1. Cloud City
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
SCENE #1 – INT – GREAT HALL, KING’S PALACE – DAY, AFTERNOON
Inside the great hall of King Sungam’s palace at Cloud City on the planet Skydra, the king watches a number of dancers entertaining him. Musicians play music in the background. People try to talk to him and he ignores them whilst he watches the dancers. A man called Governor Fonda and a woman called Counsellor Sern are with him.
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Do the musicians meet with your approval, your majesty?” (Pause) “My lord?”
KING SUNGAM
“Shut up, Governor Fonda? I’m watching the dancers!”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“You mustn’t let your food get cold, your majesty. You haven’t even taken your eyes off those dancers since they came on.”
KING SUNGAM
“You can shut it too, Counsellor Sern. You’re not my mother!”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Please, your majesty. The Blue Cloud Revolution has just begun. Don’t spoil it by your bad temper.”
KING SUNGAM
“I’ll do whatever I want! I am the king! I have everything!”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“There is still the legend of the prophecy. That has yet to be fulfilled.”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Yes. How can you be so sure…?”
KING SUNGAM
(interrupts) “Will you two stop interrupting! I want some more dancers! And I want some more food! And some more beer!” (shouts) “Get me another tankard of beer, someone!”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Your majesty, you’ve had three tankards already!”
KING SUNGAM
(shocked) “Three! That’s shocking! I must have my usual ten! As well as my five a day! That’s five portions of meat! I must have a big fat belly!”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“You need your vegetables too, your majesty.”
KING SUNGAM
(aghast) “Vegetables?! You’re so sacrilegious, man! Vegetables are for peasants!”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“But what of the prophecy, King Sungam? When will that be fulfilled? The Blue Cloud Revolution will be nothing if it’s not fulfilled.”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“How can you be confident, King, whilst sitting in your throne drinking beer and eating meat, that the prophecy will be fulfilled?”
KING SUNGAM
That’s because I can already sense him, my good friends.
GOVERNOR FONDA
(puzzled) Sense him? Sense who?
KING SUNGAM
The man will do the task for me! The man who will work miracles! The man who will collect the ancient relics of Skydra. The man called…the Doctor!
COUNSELLOR SERN
And when will this Doctor arrive?
KING SUNGAM
Very soon, my dear. In fact, I can sense his arrival even now! (Pause) Sern; Fonda! Go and prepare to meet him. He’ll be arriving soon with his two friends. Go now whilst I enjoy my beer and eat my food!
GOVERNOR FONDA
Yes, your majesty.
COUNSELLOR SERN
As you command, your majesty.
With that, Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda get up and leave. King Sungam continues eating and drinking away whilst the dancers continue to entertain him.
SCENE #2 – INT – TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Meanwhile in time and space, the Doctor is at the control console of his TARDIS. He presses buttons and switches before he goes over to the door that leads into the inner corridor and opens it.
DOCTOR
(calls) Nyssa; Billy! We’ll be arriving at our next destination any moment.
NYSSA
(calls back) Alright, Doctor. We’ll be out in a minute.
The Doctor returns to the console.
DOCTOR
Now then, galactic coordinates: C-Three-One-Five-Zero-Dash-S-One-Nine. (Pause) Well, if it isn’t the planet Skydra we’re going to next according to the map to time, then I’m don’t know where we’re going next at all.
At that moment, Nyssa enters the console room to join the Doctor.
NYSSA
“Doctor, what do you think of this dress? Will it do for where we’re going?”
DOCTOR
(distractedly) “Oh, I’m sure it’ll do very nicely.” (Pause) “Mind you, if we were in the Cloud City of Skydra, the whiteness of the dress may confuse the inhabitants if you get too close to the sky.”
NYSSA
“The sky?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. Where we’re going, there are always clouds in the sky. There’s also bright sunshine, but that doesn’t mean the sky becomes clear. Make sure you don’t get confused with one of the clouds when you’re meeting someone.”
NYSSA
“Very amusing, Doctor.” (Pause) “This Cloud City is literally set upon the clouds then.”
DOCTOR
“It certainly is. The cloud dwellers don’t walk on the ground. They wouldn’t know how to do it since it scares them.”
NYSSA
“I take it you’ve been to Skydra before.”
DOCTOR
“Once. I didn’t have time to look around. Mind you, the food and the music is very refreshing. You should try their chocolate mousses.”
NYSSA
“I don’t suppose technology is a highpoint on this planet.”
DOCTOR
“Not as such. The Skydrians are more in line with the Tudors. And possibly in connection with Viking legends.”
NYSSA
“Vikings legends?”
DOCTOR
“Another time. Just don’t find yourself getting drunk one night and hauled away by one of Skydra’s greatest warriors. Billy would be upset.”
NYSSA
“I never get drunk, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“That remains to be seen.”
At that moment, Billy enters the console room, wearing a skydiving suit.
BILLY
(cheerily) “Hello! I heard that we’re arriving our next destination, so now I’m ready.”
NYSSA
(surprised) “Billy, what are you doing in that get-up?”
BILLY
(confused) “This? This is a skydiving suit.”
NYSSA
“You don’t need a skydiving suit, Billy.”
BILLY
“We’re going to Skydra the cloud planet, aren’t we, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, Billy, indeed we are.”
BILLY
“Well, I’ve come prepared. Skydiving suit with a parachute once we fly out of the TARDIS as it hangs in mid-air or something.” (puzzled) “How come you two aren’t wearing skydiving suits with parachutes?”
DOCTOR
(laughs out loud) “Billy, for someone who’s mild-mannered, I admire your ingenuity and resourcefulness.”
BILLY
(modestly) “I aim to please.”
DOCTOR
(laughs) “But I have to tell you, there’s no need for you to wear a skydiving suit with a parachute. We’re not going to park the TARDIS in mid-air. We are going to land on the ground somewhere once we get to Skydra.”
BILLY
(puzzled) “On the ground? But you said this city was in the sky.”
DOCTOR
“It is. But there’s no reason why we can’t park the TARDIS on firm ground. The Skydrians won’t walk on it, but we can.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, couldn’t we park in Cloud City itself? I take Billy’s point, since we’ll be above ground level.”
DOCTOR
“No, no, no. I prefer to do this on terra firma – more or less. It avoids attraction from the Skydrians who want to ask questions. They can be a very curious people if they see a strange blue box in their city.”
BILLY
“So, you made me wear this skydiving outfit for nothing.”
NYSSA
“He didn’t make you, Billy. You did that yourself.”
BILLY
(groans) “Oh great! I feel like a complete idiot!”
NYSSA
(teases) “Actually, I find you rather dashing.”
BILLY
“Nyssa, don’t make fun of me please!”
NYSSA
“When have you known me to?”
Nyssa gives Billy a kiss and embraces him.
BILLY
“Oh well, that’s different.” (Pause) “But I still feel like an idiot!”
NYSSA
“You can change into something different, Billy. We don’t mind waiting, do we, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“No, no, of course not. You go and get changed, Billy. Nyssa and I will still be waiting here for you when you come out.”
BILLY
“Oh, alright then. But I’m still taking the parachute with me. Better safe than sorry.”
SCENE #3 – EXT – NORTHERN REGION, SKYDRA – DAY, AFTERNOON
On the planet surface of Skydra, the TARDIS materialises. Whooshing and groaning, the TARDIS soon makes a loud thump to land. After a short silence, the TARDIS doors open and the Doctor steps out with Nyssa and Billy behind him.
DOCTOR
(breathes in) “Feel that sunny fresh air about you and entering your lungs! We must be in the summer season by now.”
NYSSA
“So Skydra has four seasons.”
DOCTOR
“Just Spring and Summer, Nyssa. No Autumn and Winter.”
BILLY
(shocked) “What?! No Christmas?!”
DOCTOR
“Skydra is the equivalent of a sunny Spanish day, but it lasts for months. Even if it can’t disperse the clouds.”
NYSSA
“And what of the wind, the rain and the drizzle?”
DOCTOR
“Oh there’s no rain here.”
BILLY
“What? No rain? That makes a change.”
NYSSA
“I thought this coin we were supposed to collect was the coin of wind, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“I didn’t say there wasn’t any wind on this planet.” (Pause) “Come on. Let’s get a move on before we delay.”
NYSSA
(realises) “Doctor, is that…?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, Nyssa. That is the Cloud City up in the sky.”
NYSSA
(amazed) “It’s beautiful. I look forward to getting there and seeing inside.”
DOCTOR
“We’re not visiting the city, Nyssa. The coin is somewhere in the clouds according to the map to time. We’ll have to find it in there and avoid contact with the city.”
NYSSA
(protests) “But Doctor…”
DOCTOR
“We’re here to collect the third coin of Deno, remember? I want this quest over with as soon as possible.”
Just then, the Doctor produces three rucksacks containing harness packs as he hands two of them out to Nyssa and Billy.
NYSSA
(realises) “Those are the harnesses we used on the planet Avia, aren’t they, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Indeed they are, Nyssa. We only need to reach for the sky and target the clouds. Hopefully we should be over and done with collecting the coin of wind within a few minutes.”
BILLY
“See! I knew bringing this parachute of mine was a good idea.”
NYSSA
“Don’t you think we ought to ask for help from the Cloud City dwellers, Doctor? They may be very hospitable.”
DOCTOR
“No, no. I don’t want to disturb them with what we’ve come for. It wouldn’t do to spoil and interrupt their Blue Cloud Revolution.”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Blue Cloud Revolution? What’s that?”
DOCTOR
“Cloud City is entering into one of its most popular summer events of the year. The Blue Cloud Revolution – a great flowering of sky art. Don’t ask me what it’s about. I never stuck around to find out. But then you know me. I always move on.”
NYSSA
“So we’re going to have to wear these harness packs and fly up into the sky to get the coin.”
DOCTOR
“Not as such. First, we need to find a hill on this terrain.”
Suddenly, Nyssa and Billy are caught in a lasso latched around them. They cry out, getting pulled in on the ground. The Doctor turns around to see them caught.
DOCTOR
(cries) “Nyssa; Billy!”
The Doctor runs forward to reach Nyssa and Billy before a group of bandits, led by two people – a man called Dannier and a woman called Micheller – come out and stop him.
DANNIER
(cries) “Freeze, sucker!”
The Doctor remains still whilst the bandits have Nyssa and Billy.
DOCTOR
“Who are you? What do you want? Let my friends go!”
NYSSA
“Doctor, save yourself! Don’t let them catch you too!”
BILLY
“Yeah get away from here, Doctor! Whoever these creeps are, get away!”
MICHELLER
“You three are coming back with us to our base!”
DOCTOR
“Hello, I’m the Doctor! Please can I ask you again to let my friends go since you’re hurting them…”
DANNIER
(interrupts; threateningly) “No negotiation allowed! You’re coming with us whether you like it or not!”
MICHELLER
(threateningly) “You three are our prisoners! Surrender or die!”
Just then, the bandits get fired upon. They soon start to run away and scatter.
DANNIER
(panics) “Sky soldiers! They’ve found us!”
MICHELLER
(cries) “Back to the caves! We mustn’t let them catch us!”
The bandits let Nyssa and Billy go and the Doctor runs over to help his two friends.
DOCTOR
“Nyssa; Billy, are you alright?”
BILLY
“I thought they were going to kill us! Thank goodness we’re in one piece!”
NYSSA
“Thank you, Doctor. Whatever you did, you saved our skins.”
DOCTOR
“It wasn’t me, Nyssa. It was…”
As Nyssa and Billy get up and take off the lasso, they and the Doctor turn to see a group of Skydrians in hazard suits coming down towards them from the sky. They are the sky soldiers led by a man called Bregone and a woman called Robell.
BILLY
(surprised) “Soldiers on wings?”
NYSSA
“They’re hazard protection suits, Billy. They must use them to protect themselves traversing through the sky.”
DOCTOR
“And they must have come from the Cloud City itself.”
The sky soldiers land on the ground as Bregone and Robell take off their safety helmets.
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Hello there! Thank you for rescuing us! Sorry if we’ve caused any trouble. We’re strangers here, you see…”
BREGONE
(interrupts) “I am Commander Bregone. This is my associate, Lieutenant Robell.”
ROBELL
“You are the one called the Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(startled) “Yes, I am. And these are my friends Nyssa and Billy. How did you know who we are…?”
BREGONE
(interrupts) “You are to come with us to Cloud City.”
NYSSA
(astonished) “Cloud City? For what reason?”
BILLY
“Hold on a minute! We’re not going anywhere until…”
At that, Robell pulls out a gun and trains it on the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy.
ROBELL
(threateningly) “You are to come with us back to our ship where we will take you to Cloud City! Do not resist!”
BREGONE
“You are expected, Doctor. You don’t wish to upset the king, do you?”
DOCTOR
(surprised) “Expected? The king? Well, we’re honoured!” (to Nyssa; Billy) “Aren’t we, Nyssa; Billy?”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy soon oblige as they follow the sky soldiers to their ship.
SCENE #4 – INT – SKY SHIP, NORTHERN REGION – DAY, AFTERNOON
Aboard the sky ship; the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy sit comfortably whilst they’re being taken to Cloud City. Commander Bregone and Lieutenant Robell keep watch over them as they travel in the sky ship.
DOCTOR
(satisfied) “Well, isn’t this nice? Comfy sofas; a nice view. The ship’s interior all cosy and neat. A mixture of blue and white.”
NYSSA
“I wonder where it is we’re going to.”
DOCTOR
“Cloud City of course. Our captors told us so, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“No, I mean, I wonder where it is these soldiers are going to take us to when we get to Cloud City. Who are we going to meet? And why are they taking us to Cloud City in the first place?”
BILLY
“They said the king’s expecting us. I suppose we’re going to be taken to some big throne room in Cloud City. Not like the one on Teruvada Sixteen, I don’t think. At least I hope not.”
DOCTOR
(muses) “I’ve never had a royal honour like this before. Not on my last visit to Cloud City.”
NYSSA
“Why do you suppose we’re expected, Doctor? What does the king want from us?”
DOCTOR
“I’m sure we can ask.” (to Bregone; Robell) “Excuse me, Mr. Bregone; Miss Robell. Could you tell us why the king wants to see us?”
Bregone and Robell are unresponsive and they don’t answer as they keep watch on the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy aboard their sky ship.
NYSSA
“Did the king tell you about us and why we seem to be important?”
Still no response.
DOCTOR
“Hmm. These two don’t seem to be chatty.”
BILLY
“I want to see this king we’re expected to meet as soon as possible. The soldiers aboard this ship give me the creeps the way they keep silent whilst watching us.”
NYSSA
(reassuringly) “Don’t worry, Billy. We’ll have this sorted out. Then we’ll be able to get what we came for and then…”
DOCTOR
(interrupts; hushes; quietly) “Ssh, ssh! Don’t mention anything about the coin, Nyssa. I want to keep that to ourselves.”
NYSSA
(quietly) “You mean, in case somebody’s listening to us as well as watching us.”
DOCTOR
“I mean, in case we come across a spy or an agent working for the Dark Lord Vorshon from the Deno system, who’s come to collect the coin too.”
BILLY
“Good grief! You mean, there might actually be agents we’ll come across whilst searching for the coins.”
DOCTOR
“Sgrans or agents, it’s hard to tell. It’s best we keep a lookout.”
NYSSA
(realises) “Look! I think we’re about to arrive.”
They look out of a sky ship window to see that the ship is nearly approaching Cloud City. They are awed to see the city up close.
NYSSA
(amazed) “It’s beautiful seeing the city up close.”
BILLY
(amazed) “It’s larger than life, isn’t it?”
DOCTOR
“One of the most advanced cities in all forms of the universe. It contains the most highly sophisticated civilisation to possess travel and habitation in the clouds. And most impressive and ingenious, I dare say.”
NYSSA
“If this is supposed to be a planet containing cloud dwellers, why did we see people that tried to attack us on the planet surface? And do they live on the surface rather than up here?”
DOCTOR
“Ah! That I’m not sure about…”
BILLY
(interjects) “And another thing, why were those people on the planet surface trying to attack us?”
NYSSA
“Could there be a crisis that’s dividing people into factions which caused a cold war? Are we to settle it? Are we to finish it?”
BILLY
“Or in the worst case scenario, will we be finished?”
DOCTOR
“There are times when I wish you two wouldn’t ask so many good questions.” (Pause) “We’re about to touch down. Fasten your seatbelts, you two.”
With that; Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor fasten their seatbelts and sit back as the sky ship touches down on a pad at Sky Ship Port #7. The sky ship’s engines power down as it lands.
SCENE #5 – EXT – CLOUD STREET #17, CLOUD CITY – DAY, AFTERNOON
A while later, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are escorted through the streets of Cloud City by Commander Bregone, Lieutenant Robell and the sky soldiers from the sky ship. As they’re being escorted through the streets, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy notice people being interrogated by some security men.
NYSSA
(realises) “Doctor, the people being interrogated by the security men in the streets. I couldn’t help overhear someone being questioned about how much water they’re supposed to utilise.”
BILLY
“I heard someone being questioned about whether they can sit on benches in the park or not. As well as someone being questioned about whether to pay money for their purchases in a shop or not. The security men don’t sound nice when they’re being the interrogators.”
DOCTOR
“It does seem quite grim, doesn’t it? Cloud City must be under martial law in this current time.”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Martial law? Why would the city be under martial law?”
NYSSA
“Don’t tell us you’ve landed us in the middle of a war, Doctor. It would explain why we were attacked by those bandits on the planet surface.”
DOCTOR
“I don’t think we are in the middle of a war, Nyssa. The planet must be recovering from an ages-old war where there was suffering and blight. Perhaps the King has decreed Cloud City to be under martial law in order to get it back on its feet again.”
BILLY
“It seems more like a dictatorship than a peaceful haven here.”
NYSSA
“Not the epitaph of flowering art you seemed to indicate, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “Don’t worry, you two. We’ll get to that side of the city’s splendours eventually. Since we’re meeting the king, I assume he’s still organising the Blue Cloud Revolution festivities.”
BILLY
“It is beautiful in this city. What with the walls and seeing the sky lines. It makes me feel warm and comfortable somehow.”
NYSSA
I wish I felt the same way if we didn’t have these soldiers escorting us like we were criminals.
BREGONE
(barks) ‘Ere, no talking! Get a move on!
ROBELL
(barks) The king awaits you three! Move it!
BILLY
(mutters) Friendly chaps, aren’t they?
NYSSA
(realises) Doctor, we’re about to enter a huge building.
DOCTOR
Yes, Nyssa, so I see. I believe this must be the king’s palace.
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy, escorted by Bregone, Robell and the sky soldiers, soon meet up with Counsellor Sern, who comes out of the king’s palace to greet them.
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Bregone; Robell. You have brought the Doctor and his companions at last! Excellent!”
BREGONE
“We found them on the planet surface, Counsellor Sern. They were there just as you and Governor Fonda informed us, based on the king’s predictions.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Did you encounter the bandits?”
ROBELL
“We encountered a bunch of them who were trying to capture the Doctor and his friends. Micheller and Dannier were amongst them. We sorted them out.”
DOCTOR
(interjects) “Excuse me, but who were those charming bandits we met?”
BREGONE
(fiercely) “Quiet you! Don’t interrupt whilst we’re in the Counsellor’s presence.”
DOCTOR
(continues) “And what reason have me and my friends been brought here for? I gather we are to be expected.”
Counsellor Sern approaches the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy and takes a good look at them.
COUNSELLOR SERN
“So, you are the one whom the king predicted would come to Skydra. The Doctor, I believe you are called.”
DOCTOR
“My ears are burning! The king knows all about me, does he?”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“You are welcome here, Doctor. You and your friends. Lady err…?”
NYSSA
“Nyssa. I’m the Lady Nyssa of Traken. And this is my boyfriend Billy.”
BILLY
“Billy Walker. Nice to meet you.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Yes Doctor. The king anticipated your arrival. You are vital in our time for the Blue Cloud Revolution.”
DOCTOR
“Am I really? I’m honoured indeed.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“You are to fulfil a prophecy. A prophecy that will shape the lives of all Skydrians on this planet.”
NYSSA
And what prophecy is this you speak of? Nothing dangerous, I hope.
COUNSELLOR SERN
(to Bregone; Robell) Bregone; Robell, escort our guests to the great hall where his majesty King Sungam awaits them. He will be most pleased to see them, I’m sure.
BREGONE
Yes Counsellor. We obey.
ROBELL
We’ll take them to the great hall at once.
COUNSELLOR SERN
(to Doctor; Nyssa; Billy) If you three will excuse me. I shall join you in the hall shortly. Food and drink will be provided for you at the great table.
DOCTOR
Of course. Don’t mind us.
NYSSA
Thank you for looking after us.
BILLY
Yeah. Looking forward to the food.
COUNSELLOR SERN
I shall see you later.
With that, Sern walks off, leaving the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy to Bregone, Robell and the sky soldiers’ attention.
BREGONE
Alright, you three! Move! Into the great hall as Counsellor Sern instructed.
BILLY
You don’t have to push us around. We’re guests, didn’t you know?
ROBELL
(threateningly) “Move, we say! Move!”
NYSSA
“Alright, alright. We’re moving!”
Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor move forwards as they’re being pushed about by Bregone, Robell and the sky soldiers escorting them into the great hall of the king’s palace.
BILLY
“I still get the feeling we’re being treated like prisoners. I thought we were supposed to be honoured guests.”
NYSSA
“They don’t want us to get away, Billy. They want us for something and they’re determined not to let us out of their sight.”
BILLY
“Charming. No sense of trust amongst these people, is there?”
NYSSA
(to Doctor) “What do you suppose this great prophecy that Counsellor Sern mentioned to us is, Doctor? What is it we’re meant to fulfil?”
DOCTOR
“I’ve no idea, Nyssa. It’s something connected to the Blue Cloud Revolution, I’m sure of it. The more I hear about the prophecy though, the less I like the sound of it.”
BILLY
(jokingly) “What are they expecting us to do then? Draw paintings in the sky with clouds.”
Billy’s joke doesn’t make the Doctor and Nyssa laugh however as they continue to be escorted into the great hall of the king’s palace.
SCENE #6 – INT – GREAT HALL, KING’S PALACE – DAY, AFTERNOON
Inside the great hall of the king’s palace, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are brought in to meet King Sungam. The king eats, drinks and belches as he sits in his royal chair and puts his feet up. Governor Fonda also sits with him.
KING SUNGAM
(belches) “That was the best meaty drumstick I’ve ever had! And the best beer! Get me another tankard of the stuff!”
The king smashes his beer tankard onto his royal chair and laughs out loud. Bregone soon steps forward to address the king whilst Robell and the sky soldiers keep watch on the TARDIS trio.
BREGONE
“Beg my pardon, your majesty.”
KING SUNGAM
(bellows) “What are you doing here?! Can’t you see I’m busy stuffing myself?!”
BREGONE
“My apologies, your majesty. But I wish to inform you that Robell, the sky soldiers and I have brought you the three people you have summoned to Skydra and whom you wished to see. The Doctor and his companions: Lady Nyssa of Traken and Mr. Billy Walker.”
KING SUNGAM
(sniffs; puzzled) “Hmm? Who?” (recalls) “Oh yes! I remember now!”
With that, King Sungam gets out of his royal chair. He struggles to do so at first since he’s too big and fat. He eventually goes over to greet the Doctor and his two young friends.
KING SUNGAM
(bellows) “Welcome, Doctor! Greetings and welcome to you and your two young friends to my palace!” (laughs heartily) “Welcome, welcome indeed!”
DOCTOR
“Thank you. Very kind of you to have us here, your majesty.”
KING SUNGAM
“And this…this is my aide! Governor Fonda. Fonda, this is the Doctor and his friends. Say hello to them!”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Greetings, Doctor. Welcome to Cloud City.”
DOCTOR
“Oh how kind. Thank you, Governor.”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Greetings Lady Nyssa; Mr. Walker.”
NYSSA
“Greetings to you, Governor Fonda.”
BILLY
(cheerfully) “Yes, hello there.” (whispers; to Nyssa) “He’s a bundle of laughs, isn’t he? So stony faced.”
NYSSA
(whispers; to Billy) “I imagine the man’s never smiled before in his life.”
KING SUNGAM
(bellows) “Doctor, where are my manners? You must be tired. Come! Come and sit at my royal table! Have some food and wine!”
DOCTOR
“Why thank you, your majesty. Most appreciated.”
KING SUNGAM
(to Bregone; Robell) “Commander, Lieutenant! Release these three! They aren’t criminals!”
BREGONE
“Very good, sir.”
ROBELL
“As you wish, your majesty.”
At that, Bregone and Robell release the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy from their custody. The TARDIS trio soon go over to join King Sungam and Governor Fonda at the royal table.
KING SUNGAM
“Please take a seat. There’s plenty of food on offer at my royal table. Take as much as you like.”
DOCTOR
(uncertain) “Thank you, your majesty. It looks very…appetising.”
BILLY
(whispers; to Nyssa) “Looks like half-cooked seagulls and quail. I don’t think much of the salad either.”
NYSSA
(whispers: to Billy) “I wish I had lunch earlier. I feel I’ve lost my appetite.”
SCENE #7 – INT – GREAT HALL, KING’S PALACE – DAY, EVENING
A while later, a group of dancers and musicians perform before the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy sitting with King Sungam and Governor Fonda at the royal table.
KING SUNGAM
“Love the dancers, Doctor? They’re so pretty, aren’t they? I can summon one over to attend to your needs if you like.”
DOCTOR
“That won’t be necessary thank you, your majesty.”
KING SUNGAM
“Suit yourself. I’ll have one attend to me anyway.”
DOCTOR
(interjects) “But I would like to know why me and my friends have been summoned here. We were told about some prophecy we had to fulfil. That it was part of the Blue Cloud Revolution.”
KING SUNGAM
“Counsellor Sern. She told you of course.”
NYSSA
“We met her upon our arrival here at Cloud City. She said she would join us soon.”
BILLY
“Yeah. Where is she anyway?”
KING SUNGAM
“The prophecy is about insight knowledge. About an ancient journey that I discovered in texts from long ago. A journey which is essential in bringing the Blue Cloud Revolution to its conclusion.”
DOCTOR
“I see. And this is all in old Skydrian lore, I take it.”
KING SUNGAM
“It’s a journey that has been handed down from my forefathers, including my father; my grandfather; my great grandfather; my great, great grandfather; my great, great, great grandfather; and…”
BILLY
(interjects) “Yeah, yeah, alright. We get the gist of what you’re saying.”
NYSSA
“Don’t interrupt, Billy. There could be something very important in what the king has to say to us.”
BILLY
(realises) “Oh right, yes! Sorry, your majesty. Didn’t mean to be so rude.”
DOCTOR
“But we still don’t see what we have to do with this prophecy, your majesty? How are we involved? How are me and my friends involved?”
KING SUNGAM
“You Doctor and your friends – as part of the prophecy – have to participate in a vital ceremony that is taking place tomorrow. This is during the Blue Cloud Revolution. It will be a fine piece of art.”
DOCTOR
(troubled) “Ah! Actually, I don’t think we would do fine justice if we were to take part. We’ll just stand about and watch if it’s all the [same…”]
KING SUNGAM
(interjects) “It will be a great honour for you to participate in this ceremony, Doctor. You and your friends will give Skydra the finest entertainment in providing legends of art that have been long forgotten.”
DOCTOR
“No really, we don’t want to intrude…”
KING SUNGAM
(interrupts) “Do not worry, Doctor. You and your friends shall relax this evening. We are to say no more about this matter until the night has passed and a new day has dawned.”
DOCTOR
“That’s very kind of you, your majesty. But me and my friends are just here to collect something. Something very important…”
KING SUNGAM
(interjects) “And of course, you have an old Skydrian code to remember when you take part in the ceremony tomorrow. I might as well tell you it now so that you can remember it tomorrow.”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Old Skydrian code?”
KING SUNGAM
“Yes! Remember it! It’s T-G-D-Dash-Sixty-Six-Dash-S-P-A-G. It’s important. Don’t forget the code!”
BILLY
“You must be joking! None of us can remember a code like that!”
DOCTOR
“I can, Billy. It’s easy to remember.”
BILLY
“Well, it may be easy for you to remember the code, Doctor. But for Nyssa and me, it’s…”
NYSSA
“T-G-D-Dash-Sixty-Six-Dash-S-P-A-G. That’s the code, Billy.”
BILLY
“Alright, it may be easy for you Doctor and you Nyssa to remember the code, but…” (gives up) “…oh what’s the use?”
KING SUNGAM
“Splendid! Well, I’m glad we’ve had that settled! Enjoy your evening, Doctor! You and your friends are going to need all the relaxation you can get for tonight!”
DOCTOR
“King Sungam, I really must stress that we cannot…”
KING SUNGAM
(interjects) “Enjoy the buffet! There are still more pelicans and quails on offer! All fresh! Meat and feather! And of course there are the dancers and the musicians to enjoy!”
King Sungam laughs away, enjoying his food and drink, belching away, as well as enjoying the dancers and the musicians in the background. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are anxious and worried whilst they sit at the royal table.
NYSSA
(sighs) “This evening just gets better and better, doesn’t it?”
SCENE #8 – INT – TERRACE, KING’S PALACE – DAY, EVENING
Later that evening; Nyssa and Billy walk about the terrace outside the king’s palace whilst everyone else is enjoying themselves inside.
NYSSA
“Enjoying our walk on the terrace, Billy?”
BILLY
(preoccupied) “Yeah. I’m enjoying the walk fine, thanks.”
NYSSA
(gradually; concerned) “It’s just you seem preoccupied. You’ve been like that ever since we left the great hall with the Doctor inside trying to reason with King Sungam. He’s still probably trying to persuade his majesty to reconsider the ceremony thing we’ve been summoned to do.”
BILLY
“It’s just…I’ve been wondering…” (Pause) “Do you think we’ll be safe tomorrow, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Safe?”
BILLY
“You know, for this Blue Cloud Revolution thing we have to do. Mind you, it’s never safe as far as the Doctor’s concerned.”
NYSSA
“I’m still baffled by how majesty seems to know the Doctor and us two already. How did he know we were coming to Skydra? Does he know about the Coins of Deno, do you think?”
BILLY
“The Doctor tried to ask questions and the king blithely ignored him. I don’t think the king ever listens to anyone when he’s in that great hall of his.”
NYSSA
“He seems obsessed, doesn’t he? And too greedy for my tastes.”
Nyssa and Billy laugh as they soon sit on a bench together.
BILLY
“I’m dreading tomorrow. I’m dread trying to remember that code.” (Pause) “What was it again?”
NYSSA
“T-G-D-Dash-Sixty-Six-Dash-S-P-A-G. That’s the fifth time I told you, Billy dear.”
BILLY
“Sorry. I will have to remember it. I can’t keep forgetting the code. There must be some way to remember it.”
NYSSA
“Why don’t you use a mnemonic?”
BILLY
“What?”
NYSSA
“A mnemonic. An easy way to remember things. Like the way we remember what TARDIS stands for.”
BILLY
“Time and Relative Dimensions In Space.”
NYSSA
“Exactly! You can use a mnemonic to remember the old Skydrian code the king gave us.”
BILLY
“But that’s different surely. We’re talking about a code here.”
NYSSA
“It’s not different. You just do it in reverse. You make up the words from the letters and numbers in the code and then you’ll remember.”
BILLY
“Oh. That’s how you do it, is it?”
NYSSA
“Yes! Why not give it a try?”
BILLY
“Okay. Err…what’s the first part of the code?”
NYSSA
“T-G-D.”
BILLY
(thinks) “Okay T-G-D. What can we make out of that? Err…T-G-D…T-G-D…The G-D…The…G-D!” (realises) “Gay Divorcee! ‘The Gay Divorcee’ starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Sorry?”
BILLY
“Well, that’s the way to remember it. ‘The Gay Divorcee’! You think of ‘The Gay Divorcee’ movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; take the initials from the movie’s title – T-G-D; and that makes it ‘The Gay Divorcee’. That’s how you’d remember it. Yes, I think we’ve got that part!”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Have we seen that film? Or have I seen that film?”
BILLY
“Yes we have seen that film together! Don’t you remember? We saw it at a cinema somewhere and in some time I can’t recollect.” (Pause) “It’s about Ginger Rogers wanting a divorce from her husband and Fred Astaire turns out to be her love interest. It has ‘The Continental’ in it too! No?” (Pause; thinks) “Um, there was a daft Italian chap in the film as well.”
NYSSA
(remembers) “Oh that film! Yes I remember. And it had that rather funny waiter who kept interrupting people during breakfast.”
BILLY
“Yes, that’s it!”
NYSSA
“Very well then. T-G-D stands for ‘The Gay Divorcee’. I’m glad we got that sorted.”
BILLY
“Great! Okay, so what’s the next bit of code? It’s T-G-D, then dash and then…”
NYSSA
“Um…sixty-six.”
BILLY
“Sixty-six? Hmm, that’s going to be a tricky one. What can we do with that” (thinks) “Err…sixty-six, sixty-six, sixty-six, sixty-six. sixty-six…” (realises) “Wait a minute! Route sixty-six! That’s it!”
NYSSA
“Pardon?”
BILLY
“Yes, I’ve got it now! We can think of the song ‘Route Sixty-Six’ and that should do the trick.”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “The song ‘Route Sixty-Six’?”
BILLY
“Yes, you know…” (sings) “♪Get your kicks…on route sixty-six.♫” (stops singing) “I’ve sung the song to you a number of times, remember?”
NYSSA
(gradually) “I think I remember.”
BILLY
“Well, don’t worry. Sixty-six should be an easy number to remember. So long as you remember the number and perhaps connect it to a route in New York on Earth, we should be fine.”
NYSSA
“Alright. If you wish to remember the number ‘sixty-six’ via a song or a route in New York on Earth, that method is fine with me.”
BILLY
“Splendid! Now what’s the last bit of code?”
NYSSA
“S-P-A-G.”
BILLY
“S-P-A-G? I wonder what we can make out of that.” (muses) “S-P-A-G, S-P-A-G, Sp-sp-spa. Spa-spag. Spag?”
NYSSA
“Can you think of another film or another song to help you out?”
BILLY
(muses) “Spag, spag, spag.” (realises) “Spaghetti?”
NYSSA
“Billy, I thought you’d be full from the meal we had this evening.”
BILLY
“No, no, no. I mean…Spag-hetti. Get it? Think of Spaghetti and you think of Spag.”
NYSSA
“Oh I see.”
BILLY
“Unless of course you add meatballs to it. Meatballs and spaghetti? That might work, right?”
NYSSA
“Well, I think it’s silly!”
BILLY
(thinks) “Yes, I suppose so. There doesn’t have to be meatballs, so long you remember the spaghetti.”
NYSSA
“No, no, Billy, I mean the whole thing is silly. ‘The Gay Divorcee’, ‘Route Sixty-Six’, and Meatballs and spaghetti. They’re related to films, songs and food that you like.”
BILLY
“Well, you suggested that I make a mnemonic. That’s the best I can come up with.”
NYSSA
“Hmm. I still wonder what the code’s about. What are we going to use it for tomorrow? Why do we have to have it?”
BILLY
“Well, if you think my mnemonic is silly, I’d say the whole thing we’ve been asked to do is silly. If they won’t tell us what the vital ceremony is going to be about tomorrow, I don’t see why we should have any involvement. As far as I’m concerned, I’m happy to ignore the Skydrian code we’ve been given. I must have forgotten about it anyway.”
A moment of silence ensues.
NYSSA
“Billy?”
BILLY
“Hmm?”
NYSSA
“Without trying too hard, what’s the Skydrian code?”
BILLY
“T-G-D-Dash-Sixty-Six-Dash-S-P-A-G.”
NYSSA
“Ah, it worked. Well done, Billy. Your mnemonic proved useful after all.”
BILLY
“What?”
NYSSA
“Come on. Let’s go back inside and find the Doctor. We should be making tracks for an early night anyway.”
They both get up and head back inside the king’s palace.
SCENE #9 – INT – GREAT COURTYARD, KING’S PALACE – DAY, MORNING
Next morning, out in the open in the great courtyard of the king’s palace, the Blue Cloud Revolution ceremony takes place. Dancers and musicians perform for King Sungam. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy watch as the entertainment takes place. Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda watch the entertainment too.
GOVERNOR FONDA
“Enjoying the morning so far, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, very much, thank you, Governor Fonda. I hope the sun holds out well this fine morning.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“We’re glad you and your friends are enjoying yourselves, Doctor.”
BILLY
“We didn’t see you last night, Counsellor Sern.”
NYSSA
“We hope you were able to achieve what you intended to do last night, Counsellor.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Oh yes. All has been taken care of, I assure you, my lady; Mr. Walker.”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“The king is clearly enjoying himself. Look at how the clouds match the dancers’ movements.”
NYSSA
“Yes, I thought that was a trick of the light. It must be some atmospheric attraction connecting the clouds’ movements to the dancers.”
BILLY
“Like magnets. Except it’s with clouds instead of metal.”
DOCTOR
“The sun’s obviously generating the artificial energy into the dancer’s protection suits to attract the clouds’ trajectories in the sky.”
They watch as the dancers continue to match the movements of the clouds. Eventually, the music stops and the dancers come to a stop, giving a final bow. Everyone in the great courtyard gives a round of applause, including King Sungam who rises up from his royal chair and has a tankard of beer in his hand.
KING SUNGAM
(belches) “Excellent dancing, dear girls! Excellent!”
The dancers bow before the king before they leave.
KING SUNGAM
(bellows) “Now, everyone! It’s time to announce the next and finest item of the Blue Cloud Revolution proceedings. It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The Doctor and his friends Nyssa of Traken and Mr. Billy Walker!”
A round of applause occurs. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are troubled.
NYSSA
(whispers) “This must be the vital ceremony King Sungam talked about. What’s going to happen, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(whispers) “I don’t know, Nyssa. But I have a sense of dread in the back of my skull.”
KING SUNGAM
(barks) “Soldiers! Have them put on their hazard protection suits with safety helmets and rocket packs!”
At that, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are forcibly apprehended by King Sungam’s soldiers.
BILLY
(cries) “Hey! Hands off!”
NYSSA
(cries) “Let go! You’re hurting me!”
DOCTOR
(protests) “Your majesty, what is the meaning of this?!”
KING SUNGAM
(barks) “Bregone; Robell! Have them put on their hazard protection suits with safety helmets and rocket packs this instant!”
BREGONE
“Yes sir!”
ROBELL
“Right away, your majesty!”
DOCTOR
“I’d rather prefer you didn’t…”
Despite protests and cries of pain, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are being fitted and forced to wear hazard protection suits by the soldiers. The safety helmets and the rocket packs are nearby. Minutes later, the Doctor and his friends are partially suited up.
DOCTOR
(annoyed) “That was so rough of you, gentlemen and ladies.”
BILLY
I just realised I left my parachute in my guest quarters.
NYSSA
Why are you doing this to us, your majesty? What is it we have to do in this Blue Cloud Revolution of yours?
KING SUNGAM
You Doctor and your friends are to collect four lost relics of the Skydrians.
BILLY
Pardon?
KING SUNGAM
They are scattered across the clouds of Skydra. You Doctor and your friends are to seek these lost relics and retrieve them to the king’s palace. They are fine works of sky art!
DOCTOR
This is madness, your majesty! You can’t make us do this!
KING SUNGAM
(dismissively) It is decided! You have been chosen, Doctor! You and your friends!
NYSSA
These lost relics! Tell us what they are, please!
KING SUNGAM
They are a space helmet, a sword, a plant specimen of our ancient house…
BILLY
(interrupts) You call those things fine works of sky art?!
KING SUNGAM
(continues) And of course…one gold coin!
DOCTOR
(realises) Did you say…one gold coin, your majesty?
KING SUNGAM
Yes! May I take it you and your friends will accept this great task we give you, Doctor?
DOCTOR
(muses) Well, it does change things around, doesn’t it.
NYSSA
Doctor, you’re not seriously agreeing to this…
DOCTOR
(interrupts; whispers) Think about it, Nyssa! What did we come here to Skydra for?
NYSSA
(whispers) To collect the third coin of Deno, of course.
DOCTOR
(whispers) And what are these four lost relics we’re supposed to be collecting for the king? Hmm?
NYSSA
(whispers) Well, a sword, a helmet, a plant specimen and… (realises) Oh! Oh, I see!
BILLY
(whispers) You mean…this one gold coin is the one we’ve come to collect ourselves?
DOCTOR
(whispers) Yes. We attempted to obtain the coin yesterday by getting up to one of the clouds. This mission we’ve been given by the king may give us the opportunity to collect it in our Deno quest and be on our way.
NYSSA
(whispers) Do you think that’s wise, Doctor? This flowering of sky arts is sacred to the Skydrians. They won’t be happy if we take one of their relics which happens to be a gold coin.
DOCTOR
(whispers; reassuringly) Trust me, Nyssa. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
BILLY
(whispers) Then I suppose we’d better get started. Since we have these hazard protection suits on…
DOCTOR
(whispers) Exactly, Billy. We might as well put the rest of the gear on.
NYSSA
(whispers) Very well Doctor, if you insist.
DOCTOR
(to King Sungam) “Your majesty, we accept your terms. He agree to do this little quest for you and your kingdom!”
KING SUNGAM
(pleased) “Excellent! Good news all around!” (to soldiers) “Soldiers, let them finish suiting up!”
The soldiers stand back, allowing the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy to finish suiting themselves up with safety helmets and rocket packs.
BILLY
(groans) “These suits are so tight. They got me the wrong suit size.”
NYSSA
“No time to complain about it now, Billy. You’ll just have to put up with it.”
The TARDIS trio are fully suited with hazard protection suits, safety helmets and rocket packs.
DOCTOR
“So your majesty, what do we do with these suits and rocket packs? Do we just press a button and it’ll help us to fly?”
GOVERNOR FONDA
“The anti-graft attachments in your suits and rocket packs will permit you to traverse through the clouds and the sky easily, Doctor. There are also holographic tracking systems on your suits to grant you safe passage and to enable you to direct a path in the sky.”
COUNSELLOR SERN
“Just be warned though. The suits and rocket packs’ power may last for about a day and a half. Don’t use all your fuel or you’ll plummet to the ground surface.”
BILLY
(laughs wryly) “Oh thanks both! That’s very reassuring.”
KING SUNGAM
(bellows) “Come now, all of Cloud City! Let us bid farewell to our new friends – the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy. Let us wish them a safety journey through the clouds and the sky as they depart.”
A round of applause occurs.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Come on, Nyssa and Billy. Let’s get this over with. The sooner we collect the third coin of Deno and return to the TARDIS, the better. Ready, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
I’m ready, Doctor.
DOCTOR
Ready, Billy?
BILLY
Ready as I’ll ever be.
DOCTOR
Then let’s get started. Switch on your rocket packs…now.
With that, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy soon find themselves lifting off from Cloud City’s ground as the rocket packs come to life. They struggle to maintain flight, screaming in the process, as they shoot off into the sky. The crowd cheers and applauds once they see the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy flying off. King Sungam laughs out loud as he watches the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy flying off through the sky and into the clouds.
KING SUNGAM
(cheerily) Goodbye, Doctor. Goodbye, your ladyship; Mr. Walker. See you when you get back, if you can get back that is.
King Sungam laughs some more whilst Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda stand by concerned.
© Tim Bradley, 2021-22
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