PRIAM's Dining Hall

CASSANDRA: You heard, didn't you? That was the name she called herself when we found her. And she recognises him, too. Since he's a Greek, what more proof do you need that she's a spy? Guards!

(Two GUARDS enter. CASSANDRA points to VICKI and STEVEN.)

Kill her! Kill both of them!

VICKI: No!

The GUARDS draw their swords and advance on STEVEN and VICKI. They are stopped by a yell from PARIS, who is slightly miffed that his one chance of glory is about to have its throat slit.)

PARIS: Guards! Sheath arms!

(He turns with unnatural authority to CASSANDRA.)

And since when have you given orders to the military? I'm in command here!

CASSANDRA: Of everything except your senses!

PARIS: I am at present officer commanding all Trojan forces!

CASSANDRA: Ha!

PARIS: And I will not tolerate interference from a fortune-teller of notorious unreliability!

(CASSANDRA is even more furious.)

CASSANDRA: How dare you! I am High Priestess of Troy!

PARIS: Alright then, get back to your temple before you give us all galloping religious mania! Oh really, father, I can't tolerate another of her tedious tirades at the moment.

CASSANDRA: Father, do you hear him?

(PRIAM is listening with considerable amusement.)

PRIAM: Yes, it's quite refreshing. It seems there's a man lurking behind that flaccid facade after all.

PARIS: Really, father, I do wish you'd refrain from patronising me in front of the prisoner.

PRIAM: The prisoner! Oh, that's it. One pathetic prisoner and he thinks he's Hercules. The success has gone to your head.

PARIS: Just before you start sneering at this prisoner, perhaps you should know that his name is Diomede. And if you look in the Greek army lists, you'll see he's quite a catch.

(STEVEN decides to spice things up a bit, and puts on his best humble voice.)

STEVEN: Which none but you could have caught, O Lion of Troy.

(This has the desired effect. There is a stunned silence, followed by murmurs of shock and disbelief, which CASSANDRA expresses out loud.)

CASSANDRA: What was that?

(PARIS chuckles at her reaction in an 'I told you so' manner.)

PARIS: Well there you are, you see! Haha... right, go on, go on! Tell them, Diomede!

STEVEN: We fought. I lost. I am not ashamed. There is none in all our ranks who could stand against the wrath of Paris when he seeks revenge.

PARIS: Yeah, very good... very good, yes.

(He remembers there are others present.)

There you are, you see - I'm treated with more respect by the enemy than I am by my own family!

CASSANDRA: They don't know you as well as we do.

PARIS: Perhaps better! And perhaps the time has come for you to start revising your opinions, sister.

CASSANDRA: You forget one thing. Your prisoner and that girl have clearly met before.

VICKI: Why won't you let me explain that - it's really all quite simple...

PRIAM: Yes, I'm sure it is. But Paris claimed Diomede here as a Greek prisoner. And Cassandra claims that you are a Greek spy.

CASSANDRA: And a sorceress!

PRIAM: Yes, quite. After all, you do claim to know the future.

VICKI: Yes, but don't you see, that...

PRIAM: Hush, my child! This war with the Greeks has been going on for ten long years! And frankly, we're very bored with being penned up here. Now if you are what you really say you are, as a pledge of good faith to us, you must either give me information that will lead to our speedy victory, or use your supernatural powers to turn the tide of battle in our favour.

VICKI: But... suppose I don't? Suppose the Greeks win?

CASSANDRA: You will be burned! As a sorceress, a false prophet, and a spy!

PRIAM: Well as one of them, anyway, but I have every confidence in you, Cressida. And I will give you one whole day to decide which to do.

STEVEN: One day?

PRIAM: Yes.

STEVEN: But...

PRIAM: Till tomorrow evening, to be precise. (to PARIS) Now if you have no objection, I think they ought to be taken away.

PARIS: Oh yes, yes. I- I think that's all... very fair.

(The GUARDS motion STEVEN and VICKI towards the door.)

VICKI: Where are they taking us?

PRIAM: To the dungeons. Oh, don't worry, you'll find them quite comfortable. I often spend an hour down two there myself when I've got tired of things up here.

STEVEN: How long do you intend to keep us there?

CASSANDRA: Till you rot!

PRIAM: Oh, well really, Cassandra - though that may be true in your case, Diomede. But I trust Cressida will join us before tomorrow evening.

(He looks expectantly at PARIS.)

PARIS: Oh yes, yes right.

(He clears his throat dramatically.)

Guards! Take them away!

(The GUARDS leave with VICKI and STEVEN.)

A Tent in the Greek camp (The DOCTOR sits at a makeshift desk, tidying a pile of parchment as ODYSSEUS enters.)

ODYSSEUS: Well, Doctor - you have one day left. What progress are you making?

DOCTOR: Considerable! Here...

(He hands some bits of parchment to ODYSSEUS.)

...now you just take that for a moment.

ODYSSEUS: Hm?

DOCTOR: Now, pay attention please.

(He takes a blank piece of parchment and, with the air of a magician, folds it into the shape of a paper aeroplane. ODYSSEUS watches and is distinctly unimpressed.)

ODYSSEUS: What is it?

(The DOCTOR chuckles proudly.)

DOCTOR: Well, what does it look like? A flying machine!

ODYSSEUS: Looks like a parchment dart to me! My boy makes these to annoy his tutors.

DOCTOR: Excellent! Since you're so familiar with this project, it's so much easier for me to talk to you. Come along, come along!

ODYSSEUS: Huh!

(The DOCTOR leads ODYSSEUS to the desk, where they both sit down.)

DOCTOR: Now, of course you realise that, um, we can build a much larger one, capable of carrying a man. Hm?

ODYSSEUS: Mm, I suppose so. What good would that be?

DOCTOR: Oh think, my dear Odysseus - a whole fleet of them! Carrying a company of soldiers over the walls and into Troy.

ODYSSEUS: Mm. How would er, we get them into the air?

DOCTOR: Catapults!

ODYSSEUS: Catapults? That sounds like a vulgar oath to me! I must try it on Agamemnon. Catapults!

(He laughs.)

DOCTOR: Nonsense! The catapult is, er - well, you could make one for yourself out of strips of ox hide. And secure both ends, and then stretch it out like a bow-string, hm?

ODYSSEUS: I see.

(He clearly doesn't.)

DOCTOR: Then you, er, pour water over it, let it dry in the sun, and what happens then, hm?

ODYSSEUS: It begins to smell!

DOCTOR: Never mind that. It shrinks! Now, allow me to demonstrate.

(He chuckles and produces an elastic band from his pocket, making it into a catapult around his fingers.)

You place the flying machine thus, as you would an arrow in a bow, and...

(He releases the plane, which flies across the tent.)

...let it go.

ODYSSEUS: What happens?

DOCTOR: The machine flies in the air with a soldier clinging to its back!

ODYSSEUS: Yes, well here's one soldier who's doing nothing of the sort.

DOCTOR: Agamemnon, then.

ODYSSEUS: Haha! That might be quite an idea.

DOCTOR: Thank you, I thought you'd like it.

ODYSSEUS: Agamemnon wouldn't do it, though.

DOCTOR: Oh? Why not?

ODYSSEUS: He'd object most strongly. We'll have to think of someone else.

DOCTOR: Well, anyone could do it, for that matter, I mean even a child could operate it.

ODYSSEUS: I'm very glad to hear you say that, Doctor, because I intend to build this flying machine.

DOCTOR: Excellent, excellent!

ODYSSEUS: And you shall have the honour of being the first man to fly!

(The smile disappears very quickly from the DOCTOR's face.)

Cells (STEVEN and VICKI are being held in adjacent cells in the Trojan palace dungeon. A small grating in STEVEN's cell lets light in from street level, and a communication grating connects the two cells. Each is fronted by a locked barred door.)

VICKI: If you hadn't called me Vicki, we wouldn't be here now.

STEVEN: You called me by my name first!

VICKI: Because I was surprised to see you - I can't think why you disguised yourself as a Greek, anyway!

STEVEN: I disguised myself so that I could rescue you!

VICKI: You succeeded beautifully. Thanks, Diomede.

STEVEN: Oh look, be fair! How was I to know that you'd manage to get round King Priam?

VICKI: You might have guessed. I know how to take care of myself!

(STEVEN mutters under his breath.)

VICKI: Why couldn't you have disguised yourself as a Trojan? It would have been far more sensible.

STEVEN: Because I haven't got a Trojan uniform. And if you're so clever at looking after yourself, you'd better start thinking of a way to get out of here. And fast!

VICK: What do you mean, fast?

STEVEN: Yesterday, the Doctor was given two days to capture Troy, and if I know him, he'll probably succeed.

VICKI: Well that's alright then, we shall be rescued.

STEVEN: Rescued? You'll be lucky! Look, may I point out that in the one day that the Doctor now has left, you have to think of a way of saving the city and defeating the Greeks!

VICKI: Oh. I hadn't thought of it like that.

STEVEN: Well, you'd better start. Becasue I don't think Cassandra's going to wait... until the city falls before she gets rid of you!

VICKI: Paris wouldn't let her do that, neither would Troilus.

STEVEN: Troilus?

VICKI: Paris's younger brother. He likes me - and I like him.

STEVEN: I don't think that's going to matter much when the city starts to burn. Come on, start thinking! It's you against the Doctor now.

VICKI: Oh Steven, what can we do to stop him? Do you know what he was planning?

STEVEN: Oh, I've no idea. I suggested the wooden horse, he... he said that was something Homer made up.

(He is distracted by the noise of something clattering across the floor of his cell.)

VICKI: What was that?

STEVEN: Some fool throwing stones at us. Probably stirred up by Cassandra.

(He goes to the window and looks.)

VICKI: Except for her, they were all quite friendly to me...

(STEVEN sees a familiar face looking through the window from the square outside.)

STEVEN: Vicki! It's the Cyclops!

(VICKI has only heard of the original, mythical Cyclops, and is astonished to hear of its supposed presence in the middle of a bustling city.)

VICKI: What!

STEVEN: The servant of Odysseus! Look, Cyclops... can you understand me?

(CYCLOPS gestures in the affirmative.)

Tell them... tell them that I've found our other friend. Yes?... That they mustn't attack Troy... that's it, the city... they mustn't attack Troy until the day after tomorrow... uh-huh... otherwise we'll both be killed... this girl and I. You understand?

(CYCLOPS nods and grunts a laughing noise.)

VICKI: Glad he thinks that's funny.

STEVEN: Tell... tell the old man...

TROILUS: (oov)Cressida, what's going on?

(STEVEN hears the voice coming from the passage outside the cells, and doesn't have time to move away from the window. The newcomer sees him, and VICKI speaks quickly to cover up.)

VICKI: Troilus, what's going on?

(TROILUS, the youngest son of PRIAM, is in his late teens, dressed as a warrior but looking too young for the military garb.)

TROILUS: What are you doing?

VICKI: Ah, nothing, just watching D... Diomede examining... those things in there.

TROILUS: What are you doing up there?

STEVEN: Just admiring the view. It's a very handsome sqaure out here.

TROILUS: Perhaps, but you're supposed to sit in your cell and be quiet. (to VICKI) You weren't talking to him, were you? You're not supposed to.

(He sounds concerned, almost hurt.)

VICKI: Oh no, I was just watching.

TROILUS: I brought you some food.

VICKI: Oh, thank you! I though I'd been forgotten.

(TROILUS hands the food through the cell bars.)

You can, um, tell me what's going on while I eat.

(TROILUS looks down sadly.)

TROILUS: I'm not allowed to talk to you.

VICKI: Why not?

TROILUS: I'm on duty.

VICKI: Can't you even...

TROILUS: I'm sorry, Cressida, but I must obey orders.

(VICKI sits down sullenly and starts eating.)

VICKI: Mm, this is very good. Would you like some?

(TROILUS hesitates.)

Go on! Try some.

(The Trojan clearly wants to, but is still hesitant.)

TROILUS: Well actually I... I have already eaten.

A Tent in the Greek camp (ODYSSEUS sits impatiently while the DOCTOR paces up and down.)

ODYSSEUS: Will you keep still?

DOCTOR: I'm thinking.

ODYSSEUS: Well think sitting down! Now you said your plans were ready. I've got half a company of men standing by to make this machine of yours.

DOCTOR: Dismiss them then.

ODYSSEUS: What? You have very little time left, Doctor!

DOCTOR: Oh, I'm quite well aware of that, but er, I'm afraid this machine isn't going to work.

ODYSSEUS: You mean you're too frightened to fly it yourself.

DOCTOR: No, no, no, it isn't that, not at all! I've made a mistake in my calculations.

ODYSSEUS: A mistake?

DOCTOR: Mm. Yes yes, I'm afraid we must face up to it, Odysseus. Man was never meant to fly.

ODYSSEUS: Wasn't he now? Well that seems to me a great shame. Now if your machine won't work, Doctor, I propose to fly you without it.

DOCTOR: Oh? What do you mean?

ODYSSEUS: Simply this - that my catapult is ready, and it seems a great pity to waste it. Now you have failed me, therefore you are expendable - I propose to fire you over the walls of Troy!

(The DOCTOR realises it is time for desperate measures.)

DOCTOR: Ah, but I have another idea, (chuckles) and a much better one!

ODYSSEUS: It had better be. Well?

DOCTOR: Have you ever thought of a... a horse, hm?

ODYSSEUS: Is that supposed to be funny?

DOCTOR: It should be a huge horse, about forty foot high.

(The DOCTOR preens himself, much to ODYSSEUS's annoyance.)

ODYSSEUS: What good would that be?

DOCTOR: We build it hollow, fill it with soldiers, and leave it on the sandy plain for the Trojans to capture it... hm?

(ODYSSEUS begins to follow the idea.)

ODYSSEUS: And... and it's just possible that the Trojans will come out and take the horse back into the city.

DOCTOR: And the Greeks pretend to sail away.

ODYSSEUS: Yes - yes, that's quite an idea, Doctor!

(They both chuckle with pleasure.)

Cells (TROILUS sits in the cell with VICKI, who continues her meal.)

TROILUS: No, of course not - it was just that Cassandra went on so about your being a witch!

VICKI: And you thought I might put a spell on you?

TROILUS: Well no, of course not - I'd like to see you try it!... You're not a witch, are you?

VICKI: Of course not. Do I look like one?

TROILUS: Well no, but... I've never met one.

(VICKI laughs.)

Look here, I shouldn't be talking to you like this. And what are you laughing at?

VICKI: Well you're not in the war, are you? You're far too young!

TROILUS: I'm seventeen next birthday!

VICKI: That's hardly any older than me! You shouldn't be killing people at your age.

(TROILUS moves closer and speaks in a confidential manner.)

TROILUS: Well... between you and me, I... I don't honestly enjoy killing at all. But I love adventure.

(VICKI speaks wistfully, looking into his eyes.)

VICKI: Yes, I know what you mean.

AGAMEMNON's Tent (AGAMEMNON and MENELAUS look up as ODYSSEUS enters with the DOCTOR.)

AGAMEMNON: What is this idea of yours?

DOCTOR: Well, it's all perfectly simple!

(He starts unravelling a roll of parchment.)

ODYSSEUS: Nonsense! Show them the plans, Doctor. It's quite revolutionary!

(The DOCTOR spreads the parchment out on a table.)

There, what do you make of that?

(AGAMEMNON and MENELAUS look at the DOCTOR's diagrams of the Wooden Horse. MENELAUS is the first to comment.)

MENELAUS: Er, well it's, um, a horse.

(ODYSSEUS stares at him.)

Isn't it?

ODYSSEUS: Well done, Menelaus. But what sort of horse, that's the point.

MENELAUS: Ah. Er, well... a big horse.

ODYSSEUS: Exactly! A very big horse.

AGAMEMNON: Is this some sort of joke?

ODYSSEUS: The horse is at least forty foot high!

MENELAUS: Oh, but horses don't grow as big as that... do they? I mean, even the Great Horse of Asia that the Trojans worship...

ODYSSEUS: Now you're beginning to get to the point. Horses don't grow that high.

MENELAUS: No.

ODYSSEUS: The Great Horse of Asia does not exist, therefore we are going to build one for the Trojans as a sort of present.

(AGAMEMNON begins to follows the plan.)

AGAMEMNON: M-hm, go on.

DOCTOR: We build it of wood, and we biuld it hollow. Then we fill it with a picked team of soldiers.

MENELAUS: Well... then what do we do?

DOCTOR: You take to the ships and sail away, to make the Trojans think you've all gone.

MENELAUS: Oh! Excellent! That's a very good idea.

DOCTOR: You all come back again, of course, hm!

MENELAUS: Now why is there always a catch in it?

DOCTOR: None of this must happen before nightfall, hm?

ODYSSEUS: Now Achilles will take his Myrmidons and hide out upon the plain.

AGAMEMNON: I thought you said the best warriors would be in the horse?

ODYSSEUS: So they will be. I shall be there with my Ithacans.

AGAMEMNON: Eh?

ODYSSEUS: My Ithacans, and the Doctor, of course.

DOCTOR: That wasn't part of the plan!

ODYSSEUS: It is now, I've just thought of it. I'm standing no more nonsense from you, Doctor.

DOCTOR: That will not be necessary! I shall only get in the way!

ODYSSEUS: You'd better not do that. (to AGAMEMNON and MENELAUS) Now the rest is up to those Trojans. They see that we have gone. They see their Great Horse upon the plain, which has descended from heaven to drive us away.

DOCTOR: Then they drag the horse into the city.

AGAMEMNON: Mm, are you sure? Suppose they set fire to it?

DOCTOR: Oh, that is a calculated risk, but somehow I don't think they'll want to destroy one of their own gods.

MENELAUS: Yes, but once they have the horse inside, won't they close the gates?

ODYSSEUS: Of course they will! But during the night, we shall leave the horse, open up the gates to let you all in again. What more do you want?

MENELAUS: A drink!

(He reaches for the pitcher of wine as the DOCTOR chuckles.)

Cells

VICKI: There, I've finished. That was lovely.

(TROILUS gets up shyly.)

TROILUS: Then I... I'd better go, I've... I've stayed here far too long as it is already.

VICKI: Oh but um, aren't you going to take some food to Diomede?

TROILUS: Why?

VICKI: Well, perhaps he's hungry too.

TROILUS: But he's a Greek. He deserves to be hungry.

VICKI: Well, perhaps so, but... you can't let him starve!

TROILUS: He won't starve! The guards will throw him a scrap or two later on.

VICKI: Well that's a very nice attitude, I must say!

(TROILUS is getting jealous.)

TROILUS: Look here, is this Diomede a particular friend of yours or something?

VICKI: A very good friend, yes!

TROILUS: Well I don't see how you can be friends with a Greek!

VICKI: Oh, look, Troilus, when you... come from the future you make friends with a lot of people, and he's one of them.

TROILUS: I see. But he's not in any way special?

VICKI: No! Why do you keep on?

TROILUS: Well because that's what I was... I mean, that's what the others were worried about.

(VICKI easily sees his true meaning, and chooses her words carefully.)

VICKI: Oh... yes, well.. alright, er, you can tell them to stop worrying... and let us out.

(They both smile.)

TROILUS: Yes, yes I will. But I don't suppose anyone will take any notice.

VICKI: Do your best anyway.

TROILUS: Naturally!... I'll let you know what happens.

(He leaves the cell, bolts the door, then turns back to VICKI.)

Perhaps I can come back later on - if there's any news, that is.

VICKI: Well, you know where to find me, don't you? I mean I don't expect I shall be going out or anything.

(TROILUS laughs.)

I suppose not. Well... goodbye for the present then, Cressida.

VICKI: Goodbye, Troilus.

(She watches sadly as he goes. STEVEN appears at the grating from his cell, a broad grin on his face.)

STEVEN: You ought to be ashamed of yourself!

VICKI: I don't see why! At least I've done something towards getting us out of here, which is more than you have.

STEVEN: And what chance have I had?

VICKI: Anyway, I though he was rather nice.

STEVEN: Oh, you made that painfully obvious! And I think you might at least have had the decency to save me some food!

(VICKI produces some food from a pocket and hands it to him.)

Oh! Thanks.

VICKI: The guards are sending you some scraps later, Troilus said so.

STEVEN: Hm! Troilus!

VICKI: You know, Steven, I think I could get to be quite happy here in time.

STEVEN: I hate to remind you, but time is the one thing we just haven't got.

VICKI: But you said you'd sent a message to the Doctor!

STEVEN: Yeah, well I think I have. It's hard to tell with the Cyclops. In any case, your new boyfriend came in before I'd finished telling him everything.

VICKI: Well, I hope he did understand.

STEVEN: Yeah. And let's hope he got out of Troy safely. Otherwise we're in trouble.

City Walls (The walls of Troy approach the sea here. Seagulls can be heard in the sky overhead. PARIS and a GUARD stand on a rampart on the wall, watching CYCLOPS sneak towards the gates. The GUARD aims a longbow.)

GUARD: Halt! Halt or I shoot!

(CYCLOPS stops and looks up.)

PARIS: Identify yourself. Speak! Who are you?

(CYCLOPS is silent. He gestures briefly and turns back towards the gates; the GUARD fires his arrow, hitting CYCLOPS in the chest. He falls to the ground.)

PARIS: Oh confound you, why did you have to do that? The poor little fellow probably never meant any harm!

(They look down at the body.)

GUARD: Well now we shall never know who he was.

Plain of Troy (Night) (The DOCTOR and ODYSSEUS stand on the plain just outside the Greek camp, staring up at the gigantic shape of the now complete Wooden Horse.)

ODYSSEUS: Well, Doctor, that's a warhorse and a half for you. That's something like a secret weapon. Better than half a dozen of your crack-brained flying machines.

DOCTOR: Yes, I... I only wish I shared your confidence, hm!

ODYSSEUS: Well what's the matter with you? Have you no faith in your own invention?

DOCTOR: No - no, Odysseus, it isn't that, but I just didn't like the look of those fetlocks. They... no safety margin at all.

ODYSSEUS: Well, they haven't got to last forever - after all, we're not building one of the wonders of the world, are we? As long as that horse gets us into Troy it can collapse into a mare's nest for all I care!

DOCTOR: Er, suppose it collapses whilst we're all in it, hm?

ODYSSEUS: Then we shall all look very foolish indeed.

DOCTOR: Yes, and I've no wish to be made a laughing stock!

ODYSSEUS: Not another word, Doctor! To coin a phrase, you are coming for a ride!

(He walks off, laughing.)

Cells (STEVEN waits as the guard on watch moves out of sight, and then tries physically breaking down his cell door by bending the bars. He doesn't get anywhere.)

VICKI: I told you strong-arm tactics wouldn't work.

(STEVEN slumps down in despair.)

Interior the Horse (The horse has now been moved out onto the plain. The DOCTOR, ODYSSEUS and a number of soldiers sit in the belly of the horse, in almost pitch darkness. The DOCTOR sits by the open hatch, and peers forlornly through it. Something catches his eye on the horizon, and he calls quietly, as a horse is heard neighing in the distance.)

DOCTOR: Odysseus! Come here, quickly!

ODYSSEUS: What is it now, Doctor? Upon my soul, you're making me as nervous as a Bacchante at her first orgy. Why don't you try and get some sleep?

DOCTOR: I've never felt less like sleep in my life! I thought I, er, saw some movement down there.

ODYSSEUS: I hope you did. That's the whole point of the operation, is it not? Pretty lot of fools we'd look if we come here and nobody takes a damned bit of notice of us.

DOCTOR: I think I ought to warn you that I've given second thoughts to the whole of this scheme, and I think it better we turn round and go back before it's too late, hm!

(He grabs for the rope to climb out, but ODYSSEUS blocks him.)

Get out of my way!

ODYSSEUS: Now look, Doctor, will you be still?

(The DOCTOR protests, then sullenly sits down. ODYSSEUS looks out through the hatch.)

I suggest, Doctor, that if you cannot sleep... you start counting Trojans. Here they come, now.

Plain of Troy (A column of TROJANS advances cautiously, by torchlight, towards the distant horse.)

Cells (Day) (The next morning. VICKI and STEVEN are still asleep when TROILUS races over to VICKI's cell, unbolts the door, bursts in and shakes her awake. He looks and sounds breathless and excited.)

TROILUS: Cressida! Cressida, wake up! You must come quickly!

(VICKI half wakes up.)

VICKI: What's the matter?

TROILUS: The Greeks have gone!

VICKI: What do you mean?

TROILUS: Well the whole fleet has sailed, and now there's not one to be seen - they've all gone home! The war's over!

(VICKI yawns and sits up.)

VICKI: Are you sure they've all really gone?

TROILUS: Well Paris has gone out now to make sure, but what else can it mean? Well, come and see for yourself!

VICKI: Are you releasing me?

TROILUS: Well, naturally! Father's terribly pleased with you!

VICKI: Oh, it was nothing to do with me!

TROILUS: Well, he thinks it was, and that's the main thing. He said that you've brought us luck as he always said you would. Cassandra's furious about it; she hates you more than ever now.

VICKI: Oh dear.

TROILUS: Oh, that doesn't matter, she's completely discredited. If even the end of the war can't cheer her up, she's not worth bothering about.

(VICKI grunts.)

Well come on, father wants to thank you himself!

VICKI: Yes...

(She catches sight of STEVEN, who has by now woken up, as she goes.)

Oh, um, what about Diomede?

TROILUS: Who?

VICKI: Diomede!

TROILUS: Yes. What about Diomede?

(He turns to STEVEN.)

Do you think you can fight the whole of Troy on your own?

STEVEN: I don't want to fight anybody.

TROILUS: Well that's just as well. You're the last of the Greeks now. Your friends have all sailed home without you. (to VICKI) Well come on!

(VICKI looks apologetically at STEVEN, then runs off after TROILUS.)

Interior the Horse (ODYSSEUS looks through a spy-hole by the now closed hatch. He sees a number of ropes attached to the base of the horse.)

ODYSSEUS: Absolute silence, everyone.

DOCTOR: Yes, but I... I...

ODYSSEUS: That includes you, Doctor!

DOCTOR: Hmph!

(The creaking of ropes and wooden joints is heard, and the horse lurches forwards. ODYSSEUS laughs quietly.)

ODYSSEUS: Well, it is time. Troy will be destroyed!

Palace Room (VICKI and TROILUS enter a room in PRIAM's chambers in the palace. PRIAM and CASSANDRA are already there.)

PRIAM: Come on in, Cressida! Come in, both of you! Has Troilus told you the news?

VICKI: Yes, it's marvellous, isn't it? I'm so pleased.

PRIAM: Pleased? I should just say you are. You did it!

VICKI: I...

PRIAM: Oh, yes you did - I don't know how, but that's your own business, I suppose. Now why on earth couldn't you tell us this was going to happen? You would have saved yourself all those hours in the cells, and us a great deal of worry.

CASSANDRA: She didn't tell you because it's some form of treachery. Don't trust her, father!

PRIAM: Oh, stuff and nonsense! Oh, go and feed the sacred serpents or something. If you can't be pleasant at a time like this, Cassandra, I don't want to see y...

(He breaks off as PARIS enters.)

Oh, Paris! Have the Greeks really gone?

(PARIS sounds amazed.)

PARIS: Every last one of them, or so it seems!

PRIAM: There you are, Cassandra, I told you so. Oh, do for goodness sake, smile!

PARIS: But, more important, I think I've just found the Great Horse of Asia!

PRIAM: You've done what?

PARIS: Something uncommonly like it, anyway.

PRIAM: What on earth are you talking about?

PARIS: The Great Horse of Asia! Standing all by itself in the middle of the plain, about forty foot high and made of wood!

(PRIAM walks over to the balcony.)

Balcony (PARIS joins his father, and looks over the city towards the plain.)

PRIAM: Whereabouts in the middle of the plain?

PARIS: Near the Grecian line. Look! You can just see it from here.

PRIAM: Great heavens! I do believe you're right! It is the Great Horse of Asia!

(CASSANDRA, TROILUS and VICKI come onto the balcony to look. The figure of the Wooden Horse can just be made out in the distance.)

CASSANDRA: It's an omen. An omen of disaster.

(VICKI stares, aghast, and mutters under her breath.)

VICKI: It is the Trojan Horse! But I thought...

(She was not quiet enough.)

TROILUS: What was that?

(CASSANDRA rounds on her.)

CASSANDRA: Ask her! Go on, ask her! She knows what it is! It's our doom! It's the death of Troy, brought upon us by that cursed witch!

PARIS: Now understand me, Cassandra. I will not have one word said against that horse!

TROILUS: And neither will I against Cressida!

CASSANDRA: Will you not?... Then woe to the House of Priam. Woe to the Trojans!

PARIS: I'm afraid you're a bit late to say 'whoa' to the horse. I've just given instructions to have it brought into the city!

Next Episode

HORSE OF DESTRUCTION

Dr Who WILLIAM HARTNELL

Steven PETER PURVES

Vicki MAUREEN O'BRIEN

Odysseus IVOR SALTER

Agamemnon FRANCIS de WOLFF

Menelaus JACK MELFORD

Priam MAX ADRIAN

Paris BARRIE INGHAM

Cassandra FRANCES WHITE

Troilus JAMES LYNN

Cyclops TUTTE LEMKOW

Story Editor DONALD TOSH

Designer JOHN WOOD

Producer JOHN WILES

Directed by MICHAEL LEESTON-SMITH

Transcription DAN SALTER (ma3084@bristol.ac.uk)

RTF Formatting RICHARD K. BRIGGS