On the storm-ravaged planet of Karkaron, the shark-like inhabitants have begun to evacuate to a neighbouring system in a race against time as the planet faces being torn apart by a black hole that has inexplicably opened on the edge of their solar system.
In the undersea base she shares with scientist brother Kar-Karius, Engineer Kar-Olus receives a communication from Evacuation Co-Ordinator Kar-Linius who tells her that it will be impossible for the whole population to be saved unless they can complete their dead father’s research into matter transmission, and that they have twelve hours to board the last evacuation ship.
The Doctor and Nyssa arrive in the base with him claiming he was expecting to go for a swim (he’s even brought his rubber duck and a bucket and spade), but in reality he is curious about the mystery of the black hole.
They encounter Kar-Olus as she battles to ready the base’s submarine vehicle to take them to the Evacuation Centre and while the Doctor assists Kar-Olus, Nyssa assists Kar-Karius.
The transmat technology is in its infancy and so far has had disastrous effects on living subjects. Nyssa empathises with Kar-Karius, and he confesses that unbeknown to Kar-Olus, the black hole was caused by their father.
Nyssa can’t understand why the Doctor refuses to help Kar-Karius until she sees the effects of his latest research – his machine replicates its subjects, and the further it travels, the more copies result.
The Doctor tells Nyssa that such technology will be used for military applications and should not be developed for decades yet, and they clash about how (and even whether) to save the planet, but are interrupted by the eruption of the undersea volcano that powers the base, which causes a leak that threatens to flood the base, and cuts them off from the sub.
The Doctor has to swim through the flooded section to reach the sub and bring it around to the other side of the base so that they can evacuate, but Kar-Karius feels his research is threatened and tries to stop him by transmitting multiple copies of himself to attack the sub.
Nyssa and Kar-Olus eventually disable the machine and the doctor docks the sub. Kar-Karius’ attack has shown him how to buy time for the whole planet. He channels the power of the volcano into the transmat, overloading it, and transmits his yellow rubber duck millions of miles across space, creating a giant mass of 500 billion rubber ducks that temporarily shields Karkaron from the black hole, allowing all the evacuees to escape and history to be preserved with the destruction of the machine.
Nyssa admits that her judgement had been clouded by her grief at losing her father and planet, but the Doctor is proud of her refusal to give up and allow people to perish, and the pair leave a penitent Kar-Karius wondering if his machine can instead be used to solve food shortages on the new planet.
SCENE 16: INT. ESCAPE SUB CONTROL ROOM.
(FX: LARGE METAL AIRLOCK DOOR OPENS, SMALL GUSH OF WATER. SUBMARINE INTERIOR FX, BEEPING OF INTERCOM)
DOCTOR:
(Gasping for breath) The phone always goes when you’re in the bath, doesn’t it? First thing’s first... (FX: METAL DOOR SHUT) Now... (FX: INTERCOM CHIRRUPS AS HE ANSWERS IT) Hello? This is the Doctor speaking.
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION ON VOICE) Doctor? It’s Nyssa. Thank goodness you’re alright. Kar-Karius has locked the laboratory door; he won’t come out.
DOCTOR:
Oh dear. I was afraid that might happen. Nyssa, I think Kar-Karius deliberately sabotaged the sub so that he could continue with his experiments.
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) I think you’re right Doctor, he locked himself in as soon as we started talking about evacuating the base.
DOCTOR:
I’m starting the engines up now... (FX: SWITCHES BEING FLICKED, ENGINES STARTING)
KAR-OLUS:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) Doctor, this is Kar-Olus. Is the sub alright?
DOCTOR:
Seems to be, yes. I should be docking alongside you very soon.
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) Doctor... I’m sorry. About earlier. You were right about Kar-Karius and his experiments.
DOCTOR:
That’s quite alright, Nyssa. I do understand.
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) My judgement was clouded by emotion. I was thinking of my own planet, and my own father.
DOCTOR:
There’s no need to explain, really.
(FX: SHAKE, AND A THUD ON THE METAL HULL)
KAR-OLUS:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) Doctor? What was that noise?
DOCTOR:
I’m not sure. Something hit the sub. I think the volcano might be about to erupt again.
(FX: SHAKE, ANOTHER THUD ON THE HULL)
DOCTOR:
No! It’s Kar-Karius! He’s flinging himself at me!
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) But he’s locked in the laboratory! There’s no way... out. Oh, dear.
DOCTOR:
Oh dear indeed. I rather think he’s transmatted himself out, which, presuming that the machine is still malfunctioning, means that there’ll be who knows how many copies of him out here with me.
(FX: SHAKE, ANOTHER THUD ON THE HULL)
NYSSA:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) Doctor, I calculate that there must be at least 30 copies of him out there with you.
DOCTOR:
The copies are unstable, they’ll fade in a matter of minutes, but I can’t just leave the real Kar-Karius out here. (FX: SHAKE, ANOTHER THUD ON THE HULL) I’ll have to give him the runaround until there’s only one of him left, then bring him back with me.
KAR-OLUS:
(FX: INTERCOM DISTORTION) Doctor, the sub is armed with a pair of tranquilizing harpoons we use for tagging the Linyads. You’ve only got the two shots, but if you can make them count and use the forward scoop...
(FX: SHAKE, ANOTHER THUD ON THE HULL)
DOCTOR:
I get the idea. Well, while I’m doing that, see if you two can get into the lab. There’s something I want to try. (FX: SHAKE, ANOTHER THUD ON THE HULL)
(END OF SCENE)
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