The Myth Makers

Summary

TEMPLE OF SECRETS
     Two warriors fight on a sandy plain: Greek hero Achilles attempts to avenge fellow soldier Patroclus' death, but Trojan prince Hector is gaining the upper hand. Unnoticed, the TARDIS materialises nearby; the Doctor instructs Vicki and Steven to remain inside while he ventures out. His appearance, accompanied by a clap of thunder, coincides with Hector's challenging the god Zeus to save Achilles. The distraction allows Achilles to kill his foe, and the Doctor is hailed as Zeus. Achilles asks 'Zeus' for help; for the past ten years, Agamemnon's Greek forces have laid siege to the city of Troy.
     Odysseus arrives and is less convinced of the Doctor's divinity as he looks at the TARDIS – apparently the temple of Zeus. He decides to take the old man to Agamemnon's camp. Watching on via the scanner, Steven adopts a disguise to go after the Doctor. Vicki remains in the ship as Trojan soldiers approach it.
     In his tent, Lord Agamemnon discusses the situation with his morose brother Menelaus; ten years previously, Agamemnon had used Trojan prince Paris' elopement with Helen, Menelaus' wife, as an excuse to defeat King Priam ofTroy and gain control of the trade routes through the Sosphorous. When the Doctor is brought in, he plays along with the soldiers' assumption that he has supernatural powers. At night, Steven attempts to enter the camp only to be captured by Odysseus and branded a Trojan spy. The Doctor suggests that Steven should be sacrificed to the gods the next morning at his 'temple'. Unfortunately, Cyclops, the mute servant of Odysseus, arrives to indicate that the temple of Zeus has disappeared – "Vanished into thin air." Only a Trojan plaque is left where it stood.

SMALL PROPHET, QUICK RETURN
     Tracks in the sand reveal that the 'temple' has been taken to Troy. The Doctor is forced to explain to Odysseus the truth about himself and Steven. Odysseus keeps the pair in his custody, demanding that they furnish him with the means to capture Troy inside two days by using their supernatural knowledge. Steven suggests building a wooden horse; the Doctor dismisses this as an absurd notion created by Homer.
     The TARDIS is brought into Troy by the foppish Paris. He suggests putting it in their temple – which annoys his sister, the high priestess Cassandra, who has had a dream that a gift left by the Greeks will spell disaster for Troy. When Cassandra calls for the 'prize' to he hurried, Vicki – observed by both the Trojans and the Greek spy Cyclops – emerges from inside it, wearing an appropriate costume. The girl attempts to explain that she is from the future; she is looked after by kindly King Priam, who believes her to he a prophetess. Priam renames Vicki 'Cressida', earning the girl the rivalry of Cassandra. Priam, exasperated, sends the cowardly Paris to challenge Achilles and avenge the death of Paris' brother, Hector. When Paris approaches the Greek camp, Steven decides to allow himself to be captured, thereby locating both Vicki and the TARDIS; adopting the guise of the recently deceased Diomede, he challenges Paris and is duly taken prisoner.
     In Tray, the young Prince Troilus has caught Vicki's eye. When 'Diomede' is brought in by Paris, it is clear that Steven and Vicki know each other. Cassandra seizes her chance: "What more proof do you need that she's a spy? Guard, kill her! Kill both of them!"

DEATH OF A SPY
    As the guards advance, Paris reasserts his authority – much to the delight of Priam, who tells Vicki that the can prove her loyalty by using her supernatural powers in their favour within one day, otherwise she will he burned. Vicki and Steven are secured in the dungeons, where they argue about the Situation. Cyclops appears at the window of Steven's cell, and Steven tells him to get Odysseus to hold off the attack or they will both be killed. Vicki is brought food by Troilus, who is fond of her.
    With one day left for the Doctor to come up with an idea, the old man suggests to Odysseus the notion of firing men over the walls of Troy in flying machines propelled by catapults. Odysseus agrees, but only on the condition that the Doctor goes first. The Doctor quickly concludes that the notion will not work – and, in desperation, suggests building a huge, hollow horse, filling it with soldiers and leaving it for the Trojans to capture. Agamemnon agrees to the plan: the rest of the Greek fleet will appear to sail away, Achilles' Myrmidons will hide on the plain, and Odysseus' Ithacons will he inside the horse... with the Doctor.
     Cyclops runs into Paris' patrol outside the city, and is speared by a Trojan soldier. The great horse is made ready and duly discovered by Paris' troops. The news that the Greeks have left spreads through Troy, and Troilus wastes no time in releasing Vicki. Paris enters the palace with news of the so-called 'Great Horse of Asia'. Cassandra claims that the horse is an omen of disaster, wailing that it spells woe for the House of Priam and for the Trojans. "I'm afraid you're too late to say woe to the horse," jokes Paris. "I've just given instructions to have it brought into the city...

HORSE OF DESTRUCTION
     Distrusiful of 'Cressida', Cassandra orders her handmaiden, Katarina, to watch over her rival Vicki releases Steven and, now that night has fallen, they go to look at the horse; Vicki notices Katarina following her. Steven tells Vicki that if she cares for Troilus, she must get him out of the city before the Greeks attack. Returning to the palace, Vicki locates Troilus and tells him that 'Diomede' has escaped onto the plain – and he must recapture him.
     Odysseus keeps the complaining Doctor quiet until his men are ready to emerge from the horse. On the plain outside Troy, Troilus encounters Achilles. A fight ensues; Troilus triumphs, but is badly wounded. By now, the Greeks have opened the gate of the city. Soon, Troy is a blazing battleground. Odysseus and his men burst into the palace to deal with Priam, Paris and Cassandra...
     The Doctor finds Vicki, who says that Steven is in hiding nearby; however, she needs to discuss things with the Doctor and sends Katarina to find 'Diomede'. A Trojan soldier has injured Steven's shoulder, and Katarina helps him back to the TARDIS. Having told the Doctor that she has decided to remain with Troilus, Vicki leaves the ship and heads out onto the plains. Odysseus makes a final attempt to claim the TARDIS, but the Doctor departs with Katarina and Steven. Hoping to help build a new Troy, Troilus and Vicki meet up with the forces of Troilus' cousin, Aeneas.
     In the TARDIS, the wounded Steven lies prone. Katarina tells the Doctor that Cassandra has foretold her death. The Doctor sets the controls in the hope that they can find drugs to cure Steven: "I must! I must!"
    

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Original series broadcast on the BBC
Format © 1963
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