8. Swamp City

SCENE #91 – INT – THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Later that day on Teruvada 16, inside the king’s throne room in the citadel of Grondor, King Garnik; Prince Ernpic and Minister Kovut enter. Bork and Tulu wait for them to sit down before they can begin their demonstration.

BORK
(calls) “Roll up! Roll up! Roll up for another show! With myself Bork and my delightful assistant Tulu, as we present…”

GARNIK
(interrupts) “Cease this trivial ceremonial greeting, Bork. It does not satisfy my son nor the war minister. Neither does it satisfy me.”

BORK
“As you wish, your majesty.”

GARNIK
“You’ll be reminded that the Nargdu Empire is at great risk concerning the war. Glory to Empire! Teruvada Sixteen’s lifespan is on your conscience.”

KOVUT
“The enemy is about to overtake the city walls. If you two can provide this help as our king implies, then it’d be better good.”

GARNIK
“Or else you shall be executed for incompetence and slander. Do we make ourselves clear?”

BORK
“Perfectly clear, your majesty.”

TULU
(whispers; to Bork) “I told you we should have backed out when we did.”

BORK
(hushes; to Tulu) “Quiet Tulu, my dear.”

ERNPIC
(impatiently) “Get on with it!”

BORK
(clears throat) “Now your majesties; Minister Kovut. I’ve basically shown you the little wonders of my machine. Now, I intend to show you something different.”

ERNPIC
(mockingly; laughs) “I hardly see any variety.”

BORK
(continues) “I intend to show you…the prize of my collection! My favourite monsters! My little carnivores! Great hits with the children!”

TULU
(anxiously) “No Bork, you can’t show them those.”

BORK
I can show them whatever I like, Tulu. It’s my greatest entertainment.

ERNPIC
That I most sincerely doubt.

GARNIK
Please proceed with your demonstration, Bork. I’m so intrigued.

BORK
(gradually) Now, I’m going to switch to circuit five.

KOVUT
Circuit five?

BORK
The habitat for these creatures I intend to show you. Don’t be put off by the landscape and the environment. It’s essential for my monsters to live in. Now watch. They should come up any minute now.

Bork presses a switch to show what’s in Circuit #5 via the monitor screen. A moment of silence ensues. There’s nothing displayed on the screen.

KOVUT
“I see nothing.”

BORK
“Just give it time. They will pop up I’m sure.”

Everyone continues to watch. But still nothing happens.

TULU
(whispers; to Bork) “Seems like they don’t want to play ball, Bork.”

ERNPIC
“This is a waste of time!” (to Garnik) “I told you, father! I told you we should have…”

GARNIK
(realises; cries) “Just a minute! What is that?”

They all watch and see as Bork’s new monsters appear on the monitor screen of the machine.

BORK
(pleased) There you are, you see! The deadliest and most evil lifeform in the whole of the universe!

KOVUT
(amazed) They’re so large! So impressive! And terrifying!

TULU
(whispers; to Bork) You’ve done it now, Bork. You’ve got them captivated.

BORK
(to Garnik; Ernpic; Kovut) Let me switch on the sound speakers. These monsters give off the most terrifying and deadliest of shrieks and cries!

---

SCENE #92 – INT – DARBY’S TENT, 34TH STREET – DAY, AFTERNOON
Back inside Darby’s tent in 1950s New York, he tells the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo more about his mission.

DARBY
So basically that’s it. The Nargdu and the Earth empires are on the verge of a total outbreak. Unless appeasement can be achieved, both empires will be at war with each other. That was my mission. To escort the current Earth ambassador to Teruvada Sixteen and discuss terms with the King of Nargdu.

NYSSA
But before that you were captured by anti-human forces.

DARBY
Yes. (Pause) Of course that was what I thought at the time.

BILLY
You mean you’re not sure anymore.

DARBY
Well, ever since I’ve been roaming around this city with Ogrons and Autons…it’s hard to think what happened. Perhaps I fell out into space and got caught by some other anti-force.

JO
A third party? You mean somebody who might want both empires to collapse on purpose?

DARBY
Possibly.

JO
Doctor, do you think it could be…?

DOCTOR
(interjects) No, Jo. It sounds like his work but I doubt it. Besides, Nyssa and I as well as Tegan sorted out the Master by catapulting him back to Xeriphas.

NYSSA
And he wouldn’t use a trap like this twice. It doesn’t top up Castrovalva.

DOCTOR
No it doesn’t. There are other forces that can work at this sort of thing as well as the Master.

DARBY
Well, whilst you four are working on the problem, I’m going to find a way out of here. Can’t stay cooped up in this death trap forever.

Darby is about to leave, taking his two rifles with him, before the Doctor stops him.

DOCTOR
No wait, James! Let’s not be hasty! Let’s help each other!

DARBY
No can do, Doctor.

JO
Why not? It’s not impossible for people to help each other.

NYSSA
You’ll find it easier working with us, Corporal.

DARBY
I prefer to be alone. I don’t need any help.

DOCTOR
James, please. Don’t go.

DARBY
Good luck with finding your escape, Doctor. Watch out for the monsters.

With that, Darby heads off, leaving the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo in his tent.

DOCTOR
(calls) James! James, please come back!

BILLY
Leave it, Doctor. It’s no good. He won’t listen.

DOCTOR
(agitated) Why couldn’t he just wait?

JO
He doesn’t consider this to be favourite choice of home.

BILLY
Perhaps it’s for the best. Him being on his own.

NYSSA
“Billy Walker?! How can you say such a thing?!”

BILLY
“I was only thinking…logically. If he prefers being alone then perhaps we shouldn’t hinder him. Gets him more out of scrapes being on his own.” (Pause) “Besides he gives me the creeps.”

JO
“That’s being prejudiced, Billy.”

BILLY
“I know but…he just makes me nervous. His charming attitude and the way he pounced me when I thanked him.”

NYSSA
“He’s our best chance getting out of here, Billy. If he knows the insides and outs of this city, then he’s the man for the job. And that’s being logical.”

Suddenly, loud roars echo from outside. The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo become alerted by this.

JO
(terrified) Doctor! That roar! It sounded like…

DOCTOR
(concurs) Yes! Dinosaurs! Come on! Out of the tent, you three! Run!

The Doctor and his friends make to run for it out of Darby’s tent as the dinosaurs approach.

---

SCENE #93 – EXT – 34TH STREET, MANHATTAN – DAY, AFTERNOON
Outside, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo run out into 34th street in Manhattan. A number of dinosaurs chase behind them.

NYSSA
(pants) They must have seen Corporal James. Then followed the trail to here. I thought they were in London.

BILLY
(pants; amazed) Incredible! There’s loads of them! T-Rexes; Stegosauruses; Brontosauruses; Pterodactyls; Triceratops!

JO
We’ll get eaten alive by those monsters if we don’t get out of this street!

DOCTOR
(apprehensively) I’m afraid it’s much more serious than that. Look to the right, you three!

Nyssa, Billy and Jo look right to the Doctor’s right to see what’s approaching.

JO
(shocked) “Robots! Giant robots! And they’ve got weapons charged at us!”

This is true as the giant robots train their weapons on the TARDIS foursome as they run in 34th street.

ROBOT #1
“Halt. If you do not halt, you will be terminated.”

ROBOT #2
“You have been warned. Halt or we eradicate you.”

The giant robots open fire with their weapons, but thankfully miss the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo as they run in 34th street.

BILLY
(groans) “Where’s that corporal when we need him?”

NYSSA
“You said you didn’t want him around, Billy!”

BILLY
“That was different! Typical of him to abandon us!”

DOCTOR
He only wanted to know who we are. That was all the information he needed. And now we have dinosaurs and robots to contend with.

The dinosaurs and the robots continue to chase after the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo as they run through 34th street in New York. The dinosaurs roar ferociously and menacingly whilst the robots fires their weapons at the Doctor and his companions and miss as they run.

---

SCENE #94 – INT – THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back in the king’s throne room in the Grondor citadel on Teruvada 16, King Garnik; Prince Ernpic and Minister Kovut watch the monitor screen on Bork and Tulu’s machine. Bork eventually switches the machine off.

BORK
Well, your majesties; Minister Kovut? What do you think?

GARNIK
Very impressive! (to Kovut) Don’t you agree, Kovut?

KOVUT
Indeed, your majesty. It sounds better with the sound on.

ERNPIC
(grimaces) Yes. It does sound better with the sound. That monstrous scream.

GARNIK
“There is one thing that intrigues me.”

BORK
“Indeed, your majesty? And what’s that, may I ask?”

GARNIK
“The city these creatures are in. It’s surrounded by swamp vapours and marshland. Why couldn’t these creatures simply live in swamps?”

BORK
“Ah, now your majesty. The city is just an extra. It’s to provide more amusement. It was the setting that I adjusted for the original. Besides, if you notice, there’s more marshland than there’s city. There’s a small number of tower blocks in there.”

ERNPIC
“Where do these creatures come from, Bork?”

BORK
“One of the Grundle Satellites. They’re very vicious and uncontrollable. Even I can’t control their behaviour.”

KOVUT
“If you can’t control the creatures, why have them inside your machine?”

TULU
(ruefully) “That’s Bork for you. He always wants to impress. To show he can manage things when in actual fact he can’t.”

BORK
(laughs; to Garnik; Ernpic; Kovut) “Pay no attention to Tulu, your majesties; Minister. It’s just her little joke.” (to Tulu) “You sillykins, Tulu darling.”

GARNIK
“So if one of those creatures was let loose into the city of Grondor, it would kill people instantly. Devour them.”

BORK
“That is precisely what will happen, your majesty. They’re relentless. Show no mercy; no feeling. They’re simply always hungry and never stop eating.”

TULU
“Always preferring flesh when they can get it.”

ERNPIC
“Then you’d better keep those creatures restrained inside your machine, Bork. Can’t have creatures like that roaming the cities of Teruvada Sixteen. Not at all!”

BORK
My dear young majesty, I would never consider letting them out in the open. I don’t like seeing people getting hurt or killed.

TULU
(wryly) That’s true enough.

GARNIK
(intrigued; to Bork) Mr. Bork! I wish to see these creatures again!

BORK
As you wish, your majesty. I’ll switch the glo-sphere screen back on for you.

With that, Bork presses a switch on the machine to turn the monitor screen back on for King Garnik.

---

SCENE #95 – EXT – ALLEYWAY, 34TH STREET – DAY, AFTERNOON
Back in 1950s New York, the dinosaurs and the robots attack the city whilst the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo run into an alleyway out of hiding in order to escape from the monsters. The dinosaurs’ roars echo nearby whilst the Doctor and his companions rest to catch their breath after running for so long.

DOCTOR
(breathlessly) Let’s hope this alleyway we’re in will keep us out of hiding from those dinosaurs and robots chasing after us for a while.

JO
(breathlessly; astonished) “That brontosaurus we saw crushed one of the skyscrapers with its tail, didn’t it?!”

BILLY
“Those robots were making a meal out of shooting that building, weren’t they?! It seemed easy.”

NYSSA
“Never mind easy, Billy. Unless we get away from those robots and dinosaurs, we’ll be crushed down.”

DOCTOR
“Never fear, you three! We’ll find a way out of this!”

JO
“But this is worse. Back in London, we only had to content with one dinosaur! Now there’s more of them of various shapes and sizes!”

BILLY
“Add them with robots and it gets worse!”

DOCTOR
(realises) “Wait a minute! There’s a door here! Leading into this derelict building.”

Nyssa, Billy and Jo look to see the door that the Doctor has just found.

NYSSA
“Well spotted, Doctor. This could be our means of escape.”

JO
“Or lead straight into a dead end once we’re inside.”

NYSSA
“We mustn’t lose hope now, Jo.”

DOCTOR
“Billy! Help me with getting this door open!”

BILLY
“Right.”

Billy helps the Doctor as they tug at the doorknob. But the two struggle to get the door to open.

BILLY
“It won’t budge. It’s locked!”

NYSSA
“Jo? You’ve got those skeleton keys on you, haven’t you?”

JO
“I have. But do have time for me to find the right key to open the door?”

NYSSA
“Probably not.”

BILLY
(realises) “Wait a minute! This door’s old, isn’t it? With the rotten woodwork.”

DOCTOR
“Good thinking, Billy. Very observant. We can break down the door to get ourselves into the building.”

NYSSA
“Then what are we waiting for?!”

JO
“There are these leftover metallic bars on the ground by the door. We can use them to break in!”

Jo goes down to fetch the leftover metallic bars from the ground. She passes one each to the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy to which they take.

DOCTOR
(satisified) “Right! Now we’ve got a bar each, let’s do it! Break the door down!”

With that, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo begin to break down the rotten wooden door of the derelict building with the metal bars they have in their hands. The woodwork breaks apart easily as the TARDIS traveller smash their way in. Just then, dinosaur roars and robot laser-fire echoes nearby.

NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor, they’re getting closer! The dinosaurs and the robots!”

DOCTOR
(urgently) “Quickly! We must get inside the building! Quickly!!!”

The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo keep on smashing the woodwork of the door in order to get in. After a short while of breaking the door down…

JO
“I think that’s about enough, isn’t it? We can try to open the door from the inside with the doorknob.”

BILLY
“Yeah right, Jo! Let’s try and open the door from the inside with the doorknob.”

They stop smashing the door in with the metal bars as Billy begins to reach in to turn the doorknob from the inside.

NYSSA
“Billy, be careful. Don’t scratch your hand on the broken wood.”

BILLY
“I know, Nyssa. I’ll be careful.”

Billy carefully reaches in before he grabs the doorknob from the inside, trying to avoid scratching his hand on the broken woodwork of the door. Thanfully, Billy manages to turn the doorknob and pulls the door inwards to allow him, the Doctor, Nyssa and Jo inside.

JO
(pleased) “You did it, Billy! Well done!”

DOCTOR
(pleased) “Yes Billy, well done! Excellent! Now we can get inside the building!”

NYSSA
“Let’s get in quickly then, Doctor! I can hear those dinosaurs and robots about to come into the alley.”

This is confirmed as a dinosaur’s roar echoes too closely to comfort for them.

DOCTOR
(obligingly) Quite agreed! After you three then!

Billy carefully removes his hand out from the broken door, before he, Nyssa and Jo run into the building. The Doctor is about to follow in after them before he sees two giant robots entering into the alleyway to capture them.

ROBOT #1
You cannot escape. You are in our power.

ROBOT #2
You shall be eradicated.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) Sorry. Must dash! Bye!

With that, the Doctor gets inside the building through the doorway before the robots open fire. The robots miss and the dinosaurs, including the T-Rex, roar angrily. The dinosaurs charge onwards to smash the building our heroes have entered into.

---

SCENE #96 – INT – BUILDING, ALLEYWAY – DAY, AFTERNOON
Thankfully the building stays secure whilst the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo are inside, walking down a corridor, despite the dinosaurs smashing it from outside and bits of ceiling and masonry fall down to the ground. The TARDIS heroes move deeper into the building down the corridor.

BILLY
(anxiously) “They’re smashing the building down, those dinosaurs! Amazing this building’s still holding.”

NYSSA
“It won’t last long. Those dinosaurs will tear us to shreds whilst we’re inside.”

JO
“This must be an old abandoned office block. Or apartment. Hasn’t been lived in for days. By the smell and dust.”

DOCTOR
“We have to get out of this corridor and find a way out of this building.”

The TARDIS fouresome move on further down into the corridor as they try to find a way out. Nyssa then spots something on a nearby wall.

NYSSA
(calls; insistently) “Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Nyssa, what is it?”

NYSSA
“There’s another metal plate on this wall. Similar to the one we found at the tube station in London.”

The TARDIS foursome go over to see what Nyssa’s found as the Doctor examines the metal plate on the wall himself.

DOCTOR
(astonished) “You’re right, Nyssa. It is similar.”

JO
“We can escape! From those dinosaurs!”

NYSSA
“It seems obvious, but it’s the best chance we have.”

BILLY
“Hang on. I don’t want to dampen anybody’s spirits, but won’t we find ourselves back in that clockwork place again if he open this metal plate and go through the hatchway again?”

NYSSA
“What choice do we have, Billy?”

JO
“We’ll be torn to shreds by those dinosaurs and robots if we stay here.”

DOCTOR
“I fear Nyssa and Jo are right, Billy. It’s our only way out.”

BILLY
“Doctor, I’m just saying…”

Dinosaurs roar echo from outside, as the building gets smashed again and more ceiling and masonry crumble to the floor.

BILLY
“I’m convinced! Let’s get this metal plate off the wall here!”

DOCTOR
(urgently; to Nyssa) “Nyssa! Hand me the magnetic core extractor!”

Nyssa does just that as she hands the device to the Doctor, to which he snatches from her.

DOCTOR
“Thank you! Now – demagnetise the plate!”

With that, the Doctor applies the device to the metal plate. The extractor emits a buzzing sound as the Doctor demagnetises the plate. The dinosaurs then smash their way into the building through one of the walls in the corridor our heroes are in. This almost tears the building apart with more ceiling crumbling to the ground.

NYSSA
(anxiously) “The dinosaurs! They’ve managed to break in!”

BILLY
(astonished) “They’ve smashed in through one of the walls here!”

JO
(cries) “Doctor, hurry! We’re going to get crushed!”

DOCTOR
“I am hurrying, Jo! I’m hurrying!”

Thankfully, the Doctor manages to demagnetise the metal plate.

DOCTOR
“Done it!” (to Nyssa; Billy; Jo) “Quick, Nyssa; Billy; Jo! Help me get this plate down off from the wall to the floor!”

Nyssa, Billy and Jo oblige as they help the Doctor to unlatch the metal plate from the wall before revealing the hatchway inside. They then place the metal place down onto the floor. The dinosaurs continue to smash their way in from outside.

DOCTOR
(pleased) “Splendid! Right! Now we’ve opened it, let’s get inside the hatchway!” (to Nyssa; Jo) “Nyssa; Jo! You two go in first!”

JO
(to Nyssa) “Nyssa? Do you mind going in first?”

NYSSA
“Not at all. You come in after me once I’m inside, Jo.”

BILLY
“Take your time, Nyssa. Don’t injure yourself.”

NYSSA
“I’ll be careful as I go in, Billy.”

DOCTOR
(impatiently) “Come on, come on! Hurry!”

Nyssa eventually gets into the hatchway and climbs her way in. After a few moments once she’s inside…

NYSSA
(calls; from inside) “It’s alright, Jo! I’m inside!”

JO
“Right. I’m coming in after you!”

With that, Jo climbs into the hatchway to follow after Nyssa inside the wall. Once she’s inside…

JO
(calls; from inside) “Doctor; Billy! Nyssa and I are safely in!”

NYSSA
“Get yourself and Billy in here, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Don’t worry, Nyssa; Jo! We’re coming in after you!”

Meanwhile, the dinosaurs manage to stomp their way through into the building with the robots following behind them. The two sets of monsters advance in the corridor towards the Doctor and Billy.

DOCTOR
(urgently) “Billy, get inside! I’ll follow you in!”

BILLY
“Don’t forget the metal plate, Doctor! Seal it up once you get in after me!”

DOCTOR
(impatiently) “Yes Billy, I haven’t forgotten! Now get in!”

With that, Billy gets inside as he climbs into the hatchway. The Doctor picks up the metal plate before he himself climbs into the hatchway after Billy. The dinosaurs smash from side to side and the robots fire their weapons to crush down the building.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully; to robots; dinosaurs) “Sorry, dear chaps! Still can’t still around for a chat! Bye!”

With that, the Doctor climbs into the hatchway and seals up the hole in the wall with the metal plate on top. The robots and the dinosaurs witness the Doctor getting inside the hole in the wall before covering it with the metal plate.

ROBOT #1
“The fugitives have escaped.”

ROBOT #2
“We have failed in our mission.”

The dinosaurs, including the T-Rex, howl with rage before smashing some more of the building and its walls.

---

SCENE #97 – INT – CENTRAL UNIT, MINISCOPE – N/A
Inside the central unit, the Doctor seals up the hatch with the magnetic core extractor again. Nyssa, Billy and Jo watch as he does this. They hear the echoes of dinosaur roars and robot laser-fire from the other side.

NYSSA
(anxiously) “Come on, Doctor! Seal that hatch quickly!”

Thankfully the Doctor magnetises the hatch again with sealing the metal plate. The four heroes become silent as they try to listen to the sounds from the dinosaurs and the robots from the other side of the wall. But the sounds have stopped all of a sudden. A moment of tension ensues.

NYSSA
(puzzled) “That’s strange. There’s no sound coming from the other side. No dinosaurs roaring and no robots laser-firing.”

BILLY
(gradually; jokingly) “Perhaps the dinosaurs and the robots decided to go home after all and we got lucky.”

JO
(anxiously) “I don’t like this at all. There’s something not right.”

A moment of silence ensues. Still nothing.

DOCTOR
(thoughtfully) “Yes well, perhaps we managed to get away with it after all. I’m sure there’s a perfectionally reasonable explanation for why it’s all gone quiet on the other side.” (Pause; cheerfully) “Anyway! We’re all in one piece, aren’t we? We’re all still alive!”

JO
(grumbles) “And we’re back in this place again! These inner workings! We’ll be going around in circles again if we try to walk through these workings.”

DOCTOR
“Yes, well now we’re all in here anyway, I suggest we move on. To find ourselves another way out of this place again.”

NYSSA
“Doctor, if we were trying to find a way out into the real world, why wasn’t it New York instead of London?”

DOCTOR
(thinks) “I’m not sure. Either this is an inter-planetary game zone for fanatics or something worse.”

BILLY
“You don’t think it’s Salvador this time, do you?”

NYSSA
“He would be the type to set up this arrangement, wouldn’t he?”

JO
(astonished) “You’ve met Salvador then?”

DOCTOR
“Let’s not debate about it, you three. Let’s walk along here.”

The Doctor leads the way as Nyssa, Billy and Jo follow him.

DOCTOR
(warningly) “Watch out for these steps. They’re very steep. And the floor we’re walking on is very slippery. So don’t fall over.”

The TARDIS four continue walking, as they climb up the steps of some structure.

BILLY
“It’s like being in a playground back in my old school days, this is.”

NYSSA
“This is the most bizarre place I’ve ever been to. The architecture and the configuration don’t make sense in these places we’ve been to.”

JO
(thinks) “This place brings a word back to me in my mind. Min…min…mini…mini…” (Pause; realises) “I can’t think what the word is yet.”

---

SCENE #98 – INT – CENTRAL UNIT, MINISCOPE – N/A
A while later, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo continue making their way through the central unit of the machine they’re in. They seem to get nowhere.

NYSSA
(tired) “This does go on and on, doesn’t it? I’d rather we call up to those people who have imprisoned us here.”

BILLY
(gradually) “Nyssa, about our…earlier conversation in the American diner. I…I just want to say [how sorry…”]

NYSSA
(interjects) “It’s alright, Billy. We’ll discuss it later.”

Moment of tense silence.

JO
(groans) “My legs are stiff. I’m not as young as I once was. Can we stop for a minute, Doctor? My poor wobbly knees!”

DOCTOR
“Very well. Let’s sit down and rest for a bit.”

The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo sit down on the smooth slippery surface of the floor to rest. A moment of silence ensues.

NYSSA
“Doctor, we’ve passed many metal plates on walls and floors along these corridors.”

DOCTOR
“Yes Nyssa, I’ve noticed that too.”

BILLY
“Then how come you haven’t picked one of these plates to open it and go through it. Then we’d all follow you.”

DOCTOR
“I want to make sure we’re getting to the outside, Billy. Every time we get out somewhere, we always end up in trouble.”

JO
“With Ogrons; Autons, dinosaurs and the like. I still don’t get how they’re able to be with us wherever we go whether it’d be London or New York.”

NYSSA
“Perhaps someone’s mocking us. Like you said, Doctor. Fanatics who are trying to play some game with us in a death zone.”

DOCTOR
“You should see what they have on Gallifrey, Nyssa. They have a [death…”]

BILLY
(interrupts) “Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Don’t interrupt me, Billy.”

BILLY
(insistently) “But Doctor, look! There’s one of the metal plates behind you on that wall!”

DOCTOR
“Never mind the metal plate, Billy.”

BILLY
(insistently) “But it looks so different to all the other metal plates we’ve passed in these corridors, Doctor!”

JO
He’s right, Doctor! Look!

The Doctor takes a look, before he gets up and examines the unique metal plate on the wall behind him. Nyssa, Billy and Jo accompany him to take a look at the metal plate on the wall too.

DOCTOR
(realises) Oh yes! It does look different! It happens to be a very special metal plate on the wall! Well spotted, Billy!

NYSSA
There’s a plaque on it. In some kind of alien language.

JO
I wish we could read it. It’d help to know what’s behind that door.

NYSSA
The TARDIS translation circuits would be able to do that, Jo. But since the TARDIS isn’t with us…

BILLY
(interjects) What do you think it says, Doctor?

DOCTOR
“Not sure, Billy. I suspect it’s a notice saying ‘Do not open door under any circumstances. Penalty of death.’“

JO
(anxiously) “Oh dear. That means trouble.”

NYSSA
“Highly probable.”

DOCTOR
“Most definitely.”

BILLY
“So…what happens now?”

DOCTOR
(gradually; cheerfully) “We open the hatch!”

JO
(gradually) “Right!”

NYSSA
“Doctor, are you sure that’s wise?”

DOCTOR
“Nyssa, I’ve had enough of being the mouse in the cat chase. It’s possible whatever’s outside is likely to be the outside.”

BILLY
“And if it isn’t?”

JO
“Then we just hope someone up there spots us. The giant people I mean.”

DOCTOR
“Right, Jo. Now stand back, you three. I’m demagnetising the metal plate.”

Nyssa, Billy and Jo stand back as the Doctor applies the magnetic core extractor again to the metal plate, taking the notice off it as well. A number of seconds pass.

DOCTOR
“Not long, you three. Nearly there.”

Eventually, the plate demagnetises and the hatch is open. The Doctor pushes it inwards.

DOCTOR
(obligingly) “After you three!”

JO
(cheekily) “Come on, Nyssa! All girls together?”

NYSSA
(cheerfully) “Absolutely!”

Nyssa and Jo girls giggle, arm-in-arm, as they go into the hatchway.

BILLY
(jokingly) “Aren’t going to offer your arm to me, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
(shrewdly) “Just get inside, Billy.”

Billy obliges as he goes into hatchway, following Nyssa and Jo inside, before being followed by the Doctor.

---

SCENE #99 – INT – THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – DAY, MORNING
Back in the king’s throne room of Grondor on Teruvada 16, Bork and Tulu watch the monitor screen of their machine as they can now see the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo enter what is Circuit #5.

TULU
(surprised) “Bork! Those Tellurians again!”

BORK
(astonished) “They’ve broken into circuit five! They’ve entered Swamp City!”

TULU
(scornfully) “And you said you’d have them sorted out by the Ogrons and the Autons!”

BORK
“They’ll be dead within minutes! Don’t they realise what they’re walking into?”

GARNIK
(astonished) “These Tellurians again! The ones causing a defect!”

ERNPIC
(impatiently) I grow sick and tired of seeing these Tellurians! (to Garnik) Isn’t it obvious that they’re spies, father?

TULU
(protests) We’ve told you before! We’re not harbouring spies!

GARNIK
Then let us hear what they have to say! Switch on the sound speakers.

BORK
(reassuringly) Of course, your majesty!

At that, Bork switches on the sound speakers. The group listens in as the Doctor, Jo, Nyssa and Billy walk about in the Swamp City inside the machine.

JO (V’O)
(disgusted) Ergh! We’re in some kind of bog! A swamp!

DOCTOR (V’O)
Yes, the atmosphere of this place is a little off-putting.

NYSSA (V’O)
“Off-putting?! It’s foul, Doctor!”

DOCTOR (V’O)
“We must keep moving! We’ll soon know where we are!”

Meanwhile, Bork turns back to King Garnik and Prince Ernpic in the throne room.

BORK
(to Garink; Ernpic) “See, your majesties? They’re not spies! Just innocent travellers on an outing.”

As the group look back to the screen with the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo inside…

BILLY (V’O)
(puzzled) Doctor?

DOCTOR (V’O)
Hmm?

BILLY (V’O)
That Corporal James. He said he was on a mission to bring a sort of peace between Earth and the Nargdu Empire. Could these Nargdu be responsible for all that’s going on?

DOCTOR (V’O)
We have talked about this, Billy. It’s a very likely possibly. But we mustn’t place our thoughts wholly on that. We must be open about it.

Back in the throne room…

ERNPIC
(angrily; to Garnik) See! I told you, father! They are spies! (to Bork; Tulu) All this time you’ve been deceiving us!

TULU
(hisses; to Bork) “I told you, Bork! We should’ve sorted out these Tellurians as soon as possible.”

BORK
(protests; to Garnik; Ernpic) “But your majesties! This doesn’t mean they have to be spies, does it?”

GARNIK
“I fear I agree with my son. We can’t take any chances. As king, I demand the Tellurians to be executed.”

BORK
“They’re likely to be killed anyway, your majesty! What with what’s going to happen and considering the monsters that are in that circuit already.”

---

SCENE #100 – EXT – SWAMP STREET, SWAMP CITY – DAY, MORNING
In Swamp City, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo look around the place.

NYSSA
“Doctor, I don’t like this.”

DOCTOR
“Neither do I, Nyssa. It’s quiet. Too quiet.”

BILLY
“Is this really a swamp city? Buildings on top of marsh land?”

DOCTOR
“Yes. If I didn’t know any better, it’s all set up. Like a video game.”

JO
“The smell’s growing worse, Doctor. Can’t we just go back?”

DOCTOR
“I don’t like it here any more than you do, Jo. But there’s a reason why that hatch was sealed with a warning. And I’d like to know what that reason is.”

BILLY
“Is it really important, Doctor? Risking our lives for your curiosity?”

NYSSA
“You know where your curiosity leads you to, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“Yes I do. But never matter, you three. We shall survive this! I want to announce my presence to the world outside!”

BILLY
“Oh? You plan to do that at a specific time then?”

DOCTOR
“When I know where we are.”

JO
“It’s rather spooky, isn’t it? This silence is all rather deathly.”

DOCTOR
“Hmm. I sense this is all too familiar. I recall something.” (Pause) “If only I can say it in one word. It’s on the tip of my tongue, I’m sure.”

NYSSA
“So where shall we go from here, Doctor? I presume we make for the city up ahead. To see if anyone’s about.”

JO
“Brilliant idea! Let’s hope we’re not the only souls in this dreadful place.”

BILLY
(apprehensively) “I’m afraid those words are going to bite back at you, Jo.”

JO
(puzzled) “Oh? Why’s that, Billy?”

BILLY
(apprehensively) “Because of them! Coming towards us from the city!”

The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo look to see Ogrons and Autons charging at them from the Swamp City.

JO
(shocked) “Ogrons!”

NYSSA
“And Autons!”

BILLY
“You weren’t expecting them to be here were you, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“We have to get out of here!”

NYSSA
“Blatantly obvious, Doctor!”

JO
“They’re all around us! On each side!”

BILLY
“They’ve covered the entrance to the hatch! We’re trapped!”

DOCTOR
“Not yet! Let’s head for the beach up ahead and out of the city!”

JO
“The beach?!”

NYSSA
“We can’t swim our way through the swamps, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“I’m hoping there’ll be some marshland to cross over when we come to it! Then we’ll get to the other side and reach somewhere else. I don’t know how you three feel about it…”

JO
(interjects) “Come on! Let’s see if those brutes can’t catch us up!”

NYSSA
“I’m with you, Doctor!”

BILLY
“I’m game if you are!”

DOCTOR
“Right then! Come on, you three! Run!!!”

With that, the four heroes run for it as they head off towards the swamp beach outside the city. The Ogrons and the Autons chase after the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo. The Ogrons fire their guns whilst the Autons fire their wrist-guns in pursuit of the TARDIS heroes.

---

SCENE #101 – EXT – SWAMP BEACH, SWAMP CITY – DAY, MORNING
Eventually, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo manage to reach the swamp beach away from Swamp City. They run along the edge of the beach to try and find the other side of the marshland they’re looking for. Sadly there’s nothing.

DOCTOR
(realises) “Ah.”

BILLY
(apprehensively) “Right Doctor! Now what? You promised us another side of marshland for us to cross over!”

DOCTOR
“I didn’t make a promise, Billy! Please be patient! I’ll work something out!”

JO
“But there’s no sign of anything! Just swampy seas!”

NYSSA
“We’ll have to run on this beach! See if we can find the marshland we’re looking for while the Ogrons and the Autons pursue us.”

DOCTOR
“Right Nyssa! We’ll follow you!”

The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo start to run on the beach before they are stopped in their tracks.

JO
(realises; terrified) “Doctor! The Ogrons! They’re running towards us where we’re heading!”

The Ogrons grunt and roar as they charge towards our TARDIS heroes on the beach. They open fire with their weapons, but don’t fire upon the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo.

NYSSA
“Back the way we came!”

They start to run back the other way before they’re stopped in their tracks again.

BILLY
“Too late! The Autons coming up the way we came!”

The Autons march towards the TARDIS foursome from the other side of the beach. Their wrist-guns are at the ready.

DOCTOR
“Come on! Up the hill we go!”

The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo try to make a run for it up the hill. But it’s no use either.

JO
(despairingly) “It’s no good, Doctor! They’re heading towards us from the hill as well! Ogrons and Autons!”

NYSSA
(anxiously) “They’re all around us! We’re really trapped now!”

DOCTOR
(apprehensively) “Yes! The odds do seem to be against us!”

BILLY
You can say that again!

The Ogrons and the Autons now have the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo outnumbered as they surround them on the beach.

JO
Doctor! We can’t escape! What are we going to do?!

The Ogrons and the Autons raise their weapons for an attack. They’re about to open fire before a loud howling unearthly shriek echoes in the air. Everyone becomes terrified.

BILLY
(anxiously) What was that?! That noise!

NYSSA
It came from underground. It didn’t sound very friendly.

JO
(realises) Doctor! The Ogrons! They’re frightened! They’re running away!

This is true as the Ogrons tremble and whimper before they run away, grunting and terrified.

DOCTOR
(realises) So, have the Autons! Look! They’re retreating the way they came.

The Doctor and friends watch as the Autons run off back up the hill, retreating. As the Ogrons and the Autons head back up the hill; the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo remain on the beach.

BILLY
“Something must have scared them off.”

The terrible shrieking roar echoes again. The four TARDIS heroes become unnerved.

NYSSA
“Doctor, that sound! It doesn’t sound good, does it?”

DOCTOR
“No Nyssa, it doesn’t. I fear the worst.”

JO
(realises) “Doctor, I’ve heard that sound before. It’s familiar.”

DOCTOR
“Yes Jo, you’re right. I know that roar. If only I could…” (realises) “Oh no!”

BILLY
“Doctor, what’s the matter?”

DOCTOR
(panics) “Oh no!!! I’ve just realised! I know where we are! And I know what’s making that sound!”

NYSSA
“Doctor, tell us what’s the matter!”

DOCTOR
(anxiously) “Nyssa; Billy; Jo, I’m dreadfully sorry. I should never have broken the hatch and brought us in here! I’ve made a terrible mistake!” (urgently) “Come on! Back the way we came! Up the hill! To the city!”

JO
“But Doctor, those Ogrons and Autons! They’ll be waiting for us!”

DOCTOR
(urgently) “Don’t argue, Jo! Come on before…”

NYSSA
(realises; cries) “Doctor! The sea! Something’s emerging! Look at it!”

The shrieking roar rings out again as something emerges from the swampy sea. The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo look as they see shooting up and out from the swampy sea…a Drashig! A deadly Drashig rises up, howling and screaming with rage. It opens its mouth to show its sharp and deadly fangs. The four TARDIS heroes are terrified.

JO
(gasps; terrified) “Doctor! It’s…”

BILLY
(shocked) “Oh good God! What is that thing?!”

NYSSA
(astonished) “It’s massive! Look at those teeth!”

The Drashig roars again, howling angrily. Just then, two more Drashigs shoot out from the sea and howl terribly with their screams. The two Drashigs make their way to join the first as they see the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo below.

BILLY
(horrified) “Whoa! Ther’’s another one! And another! They all shot out of the sea!”

NYSSA
(astonished) “Three of them! Three of those creatures!”

JO
(terrified) “The Drashigs are here! Doctor, does this mean that…?”

DOCTOR
“Yes Jo, I’m afraid it does!”

NYSSA
“Please Doctor! Tell us what this means to you and Jo!”

DOCTOR
“Ogrons; Autons; dinosaurs; robots and now Drashigs! I should have seen this coming!”

BILLY
(confused) “Doctor, tell us what’s going on!”

DOCTOR
“We’re in a miniscope! A miniscope of all places!”

JO
“We’re all in big trouble, aren’t we?!”

DOCTOR
“Yes! Now we have to be very careful! Because as far as the Drashigs are concerned, we’re next on their menu for dinner!”

The three Drashigs howl and scream as they hungrily slither their way towards the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jo.

---

Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.

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© Tim Bradley, 2019

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