I suppose you know where you are, my dear.
London.
Home.
Marvellous to be back.
It seems ages since I left.
Ah, when you've seen the ages that I've seen, you won't use that term quite so freely.
Anyway, I don't think it's been all that long.
Hey, what's that for?
Oh, well, you see, the problem is, coming back to the 20th century, my dear, the TARDIS,
I'm afraid, is often mistaken for the real police box.
I see what you mean.
Yes, and fortunately he can't get in.
If only he could.
Scotland Yard, whipped off into time and space.
So that's it.
What?
Oh, the tower.
It's finished.
Isn't that interesting?
Very interesting.
It's great, isn't it?
Stephen would have liked it here.
You know, there's something alien about that tower.
I can scent it.
Smells OK to me.
Good old London smell.
I can feel it.
It's got something sort of powerful.
Look at my skin.
Look at that.
I've got that prickling sensation.
That sensation again, the same just as I had when I thought the Tarlaks and the Daleks were near.
Daleks?
Who are they?
Oh, yes, of course, you didn't meet them, did you, child?
No.
No, and I pray that you never will.
I really must investigate it.
It is a splendid view, certainly.
I think you'll enjoy it.
Doctor, look.
Isn't it terrific?
Ah, Doctor.
I understand from Major Green you're a specialist in computer development.
Well, hardly a specialist, sir, but I dabble.
Yes, I dabble.
Oh, so that's what it is.
I beg your pardon?
Yes.
You know, I had a very strong sense of energy outside this building, a sort of magnetic pull, if you like.
It was most unusual.
So I presume that's what it must have been.
It is, indeed.
It's my life's work, Doctor.
Most ingenious.
I think I can go so far as to say that it's the only one in existence in the world.
It's at least ten years ahead of its time.
Is that so?
What makes it so special?
Well, Miss...
Oh, my secretary, Dodo Chapman.
Oh, well, Miss Chapman, I'll explain.
This is perhaps not the biggest computer in the world, but it's certainly the most advanced.
In fact, it can handle scientific problems well outside the range of any other computer in existence.
We are about to link this up with computers all over the world as a central intelligence.
A sort of problem solver.
I don't understand.
Well, perhaps it'll be clearer tonight.
Oh, tonight, sir?
Of course.
Press conference.
I thought you'd visit.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, of course, my dear fellow.
Yes, I do, do.
Oh, that's very exciting.
Exciting.
Look, this is my secretary, Polly.
Hello, Polly.
How do you do?
Now, Polly's pretty smart.
A cracking typist, right?
Also rather a cheeky one at times.
Well, now, this machine, which I call VOTAM...
You call what?
VOTAM.
Spelt W-O-T-A-M.
Will Operating Thought Analog.
Yes, yes, quite right.
Well, now, VOTAM can not only think faster than Polly or myself, it can also type faster.
True?
Afraid so.
And it never makes mistakes, Richard, see.
Are you seriously telling me, sir, that you have invented a machine that can think?
Yes.
And never makes mistakes?
Never.
Hmph!
I take it I speak into here?
Yes, that's right, Doctor.
What is the square root of 17422?
Correct.
One moment, please.
131.993.
Yes, that's near enough.
Yes, it's truly remarkable.
May I try it now?
Certainly, go ahead.
Now, let's see you funny-looking contraption.
Yes.
Here's one you'll never get.
What does the word TARDIS mean?
Doctor?
Well, what does it say, my dear?
Got it right.
Time and relative dimensions in space.
Good heavens, let me see.
Well, now, how would it know that?
Oh, it knows a lot I don't know.
There's something else I can show you, Miss Chapman.
It's up there.
Dodo.
Pardon?
What's the matter, my dear? Are you all right?
Oh, yes.
Just a buzzing in the ears.
Oh, just sit down for a moment.
Excuse me, sir. Tell me, what part does this play?
Well, that's the usual memory bank, of course.
I see. And that, of course, is the program regimentator.
Yes, but in this case, a slightly different one.
Yes, I wonder...
Are you feeling better now?
Oh, fine, thank you.
Good. Polly will look after you.
Is it your first time in London?
Oh, no. It feels like it, though.
I'm so out of touch.
What I'd really like would be to go to the hottest night spot in town.
Oh, well, that's easy. The Inferno.
Hi, Kitty.
Hello, Polly, love.
Oh, my, glad to see you.
Kitty, this is Dodo. Dodo, Kitty.
Hello.
Hi, Dodo.
Polly, you're just the person I need. Will you help me?
Oh, here we go again.
Not that I mind helping people.
Well, what is it, then?
Well, when you were here last week, do you remember a sailor at the end of the bar?
Not especially, why?
He's been here ever since.
Poor lad, he just sits there at the end of the bar.
Look out, here he comes now.
Well, see?
He's no great advertisement for the most with it place in town, is he?
Couldn't you cheer him up just a little?
All right, Kitty, leave it to us.
Stand by, Dodo. This looks like a rescue mission.
The Navy's in trouble.
Excuse me.
Well, hello.
We met the other night, remember?
Oh, yeah. I think I do.
You think you do? I must have made a big impression.
Oh, no, it's not that.
Well, what is it, then?
Must be something pretty big, not to have noticed me.
I'm sorry.
Oh, he says he's sorry.
Well, there's no law against sitting here, is there?
Well, there should be when you've got that look on your face.
Look, I'll show you.
Is it as bad as that, then?
Worse.
So, spill the beans, sailor.
Give us the facts. What's your problem?
You wouldn't understand. Do you think I'm some kind of nut?
Try us.
Well, it's my ship, see?
It's gone off to the West Indies and I've got a shore posting.
In barracks for six months.
And you miss the swaying palms, the white beaches, the blue sea.
Very funny, if you finish cheering me up.
Come on, Dono, let me lead them.
I can't stand people with no sense of humour.
Come on.
That's fine.
I've got a great sense of humour.
Anything for a good woman.
Please take your arm away.
Oh, come on, darling.
I know your type.
You'll have a better time with me than with old Shorty there.
What's that?
Oh, get lost.
Let her go.
Look, go and play me a toy boat, half pint.
Let go of her.
Just try it, mate.
I'll chop you to little bits.
What's all this?
Nothing.
One of your customers wants to go home.
You want to be careful who you encourage.
You conceited little...
Oh, now, Polly, he was only trying to help.
Thank you, er...
Ben.
Ben Jackson.
Gentlemen, ladies, may I have your attention, please?
Well, you've heard the backroom boys.
Now it's my turn.
C-Day, that is, Computer Day, will be next Monday, July the 16th.
That is in four days' time.
Now, on that date, all the computer systems in this country,
and subsequently in the whole world,
will come under the control of this central computer,
which we call Votan.
Now, as you've heard, that will have both peaceful and violent functions.
It will have both peaceful and military implications.
I need hardly tell you that this is a great step forward for Britain,
and indeed, I may say, for the whole world.
Now, have you got any questions?
Roy Stone, New York Sketch.
Well, wait.
Sir, doesn't this put a great deal of power into the hands of whoever operates Votan?
No-one operates Votan.
Votan operates itself.
A computer is merely a brain which thinks logically without any political or private ends.
It is pure thought.
It makes calculations. It supplies only the truth.
It has no imaginative powers.
Is there no way of fixing it so it can give the wrong answers?
There would be no point.
Now, don't forget that a computer like Votan is not a human being.
Oh, but surely, sir, that...
It has no reason to suppress the truth.
It has no emotions.
It is our self.
It seems to me, by the way you're talking, sir,
that this machine can think for itself like a human being.
It can.
Only much more accurately.
But, sir, I mean, is this kind of risky?
I mean, suppose it decides it can do without people.
What then?
I hardly think it will come to that.
I'm sure that Professor Brett and his team will have the machine well under control.
Where the devil is Brett?
He should have met me here an hour ago.
We'll give him about six.
Yes, all right.
Now, gentlemen, I must apologise for the absence of Professor Brett.
I'm sure he'll be along in a moment or two, if you will just bear with us.
It is, after all, his show.
I think so.
I have to go now. I'm already very late for an important meeting.
Good night.
You wanted something, Professor?
Have you been here all day, Major?
Yes, of course.
Are you sure this building is properly screened?
If you have any complaint, Professor...
I have.
There's someone in this part of the building.
Sorry, sir, not at all possible.
We have a complete security check on this section of the tower, day and night.
Are you sure?
Positive.
That's funny.
I've had the feeling all day of someone there.
Someone listening to me.
Watching me.
There's only the two of us in this part of the tower, sir.
I suppose you must be right.
I'm sorry, Major, I must be getting tired.
That's all right.
Will you be working late tonight, Professor?
No, no, good heavens, I must be off. I'm late.
Thank you, Major.
Good night, sir.
That's ridiculous.
I must be imagining things.
It's quite ridiculous.
What do you want?
Oh, no, please don't do that.
I can't.
Please don't do that.
Hello, there.
Bright and breezy now, isn't it?
Yeah.
Steady, sir, a lot of watching.
Let's do it some other time, girls.
Thank you.
Pauline, your own one.
How do you do?
Oh, it's just a knack, you know.
Any time you're watching for the brightness in your lives, come to Paul.
Mind you, he's a special case.
Have a job here any time you like.
I've got a very good one, thanks.
What's the matter, Jo-Jo?
I don't know.
I've had a sort of headache ever since I left your office.
Headache?
A sort of high-pitched hum.
It's gone again now.
I'm all right, really.
Ah, good.
Hey, I'll fill on of a dance.
Oh, here we go.
Well, gentlemen and ladies, if there are no more questions, I really am very sorry about
the absence of Professor Brett.
I'm sure there must have been something very important that prevented him coming.
Ah, Professor Brett.
Gentlemen, I'm sorry I was not able to attend.
That was unavoidable.
Well, now that you're here, perhaps you'll talk to the gentleman.
I want to see Professor Crompton.
I beg your pardon.
They've been waiting.
It's urgent.
Professor Crompton.
See now.
Immediately, if you don't mind.
Are you all right, Brett?
Quite all right, thank you.
Well, is it the computer, then?
No.
Professor Brett, I'm from the New York Sketch, sir.
No comment.
Mr. A. Crompton.
I haven't asked a question, sir.
Can you make a comment?
I'm very sorry.
Can you make a comment?
I'm very sorry, gentlemen.
And that seems to be it.
I thank you very much.
You may go, Charles.
Oh, excuse me.
Are you the doctor that Professor Brett telephoned me on?
Yes, I am, sir Charles.
Oh, I'm very glad that you could come along.
I wonder what on earth got into him this evening.
His manner was very odd.
Yes, very odd.
Very odd indeed.
Perhaps he's overworking.
Who was that little man, Crompton?
Oh, electronics fellow.
One of our top men.
Come to think of it, electronics.
Perhaps there is something wrong with Bowtie.
And he didn't want to let it out.
That would explain it, wouldn't it?
Look, I'm terribly sorry, but would you excuse me?
I think I'd better go and check.
Kennedy, will you look after the doctor for me?
I wonder.
Hmm.
I wonder.
I understand.
Hello, it's Dono.
What?
Who?
Speak up.
Oh, right, yes, I'll get her.
Dodo, it's for you.
Hello?
Yes?
Hello?
Yes, who is it?
Hello?
Yes.
Yes, I understand.
Brett.
I must say, it's rather odd to break up a meeting like that and drag me off at this time of night.
I had no choice, Crimpton.
No choice?
Now, what do you mean?
You will soon understand.
Now, look here, Brett.
I'll stay a couple of minutes.
I think it's a bit much.
Nothing is too much.
What are you talking about?
What's the matter with you this evening?
Has the computer broken down?
On the contrary.
It's we who have broken down.
We have failed.
We have failed?
We've reached a standstill.
We cannot develop the earth any further.
Further progress is impossible.
What do you mean, impossible?
That is the conclusion reached by Votan.
Are you joking?
This machine is hardly in a position.
I'm not joking.
Votan has decided the world cannot progress further with mankind running it.
Oh, really?
And what does Votan propose to do about it?
Take over from us?
From now on, we are to serve.
And if we choose not to, I suppose mankind will be eliminated?
If it is necessary.
You've been working too hard, old chap.
You've gone completely off your rocker.
You cannot escape.
Oh, dear.
Major, thank heavens you're here.
He's gone round the bend.
He's gone mad.
He is not mad, Professor Crimpton.
Let me out of here.
You must wait.
I refuse to be kept.
I refuse.
Just touch that.
You can't leave me here.
I'll get...
No.
It's not possible.
No.
I don't believe it.
I...
I won't work for you.
I'm human.
There's nothing more important than human life.
Machines cannot govern man.
I will not...
What do you want?
Where's your friend then? Can't see her anywhere.
I don't know. Surely she wouldn't have left without a word to us.
I shouldn't think so. She seemed a nice bird. Friendly.
We're not stuck up like you, Duchess.
Don't call me Duchess.
I'm worried about Dodo. I'm supposed to be looking after her.
You know, showing her around.
That's a laugh.
Here.
It is our night for surprises.
What do you want in here?
That is the Doctor.
Do you know him?
He's Dodo's boss.
He looks like that diss jockey.
I hope I find you both here.
Well, I hope Dodo and yourself have enjoyed yourselves.
Yes, thank you, Doctor.
Have one on the house, Doctor.
Every day we get the over-twenties in this place.
I think you're Fab Gear.
Fab Gear?
Who's your friend?
He's not exactly a friend. I've just met him.
His name is Ben. Ben, the Doctor.
Hello, Dodo, my boy. I don't see Dodo about.
I'm afraid she's gone.
She's gone? Gone where, Charles?
She came to answer the phone about half an hour ago,
and we haven't seen her since.
There is one special human brain that Wotan needs.
The task of leading this brain here to serve Wotan
will be an extremely delicate matter.
It has been arranged.
Someone is coming.
The fourth member.
Call here to receive orders.
The Doctor's secretary.
What are my instructions?
Dodo, who is required, bring him here.