Chapter 7
SCENE #67 – EXT – WOODS, ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE (1993/2013) (ZONE #3) – DAY, MORNING/EVENING
In the woods, the Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Darby and Peri keep running until they come to a stop. They pant, recovering their breath from running.
DOCTOR 6
I think we’re a fair distance away from our Rutan and Sontaran chums.
DOCTOR 4
They didn’t pay us much attention as they fought with each other back there. I find that rather insulting.
DARBY
Be grateful we’re still alive.
PERI
I sure am. (to Doctor 4) So, you’re one of the Doctor’s past incarnations, I take it.
DOCTOR 4
Yes. I suppose you could say that, yes. Nice to meet you, young lady.
DARBY
(puzzled) Wait a minute? What do you mean ‘one of the Doctor’s past incarnations’?
DOCTOR 6
I see your encounter with my other self and Jamie McCrimmon in Seville has prepared you for this, Peri.
PERI
I have travelled with two of you, remember?
DOCTOR 6
(realises) Oh yes, so you have.
PERI
And we did meet your previous self recently. Nyssa and Billy were there. As well as Frobisher.
DARBY
(frustrated) Doctor, are you going to tell me who these people are or not?
DOCTOR 4
Joseph here is me, James.
DARBY
(baffled) What?
DOCTOR 4
This is a future version of me. He’s the Doctor, I’m the Doctor.
DARBY
No, that can’t be right. He looks nothing like you.
DOCTOR 4
I have the ability to regenerate, James.
DOCTOR 6
And I know you’re James Darby of the Seventh Division of Space Fleet nine-two-zero. I never forget a detail like that. You’ve repeated it to me often enough.
DARBY
This person’s been swatting me up. How could he know that kind of information about me? And why is he wearing such a ridiculous multi-coloured outfit?
DOCTOR 4
(impatiently) Oh come on, James, brighten up! We helped one of my other selves to collect a certain segment of a Gallifreyan weapon on Earth? The one in the cricket clothes and beige frock coat. In Swansea in the nineteen-thirties, remember?
DARBY
I thought he was just one of those cricket players playing in a cricket match that we stumbled upon.
PERI
(realises) Wait a minute. That’s my Doctor. I mean, the first one I met before I came across you, Doctor.
DOCTOR 6
Yes, Peri, you’re right.
DARBY
And who’s this err… (becomes taken with) …Err…pretty girl?
DOCTOR 6
Ah, introductions. Peri, this is Private James. Private James, this is Peri. James used to be a travelling companion I had in the TARDIS.
PERI
I gathered that. Hello, Private.
DARBY
(enchanted) Oh please. Call me James.
PERI
Oh, okay. Hello, James. Pleased to meet you, I’m sure.
DARBY
(enchanted) Oh, the pleasure is all mine. Enchanté.
Darby takes Peri’s right hand and kisses it.
PERI
(startled) Err… thank you. That’s… that’s kind of you.
DOCTOR 4
Steady, James. You have your Lady Christina to find, remember?
DARBY
(coolly) There’s no harm in being polite and saying hello, Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
(quietly) There’s a difference between flirting and saying hello.
PERI
(good-humoured; warningly) Flirting is fine. Anything more and I sue, though.
DARBY
As the lady says.
DOCTOR 6
I take it you’re in the same predicament as me and Peri.
DOCTOR 4
Indeed. James and I were minding our own business when the TARDIS was pulled into a maelstrom in Space and Time.
DOCTOR 6
Hmm. The same happened to us too. Then we blacked out.
DOCTOR 4
So did we. Almost a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?
DOCTOR 6
When we woke up, we found ourselves in a bakery.
DOCTOR 4
(surprised) Really? James and I woke up and found ourselves in a bakery too.
DOCTOR 6
Now that is a coincidence. If we believed in such a thing. Both of us in bakeries.
DOCTOR 4
Hmm. The two bakers? (laughs) Get it? Two bakers? (Pause) No? (realises) Oh.
DARBY
Maybe a baker’s dozen gag would suffice.
PERI
(realises) Doctor.
DOCTOR 6
I recall something like this happening to someone else. Another baker called Bob.
PERI
(urgently) Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
Bob the baker! Hmm. Or Baker Bob.
PERI
(raises voice; urgently) Doctor!
DOCTOR 6
Or perhaps Bob Baker. I know he did well with getting Wallace and Gromit out of a scrape.
DOCTOR 4
Didn’t he just.
PERI
Doc… (Pause; sighs) I don’t know whether to take you two seriously or not.
DARBY
Me neither. Can we get a move on? No time for making baker jokes.
DOCTOR 6
Don’t you mean baking baker jokes?
DOCTOR 4
(laughs) Ha, ha. That’s a good one.
DARBY
Not funny, Doctor.
PERI
(stresses) Doctor, we’ll have Sontarans and Rutans on our tails if we stick around for too long.
DOCTOR 6
Hopefully not, Peri. The Sontaran and the Rutan will likely destroy each other.
PERI
(wryly) Great. Any chance we can catch it on the replay?
DOCTOR 4
Still, I agree with your friend, Doctor. Let’s continue exploring the woods and see if we can find a way out of this place.
DOCTOR 6
Agreed. Anything better than the abandoned village would be welcome. (eagerly; to Peri) Let’s go, Peri.
PERI
Alright, alright.
DOCTOR 4
Come along, James, old chap.
DARBY
‘Ere, less of the old chap, Doctor.
The two Doctors lead the way, as Darby and Peri follow them deeper into the woods.
SCENE #68 – EXT – WOODS, ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE (1993/2013) (ZONE #3) – DAY, MORNING/EVENING
Meanwhile, in the same woods, but not so far away, the Tenth Doctor and Donna search for their parties in need of rescue. The Doctor uses his temporal tracker as they go.
DONNA
Any sign of those TARDISes on that techno gizmo of yours?
DOCTOR 10
It’s a temporal tracker. And no, we haven’t found them yet.
DONNA
I would have thought that jumping through the portal would have led us directly to the two Doctors and their friends to save time.
DOCTOR 10
Clearly, we had to walk a bit of the way before we could find them.
DONNA
Oy! No need to be sarky, Spaceman.
DOCTOR 10
Anyway, the temporal tracker should lead us back to the checkpoint disc we switched on when we got here.
DONNA
Should?
DOCTOR 10
Come on! Have a little faith in me, Donna.
DONNA
How will you know where to find your other two selves, Doctor? I mean, how will you know what they’ll look like when we find them?
DOCTOR 10
(reassuringly) Trust me, Donna. I’ll know. Besides, these are likely to be my past selves we’re dealing with, which should be easier. I’ve done this sort of thing before.
DONNA
It’s become quite a habit for you, hasn’t it?
DOCTOR 10
Yes. (Pause) I really must stop bumping into my former and future selves. It’s lucky the Universe hasn’t exploded yet and that we’re still walking around in dimensions outside Space and Time.
DONNA
(realises) Doctor, stop! Hold on a moment.
The Tenth Doctor and Donna stop in their tracks.
DOCTOR 10
(whispers) What is it? Have you heard something?
DONNA
(whispers) Footsteps. Quite a number of them coming this way.
They listen for a bit, as a number of footsteps echo nearby.
DOCTOR 10
(whispers) You’re right. They are coming our way. I hope those footsteps are friendly.
DONNA
(whispers) So, what do we do then? Should we hide?
DOCTOR 10
(whispers) No, no, Donna. Let’s wait here until whoever they are arrives. If they’re friendly, we’ll make ourselves known. If they’re not…
DONNA
(whispers; finishes) Then we definitely hide for cover behind one of these trees.
DOCTOR 10
(whispers) Spot on. (Pause) Still, let’s not make ourselves too conspicuous.
As the Tenth Doctor and Donna wait…
SCENE #69 – EXT – WOODS, ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE (1993/2013) (ZONE #3) – DAY, MORNING/EVENING
…the Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Darby and Peri tread carefully through the woods.
PERI
Any idea where we’re supposed to be going?
DOCTOR 6
Not really. We just have to keep trudging on until there’s a way out of these woods.
DARBY
What if the rest of the world is nothing but woods. We could easily be jumped upon by a horrible monster. Like the ones I’ve seen in horror movies.
DOCTOR 4
James, no need to be morbid.
DARBY
I’m sorry, Doctor, but it had to be said. For all we know, vampires could be here.
PERI
(shudders) Cheery friend you have here, Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
Don’t worry. James usually has his cheerful side.
DOCTOR 6
There is a gothic atmosphere about this place, isn’t there? And it’s gone quite dark.
DOCTOR 4
I assume we’re back in the temporal zone James and I were in where it’s night-time.
PERI
Huh? How can that be? There’s daylight over there to our left. Look!
DARBY
Peri’s right. It’s clear blue sky over there whilst it’s dark here.
DOCTOR 6
I wonder who is behind this set-up. When will he, she, it or they show themselves?
DOCTOR 4
I’m hoping there’s someone else in these woods who can tell us what’s going on.
DOCTOR 10
(cheerfully) Your wish is granted, Doctor.
The Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Darby and Peri stop in their tracks. They look and see the Tenth Doctor and Donna behind them.
DARBY
Doctor, there’s a spiky-haired guy in a pinstripe suit and a trench coat with us.
PERI
And who’s the radiant redhead?
DONNA
(cheerily) Hello. Don’t be afraid. I’m Donna and this is…
DOCTORS 4 + 6
(in unison) The Doctor!
DOCTOR 10
(pleased) Well done, you two! What gave me away? Was it the good looks? The honest face?
DOCTOR 6
We sense your mind is the same as ours.
DOCTOR 4
Hmm. Time Lord minds are very sensitive that way.
DOCTOR 10
Yeah, but, come on. It’s got to be the honest face. And the good looks, right?
A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 10
Anyway, perhaps we should link minds with each other in order to be up-to-date on where and when we are.
DOCTORS 4 + 6
(in unison) Works for me.
DOCTOR 10
Good. Right then… (Pause; focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 6
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 4
(focuses) Contact.
The Tenth, Fourth and Sixth Doctors stand still, close their eyes, and link minds with each other. The information buzzes between the three Doctors.
PERI
It’s weird when they have a telepathic conference like that.
DONNA
Tell me about it. I feel as if I’m not in the room.
DARBY
(cheerily) Hello, I’m James Darby. Nice to meet you.
DONNA
Hi James. Good to meet you too.
PERI
And I’m Perpugilliam Brown. Friends call me Peri.
DONNA
I hope I’m one of them, Peri.
PERI
Oh yeah. Any friend of the Doctor’s is a friend of mine.
DARBY
Same here.
Eventually, the three Doctors come out of their telepathic conference.
DOCTOR 6
So, you have to take us back to U.N.I.T.’s temporary HQ outside zone three.
DOCTOR 10
That’s the cunning plan in progress at the moment.
PERI
(baffled) Hold on. Zone three?
DOCTOR 6
(ignores Peri) Well, it will be nice to see the Brigadier again.
DOCTOR 4
And his daughter. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Brigadier and his family.
DOCTOR 10
Kate has grown quite a bit since you last saw her, Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
Good. That’s good, isn’t it, James?
DARBY
Who’s this Brigadier, Doctor?
PERI
And who’s his daughter Kate?
DOCTOR 10
(reassuringly) Don’t worry, you two. You’ll meet the Brigadier and Kate soon enough.
DOCTOR 6
All will be explained on the way, yes. In the meantime, we have to get back to that checkpoint disc you left in the woods.
DOCTOR 4
And we have two and a half hours to get back to it, I’m afraid.
At that moment, the Tenth, Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Donna, Darby and Peri are fired upon. They duck for cover and turn around to see who it is that’s attacking them.
DONNA
(panics) And we’d better get a move on if those are who I think they are.
DOCTOR 10
Absolutely. Unfortunately for us, they’re Sontarans.
The Sontarans are led by Commander Groul.
GROUL
(barks) Stay where you are! I am Commander Groul of the Thirteenth Sontaran Battle Brigade! Groul the Ironfist!
DOCTOR 4
(unimpressed) Really? Ah well, never mind. Your mother must have loved you very much.
DOCTOR 6
Don’t let us detain you. I’m sure you have other things to attend to.
GROUL
(barks) You six fugitives are under arrest on behalf of the high command of the Sontaran Empire!
PERI
(dismayed) This is bad! This is very, very bad.
DARBY
I thought we had seen the last of these potato heads!
GROUL
(barks) Do not attempt to escape! We will shoot you on sight if you do.
DOCTOR 4
Time for us to go, I think.
DARBY
But, Doctor, they told us to…
DOCTOR 6
(interjects) Agreed! (cries) Come on, everyone! Run!
PERI
Don’t have to tell me twice!
DONNA
(stresses) Doctor!
DOCTOR 10
Come on, Donna; everyone! This way! Run!
GROUL
(barks) Halt! Halt, I say! (shouts) Troopers, open fire!
The Sontaran troopers open fire, as the Tenth, Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Donna, Darby and Peri make their escape. The Sontaran troopers significantly reduce the density of foliage, but overall, miss their targets.
GROUL
(barks) Pursue them! I want those enemies of the Sontaran Empire captured! Don’t let them escape!
The Sontaran troopers obey, as they pursue the three Doctors and their friends. Commander Groul takes up the rear.
SCENE #70 – INT – U.N.I.T. STORAGE, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Meanwhile, the Thirteenth and Fifth Doctors are in the storage area of the temporary U.N.I.T. HQ with their friends Yaz, Dan, Nyssa and Billy. They study the items found by U.N.I.T. from the interdimensional network.
DOCTOR 13
Hmm. Fascinating, these artefacts, wouldn’t you say, Doctor?
DOCTOR 5
Oh yes, Doctor. Very fascinating and very peculiar.
NYSSA
Any conclusions, Doctors?
BILLY
Yeah, what can you tell us about these items?
DOCTOR 5
Well, as we’ve been able to ascertain, they’re components belonging to multi-dimensional technology. Multi-dimensional technology that shouldn’t exist.
DOCTOR 13
Much like the interdimensional manipulator I used in my TARDIS to piggyback onto your and the other Doctor’s TARDIS when we were pulled into the maelstrom.
YAZ
Except much bigger, I take it.
DOCTOR 13
Oh yes, Yaz. Much, much bigger. (Pause) The Time Lords would have utilised advanced multi-dimensional technology. Particularly with psychic projection to reach out and link with other minds in other dimensions as well as our own.
DAN
(intrigued) That’s impressive.
DOCTOR 5
Don’t be certain. There’s the question of how it slipped through the Void and ended up here. The Time Lords wouldn’t be this careless.
DOCTOR 13
Unless someone deliberately sent it through the Void to end up inside the maelstrom for this interdimensional network to be created.
DOCTOR 5
Possibly. Very possibly. (Pause) I wonder where and when it came from and who sent it here.
YAZ
So, this technology belongs to the Time Lords then? Your people?
DOCTOR 13
Well…yes, Yaz! Yes, yes. You’re absolutely right. This would have belonged to the Time Lords from long ago. How long ago, we can’t say.
DOCTOR 5
It has the seal of Rassilon on it though. Look at this cylindrical object.
The Thirteenth Doctor looks to see.
DOCTOR 13
(impressed) Well spotted.
DOCTOR 5
Thank you.
DAN
Wait. How come U.N.I.T. are using this stuff? If the technology belonged to your people…
BILLY
(finishes) …How would U.N.I.T. know how to use it?
YAZ
Yeah, we know U.N.I.T. are sophisticated in the future, but not this sophisticated, surely.
DOCTOR 5
Very good points, you three.
NYSSA
If Francesca Lethbridge-Stewart said she came from U.N.I.T.’s future, surely U.N.I.T. would be well-equipped to acquire such advanced technology as this in their timeline.
BILLY
I wouldn’t be so sure, Nyssa. There’s not really much evidence to confirm that.
DOCTOR 13
No, there isn’t. And that’s what’s bugging me.
YAZ
(puzzled) What do you mean?
DOCTOR 13
Think about it. Everything has been set up for U.N.I.T. to coordinate this mission. For us to rescue the other Doctors and their friends. It all seems too convenient, doesn’t it?
DOCTOR 5
I came to that conclusion too. The Brigadier and his daughter couldn’t have coordinated a massive operation like this so quickly. Even with Francesca Lethbridge-Stewart’s help from her so-called future…
DOCTOR 13
(finishes) …This reality outside Space and Time would be a struggle for them to come to terms with. The Brigadier and Kate are capable, but…
NYSSA
(interjects) You think everyone in U.N.I.T. isn’t as they seem.
BILLY
(realises; shocked) Goodness. We might have fallen into a trap and not realised it. We could be playing right into the hands of those who brought us here.
DOCTOR 5
It doesn’t look favourable with the way things are and what we’ve discovered, does it?
YAZ
It can’t be right though. The U.N.I.T. personnel deciphering this… multi-dimensional technology wouldn’t know what to make of it either. If it came from Gallifrey, U.N.I.T. wouldn’t know how to handle it.
DAN
They may claim that, but it wouldn’t put them in the clear. It could be a ruse on their part.
DOCTOR 13
(thinks; gradually) We’ll have to play it by ear for the time being. Hopefully, things will be clearer once we uncover more about these artefacts.
DOCTOR 5
And how they connect to this situation we’re in.
At that moment, the tannoy switches on and Kate’s voice speaks through.
KATE (V’O)
Central ops to U.N.I.T. storage. Please could Doctor Five – the cricketing Doctor – and his companions Mr. and Mrs. Walker make their way to U.N.I.T. central ops? The portal gateway to zone four is nearly ready. Kate Stewart out.
With that, the tannoy switches off.
NYSSA
(gradually) Well, I suppose we’d better get ready then.
BILLY
I feel nervous. After what we’ve discovered, anything can happen.
DOCTOR 5
(reassuringly) Don’t worry, Nyssa; Billy. I’m sure things will sort themselves out as soon as we make our way to zone four and the portal gateway.
DOCTOR 13
Take care, you three. Yaz, Dan and I will keep on examining these items. Hopefully we can deduce more information whilst you’re gone.
DOCTOR 5
Let’s hope so.
YAZ
Good luck, you three.
DAN
Yeah, see you when you get back.
NYSSA
Thank you, Dan; thank you, Yaz.
BILLY
Yes, thanks, you two. Good luck to you and your Doctor.
DOCTOR 5
Come on, Nyssa; Billy. No time to waste.
The Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy set off and leave.
SCENE #71 – EXT – DESERT, EGYPT (WEST) (1963) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Somewhere in Egypt in the year 1963, the Eighth Doctor and his friend Jen Ward explore. Jen is happy and giddy with excitement whilst the Doctor is cautious and on the lookout.
JEN
I’m pleased you brought us here, Doctor. This is definitely the place I want to be in Space and Time. Egypt, land of the Pharaohs! I wonder whether we can enter the pyramids and see the mummies in their tombs.
DOCTOR 8
(cautiously) Careful, Jen. Things aren’t what they seem.
JEN
Yeah, yeah, I know. The TARDIS instruments went wonky and they registered zero, but who cares? This is an exciting place. I’m glad I brought my sunglasses with me as well as my sunhat for this trip.
DOCTOR 8
Appearances can be deceiving.
JEN
Is that supposed to mean something?
DOCTOR 8
This may not be the Egypt you and I think it is. Whether it’s ancient Egypt or some fabrication.
JEN
I think it’s the nineteen fifties or sixties Egypt. It looks that way judging by the clothes and hats people wear in this area. Especially the ones on camels. This is definitely something we need after seeing that Scottos weirdo on Davastos.
DOCTOR 8
Lord Scottos wasn’t weird, Jen. He was just… eccentric.
JEN
(scoffs) Yeah, right.
DOCTOR 8
Doesn’t it worry you that things aren’t what they seem? Especially after we fell into that maelstrom in Space and Time?
JEN
Nope. Not really. So long as there aren’t any vampires, Navre and Cybermen around, I’m happy to explore this place.
DOCTOR 8
There may be other unearthly horrors to come across, Jen.
JEN
Oh, don’t be a spoil sport.
DOCTOR 8
I’m just saying, you mustn’t let your guard down. We have to be careful wherever and whenever we go.
JEN
Fine. The moment the first sign of trouble happens, I promise to take things seriously.
Just then, a tremor occurs. The Eighth Doctor and Jen hold onto each other whilst everything shakes and shudders around them.
DOCTOR 8
(surprised) An earthquake! An earthquake in Egypt?
JEN
Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’m taking things seriously now.
DOCTOR 8
(realises) No, wait. This isn’t an earthquake. These are the signs of a temporal collision.
JEN
A what?
DOCTOR 8
I’m not sure whether we’ve arrived at the point where the collision has taken place or if we’re at the epicentre. (Pause) Trust me, Jen. We Time Lords have a sensitivity to these things compared to humans.
JEN
(scoffs) Thanks a lot. I’ll try not to take that as an insult.
DOCTOR 8
(urgently) Quick, Jen. That pyramid up ahead. It’s a few metres away.
JEN
We might not be able to get in.
DOCTOR 8
We can try. Perhaps my sonic screwdriver can unlock the entrance.
JEN
(sceptically) Does your sonic screwdriver do bricks then?
DOCTOR 8
(urgently) Come on! Let’s run for it while we can.
The Eighth Doctor and Jen run, as they make for the pyramid up ahead. The shaking and the shuddering caused by the tremor continues.
SCENE #72 – EXT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (WEST) (1963) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
A while later, at the west side of the pyramid, the Eighth Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to locate a door. The sonic screwdriver buzzes away wildly, whilst the tremor occurs.
JEN
(nervously) Doctor, maybe this is a bad idea. With that tremor, the pyramid could collapse at any moment.
DOCTOR 8
Not necessarily, Jen.
JEN
What do you mean by that?
DOCTOR 8
Not many bricks have fallen from the pyramid so far. In fact, hardly any at all.
JEN
That doesn’t mean the pyramid won’t collapse.
DOCTOR 8
I’m not sure. This place seems too perfect.
JEN
(baffled) Too perfect?
DOCTOR 8
(muses) Almost as if we’re expected to enter the pyramid.
JEN
(gradually) Now you’re just being cryptic and ridiculous.
DOCTOR 8
There’s something waiting for us inside. And I’m determined to find out what it is.
JEN
(dismayed) Oh great. Is your Time Lord sensitivity again?
DOCTOR 8
No. Simply an instinct.
At that moment, the Eighth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver finds the entrance to the pyramid. The door begins to open quite slowly, as it rises up from the ground.
DOCTOR 8
And would you know it? We’ve found the entrance.
JEN
That was lucky.
DOCTOR 8
Quick, Jen! Inside!
Switching off and pocketing his sonic screwdriver, the Eighth Doctor leads Jen inside. The tremor still goes on with everything shaking and shuddering.
SCENE #73 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (WEST) (1963) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Once inside, the pyramid door closes in on the Eighth Doctor and Jen. The pyramid door lowers quite slowly. Eventually, it closes shut and the tremor suddenly stops. No more shakes and shudders occur. A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 8
Now that’s interesting. The tremor stopped the moment we came in and when the pyramid door closed.
JEN
(relieved) At least we’re safe. I’m glad we got in.
DOCTOR 8
Safe, yes. But for how long?
JEN
Perhaps it’d be a good idea to explore whilst we’re here.
DOCTOR 8
Agreed. We might as well. This place may hold the key to what’s going on.
JEN
You can’t be sure of that.
DOCTOR 8
My instincts never let me down. Tread carefully though. We don’t know what we’ll find in this place.
JEN
Yeah. There could be mummies, scorpions and insects coming out of the walls to attack. (teases) Don’t worry, Doctor. Brendan Fraser will come to our aid, should anything happen.
DOCTOR 8
We’re more likely to come across Boris Karloff or Christopher Lee.
JEN
What have those two got to do with ‘The Mummy’ movie?
DOCTOR 8
(dismayed) Oh, Jen. You need to see more classic films compared to the ones you’ve seen.
JEN
Thanks, Doctor. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind once we get out of this place. (Pause) At least we have torches to light our way.
DOCTOR 8
(muses) Yes. Most peculiar, isn’t it?
The Eighth Doctor and Jen tread carefully, as they journey deeper into the pyramid.
SCENE #74 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (EAST) (2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, in the east section of the pyramid, the Ninth Doctor and Rose tread carefully.
DOCTOR 9
Very peculiar about these torch lights, Rose. They almost seem artificial when we walk past them.
ROSE
At least there aren’t any more earthquakes to worry about. If that was an earthquake at all.
DOCTOR 9
That’s another odd thing. The tremor stopped the moment we entered the pyramid.
ROSE
Good thing your sonic screwdriver came in handy to open the door for us to get in.
DOCTOR 9
I’m also sensing déjà vu about all of this.
ROSE
What caused that tremor anyway? You said something about a collision of time zones.
DOCTOR 9
Correct. I was able to sense two temporal zones in the same spatial location colliding with each other. Ours and another.
ROSE
What time zone are we in then? The twenty-thirties or something?
DOCTOR 9
I believe so. Once the TARDIS systems are working properly, I’ll have to double-check.
ROSE
Yeah, it was weird when the TARDIS instruments registered ‘zero’ like that.
DOCTOR 9
Ever since we fell into that maelstrom, things have been pretty weird and unusual for us.
ROSE
Where did that maelstrom come from? Was it natural or manufactured?
DOCTOR 9
More the latter if my instincts are correct. And they’re usually never wrong.
ROSE
(teases) You’re so full of yourself, aren’t you?
DOCTOR 9
I try to be. It never hurts to be fantastic at everything.
The Ninth Doctor and Rose laugh.
ROSE
So, what are we doing then? Do we just explore the pyramid for a bit before we reach the centre to find out what’s going on?
DOCTOR 9
(pleased) That’s a great plan, Rose. Well done!
ROSE
I’m never sure whether you’re being sarky or that you’re actually pleased with me.
DOCTOR 9
Just don’t touch anything as we go though. The treasure in this pyramid could set off a booby trap or something. And we wouldn’t want to fall into that.
ROSE
Like Aladdin’s cave this, ain’t it?
DOCTOR 9
Precisely. So don’t touch anything as we go.
ROSE
(slightly annoyed) Alright. You don’t have to say it more than once.
DOCTOR 9
It’s a good thing your mother isn’t with us. She’ll be at this treasure like a vulture. She’ll want to take a souvenir.
ROSE
(disappointed) Aww, now that’s low, even for you.
SCENE #75 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (EAST) (2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Eventually, the Ninth Doctor and Rose stop in their tracks as they turn the corner.
DOCTOR 9
Rose, hold on a minute.
ROSE
(puzzled) What is it? Why have we stopped?
DOCTOR 9
Look.
A moment of silence, as Rose looks.
ROSE
(nonplussed) Yeah, I see them. A number of sarcophaguses.
DOCTOR 9
Sarcophagi. And quite a lot of them, in fact. Arranged carefully in rows.
ROSE
And that’s odd because…
DOCTOR 9
Usually sarcophagi aren’t arranged very neatly in a pyramid. And not with such precision. It’s almost as if an army is about to wake up.
ROSE
I think you’re being paranoid.
DOCTOR 9
Am I? One time, I visited a planet called Telos. A similar sort of thing happened with dormant Cybermen waking up from their tombs.
ROSE
Dormant Cybermen?
DOCTOR 9
The point is; this doesn’t feel right. I don’t like the way these tombs have been lined up.
ROSE
Well, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. They seem quite safe.
Rose gently taps her fist on a sarcophagus lid.
DOCTOR 9
(angrily) Rose, what did I tell you about not touching anything?
ROSE
(reassuringly) It’s alright. It was a gentle tap.
At that moment, the sarcophagus lid begins to open. Rose and the Ninth Doctor step back.
DOCTOR 9
(annoyed) Now you’ve just woken up whatever’s inside. I can’t take you anywhere.
ROSE
(protests) I’m sorry. I didn’t know this was going to happen, did I?
DOCTOR 9
(urgently) Get back, Rose! Back with me!
The Ninth Doctor pulls Rose along, as they see the sarcophagus lid fully opened. Gradually, something climbs out of the sarcophagus.
ROSE
(shocked) Oh God. It’s a mummy! A real-life mummy!
DOCTOR 9
No, it isn’t. It’s a servitor robot bandaged up to look like a mummy.
ROSE
How do you know that?
DOCTOR 9
Trust me. I’ve met one of these before. He and his mates were once in the service of Sutekh.
ROSE
(baffled) Sutekh?
DOCTOR 9
Tell you about it another time. Right now, we need to get away from here.
The Ninth Doctor and Rose are about to go before they see more sarcophagus lids being opened up. More robot mummies come out from them.
ROSE
(panics) Doctor, they’re all waking up. They’re everywhere.
DOCTOR 9
(urgently) Quick, Rose! Down this way and out through the door up ahead. And don’t let these mummies touch you!
ROSE
I thought you said they weren’t mummies.
DOCTOR 9
(urgently) Come on, Rose! No time to natter! Run!
The Ninth Doctor and Rose make a run for it, avoiding the robot mummies as they wake up. They make for the door leading out of the chamber, whilst the robot mummies begin to pursue the TARDIS travellers.
SCENE #76 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (WEST) (1963) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Elsewhere with the Eighth Doctor and Jen, they’re heading for the centre of the pyramid, as robot mummies pursue them.
JEN
(anxiously) Doctor, what’s going on?! I wasn’t serious when I said we should see some mummies in their tombs.
DOCTOR 8
Be careful what you wish for, Jen.
JEN
Are these actual mummies? If they are, shouldn’t they be dead and not walking around? There’s a difference between fantasy and real life.
DOCTOR 8
Egyptian mummies should be dead certainly, but these aren’t your typical standard mummies. They’re robots.
JEN
(baffled) Robots? Okay, now you’ve lost me.
DOCTOR 8
These are servitor robots, Jen. They’re in the service of an alien masquerading as an Egyptian god. Or perhaps an actual Egyptian god. Which one, I can’t say.
JEN
Doctor, there are times when you make zero sense.
DOCTOR 8
Let’s not worry about that for the moment. Let’s make for the door up ahead instead. Hopefully, it’ll lead into the central chamber.
JEN
Can you use your sonic screwdriver to lock the door once we’re inside?
DOCTOR 8
We’ll find out once we get there. Just keep running!
The Doctor and Jen continue to run, still pursued by the robot mummies, as they go through the door of the central chamber.
SCENE #77 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (CENTRE) (1963/2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Inside, the Eighth Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to lock the door of the central chamber. The sonic screwdriver buzzes away loudly, as the Doctor does his work. It takes some time, and the robot mummies are getting closer.
JEN
(anxiously) Come on, Doctor! Shut the door quickly!
DOCTOR 8
Patience, Jen. Be patient.
JEN
(impatiently) Patience! Those mummies are nearly inside with us!
Thankfully, the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver does its job, and the door closes shut on the robot mummies. Jen and the Doctor sigh with relief once the door is shut.
JEN
(relieved) Thank goodness.
Just then, loud thuds echo on the door from the other side. Jen and the Doctor back away startled once this happens.
DOCTOR 8
Hopefully that door should hold them off for a while.
JEN
(realises) Wait. Are we trapped here? Can we not get out?
DOCTOR 8
Don’t worry, Jen. There’s a door behind us to get out of this chamber.
At that moment, the Ninth Doctor and Rose enter the chamber via the door behind the Eighth Doctor and Jen.
DOCTOR 9
(insistently) Stand back, Rose, stand back.
The Ninth Doctor aims his sonic screwdriver at the door he and Rose just came in. The sonic screwdriver buzzes away once he switches it on. Soon, the door closes shut and eventually, the Ninth Doctor switches off his sonic screwdriver. A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 9
(pleased) There! That should keep our mummy pals out for a bit.
ROSE
(relieved) Hopefully.
DOCTOR 8
And there goes our chance of escape.
The Ninth Doctor and Rose turn around to see the Eighth Doctor and Jen.
JEN
(baffled) Who are you two? Where did you come from?
ROSE
We could ask you the same.
DOCTOR 9
(realises) Hold on. I know you, don’t I?
DOCTOR 8
Funny you should ask that.
DOCTOR 9
(realises) Wait a mo. (Pause) It’s you, isn’t it? I mean, you’re me, aren’t you?
DOCTOR 8
I suppose I am, yes. I take it you’re a future me.
DOCTOR 9
I think that’s obvious, don’t you? Considering we can sense each other’s minds.
JEN
(puzzled) Doctor, you know this bloke?
ROSE
(puzzled) Did he say you’re a future him?
DOCTOR 8
I suppose we’d better link minds and assess the situation we’re in.
DOCTOR 9
Yep. Although, it’s not much to go on.
The two Doctors stand still and close their eyes.
DOCTOR 9
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 8
(focuses) Contact.
The information buzzes between the two Doctors as they stand rigidly still.
ROSE
They’re just…standing still with their eyes shut.
JEN
(mesmerised) I’m still learning new things about the Doctor.
ROSE
(puzzled) The…the Doctor? What, him?
JEN
Yeah. He’s the Doctor.
ROSE
(puzzled) But…but he can’t be. He’s the Doctor, not him.
JEN
(surprised) Pardon?
Soon, the two Doctors come out of their telepathic conference.
DOCTOR 9
(satisfied) Right then. We’re all in the same boat. We fell into a maelstrom and we ended up here. Perfectly straightforward.
DOCTOR 8
And we’ve yet to know who or what is behind this situation.
DOCTOR 9
I’m certain whoever or whatever brought us here is in charge of this place. Somehow, they have the ability to converge two spatial-temporal zones together.
DOCTOR 8
Whoever or whatever is controlling this place must be stopped.
DOCTOR 9
And hopefully before any damage becomes irrevocable.
DOCTOR 8
(realises) Oh, you know Jen, don’t you?
DOCTOR 9
Of course. (cheerfully) Hullo, Jen. Nice to see you again. It’s been a while.
JEN
Wait, back up. Doctor, are you saying this bloke is a future version of you?
DOCTOR 8
Yes. I made that quite clear, didn’t I?
ROSE
And he’s a past version of you.
DOCTOR 9
Excellent, Rose. Well done.
JEN
(baffled) But…how can that be? He looks nothing like you.
ROSE
Yeah. How can you two be the same person?
DOCTOR 9
It’s called regeneration, Rose.
ROSE
(baffled) What?
DOCTOR 9
It’s a Time Lord’s ability to change oneself when the old body dies. Or you get killed by various means. I’ll have to explain it to you another time.
At that moment, the doors to both sides of the central chamber are banged upon, as the robot mummies continue to try breaking in.
DOCTOR 8
Probably for the best. We’ve got bigger problems to worry about.
ROSE
(anxiously) Those robot mummies, they’re trying to smash the doors in.
DOCTOR 9
There must be another way out. Ideally where no robot mummies can catch us.
A moment of silence whilst the banging on the doors continues.
JEN
We’ll have to go deeper in this chamber. There must be another door which will lead us out of the pyramid.
DOCTOR 9
(impressed) Good on ya, Jen. I recall how optimistic you were.
ROSE
(jealous) Oh, so now it’s ‘good on ya, Jen’, is it?
DOCTOR 9
(sharply) Rose, now is not the time to complain and moan.
ROSE
(protests) I’m doing no such thing.
DOCTOR 8
(urgently) Let’s get moving. The robot mummies will be through those doors at any moment.
DOCTOR 9
Lead the way, Doctor.
DOCTOR 8
Oh no. Let’s both lead.
The two Doctors lead the way. Jen and Rose follow, as the four head off deeper into the central chamber. The robot mummies continue to try to break in from the outside of both chamber doors.
SCENE #78 – EXT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (NORTH-EAST) (1963/2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, outside the pyramid on the north-east side, the Fifth Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to try and get a door open. Nyssa and Billy are at his side. The sonic screwdriver buzzes away. The Doctor also has his temporal tracker switched on, as it bleeps away noisily.
NYSSA
Have you been able to find the door to get us in, Doctor?
DOCTOR 5
Not yet, Nyssa. Hopefully we’ll be inside this pyramid very soon.
BILLY
That wasn’t my imagination, was it? There was an earthquake that happened, right?
NYSSA
Yes, Billy, there was, and then it suddenly stopped. I wonder what caused that to happen.
BILLY
Are you sure our Doctors and their friends are inside this pyramid, Doctor?
DOCTOR 5
Of course they are, Billy. My temporal tracker detects their presence inside. You can hear it bleeping away, can’t you?
BILLY
Both your sonic screwdriver and temporal tracker are making quite a racket. I can’t decide which is louder.
NYSSA
I wish we had come prepared for this venture. We should have brought some protection from the sun like hats, sunglasses and sun cream.
BILLY
I didn’t think the sun would be this strong. How come the U.N.I.T. people didn’t provide us with sun gear before we came here?
NYSSA
They probably have a lot to consider. It’s not easy coordinating a massive operation like this with rescuing a lot of Doctors and their friends from various interdimensional zones.
BILLY
Do you fancy Egypt as a honeymoon destination, dear?
NYSSA
I wouldn’t mind. But probably not under unbearable temperatures.
BILLY
Perhaps we should hire a cruise ship to go on the Nile or something.
NYSSA
That’d be nice. That way we can enjoy Egypt and its vistas in luxury.
BILLY
I’ll consider it as a future honeymoon destination then.
DOCTOR 5
(slightly frustrated) If you two wouldn’t mind, I am trying to concentrate.
NYSSA + BILLY
(in unison) Sorry, Doctor.
The Fifth Doctor continues working away with his sonic screwdriver, as it buzzes loudly at the same time the temporal tracker bleeps loudly. Eventually, a pyramid door begins to open, as it slowly rises up from the ground.
DOCTOR 5
Nyssa; Billy, stand back.
NYSSA
(pleased) You’ve got the door open!
DOCTOR 5
(pleased) Yes. Now we can enter the pyramid.
BILLY
(pleased) At last, we’re getting somewhere.
The Fifth Doctor switches off his sonic screwdriver and picks up his temporal tracker, as it continues to bleep loudly. He, Nyssa and Billy back away to see the pyramid door fully open. Once it’s fully open, a moment of silence ensues.
DOCTOR 5
Right then. Come on, you two. Let’s go in and rescue our Doctors and their friends.
NYSSA
I hope they’ll be alright once we find them.
BILLY
What do you suppose these Doctors and their friends will be like?
DOCTOR 5
No idea. These are a couple of my futures, apparently.
The Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy venture into the pyramid and take their temporal tracker with them. Soon, the pyramid door closes in on them, lowering to the ground as it does so.
© Tim Bradley, 2023
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