The Firemaker
(Returning to the cave, the time travellers are escorted in by the cavemen who captured them. They carry the stretcher with Za, assisted by Hur. Once inside the cave and surrounded by the tribe, they lowered the stretcher to the ground. They are then quickly grabbed from behind and held by the cavemen. They struggle for a moment but then find it useless. Hur remains beside Za.)
KAL: Za and the woman went with them. I, Kal, stop them.
HUR: They saved Za from death near the stream.
KAL: (Continuing) They set them free from the Cave of Skulls and went with them.
HUR: The old woman cut them free.
KAL: Za is so weak a woman speaks for him.
(Hur stands up and approaches Kal.)
HUR: It was the old woman. She showed them a new way out of the Cave of Skulls.
KAL: The old woman does not speak. She does not say she did this, or did that. The old woman is dead. Za killed the old woman.
HUR: No!
KAL: Za killed the old woman with his knife.
HUR: No.
(Kal takes Za's knife from him. He then holds it up to show the tribe.)
KAL: Here. Here is the knife he killed her with.
(The Doctor stares curiously at the knife.)
DOCTOR: This knife has no blood on it. (Kal stares at him) I said, this knife has no blood on it.
(Kal thinks for a moment.)
KAL: It is a bad knife. It does not show the things it does.
(Kal throws the knife on the ground. The Doctor picks it up and shows it to him.)
DOCTOR: It is a finer knife than yours.
KAL: I, Kal, say it is a bad knife.
DOCTOR: This knife can cut and stab. I have never seen a better knife.
KAL: I will show you one.
(Kal pulls out his flint knife and shows the Doctor.)
DOCTOR: This knife shows what it has done. (The Doctor takes the knife from Kal and shows the tribe) There is blood on it!
(Za sits up.)
DOCTOR: (To Za) Who killed the old woman?
ZA: I did not kill her.
DOCTOR: (to Kal) You killed the old woman!
KAL: Yes!
(The tribe is shocked.)
KAL: She set them free. She set them free. She did this. I, Kal, killed her.
(The Tribe is unhappy by this.)
DOCTOR: Is this your strong leader? One who kills your old women? He is a bad leader. He will kill you all. Yes, all. (To Ian and the Princess) Follow my example.
(The Doctor picks up some stones and throws them at Kal.)
DOCTOR: Drive him out!
PRINCESS: He killed your old woman!
IAN: Yes, drive him out. You can't want him as leader!
(The tribe start throwing stones at Kal. Enraged, Kal tries to attack the time travellers, but Za jumps up and pushes him back. The tribe are now all shouting and throwing things at him.)
TRIBE: Drive him out!
(Kal run out of the cave. Za stand by the entrance watching him flee as the tribe calms down. Ian approaches Za.)
IAN: Remember, Kal is not stronger than the whole tribe.
ZA: (To tribe) Kal is no longer one of this tribe. We will watch for him. We will all fight Kal if he comes back. We will watch for him. (He looks towards the time travellers) Take them to the Cave of Skulls!
PRINCESS: What?!
(Before any of them can do anything, they are all grabbed by members of the tribe. They start getting dragged towards the Cave of Skulls, but as Ian is dragged past Za, he catches his attention.)
IAN: (To Za) Take us back to the desert and we will make fire for you.
ZA: (To another caveman) The great stone will close one place, and you will stand by another I will show you. Take them!
(Ian tries to break free from the caveman holding him.)
DOCTOR: Don't struggle.
(The time travellers are dragged in to the Cave of Skulls once again.)
(This time, the time travellers haven't been tied up. They are alone in the Cave of Skulls. Ian is holding Barbara, while the Doctor holds Susan and the Princess. As they walk through, they see the dead body of the old woman, left on the floor. Susan gags at the sight and smell. The Princess quickly takes her away to the other side of the cave, shielding her from the sight. Barbara follows them. The three of them then sit on the ground.)
DOCTOR: This place is evil.
(The Doctor joins the ladies on the ground. Meanwhile, Ian checks the exit Mother showed them. Unfortunately, he sees it's now guarded.)
IAN: We won't be getting out that way.
(Disappointed, Ian joins the others on the floor.)
DOCTOR: No, I didn't have much hope.
SUSAN: What will we do now, Grandfather?
DOCTOR: I'm not sure my child, I'm not sure.
(Susan is scared. The Princess holds her.)
PRINCESS: Don't worry, Susan, it'll be all right. We just need to come up with a plan so we can escape again.
IAN: (Gravely) I think I already have one.
BARBARA: (Hopeful) Well, what is it?
IAN: It's risky. But I think we should give them what they want.
BARBARA: You mean fire?
IAN: Yes.
PRINCESS: You can't be serious. You've seen what they're like without it. And remember our promise to the old woman, we said there would be no fire.
IAN: Yes. But if it's between giving them fire and our lives, I'm afraid we don't have much of a choice.
DOCTOR: Yes, I agree with the young man. Regrettable as it may be, I'm afraid we may have to break our promise, my dear.
(The Princess looks around, seeing that she's the only one who objects.)
PRINCESS: All right, if it's what everybody wants. Then we should try and make fire.
IAN: It's agreed then. Good. Now, I'm going to need some things if we're to stand a chance at making this work.
(Ian is sat in the middle of the cave, having cleared an area. Around him, Barbara, Susan and the Princess gather, each holding various items.)
SUSAN: I think this is what you want, Mister Chesterton.
(Susan hands Ian a stone of some kind.)
IAN: Thank you.
BARBARA: Here are some leaves, and some dead grass.
PRINCESS: And some good sticks too.
IAN: Yes, this should do it.
(Ian takes the sticks from the Princess.)
IAN: Right, can you all spread those materials around the hole. Don't put them inside. Yes, that's it.
(Barbara, Susan and the Princess spread the leaves and grass around the edge of their makeshift firepit. Once they are done, Ian begins rubbing the two sticks together.)
IAN: I hope this is going to work.
(The time travellers are all leaned over the firepit, watching as Ian rubs the sticks together. For a while nothing happens, but then…)
SUSAN: I can smell something.
BARBARA: Yes, so can I.
SUSAN: It's burning! It's burning!
IAN: It's a long way off yet.
(Za enters from behind.)
ZA: What is this?
DOCTOR: We are making fire.
ZA: (To Ian) You are called Friend?
IAN: (Surprised) Yes.
DOCTOR: (To Ian) Don't stop.
ZA: Hur said you were called Friend. I am Za. You are the leader of your tribe?
IAN: No. (He nods to the Doctor) He is our leader.
SUSAN: (To Za) Are you going to set us free?
ZA: The tribe say you are from Orb and when you are returned to him on the stone of death, we will have fire again.
BARBARA: But that's not true.
(Za couches down next to them.)
ZA: I think you are from the other side of the mountains. If you show me how to make fire, I will take you back to the foot of the mountains. If you do not show me, I cannot stop you dying on the old stone.
IAN: (To Barbara) Put some more leaves and grass round it. I think it's beginning to work.
DOCTOR: (To Za, slowly) Do you understand? We are making fire for you.
ZA: I am watching.
IAN: The whole tribe should be watching. Everyone should know how to make fire.
ZA: Everyone cannot be leader!
IAN: No, that's perfectly true. But in our tribe, the firemaker is the least important man.
ZA: Ha! I do not believe this.
DOCTOR: He is the least important because we can all make fire.
PRINCESS: Here watch.
(Princess takes the sticks from Ian.)
ZA: But you are woman?
BARBARA: Yes, but even we can make fire.
(Princess begins doing as Ian was with the stick. A flame starts to glow.)
IAN: Look, I think it's beginning to work. Susan, Barbara, help me blow – gently. That's it!
(The flame grows into a proper fire!)
SUSAN: We've done it!
IAN: Yes.
(Za leans in to stare in wonder at the fire.)
ZA: Fire... Fire…
(They all stare at it for a moment. Then suddenly Susan gasps. Kal has entered from the entrance Mother showed them. He holds a club. Za gets up, ready to fight. Kal takes a swing at him and Za backs away, revealing the fire. Kal stares in wonder at it also. While he's distracted, Ian takes Barbara and the Doctor takes Susan and the Princess and they all back up against the cave wall. Kal then turns his attention back to Za. He swings at him again and they move across the cave to fight. They fight madly, as if they are animals. They grab onto one another, roll around on the floor and even bite at one another. When Za manages to break Kal's club, he gains the upper hand. After a series of brutal attacks, Kal lies beaten on the floor. But then Za takes a large stone and brings it down on Kal's head. The women look away in horror, while the men stare in shock. As Za then drags Kal's body aside, they all begin to hear shouting. The stone that covers the passageway to the rest of the cave begins to open. Ian quickly grabs the remains of Kal's club and sticks the end of it in the fire, creating a torch.)
IAN: (To Za) Take this, and show it to your tribe.
(Ian hands Za the torch.)
ZA: You, stay here.
IAN: We will come with you.
ZA: No, you'll stay here.
IAN: I will come with you.
(Za threatens Ian with the torch before leaving. Ian tries to follow but the Doctor grabs him.)
DOCTOR: Give him a chance. Give him a chance. Let him show the tribe fire, establish himself as leader, then he'll let us go.
PRINCESS: (Worried) I'm not so sure.
IAN: She's right, we ought to go with him.
DOCTOR: No.
(The cries from beyond the passageway stop. Then cheers. Then nothing…)
(Later, the time travellers are all sat around the firepit. All of them look depressed.)
IAN: It didn't work. They're going to keep us here.
(Hur enters with some food. She places it on the floor before them.)
IAN: (To Hur) Why are you keeping us here?
HUR: Za has gone into the forest to find meat. There will be more food later.
BARBARA: But why can't we go outside?
SUSAN: Please let us go. It's terrible in here.
HUR: Za is leader.
SUSAN: But we helped you. We gave you fire.
HUR: We have fire now.
(Hur leaves the Cave of Skulls.)
IAN: Yes. And I was the fool who gave it to you. Why didn't I wait?
BARBARA: Well, at least we're alive. We wouldn't be if we hadn't given them fire.
PRINCESS: She's right, Ian. You can't blame yourself for their actions.
IAN: Maybe.
(Later, the time travellers sit around the firepit eating food that has been brought for them. Ian however, is asleep next to Barbara. The rest eat quietly. As the Princess eats, she suddenly smiles and looks around the dark cave.)
PRINCESS: (To herself) If they could see me now…
(The Doctor, being the only one to hear, chuckles. The Princess looks to him, and they both smile slightly to one another. Barbara then wakes Ian.)
BARBARA: Ian.
(Ian awakes and sits up on his elbows.)
SUSAN: (To Ian) They brought us some meat.
(Susan offers Ian some food, which he takes.)
BARBARA: And the Doctor found a stone with a hole in it, and they filled it with water.
IAN: (Dryly) All the comforts of home.
(Za enters.)
ZA: The animal was hard to kill. The meat on it is good. They have brought you fruit and water has been put into a stone.
(The time travellers proceed to ignore him. Unhappy by this, Za shoves Ian aside. He then crouches where Ian once was and picks up the stone with the water.)
ZA: Is this the stone? (No one answers him) Has anyone hurt you?
DOCTOR: When are you going to let us go, hmm?
ZA: You will stay here. I have the meat and I have the stick, and a piece of skin. I can make fire now. Your tribe and my tribe will join together.
IAN: We don't want to stay here.
ZA: Why? There is no better place the other side of the mountains.
PRINCESS: And how would you know?
ZA: (He ignores Princess) Do not try to leave here.
(Za exits with their water.)
DOCTOR: We should quench the fire. Take it away from them. Scare them into letting us go.
PRINCESS: That might only make them angry, and then we'd be in even more trouble.
IAN: Yes, but it might allow us to establish ourselves as leaders?
BARBARA: It's possible. But then they'd never let us go if we were the only ones who knew how to make fire. And if we teach them, then they could end up keeping us anyway.
DOCTOR: I'm afraid I have to agree with you, my dear.
(Susan takes a stick from the fire. She uses it as a torch while searching the Cave of Skulls.)
PRINCESS: Susan, be careful!
SUSAN: Yes, Princess.
(Susan then stops and picks up one of the skulls.)
PRINCESS: Susan… Susan, what are you doing?
(Susan puts the skull on top of the torch, interesting everyone.)
SUSAN: Hey, Grandfather, look! It's almost alive.
(Ian stands up.)
IAN: Not alive, Susan. Almost dead. We're going to make five torches. We'll find the sticks. And we'll use the fat from the meat. And then–
SUSAN: (Excitedly) And then?
IAN: And then, to all intents and purposes, we're going to die.
(Now, the time travellers are all pushed up against the wall next to the passageway, hiding.)
IAN: When I give the sign…
(Hur enters the Cave of Skulls with more meat. When she then sees the propped-up skulls on fire she screams. The rest of the tribe come rushing in. But when they see the flaming skulls they too begin to cower. With the tribe distracted, the time travellers make a run for it. They rush through the cave and back out into the forest.)
(As the time travellers run through the forest, they brush aside the branches in their way. At one point, Barbara trips up, but the others quickly help her up before they continue on.)
(At last, they reach the wasteland where they first arrived. Susan runs ahead, unlocking the door to the ship. She gets inside followed quickly by the Princess and Barbara. Ian runs in next, and lastly the Doctor who closes the door behind him.)
(Inside the ship, the Doctor leans back against the closed doors, catching his breath.)
IAN: Come on, Doctor, get us off! Get us off!
(The Doctor then runs over to the console which everyone has gathered around.)
DOCTOR: Yes, yes. Come on, Child.
PRINCESS: What can I do?
DOCTOR: (Pointing) Those switches there, position them up and then press that button there.
(The Princess does as told. As she does, the Doctor and Susan also work before the ship begins to take off. The strange noise once again echoes around them, as the glass column in the centre of the console begins to rise and fall. After a tense moment, they all let out a breath of relief, realising they are safely on their way. Exhausted, Barbara collapses into a chair, sighing. The Princess goes to check on her while the others remain by the console.)
PRINCESS: Are you all right?
BARBARA: Now I am. I'm just so exhausted after this whole experience.
PRINCESS: Well, you did very well, and you should be very proud of yourself. Now, get some rest.
BARBARA: I will, thank you.
(The Princess re-joins the others around the console.)
DOCTOR: (Looking at the console) Yes, it's matching up.
SUSAN: We're beginning to land.
IAN: (To Doctor) Have you taken us back to our own time?
DOCTOR: You know I can't do that. Please be reasonable.
IAN: What?
(Barbara comes rushing over.)
BARBARA: (To Doctor) Please, you must take us back. You must.
PRINCESS: Barbara, please, you need to rest.
DOCTOR: You see, this isn't operating properly. Or rather, the code is still a secret. When you put the right data, precise information to a second of the beginning of a journey, then we can fix a destination, but I had no data at my disposal.
BARBARA: Are you saying that you don't know how to work this thing?
DOCTOR: Well of course I can't. I'm not a miracle worker.
SUSAN: You can't blame Grandfather. We left the other place too quickly, that's all.
IAN: Just a minute. Did you try and take us back to our own time?
DOCTOR: Well, I got you away from that other time, didn't I?
IAN: That isn't what I asked you.
DOCTOR: It's the only way I can answer you, young man.
(The strange noise fades and the column in the centre of the console stops moving. The ship has landed.)
DOCTOR: (Activating the scanner) Now. Now we shall see.
(The scanner shows they've landed in a forest full of strange trees.)
DOCTOR: It could be anywhere. Dear, dear, dear, dear. It's no help to us at all. Well, I suggest before we go outside and explore, let us clean ourselves up.
PRINCESS: And rest. We all need a proper rest.
DOCTOR: Who has time to rest, when we've got exploring to do?
PRINCESS: They need rest, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Well, let them rest, and I shall go exploring.
IAN: No, no. We'll come with you. Won't we, Barbara?
BARBARA: After a shower and a change of clothes.
DOCTOR: Quite right, quite right.
SUSAN: Come on, I'll show you the way.
DOCTOR: Before you do, my child, could you check the radiation reading?
SUSAN: Yes. (Checks the reading) It's readying normal, Grandfather.
IAN: Well, at least that's something.
PRINCESS: Come on, the showers are this way.
(They all leave the console room, unaware that the needle on the radiation reading has moved into the Danger Zone…)
Next Episode – The Dead Planet