21. Escape From The Sontarans
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
REPRISE
HURN
(shocked) “Commander, sir! It’s…it’s…”
KROND
“Yes, Corporal Hurn. It is the fe-male associate of the Doc-tor. Trooper Goml is in fact…Nyssa of Traken.”
NYSSA
“Hello, Commander Krond. Pleased to see me, are we?”
Tense silence ensues.
KROND
(barks) “Corporal Hurn; Trooper Sqar; Trooper Thor! Prepare to open fire! Destroy these two hu-man scum!”
HURN
(to Krond) “Yes, sir!” (to troopers) “Sqar; Thor! At arms!”
Hurn, Sqar and Thor train their weapons on Nyssa and Billy as they prepare to open fire.
KROND
“Open fire! Open fire, I say! Open fire!!!”
HURN
“Yes, sir. Ready, sir. We’re about to open fire, sir!”
BILLY
(groans) “Oh darn it!!!”
Hurn, Sqar and Thor are about to open fire on Nyssa and Billy.
(CONTINUES INTO:)
SCENE #229B – INT – ENTRANCE TO CHAMBER OF W&K, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Just then…
NYSSA
(cries; out loud) “For the glory of Sontar!”
Tense silence ensues.
KROND
“What’s that?”
STUMP
“She said ‘For the glory of Sontar!’, sir!”
KROND
“I’m well aware of what she said Stump, thank you.”
BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa, are you alright?”
NYSSA
“I serve the glory and might of the Sontaran empire. If I must die, then I die with honour. Is that not so, Commander Krond?”
BILLY
(scared) “Nyssa, you’re speaking like a Sontaran!”
NYSSA
(to Billy) “I am a Sontaran, hu-man male! Silence in the ranks!”
KROND
(to Nyssa) “You are not a Sontaran. You are a small hu-man fe-male.”
NYSSA
(to Krond) “My memories and knowledge are still intact, sir. I seek nothing but glory and honour. Would you deny me that?”
KROND
(to Stump) “What is she on about, Sergeant?”
STUMP
“I think I see what’s happening, sir.”
KROND
(wryly) “I’m glad somebody is.”
STUMP
(to Krond) “Trooper Sqar brainwashed this hu-man fe-male earlier.” (to Sqar) “Didn’t you, Sqar?”
SQAR
“Yes, sir. Indeed I did, sir.”
KROND
“What’s that got to do with it, Sergeant?”
STUMP
“Well, don’t you see? The fe-male has managed to retain the conditioning we put on her and she now thinks as a Sontaran. Sqar’s brainwashing methods were far more advanced than we thought.”
KROND
“Ah! That is highly commendable!”
BILLY
(worried; to Nyssa) “Oh please, Nyssa. Don’t let it be true. You’re not still brainwashed! You can’t be! You’re Nyssa!”
HURN
“Permission to speak, sir.”
KROND
“Yes, Hurn?”
HURN
“There is one item of detail I do not understand.”
KROND
“Really, what’s that?”
HURN
“If she is thinking like a Sontaran, why does she wear Sontaran armour and a helmet? Surely that would be to deceive us if she was spying on us.”
NYSSA
(to Hurn) “I wear this armour to face the enemy in battle, Corporal. Is that so hard to understand? I am Sontaran after all.”
KROND
(convinced) “Of course it’s not hard to understand.” (to Hurn) “You see, Hurn. That answers your question. She wears armour for battle. Just like all we Sontarans do, you see?”
HURN
(satisfied) “Thank you, sir. That’s helped me enough.”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Oh no, Nyssa.”
Tense silence ensues.
STUMP
“Do we shoot her then?”
BILLY
(protests) “No!”
KROND
“No, Stump. Use your common sense. I intend to keep her alive. For the time being. She may be useful.”
SQAR
“That’s all very well, sir. But what do we do about the boy? The hu-man male?”
KROND
(shrewdly) “The boy does not interest me. Kill him.”
BILLY
“What?”
KROND
(barks) “Corporal Hurn; Trooper Sqar; Trooper Thor! Prepare to open fire!”
HURN
(to troopers) “Sqar; Thor! At arms!”
The three Sontarans train their weapons on Billy.
BILLY
“Oh no. Now I’m in big trouble.”
Billy dreads the moment, as he waits for the Sontarans to open fire on him.
SCENE #230 – INT – VAULT OF ALTHRACE, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Back in the vault of Althrace, the Doctor and Andrew are still coming to terms that Max stole the Book of Althrace whilst Shayde stands about.
ANDREW
(puzzled) “I don’t understand how Max can be the one who stole the book. It just isn’t in his nature. I know he’s a crackpot but still…”
MAX
(protests) “‘Ere! Less of the ‘crackpot’. I’m not happy about this either you know.”
ANDREW
(to Doctor) “Who are the Time Lords, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“They’re my own people, Andrew. But knowing what they are isn’t important. What they’ve done is absolutely criminal.”
MAX
“What’s that, Doctor? What is it that’s so criminal?”
DOCTOR
“Stealing your mind Max and using it to implant a command to steal an artefact from Althrace.”
SHAYDE
“They didn’t steal his mind, Doctor. They borrowed him for their purpose.”
DOCTOR
(to Shayde) “And another thing. How do you know so much, Shayde? Why were you so keen to keep this all hidden before we even found you about it. Andrew and I, that is.”
SHAYDE
“The Time Lords wished you ignorant of the facts before you found us yourselves. They wanted you to figure out gradually over the journey. I was instructed to tell you nothing. I didn’t mean to deceive you.”
MAX
“But what’s this about me stealing the book anyway? I’ve never stolen anything in all my life. Well, apart from a number of Bassett’s Allsorts, but that was when I was eight. Why would ‘Time Lords’ want me as their thief anyway?”
SHAYDE
“You have extra-sensory perception, Maxwell Edison. That’s what makes you unique. And you’ve also met the Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow this.”
SHAYDE
“You first met Maxwell when you encountered an alien spaceship.”
MAX
(to Shayde) “The first time we met?!” (to Doctor) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(realises) Yes, of course! You sensed a dangerous presence on that ship with your extra-sensory perception. And it boarded my TARDIS at one time and it got me into trouble with the Time Lords. It’s all beginning to make sense.
ANDREW
Any chance we can get to have a pint once this is all over?
SHAYDE
(to Doctor) The Time Lords knew of your activities at the time when you brought Maxwell Edison aboard your TARDIS and exposed him to the presence on that spaceship. They knew of his psychic abilities.
DOCTOR
(angrily; to Shayde) So they sent spies – Time Lord spies – to capture and manipulate Max’s mind. To use as a tool for their ill gotten games. They made Max steal the book for them. Made him pilot a spaceship into and out of Althrace space before returning to Earth.
SHAYDE
The Time Lords planned everything, Doctor. Maxwell’s ship was found adrift in space. They teleported him out and set him to rest in the middle of Wells Wood. They had him sleep for eight hours before he woke up.
MAX
“And that’s where I found the book. The book by that tree. Leading into the entrance of the Sontaran base.”
DOCTOR
“So the Time Lords planned everything out. Making sure nothing could be overlooked.” (Pause) “Except you didn’t anticipate the Sontarans.”
SHAYDE
The plan was to pick the book ourselves. Send in agents to collect it. Before anything else occurred. But word got about to the Sontarans finding out about the book and they were immediately drawn to Earth to master their plans.
DOCTOR
Just like when the Sontarans attempted to conquer Gallifrey. And they nearly succeeded.
ANDREW
Any chance for any sandwiches in this place? I’m famished.
MAX
I’m sorry, Doctor. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to steal the book. Honest, I didn’t.
DOCTOR
(reassuringly; to Max) No, no, Max. Don’t apologise. You’re entirely blameless in this matter. You were merely a victim of circumstance. (accusingly; to Shayde) Whereas for you Shayde, you’ve got a lot to answer for. As well as the Time Lords. Metal construct or not.
SHAYDE
I had no part to play in these events, Doctor. I know only of this information through the Matrix on Gallifrey.
DOCTOR
“So you say. I’m starting to wonder whether or not you were responsible.”
ANDREW
(interjects) “Look Doctor, I don’t wish to interrupt…”
DOCTOR
(dismissively) “Andrew, I haven’t got time for any more of your wry and sardonic remarks.”
ANDREW
(matter-of-factually) Actually, I was going to suggest whether we can help rescue Nyssa and Billy. They’re still with those Sontarans, you know.
DOCTOR
Nyssa and Billy? (realises) Yes. Yes of course. We must go out and rescue them. We’ll worry about this later.
MAX
I’m fraught with worry anyway, Doctor. To think I’ve been ensnared by body snatchers. It’s rather creepy for my liking.
DOCTOR
Never mind that, Max. Just put it in the back of your mind.
MAX
That’s easier said than done, Doctor.
SHAYDE
I sense them, Doctor. They are very close. And are in trouble.
ANDREW
Trouble? What do you mean trouble?
SHAYDE
“One of them is in a very tricky position and the other is facing death.”
ANDREW
“Facing death?! Which one? Nyssa or Billy?”
MAX
“Oh I do hope both of them won’t get shot.”
ANDREW
“Shut up, Max.”
DOCTOR
“We haven’t got a moment to lose. We need to search out and find them.” (to Max; Andrew) “Max; Andrew? I need you to help me by doing something if we’re to rescue them.”
MAX
“I’m with you on that one, Doc.”
ANDREW
“Name it. What is it you want us to do?”
DOCTOR
“Now listen to me very carefully. Do exactly as I say.”
SCENE #231 – INT – ENTRANCE TO CHAMBER OF W&K, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Meanwhile, back at the Chamber of Wisdom and Knowledge entrance, the Sontarans are about to open fire on Billy and kill him.
KROND
“Open fire, Corporal. Fire I say!”
HURN
“Very good, sir.”
Just then, Nyssa stands in their way.
NYSSA
(protests) “No! You are not to shoot him!”
KROND
“What is the meaning of this?!” (to Nyssa) “Get out of the way, girl! Before I reconsider shooting you!”
NYSSA
“I suggest you keep this boy alive! He is my prisoner and I wish to keep him alive! He still maybe of use to us!”
STUMP
“The fe-male has a point, sir. Perhaps we should listen to her.”
KROND
“Silence, Stump.”
THOR
“No I agree with Stump, sir. If we are to enter the power chamber the same way as we’ve done with all the other doors, then maybe…”
KROND
“I said ‘silence’! There is greater glory here. Glory of Sontar. I cannot waste time with debating on keeping this boy alive.”
NYSSA
“And I say you must keep him alive!”
KROND
“Why?! Why must this boy be kept alive?!”
NYSSA
(stammers) “I…err…well…”
BILLY
“Nyssa?”
HURN
“Permission to speak, Commander.”
KROND
“Permission granted, Corporal. What is it?”
HURN
“I’ve just been struck by something deadly.”
THOR
“There isn’t a Rutan scum in here with us?”
HURN
“No it’s like this. When the fe-male was behaving like Goml…and using Goml’s name in vain…she spoke with his voice through the helmet. Why did she deepen her voice to deceive us?”
KROND
“Ah. Yes. That is a good question.” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa of Traken! Why did you deepen your voice when my squad of Sontarans attacked?”
NYSSA
(stammers) “Err…well err…”
They are then interrupted, as Andrew runs in.
ANDREW
(cries) “Oi! Let go of my ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend, you jacket potato freaks!”
KROND
“Hurn! Seize that hu-man this instant!”
HURN
“Right you are, sir!”
Hurn immediately grabs onto Andrew, who gets caught and stops running.
ANDREW
(groans) “Aww! And I was doing so well! I didn’t even get a chance of rescue!”
BILLY
“Andrew! Nyssa’s gone bad again!”
ANDREW
“Gone bad? What do you mean?”
BILLY
“I thought she was cured. Seems like we were wrong.”
HURN
(to Billy; Andrew) “Silence in the ranks! I will not having talking between hu-mans!”
KROND
“Corporal Hurn! Rejoin the execution squad! Prepare to open fire!”
HURN
(to Krond) “Yes, sir, right, sir. Let me just put this hu-man male with the other one, shall I?”
ANDREW
(to Hurn) “The name’s Andrew.”
NYSSA
(to Krond) “I must strongly protest, Commander Krond. I ask you not to kill [them…]”
KROND
(bitterly; to Nyssa) “You keep silent as well, fe-male. I shall have you court-martialled when we return to Sontar!”
Suddenly, a cricket ball bounces about on the walls. Everyone looks to see.
STUMP
(cries) “By Sontar! What’s that?!”
Suddenly, Trooper Kike gets knocked by the ball on the probic vent. He hisses in pain…
KIKE
(hisses) “Ow! My back!”
…before collapsing to the ground.
KROND
“What’s going on?! What’s happened?! Why did Kike fall to the ground?!”
STUMP
“He’s knocked out, sir! On the probic vent on the back!”
Trooper Thor also gets knocked out as he collapses to the ground.
HURN
(gasps) “Oh look! Trooper Thor’s been knocked out too!”
Then Trooper Sqar gets knocked out and collapses to the ground.
HURN
(gasps) “Oh look! And Trooper Sqar!”
Then Corporal Hurn gets hit on the probic vent on the back as he hisses in pain.
HURN
(hisses) “Oh! And me!”
Hurn collapses to the ground
KROND
What’s happening here?! Why are our finest Sontaran warriors being knocked out all of a sudden?!
STUMP
(realises) “Sir! It is a cricket ball that’s knocking them out!”
KROND
“A cricket ball?!”
DOCTOR
(calls; from a distance; to Max) “Quick, Max! Catch!”
Krond and Stump watch as the cricket ball gets caught by Max at the other end of the room.
MAX
(calls; from a distance; to Doctor) “Caught it, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(calls; from a distance; to Max) “Good! Well done, Max!” (calls; to Andrew) “Now, Andrew! Get Nyssa and Billy out of there!”
ANDREW
(to Nyssa; Billy) “Come on, you two! Let’s get out of here!”
NYSSA
(cries; to Billy; Andrew) “This way, come on!”
KROND
(barks) “Stop them, Stump! They must not escape!”
STUMP
(barks; to Nyssa; Billy; Andrew) “Halt, you three! Halt or I’ll fire!”
Stump fires on Nyssa, Billy and Andrew with his Sontaran blaster rifle. But it’s too late, as Nyssa, Billy and Andrew have already managed to escape out and around the corner. Stump turns back to Krond.
STUMP
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m afraid they’ve escaped, sir.”
KROND
(angrily) “You blundering idiot, Sergeant!”
STUMP
“Well it’s not my fault, sir! I didn’t have enough time to fire on them!”
KROND
“The finest of our front line troopers knocked out in the blink of an eye. And our prisoners have escaped. And all because of that…”
Krond trails off mid-sentence.
STUMP
(curiously) “Yes? What is it, sir?”
KROND
(realises) “The Doc-tor! It was him! It must be! He was responsible for this diversion!”
STUMP
“He diverted the hu-mans away from us!”
KROND
“With the use of his cricket ball! That’s how he managed to knock our troopers! And it’s how he managed to get his friends to escape!” (slightly impressed) “Very clever thinking, Doc-tor. For an inferior warrior.”
Krond and Stump meanwhile turn to their troopers as they begin to revive and get up from the ground.
SCENE #232 – INT – CORRIDOR, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
In a corridor in Section AM39, close to the entrance of the Chamber of Wisdom and Knowledge, Nyssa, Billy and Andrew recover from their escape as they reunite with the Doctor and Max.
ANDREW
(cheers) “We did it! Thank goodness that worked out!”
MAX
“Oh I feel so proud! I managed to catch a cricket ball! And we weren’t even playing a cricket match!”
DOCTOR
(impatiently) “Yes, yes, Max. I’m sure you’re very proud indeed. But we must move on.”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “Doctor, how did you manage to find us? And how did you throw a cricket ball like that in one room knocking out Sontarans in the process?”
MAX
“Ah well you see the thing is Nyssa, the Doctor and I were standing on opposite sides of the entrance when we…”
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “Later, we’ll explain later. Right now we need to get to Shayde.”
ANDREW
“He’s at the other end of the corridor, isn’t he? At the entrance?”
DOCTOR
“The entrance to this section, yes! We must get moving!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Doctor we can’t go yet!”
DOCTOR
“What do you mean?”
BILLY
“Well, Nyssa’s still not right. She’s still being conditioned. By the Sontarans.”
DOCTOR
“What?!”
BILLY
“I thought the conditioning had passed by now. But it seems she’s still…”
NYSSA
(interjects; astounded) “Billy, you didn’t fall for that did you?”
BILLY
“Fall for what?”
NYSSA
“I was fooling those Sontarans into thinking I was still brainwashed.”
MAX
“What? You bluffed your way with those dumptys?”
DOCTOR
(to Nyssa) “So you’re okay then. You’re not under any conditioning at all?”
NYSSA
“No. Definitely not. I knew it would convince the Sontarans that I was still acting as a Sontaran. I didn’t think it would convince Billy.”
BILLY
(frustrated) “Nyssa, you scared me to death!”
NYSSA
“I had to do something to stop the Sontarans killing you. In exchange for your safety. It didn’t work out as well as I expected, but…”
BILLY
(frustrated) “You got me panicky then. I really thought I’d lost you again.”
NYSSA
“Billy, will you just calm down?!”
BILLY
“I was scared to death, Nyssa!”
NYSSA
“I was saving your life!”
BILLY
“You scared me to death!”
DOCTOR
“Billy, stop overreacting!”
NYSSA
“Billy, the Doctor’s right. We can’t stay here. We must get out of here!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Max and Andrew then move on down the corridor. They head out of Section AM39.
SCENE #233 – INT – ENTRANCE TO CHAMBER OF W&K, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Back at the entrance to the Chamber of Wisdom and Knowledge, Corporal Hurn, Trooper Sqar, Trooper Thor and Trooper Kike get up from the floor, recovering after being knocked out. They dust themselves off whilst Commander Krond scolds them.
KROND
“Come on, troopers! Pull yourselves together! My own front line troopers outwitted by a cricket ball! It’s ludicrous! Absolutely ludicrous!”
SQAR
“Not as ludicrous as finding out Goml wasn’t Goml at all and was just a small fe-male inside a Sontaran suit, hey?”
KROND
“That will do, Trooper Sqar.”
As the Sontarans recover, Commander Krond turns to Sergeant Stump.
KROND
“Sergeant Stump. We must get into that chamber of power without any further delay.”
STUMP
“That’s all very well, sir. But what about the Doc-tor and his associates? How are you going to catch them and stop them from interfering?”
KROND
“Oh don’t worry about that. I’ve never let you down yet, have I?”
STUMP
“Well, there has been…”
KROND
(interjects) “Alright that will do, Stump. Never mind about the odd occasion.”
HURN
(interrupts) “Permission to speak, sir!”
KROND
“Yes Corporal, what is it?”
HURN
“I’d like to volunteer to take a group of Sontaran troopers and chase after the Doc-tor and his associates to stop them from interfering. Let me go, sir! Let me go, sir!”
KROND
Oh, very well. You Hurn take Trooper Sqar, Trooper Thor and Trooper Kike. Go out there and capture the Doc-tor and his associates.
HURN
Very good, sir. (to troopers) Right! Trooper Sqar, Trooper Thor and Trooper Kike! All follow me and seek out to capture the Doc-tor! At the double, now!
With that, Sqar; Thor and Kike obey and follow Hurn out. They go off in pursuit of the Doctor.
HURN
(barks) Left, right; left, right; left, right; left, right; left, right; left, right; [left, right…]
Hurn and the Sontarans head out around the corner and go off out of sight.
KROND
Now, Stump. It’s just you and me. Let’s go inside to the Chamber of Wisdom and Knowledge where our glory awaits us.
STUMP
(cautiously) Do you think this is wise, sir?
KROND
“Not now, Sergeant.”
STUMP
“I only doubt sir, because you have not read the entire Book of Althrace and do not know the full incantations of how this star system works and what the secrets locked in these chambers contain. Wouldn’t it be better to stop rather than blunder into hazardous territory?”
KROND
“Certainly not. You’re not full of drive are you, Stump. This is for the glory of Sontar. The Empire depends on us to provide the victory we seek. And I’m not going to upset High Command on this. Is that clear, Sergeant?”
STUMP
“Yes sir, if you say so.”
KROND
“I just did, Sergeant.” (to himself) “Nothing makes me feel better than to have the honour of gaining the power and knowledge of space-time travel and events. For the Sontaran empire itself. We shall gain the power of the gods.” (Pause; to Stump) “Let’s go in, Sergeant.”
STUMP
“Yes, sir. Just as you say.”
With that, Krond and Stump enter the chamber as they seek to find the core of power within.
SCENE #234 – INT – ENTRANCE TO SECTION AM39, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Outside Section AM39, Nyssa takes off her Sontaran clothes. She gets back into her proper clothes whilst the Doctor, Billy, Max and Andrew aren’t looking.
NYSSA
“It’s alright. You can look now.”
DOCTOR
“How do you feel now, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Better for being back in my normal clothes and not in that awful Sontaran armour. It stank.”
BILLY
“I’m relieved to see you’re back to normal, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“At least you’ve calmed down, Billy.”
MAX
“But what do we do now? Now that we’re on the run from those Sontarans.”
ANDREW
“I don’t understand why we didn’t go in there and try to stop them going in before they had a chance to get their power house all to themselves.”
DOCTOR
“Ah! Well you see there is a reason for that, Andrew. I wanted them to think we were going to go in there and stop them before it became evident to them we had another agenda in mind to tackle them.”
NYSSA
“Is that true, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Oh yes, Nyssa. It is. Please believe it.”
BILLY
“So…what’s your plan then?”
DOCTOR
“Pardon?”
BILLY
“What is this other ‘agenda’ you had in mind to tackle the Sontarans?”
DOCTOR
“Uh, yes. Err…I haven’t the faintest idea.”
NYSSA
“Typical.”
DOCTOR
“I had you and Billy to get out first, didn’t I?”
Just then, Shayde appears before them out of nowhere, giving the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Max and Andrew a start.
SHAYDE
“Perhaps I can make a suggestion, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Shayde, do you really have to creep on people like that?! It’s very unnerving!”
SHAYDE
“What I suggest Doctor, is that you and your companions journey down into the depths of this planet and shut down the generator manipulating the power chamber of Section A-M-three-nine. Then you shall be able to defeat the Sontarans without defect.”
ANDREW
“Can we actually do that then?”
SHAYDE
“This system is controlled by a computer that is thinking and living. Breathing life into Althrace itself. If the Doctor communes with the engine with my assistance, then he should be able to shut it down.”
DOCTOR
(to Shayde) “That sounds like a good idea, Shayde.” (to Nyssa; Billy; Max; Andrew) “Come on, you four.”
BILLY
“Just a minute. Won’t it fry your mind? Like when we were on Scotland.”
NYSSA
“I’m sure the Doctor has the ability to handle this situation, Billy.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“Though I would advise caution.”
DOCTOR
“Of course.”
MAX
(cries; warningly) “Behind us, everyone! Look! Sontarans!”
Shots of firepower fly over their heads, as the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Max and Andrew realise they’ve been caught up by Hurn, Sqar, Thor and Kike.
HURN
“Stop them! Stop them! Don’t let those hu-mans and the Doc-tor get away!”
DOCTOR
(cries) “Come on! Run!”
The Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Max and Andrew run as the Sontarans fire upon them.
SQAR
(cries) “They’re getting away, Corporal!”
HURN
(cries) “Fire! Fire I say, fire!”
The Sontarans keep on firing, as the Doctor and his friends run down the corridor away from the entrance.
NYSSA
“They’re too fast for us, Doctor. It’s no good.”
BILLY
“They’re nearly onto us!” (puzzled) “Where’s Shayde?!”
MAX
“Well…he was here a minute ago. Now he’s gone.”
ANDREW
“This is getting us nowhere. We need to split up to have better chances.”
DOCTOR
(cheers) “Good idea!” (to Max; Andrew) “Max; Andrew, you go that way on the right!” (to Nyssa; Billy) “Nyssa; Billy, you two come with me on the left!”
HURN
(cries) “Don’t let them escape!”
But it’s already too late for the Sontarans, as the TARDIS heroes split up. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy run over towards the left whilst Andrew and Max head off towards the right.
THOR
“They’ve got away, sir! They’ve split up!”
KIKE
“We can still catch them up can’t we, Corporal sir?”
HURN
(to Kike) “Of course we can, Kike.” (to Sqar) “You Sqar come with me and we chase the Doc-tor and his two young friends.” (to Thor) “Thor…”
THOR
(interjects) “I’ll take Kike and we’ll go after the chubby humanoid and the clever dick humanoid. Is that right, sir?”
HURN
(to Thor) “Correct, Thor.” (barks) “Now, jump to it! After them!”
With that, the Sontarans split up as well. Hurn and Sqar chase after the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy whilst Thor and Kike chase after Max and Andrew.
SCENE #235 – INT – CORRIDOR, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy run down a corridor on the second floor of the Chamber of Kordor before coming to a halt.
NYSSA
(groans) “Oh great! We’ve come to a dead end!”
BILLY
“What are we going to do now?! We can’t go back the same way.”
The Doctor ponders for a moment, before spotting something on the ground. He gets on his hands and knees.
NYSSA
“Doctor?! Please hurry!”
DOCTOR
“Here! Billy, help me get this hatch open!”
BILLY
“What hatch?”
DOCTOR
“This hatch down here. On the floor. It leads to a ventilation shaft.”
Billy gets down on his hands and knees to help the Doctor with opening the hatch on the floor.
BILLY
“Oh I see. We can hide in there. That’s good thinking, Doctor.”
NYSSA
“Provided we can get out once the Sontarans are gone and not get trapped down there.”
DOCTOR
“Oh you really are cheerful today aren’t you, Nyssa.”
The Doctor and Billy eventually manage to open up the hatch, allowing them entry into the shaft.
BILLY
(cheers out loud) “Got it open, Doctor! We did it!”
Just then, they hear Sontaran troopers approaching from a distance.
SQAR
(from a distance) “Corporal Hurn, sir! I can hear voices coming from this direction! They must be that way!”
HURN
“Lead on, Trooper Sqar.”
Hurn and Sqar’s running footsteps echo from a distance.
NYSSA
(annoyed) “You and your big mouth, Billy!”
BILLY
(stresses) “I’m sorry!”
DOCTOR
“Quick! Get inside!”
With that, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy get down the shaft one at a time as quickly as they can.
SCENE #236 – INT – VENTILATION SHAFT, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Inside the ventilation shaft, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy remain silent whilst they’re hiding.
DOCTOR
(quietly) “Now, once they’ve gone we’ll wait here for a while before we can move on. Give them a chance to search the area.”
BILLY
(quietly) “Doctor, I still wonder where Shayde’s got to. He would meet us in the generator room, wouldn’t he?”
NYSSA
(quietly) “Quiet Billy, they’re coming.”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “Yes Billy, quiet. Here they come.”
SCENE #237 – INT – CORRIDOR, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Back on top, Corporal Hurn and Trooper Sqar arrive as they’ve just missed Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor. They find themselves at a dead end.
HURN
“Well, Sqar? Where have they gone?”
SQAR
“I don’t understand this. They must be here. I distinctly heard their voices.”
HURN
“You search around the area, Sqar. Double check this corridor again and head back to the entrance to Section A-M-three-nine to meet me.”
SQAR
“Where are you going, sir?”
HURN
“I’ll go and report back to Commander Krond and tell him our progress of capturing the Doc-tor and his associates.”
SQAR
“We haven’t caught them yet, Hurn. We’ve made no progress.”
HURN
“That will do, Trooper Sqar. You search the area. I’ll report to our commander.”
Corporal Hurn goes off to find Commander Krond, whilst Trooper Sqar grunts and grumbles as he searches the area.
SQAR
(grumbles) “Silly old fool! How am I expected to search for three humans – no, two hu-mans and one Time Lord – in a place like this?! It’s a load of rubbish!”
SCENE #238 – INT – UTILITY SECTION, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Meanwhile, Thor and Kike haven’t been able to find Max and Andrew.
KIKE
“We’ll never find them in this place, Thor. It’s just a pile of junk.”
THOR
“We’ve got to try, Kike. You search down that end of the room whilst I look up the other. Hurn expects us to capture the prisoners alive if at all possible.”
KIKE
“Did he say to bring them alive?!”
THOR
“I presume so. So that Commander Krond can gloat over his ‘glory’ at them and smite them to atoms. Or plasma.”
KIKE
(laughs) “Yes. I know how much Hurn likes to blow hu-mans with cold fire as well as Rutan scum.”
THOR
“Come on, Kike. Let’s look around the area.”
Trooper Thor and Trooper Kike begin their search around the room at different ends. They don’t realise they’ve just passed Max and Andrew’s hiding place, as they hide behind some utility equipment in the far corner of the room. They whisper as they watch the two Sontarans.
ANDREW
(whispers) “I’m surprised they didn’t find us in our little hiding place.”
MAX
(whispers) “Now my reckoning is this. We wait and stay here until they clear off before we can move on. That’s what I think the Doctor would do if I were him.”
ANDREW
“Supposing they spot us before they clear off. How are we going to handle that then?”
MAX
“Well, err…don’t you worry, Andrew. I’ll err….I’ll think of something. Eventually.”
ANDREW
(glumly) “Great.”
Max and Andrew continue watching in hiding, as Trooper Thor and Trooper Kike search the utility section.
SCENE #239 – INT – CHAMBER OF W&K CORE, CHAMBER OF KORDOR – N/A
Inside the Chamber of Wisdom and Knowledge, Commander Krond and Sergeant Stump find themselves at the centre. A glowing throbbing sound echoes from the depths of the planet. Krond and Stump stand over a pit of fire barred by a circular fence.
KROND
(glorified) “See, Sergeant Stump! See!”
STUMP
“I do see, sir. Very fascinating.”
KROND
“There stands our victory! The source of power for this star system.”
STUMP
“Yes. A burning flame.”
KROND
“So much more than that, Stump. Much, much more. It is where events in time and space are controlled and manipulated by that control panel over there.”
STUMP
“Yes. So I see.”
KROND
(dignified) “Now, Stump! Help me to attend to this device.”
Krond and Stump make their way over to the control panel, as they’re about to begin their procedure in obtaining power.
STUMP
“What is it you want me to do, sir?”
KROND
“There’s a valve here on this control panel. It should connect to the probic vent on my back where I can manipulate and draw power from the flame.”
STUMP
“How can you be so sure of that, sir?”
KROND
“Because I have read the book. The part that I can easily comprehend. What I need is a connection to this panel to the back of my neck. So if you provide me with a cable, then the connection shall be made.”
STUMP
“I don’t have a cable, sir. Why should I have a cable?”
KROND
“Oh really, Stump! You’re not very observant, are you?! There are some cables over there. They should provide the connection, if that’s what they’re there for.”
STUMP
“Cables, sir?”
KROND
“Yes. Pass one over and connect it to my probic vent into the valve of this machine. Then I turn the pages of this book where it shall give the power and glory I seek for Sontar!”
STUMP
“Do you think this is wise, sir?”
KROND
“Enough, Stump. That’s the last time you’ll ask that question in that superstitious voice of yours, “Do you think that’s wise?””
STUMP
“I was only asking, sir. I advise caution.”
KROND
“Enough, Sergeant! I said enough!” (Pause) “Pass me the cable at once!”
STUMP
“Immediately, sir.”
Stump goes over to fetch the cable, whilst Krond goes through the pages of the Book of Althrace to find what he wants.
KROND
(to himself) “Now let me see. Where’s the riddle? Where’s the riddle which will enable me to initiate power transference through this book?”
Krond keeps on goes through the book’s pages, until he finds what he’s looking for.
KROND
“Aha! Here it is! The page I’ve been looking for!”
At that moment, Stump returns with the cable.
STUMP
“Here’s the cable, sir. Is this long enough?”
KROND
“Yes. Very good, Sergeant.”
STUMP
“Thank you, sir.”
Moment of silence.
KROND
“Well?! Push it into the valve of the control panel at once!”
STUMP
“Right, sir.”
Stump pushes the cable into the valve of the control panel as Krond says.
STUMP
“Done, sir.”
KROND
“Now, place the other end of the cable into my probic vent.”
STUMP
“Very good, sir.”
Stump does as he’s told as he places the cable into Krond’s probic vent, connecting him to the control panel.
STUMP
“There you are, sir. Is that comfortable? You’re not having any problems?”
KROND
“I will have problems if you don’t shut up, Stump.” (Pause) “Now. To see to the riddle to initiate power transference.” (Pause) “Are you ready, Sergeant?”
STUMP
Ready for what, sir?
Krond however begins to read out the riddle from the pages of Book of Althrace.
KROND
(reads out loud) The stars of time shine brightly across the universe; memories of birds fluttering through the skies; acceptable in eighties time when regeneration after regeneration occurs; the longing of power lasts forever; whereas the fifth element is almost approaching.
As soon as Krond has finished saying those words, the flames starts to flutter until it burns brightly and shoots up high into the sky.
STUMP
Krond?! Krond, sir! The fiery flame has shot up into the ceiling! Is that a bad sign, sir?
Krond however cries out in pain, as he feels his probic vent hurting him.
STUMP
Krond?! Krond, sir?! Are you alright, sir? Shall I shut down the control?
KROND
(in pain; triumphantly) “It works, Sergeant Stump! It works!”
STUMP
“Beg your pardon, sir?”
KROND
(triumphantly) “The power transference has worked! I am absorbing energy through my probic vent right at this moment! From the flame of power! This is what I have dreamed of! This is what I’ve longed for! I shall be supreme Sontaran commander! Major even! Grand Marshall! I shall give Sontar the glory it deserves!” (chants) “Sontar, Sontar, we fight for Sontar!!!”
Stump watches, as Krond absorbs the energy through his probic vent and becomes increasingly disturbed about this.
SCENE #240 – INT – CLONING CHAMBER, UNDERGROUND BASE – NIGHT (2010)
Back on Earth, in the cloning chamber of the Sontaran base underneath Wells Wood at night time, Melanie Jackson wakes up as she recovers from her sleep in the cloning chamber by her father Oswald.
OSWALD
“Melanie? Melanie, sweetheart? Are you alright?”
MELANIE
“Dad? Dad?! W-W….What happened?”
OSWALD
“We’ve been asleep. Unfortunately however, we’ve had our minds abused. And we’ve been shoddily rewarded.”
MELANIE
(realises) “The Sontarans. Yes, I remember now.” (angrily) “They backstabbed us! Those little trolls went against their word!”
OSWALD
“Yes. Seems we weren’t promised the ‘planet of gold’ by them. We were being used. Or at least our clones were. But it’s still the same thing in my opinion.”
MELANIE
“They…they tried to kill us. They actually shot us.”
OSWALD
“Yeah. Thought they’d kill our real selves as well, didn’t they? But here we are. Not as smart as they thought.”
MELANIE
“Rupert; Samuel? Where are they? Where are the two morons?”
OSWALD
“They went searching the place. We’re still in the cloning chamber at the moment. They should be back any minute.”
At that moment, Rupert and Samuel enter to meet Oswald and Melanie.
RUPERT
“Oswald; Melanie?”
OSWALD
“Well, Rupert; Samuel? Where are they?!”
SAMUEL
“The Sontarans? They’ve skived off! There’s only one Sontaran ship left which they’ve left behind for some strange reason.”
RUPERT
“The other villagers have been revived in the other cloning pods. They should remember who they are in a matter of minutes.”
MELANIE
“Where have those Sontarans gone, Dad? Where have they gone?! I want to tear their scrawny necks to shreds!”
SAMUEL
(wryly) “If they have necks to shred that is.”
MELANIE
“Shut up, Samuel.”
OSWALD
“They’ve probably gone off to this Althrace world of theirs. To obtain their glory. They’ve already fought their battle with the Rutans. They don’t need us anymore. They tried to get rid of us to prove that.”
RUPERT
“We must go after them! We must chase them and get at them! After what they did to us!”
MELANIE
“I agree. They’re not getting away with this!”
SAMUEL
“There’s only one Sontaran ship left in the hanger. For only one pilot. I know it’s not enough seats for four people but it’s quite roomy.”
RUPERT
“There aren’t enough seat belts though.”
MELANIE
I don’t care! I want to get at those chubby-faced morons if it’s last thing I do. I don’t care if I get bruised or knocked about. Or damage my shoes.
OSWALD
“Then it’s settled then. We’ll take the Sontaran ship and go off after them. We’ll take off immediately. The four of us. The rest of the villagers can stay behind.” (to Rupert; Samuel) “Lead on, boys!”
RUPERT/SAMUEL
Yes, Mr. Jackson! Right away!
With that, Rupert and Samuel lead the way as they head off with Oswald and Melanie behind them to the Sontaran ship.
© Tim Bradley, 2018
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