While the Brigadier investigates a loss of contact with Mars Probe 7, the Doctor realises signals coming from the probe are of extra-terrestrial origin.
The Ambassadors of Death 5:15pm - 5:40pm [SCENE_BREAK] 1: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (An astronaut - Charles VAN LYDEN - appears on a large monitor screen. Wearing a ribbed beige space-suit, he is shown within a cramped space capsule. A man speaks to him in a strong French accent.) TALTALIAN: And one degree. Are you reading? VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) I'm reading okay. One degree - now. (VAN LYDEN is seen to flick a switch. There is a noise of course adjustment from the capsule which quickly dies down.) VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Manoeuvre completed. (VAL LYDEN is being closely watched by Professor RALPH CORNISH - a dark haired good-looking gently spoken man.) RALPH CORNISH: You overshot, Charlie. Make a two second correction to port. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Two second correction to port - now. (Once again, there is a noise of movement from the capsule.) VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Error rectified. RALPH CORNISH: You're doing fine, Charlie. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) What is my distance from Mars Probe 7? (CORNISH passes on the request to TALTALIAN...) RALPH CORNISH: Distance computation, please? TALTALIAN: Distance - five-eight-zero miles. Seven minutes, three seconds to objective. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Confirmed. RALPH CORNISH: Charlie, how's it going? VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) No problem, everything's fine. No contact yet? RALPH CORNISH: There's been no contact for seven months. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) How do we know they're still alive? RALPH CORNISH: They took off from Mars manually - they must have been alive then. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Something...took off from Mars. [SCENE_BREAK] 2: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (The brightly-lit main control room, where RALPH CORNISH sits, is a large metallic structure with a geodesic roof design. The room is on two levels with various computer stations along the walls of the upper level manned by technicians. Part of the back wall is taken up by an elliptic radar screen. In the well of the room is CORNISH'S desk which faces the large monitor on which VAN LYDEN appears. Another desk sits at right angles to his and this is manned by MISS RUTHERFORD - a dark haired young lady in a white lab coat. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART stands nearby observing operations as the Frenchman - Bruno TALTALIAN - approaches CORNISH'S desk. TALTALIAN also wears a white lab coat, has glasses and sports a beard.) TALTALIAN: How is it going? (He looks towards the radar screen that shows two spots of light converging.) RALPH CORNISH: They're closing. Charlie's a bit edgy. TALTALIAN: Can you blame him? It is possible he has gone up to a rendezvous with a flying coffin. (CORNISH gives him a hard look.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To CORNISH.) Do you think they're dead? RALPH CORNISH: In seven months space time, they could've fixed a defective radio. TALTALIAN: If they are dead, it is going to turn public opinion against our space programme. RALPH CORNISH: (Quietly sarcastic.) Frightened your computer grant might be cut, Bruno? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: What are you going to tell the public? RALPH CORNISH: That's...not my job. (The man whose job it is, sits in a chair behind a glass screen which faces the control room. This part of the control room is a television studio and JOHN WAKEFIELD is presenting a live broadcast. A quietly but professionally spoken man, he presents a calm resume of events...) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (To camera.) In a few minutes we shall know the answer to the question that has been occupying the minds of everyone here at Space control since Mars Probe 7 took off on its return journey from the red planet nearly eight months ago. What has happened to astronauts Frank Michaels and Joe Lefee? Communications remained perfect on the long outward journey to the red planet and throughout the difficult landing. For a full twelve hours they sent back pictures and reports from the surface of Mars. Both then seemed in perfect health...then silence. [SCENE_BREAK] 3: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY (The broadcast is being picked up on a colour television in the DOCTOR'S new laboratory in UNIT HQ.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (On television.) The world assumed that disaster had overtaken the mission. But when all hope was gone, radio astronomers at Cambridge reported that Mars Probe 7 had blasted off and was heading back to Earth. (The DOCTOR leans over and turns the sound down. He walks back into the centre of the room which is green in colour and seemingly part of an ornate building. Racks and shelves of equipment line the walls and in the centre of the room, the console from the TARDIS sits incongruously. The DOCTOR walks round the console flicking switches and fails to see that LIZ is stood in the doorway.) LIZ: (Amused.) What are you doing? DOCTOR: Well, I'm trying to reactivate the TARDIS's Time Vector Generator. (LIZ walks up to the console.) LIZ: What's that supposed to do? DOCTOR: Well, it could sent you into the future if it starts working again. Particularly if you're standing there. (He indicates where LIZ is standing.) LIZ: (Laughs.) Come on now Doctor... (There is a brief burst of the TARDIS dematerialisation noise and LIZ suddenly vanishes.) DOCTOR: Liz! Good grief! (He rushes to where she was standing and flicks switches. There is another brief burst of the TARDIS dematerialisation noise and the DOCTOR vanishes. Almost immediately LIZ reappears. She reacts as if she was never the one who vanished, but the DOCTOR was.) LIZ: Doctor? W...w...where are you? Doctor? (She crosses to the original spot on which the DOCTOR was stood and almost immediately vanishes. The DOCTOR then reappears, looks quickly round, presses more switches and causes LIZ to reappear.) DOCTOR: Oh there you are! LIZ: Well, w...w...what happened? DOCTOR: Well, we both got caught in the time warp field and were projected into the future. LIZ: (Amazed.) Into the future? DOCTOR: Yes... (He checks his wristwatch.) DOCTOR: But, er, only about fifteen seconds. LIZ: But I haven't been anywhere - you vanished. DOCTOR: No, no, no - you vanished first - I only seemed to have vanished because you went into the future - and I wasn't there yet. LIZ: (Quietly unconvinced.) Yes... DOCTOR: Yes... (The DOCTOR flicks a switch and LIZ anxiously grabs at the console.) DOCTOR: Mmm, wretched thing seems to have packed up again. Still, we're on the right lines. LIZ: Doctor, I still don't understand! DOCTOR: Look...good gracious! (He suddenly notices something on the TV screen and crosses over to it. LIZ follows.) DOCTOR: Lethbridge Stewart! - What on earth's he doing at Space Control? LIZ: Well, something's happened to the Mars Probe. (The television shows CORNISH and MISS RUTHERFORD sat at their desks with the BRIGADIER stood over them.) DOCTOR: Oh, and the Brigadier thinks it's his business? Oh well, I suppose he's got to do something to occupy his mind now that he's blown up the Silurians. (LIZ gives him an impatient look and turns up the sound.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) You can see from the radar screen - er, that's the screen just to the left of Professor Cornish there - that Mars Probe 7 and Recovery 7 are on convergence. This is a tricky moment for controller Ralph Cornish and his team. (The picture changes to that of WAKEFIELD.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (On television.) The two craft will be linking up in a moment or two... [SCENE_BREAK] 4: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM JOHN WAKEFIELD: (To camera.) ...and then we shall know the answer to the mystery that has baffled the world's scientists for seven months. (In the main body of the control room, CORNISH operates a control and VAN LYDEN appears on the main monitor screen.) RALPH CORNISH: Charlie, do you have visual contact with the capsule yet? VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Not yet. Erm, I'm changing attitude of capsule. (The image swings round until it is almost upside down.) VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) I can see it, I'm up alongside. RALPH CORNISH: Well done, Charlie. Everything looks good. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Ask him if it's definitely Mars Probe 7. RALPH CORNISH: (Scoffs.) What?! BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (Insistent.) Ask him. RALPH CORNISH: Charlie, can you give us definite identification...it is Mars Probe 7? VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) No doubt about it - I can see the markings. RALPH CORNISH: Fine. Do you hear anything from them? VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Still nothing. RALPH CORNISH: Try to contact once more before link-up. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Okay. RALPH CORNISH: (To the BRIGADIER.) Maybe their...transmitter's too weak to reach us down here. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Recovery 7 to Mars Probe. Do you read me? I'm about to initiate Link-up. Do you read me? (To CORNISH.) Nothing Ralph. I'm going to rotate for link up - now. RALPH CORNISH: All right, Charlie - go ahead. [SCENE_BREAK] 5: SPACE (The red cone of Recovery 7 moves closer to the white colour Mars Probe 7.) [SCENE_BREAK] 6: INT. RECOVERY 7 (VAN LYDEN speaks into his microphone.) VAN LYDEN: Buffeting slightly. Firing port retro jets to compensate. (He presses a switch and there is a hissing sound as the jet's fire.) VAN LYDEN: Moving in for link-up - now. [SCENE_BREAK] 7: SPACE (Recovery 7 bears down on Mars Probe 7. The two nose cones come closer and closer and then the two craft link.) [SCENE_BREAK] 8: INT. RECOVERY 7 VAN LYDEN: I have link-up. RALPH CORNISH: (Over communicator.) Well done, Charlie. Everything looks fine. VAN LYDEN: Activating locking clamps - now. [SCENE_BREAK] 9: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY (The DOCTOR is sitting intently watching the screen. LIZ walks over with a mug of coffee.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) Well, as you've just heard Van Lyden has succeeded in achieving link-up. A beautifully smooth... (LIZ has to taps the DOCTOR'S shoulder for him to realise she is holding out the coffee. He takes it.) LIZ: I thought you weren't interested? JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) ...controlled operation in rather difficult circumstances. DOCTOR: Well, they've just linked up. LIZ: Anything from the Mars Probe? JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) The capsules were buffeting slightly just beforehand... DOCTOR: No - not a sound. JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) ...however Van Lyden made it safely. (The DOCTOR, not thinking, hands the coffee back, untouched. LIZ is now herself engrossed in the television broadcast.) LIZ: Thanks. JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary.) This must be a moment... [SCENE_BREAK] 10: SPACE (The two craft remain locked.) [SCENE_BREAK] 11: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM RALPH CORNISH: All right Charlie, talk us through. VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Injecting air into tunnel - now. [SCENE_BREAK] 12: INT. RECOVERY 7 (VAN LYDEN stands before a control panel.) VAN LYDEN: Air injected into tunnel. RALPH CORNISH: (Over communicator.) Is air holding? VAN LYDEN: Air pressure in tunnel okay - am moving to locking clamps. (VAN LYDEN ducks down and - upside down - floats towards the exit port. This is circular with four clamps.) VAN LYDEN: Releasing...first clamp. (He turns a handle.) VAN LYDEN: First clamp away. Second clamp... (He starts turning it.) VAN LYDEN: I can hear something... [SCENE_BREAK] 13: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM RALPH CORNISH: (Calmly.) What is it Charlie? What do you hear? [SCENE_BREAK] 14: INT. RECOVERY 7 VAN LYDEN: I think they're opening their hatch. Yes, it's them! [SCENE_BREAK] 15: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (The BRIGADIER and TALTALIAN look at each other in suppressed excitement. CORNISH remains absolutely calm.) VAN LYDEN: (On monitor.) Second clamp away. [SCENE_BREAK] 16: INT. RECOVERY 7 (VAN LYDEN completes the opening manoeuvres.) VAN LYDEN: Third clamp... fourth...opening hatch. (He turns a central locking wheel and pushes the hatch open. He floats through the door. Immediately there is an oscillating sound reverberating throughout the tunnel. VAN LYDEN'S face contorts with pain...) [SCENE_BREAK] 17: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (...as do the people in Space Control who clamp their hands to their ears. The sound stops. CORNISH recovers...) RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Charlie what's happened? (The "over" beep sounds but there is no reply.) RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7 - do you read me? (Another beep...) RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7 - do you read me? (and another...) [SCENE_BREAK] 18: INT. UNIT HQ. LABORATORY (The DOCTOR is staring transfixed at the television.) LIZ: Doctor, what's the matter? What is it? DOCTOR: That sound - I've heard it somewhere before. LIZ: When? (The DOCTOR thinks and slaps his knee in angry frustration.) DOCTOR: That's just it - I can't remember! (He gets to his feet and starts pacing the lab.) LIZ: What do you mean - can't remember? DOCTOR: Don't you understand? It's all up here in my mind. The information's here, but I can't reach it! We'd better go there. (He starts heading for the door.) LIZ: Where? DOCTOR: The Space Centre - it's not far. (He walks out. LIZ runs after him.) [SCENE_BREAK] 19: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (MISS RUTHERFORD walks up to CORNISH'S desk with a clipboard. The controller is still at the microphone.) RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7 - do you read me? (The "over" beep sounds again but still there is no reply.) MISS RUTHERFORD: They've run a complete check on all our circuits. There's no trouble this end. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Can you send up another recovery capsule to investigate? RALPH CORNISH: Not immediately. (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (At the back of the room, an impatient TALTALIAN is being interviewed by WAKEFIELD on television.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: Doctor Taltalian, do you have any explanation for that sound we just heard? TALTALIAN: At the moment - no. There is a possibility that it was some kind of static. JOHN WAKEFIELD: Have you ever heard static like that before? TALTALIAN: In space research, one is constantly encountering new and unexpected factors. (He tries to walk away but WAKEFIELD is quietly persistent.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: But will you confirm that all radio contact has been lost with the recovery capsule? TALTALIAN: For the time being yes, but temporary loss of communication is not unusual - for instance when the capsules go behind the moon... JOHN WAKEFIELD: (Interrupts.) But those two capsules are not behind the moon? TALTALIAN: (Angrily.) You can rest assured that everything possible is being done! Now, if you will excuse me... (He storms off. WAKEFIELD turns to the camera.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (To camera.) Well, as you see, there appears to be no apparent explanation for the sudden breakdown in communication and until the situation becomes clearer, the world must wait and hope... [SCENE_BREAK] 20: EXT. SPACE CENTRE ENTRANCE (The entrance to the Space Centre is a large concrete tunnel leading into a chalk hillside. Signs state that is a restricted area. A VIP's staff car pulls up to the checkpoint and is cleared through the barrier arm. Just before the arm comes down, Bessie zips underneath to the consternation of a security guard.) [SCENE_BREAK] 21: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (The BRIGADIER looks at the radar screen.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Are they still holding the same position? MISS RUTHERFORD: Yes, they've kept on orbit. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Have you any idea what might have happened to Recovery 7? RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (MISS RUTHERFORD walks round and talks to the BRIGADIER.) MISS RUTHERFORD: It could have been an excess of electricity in the Mars Probe solar batteries. If Lefee and Michaels died on takeoff from Mars, there's have been no-one to control the power build-up in the solar batteries. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: And that would've affected Recovery...on link-up? MISS RUTHERFORD: When the Capsules were joined the electric circuits linked automatically. Excess electricity in one could have blown all the circuits of the other. (In the background, CORNISH continues his quiet efforts to contact the capsule.) RALPH CORNISH: (Into microphone.) Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Would that have killed the man in the Recovery capsule? MISS RUTHERFORD: Not necessarily - he might still be able to unlink and bring himself back, but without communications. (She walks off. At the back of the room next to the radar screen, a lift platform comes up. It carries the DOCTOR and LIZ. The DOCTOR shouts down the lift shaft.) DOCTOR: My dear fellow, I simply don't happen to have a pass! (He listens.) Because I don't believe in them that's why! (Two soldiers run forward and one grabs him. CORNISH looks round at the intrusion.) DOCTOR: Take your hands off me, sir! (He sees the BRIGADIER.) DOCTOR: Ah, there you are. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To the soldier.) It's all right. I can vouch for these people. (The DOCTOR and LIZ start to walk down into the well of the room.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor, what are you doing here? DOCTOR: That sound - have you heard it again? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: No. DOCTOR: You will. LIZ: He says it's some kind of a message. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, who from? (The DOCTOR walks up to CORNISH'S desk.) DOCTOR: Have you got a recording of that message? RALPH CORNISH: I've no time to talk to the Press. DOCTOR: Quite right, neither have I. Now that sound - have you got a recording of it? RALPH CORNISH: Everything here is recorded. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Now, Doctor, everyone here's got a great deal to do. DOCTOR: No, they haven't - there's nothing anybody can do for the time being. RALPH CORNISH: Brigadier, who is this? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: He's one of my associates. RALPH CORNISH: Will you kindly get "one of your associates" out of here? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Come along Doctor... (He tries to pull him away but the DOCTOR shakes him off.) DOCTOR: (To CORNISH.) Now you listen to me - that sound was some kind of a message - and it's going to be repeated. RALPH CORNISH: (To the BRIGADIER: Calmly.) Will you please get this man out of here? We're trying to save the lives of three astronauts. DOCTOR: Nonsense man, you're doing nothing of the sort! There's nothing you can possibly do... (Suddenly the oscillating "message" is repeated. Again, everyone in the room clutches their ears in agony except for the DOCTOR who closes his eyes and frowns in concentration. The sound quickly stops.) DOCTOR: (To himself.) High frequency accelerated impulses... (To CORNISH.) Now then, I shall need multi copies of that recording, unlimited computer time and somewhere to work. (To LIZ.) Miss Shaw I shall need your help... RALPH CORNISH: How did you know that sound was going to be repeated? DOCTOR: By exercising my intelligence. Now, since we didn't reply, the message would obviously be repeated. Now, we've got to break down that code and answer them. RALPH CORNISH: Answer who? (The DOCTOR turns to the BRIGADIER.) DOCTOR: The man's a fool! (To CORNISH.) How can I possibly tell who the message is from until I know what it says? Let me explain this in very simple terms... BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To CORNISH.) Er, he is trying to help you know - you might find him quite useful. DOCTOR: "Might" find me useful? (The BRIGADIER pulls the DOCTOR out of earshot.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I mean you could help Professor Cornish. He is in charge here. DOCTOR: (Mollified.) Yes...yes, of course. (He goes back to CORNISH.) DOCTOR: Erm, look, my dear fella, do please forgive this intrusion. But you really must let me decode those messages - it could prove of vital importance to the safety of your astronauts. RALPH CORNISH: I suppose we must try everything...but how you can be so sure? (Another high frequency impulses rip through the Centre but this one is slightly different in tone to the previous two. Again, all but the DOCTOR cover their ears in pain. The sound stops.) RALPH CORNISH: (To the DOCTOR.) It seems you're right. I'll see about that computer. DOCTOR: (Quietly.) No, not now... RALPH CORNISH: Do you want to crack the code - send a reply? DOCTOR: That was the reply. (To the BRIGADIER.) Brigadier, I shall need worldwide triangulation immediately. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: But we know where the transmissions were coming from - the capsule in orbit. DOCTOR: The first one's - yes, but not that last one. That was completely different. Now we've got to find out where that was coming from. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: I'll get on to it. (He walks off.) RALPH CORNISH: But aren't we too late now? DOCTOR: The message was repeated - perhaps the reply will be. (The DOCTOR sits in MISS RUTHERFORD'S vacant chair.) DOCTOR: All we can do now...is wait. [SCENE_BREAK] 22: SPACE (The two joined capsules hang in space...) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary) The mystery of Mars Probe 7 has deepened. Seven and a half months of total silence and now these strange transmissions for which scientists here have no explanation... [SCENE_BREAK] 23: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM JOHN WAKEFIELD: (To camera.) One theory is that it may be some kind of distress signal. (LIZ walks up to where the DOCTOR and the BRIGADIER stand before an illuminated wall map of the world that is projected onto the back wall to the right of the lift platform.) JOHN WAKEFIELD: (OOV: Television commentary) As it is now some hours since the last signal, it's difficult to see what can be done, short of sending up another recovery craft. (The BRIGADIER marks off points on the map...) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: That's...Haystack... (...as the DOCTOR reads off the places from a clipboard.) DOCTOR: And Algonquin. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Algonquin. DOCTOR: Arapheba. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Arapheba. DOCTOR: Cambridge. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Cambridge. (In the well of the room, TALTALIAN approaches CORNISH at his desk.) TALTALIAN: I have computerised the factors involved in sending up a second recovery capsule. RALPH CORNISH: What's the minimum time for blast off? TALTALIAN: Ten days. RALPH CORNISH: That's impossible. (Up by the map.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Vorograd. (He marks the spot as LIZ passes the DOCTOR a memo.) LIZ: Tokyo's just promised full co-operation. DOCTOR: Oh, that's good. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Tokyo. Right, that about covers the lot. DOCTOR: Well, if it's from Earth, this could give us the country, but that's not accurate enough - we must pinpoint the exact location. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Well, we've got every national radio service standing by with monitors. Wherever that signal's coming from, we'll find it. (Back at CORNISH'S desk, TALTALIAN is getting angry...) TALTALIAN: Recovery 8 was not scheduled for lift off until three months from now! RALPH CORNISH: They'll have to speed it up. TALTALIAN: You know they've got problems with the new fuel injection system. (Before he can say anything else, the reply is repeated. Again, they hold their ears in agony.) [SCENE_BREAK] 24: EXT. TRACKING STATIONS (Around the world, satellite tracking dishes swing into action.) [SCENE_BREAK] 25: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (LIZ is on the phone...) LIZ: (Into phone.) From where? Nancy!...oui... DOCTOR: (To the BRIGADIER.) Something coming through. LIZ: (Into phone.) Oui...merci. (She hangs up, makes a note and hands it to the BRIGADIER.) LIZ: From France. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right. (He marks the map. From several points across the world, illuminated lines converge on Britain.) DOCTOR: Yes - London. (Meanwhile CORNISH continues his conversation with TALTALIAN.) RALPH CORNISH: Can't the Americans do something? TALTALIAN: I have checked. I have no capsule in go condition anywhere. (The BRIGADIER makes a phone call behind them. Back on the upper level, the DOCTOR fiddles with the equipment that projects the wall map. The map of the world is replaced by several star and moon maps. He shouts down to CORNISH.) DOCTOR: Can I get a map of London on this thing? RALPH CORNISH: A what? DOCTOR: A map of London - it's very important. RALPH CORNISH: (With patience.) That machine will give you surface maps of every surveyed planet...but a map of London - no. DOCTOR: Useless gadgets. (He starts to walk off. The BRIGADIER shouts out from his phone call.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Doctor, never mind the map. (Into phone.) Yes...yes fine... yes, thank you, goodbye. (He puts the phone down.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (To the DOCTOR.) My people have just done a local triangulation. DOCTOR: What's the exact location? BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: An abandoned warehouse - seven miles from here. [SCENE_BREAK] 26: EXT. FACTORY COMPLEX (The warehouse - part of a disused factory complex - is not just abandoned but somewhat derelict...) [SCENE_BREAK] 27: INT. WAREHOUSE. OFFICE (In a nearly empty office, two men sit over a transmitter. Both wear smart suits. One of them - CARRINGTON - speaks to the other man - GREY - who wears a set of headphones.) CARRINGTON: Run the message again - all the power you've got this time. GREY: Full power, sir? CARRINGTON: Have to risk it. GREY: Right, sir. (GREY gets up and walks over to a piece of machinery as CARRINGTON puts one of the headphones to his ear.) [SCENE_BREAK] 28: EXT. FACTORY COMPLEX (Outside, the peace and calm of the area is disturbed as a convoy of UNIT jeeps arrives. The BRIGADIER sits in the front passenger seat of the lead jeep. The convoy pulls up in front of the main building. The BRIGADIER gets out and starts shouting orders as the troops jump out of their jeeps.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Out! A Section here, B section there, C section there! (The armed soldiers obey orders and they start to enter the warehouse.) [SCENE_BREAK] 29: INT. WAREHOUSE. OFFICE (CARRINGTON is still listening through one of the headphones.) CARRINGTON: That's enough. (GREY switches the machinery off and sits back next to CARRINGTON, donning the headphones.) GREY: Do you think anyone's monitoring us, sir? CARRINGTON: Sure to be. Finding us is another matter. (The door to the office opens and a third man enters.) COLLINSON: Sir - UNIT's outside. CARRINGTON: That's very efficient of them. Keep them off as long as you can. COLLINSON: Yes sir. CARRINGTON: Don't kill anyone unless absolutely necessary. (COLLINSON takes a gun out of his coat pocket and leaves the room.) [SCENE_BREAK] 30: INT. WAREHOUSE (COLLINSON and other men dressed in an assemblage of casual clothing run down an empty corridor and take up positions. They are all armed. They wait as the UNIT troops come into view running between empty packing cases and other abandoned articles. A shot rings out.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Take cover! (The UNIT troops dive for safety behind the packing cases.) [SCENE_BREAK] 31: INT. WAREHOUSE. OFFICE CARRINGTON: Send the final transmission. GREY: Have we time, sir? CARRINGTON: The sergeant will hold them off. GREY: Right, sir. (GREY turns a dial on the transmitter...) [SCENE_BREAK] 32: INT. WAREHOUSE (COLLINSON fires his pistol and a UNIT soldier falls back with a cry. COLLINSON nods at some of his men to move forward and they do so. A few remain with him. A pitched battle breaks out between the opposing sides with the opponents rising up from places of concealment behind packing cases, firing and ducking for cover again. One UNIT soldier tries to break cover and head for the passageway leading to where the transmitter is but COLLINSON shoots him. He falls back into a pile of wooden crates. One of COLLINSON'S men fires his pistol and the hand of another UNIT soldier and blasts his rifle away. The BRIGADIER is among those who rise up and fire. COLLINSON runs to where a group of his men are behind a pile of cases. He then leads a charge against the UNIT troops. The BRIGADIER likewise leads a charge over the UNIT barricade. Hand-to-hand combat then breaks out with casualties on both sides. The BRIGADIER fires and then waves his men on...) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Follow! (Further firing takes place from behind cases and a metal staircase. A shot narrowly misses the BRIGADIER and plows into the wall behind him. The BRIGADIER shoots down a man on a walkway and continues to fire at the defenders as further fights break out - one UNIT troop receiving several punches to the face until he falls to the floor. As there are further one-to-one fights, COLLINSON tries to make a run for it.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: You can stop right there! (COLLINSON does so. He turns round with his gun pointed at the BRIGADIER who similarly aims at him. The two men stare each other out.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Better put it down... (Behind them, a wounded UNIT trooper starts to struggle up.) COLLINSON: You're...probably right. BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: You kill me, my men kill you. Pointless really. (The UNIT soldier gets up and grabs a lifting hoist suspended from the ceiling on a chain.) COLLINSON: Since you put it...like that. (The soldier pulls back the hoist.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Right - now! (COLLINSON turns, sees the hoist rushing towards him and runs for the BRIGADIER who he pushes out of the way. He falls to the ground, dropping his gun in the process. COLLINSON runs up a flight of steps, stops and points his gun at the BRIGADIER who gets back to his feet. COLLINSON smiles and tightens his finger on the trigger. Inexplicably, he then drops the gun and holds up his hands in surrender.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: Take him. (Two UNIT soldiers step forward with rifles raised and lead him away. The BRIGADIER picks up his pistol and UNIT troops lead the other surrender defendants and their wounded out of the warehouse.) [SCENE_BREAK] 33: INT. WAREHOUSE. OFFICE (CARRINGTON bolts the door which leads from the office into the passage.) CARRINGTON: Trigger the self-destructor. GREY: Right sir. (GREY turns a dial marked "time set" on a small black, that sits on top of the radio, into the red zone.) CARRINGTON: Out you go. GREY: Yes sir... (GREY goes to the window and pushes the sash up. He starts to climb out.) GREY: Sir? CARRINGTON: Coming... (CARRINGTON gets a gun out of his jacket pocket as footsteps are heard in the passageway.) BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE STEWART: (OOV: In passage.) All right, open up! (CARRINGTON fires three shots at the floor to keep the UNIT troops back, then climbs out of the window after GREY firing two more shots as he goes. The BRIGADIER pushes the door open and enters with two troops. They fail to see the significance of the black box and as they look over the office, there is an explosion which throws them to the floor.) [SCENE_BREAK] 34: INT. SPACE CONTROL. MAIN CONTROL ROOM (The DOCTOR storms into the control room with LIZ in tow. He goes up to CORNISH'S desk.) DOCTOR: Look, if I'm to help you people, I need full co-operation. (CORNISH is a calm as ever.) RALPH CORNISH: What's the trouble? DOCTOR: I specified the need for computer time. If I'm to decode those messages, I need a computer. RALPH CORNISH: Go and see Doctor Taltalian - that's his department. DOCTOR: Yes, so he's just informed me. But he's being totally non-co-operative. RALPH CORNISH: I'll talk to him. (CORNISH presses a button and a flat monitor screen rises up out of his desk. TALTALIAN appears on it.) RALPH CORNISH: (To TALTALIAN.) I told you to give the Doctor full cooperation - see that he gets it. TALTALIAN: (On monitor.) Yes, of course I will. RALPH CORNISH: (To the DOCTOR.) Satisfied? (The screen recedes back into the desk.) RALPH CORNISH: Now...if you'll excuse me? DOCTOR: Yes... (The DOCTOR turns and leaves as MISS RUTHERFORD puts her phone down and speaks to CORNISH.) MISS RUTHERFORD: Houston have just called in. They can't raise them either. RALPH CORNISH: Well, that's the least of our worries now. Athens have reported a solar flare build-up - a big one. MISS RUTHERFORD: Well, when do they expect it? RALPH CORNISH: Anytime within the next twenty-four hours. MISS RUTHERFORD: But, they'll never survive a solar flare radiation! You'll have to bring them down on remote control. RALPH CORNISH: They're locked on manual, there's nothing we can do. (He speaks into the microphone.) RALPH CORNISH: Space control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (There is a beep but no reply.) RALPH CORNISH: Space Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (Another beep.) RALPH CORNISH: Athens has reported a dangerous solar flare build-up. It is imperative you unlock manual control so that we can bring you down. [SCENE_BREAK] 35: SPACE (Aboard the craft...) [SCENE_BREAK] 36: INT. RECOVERY 7 (...CORNISH'S voice comes over a speaker in the empty cabin.) RALPH CORNISH: (OOV: Over tannoy.) I repeat: we have a message from Athens Observatory. There is a massive solar flare building up. The flare is expected any time within the next twenty-four hours. (CORNISH speaks calmly and quietly...) RALPH CORNISH: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Space Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? (...then his voice gets more desperate...) RALPH CORNISH: (OOV: Over tannoy.) Space Control to Recovery 7, do you read me? [SCENE_BREAK] 37: INT. SPACE CONTROL. CORRIDOR (The DOCTOR and LIZ round a corner in the corridor. The DOCTOR carries a computer tape.) DOCTOR: Let's see what he's got to say for himself this time. (They go through a door marked "COMPUTER ROOM".) [SCENE_BREAK] 38: INT. SPACE CONTROL. COMPUTER ROOM (They fail to see TALTALIAN stood behind the door. They walk into the body of the room and TALTALIAN slams the door shut. They spin round as the scientist pulls out a pistol and aims it at them...)
The Ambassadors of Death - part 1