Doctor Who 14x9

Directed by David Maloney

Llewellyn Rees as The President • Bernard Horsfall as Chancellor Goth • George Pravda as Castellan Spandrell • Angus MacKay as Cardinal Borusa • Peter Pratt as The Master

Gallifrey, planet of the Time Lords. Summoned home by a premonition of murder, the Doctor discovers a dark conspiracy at the highest levels of Time Lord society... and his oldest enemy, who poses a threat to the existence of Gallifrey itself...

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1. This episode was broadcast at 6.10 p.m. On 30th October, 1976.

2. The Radio Times listing for this week promised:

3. "Death strikes in the dark cloisters of the Time Lord Capitol.

4. "The Doctor, alone now, is a hunted fugitive in the city that was once his home..."

5. This sequence was shot on 15th August, 1976.

6. The location was Studio 3, BBC TV centre.

7. That's the cloister set behind the dry ice.

8. This roller-caption opening is unique in Doctor Who history.

9. And it came a whole year before Star Wars (1977)!

10. These point-of-view shots were achieved using a fish-eye lens.

11. This is the wooden "secondary" TARDIS control room, designed by Barry Newbery.

12. It appeared in each story from 'The Masque of Mandragora' (1976) Until 'The Robots of Death' (1977).

13. The Doctor is on his own for once.

14. Sarah Jane Smith left at the end of the previous story, 'The Hand of Fear' (1976).

15. Tom Baker was keen to try out a story solo. He wondered if he could carry the series on his own.

16. Writer and script editor Robert Holmes thought a solo story would show Baker why he needed a companion.

17. Without a companion, the story wouldn't "branch off" naturally into separate strands.

18. And who would the Doctor talk to?

19. "Can't I talk to myself?" asked Baker.

20. George Pravda, who plays Castellan Spandrell, was born Jirí Pravda in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1918.

21. Pravda's Eastern European accent meant that he was often cast in spy thrillers.

22. His work included Thunderball (1965), The remlin Letter (1970) And Firefox (1982).

23. He appeared in two other Doctor Who 'The Enemy of the World' (1967) And 'The Mutants' (1972).

24. A castellan is the keeper of a castle, and this castellan is named after part of an architectural arch.

25. In the script, Hilred adds, "Safety buttons off."

26. The script: "The Doctor opens a cupboard and takes out a cardboard box.

27. "With 'Cash and Carry, Constantinople' written on it.

28. "From the box he takes a pack of Turkish Delight and a gaudily elaborate hookah."

29. Hookahs, or water pipes, were popular in the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922).

30. Constantinople - now called Istanbul - was called the seat of the Ottoman Empire.

31. Hence the Doctor's comment about a Constantinople cash and carry.

32. The trick the Doctor plays on the guards is similar to one of Sherlock Holmes's ruses.

33. In 'The Adventure of the Empty House' (1903), Sherlock uses a dummy to fool a sniper.

34. The guard here is played by Doctor Who veteran Pat Gorman.

35. Remember his face, despite his early death, he'll turn up again in Part 2!

36. They're talking about the Doctor's trial at the end of 'The War Games' (1969).

37. The Celestial Intervention Agency is named after the American Central Intelligence Agency.

38. Robert Holmes and producer Philip Hinchcliffe wanted to make this story a conspiracy thriller.

39. They were influenced by the 1962 film of Richard Condon's 1959 novel, The Manchurian Candidate.

40. Another source of inspiration was the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.

41. Holmes had introduced a more cynical take on the previously god-like Time Lords over the past two years.

42. He, therefore, decided Gallifrey would be the best setting for a thriller based on conspiracy and corruption.

43. Fifty three storeys - remember that.

44. The "Prydonian Seal" used at the end of this letter was designed by Roger Murray-Leach.

45. It was also used as the Vogan symbol in 'Revenge of the Cybermen' (1975).

46. Bernard Horsfall plays Chancellor Goth. He'd worked with director David Maloney on Doctor Who before.

47. He appeared in 'The Mind Robber' (1968), 'The War Games' (1969), and 'Planet of the Daleks' (1973).

48. Maloney decided Horsfall had the range and toughness he was looking for in Goth.

49. Horsfall's other credits include On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) And Enemy at the Door (1978-1980).

50. Spandrell commits less of a faux pas in the scripted version: He adds "With all due respect."

51. There wasn't enough room to fit both TARDIS and Panopticon sets into the studio at the same time.

52. The Doctor's responses to the TV broadcast were shot on the first day of studio recording, 15 August, 1976.

53. Runcible's report was recorded the next day.

54. Runcible was named after a nonsense word coined by Edward Lear in The Owl and the Pussycat (1867):

55. "They dined on mince and slices of quince / Which they ate with a runcible spoon."

56. Holmes describes him as "a self-important dot far below".

57. The script: "Runcible scowls after them, then turns with a winning smile."

58. In the script, the Doctor just gives "an irritated grunt".

59. Note a sneaky appearance by the Master's TARDIS on the right!

60. The Master's first appearance since 'Frontier in Space' (1973) Wasn't kept secret.

61. The BBC press release stated that the new Master, Peter Pratt, "is only ever seen wearing a mask".

62. The Times interpreted this to mean the production team had decided against "making the Master change faces".

63. This, they said, would "strain even the most innocent viewer's credulity".

64. They reported that the new Master would be "a masked figure" in order "to hide his identity".

65. The Master's appearance would therefore have come as a surprise to Times readers!

66. Now, fifty three storeys - but in Time Lord buildings, as in England, the ground floor isn't numbered.

67. So there are 53 storeys, but only 52 floors - a deliberate "mistake" by Robert Holmes.

68. The script describes Spandrell's dyspeptic reaction to the Doctor's escape.

69. "Pain fills Spandrell's face. He rubs his chest tenderly."

70. And there's another shock for his alimentary system coming up.

71. On discovering the Gold Usher costume is missing, he "stifles a mournful belch".

72. The Time Lord costumes were designed by James Acheson, who would go on to success in Hollywood.

73. He won Oscars for The Last Emperor (1987), Dangerous Liaisons (1988) And Restoration (1995).

74. He also worked on Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies.

75. Acheson's ambition for "a unity of design" on this story was restricted by time and budget.

76. He left the production, returning briefly to cast the fibreglass ceremonial collars.

77. Acheson's designs endured, influencing the Time Lords' portrayal for over 30 years.

78. The original collars were used during the Gallifrey sequence in 'The Sound of Drums' (2007).

79. The cameraman's demise isn't seen in Holmes' script.

80. Erik Chitty, who plays Engin, was often cast as a comic old man.

81. He played the geriatric Mr Smith in the popular comedy series Please Sir! (1968-1972).

82. Other credits include Casino Royale (1967), Bedazzled (1967), and The Seven Per Cent Solution (1976).

83. The script calls the rifle "one of the light sporting types used for Zorn-stalking".

84. Holmes is specific about the gun sights:

85. "Modern telescopic sights centre on a luminous red dot rather than the old crossed hairs.

86. "Perhaps technically possible to use a peak white dot?"

87. The President's remark alludes to Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson's controversial 1976 honours list.

88. It included many wealthy businessmen, not thought of as traditional Labour material. In 1976, at least.

89. Holmes's satire was up-to-the minute - Wilson's honours list came only a month before location filming started.

90. Some speculated that this version of Time Lord society was based on the Roman Catholic church.

91. Holmes denied this, saying that he saw the Time Lords as a scholastic, collegiate society.

92. The Doctor originally answered, "Three so far."

93. These scenes echo the climax of The Manchurian Candidate, as the assassin trains his sights on his victim.

94. The script: "The Doctor stares up. His POV: The snout of a camera jutting from a slot.

95. "We zoom in on the barrel of a rifle beside the camera."

96. "He plunges towards the spiral staircase leading to the service gallery.

97. "Time Lords are knocked unceremoniously aside as he plunges through them."

98. This organ music was performed by the classical musician Leslie Pearson.

99. The organ in question was situated in St Gabriel's Church, Cricklewood.

100. As scripted, this episode ends in "stop-frame motion".

101. The President "twists round and pitches forward onto his face".

102. The inflexible collar rendered this impossible, so a freeze-frame was used.

103. An audience of 11.8 million watched this episode in 1976. 10:52,286 than all other chapters together,

104. and, perhaps, get an answer to this question.

105. Cardinal Borusa, if you can spare a moment, sir?

106. - Yes? - Public Register Video.

107. - If I could ask you a few questions... - Good gracious!

108. - Runcible, is it not? - Yes, sir.

109. One of my old pupils at Prydon Academy.

110. May I congratulate you, sir, on your elevation to Cardinal?

111. Thank you, Runcible. Good day.

112. No, no, wait, sir, please, sir. If I could ask you a few questions?

113. Runcible, you had ample opportunity to ask me questions

114. during your mis-spent years at the Academy.

115. You failed to avail yourself of the opportunity then

116. and it is too late now. Good day.

117. I'm afraid Cardinal Borusa cannot,

118. at this present moment of the time band, commit himself.

119. However, it is certainly no secret that

120. a very senior member of the Prydonian chapter

121. and the present number two in the Time Lord Council,

122. Chancellor Goth, is the widely-fancied candidate.

123. Oh, get off!

124. There is no way this Doctor can enter the Capitol from the tower, is there?

125. Not unless he's got the help of an accomplice.

126. From within?

127. Perhaps he has gone to the tower to shake off his pursuers,

128. while somebody inside lifts the barrier.

129. What an inventive, suspicious mind you have, Spandrell.

130. So this is an old Type 40.

131. - Its shape was infinitely variable. - Remarkably good condition.

132. - What are you going to do with it? - I hadn't thought.

133. I was more interested in its operator.

134. Well, I shouldn't leave it here, in case he tries to sneak back.

135. Transduct it into the Capitol.

136. - Very well, sir. - Oh, and

137. keep me informed about your progress on the conspiracy.

138. Of course.

139. Transduct this to the museum.

140. What a way to travel.

141. But which way the Panopticon?

142. So, he is within the Capitol.

143. All his actions are exactly as you predicted, Master.

144. I know him. - He is resourceful.

145. He will gain the Panopticon without further help.

146. Of course. He knows he is entering a trap.

147. But how can he resist such a bait?

148. The hope of perfecting an assassination.

149. Quixotic fool.

150. He will die quickly.

151. Make certain he dies very quickly.

152. Well?

153. We checked the tower, Castellan. Nothing.

154. - Nothing? - Fifty two floors, nothing.

155. He never left the lift. We think he doubled back.

156. To the capsule?

157. Out here. There is nowhere else for him.

158. Come with me and bring the tracker.

159. Castellan.

160. Now he could get into the Panopticon.

161. But everyone has to show a pass. The door guards will never let...

162. Do you think they will stop a Gold Usher? Would you?

163. Get over there and try to find him.

164. - Very good, Castellan. - And, Hilred, try to be discreet.

165. You know, I remember the inaugural of Pandak III.

166. - Really? - Yeah. 900 years, he lasted.

167. Now there was a president with some staying power, what?

168. - What? - Staying power.

169. Where the Dickens is my gown?

170. 900 years, eh?

171. I could have sworn it was here a second ago.

172. - Here you are, sir. - Oh, thank you. Most kind.

173. Yes. Very different from the fellows nowadays, what?

174. They're chopping and changing every couple of centuries.

175. - You're not gold, are you? - Not what?

176. This isn't my gown. That fellow's given me the wrong gown.

177. What fellow?

178. Oh!

179. There may be something in his history. Some clue.

180. If only I could convince the Chancellor the threat is serious.

181. It would have to be very serious before they'd delay the ceremony.

182. The President must be on his way to the Panopticon by now.

183. Can I have the data, Castellan?

184. This has been in the reader recently.

185. - Surely not. - No mica dust.

186. What? There are millions of extracts in the archives. It's hardly...

187. I live with the dirt of the past, Coordinator Engin.

188. And I can tell you that the old crimes besmirch the fingers.

189. Well, if it has been withdrawn, there'll certainly be a record.

190. - I shall want to know who had it. - Yes.

191. - But let's see the extract first. - Pleasure, Castellan.

192. The innocent to the slaughter.

193. - You have everything, sir? - I think so.

194. - The list? - What?

195. Oh, the resignation honours' list. Yes, here it is.

196. Some names here that will surprise them.

197. Runcible, my dear chap, how nice to see you.

198. Oh, I don't believe we've...

199. Oh, I say. Weren't you expelled or something? Some scandal?

200. Oh, it's all been forgotten about now, old boy.

201. - Oh, really? - Yes.

202. Well, where have you been all these years?

203. Oh, here and there, you know, round and about.

204. - Is there something the matter? - No, no, just a twinge in the knee.

205. Well, if you will lead such a rackety life.

206. - Have you had a facelift? - Several, so far.

207. Yes. Well, nice to have met you. I must get on.

208. I'm doing the PR videocast.

209. Yes, and splendidly, too, if I may say so.

210. - Oh, do you think so? - Oh, it's a gift.

211. Somehow you have a wonderful way of making the whole thing

212. - come alive. - Oh, that's very nice of you.

213. Ah! That'll be the President now. He's just arrived at the Panopticon.

214. - You sure you're all right? - What? Yes.

215. - Come on, you stupid yoik. - What?

216. I should be getting a signal from my camera technician up there.

217. No!

218. Let me go, let me go!

219. Uh, a little disturbance here in the Panopticon,

220. as the President starts to ascend.

221. Already the members of the High Council, lead by Chancellor Goth,

222. are moving forward to greet His Supremacy.