6. The Truth Revealed
SCENE #44 – INT – CELL CHAMBER, MAIN CITADEL – DAY, AFTERNOON
Back on Lonmar, Krige watches the five companions sleeping in their prison cell whilst she’s having her salty bath. Small electrical discharges occur from her body, as Krige watches the monitor screens. She speaks as the monster with her ugly, distorted voice.
KRIGE
There they all are. All five lovely companions of the Doctor. Sleeping. That’s good.
Krige then stands up and makes her way out of the salty bath. Transforming again into human form, Krige goes over to the intercom. Flicking a switch, Krige speaks into the intercom with her normal voice.
KRIGE
(through intercom) Owen? Can you hear me?
A crackling noise echoes as Owen responds.
OWEN (V’O)
Yes, yes. I hear you, your ladyship. I was just about to report in.
KRIGE
(through intercom) I see you’ve managed to capture our prizes.
OWEN (V’O)
“Oh yes, yes. That I have. I gathered you knew that already.”
KRIGE
(through intercom) “Of course. I’ve just been watching the monitors for the designated prison cells you were going to put them in.”
OWEN (V’O)
“Oh. Have you? Oh I see.”
KRIGE
(through intercom) “You must be so ignorant to my resourcefulness, Mr. President?” (Pause) “I’m very pleased with you. Thank you Owen for carrying out my orders.”
OWEN (V’O)
“I’m willing to serve your ladyship. If there’s anything else you require…”
The conversation continues in the next scene.
SCENE #45 – INT – PRISON CONTROL CENTRE, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
KRIGE (V’O)
Just keep constant watch over them, Mr. President. I expect nothing less. I intend to be on my way to meet you where you are on the station very soon.
OWEN
(through intercom) Oh we shall be honoured to meet you on your arrival.
KRIGE (V’O)
Of course you will. Now carry out your orders and prepare for my arrival. Those companions of the Doctor can be unpredictable. So don’t take anything for granted. Krige, out.
Krige cuts off the communication from her end. Owen eventually switches off the intercom with Darvill and Stewart at his side in the prison control centre.
OWEN
Well, I hope you two were able to pick up on that last bit of information.
DARVILL
Yes, sir. Her ladyship’s arrival will be anticipated.
OWEN
I sure hope it will, Mr. Darvill. On your own head be it. (Pause) Now, everything must be set in order for the final stages of the agenda.
Owen then leaves the prison control centre. Stewart and Darvill remain behind. Once he’s gone, Darvill and Stewart breathe a sigh of relief and relax.
STEWART
“Is it my imagination or is the President starting to get edgy?”
DARVILL
“It’s your imagination.”
STEWART
(crestfallen) “Oh. Shame.”
DARVILL
“It’s more like he’s going to go berserk! That Lady Krige is giving him too much to do!”
STEWART
“If you call her a lady, Roy.” (Pause; realises) “It’s alright? I can call you Roy, can’t I?”
DARVILL
“Just be cautious from now on. You never know who may be watching.”
SCENE #46 – INT – PRISON CELL, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
Back in the prison cell, the five companions recover as they come out from having their dreams.
NYSSA
“Billy? Billy dear, are you alright?”
BILLY
“Yes. Yes, Nyssa sweetheart. I’m alright.”
NYSSA
“You look all in.”
BILLY
“You can say that again. These dreams make your head swirl.”
JO
“Same here. It’s like my head’s being knocked a dozen times.”
NYSSA
“I think it’s fair to say now that the Marnlix aren’t responsible for our dreams.”
VICTORIA
“It’s President Owen; Mr. Darvill and Miss Stewart. Why would they do such a thing to us?”
ACE
“I told you guys before! These goons are temporal fanatics about us five. We’re a gang of heroes! We’re friends of the Doctor. They’re taking advantage of our talents, the swindlers!”
VICTORIA
“But why capture us and make us do these things by stealing a generator?”
BILLY
“They must have a selfish reason. I wonder if they’re working for someone else who’s paying them good money or something worse than that.”
NYSSA
“That’s a very good point, Billy. President Owen and the others can’t have engineered this plan all by themselves by kidnapping us with a teleport and sending us here.”
JO
“It would have to be somebody really nasty and terrible. Daleks, perhaps.”
ACE
“I wouldn’t put it past them. They’re nasty blobs, aren’t they?!” (mimicking Daleks) “Going ‘Exterminate, Exterminate’ all the time!”
NYSSA
“I gather then that all of you have met Daleks in your travels with the Doctor.”
JO
“Yes unfortunately.”
ACE
“Oh I wouldn’t miss out on meeting those dustbins! I first encountered them on Earth in ninety sixty-three.”
BILLY
“Hey?! Earth, ninety sixty-three?! But that’s where I come from!”
ACE
(reassuringly) “Oh it’s alright, Billy. The Professor and I sorted it out.”
BILLY
“Well I sure hope you did! I met them in the future with the starship Moonraker and the Dwaxi! I found them really horrifying! Do you remember, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“How could I forget? I’ve met them more times than you, Billy! They’ve done terrible things!”
VICTORIA
(sadly) “Hardly more terrible when the Daleks murdered my father.”
JO
(gradually) “Oh…you poor dear. I’m so sorry.”
BILLY
“Yes sorry, Victoria. That’s terrible.”
ACE
“Yeah, ouch.”
VICTORIA
“It was how I first met the Doctor. The Daleks kidnapped me and my father asked the Doctor and Jamie to rescue me. It was when we defeated them that my father sacrificed himself.”
NYSSA
“Victoria, I’m so sorry.” (Pause) “I know what it’s like to lose a father.”
VICTORIA
(to Nyssa) “You’ve lost your father as well, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“I have. My planet was also destroyed with my father. It happened when the Master tried to take control of my home planet Traken. The Doctor saved me.”
JO
(realises) “Wait a minute! The Master! You know the Master?”
NYSSA
“You know the Master, Jo?”
JO
“Yes! Was he like…um…a tall man with black hair and a rubbish beard?”
NYSSA
“Yes, that’s him!”
JO
“Well…the Doctor and U.N.I.T have had a lot of trouble with him. He did some pretty terrible things when we tried to stop him.”
ACE
“Not so terrible when he tried to ruin my home town Perivale.”
BILLY
“You know the Master too, Ace?”
ACE
“Not half. He killed one of my friends and used cat-people for his own dirty work.”
BILLY
(slightly disappointed) “Well, that’s interesting. It seems like Victoria and me are the only ones who haven’t met the Master yet.”
ACE
“Trust me! You wouldn’t want to meet him!”
JO
“No certainly not!”
NYSSA
“He’s far more evil than you can imagine Billy. He’d tried to hypnotise and manipulate you for his schemes. And most likely kill you.”
BILLY
“Oh. Right. Very well then. I’m glad not to have met him.”
VICTORIA
“So you think that either the Daleks or this…Master person is responsible for us being here.”
ACE
“We didn’t say that, Victoria.”
JO
“We’re supposing it might be.”
NYSSA
“And if it isn’t, then who else could it be?”
A moment of silence ensues before Billy feels a pain in his right arm. He checks his arm to tend to the pain.
BILLY
“That’s odd.”
NYSSA
(concerned) “Billy, is there something wrong?”
BILLY
“I’m not sure. The robot that held me earlier seems to have hurt me really badly.”
ACE
(mockingly) “Hey. We all get knocks and bruises, Billy. Live with it.”
NYSSA
“Here, Billy. Let me have a look.”
Nyssa makes her way over to Billy and tends to his arm.
BILLY
“Now don’t fuss, Nyssa. I’m sure it’s nothing. It’ll probably heal.”
JO
“You’re lucky to have a girlfriend who looks after you, Billy. I’m almost jealous.”
NYSSA
“Billy I need you to roll up your sleeve for me please.”
BILLY
(reassuringly) “I’m sure I’m alright, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
(insistently) “Please, Billy.”
BILLY
(reluctantly) “Very well. If you say so…”
Billy rolls up his sleeve as Nyssa looks at his arm. But as she touches Billy’s arm, something snaps and there’s an electrical discharge. Gasps of shock and horror are uttered from Jo, Victoria and Ace, whilst Nyssa and Billy are horrified.
BILLY
(horrified) “Nyssa?! What have you done?!”
NYSSA
(horrified) “I…I’m really very sorry, Billy! Your arm! It…it just came off by itself!”
VICTORIA
(shocked) “Are my eyes playing tricks with me…or…?”
JO
(shocked) “Did Billy’s right arm just snap off before our eyes?”
ACE
(gradually; in awe) “Well…I’ll say this for you, Billy. Wicked!”
BILLY
“I’ve lost an arm! But how can this be? How come my arm’s just snapped off like that?”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure. But I can tell you one thing. It’s not even your real arm, Billy!”
BILLY
“What do you mean by that?”
NYSSA
“Well, look at it! Can’t you see? The arm’s left off an electrical discharge!”
BILLY
(realises) “Yes! There are wires coming out of it!”
VICTORIA
“But what does this mean? Billy’s not a real person?”
JO
“More to the point, what does it say about us? Are we real or not?”
ACE
“Blimey! I hadn’t thought of that!”
The five companions are aghast, as they wonder what’s happened.
SCENE #47 – INT – PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
In the president’s office on Lonmar Station #5, Owen works with Stewart over some items on the agenda’s final stages.
OWEN
“Now…the space fleet will consist of twenty four thousand, four hundred and fifty ships in total. They are to include a full cargo.”
STEWART
“Yes sir. I contacted the dealers at the robotics factory on Lonmar.”
OWEN
That’s good. They need to be loaded up onto the ships in order to be sent to our enemy. Inform Mr. Darvill that he is to lead the fleet.
STEWART
Mr. Darvill? But he’s chief of security. Shouldn’t we have him on Lonmar?
OWEN
(confidently) Lonmar will have already won its war when we send the invasion fleet into Marnlix Space. Darvill will be put to better use at the front of battle.
STEWART
But he doesn’t have much battle experience. I know him too well. More than you do.
OWEN
Then this should be an opportunity for him to gain experience in the field of battle.
STEWART
(protests) But, sir…
OWEN
(agitated) “Do you question my authority, Miss Stewart? I fear I should warn you…”
STEWART
(interjects) “No that’s fine, Mr. President. I understand. I shall inform Mr. Darvill.”
OWEN
Excellent, Miss Stewart. I’m glad you approve.
STEWART
(bitterly) Do I just.
OWEN
What did you say?
They are then interrupted, as a bleeping sound occurs. Owen goes over to flick a switch on the intercom.
OWEN
(through intercom) Owen here.
KRIGE (V’O)
Owen, it’s Krige. Listen, this is important. I’ve no time for pleasantries. It’s your prisoners.
OWEN
(through intercom) Prisoners. But surely they can’t have escaped…
KRIGE (V’O)
They haven’t escaped. But there is something you should know.
OWEN
(through intercom; intrigued) “Oh. And what is it?”
KRIGE (V’O)
“They’re about to know what they really are!”
OWEN
(through intercom; shocked) “What?! No, that can’t be!”
KRIGE (V’O)
“I saw it, Mr. President! One of them has lost his arm!”
OWEN
(through intercom) “Oh no! This is terrible!”
KRIGE (V’O)
“I suspected something like this would happen! I hoped that it wouldn’t!”
OWEN
(through intercom) “What do you wish me to do, my lady?”
KRIGE (V’O)
“Bring the companions to the main hall on the space station. There they should see what we’ve achieved and done.”
OWEN
(through intercom) “So you’ve managed to capture the machine.”
KRIGE (V’O)
“Of course. But there are four aspects of it, since four of them sought to rescue their flock.”
OWEN
(through intercom) “Such sentiment. Such determination. Such weakness.”
KRIGE (V’O)
“Go about your job, Mr. President! Bring the companions to the main hall!”
Krige ends the communication, before Owen turns to Stewart.
OWEN
(frustrated) “I presume you managed to hear all that, Miss Stewart.”
STEWART
“Shall I inform Mr. Darvill?”
OWEN
“Of course. Tell him to send a squad of robots to the prison block and bring the five companions to the main hall at once!”
STEWART
“Yes, sir.”
OWEN
“Oh and…tell Darvill to instruct the robots to be gentle with them.”
STEWART
“I understand, sir.”
Stewart leaves the President’s office. Owen remains frustrated and stressed out.
SCENE #48 – INT – PRISON CELL, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
Back in the prison block, the five companions still worry over Billy’s condition and contemplate what he is.
BILLY
“A robot?! I’m a robot!”
JO
“But how could you be a robot? You sound human enough! You don’t act like a robot at all!”
NYSSA
“Perhaps that’s the intention. The five of us were built for the very purpose of carrying out orders on behalf of President Owen.”
VICTORIA
“So does that mean we’re not real then? All of us are robots.”
NYSSA
“It would seem to be the logical conclusion.”
BILLY
“But wait, Nyssa! I maybe the only robot!”
ACE
“Yeah. We four girls maybe real. But Billy could have been built to spy on us and watch our every move.”
BILLY
(protests) “Hey, hey hang on, Ace! I think that’s going a bit too far!”
JO
“I think it’s horrible!”
NYSSA
“No! We mustn’t rule out the possibility.”
BILLY
(protests) “What?! But Nyssa…”
NYSSA
(interjects) “I’m sorry, Billy. I know you seem to have good intentions now. But perhaps very soon some programming may enter into your positronic brain and you may turn against us.”
BILLY
“But I don’t want that to happen! I don’t want to hurt you girls!”
NYSSA
“I said ‘perhaps’, Billy. I wasn’t saying you would turn against us as a matter of fact. It’s just a possibility.”
ACE
“Yeah sorry, Billy. I didn’t mean to wound you up. I was trying to make a joke out of it. Obviously it didn’t seem to work like that.”
JO
“But if we are all robots, how come we are thinking like we are now. How come I think like Jo…” (to Ace) “…you think like Ace…” (to Nyssa) “…you think like Nyssa…” (to Victoria) “…you think like Victoria…” (to Billy) “…and you think like Billy?”
VICTORIA
“Perhaps our minds are being contained in some kind of sphere. Something to make our bodies move; walk and talk. These things could be inside our bodies if these weren’t our real bodies.”
ACE
“That’s ‘ace’, Victoria! You may have full points on that!”
NYSSA
“It’s a brilliant suggestion! Pure logic!”
JO
“Where did you get an idea like that from, Victoria?”
VICTORIA
“The Yeti actually.”
NYSSA
“Let’s see if we can find some device inside our bodies that contains our memories and thoughts. It may hold the answer as to why Billy’s arm snapped off.”
BILLY
“Does that mean we start dismantling ourselves?”
NYSSA
“It might come to that, I’m afraid.”
Just then they’re interrupted, as a squad of Lonmar robots enter.
JO
(worried) Oh no! Here come our robot friends!
ACE
I’m starting to hate that word.
The robots, led by Robot #B2, unlock the energy bars to their prison cell as they switch off the mechanism.
VICTORIA
They’re letting us go.
NYSSA
I wouldn’t be too sure of that.
Robot #B2 steps forward.
ROBOT #B2
You are to come with us to the main station hall.
BILLY
“Why?! Are we going to be trained and tested again?”
JO
“Or dismantled.” (accusingly; to robots) “What have you done to us? Billy’s arm just came off and it’s all mechanical! Why is that?! What are we really?”
VICTORIA
“Are we like you? Robots?”
ROBOT #C3
“We have our orders.”
ROBOT #B2
“You will accompany us now.”
ROBOT #F6
“Do not resist.”
VICTORIA
“We’re not going with you until you tell us what we want to know!”
ACE
“Yeah! It’s robots nil and the Doctor’s gang full marks this time!”
The robots then train their arm-like energy weapons at them.
ROBOT #B2
“You already know our threat mode.”
ROBOT #C3
“You know the extent of our firing range.”
ROBOT #F6
“You will accompany us!”
NYSSA
(reluctantly) “Come on! We’d better do as they say.”
JO
“But they can’t make us go, Nyssa. We won’t do this thing President Owen wants us [to do…]”
NYSSA
“Please, Jo! These robots aren’t programmed to respond to our commands. President Owen and Mr. Darvill may have the answers.”
ACE
“We are robots too, you know!”
VICTORIA
“At least we’re likely to be.”
BILLY
“I agree with Nyssa. We’d better get this over and done with.”
NYSSA
“Thank you, Billy.” (to robots) “You will not hurt me and my friends on our way to this main station hall!”
ROBOT #B2
“We have instructions to escort you unharmed and alive.”
JO
“Well, at least that’s okay then.”
ROBOT #C3
“You will come with us at once.”
The robots push the five companions out of their cell and escort them.
ACE
“Alright, alright! There’s no need to push, tin-head!”
ROBOT #F6
“You will come with us at once.”
Despite their protests, the five companions are escorted out of the prison block as the robots take them away.
SCENE #49 – INT – MAIN STATION HALL, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
Eventually, the five companions escorted by the robots arrive in the main station hall. President Owen, Darvill and Stewart are present in the main station hall, as the trio stand on a stage. Robot #B2 steps forward.
ROBOT #B2
“We have brought them, Mr. President. We have brought the five companions to you.”
OWEN
“You’ve done well, robots! I’m very pleased with you!”
The five companions, each held by robots, are brought forward to confront President Owen, Darvill and Stewart.
OWEN
“Welcome to our show, you lovely people! As you can see…me, Mr. Darvill and Miss Stewart take centre stage! We hope you’ll enjoy yourselves!”
ACE
(shouts) “This is sick, you know! What right do you have to do this?! What have you jerks done to us?!”
VICTORIA
“Yes! We’ve done you no harm! Yet you manage to abuse our dignity as well as well-being!”
DARVILL
“I think the ladies are referring to their friend Mr. Walker and his apparent condition, Mr. President.”
OWEN
“Yes! I have gathered that thank you, Mr. Darvill. I’m not so stupid.”
NYSSA
(angrily) “Then provide us with an answer, Mr. President! Why is my boyfriend like this? Why does he happen to be a robot?”
OWEN
“Patience, Miss Nyssa. You and your friends shall not be kept in suspense. The answers are all here in this main control room.”
As they talk, a series of sizzling, whirly bumping sounds attract the attention of the five companions.
JO
“I can hear bumps, whooshes and wheezes somewhere. It sounds familiar.”
BILLY
“Yes Jo, I agree with you. It does sound familiar. I can’t quite make it out but…it sounds like…”
OWEN
(interjects) “Yes, Mr. Walker! You’re absolutely right! It is it!”
NYSSA
“What are you talking about, Mr. President?”
ACE
Yeah! Stop talking drab-like just because we’re mere mortals!
OWEN
(to Stewart) Miss Stewart. Draw the curtain.
STEWART
As you wish, sir.
Stewart makes her way over to the other side of the stage. She arrives at a control panel, as she’s about to flick a switch to pull a curtain concealing the thing making the strange bumping noises.
VICTORIA
What’s behind that curtain, Mr. President?
OWEN
Don’t you know, Miss Waterfield? You’ve seen it before, haven’t you?
Stewart flicks the switch on the control panel, which in turn draws the curtain. It reveals a blue box circling in mid-air, surrounded by a whirl of energy as it fluctuates in and out of existence. The companions are shocked, recognizing what it is.
BILLY
Oh no! I was right! It’s…it’s…
NYSSA
“Yes, Billy! It’s the TARDIS!”
They watch as the TARDIS fluctuates violently in its whirl of energy.
JO
“I never thought I’d see that old police box again!”
ACE
“Gordon Bennett!” (Pause; realises) “But hang on! If the TARDIS is here, then…”
VICTORIA
(realises) “The Doctor’s in there too!” (calls) “Doctor! Jamie! Are you in there?!”
DARVILL
“It’s no good, Miss Waterfield. Your Doctor won’t hear you. And neither would yours for the rest of you!”
As the five companions watch the TARDIS fluctuate, the sound of voices echo from inside TARDIS. Scene #49B takes place*.
ACE
“Is it my imagination or are there voices inside that blue box?”
NYSSA
“Yes! I hear them as well!” (to Owen) “Why is the TARDIS fluctuating like that, Mr. President?”
OWEN
“That’s very simple, Miss Nyssa. There are four TARDISes in one!”
ACE
“Sorry? Come again?”
OWEN
“You have different Doctors you travel with according to his timelines. Each of your Doctors is trying to rescue you. But as a mistake, they have tried to land their TARDISes – the same TARDIS, but at different points in time – in the same place and the same time on this station of Lonmar. Causing a massive paradox that can disrupt the universe!”
NYSSA
“What?!”
OWEN
“Even he can’t escape from it! The Doctor – the Doctors – have caught themselves in their own trap!”
Owen laughs out triumphantly whilst the five companions look on in disgust.
VICTORIA
(upset) “You’re a revolting man!”
JO
(cries) “Stop this! Stop this at once, please! Let our Doctors go!”
OWEN
“Too late I’m afraid. The paradox is made! It cannot be broken! Even I can’t save them!”
NYSSA
“Why have you done this?! What’s all this about?”
OWEN
(to Darvill) “Darvill! Why don’t you tell these five who they really are?!”
BILLY
(disturbed) “What’s that supposed to mean?”
DARVILL
(gradually) “Miss Waterfield; Miss Grant; Miss Nyssa; Mr. Walker; Miss McShane…”
ACE
“Ace to you!”
DARVILL
(continues) “…Miss Ace, I mean.” (Pause) “I’m afraid…the five of you…are all robots!” (Pause) “I hope I’ve told you all as gently as I could.”
Moment of silence.
JO
You were right, Nyssa! You were right all along! It wasn’t just Billy. We’re all robots!
NYSSA
I had hoped I wouldn’t be, Jo.
DARVILL
The whole Marnlix invasion on Lonmar that you witnessed when we were attacked…and the evident capture of you five…was a set up for the big plan.
NYSSA
You’ve convinced us well indeed, Mr. Darvill.
ACE
What about the real ‘us’ then? Where are we?
OWEN
Miss Stewart? If you would please again.
STEWART
Yes, sir.
Stewart flicks another switch at the control panel to reveal a chamber contained in the main hall.
OWEN
Look to your right, you five.
The five companions look to the right and see the horror for themselves. They gasp once they see it.
JO
Well, there’s your answer, Ace. We’re there in those cases!
ACE
Yeah! And I wish I hadn’t bothered asking!
VICTORIA
(horrified) Oh no! We’re dead, aren’t we? Those cases we’re in are coffins, aren’t they?
NYSSA
“No! It’s not that, Victoria! They’re stasis chambers. That’s why we believed ourselves to be real in the first place.”
BILLY
(realises) Because our minds are telepathically linked to the robots in connection with those cases. It’s a psychic connection from the real ‘us’ to us as robots.
DARVILL
“Exactly! We’ve kept you safe aboard this space-station to ensure you weren’t damaged. The robots kept your real bodies unconscious before you arrived in Lonmar space and before we were able to transfer you to this station.”
ACE
“Why have you brought us here?! You must have sick minds to make robots of us and put us in stasis to make them tick and do your dirty work!”
OWEN
“A very good question, Miss Ace. I always like the Doctor’s companions…who ask really good questions.”
JO
“Please! Stop torturing us further, Mr. President! Just tell us what we want to know!”
Moment of silence.
OWEN
“What we told you is partially true. You five are meant to steal a shield generator from Marnlix Prime as per trained. But the generator belongs to Marnlix! Not to Lonmar!”
BILLY
“So you want us to nick something of theirs and bring it back to you! Why? What for?”
DARVILL
“To win the war! For Lonmar to win the war!”
VICTORIA
“So you are fighting a war then!”
OWEN
Yes! Except this time…we are the malicious ones. Not the Marnlix. The Marnlix are peace-loving and harmless. We despise them! We Lonmarians want to destroy them!
NYSSA
That’s barbaric!
OWEN
Call it what you will. But we have decided to send in an invasion force of robots to attack the planet. Whilst this goes on, you five companions will steal the shield generator from them. Once that happens, the planet will eventually blow up!
BILLY
What?!
DARVILL
The generator doesn’t provide the shielding of the planet Marn. It connects the planet’s core. Once removed, it will cause massive earthquakes and tsunamis. Then the planet will blow up to smithereens.
OWEN
“That is what we Lonmarians want! To destroy the Marnlix forever! And that’s why we’ve kidnapped you five! Why you are essential in our grandest plan!”
JO
(shocked) “That’s disgusting! So horrible and callous!”
BILLY
“You can’t be serious!”
ACE
(defiantly) “We won’t do it! You can’t make us do it! DO YOU HEAR?! YOU CAN’T MAKE US DO IT!!!”
OWEN
(threateningly) “You will do it, you five! You have no choice! Very soon, you will be given a final programming! A final test and training session to improve your efficiency! And to succeed in the mission!”
NYSSA
(realises) “Those dreams we’ve been having! You’ve implanted them in our minds, haven’t you? It wasn’t the Marnlix who planted those dreams in our minds! It was you!”
OWEN
“Each of your dreams represent specific roles you will be given to do when you are on Marn Prime.” (to Victoria) “You Victoria will kill someone…” (to Jo) “…you Jo will see the sign from school those bullies told you to make…” (to Nyssa; Billy) “…you Nyssa and Billy will find allies and get destroyed…” (to Ace) “…and you Ace will fail to save the planet Marn from destruction by failing to disable a bomb as its part of your programming!”
ACE
(disgusted) “You’re sick! YOU’RE SICK!”
OWEN
“It’s all being done…in the name of Russorg!”
JO
(realises) “Russorg?! That’s who’ve heard in our dreams!”
VICTORIA
“Who is Russorg? Is a she or a he?”
OWEN
(chuckles) “All will be revealed!”
BILLY
“You have an annoying habit of keeping us waiting, you know!”
DARVILL
(calls; to robots) “Robots! Take them away to the robot room for final programming!”
ROBOT #B2
“As you command, Mr. Darvill.”
The robots approach the five companions, about to take them away.
ACE
“Oh no, you don’t!”
Ace throws a can of Nitro-9 out of her rucksack, aiming it at the robots.
NYSSA
(cries) “No Ace; no! Not the Nitro-Nine!”
JO
“Not again!”
ACE
(shouts) “Everyone! Get down!”
OWEN
“What is this?!”
DARVILL
“Do as she says, sir! Get down!”
Everyone, except the robots, gets down onto the ground. The robots are unperturbed whilst the Nitro-9 falls to the ground.
ROBOT #B2
“Resistance is futile. You cannot escape…”
Before the robot finishes what it says, the Nitro-9 goes up in a mighty explosion. All the robots fall to the ground, getting destroyed. Ace, Nyssa, Billy, Jo and Victoria take their chance to escape.
ACE
(shouts) “Everyone! Leg it!”
NYSSA
(calls) “Come on! Let’s go!”
The five companions make a run for it as they escape the main hall.
STEWART
“They’re getting away, Mr. President!”
OWEN
“Stop them! Stop them at once!”
DARVILL
(to robots) “Robots! The ones that are still working! Chase after those five! Now”
ROBOTS
(disorientated) “Yes, sir”
The surviving robots march on, chasing after the five companions. The five companions approach different exits before them.
NYSSA
“Two exits ahead!”
BILLY
“We should split up! Like last time!”
JO
“I agree!”
VICTORIA
“Me too!”
ACE
“Me three!”
NYSSA
“Right! We’ll split up then!” (to Jo) “Jo! You come with me and Billy!”
BILLY
“Yes! Good idea, Nyssa!”
JO
(cheerily) “I’m right behind you two!”
ACE
(to Victoria) “Come on, Victoria! Follow me!”
VICTORIA
“I’m running as fast as I can!”
The two groups of companions split up, as they go for the two different exits on opposite sides. Jo, Nyssa and Billy go off in one direction whilst Ace and Victoria go off in another. The robots chase after the two groups of companions as they escape.
STEWART
“They’ve managed to escape, Mr. President!”
OWEN
(angrily) “Confound it, Darvill! You’ve disappointed me letting them escape!”
DARVILL
(shocked; appalled) “I let them escape?! What about you, sir? You didn’t do much…”
OWEN
“You stupid incompetent man! Get those five now! NOW I SAY!!! NOW!!!”
DARVILL
“Yes sir.”
Darvill takes out his communicator and speaks into it.
DARVILL
(through communicator; to robots) “Robots! Seek and apprehend the five companions! They are now fugitives on this station! See that none escape! But bring them in alive!”
Darvill runs off the stage in the main station hall.
DARVILL
(to Owen) “I shall see to it that the five companions are captured, sir.”
OWEN
“Make sure you do, Mr. Darvill! Or it’s your head on a platter next!”
Grimly acknowledging, Darvill heads off and leaves. President Owen remains in a foul mood whilst on the stage.
OWEN
“I will not have this ruin me!” (sharply; to Stewart) “You, Miss Stewart! Come with me!”
STEWART
“Yes, sir.”
Owen and Stewart leave the stage, whilst the robots and Darvill chase after the five runaway companions. The TARDIS still fluctuates and swirls in its whirl of energy, as the voices of the five Doctors keep talking inside. End of Scene #49B takes place here.
SCENE #50 – INT – ENTRANCE TO HOLO-ROOM #1, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
The turbo-lift doors open, as Jo, Nyssa and Billy arrive on Level 45 of Lonmar Station #5. They run and find themselves in a corridor leading into Holo-Room #1.
NYSSA
“Quickly Jo! Catch up or else we get caught!”
JO
“Sorry. It’s these new red boots of mine. They’re not really the sort of boots I should be running in.”
BILLY
“But where do we go? We don’t know what this place is!”
NYSSA
“It doesn’t matter! If those robots capture us, we’ll find ourselves under their control!”
JO
“Wait a minute! Does this place look familiar?”
BILLY
(realises) “Yes! Surely this is where we were being tested and trained for that fake mission! The holo-rooms!”
NYSSA
“That gives me an idea!”
JO
“Oh you’re not thinking of going in there, are you?”
BILLY
“Yeah! Supposing that’s what Owen and the others want!”
NYSSA
“It’s the only chance we have! And besides, they can’t implement this ‘final programming’ on us if we lock ourselves in!”
BILLY
“We lock ourselves in?”
NYSSA
“That way they won’t get us!”
Just then, the turbo-lift doors open as the robots led by Robot #F6 enter.
ROBOT #F6
“Please remain standing where you are. You must be taken for final programming.”
JO
“Since you put it like that Nyssa…”
NYSSA
(urgently) “Come on, Billy; Jo! Into the holo-room!”
BILLY
“Right-ho, Nyssa!”
JO
(cheerily) “Got you, girl!”
Nyssa, Billy and Jo made a dash for it as they made for the holo-room. The doors opened and closed as they entered inside. The robots stopped marching once the holo-room doors were closed on them.
SCENE #51 – INT – ENTRANCE TO HOLO-ROOM #4, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
In another part of Level 45 of Lonmar Station #5, Ace and Victoria are on the run as they’re being chased down a corridor by robots, led by Robot #G7.
ROBOT #G7
“Do not lose sight of them. They must be apprehended. Seek and capture.”
Victoria pants for breath as she struggles to keep up. Ace pulls Victoria along with her, as they ran down the corridor.
VICTORIA
(pants) “I can’t keep running like this! I must rest!”
ACE
“No way! We’ve got to keep on running! Don’t give up just yet!”
VICTORIA
“You’re right. I just…I just want to get away from those robots!”
ACE
“We will! If only they had signposts to get us to the escape pods off this station!”
VICTORIA
“Oh yes! That would be most helpful indeed!”
One of the robots fired its arm-like energy weapon at them. Ace and Victoria ducked as they turned around the corner.
ACE
(calls back) “Oi! Easy with ‘the firing on us’ bit!”
But the robots continued to fire upon Ace and Victoria as they ran.
VICTORIA
“Are you alright, Ace?”
ACE
“I’ll be alright! Just keep going!”
Ace and Victoria give chase as the robots marched on after them.
ROBOT #G7
“Seek and capture. Seek and capture. Seek and capture.”
Another robot fired its arm-like energy weapon as they chased after Ace and Victoria. The two companions then came across a door leading into Holo-Room #2.
VICTORIA
(despairingly) “Oh no! A dead end!”
ACE
“It ain’t no dead end, Vic! This is a door! I wonder what’s behind it!”
VICTORIA
“I don’t think we should go in! Please let’s not go in!”
ACE
“Would you rather stay here then?”
Ace and Victoria get startled as the robots fire on them again.
VICTORIA
“Very well then. I’ll accompany you into this place.”
ACE
(urgently) “Come on! Quick! Inside!”
With that, Ace and Victoria ran forwards to Holo-Room #2. The doors opened as Ace and Victoria entered inside. The doors closed shut on the robots, preventing them a chance to apprehend the two companions. The robots stopped marching and remained silent.
ROBOT #G7
“Those two companions have entered a holo-room too. Transmitting message to Lady Krige. Advise dream sequences to be initiated.”
SCENE #52 – INT – HOLO-ROOM #1, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
In Holo-Room #1, Nyssa tampers with some controls on a control panel. She taps in a few wires and few electric sparks go off. Billy and Jo stand back, as locking mechanisms work away at the entrance door.
NYSSA
“Good! That should keep the robots out for a bit! It’ll take a while for them to break the lock.”
BILLY
“What exactly did you do, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“I tripped a few of the wires connecting to the automatic control for the doors. The doors are deadlocked. So the robots can’t get in.”
JO
“They can try.”
NYSSA
“Oh yes! They can try. But at least we’re safe.”
JO
“Yes. Safe and trapped inside. How are we going to get out now?”
BILLY
“Hey be grateful, Jo! We have escaped danger from those psychopaths back there!”
JO
(apologetically; to Billy) “Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, you’re right!” (to Nyssa) “Sorry, Nyssa. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s just…I hope the three of us won’t get claustrophobia being stuck in here.”
NYSSA
“I wonder if we really are safe from Owen and the others.”
BILLY
“What do you mean by that, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Well, listen! Are the robots trying to break the doors down with any laser beams or brute force from outside?”
Moment of silence.
BILLY
“No, they’re not! It sounds like they’re not outside at all!”
NYSSA
“That’s precisely what I was thinking. They can’t have given up so easily. Not just yet.”
BILLY
“Perhaps they’re trying to find another way in. There could be a backdoor in this room somewhere.”
NYSSA
“There doesn’t seem to be any sign of a ‘backdoor’ in this room, Billy. There’s something more serious going on here.”
JO
(entranced) “Keep it away from me!”
BILLY
(to Jo) “What? What did you say, Jo?”
JO
(entranced, terrified) “Keep that sign away from me please! I don’t want to see it!”
BILLY
(to Nyssa) “Nyssa, there’s something wrong with Jo! She seems to be in a trance!”
NYSSA
(to Jo) “Jo, can you hear me? Are you alright?”
JO
(realises; to Nyssa; Billy) “Oh no! Nyssa; Billy, it’s happening again! My dream! It’s coming back!” (terrified; entranced) “No! I don’t want to draw it! I don’t want to draw it on that wall!”
NYSSA
(urgently; to Jo) “Jo, please! Don’t let them get to you whatever it is!”
BILLY
“No! Jo’s right, Nyssa! I can see something!”
NYSSA
(to Billy) “You can, Billy?”
BILLY
“Yes but…it’s very faint and…” (panics; entranced) “Oh no! Nyssa! They’re in here!”
NYSSA
“Who is, Billy?”
BILLY
(panics; entranced) “The robots! They’re in here with us!”
In Billy’s mind, a squad of robots marched towards them.
ROBOT #B2
“Please remain standing! Do not try to escape! Your deaths are imminent!”
BILLY
(panics; entranced) “They’re going to kill us! They’re going to shoot us dead!”
JO
(cries; entranced; terrified) “Please, please, please! Don’t come any closer, you thing! I don’t want to see you! I’ve shut you up in the past! Don’t come back. Don’t let me do the drawing, please!”
Jo sees the sign from her past and Billy sees robots approaching, whilst Nyssa…
NYSSA
(cries; entranced) “Mr. Darvill! Mr. Darvill, there you are! You’re our ally! You must help us!” (Pause; realise; panics) “No! No please, Mr. Darvill! You can’t leave us! We need you! Don’t leave us! Don’t let me and Billy die, please!”
The three companions panicked, as they experiences their waking dreams for real in the holo-room, being projected to life.
SCENE #53 – INT – HOLO-ROOM #4, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
The same thing happens to Ace and Victoria, now in Holo-Room #2, as they experience their dreams being projected to life. Krige appears to taunt Ace and Victoria in their dreams.
ACE
(to Krige) “Who are you?! What do you want?!”
KRIGE
(taunts) “I am merely a projection of myself! I am your enemy! And I have got you all at last! You and your friends!”
Ace turns to see Victoria experience her waking dream.
VICTORIA
(entranced) “Please! I don’t want to kill anyone! Don’t make me do this! Let me free by all means, but don’t make me murder someone!”
KRIGE
(taunts) “You have to murder, Victoria Waterfield! Because that’s what you are! That’s what all of you who travel with the Doctor in the TARDIS are! Murderers! You Victoria…are a murderer!”
VICTORIA
(cries) “No! Go away, you horrible creature! GO AWAY!!!”
ACE
“Can’t you see this is killing us?! These dreams you’re giving us!”
KRIGE
(taunts) “Stop it, Ace! You must stop it, Ace!”
Ace finds herself experiencing her dream again as she tries to disable the missile before it reaches its target. Meanwhile, Victoria continues to struggle with her dream.
VICTORIA
(entranced) “No! Mustn’t pull the trigger! MUSTN’T…PULL…THE TRIGGER!”
But it’s too late, as Victoria shoots the gun and lets out a horrified scream. She falls to the ground sobbing bitterly.
VICTORIA
(entranced; sobs) “No! What have I done?! I didn’t mean to do that! WHY DID I DO IT?!”
Meanwhile, Ace struggles in her dream to disable the missile.
ACE
(entranced) “Can’t stop it! I can’t stop it! It’s happening all over again!”
KRIGE
(mockingly) “Clever, Ace! The demolitions expert, as you like to call yourself! Not so clever now are you?!”
ACE
“Shut up!”
KRIGE
“Couldn’t pass your chemistry exams, could you?!” (Pause) “The Doctor has also failed you, hasn’t he? When he tried to rid you of Fenric’s evil! He let you down! He always lets you down!”
ACE
(protests) “No! The Doctor never lets me down! He’s always been there!”
KRIGE
“Where is he now then, Ace? He can’t save you anymore! Just as much as you can’t save those people on the planet! That missile will destroy all of them!”
ACE
“No! I won’t let that happen! I won’t!”
KRIGE
“See for yourself, Ace! The missile’s about to explode! You have failed!”
The missile explodes, destroying the planet before Ace’s eyes.
ACE
(entranced) “NO!!!”
Ace falls to the ground, sobbing bitterly at what’s happened.
ACE
(entranced; sobs) “No! It can’t be! IT CAN’T!”
KRIGE
“You are a failure, Ace! Just as all of you who travel with the Doctor…are failures! I, Russorg, have triumphed!”
Krige lets out a mocking laugh, as she leaves Ace and Victoria tormented and upset.
SCENE #54 – INT – MEETING ROOM #6, LONMAR STATION #5 – N/A
Meanwhile, in one of the meeting rooms on Level 4 of Lonmar Station #5, Darvill secretly contacts someone as he uses his communicator.
DARVILL
(through communicator) “Darvill to base, Darvil to base. Do you read me, sir?”
Darvill receives crackling static on his communicator which lasts for some time.
DARVILL
(through communicator) “Base, please come in! This is Agent Darvill reporting!”
Darvill receives another series of crackling static on his communicator. He’s unable to get in touch with anybody. He slams his communicator down on the table, irritated.
DARVILL
“This is not good. Must be the station interfering with communications.”
At that moment, Stewart enters the room. Darvill immediately hides his communicator away from Stewart as she enters.
STEWART
“Oh Roy. There you are! I was wondering where you’d been hiding yourself.”
DARVILL
What are you doing here, Jess? What do you want?
STEWART
I’m sorry. Have I interrupted something?
DARVILL
Certainly not! You just startled me! Now what do you want, Miss Stewart?
STEWART
Alright, keep your hair on. (Pause) President Owen wants you to lead the invasion fleet to Marn Prime. You’re to attend promptly to the flagship.
DARVILL
Ah! Is that what he wants then? (Pause) Very well. I’ll make my way to the flagship of the fleet at once! Inform the captain I’m coming!
Darvill makes to leave before Stewart stops him in his tracks.
STEWART
(concerned) Are you sure you’re alright, Roy? You seem tense somehow.
DARVILL
(sharply) “I’m fine, Jess! Just leave me alone! I have duties to perform!”
Darvill abruptly leaves the meeting room, whilst Stewart remains puzzled.
STEWART
(gradually; to herself) If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Roy was a secret agent.
Stewart eventually leaves the meeting room herself.
* See Appendix: Extra Scenes*
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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