Doctor Who (1963–1989): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Escape - full transcript

Susan meets Alydon of the Thals and agrees to try and arrange a treaty between his people and the Daleks. But the Daleks only see it as an opportunity to wipe the Thals out.

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Subbed by Corax

Time Adjustments by MacLeod

Who are you?

What do you want?

- Don't be afraid.
- What do you want?

But they said you... But they called you...

But you're not.

You're perfect.

I tried to speak to you in the forest yesterday
but I frightened you.

- I'm sorry.
- I was frightened.

- I was terrified.
- Yes, I was very clumsy.



I have come now to make certain you understand
how to use the drugs I left for you.

You left?
But we thought they'd been dropped by accident.

- No.
- We didn't even know they were drugs.

You mean you haven't taken them yet?
But you must.

That's why I came back, you see.
My grandfather and two of my friends

- are prisoners in the city and...
- No, please, you're too quick for me.

There are four of you, I know that.
I've watched you.

And what do you mean, prisoners?

Well, don't you know about the Daleks?

So the Dalek people have survived.

- But do they live in that dead city?
- Well, underneath it anyway.

You see, the Daleks want the drugs, too,

and they won't let us go
until I bring them back to them.

Why should they want the drugs? They must have
some themselves if they're still alive.



I don't know.
My grandfather and my friends are terribly ill.

- I must take the drug back to them.
- No, no, wait.

Are you sure the Daleks want the drugs
for your friends and not for themselves?

I hadn't thought of that.

- Do you trust them?
- No.

I'm not sure.

You still have the drugs I left for you.

I shall give you a further supply
which you must hide as best you can.

Do you trust me?

Yes.

I am Alydon of the Thal race.

I shall go with you through the forests
to the outer wall of the city,

- if you will allow me.
- Oh, thank you.

I don't understand. They said you were...

Well, they called you mutations.

But the radiation still persists
and that is why your friends are ill.

- I wonder if the Daleks have seen us.
- Seen you?

I mean, if they call us mutations...

what must they be like?

- I have returned the glrl to the cell.
- Very well.

- They are asklng for water.
- Glve them some.

It Is clear that the glrl
must have made contact wlth the Thals.

Our prlsoners could brlng the Thals to us.

Preclsely that.

The Thal said the drug would act quickly.

Don't give him anymore water, Susan.
His pulse is steady now anyway.

- My arms are tingling.
- Yes.

Alydon said you'd feel that. It just
means the drug's working, that's all.

This Alydon of yours
seems to have kept his wits about him.

Giving you that extra supply of drugs.

Yes. It was strange when the Daleks found it.

I thought first of all
they were going to keep both lots.

Then they suddenly seemed to change their mind

- and gave the second lot back to me.
- Yes.

- Still, the Thals seem more friendly.
- Oh, yes.

Alydon gave me this cloak to keep me warm.

- Why do the Daleks think they're mutations?
- I don't know.

Judging by Alydon, they're magnificent people.

- Susan.
- Grandfather?

You'll feel better soon. I brought the drugs back.

Give me a little while
and then we must go back to the ship.

No, we're still prisoners.

Oh, are we?

Oh, yes.

Well, we must leave here soon.
We must leave. Yes.

As soon as Grandfather's properly awake,
we must try and find a way of helping the Thals.

We can't even help ourselves,
locked up in here like this.

We must try and talk to the Daleks.

Alydon says the Thals are going to starve
unless they can find new supplies of food.

You see...

after the war, the Thals that survived
managed to cultivate small plots of land.

Well, that's how they've survived ever since.

But they've always have to be very, very careful
because the crops have always been in danger.

But, you see, they rely on a great rainfall
that only happens about every four or five years.

Well, it's two years overdue now
and all their crops are ruined.

Well, that's why the whole Thal race
had to leave their plateau

and go in search of food.

Alydon says unless we can help them
arrange some sort of treaty wlth the Daleks,

they're all golng to dle.

- IAN: But how can we, Susan?
- Well, he wants to talk to the Daleks.

He sald If they agree to supply food for them,

then one of us
must take a message outslde the clty.

DALEK: We could let thls catastrophe
destroy the Thals.

Wlll they let themselves starve to death?

No.

I feel preservlng our prlsoners was a good Idea.

And an arrangement to brlng
the Thals Inslde our clty

an even better one.

We'll let our prlsoners sleep
and then glve them food.

- After that, we can plan.
- Why not begln now?

Because the lapse of tlme,

the relaxatlon of sleep, the provlslon of food,

all these thlngs wlll glve them
a false sense of securlty.

We have brought you food and more water.

- The glrl Is to come wlth me.
- Why?

- It's all right.
- So what are they going to do to her?

She wlll be returned.

We are golng to help the Thals,
whlch Is what you want us to do.

Come now.

I can't understand. Why have they taken Susan?

How do they know we want to help the Thals?

- Ganatus.
- Alydon.

- You've been longer than I thought.
- The path was rough.

- The dead city lies over there.
- Get the tent here, toward the west.

What is it, Temmosus?

This must be the craft
in which the strangers arrived here.

So, Alydon,
we were right to believe the city inhabited.

Yes, Temmosus.

I wonder what they'll be like.
How they'll be disposed towards us.

They are Daleks.

Yes, but we've changed over the centuries.
Why shouldn't they?

The once famous warrior race of Thals
are now farmers.

But the Daleks were teachers,
weren't they, Temmosus?

- Yes, they were. And philosophers.
- Perhaps they are the warriors now.

From a distance, the city looks as if they make

science and invention their profession.

It's a magical architecture.

Perhaps we can exchange ideas with them...

learn from them.

Perhaps.

And these others,
they arrived here in this weird object?

- Yes, Temmosus.
- And you trust them, Alydon?

I have only spoken with the young girl,
but if the others are anything like her,

I would trust them absolutely.

I hope you're not too generous in your beliefs.

What do you say, Dyoni?

- I have no opinions in the matter.
- How unusual.

Where is the girl now?

I have given her the drugs
and she has returned to the city.

It would've been better
if you'd given it to a man instead of a girl.

I had no chance. They're prisoners in the city.

- Prisoners?
- Are you sure?

I'm afraid so.

From everything the young girl said,

the Daleks are certainly very suspicious about us.

Tell me, Alydon, how old is this young girl?

Oh, no longer a child, not yet a woman.

Then perhaps it's safe for you to talk to her...

if she's not yet a woman.

I don't understand her.

If we don't find a new food supply
for next year, we're finished.

Doesn't she understand that?

We're all working towards the same end.

- Now, there's a double meaning for you.
- But don't you realise

that Dyoni sees her personal future in you.

You must remember that when we left
our plateau and started on this journey,

she was little more than a child.
But that was four years ago.

I'm not quite so blind.

Well, go on. What have you planned?

The young girl will speak with the Daleks.
And the message will come from the city.

- Direct from the girl?
- Yes.

But how should we know that it is not a trick?

Well, she told me her name. Susan.

And that is how the message is to be signed.

Otherwise, we shall know
the Daleks are hostile to us.

Have Ilquld foods, water In abundance.

We can also supply...

unllmlted quantltles of fresh vegetables

whlch are forced In artlflclal sunllght.

Just a minute.

"Artificial sunlight."

All right, go on.

In return, we shall expect the Thals to help us

In the re-cultlvatlon of the land surroundlng the...

Why have you stopped wrltlng?

Well, I can only ask them. I can't accept for them.

Then put down that we expect them to help us.

Yes, I'm sure they will.

Please slt stlll
whlle we examlne what you've wrltten.

What Is the last word here?

- The last word?
- Su... san.

Stop that nolse.

It's what I'm called. It's my name.

Susan.

Have you told the Thals that
you would wrlte thls name on the message?

Yes.

Look, there's no need to be frightened of them.

They're very friendly people. All they want is food.

Let me take the message to them.

- No.
- Why not?

We have planned otherwlse.

IAN: But how long
are they golng to keep Susan, Doctor?

BARBARA: What do they want wlth her?

DOCTOR: Perhaps they're golng to let us go.
I don't know.

We knew you could hear us 'cause you knew
about the Thals and the food.

It does not matter.

We have the message now.

All set, Doctor?

The whole pattern of things is suspicious.

Just because the Daleks didn't kill us
is no reason to trust them.

Or suspect them, either.

Or maybe they just have
a different way of doing things.

The Thals have helped us.

The Daleks put us in a cell.
I know which of the two I prefer.

I tell you, the Daleks are brilliant people.
I think we ought to cooperate with them.

Ever since you talked alone to the Daleks,
you've been on their side.

What have they done, bribed you or something?

Look, I want to know why.

Why are you on their side
and against the rest of us?

Take your hands off me. How dare you shout...

I want an answer.

- Stop arguing.
- Please give me space.

DOCTOR: Keep away from me.

BARBARA: Susan, what are you doing?

- Did I hurt you?
- No. Of course you didn't.

DOCTOR: Don't waste time.

Fix you for a while.

Do you thlnk It was broken accldentally
In thelr struggle?

No, the cable Is strong.
They have broken It dellberately.

They can be moved Immedlately to another room,

- the eye repalred.
- No.

Extermlnatlon, then.

There Is no escape from the room that holds them.

They may well be useful agaln.

We shall deal wlth the Thals.

The point is, how do we get out of here?

Wait until the Daleks open the door
and force the issue?

But we'd never get near them.

We must try and trick them.

We must all pretend to be dead.
Then when they come in to investigate,

- we must rush down the corridor...
- IAN: Yes, and then what?

No.

We must find a way
of putting these machines out of action.

Yes, remember what they did to your legs.

- Yes.
- The floors are metal.

All the floors are metal.

Well, so are the streets of the city outside.

- Why?
- I don't know.

No, I know you don't know.
I mean, why do they use metal?

Is it because it lasts longer? Or because...

Because it's essential to them. That's an idea.

Well, how is that going to help us?

- Well, if metal is...
- No, no, no, listen.

Let's concentrate on the Daleks.

Have you noticed,
for example, that when you move about,

- there's a sort of acrid smell?
- Yes, I've noticed that.

I know. A fairground.

- That's it. Dodgems.
- It's electricity.

I think they're powered that way.

Yes, just a minute.
They have no pick-up or anything.

And only the base of the machine
touches the floor.

How do they complete the circuit?

- Batteries?
- No, no.

I believe the Daleks have discovered a way
to exploit static electricity.

Very ingenious, if I'm right.

What, drawing power from the floor?

Precisely. If I'm right, of course.

Now, what do we know
apart from guessing how they are powered?

- Well, they can see all round them.
- Yes.

Their eye is flexible, like a large camera lens.

Yes. Now, Chesterton,
do you mind concentrating, young man?

Hmm? Susan.

- The cloak the Thals gave you.
- Yes, it's just behind you.

Barbara, come here.

- What do you think this is made of?
- I don't know, it isn't plastic...

I don't think it's nylon, either.

Whatever it is, it will do for what we want.

- And what will it do, young man, hm?
- Insulate.

If you are right, Doctor, about the Daleks
taking up power from the floor,

this is a perfect way of putting them out of action.

Well, look, Ganatus, they've found
a Magneton under some bushes.

- Dead, I hope.
- Well, of course it's dead.

Oh, I never know when you're serious
and when you're joking.

We'll be able to recharge the handlights.
I'll go and tell Antodus.

Is he still afraid of the dark?

- I'm sorry, I...
- My brother isn't afraid of anything.

Temmosus, suppose the Daleks refuse to help us.

What then?

I believe the Daleks hold the key to our future.

Whatever that future may be, we must
accept it gracefully and without regret.

I wish I could be as objective as you.

- We've lived for so long a time.
- Perhaps we have lived too long.

I've never struggled against the inevitable.
It's a vain occupation.

But I should always advise you to examine
very closely what you think to be inevitable.

It's surprising how often apparent defeat
can be turned to victory.

- This was found at the city gates.
- What does it say?

They're coming to help us.

It's signed by the girl, Susan.

She says, "The Dalek people
have no malice towards us.

"And they hope that they can work with us
to build a new and safe world,

"free from the fear of war."

They have the ability to produce food
by means of synthetic sunlight.

And they have left a quantity of it for us
in the entrance hall of their main building.

We are to collect it tomorrow.

So there is a future for us.

- He's coming.
- Yes. Now, all of you, watch very carefully.

See that you notice
every detail in that machine, all right?

Move back from the door.

Take the food.

I'll be able to jam the door with a piece of this.

- He seemed to be able to cover all of us.
- It's impossible to hide from it.

Yes. Perhaps we can throw a coat over the lens.

Surely, it would see you.

Yes. Doctor, perhaps we can stage something.

You know, a distraction. And when the lens
looks the other way, throw something over it.

Yes, yes, yes.

BARBARA: Now, wait a minute.
Susan, throw me your shoes.

IAN: What are you up to?
BARBARA: Making mud.

If he's on time, we have three minutes.

I'm ready.

- How's the mud?
- It's very sticky and very nasty.

Very good. Very good idea.

- Shall I spread the cloak over?
- Yes. Not too near the door.

We don't want to make him suspicious.

- Just down there?
- Yes, yes, quickly.

Good, child.

He's coming.

DOCTOR: Mind your head.

Take thls.

Now!

Keep away. Keep away from mel

Keep away from me. Keep away. Keep awayl

That's a gun! That's a gun!

Keep away from me.

Quick!

Keep away from me. Keep away from me.

Yes, I got it.

Well done, Susan.

- Are you all right, Susan?
- Yes, Grandfather.

- Splendid, splendid.
- I think I'm all right. Swing it round.

- Keep out of the way, Susan.
- Yes.

Now...

I think it's worked. Take your hand off the gun.

It has. It's worked!

Now, there must be a catch here somewhere.

I've found one.

Susan, Barbara, go in the corridor
and keep a lookout.

Yes.

You'll have to help me.

Let's roll it off the cloak.

- A bit more. All right?
- Yes.

Give me that cloak.

That's it.

- All right.
- Right.

- Now.
- Close it.

Lift.

Now, see if I can get inside it.

- All clear in the corridor?
- Yes.

I think there's a sentry down
the other end of the corridor.

Well, they make such a terrible noise.

Ian, hurry.

Not much room for my legs, but try the top.

Barbara, Susan, give me a hand.

Move it down gently.

How is it?

- It's very cramped Indeed.
- Well, can't you sound more like a Dalek?

Yes, in a monotone. You've heard them.

- Do... you... mean... llke... thls?
- That's it!

- Can you see all right?
- No.

There's some sort of screen...
No, It's the mud. Wlpe the mud off the lens.

Yes, all right.

It's all clogged up.

- Is that better?
- Yes, I can see now.

- Good.
- I can't make thls thlng move.

- It's full of controls.
- Don't worry, we'll push you.

- It moves well enough.
- Yes.

Surely, they'll know that we're pushing you.

No, it won't be suspicious at all.

All rlght, now, Susan, Barbara,

you get In front and pretend
I'm taklng you for questlonlng.

- Right.
- Yes.

- And, Susan.
- Yes?

You lead us. You know the way.

All right. This way, then.

Subbed by Corax

Time Adjustments by MacLeod