WARRIORS OF THE DEEP

BY: JOHNNY BYRNE

Part Four

First Air Date: 13 January 1984
Running time: 24:48

DOCTOR: How do you do? I'm the Doctor. Haven't we met before?

TURLOUGH: What's this?

BULIC: A ventilation shaft.

TARPOK: The Sea Devil warriors have captured the reactor room.

ICHTAR: Excellent.

VORSHAK: Allow my crew to surrender.

ICHTAR: It is they who insist upon fighting.

SCIBUS: The damage is assessed, Ichtar. The computer can be restored to normal functioning.

ICHTAR: Perfect.

DOCTOR: Ichtar.

TEGAN: You know him?

DOCTOR: Yes. I thought he'd been k*lled.

ICHTAR: Remove these people from the bridge.

DOCTOR: You do not recognise me now, but we are known to each other.

ICHTAR: You are mistaken. Take him away.

DOCTOR: No, wait, wait, please. In an earlier regeneration you knew me as the Doctor.

ICHTAR: The Doctor? You can prove what you say?

DOCTOR: I know that you are Ichtar, the surviving leader of the noble Silurian Triad. When we last met I tried to mediate between you and the people of Earth.

ICHTAR: So it is you.

DOCTOR: May we speak?

ICHTAR: The Doctor and Commander Vorshak will remain. Remove the others.

ICHTAR: I will listen to what you say, but I should tell you that the Silurians have long since abandoned the way of mediation.

DOCTOR: So it seems. Why? A civilised race like yours, waging unprovoked w*r?

ICHTAR: Defensive w*r, Doctor. There is a distinction. Silurian law forbids any other.

DOCTOR: Defensive? There's no such thing. When we last met, your supreme wish was to live at peace with the other inhabitants of this planet. Now, why change such an enlightened policy now?

ICHTAR: Our policy has always been peaceful survival. All that has changed is the means by which it can be achieved.

DOCTOR: What, by actions such as we've seen here?

ICHTAR: You forget. Twice we offered the hand of friendship to these ape-descended primitives, and twice we were treacherously att*cked, our people slaughtered. It will not happen again.

DOCTOR: There can be no alternative to peaceful co-existence.

ICHTAR: There is, Doctor. A final solution.

DOCTOR: Genocide? When everything you Silurians hold sacred forbids it?

ICHTAR: We will harm no one. These ape primitives will destroy themselves. We, Doctor, will merely provide the pretext.

DOCTOR: You'll trigger the w*r this Base was designed to fight.

ICHTAR: Yes. And these human beings will die as they have lived, in a sea of their own blood.

TEGAN (OOV.): Let go! Let go of me, you ****

TEGAN: Leave me alone! Let go of me.

TEGAN: You're alive.

TURLOUGH: Alive, well, and trying to escape. Would one of you mind keeping watch, please?

PRESTON: I will.

TARPOK: Binary circuits of the computer are now functioning.

ICHTAR: Can we activate the m*ssile data banks?

TARPOK: We will need the Commander's hand scan for clearance.

VORSHAK: You'll get no help from me, Silurian.

ICHTAR: Your hand scan, Commander. I will not ask again.

DOCTOR: I would do as he says if I were you, Commander.

VORSHAK: No.

DOCTOR: Alive or d*ad, they can still use your hand scan, and while there's life there's also hope.

ICHTAR: Thank you, Doctor.

VORSHAK: Those m*ssile will never leave their pads, not without a sync operator to complete the f*ring sequence.

DOCTOR: Not so.

VORSHAK: A sync operator is our insurance against unauthorised launch.

DOCTOR: If my guess is right, that little piece of Silurian gadgetry will more than make up for the lack of a sync operator unless we're able to do something about it.

TURLOUGH: Back to the TARDIS.

TEGAN: No, not the TARDIS, the bridge. They've got the Doctor up there as well as the Commander. Do you think we can get them both away?

TURLOUGH: What is it about Earth people that makes them think a futile gesture is a noble one?

TEGAN: Turlough

BULIC: You would prefer we left our friends to die?

TURLOUGH: If there was any chance of saving them, I'd be the first to go, but there isn't!

TEGAN: Look, we don't know until we've checked. Coming?

SCIBUS: The m*ssile are retargeted.

ICHTAR: Excellent.

DOCTOR: Do you intend to explode those m*ssile in space?

ICHTAR: Yes.

DOCTOR: Launching those things will trigger a holocaust. You'll destroy everyone.

ICHTAR: The Silurians and Sea Devils will survive.

DOCTOR: To be masters of a d*ad planet.

ICHTAR: Not quite, Doctor. Still safely hidden away in deep hibernation is the true life force of this planet. When restored, our civilisation will rule the Earth once more.

DOCTOR: I see.

PRESTON: All clear.

PRESTON: Turlough.

TURLOUGH: What's the matter?

PRESTON: They would have stood a better chance if we'd gone with them.

TURLOUGH: A better chance of what, of dying? I don't think so. I think they'll manage that very nicely themselves, thank you.

PRESTON: Look

TURLOUGH: Put your foot in.

PRESTON: Really.

TURLOUGH: Come on.

DOCTOR: What about us? Are we included in your final solution?

ICHTAR: We bear you no malice, Doctor. Once we have finished here, you and your companions will be released.

DOCTOR: And the rest of these people?

ICHTAR: They will die. An act of mercy, since there will be nobody for them to rejoin. Commander, you will please join me at the master console.

DOCTOR: Commander.

VORSHAK: Yes, I know.

BULIC: The Doctor.

ICHTAR: Initiate the test f*ring sequence.

TEGAN: Did he see you?

BULIC: Yes, and he'd better hurry. It can't be long before they discover we've escaped.

DOCTOR: Excellent timing. Is Turlough safe?

TEGAN: Yes.

DOCTOR: Lead on.

BULIC: But aren't we going to get the Commander out?

DOCTOR: Impossible. They need him in there.

BULIC: Well, we must at least try.

DOCTOR: Not here, not now. We'll come back for him, I promise.

TEGAN: Where are we going?

DOCTOR: The chemical store.

PRESTON: This way.

SAUVIX: The primitives have escaped.

ICHTAR: Explain.

SAUVIX: Where is the Doctor?

ICHTAR: Commander? Find the Doctor. Find the primitives. k*ll them!

TURLOUGH: They must be mopping up survivors.

PRESTON: Or your friends. Either way, shouldn't we help them?

ICHTAR: Connect the manipulator.

TEGAN: Hurry up, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Shush.

TURLOUGH: Doctor.

DOCTOR: Turlough.

TURLOUGH: You didn't think I'd leave you?

TEGAN: It never crossed my mind.

PRESTON: Where were you going?

DOCTOR: The chemical store.

BULIC: This way.

ICHTAR: Is the computer fully operational?

TARPOK: Restored and tested.

ICHTAR: Then align the manipulator to the computer.

DOCTOR: Watch the doors.

TEGAN: What are we looking for?

DOCTOR: An alternative to this. Something less lethal that will do the job just as well.

PRESTON: Do you know what the Silurians want?

DOCTOR: Oh yes, all in all they were very forthcoming, really. They intend to launch your m*ssile and trigger a w*r to end all wars, between your people, of course.

TURLOUGH: Doctor!

PRESTON: What happened?

DOCTOR: Hexachromite. It does that to all reptile life.

PRESTON: Then use it on the inv*de.

DOCTOR: And k*ll them?

PRESTON: Why not? They're about to start a w*r that will destroy everyone on Earth.

DOCTOR: I sometimes wonder why I like the people of this miserable planet so much. The Silurians and Sea Devils are noble races. They have skills and talents you pathetic humans can only dream about.

TURLOUGH: That doesn't alter what they're about to do.

DOCTOR: No. No, and we must stop them.

TEGAN: What's the alternative?

DOCTOR: Something that will disable rather than k*ll.

TARPOK: Manipulator aligned with the computer.

SCIBUS: Alignment confirmed.

ICHTAR: Good. Then we can proceed.

ICHTAR: Is this a practice m*ssile run?

VORSHAK: It's impossible to tell.

ICHTAR: Check the manipulator.

SCIBUS: Readings confirm a computer controlled practice run.

ICHTAR: It is time to stop this game. Activate the manipulator. Launch the m*ssile.

BULIC: m*ssile alert.

PRESTON: Doctor

DOCTOR: Yes, I hear. What does it mean?

BULIC: Final countdown is imminent.

TURLOUGH: What are you going to do?

TEGAN: You must decide, Doctor. Billions of people could die.

DOCTOR: Yes, all right. Turlough, get the grill open. Preston, fetch that pump. We have to feed the gas into the ventilation system.

SCIBUS: m*ssile are armed and targeted.

VORSHAK: You're mad.

ICHTAR: The ape primitives have developed this w*apon. We cannot be held responsible for it.

VORSHAK: Contact the heads of governments. Tell them your demands. They'll listen.

ICHTAR: Your people have already had their chance.

VORSHAK: Try one more time, for pity's sake.

ICHTAR: It is too late for pity. It is much too late.

DOCTOR: It'll take some time for the gas to spread throughout the Base.

TEGAN: Will it be fast enough?

DOCTOR: I hope it won't be necessary at all. If I can get to the bridge in time, I may be able to reason with Ichtar, persuade him to abandon the m*ssile run.

TURLOUGH: You've tried that already.

DOCTOR: Yes, well, this time I'll have something to back my argument.

ICHTAR: Soon it'll all be over.

TARPOK: There is computer resistance to the manipulator.

VORSHAK: I said you wouldn't succeed.

ICHTAR: Increase power, Tarpok. It seems that your computers are as stubborn as you are, Commander.

DOCTOR: Now, I want you all to go back to the TARDIS. You'll be safer there whatever happens.

BULIC: We've gone to yellow alert.

DOCTOR: I must go.

SAUVIX: So, Doctor, I have found you.

ICHTAR: Speak.

SAUVIX (OOV.): I have found the Doctor.

ICHTAR: And you have your orders. k*ll him.

DOCTOR: You must listen to me.

SAUVIX: No, Doctor, you must die. But first, switch off the pump.

TEGAN: She's d*ad.

DOCTOR: A waste.

TEGAN: Well, don't let her death count for nothing.

DOCTOR: No. No, I must get to the bridge.

TEGAN: Doctor, you'll need some help.

DOCTOR: Yes, all right. Bring oxygen. We may need it.

SCIBUS: The computer has s*ab.

TARPOK: The manipulator has regained control.

ICHTAR: Now do you believe me, Commander?

DOCTOR: It's working, and quickly. I can't bargain with Ichtar if his guards are d*ad.

VORSHAK: No!

ICHTAR: Fetch him.

VORSHAK: I will not be responsible for the destruction of my own kind.

ICHTAR: The final phase.

ICHTAR: Disarm them! You're just in time to witness the m*ssile launch, Doctor.

DOCTOR: No, wait. Your warriors are dying everywhere. Abandon the base.

TEGAN: Look, it's hexachromite gas.

DOCTOR: Abandon the launch! There's still time to save your own lives.

ICHTAR: There are millions more ready to replace us.

DOCTOR: Who will replace you? With you dies the last of the Triad, the custodians of your race. What will become of your people then?

ICHTAR: You talk in vain, Doctor. k*ll them! k*ll them!

DOCTOR: Bulic, turn off the gas!

ICHTAR: Commence ignition, Scibus!

DOCTOR: The m*ssile are set to f*re. How long have we got?

VORSHAK: Less than three minutes.

DOCTOR: What's the abort procedure?

VORSHAK: Well, a phased electrical charge aimed directly at the ignition circuit. It restores the launch to simulation.

DOCTOR: Well, it must be done at once.

VORSHAK: It's impossible. Only a sync operator can do it, and Maddox is d*ad.

DOCTOR: Well, I shall have to try.

VORSHAK: But the computer would burn out your mind in seconds.

DOCTOR: Oh, you have a better idea?

VORSHAK: Very well, get into the seat.

TURLOUGH: Doctor, try to disconnect the computer first.

DOCTOR: No, no, there isn't time.

VORSHAK: He's right. We're already on final countdown to ignition.

DOCTOR: Tegan, look after the Silurians. Give them oxygen.

VORSHAK: Now, I can perform the manual tasks, but you will have to do the rest.

TEGAN: Good luck, Doctor.

TURLOUGH: The strain's too great. He'll never manage it.

VORSHAK: No. No, his mind is synchronised with the computer. Doctor, can you hear me?

VORSHAK: I'm going to switch you through to the ignition circuit.

TURLOUGH: The oxygen isn't having much effect.

TEGAN: This one's coming round.

TURLOUGH: See to the other Silurian there.

VORSHAK: I've isolated the ignition circuit, Doctor. Can you identify it? Nod if you can.

VORSHAK: Concentrate, Doctor. I will now feed in the charge. To burn out the circuit, concentrate and direct it.

TEGAN: Turlough!

VORSHAK: The charge must be in phase with the pulse of the circuit. If not, it will destroy you.

TURLOUGH: Look out, Commander.

VORSHAK: Now concentrate, Doctor. Let nothing distract you.

VORSHAK: Now, Doctor!

VORSHAK: You've done it.

VORSHAK: He did it!

TEGAN: He's alive.

TURLOUGH: The Commander wasn't so lucky, I'm afraid. He's been sh*t.

DOCTOR: Did I succeed?

TEGAN: Yes, Doctor.

TURLOUGH: They're all d*ad, you know.

DOCTOR: There should have been another way.
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who", "episode": "21x04 - Warriors of the Deep - part 4"}