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Script to Screen: The Curse of Fenric

By Jon Preddle

As soon as Season 26 was given the go ahead, script editor Andrew Cartmel began commissioning full scripts from previously submitted storylines. One of these was Ian Briggs' Wolf-Time, which Cartmel had been working on with Briggs since May 1988.

In October Briggs was commissioned to prepare full scripts. By early 1989 the scripts had been completed and the story, now titled The Wolves of Fenric (other working titles having been apparently Wolfbane and The Dark Glare) was scheduled second for recording, after Battlefield. But problems with Aaronovitch's script meant that Fenric had to go into production first. Shortly before the crew went on location in April the title was once again changed, to the more atmospheric The Curse of Fenric. This was at JNT's insistence as he felt the earlier title was misleading; since the 'Wolves' aspect was only briefly mentioned towards the end of the story.

As with most of the McCoy stories the serial over-ran. For a brief time there was talk of re-editing the story as a five-parter in order to preserve all the footage but a review of all the material revealed there just wasn't enough to create a 24 minute episode. Therefore the only option was careful editing.

When the serial was released on BBC Video more than 6 minutes was reinstated from about 13 minutes of cut footage. The 2004 DVD release featured a Special Edition recut of the serial, which also reinstated much of the missing footage.

Durations

 EditVideoTV
Part One28'31"26'42"24'23"
Part Two25'29"24'50"24'09"
Part Three25'51"24'39"24'11"
Part Four30'03"27'16"24'19"

The analysis which follows compares the rehearsal scripts (which still bear the title The Wolves of Fenric) to a video tape of the first edits, of Parts One, Two and Four (referred to herein as 'Edit'), the BBC Video release ('Video'), and the TV version. The main focus of the analysis is on the scenes that were removed from the TV version and whether or not they were reinstated on the Video release. The dialogue quotes given here are from the script and may differ slightly from that which is actually spoken on screen. In the course of editing the order of some scenes was changed but these have not been noted. References are given in brackets to Ian Briggs' 1991 novelisation, which retains much of the 'lost' material.

PART ONE

The script sets the date as 1943, 'probably May'. There is no indication that subtitles would be used. In fact the script gives the Russians' dialogue in English. The idea to use actual Russian with subtitles came at a later stage during production. The Edit has a much longer establishing shot of the dinghies in the water before they pass the rocks. This sequence runs for 1'20" whereas on the Video and TV it is only 39 seconds.

The area where the TARDIS lands is described as being the shadowy corner of an old building in the script. For the production it simply materialises outside a barracks bunkhouse.

The Video has reinstated a 30 second sequence where the British soldiers await the Russians but instead observe the Doctor and Ace's arrival. This comes in immediately before Ace's comment about getting into Greenford Disco:

(SGT LEIGH WATCHES THE NEW ARRIVALS THROUGH BINOCULARS)
LEIGH: House guests leaving the Conservatory... entering the library...
(IN A RADIO ROOM, CAPT BATES LISTENS TO LEIGH'S REPORT)
LEIGH: Will reach drawing room in about sixty seconds...

After Ace reveals her desire to go rock-climbing, the observation continues:

LEIGH: House guests approaching the Nursery... Wait! Something's wrong! One of them's a girl!
BATES: Say again, lookout.
LEIGH: One of them's a girl! They're the wrong ones!
BATES: Rat-trap! Rat-trap now!

This leads to a shot of soldiers grabbing rifles from a weapons rack, seen on TV.
{Novel, p16-17}

The scenes with the Russians on the beach are actually set in a cave in the script. Originally Fenric was to have been part location, part studio, with the cave interior a studio set. However when the production shifted to all location the cave scenes were altered to the beach. The scene where Gayev is found is 31 seconds longer on the Edit. After the body is lifted Sorin orders the men to 'Move! Move! Move!'

Ace and the Doctor find their bunks. On TV the scene ends as the Doctor tells Ace to go to sleep. The script continues:

(THE DOCTOR SITS UP AND MOVES TO THE DOOR)
ACE: Where are you off to?
DOCTOR: The night air. Go to sleep.
(THE DOCTOR SLIPS OUT. ACE SITS UP AND STARTS TO PLAY WITH THE FLIP-FLOP THINGY FROM JUDSON'S OFFICE. SHE STOPS AS SHE HEARS THE SOUND OF A BABY CRYING)
KATHLEEN: (VOICE ONLY) Shh ... Don't be scared ... Mummy's here ... Shhh.

While the 36 second sequence is retained on Video, Kathleen's dialogue has not been dubbed on. {Novel, p26-27}

Ace meets Jean and Phyllis at the church and arranges to meet with them later. On the Video and TV, Ace points to the Maiden's Head sign. The scene continues for a further 7 seconds on the Edit, as the girls follow Miss Hardaker. Ace turns and follows the Doctor into the church, calling out, 'See you, girls'. The script contains additional dialogue at the end of the scene that has been crossed through, possibly due to its sexual nature:

PHYLLIS: Maidens' Point? Well that rules me and Jean out for a start'
ACE: And me. See you later, girls.

{Novel, p33}

The TV version is missing the next scene, 19 seconds, of the Doctor and Wainwright walking down the church isle:

WAINWRIGHT: I can't see why he spends so much time on old carvings. I keep telling him it's pointless.
DOCTOR: Answering questions is never pointless.
WAINWRIGHT: That depends on the answers.
(ACE CATCHES UP)
ACE: We're not going to be long here, are we, Professor? Only I've arranged to meet Phyllis and Jean later.

{Novel, p33}

Miss Hardaker scolds Jean and Phyllis for planning to go to Maiden's Point. The Video and TV scene ends on her line 'Girls who are damned forever'. The Edit continues for 9 seconds:

MISS HARDAKER: Mark my words, there's evil at Maiden's Point.
(JEAN AND PHYLLIS LEAVE. MISS HARDAKER SITS IN HER CHAIR AND BEGINS TO KNIT)

{Novel, p38}

The first scene with Millington features an interesting piece of editing. In the Video and TV version the scene starts with a shot of Millington's hands, then the shot pulls back and we see his blank expression. He suddenly rises and crosses to the chess board. The Edit is 12 seconds longer and features Capt Bates. The camera is focused on the German articles in the room such as the eagle and the flag. The camera pulls down to the shot of Millington at his desk then his hands.

(THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. BATES ENTERS. HE FREEZES AS HE SEES MILLINGTON'S BLANK EXPRESSION, AS IF HE IS IN A TRANCE)
BATES: Sorry, sir.
(BATES BACKS OUT AND CLOSES THE DOOR. MILLINGTON SUDDENLY RISES AND CROSSES TO THE CHESS BOARD)

Careful editing has deleted all evidence of Bates' presence.

The next scene is on the beach and is completely missing from the TV version. 32 seconds are reinstated on the Video but the version on the Edit is longer at 47 seconds. The Video comes in at the point that Ace lowers Phyllis down:

(PHYLLIS IS ROPED JUST BENEATH A LEDGE)
PHYLLIS: No, I can't! I can't!
(ACE AND JEAN ARE WATCHING. ACE IS HOLDING THE ROPE)
JEAN: You're always such a baby doll, Phyllis! You'll love it! Makes you feel all funny inside!
PHYLLIS: All right... Get ready to catch me!
(ACE LOWERS PHYLLIS DOWN)
ACE: Want to do it again?
PHYLLIS: No!
JEAN: She enjoys it, really. You should hear what they call her at school!
PHYLLIS: Jean!
JEAN: Your uncle doesn't mind you coming down here by yourself?
ACE: Who? Oh, the Professor. No, he's okay really.
PHYLLIS: The old witch said we hadn't to come here.
JEAN/PHYLLIS: (MIMICKING MISS HARDAKER) There's evil in the water..!
JEAN: Come on!
(JEAN AND PHYLLIS RACE OFF, ACE FOLLOWS. UNSEEN BY THEM NEAR THE CLIFF IS THE BODY OF PETROSSIAN, TERROR ON HIS FACE)

{Novel, pg 45-47}

On TV, immediately before the Doctor and Ace enter Millington's study, there is a scene in the Edit and the Video that runs for 25 seconds:

(THE DOCTOR AND ACE FOLLOW MILLINGTON OUT OF THE WREN'S BUNK HOUSE)
ACE: Why didn't you let me sort him out, Professor?
DOCTOR: Because there are more effective ways. Look.
(THEY WATCH HIM ENTER ANOTHER HUT. THE DOCTOR CONSULTS A MAP OF THE COMPOUND HE PULLS FROM HIS POCKET)
DOCTOR: Come on.
ACE: Where are we off?
DOCTOR: I thought we might have a quick rummage in his office...
(THEY RUN OFF)

{Novel, pg 59}

A brief shot, of a few seconds, of the dragon's boat head underwater appears on the Edit tape near the end of the episode, which isn't on the Video or TV. The final edit on Part One is the reduction of the Doctor's end-of-episode close-up by a few seconds...

PART TWO

The first cut to this episode is a 16 second shot of the Haemovore hand caressing the dragon boat head, and the body of one of the dead Russians from the missing dinghy.

Inserted between scenes of the Doctor and Ace in the church vestry, after Ace's comment about the church looking like a fortress from the outside, the Edit has a 9 second, low angle shot of Wainwright standing in the graveyard and behind him, framed against the sky, can be seen the church tower, looking indeed like a fortress.

The Doctor and Ace are found by Millington in the crypt. Millington pulls a gun and points it at the Doctor's head. The Edit continues for 9 seconds:

MILLINGTON: I think this is what you were looking for, Doctor. After you...
(ACE AND THE DOCTOR STEP THROUGH THE SECRET DOOR)

{Novel, pg 81}

This is followed by Wainwright in the lectern. He is reading from the bible. The TV version ends as he breaks down after saying 'and the greatest of these is...'
The Edit and Video continue for a further 9 seconds as he repeats this line and begins to cry.
{Novel, pg 82}

After Ace tells Wainwright to have faith in her, the script contains a sequence that does not appear in any version of the story. Apparently it was cut from the script and never recorded as it would mean having to take an additional actor, who plays Leigh, to the beach for this one scene:

(LEIGH WATCHES THE RUSSIANS THROUGH BINOCULARS FROM THE TOP OF THE CLIFF AS THEY CARRY THE BODIES OF THE DEAD BRITISH SOLDIERS INTO THEIR CAVE HIDEOUT)
LEIGH: House guests returning to Honeymoon Suite... Six regulars disabled. Repeat: six regulars disabled.
(BATES LISTENS TO THE REPORT ON THE R/T IN THE BASE COMMAND ROOM)
BATES: Please confirm that house guests are secure.
LEIGH: I confirm: house guests are secure. They haven't the slightest idea what's going on...

{Novel, pg 87}

On the Video and on TV the scene where Millington orders all chess-sets destroyed ends with a close-up shot of Millington's sketch of the flask. Oddly, this close up does not appear in the Edit footage.

The Ultima machine has started to decipher the runes. The teletype chatters out 'Let The Chains Of Fenric Shatter'. The Video and TV scene ends on the Doctor's line 'Who knows what it might mean?'. The Edit continues for 5 seconds:

NURSE CRANE: Who cares?
(THE DOCTOR AND JUDSON LOOK AT HER IN ASTONISHMENT)

Ace reveals that she has told Judson that the runes are a logic diagram. The Doctor rushes to the decrypt room. This is followed by a short scene where Judson and Millington are at the Ultima. The Video and TV scene ends on Millington's line 'Yes, quick!'. The Edit continues for 14 seconds:

(JUDSON TYPES INTO THE KEYBOARD AS THE TELETYPE CHATTERS INTO LIFE AGAIN, PRINTING OUT MORE NAMES. IN THE CELLAR THE CRYSTAL FLASK CONTINUES TO GLOW MUCH BRIGHTER. AT THE BEACH THE WATER SURFACE BEGINS TO RIPPLE...)
This leads to the Haemovores as they rise from the sea. The sequence runs for a further 11 seconds on the Edit.

{Novel, pg 109-110}

PART THREE

The Edit tape does not have Part Three, so this part of the analysis is based on the script, Video and TV versions. There are only two additional scenes on the Video:

The Doctor, Ace and Millington run from the radio room. Ace leaves to see Kathleen and the baby. The scene on TV ends as Wainwright shows concern that the vampires would 'come back for me.' The Video continues for a further 9 seconds as the Doctor reminds him about the Parish records and they head for the church.

Ace and Kathleen are talking about Kathleen's husband, Frank. The scene on TV ends as Ace says she no longer doubts she'd get married. The Video continues for a further 18 seconds, after Ace's line 'I'm not so sure now':

ACE: There's a lot of things I'm not sure about now...
KATHLEEN: It's the war.
ACE: Yeah. Look, take care, won't you?
KATHLEEN: Thanks. You too.
ACE: No. I mean, really take care.

{Novel, pg 114}

There are several other differences between the script and the Video/TV versions. In the episodes the Haemovores attack the Doctor, Ace and Millington through the vestry door. In the script they actually make their attack by coming through the skylight. It would appear that as the real church used in the production did not have a sky-light the script was changed accordingly.
{Briggs has retained the skylight in the novel, pg 119}

The description of the Haemovores in the script is vastly different to that on TV. In fact, designs based on Briggs' original idea were scrapped for being too horrific. Briggs' has retained the original idea in the novel, despite a TV version Haemovore appearing on the cover! Here is how the script visualises them:

(THEY ARE IN VARYING STAGES OF DEGENERATION FROM HUMAN TO HAEMOVORES. THEY ARE LIKE HUMANOID LEECHES, WITH A LARGE SUCKER REPLACING THEIR MOUTHS, AND EYES CLOSED LIKE A FOETUS'S).

On TV the Russians are seen only to kill off the Haemovores on the church roof-top with machine guns. The script carries an additional sequence in which the soldiers use wooden stakes they have brought with them to kill the creatures, and watch as they dissolve into pools of slime. The soldiers then jump through the skylight as more creatures attack. This scene was recorded in its entirety but the stakings were cut in editing in order to maintain a general viewing rating for television due to its horrific nature. The scene is also missing from the Video also for similar censorship reasons. If you look carefully at the soldiers as they approach the church you can see stakes sticking out of their backpacks. The staking sequence has, however, been fully reinstated for the DVD special edition.
{The full scene, as scripted, is retained in the novel, pg 124-125}

PART FOUR

The first scene in the decrypt room ends in the Video and TV version with Millington's line to shoot them 'For treason.' The Edit tape continues for an additional 11 seconds as the 'prisoners' are marched out. Nurse Crane watches on in horror.
{Novel, pg 156}

The continuation of the scene where Fenric/Judson meets the Haemovores in the mine tunnel is only 14 seconds on TV, but on the Edit and Video it runs for 53 seconds:

FENRIC: I was hoping for something a little more... Aryan. However, let the Ancient One approach me.
(THERE IS NO RESPONSE)
FENRIC: Where is the Ancient One?
PHYLLIS: He waits.
FENRIC: He waits? What for? Has he no sense of occasion? I want him here! Now! Fetch me the Ancient One.

This last line is where the TV version comes in. The TV scene ends as the Haemovores turn away. The Edit and Video continues:

(THE HAEMOVORES APPROACH TWO SOLDIERS ON GUARD IN THE TUNNEL. THE SOLDIERS OPEN FIRE BUT THEIR WEAPONS ARE USELESS AGAINST THE CREATURES. JEAN AND PHYLLIS SMILE MALICIOUSLY AS THEY ADVANCE WITH THEIR RAZOR-SHARP FINGER NAILS. BEHIND THEM FENRIC SMILES AS THE SOLDIERS SCREAM)

{Novel, pg 157-158}

This leads into a scene which is on the Edit but does not feature on the Video or TV:

(THE DOCTOR AND ACE ARE TAKING COVER FROM THE GUNFIRE)
DOCTOR: What was it you said..?
ACE: When?
DOCTOR: Outside. You shouted something.
ACE: Oh, nothing. Just something...
DOCTOR: Your mum...
ACE: Look, stop playing games with me!
DOCTOR: We've all been playing games. Fenric's games. Playing his games and walking into his traps.

{Novel, pg 158-159}

The continuation of the scene with Fenric in the tunnel comes after the sequence where the Doctor has requested Sorin's help in getting the chess set from Millington's office. The 22 second scene is reinstated on Video:

(THE HAEMOVORES HAVE DRAINED THE BLOOD FROM THE TWO SOLDIERS)
FENRIC: How English. Everything stops for tea. Now fetch the Ancient One. There is much to do.

{Not in the novel}

On the Video and TV there is a scene where Bates throws a grenade with the green toxin killing several men. The Edit continues for 13 seconds:

(THERE ARE BODIES ALL OVER THE COMPOUND)
BATES: Are they Russian?
MILLINGTON: Germans, Russians, British. They're the enemy...
(THE DOCTOR CLOSES HIS EYES, AND ACE LOOKS AWAY IN HORROR)
ACE: The chess set. Let's get it.

{Novel, pg 163}

Millington's office has been blown up. Ace recalls that Kathleen has a chess set. She and the Doctor race to get it. The next scene in the script does not appear on the Edit and so may not have been recorded:

(THE FEW SURVIVING BRITISH SOLDIERS HAVE TAKEN COVER IN THE OLD MINE TUNNEL)
LEIGH: Are they all dead?
BATES: No sign of movement.
(THERE IS A NOISE FROM THE TUNNEL)
LEIGH: What's that?
(HAEMOVORES APPEAR. THE SOLDIERS OPEN FIRE, BUT WITH NO EFFECT)
BATES: Pull back! Into the huts!
(THE SOLDIERS SCRAMBLE AWAY, BUT A COUPLE ARE TOO SLOW AND ARE CAUGHT BY THE CREATURES)

{Novel, pg 165-166}

The scene where Sorin give Ace his hammer and sickle badge is 5 seconds longer in the Edit after he kisses Ace's hand and she moves away. The camera stays on Sorin for 5 seconds longer as he smiles.

The Doctor leaves with Kathleen's chess set, and orders Ace to stay in the hut with her. The next scene is missing from the TV version, and runs for 46 seconds:

(SORIN EXAMINES THE SMASHED RADIO. JEAN AND PHYLLIS APPEAR FROM THE SHADOWS AND ADVANCE. HE GRABS FOR HIS BADGE BUT REALISES THAT ACE HAS IT)
JEAN: You don't have the emblem this time...
SORIN: But I still have my faith...
(HE CLOSES HIS EYES AND CONCENTRATES. THE CREATURES SCREAM IN PAIN. SORIN EDGES TO THE DOOR AND LEAVES)

{Not in the novel}

This leads directly into the scene with Ace and Kathleen. The full sequence runs for 23 seconds on the Edit, but on the Video the end has been removed cutting it down to 19 seconds. On TV the beginning and the end have been cut, bringing it down to only 12 seconds. This is the scripted scene:

(ACE LIGHTS A LAMP)
ACE: We've got to do something about those windows. Board them up somehow.
KATHLEEN: What about these?
(SHE INDICATES THE MATTRESSES)
ACE: Yeah, those should do.
KATHLEEN: Should be some tools in the store cupboard behind you.
(ACE FINDS A HAMMER AND A JAR OF NAILS)
ACE: You hold, I'll nail.

On TV, they shift one of the wardrobes over to the window instead of the bedding. The missing footage is of them sliding the wardrobe over.
{Novel, pg 169}

The Doctor sets up the chess board in the lab. The Edit runs for 19 seconds. The Video and TV is only 10 seconds. The missing footage is of the Doctor arranging the chess-pieces.
{Novel, pg 170}

The scene where Ace and Kathleen escape from the Haemovores by climbing out the window is different in the script. There, they remove several floorboards and crawl out through the foundations.

The following scene, where Ace gets Kathleen away in the land-rover, has lost 8 seconds in the Video and TV versions. The lost footage is of them running to the vehicle. The scripted scene is much longer:

(KATHLEEN IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE)
ACE: Quick! Come on! Hurry! Try the choke!
KATHLEEN: Where is it?
(ACE CLIMBS IN)
ACE: Move over!
(ACE PULLS AT THE CHOKE. THE HAEMOVORES START CLIMBING ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE CATCHES. ACE ACCELERATES THEN BRAKES SUDDENLY. THE HAEMOVORES ARE FLUNG OFF. SHE SWERVES AROUND OTHER ADVANCING CREATURES. SHE THROWS OPEN THE DOOR AND LEAPS OUT)
ACE: Remember 17 Old Terrace - Nan'll look after you! Now go!
(KATHLEEN ACCELERATES, SMASHES THROUGH THE CLOSED GATES AND ROARS OFF)

{Novel, pg 170-173}

The Doctor has finished setting up the chess board. The following scene with Fenric has lost 21 seconds from the Video and TV version:

(THERE IS A FLASH OF LIGHTNING OUTSIDE)
FENRIC: The Time Lord has made his move...
(HE TURNS TO THE ANCIENT ONE)
FENRIC: Take the poisons....
The scene continues as on TV.

{Novel, pg 174}

The Doctor leaves Fenric to solve the puzzle of the chess board. The Edit runs for a further 10 seconds as Fenric leans over and studies the board.

The Doctor comes face to face with the Ancient One. The TV version is 13 seconds. The Edit and Video have a further 16 seconds, following the Doctor's line '...half a million years of industrial progress':

ANCIENT ONE: I am the last living creature on Earth. I watched my world dying in the chemicals. I could do nothing.

The later continuation of this scene on TV has lost the first 35 seconds, which are on the Edit and Video:

DOCTOR: You're very patient. Carried back thousands of years in a time storm to ninth-century Transylvania. Then waiting for a thousand years more.
ANCIENT ONE: Without the flask I was trapped.
DOCTOR: Yes, the flask. I trapped him like an evil genie.
ANCIENT ONE: Only he can return me to the future.
DOCTOR: So, like a faithful servant, you followed the flask.
ANCIENT ONE: A merchant brought it from Constantinople. I followed him through Europe. I followed the Viking pirates who stole it. Followed it here.
DOCTOR: Another of Fenric's games

The scene continues as on TV.
{Novel, pg 176-177}

The final cut is reinstated on the Video, the beginning of the scene on the beach, running for 8 seconds:

(ACE STANDS ON THE ROCKS)
ACE: Inside me... I don't love her... She's my Mum, and I don't love her. What's wrong with me...

Additional Sources:
Doctor Who Yearbook 1992; Doctor Who Magazine; DWB Compendium; Proteus; Private Who.

[Captain Sorin and Haemovores]

This item appeared in TSV 44 (June 1995).

Index nodes: Script to Screen, The Curse of Fenric