Doctor Who (1963) s02e21 Episode Script
The Centre (The Web Planet, Part Six)
ANIMUS: You attempted escape? We have been on a slight exploration.
You have been brought back to me.
Brought back? We came of our own free will.
We are not to be subjected like the Zarbis or terrorised like the Menoptra.
We are.
You are of no further use, except for the way you think.
I need your intelligence.
You will be brought to the Centre.
to me.
What do they want now? We're to be taken to the Centre, child.
Try.
(GROANS) Try not to be afraid.
The Doctor will have reached the control section by now.
Prapillus, we should send in the Zarbi.
(BEEPING) You'd better let me have the web destructor back again, child.
We may not get another chance.
Doctor, I haven't got it.
-Oh, yes.
I gave it to you.
Come along.
-It's just that I haven't got it now.
-Where is it, child? -It's in the astral map.
I hid it there.
(DOCTOR GROANS) Zarbi coming.
Are we ready? (BEEPING) Prapillus, it will throw the necklet off.
Barbara, now.
(YELLING) Zarbi! Zarbi! Zarbi! Zarbi! (YELLING) (SHRILLY) Zarbi! -It will return with reinforcements.
-That was the idea, wasn't it? We must move into the corridors to make it more difficult for the Zarbi.
They won't scatter us so easily.
I will take the first larvae gun.
(BOTH BUZZING) Look out! The acid again.
No, Heron, it is water.
Water.
It sank below the surface when the Animus choked the soil.
Well, it's still there, Vrestin.
All you have to do is bring it to the surface.
You can grow your plants again.
If we go up, we meet the blinding heart of Poidarac.
I have fear.
Optera, stay! Listen, Optera.
Poidarac is evil.
The Menoptra are stronger than evil.
The world above is good.
(OPTERA GRUNTING) Vrestin, if this is a root, we can't lose our way.
Why not leave them here? No.
They are descendants of my race.
They can live in light.
Come.
They stay.
I go.
If there is safety, I'll return for them.
We go.
Hrostar.
Yes, I'm ready.
-What are they doing? -The Zarbi will have larvae guns.
-This is the only way we can stop them.
-If it works.
Get back, Barbara.
(BEEPING) (HIGH-PITCHED BUZZING) (HLYNIA WHIMPERS) Hrostar is dead.
Then we must succeed so that Hrostar may lie at rest in the Temples of Light.
Do not cry, Hlynia.
There is work to do.
Come.
The next gun is mine.
Follow.
Can you see it, Doctor? Can you see it? This infernal light is too bright for my eyes.
ANIMUS: What Vortis is, I am.
What you are, I will become.
-Oh, no! -Doctor.
Leave us alone, you parasite.
Parasite? A power.
Absorbing territory, riches, energy, culture.
You come to me.
You filthy, great spider! You won't get us because we won't move.
Do not fight against it.
Approach, approach.
Both of you.
I mustn't move.
I mustn't move.
There seems to be no end to it.
Look out! All right? The blinding dark is close now.
Heron, let us rest.
No.
Zarbi.
-How many? -I only saw one.
-With larvae guns? -No, I think he was alone.
Do not let him give the alarm, Hilio.
This seems to be the Zarbi nest.
How does the Animus control them? Look there.
I can't I can'tstruggle anymore.
Doctor, help me.
There's no one.
No chance.
And it's all my fault.
(DOCTOR GROANING) What I take from you will enable me to reach beyond this galaxy into the solar system to pluck from Earth its myriad techniques and take from man his mastery of space.
Look out! No, Hlynia.
Zarbi Centre wounded.
Aliens in control.
(ALARM BUZZING) This sector seems to be paralysed.
Oh, look.
This is the Doctor's astral map.
-Does it work? -Yes, I think so.
Can we speak to the invasion force with it? Yes, if I can just find the right frequency.
-Where would you want it set? -To the planet Pictos.
There.
Now, try that.
Vortis to main force.
Vortis to main force.
Warning.
Repeat, warning.
Electron guns useless against the Zarbi.
Isop Plateau heavily ambushed.
Wait for instructions.
Reply.
Either it hasn't heard or it doesn't trust us.
Or I didn't set it right.
I don't know, there's something wrong.
This thing ought to light.
Prapillus, look, it's the Isop-tope.
The Doctor, he must have been captured.
Then we must take it to the Centre ourselves.
-But why.
-There's no time to lose.
-Hilio will take care of the Doctor.
-Hilio.
Hurry.
Give me this.
(SIGHS) It's like trying to cut your way through treacle.
The blind mouth of Poidarac will not let us through.
Heron, try.
Remember, the destructor must be aimed at the dark side of the Animus.
Zarbi.
There's no turning back.
We must rush them.
It only needs one of us to get through with the destructor.
Now.
Zarbi! Barbara! Barbara! Barbara! -They aren't following us.
-Perhaps we were expected.
This must be the Centre.
Give me the Isop-tope.
Light! (ANIMUS MOANS SOFTLY) ANIMUS: All of you.
Light.
Light.
Light! No, Hlynia, not this light.
It is evil.
Barbara, the destructor.
Take it.
Barbara.
Oh, Barbara! The dark side.
I must aim it at the dark side.
Approach.
Approach, Earth people.
Your struggles are futile.
It doesn't work.
It doesn't work! Escape is impossible.
Impossible.
BARBARA: Ian! You are expected, too.
You have not the power.
Power.
Master them.
Master them.
(WAILING) The universe.
It's dead.
It's dead.
(BUZZING) Hlynia, water.
Drink, Hlynia.
Vicki.
Vicki.
-What is it? -Water.
It is.
Why did it appear now? Before the Animus, water flowed freely on Vortis.
Now the evil is gone, our streams run pure again.
Our vegetation will flourish.
Barbara.
Barbara, come and look.
Water! Be strong.
Be strong.
The light is very good.
(GRUNTING) We fly like you? No, but your children may fly.
We see.
Be patient.
Without flight, how will the gods of light be kind to my people? Vortis is strong by thought.
We will work together.
If I had not lived till this time, I would have counted my life entirely wasted.
Doctor, we owe you a great deal.
There's only one thing you owe me, my friend.
-And what is that? -That is my ring.
Your ring? Your ring, on my life.
Thank you.
Well, they seem to be enjoying themselves up here.
The light is good.
Light is good.
Heron, will you come back to Vortis? I doubt it, Vrestin.
But, knowing the Doctor, you can never be sure.
Vrestin, have you mended the communicator? (IAN CHUCKLES) Well, my boy, we've managed to come out of this knot unscathed.
Yes.
All except my old school tie.
This is quite a problem, isn't it? Something to do with coal, wasn't it? Coal Hill School.
An old Coal Hill School tie.
Black, with thin emerald green stripes on it.
Hm.
Yes, yes.
Quite so.
Quite so.
Come on.
Barbara.
Vicki.
(WHOOSHING) It disappeared.
Their deeds shall be sung in the Temples of Light.
Pictos shall remind us of a time as it circles Vortis.
Every time it points to the Needle of the Kings, as it does now, then we shall weave songs to praise the gods of light and thank them that they sent the Earth people to save us from the Animus.
Now the Zarbi larvae feed the soil, the flower forests shall grow again across Vortis.
But we must not allow the forest to conceal another lurking Animus.
Welcome the main force.
Vortis to main force.
Vortis to main force.
Main force to Vortis.
Main force to Vortis.
Vrestin, where shall we land? The dark power is dead.
Fly in Menoptra to the Delta of Lights.
We are waiting.
You have been brought back to me.
Brought back? We came of our own free will.
We are not to be subjected like the Zarbis or terrorised like the Menoptra.
We are.
You are of no further use, except for the way you think.
I need your intelligence.
You will be brought to the Centre.
to me.
What do they want now? We're to be taken to the Centre, child.
Try.
(GROANS) Try not to be afraid.
The Doctor will have reached the control section by now.
Prapillus, we should send in the Zarbi.
(BEEPING) You'd better let me have the web destructor back again, child.
We may not get another chance.
Doctor, I haven't got it.
-Oh, yes.
I gave it to you.
Come along.
-It's just that I haven't got it now.
-Where is it, child? -It's in the astral map.
I hid it there.
(DOCTOR GROANS) Zarbi coming.
Are we ready? (BEEPING) Prapillus, it will throw the necklet off.
Barbara, now.
(YELLING) Zarbi! Zarbi! Zarbi! Zarbi! (YELLING) (SHRILLY) Zarbi! -It will return with reinforcements.
-That was the idea, wasn't it? We must move into the corridors to make it more difficult for the Zarbi.
They won't scatter us so easily.
I will take the first larvae gun.
(BOTH BUZZING) Look out! The acid again.
No, Heron, it is water.
Water.
It sank below the surface when the Animus choked the soil.
Well, it's still there, Vrestin.
All you have to do is bring it to the surface.
You can grow your plants again.
If we go up, we meet the blinding heart of Poidarac.
I have fear.
Optera, stay! Listen, Optera.
Poidarac is evil.
The Menoptra are stronger than evil.
The world above is good.
(OPTERA GRUNTING) Vrestin, if this is a root, we can't lose our way.
Why not leave them here? No.
They are descendants of my race.
They can live in light.
Come.
They stay.
I go.
If there is safety, I'll return for them.
We go.
Hrostar.
Yes, I'm ready.
-What are they doing? -The Zarbi will have larvae guns.
-This is the only way we can stop them.
-If it works.
Get back, Barbara.
(BEEPING) (HIGH-PITCHED BUZZING) (HLYNIA WHIMPERS) Hrostar is dead.
Then we must succeed so that Hrostar may lie at rest in the Temples of Light.
Do not cry, Hlynia.
There is work to do.
Come.
The next gun is mine.
Follow.
Can you see it, Doctor? Can you see it? This infernal light is too bright for my eyes.
ANIMUS: What Vortis is, I am.
What you are, I will become.
-Oh, no! -Doctor.
Leave us alone, you parasite.
Parasite? A power.
Absorbing territory, riches, energy, culture.
You come to me.
You filthy, great spider! You won't get us because we won't move.
Do not fight against it.
Approach, approach.
Both of you.
I mustn't move.
I mustn't move.
There seems to be no end to it.
Look out! All right? The blinding dark is close now.
Heron, let us rest.
No.
Zarbi.
-How many? -I only saw one.
-With larvae guns? -No, I think he was alone.
Do not let him give the alarm, Hilio.
This seems to be the Zarbi nest.
How does the Animus control them? Look there.
I can't I can'tstruggle anymore.
Doctor, help me.
There's no one.
No chance.
And it's all my fault.
(DOCTOR GROANING) What I take from you will enable me to reach beyond this galaxy into the solar system to pluck from Earth its myriad techniques and take from man his mastery of space.
Look out! No, Hlynia.
Zarbi Centre wounded.
Aliens in control.
(ALARM BUZZING) This sector seems to be paralysed.
Oh, look.
This is the Doctor's astral map.
-Does it work? -Yes, I think so.
Can we speak to the invasion force with it? Yes, if I can just find the right frequency.
-Where would you want it set? -To the planet Pictos.
There.
Now, try that.
Vortis to main force.
Vortis to main force.
Warning.
Repeat, warning.
Electron guns useless against the Zarbi.
Isop Plateau heavily ambushed.
Wait for instructions.
Reply.
Either it hasn't heard or it doesn't trust us.
Or I didn't set it right.
I don't know, there's something wrong.
This thing ought to light.
Prapillus, look, it's the Isop-tope.
The Doctor, he must have been captured.
Then we must take it to the Centre ourselves.
-But why.
-There's no time to lose.
-Hilio will take care of the Doctor.
-Hilio.
Hurry.
Give me this.
(SIGHS) It's like trying to cut your way through treacle.
The blind mouth of Poidarac will not let us through.
Heron, try.
Remember, the destructor must be aimed at the dark side of the Animus.
Zarbi.
There's no turning back.
We must rush them.
It only needs one of us to get through with the destructor.
Now.
Zarbi! Barbara! Barbara! Barbara! -They aren't following us.
-Perhaps we were expected.
This must be the Centre.
Give me the Isop-tope.
Light! (ANIMUS MOANS SOFTLY) ANIMUS: All of you.
Light.
Light.
Light! No, Hlynia, not this light.
It is evil.
Barbara, the destructor.
Take it.
Barbara.
Oh, Barbara! The dark side.
I must aim it at the dark side.
Approach.
Approach, Earth people.
Your struggles are futile.
It doesn't work.
It doesn't work! Escape is impossible.
Impossible.
BARBARA: Ian! You are expected, too.
You have not the power.
Power.
Master them.
Master them.
(WAILING) The universe.
It's dead.
It's dead.
(BUZZING) Hlynia, water.
Drink, Hlynia.
Vicki.
Vicki.
-What is it? -Water.
It is.
Why did it appear now? Before the Animus, water flowed freely on Vortis.
Now the evil is gone, our streams run pure again.
Our vegetation will flourish.
Barbara.
Barbara, come and look.
Water! Be strong.
Be strong.
The light is very good.
(GRUNTING) We fly like you? No, but your children may fly.
We see.
Be patient.
Without flight, how will the gods of light be kind to my people? Vortis is strong by thought.
We will work together.
If I had not lived till this time, I would have counted my life entirely wasted.
Doctor, we owe you a great deal.
There's only one thing you owe me, my friend.
-And what is that? -That is my ring.
Your ring? Your ring, on my life.
Thank you.
Well, they seem to be enjoying themselves up here.
The light is good.
Light is good.
Heron, will you come back to Vortis? I doubt it, Vrestin.
But, knowing the Doctor, you can never be sure.
Vrestin, have you mended the communicator? (IAN CHUCKLES) Well, my boy, we've managed to come out of this knot unscathed.
Yes.
All except my old school tie.
This is quite a problem, isn't it? Something to do with coal, wasn't it? Coal Hill School.
An old Coal Hill School tie.
Black, with thin emerald green stripes on it.
Hm.
Yes, yes.
Quite so.
Quite so.
Come on.
Barbara.
Vicki.
(WHOOSHING) It disappeared.
Their deeds shall be sung in the Temples of Light.
Pictos shall remind us of a time as it circles Vortis.
Every time it points to the Needle of the Kings, as it does now, then we shall weave songs to praise the gods of light and thank them that they sent the Earth people to save us from the Animus.
Now the Zarbi larvae feed the soil, the flower forests shall grow again across Vortis.
But we must not allow the forest to conceal another lurking Animus.
Welcome the main force.
Vortis to main force.
Vortis to main force.
Main force to Vortis.
Main force to Vortis.
Vrestin, where shall we land? The dark power is dead.
Fly in Menoptra to the Delta of Lights.
We are waiting.