The Time
of the Ice Box - Part Two

Written by Bruce Stewart
Simon and Liz slip out of the Computer Room and make for the
main entrance, stopping to put on survival 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 fully react, Simon plucks her back and thrusts her through
the main entrance onto the ice. Bukov sees the children leaving
and 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...
The two children arrive at the spot where they first appeared
and find the time barrier. Taking off their survival suits, they
make their way through the barrier and back to 1970.
At the entrance to the Ice Box, Bukov calls after them.
Back at the naval station in 1970, Liz reiterates that she did
see her mother in the Ice Box. Simon refutes this and an argument
ensues. Liz breaks down and Simon takes her back to the Inn.
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At the Bull Inn, Simon and Liz are explaining to Traynor and
Liz's parents about the Ice Box. Skinner is confused about how
the children got into the future. Traynor suggests that it is
due to "possible energies" and may explain why Jean
lost psychic touch with her daughter. Jean is perplexed about
how, according to Liz, she came to be at the Ice Box in 1990.
Liz explains that she looked just as she looks now in 1970 and
Simon mentions HA57, the longevity drug, as the probable reason
for this. Traynor's interest is piqued at the drug's mention.
Simon adds that it's the invention of the Ice Box's director,
one Morgan C. Devereaux (He read the name on his office door.)
Skinner is happy to leave the whole business alone whilst Traynor
is becoming more and more fascinated by the whole scientific concept
of the Ice Box. He tries to talk Simon into returning but is stopped
by Skinner who is reluctant to put the children in further danger.
He decides that he, his family and Simon are leaving St. Oswald's
and the time bubble for good...
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Some days later at the Skinner's house, Frank leaves for work.
Simon and Liz are having breakfast. They are discussing the Ice
Box and a recent dream Liz has had about it. She is still disturbed
by her mother's presence there. Simon loses his patience with
her.
Jean answers the front door and discovers it is Traynor. He says
he had hoped to see Frank. He muscles his way in and sits down
at the breakfast table as Jean reluctantly makes him coffee. He
reiterates the fact that beyond the time barrier, the children
are quite safe. He brings up the longevity drug again in the hope
of tempting Simon onto his side of the argument. Jean is adamant.
Liz and Simon are hers and Frank's responsibility. Jean and Liz
leave Simon in the company of Traynor. Traynor says that Morgan
C. Devereaux is a foremost scientist in the present.... However,
he also states that as well as being a friend of his, he also
died last year...
Traynor and Simon are now standing by the time barrier. Traynor
has convinced Simon to return to the Ice Box. Simon is definitely
curious about it. Traynor wants Simon "to bring back anything
he can." He wishes Simon "Good luck" and he enters
the barrier.
Back at the Skinner's house, Frank is furious with Traynor for
letting Simon return through the barrier whilst Jean is apologetic
for letting Simon out of her sight. Frank wants to call the police
but Traynor convinces him otherwise when he summarises the situation
with the time barrier and how it would sound coming from a man
who suffered a breakdown during the war. Even Jean is angry with
him now as Traynor forces the pair to back down. Liz breaks into
the argument saying they should be more worried about Simon and
not themselves.
Alone, Frank comforts Liz across the kitchen table. She is crying
and obviously upset about Simon's departure to the Ice Box. They
resolve to discuss it further.
At the naval station, Traynor, Jean and Frank watch as Liz disappears
into the time barrier. Franks comforts Jean as Traynor walks slowly
after them.
Liz arrives back at the ice field. She quickly puts her discarded
survival suit on and makes her way back to the Ice Box. Once inside,
she takes off the suit as Bukov and Joynton enter the corridor
discussing Simon's return and Liz's disappearance. Bukov reiterates
that the two children are strange. Liz heads into the room where
she saw her mother. It is empty. A quick search of it reveals
a framed photo of herself and Jean obviously taken around 1970.
Simon is getting a dressing down from Director Devereaux. He asks
the computer about the whereabouts of Liz. The computer cannot
find her. The Director is anticipating the AB experiment. Simon
says he has admired his work for sometime and brings up Traynor's
name. The Director has heard of him as a "minor physicist"
but only in passing. Simon is confused as this conflicts with
Traynor's description of the late Morgan C. Devereaux as being
a close friend.
Liz is still looking at the family photograph when Jean enters
the office. Jean is initially cold towards Liz but soon comes
to realise that the girl she saw earlier really is her young daughter.
The family reunion is broken up by the sudden entrance of Beth.
She is irrationally angry that Liz has returned to the Ice Box.
Jean explains that it is not Liz's fault that she has returned
through the time barrier. She adds cryptically that Beth was once
able to do the same. Then to a horrified Liz, she explains that
Beth is in truth Liz's future self. It's the trick that the time
barrier has played on them!
Complete cast for part two
Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall),
Derek Benfield (Skinner), Iris Russell (Jean Skinner), Denis Quilley
(Commander Traynor), Devereaux (John Barron), Beth Skinner (Mary
Preston), Peggy Thorpe-Bates (Dr. Edith Joynton), John Barcroft
(Dr. Bukov).
Script Editor Ruth Boswell
Scientific Adviser Geoffrey Hoyle
Designer Michael Eve
Director Peter Jefferies
Producer John Cooper
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