The Day
of the Clone - Part Two
Written by Victor Pemberton
Liz and Simon make their way back to the window, through which
Simon climbed in, when he first arrived at R1, but it is now locked.
Simon pushes Liz into the room he had originally hid in and closes
the door on her. Liz is shocked to see the mannequin that looks
like her. Simon goes to look for a way out. At that moment an
alarm is sounded.
Traynor and Frazer burst out of the lift into reception. Frazer
gathers a party of orderlies and they hurry off to search for
the children whilst Traynor makes a phone call.
An orderly spots Simon and gives chase. Simon speeds back to
the room where Liz is waiting anxiously. He slams the door and
bolts it behind him. Maria emerges from the shadows. She directs
Liz and Simon to a laundry chute reassuring them that it is only
a short drop. Simon asks her to come with them but she replies
that she is too old for that sort of thing.
In the corridor outside Frazer arrives at the door of the storeroom
followed by Traynor. The orderly tells them that the children
are in the room. As Traynor hammers on the door, Frazer glances
through the window and notices the children heading away from
the building. Traynor, Frazer and a group of orderlies head off
in pursuit.
Liz and Simon find themselves at the edge of the R1 grounds.
Liz wonders where they could go, as they are miles from anywhere.
But Simon has a plan...
Traynor and Frazer leave the R1 building in hot pursuit of the
children
.
Nearly exhausted from the pursuit, the children find themselves
at the perimeter of the Ministry field that Simon had spotted
on his way to R1. They realise that they are being cornered by
Traynor, Frazer and the orderlies, leaving them only one means
of escape: the time barrier! Liz is reluctant but when Simon points
out the alternatives, she is forced to go along with his plan.
They enter the barrier leaving a frustrated Traynor and a group
of stunned orderlies behind...
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Much to Simon's astonishment, the two children find themselves
in Simon's front room at home. He shows Liz a picture on the mantelpiece
of him and his father at Hastings as proof. Liz is still puzzled
about how they ended up at Simon's home. Simon notices that the
wallpaper is new; a fact he finds puzzling since it was much older
the day previous. The two are interrupted by Simon's father when
he enters the room. Mr Randall asks who they are. Simon tries
to explain that he's "Simon." Mr Randall still fails
to recognise his son. He tells them that Simon is actually upstairs
doing his homework. This amuses Liz. But doesn't amuse Mr. Randall
who goes on to explain that Simon is about to take his 11-plus
exams. As Simon stumbles to explain himself further to his father,
Liz seems to realise what has happened. She tells Mr Randall that
they are friends of his son. The front door was open and they
let themselves in. Mr Randall is taken in by Liz's charm... much
to Simon's chagrin! As Mr. Randall goes to tell his son that his
"friends" are here to see him, he stops at Simon. He
says that he seems to recognise him from somewhere but can't place
him before finally leaving the room. Liz is still amused but Simon
points out that the situation means they have travelled BACK in
time. As Simon ponders just how far they have travelled, they
hear the young Simon calling down the stairs to his father. As
Liz is further amused, Simon grabs her and the two make their
escape through the front door. Moments later, Mr. Randall returns
to the front room only to find that the "nice young lady
and .... young lad" have gone.
Outside, Liz and Simon are walking down a street discussing their
new predicament. Liz wants to return home. Simon is puzzled about
why they ended up in their past. As Liz protests further, Simon
is adamant they should find out how Traynor's Master Plan started
and where. He ponders about how they can find out the actual date.
Liz borrows sixpence from Simon and buys a newspaper... for which
she is surprised to get tuppence change. From the paper, they
find that the year is 1965. Simon realises that his father didn't
recognise him because in 1965 he was only eleven years old. He
also surmises that 1965 is the ideal time to find out about the
Master Plan's origins. He tells Liz that they have to go back
to R1. Liz reflects on Maria who they left at the 1970 R1... Her
eyes were so young yet her skin was so old. Simon is convinced
that Devereaux started the longevity tests at R1... He will die
in 1969 so Devereaux must still be alive. The two children make
their way to R1.
They stop at the gates to the establishment and see a familiar
face drive through them: it is Commander Traynor!
Inside R1, a group of young people exits from an elevator. A
distracted Traynor stumbles into one of them: a young girl. He
helps her to her feet only discover that she has weak legs. She
dismisses it as being part of the "treatment." Traynor
is surprised to discover she is a volunteer.
In the office that in 1970 is Dr. Frazer's, the doctor is talking
to Morgan C. Devereaux. He is reading off a printout about one
of the patients. Despite Dr. Frazer's misgivings about the patient's
health, Devereaux is coldly adamant that the tests will continue
and that they will try again. The door opens and Commander Traynor
enters. He is angry about the "human guinea pigs" he
has just met in the corridor. Devereaux tries to dismiss the fact
that he didn't get permission to use them from either Traynor
or the government. Dr. Frazer points out that the "guinea
pigs" are all volunteers. Traynor is still furious and points
out to Devereaux that it was he who got the government grant to
enable him to start work here... He can just as easily halt that
grant! Devereaux gives Traynor a cold stare.
Liz and Simon enter the building by a window. Liz is frightened
of getting caught whilst Simon wants to get to Devereaux's office
to find out about the cloning process. As an orderly approaches
from down the corridor, the two children duck in the "mannequin"
room. As they close the door behind them, they are startled by
a bright light behind which is a man who appears to have been
expecting them...
In Devereaux's office, Devereaux is still arguing with Traynor
about his experimentation methods. In the end, Traynor tells him
that he wants the human experiments closed down on moral grounds.
He argues that mental control is not a necessary part of the longevity
research. Dr. Frazer says if one tries to extend the normal life
of a human being to perfect the cloning transplant then mental
adjustment is vital through hypnotherapy. Traynor is not convinced.
The process could result in severe mental instability. Devereaux
has had enough and shows Traynor the door. He also reveals that
it is he who has donated cells for the cloning transplant. Traynor
adds that it will be after his death and that that makes quite
a difference.
In the "mannequin" room, the man is taking photographs
of the young volunteers. It appears that he thinks Liz and Simon
are amongst them. He asks Liz her name as he takes a photo of
her stood against a blank wall. She tells him it's Elisabeth and
he points out that it's a good English name before adding that
it'll see her well in her journey through the unknown. He takes
a photo of Simon and asks him why he volunteered to help further
the cause of scientific progress. Before Simon can answer, he
dismisses him. The man puts the camera away and turns to address
Simon, Liz and the other young volunteers. He tells them that
his name is De Sarem and that he will be their mother, father,
teacher and guide. He also adds that they must all work and think
together, before ordering them all to follow him slowly out of
the room in single file. He leads the bizarre procession down
the corridor with Liz and Simon bringing up the rear. Simon quickly
grabs Liz and pulls her aside into a room. Liz points out that
in 1970, the room will be an operating theatre. Now it is full
of electronic equipment including TV monitors. Fiddling with some
controls, Simon accidentally activates a large wall panel that
opens to reveal another room beyond. The room is decked out in
regency décor and furniture and peopled with what appear
to be mannequins dressed in period attire. They disturb Liz. Simon
points to the anachronistic iron bars on the window. He ponders
on the reasons for the room being in a research centre. Liz points
to a heavy door that appears to lead to the room. It is bolted
shut from their side. Simon moves to open it. Liz protests but
Simon tries anyway.
In Devereaux's office, De Sarem is being told to release the
volunteers as Traynor and Dr. Frazer listen. De Sarem is angry
and offers to show him his summary report about the "group
one volunteers". Traynor is adamant. He wants ALL the volunteers
off the premises by the end of the week. A reluctant De Sarem
leaves to carry out the instruction. As De Sarem leaves, Devereaux
subtly signals Dr. Frazer to follow him. Traynor demands to know
who De Sarem is. He tells him that Roderick De Sarem is one of
the greatest authorities in the field of advanced psychiatric
studies in Western Europe. Traynor deduces that he is Devereaux's
hypnotist.
In a corridor outside, Dr. Frazer catches up with the disgruntled
De Sarem and tells him not to be too hasty in dismissing the patients.
He tells him that there is other work to do first.
With Liz keeping a look out, Simon is struggling to unlock the
heavy bolts on the door to the regency room.
In his office, Devereaux is chiding Traynor about his reluctance
to involve the human volunteers. He tells him that it would only
take five years to develop the complete theory of cloning and
longevity. Traynor continue to argue the ethics of Devereaux's
scientific methods. Devereaux continues to explain about the hypnotherapy
treatment being a long-term part of the cloning procedure; something
that he tells Traynor that he has not experienced. The need to
condition the mind to prolonged activity is halfway towards creating
the perfect clone. He asks Traynor to see for himself that the
process is safe before De Sarem releases the patients.
Liz warns Simon that someone is coming. It is Devereaux followed
by Traynor. Simon is down to the last bolt on the door and asks
Liz to help him with it. They manage to release it and stumble
quickly into the room. Once inside, they are deafened by a rumbling
electronic noise as they make for cover behind a chaise longue.
Traynor and Devereaux enter the monitoring room followed by Dr.
Frazer. Devereaux tells Traynor he'll see the process better from
nearer the observation window. Traynor, seeing the figures in
the room, asks what is happening in there. Devereaux reveals that
the hypno sound beam that the patients are subjected to makes
them believe they are in the past: a past illuminated by the contents
of the room (or time chamber) - in this case, a regency drawing
room. They are currently in a trance. He tells Dr Frazer to increase
the beam's volume.
In the time chamber, Simon and Liz put their hands to their ears
as the noise becomes deafening.
As the noise rises in intensity, Traynor demands that Devereaux
stops the process. He is offended by the man's savagery. Devereaux
ignores him. Traynor threatens to finish him and his barbaric
work in the eyes of the government. As Traynor points to the volunteers
in the room describing them as little more than brainwashed puppets,
he turns to face Devereaux and Frazer only to discover he is now
alone in the monitoring room. He walks across to the door, which
he finds is locked. A hissing sound fills the room and Traynor
glances upwards to see a nozzle pouring out a thick cloudy vapour.
He begins to choke as the gas reaches him.
Inside the time chamber, Liz and Simon, still clutching their
ears from the penetrating sound beam, see Traynor trying to smash
his way through the observation window using a chair. Before he
can do anything further he collapses to the floor unconscious.
As the room begins to clear, two figures in gas masks stand over
the Commander's inert body...
Complete cast for part two
Cheryl Burfield (Liz Skinner), Spencer Banks (Simon Randall),
Denis Quilley (Commander Traynor), John Barron (Devereaux), Ian
Fairbairn (Dr. Frazer), De Sarem (Derek Sydney), John Cazabon
(Mr. Randall), Mary Larkin (Maria), Bruce Beeby (Desk Attendant),
John Herrington (News Vendor).
Script Editor Ruth Boswell
Scientific Adviser Geoffrey Hoyle
Designer Gerry Roberts
Director David Foster
Producer John Cooper
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