Doctor Who (1963–1989): Season 1, Episode 25 - Sentence of Death - full transcript

(DOCTOR WHO THEME)

(THUD)

(ALARM BLARING)

(GROANING)

Do you want to tell me
where you've hidden it?

-Who are you?
-My name is Tarron.

I'm an interrogator
in the Guardian Division.

-You feel well enough to talk?
-My head's pretty sore.

-What happened here?
-I'm waiting for you to tell me.

(SCOFFING) Me? I don't know much.
I just came through that door.

-It was unlocked?
-It was ajar.



Saw the body on the floor,
I bent down to have a look

and someone hit me on the head
from behind.

You could not have come
through that door,

unless the guard on duty in here
let you in.

-It was open, I've already told you.
-This is a maximum security vault.

No one's admitted unless they've
undergone a complete probity check.

There's no record of you ever having
completed such a check.

Well, of course, there isn't.
I've never been here before.

However, you did get inside.

I must assume that you either
tricked the guard there

or you are in league with him.

What? What are you talking about?
I told you how I got in.

Yes and I'm recording all your answers.

Do you feel well enough?
Are you going to tell me the truth?



-Yes, well, as far as I can. But...
-Well, let's be orderly about this.

-Name?
-Ian Chesterton.

-You are a visitor to this district?
-Yes.

-Your work?
-I'm a teacher. Science.

You know the purpose of the micro-key?

No reply.

It would make my report complete

if you would tell me how
you got rid of the micro-key.

I didn't get rid of it. I never had it.

I saw it in that glass case before
someone hit me on the back of the head.

While you were unconscious,
my men searched the room.

They searched you
and the body of the guard.

They didn't find it.
Now, what did you do with it?

I didn't do anything with it.
I've told you all I know.

All right.

Open your side, we're coming out.

-Charged? With what?
-Murder.

Just a minute. What's your name?

-Tarron?
-Yes.

This business is beginning
to run away from me.

I've told you the truth.

-That isn't for me to decide.
-Well, there was another man in here.

I've got a lump on the back
of my head to prove it.

The dead man could've hit you
before he was killed.

And I suppose I killed him
when I was unconscious.

Oh, it does suggest you had
an accomplice, I agree.

So you had better produce him,

that's my advice to you
for what it's worth.

I don't have to produce him, Tarron,
you do.

This is circumstantial evidence.

You must prove that
I did the actual killing.

-That is contrary to our legal system.
-What?

I mean that you are already guilty
of this crime.

The burden of defence is entirely yours.

You must prove without any
shadow of doubt that you're innocent.

-Otherwise...
-Otherwise?

You will die.

If you'll take my advice,

you will someone to speak for you
at the tribunal.

Do you know anybody in the city?

Yes, I...

-I do know someone if I can find him.
-Who is he?

Who?

He's a doctor.

Permission has been granted for you
to attend the court proceedings.

-Thank you.
-But I'm to tell you

there must be no disturbances
of any kind.

The laws are very rigid.

Offenders can be sent for one year
to the glass factories in the desert,

-instantly and without trial.
-I understand.

Chief Enquirer Tarron has arranged
for you to speak to your friend.

But you do understand that
you mustn't give him any packets

or articles not previously examined
by me, yes?

Good.

-Any news?
-No, not a sign of him anywhere.

Several people saw him
only two days ago.

Was that before or after
he was arrested?

Well, after,
as far as we can work it out.

I haven't been able to find out
anything about my friend Eprin either.

Well, we've got permission
to see Ian anyway.

Oh, good. Look,
couldn't we make a dash for it?

No, it's too dangerous.

-BARBARA: How are you?
-They're treating me well enough.

And have you found the Doctor yet?

No, there isn't a sight or sound
of him anywhere.

We must find him, Barbara, we must.
The laws in this country are a mockery.

(DOOR OPENS)

I quite agree with you, my boy.

-IAN: Doctor!
-Grandfather!

-How did you get here?
-We looked for you everywhere.

I don't care.
I'm just glad we're together again.

Yes, so am I, dear child, so am I.

However, we have some important work
to attend to.

Excuse me.

Chesterton, you and I must have a talk.

We haven't much time for a talk, Doctor.

In a moment, I've got to go in there
and face an accusation of murder.

-I need a man to defend me.
-I am that man.

Our decision on the report
of Chief Enquirer Tarron

is that the prisoner Ian Chesterton
is guilty of murder

and that his sentence is death.

The said sentence to be administered

three days after the end of this hearing

unless, unless the representative
for the accused

can show positive proof why
the execution should not be carried out.

Will you stand up?

Representative for the defence,
you have a grave duty.

You have offered your services
in this matter,

which complies with the laws
of the city of Millennius,

in that any person may speak
on behalf of another.

-Are you acquainted with our laws?
-Yes, I have studied some, My Lord.

Every latitude will be allowed to you.

And if you are at fault,
I will give you directions.

Thank you.

The representative of the court,
Eyesen, has spoken his facts.

You may now reply.

My Lords, I cannot defend a man

when I have not considered
every aspect of the case.

I must have time to examine witnesses,
read statements and to prepare my case.

I object most strongly.

The demand is reasonable in itself.

The crime of murder in Millennius
is, in itself, unusual.

(PEOPLE IN COURT ROOM DISCUSSING)

Then I grant you two days.

DOCTOR: Thank you, My Lord.

-I congratulate you.
-Thank you.

-It will not alter the outcome.
-We shall see.

Well done, Doctor.

I've been starting
and studied their laws

ever since I heard that
Eprin had been murdered.

Eprin?

-He was your friend?
-Yes.

-You found him, Doctor?
-Oh, yes.

I had met him
and arranged to take the micro-key.

But something must have happened.

That's why he tried to take the key
earlier than we'd arranged.

-SABETHA: And he was killed?
-Yes.

He must have told his plans
to someone else

and that someone else killed him
and took the key.

Then all we have to do is
to find out who took the key and why.

In two days?

Yes, we should need
every minute of that.

Now, we must all take a task on.

Murder, I gather, is very rare here.

Now, I want both of you
to go to the library

and find out
all the case histories you can.

-Facts and figures.
-Previous sentences.

And reasons for people being found
not guilty.

Yes. Yes, yes, quite.
Now, off you go, both of you.

-And meet me back here in three hours.
-Right.

What can I do, Grandfather?

Well, you, my child, and Barbara
can be my detectives.

-And you, my friend...
-Yes, what can I do, Doctor?

Trust me.

There was a mace beside the body
and there was blood on it.

Chesterton was on the floor unconscious.

Either he slipped and bumped his head

or Eprin had got a blow in
before he died.

-And the key was gone, you say?
-Yes.

And that's the only element of the case
I don't understand.

My men did a heat reflector search
of this room.

It is absolutely certain that
the micro-key isn't in here.

It is equally certain that
it has not been taken from here.

Oh, come now, Tarron,
we're not dealing in magic here.

It's obvious to me the key
must have been taken from this room.

No, every person that came in here

was checked by the auzer-ray scanner
as they went out.

If anyone had the key on them,
the scanner would've detected it.

Supposing the murderer
hid the key on the body?

The body was searched, it wasn't there.

Then would you mind
telling us what happened

after the alarm bell went, please?

Well, the relief guard was the first
to reach the outside of the door.

He was joined almost immediately
by the controller

and a guardian
who was on patrol outside.

And when I reached the door,
it was opened

and, well, you know
what we found inside.

That's fantastic,
it couldn't disappear into thin air.

Precisely. And I rather gather
when we discover its location,

we shall also discover the real identity
of the murderer.

But we know the murderer.
It was Chesterton.

Mr Tarron, I wonder if you'd mind
leaving us alone for a few moments.

We'd like to discuss the aspects
of this case.

-Very well.
-DOCTOR: Thank you.

-Yeah. Hmm.
-Any ideas? Well?

Hmm? What?

Have you any idea how
the key got out of here?

Oh, elementary, elementary.

Grandfather, do you mean you know?
I mean, how? Where?

All in good time, my child.

The important thing is that I believe
I know who did the killing.

But how?

Tarron's been working on it all day.
You've only been here a few minutes.

You see, Tarron never doubted
that Chesterton was guilty.

A grave error, yes, a very grave error.

-Yes, whereas we know he's innocent.
-Precisely. But someone did it.

And we also know
there was a third man in the room.

How he got in here,
we shall know in a moment.

Now, let us assume he was hiding.
Yes, yes, behind this door.

Now, Barbara, you imagine that
you are Chesterton for a moment.

Come here.

Now, please, you look into the room,

you see a body on the floor.
What do you do?

I'd see if I could help.

-I'll be the body.
-Good.

Right. Now, let me see do it.

There's a weapon beside the body.
Do you examine it?

-Yes, yes, I think I would.
-Good.

Then you look up in front of you

and you see exactly
what you came here for.

The micro-key.

Unbeknown to you,

the third man comes out of hiding
and creeps up behind you

and you are struck down so.

Now he can take what he came here for.

He opens the case, lifts the key,

the alarm bell sounds.
Now, he only has a few seconds,

so he conceals the key,
runs to the door, opens it,

gets out and then closes it.

But he can't go any further

because already the security guards
and officials are on their way.

So he decides

to pretend that he is first
on the scene.

-The relief guard.
-Yes, of course.

That's why the guard inside let him in
in the first place.

-He knew him, he even expected him.
-Yes.

He went in, killed his colleague,
heard Chesterton in the hall,

hid behind the door
and the rest we know.

That must be how it happened.
I'll go and tell Tarron.

(INTERRUPTING)

My dear child, this is only a theory.
We must have proof.

But surely if you know where the key is,
that's proof.

If Tarron were to know that now,

his case against Chesterton
would be complete.

I can't improve at this very moment.
I can't prove this very moment

that Chesterton didn't hide it
in its present location.

Oh, what do we do then?

I have a little errand for you

and I think you will find it
very, very interesting.

(CHUCKLING)

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

-Oh. Please come in.
-Thank you.

I'm afraid my husband
isn't here at the moment.

Do sit down.

I did want to talk to your husband.

I thought there might be some facts
he'd overlooked.

I'm sure he'd want to help, but he's
already told you everything he knows.

Well, there might be some small thing.
Something he thought unimportant.

The guardians are very thorough,
you know.

Anyway, he'd want the murderer
to be caught.

Eprin was a good friend of his.
He wouldn't conceal anything.

No, of course not.

Tell me, why would anyone want
to steal the micro-key?

Because there are only five of them
in the entire universe.

It was brought to the city years ago
by a man called Arbitan.

It was the sworn duty of the elders
to protect it.

-So they'd pay highly to recover it.
-Yes.

But you know all this,
why else would your friend steal it?

But he...

I had to go to
the guardian building again.

They're asking questions about...

You're one of the people with
Chesterton. What are you doing here?

-I want to talk to you.
-I have nothing to say to you. Get out.

Aydan...

I don't want people prying
into my affairs.

Has she been asking questions about me?

Not as many as my grandfather will ask
when he calls you as witness.

Get out!

You heard me, get out!

I thought you might like to know
that we know where the key is hidden.

But you couldn't know where it is, I...

Yes.

Yes, you know where it's hidden because
Chesterton told you where he hid it.

And now you're trying
to throw suspicion on me.

Well, it won't work.

-Now, get out before I...
-Before you what?

Kill us like you killed Eprin?

You'd better go.

AYDAN: What were they doing here?

KALA: Just asking a few questions,
nothing more.

AYDAN: What did she mean about the key?

KALA: I don't know what she meant.

You shouldn't have lost your temper
like that. It was very foolish of you.

Don't you talk to me like that.

(KALA SCREAMING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(DEVICE BEEPING)

Eyesen here.

Don't say any more.
There are people near.

I'll take it on the personal.

All right, go ahead.

You really think she knows something?

You mean that our young friend may not
be able to go through with it?

Well, listen carefully

and I'll tell you
what you may have to do.

This mace,

a weapon used in primitive times
by vicious, savage war-makers.

The same savagery
that wielded then lives on

in men like the accused.

Members of the tribunal,

the evidence already offered
is more than enough

to ensure the conviction of this man.

But add to it,

the fact that
under psychometric examination,

this mace was found to have been held
in the right hand of the prisoner.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

I need say no more.

That concludes the evidence
for the prosecution.

(MURMURING)

We will now hear a statement

from the representative of the accused
and convicted.

My Lords,

let me begin by saying that the murderer

is without any doubt in this chamber.

The trouble is, he's not under arrest.

But my young friend here is.

(GASPING)

Can you substantiate this?

I can, My Lord.

You will know his identity in a moment.

I will now call my first witness,
thank you.

This, My Lords,

is the reproduction
of the stolen micro-key.

-Do you recognise this, young lady?
-Yes.

-And do you know where it is now?
-Yes, I do.

Then please tell the tribunal
where its present location is.

It is here.

(CHATTERING)

Where did you get it?

It was given to me
by the man who killed the guard.

-Is he here?
-Yes.

Then please point him out to us.

There. Sitting in the front row.

But she can't have found it, I...

All right, I'll tell you everything.

I'm not in this alone.
They made me do it.

I'll tell you... (GROANING)

(PEOPLE GASPING)

(SOBBING)

And so you see, my Lords,

when Sabetha was showing the court
the micro-key,

it wasn't, in actual fact, the one
that was stolen from the vault.

You say you have three of the micro-keys
in your possession.

Yes, my Lord.
And we returned to find the last one.

Then they would all be returned
to Arbitan.

The fact remains
that the fourth key is missing.

Still in the place where it was hidden
by the murderer Chesterton.

Oh, come now, surely you don't think
that he's still guilty.

I admit that I resorted to a subterfuge

when Sabetha accused Aydan
of taking the key.

But I think the results
justifies the means.

There are a number of points
which we'd like to see cleared up.

Yes, my Lord.

-First of all...
-DOCTOR: Yes.

And I'm having psychometric tests made
on the weapon that killed Aydan.

What exactly are these
psychometric tests?

It is the science psychometry.

Experts are able to
divine from an object

the characteristics of the person
who last had contact with that object.

Well, that sounds an improvement
on fingerprints.

Fingerprints?

It's not important.

But whoever killed Aydan must have been
implicated in the theft.

If only he'd lived,
he might have told us everything.

Well, it was his wife I felt sorry for.

Well, the doctors have given her
oblervative drugs

and sent her home to rest.
She was hysterical.

(BUZZER SOUNDING)

You'd better resume your places.
The tribunal's about to start again.

-Where's Susan?
-Oh, she's gone to get Ian's statement.

It is clear that Aydan was involved
in either the theft or the killing.

It is also clear that
he had an accomplice.

Bearing in mind that the accused
came here with the expressed purpose

of recovering the micro-key

and remembering the evidence
against him,

his guilt becomes even more obvious.

Will the prosecutor please summarise?

Despite the dramatics
and hysterics of recent events,

very little has changed.

I submit that the accused did by threat
or coercion

involve Aydan in the murder and robbery.

His last dying words were,
"They made me do it."

"They" were the accused
and his accomplices.

They were standing near him
when he was killed.

One of them is responsible
for his death.

I submit that the defence has offered
no new evidence

and the sentence of the tribunal
should be carried out.

The tribunal concurs.

Though it has deprived us
of more detailed evidence,

the unfortunate death of Guardian Aydan
has surely not affected the issue.

We will now hear a statement,
a closing statement, from the defence.

I beg the indulgence of the tribunal

and ask for time
to produce new evidence.

Denied. No purpose would be served
in delaying these proceedings further.

If you have nothing to add,
the accused will be taken from here

and executed in the prescribed manner.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

-What is it?
-A messenger brought this for you.

Well, thank you.

I have to get back inside.
Will you excuse me?

What is it?

It says, "There will be another death

"if you disclose where
the key is hidden."

What?

Barbara, do you realise what this means?

It proves that someone else
was involved.

I must tell Tarron
and the Doctor quickly.

Yes, but what does it mean
another death? Whose death?

(TELECOM BEEPING)

Someone wishes to speak to you.

Hello?

SUSAN: I want to speak
to Barbara Wright.

Susan?

SUSAN: Barbara, they made me call you.

-Who Susan? Who?
-Barbara, listen...

(SUSAN GROANING)

Susan?

Are you there? Susan?

-They're going to kill me.
-Susan.