(To the background of 'Daisy, Daisy' a man whimpers in Room 0 off a long corridor. Then the whimpers turn to a scream.)

[Press conference]

(In a large house in the country, a Public Relations Operative played by Sophie Aldred is introducing the other man at the table to assembled press.)
PRO: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Doctor Colin Dove, director and acting Chief Executive of the Hawthorn Clinic Trust.
DOVE: (Sly McCoy) Good morning. I'm sure you all know that I had expected to
(They are interrupted by a late arrival - Liz Shaw, formerly of UNIT.)
DOVE: I had expected to announce that the Hawthorn Clinic was to shut down. Under the care in the community scheme, certain old psychiatric hospitals are closing down, and up until this morning this clinic was going to be one of them.

[Office]

NURSE: What are your plans, Edwin?
EDWIN: I don't know yet. Haven't completely given up hope.
NURSE: No? Must be the only one. This place is dead in the water.
(She puts a ring around August 8 on the wall calendar.)

[Press conference]

LIZ: What's changed?
DOVE: Well, much to my surprise, Miss Shaw, I've been told the clinic has been given a twelve month reprieve due to a personal intervention by a certain Mister Peter Russell.
(Cameras click.)

[Staff room]

JULIE: I found a job back in May. No sense in hanging around.
(Beeper goes off.)
BEATRICE: Oh, damn.
(She uses the phone just outside the door.)
BEATRICE: Doctor Hurst.
JULIE: How's it going?
BRUFFIN: What?
JULIE: You know.
BEATRICE: What?
BRUFFIN: What's the matter?
BEATRICE: Ward four. There's been an accident.
(Beatrice and Bruffin rush through the hospital.)

[Outside a room]

BRUFFIN: Crikey. It's Claire.
(They look through the door at the body of a woman bleeding from puncture wounds all over her.

[Office building]

(A black Computer Cab - that dates it - drops Liz back somewhere.)
LOU: Hello, stranger.
LIZ: Sorry, Lou. Bloody Northern Line. I could have flown to Spain and back in the time in the time it's taken.
LOU: Oh, that's all right.
LIZ: How's it been, comatose or just plain dead?
LOU: Oh, it's been quite busy, actually. It's all on your desk.
LIZ: Right.
LOU: Oh, Haggard's in there.

[Clinic corridor]

DOVE: Really, William. Now is not the time to think about staff changes.
BRUFFIN: If the clinic's staying open, it changes everything.
DOVE: Now there we agree.
BRUFFIN: And what about Clegg?

[PROBE office]

(Liz draws the diagram on a blackboard.)
LIZ: : And like spokes from a hubcap, the clinics are linked.
PATRICIA: (Louise Jameson) So it would seem.
LOU: Seven deaths.
PATRICIA: And in fifteen months the only link you can come up with is a psychiatric hospital. I'm going to need something a bit more tangible than that if I'm going to keep the Yard out.
LOU: This is obviously PROBE's territory. If we hand it over to Scotland Yard
LIZ: They'd cut our funding completely, wouldn't they? It's PROBE's brief to investigate anything out of the ordinary, remember? These aren't just seven odd murders. We know that from the other phenomena.
LOU: The temperature drops.
LIZ: Yes. And the noises the witnesses heard. There's something very odd going on round that hospital.
PATRICIA: All right, all right.
LIZ: No, no, no. It is not all right. You want quick results. This is a two man band you're dealing with here, Patsy, with enough work for twenty. I will get you something, but it will take time. Besides, there've been developments.
PATRICIA: Developments? Liz?
(Moves away from Lou.)
LIZ: I can't say anything now. Trust me. Please?
PATRICIA: Oh, all right. I'll call you.
LIZ: Thanks.
(Patricia leaves.)
LIZ: The Preternatural Research Bureau. Huh. It's not exactly what they promised me.
LOU: Do you wish you'd stayed in Cambridge?
LIZ: No. My own work, well, I presume that's why I got this job. Trouble is, apart from the absence of soldiers
(She draws a chalk moustache on a picture of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart.)
LIZ: PROBE reminds me another acronymic organisation from my salad days.
LOU: Sorry?
LIZ: Hush hush, Lou. Very hush hush.
LOU: Black, two sugars?
LIZ: You're an angel.
(Lou leaves, Liz lights a 'billiard' shaped tobacco pipe. My dad had one, okay?)
LOU [OC]: What did you mean, developments?
LIZ: The clinic's been reprieved. Twelve more months at least. Somebody put their oar in.
LOU [OC]: Who?
LIZ: Oh, somebody called Peter Russell.
(Lou returns with two mugs.)
LOU: Russell? What's he got to do with anything?
LIZ: What do you mean?
LOU: Well, he's a what do you call, captain of industry. Not really his line of country.
LIZ: Well, he's given us a breathing space, bless him, whoever he is. See if you can find out.
LOU: Okay.
LIZ: We may have a case at last. Though what it means for Doctor Dove's research programme, I'm not sure.
LOU: He'll get his funding. I mean, he must be over the moon.
LIZ: Well, he didn't look it.
LOU: No?
LIZ: No. More like a kid who's had his favourite toy taken away.

[Dove's office]

(Dove pours himself a stiff drink.)
RUSSELL: (Colin Baker) So you've absolutely nothing to worry about.
DOVE: How'd you work that out?
RUSSELL: I thought I'd already made it clear.
DOVE: That's the point. Nothing has been made clear.
RUSSELL: This clinic was about to close down. I've kept it open. So what's your problem?
DOVE: I don't have a problem.
RUSSELL: Doctor Dove, I. I can't keep calling you that.
DOVE: Why not? Doctor Dove is fine, Mister Russell.
RUSSELL: Oh, I wondered when that was going to come up. We both know I'm not a medical man.
DOVE: So why have you come back?
RUSSELL: I'm taking over as Chief Executive of this clinic.

[Dining room]

(Supervising the patient's meal time.)
BRUFFIN: Have you heard of him?
BEATRICE: Russell?
BRUFFIN: Mmm.
BEATRICE: Something of him. Bit of a trouble-shooter, more often brought in to close places down.
BRUFFIN: What about Clegg?
BEATRICE: I thought we'd sorted that out.
BRUFFIN: A patient is dead, Bea. We can't just ignore it.
BEATRICE: We're not ignoring it, William. Any scandal at such a critical time would finish us.
BRUFFIN: So we just cover it up?

[Dove's office]

(Russell is sitting behind the desk.)
RUSSELL: All of the buildings out there house, how shall we say, more mundane cases. A secure ward offers unrivalled opportunities for medical research.
DOVE: I've read the brochure. Huh, I wrote the brochure. But you still haven't answered my question. Why here?
RUSSELL: I admire you. I admire what you've done to this place since Doctor O'Kane retired.
DOVE: Oh, I see. So you don't wish to, to
RUSSELL: Interfere? How could I? I don't have any expertise. Well, in that department, anyway. I'm strictly hands-off, Doctor Dove.

[Staff meeting]

RUSSELL: Right, good. Everybody here, Doctor Dove? Right, good afternoon, everyone. My name is Peter Russell. Doctor Peter Russell. Only a Doctor of Philosophy, alas, but if the title helps you to believe I'm on your side, please feel free to use it. Call me anything you like, only please call me.
(Some laughter.)
RUSSELL: I know there's been a lot of uncertainty, a lot of gossip going around. So, here are the facts. I know of and respect the work you're all doing here. When I heard of this lunatic scheme, no pun intended, this lunatic scheme of Her Majesty's Government to close the place down, I picked up the phone. I have a certain degree of influence. I brought that influence to bear. I told them not only could I save them a fortune, that I could keep this place open. Keep it open because I believe it's important.
BRUFFIN: Excuse me. Why is it important to you?
RUSSELL: I've already told you. I respect the work you're doing here. And I like a challenge.
JULIE: But this is a psychiatric hospital, Mister Russell. What do you know about mental health? Anything?
RUSSELL: I'm here to learn. And I do know how to run a tight ship. So, if you'll all bear with me, I promise not to let you down. Right?

[Corridor]

DOVE: Doctor Hearst will endeavour to give you the five-bob tour in the morning.
RUSSELL: Thank you. I'm sure we'll all get on very well. Doctor Dove, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to start work on your records.
DOVE: What?
RUSSELL: The records of the clinic since you took over from Doctor O'Kane.
DOVE: Yes, of course. Tomorrow's my research day. Beatrice will be standing in for me.
RUSSELL: Beatrice? How nice.
BEATRICE: Thank you. I'll arrange for you to see all the relevant files as soon as I can, Mister Russell.
(Russell walks on, into the Chief Executive's office, where he leans against the door to recover himself, then puts a photograph of himself and Jon Pertwee on the cabinet before pouring himself a stiff drink.)

[Liz's home]

TV: Although many people think public money would be better spent elsewhere, the Director of the clinic, Jeremiah O'Kane, has no such doubts.
O'KANE [on TV]: (the aforementioned Jon Pertwee) This clinic is unique. Some of our methods may be a mite controversial, but you know the old story. A prophet is never glorified in his own country. Think of Pasteur, of Galileo.
TV: Whatever the results of today's enquiry, it seems certain that this issue is destined to attract controversy.
LIZ: Third of September, 1985.
(She switches off the television and looks through various files and papers.)
LIZ: Bloody hell. O'Kane and Russell.
(Russell is also ploughing through papers.)

[Car]

LIZ: His real father died in the war, or something.
LOU [OC]: So O'Kane was Russell's guardian.
LIZ: It's all in the files. We just didn't have the connection before.
LOU [OC]: Jesus. Well, that explains why Russell saved the clinic.
LIZ: Does it?

[PROBE office]

LOU: (on telephone) Of course. The place has been in O'Kane's family since the start, so as his guardian, it's his pride and joy. Voilà. Russell pulls some strings, the clinic's saved.

[Car]

LIZ: Thing's aren't necessarily what they seem, Lou.

[O'Kane's home]

RADIO: The decision to keep the clinic open has surprised many, coming as it does only
(Dove turns off the radio.)
DOVE: He's arrived. I want him kept out of the way. We're too close now.
O'KANE: Yes, well, he'll do just as he pleases. He always has.
DOVE: He's your responsibility. Listen, remember what we agreed, Jeremiah. Perihelion is almost upon us.

[Staff room]

BEATRICE: Those look heavy.
RUSSELL: Yes, but do they contain all the information I need?
BEATRICE: They're all the ones I was authorised to show you.
RUSSELL: Authorised by Doctor Dove? I have all the files I need except those relating to the secure ward.
BEATRICE: I see.
RUSSELL: I need those files to form a complete picture of what goes on in this clinic, Doctor Hearst. Surely you must see that?
BEATRICE: I suppose so.
RUSSELL: So why is Doctor Dove blocking me?
BEATRICE: He's not. I mean, it's perfectly proper to
RUSSELL: To what? You do want this clinic to stay open? Doctor Hearst. Beatrice. All I want is a complete understanding of what goes on here. Surely you have nothing to hide?
BEATRICE: I'll see what I can do.

[O'Kane's home]

(A record plays 'Daisy, Daisy' on an old wind-up phonograph while O'Kane looks through a photograph album. There is a knock on the door.)
O'KANE: Go away.
BRUFFIN: I haven't come in yet. Hello, Jeremiah.
O'KANE: Yes, I'm still breathing.
BRUFFIN: Er, Doctor Hearst was asking after you today.
O'KANE: Oh, the fair Beatrice.
BRUFFIN: Yes, that's right.
O'KANE: Any luck yet?
BRUFFIN: What?
O'KANE: Don't what me, lad. You know perfectly well what I mean. Any luck on the old wife front?
BRUFFIN: Oh, no. No.
O'KANE: Youth. Quite wasted on the young. I've always said that. Now, do you know they've taken the little black cardboard boxes out of Bounty bars?
BRUFFIN: Good news about the clinic, eh?
O'KANE: Yes, yes. I used to work there once, years ago. Did you know that?
BRUFFIN: Yes, I know. We worked together.
O'KANE: Ah, you were just a twinkle in your Dad's eye, then. Just a twinkle.
BRUFFIN: Are those photos?
O'KANE: Daguerreotypes, they used to call them.
BRUFFIN: Really?
O'KANE: Yeah, Daguerreotypes. A good word, that. I much prefer the old words, like er Daguerreotypes, dirigible, submersible, wireless. Wireless, now there's a word conjure with.
BRUFFIN: Who's this?
O'KANE: That? Oh, that's my wife. She's dead now, of course.
BRUFFIN: Is that you?
O'KANE: No, no, that's my brother, Daniel.
BRUFFIN: Ah. And that?
(A babe in arms.)
O'KANE: That, that's my son.
BRUFFIN: Your son?
(The music stops.)

[Path]

BRUFFIN: Bea!
BEATRICE: Oh, hi, William.
BRUFFIN: Hi.
(Runs to catch up.)
BRUFFIN: I was wondering if you'd had any more thoughts about next week.
BEATRICE: Oh, well, I really haven't had the chance, what with the changes and everything. I will when I
BRUFFIN: No, no, don't worry about it. What do you reckon to Russell, then?
BEATRICE: I think he's rather charming. I suppose we should be grateful we're all still employed.
BRUFFIN: He gives me the creeps. You know why?
BEATRICE: Why?
BRUFFIN: His certainty. It terrifies me.
BEATRICE: Hmm. I hope we won't all end up walking the plank on this tight ship of his.
BRUFFIN: Look, about yesterday.
BEATRICE: Oh, don't worry about that now.
BRUFFIN: I went to see Jeremiah.
BEATRICE: How is he?
BRUFFIN: Well, physically fine and still very alert, just not making a lot of sense.
BEATRICE: Tragic, isn't it.
BRUFFIN: I tried to tell him what was going on, but he didn't seem to want to hear, poor soul.
BEATRICE: Look, I've got to go deliver these files.
BRUFFIN: Oh, all right. Bye.
(In the secure ward, cries are coming from Room 0, so the noisy man gets an injection from Doctor Dove. That night, when the man is awake again, in the CEO's office, Russell hears a boy's laughter. Bruffin hears it as he takes a walk in the woods, and starts to run.)

[Corridor]

(Russell sees a boy at the other end of the corridor.)
RUSSELL: Stop! Hey!
(He gives chase until he is stopped by a locked door.)

[Outside the clinic]

(Bruffin falls at the feet of -)
JULIE: What is it?

[Room Zero]

MAN: I'm here.

[Liz's home]

(She answers the telephone.)
LIZ: Hello?
LOU [OC]: It's Louise.
LIZ: Oh, hello. Hi.
(She changes the calendar to the 10th.)
LOU [OC]: Liz.
LIZ: Listen, you're never going to believe this. Russell and O'Kane's files
LOU [OC]: Listen, Liz.
LIZ: What is it?
LOU [OC]: There's been another murder.

[O'Kane's home]

(Russell is asleep on the settee.)
DOVE: What was he doing there? It's happened again. Another killing. It's more than a coincidence.
O'KANE: I'll go and put the kettle on.
DOVE: Oh, forget the tea, you stupid old man. Don't you realise? He was practically outside Zero's door.
O'KANE: Maybe we're going too far, Colin.
DOVE: Too far? We haven't gone far enough. Their healing is coming, Jeremiah. What we've worked for. And he's part of it.
O'KANE: Will, will my son be all right?
DOVE: Trust me. I'm a Doctor.
(Dove leaves. Russell wakes.)

[Staff room]

JULIE: I couldn't resist that moment.
BRUFFIN: Bea. Bea, I need to talk to you.
JULIE: I'll leave you two love birds to it.
(Julie leaves.)
BEATRICE: William, what the hell's the matter.
BRUFFIN: You know there's been another death.

[Mortuary]

(The pathologist is washing his hands.)
CUMMINGS: Death certificate?
LIZ: You saw it?
CUMMINGS: Identification, Miss. I am unable to show you the deceased's remains unless you can produce valid ID.
LIZ: Oh, right.
CUMMINGS: Liz Shaw. From PROBE? Fancy.
LIZ: A local, I believe.
CUMMINGS: Yes, Miss.
LIZ: Where was he found?
CUMMINGS: Just outside the grounds of the asylum, Miss.
LIZ: Anything unusual?
CUMMINGS: Oh yes, Miss.
LIZ: Temperature drop.
CUMMINGS: It was more than that, Miss. All the grass around the body was frozen. Frozen, in August.
LIZ: It's getting more extreme all the time.
CUMMINGS: Sorry, Miss?
LIZ: Nothing. Could I see the body now?
CUMMINGS: Of course.
(Cummings fetches a bucket of offal.)
LIZ: What's this?
CUMMINGS: The dear departed, Miss. What's left of him. Oh, there's this note come for you, Miss.
LIZ: Thank you very much.
(Message for Miss L Shaw. Appointment with Dr Dove at the clinic confirmed for 2.30pm. From Louise.)

[O'Kane's home]

RUSSELL: Nice place you've got here.
O'KANE: I survive. My books, my memories. Some of them, anyway. And I was building a model ship.
RUSSELL: Really? What scale?
O'KANE: Scales? No. No, no. Not scales, ship. You know, ship.
RUSSELL: Right.
O'KANE: Why did you come here, Peter?
RUSSELL: Not for you.
O'KANE: Not for me.
RUSSELL: For nobody except myself.
O'KANE: Well, why did you want to save the clinic?
RUSSELL: Because I can.
O'KANE: Well, you always got what you wanted, didn't you.
RUSSELL: No thanks to you.
O'KANE: Peter, why can't you be honest with me?

[Staff room]

BRUFFIN: I've been doing some research, Bea.
BEATRICE: What research?
BRUFFIN: This place.
BEATRICE: The clinic?
BRUFFIN: No. Yes, yes, the clinic. What was here before it. Look, don't you understand?
BEATRICE: No, I don't. What's happened to you? You look terrible.
BRUFFIN: Last night, I saw, I heard screaming. Look, it's all in the files. Read them.
BEATRICE: William.
BRUFFIN: Read them.
BEATRICE: I don't know what I'm looking for. Look, William, I'm on duty. I'll see you later, okay?
(Beatrice leaves, Russell enters reading a ledger.)
RUSSELL: Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there. Doctor Bruffin, isn't it?
BRUFFIN: That's right.
RUSSELL: Want some? (he means coffee) Those things'll kill you.
(Bruffin has a cigarette in his hand.)
BRUFFIN: What things? Oh.
RUSSELL: I've heard a lot about you, Doctor Bruffin.
BRUFFIN: Really.
RUSSELL: Yes. Hope all the upheaval here isn't upsetting you too much.
BRUFFIN: I enjoy the novelty. I've heard a little about you, too.
RUSSELL: Oh yes?
BRUFFIN: Mmm. Doctor O'Kane is a good friend of mine.
RUSSELL: Really. Then you'll know
BRUFFIN: He brought you up.
RUSSELL: Brought me up. What an accurate description. Brought me up like a dog brings up vomit. But enough of that. What research are you engaged in at
(Bruffin has gone, leaving his files behind. Russell sits and looks through them.)

[Car]

LIZ: Alien invaders? Little green men with three heads? (laughs)
(Stops outside the clinic.)

[Dove's office]

(Knock on door, door opens.)
DOVE: Ah, Doctor Russell. Feeling better?
RUSSELL: Yes, thanks. I just wanted to
DOVE: You're just in time for tea. My illustrious predecessor left me a lifetime supply. Now, let's see. We've got China, Indian, Earl Grey, Lapsong Suchong, Green Gunpowder, Black Russian.
RUSSELL: Red China will do. Doctor Hearst has been very helpful. I've got all the files I need.
DOVE: Good, good.
RUSSELL: I just need now to see the secure ward.
DOVE: What?
RUSSELL: And some information on some of the patients. Er, this one here, perhaps. Patient Zero. Doesn't seem to have a name.
DOVE: I'm afraid that's out of the question.
RUSSELL: Really?
DOVE: Yes. Too dangerous. Authorised personnel only. Perhaps we could organise something in a few months.
RUSSELL: A few months?
(Knock on door, door opens.)
BEATRICE: Colin, I've got to talk to you about
DOVE: Not now, Doctor Hearst.
BEATRICE: It's important. It's about William.
DOVE: Not now. Later.
(Beatrice leaves.)
RUSSELL: Trouble at t'mill?
DOVE: Nothing I can't handle. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm expecting a visitor.
RUSSELL: Don't mind me.
DOVE: You see, I've arranged to meet Miss
(Knock on door.)
RUSSELL: Come in.
(Liz enters.)
DOVE: Ah, Miss Shaw. Mister Peter Russell.
(They shake hands.)
DOVE: Dreadful business.

[Ward]

JULIE: You all right, Bea?
BEATRICE: Fine. I'm fine.
JULIE: You don't look it.
BEATRICE: Well, it's him, isn't it.
JULIE: Who? Doctor Dove?
BEATRICE: I've gone out on so many bloody limbs for that man, and he just. Have you seen William?
JULIE: No. Not since you were in the staff room together. What's the matter? He getting jealous?
BEATRICE: No, no. I'm really worried about him, Julie. He's wired. He thinks the murders have been linked to
JULIE: What?
BEATRICE: Nothing.
JULIE: Linked to what?
BEATRICE: It's all right, Julie. Just tired.

[Dove's office]

LIZ: Eight deaths in a radius of fifty miles, all within fifteen months.
DOVE: Oh dear. So what you're saying is you're looking for one of those er serial killers.
LIZ: That remains to be seen.
RUSSELL: And the clinic is at the centre of it?
LIZ: Mmm, geographically at least. That's why I came to talk to you. You must allow me full and free access to this clinic at all times. I need to run some tests.
RUSSELL: What kind of tests?
LIZ: Look, I'll put my cards on the table, gentlemen. Doctor Dove, you've known for some time that I don't represent the regular police.
DOVE: Some sort of special division, I think you said.
LIZ: That's right. The Preternatural Research Bureau.
RUSSELL: Preternatural?
LIZ: I know it's hard to accept, but I'm convinced there are, well, there's some sort of energy at work in this area.
DOVE: Miss Shaw, you're not serious.
LIZ: I've seen too much not to be. These murders were no ordinary occurrences. They were distinguished by several utterly inexplicable features which have no natural answers.
DOVE: So what you're saying is there's some ghost on the loose?
RUSSELL: What are you going to do?
LIZ: I want a team in here.
DOVE: Inside the hospital? Out of the question.
LIZ: Or at the very least, increased security.
DOVE: We've spent the last twenty years taking down fences, Miss Shaw. We're not about to start re-erecting them now.
LIZ: But the latest killing was almost on your own doorstep. Surely the welfare of your own patients must concern you?
DOVE: The welfare of the patients is best served by an untroubled private existence. I will not have security men trampling all over the estate. And as for this Preternatural whatever you call it, please, this is a hospital, Miss Shaw, not Scooby Doo.
LIZ: Surely you must recognise the danger.
DOVE: I hear what you're saying. We will be much more vigilant.
LIZ: Well, I can't force you, naturally.

[Outside the main building]

LIZ: You seemed rather more inclined to believe me than Doctor Dove, Mister Russell.
RUSSELL: Perhaps. Perhaps we could find a happy medium.
LIZ: I've never met one. Seriously though, I'd appreciate any help in getting through to Doctor Dove.
RUSSELL: The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.
LIZ: I'm sorry?
RUSSELL: Here. Read these.
(Dove watches from his office window as Liz takes the bundle of files.)
LIZ: What are they?
RUSSELL: Just read them. I'd rather not say any more at the moment.
LIZ: Thanks.
(She drives away. Bruffin walks over to Russell.)
BRUFFIN: Why did you give them to her?
RUSSELL: I think we can trust her.
BRUFFIN: We?
RUSSELL: I'm trying to make sense of this, Doctor Bruffin.

[Doctor's office]

DOVE: Doctor Gilchrist.
JULIE: All okay, Bea?
(Julie leaves. Dove slams the door shut.)
DOVE: What's the meaning of this? These files are confidential.
BEATRICE: I thought we had nothing to hide. Now I'm not so sure.
DOVE: What do you mean?
BEATRICE: I mean I backed you all the bloody way on this, Colin, and I need to know where the hell it's going.

[Clinic grounds]

BRUFFIN: Dove is out of control, Russell, and whatever it is is breaking through soon. I can feel it.
RUSSELL: The key is room zero, or whoever's in room zero, right?
BRUFFIN: I was there. I saw it.
RUSSELL: It?
BRUFFIN: Happen. I saw it happen.
RUSSELL: Saw what happen?
BRUFFIN: Beatrice got a call to come to ward four. The patient's name was Clegg. Just a common or garden schizo, but he'd been making progress, so we moved him. But he he used to have the room next to zero. Something tore him to pieces. Dove made us cover it up, of course. Zero's always been his special patient. He used us all. Me, Beatrice.

[Doctor's office]

DOVE: Beatrice.
BEATRICE: Don't touch me. I came to you with legitimate concerns about William. I'm worried about him. And you just dismiss me like I don't know what. There's been another murder, Colin.
DOVE: I know.
BEATRICE: It's a bit late, isn't it?
DOVE: What do you mean?
BEATRICE: I mean Clegg. Or had you forgotten about him?
DOVE: No, I haven't forgotten. That was completely different.
BEATRICE: That's not what William thinks.
DOVE: William? Huh. He's been pushing himself too hard. Anyway, he's not suitable for this kind of work. I'll deal with him.
BEATRICE: You can't just dismiss him. He's sensitive! Why won't you confide in me?

[Clinic grounds]

RUSSELL: What does O'Kane have to do with all this?
BRUFFIN: Jeremiah?
RUSSELL: If he's in league with Dove
BRUFFIN: (laughs) In league? Your guardian is guilty of nothing, except perhaps a surfeit of compassion.
RUSSELL: Compassion for whom? The patient in room zero? Who is Zero? Who is he? Who is Zero?
BRUFFIN: I don't know. I don't know who they are.
RUSSELL: Who is Zero? They? Zero is responsible for all the murders? Seven, eight, whatever. Was that Zero? Was it?
BRUFFIN: I don't know!
RUSSELL: Was it Zero?
(Bruffin's pager beeps.)
BRUFFIN: Look, I've got to go.
RUSSELL: Bruffin, can you get me into the secure ward?
BRUFFIN: I've got to go.
RUSSELL: Bruffin!

[Doctor's office]

DOVE: You don't understand.
BEATRICE: I want to. Why won't you give me the chance?
DOVE: Bea, this is the most important thing I've ever done. It could literally change my life. All our lives. You've got to trust me when I say everything will turn out for the best.

[Telephone booth]

BRUFFIN: Hello? This is Doctor Bruffin.

[Doctor's office]

(Dove and Beatrice are kissing when the telephone rings. Beatrice answers it.)
BEATRICE: It's secure. The door's open.
(Bruffin hears the boy's voice singing 'Daisy, Daisy.' He drops the telephone receiver and screams.)

[Room Zero]

(Russell enters the unlocked secure ward, then the room. He sees its occupant crouching over Bruffin's body, then retreating to behind the mattress in the corner. Dove is also there.)
RUSSELL: What the hell is going on here? How can you let this happen? Look, Bruffin knew what was going on, and now he's dead.
DOVE: Calm down. Calm down. I must think.
(Bruffin raises his head. It is partly distorted.)
DOVE: It's started. It's started.
(Blood trickles from Bruffin's hairline.)
BRUFFIN: Daisy, Daisy
(Sirens are heard outside. Bruffin's head falls back. Beatrice appears in the doorway.)
DOVE: Why did you do that, you stupid. Why now! Why now?

[Outside the main building]

(Liz drives up and is met by Lou.)
LIZ: Anything?
LOU: He hasn't said a word. Have you see Russell?
LIZ: First thing. He confirmed what Doctor Hearst said. Where's Haggard?
LOU: She's on her way.
LIZ: Uh oh.

[Doctor's office]

JULIE: Does this mean your move is off, then?
BEATRICE: With luck. Somebody's got to keep this place going. With all these coppers around, we have to make sure the patients aren't affected.
(Lou walks up.)
BEATRICE: Can I do anything to help?

[Dove's office]

(Dove is looking out of the window.)
LIZ: You do realise what you're facing, don't you? I can help you. Doctor Hearst has told us all about the previous killing, the man Clegg. As Director of this clinic, you're responsible for the welfare of your patients. It's your last chance, Doctor Dove. I'm still responsible for this investigation, but the regular police are breathing down my neck. Now, if you tell me all you know, I'll do my best for you.
DOVE: All I know?
LIZ: What have you been working on at this clinic?
DOVE: Oh, I can't tell you.
LIZ: Can't or won't?
DOVE: No, no, no. If you had the slightest chance of understanding, but you don't. Nobody does. You see, it's too big for that. Too new.
LIZ: Try me.
DOVE: Oh, if you knew how long I've been waiting. This is the evidence, you see. Evidence that it has started.
LIZ: What is?
DOVE: Bruffin.
LIZ: Bruffin's dead.
DOVE: I know that. But they, he, spoke to us. Don't you see?
LIZ: He spoke to you? When?
DOVE: In the Zero room, Miss Shaw. The Zero room.
LIZ: He was still alive when you and Doctor Hearst found him?
DOVE: Oh, that's nice. Ha! Still alive.

[O'Kane's patio]

RUSSELL: The police have got Dove. They're questioning him right now.
O'KANE: On suspicion of killing William?
RUSSELL: Mmm.
O'KANE: Oh, that's ridiculous.
RUSSELL: Is it?
O'KANE: Of course it is.
RUSSELL: William Bruffin has been slaughtered. Others too. You've got to start telling me the truth. At least tell me who Patient Zero is.
O'KANE: I've always been proud of you, you know, despite all of our disagreements. When you didn't go in for medicine, I was disappointed. It should never have led to such a falling-out. Such stupid bitterness.
RUSSELL: Bruffin spoke to us. A dead man spoke to us, and I know it has something to do with Zero.

[Dove's office]

DOVE: Do you know what perihelion is?
LIZ: Of course.
DOVE: Well?
LIZ: It's the point in the orbit of a planet or a comet, a planetary body, anyway. It's the point in its orbit when it comes closest to the Sun.
DOVE: Very good.
LIZ: Are we approaching one?
DOVE: We're not. Someone is.
LIZ: I don't understand.
DOVE: Closest point. Closest to them. Almost touching. Almost.
LIZ: Doctor Dove, you've been implicated in the deaths of two people, possibly a further eight.
DOVE: I have nothing to do with them.
LIZ: Then try to help me. Who did kill those people?
DOVE: Nobody.

[Staff room]

BEATRICE: I should have listened to William. He came to me because he thought, he thought he could trust me. I feel so awful. He wanted to talk to me, confide in me, and all I could do was think about that bastard.
JULIE: It's not your fault, Bea.
BEATRICE: No, it's never anybody's fault, is it. But William's dead now.
LOU: There's no need to crucify yourself.
BEATRICE: Isn't there? I knew, you see. I knew.

[Path]

PATRICIA: I'm sorry, Liz. I did warn you. It's out of my hands now.
LIZ: But not when we're so close. Listen, I know that all this means something. It's building up to something.
PATRICIA: The murders.
LIZ: Yes. Like I said the other day, they're beginning to become more savage, bizarre even. And each time they come closer to the hospital.
PATRICIA: But you got the suspect.
LIZ: I've got a man who's technically responsible, yes. But Dove didn't kill Bruffin or any of those others, I'm sure of it.
PATRICIA: Then who did?
LIZ: I don't know, but if you let the police take over it'll be disastrous.
PATRICIA: They've got Dove in his office. They're not likely to give him up easily.
LIZ: They don't have to let him go. He just has to remain here.
PATRICIA: Here?
LIZ: Well, couldn't you arrange house arrest or something?
PATRICIA: Oh, please.
LIZ: It's vital. Dove knows what's going on, but he's letting the information out a bit at a time. Do you know what perihelion is?
PATRICIA: Peri?
LIZ: I do. I'm the physicist. Something is approaching this hospital. A date, a time. All I know is that it's going to be soon. Please keep Dove back here. Oh, good God. There's a building full of secure cells
PATRICIA: Okay, okay. I'll do my best.
LIZ: Thank you.
PATRICIA: This is your last chance.
LIZ: What if I blow it?
PATRICIA: I'll probably give you another one.
LIZ: (silent, to the heavens) Thank you.

[O'Kane's home]

(Russell picks up the photograph album, but O'Kane snatches it from him.)
O'KANE: No. First you tell me why you came back here.
RUSSELL: Don't you know?
O'KANE: No.
RUSSELL: Because I had to. I was impelled. Something dragged me back here. Oh, I don't know. I think I'm seeing things. I thought I was going mad.
O'KANE: Irony indeed. Go on.
RUSSELL: I just knew I had to come back here, the place I was brought up.
O'KANE: To this hospital?
RUSSELL: Yes. I made some inquiries and I found that you were still here, and the clinic was being closed down. I pulled a few strings, threw my not inconsiderable weight about. I wanted some answers. And when I got here, I began to see things more clearly. Literally. A child, a small boy.
(O'Kane opens the album.)
O'KANE: This small boy?
RUSSELL: Yes.
O'KANE: It's my brother, Danny.
RUSSELL: Your brother?
O'KANE: Yes. Do you remember my telling you about how I lost all my family accidentally?
RUSSELL: Yes, I was always upset because all the other children had grandparents and I didn't.
O'KANE: Yes, well, that wasn't true. They didn't die in an accident. They were murdered.
RUSSELL: Murdered?
O'KANE: Yes. By him.

[Corridor]

LIZ: Any joy?
LOU: They haven't seen it.
LIZ: What?
LOU: Transfer list.
LIZ: Transfer?
LOU: Dove brought Zero here.
LIZ: Dove did?
LOU: Just over fifteen months ago.
LIZ: Whew. When the killing began.

[O'Kane's home]

O'KANE: Daniel went wild. Simply wild. Something must have gone off in his head. He just killed all of them. My mother and father, both my sisters. I came home to find the house filled with police, rather like it is today.
RUSSELL: And Daniel died too. It's his ghost I've been seeing.
(Liz looks through the glass panel in the door of room zero and the man standing there in his underwear.)
O'KANE: No, Peter. No, Daniel didn't die. He was too young to hang. Psychiatrists declared him insane, so I had to watch him as he was shoved from one lunatic asylum to another. The last forty years I've seen that.
RUSSELL: And you brought him back here, to the place where it all happened?
O'KANE: I wanted to. I wanted my brother to be near, where I could keep an eye on him, look after him.
RUSSELL: But you got him back here eventually.
(Peter has a vision of young Daniel holding a very large knife.)
O'KANE: Peter!
DANIEL: Daisy, Daisy.
O'KANE: Peter?
DANIEL: Give me your answer do.
(Books fall from the shelves behind Russell.)
RUSSELL + DANIEL: ♫ I'm half crazy all for the love of you. ♫
(He sees young Daniel kill his father. Then Russell staggers out.)

[Dove's room]

LIZ: (reads) Locals have been shocked and horrified by the discovery today of four bodies at the County Asylum. Although not yet identified, they're believed to be the Director of the Asylum, Mister Eustace O'Kane and three members of his family.
DOVE: So?
LIZ: O'Kane's family died here.
DOVE: So?
LIZ: August the thirteenth, 1945. Perihelion. I understand what you mean. There are reports going back to the thirteenth century, and always at this time of the year. What is it that the Bible calls them? Leprous houses.
DOVE: Not just the house. It's the whole area it's built on.
LIZ: And Zero is the key to it all.
(Russell is visiting the secure ward.)
DOVE: You see, there is such a thing as evil, I'm sure of it. I'm convinced of it. Oh, not the Devil and his forked tail, but an actual physical manifestation of the dark side of our nature. It's a concentration of our suffering and fear. A reservoir of pain, if you like. And certain places act as a synapse, to bring that terrible force in this world. A weakness.
LIZ: Here?
DOVE: Of course, yes.
LIZ: So this reservoir exists side by side with us, but we never see it?
DOVE: Some people do.
LIZ: The insane?
DOVE: Yes and no. It exists on a higher plane. But more especially, more sensitive people.
LIZ: Like you.
DOVE: Of course.
LIZ: And Zero?
DOVE: He's the second best subject.
LIZ: Who's the first?
DOVE: Perihelion, Miss Shaw. The optimum time.
LIZ: Tonight?
DOVE: You've got to let me out of here. Get me out of here. I've waited for this too long
LIZ: No.
DOVE: You must.
LIZ: If it's true, if this river of evil is about to burst through into our world
DOVE: Yes.
LIZ: Do you want that?
DOVE: The unknown, that's what I want. To feel it, to taste it. Something no one else has ever seen.
LIZ: And live to tell the tale.
DOVE: Let me out.
(Dove tries to strangle Liz. Russell opens the door and pulls her free, then shuts Dove in again.)
DOVE: Let me out! I must be there when they come through!

[Outside Dove's room]

DOVE [OC]: Let me out!
RUSSELL: Come with me.
DOVE [OC]: Let me out!
RUSSELL: I can't do it alone.
LIZ: Zero?
(Dove turns and sees a sharp knife glinting. Liz and Russell hear him scream. They burst in.)

[Dove's room]

LIZ: Dove.
(Dove is on the floor, dying.)
DOVE: Let him out. Let him out. (unintelligible.)
LIZ: Zero.

[Secure ward entrance]

(Liz touches the keypad and the whole building rocks.)
RUSSELL: What's happening?
LIZ: It's started.
RUSSELL: What?
LIZ: Perihelion. The time's now. They're coming through.
(She enters the code and opens the door.)
LIZ: Come on.

[Room Zero]

(Thel door opens and a bright light shines out. Russell and Liz enter. The door slams behind them and the light goes out.)
LIZ: Daniel?
(Daniel is sitting on the floor with his back to them.)
DANIEL: Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do.
RUSSELL: It's my father. Daniel O'Kane. Patient Zero is my real father.
(Memories of a boy being chased by an adult shouting 'For God's sake, why? You little bastard. Damn you, I'll kill you. How could you do this?')
RUSSELL: There must have been dozens like him throughout the ages. Sensitives. People they could act through, push through.
DOVE [memory]: He's their second best.
LIZ [memory]: Who's their first?
RUSSELL: What?
LIZ: It's you. Don't you see what it means? They can't do it alone. They need you and Zero together.
DANIEL: Together.
LIZ: Perihelion. It's too late. They're coming through!
(Daniel and Russell stand close together in the corner. Russell has a knife in his hand. He approaches Liz like Daniel approached his father.

[O'Kane's home]

O'KANE: Push them back, Dad!

[Room Zero]

(Liz dodges the knife thrust. Quick montage of the recent victims. Russell smiles and reaches for Liz. He draws the knife back slowly.)
DANIEL: No!
(The ceiling lights explode. Daniel puts himself between Russell and Liz, taking the stab.)
DANIEL: Grace.
(Daniel dies.)

[O'Kane's patio]

(Tea is served by Russell. Jeremiah pours, milk in first as is proper. Liz puts down her pipe.)
LIZ: Thank you, Doctor.
(Russell cuts a slice of cake then looks at the knife. We are shown the door to room zero closing gently, then we move over to room one, where another man is singing 'Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy.' It is Peter Davison. He laughs briefly.)