The War Games By Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks
5:15pm - 5:40pm
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1, EXT: TARDIS
(Across a mud-churned battlefield. The figures of Jamie and Zoe and the Doctor are struggling to move. There is a sound of a great rushing wind, and when they speak, their voices sound slurred as if they are record being played at the wrong speed. Every step seems to be taking a greater effort than the last. They collapse at the door to the TARDIS an the Doctor manages to get the key into the lock, but at the last moment he stumbles and falls back, the fingers of his outstretched hand brushing the key, desperately trying to summon up enough strength to turn it.)
ZOE: What's happening Doctor? I can hardly move!
DOCTOR: It's a force-field. Concentrate, we may be able to break through it. Help me with the key. Concentrate!
(Just as it seems all is lost, Jamie grabs the Doctor's arm and thrusts it towards the lock, and the Doctor turns the key. The trio struggle through the door on their hands and knees.)
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2, INT: TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
(The TARDIS crew groan as they struggle though the vast double doors. The Doctor manages to totter to his feet, stumbles in slow motion towards the console, and begins to tug at a set of controls.)
ZOE: It's in here too.
JAMIE: Will we get away all right Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, I hope so Jamie. If I can boost the power enough, the TARDIS may be able to break through the force-field.
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3, EXT: TARDIS
(Mid shot of TARDIS dematerialising against the skyline.)
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4, INT: TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
JAMIE: Well what was happening, why was it so difficult to move?
DOCTOR: It was the Time-Lords!
ZOE: But they're your own people aren't they Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, that's right.
JAMIE: Why did you run away from them in the first place?
DOCTOR: Wha? ...Well... I was bored!
ZOE: What do you mean you were bored!
DOCTOR: The Time Lords are an immensely civillised race. We can control our own environment, we can live forever barring accidents, and we have the secret of space time travel.
JAMIE: Well what's so wrong in all that?
DOCTOR: Well we hardly ever use our great powers! We consent simply to observe and to gather knowledge.
ZOE: And that wasn't enough for you?
DOCTOR: No! Of course not! With a whole galaxy to explore? Millions of planets? Aeons of time, countless civilisations to meet?!
JAMIE: Well why do they object to you doing all that?
DOCTOR: Well... It is a fact, Jamie, that I do tend to get involved with things.
JAMIE: Aye, you can say that again! Whenever there's any trouble he's in it right up to his neck!
ZOE: But you've helped people, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, but that's no excuse in their eyes.
JAMIE: Well then what are you going to do?
DOCTOR: We're going to run away! I... I've set the controls to take us to a planet on the outermost fringes of the galaxy...
JAMIE: Oh, in that case, we'll probably land up right in their laps!
(The Doctor smiles and nods, then realising what Jamie has just said, scowls at him and as he opens his mouth to make a riposte, the TARDIS begins to echo with a pained sound of dematerialisation. Zoe runs to the console, and the Doctor Joins her.)
ZOE: We can't be landing already...
DOCTOR: Well that is impossible!
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5, MODEL SHOT
(TARDIS materialising in the air, then falling steadily downwards until it touches down on some alien sea with a watery plop.)
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6, INT: TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
JAMIE: Oh it's the sea.
ZOE: Well don't worry Jamie, we know the TARDIS can't sink.
JAMIE: Oh can't it? Look!
(They look at the monitor screen aghast as fish swim backwards and forwards around what appears to be a picturesque coral reef.)
ZOE: Oh now what can we do?
(On the screen, above a tuna swims ferociously by.)
JAMIE: Look out!
DOCTOR: It's all right it can't possibly harm us!
(A strained parody of the materialisation noise echoes around the console room.)
JAMIE: I'm not so sure!
DOCTOR: We're perfectly safe in the TARDIS!
(Zoe notices a drip of water as it begins to splash onto the console from somewhere in the ceiling.)
ZOE: Oh Doctor!
DOCTOR: Oh my word! It's the Time Lords! They're... They're breaking down the defensive mechanism! We've got to get out of here!
ZOE: Where can we go?
DOCTOR: Well, I know one place where where we'll be safe if I can get us there...
(The Doctor prods a few controls, and the dematerialisation sound echoes around the Console Room again, then mutates into a slightly different sound.)
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7, MODEL SHOT
(TARDIS in space, beacon flashing wildly, gradually becoming ensnared by a fibrous substance.)
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8, TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
JAMIE: Where are we?
DOCTOR: We're in outer space. We'll just stop here for a while. I... There's a chance we may have given them the slip...
FIRST TIME LORD VO: THERE IS NO ESCAPE DOCTOR. RETURN THE TARDIS IMMEDIATELY TO OUR HOME PLANET.
(The Doctor addresses the ceiling.)
DOCTOR: WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?!! I HAVEN'T DONE ANY HARM!!
FIRST TIME LORD VO: YOU HAVE BROKEN OUR LAWS. YOU MUST FACE YOUR TRIAL.
JAMIE: Trial?
FIRST TIME LORD VO: YOU WILL DO BETTER TO RETURN OF YOUR OWN ACCORD.
DOCTOR: Oh..oh... Oh very well, if I must...
(The Doctor dashes to the console and runs around it apparently pulling switches at random on every panel he passes one after the other. The sound of the TARDIS dematerialising is heard again.)
ZOE: Doctor, what on Earth are you doing?
DOCTOR: I'm trying to make a quick transference jump! We've got to get away from here to somewhere safe. We..we're landing...
(Jamie Zoe and the Doctor look up at the monitor in horror as two alligators that slither through the mud towards the TARDIS.)
DOCTOR: Oh no!
JAMIE: Is that what you call somewhere safe?!
(The console room begins to shake. There is a rising power noise of strained materialisation starts up again and the TARDIS crew are thrown about the room.)
JAMIE: Oh!
ZOE: Oh! It's shaking itself to pieces!
JAMIE: Yeah, we could all be killed!
(The TARDIS crew are thrown to the floor.)
ZOE: Oh Doctor, can't you induce a power drive?
DOCTOR: I'll try...
(He tugs a switch down, and it springs up again. He tries again, but with similar results.)
DOCTOR: Oh..oh. Oh the controls, they're moving by themselves!
(The TARDIS floor settles down again, and all is silent apart from the TARDIS hum.)
JAMIE: Now where are we?
ZOE: Oh let's see on the scanner
(The scanner reveals nothing but frame after frame of featureless white.)
JAMIE: Oh it's broken
ZOE: Oh I don't think so.
(Gradually the scanner pulls itself into focus adjusting to the new locale. What they see before them is a space aged corridor lined with row after row of green SIDRATs identical to the ones the War Chief used, their doors all open.)
FIRST TIME LORD VO: YOU HAVE RETURNED TO US DOCTOR. YOUR TRAVELS ARE OVER.
DOCTOR: It's my own planet they have brought us here.
JAMIE: Can't we get away again?
DOCTOR: No, not this time. Come along.
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9, INT: CORRIDOR
SECOND TIME LORD: Come with me.
JAMIE: Now just a moment - what's going on around here?
DOCTOR: Jamie, just do as he says.
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10, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
SECOND TIME LORD: The witnesses have arrived.
FIRST TIME LORD: Let them stand aside until they are needed. Continue with the trial.
THIRD TIME LORD: In every one of these time zones thousands of human beings fought and died in the belief that they were on their own planet. The survivors have now all been returned to their own times on the planet Earth, but the death roll is beyond counting. These lives were squandered in the course of a vicious and diabolical scheme to gain control of the entire galaxy. A scheme originated and devised by a race of which the accused is the leader. It was a was a highly organised scheme with an utterly callous disregard for the lives of the humans involved and for the liberties of all the other species in the galaxy which the accused would have dominated with his tyranny. In the pursuit of this scheme, brutal methods of mental processing were used which entirely contravened all the galactic laws. I will now call upon a member of our own race to sort this evil matter out. There will commence a reading of the witness' report. The witness is called.
(The Doctor Whispers to Jamie and Zoe while the Time-Lord is talking.)
DOCTOR: The Time Lords holding a trial is a very rare event.
ZOE: Why?
DOCTOR: Well normally they don't interfere with the affairs of other planets, but they had to when I called for help.
JAMIE: Well look, can't we get away?
DOCTOR: Well, you and Zoe might but I don't think I will.
THIRD TIME LORD: Will you step forward please?
DOCTOR: Oh, oh I beg your pardon.
THIRD TIME LORD: We have received your statement, do you swear to the truth of your report?
DOCTOR: Everything in that report is the result of my direct personal observation.
THIRD TIME LORD: Who is that person?
DOCTOR: That is the War-Lord.
THIRD TIME LORD: Does the accused have anything to say?
FIRST TIME LORD: You must speak in your defence.
SECOND TIME LORD: The trial cannot proceed unless you do!
THIRD TIME LORD: You must speak...
DOCTOR: Can't you see that he's just playing for time?
THIRD TIME LORD: Do not make us force you to speak we would not want to cause you unnecessary... Pain.
(The War Lord remains silent.)
THIRD TIME LORD: Very well.
(The Time Lord opens his eyes wide, and with a rising whine of power the lighting in the area where the War Lord is standing increases. He claws at his face and falls to the ground.)
WAR LORD: ARRRGGH! STOP IT! STOP THE LIGHT!
(The lights dim.)
THIRD TIME LORD: You must speak.
(The War Lord stands again, and replaces his glasses.)
WAR LORD: Yes.
THIRD TIME LORD: Do you admit the charges of which you have been accused?
WAR LORD: I do not even admit the authority of this court!
FIRST TIME LORD: Have you anything to say in your defence?
WAR LORD: The humans who died in our war games would have killed each other anyway!
SECOND TIME LORD: Is your plea that that ends justifies the means?
WAR LORD: Yes it is! And members of your own race agreed with me! My War Chief was himself was a Time Lord, and the knowledge he brought me made the whole scheme possible! And another of your Time Lords gave me his support!
(He motions towards the Doctor.)
DOCTOR: I never supported your scheme for one moment!
WAR LORD: You collaborated with my War Chief, if I am guilty then you are guilty too!
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11, INT: TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
(Two Time Lord technicians work on the console of the Doctor's TARDIS, one is working on the telepathic circuits, and the other under the console. There is a sound of a materialising SIDRAT and the Time Lord working on the telepathic circuits moves to investigate the arrival. The other looks up.)
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12, INT: CORRIDOR
(The Time Lord moves to a newly arrived SIDRAT. The door opens and a squad six of the War Lord's guards exit and mercilessly gun him down. The other Time Lord goes to see what all the noise is about and the guards swing round and kill him too. They check that the technicians are dead, then move off.)
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13, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
FIRST TIME LORD: We find you guilty of all charges against you, your attempt to incriminate others is an obvious fraud
DOCTOR: Oh good, I'm glad to see that your sense of justice still prevails! (Whispering to Jamie and Zoe.) Even though they have lost their sense of humour.
WAR LORD: You have no authority over me... And no power any longer to pass any sentence! Take these people! And if any attempt is made to stop us then I shall kill them instantly!
FIRST TIME LORD: Let them go we shall not endanger innocent lives.
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14, INT: CORRIDOR
DOCTOR: You'll never get away, the Time Lords are too strong for you. You didn't think I was going to help you!
WAR LORD: Oh yes you will help us Doctor, if you want to save the lives of your two friends. Now into the machine.
JAMIE: Look the TARDIS is no good to you - he can't even steer it properly!
WAR LORD: Don't talk rubbish, of course he can steer it, now into the machine!
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15, INT: TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM
WAR LORD: Yes... you shall make us many of these machines, now get to the control panel and take us back to the home planet!
DOCTOR: I can't I tell you! The directional mechanism is faulty!
WAR LORD: You will do as I say or we shall kill the girl.
DOCTOR: But I don't even know where your home planet is!
WAR LORD: Galactic sector nine seven three, then we will get the homing signal - Now operate the machine!
DOCTOR: Oh I'll do my best but I can't promise anything I... Jamie, Zoe hide your eyes...
(The Doctor throws a switch on the console and the lights flare up brightly.)
DOCTOR: RUN!
(The TARDIS crew exit.)
WAR LORD: GGGNNNN! GET AFTER THEM, KILL THEM! QUICKLY!
(The War Lord and Guard stumble after them.)
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16, INT: CORRIDOR
WAR LORD: KILL THEM!
(As the War Lord and his guards attempt to pursue, a forcefield switches on preventing them from going any further.)
THIRD TIME LORD: A force-field has been placed around you and around your planet so that your warlike people will remain prisoners forever. You have been found guilty of all charges, and you and your murderous associates will be dematerialised. It will be as though you had never existed.
WAR LORD: N-no...no...no...no..!
(The War Lord and his guards vanish.)
JAMIE: Ah, well that's put an end to them, well we'll be on our way. Come on Doctor. Cheerio...
(He bumps into a force field as the Time Lords switch it back on.)
JAMIE: Aw, switch this thing off!
DOCTOR: Jamie they are not going to let us go.
JAMIE: What, after all you've done for them?
(The Doctor is lead away.)
ZOE: What are you going to do to him?
SECOND TIME LORD: He must stand his trial. You will wait here
ZOE: Well we want to go with the Doctor! Oh let us out!
JAMIE: Come on, let us out of this thing!
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17, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
FIRST TIME LORD: You have heard the charge against you that you have repeatedly broken our most important law of non-interference in the affairs of other planets, what have you to say - do you admit these actions?
DOCTOR: I not only admit them, I am proud of them! While you have been content merely to observe the evil in the galaxy I have been fighting against it!
THIRD TIME LORD: It is not we who is on trial here, Doctor, it is you.
DOCTOR: No no, of course your above criticism aren't you?
FIRST TIME LORD: Do you admit that these actions were justified?
DOCTOR: Yes of course I do! Give me a thought channel and I'll show you some of the evils I've been fighting against.
(The screen activates, and as the Doctor describes something it appears on the screen.)
DOCTOR: The Quarks, deadly robot servants of the cruel Dominators, they tried to enslave a peace loving race. Then there were the Yeti, more robot killers, instruments of an alien intelligence trying to take over the planet Earth.
THIRD TIME LORD: All this is entirely irrelevant.
DOCTOR: You asked me to justify my actions, I am doing so. Let me show you the Ice Warriors, cruel Martian invaders, they tried to conquer the Earth too. So did the Cybermen, half creature, half machine...but, worst of all were the Daleks, a pitiless race of conquerors exterminating all who came up against them! All these evils I have fought while you have done nothing but observe. True, I am guilty of interference, just as you are guilty of failing to use your great powers to help those in need!
FIRST TIME LORD: Is that all you have to say?
DOCTOR: Well isn't it enough?
FIRST TIME LORD: Your defence has been heard and will be carefully considered, but you have raised difficult issues, we require time to think about them. You will be recalled when we have made our decision.
(The Doctor rolls his eyes and pulls a face.)
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18, INT: CORRIDOR
(Jamie and Zoe are banging at the forcefield with their fists.)
JAMIE: Let us out!
ZOE: We want to see the Doctor, let us out of here!
(The second Time Lord turns off the force-field and Jamie falls through it.)
JAMIE: Uh.
SECOND TIME LORD: Follow me.
ZOE: Where are we going?
SECOND TIME LORD: We're going to send you home. Back you your own world and your own time.
JAMIE: Oh no, not without the Doctor!
SECOND TIME LORD: This is his world, he must stay here.
ZOE: Well what's going to happen to him?
SECOND TIME LORD: He is awaiting the result of his trial.
JAMIE: Aye, Well I'm not going till I see him!
ZOE: Oh please, can't we see the Doctor?
SECOND TIME LORD: You, er, you have become attached to him?
JAMIE: Ah, we've been through a lot you know...
ZOE: Please let us see him.
SECOND TIME LORD: Come with me.
JAMIE: Uh.
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19, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
DOCTOR: Jamie! Zoe!
ZOE: Doctor!
SECOND TIME LORD: I've brought your friends to say goodbye.
(He activates the forcefield.)
JAMIE: Oh switch this thing off!
ZOE: Oh we can't say goodbye through a forcefield!
(The second Time Lord turns off the force-field.)
SECOND TIME LORD: Very well. I shall leave you together - for a little while...
DOCTOR: Oh thank you. Jamie! Zoe!
ZOE: Doctor!
JAMIE: What are they going to do to you?
DOCTOR: Oh nothing much. I expect they'll to make me listen to a long boring speech about being a good boy, they like making speeches...
ZOE: Well I think it's time that you left them again
DOCTOR: Well that's easier said than done.
JAMIE: Oh come on we've got out of tighter situations than this!
DOCTOR: Oh, well you don't know those Time Lords Jamie, I do.
ZOE: Oh you're not just going to give up are you Doctor?
JAMIE: Of course he's not are you Doctor - eh?
DOCTOR: Well... Oh alright but, we may find it a bit difficult getting out of here.
JAMIE: Hey they've forgotten to switch that thing back on again!
DOCTOR: Forgotten..?
ZOE: Well that's all we need, isn't it? Now we can get away!
DOCTOR: Yes yes, of course.
JAMIE: Come on!
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20, INT: PLATFORM CHAMBER
(The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe enter a strange chamber. The floor is a series of platforms around which a swirling mist hovers. From the ceiling long strips of some kind of translucent membrane dangle in a slight breeze. They all hop from one platform to another towards a nearby exit.)
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21, INT: CORRIDOR
THIRD TIME LORD: There is no escape Doctor.
(Jamie tries to make a break for it, but the force-field turns on, blocking the way back.)
THIRD TIME LORD: It is time to say goodbye to your friends.
ZOE: There must be something we can do?
DOCTOR: No Zoe, not this time.
(He sighs and shakes Jamie's hand.)
DOCTOR: Well, goodbye Jamie.
JAMIE: But Doctor surely we could...
(The Doctor shakes his head.)
DOCTOR: Goodbye Jamie.
JAMIE: I-I won't forget you you know.
DOCTOR: I won't forget you. Don't go blundering into too much trouble will you!
JAMIE: Oh, you're a fine one to talk.
DOCTOR: Goodbye Zoe.
ZOE: Goodbye Doctor. Will we ever meet again?
DOCTOR: Again? Now Zoe, you and I know - time is relative isn't it mm?
(He watches as they both disappear into a SIDRAT and the door closes after them.)
DOCTOR: They'll forget me won't they?
SECOND TIME LORD: Not entirely. They will be returned to a time just before they went away. They will remember their first adventure with you, but nothing more. But come along, your fate has been decided.
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22, MODEL SHOT
(A futuristic looking space station spinning in space.)
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23, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
(The Doctor watches on the screen.)
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24, INT: WHEEL CORRIDOR
(Zoe walks down the corridor and meets her old friend Tanya Lernov.)
TANYA: Oh Zoe. Zoe are you alright?
ZOE: Oh yes.
TANYA: Are the Doctor and Jamie gone?
ZOE: Yes, I've just seen them off.
TANYA: Well we'd better get back to work you know, there's a lot to be done if we're going to get the Wheel back to normal. Are you sure you're alright, hah?
ZOE: Oh yes, I just thought I'd forgotten something important, but it's nothing.
TANYA: Right come along then.
ZOE: All right, I'm coming.
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25, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
(The Doctor watches Zoe on the monitor screen. She looks back for a moment as if there was something she's forgotten, then she turns and walks up a flight of steps and the screen goes blank.)
DOCTOR: She'll be alright won't she?
FIRST TIME LORD: Of course.
DOCTOR: What about Jamie?
THIRD TIME LORD: Look.
(The Doctor turns back to the screen.)
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26, EXT: SCOTTISH MOOR
(Jamie wakes up to the sound of bagpipes playing loudly. He is wearing his old costume again, complete with sword. He makes to stand up, and ducks down again as he hears a rifle shot. He looks up and sees a redcoat peering over at him.)
JAMIE: Try to murder a McCrimmon would you?! Well I'll show you! CREAG AN TUIRE!
(He jumps up and charges at the redcoat swinging the sword around his head wildly.)
JAMIE: YEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHH! YEEEEEEAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHH!!
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27, INT: TRIAL CHAMBER
(The Doctor laughs and the monitor screen goes blank again.)
FIRST TIME LORD: They will both continue their lives as if nothing had happened.
DOCTOR: Ah yes, very efficient. Now then, what about me?
FIRST TIME LORD: We have accepted your plea that there is evil in the universe that must be fought and that you still have a part to play in that battle.
DOCTOR: What what, you mean...that you're going to let me go free?
FIRST TIME LORD: Not entirely. We have noted your particular interest in the planet Earth. The frequency of you visits must have given you special knowledge of that world and it's problems
DOCTOR: Yes, I suppose that's true... Earth seems more vulnerable than others, yes.
FIRST TIME LORD: For that reason you will be sent back to that planet.
(The Doctor sighs, relieved.)
DOCTOR: Oh good.
FIRST TIME LORD: In exile.
DOCTOR: In exile!
FIRST TIME LORD: You will be sent to Earth in the twentieth century and will remain there for as long as we deem proper, and for that period the secret of the TARDIS will be taken from you.
DOCTOR: But you, you can't condemn me to exile on one primitive planet in one century in time! Besides, I'm known on the Earth. It might be very awkward for me!
FIRST TIME LORD: Your appearance has changed before, it will change again that is part of the sentence.
DOCTOR: You can't just change what I look like without consulting me!
FIRST TIME LORD: You will be given the opportunity to choose your appearance.
DOCTOR: Oh well that's not so bad - but I warn you, I'm very particular!
FIRST TIME LORD: Here is your first choice.
(The Doctor is shown various drawings on the monitor screen of possible forms that he could take on after his new regeneration.)
DOCTOR: Oh he's too old! Well he's too fat isn't he! No! He's too thin! That one's too young! Oh now that won't do at all! This is ridiculous!
FIRST TIME LORD: You're wasting time Doctor.
DOCTOR: It's not my fault is it?! Is this the best you can do? I've never seen such an incredible bunch!
FIRST TIME LORD: Since you refuse to take the decision, the decision will be taken for you.
DOCTOR: No no no, I never said that! But I maintain I have a right to decide what I look like! It could be very important on the Earth the people on Earth (The Doctor's words begin to slur) attach a very great deal of importance...
(The Doctor's face appears in a dark void..)
DOCTOR: Aaaarrgh what's happening? What's hap... What's happened?!
(Faces of the Doctor's begin to kaleidoscope, and spin around his actual face..)
FIRST TIME LORD VO: The time has come for you to change your appearance Doctor, and begin your exile.
DOCTOR: Is this some sort of joke? No I refuse to be treated in... What are you doing?!
(The Doctor begins to spin around and around getting smaller and smaller.)
DOCTOR: Nnnooo! Stop, you're making me giddy! No, you can't do this to me! No no no no no no no no no no no no no..!
(The Doctor vanishes.)
Plan: A: the Time Lords; Q: The TARDIS is drawn to the planet of what race? A: trial; Q: What are the Doctor and the War Lord placed on? Summary: The TARDIS is drawn to the planet of the Time Lords where both the Doctor and the War Lord are placed on trial.