Chapter 8

SCENE #79 – INT – PYRAMID, EGYPT (NORTH-EAST) (1963/2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
Back inside the pyramid, a door opens for the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, Jen and Rose. They exit the central chamber to find themselves in the north-east section of the pyramid.

DOCTOR 8
And here we are out of the central chamber. I’m pleased we found that door.

DOCTOR 9
And no robot mummies to meet us here. (happily) Our sonic screwdrivers came in handy, didn’t they?

DOCTOR 8
Yes. And if I might say so, that’s a very impressive sonic screwdriver you’ve got there.

DOCTOR 9
Don’t worry, mate. You’ll get to have it one day. When you become me, that is.

As the two Doctors lead the way…

ROSE
So, how long have you and your Doctor travelled together?

JEN
Oh, a fair while. About a week or so.

ROSE
(laughs; scoffs) A week? I’ve spent more time with my Doctor than that.

JEN
Really? How long have you and your Doctor travelled for then?

ROSE
About a couple of months.

JEN
Are you and your Doctor…um…?

ROSE
(defensively) No! Certainly not. (Pause) What about you and…?

JEN
(realises) Oh! No way José. The Doctor’s not my type. And he’s too old for me.

ROSE
Bit picky, are we?

JEN
(frustrated) Do you have a problem?

ROSE
Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just…well, I find it a surprise that the Doctor would have travelled with another blonde. Do you think that’s his kind of woman? Blondes?

JEN
I wouldn’t know. Besides, why he should pick you to travel with, I don’t know. You sound quite common with that London accent of yours. You are from London, I take it.

ROSE
(challengingly) Oh, and I suppose you’re superior coming from an upper-class background or something.

JEN
You could put it like that, yes. And I’m middle-class actually. Do your research before you judge me.

DOCTOR 9
(interrupts) Can the pair of you stop squabbling for a moment please?

DOCTOR 8
Indeed. You’re spoiling our concentration.

JEN
Sorry, Doctor…Doctors. (Pause) She started it though.

ROSE
I beg to differ.

DOCTOR 8
(hushes) Ssh! Quiet, everyone, and listen.

A moment of silence once the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, Jen and Rose have stopped in their tracks.

ROSE
(whispers) What is it? What’s wrong?

DOCTOR 9
Footsteps echoing nearby.

They listen for a bit, as approaching footsteps do echo nearby.

JEN
(apprehensively; whispers quietly) Those footsteps sound like robot mummies approaching.

ROSE
(quietly) I thought that too. (Pause) They’re getting closer. They must have broken down the doors to the central chamber.

DOCTOR 9
We’ll have to get a move on before they catch up.

DOCTOR 8
If only there was a way out of this pyramid and back to the TARDIS.

ROSE
Or if someone could show up to get us out of this mess.

DOCTOR 5
(interjects; cheerily) Have no fear. Interdimensional Rescue is here.

The Eighth and Ninth Doctors, Jen and Rose turn around and are surprised to see the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy.

DOCTOR 9
Hullo. Where did you spring from? How did you three get in here?

NYSSA
We found the entrance to the pyramid. The Doctor opened the door using his sonic screwdriver. The challenge is to find our way back.

JEN
(astonished) Sonic screwdriver?

ROSE
(astonished) The Doctor?

BILLY
We haven’t got long though. We’ve used up half an hour of our three hours to spend in this…dimensional zone, whatever it is.

DOCTOR 5
Interdimensional zone, Billy.

BILLY
Thank you, Doctor. (continues) We’ve been using the checkpoint disc, which we’ve left in the desert.

DOCTOR 8
(realises) Wait a minute. It’s Nyssa and Billy, isn’t it? My old friends… (trails off) Good heavens! How wonderful to see you two!

DOCTOR 9
(beams) This is simply fantastic! Hullo, Nyssa; Billy. Long-time no see, eh?

BILLY
Are these our people, Doctor? The ones we’ve been looking for?

NYSSA
They must be, Billy. Considering two of them recognise us.

DOCTOR 5
I take it you two are future versions of me.

DOCTOR 8
Absolutely.

DOCTOR 9
Got it in one, mate. I remember being you.

JEN
(confused) Doctor, I’m totally lost. Those two just called this man ‘the Doctor’, didn’t they?

DOCTOR 8
Yes, Jen. He happens to be another me.

JEN
(astonished) Another you?

ROSE
(astonished) How many versions of you are there? Are they all different?

DOCTOR 9
I’ve never counted how many ‘me’s there are out there in the Universe, Rose. Besides, they are all different compared to this handsome chap you’re looking at. Me, of course. I hope I’ve made that clear.

DOCTOR 8
(shrewdly) Abundantly.

DOCTOR 5
Apologies, I should have introduced… (trails off) Everyone, this is Nyssa and Billy.

BILLY
(cheerfully) Hello. I’m Nyssa’s husband.

NYSSA
(happily) And I’m Billy’s wife.

ROSE
(realises) Wait, you two are married?

NYSSA + BILLY
(in unison; happily) Yes.

JEN
(to Doctor 8) You never told me you had a married couple in the TARDIS once, Doctor.

DOCTOR 8
It’s been a while since I’ve travelled with Nyssa and Billy, Jen.

Just then, the robot mummies come charging in.

DOCTOR 5
(realises) Ah! I see you’re being pursued.

DOCTOR 8
Yes! And we’re very anxious to get away.

DOCTOR 9
(urgently) Come on, everyone! Let’s move and get out of this place!

DOCTOR 5
Right. Follow me, Nyssa and Billy. And keep close together!

NYSSA
(encouragingly) Yes, come on, Doctors… (to Jen; Rose) I’m sorry, you two, I don’t know your names.

JEN
Jen. Name’s Jen.

ROSE
And I’m Rose.

BILLY
(encouragingly) Come on, Jen and Rose. Follow us.

The Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy lead the way, taking the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, Jen and Rose to safety. The robot mummies pursue.

---

SCENE #80 – INT – U.N.I.T. STORAGE, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
A conversation takes place between the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan with the Brigadier and Kate Stewart in U.N.I.T. storage at the temporary U.N.I.T. HQ.

DOCTOR 13
You see, Brigadier; Kate. The items your U.N.I.T. team collected are components of a multi-dimensional technology – an interdimensional manipulator, if you like – that once belonged to the Time Lords of Gallifrey.

BRIGADIER
(astounded) Good lord! You mean that the Time Lords are responsible for this. The same as when we went through their Death Zone all those years ago?

DOCTOR 13
Not necessarily. Whoever or whatever is behind all this has access to Time Lord technology and they’re using it to manipulate the environments they’ve created for me and my other selves to go around in.

YAZ
For all we know, this U.N.I.T. HQ has been set up to facilitate you and everyone else’s perceptions of reality. And that’s without you and everyone else at U.N.I.T. realising that you’re being manipulated.

KATE
But who would want to achieve such an insane and massive operation as this? It would have to be one of your greatest adversaries, Doctor. With a reason to despise you greatly.

DOCTOR 13
Brigadier; Kate, do you suspect someone isn’t who he, she or they seem? Especially when you have multiple versions of U.N.I.T. from various time zones coexisting with each other.

DAN
Like Francesca perhaps.

YAZ
(tells off) Dan! We weren’t going to mention names!

BRIGADIER
You’re suggesting Francesca Lethbridge-Stewart, our descendant, is behind all this.

DOCTOR 13
We’re not suggesting anything. We advise you to be on the alert and lookout for anyone suspicious.

YAZ
This is while me, the Doctor and Dan are off to rescue a couple of Doctors and their friends in zone…five, is it?

KATE
That’s correct, Miss Khan. Zone five.

DAN
Hopefully you’ll be able to find out who the culprit is before we return.

BRIGADIER
Well, of course, we’ll be on the alert and on the lookout for anything and anyone suspicious. I must say though, I’m pretty put-out by this.

KATE
Who do you think is behind this fabrication of U.N.I.T., Doctor?

DOCTOR 13
We must rule out all possibilities, Kate. We don’t know if this is definitely a fabrication of U.N.I.T.

BRIGADIER
Yes, well, we can’t stand about all day. We have to get your portal gateway ready for you three to enter zone five.

KATE
I’ll see to it that Osgood has the portal gateway ready. (Pause) Should we tell anyone else what you’ve told us?

DOCTOR 13
No. Under no circumstances tell anyone else what we’ve told you. It could prevent us from finding out who the real culprit is. We’re entrusting you two to be our eyes and ears whilst we’re in zone five.

BRIGADIER
What?! Not even Benton can know about this. Nor Captain Yates.

KATE
Not even Osgood.

DOCTOR 13
No. It has to be strictly between you two and us. Understand?

BRIGADIER
(gradually) Yes, Doctor. We fully understand. Don’t we, Kate?

KATE
Absolutely. We wouldn’t want to endanger our chances of escaping this place.

DOCTOR 13
(pleased) Fab! That’s fab. Isn’t it, Yaz; Dan?

DAN
Yeah, it is.

YAZ
Definitely. (Pause) Perhaps we should get ready to go on our away mission, Doctor.

DOCTOR 13
Yes, we should. Mike Yates and Sergeant Benton are waiting for us in the briefing room.

---

SCENE #81 – EXT – AFRICA (2003) (ZONE #5) – DAY, MORNING
In zone five, somewhere in an African savannah in the year 2003, the Twelfth Doctor and his friend Bill explore.

BILL
This is awesome, Doctor. I’ve always wanted to see an African savannah ever since I was a kid and watched ‘The Lion King’.

DOCTOR 12
Wait till you see ‘Black Panther’.

BILL
(gradually) This is so incredible! Wild animals! Elephants, zebras… (amazed) Aww, are those wildebeests grazing there?

DOCTOR 12
This is all wrong. This is incredibly and stupidly wrong.

BILL
Doctor, you’re not gonna spoil things, are you?

DOCTOR 12
Ever since we fell into that maelstrom, I’ve had a sense of things being incorrect. Now I’m certain. This place must be fake. Or something worse.

BILL
Looks real enough to me. (sniffs) Smells real too.

DOCTOR 12
Appearances can be deceiving, Bill Potts.

BILL
Are you sure this isn’t your paranoia talking again? Are you really spooked by the fact that the TARDIS instruments registered zero when we arrived in whatever year this is supposed to be. (thrilled) This is simply great! I can feel the African sunshine on my skin. Proper African sunshine!

DOCTOR 12
Is it though? I wouldn’t be so sure. (Pause) Hold on. Let me put on these shades.

The Twelfth Doctor puts on his sonic sunglasses and switches them on to scan the area.

BILL
You know, you could just use your sonic screwdriver.

DOCTOR 12
I could. But these are more stylish.

BILL
Is this you scanning the area or are you just shielding your eyes from the sun? Or are you just wearing them to look cool?

DOCTOR 12
Pick one.

BILL
(teases) Alright. Number three.

DOCTOR 12
(ignores Bill) Definitely Earth-type setting. Registers as the year two thousand and three. Location is confident that it’s Africa.

BILL
What did I tell you? Africa and we’re in the early two thousands! (Pause; realises) Wait, hold on. What African savannah is this?

DOCTOR 12
The shades don’t say. They just say Africa on the readout.

BILL
(shrugs) Ah well, it doesn’t matter. So long as we can enjoy being here.

The Twelfth Doctor takes off his sonic sunglasses.

DOCTOR 12
Surely it must bother you that we don’t know which part of Africa we’re in. And that the sunglasses can’t pick up the specific geographical location.

BILL
Nah, not really. I’m feeling good about the place, so I’m not worried about the exact location.

DOCTOR 12
(sighs) Why is it always me that seems to worry about these things?

BILL
Aww, chill out, will you? You don’t have to go back to St. Luke’s for a bit. Nardole will just want you to protect that vault when we get back.

DOCTOR 12
Yes. Especially since our trip to the Goseker system has delayed things. (Pause) My gut instinct still tells me though that we were plucked out of Space and Time deliberately and not nicely.

BILL
Well, let me know how you came to that conclusion once we’ve finished exploring this place.

At that moment, a couple of lions appear, growling as they approach. The Twelfth Doctor and Bill stop.

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) Bill?

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Yes, Doctor?

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) That stuff you mentioned about enjoying being here.

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Yeah?

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) Did that include meeting lions?

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Are the lions behind a protective fence?

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) I think it’s freaking obvious they aren’t.

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Then I would have to say ‘no’.

The lions growl again.

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) Don’t take your eyes off them. Whatever you do, keep your focus. As long as we keep our eyes on them, we might be okay.

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Are you sure?

DOCTOR 12
(whispers) Let’s find out. Back away slowly.

BILL
(whispers; afraid) Again, not sure this is a good idea.

The Twelfth Doctor and Bill back away slowly.

DOCTOR 12
(whispers; realises) Aww, it’s a lion and a lioness we’re dealing with.

BILL
(whispers; scared) Doctor, this isn’t working. The lions are following us.

The lions roar, as they follow the Twelfth Doctor and Bill.

DOCTOR 12
(out loud) Wait a minute! Of course! What am I thinking? I speak lion! I should be able to communicate with them!

BILL
(grits teeth) Doctor, not so loud! You’ll bring them closer!

DOCTOR 12
(cheerfully; to lions) Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Or is it Miss? We mean no harm. We were just…

The lions roar ferociously.

BILL
(terrified) They mean us harm though! Come on, let’s leg it!

DOCTOR 12
Wait, Bill! I’m getting through to them!

BILL
(insistently) You’re not and don’t argue! Come on! Run!

Bill drags the Doctor along, as they’re soon chased by the lions. They run for a while, panting for breath as they go.

BILL
(gradually) Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. The lions will soon outrun us!

DOCTOR 12
(realises) There’s a jeep up ahead! We can use it to get away.

BILL
How long has that jeep been there? I didn’t see it before.

DOCTOR 12
Shut up and don’t ask questions! It’s there and we’re meant to take it.

BILL
Provided the key is in the ignition.

DOCTOR 12
(shrewdly) At least we’ll be safe from the lions we were trying to make friends with.

Growling away, the lions continue their pursuit, as the Twelfth Doctor and Bill make for the jeep in the Savannah.

---

SCENE #82 – EXT – INDIA (2163) (ZONE #5) – DAY, AFTERNOON
Meanwhile, in an Indian jungle in the year 2163, the Eleventh Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver, which buzzes away. He uses it to scan the area, as he and his friends, Amy and Rory, explore.

DOCTOR 11
(focused) Curious vegetation. Almost as if this was grown in a jungle.

AMY
That’s because we are in a jungle, Doctor. We’ve told you eight times.

RORY
I count nine.

AMY
Nine?

RORY
I’m counting the next one as we go along.

AMY
Ooh. Trying to be clever, are you?

RORY
(coolly) Maybe.

AMY
(teases) Well, that’s progress. Especially for a good-looking stupid face like yours.

RORY
I try to impress.

Amy and Rory kiss.

DOCTOR 11
(focused) Can you two stop smooching, flirting or whatever it is you’re doing?

AMY
Maybe we will if you answer our questions.

RORY
We asked you what time and place we were in.

AMY
And why the TARDIS instruments registered ‘zero’ as if we’re nowhere and nowhen. Whereas obviously we’re here in this mysterious jungle.

The Eleventh Doctor continues to buzz away with his sonic screwdriver, not paying attention.

AMY
(shouts) Doctor!

DOCTOR 11
(snaps out of it) Sorry, did you two say something?

Amy and Rory say nothing. Soon, the Eleventh Doctor switches off his sonic screwdriver.

DOCTOR 11
Most peculiar. I can’t tell whether we’re in a simulated projection or not.

RORY
What, you mean…this place could be a holographic illusion or something?

DOCTOR 11
Whoever created this place would have had to have used an enormous amount of power. And that’s totally, dreadfully, awfully and horribly dangerous. Wrong as well. No person should ever be allowed to have that kind of power.

AMY
Okay, so if this is a simulation or a hologram we’re in, what’s it all for? Are we in a game? Is this a video game we’re playing?

DOCTOR 11
(ecstatically) Video game! Yes, that’s good! Well done, Amelia. (to Rory) You should take notes, Rory. Your wife is good at making observations.

RORY
(shrewdly) Thank you, Doctor. And if this is a video game, what are we to it? The playable characters? Does Amy have powers like…dance-fighting and killing men?

AMY
(teases) You wish, lover boy.

DOCTOR 11
Sorry to dampen your spirits though, but this is clearly not a video game.

AMY
(baffled) What? But you said…

DOCTOR 11
(interjects; continues) Nor is it a holographic illusion. This is a jungle taken out from India in the year twenty-one sixty-three. The sonic screwdriver confirmed those details the moment we exited the TARDIS.

AMY
(baffled) We’re somewhere in India in the year twenty-one sixty-three.

RORY
(annoyed) You could have mentioned that part to us earlier.

DOCTOR 11
Sorry. Did I forget to mention it?

AMY + RORY
(frustrated; in unison) Yes!

DOCTOR 11
(laughs) Ha, ha. Ah well, never mind, you two. You’re catching up as we go along.

The Eleventh Doctor walks on ahead. Annoyed, Amy and Rory follow, as they go deeper into another part of the jungle.

---

SCENE #83 – EXT – INDIA (2163) (ZONE #5) – DAY, AFTERNOON

DOCTOR 11
Be careful as we tread. There could be a few Daleks around. We are in the twenty-second century after all. The Dalek occupation of Earth doesn’t end until next year.

AMY
Whoa, wait? Dalek occupation of Earth?

RORY
Doctor, if the TARDIS instruments said we’re nowhen and nowhere, how come your sonic screwdriver says we’re in India in the year twenty-one sixty-three?

AMY
Yeah, surely the two don’t match.

DOCTOR 11
This isn’t a card game of snap. Besides, I haven’t worked out that part yet.

AMY
(surprised) But…you’re the Doctor. You work things out in an instant.

Just then, a low growling noise echoes nearby. The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory stop in their tracks.

AMY
(afraid) That was definitely a growl. A ferocious animal growl.

RORY
(nervously) Are there lions in the jungle?

DOCTOR 11
Rory, please, that would be ridiculous. This is India in the twenty-second century, for crying out loud! There wouldn’t be lions here.

Just then, a Bengal tiger leaps out at them. Amy screams momentarily, as she, Rory and the Eleventh Doctor stare at the tiger, whilst the tiger growls at them.

DOCTOR 11
(apprehensively) Tigers on the other hand.

RORY
(anxiously) Why did it have to be a tiger? Couldn’t it have been monkeys instead?

AMY
(afraid) All I wanted was to go home. I’m sure I left the kettle on before we left.

DOCTOR 11
Amy; Rory, keep absolutely and perfectly still.

AMY
(scoffs) Yeah, right. A good moment for the tiger to leap out at us.

DOCTOR 11
Everything will be alright, so long as we don’t antagonise her.

RORY
Us? Antagonise her?!

AMY
How do you know it’s a her?

DOCTOR 11
Amy, come on. I speak tiger. I can tell it’s a female tiger from the way she’s talking.

AMY
Well, hurry up and get talking to her to make her go away.

The tiger roars.

RORY
I think you just offended her.

AMY
Me offend her?!

DOCTOR 11
(urgently) Amy; Rory! Let’s run for it!

RORY
But you just said…

DOCTOR 11
(interjects) I know what I said. The tiger is angry, and I don’t blame her. Talk and reason won’t get through to her now. She must have been without food for days.

AMY
(scoffs) Aww, poor thing.

DOCTOR 11
(urgently) So, come on! Let’s run!

AMY
Lead the way, Raggedy Man!

The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory run for it. The female Bengal tiger pursues them.

---

SCENE #84 – INT – CENTRAL OPS ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Back at U.N.I.T.’s temporary HQ, the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan are about to enter the portal gateway for zone #5, which has already been opened for them. The Brigadier and Kate are with them.

KATE
So, Doctor. You and your friends know what you have to do.

DOCTOR 13
(impatiently) Yes, yes. We use the checkpoint disc once we’ve arrived in zone five in order to get back.

YAZ
And we have three hours to find our Doctors and their friends in zone five.

DAN
And we mustn’t take any unnecessary risks. You advise caution.

KATE
Absolutely.

BRIGADIER
Good luck, Doctor; Miss Khan; Mr. Lewis. I’m sure you won’t let the side down.

DOCTOR 13
Have you heard anything from the other ‘me’s’ yet? In zones three and four?

KATE
Yates, Benton and Osgood are still tracking their movements. We hope to hear from them soon.

BRIGADIER
Let’s hope it’ll be very soon. The Doctor who went into zone three hasn’t got much time left.

KATE
And according to Yates and Benton, the two Doctors who went into zones three and four have found their rescue parties, but are struggling to get back to their checkpoint discs.

DOCTOR 13
Well, I’m sure we’ll all return to rescue the last couple of Doctors and friends in zones one and two soon enough. All of me aren’t likely to give up that easily in our attempts to escape these treacherous traps.

YAZ
There’s always a first time, Doctor.

DOCTOR 13
Not on my watch.

YAZ
You mustn’t be too optimistic. Remember what Kate and the Brigadier said. They advise caution.

DOCTOR 13
Yeah, well, we’re not slow off the mark, are we?

BRIGADIER
(slightly amused) I never expected you to be anything less, Doctor.

DOCTOR 13
(pleased) Thanks, Brig. Nice to hear you say that.

DAN
I suppose we’d better get a move on.

At that, Kate switches on the intercom.

KATE
(through intercom) Osgood, Kate Stewart here. The Doctor and her friends are about to enter zone five.

OSGOOD (V’O)
Understood, ma’am. We’re still keeping the portal gateway open.

KATE
(to Doctor 13; Yaz; Dan) Once again, good luck to you three.

BRIGADIER
Hope it turns out well for you in zone five.

DOCTOR 13
Thanks, Brig; thanks, Kate. (to Yaz; Dan) Come on, you two. Let’s go in.

The Thirteenth Doctor leads the way and enters the portal.

DAN
After you, Yaz.

YAZ
Right. In we go.

Yaz and Dan follow their Doctor, as they enter the portal and disappear.

KATE
(through intercom) Right. They’ve gone through, Osgood. Switch off the gateway.

OSGOOD (V’O)
Switching off now, ma’am.

Eventually, the portal gateway closes and switches off. Another moment of silence.

KATE
(through intercom) Thank you, Osgood. Kate Stewart out.

OSGOOD (V’O)
No problem. Osgood out too.

Kate switches off the intercom.

BRIGADIER
(realises) Have you noticed, Kate, that our descendant, Francesca Lethbridge-Stewart, wasn’t with us to witness the Doctor and her friends go off into zone five?

KATE
(intrigued) I wondered whether the Doctor and her friends were going to ask about her whereabouts before they left. I’m surprised they didn’t.

---

SCENE #85 – INT – JEEP, AFRICA/INDIA (2003/2163) – DAY, MORNING/AFTERNOON
Back with the Twelfth Doctor and Bill, they have left the African savannah. They’re driving in their acquired jeep in an African jungle. The Doctor is the driver and Bill is the passenger.

DOCTOR 12
(pleased) Good. Very good.

BILL
(puzzled) Very good?

DOCTOR 12
(pleased) Excellent! I think we’ve shaken off the lions.

BILL
Doctor, this doesn’t make sense. One minute we were in the African savannah, the next we’re in a jungle. Is this still Africa?

DOCTOR 12
Nothing about this place makes sense, Bill. I knew it the moment we came here.

BILL
(slightly annoyed) Yeah. No need to brag on and on about it.

DOCTOR 12
Hopefully this jeep will keep us going to where we need to be.

BILL
Do you have any idea where we’re going?

DOCTOR 12
Not in the slightest. I’ll let you know once I’ve worked it out.

BILL
This is a good jeep, isn’t it? Why would anyone leave it out in the savannah and leave the keys in?

DOCTOR 12
No idea. But this jeep doesn’t compare to Bessie.

BILL
Who’s she? Would I like her? Or is this Queen Elizabeth the First you’re talking about?

DOCTOR 12
No, not that Bessie. She still hasn’t forgiven me for ditching her at the wedding. No, the other Bessie I’m on about is a car I once had. She isn’t parked in the TARDIS bike and car park anymore.

BILL
You used to have a car called Bessie.

DOCTOR 12
Yes. A long time ago, but not…

The Twelfth Doctor trails off, as the jeep slowly comes to a halt.

BILL
(anxiously) Err, Doctor? (Pause) Doctor, why are you stopping the jeep?

DOCTOR 12
I’m not! It’s she who’s stopping!

Eventually, the jeep stops.

DOCTOR 12
We haven’t crashed into a tree yet.

The Twelfth Doctor tries to start the jeep up again by turning the key in the ignition. A series of guttural noises occur. Nothing seems to happen.

DOCTOR 12
(soothingly) Come on, dearest. No time for stalling.

The Twelfth Doctor tries again. Another series of guttural noises. Still nothing.

BILL
What do you think is wrong?

DOCTOR 12
(sighs) Don’t know. Could be a number of things. Low engine oil. The brake fluid. The flux capacitor.

BILL
Or it could be that we’ve run out of petrol.

The Twelfth Doctor checks the petrol gauge.

DOCTOR 12
You know, Bill Potts, I believe our jeep is thirsty.

---

SCENE #86 – EXT – AFRICA/INDIA (2003/2163) (ZONE #5) – DAY, MORNING/AFTERNOON
A short while later, Bill joins the Twelfth Doctor at the jeep with an empty petrol tank.

BILL
(satisfied) There we are. The jeep should be full. I’ve filled as much petrol as I could from one of the petrol tanks in the back.

DOCTOR 12
We’ll have to use those petrol tanks sparingly. There are only a few of them.

BILL
There’s also a likelihood we could be chased by more wild animals. Not just lions but…

DOCTOR 12
(interjects) Yeah, yeah, I know. “Lions, tigers and bears, oh my”.

BILL
(puzzled) I don’t recall tigers in Africa, Doctor.

DOCTOR 12
There’s also a sense of déjà vu about this place.

BILL
Déjà vu? Has this happened to you before then?

DOCTOR 12
Not sure. It’ll come to me once I remember. And when we have more answers.

Just then, rustling noises occur in the jungle.

BILL
(realises) Doctor, someone’s coming.

At that moment, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory show up. Both the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors are surprised to see each other as well as their companions.

DOCTOR 11
(surprised) Well, this wasn’t what I was expecting.

AMY
(relieved) Thank goodness. Actual living people!

RORY
We’ve shaken off those tigers, I think.

DOCTOR 12
(realises) Ah! The answers to our questions are getting clearer.

DOCTOR 11
(intrigued) Have I met you somewhere before?

BILL
Doctor, do you know these people?

AMY
(cheerily) Hi! I’m Amy. This is my husband Rory.

RORY
Hello.

BILL
(happily) Pleased to meet you. I’m Bill. This is…

DOCTORS 11 + 12
(in unison) The Doctor.

AMY
(puzzled) What?

RORY
Did you both speak at once?

DOCTOR 11
(realises) You’re me, aren’t you? A future me.

DOCTOR 12
Yes. The next one in fact.

AMY
(baffled) What, he’s you, Doctor?

RORY
What do you mean he’s you? He can’t be you.

DOCTOR 11
Oh come, Rory. You know about regeneration, don’t you? You, Amy and River were there when I nearly regenerated on Lake Silencio in Utah.

AMY
I don’t want to be reminded of that.

BILL
He is right, um…Rory, was it? You two don’t look alike, Doctor.

DOCTOR 12
(to Doctor 11) Perhaps we should compare notes. Telepathic conference and all that.

DOCTOR 11
Good idea. And confirm each other’s identity.

DOCTOR 12
Right then. (focuses) Contact.

DOCTOR 11
(focuses) Contact.

Standing still, the two Doctors make telepathic contact with each other. Information buzzes between them.

BILL
(baffled) Why are they standing still like that?

RORY
Telepathic conference they said.

AMY
Doctor? (Pause; calls) Doctor!

Eventually, the two Doctors come out of their telepathic conference.

DOCTOR 11
Right, so, you’re from Africa in the year two thousand and three.

DOCTOR 12
And you, Amy and Rory are from India in twenty-one sixty-three.

DOCTOR 11
And we have no Daleks to contend with. That’s a relief.

BILL
(perplexed) Wait, hang on. India in twenty-one sixty-three and Africa in two thousand and three. We’re both in Africa and India?

RORY
How can we be both in Africa and India? That doesn’t make sense.

AMY
And how come two years are happening at the same time. That doesn’t usually happen, does it?

DOCTOR 11
Shouldn’t happen, Amy. (realises) Temporal convergence.

DOCTOR 12
Agreed.

DOCTOR 11
Presumably our times and places have been extracted and placed in an alternate dimension. Working theory at best.

DOCTOR 12
Not a very nice one. Whoever’s tampering with the space-time continuum like this is an idiot. And making a mess of things.

DOCTOR 11
Well, it’s a good thing you and your friend… (to Bill) … Sorry, what was your name?

BILL
Bill. Call me Bill.

DOCTOR 11
(cheerily) Hi Bill. (continues; to Doctor 12) It’s a good thing you and your friend have a jeep for us to travel in.

Just then, rustling noises occur in the jungle for Amy, Rory and Bill to notice.

AMY
(anxiously) Doctor…

DOCTOR 12
I haven’t given permission.

DOCTOR 11
I didn’t realise we needed it.

DOCTOR 12
What makes you think you three can fit into this jeep with me and Bill?

DOCTOR 11
Oh, shut up! It can’t be smaller on the inside than it is on the outside.

RORY
(anxiously) Err…Doctor…

DOCTOR 11
Not now, Rory. As I was saying…

AMY
(anxiously; urgently) Doctor, please listen!

DOCTOR 12
(concerned) What is it, Amy? What’s wrong?

AMY
Those tigers!

RORY
They’ve caught up with us.

Everyone looks to see the tigers. The tigers growl as they approach.

BILL
(anxiously) And, Doctor. The lions have caught up as well.

Everyone looks to see the lions as well. The lions roar as they approach. The lions and tigers team up and surround the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, Amy, Rory and Bill at the jeep. The TARDIS travellers back away.

DOCTOR 11
Lions and tigers, but no bears.

AMY
No need to be disappointed.

BILL
We need to get away now!

RORY
Let’s get into the jeep while we can. I’ll open the doors.

Rory opens the jeep doors, and he, Amy and Bill get inside. Rory closes one of the jeep doors once he, Amy and Rory are inside. The two Doctors remain outside, as the lions and tigers approach.

AMY
(calls; urgently) Come on, Doctors! Get in!

BILL
(calls) The front seats are an open invitation.

RORY
(calls) Yeah, come on! Hurry up!

DOCTOR 12
This brings back memories.

DOCTOR 11
Because we shared minds, right?

DOCTOR 12
Exactly! Do you know what I remember?

DOCTOR 11
Enlighten me.

DOCTOR 12
I recall the lions and tigers not being what they seem.

DOCTOR 11
(realises) Yeah. I found it strange the tigers wouldn’t speak to me in their language.

DOCTOR 12
Same with the lions.

BILL
(calls; impatiently) Come on, you two!

RORY
(impatiently) Hurry up and get in!

AMY
(impatiently) We can’t stick around like this.

DOCTOR 11
The question is, if these aren’t lions and tigers…

DOCTOR 12
(interjects; finishes) …Then, what are they?

At that moment, the lions and tigers begin to change.

DOCTOR 11
(shocked; realises) Shapeshifters!

DOCTOR 12
(realises) Zygons!

Once transformed, the Zygons, led by their commander named Kosol, snarl at them.

KOSOL
(hisses) Remain where you are! You are our prisoners! Do not attempt to escape!

DOCTOR 11
You drive?

DOCTOR 12
Of course! I had the jeep first!

The Eleventh and Twelfth Doctor run back into the jeep.

KOSOL
(barks) Stop them! Stop them at once!

The two Doctors get inside and the front doors close shut. The Twelfth Doctor turns the keys in the ignition and the jeep roars into life. The Zygons try to get at the jeep, banging at the windows with their fists, startling Amy, Rory and Bill.

RORY
(urgently) Now, Doctor! Drive on!

DOCTOR 11
Yeah! Step on it!

DOCTOR 12
I’ll step on you if you don’t shut up!

DOCTOR 11
Okay, Grumpy Ollie.

DOCTOR 12
(triumphantly) And off we go!

The Twelfth Doctor steps on the accelerator and the jeep charges off into the jungle, throwing the Zygons off-balance. Kosol, joined by his lieutenant Stromos, sees the jeep driving off.

STROMOS
(snarls) Do we continue our pursuit, Commander?

KOSOL
(snarls; bitterly) Yes. We continue. They shall not get away so easily. (barks) Resume beast modes.

At that, the Zygons transform back into lions and tigers. They chase after the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors and their friends in the jeep.

---

SCENE #87 – EXT – AFRICA/INDIA (2003/2163) (ZONE #5) – DAY, MORNING/AFTERNOON
Elsewhere in the African/Indian jungle, the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan explore to find their Doctors and companions. The Doctor uses her temporal tracker, which bleeps loudly, to find their way.

YAZ
Doctor, how will we find our way back to the checkpoint disc? We’ve come quite a distance from it.

DOCTOR 13
The temporal tracker I’m using also has a new inbuilt chip for the checkpoint disc. Osgood installed it when me, my other selves and Nyssa were at U.N.I.T. HQ, making preparations for our trips into the various zones of the interdimensional network.

DAN
U.N.I.T. seem to think of everything, don’t they?

DOCTOR 13
They’re quite efficient. It’s one of the things I’ve admired about the Brigadier and Kate, despite U.N.I.T.’s shortcomings.

YAZ
Do you really think there might be a traitor at U.N.I.T. HQ? Perhaps it is that Francesca woman?

DOCTOR 13
I don’t know, Yaz. This business we’re in has steadily become more complicated as we unravel it.

DAN
The important thing is we find our Doctors and their friends and return to U.N.I.T. HQ as soon as possible.

DOCTOR 13
Wise thinking, Dan. Hopefully with this temporal tracker, we’ll be able to find our Doctors and their friends soon enough.

YAZ
Are their TARDIS signals clear on that thing?

DOCTOR 13
It’s their temporal radiation signatures I’m trying to locate. It seems we are getting closer to them. Or rather they’re getting closer to us.

DAN
(intrigued) Have you noticed how erratic the sky is? One minute it looks like it’s going to rain, the next, it’s bright and sunny, then it goes back to dark rain clouds again. The weather people would have trouble with changing rainclouds like that.

DOCTOR 13
It’s the conversion of two spatial-temporal locations colliding with each other, which isn’t very good. The more that zone five’s two spatial-temporal locations collide with each other, the more destabilisation will occur in this dimension we’re in. If each zone in the interdimensional network continues like this, the planet Earth will face cataclysms of multiple paradoxes folding in on themselves.

YAZ
I’m finding this a lot to take in.

DAN
So, you’re saying that the planet Earth will be…what? Kaput…if we don’t speed things up with restoring the spatial-temporal locations back to their proper times and places.

DOCTOR 13
(impressed) Exactly! Well done, Dan. You’re getting good at this. Picking up spatial-temporal physics.

DAN
(shrugs) Yeah, well, I’ve learnt a lot from you in our travels, Doctor.

YAZ
Where do you suppose we are then? This looks like a tropical jungle we’re in.

DOCTOR 13
Yeah, it does, doesn’t it? It’s probably Africa, India or somewhere in Brazil. As to what time zones this jungle or jungles originate from, I can’t say.

DAN
(worn out) It’s incredibly hot though, isn’t it? I’m sweltering all over.

YAZ
(teases) Shouldn’t have brought that jacket with you, should you.

DOCTOR 13
(realises; hushes) Ssh! Quiet, you two. I heard something.

The Thirteenth Doctor switches off her temporal tracker. Keeping quiet, she, Yaz and Dan listen, as they hear rustling noises nearby.

DAN
Is… Is that wind in the trees?

YAZ
It isn’t, Dan. As much as we’d like to think so, it isn’t.

At that moment, two animals leap out at them. They growl as they approach.

YAZ
(shocked) It’s a lion and a tiger!

DAN
Of course they are. This is a jungle we’re in.

DOCTOR 13
(realises) Not just a lion and a tiger, you two. Look!

At that moment, the lion and the tiger transform.

DOCTOR 13
Two Zygons disguised as them.

YAZ
You seemed to know that almost instantly.

DOCTOR 13
This does bring back memories. Not sure how though.

DAN
Déjà vu?

DOCTOR 13
Oui.

Meanwhile, the two Zygons advance.

ZYGON #1
(snarls) These aren’t our fugitives. We must have gone on ahead of our commander and the lieutenant.

ZYGON #2
(snarls) No matter. These are also our enemies. They know too much. We must kill them!

DOCTOR 13
(anxiously) Yaz; Dan, keep back. Don’t let them touch you.

The two Zygons snarl whilst the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan back away.

---

SCENE #88 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
Meanwhile in the control room of the enemy base, the villain sees the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz and Dan backing away from the two Zygons in the African/Indian jungle on a monitor screen.

SALVADOR
(gleefully) Now I have you in my sights, Doctor. Time for you to come to me. You shall disrupt my plans no longer.

Before Salvador can press a button on a control panel, a door opens and someone enters. Salvador turns to see his visitor.

SALVADOR
Ah. My disciple. You’re just in time. I’m just about to acquire the Doctor. I shall snatch her out of zone five and…

TREMAS MASTER
(interrupts) No, Salvador. Do not do that yet.

SALVADOR
(perplexed; angrily) You question the will of Salvador?!

TREMAS MASTER
Now is not the time to acquire the Doctor. The moment will come, do not fear. After all, I look forward to seeing the Doctors’ faces, when they realise they have to contend with me. Their Master.

The Tremas Master laughs out loud.

---

Sting music. Roll original 2018 Jodie Whittaker end credits with 1963 theme music.

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© Tim Bradley, 2023

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