Another adventure for everyone's favourite time-traveller. The Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana and K9 find themselves suspected of being drug smugglers when they arrive on the Empress, a luxury liner. The Empress has become merged with another craft, the Hecate, after colliding during a hyperspace jump. Somebody on board the Empress is smuggling Vraxoin, a deadly addictive drug, and matters are complicated still further when the Mandrells, a race of monsters being transported from the planet Eden, are let loose on board the ship.

Belived to be dead for a very long time, Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price) rises in search of the means to bring his wife back from the dead. With the help of Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Phibes catches up with an Egyptian expedition who are searching for the ancient elexir of life. Anyone who stands in his way will be killed.