Desperate Measures
(Inside the cave, Ian is stood on a wider ledge, while the Doctor and Princess are stood on the thinner ledge holding rings attached to the wall. But suddenly, metal spikes emerge from the wall between Ian and the Doctor, cutting them off.)
DOCTOR: (To Ian) Don't move, stay where you are!
(And then more spikes come out behind Ian, boxing him on the ledge.)
IAN: I can't go anywhere, Doctor. I'm trapped!
DOCTOR: Try swinging back around to us using the spikes, Chesterton.
PRINCESS: Carefully, they might be sharp!
(Ian reaches his hand out to the spikes cautiously, only to receive a shock before he even touches them.)
IAN: Never mind being sharp. I can't even touch them!
DOCTOR: There must be some electric field around them. Yes, I remember the people showing me something similar last time we were here, with an expansive electrical field.
PRINCESS: Never mind that, can you free, Ian?
DOCTOR: I might…
(More spikes begin to creep out of the wall. Only this time it's entire rows of them, coming for Ian who can't avoid them or their electrical fields.)
IAN: Doctor, there's more of them! They're pushing me towards the edge!
(Ian begins to back up carefully towards the edge of the ledge, as the electrical spikes get closer and closer to him. And over the edge, deep down below, the creature from before roars once more. A very hungry roar, as the spikes keep coming towards Ian.)
PRINCESS: Doctor, can't you do something?!
(The Doctor is anxiously fiddling with the loose ring Ian pulled out, as well as the wires that connect it to a mechanism inside the wall.)
DOCTOR: I'm trying, my dear, I'm trying! I just…I can't see!
IAN: I'm running out of space!
PRINCESS: Climb down and hold onto the ledge!
DOCTOR: No, no, that won't work! The electrical field from the spikes will zap him off!
IAN: Well, I've got to try something!
DOCTOR: No, don't be foolish! (Realises something) Take your coat off!
IAN: What?!
DOCTOR: Take your coat off and throw it over the blades, my boy, quickly!
(Ian does as told. He drops the torch and removes his coat. He then throws his coat over the spike at eye level between him and the Doctor.)
DOCTOR: Now, grab on!
PRINCESS: But it'll shock him again–
DOCTOR: Just do it! And try to keep your feet off the ground as you do!
(Ian jumps before grabbing onto the spike covered by his coat. Once done, he makes sure to keep his feet off the ground…he isn't zapped.)
IAN: It's working, Doctor!
DOCTOR: Yes, the padding in his jacket is protecting him.
PRINCESS: But how? The spikes are connected to the wall, they should still be conducting.
DOCTOR: Well, it's not, my dear, and it's very fortunate for Chesterton that that's the case. I wonder if it's to do with the design…? Or the electricity on this planet…?
IAN: (Struggling) Doctor…I can't hold on for long.
DOCTOR: Swing yourself around then, quick as you can.
(Ian, with effort, manages to swing around to the thinner side of the ledge. But the second his foot touches the ground he's zapped. He loses his grip on the spike and is about to fall backwards when the Doctor grabs him by his shirt and the Princess grabs the Doctor in turn, steadying them all. The Doctor and Princess then pull Ian back, and they all press themselves back against the cave wall as they sigh in relief.)
IAN: (Breathless) Thank you, both of you… I thought I'd had it…
DOCTOR: So, did I for a moment there, dear boy, so did I.
PRINCESS: Are you all right, Ian?
IAN: Yes. Just a bit short of breath… (Nodding to the spikes) What do you think this is for?
(Ian takes his coat from the spike and puts it back on.)
DOCTOR: I've no idea. I've never seen it before in my life.
IAN: But you said last time–
DOCTOR: I was talking about the electrical field. Not this booby trap. No, there was nothing as sinister as this last time.
IAN: (Gesturing to the ring the Doctor has picked up once more, and the wires connecting it to the wall) I suppose this is what set it off.
DOCTOR: Yes, quite so.
PRINCESS: But why set a trap in here of all places? Who else would come this way? And what were a peaceful and open people so desperate to protect?
DOCTOR: All good questions, my dear. Hopefully we'll have the answers before this is all over.
IAN: Right now, I just want to know how to get rid of these spikes.
DOCTOR: (Holding up the ring) I imagine we must get this thing back in its place. Move over a bit, would you, Chesterton.
IAN: I haven't exactly got a lot of room here, Doctor.
DOCTOR: In that case, you try and do it. I can barely see a thing anyway without the torch, so maybe you'll have better luck.
(The Doctor passes Ian the ring and steps back to let Ian try and slot it back into the wall. While Ian works, the creature from down below growls again. And after it does, another, fainter and softer growl follows it, which the Princess hears.)
PRINCESS: Did you hear that?
DOCTOR: Hear what, my dear?
PRINCESS: It sounded like…there was another noise just now. Like the creature, only further away.
IAN: There might be dozens of those things roaming around down there.
PRINCESS: (Quietly) It sounded younger too.
DOCTOR: Well, it doesn't really matter right now, does it? Oh, come on, Chesterton! Must I do it for you!
(But just then, Ian manages to get the ring back into the wall. A series of clucking noises later, and the spikes all retract into the wall.)
IAN: Satisfied, Doctor?
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Very much so, my boy, very much so! Well done. Now, come on, let's not doddle. If I spend any more time on this ledge, I'm afraid I might start to develop vertigo.
IAN: All right but watch out for any more traps.
DOCTOR: And just who was it that set of the last one, hmm!
(Ian, the Doctor and the Princess slide over one at a time until all three are on the wider part of the ledge, now with much more space to move around. While Ian then bends down to pick up the torch he dropped, the Princess crouches down near the edge and looks down.)
DOCTOR: What are you doing, my dear?
PRINCESS: I'm just curious about the creature down there.
DOCTOR: As am I, but we can discuss it later, once we've reunited with Barbara.
PRINCESS: (Standing) Yes, you're right.
IAN: This way.
(Ian leads once more with the torch in hand, while the Doctor and Princess follow him.)
(A short while later, now having entered a passageway and left the ledge behind, Ian is still leading with the Doctor and Princess behind him. But then, Ian stops to point up ahead.)
IAN: Doctor. Princess. Daylight!
DOCTOR: He's right. There's light up ahead.
IAN: We must be nearly there.
PRINCESS: It'll be nice to finally get some fresh air.
DOCTOR: Yes. And see how the surface has changed after one-hundred years.
(They continue on when the Doctor suddenly stops, seeing something on the wall. The Princess and Ian also stop, coming back to join him. They see the Doctor has found a stone door in the cave wall and is examining it.)
DOCTOR: Look, there's a door.
IAN: So, there is.
(The Doctor goes to open it…)
PRINCESS: Careful! It might be another trap.
IAN: She's right, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes… Yes, I think we'll leave it for just now. We can satisfy our curiosity on the way back. For now, we'll go the obvious route.
IAN: All right.
(The three time travellers set off again along the passageway and towards the light at the end. But before they can reach the end, they hear a howl of pain from outside.)
DOCTOR: What is that?!
IAN: Horrible…
DOCTOR: But what is it?
PRINCESS: It's another of those creatures that we saw before. I was right, there was another, a younger one!
DOCTOR: It's child!
PRINCESS: (Horrified) Oh, my…
IAN: Come on!
(They hurry towards the end of the passageway and come out onto the cliffside. But by then, the animalistic cries have stopped. The three time travellers look around briefly before…)
IAN: (Pointing) That's the ship we saw before.
(They see a crashed space ship that has split in two.)
PRINCESS: But where's the creature?!
IAN: I can't see it. Must not be as big as the other one we saw.
DOCTOR: It could be anywhere. It might even be dead now.
PRINCESS: Don't say that, Doctor. It's only a child, whatever it is.
DOCTOR: I know, my dear, I know. But there's nothing we can do. Not unless we happen to find it. No, we must stick to our original goal, and find Barbara.
IAN: If she got away from that thing she'd have made for that ship, I reckon.
DOCTOR: I was thinking the same thing.
IAN: Right. We'll head down this way then, it looks the least steep and the safest.
DOCTOR: Agreed.
(The three time travellers set of down the cliff side and towards the crashed ship.)
(Having made their way down the cliff, Ian, the Doctor and Princess are making their way towards the crashed ship when the Princess spots something.)
PRINCESS: Oh... Oh, no…
(The Doctor and Ian look and see what the Princess has. At the mouth of a nearby cave, lies a dead creature similar to the one they saw back in the cave, only smaller and about the same size as them.)
DOCTOR: Good heavens.
(The Princess cautiously approaches, but the creature is completely still, even when she crouches down next to it. She puts her hand to it and sheds some tears.)
PRINCESS: It's…gone.
DOCTOR: Shame. Dreadful shame.
(Ian leans over to get a better look at the creature.)
IAN: It looks like it was hit with something. Along the side here, see.
(The Doctor and Princess look and see a deep nasty burn mark along the side of the creature.)
PRINCESS: It was…burnt?
DOCTOR: No, something was fired at it. Something hot.
IAN: A flare?
DOCTOR: Perhaps. It would have had to have been from a member of the crew though. The people of this world don't have anything like a flare gun.
(The Princess holds her hand over the burn mark.)
PRINCESS: It was recent too. It's still warm.
IAN: Meaning there's survivors of that crash. They might be able to help shed some light on what's going on around here.
PRINCESS: And lead us to Barbara if we're lucky.
DOCTOR: Ssshhh.
IAN: What is it?
DOCTOR: Quiet I say.
(They listen…and hear distant sobbing.)
PRINCESS: Someone's crying.
IAN: It sounds like it's coming from the ship.
(Ian hurries off towards the front end of the ship with the Doctor and Princess right behind him.)
(Outside the crashed ship, the crying is now clearly coming from within. The Doctor is first to enter the ship, and finds Barbara consoling a young girl who is crying at a table.)
DOCTOR: Barbara!
(Barbara turns from the crying girl and to the hatch leading into the ship.
BARBARA: Doctor!
(Barbara goes to the Doctor and hugs him.)
DOCTOR: My dear Barbara!
(The Princess and Ian enter.)
IAN: Barbara!
(Barbara then hugs Ian, before moving on to the Princess. As they exchange hugs, the crying girl stops and looks over to the new occupants of the ship.)
PRINCESS: (To Barbara) Thank goodness you're all right! What happened to you?
BARBARA: (To Ian) I was about to ask you the same thing?
IAN: Well, luckily nothing hit me after that thing brought down the cave.
DOCTOR: Yes, we've had a fun time getting out of there, I'll tell you. But what about you, my dear, what's happened to you?
BARBARA: Well, after that thing – Koquillion, that's its name – collapsed the entrance, he shoved me over the ledge. Somehow, I survived the drop down and then…
(Barbara looks to the teary eyed girl, as do the Doctor, Princess and Ian, who realise she is now staring at them.)
PRINCESS: Hello.
(The girl shies away.)
PRINCESS: It's all right.
(The Princess takes a seat next to the girl at the table.)
DOCTOR: Are you responsible for helping our friend Barbara, here?
(The girl doesn't answer.)
BARBARA: Yes, she is.
PRINCESS: Well, that's very kind of you, and quite brave too I imagine.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes, undoubtable.
(The Doctor sits down next to the Princess at the table.)
DOCTOR: Tell us, child, what is your name?
GIRL: (Hesitant) Vicki…
PRINCESS: That's a nice name.
VICKI: Who are you?
PRINCESS: They call me, the Princess. This here is my friend, the Doctor. And the handsome young gentleman over there is Ian.
(Ian smiles and gently waves when Vicki looks at him.)
DOCTOR: Now that we're all introduced, why don't we have a nice chat about what's going on around here, hmm?
(Later, the Doctor, Princess, Ian, Barbara and Vicki are all sat around the table in the space ship, having been talking for some time.)
DOCTOR: (To Vicki) Hmm. I see, I see. So, this Koquillion, he's been keeping you prisoner.
VICKI: Well…sort of. He says he's been protecting us from the rest of his species, that they would kill me and Bennett if they found out we were alive. So, he makes sure we stay here in the ship and never leave.
IAN: Sounds like prison to me.
PRINCESS: Has this Koquillion ever threatened you?
VICKI: (Scared) Yes…
DOCTOR: Has he ever followed through with any of them?
(Vicki begins to sob a little. The Princess reaches over and hugs Vicki gently.)
PRINCESS: It's all right, Vicki. It's okay, we're here with you now.
IAN: Yes, don't worry. And if old Kokylikin comes round, I've always got this.
(Ian holds up the flare gun he's taken possession of. Vicki then pulls away from the Princess.)
VICKI: Oh, you mustn't, Ian. I keep telling you why we did what he said. You'll spoil it, you'll spoil everything.
DOCTOR: Now, now, now, it's going to be all right. We're not going to jeopardise your safety, or your rescue. Now, I think it's about time I met this Mister Bennett of yours. Will you take me to him?
VICKI: I keep telling you, the rescue ship's on its way. It's going to take us back to Earth. Can't you understand?
BARBARA: Look Vicki, I know you've been here a long time, but you're overestimating what Koquillion can do.
VICKI: (Standing up) Yes, you're right! I have been here a long time. I know what it's like here. You've only just come and you're trying to ruin things. It was all right before, it was. The rescue ship's coming and… Nobody asked you to come here! Nobody!
(Vicki turns her back on the time travellers, hiding her crying face.)
PRINCESS: Vicki…
VICKI: (Crying) Go away…
(The Princess sadly watches Vicki cry before looking to the Doctor. The Doctor looks back at the Princess, thinking for a moment. The Doctor then looks to Ian and Barbara and motions for them to leave them. Ian nods, and he and Barbara get up before exiting the ship.)
DOCTOR: Vicki, my dear. (Vicki doesn't acknowledge him) Come now, turn around, please.
(Vicki slowly turns back around, tears still on her face. The Doctor smiles softly and motions with his finger for her to come back over.)
DOCTOR: Sit down.
(Vicki slowly comes over. The Princess smiles softly at Vicki as the girl sits back down next to her and the Doctor.)
DOCTOR: You didn't mean that, did you? You don't really want us to go away, do you? Well?
(Vicki looks down, but finally shakes her head.)
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Good, good.
PRINCESS: Would you like a tissue, Vicki?
(Vicki nods. The Princess takes a tissue from her sleeve and hands it to Vicki who wipes her tears away.)
PRINCESS: There, that's better, isn't it?
(Vicki nods, lifting her head and smiling a little.)
DOCTOR: Now, we've listened to all you've said, and we've thoroughly understood. We're here to help you. This is all we're going to try to do. You know, we're not going to ruin things for you.
PRINCESS: If anything, we'd like to improve them.
DOCTOR: Precisely.
(Vicki stares at both the Doctor and Princess for a moment, before finally smiling a little more.)
VICKI: Bennett says that when we get back, we've got to tell them on Earth what they did to us here. He thinks this planet should be wiped out.
DOCTOR: Well–
VICKI: He says Koquillion shouldn't be made to get away with what he's done to us.
DOCTOR: I think I agree with Bennett, at least about Koquillion.
PRINCESS: Although in regard to destroying the planet, I would have to protest.
DOCTOR: Yes, I feel the same way as you, my dear.
VICKI: But I've told you about what they've done, how they killed everyone when we first arrived here!
DOCTOR: Yes, you did… However, there are a few unanswered questions.
VICKI: I told you everything I know.
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't doubt it, my dear, I don't doubt it.
PRINCESS: The Doctor and I just feel that if Mr. Bennett gives us his first-hand account, that some of our questions will be answered.
DOCTOR: Yes, precisely. And I promise you, child, we will listen to everything Mr. Bennett has to say before we make any decisions. Does that satisfy you?
(Vicki nods.)
VICKI: I'll take you to him.
PRINCESS: Thank you.
DOCTOR: Splendid.
(Vicki stands up along with the Doctor and Princess. Vicki leads them over to a door which she opens before taking them through a ruined corridor. At the end of the corridor, Vicki stops by one of the doors.)
VICKI: This is Bennett's room here.
DOCTOR: Yes, well now, I don't think you need to wait, my dear.
PRINCESS: Yes, we can handle it from here. Why don't you go back and see how Ian and Barbara are getting on?
VICKI: (Bitterly) Barbara.
PRINCESS: Now, Vicki, I understand why you're still upset, but–
VICKI: She killed Sandy!
PRINCESS: Yes, I know. I also know she's very sorry about it and regrets it enormously. But what you don't seem to understand is why she did it.
VICKI: It doesn't matter.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes it does, my dear. She did it to protect you, because she was concerned for your safety.
PRINCESS: We're not saying that it makes it okay.
DOCTOR: Of course not.
PRINCESS: But she does feel guilty about what happened. (Vicki seems unconvinced) Besides, I imagine if I were there instead of her, I would have done the same.
VICKI: No.
PRICNESS: Excuse me?
VICKI: Well…you're not a killer. Neither of you are.
DOCTOR: And what makes you so sure of that?
VICKI: I just…know.
PRINCESS: Well, that's very kind of you to say, Vicki. But Barbara is a very good friend of ours. We've known her a long time now, and if there's anything I can tell you about her, it's that she's a good person. I promise you that.
DOCTOR: Now, you take as much time as you need to heal, but we only ask that you try and see things from her perspective.
PRINCESS: Believe us, she's seen things from yours, and that's why she's feeling so horrible at the moment.
(Vicki seems convinced, though is still reluctant to admit it.)
DOCTOR: There. Now, why don't you get back there and have a think about what we've told you, hmm? Go on, go on.
(Vicki, smiling a little now, makes her way back along the ruined corridor. Once she's gone, the Doctor and Princess smile to one another.)
DOCTOR: I think she understands a little better now, don't you?
PRINCESS: Yes. You know…
DOCTOR: Yes, my dear?
PRINCESS: I was just going to say…it's nice being around someone youthful again.
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Compared to us, my dear, aren't Chesterton and Ms. Wright youthful enough?
PRINCESS: You know what I mean, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, it is refreshing, I must admit. Still, best we get back to the job at hand. (He knocks on Bennett's door) Mr. Bennett?
BENNETT: You can't come in.
PRINCESS: We only want to talk with you. My name's the Princess and–
BENNETT: Not now.
PRINCESS: But aren't you–
BENNETT: Go away.
(The Doctor and the Princess frown at one another.)
DOCTOR: It might just be me, my dear, but something seems off.
PRINCESS: It's not just you, Doctor. Complete strangers are inside his ship and he just wants us to go away? No questions about who we are, what we're doing here? Never mind the fact that we're out here with Vicki.
DOCTOR: Yes, and there's something about his voice. It's almost…robotic isn't it.
PRINCESS: He might be one I suppose.
DOCTOR: I suspect Vicki would have mentioned that to us if he was. However, there is one way to find out for certain.
(The Doctor throws his weight against the door. It gives but does not completely open. Another hard shove does it though and the Doctor stumbles into the room. The Princess follows him in, finding a well-kept bedroom…and no Mr. Bennett.)
DOCTOR: (Looking around) Nobody home it seems.
(The Doctor and Princess look around the room. The Princess opens up a cupboard and finds inside it, a small machine with wires connected through the back of the cupboard and into the wall.)
PRINCESS: Doctor.
DOCTOR: Hmm?
(The Doctor comes over to see what the Princess has found.)
PRINCESS: Maybe this explains Mr. Bennett's strange voice.
(The Doctor presses one of the buttons on the machine…)
BENNETT: (Recording) You can't come in. Not now. Go away.
PRINCESS: Recordings?
DOCTOR: Yes. And these wires here are probably connected to sensors outside the door.
PRINCESS: So, whenever someone approaches it plays the recording.
DOCTOR: Yes. (Pointing to another machine in the cupboard) And see this here, look at it.
(The Doctor flicks a switch on the second machine…)
IAN: (Through speaker) –our space ship, well, isn't like this one. It travels through time.
BARBARA: (Through speaker) We left in 1963.
VICKI: (Through speaker) 1963! But that means you're about…five hundred and fifty years old.
(Ian bursts our laughing through the speaker. In Bennett's room, even the Doctor and Princess chuckle and grin.)
BARBARA: (Stunned) Why, yes, I…I suppose I am. Yes, it's a way of looking at it, but I'll try not to look at it too often.
VICKI: They didn't have time machines in 1963, they didn't know anything then.
IAN: Oh, we weren't entirely ignorant, young lady. Even the Doctor and the Princess thought it was worth paying us a visit. That's how we got mixed up with them in the first place.
BARBARA: The Doctors from a different age, a different planet altogether.
VICKI: I don't believe you at all, you're joking with me. The Doctor and Princess are time travellers?
IAN & BARBARA: Yes!
(The Doctor turns off the speaker.)
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Silly child, silly child.
PRINCESS: So, Mr. Bennett is sneaking out, but doesn't want Vicki knowing about. And he's been spying on her with this equipment…
DOCTOR: Yes… You know, my dear, I'm beginning to piece all the pieces of this particular puzzle together. With what we've found here, plus what we know about the native people of this world… Yes. I think all that's left to do is confirm my theory.
PRINCESS: Your theory being?
DOCTOR: Oh, you don't need me to tell you, do you? I'm sure you can work it out on your own.
(The Princess thinks for a long hard moment. Then she realises.)
PRINCESS: Oh…
DOCTOR: Yes, rather disturbing isn't it.
PRINCESS: But why would he…?
DOCTOR: That's just what I intend to find out. From Mr. Bennett himself no less.
PRINCESS: Well, we'll have to find him first.
(The Doctor begins tapping sections of the floor with his foot.)
DOCTOR: Oh, I already have an idea about where he's gotten to.
(Beneath a panel of the floor, right in front of the bed, there's a rattle as the Doctor taps his foot. He then holds onto the Princess and gives it a strong stamp, 'causing the panel to drop and reveal a secret doorway beneath the floor.)
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) A rather easy way to get out of a locked room, don't you think? Ladies first?
PRINCESS: You're too kind, Doctor.
(The Princess accepts the Doctor's hand as he helps lower her through the door in the floor.)
(Having gone through the secret door in Bennett's room, the Doctor and Princess now find themselves inside a passageway within the caves.)
PRINCESS: Does this seem familiar to you?
DOCTOR: Yes. I'm starting to believe this is the way we came before. (He spots something up ahead) And that's just confirmed it. Look up ahead.
(The Princess looks and spots the stone door from before.)
PRINCESS: It might still be a trap.
DOCTOR: I doubt it, my dear. But just in case, I'll go first… (Chuckling) That way I won't be around for you to tell me how right you were.
(The Princess finds this less funny, as the Doctor opens the door. When no trap is deployed, the Doctor cautiously steps through. After a moment, the Princess follows him. The Doctor and Princess are now stood at the top of a stone staircase. Down below, they see stone pillars that stop halfway up to the ceiling, from which flames burn. In between the pillars is a walkway leading towards an altar at the end of the room. The Doctor and Princess walk down the stairs cautiously, while marvelling at the chamber around them.)
PRINCESS: It's just as beautiful as the last time we were here.
DOCTOR: Yes, it's come back to me now. How the people lead us up the mountain side and down to here. Magnificent.
(They continue on towards the altar.)
PRINCESS: But where are the people?
DOCTOR: I rather fear, that the most horrible answer, might be the accurate one.
(The Princess is saddened by this, as the two of them stop before the altar.)
PRINCESS: Not all of them, surely.
DOCTOR: It's the way of the universe, my dear.
PRINCESS: (Quietly) Not my universe.
(The Doctor looks at the upset Princess. Then suddenly, a noise. They both look up, before looking to each other in surprise. Another noise, something clattering against the floor. The Doctor and Princess step towards one another.)
DOCTOR: Is someone there? Show yourself!
(The Doctor and Princess are looking around. Then, from behind the altar, a head lifts up. It's a little boy.)
PRINCESS: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, I see him. (To boy) Hello there, young man.
(The boy shrinks back behind the altar.)
PRINCESS: No, it's all right. We're not here to hurt you. We're friends, we promise.
(The boy cautiously, lifts his head back up above the altar. The Princess approaches alone, slowly, while the Doctor remains behind.)
PRINCESS: That's it. Are there any more of you?
(The boy shakes his head.)
PRINCESS: So, you're all alone?
(The boy is hesitant and does not respond. The Princess kneels down with the altar between them.)
PRINCESS: Ah, so you're not alone. That's okay, you don't have to tell us where the others are.
(From behind the altar, another boy lifts his head up, and a girl too.)
PRINCESS: Oh, so there's three of you?
DOCTOR: A bit more than that, my dear.
(The Doctor has joined the Princess by the altar. He gestures back the way they came, and from behind some of the pillars, more little faces have appeared.)
PRINCESS: Seven of them?
DOCTOR: Hmm, so it would seem.
PRINCESS: (Quietly) Are…Are they all that's left?
(The children all nod.)
DOCTOR: And what of the adults? Your parents?
(The children shake their heads.)
DOCTOR: And have you been hiding down here this whole time?
(The children from behind the pillars have come closer. The first little boy shakes his head.)
PRINCESS: You poor things.
(The littlest and last boy, comes up to the Princess and wraps his arms around her arm, burying his face in the side of it. The Princess pulls him in and offers him a hug, as well as gentle kiss on the head.)
PRINCESS: Don't worry. We'll fix everything…I'll fix–
(At the sound of the door opening, the children scatter into hiding. The three behind the altar duck down, while the other four run towards the walls of the chamber, diving into previously inconspicuous holes. The Doctor and Princess look back, seeing a figure stood at the top of the stairs leading into the chamber. A figure with an insect like head, large pinchers, and claw like hands – Koquillion.)
DOCTOR: Ah, come in, come in! I've been wanting to talk to you for some time. (Quietly to Princess) Let me handle this, my dear.
PRINCESS: (Hissing) But, Doctor–
DOCTOR: (Hissing) I'll handle it!
(Koquillion comes down the stairs, making its way between the pillars, and stops before the Doctor and Princess, stood at the altar.)
DOCTOR: This used to be the Peoples' Hall of Judgement, did you know? Fitting, in the present circumstances don't you think, hmm? It may interest you to know, that masks and robes such as you are wearing, are only used on absolutely ceremonial occasions.
(Koquillion pulls off one of its claws, revealing a human hand. That human hand then reaches up beneath its head and pulls off the head of Koquillion – only to reveal Bennett.)
BENNETT: Are you finished?
DOCTOR: Yes. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate an explanation for all this.
BENNETT: To save my life.
(Bennett drops the mask, and removes the other claw like glove, before dropping that as well.)
BENNETT: I killed a crew member on the spaceship to Astra. I was arrested. The ship crashed. My crime hadn't been radioed to Earth. I knew if I could get rid of the other crew members–
DOCTOR: That you could blame their deaths on the Dido people.
BENNETT: Precisely. When we first arrived, the inhabitants invited us all to a grand meeting. I was locked up by this point, and the girl was quarantined because she was sick. Because of that, she had no idea of what I'd done. Everything fell into place. It was simple. The ship's systems were damaged from the crash, my prison weakened. I escaped. Then all I had to do was make an explosive using the ships armaments. The whole thing went up. All the inhabitants, the crew, the whole race.
PRINCESS: (Disgusted) You're insane.
DOCTOR: Did you by chance use radioactive materials for this bomb of yours?
BENNETT: As it happens.
DOCTOR: (To himself) Then that must have been what created those creatures.
BENNETT: You mean the girl's pet? (Chuckles) Can't say I was saddened to hear of its parting.
DOCTOR: I'd expect no less from a man who'd attempted genocide just to save his own skin.
BENNETT: When we get back to Earth, the girl will support my story. I dressed up as Koquillion to show her how terrible the people here were. She'll agree with me that this planet should be destroyed.
DOCTOR: And if that happened, your crimes would have been hidden forever, hmm?
BENNETT: If it happened? (Chuckles) Nothing's changed. There's only four more people for Koquillion to kill, that's all.
(Bennett pulls out a spanner like device with jewels along the side of it. The Doctor and Princess recognise this as a weapon and the Doctor steps in front of the Princess to protect her.)
DOCTOR: It'll never work. The child, Vicki, she'll figure it out.
BENNETT: I doubt that. And with your deaths at the hands of Koquillion, it'll solidify my story in her mind.
LITTLEST BOY: No!
(Bennett looks over, seeing the littlest boy poking his head out from one of the holes in the wall.)
BENNETT: What?!
(Seeing Bennett distracted, the Doctor throws himself at him. The Doctor grabs the device and he and Bennett wrestle for it. The littlest boy runs over to the Princess who kneels down, holding him close. The other children come out of hiding and stand behind the altar, watching the battle. But it is clear that Bennett, in his youth, has the advantage.)
DOCTOR: (Struggling) You may…have missed it before…Bennett. But I said you…attempted genocide.
BENNETT: It makes no difference! Those children can't do anything! And once me and the girl leave, this whole planet will be destroyed, and them along with it!
(Bennett has almost overpowered the Doctor. Bennett swings the device down and the Doctor is pulled to the ground where Bennett pins him, still trying to pry the device from his hands. Seeing the Doctor needs help, the Princess stands up. She takes the littlest boy behind the altar and hands him over to the other children.)
PRINCESS: (To children) Keep down. This will all be over soon.
(The children remain behind the altar, peeking as the Princess goes back to the front. And as the Princess steps towards Bennett and the Doctor, a golden aura begins to form around her. A strong wind begins to hurl through the chamber, howling over the struggle of Bennett and the Doctor. The Princess' eyes begin to glow a furious gold, as waves of golden energy emit from her. Suddenly, Bennett is thrown across the floor away from the Doctor by a strong gust of wind, leaving the Doctor with the device.)
BENNETT: What…What is happening?!
PRINCESS: You dared to threaten these children before me?!
(The Princess strides towards Bennett. The flames atop the pillars die out from the wind, leaving only the golden glow from the Princess to provide light in the chamber. From the altar, the children shrink down behind it, scared, while the Doctor shields his face from the violent winds.)
PRINCESS: You planned to destroy an entire planet, kill innocent children, and commit genocide, all to cover up your own hideous crimes?! No! I will not allow it!
(The Princess holds out her glowing hand towards Bennett, who to begins to glow with the same golden glow.)
BENNETT: What–What are you doing to me?!
PRINCESS: You wanted your crimes to be forgotten, and they will be, along with you! For what you've done and for what you planned to do here, I shall see that you endure endless pain for all of time. It will never stop, never cease, all you will know is pain! Fresh rejuvenating pain that you will never grow numb to. Goodbye, Mr. Bennett.
(The golden glow consumes Bennett entirely. He is now nothing but a golden shape of light.)
BENNETT: (Fading) Noooo!
(And as his final screams fade, the golden light breaks apart into thousand little balls which then fade. The glow around the Princess fades as well, leaving the chamber in darkness for a moment. But then the flames on top of the pillars return, one by one, illuminating the room. The Princess is stood still, her eyes closed. Then she suddenly sways. She is about to fall over when the Doctor catches her by the shoulders and steadies her.)
DOCTOR: Your highness…?
PRINCESS: I'm all right… That…just took more out of me than I thought it would.
DOCTOR: What you just did…
(The Princess looks at the Doctor, as if scared of what he might say next. But rather than say anything, the Doctor looks back. The Princess does the same, and they see the children looking in awe over the altar.)
BOY: Is the bad man gone?
DOCTOR: Yes. Yes, he is. (Looking to Princess) Forever.
GIRL: What happens now?
DOCTOR: Ah… A good question.
PRINCESS: (To Doctor, quietly) They'll be coming soon. There's no chance of them missing what's just happened here.
DOCTOR: Yes, but they won't help these children, will they? And they'll need help growing up.
(The Doctor looks pointedly at the Princess.)
PRINCESS: Doctor…
DOCTOR: I'm sorry, my dear. But if this species is to stand a chance of surviving, then you must do it.
PRINCESS: But…I'd be robbing them.
DOCTOR: In exchange for their race's survival.
(The Princess is unsure.)
DOCTOR: You know I'm right.
PRINCESS: Yes.
(The Princess stands on her own without the Doctor's support.)
PRINCESS: (To children) Would you all come here, please.
(The children come out from behind the altar and stand before the Princess. The Princess kneels down to their level while the Doctor stands behind her.)
PRINCESS: My friend and I will be leaving soon, but we don't want to leave you as you are; young and defenceless. So…So I'm going to do something. Something that will hopefully help you all. I'm going to age you up, turn you into adults, and fill you with everything you need to know to survive.
BOY: How can you do that?
PRINCESS: Magic.
BOY: Wow.
PRINCESS: But I'll only do this if you agree to it. However, If I don't…things will be very hard for you as you are.
DOCTOR: And once we leave, it's doubtful anyone else will return in your lifetime to this planet.
PRINCESS: But it's your choice, children.
(The children look amongst themselves and whisper. They do this for a long moment, before they all then look back to the Princess and nod. The Princess smiles sadly.)
PRINCESS: Okay then, my dears.
(The Princess lifts the palms of her hands up towards the children. She closes her eyes and the same golden aura as before begins to irradiate from her hands only this time. The golden waves of energy flow form her hands and form a bubble around the seven children. The children all look in wonder, as they too begin to glow. And as that gold glow pulsates from within them, they begin to age. Its smooth, as if someone is turning a dial, moving it from six years, to twenty-two years. And once they are adults, the glow from within them stops. Shortly after, the bubble around them fades, and then so does the glow from the Princess' hands, as she opens her eyes.)
MAN: Thank you, Princess.
(The Princess stands up and smiles sadly.)
DOCTOR: And, one more thing, my friends, the crashed ship, you'll be wanting to destroy the radio within it. That will make sure the rescue ship the humans sent can't find its way here.
MAN: We understand.
WOMAN: Now go, we know you're in a hurry.
DOCTOR: Yes, come along, my dear. No doubt Chesterton and Ms. Wright have noticed our absence and have made for the ship.
PRINCESS: (To children) Goodbye.
DOCTOR: Yes, goodbye, my friends.
MAN: Goodbye, Doctor.
WOMAN: Goodbye, Princess.
PRINCESS: I wish you all the best.
MAN: And you too.
(The Doctor takes the Princess' hand and guides her from the chamber, leaving what remains of the Dido people to wave them off.)
(The Doctor and Princess are walking through the cave passageways, back towards where they landed the ship. The Princess, still weak, is leaning on the Doctor for support as they walk. Up ahead is the familiar blue police box, with Ian, Barbara and Vicki stood outside it.)
VICKI: There they are!
(Ian and Barbara see the Doctor and Princess approaching.)
IAN: Doctor!
BARBARA: Princess, are you all right?
PRINCESS: Oh, yes.
IAN: What happened?
DOCTOR: We've just been dealing with Koquillion. Or as some of you may know him, Mr. Bennett.
IAN & BARBARA & VICKI: What?!
PRINCESS: It's true. He revealed himself to us after we caught on to him.
DOCTOR: And then he tried to kill us.
BARBARA: But why?
DOCTOR: To cover his tracks. (Looking to Vicki) He murdered someone on your spaceship before it crashed. You didn't know about it, my dear, because you were sick. Then after landing here, Bennett killed the rest of the crew, save you, and most of the local population. He hoped to use you as witness to back up his story and then get the authorities to destroy this planet, thus riding the universe of any evidence of his crimes.
(Vicki is sad.)
PRINCESS: We're sorry, Vicki. We know this must be hard, but we feel you ought to know the truth.
VICKI: Then Bennett murdered my father?
DOCTOR: Yes.
VICKI: And I have nobody. I'm all alone.
(The Doctor and Princess look to one another, while Ian and Barbara do the same. The four then look to each other, and all realise they've had the same idea. They smile a little, as the Doctor and Princess step towards Vicki, standing on either side of her.)
DOCTOR: My dear, why don't you come with us, hmm?
VICKI: What? (Pointing to the ship) In that old box?
PRINCESS: It's far more than just a box, Vicki.
DOCTOR: We can travel anywhere and everywhere in that box. Regardless of space and time.
VICKI: Then it is a time machine?
PRINCESS: It most certainly is.
DOCTOR: And if you like adventure, my dear, I can promise you an abundance of it.
IAN: (To Barbara, quietly) Perhaps a little too much.
(Barbara grins.)
DOCTOR: What was that, Chesterton?
IAN: Oh, nothing, Doctor. I was just wondering if perhaps we should show Vicki what's inside this old box of yours.
BARBARA: Yes, maybe that will help convince her.
VICKI: How will we all fit?
(The four adults chuckle.)
IAN: Trust me, Vicki, we will.
(The Doctor leaves Vicki to unlock the door to the ship. He opens the door for Ian and Barbara who step inside after smiling at Vicki. The Doctor then looks at Vicki with a grin.)
DOCTOR: Well, my dear…?
(Vicki is unsure, and looks to the Princess, still beside her. The old red haired woman nods with a smile. Vicki then decides to enter the police box. The Doctor chortles, and the Princess smiles, before the pair follow the girl inside. Now stood in spacious white console room, Vicki is in awe.)
DOCTOR: Well, child, what do you think?
VICKI: (After a moment) It's…It's huge!
(Vicki steps further into the room, past Ian and Barbara who are enjoying the moment.)
VICKI: And… Well, the outside is just… Well…
(Vicki turns back towards the four adults, stood before her, all smiling.)
BARBARA: Vicki, are you going to come with us?
VICKI: Oh I…I'd like to. Yes, if you'll have me.
DOCTOR: Vicki, it would be a pleasure.
PRINCESS: We'd love to have you join us.
VICKI: Thank you!
(Vicki throws her arms around the Doctor and Princess and hugs them. Ian and Barbara laugh, and once the old pair recover, they hug Vicki back.)
IAN: (Chuckling) Well, if we're going to get going, you'll need to let go, Vicki. The Doctor's the only one who know how to fly the ship.
(Vicki quickly pulls back, bumping into Barbara.)
VICKI: Sorry.
DOCTOR: Oh, there's no need to apologise, my dear, no need at all.
(They are all smiling and in high spirits.)
DOCTOR: Now, let's get going, shall we.
(The Doctor moves to the console and quickly begins operating various switches, buttons and levers, as the doors close over. The glass column in the centre then begins to rise and fall, and with it comes the familiar groan of the engines from all around them, as the police box dematerialises…)
(Later on, the Princess is stood at the console, operating a few levers very cautiously. Behind her stands the Doctor, watching with Ian stood beside him.)
DOCTOR: That's it, my dear. (Pointing) Now that one.
(The Princess follows the Doctor's finger and pulls back a lever.)
DOCTOR: Good, good. You're doing well, my dear. Now, just keep an eye on that readout there. Make sure the needle doesn't go into the red.
PRINCESS: All right. It shouldn't be long until we arrive.
DOCTOR: No, I shouldn't think so, merely a few seconds. Then you can materialise us just like I showed you.
IAN: (To Doctor) So, you were telling me about the survivors Bennett didn't kill?
DOCTOR: Yes, most fortunate, most fortunate. And now, they have their planet back to themselves again. And this time, they should be left in peace for some time.
IAN: What makes you say that, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, just a hunch, Chesterton, a hunch.
(The Princess looks back over her shoulder at the Doctor. The share a look. Then the Doctor waves his hand at the console.)
DOCTOR: Oh, do keep focused, my dear, please. We don't want any accidents, do we?
(The Princess turns back to the console.)
PRINCESS: I think, we're ready to materialise.
DOCTOR: All right then, on you go.
(The Doctor observes closely, as the Princess cautiously pulls various levers and switches, doing so one at a time. She then pulls the final lever with both hands, as the engines die out and the glass column comes to a stop.)
PRINCESS: There. Did it work?
DOCTOR: Yes. It seems like a safe materialisation…
(As the Doctor moves, towards the console, the whole room shivers. The Doctor and Princess grab on to the console while Ian stumbles into it.)
IAN: What's that movement, Doctor?
DOCTOR: I don't know. Princess, check the readouts!
PRINCESS: It's reading normal.
(Barbara and Vicki come stumbling into the console room as the shivering turns to shaking. Both Barbara and Vicki are thrown about before grabbing onto the console at the other end.)
BARBARA: What's happening?!
PRINCESS: We don't know!
IAN: Take off again, Doctor!
DOCTOR: Hold on! Hold on!
(Then, the whole room falls over, sending the time travellers flying towards the wall. Outside, the police box has appeared on the edge of a cliff – and is now falling over the side. Sending the police box plummeting down towards the time travellers' next adventure…)
Next Episode – The Slave Traders
