THE ARMAGEDDON FACTOR

BY: BOB BAKER AND DAVE MARTIN

Part Two

Original Air Date: 27 January 1979
Running time:23:56

DOCTOR: Yes, buried under that rubble.

ROMANA: Then we're trapped. There's no way out.

DOCTOR: There's always a way out, if only we can find it.

ROMANA: Yes, and if one has time. Those guard'll be after us any minute.

DOCTOR: Possibly, possibly. K9's watching our rear.

ROMANA: Shush, someone's coming.

DOCTOR: Oh, it's you.

MERAK: Where is she? Where's Astra?

ROMANA: We don't know.

DOCTOR: Just a minute, just a minute. Why do you want to know?

MERAK: I love her.

ROMANA: Oh.

DOCTOR: Ah. Oh. Oh, well, just before the Marshal arrested us, I did find somebody, and judging from the voice it was certainly a young woman.

MERAK: Where? Where?

DOCTOR: She was through there.

MERAK: That's a high radiation zone!

DOCTOR: No, no, no, wait a minute, wait a minute. I'll take a look.

DOCTOR: I can't see anything. K9, any sign of our pursuers?

K9: Negative, master. They went the other way.

DOCTOR: Good. Now listen, K9. K9, we want this door open, but be careful. There may be someone on the other side.

K9: Understood, master.

DOCTOR: Come on.

MERAK: What is it?

ROMANA: It's all right, he won't hurt you. He's with us.

MERAK: Who are you? Are you Zeons?

DOCTOR: No, no, no, of course not, but we're friendly. Don't worry about that. Romana?

ROMANA: Yes?

DOCTOR: Keep an eye out round the corner. Come here, Merak.

ROMANA: Right.

DOCTOR: Why would the Marshal want to get rid of Astra?

MERAK: The Marshal? What makes you think he's involved?

DOCTOR: Too many coincidences. Well?

MERAK: Astra and I were trying to make contact with the Zeons to try and make peace. The Marshal knows. He wants the w*r to go on, of course.

DOCTOR: Of course.

MERAK: How much longer?

K9: Twelve point two three seconds.

MERAK: Well, I knew I was in danger, but I thought Astra was safe. The Marshal always said that he needed her support, her influence with the people.

DOCTOR: Yes. Is there any other reason why the Marshal would want to get rid of her?

MERAK: None that I can think of, no.

K9: Ready, master.

DOCTOR: Good. Romana? Ready?

MERAK: She's not here.

DOCTOR: Anything?

ROMANA: Nothing.

MERAK: Here's something.

MERAK: Look, this is hers.

ROMANA: Then she was here.

DOCTOR: Yes.

K9: Danger, master. It is dangerous to remain in this environment.

MERAK: Astra, she must be here. She must be.

K9: Radiation levels excessive.

ROMANA: Look, Merak, we can't do anything by staying here.

MERAK: If Astra's been

ROMANA: No.

MERAK: Then I will stay with her.

DOCTOR: Merak, Merak. People aren't dissolved by radiation. You're a surgeon. You should know that. If she's not here, she must be somewhere else.

MERAK: Astra.

ROMANA: Come on, Merak, worrying won't help. Let's just get out of here before it's too late.

DOCTOR: K9. K9, keep an eye on that wall.

K9: Master.

DOCTOR: Merak, do you know if there's anything behind that room?

MERAK: Nothing but a recycling shaft. This area's been disused for years. Radiation leak.

DOCTOR: What?

ROMANA: Well, she can't have been there for very long, but how did she get out?

DOCTOR: They could have moved her while we were with the Marshal. They moved the guard's body. On the other hand.

ROMANA: On the other hand what?

DOCTOR: Well, on the other hand, anything's possible. Well almost. Merak, a recycling shaft? Recycling what, exactly?

MERAK: Scrap metal waste for the w*r effort. Everything metal gets put down the shaft to be recycled in the furnaces. Why?

DOCTOR: Oh, just general interest. Come on, let's go.

ROMANA: Where to?

DOCTOR: Well, if there's no way out there's only one thing to do.

ROMANA: What's that?

DOCTOR: Go back the way we came. I'd like to find out what that Marshal's really up to. Come on.

SHAPP: Ahem.

MARSHAL: Well?

SHAPP: We've got them on scan, sir. Surgeon Merak's with them.

MARSHAL: That traitor. And that machine of theirs?

SHAPP: No sign of it at the moment, sir.

MARSHAL: Have them picked up.

SHAPP: No need, sir. They're coming this way.

MARSHAL: That machine of theirs. Metal, would you say?

SHAPP: Partly, yes, sir.

MARSHAL: Recycle it, Shapp. Locate it and turn it into scrap, understood?

SHAPP: Yes, sir.

SHAPP: Got a fix on it now, sir. In K block.

MARSHAL: Get rid of it.

SHAPP: We've got the machine, sir. It's en route to the recycling furnace.

MARSHAL: Good. Shapp, when you find the others, treat them properly.

SHAPP: No softening up, sir?

MARSHAL: No, Shapp. No brutality.

SHAPP: Yes, sir.

MARSHAL: Not yet.

K9: Blaster inoperative. All other circuits undamaged. Temperature increasing.

MERAK: What are you doing?

ROMANA: Looking for something.

MERAK: What?

ROMANA: I wish I knew. All I know is that this will tell us when we find it.

MERAK: And that's why you're here?

ROMANA: Yes.

MERAK: Not to help us?

ROMANA: Look, we will if we can. You'll just have to trust us, Merak. Will you?

MERAK: What else can I do?

ROMANA: Tell me, apart from that circlet that Astra wears, is there anything else that she always wears or carries?

MERAK: Not that I can think of, no.

ROMANA: I see.

DOCTOR: Come on!

GUARD: You, stop! Take them. Come on, move.

DOCTOR: Where are we going?

GUARD: The Marshal wants to see you now.

DOCTOR: That's funny, I want to see the Marshal. Come on, let's move.

DOCTOR: So nice of you to invite us back.

SHAPP: Those two, wait over there. You, come with me.

DOCTOR: Listen, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm the Doctor. Who are you?

SHAPP: Major Shapp. This way.

DOCTOR: Ah, Marshal. I understand you've got a few problems and I was thinking that if you and I got together we, er, Marshal? Marshal? Is he all right?

SHAPP: Shush.

SHAPP: He's meditating.

DOCTOR: What? Does he do it often?

SHAPP: When things are not going well. He makes most of his decisions this way.

DOCTOR: No wonder thing's aren't going well. Standing in front of a mirror gimbling and smiling at himself like that is the first sign of megalomania. He's not a ventriloquist, is he?

SHAPP: A what?

DOCTOR: A ventriloquist. A chap who throws his voice, you know. Throws his voice. Has a dummy. Operates a dummy. A dummy. A dummy. A dummy, of course!

DOCTOR: Ah, Marshal.

MARSHAL: Welcome, my friend.

DOCTOR: Friend? The last time I came here, you wanted to sh**t me.

MARSHAL: A misunderstanding. I apologise.

DOCTOR: Ah, well, fancy you mistaking me for a Zeon. Really, Marshal.

MARSHAL: I had forgotten.

DOCTOR: Forgotten?

MARSHAL: That you had been foretold. Your coming had been foretold.

DOCTOR: We had? You mean that we were expected?

MARSHAL: It's the w*r. This endless w*r occupied my thoughts to the exclusion of all else.

DOCTOR: Yes, I understand how you feel, Marshal.

MARSHAL: Now that you are here, you are the one.

DOCTOR: I am. Am I?

MARSHAL: The one who will lead us to victory.

DOCTOR: Oh, good-o. As long as there's no personal risk involved, of course.

MARSHAL: To halt the hated Zeons in their tracks, wipe their presence from our skies, and free this land, this world, this Atrios

DOCTOR: This blessed plot.

MARSHAL: Good, good. This blessed plot from the terrors of w*r and the evils of pestilence.

DOCTOR: Yes! No, I prefer the original.

MARSHAL: You, Doctor, you shall give us our victory.

DOCTOR: Yes. But listen, before I do, what happens if I don't?

MARSHAL: The question doesn't arise.

DOCTOR: Oh well, I'm very grateful for your confidence, Marshal. I'll see what I can manage. Er, we're not under arrest, then?

MARSHAL: Oh, my dear Doctor.

DOCTOR: Listen, I shall need to know the situation. The basic situation.

MARSHAL: Of course. Shapp?

SHAPP: We've located the Zeon fleet, sir.

MARSHAL: Then stand by to counterattack. Come, Doctor. Come, you shall see it all.

K9: Temperature unacceptable. Request further instructions. Master? Master?

MARSHAL: Now, Doctor, you shall see the mighty battlefleet of Atrios, the w*apon that are available to you.

DOCTOR: Me?

MARSHAL: The new architect of our victory. Shapp, order the counterattack.

SHAPP: Yes, sir. Base to fleet, commence att*ck. att*ck, att*ck, att*ck.

PILOT (OOV.): Closing. Closing. Range four thirty. f*re zero four. Hold on seven zero. Ranging, ranging. Target acquisition. f*re now. Report RDF and maintain attitude four three break zero six. Closing.

PILOT (OOV.): Closing. We have full combat state on all sectors.

DOCTOR: Six ships? Is that it? The mighty battlefleet of Atrios?

MARSHAL: It does the people no good to know the truth, Doctor. They live on hope, nothing else. It's been a long, hard struggle. Production is slow, losses are crippling, but we fight on. That's the main thing.

DOCTOR: Why?

MARSHAL: To win. What else? w*r is an expensive business, Doctor, but worth it. Now look. Look.

PILOT (OOV.): Zero to control, zero to control.

SHAPP: A h*t, sir. A h*t, confirmed.

MARSHAL: And another.

SHAPP: One of ours, sir. That's zero four, sir.

MARSHAL: And that?

SHAPP: Zero six, sir.

PILOT (OOV.): Power loss on main guide system. Blue leader, att*ck, att*ck.

SHAPP: Shall I pull them out?

MARSHAL: Never.

PILOT (OOV.): Zero three, answer, answer.

MARSHAL: Press home the att*ck.

PILOT (OOV.): Request permission to abandon ship. Zero three, answer, answer.

SHAPP: Zero two's gone, sir.

MARSHAL: What in the name of Atrios is the matter with them all? Why? Why?

PILOT (OOV.): Permission to use escape module.

SHAPP: It's inexperience, sir. Brave but barely trained. The best crews went a long time ago.

PILOT (OOV.): Immediate reply. Request permission to use escape pod.

MARSHAL: Pull them out.

SHAPP: All units disengage. All units disengage.

PILOT (OOV.): Break off. Break off action. Break off immediately. Break off.

MARSHAL: Three ships left out of a once proud battlefleet of hundreds. Three. You see now why we need your help. We must have the w*apon that will wipe the Zeons clear of our skies once and for all. Can you provide it?

DOCTOR: Yes, I think so.

MARSHAL: What is it?

DOCTOR: Peace.

MARSHAL: Very funny. How can we have peace until we have the ultimate deterrent that will ensure a lasting peace?

DOCTOR: Tell me, Marshal. If you had this ultimate deterrent, what would you do?

MARSHAL: Use it, of course. Make sure it works.

DOCTOR: Yes, well, you have a true military mind, Marshal.

MARSHAL: Thank you.

DOCTOR: I'll tell you what I'll do. You help me find the S, you help me find the Princess Astra and I'll knock you up a deterrent. How's that?

MARSHAL: I like you, Doctor.

K9: Overheating. Overheating.

DOCTOR: Oh yes, I think I can do something for you.

MARSHAL: It must be the ultimate deterrent.

DOCTOR: Oh, it will be, it will be. A sort of parasol affair.

MARSHAL: What?

DOCTOR: Well, a sort of umbrella forcefield, you know, that no Zeon ship can penetrate.

MARSHAL: Oh, so we can att*ck, they can't retaliate.

DOCTOR: Well, not quite. I mean, they can't get in but you can't get out.

MARSHAL: Then how do we win?

DOCTOR: Well, I mean

MARSHAL: We must have victory.

DOCTOR: Well, there's always a snag, I mean, but I'll work on it. Look, I'll need K9.

MARSHAL: K9?

DOCTOR: Yes, my computer. The one you thought was a w*apon.

MARSHAL: Well, Shapp?

SHAPP: It's too late, sir. It's on the way to the furnace.

DOCTOR: Furnace? What furnace?

SHAPP: Recycling. We recycle all scrap.

DOCTOR: Scrap! Where is this furnace? Where is this furnace?

K9: Closing down.

MARSHAL: Close down the furnace.

SHAPP: I already have, sir.

MARSHAL: The Doctor must not die. Not yet.

SHAPP: It takes weeks to cool down, sir.

MARSHAL: The Doctor must not die!

SHAPP: There'll be nothing left but slag and clinker. I'm sorry, sir.

MARSHAL: Sorry? Sorry?

ROMANA: Oh! Oh, K9, are you all right?

K9: Affirmative, mistress.

DOCTOR: Warm for the time of the year. It's a little trick I picked up from the fire-walkers in Bali. They do it all the time. Come on, old boy.

MARSHAL: He's not even singed, My apologies, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Oh, that's all right. We all make mistakes sometimes, don't we, K9?

K9: Negative.

DOCTOR: Yes, now listen, Marshal. If you're going to insist we do this your way

MARSHAL: I do.

DOCTOR: I thought you might. Now listen. If we're going to set up a one-way forcefield, one that keeps the Zeons out but allows you to pass through it to att*ck them, we're going to have to get to know our enemy, so to speak.

MARSHAL: What do you mean?

DOCTOR: I was thinking in terms of a psychological barrier. It's cheap, efficient and energy saving, and it would stop the Zeons wanting to come here. Introduce an element of Atrophobia?

ROMANA: Oh, what a brilliant idea!

MARSHAL: Go on.

DOCTOR: Yes, but to that I'd have to meet one, you see, get to know it. Brain patterns, that sort of thing. Isn't that right, Romana?

ROMANA: Oh, absolutely. There's no other way.

DOCTOR: Now, Marshal, can you arrange that?

MARSHAL: No, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Look, it doesn't have to be anything particularly intelligent. Any prisoner would do.

MARSHAL: There are no prisoners. This is w*r to the death. Like us, the Zeon warriors are sworn to destroy themselves. Death before dishonour.

DOCTOR: Well, if you can't find me a Zeon, I'll have to think of something else.

MARSHAL: Time is running short, Doctor.

ROMANA: How right you are. Any news of Astra?

MARSHAL: Intelligence reports suggest that she's been abducted by Zeons. If that's the case then I'm afraid

DOCTOR: Quite, quite, Marshal. Marshal, would you excuse us please?

MARSHAL: Certainly.

DOCTOR: Thank you.

SHAPP: Marshal. Zeon fleet closing again.

ROMANA: Doctor, when you went into the furnace after K9, the Marshal almost went berserk at the thought you might be k*lled.

DOCTOR: He did? How very considerate of him.

ROMANA: No, it wasn't. Because what he said was, the Doctor must not die. Not yet.

DOCTOR: What?

ROMANA: And listen, I saw something at his throat like a little black cylinder.

DOCTOR: What, a device of some sort? Something you weren't meant to see?

ROMANA: Yes, yes, I'm sure of it.

DOCTOR: A control device?

ROMANA: Yes. If the Marshal's a puppet, who's pulling the strings?

DOCTOR: Yes, and what's behind that mirror he's so fond of looking at?

MERAK: Questions, questions.

ROMANA: Shush.

MERAK: And no answers.

MERAK: We're no closer to finding Astra or whatever it is you're looking for. Well, are we?

DOCTOR: Merak, I believe we're closer to finding Princess Astra than we realise. What worries me is, are we supposed to?

ROMANA: A trap.

DOCTOR: Who's pulling the wool over who's eyes? Are we supposed to fall for the Marshal's bluff or is he supposed to fall for our?

MERAK: Listen, Doctor, you said a minute ago that we were close to finding Astra. Please tell me where she is or where you think she is.

DOCTOR: It wouldn't make any difference. Even if I told you, you couldn't reach her.

MERAK: Why not?

DOCTOR: Because I think that Astra's on Zeos.

ROMANA: Doctor, you're forgetting something. We haven't been able to locate Zeos, not from the TARDIS or from anywhere.

DOCTOR: Zeos is there all right, it's just you can't see it.

ROMANA: Why not?

DOCTOR: Can you see me now?

ROMANA: No.

DOCTOR: Why not?

ROMANA: Because your hand's in. Oh, you mean there's something between us and Zeos.

DOCTOR: Right.

ROMANA: That would account for the orbital shift. But why can't we see whatever's in the way?

DOCTOR: Because it's absorbing the light or energy. Or else it's camouflaged.

ROMANA: Yes.

DOCTOR: No, no, no. Maybe it's large, or perhaps its small.

ROMANA: How can you be so sure?

DOCTOR: How could Columbus be so sure.

ROMANA: Who?

DOCTOR: Never mind about that.

MERAK: But Astra said that she couldn't get a signal back from Zeos. Where do we start?

DOCTOR: Behind that mirror over there. There's bound to be another entrance. You and Romana go over there and see what you can find.

ROMANA: Right.

MARSHAL: Reinforcements!

SHAPP: There aren't any, sir.

MARSHAL: Deploy the reserves!

SHAPP: I already have, sir.

MARSHAL: Then we're defenceless.

SHAPP: Yes, sir. We've thrown everything we can at them and still they keep coming.

MAN (OOV.): f*re in section seven.

MARSHAL: This could be the last battle, Shapp.

MAN (OOV.): No response, level three.

SHAPP: Yes, sir.

MAN (OOV.): Collapse in eight.

MARSHAL: Where's that Doctor?

DOCTOR: Here.

MAN (OOV.): No response level fourteen.

MARSHAL: Can we have that forcefield now? We've committed everything. We're being obliterated. We've nothing left. It's our last hope.

DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. I've worked it all out.

MAN (OOV.): Radiation levels

DOCTOR: The problem is energy. If we're using energy to neutralise mass, which is all a forcefield is, we need enough energy or power erg-wise to counteract the Zeon b*mb mass-wise

MARSHAL: So, I'll give you absolute energy priority.

DOCTOR: It won't work. Look, K9's worked it all out.

K9: Affirmative. The more you use, the more you need. You'd have to consume the whole of Atrios to give it an effective forcefield.

DOCTOR: Which rather defeats the purpose.

MARSHAL: Why?

DOCTOR: Because you wouldn't have a planet to live on.

MARSHAL: Then we are defenceless.

DOCTOR: No, no, not quite, not quite. You remember I mentioned a psychological barrier, a deterrent that no Zeon would cross?

MARSHAL: Yes, but you need Zeons to experiment on.

DOCTOR: No, I think I said examine.

MARSHAL: There are no Zeons.

DOCTOR: There are on Zeos.

MARSHAL: What exactly are you proposing?

DOCTOR: I go to Zeos, pick up a Zeon, and bring the Princess Astra back if she's there.

ASTRA (on screen): People of Atrios, lay down your arms. Surrender. Resistance is useless. The Zeons can never be defeated. They have taken me c*ptive. My people, my people, they have sworn to destroy Atrios unless you surrender now. If you love me, my people, save me. Save yourselves. Hand over the Marshal and surrender. Surrender now. The w*r is over. The Zeons

MARSHAL: This forcefield. Can you provide it now? Will it give us breathing space?

DOCTOR: Yes, it'll give you time to save your neck.

DOCTOR: Well?

MARSHAL: You may go to Zeos. There is a way.

MERAK: It's the Marshal.

ROMANA: It's a two-way mirror.

MERAK: What's that?

ROMANA: Shush.

MARSHAL: It's done. The Time Lord suspects nothing. I've directed him to the transmat point in K block where your agents will be waiting.

ROMANA: Time Lord? How does he know?

MERAK: What?

ROMANA: Shush.

MARSHAL: My lord, once you have the secrets of time, please, give me my victory. I've waited so long. Please, my lord.

MERAK: He said K block. Astra was in K block.

ROMANA: We'd better warn the Doctor. Come on.

DOCTOR: You know, K9, I've got a feeling we're missing out on something. Are you listening to me, K9?

K9: Master.

DOCTOR: Listen. Why should the Marshal, leader in a w*r against Zeos, be the only one to know of a transmatter link with the enemy planet? And why should he tell me? I think one of us is being extremely stupid.

K9: Affirmative.

DOCTOR: Come on.

DOCTOR: Well, good luck, K9. I hope to see you again soon.

K9: Master, I do not advise entry of that

DOCTOR: Shush. K9, can I take the decisions, please? Good luck. I'll see you again soon.

ROMANA: Doctor! Doctor, wait! Oh, no. K9, it was a trap.

DOCTOR: A trap?

ROMANA: Doctor! Doctor.
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who", "episode": "16x22 - The Armageddon Factor - part 2"}