3. Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths
SCENE #20 – INT – SCIENCE LAB #4 – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
Back in the science lab at Bath University that afternoon, Moore and Tracy are still recovering from what they’ve experienced with the temporal disturbance. They turn to Salvador and Vernon.
DR. MOORE
“What was all that about?! The whole world went upside down!”
TRACY
“It was horrifying!”
VERNON
“What say you, Dr. Moore; Miss Gibbons?”
TRACY
“Well didn’t you see them, Mr. Vernon? Those people, walking about in odd clothes.”
VERNON
(bewildered) “My dear Miss Gibbons, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about?”
DR. MOORE
(irritated) “Come on Vernon, you must have seen for yourself. Everything went blurred and we saw visions of people.”
TRACY
“They looked like ghosts!”
DR. MOORE
“And that is not something you expect to see in reality!”
TRACY
“You must have seen them, Mr. Vernon!”
VERNON
(unbothered) “I didn’t see anything.” (to Salvador) “Did you see any ghosts, Mr. Salvador?”
SALVADOR
(coldly) “Not at all, Mr. Vernon. The lights were going out so I wasn’t able to see much.”
VERNON
“There you are you see, Dr. Moore; Miss Gibbons. It must have been your imagination.”
DR. MOORE
“What are you talking about, man? We saw it with our own eyes! Tracy’s and mine!”
VERNON
(sharply) “There was nothing there, sir!”
Before Tracy and Moore can protest further, the lab door opens as someone enters. All turn to see who it is.
TRACY
“Mr. Winsted? It’s you!”
MR. WINSTED
“Indeed it is me, Miss Gibbons. Good afternoon, Dr. Moore; Mr. Vernon.”
VERNON
(graciously) “Ah, Mr. Winsted. I’m glad you came. What we wanted was…”
DR. MOORE
(puzzled) “What are you doing here, Mr. Winsted?”
MR. WINSTED
“As Head of Physics, I was informed of some vitally important business Mr. Vernon wanted to discuss with me. So I came down at my earliest convenience.”
TRACY
“But how did you know Mr. Vernon wanted to talk to you?”
SALVADOR
(coldly) “Because I told him, Miss Gibbons.”
TRACY
“You, Mr. Salvador?”
DR. MOORE
“When…how?”
SALVADOR
“Five minutes ago. While I was on the phone.”
TRACY
“I didn’t see you use the phone.”
SALVADOR
“I was using it when the lights went out. Obviously you didn’t notice!”
VERNON
(chuckles) “Maybe it was when you were seeing your ghosts, Dr. Moore.”
DR. MOORE
“This isn’t a joke, Vernon…”
MR. WINSTED
(interrupts) “What is it you wished to talk to me about, Mr. Vernon?”
VERNON
“Ah. Well, my client Mr. Salvador has asked for a public demonstration of an experiment we’re conducting at the Roman Baths to a number of students today. We wanted to check with you whether it’s permitted.”
MR. WINSTED
“Of course it’s permitted. I greatly welcome it. Mr. Salvador asked for the demonstration to take place at the Roman Baths a few weeks ago.”
TRACY
“A few weeks ago?!”
DR. MOORE
“I heard nothing of this, Mr. Winsted.”
MR. WINSTED
“Then I must have forgotten to tell you Dr. Moore, to which I’m apologetic.”
TRACY
“So you’ve done all the preliminary measures taken into account negotiating the use of the Roman Baths by the council?”
MR. WINSTED
“Of course. They greatly welcome tours and presentations to students.”
DR. MOORE
“And you’ve told the students this?”
MR. WINSTED
“Of course. They’re waiting to be taken to the Baths in the bus at this minute.”
DR. MOORE
(suspicious) “I see.”
VERNON
“So there you are, Dr. Moore. You can repeat your experiment at the Baths. Nothing to fret about.”
DR. MOORE
(glumly) “So it seems.”
MR. WINSTED
“If you Dr. Moore and Miss Gibbons would like to come with me now to my office, I’ll explain all the necessary arrangements I’ve been making.”
DR. MOORE
“That’s very generous of you, sir.”
Mr. Winsted opens the door as he’s about to lead them out…
VERNON
“You will excuse us, Mr. Winsted. Mr. Salvador wishes to speak to me in private.”
MR. WINSTED
“Very well.”
Winsted escorts Dr. Moore and Tracy out of the science lab. Once they’ve gone, Salvador and Vernon are alone.
VERNON
“That wasn’t the real Head of Physics, was it Mr. Salvador?”
SALVADOR
“Of course it wasn’t, you idiot! You didn’t really think I’d call for Mr. Winsted like that and get his permission?!”
VERNON
“It was a terrible risk, sir. And that thing you call a temporal convergence. It nearly ruined our plans. What if they are ruined again when another of those travesties occurs again and we can’t hide from dark rooms and…phone calls?”
SALVADOR
“You are as weak as you were the day I saved you. You wished I had not done so.”
VERNON
(scared) “No. No of course not, sir. I don’t wish to…”
SALVADOR
(fiercely) “Then be silent! If you don’t trust me, then you shall be cut off from me. For I know these matters…whereas you don’t. Everything will be as it is! Everything will be as it is.”
Moment of silence.
SALVADOR
“We shall make our way to the Roman Baths as we planned. With your help, I shall endeavour to use the equipment used in that experiment to better use. We shall use it to create chaos and cause pain to the one we hate so much!”
Another moment of silence.
SALVADOR
“You desire something, sir? Tell me what it is!”
VERNON
“I know not what you talk about…”
SALVADOR
“Speak your desire for I see it in your eyes! You expect an award from your work. If you do as well as I command you, you shall get what your heart desires.” (Pause) “Now tell me, what is it you wish?”
Another moment of silence.
SALVADOR
“Speak for I am listening!”
VERNON
(gradually) “I want…Nyssa of Traken!”
SALVADOR
You desire the Lady of Traken?
VERNON
(proudly) I do.
Another moment of silence.
SALVADOR
Then you shall have her, Mr. Vernon. If you follow my commandments and obey my will…you shall have the Lady Nyssa…and all your desires complete.
Vernon is filled with hope as he becomes eager at the prospects Salvador offers.
SCENE #21 – INT – CORRIDOR, SCHOOL OF PHYSICS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
In the corridor outside science lab #4, Vernon walks out and shuts the door behind him. He makes his way down the corridor, in a jovial mood, before Tracy who’s just appeared catches up with him.
TRACY
(insistent) Alex! Alex, it’s me!
VERNON
(out loud) “Miss Gibbons, how good to make your acquaintance!” (quietly) “Please don’t mention my Christian name out in the open. Someone maybe listening.”
TRACY
(quietly) “Alex please, I must know. What’s going on?”
VERNON
“Going on? What do you say, my dear?”
TRACY
“You know what I mean. Your client Mr. Salvador isn’t what he seems. He said he contacted Mr. Winsted about this trip to the Roman Baths which he never discussed with Dr. Moore. I want to know why that is.”
VERNON
“Must you be concerned with that affair, Miss Gibbons?”
TRACY
“Alex…”
VERNON
“Mr. Vernon, if you please miss!”
TRACY
(agitated) “I must ask you, why are you dragging me and Dr. Moore into this experiment which we had no warning or pre-knowledge about?!”
VERNON
(charmingly) “I’m only asking you to do what Mr. Salvador has told you to do. He’s very insistent on what he wants, Mr. Salvador is.”
TRACY
“It’s too short notice. And why did Mr. Winsted not confide in Dr. Moore about the experiment when Mr. Salvador talked to him about it?”
VERNON
“Obviously Mr. Winsted is a busy man. As Head of Physics…”
TRACY
“That’s no excuse! And quite out of character! Mr. Winsted discusses all that goes on at this School of Physics with Dr. Moore, and he didn’t even consult him on this matter!”
VERNON
(casually) “My dear Miss Gibbons, I know why you are distressed at this outcome. You are angry with me because I have kept you and Dr. Moore behind for an occasion when you can have the half day off.”
TRACY
“That is not the reason…”
VERNON
“But don’t you worry, Tracy. With me I can provide you all you desire. I said before I would offer you and provide you with dinner if you wished. My offer still stands…”
TRACY
“You’re not taking this seriously!”
VERNON
(chuckles) “We’ve been friends for so long, Miss Gibbons. Have you known me not to be taken seriously?”
TRACY
“Mr. Vernon! Dr. Moore is very angry with you. The way you’ve handled this business unduly.”
VERNON
(dismissively) “Oh Dr. Moore has no need to…”
TRACY
“He’s very angry with you and he wants to see you in his office, right now!”
Moment of tension ensues between Vernon and Tracy.
VERNON
“Very well. I shall go and see him.”
Vernon casually walks off, on his way to see Dr. Moore. Tracy remains frustrated and agitated.
SCENE #22 – INT – JANE AUSTEN CENTRE – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
In the Regency Tea Rooms at the Jane Austen Centre, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy have their cups of tea and teacakes, as they ponder on Miss Austen’s message and what it means.
NYSSA
“Miss Austen said the Doctor must go to Bath Abbey and you and I Billy are to go to the Roman Baths.”
BILLY
(puzzled) “The purpose being? Not that I know much about Miss Austen, but why would she ask us to do that?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. That is peculiar.” (Pause) “She said that I told her to send us this message. That means we’re going to meet her at some future event.”
BILLY
“But you’ve already met her, Doctor. Could you have told her ‘the same message’ she gave to us now when you met her the first time?”
DOCTOR
“No Billy I couldn’t. Miss Austen was in her forties in eighteen twelve when I first met her. From the way she looked just now she seemed to be in her early twenties. So deducing from that and taking into account her birth and death, she must have come from the late seventeen hundreds. Seventeen ninety-seven to be precise.”
NYSSA
“You’re very sure of that, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“It’s a theory. From what we’ve learned about ‘Northanger Abbey’ and her first visit to Bath, it seems to fit the bill.”
NYSSA
“And she knew who Billy and I were. And that couldn’t have happened when you first met her, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“There’s no knowing how she met you and Billy, Nyssa. It could have been something that happened back then. We may have travelled back in time to meet her in seventeen ninety-seven.”
NYSSA
“It’s highly probable.” (to Billy) “Are we’re confusing you, Billy?”
BILLY
“It’s alright. I’ll ask later.”
DOCTOR
“Catastrophe?! What did she mean by that? I’m terrified at the prospect of it ever happening.”
BILLY
“You mentioned a tidal wave in your dream, Doctor. That could be the catastrophe she was talking about.”
NYSSA
(to Doctor) “You mentioned a storm in your dream. That could be a catastrophe.”
DOCTOR
“There’s not enough evidence to fill in all the blanks. We don’t have much to stand on.”
NYSSA
“She probably didn’t have enough time to give us more information. We don’t know how she can travel through time from one point in the past to the present.”
DOCTOR
“No. No we don’t. And that’s what’s worrying me.” (Pause) “Well Miss Austen told us to attend Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths immediately, according to my instructions.”
NYSSA
“Apparently so.”
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Well far be it from me to ignore me! Come on! Let’s get going!”
They all stand up to walk out of the Regency Tea Rooms.
BILLY
“You mean; Nyssa and I are going to go to the Roman Baths after all whilst you go to Bath Abbey, Doctor. After all you said we didn’t have much to stand on.”
SCENE #22B – INT – JANE AUSTEN CENTRE – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
The scene continues as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy walk downstairs.
DOCTOR
“Why not? You wanted to go to the Roman Baths! Now’s your chance!”
BILLY
“Oh I do, Doctor!” (to Nyssa) “You know Nyssa; you’ll be able to see a bit of my planet’s history. The great Roman Empire occupying Great Britain. And having baths for healing and pleasure.”
NYSSA
“I’m sure it’d all be very fascinating for a primitive culture. But we must focus on the task at hand. Miss Austen told us to attend these places for a reason. So we must be cautious.”
DOCTOR
“You’re right, Nyssa. Don’t take any unnecessary risks or do anything heroic. And that includes you, Billy!”
NYSSA
“Very well, Doctor.”
BILLY
“Oh dear. Not as much fun as I hoped. I thought this was supposed to be a holiday!”
DOCTOR
“Holidays never last I’m afraid, Billy.”
The Doctor then stops on the stairs, as he fishes out a few items from his coat pocket.
DOCTOR
Now I’ve brought these from the TARDIS, which I hoped we’d never use.
NYSSA
Communication devices.
DOCTOR
Yes! They’re communicators which were given to me by the Grey Krasty of Kraston Four. If ever you need to contact me Nyssa, press the purple switch and I’ll answer you.
NYSSA
Thank you, Doctor. That’s much appreciated.
DOCTOR
I’ll let you know of anything unusual when I call from Bath Abbey. Now take care of yourselves. And try not to enjoy yourselves too much.
The Doctor continues downstairs followed by Nyssa and Billy, as they make their way out of the Jane Austen Centre.
SCENE #23 – INT – DR. MOORE’S OFFICE – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
Back at Bath University’s School of Physics, Dr. Moore is in his office with Vernon. They argue bitterly with each other.
VERNON
“But surely Dr. Moore, you must be reasonable…”
DR. MOORE
(angrily) “I’ve had enough of your smug attitude, Mr. Vernon. You conspired to have this experiment performed in the Roman Baths deliberately without me knowing. Well I will not have it. I don’t care what you or Mr. Salvador says. We are not ready to conduct the experiment. And goodness knows what may happen if we disturb the workings of the hot springs within that place.”
VERNON
“But that is precisely the point, Dr. Moore. We’re trying to see how water at hot levels can be maintained through a stasis field. I thought you’d be pleased with that achievement.”
DR. MOORE
“I am pleased Mr. Vernon with what I’ve done. But I never wanted it to come to this!”
VERNON
“I’m surprised you didn’t conceive your project to expand to greater things!”
DR. MOORE
“It’s impossible, Mr. Vernon! It’s obscene and immoral! Those springs have been running for the past millennia. Going way back to the time of Jesus Christ. I’m not going to let my reputation be ruined by your humiliating demeanour.”
VERNON
“You are taking a high-handed view of this matter, Dr. Moore.”
DR. MOORE
“There is nothing you can say to persuade me from carrying out this daft scheme. Particularly when it abuses the students’ time. I won’t do it! I JUST WON’T DO IT!”
Just then, Salvador enters.
SALVADOR
(enraged) “You dare defy the will of Salvador?!”
DR. MOORE
“Ah, Mr. Salvador. I must state clearly…”
SALVADOR
(enraged) “You are an embarrassment to me, puny human! To my word! To my law!”
DR. MOORE
“I beg your pardon!”
SALVADOR
(enraged) “You have no further part to play in my grand task. You shall be taken out of this time. You will be…no more!”
Suddenly, Dr. Moore screams out in pain as he vanishes out of thin air. Vernon is horrified at what Salvador has done.
VERNON
“What have you done?! He was vital to the plan!”
SALVADOR
“No he wasn’t! He was rebellious! I don’t need minions like him.”
VERNON
“He was important to the plan! What are we going to do without him?”
SALVADOR
“Stop your frets, man! The reputation of Salvador shall not be in vain.”
VERNON
“But without Dr. Moore, it’d look suspicious to Miss Gibbons.”
SALVADOR
“I had not unforeseen this, human. If you will stop your fretting I shall create the deception you wish.”
VERNON
(sighs) “Very well. But I still say there was no need for that. He was a living being. And you killed him.”
SALVADOR
“He is matter. And I can remove matter as I like.” (Pause) “Come. We have business to attend to!”
Salvador walks out, followed by a reluctant Vernon, as they leave a room filled with deathly air.
SCENE #24 – INT – BATH ABBEY – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
Inside Bath Abbey, church music is played in the background and a beautiful chorus sings out loud. Visitors to the abbey walk around and explore the place; whilst others sit in the pews and pray. A speaker preaches the word of God to everyone on a podium. The Doctor is in the abbey too as he explores the place, waiting for something to happen. He walks down the aisle along the right section of pews. His feet tread on the paved stonework, as he content with listening to the church music.
DOCTOR
“Fine building and still standing. Always told his grace Oliver King this place would still stand after Henry the Eighth’s absurd dissolution of the monasteries all those years ago. A small cathedral indeed. Not at all like the citadel on Gallifrey”
The Doctor continues walking by the pews and moves down the aisle, as he comes across something in his sights. He stays still before he moves towards the object fascinating him.
DOCTOR
“The altar.” (Pause) “Exactly as I saw it in my dream.”
The Doctor stands in front of the altar. He then places his hand over the surface, as he recollects his dream. Sounds and voices echo in his mind, as he remembers the storm clouds overhead and dripping blood from the edge of the altar. He remembers Jane Austen speaking to him. These lines are re-used from Scene #4.
JANE
“Pray Doctor, why have I been brought here?” (Beat) “I have been brought here against my will and better judgement? Why is this?”
The Doctor then recollects the sacrifice he made with Jane Austen on the altar. These lines are re-used from Scene #4.
JANE
(pleadingly) “Please Doctor sir, I beg you! I implore you, don’t do this!”
DOCTOR
(blankly astonished) “I…I’m sorry, Miss Austen!”
JANE
(terrified) “No! No, please! Don’t! Don’t! No! Doctor! Doctor!”
MRS. BATES
(interrupts) “Excuse me, sir.”
The Doctor is startled, breaking out of his thoughts. He turns to see a curator named Mrs. Bates standing next to him.
MRS. BATES
(bewildered) “Are you alright, sir? You look pale.”
DOCTOR
(puzzled) “What?” (realises) “Oh, thank you! No I’m alright, Miss err…”
MRS. BATES
“Bates. Mrs. Amelia Bates.”
DOCTOR
“Of course Mrs. …Bates?” (realises) “Yes. Ironic.”
MRS. BATES
“Pardon?”
DOCTOR
(snaps out of it) “I was just admiring this altar. It rates highly well!”
MRS. BATES
“Yes. This altar…was built in memory of the Bishop Oliver King when he decided to rebuild the abbey in its entirety after the dissolution of monasteries by King Henry the Eighth. Its long standing history signifies how everybody was grateful to his grace to see his wishes were carried out after he died in fifteen o-three. Its stonework is a marvel considering the time it was made when everyone was under superstition and it was built in Gothic architecture in its Perpendicular form.”
DOCTOR
(slightly dismissive) “Yes very fascinating, I’m sure. Was it ever recorded that Bath Abbey and this altar have a history of disasters.”
MRS. BATES
“Not much was known of any plans to break the stonework. It was said that public demonstration…”
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “No, no. Not human catastrophes. Casual neural ones.”
MRS. BATES
(confused) “I beg your pardon, sir.”
DOCTOR
(ponders) “This abbey. I’m beginning to wonder.” (Pause) “This altar surface, Mrs. Bates. Have you ever touched it?”
MRS. BATES
“Not really, sir.”
DOCTOR
“Well touch it now, and tell me what it feels like.”
MRS. BATES
“I don’t understand…”
DOCTOR
(insistent) “Go on!”
Oblivious and incomprehensive as to what the Doctor is referring to, Mrs. Bates places her hand on the surface of the altar. As she touches it…
MRS. BATES
“I do feel something…”
DOCTOR
(insistent) “No, no. Don’t tell me yet. Just touch it!”
Mrs. Bates places her hand on the surface of the altar for quite some time. She then backs her hand away from it, almost as if she was in pain.
MRS. BATES
(pained) “It’s electric! I felt like I had an electric shock when touching that surface! But there’s no cable or plug!”
DOCTOR
“No. No there isn’t?” (Pause) “Do you want to know what happened, Mrs. Bates? You just touched chronic particles. Atoms and particles containing traces of time. That altar contains a history. A history waiting to be let out.”
Mrs. Bates becomes puzzled by what the Doctor tells her.
SCENE #25 – INT – CORRIDOR, SCHOOL OF PHYSICS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
Back in Bath University, Tracy knocks on the door of Dr. Moore’s office.
TRACY
“Dr. Moore? Dr. Moore, are you in there?”
No response. Tracy knocks the door again.
TRACY
“Dr. Moore, we have to attend the Roman Baths. Mr. Salvador and Mr. Vernon are waiting.”
Still no response. Moment of silence.
TRACY
“I know you don’t approve of this experiment, but we may as well attend. We can’t disappoint them. We don’t want to be out of a job.”
Another moment of silence.
TRACY
(concerned) “Richard?” (Pause) “Richard?”
VERNON
“Is that the correct way to address your employer, Miss Gibbons?”
Tracy lets out a startled cry, as she turns to see Mr. Vernon.
TRACY
(startled) “Mr. Vernon?” (Pause) “Where’s Dr. Moore?”
VERNON
“He’s…at the Roman Baths with Mr. Salvador.”
TRACY
“What…right this minute.” (Pause) “He didn’t tell me this.”
VERNON
“Perhaps you were having your lunch break and he missed you. And Mr. Salvador requires his services for the experiment.”
TRACY
(puzzled) “So he’s been talked into doing this experiment.”
VERNON
“By Mr. Salvador himself.” (Pause) “Come. We must be on our way. Attend the Roman Baths, we must.”
TRACY
(taken aback) “Why all the hurry? Wouldn’t it be better to wait till all the students are gathered outside the university?”
VERNON
“The students are already present at the Baths, Miss Gibbons.” (insistent) “Time is short and there’s no time like the present as the saying goes.”
Puzzled by his behaviour, Tracy is eventually escorted down the corridor by Vernon as they make for the Roman Baths.
SCENE #26 – INT – ROMAN BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
At the Roman Baths themselves, Nyssa and Billy walk on the terrace high above the Great Bath. They look at the wonders before them, seeing people walking around the terrace and down around the Great Bath. Billy takes some pictures of the view with his camera. Nyssa looks on with amazement.
BILLY
“Well Nyssa? What do you think?”
NYSSA
“It’s beautiful! It really is beautiful. The stonework and the masonry are unusual as the Doctor says. These Romans must have been well skilled to build all this.”
BILLY
“They were really advanced in their time. They could build central heating units, roads and develop all sorts of activity that would be considered incredible in those days. Like these Baths.”
NYSSA
“They remind me of the healing spas we used to have on Traken.”
BILLY
(laughs) “Yes. I remember you telling me about them.”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure about the water they use in the baths. It’s so murky. The Romans couldn’t have bathed in those surely.”
BILLY
“Depends on how you look at it.” (reads book) “According to this handbook, the spa contains water made out of forty-three minerals. They contain calcium and sulphate as the main dissolved ions.”
NYSSA
“Calcium and sulphate? Very unusual combination of components for water. Considering sulphur’s meant for lead-acid batteries, algaecide and cationic minerals.”
BILLY
“Well the water also contains sodium and chloride. From what I remember from chemistry, both elements combine to make sodium chloride or salt.”
NYSSA
“The Romans must be well advanced to have water in spas for healing.” (Pause) “Mind you that handbook you have in your hand doesn’t contain the whole history. We should have bought an audio guide to tell us more about the place.”
BILLY
(reads book) “According to this book, spa water may be tasted in the Pump Room. Extraordinary.”
NYSSA
“What you can actually drink the water?”
BILLY
“Apparently. The water’s drawn through a borehole sunk below the King’s Bath which is next to the Sacred Spring that bubbles the water to let off exsolved gases. Perhaps after we finished the tour…”
NYSSA
(finishes) “We may go to the Pump Room to try the water for ourselves.”
BILLY
“I don’t see why not.”
NYSSA
“Where is this Sacred Spring?”
BILLY
“Uh…it’s over there.”
Nyssa and Billy make their way over to the right-hand corner of the terrace. They reach it and see through the window. They watch the water from the Sacred Spring bubbling profusely.
BILLY
“There it is. The Sacred Spring bubbling away.”
NYSSA
“It’s wonderful! The water level seems so stable. How high’s the temperature of this water do you think?”
BILLY
“Well, let me check the book?” (Pause; reads book) “Well according to the book…um…the rate flow is thirteen litres per second. Temperature is at forty-six degrees Celsius.”
NYSSA
“Reasonably warm.” (Pause) “I wonder how the Doctor is.”
BILLY
(cheerily) “I imagine he’s enjoying himself.”
NYSSA
“You heard what he said. He saw the abbey in his nightmare. And with what’s happening with Jane Austen and her asking us to be in these places…”
BILLY
(comfortingly) “Now come on, Nyssa! We’ll be okay! Things are odd at the moment. But…being with you and the Doctor makes me feels okay. I’m sure the Doctor will sort everything out. He usually does, doesn’t he?”
Moment of silence.
NYSSA
(contented) “You’re right.” (Pause) “Come on. Let’s explore this place while we can.”
BILLY
“That’s the Nyssa I know!”
They both walk together down the terrace.
NYSSA
“I like those statues. Very majestic.”
BILLY
“Yes. Seeing those statues makes me feel that it’s all come from Greek or Roman mythology. Like they’ve all come out of a forgotten part of history.”
NYSSA
“It’s a wonder that people of today’s standards managed to keep this stone work.”
BILLY
“Oh it didn’t look like this back then, I’m sure of it. There may be some different design to how it first looked…”
Whilst Nyssa and Billy walk off down the terrace, Salvador watches them from a distance. He gives a light evil chuckle.
SALVADOR
“You do not realise the danger you are in, young children. Nor all you mere mortals. Now, my work must be speedy!”
SCENE #27 – INT – ROMAN BATHS – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
In the area containing the Sacred Spring, with no-one looking, Salvador appears. He walks quietly towards the bubbling water. He looks down and lets out another evil chuckle. He then takes out a bottle of potion out from him, holding it in his hand.
SALVADOR
“The idiots and fools have no idea of my real power. Not even Mr. Vernon. One small bottle of potion I hold in my hand…and I release the cork from its bottle”
The bottle pops once Salvador’s released the cork from it.
SALVADOR
“Then with some delicacy, I let a few drops fall into the water…”
Salvador pours a few drops of potion from the bottle into the water below.
SALVADOR
(chuckles) “…and very soon, all the people of Bath – its inhabitants and its visitors – will succumb to the influence of my power.”
Salvador chuckles away, before somebody approaches from outside.
GEOFF
“Hey?! Who’s in there?
Salvador realises he’s been discovered and vanishes. The security guard Geoff enters the Sacred Spring area from outside. He looks around to see if anyone is here. But there’s nobody as Salvador is gone.
GEOFF
“Strange. I thought I heard something.”
But Geoff doesn’t realise the damage that Salvador has caused, as the water in the Sacred Spring becomes infected and continues to bubble and churn the poison within.
SCENE #28 – INT – PUMP ROOM – DAY, AFTERNOON – SEPTEMBER 2011
In the Pump Room next to the Roman Baths, a female stewardess hands out a glass of water to someone. After thanking the stewardess, the person leaves. The stewardess then attends to the fountain as she is about to drain one of the glasses. A young man then approaches.
YOUNG MAN
“Excuse me?”
The stewardess turns to see the young man.
STEWARDESS
“Oh, hello there! Would you like to try this water?”
YOUNG MAN
(enthused) “Yes please!”
STEWARDESS
“Alright, one moment.”
The stewardess goes to the fountain, takes a glass and fills it up with water. After filling the glass with water, she takes it back to give it to the young man.
STEWARDESS
“It’s fifty p for a glass please, sir.”
YOUNG MAN
“Here you are!”
The young man hands the fifty pence over to stewardess to which she takes. She then hands the glass of water to him.
STEWARDESS
“Enjoy!”
YOUNG MAN
“Thank you.”
The young man takes the glass of water and immediately drinks its contents. He then coughs and splutters, as he can tell the difference between ordinary water to what he has just drunk.
YOUNG MAN
(coughs) “Wow! That’s…that’s…”
STEWARDESS
“Different?” (Pause) “It’s made from sulphur. It contains many minerals that you wouldn’t find in ordinary water.”
The young man coughs for quite a bit as he holds the glass in his hands.
STEWARDESS
(concerned) “Hey, are you alright? The water not to your liking?”
YOUNG MAN
(coughs) “I’m alright.” (coughs louder) “I just can’t…”
By this point, the young man coughs really badly now.
STEWARDESS
“Say the water can’t have done that to you, can it?”
The young man’s coughing grows worse and he begins to lose his balance.
STEWARDESS
“Hey, easy you nearly fell!”
The glass is smashed to the floor, as the young man collapses to the floor. He turns from coughing to being terribly breathless.
STEWARDESS
(concerned) “Oh my…? Are you alright?”
The stewardess runs over to him from the fountain. The young man lies on the floor as he wheezes and is seemingly losing his breath.
YOUNG MAN
(wheezes) “Help me! Please! Help me!”
The stewardess tends to him as she cradles the young man in her arms.
STEWARDESS
(reassuringly) “It’s alright. We’re going to get help! Don’t worry!” (calls) “Help! Somebody call a doctor. This man’s ill!”
Everyone else in the Pump Room reacts concerned. Some waiters run out to fetch some help.
STEWARDESS
(to Young Man) “It’s alright, sir. Help is on its way. It won’t be long now!” (Pause; concerned) “Sir, are you alright? Your eyes they’ve…they’ve gone pale. And your face feels numb. Have you eaten something to upset your stomach?”
All the stewardess receives is a growling rasping hissing sound. The young man opens his mouth and shows his teeth.
STEWARDESS
(shocked) “Oh good God! Your teeth! They’re huge!”
Then without warning, the once gentle and courteous young man lashes out onto the poor woman’s neck. The stewardess screams in terror.
STEWARDESS
(screams) “What are you doing?! Help me! HELP ME!”
Everyone else screams in the room, as they see the young man take a bite from the stewardess. Once he’s taken a bite, the stewardess too begins to cough and become breathless.
STEWARDESS
(wheezes) “Help me! Help me!”
© Tim Bradley, 2017
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