(DOCTOR WHO THEME)
Excuse me, excuse me.
I like to look my best on these occasions.
(HORSE NEIGHING)
Fools! Stop him!
After him! Don't let him go.
Hey, fellow!
You say there was no thunderbolt?
Nothing. He was found just beyond the gate.
The Duke must be told of this.
(CHANTING)
HIGH PRIEST: Demnos, Demnos, Demnos.
Ades, O Demnos
I swear he came in here. And there's no way out.
Here, are we chasing a phantom?
Or a worshipper of Demnos.
Those devils know a hundred secret ways under the city.
A passage. Quick, then. Let's find the trick.
No, I ain't going in there, Giovanni. Not for all the gold in Rome.
I know men who've tried. They've never been seen again.
HIGH PRIEST: Demnos, Demnos, Demnos.
Ades, O Demnos.
Seize them!
(WHIRRING)
The Mandragora Helix has come home to roost.
HIGH PRIEST: Brothers,
our prayers are answered.
Our temple is restored.
No, it's not a fire demon. Such things are pure superstition.
What is it, sire?
I don't know.
His skin, such a strange colour.
I still think it could be a fire demon, sire.
- I once heard of a case in Florence... - Yes, all right.
- You'd better get back to your duties. - Sire.
- The orders have been given. - Good.
He was found at the city gates, Marco.
What do you make of it, old friend?
- We've made it. - Stay there a minute.
Some soldiers up there. No.
We'll just have to wait till they've gone.
See that?
I was almost sacrificed to the great god Demnos.
Yes, I know. Particularly nasty Roman sect.
Supposed to have died out in the third century.
But I thought you said just now we were in the 15th.
Well, we are. And the cult of Demnos is still very much alive.
So, what was going on back there in the temple?
Sub-thermal recombination of ionised plasma.
Oh, simple. I should have thought of that.
When we landed on Earth,
we brought back with us part of the Mandragora Helix.
I don't know how it got in the TARDIS and now it's here in this temple.
- But why? - Coincidence?
I wonder what the Mandragora Helix is up to.
Conquest? Invasion?
They want to take over Earth and fill it with old Roman temples...
No.
Helix intelligences don't have a physical existence
in the way you know about it. They don't need Earth!
- They want... - What?
(WHISPERING) There's something behind us. I can feel it in my bones.
PRIEST: It is a dream of 2,000 years come true.
Look!
HIGH PRIEST: Kneel, brothers.
HELIX: You have been chosen
for powers undreamed of.
Through us, you will become
supreme ruler of Earth.
Do you understand us?
HIGH PRIEST: Understand.
HELIX: Only you must stand in this spot.
Any other mortal who dares stand
where you stand now
will be destroyed.
You, and you alone,
will carry out our will on Earth.
It is complete. Go! Now!
Powers undreamed of.
Supreme ruler of the Earth.
Stop poking me with that pike.
My apologies that you were roughly handled.
Apologies?
But speed was essential, for my uncle has men searching everywhere for you.
- DOCTOR: Who is your uncle? - Count Federico.
Oh, yes, yes. We've met.
He has given orders that you be executed immediately you're found.
Luckily, a few of the guards are still loyal to the prince.
- That's you? - Giuliano, Duke of San Martino
and my companion Marco.
Tell me more about this Federico.
- He murdered Giuliano's father. - Marco...
- Are you sure of that? - Certain.
Just as we're certain that he's now plotting to kill Giuliano.
I take it you don't get on with your uncle.
Doctor, my uncle is a tyrant.
While Giuliano lives, Federico can never claim the throne.
I don't fear so much for myself as for the people.
Were he ever to rule San Martino,
all knowledge, all attempt at learning, would be suppressed.
This is intensely interesting.
You know, I don't think that Sarah and I are going to be able help you.
You see, we're just passing...
How did you know my name?
I was present when Hieronymous questioned you.
From the way you spoke to him, I take it that you, like me, are a man of science.
- (EXHALING) Oh, I do dabble a bit. - Oh, excellent. Some wine, Marco.
I crave for contact with men of intellect and understanding.
You're too kind.
But that isn't the only reason you brought us here.
No, there's something I want you to see.
Show us.
This man's body was found at the city gates.
DOCTOR: Helix energy.
High ionisation that has only to touch human tissue to destroy it utterly.
Helix energy?
You're not talking his language, Doctor.
The guards are muttering about fire devils.
I, of course, do not believe in such superstition.
No, of course not. Nevertheless...
Nevertheless, it does worry me.
Is it possible, do you think, that something's entered the city?
Something perhaps conjured up by Hieronymous?
Something's certainly entered the city, Giuliano.
Some malevolent power,
quite beyond the understanding of that old fraud Hieronymous.
- The question is why. - I don't understand.
Why here? Why now?
Yes and what's it got to do with that cult of Demnos?
We seem to have an awful lot of questions.
It's about time we started finding some answers.
Sire?
Well, what have you to report?
- They've disappeared. - Impossible!
There's been no sign of them since they were last seen in the palace garden.
They must be found.
Something about that Doctor disturbs me greatly.
Take all the men you need, search every corner of the palace.
- Sire? - Well?
- What is it? - A list,
prepared by the Duke Giuliano's secretary.
- Where did you get it? - You have many friends, my lord.
The King of Naples, Duke of Milan,
Duke of Padua, Doge of Venice.
Signoria of Florence. Very impressive.
They are the rulers who have accepted Giuliano's invitation
and are coming to San Martino.
To celebrate his accession to the dukedom.
The arrogant puppy!
The entire Earth, mine.
I did not say enter.
In this palace, I come and go as I please.
This is my private room.
Whatever room you have here it is because I allow you to have it!
Do not get above yourself! I've warned you before, Hieronymous.
I have studying to do. Is there something urgent you want?
Yes! There is something urgent.
I cannot wait till Mars or Saturn or whatever other nonsense it was you said.
It is not nonsense.
Giuliano must die tonight.
He's called a gathering of all the philosophers and scholars in Italy,
with their patrons.
With all those important people here,
he'll be able to establish his power in this state for good.
- So? - So, he will be harder to get rid of.
Giuliano must die.
It cannot be.
Why not? You still have the poison?
You will announce some new finding.
You will say that some new conjunction has come to light.
You'll find a way. Sudden death.
You're asking me to invent a horoscope?
(SCOFFING) Isn't that what you always do?
Do you know what it is you are mocking?
Do you know what power is held by the celestial bodies?
They are not at our beck and call.
I am telling you to help me as you did before.
Giuliano must die before tomorrow night.
You do understand?
HIERONYMOUS: Masters, hear me.
HELIX: Speak, Earthling.
Masters, there are those here who would mock my purpose.
To overcome them and do your will,
I must have greater powers.
HELIX: You have the powers, Hieronymous.
Away from this place, I am a man among others.
One sword thrust would destroy me.
How could so feeble a creature rule your domain?
HELIX: We have promised you powers
beyond all men, Hieronymous.
But the time is not yet.
Until then,
carry our trust discreetly, Hieronymous.
PRIEST: Master,
you speak to the voices of Demnos as though...
- As... - Go on.
As though this were not the first time.
What think you brought me to San Martino?
Many years ago, in another place,
the voice of Demnos told me how my life would be.
Told me I had been chosen because of my special powers.
Ruler over all the Earth.
From that night until now, I have waited.
And now, at last, your faith has been rewarded.
For years, the wise fools, the scholars of the new knowledge,
have jeered and scoffed at me.
The old duke tolerated me but did not believe.
Count Federico despises me.
The young duke considers me of no consequence.
(SNIGGERING) But they will learn their mistake, priest.
They will learn their mistake as they die.
But spirits from the heavens, Doctor? A wheel of fire?
- I thought you were a man of science. - Giuliano,
it isn't easy to explain the concept of Helix energy,
either sub or super-thermal ionisation in your medieval vocabulary.
Oh, I think you're doing a great job, so far.
Thank you.
I do. But I still don't understand
why these spirits have appeared here in the 15th century.
And why in San Martino?
Well, perhaps because the worshippers of Demnos
provided a ready-made power base.
And what better place than 15th-century Italy?
Yes, but why the 15th century?
Because it's the period between the dark ages of superstition
and the dawn of a new reason.
You mean they could gain control of Earth now through an ancient religion?
Yes.
Oh, yes.
Giuliano, that temple must be destroyed.
But the place is in ruins now, Doctor.
Those ruins are the focal point for enormous forces.
The Helix energy has penetrated every stone.
Is there some way I could get there without being seen?
Yes. Yes, I'll show you.
Just tell me. It's better if I go alone.
Oh, no, Doctor, it's too dangerous. We'll take the back staircase.
Just as far as the temple entrance. No further.
It is just a ruin.
From this point on, I must go on alone. You stay here.
Sire, they've been seen again,
making their way towards the ruined temple.
They're with the Duke Giuliano.
The Duke is with them? Are you certain?
Otherwise, the men would have seized them at once.
- The ruined temple, you say? - In that direction.
Excellent.
A chance to solve both my problems in one blow.
It'll seem like a... sacrifice.
A human sacrifice to the gods.
Our hands will be guiltless.
A sacrifice, yes.
The evil pagans who worship Demnos.
Get your men quickly, Rossini. I will lead them myself.
(RESONATING BUZZING)
(BUZZING GETTING LOUDER)
I have this theory, you see.
That the world is really a sphere.
- Well, go on. - And it's not only me.
Other scientists are coming to the same conclusion.
That the world can't possibly be flat because the...
(TWIG SNAPPING)
- What was that? - Nothing.
You see, it's obvious when you come to think about it...
(LEAVES RUSTLING)
Death to Giuliano!
SARAH: Doctor!
Doctor! Doctor!
Doctor!
(SCREAMING)
Demnos will not be cheated of his pleasure, little one.