PARADISE TOWERS

Written by Stephen Wyatt.

Directed by Nicholas Mallett.

Transmitted originally: 5 October 1987 to 26 October 1987.

"At last Kroagnon can leave the basement prison they trapped his bodiless brain in. And return in this borrowed body to the corridors and lifts of his own creation. They buried me away because I wanted to stop them using the Tower." - Kroagnon.

THE STORY

The Doctor and Mel arrive in Paradise Towers, a luxury tower block, after Mel expresses a wish to use the reputed fantastic swimming pool. They find the building has fallen is run-dowm and dilapidated. The original inhanbitants left to fight a war, leaving the Towers inhabited by the elderly Rezzies, gangs of young girls who call themselves Kangs and the dictatorial caretakers. The Doctor is mistaken for the Great Architect, Kroagnon by the Chief Caretaker, while Mel discovers some of the Rezzies have cannabilistic tendencies and is 'rescued' by Pex, the self-appointed hero of the Towers. The Chief Caretaker is unwillingly keeping the disembodied remains of the real Kroagnon in the basement, using the giant robotic cleaners to kill off the inhabitants. Kroagnon believes they are spoiling his creation by living in it, and takes over the Chief Caretaker's body to direct the cleaners in a campaign to wipe out all humans in the Towers.

The Doctor manages to convince the Kangs, Rezzies and Caretakers, along with Pex, actually a cowardly young man who hid rather than leaving with the other occupants to fight in the war, to join forces to stop Kroagnon. They lay a trap for the Great Architect, with the Doctor as bait, but Pex is forced to sacrifice his life to destroy Kroagnon.

CAST:

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), Mel (Bonnie Langford), Pex (Howard Cooke), Chief Caretaker (Richard Briers), Deputy Chief Caretaker (Clive Merrison), Tilda (Brenda Bruce), Tabby (Elizabeth Spriggs), Fire Escape (Julie Brennon), Bin Liner (Annabel Yuresha), Blue Kang Leader (Catherine Cusack), Young Caretaker (Joseph Young), Yellow Kang (Astra Sheridan), Maddy (Judy Cornwell), Video Commentary (Simon Coady).

FACTS:

At the conclusion of episode four, the TARDIS dematerialises revealing a piece of graffiti declaring 'Pex Lives', hinting that the character did not die after all

The story features guest roles for well-known actors Richard Briers, Brenda Bruce, Elizabeth Spiggs and Judy Cornwell.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Seventh Doctor Novelisations

Seventh Doctor Videos

Back to the Seventh Doctor Programme Guide Forward to 'Delta and the Bannermen'.