THE DALEKS' MASTER PLAN - EPISODE 3

DEVIL'S PLANET

1.  SPAR SHIP

(Katarina mutters to the Trojan Horse-god.)

KATARINA:  Great One, don't leave us!
VYON:   He said we had to! He meant it..

(Vyon tries to operate the controls for take-off.  Steven pulls him away.)

STEVEN:  No!

(He turns and knocks Steven to the floor, then resumes preparations for take-off.)

KATARINA:  Stop!  Without the Doctor we'll never reach the place of perfection.
VYON:  We won't. We're going without him! We're going into countdown.

(The countdown continues.  Suddenly Steven points to a light winking on the hatch panel.)

STEVEN:  That light!
VYON:  It's the outer door!  It's not fully shut.  Quick, or we'll all be sucked out!

(As he adjusts the automatic switch, Steven shouts at him.)

STEVEN:  Hold  countdown!  It's the Doctor.

(Through the clear panel of the control room door he can see the Doctor in the airlock doorway.  The hatch to the outside slides shut and Steven pulls the Doctor to safety.)

DOCTOR:  Get us off, Bret!  Get us off!  Get us off!  Take-off, man!
VYON:  Stand by, everyone!  Take off!

(They all desperately grab hold of anything close, as the rocket rises swiftly into the air, leaving the planet of Kembel far below.  As equilibrium returns, the Doctor eyes Vyon with austere reproof.)

DOCTOR:  That was rather violent acceleration, young man.

(Vyon's expressionless face twists into a wry smile as the rocket ship blasts into space.)

2.  DALEK CONTROL ROOM

(In the Dalek Communications Control Room, the Black Dalek joins the watchers around the main monitor.  Outside, the aliens are being shepherded back to the Conference.  The Communications Dalek [Comm. Dalek] is watching the scanners and the communicators.)

COMM. DALEK:  Altitude 5 sections.  Speed 3000.

COMM.DALEK 2: Vessel attained gravitational escape velocity.
BLACK DALEK:  Cut in automatic trackers.
COMM. DALEK 2:  All is ready for their space extinction.
BLACK DALEK:  (in panic)  Do not destroy!  That vessel must not be destroyed.
COMM. DALEK:  Trackers operating.
BLACK DALEK:  Prepare Neutronic Randomiser.
COMM. DALEK:  Stand by Randomiser.
BLACK DALEK:  The intruders must be caught alive.

3.  SPAR

(Through the observation window of the SPAR, the Doctor watches Kembel grow smaller and smaller.)

DOCTOR:  Well done, Bret, Well done.  You got us off very well.
VYON:  (curtly)  Thanks.  I thought you weren't going to make it.

(The Doctor gives an irascible snort.)

DOCTOR:  Of course I was.  You're far too pessimistic.  Now.  Where's that little box of mine?

(Steven picks up the cylinder holding up the Taranium Core.)

STEVEN:  This one?

(The Doctor takes the cylinder.)

DOCTOR:  Yes, ah splendid, splendid.  The Daleks' plans are utterly useless without this.

(He holds it out for all them to see.)

STEVEN:  Why? what did you find out at the Council meeting?
DOCTOR:  They've allied themselves with the rules of the outer galaxies to take over the Universe!
VYON:  (sharply)  Universe?
DOCTOR:  Yes, their first objective being Earth and then the solar system.
STEVEN:  Then we've got to warn Earth and fast!
VYON:  But what about Mavic Chen?
DOCTOR:  Oh, he's one of them, my friend.  By sacrificing the Solar System, he hopes to gain more power.

VYON: That's impossible!

DOCTOR: Oh no it isn't, no it isn't! Therefore we must get to earth before him.

(This causes Katarina to approach the Doctor in puzzlement.)

KATARINA:  (timidly)  But how can we return to Earth?  We've already left it.

(The Doctor puts an encouraging hand on her shoulder.)

DOCTOR:  Yes, I know, my dear, but this is not Earth as we see it.  Effectively it's something very different.

(Vyon draws Steven aside.)

VYON:  What's the matter with this girl?  I mean where's she from?

(Steven glances mischievously at the Doctor and Katarina.)

STEVEN:  (casually)  Oh it's all right - she helped us in Troy.  She doesn't really understand.
VYON:  (puzzled)  Troy?
STEVEN:  Yes.

(He goes over to join the others.)

STEVEN:  Well come on, Doctor, what's so special about that box?
DOCTOR:  Well, as I said before my boy, the Daleks' plans are utterly useless without this.
STEVEN:  (pleased)  Then we won!

(Steven picks up the Core and is about to open it when the Doctor stops him.)

DOCTOR:  Tut, tut, tut.  Don't open it, please.
STEVEN:  Why not?
DOCTOR:  It will burn your eyes - you'll go totally blind!  That is a full emm of Taranium!
VYON:  (shocked)  What?
DOCTOR:  Taranium.
VYON:  That can only be found on the planet Uranus.  A full measure would take years to mine!
DOCTOR:  Fifty years, to be precise, to be precise and Mavic Chen has given this to the Daleks to complete one of the most evil weapons ever devised.  Their Time Destructor.

4.  CONFERENCE ROOM

(Zephon stands before the Black Dalek. Mavic Chen is also present.)

BLACK DALEK:  Representative Zephon!  You deny that your negligence caused the loss of the Taranium Core?
ZEPHON:  (vindictively)  Had the Daleks made full security arrangements, the invaders would not have reached the city.
MAVIC CHEN:  Had the master of the Fifth Galaxy been less arrogant, he would have gone with me to the meeting. Instead he preferred to keep us all waiting.
ZEPHON:  I believe the intruders came from the Solar System.
MAVIC CHEN:  Did you see them?
ZEPHON:  No.
MAVIC CHEN:  Did they speak and tell you so?
ZEPHON:  No.
MAVIC CHEN:  Then your accusation is preposterous.
ZEPHON:  How is it that the intruders knew that the Taranium was here and that it was to be handed over, if they did not come from the Solar System?  None of the others knew what was that Representative Mavic Chen was bringing here!

(All eyes are now on Mavic Chen.)

BLACK DALEK:  Have you nothing to say?
MAVIC CHEN:  This is absurd.  Why should I arrange that fifty years be spent secretly mining to acquire this mineral - only to have it stolen?
ZEPHON:  The quest for power.  Perhaps you wanted to use the Core for yourself!
MAVIC CHEN:  HOW?  Only the Daleks know how to assemble the Time Destructor.  I only provided the vital ingredient of the Core.
ZEPHON:  (to the Black Dalek)  I didn't know about the Core.  How come I?
BLACK DALEK:  You knew about the intruders.
ZEPHON:  We all did.  You were going to deal with them or so you said...
BLACK DALEK:  Silence!  It is agreed that you are guilty of negligence.

(Zephon looks about him in fury.)

ZEPHON:  If I go, the Masters of Celation and Beaus go with me!
BLACK DALEK:  (warningly)  You threaten our unity.
ZEPHON:  I have nothing to say.  I will leave now.

(Zephon starts to walk from the room, but he is stopped by Daleks closing in from each side of the doorway.  Quietly, Mavic Chen rises and hurries away down the hall.  Zephon trembles violently as he looks round for an escape route.)

BLACK DALEK:  Execute!

(Caught in the cross-fire at close range, Zephon crumples to the floor.  The other Daleks ignore the lifeless body and head for the Control Room.)

5.  DALEK CONTROL ROOM

(The Black Dalek enters.)

BLACK DALEK:  Where is the ship?
COMM. DALEK:  Course 707.  It is approaching the influence of the planet Desperus.
BLACK DALEK:  Prepare pursuit ships.  Stand by Randomiser.

6.  SPAR

(Having found special guards for their eyes, the Doctor, Steven, Katarina and Vyon are looking at the Taranium.  A brilliant white flare shimmers around the mineral inside the open container.  Katarina hides from it.)

          STEVEN: That is Taranium. 

DOCTOR:  Yes, the rarest mineral in the universe!

STEVEN:  Funny. It makes your eyes feel strange even with these on.

(Steven indicates their eye-guards.)

STEVEN:  It's like looking into the sun for too long.

(They all remove their glasses and rub their eyes.)

DOCTOR:  Oh, don't complain young man. You're a very privileged person.  Do you realise very few people have seen this in this universe.
STEVEN:  All right, Doctor.  But now that we got it - what are we going to do with it?
DOCTOR:  Well, for the moment, nothing.
STEVEN:  That doesn't make sense.  I mean you said yourself that the Daleks have the most dangerous weapon ever devised.
DOCTOR:  We have the Taranium, so for the moment we do nothing.  And by doing nothing, we do everything.  Do I make myself clear?
STEVEN:  Come off it, Doctor. What's all that supposed to mean?
DOCTOR:  Oh my dear young man, you ask so many questions.  (looking at Katarina)  Look at Katarina over there.  She doesn't ask questions, she just looks and learns.  Now, why don't you try the same thing, hmm?  (to himself)  You know I find all this extremely fascinating. It's a little primitive of course - but it's still very fascinating.
STEVEN:  (sardonically)  Look Doctor I'm sorry, but can't we do anything?
DOCTOR:  (taking no notice of the tone)  Yes. Bret, can you find me something to play magnetic tape, hmm?
VYON:  Yes, Doctor. Here.

DOCTOR:  Well my dear fellow, that's magnificent.  It's all so convenient isn't it!  I'll play that tape that I gave you, before I went to the Daleks' conference?
STEVEN:  What tape's that?

(Vyon produces the capsule from his uniform pocket.)

DOCTOR:  Oh I found a small tape beside a skeleton and it might be able to tell us something.

(He notices Katarina who is still hiding from the Taranium.)

DOCTOR:  Katarina!  Come over here, my child.

(She does so.)

DOCTOR:  Now, have a look at another wonder.

(Katarina looks about her.)

KATARINA:  Everything is so strange. This isn't like your TARDIS.
DOCTOR:  No, my dear, no.
STEVEN:  But Doctor surely.  I mean the Daleks aren't going to leave a tape around with their plans on it?
DOCTOR:  No, no, no!  Bret here was searching for someone and the skeleton I found was humanoid, well whoever it was may learned something that we haven't.
VYON:  (exclaiming)  Marc Cory!  You found him!?  Well, Kert and I searched that jungle but we could find no trace.
DOCTOR:  Well, did you search that pairing twice?
VYON:  How do you mean?
DOCTOR:  Well, it so happens that kind of jungle is apt to lead you back to the same place more than once.
VYON:  Yes but we were methodical or as methodical as the Daleks.
DOCTOR:  Oh yes no doubt you were and  I suppose I was lucky, now play the tape. Come along come along stop all this talking!

(The tape begins to play and Marc Cory's long-dead voice comes from the speaker.  In the background of the recording the sound of the jungle can be heard.)

CORY:  (oov)  This is Marc Cory, Special Security Agent, reporting from the planet Kembel.  The Daleks are planning the complete destruction of the Galaxy.  Together with the powers of the outer galaxies, a war force is being assembled and...

(The voice breaks off.)

STEVEN:  That's all?

(The Doctor looks at the tape and then nods.)

VYON:  Poor Marc.  He never got through.

(The Doctor squares his shoulders.)

DOCTOR:  But we must!  The Daleks will stop at anything to prevent us.

(Katarina shivers.)

7.  DALEK CONTROL ROOM

(The Black Dalek and the Comm. Dalek are watching the instruments which are tracking the SPAR.)

COMM. DALEK:  Ship now at closest point to planet Desperus.
BLACK DALEK:  Operate Randomiser!

8.  SPAR

(A strange buzzing noise starts up, but nobody on board notices it.)

DOCTOR:  Yes, yes you must find someone who you can trust.  Someone in a high enough position that may be able to help.
VYON:  Well, Karlton is the man in charge of all Space Security.  But he's very close to Chen.
STEVEN:  Yes, this chap Karlton, he may be part of the plan with the Daleks.
VYON:  It's possible...

(By now the buzzing sound is ringing from the control banks and all four look in surprise at the panels.  Bret, with an oath, rushes to the console and Katarina holds onto the Doctor in fright.)

DOCTOR:  We're changing course.

(Vyon wrestles with the controls.)

VYON:  The steering boosters won't fire!  I can't get her round.
STEVEN:  Switch to manual control!

(He works with Vyon, both men's fingers flying over the console buttons.)

VYON:  I can't... we're picking up speed!

(The Doctor peers at the monitor screen.)

DOCTOR:  You know I believe we're approaching the gravitation point of that planet.

(He points at the screen.  Vyon casts a glance at the rapidly narrowing gap between them and a planet showing on the scanner.)

VYON:  (snaps)  Desperus!
DOCTOR:  Has it any kind of atmosphere?
VYON:  Yes.  But we can't get off there, we'll never be able to get off again.
STEVEN:  Why not?  What's wrong with it?
VYON:  Desperus is the penal planet of the Solar System.
DOCTOR:  Well, if it's one of your prison planets, surely there are guards and warders there to help us.
VYON:  They're aren't any.  The only craft which stop there are prison ships bringing other criminals.  If we crash there, we'll be left there to rot for the rest of our lives away.
DOCTOR:  You must try to land softly somewhere.
VYON:  I can't!  This vessel is out of my control!

(They all look at the planet on the scanner which is growing larger and larger.)

9.  DALEK CONTROL ROOM

COMM. DALEK:  Space vessel's instruments now randomised.

(Another Dalek chips in.)

DALEK 2:  On course for planet Desperus.  Impact in point 6.  Remote control standing-by.
BLACK DALEK:  Cut in remote control.
COMM. DALEK:  Now under Dalek control.
BLACK DALEK:  Reduce descent velocity.  Vessel must make soft landing.
COMM. DALEK:  I obey.

BLACK DALEK:  Pursuit ships to stand by.

(Mavic Chen has been watching from the doorway.  He approaches the Black Dalek.)

MAVIC CHEN:  A highly effective operation.  May I congratulate you?
BLACK DALEK:  Dalek technology is the most advanced in the Universe.

(This annoys Mavic Chen.)

MAVIC CHEN:  You still haven't recovered the Taranium.

(The Black Dalek advances slowly.)

BLACK DALEK:  We shall.

(The Black Dalek's eye swings to look straight at Chen.)

BLACK DALEK:  It is strange that the intruders took your space-vessel.  Perhaps they were indeed creatures from Earth.

(Chen quickly moves to disprove the accusation.)

MAVIC CHEN:  My SPAR was the last to arrive here, so consequently was in the best position to leave quickly.  But to set your mind at rest  I will return to Earth now. And if I find that the intruders do come from there, they will be dealt with - quickly and without arousing any suspicion.
BLACK DALEK:  Very well.  A vessel similar to your own craft will be put at your disposal.
MAVIC CHEN:  I will return here as soon as all final preparations for the take-over are completed.
BLACK DALEK:  All will be in readiness.

(The Black Dalek turns back to the monitors.)

MAVIC CHEN:  Good.  We don't want any more mistakes.

(Chen stalks from the room, with an arrogant smile on his face.)

10.  SPAR

(The Doctor joins Vyon as the Space Agent looks over the controls in puzzlement.)

DOCTOR:  ____right now?
VYON:  We're going to be able to make a soft landing.  I don't understand it.

(The Doctor's face clears.)

DOCTOR:  Yes, I'm afraid I do - only too well.
STEVEN:  Daleks? Well it's some sort of remote control, I suppose. We'd all better prepare for landing.
DOCTOR:  You're quite right, my boy.
VYON:  If it's the Daleks, it can only mean one thing.
DOCTOR:  Yes, it means that they coming after us again.

11.  DESPERUS

(Desperus is an inhospitable place.  Its broken surface is covered with rocks and dense forests of stunted trees, which are filled with bat-like creatures that the prisoners call "screamers".  The convict's survival depends on them being able to band into tribes.  One such tribe lies in a cave, out of the cold night air.  Garge, whose long, tangled white hair and beard cover a face ravaged by suffering, watches the sleeping forms of his tribesmen.  In the warmest place, lies Bors, leader of the tribe.  He is the only one with a knife.  Also here is Kirksen. Garge unwraps his filthy bedding and rises to his knees, watching Bors all the time.  As Garge stretches out his claw-like fingers for the knife, Bors leaps at his throat in one violent movement and throws Garge on his back.  With Bors' weight holding him down, Garge screams in fright, waking Kirksen.  Kirksen crouches down, ready to spring.)

BORS:  You fool! It's mine again and they stay where you are!
GARGE:  With the soft life you lead, I'll be able to beat you one day.

(With that, Garge lies down and pretends to sleep again.  Bors jerks his head towards the black night outside, and looks venomously at Kirksen.)

BORS:  Out on guard!
GARGE:  Why is it always me?
BORS:  I'm the leader .I have the knife.  (pointing the end of the knife at Kirksen)  Do you want to argue about it?

(Garge slinks away, avoiding Kirksen.  With another curse, Bors rolls down into his bedding and replaces the knife beside his head.  Silence falls and gradually the small fire dies down.  Kirksen raises his head and looks at the cave mouth - Garge is out of sight.  Turning on one elbow, Kirksen looks towards Bors.  Steady breathing reassures Kirksen, and he silently repeats Garge's attempted theft - only to be caught as well.)

BORS:  And you can build up the fire.  Kirksen, like the knife, would you?  Then you'd be leader. You could tell Garge what to do, like I do.  (threatening Kirksen with the knife)  You can tell ME what to do!

(He drags Kirksen up by the hair.)

KIRKSEN:  I'll get it next time!

(Bors shrugs.)

BORS:  Who knows, perhaps you will.  Now, get out and get the fuel.

(Kirksen pauses in the cave entrance.)

KIRKSEN:  Why don't you send one of them?
BORS:  (screams)  GET IT!

(The sound of a space-ship reverberates in the small cave.  Kirksen turns a worried face to Bors.)

BORS:  I can hear it, now GET OUT!______ a new lot come here and take over our place.

(Garge runs through the entrance.)

GARGE:  That's not a prison ship!

(The two other prisoners started forward to join him at the entrance.)

GARGE:  It's strange.  I haven't seen one like it before!
BORS:  Where's it landing?
GARGE: Swamp by the look of things.

KIRKSEN: It's a strange ship.  (grabbing Bors)  We can kill the crew and take over.
BORS:  Possibly.
KIRKSEN:  We can use it to get away.
BORS:  (sharpish)  It may be a crash landing.
KIRKSEN:  You can kill the crew with your knife.

(Bors shoves Kirksen off him.)

BORS:  Shut up!  We'd better get over there right away.  Others will have seen it too!  Now on your way!

(Bors gives Kirksen and Garge a shove.  He snatches up some branches and lights them from the fire.  Garge does the same.  Then they run down a hill into the darkness.)

KIRKSEN:  (at the back of the group)  What about me?  If you're leaving this filthy planet so am I.

12.  SPAR

(Katarina stands in the airlock doorway, gazing at the dark landscape.  She sees three bright lights moving towards the ship.  Meanwhile, the Doctor is supervising Vyon as they check for damage.)

DOCTOR:  (to Vyon)  Now, you sure you've got spare parts for this, hmm?
VYON:  Certain.  It's safety regulations.
DOCTOR:  (holding some circuits)  Hmm, it's the worse of these out-of-date and primitive spaceships.  One little bump and they all fall to bits.
VYON:  Doctor, what are you talking about?  This is a SPAR - the most technically perfect craft in the history of space travel.
DOCTOR:  Oh yes, quite so.  That's why we are stranded on this pimple of a planet, whilst you fool with the fuse box!

(Steven comes to the rescue.)

STEVEN:  Oh, come on, Doctor.  The TARDIS isn't exactly perfect is it?  I mean, you can't even control where's we're going.
DOCTOR:  Now, you listen to me, young man.  Don't you start to criticise my TARDIS.  And as for space-travel, you're still wet behind the ears.  Oh do get on with it both of you.

(He storms off to join Katarina.)

VYON:  What's the matter with Grandpa?
STEVEN:  (smiling)  Oh it's nothing, we all have our obsessions, don't we?  Now come on, Do you think we're going to have enough drive-force to lift off here and get us back to Earth?
VYON:  We've got to.  Now, as the Doctor said, let's get on with it.

(Over at the airlock door, Katarina shivers with cold.)

DOCTOR:  What are you doing out here, child?  I thought I told you to keep these doors closed.

(Katarina points out into the night.)

KATARINA:  There are lights out there.

(The Doctor spots the lights too.)

DOCTOR:  Good gracious, so there are.  Two - no - three.  Yes, we must get on with the repairs to the ship and get away from here.  Hmm, Hmm, Hmm.  Yes, those men will be vicious out there.  We're liable to come under attack.

(The Doctor surveys the area lit by the red glow from the airlock.)

DOCTOR:  That's marshy ground.  Very interesting.  Hmm Hmm. Very interesting...interesting.

(They both re-enter the ship.)

13.  DALEK CONTROL ROOM

(The Comm. Dalek turns to the Black Dalek.)

COMM. DALEK:  The exact location of the ship has been calculated.
BLACK DALEK:  Inform the pursuit fleet.
COMM. DALEK:  I obey.

(It turns to the communicator, but at that moment a Dalek voice comes over the speaker.)

VOICE:  (oov)  Pursuit Fleet Commander calling control.  We land on Desperus at one hundred.
BLACK DALEK:  (into communicator)  When the Taranium is recovered, the fugitives are to be eliminated.  Is that understood?
VOICE:  (oov)  I obey.

14.  DESPERUS

(Bors, Kirksen and Garge soon arrive at the crash site.  Reaching the soft edges of the swamp which separates them from the Spar, they halt.  They proceed slowly through the swamp, grimacing as the ice cold mud slides up their legs.  Once through the swamp, they peer over a grass-covered bank.  The SPAR stands on hard ground some way ahead.  Nothing moves in the pool of light cast by the red lights in the open hatchway.)

          KIRKSEN:  We were here first, let's go and get it!  

GARGE:  Keep quiet!  This part of the swamp is tricky.  We must put out the torches.
KIRKSEN:  What about the screamers?
BORS:  (hissing)  Shut up and put out that light! They're only bats.
KIRKSEN:  Bats! Bats with those wings and that big!
BORS:  Oh, follow us or go back to the cave.

(Bors and Garge move gingerly along firmer ground.  Kirksen follows, shrieking and waving his arms over his head to ward off the screamers.)

15.  SPAR

(Katarina spots the prisoners, and calls out to the Doctor, who is fixing the rocket housing under the main control room.)

KATARINA:  Doctor! Doctor!

(In the control room, Bret and Steven hold a complex piece of circuitry.)

STEVEN:  Look, hold that reading steady, I think I can get this fixed.
VYON:  Good.
KATARINA:  Come on, Doctor.
DOCTOR:  Thank you, my dear.

(She helps the Doctor climb up and then to replace the cover.  The Doctor strides across to Vyon.)

DOCTOR:  Where is your cactic power, or rather, outlet?
VYON:  What?
DOCTOR:  Cactic outlet?
VYON:  It's there.

DOCTOR:  Where?

VYON:  Under there.

(Vyon points to a panel on the bulkhead and returns to his work with Steven.)

DOCTOR:  Oh yes thank you, thank you thank you.

(The Doctor opens the panel and calls to Katarina.)

DOCTOR:  Come here, my dear. No round this way, child

(The Doctor unravels a large coil of covered wire, fixed one end to a plug and carries the coil towards the hatch.  As Katarina runs to help, he points to a switch.)

DOCTOR:  Now, do you see that switch?  I'll tell you when to pull it.
KATARINA:  What are you doing?
DOCTOR:  Oh, don't ask questions, my dear girl, otherwise you'll become like the other two. Just do as you're told.

(She crosses to the control panel and waits.  The Doctor carefully unrolls the coil, and lays the wire over the bottom step of the automatic ladder.  He hurries back up the stairs, grinning.)

DOCTOR:  Now then....Hmm, Hmm, Hmm.  That should repel any boarders.  Hmm, Hmm, Hmm.

16.  DESPERUS

(Bors and Garge climb the short bank and part the long, rank grass to look at the ship.)

BORS:  It's there.  We'll nearly there.
GARGE:  How many do you think are on board?
BORS:  How should I know?  Difficult to say, with a ship of that size. 

GARGE:  At least we've got surprise on our side. Pity we lost Kirksen.

BORS:  Fool's probably gone back to the cave.  Frightened by the screamers.  Better just the two of us.

(Garge points at the bit of land in front of the ramp of the SPAR.)

GARGE:  We've a swamp now.
BORS:  (hissing)  Yes, but go carefully.

17.  SPAR

(The Doctor and Katarina flatten themselves against the bulkhead in the airlock, looking out into the shadows.)

KATARINA:  There Doctor, something moved!

(The Doctor nods.)

DOCTOR:  Yes, I think you're right my dear.  Now you go in and stand by that switch and wait until I'll give you an order, hmm.

(Bors and Garge creep up to the steps.)

DOCTOR:  NOW!

(As Katarina pulls the switch, the ladder is electrified and a loud humming buzzes through the ship.  Bors and Garge are flung from the step and fall to the ground.  Their ragged bodies lie still in the red glow.  Steven and Vyon come over.)

STEVEN:  What's going on?
VYON:  What do you think you're playing at?
DOCTOR:  (with a superior air)  Oh you two go back in there and get on with your repairs.  Katarina and I are trying to repel any type of boarders.

(Vyon observes the cable.)

VYON:  But cactic power isn't strong enough to kill anyone.
DOCTOR:  But, of course not.  But it will knock them unconscious.  Now just you remember, young man, I have no desire to kill anyone!  Now go in there and get on with those repairs.  I want to leave this place quickly.  Hurry up please.

(Steven and Vyon turn on their heels and march off back to work.  The Doctor comes back to Katarina.)

DOCTOR:  Hmm. Wasting my time. Well I think that should do the trick my dear.  Come along, let's get this cable back.

(Together they roll up the coil and stow it away.)

DOCTOR:  (smiling at Katarina)  There we are.
KATARINA:  You show me so many strange mysteries.  With you I know I'm safe.
DOCTOR:  (smiling even more)  I hope so, my dear, I hope so.

(A tremendous roar of rockets sounds over Desperus.  The Doctor darts to the scanner.)

DOCTOR:  It's the Dalek Spaceship!  It's bound to land. Hurry up!

STEVEN: We're being as quick as we can...

(Steven and Vyon are already cramming circuits back into the panels.)

DOCTOR:  Get off, get off, get off!

(Steven shuts the last panel with a bang.)

STEVEN:  That's it, Bret!

(Steven rushes into the co-pilot's space next to Vyon, who starts flicking switches as light springs up on the monitors.)

VYON:  All right... right, stand by everyone.  As this take-off is on now manual, it may not be quite so smooth.

(Figures for take-off race over the screens.  Vyon shuts the internal door leading to the airlock.  A light still glows on his panel.)

VYON:  Doctor, did you close the outer door?

(The Doctor moves towards the airlock.)

DOCTOR:  Oh I'm so sorry, I'm not used to this kind of craft.

(The light on the console goes out.)

VYON:  It's all right, it doesn't matter.

(The newly repaired guidance system lights up on cue and all four smile in relief.  Power builds up in the SPAR, as the craft slowly takes off.  The Doctor is watching the scanner.)

DOCTOR:  (joyfully)  Look!  Look!  The Daleks' ship made a bad landing.  That's gives us the time we need.
STEVEN:  (also joyfully)  We made it!
VYON:  Next stop Earth.
DOCTOR:  Oh, I'm so glad to hear that, young man.  Now, you got some thinking to do.  (to KATARINA)  Katarina, check up on that door and see that it is secure.

(Katarina goes up to the door.)

STEVEN:  Do you realise...

(Katarina screams as Kirksen bursts through the internal door.  He seizes her with one hand, and pulls her round in front of him like a shield.  In his other hand he is brandishing Bors' knife...)