" What's this?" " Controller 2957's office." "I thought we might find out what's happened to Simon." " lf we're caught." " We won't be." "You only decided to come because you were worried about 2957." "That's not true. I let you come because you were in a state about Simon." "I've still the Community to think about." "I can't wander around like this." "Look!" " They're prisoners in those chairs." " Looks like it." "I thought I might as well bring it along myself." "Very well." "You can release them for a little now." "Now, let's see what we've got here." "I told the chef to take it seriously." " lf we could find it..." " lt shouldn't be too hard." "I'm afraid there's some worrying news." "There's been a measurable change in the nitrogen content of the air." " Oh, no." " lt's true." "Readings taken an hour ago." "Try and get some sound on the picture." "Hang on." " You've had confirmation from Europe?" " Yes. lt varies in places." "But there's a general consensus." " lt may be a temporary phenomenon." " lt better be." "A shift in the nitrogen balance could have serious consequences for us all." "Stop." "Don't move." "No one's advanced a viable theory yet." "Argh!" " Argh!" " Come on!" "Well, and who have we here?" "Simon, wait a minute." "That light, Alpha 16." "I told you. I heard that clones have a built-in weakness." "With these ones, it's sensitivity to bright light." "What's this place?" "It's part of the old building." "Before the Ministry's redesign." "How did you know about it?" "I saw Traynor here when he edited the tapes. I noticed how he got in and out." " This will be useful." "Come on." " Simon, I can't go." " Why not?" " You heard Alpha 16." "The change in the nitrogen content of the air. I'm needed." "Alpha Four is after your blood." "There's still me to explain." "Take your chances." "But I know what I'd do in your position." "Oh, for goodness' sake, come on." "That's right." "The girl from the jungle." "Simon's friend." " No!" " Don't let's waste time." " And the other young lady?" " She's nothing to do with me." "We met by accident." "She was going to Birmingham." " Don't be ridiculous." " Liverpool, then." " Oh, Liverpool's not there any more." " Perhaps she'd speak for herself." "What makes you think I'd have anything to say...to a Technocrat?" "Technocrat?" "You don't approve of the aims of the Ministry of Forward Development?" " l didn't say that." " You oppose the Master Plan." " l didn't say that either." " Like 2957." " What?" " You know Controller 2957." " A little. I met him...once." " ln the jungle." " No." " Designation?" "I'm called Beth." " Well, well, without social registration." " Yes." "A Misfit." "So, Beth, what are you doing here, please?" "You'll speak in the end, even to a Technocrat." "(Groans)" " Wake up." " (Groans)" "Oh!" "Oh!" "The truth is you're under the protection of Controller 2957." " No." " You've come for help." "He supports your illegal life." " That isn't true." " l'll say." " What?" " He's too selfish even to..." "I mean..." "Splendid." "17, I think we might move along to the computer room." "Just as you say, Four." "If you please, this way." " 16!" " The alarm." " What happened?" " 2957 and the boy escaped." "(Alarm bleeps)" "It's so difficult to move." "Even to breathe." "What was the sense in coming here anyway?" "There's nowhere else to go now." "Only Beth." "Anyway, there's Liz." "Oh, yes, there's Liz and Beth." "Why did you get so involved with her?" "It's made endless complications." "It's no good turning on me." "You took up where l left off." "Anyway, I like Liz." "She's..." "Well, she's..." "Oh, I don't know." "If you hadn't had that stupid test, we wouldn't be in this mess." "You mean we'd be with the Misfits chipping away at stone?" "And what's wrong with that?" "Nothing, I suppose." "Nothing." "It was such a bright future, Simon, for all of us." "I was certain that the rational application of science could make a better world." "But it hasn't." "Poor Beth. I haven't been very kind to Beth, I'm afraid." "But then I've never been very kind to anyone, really." "Not even to poor old Traynor." "Poor old Traynor?" "Oh, yes." "He hadn't done that much wrong when I denounced him." "Well, it was all part of the struggle for power." "Just as Alpha Four had to strike out at me, so I had to bring Traynor down when I got the chance." "You see, you changed more than you imagined when you took up a post in the Ministry of Forward Development." "From a bright-eyed innocent into a..." "Well, who can tell?" "But you changed." "(Bleeping)" " Well, 17?" " Operational, Four." "Just checking phase circuits." "Ah, our two Misfits." "Thank you, 16." "That'll be all." "To all intents and purposes, this is just a chair." " Yes." " But it possesses other properties." "These terminals, for instance, they link up to nerve passages in the brain." "These clamps regulate pulse rates and control blood pressure." " l see." " A remarkable chair for its purpose." "Tell me, about this misfit Community of yours... I don't believe I know any such Community." "I simply want to know its location." " Perhaps the computer..." " What choice have you got?" "You'll never get back. I can turn you over to the authorities and you'll go to jail." " But if you'll help me..." " Yes, Alpha Four?" "What then?" "I may be able to hold things up for a while, a month perhaps, two even." " Ow!" " Leave her alone!" " Do you know what that chair's for?" " No!" " lt's a mind reconstructor." " l don't understand." "It's used for clones who haven't turned out true to type." "They're reduced to Deltas as a result." "Readjusted to a lower scale of intelligence." "Deltas don't have much perception." "Deltas never appreciate the finer things of life." "Do we have to go to all that trouble in your case?" "Or shall we just settle where the Community is and leave it at that?" " (White noise)" " What's the matter?" "We must keep a constant watch on the jungle." "(Sighs) I'll have to open it up." "Can you make it rain, too, Mr Technocrat, sir?" "When our water barrel's finally dry, can you fill it up again?" "Hunters?" "Controller 2957." " Hello, Paul." " Simon, you're back!" "There's hardly any water and we don't know how to get more." " Did you see Beth and Liz?" " Aren't they here?" " Haven't been all evening." " Where did they go?" "I'm not sure. I thought they were going up to the conurbation." "Something to do with you and Simon." "(2957) To do with me and Simon?" "In what way?" "(Simon) Perhaps they've been caught." "(2957) Why go there?" "It's dangerous." "They must have heard we were in trouble." " And gone to help us?" " Maybe." " But that's idiotic..." "Argh!" " Traynor." "Charles Traynor." "Once your superior, more lately your victim." " What are you doing here?" " Beth says he's a friend now." " Traynor?" " (Traynor) This man betrays his friends." "You want to be sold out, then trust him." "You want to be deprived of your status." "He's been betrayed himself." " They're denouncing me." " You?" " Yes." " You surprise me." " Stop!" " The trouble you're in I created for you." "As you probably realise." "In revenge for what you did to me." " (Vera) Look!" " Look at the stars." "They're all bigger." "Closer." "The stars will drop from the firmament and the moon will turn to blood." "The end...and the beginning." "(Alpha Four) Very well." "This is your last chance." "I want to know where your misfit Community is." "There isn't any Community." "I don't know what you mean." "You must be very fond of Controller 2957 to defend him." "Controller 2957 has nothing to do with it." "I hardly know the man. I'm anxious bec..." " Yes?" " Nothing." "Other traitors." "Others without social registration." "It's really foolish of you to resist for so long." " Will you speak now?" " No." "Stand up, then." " Stand up?" " Yes." "Move to one side." "Liz, you take her place." " You can't do that." " l beg your pardon?" "It's nothing to do with the younger girl." "Why do you have to make it such a personal issue?" "Do I have to remind you of our separate gradings?" " No." " There's nothing irregular." " l can force her to surrender information." " l know that." "Conduct Liz to the reconstructor and secure her." " That won't be necessary." " Beth, you've got to." " l can't let anything happen to you." " But I don't think anything can." " (Alpha Four) What do you mean?" " Could I speak to Beth alone?" "No." "You must think we're very simple." "Don't think you can trick your way out of things." "The barrier, Beth." "People from the other side can't come to any harm." "That's enough." "Do you tell me what I want to know or do I put Liz on the reconstructor?" "You put me on the reconstructor." "Just as you wish. 17." "It's a painless process, I'm glad to say." "We've no desire to hurt anyone." "Only the aftermath may prove difficult to bear." "Beth." "So we're about to reduce you to Delta status of intelligence." "First we apply an electronic block." "This closes down memory functions so reconstitution becomes possible. 17." " No, wait, I..." " Yes, Beth?" "I'll be all right, Beth." "Truly." "(Bleeping)" "No pain?" "No." "No, I'm just..." "That's enough." "Very good." "Now, then, what's your name?" "My name is..." "Liz." "Very good." "And why are you here?" "I'm..." "I'm not sure any more." "Wait a minute." "I can't seem to..." "Beth." "Excellent." "So we can proceed to stage two." "This breaks down the power of imagination so you're not able to associate as you used to. 17." "That's enough. I'll speak now." "Why, Beth?" "You shouldn't." "It's all an illusion." "I'm sorry. I can't take that chance." "We'll show him where the Community is." "Why?" "If you can hold out, so can I." "Show him, dear." "It's a rather difficult location to describe, isn't it?" "We'll just have to..." "lead him there?" "(2957 and Simon chatting, indistinct)" "Oh, it's crazy. lt's so close." "(2957) We must be ready for the testing." "The end...and the beginning." "I just hope we've got the right voltage." " What's that?" " lt's our secret weapon." " OK for a test?" " Stand by." " Simon, it works." " We've done it." "Make sure everything's OK." "Tighten it up." "Science." "Science creates and science destroys." "The end is now!" "The end is the beginning for those who serve science." "I still don't understand why this man is permitted to stay here." "Isn't he a proved traitor?" "Beth will make up her mind about me when she gets back." "I tried to apologise for what I've done to you." " Perhaps it wasn't as bad as it seemed." " Meaning?" "You were as wrong as I was." "So who have I harmed?" "Haven't I done both of us a good turn?" "Our job now is to work together to help Beth." "But she doesn't serve science." "Will she understand the new beginning?" "The issue is still between the light and the darkness." " Just as it always was." " (Vera) Look!" "(2957) Beth." "(Simon) Alpha Four." "Which way?" "The northwesterly route is the quickest as the crow flies, but we're not crows." "And direct access means crossing the plain." " You don't mean..." " Yes." "The wide-open spaces." " Stop this." " The sun's relentless rays." "Where?" "What are you talking about?" "If we take the quickest route, we have to cross a bare patch of ground." "So we're looking for a cooler route." " lt is awfully hot." " All right." "The question is do we bear west, turn sharp right and move northwesterly?" "Or do we bear east, turn sharp left and then into a circle of north-northeast, so we eventually face north northwest?" "Listen, if you don't stop this game..." " Yes?" " ..." "I'll take you to the conurbation." " You know the way?" " Keep them covered." "Any more of this and we'll dispose of you and never mind the Misfits." "Tell you what, let's split the difference and go northeast." "Oh, that northeast." "Beth, wait for me!" "Don't lose patience." "We can play this game as long as they can." "Beth must be leading them round in circles." " You know, I've been thinking." " Oh?" "What about?" "Everything." "The falling stars, for one thing." "Stars don't drop from the firmament." "They look as if they've moved closer because of the climactic conditions." "That business of the falling nitrogen content of the air." " Beth's video screen not working." " (Twig snaps)" "Yes." "Video screen." "Weak signal getting weaker." "The most unusual climactic conditions." "Why's everything going wrong?" "The mist over the southern Atlantic." " You pumped too much water." " Simon, I didn't." "The Master Plan was quite specific. 1 ,200 million gallons per day." "You could get arrested for saying things like that." "There must be a mistake." "There's a difference of 300 million gallons." "It's Traynor." "He left instructions for 1 ,500." "Wait, what's that?" " What?" " Over there, where the trees end." "It looks like caves." "We've been here before." "You're leading us in circles." "Listen to me." " No, don't hurt her." " Be quiet!" "You're going to lead me to your Community." " So you can destroy them?" " Would you rather I destroyed you?" " Then you won't find the Community." " l've taken enough of this." "Delta 32." "(Breathes heavily)" "Simon?" "Simon, are you here?" " The Community, where is it?" " She'll never tell you!" " Argh!" " (2957) Quickly, Beth." "Don't stop before they come round!" " But where did Vera go?" " Why worry about things like that?" "The new world soon, boy." "The new world." "She should be here." "We've got to stick together." "If they don't rescue Beth from the hunters...." " (Chattering)" " Beth." " How the devil did you manage it?" " The lamp, it stopped the clones." " Stopped them?" " Didn't you know?" "Clones have a built-in weakness." "These have a sensitivity to bright light." " ls that so?" " Yes." "And how did you discover such a remarkable fact?" "I just worked it out." "Always so clever, Simon." "(Groans)" "(Vera) Simon?" "Simon, where are you?" "Simon?" "Simon, it's me, Vera." "(Screams)" "(Beth) Caves?" "You say you found some caves?" "(2957) Yes." "They're on the western edge of the jungle." "They're deep and cool and there's water." " Water?" " Just a trickle, but we could work on it." "The Community could hole up there for months." "We might be able to start fungus cultures, produce food." "We?" "You keep saying we." "Well, yes, Beth." "Yes." "You see, well, I've always been truthful to you, haven't I?" "Yes. I think so." "Though it was always your kind of truth." "Then will you believe me now?" "No matter what Traynor says, I'm not a traitor." "I've come here in all sincerity because I can no longer believe in the Master Plan." "It has misled us all, except you here in the Community." "I thought it would save the world." "That the trees and flowers and a few Misfits didn't matter, but they do." "The Plan would destroy them." "We must save the Community before it's too late." "But before you wouldn't help at all." "That's when I still believed in the Plan, Liz." "But now I see it's all been a great error." "What was meant to save the world has destroyed it." "Oh!" "(Screaming)" " Vera!" " Simon!" "I was looking for you and they found me and made me bring them here." "The light!" " What did you do that for?" " Nothing must stand in the way, Simon." "The Master Plan is supreme." "Alpha Four, you certainly took your time getting here." "Traynor, once your controller in chief." "I am resuming command."