Fury from the Deep (TV story)

Fury from the Deep was the sixth story of Season 5 of Doctor Who. It was the final serial in which Victoria Waterfield appeared as a regular member of the cast. It concluded her overarching story arc by ostensibly giving her foster parents to replace the father she had lost in her introductory story, The Evil of the Daleks. It also saw the first appearance of the sonic screwdriver.

Synopsis
The TARDIS lands on the surface of the sea, just off the east coast of England. The time travellers use a rubber dinghy to get ashore, where they are shot with tranquilliser darts and taken prisoner by security guards as they have arrived in the restricted area of a gas refinery.

At the refinery base, run by a man named Robson, the Second Doctor learns that there have been a number of unexplained problems with the pressure in the feed pipes from the offshore drilling rigs. It is later revealed that one of the rigs has sucked up a parasitic form of seaweed, which is capable of releasing poisonous gas or a strange kind of foam that allows it to take control of the minds of those it touches.

The weed spreads rapidly and seems set on establishing a huge colony centred around the rigs. The Doctor makes the chance discovery that it is very susceptible to high pitched noise; consequently he is able to use the amplified sound of Victoria's screams to destroy it. Victoria elects to stay with the family of one of the refinery workers, Harris.

The Doctor, although sharing Jamie's sadness at her departure, understands her decision to settle down to a quieter life.

Episode 1
An expanse of open sea not far from the coast. The TARDIS materialises in mid air, slowly descending over the waves, before setting down gently on the surface of the water.

Moments later the Doctor and his young companions Jamie and Victoria scramble out onto a rubber dinghy and row towards the shore.

Once there the Doctor helps Victoria out of the dinghy onto the shingle beach. The Doctor says they must be in England - Jamie agrees citing the weather as proof and suspects that the TARDIS must be broken as it keeps returning them to Earth. The Doctor sees something in the distance and starts to walk off. Something further along the beach has caught the Doctor's attention. Jamie and Victoria follow him. Jamie notices a preponderance of foam laying around on the beach. He points this out to the Doctor. The Doctor scoops up a handful of foam. Playfully he shoves the foam into his companion's face. Soon enough all three are engaged in a high speed battle with foam flying in all directions as they run up and down the sand. Catching sight of something ahead Jamie stops and points down the beach. He thinks it is the source of the foam and decide to investigate. Shaking off the foam the three travellers make their way along the shore.

At last they reach a long steel pipe that curves up out of the sand and into the face of the cliff. It bears the legend EuroSea Gas. The Doctor peers closely at a large black metal box that is fixed securely to the pipe. Tracing his fingers around the edges he tries to find a way to open the box - to no avail. The Doctor produces a wand like device he calls a sonic screwdriver and, seemingly of their own accord, the screws securing the lid of the box rotate cleanly out of their threads. The Doctor investigates the inside of the box but is interrupted by a low rumbling. The Doctor replaces the lid, then, rummaging in his pocket, he pulls out a stethoscope and listens intently to the pipe. His brow furrows at the sound of a distant, faint, pumping heartbeat. Jamie and Victoria crowd closer to the Doctor. Victoria feels uneasy and feels they are being watched. The Doctor relents and moves on.

Unbeknownst to the Doctor and his colleagues they are being watched. A small monitor screen displays an image relayed from the telescopic sight of a high powered remote controlled camera positioned high on the cliff. The image moves and the cross hair target settles on the Doctor.

A shot catches the Doctor in the shoulder and he crumples to the sand. Victoria and Jamie rush to the Doctor's side. The weapon re sights and then fires twice in quick succession.

Some time later Victoria opens her eyes. She finds herself lying on the floor of a brightly lit room with two armed guards standing over her. When she tries to sit up she finds her limbs heavy and unresponsive. A low groan at her side tells her she's not alone. She wakes the Doctor and Jamie. The Doctor tries to get a response from the guards but to no avail. A scientist by the name of Robson enters and demands answers. The Doctor points out it is hard to answer questions when drugged. Robson administers the antidote. Robson suspects that the Doctor and his colleagues are saboteurs trying to interfere with the pipe network. Another scientist, by the name of Harris, tries to reason with him, but he orders Harris to lock them up. Harris explains that Robson has been under considerable stress recently as they have lost contact with one of their rigs - there has been no answer from the crew despite the video link functioning fine. Apologetically Harris says he now has to lock them up. Harris leads the way. Encouraged by two armed guards the travellers follow him. Behind them on a control panel a warning light starts to glow.

Elsewhere in the complex Harris' wife Maggie finds her route barred when she tries to leave the refinery compound. A guard demands to see her pass, when she can't show it the guard tells her she should go back to the living quarters.

The Doctor and his companions are escorted to a tiny bunk room whilst the Doctor is still trying to persuade Harris to let them go. Harris wants to know what the Doctor was doing interfering with the pipe. The Doctor explains about the noise he heard. Harris states that it can't be marine life as they have eradicated the possibility of that. The Doctor suggests they shut off the gas and inspect the pipe. Harris says Robson would never agree to that. He is also intrigued by how much the Doctor seems to know about their operation.

In the control hall technician, Price, calls Robson to the communication station. Price has regained contact with Rig B. On an awful line the leader of Rig B states, monotonously that "Everything is under control" and not to worry. He states the emergency crew sent by Robson needs to stay here as they have two men out of action. The communication breaks. Robson orders it to be sorted and turns away in disgust as Harris enters. Harris tells Robson the Doctor's theory and says they should turn off the gas and check. The conversation is interrupted by an engineer telling Robson that the pressure is dropping. Harris states this has been happening on and off for the last three weeks and states that this is proof of the Doctor's theory. As they argue a briefcase lies open a briefcase lies open on the desk to one side. As the two men argue a white gloved hand removes some papers from the case. Robson, whilst still being confrontational, says he will look at Harris' findings but only to prove him wrong. Harris goes to get the file only to discover it is gone. Harris goes home to see if he's left it there.

In the bunk room Jamie is standing on the Doctor's shoulders. He passes down a grille he has removed from an opening above the door. Jamie is going to try and pick the lock but suddenly he slips. Victoria continued to work on the lock as Jamie sticks his head out into the corridor. He overhears a conversation between Harris and Maggie. Harris asks Maggie to go and get the report from their study and bring it to the control room. Bemused Maggie watches her husband leave and then heads back to their living quarters. Unaware that Jamie has narrowly avoided being spotted, Victoria assumes the worst and thinks he's stuck. The Doctor gives Jamie a huge shove and he tumbles head first into the corridor outside. Momentarily stunned, Jamie staggers to his feet, behind him the door swings open as Victoria has picked the lock after all.

Maggie Harris returns to her apartment in the married quarters. Going through to the study she searches for her husbands missing file. Eventually she finds it, although not in the drawer her husband had indicated. Picking it up she's puzzled to see that something is tucked inside. Maggie flips open the file and then drops it with a start as she is suddenly stunned. It contains seaweed which has stung her. Shocked Maggie retrieves the file and the clump of seaweed from the floor. Crossing the room, she slides open the garden door and tosses the seaweed out onto the patio. Unseen the seaweed begins to bubble and writhe.

Van Lutyens, a member of the Dutch government, comes to Robson with his concerns regarding Rig B. Van Lutyens berates Robson for not informing the other rigs as it is effecting morale. Robson puts Van Lutyens in his place and strides away. From a walkway overlooking the control hall the Doctor and his companions observe Van Lutyens storm off. Gesturing Jamie to keep quiet, the Doctor listens as Price answers an incoming call. It is Chief Baxter from the Control Rig. He informs Robson he thinks something as got into the pipes and is producing a regular, pulsating thumping noise "like a heartbeat". Hearing this the Doctor and Jamie intend to go and investigate, sending Victoria back to the bunk room. Victoria reluctantly makes her way back to the bunk room but, as soon as the Doctor and Jamie are out of sight, she sets off in the opposite direction to do some exploring of her own.

In her apartment, Maggie is beginning to suffer ill effects from the seaweed sting. Feeling faint, she moves to the video phone and asks to contact her husband.

In the control hall Robson is advising the engineering checks when Harris asks Robson for permission to see his wife. Robson is reluctant but eventually relents.

Not far away, in a store room containing oxygen cylinders, someone wearing white gloves and a gas mask is tampering with the valves allowing the contents to leak away. The saboteur stops in alarm when he hears someone outside.

Victoria is making her way cautiously along the corridor when she hears someone approaching. Panicking, she tries the nearest door and ducks inside. Inside the store room the oxygen rich atmosphere is stifling. Victoria moves further into the room, shutting off the open valve. A small sound behind her causes her to spin round in alarm. Someone is in the room with her. A tall thin gas masked figure dashes past her and makes his escape. The door closes and Victoria hears the sound of a key turning in the lock. Dashing to the door, she tries to handle. Resigned to her fate, Victoria unions her hair once more and sets to work on the lock. Out in the corridor the saboteur activated the emergency ventilator control and then slips away. An electronic hum rises in the oxygen store and Victoria is alarmed to see a metal grille in the wall swing open.

Meanwhile the Doctor and Jamie creep past the control hall and into the room next door. The room is dominated by a large cylindrical machine, near to which an air lock leads to a loft platform above a shaft disappearing deep below the complex. Jamie eyes the machine with suspicion. The Doctor explains this is the main workings for his they pump gas from out at sea. The Doctor leads Jamie through a door into the next room. A vast space housing a complex arrangement of pipes and pressure gauges. There is a raised observation platform at one end of the room. There is a small transparent section of the pipe for checking condensation...and anything else that might get inside.

Victoria has had no luck with her hair pin and remains locked in the oxygen store. She begins to knock on the door looking for help. Victoria suddenly becomes aware of a strange bubbling, popping noise coming from the far side of the room. As she turns, a mass of foam surges from the ventilator grille. Terrified, she backs away as she catches sight of something moving in the foam.

Back in the pipeline room, the Doctor has his stethoscope pressed to the main gas pipe. He can hear the same noise again. As they investigate they hear the cry of Victoria through the pipe. The Doctor and Jamie dash out into the corridor. Victoria's screams can be heard all over the refinery compound, echoing around pipelines and along metal corridors making it difficult to pinpoint her location.



Increasingly frantic, Victoria presses back against the door as the seething foam continues to pour through the grille. Tendrils of seaweed begin to slide through the vents, writhing and twisting and coming closer. Reaching for her.

Episode 2
The Doctor and Jamie frantically search and, finding the Oxygen Store. They unlock the door and rush in. The foam is still pouring in from the ventilator shaft. They release Victoria. As she tells her horrifying tale, the Chief Engineer discovers the cylinders empty. Robson accuses the girl, but others point out the door was locked from the outside. The refinery crew note the presence of some kind of toxic gas in the room.

Harris has found Maggie at home, dazed. She can only barely remember being stung by the seaweed. Harris helps Maggie to lie down but suddenly, she sits up and looks in terror towards the window. They are unaware that the foam is bubbling and multiplying outside on the patio. Harris leaves to get help, even if it's from this mysterious Doctor. Suddenly, Maggie gets up and heads for the door that leads to the patio. She takes hold of the door handle trying to decide whether or not to open it. With a swift movement, she swings open the door to see the foam bubbling away. She screams and swings the door shut.

Robson is told that the pump is slowing down and the Doctor informs him of the movement he heard in the pipes. Van Lutyens says that this is the exact same sound heard on the rigs. Robson is convinced the movement heard is simply a mechanical fault. He absolutely refuses to stop the gas flow, even as the pressure continues to drop.

Meanwhile Jamie and Victoria are being told how the gas system works. They learn that the gas harvested here provides the energy for the whole of the South of England and Wales. There are seven minor rigs that feed the gas to a central rig that pumps the gas to the refinery. Their conversation is interrupted by Harris looking for the Doctor. Harris begs the Doctor to come and help his wife, but Robson curtly refuses to let him go. He eventually relents, seeing the look on Harris's face and allows him an hour before he needs to return back.

Maggie, having recovered slightly, answers the doorbell to find Mr Oak and Mr Quill at the door. They are maintenance men and request access to her kitchen for an inspection. She tries to get rid of them but, when told it is on orders from Robson, reluctantly lets them in.



Van Lutyens and the Chief Engineer decide there must be something wrong with the impeller itself; pressure is either dangerously high, or far too low. Van Lutyens fears an imminent explosion in one of the pipes. Van Lutyens implores Robson to turn the gas off but Robson refuses saying he will simply burn off the pressure.

At the Harrises' living quarters, Maggie's hands are over her face, shielding out the light. She goes to the dressing table and looks at her reflection in the mirror. In the kitchen Oak and Quill continue their mock inspection of the gas oven. Oak notices that a seaweed-like growth is forming on the back of his hands. He smiles and covers his hands with a pair of white gloves, similar to those worn by Quill. They hear the thumping pulse and make their way to the patio. Quill opens the patio door and sees the foaming mass. Foam starts pouring in to the study. Oak and Quill make their way to Maggie. Much to her terror, they loom over her and open their mouths and release a hissing noise. Maggie's screams of terror become coughs and gasps for air as she falls to the ground.

Robson impresses the crew by engineering the release of gas pressure but the feed out to receiving stations is still dropping, and the impeller still slowing down. Price reports that contact with Rig C has been lost. Harris brings the Doctor and friends to his home, but they discover Maggie unconscious, the house full of gas. Jamie picks up a chair and breaks a window. Van Lutyens again tries to reason with Robson, but Robson is full of contempt for him, Harris, and all the others trying to tell him his job. As they argue, the impeller grinds to a halt. The entire refinery is flooded with the heartbeat sound that has been masked by the sound of the machinery.

The Doctor states that Maggie is in a coma brought about by inhaling the toxic gas. He goes on to say that it is non-natural gas, unlike what the refinery deals in, and that it is the same gas that Victoria experienced in the oxygen chamber. Harris tells the Doctor about the seaweed. Victoria finds a sample of the seaweed in the room. The Doctor speculates that the seaweed must have been planted to sting Harris. Victoria notices that the seaweed is moving.

Van Lutyens tries to raise dissent amongst the staff by trying to sway the Chief Engineer's opinion of Robinson, but the Chief Engineer remains steadfast. Van Lutyens believes he knows where the blockage is likely to be and spreads out plans of the pipeline on a desk to prove the exact spot. He manages to convince the Chief Engineer to ask Robson. This is met by opposition again and Robson tries to kick Van Lutyens out of the refinery. Van Lutyens is insistent, hearing the heartbeat and sensing a creature's presence, "in the darkness, waiting."

Episode 3
The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria collect a specimen of weed, while Harris attends to his wife. Noticing they are suddenly free, they head to the TARDIS to test a sample of the weed. They note that the weed gives off a toxic gas, and Jamie sees through a microscope that the weed has molecular movement; the weed is alive.

Harris gets Price to send someone over to attend to Maggie. Robson is enraged to discover Harris has let the three prisoners loose. The impeller starts working briefly, but Robson erupts when it stops again, verbally attacking Van Lutyens and Harris. Van Lutyens forces Harris to remain with the crew, fearful Robson is losing control, and that Harris may have to take over. Harris, Van Lutyens, and the Chief realise Robson might see reason if they approach him together.

Victoria spots the creature she saw in a book the Doctor has: a book of legends and superstitions. Jamie starts sneezing, a reaction to the gas; the weed is growing out of the tank! Victoria screams as the Doctor and Jamie close and secure the lid. They head back to the Harrises' quarters.

Robson is extremely defensive at this confrontation by the three of them, including his trusted friend the Chief Engineer. He completely flies off the handle, and storms out. Robson returns to his cabin, slumping down in exhaustion. Oak locks him inside, and the weed creature attacks him. Harris unknowingly releases him, but Robson runs off.

Upon their return to the Harrises', the travellers discover Maggie gone, the house being overrun by weed and foam. Harris tells Van Lutyens about the creature he saw in Robson's quarters, and Van Lutyens connects it with the attack on Victoria in the Oxygen Store. Van Lutyens convinces Harris to take control. He has informed his superiors in the Hague, and Harris contacts the ESGO Director of the Board, Megan Jones.

Victoria is finding herself longing for... she's not sure, but she wishes she wasn't so scared all the time. Upon their return to the Impeller Room, the Doctor tells the crew his findings: the seaweed is the cause. It is a parasite, and emits a toxic gas. Harris tells the Doctor about seeing the creature. The Doctor is horrified when Price reports that the matron from the medicare centre never picked up Maggie.

On the beach, Maggie is standing along the shore, met by Robson. They both are under the control of the weed. Confirming Robson knows his task, she walks directly into the sea.

Episode 4
Price is unable to raise communications with a third rig at sea. As the engineer and crew work in the Impeller Room, the heartbeat sound rises again from the depths. As Jamie and Victoria rest, Jamie is confident the Doctor will see them through this, enjoying their travels in the TARDIS. Victoria is less confident. She ponders all the facts they've learned, and frightens herself. But the Doctor arrives and tells her the latest news. Victoria is frustrated that they must wait, possibly to be attacked again by the weed. She longs to be someplace pleasant and peaceful.

Harris discovers Robson on the beach. He questions him about Maggie, and Robson says he will find her, very soon, then leaves enigmatically. Van Lutyens is planning to investigate the base of the impeller shaft to see what really is going on down there; neither the engineer nor the Doctor can dissuade him. Oak and Quill are at the lift controls and lower Van Lutyens down. He cautiously investigates, opening a hatch and peering into the chamber below. He realises the entire chamber is a mass of foam and weed. The weed creature attacks and pulls him down into the chamber. Raising the lift to find no Van Lutyens, the Doctor and Jamie go down after him.

Harris, exhausted and scared for his wife, is informed that Megan Jones has arrived at the refinery. He is then told about those in the impeller shaft; it's too late to bring them back up. The Doctor and Jamie find Van Lutyens' torch, but not him.

Megan Jones and her assistant, Perkins, arrive, and Harris and the Chief Engineer go to meet her and inform her of the situation. Harris leaves Oak and Quill in charge in the Impeller Room, with Victoria worriedly waiting and listening. Jones is dismissive of the idea of a seaweed creature, but Harris says he's seen them. She allows the use of the company helicopter to inspect the rigs. Jones wants to see Robson, but Harris is reluctant.

The foam quickly rises as the weed creature moves to attack the Doctor and Jamie, and they discover the lift has been sent back to the top. Fortunately, there is a maintenance ladder, and they begin climbing. Oak and Quill leave, ignoring the warning lights; they are seen locking the door to the Pipeline Room. But the Doctor and Jamie make it out and worry about the disappearance of Victoria.

The helicopter pilot reports foam and weed on all three of the rigs, with no sign of life. Harris asks Jones to allow the rigs to be bombed out of the sea. Robson bursts in, having heard this, and angrily rejects this idea, treating it like a personal attack. But soon he seems to lose coherence and stumbles out. The Doctor meets Megan Jones, reports what he's seen, and says he believes Robson is under the control of the weed. Harris believes him, and Jones is willing to listen. Suddenly, there is a communication from Control Rig: Baxter is in a panic, saying the creatures are all around them. His cries subside only as the communication is cut off.

Jamie locates Victoria in the Pipeline Room. For a brief moment he thinks she's dead, and is angry when he thinks she's tricked him, but she was merely unconscious. She accuses the two engineers. As they are talking, they hear the heartbeat rising, and can see the weed creature through the transparent panel in the pipe. They bring the Doctor, Jones, and everyone to see it. The Doctor calls it the first part of the invasion.

Episode 5
The Doctor hopes to find the nerve centre of the weed, as it is their best chance to destroy the creature. Price reports that all of the rigs are now out of contact. The Doctor fears the weed has taken over the crew and the rigs. He rejects Harris's idea to blow up the rigs; this would simply spread the weed. Megan Jones realises the weed has under their control the one man who knows the entire structure of the rigs and refinery, Robson, and orders that he be found. The Doctor also realises that pure oxygen must be toxic to the weed. Oak and Quill arrive at the Oxygen Store.

Meanwhile, Robson is found in his quarters, and Jones goes to see him, hoping their old friendship will give her a chance to reach him. She tries several approaches but finds him uncommunicative. At one point he cries out for help, but he is of no help. A guard remains outside.

Victoria wishes they could return to the TARDIS, but of course they can't leave. The Doctor deduces that the weed's next move is to attack them at the refinery. Jones and Harris decide they must put the oxygen supply room under guard. Robson wakes suddenly and, hearing instructions in his mind, moves to the door. He attacks the guard, disabling him with gas from Robson's mouth; weeds are visible growing from his arms.

The Doctor, Harris, and company deduce that someone else in the refinery is working with the weed and, seeing Oak and Quill surreptitiously leaving, stop them. Victoria screams as the two are knocked out; Jamie compliments his own strength, but the Doctor suspects it wasn't that that rendered them unconscious.

The crew find the weed breaking through the pipeline, eventually engulfing the Pipeline Room. In the panic, they realise that Victoria is again missing, but the Impeller Room is being sealed, and the Doctor and Jamie must squeeze out of the last door. Victoria has been kidnapped by Robson, and he steals a company helicopter. Once they realise what has happened, the Doctor talks to Robson via R/T, and Robson tells him to "come over to us" if Victoria is to live. The Doctor wants to go, but Jones is hesitant to let go what may be their only hope. He and Jamie are flown in another helicopter to the Control Rig, where Robson has taken Victoria.

The Doctor and Jamie cautiously investigate the deserted rig. Victoria calls out, but the Doctor advises it may be a trap. Moving with care, they open a door to discover Robson, waist deep in foam, fronds of weed encircling his neck and arms. He has been waiting for them.

Episode 6
Robson tells the Doctor that he will help "our new masters" with the conquest of Earth. Jamie finds and releases Victoria. Robson exhales gas to try to capture the Doctor, but when Victoria screams, Robson clutches his head and is disoriented. The three of them escape outside. They are unable to flag down the helicopter, so the Doctor gleefully tries to fly Robson's. As they lift off, the foam rises as if to pull them back. The Doctor's lack of flying ability makes it an extremely dangerous ride, but the pilot of the other helicopter contacts them and directs him.

Harris, Megan Jones, and Perkins await word from the Doctor. Harris thinks they must evacuate, but Jones says the Doctor still has ten minutes. Perkins is ordered to get on to the defence minister and get tanks of oxygen sent at once.

The Doctor returns and tells them that the man Jamie fought with has almost completely recovered, the weed has withered and died off his body, and that noise was the answer. The Doctor has finally realised it was Victoria's scream that has always repelled the weed. His plan is to kill the weed at the Control Rig, its nerve centre, by sending massive waves of noise through the pipelines from the refinery. Using equipment in the refinery's Control Hall, Price records Victoria's screams as she sees the weed breaking in through the impeller shaft. The Doctor uses the equipment and recording to create sonic laser sound waves, using hand-held speakers to kill the weed creature as it breaks into the Control Hall.

Robson and Maggie suddenly appear on the monitor from the Control Rig, alive and well; everyone taken over by the weed creature has been released.

Having dinner at the Harrises', Robson, the Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria enjoy their hospitality. The Doctor realises, however, that Victoria doesn't want to go back to the TARDIS. The Doctor asks the Harrises if they would mind Victoria staying with them for a time, to which they quickly agree. Jamie is resistant to this idea, but the Doctor insists that they respect Victoria's decision. Jamie visits to try and persuade her, but she is insists she wants to remain in this time. Before he goes to bed, Jamie kisses Victoria and they stay overnight. In the morning, the Doctor and Jamie return to the TARDIS without Victoria. Asked where he'd like to go, Jamie tells the Doctor, despondently, that he couldn't care less. Victoria watches one last time as the TARDIS rises above the water and dematerialises out of her life.

Cast

 * Dr. Who - Patrick Troughton
 * Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
 * Victoria Waterfield - Deborah Watling
 * Robson - Victor Maddern
 * Harris - Roy Spencer
 * Price - Graham Leaman
 * Guard - Peter Ducrow
 * Maggie Harris - June Murphy
 * Carney - John Garvin
 * Chief Engineer - Hubert Rees
 * Van Lutyens - John Abineri
 * Chief Baxter - Richard Mayes
 * Quill - Bill Burridge
 * Oak - John Gill
 * Megan Jones - Margaret John
 * Perkins - Brian Cullingford

Crew

 * Assistant Floor Manager - Margot Hayhoe
 * Costumes - Martin Baugh
 * Designer - Peter Kindred
 * Film Cameraman - Ken Westbury
 * Film Editor - Colin Hobson
 * Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
 * Make-Up - Sylvia James
 * Producer - Peter Bryant
 * Production Assistant - Michael Briant
 * Script Editor - Derrick Sherwin
 * Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
 * Studio Lighting - Sam Neeter
 * Studio Sound - David Hughes
 * Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer
 * Visual Effects - Peter Day, Len Hutton

Companies

 * Euro Sea Gas extracts gas from the sea.

The Doctor

 * The Doctor finds flying a helicopter difficult. He's guided by radio.

The Doctor's items

 * The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to open a pipeline inspection hatch.
 * The Doctor keeps an ancient book about superstitions and threats of the sea, which is how he positively identifies the weed creature as a threat.

Drugs and medicines

 * U4 is a drug that is used as a neural stimulator. It appears that it, as well as the unknown tranquilizer, affects the Doctor similarly to humans.

Locations

 * Victoria says that they are always landing on Earth. Jamie adds that it's always England.

Species

 * Victoria mentions Cybermen, Daleks and Yeti and that "Every time we go anywhere, something awful happens".

TARDIS

 * The Doctor's TARDIS materialises mid-air, spiralling down to land on the surface of the sea.
 * The Doctor uses the laboratory within the TARDIS to analyse the weed.

Story notes

 * This story had a working title of The Colony of Devils. This was changed as the BBC was concerned about the use of "devils" in a family programme.
 * This story features the first appearance of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, here having the appearance of a small penlight torch.
 * Peter Ducrow provided the voice of the guard in episode one (heard over a speakerphone) on duty at the main entrance of the ESGO refinery, who refuses Maggie Harris access. He is perhaps better known as Adam Adamant's arch-enemy, the Face, a leather-masked villain who spoke in sinister whispering tones, in the offbeat fantasy series Adam Adamant Lives! (1966-67). That series was produced by original Doctor Who  producer Verity Lambert.
 * A sneak preview of the Doctor's latest forthcoming adversary was featured in the two-page behind-the-scene article The Monstrous World of Doctor Who, written by Gay Search, which was published in Radio Times (cover dated: 20-26 January 1968) for the week of transmission of TV: The Enemy of the World episode four.
 * Very little footage survives of this story, making its episodes several of the missing episodes that do not exist in the BBC's archives. However a full set of telesnaps and soundtrack do exist for this story.
 * In July 2003, 3 minutes 32 seconds of footage from episode six of this story were recovered from the BBC Archives at Windmill Road by Andrew Martin. The footage was on 16mm negative film and consisted of scenes of the weed creature attacking the Control Room. However, this footage is not from the broadcast episode, but is in fact mute alternate takes.


 * Since overall story titles were introduced with TV: The Savages in 1966, this is the first time that the title did not begin with the word "the". The next such story was TV: Spearhead from Space in 1970.
 * Episode three of the story is the 200th episode of Doctor Who.

Ratings

 * Episode 1 - 8.2 million viewers
 * Episode 2 - 7.9 million viewers
 * Episode 3 - 7.7 million viewers
 * Episode 4 - 6.6 million viewers
 * Episode 5 - 5.9 million viewers
 * Episode 6 - 6.9 million viewers

Myths

 * There is a myth that someone had stolen an episode of Fury from the Deep when it was at Villiers house. Its film can was found with a different film inside it, which had nothing to do with Doctor Who.

Filming locations

 * Red Sands Sea Fort in the Thames Estuary
 * Botony Bay near Kingsgate, Kent
 * Ealing Television Film Studios, Ealing Green, Ealing
 * Lime Grove Studios (Studio D), Lime Grove, London

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * Victoria mentions that the TARDIS always seems to land on Earth. (TV: The Abominable Snowmen, TV: The Ice Warriors, TV: The Enemy of the World, TV: The Web of Fear).
 * This is the sonic screwdriver's first appearance. It would continue to appear until being destroyed in the Doctor's fifth incarnation. (TV: The Visitation) A rebuilt or new one then was used years later by the Seventh Doctor (TV: Doctor Who), and some form of it has been used often since.
 * The TARDIS can take off like a rocket. The Tenth Doctor uses this capability as well. (TV: The Runaway Bride)

Home video and audio releases
Surviving clips from this serial are viewable as special features on the Lost in Time DVD release.

A CD and cassette of the story have been released, containing the audio from the original television programme. Narrative from Tom Baker was added on to the cassette release, whilst the CD was narrated by Frazer Hines.