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Horror of Fang Rock (TV story): Difference between revisions
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== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Leela]] arrive at a [[lighthouse]] on the island of [[Fang Rock]] off the south coast of [[England]], a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. In the minutes before their arrival, a strange light fell from the sky which was followed by an unnatural glow in the ocean, a thick fog has appeared out of nowhere, the lighthouse power flow has become strangely erratic and one of the keepers is dead. Has the fabled [[Beast of Fang Rock]] returned? | [[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Leela]] arrive at a [[lighthouse]] on the island of [[Fang Rock]] off the south coast of [[England]], a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. In the minutes before their arrival, a strange light fell from the sky which was followed by an unnatural glow in the ocean, a thick [[fog]] has appeared out of nowhere, the lighthouse power flow has become strangely erratic and one of the keepers is dead. Has the fabled [[Beast of Fang Rock]] returned? | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
=== Part one === | === Part one === | ||
[[ | On the island of [[Fang Rock]], home to nothing but a [[lighthouse]], off the south coast of [[England]] around the start of the [[20th century]], a light falls from the sky which is soon followed by a strange glow in the ocean. | ||
[[Vince Hawkins|Vince]] one of the lighthouse keepers, notices this and swiftly informs the head keeper, old and superstitious [[Reuben Whormby|Reuben]] though he doesn't see anything, remarking it was probably just a meteor. The third keeper, [[Ben Travers|Ben]], arrives and Reuben informs him that Vince has been "seeing stars", leading the pair of them to lightly mock him about it. Vince is left on watch but it still intrigued about the light. | |||
Though Vince's curiosities are well founded as something is watching the lighthouse. | |||
Down in the crew room of the lighthouse, Reuben is remarking to Ben about how much simpler it was back when the lights were powered by oil rather than electricity though Ben remarks that they weren't as safe back then. Vince then informs them that a [[fog]] is coming in fast, which Ben finds curious as there was no sign of it previously and goes to see for himself. | |||
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] then materialises on the island. | |||
Sure enough, the entire island is now smothered in a thick fog. The keepers stare at it in disbelief as they've never known such a thick fog come in so quickly. It is also rather cold; leading Ben to comment it has probably come from [[Iceland]] but Vince says it's come from the spot he saw the light hit but Ben dismisses that and tells the young man to start sounding the siren. Though Reuben comments to Ben that Vince may be right as it does seem rather unnatural but he still doesn't believe it. Reuben comments that oil lights produced better light in fog but Ben doesn't agree, remarking that electricity is very reliable. At that moment, the light switches off, leading Reuben to remark "Reliable?!" sarcastically while chuckling. | |||
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]'s plans to show [[Brighton]] to [[Leela]] are on hold for now, as yet again the TARDIS has taken its occupants to the wrong time and place. Noticing that the lighthouse isn't functioning properly, the Doctor decides to investigate and to ask for directions. | |||
Ben is inspecting the lighthouse generator when the power comes back on though Vince believes Ben fixed it. As he heads back upstairs, he fails to notice the door to the lighthouse opening and a green light appearing outside. Vince changes into his jersey due to the cold weather and Ben remarks that the light came back on it's own which they both find strange, leading Ben to comment that something is going on there that he doesn't understand. | |||
Leela then notices the light is shining so they head towards the lighthouse. She is shocked at the sound of the foghorn so the Doctor explains it to her. He then sets off but she stays where she is, remarking that she can feel something's wrong. | |||
The power then goes again so Ben heads back down to the generator. He then sees the green light which is followed by something advancing on him. He screams in terror though it is unheard due to Vince blasting the siren at that moment. Reuben is starting to become very sceptical of the events that have unfolded thus far as they have happened so quickly. He comments that he can always tell when fog is coming and there were no indications of it that day. Vince decides to go down and see if Ben needs help. | |||
The Doctor and Leela then enter the lighthouse. He notes that the generator is working so wonders what's happening to the power. He decides they should speak to the crew and quickly come across Vince. The Doctor quickly claims that they're lost and that their ship is on the other side of the island. Vince then leads them up to the crew room. | |||
The Doctor asks Vince what the trouble is with the power and Vince tells him about the generator cutting out and that it's driving Ben nuts. They ask who Ben is and Vince talks about his two fellow keepers. Having been told by Vince that Reuben is up in the lamp room, the Doctor asks where Ben is but Vince is confused as he knows Ben was in the generator room, assuming that the Doctor and Leela must have seen him. He presumes that Ben must have stepped outside but Leela says that if he had been there she would have heard him. Vince wants to go and look but the Doctor says he will, leaving Vince to look after Leela. He is excited to have a lady in the lighthouse but she doesn't notice this. He initially offers her a drink but she remarks she would rather have dry clothes. He says they don't have anything suitable for a lady but she laughs and says she's no lady. She starts to undress so he quickly goes to find her some clothes. | |||
The Doctor inspects the generator room but can't find any sign of Ben. Vince comes down and thinks the Doctor has fixed the problem and that Ben will be pleased. The Doctor says that won't be the case because Ben is dead; remarking that he was killed by a massive electric shock. Vince is and goes off to tell Reuben. However, Leela knows the Doctor does not believe Ben was killed by the generator. He quickly inspects the coal hole but finds nothing inside. He remarks that whatever killed him has left no trace and probably has the ability to drain electricity. They then notice that Ben's lantern is completely shattered. | |||
Reuben crosses himself having learned of Ben's death. He is sceptical of the Doctor and Leela from what Vince has told him; wondering if they could be spies. Vince doesn't believe it but Reuben remarks that all these events have happened at the time they arrived. He decides to go down and see them himself. | |||
The Doctor and Leela are in the crew room. He is telling her about the old telegraph machine in the room which the Doctor realises the keepers use to communicate with the mainland but Reuben comes in and tells him to leave it alone. He is rather hostile towards them and the Doctor works out he thinks they're connected to Ben's death. | |||
Leela goes out to hunt for whatever may have killed Ben. Vince is telling the Doctor about the light he saw earlier which the latter finds interesting. While Leela is outside, she notices that all the local [[fish]] are dead. Reuben sends Vince downstairs to have his [[dinner]] while he stays in the lamp room with the Doctor. As Vince is going down the stairs, he hears a strange electric crackling sound. Leela continues to wander around outside, unaware she is being watched. Vince then discovers that Ben's body has gone and he hurriedly informs Reuben. Leela then comes back inside, making Vince jump with fright. The Doctor then tells Reuben that he's seen a light outside. A horn then starts sounding from out in the fog. Vince and Leela hurry upstairs. | |||
Reuben realises it's a steam yacht going too fast and that it's heading straight for the rocks. He tells Vince to continue sounding the siren. Cries of distress are heard coming from the yacht. Reuben fires flares into the air but the ship soon runs aground upon the rocks...... | |||
=== Part two === | === Part two === | ||
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There are four survivors of the yacht's wreck: the bo'sun, [[Harker (Horror of Fang Rock)|Harker]]; an MP, [[James Skinsale|Colonel James Skinsale]]; the yacht's owner, [[Henry Palmerdale|Lord Palmerdale]]; and his highly strung secretary, [[Adelaide Lessage]]. It slowly emerges that Palmerdale has bought government secrets from Skinsale and was desperate to reach the [[Stock Exchange]] in [[London]] to make a killing — that was why the ship was travelling at such high speed in the appalling weather. When Harker comes inside he is carrying Ben, or rather, what's left of him. The Doctor speculates that whatever killed him wanted to study his body and therefore learn more about human anatomy. | There are four survivors of the yacht's wreck: the bo'sun, [[Harker (Horror of Fang Rock)|Harker]]; an MP, [[James Skinsale|Colonel James Skinsale]]; the yacht's owner, [[Henry Palmerdale|Lord Palmerdale]]; and his highly strung secretary, [[Adelaide Lessage]]. It slowly emerges that Palmerdale has bought government secrets from Skinsale and was desperate to reach the [[Stock Exchange]] in [[London]] to make a killing — that was why the ship was travelling at such high speed in the appalling weather. When Harker comes inside he is carrying Ben, or rather, what's left of him. The Doctor speculates that whatever killed him wanted to study his body and therefore learn more about human anatomy. | ||
The Doctor continues to analyse the threat being faced. Reuben believes the Beast of Fang Rock is back, but the Doctor assures Leela there is no such thing. He thinks the light which fell from the sky was a spaceship landing. Aliens unfamiliar with humans are attracted to the lighthouse's electricity. They are keeping themselves out of sight while isolating Fang Rock by creating the fog. The Doctor deduces an attack is imminent. | The Doctor continues to analyse the threat being faced. Reuben believes the [[Beast of Fang Rock]] is back, but the Doctor assures Leela there is no such thing. He thinks the light which fell from the sky was a spaceship landing. Aliens unfamiliar with humans are attracted to the lighthouse's electricity. They are keeping themselves out of sight while isolating Fang Rock by creating the fog. The Doctor deduces an attack is imminent. | ||
Reuben goes to stoke the boiler. While he is in the boiler room, Leela feels another cold wave, and the electricity fails again. All is silent in the dark, save Reuben screaming in the boiler room... | Reuben goes to stoke the boiler. While he is in the boiler room, Leela feels another cold wave, and the electricity fails again. All is silent in the dark, save Reuben screaming in the boiler room... | ||
