(The DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER are driving at top speed in Bessie down the road and then the driveway of the nearby hospital. As they approach, the BRIGADIER points out a figure in a dressing gown stumbling out from the hospital near the circular termination to the driveway. As the car pulls up by him they recognise a haggard-looking Major BAKER, who collapses onto the gravel. The DOCTOR and BRIGADIER jump out of Bessie and rush to examine him.)
BRIGADIER: Is he dead?
(The DOCTOR looks up.)
DOCTOR: Yes... the first one.
(A HOSPITAL medic and a nurse arrive on the scene.)
HOSPITAL DOCTOR: What's going on here?
BRIGADIER: Keep back.
HOSPITAL DOCTOR: What do you mean, "keep back"? This man is ill.
DOCTOR: This man is dead. He was killed by an alien disease.
HOSPITAL DOCTOR: Alien?
(The BRIGADIER draws his service pistol and trains it in the direction of the HOSPITAL DOCTOR and Nurse.)
BRIGADIER: Inside.
HOSPITAL DOCTOR: Come on.
(The HOSPITAL DOCTOR draws the Nurse aside and they return to the hospital.)
DOCTOR: Right you'd better get this place quarantined. I'm going back to the laboratory.
BRIGADIER: Right. I'll stay here.
(The DOCTOR drives off rapidly in Bessie, while the BRIGADIER produces his TM45 pocket radio and extends its antenna.)
BRIGADIER: UNIT leader to base. UNIT leader to base.
DOCTOR: Have you finished with those prophylactic injections yet?
LIZ: Yes, nearly. Do you think pumping broad spectrum antibiotics into everyone is going to do any good?
DOCTOR: Hmm, it's all we can do at the moment.
LIZ: Will you roll up your sleeve please Doctor.
DOCTOR: Oh now wait a moment Liz.
LIZ: Now you've been exposed to the infection just as much as everyone else.
DOCTOR: Liz.
LIZ: I know all about your different biochemistry but we don't know if it makes you immune. Now roll up your sleeve. Come on.
DOCTOR: Yes... Have it your own way.
(The DOCTOR rolls up his sleeve and turns his head away while LIZ administers the injection. He appears not to notice the jab.)
LIZ: Did it hurt?
DOCTOR: Did what hurt? Oh yes, it was agony.
LIZ: Have you managed to identify the bacterium?
DOCTOR: No not yet, I'm still waiting for that scanning microscope. It's supposed to be on it's way.
(The BRIGADIER enters the lab in time to hear the DOCTOR's statement.)
BRIGADIER: It'll be here Doctor.
DOCTOR: Well I'm glad to hear it. Now then. How about that hospital?
BRIGADIER: I've got the entire place cordoned off.
DOCTOR: Good. And your own men?
BRIGADIER: They've all been treated, we've sent in a medical team to help Doctor Meredith in the hospital.
DOCTOR: Splendid. Has anyone else gone down with the infection.
LIZ: Yes. Miss Dawson. She collapsed half an hour ago.
BRIGADIER: Yes, and the doctor and the nurse we saw at the hospital, and the ambulance man who took Baker there. Now has everyone here been inoculated?
LIZ: Yes they've all been taken care of, except Doctor Lawrence. I can't find him anywhere.
DOCTOR: Yes, well I'd be very happy to lose him. What about that chap from London, Masters?
LIZ: Haven't seen him either. Better go and find both of them.
(LIZ exits.)
BRIGADIER: Do you think we'll be able to contain this disease Doctor?
DOCTOR: We may be able to contain it. The question is, can we cure it? Excuse me.
BRIGADIER: We were in contact with Baker. Does that mean we're infected too?
DOCTOR: Can't be sure, Brigadier. Can't be sure of anything.
BRIGADIER: Oh... I'd better let you get on with it.
DOCTOR: Thank you.
(LIZ enters again in a hurry.)
LIZ: Masters is gone.
DOCTOR: Gone where?
LIZ: He caught the train to London. He must be nearly there by now.
BRIGADIER: Right, I'll get onto it, maybe we can get him at the station. Will you come with me Miss Shaw?
LIZ: Oh I'm helping the Doctor.
BRIGADIER: I'll need help manning the phones.
LIZ: I am a scientist, not an office boy!
BRIGADIER: You're a member of UNIT Miss Shaw, and you'll do as you're told!
LIZ: I will not be spoken to in that manner!
DOCTOR: Liz, ...
LIZ: Doctor!
DOCTOR: ... go with him please. Anyone who's been in contact with Masters has got to be quarantined. He may spread that disease all over the country.
LIZ: Oh.
(MASTERS leaves the train at Marlyebone Station, announcements sounding on the tannoy public address system. A taxi pulls up for MASTERS, who stumbles into the back seat.)
TAXI DRIVER: Where are you going, Sir?
MASTERS: Ministry of Science please.
(As the taxi pulls away, police cars with their sirens blaring arrive to close down the station.)
(The DOCTOR looks on while the scanning microscope is set up by a couple of white-coated technicians.)
DOCTOR: Look, ah, please hurry, this is very important you know.
TECHNICIAN: I'm being as quick as I can, sir.
BRIGADIER: Everything alright, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes, I think so. Now then, have they found Masters?
BRIGADIER: Not yet, they've sent a police car to the station.
DOCTOR: Yes, well he has to be found and put into quarantine at once.
BRIGADIER: Doctor, suppose I'm a carrier?
DOCTOR: No, I don't think you are. So far the antibiotics have kept the disease in check. (to the technicians) Have you finished? Good, splendid.
TECHNICIAN: [...]
DOCTOR: Thankyou.
BRIGADIER: What do you think the Silurians will do now, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Well it's hard to say really. I think they'll lie low for a while, and let the disease really get to work.
BRIGADIER: Well I've got men at all the cave mouths, and I've sent for reinforcements so we'll be ready for them if they do try anything.
DOCTOR: Brigadier, at all costs we must avoid a pitched battle.
BRIGADIER: You don't still think we can co-exist with the Silurians do you?
DOCTOR: Well don't forget that one of them released me, which is giving us our only chance of defeating this disease.
BRIGADIER: Maybe one of the Silurians is friendly but the rest seem determined to wipe us out.
DOCTOR: Yes. Look, Brigadier, I have a great deal of work to do!
BRIGADIER: Yes, of course.
YOUNG SILURIAN: Remove the body. I am the leader now!
(Two Silurians drag the corpse of the Old Silurian leader from the control room. When they have gone, the YOUNG SILURIAN whispers fiercely to himself:)
YOUNG SILURIAN: I am the leader now!
(The SILURIAN SCIENTIST enters and reports to the YOUNG SILURIAN.)
YOUNG SILURIAN: Has the disease reduced the numbers of these apes?
SILURIAN SCIENTIST: Their resistance may be stronger. They may even develop a cure.
YOUNG SILURIAN: The disease will be beyond the understanding of their science.
SILURIAN SCIENTIST: We cannot be sure. That Doctor - the one who took the sample of bacteria - was a highly intelligent specimen.
YOUNG SILURIAN: They are only apes. They will not develop a cure.
(LIZ is waiting for the phones in the conference room to ring, when Dr LAWRENCE enters.)
LAWRENCE: Time hanging heavy on your hands, Miss Shaw?
LIZ: We're waiting to hear from London.
LAWRENCE: A matter of life and death, no doubt.
LIZ: Exactly that.
LAWRENCE: Where's the Brigadier?
LIZ: He's with the Doctor. The scanning microscope has arrived.
LAWRENCE: Oh how pleasant to be able to obtain ah, expensive pieces of scientific equipment so easily.
LIZ: Can I help you at all Doctor Lawrence.
LAWRENCE: I doubt it, I have a complaint to bring to the Brigadier.
LIZ: A complaint?
LAWRENCE: Yes. My establishment has been brought to a complete standstill. My staff are suffering the ill-effects of a series of compulsory injections, and...
LIZ: (interrupting) You haven't had your own injections yet, have you.
LAWRENCE: No, nor do I intend to.
LIZ: But you've got to have them, it's for your own good.
LAWRENCE: Rubbish. Why should I waste my time having useless injections against an imaginary epidemic.
LIZ: Doctor Lawrence. It is quite clear that the disease exists. Major Baker is dead.
LAWRENCE: He may have been ill for some time. I shall be interested to see the results of the post-mortem.
LIZ: Doctor Lawrence, you must admit there are...
LAWRENCE: (interrupting) I will admit nothing. There is no epidemic.
LIZ: Doctor Lawrence, please listen to me!
LAWRENCE: (interrupting) You will excuse me, Miss Shaw.
(Dr LAWRENCE turns to stalk out of the conference room, and as he goes through one of the double-doors the BRIGADIER enters through the other. LAWRENCE goes on his way as though he hasn't seen the BRIGADIER, his complaint forgotten.)
BRIGADIER: Now what's the matter with him?
(One of the phones on the desk rings, and LIZ reaches to pick it up. After listening she hands the phone to the BRIGADIER, who pulls up a seat. We hear one side of the conversation:)
BRIGADIER: Lethbridge-Stewart. Yes. (pauses) When? (pauses) I see. Alright, alright, I suggest you get on with it. Yes, I know London's a big place!
(The BRIGADIER puts the phone down and pulls his chair closer to the desk.)
BRIGADIER: Police just missed Masters at the station.
LIZ: Well did anyone see him?
BRIGADIER: A ticket collector remembers someone who might have been Masters. Said he looked very ill. Anyway he got a taxi and drove off.
LIZ: Well then they're sure to find him.
BRIGADIER: Do you know how many taxis there are in London? And how many men who look more or less like Masters?
(A taxi pulls up near the Ministry of Science as a police car drives past with its siren blaring. MASTERS looks confused as the TAXI DRIVER asks him for the fare.)
TAXI DRIVER: [...] please, sir.
(MASTERS begins fumbling in his coat for a wallet.)
TAXI DRIVER: Are you alright, sir?
TAXI DRIVER: [...]
TAXI DRIVER: Hey sir, you've forgotten your change sir!
(MASTERS unsteadily lurches away from the taxi, not hearing the TAXI DRIVER.)
(In one of the vast galleries of the Wenley Moor caves, a private stands in position. After a moment he turns around, hearing a footfall.)
WRIGHT: Who's that?
WRIGHT: Who's that?
(Private WRIGHT sees movement in the dark and returns to his portable phone connecting him to the other UNIT troops.)
WRIGHT: Wright, gallery five over!
(A Silurian steps out of concealment a few steps away from WRIGHT and kills him with a lethal blast from the third eye.)
WRIGHT: (dies with a blood-curdling scream)
(Sergeant HART had received Private WRIGHT's call, and is shouting into the receiver.)
HART: Come in gallery five! Come in gallery five!
(Overhearing the conversation, Captain HAWKINS marches over to HART.)
HART: No good sir, line's gone dead.
HAWKINS: Well what did he say?
HART: Just gave his name and the gallery number sir.
HAWKINS: Well we'd better go in after him.
(HAWKINS is about to depart for gallery five. HART reminds him softly:)
HART: Brigadier's orders were to stay here sir.
HAWKINS: I want to know what happened to that man. Corporal!
CORPORAL: Sir!
HAWKINS: Take over here. Come on, Sergeant!
(The Silurian that killed Private Wright hardly fails to notice the approach of Sergeant HART, who is shouting out at the top of his voice, and hides behind a rock.)
HART: (bellowing, out of view) WRIGHT! WRIGHT!
(Announcing his presence thus, Sergeant HART, followed by Captain HAWKINS, emerges into the gallery.)
HART: WRIGHT!
(The Silurian jumps out at HART and HAWKINS, again blasting with the third eye. HART is trapped directly in the field of the Silurian's eye, while HAWKINS dodges to one side and is saved by taking cover.)
HART: (dies with a loud yell)
(As HART collapses HAWKINS lets off a round from his pistol, but the Silurian steps back and the shot riccochets harmlessly. HAWKINS retreats from the gallery.)
YOUNG SILURIAN: Look! Soldiers are guarding the exits from the caves!
SILURIAN SCIENTIST: Perhaps the humans can resist the bacteria.
YOUNG SILURIAN: We must recapture the one that took the sample. Without him the others will die from the disease.
SILURIAN SCIENTIST: Come with me.
DOCTOR: That's excellent, thank you.
LIZ: That's quite a collection.
DOCTOR: One of those drugs - maybe a combination of them, will probably cure this disease. The question is, which?
LIZ: Where are you going to start?
DOCTOR: By finding out more about that bacterium. I've already analysed it. I need to know more about its effect. Can you get me a blood specimen from someone who's been infected?
LIZ: Yes, of course.
DOCTOR: (to himself) I only hope I shan't be too late.
(People dropping like flies. An announcement is made over the tannoy in a futile attempt to maintain calm.)
TANNOY: [...] Stay where you are. Do not attempt to leave the station. [...] assistance will be brought to you. Attention please! Attention please! [...] Stay where you are. [...]
(MASTERS has had it; sound of police car in distance, then pulling up. MASTERS runs up ramp past a couple of bystanders)
LIZ: There's that blood sample.
DOCTOR: Good, splendid. Who did you take it from?
LIZ: That ambulance man you had brought back to the sick bay.
DOCTOR: Oh? How is he?
LIZ: Getting worse. How are you getting on?
DOCTOR: Ahh, no idea. We may be getting somewhere now, though.
(The DOCTOR prepares a slide.)
LIZ: They've sent you just about every drug in existence. Surely there must be something!
DOCTOR: My dear girl. Some of these drugs are so new they don't even know their properties yet.
(The DOCTOR finishes the slide.)
DOCTOR: Right. Here goes.
(The DOCTOR puts the slide under the scanning microscope.)
DOCTOR: Nope, that's no good, let's try the next one.
(Without the help of Liz, the BRIGADIER is having to fend for himself as the phone lines to the research centre are swamped.)
BRIGADIER: The Doctor and Miss Shaw have been working flat out for a very long time. They are tackling an immensely difficult task under conditions of great pressure, and I do not propose to make it worse for them...
(The other phone begins ringing...)
BRIGADIER: ... by breathing down their necks. Excuse me will you.
(The BRIGADIER takes the other call.)
BRIGADIER: Will you hold on please.
(The BRIGADIER puts down the other phone and returns to his first caller.)
BRIGADIER: Yes, of course I'll let you know as soon as I get any result that's at all positive, good bye.
(Recording more results on paper, the DOCTOR frowns as yet another slide fails to evince a positive effect on the bacterium.)
DOCTOR: Well, that's no good. You know, I'm beginning to lose confidence for the first time in my life. And that covers several thousand years.
LIZ: (ruefully) Well at least you've narrowed it down to forty possible drugs. Have you considered the addition of A thirty-seven in the presence of Zed nineteen might well be effective?
DOCTOR: Yes, that's a possibility, let's try.
(As the DOCTOR prepares another test, LIZ nearly falls asleep on her feet and moaning softly, she slumps forward over the bench.)
DOCTOR: Liz, watch what... You all right?
LIZ: Sorry! I feel dizzy.
DOCTOR: Yes, well I expect those antibiotics are wearing off. You'd better go down to the sick bay and have another... another jab.
LIZ: What about you?
DOCTOR: I'm all right.
LIZ: Oh come on Doctor, I think...
DOCTOR: (interrupting forcefully) Liz, I am all right!
(Another conference call of the BRIGADIER's drags on as no progress is apparent, except for the ongoing spread of the Silurian epidemic.)
BRIGADIER: Yes. Could hardly be worse, could it. (pauses) Right.
(LIZ enters as the BRIGADIER finishes his call and puts down the phone.)
LIZ: Who was that?
BRIGADIER: The Ministry.
(LIZ's face lights up with hope for a moment.)
LIZ: Masters?
BRIGADIER: He's dead. Outbreaks of the disease are being reported all over London.
(A long silence follows, broken by the sudden invasion of the conference room by the dishevelled figure of Dr LAWRENCE, who is horribly disfigured by the Silurian disease.)
LIZ: Doctor Lawrence! (to the BRIGADIER) - his face!
BRIGADIER: (sharply) Doctor Lawrence, you really must report to the isolation ward at once.
(Dr LAWRENCE has manifestly lost all reason.)
LAWRENCE: I've had enough of you.
BRIGADIER: (blustering) I really must insist sir, you're endangering all of us.
LAWRENCE: You insist! Oh you do insist?
BRIGADIER: Now listen...
LAWRENCE: (interrupting) Before you people came, I was director of an important research establishment. Now the place is shut down, my career's in ruins - and you are to blame!
(The madness of Dr LAWRENCE is blatantly obvious as he shouts the last phrase, pointing a finger at the BRIGADIER.)
BRIGADIER: Oh you're talking absolute nonsense.
LIZ: Don't argue with him, I'll go and get one of the medical orderlies.
(As LIZ prepares to leave the room behind him, Dr LAWRENCE jumps in her way to prevent her going.)
LAWRENCE: You think I don't know what's going on, don't you! This whole business has been a plot to get rid of me!
BRIGADIER: Oh really, Doctor Lawrence.
LAWRENCE: You think? I know I've got enemies in the ministry! Even Masters!
LIZ: All right, Doctor Lawrence. We want to help you.
LAWRENCE: Well you can clear out of here, all of you! And take that crazy Doctor with you! And all of your military rubbish!
(With this, LAWRENCE sweeps all of the BRIGADIER's files off the desk, plonking it to the floor, and all remaining sense of restraint is broken.)
LAWRENCE: (shouting, out of control) I'M IN CHARGE OF THIS PLACE!
(The BRIGADIER does not react.)
LAWRENCE: WELL ARE YOU GOING!?
(LAWRENCE hurls himself across the desk, lunging at the BRIGADIER's neck.)
LAWRENCE: OR DO I HAVE TO THROW YOU OUT MYSELF!
(The BRIGADIER attempts to block Dr LAWRENCE from throttling him, as glasses clatter and clink. He delivers a sharp blow to his chest. Dr LAWRENCE convulses and clutches his chest, trying frantically to draw breath. After another violent shudder Dr LAWRENCE falls to the ground, his body contorted and eyes staring in death.)
LIZ: He's dead.
DOCTOR: Eureka!
(The BRIGADIER puts down the phone and turns to LIZ.)
BRIGADIER: Bad news, Miss Shaw. The first one abroad: Paris.
LIZ: If we can't contain it Britain - what chance has the world got?
BRIGADIER: If only we'd prevented Masters from leaving here!
(The DOCTOR urgently strides in from the laboratory.)
DOCTOR: I think I've found it.
BRIGADIER: (excitedly) You've found the antidote?
DOCTOR: Well it works in the laboratory, now let's see whether it works in practice.
BRIGADIER: (picking up the phone) Get me Doctor Crawford.
SILURIAN SCIENTIST: This is the closest point to the human's base.
YOUNG SILURIAN: Then we will penetrate from here.
(The Silurians open up a passageway in the rock using their third eyes.)
DOCTOR: [...] I suppose?
LIZ: Yes, his temperature has dropped, and his pulse is normal.
DOCTOR: That's excellent, excellent!
(The ambulance driver seems to be come to and murmurs quietly)
DOCTOR: Eh, there's a good chap. That's it. Now you'll want to telephone that formula to London. I'll go and write it out for you straight away.
LIZ: Thankyou.
(The DOCTOR hurries back to the laboratory.)
BRIGADIER: Will the medical team be able to mass produce enough in time?
LIZ: Well, they've been standing by for hours. All they need is the formula.
BRIGADIER: I'll get a line open to them.
(Captain HAWKINS rushes in.)
HAWKINS: Sir. The Silurians have killed Sergeant Hart.
BRIGADIER: Any sign of a major attack?
HAWKINS: Yes. They've broken out of their base and are advancing everywhere.
BRIGADIER: Right.
(The phone rings loudly and the BRIGADIER crosses over to answer it.)
BRIGADIER: The Daily what? How did you get hold of this number? Look, I have no comment to make, now will you please get off this line.
(The BRIGADIER slams down the phone.)
BRIGADIER: What's keeping the Doctor?
LIZ: You leave him alone, he's got a complicated formula to transcribe.
Doctor Who
JON PERTWEE
Liz Shaw
CAROLINE JOHN
Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart
NICHOLAS COURTNEY
Major Baker
NORMAN JONES
Masters
GEOFFREY PALMER
Dr. Lawrence
PETER MILES
Miss Dawson
THOMASINE HEINER
Captain Hawkins
PAUL DARROW
Private Robins
HARRY SWIFT
Old Silurian
DAVE CARTER
Young Silurian
NIGEL JOHNS
Silurian Scientist
PAT GORMAN
Silurian Voices
PETER HALLIDAY
Silurians
PAUL BARTON
SIMON CAIN
JOHN CHURCHILL
Title music by
RON GRAINER and
BBC RADIOPHONIC
WORKSHOP
Incidental music
composed and
conducted by
CAREY BLYTON
Visual Effects by
JAMES WARD
Script Editor
TERRANCE DICKS
Designer
BARRY NEWBERY
Producer
BARRY LETTS
Directed by
TIMOTHY COMBE
BBC tv
Transcribed by
PHILIP LEGGE
Forward to Episode 7.
Back to Doctor Who and the Silurians index.