23x11 - The Trial of a Time Lord - part 11 (Terror of the Vervoids)

Episode transcripts for the 1963 classic TV show "Doctor Who". Aired November 23, 1963 to December 6, 1989. (First to Seventh Doctor)*

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What began as an encounter in a London junkyard in 1963 was to become a national institution in the United Kingdom. The crotchety old man - a renegade Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey - who calls himself "The Doctor" has regenerated several times, traveling with several companions for over five decades.
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23x11 - The Trial of a Time Lord - part 11 (Terror of the Vervoids)

Post by bunniefuu »

THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD

PART ELEVEN (TERROR OF THE VERVOIDS)


Written by Pip and Jane Baker

Original air date: 15th November, 1986
Run time: 24:07




Corridor




The Doctor: What's a thremmatologist doing in an isolation room wearing a surgical mask?

Mel: Seeing as there's only one way to find out, you've got two problems.

The Doctor: Two?

Mel: Apart from getting rid of the guard, you're going to need a mask, and you can hardly ask the professor to lend you hers.

Mel: Did you hear that?

The Doctor: Quickly, the lounge! There are passengers trapped! On the double, man! There are lives at stake.




Isolation room




Ruth: No. Stop her. Stop Lasky.

Ruth: Got to stop her, stop her. Stop Lasky.

Doland: Out! Out!




Corridor




The Doctor: What's going on in there? What are you trying to hide? Will you please stop mauling me?

Doland: I should drop the innocent party act if I were you. Any moment now, that guard will be back. He's going to be even less enchanted by your antics.

Mel: Never mind the guard. That monstrosity, what is it in there?

The Doctor: Does the Commodore know what's being isolated in there?

Doland: I don't know by whose authority you ask, but if it'll put a stop you your meddling, I'll explain. That monstrosity, as you call her, is my lab assistant, Ruth Baxter. We're taking her to Earth in the hope that we can reverse her condition. Our facilities on Mogar were too primitive.

Mel: What happened? How did she get in that state?

Doland: The experimental nature of our work entails some calculated risks.

The Doctor: Calculated risks? Are you telling me that sad travesty is a statistical possibility?

Mel: The word should be criminal.

Doland: Very well, perhaps I should have said unforeseen. During a particularly delicate cross-fertilisation, a speck of pollen penetrated a minute scratch on my assistant's thumb. She should never have left the wound uncovered.

Guard: There he is! Halt, or I'll fire.

Rudge: Oh, Doctor, you do have the knack of landing yourself in hot water.

The Doctor: Satiable curtiosity, like the Elephant's Child.

Mel: Never mind the Just So stories. That guard looks trigger happy to me.

Rudge: Simply doing his duty, miss. The regulations are quite specific. Anyone setting off a false alarm on an intergalactic liner is to be arrested forthwith.

The Doctor: No need to quote the book. I can explain.

Rudge: Not to me, to the Commodore. He's expecting you. Take him.

The Doctor: No, that's all right. I know the way.

Mel: Doctor?

The Doctor: Hmm?

Mel: That way.

The Doctor: Yes, I know. It's that way.




Trial room




Valeyard: Stop the Matrix. I fail to comprehend this evidence. The Doctor is on trial for his life, yet in his defence he presents us with a situation in which he is deliberately flouting accepted authority.

Inquisitor: Much of your evidence does seem to contradict your stated aim, Doctor. Are you saying the Matrix is again being falsified?

The Doctor: No. And if the Valeyard would exercise the same restraint as I showed during his presentation of his case against me...

Valeyard: Ha!

The Doctor: And could suppress his bloodlust...

Inquisitor: Doctor! This court is dedicated to giving you a fair trial. Do not abuse its indulgence.

The Doctor: I apologise.

Inquisitor: The Matrix, Doctor. I suggest we return to the Hyperion Three.




Bridge




Travers: Bring us in closer. Reduce the margin by a factor of point naught one to naught two.

The Doctor: Very narrow margin of safety, Commodore.

Travers: Not to a ship of the Hyperion class.

The Doctor: Still risky, though. Quirky phenomena, black holes. They can gulp with unpredictable turbulence.

Travers: When I want your advice, I'll ask for it. I'll handle this. Get back on duty.

Travers: What I do want to hear from you is a reason why I shouldn't throw you in the brig. Fire alarms are not playthings for irresponsible buffoons.




Corridor




Janet: Mister Rudge! Mister Rudge.

Rudge: What is it, Janet?

Janet: Mister Kimber has disappeared. He didn't report to the fire assembly point and he's not in his cabin.




Cabin 8




Janet: He hasn't touched the drink I brought him.

Rudge: Well, maybe he just wandered off, absent minded.

Janet: Without his jacket or his watch?

Rudge: Now, when did you last see him?

Janet: I didn't. See him, that is. He was in the shower. I spoke to him through the door.

Janet: Where can he have got to? With all these killings...

Rudge: That'll do. Pull yourself together. Going to pieces won't help. We'll search the passenger quarters before we start assuming the worst.




Bridge




Travers: A grim picture.

The Doctor: I've no reason to lie, Commodore.

Travers: I'm not questioning your honesty, simply your methods. However, I'm left with little alternative but to begin to cooperate.

The Doctor: Begin? I take it you mean begin overtly to cooperate. You've been using me, Commodore. I would never have been allowed to run free if you hadn't condoned it.

Travers: Fair comment.

The Doctor: Frankly, I think you should notify the authorities about the death of the investigator Hallett, and insist on being given full details of his mission.

Travers: You underestimate me to that extent, do you?

The Doctor: Sorry. They refused.

Travers: Top secret. By the time they've gone through channels, we'll probably have docked.

The Doctor: Well, that can't happen.

Travers: No one will be allowed to disembark. The m*rder*r won't escape.

The Doctor: m*rder*r? Yes. You'll let me know as soon as you get a reply?

Travers: Certainly, Doctor. I'll match you for candour.




Lounge




Janet: Did you find him?

Rudge: Not a sign. And you?

Rudge: I left a report we've lost another passenger. That'll improve the Commodore's temper, I'll guarantee.

Atza: Mister Rudge.

Rudge: Er, later.

Atza: Wait. Come here. We want to know what is happening.

Ortezo: Yes, where was the fire?

Rudge: It was a false alarm. There is nothing to worry about. You must excuse me. I have urgent things to do.

Ortezo: Sit down, Rudge.

Atza: There is only one thing you have got to do.

Ortezo: That is to tell us exactly what is going on.

Atza: And I suggest you do so right now.




Bridge




Travers: Yes? What is it?




Corridor




Travers (O.C.): State your position.

Vervoid: Help me with this.




Bridge




Travers: Who the blazes was that? Trace that call.




Hydroponics Centre




Doland: Have you gone out of your mind?

Bruchner: I have been, but not any more. I've regained my sanity.

Doland: It's not only your own work you're destroying. Other people have contributed. You've no right to do this!

Bruchner: You long ago lost sight of the difference between right and wrong.

Doland: Why? Because of some unexplained incidents?

Bruchner: On my way down here, I heard of another unexplained incident. That harmless old man is missing. How many more, Doland, before you and Lasky accept responsibility?




Gymnasium




Lasky: I've no time for a horticultural discussion now, young woman. You and your erratic friend have already disrupted my routine.

Mel: I only asked you if you'd tell what this leaf is.

Lasky: After my workout, and that's final.

Doland: I need to speak with you privately, Professor.

Lasky: Really! Not now, Doland!

Doland: I know how much you object to your work schedule being interrupted, but this is absolutely vital.

Lasky: Well?

Doland: You must speak with Bruchner, calm him down.

Lasky: Can't you?

Doland: Look, he won't listen to me.

Lasky: Where is he?

Doland: In the Hydroponic Centre.

Mel: Mister Doland.

Mel: Let's pick up where we left off while you're in the mood for explanations.

Doland: Did I give you that impression?

Mel: What are those pods in the Hydroponic Centre?

Doland: The results of another experiment.

Mel: I could have made an educated guess at that. What was in them?

Doland: Giant fruit. And anticipating your next question, we left the fruit on Mogar. We're merely taking the shucks as an example to fellow agronomists in earthbound laboratories. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Mel: Think, think.

Mel: Amplifier.

Vervoid (O.C.): We must not make animal-kind aware of our existence. They still outnumber us. If we are to k*ll them all, we must hunt them down secretly.




Lounge




The Doctor: Is there anybody there, said the traveller. Perhaps she's in the gym.




Gymnasium




The Doctor: Ah, allow me. Wish I could get rid of my waste as easily, eh?

Vervoid (O.C.): We must not make animal-kind aware of our existence.

Vervoid (O.C.): We must hunt them down secretly.

The Doctor (O.C.): Ah, allow me. Wish I could get rid of my waste as easily, eh?




Lounge




The Doctor: The waste bins, where do they go?

Janet: Waste bins?

The Doctor: Quickly, woman. Where are they taken?

Janet: Well, the pulveriser, but why...

The Doctor: The pulveriser!




Waste disposal




The Doctor: Stop!

The Doctor: Don't throw the towel in, Mel.




Bridge




Travers: Why in Hades haven't you reported before now? As a security officer, you're an unmitigated disaster.

Rudge: That's hardly fair, sir.

Travers: We've had a passenger m*rder*d. According to you, another one's disappeared. Three crew members are missing, unaccounted for, and you haven't a clue as to why they've gone or where they are.




Vervoid lair




Vervoid: We are doing splendidly.

Vervoid 2: Congratulations must be delayed until that is full.

Vervoid: We shall not have long to wait.




Gymnasium




The Doctor: Doh! It's gone.

Mel: What has?

The Doctor: The tape. The proof we need to force Lasky's hand.

Mel: It's a waste of time. Our k*ller's obviously removed it.

The Doctor: Just as he tried to remove you.

Mel: He? Why not she?

The Doctor: Lasky?

Mel: Or the stewardess, Janet.

The Doctor: Janet? No.

Mel: It wouldn't have taken a man's strength to lift my weight. A woman could have dumped me in the waste bin.

The Doctor: What are they, and how do they link with these murders?

Mel: Whatever they are, they're not human. And we're all to be destroyed, remember?

The Doctor: Still got that bit of leaf?

Mel: Where are you off to?

The Doctor: Hydroponic Centre. There has to be a connection.

Mel: And what about me?

The Doctor: Follow your lead. See if Janet has got the tape. But Mel, be careful, hmm?

Mel: You too, Doctor.




Lounge




Janet: Can I tempt you with a coffee, sir?

Atza: No, thank you.

Janet: How about you, sir?

Ortezo: Sorry.

Janet: Not to worry. It's easily changed.




Trial room




The Doctor: I didn't do that!

Inquisitor: Stop the Matrix.

Valeyard: Are we to be subjected to more chicanery, Sagacity?

The Doctor: It wasn't me in there.

Valeyard: Ridiculous. We all saw you. You're hardly mistakable in that outfit.

The Doctor: I didn't smash the equipment!

Inquisitor: Are you saying the communications equipment was not sabotaged?

The Doctor: No, no, it had to be to prevent the Commodore getting information from Earth, but I didn't do it.

Inquisitor: Then who did?

The Doctor: The m*rder*r.

Valeyard: The m*rder*r? I think, Inquisitor, the Doctor is telling us more than he realises.

The Doctor: The prosecutor delights in scoring cheap victories, my lady. I swear to you, when I viewed that section earlier, I was nowhere near the Communications room.

Valeyard: So once again the defendant is accusing the Matrix of being wrong.

Inquisitor: Are you, Doctor?

The Doctor: Yes! Yes, I am.

Inquisitor: If you are questioning its veracity, is there any point in continuing with the Matrix?

The Doctor: But what else have I got? Without evidence to prove my innocence, I'm condemned.

Valeyard: And with it you are also condemned, it seems, Doctor. Shall we continue?

Inquisitor: Doctor? Shall we continue? You had, as before, sent your companion into danger.




Communications room




Travers: Let's hope we don't need to call for outside help. There's no way we can repair this. We're completely isolated.




Hydroponics Centre




Lasky: Sheer vandalism, and utterly useless.

Bruchner: Is that how you see it, Professor?

Lasky: How else?

Bruchner: Because I put an end to this obscene experiment?

Lasky: I should think that when man first discovered fire there were those who were equally appalled and wanted it suppressed.

Lasky: If they'd prevailed, the human race would still be cowering in caves.

Bruchner: To use your own phrase, that's all academic now.

Lasky: If you were rational, you'd realise how pointless this is. We can't unlearn knowledge. You're no illiterate. How often does a great advance produce this reaction. Think of Galileo.

Bruchner: Galileo? Oh, is that it? You see the name Lasky inscribed in the history books.

Lasky: Rubbish. This has been a team effort.

Bruchner: With you as leader. Well, you fulfil that role to the last. You've led me to see the fault in my strategy. You, me, Doland, even the creatures we've spawned, the sole representatives of this great advance, and we're all encapsulated on this ship. On this ship.




Cargo hold




The Doctor: I didn't even hear the dinner gong.




Vervoid lair




Vervoid 2: That man must be stopped. We are unique, the only members of the Vervoid species. If he succeeds in eliminating us, Vervoids will cease to exist.

Vervoid: Forget your previous orders. Bruchner's death is now our priority. He cannot be permitted to prevent us from reaching planet Earth.




Hydroponics Centre




Lasky: I don't care what you heard on some mythical tape.

The Doctor: You're letting arrogance blinker you, Professor. It may not be your intention, but you are in danger of joining an extensive roll of dishonour. Misguided scientists who claim the pursuit of truth as an excuse for immoral experiments.

Lasky: This is no time to debate ethics. I made that mistake with Bruchner. I tell you the man's demented. He's out to destroy this ship and everyone on it.

The Doctor: Yes, but...




Corridor




Lasky: First things first. Let's find Bruchner.

The Doctor: But. He'll live.




Bridge




Bruchner: Get out of here. Now! Or I'll k*ll both of you.




Outside the Bridge




Travers: Later. Get the laser lance up here immediately.

Lasky: Bruchner?

Travers: Yes, but why? What's his motive?

The Doctor: I rather think his intention is the vital question.

Travers: All right then, what's? Just tell me, Doctor.

The Doctor: He's determined to destroy this ship.

Lasky: And the rest of us with it.

Travers: Does the lunatic know anything about flying a spacecraft?

Lasky: Bruchner's been trained as an astronaut. One of the team had to be. Obligatory requirement.

Travers: Very thorough.

The Doctor: Can the power to the bridge be cut off?

Travers: No, it's designed to be hijack proof.

Lasky: What's happening?

Travers: Isn't that obvious? We're running into turbulence.

The Doctor: I'd say rather more than turbulence.

Lasky: Don't talk in riddles, man.

The Doctor: Your colleague is aiming the Hyperion Three into the eye of the Black Hole of Tartarus.



`
The Doctor
COLIN BAKER

Melanie
BONNIE LANGFORD

The Valeyard
MICHAEL JAYSTON

The Inquisitor
LYNDA BELLINGHAM

Professor Lasky
HONOR BLACKMAN

Commodore
MICHAEL CRAIG

Rudge
DENYS HAWTHORNE

Janet
YOLANDE PALFREY

Doland
MALCOLM TIERNEY

Bruchner
DAVID ALLISTER

Grenville / Hallett
TONY SCOGGO

Kimber
ARTHUR HEWLETT

Edwardes
SIMON SLATER

Atza
SAM HOWARD

Ortezo
LEON DAVIS

Guard/First Guard
HUGH BEVERTON

Duty Officer
MIKE MUNGARVAN

Second Guard
MARTIN WEEDON

Mutant / Ruth Baxter
BARBARA WARD

First Vervoid
PEPPI BORZA

Second Vervoid
BOB APPLEBY

Assistant Floor Manager
KAREN LITTLE

Costumes
ANDREW ROSE

Designer
DINAH WALKER

Incidental Music
MALCOLM CLARKE

Make-Up
SHAUNNA HARRISON

Producer
JOHN NATHAN-TURNER

Production Assistant
JANE WELLESLEY

Production Associate
JUNE COLLINS
JENNY DOE

Script Editor
ERIC SAWARD

Special Sounds
d*ck MILLS

Studio Lighting
DON BABBAGE

Studio Sound
BRIAN CLARK

Theme Arrangement
DOMINIC GLYNN

Title Music
RON GRAINER

Visual Effects
KEVIN MOLLOY
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