Fall Dog Bombs The Moon

More deleted scenes, this time from Doctor Who: The Space Race, written in December 2012 – January 2013 and released in October 2013. It’s still available here and I previously blogged about it here and here. Obviously these deleted scenes constitute ‘spoilers’ so peruse at your peril.

The following deleted scenes were just cut from my ‘long’ draft before the first draft that I submitted to script editor Alan Barnes, so they were removed by me, at nobody’s behest but my own. I had to be quite ruthless to ensure that each episode was not too long. Looking at what I cut, there’s a lot of explanation about the spy intrigue that got simplified. There’s also a lot of stuff with the Doctor and Nikita (later renamed Larisa) arriving on the moon that got cut. I also restructured the end of part four so that Mikhail’s death was a bit later on, when Peri and Leonid are present.

I’m going to present the detailed sections in their ‘raw’ state, unhelpfully removed from any sort of context. As you can see, nearly every line gets rewritten and reduced before I even deliver a ‘first’ draft. The struck-through bits was cut (obviously) while the underlined bits are additions/replacements.

I shall detail the differences between the first and second drafts in my next blog.

PART ONE

PERI

Yes, this has really been our lucky night.

FX: DOOR CLOSED

LEONID

You are sure you are both unharmed? What happened to you?

DOCTOR
Ah, our car,we swerved to avoid another vehicle on the road, and, well, you can see what happenedguess the rest.

LEONID

There was quite an explosion, I saw.

PERI

Yes, the petrol tank must’ve caught fire or something. We only just managed to get clear in time.

LEONID

And it was just the two of youno-one else in the car?

DOCTOR
YesNo, just the two of us. You said we were expected?

LEONID

Of course. That is why Captain Kozlov sent me out here, to find you when you did not arrive on schedule.

...

MIKHAIL

She’s not even aware that she’s floating in deep-space.

DOCTOR

Listen to me. I need you to tell me who you are. What’s your name?

MARINKA (VIA RADIO)

No. Let me out first! Let me out now!

MIKHAIL

She doesn’t seem to be aware that she’s floating in deep-space.

PERI

Like I said, short-term memory loss resulting from shock.

MIKHAIL

Or brain damage. If there was a problem with the life-support, and she was starved of oxygen –

NIKITA

Cerebral hypoxia? It’s a theory, I suppose.

DOCTOR

(USING RADIO) I will let you out. But first I need you to tell me. Who are you?

MARINKA (VIA RADIO)

Who am I?

DOCTOR

If you’re not Marinka, who are you? What’s your name?

MARINKA (VIA RADIO)

(INCREASING HYSTERIA) I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know!

...

NIKITA

Right now? But we can’t.

DOCTOR

You must have some way of operating the capsule by remote control?

NIKITA

Yes, but that’s not the problem. It’s orbital trajectory has already been calculated.

DOCTOR

Then we’ll just have to calculate a new one, won’t we?

NIKITA

But even then, the journeyShe’s over three hundred and fifty thousand kilometres away. It will take at least three days.

 for her to return home

DOCTOR

Three days. I only hope she can last that long.

...

LEONID

Leonid, please call me Leonid.

PERI

Only if you call me Kristina.

LEONID

How is your work going, if I may ask?

PERI

At the moment there’s not a lot we can do but wait.

LEONID

How long is it before the capsule is due to return?

PERI

Not sure, a few more hours yet.

LEONID

And Miss Talonov, she is well?

PERI

I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to tell you. Sorry.

LEONID

No, I understand, it is normal. We will have to be patient.

PERI

Not much else we can be, right now. Can’t even go outside.

LEONID

Kristina. Your quarters, they are comfortable?

...

He might take me for a spy? But my identity papers -

      

NIKITA

- can be faked. Or stolen.

DOCTOR

I think I’ve proved myself, haven’t I?

NIKITA

To my satisfaction, yes. But not everyone is as trusting as me.

SCIENTIST

Miss Petrov, Doctor Kalahsnikov – it’s time.

NIKITA

Thank you. You have the new trajectory?

DOCTOR

I have. More to the point, do you think you’ll be able to bring the capsule down by radio control?

NIKITA

We don’t have any choice. Alright. Contact Activate remote guidance system.

...

PERI

What were these suspicions?

ALEXEI

You should have been briefed.

PERI

Unfortunately our briefing papers were in our car when it caught fire. What suspicions?

ALEXEI

I believed there iswas someone based in this centre,the cosmodrome who has beenwas passing on our research to a third party.

...

PERI

She escaped?

ALEXEI

No. Someone Or the enemy agent must have come for her.

PERI

Her fellow agent had come to rescue her.

ALEXEI

I don’t think so. You see, now that I knew Valentina was an agent it was only a matter of time. Where could she run, where could she hide? No. Her fellow agent had come to silence her.

PERI

This Valentina, what wasis she like?

ALEXEI

ALEXEI

She was little more than a girl. Aboutis small, attractive, about your age.

PERI

PERI

(REALISING) And she disappeared... just before I arrivedgot here.

ALEXEI

Yes. That’s why I sent Leonid out, that night. To find her.

PERI

Then she could still be alive.

ALEXEI

Then you must find her. But something in my heart tells me she is dead. The last time I saw her, she was in fear for her life, begging me to stay. But she would not say who she was working with, who she was afraid of, and I was angry at her betrayal. I only wanted to scare her.

PERI

To make her talk.

...

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

Cutting open capsulehatch seals now, over.

FX: ALEXEI ENTERSMOVE TO STEPPE.

MIKHAIL

Captain Korlov, you’re just in time for the celebrations.

ALEXEI

Celebrations? You mean she’s back?

PERI

And still in one piece.

MIKHAIL

Another great Soviet achievement! The first human to orbit the moon!

PART TWO

DOCTOR

I think you were right. Somebody did interfere with the capsule. When it was on the far side of the moon.

NIKITA

But that’s even more ridiculous. And how do you know this is Laika? It could be any dog, couldn’t it?

DOCTOR

Any dog that went into space and never returned to Earth?

...

DOCTOR

I think that confirms it. This is Laika.

MARINKA

Yes... I remember that name. Laika.

NIKITA

I don’t believe it, a cosmonaut has been replaced by a talking dog, from space, and you’re asking it questions like it’s a human being!

DOCTOR

I can’t think of a better way of getting answers, can you?

NIKITA

(CALLS OUT) Sergeant Kurakin?

LEONID

(RUNNING TOWARDS THEM) Yes, ma’am?

NIKITA

Have the capsule prepared to be winched back to the cosmodrome.

LEONID

Yes, ma’am. And Cosmonaut Talanov?

NIKITA

To remain inside the capsule until she’s had a full medical examination. No-one is to have any contact with her, understand?

LEONID

Yes, ma’am. (RUNS OFF)

FX: IN B/G, LEONID AND SOLDIERS SHOUTING INSTRUCTIONS.

NIKITA

The fewer people who know about this, the better.

MIKHAIL (VIA RADIO)

Miss Nikita. What’s going on out there, over?

FX: MOVE TO MISSION CONTROL.

...

PERI

Dissection? But if that is Laika, then – [you can’t]

MIKHAIL

Then let’s hope she’s co-operative. She’s been away for six years. I’d like to know where’s been all this time.

...

DOCTOR

Yes. It seemsI think it’s safe to conclude the enemy agent decided to make sure ofmurdered her in order to guarantee her silence.

PERI

And this enemy agent is who killed Kalashnikov and Pushkin?

DOCTOR

Yes. If Valentina was Captain Kozlov’s lover, no doubt she passed on the news that he had informed the KGB of his suspicions.

PERI

And that two KGB agents were on their way posing as scientists from Moscow.

DOCTOR

And so the enemy agent intercepted them en route, killed them, dumped Marinka’s body in the car, and then left the bomb so that no evidence would ever be found.

PERI

And this enemy agent is still somewhere in this base.

DOCTOR

Yes. They’re probably also responsible for sabotaging the radio relay to Vostok seven, to try to make sure it never returned to Earth.

...

DOCTOR

Yes. And the only person who knows we’re not who we claim to be is the enemy agent who killed the real Kalashnikov and Pushkin.

PERI

Who will probably try and kill us.

DOCTOR

They haven’t yet. No. I think they’re trying to work out which side we’re on. Whether we are also working for the west.

PERI

And until they can be sure either way, they can’t break their cover.

...

MIKHAIL (VIA RADIO)

What is your health status? Over.

DOCTOR

We’re both fine. You really should stop worrying. Over.

NIKITA

The Doctor has been keeping me entertained with stories about his work in Moscow. I’m not convinced they are all true. Over.

DOCTOR

Of all the cheek!

...

ALEXEI

They’veShe has managed to kill, slaughter some of my best men. Only an idiot would not be scared.

PERI

But it’s just a few laboratory animals.

ALEXEI

No. We’ve been trying to keep it quiet but it’s all the animals, domestic dogs and cats, even the rats.

PERI

They’ve all joined with Laika?

ALEXEI

All of them. So you will understand if I do not wait around.

...

NIKITA

You think that whatever happened to Vostok Seven will happen to us?

DOCTOR

And you don’t? It seems almost certain. Unless, of course, Vostok Seven’s life support failure wasn’t due to outside influence...

...

50. INT. MISSION CONTROL

MIKHAIL

Five minutes to radio silence. Over.

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

All systems normal. Over.

MIKHAIL

Then, all going well, we will speak again in forty-five minutes. Over.

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

All going well. Over.

...

NIKITA

Then we will both die together. I am prepared to die for my country. Are you?

DOCTOR

For your country? That’s why you’re here. To make sure the Russians don’t find out that the Americans got to the moon before them. That’s why you sabotaged Vostok Seven.

NIKITA

That was the plan. Cosmonaut Talanov killed due to a life support failure, her capsule burned up on re-entry. Just, and this will become one more failed mission for the Soviets to hush up.

DOCTOR

And that’s how I knew

DOCTOR

Of course! That’s why you had to be sabotaged Vostok seven. To make sure the enemy agent. Who else would have hadSoviets didn’t find out about the opportunity to sabotage the radio link?

NIKITA

I was merely following orders.

DOCTOR

And killing Valentina Cherlin, was that following orders too?

NIKITA

Regrettable, but once Kozlov had discovered her treachery, I couldn’t risk being exposed. She would have talked eventually, the two KGB interrogators Kozlov sent for would have made sure of that.

DOCTOR

Kalashnikov and Pushkin?

NIKITA

Yes. After I ‘rescued’ Cherlin from Kozlov’s apartment, I took her with me to intercept the two agents. She provided a distraction, allowing me to shoot them both. And then her.

DOCTOR

Leaving a bomb behind you to cover your tracks.

NIKITA

So imagine my surprise when you and “Doctor Pushkin” turned up in mission control. I knew you weren’t the KGB agents. But who were you working for?

DOCTOR

And have you come to any conclusions?

NIKITA

I think you are agents of a third party. One of those amateurs from the British counter-measures group, perhaps. Because if you were American, you wouldn’t have joined me on this suicide mission. moonbase!

DOCTOR

Suicide mission? What are you talking about?

PART THREE

NIKITA

I designed it, I supervised its construction. I think I am capable of landing it. Now, if you will excuse me.

DOCTOR

Nikita, listen to me –

FX: SHE UNDOES STRAPS, STARTS MOVING.

NIKITA

Don’t try anything. Or I will shoot. And at this range, I cannot miss.

...

56. INT. MISSION CONTROL.

MIKHAIL

Explain this to me again. Miss Cherlin was having an affair with Captain Kozlov?

ALEXEI

I’m afraid so, sir. I... she made me believe she loved me, sir.

MIKHAIL

When in fact she was just using you to get access to confidential documents?

ALEXEI

Yes, sir.

MIKHAIL

You will be court-martialled for this in due course, Captain.

PERI

It wasn’t his fault. If it wasn’t for Alexei, I wouldn’t be here. You see, I’m a KGB investigator.

MIKHAIL

The KGB? Impossible. They would have informed me.

PERI

Not while you were one of the potential suspects. We knew there was an enemy agent in this base. We just didn’t know who.

MIKHAIL

But now you believe Miss Cherlin was passing on these documents to Miss Petrov.

PERI

Yes. It all fits. Miss Petrov has been working to undermine your Vostok mission. She sabotaged your radio link. She was probably responsible for the capsule’s life-support failing too.

MIKHAIL

And now she is in Vostok eight... with your friend, Doctor Kalahsnikov.

PERI

Yes.

57. INT. CAPSULE.

FX: VIBRATIONS HAVE STOPPED, REPLACED BY LOW-LEVEL WARBLING AND OCCASIONAL CREAK OF METAL.

NIKITA

(WAKING) What happened –

DOCTOR

You were knocked out. Not by me, I hasten to add.

NIKITA

My gun. Where is it?

DOCTOR

In very small pieces. Hope you don’t mind, but firearms in enclosed spaces make me nervous.

NIKITA

But we’re still on a descent orbit. I have to get to the lunar lander!

DOCTOR

There isn’t any need. Look at the altimeter.

NIKITA

Altitude thirty kilometres. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight... We’re going to crash!

DOCTOR

I don’t think so. We’re going down, true enough. But something is slowing our velocity.

NIKITA

What? But I burned all the fuel, the retro-rockets are not active.

DOCTOR

No. It’s the result of some outside influence. A force field of some kind, I should imagine.

NIKITA

What?

DOCTOR

I think that whatever it was that saved Laika has chosen to save us too. We should be grateful. If it hadn’t intervened, we’d both be dead.

...

57. INT. CAPSULE.

FX: VIBRATIONS HAVE STOPPED, REPLACED BY LOW-LEVEL WARBLING AND OCCASIONAL CREAK OF METAL.

NIKITAALEXEI

Yes, sir.

MIKHAIL

Marinka Talanov, Nikita Petrov and Doctor Kalashnikov all died in... an engineering accident. Have their next of kin informed.

...

59. INT. CAPSULE.

NIKITA

You think this is the result of... extra terrestrial influence?

(WAKING) What happened...?

DOCTOR

You were knocked out.Well, it’s beyond contemporary human technology. And we know that Vostok seven was subject to alien interference.

NIKITA

We do? Because of what happened to Laika?

 Not by me, I hasten to add.

NIKITA

My gun. Where is it?

DOCTOR

Because it returned at all. You know your physics as well as I do. To prevent the capsule continuing into deep space, it would have to have made a course correction whilst on the far side of the moon - just as we didIn very small pieces. Hope you don’t mind, but firearms in enclosed spaces make me nervous.

FX: BUTTONS PRESSED.

NIKITA

Cosmonaut Talanov couldWe’re still on a descent orbit. I have madeto get to the correction.lander!

DOCTOR

There’s no need. Look at the altimeter.

NIKITA

Altitude thirty kilometres. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight... We’re going to crash!

No. Because by that point she was already dead. The life support had failed. You made sure of that.

NIKITA

What is your point, Doctor?

DOCTOR

No. We’re going down, true enough.My point is, something made that course correction, and I don’t think it was Laika, do you?

 But something is slowing our velocity.

NIKITA

What? But I burned all the fuel, the retro-rockets can’t fire.

DOCTOR

No. It’s the result of some outside influence. A force field of some kind, I should imagine.You mean, whatever performed the surgery on Laika, also changed the course of the capsule so that it would come back to Earth, with her on board?

DOCTOR

Precisely. The question is, why?

...

ALEXEI

So Valentina never had any feelings for me. I was an idiot to imaginebelieve otherwise.

PERI

Oh, no. We all make mistakes, love is like that. The heart rules the head.

ALEXEI

My feelings for her, though, they were true. So where is sheValentina now? You have found her? That’s how you found out about Miss Petrov?

PERI

No. I... located Valentina’s diary, in her apartment.

ALEXEI

Then where is she?

PERI

Alexei, do you trust me?

ALEXEI

Of course I trust you. You are an agent of the KGB.

PERI

No, but apart from that. Do you trust me?

ALEXEI

Yes. Why?

PERI

Because I’m afraid... . I don’t know any other way to tell you this. But Valentina is dead. She was shot. By Miss Petrov.

...

NIKITA

I had no choice. I couldn’t risk being exposed. She would’ve betrayed me, the two KGB interrogators would’ve made sure of that.

DOCTOR

Kalashnikov and Pushkin?

NIKITA

Yes. After I rescued Valentina from Kozlov’s apartment, I took her with me to intercept the two agents. She provided a diversion, pretending to be lost out on the steppe, allowing me to shoot them both.

...

ALEXEI

Who are you? An American agent?

PERI

No. No, just a civilian. Here to help. The Doctor, he’s a genuine expert on space things. And me? Well, I did help find your enemy agent, didn’t I?

ALEXEI

If you did. What is your real name? Where are you from?

PERI

You don’t want to know, honestly.

ALEXEI

I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.

...

DOCTOR

No. Then there must be another explanation. Maybe there’s no-one home?

NIKITA

The whole point of the moonbase was that it would be manned and on permanent alert.

...

DOCTOR

Precisely. Whenair. By rights, standing here in direct sunlight, we should be being roasted alive. And blinded by the glare, for that matter.

NIKITA

So this force field, it’s acting as a kind of filter?

DOCTOR

And insulating us from cosmic rays. At least, I hope it is. I forgot to pack my umbrella.

NIKITA

To create an environment whereSo we can walk on the surface of the moon without pressure suits. Where we can reach down and touch the ground with our own bare hands.

FX: SHE PICKS UP ROCKS, DUST.

DOCTOR

Ah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

NIKITA

Ugh. The dust. It’s sticky.

DOCTOR

Yes. It’s positively charged with static electricity. Like rubbing a balloon. Gets everywhere, I’m afraid. You’ll be shaking it out of your shoes for weeks.

NIKITA

(FX: BRUSHING HANDS) Great.

DOCTOR

Try not to breathe it in, either. The particles are very sharp, will do all sorts of nasty damage to your lungs. Like asbestos.

FX: THEY START WALKING.

NIKITA

Right now, I think it would be worth it. To be standing on the moon. It’s unbelievable. Miraculous.

...

DOCTOR

“Here is no water but only rock, rock and no water and the cracked earth, ringed by the flat horizon only.”

NIKITA

Yes. The horizon, it’s so close, and the air’s so clear, it’s almost as if you could reach out and touch it. And the sky... it’s black. There aren’t any stars.

DOCTOR

Well, it is the middle of the day, after all. But there is some colour here.

NIKITA

What, your coat?

DOCTOR

No. Over there, just above that mountain.

NIKITA

(SHE SEES IT) The Earth.

DOCTOR

A precious blue jewel in the endless firmament.

NIKITA

It’s so small. And fragile.

DOCTOR

Yes, rather puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

NIKITA

Makes me think we can’t let the reds destroy it, yes.

DOCTOR

Thank you. For a brief minute there I had some hope for the future of mankind. But you had to bring up politics, didn’t you?

...

ALEXEI

Sir. I’ve ordered all guards to check and seal the entrance points of this building. Every window, every door.

MIKHAIL

Very good, captain. I want this place locked down. And if those animals try anything, I want them repelled with lethal force.

ALEXEI

Yes, sir. I’ve also positioned some men on the roof, sir, to act as look-outs.

MIKHAIL

Excellent. And as soon as it’s daylight, they’ll be able to pick them off.

...

DOCTOR

Don’t think I didn’t notice the rocket silos.

NIKITA

This moonbase gives the united states second strike capability, to retaliate in the event of a soviet attack.

DOCTOR

And assure mutual destruction. Humanity? You take your first steps on another world and what do you do? You embroil it in another of your... petty ideological disputes!

...

73. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM.

FX: PERI AND LEONID ENTER, CLOSE DOOR. ANIMALS CAN BE HEARD SHREAKING, HOWLING ETC.

PERI

Well at least now we know what they’ve done with all the people they killed.

LEONID

Bozhe moi. They’re laying them out on tables like... they’re preparing them for some sort of medical operation.

PERI

I think that’s exactly what they’re doing.

LEONID

What are you talking about?

PERI

They don’t need people for food. They need them for spare parts.

LEONID

Careful, Peri. Don’t get too close to the glass –

FX: ANIMAL AGITATION INCREASES.

LEONID

Oh no. It’s too late. They’ve seen us.

PERI

We have to get out of here.

LEONID

There’s only one way out, back down the stairs.

FX: HE OPENS DOOR. ANIMALS BARKING, HOWLING, SPITTING. HE SLAMS DOOR SHUT AND LOCKS IT.

PERI

And I think they know that.

FX: SCRABBLING ON OTHER SIDEREACH BOTTOM OF DOOR, THEN CRASHING.

LEONID

I’m not sure how long this door will hold them.

PERI

Then help me shift this table, these chairs. We need to build a barricade.

74. INT. MOONBASE.

FX: A LOWER LEVEL, TUNNELS, WALKING ON STONE. HUM OF POWER.

DOCTOR

I have to say, despite everything, this is an astonishing achievement. Some of the technology here wouldn’t look out of place in the mid nineteen-eighties.

NIKITA

All patented by the military and confidential. I expect they’ll let some of the advances leak out for domestic use when they’ve moved on to other things.

...

84. INT. MISSION CONTROL.

FX: DOOR OPENS, PERI AND LEONID ENTER.

MIKHAIL

Sergeant Kurakin – what’s going on?

LEONID

The animals attacked, sir. Laboratory rats. They wiped out almost all our men, and Captain Kozlov.

PERI

We were lucky to get away at all.

MIKHAIL

And where are the animals now? Did they follow you?

PERI

No, they in the laboratory. I think they’re using that as some sort of base...

...

NIKITA

You think you’ll be able to pilot us back to Earth?

DOCTOR

I don’t see why not. I’ll certainly be able to get us as far as the Earth side of the moon so we can make radio contact. I expect they’re all quite worried about us.

NIKITA

You don’t intend to tell them about the moonbase?

DOCTOR

No, Miss Petrov. Your secret is safe with me.

PART FOUR

NIKITA
So when we return to Earth, the KGB can have me executed.

DOCTOR

I don’t think so. This is a major diplomatic incident which makes you a very valuable bargaining chip. They’ll keep you alive. Which you won’t be, if you don’t break your cover.

NIKITA

That’s my choice? Either I betray myself or I die?

...

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

You don’t understand, it will be interpreted as an act of war.

PATERSON

I understand only too well. But I guess that ship sailed when you sent your cosmonauts to steal one of our rockets.

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

I am not working for the Soviets. I am agent Topaz working for the US Defence Intelligence Agency.

PATERSON

What? Lieutenant – [check this]

ANDREWS

Yes, sir.

NIKITA (VIA RADIO)

I am a US citizen with a Soviet cosmonaut as my prisoner.

DOCTOR (VIA RADIO)

Yes, she’s telling the truth!

...

FX: ANIMALS IN B/G, CLICKING AND CHECKING GUNS.

LAIKA

You have explainedAll the principles of the weapon to the others?

ALEXEI

I have, comrade Laika.

LAIKA

And all the rhesus monkeys are now armed?

ALEXEI

They are, and spare ammunition has been gatheredcomrade Laika.

...

LEONID

Heading there now, sir. One thing. We think we spotted Laika, sir, running away from the Cosmodrome.

MIKHAIL (VIA RADIO)

What? Where was she going? Over.

LEONID

Not sure, sir. Too dark. Do you want us to investigate? Over.

MIKHAIL (VIA RADIO)

No, continue to capsule. Out.

...

102. EXT. STREET.

FX: LAIKA RUNNING THROUGH SNOW.

ALEXEI

Laika, where are we going?

LAIKA

To take our revenge on humankind.

FX: TANNOY ON.

MIKHAIL (VIA TANNOY)

Attention. All residents. There is a rabid dog on the loose within the town. Any sighting is to be reported immediately. Do not approach the animal. You are to remain indoors for your own safety.

FX: TANNOY OFF.

LAIKA

For their own safety? The human general has condemned them all to death!

...

104. INT. JEEP.

FX: IN TRANSIT.

DOCTOR

General Leonov You had all the animals gassed? Not sure I approve, seems a little extreme.With C O two?

LEONID

You weren’t there, Doctor, weWe didn’t have much choice, Doctor. It was us or them.

DOCTOR

I’m more worried about how it might look.

PERI

Look? To who?

NIKITA

It turns out the human race has been found wanting.

DOCTOR

But the animals arethey’re still alive? Albeit in, that’s the land of nod?

PERI

Most of them. But we saw Laika get away, there might be others.

DOCTOR

Laika is still on the loose? What a resourcefulmain thing she is.

PERI

Doctor, she’s killed people. Innocent people.

DOCTOR

Yes. I know. She might’ve been given intelligence, but at heart she’s still a wild animal.

PERI

Doctor, you haven’t said, what you found on the far side of the moon?

DOCTOR

Well, it’s quite a long story –

...

106. INT. SILO.

FX: FOOTSTEPS ON METAL GANTRY, A HUGE CHAMBER WITH LOTS OF ECHO.

MIKHAIL

(CALLING OUT) Alright, Laika. I know you’re in here somewhere... No point in hiding, there’s a good dog.

LAIKA (DISTANT)

(CALLING OUT) You are the one who placed me in the rocket. You condemned me to death.

MIKHAIL

At the time, you were just a dumb animal.

LAIKA (DISTANT)

(CALLING OUT) I was so alone. So afraid. You left me in pain. Tortured me. And my comrades.

MIKHAIL

Your comrades?

FX: GUN CLICKS.

ALEXEI (NEARBY)

Remember me, General?

107. INT. CORRIDOR.

FX: DOCTOR AND NIKITA RUNNING UP TO US.

NIKITA

Doctor, what are we doing here?

DOCTOR

I promised the probe that we’d demonstrate that humanity is capable of looking after its fellow species.

NIKITA

So... the gassed animals?!

FX: THE GASSED ANIMALS ARE STIRRING.

DOCTOR

Yes. Fortunately they’re all still alive, by the look of it.

NIKITA

And coming around. The C O 2 must be clearing.

DOCTOR

(RUNS) Then we don’t have much time.

NIKITA

(RUNS) Much time to what?

DOCTOR

(RUNS) Dinner! Come on!

108. INT. SILO.

MIKHAIL

A rhesus monkey. With the voice of Captain Kozlov.

ALEXEI

Do not move, general. Or I will shoot.

MIKHAIL

And it’s carrying a rifle! (CALLING OUT) Laika! You have me at your mercy. Let me help you. Tell me what you want.

LAIKA (CLOSER)

What I want, General, is justice. For myself and my comrades.

MIKHAIL

Justice?

LAIKA

To make sure that no others will suffer as I have suffered. To end the work that is done here. The experimentation. The creation of weapons like these.

MIKHAIL

(REALISES) The warheads. You’re going to trying to set off one of the nuclear warheads.

LAIKA

Humankind will die, by its own hand.

MIKHAIL

You’re psychotic. Insane.

LAIKA (CLOSER)

Just how you made me, General. Look at me. Look at what you created!

MIKHAIL

Oh, I’ll do more than look –

FX: GUN COCKED – AND ALEXEI FIRES HIS RIFLE.

MIKHAIL (KILLED)

LAIKI (WOUNDED)

ALEXEI

Laika, are you alright?

LAIKA

(IN PAIN) Do not worry. It is... just a flesh wound.

ALEXEI

The human is dead?

LAIKA

Yes, comrade. You gave him a swift and painless execution. A kindness he never offered us. We will give the rest of humankind an equally humane death.

...

NIKITA

Where are we going? Not that... wooden box.

DOCTOR

That’s exactly where we’re going.

NIKITA

But there must be a hundred dogs, cats and monkeys on our tail, there’ll never be enough room for them.

FX: CAR DOOR OPENS.

DOCTOR

Oh, you’d be surprised. Believe me.

FX: DOCTOR JUMPS OUT.

...

DOCTOR

That is one option, yes. But I have a better idea. Keep the animals out of my way, could you? I need to concentrate....

PERI

Fine, Doctor.

NIKITA

This thing... it’s a spaceship.

DOCTOR

You think I am unaware of that fact?

NIKITA

But if you had a spaceship, why did we take a rocket to the moon?

PERI

One of the circuits broke down. The TARDIS is not exactly what you’d call reliable.

DOCTOR

But now fully restored to working order.

FX: TARDIS BEGINS TO LAND.

Sirius [Demo]

Another great lost Jonathan Morris story... except this one wasn’t really lost at all, as it ended up being reworked as Max Warp. So this outline contains a few ‘spoilers’ for that story. The most striking differences between this story, The Sirius Difficulty, and Max Warp are that Max Warp was reworked to be a parody of/tribute to Top Gear, and that this outline is for a four-part story, while Max Warp is only 52 minutes long. I think it benefitted immeasurably from being massively compressed. (You can read brief blogs about Max Warp here and here and purchase it here).

My copy of this synopsis is dated 8th March 2001. As I don’t have the emails from back then I’m not precisely sure what happened to it. My recollection is that I submitted it for consideration but never heard anything back, which was not unusual (see here). 

THE SIRIUS DIFFICULTY

Cast:

Doctor (7th)

Mel

Reg Halfcastle (M)

Hook Berriman (M)

President Emmuel Varlon (F)

Co-Ordinator Ms Wade Goulbride (F)

Security Officer Muggeridge (F)

Timothy Schooner-Watts (M)

Plus miscellaneous one-line parts and voice-synthesised robots/Kith

EPISODE ONE

Sirius Major is a ringed gas giant, orbited by fourteen moons. Two empires, the Kith and the Varlon, have recently declared peace after decades of galactic warfare. To seal their five-year truce, they are holding the first Galactic Moonslalom, a sports event intended to bring the two empires’ together in peaceful competition or, as President Emmuel Varlon puts it, ‘to bring together the two hands of friendship in a vigorous shake of co-operation’.

The first heat of the Moonslalom is taking place. The race consists of one orbit of Sirius Major, looping around its various moons. There are over fifty competitors, each from different alien races, but mainly Kith and Varlon.

The race is watched from a commentary box by Hook Berriman and Reg Halfcastle. Hook is the show’s smooth anchorman, whilst Reg acts as his sagely co-pundit, full of tactless reminiscences of his time as a Varlon pilot in the war.

The TARDIS is visited by an AgentBot, a cigar-puffing android with a Bronx accent. It turns out that in a previous regeneration the Doctor acquired the AgentBot’s services when he was forced to record advertising voiceovers to save the planet Pekatoon from destruction. Initially the Doctor is worried that the AgentBot is chasing him for its fee – the Doctor has been deliberately avoiding it for several centuries – but it turns out the residual royalties have more than covered fees and the AgentBot now has some more work for the Doctor. He has been invited to appear as a guest ‘pundit’ commentator at the first Galactic Moonslalom.

Elsewhere in the Sirius Orbital Station, President Emmuel Varlon is welcomed aboard by the co-ordinator of the event, Ms Wade Goulbride, and her security officer Ms Muggeridge. The peace between the two empires is uneasy; Emmuel Varlon faces an imminent electoral defeat at the hands of her more jingoistic opponent, and so she is desperate to placate the nationalists whilst retaining the peace. She is given political advice by her SpinBot.

After the AgentBot has described the highly-charged political background of the Moonslalom, Mel is determined that she and the Doctor should attend. The Doctor reluctantly agrees, and sets the co-ordinates. The AgentBot then attempts to coax Mel into a career on stage – ‘All very classy, ma’am, very tasteful nudity’ before she kicks it violently and it is forced to dematerialise.

The race is underway, and Hook and Reg have a live link-up with one of the competitors, Dexter Dreyfuss. Hook attempts to interview him, but Dexter is very, very boring and always gives the same answers to the same questions. He also used to be a pilot in the Kith-Varlon war, and is something of a public hero.

The TARDIS lands on the Sirius Orbital Station where the Doctor and Mel are greeted by Muggeridge and ushered to the commentary booth.

Dexter Dreyfuss finds his craft spiralling out of control and screams as it plunges into the atmosphere of Sirius Gamma. Hook, Reg, Mel and the Doctor watch in horror as Dexter wrestles hopelessly with his controls - and then the connection is lost as Dexter’s ship explodes. Hook and Reg continue their commentary regardless – this regrettable incident is what is known in the sport as a ‘Moonstrike’.

The race ends, and Hook and Reg turn to their guests on their commentary show; the Doctor and his companion Mel. Mel is outraged at Hook’s callous attitude to Dexter’s death. The Doctor is intrigued, and asks to see Dexter’s death sequence again in slow motion. There is something odd about it, but he can’t quite place what.

President Emmuel is advised by her SpinBot that she should posthumously award Dexter Dreyfuss the Award of the Black Circle. Emmuel is reluctant – that is an honour only for war heroes – but the SpinBot suggests it will play well with the voters, so Emmuel agrees.

Mel and the Doctor relaxes in the Station’s bar, where Mel meets one of the competitors, Timothy Schooner-Watts, an upper-class Biggles-type idiot pilot. She learns that Dexter hated the Kith with a vengeance; she also learns that Dexter believed that someone had been tampering with his spacecraft before launch, and shared his suspicions with the other pilots.

Mel shares her information with the Doctor and they visit Muggeridge and Goulbride. Goulbride assures them that security is the top priority; there are competitors from both empires in the race, and accusations of cheating could easily cause a diplomatic crisis. She refuses to believe there is any way Dexter’s ship could have been sabotaged, and suggests the Doctor re-checks the footage of Dexter’s final moments.

Emmuel Varlon welcomes the Kith Ambassador onto the Station; the Kith are extremely odd, liquid-based creatures that resemble lava lamps, and talk via voice synthesizers. The Ambassador offers condolences on behalf of the empire for the death of Dexter, and then asks to be shown to its quarters.

Muggeridge detects a blockage in one of the Station’s disposal ducts. The Doctor and Mel investigate with her, and discover a corpse, damaged beyond recognition, dressed in security overalls labelled ‘Pettifer’. Muggeridge informs them that security officer Pettifer had recently gone missing, and she assumes the corpse is his. Pettifer’s responsibilities included maintaining the security of the station’s communications. The Doctor’s suspicions are aroused.

The second heat of the race is about to commence and Hook Berriman interviews some of the competitors [via a computercom link] as they make the final launch-checks in their spacecraft.

Emmuel Varlon and Goulbride go to the observation deck to watch the race; Emmuel is due to begin negotiations with the Kith Ambassador, but the ambassador has not yet arrived. Muggeridge is sent to locate the ambassador. Goulbride also makes her excuses and leaves.

The Doctor and Mel are in a private video booth re-watching Dexter’s final moments. It appears that he died simply through poor flying – there is no hint of sabotage, and his ship was functioning perfectly. But he was an extremely experienced pilot. And then there is the hiss of gas and the Doctor and Mel lose consciousness. Just before they black out, they notice someone else is with them in the booth. . .

Reg, meanwhile, is due to commentate on the race via an orbital podule, and he exchanges banter with Hook Berriman as his podule detaches from the Station and flies through space towards the slalom area.

The race starts and the spacecraft are launched and begin to loop around the planet’s moons.

Suddenly Hook loses contact with Reg due to some sort of space static interference. Hook is somewhat unnerved at the loss of his co-presenter; the interference also means that he unable to contact any of the competitors for mid-race chats. And his guest presenters have failed to turn up, leaving him to commentate alone. He interviews two Kith competitors.

The Doctor and Mel wake up on a spacecraft, flying around Sirius Major. They realise their horror that they are taking part in the race. But, almost before they have time to react, their ship is caught in the gravity field of Sirius Beta. The Doctor takes the controls but is unable to steer their ship away, and they plunge towards the surface of the moon and certain death – a Moonstrike. Their ship’s computer counts down to impact, reaching ‘five, four, three, two, one, z-’

END OF EPISODE ONE

EPISODE TWO

Mel is vocally relieved to discover that they were, in fact, inside a flight simulator. The simulation was realistic down to the smallest detail. The Doctor had suspected as much.

They emerge to meet Muggeridge, who explains that the competitors use these simulators for pre-race training sessions. They can even record their flights and play them back for further study.

Emmuel Varlon is joined by Goulbride and the Kith Ambassador. The Ambassador wants to delay negotiations until after the race; it is likely an excited child.

The Doctor and Mel join Hook Berriman in the commentary box. The Doctor quizzes Hook about Dexter; Hook tells the Doctor how Dexter was such a dull interviewee. The Doctor asks for copies of all the recent interviews conducted with Dexter – for ‘insomnia’ reasons he says.

Their conversation is interrupted by a development in the race. Without warning, two of the spacecraft collide. Due to the space static, Hook is unable to contact the pilots for their reactions, and watches in dismay as they both crash into Sirius Gamma.  Other ships are caught in the fray, but manage to cross the finishing line safely. As they arrive, Hook interviews the winner of this heat, Timothy Schooner-Watts, to get his immediate reaction.

Unfortunately both ships had Kith pilots, and the Ambassador is appalled and immediately accuses Goulbride of sabotaging the race. Goulbride denies this, but the furious Ambassador decides it will not negotiate with Emmuel until the matter is resolved. The situation is tense, and Goulbride orders Muggeridge to investigate.

The Doctor and Mel return to the bar to discuss recent events. They are joined by Reg Halfcastle, whose podule has recently returned to the Station. Reg is distrustful of the Kith and suggests that they have made it look as though someone has killed their pilots simply as an excuse to re-start the war.

Emmuel attempts to delay the posthumous Black Circle award ceremony for Dexter Dreyfuss, but her SpinBot advises against it. The Kith Ambassador is angered further at the thought of this Varlon nationalist figure being honoured.

The Doctor leaves Mel; he wants to go through the tapes of Dexter’s interviews that Hook has given him. He briefly believes he is being watched, but whoever it is disappears before he can make contact.

Mel meets up with Timothy Schooner-Watts, who complains about how he was almost killed during the race due to the Kith’s bad driving. Timothy tries to chat Mel up and offers her a quick joyride around the moons. She agrees.

Goulbride and Muggeridge meet up; following the recent events, all ships will be double-checked before the race in case of sabotage. Goulbride is determined that the next heat of the race must still go ahead.

Mel and Timothy are flying around Sirius Alpha when there is a malfunction with the drive unit. Timothy immediately suspects sabotage – someone was trying to make sure that he would be killed in the next round of the race. But they weren’t to know that he would be taking Mel out for a spin. He manages to get them both safely back to the Orbital Station.

Mel looks for the Doctor to tell him about her recent experiences, but he seems to have vanished. She goes to her room to sleep.

The next morning, Emmuel is conducting the Black Circle award ceremony for Dexter. Everyone in the base, including Goulbride, Muggeridge, Timothy, the Kith Ambassador and Mel, are attending the event. Hook and Reg are, of course, providing a commentary.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Doctor turns up and disrupts proceedings. He shows the gathered audience the tape of Hook’s last interview with Dexter, and then compares it to an earlier interview. In the earlier interview, Hook asked the same questions and Dexter gave exactly the same answers. So, the Doctor explains, in the latter interview, Hook wasn’t interviewing Dexter at all – he was merely talking as someone played back the answers to the earlier interview.

He then replays Dexter’s last-minute struggle with the controls of his craft before it plunged into Sirius Gamma. But he points out a detail that everyone missed – Dexter wasn’t flying into Sirius Gamma at all. According to his computer, he was approaching Sirius Beta.

Hook protests – Dexter’s ship was nowhere near Sirius Beta when it crashed into Sirius Gamma. ‘Exactly’, the Doctor responds. The recording of Dexter’s last-minute struggle was not  a live feed from the inside of his ship during the race at all; it was a recording of Dexter practising in one of the flight simulators.

Mel explains what the Doctor’s evidence means. They can now no longer be sure that Dexter was in his ship when it crashed into Sirius Gamma. Perhaps he wasn’t in that ship at all? The Doctor agrees, and proclaims that Dexter Dreyfuss faked his death and  is still alive and well and somewhere on the Station.

At this news, there is consternation and uproar. The Kith Ambassador believes that this provides the explanation for the two Kith ships crashing – Dexter sabotaged them out of hatred for the Kith people. It immediately orders Goulbride and Muggeridge to hunt down this Dexter person, and then retires to its room for its own protection

Goulbride and Muggeridge immediately order a search of the whole Station, putting it on a top security alert. Emmuel cancels the ceremony on the grounds that she cannot posthumously award someone who might still be alive; her SpinBot informs her that this farrago hasn’t gone down well in the polls. Reg and Hook close their broadcast.

The Doctor and Mel leave the ceremony. Mel asks the Doctor if he is sure that Dexter Dreyfuss is really still alive. The Doctor is not convinced, and quietly explains his recent actions. 

Someone has been deliberately laying clues in order to make them suspect that Dexter faked his own death. Hook, for instance, told him about the repetitive nature of the interviews; and someone deliberately placed them in one of the flight simulators. These clues have been too obvious to be coincidental. Someone wanted the Doctor to think Dexter was still alive; and so, to play along with it, the Doctor announced as such at the ceremony to make it look as though he had been taken in.

He thinks that he was brought to the Station for precisely this reason – to act as somebody’s stooge. Whoever it was knew that the Doctor would quickly realise how suspicious Dexter’s death was. . .

Mel thinks Dexter could be the one who gassed them and locked them in the simulator – maybe he wanted them to find out that he was still alive and at large. The Doctor thinks this is a possibility, but tells Mel his second theory. What if someone is trying to make them think Dexter is still alive in attempt to draw suspicion away from themselves?

Suddenly, there is the sound of two laser shots and a scream and the Doctor and Mel rush to the source of the noise - the Kith Ambassador’s apartments. They arrive with Goulbride and Muggeridge in tow, only to discover that someone has attacked the ambassador under cover of complete darkness. The Kith Ambassador is still alive, but its assailant is dead.

Goulbride recognises the body. It is Security Officer Pettifer.

END OF EPISODE TWO

EPISODE THREE

The Kith Ambassador describes what happened; Pettifer burst into its private quarters and fired at him. The Ambassador was so startled that it returned fire, killing Pettifer. There is a mark above the doorway where Pettifer’s laser blast hit it.

Muggeridge is confused; she had assumed that Pettifer was already dead, having discovered his corpse in the disposal ducts the previous day.

The Doctor rounds on Goulbride, demanding an explanation. Goulbride explains that, as the officer in charge of communications and the simulation centre, Pettifer would have had security access to the competitor’s ships. Presumably Pettifer murdered Dexter Dreyfuss and then mutilated the corpse to the point of being unrecognisable, dressed it in their uniform to fake his own death, and then rigged the race broadcasts so that it looked as though Dexter was still alive, having faked his own death.

The Doctor proclaims that Pettifer is – or rather, was -  their saboteur. The Kith Ambassador is delighted at the news that it has single-handedly brought the saboteur to justice, and agrees to allow the Moonslalom contest to continue. Muggeridge and Goulbride take the body away, and the Doctor and Mel return to the bar to discuss recent developments.

Despite what he said, the Doctor doesn’t believe Pettifer was the saboteur. His theory is that Pettifer discovered Dexter Dreyfuss’s corpse and then dressed it in his uniform to give the impression that it was he who had been killed. Pettifer would then have been able to investigate at will; only the murder would have known that Pettifer was still alive and somewhere on the station. Thus the murderer would eventually reveal themselves. . .

Mel asks what Pettifer was doing in the Ambassador’s rooms. The Doctor points out that the mark above the doorway indicates that Pettifer would have been shooting away from the Ambassador at the time of the attack – which doesn’t make sense. The other possibility is that the mark wasn’t made by Pettifer at all, and was in fact caused by the Ambassador returning fire and missing its target. The first laser shot they heard was someone killing Pettifer.

The Doctor believes that Pettifer, having discovered who the murderer was, was attempting to warn the Ambassador. But unfortunately the murderer killed him just as he was entering the Ambassador’s pitch-dark rooms.

Mel is not convinced; she thinks the Doctor knows far more about what is going on than he is saying. The Doctor leaves her to get some sleep, and disappears for a mysterious walk around the station.

The following morning, President Emmuel is informed, much to her irritation, that Dexter Dreyfuss is in fact dead after all and she reluctantly re-awards him the Black Circle. Her SpinBot informs her that the voters are incredulous at this turn of events, to say the least, and this uncertainty has harmed her electoral chances. However, the atmosphere in the base is calmer, the murderer having been found, and Emmuel and the Kith Ambassador begin peace treaty negotiations.

Reg and Hook return to the commentary booth, as the next round of the moon race is about to begin. To fill in time, they discuss the recent murder mystery; Hook wonders why Pettifer wanted to kill Dexter Dreyfuss, but Reg says it was probably some sort of tug-of-love thing.  Hook then asks why Pettifer would want to blow up two Kith competitors, and Reg decides to stop being an amateur sleuth and turns the conversation back to the imminent competition.

Goulbride and Muggeridge, meanwhile, are making the final preparations for the Moonslalom, discussing the security around the competitor’s ships. Nothing must go wrong this time. Timothy Schooner-Watts has already lodged a complaint, asserting that his ship was tampered with before he took Mel out on a pleasure cruise.

Mel goes to wish Timothy luck, but he is extremely bad-tempered before the race and snaps at her.

The Doctor and Mel go to the commentary booth as the race begins. Hook is unable to get into contact with Timothy during the race, Timothy having disengaged his communication computer. Hook and Reg settle for interviewing some more of the other competitors – in this, the final race of the Moonslalom, there are four Kith competitors and four Varlon competitors.

As soon as the race is underway, the Doctor announces live on air that the race should be stopped and that four of the competitors will be killed. He even names which ones they are – they are the four Kith competitors. Reg and Hook attempt to silence the Doctor, and he is escorted out of the studio. He confronts Goulbride, but she refuses to order a halt to the slalom.

Mel remains in the studio, and watches in horror as, a few minutes later, something goes wrong in the race. One of the Kith competitors’ ships goes out of control a crashes into a moon. Another two Kith collide and also hit moons. And then the final Kith burns up in the atmosphere of into Sirius Major. Four Kith competitors dead – just as the Doctor warned.

The remaining three competitors in the race complete the course without incident – one of which is, of course, Timothy Schooner-Watts, who wins the race and thus the Moonslalom competition.

President Emmuel is due to award Timothy with his medal, but before she can do that she is confronted by the Kith Ambassador. The Ambassador is convinced that the Varlon empire has deliberately been killing off the Kith competitors. The Ambassador prepares to leave in both its ship and in a fit of pique and return to Kith.

The Doctor briefly meets with the Kith Ambassador, and suggests they go down to the simulation booths together for a private chat.

Hook and Reg commentate on proceedings, and describe the Kith Ambassador’s ship as it leaves the Station. They briefly interview the truculent Ambassador. It casually mentions that it considers the deaths of its competitors to be an act of war.

Goulbride is convinced that the Doctor is the saboteur. The Doctor is captured by guards in the simulation centre. He protests that if he is the saboteur, why would he do something so stupid as to warn them?  Surely the real saboteur would never do that? Goulbride retorts that that is merely a clever double-bluff. She then gives the order for Mel to be found and arrested.

Mel is forced to flee from guards; whilst attempting to locate the Doctor, she receives a message, purportedly from Timothy Schooner-Watts. He wants to meet her in the lower generator chamber. Alone.

Emmuel is desperate to placate the Kith and prevent a war. Goulbride advises that she should have the Doctor executed immediately as a sign of goodwill. Her SpinBot advises her that recent events have actually put her ahead in the polls, as the antagonism with the Kith has meant she has gained the anti-Kith vote – so, politically, a war would actually be a very good idea.

Seconds later, and the Kith Ambassador’s ship suddenly and inexplicably explodes.

Mel arrives in the lower generator chamber, and is met by Timothy Schooner-Watts. Seconds later, a shot rings out and Timothy collapses, dead. Mel screams.

END OF EPISODE THREE

EPISODE FOUR

Mel is captured by Goulbride’s guards and placed in the cell with the Doctor. She describes what happened to Timothy. The Doctor tells her that Timothy had probably worked out who their saboteur was and was probably going to tell her; but then the saboteur shot him. Mel asks the Doctor if he knows who the murderer was; the Doctor is irritatingly enigmatic as usual.

The Kith Leadership contact President Emmuel. Following the destruction of the Ambassador’s ship, they will be declaring war. A battle fleet is now on its way to Sirius to blow them to their particulate constituents.

At this news, Goulbride orders a complete evacuation. Emmuel thinks that if they execute the Doctor as the saboteur they may be able to placate the Kith and avoid a war; but, just in case, she gives the order for a Varlon battle fleet to also make its way to Sirius.

Hook and Reg attempt to join the evacuation; but as professional commentators, they are ordered to act as war correspondents and describe the imminent space battle to their listeners.

The Doctor is put on trial by Goulbride and Muggeridge. The Doctor protests his innocence, and then dramatically announces that President Emmuel is their saboteur. Under a legal loophole, Muggeridge is obliged to investigate the accusation. Mel is released, as she is presumed innocent.

Whilst the Doctor is returned to his cell, Mel and Muggeridge confront the President. She denies any guilt, even though the recent events have improved her poll rating immeasurably. However, when Mel asks her whether she knows how the competitor’s ships were sabotaged, the President falters, and admits she suspects how.

During the Varlon-Kith war, the Varlon developed a means of destroying enemy ships without needing to physically engage them. But Emmuel protests that the information about this is confidential, and no-one on the base could possibly know about it. Mel suggests they check the military records as to which pilots were involved with testing this ‘weapon’.

The Kith battle fleet arrives. Reg and Hook talk briefly to the Kith Leader via a computercom link. The Kith Leader is a poor interview subject, as he is in a homicidal rage.

Mel returns to the Doctor; she has the evidence they need and the Doctor can be freed. She explains that Timothy Schooner-Watts was involved in tests on a secret weapon during the Kith-Varlon war, and so he was presumably their saboteur – and some philanthropist killed him before he could kill Mel. The Doctor doesn’t believe a word of it, but has cunningly used this information to get himself found innocent and get released.

Emmuel boards her own private ship and leaves the station to direct the Varlon battle fleet, which has now arrived.

As the battle increases in ferocity (though no ships are destroyed), Reg decides to go and join in the battle. As a former pilot, he claims he will be useful in the conflict. Hook is rather confused.

The Doctor and Mel arrive in the commentary box, and are joined by Muggeridge and Goulbride. The Doctor decides to put an immediate end to the war.

He contacts the Kith Leader via a computercom link. The Doctor informs it that they should shut down the engines of all their spacecraft immediately or they will be destroyed.

Some ignore his advice, and lose control and crash into the moons.

The Doctor explains. The communication link between the commentary booth and the ships is made not via normal radio, but through a station-computer-to-ship’s-computer interface – a computercom link. Through this link, it is possible to transmit a computer virus that will make the ship’s guidance computer fail and make any movement or use of weapons potentially fatal to the infected ship. And every single Kith ship has been infected with this computer virus.

The Kith battle fleets come to a halt, suspended in space.

President Emmuel congratulates the Doctor for stopping the Kith fleet; however, the Doctor then informs her that he has just transmitted the virus to her ship and, thus, to every single ship in the Varlon battle fleet as well. They are all forced to come to a halt too.

The computer virus, the Doctor explains, was developed as a secret weapon by the Varlon during the Kith-Varlon war, and was top secret, known only to President Emmuel and the test pilots who used it during the war. In the end use of the computer virus was abandoned, as no cure could be found and it was too dangerous. However, one test pilot who used the weapon was Timothy Schooner-Watts. He must have realised how the competitor’s ships were being destroyed, but was unfortunately killed just as he was about to tell Mel who the saboteur was.

The saboteur was, of course, the other former test pilot on the station, Reg Halfcastle. From his position in the commentary booth, he had an ideal opportunity to guide the transmissions of the virus into competitor’s ships. His intention was quite obvious – Reg Halfcastle is utterly mad and deeply xenophobic, and is still fighting the Kith-Varlon war in his head. He intended to re-ignite the conflict and create a battle where he could use the computer virus to wipe out the Kith once and for all. It was Reg who had transmitted the virus into the Kith fleet, when talking briefly to the homicidally enraged Kith Leader.

His plan was to use Dexter Dreyfuss as a ‘smokescreen’ – by creating the impression that Dexter was still alive on the station, suspicion would be directed towards Dexter and away from Reg. However, Dexter’s freshly-murdered corpse was accidentally discovered by security officer Pettifer, who swapped the uniform on the corpse with his own. As Pettifer realised Reg was the murderer, so Reg had no choice but to kill him too, seconds before Pettifer was about to warn the Kith Ambassador of Reg’s plans.

Mel asks how Reg could have gassed them when he was not on the station at the time – he was in his observation pod. The Doctor says that Reg was, in fact, on the station at the time – the communications from the observation podule were merely pre-recordings, just as Dexter’s last interview and dying moments were pre-recordings.

The Doctor informs the battle fleets that he will begin working on an antidote to the computer virus, but it will take several hours, if not days. In the meantime, he suggests they talk to each other and sort out some sort of truce. Emmuel and the Kith Leader begin negotiations from their two ships, frozen in space a few miles apart.

And Reg? The Doctor spots his ship in orbit around Sirius, preparing to leave the system. Reg has shut down his computercom unit, so the Doctor can’t transmit the virus to his ship.

Suddenly, Reg’s ship is caught in the gravity well of a moon and plunges to his death. Moonstrike. It seems he wasn’t quite the pilot he used to be.  The Doctor, however, is not completely convinced Reg was on board the ship at all – maybe he is still alive somewhere else. . .

Seconds later, Reg enters, holding a gun. He announces that he intents to kill them all, and then he will use the Station’s weaponry to blast the Kith Battle fleet out of the sky. He insanely declares that he has singlehandedly won the Kith-Varlon war.

And then a shot rings out and Reg is killed. It is the Kith Ambassador. It turns out that, on the Doctor’s advice, the Kith Ambassador went to the simulation booths and has been hiding there ever since. When Reg thought he was talking to the Kith Ambassador, he was in fact talking to the Kith Ambassador sitting in a simulation booth, and the Ambassador’s ship was empty as it blew up on remote control.

Several days later, and the Kith Ambassador and President Emmuel have ratified their peace treaty and agreed to further co-operation. With the race over and the threat of war forgotten, life on Sirius Station returns to normal. Muggeridge and Goulbride agree it will be a long, long time before they decide to have another Moonslalom.

Their work done, the Doctor and Mel drain their drinks at the bar and return to the TARDIS. Just before leaving, the Doctor fires his AgentBot.

END OF EPISODE FOUR