The Doctor is forced to help the Marshal cover up his actions with the Investigator but Jo and the others attempt to escape to expose him.
THE MUTANTS BY: BOB BAKER AND DAVE MARTIN 5:50pm - 6:15pm [SCENE_BREAK] 1: EXT. SKYBASE ONE ("Hyperion" connects with a Skybase docking port on the top of its hull.) [SCENE_BREAK] 2: INT. SKYBASE ONE. RADIATION CHAMBER JO: Well, how long's the Marshal going to keep us down here? COTTON: Who knows? Don't suppose he's worried. (A thought strikes COTTON...) COTTON: Wait a minute - refuelling! JO: Well, what is it? COTTON: The shuttle! KY: What do you mean? COTTON: They'll need to refuel "Hyperion" - the Investigator's shuttle. They should be putting a probe out any minute now. (He looks towards the circular well.) COTTON: Then live thaesium will start flooding through there! We'll all be done for! [SCENE_BREAK] 3: EXT. SKYBASE ONE (A probe extends from the front of "Hyperion" towards Skybase.) [SCENE_BREAK] 4: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The DOCTOR sits calmly at the centre table in the MARSHAL'S office. He watches as the man himself slams a fist down on his desk and paces round shouting...) MARSHAL: How much longer am I supposed to run Skybase with my entire crew suspended from duty? I refuse to be treated like a...like a... DOCTOR: Criminal? MARSHAL: I'm warning you, Doctor. (The door to the office has opened. Armed guards have entered but these are men dressed in a white and gold uniform and helmets with 'ECS' displayed on them. They are followed by a cold, authoritative figure dressed in a white robe with golden trimmings. He wears a white headpiece which covers all of his cranium and flows over the shoulders. The effect is rather like that of a High Court Judge updated to the thirtieth century. He carries a folder in his hands. He is accompanied by two like-dressed assistants, one Asiatic in appearance.) INVESTIGATOR: My apologies, Marshal. (He looks at the DOCTOR who has got to his feet.) INVESTIGATOR: And who is this? MARSHAL: Er, it's the Doctor, as I am sure you know. INVESTIGATOR: Your scientific advisor? MARSHAL: (Puzzled.) Well, surely...you know one another? INVESTIGATOR: Should we? DOCTOR: Perhaps I can explain? INVESTIGATOR: Perhaps you can in due course. (The INVESTIGATOR and his assistants cross to and stand on the podium, looking down on the two individuals before them.) INVESTIGATOR: I've read your report, Marshal. And I should like to begin this enquiry, if I may, by discussing certain matters arising from it. You have been accused of some very serious crimes, Marshal. Well? MARSHAL: Well, Investigator, I'm sure you're aware that all Colony Commanders are faced with accusations of this kind. INVESTIGATOR: Some, Marshal. Occasionally, the accusations are justified. That is why I'm here. MARSHAL: Oh, of course, of course. Of course you are. (He crosses to his desk.) MARSHAL: You see, Solos has been beset in recent months with problems. I mean, an upsurge of nationalism, outbreak of plague, constant and growing attacks and sabotage, culminating in the assassination of the Administrator by terrorists on the eve of independence. It was at this point that I decided to impose martial law. INVESTIGATOR: I see. How severe was this martial law? MARSHAL: Oh, rounding up of political suspects... (The INVESTIGATOR consults his folder.) INVESTIGATOR: There's no report here of any trial being held. MARSHAL: Oh, ho, the prisoners were allowed to escape. INVESTIGATOR: (Reading.) By, er, Stubbs and Cotton? MARSHAL: Er, yes. INVESTIGATOR: Now deceased? MARSHAL: Yes. INVESTIGATOR: I see. Continue. MARSHAL: I then took personal control of the operation and tracked these terrorists to their hideout in a disused mine area. INVESTIGATOR: Er, these would be thaesium mines? MARSHAL: Correct, correct, yeah... I ordered the area to be cordoned off and the exits blown up. INVESTIGATOR: And the natives inside? MARSHAL: (Dismissive.) Oh, they were Mutts. INVESTIGATOR: (Puzzled.) Mutts? DOCTOR: He...he means they were all plague victims. They...use the cave as a refuge. MARSHAL: Yes, the terrorists took advantage of their unfortunate compatriots. I had no alternative. INVESTIGATOR: And presumably thousands died as a result of your actions? MARSHAL: Unfortunately, but their condition was incurable. I couldn't allow this risk of the plague spreading. INVESTIGATOR: "Mutts" you say? DOCTOR: Yes, er, "Mutant Natives", sir. It's a local term. Medically speaking "Accelerated genetic metamorphosis". INVESTIGATOR: I see. You are a Doctor, I take it? DOCTOR: I am, yes. INVESTIGATOR: Er, qualified in...? DOCTOR: (Smiles.) Practically everything. INVESTIGATOR: Ah. Well, Doctor, do you agree with the Marshal's diagnosis that the condition of these "Mutts" was incurable? (The DOCTOR glances at the scowling MARSHAL.) DOCTOR: Yes, sir. Yes, I would. (He nods and looks guiltily at the MARSHAL.) [SCENE_BREAK] 5: EXT. SKYBASE ONE (The probe from the "Hyperion" enters a portal in the hull of Skybase which opens with an iris effect.) [SCENE_BREAK] 6: INT. SKYBASE ONE. RADIATION CHAMBER (KY has fallen ill. Badly affected by the radiation, he crouches on the floor, covered in a film of sweat and breathing heavily. JO is trying to help him. She looks up as the entire chamber starts to glow.) JO: Look, the walls! COTTON: Not long now. Now sure you've got is straight, Miss? Any minute now, "Hyperion"'s fuel probe will come through there. (He points to a round port on the opposite side of the wall to the circular wall.) COTTON: That's how we get out - okay? (JO looks at KY.) JO: Yeah. If we don't get out soon, it'll be too late. (The buzzing in the room suddenly takes on a new tone. COTTON pulls JO and KY to their feet and out of the way of the port.) COTTON: Stand back! (The port opens and the large metal probe emerges. The end splits in two and opens vertically.) COTTON: This is it then. Get inside, Miss. JO: Inside? COTTON: Fast as you can - move! (JO who has been helping KY to stand on his feet, dashes inside the open probe. KY starts to collapse but COTTON helps him back up...) COTTON: Ky! Come here! JO: Ky! (...and over to the probe. They dash inside, just before a refuelling probe emerges from the other side of the chamber and connects with that of the "Hyperion". [SCENE_BREAK] 7: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The DOCTOR watches intently as the INVESTIGATOR whispers with his two assistants.) INVESTIGATOR: (Whispers.) ... You understand? (They nod as the door to the office open and JAEGER enters. He smiles to the INVESTIGATOR and points to the MARSHAL to indicate that he wants to speak to him. The INVESTIGATOR nods and JAEGER bows back. He then crosses to the MARSHAL at his desk and speaks quietly.) JAEGER: Do you realise "Hyperion"'s started refuelling? MARSHAL: Well? JAEGER: Your prisoners are...in the fuel lock. If they caught in the thaesium stream...? MARSHAL: Then they'll be totally destroyed. Convenient, isn't it? (JAEGER looks shocked but before he can react...) INVESTIGATOR: Professor Jaeger, the committee will hear you now. [SCENE_BREAK] 8: INT. "HYPERION". CHAMBER (JO, a weakened KY and COTTON climb out of a port at the other end of the probe and onto a gantry. COTTON pushes them towards a ladder.) COTTON: Up there - quick! JO: Alright. (The three ascend. The room glows brighter and brighter as the thaesium refuelling starts.) [SCENE_BREAK] 9: EXT. SKYBASE ONE (The "Hyperion" is still connected to Skybase.) [SCENE_BREAK] 10: INT. SKYBASE ONE. DOCKING AIRLOCK (The three have made it through the "Hyperion" and back into Skybase. COTTON locks the outer door.) COTTON: Right. (They pass through into Skybase.) [SCENE_BREAK] 11: INT. SKYBASE ONE. DOCKING SECTION (A sign on the wall reads: <h5>DOCKING SECTION AIRLOCK</h5> The three cautiously walk in.) JO: (Whispers.) Where are all the guards? COTTON: Worry about that later. Come on. (They run off, KY at a slower pace.) [SCENE_BREAK] 12: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (JAEGER'S questioning continues...) INVESTIGATOR: Nevertheless, Professor, you were involved in experiments to change this planet's natural atmosphere? JAEGER: In the laboratory - yes. INVESTIGATOR: The accusation is that you mounted a massive operation to convert the atmosphere to one breathable by humans, but not by the native population. JAEGER: Nonsense. INVESTIGATOR: And further, that these experiments were the root cause of the outbreak of mutations. Well? JAEGER: I'm a scientist... (The DOCTOR coughs loudly. JAEGER shoots him a look and continues.) JAEGER: And I rest my case on scientific proof only. Your scientists have made their own tests. The atmosphere of Solos is exactly as it always was. As for the "Mutts"... Er, as for the mutants, I regret that so far, we have found no solution to the problem. INVESTIGATOR: Thank you, Professor, that will be all. (JAEGER bows and stands back. The INVESTIGATOR mutters with his two confederates and then addresses the three men in the room.) INVESTIGATOR: Well, gentleman, we have heard the evidence. In the absence of evidence to the contrary... (The sound of JO outside the room reaches them.) INVESTIGATOR: I have no alternative but to exonerate you from blame... JO: (OOV: Outside the office.) ... just let me pass ... ! INVESTIGATOR: ...and to declare this preliminary hearing closed. (The door slides open to reveal JO struggling with the INVESTIGATOR'S guards outside. She breaks free and runs in towards the DOCTOR.) MARSHAL: Stop them! Stop them! INVESTIGATOR: What is going on here?! Who are these people?! (KY and COTTON are brought in by the guards.) DOCTOR: Investigator! These are the missing witnesses. Jo, er, Miss Grant here, is my assistant, kept hostage... MARSHAL: (Shouts.) Lies, all lies! DOCTOR: Kept hostage to ensure my cooperation in this travesty of justice! (He points at the MARSHAL and JAEGER.) DOCTOR: Investigator, I accuse that man and that man of the most brutal and callous series of crimes against a defenceless people, it's ever been my misfortune to encounter! [SCENE_BREAK] 13: INT. SOLOS. TRANSFER STATION (SONDERGAARD walks warily into the transfer station on Solos. He sees that it is deserted. He turns and beckons encouragingly to the mutants who stumble into the station. Their body language shows that they are nervous to be in the area.) SONDERGAARD: You see? There is nothing to fear. (He tries to pull one over to a transfer cubicle but it resists.) SONDERGAARD: Look, I cannot help you until I find the Doctor. (He tries to pull another one but it too scurries back.) SONDERGAARD: Oh, very well. I shall go alone, and you will stay as you are now - forever. (SONDERGAARD heads into a cubicle. A mutant tries to pull him back but the Professor shakes it off.) [SCENE_BREAK] 14: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The MARSHAL sits at his desk while the DOCTOR accuses and berates him...) DOCTOR: You destroyed these poor people for no reason at all. MARSHAL: They would have died anyway! DOCTOR: Not died, Marshal - changed. (The MARSHAL jumps to his feet.) MARSHAL: (Shouts.) It was my duty! My duty to save Solos from contamination! DOCTOR: Duty?! Your idea of duty was to keep this planet for yourself! MARSHAL: (Screams.) They're mutants! Mutts! They're diseased! To be wiped off the face of the planet! I...! (He stops as he sees the DOCTOR'S smile of triumph and realises that he has said too much. His face drops. The DOCTOR calmly walks over to the podium and the watching INVESTIGATOR.) DOCTOR: (Quietly.) Need I say more, Investigator? (The INVESTIGATOR mutters with his two assistants. The MARSHAL and JAEGER watch intently and the DOCTOR and JO whisper between themselves. The INVESTIGATOR turns back to the DOCTOR.) INVESTIGATOR: Can you prove your assertion, Doctor? Perhaps we could see these tablets you mention? DOCTOR: Yes, yes, of course. (He starts to feel in his pockets, but to no avail.) INVESTIGATOR: Well? DOCTOR: Er, no, I'm sorry, sir. Er, I...I forgot. The tablets are in the care of Professor Sondergaard. INVESTIGATOR: Ah yes, you mentioned him in your report. Where is Professor Sondergaard now? DOCTOR: I'm not sure, sir. Somewhere on the surface of Solos, I believe. INVESTIGATOR: I see. And your other proofs the mutations are not harmful? DOCTOR: Well, I can only reassure you that... MARSHAL: (Interrupts.) He can prove nothing! DOCTOR: (To the INVESTIGATOR.) As I say, I can assure you, sir, that...conclusive evidence does exist. MARSHAL: Where? Where is your proof? DOCTOR: (To the INVESTIGATOR.) This present mutation is one of a series of adaptive changes, sir. Solos is moving out of spring into summer, and that is why the Solonians are changing. (The office door opens again. This time, a guard leads SONDERGAARD in.) INVESTIGATOR: What is the meaning of this interruption?! Who is this man?! DOCTOR: This, sir, this is Professor Sondergaard, who's worked and lived on Solos for many years! He can tell you better than I what the Marshal's been doing there! SONDERGAARD: Doctor, I don't understand. What's happening here? DOCTOR: Don't worry, Professor. We're holding a much needed investigation. Thank heavens you've arrived just in time to tell the investigator of our discoveries. SONDERGAARD: Oh, yes. Of course! And I'm sure the Doctor will have told you of our work in the cave. And he will also have told you that we now realise what's made so many of these mutations to go wrong. INVESTIGATOR: Wrong? But the Doctor has said it was a natural process. Why wrong? SONDERGAARD: Well, you see... (The MARSHAL jumps forward.) MARSHAL: There you see? Even Sondergaard admits it - the mutants are evil! Must be destroyed! [SCENE_BREAK] 15: INT. SOLOS. TRANSFER STATION (The mutants left behind on Solos are nervous at the disappearance of SONDERGAARD. One of them walks cautiously into a cubicle and the door closes behind it. It presses a button as it saw the Professor do and dematerialises...) [SCENE_BREAK] 16: INT. SKYBASE ONE. TRANSFER SECTION (...reappearing on Skybase. It exits the cubicle, looking round in shock. It then moves off as if following a trail to SONDERGAARD.) [SCENE_BREAK] 17: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE SONDERGAARD: (To the INVESTIGATOR, passionately.) I beg not to listen to this man! The mutants are not monsters. They are the native life form of this planet, undergoing a...a natural and inevitable change. This change, however, has been brought about prematurely... (He points at JAEGER.) SONDERGAARD: By that man's rash and careless experiments! JAEGER: That's a lie! Where's your evidence? (The office door slides open. To the shock of all within, the mutant has found its friend and protector.) MARSHAL: (Screams.) Mutts! (The INVESTIGATOR'S guards all raise their guns at the nervous creature.) SONDERGAARD: (Shouts.) No! There's nothing to be afraid of! The mutants are not dangerous unless you try to harm them! MARSHAL: They're evil! Don't deserve to live! SONDERGAARD: That is a rational and intelligent creature! To kill it would be murder! MARSHAL: Destroy it or we'll all be killed! KY: No! (KY tries to pull a gun out of the guard's hands but is easily pushed to the ground. As the mutant scurries from the office, the MARSHAL himself grabs the gun and aims. KY jumps on the MARSHAL to stop him and is again thrown off. The MARSHAL fires once through the open doorway and then sets off in pursuit. The INVESTIGATOR and his men follow.) [SCENE_BREAK] 18: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The MARSHAL easily catches up with the mutant. It turns to face him and he fires point-blank into its stomach. He stands over the corpse as the shocked INVESTIGATOR walks up.) MARSHAL: There! You see what I have to deal with? All these creatures may attack us. I want my men released at once - now! And your men placed under my command! (One of the INVESTIGATOR'S men runs up.) INVESTIGATOR: Release the Marshal's men. Obey his orders during this emergency. (He runs off. The MARSHAL watches him go with a smile. He turns to the others of the INVESTIGATOR'S men.) MARSHAL: You others follow me. [SCENE_BREAK] 19: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The MARSHAL re-enters his office. There is only JAEGER and COTTON helping a deteriorating KY.) JAEGER: They've gone. MARSHAL: What?! Who? JAEGER: The Doctor, his assistant, Sondergaard - these two weren't quick enough. (The MARSHAL points at two of the "Hyperion" guards.) MARSHAL: Right, after them to the laboratory! Seal all exits! (They run off through the second door to the office.) MARSHAL: Take these two to the radiation chamber! JAEGER: But what about the radiation level? After refuelling, it'll be much higher. MARSHAL: That's their problem, isn't it? Take them away! (The two guards take their prisoners away. Even JAEGER looks unhappy at this order.) [SCENE_BREAK] 20: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY (The DOCTOR, JO and SONDERGAARD rush into the laboratory. The DOCTOR takes a piece of metal, shaped rather like a door-handle, off a lab table and passes it up to JO on the upper level.) DOCTOR: Jo, take this key - lock the door. JO: Right. (She starts to attach the metal device to the door.) SONDERGAARD: Doctor, the crystal - the one you found in the cave - you have it still? DOCTOR: Yes, yes, of course. (The DOCTOR'S cloak hangs off one of the railings that surround the upper level. He digs in his pocket and extracts the crystal as the sound of gunfire is heard outside the door. He then places it in a tripod.) DOCTOR: Yes. Now, all we've gotta do is analyse its structure. SONDERGAARD: But that will take hours. DOCTOR: Yes, well we haven't got hours. (He points to the remains of his particle reversal lash-up.) DOCTOR: But we do have this. And it will help me to accelerate the process, I think. (He attaches two leads to the crystal.) JO: Well quickly, Doctor! DOCTOR: I'm being as quick as I can, Jo. (He switches his device on. The crystal starts to glow with a bright, intense light.) DOCTOR: Yes, of course! Of course! (He snatches the leads off and takes the crystal out of the tripod.) DOCTOR: The crystal acts as a bio-catalytic agent. Sondergaard, take this crystal to Ky immediately. (He puts the crystal in his hands.) SONDERGAARD: But what about the thaesium radiation? Surely that's the vital part of the process? JO: Well, there's thaesium radiation in the chamber where they took us - Cotton told me. DOCTOR: Well, what else can we do? We must try it. If we hope to achieve a successful mutation, that is. (As the DOCTOR goes over to the cylindrical unit, the door "key" suddenly explodes, the door itself slides open and the MARSHAL and two guards enter the laboratory.) MARSHAL: Get away from that machine, Doctor! Guards, take that girl and Sondergaard to the radiation chamber. (The two are led out.) DOCTOR: So? You've managed to wriggle out of trouble, have you? MARSHAL: I am once more in full control of Skybase, Doctor. A fact you would do well to remember. DOCTOR: Congratulations. Well, what do you want now? MARSHAL: An Earth-type atmosphere on Solos - nothing more, nothing less. Your friends will be confined to the radiation chamber while you work. I am afraid the radiation is at a dangerously high level at the moment, so you'd better hurry, Doctor. [SCENE_BREAK] 21: INT. SKYBASE ONE. RADIATION CHAMBER (KY is in a worse condition. He lies on the floor of the chamber, thrashing about as if he is consumed by an intense fever. COTTON can only watch helplessly. The entire room glows with the effects of the radiation. The entry hatch opens and SONDERGAARD and JO are pushed in. They immediately join COTTON as the hatch is closed by a guard.) COTTON: I'm afraid Ky's just about had it, Miss. SONDERGAARD: How long has he been like this? COTTON: It started as soon as we got in here. The first dose didn't do him any good. Now this lot on top. SONDERGAARD: The first d...? Oh yes, you were confined here before, weren't you? (He reaches into his pocket and takes the crystal out.) SONDERGAARD: Well, we'll have to hurry. We may already be too late. (He places it in KY'S hands. The Solonian grabs it and hugs it to his chest.) COTTON: Now what? SONDERGAARD: We wait. COTTON: We can't wait too long. (KY suddenly starts to thrash about even more, as if he is having a fit.) JO: Ky! SONDERGAARD: No, no, leave him! (KY starts to calm down again, reducing to a shiver. JO'S eyes widen.) JO: Look! He's changing! (And sure enough, the skin on KY'S hand starts to grow scaly. Within seconds he loses the appearance of having fingers and then, as quickly, the limb turns into a curved mutant claw.) [SCENE_BREAK] 22: INT. SKYBASE ONE. LABORATORY (The DOCTOR is at work in the laboratory, watched over by two guards. The MARSHAL stares with satisfaction at his small globe of Solos. The door opens and JAEGER comes in.) MARSHAL: Watch him, Jaeger. That's about all you're good for. So watch him like a hawk. (The DOCTOR smiles at JAEGER and carries out repairs on his particle reversal equipment. The door slides open and the INVESTIGATOR strides in shouting...) INVESTIGATOR: (Furious.) Marshal! MARSHAL: (Warmly.) Investigator. (JAEGER turns, distracted by this entrance. Whilst he is not being watched, the DOCTOR swiftly swaps round two leads in the equipment. Meanwhile, a bare-headed INVESTIGATOR yells across the room at the MARSHAL.) INVESTIGATOR: Why have my men been disarmed and confined to their quarters? (He walks down into the well of the laboratory and stares up at the MARSHAL on the upper level.) INVESTIGATOR: What is this nonsense about my ship not being allowed to leave Skybase? MARSHAL: (Soothing.) Oh, no nonsense, Investigator. I'm sure you and your crew will enjoy your stay on Solos. INVESTIGATOR: Solos? MARSHAL: Yes, as soon as our good friend, the Doctor, here has finished his twiddling, Solos will find itself with a new atmosphere. You and the others will be the first settlers on New Earth. (He stares at his globe.) INVESTIGATOR: And you, Marshal? MARSHAL: (Smiles.) I shall rule from Skybase. INVESTIGATOR: You will never be allowed...! MARSHAL: (Interrupts.) Oh, come now! You didn't think I'd let you return to Earth Council? An accident will be reported - "lost with all hands" I believe is the phrase. INVESTIGATOR: Other ships will come from Earth! MARSHAL: Oh, they'll be room for them. You should be grateful to help me. We'll begin a new Earth - the centre of a new empire. DOCTOR: It's alright, Investigator. He's quite mad. MARSHAL: Oh no, Doctor. I told you: madmen lose, I've won - Solos is mine. Have you finished your work? DOCTOR: Almost. And my companions? MARSHAL: Will be released...as soon as the job is done. [SCENE_BREAK] 23: INT. SKYBASE ONE. RADIATION CHAMBER (KY stands in one corner of the laboratory, now fully in the form of a mutant. The glow from the thaesium radiation which filled the room is now concentrated around him.) JO: Why is he drawing all the radiation? SONDERGAARD: I don't know, my child. We can only watch and hope. (Suddenly, the mutant flares in a glow and the three watchers have to shield their eyes. The brightness diminishes and they look up to see a new being in the mutant's place. It has its hands to its head, but as it removes them, it seems to tear apart strands like a cocoon. Underneath is the form of a man, but a man who glows with rainbows of energy and who wears long trailing silver robes. The figure floats just above the floor.) SONDERGAARD: It worked! Thank heavens it worked! COTTON: Worked? JO: Ky? Ky, can you hear me? (KY, now with golden hair and a radiant face "speaks" in a high, echoing light voice, but his lips do not move.) KY: I hear you. SONDERGAARD: It's thought transference - that's wonderful! Wonderful! COTTON: Yeah, marvellous. But can he get us out? KY: There is little I cannot do now. Ky thanks you, Professor Sondergaard. You have saved my people. You have shown the way. ("KY" floats towards the wall, growing smaller...and then vanishes.) KY: Goodbye. (He fades out of sight.) JO: Ky! COTTON: Goodbye? Great innit? He just flashes off and leaves us here! (With an almighty crash, the hatch door swings open, seemingly of its own accord.) SONDERGAARD: Out, quickly! Help Miss Grant! (COTTON helps JO up to the hatch and out. He climbs out next, followed by SONDERGAARD.) [SCENE_BREAK] 24: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR ("KY" floats along a corridor. He comes to a wall...and fades through it.) [SCENE_BREAK] 25: INT. SKYBASE ONE. ANOTHER CORRIDOR (Two Skybase guards walk along another corridor. They hear something behind them and turn. To their shock and surprise, "KY" floats past. The being waves its arms and the two men are knocked by a force to the ground. "KY" floats on...) [SCENE_BREAK] 26: INT. SKYBASE. LABORATORY (The guards have left the laboratory. The MARSHAL has one of their guns in his hand keeping the DOCTOR and the INVESTIGATOR prisoner.) MARSHAL: Are we ready? DOCTOR: Yes. MARSHAL: Very well. (The DOCTOR looks coldly at JAEGER and then moves to the cylindrical unit. His hand poises on the lever.) DOCTOR: You do realise, Marshal, that you're about to destroy a life form unique in the history of the universe? MARSHAL: (Quietly.) Hurry, Doctor, hurry. DOCTOR: As you wish. (He puts a finger on a switch.) MARSHAL: Wait! DOCTOR: Change of heart, Marshal? MARSHAL: I still don't trust you. Jaeger? (JAEGER moves to take the DOCTOR'S place. The DOCTOR crosses to join the INVESTIGATOR, glancing at him meaningfully and pulling him into the corner of the laboratory, further away from the unit. The MARSHAL nods at JAEGER who slowly pulls down the levers. The power level starts to rise. JAEGER pulls the levers further. There is a small spark on the unit and then another as the power seems to run out of control.) MARSHAL: (Shouts.) Jaeger! Stop it! JAEGER: (Shouts.) I can't! It's overloading! (Smoke starts to pour out of the unit and the DOCTOR pulls the INVESTIGATOR down to floor level. A second later, a massive explosion tears through the unit, flinging JAEGER to the floor.) DOCTOR: Right - out! (He and the INVESTIGATOR rush to the door but the MARSHAL has been unhurt by the explosion and aims his gun at the two.) MARSHAL: (Shouts.) Doctor! You have destroyed my dreams! I'll destroy you! (Before he can carry out his threat, "KY" appears from nowhere, floating in mid-air. The MARSHAL stares at him, open-mouthed as they hear his thoughts in their heads...) KY: Die, Marshal! Let there be an end to your torture of my people! ("KY" raises his clenched hands. A ray of light spurts from them which hits the MARSHAL. He glows white and vanishes from existence. "KY" turns to the DOCTOR.) KY: I thank you, Doctor - for all my people. Goodbye. (He fades away. The DOCTOR and the INVESTIGATOR look at each other in some surprise.) [SCENE_BREAK] 27: INT. SKYBASE ONE. MARSHAL'S OFFICE (The DOCTOR, JO, COTTON, SONDERGAARD and the INVESTIGATOR are all assembled in what was the MARSHAL'S office.) DOCTOR: Well, Professor Songergaard has agreed to stay on Solos and see as many of the Solonians as possible through to the stage that Ky has already achieved. JO: But what about the others - the mutants we saw in the caves? DOCTOR: They were premature mutations, Jo. The...cycle of changes was triggered off too soon. Rather like butterflies that hatch out on a cold spring day. Their instincts were too confused to...seek out and use the crystal. JO: (To SONDERGAARD.) And now you think you'll be able to help them? SONDERGAARD: Oh yes, we think so. Ky is on Solos now and, with the crystal, we hope we can save them. JO: And what are you going to do, Cotton? COTTON: Give Ky and Professor Sondergaard all the help I can. Try and clear up some of the mess the Marshal made. Then, do something we should have all done a long time ago. JO: What's that? COTTON: Go home, Miss. Back to Earth. INVESTIGATOR: Exactly. Cotton, you will...assume acting command of this base, pending its return to Earth. COTTON: Sir. INVESTIGATOR: (To the DOCTOR and JO.) I take it you will be returning in "Hyperion" with me? (The two start to look uneasy.) INVESTIGATOR: I still require a full account of your involvement in this affair. DOCTOR: Yes, yes, of course, but I...I wonder whether you...you'd excuse us for the moment, Investigator? My assistant is feeling rather faint. JO: (Surprised.) Who, me? No, I'm fine now, honestly. I didn't feel too good earlier, but... DOCTOR: (Interrupts.) Yeah, Jo, now you have been rather overdoing it, you know, and you... JO: I have? DOCTOR: ...you don't look too well. JO: Really? DOCTOR: Come on, yeah. (He takes her by the hand and leads her to the door. He looks back at the three men in the office.) DOCTOR: Will you excuse us? We'll...we'll see you all - later. (They walk out. Those left behind look confused.) INVESTIGATOR: (To SONDERGAARD.) Doctor...who, did you say? [SCENE_BREAK] 28: INT. SKYBASE ONE. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE STORAGE AREA (The DOCTOR and JO turn a corner. They see a sign for Storage Area 4.) DOCTOR: Well, here we are. JO: Where? DOCTOR: Well, the storage area where we left the TARDIS. JO: Oh! (They go to the door and the DOCTOR presses the palm-print sensor but there is no response.) DOCTOR: Oh, no. They've locked it again. (He starts to explore his many pockets.) JO: More breaking and entering? (But it is JO who takes the sonic screwdriver out of her pocket and holds it up with a smile. The DOCTOR looks up, sees his trust device and snatches it back.) DOCTOR: Give me that! (He pulls her back out of harms way and switches the sonic screwdriver on. After a moment, the panel explodes and the door slides open, revealing the TARDIS beyond.) JO: Oh well, back to the broom cupboard. DOCTOR: Yes, well, at least we've made a clean sweep of this place! (JO looks pained at the joke.) DOCTOR: No? (Neither can keep a straight face and they laugh and walk into the room. As they do so, the two-toned klaxon alarm rings out, then...) TANNOY VOICE: Attention! Attention! Computer confirms malfunction in storage area four. Investigate, please. Investigate, please. (Within the room, the TARDIS materialisation noise starts...) [SCENE_BREAK] 29: EXT. SKYBASE ONE (...as Skybase hangs above the soon to be transformed planet of Solos.)
The Mutants - part 6