Doctor Who (1963–1989): Season 1, Episode 27 - The Temple of Evil - full transcript

(DOCTOR WHO THEME)

- Look at that!
- I am.

It's an Aztec mask.
He must have been a priest.

The Aztecs were Mexican,
we must be on Earth again.

I wonder what year it is.

- He must have died around 1430.
- How do you know that?

These are from
the Aztecs' early period.

That's really knowing your subject!

Well, that was
one of my specialities, Susan.

The little I know about them
doesn't impress me.

Cutting out people's hearts!



That's only one side of them.

- They were highly civilised.
- The Spanish didn't think so.

Oh, they only saw
the acts of sacrifice.

That was the tragedy of the Aztecs.

The whole civilisation was destroyed,
good and evil.

- Cortes landed in 1520, didn't he?
- Mmm-hmm.

Hey, look, cartoons!

With bubbles
coming out of their mouths!

Ooh! Barbara, look!

Don't go too far!

It's all right. There's no one here.

(SUSAN) I think I'll get the others.

It's perfect!

Woman, how came you here?!



The temple is sacred to the memory
of the High Priest Yetaxa.

You trespass and must be punished.
Warriors!

I don't care if she is interested in them.
I told her not to go off alone!

The door! It's closed.

Now, where is this door, Susan?

Here...ah.

Barbara?

Barbara?

No sign of her.

She was here just now.

Doctor, look at this extraordinary
city down here.

The Aztecs. They knew how to build.

We must be pretty high up here.

Place seems absolutely deserted.

I hope you're right. The Aztecs
have some gruesome habits.

I should hate to be carved up on that
by some Aztec high priest.

The door!

There's nothing to get a grip on!

- There must be a way of opening it!
- You push from the other side.

These tombs were designed to prevent
grave robbers, not aid them.

Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge,
humbly greets the servants of Yetaxa.

- The servants of whom, sir?
- Yetaxa, the High Priest.

Where is Barbara?

- Of whom do you speak?
- The woman who was here.

In due time you shall meet again,
but first grant us our courtesies.

No evil exists in our hearts
towards you. In fact, we honour you.

- What is your name, sir?
- Autloc.

- And you are the High Priest?
- As such I serve.

- You know where we came from?
- The tomb.

Tell me, is there a way through
from this side?

The tomb is sealed.

Go now with these attendants

and soon you shall meet the one
who has the bracelet of Yetaxa.

What's he talking about now?

He must mean Barbara.
She picked up a bracelet in the tomb.

Well, perhaps we'd better go
and meet her.

Eugh!

You know who he is?

The local butcher by the look of him.

Exactly.

You have seen her?

A vision is with us, Autloc.

- When does it rain?
- This day.

When the sun's fire first touches
the horizon to the west.

At that moment
shall I present her to the people.

A vision is with us
and shall stand before them.

And I, in supplication to the Rain God,
shall offer human blood.

The rains will come.

No more talk against us

that the gods were against us
and brought drought to the land.

The rains will come
and power shall again be ours.

The rains will come
with or without sacrifice.

Does the High Priest of Knowledge
only worship him who has fallen

and not him who has made us strong?

I worship the same god as you.

Then, above all, honour him.

He has made us rulers of the land.

For this he demands blood!

And he shall have it.

They've treated us all right so far.

The Aztecs always showed courtesy
towards their intended victims.

Barbara!

Leave us.

Good gracious!

What on earth are you doing there?

They think I'm a reincarnation
of that priest in the tomb.

When the High Priest caught me,
I was wearing this.

- So he thought you were a god?
- Yes.

But the priest in the tomb was a man!

The form the spirit takes
isn't important, Susan. This is.

- Yes, that High Priest...
- Autloc.

- That's right, Orkloc...
- AUTLOC!

Autloc. He said we were
the servants of Yetaxa.

- Is that who they think you are?
- Yes.

- And we're your servants!
- Charming!

It's very useful for us, Doctor.

We can go into the tomb,
get into the Tardis and leave.

It only opens from the inside.

Reincarnations can come out,
but humans can't go in.

We must find out how the door opens.

That's what you mustn't do.
As Yetaxa, you should know everything.

If the Aztecs decide you're not what
you're supposed to be, we'll all die.

Great Spirit of Yetaxa, I, Tlotoxl,
High Priest of Sacrifice, salute you.

As you said, the local butcher.

I acknowledge
the High Priest's greeting.

For many days, the Rain God
has looked away from us.

The land withers
and our people groan.

We have prayed that the land
may be bountiful.

This day we honour Tlaloc's name.

When the sun's fire first touches
the horizon to the west,

the people will stand before
the temple as we command.

We humbly beg, Great Spirit, that at
that time, the people shall see you,

and know their suffering
draws to an end.

Barbara will appear
and down will come the rain.

I shall do
as the High Priest requests.

We also...beseech you, Great Spirit,

to let your handmaiden and servants
move freely among our people.

O, Great Spirit, grant our wish to be
your eyes and ears among the people

to do our best and serve
all our interests.

The aged servant of Yetaxa
speaks with wisdom.

My handmaiden remains with me.
The others may do as you wish.

We shall await you.

A wonderful performance, my dear!

We now have
everything we want exactly.

- We do?
- Yes, you and Susan here in safety,

and Ian and I outside
finding out about the tomb.

Sounds OK, but I don't think we
should take our eyes off those two!

Don't mind them. They're too busy
timing their miracle.

- Miracle?
- Presenting Barbara to the public

one second before it rains!

Autloc, who serves Yetaxa?

We do, as High Priests of the temple.

- What purpose then serve the others?
- Yetaxa...

Would it not be better if one
led our force of arms?

The young man?

A warrior favoured of the gods.

But Ixta is our chosen warrior.

Let Ixta prove himself more worthy
than the servant of Yetaxa.

It is decided. The old man may walk
abroad. You shall command our army.

Surely that is for Yetaxa to decide?

Yetaxa would not refuse
so great an honour.

I accept.

Autloc, take the old man into
the Garden of Peace to sit in comfort.

- Come now and encounter Ixta.
- Who is he?

Your rival to command.

Ixta!

I greet you, Tlotoxl.

What manner of warrior is this?

He is the servant of Yetaxa.

I had heard that Yetaxa
again guides us in wisdom

and in strength.

Would the High Priest care for me
to demonstrate my skill?

To command, one must prove oneself
in courage, skill, intelligence.

Ixta has taken
many prisoners in battle.

He has no fear of death.

So shall other tribes
fear the Aztecs even more.

Tell Yetaxa that I shall serve well.

I shall carry your salutation
for you.

He remains.

Here, a warrior is chosen
to command.

I know it!

What name did your mother give you?

Ian.

Then I tell you, Ian,
six warriors dwelt here.

Only I remain.
There is no fear of you in me.

Rather I welcome you. For one day,
all men shall fear Ixta,

the Aztec commander who killed
the chosen servant of Yetaxa.

Let him be clothed
according to his rank.

It shall be done.

Is he to assist
at the Ceremony of the Rain God?

Ian is as you are...

..a chosen warrior.

What duties must I perform
at this ceremony?

All honour rests with us. We deliver
the human sacrifice to Tlotoxl.

Why are all these people here?

It is our law
that all who attain their 52nd year

shall pleasurably pass
the remainder of their lives

free from responsibility and care.

Poor souls, they must be bored
doing nothing.

We often seek the accumulated
wisdom of their years.

- What about?
- All manner of things.

Everyone here has served
the community in some way.

He wove priestly garments,
she was a woman of medicine.

- That man...
- What about her?

Cameca? Of all those here,
her advice is most sought after.

What did you say her name was?

Cameca.

You will find her a companion
of wit and interest.

- And now I beg permission to depart.
- Of course.

In spite of the drought, there's
plenty of water for the flowers.

It's better to go hungry
than starve for beauty.

Mmm, all the perfume of the gods.

I find this place delightful.

- So restful.
- It is the Garden of Peace.

An apt description.

The words of Topau.

- Topau?
- The man who built the temple.

Oh, he designed all this, did he?

As a labour of love.

Yes, one senses that immediately.

Does he come here often?

He watches over us constantly.

Oh, I see, he's a gardener.

- No.
- But you said he watches...?

So he does...in spirit.

- Yes, I see, he's dead.
- Yes.

Er...please.

I would have liked to have met him.
You knew him?

Well. His son lives.

- Ah, a builder.
- A warrior.

Still, I suppose he knows
much of his father's work.

I find the temple very fascinating.

A meeting could be arranged.

My dear lady,
I should be so grateful!

- Doctor...
- Oh, my dear Chesterton,

this dear lady has promised me

to arrange a meeting between myself

and the son of the man
who built the temple.

Most kind of you, madam.

Pray excuse me,
then you may talk more freely.

- Charming person.
- Doctor...

- So intelligent and gentle.
- Doctor...

there is to be
a human sacrifice today,

at the Ceremony for the Rain God,

- and I have to...
- What do you have to do?

I must escort the victim
and hold him down! Doctor, I can't...

Do it, man, but don't interfere!

- But...
- There's no but about it.

If human sacrifice is their tradition,
let them get on with it.

For our sakes, don't interfere!

Promise me, please.
I'll go and tell Barbara.

Hey, Barbara?

Just the thing for
the Royal Enclosure at Ascot!

I love being handmaiden to a goddess!

This end of it
isn't too hard to take, either.

Isn't that beautiful?

Mmm. You know, that's what gets me.

I mean, take Autloc.

He's sensitive, intelligent.

- And then there's...
- Tlotoxl!

It's incredible, isn't it? Beauty
and horror developing hand in hand.

(DOCTOR) Get out of my way!
Let me pass! I must talk to Yetaxa!

Susan, please go outside
and don't let anybody in.

- Right.
- What's happened?

There's to be a human sacrifice
at the rain ceremony.

Oh, no!

And you must not interfere,
do you understand?

I can't just sit by and watch!

No, Barbara! Ian agrees with me.

He's got to escort the victim
to the altar.

- He has to what?!
- They made him a warrior.

He's promised me not to interfere.

They've made me a goddess...
and I forbid it!

Barbara, no!

There will be no sacrifice
this afternoon, Doctor.

Or ever again.

The reincarnation of Yetaxa
will prove to the people

that you don't need to sacrifice
a human being in order to make it rain.

Barbara, no.

My mind is made up. It's the beginning
of the end of the Sun God.

- What are you talking about?!
- Don't you see?

If I could start the destruction
of everything evil here,

then everything that is good
will survive when Cortes lands.

You can't rewrite history!
Not one line!

The high priests are coming.

Barbara, one last appeal.

What you are trying to do
is utterly impossible!

I know, believe me, I know!

Not Barbara...Yetaxa.

Grandfather? Grandfather, what's happening?
Why can't I see it?

You must stay here, child!

A vision has come to us, my people!

The High Priest Yetaxa has returned

that you may look once more
upon the sign of the coiled serpent.

Great spirit of Yetaxa, stand forth
that we may honour you.

(DRUM ROLL)

(PEOPLE CHEER)

Take his arms.

Take his legs.

Great Tlaloc, God of Rain,

I, Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice,

call upon you to look with favour
upon our land.

Give us the water that is our life!

And we will honour you with blood!

- NO!
- Stop!

I, Yetaxa, command you!

There shall be no more blood spilt.

You have denied me honour!

Honour us then with your death.

(RUMBLE OF THUNDER)

With death came rain!

(THUNDERCLAP)

Without your sacrifice came rain.

Does Yetaxa speak as a god
or protector of a handmaiden?

- As a god.
- Then let the handmaid be punished.

She cried out and desecrated sacred ground.
She transgressed the law!

She did not know it.

Let knowledge be beaten into her.

No one shall be punished for
an offence committed in ignorance.

- I demand she be punished!
- No!

Let her instead be taught respect
for your customs.

I will take her to the seminary.

So be it, Autloc.

(THUNDER)
The Spirit of Yetaxa has spoken.

No...

..no, this is not Yetaxa.

This is a false goddess!

And I shall destroy her!