Spearhead From Space Episode 3 Tele-Snaps

In a UNIT tent, Captain Munro telephones headquarters and is confident that his cordon will keep whoever took the meteor from getting far. Sam Seeley insists on knowing the reward for a "thunderball" and Munro demands to know where he found one. Hibbert is concerned that the "swarm leader" meteor is still missing, but – like Munro – Channing is confident that it will be found.

Ransome reports what he has seen at the factory to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Meanwhile, the Doctor tricks Liz into retrieving the TARDIS key from the Brigadier's office. His attempt to escape, however, is fruitless, as the Time Lords have changed the dematerialisation codes.

At Brook Cottage, Meg Seeley opens a trunk in the shed and discovers the meteorite – the swarm leader. Suddenly, she hears a strange noise coming from inside the house. She enters the house and encounters an Auton that has broken in and is knocking things over in its search for the swarm leader. Meg runs outside into the garden and gets Sam's shotgun out of the shed. When the creature emerges into the garden, Meg loads the gun, aims it and warns the Auton that if it doesn't leave, "I'll blow a hole in you!" The Auton ignores the warning, and keeps advancing. Meg opens fire, but the blast has no effect on the Auton. The creature knocks Meg aside and goes into the shed.

When UNIT arrive at the cottage, they enter the living room looking for Meg. They run out into the garden and find the Auton standing over Meg's unconscious body. The soldiers and the Brigadier shoot at the Auton; it escapes, but is forced to leave the swarm leader behind. Liz puts a blanket over Meg Seeley while the Brigadier goes to telephone for an ambulance. The Doctor investigates the meteorite and tells Liz the signal for it must have been muffled by the metal from the trunk it was in. Liz tells him to be careful with it as it might explode, but the Doctor tells her it will be alright as long as they treat it gently. Liz is worried that the swarm leader will return for it.

In Channing's workshop, Channing tells Hibbert the swarm leader has been taken by some UNIT soldiers. Hibbert asks why the Auton didn't kill the soldiers and Channing tells him he recalled it because it is too early for a major confrontation. He then tells Hibbert that UNIT must be delayed.

The Auton discovers Ransome in the UNIT tent; Channing orders total destruction, "Destroy! Total destruction!" There is a flash of light as the Auton obliterates Ransome's body without a trace remaining. The Brigadier is infuriated with the sergeant whom he had left in charge. The sergeant had posted a guard at the front of the tent, but left the back exposed, allowing what appears to have been Ransome's abduction. The Doctor presumes Ransome has been taken to the plastics factory, and off they go to investigate.

The Doctor, Brigadier, and Liz meet Hibbert in his office. The Brigadier tells him about Ransome's story, omitting that they too had encountered the Auton. Hibbert denies everything and insists that Ransome was making up stories to discredit Auto Plastics after being let go for his supposedly impractical ideas to produce electronic dolls.

At UNIT HQ, the Doctor uses an electroencephalogramme and finds the the Nestene sphere is emitting brain waves. The Brigadier telephones Major General Scobie to ask for authority to raid the factory. Scobie agrees to meet the Brigadier and hangs up to attend to the knock at his front door. He opens the door to reveal an exact replica of himself, which enters and advances towards Scobie."