The Escape
(The Princess begins to awake. She is laid back on the bench in the prison cell. The Doctor sits on the adjoining bench while Susan, Ian and Barbara sit on the floor in front. As the Princess blinks, Susan notices.)
SUSAN: Look, the Princess is waking up.
DOCTOR: (To Princess) How are you feeling my dear?
PRINCESS: (Weakly) Susan… Where's, Susan?
SUSAN: I'm right here.
(Susan takes the Princess' hand and gives it a squeeze.)
PRINCESS: Are you all right?
SUSAN: Yes, and I made it all the way to the ship and back with drugs.
PRINCESS: I knew you would.
(The Princess closes her eyes again.)
BARBARA: Is she all right?
(Ian checks the Princess.)
IAN: Still recovering from the radiation sickness, I think. Like the rest of us, she's only still alive because of those drugs. (To Susan.) You did a very brave thing.
PRINCESS: Yes. Thank you.
DOCTOR: There will be time for all that later, right now you must rest.
PRINCESS: Don't... Don't tell me…what to…
DOCTOR: Just… For your own good, please, rest. (The Doctor struggles to keep his eyes open) As a matter of fact, I think we could all do with some of it, while these drugs finish their work.
IAN: Agreed. You and the Princess take seats, we can use the floor.
(The Doctor lies himself back down on the bench. Ian, Barbara and Susan make themselves comfortable on the floor. They all drift off to sleep.)
(The time travellers are all still asleep. Then Ian suddenly wakes. He nudges the Doctor's hand, waking him. Soon everyone else wakes up too. The door to the prison cell opens. A Dalek enters carrying a tray.)
DALEK: We have brought you food and more water.
(Cautiously, Barbara takes the tray from the Dalek. She then backs away. The Dalek then looks at Susan.)
DALEK: The girl is to come with me.
IAN: (Angrily) Why?
(Susan stands up.)
SUSAN: It's all right.
BARBARA: Well, what are they going to do to her?
DALEK: She will be returned. We are going to help the Thals, which is what you want us to do. (To Susan) Come now.
(The Dalek exits the prison cell and Susan follows it out. The door then slides shut.)
PRINCESS: (Confused) I don't understand. Why have they taken Susan?
DOCTOR: I don't know, but I'm sure she's safe, my dear. Try not to worry.
IAN: (Confused) How do they know we want to help the Thals?
PRINCESS: I'm sorry, the who?
DOCTOR: The Thals. Remember, the other indigenous species on this planet.
PRINCESS: I thought you said they were mutations?
BARBARA: Well, according to Susan they look much like us.
IAN: She's only met one. A fellow named Alydon. But it turns out he deliberately left us those drugs to use. Even give Susan an extra supply in case the Daleks took them from us.
PRINCESS: Sounds like a nice man.
BARBARA: My thoughts exactly.
IAN: Certainly nicer than the Daleks.
DOCTOR: It also transpires that the Thal people have been surviving of crops the past few years, but only just. Now they've exhausted those limited resources and need the Daleks help to survive.
PRINCESS: Is that why they took Susan? To mediate between the two species?
DOCTOR: I don't know, but hopefully whatever it is will lead to our release.
(After a while, the prison cell door opens again. Susan is returned by a Dalek. After Susan enters, the door slides closed. Susan looks worried.)
IAN: What happened, Susan?
PRINCESS: Are you all right?
BARBARA: Come and sit down.
(Susan sits with the Doctor and Princess.)
DOCTOR: What's wrong my child?
SUSAN: I…I think I just made a huge mistake.
PRINCESS: How so?
SUSAN: The Daleks got me to write a message for them. One to the Thals, inviting them into the city. Only I don't think they intend to help them.
BARBARA: What do you think they're planning on doing?
IAN: Isn't it obvious. Their planning a trap, and they've tricked Susan into giving them the bait.
SUSAN: (Sadly) I'm sorry.
PRINCESS: It's not your fault, Susan. They played on your kindness. Shame on them.
IAN: Unfortunately, I don't think shame's going to stop them. We must find a way out of here.
(Ian begins to pace around the prison cell.)
SUSAN: We can't, not without them know. They're watching us.
IAN: Yes. I suspected as much.
(Ian thinks for a moment. He then stops pacing and goes to Susan. He comes in close and leans in.)
IAN: (Whispering) Did you get an idea of where the camera is?
(Susan takes a hold of Ian's shoulders and repositions him, so his back is to the camera.)
SUSAN: (Whispering) It's directly behind you.
IAN: All right, I want you to shove me, all right? Then follow my lead, and when you get the chance, yank it out.
(Susan nods. Susan then gives Ian a shove. Ian stumbles back into the wall. Ian then looks up to see the camera above him, but the camera can no longer see him.)
SUSAN: (To Ian) You're wrong!
PRINCESS: Susan!
IAN: (Pretending) The whole pattern of things is suspicious, even if you don't like it! Just because the Daleks didn't kill us is no reason to trust them.
DOCTOR: (Pretending) Or suspect them either.
(The Doctor stands.)
BARBARA: Or maybe they just have a different way of doing things.
PRINCESS: Yes, maybe if we just try talking to them, we can reach an understanding. Avoid any further violence.
IAN: The Thals have helped us. The Daleks put us in a cell. I know which of the two I prefer.
DOCTOR: I tell you, the Daleks are brilliant people. I think we ought to cooperate with them.
SUSAN: I agree.
PRINCESS: As do I.
IAN: Ever since you talked alone to the Daleks, you've been on their side, Doctor. Same with you, Susan. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they came down here to take away the Princess next. What have they done, bribed you or something?
PRINCESS: Don't be ridicules!
(Ian grabs the Princess and pulls her up to her feet.)
IAN: Look, I want to know why. Why are you three on their side and against me and Barbara!
(The Doctor steps forward and pulls Ian off the Princess. The Doctor and Ian start a fake tussle.)
DOCTOR: Take your hands off her! How dare you rise your voice at us!
SUSAN: Leave my grandfather alone!
(They all start arguing at shouting at each other before Susan jumps on Ian's back from the bench.)
BARBARA: Susan, what are you doing?!
(With Susan on his back Ian goes underneath the camera. Susan then grabs the camera and pulls it out of the wall. The motion has her fall off Ian's back and both end up on the floor laughing.)
IAN: (To Susan) Did I hurt you?
SUSAN: No, of course you didn't.
(Ian and Susan get up.)
IAN: You, Princess?
PRINCESS: No. It was all quite exciting actual.
DOCTOR: Come now, we mustn't waste time. We must plan and quickly, before they come down to check on us, or find a way to fix the camera.
IAN: I'll make sure they can't fix it.
(Ian begins pulling out parts of the camera. He even goes as far as to stamp on the pieces after pulling them out.)
BARBARA: Well, at least that's that taken care off. And now we can talk freely.
DOCTOR: Yes, but the point is, how do we get out of here? Wait until the Daleks open the door, and force the issue?
BARBARA: But we'd never get near them.
SUSAN: We must try and trick them. We must all pretend to be dead. Then when they come in to investigate, we must rush down the corridor.
PRINCESS: But there could be more of them beyond the one that enters, and then we're trapped between them.
IAN: The Princess is right. I'm afraid that won't work against these creatures, Susan. Not like it did with the cavemen. No. We must find a way of putting these machines out of action.
BARBARA: (To Ian) Yes. Remember what they did to your legs. If that happens again, to any of us, then we've all finished.
IAN: Yes.
DOCTOR: The floors are metal. All the floors are metal.
BARBARA: Well, so are the streets of the city outside.
DOCTOR: Why?
BARBARA: I don't know.
DOCTOR: No, I know you don't know. I mean, why do they use metal? Is it because it lasts longer? Or because–
IAN: Because it's essential to them. That's an idea.
BARBARA: Well how is that going to help us?
IAN: Well, if metal is essential–
DOCTOR: No, no, no, now listen. Let's concentrate on the Daleks. Have you noticed, for example, that when they move about there's a sort of acrid smell?
SUSAN: Yes, yes, I've noticed that.
BARBARA: I know. A fairground.
IAN: That's it. Dodgems.
DOCTOR: It's electricity. I think they're powered that way.
IAN: Yes. But just a minute. They have no pick-up or anything. And only the base of the machine touches the floor. How do they complete the circuit?
SUSAN: Batteries?
DOCTOR: No, no. I believe the Daleks have discovered a way to exploit static electricity. (He bends down to tap the metal floor) Very ingenious, if I'm right.
(Everyone crouches down next to the Doctor. Except for the Princess who has stepped aside to examine the Thal cloak Susan brought back with her.)
BARBARA: What, drawing power from the floor?
DOCTOR: Precisely. If I'm right, of course. Now, what do we know apart from guessing how they are powered?
(The Doctor and others all stand up.)
SUSAN: Well, they can see all round them.
BARBARA: Yes. Their eye is flexible, like a large camera lens.
IAN: Their also faster than they appear. Do you remember how quickly some of them turned when they found us before? Makes avoiding that weapon of theirs a bit trickery.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, yes, yes. Now, Princess, do you mind concentrating and helping out like the rest of us?
PRINCESS: (Holds up the Thal cloak) Where did this come from?
SUSAN: It's the cloak Alydon gave me.
DOCTOR: Oh, is that really of any importance right now?
PRINCESS: Perhaps. (She is running her hands along the material.) It's a strange material. Thick.
BARBARA: I certain don't recognise it.
IAN: What are you thinking?
PRINCESS: Well, if the Doctor's right about how the Daleks are powered, this might be the perfect thing for breaking up the circuit. It's long enough to cover up the entire base of the Dalek, and it seems thick enough…
DOCTOR: You know you might be onto something, my dear. Perhaps I'm rubbing off on you more than I thought.
PRINCESS: I dread to think what that might lead to.
IAN: All right, so we have a plan.
DOCTOR: No, not yet. Let us first observe the Dalek when it comes. I think I've almost got the timing of their routines. Susan, go and listen at the door, my child, and tell us when it's approaching.
(Susan goes to listen at the door.)
DOCTOR: Now, let me have a look at that, my dear.
(The Princess hands the Doctor the cloak and he Ian and Barbara begin examining it.)
(A little while later, Susan is still listening at the door. She hears something coming.)
SUSAN: He's coming.
(Susan now stands on one side of the door with Ian on the other. Barbara is laid down on the floor looking towards the door. The Doctor is stood next to the Princess who is sat on the bench.)
DOCTOR: Ready?
IAN: Yes.
DOCTOR: Now all of you watch very carefully. See that you notice every detail in that machine, right?
(The door opens. The Dalek appears with a tray. However, before entering it stops. Its eyestalk moves between Susan and Ian.)
DALEK: Move back from the door.
(Susan and Ian do as told. They step back, now standing in the middle of the room.)
DALEK: Take the food.
(The Princess gets up. The Princess then pretends to trip and falls into the Dalek, pushing it slightly.)
DALEK: Step back! Step back!
(The Princess quickly backs away. The Doctor has also gotten up, and now stands by the Princess.)
PRINCESS: Sorry! I'm sorry!
(After a moment…the Princess then carefully takes the tray from the Dalek. The Doctor and Princess sit back down. The Dalek then backs out of the room and the door closes. Alone, the time travellers huddle up.)
IAN: (Holding the remains of the camera) I'll be able to jam the door with a piece of this.
PRINCESS: And it's moveable. It might take all of us to do so with it fighting back, but it will be doable.
(The Doctor nods.)
SUSAN: He seemed to be able to cover all of us.
BARBARA: It's impossible to hide from it.
IAN: Yes. Perhaps we can throw a coat over the lens.
BARBARA: Surely it would see you.
(Susan takes some food and sits down on the floor to eat.)
IAN: Yes. Doctor, perhaps we can stage something. You know, a distraction. And when the lens looks the other way, throw something over it.
DOCTOR: But then a question of it staying there, my boy. What if it falls off?
(Ian acknowledges this. He does not look as confident now.)
BARBARA: Now, wait a minute. Susan, throw me your shoes.
(Susan takes off her shoes and throws them to Barbara. Barbara then picks the dirt off the shoes and puts it in the bowl of water.)
IAN: What are you up to?
BARBARA: Making mud.
(A short while later. The Doctor stands in the centre of the room.)
DOCTOR: If he's on time, we have just under a minute.
IAN: I'm ready.
PRINCESS: How's the mud, Barbara?
(Barbara holds the mud in hands.)
BARBARA: It's very sticky and very nasty.
PRINCESS: It's a brilliant idea.
BARBARA: You can tell me that after it works.
(Susan holds the Thal cloak.)
SUSAN: Shall I spread the cloak over?
DOCTOR: Yes, yes. Not too near the door. We don't want to make him suspicious.
SUSAN: (Pointing to floor by the benches) Just down there?
DOCTOR: Yes, yes. Quickly. Good, child.
(Susan lays the cloak down in front of the benches. Ian is laid next to the door, waiting.)
IAN: He's coming.
(They all get into place. Barbara with her back to the door, hiding the mud. Susan laid down on the cloak. The Doctor and Princess sat on the bench. The door begins to open. Quickly, Ian slides the camera part under the door as it opens up. He then rolls away so that he's sat next to Susan as the door finishes opening. The Dalek enters with another tray.)
DALEK: Take this.
(Susan gets up. Susan takes the tray from the Dalek. She puts the tray down on the bench. The Dalek backs out. The door begins to close…but it can't because of the camera part is blocking it. Barbara edges towards the door as the Dalek enters again. The Dalek looks down, trying to find the source of the problem.)
DOCTOR: Now!
(Barbara slams the mud over the Dalek's eye. The Dalek shoves Barbara with its plunger. The Princess and Susan go to help Barbara while the Doctor and Ian go for the Dalek. Ian manages to grab its gun and the Doctor grabs its plunger. But even blinded, the Dalek is able to push them back against the wall.)
DALEK: Keep away! Keep away from me!
(The Doctor and Ian try to push it towards the cloak, but the Dalek is too strong.)
DALEK: Keep away from me! Keep away! Keep away!
(The Dalek manages to shove the Doctor away with its plunger. It begins to turn and throws Ian off as well. The Dalek's gun waves around blindly, trying to find its targets.)
IAN: The gun! The gun!
(The Doctor grabs a hold of the gun.)
DALEK: Keep away from me! Keep away from me!
(Ian gets back up and grabs the plunger. Meanwhile, Barbara, Susan and the Princess move the cloak closer to the Dalek. The Dalek then turns again. Its plunger then extends out, pushing Ian against the wall.)
DALEK: Keep away from me! Keep away from me! Keep away from me!
(Ian kicks the Dalek onto the cloak. All at once its eyestalk, plunger and gun drop down. The Dalek has been stopped.)
SUSAN: Yes, we got it!
DOCTOR: Well done, Susan!
(Barbara goes over to Ian.)
BARBARA: Ian, come on out of the way.
(Barbara helps Ian up and they move out of the gun's line of sight.)
DOCTOR: Are you all right, Susan?
SUSAN: Yes, Grandfather.
DOCTOR: Splendid, splendid. You, Princess?
PRINCESS: Yes, yes. What about you and Ian?
IAN: I think I'm all right. Doctor?
DOCTOR: Fine, now come and give me a hand would you, young man. We must make sure it's on properly.
IAN: Yes, all right.
(They all help move the Dalek further onto the cloak.)
IAN: Swing it round. Keep out of the way, Susan.
SUSAN: Yes.
IAN: Now, I think it's worked. (To Doctor) Take your hand off the gun.
(The Doctor takes his hand off the gun…it doesn't move.)
IAN: It has! It's worked! Now, there must be a catch here somewhere. (He looks at the back of the Dalek) I've found one.
(Ian lifts the Dalek's head like a lid…but then quickly closes it. Ian looks shocked.)
IAN: Susan, Barbara, go in the corridor and keep a lookout.
BARBARA: Yes.
(Barbara and Susan exit the prison cell to stand in the corridor.)
IAN: (To Princess) Perhaps you should go with them too–
PRINCESS: I'll be fine, thank you, Ian.
DOCTOR: Leave her be, Chesterton. No sense in wasting time now.
IAN: Very well, but you'll have to help me.
(Ian, the Doctor and the Princess all lift the Dalek's head. They then look inside…before looking to each other. All are horrified.)
PRINCESS: (Quietly) How do we take it out?
DOCTOR: Best not risk touching it directly.
(They all think for a moment. Then Ian removes his cardigan.)
IAN: (Holding his cardigan.) This'll do. We'll lift it out, then dump it in the corner over there.
(The Doctor nods. Ian and the Doctor then each take part of the cardigan and reach into the Dalek slowly. The Princess steps back, looking uncomfortable.)
IAN: (To Doctor) Lift.
(The Doctor and Ian lift something out, wrapped in the cardigan. The Doctor takes it himself. The Princess is careful to avoid the Doctor as he drops the cardigan – and whatever is wrapped inside it – in the corner. The Doctor then returns to Ian, the Dalek and the Princess.)
IAN: Now, see if I can get inside it.
PRINCESS: Are you sure about that.
IAN: Yes, it's our best chance of getting out of here. (To Susan and Barbara.) All clear in the corridor?
SUSAN: Yes.
BARBARA: Ian, hurry.
(The Doctor and the Princess help Ian into the Dalek.)
IAN: Not much room for my legs, but try the top.
DOCTOR: Barbara, Susan, give us a hand.
(Barbara and Susan join the Doctor and Princess around the Dalek. The four then gently lower the head of the Dalek back down with Ian inside.)
DOCTOR: Move it down gently.
(They finish lowering the head.)
PRINCESS: How is it, Ian?
IAN: (In a Dalek voice) It's very cramped indeed.
DOCTOR: Well, can't you sound more like a Dalek?
BARBARA: Yes, in a monotone. You've heard them.
IAN: (A Dalek impression) Do you mean like this?
(Susan, laughs.)
DOCTOR: That's it!
SUSAN: Can you see all right?
IAN: No. There's some sort of screen… No, it's the mud. Wipe the mud off the lens.
SUSAN: Oh, yes, all right.
(Susan takes out a handkerchief and wipes the mud of the Dalek's eyestalk.)
SUSAN: It's all clogged up. Is that better?
IAN: Yes, I can see now.
SUSAN: Good.
IAN: I can't make this thing move. It's full of controls.
DOCTOR: Don't worry, we'll push you.
(The four of them, slide the Dalek off the cloak. They then begin to push it out into the corridor.)
IAN: It moves well enough.
SUSAN: Yes.
BARBARA: (To Doctor) Surely they'll know that we're pushing you.
DOCTOR: Well, hopefully now that it's off the cloak, Chesterton will be able to operate it normally.
(They exit the prison cell and now stand in the corridor.)
BARBARA: (To Ian) How is it now?
IAN: Yes. I think I've got some control now.
(The Dalek – with Ian inside – begins to move around experimentally.)
IAN: Yes, that's it. All right, now, you all get in front and pretend I'm taking you for questioning.
(Susan and Barbara get in front of Ian.)
SUSAN: Right.
BARBARA: Yes.
PRINCESS: Wait!
DOCTOR: My dear, we haven't got time to dilly dally!
(The Princess goes back into the prison cell. The Princess them comes back out with the Thal cloak wrapped up in her arms.)
DOCTOR: Oh, why on earth would you want to bring that thing?!
PRINCESS: Just in case, you never know.
IAN: Never mind, let's just get a move on. Susan, you take the lead. You know the way.
SUSAN: (Nervously) All right.
(Susan slowly begins to lead them through the corridor.)
Next Episode – The Ambush