The New Doctor! A Doctor Who Alternate History Story

Part 39 - Volcano synopsis, Episode One

VOLCANO, Parts 1 and 2

Producer, Barry Letts

Director,  Barry Letts

Scriptwriter,  Terrance Dicks and Evan Wales

Featuring

David Burton - The Doctor

Judy Lannister - Heart

Jennifer Lannister - Diamond

Ian McKellan - Citizen Vise

John Levene - Sub-Commander Benton

Richard Franklin - Political Officer

Terry Bonneville - Camfield

Heaven Leah - Victoria

Jack Kine - (Posters) The Leader

VOLCANO - Part 1

The Tardis is drawn through a strange hole in space. The Doctor warns Heart and Diamond to brace themselves, the ship is out of control. The Tardis appears to spin down a tunnel, suddenly materializing in a field. The Doctor pokes his head out. They're safe.

Cut to stock footage of erupting Volcano's and lava flows. The credits and titles roll out. 'Volcano'

According to the Doctor they have ended up on earth, May 9, 1970. At least that's one good thing, he tells Heart and Diamond this is a wonderful time in Earth's history, free love, free music, the sense of endless possibility, mankind has gone to the moon, met aliens, a time of glorious optimism, the heyday of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Heart remarks that bugs and rocks don't sound appealing at all. Diamond remarks that this place they've come to seems well suited for bugs and rocks.

And it's true. This is a dour, gray England, of people dressed in the rags and uniform overalls. Everyone walks with their head down, there's a furtive quality to everything. The shop windows are empty, or full of strange signs. Everywhere there are posters of the leader, some ragged and fading, others fresh. The effect is of a nation under the most crushing form of tyeanny.

The Doctor says that there's something wrong. This isn't the England he knows. The streets should be crowded with flower children and hippies, toffs and mods and gentlemen, there should be posters and flyers for rock concerts. The Doctor tries to talk to some people, but they shy away. He looks at the posters of the Leader. This is definitely not the Earth he knows, he tells them. The vortex must have drawn them into a parallel universe...

Suddenly, a military squad, led by Squad Commander Benton, and accompanied by a Political Officer, comes along and accosts the Doctor and his companions, demanding to see their papers. The Doctor claims to have mislaid them, being a travelling dignitary. For a moment, charm and guile seem to be working on the Squad-Commander, but then some of the men get rough with Heart and Diamond. Diamond uses her powers to defend them, and the situation escalates. The Political Officer places a gun against Heart's temple and forces them to surrender.

Just then, a powerful earthquake strikes. A pair of shaggy monsters seem to appear out of nowhere. While the soldiers are distracted, the Doctor throws over the Political Officer, and he and Heart and Diamond flee in different directions.

The Doctor makes his way back to the Tardis, but finds that there are guards posted. He is spotted and has to flee. Just as he is about to be captured, he's rescued at the last minute, vanishing behind a door.

Meanwhile, Heart and Diamond are run down by the Squad-Commander's men. They are taken to the armory and interrogated by a Political Officer. It is soon apparent that there's real animosity between the Squad-Commander and the Political Officer. The Political Officer threatens the Squad-Commander's son. Benton says that his son is untouchable as part of the security for the borehole project, the Political Officer says that will make it even easier. At the project, even the whiff of suspicion is like a death sentence. Benton is forced to back down. The Political Officer pronounces them spies, attempting to sabotage the borehole project.