The Doctor and Adric, now back in N-Space, learn from the ancient Keeper of Traken that a great evil has come to his planet in the form of a Melkur - a calcified statue. The Keeper is nearing the end of his reign, under which the Traken Union has enjoyed peace and prosperity, and seeks the Doctor's help in preventing the evil from taking control of the bioelectric Source that is the vital component of the Union's civilisation.
The Melkur, using Kassia, one of the five elected ruling Consuls of Traken, becomes the new Keeper. It is then revealed to be the Master's TARDIS, the hideously emaciated Time Lord hopes to use the Source to regenerate himself. The Doctor manages to expel him with the help of Adric and Nyssa, a young lady of Traken and installs a new Keeper in his place, but in a last minute act, the Master traps Consul Tremas, Nyssa's father, and merges with his body before fleeing the planet.
CAST:
The Doctor (Tom Baker), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tremas (Anthony Ainley), Kassia (Sheila Ruskin), The Keeper (Denis Carey), Seron (John Woodnutt), Katura (Margot van der Burgh), Luvic (Robin Soans), Neman (Roland Oliver), The Master (Geoffrey Beevers), Melkur (Graham Cole).
FACTS:
The Master has two TARDISes in this story, one disguised as the Melkur, the other as a grandfather clock.
Although this is the first story to feature Nyssa, she does not join the Doctor as a travelling companion until the next story, Logopolis.
OTHER FORMATS:
The Fourth Doctor Novelisations
Fourth Doctor Videos
Back to the Fourth Doctor Programme Guide
