Episode Guide

Story One...
The Wrong End Of Time

Part One Part Two

Part Three Part Four

Part Five Part Six

Story Two...
The Time of the Ice Box

Part One Part Two

Part Three Part Four

Part Five Part Six

Story Three...
The Year of the Burn Up

Part One Part Two

Part Three Part Four

Part Five Part Six

Part Seven Part Eight

Story Four...
The Day of the Clone

Part One Part Two

Part Three Part Four

Part Five Part Six

The Time of the Ice Box - Part One

Written by Bruce Stewart

Liz and Simon emerge from the time barrier not in 1970, as they expect, but in an icy landscape. In the biting cold, they both collapse.
Back in 1970 Jean is sharing the experience and is shivering. Frank notices this but Traynor comments that she isn't actually cold. Franks wonders what has happened to Liz and Simon and says that in order to return to the present they only had to crawl through the hole in the fence. Traynor states that they're still learning about the time barrier.
A red-suited figure crosses the icy landscape and makes an examination of two large ice blocks, which have gauges on the side. The figure notices the two unconscious figures and lifts Liz, carrying her back across the wasteland to a sliding door that lets into a futuristic-looking installation. A woman meets the figure and he explains that there is 'another one outside.'

Elsewhere in the installation, in a control room, a curly headed figure walks from his control desk over to a man who is encapsulated in a transparent tube, apparently hooked up to instrumentation via wires attached to his head and body. The figure in the tube appears comatose and is muttering technical jargon.

Liz and Simon are wheeled into the infirmary by their rescuer, Dr. Bukov and Beth (the woman he met at the door with the unconscious Liz). The children are being attended a middle-aged woman, Dr. Joynton, who is puzzled by there lack of frostbite. Beth postulates that the children might have arrived by the carrier drop that was due that day, but Bukov dismisses this, as this was only for supplies and not personnel. Dr. Joynton suggests the use of the resuscitation tents, which are lowered into position. Beth has a funny feeling about the 'girl'... Dr. Joynton asks Beth if the Director has been informed of the situation. Beth tells her that the Director is still 'programming the computer.'

In the Computer Room the Director, still unconscious, continues his strange muttering.
In the field adjacent to the old naval station Jean, Frank and Traynor are looking for Liz and Simon but there is no sign of them. Traynor asks Jean if she has lost touch with the children and she replies that she appears to have done so after the feelings of being cold. Frank asks Traynor what he thinks but Traynor tells him that this is an area where he is 'still learning' and suggests they repair to the hotel.

Back in the Computer Room the Director emerges from his coma and tells Larry to put the computer back under auto control. He berates Larry for a mistake he made that morning over the dosage of 'HA57.' Larry apologises for his error and goes on to mention a fault in the water supply the previous evening that the Director was going to investigate during brain-link. The Director replies that it was 'human error' as the computer doesn't make mistakes. As the Director leaves Larry clearly isn't satisfied.

In the corridor outside, the Director meets Beth who explains about the children. However, the Director knows about their arrival through the brain-link. The two enter the Director's office.

In the infirmary, Liz regains consciousness to find Dr. Joynton leaning over her. She asks where she is and the Doctor explains that she and Simon are in the 'Ice Box'. She goes on to tell Liz that the 'Ice Box' is a name given to the International Institute for Biological Research. At that point Simon stirs. Liz is rather alarmed to find that Dr. Joynton thinks Simon is first, her brother and then her boyfriend! The doctor is still rather puzzled that the children managed to survive so long in the cold without ill effects. Liz attempts to fill Simon in with what she has learned so far from Dr. Joynton. Still confused, Simon asks Dr. Joynton where exactly the Ice Box is located. Both Liz and Simon are amazed to discover they are under the Antarctic, just a few miles from the South Pole!

The Director and Beth are in the process of receiving a message, via special headsets, from the computer. The message refers to volunteers and states 'Expect arrival soonliest' (sic) The Director is satisfied that all is as scheduled and asks Larry, via the video-link, to check on the instructions regarding experiment AB-494-Z. Larry informs the Director that there was no indication that Central Control had sent any volunteers and so the experiment was not yet underway. The Director reiterates that as he had programmed the computer, there could be no error. He warns Larry off pitting wits with the computer. The Director tells Beth that he will one day bring the computer to perfection and 'remake the imperfect world .... to advance the human species beyond its own understanding.' Clearly uneasy with the Director's prophesising, Beth changes the subject and asks him if he wants to see the new arrivals... but the Director seems preoccupied and tells Beth he has other things to attend to. He instructs Beth to show the new arrivals around but before she leaves, the Director admits to Beth that she is the only one who seems to understand him. Once Beth has left the office, the Director goes to the rear wall, operates a secret switch and a pair of sliding doors part, revealing a darkened inner room from which electronic sounds (the same as those in the Computer room) are heard.

Dr. Joynton shows Liz and Simon the Fantasy room. Dr. Bukov, now off duty, is in there reading. Dr. Joynton tears off a printout and passes it to Dr. Bukov. It is his daily newspaper! Dr. Joynton explains that in the Fantasy room any newspaper can be printed out, any television station in the world can be received and a special area of the room, although small, can reproduce music as if in a concert hall. Finally she leads Liz and Simon over to a small recess with two easy chairs in it. She explains that this area is what gives the room its name, describing it as 'The Fantasy Apparatus.' Dr. Joynton explains that by connecting to the machine, it can make your dreams come alive and you can go anywhere. She gives the children a demonstration by imagining herself back home in New Zealand. Dr. Bukov joins the fascinated children and finally introduces himself as their rescuer. Simon is curious about the base's computer. Dr. Bukov explains that it is even more important than the base personnel as it controls all of the Ice Box's functions and acts as a guide to the research undertaken there. Bukov talks about the AB experiment that he believes Simon and Liz are there to participate in. Simon hesitantly confirms Bukov's assumption. Dr. Bukov goes on to tell the children about the preparations they must undergo prior to the experiment beginning, including the administration of 'HA57'. Before he can explain what 'HA57' is, Beth enters to collect Liz and Simon.

In the corridor outside, she confronts Liz telling her she has no right to be there and questioning why she has followed her. Liz is mystified by Beth's inexplicable hostility and odd remarks. Meanwhile Simon pauses outside the door to the Director's office. Beth catches up and, noticing his interest, warns him never to go in to it without permission.
The children are shown into the Computer room where they meet Larry, the technician who services the computer. Beth leaves them in his company and he goes on to explain about how the computer works and where the daily dosage of 'HA57' is dispensed. Once again, Simon asks what it is and Larry tells him that it is a "longevity drug" which decelerates the aging process. All the Ice Box personnel take it. Larry surprises the children by telling them that Dr. Joynton is actually nearly one hundred years old! He tells the children something of the work that is done at the Ice Box and explains about brain links being perfected in 1985... and that was five years ago! The year is now 1990.

Liz and Simon slip out of the Computer room and make for the main entrance, stopping to put on thermal suits. They are anxious to leave and return to their own time, not wanting to be part of any experiments.

Outside the Fantasy room, Dr. Bukov is stopped by Beth who is apparently not satisfied with Liz and Simon's story. She tells him she will have another talk with them.
Having got their survival suits on, Liz and Simon are about to leave the base when Liz mistakenly opens the door to a nearby side room. She is astonished to see her mother there. Before either can react, Simon plucks Liz back and thrusts her through the main entrance onto the ice beyond. Bukov sees the children trying to leave and vainly calls after them.
Outside on the ice field, Simon is struggling with a protesting Liz who is desperately trying to explain the familiar face that she saw in the side room...

Complete cast for part one

Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall), Derek Benfield (Skinner), Iris Russell (Jean Skinner), Denis Quilley (Commander Traynor), John Barron (Devereaux), Mary Preston (Beth Skinner), Peggy Thorpe-Bates (Dr. Edith Joynton), John Barcroft (Dr. Bukov), Robert Oates (Larry).

Script Editor Ruth Boswell
Scientific Adviser Geoffrey Hoyle
Designer Michael Eve
Director Peter Jefferies
Producer John Cooper

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