Prologue
SCENE #1 – INT – BRIDGE, BRIGGS’ FREIGHTER – N/A
Melodic and soaring music is played to set up the story and indicate a sense of hope and longing, which lasts for two minutes. Aboard Captain Briggs’ freighter that’s about to crash into Earth in ‘Earthshock’, the Doctor runs down a corridor, panting as he goes. He runs desperately, as he tries to reach the bridge.
DOCTOR
(cries) Adric! Adric, where are you? Adric!
Eventually, the Doctor reaches the bridge to find Adric at the helm controls, attempting to disable the Cybermen’s computer. Adric types at the keyboard.
DOCTOR
(shouts) Adric! Adric, can you hear me? It’s me, the Doctor!
Adric is unresponsive, as he continues typing.
DOCTOR
(shouts) Adric! Adric, please listen to me!
The Doctor tries to reach Adric, but he can’t move from his spot.
DOCTOR
(panics) I can’t reach him! Why can’t I move?!
Suddenly, shots are fired at Adric from where the Doctor is. Adric jumps back to see a Cyberman enter and step towards him. The Cyberman groans, depleted of energy and collapses to the floor.
DOCTOR
The ship’s computer! (shouts) Adric!
ADRIC
(ghostly) Now I’ll never know if I was right.
Adric disappears, as the ship crashes into the planet’s atmosphere.
DOCTOR
No! No, Adric, no!
The Doctor is suddenly grabbed upon by the Cybermen.
CYBERMAN #1
You will be converted.
DOCTOR
(cries) No! I tried to saved him! I could have saved Adric!
CYBERMAN #2
Conversion is compulsory. You will become like us.
CYBERMAN #1
Resistance is futile.
DOCTOR
(shouts) No! No, I will never be like you!
But it’s too late, as the Doctor is converted into a Cyberman with needles, drills, knives and saws going into him…
SCENE #2 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
…before he wakes up to find it’s all been a dream. He’s sitting in a chair as he wakes up, recovering.
DOCTOR
(sighs) A nightmare. (Pause) It was a nightmare.
Soon, the Doctor gets up from his chair and makes his way over to the TARDIS console. He begins to pull a few switches and levers before he presses a few buttons.
DOCTOR
Let’s check you out, old girl. Confirm that no unusual anomalies have occurred.
The Doctor flicks the scanner switch and the scanner screen rises to show what’s outside. A moment of tense silence ensues.
DOCTOR
(realises) Earth! It’s Earth! Exactly as it was…back in the prehistoric age. How did we end up here?
ADRIC
(ghostly) Doctor? Doctor!
The Doctor turns to see the ghostly figure of Adric standing before him.
DOCTOR
(shocked) Adric! Adric, what are you doing here? How come you’re alive?
ADRIC
(ghostly) You left me, Doctor. You left me aboard the freighter. To die. Why?
DOCTOR
I’m sorry, Adric. We tried to save you. Tegan, Nyssa and I. We just couldn’t….
ADRIC
(ghostly; interrupts) You could have saved me. You could have saved me from dying aboard the freighter. But you didn’t. Didn’t you?
Suddenly, Adric turns into a Cybermen, causing the Doctor to back away in terror.
DOCTOR
(shouts) No! Adric, stay back! Keep away from me!
ADRIC
(cybernised) You could have saved me, but you didn’t, Doctor. Now you will suffer the consequences.
DOCTOR
(pleads) Adric, no! Please, no!
ADRIC
(cybernised) Doctor! Doctor!
SCENE #3 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
BILLY
(cries) Doctor! Doctor, wake up! Wake up, Doctor, wake up!
The Doctor wakes up to find he’s been dreaming again and Adric has turned into Billy. He stands up, feeling shaken.
BILLY
(concerned) Doctor, are you alright?
DOCTOR
(relieved) Billy, thank goodness you’re here. (Pause) I’m… I’m so sorry. I… I don’t know what came over me.
BILLY
(puzzled) Why did you call me ‘Adric’?
DOCTOR
(puzzled) Adric? Did I call you ‘Adric’?
BILLY
Yes, you did. I’m not Adric, am I?”
DOCTOR
No! No, of course not. You’re Billy Walker. (Pause) I’m sorry, I’ve been having a recurring nightmare lately.
BILLY
It sounds bad the way you move about in your sleep.
Just then, a bleep echoes from the TARDIS console. Billy goes over to see.
BILLY
Hey, something’s happening with the TARDIS. We’re receiving a signal.
DOCTOR
Where’s Nyssa? Is she around?
BILLY
She’s tidying stuff in our room. She’ll be here soon. (Pause) Hmm. It seems to be a distress call. According to these monitors, there’s a spaceship fleet in Earth’s sector in the twenty-fourth century. They’re being attacked by a force of…
DOCTOR
(interrupts, realises) Yes, Billy, I know. The Cybermen. (Pause) They’ve returned. My oldest foes, the Cybermen, have returned.
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
© Tim Bradley, 2025
| Go back to | Go next to |
| Return to Neptune Connect | |
| Return to The Fifth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |