TERROR OF THE AUTONS
BY: ROBERT HOLMES
5:15pm - 5:40pm
[SCENE_BREAK]
1: EXT. CIRCUS
(The colourful tent of the "International Circus" is filling with people. The owner, Luigi ROSSINI, a small rotund man in a check suit and a bowler hat stands outside and watches everybody enter with a nod of satisfaction. He walks round the tent, past the tiger cage and to a quiet spot where he stops to light his cigar. The quiet of the spot is disturbed by the sound of a TARDIS materialising and a brand new looking, blue horse box appears a little way off. ROSSINI looks amazed and frowns, then he goes over and tries to open one of the doors on the rear left-hand side of the box. Failing, he goes round to the other side. Immediately that he has gone the door opens and a smartly dressed black clothed figure jumps out. He has a moustache and beard and dark hair with streaks of grey. He has a compact though powerful demeanour. His movements and manner are precise and controlled. He swings round when he hears ROSSINI'S Italian accent.)
ROSSINI: Who the heck are you? Well?
(The new arrival looks impassively at the circus owner who has just walked back from the other side of the horsebox. He answers in rich, precise tones.)
MASTER: I am usually referred to as the Master.
ROSSINI: Oh? Is that so?
MASTER: Universally.
ROSSINI: Mmm, well I am Luigi Rossini, internationally, and conjurers I don't need. Okay?
MASTER: Unfortunately I need you, Lew Russell.
(ROSSINI is amazed at this comment and he suddenly drops the Italian accent and speaks in his natural cockney tones.)
ROSSINI: What did you call me?
MASTER: Lew Russell - it happens to be your real name.
ROSSINI: Now listen Mister - get orf my pitch while you're still safe!
MASTER: (Menacingly.) Why, you insolent primitive!
ROSSINI: Oh, so you it want the 'ard way do you? Right!
(ROSSINI reaches out to grab the MASTER but he easily holds his arm him and forces him down. The MASTER stares at him with a hypnotic look, which overcomes the circus owner. The MASTER then lets him go and walks off leaving ROSSINI kneeling on the ground. After he has gone a short distance, the MASTER stops and snaps his fingers. ROSSINI jumps up and follows him.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
2: INT. NATIONAL SPACE MUSEUM
(The clear, plastic like Nestene energy unit sits in an ammunition box. This in turn resides in a glass case in a museum. The black gloved hand of the MASTER smashes the display case. A nearby uniformed ATTENDANT hears the noise.)
MUSEUM ATTENDANT: Hey you! What do you think you're doing?
(ROSSINI clubs the ATTENDANT down from behind, allowing the MASTER to steal the sphere.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
3: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR is in a new laboratory at UNIT HQ. Brick walled painted white; it has an upper level reached by a metal spiral staircase and a window overlooking a canal. The TARDIS sits in the corner of the lab. From inside comes the sound of the DOCTOR singing...)
DOCTOR: (OOV: Singing) "I don't want to set the world on fire!"
(There is a loud explosion and the DOCTOR stumbles out of the TARDIS followed by a cloud of smoke. He coughs and continues to sing quietly to himself as he carries a small multi-pronged circuit over to a lab bench. He sits down and places the circuit with a larger device, which has three aerial like devices radiating back in to a central point. As he continues to work, there is a knock on the green arched metal door to the lab.)
DOCTOR: Not today, thank you!
(The door opens and JO Grant - a young fair-haired girl, trendily dressed with a collection of rings on all her fingers - nervously steps into the room, carrying a paper file.)
JO: Doctor? I er...
DOCTOR: (Without looking up.) I said not today, thank you.
(The DOCTOR presses a switch on the machine. There is a whirring noise followed by a small explosion within its workings.)
DOCTOR: Oh no!
(The girl quickly runs over to a nearby fire extinguisher, grabs it and sprays the bench. The DOCTOR jumps back in alarm.)
DOCTOR: Oh no!
JO: It's all right. I've dealt with it.
DOCTOR: Dealt with it? You've ruined it!
JO: But your bench was on fire!
DOCTOR: (Furiously.) Three months delicate work and now look at it, you ham fisted bung-vender!
JO: But this whole place might have gone up in flames!
DOCTOR: My dear young lady. Steady state micro welding always creates more smoke than fire.
JO: (Puzzled.) Steady state micro welding?
DOCTOR: Yes. An advanced engineering technique pioneered by the Lammerdenes. A remarkably gifted race - they have nine opposable digits.
JO: Nine what?
DOCTOR: Nine opposable digits.
(He realises that the girl does not understand.)
DOCTOR: Yes, well never mind.
(He returns back to the machine but soon realises that JO hasn't gone but is standing watching him.)
DOCTOR: Look, I said I don't want any tea today, thank you.
JO: I'm not the tea lady.
DOCTOR: Then what the blazes are you doing in here?
JO: I've come...
DOCTOR: (Interrupting.) Don't you know this area is strictly out of bounds to everybody except the tea lady and the Brigadier's personal staff?
JO: I'm your new assistant!
DOCTOR: (Appalled.) Oh no!
JO: The Brigadier sent me along to introduce myself, Doctor. Josephine Grant.
(JO holds out her hand and the DOCTOR reluctantly shakes it.)
DOCTOR: How do you do Miss Grant? (Gently.) But I...I really don't think you're suitable.
JO: (Enthusiastically.) I'm a fully qualified agent, you know - cryptology, safe breaking, explosives...
DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Fire fighting?
(JO'S face falls.)
DOCTOR: Yes well, I'm sorry my dear but what I really need is a scientist.
JO: I took general science at A-Level!
DOCTOR: Yes, I'm sure you did, but, even so...
JO: I'm sorry I ruined your experiments.
DOCTOR: That's all right.
(The DOCTOR returns to his work. JO picks up her paper file from a nearby table and takes it over to the lab bench. The DOCTOR looks up and sees that she has returned.)
DOCTOR: Look Miss Grant, I've got a great deal of work to do. You must excuse me.
(JO, with dogged persistence, opens up her file as the DOCTOR continues to work.)
JO: The Brigadier wanted me to show you this report.
DOCTOR: (Not looking.) Mmm?
JO: Something was stolen for the Natural Space Museum. It was on loan from this H.Q.
DOCTOR: (Still not looking.) Oh, what was?
JO: (Reading.) "A translucent polyhedron, eight and a half inches in diameter."
(The DOCTOR suddenly stands up and grabs the file JO is reading from.)
DOCTOR: Well that's the Nestene energy unit! It should never have left this building!
JO: Apparently they wanted it for a special display. The Brigadier signed the authorisation.
DOCTOR: The Brigadier's an idiot! I knew I should have destroyed that thing but somehow it would have felt like murder.
JO: You mean it was alive?
DOCTOR: Yes, in a way. Yes, that container held a form of alien intelligence.
JO: But you've just got to be joking!
DOCTOR: There's precious little to joke about, Miss Grant. That thing is appallingly dangerous.
JO: But who would want to steal it?
DOCTOR: Exactly. Who and why?
[SCENE_BREAK]
4: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(Two radio telescopes point to the sky in the English countryside. A sign outside some buildings on the ground reads "MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY: BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT". A suited man wearing glasses walks towards a large pylon like structure and starts climbing up a metal stairway near to another sign, which reads "DANGER. KEEP CLEAR OF RADIO TELESCOPES".)
[SCENE_BREAK]
5: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(At the stop of the stairway, high above the ground, is a control cabin, which overlooks the telescopes. Inside the cabin, a balding bearded man - GOODGE - works at a console. He wears a white lab coat.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
6: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(The suited man PROFESSOR PHILIPS reaches the doorway and enters.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
7: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(GOODGE immediately starts complaining to PHILIPS.)
GOODGE: I told her again last night.
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: Hmm?
GOODGE: Elsie. "Cut out the hard-boiled eggs" I said. Quite apart from their effects on my digestion, they're aesthetically boring.
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: (Not interested.) Uh huh.
[SCENE_BREAK]
8: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(Outside the cabin, the MASTER steps forward and peers into the room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
9: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(GOODGE hands PHILIPS a print out from a computer.)
GOODGE: Here you are.
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: Oh, thank you Goodge.
GOODGE: Be anything else?
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: No, not for the moment. Oh by the way, talking of eggs, I want a four-hour scan below the hydrogen line tomorrow.
GOODGE: All right.
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: I'll give you the precise wavelength later.
(He leaves the room...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
10: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(...and turns the corner of the cabin towards the stairs. The MASTER steps toward the door.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
11: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(GOODGE puts a lunchbox and a multicoloured vacuum flask on the table. He opens the lunchbox and takes out a couple of eggs. He starts eating. Behind him the MASTER enters and holds up a small black tube-like device. He points it in GOODGE'S direction. The end of the device glows bright red...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
12: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. MAIN CONTROL ROOM
(PHILLIPS enters and sits down at another console in the red-brick lined room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
13: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(The MASTER re-enters the cabin carrying the ammunition box with has the word "UNIT" written on the side. He puts it down on a control console, opens it up and takes out the plastic sphere which now has wires attached to it. The MASTER plugs these wires into the console and then turns some wheel controls. He looks out of the window.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
14: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The radio telescopes slowly turn into alignment.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
15: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. MAIN CONTROL ROOM
(PHILLIPS notices some unusual patterns coming up on a screen. He flicks a communications switch.)
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: Goodge! What the blazes is happening?
[SCENE_BREAK]
16: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(The MASTER turns more controls. The sphere starts flashing from within its depths and gives out its familiar signalling sound.)
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: (OOV: Over tannoy) Goodge, do you hear me?
[SCENE_BREAK]
17: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. MAIN CONTROL ROOM
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: The shaft angling has gone crazy! Are you there, man? Check the feed back control!
(Receiving no answer, he runs from the room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
18: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(The sphere continues to flash. The MASTER turns the wheel control more. The signalling sound reaches a peak, then the MASTER shuts down the system as he hears PHILIPS approaching the cabin from outside.)
PROFESSOR PHILIPS: (OOV: Outside the cabin.) Goodge! What the devil do you think you're playing at?
(The MASTER goes to a corner of the room to wait his arrival. PHILLIPS comes in and sees the MASTER. He stops suddenly and looks at the stranger who returns his hypnotic stare...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
19: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER discuss the latest recruit to UNIT.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: You've been agitating for a new assistant ever since Miss Shaw went back to Cambridge.
DOCTOR: Liz was a highly qualified scientist. I want someone with the same qualifications.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Nonsense. What you need, Doctor, as Miss Shaw so often remarked is someone to pass you your test tubes and to tell you how brilliant you are! Miss Grant will fulfil that function admirably.
DOCTOR: (Mollified.) Oh...Well, what's that girl doing here anyway? UNIT's no place for trainees.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No, I couldn't agree more Doctor, but Miss Grant was very keen to join us...and she happens to have relatives in high places.
DOCTOR: So you tried to palm her off onto me? Well it won't work Brigadier. I'll have a properly qualified assistant or none at all.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Very well Doctor. I'll reassign her.
DOCTOR: Good.
(He goes back to his bench as the BRIGADIER starts to walk out of the room but the soldier stops at the doorway.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: But I think you should break the news to her yourself.
DOCTOR: Well now, wait a minute...
(The door opens. JO comes inside.)
JO: Hi Doc, I...
(She sees the BRIGADIER.)
JO: Morning Sir.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Good morning Miss Grant
JO: I've checked all incoming reports. Still nothing on the stolen meteorite.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Thank you.
(JO turns to the DOCTOR.)
JO: And I've chased those electronic spares you wanted. They promised delivery tomorrow, without fail.
DOCTOR: (Embarrassed.) Er, Miss Grant. I, erm, I er...
(JO looks at the BRIGADIER in puzzlement.)
DOCTOR: (Coughs.) Well I don't...this is, er, a bit difficult for me to say but...
(He throws the BRIGADIER a look.)
DOCTOR: Thank you Jo. I can see you're going to be of great help to me.
(He glares at the BRIGADIER.)
JO: (Delighted.) Thank you, Doctor.
(She turns to the BRIGADIER with a sheet of paper.)
JO: Report from one of the field sections, Sir - Captain Yates. Some kind of sabotage at a Radio Telescope.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Oh?
JO: Two of the scientists have disappeared.
DOCTOR: Let me see that.
(He snatches the paper and starts to read it.)
DOCTOR: We'd better get down there right away.
[SCENE_BREAK]
20: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT
(The DOCTOR'S car, Bessie drives quickly round perimeter of the Research establishment. The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER sit up front while JO sits in the back. The car pulls up outside the main one-storey building of the centre where CAPTAIN MIKE YATES, a young staff officer waits for them. He salutes the BRIGADIER and points to a doorway.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: The director's expecting you, Sir.
DOCTOR: Is that where the sabotage took place?
(YATES points at the pylon.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: No sir. It seems to have happened in the control cabin in the top of that tower.
DOCTOR: Well that's where you'll find me then.
(He gets out of the car and JO stands up to follow him.)
DOCTOR: No, Miss Grant. You stay here with the Brigadier.
(He walks off.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
21: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. MAIN CONTROL ROOM
(CAPTAIN YATES leads the BRIGADIER and JO into the main room where the DIRECTOR of the establishment is reading some papers.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Director? Miss Josephine Grant and Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart of UNIT.
JO: Good morning.
(The DIRECTOR rudely ignores them.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
22: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(The DOCTOR reaches the entrance to the control cabin and is about to open the door when he hears a TARDIS-like materialisation sound. He looks round and sees a man wearing a bowler hat and dressed in smart city clothes, carrying a furled umbrella, materialise - but in mid-air, many feet above the ground!)
TIME LORD: Oh dear. Er, don't go away Doctor.
(The man starts to glide through mid-air towards the gantry platform.)
TIME LORD: My co-ordinates seem to have slipped a little. Still, not bad after 29,000 light years. I do hope you can, er... (Laughs.) ...spare a moment or two Doctor?
DOCTOR: Sarcasm always was a weak point with you wasn't it. May I say that I think you look quite ridiculous in those clothes?
TIME LORD: I am travelling incognito.
DOCTOR: Oh, why?
TIME LORD: We Time Lords don't care to be conspicuous.
(He looks at the DOCTOR'S red velvet smoking jacket, white frilled shirt and black cloak.)
TIME LORD: Some of us, that is...
DOCTOR: Now look, if you've come down merely to be rude...
TIME LORD: I came to warn you. An old acquaintance has arrived on this planet.
DOCTOR: Oh, one of our people?
TIME LORD: The Master.
DOCTOR: That Jackanapes! All he ever does is cause trouble.
TIME LORD: He'll certainly try to kill you, Doctor. The tribunal thought that you ought to be made aware of your danger.
DOCTOR: (Sarcastically.) How very kind of them!
TIME LORD: (With patience.) You are incorrigibly meddlesome Doctor. But we've always felt that your hearts are in the right places. But be careful. The Master has learnt a great deal since you last met him.
DOCTOR: I refuse to be worried by a renegade like the Master. He's a...(Struggles to think.) He's an unimaginative plodder.
TIME LORD: His degree in cosmic science was of a higher class than yours.
DOCTOR: (Abashed.) Yes, well, er, yes, well I...I was a late developer.
TIME LORD: Would you call that little "surprise" unimaginative?
DOCTOR: What?
TIME LORD: Look through the door...but be careful.
(The DOCTOR goes to the door to the control cabin. He is about to open it but the TIME LORD pulls his arm back with his umbrella. The DOCTOR shakes it off and opens the door a fraction.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
23: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(Attached from the top of the door is a taut string running down onto a small cylindrical black object on the control console.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
24: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
DOCTOR: That' a volatiser. If that thing should fall...
TIME LORD: It will explode...and will probably destroy this Research Centre completely. (He smiles.) You see, he's rigged it up so it opening the door will make it fall. Ha! Such an amusing idea.
DOCTOR: Then you'd better think of a witty way of dealing with it.
(The TARDIS sound starts up again.)
DOCTOR: Now wait!
(The TIME LORD shakes his head politely and disappears with a popping sound. In a second he reappears and raises his bowler hat.)
TIME LORD: Oh, good luck!
(He vanishes again with a pop. The DOCTOR looks at the door, opens it gently...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
25: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(...and feels where the string begins at the top of it.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
26: EXT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN GANTRY
(He stands back and takes a run up at the door...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
27: INT. BEACON HILL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT. CONTROL CABIN
(It flies inwards and the DOCTOR falls down catching the volatiser in his hands. With a sigh of relief, he sits on the floor and slowly unscrews the device. There is the sound of footsteps from outside the cabin as CAPTAIN YATES walks up the stairs and into the room.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Any luck?
DOCTOR: Keep back.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What's that?
DOCTOR: A bomb.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: A bomb! Is it defused?
(The DOCTOR finishes unscrewing the bomb and carefully takes it apart.)
DOCTOR: It is now.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Where on earth did you find it?
(There is a coughing from behind. The DIRECTOR stands in the doorway.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Oh I'm so sorry. (To the DOCTOR) Er, this is the Director.
RADIO TELESCOPE DIRECTOR: How do you do? I hope you realise that the police have already investigated this matter.
DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Where's Lethbridge Stewart?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: He and Miss Grant are questioning the staff.
DOCTOR: Oh, a fat lot of use that'll do.
(The DOCTOR starts to look round the cabin.)
RADIO TELESCOPE DIRECTOR: After all, it's hardly an international matter, is it?
DOCTOR: I understand you've lost a couple of scientists.
RADIO TELESCOPE DIRECTOR: Yes - Professor Philips and his assistant Goodge.
(There is a pause as the DOCTOR sees the broken eggs and lunch box on the bench.)
RADIO TELESCOPE DIRECTOR: Goodge must have left in quite a hurry.
DOCTOR: Yes. Yes he must.
(The DOCTOR opens the lid of GOODGE'S lunch box and looks inside.)
DOCTOR: (Shocked.) Oh no!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What's wrong?
DOCTOR: Look for yourself.
(YATES and the DIRECTOR step forward and looks in the lunchbox.)
RADIO TELESCOPE DIRECTOR: It's Goodge!
(Inside the box is the dead, miniaturised form of GOODGE.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
28: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. OFFICE
(The MASTER, dressed in a smart business suit, speaks with the Manager of a Plastics Factory in his office. REX FARREL is a thin middle-aged dark haired nervous individual.)
MASTER: I'm very glad that you could see me at a short notice, Mr. Farrel.
REX FARREL: well, your telephone call was pretty intriguing, Colonel. Er, do sit down.
MASTER: Oh thank you.
(The MASTER sits down.)
REX FARREL: Er, we, er, do have a little spare capacity at the moment.
MASTER: I would say more than a little considering that your plant has been working at less than half volume for over a year.
REX FARREL: Er, I see you've done you homework Colonel. Well, I, er, admit I was interested when you mentioned a steady repeat order.
MASTER: The people I represent, Mr. Farrel, can never have too much plastic.
[SCENE_BREAK]
29: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR examines the volatiser with the aid of a jeweller's glass.)
JO: What is a Nestene?
DOCTOR: Ask Captain Yates. He had the job of clearing up the mess last time.
JO: (To YATES.) Well, what is a Nestene?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (Unsure.) Oh, a Nestene? Erm, a, er, huh, well it's a bit difficult to describe exactly...
DOCTOR: A Nestene is a ruthlessly aggressive intelligent alien life form.
JO: Well, what do they look like?
DOCTOR: Well I expect myself their basic form is analogous to a Kethlapod.
JO: What's a Kethlapod?
DOCTOR: An Octopus. I thought you took an A-Level in science.
JO: I didn't say I passed! Ergh! An octopus!
(The DOCTOR goes over to a coat-stand and starts to don a silver heat-resistance apron and gloves.)
DOCTOR: They manifest themselves as a disembodied, mutually telepathic intelligence.
JO: But if they're disembodied, how can they hurt us?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: They make themselves bodies when they need them.
JO: (Shocked.) You mean like Frankenstein?
DOCTOR: No. They have a natural affinity for plastic. Now if you've quite finished asking questions?
JO: (Hurt.) Sorry. Just forget I'm here.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: At least we should be ready for them this time.
DOCTOR: Too late, Captain. They're here already.
JO: What?
DOCTOR: The Radio Telescope is their bridgehead. They used that to contain energy into that surviving Nestene unit.
(The BRIGADIER enters the room.)
DOCTOR: Brigadier, look, that unit must be discovered within the next hour.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, I'm well aware of the urgency of the situation, Doctor. If we had some idea where its been taken.
DOCTOR: Well try the plastics factories man!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Realising the suggestion is a good one.) Yes...I'll set up a search straight away. Yates!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Right sir.
(CAPTAIN YATES starts to follow him out.)
JO: Can I help sir, please?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Very well Miss Grant.
JO: I'll start by making out some lists.
[SCENE_BREAK]
30: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. OFFICE
(The MASTER'S hypnotism skills have found a new victim in REX FARREL...)
MASTER: You will obey me and no one else. Do you understand?
(FARREL falls under the Time Lords influence...)
REX FARREL: I shall obey...I shall obey...I shall obey.
[SCENE_BREAK]
31: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(The DOCTOR works on a kiln-like machine whilst advising the BRIGADIER of the arrival of his adversary. As they speak the machine produces a great deal of heat and smoke.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: And you're convinced this man is working with the Nestenes?
DOCTOR: Oh I should think by now he's calling himself their commander in chief. Vanity's his weakness.
(He turns a wheel on the machine and opens up the side.)
DOCTOR: Ah. There you are.
(He takes out the bomb.)
DOCTOR: It should be cooked by now.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: This, er, this device of his. Is it very powerful?
DOCTOR: Oh I should say roughly equal to a fifteen megaton bomb.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Really? Well the research boys will be glad to get their hands on this.
DOCTOR: Too late Brigadier. I've boiled out the contents.
(The BRIGADIER looks on open-mouthed.)
DOCTOR: The weapons that you have on earth are quite nasty enough as it is.
[SCENE_BREAK]
32: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. WORKSHOP
(The MASTER plugs the glowing Nestene unit into a large piece of machinery. REX FARREL watches. They walk off.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
33: EXT. PLASTICS FACTORY. PERIMETER
(JO scrambles down a grass bank on the perimeter of the factory.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
34: EXT. PLASTICS FACTORY
(The MASTER and FARREL walk out of the workshop.)
MASTER: (To FARREL) Now the computer.
REX FARREL: This way.
(FARREL gestures to one side. The MASTER walks off, followed by his servant.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
35: EXT. PLASTICS FACTORY. STOREYARD
(JO hides behind some plastic boxes as she hears voices. It is the MASTER and REX who walk towards her hiding place.)
REX FARREL: What are you going to do?
MASTER: I wish to alter the masterplan.
REX FARREL: But that would change our whole production lines!
MASTER: Naturally.
REX FARREL: My father would never dream of...
MASTER: (Interrupting.) Mr. Farrel, don't worry about him. You are under a new firm now.
(They walk off past JO without seeing her. She stands up to see where they have gone and knocks over some plastic crates. She quickly ducks down, waits a moment and then cautiously stands up. REX and the MASTER are still there and watching her.)
JO: Oh, hello!
(The MASTER stares impassively at her.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
36: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. OFFICE
(JO stands hypnotised in the middle of the room whilst being questioned by the MASTER.)
MASTER: Who went to the Radio Telescope Station?
(JO answers in a dull, expressionless voice...)
JO: Myself, the Brigadier and The Doctor.
MASTER: Ah - as I thought. Curiosity is his weakness. Well, I should have to see that it is satisfied. You will return to UNIT with a negative report. You found nothing suspicious. Everything was in order.
JO: Yes. Everything is in order.
MASTER: When you leave this room you will have no memory of meeting me, only Mr. Farrel.
JO: Only Mr. Farrel.
MASTER: Your instructions are already implanted. You will obey them without a further word from me.
JO: I shall obey.
MASTER: Good.
[SCENE_BREAK]
37: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(SERGEANT BENTON enters the laboratory.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Yes, what is it Sergeant?
SERGEANT BENTON: Excuse me sir, I just had a call from the civil police. They found Philip's car abandoned.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Where?
SERGEANT BENTON: In a field about nine miles away from the research station, and they say there's a zinc box in the boot...with UNIT markings.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: The energy unit?
(BENTON turns to the DOCTOR, who stands some feet away, deep in thought.)
SERGEANT BENTON: I've told them not to touch it, Doctor.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What do you think, Doctor?
DOCTOR: I still am.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Huh?
DOCTOR: Thinking.
[SCENE_BREAK]
38: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. OFFICE
(REX has received a visit from the outraged production manager of the factory - an Irish man named McDERMOTT. Taller and slightly older than REX, he has a paternalistic attitude towards him...)
McDERMOTT: I think you'd better go home. Look, I know all our customers and there isn't a, er, Colonel Masters amongst them.
REX FARREL: You're quite wrong, James. He's taking over our entire production at the moment.
McDERMOTT: Entire? Here look, I'll tell you what, Rex. You look through those orders, yes, and you show me this chap. Go on.
REX FARREL: (Snaps.) All right.
(He goes over to a filing cabinet, opens it and looks through some files. He holds his head, seemingly in pain.)
REX FARREL: I don't understand! There should be a card for him!
McDERMOTT: Look Rex, I think you ought to take a couple of days off. I'll ring your father and he can come...
(REX slams the drawer shut.)
REX FARREL: May I remind you, Mr. McDermott, that my father is retired. I'm running this place now.
McDERMOTT: Your father built this place up from nothing. Sure I remember when I was a wee lad, he...
REX FARREL: All right, all right, all right! Let's not go over all that again.
McDERMOTT: Look, I'm sorry Rex, but I especially promised your father...
REX FARREL: There's no need to bring father into it!
(He opens the office door to leave.)
REX FARREL: Look. I'll go and fetch him. He's only down in the lab.
McDERMOTT: Who?
REX FARREL: Colonel Masters of course. He'll explain everything.
(REX leaves. McDERMOTT walks over to the desk and picks up a telephone. He starts drumming his fingers in impatience.)
McDERMOTT: (Into telephone.) Sylvia? Get me Mr. Farrel Senior, please.
[SCENE_BREAK]
39: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. LABORATORY
(In a laboratory, lined with computer units, the MASTER stands over three motionless, featureless figures lying on a table. They are Autons. He disconnects one of them from the pulsating sphere. He motions to it and it sits up.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
40: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. CORRIDOR
(REX FARREL approaches the door to the laboratory. He stops when he sees a sign on the door which reads "RESEARCH LABORATORY - NO UNAUTHORISED ENTRANCE". He opens the door to the room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
41: INT. PLASTICS FACTORY. LABORATORY
(An Auton stood on guard behind the door starts to swing down its arm on FARREL but the MASTER shouts out a command to stop.)
MASTER: No! Don't be frightened Farrel. The Autons are my servants. Why do you come here?
(REX cringes in fear and looks at the MASTER...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
42: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY
(YATES and BENTON stare at the ammunition box which had contained the Nestene control unit. JO stands a few feet behind them, staring intently.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Hmm, that's not an issue padlock, is it?
SERGEANT BENTON: No. I'll try and find some keys.
(JO steps forward.)
JO: I can open it.
(She takes a huge bunch of skeleton keys out of her pocket and starts to try them one by one on the padlock.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Keys for every occasion, eh!
(He walks over to the metal spiral staircase and shouts up it.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Doctor! We've got the box down here!
DOCTOR: (OOV.) Good. I'll be right down.
(JO succeeds in opening the padlock. She starts to prise the lid apart and smoke begins to pour out as the DOCTOR reaches the bottom of the stairs and sees what's happening.)
DOCTOR: Stop her! That's a bomb!
(YATES runs forward but the possessed JO punches him sharply in the stomach and the winded officer falls to the ground. JO turns back to the ammunition box.)
JO: I've got to open it! I've got to!
(Smoke continues to pour out...)
Plan: A: Nestene Energy Unit; Q: What is stolen? A: a radio telescope; Q: What is sabotaged? A: the Doctor; Q: Who is contacted by a Time Lord who tells him his old rival the Master is responsible? Summary: When a Nestene Energy Unit is stolen and a radio telescope sabotaged, the Doctor is contacted by a Time Lord who tells him his old rival the Master is responsible.