GALLERY
CAST
Regular Cast
Jon Pertwee (
Guest Cast
Nicholas Courtney (
CREW
| Written by | Don Houghton |
| Directed by | Douglas Camfield/Barry Letts |
| Produced by | Barry Letts |
RATINGS
| 1 | “Episode One” | 23: 21 | 9 May 1970 | 5.7m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | “Episode Two” | 22:04 | 16 May 1970 | 5.9m |
| 3 | “Episode Three” | 24:34 | 23 May 1970 | 4.8m |
| 4 | “Episode Four” | 24:57 | 30 May 1970 | 6.0m |
| 5 | “Episode Five” | 23:42 | 6 June 1970 | 5.4m |
| 6 | “Episode Six” | 23:32 | 13 June 1970 | 5.7m |
| 7 | “Episode Seven” | 24:33 | 20 June 1970 | 5.5m |
SYPNOSIS
20th Century Earth. An unhinged scientist, Professor Stahlman, is attempting the first penetration of the Earth’s crust in a top secret drilling project called Inferno. His purpose? To tap into a new energy source at the core. But at what cost?
When The Doctor is called in with his companion Liz Shaw to oversee the project, he soon develops grave misgivings. Things begin to go very wrong when a mysterious green substance leaks from the drillhead. A substance which turns all who come into contact with it into alien primeval creatures called Primords.
Meanwhile, The Doctor finds himself transported into a parallel universe identical to 20th Century Earth.
The mystery deepens as he finds that although the place, time and people are all the same, no-one seems to know who he is.
Only one thing is certain: the drilling must be stopped before the full force of the energy from the core is unleashed, destroying not only this Earth but the one The Doctor has just left behind
PLOT
Episode 1
The Doctor drives Bessie into an area marked RESTRICTED.
The irrational Professor Stahlman dismisses the concerns of Sir Keith.
A maintenance worker named Harry Slocum enters a drilling unit nicknamed Inferno. He introduces himself to Sir Keith Gold and is told there is an issue with output pipe number two. He is urged to fix it quickly, as Professor Stahlman does not want any delays. The Professor is at loggerheads with Sir Keith and tells him he should never have stopped the output pipe for maintenance. He tells Sir Keith never to make a decision with regards to the drilling again, and to focus on running the project’s canteen.
As Slocum is fixing the pipe, he sees a green goo emanating from the base. He touches it, and it burns. He is horrified to see his hand turn green.
Sir Keith discusses the Professor with his personal assistant Petra. He confides that he has sent for an expert in oil rig mining, Greg Sutton, as he is nervous that there is no one with real drilling expertise on the mission.
As Slocum leaves, he seems entranced. He heads outside the complex and stumbles against a piece of scaffolding. A man rushes out to help him. With a growl Slocum turns on him and kills him with his wrench.
In a room inside the complex, Benton is hanging a picture in what is to be the UNIT HQ. The Brigadier enters and asks if there has been any sightings of Slocum. Benton says there hasn’t been. The Doctor enters, and the Brigadier tells him of the murder. He shows him the wrench. It is still warm and, when it was found, it was red hot. The Brigadier comments that trouble seems to follow The Doctor around, and he questions why he asked to be on this mission. The Doctor says that an opportunity to be at the first penetration of the Earth’s crust was not to be turned down. He heads off to do some experiments of his own.
Sutton has arrived and is bewildered at having been pulled over with such urgency. Sir Keith shows him around the complex. He says that the drill head is twenty miles deep. This has been achieved by having no pipes, the pipes visible containing coolant delivered to the drill bit. Instead, there is a robot drill that is fed by a cable from a nuclear reactor. Sutton asks what this is hoping to achieve. The project is aiming to pipe Stahlman’s gas (named after the Professor), a powerful energy source trapped inside the Earth’s crust since the dawn of time. Sir Keith begins to introduce Sutton to the staff. He tries to flirt with Petra and is snubbed. On introduction to the Professor, he is cold. The Professor thinks that Sir Keith is trying to introduce as many experts into the project as he can to try to close it down. He counts The Doctor as one of these. Sir Keith introduces Sutton to The Doctor and asks his opinion on the project. He says that they should be heeding the warnings of the computers. As he leaves, he overhears the Professor complaining about the experts to Petra. He causally, but loudly, points out a flaw in the mechanics to a near by scientist, causing the Professor’s blood to boil.
The Doctor pulls up to a small building being guarded by a UNIT soldier. He asks if there is any news about Slocum; he is told that there isn’t. The Doctor uses a device to open the door to the building remotely and drives Bessie in. Liz is inside working on the TARDIS console. The Doctor hands over the figures from the computer and tells herof the murder. She already knows as the sentry told her. They discuss the real reason they are here. The Doctor wants to use the nuclear power to try to jump start his TARDIS console. He wants a test run straight away. Liz starts flicking switches and positions herself by the main switch.
Slocum is skulking around the complex. He is now covered in hair and has claws. He enters a building where a UNIT soldier is on the phone. Slocum approaches him from behind.
The Doctor says he is ready. Liz pulls the lever down. The machine registers 7 mega volts.
Slocum has killed the UNIT soldier. He pulls a switch down to maximum.
The console begins to shake. The Doctor says that there is too much power. Liz cannot do anything as the circuits are locked. The console and the Doctor dematerialise.
The Doctor is in some kind of limbo and is in some pain as he and the console fly through the darkness. He flies off into the black.
Liz uses a plank of wood to force the levers down.
The Doctor and the console reappear. The Doctor is groggy but fine. He is keen for another trial run. Liz tries to dissuade him, but he says he needs to know where he was. An alarm goes off. It is the drill head. The Doctor and Liz hurry off to Bessie.
The complex is in lock down as the drilling room fills with smoke. The Professor argues with Sir Keith as to why he ordered the lockdown. Sir Keith implores him to shut off the power, but he refuses. Sutton says that if the power is stopped now, it will never be able to be restarted again. Petra is ordered to check the coolant. Sutton tries to stop her, saying that the pressure is too dangerous, but she doesn’t care. The Doctor and Liz enter. The Doctor says that there has been a nuclear power surge. The Brigadier enters and says that there has been another murder. The Doctor goes to the Professor to give him his advice, but he tells him to stop wasting his time. The Doctor heads off with the Brigadier. Petra returns, saying that the controls are jammed with the heat. Suffolk tries to stop her from heading off but instead goes with her to help. They find the Professor trying to stop it manually. Sutton helps.
The Doctor and the Brigadier go to examine the body. As they do, Slocum jumps up, growling.
Episode 2
The Doctor stops any UNIT forces from attacking.
Sutton has sorted the issue with the coolant. The Professor says the readings are too high. He gets offended when Petra suggests they need The Doctor.
The Doctor tries to calm Slocum. A UNIT soldier, Private Wyatt, sneaks up on Slocum and prepares to attack.
The Professor is trying to contact The Doctor.
The phone is ringing, but everyone ignores it. Slocum attacks Wyatt. Wyatt manages to shoot him twice. They wrestle, and then Slocum slumps to the ground.
Sir Keith wants to stop the drilling, but the Professor blocks it.
Slocum is wounded but alive. The Doctor wants to turn off the switch but can’t as it is too hot. He borrows the Brigadier’s gun and uses that. Slocum dies. As he slumps down, the wall he was leaning on is blackened and scorched. The Doctor answers the phone and tells the Professor he has sorted everything.
The Professor tells his workers to return to their duties. Sutton is cross at him and says he is just asking for trouble. He tries to confide with Petra and implores her to try to persuade the Professor.
The Doctor and the Brigadier examine the body. He was shot twice through the heart but remained alive for several minutes. The Doctor marvels at his abnormal resistance and strength. The body is still hot. The attacked UNIT scientist and Private Wyatt are seemingly fine.
The Doctor and the Brigadier climb to the roof to discuss what is going on. The Doctor suggests that there is some kind of retrogression of body cells that causes the victim to turn into animals. The Doctor says that it is a very slow process and wasn’t complete with Slocum. The Brigadier asks if he has ever heard a noise like the one Slocum made. The Doctor says he has, at Krakatoa in 1883. The Brigadier asks if there is a link. They are interrupted by a UNIT soldier, who reports that Wyatt has disappeared. The Brigadier and the soldier rush off to find him. The Doctor sees him high above on a walkway and pursues him. When he catches up, Wyatt is animalistic. He approaches The Doctor, wielding his gun like a club. He swings too hard and throws himself off the edge of the walkway. The Doctor shouts for no one to touch him.
The UNIT scientist emerges from the building in a trance.
The Professor wants to increase the drilling speed. Petra calls him into a room where Sir Keith and Sutton are examining something. They open a box and show the Professor a vial of the green goo. Sir Keith says that it has defied analysis and that it is very tricky to analyse as it is too hot and does not cool down. The Doctor tries to suggest what it is, again mentioning Krakatoa. The Brigadier wants to talk to the Professor and Sir Keith. The Professor is reluctant to comply. The Brigadier insists. Left alone, Liz and the Doctor discuss the substance. The Doctor says he wants to hear it as he thinks it will let off a scream. Liz asks him to come and look at one of the computers.
The Professor is callous and is not bothered about the deaths on his site. The Brigadier and Sir Keith plead with him to show more mercy. He says he has no time for these deaths nor any crazy theories of the Doctor’s. The Doctor enters and asks if the Professor ever intends on paying heed to his computers. The Professor insists that the computers are over sensitive. The Doctor reacts angrily. Petra rushes in and says that the vial holding the green goo is about to break. The Professor strides out and, against The Doctor’s suggestions, takes the vial in his hands and puts it back into the box. He orders it to be deep frozen. The Professor makes it clear that his discussion with the Brigadier is over and that the computer is faulty. The Doctor shows the Professor the computer and warns him that he should stop the drilling. Again, the Professor says that the readings are inaccurate. The Doctor goes to leave. The Professor tells him that he is taking away the nuclear power that he has been using to experiment with the TARDIS. The Doctor tells him that he is being childish. The Professor tells Petra that they can up the work rate of the drill in 25 minutes. Petra asks if it is safe, but the Professor disregards her. As he is left alone, he discovers that his hand is green.
The Doctor asks Liz to go back to their hut and test the tri-gamma circuits on the console. Subtly he flicks a switch on one of the computers and closes his hut back up.
The Professor enters and opens the computer and removes a microcircuit. He finds a truncheon in the Brigadier’s desk and goes to smash it. The Doctor stops him. He goes to do it again, and the Doctor uses Venusian aikido to paralyse him. The Brigadier breaks it up. The Professor leaves, saying that The Doctor is a mad man. The Doctor tells the Brigadier what he saw. When they challenge him, the Professor accuses The Doctor of trying to sabotage the drilling. They check his pockets, and he no longer has the microcircuit. As The Doctor leaves, he points out that the computer has already stopped working. Unseen, the Professor stamps on the microcircuit which he had dropped on the floor.
The Doctor returns to his hut. Liz has fixed the tri-gamma circuits. She asks why he asked her to do it, and he says he strongly believes that the console is fine; it is just the nuclear surge that ruined his test. Liz says she is relieved they can’t test again. The Doctor sends Liz off to run some tests through the computer. As soon as he is alone, he busies himself with the console.
As Liz leaves, she is pursued by the animalistic form of the UNIT scientist.
Liz returns to find the computer broken. When she explains to the Brigadier why she is there, he says that The Doctor knew the computer wasn’t functioning. Liz rushes over and sees that the switch to provide power to The Doctor’s hut is on. She and the Brigadier run off.
The Doctor hangs onto his console as it begins to shake.
The Professor notices that the power is down. He runs over to the switch and switches The Doctor’s poweroff.
Liz and the Brigadier return to see The Doctor, his console and Bessie dematerialise.
Episode 3
Liz tries to bring back the now disappeared Doctor, but there is no power. Wherever The Doctor is, he’s trapped.
Liz and the Brigadier return to the base. The Brigadierorders the Professor to reconnect the power and explains why. He refuses. Sir Keith threatens to tell the Ministry about this and the new mining speeds. The Professor tells him to do so. When the Professor leaves, Sir Keith says he will go to London as soon as possible but can’t leave the Professor to do as he pleases at this critical point of the drilling.
The Professor’s hand is now bright green. As he puts some gloves on, he is seen by Petra, who tells him to get it checked. He tells her not to worry.
Liz berates the Brigadier for not showing concern over The Doctor. The Brigadier says he has many concerns of which The Doctor is one.
The Doctor awakes. His surroundings are somewhat altered. On the wall is a poster that reads UNITY IS STRENGTH along with a black-and-white photograph of a man with a thin moustache. His device does not open the door, so he forces it open. The shed door has a sign reading TECHNICAL STORE with an unfamiliar logo on it. He drives Bessie out of the garage and pauses to close the door when he is shot at by soldiers. After protesting, he jumps aboard Bessie and drives off, pursued by the soldiers, who consider him a saboteur. He soon finds himself in a dead end where a soldier jumps aboard Bessie. The Doctor and the soldier fight as TThe Doctor drives. He manages to throw the soldierout of the car. He parks Bessie between some houses and hides in a bin. The pursuing soldiers run into the house, allowing The Doctor to escape. The Doctor sneaks onto a walkway above the compound and watches the soldiers look for him. He hears a snarl behind him, and one of the animalised humans approaches him. As he attacks, The Doctor uses a fire extinguisher to subdue him. This draws the attention of the soldiers, who continue to pursue him. Another animalised human approaches him. The Doctor counters his attack with a wooden pole.
Below, the soldiers are ordered to shoot on sight. They see a figure above them and shoot. The animalised human falls to the ground.
A female figure marches though the compound. The Doctor sees that it is Liz, only with a different haircut. The Doctor draws attention to himself and asks why she is wearing those clothes. The woman looks confused, draws a gun and blows her whistle for backup. She orders they take him away.
The Doctor is brought into the Brigadier’s office, where he is met with a figure similar to the Brigadier but with an eyepatch and a large scar by his eye. He asks how The Doctor got in. The Doctor responds quizzically and asks who he is. The man reveals himself to be Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart, while the woman is Section Leader Elizabeth Shaw and the other man is Platoon Under Leader Benton. When the Brigade Leader asks who The Doctor is, The Doctor realises what has happened. He introduces himself as Doctor John Smith and says he is from a parallel space-time continuum. The Brigade Leader is unsure if he is mad or bluffing. The Doctor shows he has knowledge of the drill and the people running it. He wants to see Professor Stahlman or Sir Keith. The Brigade Leader takes him to Director Stahlman.
On the way, The Doctor notices that the drilling is three hours and twenty minutes away from the core, much in advance of where The Doctor has come from. When The Doctor is brought to the Director, he asks to see Sir Keith. The Director tells him that Sir Keith was killed in a car accident twenty-four hours ago, while on his way to the ministry in London. The Doctor draws attention to the broken computer that was giving out warning signs before it broke down. The Director accuses The Doctor of having broken it and calls him away. He turns to Dr. Petra Williams, the Assistant Directorof the project, and asks her to continue the drilling. Sutton tells her that there is no pressure getting to the drill head. Dr. Williams says she is aware of this, and tells the Director what Sutton told her. He refuses to decelerate. Once he is left alone, he feels a pain in his hand. He takes off the glove, and it is bright green all over and hairy.
The Doctor is being made to wait by the Brigade Leader. He asks what is going to happen to him and is told that he will be executed without trial under the Defence of the Republic Act 1943. When The Doctor asks about the Royal Family, he is told they were all executed. When The Doctor tries to sit down, he is forced to his feet by the soldiers. When he badmouths them, the Brigade Leader tells him he cannot insult the Republican Security Forces who have been brought here to protect the drilling. The Doctor says they will need protecting if the computer that was giving out danger signals or the death of Harry Slocum is anything to go by. The Brigade Leader says he is showing the amount of knowledge that only a spy could possess. The Doctor insists that he has seen it all in his world. The phone rings, and the Brigade Leader rushes out. Elizabeth tells him that Central Records have returned no match for The Doctor; officially, he does not exist. This confuses the Brigade Leader as Central Records have never failed him before. They both interrogate him.
Dr. Williams is informed of a minor leak in the drill head. Sutton questions her and is frustrated when neither she nor the Director seem to be bothered. An alarm goes off.
Hearing the alarm, the Brigade Leader and Elizabeth rush out. The Doctor calls over the guard and immobilises him with karate.
Smoke and green goo are pouring out of the drill head. The Brigade Leader is ordering all of his men and all of the scientists to remain at their posts. Amongst this chaos, The Doctor sneaks forward.
Sutton orders the scientists around, to no avail. Dr. Williams watches the reading increase. The scientists start to abandon their posts; the Brigade Leader threatens to shoot them. The Doctor has found a toolbox and is scrabbling around looking for a microcircuit. He is discovered by Platoon Under Leader Benton, who holds a gun to his head and remarks there is a firing squad outside waiting. The Doctor implores with him, saying that he knows how to stop all this. Benton is unmoved and asks him “Are you coming with me quietly, or do I shoot you here and now?”
Episode 4
Elizabeth stops Benton. The Doctor thanks her, but she says that she only did so because it goes against procedure. The Doctor tries to buy time to fix the computer, and eventually Elizabeth allows it. The computer begins to work and assesses the problems. The Director is angry that The Doctor has been allowed access to the computer. Sutton and Elizabeth stick up for him.
Sutton and the Director argue about the safety precautions. Dr. Williams starts to listen to The Doctor’s theories. The Doctor says that the heat and the pressure is proving too much for the velocity of the drill and that the only way to counteract it is to produce a reverse vortex by reversing all the systems. Reluctantly the Director agrees, then sends The Doctor away. Elizabeth compliments The Doctor, and then asks where he came from. He repeats his story about the parallel universe. She asks about the version of herself in The Doctor’s universe. He says that she is a scientist. Elizabeth says that there is no similarity. The Doctor asks if she every contemplated being a scientist, and she admits she studied physics at university. The Doctor points out that it is there where the two points diverged. Elizabeth is doubtful, but The Doctor encourages her to think for herself.
Dr. Williams and Sutton talk about The Doctor and his motivations for saving them. Sutton says he intends on cutting the drill down to minimum speed, regardless of what the Director thinks. Doctor Williams tells Sutton that he needs to start towing the line a little more. Sutton refuses, despite knowing that those that disobey orders “disappear”.
Elizabeth is told that the emergency is over, thanks to The Doctor. The Doctor warns Elizabeth about the dangers of the drilling operation.
The Director asks Sutton for progress and is told all is well. The Director tells Sutton he intends on increasing the drilling speed. Sutton says that this is madness. The Director threatens to dispose of Sutton if he continues to disobey him.
The Brigade Leader and Elizabeth are firing questions at The Doctor. They ask him his name, who sent him, whether he is a saboteur, what organisation he works for, whether he is a traitor, how he gained access to the complex, who helped him and which of their enemies he is working with. The Doctor does not answer. Elizabeth warns him they have other methods of extracting this information and repeats the question. The Doctor says that he came on his own, by accident, and has slipped sideways through time. Elizabeth asks the Brigade Leader for permission to go to stage two interrogation. He blocks this, as he is fearful Te Doctor will die before talking.
The Doctor hears the acceleration of the drilling and rises to try to stop it. The interrogation continues. The Director enters, wanting to know what progress is being made. The Doctor draws attention to the Director’s gloves and challenges him to take them off. The Director tries to brush over this, but the Brigade Leader asks him to. He does so, and his hands are bandaged underneath. He says that he scorched them on a section of the drill head. The Doctor begins babbling about the green goo and infection. The Brigade Leaderorders The Doctor to be taken to the Security Centre and asks Elizabeth to supervise him into his cell. When they are alone, the Brigade Leader questions why the Director is so concerned about The Doctor. The pair squabble, and the Director leaves, saying he wants The Doctor”liquidated” by the end of the day.
Sutton and Doctor Williams conspire about the Director. Sutton is questioning why he is continuing to up the speed of drilling. Doctor Williams appears convinced by Sutton.
The Doctor is escorted to his cell by Platoon Under Leader Benton. He notices he has a sleeping figure in the cell next to him. Platoon Under Leader Benton says he will be sleeping for some time, as he has been shot with a tranquilliser dart. Elizabeth comes to check on him. The Doctor refuses to be interrogated any more, until Platoon Under Leader Benton orders him to his feet at gunpoint. Again, Elizabeth asks who The Doctor is and how he came to the complex. The Doctor, again, tells the truth. Platoon Under Leader Benton asks for a moment alone with The Doctor to extract the information from him. Elizabeth sends all the guards away. She puts to him that he is a protester from a free speech group who is forming a demonstration and that if he confesses to that he will only get a few years in a labour camp. The Doctor refuses. Elizabeth says she will leave him to the Brigade Leader and leaves. Left alone, The Doctor tries to talk to the sleeping figure. After no response, he goes to sleep. A green hairy hand emerges from beneath the sheets.
Back in The Doctor’s universe, the Brigadier tells Liz that the UNIT soldiers have searched the entire complex for The Doctor, to no avail. They will not extend their search beyond the complex. Liz is concerned that The Doctor could be anywhere in space or time. When the Brigadier says that The Doctor can look after himself, Liz warns that he is not indestructible.
Sir Keith asks the Professor if there are any problems or precautions with the drilling. He responds in the negative to both. Sir Keith says he is going to London and, unless he receives some kind of assurances, he will tell the minister of the unsafe practices being carried about by the Professor. The Professor says he has no intention of playing it safe. When the Professor leaves, Sir Keith tells the Brigadier and Liz that he is not sure that the Minister will even listen, as he has been blinded by the Professor’s promises of free energy. Sir Keith has an ominous feeling about the whole thing.
In the parallel universe, The Doctor awakens to snarling from the sleeping figure. He calls for the guard, who enters to investigate. He is attacked and killed by the animalised human under the sheet. The creature approaches The Doctor and bends the bars to enter The Doctor’s cell. The Doctor flips his mattress onto the creature, knocking him over, and escapes via the creature’s open cell, locking the door behind him. He runs into the complex and approaches a Land Rover. He is surrounded by people and in an effort to hide gets into the back of the truck as it drives off.
The drill is thirty-five minutes from penetrating the Earth’s crust. Sutton asks Doctor Williams if everything is ready. Sutton has an ominous feeling about the whole thing and thinks they should be paying more attention to the computer.
The Doctor has found a pile of full protective suits in the back of the truck.
A guard discovers the carnage in the cell.
The truck draws up and the Doctor, now dressed in one of the suits, finds both soldiers and scientists waiting at the back of the vehicle. The Doctor tries the ploy of handing out the suits to the men, and it works.
The drill is three minutes from penetration. The Director stares intently at the readings.
The Doctor re-enters the compound with other similarly dressed men.
The drill is two minutes from penetration. The disaster crew is at action stations. The Doctor and the other men in protective suits enter the main area and line up. The Doctor sneaks away and begins to tamper with a computer. The drill is one minute from penetration. The Brigade Leader notices The Doctor and calls to him, telling him to get back to his post. The Doctor unveils himself by removing his protective helmet and shouts that the countdown should be stopped. The Directororders The Doctor to be shot. The Brigade Leader draws his gun. Sutton protests. The Doctor warns that they are about to release forces that they’ve never dreamed of. The drill lets out a high pitched whine. The Doctor angrily yells “Listen to that! That’s the sound of this planet screaming out its rage!”. Sutton attacks the Brigade Leader and implores The Doctor to run. Wherever The Doctor turns he is blocked by resistance security forces. The Director now has the Brigade Leader’s gun and is pointing it at The Doctor. The countdown reaches zero.
Episode 5
The ground shakes, and everyone falls to the floor. Everyone around them screams and abandons their posts in panic. The Brigade Leader attempts to stop them. The Doctor staggers to his feet and tries to stop Sutton, who has donned a spare protective suit taken from a wall locker, from going in. The Director is attempting to enter as well; Sutton stops him and warns he should put a protective suit on before going in, but the Director breaks free of Sutton’s grip and rushes on inside ahead of the pair. The Doctor theorises that the Director is not feeling the heat quite as much as they are.
Dr. Williams confirms that nothing can be controlled remotely.
Inside the drilling station, there is a huge explosion, and the green goo bubbles out of the drill.
Sutton and the Doctor enter in their protective suits. Suddenly, Sutton is struck about the head by the Director. Whilst Sutton is unconscious, the Director removes his helmet. The Director and the Doctor have a fist fight. The Director is winning when Sutton staggers to his feet and strikes the Directorover the with a metal pole before collapsing in the fumes. The Doctor helps Sutton out. When The Doctor tells everyone what the Director did, they want to go in there and save him. The Doctor comments that he seems to like it in there. Sutton and the Doctor prepare to go back in when the door is closed from the inside.
Inside, the Director is purposely contaminating people with the goo.
The Doctor asks how thick the door is. Sutton replies that it is enough to stop a nuclear explosion. The Doctor warns that it will not be enough — saying compared to the energy unleashed from the Earth’s core, a nuclear explosion would be little more than a summer breeze.
An explosion rocks the complex.
The Brigade Leader returns to see almost everybody has abandoned their post. Dr. Williams says that the computer is broken. The Brigade Leader reports of seismic tremors and earthquakes all over the country. The government have put him in control. Sutton asks if they have any plans to seal the shaft. The Brigade Leader says they do not. Sutton asks The Doctor if it is possible. The Doctor says that no substance in the world is strong enough to withstand the unleashed energy. The pressure will only get worse until, in days or weeks, the Earth will vaporize. An animalised human has appeared behind them. The Brigade Leader goes to attack it, against the wishes of the Doctor. The Brigade Leader tries to shoot it, to no avail. The Doctor uses a fire extinguisher, which immediately kills it. The Doctor explains that the creatures can’t stand the cold. Sutton wants to leave. Dr. Williams says she will accompany him. The Brigade Leader draws his gun on them. Benton says he has found some resistance security forces. The Brigade Leader tells him to ensure nobody leaves the building.
Benton marshals his troops.
Dr. Williams is attempting to fix the computer. Sutton says there is no point and that they are all going to die. Dr. Williams says the whole complex needs re-wiring. Sutton says there is no chance of that as the government has abandoned them. Sutton s oftens his tone when he sees how distressed Dr. Williams is. She now realises that it is the end. She and Sutton embrace. Sutton says he plans to leave and asks if she wants to come with him.
[In the Brigade Leader’s office, The Doctor, the Brigade Leader, Elizabeth, Sutton and Dr. Williams listen to the radio as an announcer reports geological disasters occurring in the Eastchester area.]
Elizabeth is losing her mind at the planet’s imminent demise. The Doctor says they still have a chance to save the other world. The Brigade Leader is exasperated that The Doctor is still continuing with that story. The Doctor explains the concept of the TARDIS and the fact he could use their nuclear reactor to get it working. He explains that in his world the drilling is behind schedule, and he can stop it before it takes place. The Brigade Leader wants to take a look at the TARDIS. As they leave, Doctor Williams tells him that all systems are breaking down. Once left alone, Sutton and Dr. Williams talk about when to escape.
The Brigade Leader inspects the TARDIS console. The Doctor shows a few movements left over from residual energy. The Brigade Leader still doesn’t believe. Elizabeth asks to see some pro of. The Doctor drains the storage unit to travel a few seconds into the future. He asks if the Brigade Leader is satisfied. The Brigade Leader wants to know if The Doctor can take anyone else with him. The Doctor says he cannot, as to do so will create a dimensional paradox that would shatter the entire space-time continuum. The Brigade Leader says if The Doctor can save himself, he can save them, and they shall return to the main control area.
Platoon Under Leader Benton is still keeping the resistance security forces in line despite the explosions around them.
As Dr. Williams is working, a voice calls to herover the loudspeaker. She alerts Sutton, who hears it too. The Brigade Leader, Elizabeth and the Doctor join them to hear the voice of the Director asking Dr. Williams to raise the heat shield as the manual controls are jammed. Dr. Williams goes to do this. The Doctor tries to stop her, but the Brigade Leader draws his gun and allows her to do so — reasoning that if the Director has survived, he must have found a solution and they need him in the main control area. The heat shield opens halfway, and a figure in a protective suit pulls it the rest of the way. He pulls off the helmet to reveal the animalised human, and is joined by a group of others like him. The creatures do not attack, as they are acclimatising to the change in heat. Everyone tries to escape, but they are stopped by the creatures. Platoon Under Leader Benton enters and is immediately seized by the creatures. One of them rubs a handful of green goo across Benton’s face, and he screams before falling to the ground. The Doctor pulls some wires out of the computer, and the door closes. This creates a distraction to allow them to escape into the office. Sutton wants to save Platoon Under Leader Benton, but The Doctor forbids it. Platoon Under Leader Benton staggers around in pain as he begins to turn into one of the creatures.
Sutton is dismayed that he was not allowed to save Platoon Under Leader Benton. The Doctor says that nothing could have been done as the heat would have sped up his change into one of the creatures; that is why he closed the heat shield. The Brigade Leader and Elizabeth tell Dr. Williams about The Doctor’s “spacecraft”.
In The Doctor’s original universe, Sir Keith is on the way back from the ministry when he notices he is being taken a different route. The driver informs him that there is traffic. Sir Keith tries the car phone, but it isn’t working. Sir Keith tells the driver that the minister has suspended the drilling pending a full review. Sir Keith begins to get suspicious of the driver, and he eventually confesses that the Professorordered him to take the long route home and pretend to break down. Sir Keith asks the driver to return to the complex. As he does, the pair are involved in a car accident.
In the parallel universe, the creatures are clawing at the office door.
Inside they are all discussing the revelations about The Doctor. They all believe him, with the exception of the Brigade Leader. The Doctor says he has a plan to get out of the office, but is interrupted by one of the creatures breaking through the glass panel in the door.
Episode 6
The Doctor uses a fire extinguisher to push the animalised humans back. The Doctor needs ten minutes to execute his plan to connect the TARDIS to the nuclear reactor. Dr. Williams questions if there is any power running through the system. The Doctor checks the air conditioning system — it is working. Dr. Williams says it must have been switched to robot control; she would need to boost the output by resetting the emergency control, but the master switch in the next room needs to be fixed first. Sutton suddenly remembers that there is a huge amount of coolant in the adjacent room which they can use to hold off the creatures. The creatures break through, and they immediately put the plan into action. The Brigade Leader holds back the creatures with the fire extinguisher, while Sutton tries to access the coolant. The hose to the coolant has seized up, and the Doctor has to help. The Brigade Leader is surrounded, and his fire extinguisher has dried up. Just in time, Sutton has the coolant working and forces the creatures back. Sutton and the Doctor decide to stay and fix the master switch.
Once outside, the Brigade Leader wants to abandon The Doctor and Sutton. Elizabeth and Dr. Williams say they intend to stay.
The Doctor tells Sutton that he can go if he wants, but he refuses. Sutton asks The Doctor how he will convince them to stop drilling in his own universe. The Doctor says he may be able to convince Sir Keith. Sutton says he is dead, and the Doctor says he may still be alive in his own universe.
Back in The Doctor’s original universe, the Brigadier receives a phone call saying that Sir Keith has disappeared. Benton enters and says that the Professor is refusing to see the Brigadier and has insulted him. The Brigadier loses his temper and furiously orders Benton to bring the Professor to him; even if it means carrying him.
Liz is in The Doctor’s hut, flicking switches to attempt to return The Doctor to his original timeline. The door rattles. Liz checks who it is and opens the door to reveal Sutton. He is curious what has happened to The Doctor, seeing as nobody saw him leave. He thinks that The Doctor blew himself up and that everyone is covering it up. Liz explains that there was some kind of accident but won’t be drawn on any other details. Sutton tells Liz about Sir Keith.
The Professor is outraged at having been literally dragged away from his work by Benton and rails against the Brigadier. The Brigadier tells the Professorof the disappearance of Sir Keith. The Professor suggests an accident. The Brigadier says there has been no report of an accident. The Professor suggests that he might not have heard what he wanted to hear from the minister and may have taken himself off. The Brigadier says that, due to not having heard from the minister, he thinks that penetration zero should be delayed due to Sir Keith’s objections. The Professor refuses.
In the parallel universe, Sutton is still holding off the animalised humans. The Doctor has fixed the master switch. Sutton clears a path with the coolant, and they both escape, grabbing fire extinguishers as they go.
Dr. Williams sees The Doctor and Sutton emerge. They all run off.
Soon Bessie pulls up at the Control Centre. Dr. Williams immediately sets about fixing the computer. The Doctor and Sutton set off to get tools and cable. As they do, they feel the tremors of a distant earthquake. They head off to Bessie.
The animalised humans start emerging from the complex due to the fact it is warm enough outside for them now.
The Brigade Leader loses his temper with Dr. Williams, telling her to hurry up, but she says shouting at her isn’t helping. Elizabeth sides with Dr. Williams. The Brigade Leader explains that he has no intention of letting The Doctor escape alone.
The complex is now covered with the animalised humans.
The Doctor and Sutton have got back to the hut. Sutton is underwhelmed by the console. The Doctor asks him to fix the connector to the cable. Sutton warns him that if the entire output of the nuclear reactor is run through the cable, it will only last a few seconds. The Doctor assures him that that is all he will need.
The Brigade Leader asks Dr. Williams how much longer she will be. She says that there is a problem with the relay circuits, and she is attempting a double bypass. The Brigade Leader loses his temper again. Elizabeth turns on him. The Brigade Leader says he plans to hijack the TARDIS and if The Doctor refuses to be persuaded, he will kill him.
Sutton implores The Doctor to make sure he stops them from drilling and connects the cable. He says that, with luck, it should work. The Doctor says they don’t need luck but skill.
Dr. Williams thinks she is ready. She pulls the lever and nothing happens. She says there must be a fault. The Brigade Leader is furious for her wasting their time. She says she will try again, but it will involve re-wiring the whole system.
Sutton and the Doctor are waiting for the circuit to be complete. Sutton says that, if those explosions reach the nuclear reactor, they are all done for.
The Brigade Leader watches the shaft split open. The animalised Director enters, and Dr. Williams and Elizabeth run out. The Brigade Leader shoots the animalised Director repeatedly until he falls to the ground. All three of them run off, pursued by the creatures. They are sporadically thrown to the ground byearthquakes.
Back at the hut, Sutton is impatient, but The Doctor is resigned to the plan having not worked. Sutton sees the trio coming. Dr. Williams apologises for the plan not having worked. The Doctor says it is fine. The Brigade Leader is furious and says it is far from fine. Sutton and the Brigade Leader argue. The Brigade Leader pulls his gun on him. Sutton says he will be only speeding up his death. The Brigade Leader pulls the trigger, but there are no bullets in the gun. The pair fight, and the Doctor makes them stop — saying that they don’t want to end their lives fighting like animals. They notice that Dr. Williams has gone back to the Control Centre to try to remedy the situation. Sutton goes to help her.
Dr. Williams is re-wiring the computer when Sutton enters, furious. She asks what any risk to herself matters. The animalised Director awakes, and Sutton attacks it with a fire extinguisher. As he does, Dr. Williams gets the circuit working. They run to the hut.
Elizabeth notices that the console is working. The Doctor says it is gaining power rapidly. The Brigade Leader pulls his gun and orders him to take them with him. He fires the gun in the air to prove it is now loaded. The Doctor says he wants to, but can’t as it will cause a cosmic disaster. The Doctor says the Brigade Leader is going to have to shoot him. There is a gunshot — and the Brigade Leader falls, shot in the back. Elizabeth re-holsters her revolver; she is the one who fired the shot. The other three implore The Doctor to leave now.
A huge explosion shakes the complex. Lava begins to flow from where the drill shaft was. Men and animalised humans run in terror.
The Doctor says he cannot dematerialise as the power is too erratic. Lava begins to flow towards the doorof the hut.
Episode 7
The Doctor is prostrate and unconscious on the floorof the hut. He is discovered by Liz, who calls for Benton to fetch the Brigadier.
It is three hours and twenty-two minutes until the drill penetrates the Earth’s crust. The Professor gives orders to boost the drilling. Petra is unsure as to the safety, but the Professororders it. Petra tells Sutton, who wants to confront the Professor, but Petra stops him, saying that she will try first.
Benton tells the Brigadier about the return of the Doctor. Sutton overhears.
The Professor will not listen to Petra. He is strongly affected by a noise that emerges from the drill. Petra is worried for his health, but he says he merely has a headache. Sutton tries to persuade the Professor. Again he is blocked, and again the noise has an effect on the Professor. The Professor storms off, leaving Petra and Sutton worried about his mental health.
Liz is checking The Doctor’s health. All is fine, and he is just in some kind of coma. The Brigadier wants to fetch a doctor, but Liz blocks him.
Sutton warns the Professorof an issue with the number two output pipe. The Professor ignores him. Sutton loses his temper, and the Professor says that if he is so worried, he should leave. Sutton goes to leave when Petra stops him. Sutton tries to convince her to come with him, but she says she can’t. They are interrupted by an explosion from the drill head.
The Brigadier is informed of the issue. The Doctor stirs. He mutters that the number two output pipe has blown. The Brigadier is stunned, as he has only just heard that information himself. Still in his coma, The Doctor mutters, “Reverse all systems immediately”, before slipping back into unconsciousness. Liz goes to Central Command to tell them what The Doctor said.
The Professor is struggling to keep everyone in their positions and is refusing to stop the drilling. Liz enters and asks Sutton and Petra what would happen if they reversed the systems. Sutton says it is not a bad idea. Petra says they would never get the Professor to agree. Liz says they should just do it. They all rush off.
The Doctor stirs in his coma.
It has worked. Liz says it was The Doctor’s idea.
The Professor is angry at Petra for having not run the plan past him.
The Doctor awakens to the Brigadier and Liz. He tells the Brigadier he looks better with a moustache. He checks his pulse and is healthy. He tells Liz and the Brigadier where he has been. They think he is still delirious. He asks the Brigadier, who he calls the Brigade Leader, if they have caught the animalised scientist, whether the Professor seems ill and the state of the drilling. There is a knocking at the door. It is Sir Keith, who explains about his forced delay and the car accident. The Doctor is overjoyed to see he has survived his accident. Sir Keith tells the Brigadier that the Professor is going to face some serious charges. The Doctor has realised that with an infinity of universes comes an infinity of choices, free will is not an illusion and patterns can be changed. The Doctor stops the Brigadier from calling a doctor for him and tells Sir Keith what is going to happen.
The Doctor bursts into Central Command and says that drilling must be stopped. The Professororders the Brigadier to arrest him. The Doctor rushes to a computer and attacks it with a wrench. The Brigadier pulls him away and orders him to be taken to the sick bay. Sir Keith confronts the Professor. The Professor says he has no intention of going to see the minister until after drilling is complete.
Petra tells the Professor that they will be switching to robot controls in forty-nine minutes. The Professor says he feels cold and orders her to increase the temperature. He has some kind of fit that causes the scientists to look at him in shock. The Professor then orders them all to leave the area, saying he will finish the procedure alone.
Sutton and Petra are shocked as to what the Professor is doing. The Professor closes the heat shield.
The Doctor uses Venusian karate to knock out his guards before running off and hiding. The guards come to and run past him in his hiding place. The Doctor is approached by the animalised scientist. He neutralises him with a fire extinguisher.
The Professor studies the green goo that is dripping out of the drill head. He rubs his hands and face with it before falling to the ground.
Petra hears the cries of the Professor through the loudspeaker and is concerned for The Doctor. Sutton tells Sir Keith that they cannot access him as he has locked the heat shield from the inside.
Behind the heat shield, the Professor is fully animalised.
The computer is advising that the drilling should be stopped. The Doctor re-enters just as the heat shield rises and the animalised Professor emerges. The Professor attacks The Doctor with a chair, but he and Sutton blast him with fire extinguishers, killing him instantly. The Doctororders that the drilling be stopped. Sutton says that they should cut off the power. Petra warns that this would cause the drill to disintegrate; Sutton says that would be for the best. Petra stops the drilling, but it continues. Sir Keith warns of the buffer controls, which cause the drill to slow rather than stop dead. This means the drilling will continue for five minutes — long enough for the drill to penetrate the Earth’s crust. The Doctor and Sutton run off and discover the server switches have been smashed. With one minute left, The Doctor begins to tamper with the switch. Everyone looks on, worried. With thirty-five seconds left, The Doctor and Sutton return, having stopped the drilling for good. Liz hugs The Doctor. The Doctor says the shaft should be filled in immediately, while the Brigadier arranges for a stretcher party to take away the Professor’s body.
Back in the hut, The Doctor and Liz are working on the TARDIS console. There is a knocking at the door. It is Sir Keith, accompanied by the Brigadier. He has come to say goodbye. Sir Keith says everyone is leaving as the project has been abandoned. The Doctor is told that he has one more day with the nuclear reactor before it is dismantled. Sir Keith also informs them all that Sutton and Petra left together. Once alone, Liz and the Brigadier ask why The Doctor still wants to use the nuclear reactor. The Doctor says that the console is now fully functional, and he can use it at will. The Brigadier sc offs at him, and the Doctor says he reminds him of the Brigade Leader. He bids goodbye to Liz before saying that he cannot stand another moment with the Brigadier, whom he describes as a “pompous, self-opinionated idiot”. He flicks a few switches and disappears with the console; this time, Bessie remains in the hut. Liz turns to the Brigadier, cross that he has forced The Doctor to leave. Just then, there is a cough at the door. A rather bedraggled-looking Doctor stands at the door. He informs them he moved a few seconds forward in time and space, landing in the rubbish tip! The Doctor tries to smooth over his cross words to the Brigadier in an effort to get some UNIT soldiers to return his console, which has landed in “a somewhat inaccessible position”. Liz laughs.
NOTES
MEDIA CLIP