THE STORY
The TARDIS lands on the surface of the sea, just off the east coast of England. The travellers manage to get ashore, but are then shot with tranquiliser darts and taken prisoner by security guards, having apparently strayed in the restricted area of a gas refinery, run by a man named Robson. The Doctor learns that there have been a number of unexplained problems with the feed pipes from the offshore drilling rigs. It is later revealed that one of the rigs has sucked up a parasitic form of seaweed which is capable of releasing poisonous gas or producing a strange foam that allows the weed to take over the minds of any who touch it.The weed rapidly spreads and sets about creating a vast colony based around the rigs. The Doctor makes a chance discovery that the weed creature is very susceptible to high pitched noise. He then uses the amplified sound of Victoria's screams to destroy it. Victoria chooses to stay with the the family of one of the refinery workers, Harris. The Doctor and Jamie are saddened by her decision and say goodbye.
CAST:
Dr Who (Patrick Troughton), Jamie (Frazer Hines), Victoria (Deborah Watling), Robson (Victor Maddern), Harris (Roy Spencer), Price (Graham Leaman), Guard (Peter Ducrow), Maggie Harris (Jne murphy), Carney (John Garvin), Chief Engineer (Hubert Rees), Van Lutyens (John Abineri), Chief Baxter (Richard Mayes), Quill (Bill Burridge), Oak (John Gill), Megan Jones (Margaret John), Perkins (Brian Cullinford).
FACTS:
Episode 1 features the debut of the Doctor's trusty sonic screwdriver.
The destruction of the weed creature was originally to have been achieved by the sound of Jamie playing the bagpipes, however this was changed to Victoria screaming for the finished programme.
OTHER FORMATS:
The Second Doctor Novelisations
Back to the Second Doctor Programme Guide
Back to 'The Web of Fear'.Forward to 'The Wheel in Space'.
