Origins

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This feature will probably interest the minority of you, but for those interested in the stages of story development, it may very well prove fascinating...

Originally, Hell Beast was supposed to be a three part story (made into a four part story to capacitate the storylines present).

The original plan for episode 1, pretty much how it turned out, was thus...

"People are being savagely attacked throughout Britain. The attacks are on random people, although the epicentre seems to be somewhere in Devom, in the area surrounding Dartmoor. The attacks must be being carried out by something large, and very strong. The Doctor and UNIT are called in to investigate. It is also revealed that a strange group of people have moved into an abandoned church nearby. The Doctor, Brig and Jo decide to 'stake out' an old farmhouse one night, to monitor the group, and furthermore, see if they can work out what the beast is. During the night, the Doctor, Brig and Jo are woken by a banging at the door. Jo screams "It's the Beast!" "

(Of course the idea that the Beast is killing all over Britain on its own is somewhat credulous, and wasn't mentioned in the final version)

Episode 2 originally ran thus...

"The Dr looks out of the window, it is just a man banging on the door. The Brigadier opens the door, the man is absolutely terrified - scared literally out of his wits. After calming him, the Doctor asks him what [he] is so upset about. The man tells him that he was being chased by the Beast. The Brigadier looks outside, [and] can see or hear nothing. The next day, there are animal tracks embedded in the mud. They are curious.
The Brigadier heads back to London, the Doctor and Jo investigate the group at the church. Inside the church men with white coats work at computers. One of them sees the Doctor and Jo approach (through a window) and he warns the others. They all leave the room and lock the door. They (NB - The Doctor and Jo) knock on the door, where a man answers insisting they leave. However, a voice tells him to let them in. The Dr and Jo are taken to a room, they go in, and see who is [s]at in the chair....."

The final episode then ran thus...
"The Master: "Well, well my Doctor, what a pleasant surprise"
You (Dr). The Dr enquires as to what the Master is doing here.
The Master replies that the Dr surely doesn't expect him to tell him. The Dr says the Master likes to gloat. (the Doctor subtly pockets some documents). The Master tells two men to lock the Dr and Jo in an empty room. Once alone, the Dr and Jo break a window and run back to the farmhouse = read sheets. They call the Brigadier who comes down to Devon with some men for backup. The Doctor tells them of the Master's plan. They storm the church, arrest the men, but the Master has gone. Outside, they hear a growling sound. The Beast runs at the Dr, but the Brigadier shoots it. The Doctor shouts to stop but it is dead.
"what a waster" "

Suffice to say the finished story, with extra episode, is fairly different to the first draft, but retains the same 'jist'.