Parts: 5
Writer: Guy Leopold
Airdates: 22 May 1971 - 19 June 1971
Production Code: JJJ
Megalomaniac of the Week: the Master
Creature Feature: Dæmons
Special Guests: UNIT (the Brigadier, Benton, Yates)
Story: The entire country is watching when archeologist Professor Horner prepares to break into a barrow in the rural town of Devil's End, believing it to be the treasure-rich tomb of a Bronze-age warrior chieftan. Legends associated with the barrow foretell destruction if anyone should attempt to open it, and these ancient words of warning are echoed by the town's white witch, Miss Hawthorne. She has cast the runes and seen horrible results if the barrow is opened. To make matters worse, the Professor is planning to carry out his televised accomplishment on the night of Beltaine, when evil walks the earth.
Since the dig began, Devil's End has been experiencing strange phenomena, including unnaturally strong winds and people mysteriously dropping dead of heart attacks - or of fright, as Miss Hawthorne suspects. Even the vicar of the local church left under questionable circumstances, to be replaced by an existentialist priest named Magister - who is, of course, the Master in disguise. The renegade Time Lord has plans for Devil's End, and sets up what appears to be a black magic ceremony in the cavern under the church.
When the Doctor sees the televised broadcast of Horner's dig, he realizes that something is terribly wrong. Intending to back up Miss Hawthorne's warnings, he takes Jo to Devil's End...but an unseen force conspires to keep them from arriving in time, and the Doctor reaches the dig just as it is opened and as the Master's ceremony climaxes. A gargoyle in the church comes to life and something is released from the barrow, a creature that has inspired mythological images throughout Earth's history. And it plans to bestow its power on the Master...or else, destroy the Earth.