16. Sabotage

SCENE #148 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
At the Tree Garden, the TARDIS returns as it materialises, whooshing and grinding before making a loud thump as it lands. The TARDIS doors open and the Doctor steps out. He approaches the Tree.

DOCTOR
(frustrated) Come on, Doctor! Think, think! How are you going to get back into the telepathic field?! I can’t use my sonic screwdriver. It didn’t work last time, did it?

Moment of silence, as the Doctor tries to think.

DOCTOR
(gradually) “Hold on! If I had contact with the Tree before like Nyssa had…then I should be able to communicate with ‘her’ now. Shouldn’t I?”

Another moment of silence ensues.

DOCTOR
“Very well. Right or wrong. Here we go!”

The Doctor then breathes deeply and closes his eyes as he is about to make contact with the Tree.

DOCTOR
(to Tree) “Hello! Tree! Tree of Riverloth! Hear me!” (Pause) “Tree, I need to talk to you please! There is a chance to defeat Morguth, but I must get into that telepathic field of yours! Please, Tree! Let me in!”

Eventually, a whirring dizziness overcomes the Doctor as he fades from reality. He finds himself on the astral plane he was on before and is back inside the Tree’s telepathic field. The Doctor takes in his surroundings.

DOCTOR
(satisfied) “Well! It seems to have worked, doesn’t it? Let’s hope I get lucky with this!”

TREE (V’O)
(weakly) “Doctor! It is I! The Tree!”

DOCTOR
“Tree of Riverloth! I hear you! You sound so weak! Don’t worry, I can help you! I’m the Doctor! I can find a way…”

TREE (V’O)
(weakly) “It is too late for me, Doctor! It is too late! He is with me! The dark one is already here!”

A maniacal laugh echoes in the telepathic field of the Tree, as the Doctor turns round to see Morguth standing there before him.

MORGUTH
(gloats) “Hello, Doctor! I’m back again! Time for round two with you, hey?”

DOCTOR
“Morguth!”

MORGUTH
“Yes, Doctor! That is my name! Morguth! A name that will be feared throughout the cosmos! Many will bow down before me! Many…will see me…as their god!”

DOCTOR
“A false god, Morguth! A false god!”

MORGUTH
“But a very powerful false god! I’ll soon have the keepership of Riverloth under my control! I shall lift the Tree up from its roots and become master of the River! The River shall be mine to control…forever and forever!”

DOCTOR
(defiantly) “I won’t allow it, Morguth!”

MORGUTH
(gloatingly) “You cannot stop me, Doctor! Already you see the Tree beginning to wither away. In its bark as well as its voice! The Tree is losing its life; its endurance! And very soon, you will lose your life too, Doctor!” (menacingly) “I shall see to it that you never escape from this place! You will be with me…for a very long, long time!”

DOCTOR
(defiantly) “Not if I have anything to do with it! Nor if my friends Nyssa and Billy have anything to do with it!”

MORGUTH
(challengingly) “Oh?! And why do you say that, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
(defiantly) “Because at this moment, Nyssa and Billy are holding down on the levers in the Induction Chamber. Very soon, all those life forces you stole will be given back to the people you took them from in their cubicles in the Induction Chamber! You will be cancelled out of existence, Morguth! People will soon forget you on Riverloth! They will forget ever knowing your foul name and existence! Your reign of terror will be over in an instant!”

---

SCENE #149 – INT – INDUCTION CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Meanwhile in the Induction Chamber with Nyssa and Billy, they have trouble holding down the levers. The water level rises higher than ever.

BILLY
(struggles; in pain) “Nyssa! I can’t…take much more of this! I can’t hold these levers down! My hands! They’re on fire!”

NYSSA
(struggles; in pain) “Keep trying, Billy! It’s a struggle I know. But…we must do everything we can…to keep these levers down!”

BILLY
(struggles; in pain) “I can’t cope with this, Nyssa!”

NYSSA
(struggles; in pain) “You must! It’s the only way to reverse the process on Morguth! Until the Doctor finds a way to sort him out at the Tree Garden within the telepathic field of the Tree!”

BILLY
(struggles; in pain) “Well he’d better hurry up! Otherwise we’ll be drowning in this water if it continues to rise up!”

Suddenly, explosions occur from the controls where Nyssa and Billy are. They still hold down on the levers.

NYSSA
(struggles; in pain) “Oh no! The consoles in this room are setting off explosions. A cause of the water flooding in! Electricity and water don’t mix, you see!”

BILLY
(struggles; in pain) “Well shouldn’t we back away? We don’t want to get ourselves killed!”

NYSSA
(struggles; in pain) “We must keep holding these levers down, Billy! Everything depends on the Doctor to…”

BILLY
(struggles; in pain) “I know, I know. But it won’t do us much good if another explosion goes off…”

At that moment, the particle generator console blows up in front of them. Nyssa and Billy are caught off their balance, as they end up splashing into the water behind them. The lever controls rise back once this happens. Billy eventually swims off to Nyssa and helps her out of the water. They’re soon above level of the water in the room.

BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa? Nyssa, are you alright?”

Nyssa coughs and splutters water from her mouth.

BILLY
(anxious) “Nyssa, are you alright?!”

NYSSA
“I’m fine, Billy! I’m fine! But look!”

They look to see the levers.

BILLY
(afraid) “Oh no! Those levers are back up to where they were before.”

NYSSA
“Exactly! With those levers back up, we can’t stop Morguth! Or help the Doctor to defeat him!”

---

SCENE #150 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back at the Tree Garden, Morguth laughs away maniacally with the Doctor watching him stunned at his laughter.

DOCTOR
(anxious) “What is it? What’s going on?”

MORGUTH
(laughs; triumphantly) “Your friends…have failed, Doctor! The pressure of water flooding into the Induction Chamber was too much for the control consoles. Nyssa and Billy were caught off-balance by explosions in the room. They fell into the water. The levers went back up! I still maintain my existence on this world! I still have a chance to take control of the River!”

DOCTOR
(afraid) “No! This can’t be! It simply can’t be!”

MORGUTH
“I shall have my chance to lift the Tree up from its roots! Killing it instantly! I shall kill all of those who oppose me and my power! And I’m going to start…with you, Doctor!”

Morguth mentally attacks the Doctor. The Doctor cries out loud in agony, as he crumbles to the floor, still within the telepathic field of the Tree.

MORGUTH
(viciously) “Die, Doctor! You shall die for your defiance against me!”

DOCTOR
(agonised; defiantly) “I shall fight you, Morguth! I managed to overcome your attacks on me with your mind once before! I can do it again!”

MORGUTH
(viciously) “We shall see! You will die soon, Doctor! Very soon indeed! I promise you!”

Morguth keeps on attacking the Doctor mentally. The Doctor continues to cry out in agony.

---

SCENE #151 – INT – INDUCTION CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back in the Induction Chamber, Nyssa and Billy make their way out as they trudge through the waters that flood into the room.

NYSSA
“Come on, Billy! We must get out of here! This Induction Chamber is flooded up with water and will soon reach the ceiling!”

BILLY
(anxious) “But what do we do, Nyssa? How do we stop Morguth! We’ve got to get those levers down to stop his existence!”

NYSSA
“There must be some way to distract Morguth by reducing his power! To weaken him! That would stop the flooding and the river going out of control as the waters hit and erode the river banks rapidly!”

BILLY
(gradually; thinks) “The altar and the array! Couldn’t we sabotage those?”

NYSSA
“What had you in mind, Billy?”

BILLY
“Well, I managed to disrupt Morguth’s power when I sabotaged one of the cubicles in this Induction Chamber. What if we sabotage the altar and array? That way it would stop his contact with the Tree and these floods.”

NYSSA
The only problem is we have to distract Morguth first, Billy! That won’t be easy since Morguth can easily reach into our minds.

BILLY
(apologetic) Yeah, you’ve got a point there! Sorry, Nyssa. I thought it was a great idea at the time. I don’t know how we can do that. To distract Morguth, I mean.

NYSSA
(thinks; realises) Wait, Billy! There is a way! I know how we can distract Morguth! If I use my psychic abilities…

BILLY
(interrupts; anxious) No! Forget it, Nyssa! It’s a bad idea of mine! We’ll think of something else instead.

NYSSA
Billy, it’s the only way to stop Morguth! I can use my psychic abilities to distract him whilst you, Werna and Goliathon sabotage the altar and the array of his…

BILLY
(protests) Nyssa, it’ll be too dangerous for you to handle! Morguth’s more powerful than you! He’ll give you headaches! You wouldn’t cope!

NYSSA
I’ve got to try, Billy! I’m sure I can overcome my headaches and any psychic attacks that Morguth lays upon me during mental contact.

BILLY
(argues) It’s too risky, Nyssa! He’ll burn your brains! I can’t let you take that chance!

NYSSA
(adamant) Billy, I appreciate your concern for me! But this is for the sake of saving Riverloth and everything else in the universe! I’ve got to take this chance to weaken Morguth! You do your job and I’ll do mine. Hopefully your sabotage of the altar and the array will be swift and I won’t have to deal with Morguth for very long. Wouldn’t you say that’s fair?

Moment of tense silence between Nyssa and Billy, as they trudged on through the waters.

BILLY
(gradually; reluctantly) “Very well. But I’m not happy about this!”

NYSSA
(reassuringly) “I’ll see you after I’ve defeated Morguth, Billy. Don’t worry!”

BILLY
“I’ll try not to. But it’s not going to be easy!”

NYSSA
“You get Werna and Goliathon to help you destroy the altar and the array once we’ve reached the waterfall area.”

Just then, the water level rises higher, causing Nyssa and Billy to stumble as they’re nearly out of the Induction Chamber room.

BILLY
“The water’s getting higher, Nyssa! Its right up to my chest!”

NYSSA
“We’re nearly out of the chamber room, Billy! Come on, let’s go!”

They trudge on, before they eventually escape and leave the flooded Induction Chamber behind them.

---

SCENE #152 – EXT – WATERFALL, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
At the waterfall area, Morguth laughs away triumphantly on his altar.

MORGUTH
(laughs; triumphantly) “Yes! I have weakened the Doctor’s power! He can’t overcome my strength! He is on his own! I am more powerful than he is! I’ll take control of the Tree! I shall rule supreme over this world!”

Werna and Goliathon watch Morguth, as he laughs away triumphantly.

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Well! Now that we have the Melkurs down, Morguth is still upright! What do we do next, Lady Werna?”

WERNA
“I don’t know, Goliathon. For the first time in my life, I’ve absolutely no idea what to do next.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I shall take him on! I’ll tackle this monster with his smug attitude and his bullying ways!”

Goliathon advances forward, before Werna stops him and pulls him back.

WERNA
(insistently) “No Goliathon, don’t! You will not take on Morguth with an inch of your life! He’s too powerful for you! Your strength can’t outmatch his and you know it!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “But I’ve got to do something!”

WERNA
“There’s nothing we can do, Goliathon! Nothing!”

At that moment, Nyssa and Billy turn up.

NYSSA
(calls) “Werna; Goliathon! You’re still here!”

WERNA
“Nyssa; Billy! We’re so sorry! We couldn’t stop Morguth! We tried immobilising the Melkurs, but it seemed to make it worse!”

NYSSA
“No matter, Werna! Billy needs you and Goliathon to help him with something!” (to Billy) “Don’t you, Billy?”

BILLY
(to Werna; Goliathon) “Yes! But not now! I won’t tell you now! Wait until Nyssa starts something.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Starts what? What are you going to do, Nyssa of Traken?”

NYSSA
(quietly) “I’m going to try and distract Morguth! Wait until I’ve got Morguth fully distracted then Billy will tell you what to do.”

BILLY
(to Nyssa) “Nyssa? Are you sure you want to do this?”

NYSSA
“We’ve talked about this already, Billy! I’m adamant!”

BILLY
“Very well. But be careful.”

NYSSA
“I will. Good luck to you, Billy.”

BILLY
“Yeah. Good luck.”

Nyssa then steps forward as she addresses Morguth.

NYSSA
(gradually) “Morguth! It’s me, Nyssa! Here I am.”

Morguth looks down at Nyssa from his altar, and laughs away mockingly at her.

MORGUTH
(mocks) “You! Nyssa of Traken! You dare to challenge me! You dare to face me! Morguth…the great!”

NYSSA
“Yes! I challenge you, Morguth! On my world, we turn people like you into statues! Into the Melkurs! So I will do the same to you! I will turn you into stone and make you stop spreading your evil throughout the cosmos!”

MORGUTH
(mocks) “You seriously think you can beat me! You?! I can overcome you! Just like I’ve overcome your Doctor, who is now inside the telepathic field with me! He’s struggling! On his way to death! How does that sound?”

NYSSA
“You will stop hurting the Doctor, Morguth! I command it!”

MORGUTH
(bellows; angrily) “You?! Command me?! You dare to give me commands when I am more powerful than you?! When I’m to be your next ruler! Of both Riverloth and the whole cosmos! You give me commands?!”

NYSSA
(defiantly) “Yes!”

Nyssa then cries out in pain, as Morguth attacks her with pain. She stumbles to the ground, as she wrestles with Morguth.

BILLY
(panics) “Nyssa!”

NYSSA
(cries; in pain) “Billy, stay back! I know what I’m doing!”

Billy stays back as Nyssa tells him to. Morguth overcomes her as he’s on his altar.

MORGUTH
“You never learn, do you? You young ones! You think you can overpower me! But the more you try, the more headaches you get, Nyssa of Traken! I shall continue to damage your mind with endless pain and torment! You think you know suffering, Nyssa? You haven’t felt it yet!”

NYSSA
(in pain; defiantly) “It isn’t over yet, Morguth! I can overcome your attacks on me! I’ll fight you!”

MORGUTH
“So where is it then? Where is this power of yours to turn me into stone, Nyssa? To turn me into a Melkur? I don’t see it yet! You fibbed to me, didn’t you? You have no such powers! Trying to scare me, are you? Well, think again, Nyssa of Traken! I am Morguth! I am evil incarnate! I am the greatest of servants in the service of Malador! I will not fail him! Not now! Not ever!”

Nyssa gropes in pain, as she struggles up to her feet.

NYSSA
(in pain; defiantly) “Morguth! You’ve made your biggest mistake!”

MORGUTH
“Have I?”

NYSSA
“My attempts to challenge you with thoughts of turning you into stone were only to lock your mind with mine. Long enough…to distract you!”

MORGUTH
“What?!”

NYSSA
(cries) “Now, Billy! Do it now!”

BILLY
(to Werna; Goliathon) “Werna; Goliathon! Smash the altar and the array!”

WERNA
“What?”

BILLY
“Get a branch or stone or use your fists to smash everything up here connected to Morguth! That’s what I wanted you two to help me with!”

WERNA
“Oh right! Well, why didn’t you say so, Billy?!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I’ll do this with pleasure! CHARGE!!!!”

Goliathon charges forward and smashes his fist into the altar.

MORGUTH
(yells angrily) “NO!!! You can’t do this! I have power over all of you!”

NYSSA
(defiantly) “Too late, Morguth! You’re in my power now! Your mind is locked with me whilst in the telepathic field! There’s no escape for you!”

MORGUTH
(yells angrily) “No! NO!!!!”

Morguth screams in rage, as Billy, Werna, and Goliathon sabotage the altar and the array.

---

SCENE #153 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
At the Tree Garden, on the astral plane in the telepathic field with the Doctor, Morguth collapses to the ground. He howls with rage as the Doctor watches him and recovers his strength.

DOCTOR
(confused; dazed) “W-What…what’s happened? You…seem to be in some sort of distress, Morguth. Didn’t your connection with the River go well? Or was taking over from the Tree more difficult than you thought?”

MORGUTH
(enraged) I have lost…all of my power! My once great power is diminishing! (Pause) Curse those young friends of yours, Doctor! They have tricked me! They tricked me!

DOCTOR
Why? What’s going on? I’d like to know! How did my friends trick you?

MORGUTH
The girl! Nyssa! I had no idea she was as strong as she is! That innocent face, that air of vulnerability about her. All a good cover-up for such an intelligent and capable mind as hers and with psychic abilities!

DOCTOR
Tell me what happened, Morguth!

MORGUTH
(enraged) She tricked me! We locked minds, her and me. She caught me off my guard; got me distracted; allowing Billy and his friends to sabotage my altar! My beautiful altar! It’s been smashed to pieces! So has the array! (gasps) I can feel myself falling into the water! Falling into the River! At the waterfall area.

The Doctor lets out a heartfelt laugh of joy and delight, whilst Morguth remains on the ground, weakened and enraged.

MORGUTH
(yells angrily) “You dare to mock me, Doctor! You dare to mock the might of Morguth the great!”

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “But you’re not so great now, are you Morguth? Not as powerful as you thought!” (out loud) “All I can say is, good on you, Nyssa! And good on you Billy for helping Nyssa to distract Morguth! And also to Werna and Goliathon! Good on them!”

MORGUTH
(enraged) “You can’t overcome me like this, Doctor! I have my Melkur spirits with me! They’ll help me out! I can still defeat you!”

DOCTOR
“They’re already lost somewhere out there in space when Werna and Goliathon immobilised them at the waterfall area. You’re lost without your servants, aren’t you Morguth?!”

MORGUTH
“I can summon them back! I can summon all Melkurs back to me! Even by singing their lament!”

DOCTOR
“But you’re not powerful to do that, Morguth! You’re not powerful to do anything! You’re vulnerable! Both here and at the waterfall area. You’re starting to fade away already from this astral plane in the telepathic field!”

MORGUTH
(enraged) “No! It can’t be! NO!!!!”

DOCTOR
“This gives me plenty of time to go back to the Induction Chamber and finish what I’ve done to reverse the process on your existence! Your powers are waning, Morguth! So that means the place will be less flooded with water, and that the river is reverting to normal and so quickly.”

MORGUTH
“How do you know that, Doctor? How do you know all these things?”

DOCTOR
(challengingly) “Don’t you know, Morguth? I’m still in mental contact with the Tree. She told me all will be safe. And she told me to go to the Induction Chamber to sort everything out with the mistake Sarumane made by bringing you here. That’s just what I intend to do. Bye, Morguth!”

At that, the Doctor makes his way back to the TARDIS. Morguth watches him go, as the Doctor enters his TARDIS.

MORGUTH
(barks) “Stop! Stop, Doctor! I command you to stop and come back! Stop, Doctor! Stop! STOP!!!!”

But the Doctor doesn’t listen to him, as he’s inside his TARDIS and closes the door behind him. Pretty soon, the TARDIS dematerialises, as it whooshes and grinds away. It fades out of existence, as Morguth watches it leave.

MORGUTH
(enraged) “No! This can’t be! This just can’t be! NO!!!”

Morguth then fades out of the astral plane as he’s gone again from the telepathic field of the Tree at the Tree Garden.

---

SCENE #154 – EXT – WATERFALL, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back at the waterfall area, Billy checks on Nyssa as she’s lying on the ground after her mental confrontation with Morguth.

BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa? Nyssa, are you alright?” (Pause) “Nyssa, please wake up! Nyssa!”

At that moment, Nyssa groans as she wakes up and recovers from her sleep. She looks up at Billy.

NYSSA
(disorientated) “Billy?” (Pause) “Did it work? Did we manage to sabotage the altar and the array?”

BILLY
“Yes! All thanks to you, Nyssa! Are you alright?”

NYSSA
(disorientated) “Yes. A little disorientated, but I’ll recover.”

BILLY
“You did it, Nyssa. You managed to beat Morguth! Well done!”

NYSSA
“I don’t think I’ve actually defeated him, Billy. I managed to weaken him. With you, Werna and Goliathon’s help of course.”

BILLY
“Well I think you should take the credit, Nyssa! You managed to trick him, giving me, Werna and Goliathon a chance to destroy his altar and array.”

NYSSA
(pleased) “Yes! Yes, I did. And I’m very pleased about that.” (to Billy) “Thank you very much, Billy.”

BILLY
“My pleasure!”

NYSSA
“Where is Morguth now?”

BILLY
“He ended up falling into the water! Just there! He hasn’t moved an inch since me, Werna and Goliathon sabotaged everything.”

Just then, Werna and Goliathon show up.

WERNA
“Billy? Is Nyssa alright? Is she safe?”

BILLY
“She’s fine, Werna! Look! You can see for yourself! Nyssa’s okay!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “So she is! Well done, Lady Nyssa! I’m impressed with how you managed to defeat Morguth!”

NYSSA
“Thank you, Goliathon! Billy was just saying the same thing to me too.”

WERNA
“What do we do now then, Nyssa? Where do we go from here?”

NYSSA
“Now? Now, we go back to the Induction Chamber! Get those levers down! Make sure they’re down properly to prevent Morguth from ever having existence in Riverloth!”

BILLY
“Do you think we’ll be able to do it this time?”

NYSSA
“I’m sure we will. Morguth still exists, but he’s in a very weak state.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Then it’s best we make a move and go back to the Induction Chamber! The foul creature will regain his strength at any moment.”

NYSSA
“You’re right about that, Goliathon! Come on everyone! Let’s go!”

BILLY
“Let me help you up from the floor, Nyssa!”

NYSSA
“Thank you, Billy” (to everyone) “Come on, everyone! Let’s go!”

With that, Nyssa and Billy head off with Werna and Goliathon back to the Induction Chamber. As they go, Morguth slowly gets up out of the river to watch the heroes go.

MORGUTH
(bitterly) “No! I will not die here! I will live! Morguth…must…live!” (Pause) “I shall follow them! I…shall…follow them!”

Slowly and surely, but struggling to get a grip of himself in his weak state, Morguth makes his way to follow Nyssa, Billy, Werna and Goliathon back to the Induction Chamber.

---

SCENE #155 – INT – INDUCTION CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
In the Induction Chamber, Nyssa, Billy, Werna and Goliathon return to find the Doctor there at the controls and levers for the main particle generator. The Doctor presses buttons on the controls of the generator, as the water level lowers down and the chamber becomes less flooded.

NYSSA
“Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Ah Nyssa; Billy; Werna; Goliathon! There you are! Thank you all for helping to distract Morguth! I’ve just made a start on reinitiating the controls for this particle generator.”

BILLY
“Can it still work, Doctor? Can we still reverse Morguth’s existence?”

DOCTOR
“Oh yes, Billy! The controls weren’t too heavily damaged by the flow of water in this chamber.”

WERNA
“Well that’s a relief!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “How long will it take to reset the power to pull down that lever? For all we know, Morguth can come back at any minute.”

DOCTOR
“I’m nearly there! Don’t worry, you four! I’ll soon have Morguth deprived of the life force stolen from the people in these cubicles once I’ve set the projector controls to full power.”

The Doctor presses more buttons until a persistent bleep is heard from the particle generator control console.

NYSSA
“You’ve done it! It’s at full power!”

BILLY
“Then you can pull down those levers, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Yes! I most certainly can! Time to end this reign of evil before it started!”

Just as the Doctor is about to pull down the lever at the particle controls, an unearthly howl of rage echoes behind Nyssa, Billy, Werna and Goliathon. They look back to see Morguth enter the room, still weak and deprived but very angry.

WERNA
(shocked) “Morguth! He followed right behind us after we left him!”

DOCTOR
(cries; urgently) “Nyssa; Billy; Werna; Goliathon! Get behind me at these controls! Keep away from Morguth!”

Nyssa; Billy; Werna and Goliathon do as the Doctor says, as they get over to where he is behind the particle generator controls before Morguth can get to them. Morguth stumbles as he slowly makes his way towards the Doctor and his friends at the controls.

MORGUTH
(bitterly) “You cannot stop me, Doctor! I can never be defeated! I, Morguth, can never be defeated! Evil can never be defeated!”

DOCTOR
“Correction, Morguth! Evil can be defeated! It always is! No matter how many times you come back, good always triumphs over evil. I should know. I’ve had hundreds of life-times of experience doing it!”

MORGUTH
(pleads; pathetically) “I’m begging you, Doctor! Please! Spare me! Let me live! I’m too weak! Don’t kill me!”

BILLY
“Oh how pathetic!”

NYSSA
(whispers) “Billy, quiet! Let the Doctor handle this!”

DOCTOR
(challengingly; to Morguth) “Let you live, Morguth? Why should I want to do that? Why should I want to let you live?”

MORGUTH
(weakly) “Because…because…because I can be a good leader. I can restore everything to Riverloth. I promise I can. I promise, I will.”

DOCTOR
(to Werna) “Werna? Do you believe Morguth will end up being a good leader on Riverloth?”

WERNA
“Not a chance, Doctor. Not a chance.”

MORGUTH
(pleads; weakly) “I know I’ve made some mistakes in my time since I’ve been with you on Riverloth…”

NYSSA
“Mistakes?! You murdered people today, Morguth!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Yes! Werna and I! We saw an old man on the ground when we came out to face you at the waterfall. That was Sarumane you killed!”

MORGUTH
(pleads; weakly) “I know I seem like a tyrant! But I promise you all! I promise I can change! I CAN CHANGE!”

DOCTOR
(challengingly) “And how long will that promise last for, Morguth? Years? Centuries? Or will it only last for a minute until you get power restored back into you again?”

MORGUTH
(pleads; weakly) “Please, believe me! I won’t harm anyone again!”

DOCTOR
“I don’t believe you, Morguth!”

MORGUTH
(weakly; angrily) “Are you so narrow-minded, Doctor?!”

DOCTOR
“Your promises are empty, Morguth! I’ve met beings like you already and know what you’re capable of. I know of the harm and destruction you can cause to so many people. And I will not allow you to exist any longer on Riverloth! Not even for a microsecond!”

MORGUTH
(enraged) “Then die, Doctor! DIE!!!!

Morguth charges forward, as he makes for the particle generator controls.

NYSSA
(shouts) “Now, Doctor! Do it now!”

With that, the Doctor pulls down the lever controls. At this, Morguth stumbles instantly to the floor. He gropes in pain, before weeping uncontrollably in a rage.

DOCTOR
“There is no need to shout, Nyssa. I was going to pull the levers down.”

MORGUTH
(enraged; weakly) “You…you! You’ve denied me my existence!” (vengefully) “I will hunt you down, Doctor! I will hunt you down for the rest of time! I will tell Malador of your treachery! Do not think I won’t tell! He’ll be coming for you, Doctor! He will…”

Morguth then lets out a rattling, endless scream, as he screams out of his existence. He fades away before dissolving. Within seconds, Morguth is gone. All is calm. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

WERNA
(tentatively) Has he gone, Doctor?

DOCTOR
“Yes, Werna. You can relax now. Morguth has gone at last!”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “Thank goodness for that! Fortunately I didn’t have to punch him in the face.”

Everyone laughs at that. At that moment, there are groans coming from within the cubicles.

BILLY
“Doctor! The Riverlothians! Inside these cubicles!”

NYSSA
(relieved) “They’re beginning to recover! Their life force has been returned to them!”

DOCTOR
(pleased) “Yes! That’s a good sign, isn’t it? To prove that Morguth has been cancelled out of existence and all is being restored to normal on Riverloth.” (Pause) “Come on, everyone! Let’s help get these people out of their cubicles, shall we?”

Everyone agrees, as the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Werna and Goliathon approach the cubicles.

---

SCENE #156 – INT – CONSUL CHAMBER, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
Back in the Consul Chamber, the water levels lower with the surviving Riverlothians, Rondus, Galadio, Saloga and Werna in the room. Despite the water levels lowering, the Riverlothians are still distressed as they mutter and weep amongst themselves.

GALADIO
(calmly; reassuringly) “Fellow Riverlothians! Fellow Riverlothians, calm down! All will be well, we promise you! Everything will be alright!”

RONDUS
(reassuringly) “Yes! Things will be changed here, people of Riverloth! We will make new rules and standards on this planet to see that this doesn’t happen again! To see that evil doesn’t harm us again! We promise you!”

GALADIO
“Don’t give them false hope, Rondus! We can’t rid evil altogether! We know that now, don’t we?”

RONDUS
“Well at least I had to say something!”

Meanwhile, Saloga and Milgi look out of the window.

MILGI
(calls) “Saloga, look! Look at the thunderclouds in the sky! They’re moving away! The storm…or what seemed like a storm…has stopped!”

SALOGA
“So it has, Milgi. So it has. Is that a good thing?”

Just then, the Doctor and his friends Nyssa, Billy, Werna and Goliathon enter the room. They’re accompanied by re-hydrated Riverlothians from the Induction Chamber. The re-hydrated Riverlothians charge forward to reunite with their loved ones already in the Consul chamber.

RONDUS
“What is it? What’s going on here? Who are all these people?”

GALADIO
“It’s the Doctor, Rondus! Look! There’s the Doctor and his friends! And there’s Werna, our daughter!”

RONDUS
“Yes! So I see! She came back, Galadio! Our daughter came back!”

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Good morning, Consul Protector Rondus; Consul Galadio! Is it morning yet? It should be since we’ve been up all night!”

RONDUS
“Who are all these people, Doctor? Where did they come from? And what about Morguth? Is he dead? Has he been defeated?”

DOCTOR
“I’ll answer your questions in order, Consul Protector. These people you see before you are the once-victims of Sarumane’s tests for Morguth to survive on Riverloth!”

NYSSA
“They’ve all been re-hydrated with the life force back in them. They all came downstairs into the Induction Chamber where we revived them.”

DOCTOR
(tetchy) “Yes thank you, Nyssa. I was explaining it!”

RONDUS
“And Morguth? What of Morguth, Doctor?”

BILLY
“Morguth is dead, Consul Rondus! Morguth has been defeated!”

DOCTOR
(tetchy) “Don’t start like Nyssa, Billy! Rondus was speaking to me!”

RONDUS
“Good! That’s good! I’m glad to hear of it!”

GALADIO
“What of Sarumane, Doctor? Where is he?”

RONDUS
“Sarumane is dead too, Consul Galadio. Morguth killed him.”

GALADIO
(solemnly) “I see. Poor Sarumane. He would have made a good Consul of Riverloth. If only he hadn’t succumbed to evil and listened to Morguth in the first place as he did.”

RONDUS
“I couldn’t agree more, Galadio my dear.”

Meanwhile, Werna reunites with Saloga and Milgi.

MILGI
(delighted) “Werna! Werna!”

WERNA
“Milgi; Saloga! I’m so glad to see you two here!”

SALOGA
“We’re so glad you’re here too, Werna. We have been worried about you! Milgi and I.”

WERNA
“Don’t worry, Saloga; Milgi! I had friends to protect me! Goliathon was there with me. As was Nyssa; Billy and the Doctor.”

MILGI
(to Goliathon) “Thank you, Goliathon! We’re so glad you kept our friend Werna safe.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “It’s my pleasure, Miss Milgi! My pleasure!”

SALOGA
(to TARDIS trio) “Thank you also, you three! Nyssa; Billy; Doctor! We couldn’t have survived this without your help!”

NYSSA
“It’s alright, Saloga! We’re glad we saved you in the end!”

BILLY
“Yes! Thank goodness there’s no more Melkurs or Morguth to deal with anymore, hey?”

GALADIO
(to Werna) “Werna? Aren’t you going to say hello to your parents too?”

WERNA
(glumly) “Yes of course, mother! Hello father; mother!”

RONDUS
“We’re so glad to see you safe. We’re glad we haven’t lost our daughter, your mother and I.”

WERNA
(warmly) “Thank you, father. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me in a long while.”

DOCTOR
(interrupts) “I’m afraid it’s not over yet, Consuls Rondus and Galadio! There’s still a lot to be done! You can’t go back to the way things were when you were ruling Riverloth before Morguth came. You need to change your ways. Use an alternative plan on how to live on Riverloth.”

GALADIO
“We understand, Doctor. We both understand my husband and I. We see now! Our previous ways haven’t been the best. We need to change things if we’re going to survive on Riverloth.”

RONDUS
“What do you suggest we do, Doctor? How would you advise us on how to change our ways on Riverloth?”

DOCTOR
(gradually) “Well firstly, my friends and I have already done the groundwork for you! We just need you to catch up and carry on from where we left off. We disconnected all the wires from the Tree that once connected to that River Manipulator Room of yours. You need now to rely on the Tree as your source of power rather than on technology. You need to trust the Tree to give you the power source you need, rather than handling it yourself.”

RONDUS
“That won’t be easy for us to do, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“These things never are, Consul Protector. But your ancestors did it when the Tree was free from all technology at the time it was taken from the sapling of the first Tree of Traken and planted on this hill. There’s no reason why that old tradition shouldn’t start again and take on a new face for a new generation of Riverlothian people to live on their home-world.”

GALADIO
“I can see that line of reasoning, Doctor.” (to Rondus) “Can’t you, Rondus dear husband?”

RONDUS
“Well I…” (Pause; grudgingly) “Yes! Yes, I suppose so.”

GALADIO
(to Doctor) “What do you suggest we do to start, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
(gradually) “First…you must make contact with the Tree! Come with me, you two! I’ll take you in my TARDIS to the Tree Garden on the hill! There you can talk to the Tree for the first time.”

RONDUS
“Talk to the Tree? But I um…”

DOCTOR
“Come on! The Tree won’t bite you when we get there! Come on, you two! This way!”

With that, the Doctor escorts Rondus and Galadio into the TARDIS.

---

SCENE #157 – EXT – TREE GARDEN, RIVERLOTH – NIGHT
At the Tree Garden, it is now day-time in the morning. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are now at the TARDIS with Werna, Saloga; Milgi and Goliathon saying goodbye to them. The Traken/Nyssa music theme from ‘The Keeper of Traken’ is played in the background.

WERNA
“Did it turn out alright with them, Doctor? My mother and father? Were they alright when you took them to the Tree Garden?”

DOCTOR
“Oh I think they’ll cope, Werna. Your mother and father were uncomfortable with the notion of having to gain contact with the Tree. But once they found they could communicate with the Tree via its telepathic field, they were alright. I’m sure they’ll be able to get the hang of talking to her without any technology.”

NYSSA
(puzzled) How can they communicate with the Tree, Doctor? Rondus and Galadio aren’t telepathic like Trakenites.

DOCTOR
The mind works wonders and in mysterious ways, Nyssa. They can receive communication from the Tree at a subconscious level. They’ll get the hang of it when they talk to the Tree more and more.

BILLY
(suspicious) You didn’t raise the psychic level in their brains, did you, Doctor? Like you did with me when Nyssa, you and I contacted the Tree before with Morguth inside the telepathic field with us.

DOCTOR
(affronted) Whatever gave you that idea, Billy? I didn’t do any such thing to them.

NYSSA
(knowingly) Are you sure about that, Doctor?

DOCTOR
(clears throat) Anyway, I’m sure your parents will do wonders ruling Riverloth under a new guiding intelligence like the Tree is. They won’t have Sarumane or anyone telling them what the Tree wants with the use of technology. They’ll be able to know for themselves. Exciting, isn’t it?

WERNA
(delighted) “It certainly is. Thank you, Doctor; Nyssa; Billy. We couldn’t have restored the balance on Riverloth without you three to help us. I knew you’d help us to save our world in the end from Morguth.”

DOCTOR
“Well it was the least we could do, Werna.”

GOLIATHON
(booms) “I’m certainly pleased with the new role I’ve got on Riverloth! Consul Protector Rondus and Consul Galadio have made me a new Proctor in charge of the Fosters on Riverloth. They say it’s because of my height. I’m very flattered!”

MILGI
(delighted) “Why Goliathon, that’s wonderful!” (to Saloga) “Isn’t it wonderful, Saloga?”

SALOGA
“Yes it certainly is wonderful, Milgi. It’s the beginning of new wonderful things on Riverloth, isn’t it?”

MILGI
(softly) “Yes Saloga. It is the beginning of new wonderful things indeed.”

DOCTOR
“It’s the beginning of the restoration of Riverloth. I hope it all works out well for you people.”

NYSSA
So do I.

BILLY
So do I too, yeah!

DOCTOR
(warningly) But remember all of you! There is still evil in this universe! The Melkurs are still out there! In their spiritual or psychic forms somewhere in space. They can easily return and cause havoc on Riverloth! Beware of them! Beware of the Melkurs if they come back.

WERNA
We will be careful, Doctor. We promise you that.

DOCTOR
Yes! I wish you luck, Werna! You’ll make a good Consul of Riverloth someday. I’m sure many people will love you for it.

WERNA
(gradually) Won’t you please stay with us for the celebrations, Doctor? I’m sure that every Riverlothian will want to thank you, Nyssa and Billy for saving our lives today! For giving us a chance of a new future…

DOCTOR
(interrupts; politely) “Thanks very much Werna, but I feel we must decline. We’ve overstayed our welcome on Riverloth already.”

WERNA
“Are you sure, Doctor?”

NYSSA
“The Doctor doesn’t like long goodbyes, Werna. It’s best we’d leave you people to it and enjoy our new future without interfering.”

BILLY
(jokingly) “Besides if we stay here longer, we might cause more trouble, mightn’t we?”

Moment of silence.

BILLY
(to Nyssa) “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

NYSSA
“Probably not, Billy.”

BILLY
“Sorry.”

DOCTOR
“I will say this to you all! I may come back and see you all again! Visit your descendants on Riverloth someday. To check how things are. How things have progressed for you since your new future began today. Check whether you’ve maintained the standards you’ve hoped to achieve in matching the styles of the Traken union. I’m sure you will do that and become more like Traken in its glory days in about a hundred years.”

NYSSA
“I’m sure of that too, Doctor.”

WERNA
“Really, Nyssa? Hearing that from you, as last of your kind on Traken, means a great deal to us Riverlothians. We hope we’ll be more like Traken every day now that we’ve been given a better future.”

NYSSA
“I’m pleased I came to see your world of Riverloth! Thank you for making us feel so welcome and allowing us to help save you from the evils here.”

DOCTOR
(gradually) “Well now! It’s time for us to say goodbye!” (to everyone) “Goodbye Werna; Saloga; Milgi; Goliathon!”

WERNA + SALOGA + MILGI + GOLIATHON
(simultaneously) “Goodbye Doctor!”

DOCTOR
(to Nyssa; Billy) “Come on, Nyssa; Billy! Let’s go!”

The Doctor opens the TARDIS door as he, Nyssa and Billy enter inside. Nyssa and Billy stand in the TARDIS doorway, before saying goodbye.

NYSSA
“Yes, goodbye everyone!”

BILLY
“See you all soon! Bye now!”

WERNA + SALOGA + MILGI + GOLIATHON
(simultaneously) “Goodbye!”

Eventually, Nyssa and Billy go inside and the TARDIS doors close behind them. Soon, the TARDIS materialises, as Werna, Saloga, Milgi and Goliathon watch them go and leave Riverloth behind them.

---

SCENE #158 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Inside the TARDIS, Nyssa and Billy stand around the console in the console room. The Doctor pilots the TARDIS, pressing buttons on the console as they go. He then activates the scanner screen, as it rises up to reveal Riverloth on the scanner.

DOCTOR
“There it is! There’s Riverloth! On its way to start a new chapter in its history! Let’s hope it works out well for the people there!”

NYSSA
“I feel rather sad to leave Riverloth! I was beginning to rather like it here.”

BILLY
“Me too. I enjoyed seeing Riverloth!” (to Doctor) “Thanks for taking us there, Doctor!”

DOCTOR
“Even though you didn’t like seeing the danger we faced there, Billy?”

BILLY
(gradually) “Well, I don’t mind it so much now. It was a shock at first. But I think I’ve got over the shock of knowing that danger was on Riverloth! After all! We managed to defeat it, didn’t we?”

NYSSA
Yes. I’m so glad that we managed to defeat Morguth in the end. It was by no means an easy task.

BILLY
No, it wasn’t. Perhaps that’s the point of us three. Working well as a team. We manage to defeat an enemy with the three of us combined together.

NYSSA
Yes, Billy. Exactly what I was thinking.

The Doctor then switches off the scanner screen as it lowers down. He then presses some new buttons on the TARDIS console.

DOCTOR
Well, we’ve now left Riverloth behind us and sorted out the whole business with Morguth successfully, haven’t we? (to Billy) I can now fulfil your request, Billy. I’ll take you home just as you say. That is still what you want, isn’t it?

BILLY
(gradually) Yes, Doctor. That is still what I want.

DOCTOR
(sadly) “I see. Fair enough. I’ll set the controls for Earth in nineteen sixty-three…”

BILLY
(interrupts) “But…Doctor? Can I…can I make a small request on that?”

DOCTOR
(intrigued) “Yes Billy, go on! What is it?”

BILLY
(gradually) “Could you take me home via the scenic route? I would like to see more of the universe. More of time and space. If that’s alright?”

DOCTOR
(gradually; pleased) “Yes! Yes of course, Billy. I’ll be happy to take you by the scenic route. Seeing more of the universe will do you good, I think.”

NYSSA
(happily) “Besides, Billy. The TARDIS doesn’t always take us directly to where we want to go. If we tried to take you home back to Earth in nineteen sixty-three, we’ll probably end up in the Middle Ages on Earth or something.”

BILLY
“Is that a fact?”

DOCTOR
“Nyssa does have a point, Billy. I tried getting Tegan back home to her own time at Heathrow Airport in nineteen eighty-one. I didn’t always manage to get her to the right place and the right time.”

NYSSA
“Still want to travel with us for a little longer, Billy? Getting back home via the scenic route might take a little longer than you think.”

BILLY
“Yes! Yes of course! I asked for the scenic route and that’s what I’m going to get. Isn’t that right, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Without a doubt, Billy. The scenic route is what you’ll get.”

BILLY
“Then I’m happy to stay on, Doctor. Indeed I am.”

DOCTOR
(pleased) “Splendid! I’m happy to have you stay on with us a little longer.”

NYSSA
(pleased) “And so am I, Billy. I hoped you’d say ‘yes’ to staying with us.”

BILLY
“Did you?”

NYSSA
(pleased) “Yes. Even after all the dangers we’ve faced, there are still wonderful things to see out there. I can assure you of that!”

BILLY
“I’ve no doubt about it.” (Pause) “Just one thing though, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“Yes Billy?”

BILLY
(gradually) “I hope I will get back home someday. To see my mum and dad. I miss them. I’m sure that they miss me too and wonder where I am.”

DOCTOR
“Don’t worry, Billy. I’ll do my best to get you back home safely so you can see your parents again.”

BILLY
“Thank you, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
(gradually) “Right! Let’s set off for our new destination, shall we? Our next adventure.” (to Billy) “Where would you like to go next, Billy?”

BILLY
“But I’ve had my choice already. Surely Nyssa has a place in mind she wishes to go to?”

NYSSA
(reassuringly) “I don’t really mind, Billy. If you have a place in mind you’d wish to go to, I’m happy to let you have first choice.”

DOCTOR
“There you are then, you see Billy. Nyssa doesn’t mind.” (Pause) “Now, where would you like to go next?”

BILLY
(thinks) “Well…okay! There is somewhere I have in mind I’d like to go.”

DOCTOR
“Splendid! Say it and we’ll make our way to it!”

BILLY
(gradually; eagerly) “I would like to see your home planet, Doctor. Gallifrey, was it?”

DOCTOR
(gradually; shocked) “What?!”

NYSSA
(interrupts) “Uh, Billy! Whilst you’re thinking of a new place to go to, let’s go and try out some Traken dancing in the TARDIS ballroom, shall we?”

BILLY
(puzzled) But Nyssa…

NYSSA
Come on, Billy! Let’s leave the Doctor be, shall we? I’d like to try out and show you my Trakenite skirt when dancing with you, Billy! You’ll like me in my Trakenite skirt. I’m sure of it.

BILLY
(intrigued) Really? Oh. Well in that case, yes! Let’s go and do some Traken dancing! I didn’t know the TARDIS had a ballroom!

NYSSA
“It’s this way! Come on, I’ll show you!”

Nyssa leads Billy out of the console room, as they go off to do some Traken dancing. The Doctor meanwhile remains in the console room.

DOCTOR
(mutters) Gallifrey indeed! (Pause) Gallifrey? (sighs) Welcome aboard, Billy Walker.

---

Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.

---

© Tim Bradley, 2016

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