Production Code: 7E
First Transmitted
1 - 05/10/1987 19:35
2 - 12/10/1987 19:35
3 - 19/10/1987 19:35
4 - 26/10/1987 19:35
Plot
Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.
The hallways are roamed by gangs of young girls known as Kangs; the apartments are inhabited by cannibalistic old ladies, the Rezzies; and the building is managed by a group of dictatorial caretakers, presided over by the Chief Caretaker.
The latter is in thrall to the disembodied Great Architect Kroagnon, the building's creator, who is using giant cleaning machines systematically to kill all the occupants as he considers that they are spoiling his creation by living there.
The Great Architect eventually manifests himself by taking over the Chief Caretaker's body, but the Doctor and Mel join forces with the Kangs, the Rezzies and Pex - the only young man left in the complex - to defeat him. Pex, however, is apparently killed in the struggle.
Episode Endings
The Chief Caretaker greets the Doctor and apparently believes him to be the Great Architect. The next moment, however, he tells the Deputy Chief to kill the Doctor.
Mel pays a second visit on some Rezzies named Tabby and Tilda. The two old ladies at first seem friendly, but then Tilda ensnares Mel in a crotcheted shawl and Tabby threatens her with a toasting fork. Mel screams.
The Doctor and three Kangs - Blue Kang Leader, Bin Liner and Fire Escape - watch as the Chief Caretaker is 'processed' by Kroagnon, currently in the form of a large machine in Paradise Towers' basement. They turn to run, but one of the robot cleaners grabs the Doctor by his throat and starts to throttle him.
The fight against the Great Architect has resulted in everyone working together, assuring a better future. The Doctor and Mel say their goodbyes. The Doctor has been made an honorary Kang. They leave in the TARDIS, the wall beside which is marked with some red and blue 'wallscrawl' and the slogan 'Pex Lives'.
Roots
J. G. Ballard's High Rise.
Albert Speer's architecture.
Monty Python 's architects sketch (a design for a deadly but beautiful block of flats drawn up by a man more used to designing slaughter houses).
Lord of the Flies.
Arsenic and Old Lace.
Ever Decreasing Circles.
Terry and June (the rezzies).
Brazil.
2000 AD.
A Clockwork Orange.
Rambo.
Hansel and Gretel.
The Inbetweens going off to war, leaving the Youngsters and the Oldsters behind, is reminiscent of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
With regard to his 'ice hot' fashions, the Doctor says 'Clothes don't maketh the man'.
Dialogue Triumphs
Fire Escape : "Red Kang eye-spy says we can't go through usual carrydor. Blue Kangs out and lurking."
Bin Liner : "And the yellow?"
Fire Escape : "No yellows. All unalive now."
Chief Caretaker/Great Architect : Attention all robotic cleaners. Attention all robotic cleaners. At last Kroagnon can leave the basement prison they trapped his bodiless brain in. And return in this borrowed body to the corridors and lifts of his own creation. They buried me away because I wanted to stop them using the Tower. And now you and I will destroy them.
Bin Liner : "Hail Pex. Hail the unalive who gave his life for the Tower. In life he was not a Kang, but in death he was brave and bold as a Kang should be."
"Are these old ladies annoying you?"
"No"
"Are you annoying these old ladies?"
Continuity
Paradise Towers, designed by Kroagnon, otherwise known as the Great Architect, won many awards in the 21st century. Kroagnon was also responsible for Golden Dream Park, the Bridge of Perpetual Motion and Miracle City.
He didn't want Miracle City to be 'contaminated' by humans, but was eventually forced out. Those who did move in were killed by devices he had left behind.
Paradise Towers was on its way to becoming an equally deadly building when its people exiled Kroagnon's brain to the basement. When those of fighting age left to go to war, only the old, the young and a group of caretakers were left behind.
The TARDIS swimming pool was leaking and has been jettisoned. There is, according to the Doctor, a spectacular pool on the planet Griophos, although it is for the exclusive use of the Gulmeri, flesh eating octopi. At the end of the adventure the Doctor is given a blue/red scarf and made an honorary Kang.
Location
Paradise Towers, 21st century
Trivia
There are guest star roles for well known actors Richard Briers, Brenda Bruce, Elizabeth Spriggs and Judy Cornwell.
The caretakers' unusual salute is formed by raising the horizontal palms of their hands to rest on their top lips.
Julie Brennon, who played Fire Escape, was at the time married to former companion actor Mark Strickson.
Technobabble
The Robotic Self activating Megapodic Mark 7Z cleaners have oxymotive blades. The Doctor describes an antique phone as a splendid piece of audioarchitectonicalmetrasynchosity. Kroagnon 'transplants' his brain into the Chief Caretaker's body via corporal ectoscopy.
Cast & Crew
Cast
The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
Melanie - Bonnie Langford
Bin Liner - Annabel Yuresha
Blue Kang Leader - Catherine Cusack
Chief Caretaker - Richard Briers The voice of the Great Architect in Parts Two and Three was provided by Richard Briers.
Deputy Chief - Clive Merrison
Fire Escape - Julie Brennon
Maddy - Judy Cornwell
Pex - Howard Cooke
Tabby - Elizabeth Spriggs
Tilda - Brenda Bruce
Video Commentary - Simon Coady
Yellow Kang - Astra Sheridan
Young Caretaker - Joseph Young
Crew
Director - Nicholas Mallett
Paradise Towers