Chapter 17
SCENE #164A – INT – CENTRAL OPS ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Back in the central ops room of U.N.I.T. HQ, the battle between the Daleks, the Sontarans and Magambo’s U.N.I.T. soldiers persists. Private James has rejoined the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Doctors and the rest of their friends whilst still pinned down.
DOCTOR 4
I told you not to get cocky, James.
PRIVATE JAMES
It’s not my fault my laser pistol ran out of power, is it? I need to recharge it.
Just then, the Brigadier and Kate are alerted to the intercom, which blares quite loudly.
KATE
(realises) Father, the intercom! Osgood must be reporting in.
BRIGADIER
We’re pinned down here. Can we patch the intercom to my walkie-talkie?
DOCTOR 9
I’ll do that for you, Brig. I’ll use my sonic.
ROSE
Like a superphone?
DOCTOR 9
More or less.
BRIGADIER
Here you are, Doctor.
The Brigadier hands over his walkie-talkie, which the Ninth Doctor takes.
DOCTOR 8
We’ll also be able to talk to Osgood from here at the intercom panel once we’ve switched it on. The Doctors and me, we’re close to it.
The Ninth Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver, as it buzzes away to patch the intercom to the Brigadier’s walkie-talkie. After several seconds, the Ninth Doctor finishes; switches off his sonic screwdriver and pockets it.
DOCTOR 9
There. All done, Brigadier. Try it out, once the Doctors switch on the intercom.
The Ninth Doctor passes the walkie-talkie back, to which the Brigadier takes.
BRIGADIER
Right then. Whenever you’re ready.
DOCTOR 8
If you would oblige, Doctor.
DOCTOR 6
Oh, my pleasure, Doctor. Switching on now.
The Sixth Doctor instantly switches on the intercom. There’s a bleep-bleep on the Brigadier’s walkie-talkie, which he switches on and speaks into it.
BRIGADIER
(through walkie-talkie) Greyhound leader, here. Trap One, do you read me, over?
OSGOOD (V’O)
Trap One here, sir. Osgood reporting.
BRIGADIER
(through walkie-talkie) Osgood, we’re being gunned down by Daleks and Sontarans in central ops. What’s your situation, over?
OSGOOD (V’O)
We’ve gathered in the portal gateway control room, sir. We’re working on opening the portal to allow the Doctors and their friends to enter zone five.
Kate takes the walkie-talkie from her father and speaks into it.
KATE
(through walkie-talkie) Is everyone gathered safely, Osgood?
OSGOOD (V’O)
Yes, ma’am. Well, most of us are.
KATE
(through walkie-talkie) What do you mean ‘most of you are’?
BRIGADIER
(through walkie-talkie) No-one’s been injured, have they, Osgood?
OSGOOD (V’O)
(reassuringly) No, sir. No injuries.
SCENE #164B – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY CONTROL ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
OSGOOD
(through intercom; continues) Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton are at the entrance doors with soldiers on the lookout. The Doctor’s companions Mr. Chesterton, Miss Wright, Mr. McCrimmon and Miss Ace are assisting them.
KATE (V’O)
I see. And everyone else?
OSGOOD
(through intercom) I have Doctors One and Seven with me. Doctors Two and Three, their granddaughter Susan and their friends, Miss Heriot and Miss Grant have gone below to check the power generators.
BRIGADIER (V’O)
Why? Is there something wrong with them?
OSGOOD
(through intercom) Not enough power to open the zone five portal. They went to charge up the generators. (reassuringly) Our soldiers are with them, over.
DOCTOR 1
(apprehensively) Dear, dear, dear. I feel very uncomfortable with soldiers watching us all the time.
DOCTOR 7
I’m not too happy about it myself. But we mustn’t complain.
DOCTOR 9 (V’O)
(interjects) Osgood, listen. It’s the Doctor here. Well, one of them.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) I hear you, Doctor. Loud and clear.
DOCTOR 9 (V’O)
Good. Is there a chance of you hurrying things up a bit with opening the portal?
DOCTOR 6 (V’O)
We Doctors and our friends need to get into zone five to locate our other selves and their friends to wherever and whenever they’ve ended up.
DOCTOR 8 (V’O)
They’ve somehow managed to exit zone five and we must find out what’s happened to them.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) We’re working as fast as we can, Doctors. I’ll report in when we’re able to open zone five portal.
BRIGADIER (V’O)
Very well, Osgood, but don’t leave it for too long.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) I won’t, sir.
KATE (V’O)
Good luck, Osgood.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) Thank you, ma’am. Trap One, out.
Osgood switches off the intercom.
OSGOOD
Let’s hope the Doctors and the others downstairs will charge up the power generators in time.
DOCTOR 1
Provided the Doctors downstairs don’t bicker with each other too much, my dear.
DOCTOR 7
Indeed. That’s often a failing when it comes to multiple mees interacting with each other.
SCENE #165 – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY GENERATOR ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Down in the generator room, the Second and Third Doctors have trouble charging up the generators with their sonic screwdrivers. Susan, Zoe and Jo are with them, whilst U.N.I.T. soldiers wait outside.
DOCTOR 3
No, no, you’ve got it the wrong way round.
DOCTOR 2
(protests) I haven’t!
DOCTOR 3
It should be from power outage B to A. Not A to B.
DOCTOR 2
I thought you said A to B instead of B to A.
DOCTOR 3
I said no such thing.
DOCTOR 2
You certainly did.
JO
(interrupts) Doctors, now is not the time to argue.
ZOE
We need you to charge up the power outage nodes with your sonic screwdrivers. Then Susan, Jo and I can read the meters to make sure they’re charging up accordingly.
DOCTOR 2
I’m sorry, Zoe, but he started it.
DOCTOR 3
I beg to differ.
DOCTOR 2
Look, we haven’t got much time left if you’re going to keep arguing like this.
DOCTOR 3
(shouts) You’re the one who’s making a big issue out of this.
DOCTOR 2
(protests) There’s no need to shout at me.
SUSAN
(interrupts) Grandfathers, please! Osgood and everyone else are waiting upstairs, remember?
A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 3
Yes, I’m sorry, my dear chap. I shouldn’t have raised my voice.
DOCTOR 2
Yes, well, I’m sorry too. (Pause) Let’s start again, shall we?
DOCTOR 3
Yes, I think we’d better. (Pause) Now, you do B to A on node one…
DOCTOR 2
And you do A to B on node two. I’m with you.
DOCTOR 3
Right. Sonic screwdrivers ready?
The Second and Third Doctors apply their sonic screwdrivers to the respective nodes.
DOCTOR 2
Ready when you are.
DOCTOR 3
We must do this simultaneously.
DOCTOR 2
I haven’t forgotten, dear chap. Shall I count or will you?
DOCTOR 3
(thinks) I’ll count. To three, right?
DOCTOR 2
Just get on with it. My arm is aching.
DOCTOR 3
Very well. (Pause) One…two…three.
The Second and Third Doctors switch on their sonic screwdrivers and they buzz away. The power outage nodes begin to charge up. A moment of silence as this happens.
DOCTOR 2
Susan; Zoe; Jo. Tell us what the meters say for the power outages on the three generators, please.
Susan, Zoe and Jo go over to look at the meters’ readings.
ZOE
(gradually) It seems to be working, Doctors. Meter One says seventy-six percent and rising.
JO
Same for Meter Two. It’s at fifty-eight percent and rising.
SUSAN
Meter Three is the lowest, but that’s to be expected. It’s going steadily from twenty-nine to thirty. It should be getting higher like the first two meters are.
ZOE
How did the power levels become so low?
DOCTOR 2
Presumably the generators were drained of energy whenever a portal opened up for someone to gain access to a zone in the interdimensional network. We Doctors have been going in and out of various zones lately.
DOCTOR 3
Usually U.N.I.T. personnel would be here to maintain the power levels. But since some of them got captured or killed when the Daleks, Sontarans and Autons took over…
DOCTOR 2
(interjects) And when that Francesca woman unveiled her true colours…
DOCTOR 3
(continues) …Nobody’s been down here to keep the power levels up and maintained since then. It’s just as well we came down here when we did.
JO
I’m glad we helped you out with reading the meters for the generators. And to keep you both in check.
DOCTOR 3
We couldn’t have done this without you three. Thank you very much.
SUSAN
Shall we go back up now? We want to make sure everything is in order.
DOCTOR 2
Very good suggestion, Susan. Hopefully Osgood and everyone else should be getting notifications that the generators are back to full power.
ZOE
Thank goodness no monsters have obstructed us so far. (Pause; thinks) I wonder why that is.
JO
I wondered that too. Did they really not consider this place important?
SUSAN
Perhaps they didn’t get around to the portal gateway control room and generator room yet.
JO
They must be very careless if that’s the case.
ZOE
I’ve never thought of the Daleks being careless. Can’t say the same thing about the Sontarans and the Autons, but still.
DOCTOR 2
Let’s worry about that later, everyone. Besides, we have these soldiers to protect us as we go back upstairs, so that should be okay.
DOCTOR 3
(calls) Alright, my good fellows. We’ve finished here. Please, escort us back upstairs.
Obliging, the U.N.I.T. soldiers escort the Second and Third Doctors, Susan, Zoe and Jo back upstairs.
SCENE #166A – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY CONTROL ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Back in the portal gateway control room, an alarm bleeps on Osgood’s computer terminal. She and the First and Seventh Doctors check it.
DOCTOR 1
What is it? What is it, my dear? What’s happening?
DOCTOR 7
Are the power levels restored?
OSGOOD
Just a moment, Doctors.
A moment ensues, as Osgood double-checks.
OSGOOD
Yes! Yes, I believe we can open a portal to zone five in central ops at last.
DOCTOR 1
(delighted) Oh excellent! Excellent news!
DOCTOR 7
(pleased) Very glad to hear it.
Osgood switches on the intercom to speak into it.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) Trap One to Greyhound Leader. Trap One to Greyhound Leader, do you read me, over?
Osgood clicks off and a burst of static occurs from the intercom.
DOCTOR 1
(impatiently) Oh what’s taking that Brigadier man so long?
DOCTOR 7
There must be a lot of our opponents for him and his group to deal with.
Just then, a crackling noise echoes on the intercom and then…
BRIGADIER (V’O)
Greyhound Leader here. Osgood, do you have something to report?
OSGOOD
(relieved) Thank goodness. (through intercom) Yes sir, we have the power levels restored in the generators. We’re able to open a portal to zone five in central ops.
KATE (V’O)
(pleased) Excellent news, Osgood. Well done.
BRIGADIER (V’O)
Yes, well done, Osgood.
At that moment, the Second and Third Doctors, Susan, Zoe and Jo return with their U.N.I.T. soldiers behind them.
SUSAN
Grandfather! Grandfather, we’re back!
DOCTOR 1
(pleased) Susan, my dear. Oh, my child, I’m so glad you’re safe. So glad that all of you are safe.
DOCTOR 2
(happily) Thank you, Doctor. It was touch and go, but we did it in the end.
DOCTOR 3
Are the generators fully charged up at your end though?
DOCTOR 7
They are, Doctor. Osgood can now open a portal to zone five in central ops.
ZOE
(relieved) Oh, that’s great news.
JO
(pleased) Yes, I’m very pleased to hear that.
OSGOOD
(through intercom) Brigadier, sir. We need to open a portal at a certain juncture where you are. Once that’s established, the Doctors and friends with you can safely enter the portal.
BRIGADIER (V’O)
Where exactly do you intend to open the portal, Osgood? Can you be more precise?
SCENE #166B – INT – CENTRAL OPS ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
OSGOOD (V’O)
I can aim for the centre of central ops. There’s a lot of jiggery-pokery involved, but it should work. All of you must move to one side of the room: north, south, east or west. I can project the portal in the centre as quickly as possible.
BRIGADIER
(through walkie-talkie) Very well. We’ll make for the east side of the room. It’s close to where we are.
KATE
(through walkie-talkie) Stand by, Osgood. Once we’re in position and ready, we’ll let you know and you can open the portal.
OSGOOD (V’O)
Understood, ma’am. Trap One out.
BRIGADIER
(through walkie-talkie) Greyhound Leader out.
The Brigadier switches off his walkie-talkie, whilst the battle between the Daleks, Sontarans and U.N.I.T. soldiers continues nearby.
DOCTOR 8
We’d better keep the intercom switched on, Doctor, to maintain contact with Osgood.
DOCTOR 9
Good idea. Hopefully the portal won’t open where the intercom is to disrupt the connection.
DOCTOR 6
I suppose we’d better move to the east side of the room then.
PERI
Agreed. We don’t want to get shot though.
ROSE
We won’t. Just keep our heads down. Hopefully by doing that, we won’t be exterminated or shot at.
BRIGADIER
Magambo, you and your soldiers cover us as we make for the east side of central ops.
MAGAMBO
Yes, sir. Good luck.
DOCTOR 4
(eagerly) Right, everyone. Let’s go.
PRIVATE JAMES
Should I go somewhere to charge up my laser pistol?
DOCTOR 4
Not now, James! We need you to accompany us once the portal is open. Your laser pistol can wait.
PRIVATE JAMES
(protests) But I need to charge it up to cover you and everyone else from the Daleks and Sontarans.
DOCTOR 4
Yes, well, hopefully your laser pistol won’t be needed that urgently.
Just then, a couple of Sontaran troopers come up and grab Nyssa and Billy from behind.
BILLY
(cries) Nyssa!
NYSSA
(cries) Billy!
Everyone turns to see Nyssa and Billy struggle in the Sontarans’ grasp.
DONNA
Crikey, where did these potato heads come from?!
JEN
They’ve got Nyssa and Billy!
PRIVATE JAMES
(pointedly) Won’t be needed that urgently, eh, Doctor?
DOCTOR 6
Stay back, everyone! Don’t make a sudden move!
KATE
But we have to rescue your friends.
DOCTOR 9
Trust me, Kate. It’s best not to take chances with Sontarans when they have the upper hand.
MAGAMBO
Shall I order my troops to open fire, sir?
DOCTOR 8
Not with Nyssa and Billy in your line of fire you don’t.
SONTARAN #1
(threateningly) Open fire, hu-man soldiers, and you shall regret it.
SONTARAN #2
(threateningly) Our weapons are aimed at your friends’ heads, see? We’ll open fire first before you get the chance.
BRIGADIER
Stand down, Magambo. Tell your troops to stand down.
MAGAMBO
Understood. (barks) Troops, stand down. Don’t fire.
Magambo’s soldiers lower their guns, doing as she says. A moment of tense silence, whilst Nyssa and Billy continue to struggle in the Sontarans’ grasp..
NYSSA
Billy, try not to panic. We’ll be alright, you’ll see.
BILLY
I’m not panicking, Nyssa. But this Sontaran is really hurting my arm.
Meanwhile, Rose whispers to Donna, Private James and Jen.
ROSE
(whispers) We must find a way to free Nyssa and Billy.
DONNA
(whispers) If only we could get behind these two Sontarans.
PRIVATE JAMES
(whispers) Yeah. The probic vents on the back of their necks is their weak point.
ROSE
(realises; whispers) James, that laser pistol of yours. Could you lend it to Donna for a bit?
PRIVATE JAMES
(confused; whispers) I could, yes, but why? It’s out of power, remember?
JEN
(intrigued; whispers) Yeah, Rose, what have you got in mind?
ROSE
(whispers) I’ll explain in a bit. Jen, could you look after one of my trainers for me?
SCENE #167 – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY CONTROL ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
DOCTOR 1
Have you finished calibrating the direction point of where the portal in central ops needs to be, young lady?
OSGOOD
Nearly finished. (Pause) There. All complete. I’ve set it directly to be in the centre of central ops.
DOCTOR 2
Splendid. All we need now is to hear from Kate and the Brigadier that they’re ready for us to open the portal.
DOCTOR 3
They’re taking their time, aren’t they? They should have called in by now.
ZOE
Maybe it’s taking longer for them to get to the east side of the room than we thought.
JO
I hope nothing bad has happened to them.
Ian and Jamie enter.
IAN
Doctor; Susan.
SUSAN
Ian! Thank goodness you’re still with us.
ZOE
Jamie?
JAMIE
Hello, Zoe.
DOCTOR 1
Chesterton, where’s Barbara? Why is she not with you?
DOCTOR 7
And what of Ace? Is she and Barbara still with Mike Yates and Sergeant Benton?
IAN
Yes, they are. There’s nothing happening out there. We were sent to get an update from you.
JAMIE
How are things going? Have you made any progress?
OSGOOD
We have. We’ve charged up the generators and we’re going to direct the portal to zone five in the centre of central ops.
IAN
Oh, well, that’s good news. Isn’t it, Jamie?
JAMIE
Aye, it is. Barbara and Ace will be pleased to hear that.
DOCTOR 7
We’re just waiting to hear from Kate and the Brigadier. Whatever’s taking them so long, they should have called in by now.
DOCTOR 3
(annoyed) That’s what I just said.
SCENE #168 – INT – CENTRAL OPS ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Back in central ops, as the battle between the Daleks, Sontarans and U.N.I.T. soldiers continues, the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Doctors and friends attend to the two Sontarans holding Nyssa and Billy.
SONTARAN #1
Surrender, Doc-tors! Surrender or your two associates die!
SONTARAN #2
You shall be our prisoners for Commander Groul and Corporal Stukk once more!
PERI
Doctors, you must have some idea of how we can get out of this.
DOCTOR 6
Hold on, Peri, we’re thinking. This isn’t easy.
PERI
Well, you’d better hurry. Otherwise Nyssa and Billy will be shot in the heads.
DOCTOR 9
(whispers) Brigadier, have you seen Rose anywhere? She was here a minute ago.
The Brigadier looks around.
BRIGADIER
(whispers) I don’t know where she is, Doctor. (Pause; realises) Miss Noble seems to have vanished too.
Just then, Rose comes up behind the two Sontarans.
ROSE
(calls) Hey, potato-heads!
The two Sontarans turn to face Rose, holding Nyssa and Billy at the same time.
ROSE
(cries) That’s right, I’m talking to you two. Pick on someone your own size!
KATE
(realises) Father, there’s Miss Tyler.
DOCTOR 9
(shocked; calls) Rose, what are you doing?!
SONTARAN #2
(surprised) We’re ambushed!
SONTARAN #1
Have no fear, soldier! We Sontarans can outwit this yellow-haired humanoid female…
Just then, the Sontaran holding Billy is struck from behind on the probic vent by Donna, who steadily crept up behind him, with Private James’ empty laser pistol. The Sontaran hisses and groans before he releases Billy and collapses to the floor. Billy backs away from the fallen Sontaran.
NYSSA
(cries; concerned) Billy! Billy, are you alright?
BILLY
I’m fine, Nyssa, don’t worry. (astonished) Did Donna just save my life?
DONNA
(cheers; pleased) Yes, I did! Oh yes! Back of the neck again!
Distracted, the Sontaran holding Nyssa turns to face Donna.
SONTARAN #1
(angrily) You shan’t get away with this! I have the other hostage! I shall shoot her before I shoot…
Rose comes up behind the Sontaran holding Nyssa and strikes him on the probic vent with one of her trainers. The Sontaran hisses and groans before he releases Nyssa and collapses to the ground. Backing away from the fallen Sontaran, Nyssa goes over to Billy and they hug.
NYSSA
(relieved) Oh Billy, I’m so glad you’re alright.
BILLY
(relieved; concerned) Likewise. Are you alright, dear?
NYSSA
I am now you’re with me.
Nyssa and Billy kiss.
ROSE
(cheers; pleased) We did it! We did it, Donna, we did it!
DONNA
(cheers; pleased) We just knocked out two Sontarans for the count when they weren’t looking!
DOCTOR 9
(concerned) Rose, are you alright?
ROSE
(reassuringly) We’re fine, Doctor. Me and Donna, we’re okay.
DONNA
Here’s your laser pistol back, James boy.
Donna chucks the laser pistol back to Private James, which he catches.
PRIVATE JAMES
Thanks, Donna. Glad my laser pistol was useful.
ROSE
And I’ll have my other trainer back, thank you, Jen.
JEN
(pleased) Pleasure.
Jen chucks Rose’s other trainer to her. Rose catches it.
DOCTOR 8
(astonished) You Jen and you James were in on the distraction?
DOCTOR 4
(disapprovingly) James, I’m shocked at you.
PRIVATE JAMES
(objects) We had to rescue Nyssa and Billy.
JEN
Rose came up with a plan. It seemed like a good one.
PERI
(pleased) I’m sure glad it worked.
NYSSA
(happily) Thank you so much for saving us, Rose; Donna.
BILLY
(pleased) Yeah, and thank you Jen; James. We’d be dead without you.
As Rose puts on her trainers…
DOCTOR 9
(sternly) It was a stupid thing to do, Rose. You and Donna could have got killed out there. Nyssa and Billy could have been killed.
ROSE
(annoyed) Oh come on, it worked out alright in the end, didn’t it?
Just then, a Dalek glides by.
DALEK #3
ENEMY OF THE DOC-TOR SIGHTED! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!!!
ROSE
(groans) Oh no. I thought I got lucky.
JEN
(cries) No!
DOCTOR 8
(cries) Jen, don’t!
Jen runs out towards Rose and pulls her out of the way, just as the Dalek opens fire and misses.
DOCTOR 4
(reassuringly) It’s alright. Jen and Rose are safe.
DOCTOR 6
(cries; urgently) Nyssa; Billy; Donna! Go over to Jen and Rose now!
Nyssa, Billy and Donna comply, as they go over to Jen and Rose, whilst the Dalek trundles towards them and everyone else.
ROSE
(astonished) Jen! You saved me!
JEN
Fair’s fair. You would have done the same for me as well as others.
ROSE
I know, but…thank you. I never expected you to do that for me.
JEN
To be honest, I’m surprised I did it myself.
DOCTOR 9
(calls) Rose; Jen, get back here now.
DOCTOR 4
(calls) Everyone, to us! East side of the room now!
Everyone backs away, as the Dalek approaches.
MAGAMBO
Do you still want me and my soldiers to stand down, sir?
BRIGADIER
Best if you do, Magambo. Daleks aren’t always the easiest opponents to tackle in my experience.
DALEK #3
YOU CANNOT ESCAPE! YOU WILL ALL BE EXTERMINATED! DEATH SHALL COME TO YOU!
BRIGADIER
(whispers) Time to call Osgood, Kate. The Dalek is in the centre of the room.
KATE
(realises; whispers) Yes, well spotted, father.
Kate takes the walkie-talkie from the Brigadier and switches it on whilst the Dalek approaches.
KATE
(through walkie-talkie; whispers) Osgood! Osgood, can you hear me? Osgood, come in!
A burst of static occurs and then…
OSGOOD (V’O)
Osgood here. Miss Stewart, is that you? I can barely hear you, ma’am.
KATE
(though walkie-talkie; whispers) Ssh! I can’t talk any louder.
OSGOOD (V’O)
(whispers; confused) Why aren’t you using the call-sign, ma’am? Greyhound Leader to Trap One and all?
KATE
(through walkie-talkie; whispers) Osgood, listen. Switch on the portal in central ops now! A Dalek is about to exterminate us!
SCENE #169 – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY CONTROL ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
OSGOOD
(whispers) Understood, ma’am. I’ll have the portal open right away.
DOCTOR 1
(apprehensively) What’s happening over there? Is there some sort of trouble?
OSGOOD
Yes. Dalek trouble, I’m afraid.
SUSAN
(anxiously) Oh no.
DOCTOR 2
Oh dear. You’d better get that portal open quickly, my dear.
DOCTOR 3
If you stop interrupting her, maybe she will.
JO
Do you think the portal will be open in time for our friends to get away?
ZOE
I hope so. They might not be able to get through it with a Dalek in the way though.
DOCTOR 7
I believe that’s already been taken care of, dear Zoe.
OSGOOD
Right then! Pressing the button to open the portal…now!
Osgood presses the button.
SCENE #170 – INT – CENTRAL OPS ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
Back in central ops, the portal opens instantaneously. The Dalek gets caught in its wake, and it cries out loud before screaming away in agony and rage. Its metal casing is crushed to smithereens, startling the Fourth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Doctors and their friends. Silence ensues whilst the portal is open.
BRIGADIER
(gratified) She did it! Osgood opened the portal!
PERI
(cheers) And the portal took out the Dalek once it opened! Incredible!
KATE
(relieved) Thank goodness. (through walkie-talkie) Osgood, well done! You opened the portal in time.
OSGOOD (V’O)
Very pleased to hear that, ma’am. Anything else you require?
KATE
(through walkie-talkie) Stand by. We’ll call you again should we need anything.
OSGOOD (V’O)
Understood. Osgood out. Wait, shouldn’t that be Trap One out?
KATE
(exasperated; through walkie-talkie) It doesn’t matter. Kate Stewart out.
Kate switches off the walkie-talkie and gives it back to the Brigadier. The background battle continues nearby with the Daleks and the Sontarans giving out their war cries whilst fighting against the U.N.I.T. soldiers.
DALEKS
(chants; from a distance) EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!! EXTERMINATE!!!
SONTARANS
(chants; from a distance) Sontar-Ha! Sontar-Ha! Sontar-Ha! Sontar-Ha! Sontar-Ha…
DOCTOR 4
They’re so absorbed in their battle to even notice us and the open portal.
PRIVATE JAMES
Perhaps we should count ourselves lucky we haven’t been noticed.
NYSSA
I hope the soldiers will be able to hold off the Daleks and the Sontarans long enough for us to enter.
MAGAMBO
Me too, Mrs. Walker. (sighs) I wish I was with those soldiers tackling our enemies.
BILLY
(reassuringly) Don’t worry, Captain. We’ll be out of your hair soon enough.
DOCTOR 6
Speaking of which, we’d better get going.
PERI
Yeah, quickly. Before anything else happens.
ROSE
Doctor, there’s something I don’t understand. I thought the Daleks were destroyed.
DOCTOR 9
These Daleks must be from before my time, Rose. Before the Time War.
DOCTOR 8
(intrigued) Time War? What’s that?
DOCTOR 9
Nothing for you to worry about, mate. Not yet anyway.
ROSE
Have the Daleks always been bronze then?
JEN
(impatiently) Can we discuss this another time?
DONNA
Yeah, like Joseph said, let’s get going. We must enter that portal before it closes.
Just then, there’s a click, as a gun is trained on them.
FRANCESCA
(threateningly) Stay where you are, all of you! I wouldn’t like to use this.
The four Doctors, their friends, the Brigadier, Kate, Magambo and her soldiers stop in their tracks. They look to see who’s pointing the gun at them.
KATE
Francesca.
BRIGADIER
I assume that the gun is fully loaded.
FRANCESCA
Indeed it is, Brigadier.
MAGAMBO
(cries) Soldier, no!
As one of the soldiers moves forward, Francesca fires at him. Everyone gasps in shock, as the soldier groans before he collapses to the floor.
DONNA
(shocked) Oh dear God.
PERI
(accusingly) You killed him!
FRANCESCA
It was a warning shot. I had no intention of killing him.
DOCTOR 9
(angrily) Let’s hope for your sake, Francesca, that the private on the floor isn’t dead.
FRANCESCA
(threateningly) No-one is to move. Next time I open fire, it will be fatal.
The soldier on the floor groans.
NYSSA
Please let me help him. I can provide medical attention.
BILLY
I can help Nyssa too. Please show some mercy.
FRANCESCA
(gradually) Very well. Just you two though. No tricks.
Nyssa and Billy get on the floor to help the wounded soldier. Francesca keeps her gun trained on them as well as everyone else.
JEN
(whispers) Not exactly the way we planned things, am I right?
ROSE
(whispers; groans) If only I kept my gob shut when asking about the Daleks.
PERI
(whispers) Yeah well, that’s past now. I don’t know how we can overcome this obstacle.
PRIVATE JAMES
(whispers) Me neither. We’d better come up with something soon.
DONNA
(whispers) I hope Nyssa and Billy’s Doctor as well as my Doctor are having better luck than us.
SCENE #171 – INT – PORTAL GATEWAY CONTROL ROOM, U.N.I.T. HQ – N/A
DOCTOR 1
Now we’ve opened the portal, let’s see how the rest of our friends are doing at the entrance to this place.
OSGOOD
Yes, it must be really quiet for Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton out there.
SUSAN
As well as for Ian, Barbara, Jamie and Ace.
DOCTOR 2
The Daleks, Sontarans and Autons surely can’t have ignored this place.
DOCTOR 3
Neither can that Francesca woman. Let’s go and see what’s happening.
DOCTOR 7
Agreed. The sooner we check our friends, the sooner we can join everyone else in central ops.
JO
I hope we’re closer to getting out of this nightmare world.
ZOE
Me too. I can’t help being reminded of the ‘war games’ planet Jamie, my Doctor and I were on before all this happened. We were…
As they make their way to the control room’s entrance, Ian, Barbara, Jamie and Ace enter.
IAN
(cries; urgently) Susan! Zoe; Jo; Doctors; Osgood, get back, all of you!
SUSAN
(anxiously) Why, Ian, what’s happening?!
BARBARA
The Autons have arrived, Susan! They came out of nowhere whilst we were on guard!
JAMIE
Aye, they shot down one of Yates and Benton’s soldiers.
DOCTOR 1
(urgently) Everyone back to Miss Osgood’s computer terminal. Everyone, take cover!
DOCTOR 2
(urgently) Yes, take cover immediately!
DOCTOR 3
(urgently) Auton firepower is deadly, so be careful.
ACE
Can’t I just knock out the dummies on the head with my baseball bat?
DOCTOR 7
(sternly) No, Ace! Do as we say and take cover!
The Seventh Doctor pulls Ace with him, as they, the First, Second and Third Doctors, Ian, Barbara, Susan, Jamie, Zoe and Jo take cover. Mike Yates, Benton and their soldiers soon join them, as they fire their guns at the Autons advancing upon them.
BENTON
It’s no good, sir. We’re outnumbered and our ammunition is low.
MIKE
(barks) Keep everyone safe, Benton.
BENTON
Right, sir.
OSGOOD
How many Autons are we dealing with, Captain?
MIKE
Too many for my liking. Take cover like the Doctors and their friends, Miss Osgood.
Osgood does as Mike says, taking cover with the four Doctors and their friends. Mike, Benton and their soldiers keep firing, whilst the Autons fire back with their hand-guns.
AUTON #1
They shall not escape. We have the upper hand. Our fugitives cannot outrun us.
SCENE #172 – INT – DEEP STORAGE, ENEMY BASE – N/A
Meanwhile, in deep storage aboard Salvador’s base, the Thirteenth Doctor recovers with Yaz, Dan, the Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, Amy, Rory and Bill helping her.
RORY
She’s going to be okay. Her double pulse seems steady. I take it that’s okay, Doctors.
DOCTOR 11
(reassuringly) Trust us, Rory, it is.
DOCTOR 5
(relieved) Thank goodness we got to her in time.
DOCTOR 10
Imagine if we were ten minutes late freeing her from her cryo-chamber.
DOCTOR 12
We’d be poor caretakers of our future.
YAZ
(concerned; to Doctor 13) Doctor? Doctor, are you alright?
DAN
(encouragingly) Yeah, come on, Doctor. Wakey wakey, rise and shine.
Gradually, the Thirteenth Doctor is fully awake.
DOCTOR 13
(woozily; reassuringly) It’s alright, Yaz. I’ll be alright. I’m just glad you and Dan are safe. As well as my other selves, Amy, Rory and Bill. (Pause) Have I been out long?
YAZ
(thinks) I dunno. We only just found you.
DAN
It took us a while to track you in this cold storage place after we got here.
YAZ
Doctor, can you tell us where and when we are? What is this place?
DOCTOR 13
(gradually) This place, Yaz. It’s Salvador’s domain.
YAZ
(shocked) What?!
BILL
(shocked) Him?
DOCTOR 5
(shocked) Salvador is here?!
DOCTOR 10
(outraged) He’s the one behind all this?!
DOCTOR 12
(groans) Not him again.
DOCTOR 11
After all this time. I thought we’d seen the last of him.
DAN
(confused) Is anyone going to fill us in? Who is this Salvador?
RORY
I’ll do one better. What is this Salvador?
AMY
(snarkily) I’ll do one even better. Why is this Salvador?
DOCTOR 13
(cheerily) Very good questions. If only we had the time to answer each and every one. (Pause; thinks) Telepathic conference?
DOCTOR 12
Telepathic conference?
DOCTOR 10
Hmm. Telepathic conference.
DOCTOR 5
I’d say we have a telepathic conference.
DOCTOR 11
Yep. Definitely a telepathic conference.
AMY
(sighs) Here we go again.
DOCTOR 13
Yaz; Dan, help me to sit up.
Yaz and Dan oblige, as they help the Thirteenth Doctor to sit up in her cryo-chamber.
DAN
Is that alright, Doctor?
DOCTOR 13
Yes, Dan, that’s fine. Thank you.
YAZ
Are you sure?
DOCTOR 13
(impatiently) Yes, yes, Yaz. Don’t make a fuss. (to Doctors 5, 10, 11 and 12) Right, are we ready?
DOCTOR 11
Ready and willing.
DOCTOR 12
Let’s get on with it.
DOCTOR 13
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 12
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 11
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 10
(focuses) Contact.
DOCTOR 5
(focuses) Contact.
Information buzzes between the five Doctors, as they share a telepathic conference. Their companions Amy, Rory, Bill, Yaz and Dan wait. Eventually, the telepathic conference ends.
DOCTOR 13
There. That’s all we know.
RORY
(surprised) Blimey, that was quick.
BILL
Quicker than I expected.
DOCTOR 10
(astonished) Salvador…and the Valeyard? Working together?
DOCTOR 12
How come the Valeyard is involved? Did Salvador meet him at some point in his life?
DOCTOR 13
Looks like it. But Salvador doesn’t know who the Valeyard is yet.
DOCTOR 5
Is the Valeyard someone I should be worried about?
DOCTOR 10
(realises) Oh, yes! It hasn’t happened for you yet, has it?
DOCTOR 5
What hasn’t happened for me yet?
DOCTOR 11
The Valeyard will put you on trial. Don’t worry, you win. We all win, in fact.
DOCTOR 5
I see. Well, that’s useful to know.
DOCTOR 13
Unfortunately for us, the Valeyard, in his warped mind, considers this to be an on-going trial.
DOCTOR 12
Well, he would, wouldn’t he? If he’s still walking around in those court clothes of his.
DAN
Again, need to be filled in. Who is this Valeyard?
DOCTOR 11
Someone we need to talk about another time.
AMY
(annoyed) That’s usually the case when you’re avoiding the question.
DOCTOR 13
In the meantime, we’d better get a shift on. We must reach the control room.
BILL
Control room?
YAZ
Doctor, you’re in no condition to move. You still haven’t fully recovered.
DOCTOR 13
(interrupts) No time, Yaz. We have to get going before it’s too late.
RORY
Before what’s too late? As a nurse, I’m not letting you go until you tell us what the matter is.
BILL
(agitated) Yeah, can someone please explain what we need to know?
AMY
We’ve all been through a great deal to get here.
DOCTOR 5
We need to reach this control room aboard Salvador’s base in order to reverse what he and the Valeyard have done with the displacement of various spatial-temporal locations of Earth’s history in the zones of this interdimensional network.
DOCTOR 11
By reversing what they’ve done, we have a chance of restoring balance in the Universe – both in terms of a physical and a temporal level.
DOCTOR 10
There is one thing that puzzles and bothers me.
DOCTOR 12
Just one?
DOCTOR 10
How is it we found her in this cryo-chamber and followed a trail of temporal energy particles to get to her? It screams of being too convenient.
DOCTOR 13
Yeah, that’s bugged me ever since I woke up. My previous meeting with Salvador and the Valeyard is a bit fuzzy. They put me in deep storage of course. Whatever intentions they have, it can’t be good.
DOCTOR 12
You think Salvador and the Valeyard have a deadly design for us?
BILL
(realises) We could be walking into a trap?
DOCTOR 5
Precisely what we’ve all deduced, I assume. Right, Doctors?
DOCTOR 11
We need to be careful where we tread. Dare we take Salvador and the Valeyard’s bait. Perhaps heading for the control room isn’t such a cool idea.
YAZ
So, you’re saying…we shouldn’t go to the control room at all.
A moment of silence.
DOCTOR 13
No. We make for the control room. Despite there being five of us, we Doctors still lack knowledge. What grisly fate do Salvador and the Valeyard have in mind for us?
DOCTOR 5
By going to the control room, we might get more information to help us all escape.
DOCTOR 13
Exactly.
DOCTOR 11
I hope your hunch is right about that.
DOCTOR 10
We’ll have to be extremely careful once we get to the control room. Be ready for anything.
DOCTOR 12
Easier said than done. Salvador and the Valeyard are likely to anticipate our every move. They’re challenging opponents.
DOCTOR 13
(gradually) Well, no point in debating it further.
The Thirteenth Doctor gingerly climbs out of her cryo-chamber.
YAZ
(astonished) Doctor, you climbed out of that thing by yourself.
DOCTOR 13
(happily) Of course. I’m fully recovered now, Yaz. (eagerly) Come on! Best feet forward.
The Thirteenth Doctor leads the way. The Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors follow, whilst Yaz, Dan, Bill, Amy and Rory follow the Doctors.
SCENE #173 – INT – CONTROL ROOM, ENEMY BASE – N/A
In the control room, Salvador and the Valeyard see the Thirteenth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, Yaz, Dan, Amy, Rory and Bill on a monitor screen.
SALVADOR
(laughs out loud) Oh, I do enjoy seeing fools walking into my traps.
VALEYARD
The Doctors will have deduced the trap we’ve set up.
SALVADOR
True, but it matters not. Once our scheme is over, the Doctors will be destroyed forever as well as this Universe. My vengeance shall be satisfied, my suffering will end, and you shall have…
VALEYARD
(interjects) …I shall have the Doctors’ remaining lives before I can escape into another Universe. That is what we agreed, isn’t it?
SALVADOR
Indeed it is. It’s a shame that the Time Lords didn’t permit you the Doctors’ remaining lives long ago.
VALEYARD
Oh they did. I made a deal with the High Council long ago. If only the Doctor hadn’t interfered.
SALVADOR
(bitterly) Of course. As usual. The Doctor meddles everywhere. But not this time.
VALEYARD
I can only offer my condolences for how badly you were treated all those aeons ago.
SALVADOR
The end draws near, my friend. The Daleks thought they could exterminate the Doctor. The Cybermen planned to delete the Doctor. The Master believed he could outwit the Doctor and conquer the Universe. But no foe is better than me. I am Salvador! The only being who can vanquish the Doctor. I shall defeat him…forever and forever!
VALEYARD
(gleefully) An outcome I shall look forward to very much, my dear Dark Lord. I’m pleased that justice will finally be satisfied. Nemesis will unleash her vengeance upon the Doctor.
Sting music. Roll original 2018 Jodie Whittaker end credits with 1963 theme music.
© Tim Bradley, 2023
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