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24 September 2014

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Doctor Who | Photonovels | The Wheel in Space

Episode One contact sheet

The Doctor and a sullen Jamie depart the barren North Sea, leaving the disenchanted Victoria in the care of the Harris family.

Jamie gazes at his companion for the last time.

Victoria waves goodbye, and Jamie watches her image diminish on the scanner screen.

Some time later, the Doctor announces that they are landing. While the fault locator reports no cause for concern, he is intrigued by indications that the Ship is surrounded by metal.

The TARDIS lands

The scanner shows a series of unusual images: a shimmering lake, a flock of cranes, a beautiful waterfall and sun-drenched palm trees. 'The TARDIS is trying to warn us to get away from here to somewhere more pleasant,' surmises the Doctor.

The fault indicator's oscilloscope display signals a power overload. A light flashes on the console and by the time the Doctor has realised the danger, it is too late.

The power lines overload and the fluid links explode.

As the damaged component continues to disintegrate, the Doctor and Jamie attempt to quell the fire. The control room sways and rocks as the Ship pitches alarmingly. Lethal mercury vapour begins to fill the air.

Diving for a wall-panel by the entrance, the Doctor disengages the time vector generator. The TARDIS reverts to a police telephone box and the Doctor and Jamie escape through the doors. They emerge, coughing, into the motor section of a rocket.

The Doctor points out there must be an artificial gravity system keeping them on their feet. He hands Jamie a lemon sherbet and they start investigating the seemingly dead craft. Soon, they come across an oily track - apparently left by a machine.

Following it, a door automatically opens in their path. They enter another deserted area. The sinister silence is broken by the Doctor wondering what triggered the TARDIS's defence mechanisms and pondering on the whereabouts of the crew.

They continue their investigations, discovering along the way deserted living quarters. As they search the area they remain unaware of a metallic presence nearby.

A light on the robot's shoulder illuminates, accompanied by a grating electronic signal.

The Doctor and Jamie locate an observation port, which confirms they are drifting aimlessly in space. 'We're just a piece of space flotsam, do you realise that?' says the Doctor.

Jamie suggests they simply replace the TARDIS' damaged component and leave, but the Doctor explains that he needs to locate some mercury to refill the fluid links. Besides, the mystery of the rocket's four missing crewmen is intriguing.

Jamie complains of his growing hunger. Refusing the Doctor's offer of more lemon sherbet, he instead fantasises about roast beef, potatoes and cabbage - followed by fruit salad. The Doctor duly presses a nearby food dispenser into service.

The Doctor selects pork, potatoes and carrots, followed by ice cream. With some trepidation, Jamie joins the Doctor in tucking into their flavoured food substitutes. 'What do you think Victoria's doing now?' asks Jamie.

'Time is relative,' replies the Doctor. 'If I knew when now was, I might be able to hazard a guess. She's decided to stay in a good historical period – very few wars, great prosperity – she'll be happy enough.'

In a nearby corridor, the squat automaton's sensors shiver as it probes the reason for the door being open.

It shuffles along, steadily making progress along the corridor.

The Doctor continues his observation of the stars outside.

He surmises that they don't appear to be in any immediate danger.

Jamie, however, is too tired to notice one way or the other.

Outside, the automaton meticulously scans the police box. It activates an optical beam on its chest panel.

The door to the control room slides open accordingly.

Shuffling into the confined area its collapsible arms outstretch to connect with the instruments. Lights flicker, meters register and a switch flicks, seemingly of its own accord.

The craft immediately lunges to one side. Jamie is woken from his sleep while the Doctor is thrown from his feet, hitting his head. Jamie tries to take stock of the situation while the Doctor staggers, suffering from concussion.

Under the automaton's navigation, the rocket alters its course. Jamie and the Doctor find themselves trapped as the door to the cabin is sealed from the outside.

In the control cabin, the robot completes the course change and disconnects from the navigation computers.

It turns its attention to a nearby metal pod, which splits open to reveal a number of egg-like structures held in place by a wire frame.

The ship's entry hatch glides open, and the 'eggs' begin to float in the weightlessness.

As if responding to an unheard instruction they float in unison through the hatch and into the vacuum of space beyond.

The robot silently monitors the progress of the eggs as they leave the ship, slowly drifting into the distance.

The eggs make their way towards a giant space-station.

The Doctor uses the rod-like time vector generator to open the door and get himself and Jamie back to the safety of the TARDIS. Mustering all his remaining strength he struggles to think lucidly through his concussion.

Entering the next chamber, he hears a sound behind him. Turning slowly he witnesses the squat automaton bearing down on him, quivering sensors outstretched.

The Doctor is too weak to offer any resistance as the robot advances, extending a rod-like laser. Jamie, following the Doctor out, realises his predicament and quickly throws a bunkbed blanket over the automaton.

Jamie and the dazed Doctor make their escape into the cabin while the robot slides around, buffeting against the wall. Composing itself, it emits a ray and the sheet is instantly blown down the corridor.

Rallying itself, the robot extends its laser and directs the device towards the door shielding the Doctor and Jamie. The half-conscious Doctor hands Jamie the time vector generator and mumbles some vague instructions.

As the hole of molten metal in the door grows bigger, Jamie successfully repels and destroys the robot. 'We're all right for the time being, but listen you,' Jamie addresses the dormant Doctor, 'no more gallivanting about until I say so, all right?'

The observation port now reveals the rocket ship's destination.

The interior of Station Three is a bustling environment of technicians and scientists, all maintained in artificial gravity.

The drifting spaceship is monitored by the crew.

'Is that our mystery rocket?' asks communications officer Leo Ryan.

Jarvis Bennett and Dr Gemma Corwyn deliberate over the apparently pilotless newcomer. Prompted into searching the registry by the lack of radio contact, the craft is identified as the Silver Carrier.

The craft, a supply ship for Station Five, stops moving. It is already nine weeks overdue and between 80 and 90 million miles off course.

Jarvis recommends further attempts at radio contact. He hypothesises that the craft has made it this far flying on automatic – and that its power is now failing.

The Silver Carrier hangs motionless in space. Meanwhile, Jamie and the concussed Doctor remain unaware that they are the subject of so much concern.

Meanwhile, on the space station, a new danger has taken precedence over the drifting supply rocket. A number of small objects, apparently meteorites, begin colliding with the space station's outer rim.

Inexplicable drops in air pressure prompt Jarvis to propose that the small objects have escaped from the Silver Carrier. 'I can't risk that rocket homing on the station,' he decides. 'In a moment you're going to experience a sight rarely seen by human beings.'

Jarvis orders the X-ray laser to be turned on the Silver Carrier. 'In a few moments you're going to witness the complete destruction of a rocket in space.' On the surface of the station, the huge cannon is wielded into place, the Silver Carrier directly in its sights...

NEXT WEEK: Can Jamie save the Silver Carrier?

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