GENESIS OF THE DALEKS

Written by Terry Nation.

Directed by David Maloney.

Transmitted originally: 8 March 1975 to 12 April 1975.

"We are entombed but we live on. This is only the beginning...When the time is right we will emerge and take our rightful place as the supreme power in the Universe!"

THE STORY

The Time Lords send the Doctor, Sarah and Harry to the planet Skaro at a time when the war between the Thals and the Kaleds is reaching its final stage. The Doctor's mission is to prevent the creation of the Daleks who evolve as a result of the war. Hunted by by both sides in the ruined world, Sarah is captured by the Thals while the Doctor and Harry eventually become prisoners of Davros a brilliant crippled Kaled scientist. Davros has invented a travel machine to house the creature he believes his race will eventually evolve into, due to the genetic mutations caused by the war. These creatures will become the Daleks!

Davros, obsessed by his creation gives it destructive powers and independent control. The Doctor helps to lead a revolt of Kaled scientists, horrified by Davros' insane vision. But Davros in his determination to preserve the Daleks, helps the Thals destroy his own people with a missile. Then he uses the Daleks, now fully operational to wipe out the Thal city and then to destroy the opposing Kaled scientists. With the help of some surviving Thals the Doctor manages to entomb Davros and the Daleks in their bunker. The Daleks turn on their creator, destroying him. The Doctor refuses to destroy the Daleks, believing that some good will eventually emerge. Using the Time Ring provided by the Time Lords, the Doctor and his companions leave Skaro. In the bunker the Daleks promise to reemerge and conquer the universe...

CAST:

The Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter), Davros (Michael Wisher), Daleks (John Scott Martin, Max Faulkner, Keith Ashley, Cy Town), Dalek Voices (Roy Skelton), Nyder (Peter Miles), Ravon (Guy Siner), Gharman (Dennis Chinnery), Kaled leader (Richard Reeves), Time Lord (John Franklyn-Robbins), Sevrin (Stephen Yardley), Ronson (James Garbutt), Tane (Drew Wood), Gerrill (Jeremy Chandler), Thal soldiers (Pat Gorman, Hilary Minster, John Gleeson), Kravos (Andrew Johns), Kaled guard (Peter Mantle), Bettan (Harriet Philpin), Thal Guard (Max Faulkner), Thal Politician (Michael Lynch), Mogran (Ivor Roberts), Kavell (Tom Georgeson).

FACTS:

This was the first story to feature the character of Davros, who went on to appear in every subsequent televised Dalek story.

In this story the Doctor's pockets contain a magnifying glass, the sonic screwdriver, his yo-yo, a pair of hancuffs, various lumps of brightly coloured rock and an item described as 'an etheric beam locator'.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Fourth Doctor Novelisations

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