Prologue
SCENE #1 – EXT – DOCKS, LOS ANGELES – DAY, AFTERNOON
The year is 1939. A crowd gathers on the docks of Los Angeles, as they cheer for the singer who is performing her latest song at a ceremony for the cruise ship, the S.S. Majesty. She’s Judy Garland and she’s singing ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’.*(Song #1)
As soon as Judy has finished her song, the crowd applauds loudly. Judy bows once she’s finished.
JUDY
(happily) Gee, thanks, folks! It’s wonderful to be here and see you all. Now, will you please welcome my dear pal, Mickey Rooney!
The crowd applauds again, as Mickey Rooney enters to join Judy.
MICKEY
(cheerfully) Thanks, folks! Like Judy said, it’s real swell that you all came here for the christening of this new sailing ship. (Pause) Gotta say, Judy! That was a swell rendition of your latest song.
JUDY
(gratified) Thanks, Mick. That was ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ from my latest film, ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
MICKEY
And it’s already sold out in millions of theaters! I can’t even get a front row seat with the audiences jam-packed.
JUDY
Me neither! We should have got reserved seats.
MICKEY
(jokes) Or better yet, throw the audience out!
Laughter ensues. Mickey and Judy laugh too.
MICKEY
No, but seriously, it’s great to have you all here with us. We’re going to have a swell time on this voyage to celebrate the success of Judy’s latest film.
JUDY
And it’s great we’re all here to christen the new ship, the S.S. Majesty, that’s setting off for its cruise from Los Angeles!
MICKEY
And we have just the bottle for the occasion!
JUDY
The bottle! What vintage?
MICKEY
Thirty-seven.
JUDY
Golly! What a great year!
MICKEY
Judy, will you do the honour?
JUDY
It’d be my pleasure!
Judy takes the bottle from Mickey. She raises it to the hull of the ship for everyone to see.
JUDY
I christen this ship, the S.S. Majesty, for long life and prosperity over American seas. God bless you, your Majesty.
Judy throws the bottle and it smashes onto the ship’s side. Everyone applauds and cheers once more, shouting Judy and Mickey’s names. Judy and Mickey clap their hands, gratified at christening the ship.
MICKEY
Well, I dunno about you, Judy, but I want to get aboard right now!
JUDY
Me too! Come on, Mickey. Let’s not waste time!
MICKEY
Come on, everybody! All aboard!
The excited crowd follows Judy and Mickey, as they board the Majesty. They get into single file as they board. Meanwhile, three gangsters linger behind, as they watch the crowd getting aboard. They’re the Slithee gang – Pugsley, Snowy and Buster. They’re exactly like our three TARDIS heroes. Pugsley is like the Doctor, Snowy is like Nyssa, and Buster is like Billy. The difference, however, is that they speak with American accents.
PUGSLEY
Well, now that’s done with, we can get aboard and have no more funny duddy business. We can get on with our job.
SNOWY
We don’t know what our job is yet, Pugsley. You haven’t opened that letter from the boss yet.
PUGSLEY
Easy, Snowy, easy. I know what I’m doing.
BUSTER
I hope those tickets you got us are valid. Along with our passports.
SNOWY
Oh, quit your worrying, Buster. You always doubt Pugsley’s tactics.
BUSTER
But supposing we get caught. It can happen. We’ve been lucky so far.
PUGSLEY
Nothing’s going to stop us, pal. No one’s gonna get in our way. No one will be any the wiser. Not Mickey Rooney, and, especially, not that delightful new-born star – Judy Garland. No way, José!
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
* See Appendix: Song Lyrics*
© Tim Bradley, 2025
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