6. Starting a New Day
SCENE #54 – INT – DART’S ROOM, RED FERN INN – NIGHT (2010)
In the darts room of the Red Fern inn, Andrew plays darts by himself as he’s distraught. There’s then a knock on the door.
NYSSA
(calls; from outside) Andrew? Andrew, are you in here?
ANDREW
(grumpily) It’s open.
Nyssa enters. Andrew stops playing darts and slumps into a chair. Nyssa eventually comes by and sits with Andrew. A moment of tense silence ensues.
NYSSA
(concerned) Andrew?
Andrew doesn’t reply.
NYSSA
“Andrew, please talk to me. I’m sorry I mistook your name. I honestly thought that your surname was…”
ANDREW
(interjects; frustrated) “It’s not the name taking I’m mad about, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“Please Andrew, don’t be like this. I hate to see you like this.”
ANDREW
(gradually) “Had I done something wrong, Nyssa? Something to upset you?”
NYSSA
“No of course not, Andrew. You hadn’t done anything wrong.”
ANDREW
(agitated) “Then why did you leave me? I woke up one morning and you weren’t there. I found your manuscript of the novel at the desk where you’d always worked.”
NYSSA
“I’m sorry I left you like that, Andrew. I know that my return hasn’t been what you expected.”
ANDREW
“But why, Nyssa?! We were good together. We had a romance which no-one else could break. And you had to end it on the spot.”
NYSSA
“You weren’t willing to plan ahead. I’m aware of the passage of time far more than you are.”
ANDREW
“Whatever that means?”
NYSSA
“You don’t like time, Andrew. You don’t like thinking about consequences. I asked you if you were willing for me to stay with you.”
ANDREW
“And I said ‘yes’! ‘Great’ in fact.”
NYSSA
“You didn’t consider the question. I wanted you to take that question seriously. Not to be casual about it.”
ANDREW
“I was in love with you, Nyssa. I didn’t feel like thinking about complicated things like that.”
NYSSA
“It was important for me to know your answer. For you to think about it more carefully.”
ANDREW
“I could have been given the chance. To show you how capable I was of handling consequences. But you stole that away from me.”
NYSSA
“You’re still a lovely, charming, handsome young man, Andrew. I’m certain you’ll find the right woman.”
ANDREW
“I did find the right woman. I made the mistake of losing you. And I’ve regretted it ever since. It was a gaping hole for me.”
NYSSA
“But you’ve managed to do so well, Andrew. You’ve got the engineering job you’ve always wanted. There’s a lot going for you, don’t you see?”
ANDREW
“You could have come back for me!”
NYSSA
(gradually; saddened) “I couldn’t.”
ANDREW
“Why not?!”
Another moment of tense silence ensues. Nyssa eventually stands up.
NYSSA
(gradually) “I’m going to check on Max. I’ll come back later.”
ANDREW
(solemnly) “Yeah.”
Nyssa lingers for a few moments, before eventually leaving Andrew alone. Andrew gradually gets back onto his feet and begins to play darts on the dart board again.
ANDREW
(grumbles) “Go on then. Tell yourself, Andrew. Your coming back to Stockbridge was a waste of time.”
Andrew throws the last dart into the dart board. He then goes over to the dart board to take out all the darts he’s thrown in.
ANDREW
“Fancy calling me, Harper! How she thought I was called that I’ll never know!”
Once Andrew’s taken the darts out of the dart board, he begins to throw them again. Whilst this happens, Andrew doesn’t realise somebody is lurking in the shadows as swift footsteps occur.
SCENE #55 – INT – MAIN BAR, RED FERN INN – NIGHT (2010)
In the main bar of the Red Fern Inn, the Doctor and Billy return, out of breath, to find Max still where he was when they left him, with his leg up on a stool.
MAX
“Doctor, you’re back!”
DOCTOR
(breathlessly) “Hello, Max. Yes, we’re back.”
At that moment, Nyssa enters to see the Doctor and Billy out of breath.
NYSSA
“Doctor; Billy?! Thank goodness you two are alright! You both look exhausted.”
MAX
“Is everything alright, Doctor? Nyssa’s right! You both look a bit out of sorts.”
BILLY
(breathlessly; to Nyssa) “The TARDIS, Nyssa. It’s been stolen! It’s gone!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “What?! The TARDIS gone?!”
DOCTOR
“Yes I’m afraid it’s true, Nyssa. We’ve been where we left it outside the post office. It wasn’t there.”
MAX
“Those aliens you mentioned could have stolen the TARDIS, Doctor. Or Oswald and his lot.”
BILLY
“The Doctor seems to think these aliens know a lot about him already.”
NYSSA
“Well I’m sure we’d like to hear your theories, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“No, not yet. I don’t have enough evidence to confirm my theories.”
MAX
“So what have you in mind, Doctor? I’ve got my notebook, binoculars; tracking devices; bio-kinetic energising ray on hand…”
DOCTOR
(pleased) “Good idea, Max. Gather your notes and show me what you’ve learnt about this book. Then we’ll know more about what we’re dealing with.”
MAX
“Right you are, Doctor.”
NYSSA
“That is if we’re still here when we know more, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“I hope so, Nyssa. I do hope so.”
NYSSA
“We could all do with getting some sleep. I’m going back to the Green Dragon to avoid being attacked if we stay at the Red Fern Inn.”
DOCTOR
“They can’t do much harm to us. Not whilst we still have the book.”
NYSSA
“We can’t take any chances, Doctor.”
BILLY
“I’ll second that. Oswald and his gang might come back to snuff us out.”
DOCTOR
(to Nyssa; Billy) “Fair point, Nyssa; Billy.” (Pause; to Max) “How are you on the mend, Max?”
MAX
“Oh feeling better. Foot’s not playing up so much. I can move it a bit more easily, certainly.”
NYSSA
“I’ll let Andrew know so that he can join us. I don’t want him attacked as well if he remains here.”
BILLY
“Me neither!”
NYSSA
(startled) “What did you say?”
BILLY
“Sorry, Nyssa. I was just saying I wouldn’t like Andrew to get hurt either if Oswald and the others attacked this place.”
NYSSA
(surprised; gratified) “Really? Thank you, Billy. That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard you say about Andrew all day.”
SCENE #56 – INT – DINING ROOM, GREEN DRAGON – DAY, MORNING (2010)
Next morning, it’s a bright and clear sunny day. Birds sing and a gentle country breeze ensues through the sleepy village. In the dining room of the Green Dragon, the Doctor has breakfast. Nyssa enters to find him there.
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Nyssa?! Good morning! Lovely sunny day, isn’t it?!”
NYSSA
“Yes! You’re up bright and early!”
DOCTOR
“Wanted to see the world at its calm before the storm. And I needed some cornflakes for breakfast. Care to join me?”
NYSSA
“Thank you.”
Nyssa sits down with the Doctor at his dining table whilst he eats his cornflakes.
DOCTOR
“Did you have a nice sleep, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Yes, thank you. Billy’s not up yet.”
DOCTOR
“So I see.” (Pause) “I’m pleased Mrs. Withers wasn’t put out when she let Andrew and Max to stay overnight at short notice.”
NYSSA
“So am I.”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “Max and I went over certain things last night when he showed me his notes. So I thought we’d make sense of this book by going to the library. And that’s what we’re going to do. Hopefully the library should be open today. All four of us can [go to…]”
NYSSA
(interrupts) “Doctor? I’d like to ask a favour of you please. If that’s alright.”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “Of course it is, Nyssa. Ask away.”
NYSSA
(gradually) “Is it alright if you, Max and Billy went off without me today?”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “Yes Nyssa, of course. By all means. You don’t have to come.”
NYSSA
“Thank you.”
DOCTOR
“May I ask why though?” (Pause) “Is everything alright between you and Billy?”
NYSSA
“Yes, of course. Everything’s fine between me and Billy.”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “But?”
NYSSA
(gradually) “It’s just…I need to sort things out with Andrew. He’s still heartbroken after I left him all those years ago to be at your side. I need to settle a score with him. To bring a sense of closure between us.”
DOCTOR
“Do you think he’ll listen?”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure. He wasn’t in a happy mood when I talked to him last night.”
DOCTOR
“If this makes you uncomfortable Nyssa, we can always move on…”
NYSSA
“No, Doctor. I have to sort this out with Andrew. I can’t hold it off. It’s painful but…I need to reassure him that I mean no ill towards him. I hope he means no ill towards me. Andrew has to accept the fact that I’m in another relationship. He can’t wait for me to come running.” (Pause) “I know it’s hard to understand [but…]”
DOCTOR
“On the contrary, Nyssa. I think what you’re doing is laudable. If I can help…”
NYSSA
(reassuringly) “There’s no need, Doctor. You go and sort out this mystery with Billy and Max. I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for at the library.”
DOCTOR
“Yes, of course. I hope things go well for you and Andrew.”
Moment of silence. Eventually, Nyssa gets up and goes over to where the breakfast bar is.
NYSSA
“I think I’ll have the fruit salad today.”
Nyssa takes a bowl of fruit salad from the breakfast bar, before she returns to join the Doctor at their dining table.
DOCTOR
“Have you told Billy about this?”
NYSSA
(apprehensively) “Err…yes.”
DOCTOR
“Yes?”
NYSSA
(gradually; apprehensively) “Yes I suppose…that’s the obvious thing to do.”
DOCTOR
“Ah! Is that why you haven’t done it yet?”
SCENE #57 – EXT – STOCKBRIDGE, ENGLAND – DAY, MORNING (2010)
Outside the Red Fern Inn in Stockbridge, Nyssa and Billy sit together on a bench. Nyssa tells Billy about her settling things with Andrew and he becomes distressed.
NYSSA
“Billy, will you please just listen…!”
BILLY
(interjects) “No Nyssa! I don’t want you hanging around with him! It drives me mad thinking of you two together.”
NYSSA
“I’m not going back to him, Billy.”
BILLY
“He’ll persuade you. I know he will. He’ll persuade you to stay and you’re going to accept him.”
NYSSA
“I can make my mind up on who I want to be with. And I want to be with you, Billy.”
BILLY
“Then why be with Andrew?”
NYSSA
“Because I need to tell him I love you!”
BILLY
“Do you?”
NYSSA
“Do I what?”
BILLY
“Love me?”
NYSSA
“Of course I do, you silly Billy!”
Billy becomes sullen whilst Nyssa is apprehensive.
NYSSA
“Billy, I need you to trust me. What Andrew and I had was past. I’ve grown to accept that. Andrew hasn’t. I left him on bad terms. I feel guilty for having to leave him the way I did.”
BILLY
“Then why bother when you know you’re going to find it hard?”
NYSSA
“Because I have a caring and compassionate nature, Nyssa. It’s what I hope people expect of me. Andrew was my first boyfriend. And I don’t want him to think badly of me.”
BILLY
“Is this what happens, Nyssa? When you have boyfriends, you leave them because they didn’t fulfil your expectations.”
NYSSA
(gradually) “I was learning about romance, Billy. I didn’t know what romance was until I met Andrew. We could have been together, if Andrew was the right person for me.”
BILLY
“Does that apply to me then? Am I the wrong guy for you?”
NYSSA
(reassuringly) “You’re alright, Billy. You have nothing to worry about.” (Pause) “But this is important to me. I need to settle things with Andrew. Trust me and let me handle this. Would you do that for me please, Billy?”
Moment of silence, as Billy becomes up-tight and reluctant.
BILLY
(sighs) “You’re my first girlfriend, Nyssa. I don’t want to lose you.”
NYSSA
“You won’t lose me, Billy.”
BILLY
“Promise me, Nyssa. Promise me you will come back, please.”
NYSSA
“Very well then. I promise.”
Another moment of silence.
BILLY
(gradually) “Alright then. I’ll wait for you.”
NYSSA
“Thank you.”
Another moment of silence.
BILLY
“Mind if I share a joke? Just to cheer us up?”
NYSSA
“Please do.”
BILLY
(gradually) “What happened when two candles fell in love?”
NYSSA
“I don’t know. What happened when two candles fell in love?”
BILLY
“They met their match.”
NYSSA
(gradually; realises) “Oh I see. I get the punch-line.”
Nyssa and Billy then laugh, as they sit together and break the ice with each other. Another moment of silence.
BILLY
(gradually) “Do you have to go and see Andrew now, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
(gradually) “Not yet. Let’s sit together for a while, shall we?”
BILLY
“Yes I’d like that. Us sitting together, I mean.”
They sit together on the bench, as Billy puts his arm around Nyssa and cuddles her. Nyssa and Billy then kiss each other.
SCENE #58 – EXT – WELLS WOOD, STOCKBRIDGE – DAY, MORNING (2010)
At the same time in Wells Wood, Oswald and his daughter Melanie are out in the open as they have breakfast together. They’re soon joined by Rupert and Samuel.
RUPERT
“Ah, Oswald! Enjoying your breakfast I see.”
OSWALD
“As I deserve to. It’s very stuffy in that underground base. I wondered how long those buffoons were going to keep us in there.”
MELANIE
“I’m just glad to have a break from those mongrels. They’re so annoyingly irritating and dense.”
SAMUEL
“I thought they wouldn’t stop biting their heads off with complaints and accusations. Especially when you told them we hadn’t got the book.”
OSWALD
“It took me fifteen minutes to get a word in edgeways…or sideways.”
MELANIE
(to Oswald) “I’m glad they were impressed you managed to get a hold of the TARDIS, Dad. At least they’ve spared us that.”
RUPERT
“‘Excellent strategic thinking’ is what they called it.”
SAMUEL
“Pompous lot.”
RUPERT
“Aye. It doesn’t stop us working any further.”
OSWALD
“Let’s not dwell on whines and grumbles. We need to think of a way of sorting out those soldiers they’ve got.”
RUPERT
“So what are we to do then?”
OSWALD
(thinks; gradually; to Rupert; Samuel) “You Rupert and you Samuel see to sorting out those soldiers and knights into groups. Get them organised. Melanie and I will set the alarm systems to maximum security.”
SAMUEL
“That Maxwell Edison fellow will be trouble. If he knows more than he’s letting on, then we’ve got problems.”
OSWALD
“Go on then, you two. Sort out the armies. Make sure they’re organised.”
MELANIE
“The longer you delay, the harder the work gets. You lobbers should know that.”
RUPERT
“Come on, Samuel lad. Let’s get to it.”
With that, Rupert and Samuel leave. Once Rupert and Samuel are gone, Oswald and Melanie continue their breakfast as they laugh and eat away.
MELANIE
(laughs) “Hmm! I do enjoy sausages and bacon in the morning.”
OSWALD
“Aye. Seems better to have it out in the open air, doesn’t it?”
MELANIE
“We deserve our wages in gold after this.” (Pause) “Do you think we’ll get gold breakfasts on the planet we’ve been promised?”
OSWALD
“I don’t see why not.” (Pause) “Although I would need strong teeth to get through gold sausages.”
Melanie giggles, whilst she and Oswald continue their breakfast.
SCENE #59 – INT – DINING ROOM, GREEN DRAGON – DAY, MORNING (2010)
At the Green Dragon, the Doctor is with Max in the dining room as he’s just finished his breakfast. Mrs. Withers takes the breakfast plates away.
MRS. WITHERS
“Enjoyed your breakfast, Mr. Edison?”
MAX
“Yes Mrs. Withers, thank you. It was scrumptious. There’s nothing that beats a full breakfast.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you for the breakfast, Mrs. Withers.”
MRS. WITHERS
“That’s alright, my dear. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see to your cups of tea.”
MAX
“Oh marvellous!”
With that, Mrs. Withers goes off into the kitchen.
MAX
(cheerfully) “Now Doctor. About this book. What are your plans for today?”
DOCTOR
(slightly annoyed) “Did you have to take so long to eat your breakfast, Max? Time is pressing on this new day!”
MAX
“‘Ere! I was savouring the pleasures of eggs and bacon. You can’t blame a guy who gets himself mixed up with UFO spotting to have his eggs and bacon for breakfast.”
DOCTOR
(slightly annoyed) “Yes well, the sooner we get cracking with going to the Stockbridge library, the sooner we’ll know more about this book before…”
At that moment, Billy enters.
BILLY
(cheerfully) “Hello Doctor; Hello Max!”
MAX
“Ah! Here’s our young lad, Doctor. Billy Walker to the rescue.”
DOCTOR
(pleased) “Billy! Good to see you! Had a nice chat with Nyssa?”
BILLY
(gradually) “Yes. She said she’s going to settle things with Andrew today.”
DOCTOR
“You’re okay with Nyssa being with Andrew are you, Billy?”
BILLY
“After much grumbling and Nyssa persuading me to trust her, I agreed. Nyssa says she’s just going to settle a score with Andrew, isn’t she?”
DOCTOR
“That’s what it seemed to be when she told me, Billy.”
MAX
(to Billy) “So you’re helping the Doctor and me investigate this Book of Althrace are you, Billy?”
BILLY
“If that’s alright with you two?”
DOCTOR
“Of course it is, Billy. You’re welcome to join us.”
MAX
“What’s our first port of call going to be then, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“The library, of course. Hopefully analysing a book will be a quiet enough affair.”
BILLY
“Nyssa mentioned you and Max had gone through some notes regarding this book already.”
DOCTOR
“Oh indeed we have, Billy. Indeed we have.”
MAX
“We’ll show you more along the way as we make for the library.”
SCENE #60 – INT – MAIN BAR, RED FERN INN – DAY, MORNING (2010)
At the Red Fern Inn, Andrew is drying up some drinking glasses with a tea towel in the main bar. Nyssa then enters, as Andrew keeps on drying up drinking glasses.
NYSSA
“Andrew?”
ANDREW
“Hello Nyssa. Did you sleep well?”
NYSSA
“Yes. I slept fine thanks. Did you?”
ANDREW
“Not bad.”
A moment of tense silence ensues.
NYSSA
“Are you alright, Andrew? I didn’t see you having breakfast at the Green Dragon this morning?”
ANDREW
(apprehensively) “I err…I had a few chores to do here. I’ve got to keep this place tidy.”
Another moment of tense silence ensues.
NYSSA
“Andrew?”
ANDREW
(grudgingly) “Yes?”
NYSSA
“I’ve talked to the Doctor. And I’ve talked with Billy. I’ve asked them if I could spend some time with you.”
ANDREW
(puzzled) “Spend some time with me?”
NYSSA
“Yes. To settle a score. I left you broken-hearted. And that was wrong of me. I want to make amends with you. And I want to do it without any ill feelings.”
ANDREW
“I see.”
NYSSA
“Can we spend a day together, Andrew? Where we can settle things? Settle a score, please?”
Another moment of tense silence ensues.
ANDREW
“Alright. I suppose we could spend time together settling things.”
NYSSA
(relieved) “Thank you, Andrew. I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
ANDREW
(gradually) “Since I’m unofficially having a day off, I’ve a place in mind where we can go to spend time together.”
NYSSA
“Oh really?”
ANDREW
“Yes. Nyssa, do you fancy going out into the country?”
NYSSA
“Whereabouts in the country?”
SCENE #61 – INT – STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY, STOCKBRIDGE – DAY, MORNING (2010)
Later on at Stockbridge Library, the Doctor, Max and Billy study the Althrace book with the help of Max’s notes.
DOCTOR
“Your predictions about Stockbridge being a ghost village were over-exaggerated, Max.”
MAX
(apologetically) “I’m sorry about this, Doctor. I didn’t expect it to be this many people here today.”
Billy meanwhile is absorbed reading the Althrace book.
BILLY
(baffled) “Bizarre and incredible, but ridiculous. I can’t make head or tale of this. This Althrace book seems to be all over the place.”
DOCTOR
“Yes, I gathered it’d be confusing. Best not to worry about it, Billy. You’ll find…”
BILLY
(interrupts) “But see this passage here? It chronicles the history of this…Althrace place to its current day. It has the options of changing the language that you want – English, French, German, any bizarre alien language – just by simply pressing these words at the bottom of the page.”
MAX
“I have to agree with you, Billy. That is incredible.”
DOCTOR
“Yes. By today’s standards, that would be a Kindle pad.”
BILLY
“But books can’t do that. You can’t touch a word and it changes the language to your preference.”
MAX
“It didn’t mean much to me when I was reading it. It just spoke to me.”
DOCTOR
“Spoke to you? Maybe you pressed something on the page to make it speak.” (Pause; thinks) “What page was it you found it speaking to you, Max?”
MAX
“Err…first page of the first chapter, I think.”
DOCTOR
(to Billy) “Billy! Go back to the first page of the first chapter in the book, will you?”
BILLY
“Yes Doctor.”
Billy turns back the pages of the book before coming to the first page of the first chapter.
BILLY
“Here we are. First page.” (startled) “Oh. It’s got a tea stain on the corner of the page. It’s small but distinctly…”
DOCTOR
(interjects; to Max) “Max, was this where you began reading the book?”
MAX
“Probably was. I didn’t notice.”
DOCTOR
(to Billy) “Billy! Touch the tea stain!”
BILLY
(puzzled) “Touch it? I don’t see…”
DOCTOR
(insistently) “Just do it will you please, Billy?”
BILLY
“Okay. Whatever you say, Doctor.”
Billy then touches the tea stain. Loud music echoes from it. This causes an uproar, as hushes and ‘be quiets’ are uttered from everyone in the library to the Doctor, Billy and Max.
DOCTOR
(to everyone) “Sorry, sorry.” (to Billy) “Billy, stop it! Stop it!”
BILLY
It’s not me, it’s the book!
MAX
(cries) Too loud! No loud music in library!
Just then, the book speaks out loud.
THE BOOK
The Great Law of Althrace firmly states that anyone who tampers with events in the flow of time will be in great judgement. [The great judgement that will ensnare anything organic or mechanical in relation to space-time events through the cosmos of normal space…]
MAX
It talks! Just as before, it talks!
DOCTOR
Billy, turn the volume down!
BILLY
Where, Doctor? The book hasn’t got a volume button like you have on a wireless!
THE BOOK
(continues) “The Lord of Althrace strictly prohibits any misuse of time and space. The following technology has spread [across the far reaches of space. The Event Synthesizer held by the Prime Mover of…]”
DOCTOR
(shouts) “Shut the book up, Billy! Shut the book up!!!”
BILLY
“Alright, alright, Doctor. I’ll shut the book up!”
Billy slams the book up, causing everyone to ‘ssh’ again.
MAX
(whispers; to everyone) “Sorry about that.”
A moment of tense silence ensues, as everyone calms down and the book stops talking.
DOCTOR
“Well, Max? We now know why your book talks!”
BILLY
(concerned) “Should we have this book in the library, Doctor? If it’s going to make that racket [then…]”
DOCTOR
(interjects) “Let’s look through another section of the book and see what’s there.”
BILLY
“You just told me to shut the book up. I wish you’d made up your mind.”
DOCTOR
“Just hand me the book, Billy.”
Billy then hands the book over to the Doctor. The Doctor takes the book and opens it. He turns the pages over, causing Billy and Max to be apprehensive. The Doctor then comes to a stop, as he spots something in the book.
DOCTOR
“Aha! Now that’s interesting!”
MAX
“What is? What is it, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“This bit here. Listen.”
BILLY
“Well whatever you do, don’t touch any tea stains, Doctor!”
The Doctor tolerates Billy’s remark as he carries on.
DOCTOR
(reads) ‘To understand gaining entry into the Chambers of Althrace, you must face the battle for awareness of consequence and patience of virtue. These aspects are good qualities to warriors, but a danger to mere folk.’
BILLY
(intrigued) “Where did you get that passage from Doctor? Whatever it means.”
DOCTOR
“It’s from the seventy-fifth chapter of the book called ‘The Chambers of Althrace’. Better known as ‘The Chambers of Wisdom and Knowledge of Althrace’.”
MAX
“Wisdom and knowledge of what, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Anything. Anything you want. You can have absolute knowledge of anything in the entire cosmos if you fought and won the battle for gaining entry into that sacred place.”
BILLY
(astounded) “What you mean…Althrace is a place in time that you can actually enter into then?”
DOCTOR
“Of course. Though I would advise against it.”
MAX
“But you said that Althrace was a system or a combination of worlds close to a white hole. Won’t it be protected by barriers?”
DOCTOR
“Of course. But you see ‘The Travellers’ Tale of Althrace’ is a travel guide of knowing your way around.”
BILLY
“So people regularly go there then?”
DOCTOR
“Certainly not.”
BILLY
“But you said it was a travel guide.”
DOCTOR
“They abandoned the tourism project altogether. On the insistence of the High Council of Gallifrey.”
MAX
“Gallifrey? Where’s that then?”
BILLY
“It’s the Doctor’s home world, Max.”
MAX
“Really? I thought it was Venus.”
DOCTOR
(continues) “Althrace was a relatively young world before its people met up with the Time Lords. The people have become wiser in being knowledgeable of temporal theory. They initially wanted to advertise it to neighbouring galaxies. The Time Lords put a stop to that. Pompous lot.”
BILLY
(thinks) “So the book we have now shouldn’t really exist.”
DOCTOR
“Of course it exists, Billy! We’re holding it!”
BILLY
“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”
DOCTOR
“I know perfectly well what you meant. But this book was only one out of a few copies published before being put on the book shelves. The other few are locked away for safe-keeping in the Vault on Althrace. At least I hope they are safely locked away.”
BILLY
“Well I can’t imagine anyone wanting to read such deep stuff as that.”
DOCTOR
“Indeed. But the question is; how did this book get out of the Vault on Althrace in the first place?”
Whilst Billy and the Doctor talk, Max spots something fascinating regarding the book.
MAX
“Hmm! There’s a milk stain on this page.”
The Doctor and Billy then see what Max is doing as he’s about to touch the milk stain on the page.
DOCTOR
“Max, no!”
BILLY
“Don’t touch it, Max!”
DOCTOR
“Don’t touch the milk stain!”
MAX
(confused) “What did you say, Doctor?”
DOCTOR/BILLY
“Max!!!”
But it’s too late, as Max has already touched the milk stain.
SCENE #62 – INT – STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY (MAX’S MIND) – DAY, MORNING (2010)
Inside Max’s mind, he sees a world that startles, amazes and frightens him.
MAX
(awed) “What is this place?! Where am I? I’m…I’m not in Stockbridge! And I’m not in the library!” (calls) “Doctor; Billy, where are you?”
Moment of silence.
MAX
(realises) “Whoa! This is space! I’m in space! All those stars flying by.”
Another moment of silence.
MAX
“What’s that before me?!” (Pause) “A crystal! A gigantic crystal! There’s towers and pinnacles standing upright! All spiky looking!” (Pause) “And the space behind it. It…it looks like a hole.” (realises) “A white hole!” (calls) “Doctor?! Doctor, I’ve found your white hole! It’s here!”
Max is about to call again before he spots something.
MAX
“‘Ere! What’s that ahead?” (Pause) “It looks like some kind of spaceship. But it’s a very small…and sparkly kind.”
Another moment of silence.
MAX
(realises) “No! Wait! It’s coming towards me!” (cries) “Keep away from me! Keep away!” (panics) “It’s going to crash! I’m stuck in space and it’s going to crash into me!”
Max panics as the spaceship makes its approach.
DOCTOR (V’O)
(cries) “Max! Max!!!”
SCENE #63 – INT – STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY, STOCKBRIDGE – DAY, MORNING (2010)
Max eventually finds himself back in the library again, shaken up and woken up by the Doctor.
DOCTOR
“Come on, Max! Snap out of it!”
Max eventually snaps out of it.
BILLY
(concerned; to Doctor) “Is he alright? Is Max alright?”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “He’ll be fine. Eventually.”
BILLY
“I was beginning to wonder if that milk stain had killed him.”
DOCTOR
(to Max) “Max? Are you alright?”
MAX
(wearily) “Doctor…?”
Max then faints to the floor.
DOCTOR
(panics) “Oh no!” (cries; to Max) “Max? Max?! Wake up!” (to Billy) “Billy, help me!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Oh no! Please don’t say I’ve spoken too soon!”
DOCTOR
(cries; panics; to Max) Max?! Max, wake up! Please wake up, Max!
Everyone else in the library watch with fascination, as Billy comes to help the Doctor to revive Max from unconsciousness after fainting to the ground.
© Tim Bradley, 2018
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