FOUR TO DOOMSDAY

BY: TERENCE DUDLEY

Part Four

Original Air Date: 26 January 1982
Running time: 24:53

ADRIC: No!

MONARCH: Do not harm the boy.

MONARCH: The boy has great courage.

ENLIGHTENMENT: And the girl, your Majesty, has Urbankan intelligence.

MONARCH: Yes, the graphite of the pencil conducted the power of the sonic device causing a short circuit.

ENLIGHTENMENT: Precisely.

ADRIC: If you can hear me, your Majesty?

MONARCH: I hear you, my boy.

ADRIC (on monitor): With respect, I cannot join you if any harm is done to the Doctor.

MONARCH: Persuasion, stay the execution. Bring them all to me. But first, confiscate the Doctor's sonic device.

PERSUASION: That instrumentation, please.

PERSUASION: You may keep the pencil. Release him. You will turn out your pockets, Doctor.

DOCTOR: I think I will, yes.

DOCTOR: Oh, thank you, Nyssa. It was brilliant, by the way. Quite brilliant.

PERSUASION: What is this?

DOCTOR: Eye glass. I'm a bit short-sighted in this one.

PERSUASION: This?

DOCTOR: It's a piece of string.

PERSUASION: And this?

DOCTOR: It's a cricket ball. A memento. I used to bowl a very good chinaman.

DOCTOR: I took five wickets once for New South Wales.

PERSUASION: His Majesty wishes to see you. All of you.

PERSUASION: Replace their motor circuits. Precede me, please.

TEGAN: Oh cripes.

TEGAN: No. No, leave well alone.

PERSUASION: Yes, Doctor, the poor are always with us, but I would prefer not to keep his Majesty waiting.

MONARCH: Ah, Doctor. Your machine is reluctant to break free from mine.

DOCTOR: I can't think why.

MONARCH: A more considerate guest than you, perhaps.

DOCTOR: Oh, is it usual for a host to k*ll a guest?

MONARCH: Oh, in certain rarified circles, but your life is forfeit because you were plotting against me.

ADRIC: Doctor?

DOCTOR: My actions were motivated by scientific curiosity.

MONARCH: Not as they were reported to me.

DOCTOR: Reports can be garbled, your Majesty.

MONARCH: Not this time. Was it scientific curiosity which caused you to interfere with my monopticons?

DOCTOR: I wouldn't dream of interfering with your monopticons.

MONARCH: Enough of these recriminations. I propose to show my moral superiority by sparing your life. I'm not, as you would have others believe, a wanton destroyer, but I must protect myself and my mission. Now the girl Nyssa will be held hostage. If you're restrained, you'll come to no harm. Beware you're not the cause of her destruction. Take her to Lin Futu. Let him sedate her and await my orders.

MONARCH: Control, let there be a recreational. For while my eyes are restored from the results of the Doctor's scientific curiosity, I would have my family under my benevolent gaze. You have my permission to withdraw.

DOCTOR: Thank you, your Majesty.

MONARCH: The boy Adric cannot fail to be with me now.

TEGAN: Pommie mumbo jumbo.

PERSUASION: The girl Nyssa is secured and sedated, your Majesty.

MONARCH: Good. Where are the Doctor and the boy?

MONARCH: Ah, Bigon is there.

PERSUASION: He should have been de-circuited centuries ago. I will go seek the Doctor and the boy, your Majesty.

DOCTOR: Adric, I'm sorry. I really am.

ADRIC: Well, that's all right. And nothing will happen to Nyssa as long as you

DOCTOR: I know, I know, and that's what I'm sorry about. You know, I think I may have been entirely mistaken about Monarch.

ADRIC: What?

ADRIC (OOV.): I'm so glad to hear you say that.

DOCTOR (OOV.): Oh, he's an autocrat, of course, but I now believe a benevolent one.

ADRIC (OOV.): He is, yes.

DOCTOR (OOV.): And he's ruthless. Anyone can see that.

DOCTOR: All great leaders have to be ruthless. It's the intention, the mission

DOCTOR (OOV.): The sheer

DOCTOR (on monitor): Breadth of vision, that's the important thing.

ADRIC (on monitor): Well, yes, isn't it.

DOCTOR (on monitor): I mean, he could quite easily have had me k*lled. Now why didn't he?

ADRIC (on monitor): Exactly what I've been trying to tell you.

DOCTOR (on monitor): I know, and that's what I'm sorry about. That's why at the earliest opportunity I shall request permission to see him, seek an audience and make my peace with him.

DOCTOR: Come on, let's go and see a bit of the recreational.

ADRIC: All right.

DOCTOR: Now listen to me, you young idiot. You're not so much gullible as idealistic. I suppose it comes from your deprived delinquent background. Monarch is the greatest being in the known universe for evil. He will destroy Earth and much more if he's not stopped.

ADRIC: Back there you said

DOCTOR: Yes, back there he could hear us. Here he can't. I'm playing for time.

ADRIC: But you're wrong, Doctor. He's civilised

DOCTOR: Do you want to save Nyssa?

ADRIC: Of course I do.

DOCTOR: Then shut up and listen. He is not concerned with bringing civilisation. He has the greatest contempt for anyone but himself. He wants to rob Earth of its minerals in order to travel faster than the speed of light.

DOCTOR: All right, all right, if that doesn't convince you, why does he carry poison on his ship?

ADRIC: Poison?

DOCTOR: It's stored in the Mobiliary. If his mission is peaceful, why does he want the poison?

ADRIC: Well, history, research.

DOCTOR: Do you really think that?

ADRIC: He could have had you k*lled and yet he spared your life. Why?

DOCTOR: Because he doesn't want to upset you yet.

ADRIC: I don't believe you.

DOCTOR: Look, he wants to use you. His subjects are all synthetic. You are flesh and blood. If you speak up for him on Earth, you can delay their opposition.

ADRIC: I still don't understand.

DOCTOR: No, you don't, do you. Look, the Urbankans are synthetic. They are not like you and me. However sophisticated their circuitry, they are still machines. With me?

ADRIC: I think so.

DOCTOR: Well, make up your mind. We haven't much time.

ADRIC: Why, what are you going to do?

DOCTOR: I haven't the slightest intention of telling you until I know if you're with me.

ADRIC: Yes. All right then, yes.

DOCTOR: I don't believe it.

MONARCH: The Doctor is tired. A prime disadvantage of the flesh time.

DOCTOR: That's good. With any luck, they haven't put this one right yet.

ADRIC: What are you going to do?

DOCTOR: Get some allies. This door leads to the Mobiliary. Nyssa's in here. Now, with this (magnifying glass) I can distract the monopticon without disabling it. It won't scan us but neither will it draw attention to us. Be ready to take over from me when we get inside.

DOCTOR: Now, it's important to hold it steady. It has a cobalt ring with a high flux density.

ADRIC: Right.

LIN FUTU: What are you doing here?

DOCTOR: Saving your life, I hope.

LIN FUTU: Seize him!

DOCTOR: No! No, hear me out. You are in great danger.

PERSUASION: Everything is in order, your Majesty.

MONARCH: Yes, I saw our friend retire. Mobiliary, why have you changed your scan?

MONARCH: Control, report on that monopticon.

CONTROL: Cobalt high flux density present.

MONARCH: Don't say that Doctor's on the prowl again. What a pest! Persuasion!

DOCTOR: You must know all I say is true. Put them back. Bigon must have them back.

LIN FUTU: You know I cannot do this.

DOCTOR: You must. Lin Futu, you are a very old and wise man. You have been promised leadership of your people on Earth.

LIN FUTU: Yes.

DOCTOR: Do you think for one moment that Monarch will honour that? The Chinese are the most populous and powerful race on Earth. Once Monarch grasps that, what hope is there for you?

LIN FUTU: How can I re-circuit Bigon without Monarch knowing?

DOCTOR: Leave that to me. Will your dragon dance be included in the recreational?

LIN FUTU: It can be.

DOCTOR: Then let it be next.

MONARCH: Ah, conformity. There is no other freedom.

TEGAN: What have I got to lose?

DOCTOR: Wake up, Nyssa. Nyssa! Nyssa!

BIGON: Thank you. I am very glad that you are with us.

DOCTOR: What about the Princess and Kurkutji?

BIGON: They too will be with us when they hear the truth. I will summon them.

ADRIC: What are we going to do?

DOCTOR: Well, somehow I must get to the TARDIS. There are hatches. I must try to get to it on a lifeline.

BIGON: Hatch nine is nearest.

LIN FUTU: You will need life support and protective covering.

ADRIC: We have this.

DOCTOR: Oh, no, no, no, that won't do for the temperature out there. And anyway, I'll need your help.

LIN FUTU: Here. Used for repairs and maintenance topsides. Our lubrication freezes and our joints seize up.

DOCTOR: Splendid. Adric. I can use this, (the helmet) but we have only six minutes. That's as long as I can stand sub-zero temperatures.

MONARCH: The Doctor and the boy Adric are conspicuous by their absence. To say nothing of Bigon!

DOCTOR: What about the androids? Have you control of them all?

BIGON: Yes, but Monarch or one of his ministers can countermand any order.

DOCTOR: Well, is there no way to break the contact?

BIGON: Only by de-circuiting them.

DOCTOR: No, there's no time. Anyway, you'd be seen.

BIGON: Wait. There is a way. There is a fail-safe mechanism. A faulty circuit once gave rise to development of reason, a potential for revolt. Any collective activity automatically jams the androids' circuits. Nyssa, relieve him.

DOCTOR: Can you arrange a collective activity?

BIGON: I do not see why one thing should not lead to another.

MONARCH: What is going on? Control, let it cease.

CONTROL: Cessation not possible. Motor circuits jammed on common activity.

MONARCH: What was designed as a fail-safe has been turned against me. The Doctor is behind this. k*ll the girl Nyssa. Find the Doctor. Destroy him! Persuasion!

MONARCH: The boy has betrayed me.

MONARCH: Help him!

MONARCH: No!

MONARCH: Farewell. In space forever, going nowhere.

MONARCH: Report, Enlightenment.

MONARCH: Report, Enlightenment! Report!

LIN FUTU: We must get a line to him.

BIGON: Too late. His six minutes are almost up.

MONARCH: I too am not without agility, my friend.

TEGAN: Doctor! Are you all right? How on Earth did you

DOCTOR: You're spoiling my concentration. Come on, old girl. Just don't let me down now. Don't let me down now.

DOCTOR: Bring that (his helmet) and bring another.

TEGAN: What are we doing?

DOCTOR: Rescuing Nyssa and Adric. Look, just do what I say and do it quickly!

DOCTOR: Quick! Run!

MONARCH: You sentimental fools. Control! Cut all life support atmosphere!

BIGON: Monarch has cut the life support.

DOCTOR: Ah. Had the feeling he might.

ADRIC: Doctor, where

DOCTOR: Save your breath. You two, put these on. And you, Adric. Have you another helmet?

LIN FUTU: One. It's in pieces.

DOCTOR: Well, assemble it quickly.

TEGAN: Doctor, what about you?

DOCTOR: I can go into a trance which reduces the need for oxygen. Ah!

ADRIC: Hang on.

NYSSA: Adric.

ADRIC: What?

NYSSA: My oxygen's running out.

ADRIC: Then don't talk and keep still.

MONARCH: Now all I have to do is wait. And that is something I do very, very well indeed.

DOCTOR: Thank you. Bigon?

BIGON: What?

DOCTOR: Can you change the course of this ship?

BIGON: To where?

DOCTOR: Urbanka.

DOCTOR: Monarch's poison, the last dangerous thing on this ship. Be very careful with it. I want to analyse it.

ADRIC: Right.

DOCTOR: I'd go home if I were you.

DOCTOR (on monitor): You don't stand an earthly where we're going.

MONARCH: Confound you! Control, release full life support systems.

DOCTOR: Well, come on, come on. I'm taking you back to Earth.

MONARCH: No, Doctor.

BIGON: Doctor.

DOCTOR: Oh, it's quite all right. He needs the atmosphere as much as we do.

DOCTOR: Hence the Flora chamber.

NYSSA: You mean he's still in flesh time?

DOCTOR: Partly, anyway. The poison only works on organic matter.

NYSSA: Of course.

DOCTOR: You know, I had my doubts about anyone who wants to go backwards in time by travelling faster than the speed of light. It's impossible. Fallacy of flesh time.

TEGAN: Can we go now, Doctor?

DOCTOR: Yes, all right. (to Bigon) Are you coming?

BIGON: No. I think we'll go on to another planet and try and start again.

DOCTOR: Good luck.

DOCTOR: I suppose it would have been a bit difficult placing Bigon and the others.

TEGAN: Oh, I don't know. They wouldn't have looked a bit out of place in Terminal three.

DOCTOR: Heathrow, here we come.

TEGAN: I've heard that before.

ADRIC: Except Nyssa never repaired the time curve indicator.

NYSSA: Doctor, I

DOCTOR: Nyssa?
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who", "episode": "19x08 - Four to Doomsday - part 4"}