INFERNO

Written by Don Houghton.

Directed by Douglas Camfield & Barry Letts (Uncredited).

Transmitted originally: 9 May to 20 June 1970.

"Listen to that! That is the sound of the planet screaming out its rage!" 'The Doctor'

THE STORY

UNIT is providing security cover and the Doctor is acting as an observer on an experimental drilling project, nicknamed 'Inferno', designed to penetrate the Earth's crust and release a previously unreached source of energy, named Stahlman's Gas after its discover, an obsessive scientist. Professor Stahlman dismisses all the concerns of the project's Director Sir Keith Gold and exceeds the safety margins in order to expediate the work. The drill head starts to leak a green liquid that transforms anyone who touches it into vicious primeval creatures with an affinity for heat.

The Doctor is accidentally transported into a parallel universe, when the partially repaired TARDIS console is flooded with power from the project's reactor. The alternative timeline sees a Britian under military dictatorship, and the project's drilling at a more adavanced stage. The Doctor is unable to prevent the penetration of the Earth's crust, which results in the destruction of the planet. Escaping back to his own universe, the Doctor tries to stop the drilling by warning of the impending disaster. Stahlman, infected by the primordial liquid begins to transform into one of the savage creatures, blocking the Doctor's attempts to halt the drilling operation. Eventually, the Doctor, aided by consultant Greg Sutton, manages to kill Stahlman with the cold blasts of fire extinguishers and the project is shut down.

CAST:

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee), Liz Shaw/ Section Leader Elizabeth Shaw (Caroline John), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart/Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), Professor Stahlman/Director Stahlman (Olaf Pooley), Sir Keith Gold (Christopher Benjamin), Greg Sutton (Derek Newark), Petra Williams/ Dr. Petre Williams (Sheila Dunn), Sergeant Benton/ Platoon Under Leader Benton (John Levene), Private Latimer (David Simeon), Private Wyatt (Derek Ware), Harry Slocum (Walter Randall), Bromley (Ian Fairburn), RSF Sentry (Roy Scammell), Patterson (Keith James), Primords (Dave Carter, Pat Gorman, Philip Ryanm, Peter Thompson, Walter Henry).

FACTS:

The story title, writer's credit and episode number in this story are played over a special stock footage montage of volcanic eruptions.

This story is the last to feature the original TARDIS console prop

This is Caroline John's last story as Liz Shaw, a companion throughout the season. Liz does make a appearance as a 'phantom' in the 20th anniversary story 'The Five Doctors' in 1983.

OTHER FORMATS:

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