8 - The Ood: Planet of the Ood Doctor Who: Greatest Monsters & Villains

Hello, I'm Joel, and I'm back in the TARDIS. Welcome back to this third

instalment of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary monsters and villains

weekend. So far we have seen the Judoon and Silurians in this

countdown, but who will take the eighth position? Who?! You made me

jump. Well, seeing as you asked so nicely, let me see if I can tell you

telepathically. Hmm... That doesn't appear to be

working. Well, I'll just sit here and enjoy my fresh grapefruit juice

and spaghetti instead, whilst you try to work it out.

The Ood voyaged across the stars with one purpose... Who else could

it be but the Ood? These subservient aliens are the galaxy's acceptable

if somewhat ugly face of slavery in the 39th century. Originating as a

peaceful herd race from the Ood Sphere, Oodkind are a trusting

people who, with two brains, are part of a hive mind that use

telepathy to communicate via the Ood Brain. But this double-brain thingy

is what allowed them to be easily exploited by the human empire and

ultimately become slaves. The Ood are happy to serve, and we

keep them in facilities of the highest standard... That's right. As

if enslaving an entire alien race wasn't bad enough, Ood Operations,

the corporation which produces Ood slaves for every corner of the

galaxy, began severing the Ood's hind brain, which they held in their

hands, and replaced them with translator globes which they used to

vocalise their thoughts. As you would. The company cuts of their

brains? They attach the translator. Like a lobotomy. Just by holding one

of those balls, everyone could hear your thoughts.

I'm going to have chicken lasagne for tea tonight.

But when they are not being used by Satan to go on the rampage at a

space station, the Ood still have a deadly streak should they succumb to

what their masters call Not to be mistaken with that other

infection, pinkeye. Although you may notice that throughout the entire

episode you don't see a single one wash their hands. Google it, people!

So coming up we are about to show you the true cost of keeping a slave

race and how even the most placid creatures will eventually rise up

like spaghetti faced Spartacuses with deadly consequences. Now sit

back and enjoy Planet Of The Ood. For what reason? You could be free.

I do not understand the concept. The Ood.

They came from a distant world. Buy one now!

Direct, straight to the point! We play that across the Tri-Galactic

for two weeks, then introduce this. 50? We're reducing the

price to 50 credits? Sales are down, we've got to

reposition ourselves. So get going. You there, get me last month's

military export figures. Solana, when those buyers arrive, we

are going to pitch like never before. That... I said military figures,

that's the domestic file. Set the controls to random.

Mystery tour! Yeah, don't laugh at me.

I know what it's like. The fear, the joy, the wonder.

I get that. I mean it's...

I dunno, it's all sort of... That's more like it, lovely!

What do you think? Millions of planets in millions

of galaxies, and we're on this one! Can you hear anything inside that?

Pardon? Right, I was saying,

citizen of the Earth. You've got a box,

he's got a Ferrari! Mr Halpen, sir.

Dr Ryder, new Head of Ood Management. How many dead? Come on,

facts and figures. I don't want a word of this

getting out, understand? Now, get to the point.

How many dead? In the past financial quarter, we've

had three deaths in the complex. All attributed to heart attacks

or industrial accidents. But now we've captured this on tape,

the cause would seem the same. It's using the translator ball

as a weapon. How's that work? I've no idea. I'm checking

the equipment, nothing so far. One of the guards fired off a shot,

it'll be dead by now. Some sort of infection.

The Ood eyes literally change colour. Five years ago,

I had a full head of hair. EERIE SINGING

Hold on, can you hear that? Donna, don't. Not now.

It's a he, not an it. Give me a hand. I don't know where the heart is.

I don't know if he's GOT a heart. Just what you need, a doctor.

Couldn't be better, eh? Circle? What do you mean?

We were too late. What do we do, do we bury him or...?

They're servants, of humans in the 42nd century.

His eyes turned red. What's that mean?

The Ood are harmless. They're completely benign.

Except, the last time I met them, there was this force,

like a stronger mind, powerful enough to take them over.

If you're gonna take the mickey, I'll just put my hood back up.

Must be something different this time, though.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ood-Sphere.

Now, if you'd like to follow me. Sorry, sorry, sorry! Late.

Don't mind us. Hello! The guards let us through.

And you would be? The Doctor and Donna Noble.

Representing the Noble Corporation PLC Limited, Intergalactic.

Must have fallen off my list, my apologies. Won't happen again.

Now then, Dr Noble, Mrs Noble, if you'd like to come with me.

Oh, no, no, we're not married! We're so not married. Never.

And here are your information packs, vouchers inside.

ALARM WAILS What's that? Sounds like an alarm.

For God's sake, we've got the buyers arriving, who sounded the alarm?

Mr Kess, what the hell's going on? Ood on the loose, sir.

Looks like we've got another one. Red-eye? As red as sin, sir.

We keep the Ood healthy, safe, and educated.

Mr Halpen, this is a bit more than red-eye, sir.

I'd now like to point out a new innovation from Ood Operations.

W've introduced a variety package with the Ood translator ball.

You can now have the Standard Setting.

Or perhaps, after a stressful day, a little something for the gentlemen.

SULTRY FEMALE VOICE: All the better for seeing you.

And the comedy classic option. Ood, you dropped something.

All that for only five additional credits.

Now, there's plenty more food and drink, so, don't hold back.

The Ood-Sphere, I've been to this solar system before, years ago, ages!

The year 4126. That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire.

Bit full. But you see, the Empire stretches out across three galaxies.

It's weird. I mean, it's brilliant, but...

Is that good or bad, though? Are we like explorers?

Or more like a virus? Sometimes I wonder.

Hello. Tell me, are you ALL like this?

Why do you say "Miss", do I look single?

What I mean is, are there any free Ood?

Are there Ood running wild somewhere? Like wildebeest.

But you can't have started like that.

Before the humans, what were you like? The circle.

Ladies and gentlemen! All Ood to Hospitality Stations, please.

Do you fancy going off the beaten track? If I can introduce you...

Waargh! What the hell is wrong with it?

Ood Sigma, have you seen this before?

If they turn rabid, you know what it'll mean.

There's only one thing I haven't checked, sir. Warehouse 15.

Why should that cause trouble? It's been two centuries now.

Which means it's got to be dead first.

'Repeat, Ood shift eight now commencing.'

That looks like the boss. Let's keep out of his way. Come on.

'Warehouse 15.' My father brought me here, when I was six years old.

'Security protocol initiated.' God, the stench of it.

I've read the documents, but... it doesn't quite prepare you.

Is it just me, or does it feel as if it's looking at you?

Suppose it's home sweet home to you. What d'you think?

There's no such company, the Noble Corporation doesn't exist.

And on top of that, they seem to have gone missing, sir,

Just what I need(!) Start a search, no alarms, got that?

Tell you what, old friend. Have this one on me.

Where d'you learn to whistle? West Ham, every Saturday.

D'you see? Lifts up the containers,

takes them to the rocket sheds, ready to be flown out,

What, you mean, these containers are full of..?

How many of them do you think there are in each one?

A hundred? More? A great big empire, built on slavery.

It's not so different from your time. Oy! I haven't got slaves!

I don't understand, the door was open, why don't you just run away?

For what reason? You could be free. I do not understand the concept.

Ood, tell me, does 'the circle' mean anything to you?

But what is it? What is the circle? The circle must be broken.

Mr Halpen? I'm in Ood Cargo, I've found your unwanted guests. Go!

ALARM WAILS Oh, I think that's us! Come on!

Nothing to worry about, ladies and gentlemen, it's just a fire drill.

We test the system at this time every day. If you'll excuse me.

Don't move... Where've you gone? ..stay where you are.

All guards withdraw. 'Sir?' I said withdraw.

Keep to the perimeter. I've got this one.

What have I done? I'm not one of that lot. I'm on YOUR side!

Just stay where you are. That's an order.

You heard the instructions. Mr Halpen wants them alive.

If you don't do what she says, you're really in trouble.

Not from me, from her. Unlock the container!

Never mind about me, what about them?!

That's Dr Ryder's territory. And where's he? What part of the complex?

I could help, with the red-eye, now show me!

You know this place better than me, you could help.

SHE SHOUTS: They're over here! Guards! They're over here!

Male and female suspects escaped. Wasteridge corridor.

Mr Halpen, I found the Doctor. He's heading for Ood Conversion.

'On my way.' Mr Kess, what's the situation?

Worse than that, sir... there's more of them going rabid.

My opinion, sir, I think we've lost them. The entire batch, contaminated.

What's causing it? Why now? What's changed?

How many Ood, in total? I'd say about 2,000, sir.

'We can write them off, that's what insurance is for.'

Drink! We've plenty more on the Breeding Farms, let's start again.

Fetch the canisters. 'No survivors.'

My pleasure, sir. You lot - canisters!

I didn't need the map, I should've listened.

Hold on. Does that mean we're locked in? Listen.

Listen, listen, listen, listen... EERIE SINGING

That's because they're natural-born Ood, unprocessed,

before they're adapted to slavery. Unspoilt.

It's the song of captivity. Let me hear it.

CLEAR, SAD SINGING Hear it, Donna.

METALLIC THUD They're breaking in.

The Ood are born with a secondary brain. Like the amygdala in humans,

a processed Ood. So the company... cuts off their brains?

I spent all that time looking for you, Doctor,

because I thought it would be so wonderful out here.

They're with the Ood, sir. What you gonna do, then? Arrest me?

Lock me up? Throw me in a cage? Well, you're too late! Hah!

Why don't you just come out and say it? FOTO activists!

It's not as if they put up a fight. You idiot!

They're born with their brains in their hands, don't you see?

That makes them peaceful, they've got to be,

The system's worked for 200 years. All we've got is a rogue batch.

But the infection is about to be sterilised. Mr Kess?

How do we stand? Canisters primed, sir.

As soon as the core heats up, the gas is released.

Give it 200 marks... and counting.

You're gonna gas them?! Kill the livestock.

The classic foot-and-mouth solution from the olden days.

I'm sorry, if I could ask you one more time, could all the Reps please

Could I ask all the Ood to withdraw, it's feeding time.

Aw! You've upset them. Leave them alone!

I have to insist. If all the Ood could please leave...

I could sell this! You could offer different colours.

They've gone insane, Miss, they've gone mad, all of them!

ALARM SOUNDS What the hell?

'Emergency status. Emergency status. All exits sealed.'

We've got a public duty to stop it before it spreads. What's happening?

"It" won't exist for very much longer.

Dr Ryder. Warehouse 15. Well, what about THIS one?

No. You've not turned. Faithful to the last.

Go, join your people, while you still can.

Well, do something! You're the one with all the tricks!

You must've met Houdini! These are really good handcuffs!

I mean, at least we've got quality(!)

The circle must be broken! Doctor, Donna, friends!

I don't know where it is! I don't know where they've gone!

Might be underground, like some sort of cave, or a cavern, or...

It's always been an option, my grandfather drew up this plan.

If we can get to the rocket sheds... No need! We've got this.

Detonation packs. Place them around the circumference.

Now it all makes sense, that's the missing link, the third element,

binding them together. Fore brain, hind brain, and this -

It's a shared mind, connecting all the Ood in song.

He's mined the area. They're gonna kill it?

They found that...thing centuries ago beneath the Northern Glacier.

Stopping the Ood from connecting for 200 years.

And you, Ood Sigma, you brought them here. I expected better.

Maybe it's taken centuries to adapt. The subconscious reaching out.

But the process was too slow. Had to be accelerated.

It's taken me ten years to infiltrate the company.

can't say I've ever shot anyone before.

But it's not exactly a normal day, is it? Still...

I think hair loss is the least of my problems right now, thanks.

Please have a drink, sir. If... If you're going to stand in their way,

Natural Ood must never kill, sir. What is that stuff?

Funny thing, the subconscious. Takes all sorts of shapes.

All that intelligence and mercy, focused on Ood Sigma.

Oh, they've been preparing you for a very long time.

Now you're standing next to the Ood Brain. Mr Halpen, can you hear it?

They... They turned him into an Ood?!

BEEPING Ooh!

But not any more. The circle is broken, the Ood can sing.

That song resonated across the galaxies, everyone heard it.

Then, we'll be off. Take this song with you. We will.

And know this, Doctor-Donna. You will never be forgotten.

Our children will sing of the Doctor-Donna,

Yesterday 52 people died in identical circumstances,

right across the world in 11 different timezones.

It's our job to investigate that possibility.

Who are you? I am General Staal of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet.

We have an intruder! Operation Blue Sky is go go go!

Is that what you did to her? Turn her into a soldier?

Hi, I'm Claudia-Liza. Here's our check on the