Snakedance Part 4

The Doctor and his companions must stop the Mara, a malevolent entity, from being unleashed through a ceremony led by Lon, who has been influenced by the entity, by finding a way to destroy it and free Tegan from its control.

In the screenplay 'Snakedance - Part Four', the Doctor and his companions, Nyssa and Chela, navigate a complex web of intrigue and deception as they attempt to prevent the Mara, a powerful and malevolent entity, from being unleashed through a ceremonial event. The story begins with the Doctor and his companions trying to reason with Tanha and Lon, who are involved in the ceremony, but they are met with resistance and hostility. As the ceremony progresses, Lon becomes increasingly influenced by the Mara, and the Doctor and his companions realize that they must act quickly to stop him. The group encounters various obstacles and challenges, including a market place ceremony, a procession, and a chamber where Lon must face three temptations. Meanwhile, the Doctor and his companions seek out Dojjen, a wise and knowledgeable individual who may hold the key to defeating the Mara. Through a series of intense and dramatic events, the Doctor and his companions ultimately succeed in destroying the Mara and freeing Tegan from its control. The screenplay explores themes of power, corruption, and redemption, and features a unique blend of science fiction and mysticism.

Events in This Episode

The narrative beats that drive the story

Act 1

The Doctor, Nyssa, and Chela confront Tanha and Lon, attempting to prevent the ceremonial use of the Great Crystal. Lon, dismissive and increasingly hostile, reveals his deep influence by the Mara, a fact the Doctor quickly recognizes. Lon orders their capture but then allows them a glimpse of the crystal, creating an opportunity for their escape. Fleeing into the bustling marketplace, the Doctor explains Lon's current state, noting his personality still contends with the Mara's control. They encounter a local 'attendant demon' custom, providing a brief, tense distraction. Realizing the Mara's re-emergence is imminent and that simply delaying it is insufficient, the Doctor pivots their strategy. He determines they must find Dojjen, a reclusive sage, believing Dojjen holds the key to permanently destroying the Mara and freeing Tegan from its pervasive influence. This decision sets the primary objective for the remainder of the narrative, establishing the high stakes and the urgent need for a definitive solution. The act concludes with the Doctor's resolve to seek out Dojjen, despite the uncertainty of his whereabouts or even his survival, marking a shift from reactive defense to proactive offense against the malevolent entity.

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Act 2

As the ceremony approaches, Lon prepares to assume his role, donning an ancestral costume that replicates the Founder's attire. His mother, Tanha, expresses pride, oblivious to the deeper, sinister implications of his transformation. Meanwhile, the Doctor, Nyssa, and Chela embark on their urgent quest to find Dojjen. They arrive at the ruins, a location associated with the sage, where the Doctor employs the Little Mind's Eye crystal for 'sympathetic resonance,' a method to establish a mental link with Dojjen. The crystal glows, signaling success, and Dojjen materializes, a gaunt, ancient figure. Dojjen initiates a cryptic ritual, making the Doctor accept a snake bite to his wrist. Through this ordeal, Dojjen imparts vital, albeit abstract, knowledge: the Mara can only be defeated by finding the 'still point' within oneself, not a physical location. Simultaneously, the ceremony begins in the Chamber of the Mara. Lon, now fully immersed in his role, faces a series of 'triple temptations'—fear, despair, and greed—which he defiantly dismisses. This defiance culminates in Lon smashing the ceremonial crystal, revealing it as a fake and exposing his contempt for the traditional ritual. He then unveils a real snake coiled around his arm, a horrifying symbol of his complete submission to the Mara, and demands the true Great Crystal. The Doctor and his companions, having navigated the cave, finally overcome a guard and enter the chamber, arriving just as Lon's sinister intentions become fully manifest.

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Act 3

Lon, now fully controlled by the Mara, dramatically inserts the Great Crystal into its socket, unleashing a torrent of energy that streams towards Tegan. A cacophony of noise fills the chamber, causing the audience to clutch their heads in agony as the Mara manifests through Tegan. The snake on the floor grotesquely expands, absorbing Tegan until only her face remains visible within its gaping jaws. The Doctor, unaffected by the psychic assault, urges the terrified crowd to resist the Mara by finding their 'still point' within, explaining that the entity feeds on fear and belief. Mara Tegan, asserting her dominion, attempts to compel submission from all minds, specifically targeting the Doctor and demanding he look at her. Dojjen's face briefly appears in the Doctor's crystal, offering a silent reinforcement of his teachings. Recognizing the threat, Mara Tegan orders the destruction of the Doctor's crystal. The Hawker and Lon attempt to seize it, but both are repelled and burned by its protective energy. Seizing the critical moment, the Doctor races up the steps and forcefully pulls the Great Crystal from its socket. The Mara emits a piercing scream as the giant snake rapidly shrinks and dissolves. Tegan collapses, freed from the entity's control, and the audience is released from its psychic grip. Dojjen, his purpose fulfilled, quietly departs the ruins. The Doctor comforts a tearful Tegan, who expresses the horror of the Mara's influence, confirming the malevolent entity's complete destruction.

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