written by JOHN LUCAROTTI
first broadcast - 29th February, 1964
running time -
(In a dark and lonely passageway in Lop, TEGANA is handed a phial of poison by his ally.)
TEGANA: I will use it well, on all but the first of Marco Polo's water gourds. Tomorrow, the caravan sets out across the Gobi Desert. You will follow it, and on the third night, I will walk back to you. Then, we'll arrive back here at Lop. Wait two days, and then return to the caravan to collect the thing of magic that will bring the mighty Kublai Khan to his knees!
(POLO's voice narrates as he writes in his journal.)
POLO: I have taken charge of the travellers' unusual caravan, and set out to cross the Gobi Desert. The journey across this vast ocean of sand is slow and hazardous. To make matters worse, the old Doctor continually shows his disapproval of my action by being both difficult and bad-tempered. For three days, during which time we have covered no more than thirty miles, I have had to endure his insults.
(It is night, and the caravan is at a halt. Inside the main tent, IAN and BARBARA are talking with POLO and TEGANA. SUSAN sits quietly nearby.)
IAN: How much water does a caravan like this use in crossing the Gobi Desert?
POLO: We use one barrel every five days, Ian. I have allowed for eight gourds to carry us to the other side.
TEGANA: The bones of many men who thought they had enough are bleached in the desert sand.
POLO: I think we should exercise some restraint, Tegana. (to SUSAN) I'm sorry the Doctor wouldn't eat with us this evening.
SUSAN: So am I, Messr Marco.
(POLO brings out a chess board from one of his travel bags.)
POLO: A game of chess, Ian?
IAN: Oh, I'm not very good, but I'll give you a game.
POLO: I gladly accept your challenge.
(POLO sets up the chess board. BARBARA is intrigued by the intricately carved wooden pieces.)
BARBARA: Where did you get the pieces?
POLO: I purchased them in Marmot, on my first journey to Cathay. Now, they go with me everywhere.
IAN: Do you, ah...
(At that moment, SUSAN, who is clearly upset that the DOCTOR is not eating, suddenly rushes from the tent.)
TEGANA: (to BARBARA) Do you play chess, lady?
BARBARA: Not very well, Tegana.
(BARBARA, concerned with SUSAN's sudden departure, decides to follow the girl.)
Excuse me.
(She walks from the tent. IAN and POLO prepare for their game of chess. TEGANA watches them with interest.)
TEGANA: It is a fascinating exercise in the strategies of war. Two equally balanced armies deployed upon a field of battle, and each commander determined to be the one who cries 'shah mat'.
IAN: Shah mat? Oh, check mate.
TEGANA: It means the king is dead.
(BARBARA finds SUSAN sitting outside the main tent. SUSAN is clearly upset.)
BARBARA: We'll get the TARDIS back, Susan.
SUSAN: Yes, but at Kublai Khan's Court, where it will be too late.
(She stares sadly up into the stars.)
We should be up there - another time, another galaxy.
BARBARA: We'll think of something.
SUSAN: How? Ian's having a chat with Marco, and Grandfather's in his room sulking by himself.
BARBARA: Oh, I don't know he's sulking.
SUSAN: He won't even talk to me.
BARBARA: Well, you know him better than I do. He's probably feeling defenceless. He had a wonderful machine, capable of all sorts of miracles, and it is taken away by a man he calls a primitive. The TARDIS is the only home we have at the moment. When we're in it, we feel safe and secure, but out of it...
SUSAN: Could you talk to him? Confide in him?
BARBARA: He's like a rubber ball. He'll come bouncing out of there soon full of ideas.
(SUSAN stares back at the sky.)
SUSAN: One day, we'll know all the mysteries of the sky...
BARBARA: And you and I will say good-bye.
SUSAN: (surprised) Oh, not for a long time!
BARBARA: Well, at least we can say goodnight for the moment.
SUSAN: Are you coming?
BARBARA: No, not for the moment.
SUSAN: Well, goodnight.
(They walk back towards the main tent.)
(SUSAN appears in the entrance to the tent.)
SUSAN: Where's Ping-Cho?
POLO: She's gone to bed.
SUSAN: I'll go too then. Goodnight.
POLO: Goodnight, Susan.
(As SUSAN leaves, POLO turns back to the chess board.)
POLO: What was I about to do? Ah yes...
(He moves a piece.)
IAN: Ouch!
(SUSAN enters the tent she shares with PING-CHO and lies down next to her.)
SUSAN: Are you asleep yet?
PING-CHO: No, I was thinking.
SUSAN: What about?
PING-CHO: About how peaceful the desert is.
(She glances outside the tent.)
Lovely. The moon will rise soon, Susan, and that is the time to see the desert. It is like a great silver sea.
SUSAN: The metal seas of Venus...
PING-CHO: Where?
SUSAN: Oh, a long way from here. I've never seen a moonlit night. How long before the moon rises?
PING-CHO: About two or three hours. I'll tell you when.
(In the main tent, BARBARA is also captivated by the sight of the Gobi Desert at night.)
BARBARA: Night in the desert is very beautiful.
POLO: Even at night, the desert is dangerous.
(IAN is concentrating on the chess game.)
IAN: My move.
(He moves a piece, still watched intently by TEGANA.)
Check!
TEGANA: Marco, can you save your King?
POLO: I think so, Tegana.
(POLO studies the board carefully before making a move.)
POLO: Check.
(Later on that night, when the rest of the camp is silent, SUSAN and PING-CHO emerge from their tent. The moon has risen, and the two girls view the moonlit desert in amazement.)
SUSAN: Oh crazy...
PING-CHO: Sssh! The guard will hear you. Crazy?
SUSAN: It's a way of saying you like something very much.
PING-CHO: This language of yours is very strange.
(At that moment, TEGANA emerges from the main tent. He has a brief conversation with the GUARD, and then moves off into the desert.)
PING-CHO: Tegana!
SUSAN: Let's follow him.
PING-CHO: He'll be angry!
SUSAN: He'll never know. Come!
(They follow TEGANA into the desert.)
(IAN and POLO are sleeping in the main area of the tent. Outside, the sounds of the horses becoming restless can be heard. IAN and POLO are eventually woken by the whinnying of the horses.)
IAN: What is it, Marco?
POLO: The horses are very restless.
(The two of them look outside the tent.)
POLO: There's a sandstorm coming, Ian.
IAN: How do you know?
POLO: Hear how still the desert is. As though it was waiting. They can sense it.
(POLO indicates the horses.)
IAN: Will it be a bad one?
POLO: Bad enough. I must see to the horses.
(SUSAN and PING-CHO continue following TEGANA through the desert. They are finding it difficult to keep up with the pace TEGANA is setting, and are beginning to lose the warrior.)
PING-CHO: There he is, over there.
(PING-CHO points out into the desert. Suddenly, she collapses onto the ground. SUSAN sits down next to her.)
PING-CHO: Let's give up.
SUSAN: Why is it so hot? I can hardly breathe.
PING-CHO: We should have never left the caravan.
SUSAN: Come on, let's go back.
PING-CHO: Alright.
(As they stand up and are about to walk off, PING-CHO indicates to SUSAN to stop.)
PING-CHO: Susan, listen!
(SUSAN does so, and manages to hear the faint sounds of swirling wind.)
SUSAN: What's that, there?
(SUSAN points towards a hazy mist on the horizon.)
SUSAN: It looks like a cloud.
PING-CHO: Susan, it's a sandstorm!
SUSAN: What!
PING-CHO: It's coming this way! We'll have to get back quickly!
SUSAN: But the caravan's too far away!
PING-CHO: We'll get caught in it - we'll never find our way back!
(The wind begins to fiercely swirl around them. The two girls scream and hold on to each other as they are caught in the sandstorm. Their screaming mingles with the noise of the 'singing' sands.)
(Back at the main tent, BARBARA is woken by the sounds of the approaching sand-storm, and appears from her section of the tent.)
BARBARA: Ian, what's happening?
IAN: It's a sandstorm. It sounds like all the devils in hell.
POLO: It's the wind shifting the sand.
BARBARA: It's terrifying!
POLO: Not always. Sometimes, it's like music being played - the beating of drums and cymbals. I've heard it sound like people talking as they crossed the desert. It can also be a familiar voice calling your name. You're not the only one to be afraid. Travellers of the Gobi Desert have good reason to fear the singing sands, Miss Wright.
IAN: Except the Doctor.
(Ian looks towards the DOCTOR, who is still sleeping in his room despite the noise from outside.)
POLO: Where's Tegana? Has anybody seen him?
IAN: Well, he can't be out there - surely not!
BARBARA: But can't we do anything?
POLO: Nothing.
(IAN and POLO watch helplessly as the sand swirls outside. BARBARA decides to check SUSAN and PING-CHO's tent, and quickly leaves.)
POLO: Tegana's no fool. He can look after himself.
(BARBARA re-enters the main tent, in a hysterical condition. She has discovered that SUSAN and PING-CHO are not in their tent. She screams out in anguish, pleading with IAN and POLO that they must do something. IAN tries to restrain BARBARA from rushing outside.)
POLO: There's nothing we can do!
BARBARA: But Susan!
POLO: We shall have to wait!
(BARBARA starts screaming SUSAN's name, while IAN tries to calm her down.)
(SUSAN and PING-CHO huddle closer to one another as the sandstorm passes over them. SUSAN thinks she can hear her name being called.)
SUSAN: I'm here!. Ian, over here!
(She looks up in the direction of the voice, and sees a shadow looming over her from out of the sand. She screams...)
(IAN waits impatiently for the storm to pass.)
IAN: Let me go look for them.
POLO: Not until it's light.
IAN: Let me go when the storm is over!
POLO: Ian, you'd miss them in the dark. You must wait until it's light!
(SUSAN's screams are cut off as she recognises the figure as TEGANA. The warlord looks down at the two cowering girls.)
(The storm has passed. IAN, BARBARA and POLO wait in the main tent. BARBARA is frantic with worry and impatience.)
BARBARA: We can't just go on sitting here!
(IAN looks towards the DOCTOR's room.)
IAN: The Doctor's still asleep. We don't want him to know about the girls.
POLO: Barbara, I give you my word that until we find the girls, we will not leave this place.
(The group look up startled when TEGANA, SUSAN and PING-CHO enter the tent. BARBARA jumps up and rushes to SUSAN.)
BARBARA: Susan! You had us all half worried to death. Where have you been?
SUSAN: We went for a walk.
BARBARA: A walk!
(POLO is furious.)
POLO: Don't you dare do that again without asking me! Do you understand? That applies to you too, Ping-Cho.
SUSAN: I'm sorry, Messr Marco. Has Grandfather been very well?
IAN: Luckily for you, he's been asleep the whole time.
POLO: And we don't want him to know anything about this. I'm surprised you would encourage such a venture, Tegana.
TEGANA: (surprised) Why blame me? I found them - crouched behind a sand dune.
POLO: You were alone?
TEGANA: It was a pleasant night. I decided to go for a walk. I told the guard - he knew all about it.
POLO: In future, the guards will be told to notify me immediately if any of you wish to leave this camp. Now go and change, we have to leave camp soon.
(TEGANA, SUSAN and PING-CHO walk off to their tents. BARBARA approaches POLO.)
BARBARA: This has been a terrible experience for us all, Marco. Couldn't we stay here one more night?
POLO: I'm sorry, Miss Wright.
BARBARA: But surely one more day can't make that much of a difference.
POLO: One day without progress is one day's water wasted. That could be the difference between life and death.
(Outside the main tent, TEGANA removes the phial of poison from his pocket. He studies the poison carefully, thinking what to do next.)
(POLO writes in his journal.)
POLO: Progress today has been good, although we were all very tired after a sleepless night. How can I ever repay Tegana for saving Ping-Cho and Susan? We covered fifteen miles before I gave the order to set up camp for the night.
(The next evening, PING-CHO and SUSAN are still recovering from the previous night's ordeal. SUSAN is frantically brushing her hair.)
SUSAN: I still can't get all this sand from my hair.
PING-CHO: Susan, last night there were moments when I was sure I would never be here again.
SUSAN: Ping-Cho, do you believe Tegana last night?
PING-CHO: He told Messr Marco he went for a walk.
SUSAN: I don't think Tegana's the type of man who goes for a walk just because it's a nice night. He had other reasons.
PING-CHO: Why would he lie to Messr Marco? He's an important man. He's a special emissary from a great Mongol leader who has been at war with Kublai Khan. That is why Tegana is travelling with the caravan. Why would a man like that lie about what he was doing in the desert?
SUSAN: Who knows?
(In the main tent, TEGANA is polishing his sword, while POLO writes in his journal.)
TEGANA: What is that you do?
POLO: It's a journal.
TEGANA: Why?
POLO: Just for a record.
(POLO continues to write. Suddenly, TEGANA yells out POLO's name, and lunges at POLO with his sword. POLO reacts quickly to parry the blow.)
POLO: That's excellent, excellent.
TEGANA: Better a man keeps the blade of his sword clean, than sharp. Now, continue with your writing, Marco. I'll see to the horses tonight. I'll give the guard his instructions.
POLO: No, send him to me.
(TEGANA is uncertain.)
POLO: Please.
(Once outside the main tent, TEGANA walks towards the wagon containing the water gourds. He glances around to check that he is unseen, and slashes open one of the gourds. The precious water splashes all over the ground.)
(The next morning, IAN, POLO and BARBARA survey the damage caused to their water supply.)
IAN: All of them, Marco?
POLO: Except the one we're using.
IAN: How much is there left?
POLO: Only enough for a day.
IAN: With rationing, how long them?
POLO: Three or four days.
BARBARA: Is there enough to get us back to Lop?
POLO: If we're very careful with it, yes.
(IAN indicates the split gourds.)
IAN: But who would have done this?
POLO: Bandits, Ian.
BARBARA: Bandits? In the desert?
POLO: Yes, it has happened before, but not to me. The bandits follow a caravan out into the desert. Then one night, this happens. The caravan is forced to turn back. Then, when everyone is weak through lack of water, the bandits attack.
IAN: So if we turn back, we're bound to be attacked.
POLO: Yes, and then we shall have to fight.
(TEGANA silently joins the group.)
IAN: There must be somewhere else we can go too.
POLO: There is a small oasis, but that's one weeks journey north of here.
IAN: Marco, if we pressed really hard, going day and night, how long would it take then?
POLO: Five, possibly six days.
IAN: As long as that?
POLO: Yes, and with the water rationed we'll be going weaker all the time. There is another danger, Ian - bandits always camp near an oasis.
BARBARA: So we must go back to Lop.
IAN: But they're bound to be waiting for us there. No, we must go north, and take a chance.
POLO: Yes, what Ian says makes sense. We shall go to the oasis.
TEGANA: We shall all die of thirst. I will not go.
POLO: Then what will you do?
TEGANA: Return to Lop. I'm not afraid of any bandits. Just give me my sword...
POLO: No, Tegana. I am commander of this caravan, and I am responsible to Kublai Khan for your safety. We go north, together.
POLO: Have I made the right decision? Each day, our progress towards the oasis becomes less. On the first day, we covered twenty miles. On the second, fifteen. The third, ten. The fourth day's total was eight. Now on the fifth day we have only travelled two miles before the heat of the sun has forced us to stop. We are nearly exhausted, and our situation is perilous.
(The sun continues to beat down relentlessly on the caravan. The weary travellers lie motionless in the shade of the wagons. POLO shares out the last last few drops of water.)
POLO: We must move on again as soon we've had a rest.
(Everyone drinks their water in silence. They are all seriously affected by heat exhaustion.)
DOCTOR: Marco, is this all we have left?
POLO: Until we reach the oasis, this is it.
BARBARA: What, no more?
IAN: How much further?
POLO: I cannot say.
TEGANA: I will go to the oasis and bring back water.
POLO: You think you can reach the oasis?
TEGANA: My horse is still the strongest.
POLO: Very well, Tegana.
(TEGANA prepares to leave.)
TEGANA: You wait for me here.
POLO: No. While we can, we will push forward towards the oasis.
(TEGANA mounts his horse, and heads off into the desert. IAN calls out weakly after him.)
IAN: Good luck, Tegana!
POLO: We must go.
(The group prepares to leave. Suddenly, the DOCTOR collapses unconscious.)
SUSAN: Grandfather!
POLO: We'll set up a place for him in the wagon.
BARBARA: With all the bumps? He needs to rest in comfort, Marco. What about the TARDIS?
IAN: It would be more comfortable, Marco.
SUSAN: Please, Messr Marco!
(POLO thinks about the suggestion.)
POLO: Very well. The Doctor can travel in his own caravan. Susan, you can go with him. And you Ian, must remain with me.
IAN: Thank you, Marco. But without water, the Doctor isn't going to last twenty-four hours.
POLO: Our fate rests with Tegana.
(TEGANA arrives towards the oasis, and greedily drinks the water. He fills a water gourd, and triumphantly holds it to the sky.)
TEGANA: Here's water, Marco Polo. Come for it!
Next Episode : FIVE HUNDRED EYES
Doctor Who
WILLIAM HARTNELL
Ian Chesterton
WILLIAM RUSSELL
Barbara Wright
JACQUELINE HILL
Susan Foreman
CAROLE ANN FORD
Marco Polo
MARK EDEN
Tegana
DERRIN NESBITT
Ping-Cho
ZIENIA MERTON
Title music composed by
RON GRAINER
and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Incidental Music
TRISTRAM CARY
Story Editor
DAVID WHITAKER
Designer
BARRY NEWBERY
Associate Producer
MERVYN PINFIELD
Producer
VERITY LAMBERT
Directed by
WARIS HUSSEIN
Transcribed by
BRUCE ROBINSON (robinsba@ozemail.com.au)
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