THE STORY
The time travellers arrive in Australia in the near future and learn from a man named Giles Kent that the Doctor is the physical double of Salamander, a scientist and politician who has discovered a means of storing and distributing solar energy and thus ending energy starvation in a world ravaged by earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. Most people see Salamander as a hero, but Kent and others believe him to be establishing himself as a dictator. The Doctor uncovers the truth by impersonating Salamander and gaining access to his research station.Salamander and Kent were originally working together. Almost five years ago, they convinced a group of people undergoing an endurance test in a bunker beneath the station that war had broken out on the surface. It is these people, led by a man named Swann, who - decieved into thinking that they are now striking back against an evil enemy - have been engineering the so-called natural disasters. Kent, now exposed as a traitor blows up the station. Salamander meanwhile tries to escape in the TARDIS by impersonating the Doctor. he neglects to close the doors before dematerialisation, and is sucked out into the vortex.
CAST:
Dr Who (Patrick Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines), Victoria (Deborah Watling), Anton (Henry Stamper), Rod (Rhys McConnochie), Curly (Simon Cain), Astrid (Mary Peach), Giles Kent (Bill Kerr), Donald Bruce (Colin Douglas), Salamander (Patrick Troughton), Benik (Milton Johns), Denes (George Pravda), Fedorin (David Nettheim), Fariah (Carmen Munroe), Guard Captains (Gordon Faith, Elliott Cairnes), Guard on Denes (Bill Lyons), Griffin, the Chef (Reg Lye), Sergeant to Benik (Andrew Staines), Fighting Guard (Bob Anderson), Guard in Corridor (William McGuirk), Swann (Christopher Burgess), Colin (Adam Verney), Mary (Margaret Hickey), Guard in Caravan (Dibbs Mather).
FACTS:
Patrick Troughton's son David appears as an extra in episodes 5 and 6.
Trick photography is used in Episode 6 when the Doctor and Salamander are seen together.
OTHER FORMATS:
The Second Doctor Novelisations
Back to the Second Doctor Programme Guide
Forward to 'The Web of Fear'.