15. “Me and the Melkurs!”

SCENE #139 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back at the Tree Garden, within the telepathic field, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy suffer in agony as they try to resist Morguth’s mental attacks. Morguth gets too powerful for them, as he laughs away maniacally.

MORGUTH
(laughs; maniacally) “You are fools, Doctor! You and your friends! Did you honestly believe you could defeat me! Morguth, greatest servant of Malador! I know your innermost secrets! Your innermost fears! All three of you! I am going to make you succumb to your fears so that you can see the folly of yours! So that you know…you can never defeat me! Me! Morguth! And I’m going to start…with you, Doctor! I’m going to start…on your fears!”

The Doctor cries out in agony in his mind, as Morguth focuses on him.

MORGUTH
“So, Doctor! Time Lord of Gallifrey! Once President of the High Council of the Time Lords! How does it now feel to be a shrieking wreck! A man…reduced to his own fears…of being stuck in one place! Of being hunted by his own people! By the thought…of his own death!”

DOCTOR
(defiantly; agonised) “I don’t fear you, Morguth! I will overcome your mind-playing games! They won’t work on me!”

MORGUTH
“Because you’re a Time Lord?”

DOCTOR
“Yes! I’m a Time Lord! The greatest of Time Lords in fact! I am the Doctor! And I’ve saved billions upon billions in my life-times. And believe me, Morguth! You don’t want to mess with me! Look me up in every library book that talks about me and you’ll have very good reason to fear me!”

MORGUTH
“Ah, but do the library books contain your great weaknesses! Your vulnerabilities! Especially, as you are in now…your fifth incarnation…your youthful…innocent state! Does everyone know your greatest fear?”

DOCTOR
(trembles; agonised) “What do you mean?”

MORGUTH
“That of letting your companions down! Of letting the ones who are closest to you down! Isn’t that what King Magus said to you on the Psychodrome? When it was you, Nyssa, Tegan…and of course! Adric!”

DOCTOR
(tormented) “Stop it, Morguth! You can’t succumb me that way!”

MORGUTH
(viciously) “Adric who died on the freighter crashing to Earth! Adric, who could have lived to be a grown man if it weren’t for the Cybermen! That’s what you keep telling yourself isn’t it, Doctor? That it is their fault! When in actual fact…it is you who are to blame! For everything you have caused in your companions’ lives!”

DOCTOR
(agonised) “That’s not true! I don’t blame just the Cybermen for Adric’s death! I also blame myself! I am responsible for every companion that travels with me!”

MORGUTH
(challengingly) “You say that, Doctor! But do you really mean it?!”

DOCTOR
(agonised) “Of course I mean it! Why would I deny it?!”

MORGUTH
“So you admit that you are responsible for hurting many of your companions?! With Nyssa’s father dying; with Tegan’s Aunt Vanessa dying! You’re responsible for the deaths of so many people aboard the Moonraker in the Dalek-Dwaxi business! And it affected Billy, didn’t it?”

DOCTOR
(agonised) I wasn’t responsible for the deaths of crew aboard the Moonraker, Morguth!

MORGUTH
But you could have prevented it! You could have prevented the fixed point in time from ever happening! (Pause) You didn’t! At least Billy tried to save one of them! And you ridiculed him for it!

DOCTOR
(agonised) I don’t hold a grudge against Billy anymore, Morguth! What he did was wrong at the time! But I’ve forgiven him for it!

MORGUTH
And do you think he’s forgiven you? For the death and destruction you have caused in the footsteps you make! Do you honestly believe Billy will continue travelling with you and Nyssa, knowing that you cause death and destruction wherever you go in your TARDIS? Death is your constant companion, Doctor! And it always will be!

DOCTOR
(agonised) “Billy knows the dangers of travelling in the TARDIS with me and Nyssa! He’ll continue to travel with us, if he wants to. It’s his choice!”

MORGUTH
“But he has already rejected you, Doctor! You and Nyssa! He has already made his decision to go home! You’ll never be able to change his mind again the way you attempted to by taking him and Nyssa to Riverloth! He’ll leave you and Nyssa forever and forever! Because in the end…he’ll know, Doctor! He’ll know…that you’re a monster!” (viciously) “A monster, Doctor! A MONSTER!!!”

DOCTOR
(shouts; agonised) “Enough, Morguth! I told you! Your mind games won’t work on me! Try somebody else for a change!”

MORGUTH
(enraged) “That is exactly what I intend to do, Doctor! I shall torment next…your favourite and devoted companion in your TARDIS entourage! The last of her kind! Nyssa of Traken!”

---

SCENE #140 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Nyssa cries out in agony in her mind, as Morguth now focuses on her.

MORGUTH
(soothingly) Nyssa of Traken! Dear little Nyssa! The one who lost so much from her childhood! The one who lost her home planet; her family and friends! The one who lost her father when the Master killed him on Traken! (Pause) Tell me, Nyssa! How does it feel…to be one who is so alone? To be last of your kind?

NYSSA
(agonised) “I’m not alone, Morguth! I’m not alone! I have my friends with me! The Doctor; Billy…”

MORGUTH
“There used to be other friends with you in the TARDIS weren’t there, Nyssa of Traken? Where did they go? Tegan, back to Heathrow! Adric, blown to bits when crashing to Earth…”

NYSSA
(agonised) “Stop it, Morguth! Stop planting these images in my head!”

MORGUTH
“It hurts so much, doesn’t it? To see your friend dying for the sake of self-sacrifice! Except he didn’t sacrifice himself aboard the freighter did he, Nyssa? He died…for nothing! There was no purpose or honour to his death, Nyssa of Traken! Just like there was no purpose or honour to the death of your father, Tremas, Consul of Traken! He died…because the Master trapped him in his trap! He died…with no honour on him!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “You’re wrong, Morguth! I remember my father and Adric well with honour! They died for a good cause in their own ways! My father didn’t die with evil deeds, nor did Adric! It was regretful and unfortunate they died. That is all! There is no shame! Only sadness and grief!”

MORGUTH
“And it hurts you so much that they died, doesn’t it, Nyssa of Traken? It hurts you…like a red-hot flame! Doesn’t it?”

NYSSA
(agonised) “Yes! It does! It does hurt, Morguth! It does!” (Pause; defiantly) “Just as you are hurting me, the Doctor and Billy! Well, it won’t last long! We shall defeat you in the end!”

MORGUTH
“I see continuous death and destruction in your future, Nyssa! You will end up unhappy, unloved and un-cherished for years to come!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “That’s not true! I don’t believe you, Morguth!”

MORGUTH
“Death stalks you! Isn’t that what the Dar Traders said to you long ago, Nyssa of Traken? Death…stalks you!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “The Doctor doesn’t know about what happened with me and the Dar Traders, Morguth! Don’t let him hear…!”

MORGUTH
“Why should it matter, since you will all die?! All three of you!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “We will not die, Morguth! We won’t!”

MORGUTH
“Death and destruction stalks you, Nyssa! And it will stalk Billy, if you encourage him to stay with you and the Doctor in the TARDIS. Do you think he’ll appreciate you doing that for him? Let him see the death and the destruction ahead in your travels together?!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “He won’t die! I know Billy! He won’t die!”

MORGUTH
“But you don’t know, Nyssa of Traken! You haven’t known him for very long! And already he has rejected you and the Doctor for travelling in the TARDIS! He won’t ever consider re-joining you after seeing the death and destruction in your travels through time and space!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “You don’t speak for Billy, Morguth! Not on his behalf! I may not know Billy well enough, but I believe he’s not the kind of person who will give up! He won’t give up on me and the Doctor! And I know he won’t give up on wanting to see the universe! It’s what he wants! And I will look out for him all the way!”

MORGUTH
“He will die though, Nyssa of Traken! Billy Walker will die!”

NYSSA
(agonised) “Not if I have anything to do with it! I’ll see to it that Billy doesn’t die! I promise that! I promise that with every beat in my heart and with every breath inside of me! I promise that, Morguth! I promise!” (cries; defiantly) “Get out, Morguth! Get out of my head!”

Morguth reacts enraged as he backs away from Nyssa’s defiance of him.

MORGUTH
“You are so sure that Billy will continue travelling with you and the Doctor when this is all over, aren’t you? Well, we’ll see to it! We’ll put it to the test! I shall now invade Billy’s mind! Torment him with his worst fears!”

NYSSA
(agonised; cries) “Leave him alone, Morguth! Leave Billy alone!”

---

SCENE #141 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Billy cries out in agony in his mind, as Morguth now focuses on him.

MORGUTH
“So, Billy Walker! The latest in a long line of companions with the Doctor in his TARDIS! How does it feel to be far away from home and travelling in time and space! Does it scare you, Billy Walker? Are you very afraid?”

BILLY
(agonised) “Go away, you monster! I’m not interested!”

MORGUTH
“Oh, but you can’t resist me, young Billy! The Doctor and Nyssa might have been able to do it with their alien minds! But you? With your puny human mind. You’re not as strong as they are. You won’t resist me.”

BILLY
(agonised) “I’m willing to give it a try!”

MORGUTH
“Tell me, Billy. Do you feel…you have let your friends down?!”

BILLY
(agonised) “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

MORGUTH
“Oh come on, Billy Walker. You wanted to see the universe. You wanted to enjoy the pleasures of travelling in time and space. You thought it would be all so rosy and cosy.” (Pause) “Now you’ve seen the universe, it’s not as…’picturesque’ as you hoped it’d be. Not so rosy and cosy as you hoped. You have seen the horrors of the universe. Of war, of violence and of unhappiness. And it scares you! How does that make you feel?”

BILLY
(agonised) “If you think I’m going to be succumbed by these simple fears, you can forget it, Morguth! I know my mind! I’m not scared by anything!”

MORGUTH
“But it’s not what you hoped for, is it? The life of travelling in the TARDIS isn’t as you thought it would be, is it? All you have seen so far is death and destruction at every corner you turn at every place you visit!”

BILLY
(agonised; objects) “That’s not true! I’ve seen some fantastic and wonderful things with the Doctor and Nyssa! I’ve seen amazing things at the space hotel, seen Nyssa’s home planet Traken being born. I’ve enjoyed coming here to see Riverloth when we three arrived…”

MORGUTH
“But you did not expect me to come here, did you, Billy? You did not expect…an evil force like me…with Melkurs attacking everywhere.”

BILLY
(agonised; gradually) “No. I didn’t expect that.” (Pause) “But that’s the point of travel, isn’t it? When you’re new to it, that is. You see new things differently in ways you didn’t expect. You learn from your experiences. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m learning from what I’ve seen already in my travels with the Doctor and Nyssa. I’ve made mistakes on the way, but I’m continuing to learn from them. To become a better traveller in the TARDIS. A better companion with the Doctor and Nyssa.”

MORGUTH
“But you feel you’re letting them down. Aren’t you, Billy? You openly declared your wish to return home! That you’ve had enough of all the death and destruction you’ve seen!”

BILLY
(agonised) “That was in the heat of the moment. I was upset and angry. I should have realised everything wouldn’t have been so pleasant coming to Riverloth after what I experienced with the Dalek-Dwaxi business and the Moonraker.” (Pause) “But now. Now I feel I can correct what I said to the Doctor and Nyssa. I can change my mind if I want to!”

MORGUTH
“But you still want to go home! Don’t you, Billy Walker?”

BILLY
(agonised) “Of course I want to go home! What’s wrong with that?”

MORGUTH
“But you’re also afraid of going home. Aren’t you, Billy Walker?”

BILLY
(agonised) “What do you mean?”

MORGUTH
“I know your deepest secret, Billy Walker! The one you’ve kept hidden and not told the Doctor and Nyssa about! The reason why you left home.”

BILLY
(agonised; gradually) “The reason why I left home was because I wanted to take photos of the steam railways being axed by Dr. Beeching where I come from in nineteen sixty-three. That’s what I told the Doctor and Nyssa. It’s the truth!”

MORGUTH
“Are you sure it’s not because you were unhappy with your life as a freelance photographer back home? That you weren’t appreciated by the people from where you came from! In Churchwood Street?”

BILLY
(agonised) “No, it isn’t! It’s not true!”

MORGUTH
“What about the ones you call your friends? Sean and Alexandra?”

BILLY
(agonised) “What do you know of them?”

MORGUTH
“I know that your deepest fears are clear to me about your wish to return home. You want to see your parents again, yes. But you’re running away from home, as you want to avoid being hurt by your so-called friends!”

BILLY
(agonised) “I won’t listen to you!”

MORGUTH
“You feel that by staying in the TARDIS, you can have your dream romance with Nyssa. Yes! That is it, isn’t it? You have feelings for Nyssa. You believe she can be the one for you.” (Pause) “But you also fear that she will reject you. That she will never accept you as a potential love interest. You’re afraid of being rejected, Billy! Rejected…and unloved!”

BILLY
(agonised; defiantly) “I’m not afraid! Not of you or anyone else!” (Pause) “Of course I want to take a chance with Nyssa! Of course I have feelings for her! But these are early days, aren’t they? I don’t know her well!”

MORGUTH
“And if you leave now, you’ll never get that chance, Billy. Once you leave, Nyssa of Traken will forget you instantly. She won’t remember the time when you were in the TARDIS with her and the Doctor.”

BILLY
(agonised; defiantly) “No! I don’t believe that! Nyssa is not like that!”

MORGUTH
“But how do you know? You said yourself you don’t know her well. How can you be sure she’ll remember you after you’ve left?”

BILLY
“Because…because I’m going to stay with the Doctor and Nyssa! I will stay in the TARDIS!”

MORGUTH
(shocked) “But…but you said you were going to leave!”

BILLY
(agonised) “I’ve changed my mind, Morguth! I want to stay in the TARDIS for as long as I want! I want to be with the Doctor and Nyssa! Because they’re my new best friends! I’m happy to have met the Doctor and Nyssa! That day when I met them at the railway in nineteen sixty-three was the happiest of my life! I want to continue travelling with them! And I will!”

MORGUTH
(viciously) “But you will never have the dream romance you want with Nyssa! She will reject you once you’ve declared your feelings to her!”

BILLY
(agonised) “Maybe, maybe not. But that’s a good reason for me to stay! Because…I want to find out! I want to find out if she does reject or accept me! If she doesn’t accept me…then I’ll know. And it will be worth it! Because no matter what you say, Morguth…I love her! I love Nyssa of Traken! And I will give it a good try…to win her heart and have her love me!” (cries; defiantly) “You won’t stop me, Morguth! Nobody will!”

Morguth then shrieks, enraged, as he backs away from Billy defying him.

MORGUTH
(cries; enraged) “No! This cannot be! You can’t all overpower me! I am Morguth! I am the servant of Malador! I AM…”

Morguth then screams out enraged, before he vanishes in a puff of logic.

---

SCENE #142 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back in reality at the Tree Garden, Goliathon is about to take on the Melkurs approaching and gliding up the hill to meet him and Werna.

GOLIATHON
(booms; to Werna) “They’re already here, Werna! The Melkurs are here!” (at Melkurs) “Come on, you Melkurs! Show what you’ve got!”

WERNA
“Be careful, Goliathon! They’re far more dangerous than they look!” (realises) “Oh no! They’re about to fire red from their eyes on us!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Not if I can help it!”

WERNA
“Goliathon, no!”

At that moment, there’s a thud from behind them. Werna looks to see.

GOLIATHON
(booms) “What is it? What’s happening behind us?”

WERNA
(shocked) “The Doctor; Nyssa and Billy! They’ve collapsed to the ground!”

Just then, the Melkurs shudder and sparkle with electricity coming out of them, as they too collapse to the ground before Goliathon and Werna. Both are amazed by what’s happened.

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Hmm. And so have the Melkurs! They’ve collapsed to the floor too! What’s going on?”

WERNA
“I don’t know. But I imagine it has something to do with the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy. It’s good you didn’t have to fight with them, Goliathon!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I didn’t need to, Lady Werna! They were out before I could lay a punch on one of them!”

WERNA
“Come on! Let’s check on the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy.”

Werna and Goliathon go over to where the Tree is and check the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy’s unconscious bodies on the floor. Moment of silence ensues as they check on them.

GOLIATHON
(booms) “They seem to be out cold, Lady Werna. I don’t know what’s become of them.”

WERNA
(worried) “Neither do I, Goliathon. I’m very worried about this. This doesn’t look good at all.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “You could be right. Perhaps this could be the work of Morguth! Perhaps he managed to overpower them when they were in that telepathic field with the Tree.”

WERNA
“Yes.” (thinks) “But then again, how come the Melkurs collapsed to the ground at the same time as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy. That doesn’t make sense.”

Just then, the Doctor sits up, gasping for breath as he wakes up and recovers. He looks to see Werna and Goliathon around him.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Werna; Goliathon! Good to see you two! Are you both keeping well? I see that you are!”

WERNA
(concerned) “Doctor, are you alright?”

DOCTOR
“Oh I’m fine, Werna. I’m fine. Couldn’t be better. What happened to me, Nyssa and Billy just then?”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Well…you three were caught in a trance and then some Melkurs came charging up this way! They were about to attack me and Werna!”

WERNA
“But then you, Nyssa and Billy collapsed to the ground and so did the Melkurs! We weren’t sure whether you were dead or not.”

DOCTOR
“Really? And how long was it since we collapsed to the ground?”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Uh…about thirty seconds or so.”

DOCTOR
“And how long were Nyssa, Billy and I in a trance with the Tree?”

WERNA
“Uh…for about a quarter of an hour.”

DOCTOR
“Quarter of an hour, hey? Feels like it was longer!” (realises) “Where’s Nyssa and Billy? Where are they?”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “They’re lying right beside you, Doctor.”

The Doctor immediately goes over to check on Nyssa as she lies on the ground unconscious. He taps her face to wake her up.

DOCTOR
(concerned) “Nyssa? Nyssa, are you alright? Nyssa, wake up!”

Nyssa groans, as she wakes up and looks up to see the Doctor looking down on her concerned.

NYSSA
(weary) “Doctor? I…am I alive?”

DOCTOR
“Yes, Nyssa! Of course you are! A hundred percent alive! Just as I expected you to be!”

NYSSA
(weary) “Are…are we back now, Doctor?

DOCTOR
“Yes, we’re back now, Nyssa. No longer in the telepathic field. Back to reality! Look! You see Werna and Goliathon with us!”

NYSSA
(weary; anxious) “And Billy? What about Billy? Is he still alright?”

Billy groans, as he wakes up and stirs from unconsciousness.

DOCTOR
“Ah! Here’s your answer, Nyssa! I think we’re about to find out!”

The Doctor goes over to check on Billy, and taps him on the face to wake him up.

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

BILLY
(groans; weary) “Doctor?” (Pause) “Oh, I’ve got such a splitting headache coming on!”

DOCTOR
“Good, good. It’ll pass! You’re fit!”

The Doctor backs away, as he allows Nyssa and Billy time to recover as they wake up from unconsciousness.

WERNA
“Doctor, what exactly happened? What did you; Nyssa and Billy do in there? Were you with the Tree?”

DOCTOR
“Yes! We were with the Tree, Werna! Inside the telepathic field! And Morguth was there with us as well!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “What?! So does that mean we’ve failed! Morguth has won?”

DOCTOR
“No, no, Goliathon! Far from it! Morguth has now been weakened by the mental forces of me, Nyssa and Billy with the Tree supporting us! We’ve managed to give ourselves some time.”

WERNA
(relieved) “Oh good! That’s good to hear!”

DOCTOR
“Mind you, it was a struggle! Morguth tried to weaken us by exposing our greatest fears inside the telepathic field. He attacked each one of us in turn by exposing our fears and trying to succumb to him. Fortunately me, Nyssa and surprisingly Billy were able to resist his mind attacks!”

Nyssa and Billy recover, as they sit up and look at the Doctor, Werna and Goliathon before them.

NYSSA
“It was horrible! The fears that Morguth tried to expose to us! It was horrible to experience again!”

BILLY
(apprehensive) “You didn’t hear what was said between me and Morguth did you, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“What?”

BILLY
“You didn’t hear about my worst fears! My secrets when Morguth exposed them to me?”

NYSSA
(reassuringly) “No, Billy! I didn’t hear them.”

BILLY
“Oh.” (to Doctor) “Did you, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “No, Billy! I didn’t hear anything. You can be rest assured we’ve all had our fears closely guarded during our contact with Morguth.”

BILLY
(relieved) “Oh. That’s good. That’s good to know.”

WERNA
“So what do we do now, Doctor? Where do we go from here?”

DOCTOR
“It’s time we made for the Induction Chamber! We’ve weakened Morguth, but it won’t last long! We have to reverse the process on his existence on Riverloth as soon as possible!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Then let’s get on with it, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Couldn’t agree with you more, Goliathon!” (to everyone) “Come on, everyone! Back into the TARDIS! Off we go to the Induction Chamber!”

Nyssa and Billy gradually get up from the ground and follow the Doctor with Werna and Goliathon, as they head back into the TARDIS. Very soon, the TARDIS dematerialises, as it whooshes and grinds, leaving the Tree Garden behind.

---

SCENE #143 – EXT – WATERFALL, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
At the waterfall area, Morguth wakes up on his altar as he is disconnected from his array. He groans and growls in anger, as Sarumane comes over to check on him.

SARUMANE
“Morguth! Great one, are you alright? You seem to have returned from your mental contact with the Tree! Did you succeed?”

MORGUTH
(wearily; angrily) “I was…I was outwitted! By a boy and a girl…and their Time Lord friend!”

SARUMANE
“The Doctor and his two young friends! They were in the telepathic field with you?”

MORGUTH
“They struck an alliance with the Tree! The Tree helped them to cast me out! Out of the Tree’s telepathic field!” (Pause) “I have lost all power! I am low on power! The tributes you gave me weren’t enough Sarumane, to achieve my purpose in taking control of Riverloth and destroy the Tree!”

SARUMANE
(solemnly) “I regret that this has occurred!”

MORGUTH
(angrily) “Do not bandy words with your petty excuses, Sarumane! My existence is waning now on this planet of Riverloth!” (astounded) “I can’t believe how that trio resisted my mental attacks! I exposed their fears to them…to weaken them…and they overpowered me!”

SARUMANE
“Perhaps you underestimated the Doctor and his young friends, Morguth my great one!”

MORGUTH
(angrily) “It’s the fault of that accused Tree! And because of the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy joining forces with it, my efforts to mentally communicate with the Tree have failed!” (Pause) “I must have more power to achieve my purpose! I must take over from the Tree of Riverloth and take control of the River!”

SARUMANE
(reassuringly) “I’ll find some more tributes for you! It won’t be easy, but I will search for more Riverlothians to give their lives for your existence!”

MORGUTH
“You won’t find any tributes for me, Sarumane! The Riverlothians that escaped have all managed to gather in the Consul chamber. Even if you sent Fosters, they would not be able to collect them with the ones defending them!” (frustrated) “No! There is no more time! I must use other means to maintain my current existence!”

SARUMANE
What do you mean?

MORGUTH
(via telepathic contact; to Melkurs) Melkurs, my servants! Hear me! Come to me at the waterfall! Come to me at my altar! Come to help me and maintain my existence! I shall take control of the Tree and of Riverloth, whatever it takes and by any means necessary!

MELKURS (V’O)
(in unison) We understand and obey! We will come now!

Morguth sighs back on his altar, now content; as he waits for the Melkurs he’s summoned to come to him.

SARUMANE
(astounded) You…will have your Melkurs…to maintain your existence for you? They can do that?

MORGUTH
(triumphantly) The Melkurs are a part of my existence! They are a part of me, as I am a part of them! The Melkur spirits within those robots contain parts of my life force as well. We will connect with each other, me and them! Me and the Melkurs! The Melkurs and me! We form together as one unit! One entity! We shall unite…to make contact with the Tree! The Tree…will never know what hit her! I…Morguth…with my Melkurs…shall succeed in taking over…this pitiful world!

Morguth laughs out loud triumphantly and maniacally, as he lies on the altar with Sarumane beside, watching him.

---

SCENE #144 – INT – CONSUL CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
In the Consul chamber, Saloga and Milgi enter as they find the Riverlothians with Rondus and Galadio.

MILGI
“Well here we are, Saloga! Here we are! The Riverlothians are all gathered together in the Consul chamber!” (realises) “Look! Consuls Rondus and Galadio seem to be keeping them in order.”

SALOGA
“Yes. I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, Milgi.”

Rondus and Galadio try to keep them calm.

GALADIO
(reassuringly) “It’s alright, fellow Riverlothians! It’s alright! Help is on the way! This crisis will soon be over!”

RONDUS
(reassuringly) “Yes that’s right, people of Riverloth! We Consuls are good at keeping our word! We know that this crisis will be averted as soon as it possibly can!”

There are moans; whines and complaints from the people of Riverloth as Rondus says these words. Rondus and Galadio back away from them.

GALADIO
“I don’t think that actually helped things, Rondus my dear.”

RONDUS
(realises) Look, Galadio my dear! Look! There are those two rebels, Saloga and Milgi. Let’s go to meet them.

GALADIO
Where is Proctor Glorfini? I can’t see him here.

Rondus and Galadio make their way towards Saloga and Milgi. They meet up, whilst the Riverlothian survivors are chatting in the background.

MILGI
Rondus; Galadio! Have you got all the Riverlothians gathered together here in the Consul chamber?

RONDUS
Yes, we’re just keeping them in order. Trying to calm them down and reassure them that everything is alright. (highly) Doing a pretty good job as well if I say so myself.

GALADIO
Where is Proctor Glorfini? He’s not here with you two?

SALOGA
“I’m afraid Proctor Glorfini is dead, Consuls.”

MILGI
“Yes. Sadly he was killed by the Melkurs to give us more time to escape.”

RONDUS
(sorrowful) “Oh dear! Poor man! I shall miss him! He was a good man! A good Proctor amongst his Fosters! What a waste to lose him! A waste!”

GALADIO
“Yes, well we can grieve for Glorfini and his death later on, Rondus my dear. Right now we need to discuss what to do next?” (to Saloga; Milgi) “What’s the plan, Saloga; Milgi?”

SALOGA
“There is no plan I’m afraid, Consuls!”

RONDUS
“What?! You mean to say we’re stranded here in the Consul chamber…with these fellow Riverlothians for nothing. We did all of this rescuing and saving for nothing!”

MILGI
(sharply) “Not for ‘nothing’, Consul Protector! Not for nothing! The Doctor told us to wait here until he, Nyssa and Billy with Werna and Goliathon sort out everything and deal with Morguth!”

RONDUS
“And how long is that going to take then?”

MILGI
“I don’t know! It could be hours, it could be days! We don’t know that, Consul Protector Rondus!”

SALOGA
“That’s why we must keep our Riverlothian people safe in here in the Consul chamber! You of all people should know that, Consul Protector! That’s what you do, isn’t it? To protect people. For the sake of Riverloth!”

RONDUS
(sighs; grudgingly) “Yes, yes. I suppose so. I suppose so.”

GALADIO
“I wonder how our daughter Werna is. I hope she’s still alive. With the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy and that giant of theirs.”

RONDUS
(reassuringly) “I’m sure Werna can look after herself, Galadio. Don’t worry, my dear. Werna is tougher than we thought.”

SALOGA
“Well we hope Werna’s alright, Consuls. It’ll be nice to see our friend again.” (to Milgi) “Won’t it, Milgi?” (Pause; realises) “Milgi? What’s wrong? What do you see?”

Saloga; Rondus and Galadio watch Milgi, as she makes her way to the window in the Consul chamber. Everyone else in the Consul chamber looks to see what’s outside too. Thunderous noises echo from outside.

MILGI
(anxious) “Saloga! There are thunderclouds! Thunderclouds hanging in the air right above us!”

SALOGA
“Those clouds weren’t there before!”

MILGI
“No! No they weren’t! They just appeared suddenly and without warning! This doesn’t look good, Saloga! It’s got me worried!”

RONDUS
“But what does it mean? What do those black clouds mean?”

GALADIO
“Could this be it then? Could this be the end of the world?”

MILGI
(anxious) “It could be, Consuls. It could be.”

Just then, an erupting noise echoes from outside.

SALOGA
(realises) “Milgi! The river banks! They’ve just burst open! The river banks just collapsed in an instant!”

MILGI
“Yes, I saw it Saloga! The ground is now getting flooded with water! The river is rising up from the bank! It’s coming towards us here at the Consul chamber! It’s going to…”

Suddenly, the windows crack and water begins seeping through into the Consul chamber. Everyone panics and screams as the Consul chamber begins to flood.

RONDUS
(cries) “Look out! There’s water coming in here! Water flowing into the Consul chamber! This place is going to get flooded!”

GALADIO
“It came through that crack in the window! The window is going to smash at any moment! Water’s going to pour its way in!”

SALOGA
“What’s happening, Milgi? What’s happening?”

MILGI
“I don’t know, Saloga! I don’t know! But we must keep well away!” (calls; to everyone) “Keep well away, everyone! The water’s about to burst through. When it does, this whole Consul chamber will be flooded in…”

SALOGA
(cries) “Too late, Milgi! Look out!”

In an instant, the Consul chamber windows crack open as water bursts through from the river outside. Water floods into the Consul chamber. Everyone screams and panics, as they retreat to safety with the water coming in and flooding the place.

---

SCENE #145 – INT – INDUCTION CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
In the Induction Chamber, the TARDIS arrives as it materialises, whooshing and grinding before it lands with a thump. Once landed, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy with Werna and Goliathon step out of the TARDIS. They make their way towards the controls in the room.

NYSSA
“So, Doctor? How will you reverse the process of Morguth’s existence on Riverloth? You seemed to be reaching a solution when tinkering with these controls.”

DOCTOR
“Yes, Nyssa! Before we were rudely interrupted by the Melkurs capturing us, I was able to find the program that Sarumane used to induce the Riverlothian tributes or victims’ water particles and life force into the waterfall area of the river for Morguth to exist. It was that program I needed to find to reverse the process of Morguth’s existence.”

WERNA
“So it can be done, Doctor! You can cancel Morguth’s existence on this world of ours.”

DOCTOR
“I certainly hope so.” (to Nyssa) “And yes, Nyssa!”

NYSSA
“Pardon?”

DOCTOR
“Yes, I would like you to check on the flow-back inducers on the induction matrix here. That’s what you suggested doing before we were interrupted and captured by the Melkurs.”

NYSSA
(puzzled) “What is it?” (realises) “Oh yes, so it was! Very well, Doctor! I’ll do as you say and check on them.”

DOCTOR
“Good, good. Hurry now. We haven’t got much time.”

Nyssa approaches the flow-back inducers on the induction matrix beside the controls. Suddenly she receives a spasm of pain as she gasps, holding her head.

BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa? Are you alright? What’s the matter?”

NYSSA
(gradually) “Doctor; Billy! I heard the Tree speaking to me! It’s free of the connections bedded into her by the River Manipulator. The wires.”

DOCTOR
(apprehensive) “What is it, Nyssa? What does the Tree say?”

NYSSA
(gradually) “The Tree says…reverse flow-back inducers with main particle generator at the same time. Using main controls for both generator and induction matrix. That’s the way to do it! The way to defeat Morguth!”

DOCTOR
(pleased) “Is it? Well that’s good to hear! Thank you, Nyssa! Thank you for telling me the Tree’s message?”

BILLY
“Do you understand what it means, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Oh yes, Billy! Indeed I do know what it means! It’s a matter of Nyssa setting the controls to reverse the flow-back inducers on the induction matrix back to me at the controls for this main particle generator. Then we hold the controls down in order to extract all the water particles Sarumane gave to Morguth and put them back in these people in their cubicles.”

GOLIATHON
(booms; astounded) “And this will all work out? Morguth will be defeated?”

DOCTOR
“Yes! Let’s hope so! We’ll put it to the test, shall we?” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa, will you…?”

NYSSA
(interjects) “Already on it, Doctor. Reversing the flow-back inducers to you now. You can do the same for the particle generator controls at your end.”

DOCTOR
(satisfied) “You read my mind!”

Nyssa works on the controls for the flow-back inducers, just as the Doctor works on the controls for the particle generator. Just then, there is a rumbling sound echoing from a distance.

BILLY
“What’s that? Where’s that noise coming from?”

WERNA
“I don’t know. But I don’t like the sound of it.”

Suddenly, water bursts in and the Induction Chamber gets flooded. Everyone is startled once this happens.

GOLIATHON
(booms; startled) “What?! What is this?! Water flooding in! Where is it all coming from?!”

BILLY
(startled) “The water’s risen up to my ankles. It feels so cold!”

WERNA
(anxious) “But where is it all coming from? What’s going on?!”

NYSSA
(realises) “Doctor! Morguth must have regained his powers!”

DOCTOR
“Yes! I was thinking that! Morguth must have done something to re-establish the lost powers he had.” (thinks; realises) “The Melkurs!”

NYSSA
“What? He used the Melkurs to restore his power somehow?”

DOCTOR
“Yes. Well in a sense the Melkurs are a part of him. The Melkur spirits were created by Malador; Morguth is a servant of Malador. The life-spirit of Malador in both Melkurs and Morguth must be connected together.”

NYSSA
(disturbed) “It’s a rather horrifying thought, Doctor.”

BILLY
“Well how we are going to stop him then? How do we stop Morguth and his Melkurs by flooding this place with water?!”

WERNA
“I’ve still got a few of my robot immobilisers that Billy and I used on the Melkur robots when we went into the River Manipulator Room earlier. We can use those to disable the Melkurs, should they be with Morguth now.”

DOCTOR
“Right! Morguth will be still on his altar at the waterfall area to absolve his power!” (to Werna) “Werna! You and Goliathon go and sort out the Melkurs! Disable them with your robot immobilisers! Be quick about it!”

WERNA
“Right!” (to Goliathon) “Goliathon, you heard the Doctor! Come with me!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I’m right behind you, Lady Werna!”

Werna and Goliathon go together as they leave the Induction Chamber to find Morguth at the waterfall area.

BILLY
(anxious) “Do you think they’ll get there in time? Werna and Goliathon?”

DOCTOR
“Once they get through that water out of the Induction Chamber, I’m hoping they will, Billy! Right now, we must deal with this matter of these controls!” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa, are you already?”

NYSSA
“Yes, Doctor! The flow-back inducers are sending power back to you with the particle generator at your controls.”

DOCTOR
“Good. Then it’s just a matter of pulling down the levers!” (to Billy) “Billy! I need you to do that for me! Be ready at the levers! Pull them down when I tell you too. Once the power flow in the generator controls is full that is.”

BILLY
“Right.”

Billy attends to the control levers as the Doctor says, whilst they wait for the generator controls to power up to full.

DOCTOR
(tentatively) “Any second now. Any second now hopefully.”

---

SCENE #146 – EXT – WATERFALL, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back at the waterfall area, Morguth has his Melkurs gathering around him at his altar, whilst he is still connected to his array.

MORGUTH
(triumphantly) “Excellent! Excellent!” (to Melkurs) “You have pleased me well, Melkurs! My victory is assured! My conquest of Riverloth is imminent! Thank you for coming to me and giving me the power I need!”

MELKURS
(in unison) “We endeavour to serve you, great Morguth! You…who are a servant of the great, Malador! The lord and prince of all evil!”

MORGUTH
(triumphantly) “Yes! Yes! I feel the power returning to me! My attempt to re-enter the telepathic field with the Tree again can begin now! The Tree shall be destroyed! Riverloth and the River will belong to me! Forever!”

At that moment, Sarumane attempts to make a run for it. Morguth stops him, as he probes into his mind. Sarumane cries out in pain, once Morguth attacks him mentally.

MORGUTH
(scornfully) “Where do you think you’re going, Sarumane?! Leaving so soon, are you?”

SARUMANE
(gasps; feebly; in pain) “I…I didn’t want to disturb your moment of victory, Morguth! I wanted to keep out of your way.”

MORGUTH
(scornfully) “You are a fool, Morguth! Do you think I don’t know your treachery when I see it! You were going to betray me, weren’t you?!”

SARUMANE
(feebly; in pain) “No, Morguth! No I wasn’t! Honestly, I wasn’t!”

MORGUTH
“Do not lie to me, Sarumane! I can see clearly in your mind! You’ve seen the power that I possess and it scares you terribly! You had enough of the destruction and chaos I caused, so you saw fit to return to the Induction Chamber and reverse the process of my existence on this world!” (forcefully) “Didn’t you, Sarumane?!” (shouts) “Didn’t you?!”

SARUMANE
(pleads; in pain) “Please, Morguth! Don’t do this to me! Please!”

MORGUTH
“I have enough to cope with, with that Doctor and his friends interfering with my plans! I don’t need you to add to the list!”

SARUMANE
(pleads; in pain) “But Morguth! No!”

MORGUTH
“For the sake of your treachery to me…I shall give you the honour of suffering a slow and painful death…by me!”

SARUMANE
(shouts; in pain) “No, Morguth! Morguth, no!”

Despite Sarumane’s protests, he lets out a terrible scream of agony as he shudders and convulses violently for five seconds. Eventually, he stops shuddering and convulsing, before collapsing to the floor dead. Morguth laughs out loud maniacally, once he has killed Sarumane instantly with his mind.

MORGUTH
(triumphantly) “So do all who betray me die! So do all who are fools!”

Just then, Werna and Goliathon arrive. They run down the hill and step into the waters of the river to face Morguth with his Melkurs at the altar.

WERNA
(cries; challengingly) “Morguth! Morguth! Whatever you’re doing, we can’t allow you to destroy our world of Riverloth! We’ll stop you first! We can’t let you get away with whatever it is you’re doing!”

MORGUTH
(gloats; to Melkurs) “Melkurs! Dispose of these insignificants!”

MELKURS
(in unison) “As you command, our master!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I don’t think so, Melkurs! See how you deal with the likes of us!”

WERNA
“Now Goliathon! To your right! I go to my left!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Right!”

Werna goes left and Goliathon goes right, just as the Melkurs advance on them.

WERNA
“Goliathon! When I say now, press the button and throw your immobiliser on the nearest Melkur coming towards you!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Ready and waiting, Lady Werna!”

MELKURS
(in unison) “You cannot escape! You cannot stop us!”

WERNA
(gradually) “Now, Goliathon! Press the button and throw your immobiliser! Now! NOW!!!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Throwing it now!”

Werna and Goliathon throw their robot immobilisers on the nearest Melkurs close to them on each side. The immobilisers hit the Melkurs. Once hit, the Melkurs shrivel up and shake violently. Sparks protrude from the Melkur robot bodies, before they collapse to the floor. Tiny explosions go off from inside the Melkurs’ robot bodies.

GOLIATHON
(booms; cheers) “We’ve done it, Lady Werna! We’ve done it! The Melkur robots are down!”

WERNA
(cheers) “Yes! Well done, Goliathon! We’ve got them down! We’ve got those Melkurs down and out!”

Despite Werna and Goliathon’s victory, Morguth laughs out triumphantly as he still sits on the altar.

MORGUTH
(laughs; mocks) “You may have knocked out my Melkurs, you two! But I still have power stabilised within me!”

WERNA
“What?!”

MORGUTH
“It’s time for me! It’s time…for me to make contact with the Tree!”

Morguth laughs out triumphantly, just as the river begins to rise from where he, Werna and Morguth are. Thunderclouds rumble above in the sky whilst this happens.

WERNA
“Goliathon! I don’t think our plan has worked somehow.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “No, Lady Werna. It hasn’t. The river is rising!”

---

SCENE #147 – INT – INDUCTION CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back in the Induction Chamber, a persistent bleep comes from the main particle generator controls.

NYSSA
Doctor! The particle generator controls are charged up!

DOCTOR
(urgently) Now, Billy! Pull the levers down!

Billy pulls down the levers, just as the Doctor says. Nyssa and the Doctor come round to help him as they pull down the levers. Water continues to rise for Nyssa, Billy and the Doctor as they pull down the levers.

BILLY
(gropes; in pain) Doctor! I can’t…keep hold…of these levers! I can’t keep holding them down!

DOCTOR
(insistently) You must, Billy! You must! Don’t worry! Nyssa and I are helping you out!

NYSSA
(gropes; in pain) My hands are on fire, Doctor! And the water level is rising. It’s nearly up to our hips! This Induction Chamber’s going to get totally flooded!

BILLY
(gropes; in pain) “I don’t understand! I thought Werna and Goliathon would have got there by now and sorted out the Melkurs! And Morguth!”

NYSSA
(gropes; in pain) “Perhaps Werna and Goliathon faced problems on the way when they got there, Billy!”

DOCTOR
(thinks; realises) “Or perhaps…perhaps it’s because Morguth is getting stronger. Werna and Goliathon could have tried but failed.”

NYSSA
(distressed) “Then that must mean they’re dead! Morguth must have killed Werna and Goliathon!”

BILLY
“Oh don’t say that, Nyssa! Don’t say that!”

DOCTOR
“Wait! There may be a chance we might actually defeat Morguth! If only I make it there in time!”

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

The Doctor lets go of the levers. Nyssa and Billy keep holding onto them.

DOCTOR
“Nyssa; Billy! Keep holding those levers down! I’m going to go back inside my TARDIS! Make for the Tree Garden!”

BILLY
“The Tree Garden?! What are you going to do there?”

DOCTOR
“I’m going to get back inside that telepathic field of the Tree! See if I can defeat Morguth in there! See if I can weaken his power as before!”

NYSSA
(protests) “But Doctor, you can’t! It was three of us who managed to beat Morguth! He can’t be defeated by just one of us, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Somebody’s got to try! Besides I can’t let you come with me when you two have to keep those levers down!”

BILLY
(protests) “Doctor, you can’t go back! He’ll kill you! Morguth will kill you!”

NYSSA
“Billy’s right, Doctor! Don’t go!”

DOCTOR
“Take care, you two! Wish me luck!”

The Doctor leaves Nyssa and Billy as he enters his TARDIS.

BILLY
(protests) “Doctor, come back!”

NYSSA
(protests) Doctor, no!

But it is too late. The TARDIS dematerialises, whooshing and grinding as it goes, leaving Nyssa and Billy behind in the Induction Chamber.

---

© Tim Bradley, 2016

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