The Last Oak Tree (TV story)

The Last Oak Tree was the fourteenth episode of Series 1 of K9.

Synopsis
Panic ensues when a museum exhibit is stolen and K9, Starkey, Darius and Jorjie are on the trail of the culprit, only to find a giant menace hiding in London's abandoned sewers. However, is the alien the real threat or is Drake the real evil? Starkey and K9 face annihilation as they try to rescue the alien's hatchlings before a gas bomb destroys them all.

Plot
In a Museum, K9, Jorjie and Starkey stroll through a Virtual Reality Sherwood Forest where they find a notice stating "Here stood the Major Oak. Sanctuary to the outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men." Jorjie tells Starkey about how she thought she would marry Robin Hood when she was a kid. When Starkey notes that both Robin Hood and the Great Oak are long gone now, a Virtual Reality Simulation of Robin Hood comes out of the trees and contradicts Starkey. Telling how the Great Oak lives on in the Museum, he welcomes them to Sherwood Forest. When K9 notes he should be shorter Robin is shocked at this "Sorcery", Jorjie is surprised to find out K9 actually met the real Robin Hood. When Starkey questions Robin Hood on his tights, he tells him it was "chilly" in his day. K9 confirms that Britain was on over 3 degrees cooler in the middle ages, Robin notes how pollution has affected the planet and the Oaks and Silver Birches have been cut down or Died out. As Robin Hood starts to glitch and loop, K9 detects an alien threat. They turn off the Virtual Reality forest as the patrons flee.

When a Department officer informs June that communications are jammed, June argues that isn't possible as the Department controls all of London's communications and aren't jamming their own signals. The officer tells her that a signal of Alien origin is causing magnetic inteferance in Sector SE14 Delta. They patch into a CCPC's vision so they can take a look at whats happening, June is shocked to see the CCPCs malfunctioning and orders Inspector Drake to the scene. The Curator is called and insists the Oak Tree hasn't been misplaced. K9 detects an unidentified alien species and decides to investigate, they find that the Great Oak has been taken. June arrives and stops the CCPCs (who think the Curators a suspect) with a command override, the Curator then reports the situation. They find a hard alien substance on the space of the tree, K9 scans it determines it could be vomit or snot but needs to examine a sample. He then blasts off a chunk of the substance, Starkey picks up the piece and they run off.

At the mansion, Gryffen listens to news of the theft. K9, Starkey and Jorjie arrive and show him the alien substance which K9 says is emitting a high-pitched frequency, shocking Gryffen (who was expecting mail). As June takes a look at the space of the Great Oak, Drake arrives with orders from LOMAXX as the aliens have been classed as an A-Level threat "which means it's time to let the Big Boys play". June argues that this is not his Jurisdiction as Drake picks up a piece of the alien substance. Gryffen tests the substance's magnetic interferance, confirming that made the CCPCs malfunction. K9 states he is not affected as unlike the CCPCs his electromagnetic shielding is impenetrable. Darius arrives wondering if the Museum is offering a reward, Jorjie complains about his selfishness. Gryffen asks Darius if the post office had his invite for the Annual Bournedecker Awards for Scientific Excellance. When Starkey wonders if he's leaving the house, he says he won't "although every year my genius warrants an invite and every year i don't show up." refering to it as a "tradition". Darius suggests the postman lost it.

It turns out the Postman is actually trapped underground by the alien substance. Gryffen completes the analysis of the substance is actually paper-mache. He determines that whatever they're dealling with is genetically altered. Starkey wonders why it chose the Great Oak, Gryffen states how many species only target one form of vegetation and after what it done to recycled paper he hates to think what it could do with the Oak. K9 suggests that he returns to the scene of the crime and scans for a trail. When Jorjie argues that the Museum is most likely patrolled by the Department now, Starkey says they don't have to go there and they know where to find the thieves, in the sewers. As K9, Starkey, Jorjie and Darius search the sewers, Darius hopes the Museum pays a big reward while Jorjie tells him somethings are more important the money. As Gryffen detects interferrance while monitoring K9 he asks K9 if he's alright. He replies it was just a spike in the electromagnetic interferrance. K9 then finds some Oak leaves on the floor.

As Gryffen goes to get a book he is contacted by June who tells him that the alien substance has stunned the Department Scientists. Gryffen complains that they're "slow-witted" and he has already unraveled the sample's mysteries. June tells him until they get the alien's ransom demands, the analysis is their only clue, Gryffen then says they won't make Ransom Demands as they aren't looking for trade and already have what they came for. The team then find slime on the sewer walls. Darius, Jorjie and K9 move on as Starkey takes a closer look, he finds some slimey Oak leaves. He then finds that the others have left, he hears a creature growling and decides to move on. As Gryffen monitors K9 he sees that K9 seems to be confused as to which way the aliens are. K9 confirms he is experiencing the same Electromagnetic interferrance created by the substance from the Museum and starts staring into space. K9 tells Darius the interferrance is getting worse, Darius then looks around and finds no sign of Starkey. As Starkey searches his light starts to flicker, he calls out for his friends. The creatures's growls grow louder as the light dampens down, and when it turns off the alien creeps behind him.

Darius and Jorjie then hear a dropping sound, the creature drags Starkey to its hideout. Darius fears they are going in circles and Jorjie asks if K9 is sure he knows where hes going, he tells her he does. Gryffen's videolink with K9 starts to go haywire but K9 tells him everythings alright on his end. Gryffen knows K9 is confused and that something is tampering with his circuits. He compares the high-pitched frequency of the alien substance to a dog whistle, and suddenly determines that its sending out a distress signal, he tries to tell K9 but the communications are scrambled. As Starkey is trapped in the alien substance he warns the aliens what Jorjie will do once she finds out what they've done to the Great Oak. The Postman is trapped next to Starkey and hopes that Jorjie is a "super soldier with a couple of bazookas", Starkey replies she isn't but "she is fairly tough, for a 14 year old girl". This dissapoints the Postman, who ascertains they're both "toast". He gives his name as Patrick, Starkey compares it to "Postman Pat" while Patrick persists his name is "Pat-rick". Starkey manages to get his dog whistle with his mouth and calls for K9. This only manages to gain the attention of the alien creature.

The magnetic inteferrance starts to weaken and Gryffen can talk to K9 again. K9 notes how the magnetic interference matches the pitch of a dog whistle, Gryffen explains to Darius that K9s been confused as he's been following an alien distress signal. K9 will consider the alien to be hostile until he can confirm Starkey's safety. As Starkey whistles again, he and Patrick are let free of the encasement and fall to the ground to see a pile of alien eggs. As the creature moves towards them, Starkey continues to whistle as K9 races to find him. K9, Jorjie and Darius manage to find Starkey. As K9 prepares to neutralise the creature, Starkey shows him the eggs and the creatures a mother, the team have found themselves in a hatchery. The creature doesn't want to attack or eat anyone, she's just trying to protect her babies. Gryffen tells K9 that Starkey is right and tells him to not attack the creature, known as a Centuripede, it won't harm him. She's here to build a pod to transport her eggs, or as K9 and Darius puts it an "Interstellar Baby Carriage" or "A Spaceship made out of Wood and Centipede spit" respectively. But she doesn't just need any wood, she needs Oak Wood. She could have easily bred in Oak forests for thousands of years but as there are no more oak trees this may be the very last spawning of the Centuripede on Earth.

June then contacts Gryffen who reports the situation to her, she tells him both the alien and K9 are "history" if Drake catches them, as he is trying to as he searches through the sewers. Gryffen alerts them that Drake is there, Drake puts a gas bomb set to detonate in four minutes. Darius runs with Patrick who is carrying Jorjie (who doesn't want to leave the aliens). K9 insists that Starkey leaves, however he doesn't want to leave the aliens either. K9 tries to keep the gas out with as Photon Spread but he can't guarantee he can give the creature enough time, Starkey decides to "make time". As K9 holds off the vapour, Starkey holds an egg up to go in the pod to protect them. As the others make their way out, K9's power starts to deplete. Starkey puts the second egg into the pod. As the others climb up the ladder, K9 uses his maximum power. Darius is the last to climb up and rummages through Patrick's postbag to find Gryffen's invitation, Darius hopes he can get a reward for this. As Jorjie, Darius and Patrick get out of the sewer, they see no sign of Starkey or K9. K9 can't hold his power much longer, Starkey manages to put the final egg in and the pod rises. The mother however collapses and appears to be dead, K9's power is then exhausted. As Starkey goes to the mother, her body starts to crack into white light, knocking Starkey down. The mother then transforms into a butterfly-like creature.

The countdown reaches zero and the bomb explodes, Darius says there is no chance they could have survived. They then spot the mother and her hatched babies flying up into their pod. Darius and Jorjie feel grief as they believe Starkey and K9 to be dead, Starkey (who is with K9 behind the others) notes how beautiful it was. The others are relieve to see he and K9 alright, Starkey tells them the creatures gave them a lift. Starkey shows Jorjie a "token of appreciation" from the creatures, three Oak Acorns stashed in their nest from Robin Hood's time. Darius then goes to K9 and shows Gryffen (on the monitor) his invitation, Darius asks to discuss his finder's fee. Patrick then protests that Darius can't charge people for their mail, Darius then snatches the envelope and runs away while Starkey and Jorjie laugh. The Propaganda messages of the Department then appear through the sky.

Cast

 * K9 Mark 2 - John Leeson
 * Starkey - Keegan Joyce
 * Jorjie Turner - Philippa Coulthard
 * Darius Pike - Daniel Webber
 * Professor Alistair Gryffen - Robert Moloney
 * June Turner - Robyn Moore
 * Drake - Connor Van Vuuren
 * Postman Pat - Gabriel Egan
 * Robin Hood - Remi Broadway
 * CCPC - Marcel Baum
 * CCPC - Micheal Sharman
 * CCPC - John Devine
 * CCPC - Timothy Humphries
 * Centuripede - Tarek Beheiry
 * Department Technician - Piripi Neho-Popata

Production crew

 * Writer - Jim Noble
 * Director - Dale Bradley
 * Producers - Penny Wall, Richard Stewart, Simon Barnes
 * Executive producers - Jim Howell, Grant Bradley, Steve Robbins
 * Associate producers - Bob Baker, Paul Tams
 * Supervising producer - Dale Bradley
 * Co-Executive producer - Mark Blythe
 * With special thanks - Sam Tromans
 * Line producer - Pam Collis
 * VFX Director - David Napier
 * Series Production Designer - Jon Dowding
 * Episodic Designer - Adam Head
 * New K9 Design by - Paul Tams, Alex Kubalsky
 * Series Director of Photography - Ben Nott
 * Episodic Director of Photography - Tony O'Loughlan
 * Music by - Christopher Elves
 * K9 theme music by - Michael Lira
 * Editor - Russell Maggs
 * Casting - Faith Martin and associates
 * Episodic casting - Lisa Maloney
 * Drama/Dialogue coach - Peter Kent
 * Story Producer - Greg Walters
 * Script Adaption - Michaeley O'Brien
 * Production Accountant - Pru Donovan
 * 1st Assistant Director - Peter McLennan
 * Script Supervisor - Sue Ketchington
 * Costume Designer - Joanne Thompson
 * Makeup Designer - Sharon Robbins
 * Puppeteer - David Pawsey
 * Location Manager - Charles Boyle
 * Sound Recordist - Ian Grant
 * B Camera Operator - Dan Maxwell
 * Gaffer - Steve Monk
 * Key Grip - Billy Harmer
 * Special thanks to - Space Furniture, Shredox, J. Barbour & Sons Ltd, Heath Williams at Firefly Lighting, Videopro
 * Safety Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator - Danny Baldwin
 * Transport Manager - Alister Ward
 * Unit Manager - Graeme Suhr
 * Post Production Facility - Cutting Edge Australia
 * Head of Post Production - John Lee
 * Sound Design - Warren Pearson

Story notes

 * This episode aired on the same day as the Doctor Who episode, The Vampires of Venice.

Ratings
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Myths
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Filming locations
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Production errors
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Continuity

 * The Department officer who monitors the situation at the Museum previously appeared in K9TV: Liberation.

Home video releases
This episode is featured in the Series One complete boxset.