The Smugglers (TV story)

The Smugglers was the first story of Season 4 of Doctor Who. As the last story produced as part of Season 3, William Hartnell's contract expired after production, although he returned for the next story, his final one as the current Doctor.

Synopsis

The TARDIS arrives on the coast of seventeenth century Cornwall - much to the astonishment of Polly and Ben. Pirates led by Captain Samuel Pike and his henchman Cherub are searching for a hidden treasure, while a smuggling ring masterminded by the local Squire is trying to off-load contraband.

The Doctor is kidnapped by Pike's men after inadvertently learning, from churchwarden Joseph Longfoot (who is subsequently murdered), a cryptic rhyme that holds the key to the treasure's whereabouts.

Although he manages to escape, the Doctor is eventually forced to tell Pike the rhyme's meaning - it refers to names on tombstones in the church crypt - and the treasure is uncovered. At this point, however, the militia arrive, having been summoned by Revenue officer Josiah Blake. A fight ensues in which Pike and many of his men are killed and the rest taken prisoner. The Doctor and his companions meanwhile slip back to the TARDIS.

Plot

Episode 1

The Doctor is shocked and angry to discover Ben and Polly inside the TARDIS, as they innocently try to return a TARDIS key. Ben and Polly are confused and doubtful about the Doctor's stories of time travel and his lack of control of this machine, but they are shocked to leave the TARDIS and find themselves in a cave adjacent to an ocean beach. The Doctor says he cannot take them back to London, which Ben takes as a refusal. Polly is excited about these events, but Ben is anxious to get back to his Navy barracks. They go along a path up the cliffs in search of a bus or train, but the Doctor is worriedly amused at the prospect of convincing his new companions where and when they might be.

Ben spots a church at the top of the cliffs, and as they arrive the Doctor guesses they may be sometime in the 17th century. As they look around, Longfoot, the Churchwarden, flint-lock pistol in hand, accosts the three travelers, mistaking Polly (in her 1960's trouser-suit) for a boy. The Doctor is able to convince him they are innocent travelers, and asks him to direct them to a place of shelter. The Churchwarden is suspicious, and asks if they know Avery or Pike, apparently two pirates. The Doctor resets the Churchwarden's dislocated finger, and the grateful man directs them to an inn. He warns the three to keep to themselves at the inn, and entrusts the Doctor with a riddle: "This is Deadman's secret key, Ringwood, Smallbeer, Gurney." The Doctor is confused, but as a storm is coming on, the travelers depart. After the Churchwarden retires inside, a large, muscular sailor emerges from behind a tombstone and goes inside the church.

Jacob Kewper, landlord of the inn, sends stableboy Tom to give a message to the Churchwarden regarding a "delivery" expected soon. Soon, the Doctor and friends, soaked from the rain, arrive at the inn to an unfriendly, suspicious welcome from Kewper. They convince him that Longfoot sent them, and Kewper instantly becomes friendly and welcoming.

A drunken Longfoot is confronted by the sailor, Cherub, who calls the Churchwarden an old shipmate of the Black Albatross and Captain Pike. Sobered, Longfoot refuses to give up knowledge of Avery's Gold, and Cherub interrogates him about the old man and his two lads. Cherub kills Longfoot, and decides to pursue the three travelers. Tom reports back to Kewper about Longfoot's death, and is sent out to fetch the Squire.

Cherub, now with three sailors, finds the travelers at the inn and threatens them about what the Churchwarden told them; they kidnap the Doctor and haul him back to the Black Albatross, while Ben has been clubbed down in the struggle. The Squire arrives but, instead of helping Polly find the Doctor, questions the strangers about their origins. When Ben and Polly are more concerned about the Doctor, they find themselves arrested for the murder of the Churchwarden.

The Doctor is shoved into Captain Pike's room on the ship. Pike's right hand is a nasty-looking hook, and the Doctor is threatened with it to force him to talk.

Episode 2

Pike reveals that Longfoot, Cherub, and himself were all shipmates under Captain Avery, now dead. He accuses Longfoot of stealing Avery's Gold, plunder that rightfully belongs to them. Cherub begs Pike to allow him to torture the Doctor.

Ben and Polly find themselves in the village gaol, guarded by Tom. They are unable to convince Tom that there are other strangers in town (Cherub and the sailors were unseen by other inn patrons), but Polly hits upon the idea of exploiting the superstitions of the locals to try and escape. Kewper locks up the inn, heads to the harbour, and rows out towards the Black Albatross.

The Doctor appeals to Pike as a "gentleman," and bargains to be treated more civilly, and receive a share of the treasure. They toast over wine. Jamaica enters to inform Pike about Kewper's arrival. The Doctor is brought to the galley for food and wine. Ben and "Paul" make a straw doll, and with "Paul" in a "trance," scare Tom into releasing these "warlocks." They decide to head back to the church.

Kewper is brought before the Captain to discuss "business," having bribed Cherub. Kewper reveals himself, Longfoot, and the Squire to be smugglers. Pike in turn threatens Kewper by revealing his true name, and that he and his men killed the Churchwarden; Kewper trembles at being before Pike. Pike and Cherub leave to find the Squire, preferring to do business directly with him. The Doctor is brought back, and he and Kewper are guarded by Jamaica.

Ben and Polly venture into the church crypt, and try to work out the circumstances of Longfoot's murder. As they decide to find the TARDIS, they hide as one of the tombs opens to reveal a secret passage, and a cloaked man comes out. Ben knocks him out and ties him up. Polly decides this may be the murderer, and goes to find the Squire to show him and prove their innocence. The bound man tells Ben he is Josiah Blake, the King's revenue officer. The passageway is further evidence against the Churchwarden and the smugglers whom Blake is trying to arrest. Ben is pleased to hear the passage leads to the beach, and leaves a protesting Blake to investigate.

Pike and Cherub visit the Squire, planning to get information about the smugglers' stash. The Squire unwittingly reveals the church to be a relay point. Before they can talk further, Polly is dragged in by a manservant, and is horrified when she recognizes Cherub. Kewper tells the Doctor what has happened to his friends, and the danger to the village from Pike and his men. The Doctor plans to escape using a ruse with playing cards. Meanwhile, The Squire and his new "friends" decide to visit the crypt to see who Ben has captured, suspecting it might be a revenue officer, and turn the tables on Ben. Ben discovers the passage leads back to where the TARDIS is, but his joy is cut short as the Squire, with Pike and Cherub, arrives, gun in hand.

Episode 3

Ben recognizes Cherub as well, but Pike dismisses his accusations. Blake calls out and is released, after the three villains decide he is not an immediate threat. Blake is convinced by them to take Ben and Polly with them as suspected smugglers.

The Doctor tells Kewper's fortune using playing cards, watched by a curious Jamaica. Jamaica asks for his fortune to be told, and Kewper uses the distraction to knock him out. The Doctor and Kewper decide to go to the Squire to tell him of the innocence of Ben and Polly, and the presence of Pike.

Outside in the graveyard, the Squire reveals a tomb to be one of the smugglers' stashes of booty. He and Pike arrange to meet the next night, and fires will be lit for signal. Cherub overhears and heads off on his own. Blake has forced Ben and Polly to the stables at the inn where, to their surprise, he releases them, saying he would rather trust their word than the Squire's. Blake says he suspects but has no proof against the Squire, and hopes to gather enough men to prevent what he believes will be a transaction in the next night or two. The Doctor meets up with them, to the huge relief of Ben and Polly, but Kewper is known to Blake and, upon their meeting, Kewper escapes after a brief gunfight.

Pike is enraged at Jamaica at the escape of the Doctor and Kewper, and Jamaica tells him they went to see the Squire. Pike decides to move ahead with their plans early, with one group collecting the smugglers' stash, while he and Cherub hunt for Avery's Gold. Pike kills Jamaica, then cannot find Cherub aboard ship. When the Doctor tells Blake about Pike's plans, and surmises he will also sack and burn the village, Blake departs to gather men and arms. The Doctor is glad to hear of the passage to the TARDIS from the church crypt, but insists that they stay to try and prevent the destruction of the village. Knowing the clue to Avery's Gold, the Doctor leads his friends back to the church, hoping to locate the treasure as a bargaining chip. As Tom watches them go, Cherub forces him to tell where they are heading.

The Squire is horrified to hear from Kewper about his playing into Pike's hands, but hearing of Avery's Gold, they decide to find it themselves. Knowing that Pike and his men will head for their stash, they aim to lay a trap for them. They ride off towards the church. The Doctor, Ben and Polly are searching the graveyard for clues, but eventually realize the rhyme reveals names on tombstones, and they head to the crypt. Ben shows them the secret passageway entrance, then they find markers for Ringwood, Smallbeer, and Gurney—three names from the rhyme. The Doctor thinks it would be more helpful if there were four names.

The Squire and Kewper arrive to discover the church door ajar, and the three travelers in the crypt. Kewper threatens violence but the Squire bristles at this. As the two argue, Cherub enters secretly; his knife flies through the air and meets Kewper's back, while a shot from his pistol rings out as Polly screams.

Episode 4

The Squire has been wounded by Cherub's shot. Cherub demands the secret of Avery's Gold. Polly insists on helping the Squire, but while Cherub seems to agree he grabs her and holds his pistol to her head. Meanwhile, Blake is still riding towards the militia outpost.

The Doctor, playing for time, reveals the rhyme told to him by Longfoot. Cherub recognizes the four names as members of Avery's crew—the fourth being Deadman. The Squire recalls Avery's Curse, and regrets having pursued the treasure. Pike and his men land in force, and sends one man to find Cherub. Pike goes to the church, his men following, and opens the sarcophagus containing the silks, spices, and rum of the smugglers' stash. His men begin hauling the goods to the shore as Pike enters the church. Blake has finally collected his force, and they are on the way back to the village.

Pike finds Cherub holding the Doctor and friends, with the Squire, and confronts him about deserting ship. Cherub says he did all this for the Captain, which Pike finds dubious. Cherub raises his gun to Pike but it is quickly parried, and the two duel with cutlasses. The crew have started helping themselves to rum, and crewman Gaptooth tries to restore order. He sends two crew members back to the shore.

The Doctor sends Ben and Polly down the secret passage, while he waits for Blake. Pike is eventually victorious, and runs Cherub through. He turns to the Doctor. Meanwhile, the two crewmembers on the beach find the cave, the TARDIS, and the entrance to a tunnel.

The Doctor offers to take no treasure, so long as the village is spared; the Squire is moved. Pike says he must keep his crew "happy," and resists. The Squire argues that Pike seems to find it difficult to keep control of his crew, and goads him into proving their obedience and his command. Blake and his men sight the church, and divide into two groups: one will head to the church, the other will take the passage from the beach to the crypt. In the tunnel, almost at the TARDIS, Polly injures her foot, but insists that Ben return to fetch the Doctor.

The Doctor finds the fourth name on a tombstone; Pike is incredulous as all four men died at sea. The names, says the Doctor, were changed by the Churchwarden, and a flagstone is at the intersection of the four names. Pikes removes the slab and, reaching deep inside, discovers the treasure. As he does so, gunshots are heard outside. The pirates, drunk with rum, are easily overtaken by Blake's men, while others retreat into the church.

Polly is attacked by the two sailors, and tries to escape back into the tunnel. Ben hears, and is able to overtake one of them as the sailor approaches. He finds Polly, and fights the second man as Blake's men arrive; Blake shoots the sailor dead. As his men flood the tunnel, Ben follows Blake.

Pandemonium in the crypt: as Blake's men fight the pirates, Pike grasps at the treasure, then threatens the Doctor for leading him into a trap. Ben, and Blake and his men arrive and take to the fight. Ben tries to take the Doctor away but he insists on helping the Squire. The Squire has enough strength to help fend off Pike's hook as Blake fires the fatal shot, ending Pike.

Ben helps the Doctor down the secret passage, as Blake finds and helps the Squire; the day is theirs. Finding Polly, the three enter the TARDIS and leave. Suddenly the interior of the ship is freezing cold, and the Doctor announces they have arrived at the coldest place in the world.

Cast

Crew

References

Ben drinks some beer.
Blake is the King's revenue officer. Since the date is never more specific than the 1600's, this could be James I, Charles I, Charles II, or James II. The date cannot be between 1649-1660, for during this time the monarchy had been abolished.
Pike compares Avery to the pirate Morgan.
The smugglers smuggle rum, silks, tobacco, and brandy.

Story notes

The title sequence film is used to represent the space/time vortex as seen on the TARDIS scanner screen in Episode 1, with the story title, writer's credit and episode number captions overlaid in black on the swirling patterns.
No complete episodes survive of this story.
Telesnaps for episodes 1 - 4 do survive.

Ratings

Episode 1 - 4.3 million viewers
Episode 2 - 4.9 million viewers
Episode 3 - 4.2 million viewers
Episode 4 - 4.5 million viewers

Broadcast Dates

Episode 1 - 10th Sep 1966, 5.50pm
Episode 2 - 17th Sep 1966, 5.55pm
Episode 3 - 24th Sep 1966, 5.50pm
Episode 4 - 1st Oct 1966, 5.50pm

Duration

Episode 1 - 24'36"
Episode 2 - 24'27"
Episode 3 - 23'55"
Episode 4 - 23'37"

Myths

For the fight between smugglers and Revenue men in episode four, so few stuntmen were used that they had to play multiple roles achieved by means of frantic behind-the-scenes costume changes. (Although Terry Walsh, one of those involved, recalls the scene being shot in this way, in fact the ten stuntmen under the direction of fight arranger Derek Ware, of whose HAVOC organisation they were members, played only one role each.)
The wording of the rhyme revealing the treasure's location changes from episode to episode—apparently depending on how well William Hartnell remembered his lines. In fact, Hartnell recites the rhyme correctly both times he must do so, in Episodes 3 and 4. It is Terence de Marney's Longfoot who fluffs his lines when the rhyme is first said in Episode 1.

Filming locations

Nanjizal Bay, Cornwall
St Grada Church, Grade, Cornwall
Trenethick Barton, Cornwall
Bonny Mary, Newlyn, Cornwall
Bosistow Cliffs, Nanjizal, Cornwall
Church Cove, Cornwall
Trethewey Farm, Cornwall
Riverside Studio 1, Hammersmith, London

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity

The end of this story leads straight into the next; The Tenth Planet.

Timeline

This story occurs after DW: The War Machines
This story occurs before DWM: Food for Thought

Home video and audio releases

Australian "censor" clips from Episodes 1, 3, and 4, as well as on-location behind-the-scenes footage can be found on the DVD collection Lost in Time.

Novelisation and its audiobook

Main article: The Smugglers (novelisation)

Novelised as The Smugglers in 1988 by Terrance Dicks.

External links

The Smugglers at the BBC's official site (including photonovel)
The Smugglers at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
The Smugglers at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
The Smugglers at The Locations Guide
The Smugglers transcript

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