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 Three

Written by Bruce Stewart

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!

Beth is almost hysterical with Liz and accuses her of following her and spying on her. Beth tells Liz about the changes she made with her life about ten years previously when she had to find some purpose to her existence. Jean tries to explain to Liz about why she and Beth came to the Ice Box and how the Skinners had lost their home - although she is reluctant to go into great detail. Jean explains to Liz that she was able to accompany Beth to the Ice Box in 1980 because she was telepathic and that this was an area of research of interest to the Director. Liz enquires about her father and where he is but her question goes unanswered apart from a meaningful glance between Jean and Beth. Beth swiftly changes the subject round to what should be done about Liz and Simon. She wants to make some enquiries, saying she is not convinced that the pair arrived via the time barrier and that their arrival was part of some prearrangement of Devereux and the computer. Jean treats the situation with a degree of levity, which inflames Beth to the point that she threatens to report Jean to the Director. Liz is still confused and asks Jean why she changed her name to Beth. Jean replies she just wanted to be different and the subject of 1980 is raised again, but once more Beth heads off any explanations. Beth threatens Liz to keep her mouth shut and that she will discover why Liz and Simon are really at the Ice Box. Jean retorts that there is no 'reason' why the children are there and that it is just as Liz said. Beth replies that the computer confirmed Liz and Simon's arrival - and the computer doesn't make mistakes. Liz tries to remind Beth about the events in 1940 and that she should remember them as they had happened to her so proving that she is telling the truth. Beth leaves the room warning both Liz and Jean that she doesn't want it to be common knowledge that she and Liz are one and the same. Liz is appalled that she or anyone could grow up to be like Beth which upsets Jean. Liz apologises and asks again about her father. Once again Jean refuses to discuss her husband.

Simon leaves the Director's office and meets Bukov in the corridor. Bukov asks if there is any news of Liz (neither of them realising she is already back in the Ice Box) Simon asks Bukov what his job is and he is told he is a physicist who, aside from maintaining the base's power systems, is researching into intelligence enhancement through radiation exposure(!) The pair go off to see Larry.

In the Computer Room, Larry is worried about a five-second shut-off in section 4. He conveys his suspicions to Bukov whilst Simon listens. Bukov tells Simon that there have been other such incidents but they are not particularly important, although the Director must be informed. Bukov calls the Director over the video-link but the Director has his audio switched off. Larry theorises that he may be about to enter 'Depth Research' - a process the Director undertakes occasionally to check that the base's research is proceeding to plan. Simon engages Larry in conversation about the Director and his relationship to the late Morgan C. Devereaux who died in 1969 and who was a friend and colleague of Traynor's. Larry has never heard of the 'other' Devereaux although, unseen by Simon, Bukov seems to register what Simon is saying. Larry remarks that the only odd thing about Director Devereaux is his total lack of a sense of humour.

Simon makes his way to the Fantasy Room and watches a broadcast about city life in the Far East. He enters the Fantasy booth and finds Dr. Joynton in the midst of a 'dream' about her beloved New Zealand. Liz enters the Fantasy Room and explains to Simon why she has come back and about Beth and her being the same person. Simon is astonished and leaves the room.
Beth goes into the Director's office just as he emerges from the darkened room at the rear. The Director looks caught out by her sudden appearance in his office, but she ignores his unease and simply reports that the 'volunteer' Liz has returned safe and well. He authorises the commencement of the AB experiment and the administering of HA57 to Liz and Simon. Beth is reluctant to do this and tries to persuade the Director to have them replaced but he is adamant that the experiment must continue with the present 'volunteers.' The Director is perturbed that it seems Beth is beginning to question the decisions and directives made by the computer. He insists that Liz and Simon are at the Ice Box because the computer sanctioned it and he is disappointed in Beth for even conceiving that it might be otherwise. The Director reiterates that Liz and Simon should begin on HA57 at once. Beth seems defeated and leaves the office.

In the Computer Room, Liz and Simon are having immunisation boosters from Dr. Joynton. While the computer is calculating everyone's HA57 dosage, Larry asks Beth if she would like to listen to some music with him that night. She declines, but Liz, almost as an act of defiance against Beth, offers her company to Larry instead, stating that she can't stand girls with bad manners. Beth flounces off in high dudgeon. Meanwhile, Doctor Bukov is showing Simon something he calls their 'last ditch' - a form of anti-freeze which can be taken by the base personnel in the event of total life support failure enabling them to survive until a rescue party arrives. Simon questions Dr, Bukov about HA57. Bukov tells him it was developed by the Director, who has stored the formula in his brain. Bukov is suspicious of Simon's curiosity but tells him that a testament of the 'work' exists. Dr. Joynton shows the children how to obtain their daily dose of HA57 and they reluctantly take the first of their tablets.

The Director leaves his office, observed by Simon from the doorway of the Fantasy Room. He slips back into the room and explains to Liz about the testament and how he intends to obtain it for Traynor. Liz is still disturbed about Beth and her mother (who are also present but out of earshot) and the whereabouts of her father. Simon persuades Liz to come with him to the Director's office and keeps watch outside while he goes in to look for the testament.

Beth finds Liz outside the office and questions her about why she is loitering in the corridor.
In the office, Simon notices the door that leads through to the 'darkened room'.
Beth and Liz are arguing in the corridor with Liz trying to bluff Beth into thinking she is trying to see the Director.

Back in the office, Simon finds the concealed switch to the sliding doors.
As Beth and Liz continue with their argument, the Director arrives and asks what is going on. Beth tells the Director that Liz was trying to enter his office. Liz calls out to Simon.
Simon opens the door to the secret room and makes to enter.
Liz is taken away by Beth and the Director enters his office. Dr. Bukov walks past and sees the Director close the door behind him.

The Director, furious to find Simon in his office, makes a grab for him and attempts to throttle him. He suddenly begins repeating his speech and then halts as if frozen, allowing Simon to escape his grip. Dr. Bukov enters, without knocking, and the Director apparently recovers, ignoring Simon. He immediately launches into a criticism of Bukov's handling of that morning's power failure, claiming he had been careless and that the failure was due to human error. Bukov refutes the allegation but the Director launches into a tirade against him and again appears to suffer some sort of breakdown. Bukov leads Simon out into the corridor leaving the Director bent over his desk motionless.
Simon is recovering from his ordeal as Dr. Bukov asks him what happened in the office. A distressed Simon explains that the Director tried to kill him. Bukov tells Simon something that he thinks he should know. He tells him that the Director isn't a human being in the normal sense, describing him as 'a man of the future...'

Complete cast for part three

Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall), Iris Russell (Jean Skinner), John Barron (Devereaux), Beth Skinner (Mary Preston), 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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