The Rescue

(Later, in an alcove connected to the Dalek control room, The Doctor, Princess and Susan are held prisoner. Around their wrists and ankles are metal clumps connected to the wall. The Daleks are working.)

PRINCESS: Please, there must be some way for you to coexist with the Thal people. If you insist on having nothing to do with them, then perhaps you could live in the city and they could–

(A nearby Dalek approaches them.)

DALEK: What we need for life means death for the Thals.

DOCTOR: But why do you have to destroy? Can't you use your brains for right?

DALEK: Only one race can survive.

PRINCESS: That's not true. Let us help you find another way.

DALEK: There isn't time, nor reason to do so.

DOCTOR: What are you planning?

DALEK: We wish to escape captivity. Go out and rebuild the planet Skaro. Our oxygen distributors will be subjected to waste radiation by the ejector capsule.

DOCTOR: Nothing can live outside if you do that. Nothing!

DALEK: Except the Daleks.

DOCTOR: When do you intend to put this into operation?

DALEK: Now.

(The Dalek turns to leave.)

DOCTOR: This is senseless, evil killing!

(The Dalek turns back around.)

DALKE: No, it is extermination.

(Later, in the Dalek control room.)

DALEK 1: (To Dalek 2) Power down to half.

DALEK 2: Down to half.

DALEK 1: Seal off nuclear waste disposer.

DALEK 2: Sealing complete.

DALEK 1: Begin radiation redirection to distribution capsule.

SUSAN: (To Doctor) Can't we stop them? Can't we do anything?

DOCTOR: I'm afraid not, my dear. It seems this time we might be well and truly beat.

PRINCESS: No, there is something we can try. (Calling out) Daleks. Daleks! You must be curious as to how we arrived on this planet?

DOCTOR: What are you doing?!

DALKE 1: (To Princess) It does not matter now.

PRINCESS: I'll tell you. We arrived in our ship, one which can travel through space and time.

DOCTOR: Don't you dare!

PRINCESS: Does that interest you, Dalek?

(Dalek 1 approaches them.)

DALEK 1: I do not believe you.

DOCTOR: Stop right now! There's not telling the consequences this could bring about.

PRINCESS: I promise you. This ship exists.

DOCTOR: She's lying!

SUSAN: No, it's true!

DOCTOR: Susan!

SUSAN: The ship exists.

DALEK 1: You are not capable of creating such a machine.

SUSAN: But you already have a part of it.

PRINCESS: Yes, you took it from our friend. A small rod with metal at either end. A fluid link which contains mercury.

DOCTOR: Not another word, either of you. This has gone too far!

DALEK 1: Yes, we have the component.

PRINCESS: Stop what you're doing, and we can show you the ship it belongs to.

SUSAN: Yes, and Grandfather can show you how it works.

DOCTOR: Never, I refuse to take any part in this.

PRINCESS: Then we'll show you. Just stop what you're doing, please.

DOCTOR: They don't know how to work the machine. Only I have that knowledge and I will never help you.

PRINCESS: Then…Then I'll share with you my knowledge.

DALEK 1: What knowledge?

PRINCESS: Knowledge of our species, our home planet. My heritage and the power that has been bestowed upon me.

DOCTOR: Have you gone completely mad! You're breaking sacred laws. Laws which have been upheld by your family and our people since the beginning!

PRINCESS: I can give you my power, all you have to do is stop what you are doing and let the Thals live.

DALEK 1: The neutron operation will continue as planned. And once completed, you will tell us about this power.

PRINCESS: No! If you go through with your plan, I won't help you.

DALEK 1: You will. You have already shown your weakness by telling us about it. And if you do not cooperate, then you will all suffer.

(Dalek 1 points its gun at Susan who is frightened.)

PRINCESS: No!

DALEK 1: Further proof of your weakness.

(Dalek 1 leaves and joins Dalek 2.)

DOCTOR: (To Princess) How could you be so careless!

PRINCESS: I had to try!

DOCTOR: What you have done might well result in the complete destruction of time itself! If they find out what you're capable off and manage to harness that power for themselves… You selfish, insolent, halfwit! I weep for the day when you takeover.

PRINCESS: (Quietly) Well, you won't have to cry anymore.

DOCTOR: No. Instead I shall weep for the terror you've unleashed across time and space.

DALEK 2: (To Dalek 1) Vibration locator records movement inside the city wall.

DALEK 1: Details.

DALEK 2: Disturbance is too great.

DALEK 1: Alert Daleks in Section one. The Thals are entering the city.

SUSAN: Grandfather, they're coming.

DOCTOR: Yes, but can they get here in time?

(Later, the Daleks are looking a circular screen.)

DALEK 2: Interior videoscopes are recording movement on level eight.

(Susan leans to one side so that she can see past the Daleks towards the screen.)

SUSAN: Grandfather, look. Look, they found a way through.

DALEK 1: All Daleks on level eight. Urgent.

(The Princess is also able to see the screen…and it's Ian whose on it.)

PRINCESS: It's Ian!

(Ian turns around and notices the camera watching him. He smashes it and the screen turns to static.)

DALEK 1: The Thals have penetrated to level eight. Immediate action. Immediate action!

DALEK 2: How did they get into the city?

(A third Dalek, is by a set of controls, with his plunger over them.)

DALEK 3: (To Dalek 1) Capsule ready to go critical.

DALEK 1: Stand by.

DALEK 3: Standing by, ready.

DALEK 1: The last stage of the operation is about to begin.

DOCTOR: Stop it, please!

DALEK 1: Nothing can stop the Daleks. (To Dalek 3) Begin countdown. One hundred.

DALEK 3: Beginning now.

(Forty-eight seconds later.)

DALEK 3: Fifty-two.

DALEK 2: The Thals are blocking the intersections from sealing on level nine.

DALEK 3: Fifty-one.

DALEK 1: Increase power. Emergency. Increase power!

DALEK 3: Fifty. Forty-nine. Forty-eight. Forty-six. Forty-five.

(A Thal suddenly runs into the room but is shot by a Dalek immediately. The Thal collapses dead.)

DALEK 3: Forty-four. Forty-three. Forty-two. Forty-one. Forty. Thirty-nine. Thirty-eight. Thirty-seven. Thirty-six. Thirty-five. Thirty-four. Thirty-three. Thirty-two. Thirty-one. Thirty. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight. Twenty-seven. Twenty-six.

(Unbeknownst to the Daleks, Ian and Alydon sneak into the control room and hide behind a support beam.)

DALEK 3: Twenty-five. Twenty-four. Twenty-three. Twenty-two. Twenty-one. Twenty.

(Ian and Alydon see Susan, the Princess and the Doctor from where they're hiding. They are about to rush over to them when the Princess and Susan mouth to them to wait. They do, and then a Dalek goes past.)

DALEK 3: Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen.

(With the Dalek having past, Ian and Alydon dash over to the alcove.)

DALEK 3: Sixteen. Fifteen. Fourteen.

(As Ian and Alydon release them from their restraints, the Princess sees Barbara about to throw the rock into the room. She goes to warn her, but Ian covers her mouth to prevent her. Barbara throws a rock at a Dalek, then runs away as it fires.)

DALEK 3: Thirteen.

DALEK 1: (To Dalek 2) Follow and kill her.

(Dalek 2 leaves the control room to chase Barbara.)

DALEK 3: Twelve. Eleven. Ten.

(Now in the corridor, Barbara, Ganatus and another Thal all pounce on the Dalek, grabbing ahold of it's eyestalk, plunger and gun.)

DALEK 2: Trapped! Help me! Trapped!

(Now freed, the Doctor, Princess and Susan run from the Alcove and towards cover. But on the way, the Doctor falls.)

PRINCESS: Doctor?!

(The Princess runs back to help him, but before she can they are both spotted by a Dalek.)

DALEK 1: The prisoners have escaped!

(Before the Dalek can fire, Ian throws the broken metal clamp at the Dalek, distracting it. This gives the Princess a chance to pull the Doctor behind cover as they join Susan.)

DALEK 3: Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four.

(The Doctor ushers the Princess and Susan around their cover, avoiding Daleks as Thals come running into the room. The Daleks manage to kill the first few, but the rest continue on, jumping on and knocking over the Daleks as they attack with whatever they have in hand, be it a club or a piece of metal. As a Dalek approaches the Doctor, Princess and Susan, Ian and Alydon jump on it and shove it away.)

DALEK 3: Reinforcements! Overpowered! Reinforcements! Quickly! Quickly!

(Ian and Alydon shove their Dalek into a nearby control panel, and as the Dalek's plunger goes through it, there's a small explosion. Afterwards, the Doctor pokes his head up from behind cover.)

DOCTOR: Chesterton, come here!

IAN: Doctor! Doctor, I think they're dying.

DALEK 1: (Weakly) Power…going…

(The Doctor comes out from behind cover and runs over to Ian.)

DOCTOR: (To Ian) They were about to spread radiation into the air.

IAN: We've knocked out their source of power, I tell you. Look!

(Ian kicks the nearby Dalek and it slides across the floor with ease. Meanwhile, Susan has also come out of cover and has joined Barbara who is attending to an injured Thal with Ganatus.)

SUSAN: Barbara, is he all right?

BARBARA: Yes. He's very badly hurt, but he's alive.

DALEK 1: (Getting weaker) Listen…to…me…

DOCTOR: Yes?

DALEK 1: Stop…our power…from wasting…or it will…be the end of the…Daleks…!

DOCTOR: Even if I wanted to, I don't know how.

(The Dalek groans in pain, then dies. A moment of silence.)

ALYDON: It's finished. The final war. Five-hundred years of destruction ends in this.

DOCTOR: (To Alydon) I'll have you know it could have ended up a lot worse than this.

(The Doctor looks to the Princess, their eyes locking. He is still angry, and she is ashamed. The Doctor moves on towards Ian.)

DOCTOR: Chesterton, come along, my boy. We've got work to do. I want to look at the reactors and see if there's any radiation leakage.

(The Doctor and Ian walk out of the room. Barbara and Susan help the injured Thals leave with the others. Then, only the Princess remains in the room. She looks at the dead Daleks sadly. She then notices the fluid link on a nearby control panel. She takes it. After one last look around, the Princess leaves the room with her head lowered.)

(Later, the Thals are celebrating in their camp with Ian and Barbara. Meanwhile, the Princess sits alone on a rock, outside of the camp, looking sad. Susan approaches her cautiously.)

SUSAN: Are you all right, Princess?

(The Princess looks up with a sad smile.)

PRINCESS: Yes. I'm fine, thank you, Susan.

SUSAN: Why aren't you joining in the celebrations?

PRINCESS: I'm not in very celebratory mood unfortunately.

(Susan sits down next to the Princess.)

SUSAN: Why not? We've defeated the Daleks, we have the fluid link back and the ship's working again. What's not to celebrate?

PRINCESS: I made a mistake. One that could have destroyed…everything.

SUSAN: Do you mean when you told the Daleks about who you were?

PRINCESS: Yes.

SUSAN: Princess, can I ask, what's this power you have? The one you were offering the Daleks. I mean, if you are that powerful, then why didn't you use it against them?

PRINCESS: It's not that kind of power, Susan.

SUSAN: What is it then?

DOCTOR: Something she should be more careful with.

(The Doctor has silently joined them. Noticing the Doctor, the Princess goes back to looking sorry for herself.)

DOCTOR: Susan, may I have a word with her highness in privet?

SUSAN: Grandfather–

PRINCESS: It's all right, Susan. Go and have some fun. I'll be over shortly.

(Hesitantly, Susan departs to join the others. Once she is gone…)

PRINCESS: All right, go ahead. Say what you have to.

DOCTOR: They'll send someone for you, won't they?

PRINCESS: I imagine so. Like you said, I broke the rules. Some of the bigger ones too. And we both know how much they hate it when we break their rules.

DOCTOR: They are, however, your rules. Might you expect some leniency?

(The Princess doesn't look hopeful. The Doctor stands silent for a moment. Then sits down next to the Princess.)

DOCTOR: My dear, I understand why you did what you did. I don't approve, but I understand. You were trying to save lives. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't consider the opportunity before us now. If they are coming, then that means Susan and I can go home. As can Chesterton and Ms. Wright.

PRINCESS: I'm well aware of that, Doctor.

DOCTOR: So, you're not going to deter me then?

PRINCESS: Is there any argument I could make to sway you? It is what you want after all. To go home. It's what everyone wants.

DOCTOR: But not you?

PRINCESS: No.

(The Doctor is again silent for a moment.)

DOCTOR: How much danger would the others be in if we left?

PRINCESS: Pardon?

DOCTOR: If we were to leave, before whoever they send arrives, what would be the danger to us?

PRINCESS: Doctor–

DOCTOR: Answer the question, please.

PRINCESS: I don't know. Ian and Barbara would be safe I suppose, and I could probably protect Susan. But I couldn't do anything for you. Not after this conversation.

DOCTOR: A shame… (He smiles slowly) I suppose we'd better be off quickly then.

PRINCESS: No, Doctor. I can't let you–

DOCTOR: Need I remind you about telling me what I can and can't do!

PRINCESS: Doctor, this… It's madness!

DOCTOR: (Chuckles) Yes, it is!

PRINCESS: But, why?

DOCTOR: You lied to let me explore the city. Now it's my turn to lie for you, so that we might delay your return.

(The Doctor pats the Princess' knee. Then suddenly the Princess hugs the Doctor, surprising him.)

PRINCESS: Thank you.

DOCTOR: Oh, enough of that. Come, let us say our goodbyes and leave, while we still have the chance.

(Smiling now, the Princess follows the Doctor into the Thal camp. They both approach Alydon, who is examining a complex piece of machinery inside a glass casing.)

DOCTOR: (To Alydon) This is what they call a compensator, my friend.

ALYDON: Which is?

DOCTOR: The whole of it. It's useless. Throw it away. Forget it. Unless you want to live in a shell like our dead friends.

(Dyoni comes over to join them, standing alongside Alydon.)

ALYDON: Where do you get your knowledge, Doctor? You know, there never seems to have been time to ask, but we don't really know where you come from, or why?

DOCTOR: To rebuild a whole new world. How I envy you.

ALYDON: But you must stay and help us. We could learn from you.

DOCTOR: Oh, no, no. I'm afraid I'm much too old to be a pioneer. (To Princess) Isn't that right, my dear?

PRINCESS: We both are.

DOCTOR: (To Alydon) Thank you all the same. It's a nice gesture on your part. You know, this soil is not quite so barren as you think. I've been making tests, and even you might live to see and hear the birds amongst the trees. You wanted advice you said. I never give it. Never. But I might just say this to you. Always search for truth. Our truth is in the stars, and yours is here.

DYONI: Won't you rest with us?

DOCTOR: No, I'm afraid it's out of the question, me and my friends must be going. But we might visit your grandchildren to find if they've learned the secrets, and if they have, well, who knows, we might live with them.

(Susan runs over to them, now wearing a Thal cloak.)

SUSAN: Ta-da! Look,Princess, isn't it terrific?

PRINCESS: It's beautiful, Susan. But be careful–

(Susan twirls, but trips up over her own cloak and falls over.)

IAN: (Chuckling) What are you up to, Susan?

SUSAN: It's a present from Dyoni. Isn't it gorgeous?

IAN: It's lovely. By the way, Doctor, have you fitted the fluid link?

DOCTOR: Not yet, but I have it safely here. Now, where did I…

(The Princess holds up the fluid link.)

PRINCESS: It's right here. And there's no need to worry about mercury anymore either. We've collected an ample supply from the city.

(The Princess hands the fluid link over to the Doctor.)

IAN: Good. Well, goodbye, Dyoni.

DYONI Goodbye.

IAN: Goodbye, Alydon.

ALYDON: Goodbye, Ian.

(Ian walks towards the police box, where Barbara and Ganatus are.)

DOCTOR: Come along, my child. There's work to be done.

(The Doctor walks away.)

SUSAN: Goodbye, Dyoni.

DYONI: Goodbye.

SUSAN: (To Alydon) Thank you. (Hugs Alydon) Goodbye.

PRINCESS: (To Alydon & Dyoni) Goodbye, and thank you again.

(The Princess and Susan then leave and step into the ship. Inside, the Doctor is bent down underneath the console, reconnecting the fluid link.)

SUSAN: Do you need any help, Grandfather?

DOCTOR: No, no, my child. That should be everything back to normal now.

(Ian enters the ship's console room from the outside.)

IAN: Are we ready to go then?

DOCTOR: One moment, I just need to set the coordinates.

PRINCESS: Wait, where's Barbara?

IAN: Just saying goodbye.

SUSAN: I'll go and get her.

(Susan runs over to the open doors and leans out.)

SUSAN: Barbara, we're waiting!

(After a moment Barbara enters the ship, holding Thal material in her hands. The Doctor then activates the door controls and the wall closes over.)

SUSAN: What's that, Ms. Wright?

BARBARA: A parting gift from Ganatus.

SUSAN: It looks very nice.

BARBARA: Yes. I'll just put it somewhere safe for now.

(As the Doctor starts the ship, Barbara exits into the other room. With the ship now in flight, the Doctor moves about the console, working continually, while the Princess takes a seat in her reading chair. Next to the Princess, Susan is eating some grapes the Thals gave her. Susan offers the Princess a grape. She takes it and eats it, enjoying it. As Susan is about to eat another, Ian takes it and eats it himself. The three of them laugh. Ian and Susan then make their way over to the console were the Doctor is working… Then suddenly there's a flash of light and the Tardis shakes violently! Everyone is thrown from their feet and to the floor. The Princess remain in her chair, but like everyone else is knocked unconscious by the event. The room is plunged into darkness. The only light is from the console which has come to a stop…)

Next Episode – The Edge of Destruction