5. “Lonmar’s Trap”
SCENE #34 – INT – PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, MAIN CITADEL – DAY, AFTERNOON
Back in the President’s office in the main citadel on Lonmar, President Owen works very hard as he types away on his computer terminal. He does this for a number of seconds, before stopping to take a sip of his cup of coffee. After taking a sip, he lets out a contented sigh.
OWEN
The finest coffee ever on Lonmar. Made by those in direct lineage to…Nero’s. Much better than Starbucks.
Owen places his coffee back on the desk, before he continues typing away at his computer terminal. A beeping sound echoes, as Owen flicks a switch on the intercom.
OWEN
(through intercom) Ah, Lady Krige! How nice of you to call.
KRIGE (V’O)
Just updating you on the companions’ progress, Owen.
OWEN
(through intercom) Oh thank you. (Pause) And, your ladyship?
KRIGE (V’O)
It’s good news, Mr. President. The companions have found the shield field generator and are disconnecting the nodes as we speak.
OWEN
(through intercom) “Are they indeed?” (Pause) “It seems your predictions about them were correct.”
KRIGE (V’O)
“Of course I’m correct. The Doctor always takes the best. I never doubt that.” (Pause) “It’s a shame that their resourcefulness will lead to their destruction.”
OWEN
(through intercom) “What is it you want me to do, Lady Krige?”
KRIGE (V’O)
“You know perfectly well what you have to do, Owen.”
OWEN
(through intercom) “Of course. My apologies. Just wanted to make sure.”
KRIGE (V’O)
See to it that they’re unharmed. Have them ready for the next phase.
With that. Lady Krige ends the communication. Once ended, Owen takes a moment to consider what he has to do. He then activates the intercom again to his secretary, Stewart.
OWEN
(through intercom) Miss Stewart, if you’ll come into my office please.
Owen switches the intercom off before he picks up his cup of coffee again from the desk. He takes another sip of coffee, before Stewart enters the office. She approaches Owen at his desk.
STEWART
You wanted to see me, sir?
OWEN
Yes, Miss Stewart. Where’s Mr. Darvill?
STEWART
He’s back at the security office. Awaiting your orders.
OWEN
Well, tell him to report to me. Tell him the companions have been successful.
STEWART
That’s wonderful, sir.
OWEN
“Yes, it is wonderful. Tell Mr. Darvill that we are to go out and meet them.”
STEWART
“Is he to bring the robots along as well, sir?”
OWEN
“Yes, of course he is! Don’t you ever pay attention, dear girl?”
STEWART
“I beg your pardon, sir. I was just checking.”
OWEN
“Well make sure you listen next time!” (Pause) “You will accompany us as well, Miss Stewart. See to it that the robots are fully armed.”
STEWART
“I understand. Thank you, sir.”
OWEN
“Yes, yes. Go on, girl. Leave me alone.”
Miss Stewart acknowledges as she leaves the room. Once she’s gone, President Owen sits back at his desk feeling triumphant.
SCENE #35 – INT – CENTRAL CHAMBER, PRIME TOWER – DAY, EVENING
Back in the central chamber of the Prime Tower on the planet Marn, Ace, Nyssa and Billy have managed to disconnect the shield field generator from its nodes. The five companions gather together, as they debate the current situation.
VICTORIA
“I wonder who this Russorg person is that lady voice was talking about.”
JO
“How would we know if she was a lady? She may well be some freaky hideous monster.”
ACE
(shouts out loud) “Oi! Big mouth! Wherever you are, come back and talk to us!”
BILLY
“You won’t get anywhere by shouting, Ace.”
ACE
“Try me!”
NYSSA
“Billy’s right. The voice we just heard may well be an audio recording of some kind – hidden in the depths of the tower and on loud speakers.”
JO
“You really think somebody’s trying to wind us up?”
NYSSA
“It’s very likely.”
BILLY
“Unless of course it is a ghost.”
VICTORIA
“Oh no! Pray let it not be that, please!”
ACE
“Hey! At least we’ve got the generator! We came what we were looking for! Let’s be off!”
VICTORIA
“But where to? We don’t even know how we got to this place!”
NYSSA
“The obvious thing to do is to go back to Lonmar.”
BILLY
“Surely when we were on that spaceship with the Marnlix robots, they had a map showing where we were. Did anyone see the map?”
JO
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention, sweetie.”
VICTORIA
“It was all a bit of a rush really. We were captured before we even had a chance to find out.”
ACE
“Yeah. We were dumped on their ship by some teleporty thing.”
NYSSA
“There’s nothing for it. We’ll have to go back downstairs and find our way out of the tower.”
BILLY
“Easier said than done. We came in different parts of the tower.”
JO
“I think I remember how Ace and I got in. Though my brain’s a bit scatty, I still remember my way around buildings and places. That was a rule of thumb I had to learn on my spy training.”
NYSSA
“Well that helps, Jo. We’ll have to follow your lead on a way to get us out of here.”
VICTORIA
“But there’ll be robots waiting for us outside! Remember we had to escape from them!”
ACE
“Don’t worry, you chickens. I’ve still some cans of Nitro-Nine left in my rucksack. Throw one at them and there’ll be a nine-second delay. At least I think so.”
BILLY
“I wonder why those robots haven’t come in after us.”
NYSSA
“It’s hardly likely robots know fear, Billy. There must be something more to this.”
VICTORIA
“I think we should get down to the bottom of the tower and head out while we can.”
ACE
“I agree. We don’t want to stick around this place anymore, do we?!”
NYSSA
“Agreed.” (to Jo) “Jo, lead the way.”
JO
(cheerfully) “Right. Follow me, ‘boy’ and girls.”
ACE
(to Billy) “Billy! Give me a hand with carrying this generator, will you?”
BILLY
“Yes Ace, of course.”
NYSSA
“Come on, you two. Let’s get going.”
Jo leads the way, as she, Nyssa and Victoria with Ace and Billy carrying the shield generator make their way out of the central chamber. The creaking doors shut behind them, as the five companions make their way downstairs to find the exit.
SCENE #36 – EXT – FRONT ENTRANCE, PRIME TOWER – DAY, EVENING
Eventually, the five companions reach the bottom of the tower. They find themselves at the front entrance, as they stop to get their breath back.
BILLY
(exhausted) “That really was a long way down those stairs.”
VICTORIA
(exhausted) “At least we’ve reached the open.”
NYSSA
(exhausted, to Jo) “Well done, Jo. You’ve got us back to where you and Ace started from.”
JO
(exhausted) “Thanks.”
ACE
(exhausted) “Right! Just let me get my Nitro-Nine ready and I’m ready to splatter those robots to death!”
BILLY
(realises) “Wait a minute! There aren’t any robots to be found!”
NYSSA
(realises) So there aren’t! (Pause) Where did they all go to?
JO
Perhaps they got tired of waiting and ran away.
BILLY
But they wouldn’t give up so easily, would they? I thought robots seemed clever when I saw them in the movies.
NYSSA
It does seem rather odd, yes. Though robots do have a mechanism in which their masters summon them somewhere else.
VICTORIA
Then perhaps they’re around the back of the tower. Waiting for us.
ACE
Only one way to find out.
Ace then steps forward.
NYSSA
Ace, what you doing?! Get back!
ACE
It’s alright! What’s there to worry about? I’ll step out to feel the fresh air and if there…
Ace doesn’t finish her sentence, as she gets a shock when she bumps into an invisible wall. She falls back to the ground, as Nyssa, Billy, Jo and Victoria run over towards her.
NYSSA
(cries; concerned) “Ace? Ace, are you hurt?!”
Nyssa, Billy, Jo and Victoria come around Ace, as they help her up off the ground.
BILLY
(reassuringly) “I think she’s alright. She’s just stunned.”
ACE
(protests) “Hey! Less of the ‘she’!”
JO
“She may feel a little woozy. I’ve had a few scares with force-fields.”
NYSSA
“Are you alright, Ace?”
ACE
“I’ll be fine. Just didn’t expect that.”
VICTORIA
“Jo? You said a force-field. Where is it?”
JO
“Over here.”
Jo picks up a rock from the ground and throws it at the air. A sizzle of energy discharges from the force-field as the rock falls to the ground.
VICTORIA
“An invisible wall!”
BILLY
“And a very convenient one. It’s placed around the tower I assume.”
NYSSA
“Yes. Now we know why the robots aren’t here. They’ve been placing the force-field around the tower whilst we’ve been inside collecting the generator.”
ACE
“Sickos! That means we can’t get out!”
BILLY
“We’re trapped!”
NYSSA
“Yes. I’m afraid we are.”
JO
“The only question is…why would they keep us in here when we’ve got the generator?”
VICTORIA
“Perhaps they don’t want the generator after all.”
JO
“If that’s the case…what do they want then?”
The five companions ponder this, whilst they remain trapped inside the forcefield at the tower entrance.
SCENE #37 – EXT – DESERT PLAINS, MARN PRIME – DAY, AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, far away on the desert plains, President Owen, Mr. Darvill and Miss Stewart make their way towards the tower on Marn Prime. They have a patrol of Lonmar robots tagging along behind them. The robot use detectors that bleep frequently as they search the area. This annoys Stewart terribly.
STEWART
(annoyed) “Can’t they do that more quietly?!”
OWEN
“Of course they can’t do it quietly, you silly girl. They’re robots. They’re efficient, methodical and proficient. Isn’t that right, Mr. Darvill?”
DARVILL
“Of course it is, sir.” (to Stewart) “Really, Miss Stewart! Have some sense!”
STEWART
“It’s just really irritating that they keep bleep-bleep-bleeping all the time! They’ve found nothing!”
DARVILL
“They will eventually! They will! I’m sure of it!”
OWEN
“In the meantime, we must keep our eyes open whilst a sandstorm’s approaching.”
DARVILL
“I thought sandstorms weren’t supposed to appear.”
STEWART
“Exactly my point! Can’t we just shut down…?”
OWEN
“No! We’re doing this on Lady Krige’s terms and conditions! We will not falter from them!”
Just then, a whining sound echoes from one of the robot’s detectors. This becomes ear-jarring as it grows louder.
STEWART
(agitated) “Oh! I think I preferred it when it was bleeping.”
DARVILL
“Hush a minute! I think they’ve got something!”
The robot leader, Robot #B2, approaches President Owen as it’s about to give a report.
OWEN
(to Robot #B2) “Well, what is it? What have you found?!”
ROBOT #B2
“We have found the tower. It is approximately fourteen point five kilometres from our current position due north west. The trajectory is accurate and concise.”
DARVILL
“And the companions? Are their life-signs eminent?”
ROBOT #B2
“Yes. They are within the vicinity of the tower boundary.”
STEWART
“That’s such great news!”
OWEN
“They must have the generator with them and are trying to get out! Foolish kids. They think they know everything.”
DARVILL
(to Robot #B2) “Unit #B2? See to it that your systems are charged and your weapons are fully loaded! Understand?”
ROBOT #B2
“We understand. Transmitting instructions to all other units.”
OWEN
“We must keep going now! The tower can’t be far away! Continue!”
Owen, Darvill and Stewart keep on walking towards the tower with the robot patrol behind them. The whining sounds from the robots’ detectors keep going, as they make their way to the tower.
STEWART
“I wish we didn’t have to go on with that blaring sound going off.”
DARVILL
“I wonder what those five’s reactions will be when they realise what they’ve done and where they are.”
OWEN
“It’s very obvious what their reactions will be, Mr. Darvill. It’ll be an honour for us three to witness those reactions. They will be confused at first, but then they’ll be shocked, disappointed, horrified and disgusted afterwards.”
President Owen, Darvill and Stewart trudge on through the desert with the patrol of robots behind them.
SCENE #38 – EXT – FRONT ENTRANCE, PRIME TOWER – DAY, EVENING
Back at the front entrance to the Prime Tower on Marn Prime, Nyssa, Billy, Jo, Victoria and Ace are still trapped inside the force-field. Nyssa and Jo try to disable the forcefield with their technical prowess. All they get is a sparkle of an explosion, which causes the companions including Nyssa and Jo to stagger back. They eventually calm down before becoming disappointed.
JO
“Well…that didn’t work out well, did it?”
NYSSA
It seems to be held by a device on the other side of the field perimeter. I presume it can only be disabled with an encryption code.
BILLY
(wryly) Oh, that’s tremendous.
JO
Prizes for guessing who can have the switch-off button then?
VICTORIA
But we can’t give up! Not yet! There must be some way we can get out!
NYSSA
Victoria’s right. We must never give up. At least we’re not in real danger.
JO
Aren’t we? I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
BILLY
Ace? Could you use some of that Nitro-Nine you’ve got?
ACE
“I wouldn’t use it if I were you, Billy. The stuff I’ve got in my rucksack is lethal. Not only will it blow up the force-field, it’ll blow up the tower. And BOOM we all go up with it!”
VICTORIA
“Then we don’t want to blow ourselves up!”
JO
“But why should we be locked in? How can the Marnlix know we’d be stealing the generator they stole from Lonmar?”
ACE
“We’ve been asking that question for the past two hours, Jo.”
VICTORIA
“Perhaps there are real aliens in this place after all. It’s not all just robots.”
NYSSA
“These questions won’t get us anywhere. We must keep trying until…”
Just then, Nyssa stops mid-sentence as she gets a pain in her head. She lets out a groan.
NYSSA
(groans; in pain) “My head!”
BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa?! Nyssa, are you alright?!”
NYSSA
(puzzled) “What?”
BILLY
“Is there something wrong with your head? Have you got a headache?”
NYSSA
(groans; in pain) “I…I don’t know. I feel a throbbing somewhere at the back of my skull.”
At that moment, Ace cries out in pain.
BILLY
“Ace! Not you as well!”
ACE
(groans; in pain) “What’s happening?! Where did this pain come from?!”
NYSSA
“I thought it was just me!”
Jo and Victoria then cry out in pain too.
VICTORIA
(in pain; panics) “Jo! I’m feeling…”
JO
(in pain; panics) “Yes! I feel it too!”
VICTORIA
(in pain; panics) “It feels like…somebody’s battering my head with a rolling pin!”
JO
(in pain; panics) “Yes! I’m getting rocks knocking at the back of my skull!”
BILLY
(astonished) “You girls seem to be in pain!”
ACE
“Duh! Is that obvious?!”
BILLY
“But all of you…getting the same pain at the back of your skull!”
NYSSA
“Yes, Billy! It seems to be that way! It’s like somebody’s trying to get in touch with us! With a telepathic message!”
BILLY
“But why aren’t I affected?”
NYSSA
“I don’t know!”
JO
“How can you tell it’s a telepathic message, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“I…I just know! I can sense it!”
Billy watches apprehensively, as Nyssa, Jo, Victoria and Ace suffer with pain in the back of their necks.
BILLY
“There must be something I can do to help!”
VICTORIA
(realises) “Wait! I can hear a voice! A voice calling to me!”
Victoria listens, as she hears a voice from far-off. It’s the voice of the Second Doctor.
DOCTOR 2 (V’O)
“Victoria?! Can you hear me? Victoria?!”
VICTORIA
(struggles) “It’s very faint, but…”
JO
“I can hear it too! A voice calling out to me! I think…” (Pause) “Yes! It’s the Doctor!”
Jo listens, as she too hears a voice from far-off. It’s the voice of the Third Doctor.
DOCTOR 3 (V’O)
“Jo?! Jo, where are you?! Jo?!”
JO
(cries) “I’m here! Doctor, I’m here!”
BILLY
(astonished) “The Doctor?””
NYSSA
“Billy! It’s him! The Doctor!”
BILLY
“What, Nyssa? You can hear him too?”
NYSSA
“Yes! It’s our Doctor, Billy! He’s calling to me! I can hear him!”
Nyssa listens, as she too hears the voice of the Fifth Doctor from far-off.
DOCTOR 5 (V’O)
“Nyssa?! If you can hear me, I’m coming to get you! You and Billy! Just hold on!”
BILLY
“Nyssa?! Nyssa, what is he saying?”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure! I can’t make it out!”
ACE
(calls) “Professor?! Professor, are you out there?! It’s me, Ace! I need you! Are you out there, Doctor?!”
Ace listens, as she too hears the voice of the Seventh Doctor from far-off.
DOCTOR 7 (V’O)
“Ace? You know it’s me! Hear my voice! Listen to what I have to say! This is very important! You must listen!”
SCENE #39 – INT – CELL CHAMBER, MAIN CITADEL – DAY, AFTERNOON
On Lonmar, in the cell chamber of the lower levels, Lady Krige contents herself with another salty bath. She’s now the monster she transformed into earlier. She squeals, as sparks of electricity discharge from her whilst she’s in the salty bath. She does this for quite some time, as water splashes and electricity sparkles all over. A short while later, a bleeping sound echoes to indicate a communication coming through. Krige stops swaying about in her salty bath as she eventually steps out. A metamorphosis takes place, as Krige transforms from a monster into her human form again. She makes way to the intercom in the chamber, her wet feet padding on the floor. Soon, Krige switches the intercom and speaks into it.
KRIGE
(through intercom) Krige here.
OWEN (V’O)
It’s President Owen, your ladyship.
KRIGE
(through intercom; sighs) Yes, Owen. What have you to report?
OWEN (V’O)
Just thought you’d like to know that Darvill, Stewart and I have reached the tower. The companions are still trapped in there. We’re going in to get them out.
KRIGE
(through intercom; pleased) “Excellent, Mr. President. You’ve done very well indeed.”
OWEN (V’O)
“Thank you, your ladyship. Always want to please.”
KRIGE
(through intercom) “Now listen, Owen. When you get the companions out of that forcefield, lock them up in the cells.”
OWEN (V’O)
“Yes, your ladyship. I have a patrol of robots armed and ready. They’ll be prepared for any resistance.”
KRIGE
(through intercom) “I hope so, Mr. President. I hope so. For your sake as well as others.”
OWEN (V’O)
“You can count on me!”
KRIGE
(through intercom) I’m taking my bath now, Mr. President. I wish not to be disturbed by anyone. Call me in two hours when you have the companions ready.
OWEN (V’O)
Very good, Lady Krige.
KRIGE
(through intercom) Now! Be off with your business!
Krige switches off the intercom and makes her way back to her bath. She initiates another metamorphosis and transforms from a human into a monster again. Squealing away, she steps into her salty water and is about to sway in it again. But before she does anything, she stops motionless for a moment to think. She then speaks out loud with a distorted and ugly voice.
KRIGE
Owen need not contact me anyway. I can tell when he’s collected those five despicable friends of the Doctor’s by watching it on the monitors.
Krige wades over to a monitor that’s situated by her bath. She switches it on and sees for herself from images that flicker and fuzz whilst a connection is being made. The view-screen soon shows normal and Krige is able to see what’s on screen.
KRIGE
“Empty obviously. But the cells shall be filled once Owen has completed his task. He must not fail me! He’ll have no choice!”
Krige lets out a laugh of triumph and pleasure before settling back into her salty bath. She squeals, swishing about in the bath tub as electricity discharges from her body as well as from the monitor screens.
SCENE #40 – EXT – FRONT ENTRANCE, PRIME TOWER – DAY, EVENING
Back at the front entrance of the Prime Tower on Marn Prime, the four girls recover as they’ve just received a telepathic message from their Doctors. Billy makes them comfortable, as they sit up against the wall of the tower by the front entrance. Billy checks on each of the four girls as they wake up.
BILLY
(concerned) “Nyssa? Nyssa dear, are you okay? Sweetheart?”
NYSSA
(recovers) “Yes Billy, I’ll be alright. Where are Jo; Victoria and Ace?”
BILLY
“They’ll be alright. They resting just like you are.”
Billy goes over to check on Victoria, Jo and Ace.
BILLY
“Jo?”
JO
(sweetly) “Hello, Billy. Looking after me as usual I see.”
BILLY
“I try my best.” (to Ace; Victoria) “Ace; Victoria? How are you two?”
VICTORIA
“I’m alright. But I do feel tired. My head’s aching all over.”
ACE
“Yeah, I’m ‘ace’!”
NYSSA
“Well that’s alright then.”
Moment of silence.
BILLY
“I’m confused. What just happened?”
NYSSA
“We each had a telepathic message with our Doctors.”
BILLY
“What?! You had contact from the Doctor; the four of you?! What did he say?”
JO
“I couldn’t quite make out what my Doctor was saying really. It was all a bit blurry and hazy for me.”
VICTORIA
“Same with me too. I saw fragments of my Doctor talking to me. Like there were parts of him that were missing from long ago.”
ACE
“I know what he said.”
NYSSA
“So do I.”
JO
(pleased) “Really? What did he say? What did your Doctors tell you then?”
ACE
“Well, the Professor – my Doctor – told me that the five of us were in great danger. But he’d say he’d sort out everything as he usually does. He’ll come to our rescue as well as the other Doctors.”
NYSSA
“Yes! That’s what it was like with my Doctor! He told me he’d come to rescue me, Billy and the three of you. He told us we were in great danger. But he didn’t say specifically what danger it was.”
BILLY
“But how come I didn’t get a message from the Doctor like you four did? Doesn’t he trust me?”
JO
“I’m sure he does, Billy.”
NYSSA
“Our Doctor couldn’t tell us both at once, Billy. Perhaps he had to inform us what was going on in a hurry.”
ACE
“That was the same with my Doctor. He said he had things to do.”
VICTORIA
“That means we’re none the wiser about what’s going on.” (disappointed) “That’s tremendous.”
OWEN
“I’m afraid it’s little sadder than you think, Miss Waterfield.”
The five companions are given a fright, as they look up to see the arrival of President Owen, Darvill and Stewart with the Lonmar robots.
ROBOT #B2
“Companions detected. We have arrived at our destination zone.”
ACE
“It’s those weirdos again!”
NYSSA
“The President; Mr. Darvill and Miss Stewart, yes! They’ve come for us!”
BILLY
“And they’ve brought some friends with them! Those robots!”
JO
“Oh thank goodness! Now we can get somewhere!”
ROBOT #B2
“Caution mode initiated. Stun weapons at the ready.”
The robots come to a stop, as President Owen, Darvill and Stewart approach the forcefield.
DARVILL
“They’re all here, Mr. President.”
ACE
Of course we are! Why wouldn’t we be?
DARVILL
Miss Stewart, release the force field.
STEWART
Yes, Mr. Darvill.
Stewart takes out a gadget from her pocket and presses a switch on it. The force-field shimmers for a bit before it switches off. The five companions are free.
NYSSA
Thank goodness!
VICTORIA
(to Owen) Mr. President! We’ve found what you wanted us to get! This generator!
JO
Yes! It was as easy as pie to get it.
OWEN
Yes! I was sure you would find it easily, Miss Waterfield; Miss Grant. You’ve all done very well!
JO
“Does that mean we get to leave?”
VICTORIA
“Yes! Are we going back to Lonmar?”
OWEN
“Oh I’m afraid you five charming people aren’t going back to Lonmar for a long time!”
Owen laughs out loud, while the five companions are dismayed.
ACE
“Sorry? Am I missing something here?”
NYSSA
(to Owen) “Mr. President, what’s going on? We’ve collected your generator! That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
OWEN
“Oh yes! It’s exactly what I wanted you five to do. Exactly…what I wanted.”
BILLY
We don’t understand, sir.
OWEN
(to Stewart) Miss Stewart, shut down the holographic projectors.
NYSSA
Holographic what?
Nyssa’s question gets answered, as Stewart presses another switch on her gadget. All around them, the desert plains, the tower and the planet Marn Prime disappear as it shifts away and changes into…
SCENE #41 – INT – HOLO-ROOM #2, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
…a holographic grid. The five companions are surprised and shocked after seeing the holographic projection of the planet Marn disappear before their eyes. They with Owen, Darvill, Stewart and the Lonmar robots stand on a holographic grid.
OWEN
Impressive, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you say, Nyssa; Billy?
BILLY
(shocked) “Holograms?! This all holograms!”
NYSSA
“We’ve been fooled!”
OWEN
(amused) “Yes, I’m afraid you have!”
President Owen laughs out loud.
ACE
(cries) “Leg it!”
Ace makes a run for it whilst Nyssa, Billy, Jo and Victoria follow.
DARVILL
“Robots! Seize them!”
The Lonmar robots stop each of the five companions in their tracks and apprehend them. Each of the five companions try to break free, whilst the robots hold them in a firm grip.
JO
“No! Let go of me!”
ROBOT #B2
“Please try not to escape. You are in our grasp.”
ACE
“Back off, blank face!”
ROBOT #H8
“I have my instructions.”
VICTORIA
(in pain) “You’re hurting my arm!”
ROBOT #G7
“Resistance is useless. Do not try to struggle.”
Eventually, the five companions stop struggling as the robots keep them under restraint.
BILLY
(to Owen) “What are you going to do us then? Torture us?”
OWEN
“Really, Mr. Walker! I thought you’d have more sense than that! We don’t wish to kill you! We’re pleased with the outcome of this experiment!”
NYSSA
(realises) “That’s what this was all about! We were your guinea pigs!”
JO
“It was all a set-up then! A trap! Lonmar’s trap. Marnlix Prime, the Marnlix robots capturing us, the shield-generator, everything. You did all this just for us?! To put us through this dangerous thing you call an ‘experiment’?!”
STEWART
“My apologies, Miss Grant. But the President asked me to implement the specific requirements of the test. I only followed his instructions to the letter.”
OWEN
“And very well done I must say, Miss Stewart! They certainly were convinced of the real-life scenario!”
NYSSA
“A little too convincing if you ask me, Mr. President.”
OWEN
It doesn’t matter what you think anymore. The point is, you shall be essential in the grandest scheme of Lonmar’s history!
ACE
Yeah?! Well you can shut it for all I care! I’m doing nothing for you! And neither will my friends here!
OWEN
But it’s too late, I’m afraid. Your skills and resourcefulness cannot be wasted! Especially for the benefit of Lonmar! (to Darvill) Darvill?
DARVILL
(to robots) Robots! Take the five companions to their cells!
ROBOTS
As you command, sir.
With that, the robots escort the five companions out of the holo-room. They struggle whilst they’re being escorted away.
BILLY
(protests; to robots) “Okay, okay, don’t push!”
VICTORIA
(to Owen) “Can you tell your robots not to be so rough with us, Mr. President!”
JO
“Anyway, where are we if we’re not on Marn Prime?”
NYSSA
“Yes! That’s a very good question!” (to Owen) “Where are we if we’re not on Marn Prime, Mr. President?”
ACE
“Yeah, mate! Tell us quick!”
OWEN
“Why…we’re not far away from Lonmar, if you want to know! We’re on a space station that’s in close orbit around Lonmar!”
SCENE #42 – EXT – LONMAR STATION #5, LONMAR SPACE – N/A
The Lonmar Station that the five companions are on is in close orbit around the planet Lonmar. It sits in space whilst spaceships are heard docking and departing from it. Some ships zoom past the space station to make for another destination.
SCENE #43 – INT – PRISON CELL, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
Meanwhile, the five companions get locked up in their prison cell by the Lonmar robots and Mr. Darvill. President Owen oversees the operation as they’re being locked away.
ROBOT #B4
Companions secured in their cell, Mr. Darvill.
DARVILL
Good. Seal the cell.
One of the robots activates a switch on a control panel. An energy grid is placed around the cell doors.
DARVILL
(to Nyssa; Billy; Jo; Victoria; Ace) I wouldn’t try to escape if I were you five. The energy grid bars are very lethal. You’d be dead within minutes.
JO
I thought we were your guests. On Lonmar, we were honoured.
ROBOT #B2
Correction. We are not on Lonmar.
ACE
“Shut up, you tin head.”
OWEN
“Don’t worry, you five lovelies! Rest assured, you will be told everything about your purpose.”
BILLY
(challengingly) “Oh yeah?! You’re going to trick us again like last time then? Put us in another holographic chamber?!”
NYSSA
“Billy, please! Calm down!”
OWEN
You’ve all been trained and tested for a real-life scenario. The mission you have been asked to do for us is still the same. You are meant to steal a real power generator on Marn Prime. Except this time, you will do it for us! You will have no choice in the matter!
VICTORIA
But why? What’s it all for? Why us?
JO
What’s so special about us five? Why are we the ones for this mission?
OWEN
You will be told soon enough as you will find out in due course.
NYSSA
Typical. Always like leaving us in the dark, don’t you?
ACE
You seem to have a knack for it I bet.
OWEN
You are all tired after your test mission. You all need rest. We shall leave you to it. (to Darvill) Darvill, we shall leave them to rest. Back to Lonmar.
DARVILL
“Yes, sir.” (to robots) “Robots! Come!”
ROBOTS
“As you command, Mr. Darvill.”
With that, President Owen, Darvill and the robots leave. The main entrance to the prison cells closes as they leave. Once they’re gone, Ace shouts out to them.
ACE
(shouts) “Yeah, don’t think you’re going to get away with it that easily! We’ll beat you! We’ll sort you out, you wimps!”
Ace stops shouting, as the five companions gather together.
JO
“The Doctor and me. We got locked up many times when we had that business the humans and Draconians fighting each other. This cell puts me in mind of those times.”
NYSSA
“They obviously want us for something. And it’s far more than recovering a generator to avert a war.”
BILLY
“How do we know it’s a generator they want us to get? For all we know they may want us to steal something to start a war. Not to prevent it.”
Suddenly, the five companions find themselves falling to the floor and contorting in pain. They seem to be experiencing waking dreams again.
BILLY
(in pain) “W-W-W-What’s happening?!”
VICTORIA
(cries; in pain) “Oh no! Not this again! I’m experiencing my dream again!”
JO
(in pain) “It keeps coming, this dream of mine! But wait a minute! I see you all! I see all of you in my dream!”
ACE
(in pain) “You’re not the only one! I’m seeing every one of you in my dream too!”
NYSSA
(in pain) It’s happening again! The shared psychic experience! We’re all having the same dream! This is something really serious!
The five companions experience an aspect of their shared dream each in turn whilst on the prison cell floor.
VICTORIA
“No! I will not commit murder! Do you hear me?! I will not!”
JO
“Stop! Keep it away from me! I don’t want to see it! The sign!”
NYSSA
“Billy! We found ourselves an ally! We’re going to be saved!”
BILLY
“Oh no! The robots, Nyssa! They’re going to shoot us! We’re going to die!”
ACE
I can’t stop it! I can’t stop the missile! It’s going to hit that target! All those people are all going to die!
The five companions struggle to keep awake, as they eventually fall asleep and dream away.
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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