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 Year of the Burn Up - Part Four

Written by Bruce Stewart

Liz is foraging in the jungle when she is grabbed by Paul and dragged into the cover of the bushes. He beckons her to be quiet. Two hunters (including Delta 22) are patrolling nearby with orders not to shoot unless they have to. Paul ponders on the hunter's orders. As the two move to make their way back to the community, Liz notices the dying vegetation.
Back at the community, Vera has also noticed a similar problem with her cabbages. She calls out to Beth and Simon who come to comfort her.
Paul is checking a dead bush while Liz sees that the creek into which she and Simon fell when they arrived, has dried up.

As Simon and Beth try to comfort a distressed Vera, a heavy branch falls from a tree. Beth comments that 2957 and the technocrats have finally done it. "They're burning us up!"
In London at the Ministry, Controller 2957 is in a meeting fielding problems with Alpha 4. The temperature rise together with a report on the level of the River Clyde is being relayed to him. Alpha 4 points out that 1957 was concerned when the first rivers were diverted as part of the Master Plan and that he was at the time assistant to Commander Traynor. As one of the Alpha secretaries relays a report on the Wye Valley, the video scanner looses reception.

Back at the community Simon and Paul are observing the strange weather conditions. Simon comments on the recent "strange lights" as both listen to a dull consistent rumble which they identify as thunder. Paul gathers a group of the Misfits to move the fallen branch.
In the cookhouse, Liz asks Beth what she is going to do. Beth is flippant at first. She tells her it doesn't really concern her as Simon and Liz can slip back through the time barrier whenever they want. But Liz admits she does care about Beth. She'd rather grow up to be this Beth than the one in the Ice Box.

Liz says that Controller 2957 could help them. Beth isn't impressed. She blames 2957 and his kind for creating the mess they are in. "They're the villains. They're the turncoats!!"
Back at the Ministry, 2957 is studying the Atlantic Curtain visual. He is disturbed and returns to his desk. He calls up the section four Atlantic progress map. He is baffled by the fact that there is a strange mist everywhere. Alphas 4, 16 and 17 enter the office. Alpha 17 is carrying a spool of tape and a folder. 2957 tells them of the mist covering the South Atlantic. Alpha 4 points out the weather problems they are experiencing in Europe, which do not conform with the Master Plan. He tosses the spool and folder onto 2957's desk. Pointing to the tape, he informs the Controller that the tape has been edited. The Controller asks if the delegation in his office is there to accuse him of tampering with the tape. Alpha 17 implies that he had the opportunity. 2957 is aghast. He had less reason. It's his sector that is suffering. Alpha 4 brings up a certain similar anomaly from the service's past... 2957 tries to ignore the comment. Alpha states that the Alphas are the guardians of the Master Plan and cannot afford to overlook anything. 2957 asks if Alpha 14 is calling him another Commander Traynor. As 2957 defends his position, he swears that he will devote his best endeavours to discovering the real saboteur. Alpha 4 warns that he will take the matter further if he cannot come up with satisfactory answers. 2957 leaves with the computer spool. Alone, Alpha 4 discusses the situation with the Alpha secretaries asking them if they believed him. They did not. Alpha 4 reveals his only ambition is to serve the Master Plan. The secretaries leave. Alpha 4 calls up the video scanner and turns it's attention the jungle.

At the community Paul is telling a distraught Vera that her cabbages are dead and that planting further ones will be hopeless in the current situation. She goes off with Paul. Liz joins Simon in the communal area. Liz asks Simon if 2957 would help Beth and the community with food and supplies. Simon says yes.
Shortly thereafter, Liz and Simon are in the dying jungle. Simon goes on to check ahead. Whilst waiting for Simon, Liz sees Commander Traynor. He makes a motion for her to be quiet and moves away. She calls after Simon and tells him whom she has just seen.
In 2957's office, Alpha 4 has been watching the scene happening and he turns the scanner off.

In the computer room, 2957 is checking the computer tape with Alpha 17 observing the results of his quest. The whole sequence involving the order to commence manufacture of the Atlantic Curtain has been removed. Alpha 17 points out that the edit was not clean. 2957 deduces that whoever did it, did not know what they were editing from the tape. Alpha 17 realises that Alpha 4 may have been wrong in his assumption of 2957's guilt. He has been under a lot of strain recently.

In the corridor outside, Liz and Simon are skulking about. Simon points out Traynor's old office, which is now 2957's. They enter but as soon as they are in it, they have to hide. Alpha 4 enters. He makes a call on the video scanner. It is Delta 22 - one of the hunters. He makes a reference to the hunter's special directive and states that he knows there are people living in the jungle. Delta 22 has seen nothing. Alpha 4 says he has seen Simon and a girl together with someone about whose identity he is deliberately evasive. Alpha 4 suspects 2957 of contact with the people in the jungle and wants Delta 22 to find them. He cuts communication and leaves the office. Simon and Liz come out of hiding. Simon heads after him but has to hide in the corridor when 2957 and Alpha 17 turn up with Alpha 4 in tow. 2957 says they can now look for the real culprit of the tape sabotage. As they leave, Simon comes out of hiding and heads into the computer room.

In the computer room, Simon tries to get through to the secret room. He narrowly misses being spotted by Alpha 4 and a technician searching for a tape. Simon finds the secret panel and enters the room beyond. It is the old part of the ministry building. Once inside, he finds a torch. He hears Alpha 4 who is now watching a video recording in the computer room. It refers to Commander Charles Traynor who, it states, has now been stripped of registration and declared a social criminal.

In 2957's office Liz reveals herself to the Controller. 2957 is angry that she is there. She asks him to help Beth and the community. 2957 asks her to leave. He can't help her. Beth made her decisions long ago. He has his own problems. 2957 becomes very angry and forces Liz out into the corridor. Liz brings up the subject of he and Beth being incompatible. This only seems to rile 2957 more as he drags her off down the corridor.

In the computer room, Alpha 4 is still watching the record tape. Commander Traynor apparently betrayed the Master Plan by holding up the progress of the diversion of the northern British rivers. Before the tape can conclude, Simon who is still listening from the secret room accidentally causes the door to open alerting Alpha 4 to his presence. Alpha 4 goes in to investigate and sees Simon. Simon shines his torch in 4's face. 4 staggers and collapses. Breathless, Simon escapes from the secret room.

In the jungle, Liz is alone. Suddenly, she is grabbed by Traynor who holds her at knifepoint. He wants some explanations and warns her against making a noise. He releases her and asks her why they didn't go back through the time barrier. Traynor is impressed when he discovers that Simon didn't betray his word not to reveal Traynor's existence to anyone, especially Liz. At this, Traynor becomes more friendly towards Liz and asks her what she is doing in the jungle. Traynor surmises that Liz and Simon had been to visit 2957. He asks Liz what they think of Simon's future self. Liz explains that 2957 is a coward and won't lift a finger to help her. She stops short of telling Traynor about Beth. Traynor babbles about the struggle between light and darkness and that "...each of us must choose his side!"

Complete cast list for part four

Denis Quilley (Commander Traynor), Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall), Mary Preston (Beth Skinner), David Graham (2957), Brian Pettifer (Paul), Merdel Jordine (Vera), Ian Fairbairn (Alpha 4), Teresa Scoble (Alpha 16), Lisa Scoble (Alpha 17), Patrick Durkin (Delta 22)

Script editor Ruth Boswell
Scientific Advisor Geoffrey Hoyle
Designer Michael Eve
Director Peter Jefferies
Producer John Cooper

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