The Pirate Planet (TV story): Difference between revisions

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doctor=[[Fourth Doctor]] |
doctor=[[Fourth Doctor]] |
companions= [[K-9]] Mark II <br/>[[Romana I]] |
companions= [[K-9]] Mark II <br/>[[Romana I]] |
enemy= [[The Captain]] |
enemy= [[Pirate Captain|The Captain]] |
year= [[Zanak]] |
year= [[Zanak]] |
writer= [[Douglas Adams]] |
writer= [[Douglas Adams]] |
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previous story = [[The Ribos Operation]] |
previous story = [[The Ribos Operation]] |
next story = [[The Stones of Blood]] }}
next story = [[The Stones of Blood]] }}
'''The Pirate Planet''' was the second story of [[Season 16]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the first contribution to the series of writer [[Douglas Adams]].


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
The tracer detects the second segment on the planet Calufrax. The TARDIS makes a bumpy landing, and the Doctor and Romana soon discover that they are not on Calufrax at all. They are in fact on Zanak, a planet that has been hollowed out and fitted with engines so that it can transmat through space and materialise around others - such as Calufrax - to plunder their mineral wealth, leaving them as shrunken husks held by gravitational forces in a 'trophy room'.
The Doctor and Romana find that the second segment to the Key to Time is on the planet Calufrax. Yet they arrive on a planet called Zanak, which has been hollowed out and fitted with hyperspace engines, allowing its insane half-robot Captain to materialise it around other smaller planets and plunder their resources.


Ostensibly in charge is the Captain, whose body has been partially replaced with robotic parts following a near-fatal crash, but he is merely a puppet controlled by his nurse - a projection of Zanak's original ruler, the aged Queen Xanxia.
==Plot==


Xanxia is using time dams, powered by the forces generated in the trophy room, to keep her body alive until this new, younger form has stabilised. The Captain prepares Zanak to 'jump' again - this time with Earth as its target.
===Part 1===
[[Image:Pirate_planet_part1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|The power of thought grants the [[Mentiad]]s invulnerability]]
On a mountain base, the nervous [[Fibuli|Mr. Fibuli]] informs the impatient [[Pirate Captain|Captain]] that a new source has been found for [[Vasilium]]. Immediate orders to mine it follow. Speaking to the people of the planet, the Captain declares a new golden age. As the people celebrate, a different group, dressed in yellow robes, mentally watch [[Pralix]], who doesn't appear as thrilled with the Captain's announcement as everybody else.


The Doctor attempts to thwart his plans, calling on the assistance of the Mentiads - a gestalt of telepaths amongst Zanak's indigenous population - to sabotage the engines.
In the [[TARDIS]], the [[Key to Time tracer]] points [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[Romana]] to the cold and boring planet of [[Calufrax]]. The TARDIS makes a bumpy landing, and the pair soon discover that they are not in Calufrax at all. The area they land in is deserted until they meet a local who tells them that the people of his planet are going to be rich because of the Captain. He gives Romana some diamonds, saying they can be found everywhere, and warns her and the Doctor about the [[Mentiad]]s, though he leaves before he can elaborate. The Doctor finds more precious stones all around, including the extremely rare [[Oolion]]. The Doctor continues roaming, but Romana finds herself arrested by one of the Captain's guards.


The Captain rebels against the nurse, but she kills him. The nurse herself is then destroyed by one of the Zanak natives whom the Doctor, Romana and K9 have befriended.
Meanwhile, Pralix is now delirious, watched over by [[Balaton]], [[Mula]] and [[Kimus]]. Balaton thinks more should be done to protect him from the Mentiads, the yellow-robed people who are trying to make telepathic contact with him. On the mountain base, the Captain is also keen to find the "rogue telepath". The Doctor appears on the scene, keen to investigate why this is not Calufrax. A group of Mentiads soon follow, but when the Doctor tries to address them, they attack him with their thoughts.


The Doctor realises that the second segment comprises the whole of the planet Calufrax. He contrives to drop the compressed husks from the trophy room into a space-time vortex created by the TARDIS in the centre of Zanak, and is then able to pick up and convert the segment at his leisure.
===Part 2===
[[Image:Pirate_planet_part2.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Not quite a [[linear induction corridor]] moves [[the Doctor]] along at a steady pace]]
When the Doctor wakes up, Pralix and the Mentiads are gone. [[K9]] tells the Doctor about Romana's arrest, giving him an incentive to try to get the Bridge atop the mountain, where she has been taken by the guard. Kimus accompanies him, hoping to find a way to rescue Pralix from the Mentiads. They get up to the mountain using an [[air car]], which moves upwards to its destination.


==Plot==
On the Bridge, Fibuli breaks the news to the Captain that the [[macromat field integrator]] has burnt out, and they cannot replace it themselves. He suggests one more jump to find mineral [[PJX 1-8]], which would do the same job as the integrator. Romana is brought up to the Bridge, and the Doctor also finds his way up. The Captain isn't taking any chances, and has guns trained on them as he encourages them to lend technical assistance. Romana is confused that the tracer gives out a continuous signal wherever they go. This makes the Doctor realise what's going on. After they escape with Kimus and make their way underground, they find the ground beneath them is frozen. The Doctor explains the planet they are on, [[Zanak]], has been hollowed out and fitted with engines so that it can [[transmat]] through space and materialise around others - such as Calufrax - to plunder their mineral wealth.
''to be added''
 
They have no time to pause however as the Captain's guards give chase from behind, but as they run, they face a group of Mentiads in front.
 
===Part 3===
[[Image:Pirate_planet_part3.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[The Doctor]] and [[Kimus]] find the (almost) dead [[Queen Xanxia]]]]
The Doctor finds he has misunderstood the Mentiads - they are here to save them from the guards. Pralix is now one of the Mentiads. They create a force field using their telepathic abilities. They claim that they have not removed the Captain from power because they do not understand him. They are running out of time, however, because the crystals on Calufrax can be used to block the Mentiads telepathic abilities, ending the thread posed by them.
 
===Part 4===
[[Image:Pirate_planet_part4.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Zanak]] tries to materialize around [[Earth]]]]


==Cast==
==Cast==
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*[[Romana I]] - [[Mary Tamm]]   
*[[Romana I]] - [[Mary Tamm]]   
*Voice of [[K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
*Voice of [[K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
*Balaton - [[Ralph Michael]]
*[[Balaton]] - [[Ralph Michael]]
*Captain - [[Bruce Purchase]]
*[[Pirate Captain|The Captain]] - [[Bruce Purchase]]
*Citizen - [[Clive Bennett]]
*Citizen - [[Clive Bennett]]
*Guard - [[Adam Kurakin]]
*Guard - [[Adam Kurakin]]
*Kimus - [[David Warwick]]
*[[Kimus]] - [[David Warwick]]
*Mentiad - [[Bernard Finch]]
*[[Mentiad]] - [[Bernard Finch]]
*Mr. Fibuli - [[Andrew Robertson]]
*[[Fibuli|Mr. Fibuli]] - [[Andrew Robertson]]
*Mula - [[Primi Townsend]]
*[[Mula]] - [[Primi Townsend]]
*Nurse - [[Rosalind Lloyd]]
*Nurse - [[Rosalind Lloyd]]
*Pralix - [[David Sibley]]
*[[Pralix]] - [[David Sibley]]
*Queen Xanxia - [[Vi Delmar]]
*[[Queen Xanxia]] - [[Vi Delmar]]


==Crew==
==Production Crew==
*[[Writer]] - [[Douglas Adams]]
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Ruth Mayorcas]]
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Ruth Mayorcas]]
*[[Costumes]] - [[L Rowland Warne]]
*[[Costumes]] - [[L Rowland Warne]]
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*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Janis Gould]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Janis Gould]]
*[[Producer]] - [[Graham Williams]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Michael Owen Morris]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Michael Owen Morris]]
*[[Production Unit Manager]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
*[[Production Unit Manager]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
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*[[Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
*[[Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Colin Mapson]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Colin Mapson]]
*[[Producer]] - [[Graham Williams]]
*[[Director]] - [[Pennant Roberts]]


==References==
==References==
Line 90: Line 106:


===Ratings===
===Ratings===
*Part 1 - 9.1 million
*Part 1 - 9.1m viewers.
*Part 2 - 7.4 million
*Part 2 - 7.4m viewers.
*Part 3 - 8.2 million
*Part 3 - 8.2m viewers.
*Part 4 - 8.4 million
*Part 4 - 8.4m viewers.


===Myths===
===Myths===
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*Dan-yr-Ogof caves in Powys, [[Wales]].
*Dan-yr-Ogof caves in Powys, [[Wales]].


===Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors===
===Discontinuity===
''to be added''
''to be added''


Line 108: Line 124:


==DVD, Video and Other Releases==
==DVD, Video and Other Releases==
''to be added''
 
'''DVD Releases'''
 
[[Image:Ktt_region2.JPG|right|75px]]
[[Image:Ktt_region1.jpg|right|75px]]
[[Image:Pirate_planet_region1.jpg|right|75px]]
 
*Released along with ''[[The Ribos Operation]]'', ''[[The Stones of Blood]]'', ''[[The Androids of Tara]]'', ''[[The Power of Kroll]]'' and ''[[The Armageddon Factor]]'' as ''Doctor Who: The Key to Time''. This [[October]] [[2002]] release was only in Region 1. Extras in include commentary by [[Tom Baker]], [[Mary Tamm]] and [[Pennant Roberts]], a photo gallery and production information subtitles.
 
*Also released with same stories as ''Doctor Who: The Key to Time'', an extras-laden box set limited to 15,000 copies in its initial UK release on [[24th September]] [[2007]].
 
Contents:
*Commentary by [[Tom Baker]], [[Mary Tamm]] and [[Pennant Roberts]] (carried over from the 2002 set).
*Commentary by [[Bruce Purchase]] and [[Pennant Roberts]].
*[[Parrot Fashion]] - A 30-minute documentary featuring an archive interview with writer [[Douglas Adams]], plus cast and crew including Mary Tamm, [[John Leeson]], Bruce Purchase and [[Rosalind Lloyd]].
*Film Inserts, Deleted Scenes & Outtakes - A collection of extra material from the story's production.
*[[Weird Science]] - This spoof [[1970s]] schools programme looks at some of the science seen in the [[Season 16|Key to Time season]].
*Continuities - Off-air continuity links from the story's original transmissions.
*Radio Times Billings - Listings from Radio Times (DVD-ROM PC/Mac).
*Coming Soon Trailer - ''[[Planet of Evil]]''.
*Photo Gallery
*Production Subtitles


==Target Novelisations==
==Target Novelisations==
Line 121: Line 158:
* [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/5b.html '''The Invasion of Time''' entry at A Brief History of Time (Travel)]
* [http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/5b.html '''The Invasion of Time''' entry at A Brief History of Time (Travel)]
* [http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=5b Outpost Gallifrey entry for '''The Pirate Planet''']
* [http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=5b Outpost Gallifrey entry for '''The Pirate Planet''']
{{Stub}}


[[Category:Fourth Doctor episodes|Pirate Planet]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor episodes|Pirate Planet]]
[[Category:Stories with unknown or disputed dates|Pirate Planet]]
[[Category:Stories with unknown or disputed dates|Pirate Planet]]
[[Category:1978 television stories|Pirate Planet]]
[[Category:1978 television stories|Pirate Planet]]

Revision as of 16:22, 18 October 2007


The Pirate Planet was the second story of Season 16 of Doctor Who. It was the first contribution to the series of writer Douglas Adams.

Synopsis

The Doctor and Romana find that the second segment to the Key to Time is on the planet Calufrax. Yet they arrive on a planet called Zanak, which has been hollowed out and fitted with hyperspace engines, allowing its insane half-robot Captain to materialise it around other smaller planets and plunder their resources.

Plot

Part 1

File:Pirate planet part1.JPG
The power of thought grants the Mentiads invulnerability

On a mountain base, the nervous Mr. Fibuli informs the impatient Captain that a new source has been found for Vasilium. Immediate orders to mine it follow. Speaking to the people of the planet, the Captain declares a new golden age. As the people celebrate, a different group, dressed in yellow robes, mentally watch Pralix, who doesn't appear as thrilled with the Captain's announcement as everybody else.

In the TARDIS, the Key to Time tracer points the Doctor and Romana to the cold and boring planet of Calufrax. The TARDIS makes a bumpy landing, and the pair soon discover that they are not in Calufrax at all. The area they land in is deserted until they meet a local who tells them that the people of his planet are going to be rich because of the Captain. He gives Romana some diamonds, saying they can be found everywhere, and warns her and the Doctor about the Mentiads, though he leaves before he can elaborate. The Doctor finds more precious stones all around, including the extremely rare Oolion. The Doctor continues roaming, but Romana finds herself arrested by one of the Captain's guards.

Meanwhile, Pralix is now delirious, watched over by Balaton, Mula and Kimus. Balaton thinks more should be done to protect him from the Mentiads, the yellow-robed people who are trying to make telepathic contact with him. On the mountain base, the Captain is also keen to find the "rogue telepath". The Doctor appears on the scene, keen to investigate why this is not Calufrax. A group of Mentiads soon follow, but when the Doctor tries to address them, they attack him with their thoughts.

Part 2

File:Pirate planet part2.JPG
Not quite a linear induction corridor moves the Doctor along at a steady pace

When the Doctor wakes up, Pralix and the Mentiads are gone. K9 tells the Doctor about Romana's arrest, giving him an incentive to try to get the Bridge atop the mountain, where she has been taken by the guard. Kimus accompanies him, hoping to find a way to rescue Pralix from the Mentiads. They get up to the mountain using an air car, which moves upwards to its destination.

On the Bridge, Fibuli breaks the news to the Captain that the macromat field integrator has burnt out, and they cannot replace it themselves. He suggests one more jump to find mineral PJX 1-8, which would do the same job as the integrator. Romana is brought up to the Bridge, and the Doctor also finds his way up. The Captain isn't taking any chances, and has guns trained on them as he encourages them to lend technical assistance. Romana is confused that the tracer gives out a continuous signal wherever they go. This makes the Doctor realise what's going on. After they escape with Kimus and make their way underground, they find the ground beneath them is frozen. The Doctor explains the planet they are on, Zanak, has been hollowed out and fitted with engines so that it can transmat through space and materialise around others - such as Calufrax - to plunder their mineral wealth.

They have no time to pause however as the Captain's guards give chase from behind, but as they run, they face a group of Mentiads in front.

Part 3

File:Pirate planet part3.JPG
The Doctor and Kimus find the (almost) dead Queen Xanxia

The Doctor finds he has misunderstood the Mentiads - they are here to save them from the guards. Pralix is now one of the Mentiads. They create a force field using their telepathic abilities. They claim that they have not removed the Captain from power because they do not understand him. They are running out of time, however, because the crystals on Calufrax can be used to block the Mentiads telepathic abilities, ending the thread posed by them.

Part 4

File:Pirate planet part4.JPG
Zanak tries to materialize around Earth

Cast

Production Crew

References

Planets

Story Notes

  • This is Douglas Adams' first contribution to Doctor Who.
  • Vi Delmar (who played the aged Queen Xanxia) demanded an extra fee before she would remove her false teeth for filming.

Ratings

  • Part 1 - 9.1m viewers.
  • Part 2 - 7.4m viewers.
  • Part 3 - 8.2m viewers.
  • Part 4 - 8.4m viewers.

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

  • Dan-yr-Ogof caves in Powys, Wales.

Discontinuity

to be added

Continuity

to be added

DVD, Video and Other Releases

DVD Releases

Ktt region2.JPG
Ktt region1.jpg
Pirate planet region1.jpg
  • Also released with same stories as Doctor Who: The Key to Time, an extras-laden box set limited to 15,000 copies in its initial UK release on 24th September 2007.

Contents:

Target Novelisations

to be added

See Also

External Links

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