We must, son. We must.

[EXT. Gate]

JACKSON: Cover him!
(They rush across.)

[INT. Beside P7E airlock]

(LEELA is some way along the corridor in a good tactical location at a corner. Her shield gun is running out of juice, so she turns to run, pursued by a GUARD. Elsewhere, HERRICK charges through the airlock and addresses the GUARD.)
HERRICK: Hey!
(When the GUARD turns, he fires at close range, also dispatching another GUARD, to the side. He is laughing, revelling in this. Those running from the sacrifice area round the corner, chased by GUARDS. HERRICK makes short work of them too.)

[EXT. Gate]

(The escapees all run across the bridge.)
JACKSON: Come on, Tala. Herrick?
HERRICK: (standing his ground and continuing to fire) No, Captain. No, you go on. I've waited a long, long time for this. I'm not going to miss it now. Go back, Captain! Goodbye and good luck.
JACKSON: Goodbye, Herrick.
(HERRICK, playing the hero of legend, buys some time for the others to escape but then ends up shot in the chest. He cries out. Shot again, he falls, with a grimace. RASK kicks him, eliciting a pained cry.)
RASK: Good. Not dead yet. Take him inside for questioning.
(Grey-robed figures carry him away.)

[EXT. Cave]

(K9 leads the way. They all stop, and a Trog woman muses to LEELA.)
NAIA: We are born, live, and die in the tunnels, until now.
LEELA: There is nothing else?
NAIA: Nothing but the quota, this rock for the crushers.
LEELA: Rock?
NAIA: For fuel. For reprocessing into food so that we can go on working to get more rock. And then there are the skyfalls.
IDMON: Yes. They say they're accidents, but they're not. They can't be. It's the way they keep our numbers down so there's just enough of us to do the work and no more.
IDAS: (examining a shield gun) If only we had more of these.
JACKSON: (holding the ceremonial sword) We can't use the shaft again. They'd wipe us out before we got to the bridge. Is there another way?
IDAS: To the Tree? No.
LEELA: Doctor, Naia says they eat rock, processed rock.
DOCTOR: Did I ever tell you about the time I went to Blackpool, hmm? If they process rock, they must take it in somewhere. Into the ship, the P7E, mustn't they?
LEELA: Crushers. Naia said something about crushers.
DOCTOR: Crushers. Yes. Yes, there must be another way. Tell me, why do you think Idas calls the tunnel system the Tree?
LEELA: Why shouldn't he? Idas has never seen a tree, has he? Why would he call it a tree?
DOCTOR: The Tree of Life. The race bank. The gift of immortality on the Tree of Life guarded by the dragon.
LEELA: The Oracle?
DOCTOR: Yes.
LEELA: Oh, that's just a myth, a story.
DOCTOR: Ah, myths often have a grain of truth in them if you know where to look. Everybody here, except us, comes from the same stock as Jackson and company.
LEELA: The same stock?
DOCTOR: Yes. How else do you think they got here on the middle of a new planet?
LEELA: I don't know.
DOCTOR: They're the descendents of the people who came on the P7E. Jackson's probably Idas's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather a few times back.
LEELA: Great, great, great...
DOCTOR: Yes. Don't worry about it.
LEELA: (still counting on her fingers) Great, great...
DOCTOR: (to IDAS and JACKSON) There is another way into the citadel, you know.
JACKSON: The bridge'll be guarded.
DOCTOR: But not the goods entrance. They still need fuel, don't they? And they need food, and they need rock, and the rock has to be crushed somewhere. Isn't that wonderful, hmm? Bring that sword.

[EXT. Mine]

(The DOCTOR, JACKSON, IDAS, and LEELA watch as a Trog pushes an ore cart.)
DOCTOR: What do you think, Jackson?
JACKSON: It must be done in silence, without giving them a chance to use their weapons. One shot and the alarms'll go and they'll know we're in. It's difficult.
LEELA: But possible, if we can get behind them.
JACKSON: Possible if we can get the maximum of surprise, and if the Doctor's plan works.
DOCTOR: Well, it's not my plan exactly, but it has worked before. A fellow called Ulysses pulled it off a little while ago.
JACKSON: Who?
LEELA: Ulysses. Come on.

[INT. P7E]

(HERRICK is strapped in a chair. On his head is a chunky metal affair with a band around the forehead and large headphone-style pieces at the ears. We hear a high-pitched noise, and he goes rigid, gritting his teeth in agony. The dental-drill-like sound stops, and he relaxes. We now see two SEERS over him, in garb of the sort worn by Rask and company except in brown.)
LAKH: Where are you from?
HERRICK: Minyos.
ANKH: Liar. (the pain-delivery noise rings out again) Minyos was destroyed a hundred thousand years ago.
LAKH: Where are you from?
HERRICK: Minyos.
(Pain is meted out again.)
ANKH: Liar!
TARN: He tells the truth, Master.
LAKH: Silence! We are the only survivors of Minyos.
HERRICK: You? Never.
(There is a briefer dental-drill screech this time.)
ANKH: What do you seek here? Why have you come?
HERRICK: I seek the future.
TARN: There is more, Master. He is holding back.
LAKH: What else? We can make your brain boil inside your skull. What else?
HERRICK: There's no reason why you should not know. We are Minyans. We're in search of the cylinders containing the race bank.
ANKH: Race bank?
LAKH: What cylinders?
HERRICK: The cylinders containing the genetic inheritance of the Minyan people. It was placed on board your ship, the P7E.
ANKH: You are mistaken.
LAKH: He is lying. More.
TARN: (as more pain is delivered) There is no more, Master. He speaks the truth.
HERRICK: The Quest. The Quest.
ANKH: This is not a ship, not your P7E, and there is no such thing as this race bank you describe.
HERRICK: If you were Minyans-
LAKH: The guards and slaves are the only people of true Minyan descent. We have evolved far beyond them.
HERRICK: Then who are you?
ANKH: The servants of the Oracle. Seers of the realm of Hedes.
(The two SEERS remove their masks, beneath which are crude-seeming cylindrical gold metal heads with three red eye-like protuberances and smallish grille bumps for ears and mouth.)

[EXT. Mine]

(Above, a TROG struggles to push a heavy cart of white ore along the track. GUARDS stand watch as the chalky white rock within is tipped out. The next carts are pushed by IDMON and then IDAS. They have tarps over them. We can see that the DOCTOR and LEELA are in IDMON's cart. IDMON falls mid-push, and a GUARD pulls the cart further along.)
IDMON: The crusher!
(A cart is tipped as we fade to credits.)


The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl

Previous ] Next ]

-=#=-
Anna's home  >  The Doctors' home  >  This Doctor  >  This story 
-=#=-