4. King Sungam Rises

SCENE #36 – INT – CLOUD GREENHOUSE, SKYDRA – DAY, MORNING
Dawn approaches. Inside the Cloud Greenhouse, the Doctor and Nyssa find the plant specimen they need to find. Bregone and Robell watch them nearby.

NYSSA
“You’re sure that’s the plant specimen we’re looking for, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
It has to be. It’s the only one that stands out from the other plants in this greenhouse. And it’s in the centre of the room.

NYSSA
Good point.

BREGONE
Hurry now, Doctor. His majesty the king will be expecting you to return the lost relics to his palace in Cloud City.

DOCTOR
You know, this all seems conveniently well thought-out. The lost relics placed in certain cloud areas of Skydra. The museum, the cave, the greenhouse…

BREGONE
Enough, Doctor!

DOCTOR
Doesn’t it strike you as odd that King Sungam sent me, Nyssa and Billy to collect these items? After all, a quest like this is easy peasy lemon squeezy.

NYSSA
(realises) “Yes I see your point, Doctor. Surely King Sungam would have collected these items himself if he was willing to do so.”

ROBELL
“The king must have his reasons.”

DOCTOR
“They must be pretty feeble ones then.”

BREGONE
“Stop! That’s enough! Let’s move out of the greenhouse! We’ve got what we came here for!”

NYSSA
“You’re a bit predictable aren’t you, Bregone. Always forcing us to move on. Telling us to get a move on just so you can intimidate us!”

BREGONE
(shouts) “Just get a move on, I say!”

DOCTOR
“Nyssa’s right. It doesn’t really become you, you know. Surely there’s no need to hurry.”

NYSSA
“I’d like to see more of this greenhouse. I haven’t seen gardens this pretty since the last time I was on Traken. The photosynthesis of these plants…”

BREGONE
(interrupts) “No time to look at gardens! Just get a move on, will you?!”

DOCTOR
“But we’re curious about the significance and the connections between the space helmet, the sword and the plant specimen we’ve found. Aren’t you curious, Bregone? Surely a man of your standards would be interested.”

NYSSA
“Or are you really that deliberately ignorant?”

BREGONE
“I’m a soldier. I don’t ask questions. I carry out my orders and that makes me happy.”

ROBELL
“Surely these two deserve some answers, Bregone. There’s no real rush to carry on. Besides, they aren’t of our society…”

BREGONE
(interrupts; angrily) “I don’t care! I just want to get out of this place as soon as possible! Now move, you two! Move! Move!!! MOVE!!!!!”

NYSSA
“Alright, alright! You don’t have to tell us three times.” (to Doctor) “Come on, Doctor. The sooner we find the third coin of Deno, the sooner we find Billy.”

DOCTOR
“Of course, Nyssa. Lead the way.”

Nyssa leads the way as she and the Doctor are escorted by Bregone and Robell out of the Cloud Greenhouse. They look to see outside and confer quietly with each other. Thunderous rumbles echo outside in the sky.

NYSSA
(whispers) “Doctor, those black clouds outside are approaching. Is there another storm coming?”

DOCTOR
(whispers) “I don’t think so, Nyssa. This seems to be something far deadly serious.”

NYSSA
(whispers) “I hope those clouds aren’t heading for where we’re going. Cloud Tower, isn’t it?”

DOCTOR
(whispers) The fourth cloud, yes. And it’s our final destination.

---

SCENE #37 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
Meanwhile at the Cloud Tower, Billy is with King Sungam, Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda. They wait for the Doctor, Nyssa, Bregone and Robell to turn up. Micheller and Dannier are kept as prisoners in the grip of the king’s sky soldiers. They struggle to break free.

MICHELLER
(protests) Let us go, you numskulls! We demand our rights! We’ve been severely abused! We demand our rights!

DANNIER
(protests) We have lived on the planet surface for far too long. Now you make fun of us! Have far must this go on for?!

GOVERNOR FONDA
Will you both shut up! You bore us with your complaints!

COUNSELLOR SERN
No use trying to tell them to shut up, Fonda. They’re animals. Aggressive. They have no sense in the manners which we Skydrians uphold.

MICHELLER
Manners?! Don’t talk to us about manners! Manners haven’t got anything to do with it! This is about consideration.

DANNIER
If you won’t give us the rights we deserve, we shall soon bite your head off! And the king’s too!

GOVERNOR FONDA
(irritably) If you two hadn’t come and interfered with what me and Counsellor Sern were trying to achieve with the Blue Cloud Revolution…

DANNIER
Stuff the Blue Cloud Revolution!

KING SUNGAM
(interjects) So, Governor Fonda. You admit that you and Counsellor Sern had a role to play in going against my commands. That you sent Bregone and Robell to assist the Doctor and his friends without my permission.

GOVERNOR FONDA
I didn’t even mention the Doctor and his friends, dear king.

MICHELLER
You will never defeat us, king! You won’t make us be like dim-witted pigeons! We’ll show you! We’ll defy you to the bitter end!

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) That is highly unlikely, my dear. I shall soon gain the four lost relics of Skydra. I shall acquire the ultimate power I seek before I overthrow your community.

COUNSELLOR SERN
What does that mean, sire?

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) You and Governor Fonda shall see, dear Counsellor. You shall see very soon indeed.

GOVERNOR FONDA
(wryly) I can’t wait.

King Sungam continues to laugh before he goes over to join Billy. Billy is at the tower window, looking out for the Doctor and Nyssa.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) Isn’t it funny how these petty squabbles can so futile and pathetic? I suppose it’s the same on your world, young man. (realises) Aww, you look deeply troubled. Shall I send one of my dancer girls to cheer you up? Though I prefer to keep them and share them with no one.

BILLY
I don’t understand why we’ve come to this tower. I want to know what surprise you have in store for the Doctor and Nyssa when they arrive, along with those two sky soldiers of yours.

KING SUNGAM
When they arrive, young man, I shall be able to gain all four lost relics of Skydra. I shall become the Great Sky Warrior! I shall have all the power I want! Supreme power over Skydra!

BILLY
Why do you want supreme power? Isn’t the power you’ve got as king enough?

KING SUNGAM
Oh I love being king. I love to tell people what to do. But I want to control the eagles! I want to beckon them to my will.

BILLY
(confused) I thought you could beckon them to your will. From what Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda told me.

KING SUNGAM
“Oh I have some power over them, but it’s very limited. I can only communicate with them at a certain hour. With me wearing the Skydrian helmet, bearing the sword, and holding the plant specimen and the gold coin in my hands, I shall communicate with the eagles at all times. I shall become a giant and a seer of the skies! I shall be almighty! A god! The people of Skydra will worship and bow down to me in the clouds.”

BILLY
“You’re wasting your time then. The Doctor and Nyssa won’t come.”

KING SUNGAM
“Ah! Now I know you’re trying to deceive me. You don’t approve of me gaining more power. Well, I assure you, all will be for the best.”

BILLY
This isn’t to do with deceiving you, your majesty. I know the Doctor and Nyssa won’t come because they’re still trapped inside the Cloud Cave.

KING SUNGAM
You told me they were heading for the Cloud Greenhouse!

BILLY
I became separated from the Doctor and Nyssa when I was taken away by those two thugs. There was a caved-in wall Nyssa and the Doctor were behind the last time I saw them. The Doctor and Nyssa are trapped in that cave. They won’t come out. You won’t get your relics, sorry.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) You think I don’t know the Doctor well enough. Of course he and the girl will get out of that cave. The Doctor always finds a way. The Doctor always escapes.

BILLY
(challengingly) You don’t know that for certain, your majesty.

KING SUNGAM
And neither do you. Now let’s keep watching to see that they come! Already I grow impatient (calls) Come, Doctor! You and the girl come to the Cloud Tower once and for all!

BILLY
Her name’s Nyssa, your majesty! And you’re wasting your time. They won’t come. Not unless…

COUNSELLOR SERN
(interrupts; calls) “Your majesty! Look out of the window! See?”

They look to see as outside, in hazard suits and rocket packs, the Doctor, Nyssa, Bregone and Robell approach the tower gate of Cloud Tower.

KING SUNGAM
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“It’s the Doctor and that girl! They’ve come at last!”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“And look! Bregone and Robell are with them!” (whispers; to Sern) “This is good news for us, isn’t it?”

COUNSELLOR SERN
(whispers) “Be quiet, Fonda!”

KING SUNGAM
(to Billy) “It seems you are to be corrected, young man. You have little confidence in your friends. The Doctor and your beloved Nyssa are very much alive. And as you can see, they’re accompanied by two escorts.” (aside) “Unfortunately.”

Dismayed, Billy watches as the Doctor, Nyssa, Bregone and Robell approach the Cloud Tower.

BILLY
(whispers; to himself) “Doctor; Nyssa. I am glad to see you two again! But I half wish you would go away!”

---

SCENE #38 – EXT – TOWER GATE, CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
At the tower gate of the Cloud Tower, the Doctor and Nyssa arrive with Bregone and Robell tagging along behind them. They come to the front door as the Doctor and Nyssa take in their surroundings.

BREGONE
“Well, here we are. Come on, you two! Don’t dawdle! We have to get inside the tower!”

NYSSA
“This place, Doctor. It’s like a war zone.”

DOCTOR
“It is a war zone, Nyssa. A war zone that has been left abandoned for hundreds of years.”

NYSSA
“All this vegetation. It’s grown over the remains of the dead. That’s horrible.”

DOCTOR
“This cloud obviously provides the final resting places of the dead by covering them up with vegetation. It’s amazing how this piece of land we’re walking on with the tower up ahead is covered in moss. It must have grown over time.”

BREGONE
“I said get a move on! Do I have to keep repeating myself?!”

NYSSA
I can see the skeletal remains of corpses. Bones and dead skin. It shivers me down to my spine.

DOCTOR
There was suffering and blight here once. The tragic symptoms of an ages-old war. A war that is inconceivable to dispute.

ROBELL
Our fathers had to defend themselves, Doctor. The warriors of Skydra do not take these decisions lightly.

DOCTOR
I’m sure that’s a veritable excuse for justifying the means. But you can’t simply state your enemies were only at fault.

BREGONE
Am I the only one talking sense? Get a move on and get this front door of the tower open!

DOCTOR
And how am I supposed to do that, Bregone? Shall I say ‘open sesame’?

ROBELL
“Use the code, Doctor. The one that King Sungam gave to you. The Skydrian code, remember?”

NYSSA
(realises) “The code! Yes!” (Pause) “Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Ah! Yes! The code!” (Pause; to Bregone; Robell) “I remember your king giving us the Skydrian code very clearly when we had dinner with him a couple of nights ago.”

BREGONE
“Well, Doctor. Don’t waste any more time. Use the code now to open the door!”

DOCTOR
“There’s just a problem.”

ROBELL
“What’s that, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“I’ve forgotten it completely.”

NYSSA
“Oh Doctor! Please tell me you’re joking!”

DOCTOR
“It’s no joke I’m afraid, Nyssa. I’m very truly sorry. I don’t know what the code is to open the door.”

NYSSA
“Oh please try!”

DOCTOR
“I can’t! It’s completely slipped my mind. I don’t know how to remember it. It was just a jumble of words and numbers.”

NYSSA
(despairs) “Oh Doctor!”

ROBELL
(wryly) “Oh this is marvellous!”

BREGONE
(threateningly) “If you’re trying to play a game with us, Doctor, you will regret it! Tell us what the code is or else I will have you shot on the spot!”

DOCTOR
“And I keep telling you, Bregone! I’ve forgotten it completely.”

BREGONE
“I warned you, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Please Bregone!”

Bregone trains his crossbow at the Doctor.

NYSSA
“Wait! There is a way to remember it! It’s simple. My boyfriend Billy found a way. He used a mnemonic to remember the code.”

BREGONE
“Tell us girl! Tell us the code!”

NYSSA
(thinks) “Err…the Italian chap…the annoying butler…the Continental…saw it at a cinema…about a guy who meets a girl…oh! Oh what’s his name?”

DOCTOR
“Whose name?”

NYSSA
“The name of the actor who appeared in the film.”

DOCTOR
“Oh, it’s a film, is it?”

NYSSA
“Yes! It’s a film Billy loves. Err…the…the…”

DOCTOR
“‘The Wizard of Oz’?”

NYSSA
“No. The…”

DOCTOR
“‘The King and I’?”

NYSSA
“No. The…the…”

DOCTOR
“‘The Sound of Music’? ‘The Lord of the Rings’? Oh maybe Billy doesn’t like that film trilogy.”

NYSSA
“Actually, Doctor, he does. No, the actor sounds like…err…somewhere in a house.”

DOCTOR
“Upstairs?”

NYSSA
“Yes! That’s it! Astaire! Fred Astaire, the actor in ‘The Gay Divorcee’. That’s it! ‘The Gay Divorcee’ which makes T-G-D. That’s the first part of the code.”

DOCTOR
“Great! We’re getting somewhere now! T-G-D! Well done, Nyssa!”

NYSSA
(thinks) “Now the second part of the code. Something to do with a song.”

BREGONE
“Don’t say you’re going to give us a song, are you?”

NYSSA
(thinks) “No, it’s…it’s connected to something on a road in New York. But it’s a busy road. I can’t think what it is. There ought to be a number.”

DOCTOR
“Is it a very old song, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“Yes it is, Doctor. And it’s another one of Billy’s favourites I’m afraid. It’s like…getting kicks…”

BREGONE
(angrily) “You two will be getting kicks unless you stop mucking around and start inserting the code into the front door of this tower building!”

NYSSA
“What do you think we’re trying to do?”

BREGONE
“I have no idea! Compiling a list for the worst songs that musicians play before the king!”

NYSSA
“We’re nearly there! Now a New York song.”

ROBELL
“What about a New York song? And what is New York?”

NYSSA
“It’s about getting your kicks…”

DOCTOR
(finishes) “On Route Sixty-Six, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“That’s it! Route Sixty-Six. That’s the next bit of code. T-G-D-Sixty-Six.”

DOCTOR
“Yes but…Route Sixty-Six?”

NYSSA
“Don’t ask. I don’t know why Billy came up with that one.” (Pause) “Now the last bit is silly.”

BREGONE
“What?”

NYSSA
“No, it’s not!” (thinks) “I know. It’s something to do with eating a meal.”

DOCTOR
“Steak and chips?”

NYSSA
“No.”

DOCTOR
“Lasagne?”

NYSSA
“No, something like lasagne, but it’s different.”

DOCTOR
“Okay. Has it got meat in it, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“Yes! That’s it, Doctor! Meatballs and spaghetti! Well done, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“My pleasure.”

ROBELL
(mockingly) “Can I take your order now, Miss Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“Spag! It’s T-G-D-Sixty-Six-S-P-A-G. That’s the Skydrian code the king gave us!”

DOCTOR
“There you are, you see, Bregone. Nothing to worry about. We got it in the end, didn’t we?”

BREGONE
(fiercely) “Good! Now, whilst you’re celebrating your victory, get that door open by entering the code on the keypad this instant!”

Pushing the Doctor and Nyssa forward, Bregone makes them open the front door of the tower building.

DOCTOR
“Alright, alright. No need to push!” (to Nyssa) “Well, Nyssa? Would you oblige?”

Nyssa does so, as she enters the Skydrian code into the keypad. Eventually, the front door opens as the Doctor, Nyssa, Bregone and Robell see it sliding inwards.

NYSSA
(happily) “The door’s opening! The code worked! Thanks to Billy for helping me to remember the mnemonic.”

DOCTOR
“I hope to thank him too when we see him again, Nyssa.”

BREGONE
(forcefully) “No more talking! Get moving! Inside, both of you!”

ROBELL
“Must we be so rough with them, Bregone? I find all this shoving about so boring.”

BREGONE
(bitterly) “Get inside, I said!”

The Doctor and Nyssa reluctantly find themselves being pushed inside the tower building by Bregone and Robell.

---

SCENE #39 – INT – MAIN HALL, CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
A little while later, the Doctor, Nyssa, Bregone and Robell are in the main hall of the Cloud Tower. They marvel and take in their surroundings.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Well! Now that we’re inside, all we need to do is to find the last and possibly most interesting relic of Skydrian art. And it’s more an exhibit for the entire universe, isn’t it?”

BREGONE
(impatiently) “Cease your babbling, Doctor, and get on with it!”

NYSSA
“If you want us to find it, Bregone, you and Robell will have to help us. It’s the third coin of Deno. The coin of wind.”

BREGONE
“We’re soldiers, not treasure hunters!”

ROBELL
“We don’t even know what it looks like.”

NYSSA
“I told you, it’s a coin. A typical gold coin. It’s not difficult to find. And don’t tell me you haven’t seen a coin before in your lives.”

ROBELL
“The word ‘coin’ doesn’t apply in our vocabulary as soldiers.”

NYSSA
“How sad.”

DOCTOR
“I don’t think we’ll have trouble seeking the coin, Nyssa. It’s closer to us than we think.”

BREGONE
“Stop babbling with your riddles, Doctor, and tell us where it is!”

DOCTOR
“It’s right in front of us, Commander Bregone. Look!”

They look to see the third coin of Deno situated in the centre of the hall.

NYSSA
“Yes, I can see it! It’s situated on that pedestal in the centre of the hall. That’s a stroke of good fortune, isn’t it?”

DOCTOR
“It must have been where the TARDIS located the coin before we got attacked by the ground bandits. And before we got captured by the sky soldiers led by you Bregone and you Robell.”

NYSSA
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s collect the coin as quickly as possible.”

DOCTOR
“This seems too way, Nyssa. Everything has been too easy for us in this quest. I have a sneaky suspicion we’ve all been underestimated.”

NYSSA
“You mean…there’s more to this mission than what we already know.”

BREGONE
(bitterly) “Cease your twaddle, you two! Get that coin for us now!”

Reluctantly, the Doctor and Nyssa go over to fetch the third coin of Deno with Bregone and Robell accompanying them. As they approach, Billy runs in.

BILLY
(calls) “Stop! Nyssa; Doctor, stop!”

NYSSA
(relieved) “Billy, you’re here! Oh thank goodness you’re alright.”

BILLY
(urgently) “Nyssa; Doctor! Whatever you do, don’t pick up that coin!”

DOCTOR
“Too late, Billy. I’ve just picked it up.”

BILLY
“Get away, both of you! It’s a trap!”

DOCTOR
“Trap?”

NYSSA
“Doctor, look out!”

Nyssa and the Doctor get immediately caught in a beam of light. An energy barrier surrounds the Doctor, Nyssa and the pedestal as they’re now trapped.

BILLY
(anxiously) “Nyssa; Doctor! Hold on! I’ll get you both out!”

DOCTOR
“Billy, no!”

Billy runs forward and receives a shock when he hits the energy barrier, causing it to sparkle. Billy staggers back before falling to the floor.

NYSSA
(concerned) “Billy, are you alright?”

BILLY
(groans) “I’m fine. But…I’ve got to get you out of that forcefield.”

DOCTOR
“I wouldn’t try running into the barrier again like you just did, Billy. The force-wall must be pretty lethal.”

BREGONE
“What’s going on here?! Stop playing games, Doctor!”

KING SUNGAM
(from distance, barks) “Sky soldiers! Apprehend those traitors!”

Bregone and Robell soon get apprehended by sky soldiers that come out of hiding. They struggle to break free from the sky soldiers’ grasp.

ROBELL
(protests) “Take your hands off me, this is an official uniform!”

BREGONE
“This is outrageous! I demand to be released at once! What’s going on?!”

King Sungam then turns up with Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda behind him. Sungam approaches Bregone and Robell.

KING SUNGAM
“Commander Bregone and Lieutenant Robell. You are both charged with treason against the king. Your secret has been found out!”

ROBELL
“Your majesty, we are confused…”

KING SUNGAM
“Don’t try to mince words with me, bozos! I know of your treachery! Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda sent you here to assist the Doctor and his friends in their quest! Something which I strictly prohibited!”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“I’m sorry, Bregone and Robell. We’ve been found out”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“Apologies for not warning you about it. We didn’t expect the king to leave his palace.”

BREGONE
Obviously.

DOCTOR
(interjects) Excuse me, your majesty. Could you please explain to us what all this is about? My friends and I have had a long couple of days…

KING SUNGAM
(interrupts) You have the four relics, Doctor! The sword; the helmet, the plant specimen and the coin. Give them to me! Or I’ll rip your heads off!

NYSSA
We can’t give you the relics, your majesty. Not when you have this force-wall up to prevent us from giving them to you.

Eventually, King Sungam has the force wall switched off for the Doctor and Nyssa.

KING SUNGAM
There! Now do as I say and give me the relics, Doctor!

DOCTOR
(sighs) Very well.

Reluctantly, the Doctor hands over the four relics one at a time to King Sungam. King Sungam takes the relics one at a time and eyes them greedily.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) Excellent! Now I have full power in my grasp!

Meanwhile, Billy reunites with Nyssa as they hug each other.

BILLY
Nyssa! Oh I’m glad to see you again!

NYSSA
Likewise, Billy. (gradually; to King Sungam) You have the four relics, your majesty. We collected them for you. I assume you’re going to give us a reward for all the hard work we’ve done.

KING SUNGAM
Oh indeed, young lady. Indeed! I shall give you three the best reward you can possibly have.

DOCTOR
I’m intrigued to know what it is.

KING SUNGAM
You shall witness the becoming! The transformation of King Sungam into the Great Sky Warrior of all Skydra! (to sky soldiers) Sky soldiers! Take them to the top of the tower!

The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are soon manhandled again as they’re being taken up to the tower of the Cloud Tower.

DOCTOR
This is madness, King Sungam! If you’ll just listen to me, please let my friends and I go!

KING SUNGAM
(ignores Doctor) Sky soldiers, take everyone upstairs! That includes Counsellor Sern, Governor Fonda, Commander Bregone, Lieutenant Robell and those two scruffy ground bandits we’ve captured. All shall witness my great becoming with immediate effect!

The sky soldiers obey as they take everyone upstairs. Counsellor Sern, Governor Fonda, Bregone and Robell protest whilst they’re being taken upstairs. Meanwhile, King Sungam laughs away triumphantly as he holds the four lost relics in his hands.

KING SUNGAM
I shall become a god! The wind god! Everyone – all of Skydra and the entire universe – shall bow down before me!

---

SCENE #40 – EXT – TOWER TOP, CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
A short while later, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Counsellor Sern, Governor Fonda, Bregone, Robell, Micheller and Dannier have been chained up against the spires of the Cloud Tower by the king’s sky soldiers. King Sungam comes up to meet them. He laughs away, wearing the space helmet on his head; bearing the sword in his one hand and holding the plant specimen and the third gold coin of Deno in his other hand.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) “What do you think? Suits me, doesn’t it? The helmet, I mean?” (Pause) “Oh come on, have a laugh! I laugh!”

King Sungam laughs away.

DOCTOR
“King Sungam, your majesty. It’s very important you understand this. You cannot mean to use that gold coin to your will. Only one can possess that coin of power. And it’s very dangerous and deadly to use.”

KING SUNGAM
“I know that, Doctor. That is why I intend to be very careful.”

NYSSA
“Then you know it to be of alien origin. That it doesn’t belong to your world. And that it’s made for evil.”

KING SUNGAM
“Of course. I know that this is one of the eight Coins of Deno, which you and your friends are collecting, Doctor. I assure you all is taken into consideration.”

BILLY
(puzzled) “How can you possibly know about Deno and the coins? No one knows except us.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
(protests) “You won’t get away with this, sire. We have evidence at Sky High Intelligence against you! We’ll see to it that you’re ruined!”

DOCTOR
“You’ve been an agent against his majesty this whole time, haven’t you, Counsellor Sern?”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“I’ve tried to keep myself quiet with adequate success. Passing myself off as a city counsellor was the best cover in the king’s palace.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“I had no idea you were a spy, Sern my dear.”

NYSSA
“Neither did we, Billy and I.” (to Doctor) “How did you know, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“I have a knack for these things, Nyssa. And she seemed to be the only one who showed concern, interest and suspicion about this whole shabby business.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
(to King Sungam) “Like I said, your majesty. All the evidence is against you. I have a duty to the skies and the clouds. Your name will go down in history as the most ruthless and shameful king in the whole of Skydra!”

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) “Not before I have completed my becoming as the Great Sky Warrior! Not before my task is done!”

NYSSA
(puzzled) “What do you mean, your majesty?”

KING SUNGAM
“Counsellor Sern is not the only one who is a spy atop this tower. I’m also an agent for the greatest and powerful figure in the universe! Of the Deno system! Vorshon, the dark lord of Deno sent me to collect the third coin of Deno! The coin of wind!”

BILLY
(surprised) “You’re working for Lord Vorshon? The enemy of the Deno people? Of Lord Ganl, Mr. Dalgix and the three guardian people we met?”

NYSSA
“I don’t understand. Why send us to collect the third coin of Deno when he could have got it himself?”

DOCTOR
“Because he wants me to give him the other two coins we’ve already collected. The ones we’ve got in my TARDIS.”

KING SUNGAM
“You will surrender Doctor and hand me the coins of stone and lightning!”

DOCTOR
“No! I can’t do that, your majesty! It’s out of the question! Impossible!”

KING SUNGAM
“Then I shall take my becoming and destroy all of Skydra before your eyes!”

MICHELLER
(protests) “You can’t destroy the kingdom of Skydra, king! We won’t allow it!”

DANNIER
“You’ll have to get through us first! We’ll crush your brains and your head!”

KING SUNGAM
“And how can you stop me when I’ve got you all chained up? Whereas I’m not!”

DOCTOR
(pleads) “King Sungam, please listen to me! Please stop!”

But King Sungam takes the third coin of Deno and raises it up high into the air.

KING SUNGAM
(cries) “Coin of wind! I command you! Take me to the skies!”

DOCTOR
“NO!!!!!”

It’s too late. King Sungam with helmet, sword, plant specimen and coin shoots up into the sky. Everyone else watches him go up.

ROBELL
“Has the king gone mad?!”

NYSSA
(shocked) “Doctor, he’s flying! With the power of the coin in his hand!”

BILLY
“But surely that can’t be the only thing that’s making him fly. There must be something else that’s making him do that.”

NYSSA
(realises) “No! It’s not just the coin! There’s the plant specimen! See! It’s growing! It’s growing upwards from atop the tower whilst he’s flying into the sky! He must have planted it on the tower’s roof when we weren’t looking.”

DOCTOR
“It’s maintaining his flight in the sky. The plant connects him to the space helmet, the sword and the coin.”

Everyone watches as the king continues to go up and up into the sky.

---

SCENE #41 – EXT – HIGH SKY, CLOSE TO CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
King Sungam laughs away whilst he flies in the sky, holding the sword and the third coin of Deno in his hands and wearing his space helmet on his head. He’s maintained in flight with the plant specimen propelling him whilst growing upwards.

KING SUNGAM
(triumphantly) At last! I have power at last! (calls) Eagles! Eagles, come to me! Come and do my biding!

With that, the eagles caw nearby as they come flying towards him. Once they’ve arrived, King Sungam gathers them to him.

KING SUNGAM
Hear me, eagles! Attack all of Skydra! Destroy every city, every town, every village. All of Skydra shall suffer for the Doctor’s folly in refusing to obey the king! Kill anyone you see in your sights! Destroy every household! Go now! GO! GO!!! GO!!!!!

The eagles comply as they fly off to attack all of Skydra.

KING SUNGAM
Now! Whilst I’m here, I shall bring a tempest to ablaze!

King Sungam howls out loud as he strikes his sword in the air. Storm clouds gather and a great wind ensues. The wind blows across everywhere, causing chaos to all of Skydra’s cities below. King Sungam laughs out whilst this is happening.

---

SCENE #42 – EXT – TOWER TOP, CLOUD TOWER – DAY, MORNING
Back atop the Cloud Tower, the Doctor and everyone else watches what King Sungam is doing in the sky as he causes chaos all over Skydra.

NYSSA
“We must do something! We can’t let that mad man and his eagles destroy this wondrous sky world.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“With that space helmet, the sword, the plant specimen and the coin to support him, he’s unstoppable! There’s no way we can stop him.”

MICHELLER
(bitterly) “This is all your fault, you sky dwellers! You caused your own suffering! Following a daft king who thinks he can control the skies!”

DANNIER
“Yes! So don’t expect any help from us!”

COUNSELLOR SERN
(realises) “The plant specimen! It’s the source of his power!”

NYSSA
“Of course! It grows and grows as the king rises up in the sky. If we cut the connection by severing the stem, the king will be weakened.”

BILLY
“Then we’d better find a way to get out of here! Find a way to break free from these chains!”

DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “It’s alright, Nyssa and Billy. I’ve managed to set myself free. All I need is to do now is to pass the key to the rest of you.”

The Doctor proves his point as he stands out freed from his bonds.

NYSSA
(astonished) “Doctor, how did you…?”

DOCTOR
“I really need to thank Harry Houdini for giving me the latest lock-picking techniques. He’s a great teacher, you know. It’s lucky for us that King Sungam neglected to take the keys of our chains before going up into the sky.”

Grabbing the keys nearby, the Doctor goes to free Nyssa first from her chains.

DOCTOR
“There you are!”

NYSSA
(gratified) “You always manage to surprise us, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“I’m gratified to hear of it.”

Once the Doctor has freed Nyssa, he passes the keys to her.

DOCTOR
“Here, Nyssa! Take these and free Billy. Then free the others.”

NYSSA
“Yes, Doctor! You go and sort out that plant specimen growing on the tower roof!”

Whilst Nyssa attends to free Billy, the Doctor goes over to sort out the plant specimen. He gets a shock however as he walks into a forcefield surrounding the plant specimen. The Doctor staggers back as he gasps in pain.

NYSSA
“Doctor, what was that? Can’t you gain access to the plant?”

DOCTOR
“No, I’m afraid not, Nyssa. There’s a forcefield blocking my access to it. King Sungam must have placed it there before he left.”

BILLY
(concerned) “Can you disable the forcefield, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“There isn’t time, Billy. I can’t even find the nodes generating the forcefield’s power.”

NYSSA
“We must do something! Sungam and his eagles will destroy every city of Skydra within the hour.”

DOCTOR
“Yes. Unless…”

BILLY
“Unless what?” (Pause) “Doctor?”

A moment of silence ensues.

DOCTOR
(thinks; realises) “Of course, that’s it! It might just do the ticket! I’ve been inspired!” (to Nyssa; Billy) “Nyssa; Billy, we must get back to the TARDIS! She’s still on the ground surface, I believe.”

BILLY
(startled) “Back to the TARDIS? What about the others? Counsellor Sern, Governor Fonda…”

NYSSA
“We can’t just leave them here, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
(impatiently) “Give one of them the keys, Nyssa! They can free themselves! Now come on! Back to the TARDIS we go!”

With that, the Doctor runs off.

DOCTOR
(calls back) “There should be enough power in our rocket packs and our hazard protection suits as we go back down to the ground.”

Meanwhile, Nyssa gives the keys to Counsellor Sern.

NYSSA
“Here, Counsellor. Take these. They should be easy to use to free yourself. Once you’re free, release the others. We’ve got to go now.” (to Billy) “Come on, Billy! Let’s go!”

BILLY
“Right behind you, dear.”

With that, Nyssa and Billy run off to catch up with the Doctor. Once the trio have gone, Counsellor Sern begins to free herself from her chains with the keys she’s been given by Nyssa. Meanwhile, the others complain.

MICHELLER
“Charming! Leave us to die, won’t you? Leave us to rot and become dust!”

DANNIER
(scornfully) “That’s all we’re good for, isn’t it! A heap of rubbish!”

BREGONE
“Shut up, you two! You are still enemies of Cloud City! You will answer charges!”

ROBELL
“Give over, Bregone. We’re in enough trouble as it is.”

---

SCENE #43 – EXT – HIGH SKY, ABOVE CLOUD CITY – DAY, NOON
It’s now noon-time. Cloud City is still being attacked by eagles swarming the place with their wings of terror. The eagles caw as they flap theirs wings about and cause gusts of wind to tear down buildings. In the city, people scream and run away as they evade the menace that’s attacking them.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs; mocks) “That’s right! Fly! Fly like the chickens that you are!”

King Sungam maintains his flight in the air as he watches from a view. The eagles pick off people one by one, dropping them in the sky to their deaths. The people scream terrified as they plunge to their deaths. Sungam laughs again as he fires a bolt of energy from his sword.

KING SUNGAM
“Take this, all of you! Take that! Submit yourselves to your ruler! The god of the skies! The god of the heavens! The god of the grounds of Skydra!”

King Sungam keeps striking bolts of energy from his sword at Cloud City. He also uses the Deno coin of wind to send gushes of wind at the city’s people. Some people in the city get whirled away into the air by tornados and the buildings keep crashing down.

KING SUNGAM
(laughs) “Oh I enjoy being the king! It makes my life worth living for!”

Just then, the king summons the eagles to come to him as they caw away loudly, getting closer to him in the sky.

KING SUNGAM
“Eagles! Bring all those who are still faithful to me in my palace. Gather them there and I shall meet them. I shall tell them what our new order shall bring! Go! Go now!!!”

With that, the eagles caw and comply as they fly off down into the city. King Sungam laughs out loud again as the storm clouds gather, becoming tumultuous. He then raises his sword up high into the air as more gushes of wind are being produced against the cities of Skydra.

KING SUNGAM
“Come now, Doctor! Give me the power I seek! Give me the coins now! Give them to me or I shall destroy you!”

---

SCENE #44 – INT – TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Meanwhile, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy return to the TARDIS as they enter the console room.

NYSSA
“I’m pleased the hazard protection suits and the rocket packs brought us safely to ground level. I’m equally pleased we were close to the TARDIS when we landed.”

DOCTOR
“Yes well, never mind about that now. It’s time to put my plan into operation.”

BILLY
“What plan is that, Doctor? What are you going to do?”

DOCTOR
“I’m going to give the first two Coins of Deno to King Sungam of course.”

The Doctor produces the first two Coins of Deno in his right hand for Nyssa and Billy to see.

BILLY
“You can’t be serious!”

NYSSA
“Doctor, you can’t give those two coins to Sungam!”

DOCTOR
“Of course I can. He wants them, and I’m going to give them to him. Can’t disappoint, can I.”

BILLY
“But we need the coins, all three of them. You can’t give the ones we’ve got already to Sungam like that, surely.”

NYSSA
“It’ll mean defeat for us. And for Lord Ganl, Mr. Dalgix and their people.”

DOCTOR
“You haven’t heard the best part yet. I have a trick up my sleeve which I hope to use to great effect.”

BILLY
“You mean…you’re going to use those two coins against him? Against Sungam? Whilst he’s up in the sky?”

DOCTOR
“Too many steps ahead, Billy, as always. Please try to back down.”

NYSSA
“Alright, Doctor. Tell us what your plan is. Give us an outline.”

DOCTOR
“Of course. But first things first. Billy, have you still got your parachute on you by any chance?”

BILLY
“Yes, I have.”

DOCTOR
“Excellent! Nyssa, go and fetch another parachute from the TARDIS cupboard please. You’re going to need it.”

With that, Nyssa goes off to fetch another parachutes from inside the TARDIS.

---

SCENE #45 – EXT – HIGH SKY, ABOVE CLOUD CITY – DAY, AFTERNOON
It’s the afternoon. In the high sky, Sungam laughs away as he and the eagles continue to cause chaos.

KING SUNGAM
“At last! At last!!! Let all of Skydra fall down to me! All fall to the mighty one – Sungam of the skies and the clouds!”

At that moment, the TARDIS materialises in the sky, whooshing and groaning in mid-air.

KING SUNGAM
(angrily) “Who dares to interrupt me in my moment of victory?! Who dares?!!!”

Eventually, the TARDIS doors open and the Doctor pops his head out.

DOCTOR
“Your majesty King Sungam! I’m here! I’ve brought the two coins you’ve requested.”

KING SUNGAM
“Ah! So you’ve finally come, Doctor. You’ve finally submitted your will to me and declared your defeat!”

DOCTOR
“Yes, yes. You’re too good for me I’m afraid, sir. Here they are! Here are the two Coins of Deno I hold in my hand!”

The Doctor shows the first two Coins of Deno in his hands to Sungam.

KING SUNGAM
(impatiently) “Give them to me, Doctor! Give me the coins or else I shall unleash my eagles upon you!”

King Sungam beckons the eagles to him and they come cawing wildly.

DOCTOR
“Very well, Sungam! Here’s the coin of stone!”

With that, the Doctor uses the Deno coin of stone in his left hand. A cloud gathers in the sky.

KING SUNGAM
(gradually petrified) “What is this?! What is that cloud in the sky?”

Just then, another cloud approaches as the Doctor use the Deno coin of lightning in his right hand.

DOCTOR
“And this is the coin of lightning.” (calls out loud) “Stone and lightning! I command you to do my bidding! Rage storm clouds! Rage on the eagles and the mad king!”

The storm clouds rumble and break open. Stones hail down and lightning strikes. The stones and the lightning hit the eagles. The eagles caw with terror and fright as they fly away.

KING SUNGAM
“My eagles! You’ve attacked my eagles! You shall suffer for this, Doctor! You shall suffer!”

The eagles retreat as they head off away from the clouds.

KING SUNGAM
(calls) “No! My beloved friends! Come back I say! COME BACK!!!”

But the eagles don’t respond as they continue to fly away. Sungam turns his anger towards the Doctor.

KING SUNGAM
“You cannot do this to me! I have the superior power, Doctor! You can’t defeat King Sungam of Skydra!”

DOCTOR
“And now for your source of power! Say goodbye to your plant specimen, king!”

KING SUNGAM
“NO!!!!!”

The Doctor uses the two Deno coins and soon, stones and lightning attack the growing plant. The plant stem breaks and King Sungam finds himself plummeting down in the sky, screaming away.

KING SUNGAM
(screams) “My powers! My beautiful powers! You have destroyed my powers! You can’t do this to me! Help me! I’m falling! I’m falling, Doctor! I’M FALLING!!!”

DOCTOR
(cries) “Now, Nyssa and Billy! Save the king!”

NYSSA
“Just as you say, Doctor!”

BILLY
“Geronimo!”

With that, Nyssa and Billy jump out from the TARDIS and fall down through the sky to reach the falling King Sungam.

---

SCENE #46 – EXT – HIGH SKY, ABOVE CLOUD CITY – DAY, AFTERNOON
Eventually, Nyssa and Billy manage to reach the king and grab him whilst he continues to scream.

KING SUNGAM
(screams) “Help me! Somebody help me! Help the king! Help me please!”

BILLY
“It’s alright, your majesty. We’re here now. You’re not going to die today.”

NYSSA
“Now, Billy! Let’s open our parachutes!”

With that, Nyssa and Billy press buttons on their suits and parachutes open up in their backpacks. They hold onto the king as they glide down gently through the sky.

NYSSA
(relieved) “It worked, Billy! It worked! These parachutes did their job!”

BILLY
“Good. I was thinking we would never get our parachutes to open!”

NYSSA
“What about the Doctor? I wonder whether he’s managed to do his bit.”

At that moment, the TARDIS appears flying through the air with the Doctor inside in the doorway. The Doctor flies alongside Nyssa and Billy as they glide down through the sky, holding onto King Sungam.

DOCTOR
“It’s alright. I managed to get what we came here for. I’ve acquired the third coin of Deno which Sungam dropped out of his hands as he fell. And I managed to get the sword too.”

NYSSA
(relieved) Doctor, I’m so glad you’re alright. And I’m glad everything went according to plan.

DOCTOR
I couldn’t have done this without you two, Nyssa and Billy.

BILLY
Glad to be of service, Doctor.

KING SUNGAM
You two saved the king’s life! Oh I’m eternally grateful! You shall be rewarded beyond all measure…

DOCTOR
Save your rewards, sire. You’re about to be arrested and taken into custody by Mr. Bregone and Miss Robell.

BILLY
Yeah. You’ll be charged with assault and attempting to dominate your own kingdom through force.

NYSSA
And for espionage in working with the Dark Lord of the Deno system in an attempt to retrieve his coins for him.

KING SUNGAM
(sobs) “Oh dear. This isn’t how I intended today to be. I’ve made a big boom-boom. Oh woe is me! I’m so unhappy!”

DOCTOR
“Nyssa; Billy. I’m taking the TARDIS to Cloud City. You two meet me there once you’ve handed the king over to Bregone and Robell. I’ll see you soon.”

With that, the Doctor goes off in his TARDIS as it spirals away to Cloud City. Nyssa and Billy continue to glide with King Sungam to glide through the sky by parachute to reach for Cloud City where they hope to find Bregone and Robell.

---

SCENE #47 – INT – GREAT HALL, KING’S PALACE – DAY, MORNING
A few days later at Cloud City, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy have breakfast with Counsellor Sern and Governor Fonda at the king’s palace.

COUNSELLOR SERN
“Enjoying your breakfast, Doctor? We hope you’re pleased with our breakfast buffet.”

DOCTOR
“Oh absolutely! You know, I don’t think I’ve had this many croissants in all of my life times.”

NYSSA
“I haven’t had croissants as good as these since I left Traken. The butter helps.”

BILLY
“The croissants look like they’re shaped as clouds. They’re my favourite part of breakfast today.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“We’re very grateful for all you’ve done for us, Doctor. You and your friends. For saving our lives as well as the kingdom of Skydra.”

DOCTOR
“Oh no, no. Thanks are quite unnecessary. Only happy to help out.”

NYSSA
“We’re glad we were able to stop Sungam and his eagles in time.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“Now that the madness is over and the king’s been recently deposed, we can send Sky High Intelligence a good report of the security measures maintained. A new order will be placed and Skydra will be reformed.”

DOCTOR
“Yes, what of the king though? I hope you don’t intend to keep him in his prison cell all the time. I also hope you don’t plan on executing him.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“Certainly not! No, no, we’ll just wipe his memory and he’ll live on as a civilian in the streets of Cloud City. People will soon forget about him.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“It’s a mercy killing to wipe his identity. At least he’ll live on without causing any more harm to anyone.”

NYSSA
“And that couple who live on the ground surface – Micheller and Dannier – and their people: the ground bandits. How will you sort them out?”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“We shall leave them in isolation as they’ve requested. We will not hinder them by abusing them.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“And anything they wish from us, we’d be only too happy to discuss it with them. Provided if they want to discuss it with us.”

BILLY
“And you won’t get any more trouble from the eagles since they flew away from here? You’re not worried about them?”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“Your Doctor had the coin of wind to scare them off. I doubt they’ll return.”

DOCTOR
“You see, Nyssa and Billy. Nothing to worry about. All’s well that ends well. And rest assured, Governor; Counsellor. I will not summon the eagles back to Cloud City.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“Thank you, Doctor. We are most grateful.”

NYSSA
“Will you have to find a new king? I imagine there are many potential royal heirs who are in line for the throne.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“There are potential heirs, yes. It’s just a matter of trying to find them.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“We shall find them eventually. Hopefully we will.”

DOCTOR
“Splendid! Well, once we’ve finished this lovely breakfast, it’s time Nyssa, Billy and me departed.”

BILLY
“Aww, just when I was beginning to enjoy myself. I would have liked to have had a look around the city.”

NYSSA
“I think it’s best that we leave as soon as possible, Billy. We’ve got quite a lot of things to do regarding our quest.”

GOVERNOR FONDA
“We shall not detain you any further, Doctor.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“Where will you go next, Doctor? You have a destination in mind, I presume.”

DOCTOR
“Not really. That’s where it’s exciting. And with this third coin of Deno we have to take with us, it’s vital we leave soon.”

The Doctor holds the third coin of Deno in his hand. Just then, Bregone and Robell enter.

GOVERNOR FONDA
“Ah! Bregone; Robell. You’ve come from the prison cells, I take it.”

COUNSELLOR SERN
“Is the king comfortable in his new quarters? His new throne room?”

BREGONE
“He’s drinking and eating a lot. Over indulging himself already.”

ROBELL
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he dropped dead within minutes of obesity.”

DOCTOR
“Now that reminds of a Tudor king I once knew called Henry the Eighth. Did I ever tell you about him, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“Henry the Eighth?”

DOCTOR
“He had six wives and put on a lot of weight. Ten thousand calories a day, I believe.”

BILLY
“Well, that’s someone I don’t want to end up looking like.”

NYSSA
“I should think not. One wife is enough for anybody surely.”

BILLY
“I was talking about the ‘putting on weight’ bit, Nyssa. Not the six wives.”

NYSSA
(teases) “I knew what you were talking about, Billy dear.”

They laugh, finishing off their breakfast.

---

Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.

---

© Tim Bradley, 2021-22

---

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