PYRAMIDS OF MARS

Written by Stephen Harris (Pseudonym for Robert Holmes & Lewis Griefer).

Directed by Paddy Russell.

Transmitted originally: 25 October 1975 to 15 November 1975.

"Deactivating a generator loop without the correct key is like repairing a watch with a hammer and chisel. One false move and you'll never tell the time again." - The Doctor

THE STORY

The TARDIS materialises on Earth in the year 1911 inside an old priory owned by Egyptologist Marcus Scarman. Scarman has been possessed by Sutekh, last survivor of the god-like race, the Osirans, who is held prisoner inside a pyramid in Egypt by a signal transmitted from another pyramid on Mars. Sutekh desires his freedom and instructs Scarman to construct servicer robots - which look like Egyptian mummies - to build a missile with which to destroy the Martian pyramid. The Doctor foils this plan by blowing up the missile. He then falls under Sutekh's control himself and is forced to transport Scarman to mars in the TARDIS. Scarman cuts off the signal, but the Doctor, now freed of Sutekh's influence, realises that there will be a short delay before it ceases to have an effect, owing to the time taken to reach Earth. he rushes back and uses the time control from the TARDIS to move the end of the space-time tunnel that links the priory to the Egyptian pyramid into the far future. Sutekh, travelling down the tunnel, is unable to reach the end in his lifetime, and dies. The priory catches fire and the Doctor and Sarah make a quick exit.

CAST:

The Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Marcus Scarman (Bernard Archard), Laurence Scarman (Michael Sheard), Dr. Warlock (Peter Copley), Namin (Peter Mayock), Collins (Michael Bilton), Ahmed (Vik Tablian), Mummies (Nick Burnell, Melvyn Bedford, Kevin Selway), Ernie Clemens (George tovey), Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf).

FACTS:

The story sees the last appearance of a traditional-look TARDIS console room set until 'The Invisible Enemy' eleven stories later.

'The Sands of Time' a Missing Adventure by Justin Richards uses much imagery from this story, concerning as it does Sutekh's evil sister-wife Nephys.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Fourth Doctor Novelisations

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