The Ambush

(Susan leads the way through the corridor, she looks nervous. With her are Barbara, the Princess and the Doctor. Behind them is a Dalek with Ian inside. The Princess is carrying a folded up Thal cloak. They approach a corner.)

SUSAN: (Quietly) Wait! This looks like the place. Stay there.

(Susan goes ahead to look around the corner. She then returns to the group.)

SUSAN: There's a great iron door with a Dalek on guard. And beyond the door there's a lift.

DOCTOR: It's up to you now, Chesterton. You have to do as little talking as possible.

IAN: All right.

(They all walk around the corner, as if they are Ian/the Dalek's prisoners. The Dalek on guard spots them.)

DALEK: Stop.

IAN: (Dalek like) The council wishes to question the prisoners.

DALEK: I have not been informed. Wait.

(The Dalek turns towards a control panel. The time travellers look worried. Suddenly, Susan runs forward.)

SUSAN: No! I'm not going! No!

(The Dalek and Ian/Dalek grab Susan with their plungers. Susan winks to the others.)

DALEK: Hold her.

IAN: I have got her. Now hold still. Help me to get them inside.

(The Dalek opens the door before then pushing Susan inside.)

IAN: (To Doctor, Princess & Barbara) You too.

(The Doctor, Princess and Barbara go into the next room and stand along with Susan.)

DALEK: (To Ian) Shall I help you to the fourth level with them?

IAN: No. Close the doors. The girl cannot run far inside.

(The Dalek exits the room and the door closes behind it. Once the door is closed, the Doctor quickly pulls out a cable running down the wall next to the door.)

DOCTOR: That's fixed the door.

PRINCESS: Are you all right, Susan.

SUSAN: Yes, I'm fine.

IAN: He didn't hurt you?

SUSAN: No, not really.

BARBARA: That was a very good idea, Susan.

PRINCESS: And very brave of you. Well done.

DOCTOR: Yes, my child, very quick thinking. Now come on, time we got Chesterton out of this thing.

IAN: Please. I'm suffocating in here.

(They turn Ian/the Dalek around and try to lift up the top like they did previously.)

BARBARA: The clasp is stuck.

DOCTOR: Here, let me help fix it.

(The Doctor tries to undo the clasp at the back of the Dalek but is struggling. Then an alarm begins to sound from beyond the door they just came through.)

IAN: They know. Come on, hurry up will you?

DOCTOR: Wait a minute... Oh, the clasp stuck! It won't move!

BARBARA: (Panicked) Are you saying we can't get him out.

DOCTOR: Chesterton, try and force it up from the inside.

IAN: I'm trying... No, no, it's no good. It's completely locked.

(There is a series of bangs from beyond the door. Susan goes to check the door.)

PRINCESS: (To Ian) Is there a switch or something inside?

IAN: Not that I can see.

(Susan suddenly screams and jumps back from the door.)

SUSAN: That door's red hot.

(They all look at the door and see that a line is being cut through it with a flame.)

DOCTOR: They're cutting through the door!

BARBARA: We'll have to move you into the lift.

DOCTOR: Yes, but hurry, hurry.

(They try to move Ian/the Dalek but it won't move.)

SUSAN: It's stuck!

BARBARA: I don't understand it. It moved easily enough before.

DOCTOR: They've magnetised the floor. You feel it?

BARBARA: Are you sure?

DOCTOR: Yes. That must be what's happened to the clasp too. Chesterton, we're not able to get you into the lift, and we can't get you out.

IAN: Yes, I realise that. Take the others away in the lift, Doctor.

BARBARA: (To Ian) We're not going without you.

IAN: (To Barbara) Don't waste time. Go on.

DOCTOR: Well, come on. He's right.

BARBARA: No! I'm not leaving Ian.

PRINCESS: Nor am I.

DOCTOR: (To Ian) When we get to the top, we'll send the lift back down for you. All right?

SUSAN: No, Grandfather, we can't.

IAN: Go on, go on!

SUSAN: No!

DOCTOR: Come on, Susan!

(The Doctor pulls Susan into the lift.)

IAN: Barbara, for goodness sake, go!

(Barbara reluctantly joins the Doctor and Susan in the lift.)

DOCTOR: (To Princess) Come on, my dear.

PRINCESS: No, there's something I want to try.

DOCTOR: We haven't got–

PRINCESS: The longer you stand there arguing the longer it will take for the lift to take you up and come back down for us, so get going. Now!

DOCTOR: Foolish…stubborn… Very well.

SUSAN: Grandfather, no, we can't leave her!

(The Doctor activates the lift controls and the lift begins to ascend.)

DOCTOR: She's made her decision. And I'm not going to stand around arguing. Not when she's right.

(The Princess watches them go. She then looks to the door and sees that the Dalek have cut over half way through. Quickly, the Princess shakes out the Thal cloak and bends down.)

PRINCESS: At least that's something. If I die, I know he agreed with the last thing I said.

IAN: What's this idea of yours then?

PRINCESS: A theory. I'm going to try and break the circuit again, like we did before.

IAN: But I can't move remember.

PRINCESS: (Looking at the base of the Dalek) No, but there's a little room. If you can wiggle about from the inside, maybe I can slide the cloak underneath. Hopefully it'll be enough to break the connection.

IAN: All right, it's worth a try. Here I go.

(Ian tries to move from the inside. In doing so, the Dalek case begins to shake and wobble. As Ian does this, the Princess then forces the cloak underneath the Dalek.)

PRINCESS: All right, let me try it now.

(The Princess opens the top of the Dalek like before.)

IAN: It worked! Quickly help me out.

(As the Princess helps Ian climb out the Dalek, the lift returns.)

PRINCESS: And there's the lift, come on.

IAN: They're almost through the door.

(The Daleks are just about to finish cutting through the door.)

PRINCESS: Better be quick then. And hope that they don't have an emergency stop.

(They quickly get on the lift and Ian activates the controls. The lift begins to ascend.)

(The lift has almost reached the top floor…)

BARBARA: (Distantly from above) Come on, Ian. Come on!

IAN: We're coming!

(As the lift rises, Ian and the Princess see the Doctor, Barbara and Susan waiting for them. There are almost there…when the lift suddenly changes direction, and begins to descend.)

IAN: Out!

(Barbara grabs Ian and helps him out. Both Ian and Barbara then grab the Princess and pull her out at the last second, just managing to slip her through the gap before the lift vanishes back down the shaft.)

PRINCESS: (In relief) Thank you.

IAN: Thank you. If you hadn't remembered to bring that cloak, that might have been the end of me.

SUSAN: What happened?

IAN: The Princess used the Thal cloak to break the connection, between the machine and the floor, just like back in the cell.

SUSAN: That's brilliant, Princess!

DOCTOR: Yes, very quick and forward thinking, my dear.

PRINCESS: Just fortunate.

DOCTOR: Maybe? But now we must try and find a way out of this room.

(Barbara notices a window.)

BARBARA: Daylight!

(They all approach the window.)

IAN: Yes, but where exactly are we?

DOCTOR: We're right at the top of the building. I can just see the surface of the city. See over there? There's the edge of the petrified jungle.

IAN: Yes. I'm trying to recognise the streets we came along.

PRINCESS: It's hard to tell from up here. It all looks the same.

BARBARA: Do you see anything at all that looks like…

IAN: What is it?

BARBARA: Ian?

IAN: What's the matter?

BARBARA: There's someone down there. (Pointing) Look, by that sort of gateway thing beyond the low building. I saw someone cross that space.

DOCTOR: A Dalek?

BARBARA: No, it was a man. A human being.

SUSAN: The Thals! They've come for food supplies.

DOCTOR: They're walking into an ambush.

SUSAN: We must warn them! Hey! Hey!

(They all begin waving and shouting at the window. But they aren't heard or noticed by the Thals down below. They keep going for a minute then stop.)

IAN: Oh, it's no good. This room must be soundproof. We must find a way of getting down there.

DOCTOR: Yes, but how, dear boy?

(Barbara steps away from the window and towards a nearby wall.)

BARBARA: Isn't this a door?

IAN: Yes! Doctor, open it.

(The Doctor tries the door control but nothing happens.)

SUSAN: What's the matter with it?

DOCTOR: They've magnetised it, too. Come on, let's try and force it open.

(Ian, the Doctor and Susan try to get the door open by pulling at it.)

IAN: I can get my fingers in… Yes, there's some wiggle room. Just like with the base of the Dalek… It's beginning to move.

(Hearing a noise, Barbara returns to the lift shaft.)

BARBARA: Ian, the lift's coming back!

SUSAN: Oh, no.

(The Princess and Susan join Barbara at the lift shaft. They all look down to see the lift coming up. Ian and the Doctor continue to try and open the door.)

IAN: (With effort) We…must get this door open, Doctor.

DOCTOR: I know, I know.

(The Princess tries the lift controls, but nothing happens.)

PRINCESS: They must have blocked the controls at this end.

SUSAN: What do we do?

(Barbara looks around before noticing a sculpture in the centre of the room.)

BARBARA: (Pointing to the sculpture) What about that?

PRINCESS: What about it?

(Barbara goes over and begins to push the sculpture towards the lift shaft.)

BARBARA: (With effort) Help me move this.

(The Princess and Susan run over and help Barbara push the sculpture the rest of the way.)

PRINCESS: Do you think this will stop them from getting out the lift?

BARBARA: Not exactly…

(Meanwhile, the Doctor and Ian have managed to push the door open far enough for everyone to squeeze through. They are now holding it open with great effort.)

DOCTOR: It's open. We've done it.

IAN: Girls, come on.

(Barbara, the Princess and Susan are still pushing the sculpture.)

BARBARA: One…moment…

DOCTOR: Look, what are you doing?

(The sculpture is now blocking the lift shaft.)

BARBARA: Now. One last push, together. Three… Two… One!

(The three of them push and the sculpture falls over the edge and down the lift shaft. It crashes into the oncoming lift and both then proceed to fall back down, the lift now broken.)

PRINCESS: Oh! So that was your plan.

BARBARA: Yes, and from the looks of things it's stopped them.

PRINCESS: A tad blunt, but I can't argue with the results.

(The women laugh as they join the Doctor and Ian by the door.)

IAN: Good job, Barbara.

DOCTOR: Yes, excellent. Now, can we proceed with our escape?

(With Ian holding the door for everyone, the Doctor makes his way through the door. After him follows, Susan, the Princess and Barbara. Ian then swings himself through before the door slides shut behind him.)

(Ian leads the group of time travellers as they run through the corridors. Eventually they reach a doorway that leads them out to the streets. They are all breathless from running.)

BARBARA: (To Ian) Where are we?

IAN: By the city wall, I think. Yes, there's a gateway about fifty yards away.

BARBARA: Are there any Daleks?

IAN: Wait there.

(Ian steps outside slowly. He looks around the street but sees nobody.)

IAN: No. No, I think we're all right.

DOCTOR: Well, let's get back to the ship.

SUSAN: No! No, I must warn the Thals.

DOCTOR: Susan…

SUSAN: We can't let them walk into a trap!

DOCTOR: The Thals are no concern of ours. We cannot jeopardise our lives getting involved in an affair which is none of our business.

BARBARA: Of course it's our business. The Thals gave us the anti-radiation drug. Without that, we'd be dead.

IAN: Yes, but the Doctor's got a point. There's no sense in risking our whole party. You go back to the ship and I'll stay and warn the Thals.

PRINCESS: (To Ian) I'll come with you.

IAN: No. No, you've done more than enough. I'll do this alone.

SUSAN: No, we're all in this together. We're all going to stay here.

IAN: No, Susan. You must go back to the ship with others. It's too foolish for all of us to stay.

SUSAN: But–

BARBARA: (To Susan) I think I know what he means. He stands a much better chance on his own if he doesn't have us to worry about. Now, come on. We'll wait for you.

IAN: I'll be there.

DOCTOR: Good luck, Chesterton.

PRINCESS: Be careful.

IAN: I will, thank you. Now go on.

(Barbara, Susan, the Princess and Doctor run off towards the exit. Ian remains and watches them flee.)

(Later on, at the Thal camp… They have all returned. The Doctor is sat in front of the Tardis, with a Thal woman named, Dyoni. Dyoni is showing the Doctor the historical records of the Thal people. Nearby, the Princess is sat with Susan and Barbara under a tent set up by the Thals. Ian stands nearby.)

SUSAN: (To Princess) Grandfather seems to be enjoying himself.

PRINCESS: Well, he's finally getting some of his questioned answered, isn't he?

(Susan and the Princess laugh. A Thal man runs up to Ian, his name is Alydon.)

ALYDON: (To Ian) Some of the children have heard something moving in the forest.

IAN: It can't be the Daleks. They told us they couldn't come out of the city.

ALYDON: Nevertheless, I think we should all be on our guard.

(Another Thal man comes running up to Alydon and Ian. His name is Elyon.)

ELYON: (To Alydon) Here they are. Antodus has been wounded.

(A group of wounded Thals walks into the camp. One man, Ganatus, is carrying another, Antodus. Another Thal follows in behind them, dragging a dead Thal on a stretcher. Ganatus leads Antodus around and sits him down by a tree. Barbara, the Princess kneel down next to Antodus, while everyone else gathers around.)

GANATUS: (To Alydon) We had to go round the other side of the city.

ALYDON: Is he badly hurt?

GANATUS: It's his shoulder.

(Barbara and the Princess begin inspecting Antodus' wound.)

DYONI: I'll get some ointment, and something to cover the burns.

SUSAN: We've got some in the ship.

DYONI: There's some over here.

(Dyoni leads Susan away.)

GANATUS: (To Alydon) We tried to go back for Temmosus. It was hopeless.

ALYDON: (Gesturing to Barbara, the Princess & Ian) These are the people the Daleks were holding prisoner. This is the man who shouted to warn us.

GANATUS: (To Ian) Thank you. Did the others get away, Alydon?

ALYDON: Tecanda was killed. The rest of us escaped.

(Dyoni and Susan return. Dyoni hands a medical kit over to Barbara.)

BARBARA: The burns don't seem to be too bad.

PRINCESS: No. Once it's cleaned and attended to he should be all right. Might be shock that's causing most of the pain.

BARBARA: Possibly.

DYONI: I'll get some water for him to drink. Can you manage?

BARBARA: Yes, we'll be fine.

(Dyoni leaves again. Barbara and the Princess start using the medical supplies to tend to Antodus' wound.)

GANATUS: (To Alydon) Have you decided what we're going to do, Alydon? You must take the place of Temmosus now.

ALYDON: Yes. Yes, I know. If only I knew why the Daleks hated us. If I knew that, I…I could alter our approach to them, perhaps.

IAN: (To Alydon) Your leader, Temmosus.

ALYDON: Yes?

IAN: Well, he appealed very sensibly to them. Any reasonable human beings would have responded to him. The Daleks didn't. They obviously think and act and feel in an entirely different way. They just aren't human.

GANATUS: Yes, but why destroy without any apparent thought or reason? That's what I don't understand.

IAN: Oh, there's a reason. Explanation might be better. It's stupid and ridiculous, but it's the only one that fits.

ALYDON: What?

IAN: A dislike for the unlike.

ALYDON: I don't follow you.

IAN: They're afraid of you because you're different from them. So whatever you do, it doesn't matter.

DYONI: What would you have us do? Fight against them?

IAN: I didn't say that. But you must teach them to respect you. Show them some strength.

DYONI: But you really believe we ought to fight.

IAN: Yes, I think it may have to come to that.

DYONI: You understand as little about us as the Daleks do!

IAN: (To Alydon) What would you do if the Daleks could leave their city? If they came up here and attacked you?

ALYDON: We would go away, back to our plateau where we came from.

BARBARA: (To Alydon) You'd simply run away?

PRINCESS: (To Barbara, while still tending to Antodus) Leave them be. There's nothing wrong with running away.

IAN: (To Princess) Sometimes, yes. But when there's some things worth preserving. No. Running can't be an option then.

GANATUS: We're not afraid to die. Temmosus proved that.

IAN: (To Ganatus) I am not talking about dying. Look, you can't hand yourselves over to the Daleks. Sooner or later, they're going to try and destroy you if they can.

ALYDON: I can see you want to help us, but as Dyoni says, you don't understand. There can never be any question of the Thals fighting the Daleks. Come, Ganatus.

(Alydon leads Ganatus and the test of the Thals beneath the tent. Antodus, having his wound patched up, also follows. Ian shakes his head as he walks away a few steps. Barbara follows him.)

BARBARA: I don't understand them. They're not cowards, they don't seem to be afraid. Can pacifism become a human instinct?

IAN: Pacifism? Is that it? Pacifism only works when everybody feels the same.

(The Princess joins Ian and Barbara.)

PRINCESS: No, that's when Pacifism is easy, Ian. You can still be a Pacifist in times of war. It's just harder.

BARBARA: Yes, but are they really pacifists? I mean, genuinely so? Or is it a belief that's become a reality because they've never had to prove it?

PRINCESS: Most likely that's the case. So, when push comes to shove, they may change their ways without even thinking about it. They will fight.

IAN: You say that as if it's something bad.

PRINCESS: I think it's sad. Because once they realise they can fight, what's to stop them from starting a war?

(The Doctor comes over eagerly to join them.)

DOCTOR: I say, I say, I think these'll interest you. Look here.

(The Doctor hands Barbara some pictures so she, Ian and the Princess can see.)

DOCTOR: This is these people's ancestor, the original Thal male. There was a neutron war here. Most died and the survivors mutated. But in the case of the Thals, mutation came round in full circle, then refined itself into what you see.

IAN: You mean this… (Points to the picture) …became… (Gestures to the Thals)

DOCTOR: Yes, yes. It took hundreds of years, of course. In the second example, our recent hosts, the mutation has not completed its full circle. Why, I don't know. But do you remember that monstrosity we took out of its machine?

IAN & PRINCESS: (Uncomfortably) Yes.

DOCTOR: This is its forebear.

(The Doctor holds out another picture for them to look at.)

IAN: The original Dalek.

DOCTOR: Yes. They called them Dals then. Oh, it's all there, every moment of it is Skaroene history. Minutely but brilliantly recorded. Priceless, absolutely priceless.

BARBARA: (Pointing to the picture) Is this a sword the Thal's holding?

DOCTOR: Yes. They were the warriors then.

BARBARA: Were they?

DOCTOR: Undoubtedly.

(Susan comes over to join them.)

SUSAN: Antodus is feeling much better.

PRINCESS: That's good to hear. He should be through the worst of it now. Just needs to keep it from getting infected and he should be fine in a matter of days.

DOCTOR: Well, now, I'm sure you all agree with me, it's time we went back to the ship. Now, come along.

(The Doctor begins to lead them over to the ship.)

SUSAN: Oh, Grandfather, couldn't we stay a bit longer? The Thals are such nice people.

DOCTOR: And the Daleks are not, which is more important, my child.

PRINCESS: He's right, Susan. And we mustn't forget the radiation.

DOCTOR: Yes, quite right. This planet is not a friendly one, though it once might have been. Shame… Shame.

(They all then look to see Alydon leading a small group of Thals away. They are carrying the dead body.)

IAN: I wonder if there's any point in reminding the Thals of what they used to be?

DOCTOR: Why?

BARBARA: Oh, they're opposed to fighting. We were trying to convince them that it was a necessity for their own survival.

DOCTOR: But our fate doesn't rest with the Thals, surely. Let's leave well alone. We have ourselves to worry about. Now, come along, come along. Wasting time.

(The Doctor marches off towards the ship with Susan and the Princess behind him.)

IAN: Maybe the Doctor's right.

BARBARA: Yes. Let's get in the ship and get as far away from here as possible.

DOCTOR: (To Ian & Barbara) Oh, please, come along.

(The Doctor is waiting impatiently by the police box with Susan and the Princess.)

DOCTOR: (To Princess) Oh, by the way, let me have the fluid link, will you?

PRINCESS: I gave it to Ian remember.

DOCTOR: Oh, quite right. Eh, dear boy?

(Ian looks worried.)

DOCTOR: Come along. You know I can't start the ship without it.

IAN: The fluid link.

SUSAN: You've lost it?

BARBARA: Ian, you can't have.

IAN: No. The Daleks took it from me when they searched me. It's down there somewhere. In the city.

PRINCESS: Which means…

DOCTOR: We'll have to go back and get it if we wish to leave.

(They all look towards the Dalek city…)

Next Episode – The Expedition