In the year 4000, the Daleks conspire to conquer the Solar System. Their scheme involves treachery at the highest levels and a weapon capable of destroying the very fabric of time. Only the Doctor and his friends can prevent catastrophe - and there is no guarantee they will escape with their lives...
5:50pm - 6:15pm [SCENE_BREAK] 1: EXT. KEMBEL. JUNGLE CLEARING (As the DOCTOR approaches the TARDIS, he stops to catch his breath. He sees movement through the trees and hides. He watches from the undergrowth as three DALEKS emerge from around the TARDIS. The DOCTOR looks on in horror as they surround the ship. He ducks further back into hiding...) (...as the DALEKS look over the TARDIS.) FIRST DALEK: Inform base security that a further intruder craft has been located. SECOND DALEK: I obey. FIRST DALEK: Security patrols five and seven will converge on this area. Priority alert. Invaders to be located and destroyed! (The FIRST DALEK glides away. In the bushes, a worried DOCTOR also backs away from the scene and heads off into the trees. Back at the TARDIS, the FIRST DALEK glides back.) FIRST DALEK: A message from the Dalek Supreme - Operation Inferno to be put into execution at once. SECOND DALEK: Inform all units. Evacuate patrols to safety areas. Confirm with units in position. On confirmation, start abbreviated countdown for Operation Inferno. (The DOCTOR continues to observe...) [SCENE_BREAK] 2: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CONFERENCE ROOM (MAVIC CHEN sits alone in a large conference room. A shallow ramp descends into the room and at the bottom of this ramp spread out on either side two quarter-circle tables. CHEN is at one of these tables, writing on one of a numbers of papers in front of him. A menacing humanoid creature, dressed in a black cloak, appears at the top of the ramp. Its face is covered by a black hood with two slanting gashes for eyeholes. The creature starts to walk down the ramp. CHEN looks up and sees it approaching. The creature speaks with an arrogant, slightly high-pitched lilt to its voice which echoes in the cavernous chamber.) ZEPHON: Mavic Chen, Guardian of the Solar System? MAVIC CHEN: Yes? ZEPHON: I am Zephon, Master of the Fifth Galaxy. MAVIC CHEN: Of course. I had hoped to meet you once before - at the Intergalactic Conference of Andromeda. ZEPHON: I did not attend, and now you know the reason. The Daleks held a separate council at the same time. None of us of the outer galaxies went to yours. MAVIC CHEN: Erm... except Trantis. ZEPHON: We agreed to send a delegate. In order that the conference should not become suspicious. (CHEN gestures to the papers in front of him.) MAVIC CHEN: I have been reading the reports on the previous meetings here. The Daleks have evolved a most interesting plan. ZEPHON: We of the outer galaxies have contributed to it also. MAVIC CHEN: (Smiles.) Oh, of course. But you must admit the Daleks have a... a genius for war. ZEPHON: That is so. However, one thing surprises me: that you, Guardian of the Solar System, have agreed to become one of us. MAVIC CHEN: Why the surprise? As you say, I am Guardian of the Solar System. But that is nothing more than a part, however influential, of one galaxy. Would you be satisfied with just a part of a galaxy? ZEPHON: The solar system is exceptional. In its power lies influences far outside its own sphere. Surely by joining with the forces determined to destroy that power, you mark yourself out as a supreme traitor? MAVIC CHEN: Traitor? (He laughs.) An archaic word for so advanced a... "man" as yourself. Considering that the planet Fisar and the Emodyment Gris have both, at different times, tried to depose you, do you still maintain that you're the mouthpiece for your own galaxy? ZEPHON: I do... now that I am all-powerful with my position. MAVIC CHEN: True. But then you do not understand the conflicting powers within our solar system. Now let us go and take some air. This is hardly the time and the place for so serious a discussion. ZEPHON: But first we must... MAVIC CHEN: (Interrupts.) Some air! (They walk out of the room.) [SCENE_BREAK] 3: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (A DALEK glides into the reception area where the DALEK SUPREME waits.) DALEK SUPREME: Report. DALEK: Guardian of the Solar System - Chen - must be watched. His ambitions exceed his usefulness. DALEK SUPREME: When he has served his purpose, he, like the others, will be eliminated! No power in this universe can stop the Daleks! [SCENE_BREAK] 4: EXT. KEMBEL. JUNGLE (STEVEN wakes up in the jungle. KATARINA watches him as he begins to recover. He is no longer wearing his Grecian tunic but instead sports a corduroy jacket and trousers. He is still short of breath.) STEVEN: Where's the Doctor? KATARINA: He will be here soon. STEVEN: I don't understand... where are we... I can't think straight. KATARINA: You must rest. The tablets I gave you have made you better. But you must still rest. STEVEN: Tablets? Now what's going on here? What are we doing out here in the jungle? KATARINA: We had to leave the temple - the TARDIS. The evil ones came. STEVEN: Evil ones? KATARINA: He called them the... Daleks? STEVEN: (Shocked.) Daleks! (He drifts back into unconsciousness. KATARINA continues to watch over him but she is alerted by a sound in the trees. Some bushes part and the DOCTOR emerges.) DOCTOR: Katarina! (He walks over to her.) KATARINA: (Delighted.) My lord! DOCTOR: Doctor! Doctor! What are you both doing here? KATARINA: The evil ones searched for us but Bret helped us. He said they were evil! DOCTOR: Yes, well whoever this Bret is, he's quite right! The Daleks are evil things. KATARINA: Bret is the man you put in your magic chair. DOCTOR: What? That young ruffian, mmm? KATARINA: But he helped us! DOCTOR: And you released him? KATARINA: Was I not right to do so? (The DOCTOR grunts.) KATARINA: When the evil ones came, he said we had to flee from your temple. DOCTOR: Oh, my TARDIS, child, my TARDIS. Yes, you... you were right. I mean, he wasn't to know that you were quite safe away from the Daleks in there. (He looks down at STEVEN who is awake again.) DOCTOR: How is this young man? STEVEN: I'll be all right in a minute or two. Thanks Doc. DOCTOR: Good, good, good. KATARINA: Bret says the time is four thousand... DOCTOR: Mmm? KATARINA: And he came here and only just got away from the evil ones. He gave Steven some white tablets, and he's almost well again. DOCTOR: Ah, I see, I see. (Laughs.) Yes, and I clamped him in that chair. (Laughs.) And he's the very fellow with the anti-toxin. (To STEVEN.) Well, young man, you'd better pull yourself together. We've got some work to do. (He helps STEVEN up.) [SCENE_BREAK] 5: EXT. KEMBEL. JUNGLE CLEARING (BRET watches from a place of concealment, near to the TARDIS as a patrol of three DALEKS line up in the jungle. A fourth DALEK glides up to them and gives an order.) FIRST DALEK: Operate pyro-flames! DALEKS: We obey! (The DALEKS all have torches in place of their usual arms. Fierce flames emit from these and they start moving through the jungle, setting light to trees and undergrowth as they go. A horrified BRET moves away from the scene of devastation.) [SCENE_BREAK] 6: EXT. KEMBEL. JUNGLE (Nearby, the DOCTOR is helping a still weakened STEVEN to walk.) DOCTOR: Aren't you feeling better, hmm? STEVEN: Look, Doctor, I think I can manage on my own now. DOCTOR: Carefully, carefully. Now, just rest for a minute. Take a few deep breaths, hmm? Don't try to run before you can walk, hmm? Though you may have to. (BRET VYON suddenly appears from the jungle.) DOCTOR: Oh, it's Bret, isn't it? Yes, thank you. Tell me, what's happening, hmm? BRET VYON: It's the Daleks, they're using flame guns. I think they're gonna burn down the jungle! DOCTOR: Oh, good gracious me! We must try and get back to the TARDIS. We're in grave danger here. STEVEN: Doctor, don't you see it's a trap? That's exactly what they want us to do! DOCTOR: Yes, yes, yes, possibly, possibly. STEVEN: We can't act without thinking. DOCTOR: (Angrily.) I never do and never shall! STEVEN: But you're all set to go straight back to the TARDIS. KATARINA: You said we should never have left it. DOCTOR: Yes, you're quite right my dear. It's the safest place. STEVEN: Oh yes? If the Daleks are waiting outside for us, it will be suicide. DOCTOR: Oh, not necessarily, not necess... STEVEN: Who's going to play the scapegoat? KATARINA: Supposing Steven were right? DOCTOR: Well, in this instance, child, he might be, but I know the Daleks! STEVEN: So do I, Doctor! And look, I think we should stay here until we know exactly what they're going to do! DOCTOR: Yes and they could track us down at any time. STEVEN: We'd hear them! DOCTOR: No... STEVEN: I mean, the... the Mechanoids... DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Oh, they were robots... STEVEN: So what? DOCTOR: These are Daleks! Now you listen to me, young man, I am in charge of this situation. (As their voices get louder, BRET comes over to them.) BRET VYON: Quiet! Will you shut up! (He points his blaster at the DOCTOR.) BRET VYON: At least that's stopped you arguing? DOCTOR: Well, upon my soul! BRET VYON: Now look here, I don't care what happens to you, but I've got to warn Earth! DOCTOR: Yes, and you will have to do far more than that! If the Daleks are doing something drastic, then we have to stop the Daleks! Now, will you shut up - sir, hmm? (BRET glares at the old man...) [SCENE_BREAK] 7: EXT. KEMBEL. ANOTHER PART OF THE JUNGLE (The DALEKS continue to move through the jungle, burning everything in their path as they go with their flame-throwers. Thick black smoke fills the air. ) [SCENE_BREAK] 8: EXT. KEMBEL. JUNGLE (BRET and the DOCTOR are still arguing...) BRET VYON: One, we learn the Dalek plans... DOCTOR: We know, young man... BRET VYON: (Insistent.) ...and two, get the information back to Earth. DOCTOR: Now just listen, listen, listen! Think back for the moment. Just think back! If the Daleks are going to attack Earth, as you seem to fear, then you must tell Earth to look back in the history of the year 2157, and that the Daleks are going to attack again. History will show how to deal with them. BRET VYON: Who cares about history? DOCTOR: Now listen... STEVEN: I can smell smoke! (The DOCTOR and BRET stop arguing and they look round.) STEVEN: Yes, look! (STEVEN points at more burning trees.) DOCTOR: Yes, you're quite right, young man, they're going to trap us, hmm. KATARINA: (Scared.) Doctor, it's like the wall of fire. DOCTOR: Oh, no, no, no! Not quite, not quite my dear. We're going to get out of here! Come on, this way! (VYON realises with surprise which direction the DOCTOR is moving towards.) BRET VYON: That's the way to the Dalek city! DOCTOR: But of course! That's the last place they will expect us to go. Come along! (The DOCTOR and his party move off again, followed by a surprised BRET as the crackling of the fire echoes around them.) DOCTOR: Come along! [SCENE_BREAK] 9: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (MAVIC CHEN and ZEPHON stand in the reception area, watching the blazing jungle.) MAVIC CHEN: The magnificent power of the flame. Primitive, but efficient. ZEPHON: You too would have used ultrasonics? (CHEN considers...) MAVIC CHEN: Mmm, if I had nothing better. Well, the meeting must start soon. ZEPHON: You appear so keen to be a model delegate one might think you are afraid of the Daleks. MAVIC CHEN: A dangerous statement. Remember where you are. ZEPHON: Ha! The solar system is so far behind that it believes the Daleks need to eavesdrop? MAVIC CHEN: Of course not. ZEPHON: The Daleks needed me. Without my help, they would never have got the co-operation of the masters of Celation and Beaus. We are on equal terms. MAVIC CHEN: Really? Three galaxies for the price of one. ZEPHON: I do not understand you? MAVIC CHEN: Perhaps I'm one of those who knows my place. Are you coming in to take your seat? ZEPHON: They will not start the meeting without me. I feel like waiting... here. (MAVIC CHEN bows and departs, leaving ZEPHON arrogantly alone.) [SCENE_BREAK] 10: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CONFERENCE ROOM (In the conference room, the other delegates are gathering. The DALEK SUPREME is in position on its raised dais at one end of the room. Another DALEK glides down the ramp and reports to its superior.) DALEK: Zephon... DALEK SUPREME: It was expected. His usefulness is over. [SCENE_BREAK] 11: EXT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY (The DOCTOR, STEVEN, KATARINA and BRET VYON arrive at the edge of the jungle and the outer wall of the DALEK city. Next to it is the landing pad for the spaceships of the delegates. BRET points in astonishment to them.) BRET VYON: Look at that! STEVEN: Oh, just look at those ships. Beautiful, aren't they? (But VYON is concerned at one ship in particular. His face is puzzled.) BRET VYON: That one in the middle - that's from Earth. That's Mavic Chen's! DOCTOR: You know that spaceship? BRET VYON: Yes, I do. It belongs to the Guardian of the Solar System! DOCTOR: Oh, then you'll know how to fly it, hmm? BRET VYON: Yes, of course I do, but... DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Well, that's the one to go for, isn't it? (He chuckles.) BRET VYON: I can't believe it. It doesn't make sense! STEVEN: If you know how to use it, what's the worry? BRET VYON: Look, he's the Guardian - don't you understand? STEVEN: So what? We don't want him, just his ship. BRET VYON: He's the ultimate head of the solar system! Now what's he doing here with the Daleks? STEVEN: Well, that's what we want to find out! DOCTOR: Would you both be quiet, please? We've got to take that spaceship if we're going to warn Earth! Look out. (The DOCTOR leads the way as they move along the wall to the reception area.) [SCENE_BREAK] 12: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (When he reaches this point, he peers round the corner but then ducks back out of sight and signals to the others to stay back. ZEPHON is still stood in the reception area, watching the distant fires. He moves closer to the corner where the DOCTOR'S party are in hiding. BRET moves towards the DOCTOR, signalling to him to keep back and let him pass. The DOCTOR does so. When ZEPHON is near enough, BRET jumps forward and knocks the alien unconscious with the butt of his gun. ZEPHON falls to the ground with a groaning, gurgling sound. The travellers pull him back out of sight.) [SCENE_BREAK] 13: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CONFERENCE ROOM (The DALEK SUPREME looks over the galactic delegates at their allotted places in the conference room. He sees the gap in their ranks.) DALEK SUPREME: Where is the master of Zephon? MAVIC CHEN: He will be here... eventually. (The DALEK SUPREME turns and speaks to two waiting DALEKS.) DALEK SUPREME: Search for him! (As the DALEKS glide off, CHEN smiles...) [SCENE_BREAK] 14: EXT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY (STEVEN and BRET have tied up ZEPHON with vines and creepers from the jungle. STEVEN has caught a glimpse of ZEPHON'S true visage under the hood of the cloak.) STEVEN: What is it? I've never seen anything like this, it's hideous! DOCTOR: Well, obvious or not my boy, it's quite obvious he's one of the representatives, hmm? (Laughs.) BRET VYON: Good job we managed to find these vines - now we can get to the ship. DOCTOR: No, no - not yet, not yet! Not until we find out exactly what the Daleks are planning. And this may be our only chance! BRET VYON: I don't understand? DOCTOR: I am going to that conference STEVEN: Doctor, that's crazy! DOCTOR: Oh... STEVEN: You can't go to their conference! DOCTOR: Why not? (He points at the prone ZEPHON.) DOCTOR: If I wear his cloak, why not? STEVEN: Should they find you, they'll kill you! DOCTOR: Oh, nonsense! You three can take over the spaceship, and I can join you later. KATARINA: Are you sure you will be safe? DOCTOR: Oh yes, now don't worry, my child, don't worry! (He takes BRET to one side.) DOCTOR: Er... (He pulls the recording device that he found in the jungle from his pocket.) DOCTOR: I, er, I found this, and I don't know whether it's relevant or not, but hold onto it safely. BRET VYON: Where did you find it? DOCTOR: Oh, in the jungle. Now I want you... I want you to give me enough time to get to that meeting and find out exactly what's going on. And then I will head back to Chen's spaceship. BRET VYON: How long will that take? DOCTOR: Well, I must leave that to your own judgment. If, of course, you hear any kind of uproar, then you'll have to get into the spaceship and go off without me. BRET VYON: Doctor, we can't leave you... DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Oh, nonsense, nonsense! Earth must be warned about the Daleks - and about Chen. BRET VYON: (Admiringly.) You're a very brave man. DOCTOR: Rubbish, rubbish, my boy! I'm only doing what has to be done. Now come on and help me on to this cloak. Be quick about it! Come along! (He and BRET move towards ZEPHON.) [SCENE_BREAK] 15: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CORRIDOR (A DALEK glides along a corridor. It meets another DALEK along the way.) FIRST DALEK: Has the representative Zephon passed this way? SECOND DALEK: He, and the Earth creature, went to the reception area. FIRST DALEK: Has he returned? SECOND DALEK: Only the creature from Earth returned this way. FIRST DALEK: Zephon must still be there. Come with me. He has to be found! (The two DALEKS turn and glide away.) [SCENE_BREAK] 16: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (They glide out into the reception area and immediately come across the DOCTOR, now wearing ZEPHON'S large cloak. The DALEKS are fooled by his disguise.) FIRST DALEK: Representative Zephon, the meeting is about to begin. You will follow me. (The FIRST DALEK turns and glides back into the city. Saying nothing, the DOCTOR follows the DALEK and the SECOND DALEK brings up the rear. As they go out of sight, STEVEN, BRET and KATARINA emerge from hiding from round the corner.) BRET VYON: The old man certainly has got nerve. KATARINA: The strange ones will not hurt him? STEVEN: I hope not. Anyway, he's doing his part, we must do ours. Let's get that ship. (They move off towards the Spar. They pass the prone figure of ZEPHON who regains consciousness for a moment. He starts to move and then lies still again.) [SCENE_BREAK] 17: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CONFERENCE ROOM (The disguised DOCTOR is escorted in by the DALEKS. The other delegates are all in position around the semi-circular raised platform. One of them, TRANTIS, a small hunched figure, speaks in a nasal pitch...) TRANTIS: (Sarcastically.) The master of the Fifth Galaxy has seen fit to join us? DALEK SUPREME: Take your place. (The DOCTOR moves hesitantly over towards the other delegates.) MAVIC CHEN: You seem lost, representative Zephon. Here's your place, next to me. (The DOCTOR goes and stands at the place indicated, keeping his face out of sight.) DALEK SUPREME: This seventh meeting is now in session. Representatives, I have important news. The time destructor is now completed. It only requires the core to be fitted. (The delegates bang the tables in enthusiastic salute. MAVIC CHEN leaves his place and moves to stand next to the DALEK SUPREME.) DALEK SUPREME: Mavic Chen, Guardian of the Solar System, will address the meeting. MAVIC CHEN: As your most recent ally, and the newest member to stand in this great universal council, I am delighted to be able to make so significant a contribution to our conquest of the universe. I now present you with the core of the time destructor. (He holds up a small box.) MAVIC CHEN: A full emm of Taranium, the rarest mineral in the universe. It's taken fifty Earth years to acquire even this amount. (The outspoken TRANTIS speaks up...) TRANTIS: If it has taken so long for the solar system to acquire it, why was not one of us of the outer galaxies asked to provide it? MAVIC CHEN: As the Daleks know, Taranium can only be found on one of the dead planets of the solar system. Without this, the time destructor is useless! All the plans made here could not succeed. I, Mavic Chen, give you the core of the time destructor! (He places the box in front of the DALEK SUPREME.) [SCENE_BREAK] 18: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (ZEPHON regains full consciousness. He struggles against his bonds of vines and creepers. He spots an emergency alarm on the wall and tries to get to his feet to reach the alarm but only succeeds in falling back against the wall.) [SCENE_BREAK] 19: INT. SPAR SHIP (Inside MAVIC CHEN'S Spar ship, two Technix are inside playing a game with a futuristic pack of playing cards. The inside of the craft is a large circular control room, with computer banks and controls around the walls. BRET VYON, STEVEN and KATARINA enter through the airlock. VYON holds his blaster up.) BRET VYON: I'm taking over this spaceship. Over there. (He motions with his blaster, and the Technix obey. VYON turns to STEVEN.) BRET VYON: Tie them up. [SCENE_BREAK] 20: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. RECEPTION AREA (ZEPHON edges nearer the alarm...) [SCENE_BREAK] 21: INT. SPAR SHIP (BRET and STEVEN re-enter the ship having placed the bound Technix outside.) KATARINA: The men will not be found? STEVEN: No, not unless the Daleks patrol the landing area. BRET VYON: That's the one place they won't be patrolling. STEVEN: Let's hope not, otherwise it's the end of the Doctor! KATARINA: He must come, he must come! [SCENE_BREAK] 22: EXT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY (ZEPHON makes it to the alarm button and manages to press it. An alarm starts to blare out...) [SCENE_BREAK] 23: INT. SPAR SHIP (...and reaches the Spar. The three fugitives look up in horror.) [SCENE_BREAK] 24: INT. KEMBEL. DALEK CITY. CONFERENCE ROOM (Inside the conference room, the start of the alarm causes panic...) FIRST DALEK: Locate intruders! Locate intruders! MAVIC CHEN: What's happening? SECOND DALEK: Seal ... THIRD DALEK: Check alarm's location. (The delegates look around in confusion. While everyone's attention is distracted, the DOCTOR runs to the central podium, grabs the Taranium core and runs towards the exit ramp. At the top of it, ZEPHON appears, showing his true visage as a creature with seaweed-like tendrils for a face. A horrified DOCTOR turns and runs towards another exit.) ZEPHON: That's him! Stop him! Stop the creature! Stop the creature! [SCENE_BREAK] 25: INT. SPAR SHIP (BRET VYON reacts with alarm to the sound of the sirens and the increasing activity from the city.) BRET VYON: We've got to go! STEVEN: We mustn't leave him! (KATARINA mutters to the Trojan Horse-god. The sound of the ship's engines start to rise...) KATARINA: Great One, don't leave us! Don't let the strange beings catch him! BRET VYON: He's been caught! We've got to leave! STEVEN: No! He said we had to... (VYON tries to operate the controls for take-off. STEVEN pulls him away.) BRET VYON: No! (He turns and knocks STEVEN to the floor, then resumes preparations for take-off.) KATARINA: Stop! You can't leave him! He can't reach the place of perfection! BRET VYON: He won't! We're going without him! (BRET activates more controls and the ship starts to power up further...)
Day of Armageddon