Starring
Patrick Troughton
Serinda Swan
Episode 3
(Inside the Pilot's office, the time travellers and Pilot watch, as a frail old man on the large screen begins to cower in fear, while silhouettes of huge crab like claws come into view.)
POLLY: What's happening?
FRAIL OLD MAN: Keep away.
(The camera on the frail old man is knocked over. A brief glimpse of a large crab like claw is shown before it vanishes.)
FRAIL OLD MAN: Don't touch me. I'll obey! Please!
JAMIE: What's that?! What's happening?!
POLLY: That was it! That thing in the picture, that was the claw! They're in control!
PILOT: Take them out of here, they're condemned to the pits!
(Guards rush into the room, surrounding the Doctor, Princess, Polly and Jamie.)
POLLY: Macra!
PILOT: Take them away!
(The guards grab them and begin dragging them out of the office.)
DOCTOR: Leave us alone!
PRINCESS: You can't ignore this! Pilot! Ben! Fight it!
DOCTOR: Think for yourselves! What you saw is real!
(But despite their outcries, they're all dragged from the room. And no one sees the glimpse of the Macra on screen, before it cuts out.)
(A short while later, the time travellers – minus Ben – are escorted into a grim looking control room by Ola and his guards. Behind one of many control stations, sits a man with a pair of spectacles – Officia.)
SINGER: (Singing, from speaker) We are all happy to work. We are all happy to work. For the good of the Colony. Happy to work. Happy to work.
DOCTOR: Oh!
POLLY: What's the matter?
DOCTOR: Dreadful. Did you hear that rhyme? The man who wrote that ought to be sent to the Danger Gang, not us.
(The Doctor, Princess and Jamie chuckle, but Polly isn't as cheerful.)
OLA: All right. That's enough.
(The three stop chuckling.)
OFFICIA: Ah, are these the four strangers?
OLA: Yes.
DOCTOR: Yes, you might call us that.
PRINCESS: Or you could use our names? This is–
OLA: Silence. (To Officia) They've been allocated one-seven-six shift.
OFFICIA: Oh, very good, Ola. I'll recall the shift leader.
(The Offica presses a button on his control station and a small buzzer goes off. Meanwhile, the Doctor looks around from where he's stood.)
DOCTOR: What an extremely remarkable place. What efficiency.
PRINCESS: Bit gloomy though. Could do with some lighting. Oh, maybe a window!
DOCTOR: A good suggestion, Princess. Tell me, Ola, what is it you make?
OLA: Silence.
JAMIE: I thought this was a mine, you know, where you dig up coal?
DOCTOR: You can mine for things other than coal, Jamie.
OFFICIA: Yes, you see, here, the rock foundation is a type of salt. Now at depths it generates gases, over the years, and these gases are extremely valuable.
OLA: Don't bother to explain to them. Just get them to work.
PRINCESS: Hush, Ola, the nice man's explaining our work to us.
JAMIE: Aye. well, you don't send a pair of lassies and an old man down to dig.
DOCTOR: Old? What do you mean old? I'm not old, Jamie.
PRINCESS: You're older than me.
DOCTOR: But that's not old, that's older.
JAMIE: I canny see the difference.
OLA: You'll all do as you're ordered!
OFFICIA: Leader for their shift is almost here, sir.
OLA: Very well. Report any irregularities to me.
(Ola exits the control room. Once he does, Medok enters, wearing a pair of goggles on his head, and a small gas mask around his neck.)
JAMIE: Medok! How did you get here?
MEDOK: They threw me out of the correction hospital. Apparently I'm a hopeless case.
PRINCESS: Don't listen to them, Medok, you're just strong willed.
DOCTOR: People like your Controller don't like that.
POLLY: But why did they send you here, Medok?
MEDOK: The one remaining punishment they could think of. To work in the Danger Gang for life.
JAMIE: For life?
MEDOK: Oh, don't worry, you don't survive long in this atmosphere. It's the gas. It gets everywhere. It creeps into your lungs. And when you're down there, you're right in the thick of it.
OFFICIA: Come on, Medok. Take them to their work.
MEDOK: What's the hurry?!
PRINCESS: Yes, I'd like to ask about my hat.
OFFICIA: You don't want me to call the guard, do you?
PRINCESS: Do you think they'd bring it down for me, that would be nice of them.
(Officia glares at them.)
MEDOK: All right, all right, we're going. But we are entitled to a supervisor on this shift.
OFFICIA: Oh, yes, that's true.
MEDOK: Yes. Well, I'm leaving this man.
(Medok pulls the Doctor forward.)
OFFICIA: Hmm? Oh, well, yes. I suppose that's all right.
DOCTOR: But it's much safer up here. Isn't it, Medok?
MEDOK: It is.
DOCTOR: Ah. I see. I'm perfectly capable of working in the pit, thank you. The Princess or Polly can have the safe job.
POLLY: Oh no, you stay up here, Doctor. I wouldn't know what to do.
DOCTOR: Well, I'm not sure I understand all this machinery myself.
JAMIE: Do you not think you might make better use of the opportunity, Doctor?
DOCTOR: What do you mean? (Realises) Oh, yes. Yes, I'll be supervisor.
PRINCESS: Good for you, and we'll go mining.
OFFICIA: Right, well, come on then. Can't stand around chatting all day.
MEDOK: You're going to issue them with masks, aren't you? You aren't taking them down there without any protection?
OFFICIA: Surely you could have seen to that? (Hands Doctor a clipboard) Oh, here. You'd better take this checklist.
DOCTOR: But I would like a mask.
PRINCESS: And I would like my hat.
OFFICIA: Medok, take them down already.
MEDOK: We're collecting their masks first.
OFFICIA: Yes, yes, just move along already.
(Medok leads Jamie, the Princess and Polly out of the control room and towards the tunnel to the underground.)
(A short while later, the Princess, Jamie, Polly and Medok are stood in the enforced tunnels with Officia.)
OFFICIA: Hurry up. Put on your equipment.
(The time travellers pull the goggles over their eyes and put the small gas masks over their mouths and noses.)
JAMIE: You shouldn't make lassies do the work of men.
PRINCESS: (Giggling) Why? Think we'll do it better?
OFFICIA: All in the Danger Gang will do as they are told. It's a punishment for their failure to cooperate.
MEDOK: We do all the dirty work. We go where the gas is worst.
OFFICIA: It's your own fault, Medok. If you obeyed Control–
MEDOK: All right, all right, forget it. I prefer Control poisoning my lungs, to trying to poison my mind.
POLLY: I'd prefer they do neither. I hope Ben's okay.
JAMIE: Dinnae worry about that traitor.
PRINCESS: Jamie, we've been over this–
(An alarm suddenly goes off.)
POLLY: What's that?
MEDOK: It's a gas strike.
OFFICIA: Go on! Help with the cable there. Go on, hurry up! That's the alarm. This gas is lethal.
(Officia hurries off to instruct some other workers.)
JAMIE: What does he mean?
MEDOK: He means they've struck so much gas they can't channel it off. When it reaches a certain density, that alarm bell goes.
POLLY: So you've got a burst pipe?
JAMIE: A what?
PRINCESS: Like a leak in a ship, Jamie. We have to plug it up before we sink.
OFFICIA: Hurry up! Get that cable to the strike!
MEDOK: Come on, quickly.
(They run over to the spare cable on the ground. Medok picks up the end while the others work together to heave the heavy cable along the tunnel, that's quickly filling with green toxic gas. Officia doesn't help of course, he only supervises.)
OFFICIA: Quickly! Come on. Pull there. Pull, all of you. Pull! Pull!
(As they pull, Polly slips and falls over.)
JAMIE: Polly!
(Jamie lets go of the cable to check on Polly.)
OFFICIA: Leave her! Get that cable to the strike.
PRINCESS: I've got it, Jamie, you just make sure Polly's all right.
(The Princess somehow manages to summon a surprising amount of strength to pull Jamie and Polly's part of the cable as well. Then, finally, while Jamie is helping Polly up, Medok reaches the connector, where the original cable has blown off.)
MEDOK: Get her away from here. Away!
PRINCESS: Jamie, take Polly and the others back down the tunnel!
JAMIE: But what about–
PRINCESS: I'll be fine, just go!
(Jamie, with some reluctance, takes Polly back down the tunnel as the others flee, leaving only Medok and the Princess to manage the leak.)
PRINCESS: Medok, what do we do?
(Medok pulls out part of the connecter, a rod for the cable to slide onto.)
MEDOK: We have to get the head of the cable on here. Are you ready?
PRINCESS: Yes.
(Medok and the Princess lift the cable, allowing Medok to slide it into place.)
MEDOK: Have you got it?
PRINCESS: Yes!
MEDOK: Just hold it while I lock it into place.
(Medok is twisting the head of the cable, trying to lock it in place.)
PRINCESS: Hurry!
MEDOK: Almost… There! Got it!
(The Princess and Medok relax, as the gas slowly begins to dissipate, the leak now sealed.)
PRINCESS: Medok, what's this all about, really? All this toxic gas?
MEDOK: I've no idea. No one does. It's just what Control tells us to do. But it's poisonous to all of us.
PRINCESS: Poisonous to human based life forms perhaps.
MEDOK: Well, what other type of life forms…
PRINCESS: Yes, the Macra.
MEDOK: But what good would it do them?
PRINCESS: If we hadn't seen them wondering the streets, I would have guessed they needed it to survive, like we do oxygen. But that wouldn't make any sense. If they need you to mine it, what would they have done before you arrived? So many questions.
MEDOK: And not enough answers.
OFFICIA: Have you sealed it?!
MEDOK: Yes!
OFFICIA: Then get back along here already, there's more work to be done!
PRINCESS: But surely it's just a matter of time before this bursts again?
MEDOK: Yes, it happens constantly.
PRINCESS: Why don't they try improving the system?
MEDOK: Then what would be left for us to risk our lives over?
PRINCESS: Ah, I see your point.
(Medok and the Princess make their way back along the tunnel through the thinning green gas.)
(Later, Medok is working on a connector, with the Princess, Polly and Jamie watching. Nearby in the tunnel, another group are sticking a large metal cylinder like device into the wall.)
POLLY: What are they doing?
MEDOK: We call that probing.
POLLY: They're not looking for more gas?
MEDOK: Oh, yes. We never stop.
(Jamie wonders around the corner of the tunnel, finding a metal door. On the front of the door is wheel and in the centre of the wheel is a keyhole.)
JAMIE: There's a door here. Where does it lead to?
MEDOK: I've no idea. To my knowledge those doors were never opened.
PRINCESS: Really?
JAMIE: Could be an old shaft.
PRINCESS: Or something else.
(The Princess and Polly go to join Jamie.)
POLLY: Why would it need such a new door? And so strong?
JAMIE: To keep something in?
POLLY: Like the Macra?
PRINCESS: Possibly. But more likely it's to keep us and anyone else out. Which means there's something in there that the Macra or Control don't want us seeing.
POLLY: Aren't they the same thing.
PRINCESS: Yes, sorry. You're right, Polly.
POLLY: Well, we're not getting through without the key.
MEDOK: (Hissing) Hey, look out!
(Seeing Officia coming, the time travellers quickly make themselves look busy. But Officia is more concerned with Medok's work.)
OFFICIA: Ah, you've made the connection?
MEDOK: Of course. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here.
OFFICIA: Now, be careful, Medok. There are other places worse than the Danger Gang, you know.
PRINCESS: Such us?
POLLY: (Hissing) Princess!
(Luckily, Officia is too busy inspecting Medok's work to notice.)
OFFICIA: No, Medok, this won't do, this is a high-pressure strike. You are going to need a stronger screw than this.
MEDOK: Don't touch it.
(Officia begins tampering with Medok's work.)
OFFICIA: I know what I'm doing.
(But due to his tampering, the connector loosens and the gas sprays straight into Officia's unprotected face. He collapses instantly, as the time travellers run over to him. Meanwhile, Medok secures the connector, stopping the gas flow.)
POLLY: Is he all right?
(The Princess checks Officia over.)
PRINCESS: I think so. Just knocked out. Should be awake again soon. Hopefully the gas won't have done too much damage.
(Jamie kneels down next to the Princess and searches Officia.)
PRINCESS: Jamie, what are–?
(Jamie takes the keys from Officia.)
BEN: What's the matter?
(Ben is stood over them. Jamie quickly hides the keys behind him, as he and the Princess back away.)
BEN: What has happened to him?
JAMIE: He's had a wee whiff of the gas.
PRINCESS: He's just unconscious, Ben, no need to panic. But I would recommend getting him out of here.
(Ben stares at his friends for a moment, silently contemplating. He then bends down and picks up Officia.)
BEN: I'll look after him. You…continue with your work.
PRINCESS: We will.
(Ben walks away, carrying Officia with him.)
POLLY: (Quietly) How long do you think Ben was watching us?
JAMIE: I don't know.
POLLY: Do you think he saw you take the keys?
PRINCESS: Almost definitely.
POLLY: Well then, why didn't he take them off us?
PRINCESS: Because the Ben we know, our friend, is still in there, fighting.
JAMIE: Ay, but he might turn traitor again.
PRINCESS: He's busy helping Officia for now. Besides, he'll only report to the Pilot.
POLLY: How do you know that?
PRINCESS: Know what?
POLLY: That Ben will only report to the Pilot.
PRINCESS: Did I say that?
POLLY: Yes!
JAMIE: Wait, Polly. Might this be another of those premonitions?
POLLY: Oh, I don't know, Jamie.
PRINCESS: Jamie, use the keys to unlock that door you found.
JAMIE: Right.
(Jamie heads over, using each key to see if they work.)
POLLY: But how do you know that one of those keys will work?
PRINCESS: Let's just say I've got good feeling.
POLLY: You know, I can never tell if you're just guessing or having one of these premonitions, Princess.
PRINCESS: Neither can I to tell you the truth, Polly.
MEDOK: Hey you lot, give us a hand!
POLLY: Just a minute! (To Princess) What do we do?
(Jamie is still trying to find the right key to unlock the door.)
PRINCESS: We'll just grab Medok and bring him over here while Jamie finds the right key.
POLLY: But there's guards there, it'll never work.
MEDOK: I need a hand here!
PRINCESS: (Hissing) Jamie, hurry!
JAMIE: I think I've almost got it, Princess.
MEDOK: Please!
POLLY: Coming! (To Princess) Good luck.
PRINCESS: (Hissing) Polly, no, come back here!
(Polly runs – before the Princess can stop her – into view of the guards. She then begins helping Medok, while the Princess watches regrettably from out of sight.)
PRINCESS: Oh, Polly. You're just too kind sometimes, aren't you?
JAMIE: Princess, I've got it, come on.
PRINCESS: Coming.
(The Princess joins Jamie by the now opened metal door.)
JAMIE: Where's Polly?
PRINCESS: Staying behind for now, but we'll come back for her.
JAMIE: Are you sure she'll be all right?
PRINCESS: That girl's more than capable of looking after herself. And Medok's with her, just in case.
JAMIE: All right, if you say so.
(Jamie heads through the metal door, taking the keys with him. The Princess follows, before pulling the door shut behind them. On the other side of the door, the Princess and Jamie find themselves in a dark and murky tunnel.)
JAMIE: I cannae see a thing.
PRINCESS: Hold on. I did have one in my hat…but I think… Yes!
(The Princess turns on a torch which she's taken from her jacket pocket.)
PRINCESS: There we are, some light. This place doesn't look like it's been used in sometime.
JAMIE: Wonder where it leads?
PRINCESS: Let's find out.
(The Princess and Jamie start walking through the old tunnels.)
(Later, the Princess and Jamie are still walking through the old tunnels, when suddenly they hear a distant echoing scream. The Princess and Jamie stop, with Jamie placing himself slightly in front of the Princess.)
PRINCESS: Hello?
JAMIE: (Hissing) What are you doing, they'll hear you!
PRINCESS: That's the point, Jamie. Hello?!
JAMIE: But what if those Macra hear?
PRINCESS: Well, whoever it was might need our help. Come on.
(The Princess sets off towards the scream.)
JAMIE: Princess… Oh!
(Jamie hurries to catch up to the Princess.)
PRINCESS: We're coming! If you can hear us shout back!
(But there's no reply. Instead, they arrive at a junction in the tunnels.)
JAMIE: Which way?
PRINCESS: Your guess is as good as mine.
JAMIE: We'll try this way then.
(They head down one of the tunnels, before finding something on the floor ahead of them.)
JAMIE: Stop, Princess. Look.
PRINCESS: I see it… Oh, no.
JAMIE: What?
(The Princess steps closer to the thing on the floor, shining the torch on it. It's a body, one which the Princess rolls over, revealing it to be Medok.)
JAMIE: Medok? Is he…?
PRINCESS: Yes. We're too late. Oh, Medok. I'm sorry.
JAMIE: It's not our fault, Princess. He must've followed us.
PRINCESS: I know. I just…I wish it could have gone differently. We can't leave him here, Jamie.
JAMIE: Ay, you're right. We'll take him back so he can be…
(Jamie pauses, seeing something moving in the shadows. Something that is revealed to be very large, as it crawls out of the shadows.)
JAMIE: Princess, look out!
(The Princess looks up, shining the torch on the approaching Macra. The light makes it flinch, but it quickly recovers, as Jamie pulls the Princess away from Medok's body.)
JAMIE: Come on, we have to go!
PRINCESS: But we can't leave him, Jamie!
JAMIE: If we stay the beastie will get us too, now come on!
(Jamie pulls the Princess along, before both start running down the tunnel, with the Macra crawling after them.)
PRINCESS: Where are we going?
JAMIE: Never mind that, just run!
(They keep running, the Macra keeping pace with them as they reach the junction from before. Jamie turns into the tunnel they original came from.)
PRINCESS: Jamie, stop!
(Jamie stops, just as the ground he was about to run onto breaks apart. He hurries back into the Princess, as another Macra crawls out of the ground, snapping its claws at them.)
PRINCESS: Back this way, down the other tunnel!
(The two turn around and flee down the other tunnel, narrowly avoiding the first Macra that almost grabs them with its claw. They race town the tunnel, as the two Macra pursue them, before turning at another junction. But as they run down this tunnel, the toxic green gas begins to fill the air.)
JAMIE: (Struggling) Princess!
PRINCESS: I know! Keep going, try not to breath it in!
(The Princess looks back, seeing the two Macra still right behind them. But as they go on through the tunnel, the gas gets thicker and thicker, and soon, both Jamie and the Princess are unable to run because of their coughing. Seeing their chase is almost over, the Macra slow in their pursuit. Nearing the end of the tunnel, Jamie trips, close to losing consciousness because of the gas. The Princess helps him up, putting his arm around her shoulders, as she carries him on towards the end of the tunnel. But then she sees something drop from the ceiling, like drool. The Princess and Jamie look up, to see a Macra hanging from the ceiling. It crawls around the walls, coming down and blocking their path. While Jamie continues to cough violently, the Princess turns back around to see the two Macra from before closing in on them. The one closest rears up, as if laughing, its claws snapping excitedly, as they reach out to grab the Princess and Jamie…)