The Survivors

(Ian waves his hands in front of the door Barbara went through. After a few tries, it opens. Ian then leads the way inside, as the Doctor, Princess and Susan follow. Inside they find a strange hallway that branches off into different corridors and rooms. The time travellers begin looking around the room.)

IAN: Barbara? Barbara? Barbara?

PRINCESS: Barbara?

(Susan approaches a door. She waves her hand and it opens, revealing a dark room.)

SUSAN: Miss Wright?

(Ian tries another door. Again, it opens up into a dark room.)

IAN: Barbara?

(The Princess tries a door as well. Another dark room lies beyond…but a ticking noise also comes from within.)

DOCTOR: What's that noise?

PRINCESS: It's coming from in here.

SUSAN: It sounds like ticking.

(They all gather at the entrance to the room.)

IAN: Barbara? Are you in there?

(No response. They look between each other. Ian then enters the room. As he does, the lights come on revealing a laboratory. The Doctor, Princess and Susan follow him into the room.)

IAN: It's a laboratory of some kind. Maybe we'll find some more mercury in here? (To Princess) Is it similar to the room you saw earlier?

PRINCESS: No, there was nothing like this. But we have enough mercury, so don't bother looking for more. We should just focus on finding Barbara and getting back to the ship.

(The Princess goes to leave the room but is suddenly dizzy. Susan, seeing this, goes over to support her, stopping her from falling over.)

PRINCESS: Thank you, Susan.

(The Doctor and Ian are looking around the room.)

DOCTOR: Measuring equipment. But measuring what? Look here.

(Ian joins the Doctor by the machine he's found.)

DOCTOR: Look at this drum. The ink's still quite wet.

IAN: Yes. Hard to imagine what sort of people these are.

DOCTOR: They're intelligent, anyway. Very intelligent.

IAN: Yes, but how do they use their intelligence? What form does it take?

DOCTOR: Oh, as if that matters. What these instruments tell us is that we're in the midst of a very, very advanced civilised society.

SUSAN: (Pointing) There it is. The thing that's ticking. It's over there.

(Susan takes the Princess over to look at the ticking machine. Ian and the Doctor follow as Susan realises what it is.)

SUSAN: It's a Geiger counter.

IAN: But look at the needle! It's past the danger point.

DOCTOR: Yes, yes, that explains a lot of things, doesn't it. A jungle turned to stone, the barren soil and the fact that we're not feeling well.

IAN: Radiation sickness?

DOCTOR: Yes, I'm afraid so. The atmosphere here is polluted with a very high level of fallout, and we've been walking around in it completely unprotected.

PRINCESS: But Susan checked the reading out back at the ship, it said normal.

DOCTOR: Yes, but did any of us check it again? Obviously another fault in the equipment. The ship mustn't had settled properly, and thus the reading was distorted. Or perhaps there was a delay from the sensor to the read out – it doesn't matter.

IAN: But how do you explain the buildings? They're intact.

DOCTOR: A neutron bomb. Yes. It destroys all human tissue but leaves the buildings and machinery intact. Yes.

IAN: What? But how much radiation, and how badly?

DOCTOR: We need, we need drugs to be treated.

IAN: But where are we going to find them?

SUSAN: The Tardis will have to take us to another time and place where we can be cured.

IAN: But what about Barbara?

DOCTOR: She's none of my concern. And if we stay around here to look for her, we will only doom ourselves. No, we must leave at once.

(Ian grabs the Doctor's arm.)

IAN: You can't!

(Doctor's pushes Ian's hand away.)

PRINCESS: We're not leaving her behind.

DOCTOR: Don't argue with me, we haven't the time, now come on. There's no sense in risking all our lives for hers alone.

PRINCESS: But there was sense in risking us all to see this city?!

(They all pause…before Ian and Susan look to the Princess.)

SUSAN: What are you talking about, Princess?

PRINCESS: (To Ian) I'm sorry. Had I known I never would have given in to his idiotic pursuits.

IAN: Explain.

DOCTOR: We really do not have time for this.

PRINCESS: (To Doctor) Be quiet! Although I am partially responsible for this, you are just as much to blame. (To Ian.) There's nothing wrong with the fluid link. I'm sorry for lying to you. But in seeing how determined he was at the time, I thought it best to give him what he wanted. So, I agreed to play along with his scheme, on the condition that we return to the ship after half an hour in the city.

(The Princess takes the fluid link out of her satchel and hands it over to Ian.)

PRINCESS: Had I known about the radiation, I never would have gone along with it. And now you and your friend are in danger and it's our fault. I can't apologise enough, but I will stay to help you find her.

DOCTOR: Oh, no you won't!

(The Doctor pulls the Princess towards him.)

IAN: You fools! You old pair of fools!

DOCTOR: Shout at us as much as you like, Chesterton, but do it once we're all back at the ship.

IAN: We're not leaving until we've found Barbara.

DOCTOR: Very well. You may stay and search for her if you wish, but we three are going back to the ship. Now, come along.

(The Doctor tries to pull the Princess along, but she struggles and refuses to move.)

PRINCESS: I'm not going anywhere until we've found Barbara.

DOCTOR: Don't be ridiculous, now come on.

IAN: I don't know how you plan on leaving without this.

(Ian holds up the fluid link.)

DOCTOR: Give that to me.

IAN: Not until we've found Barbara.

DOCTOR: Give it to me, I say!

IAN: No! It's time the pair of you faced up to your responsibilities. You got us here. Now I'm going to make sure that you get us back.

PRINCESS: He's right, this is our doing.

DOCTOR: For the last time, we can't waste time–

IAN: I agree. So stop wasting it and help me look for Barbara.

SUSAN: He's right, Grandfather.

DOCTOR: Child, if only you'd think as an adult–

PRINCESS: She's acting more like an adult than you. Taking responsibility and trying to help someone in need…

(The Princess trials off, losing momentum as she gets a headache. Susan once again supports her.)

IAN: It seems to be three against one, Doctor. The Princess is owning up to her mistake, how about you do the same?

(The Doctor stares at them all, before sighing in defeat. He looks more tired and unwell.)

DOCTOR: Oh, very well. Let's go then. Let's go.

(The Doctor leads them all out of the room…but outside, a group of strange and terrifying machines are waiting for them. Daleks! At the sight of them, Susan screams. The Doctor quickly pulls her close and does the same with the Princess.)

DALEK: You will move ahead of us and follow my directions. This way.

(The Dalek speaking turns around. Then the dome on top of its head turns back around so that its eyestalk is looking at the time travellers.)

DALEK: Immediately.

(Very slowly, Susan, the Doctor and the Princess obey. They move with the Daleks watching them. But Ian remains where he is, looking around for an escape.)

DALEK: I said immediately!

(Ian runs towards one of the corridors.)

DALEK: Fire!

(A Dalek fires it's weapon. The space around Ian turns negative in colour, before Ian then collapses onto the floor.)

IAN: My legs! My legs!

(Susan runs towards Ian.)

PRINCESS: Susan!

(A Dalek gets between Susan and Ian.)

DALEK: Stop!

(Susan stops. She then backs up slowly towards the Doctor and the Princess who hold her between them as the Dalek watches them. Another Dalek then makes it's way over to Ian, gliding across the floor.)

DALEK: Your legs are paralysed. You will recover shortly unless you force us to use our weapons again. In that case, the condition will be permanent. (It looks over to the other three time travellers) You three, help him.

(Susan, the Doctor and the Princess cross the room to Ian. The three of them then help Ian up, spreading his weight between them.)

IAN: My legs, my legs. I can't use my legs.

(The time travellers are escorted towards a closed door with a Dalek behind them. The Doctor and Princess are supporting Ian, but Susan is also supporting the Princess as well.)

DALEK: Stop here.

(They stop in front of the door. The door then opens, and they carry Ian into what appears to be a prison cell.)

BARBARA: Susan!

(They all look over and see Barbara in the corner as she rushes over towards them.)

SUSAN: Miss Wright!

(The door closes, locking them inside.)

IAN: Barbara, thank heaven we've found you. Are you all right?

BARBARA: Yes. What's the matter? What's happened?

IAN: Oh, I'm all right.

SUSAN: He tried to get away and they hurt him.

BARBARA: Can't you stand up?

IAN: Not without help. The feeling's coming back, don't worry.

BARBARA: Come over here.

(Barbara leads them over to a bench against the far wall. On the way over however, the Princess suddenly collapses. The Doctor manages to hold Ian on his on, but only just.)

SUSAN: Princess?!

(Susan kneels down quickly to check on the Princess.)

BARBARA: Is she all right?

PRINCESS: Yes, I'm… I'm…

SUSAN: I've got you.

(Susan helps the Princess up. As she does, Barbara hels the Doctor sit Ian down. She then goes back and helps Susan do the same with the Princess. Once done, those still standing sit down as well, all exhausted.)

IAN: How about you, Barbara? We tried to look for you and then those machines caught us.

BARBARA: They trapped me in some sort of lift. It seemed to go down for ages.

IAN: They didn't hurt you?

BARBARA: No. Ian, what are they?

IAN: I don't know. Barbara, did you notice anything? I mean, when they were moving you about. Any little thing may help us.

BARBARA: No, nothing much. They moved me from floor to floor, always in lifts. Where we are now must be miles underground. Well, there wasn't any furniture now I come to think about it.

IAN: I'm afraid that's not very much help.

BARBARA: Ian, do you think they really are just machines?

IAN: What do you mean?

BARBARA: Well, I was going to say, do you think there's someone inside them?

(Susan laughs. But then stops when Ian and Barbara look at her.)

IAN: That's a point. We haven't any idea what's inside them.

BARBARA: I tried to think of how I could get away from them, but then I began to feel so weak and giddy. It's getting worse now. I think they must have drugged me in some way.

IAN: It's not that. Barbara, we've got radiation sickness. All of us. The Doctor and the Princess look pretty badly hit.

(Barbara looks between the Doctor, who's next to her, and the Princess who's on the other side of Ian. Both look as though they have passed out.)

BARBARA: (To Ian) Well, how do you know it's radiation?

SUSAN: We found a Geiger counter. It seems that all the time we've been in the open, we've been exposed to it.

BARBARA: Well, what's going to happen to us?

DOCTOR: (Weakly) Well, unless…unless we get treatment…we shall die. Yes, we shall die.

(They all looked worried, except for the Doctor and Princess who are too weak to express anything.)

(Later on, the Princess awakes. Her eyes are slow to open, and she still looks exhausted and unwell. The Doctor is no longer in the room, but Susan and Barbara are helping Ian walk around. One of his legs seems to be back to normal but the other one looks as if it's still asleep.)

BARBARA: Is it any easier?

IAN: Yes, I think it is. I'm going to try and stand on my own.

SUSAN: Be careful.

IAN: I'll be all right.

(Barbara and Susan step back from Ian as he stands on his own.)

IAN: Oh, that's not too bad, is it?

BARBARA: Why don't you sit down for a minute?

IAN: No, no, no. I'll be all right.

(Ian takes a few small steps, but then falls over. Barbara and Susan quickly help him stand back up.)

IAN: It's no good.

BARBARA: Come on, sit down. It'll wear off in time.

(Barbara and Susan take Ian back over to the bench and sit him down. Barbara then sits down next to him, gripping her head in pain.)

IAN: How are you feeling, Barbara?

BARBARA: Not too good.

IAN: Susan?

SUSAN: Well, it doesn't seem to have affected me as much as the rest of you.

PRINCESS: (Weakly) That's…That's because of our…biology.

(Susan takes the Princess's hands eagerly.)

SUSAN: Princess, your awake!

PRINCESS: Our biology…it's different to that of Ian and Barbara's.

IAN: (To Susan) Plus, your youth must give you some advantage too.

PRINCESS: Yes. Hence…Hence why I'm…so weak.

(The door to the prison cell opens. The Doctor stumbles into the cell.

SUSAN: Grandfather!

(Susan rushes over and catches the Doctor before he can fall. Barbara then joins them, helping to support the Doctor. The door closes, locking them in.)

IAN: Are you all right?

(The Doctor nods. Barbara and Susan bring the Doctor over, sitting him down on the bench next to the Princess.)

SUSAN: What happened?

DOCTOR: In a moment, child. (A long pause, as the Doctor catches his breath) The phial of drugs left outside the Tardis, remember?

BARBARA: Yes, what about them?

DOCTOR: It's possible that they may have been anti-radiation drugs. I can't be certain. But it does give us a chance. The people here, whoever they may be, are very eager to get hold of them.

IAN: None of us are in very good shape to go and get them.

BARBARA: Oh, I could do it.

IAN: No, it must be me.

BARBARA: But you can't walk.

IAN: Oh, I'll be all right in a couple of hours.

DOCTOR: Whoever goes must be very careful. As far as I can ascertain, the creatures out there are the ones who dropped the box. They're called Thals. They're mutations.

IAN: So it wasn't our captors who left the drugs behind?

(Seeing the Doctor is tired, Susan helps put his feet up on the bench, so he can rest against the wall corner of the wall.)

DOCTOR: No. If they were drugs. I've learnt quite a lot from the Daleks.

IAN: The who?

DOCTOR: (Weakly) The Daleks, our captors here. Oh, if I didn't feel so... But I was right about the neutron bomb. The Daleks…built this underground city as a kind of huge shelter.

IAN: But what about the, what do you call them, the Thals? I mean, how did they survive out there? They–

DOCTOR: (Quietly) I don't know…

(The Doctor passes out.)

IAN: Doctor. Doctor? I must get that drug quickly.

(Susan puts her hand to the Doctor's forehead.)

SUSAN: He's burning hot.

(Barbara checks the Princess's forehead.)

BARBARA: The Princess is the same.

IAN: As soon as they take me to the surface, I'll ask for water. In the meantime, you two must keep them as cool as you possibly can.

(Ian feels something and is excited.)

IAN: I think there's some life coming back into my toes.

(Susan kneels down and helps Ian check his bad leg.)

SUSAN: You can't go alone, Ian. I have to go with you.

IAN: No, I want you to stay here, Susan.

SUSAN: But I can't. I must go with you–

IAN: Don't argue with me.

PRINCESS: (Weakly) Listen... Listen to her.

(Ian looks to the Princess. Then he looks back to Susan, listening.)

SUSAN: You can't get into the ship.

IAN: All right then, give me the key.

SUSAN: It's not just a question of turning the key. The whole lock comes away from the door.

IAN: Susan, supposing these Daleks insist that only one of us goes. Then I'll have to take the key and I'll have to go on trying until the door opens.

SUSAN: No, you'd jam the lock. Look, it's a defence mechanism. There are twenty-one different holes inside the lock. There's one right place and twenty wrong ones. If you make a mistake the whole inside of the lock will melt.

IAN: There's nothing else for it, then. We must go together. Come on, let's see if I can walk.

(Susan helps Ian stand up. Barbara is about to get up to help, but Ian gently pushes her back down.)

IAN: No, it's all right, Barbara. You take it easy. Rest. (To Susan) My right leg is better, you know.

(But the second Ian tries to walk he falls back down onto the bench.)

IAN: (Frustrated) I've got feeling in this one, but the left is just pins and needles.

(The door then opens. A Dalek enters the prison cell.)

DALEK: You must leave now.

IAN: I'm not well enough yet.

DALEK: You must leave now.

IAN: My legs are still–

DALEK: Which one of you is going?

(Ian again stands up. When Susan tries to help him, he waves her off. He takes a few steps but then falls over. Susan runs over and helps him back up.)

IAN: (To Dalek) You must give me more time.

(Susan helps Ian back over and sits him down on the bench.)

SUSAN: Can't you see how weak he is?

DALEK: There are others.

(Ian looks to Barbara. Barbara tries to stand up, but clutches her head before falling back onto the bench.)

BARBARA: Oh, Ian, I can't. The whole room's going round.

(Ian looks over to the Doctor and Princess. But the Doctor is still unconscious and the Princess looks as if she'll pass out too at any moment. Slowly, Ian then looks to Susan.)

SUSAN: (Scared) Must I? Alone?

(Ian stares at Susan.)

BARBARA: (To Ian) You can't let her go alone. She's just a child. Plead with them. Anything!

(Barbara begins to cry. Ian then reaches forward and takes Susan's hands.)

IAN: Susan, you see how ill we all are, epically the Doctor and the Princess. We can't afford to wait until I can walk. An hour might make all the difference.

PRINCESS: (Weakly) Susan…come here.

(Susan moves to stand in front of the Princess.)

PRINCESS: If you don't want to go…then you don't have too. We can…

(The Princess coughs painfully. Susan crouches down before her, taking the Princess's hands.)

SUSAN: I want to… I'm just so afraid.

PRINCESS: I know… But I also know…that you're braver than you know… You can do this, Susan– (Another painfully cough) Susan, I…I…

(The Princess passes out.)

SUSAN: Princess…?

(When she doesn't respond, Susan stands up. Susan then looks to Ian and nods frantically.)

IAN: Don't stop for anything, Susan. Straight there, straight back.

DALEK: Are you ready?

IAN: Yes, all right.

(Susan slowly turns around and approaches the Dalek.)

SUSAN: I'm coming now.

(The door opens. Susan goes through the with Dalek behind her. She looks back but the Dalek pushes her onwards. The door then closes once again.)

BARBARA: Ian, the others, in the forest. He said they were mutations.

IAN: But what else could I do?

PRINCESS: (Quietly) She'll…be okay… I…believe…

(The Princess passes out.)

Next Episode – The Escape