Chapter 13
SCENE #125 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
Back in his base of operations, Salvador and the Tremas Master see the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors and their friends continuing their journey in zone #5.
TREMAS MASTER
So, the sheep did wake up in the end.
SALVADOR
(bitterly) You may have been lucky this time, Doctors, but we still have the one who’s been motivating you all to move forward.
TREMAS MASTER
How long do you intend to keep the Doctor in her cryo-chamber?
SALVADOR
As long as necessary. (chuckles) What torments I shall inflict on her.
TREMAS MASTER
It might be best to let her out in the open sooner rather than later.
SALVADOR
I do not see the benefit of that.
TREMAS MASTER
My dear Salvador, you want the other Doctors to be lured here, don’t you?
SALVADOR
Of course.
TREMAS MASTER
Then, we do these things stealthily. We let the Doctor out of her cryo-chamber for a bit before we put her back in again. Once her other selves from the interdimensional zones have made their way here…
SALVADOR
(realises; finishes) …They will be lured into a false sense of security. What we show the thirteenth Doctor won’t be enough for her and her other selves to outwit us.
TREMAS MASTER
Precisely.
A moment of silence.
SALVADOR
Very well. We will let her out, but not yet. I fancy seeing her sleep a while longer. It gives me pleasure to see her not knowing the diabolical intentions we have for her, her other selves and her friends in this Universe as well as many other Universes.
TREMAS MASTER
I admit, it gives me pleasure too. (chuckles) This is going to be a fine day for the Doctor’s Master today.
SALVADOR
I’ll be their master too, remember?
TREMAS MASTER
Of course. I didn’t mean to leave you out of the equation.
Another moment of silence.
SALVADOR
(realises) Have you changed clothes since I last saw you?
TREMAS MASTER
Of course. I always dress for the occasion.
The Tremas Master chuckles whilst Salvador looks on suspiciously, and the Thirteenth Doctor remains in her cryo-chamber.
SCENE #126 – EXT – WOODS, ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE (1993/2013) (ZONE #3) – DAY, AFTERNOON/NIGHT
In zone #3, the Fourth and Sixth Doctors attend to Donna, Darby and Peri, who are still frozen in time in the woods of the English countryside. They place tag badges on them to unfreeze them. A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 6
(dubiously) I’m not sure this is working.
DOCTOR 4
Give it a chance, dear chap. These tag badges might take a while to kick in.
DOCTOR 6
There is a small likelihood that this might not work effectively as we would like.
DOCTOR 4
Four percent against ninety-six. Yes, I remember. (Pause) But four is my lucky number, you know.
The Fourth Doctor laughs.
DOCTOR 6
This isn’t a time for jokes, Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
Oh lighten up! The tag devices should do their job. If ninety-six is better than four, then…
DOCTOR 6
(realises; interrupts) Ah! They’re awake at last!
As Donna, Darby and Peri unfreeze, they groan and stumble forwards before the Fourth and Sixth Doctors catch them.
DOCTOR 4
(relieved) There. What did I tell you? Nothing to worry about.
It takes a while for Donna, Darby and Peri to fully recover.
DONNA
(disorientated) Doctor…Doctors, where are we?
PERI
(disorientated) I feel as if I’ve been asleep for hours.
DARBY
(disorientated) Oh, it’s a good thing you came back for us, Doctors. I don’t think we could’ve stood much longer. My legs are killing me!
DOCTOR 4
I’m afraid you’re going to have to get your legs moving again, James.
DARBY
(groans) Aww, come on, Doctor!
DOCTOR 4
I mean it, James, we can’t stay here.
DOCTOR 6
Indeed not. We’re not out of the woods yet. Figuratively and literally.
PERI
There are still Sontarans to worry about then? (groans) Just what we need.
DONNA
(realises) Where’s skinny boy? Where’s my Doctor?
DOCTOR 6
Your Doctor had to go off and help three other Doctors in zone five of this interdimensional network. The cricketing Doctor is with him too.
PERI
(astonished) What? The Doctor I first met? The one I met back on Lanzarote when…
DOCTOR 6
(interrupts; exasperated) Yes, Peri, that Doctor.
DOCTOR 4
(reassuringly) Don’t worry, Donna. You’ll see your Doctor again, I’m sure.
DONNA
I’d better. When I see him again, I’ll give him a piece of my mind.
At that moment, Sontarans, led by Commander Groul and Corporal Stukk, appear.
GROUL
(barks) Stop! Halt in the name of the Sontaran Empire!
DOCTOR 6
(grimly) In the meantime, we have this problem to contend with again.
DOCTOR 4
Oh dear. I think we made too much noise.
STUKK
You will accompany us back to Sontaran High Command. That is an order.
DARBY
(urgently) Doctors, now is the time to go!
DONNA
(anxiously) There is still a way out of this place, isn’t there?
DOCTOR 6
Indeed there is, young lady. The Brigadier and his daughter Kate gave us the checkpoint disc to return to their U.N.I.T. HQ.
PERI
Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!
DOCTOR 4
(calls; urgently) Come on, everyone! RUN!!!
STUKK
(shouts) Stop! You will stop at once!
GROUL
(barks) Troopers! Open fire! Gun them down!
The Sontarans open fire with their blaster rifles. They miss, as the Fourth and Sixth Doctors, Donna, Darby and Peri make their way out of the woods.
GROUL
(barks) Pursue them! Pursue them at once! They must not escape!
Groul and Stukk lead, as the Sontarans pursue their fugitives.
SCENE #127 – EXT – DESERT, EGYPT (NORTH-EAST) (1963/2033) (ZONE #4) – DAY AFTERNOON
In zone #4, the Eighth and Ninth Doctors attend to Nyssa, Billy, Jen and Rose, having placed tag badges on them. Soon, the four companions unfreeze and the two Doctors steady them, as they groan and stumble.
DOCTOR 9
(concerned) Rose? Rose, are you alright? Speak to me.
ROSE
(disorientated) I’m fine, Doctor. I’m fine. Don’t fuss. What happened? Have I been asleep?
JEN
(disorientated) I feel I’ve been standing on my feet for hours.
DOCTOR 8
You have, Jen, you have. With a sunhat and sunglasses on too. You’ll be alright though. We’ve made sure we’ve kept you four cool enough, especially with a parasol and two wireless fans.
DOCTOR 9
(concerned) Nyssa; Billy, are you two alright?
NYSSA
(disorientated; reassuringly) Yes, Doctor, we’re fine, thank you. The experience was unusual, wasn’t it, Billy?
BILLY
(disorientated) Experience? What experience? (groans) My legs are aching badly.
NYSSA
(groans) Mine too.
JEN
(groans) I know I did ballet classes back home, but this isn’t what I had in mind in terms of exercise and keeping my body steady.
ROSE
(intrigued) What are these things you put on us, Doctor? Badges?
DOCTOR 9
(sharply) Don’t take that off, Rose. All of you, whatever you do, don’t take your tag badges off. Otherwise, you’ll be frozen in time again.
DOCTOR 8
The tag badges are something the Brigadier, Kate, someone called Osgood and everyone else at U.N.I.T. conjured up. Thankfully, they’ve served their purpose and unfroze you all.
BILLY
Well, that’s reassuring.
NYSSA
(concerned) Where’s our Doctor? Billy and my Doctor. I don’t see him with you.
DOCTOR 9
He went with the Pinstripe Doctor to help another lot of Doctors in zone five of the interdimensional zone. Hopefully they’ve given their Doctors’ friends tag badges too.
DOCTOR 8
The same goes for the Doctors and their friends in zone three. I wonder what’s become of the Doctors and their friends in zones one and two.
DOCTOR 9
If you don’t mind, Rose, I’d like to have my jacket back please. I feel naked without it.
ROSE
Sure, be my guest.
The Ninth Doctor takes his leather jacket off Rose and dons it.
NYSSA
Thank you, Doctors, for keeping us safe from the sun.
DOCTOR 8
Not at all, Nyssa. Glad to be of service.
BILLY
Here’s your frock coat back, Doctor.
DOCTOR 8
(pleased) Thank you, Billy.
The Eighth Doctor takes his frock coat from Billy and dons it on.
DOCTOR 9
We have to get back to U.N.I.T. HQ as quickly as possible. We need you four safe and sound. Don’t take those tag badges off whatever you do.
ROSE
(realises) Doctors, I don’t wish to alarm you but…
JEN
(realises; interjects) There are some robot mummies making their way towards us.
DOCTOR 8
(anxiously) Yes. They’re a fair distance away, but they’ll soon catch up with us.
NYSSA
Can we still use the checkpoint disc to get back to U.N.I.T. HQ?
DOCTOR 8
Yes. We were given a reset disc for three hours. We’ve only been in this place for like…what…twenty minutes? We should be able to get back to U.N.I.T. HQ with more time to work with.
JEN
(eagerly) Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get to this U.N.I.T. HQ quickly.
ROSE
For once, I agree with you, Jen.
DOCTOR 9
Come on, everyone.
DOCTOR 8 + 9
(in unison) Follow us!
The Eighth and Ninth Doctors lead the way, with Nyssa, Billy, Jen and Rose following them. The robot mummies pursue them from a distance. As they run, Nyssa takes off the Fifth Doctor’s cream-coloured coat and gives it to Billy.
NYSSA
Here you are, Billy. You take our Doctor’s coat and look after it for us.
BILLY
Me? Don’t you want to look after it?
NYSSA
I find it too warm with it on. Besides, you’re better at wearing it than me.
BILLY
Am I?
NYSSA
Go on, Billy, take it.
Billy takes the Fifth Doctor’s coat from Nyssa, as they continue to run on. He examines the coat in his hands as they run.
BILLY
(gradually) Yes, well, I suppose it’s something I’ll get used to wearing. Before I give it back to our Doctor, that is.
DOCTOR 8
(calls; from a distance) Come on, Nyssa; Billy! Don’t loiter!
DOCTOR 9
(calls; from a distance) Yeah, don’t dawdle, you two! Unless you really want the servitor robot mummies to catch up with you.
NYSSA
Come on! Let’s keep up!
BILLY
Alright, Nyssa. I’m coming.
Billy dons the Fifth Doctor’s coat as they run. He and Nyssa keep up as they follow the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, Jen and Rose.
SCENE #128 – INT – CAVE, ISLAND (1863/2563) (ZONE #1) – NIGHT
Back in zone #1, the First and Second Doctors, Ian, Barbara, Susan, Jamie and Zoe are deep in the cave on the island. They stop for a rest after running for a bit.
DOCTOR 2
(pants; out of breath) Alright. Alright, everyone. Let’s stop for a rest.
ZOE
(anxiously; out of breath) Can we afford to stop, Doctor? The Daleks are still chasing us.
DOCTOR 2
They’ll probably have a challenge to find us, Zoe. Have you noticed how windy the tunnels are in this cave?
DOCTOR 1
Yes, I’ve noticed that too, dear fellow. Almost as if this was a labyrinth. Very convenient, wouldn’t you say?
BARBARA
Let’s hope there’s a minotaur to scare the Daleks away then.
IAN
(chuckles) Yes, that would be ideal. (Pause) Mind you, I agree with Zoe. We shouldn’t stop here for too long.
JAMIE
Aye, those Daleks will get closer the longer we spend in this cave.
SUSAN
Oh, is there anything we can do to get out of this dreadful place?
DOCTOR 1
(reassuringly) Now don’t fret, my child. We’ll find a way out soon enough, you’ll see.
DOCTOR 2
Yes, this place might be very convenient as you say, Doctor. It could hold the answer to finding a way out.
JAMIE
Oh aye. How did you come to that conclusion then?
DOCTOR 2
Hmm? Oh, it’s just a theory, Jamie. There might be an exit. Something that’s not of this cave. Especially if this is a construction with two spatial-temporal zones converging with one another.
DOCTOR 1
Somehow, I find that unlikely, dear chap.
BARBARA
(realises) Doctor, that door wasn’t there before, was it?
IAN
(puzzled) What door, Barbara?
BARBARA
That door there! Can’t you see it?
Everyone looks to see. A moment of silence.
JAMIE
Aye, you’re right. There is a door in the tunnel before us.
ZOE
A very out-of-place door.
SUSAN
Like a standard living quarters door or something.
DOCTOR 2
‘Unlikely’ did you say?
DOCTOR 1
Alright, alright. There’s no need to boast, dear sir.
JAMIE
You didn’t just wish that door into being, did you, Doctor?
DOCTOR 2
Of course not, Jamie. (Pause; thinks) At least, I don’t think so.
ZOE
(disturbed) This couldn’t be the Land of Fiction, could it, Doctor? I’d hate to think we’ve ended up in that place again after falling into that maelstrom.
DOCTOR 2
I wouldn’t like to think so either, Zoe. (Pause) Still, a door in place for us.
DOCTOR 1
And the Daleks are getting closer as we speak.
BARBARA
Then again, this could be a trap to easily fall into.
IAN
Perhaps. (Pause) Maybe it’s better not to open the door then.
DOCTOR 1
Quite right, Chesteron. Quite right indeed.
DOCTOR 2
Yes, well done, Ian. Well done.
Another moment of silence.
SUSAN
So, what do we do, grandfather?
DOCTOR 1
(gradually) Why, open the door, of course.
DOCTOR 2
Indeed. We can’t let a mystery like this go unsolved.
JAMIE
(ruefully) Aye. We shouldn’t have been surprised.
The First Doctor approaches the door and begins to open it. He tugs at the door, but it won’t budge.
DOCTOR 1
What is this? Hmm! A locked door!
IAN
Hence why you’re tugging it and it refuses to open.
SUSAN
We haven’t even got a key to unlock it.
DOCTOR 2
Have no fear. My sonic screwdriver is at hand.
DOCTOR 1
Your sonic what?
DOCTOR 2
Stand back please, if you’d be so kind.
Obliging, the First Doctor stands back whilst the Second Doctor approaches the door and takes out his sonic screwdriver from one of his coat pockets.
IAN
What’s that little device your Doctor’s got there, Zoe?
ZOE
Oh, it’s a handy little thing that the Doctor uses to open a door in an instant.
JAMIE
Aye, very handy that. Especially if you want to get out of a locked room.
SUSAN
Fascinating. Isn’t that fascinating, grandfather?
DOCTOR 1
Intriguing, my dear. Intriguing.
The Second Doctor places his sonic screwdriver at the door’s lock and switches it on. The sonic screwdriver buzzes away whilst the Second Doctor uses it. Soon, there’s a click.
DOCTOR 2
(satisfied) There we are. Open sesame.
DOCTOR 1
Very impressive, sir.
DOCTOR 2
Much obliged.
JAMIE
Told you it was a very handy gadget.
The Second Doctor tries to open the door. There’s another click, as the latch disengages, but it seems to still be locked.
DOCTOR 2
(disappointed) Oh.
DOCTOR 1
May I examine that device?
DOCTOR 2
Oh, yes, of course. It’ll be yours one day.
The First Doctor takes the sonic screwdriver from the Second Doctor and examines it for a bit. Meanwhile, Ian, Barbara, Susan, Jamie and Zoe approach the door.
IAN
Could we try forcing the door open?
BARBARA
Together, you mean?
DOCTOR 1
That may not be necessary. This device has a limited range and I fear that the lock is considerably more complex than this invention can handle at its current intensity. Fortunately, I have a solution.
The First Doctor crooks his signet ring finger.
SUSAN
Your signet ring.
Zoe studies the First Doctor’s signet ring.
ZOE
(realises) Oh, I see! Refraction. Like a burning glass, only with sonic frequencies.
DOCTOR 2
What a splendid idea. Glad we thought of it.
DOCTOR 1
Precisely. Now, then…
DOCTOR 2
Yes. We must get the angle precisely right.
The First Doctor passes his ring to the Second Doctor who angles it against the lock. Placing the sonic screwdriver at the ring and switching it on, it soon whines and a louder click echoes through the cave. The group braces against its frame. The door opens inwardly easily.
IAN
(amazed) It’s open! The door has opened!
Switching off his sonic screwdriver, the Second Doctor hands back the ring. The First Doctor takes and replaces it on his finger.
BARBARA
(amazed) And all that from pointing a screwdriver at the door.
SUSAN
As well as using grandfather’s signet ring.
DOCTOR 1
(pleased) Oh, yes. Invaluable, invaluable!
ZOE
Now we can get away from the Daleks at last.
DOCTOR 1
(chuckles) Very impressive device you have there, sir. I look forward to having it someday.
DOCTOR 2
(amused) I’m glad you approve, Doctor.
The Second Doctor puts his sonic screwdriver back in one of his coat pockets, before he taps his lip and gestures to the First Doctor’s signet ring.
DOCTOR 2
I wonder if I ever do find that ring again.
At that moment, Daleks echo in the tunnels nearby.
DALEKS
(chants; from a distance) ADVANCE! ADVANCE AND ATTACK! ATTACK AND DESTROY!
ZOE
(anxiously) They’ve nearly found us!
JAMIE
We should go in through that door right now!
IAN
Yes. Barbara; Susan, you go first.
Barbara and Susan go in through the door.
IAN
Now you, Jamie and Zoe. You go in next.
JAMIE
Right, Ian. Come on, Zoe.
Jamie and Zoe go in through the door next.
IAN
Doctors, you’re coming in after me, right?
DOCTOR 1
(impatiently) Yes, yes, go on, go on! We’ll follow behind you, Chesterfield.
DOCTOR 2
(urgently) Quickly now! The Daleks are about to turn the corner.
The First and Second Doctors follow Ian, as they go in through the door and close it behind them. Once gone, the Daleks turn the corner before they end up in the tunnel.
COMMAND DALEK
(barks) STOP!
The Daleks obey their leader. A moment of silence.
COMMAND DALEK
WHAT IS THIS OBSTRUCTION? WHY IS THERE A DOOR IN THIS TUNNEL? EXPLAIN!!!
SCENE #129 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
In Salvador’s base, he and the Tremas Master see the First and Second Doctors, Ian, Barbara, Susan, Jamie and Zoe escaping from the Daleks in zone #1.
SALVADOR
(angrily) They’ve found their way out of zone one too easily! That door should have been impenetrable!
TREMAS MASTER
Yes, it is unfortunate that their escape from zone one occurred before our predictions of their escape occurred. (Pause) No matter. The Daleks can be sent in after the Doctors and their companions out of zone one, can’t they?
SALVADOR
(realises) Yes! Of course. And I can always have the Doctors put back in the interdimensional zones whenever they try to get out. They can’t outwit me. Not Salvador!
TREMAS MASTER
Of course not. Your word is law after all.
SALVADOR
Yes! The word of Salvador is law. It’s a comfort for me to hear you say that.
TREMAS MASTER
What about the Doctors and their companions in zone two? Hadn’t you better check on them?
Salvador looks at another monitor screen. Both he and the Tremas Master see the Third and Seventh Doctors, Jo and Ace in zone #2.
SALVADOR
(gradually) They’ve managed to find the kitchen in the castle. They’re about to concoct a solution based on a formula that one of the Doctors has got.
TREMAS MASTER
(chuckles) They won’t survive long with the Autons breaking into the castle and chasing them.
SALVADOR
Indeed not. They’ll try to block entry into the kitchen on all corners. The Autons however, generated by the Nestene we have in our custody, will overcome them.
TREMAS MASTER
All the same, it would be better to observe the Doctors and their friends in zone two closely. They could still find a way out of zone two. And the Autons wouldn’t have any targets to strike against, would they?
Just then, the Thirteenth Doctor groans nearby. Salvador and the Tremas Master look at her, as she wakes up from inside her cryo-chamber.
SALVADOR
(entranced) Never mind about the Doctors and their friends in zone two. Our Doctor awakes here.
TREMAS MASTER
You decided to unfreeze her after all.
SALVADOR
Of course. I shan’t waste an opportunity to inflict torments on her. Even though it is safer to keep her asleep, it’s better to see her tormented whilst she’s awake.
TREMAS MASTER
You can be very unpredictable sometimes, Salvador.
SALVADOR
The Doctor made me this way. The blame goes to them, not me.
TREMAS MASTER
Very well. I shall monitor the Doctors and their friends in zone two instead whilst you attend to your Doctor waking up from her cryo-chamber. I hope it’ll be very satisfactory once you start tormenting her.
As the Tremas Master resumes watching the Third and Seventh Doctors, Jo and Ace in zone #2, Salvador chuckles and watches as the Thirteenth Doctor wakes up.
DOCTOR 13
(disorientated) Yaz; Dan. (Pause; groans) Where am I? What is this place?
SCENE #130 – INT – CASTLE KITCHEN (1973+1983/1173+1183) (ZONE #2) – DAY, EVENING
In zone #2, the Third and Seventh Doctors, Jo and Ace sort things out in the castle’s kitchen, which is empty and no-one else is about.
DOCTOR 3
Jo; Ace, make sure the kitchen doors are locked. The one we just came in and the one at the far end of the room.
JO
I’ll check the door we just came in.
ACE
I’ll go check the other one.
Jo and Ace go about their set tasks, whilst the Third and Seventh Doctor approach the table in the centre of the room. The Seventh Doctor takes out his anti-plastic solution formula on the sheet of paper and shows it to the Third Doctor.
DOCTOR 7
Read this carefully before we get onto procuring any ingredients from this kitchen.
DOCTOR 3
I’ve just realised something. It’s likely there won’t be any plastics in medieval times. Hardly at all, in fact.
DOCTOR 7
It depends whether this is really a medieval castle or not. This room could be artificial. Metal, plastic or whatever.
DOCTOR 3
Good point. But the controllers of this domain could be cleverer than us.
At that moment, Jo and Ace return.
ACE
I’ve just realised there aren’t many people about. You’d think that whoever’s controlling this game would have provided people to live in the castle. Serving wenches and such.
JO
There are the medieval knights, remember?
ACE
They don’t count. And they’re not real people either. They’re plastic.
JO
Nevertheless, someone must have given commands to those knights to fight their wars. Whoever owns this castle, I mean. The king or queen.
ACE
A lousy king and queen. When I meet one of those majesties, I’ll tell them how to handle their affairs.
DOCTOR 3
Not necessarily, a king or queen, you two. This isn’t the real Earth, remember? Especially with two or more time zones converging in the same spatial zone.
DOCTOR 7
It would have to be someone on the outside, of course.
JO
(confused) Outside of what?
DOCTOR 3
Of wherever we are, obviously.
DOCTOR 7
We should get on with using this anti-plastic formula. I know it off by heart. Time for you to read it, Doctor.
DOCTOR 3
Very well. If you insist.
The Third Doctor takes the sheet of paper from the Seventh Doctor and reads it. Eventually…
DOCTOR 3
Hmm, yes. (Pause) Yes, this seems self-explanatory.
DOCTOR 7
I’m glad you’re able to read my handwriting.
JO
(realises) Doctor…Doctors? Would a plastic door help to create the anti-plastic solution you need?
DOCTOR 3
That’s ideal, Jo. Well done. Why do you ask?
ACE
Because there’s a big whopping plastic door in the kitchen before us. Look!
The Third and Seventh Doctors look. A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 3
(gobsmacked) Good grief! Where did that come from?
DOCTOR 7
(astonished) I don’t think that was there when we came in. Or has it always been there?
JO
Curiouser and curiouser by the minute.
ACE
Too right, Alice. Too curiouser if you ask me. (Pause) What do we do, Professor? Do we open the door and enter?
DOCTOR 7
(shocked) What? You seriously expect us to go through that door, not knowing what might be on the other side?
ACE
Why not? It’s an open invitation. If the door appeared out of nowhere…
JO
(interjects) Careful, Ace. I agree with your Doctor. We don’t know what might be on the other side.
Just then, footsteps in the corridor echo nearby close to where they are.
DOCTOR 3
(anxiously) I suggest we speed up our decision. The Autons will be in here with us at any moment. Just like they were able to get in through the castle’s front door.
ACE
That cupboard we stacked up against the front door didn’t last long.
DOCTOR 7
And we haven’t been able to find the ingredients for our anti-plastic solution yet.
JO
What do we do, Doctors? Do we open and go through the plastic door or not?
Silence ensues, as the Third and Seventh Doctors consider their decision.
SCENE #131 – INT – CRYO-CHAMBER, ENEMY BASE – N/A
Meanwhile, in her cryo-chamber, the Thirteenth Doctor, fully awake, taps against the sides of the cubicle, made of glass.
DOCTOR 13
(calls) Yaz! Dan! Amy; Rory! Bill! Other me’s.
Eventually, she stops taping against the sides of the cubicle.
DOCTOR 13
(calls) Hello? Anyone out there?
No response. Eventually, the Thirteenth Doctor puffs out an exasperated sigh.
DOCTOR 13
Just what I need. I end up in the spider’s lair and I don’t know where I am. (Pause; thinks) Spider’s lair. I hope it’s not the spiders of Metebellis Three that are behind this. (Pause) Perhaps it’s Shelob. (calls) Shelob! Is this you, mate?
Still no response.
DOCTOR 13
Well, can’t sit here all day. I need to get out of this cryo-chamber to find out where I am. (realises) Cryo-chamber. I’ve defrosted recently. (Pause: realises) And I haven’t been strapped in. Interesting.
The Thirteenth Doctor fumbles in her coat pockets.
DOCTOR 13
(relieved) At least I’m able to get to my coat pockets whilst constricted in this thing.
Eventually, she takes out her sonic screwdriver.
DOCTOR 13
(relieved) Ah. And it seems whoever put me in here didn’t think to take out my sonic from my coat pocket. Careless of them, yet lucky for me. (Pause) Also peculiar.
The Thirteenth Doctor places her sonic screwdriver to the cubicle door.
DOCTOR 13
(clears throat; to sonic screwdriver) Do your brilliance, sonic.
She buzzes away with her sonic screwdriver at the cubicle door. Soon, there’s a click and the cubicle door swings open.
DOCTOR 13
(satisfied) Ah. Didn’t need to push it. The cubicle door swung open by itself once unlocked. Nice.
Pocketing her sonic screwdriver, the Thirteenth Doctor climbs out of the cryo-chamber.
DOCTOR 13
This all seems too easy so far, doesn’t it? (Pause) And I really must stop this habit of talking to myself.
SCENE #132 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
Once out of the cryo-chamber, the Thirteenth Doctor looks around. She treads carefully.
DOCTOR 13
(intrigued) A control room of sorts. (Pause) Where would this be in the interdimensional network? If we’re still in it, that is.
She moves into the centre of the control room.
DOCTOR 13
(intrigued) Hmm. A series of monitor screens.
The Thirteenth Doctor examines the monitor screens for a bit. Eventually, one of the monitor screens catches her attention.
DOCTOR 13
(realises) Hang on. What’s happening here? (Pause) Let’s turn the sound on.
The Thirteenth Doctor finds a switch on the control terminal linked to the monitor screen, and presses it. The sound speakers switch on.
ACE (V’O)
Come on, Professor. Let’s go while we can.
JO (V’O)
Yes, come on, Doctors. The Autons are nearly here.
DOCTOR 7 (V’O)
(eagerly) Right. Off we go then. Open the door and step through it. Whoever’s last, close the door behind them.
DOCTOR 3 (V’O)
Sounds good to me. I’ll close the door on our way out.
DOCTOR 13
(cheers) Yes! Well done, Doctors! Well done, Ace and Jo! Go, go!
The Thirteenth Doctor sees the Third and Seventh Doctors, Jo and Ace open the plastic door in the castle kitchen in zone #2. Once they’ve gone through and closed the door behind them, the Autons break into the castle’s kitchen.
DOCTOR 13
(relieved) Phew! That was close. They got out in time before the Autons came in. (Pause) I wonder if everyone else is doing okay.
SALVADOR
(gleefully) Never mind about them, Doctor. Worry about yourself for a change.
Gradually, the Thirteenth Doctor turns to see her opponent behind her.
DOCTOR 13
(gradually) So, it’s you all along.
SALVADOR
Of course. But you guessed that already, didn’t you?
DOCTOR 13
(grimly) Salvador. The thorn in my side who has tormented me for centuries. Someone I neglected to look after in my care when you came to Gallifrey all those years ago.
SALVADOR
(triumphantly) The same.
DOCTOR 13
You must know how many times I’ve regretted how I treated you back then. When you were a small boy…
SALVADOR
(interrupts; bitterly) I don’t want your regrets, Doctor. I want your death! And the satisfaction where I can have my vengeance on you!
DOCTOR 13
Even though it will end your existence as well as mine?
SALVADOR
That will give me the greatest satisfaction! I want to end this life, Doctor. Don’t you understand? By ending your existence as well as mine, I’ll be greatly satisfied.
DOCTOR 13
We’ve been through this many times, Salvador. When will it end? Why can’t you stop and be satisfied with your life?
SALVADOR
(angrily) No! NO!!! You did this to me, Doctor. You made me what I am. You’re going to suffer for what you did to me in the greatest and most painful way I know.
DOCTOR 13
By extracting me, my other selves and my friends in our TARDISes from Time and Space? Placing ourselves in various spatial-temporal zones extracted from Earth’s past and future in an interdimensional network?
SALVADOR
Exactly! By placing yourselves and your friends in various spatial-temporal zones from Earth’s past and future in the interdimensional network, it will mean big BOOM, BOOM, BANG, BANG explosions throughout many Universes ten times over. I shall enjoy every minute of it.
SCENE #133 – EXT – TEMPLE, AFRICA/INDIA (2003/2163) (ZONE #5) – DAY, EVENING/NIGHT
Back in zone #5, the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelve Doctors, and their friends Amy, Rory, Bill, Yaz and Dan have arrived outside the abandoned temple. They’re quite worn out.
BILL
(exhausted; relieved) Thank goodness we’ve arrived.
AMY
(exhausted) Can we stop, Doctors? We’ve been traipsing to this temple for what feels like an hour.
RORY
(exhausted) I know we need the exercise, but this wasn’t what I had in mind.
DOCTOR 5
You can rest for a little while, yes.
DOCTOR 10
Us Doctors, well. We have to get the temple entrance door open. It must be electronically sealed or something.
DOCTOR 12
We’ll soon find out. Let’s get our sonics ready, Doctors. (impatiently) Come on! We haven’t got all day.
DOCTOR 11
Alright, Grumpy Boots. We’re on it.
The Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors soon work at getting the temple’s entrance door open by using their sonic screwdrivers. As Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill sit nearby, Yaz approaches the Doctors.
YAZ
(anxiously) What about our Doctor? Me and Dan’s Doctor. We’ve got to find her, haven’t we?
DAN
There’s no need to panic, Yaz.
YAZ
I’m not panicking, Dan. I’m worried. Anything could have happened to her wherever and whenever she is.
DOCTOR 10
(reassuringly) Trust us, Yaz. We’ll find your Doctor eventually.
DOCTOR 5
Whatever’s inside this temple could provide us with the clues we need to find your Doctor.
DOCTOR 10
If you could just bear with us a little while longer, everything will be okay. You go sit and rest with the others, alright?
Reluctantly, Yaz goes over to sit with Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill. The five companions wait, whilst the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors continue to find a way to open the temple’s entrance door.
DAN
(reassuringly) Don’t worry, Yaz. We’ll find our Doctor again soon.
YAZ
(anxiously) I hope so. I’m dreadfully worried about her.
BILL
You must like your Doctor very much to be worried about her.
YAZ
(confused) What do you mean?
BILL
Come on. Anyone can see that you’re nuts about her. I noticed it ever since we started our journey to find the temple.
YAZ
Am I really that obvious?
BILL
You are, yeah. And you know what? Good on ya, girl. It’s nice to know someone has feelings for the Doctor like that.
DAN
It’s not like that with you and your Doctor then.
BILL
Oh no. No way, no. He’s not my type. Besides, I’m more into women than men.
DAN
Fair enough.
AMY
Rory and me. We’re happily married when we travel in the TARDIS.
RORY
Sometimes I prefer being happily married at home compared to being happily married in the TARDIS.
AMY
Yeah, but it’s fun when we travel in the TARDIS, isn’t it?
RORY
(gradually) Yeah, of course it is. As long as I’m with you, I know things can’t be too bad.
AMY
No, they can’t. Not ever.
YAZ
You two remind me of Nyssa and Billy. They’re a happily married couple in the TARDIS.
AMY
(astonished) Nyssa and Billy? You know them?
YAZ
Yeah. They’re with the Doctor in the cricket clothes here.
DAN
You two know Nyssa and Billy then?
AMY
Yeah. We met them at the Intergalactic Restaurant at the End of the Universe as a special favour for the Doctor once.
RORY
Something about giving them a Prime Factor weapon, if I remember rightly.
BILL
(teasingly) Let’s hope we don’t confuse me and Billy’s names when we meet up with him and his Nyssa. I’m Bill after all. It could be confusing in terms of our names.
Just then, the Twelfth Doctor unlocks the temple’s entrance door with his sonic screwdriver, as it begins to slide open.
DOCTOR 12
(triumphantly) Yes! I did it! I did it! Woo-hoo! I unlocked the door with my sonic screwdriver! You were too slow, Doctor.
DOCTOR 11
(annoyed) Why is he picking on me so frequently?
BILL
(impressed) And you used your sonic screwdriver this time. Not your sonic shades.
DOCTOR 12
No time to look cool with sonic shades, Bill. Efficiency is required in this matter.
DOCTOR 11
Yeah. Leave the cool part to me. I’m wearing the bow tie, of course. Bow ties are cool.
AMY
You know they’re not, Doctor.
At that moment, barking noises echo nearby.
YAZ
(anxiously) W-W-What are those barks? Are there dogs coming?
RORY
It’s probably wolves since we are in a jungle.
Just then, wolves come charging out from the jungle, barking away. They make their way straight for the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors and their friends.
DOCTOR 5
(realises) Oh no! Those aren’t wolves.
DOCTOR 10
(realises) They’re Zygons! (calls; urgently) Everyone, inside the temple!
DOCTOR 11
(groans) Aww, I preferred them as Zygons and Zygers earlier.
DOCTOR 12
At least they understand variety. They caught up with us quite quickly too.
The four Doctors and their friends make their way into the temple, whilst the Zygon wolves change their shape into their Zygon selves whilst charging at them.
DAN
(shocked; panics) You’re right, Doctors. Those wolves aren’t wolves at all! They’re changing shape! And they’re charging towards us!
YAZ
(cries; urgently) Dan, shut up and get inside!
BILL
I’ll close the temple’s front door once we’re in.
YAZ
We’ll help you out. All of us. Right, Dan?
DAN
Yeah, absolutely.
DOCTOR 12
(warningly) Don’t let the Zygons touch you! And especially don’t let them spit at you!
DOCTOR 11
Yeah, it’s pretty venomous stuff: Zygon spit.
With everyone inside, Yaz, Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill make to close the temple’s entrance door as the Zygons advance upon them.
SCENE #134 – INT – TEMPLE, AFRICA/INDIA (2003/2163) (ZONE #5) – NIGHT/NIGHT
DAN
(urgently) Hurry, everyone! Those Zygons are about to charge through!
RORY
(urgently) Yeah, hurry! We’re nearly there!
ZYGON #1
(cries) No! You shall not escape our grasp!
Yaz, Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill slam the temple’s entrance door shut, just as the Zygon who charged forward pushes his hand through. The Zygon’s hand snaps off. The Zygon screams in agony outside, whilst his hand wriggles about on the temple floor for a bit. The five companions react horrified and disgusted.
AMY
Ugh! The Zygon’s hand snapped off.
BILL
Just as we slammed the door shut. Not something I would have wished for, no way!
YAZ
(urgently) Lock and bolt the entrance door! Hurry!
Yaz, Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill lock and bolt the entrance doors. They stand back and the entrance door refuses to budge with the Zygons banging on it from outside. The five companions and the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors sigh with relief. The dismembered Zygon hand also stops wriggling about.
DOCTOR 10
Well done, everybody! We made it in the end.
DOCTOR 5
Hopefully we won’t have any more trouble from the Zygons from now on.
DAN
(relieved) I’m just glad we were able to stop them. Those Zygons never give up, do they?
DOCTOR 12
Thank goodness only one Zygon hand came through instead of a whole Zygon.
BILL
Doctor, don’t be so morbid.
RORY
Will the temple’s entrance door hold out the Zygons long though?
AMY
Yeah. I wouldn’t like to think our efforts have been for nothing.
DOCTOR 11
We’d better not stick around to find that out. Let’s go further into the temple and explore.
DOCTOR 10
Good idea. Couldn’t think of a better plan myself.
AMY
(anxiously) Explore the temple? Are you sure that’s wise?
DOCTOR 11
(scoffs) No, Sergeant Wilson, we don’t think it’s wise. But we’re here now, so we might as well.
YAZ
There are bound to be booby traps in this place. They could be situated throughout this temple.
DAN
Yeah. We don’t want to get ourselves killed, do we?
DOCTOR 5
(reassuringly) Don’t worry; everyone. The moment one of us spots a booby trap; we’ll alert you to it.
The Fifth Doctor takes a step back.
DOCTOR 10
(cries; urgently) Doctor, back to me! Look out!
The Tenth Doctor pulls the Fifth Doctor to him, as a dart shoots out from the side of a wall. Startled cries echo once this has happened. A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 5
(satisfied; reassuringly) There, see? What did I tell you? Nothing to worry about. We’ll look out for each other whilst we’re in this place.
BILL
I’m still not sure. We don’t know what we’ll find when we go deeper into the temple.
DAN
Whoever’s in charge of where we are might want to kill us.
YAZ
(realises; anxiously) Our Doctor. Me and Dan’s Doctor. She could be…
DOCTOR 12
(encouragingly) There’s no need to fret, everyone. Come on, chin up. We’ll look after you all. We’ll get ourselves out of this mess we’re in before you can say ‘tea and crumpets’. And a packet of crisps.
DOCTOR 11
Hopefully, Yaz and Dan’s Doctor will have sorted the domain controller before the rest of us Doctors can pitch in and help out.
DOCTOR 10
If anything, she’ll have more experience compared to us.
YAZ
Yes, you’re quite right, Doctors. We should put our faith in you whilst we venture deeper.
AMY
Absolutely. We’ll follow you through on this.
RORY
Let’s hope we’ll live to tell the tale.
DOCTOR 12
(eagerly) Come on, everybody. Follow me.
DOCTOR 11
No! Follow me.
DOCTOR 10
I thought I was the leader.
DOCTOR 5
(frustrated) Will you three stop arguing?
SCENE #135 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
DOCTOR 13
Where are you in your meetings with me, Salvy boy? You seem to know who I am. This me, I mean. Have we done Rotenhend Hotel three-sixty in the thirty-eighth century?
SALVADOR
You placed me in the Zorbius crystal all those years ago, but I escaped. You can’t imprison me forever.
DOCTOR 13
Ah, so you’re one of the two Salvadors I met during that Rotenhend Hotel three-sixty business. That’s good to know. (realises) Is that grey in your hair and your beard? Age hasn’t treated you well.
SALVADOR
Don’t mock me, Doctor! Don’t you dare mock me!
DOCTOR 13
Oh I wouldn’t dare. I was being sympathetic. But you wouldn’t understand that, Salvy boy.
SALVADOR
(bitterly) Stop calling me that!
DOCTOR 13
Stop calling you what?
SALVADOR
Salvy boy! It reminds me of the past.
DOCTOR 13
I nicknamed you Salvy boy when you were a kid. During the time I brought you up on Gallifrey.
SALVADOR
You mean experimented.
DOCTOR 13
However you interpret it, I was trying to save your life. The Time Lords would have done far worse to you than what I did.
SALVADOR
(bitterly) You’d say anything to save your own skin.
DOCTOR 13
You used to like me once, remember? Even when I tried to make you a Time Lord, which failed tragically, there were times when we laughed at each other’s jokes. Especially the bad ones. (Pause) Don’t make me out like I was the monster all the time. I cared about you. Even through my arrogance and bad management, I cared a great deal about you.
SALVADOR
It doesn’t matter. None of it matters compared to what I have in mind for you.
DOCTOR 13
Listen, Salvador. By extracting various times and places from Earth’s past and future, you’re plunging the Universe into an eternal abyss. It’s criminally and morally wrong. You know that, don’t you?
SALVADOR
I’m past the road of redemption. You should know that after all the encounters we’ve had.
DOCTOR 13
There’s still a chance, Salvador. You can turn this around. Stop it from ever happening. Restore Earth’s past and future back to the way they were with your matter manipulation powers. We’ll say no more about it afterwards. I can take you in my TARDIS and reverse what I did to you all those centuries ago. I have the experience to think up a solution to reverse your condition. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. (Pause) What do you say? Deal?
SALVADOR
(bitterly) Too late, Doctor. Far too late.
DOCTOR 13
Why, Salvador? Why is it far too late?
SALVADOR
You’ve seen the interdimensional manipulator technology I’ve used to create what’s in the interdimensional network. You know that it’s Gallifreyan.
DOCTOR 13
Yes. As I understand it, you psychically project your thoughts into the manipulator’s computer core. By using a separate room from this control room, I take it.
SALVADOR
A Sphere Room, yes. Not only have I been utilising the energies and resources of this Universe to generate the spatial-temporal zones in the interdimensional network, I’ve also used the energies and resources of other Universes to help me in my endeavours. Yes! My mind and matter manipulation powers have been able to achieve this.
DOCTOR 13
(realises) You’re risking not just this Universe but other Universes too!
SALVADOR
If only you could see how many realities there are outside the Void. There are millions of them with endless possibilities.
DOCTOR 13
Believe me, I’ve seen what’s outside this Universe. I know how many realities there are. You’re tapping into the power sources of other realities to fuel this huge engine for your interdimensional network.
SALVADOR
It’s a powerhouse I’ve longed for. And one I’m very happy to play with.
Salvador laughs out loud, whilst the Thirteenth Doctor is stony-faced.
© Tim Bradley, 2023
| Go back to | Go next to |
| Return to The Thirteen+ Doctors | |
| Return to The First Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Second Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Third Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Fourth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Fifth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Sixth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Seventh Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Eighth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Ninth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Tenth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Eleventh Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Twelfth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to The Thirteenth Doctor by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who by Tim Bradley | |
| Return to Doctor Who | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |