The Year
of the Burn Up - Part Seven
Written by Bruce Stewart
2957 finally admits to Beth he no longer believes in the Master
Plan and that they must save the Community above all else.
Outside, Alpha 4 and the Deltas arrive in the Community with Vera
their prisoner. Their noise causes the Misfits to come out of
the huts. Simon calls out for the light but is shocked when Traynor
throws it to the ground and smashes it. He says that nothing must
stand in the way of the Master Plan. He turns to Alpha 4 and admonishes
him for taking his time. He then tells him that he is resuming
command.
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Alpha 4 refuses to acknowledge Traynor's authority calling him
a traitor to the Master Plan. He seems to believe more, 2957 however
Traynor is quick to describe 2957's duplicity. Liz tries to defend
him but Traynor dismisses her "lies" and taunts 2957.
As Alpha 4 admits that he only came out into the jungle to gather
evidence against 2957, he is faced with the quandary of who to
believe... 2957 or Traynor! Finally, appearing to side with Traynor,
he orders that the misfits (including Simon, Liz and 2957) be
imprisoned in the huts and tells Traynor he'll decide everybody's
fate in the morning. There will also have to be an inquiry into
the matter. He leaves Traynor to his thoughts.
In the hut, Simon has made a make-shift model of the Earth and
is showing Vera the problems that the planet is now facing, now
that so much water has been pumped into Southern hemisphere. 2957
and Beth are discussing their fate at the hands of the technocrats.
Beth bitterly regrets trusting Traynor. She asks 2957 if he really
did betray Traynor. 2957 tells her that he has changed since then.
Suddenly Simon comes up with a theory about the planet's burn
up involving a build up of water vapour from the Southern oceans
causing the various freak weather conditions they have been experiencing.
2957 chimes in and agrees with him. The very structural composition
of the atmosphere is changing. Simon indicates that is the real
Master Plan and, ultimately, what Traynor wants.
Outside, Alpha 4 checks with the guards that all is well and
goes to join a contemplative Traynor. He tells Traynor that he
plans to force- march the prisoners through the jungle before
allowing the hovercrafts to pick them up. Traynor tells Alpha
4 about the background to the Master Plan and about how inefficient
nature is and that he plans to remake the world. "Nature
is finished now.... We observe her death throes!"
In the hut, Beth is tending to an injured misfit whilst Liz is
sewing strips of material. A group of misfits observe 2957 as
he attempts to cut a hole big enough to crawl through, in the
side of the building. Beth takes the material from Liz and offers
to continue commenting on Liz's inability with the needle and
thread. Liz goes to join Simon. She asks him if they are watching
the end of the world. Simon is unsure stating that it depends
how far things go. He remains optimistic and tells her that when
they go back through the time barrier, they can change this future
and prevent it from happening. They can go back through the barrier
whilst Beth and the misfits head for the caves. Much to Simon's
annoyance, Liz brings up the subject of their intelligence tests
again stating that nothing can change those...
Outside, Traynor tells Alpha 4 that he's going to get some rest
for the early start the following morning. As Alpha 4 retires,
one of the Delta hunters fails to notice the person-size hole
that has appeared in the side of the "prison" hut.
Inside, 2957 tells Beth that once he's got all the misfits out
to her, then they must all head for the caves. Beth tells 2957
to take care and is the first to sneak out of the escape hole.
Liz and Simon are faking playing a game of chess so that all seems
normal if anyone looks in on them, as the misfits begin to make
their escape aided by 2957. As Liz makes a wrong move, Simon notices
that one of the Delta hunters is about to discover the escape
route. He rushes outside and tackles the guard. But too late,
the hunter fires his gun and 2957 collapses to the ground.
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In the mêlée, Beth manages to grab 2957 and drag
him into the jungle after the other escaping misfits. Simon tries
again to thwart the Delta hunter but by this time Alpha 4 and
Traynor have been alerted and are on the scene. An angry Traynor
grabs Simon and demands to know his part in the escape. Simon
accuses Traynor of lying to them all as Alpha 4 gathers the Delta
hunters into a search party. As Traynor grapples with Simon, Liz
rushes out of the hut carrying a flaming torch with which she
threatens Traynor. Traynor releases Simon as Liz then uses the
bright light from the torch to incapacitate the clones along with
Simon who has also grabbed one. The two extinguish the flames
and attempt to go after Beth and the misfits. However, a recovered
Traynor captures Simon. As Simon screams at Traynor that his Master
Plan is destroying the world, Traynor madly defends the plan stating
that even if the Earth's surface becomes uninhabitable, then man
can live underground. Simon manages to elbow Traynor savagely
in the stomach, leaving him recoiling in pain and collapsed on
the ground. Free and about to run off into the jungle, Simon glances
back and pauses. He goes to help the struggling old man to his
feet. Traynor says he cannot keep up with the youngsters anymore.
Simon questions Traynor about the Master Plan but gets very little
sense from him. As Traynor continues his mad ramblings about the
new world, Simon realises that the man he previously respected
is now quite mad and truly beyond all help and he runs off into
the jungle.
Beth, 2957 and the other misfits have stopped to catch their
breath in a jungle clearing. Beth and Paul are tending the injured
2957. Suddenly, Liz and Vera let out a scream... They see Simon
rushing into the clearing. Both are happy to see him. As Simon
tries to catch his breath, Liz launches into another of her frantic
speeches about her "low" intelligence and the computer
tests. Simon surprises her by revealing that the tests mean nothing
to him. He also reveals Traynor's plan for the world... 2957 manages,
with the help of Beth and Paul, to stagger to his feet as the
party move onwards through the jungle towards the caves.
Back at the community, Traynor is guzzling from a bowl of food
as Alpha 4 watches. It is nearly two hours to daybreak. Alpha
4 orders the Delta hunters to set out of their search as he and
Traynor follow them into the jungle.
Simon, Liz and the rest of the escapees are struggling to make
their way through the dense and dry foliage of the dying jungle.
The group stops to catch its collective breath as 2957 points
to the jungle's edge and the wasteland beyond. He asks Simon and
Liz to start getting the community across the wasteland and to
the caves whilst he stays put and rests. Beth wants to stop with
him but he refuses her help at first until Beth lays down the
law and orders Simon and Liz to carry on without them.
Elsewhere in the jungle, Alpha 4 and Traynor's search party are
making little headway. One of the Delta hunters collapses from
heat exhaustion. Alpha 4 finds a scrap of material on the ground.
Realising the misfits are somewhere ahead of them, he orders the
party onward leaving the collapsed Delta to his fate.
Simon and Liz are running across the arid wasteland towards the
caves followed by the rest of the misfits. Liz stumbles, forcing
Simon to stop to help her to her feet. As the sun beats down stronger
than ever, the group of misfits struggles on.
Beth is tending the almost delirious 2957. She helps him to his
feet trying desperately to raise his spirits by offering to call
him "29" for short.... or even "Simon".
Simon, Liz and the misfits finally reach the safety of the caves.
To everyone's joy, they discover a fresh water spring inside.
Simon and Liz pause before leaving to help Beth and 2957.... then
Simon says they will return to the time barrier.
Alpha 4, Traynor and the last two Delta hunters stop at the edge
of the jungle. As they pause to rest, Traynor suddenly sees something
in the distance.
It is 2957 and Beth struggling to make their way across the wasteland.
The group runs after them. As Simon and Liz are getting near them,
2957 stumbles and falls. Beth tries to help him as Alpha 4 and
the Delta hunters are getting closer and closer. Simon and Liz
finally catch up with Beth and 2957..... unfortunately, so do
their pursuers. As Alpha 4 and the Delta hunters hold the group
at gunpoint, an exhausted Traynor shambles up behind them. He
tells them they cannot escape... "No one escapes the new
world!" He indicates to the hunters to shoot them. Much to
his horror the first of the Delta hunters collapses to the floor
as the heat and bright light from the overpowering sun begin to
have their effect on the clones. Suddenly, Alpha 4 appears to
have a fit and letting out a guttural cry, he too collapses dead
to the ground. As the sun glares ever brighter, Beth and Simon
help 2957 to his feet. Beth says that the brightness of the sun
will keep the clones away, and her community safe from them. Simon
promises her that he and Liz will make sure they are all safe.
The group begins to move off ignoring the pathetic calls of the
now frantic Traynor. Traynor fumbles at the still corpses of the
Delta hunters trying vainly to revive them. He then notices the
body of Alpha 4: its eyes staring blindly skywards. Traynor pauses
for a moment before he too looks to the heavens...
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Complete cast list for part Seven
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), Patrick Durkin (Delta 22)
Script editor Ruth Boswell
Scientific Advisor Geoffrey Hoyle
Film Camerman Michael Boultbee
Designer Michael Eve
Director Peter Jefferies
Producer John Cooper
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