Dr.Roger Full ( Emrys Jones ) was struck off years before following the death of a patient. Since that time, he has sunk slowly into a morass of alcoholism, poverty and despair. His life changes dramatically one day when he finds a black bag containing medical instruments the like of which he has not before seen. The bag was accidentally left behind by an expedition of time travellers from the future.
He is able to use these to cure cancerous tumours, as well as provide instant cosmetic surgery. Teaming up with the lovely Angie ( Geraldine Moffatt ), he opens his own private clinic, soon people are parting with huge sums of money for his services. Naturally his miracle cures bring him to the attention of the authorities.
But he has a fit of conscience and horrifies Angie by announcing that he intends donating the bag to medical science so that everyone can benefit. Not wishing to see a good money-making opportunity thrown away, she attacks him with a knife, killing him.
The death of Full is noticed by the bag's original owners in the far future, and they deactivate it, making the instruments worthless. Unfortunately, Angie has chosen that precise moment to demonstrate a scalpel to a wealthy client by cutting her throat...
Until recently, this was a lost episode. The copy in my possession is missing the first twenty or so minutes and the final grisly scene, but it still makes sense. It is a gripping tale, typical of this series. Good science fiction does not need flashy special effects, the story is the important thing.
'Dr.Who' fans will recognise Emrys Jones ( who plays 'Full' ) as 'The Master' in the 1968 story 'The Mind Robber'. Geraldine Moffatt a.k.a. 'Angie', is best known for her role in the iconic Michael Caine gangster movie 'Get Carter'.
C.M. Kornbluth's story was later remade in America for 'Rod Serling's Night Gallery'.
He is able to use these to cure cancerous tumours, as well as provide instant cosmetic surgery. Teaming up with the lovely Angie ( Geraldine Moffatt ), he opens his own private clinic, soon people are parting with huge sums of money for his services. Naturally his miracle cures bring him to the attention of the authorities.
But he has a fit of conscience and horrifies Angie by announcing that he intends donating the bag to medical science so that everyone can benefit. Not wishing to see a good money-making opportunity thrown away, she attacks him with a knife, killing him.
The death of Full is noticed by the bag's original owners in the far future, and they deactivate it, making the instruments worthless. Unfortunately, Angie has chosen that precise moment to demonstrate a scalpel to a wealthy client by cutting her throat...
Until recently, this was a lost episode. The copy in my possession is missing the first twenty or so minutes and the final grisly scene, but it still makes sense. It is a gripping tale, typical of this series. Good science fiction does not need flashy special effects, the story is the important thing.
'Dr.Who' fans will recognise Emrys Jones ( who plays 'Full' ) as 'The Master' in the 1968 story 'The Mind Robber'. Geraldine Moffatt a.k.a. 'Angie', is best known for her role in the iconic Michael Caine gangster movie 'Get Carter'.
C.M. Kornbluth's story was later remade in America for 'Rod Serling's Night Gallery'.