12. Sacrificing Jane Austen
SCENE #103 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
In the temple of Sulis Minerva, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jane enter into a great hall of magnificence and wonder.
NYSSA
“The temple is larger than when we last left it, Billy.”
BILLY
“You know Nyssa, you’re right. It is bigger. It felt so small when we visited it.”
DOCTOR
“Times change. And certainly do buildings.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, we haven’t seen anybody about! No Roman guard! No officials!”
DOCTOR
“No. No you’re right, Nyssa. That is puzzling.”
JANE
“I believe the Roman over-exaggerate themselves on the worship of their so-called goddess. I’m curious as to how the Christian groups would have conducted their services in their own churches at this time.”
DOCTOR
“Christian churches and services weren’t strong during this time, Miss Austen. Christianity wouldn’t be as dominant a religion by this century. But certainly St. Paul was able to set up the church tradition very much by then.”
NYSSA
“Doctor? If the temple is the main focal point of the temporal convergence, would there be a substantial amount of temporal energy being built up in this area?”
DOCTOR
“That’s a good point, Nyssa. I’ll use the temporal tracker. Now let me see…”
The Doctor fetches out the temporal tracker from his pocket. He uses it to scan the area for any temporal energy.
JANE
(startled) “W-W-What’s that you carry, sir? It’s very unusual!”
DOCTOR
“Please don’t panic, Miss Austen. It’s nothing to be alarmed about. I’m just scanning for any temporal emissions within these precincts.”
JANE
“How reassuring, sir.”
Whilst the Doctor does his scan, Billy observes something that intrigues him.
BILLY
“Nyssa! Come and have a look at this!”
Both Nyssa and Jane come over to join Billy to see what he’s found.
NYSSA
“What is it, Billy?”
BILLY
“This statue. It’s the same statue we saw in the Roman Baths in two thousand and eleven. It’s complete with head and body.”
NYSSA
“So it is. I remember it being bronze.”
BILLY
“This must have been before the statue crumbled and got its head sliced off.”
JANE
“If anyone were to ask my opinion, I’d say it got what it deserved. It’s inconceivable to think the Romans gave so much of their wealth to construct a statue as this made out of bronze.”
BILLY
“Times were different, Miss Austen.”
JANE
“Yes, Mr. Walker. They most certainly were.”
The temporal tracker that the Doctor uses whirs loudly, as it picks up something.
DOCTOR
“Aha! Got it!”
NYSSA
“Thank goodness. You’ve detected some temporal energy.”
DOCTOR
“Yes. It’s faint but there’s definitely a source of temporal energy being emitted from this location here.”
JANE
“What is that you’re using, Doctor? What is its purpose?”
BILLY
(reassuringly) “Trust me, Miss Austen. You wouldn’t understand.”
DOCTOR
(continues) “But the thing is…it’s hard to know when the temporal energy was emitted. Was it in the past, present or the future?”
NYSSA
“It’s hard to tell if this temple really was the focal of temporal energy. There may be others.”
DOCTOR
(thinks) “Yes. Let’s go.”
JANE
“Pray, where are we going now?”
DOCTOR
“To the Sacred Spring. Perhaps we’ll be to find more answers there. Come on. We mustn’t linger.”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jane are about to leave the temple, before they’re surrounded by Roman soldiers that have been hiding in the temple.
ROMAN CENTURION
(calls) “Halt! Stay where you are! You are all under arrest!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “Romans!”
DOCTOR
“I should have guessed! Hiding all this time to trap us!”
JANE
(panics) “What pray do they want from us?”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know.” (to Roman Centurion, cheerfully) “Ah! How do you do! I’m the Doctor! And these are my friends, Nyssa; Billy and Miss…”
The Roman Centurion smacks the Doctor in the face.
NYSSA
(shocked) “Doctor! Are you alright?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. A bit bruised on the lip…” (feels pain) “Actually it’s bleeding! But nothing to worry about, Nyssa. I’ll be fine.”
BILLY
(wryly) “Very reassuring.”
NYSSA
(to Roman Centurion) “That was entirely unnecessary!”
ROMAN CENTURION
(bellows) “Be still! Do not speak! You are under arrest until his lordship comes!”
BILLY
“We’ve got to get away from here! We’ve got to escape!”
Billy tries to escape.
NYSSA
(fearfully) “No Billy, don’t!”
DOCTOR
“Don’t, Billy! They’re Romans and their bite is worse than their bark!”
JANE
(puzzled) “Shouldn’t that be the other way round?”
BILLY
“I don’t care! I’m going to get us out of here!”
Billy attempts to break free from the Roman troops. One of the soldiers strikes him in the chest and throws him to the floor. Billy falls to the floor in pain, whilst Nyssa and Jane attend to him.
NYSSA
“Billy?! Are you alright?”
JANE
(concerned) “Foolish man! Foolish brave young man! You should not have confronted them so blindly!”
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Billy, are you injured?”
BILLY
(in pain) “I’ll be alright. Ooh those Romans sure know how to make a punch!”
Billy tries to get up from the floor, but gets up too quickly. He reacts in pain and falls back.
NYSSA
“Billy! Don’t force yourself to stand up! You’re in pain!”
BILLY
“I’ll be alright, Nyssa! I just need to get up!” (in agony) “I have to get up…”
JANE
“You stress yourself, sir. You need medical treatment.”
BILLY
“I’ll be fine, Miss Austen! Don’t worry about me!”
NYSSA
“Yes. You need medical attention, Billy!” (annoyed) “Where does one find medical treatment in Aquae Sulis?!”
DOCTOR
“The Roman Baths, Nyssa. Though I doubt these charming fellows in armour will permit that!”
Whilst concerned for Billy, Alexandros enters.
ALEXANDROS
“You are all criminals here! You have caused sacrilege to Sulis Minerva. Especially you…woman claimed to be a demon!”
JANE
(appalled) “How dare you sir? I’m not…” (stops; realises) “But wait…you…why pray! It’s Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby, isn’t it?”
ALEXANDROS
“You are a disgrace to the goddess Sulis! You shall be sacrificed before the sacrificial altar!”
JANE
“I to be sacrificed?”
NYSSA
“Doctor, it’s him! It’s Mr. Vernon!”
DOCTOR
“What?”
BILLY
“Nyssa’s right, Doctor! It is him!”
ALEXANDROS
(to Roman Centurion) “Take them away, Centurion! Take them!”
ROMAN CENTURION
(roughly) “Guards! Take them!”
The Romans take the Doctor, Nyssa and Jane away, whilst Billy is being forced up abruptly.
BILLY
(cries) “Easy, easy! I’ve been knocked by one of your thugs!”
The Romans however do not listen, as they take him away. The Doctor and Nyssa approach Alexandros.
NYSSA
(to Alexandros) “Billy’s injured! He needs medical attention!”
ALEXANDROS
“It does not matter what your Billy needs. He is to be sacrificed as well with Miss Austen. As will both of you…Miss Nyssa and you Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“How did you know who I was?”
ALEXANDROS
(to Romans) “Take them!”
The Romans take Nyssa and the Doctor with them along with Billy and Jane, Meanwhile, Alexandros chuckles in triumph.
SCENE #104 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
At the Sacred Spring, Salvador continues to pour the toxic potion into the waters. Alexandros, Flavia and Apaulia enter to meet him.
ALEXANDROS
(excitedly) “My lord! My lord Salvador!” (Pause) “My lord Salvador! I beg you hear me!”
FLAVIA
“Should it be wise to interrupt his grace if he maybe in contact with Sulis, my lord Alexandros?”
APAULIA
(moodily) “I don’t see why not. He’s been in contact with Sulis three times already.”
SALVADOR
What have you to say, Lord Alexandros?
ALEXANDROS
The ones you asked to be captured.
SALVADOR
Well?
ALEXANDROS
They were found in the temple. The woman novelist has been taken for preparation at the sacrificial altar, as have the Doctor and his friends.
SALVADOR
You need not be so enthused as to give me this information, Alexandros. For it gives me provocation that this news has already been known to me.
ALEXANDROS
(bewildered) I…I assumed you wished to hear about this, my lord…
SALVADOR
You only take pleasure in telling me this news because you wish to have the girl Nyssa and for this business to be over and done with.
ALEXANDROS
(exasperated) “That is not true, my lord. I have followed your commandments to the letter. To be sure, I desire Lady Nyssa to be mine. But only so in the hope that you will keep your promise…”
SALVADOR
“I am Salvador, Alexandros! I make no promise. It would be better for you to satisfy yourself with Miss Gibbons.”
ALEXANDROS
“No, sir! That I cannot accept.”
APAULIA
“I should think not! I don’t want to live with a mercenary and a murderer!”
ALEXANDROS
“And I find Miss Gibbons disagreeable to be poor and lacking in imagination.”
APAULIA
Exactly! (stunned) What did you say, Alex?
FLAVIA
Please, all of you! Enough of this bickering. What is to be done about the sacrifices?
SALVADOR
I shall call upon Sulis when the sacrifice is being made. His lordship Alexandros will conduct the sacrifice of the woman himself with Apaulia and your ladyship’s help.
ALEXANDROS
(puzzled) You…you will not join us at the sacrificial altar?
SALVADOR
I must not be seen by those who are my enemies. For my powers shall be required here in this sanctuary of Sulis.
APAULIA
(mockingly) Scared of showing your face to the people you hate!
SALVADOR
(angrily) I have had enough of your mockery against your Salvador, girl!
APAULIA
Shouldn’t have picked me up, should you?! If you had behaved in a more gentlemanly manner, I might have been more compassionate towards your cause, but I’m not!
FLAVIA
Silence, girl!
SALVADOR
(angrily) You have said enough, Apaulia! I shall wipe you out of existence as I demonstrated to you before!
ALEXANDROS
(protests) No!
SALVADOR
(angrily) “I shall blot you out!”
ALEXANDROS
(protests) “No, my lord!”
Alexandros stands in between Salvador and Apaulia.
SALVADOR
Move, Alexandros! Move or I shall destroy you as well!
ALEXANDROS
She may be of some use! Let her live and I shall see to it that she does not abuse your will!
APAULIA
I do not need you to speak up for me, you creep!
FLAVIA
Ungrateful wretch! Have some compassion, girl!
ALEXANDROS
(continues; to Salvador) She will accompany me to the sacrificial altar at once as you bid. But please do not destroy her!
Moment of silence.
SALVADOR
Very well! Continue your task! I shall remain here until you are ready to sacrifice Austen! Now! Leave me alone! ALL OF YOU!
The fierceness in Salvador’s strong voice quickens Alexandros, Flavia and Apaulia out of the spring room.
FLAVIA
(quietly) “He is a powerful lord, but with a fierce temper!”
APAULIA
(quietly) “He’s always like that. He only smiles or chuckles when he does something cruel and evil!”
FLAVIA
“He is full of dark deeds, I do agree. I admire that in a lord.”
ALEXANDROS
“Let’s make for the precinct at once!”
They make haste to leave the room, whilst Salvador stands at the spring.
SALVADOR
(quietly; vengeful) At last! Very soon…the Doctor will pay for his abuse. He shall be blotted out. And so will his dear friends who trust him so. I…Salvador…shall be the only one…to control time and space!
SCENE #105 – EXT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
Later that evening in the temple courtyard, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy and Jane are being held captive by Roman soldiers. Meanwhile, people enter into the courtyard itself.
NYSSA
There are so many people here! All for the sacrifice! These public demonstrations of sacrifices are callous beyond imagining!
DOCTOR
(solemnly) It’s part of their religion I’m afraid, Nyssa. (to Jane) I’m so sorry, Miss Austen. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this.
JANE
Do not apologise, dear Doctor. I know now your intentions are good. If I’m to die, then God’s will be done.
NYSSA
You’re not going to die, Miss Austen. Honestly, you’re not.
BILLY
(encouragingly) “Yeah don’t give up, Miss Austen! We can get through this!”
DOCTOR
“Unfortunately Nyssa; Billy, these guards are holding us with brutal hands. From the look of things our chances aren’t that good.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, you always said time is determinant, subject to change. A lot of possibilities come from this line of events.”
DOCTOR
“But one way or another if we manage to meet Jane Austen in seventeen ninety-seven, we’re still witnessing her death later in seventy-nine AD. Even if she was born in seventeen ninety-seven, she’s still prone to dying in seventy-nine AD.” (to Jane) “Sorry, Miss Austen.”
NYSSA
“And we’re being sentenced to death at the same time. So Miss Austen may never meet us if we die here.”
DOCTOR
“And the contradiction will never be resolved if we die in this time zone!”
BILLY
“Yikes! It didn’t realise it was that serious!”
JANE
“I shall bear it well. I know what the consequences will be if I die here. At least I won’t have to attend my aunt’s card parties anymore. Just means I won’t be able to see my mother and father…and my sister.”
Jane then bursts into tears. Just then Alexandros and Apaulia turn up.
ALEXANDROS
(calls) “Centurion?! Have all the people of Aquae Sulis being gathered at the precinct?”
ROMAN CENTURION
“They have not all arrived but a fair gathering are there, my lord.”
ALEXANDROS
“Good.”
Alexandros then approaches Jane Austen to address her.
ALEXANDROS
(to Jane) “Sulis shall be arisen when you are to be sacrificed! The people will be happy!” (to Apaulia) “Would you say so, Apaulia?”
NYSSA
“Please! Don’t do this! Miss Austen’s innocent!”
APAULIA
“She’s right, Alex! Stop this now before you regret it!”
ALEXANDROS
“You shut up, Miss Gibbons! If that was your answer to my question I am not pleased!
JANE
“May I ask pray sir, what I have done to cause you to inflict suffering on me, as well as my friends; the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy? For I met you in Bath, Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby, and never have I offended you. Why should you offend me?”
ALEXANDROS
(mockingly) “For being alive!”
JANE
(shocked) “Vile! You are a cruel and vile man!”
ALEXANDROS
“You and your friends have given me and all my associates much trouble Miss Austen, by harassing us with your interference.”
BILLY
“We’ve tried to stop you before then?”
ALEXANDROS
“Of course. It was in the Pump Room in the late seventeen hundreds that we last met. And do not deny it for you did intervene. Miss Austen even confirms remembering me!”
DOCTOR
“So you’re responsible for the temporal convergence in the three time zones! I marvel at your expertise for you being so limited in the skills of temporal mechanics.”
ALEXANDROS
“You mean me being so mortal. That’s what my client says about me. For he is the one who made all this possible for me.”
JANE
“And who is your benefactor, sir?”
Alexandros doesn’t say anything, as he chuckles quietly.
NYSSA
“Who are you?! You are Mr. Vernon whom Billy and I surely met in two thousand and eleven?”
ALEXANDROS
“Nay dear, Miss Nyssa. I was a man who lived in the later part of the eighteenth century.”
APAULIA
(bitterly) “Mr. Alexander Thorpe-Willoughby, as he so modestly calls himself.”
JANE
“So you really are Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby. You have no other identity?!”
ALEXANDROS
(ignores Jane) “I was a gambler. And a pretty poor one at that. For I lost every time on the roulette tables or playing the cards. One day, I was thrown out of the Cross Keys in Midford Road. It was then I came into contact…with my saviour! He granted me the power of wealth and good fortune if I would do something for him.”
BILLY
“You sold your soul? To a mad man?”
JANE
“What possessed you to be tempted by this man, sir? For what reason?”
ALEXANDROS
“You may call him mad. But he has the power of a great god in ancient times. He was able to transport me to different places and different times. He wished me to help him in his project to merge the three time zones! One in my past, one in my present and one that is yet to come!”
NYSSA
But for what reason, Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby? Surely you must realise that temporal convergences can cause great catastrophes and entropy will increase rapidly. The temporal and thermodynamic laws will be non-existent.
ALEXANDROS
Power and wealth is all I desire, Miss Nyssa. As I also desire you!
NYSSA
Me? What are you saying?
ALEXANDROS
(passionately) Oh dear Miss Nyssa! Dear Nyssa!” (Pause) In vain I have struggled but it will not do. My feelings will not be repressed! You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you!
NYSSA
What?
APAULIA
He’s such a flatterer when he wants to be. Even if he does embarrass himself!
JANE
(curiously) Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby? Have you been reading any of my…?
ALEXANDROS
(to Nyssa) “Please give me the hope and satisfaction that you Miss Nyssa felt something for me. When we first met I had hopes of my desire being fulfilled! And now that desire is being granted I must be assured for I should have to take you at last when all this is over!”
APAULIA
(sighs) “Big mistake.”
NYSSA
“You are mistaken, Mr. Thorpe-Willoughby. I have never had feelings like that for you! The way you’ve behaved persuades me that you’re the last person in the universe I could ever fall in love with.”
ALEXANDROS
“Is…is that your answer?”
NYSSA
“It is!”
ALEXANDROS
“Very well. No matter how little you feel for me, I shall take you by any means necessary!”
BILLY
“Hey! You keep away from her!”
ALEXANDROS
(to Billy) “Oh so you fancy yourself as being her protector, boy. I do not think you claim yourself as being hers as you say.”
BILLY
“Boy?! You think of me as a boy?! I can look out for Nyssa better than you can!”
JANE
“Well said, Mr. Walker! Bravo indeed!”
BILLY
“Thank you, Miss Austen.”
NYSSA
Why is Miss Austen to be sacrificed? She’s done nothing wrong!
ALEXANDROS
(bitterly) She has been an intrusion to the plans of my client and me. She must be disposed of so we can have no more disruptions to our arrangements.
DOCTOR
(seriously) Thorpe-Willoughby, listen! If you intend to sacrifice Miss Austen on the altar, the removal of her existence will be catastrophic beyond imagination let alone the temporal catastrophe you wish to prevail.
ALEXANDROS
Oh? And why do you say that, Doctor?
DOCTOR
Miss Austen is a well-bred woman, but she’s also a very important lady in Earth’s history. Remove her and a contradiction in causal events will expand to greater effect. The lives she affects, the people that have heard her name will never exist in normal causality.
JANE
I do not follow your words, Doctor.
NYSSA
“Miss Austen will have written novels about people and relationships that future generations will turn to for reference and enjoyment. You can’t take that away from her. It would be immoral and unethical in temporal and physical means.”
BILLY
“Yeah, you wouldn’t want the whole world to blow up cos a great woman writer had been rubbed out like a pencil rubbing her out on a piece of paper.”
DOCTOR
“Probably best if you didn’t mention that bit, Nyssa; Billy!”
JANE
(surprised) “I am to be a great novelist?!”
DOCTOR
See what I mean?
NYSSA
Sorry, Doctor.
ALEXANDROS
(proudly) I am Lord Alexandros of Aquae Sulis! And I am a disciple of my own saviour. And I shall follow his teachings and obey his laws.
NYSSA
Your client is insane, Thorpe-Willoughby! You can’t do this!
ALEXANDROS
Can’t?! CAN’T?! (Pause) And I expected high hopes for you, Miss Nyssa. At least I shall be glad to obtain half your income. (to Romans) Take them to the precinct! Prepare the demon-woman for sacrifice! For she is to be first!
They get taken away by the Roman soldiers.
DOCTOR
(calls) Thorpe-Willoughby?! Please listen to me! Temporal displacement will be greater if you carry on like this.
But the Roman soldiers take Nyssa, Billy, Jane and the Doctor away, as they head for the temple precinct. Meanwhile Alexandros and Apaulia remain alone.
ALEXANDROS
“Well. Now we’ve had that little chat, let’s attend to the ceremony.”
APAULIA
“I can’t believe you’re mad enough to go through with this, Alex. For the life of me, I wish I’d never met you.”
Alexandros heads off and chuckles. Apaulia remains shocked and appalled, as she follows him to the precinct.
SCENE #106 – EXT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
A while later, outside on the temple precinct, everyone gathers around the sacrificial altar. Alexandros approaches the Roman Centurion, whilst Apaulia joins him.
ALEXANDROS
“Centurion? How fares with that demon woman for sacrifice? Is she ready yet?”
ROMAN CENTURION
“She is being dressed now! She will not delay us, my lord.”
ALEXANDROS
“Good. See to it that she is sacrificed first before the Doctor and his friends.” (quietly) “But make sure you keep Miss Nyssa, the pretty little girl, alive. Kill the Doctor and the boy!”
The Roman Centurion acknowledges Alexandros, as he walks off with the Roman troops.
APAULIA
(appalled) “I hope you’re satisfied with what you’re doing, you monster!”
ALEXANDROS
(pleased) I have never been more satisfied in my life, Miss Gibbons.
SCENE #107 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
Salvador watches Alexandros’ behaviour from the pool of the Sacred Spring.
SALVADOR
You are a fool, Alexandros! Do you think I cannot hear you when you speak so low?! (Pause) You know you shall never have your Nyssa unless I grant it. You shall pay for your insolence if you dare disobey me!
Salvador continues watching, as he turns his attention to another set of events.
SCENE #108 – EXT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
Outside at the temple precinct, Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor are held by Roman soldiers whilst the sacrificial altar is being prepared. Many people pass by and stare at them, whilst attending the ceremony.
BILLY
(grumbles) I really hate being the centre of attention! Under these circumstances.
NYSSA
“Thank you, Billy.”
BILLY
(apologetically) “Sorry, Nyssa. I don’t mean to grumble, but I’m just so anxious…”
NYSSA
“I don’t mean that. I mean…thank you for sticking up for me when Vernon said he’d take me by any means necessary. It was noble of you.”
BILLY
(enthused) “Hey you’re my friend, Nyssa! If he even tries to take you I’ll always be there to stop him!”
NYSSA
(solemnly) “Whatever happens, I’m sure it won’t happen but fearing the worse, I’m grateful we became friends, Billy. I appreciate your company always.”
BILLY
“Thanks, Nyssa. I enjoyed being with you as well. And the Doctor.”
NYSSA
“Yes and the Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Hmm?”
BILLY
“We were just saying we’re glad to have met you, Doctor. No matter what happens…”
DOCTOR
(dismissively) “Oh no time for that now! We’ve got bigger problems to concern ourselves with! Miss Austen is part of a greater run of events that will create the causal nexus to a greater degree and priority.”
NYSSA
“The temporal convergence.”
Suddenly, everything seems to be a blur and to shudder at the precinct. Things phase in and out momentarily, before everything eventually reverts back to normal.
DOCTOR
“Yes! It’s started!”
Meanwhile, a fair distance away, Lord Gaius and Lady Flavia are joined by Capito and Lurco.
CAPITO
“Ah, Lord Gaius! Glad Lurco and I came upon you and Lady Flavia!”
GAIUS
“Ah, Lord Capito and Lord Lurco! How good of you to attend!”
LURCO
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world. Very kind of you to let me come, my lord.”
FLAVIA
Isn’t it exciting that we actually get to see Sulis for real? Everyone will see her power!
LURCO
Yes, I admit I’m gratified at hearing news of Sulis’ return. It is gracious that one so powerful should be able to conjure up a goddess as powerful as she to appear before us.
CAPITO
But the important thing is how fares with the arrangements of this witch that appeared on Sulis’ spring? Is that not who we shall see sacrificed today?
GAIUS
It is! The same woman whom we speak of.
CAPITO
Oh good! I’m glad she will be got rid of by the end of today!
LURCO
Oh yes! To be certain, for I find her manner so revolting. And she even has the nerve to wear Roman clothes to blend into our society.
FLAVIA
“I’m so glad to see somebody killed today! It makes the day all the more fulfilling!”
Nyssa, the Doctor and Billy listen to the conversation nearby.
NYSSA
(shocked) “How awful they are! I can’t imagine people, normal civilians, officials, lords and ladies of this generation find pleasure in the sight of somebody being killed!”
DOCTOR
“Romans do have their shortcomings, Nyssa.”
They overhear more of the conversation.
CAPITO
“Who is this person that is able to call Sulis from the sacred waters?”
GAIUS
“Alexandros introduced him to us.”
LURCO
“Yes. but who is he?”
FLAVIA
Well. He’s…
Suddenly, loud trumpets ring out. The ceremony is about to begin. Alexandros stands on a podium, as he is about to speak to the people.
ALEXANDROS
(out loud) Citizens of Aquae Sulis! Lords and ladies! I thank all of you who attend this ceremony! For you all are to witness, and have the satisfaction, of seeing a disgraceful woman given to Sulis!” (to Roman Centurion) “Centurion! Bring out the woman!
ROMAN CENTURION
(to Roman soldiers) Bring the woman out!
The Roman solidiers bring Jane Austen out. Everyone jeers and hisses at her, as she tries to break free.
JANE
(cries) Unhand me! Unhand me at once I say!
ROMANS
(shouts) Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!
JANE
(appalled) “How dare you say such things?! How unkind and unfair you all are?!”
Despite Miss Austen’s protests, the Romans still keep on shouting.
ROMANS
(shouts) “Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”
ALEXANDROS
(shouts) “Silence!” (louder) “Silence I say!”
The Romans eventually stop shouting.
ALEXANDROS
(gradually) “You see this woman here today! In the robes ready for sacrifice! She will be sacrificed at the altar! And in doing so, everyone shall have their reward! Each and every one of you has served your goddess honourably! You shall see Sulis before you! She will appear as you see me here standing on this podium!”
JANE
(retorts) “You blasphemous man! Your goddess doesn’t exist!”
Everyone gasps at this.
DOCTOR
“I really shouldn’t have said that, Miss Austen.”
JANE
(bewildered) “Why? Why should I not say what I know is the truth? There is no goddess called Sulis!”
FLAVIA
(cries) “It is you who is blasphemous, girl!”
GAIUS
“How unfortunate you have not learnt your lessons of this matter before you are to be sacrificed!”
CAPITO
“Indeed!”
LURCO
“Most definitely!”
DOCTOR
(protests) “Please! Don’t kill my sister! She will follow the texts of Sulis daily if you forgive her, all of you!”
JANE
(aghast) “I most certainly will not! And don’t call me your sister, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(resigned) “Oh well. It was worth a try.”
NYSSA
“Miss Austen, the Doctor was trying to save you!”
JANE
“But he said…”
ALEXANDROS
(mockingly) “You see?! You see, everyone?! These four people collaborate together to bring down the word of Sulis to chaos! They are all demons to Sulis!”
FLAVIA
“Shameful!”
CAPITO
“Inconceivable!”
GAIUS
“Unheard of!”
LURCO
Most shocking indeed! It would not be good if Annalis the old man was here! By the way, where is he?
FLAVIA
(coyly) Probably still asleep in the Great Bath, I shouldn’t wonder.
ALEXANDROS
(boldly) Begin the sacrifice! Place the woman on the altar!
Everyone cheers at this, as Jane Austen struggles to break free. She is led to the altar by the Roman soldiers.
NYSSA
(cries) No! That’s barbaric!
DOCTOR
(protests; to Alexandros) Please, Alexandros! You can’t cause a temporal convergence like this! You’re never going to achieve unification of all time zones!
APAULIA
(pleads) Please, Alexandros! Enough is enough!
FLAVIA
(calls) “Apaulia! Come down here, child!”
ALEXANDROS
(proudly) “Everybody wants to see Sulis!”
BILLY
“Fat chance that’s going to happen!”
ALEXANDROS
“What’s that you say, young man?!”
BILLY
“I was just saying that I’m sceptical of you being able to call up a goddess who doesn’t actually exist!”
DOCTOR
“I quite agree with Billy, Alexandros! You don’t seriously expect us to believe you can summon a goddess in front of all these people! You don’t have the capacity for that!”
ALEXANDROS
“Ah but I shall not do so, Doctor. For my client, as I’ve told you before, shall be the one to call Sulis from her waters….”
SCENE #109 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
ALEXANDROS (V’O)
(continues) “…He is waiting at the Sacred Spring to call her up at this moment.”
Salvador watches Alexandros in the pool at the Sacred Spring where he is.
SALVADOR
Do not reveal much about me to the Doctor, Alexandros! Do as you are bid! Carry out the sentence of death on Miss Austen! NOW! DO IT NOW!
SCENE #110 – EXT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
ALEXANDROS
Put the woman’s head on the altar.
This is done. But before Alexandros can call for Jane Austen to be sacrificed…
CALPURNIUS
(protests) No! Stop!
Everyone, puzzled and bewildered, turns to see Gaius Calpurnius Receptus and Lucius Marcius Memar enter the precinct.
ALEXANDROS
What is this? How dare you come in here?!
CALPURNIUS
I am the high priest Gaius Calpurnius Receptus! Your master, Alexandros! I have served Sulis all my life and I command you to stop this ceremony!
CAPITO
“Stop it?! But it’s just started!”
FLAVIA
“Indeed! For we are all to see Sulis Minerva herself!”
CALPURNIUS
“I have been in conference with Luicius Marcius Memar! We agree that this ceremony will bring a downfall to all of Aquae Sulis.”
ALEXANDROS
“Nonsense! This woman is a danger to us all and must be got rid off!”
LUICIUS
“If any of us dare touch the lady’s skin with a knife or even with fire, then the town will be crushed and flooded in a wave! All time will eat us up!”
DOCTOR
(relieved) “At last! Finally somebody who agrees with me!”
Suddenly a boyish scream echoes nearby.
NYSSA
“What was that? Who just screamed?”
BILLY
“That boy over there!”
GAIUS
(bewildered) Belator? Why do you scream so?
BELATOR
(screams) Did you not see? Did you not see?
CAPITO
See what, boy?
BELATOR
(screams) The woman! The woman that was meant to be sacrificed? (Pause) Well, don’t you see? She’s gone! She disappeared!
Everyone looks to see and they gasps. The boy is right about what he says and everyone mutters and murmurs in gossip at this.
GAIUS
Hey? What is this? Another trick of hers?
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are also troubled.
NYSSA
(troubled) Doctor, she’s gone! She was there a minute ago! Now she’s vanished!
DOCTOR
“Yes! I wonder if a dematerialisation effect was occurring.”
BILLY
“Dematerialisation effect?”
DOCTOR
“Or some form of symbiosis to affect transference.”
NYSSA
“The form that caused the temporal convergence?”
BILLY
“You mean this could be what caused the three time zones we witnessed to merge into one?”
DOCTOR
“Possibly.”
Meanwhile, Alexandros argues with the Roman Centurion.
ALEXANDROS
(angrily) “Centurion?! Why did you let that woman out of your sight?! How could you have let her escape?!”
ROMAN CENTURION
“I do not know, sir! But I assure you, my men and I would have kept our eyes open!”
ALEXANDROS
(unforgiving) “Not good enough, sir!”
SCENE #111 – INT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
Meanwhile, Jane Austen finds herself in a strange room.
JANE
(faint) “Where…where am I? What is this place?”
Jane then faints. Meanwhile, bubbling water echoes from a nearby pool, with Salvador before the Sacred Spring.
SALVADOR
(shouts) “SULIS MINERVA, COME! ARISE I SAY! I GIVE YOU…THIS CITY! DEVOUR! DEVOUR IT WITH YOUR POWER!!”
With that, the whirlpool starts whirling again. Just as before, water shoots up from the Sacred Spring and crashes through the roof. The figure of the water goddess emerges. The water warrior screams in anger and rage as Sulis is unleashed. She slashes her sword and shield, as she is ready for battle.
SCENE #112 – EXT – ROMANS BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SPRING 79 AD
Outside at the temple precinct, everyone sees the rising figure of Sulis Minerva before them. Everyone screams in terror, as they run for their lives.
ALEXANDROS
“Do not run! Do not run, I say! It is Sulis Minerva! She has come! Why must you all run away from your goddess?!”
But everyone pays no heed to Alexandros’ words, as they’re all terrified.
FLAVIA
“This has turned out badly! Hasn’t it, Lord Gaius?!”
GAIUS
“It most certainly has, Lady Flavia!”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy observe storm clouds, as the rain begins to fall with Sulis rising in the sky.
BILLY
“Doctor, it’s raining heavily!”
DOCTOR
“Yes Billy, I know! The clouds have converged on each other too quickly! They’re causing a massive rainstorm! Just like it was in my dream!”
NYSSA
“The rain’s affecting the people of Aquae Sulis, Doctor! Look!”
They look to see, as the rain hits on the people of Aquae Sulis. First they cough, then they become breathless. They start to wheeze, before gurgling and growling. They turn into water zombies, as the poison within the rain affects them.
DOCTOR
“Volturnans! They’re being turned into Volturnans!”
NYSSA
“That creature in the sky is composed of water! What is it anyway? And where’s Miss Austen?”
DOCTOR
“I don’t know! But whatever happens, we must stop this once and for all!”
NYSSA
“We must save Jane Austen and stop those who are causing this catastrophe to happen!”
Billy then falls to the ground, as he starts coughing.
NYSSA
(concerned) “Billy? Billy, what’s the matter?!”
BILLY
(coughs) “I…I don’t know.”
Billy coughs heavily, as he begins to lose his breath.
DOCTOR
(apprehensive) “Oh no! Billy’s been infected!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “What?! No!”
Nyssa then starts to cough too, as she falls to the floor.
DOCTOR
(shocked) “And you’re infected too, Nyssa!” (desperately) “Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(coughs; rasps) “Doctor! Help me!”
About to fall and start coughing himself, the Doctor soon notices that the whole temple precinct shifts and phases in and out of time. The temporal convergence occurs again.
NYSSA
(wheezes) “Doctor! It’s happening again! The temporal convergence!”
DOCTOR
(coughs) “Yes! How frustrated I always get when that happens!”
BILLY
(coughs) “Can it get any worse?!”
Everything shudders violently, as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy fall over. The trio are silent for a while, before a distinct voice echoes nearby.
JANE
(distant; pleadingly) “Doctor! Miss Nyssa; Mr. Walker, pray! Hear me!”
DOCTOR
(puzzled; wheezes) “Nyssa? Billy? I see Jane Austen in front of me! She’s here!” (puzzled) “Nyssa?! (shocked) “Billy?!”
They are no longer the Nyssa and Billy he knows. They gurgle and growl.
BILLY
(gurgles; weakly) “Doctor?! What’s happening?!”
NYSSA
(rasps; shivers) “Please Doctor! Help us?!”
DOCTOR
(despairs; wheezes) “Oh no! Not you two!”
Whilst Nyssa and Billy start mutating, the Doctor, shocked by this happening, turns to see Jane Austen.
JANE
“Listen to me, Doctor! Listen to what I have to say!”
The whole place shudders again very violently.
REPRISAL OF SCENE #44 – EXT – AQUAE SULIS, 79 AD/BATH, 1797/BATH, 2011 – N/A
A loud whirring noise echoes as the temporal shuddering becomes absolutely terrible. All over Bath, the temporal convergence takes place. Like a volcano, water erupts from the Roman Baths, shooting up into the sky. Rain and storm clouds cover Bath, as the whole city floods and gets covered in a surging and tumultuous tidal wave or tsunami. Triumphant evil laughter echoes from a certain lord of darkness.
Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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