TEXT: The Sensorites By Peter R. Newman 5:15pm - 5:40pm [SCENE_BREAK] 1, INT: RECEPTION ROOM SUSAN: So you are the senior Elder? FIRST-ELDER: Signified by the twin sash I wear. The Second Elder, my advisor wears one sash. Other important professions wear distinctive markings. IAN: And the ordinary people? FIRST-ELDER: Are contented with their similarity. IAN: Would you mind telling us something about the d... (He breaks off as he suffers a violent coughing fit.) IAN: I beg your pardon, the disease. SUSAN: Yes, could you tell us about it? We might be able to help you. FIRST-ELDER: I intended to. We need help with this calamity, the disease is invisible and resists all our attempts to stamp it out. It affects all manner of people irrespective of their caste. DOCTOR: Yes er, does it affect the Elders? FIRST-ELDER: No. DOCTOR: I wonder why not? FIRST-ELDER: I cannot imagine, we have been... Fortunate? (Ian coughs again.) DOCTOR: Yes it, er, might be a clue. But what I hoped sir, was this ah... that if my friends succeed where your Scientists fail, will you return the lock of my craft? SUSAN: It would be a just return. FIRST-ELDER: Your Granddaughter speaks well. DOCTOR: Yes, she's a fine young woman. (Ian coughs again and the Doctor turns.) DOCTOR: My dear Chesterton, are you alright, mm? (He can only manage a hoarse rasp.) IAN: My throat's burning, I wonder if you could give me some water, Doctor? DOCTOR: Is this a symptom of your disease? (The First Elder nods. Suddenly Ian jumps up making a gurgling sound, knocks the small table to the side and sprawls to the floor. Susan rushes to his side.) SUSAN: Grandfather
SUMMARY:
The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan arrive in the TARDIS on board aspaceship. Their initial concern is for the ship's human crew, who are suffering from telepathic interference from the Sensorites, but Susan communicates with the Sensorites and finds the aliens fear an attack by the humans and are just defending themselves. Travelling to the Sense Sphere (the Sensorites' planet) the Doctor seeks to cure an illness to which the Sensorites and Ian have succumbed, but finds it has been caused by deliberate poisoning. The political manoeuvring of the Sensorite City Administrator poses another threat to the TARDIS crew as he seeks to discredit and implicate them.