DOCTOR WHO
THE MOBIUS TRAP 

EPISODE THREE
(original first version)

PRE CREDITS RECAP
...THEN CREDITS ROLL
int. vaults beneath the theatre. day
SARAH-JANE
Doctor? Doctor? Are you okay? Doctor? Please...
The Doctor stirs slowly...
DOCTOR
(wearily)
Oh.. aw... my leg! He shot me. My leg - it’s bleeding.
MASTER
You disappoint me Doctor. I am not one who takes pleasure in having to use such crude methods to ensure compliance, but you left me no choice. Don’t worry. You will live.
DOCTOR
You’ll never get away with this! I’ll see to it!
MASTER
No Doctor. You now have no choice but to obey me. Remember what I said about your friends here. Make no mistake, I am quite prepared to crush them alive if that is what it takes to convince you to work with me. Now will you come peacefully?
DOCTOR
(gives in)
Okay. I’ll come - much as I can walk at the moment.
MASTER
Good. Now you are seeing sense. We will go to your Tardis and work together through the night preparing the final time-distortion circuits from your main console. If you work well, you have my word that your companions shall come to no harm.
DOCTOR
Then help me up.
The Master WALKS across.
MASTER
Take my hand Doctor.
The Doctor grunts as he takes the Master’s hand and tries to stand upright. They hobble off to the Tardis.
MASTER (cont’d)
Ho Ho.. I see this as the beginning of a beautiful new partnership. Ho ho ho

int. tardis console room. night
MASTER
You are doing good work, Doctor. I am pleased with you.
DOCTOR
Master, it’s been six hours now and it’s almost morning. I’m weary and injured. Can we take a break?
MASTER
Not so hasty, now. You’re almost finished isolating the stabiliser from this Tardis. There’s only an hour more work to go and you’re done. Then you may rest.
DOCTOR
And what happens to your Tardis? You can’t leave.
MASTER
My machine will unfortunately have to remain here to control this side of the time split, but you are wrong about my leaving. I shall be leaving in your Tardis, Doctor, to govern the mainstream time. It saddens me that I should have to use your machine, but 
mine is destined for a bigger purpose. When I split time in two, my machine will remain here to sustain the loop for eternity... and of course to feature as that rather fetching statue in the centre of it all... ho ho ho
DOCTOR
Not if I have anything to do with it.
MASTER
But you don’t Doctor. You are powerless now. Already murmurs of discontent can be heard all around. By tomorrow the temperature will have dropped below freezing and within a week I predict war will have broken out. I shall commence my loop at precisely midnight tonight and extend it over the entire year. A whole beautiful year of pain and evil which will never end... ho ho ho.
DOCTOR
And my friends?
MASTER
Do your work well Doctor and I shall return with the means by which you can all save yourselves. But cross me again and you shall stay here, caught in my Mobius-loop trap forever. I must go now and make my final preparations for tonight.  
int. in the press. day
SARAH-JANE
Look, don’t worry. It’ll all work out okay. The Doctor won’t let us down.
MARK
No? What do you call this then? Look at us here - trapped like mice in a cage.
SARAH-JANE
Don’t give up hope okay. I’ve been in worse situations than this before. The Doctor knows what he’s doing.
MARK
Now, why do I find that so hard to believe?
Int. vaults beneath the theatre. day
The Antillovian grunts.
MASTER
Quite right there my friend. Do you not find the irony most delicious?
ANTILLOVIAN
MMM... GRUNT.
MASTER
Ha ha. Yes, the Doctor does not appreciate how critical he will be. Timing is of the essence. 
ANTILLOVIAN
MMM GRUNT QUESTION GRUNT ?
MASTER
No, you imbicile creature. I won’t really be letting him go. What the Doctor believes to be his passport to freedom is in fact the trigger device for his half of the time loop! Ho ho. How much more satisfying my victory, to know that in the final instance I fooled the Doctor into being the one who sprung my evil trap. You and me, on the other hand will be in the safe half of time, observing the Doctor’s world trapped forever in a cycle of torment and pain. ho ho ho.
ANTILLOVIAN
GRUNT SNUFFLE GRUNT
MASTER
Indeed! You shall have your freedom as I promised. 
ANTILLOVIAN
GRUNT GRUNT HAPPY GRUNT
MASTER
Yes. It is all prepared now. I must go to see the Doctor for the final time to brief him in what he is to do. So long, my little pet.
ANTILLOVIAN
GRUNT BYEE GRUNT
int. tardis console room. day
K9
Master?
DOCTOR
(weary)
Yes, K9?
K9
Prognosis indicates your health is at a level of 34%. Recommend immediate medical care.
DOCTOR
It won’t work, K9. How can I get medical care here? And with the threat of the Master looming over us all.
K9
Processing... Secondary option. Recommend retirement to the zero room.
MASTER
(entering)
Go Doctor! Do as your little doggie says, if it will help you.
DOCTOR
Oh you’ve returned.
K9
Intruder alert, master.
DOCTOR
I know K9. I’m sure you recognise the Master by now.
MASTER
I advise you to keep that machine on a leash, Doctor, if you don’t want me to use my tissue compression eliminator on it.
DOCTOR
It’s okay. He’s only programmed to attack in self defence. There’ll be no need for further violence.
MASTER
Good. Now I’ve brought you a present, Doctor.
DOCTOR
Present? What is it?
MASTER
This box will guarantee you and anyone near you safety when my trap is sprung. Take it.
DOCTOR
It’s just a black box with a button on it.
MASTER
Correct. But the workings inside are infinitely complex. Since the notion of a universe without a worthy adversary disturbs me so much, I have designed this for you. You must activate it at precisely midnight tonight - to the very second. Here is an atomic watch for you to use, so you’re not late for your own funeral, so to speak.
DOCTOR
Funeral?
MASTER
Oh it will undoubtedly be so, unless you time it perfectly. But hit the button at exactly the right moment and it will bounce you out of this time stream and into safety.
DOCTOR
What kind of safety?
MASTER
I can’t say exactly where, but you’ll be free of the time loop and in my half of the universe.  
DOCTOR
And if I refuse?
MASTER
It makes no difference to me, Doctor. I merely give you the tools for your continued survival. If you do not wish to make use of them, then that is your choice.
DOCTOR
Very well. But I must do as K9 says and go to the zero room.
MASTER
Impossible. I am commendiering this Tardis as my own means of transport.
DOCTOR
Then let me use yours.
MASTER
Hmmm. That might be possible.
DOCTOR
I’m weak Master. I can only heal if I rest.
MASTER
Very well. We will go now to my Tardis where you can sit in my zero room.
DOCTOR
Thank you.
MASTER
Come with me now. We must make haste. There are only a few hours to go and time is at a premium.
int. in the press. day
MORRIS
There’s got to be a way out of here.
SARAH-JANE
Not this time. The Master won’t have left anything to chance. That grille’s jammed fast across the top of this press. We’d never free it.
MORRIS
I’m going to climb up anyway.
SARAH-JANE
What’s the point, Morris. We can see all there is to see from down here.
MORRIS
Steady me as I try to find a foothold..
Morris climbs up.
MORRIS (cont’d)
I can see a lever here right next to the press. I wonder if it’s a latch for the grill.
SARAH-JANE
Can you reach?
MORRIS
Not quite. Has anyone got a belt or something down there. I could probably lassoo it with a bit of practise.
SARAH-JANE
Use your own!
MORRIS
Errr... well, okay. (grunts) there... pah, missed. again... almost... and there! I’ve got it. Hold tight!
He pulls the lever and the press creaks into action.
KATE
ITS MOVING!! The walls are moving!
SARAH-JANE
You’ve started the crusher up, you idiot!
The press grates and grinds as the grille blocks it from moving further.
MORRIS
The grill’s stopping it from moving...
SARAH-JANE
Yes, but for how long. It’s giving...
MORRIS
Oh golly.. hold on!!
The grille pops off the top of the press and clatters to the ground.
KATE
Aaeee! That landed on my toe!
MORRIS
Quick! The walls are moving! Climb on the grille. I’ll help you out!
They do so.
ALL
Phew!!
SARAH-JANE
Morris. That was too close for comfort... but I suppose, well done all the same. You got us out. No we need to find the Doctor.
MAYOR
I say we split up and all search separately. We’ll stand more chance of finding him then. 
SARAH-JANE
Good idea. I’ll take the beach area.
MAYOR
Morris, you search around this building. I’ll look around town.
(to Kate & Mark)
Are you two going to help us as well?
KATE
Okay. Mark and I will check out round by the water gardens on the other side of town.
MAYOR
Meet back here ASAP, okay?
int. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
Look at it outside, K9. The trouble’s already beginning. Fights breaking out on the street. The Master’s brainwashed them all into being aggressive. It doesn’t take long before the primal instincts kick in, eh?
K9
Correct, Master.
DOCTOR (cont’d)
Now who’s that? Someone trying to get in?
K9
Scan identifies being as the humanoid named Morris.
DOCTOR
Oh, it’s the Mayor’s son. He better come in for his own safety.
Door OPEN. Morris enters tentatively...
MORRIS
Doctor? Are you there?
DOCTOR
I’m in the zero room. Second door on the left, down the corridor. This place is a lot bigger than you’d guess on the outside.
MORRIS
(to self)
You’re not kidding.
FOOTSTEPS
MORRIS
Doctor! I’ve found you at last. We all escaped. The others are also looking.
DOCTOR
Then you must round them up immediately and bring them here. You’re all in terrible danger. 
MORRIS
Will the Master go through with his plan?
DOCTOR
Definately so. But there’s little I can do now. I’m weak and injured. I can’t leave this room. It’s the only place where my body can naturally heal itself in time.
MORRIS
But if the Master does what he’s said he’s going to do, none of our lives will be worth living anyway.
DOCTOR
Don’t dispair, Morris. If I can find nothing else, then the Master has given me a backdoor. This black box. He says if I activate it at precisely the time the trap is sprung, then we’ll be catapulted to safety.
MORRIS
And you believe him?
DOCTOR
What choice do I have. Maybe if we do make it to the safe time stream and I recover, there could be something we could do to help your people from there, but so long as we’re caught up in the Mobius loop, we’re powerless. I’m at the mercy of the Master.
MORRIS
This is looking pretty bleak.
DOCTOR
Pecker up, Morris, old chap. You go and round up the others and bring them here. K9 will let you back in when you arrive... What’s that?
CLATTER. FOOTSTEPS.
MORRIS
It sounds like someone coming down the corridor.
DOCTOR
Quick! Hide! It’s probably the Master.
SCUFFLE. The Master enters.
MASTER
Doctor. This is probably the last time we will meet in this time stream. I trust you still have your black box?
DOCTOR
I do. Right here.
MASTER
Don’t forget, Doctor. Press the button dead on midnight. Don’t take your eyes off the clock or you’ll regret it.
DOCTOR
I’ll do as you say.
MASTER
Good, good. It is nice to see you in such a rational mood. Quite a pleasant change.
DOCTOR
Humph.
MASTER
I trust you have seen outside already. My handiwork has already commenced. The brainwashed fools are fighting in the streets. It won’t be long before the situation escalates.
DOCTOR
Just go. Please just go now. 
MASTER
Oh, yes. Of course. How inconsiderate of me. You must be feeling rather under the weather, with those injuries of yours. I’ll leave you here to recover. 
He walks into the distance.
MASTER (cont’d)
Till we meet again. Au Reviour, Doctor. Au reviour...
(to self, under breath)
Or should that be goodbye! For ever! Ho ho ho ho...
MORRIS
Is it safe now to come out?
DOCTOR
Yes. It’s clear.
MORRIS
I don’t trust him, Doctor. 
DOCTOR
That needn’t concern you now. You need to go and find the others, okay? Make haste!
MORRIS
Okay. I’ll be back as quick as I can...

ext. BEACH. EVENING.
SARAH-JANE
(to self)
It’s no use. He’s nowhere to be seen.
We hear Kate CALLING from afar.
SARAH-JANE (cont’d)
Hullo? Oh, it’s that woman.
KATE
(out of breath, running up)
Any luck?
SARAH-JANE
No. You?
KATE
No sign of him anywhere. I just met Mark and the Mayor too. They’ve not found him. They sent me to find you.
SARAH-JANE
We better go back then. Any news from Morris?
KATE
No sign of the boy. 
SARAH-JANE
This isn’t looking good. Where are you all now?
KATE
In the town square.
SARAH-JANE
Okay. We better run. It’s pretty late already. The Master’s going to spring his trap at midnight.
FADE OUT.
Ext. TOWN SQUARE. NIght.
General rowdiness in the background.
MAYOR
Watch it! Watch it! I’m the mayor you know.
MARK
The people here are already getting agitated. Tut. Now how long has Kate been? I don’t see where she could have got to.
MAYOR
I do. Over there - that alley by the bookshop. Looks like she’s found Sarah Jane at any rate.
MARK
That’s good news. Now all we need is Morris. And the Doctor, of course.
MAYOR
Yes, trust my dratted son to be the last.
MORRIS
Father. Is that really the way to refer to your first born?
MAYOR
Morris! Where did you spring from?
MORRIS
I’ve been all over the place looking for you lot, and then I thought that if we’d all got separated, this would be the obvious place to reconvene.
MAYOR
Good thinking there, lad. Hmm. I don’t imagine you had any luck in tracking down the Doctor?
SARAH-JANE
(arriving)
Hey you’re all here! Good to see you again. And Morris. Have any luck?
MORRIS
Yes. The Doctor’s inside the statue.
ALL
WHAT?
MORRIS
The statue. He’s inside it. It’s not a real statue at all. It’s hollow - and massive inside. Like nothing I’ve ever seen.
MAYOR
How do we get in?
MORRIS
I just shout. The Doctor has an... err
MAYOR
Yes?
MORRIS
err.. an electric dog.
Silence.
KATE
Okay then. What are we waiting for? Let’s go to the theatre and knock on the statue.
MAYOR
Good call.
ext. outside the theatre. night
SARAH-JANE
There it is. Urgh - it still makes me shudder, just to see a statue of that man.
MAYOR
Then I’d turn away from the podium if I were you.
SARAH-JANE
What do you... *gasp*! There he is again. What’s he up to?
MAYOR
Looks like we’re going to be treated to a speech.
MASTER
(over loud-hailer)
People of Ralladon. Your undivided attention please. Ahem.
Things quieten a little.
MASTER (cont’d)
Today we have already witnessed one monumentous occassion - the unveiling of this wonderful statue. I must imagine you are a very proud people, but I am here to tell you that the celebrations need not come to an end yet. Before the town clock strikes midnight tonight, you will be priviledged to be part of something altogether much greater. History in the making - but not just *your* history. Today shall be the greatest day in the history of the universe, for I am going to immortalise you in the largest piece of artwork to ever be created. Ho ho. All of you, yes, every single person, will become part of a living sculpture - a sculpture made from an entire planet, which will pay tribute for eternity to my evil genius. Ho HO hoho ho! Thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
MORRIS
He’s really going to go ahead with it!
MAYOR
Has anyone checked the time? What did he say? Midnight?
MORRIS
It’s five to eleven now.
MAYOR
One hour to go. We better hurry.
SARAH-JANE
Wait a sec. If it’s only five to eleven then why did the Master give his speech just now, and not later, at a more appropriate time?
MORRIS
I don’t know. Maybe he wanted to get it over with.
SARAH-JANE
No. That doesn’t make sense. I know the Master. He savours those moments. He’d have timed it to perfection. Are you sure your watch is correct.
MORRIS
Of course I am. Look for yourself - five to eleven.
SARAH-JANE
Yes, you’re right.
MAYOR
Oh no!
SARAH-JANE
What’s the matter?
MAYOR
I’ve just realised. Do you know what day it is?
SARAH-JANE
No? Something special?
MAYOR
Last day of the official warm season. And you know what that means?
SARAH-JANE
What?
MAYOR
Our suns orbit in the opposite direction. Don’t you see? Daylight saving! Today the clocks should have gone forwards one hour!
MORRIS
Of course! Dad’s right! 
SARAH-JANE
Oh please no!!! You mean the real time is...
MORRIS
Five to midnight? Err.. no it’s more like four minutes now...
SARAH-JANE
We must hurry! Quick! Morris - take us to the Doctor. We haven’t a second to lose...
int. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
Oww!
K9
Master?
DOCTOR
That’s “owww” as in “pain”, K9. There’s nothing you can do for me.
K9
Negative Master. I can administer laser sealing of wound and neutralising of pain receptors.
DOCTOR
Can you now? Well.. I must say, anything you can do to help would be welcome.
K9
Affirmative master.
Laser sound.
DOCTOR
Aaaahhh... That’s better. Thank you - I never even knew you could do that.
K9
Affirmative. Permission to go offline and recharge, Master. Laser treatment drains my power packs considerably.
DOCTOR
Are your batteries already dead?
K9
Power now at 5% level... Cannot sustain operation. Cannot sustain...
(powers down)

DOCTOR
(to self)
Oh no. And then there was one...
ext. outside the theatre. night
They are all banging on the statue to be let in.
ALL
Doctor! Doctor! Can you hear us?!! Let us in... Let us in! There’s only three minutes to go.
MORRIS
It’s no good. He can’t hear us. What are we going to do?
SARAH-JANE
What about the Tardis? We’ll be safe there.
MORRIS
Isn’t that where the Master is?
SARAH-JANE
I don’t know, but there’s only one way to find out.
She runs off into the distance.
SARAH-JANE (cont’d)
Come on!! Follow me!!
int. tardis console room. night
We hear the TICKING of a watch.
MASTER
Ho ho ho ho. Just one more minute to go now. Ho ho ho. I hope you have your little black box with you Doctor. I’m counting on you now... ho ho
Suddenly the others burst in.
MASTER (cont’d)
What is this!?!!
Then the Master breaks into laughter at what he sees as a puny band of rebels.
MASTER (cont’d)
Ho ho! Oh, you’ve come to stop me now have you! Don’t make me laugh. Step any closer and I’ll shrink every one of you to the size of a pea.
SARAH-JANE
You evil brute! If the Doctor was here, he’d...
MASTER
If.. If... Don’t place your hope in “ifs”, my dear. The time is now upon us and glory and victory is MINE!! Ha ha ha!
MORRIS
He’s going to press the button! Stop him!!
MASTER
IT’S TOO LATE!! MWAH HA HA HA!
ALL
Noooooooo!!!!
The Master presses the button and a great whirlwind of sound starts. The master is laughing the whole way through...
CUT TO:
INt. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
(wearily)
Five... four ... three... two.. here goes nothing....
CUT TO:
int. tardis console room. night
The noise is building to a crecendo but then halts at one pitch.
MASTER
What?!! What is this? Something is wrong.
The master taps and fiddles with dials.
MASTER (cont’d)
Why won’t it move to completion? I must have COMPLETION!!!
MORRIS
(in the swirl of noise)
What’s happening?!!
SARAH-JANE
I don’t know.
Cut to:
int. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
Come on. Get it over with. If you were lying to me then let’s just end it now... Don’t prolong the agony...
cut to:
int. tardis console room. night
MASTER
Why has it stalled? Something is blocking the time split! I don’t understand - something is blocking it! No no... not temporal feedback... it can’t be happening!! NO NO! NOT TEMPORAL FEEDBACK! SAVE MEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee....
The Master is evaporated in a SCREAM. Then SILENCE.
Cut to:
int. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
Nothing. It’s all gone dead. So this is it. The Master was true to his word. I have been spared. Just me - all alone now
Cut to:
int. tardis console room. night
SARAH-JANE
What went wrong?
MORRIS
I... I..I don’t understand.
MAYOR
The Master. He was just ... evaporated. In all my years... I’ve never seen anything so gruesome....
SARAH-JANE
Come on. I want to get out of here. Let’s leave. The Doctor will know what’s happened.
Cut to:
int. Master’s tardis - zero room
DOCTOR
(weak)
Must.. go ... outside and check to see what happened....
The Doors WHIRR open and the others dash in..
ALL
Doctor! You’re safe.
DOCTOR
Safe, but weary. Help me back to the zero room.
SARAH-JANE
What happened, Doctor? We were with the master. He pressed a button on this black box and then just... vanished - like he was sucked into a black hole.
DOCTOR
You were with him?
SARAH-JANE
Yes, we thought it would be safer there.
DOCTOR
It’s never safe near the Master. Ah.. the zero room. Thank you. That feels better.
MORRIS
Zero Room? Sorry?
DOCTOR
The normal laws of physics don’t apply in the zero room. Everything exists in a state of nothingness - the perfect environment to recover in. Nothing can get in or out without my allowing it.
MORRIS
Ingenious.
DOCTOR
Uh?! I’m not listening to myself!!! That was it!! OF COURSE!
SARAH-JANE
I beg your pardon?
DOCTOR
That was why it failed! The Master tried to trick me by giving me the other half of his trap to spring. It could only work in a Tardis. But in his haste he made one fatal error. He allowed me to stay in the zero room. 
MORRIS
Sorry?
DOCTOR
Nothing can touch the zero room. Least of all time. His black box was useless in here. It might as well been filled with spaghetti! But the feedback when the trap bounced back against the protection of this room would have been enough to completely annihilate whoever was on the other half.
SARAH-JANE
(realising)
The Master!
DOCTOR
(solemnly)
The Master. 
SARAH-JANE
So he’s really gone now?
DOCTOR
Evaporated into the four corners of the galaxy. No one could survive that level of temporal feedback. Not even the Master. I think...
MAYOR
I think this calls for a celebration, Doctor!
DOCTOR
I’d love to join you, you know, but I really am feeling quite unwell.
MAYOR
Oh, my dear man. I’m most terribly sorry. How frightfully inconsiderate of me. How are you?
DOCTOR
Feeling pretty faint actually.
MAYOR
That’s not good.
DOCTOR
Yes...err.. I hope none of you will ... err be offended now... if I ....*THUMP*
MAYOR
Faint? Oh dear, we better get him some help immediately. Morris, go and find Doctor Bagpuss straight away. Tell him it’s an emergency.
MORRIS
Okay, Father.
Morris leaves.
SARAH-JANE
He will be okay, won’t he?
MAYOR
Yes, I think so. I’ve seen folk in worse condition than him pull through. But he does need those wounds seeing to and some medication pretty urgently. But don’t you worry yourself about it, now. If there’s anything else you can be helping with then I think you should..
SARAH-JANE
Okay. I’ll go and round up the Antillovian then. I expect the Doctor will want to bring it home again when he’s well, and it wouldn’t do to have the beast roaming the town on it’s own.
MAYOR
Antillovian?
SARAH-JANE
A large creature the Master was keeping as a pet. Poor thing. Now the Master’s gone, his brainwashing should have worn off.
MAYOR
Had the Master hypnotised that then as well?
SARAH-JANE
Yes. I’d met them before on Antilovia 7. They’re lovely creatures - normally only eat grass, and they use them as you would a horse - to ride.
MAYOR
Okay then. Well, you take care okay. And when all the loose ends are tied up and the Doctor’s feeling better, we’ll all go and have a slap up meal at my place.
SARAH-JANE
(laughs)
Great idea!
MAYOR
I expect there’ll be some street parties to come too, now people are free and realise they’re no longer under the control of the Master.
SARAH-JANE
Great! I’ll wrap up warm!
MAYOR
Ho ho.
SARAH-JANE
You’ll take care of the Doctor now, won’t you.
MAYOR
He’s quite safe here with us now. You go off and do what you must. We’ll be here when you get back.
SARAH-JANE
Right. I’ll be going then..
She goes to leave.
SARAH-JANE (cont’d)
Hmmm... You know what?
MAYOR
What?
SARAH-JANE
(thoughtfully)
Thanks! 
MAYOR
You’re welcome, Sarah Jane. 
Suddenly we hear the MIOW of Charlie the cat.
MAYOR (cont’d)
Hallo hallo! It’s Charlie! What are you doing here?
The cat MEOWs again.
MAYOR (cont’d)
It’s good to see you made it through all this unharmed.
K9 Enters
K9
Meow. Meow. Meow.
The cat meows back and then purrs.
K9
Meow. Affirmative. Meow.
KATE
I do believe they’re having a conversation.
MAYOR
Well I never!! Ho ho. 
K9
Affirmative. The feline mammal expresses a wish to be taken back to it’s master at the docks.
KATE
Does it now?! Well, I think I can manage that. Come here you.... You’re going home. Bye! Come along Mark. We’ll pay Alf the fisherman a visit!
MAYOR AND MARK
Byee...
Doors OPEN and SHUT

ad nauseum.
END CREDITS.
Afterwards we hear a distant echoing laugh of the Master.