10. The Calling of Sulis
SCENE #86 – INT – DOCTOR’S HOUSE – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Meanwhile, Jane Austen drinks a cool glass of water to get over the shock of what she’s just learned from the Doctor. She is alone with the Doctor, whilst Nyssa and Billy have gone for a walk. Jane finishes her drink, as she returns to the subject at hand.
JANE
If what you say is true Doctor, that I have…somehow…been whisked away in the night of the attack by those horrid creatures in Bath in seventeenth hundred and ninety seven and taken back to Bath in the Roman times…
DOCTOR
(interrupts) Oh it’s true, Miss Austen. Believe me it most certainly is true. And it’s Aquae Sulis, if you don’t mind.
JANE
“If it is true, how come I happen to be here? Why have I been brought here? Who would want to impede such an enterprise on my account?”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know, Miss Austen. That I’m not sure. Somebody obviously wants to mess around with time and involve you in it by dragging you to this time period, but why I’m not sure.”
JANE
“You seem to know all the answers, Doctor. Why don’t you seem to be able to answer this mystery of mine?”
DOCTOR
“Believe me Miss Austen, I will do all I can to get you back to your own time. To your sister and to your family back in Bath.” (stops; thinks) “The Bath you consider to be real.” (Pause) “But you must understand, Miss Austen. It’s not just you we need to be concerned about. The whole of Bath is at stake. Those temporal disturbances you experienced, Miss Austen….”
JANE
“Those nightmarish images I saw of people dressed in half-naked dresses and clothes and seeing Romans dressed in robes. And mechanical carriages. I saw those things where I was back in what you call ‘seventeen ninety-seven’.”
DOCTOR
“Yes I know. You told me about it in the abbey.”
JANE
“I did. When? What abbey, pray sir?”
DOCTOR
“Ah. I was wondering when we’d come to that!” (Pause) “Miss Austen…Miss Nyssa; Mr. Walker and I. We come from another time period. The future specifically. We came from Bath…in the year twenty hundred and eleven.”
JANE
“What?” (thinks) “You come from…two hundred years in my future?”
DOCTOR
“Two hundred and fourteen.”
JANE
(baffled) “What possessed you, Miss Nyssa and her friend Mr. Walker to come here? To this ghastly place?”
DOCTOR
“Oh it’s not that bad. Compared to some places I’ve visited, Aquae Sulis has a finesse about it. It’s not exactly Bath two thousand and eleven nor is it Rome in…anyway that’s another story. But the point is…when we were in Bath two thousand and eleven, Bath was in a crisis. It was being flooded by a great storm. And the same will happen in Aquae Sulis…and in seventeen ninety-seven, if we don’t stop it.”
JANE
“That’s exactly what happened when I was there in the Pump Room where I last met you, Doctor. The room was being flooded when the storm cracked through the roof and water came flooding in.”
DOCTOR
“Really? So it’s happened in your time before you were whisked away. Just like when I was in Bath Abbey and….” (realises; to Jane) “Anyway, did anything else happen when you were in the Pump Room? How exactly did you come to be here in Aquae Sulis in the Roman Baths?”
JANE
“I tell you Doctor, I haven’t the faintest knowledge.” (Pause) “Although I do remember one incident where things baffled me.”
DOCTOR
“Yes! What is it?”
JANE
(thinks) “I remember, when the tempest grew tumultuous…I saw…I believe I recall seeing a blue box appear in the Pump Room, with a white light flashing aloft before my eyes.”
DOCTOR
“Really! What happened then?”
JANE
“I saw the door open…there were two doors upon the box you see…something called ‘police’ aloft…and then you stepped out.”
DOCTOR
“Did I? What did I say?””
JANE
“You said for me to accompany you! You persuaded me to go in. I do not remember the exact details it was all too much for me. I felt the urge so I went forward to go in. I could hear my sister calling for me.” (changes subject) “Doctor? What of my sister Cassandra? Will she suffer from the madness we experience?”
DOCTOR
“Believe me, Miss Austen. I don’t have all the answers. But be rest assured we will get you back to your sister. But do go on. Tell me. What happened when you got into the TARDIS…I mean the blue box?”
JANE
“Yes. I remember you saying it was called…a Tardis. I don’t understand the meaning of the word. But then…I saw your Miss Nyssa and Mr. Walker with you in some…strange chapel bathed in white. And a strange altar or tabernacle stood before me with a pillar that was raised going up and down…”
DOCTOR
“Yes, yes. Go on, Miss Austen.”
JANE
“You, Miss Nyssa and Mr. Walker were talking in riddles or words I could not fully comprehend. And then…”
DOCTOR
“And then?”
JANE
“I found myself in that strange place where I stood above a pool of water. Where all those people in robes were staring at me in horror. And that was before you came to my rescue.”
DOCTOR
“And that was in the Baths.”
JANE
“Yes. I’m sure of it.”
DOCTOR
“You don’t know how you got there?”
JANE
“No. I keep telling you I do not know what the meaning of this is. Can you help, Doctor? Why did you come here if not to pervade my affliction?”
DOCTOR
“We came here Miss Austen because we wanted to know what it was that caused that catastrophe in two thousand and eleven. We even saw you appear briefly in the future.”
JANE
(astonished) “You saw me appear in two hundred years time also. Oh please God, have mercy on me! Do not cause me pain!”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “Now don’t worry, Miss Austen. We’re here to help, Nyssa; Billy and I. That’s why we came. To find out if anything were to happen here that we might stop it. Or understand what’s causing it.”
Moment of silence.
JANE
“So we wait here until the whole world goes to turmoil!”
DOCTOR
“I don’t see why not? Unless Nyssa and Billy find something worthy of interest.”
JANE
(curious) “Yes, where are Mr. Walker and Miss Nyssa?”
DOCTOR
“They left a quarter of an hour ago. They wanted to give you some time to recover from the shock. They’ve gone for a walk.
JANE
“Are you certain that Miss Nyssa is in safe company with Mr. Walker? The first time I met Mr. Walker he was dressed as a waiter and presented himself rather forwardly in society. And he seemed to know Miss Nyssa very intimately.”
DOCTOR
“They’re good friends, Miss Austen. They’ve known each other for quite some time.”
JANE
“No but, they seem so close. So knowing of each other’s company. They held hands and embraced each other. Even Miss Nyssa held Mr. Walker’s hand when she defended him against my good opinion of him.” (Pause) “Are they engaged, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“No! No they’re not. They’re just good friends. As far I know.”
JANE
“As far you know? I’m certain there’s a lot more to it in Mr. Walker’s attentions to the lady.”
Moment of silence.
DOCTOR
“Let’s get you out of those clothes and put you into something more appropriate.”
JANE
“I beg your pardon, sir!”
SCENE #87 – EXT – STALL STREET – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Meanwhile, Nyssa and Billy walk on what will become Stall Street in Aquae Sulis. They are nearly close to where the Roman Baths and the Temple of Sulis Minerva are. They pass many stalls where people sell things like pigeons, clothing and Roman ornaments made in Aquae Sulis.
BILLY
“So what did you think of Miss Austen? Did you like her?”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure.”
BILLY
“What do you mean? I thought you’d like her. She seemed to have an interesting opinion of you. Amazing isn’t it that we’ve met her at last and she still knows us. Even when we saw her in two thousand and eleven.”
NYSSA
“She didn’t seem to like you.”
BILLY
“Didn’t she? I never noticed.”
NYSSA
“She was prejudiced about you being a friend of mine. She said I kept strange company being with you.”
BILLY
“Maybe it was a compliment. Perhaps when she finally meets us she’d be quite taken up with my charms.”
NYSSA
“Please be serious, Billy.”
BILLY
I am being serious, Nyssa. Maybe she likes me but doesn’t know it yet. Perhaps I may rescue her from some horse and carriage they had in those days from robbers. Maybe I could be rescuing you from robbers and Miss Austen would witness it and she’d be jealous because she didn’t get rescued by me and was rescued by the Doctor instead. Not that the Doctor’s not good looking, for he is, but that’s another matter entirely.
NYSSA
I wonder what could have whisked her away from her time to come back to seventy-nine A.D. Some force of nature. An evil force. With power beyond our understanding of quantum mechanics and temporal theory. Beyond the Doctor’s.
BILLY
Same dear Nyssa. Always trying to figure things out. (Pause) No matter what she said, I like Miss Austen.
NYSSA
Well, I’m glad you do. You never showed a hint of dislike to anyone.
BILLY
How could I? Apart from people who really are evil at heart. I mean, you’re not evil. And I like you very much, Nyssa.
NYSSA
“Oh I don’t know why you should like me. I’m dull and uninteresting company. Always talking about bioelectronics, cybernetics, temporal mechanics and all sorts of sciences that you wouldn’t understand because you’re not well versed in it.”
BILLY
“Ah but you explain it so beautifully, Nyssa. And you’re beautiful too.”
NYSSA
“Am I?”
BILLY
“Yes.” (Pause) “I mean, um…I’m saying that in purely a p…p…oh what’s that word you use…Um…something that sounds like Pluto…”
NYSSA
“Platonic?”
BILLY
(thinks) “Well…platonic maybe. Yes. If you like to use that word.” (Pause) “I mean you are beautiful because you look it. Especially in those clothes you’re in. You look like a goddess.”
NYSSA
“Billy, you really are teasing me!”
BILLY
“No I really mean it. You look fabulous. You stand out for me in all of the streets of Aquae Sulis.”
NYSSA
(touched) “Aww, that’s very sweet!”
BILLY
“Well I’m glad you think so.”
SCENE #88 – EXT – THOLOS COURTYARD – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Nyssa and Billy turn the corner, as they make their way through the archway that leads into the courtyard where the tholos (or where Bath Abbey would be) is.
BILLY
“Here we are at the Baths. I wonder when the…temporal convergence as the Doctor…calls it will really happen.”
NYSSA
“There’s no way of telling. The temporal displacement events we saw in two thousand and eleven only confirm that it’s happening already. I wish the Doctor had a clue or what superstitious people call it a sign when…”
Nyssa stops, as she sees something that disturbs her and gasps. Billy notices this.
BILLY
“Nyssa? Are you alright? You’ve gone white! You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
NYSSA
“Billy, do you see him?”
BILLY
“See who?”
NYSSA
“Going into the Baths! Over there.”
Billy looks to see where Nyssa’s referring to, as he focuses on the Baths’ entrance.
BILLY
“Where? What person?”
NYSSA
“There! He’s just turned his head around. Can you see him? Do you recognise him?!”
BILLY
(thinks; realises) “Wait a minute. Yes, I see him! He looks familiar…hey?! That’s not…it’s…”
NYSSA
“It is, Billy! It is!”
BILLY
“It’s that…it’s that man we met in the Cornish Pasty shop in Bath.”
NYSSA
“In two thousand and eleven, yes! Mr. Vernon! The man who was a member of the ministry of physics in London.”
BILLY
“The one that kept pestering you to talk to him and you and I made out we were a couple!”
NYSSA
“Yes! He’s here in Aquae Sulis, seventy-nine AD! He’s been following us!”
BILLY
“How could he be here?! Unless he must be an ancestor of some kind.”
NYSSA
(worried) “We have to tell the Doctor. We have to let him know what we’ve seen. This could be important! Come on!”
BILLY
“Right behind you all the way.”
They run back through the archway and into stall street, as they return to the Doctor’s house.
SCENE #89 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
At the Sacred Spring, a congregation is gathered. Each in turn throws coins and scrolls into the pool of water to make a request to Sulis. Each in turn says…
ROMAN MAN
“Thanks be to Sulis!”
ROMAN WOMAN
“Thanks be to Sulis!”
ROMAN BOY
“Thanks be to Sulis!”
ROMAN GIRL
“Thanks be to Sulis!”
As the last few people send off their offerings in coin form and scroll form to Sulis with dedication, the Roman official Gaius Tiberinus stands before the Sacred Spring.
GAIUS TIBERINUS
(glorified) “Great Lady Sulis Minerva of the sacred waters! We as followers of your worship and praise, ask that you take away one who is not one of us! The woman who appeared on this very spring and made sacrilege towards you! We ask you take this demon spirit away from us and permit us to sacrifice her soul before you, so that you may appear to us and grant us everlasting life and gratification of hope!” (praising) “Thanks be to Sulis!”
EVERYONE
(praises) “Thanks be to Sulis!”
Everyone bows before the Sacred Spring to honour and worship their goddess.
ALEXANDROS
(calls) “Lord Gaius! Lord Gaius!”
Everybody turns to see Alexandros enter with Gaius Calpurnius Receptus, Lady Flavia and Apaulia. The worshippers wake up from their committed worship, annoyed and astonished.
GAIUS
(astonished) “Why do you disturb our worship, Lord Alexandros? We are in the middle of praising Sulis!”
ALEXANDROS
“Why are all these people here, Gaius?”
GAIUS
“To see the Lady Sulis before their eyes. You said so yourself earlier this day.”
ALEXANDROS
“I asked you not to bring a congregation here, my lord. I only asked yourself and High Priest Receptus to attend this room with myself, Lady Flavia, her servant Apaulia and my client.”
CALPURNIUS
“The Sacred Spring is for them, my lord Alexandros. They are permitted to send offerings to their goddess if they desire.”
GAIUS
“Exactly. And as you see we’ve been asking…”
ALEXANDROS
“Remove these people at once, Lord Gaius! They are not allowed to see this!”
GAIUS
“Not allowed? But I told them…”
ALEXANDROS
“Remove them! Or you shall answer for your disgrace!”
FLAVIA
“Do remove them please, Lord Gaius. I’m anxious for this!”
Moment of silence.
GAIUS
(sighs) “Very well.” (to Centurion) “Centurion, remove them!”
ROMAN CENTURION
(to soldiers) “Remove these people!”
Each of the congregation moans, as they’re escorted out of the Sacred Spring room. Many mutter and gossip as they leave. Once they’ve left, Gaius turns his attention back to Alexandros.
GAIUS
(agitated) “My lord…”
ALEXANDROS
“I’m sure you’ll appreciate the strictest confidentiality of this ceremony, Lord Gaius. My client is insistent on a small gathering!”
GAIUS
“Your client must be strange not to allow the presence of such a large public gathering, where all may see Sulis’ great power before their eyes.”
ALEXANDROS
“That is to be determined. We need to convince you first that this ceremony can be achieved.”
APAULIA
(mockingly) “You’re giving them doubts already, Vernon.”
FLAVIA
“Silence, slave! No talking whilst you’re in the presence of your mistress!”
APAULIA
“Anyway how are you going to do it even now? You still don’t have the HDS or the hydrogen chamber. Unless we’re to go through another of those weird things of yours where we see more people in different things and places at the same time again!”
FLAVIA
(bitterly) “Silence child!”
CALPURNIUS
(bewildered) “Vernon? HDS? Hydrogen Chamber? What are these strange words the child uses?”
GAIUS
“Alexandros, tell me what’s going on! Or I shall have you sacrificed to Sulis myself!”
SALVADOR
(boldly) “That will not be necessary! For I am the one who disposes Lord Alexandros and no one else.”
Everyone turns to see Salvador enter.
GAIUS
“And who may you be stranger?”
FLAVIA
“He’s the man we’ve all been waiting for, Gaius!”
APAULIA
(disgruntled) “I wouldn’t say that whole-heartedly.”
FLAVIA
“Be quiet, Apaulia!”
ALEXANDROS
“Yes! Be quiet!”
CALPURNIUS
“Tell us who you are that enter the Sacred Spring of Sulis. I do not know your face, my lord.”
SALVADOR
(boldly) “I am Lord Alexandro’s client. I am Salvador. And I come to grant your desire to see who lives in the waters of this city. I…am the Lord, Protector and the only one to call upon your goddess. I am the controller…of Sulis!”
Everyone gasps appalled, as Salvador stands before them with pride and arrogance.
SCENE #90 – INT – DOCTOR’S HOUSE – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Back at the Doctor’s house, the Doctor arranges a buffet on the table in the main lounge, preparing lunch. He takes note of the food being laid out on the table.
DOCTOR
“Breast of peacock!” (Pause) “Pheasants.” (Pause) “Grapes, very important to have grapes Doctor yes.” (Pause) “Olives; Eggs; and…” (Pause) “Sausages.” (Pause) “Now is there anything else I’ve forgotten?” (thinks) “Oh of course! The bread! And the wine!”
The Doctor goes out to fetch the bread and wine, as he leaves the lounge. As soon as he’s gone, Jane Austen enters in her fine Roman outfit. She fiddles about with her clothes, as she tries to be comfortable in them.
JANE
(calls) “Doctor? Doctor, where are you sir?”
Now she’s in the lounge, Jane eyes the marvellous buffet.
JANE
“Oh! Well, that is an interesting buffet!” (Pause) “Not to say unappealing and daunting. The boar’s head…”
Just then, the Doctor enters with the bread and wine.
DOCTOR
“Ah, Miss Austen. Do pardon me whilst I prepare this buffet. It’s real Roman you know. Authentic.”
JANE
“You astound me, sir!”
DOCTOR
“Oh? In what way?”
JANE
“Well, this is the work of a woman or one of the servants. And you prance about to and fro working like a royal servant at a country estate.”
DOCTOR
(charmingly) “I’m a man of many talents, Miss Austen. And laying out the buffet is one of them. Not that I do it frequently you understand.”
JANE
“No of course.” (amusingly) “And…was it your good self that prepared the refreshments as well?”
DOCTOR
“Oh no. Nyssa and Billy did all that. They went shopping in the nearest market to get all the food and drink we may need whilst we stay here. And goodness knows how long that will be.”
JANE
(astonished) “Mr. Walker helped Miss Nyssa prepare the food for this luncheon? A mere boy helping a lady?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. They were happy doing the shopping together, Miss Austen.”
JANE
“I’m even more astonished than ever! Mr. Walker certainly seems to have developed a manner of discretion not to mention duty. Perhaps I was wrong about him.”
DOCTOR
“How do you find your attire, Miss Austen? Appealing isn’t it?”
JANE
“This frock I wear? Yes appealing. But not to say impractical.”
DOCTOR
“Ah. Of course. But it’s worth to wear it whilst you’re in Aquae Sulis, Miss Austen.”
JANE
“I’m still sceptical on what you say, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Well I hope you won’t mind me saying I think you look splendid, Miss Austen.”
JANE
“You may say so, sir. And thank you. You look well in your attire too.”
DOCTOR
“Oh. Thank you.”
Moment of silence, as a sense of intimacy occurs between them. However, they then snap out of it and resume back to the buffet.
JANE
(tensely) “When does the hour approach for us to attend to the lunch?”
DOCTOR
“When Nyssa and Billy return I’m afraid. You can still have some of these grapes or this cup of wine whilst we wait.”
Just then the front door opens, as Nyssa and Billy enter out of breath.
DOCTOR
“Ah there you are, you two! We were just talking about you!”
NYSSA
(breathlessly) “Doctor! Listen! This is important!”
JANE
“You’re both unwell! Good God, what’s the matter? Pray, you both look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
BILLY
“We have! That’s just it!”
NYSSA
“Doctor, we were in Stall Street. Next to the Roman Baths.”
JANE
“Pray, please do sit down.”
Both Nyssa and Billy sit down as instructed by Miss Austen on the couch.
JANE
“Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief? A cup of wine? Shall I get you both one? You two are very ill.”
NYSSA
“No, Miss Austen. We are quite well. But this is important for the Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Go on, Nyssa. What happened?”
NYSSA
“We saw…we saw a man we recognised. At the Roman Baths, we saw a man we both knew and recognised going into the main entrance.”
BILLY
“And guess when it was we saw him! The last time we were in Bath! In two thousand and eleven at the Cornish Pasty shop!”
NYSSA
“He introduced himself as Mr. Vernon.”
JANE
“Mr. Vernon? And who is he pray? Would I know him?”
BILLY
(bluntly) “Not really Miss Austen, I don’t think.”
NYSSA
“He was there when we met in two thousand and eleven trying to encourage me to talk to him.”
BILLY
“Luckily I managed to intervene on Nyssa’s behalf at the time.”
NYSSA
“And now we’ve seen him standing at the entrance of the Baths looking around to see if anyone was watching. And it was the same man with the same face we saw in two thousand and eleven. He’s here in Aquae Sulis. One thousand nine hundred thirty two years ago since we last saw him and he’s here at this moment!”
BILLY
(reassuringly) “We couldn’t be mistaken! It was Vernon!”
Moment of silence.
DOCTOR
“Well, well, well. How intriguing. How intriguing!”
JANE
“You look troubled, sir. Is the man of veritable significance to us?”
DOCTOR
“It could be, Miss Austen. The first clue to solving the mystery.”
Another moment of silence.
BILLY
“Of course we could be wrong you know, Doctor. The man we saw might have been a great ancestor of Mr. Vernon’s.”
DOCTOR
“Possibly.” (thinks) “But I’m not willing to allow that form of logic to interfere with a predictable catastrophe. Come on!”
NYSSA
“Where are we going?”
DOCTOR
“To the Roman Baths.”
JANE
(protests) “But what about the buffet for lunch? Surely you would want some nourishment before we begin this absurd exhibition?”
DOCTOR
“There’s not a moment to lose! Time is pressing and we need to be concerned about time whilst we’re here.”
JANE
“But, sir…”
DOCTOR
(apprehensively) “Help yourself to the buffet if you wish, Miss Austen. Miss Nyssa will remain with you if you’d like.”
JANE
“No, Doctor. I shall accompany you. If I may.”
NYSSA
(warningly) “You don’t have to come with us, Miss Austen. You wouldn’t want to know what you’d be getting yourself into.”
BILLY
“We don’t even know what we’re getting ourselves into, Nyssa.”
JANE
“I must accompany you all! My curiosity has become the better of me. And I shall cease to let it hinder me any longer.”
DOCTOR
(sighs) “Very well. Come on.”
They are about to leave, before…
JANE
“But I shall take some grapes with me to help me on the journey.”
DOCTOR
(agitated) “By all means, Miss Austen! Now come on!”
Jane picks a small bunch of grapes, as she, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy head off, leaving the buffet behind.
SCENE #91 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Back at the Sacred Spring, Salvador tries to convince the Bath Elders that he is definitely the controller of Sulis Minerva. As expected, he has little success.
SALVADOR
“I understand your doubts about me. Who am I to say that I should be the one to control your water-goddess, you ask yourself? But I tell you that I am. I am the controller of Sulis!”
CALPURNIUS
“You blasphemous man! How dare you stand before the Sacred Spring declaring such a position? No-one can control the power of Sulis the goddess, expect Sulis herself.”
GAIUS
(appalled) “And you, Lady Flavia! You associate yourself with this fiend?! Who declares this apothecary?!”
FLAVIA
“Believe what he says, Lord Gaius. It’s true. Lord Salvador is the controller of Sulis.”
CALPURNIUS
(shocked) “You blaspheme also, my lady. He has indoctrinated you to his will.” (to Salvador) “You shall be banished from Sulis’ temple if you are not careful upon choosing your words. I have served the water goddess all my life and know all the texts. No-one is greater above the power of the goddess. Not you man, nor anyone else.”
SALVADOR
“The texts you read are true, High Priest. But there is much to learn about your goddess you don’t understand still. You may know a lot about your dear lady. But I am definitely the only one who can summon her. I shall demonstrate to you how I shall do it, if you permit it.”
CALPURNIUS
(to Alexandros, appalled) “Lord Alexandros. I’m shocked at you. To bring in a man who I have never seen before and declare before us he is lord over the great water lady.”
ALEXANDROS
“He speaks the truth, my lord. Let him demonstrate.”
APAULIA
(bewildered) “How can we? We haven’t the equipment!”
SALVADOR
“I need no instruments to conduct my summons. Prepare…everyone…to behold her ladyship!”
Salvador steps forward towards the Sacred Spring.
GAIUS
“He stands before the Sacred Spring. He’s going to try and call Sulis!”
FLAVIA
“Of course, Lord Gaius. Did you not hear him say so?”
CALPURNIUS
(angrily) “Enough! Enough of this madness! I will not have it! I, the High Priest, forbid it.” (calls) “Guards! Guards!”
Roman guards enter, whilst Salvador begins to conduct the ceremony.
ROMAN SOLDIER
“Yes, my lord?”
CALPURNIUS
(angrily) “That man there! Standing at the spring! Arrest him!”
ALEXANDROS
“No, high priest! Do not disturb the ceremony now! It has already begun!”
CALPURNIUS
“I will hear none of this! Guards, do what you are told?”
APAULIA
(bewildered) “I still don’t understand. How can he do it without…?”
FLAVIA
“Look! See! Do you see before you?”
GAIUS
“What? What is it, Lady Flavia?”
FLAVIA
“The water! In the spring! It bubbles! It bubbles greatly now!”
Water churns as it bubbles higher and higher.
GAIUS
“Yes! I see now! The water is rising! It’s getting higher and higher!”
ALEXANDROS
“Stand back, everyone! Stand back! For she comes! She comes!”
CALPURNIUS
(angrily) “No! Guards! Take that blasphemer away…”
But as the Roman guards advance, Salvador becomes excited and declares with astonishing passion.
SALVADOR
(shouts passionately) “COME SULIS! COME! YOUR PEOPLE WISH TO SEE YOU!”
As Salvador says these words, the water in the spring bubbles more as it begins to swirl round and round in a whirlpool.
SCENE #92 – EXT – GAY STREET – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
On the cobbled roads of Gay Street, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jane Austen make their way through the street. They approach a turning point in the direction of the Roman Baths. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy walk at a quick pace, whilst Jane lags behind.
JANE
(exhausted) “I know…I said we must have been walking for miles when we left the Roman Baths. But must we go at such a quick pace as this?”
DOCTOR
“We don’t know what’s happening, Miss Austen! That’s why we need to get there quickly if we’re to find out what caused the temporal convergence!”
JANE
“You still speak in riddles Doctor and I find your words incomprehensible.”
BILLY
“All of this because Nyssa and I saw someone we recognised. Is it worth pursuing, Doctor?”
NYSSA
“It’s a definite clue we can’t ignore, Billy.”
DOCTOR
“Precisely! That is why we must press on to find out what is happening!”
JANE
“It’s certainly fine for you young men. For I haven’t had the experience of such energy and enthusiasm for romantic adventures such as depicted in Uldopho…”
But before Jane can finish, the whole place in Bath shakes and shudders. It causes everyone else to stumble forward, including the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jane. After a while the tremor stops and everybody on Gay Street recovers rather quickly. The TARDIS trio and Jane rise up from the cobbled floor, as they also recover.
JANE
“For the life of me, I have never experienced such a thing as that!”
NYSSA
“That wasn’t a temporal disturbance, Doctor. There was no phasing of the matter field in this universe to cause it.”
DOCTOR
“No! It was definitely an earthquake!”
BILLY
“An earthquake?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. Or rather a tremor caused by…”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
“Caused by what, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“We need to get to the Baths! We’ll have to run!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “Run? You know running isn’t my thing, Doctor…”
DOCTOR
“Come on! Run!”
The Doctor runs on ahead, whilst Nyssa, Billy and Miss Austen watch him.
NYSSA
“I’m going to regret this! I know it!”
BILLY
“Come on, you two! Let’s get after him!”
Billy runs after the Doctor, whilst Nyssa and Jane follow on behind.
JANE
“I’m afraid I’m not built for physical exertion, dear Miss Nyssa.”
NYSSA
(assuredly) “Don’t worry. That makes two of us.”
They all run after the Doctor, as they make their way into Broad Street.
SCENE #93 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, MORNING – SPRING 79 AD
Back at the Sacred Spring in the Roman Baths, the whirlpool goes round and round. Everyone is captivated by what Salvador does.
APAULIA
(astonished) I don’t understand this! When we were back in Bath, the Bath I know, he was using the equipment to conjure up his…magic. Why is he able to do this even now?
ALEXANDROS
My client is not who you think he is, Miss Gibbons. He is the greatest and can do absolutely anything. He is powerful beyond belief!
Whilst Alexandros praises Salvador’s efforts, everyone is shocked, disturbed and amazed by what he does. Even Gaius Calpurnius Receptus.
CALPURNIUS
(calls) He’s mad! That man’s mad! He’s using power to destroy the spring! Guards, stop him!
The Roman guards make to advance…
ALEXANDROS
(roars) No, stay back!
CALPURNIUS
(cries) “Do your duty, guards! Stop him!”
…as Salvador cries out in triumphant passion…
SALVADOR
(cries; triumphantly) “COME, SULIS! COME!!!”
Whilst Salvador calls, the whirlpools grows even stronger. Slowly but definitely, the water pounds and rises as something is emerging from the depths of the spring.
FLAVIA
“I…I believe…I see a figure emerging. It’s…it’s the form of a lady!”
The image of a lady rises up from the water, as it slowly begins to emerge.
SALVADOR
(cries) “SULIS! WELCOME!!!”
Immediately, Sulis Minerva fully emerges triumphantly. She splashes striking the waters with her sword and shield. She is heard crying in terror and fury, as she terrifies the living daylights out of everyone.
APAULIA
(astonished) “Water! She’s made out of water!”
FLAVIA
“What do you expect, Apaulia girl! She is the water goddess! SHE HAS COME!”
Sulis furiously slashes her sword into the whirlpool. The Roman soldiers scream with fear and utter astonishment.
CALPURNIUS
(calls) “Soldiers! Stop this! Arrest that man!”
Despite complying with Calpurnius’ orders, the Roman soldiers are attacked by the water deity. She immediately strikes her sword upon them and drowns them within the spring. The soldiers cry out desperately, as they’re sucked into the water by this monster. The water goddess keeps on slashing her sword and defends herself with her shield ready for her next opponent.
GAIUS
“She’s gone mad! She’s gone mad! Salvador, my lord! Please! Ask her to desist.”
Salvador approaches Sulis urgently, attempting to control her.
SALVADOR
(cries) “Sulis! Be at peace, Sulis! Calm down! I am your friend! CALM DOWN I SAY!”
But Salvador is unable to control her, as Sulis still screams angrily with terror and vengeance.
ALEXANDROS
“She’s not listening to you, Salvador! You do not control her!”
CALPURNIUS
(bitterly) “I told you before! No one can control Sulis! Not even your summons will control her! She is the warrior spirit of the waters of her own realm! Only she sees battle and victory in her eyes and will not submit to anyone! YOU BROUGHT THE ANGER OF SULIS UPON US, YOU FOOL!”
GAIUS
“Doomed?! WE ARE ALL DOOMED BECAUSE OF YOU!”
APAULIA
(mockingly) “Not so clever now! Are you, Mr. Salvador?!”
SALVADOR
(angrily) RUBBISH!
Salvador approaches the goddess, as Sulis keeps on slashing her sword.
CALPURNIUS
Do not step into the water! It is Sulis!
SALVADOR
(cries) SULIS, LISTEN TO ME! HEAR ME, SULIS! I ORDER YOU…I COMMAND YOU TO OBEY ME!!!
Salvador implores Sulis. But as he steps closer to her, Sulis backs away terrified, screaming profusely. She protects herself with her shield.
GAIUS
She…she’s scared of you! She backed away!
APAULIA
I don’t believe it!
SALVADOR
(amused) Well, well, well. So the great water goddess does obey Salvador, hey? Salvador has command of her at last. Just as I expected! (to Sulis) RIGHT! YOU SHALL REMAIN IN YOUR SPRING UNTIL I HAVE NEED OF YOU!
Salvador steps back out of the spring, whilst Sulis continues screaming with vengeance. She raises her sword ready to attack.
ALEXANDROS
“What are you doing now?”
SALVADOR
(cries) “SLEEP, SULIS! SLEEP UNTIL I CALL YOU AGAIN! SLEEP I SAY! SLEEP!!!”
Very soon, Sulis, still screaming, descends back into the swirling whirlpool. She rests at Salvador’s command. Once she’s gone, the whirlpool slowly dies down and the water reverts to normal level. The bubbling soon dies down once the water goddess has departed. Moment of silence, as everyone becomes astonished at what they’ve just witnessed.
GAIUS
“Sulis! I cannot believe I’ve actually seen her!”
ALEXANDROS
“Believe, Lord Gaius! It was her!”
FLAVIA
(to Salvador) “It is true! You are the controller of Sulis! You can command her to come here as you wish!”
CALPURNIUS
“No! This cannot be! No-one is greater than Sulis! That man is not Sulis’ keeper!”
GAIUS
You saw for yourself, High Priest. The goddess devoured your soldiers in such anger and rage. You have been wrong in your studying, my lord!
CALPURNIUS
My studying has never been wrong. My goddess is greater than all things and is controlled by no-one greater than her. And I tell you…this man…Salvador…is not Sulis’ controller.
FLAVIA
But she obeyed his will when she was commanded to rise before us! And when she was commanded to sleep!
ALEXANDROS
Exactly! No matter what you say High Priest Calpurnius, I believe in the Lord Salvador. He has brought back our goddess. He is definitely the caller…of Sulis Minerva…goddess of the waters!
Salvador is pleased and gratified, as he’s received such praise in the room.
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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