TEXT: THE CURSE OF PELADON BY: BRIAN HAYLES 5:50pm - 6:15pm [SCENE_BREAK] 1: EXT. CITADEL (Lightning, thunder and wind batter the citadel of Peladon...) [SCENE_BREAK] 2: INT. THRONE ROOM (In the throne room, all the delegates, the DOCTOR, JO and HEPESH stand before the throne. PELADON looks torn and nervous.) PELADON: I have no alternative, Doctor. To this charge, the laws of Peladon allow of no defence, and only one punishment - death. (There is a slight gasp from the assembled delegates.) DOCTOR: But there was no sacrilege intended, sir. HEPESH: Only the alien's death can purify the holy temple of Aggedor. DOCTOR: I had no idea that the tunnels would lead there. (PELADON is instantly alert...) PELADON: Tunnels? I know of no tunnels, Hepesh? DOCTOR: Surely your Majesty must know that beneath the citadel there is a network of secret passages? HEPESH: He is lying, your Majesty. There are no such passages! (The DOCTOR stares are HEPESH, almost in realisation. The High Priest coolly returns the stare. The DOCTOR turns back to the King.) DOCTOR: King Peladon, I swear to you that I am telling the truth. I am innocent. HEPESH: Your Majesty... (JO runs up to the throne.) JO: (Begging.) You've got to believe him! IZLYR: His ignorance of the law at least deserves consideration. HEPESH: No, his crime is too great! IZLYR: A Royal pardon would could highly with the federation. HEPESH: The federation cannot override our holy laws. It is forbidden by its charter. ARCTURUS: That is correct. Galactic articles of peace: paragraph twenty-nine, sub-
SUMMARY:
The Doctor is sentenced to fight Grun to the death and his attempt to escape leads to an encounter with Aggedor.