Perivale 1883
In the sleepy, rural parish of Greenford Parva, Gabriel Chase is by far the most imposing edifice. The villagers shun the grim house, but the owner, the reclusive and controversial naturalist Josiah Samuel Smith, recieves occasional visitors.

The Reverend Ernest Matthews, for instance, dean of Mortarhouse College, has travelled from Oxford to refute Smith's blasphemous theories of evolution.

Anid in a deserted upstairs room, the Doctor and Ace venture from the TARDIS to explore the Victorian mansion...

Who - or what - is Josiah Smith? What terrible secrets does his house conceal? And why does Ace find everything so frighteningly familiar.
 

Something sinister in the cellar.

A Neanderthal manservant.

A secret from Ace's past... or is it her future?

The seventh Doctor and his young companion land back on Earth in Victorian times and are soon caught up in mysterious goings-on at Gabriel Chase, a place the locals prefer to avoid.

Read the complete script of this classic Doctor Who story, together with background and technical information.
 

"All organic life wil be destroyed in the firestorm and when this world is destroyed (there will be) no more change, no more evolution and no more life..."

Earth 1883. At the heart of a Victorian house by the name of Gabriel Chase, lies an alien ship. For millions of years its owner has been asleep, unaware that part of the cargo has evolved into a malevolent creature.

When the Doctor brings his assistant Ace to the house to face and overcome a terrible fear from her past, he finds himself catapaulted into the secrets lying dormant there. Who or what is the alien presence Josiah? What has he done with the real inhabitants of the house? More importantly, of what is Josiah so frightened and can it help the Doctor?

In order to combat Josiah's evil presence, the Doctor arranges the release of a more powerful entity called Light - the true owner of the alien ship. However, as events unfold the Doctor discovers he may have awoken an even more dangerous adversary. For Light means to destroy every living thing on Earth...

Originally transmitted 4 - 18 October 1989, this three part adventure starring Sylvester McCoy makes a welcome addition to the Doctor Who collection on BBC Video.

Running time: 72 mins approx.

Produced by John Nathan-Turner
Directed by Alan Wareing