Doctor Who 0022 The Massacre Four part story that aired February 5-26 1966. Written by John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh, directed by Paddy Russell. Linking script by Stephen Cole and Sue Cowley, narrated by Peter Purvis. Another story that's missing, there is no known footage from the series, some behind the scenes photos survive. I haven't heard this story before.
Lucarotti wrote the serial but script editor Tosh rewrote a good bit of it. It was the last serial Tosh worked on as script editor, he did rewrite much of Brian Hughes script for 0024 The Celestial Toymaker, that script was then rewritten by Gerry Davis, the new script editor. Davis created Jamie McCrimmon and was co-creator, along with Kit Pedler, of the Cybermen. The pair would later team up for the TV series Doomwatch.
The Tardis gang arrive in 1572 France just before the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Peter Purvis is still hanging on as the Doctor's companion Steven. The streets are unsafe but the Doctor insists on going into the city to visit Charles Preslin, an apothecary. We don't see the Doctor for much of the story, we do see William Hartnell playing a second role, that of the Abbot Of Amboise.
Steven meets a a Huguenot called Nicholas Muss who offers him a place to stay out of the curfew. They meet a servant girl named Ann who's heard of plot against the Huguenots. Steven sees the Abbot and thinks it's the Doctor in disguise but he's not.
Steven tries to track down the Doctor, Preslin's shop is empty and he's told by a local that the shop has been vacant two years, ever since the man was arrested and imprisoned. Steven learns of a plot against a man called the Sea Beggar and with Ann call on the Abbot to see if it the Doctor. The Abbot is killed in the street as he arrives at the man's home.
The Doctor arrives with an urge to flee the city, he tells Ann to go back to her aunt's house. It's the eve before the massacre and he can't change history. Inside the Tardis Steven is upset that the Doctor didn't try to stop it and didn't take Ann along. The Tardis arrives in 1966 Wimbledon Common and Steven leaves the ship. As the Doctor wonders about his life Dodo Chaplet, played by Jackie Lane, enters the Police Box to call the police. Steven pops in, he's seen the girl go into the Tardis and he comes to warn the Doctor that police are approaching. Before he realizes Dodo is there, the Doctor takes off. Dodo isn't too worried that she's in a time travelling spaceship.
A lot of people seem to like the serial, it would be nice to see the images that are missing, at least the audio is quite decent. I do still find Steven somewhat annoying but over all the story is entertaining.
Doctor Who 0023 The Ark Four part story that aired March 5-26 1966. Written by Paul Erickson and Lesley Scott, directed by Michael Imison.
I posted about this back in 2013. Click the link above to see the post, I pretty much feel the same about the serial.
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