Staring
Patrick Troughton
Serinda Swan
Episode 5
(In the study of Maxtible's house, the Doctor is sat down behind a white three panelled console, while the Princess stands beside him, leaning over as the two work the controls. In the corner is a Dalek, watching their every move through its eyestalk. And on one of the console screens, Kemel is shown looking over the side of a balcony, as a Dalek glides into the grand dining room below him. Kemel points this out to Jamie, who is also on the balcony. As Jamie comes to the edge to look, Kemel quickly pulls up the rope. The Dalek hasn't seen them yet, as it surveys the room. But as Jamie and Kemel watch from the balcony above, neither are aware of the door opening behind them. Or of the second Dalek, that glides out of the room and onto the balcony. Luckily, Jamie senses something, and turns around, seeing the second Dalek before it sees him. Jamie pulls Kemel down and pushes him into the corner of the balcony, out of sight of the Dalek. Thinking fast, Jamie takes one end of the rope from Kemel. He then points to the rope, and then the Dalek. Kemel nods in understanding. With Kemel holding the other end of the rope, the two approach the Dalek. Once in position, Jamie runs around the Dalek while Kemel stands his ground, holding the rope tightly. The result causes the rope to propel the Dalek towards the fragile railing of the balcony, that breaks as the Dalek crashes into it. The Dalek screams as it falls, only to land on the Dalek below, resulting in the destruction of both in one go. With that, Jamie and Kemel quickly retreat into the room the Dalek emerged from, finding Victoria inside. At which point the Doctor turns the screen on the console off.)
DOCTOR: There, I think that should do it.
DALEK: The test is not over.
DOCTOR: No, but we have all you need. All that's left is to run what we've collected through your computer, and have it embed the information in a positronic brain.
DALEK: You will begin at once.
DOCTOR: Of course, but it will take time.
DALEK: You will supervise the process.
DOCTOR: Don't you trust your own computers?
(The Dalek stares at the Doctor.)
PRINCESS: I am starting to get hungry. What about you, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, I could do with a drink.
PRINCESS: Right, we're going on a break then.
DALEK: Halt! You will not move.
PRINCESS: But we have to eat and drink. And we've been working for hours.
DALEK: You will obey!
DOCTOR: (Standing) No we will not! Now, we've done everything you've asked, we've got you your human factor. All we want is a rest and to have something to eat and drink.
(Dalek seems to ponder this for a moment.)
DALEK: Very well. You may rest until our computers finish their work.
DOCTOR: Thank you. Let's go, Princess.
(The Princess and Doctor hurry from the study, leaving the Dalek behind. But as they make their way down the corridor, Terrall emerges from the other end, watching them. He then proceeds to follow them, with a suspicious glare.)
(A short while later, in a trophy room of sorts, the Doctor and Princess are sat at a table, with a platter of fruit, cheese and bread between them, as well as a jug of water and two glasses. The room is decorated with family shields on the walls, as well as painting, hunting trophies and even weapons, with a few cabinets around as well. At the back of the room is a landing with stairs leading up to the next floor. As the Doctor and Princess eat and drink, Terrall stands on the stairs, hidden from sight as he tries to listen.)
PRINCESS: (Quietly) Do you think they suspect anything?
DOCTOR: (Quietly) I imagine they're always suspicious. But I doubt they've caught on to our true intentions yet.
PRINCESS: It feels like it's going really well.
DOCTOR: Careful. That's when things usually take a nasty turn, and we need to be on guard. Especially with that man standing on the stairs trying to eavesdrop on us. What was his name again?
PRINCESS: Terrall. Does something seem off about him to you?
DOCTOR: Yes. I remember how he behaved in the stables earlier.
PRINCESS: Not just that though. It's like…there's a force around him. And I can sense it even from here.
DOCTOR: I can't feel anything.
PRINCESS: Maybe we should talk to him?
DOCTOR: Well, it'd be rude to be unsociable.
PRINCESS: (Aloud) Mr Terrall, would you like to come and join us?
(Terrall presses himself back against the wall.)
DOCTOR: We know you're there, Mr Terral. If you're so interested in us, why not come over and sit with us?
(After a moment, Terrall emerges, coming down from the landing and over to stand by the table.)
TERRALL: I apologise. I did not mean to intrude.
DOCTOR: No, of course you didn't.
PRINCESS: Drink, Mr Terrall?
TERRALL: No thank you. I very rarely touch it.
DOCTOR: Oh dear, that doesn't sound healthy at all.
PRINCESS: You should listen to him, he's a doctor.
DOCTOR: Something else, perhaps?
TERRALL: I'm quite all right, thank you.
PRINCESS: (Holding up a grape) Not even a single grape.
TERRALL: I said no!
(An awkward silence, before the Princess eats the grape herself. The Doctor then looks around at the collection of items around the room.)
DOCTOR: What an extraordinary collection, isn't it?
TERRALL: Yes. I understand Maxtible spent many years acquiring it all. Shouldn't you be helping him and Waterfield with their experiments?
DOCTOR: You mean the Dalek experiments?
(Terrall has no visible reaction. Then after a moment…)
TERRALL: Daleks?
DOCTOR: Oh, just the name of the experiment we're working on. The Dalek experiments, you see?
TERRALL: Ah, yes.
PRINCESS: We're just taking a break at the moment.
TERRALL: Well, isn't it about time you got back to it?
PRINCESS: But we're getting to know you.
TERRALL: Oh, really?
PRINCESS: Yes. For instance, I can already tell you suffer from headaches, frequently. And that you hear voices in your head.
(Again, no visible reaction from Terrall at first. Then…)
TERRALL: (Chuckles) It isn't wise to make assumptions, my dear.
(Terrall walks over to a nearby collection of swords.)
PRINCESS: There is something pressing against your mind, Terrall. I can feel. If you're willing, I can help and–
(Terrall snatches up a sword and spins around, pointing it at the Princess.)
TERRALL: (Continuing) Nor to meddle in affairs which are none of your business.
(The Doctor quickly whips out a screwdriver from his coat and uses it to pull Terrall's sword towards him instead.)
DOCTOR: Ah! Touché! (Realising) Oh, look. A perfectly ordinary sword…
(The Doctor lets go of his screwdriver, which then dangles from the sword it's touching.)
DOCTOR: And yet it appears to be magnetic.
(In a sudden panic, Terrall drops the sword, and as he does, the screwdriver separates from the sword.)
DOCTOR: And see! Upon you letting go it loses its magnetism.
PRINCESS: That's quite the trick, Mr Terrall.
DOCTOR: Indeed it is, Princess. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say our Mr Terral here was full of some sort of electricity.
(Waterfield enters from a door behind the Doctor.)
WATERFIELD: Doctor? Princess? Excuse me. You're both wanted.
DOCTOR: Oh, thank you.
PRINCESS: Excuse us, Mr Terrall.
(The Princess and Doctor stand up.)
PRINCESS: And don't worry, we'll find a way to help you.
(The Doctor and Princess go to leave–)
TERRALL: No doubt you're both keen students of human nature, but some things are better left alone.
DOCTOR: No, no, Mister Terrall, we are not students of human nature. I myself am a professor of a far wider academy, of which human nature is merely a part. All forms of life interest me, and my friend here.
PRINCESS: And we like to help life where we can.
(The Doctor and Princess smile at Terrall, who merely glares back at them. With that, the Doctor and Princess then turn away, leaving with Waterfield.)
(Waterfield leads the Doctor and Princess into the laboratory, where a Dalek is waiting for them by the table in the middle.)
DALEK: The positronic brains are ready for insertion.
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Done cooking, are they?
DALEK: You will both ensure these are correctly inserted into the dormant Daleks.
PRINCESS: It's a wonder you get anything done without us around.
(The Doctor and Princess step towards the table, as the Dalek glides towards them.)
DALEK: Doctor. Princess.
(The Doctor and Princess halt.)
DALEK: Be careful. Your usefulness is nearing its end, and we have others who can perform this task.
PRINCESS: We know.
DOCTOR: And quite understand.
(The Dalek stares at the Doctor and Princess for a moment, before retreating into the cabinet of mirrors, vanishing. With the Dalek gone, the Doctor and Princess approach the table, each picking up one of the three positronic brains – which are little glass cylinders with small circuit boards and wires inside.)
DOCTOR: (Examining positronic brain) About what I expected…
(Waterfield gingerly approaches them.)
WATERFIELD: Are they ready?
DOCTOR: Yes, I should think so. I thought Jamie was rather magnificent. What about you, Princess?
PRINCESS: I never expected anything less from him. I'll admit, I was worried. But if anyone could show-off the best of humanity, it'd be Jamie.
DOCTOR: Oh, I quite agree. And every emotion he exhibited has now been imbedded in here.
(The Doctor holds up the positronic brain for Waterfield to see.)
WATERFIELD: The human factor?
DOCTOR: Well, a part of it at least. The better part. Courage, mercy, chivalry, friendship, even compassion. Some of the virtues.
WATERFIELD: All in there?
DOCTOR: Yes. And in a moment, we'll insert each of these, into those three Daleks.
(They all look over to the three Daleks sitting in their crates, each one dormant for now.)
WATERFIELD: So the end is in sight?
PRINCESS: Very nearly. If we're lucky.
WATERFIELD: What happens when the capsule comes into contact with the brain of the Dalek, and starts to influence it?
DOCTOR: Perhaps it'll drive them insane.
PRINCESS: Or turn them into something new.
WATERFIELD: Like the super-beings they wish to be… Doctor?
DOCTOR: Hmm?
WATERFIELD: You can't. You mustn't do it.
DOCTOR: What do you mean?
WATERFIELD: You must stop the experiment.
PRINCESS: But it's finished. All we have to do is put the positronic brains in the Daleks.
WATERFIELD: But think about what you'll be doing!
DOCTOR: Oh, you should have thought of that some time ago.
WATERFIELD: I know.
DOCTOR: It's no use having a conscience now.
WATERFIELD: But before it's too late.
PRINCESS: It was too late from the moment you created that cabinet, opening the way for the Daleks. Everything since then has been a result of that action. But you shouldn't blame yourself. Perhaps this was all meant to happen. All this, leading to one moment.
WATERFIELD: But what we are doing now, enabling the Daleks. Helping to turn them into super-beings. Adding all that is best and finest in human nature, to all that is brilliant and superior in them. They'll be unbeatable.
PRINCESS: Don't lose hope yet, Edward.
WATERFIELD: Hope? We're about to hand over the whole world them. Don't you realise that? Our world, our future. They will enslave us for all time. If we do this, there will be no hope left, none for any of us.
DOCTOR: That, Mister Waterfield, remains to be seen. Princess, bring the others over will you.
(The Doctor takes one of the positronic brains and moves over to the crates containing the dormant Daleks. As he does, the Princess gathers up the other positronic brains in her hand. Waterfield, meanwhile, panicking, sees a bent metal rod. He picks it up, before heading towards the Doctor– But is stopped when the Princess grabs the wrist of the hand holding the rod.)
PRINCESS: Put it down, Edward.
DOCTOR: Attacking us will do no good. You heard the Dalek. If we don't do this, they'll get someone else to do it for them.
(Waterfield drops the rod, overcome with hopelessness. The Princess puts aside the positronic brains and takes Waterfield's hands with her own, turning him to face her. While this is happening, the Doctor begins inserting the first positronic brain into one of the dormant Daleks.)
PRINCESS: It's all right. We don't blame you, for any of this. You've done it all for the sake of Victoria, your daughter.
WATERFIELD: But the cabinet–
PRINCESS: Also wasn't your fault. Now listen to me. Victoria will soon be safe. Jamie is with her now as we speak, and Kemel. They will protect her with their lives.
WATERFIELD: But what about the rest of the world? Are we to sacrifice it all? Destroy our entire race in past, present and future?
PRINCESS: Perhaps. I don't think you fully understand what you're saying, but yes, it could happen. But, whatever happens, you must know, Victoria will be safe with us. I promise you.
WATERFIELD: That…does bring me some comfort, Princess. Thank you…
PRINCESS: Go and rest, Edward. We'll come and find you when Jamie returns with Victoria.
(Waterfield leaves, head hung low.)
PRINCESS: Should I have told him?
DOCTOR: No. It's too risky.
PRINCESS: But he's–
DOCTOR: I know. But once this is all over, he and his daughter can put all of this behind them.
PRINCESS: I hope so.
DOCTOR: Although, I think you assuring him that Victoria would be safe with us helped.
PRINCESS: Sorry?
DOCTOR: You told him, 'Victoria will be safe with us.'
PRINCESS: Did I?
(The Doctor pauses in his work, looking at the Princess curiously.)
DOCTOR: You don't remember?
PRINCESS: No…
(The two think this over for a moment, but neither like what it might mean.)
PRINCESS: Are…Are you almost done.
(The Doctor resumes his work.)
DOCTOR: Yes, just about. If you bring over the other two then you can do one and I'll do the other.
PRINCESS: All right.
(The Princess collects the other two positronic brains from the table, before joining the Doctor by the dormant Daleks.)
(A short while later, the Doctor and Princess have finished putting the positronic brains inside the dormant Daleks and are now stood before the three opened crates.)
PRINCESS: Is there an on switch?
DOCTOR: Not as such. They should begin to wake soon. For now, the Dalek mind will be getting used to the human influence on it.
PRINCESS: And with any luck it'll be a good influence.
DOCTOR: Don't celebrate yet. If this does work, we still need to spread it across the Dalek race.
PRINCESS: I know, but it's important to celebrate baby steps too.
(The Doctor and Princess giggle, when suddenly Mollie comes bursting into the laboratory.)
MOLLIE: Doctor, Princess?!
PRINCESS: Mollie?
DOCTOR: What's the matter?
MOLLIE: It's Jamie and Mr Terrall! They're fighting!
PRINCESS: What?!
DOCTOR: Where?!
MOLLIE: This way, hurry!
(Mollie turns and runs back out the laboratory, with the Doctor and Princess right behind her. They race through the house, coming into the trophy room to find Jamie stood with a sword, a woman – Ruth Maxtible – watching in horror, and Terrall clutching his head with a sword at his feet. A secret passage has also been opened up in one of the walls under a previously stoned up archway.)
DOCTOR: Jamie, what's happening?
(Terrall succumbs to the force in his head and collapses into unconsciousness.)
JAMIE: But I can't understand it. He just collapsed.
(Ruth, the Doctor and Princess hurry to Terrall's side.)
RUTH: Arthur, are you all right?
(The Princess puts her hands on the temples of Terrall's head and immediately winces as she closes her eyes.)
DOCTOR: Princess?
PRINCESS: (Straining) There's so much…pressure…on his mind.
RUTH: What's happening to him?
PRINCESS: Doctor…the Daleks…
DOCTOR: Yes, I know. (To Ruth) Do you want to save this man's life?
RUTH: What do you mean–?
DOCTOR: Do you?!
RUTH: Yes!
DOCTOR: Then take him away from here. As far away as possible. Go and get the carriage round to the stables. You go too, Mollie.
RUTH: But–
DOCTOR: We'll bring him out you. Now go along.
RUTH: Oh, oh… Mollie.
(Ruth goes to Mollie and holding onto one another, the two hurry out of the room.)
DOCTOR: Right, they're gone. What can you tell me, Princess?
PRINCESS: They've…got a hold of…his mind… Trying to fight… It's so strong…
DOCTOR: Then they must have something nearby to exert that strong a control. I can't remember seeing anything…
PRINCESS: Wait…I can…follow the signal…back…
DOCTOR: Can you?
PRINCESS: His…His…His neck…
(The Doctor reaches into the collar of Terrall's shirt, before pulling out a small black box that had been attached using some wire.)
DOCTOR: How's that?
PRINCESS: (Relief) Yes… Yes, it's easing now. His mind is recovering.
(The Doctor puts the black box away in his pocket, before helping the Princess to sit Terrall up, who is regaining consciousness. Terrall looks around in confusion and fright.)
TERRALL: The creatures?
DOCTOR: Yes, don't worry about them.
TERRALL: There's danger, I tell you. Some kind of danger.
DOCTOR: It's all right, we can handle it.
PRINCESS: But you must leave with the others immediately.
(The Doctor and Princess help Terrall to his feet.)
TERRALL: The house, the creatures are…
PRINCESS: They won't follow you, we promise.
DOCTOR: Go to the stables, take everyone there with you.
TERRALL: Yes, very well.
(Terrall tries to walk on his own and stubbles.)
JAMIE: Can you manage?
(Terrall catches his breath and steadies himself.)
TERRALL: Yes…I think so. Wait. (Clutching head) There's something at the back of my mind… Victoria Waterfield. I feel I've harmed her in some way.
DOCTOR: Victoria is safe and well.
TERRALL: You–You're positive?
DOCTOR: I'm positive.
PRINCESS: Don't worry, we'll look after her. But you must leave, now while you have the chance.
TERRALL: But what about you–
DOCTOR: We'll follow once it's safe to do so, but don't worry about us. You must look after those in your care.
TERRALL: In my care… Yes. Yes, I will go to the stables.
PRINCESS: Good luck.
TERRALL: And to you.
(Struggling, Terrall manages to leave the room on his own.)
JAMIE: Well, that's fine for them, but you lied about Victoria.
PRINCESS: You mean you don't know where she is?!
JAMIE: Well, me and this man, Kemel, found her, but then she was taken by Arthur Terrall. She must have gotten away because she's nowhere around here.
DOCTOR: Then we must turn that lie into a truth.
JAMIE: Aye, you'll be sure of that. Now, come on.
PRINCESS: Where are we going?
(Jamie leads them over to the secret passage.)
JAMIE: Back this way. There was a second tunnel that Kemel went down when we split up. If we head that way, we might find him and Victoria. Come on.
(Jamie hurries into the secret passage, with the Princess and Doctor behind him.)
(A short while later, the Doctor, Princess and Jamie are making their way through a gloomy and dimly lit stone passageway, when they finally reach an end.)
JAMIE: But that's not right. Where's Victoria and Kemel?
PRINCESS: Maybe they doubled back?
JAMIE: We would've run into them.
DOCTOR: Hold on a moment.
(The Doctor feels about the wall, until finding a button. Pressing it, part of the wall opens up, revealing a large slab of wood.)
DOCTOR: Help me push this.
(The Doctor and Jamie push on the wood and it moves aside like a door. They step through, with the Princess behind them, entering the hallway outside of the laboratory. They have pushed open a bookcase which conceals the secret passageway.)
JAMIE: Where do we go now?
DOCTOR: Let's see if they're in the lab. There's something we need to check on.
(The Doctor and Princess enter the laboratory with Jamie behind them.)
JAMIE: What could be more important than finding Victoria?
(The Princess puts her hand on Jamie's shoulder.)
PRINCESS: Nothing, but we just need–
(Jamie angrily shrugs of the Princess' hand.)
JAMIE: Don't touch me.
PRINCESS: Jamie?
DOCTOR: Well, what's the matter?
JAMIE: What's the matter– Have you no been listening to me?! Victoria's missing, so is Kemel. People have died. The Daleks are all over the place, fit to murder the lot of us, and you want to check up on–on what?!
DOCTOR: We're doing important work, Jamie.
JAMIE: No, Doctor. I'll have no more of it, from either of you. Once this is over, I'm going my own way. You're both just too callous for me. Anything goes by the board. Anything at all.
DOCTOR: That's just not true, Jamie. We've never held that the end justifies the means.
JAMIE: Then what are we doing here?! Why aren't we looking for Victoria?!
(The Doctor and Princess fall silent for a moment, ashamed.)
PRINCESS: Maybe we have been a bit too narrow minded.
JAMIE: You think.
DOCTOR: Jamie.
PRINCESS: We're sorry. But if we can get this to work, Jamie, then the Daleks–
JAMIE: Och, words. What do I care about words? You don't give that much for a living soul except yourselves!
DOCTOR: That's enough, Jamie!
JAMIE: No, it's no–!
DOCTOR: Yes, it is! You've made your point.
(The Princess sniffs, upset, which Jamie now notices. Jamie lowers his head, a little ashamed, but still angry.)
DOCTOR: Now, listen. We care about life, both I and the Princess. Yes, what we're doing here is very important, and might help the whole universe. But that didn't make putting you through those tests any easier.
JAMIE: What do you mean?
PRINCESS: Everything you did while rescuing Victoria was recorded by the Daleks. They had us use it to create the human factor.
DOCTOR: It was all part of their plan. She was the bait.
JAMIE: Well, why didn't you tell me–
DOCTOR: The Daleks wouldn't let us. If we had, they might have exterminated you.
(Jamie feels more ashamed.)
DOCTOR: We knew you'd be fine, we believed you'd overcome whatever they threw at you. And you did. But that doesn't make what we did any easier.
JAMIE: All right, tell me this. How does helping the Daleks help the universe?
DOCTOR: Well, that's where it gets a little complicated.
(Jamie scoffs.)
DOCTOR: We knew we had to help them, for you and Victoria's sake, but we also thought that we could turn their plan against them.
(Before the Doctor can continue, Jamie notices something across the room and panics. The Doctor and Princess look, seeing the dormant Daleks in the crates are waking up, their eyestalks moving around energetically.)
DOCTOR: It's all right, Jamie. They're friends.
JAMIE: Friends?!
DOCTOR: Well, hopefully.
(Suddenly the front of each crate falls down, providing a ramp for each Dalek to roll off. One by one the new Daleks exit their crates, each looking at one another and around the room with intrigue. Jamie, the Doctor and Princess stand alert, waiting to see what happens next, right as Maxtible enters the room.)
MAXTIBLE: Ah! I see you've completed your work.
(The three new Daleks begins spreading out and moving towards the time travellers.)
PRINCESS: Doctor?
DOCTOR: It's all right. Don't panic.
JAMIE: How do you know you can trust them?
DOCTOR: I think we're about to find out.
(As two of the Daleks close in, the Doctor and Jamie move aside. The Daleks glide past them and towards the Princess, who backs up.)
PRINCESS: H-Hello. It's–It's nice to meet you. I'm the–
(The Princess backs up into the third Dalek which has come up behind her. The Princess yelps as the Dalek's sucker and weapon go under her arms, allowing the Dalek to carry her as it glides about the room.)
DOCTOR: What are you doing?!
JAMIE: Let her go!
PRINCESS: No, Jamie, wait. Wait…
(The Dalek carrying the Princess glide around the laboratory in a circuit, with everyone else watching.)
PRINCESS: (To Dalek) Are we…going for a ride?
(The Dalek carrying the Princess moves its eyestalk up and down excitedly, as if nodding.)
DOCTOR: It's playing a game.
PRINCESS: (To other Daleks) Come on, you can join in too!
(As the Dalek carrying the Princess goes past, the other two Daleks join in, following them in the circuit around the laboratory.)
DOCTOR: They're all joining in now!
PRINCESS: Wheee! Come on, Doctor, this game's fun!
(As the train of Daleks goes by, with the Princess at the front, the Doctor climbs aboard the last Dalek from behind, holding on as they continue going around and around the laboratory. Finding a space, Maxtible crosses over to join Jamie, as the two watch the Doctor, Princess and Daleks.)
MAXTIBLE: A rather amusing little game, don't you think, Jamie?
(Jamie's not sure what to think, as the Doctor and Princess play and laugh with the new Daleks…)