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 Five

Written by Bruce Stewart

Dr. Joynton is struggling to reach a switch set into the wall.
Beth sees the children trying to escape the office when an alarm klaxon blares out. All of them head for the Fantasy room where Dr. Bukov has discovered the prone form of Dr. Joynton. He turns her body face up and then gently closes the late Dr. Joynton's eyes, pronouncing her dead.

The Director joins everyone in the Fantasy Room and asks why the alarm was sounded. When he notices the crumpled figure on the floor he asks what happened and if everything was in order. Beth asks if it might have been the longevity drug. The Director states that the drug cannot fail as he checked the dosages whilst on brain link to the computer, and that the reason for Dr. Joynton's death is obvious - citing negligence to such a degree as to be murder.

In the corridor outside, the Director summons Larry and relieves him of his duty claiming the error must have been his during the manufacturing of the last batch of the drug. Larry protests that he manufactured the dosages to the Director's instructions, which the Director perceives as Larry's attempt to shift the blame onto him. Liz intercedes to protest Larry's innocence, with Beth flying to the Director's defence. Jean tries to calm Liz resulting in the Director questioning Jean's apparent closeness to her. Jean makes an excuse that she was just being nice to Liz and Simon who were unhappy after their arrival at the Ice Box. Beth then reveals to the Director that immediately prior to the alarm being sounded, she had caught the two children in his office. Simon says they were in there to 'find out things.' Liz adds that they had found another computer in the room at the rear of the office and asks what it is and then accuses Beth of knowing something about it. The Director orders that Liz and Simon be placed behind an electronic shield in the Fantasy Room, which Beth agrees with. The Director then turns his attention to Larry and tells him that a computer memory bank check will soon determine where he went wrong. Larry asks Beth what she thinks about the 'human error' the Director is talking about but she refuses to be drawn on it merely telling Larry he is 'confined to quarters.' A disconsolate Larry remarks he is now out of Beth's way - just as she wanted. Once again, Liz criticises Beth's seemingly cold attitude.

In the Computer Room Dr. Bukov is checking the computer log and notices a break in the flow of information on one of the tapes. He double-checks it but the fault is still there.
The Director and Beth are consulting the computer regarding the HA57 dosages for Dr. Joynton. The computer reports that there was NO error in the manufacturing and suggests a 'Depth Check' of the procedure. Beth states that the computer read out clears Larry but the Director suspects that there is an emotional link between her and Larry. Beth protests, retorting that she dislikes Larry. The Director points out to her that dislike is in itself evidence of an emotional link and goes on to point out that Beth's behaviour is very much like that of Liz. He urges her to discard all emotional reactions. Beth defends herself saying that since taking the intelligence enhancement course, she has had only one aim - the pursuit of science. They return to the subject of the death of Dr. Joynton with the Director agreeing that a 'Depth Check' is required. The Director describes his relationship with the computer as being 'subtle' and that they sometimes lay little 'traps' for each-other. This seems to disquiet Beth. The Director asks Beth if she knows what the 'Inner Computer' in the room at the rear of the office is for. Beth tells the Director that she believes the computer is just to help him in his research but the Director reveals there is a secret in there too... He relates to Beth that if Larry was not responsible for the error in the HA57 manufacture then someone else must have been... Liz and Simon! The Director then prepares for the 'Depth Check', which will now also incorporate his suspicions about the two children.

Liz and Simon are behind an electronic shield in the Fantasy Room. Simon suspects that the Inner Computer may have something to do with the testament that Dr. Bukov told him about. Liz is frustrated that Simon is more concerned with the testament than about the prospect of the AB experiment and all that it entails. Simon assures her that nothing can happen to them, especially her as she is already at the Ice Box in the form of Beth and that Beth clearly doesn't have artificial body parts! Jean comes to see the children and tells them that they must escape back through the time barrier. Jean reflects on how hard her life has been since Beth took the intelligence enhancement course and Frank lost his business. Simon then hits on the idea that if Jean cannot remember letting him and Liz come to the Ice Box then perhaps it can be avoided by going back to 1970 and warning Jean then. Liz is somewhat annoyed that Simon has worked all this out when it is apparently too late - they're now trapped behind the electronic shield.

Dr. Bukov is still checking the computer records. He takes one of the spools, labels it and puts it to one side.
Outside in the corridor, a now free Larry is making his way to the Computer Room. He pauses briefly outside the Director's office and then moves on.
Larry enters the Computer Room where Bukov is surprised to see him. Larry explains that his confinement to quarters has been suspended - but doesn't seem too interested in why. Larry asks what the tapes Bukov has set aside are for. Bukov explains that they relate to some research he is doing and must be kept separate. He seems to ponder for a second before asking Larry if he can trust him, going on to tell a curious Larry about the special project he and Dr. Joynton were charged with - Larry is shocked that the project involved keeping the Director under close observation. Bukov tells Larry that the tapes are part of the material he needs for his report and that he needs Larry to know about them in case anything should happen to him. He locks the tape in a cupboard in the Computer Room, shows Larry the key before slipping it into his pocket. Bukov leaves and Larry returns to his station. On the monitor he notices Liz and Simon imprisoned behind the electronic shield in the Fantasy Room.

Back in his office, the Director is becoming impatient as he waits for the results of the Depth Check from Beth. As Beth is examining the results, the Director gets up from the desk and enters the 'Inner Computer' room. The readout Beth is examining reveals that NO volunteers had been sent to the Ice Box for the AB experiment. She is so startled by the news that she rushes into the 'Inner Computer' room where she discovers the Director hooked up to the computer. The Director appears to be in distress and berates Beth for entering whilst he is at work and accuses Beth and the rest of the staff of hindering him. Beth is clearly terrified by the Director's condition and his erratic behaviour and makes to leave the office. The Director calls her back, now apparently recovered from his distress and tells her to cancel the Depth Check as he has confirmed by 'personal depth contact' with the computer that Liz and Simon were responsible for the death of Edith Joynton. Beth argues otherwise and tells the Director about the readout she received from the computer stating no volunteers had been sent. The Director dismisses the message as a forgery on the grounds of not having received it through his computer brain link, once again blaming Liz and Simon for sabotage. As he leaves he is becoming more and more unstable unnerving Beth further and finally convincing her that the Director is in 'error'.

In the corridor outside the office, the Director is struggling to regain his composure. Larry notices the Director's distress and goes to help. He dismisses Larry - whom he initially fails to recognise - with a comment about the base's temperature seeming too high. Larry is perplexed but confirms he will attend to the matter.
Larry enters the Fantasy Room to visit the children. He tells them the Director is now blaming them for Dr. Joynton's death, which astounds the children. Liz tells Larry that she has claustrophobia so Larry agrees to blow the fuse controlling the shield. Before leaving, Larry notices that indeed the temperature is higher than normal... An apparently jealous Simon accuses Liz of flirting with Larry.
Beth turns the computer monitor off and bustles out of the Director's office with a sense of urgency.

The temperature gauge in the Computer Room is causing Larry some concern. Beth enters and tells Larry she needs to talk to him. Larry is sceptical that Beth would have anything that she would want to talk to him about. She tells him about the instruction not to proceed with the AB experiment and not to expect volunteers. Larry says he was aware of the instructions, thus confirming that the message was not a forgery, though he thought it had since been countermanded. Larry tells Beth that the Director would have the instructions on brain link anyway, so he would be the one to ask. Beth is intrigued about the mention of brain links... she scolds Larry for seeming preoccupied and rushing around the Computer Room. Larry explains that there is a fault with the heating system, causing a steady rise in temperature. When Beth isn't looking, he shorts out the circuit controlling the electronic shield holding Liz and Simon.

As soon as the shield falls, Liz and Simon head for the door of the Fantasy Room and steal out into the corridor, narrowly avoiding Dr. Bukov.
Larry is still trying to discover the reason for the increase in temperature when Bukov enters the Computer Room and complains about the heat, then Beth notices that the temperature is starting to return to normal.
Simon and Liz enter the lobby of the Ice Box. Simon hands Liz a survival suit and tells her to put it on.

In the Computer Room Beth indicates that the temperature is now normal again. Dr. Bukov notes it is another breakdown in the standard procedures of the base's systems. Beth is now also curious as to the cause.

In the lobby Liz is suited up and is ready to leave for the time barrier. However, Simon seems deep in thought. He then announces he is staying to find out more about the longevity drug. Despite Liz's protests, he propels her through the door, closing it behind her.
Outside Liz heads for where the time barrier is located. She passes several of the large ice blocks (seen in episode one). Something causes her to pause and examine one of the blocks more closely. She cracks open a thin layer of ice to reveal a human face underneath. To her horror, she realises it is the face of her father.

Complete cast for part five

Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall), Denis Quilley (Commander Traynor), Iris Russell (Jean Skinner), Derek Benfield (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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