2. Trouble with the TARDIS
SCENE #15 – INT – TARDIS CORRIDOR – N/A
Back aboard the TARDIS, Nyssa and Billy walk down the corridor. They tidy themselves up before they enter the console room, feeling quite nervous.
BILLY
“Do I look alright?”
NYSSA
“Your collar’s a bit untidy. I’ll straighten it for you.”
With that, Nyssa helps to straighten Billy’s shirt collar around his neck.
BILLY
“Do you want me to help you with your brooch?”
NYSSA
“If you would, please. That would be nice.”
BILLY
“Here we are then.”
Billy helps to fix Nyssa’s brooch around her collar as she wears her velvet Trakenite clothes.
BILLY
“There!” (Pause) “You look lovely in your Traken clothes, Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(cheerfully) “Thank you, Billy! I’m pleased to hear you say that!”
BILLY
“You’re welcome.”
Nyssa and Billy stare at each other for a moment, before looking to the door leading into the TARDIS console room. They can hear the Doctor muttering from inside.
BILLY
“Ready?”
NYSSA
(nervously) “As I’ll ever be.”
BILLY
(reassuringly) “Don’t worry. Just behave naturally.”
NYSSA
(nervously) “I feel so jittery and happy! I don’t know if I can achieve that.”
BILLY
“I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
They then hear the Doctor’s muttering getting louder. Nyssa and Billy brace themselves before they go in.
NYSSA
“Alright! Let’s go in!”
Nyssa takes Billy’s hand as they go in.
SCENE #16 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Meanwhile, the Doctor works at the TARDIS console as he bangs his hand on it.
DOCTOR
(agitated) “Come on, old girl! Give me an answer!”
The door then opens as Nyssa and Billy enter.
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Ah, Nyssa; Billy! There you are!”
NYSSA
“Hello, Doctor.”
BILLY
“Hello Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Good to see you two.” (Pause) “Sleep well?”
NYSSA/BILLY
“No!”/”Yes!” (Pause) “Yes!”/”No!”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
(nervously) “Yes! I slept well thank you, Doctor!”
BILLY
(nervously; laughs) “Yes! Same here! Very nice sleep I had!”
Moment of tense silence, as Nyssa and Billy come around the console to join the Doctor.
NYSSA
“Did you sleep well, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(blatantly) “Haven’t slept a wink!”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Hey?”
DOCTOR
“Yes! I’ve been working hard on the console all the time you’ve been sleeping, Billy! I could have done with Nyssa’s help of course…”
NYSSA
“Yes. Sorry, Doctor. I had…plans.”
BILLY
“There isn’t anything wrong is there, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Not sure, Billy. I’m not sure.” (Pause) “The TARDIS fault locater has detected errors in the sub-processing units of some of its functionary components! I’ve checked them but there’s no reason why there should be any errors!”
NYSSA
“Is there a part of the TARDIS components we haven’t finished repairing whilst we were in displacement mode before going to Junglos, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“No, Nyssa. I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that. As we’re in the time vortex, somebody’s been tampering with the TARDIS and interfering with causal stability! It’s happened recently with Jane Austen and with Junglos!”
BILLY
(surprised) “Are you saying somebody’s trying to take control of the TARDIS, Doctor? From outside, I mean?”
NYSSA
“I wonder who would be capable of doing that.” (thinks) “The Time Lords?”
Moment of silence.
BILLY
(concerned) “Doctor?” (Pause) “Doctor, are you alright?”
NYSSA
(concerned) “You look anxious, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “Nyssa; Billy? There’s something I haven’t told you about. Something that has been concerning me lately! Or rather…someone!”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Okay. Go on, Doctor! Get it off your chest!”
DOCTOR
“Thank you, Billy.” (Pause) “The thing is…you see…there’s someone…”
Just then, the TARDIS cloister bell tolls out loud. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy become silent once they hear the cloister bell ringing.
NYSSA
(astonished) “The cloister bell! Another catastrophe!”
BILLY
(surprised) “What again?!”
The TARDIS then lurches forward. The trio hold onto the TARDIS console as everything shudders around them. Nyssa then checks one of the TARDIS instrument panels.
NYSSA
(startled; realises) “Doctor! We’re being drawn off course!”
DOCTOR
(realises; shocked) “Oh no! It’s happening again!”
BILLY
“Back to Junglos, I presume!”
NYSSA
“No! It’s something different! We seem to have been sucked into a space vent!”
Nyssa checks the TARDIS instrument panel again.
DOCTOR
(anxiously) “Well, Nyssa? What do the instruments say?”
NYSSA
“They say…” (realises; shocked) “Doctor, we’re being sucked into a spatial dimensional anomaly! Possibly a black hole!”
BILLY
(bewildered) “A black hole?! What’s that when it’s at home?”
DOCTOR
“Black holes are regions of space from which nothing, not even light can escape! It’s called ‘black’ because it absorbs all the light that hits the horizon, reflecting nothing, just like a perfect black body in thermodynamics!”
NYSSA
(continues) “Quantum mechanics say that they emit radiation with a finite temperature! It can absorb mass from its surroundings!”
DOCTOR
(continues) “Absorbing other stars and merging with other black holes! It’s where objects are magnetically drawn backwards in time! Just like the TARDIS!”
BILLY
“I think I got the gist of the last part!”
DOCTOR
“Time for lessons later on quantum mechanics, I’m sure!”
The TARDIS lurches forward again. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy continue holding tight to the console.
NYSSA
“It may well drag us backwards in time, Doctor! But it could also drag us back into nothingness!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Is there anything we can do?”
DOCTOR
“Yes!” (cries) “Keep holding onto the TARDIS console, you two!”
The TARDIS trio hold on for dear life as the console room shudders all around them.
SCENE #17 – EXT – BLACK HOLE – N/A
The TARDIS gets dragged down into the black hole, as it makes its way on a deathly destination through a crippling void. Eventually, the TARDIS comes across a distinct object held together in space.
SCENE #18 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
The TARDIS sensors pick up the distinct object in the space, as Nyssa checks the readings on the TARDIS console. The TARDIS cloister bell continues to ring out.
NYSSA
“Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Nyssa?! What is it?”
NYSSA
(gradually) “The scanners have detected a space entity within the void! It has a mass equivalent to one hundred and fifty thousand and two million tonnes.”
BILLY
“What is it? An asteroid?”
DOCTOR
“A planet, Billy! It’s a planet!”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Odd. That a planet should exist within a confined space as small as this!”
DOCTOR
(irritably) “It doesn’t matter whether it’s confined or not, Nyssa! Let’s hope we can reach it before the TARDIS console explodes!”
NYSSA
“Let’s hope it’s soon!”
BILLY
(realises; panics) “Look! The console’s steaming up!”
The trio watch as the console steams up, taking the strain whilst the TARDIS journeys out of control. The cloister bell tolls even louder.
SCENE #19 – EXT – GLEN SHIEL, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, on the Scottish moors of Glen Shiel, Cari of Roid has been walking for quite some time. She reads a book in her hand whilst walking. It is a book about Scottish heritage.
CARI
(reads aloud) “‘Swoop on the Macintosh, rend him in pieces, None of the Clan Chattan this day shall survive, Sons of Clan Donald, salute your great Chieftain; Dead is the Macintosh, Hector’s alive!'”
Cari stops for a moment, before letting out a discontented sigh.
CARI
(to herself) “There’s so much to learn about the Scottish. I’m not sure that this book helps.” (Pause; realises) “Hang on! What’s this signpost about then?”
Cari sees a signpost before her. She walks up to it to take a closer look and read it.
CARI
(reads; gradually) “‘No Camping!'” (Pause) “Hmm. How extraordinary!”
Cari then sees a shepherd approaching her as he herds a lot of sheep with him. The sheep bleat as they approach with the sheep.
CARI
(realises) “Ah! Here’s a shepherd! Perhaps I can ask him about this!”
Cari makes her way over to the shepherd to greet him. The shepherd mutters as he contends to his sheep.
CARI
(cheerily) “La math!” (Pause) “La math!”
The shepherd looks at Cari confused as she approaches him face to face.
CARI
(puzzled) “Isn’t that the correct way to say it? In Gaelic?”
SHEPHERD
“I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you that, lass! I came here from Glasgow two weeks ago and have nae a word of Gaelic!”
Moment of silence.
CARI
“Could you tell me where I am, please?”
SHEPHERD
“Aye! You’re in the moor lands of Glen Shiel! You don’t look like a proper Highlander!”
CARI
“I must have come a fair way here! I didn’t intend to walk this far!”
SHEPHERD
“Whereabouts do you come from then, lass?”
CARI
“From Eilean Donan. I’m staying there as a guest with my husband.”
SHEPHERD
“Aye! That would explain it! You definitely have come far.” (Pause) “If you walk on further, you’ll come across the Loch Cluanie and see the Five Sisters of Kintail! Some say a battle took place…”
CARI
(interjects) “Thank you! I am aware of the legendary battles that took place in these parts of Scotland.” (Pause) “What is the meaning of these signposts here? Why is camping not permitted here?”
SHEPHERD
“Laird’s orders, lass.”
CARI
(surprised) “The laird? The chief MacDonald ordered you to put up these signposts?”
SHEPHERD
“The MacDonalds have been plagued by hikers in these parts! Of course it’s none of my business! I just herd sheep! I must get them going! I have to fatten them up!”
The shepherd heads off, taking the flock with him. Cari watches them go, before she continues her walk.
CARI
(intrigued) “Extraordinary! Very extraordinary!”
SCENE #20 – EXT – LOCH CLUANIE, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Later on, Cari eventually reaches Loch Cluanie. She looks to see the Five Sisters of Kintail, standing still to watch the tremendous view of the loch and mountains.
CARI
(amazed) Beautiful, this place. Those mountains definitely look spectacular. The heather makes me feel at home again. And the loch’s tranquillity. Ebony upon ebony.
Cari lets out a sigh, before she slumps down onto the earth. She lies back on the heather covered hill.
CARI
(yawns) I’m so tired. That walk must have been longer than I thought.
Cari then fetches out her book from her pocket and open its as she continues to read.
CARI
(yawns, reads aloud) The boat is here. The boat is there. Is the boat here? Is the boat there? The boat is not here. The boat is not there. Is not the boat here? Is not the boat there? (yawns) The boys say that the boat is here. The boy says that the boat is there. The boy says that the boat is not here. The boy says…
Cari yawns further as she slumbers and drops her book to the ground. She snuggles down to rest her head, before she falls asleep within seconds with the fresh breeze around her.
SCENE #21 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Back in the TARDIS, tiny explosions occur in the TARDIS console room. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy hold on for dear life as the TARDIS goes out of control.
NYSSA
We’ve crossed the atmospheric shell of the planet, Doctor. We’re about to pass through a composite mass of hydrogen and oxygen. That must be the clouds in the planet’s troposphere.
DOCTOR
What?! Let’s have a look, shall we?
The Doctor presses a switch and the scanner screen rises to reveal what is outside the TARDIS. The trio see for themselves where the TARDIS is heading as it journeys zooming through the clouds.
DOCTOR
Ah, yes. I see now. We’re moving really fast!
NYSSA
(insistently) Doctor, we have to stabilise the console! It’s going to explode soon and that could be fatal whilst we’re inside the TARDIS. The internal mass could explode as well.
DOCTOR
(irritably) I’m well aware of that, Nyssa.
Nyssa then cries out in pain, as she feels the hot temperature from the TARDIS console.
BILLY
(anxiously; concerned) “Nyssa?! You haven’t burnt yourself, have you?”
NYSSA
(reassuringly) “I’ll be fine! Get your hands away from the console, Billy! It’s boiling up!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “But I’ll have nothing to hang onto!”
NYSSA
“Come over here! Hold onto these walls!”
Nyssa makes her way over to the walls, taking Billy with her. They onto to the TARDIS walls, whilst the TARDIS console’s boiling up.
BILLY
(cheers) “We’ve made it!”
NYSSA
(to Doctor) “You too, Doctor! The console’s unstable now.”
DOCTOR
“You’re right, Nyssa! I’ll try and stabilise it underneath here! Give me a moment or two!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “No, Doctor! You can’t fix the console now! It’s too dangerous!”
DOCTOR
“I‘ve got to try! Anyway, I think I know how to stabilise it without any hindrance!”
NYSSA
“Doctor, quick! Get over here and hold onto these walls!”
But the Doctor gets underneath the TARDIS console as he then opens up a panel to access the circuitry contained within.
DOCTOR
“Now…if I re-wire these circuits…I may be able to perform the TARDIS to materialise an emergency flip-flop! Then we’ll have a safer landing!”
NYSSA
“I’ll come and help you, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“No need! I’m almost there!”
The Doctor takes a little while to reconnect the circuits, before he eventually finishes and cheers with triumph.
DOCTOR
“How’s it looking up there, you two? Is the console cooling down?”
BILLY
“I don’t think so, Doctor! It’s still steaming up!”
NYSSA
(realises) “No Billy, wait! It is cooling down! There’s less steam than there was!” (to Doctor) “You’ve done it, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(pleased) “Splendid! Now I’ll be able to…”
But before the Doctor can finish what he’s saying, he becomes entranced whilst he’s underneath the console.
BILLY
(concerned; calls) “Doctor?! Doctor, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?! Doctor?!” (Pause) “Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“He’s gone into a trance, Billy! He looks shocked!” (calls; concerned) “Doctor? Can you hear us? Doctor?!”
BILLY
(calls; concerned) “Doctor?!”
Whilst Nyssa and Billy call for him, the Doctor is in his trance as he sees Salvador before him.
DOCTOR
(troubled) “You again! You got into my TARDIS!”
SALVADOR
(menacingly) “You cannot escape me, Doctor! I’ve got you at last! Got you; got you; got you!”
DOCTOR
“Stop this! Whatever you’re about to do, don’t hurt anyone!”
SALVADOR
“Like I’m ever going to listen to you?!” (Pause) “You know I can defeat you! I shall be victorious! I will win the battle of the caves!”
DOCTOR
“Caves? What are you conjuring up this time?”
Salvador laughs out loud as he disappears.
DOCTOR
(cries) “Salvador! No! Wait, come back!”
The Doctor then comes out of his trance as Billy calls to him.
BILLY
(calls) “Doctor! Wake up!”
The Doctor becomes startled once he sees Nyssa and Billy.
DOCTOR
(startled) “Nyssa? Billy? How long have I been out?”
NYSSA
“You were in a trance, Doctor! You weren’t out for long! But you worried us!”
DOCTOR
“I saw him! I saw him appear again! In my TARDIS!”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Him? Who?”
DOCTOR
“The man! The man who’s been…”
A loud explosion occurs which startles the TARDIS trio as they crumble to the floor.
BILLY
(cries) “I thought you said you’d fixed it, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“I did! But apparently somebody wants me dead!”
NYSSA
“Somebody? What’s that supposed to mean?!”
Another explosion occurs again, before the TARDIS interior doors open inwards. A strong wind blows in.
BILLY
“It’s getting windy in here!”
NYSSA
(realises; shocked) “Doctor! The interior doors are open! How did that happen?!”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know!”
The wind gets strong as the Doctor slowly gets up from the floor and tries to make his way back to the TARDIS console.
NYSSA
(shocked) “Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“I’ve got to reach the door lever! Get those interior doors shut before we all get sucked outside!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor, be careful! You might fall out!”
DOCTOR
“Nonsense! I never fall…whoa!”
NYSSA
(cries; panics) “Doctor! NO!”
It all happens so suddenly as the TARDIS lurches forward and the Doctor slides down and out of the doorway. He manages to hold onto something, before he gets sucked out of the TARDIS. The Doctor holds on for dear life, as the force from outside tries to drag him out of the ship.
DOCTOR
(cries) “Help me! Nyssa; Billy, please!”
NYSSA
(cries) “Doctor! Hang on!”
BILLY
(determined) “I’ll get him! I’m closer to the doors!”
NYSSA
(cries) “Billy, be careful!”
Billy slowly makes his way to the Doctor, hanging onto the walls as he goes for the doorway.
BILLY
(cries) “Hold on, Doctor! Billy’s coming!”
Billy then moves off from the walls and reaches for the TARDIS console. He eventually manages to get to where the Doctor is at the doorway. Billy holds onto the TARDIS console as reaches out his hand to get to the Doctor.
BILLY
“Here, Doctor! Take my hand!”
The Doctor tries to take Billy’s hand whilst he still hangs on. But he struggles to get hold of it.
DOCTOR
“I…I can’t reach your hand, Billy!”
BILLY
“Hang on! I’ll come a bit closer!”
Billy moves a bit closer to where the Doctor is, as he moves further away whilst still handing onto the TARDIS console.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Billy, please be careful!”
BILLY
“I am, Nyssa! I’ve nearly got him!”
Billy eventually manages to reach the Doctor and grabs hold of his hand.
BILLY
(cries) “I’ve got him! It’s okay, Nyssa! I’ve got the Doctor!”
DOCTOR
Yes, Billy, you have.
NYSSA
Be careful now. I’ll try to stabilise the flight controls. Keep holding onto the Doctor, Billy. I’ll see to it that we’re flying on a horizontal trajectory.
Nyssa then carefully reaches the flight section on the TARDIS console and presses a number of switches and buttons to stabilise the TARDIS’ trajectory. Billy keeps holding onto the Doctor’s hand whilst he’s dangling out from the TARDIS.
SCENE #22 – EXT – SGURR NAN CEATHREAMNNAN, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Back with Jeremy and Iona, they run for their lives as they tread up the mountains of Sgurr Nan Ceathreamnnan. They’re still being chased by the Jacobean Scots, as they pant for breath and Iona stumbles forward becoming exhausted.
JEREMY
(cries; anxiously) Iona! We must go on!
IONA
(exhausted) I don’t think I can run much further.
JEREMY
“You must!”
IONA
“Leave me, Jeremy! I’ll slow you down!”
JEREMY
“No, Iona! I’m not going to leave you to these Jacobeans!”
IONA
(cries) “Look! Over there!”
JEREMY
“Where?”
IONA
“There’s a hole in the ground! We can hide in there!”
JEREMY
“Come on then, Iona! Quick, before they catch us up!”
Jeremy and Iona make for the hole in the ground as they run.
JEREMY
(cries) “Quick, Iona! Jump inside!”
IONA
(exhausted) “I’m going, I’m going!”
Iona eventually jumps inside the hole with Jeremy as they both disappear. The Jacobean Scots howl as they run across the steep hill of Sgurr, passing Jeremy and Iona’s hiding place underneath. The Jacobean Scots continue running as they head off down to the bottom of the hill. Once they’ve gone, Jeremy and Iona come out of hiding, relieved to have finally escaped the Jacobean Scots.
IONA
(relieved) “They didn’t see us! Good riddance!”
JEREMY
“They must be making for the hills of Affric!” (laughs) “Thank goodness that wee hole in the ground was there when we got in!”
IONA
(puzzled) “How can Jacobites be around here anyway? I thought they fought on battlefields like Culloden!”
JEREMY
“It seems I’ll have a few things to say to my father about what his happy little ideal world of Scotland has now become!”
IONA
(realises) “Jeremy! Listen!”
Jeremy and Iona listen as they hear bagpipes being played. The bagpipes’ tones and notes echo across the entire glen as the music is proud and heroic.
JEREMY
“It’s the signal! The signal for the ‘defining change’ of Scottish heritage and history!”
IONA
(grimly) “How satisfying.” (Pause) “Perhaps that’s where those Jacobites were heading! A historic moment!”
JEREMY
(hushes) “Ssh!”
IONA
“What is it, Jeremy?”
JEREMY
(hushes) “Ssh! Iona, listen!”
Jeremy and Iona listen as a whooshing grinding noise echoes, mixing in with the song of the bagpipes.
JEREMY
“Yes! I hear it now! Something’s in the pipes! A strange…howling like…like I’ve never heard of before!”
IONA
(realises) “Aye! Look up there, Jeremy! Look up in the sky!”
Jeremy and Iona look up as they see the TARDIS zooming across the Highland moors in the sky.
JEREMY
(astonished) “What’s that?! A bird?”
IONA
“That’s no bird, Jeremy!” (Pause) “It’s a wee blue box!”
JEREMY
“A wee blue box?!” (Pause) “It flies above our heads! Across the moors towards…towards God knows where!”
They watch as they see the TARDIS flying off in the sky.
IONA
“Och aye! I see something in that blue box!” (Pause) “I see two wee legs dangling out from it!”
Jeremy and Iona then run off down the hill as they follow where the TARDIS is heading. The TARDIS zooms off across the Scottish highlands and over the mountains at a tremendous speed.
SCENE #23 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Back aboard the TARDIS, Nyssa attempts to stabilise the ship which takes a little while. A few whirs and beeps occur before the TARDIS calms down.
NYSSA
(cheers) “Done it! The TARDIS is stabilising!”
Meanwhile, Billy pulls the Doctor back into the console room.
BILLY
“Are you alright now, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, Billy! Thank you! I really appreciate you saving me!” (Pause) “Now…let’s see to that door lever!”
The Doctor makes his way over to the door lever. But all of a sudden, the TARDIS jerks violently. The Doctor and Nyssa are startled and Billy cries out loud as he falls out of the TARDIS.
DOCTOR
(shocked) “Billy!”
NYSSA
(horrified) “Billy! NO!”
Nyssa runs over to where the Doctor is. The Doctor reaches out to Billy whilst he’s holding onto the foot of the police box exterior.
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “It’s alright, Nyssa! I’ve got him! He’s got a hold of the TARDIS!”
NYSSA
(relieved) “That’s a relief! But we can’t just leave him like that out there!”
DOCTOR
“I know, I know!”
BILLY
(cries) “Help me! Help! I’m dangling out here!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “We must get him in, Doctor! We simply must!”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly; to Billy) “Don’t worry, Billy! We’ll get you in! Just hold on!”
The TARDIS then jerks violently again. Billy barley holds on, whilst Nyssa and the Doctor fall back to the floor startled.
NYSSA
(startled; apprehensive) “What’s caused the TARDIS to jerk all of a sudden, Doctor? I thought I’d stabilised the flight path once Billy had you in!”
DOCTOR
“Look outside, Nyssa! We seem to be in some enclosed mountainous area! The TARDIS is colliding with those mountains, I expect!” (intrigued) “They look strangely familiar to me!”
The TARDIS jerks violently again as the console room shudders around them.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor! We must get Billy in!”
The Doctor and Nyssa get up from the floor, whilst Billy tries to climb back into the TARDIS but has little success. The TARDIS jerks violently again before he can attempt another try and nearly loses his grip. The Doctor and Nyssa stumble whilst inside the TARDIS.
BILLY
(despairingly) “It’s no good, Doctor! Every time I try to get in, the TARDIS keeps on jerking!”
NYSSA
“It’s these mountains, Billy! We seem to be colliding into their encapsulated areas as we traverse on the TARDIS’ continual path!”
DOCTOR
“Try not to do anything, Billy! Keep calm! We’ll get you in somehow!”
BILLY
(grinds teeth) “I can’t keep holding on much longer!” (Pause) “Doctor! Look after Nyssa for me! I’ll…”
Suddenly and without warning, the TARDIS jerks violently again and Billy loses his grip. He falls away, crying out loud, as he traverses through the sky to the ground below
NYSSA
(cries; shocked) “Billy, no!”
DOCTOR
(cries; shocked) “Billy!”
The Doctor and Nyssa watch, as they see Billy falling down to where a number of hills are situated below. Moment of silence, as Nyssa and the Doctor are pretty shocked once Billy has gone from their sight.
NYSSA
(shocked; upset) “He’s gone! Billy’s gone!”
DOCTOR
(shocked) “Yes. Yes he has, Nyssa.” (Pause) “I’m so sorry.”
NYSSA
(disbelievingly) “No! He can’t be! We must go back for him! We can’t abandon him, Doctor! We have to go back for him!”
DOCTOR
(irritably) “Where do you suggest we start then, Nyssa?! We’ve no idea where we are or when! And we certainly aren’t safe from what’s just happened with the TARDIS and everything!”
Moment of tension, as the TARDIS traverses over the Highlands with the interior doors still open.
DOCTOR
“Let’s get these doors closed!”
The Doctor and Nyssa make their way back in away from the interior doors and stand by the console. The Doctor then presses the door lever as the interior doors close shut. The TARDIS then stabilises and it traverses on a stable course. Moment of silence, as the Doctor and Nyssa are quite shaken by what’s just happened.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “We’d all still be here if the TARDIS interior doors hadn’t opened! Why did they open?! If they hadn’t, Billy wouldn’t have fallen out! Why?! Why?!”
DOCTOR
(snaps) “Nyssa, please! Stop worrying!” (Pause; realises) “I’m sorry, Nyssa! I didn’t mean to snap at you like that!” (reassuringly) “We’ll find Billy, don’t worry! I’ll try and land the TARDIS somewhere so that we can make a start on finding Billy.”
NYSSA
(upset) “I doubt we’ll ever find Billy again! Like you said Doctor, he could be anywhere!”
DOCTOR
(interjects) “I know what I said, Nyssa! But it’s important to be optimistic, isn’t it?”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
(gradually) You’re right, Doctor. I’m sorry. I’m just so worried about him. I… (Pause) I know we’ll find him. I know we’ll find Billy.
DOCTOR
(pleased) That’s right, Nyssa. Never give up. (Pause) Now, let’s see about where to land the TARDIS, shall we?
The Doctor presses some switches on the TARDIS console, as he tries to find somewhere for the ship to materialise and land.
SCENE #24 – EXT – EILEAN DONAN CASTLE, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, at the main gate of Eilean Donan Castle, Henry MacDonald, with his wife Maggie and the other guests, are waiting for Ches of Roid and Hugo Kilwhillie.
HENRY
(mutters; impatiently) Where are they? The Glorious Twelfth only happens once a year!
MAGGIE
Don’t worry, my dear. They’ll come. Mr. Roid obviously wants to make a good impression.
HENRY
“The blood in my veins is too excited! Too impatient!”
The other guests chat among themselves before Henry addresses them.
HENRY
(to everyone) “My friends! My fine Highland hunters! Apologies for the delay! The rest of our party will arrive shortly! I earnestly hope!”
MAGGIE
(realises) “Ah! Here they are! Look!”
They look to see as Ches of Roid and Hugo Killwhillie walk out of the castle chatting to each other. The other guests grumble once they see them coming.
CHES
“So will I be able to wear a kilt in Scotland, even though I may seem foreign in these parts? Would I get lynched or mobbed if I wear one of these kilts illegally?”
HUGO
“I don’t see any objection to you wearing a kilt in Scotland! Depends though on the tartan you wear!”
CHES
“Tartan?”
HUGO
“Yes! Clans of the Highlands are very particular about the tartan you wear! It will be an abuse to wear a family crest without anyone’s permission!”
CHES
“Oh! Well…I suppose I would have to get a tartan for the Roid family myself then! Even though it will take time and cost thousands of credits!”
HUGO
“You can have my tartan if you like! I won’t mind!”
CHES
“I say! That’s very generous of you, Lord Kilwhillie!”
HUGO
“My pleasure!”
HENRY
(impatiently) “Get a move on, you two! We’ve been waiting for at least half an hour for you to show up!”
CHES
(apologetic) “My apologies, Henry! I wanted to make sure I was wearing the right gear! Luckily I had Lord Kilwhillie to help me out!”
MAGGIE
(calmly) Well…I hope all of you will have a good day’s sport! I hope the grouse are ready to be flagged up!
HENRY
That we pray it will! Thank you, my dear!
Henry kisses Maggie on the cheek before he sets off with his party.
HENRY
Come on, lads! Off for the moors!
Henry leads the way with Ches and Hugo behind him. They make for the Highland moors as Maggie watches them go. Henry breathes in the fresh air and lets out a contented sigh as he goes.
HENRY
(contented) I love the smell of fine heather in the morning! I feel as if this was the first time I ever went out on a grouse shooting! As a little boy in…
CHES
(interrupts) I sure am looking forward to the shooting, Henry! There’s so much about Scotland I’ve fallen in love with! I don’t know where to start on expanding that love further!
HENRY
Then you must attend one of our bun fights, Roid my man! And you must attend a game of fishing! There’s good trout in these Scottish rivers!
HUGO
Not to mention we have that annual event with the Mackintoshes!
HENRY
Ah, yes of course! The annual battle! Thank you for reminding me, Hugo!
CHES
(intrigued) Battle? What battle is this?
HUGO
More like…a chieftain’s challenge! Offered to the Mackintoshes by the chief of the Clan MacDonald or vice versa! That’s Henry there!
CHES
“And…what challenge is this, may I ask?”
HENRY
(impressed) “Ah! You have the Scottish blood curdling up in you!”
CHES
“If I had Scottish blood in me, I’d be a happy man! But do go on and tell me, please!”
HENRY
“Well it’s like this, Roid. The Mackintoshes get challenged every year to fight for some property I own! This property is something I hold sacred and so has every laird of [the MacDonald clan….”]
Henry MacDonald, Ches of Roid, Hugo Kilwhillie and the other grouse shooters make their way over to the bridge, heading away from Eilean Donan Castle. Maggie watches them go, before she heads back inside the castle.
SCENE #25 – EXT – GLEN GARRY, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Meanwhile at Glen Roy, close to the bank of Loch Garry, the TARDIS materialises. It whooshes loudly and grinds profusely, before the TARDIS makes a loud thump as it lands. There’s a gentle breeze afterwards once the TARDIS has landed.
SCENE #26 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor checks a number of instruments on the console before he activates the scanner. The scanner screen rises, as the Doctor and Nyssa look to see what is outside.
NYSSA
“We’re close to a river! No…a lake!”
DOCTOR
“A rather big lake! I’m sure I’ve seen mountains like those before!”
NYSSA
“Is that important?”
DOCTOR
“It could be. Just something to bear in mind.”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
“Doctor? Surely the TARDIS instruments can identify the name of this planet! You may have been here before if you recognise that scenery!” (Pause; puzzled) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(murmurs; to himself) “I wonder. I just wonder.”
NYSSA
“Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(thoughtfully; snaps out of it) “Hmm? Oh…don’t mind me, Nyssa! I’m sure it’ll come back to me! Besides the instruments aren’t functioning properly due to the turbulence we had!”
NYSSA
(surprised; realises) “Oh yes! I see now! The conceptual geometers and the temporal indicators don’t seem to be reading well! In fact…none of these meters seem to be working!”
DOCTOR
“Hmm. Perhaps it’s due to the rate of descent we had when we were driven of course.” (Pause) “But never mind, Nyssa! I’m sure the information won’t be withheld much longer!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “I’m so worried about Billy, Doctor! I just hope he’s okay.”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Yes.” (Pause) “You seem very fond of Billy these days! Aren’t you, Nyssa?!”
NYSSA
(hesitant) “Err…yes! Well, why shouldn’t I be? He is very dear to me! To us, isn’t it he?”
DOCTOR
(solemnly) “Yes. Yes he is.” (snaps out of it) “Yes, of course!” (Pause) “Come on! Let’s see where we are outside! Then we can find Billy like you say!”
NYSSA
“Is it safe to go out there? You haven’t checked the radiation levels yet!”
DOCTOR
“The radiation detectors are faulty as well I’m afraid, Nyssa! But it looks harmless enough outside!”
NYSSA
“You can’t be sure of that, Doctor! If instruments are faulty, we can’t rely on your sense of optimism!”
DOCTOR
(slightly annoyed) “Come on.”
The Doctor pulls the door lever to open. The TARDIS interior doors open inwards, as he and Nyssa head off to go outside.
SCENE #27 – EXT – GLEN GARRY, SCOTLAND – DAY, AFTERNOON
Outside, the Doctor and Nyssa step out of the TARDIS. They walk onto the glen and see the loch beside them.
NYSSA
“Should we be heading north or south, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Got it!”
NYSSA
“What is it, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Now I know what this place reminded me of when I saw those mountains!”
NYSSA
(encouragingly) “Go on!”
DOCTOR
They reminded me…of the Highlands of Scotland. That lake over there! It’s called a loch.
NYSSA
So you have been here before then.
DOCTOR
(excitedly) Yes! This is Scotland, Nyssa. We’re in one of the most rugged and exotic places on the planet Earth. A beautiful and serene place. (ponders) I wonder if my friend Jamie’s here. This might be the year seventeen forty-six.
NYSSA
(dismayed) Earth? Somehow we’re always bumping into that planet wherever we go, Doctor.
DOCTOR
I can’t help it if the TARDIS has her own way with me.
NYSSA
Does this help us find Billy?
DOCTOR
Hard to tell when you don’t know exactly where your whereabouts are in the Highlands, Nyssa.
NYSSA
(thinks) “We should ask someone for help then. Will there be many inhabitants in this settlement?”
DOCTOR
“There should be. Bearing in mind that this is a rural area! So it won’t be easy to find anyone so easily! There may be farmers and shepherds in these parts! They usually stalk on these moors!” (Pause; thinks) “Let’s head off in that direction over there!”
NYSSA
“Wait for me!”
The Doctor walks off with Nyssa following behind him. They don’t realise that they’re being watched by Jeremy and Iona as they hide behind some foliage. Jeremy and Iona eventually come out of their hiding place as they see the Doctor and Nyssa heading off.
JEREMY
(intrigued) “They have nae Scottish accents in their tongues when they speak, Iona! They’re not from these parts! They are not Scottish!”
IONA
“They say such strange things! They must come from some far-off place!”
JEREMY
“My mother and father were expecting people of that same calibre! I wonder if they’re the ones!”
Moment of silence.
IONA
“We may as well follow them, Jeremy! To see where they’re going!”
JEREMY
Aye! Come on then! Let’s follow them!
With that, Jeremy and Iona head off down the hill to follow the Doctor and Nyssa.
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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