S8E19
Cynical with undercurrents of defiance
Written by Malcolm Hulke
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Colony In Space Part 5

When colonists seize control of a planet and declare independence, the Doctor must expose the Master who arrives disguised as an adjudicator in order to manipulate events and pursue a hidden agenda, threatening the colonists' freedom and safety.

On a remote planet, a group of colonists stages a rebellion against the Interplanetary Mining Corporation (IMC), seeking independence from Earth's control. Winton, a determined colonist, leads the charge, capturing IMC Captain Dent and his forces. As the colonists celebrate their apparent victory, the Doctor arrives, sensing a darker presence at play. An adjudicator arrives, seemingly to mediate the conflict between the colonists and the IMC. However, the Doctor quickly recognizes him as the Master, hisTime Lord adversary, in disguise. The Master manipulates the situation, winning the colonists' trust while secretly pursuing his own agenda related to the planet's historical significance and hidden resources.

The Doctor attempts to warn the colonists about the Master's true identity, but they dismiss his warnings, blinded by the Master's charisma and promises of assistance. Ashe, a key figure among the colonists, becomes particularly susceptible to the Master's influence. The Master convinces Ashe to allow him to investigate the planet's Primitive city, piquing the Doctor's curiosity.

Meanwhile, Captain Dent, humiliated by his defeat, plots his revenge. He manages to contact Earth and learns the true identity of the adjudicator and prepares to retake control of the colony by force. The Master, aware of the Doctor's suspicion, lures him into his TARDIS and imprisons his companion, Jo Grant, holding her hostage to ensure the Doctor's cooperation. He intends to use the Doctor as a guide to navigate the dangers of the Primitive city. While imprisoned, the Doctor manages to drop the key to the Master's Tardis.

As Dent and his men land on the planet, they recapture Ashe and Winton with help from a colonist, charging them with treason. Dent establishes a court, declaring himself the planet's legal ruler now that the true Adjudicator's authority passed to him. He sentences Ashe and Winton to execution, but suspends the sentence on the condition that the colonists leave the planet immediately in their decrepit spaceship. Meanwhile, Caldwell and Morgan attempt to get inside the Adjudicator's spaceship and are able to open it, finding Jo Grant.

The Doctor and the Master travel towards the Primitive city, encountering dangerous traps and hostile natives. The Doctor tries to warn the Master about the dangers of the city, but it falls on deaf ears. They face the perils ahead as the power struggle between the colonists, the IMC, and the Master reaches its climax.


Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

32
Act 1

The colonists celebrate a short-lived victory, having disarmed and captured Captain Dent and his IMC forces. Winton, leading the rebellion, declares the planet's independence. The Doctor attempts to expose the Master, disguised as the Adjudicator, warning the colonists not to trust him. However, the Master skillfully manipulates Ashe, convincing him and the other colonists that he will mediate on their behalf and protect them from Earth's retaliation. The Master's proposal to investigate the Primitive city, under the guise of finding historical claims for the planet's preservation, further solidifies his influence. Unconvinced and suspicious, the Doctor resolves to find concrete evidence of the Master's true identity and intentions by infiltrating his TARDIS. Meanwhile, Captain Dent, humiliated but resourceful, contacts Earth and discovers the Adjudicator is an imposter, setting the stage for his vengeful return.

Act 2

The Doctor and Jo successfully infiltrate the Master's TARDIS, which appears as the Adjudicator's spaceship. Navigating an alarm system, they discover the Master's true identity and his extensive mineralogical survey reports, confirming his hidden agenda for the planet's resources. Jo finds the real Adjudicator's credentials, providing the Doctor with the evidence he sought. However, their intrusion triggers an alarm, allowing the Master to return remotely. He traps Jo in a perspex tube, flooding it with sleep gas, and holds her hostage. The Master then releases the Doctor, demanding his cooperation as a guide to the Primitive city, threatening Jo's life if he refuses. Simultaneously, Captain Dent and his re-armed IMC forces execute a surprise landing, quickly recapturing Ashe and Winton, reasserting control over the dome. Dent declares himself the planet's legal ruler, charging the colonist leaders with treason and preparing for a summary trial.

Act 3

Captain Dent, now self-proclaimed Governor, convenes a mock trial, charging Ashe and Winton with treason and other offenses. He sentences them to execution but suspends the sentence on the condition that all colonists immediately evacuate the planet in their dilapidated spaceship, which Mary confirms is unsafe for another journey. This ultimatum effectively condemns the colonists to death. Meanwhile, the Doctor, now compelled to guide the Master, begins the perilous journey to the Primitive city. They encounter hostile Primitives who attempt to impede their progress with traps and attacks, forcing them to abandon their buggy and proceed on foot. During their trek, the Doctor subtly drops the Master's TARDIS key. Back at the dome, Caldwell and Morgan, tasked by Dent to investigate the "fake Adjudicator's" sealed ship, discover the dropped key. Using it, they gain entry into the Master's TARDIS, where they find Jo Grant imprisoned in her perspex tube, setting the stage for a potential rescue or further complication.