Production Code: 7L
First Transmitted
1 - 02/11/1988 19:35
2 - 09/11/1988 19:35
3 - 16/11/1988 19:35
Plot
The TARDIS arrives on the planet Terra Alpha where the Doctor and Ace discover a society in which sadness is against the law - a law enforced with considerable zeal by the brightly uniformed Happiness Patrol. The planet is ruled over by Helen A with the aid of her companion Joseph C and her carnivorous pet Stigorax named Fifi.
The penalty for those found guilty of unhappiness is death in a stream of molten candy prepared by Helen A's executioner, the robotic Kandyman, and his associate Gilbert M. The time travellers help to foment rebellion amongst the downtrodden population and the subterranean Pipe People - the planet's original inhabitants - and Helen A is overthrown.
Joseph C and Gilbert M escape in a shuttle, while the Kandyman is destroyed and Fifi killed. Helen A finally realises that happiness is nothing without the contrast of sadness.
Episode Endings
The Doctor and a blues musician named Earl Sigma are captured trying to flee the Kandy Kitchen. The Kandy Man tells them that he likes his volunteers to die with smiles on their faces.
The Doctor discovers that Ace will be appearing at the Happiness Patrol audition at the forum that night. A member of the Happiness Patrol arrives and paints a large 'R I P' over a poster of a previous forum attraction, a woman named Daphne S. The forum doorman comments that she obviously didn't go down too well.
Ace picks up a paint pot to finish off the job of restoring the TARDIS to its normal blue, it having earlier been repainted pink by the Happiness Patrol. She asks the Doctor if he is all right. He replies that happiness will prevail.
Roots
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (especially the film version).
Gloria Gaynor ('I am what I am').
The Prisoner.
Jean Surry's 'Teen Angel' (Ace's 'Dead Good Song').
Return of the Jedi.
The Trial.
1984.
Fahrenheit 451.
Hansel and Gretel.
The Wizard of Oz.
The Company of Wolves.
La Cage aux Folles.
Dialogue Triumphs
Kandy Man : "You see, I make sweets. Not just any old sweets, but sweets that are so good, so delicious that sometimes, if I'm on form, the human physiology is not equipped to bear the pleasure. Tell them what I'm trying to say, Gilbert."
Gilbert M. : "He makes sweets that kill people."
Sniper 2 : "Get back. Or he'll use the gun."
The Doctor : "Yes, I imagine he will. You like guns, don't you?"
Sniper 1 : "This is a specialised weapon. It's designed for roof duty. Designed for long range. I've never used one up close before."
Sniper 2 : "Let him go."
Sniper 1 : "No."
The Doctor : "No. In fact... let him come a little closer."
Sniper 1 : "Stay where you are."
The Doctor : "Why? Scared? Why should you be scared? You're the one with the gun."
Sniper 1 : "That's right."
The Doctor : "And you like guns, don't you?"
Sniper 2 : "He'll kill you."
The Doctor : "Of course he will. That's what guns are for. Pull a trigger. End a life. Simple, isn't it?'"
Sniper 1 : Yes.
The Doctor : "Makes sense, doesn't it?"
Sniper 1 : "Yes."
The Doctor : "A life, killing life."
Sniper 2 : "Who are you?"
The Doctor : "Shut up. Why don't you do it then? Look me in the eye. Pull the trigger. End my life."
Sniper 1 : "No."
The Doctor : "Why not?"
Sniper 1 : "I can't."
The Doctor : "Why not?"
Sniper 1 : "I don't know."
The Doctor : "You don't, do you. Throw away your gun."
The Doctor : "I can hear the sound of empires toppling."
Ace : "I want to make them very, very unhappy."
Kandyman : [To Gilbert] "What time do you call this?"
"This isn't a prison, but cross that line and you're a dead man."
Gilbert M : "Wallowing in their own weltschmertz."
Dialogue Disasters
Announcer : [On a trailer for episode two, the continuity announcer said] "Doctor Who's sticky situation with the Kandyman continues."
Continuity
Reference is made to the Doctor's role in Invasion of the Dinosaurs. He can sing, performing 'As Time Goes By'. Theta Sigma was his 'nickname at college' (see The Armageddon Factor).
Ace loves dinosaurs, and hates lift music. She can't play an instrument, dance or sing.
Location
Terra Alpha, some centuries in the future, during a single night
Future History
Terra Alpha is an Earth colony of at least 3 million people, the humans having driven the native inhabitants underground. Earth is known, but isn't the centre of power, which has shifted to the galactic centre, home of the Galactic Census Bureau [maybe a bit near Gallifrey?: see Terror of the Autons].
Untelevised
The Doctor met a Stigorax (like Fifi) in Birmingham in the 25th century.
Trivia
In the scenes set in the underground tunnels in Part Three the Kandy Man has no metal brace around his mouth. This was added to the costume following these initial recordings to try to disguise the features of the actor inside.
The howl of Helen A's pet Stigorax Fifi was actually the modulated sound of director Chris Clough's own voice.
Myth
Part Three of this story was originally intended to consist of animation rather than live action. (It wasn't.)
Goofs
Why do the Patrol shoot Silas P? (They know who he is.)
The Kandyman's microphone picks up quite a bit of Sylvester McCoy's dialogue in episode 2.
The aliens' costumes display maps of Paris.
The man at the box office is so unhappy he's lucky not to be arrested (but the vagaries of the law are part of the point, one suspects).
In episode one, as the Doctor is repairing the buggy, one of the patrol runs on too soon, realises, and runs back.
Cast & Crew
Cast
The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Ace - Sophie Aldred
Daisy K. - Georgina Hale
Earl Sigma - Richard D Sharp
Forum Doorman - Tim Scott
Gilbert M. - Harold Innocent
Harold V. - Tim Barker
Helen A. - Sheila Hancock
Joseph C. - Ronald Fraser
Kandy Man - David John Pope
Killjoy - Mary Healey Although identified only as 'Killjoy' in the closing credits to Part One, the character played by Mary Healey is named Daphne S, as confirmed by the poster at the conclusion of Part Two.
Newscaster - Annie Hulley
Priscilla P. - Rachel Bell
Silas P. - Jonathan Burn
Sniper - Steve Swinscoe
Sniper - Mark Carroll
Susan Q. - Lesley Dunlop
Trevor Sigma - John Normington
Wences - Philip Neve
Wulfric - Ryan Freedman
Crew
Director - Chris Clough
The Happiness Patrol