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Season 03 / Story 023 / Production code X

The Ark

The Doctors?: William Hartnell
The Companions: Steven Taylor | Dodo Chaplet
Other Main Characters:

Paul Erikson: Writer
Lesley Scott: Writer
Michael Imison: Director
John Wiles: Producer

The TARDIS materialises on a huge spaceship some ten million years in the future at a time when the Earth is about to plunge into the Sun. The spaceship is carrying all the world's plant, animal and human life (much of it miniaturised and in suspended animation) on a 700-year voyage to colonise the planet Refusis II. Dodo is suffering from a cold and, as the human Guardians of the ship, including the Commander, Zentos, Mellium, Manyak and Baccu, along with their servant race, the Monoids, have no resistance to this ancient virus despite the efforts of their medical staff, led by Rhos, a plague breaks out. The Doctor is fortunately able to develop a cure, and he and his companions leave in the TARDIS.

This seems to be the end of this particular adventure, but a surprise is in store as the TARDIS immediately rematerialises in what appears to be almost exactly the same place. The travellers discover that they have in fact returned to the ship - which Dodo has nicknamed the Ark - at the end of its voyage. Partly as a result of the earlier plague, the Monoids, have now grown strong and enslaved the humans whose number includes Maharis, Yendom, Dassuk and Venussa. However, with the help of an invisible Refusian, the Doctor is able to persuade both races to live in peace together on Refusis II.

4 episodes:

1. The Steel Sky - 05 March 1966
2. The Plague - 12 March 1966
3. The Return - 19 March 1966
4. The Bomb - 26 March 1966

Script available in print from Titan Books.