The Macra Terror was the seventh story of Season 4 of Doctor Who. It was the first Doctor Who story to feature the lead actor's face in the opening title sequence.
Synopsis
When the Doctor, Polly and Ben visit a human colony that appears to be one big holiday camp, they think they have come across a truly happy place. But a shadowy presence soon makes them realise that the surface contentment is carefully controlled.
The colony's inhabitants have been brainwashed by giant crab-like creatures - the Macra. Insidious propaganda, broadcast by the Controller, forces the humans to mine a gas that is essential for the Macra to survive - but fatal to them.
The colony must be saved - but how? The Doctor and his team are up against it, particularly when Ben falls under the influence of the Macra. Can he be rescued from their evil clutches? Can the gas pumping equipment be destroyed, getting rid of the Macra for good?
Plot
Episode 1
A drum majorette, accompanied by a futuristic band, is rehearsing for a festival performance. The Pilot of the Colony compliments Barney, the leader of the band, but their happy banter is disrupted when Medok, another member of the Colony, bursts through half-crazed, and escapes outside. Ola, the Chief of Police, pursues him with several guards. The Pilot is suddenly deadly serious; Medok must not be allowed to get away.
In the wilderness outside the Colony, Medok takes cover in some rocks. Suddenly the TARDIS arrives, and the Doctor, Ben, Polly, and Jamie tentatively step out, fearful of the huge claw they saw on the Time Scanner. Medok suddenly attacks, but Ben and Jamie subdue him as Ola and guards arrive. They tie up Medok, and Ola welcomes the strangers and invites them to meet their Pilot, who will want to thank them for their help.
As the music chimes, signalling a work-shift change, the Pilot offers his gratitude to the strangers. He sends them to the Refreshing Department; Jamie hangs back, highly suspicious, but follows with Polly. As they arrive, a picture of a man appears on a large screen, and a friendly, commanding voice welcomes them. The Pilot explains that this is the Colony's Controller, then he takes his leave as Barney offers the four travellers the hospitality of the Department: shampoos, clothes cleaning, beauty treatments, etc.
As Ola roughly accompanies Medok back into the Colony, Medok's old friend Questa sees him. Questa has heard that he's been seeing things, but Medok corrects him: there ARE things, horrible creatures, coming out at night. The Controller announces there is to be a reception to welcome the strangers, and Questa asks Medok to join in like he used to. As Medok spews more dangerous talk, Ola drags him away. The Doctor talks briefly to Medok before Ola locks him up. After Ola leaves, the Doctor picks the lock of the door, and tries to release Medok. He's curious about what Medok has seen, but Medok is suspicious of this stranger. Medok takes his chance and escapes.
An alarm bell sounds, and the Doctor is forced to explain his actions to the Pilot and Ola. Ola wants to send the Doctor to "work in the pits," but is saved due to his ignorance of Colony laws. The Doctor speaks provocatively to Ola, and Ola warns that his talk might end him up in the hospital "for correction." The Pilot is eager that the strangers learn more about the Colony, so he directs Ola to bring them to the Labour Centre. En route, they pass though a construction area where new homes are being built. The Doctor spots Medok hiding in the site, but says nothing.
At the Labour Centre, the travellers ask about the work being done, but the answers are vague: they tap and refine gas, but can't describe what they use the gas for. Suddenly two workers stagger in with "gas sickness," but Ola and Questa brush it off, saying the work must be done. Polly is surprised and doubtful at this, then notices the Doctor is gone.
The Doctor finds Medok back at the construction site, and questions him more about the creatures he's seen. Giant insects, with huge claws. Others have seen them too, but they get locked up in the hospital. Another alarm sounds, and Medok sends the Doctor back. The others are relieved to find the Doctor, as curfew is announced. The travellers are confined to cubicles in the Refreshing Department. But as soon as it is quiet, the Doctor slips out to find Medok again.
As Ola and the guards patrol, the Doctor evades their searching and finds Medok. In trying to help Medok escape from the guards, Medok spots one of the crab-like creatures.
Episode 2
Medok is excited to have seen the creature with the Doctor, thinking that he can prove he wasn't "seeing things." His shouting brings Ola and the guards down on them, and Ola completely dismisses both their claims. He takes The Doctor before the Pilot. While the Doctor is impressed with the Colony's technology, the Pilot questions him about his "crime."
The Doctor starts to explain why he believes Medok, but Ola interrupts to report that Medok swears the Doctor was trying to make him give up. The Doctor is released back to the Refreshing Department, while Medok is sent back to the hospital for another round of treatment. The Controller commands that the strangers are to be given "the advantage of high-powered adaption" to prevent any further criticism from them, making them more like other obedient Colony members.
Jamie, Ben and Polly are already being given their brainwashing as they sleep. Jamie is sleeping fitfully, and the thinking patterns do not take hold, but they do for Ben. The Doctor arrives and disconnects the machinery that transmits the brainwashing into Polly's cubicle, but Ben is angered when the Doctor does the same to his, and reports this to Ola. The Doctor and Jamie are taken away.
At the hospital, the Pilot is lamenting that Medok's treatment is failing, and that he'll probably have to be sent to the pits for life. Meanwhile, Polly leaves the cubicles angrily, and runs out into the construction site to avoid Ben. Ben follows her and eventually captures her. Trying to bring her back, Polly spots a Macra and screams. Ben sees nothing and is dubious, until he spots something himself. A huge claw grabs Polly, and Ben eventually fights the creature off. They soon find they are surrounded by Macra, but their nimble legs help them escape back to the Colony.
The Pilot is confronting the Doctor about his actions, but the Doctor is proud of it and, seeing that the Pilot also has a nerve circuit attached to his rest cubicle, fuses that as well. Ben and Polly are brought before the Pilot also, and she tells their harrowing tale. Ben suddenly denies seeing any creatures. The Doctor is convinced Ben has been brought under the evil influences at the heart of the Colony, and he and Jamie ask pointed questions forcing the "Controller" to appear in person. An old, dishevelled man is put on the screen, obviously the same man as the Controller's picture they've seen. He can barely speak, and is suddenly grabbed by a claw and pulled off the screen. Polly screams that the Macra are in control.
Episode 3
The Doctor, Jamie and Polly are condemned to pit labour, in the "danger gang." The Controller orders the Pilot to forget what he saw on the screen, and he in turn orders Ben to keep an eye on his friends.
The three prisoners are brought to the pithead, where Officia is in charge. He recalls their shift leader, who turns out to be Medok. The Doctor is left at the pithead to be supervisor, while Jamie and Polly are given masks and sent down. While the Doctor studies the controls, he spots Ben and talks with him. Ben is completely under control, and the Doctor comments that this is very unlike him.
There is soon a gas strike and a large cable is connected by the workers to stop a leak. Medok tells Polly and Jamie that the gas is lethal to breathe, and no one knows what it's used for. Meanwhile, the Doctor is working out some calculations and is very pleased with his work. The Pilot finds him, and accuses him of stealing a secret formula—the Doctor has worked it out on his own. The Pilot insists that he destroys his work so that no one sees it.
The workers are now probing for more gas, they never stop. Jamie finds a door, and Polly comments that it's very new and strong. Officia meddles in some of Medok's work, and gas erupts in his face; Jamie uses the opportunity to steal Officia's keys. Ben sees this and helps Officia out of the shaft. Jamie and Polly worry that Ben saw the theft. Jamie uses the keys to enter the strong door, but Polly is called back by Medok to work.
An alarm sounds, and when Polly tells him that Jamie has escaped, Medok follows him, leaving Polly. Officia realizes his keys are gone, and Ben suggests that he must have dropped them. While Medok searches for Jamie, he is attacked by a Macra. The Controller forbids that guards be allowed into the old shaft (where Jamie and Medok have gone). Ben reveals that he knows it's Jamie who's escaped, and that he saw him take Officia's keys. When the Doctor asks why he didn't say anything, Ben says he's having trouble thinking straight, and the Doctor is pleased that he's fighting for control of his mind. But Ben leaves to report it.
Jamie discovers Medok lying dead, then finds a very still Macra in front of him. The Doctor is trying to analyze the gas, and is not having success. Ben cannot find the Pilot, but when the Pilot is not in his office, his conditioning continues to break down.
The Controller orders that gas be diverted into the old shaft, intriguing the Doctor. The Doctor is desperately trying to figure out how to help Jamie. As Jamie starts to cough and splutter, the Macra starts to come to life, and moves towards him.
Episode 4
Jamie slides into a crevice of rock for protection, but it won't protect him long. The Doctor tries to work out how to reverse the gas flow and does so by confusing and tricking Officia into revealing which controls to manipulate. Officia tries to get help, but the Doctor has Officia's keys now and locks the entrance to the pithead.
In the old shaft, the inflow of oxygen causes the Macra to slump, allowing Jamie to escape. Ola and his guards arrive outside the locked door, and the Doctor and Polly escape into the mine, locking the heavy door behind them just before the guards can follow. The two discover a pipe room, and they follow the shaft deeper.
Jamie pries open a grating and wriggles into a cupboard back inside the Colony, outside of which some sort of cheerleading practice is taking place. Jamie almost escapes, but is seen by the leader and is mistaken for an auditioning dancer. Jamie shows them the Highland Fling and flings himself out the door—right into the arms of Ola and the guards. Ben, still struggling, identifies him, and Jamie is taken away. Ben is clearly regretful.
The Doctor and Polly happen upon the Controller's chamber and see that, indeed, it is the Macra in control; they see them inhaling the gas and issuing orders. The Doctor sees that the Macra are reliant on the gas to live and are using the humans to mine it for them. They decide to take the risk of telling the Pilot and trying to bring him to see the truth.
Ola and the Pilot are arguing, with Ola criticizing the running of the pits, allowing the strangers to escape and endanger the colony. But the Doctor and Polly come right in, of their own free will, the Doctor wishing everyone greetings of the day and trying to reconcile the two men. Jamie is horrified that they've walked into a trap. The Doctor persuades the Pilot to go with him, despite Ola and the Controller's attempts to intervene. The Colonists are frightened at the Pilot's disobeying Control, and Polly and Jamie prepare for the worst. Ben's conditioning seems to have worn off, but they realize Ben is gone.
The Doctor takes the Pilot into forbidden territory. Officia is horrified when he sees, and Ola is given command of the Colony by the Controller, who sends all guards to the pithead. The Pilot sees the truth, and the Controller screams that they must be destroyed. Upon their return to the pithead, the Doctor and the Pilot are arrested, and together with Polly and Jamie, are returned to the pipe room under orders of Control. The building is to be cleared in four minutes.
Inside the pipe room, gas is vented in, and the Doctor and his friends begin to succumb to the poison. But outside they hear a knock—it's Ben! The Doctor instructs Ben to switch on inflow and outflow together and, throwing a lever, an explosion is caused which destroys the Macra in their chambers and in the mines.
The Colony celebrates its freedom from Control, and the Pilot publicly thanks the strangers and decrees that a dance festival will be held every year, with the winners receiving the Stranger's Trophy. Ben tells his friends they intend to make the Doctor the next Pilot, so they join in the celebrations and dance their way out of the Colony.
Cast
- The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
- Ben Jackson - Michael Craze
- Polly - Anneke Wills
- Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
- Pilot - Peter Jeffrey
- Medok - Terence Lodge
- Ola - Gertan Klauber
- Barney - Graham Armitage
- Questa - Ian Fairbairn
- Sunaa - Jane Enshawe
- Chicki - Sandra Bryant (Episode 1) & Karol Keyes (Episode 4)
- Drum Majorette - Maureen Lane
- Controller - Graham Leaman
- Alvis - Anthony Gardner
- Control Voice - Denis Goacher
- Broadcast and Propaganda Voice - Richard Beale
- Macra Operator - Robert Jewell
- Officia - John Harvey
- Guards - John Caesar, Steve Emerson, Danny Rae
- Cheerleaders - Roger Jerome, Terry Wright, Ralph Carrigan
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Anne Faggetter
- Costumes - Daphne Dare, Vanessa Clark
- Designer - Kenneth Sharp
- Film Cameraman - Peter Hamilton
- Film Editor - Eddie Wallstab
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Gillian James, Jeanne Richmond
- Producer - Innes Lloyd
- Production Assistant - Chris D'Oyly John
- Script Editor - Gerry Davis
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Frank Cresswell
- Studio Sound - Hugh Barker, Gordon Mackie
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
References
- The ancestors of the colony came from Earth many centuries ago, and they retain the title of 'Pilot' for their leader.
Story notes
- This story is the first to use a new title sequence incorporating an image of Patrick Troughton's face, designed by Bernard Lodge and realised by Ben Palmer. A new arrangement of the theme tune was also produced by Delia Derbyshire (with assistance from Dick Mills) to accompany the title sequence, but due to a production error it was not used until the following story.
- This story had the working titles; The Spidermen, The Insect-Men, The Macra.
- Sandra Bryant, who played Chicki in Episode 1, asked to be released from her contract so that she could accept another, more attractive offer of work. This was agreed to by Innes Lloyd, and so – in an unusual move – the role was recast for Episode 4 (the only other episode in which Chicki appears), going instead to Karol Keyes.
- Richard Beale is credited as Broadcast Voice for Episodes 1 and 3. For Episode 2, he is billed as Broadcast and Propaganda Voice on-screen and as Broadcast and Propaganda Voices in Radio Times.
- John Harvey (Officia) is erroneously credited as Official in Radio Times for Episode 4.
- The Macra seen to be in charge in the last episode is white rather than black, a scene for which the sole Macra prop had to be repainted.
- All four episodes are missing, though some clips survive.
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 8.0 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 7.9 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 8.5 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 8.4 million viewers
Myths
- The image of the Controller seen on the screen in the Pilot's office was a photograph of story editor Gerry Davis. (It was a photograph of Graham Leaman, who played the Controller.)
Filming locations
- Associated Portland Cement Company Quarry, Houghton Road, Dunstable
- Ealing Television Film Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
- Lime Grove Studios (Studio D)
Production errors
- The Macra's top claw is longer than the bottom, but when it grabs the controller, they are the same length.
Continuity
Timeline
- This story occurs after DW: The Moonbase
- This story occurs before ST: The Slave War
Home video and audio releases
- The full soundtrack was released with linking narration by Colin Baker
- Surviving clips were released with the Lost in Time DVD boxed set.
Novelisation and its audiobook
- Main article: The Macra Terror (novelisation)
- Novelised as The Macra Terror by Ian Stuart Black in 1987.
External links
- The Macra Terror at the BBC's official site
- BBC - Doctor Who - Classic Series - Photonovel - The Macra Terror
- The Macra Terror at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Macra Terror at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- The Macra Terror at The Locations Guide
- The Macra Terror transcript