The Planet of Decision
(Inside the cave, the Doctor puts down his device in front of the entrance, and is about to start working on it, when a wall of the cave slides away – revealing a lift, with a large spherical creature inside, a Mechanoid.)
MECHANOID: Eight-hundred-and-thirty, Mechanoid. English input. Enter.
(The Doctor backs up, having picked up his device, to join the other time travellers, all of whom stare in shock at the Mechanoid. Meanwhile…)
DALEKS: (From outside) Advance and attack! Attack and destroy! Destroy and exterminate!
IAN: Well, you heard what the gentleman said. Let's go.
(The time travellers all cautiously approach the lift, squeezing in next to the Mechanoid. All look uncertain, as the lift door then closes.)
VICKI: We're going up.
BARBARA: Yes, it's a lift.
(The time travellers look between each other, as an awkward silence begins to stretch out.)
PRINCESS: (To Mechanoid) Uh, excuse me.
(The Mechanoid does not respond.)
PRINCESS: I…I just wanted to say, on behalf of all of us, thank you.
DOCTOR: Yes, you got us out of a nasty situation there. I suppose you'd like to know who we are and why we're here?
(Still no response from the Mechanoid.)
IAN: (To Doctor) You're not getting through to him.
BABRBARA: Where do you suppose he's taking us?
IAN: Up to the city, I'd imagine.
VICKI: We've stopped moving.
PRINCESS: That was quick.
(The lift door opens up and the Mechanoid moves out. The time travellers follow it out and onto a bridge.)
MECHANOID: Stop.
(The time travellers stand still for a moment.)
MECHANOID: Follow. Follow.
VICKI: Is this… Is this the bridge we saw below?
DOCTOR: Yes, it is, my child.
VICKI: Oh, it's beautiful!
PRINCESS: It certainly is.
BARBARA: I've never seen anything like it. It's huge!
IAN: Yes. It seems even bigger now that we're actually up here.
MECHANOID: Follow. Follow.
DOCTOR: Best do as he says, now come along.
(The time travellers follow the Mechanoid across the bridge and towards the city ahead of them.)
(After entering the city, the time travellers are led into a room, where another Mechanoid is waiting by a door. The two Mechanoids seems to communicate with each other via a series of click like beeps. The second Mechanoid then vacates the room, and the first Mechanoid takes up its position next to the door. The door then slides open.)
MECHANOID: English. Enter. Enter. Zero. Stop.
IAN: 'Enter, enter, zero, stop?' What does he mean?
BARBARA: It means…'Enter, enter, zero, stop.'
IAN: Oh, that clears it up.
VICKI: (A Mechanoid impression) Thank you.
PRINCESS: Vicki, don't be rude!
(The Princess pulls Vicki along as the time travellers enter the next room. Inside they find a strangely constructed staircase of some kind, build out of wood in the centre of the room, with two beds up against the walls. Upon entering though, the door quickly slides shut behind them.)
BARBARA: (Looking up at the wooden staircase) What an extraordinary looking thing.
PRINCESS: It looks out of place, compared to everything we've seen so far.
IAN: (Chuckling) Looks like a monkey's perch.
(Vick jumps onto the bed and bounces.)
VICKI: Oh, not bad!
PRINCESS: Vicki, don't do that.
(The Doctor looks around the room uneasily.)
BARBARA: Something the matter, Doctor?
DOCTOR: I've got an uneasy feeling about all this.
VICKI: Why, Doctor? I mean, this place is clean, it's comfortable, and the robots seem quite friendly.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, robots. But haven't you noticed something very singular about this place?
VICKI: Like what?
DOCTOR: We've only seen robots. No animal life, human or otherwise?
IAN: That's very true, Doctor.
PRINCESS: But then why have these beds? And the robots certainly didn't build–
(Suddenly a bearded man – Steven – comes jumping down the homemade wooden staircase, catching the attention of the time travellers.)
STEVEN: Stay where you are!
(The time travellers stay still, staring at Steven as he stares back at them, unsure.)
STEVEN: Are you…Are you real?
IAN: Who are you?
STEVEN: You are real. From Earth?
IAN: Yes. Who are you?
STEVEN: From Earth, that couldn't have happened. I worked out the odds, two-thousand to one against…
(The Princess stares at Steven, as if trying to place him.)
PRINCESS: Have…Have we met before?
STEVEN: (Laughing) 'Met before?!'
IAN: Do you know him, Princess?
PRINCESS: No. But something about his face…it's familiar…
STEVEN: 'Princess?' Oh, I've got to be imagining this!
DOCTOR: I assure you, you're not.
STEVEN: But then… Is the war over? Who won?
BARBARA: War?
STEVEN: Oh, look, I'm Steven Taylor, flight red fifty.
DOCTOR: Well, we've learned something. His name.
BARBARA: Yes, Steven Taylor.
(Steven looks as though he might cry. He goes to step towards Barbara, but Ian lays his hand on him, holding him back.)
STEVEN: (To Barbara) Say that again.
BARBARA: Steven Taylor?
STEVEN: (To himself) Steven Taylor…
(Steven smiles, before then remembering something. He jumps back onto the wooden staircase and grabs something from it. He throws it to Barbara who catches it – it being a soft-toy panda.)
STEVEN: That's my mascot, Hi-fi.
BARBARA: Oh. Hi, Fi, I'm Barbara.
(The time travellers and Steven all chuckle.)
VICKI: I'm Vicki.
IAN: (Holding out his hand) Ian Chesterton.
(Steven takes Ian's hand and shakes it vigorously.)
STEVEN: Ian Chesterton.
IAN: (Pointing) That's the Princess, and this here is the Doctor.
DOCTOR: (Holding out his hand) Well, I'm glad to know you, Steven Taylor.
(Steven takes the Doctor's hand and shakes it, before then stepping back. Steven looks at all the time travellers for a moment before laughing joyfully)
STEVEN: Well, this is great! I mean, it's…it's ridiculous, I'm lost for words. I thought if ever I met anyone again, I wouldn't stop talking for a week!
DOCTOR: Yes, well, you haven't.
(They all chuckle.)
PRINCESS: If you don't mind me asking, Steven, how long have you been here?
STEVEN: Well, as far as I can make out, about two years.
VICKI: Two years? Alone?
STEVEN: Well, yes. Apart from those fungus things.
DOCTOR: You mean there's no other human beings here on this planet?
STEVEN: No, nothing except the Mechanoids.
BARBARA: Where do they come from, do you know?
STEVEN: You don't know? But this is Mechanus.
IAN: Sorry?
STEVEN: Look, about fifty years ago Earth decided to colonise this planet. Well, it landed a rocket full of robots programmed to clear landing sites – get everything ready for the first immigrants.
PRINCESS: Then, where are they?
STEVEN: They never arrived. See, Earth got involved in an interplanetary war. I suppose this place was forgotten.
IAN: Fifty years ago? But surely these robots would be worn out by now. They'd have run down.
DOCTOR: No, no, no, no, they'd be programmed to do their own repairs.
BARBARA: But if you're waiting for people from Earth, well, why not us?
PRINCESS: Yes, we could be the immigrants, finally arriving after all this time.
STEVEN: You've got to know their code, to prove you are who you say you are. I've spent the last two years trying to break it. (Chuckles hollowly) Two years. I crashed, you see, out there in the jungle and wandered around for days trying to avoid those fungus things. Of course, then the Mechanoids captured me.
BARBARA: Captured? Do you mean you're a prisoner?
STEVEN: Well, do you think I'd stay here otherwise?! I'm just like you. We're all prisoners.
VICKI: But you're human, surely the Mechanoids must be able to recognise that?
STEVEN: They do, but since we don't have the code, we're an anomaly to them. That's why they keep us in here, until the immigrants arrive to tell them otherwise. And it's anyone's guess when they'll arrive.
(Steven goes to walk away, but Ian grabs him by the arm.)
IAN: Now, just a minute, there are five of us now. Surely, we can do something? We can fight our way out.
STEVEN: Look, at the first sign of violence towards them, the Mechanoids destroy. I saw it happen with the fungus outside. We cause them any problems, and they'll consider us more trouble than we're worth and end us then and there.
(The wall next to the door the time travellers enter from opens up into bars, revealing a Mechanoid watching from the other side.)
IAN: Now what's this? What are they playing at?
DOCTOR: It seems you were mistaken, Mr. Taylor. We're not just being held because we're anomalies. We're being held here as specimens.
VICKI: What, like something in a zoo?
STEVEN: Yes, Vicki. Exactly like a zoo. Only we're the specimens that are on display. (To Mechanoid) Aren't we, my fat little darlings?!
(The Mechanoid makes no response.)
BARBARA: What's it doing?
STEVEN: Oh, they do this for hours sometimes. Just…watch me. (To Mechanoid) Don't you!
(The Princess gently pulls Steven away from the wall.)
PRINCESS: Easy, Steven, easy.
STEVEN: Sorry. It's… It's just…
PRINCESS: We understand, it's okay. Come here, come here.
(The Princess holds Steven for a moment.)
IAN: Adds credence to your theory, Doctor.
BARBARA: Well, I don't like it. I'm not an animal. (To Mechanoid) Oh, go away! Leave us alone, can't you!
(The wall closes over suddenly.)
VICKI: It's gone.
DOCTOR: At least for now.
STEVEN: There's only one thing to do to keep yourself sane, that's to make things. (Waving to wooden staircase) I built this.
PRINCESS: Did you?
STEVEN: All my own work.
PRINCESS: And where does it go?
STEVEN: Up to the roof.
IAN: The roof?! Well, why don't we get out that way?
(Ian starts climbing the staircase.)
STEVEN: Look, don't think I haven't thought about it myself. But that roof's fifteen-hundred feet above ground level.
BARBARA: But we've got to get out.
STEVEN: Yes, that's what I thought at first. But you'll soon come to the same realisation that I did. It might not be great here, but it's a sure thing better than being out in that swamp.
IAN: Well, we don't give up so easily. We're going to get out of here. And the first thing we're going to do is have a look up here.
STEVEN: Look, I'm with you, of course, but what happens when we get down to the ground?
DOCTOR: We make our way back to our spaceship.
STEVEN: Your spaceship…? Is it serviceable?
DOCTOR: I certainly hope so.
STEVEN: But I thought… You see, I assumed you'd crashed.
PRINCESS: No, we very much landed here.
STEVEN: On purpose?
VICKI: Not exactly.
DOCTOR: Yes, it's a rather lengthy story, so if you don't mind, young man, we'll skip it for now.
(The Doctor climbs onto the staircase next to Ian.)
DOCTOR: Oh, tell me, young man, what happens if these Mechanoids see us up there?
STEVEN: Oh, there aren't any. We're allowed to go up there any time for light, exercise, and there are no guards. Come on, I'll show you.
(Steven hurries up the staircase after Ian and the Doctor, as they all ascend to the roof.)
BARBARA: He seems nice.
VICKI: Yes. And a little mad perhaps?
PRINCESS: Vicki, the man's been on his own for two years. In fact, I'd say he's doing surprisingly well, considering.
BARBARA: Yes. But what are we going to do with him after we get away from here? We can't exactly take him home in the Tardis.
PRINCESS: Well, it'll be up to him if he wants to come once he knows the situation. But I don't think I would feel comfortable leaving him here on his own.
BARBARA: Well, I'd be all right with him joining us. What about you, Vicki?
VICKI: I suppose I could get used to him.
PRINCESS: Vicki.
VICKI: (Chuckling) I'm only joking.
(Steven comes back down the staircase then.)
STEVEN: The Doc and Ian are having a look around up top for a way down.
PRINCESS: 'Doc?'
BARBARA: The Doctor.
PRINCESS: Oh, of course.
VICKI: Have they figured anything out yet?
STEVEN: I just left them, so I…
(The Doctor and Ian come down the staircase to join the others.)
BARBARA: Well? Any chance?
IAN: Yes, but it's going to be dangerous.
STEVEN: You thinking about using the cable?
IAN: Yeah, do you think there's enough?
STEVEN: Maybe. I thought of trying it myself once, but I couldn't have managed it on my own.
BARBARA: Hey, wait a minute. Where's this leading us?
IAN: Down to the ground.
BARBARA: Yes, but will that be slowly or quickly with a splat at the end?
PRINCESS: You mean, you want us to climb down, from the top of this place to the swamp? But Steven said we're fifteen-hundred feet above ground level.
IAN: Well, currently it's our best, and only option.
VICKI: (Nervously) I'm not very good on heights.
DOCTOR: Yes, it sounds rather risky.
BARBARA: I agree!
STEVEN: The cable's strong. It wouldn't break.
BARBARA: And what if we lose our grip?
STEVEN: We can tie the cable around ourselves as we lower one another.
PRINCESS: All right, but what about the last one down, how's that going to work?
IAN: I'll go last and abseil down.
BARBARA: But, Ian–
IAN: Look, I think this is the only chance we've got.
BARBARA: Well, I don't like it.
DALEK: (From outside the room) Where are the time travellers?!
PRINCESS: Did you hear that?
VICKI: Yes. Daleks!
IAN: Well, that settles it.
DOCTOR: Go on, go on!
IAN: On the roof, quick!
(The group quickly start climbing up the staircase, save for the Doctor who grabs his device from the bed.)
PRINCESS: Doctor, come on!
DOCTOR: Just…leaving them something to remember us by.
(The Doctor activates a timer on his device before laying it down at the base of the staircase.)
DOCTOR: There, that should give us enough time to make our escape.
(The Doctor starts climbing the staircase.)
DOCTOR: (To Princess) Well, don't just stand there, my dear, hurry up, hurry up! We're against the clock now, you know!
(The Princess and the Doctor hurry up the staircase after the others.)
(Up on the roof, the Princess and Doctor climb out of the hatch. The roof is flat without any barriers around the edge, just a sheer drop down. The only item present is a big coil of wrapped up cable, which connects to a fuse box on the side of the hatch the group have all just climbed out of.)
IAN: Right, everyone, grab on and pull.
(Everyone grabs the cable and pulls it from the box. Everyone except for Vicki, who's standing near the edge precariously.)
IAN: Right, let's start unwinding it.
DOCTOR: Come on, come on.
(The adults begin unwrapping the cable from the coil. However, as they do, the Princess notices Vicki beginning to wobble and sway from beside the edge.)
PRINCESS: Vicki?
(Vicki suddenly faints, about to go over the edge.)
PRINCESS: Vicki!
BARBARA: Grab her!
(Barbara and the Princess, being the closest, manage to grab Vicki, stopping her from going over the edge. But even so, it takes Ian and Steven to pull them all back, as the women collapse with Vicki shaking between them.)
PRINCESS: Vicki? Vicki, are you all right? Can you hear me? Vicki?
STEVEN: There's no way she can climb down like this, we'll have to lower her first.
(Steven goes back to unwinding the cable while the time travellers all gather around Vicki, who is shaking and now clinging to the Princess.)
PRINCESS: It's all right, Vicki. It's going to be all right.
IAN: Vicki. Vicki, listen to me. We'll tie the cable around you and lower you to the ground.
VICKI: No!
BARBARA: Vicki, you'll be perfectly safe, we promise you.
VICKI: No! I can't!
BARBARA: We can't lower her like this. If she starts thrashing about, she could endanger herself. And if she passes out before getting to the ground, she'll be defenceless.
DOCTOR: Someone will have to be lowered down with her.
PRINCESS: I'll go.
IAN: Yes, that should be doable.
(Ian goes to assist Steven, while the Doctor pulls out a handkerchief.)
DOCTOR: Vicki, my dear, I'm going to blindfold you.
VICKI: No!
DOCTOR: You won't be able to see a thing. You'll be quite safe. The Princess is going to go down with you.
(The Doctor covers Vicki's eyes with the handkerchief and starts tying it behind her head.)
VICKI: I can't! No!
PRINCESS: Just hold on to me, Vicki. Just hold on.
VICKI: Don't make me! Please, don't make me!
PRINCESS: It's going to be all right, Vicki, I promise you.
IAN: We're ready.
PRINCESS: Do Vicki first.
IAN: All right, hold her arms up.
(The Princess and Barbara hold up Vicki's arms, positioning her so that Ian can warp the cable around and secure her.)
IAN: Right, now you, Princess.
(Ian quickly does the same for the Princess, securing her with the cable. Once complete, the Princess then takes a hold of Vicki, holding her against her tightly.)
PRINCESS: It's all right, Vicki. I'm right here. It'll be over soon.
VICKI: No! No, I can't! Please, let me stay here! I'll find another way down!
PRINCESS: Just squeeze me, Vicki. Squeeze as tightly as you can.
(The Princess looks uncomfortable as Vicki squeezes.)
PRINCESS: (To Ian) Okay.
IAN: All right, go.
(The Princess slides herself and Vicki over the edge.)
VICKI: No!
PRINCESS: Vicki! Vicki, you need to hold on to me! It's all right, we'll be on the ground in seconds!
(The others on the roof begin to lower the Princess and Vicki down.)
VICKI: No! No, Princess, take us back up! Take us up, please!
PRINCESS: We're almost there, Vicki, it's all right. We're perfectly safe.
(But at that moment, the Princess looks up and sees smoke coming from the roof. And not just the roof, there's smoke coming from various points in the city.)
PRINCESS: Just hold on, Vicki. Keep squeezing. We're already halfway down.
(Then suddenly they shoot down several meters! Vicki screams, as does Barbara from above. The Princess looks up, also screaming, to see Barbara looking down at her, having partially gone over the edge.)
VICKI: What's happening?! What's happening?!
PRINCESS: Just a slip, it's fine, it's fine.
(The Princess watches as Barbara pushes herself back over the edge and out of sight. The Princess sighs in relief, as she and Vicki are once again gently lowered towards the ground – with still over several hundred feet to go.)
PRINCESS: Almost there. Any second now. Just focus on my voice, Vicki. That's it. You're doing great…
(A short while later, back in the swampy forest beneath the city, the Princess and Barbara are holding Vicki who is hiding from the sight above. For the city above them is now on fire, burning.)
VICKI: Oh, I can't look.
BARBARA: It's all right, Vicki. Here…Here comes the Doctor and Ian now.
PRINCESS: Yes…Yes, I can see them.
VICKI: But what about Steven?
BARBARA: Steven… He…He…
PRINCESS: Barbara?
BARBARA: He…He ran back inside while we were lowering the two of you.
PRINCESS: He what?!
BARBARA: He went back for–for–for that toy of his.
PRINCESS: Oh, Steven…
(The Doctor reaches the bottom of the cable and comes running over to join the women.)
DOCTOR: Ah, Vicki, my child, are you all right?
VICKI: Yes, I'm fine.
DOCTOR: And you, Princess?
PRINCESS: Yes, I'm all right. Was there any sign of Steven as you were coming down?
DOCTOR: No, no, I'm afraid not, my dear. We shouted for him, but we got nothing back. Now, come along, we must get back to the ship.
VICKI: But we can't just leave Steven behind!
BARBARA: There's no way of going back for him, Vicki.
(At that moment, Ian finishes climbing down the cable. Like the Doctor, he too runs over to join his fellow time travellers.)
IAN: Quick! The whole building's collapsing!
DOCTOR: We must get clear! This way!
(The Doctor leads the way as the time travellers all break out into a sprint and run through the swampy forest, with the Princess and Barbara dragging Vicki as they go.)
VICKI: No, we can't just leave him!
BARBARA: It's too late, Vicki, we have to go, come on!
(And as they run, the pillars supporting the city above begin to come down – and with them, the city itself. With the whole thing going up in flames, it thankfully falls away from the time travellers. And with its collapse, comes the end.)
(The time travellers have been making their way through the swampy forest for some time now, when they push through some trees and come to a clearing. In that clearing, is the Daleks' time machine – a large cylindrical ship with an open door leading in. Ian, being at the front, comes to a halt, and the others do the same.)
BARBARA: (Nervous) Is that…
VICKI: The Daleks' time ship.
DOCTOR: Well, we're not dead yet, meaning there's no guard about.
VICKI: Do you think they were all destroyed with the city?
BARBARA: It's possible.
PRINCESS: It's also equally possible there's more waiting for us inside of there.
IAN: Perhaps.
VICKI: Maybe we should leave while we have the chance.
PRINCESS: We can't. We have to make sure every Dalek that was following us is destroyed.
VICKI: Why?
DOCTOR: Because otherwise they'll continue to pursue us.
VICKI: All right… So, who's going to go in?
IAN: I'll go.
BARBARA: (Grabbing Ian's arm) Ian, no.
IAN: I'll be careful. But when I give the word, run.
(The Doctor nods, before Ian pulls away from Barbara and heads into the Dalek time machine. The other time travellers wait with bated breath. Barbara holds Vicki close, the Princess and Doctor are tense, but ready to react. Then, finally…)
IAN: (Dalek impression) Halt! You will be exterminated!
(The time travellers all begin backing up into the swampy forest…when Ian then comes out of the ship. He's squeezing his nose shut with one hand while pretending the other is a gun.)
IAN: Exterminate!
BARBARA: Oh, Ian!
(Ian drops the act.)
IAN: Doctor, it's empty! You've done it again! You've beaten them!
(Ian runs up to the Doctor and shakes his hand, as all the time travellers laugh and smile in relief.)
DOCTOR: My dear boy, I could kiss you!
BARBARA: Don't waste it on him, kiss me instead!
DOCTOR: Oh, I'd be delighted!
(The Doctor embraces Barbara, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Meanwhile, Ian picks up Vicki and spins her around, before then doing the same with the Princess. All laughing and cheering for a moment.)
VICKI: We did it! We did it!
PRINCESS: Oh, it's finally over!
DOCTOR: Yes, my dear, it surely is. (Looking to the Daleks' time ship) You know, this must be an extremely advanced machine. Wherever we went, it followed us with such great precision and accuracy. You could travel anywhere in it.
VICKI: It's huge inside, you know, just like the Tardis.
PRINCESS: Is it?
DOCTOR: (To Vicki) Of course, I'd forgotten, you've taken a trip in it!
VICKI: Shall I show you round?
PRINCESS: Please, do.
VICKI: Right this way then.
(Vicki saunters into the Daleks' time ship with the Doctor and Princess following her inside, while Ian and Barbara remain outside. Inside, the Daleks' time ship interior is very similar to that of the Doctor and Princess' ship. Like their own ship, the Daleks' has a glass column in the centre of the room, with control knobs running around it – for the Daleks to use with their plungers. Around the room are many corridors branching off, and on the walls are spirals that never end.)
DOCTOR: My goodness…
VICKI: See, it's just like the Tardis.
PRINCESS: Yes, it is…
(Vicki wanders off, not realising that the Doctor and Princess aren't following her.)
PRINCESS: I can't believe it… To think, the Daleks have something like this. So close in design to our own ships.
DOCTOR: No, my dear, remember what she said. This ship is out of sync with the universal timeline. It shouldn't exist.
PRINCESS: But it might one day.
DOCTOR: Yes. It's certainly alarming. But I do wonder what series of events lead to this.
PRINCESS: Hopefully we'll never find out.
DOCTOR: Still, it does present us with a problem. Like those Daleks, this ship can't be allowed to exist.
PRINCESS: With your help I should be able to send it back to when and where it came from.
DOCTOR: (Nodding) Very good.
(Vicki then dramatically clears her throat, catching the Doctor and Princess' attention. They notice Vicki is stood on the otherwise of the room, glaring at them both.)
VICKI: You've not been listening to a word I've said, have you?
PRINCESS: Sorry, Vicki. We were just–
VICKI: Discussing something behind my back? Well, what was it?
DOCTOR: Nothing to concern yourself with, child.
VICKI: Oh, come on!
PRINCESS: Really, Vicki, it was nothing.
(Vicki huffs, as Barbara and Ian enter the ship.)
BARBARA: Doctor, Princess. Ian and I were just wondering…about this ship.
DOCTOR: Yes, what about it, my dear?
BARBARA: Well…could we use it?
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Instead of our own? Why ever would we want to do that?
IAN: Well, just for one trip, Doctor. Just to get us back home.
(The Doctor stares, wide eyed, at Ian and Barbara, while the Princess and Vicki share shocked and saddened looks. Silence for a moment.)
DOCTOR: Are you out of your minds?!
PRINCESS: Doctor!
IAN: Now, just a minute there's no need to snap at us–
DOCTOR: Of all the irresponsible– Foolhardy things!
PRINCESS: Doctor, stop it.
BARBARA: We just want to go home, surely you can program this ship to take us?
DOCTOR: Absolutely not, it's out of the question!
BARBARA: But why?!
DOCTOR: I don't know the first thing about this ship! It could have safeguards or fail-safes to avoid enemy pilots! And even if it doesn't, one wrong move and we could all be lost forever! No, do you hear me, no! I will not touch this machine! I want nothing to do with what you're suggesting!
(The Doctor storms out of the ship with Ian and Barbara right behind him. The Princess is also quick to follow with Vicki hurrying after them. Outside, the Doctor turns back to Ian and Barbara, while the Princess and Vicki linger by the door to the Daleks' ship.)
DOCTOR: I've never heard such nonsense in all my life! To try and use the Daleks' ship over my own, it's moronic! You'd end up as a couple of burnt cinders, flying around in space and time. You're idiots! You are absolute idiots!
BARBARA: We are not idiots! We want to go home!
IAN: Yes, home! I want to sit in a pub and drink a pint of beer again. I want to walk in a park and watch a cricket match. Above all, I want to…belong somewhere, do something, instead of this aimless drifting around in space.
DOCTOR: Aimless? I've tried for two years to get you both home!
IAN: Well, you haven't been very successful, have you?!
DOCTOR: How dare you, young man. How dare you, sir!
(The Princess comes over, getting in between the Doctor and Ian and Barbara.)
PRINCESS: Stop this!
DOCTOR: I didn't even invite you into the ship in the first place!
PRINCESS: Doctor, that's enough!
(The Doctor huffs and looks away.)
BARBARA: Look, I know we thrust ourselves upon you both.
PRINCESS: That was as much our fault as it was yours.
BARBARA: Let me speak, please, Princess.
(The Princess closes her mouth, and after a moment, nods for Barbara to continue.)
BARBARA: Doctor, we've been through a great deal together since we first met. So much so, I couldn't begin to list it all. But all of it, every second, will remain with us always… It'll probably be the most exciting part of my life… Look, Doctor, we're different people, and now we have a chance to go home. We want to take that chance. Will you help us work that machine?
DOCTOR: No. No! I will not aid and abet suicide.
IAN: (Muttering) Oh, he's as stubborn as a mule.
(Barbara and Ian walk off to the edge of the clearing.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor) You're exaggerating.
DOCTOR: I am not!
PRINCESS: We both know what this is about.
DOCTOR: I'm not discussing the matter–
PRINCESS: Susan.
(The Doctor goes quiet, before looking down at the ground.)
PRINCESS: (Gently) I miss her too, even after all this time. And I know it hurts, but we have to let go. Not just of her, but of them too.
DOCTOR: I don't know what you're talking about.
PRINCESS: Well, I do. And I know that you think saying goodbye to them will be like saying goodbye to her again.
DOCTOR: It's still a risk.
PRINCESS: Yes, but it's theirs to take. Just like you took a risk running around time and space with me.
(The Doctor looks to the Princess, who smiles that old granny smile of hers. The Doctor sighs regrettably. He then goes over to Ian and Barbara, who turn to face him.)
DOCTOR: Do you both realise the enormous risks?
IAN: We do. We still want to go.
BARBARA: Please, Doctor.
(The Doctor is hesitant…until the Princess comes to stand alongside him.)
DOCTOR: Very well, follow me.
(The Doctor leads them back over to the Daleks' time ship, where Vicki is standing waiting. Before they enter though, the Doctor turns back swiftly.)
DOCTOR: But you must follow my instructions implicitly, understood? Implicitly!
BARBARA: We understand, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Then…I shall need your help, Princess.
PRINCESS: Whatever you need, Doctor.
(They all head inside.)
(Sometime later, the Doctor is making the final adjustments to the knobs around the glass column in the Daleks' ship, while Ian and Barbara stand huddled together in hope. The Princess stands near the Doctor, watching over him with Vicki by her side, the two holding each other.)
DOCTOR: There. That should be it.
BARBARA: You mean it's ready?
DOCTOR: As it'll ever be. (He turns around) Having second thoughts, are we?
BARBARA: A little, yes. It's just…saying goodbye after all this time.
(Vicki breaks away from the Princess and runs to Barbara, giving her a huge hug.)
VICKI: Goodluck.
BARBARA: Thank you, Vicki. (Kisses Vicki on the forehead) Be safe.
(Vicki then parts from Barbara, slowly, before rushing to Ian and hugging him just as tightly.)
IAN: Goodbye, Vicki.
VICKI: Don't forget me.
IAN: Oh, I doubt that'll ever happen. You just try and keep out of trouble.
VICKI: Not much chance of that.
(Ian, Vicki, Barbara and the Princess chuckle. Barbara then looks to the Doctor, who is standing solemnly.)
BARBARA: Doctor… Thank you, for everything.
DOCTOR: And you, Ms. Wright.
(Ian holds out his hand, Vicki still holding on to him.)
IAN: Doctor?
(The Doctor looks at Ian's outstretched hand…but can't bring himself to shake it.)
DOCTOR: Won't you please reconsider.
IAN: Doctor…
DOCTOR: A great many things could go wrong on the way–
IAN: Doctor, no. We've made up our minds.
DOCTOR: Then…I wish you the very best of luck.
(The Doctor, his head held low, walks out of the ship, having not shaken Ian's hand.)
PRINCESS: Vicki, go after him, will you?
(Vicki hesitates, giving Ian one last squeeze before hurrying from the ship, tears falling as she does.)
IAN: (Shaking his head) Even after all this time, he still hasn't changed. Always has to be right.
PRINCESS: You have changed him, Ian. You both have.
BARBARA: And you've changed us.
(The Princess hugs Barbara.)
PRINCESS: Good luck. You remember what to do?
BARBARA: Yes. As soon as we land, get out. Then once we're away the ship will leave.
PRINCESS: That's right.
(They part. The Princess then turns to Ian.)
PRINCESS: Ian.
IAN: Your highness.
PRINCESS: Careful.
(Ian chuckles as he and the Princess embrace.)
PRINCESS: Have a good life. (Whispering) And don't let her get away.
(Before Ian can respond, the Princess parts, kissing him on the cheek.)
PRINCESS: Goodbye.
BARBARA: Goodbye, Princess.
IAN: You'll look after the Doctor, won't you?
PRINCESS: We'll look after each other. Just make sure you two do the same.
(The Princess lingers, hesitant to end the moment. But end it does.)
PRINCESS: Just one last thing to do then.
(The Princess goes up to the glass column and puts her palm to it, closing her eyes. A golden glow begins to emit from her palm, spreading up and down throughout the glass column as the ship shudders. The Princess' eyes fly open after a moment and she pulls her hand back. The glow dissipates from her hand, but not from the glass.)
PRINCESS: Hold on tight. Goodluck!
(The Princess runs out of the ship, the door closing behind her.)
IAN: Don't forget to visit if you're ever in time!
(Outside, the Princess runs to the Doctor and Vicki who catch her and turn her back around. All three then watch, as the Daleks' time ship dematerialises.)
VICKI: Did it work?
PRINCESS: They're away.
VICKI: But how will we know if they made it?
PRINCESS: We won't. We might never know.
DOCTOR: You're wrong, my dear. We can find out.
(The Princess and Vicki stare at the Doctor in confusion.)
DOCTOR: The Time and Space Visualiser.
VICKI: Yes, of course! It can view anything in the past.
PRINCESS: Do you think it'll work?
DOCTOR: I set the date, time and location precisely, so I should be able to locate them on the visualiser.
VICKI: Well, come on! What are we standing around here for?!
(Vicki runs of into the swampy forest.)
PRINCESS: Vicki, wait!
DOCTOR: Not so fast, child, for heaven sake!
(The Doctor and Princess hurry off after Vicki.)
(Back in their own time ship, the Doctor, Princess and Vicki are gathered around the Time and Space Visualiser, as the Doctor feeds it the appropriate information. He begins adjusting the settings, but all they get is static.)
DOCTOR: Oh…stupid machine…
PRINCESS: Let me.
(The Princess leans over, adjusting and tweaking a few settings until the picture clears. It shows a junkyard – a familiar junkyard.)
VICKI: I don't see them.
DOCTOR: Wait a moment.
(Then, the Daleks' time ship materialises.)
VICKI: Is that them?!
(On the screen, Ian and Barbara step out of the ship.)
PRINCESS: It is them!
VICKI: They made it!
(The Princess and Vicki embrace while still watching.)
BARBARA: Are we back home?
IAN: Could be? We seem to be in a junkyard.
BARBARA: Yes. Do you…feel like we've been here before.
IAN: With any luck, we have, come on.
(Ian and Barbara head over to the junkyard gate and peek outside. They look around at a normal street, with cars parked at the side. One car has a tax disc in the window that reads, 'DEC 65.' Ian smiles.)
IAN: Barbara, we made it!
BARBARA: I don't believe it!
IAN: London 1965!
BARBARA: Hey, we're two years out.
(Vicki gasps. The Princess looks to the Doctor who looks away, conveniently.)
IAN: Oh, what's two years amongst friends? We're home!
(Ian then kisses Barbara on the cheek as she laughs. Then, the Daleks' ship dematerialises again, returning to whence it came.)
IAN: And there goes our ride. Hey, where do you think they are right now?
BARBARA: The Daleks?
IAN: No. The Doctor and the Princess?
BARBARA: Probably around that corner. It'd be typical of them to finally land here after all this time.
IAN: Shall we take a peek?
(Ian and Barbara grin at each other, before running to the corner of the street, but there's no Doctor, Princess, Vicki, or even a police box in sight.)
IAN: No such luck, I'm afraid.
BARBARA: Hey, maybe they're watching us right now, on that…visualiser.
IAN: Oh, yeah.
BARBARA: Hey, Doctor, Princess, wherever you are, goodbye. And thanks for the ride.
IAN: It was fun!
(The pair then run off, taking each other's hands as they do. And they go everywhere, all over London. They visit Trafalgar Square, and get attacked by pigeons. They hug the lions and run along the fountain. They then race up and down the embankment of the Thames. That is until Ian sees something that horrifies him – a police box! Oh, wait, it's a real one – with a real policeman. Then it's off to the bus, and as Ian and Barbara get onboard, they're laughing away.)
BARBARA: Oh, I enjoyed that.
(They both grab a seat together.)
IAN: Yes, so did I. Oh, it's great to be back. Nothing seems to have changed.
BARBARA: Oh, you wait till we get back to Coal Hill… Hey, how are we going to explain our absence?
IAN: Yeah, that's a point, isn't it? We'll have to think of something. It better be good, eh?
(The ticket conductor walks up to Ian and Barbara.)
CONDUCTOR: Fares please.
IAN: Oh, er, two three's, please.
CONDUCTOR: Two three's? You must be joking. Where've you been? On the Moon?
IAN: Er, no, but you're getting warm.
BARBARA: Shh!
(The conductor stares at them both…and Ian and Barbara burst out laughing!)
PRINCESS: They seem happy.
DOCTOR: Yes…
(The Princess looks to the Doctor, hugging him. Vicki quickly joins in on this as well.)
PRINCESS: It's okay to miss them. We do.
DOCTOR: I know, I know…
PRINCESS: Isn't it time we were off anyway?
VICKI: Yes, let's go somewhere new and exciting, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Exciting, my dear? How about for now, we just see what comes next, hmm?
(The Doctor, smiling, takes the Princess and Vicki's arms and leads them back towards the console room. Before they take off, towards their next adventure…)
Next Episode – The Watcher