3. Bork and Tulu’s Machine

SCENE #30 – INT – LLOYD’S OFFICE, CHEMI-WORLD LTD CENTRAL HQ – DAY, MORNING
Back in Lloyd’s office at Chemi-World, Nyssa and Billy continue having their reunion with Jo.

BILLY
“How come you’re here, Jo? Why are you here?”

JO
“Well you see, I’m here for a special meeting with Mr. Lloyd who heads the Chemi-World branch in London. Cliff, my husband was meant to be here but I took his place.”

NYSSA
“Your husband? You’re married!”

JO
“Yes! I had mentioned it! I’m Mrs. Jones!”

NYSSA
“Mrs. Jones! Why Jo, that’s splendid! Absolutely wonderful!”

BILLY
“Fantastic! Congratulations, Jo!”

JO
(giggles) “Thank you! It’s a while since we were married, but thanks all the same. You’re so sweet, the pair of you!”

MR. LLOYD
(impatiently) “Mrs. Jones? Can we please carry on with this meeting? I’ve a lot of work…”

JO
(interjects) “I’m sorry, Mr. Lloyd! I’m just thrilled to see my friends!”

NYSSA
“What exactly do you do, Jo?”

JO
“Save the ecology! That’s what my husband’s speciality is. He’s a professor! We’ve travelled the world from Mozambique to Brazil to London to Norway and back to London again.”

BILLY
“Crikey, you’ve been everywhere!”

JO
“What about you two? You’re still a couple?”

BILLY
“Yes we’re still together.” (teasingly) “Nyssa’s always putting me in my place.”

JO
“How did you come to London in the first place then?”

NYSSA
“Oh…we didn’t come here deliberately. It was an accident. There was a fault with the TARDIS.”

MR. LLOYD
“TARDIS?! What’s that?”

NYSSA
(to Jo) “The Doctor was trying to get us to Vektris – a beach world. But he miscalculated the coordinates and brought us to the wrong place.”

JO
(laughs) “Dear me! That sounds like the Doctor. He miscalculated taking me to Metabelis Three once.”

NYSSA
“We’ve been trying to find our way around London but we keep getting lost.”

JO
“Well, why didn’t you ask someone to help you? To give you instructions?”

BILLY
“We couldn’t. There was nobody about to ask.”

Suddenly a monstrous roar echoes outside. Everyone in the building screams.

JO
(terrified) “That was a roar! Where did that come from?!”

MR. LLOYD
“It came from outside!”

Alerted to this, Jo, Nyssa, Billy and Mr. Lloyd run to the window to look outside.

BILLY
“Nyssa, I don’t like the sound of this!”

NYSSA
“Me neither, Billy. I don’t like any of this.”

They soon become terrified at what they see.

MR. LLOYD
“Great heavens above! What monstrosity is it?!”

BILLY
“Cripes! It’s a dinosaur!”

JO
“A massive dinosaur!”

MR. LLOYD
“What?!”

NYSSA
“That’s impossible!”

BILLY
“It’s definitely a big one! It’s a Tyrannosaurus Rex!”

JO
“A big mighty hulking T-Rex!”

MR. LLOYD
“But that’s ridiculous! The Tyrannosaurus died out billions of years ago!”

NYSSA
“Four hundred billion years ago to be precise.”

JO
“Tell him that! It’s swinging its tail at us!”

BILLY
(shouts) “Nyssa; Jo; Mr. Lloyd! Down!”

Nyssa, Billy, Jo and Mr. Lloyd duck and jump from the window, as the T-Rex smashes its way through with its tail. Glass scatters across the room, startling everyone.

BILLY
“That monster’s going to crush us in here!”

NYSSA
“We can’t stay! We have to get out! Find an emergency exit!”

JO
(terrified) “Come on, Mr. Lloyd! Let’s go!”

Jo helps Mr. Lloyd to his feet, before his secretary Miss Gallo enters.

MISS GALLO
(panics) “Mr. Lloyd! Mr. Lloyd! There’s a big flipping dinosaur outside!”

MR. LLOYD
“I know, Miss Gallo! I saw it with my own eyes! It’s smashed my window!”

MISS GALLO
(panics) “I must get all of you out to safety! By the nearest fire exit! It’s not far! I’ll show you where…”

Before Miss Gallo can finish, the T-Rex smashes its head through the window, roaring ferociously.

JO
(panics) “That monster’s got through!”

BILLY
“Oh no! What big teeth it has!”

NYSSA
“Try not to think about it, Billy!”

MR. LLOYD
(shouts) “Miss Gallo! Watch out!”

But it’s too late; as falling timber knocks Miss Gallo out unconscious.

JO
(worried) “Oh no! Poor Miss Gallo! She’s unconscious! That falling timber!”

NYSSA
“That falling timber just collapsed on her! How terrible!”

They look back as the T-Rex roars again, pushing its head in.

BILLY
That T-Rex!

MR. LLOYD
(insistently) Get out of here! (to Billy) Young man! Take these two women to safety! Through the fire exit!

JO
(startled) Mr. Lloyd, what are you doing?!

MR. LLOYD
I shall tackle this monster myself!

JO
No!!! We’re not leaving without you!

NYSSA
I’d advise you not to do this, Mr. Lloyd. That dinosaur’s too powerful…

MR. LLOYD
(shouts; urgently) Do as I say! I can…

However, Mr. Lloyd gets snatched very suddenly by the T-Rex with its teeth before he gets thrown out of the building. He screams as he falls.

JO
(cries) Mr. Lloyd!

Mr. Lloyd falls, plummeting downwards. Jo, Nyssa and Billy watch horrified as the T-Rex attends to the fallen Mr. Lloyd.

JO
(worried) Oh no! That monster…and Mr. Lloyd…

NYSSA
(urgently) “Jo, we can’t stay here! We have to go now!”

BILLY
“Nyssa’s right! We have to get out!”

JO
(gradually; confused) “Get out?” (realises) “Yes! Get out!” (to Nyssa; Billy) “Come on, you two! Just like good old groovy times! This way!”

With that, Jo drags Nyssa and Billy with her as they escape out of the office to reach the fire exit. The T-Rex loses its chance to catch them.

---

SCENE #31 – EXT – PICCADILLY CIRCUS, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
Back in Piccadilly Circus, the Doctor waits for the right moment as the robots pass by his hiding place.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Come on; come on, robots! Stop to pause, won’t you!”

But the robots keep on marching past the Doctor’s hiding place.

DOCTOR
(sighs; quietly) “Face it, Doctor! The chances of you hitching a lift with a robot are a million to one. You have trouble to make the robot avoid seeing you for a start.”

As the Doctor seemingly gives in, a robot slows to a halt past his hiding place. This gives the Doctor some hope.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Ah, yes! This is more like it! Slow but steady wins the race!”

The Doctor readies himself as the robot comes to a halt.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Wait for it Doctor, wait for it.”

Eventually the robot stops, as it begins to scan the area.

DOCTOR
“It’s scanning the area. Now if I just …”

Within a few seconds, the robot starts to move again.

DOCTOR
(eagerly) “Now!”

The Doctor runs forward and jumps onto one of the robot’s legs. On board, the Doctor breathes a sigh of relief, holding onto the robot.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Thank goodness, I made it.” (Pause) “Now, let’s hope this chap and his other chums won’t see me.”

The robot makes another step, slamming his foot down into the ground and causes it to shudder. The Doctor holds on whilst the robot rises its foot again.

DOCTOR
(startled; quietly) “Hmm. The exhilaration of a perfect ride. Never travel with a robot with large footsteps.”

The Doctor looks ahead to see where they’re heading as he holds on tight for the journey.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Hmm. The robot seems to be heading in the vicinity of Charing Cross. Let’s hope Nyssa and Billy are there.”

---

SCENE #32 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back on Teruvada 16, Bork and Tulu witness what’s happening with the Doctor and they become distraught.

TULU
(astonished) “Bork, look! See? That Tellurian!”

BORK
(agitated) “Yes Tulu! I see now!”

TULU
“He’s hanging onto the leg of one of the robots.”

GARNIK
“This is another part of the show not according to your schedule I gather.”

TULU
“No, it’s not.”

BORK
Obviously of course what’s happened is that a few of my stock haven’t been properly trained yet. Probably newly implemented. But don’t worry. It’s all perfectly under control.

ERNPIC
It’s perfectly clear Bork that you’re unable to control anything.

GARNIK
I’m sure this demonstration can continue without the hindrances of rogue elements. This is what you implied isn’t it, Mr. Bork?

BORK
Oh, it is, your majesty! It is!

TULU
(sceptically) Not unless we do a maintenance check on all the circuitry.

BORK
Oh, but that takes time, Tulu. Takes time.

ERNPIC
“Time is something which you don’t have, Bork. Not on my watch.”

GARNIK
(to Ernpic) “For once I agree with you, my son.” (to Bork) “Continue with your demonstration, Bork.”

Bork begins to continue the demonstration before Tulu whispers to him.

TULU
(whispers) “Bork? That Tellurian in the yellow coat. I’m awfully worried…”

BORK
(interrupts) “There’s nothing we can do about it, Tulu. All we can do is to carry on for the king and the young prince.”

Whilst Tulu becomes sceptical, Bork makes to continue.

---

SCENE #33 – INT – CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
Back in London, Nyssa; Billy and Jo run for their lives on Charing Cross Road from the raging T-Rex. They pant for breath as they run, finding it hard to run any further. Jo then stops to breathe whilst Nyssa and Billy stop for her.

BILLY
“Come on, Jo! Don’t stop running! We can’t let that dinosaur catch up with us!”

JO
(pants) “I can’t! I can’t keep running!”

NYSSA
“We have to move on, Jo! It’s too dangerous for us to be here! Even now!”

Nyssa and Billy help Jo up whilst the T-Rex is not far behind as its roars are quite clear in the distance.

BILLY
(anxiously) “Nyssa! It’s getting closer!”

NYSSA
“And we’ll be sitting targets if we stay here!”

JO
(despairingly) “Oh if only there was a way we can get out of this city!”

NYSSA
(encouragingly) “Come on, Jo! Let’s not give up now!”

Nyssa and Billy take Jo as they help her to keep on running with the dinosaur pursuing them nearby. Eventually, Jo spots a shop on a nearby street.

JO
(realises) “Hey look! Up ahead! There’s a coffee shop nearby! We can hide in there!”

NYSSA
“Good thinking, Jo! Come on”

They make their way to the nearby coffee shop whilst the T-Rex roars again from a distance.

JO
“We’d better hurry before it spots us and we get eaten up alive!”

NYSSA
“We’re nearly there! Come on, Billy; come on, Jo! Inside!”

Eventually, the trio get inside the coffee shop, shutting the front door behind them as they go. They get in just in time and thankfully don’t get caught by the T-Rex as it turns up in the street, stomping it ways through. It eventually stops in the middle of the street, close to where Nyssa, Billy and Jo are in the coffee shop. It soon roars ferociously again before stomping off down the street again with the intention of pursuing its prey. Eventually, the T-Rex turns the corner and disappears out of the street. A moment of silence ensues. Very soon, Nyssa, Billy and Jo come out of the coffee sheep and walk into the centre of the street, seeing the T-Rex gone from a distance.

NYSSA
(relieved) “Thank goodness it’s gone!”

JO
“Thank goodness that coffee shop kept us cover whilst it stomped down the street!”

BILLY
“That felt rather easy.”

NYSSA
“Too easy in my humble opinion.”

JO
“Oh I don’t know what you two are complaining about. We’re safe now, aren’t we?”

NYSSA
“Yes. For the moment.”

BILLY
“If I had a weapon like a rifle or a bazooka on me, I could’ve shot that T-Rex down.”

NYSSA
“Thankfully you don’t have a weapon on you, Billy. I don’t want to think of my boyfriend getting trigger-happy.”

BILLY
“I just wish we found a detached robot arm to fire as a weapon on the T-Rex. Not a detached arm of a plastic shop window dummy we found.”

JO
(surprised) “Autons! You two have encountered Autons in your travels?!”

NYSSA
(surprised) “You know the creatures Billy and I are talking about, Jo?”

JO
“I’ll say I do. I encountered them when I was first assigned to U.N.I.T. And when I first met the Doctor.”

BILLY
“We encountered some plastic men on Oxford Road. There was a whole gang of them smashing their way through a shop window. It was a lucky thing we escaped.”

NYSSA
“But we don’t know what became of them. They all vanished into thin air.”

JO
“Really? Well, that’s interesting!”

NYSSA
“We must find the Doctor! We haven’t seen any sign of him since Piccadilly.”

JO
“I know my way around London, Nyssa. I’ll take you back to Piccadilly Circus.”

NYSSA
“That’s great, Jo.” (Pause; realises) “We’ll have to find some other form of transport though. Our car – the one we used is back at that Chemi-World place.”

BILLY
(jokingly) “Shall I call for a taxi?”

---

SCENE #34 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
On Teruvada 16 in the King’s throne room, Bork and Tulu have seen what just happened with Nyssa, Billy and Jo tackling the T-Rex.

BORK
(distraught) “Well I never…”

TULU
(astonished) “They killed it! They killed the Tyrannosaurus!”

GARNIK
“Is there a problem?”

BORK
(reassuringly; to Garnik) “Oh nothing for you to worry about, your majesty.”

ERNPIC
“If you’re concealing information Bork, you shall have my sword for it!”

TULU
“Come off it, Bork! We might as well tell them. We can’t hide it forever!”

GARNIK
“What can’t you hide?”

BORK
“Pay no attention to her, your majesty! My lovely assistant has a vivid [imagination…]”

GARNIK
(barks; to Bork) “Silence!” (Pause; to Tulu) “What is the problem?”

TULU
(unduly) “One of the specimens: the Tyrannosaurus…”

ERNPIC
(interrupts) “Tyranno…what?”

TULU
(finishes) “Tyrannosaurus Rex. T-Rex for short. It’s been bumped off!”

ERNPIC
“Bumped off?”

BORK
“Please don’t worry about it, young majesty!”

TULU
“It got killed by three Tellurians in circuit three.”

GARNIK
“Three humans?”

ERNPIC
“I thought you said you kept all your specimens alive for your collection.”

BORK
“And I do, your majesty! That I do!”

ERNPIC
Then why have three humans managed to kill one of your other specimens?

BORK
That I’m not sure about yet.

GARNIK
Are these more ‘rogue’ specimens in your stock, Bork?

BORK
Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that…

TULU
(interjects; to Garnik) Actually, we’ve never seen them before, your majesty. (to Bork) Have we, Bork?

ERNPIC
Not seen them before?

BORK
(to Tulu) I can’t keep a note of every lifeform we have in this machine, Tulu. I’m an entertainer. Not a stellar bank clerk.

TULU
“I’ve never seen the likes of them before, Bork! I’m sure of it. Those three Tellurians just now. And the man in the cream coat.”

BORK
(abjectly) “I know the older woman. With the white hair. I’ve seen her on the glo-sphere many times.”

ERNPIC
(angrily) “If this is your way of deceiving us in your little charade of trickery against the Nargdu Empire – Glory to Empire! – then blood shall be spilled all over the Ronnelep fields! And it won’t be our family’s blood that’ll be spilled!”

Bork and Tulu become worried as they take heed of Ernpic’s words.

---

SCENE #35 – INT – CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
Meanwhile, the giant robots arrive in Charing Cross. The Doctor still tags onto one of the robots, holding tight to its leg.

DOCTOR
(realises; quietly) “Ah! Here we are in Charing Cross. Just as I predicted. And this chap’s slowing down.” (Pause) “Now if I just wait for the right moment…”

The robot slowly comes to a stop and the Doctor gets ready to jump off.

DOCTOR
(quietly) “Wait for it, wait for it.” (Pause) “Now!”

The Doctor jumps off and lands on one of the nearby streets. The robot, without noticing the Doctor getting off, continues to march on. The Doctor watches as the robot turns around the corner.

DOCTOR
(relieved) “Well…that was exhilarating! If a little un-nerving.” (Pause) “Now…since no other tin-pots are coming this way…”

The Doctor looks around to check that no more robots are approaching.

DOCTOR
(finishes) “…I consider myself free from being stamped on.” (Pause) “Question is…where do I go from here? If only I knew where Nyssa and Billy were.”

The Doctor walks on, as he enters into the heart of Charing Cross.

DOCTOR
“Hmm. I’ve never known London to be this empty.”

Moment of silence.

DOCTOR
(thinks) “I’ll make for Leicester Square and see how I get on. If Nyssa and Billy aren’t there…I’ll just head back the way I came. Hopefully no more robots will bother me.”

With that, the Doctor walks on ahead.

DOCTOR
“Now Leicester Square should be…right! Right! Off we go!”

The Doctor heads off ‘right’. Minutes later, he turns in the opposite direction.

DOCTOR
“I knew it was ‘left’ all the time!”

The Doctor walks on ahead heading left, not realising he’s being watched. There are grunting and groaning noises from mysterious creatures coming from behind the back of a building.

---

SCENE #36 – INT – CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
With Nyssa; Billy and Jo, they continue walking on Charing Cross Road.

BILLY
“You know what?”

NYSSA
“What?”

BILLY
“I think we’ve come the wrong way! We’re lost again!”

JO
“I’ll have you know Billy that I know this city like the back of my…”

Jo stops mid-sentence. A moment of silence ensues.

NYSSA
“Yes Jo? Were you going to say ‘the back of your hand’?”

JO
(gradually) “You know…I can’t remember which way we came. Everything seems different. I thought Shaftesbury Avenue was over that way on the left. Now I’m not so sure.”

BILLY
(sighs) Oh marvellous!

NYSSA
Something doesn’t add up in this city. The geography. It’s all convoluted. No structure as to where we’re going or where we’re heading.

JO
Yes, I get that feeling too. As if buildings are switching places from each other and roads are getting misplaced wherever we go.

NYSSA
Well, let’s just retrace our steps. We’re in Charing Cross Road. So let’s head back the way we came back to Chemi-World. Leicester Square wasn’t it, Jo?

JO
Yes. That’s right. It’s over in this direction.

Jo leads the way as they go back to Leicester Square.

BILLY
So…how have you been, Jo? You got married, you say?

JO
Yes. It was long time ago but we’re still happily married. Cliff and I, we’ve got a big family meeting up for Christmas. I’ve got seven children…

NYSSA
(astonished) Seven children?

JO
(continues) And thirteen grandchildren. All lovely and gorgeous. Even if one’s a little dyslexic.

BILLY
Goodness, you’ve done well for yourself, haven’t you?

JO
And you two? Aren’t you married or…?

NYSSA
“No. Not yet.”

JO
(gradually) “I’m expecting my husband Cliff back from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Haven’t seen him for quite some time.” (gets tearful) “I hope I’ll see him again. Having to go through all these horrors…makes me miss him all the more.” (Pause; laughs) “This meeting with Mr. Lloyd wasn’t quite what I expected, you see.”

BILLY
“Not with monsters and everything, you mean.”

JO
“Yes! Especially not with monsters!”

Jo laughs through her tears as Nyssa puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

NYSSA
(reassuringly) “I’m sure you’ll see your husband again, Jo. The Doctor will sort everything out.”

JO
“Yes. I know the Doctor. He always means so much to me. He wouldn’t let me down. As I’m sure he doesn’t let you Nyssa and you Billy down.”

BILLY
“Yeah.” (Pause) “Well, we’re nearly at Leicester Square. There’s a signpost taking us there. Let’s hope everything will be alright once we get there.”

The trio continue walking as they make for Leicester Square.

---

SCENE #37 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
On Teruvada 16, an intermission takes place during Bork’s demonstration. Bork and Tulu make some minor adjustments to their machine.

GARNIK
(quietly) “Must you be so impertinent, my son? To be disrespectful and disregardful of what Bork is attempting to demonstrate? I thought you’d be interested in this.”

ERNPIC
“I want a war! I long for a bloody war!”

GARNIK
“And we shall have it, dear son. Once the outcome of this machine is given.”

ENRPIC
“And what has it given us so far? Nothing! It is useless! Tiresome! Entertainment and entertainers really bore me!”

GARNIK
“Then you’re adolescent as you are arrogant, my son!”

Ernpic remains silent.

GARNIK
“I expect you to respect my appreciation of this machine! We’ve been fighting in the dark for too long! The Osgil cities have been the victim of bombardments for far too long. It’s time we had some inspiration to our new battle strategies.”

ERNPIC
“And you really believe this machine will give us that inspiration?”

GARNIK
“Yes! The qualities of this machine are a little dubious. But something of it interests me. Something that will enhance our victory against the enemies of this…bitter war!”

ERNPIC
(sighs) “I take it you wish me to hold my sword. Even if Bork and Tulu are incompetent.”

GARNIK
“They’re not familiar with our ways, Ernpic. Of our lifestyle. Minister Kovut…”

ERNRPIC
(scorns) “Kovut indeed.”

GARNIK
(continues) “Our War Minister! And his army keep holding the fort of the planet’s defences! We shall have plenty of opportunity to examine the prospects of this machine for ourselves. After all…what harm can it possibly do to spoil our schedule?”

ERNPIC
“The fear that this contraption will be the death of us all! For all Nargdu!”

As the argument between Garnik and Ernpic continues, meanwhile with Bork and Tulu…

TULU
“Hey, Bork? Hadn’t we better check your collection before we carry on? After what we’ve just seen?”

BORK
“I’m not putting my hand in and taking out specimens to check whether they’re behaving themselves or not.”

TULU
“But those Tellurians!”

BORK
“They only killed a dinosaur. There’s plenty more where they came from. More T-Rexes. And Stegosauruses; Brontosauruses…”

TULU
(interjects) “So you’re not concerned that this is a systems defect or something?”

BORK
“Tulu, we’ve got a sale to make! We’re on the verge of convincing the king!”

TULU
“But we haven’t been paid yet, Bork! Where are our credits bars?”

BORK
“We’ll get them, Tulu. We will. The king said he’ll pay us.”

TULU
“Oh really, Bork! What guarantee can you expect from a group of saddos like this lot here?”

BORK
“Tulu, these people are different from us. We must make allowances. There are very few of us left.”

TULU
“Yeah. Don’t I know it. We’re the last!”

BORK
“As long as we keep our spirits up and our faces smiling, we’ll keep these people entertained for days on end. Remember, this planet is one of many in a mighty empire. Think of the big audience we’ll be getting.”

Tulu continues to watch Nyssa; Billy and Jo on the glo-sphere, whilst Bork becomes absorbed and excited about the prospect of his demonstration.

---

SCENE #38 – EXT – LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
In Leicester Square, the Doctor turns up to find the place empty.

DOCTOR
“Empty! As I should have guessed! This is not the London I used to remember.”

The Doctor strolls about the place for a bit, making some observations.

DOCTOR
“Hmm. Not only are the people missing but the pigeons too. No birds or any form of animal life in this area. That’s fascinating and disturbing.”

The Doctor then hears the call of some familiar voices.

BILLY
(cries) “Hey, that’s him! Nyssa, that’s him over there!”

NYSSA
(calls) “Doctor! Doctor, over here!”

DOCTOR
(relieved) “At last!” (calls) “Nyssa; Billy! Thank goodness! Are you alright?”

NYSSA
“We’re fine, Doctor! We’re glad to see you!”

BILLY
“And look who we’ve found, Doctor!”

The Doctor sees Nyssa and Billy approach with Jo behind them.

DOCTOR
(astonished) “I don’t believe it! Jo?! Jo Grant?! After all these years?!”

The Doctor finally meets them, seeing Jo up close.

JO
(astounded) “Is this really him? The Doctor? Your Doctor; my Doctor?”

BILLY
“It is, Jo! This is the Doctor!” (confused) “Don’t you recognise him?”

JO
“No. Not this one I don’t.”

NYSSA
“I presume Jo you knew a different version of the Doctor.”

JO
“Why yes! I mean, I met all three of them but…I never expected to see him again like this. So young and fresh.”

DOCTOR
“It is me, Jo. I’m definitely him. The Doctor you knew all those years ago.”

JO
“Oh I know that! I can see it in your eyes. But I thought you’d be like …” (stops mid-sentence; Pause; happily) “Oh it doesn’t matter. It really is good to see you, Doctor! Oh come here and give me a great big hug!”

Jo immediately embraces the Doctor, to which the Doctor takes her in his arms, as they hug one another.

DOCTOR
(bashfully) “Jo? Jo!”

JO
(thrilled) “Oh Doctor! Doctor, I’ve missed you so much!”

BILLY
(to Nyssa) “She really is pleased to see him again isn’t she, Nyssa.”

NYSSA
(to Billy) “Yes, Billy. I had gathered that.”

Eventually, the Doctor gently eases Jo from their embrace and holds her hands in the manner he adopted all those years ago.

DOCTOR
(gently) “Hello Jo! It’s so good to see you too!”

JO
(pleased) “You look so wonderful!”

DOCTOR
“So do you.” (Pause) “How long has it been since you last saw me?”

JO
“Three years.”

DOCTOR
“Ah, yes! That would have been with Iris, wouldn’t it?”

JO
“Doctor! I feel so young again meeting you!”

The Doctor and Jo laugh together before Nyssa interrupts them at some point.

NYSSA
(to Doctor) We found Jo close by to where she was having a meeting in a chemicals HQ building. We had to bring her for you to meet her, Doctor.

DOCTOR
(to Nyssa; Billy) How is it you were able to recognise Jo, you two? Surely you two haven’t met Jo before.

BILLY
Don’t you remember, Doctor? We met Jo on Lonmar with two other friends, Victoria and Ace. During that business with the robots, remember?

NYSSA
It’s true, Doctor. We remembered Jo on that occasion just as she remembered us. She has aged since then but still…

DOCTOR
(surprised) Interesting. Very interesting.

JO
I’m glad they were able to find me, Doctor. They saved me from a rampaging Tyrannosaurus Rex.

DOCTOR
“Did they? Well, I’m pleased they were able to save you from that.”

BILLY
“Doctor, you wouldn’t believe what’s been happening to us! We’ve been chased and attacked by shop window dummies; dinosaurs…”

DOCTOR
“Shop window dummies?”

NYSSA
“The whole city of London seems to have gone into meltdown. There’s no indication or explanation for it.”

DOCTOR
“Yes. I’ve been having trouble being hunted down by giant robots patrolling the city. I can’t understand it myself but London certainly seems to have gone upside down.”

JO
“I don’t remember seeing any giant robots. Everything seems perfectly normal to me. With people going about their business.”

DOCTOR
(confused) “What people, Jo? There’s very few people about in London except us.”

JO
“No! You’ve got it wrong! There are people! Lots of people! I can see whole crowds of them before me in the square as clearly as the nose of my face.”

Moment of tense silence.

JO
“Why are you all staring at me like that?”

The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy become worried whilst Jo remains oblivious to their concerns.

---

SCENE #39 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back in the throne room of Grondor citadel on Teruvada 16, the intermission ends.

GARNIK
(enquiringly) “You have finished with your adjustments, Bork?”

BORK
“Indeed, your majesty! Allow me now to show you something very interesting.”

ERNPIC
(scoffs) “Huh, that makes a change.”

GARNIK
“Ernpic!” (to Bork) “What is it you wish to show me, Bork?”

BORK
“A device on this contraption that I’m sure you’ll find much to your benefit if you wish to purchase a subscription of these machines.”

TULU
“Credit bars to go with it of course.”

BORK
(tells off) Tulu, my dear?! (continues; to Garnik) I’m now going to reset my characters within the confines of this machine to their original settings.

ERNPIC
(uninterested) Really? What is that supposed to mean?

BORK
Allow me to explain. (Pause) Take the Tellurians for example.

Bork flicks a switch on the machine.

BORK
We’re now back in circuit three.

ERNPIC
Do we really have to see these…disgusting vermin?

BORK
Oh yes! I see what you mean, your young majesty! They’re not pleasant to look at, I know. But once you’ve seen this, you’ll fully understand what I mean.

GARNIK
(intrigued) Carry on.

BORK
“I draw your attention to this knob here beside the dials.”

Bork points for Garnik and Ernpic to see.

BORK
“This is the aggrometer! Now if I adjust it slightly, I can change the behavioural pattern of any life-form within their separate environment as you can see on the glo-sphere.”

GARNIK
“Fascinating.”

BORK
“Watch carefully, as you’ll see something interesting about to happen! I’m going to reset the players in their original positions.”

TULU
(whispers) “Bork, are you sure this is a good idea?”

BORK
(reassuringly) Trust me, Tulu. I know what I’m doing.

Bork begins to readjust the aggrometer for King Garnik and Prince Ernpic to watch as well as Tulu. Bork slowly turns the knob.

---

© Tim Bradley, 2019

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