4. Breaking The Trance
SCENE #40 – EXT – LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
Back in Leicester Square, the Doctor; Nyssa; Billy and Jo contemplate what to do next.
NYSSA
“What do you think has happened, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“I’m not sure. But I’m certain this isn’t London. We wanted to come to Vektris. Instead we ended up here.”
JO
Same old Doctor. Can’t steer that TARDIS of yours properly.
DOCTOR
I told you before, Jo. I don’t steer the TARDIS. I program it.
BILLY
If this isn’t London Doctor, what is it then? A hologram? An alien planet that looks like London?
DOCTOR
Possibly. Or perhaps some construction made by synthetic material for a full invasion. I encountered something like this before in an Earth-like setting which wasn’t Earth at all.
NYSSA
What do you suggest we do then, Doctor? Explore as usual.
BILLY
That might take all day. We don’t even know how to get out from one part of the city to another. We keep getting lost.
DOCTOR
Yes it’s like trying to get out of a labyrinth. (thinks; to Nyssa) Nyssa? You said you and Billy went to an underground tube station where no electrical current was running on the rail lines.
NYSSA
That’s right. We dropped a stone to test it but there was nothing. No sign of an electrical current. There was no-one else like a janitor or a caretaker to tell us what’s going on.
BILLY
That’s right. No train came out from the tunnels. All lights at the platform had been extinguished when we got there. And no sign of the passengers.
DOCTOR
(thinks) Then I suggest we check there again. In the tunnels.
JO
What? You suggest we go down those dirty grimy tube tunnels?
DOCTOR
Why not? It’ll probably give us a chance to explore a tube train tunnel without any trouble.
NYSSA
Doctor, those tunnels were pitch-black when Billy and I went to that station!
DOCTOR
“Don’t worry. I’ve brought torches.”
The Doctor fumbles through his coat pockets to take out the torches. He shows them to his companions.
BILLY
“You had those on you all this time?!”
DOCTOR
“We’ll be able to see our way through the tunnel as clear as bright day.”
NYSSA
“Doctor? Have you noticed something peculiar about today?”
BILLY
“Well everything’s peculiar, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“No I mean…it was nine thirty a.m. when we first arrived here, wasn’t it?”
DOCTOR
“Yes so?”
NYSSA
“Well…I can see from that clock up ahead, that it’s nine o’clock. We can’t have been here less than half an hour surely.”
DOCTOR
“Yes. I was wondering when you were going to mention that.”
BILLY
“Yes I see now!” (Pause) “But we must have been here more than that. Probably about…an hour and a half or two hours maybe.”
DOCTOR
“And the clouds. Look at the clouds in the sky.”
BILLY
“What about them?”
DOCTOR
“Well, don’t you think clouds change their position during the day depending on the gravitational pull of the planet. Those clouds have remained stationary. No indication that time has passed during the day.”
NYSSA
“Perhaps it’s just coincidence.”
DOCTOR
“I’ve watched the sky, Nyssa. And it’s not just coincidence. Those clouds haven’t moved at all since we’ve arrived. And speaking of coincidence…Jo?” (realises; calls) “Jo?! Where’s Jo?!”
BILLY
“She’s gone, Doctor! Jo’s gone!”
NYSSA
“What?! But where has she gone to?! She was here a minute ago!”
DOCTOR
“She’s wandered off somewhere.”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
(realises) “There she is! She’s walking down that street away from us!”
DOCTOR
(calls) “Jo?! Jo, where are you going?! Come back, Jo! Jo!”
But Jo keeps on walking away from them, not hearing.
BILLY
“She’s not answering! Perhaps she didn’t hear us!”
NYSSA
“She’s not deaf, Billy!”
DOCTOR
(intrigued) “There must be another reason.” (Pause; insistently) “Come on! We’d better follow her! I can’t help but wonder if she’s in a trance.”
They walk on as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy follow Jo down the street.
SCENE #41 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back on Teruvada 16, in the King’s throne room…
ERNPIC
“What is the relevance of this demonstration, Bork? It seems to be taking a long time to get to the point.”
GARNIK
“I must concur with my son. How much longer do we have to wait?”
BORK
It takes time for the players to re-position themselves. Take this Tellurian for example. The older woman. She’s making back to where she started. Inside that building. She has a scene with the manager, a monster attacks…
TULU
(interjects) The lately deceased Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bork?
BORK
(embarrassed) Yes well… (clears throat) …and the chase is on as the girl runs for her life. Whether it’d be certain death or a hero comes to the rescue. I prefer the latter, since it makes the adventure more exciting.
ERNPIC
A fantasy! A mere fantasy! You’re selling us a device that provides fantasy adventures for all Teruvadans.
BORK
It is of course your choice how you use the machine. I don’t wish to dictate on its usage by the potential owner.
GARNIK
How gratified I am to hear you say that, Bork.
BORK
(laughs) “Oh, your majesty is too kind. I assure you the price will be worth it.”
Bork then looks to the glo-sphere.
BORK
“Ah! Now here’s the interesting bit. Watch carefully, as you can see how this scene starts. With the woman about to meet the business manager.”
With that, Bork continues his demonstration to Garnik and Ernpic.
SCENE #42 – INT – CORRIDOR, CHEMI-WORLD LTD CENTRAL HQ – DAY, MORNING
Back in London, the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy return to the Chemi-World as they return to Mr. Lloyd’s office. They make for Lloyd’s office, as they pass Miss Gallo the secretary.
MISS GALLO
“Hello? Excuse me, you three? May I help you…?”
DOCTOR
(focused) “Very sorry! Can’t stop! Our friend’s in there!”
The trio enter the office, whilst Miss Gallo gets up from her desk.
MISS GALLO
“‘Ere! I can’t allow you in there! Not without an appointment. Company policy.”
SCENE #43 – INT – LLOYD’S OFFICE, CHEMI-WORLD LTD CENTRAL HQ – DAY, MORNING
Inside the office, the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy see Jo about to have a meeting with Mr. Lloyd again. The two shake each other’s hands.
MR. LLOYD
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jones.”
JO
(delighted) “Thank you. It’s very kind of you to see me like this.”
MR. LLOYD
“Please sit down!”
JO
“Thank you.”
Jo sits down in her chair whilst Mr. Lloyd sits down in his chair behind the desk.
MR. LLOYD
“I gather your husband couldn’t make it, Mrs. Jones.”
JO
(apologetically) “No. Cliff sends his apologies. He’s….”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy step forward.
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “Excuse me, sorry to interrupt [but…”]
MR. LLOYD
(outraged) “Who the blazes are you? What are you doing in my office?!”
NYSSA
(to Jo) “Jo? What are you doing back here? Why did you leave us?”
JO
(startled) “Oh! Hello! I beg your pardon?”
BILLY
“And how come this guy’s still alive! Last time we saw him, he got thrown out of a building!”
Miss Gallo then enters.
MR. LLOYD
“Miss Gallo! You let these two strangers into my office!”
MISS GALLO
(apologetically) “I’m sorry, Mr. Lloyd. I told them you were busy…”
MR. LLOYD
(interrupts; angrily) “You’ve not heard the last of this, Miss Gallo!”
NYSSA
(to Jo) “Jo, what’s the matter?”
JO
(confused) “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
NYSSA
(surprised) “Jo, it’s us! Billy; me and the Doctor! You can’t have forgotten us already!”
JO
(gradually; realises) “Wait a minute!” (pleased) “Why?! Nyssa, it’s you! You’re Nyssa of Traken!”
NYSSA
“Yes Jo, it’s me! I [was…”]
JO
(thrilled) “Well, it only just occurred to me! But how come you’re here? I mean…Oh Nyssa, come here!”
Jo gives Nyssa a big hug; as if she’s met her for the first time. Nyssa is startled as are Billy and the Doctor.
BILLY
(quietly; to Doctor) “Doctor! She’s acting like she’s only just met us!”
DOCTOR
“Yes Billy, I know. Interesting, isn’t it?”
MR. LLOYD
(annoyed) “What is this all about? What’s going on?”
Jo stops hugging Nyssa.
JO
(pleased; to Nyssa) “Oh it’s really wonderful to see you again, Nyssa!” (to Billy) “And you Billy dear!”
Jo then gives a hug to a bemused Billy.
BILLY
(bemused) “Jo, you know who we are already! We’ve met today, remember?”
JO
“Really?! Have we?”
NYSSA
“Don’t you remember, Jo? About an hour ago we first met you! Then a dinosaur – a Tyrannosaurus Rex – came and attacked us. But we managed to escape it.”
JO
“Steady on, Nyssa darling. My mind’s woolly but I don’t remember any of this.”
NYSSA
“You don’t?”
JO
“No.”
A moment of tense silence ensues.
BILLY
“But you know all of us, Jo! Me; Nyssa and the Doctor.”
JO
(surprised) “The Doctor?! This is the Doctor?! Goodness me! He’s changed! So fresh and young!”
DOCTOR
“You said that before, Jo! You’ve forgotten us already, haven’t you?”
JO
“Forgotten? I’m very sorry, but I haven’t seen or met any of you today. In fact, hardly at all!”
Hearing Jo say this, Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor become distraught.
SCENE #44 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back on Teruvada 16, Bork finishes his demonstration to Garnik and Ernpic.
BORK
“You see, your majesties! The scene is reset. And it can be reset over and over again as much as you want. In order to get different outcomes to different scenarios. You can add your own characters and monsters into the mix; to make the actual entertainment more…amusing!”
GARNIK
“Very ingenious, Bork. Which company runs these machines again?”
BORK
“Oh. Um…”
ERNPIC
“I agree with my father. It is very ingenious. But there’s one slight criticism I’d like to make.”
GARNIK
“Indeed, Ernpic? And what’s that?”
ERNPIC
“You showed us it can be reset once. I wish to see it reset again, only this time with more clarity and varying quality.”
GARNIK
“My son, must you be so difficult?!”
BORK
(reassuringly; to Garnik) “It’s alright, your majesty. I see the validity of your son’s query. The resetting of each character can be done over some certain duration. At the moment, I’ve set it for half an hour. I can reset it sooner if you wish.”
GARNIK
“Please do, Bork.”
Bork resets the dial on his machine whilst Tulu whispers in his ear.
TULU
(whispers) “See, Bork? I told you there was something odd about those strangers.”
BORK
(whispers) “What are you talking about, Tulu my dear?”
TULU
(whispers) “Well, didn’t you see the way those three Tellurians behaved when you reset the dial? They didn’t react at all! Didn’t set themselves back to their original position. They seem to know what’s going on.”
BORK
“Nonsense, my dear! You’re imagining things.”
They continue to watch as events unfold on the screen.
SCENE #45 – INT – LLOYD’S OFFICE, CHEMI-WORLD LTD CENTRAL HQ – DAY, MORNING
In Lloyd’s office, everything is reset back to normal again as Jo has just smashed the vase of flowers again and Lloyd enters. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are unaffected.
MR. LLOYD
(warmly) “Ah! Mrs. Jones! It is Mrs. Jones, isn’t it?”
JO
(apprehensively) “Yes. Mr. Lloyd, is it?! I’m so sorry! I’ve knocked over one of your beautiful vases. And such lovely flowers!”
MR. LLOYD
“Think nothing of it, Mrs. Jones. I always have a spare vase…”
NYSSA
(interrupts) “Jo; Mr. Lloyd, what are you doing?”
BILLY
“It’s like you’re meeting each other for the first time here!”
MR. LLOYD
(outraged) “Who the blazes are you?! What are you doing in my office?!”
DOCTOR
(to Jo) “Jo, it’s me! The Doctor! And this is Nyssa and Billy!”
JO
“Pardon?”
NYSSA
(baffled) “Doctor, what’s happening? Why is Jo behaving like this?!”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know. But I’ve got a shrewd idea.” (Pause; realises; to Nyssa) “Just give me a minute. Keep Jo talking whilst I search for something!”
The Doctor searches through his coat pockets whilst Nyssa and Billy talk to Jo.
BILLY
“Jo, snap out of it! We’ve already met before!”
JO
(delighted) “Why?! Nyssa and Billy! How good it is to see you again!”
Jo gives Nyssa and Billy a hug, delighted to see them. Nyssa and Billy are completely bewildered as they try to snap Jo out of it.
NYSSA
(insistently) “You’ve met us already, Jo! We’ve told you before!”
JO
(confused) “I’m sorry. I am very delighted to see you both. But I’m certain we haven’t met before this hour. Before nine o’clock.”
BILLY
“Nine o’clock? It must be half past one by now!”
NYSSA
“Billy, that isn’t helping!”
The Doctor eventually finds what he’s been looking for inside his coat pockets as he then steps forward towards Jo.
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “It’s alright, Jo. I know what’s happened to you.”
JO
(puzzled) “Do you? Who are you?”
DOCTOR
“You’ve been hypnotised! Some mental barrier’s blocking your memory.”
MR. LLOYD
(annoyed) “This is unheard of! I shall have to call my secretary! And security!”
BILLY
“What’s that you’ve got there, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Remember this, Billy? The memorometer! Very handy device when I used it on Nodnol!”
NYSSA
(surprised) “I thought you’d never use that again, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
(to Nyssa) “Desperate times call for desperate measures, Nyssa.” (to Jo) “Now Jo. Don’t worry about a thing. Just sit down. Remain calm. I’m just going to apply this device to your forehead.”
The Doctor gets Jo to sit down and places the memorometer to her head.
JO
(anxiously) “What’s happening? What are you doing?”
DOCTOR
“Remember Metabellis Three, Jo? Where I managed to get one of those blue sapphires? It emitted a blue light and saved Mike Yates, didn’t it.”
JO
(recalls) “Metabellis Three? Yes. I [remember…”]
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “I haven’t got a blue sapphire with me unfortunately. You sent the other one back to me in the post when…anyway that’s not important. But this memorometer I’ve brought with me is the next best thing.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, what are you doing?”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly; to Nyssa) “Quiet, Nyssa! Quiet!” (to Jo) “Jo, look at the light on this device! See it flicker?”
The Doctor taps a light on the memorometer a number of times, aiming it at Jo. She stares straight into it.
JO
(dazed) “Light…on device.” (Pause) “See it…flicker.”
DOCTOR
“The light will help remove the block in your mind, Jo. Make you forget the suppressed memories.” (Pause) “See the light, Jo. See the light clearly in your mind. Feel the light, Jo. Feel the light as it lifts you out of your subconscious state. Let the light heal you. Heal your mind. Let it set you free.”
JO
(dazed) “See…the light. Feel…the light. Let the light…set…me…free.”
As with the Metabellis II crystal in ‘The Green Death’, the light from the memorometer makes Jo giddy before she faints and slowly breaks out of her mental block to go to sleep. Jo falls off her chair and onto the floor, going into unconscious. The Doctor sees Jo fast asleep with Nyssa at his side.
NYSSA
(concerned) “Doctor? Jo…?”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “She’ll be alright, Nyssa. She’ll wake up in a couple of minutes.”
NYSSA
“A couple of minutes?! Doctor, what did you do to her?”
DOCTOR
“It’s a little addition of mine. I told you I was going to make a new memorometer. Part of an inspiration I had was when I wanted to break people out of deep sleep or a hypnotic trance. I only use this when absolutely necessary of course.”
NYSSA
“You had that in your pocket the whole time? And you saved Jo?”
DOCTOR
“In a manner of speaking. Pockets are bigger on the inside.”
NYSSA
(shrewdly) “Very funny.”
DOCTOR
“As to whether I saved Jo, I’m hoping she’ll wake up to remember us. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
NYSSA
(sighs) “Well, you certainly got Mr. Lloyd to sleep. He’s sprawled all over his desk.”
DOCTOR
“Yes.” (to Billy) “Are you impressed, Billy?” (Pause; confused) “Billy?”
Billy doesn’t respond.
NYSSA
“Doctor, you’ve put Billy in a trance!”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Oh no! The memorometer!”
NYSSA
“He looked at the light as well as Jo.”
The Doctor clicks his fingers in front of Billy’s face.
DOCTOR
(insistently) “Wake up, Billy! Wake up! Billy, wake up!”
Billy eventually snaps out of his trance, regaining balance.
BILLY
(startled) “W-W-What happened? There was this light…”
DOCTOR
(interjects) “Billy, I just can’t take you anywhere! You let yourself go there.”
Jo then groans from the floor as she wakes up.
JO
(groans) “What…what’s happening? What’s going on?”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Jo’s waking up!” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa, see to Jo will you whilst I sort out Billy.”
The Doctor goes to sort out Billy whilst Nyssa kneels to check on Jo.
NYSSA
(concerned) Jo? Jo, are you alright?
JO
(gradually) Nyssa! Nyssa, is that you? Oh thank goodness!
NYSSA
It’s alright, Jo! You’re safe now! (Pause; realises) You remembered me, Jo!
JO
Of course. Why shouldn’t I remember? I’m glad to see a friendly face.” (groans) “Oh but I’ve got a splitting headache!
Jo gets up as she takes in her surroundings with Nyssa helping her.
JO
(confused) But… how did I get here? And what am I doing back inside Mr. Lloyd’s office?
SCENE #46 – INT – KING’S THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back in the king’s throne room in the citadel of Grondor on Teruvada 16, King Garnik and Prince Ernpic are outraged by what they’ve seen on the screen.
ERNPIC
(outraged) “What just happened?! What did those humans do to that female?!”
BORK
(baffled) “I-I…I don’t understand this!”
ERNPIC
“Tell us the truth!”
BORK
“I am telling you the truth, your majesty! I don’t know what’s happened!”
TULU
“I said there was something funny about those Tellurians. I said so! But you wouldn’t listen to me, Bork!”
GARNIK
“Silence!” (Pause) “I gather this causes a chain reaction for your machinery.”
BORK
“Not at all, dear majesty! I’m sure those three faulty Tellurians won’t cause any more trouble!”
TULU
“They will if they pack the circuits in.”
BORK
“Those circuits are impregnable! Nothing can break out of them! They’re escape proof!”
ERNPIC
“I should like to see this for myself! I want those human scum apprehended and kept under lock and key! No! Better than that! I want them killed!”
BORK
“But your majesty…”
ERNPIC
“Immediately!”
GARNIK
“I must concur with my son. Eradicate these…Tellurians at once!”
TULU
“We can’t do that! Our livelihood depends on this machine!”
BORK
“We’re just simple travelling entertainers! We simply amuse people! Nothing serious; nothing political!”
GARNIK
“If you do not do as you’re told, I shall have you flogged in the courtyard!”
ERNPIC
(to Bork) “That control on the machine! The knob to reset people?”
BORK
“The aggrometer, yes.”
ERNPIC
“You said it can change the behavioural patterns of any human within the confines of that machine “
BORK
“According to any particular amusement, yes.”
ERNPIC
“Does this include violent emotions?”
BORK
“Violent; happy; sad. Whatever tickles your fancy. The emotion enhancer is this dial here.”
Bork points to the dial and Tulu gasps.
TULU
“Bork, stop him! Look out! He’s going to…”
Ernpic rushes for the machine and adjusts the aggrometer’s emotion enhancer, much to Bork and Tulu’s distress.
BORK
(panics; to Ernpic) “Your majesty, what are you doing?!”
GARNIK
(to Ernpic) “My son, stand back!”
TULU
(to Ernpic) “Leave that machine alone! You’re going to mess it up!”
But it’s too late as Ernpic turns the knobs on the machine before stepping back.
ERNPIC
(triumphantly) “Whatever happens now, those four humans are stone dead!”
SCENE #47 – INT – LLOYD’S OFFICE, CHEMI-WORLD LTD CENTRAL HQ – DAY, MORNING
Back at Chemi-World HQ in London, Jo recovers as she’s helped by the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy.
BILLY
“Jo, are you alright? You feel well?”
JO
(dazed) “I…I think so. Ooh I feel I’ve got hammers knocking into my head.”
DOCTOR
“It’ll soon pass. Don’t worry, Jo. You’ll be right as rain within minutes.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, you knew what was happening to Jo. How did you know?”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know. Not yet anyway. I have to be sure. But you see, since Jo was in a trance-like state…”
Suddenly, Mr. Jones gets up from his desk in a violent manner.
MR. LLOYD
(aggressively) “Who are these people, Mrs. Jones?! What are they doing in my office?!!!”
JO
(puzzled) “Mr. Lloyd, whatever’s the matter with you?!”
MR. LLOYD
(aggressively) “Right! I’m going to bash those three heads and see their skulls smashed!!!”
BILLY
“What’s got into him?”
Mr. Lloyd then draws a gun from his desk and points it at the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo who gasp.
MR. LLOYD
“Stay where you are! All of you! Do not move!!!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “He’s got a gun!” (to Mr. Lloyd) “Put that gun away, Mr. Lloyd!”
DOCTOR
(astounded) “This is certainly a change of events.”
JO
(pleads) “Please, Mr. Lloyd! Put that gun down! Somebody’s going to get hurt!”
MR. LLOYD
(shouts) “No!!! I want you all to suffer! I am the best!!! I want you all to scream in pain once I’ve shot you all dead!!!”
BILLY
“He’s gone bonkers!”
DOCTOR
“I think we should leave!”
JO
“Good idea!”
NYSSA
“Come on! Let’s go!”
But as the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo are about to leave, they find the way is blocked by a menacing Miss Gallo.
MISS GALLO
(menacingly) Don’t even think about it! You’re not going anywhere!
A moment of tense silence.
MR. LLOYD
(menacingly) You see, Doctor! You fools! I have the power!!! You cannot escape me!!! No-one escapes from Jerome Lloyd!!!
DOCTOR
On the contrary, Mr. Lloyd! I happen to have learnt some fairly neat tricks from Harry Houdini! And I wouldn’t hesitate on putting them to good use!
NYSSA
(shrewdly) Doctor, this isn’t the time for your reminiscences.
DOCTOR
(retorts) Harry was very hospitable, Nyssa. Offered us a cup of tea, remember?
MR. LLOYD
(aggressively) “So you want to fight, do you?! You want a fight?!!!”
BILLY
“Whoa, whoa! Steady on, mate!”
Mr. Lloyd roars enraged as he charges and grabs at the Doctor by the shoulders. They wrestle with each other in the office.
MR. LLOYD
(enraged) “Come on then! Fight me! Fight like a man!!!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor! Be careful!”
JO
“He’s got him in a lock! I never thought Mr. Lloyd was like this!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Nyssa; Jo! Get back!”
The three companions back away, as the Doctor and Mr. Lloyd tug at each other.
MR. LLOYD
“You can’t stop me! You hear?! I’m the best fighter in the whole of London!!!”
DOCTOR
“And you’ve never met John O’Sullivan!”
With that, the Doctor swings Lloyd around and pushes him into Miss Gallo. Mr. Lloyd crashes into Miss Gallo, letting out a yelp. Mr. Lloyd and Miss Gallo collapse together on the floor as the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo look to see them.
BILLY
“You pushed him, Doctor! Right into Miss Gallo!”
DOCTOR
“Well, at least he had something soft to land on!”
NYSSA
“Doctor, don’t you think we should leave now?! Before something else occurs!”
JO
“Absolutely! Mr. Lloyd would probably want to get up and fight again!”
DOCTOR
“Come on! Out through the door!”
With that, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo run out of Mr. Lloyd’s office to escape, whilst Mr. Lloyd gets up from the floor and onto his feet, still angry.
MR. LLOYD
(angrily) “They’re getting away!” (to Miss Gallo) “Miss Gallo! Call the police immediately!”
Miss Gallo groans as she gets up from the floor.
SCENE #48 – EXT – LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo run out of Chemi-World HQ into Leicester Square in London.
DOCTOR
“Now keep running, you three! Don’t look back!”
BILLY
“But Doctor, I don’t understand…”
NYSSA
(interjects) “Not now, Billy! Just keep running! And that’s hard for me to say!”
JO
“Oh I’ve missed this! This brings back happy memories!”
DOCTOR
“Happy to hear them, Jo. But let’s just focus on the running, shall we?!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo run further before coming to a stop in Leicester Square.
BILLY
“Doctor, we can’t keep running like this!”
NYSSA
“I agree. Surely we’re far out of range for Mr. Lloyd and everyone else at the Chemi-World building.”
DOCTOR
“We can’t take any chances! I’m determined to find us a safe place!”
BILLY
(wryly) “Safe?! Nothing’s ever safe with you, Doctor!”
JO
“If I had four motorbikes on me, I’d give one each to you and we’d be away in no time.”
NYSSA
“You ride a motorbike, Jo?”
JO
“Not any more. But I used to.”
DOCTOR
“We need a car! Possibly one with a key in the ignition.”
BILLY
“Nyssa and I came by car, Doctor. When we were lost. Earlier before we met up with you and Jo.”
NYSSA
(realises) “It’s over there! On the far side of the road! There’s enough room for all four of us!”
DOCTOR
(pleased) “Brilliant, Nyssa; Billy! Come on! Let’s make for the car!”
JO
(shocked) “Doctor! Cars of this day and age still cause pollution!”
DOCTOR
“I’m determined to get away from here, Jo! Unless you’ve got a better idea!”
JO
(thinks; gradually) “Come on then! Car it is!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo reach for the car and make to get in.
BILLY
“Shall I drive Doctor or shall you?”
DOCTOR
“I’ll drive if it’s all the same to you, Billy. I have a knack with driving cars.”
JO
“Don’t I know it, Doctor! You were very fond of Bessie.”
NYSSA
“Jo and I will sit in the back. You Billy sit in the front with the Doctor.”
BILLY
“Right-ho, Nyssa.”
JO
“Yes. We girls keep an eye out for any monsters or thugs on our tails!”
The Doctor and Billy get into the car via the front whilst Nyssa and Jo get into the car via the back. They close the car doors once they’re in.
SCENE #49 – INT – CAR, LEICESTER SQUARE – DAY, MORNING
Inside, the Doctor turns the car key into the ignition and the car engines come to life.
DOCTOR
(satisfied) “Good, splendid. Love the sound of a good old engine. Most satisfying and reassuring.”
BILLY
“Come on, Doctor! Let’s get a move on!”
DOCTOR
“Right you are, Billy! Moving into first gear!”
The Doctor changes into first gear before gunfire comes from outside. The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo look outside to see alien monsters that grunt coming from around the corner towards them.
NYSSA
“Doctor! There’s a group of strange ape-like anthropoids coming this way! They’ve got guns!”
BILLY
“They look singed! What are they?!”
JO
(shocked) “Ogrons! Those are Ogrons!”
DOCTOR
(shouts; urgently) “Nyssa; Billy; Jo, duck!!!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo duck as the Ogrons open fire with their weapons at them. The car windows get smashed and glass shatters. Nyssa and Jo cry out startled from this.
NYSSA
(shocked) “They’re firing onto us! They’ve damaged the car windows!”
JO
“They’re coming straight for us! They’re going to kill us!”
BILLY
(urgently) “Doctor, let’s get a move on! Now!!!”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Right, yes! Hold tight, you three!”
With that, the Doctor depresses the clutch and the car drives forward off down the road.
SCENE #50 – EXT – LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
As the car drives off, the Ogrons keep on firing at it with the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo inside. The car goes out of their firing range and the Ogrons stop chasing and firing at their prey. The Ogron leader Kharshak turns to his comrade Wrarshak.
KHARSHAK
“They escape. Inform troops. Smash and destroy vehicle they in.”
WRARSHAK
“Yes, Leader Kharshak. Patrols shall destroy enemies!”
KHARSHAK
“Yes, Wrarshak! All enemies shall be destroyed!”
WRARSHAK
(to Ogrons) “You! Others! Come with me!”
The Ogrons follow Wrarshak as they run off to find another way to catch the Doctor and his friends.
SCENE #51 – INT – CHARING CROSS ROAD, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
On Charing Cross Road in London, the Doctor drives at full speed with Nyssa, Billy and Jo in the car.
BILLY
(baffled) “Jo, what did you call those guys?!”
JO
“Ogrons! They’re intergalactic thugs! They work for the Daleks!”
NYSSA
“The Daleks are responsible for all this then?!”
DOCTOR
“The Ogrons tend to work for various other employers. Not just for the Daleks. They’re thugs for hire. They even worked for the Master.”
JO
“Who subsequently worked for the Daleks too, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, well…we can’t be too sure of anything now can we?”
BILLY
“This is turning out to be a weird day! First plastic men; then robots; dinosaurs and now big gorilla-like soldiers!”
NYSSA
“Whereabouts are we heading, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Piccadilly! Back to the TARDIS!”
NYSSA
“We’ve been trying to reach that place for the last two hours, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Ah but I know my way back, Nyssa! I came here by an alternative route. Hitching a ride with a robot that is.”
SCENE #52 – EXT – PICCADILLY, LONDON – DAY, MORNING
Eventually, back in Piccadilly, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo arrive back where the TARDIS was parked. They leave the car that they drove in a distance away.
NYSSA
“You’ve got something in mind when we get into the TARDIS, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Yes, Nyssa! Hopefully to get away from here as quickly as possible.”
JO
“I’m looking forward to seeing the TARDIS again. I’ve missed seeing that big old blue police box.”
BILLY
“Hopefully we’ll all be safe once we’re inside…”
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “Wait a minute! Stop!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo stop in the middle of the road.
NYSSA
(shocked) “Empty! The street’s empty!”
DOCTOR
(aghast) “It’s gone, Nyssa! The TARDIS has gone! Vanished!”
NYSSA
“But where is it, Doctor?! It was here when we left it!”
DOCTOR
“Someone’s stolen my TARDIS!”
BILLY
“The TARDIS can’t have been nicked!”
JO
Are you sure it was here where you left it, Doctor? You know how easy it is to forget where you are in the city of London.
NYSSA
Well, we’re sure of it, Jo! (Pause) I can’t understand it. Who could have stolen the TARDIS?
DOCTOR
And what would they want to use it for? And why?!
Just then, Ogron firepower echoes nearby.
JO
Doctor?! The Ogrons! They’ve caught up with us!
NYSSA
(anxiously) Doctor, we can’t stay here! We have to get away!
DOCTOR
You’re right! Come on!
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo make a run for it before the Ogrons appear out of nowhere. They block their path, firing their weapons at them.
JO
“Ogrons! They’re here!”
DOCTOR
(shouts; urgently) “Quick, you three! Back the other way! Run!”
But as they run the other way, one Ogron shoots the Doctor. The Doctor cries out in pain and collapses to the floor.
NYSSA/BILLY/JO
(concerned) “Doctor?!”
Nyssa, Billy and Jo run back for the Doctor. As they try to wake up the Doctor on the floor, the Ogrons charge in for them.
BILLY
(shocked) “He’s been shot! One of those bozos shot him!”
NYSSA
(cries) “Doctor, wake up! Please Doctor, wake up!”
JO
(panics) “He can’t be dead! He simply can’t be!”
Nyssa, Billy and Jo are then roughly brought to stand up by the Ogrons. The Ogrons grab them viciously by the arms.
JO
(cries; protests) “Oww! Let go, you Ogrons! Let go!”
NYSSA
(protests) “You’re hurting my arms! Get off me!”
BILLY
(cries; protests) “Oww! Easy with handling me, will you?!”
Despite their protests, Nyssa; Billy and Jo can’t break free from the Ogrons’ custody. Their leader Kharshak and his comrade Wrarshak soon approach.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “I take it this is the Ogrons’ leader coming towards us.”
JO
(dismayed) Oh great!
Kharshak and Wrarshak look directly at Nyssa, Billy and Jo with menacing and threatening intent. They raise their weapons at them.
KHARSHAK
(grunts) You three! Enemies of Ogrons! Come!
WRARSHAK
(grunts) You three! Prisoners of Ogrons!
Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.
© Tim Bradley, 2019
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Whoah this is brilliantly written, a timey wimey plot that’s easy to understand (are you reading this Steven Moffat) i love how Mr Lloyd & The Doctor have a scuffle & he landed on Miss Gallo that’s very Fifth Doctorish, the interplay between the four characters is charming & hilarious as the humourous dialogue sparkles & bounces off one other, had to laugh how Billy became hypnotized it makes a change from Nyssa i suppose lol.
And now the Ogrons have arrived think need Corporal Darby to the rescue to save the day lol.
Brilliant chapter Tim, faced paced, action packed but very character driven.
Hi Simon.
Really? Timey-wimey is it? Yeah I suppose it does have a loopy kind of feel to it with time being repeated over and over again when the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy encounter Jo and Mr. Lloyd. I think I was in RTD/Steven Moffat mode when writing those fiddly scenes. 😀 Glad you found those scenes easy to understand when you read them.
Glad you enjoyed it when Mr. Lloyd and the Doctor were about to fight before the Doctor had Lloyd land onto Miss Gallo. Glad you found that Fifth Doctorish. I enjoyed writing the interplay between Five, Nyssa, Billy and Jo in this story. I found it easy to write for the four as a team and I’m glad you enjoyed the humour and charm between them as you read the story.
Yeah I liked that moment when Billy got caught in a trance when the Doctor hypnotised Jo first to snap out of the state she was in. I liked the moment in ‘The Green Death’ when the Brigadier got caught in a trance once the Doctor used the blue crystal on Mike Yates. I wanted to use it here with Billy. Interesting you found Billy getting hypnotised instead of Nyssa for a change. I should do a story where Billy gets possessed instead of Nyssa for a change. 😀
Yes the Ogrons do make an appearance at the end. Who knows? Maybe Corporal James will run in to save the day. Have to find out in the next chapter.
Glad you enjoyed ‘Part One’ of this story and that you found this chapter action-packed, fast paced and character driven. Look forward to seeing you in ‘Part Two’.
Tim. 🙂
Forgot to mention totally unrelated this, have you seen a film called Dune it was a film from 1984 based on Frank Herberts epic novels it a sci-fiction which is actually getting a reboot next year, it’s one of those marmite films you’ll love or loathe but I was watching it the other night & wondered what Tim Bradley would make of this film.
I’ve never heard of ‘Dune’ before, Simon. I’ve checked it out on Wikipedia and I see Patrick Stewart’s in it. I see it was a box office failure at the time.
Thanks for letting me know about it, Simon. If I should ever chance upon it, I’ll let you know.
Tim. 🙂