THE CLAWS OF AXOS
BY: BOB BAKER & DAVE MARTIN
5:15pm - 5:40pm
[SCENE_BREAK]
1: SPACE
(A distant object moves through the vastness of space. Elongated with a round middle, it moves swiftly towards its destination.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
2: EXT. RADAR DISH (DAWN)
(A turning radar dish points to the dawn sky.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
3: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
(The results of its scan appear on a screen in UNIT HQ's tracking room. A uniformed RADAR OPERATOR monitors this and the other read-outs...)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: Twenty-five MPS...one million miles...mass - variable.
(A 2nd RADAR OPERATOR sits back with a coffee and a satisfied smile.)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: Well, if that's its course, we've discovered a comet. Run another course check.
(The 1st OPERATOR does so, but...)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: It's altered its course!
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: It can't have.
1st RADAR OPERATOR: Oh, yes it can, mate! You can say goodbye to your comet, 'cause whatever that thing is...
(He reaches for a phone.)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: It's on collision course and heading straight for Earth!
[SCENE_BREAK]
4: SPACE
(The object of their attention is unlike any other spacecraft. Organic in looks with a skin-like hue, its forward end looks like a circular segmented doorway. The main part of the craft has folds and ridges.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
5: INT. AXOS
(Inside are creatures from a nightmare. Bipedal in form, they are a mass of seething red and orange tentacles.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
6: SPACE
(The craft approaches Earth...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
7: INT. UNIT HQ. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(A suited, white-haired bespectacled man opens a blue file which has "TOP SECRET" embellished on its cover. He leafs through its contents. A few feet away, BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART leans on a filing cabinet and watches with an amused smile on his face. There are several other civilians in the room, also going through the BRIGADIER'S files. The man with the glasses puts down the file in exasperation.)
CHINN: Nothing!
(He walks over to the BRIGADIER.)
CHINN: Nothing at all.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No.
CHINN: Brigadier, as head of this committee of enquiry, I must remind you of the Defence Ministry ruling.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Mr. Chinn, as head of UNIT, I must remind you, that we're not in the Ministry of Defence.
(CHINN starts to quote from procedure...)
CHINN: "All personnel must be properly screened..."
(The BRIGADIER joins him in finishing the quote...)
CHINN & BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: "And scrupulously filed."
CHINN: As an elementary security precaution, I must insist upon a file for this..."Doctor"...erm, whatisname.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Smiles.) I'm sorry, Mr. Chinn - I am personally responsible for the Doctor.
CHINN: (Outraged.) Typical! Absolutely typical! That's the kind of high-handed attitude one's come to expect from the UN recently.
(CHINN seems to calm down for a moment...)
CHINN: Now, Brigadier, what about this Doctor? I gather he's not a British subject.
(...but his cajoling tone quickly turns to anger as he storms across the room, shouting...)
CHINN: Then who is he and where does he come from!
(CHINN halts in front of the double doors which suddenly open hitting him from behind. The subject of CHINN'S anger enters.)
DOCTOR: Good morning...
(The DOCTOR catches sight of CHINN. He seems to sum him up in one glance.)
DOCTOR: (Coldly.) Oh...Good morning.
[SCENE_BREAK]
8: INT. UNIT HQ. CORRIDOR
(JO walks along the corridor with another visitor to UNIT HQ - a young American named BILL FILER.)
JO: I gather Washington think its time the Master was dealt with?
FILER: Ah, something like that.
JO: And you're going to deal with him? Single handed?
FILER: (Smiles.) Yeah!
(FILER laughs.)
FILER: No, no, that was Errol Flynn.
JO: Who?
FILER: (Giving up.) Ah, forget it.
(The two walk on. A series of alarm lights mounted on the corridor wall suddenly start to flash.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
9: INT. UNIT HQ. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(A quietly furious DOCTOR has reached the end of his limited patience with CHINN'S "inquiry".)
DOCTOR: My dear Mr. Chinn, If I could leave I would. If only to get away from people like you!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Warning.) Doctor...
(The DOCTOR slams the desk.)
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) And your petty obsessions! "England for the English!" Good heavens, man!
CHINN: (Shouts.) I have a duty to my country!
DOCTOR: (Shouts.) Not to the world?!
(The doors open again and JO and BILL walk in.)
JO: Good morning! Oh, I'm sorry, has the conference started?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No, not yet.
JO: This is Bill Filer from Washington HQ.
(The BRIGADIER reaches out to shake hands.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
10: INT. UNIT HQ. CORRIDOR
(The alarm lights are still flashing as CAPTAIN YATES and SERGEANT BENTON walk down the corridor.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What is it? Do you know?
SERGEANT BENTON: No idea, sir.
[SCENE_BREAK]
11: INT. UNIT HQ. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(The conference in the office continues with all concerned ignoring the presence of CHINN.)
DOCTOR: There's no point in discussing the Master. I keep telling you - he's left Earth by now.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: We can't be certain of that, Doctor. We must keep on looking.
CHINN: Master? Who is the Master?
(FILER starts to open his briefcase.)
FILER: I, er, I have a report here, Brigadier. (To CHINN.) It's, er, it's classified I'm afraid, sir.
CHINN: (Pompously.) Then I must insist upon staying!
FILER: I'm sorry, sir. You have no clearance.
CHINN: On the contrary, for the duration of this enquiry, I've been guaranteed full access to...
FILER: (Interrupting.) Not by us, sir.
CHINN: This has nothing to do with Washington!
FILER: (Firmly.) I'm sorry, sir, you are a security risk!
(FILER'S look ends the argument but there is an icy silence.)
DOCTOR: Yes, well, erm...
(An alarm bell suddenly rings and two lights mounted on the wall start to flash. The BRIGADIER runs towards the door as YATES enters.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: UFO, sir! Coming in fast!
[SCENE_BREAK]
12: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
(The tracking room has become a hive of activity.)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: UFO...bearing two zero nine. Five hundred miles and closing.
SERGEANT BENTON: ITS, sir, report sightings confirmed.
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: Velocity - twenty MPS...
SERGEANT BENTON: Houston HAL tracking.
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: ...decreasing.
SERGEANT BENTON: Hawaii HAL tracking.
(The BRIGADIER'S part enters the room. YATES goes to BENTON as the BRIGADIER starts to look at the read-outs himself, closely followed by a fussing CHINN.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What__?
SERGEANT BENTON: Negative ... , we're running ICBM checks, sir.
CHINN: ICBM? What ICBM? Brigadier, what's going on here?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: An unidentified flying object appears to be heading for Earth, Mr. Chinn. Shouldn't you be in touch with your Ministry?
(CHINN snaps his fingers at the 2nd RADAR OPERATOR.)
CHINN: Oh, erm, telephone, quickly man, quick!
(The OPERATOR reaches for his phone but the BRIGADIER quickly stops him.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain Yates...
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Show Mr. Chinn the direct line.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (Puzzled.) Direct line?
(The BRIGADIER gestures impatiently at the outer office.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: In there!
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Oh, yes, sir. (To CHINN.) Er, this way, sir.
(CHINN follows him to the outer office. Once he is out of the way, the DOCTOR takes his place in front of the console with the read-outs.)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: Course changing - two zero seven...two zero six.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, Doctor, what is it?
DOCTOR: I've no idea.
1st RADAR OPERATOR: Two zero five.
(The DOCTOR looks at the read-outs.)
DOCTOR: "Variable mass"? That's interesting.
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: Orbital flight path...
(He turns a switch.)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: ...now!
(JO runs forward from the doorway where she has been stood with FILER.)
JO: Is it going to hit us?
1st RADAR OPERATOR: UFO entering atmosphere - now.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Compute target area.
1st RADAR OPERATOR: Check.
(A computer chatters away. At the same time, the DOCTOR quickly starts to mutter his own calculations, watched by an amazed 2nd RADAR OPERATOR. He quickly reaches his answer.)
DOCTOR: Yes - somewhere on the south-east coast, I should imagine.
[SCENE_BREAK]
13: EXT. SHORE
(The untidy figure of a tramp - PIGBIN JOSH - scurries past a series of small fishing boats which lie next to the exposed beach. Muttering to himself, JOSH puts a cloth bag over the handlebars of a bike and an empty bottle into the bag. He sets off on the bike.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
14: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
(CHINN puts the "direct line" down.)
CHINN: Brigadier!
[SCENE_BREAK]
15: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
(The BRIGADIER is still looking at the radar screens. With a look of impatience he moves off to the outer office.)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: South Atlantic - moving north. Bearing now - zero two zero.
[SCENE_BREAK]
16: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
(CHINN addresses the BRIGADIER watched by the others.)
CHINN: The Minister wants all these facilities linked up to strike force immediately. I have full authority.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yates?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: All taken care of, sir.
CHINN: (Satisfied.) Oh, good.
(YATES goes over to a series of three monitor screens which he switches on. The DOCTOR sits on the other side of the room with his back to the others, deep in thought. The monitors show the radar screen and shots of a missile launching site.)
MISSILE SITE OPERATIVE: (OOV: Over tannoy.) ...one - cleared. Flight path - green one - cleared.
CHINN: Yes, good. (To BENTON.) Er, get me station command, will you?
SERGEANT BENTON: Yes sir.
(BENTON dials a phone and hands it to CHINN.)
MISSILE SITE OPERATIVE: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Strike unit .....
CHINN: (Into phone.) Ah, Chinn here - MOD. You know I'm coordinating this operation, don't you? Well, I want you to be ready to destroy this thing the moment I give the word. (He listens.) Oh, you are ready...good, well, standby then.
(JO and FILER exchange a glance. An annoyed DOCTOR walks up to the BRIGADIER.)
DOCTOR: All set to destroy it, Brigadier? Whatever it is?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Uncomfortably.) Just a precaution, Doctor.
DOCTOR: I see. "Shoot first and think afterwards" - is that it?
MISSILE SITE OPERATIVE: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Strike unit ...
(The phone rings on CORPORAL BELL'S desk as the FIRST RADAR OPERATOR hands BENTON a note. He reads it out.)
SERGEANT BENTON: "Major nuclear powers deny missile launching - surveillance confirm".
(BELL puts the phone down after receiving her report.)
CORPORAL BELL: Estimated target area - England, south-east coast.
(The BRIGADIER and YATES look at a smiling and satisfied DOCTOR.)
CORPORAL BELL: There's a report in from the MET office, sir. There are freak weather conditions over the whole area.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Explain.
CORPORAL BELL: Sudden snowstorms, sir. Dense fog's covering the area.
[SCENE_BREAK]
17: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(Indeed the whole of the shoreline is covered with a scattering of snow and the horizon is lost in a mist as PIGBIN JOSH'S bicycle comes to a halt. He has spotted some "treasure" on a rubbish heap and clambers over to it to look closer. It is a child's bicycle. Muttering to himself, he examines the bike, sees that it is too small to replace his own, kicks it and throws it away.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
18: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: UFO over airline flight path green one. All civil aircraft scattered.
[SCENE_BREAK]
19: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
(The voice of the 2nd OPERATOR mingles with that of Missile Station Command over the tannoy in the outer office. The gathered people watch CHINN on the phone to Station Command.)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: (OOV: Over tannoy.) ETA sixty seconds, repeat: sixty seconds.
MISSILE SITE OPERATIVE: (OOV: Over tannoy.) ... now.
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Airborne interceptors closing.
CHINN: (Into phone.) Missile strike now! Commit now! (He listens.) Yes, commander - now!
(On the monitors, a missile can be seen launching.)
1st RADAR OPERATOR: (OOV: Over tannoy.) ... steady. Velocity decreasing, decreasing, increasing.
CHINN: A perfect sitting target!
DOCTOR: (Coldly.) Hardly seems sporting, does it?
(They continue to watch the approaching missile, until...)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Contact lost! Contact lost!
(They all rush into the small tracking room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
20: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: It's gone, sir!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What, destroyed?
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: No, you don't understand - it's disappeared, sir, and the missiles haven't reached it yet!
(The DOCTOR turns to CHINN who is stood next to him - his face a picture of indecision...)
DOCTOR: (Concerned.) Don't you think you'd better abort?
(CHINN looks nervously at the radar screen...)
DOCTOR: What goes up must come down again.
(...which continues to show nothing.)
DOCTOR: The warheads! (Shouts.) Abort, man, abort!
(The DOCTOR grabs the civil servant and practically throws him into to outer office...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
21: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
(...where YATES has Station Command on the phone. CHINN grabs the receiver.)
CHINN: (Into phone.) Abort mission! Destruct, destruct, destruct!
(On the radar and monitors, the missiles blow up.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
22: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
(A look of relief appears on the BRIGADIER'S face...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
23: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
(...which is echoed by his colleagues in the next room.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
24: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(JOSH'S journey continues. Still muttering to himself, he cycles down the coast road.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
25: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well?
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: Still no trace of the UFO, sir.
(The BRIGADIER slams the console in impatience.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: It can't have disappeared.
CORPORAL BELL: (OOV: From outer office.) ITSN report total radar contact lost.
(The BRIGADIER walks through and joins the others.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
26: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, Doctor? Where's it gone?
DOCTOR: Gone? It hasn't gone anywhere, Brigadier. It's just arriving!
[SCENE_BREAK]
27: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(Still muttering to his lonely self, JOSH cycles his unsteady course through the mist. Suddenly a roaring sound fills the sky and JOSH is blinded by a fierce light. He cries out in pain and is momentarily held fast in the powerful beam. He cycles off the road, through the snow and into a pool of freezing water. Muttering oaths, he splashes angrily in the pool, at the side of which is a road sign which reads "Nuton Power Complex. 1 Mile".)
[SCENE_BREAK]
28: INT. UNIT HQ. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(The UNIT group and their guests have returned back to the BRIGADIER'S office where CHINN berates a silent DOCTOR.)
CHINN: We have to assume that it is hostile. It's landed right by the national power complex - Britain's entire power supply is menaced!
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Into phone.) Right.
(The BRIGADIER puts the phone down. CHINN turns to him.)
CHINN: Brigadier, in accordance with the Emergency Powers Act...
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Interrupting.) All right, Mr. Chinn, all right. (To CAPTAIN YATES.) Yates?
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: All available personnel to the assembly area.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir. (To BENTON.) Sergeant?
(The two move back to the tracking room outer office.)
CHINN: I'm treating this as a national emergency...
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Yes, yes, so am I. (To the DOCTOR.) Doctor?
(The BRIGADIER follows his men. CHINN follows him.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
29: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
CHINN: (To the BRIGADIER.) From now on, you are to consider yourself under my orders.
(The BRIGADIER stops and turns. He stares impassively at CHINN who returns the look, as if daring him to argue.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
30: INT. UNIT HQ. BRIGADIER'S OFFICE
(FILER has been watching proceedings.)
FILER: Er, Brigadier.
(He too moves to the outer office.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
31: INT. UNIT HQ. TRACKING ROOM OUTER OFFICE
FILER: Where do you want me?
(CHINN turns on him.)
CHINN: Mr. Filer - this is an internal matter - your presence is not necessary. If you don't leave immediately, I shall have to have you arrested.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Outraged.) Mr. Chinn!
(He storms across the office.)
FILER: No, no, no, it's all right, it's all right, Brigadier. Well goodbye, Mr. Chinn.
(He goes to the door...)
FILER: Take care.
(...and leaves.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
32: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(JOSH walks his bicycle along to where he saw the light. As he crosses over a ridge, he stops, drops the bike and stares in astonishment. Sticking out of the shingle is the only part of the ship that has not been buried in the ground - the circular segmented doorway. A light shines through the almost closed centre from within.)
PIGIN JOSH: Ooh-ar! Ooh-ar!
(JOSH scurries down into the dip where the ship lies. He stops, mutters and scurries round the doorway. As he does so. The segments expand outwards and the door opens, revealing a misty orange interior. A snake-lie tendril comes out of the ship as JOSH completes his circular tour of the object. It grabs him by the wrists and pulls him towards the entrance. JOSH falls to the ground and, crying out, is pulled into the ship.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
33: EXT. ROAD
(FILER drives towards the Nuton complex. He turns on his car radio and re-tunes it to pick up the UNIT radio signals.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: (OOV: Over radio.) UFO sector confirmed as area north sector, national power complex. All vehicles, repeat: all vehicles, RV this area, out.
[SCENE_BREAK]
34: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(JOSH lies is an organic colourful chamber. Its walls resemble a fleshy interior instead of flat panels. He is held fast by tendrils that grow out of the wall and floor and pulsing noises fill the air. A disembodied voice speaks.)
VOICE OF AXOS: Analysis pattern reveals...locomotor facility normal, sensory receptors acute, intelligence atypical.
[SCENE_BREAK]
35: EXT. SHORE ROAD
(FILER'S car screeches to a halt by the side of the snow covered area. He gets out and runs over to where he finds JOSH'S abandoned bike.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
36: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(Its owner is still held fast as the mental analysis continues...)
VOICE OF AXOS: This specimen is valueless - absorb, process and eject.
(The frightened and wide-eyed tramp sits up as a physical force starts to drain the life out of his body.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
37: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(FILER stands before the entrance to Axos. As he approaches the object, the UNIT convoy made up of jeeps, motorcycles and the mobile HQ appears on the distant horizon and the klaxon-like alarm from the Nuton complex echoes over the empty landscape. FILER turns to look at it and therefore fails to notice the tendril as it again comes out of Axos and takes its second victim. FILER falls to the ground. Meanwhile, the convoy comes to a stop next to his car. UNIT troops are shouted out of the vehicles to take positions near to the spaceship. The DOCTOR, JO, the BRIGADIER and YATES walks towards the green mobile HQ van as a black limousine stops nearby and CHINN and two other figures get out.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
38: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(FILER struggles in the same tendrils that held JOSH before him. His face creases in pain as the mental analysis takes place again.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
39: INT. UNIT MOBILE HQ
CHINN: Sir George, this is Lethbridge Stewart.
(The BRIGADIER steps forward to meet his visitors. HARDIMAN is an elderly establishment-type suited figure.)
HARDIMAN: Brigadier, this is Winser, head of research.
(WINSER, a younger studious type, dressed in polo neck sweater and jacket, nods.)
WINSER: I hope you're not contemplating an attack - so close to the labs?
(The DOCTOR, previously studying the consoles within the HQ, turns and listens.)
HARDIMAN: You realise this complex provides power for the whole of Britain? An attack would be disastrous.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: An attack? By whom, Sir George? We have no idea what we're up against. We must take these precautions.
CHINN: I've arranged with the army for full artillery support.
DOCTOR: Artillery? Well, your missiles couldn't find their target. What chance Bazooka's?
(CHINN bridles.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Er, Sir George, Professor Winser, the Doctor is our scientific advisor.
(WINSER looks in astonishment at the eccentrically dressed figure.)
DOCTOR: Well, as far as I can gather with these primitive instruments here, the device has buried itself deep underground. So there's not much that anybody can do about it. Even if it is a bomb.
HARDIMAN: But you don't think it is?
WINSER: Perhaps I could, er, check the readings?
DOCTOR: Yes, please do.
(The DOCTOR passes him a clipboard. JO, who has been looking at one of the read-outs, cries out.)
JO: Doctor, look!
(On one of the monitors, a pulsing oscilloscope type pattern is displayed.)
DOCTOR: You know, I would have said that that was a heartbeat.
[SCENE_BREAK]
40: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(The analysis of FILER concludes...)
VOICE OF AXOS: Intelligent, aggressive, possibly dangerous. Hold for further investigation.
[SCENE_BREAK]
41: INT. UNIT MOBILE HQ
(The 2nd RADAR OPERATOR, wearing headphones, turns from his console.)
2nd RADAR OPERATOR: Brigadier, something's coming through.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, let's hear it.
(The OPERATOR switches the signal through to a loudspeaker. The people in the room react with amazement at what they hear...)
VOICE OF AXOS: (Through loudspeaker.) ...Earth. Axos calling Earth. Fuel systems exhausted. Request immediate assistance, immediate assistance. Axos calling Earth, Axos calling Earth. Fuel system exhausted.
(The VOICE tails off.)
DOCTOR: (To CHINN.) More of a cry for help than a threat, wouldn't you say?
CHINN: Brigadier, we can't wait any longer. We must attack now before they have time to reorganise their defences!
(The DOCTOR steps forward.)
DOCTOR: Before you start annihilating the thing, why don't we just take a look at it?
HARDIMAN: I agree.
(JO starts for the door but the DOCTOR holds her back.)
DOCTOR: Jo...I'm sorry, not this time.
(JO steps back. The DOCTOR steps outside.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Captain Yates.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir?
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Stay here and act as liaison. (Quietly.) Keep an eye on Miss Grant.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Sir.
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Sergeant Benton, check the perimeter guard.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right sir.
[SCENE_BREAK]
42: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(The entrance to Axos opens and the VOICE emits from within. The DOCTOR, the BRIGADIER, CHINN, HARDIMAN and WINSER stand before it.)
VOICE OF AXOS: Axos calling Earth - request immediate assistance. Axos calling Earth.
DOCTOR: Right, Gentlemen. Shall we go in?
(Watched by the armed UNIT troops who stand guard on the site, the five men enter the craft and the doors close...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
42: INT. AXOS. ENTRANCE PASSAGE
(They look in wonder at their surroundings - an organic passage that resembles the inside of an intestine.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
43: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(Outside, SERGEANT BENTON runs back to the mobile HQ...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
44: INT. UNIT MOBILE HQ
(...where YATES is in the middle of an argument with JO.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: It's no good going on at me, Jo. You heard the Brigadier - he made it perfectly clear that...
(BENTON bursts in, out of breath.)
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: What is it, Benton?
SERGEANT BENTON: Sir, we've found body, sir.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Where?
SERGEANT BENTON: Over by the north perimeter and we've found a car too - a big Yankee job.
CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Come on then, you'd better show me.
SERGEANT BENTON: Right, sir.
(They head for the door. JO beats them to it.)
SERGEANT BENTON: No, Miss, I wouldn't go if I were you.
(She nods meekly.)
JO: All right. I'll stay here.
(She sits down as the two soldiers leave.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
45: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(YATES and BENTON approach the body of PIGBIN JOSH. YATES looks down for a moment, then kneels and touches JOSH'S forehead. The entire face starts to fall in on itself, as if the outer body is a mere shell with the internal organs drained away. YATES and BENTON look on half stunned.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
46: INT. UNIT MOBILE HQ
(A look of cunning on her face. JO goes to the door.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
47: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(She checks that the coast is clear and leaves.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
48: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The five men make their way down a passage which is covered in tendrils, membranes and tendon-like protuberances. They make their way through one particular membrane which separates the passageway...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
49: INT. AXOS. INNER CHAMBER
(Their progress is seen on the wall of an inner chamber. An eye-like object turns and watches them.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
50: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The DOCTOR is the last through the membrane. He suddenly gasps in pain as he starts to suffer a mental assault...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
51: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(JO walks through the cordon of soldiers and approaches the spacecraft. The doors open to allow her to enter.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
52: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The analysis of the DOCTOR causes him intense pain...)
VOICE OF AXOS: ... subject non-typical. Investigate, investigate - Analysis pattern investigates extra-terrestrial. Investigate.
(The DOCTOR struggles in the force-field that holds him. His voice is no more than a gasp...)
DOCTOR: Brigadier...Brigadier...!
(He sees the BRIGADIER holding out his hands in help, his mouth moving - but no words reach him...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
53: EXT. AXOS LANDING SITE
(JO walks cautiously into Axos. The doors close.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
54: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(The analysis ends. The DOCTOR gasps and holds his head in pain. The BRIGADIER rushes forward.)
BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Concerned.) Are you all right, Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Yes, I suppose so. I must say this place is full of surprises, isn't it? Let's see what else we can find.
(They set off, the DOCTOR receiving concerned enquiry's from WINSER and HARDIMAN.)
[SCENE_BREAK]
55: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(Lying on the floor, FILER struggles in the grip of the tendrils.)
FILER: Help! Help!
(He suddenly sees that he is not the only prisoner in the chamber. Stood against a wall but similarly held fast by tendrils is a dark suited bearded figure - the MASTER!)
[SCENE_BREAK]
56: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(JO slowly makes her way through Axos. FILER'S shouts reach her.)
FILER: (OOV.) Help...help!
JO: Bill? Bill, is that you?
[SCENE_BREAK]
57: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(The DOCTOR is alone in a large organic chamber. He turns, sees something and shouts...)
DOCTOR: Brigadier! Brigadier!
(The BRIGADIER and the others come running in. The DOCTOR points at one slightly opaque wall, behind which can be seen moving figures. The wall vanishes and four figures are revealed. They are humanoid in form but completely golden in colour - skin, hair, even eyes. They resemble a family unit of a MAN, a WOMAN, a BOY and a GIRL. They stare impassively at their astonished visitors.)
DOCTOR: Well, Gentlemen - there's your enemy.
(The AXON MAN steps forward. He speaks but slowly, as if the language is new to him...)
AXON MAN: Our world's...are uncountable...light years...away - on the far rim...of the galaxy. Our planetary system has been crippled by extreme solar flare activity.
(He looks at their surroundings.)
AXON MAN: Axos is all that remains of our culture. As you can see, our science, unlike yours, has taken an organic path. (Unsure.) This...ship?
(The DOCTOR nods in confirmation that he has used the correct word.)
AXON MAN: This ship was not...built for our journey - it was grown.
WINSER: (Astonished.) What?
AXON MAN: Yes, grown from a single cell and now its nutrient is all but exhausted. We would like to stay.
CHINN: (Coughs.) Well...
AXON MAN: (Interrupts.) Until our nutrition and energy cycles have been fully replenished. In return, according to your custom, we offer a gift, a payment...
(The AXON GIRL steps forward and holds up in the air a burnt orange coloured round organic object.)
AXON MAN: Axonite!
[SCENE_BREAK]
58: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(JO continues to look for the source of FILER'S cry.)
JO: Bill? Bill, where are you?
[SCENE_BREAK]
59: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(The sample of Axonite sits on top of a squat pillar in the centre of the chamber.)
AXON MAN: Axonite is the source of all our growth technology. Axonite can absorb, convert, transmit and programme all forms of energy.
(The AXON MAN starts to walk away.)
DOCTOR: Even radiation?
(The AXON MAN stops, turns and nods slowly at the DOCTOR.)
DOCTOR: (Suspicious.) Why then were you crippled by solar flare?
AXON MAN: It was already too late.
CHINN: Perhaps you could explain, just what it is - what it does? (Smiles.) My report, you understand?
AXON MAN: Axonite is, shall we say, the "Chameleon" of the elements. It is a thinking molecule. It uses the energy it absorbs, not only to copy but to recreate and restructure any given substance.
DOCTOR: (Suspicious.) And yet you still ran out of fuel?
(The AXON MAN stares at the DOCTOR.)
WINSER: (Eagerly.) And the principle? The principle of Axonite?
AXON MAN: It would be simpler for me to demonstrate Axontite.
[SCENE_BREAK]
60: INT. AXOS. PRISON CHAMBER
(From his position against the wall, the MASTER looks down on FILER.)
MASTER: What's your name?
FILER: Filer, Bill Filer. Who are you? What do you want?
MASTER: I'm your fellow captive, Filer. I am the Master!
(FILER looks up in astonishment at the object of his quest...)
[SCENE_BREAK]
61: INT. AXOS. CENTRAL CHAMBER
(Watched by the assembled observers, a small toad sits in a perspex globe. The AXON WOMAN stands by with what resembles a hypodermic syringe. The MAN nods at the AXON BOY who walks forward and takes the top off the globe.)
AXON MAN: A painless lasonic injection...of Axonite.
(He takes the syringe off the WOMAN. Its transparent tube is filled with the burnt orange coloured Axonite. He holds it over the toad which sits on top of the pillar.)
AXON MAN: This is, I presume, one of your food animals?
WINSER: Er, no, no, it isn't.
AXON MAN: My apologies.
(He switches the syringe on. It lights up and buzzes.)
AXON MAN: Assuming it were, you can see, of course, the possibilities for alleviating the world's food problems.
(The toad starts growing to several times its size.)
AXON MAN: The process is, of course, reversible.
(The toad shrinks back to its normal size. The WOMAN takes the syringe away as the BOY puts the toad back in the globe.)
WINSER: It's...Incredible!
HARDIMAN: Unlimited food.
DOCTOR: And unlimited power.
CHINN: (Eagerly.) We must have it!
[SCENE_BREAK]
62: INT. AXOS. PASSAGEWAY
(JO continues her exploration. Behind her, something starts to emerge from a wall.)
JO: Bill?
(Jo turns. One of the tendril covered creatures is emerging from the very substance of the wall. She screams...)
Plan: A: UNIT; Q: Who investigates the mysterious object that lands near the Nuton power complex? A: the Axons; Q: What group of aliens offer the mineral axonite as a gift? Summary: When a mysterious object lands near the Nuton power complex, UNIT investigate and encounter the Axons, a group of aliens who offer the mineral axonite, which can duplicate matter, as a gift.