Saturday, March 10, 2007

The Attack of the Cybermen IV

53. INT. DEL-TECH - BREAK ROOM (DAY)

The Doctor is in the same position as before, but now Scott’s place has been taken by Larkhill, while Scott stands slightly behind her and to her side. Clearly we’re in the middle of another interrogation.

DOCTOR
Look, I was under attack by those androids! If I'm with Lytton, why would I be fighting his robots?

LARKHILL
From what we hear this Lytton isn't a man to be trusted. Maybe he double-crossed you.

DOCTOR
Ah, but if he DID double-cross me I'd have told you everything I know by now, so you'd catch him and end his plans.

LARKHILL
Would you? Or would you try and fob us off with some 'innocent bystander' routine, hope for a release, then track down Lytton later and meet him on your own terms?

DOCTOR
Not my style at all.

LARKHILL
We only have your word for that.

DOCTOR
Sorry, do I need to draw a diagram? Maybe THEN you'll see how pointless this all is? I know Lytton. Well enough to know that whatever he's doing here is going to be an act of genuine ruthlessness, and unless you stop questioning me and get working on it right now, he'll have you all trapped.

LARKHILL
He has no way of knowing we're on his trail. You're just playing for time.

DOCTOR
Captain, I wouldn’t be surprised if by now Lytton knows which school you went to, let alone that you're following him.

Larkhill smiles disbelievingly.

LARKHILL
Really?

DOCTOR
He'll have the floor plans of this building. He'll have the numbers and positions of soldiers on duty here. He'll have a way past the alarms, he'll have a flawless exit strategy. He'll have the best men and the best equipment. You can only hope to stop him with my help

LARKHILL
You think he's that good?

DOCTOR
I don't think. I know.

LARKHILL
Then I look forward to meeting him.

Larkhill stands to leave.

DOCTOR
Well! A commanding officer with a death wish! Wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now, Scott.

SCOTT
There's no call for that!

DOCTOR
Even if it's true? Welcoming an enemy who can destroy you with open arms... It seems quite clear cut to me.

Larkhill glares back at the Doctor. The Doctor got a nerve but she’s not about to show it.

LARKHILL
Do you want to help us?

DOCTOR
Yes.

LARKHILL
Why?

DOCTOR
Because I hate to see lives being thrown away, and frankly from where I'm sitting I can see a bloodbath on the horizon.

There is a pause. Larkhill still doesn’t trust him.

DOCTOR
Lytton's been here for... what? A year?

LARKHILL
That's when he surfaced.

DOCTOR
He doesn't play games. By now he should have everything he needs. Been any research facilities raided in the last few months?

LARKHILL
No.

DOCTOR
There you go. And if he's flagging down passing time travellers like he seems to be, he's clearly not short of equipment.

SCOTT
This is a waste of time, Captain! It's a load of guesswork!

LARKHILL
You forgot to say "with all due respect", Scott.

SCOTT
Yeah, well, with all due respect he just wants to keep us busy while he talks rubbish!

LARKHILL
Sergeant.

Scott wearily salutes.

SCOTT
Ma'am.

LARKHILL
Continue, Doctor.

DOCTOR
Lytton is something that's being used here, a commodity. Something valuable. If you want to argue the point that if he's getting something valuable for any hypothetical alien clients, you're barking up the wrong tree - he has humans working for him.

LARKHILL
And you know that how?

DOCTOR
He's not the sort to trust others, especially if they're on his level of intellect and technology. He's far more the type to go for a bunch of primates he can impress with his tricks and can be relied on to impress him back. And there are a few of them going spare on this planet, you might notice. So if he has humans working for him he needs something they would value. Gold? Not for a second. Valuable but scientifically useless. Plutonium, uranium? A more likely candidate, could be very valuable overseas... but even if there were some here, right in the heart of London there wouldn't be enough to shift at a decent price. So it's something else... but something that he’d want as well… Weaponry? Laser technology?

The Doctor thinks a moment, before suddenly slamming his palm against the table and yelling.

DOCTOR
Diamonds!


54. INT. LYTTON’S LOCK-UP (DAY)

Lytton dumps a pair of large canvas carpet bags on the floor.

LYTTON
Hurry up and get changed. We haven't got much time.

RUSSELL
We're on a schedule, then, are we?

Lytton gives him a cold look that says "You are an idiot and you're lucky I'm putting up with you", before disappearing back into the corridor again. Russel opens one of the bags and pulls out a boiler suit and a mining helmet. Looking very unimpressed he starts to put them on. Payne and Griffiths take a pair and talk to one another as they do so. Griffiths is awestruck, Payne is slightly sullen.

GRIFFITHS
Twenty thousand quid... in uncut diamonds...

PAYNE
Tasty, innit?

GRIFFITHS
I mean, twenty thousand quid...

PAYNE
Yeah.

GRIFFITHS
In diamonds!

PAYNE
Yeah.

GRIFFITHS
Twenty thousand...

PAYNE
Yeah, but five thousand really. Once we split 'em.

GRIFFITHS
Five grand's nothing to sneeze at, Joe.

Payne doesn't look too happy with this argument, but currently says nothing. Griffiths suddenly realises something.

GRIFFITHS
Oh, heck!

PAYNE
What?

He stops half-way through kitting up in his suit and fumbles around in his clothes until he pulls out a large, chunky mobile phone. Russell, now finished changing, is surprised to see it.

RUSSELL
What's that?

PAYNE
One of them new portable telephones. Boss nicked a few for us - stay in contact easy.

Griffiths has finished dialling a number and waits a few moments before he gets a response.

GRIFFITHS
Ma? It's Charlie... yeah, I know you know it's me...

Russell boggles.

RUSSELL
His mum?

Payne rolls his eyes in return. Griffiths walks away from the pair of them, looking irritated.

GRIFFITHS
Look, I'll be back later than I thought... yeah, Crowley's wife's off sick so I'll be doing his shift..

RUSSELL
Who's Crowley?

PAYNE
His mate at the bottling plant.

RUSSELL
What bottling plant?!

PAYNE
The one he made up.

GRIFFITHS
Can't you go down to the shops?...well, I'm busy... yeah, right I'll see what I can do. Love you.

Griffiths tries to ignore their amused expressions.

GRIFFITHS
We'll need to get some milk afterwards.

Russell can't help himself and bursts out laughing. He doesn't notice Lytton coming in behind him.

LYTTON
Something amusing, Mr Russell?

Russell snaps straight instantly.

RUSSELL
No, boss.

LYTTON
Glad to hear it. Get your helmet on, Mr Griffiths. It's time.


55. INT. DELTECH - BREAK ROOM (DAY)

The Doctor is looking through some paperwork which is piled up in front of him, Scott is nearby idly reading a newspaper. A private enters and dumps another small load of paperwork in front of the Doctor, before leaving wordlessly.

SCOTT
That should be the last lot.

DOCTOR
Yes. Well, it’s a start.

Scott is irritated. He folds the paper for a moment.

SCOTT
That paperwork has been looked over by UNIT’s entire UK intelligence division. Do you really think you can find any patterns they missed?

DOCTOR
Your Captain seemed to think so.

SCOTT
The Captain may think a lot of things, but I’m not so easy to impress.

DOCTOR
Former regular-army, Scott?

SCOTT
I might be.

DOCTOR
Well, it would explain a lot.

A thought strikes him and he looks up, frowning indignantly.

DOCTOR
When do I get some tea?

SCOTT
When I know I can trust you.

DOCTOR
What am I going to do? Steal your saucer?

Scott ignores him and goes back to his paper. The Doctor gives a slightly crazed grin, apparently to himself. Without making a noise, he rises from his chair and we cut to:


56. INT. DELTECH WAREHOUSE OFFICE (DAY)

A small, very dim office, almost certainly meant for the warehouse manager. Right now Larkhill is the occupant of the office, but there is a lot of laddish decoration on the walls in the form of a car posters and a bikini-clad model calendar. The only personal touch of Larkhill’s is a silver-framed photo of an older man in full dress uniform, which see is currently cradling upward in her hands and looking at silently. When the door opens she rather too quickly puts the photo back onto her desk and faces the newcomer: it is Professor Mortimer. He is pale and stressed, speaking unsteadily.

LARKHILL
Professor. Can I help you?

MORTIMER
Possibly... I, er, have been on the phone to my solicitor… he says there is no legal precedent for an international organisation to assume control of an independent non-government workplace.

LARKHILL
Then he’s clearly not a member of the Official Secrets Act.

MORTIMER
Nevertheless I have been... re-considering our current arrangement.

LARKHILL
Is this to do with the idea of aliens?

Mortimer nods unhappily.

MORTIMER
I thought you people were from the United Nations! Officials!

LARKHILL
We are.

MORTIMER
Are you trying to tell me the United Nations have an official chapter dedicated to paranormal investigation?

LARKHILL
That’s exactly what I’m saying.

MORTIMER
With all due respect, the entire concept is completely absurd.

LARKHILL
You’ll find plenty of people who agree – a lot them in UNIT itself. But aliens are all around us Professor.

Mortimer looks around with sudden paranoia, breathing faster.

MORTIMER
One never hears of aliens in the news!

LARKHILL
A large part of our work. We don’t want to spread panic.

MORTIMER
And that is the risk?

LARKHILL
Yes. We estimate 96% of the aliens we encounter are hostile.

Mortimer swallows.

MORTIMER
What a dim view of the universe...

LARKHILL
One you’re not prepared to accept?

A pause. The silence is broken when Scott comes running into the room, shaken and out of breath.

SCOTT
Captain!

Larkhill is irritated at the interruption.

LARKHILL
Yes?

SCOTT
T-the alien-

LARKHILL
Has escaped?

Scott nods, still dazed.

LARKHILL
How?

Scott fumbles embarrassedly.

SCOTT
He… was there one moment and…

Silently he passes Larkhill a sheet from the paperwork. She reads it.

LARKHILL
"I'll make my own tea then".


57. INT. KITCHEN (DAY)

Peri and Carver, as before.

PERI
There don't seem to be many scientist around here.

CARVER
Most of them have been given the day off.

PERI
By you guys? That seem extreme.

CARVER
Nobody likes civilians around when there's work to be done. Present company excepted of course.

Peri pouts playfully.

PERI
Sorry to be a burden...

DOCTOR (VO)
Don't be!

The Doctor exhuberantly flings open the kitchen's double doors, which knocks Carver aside. She nearly falls to the ground.

PERI
Doctor! You got away from them!

DOCTOR
You doubted it?

Peri hugs him happily.

PERI
Oh, of course not! Do you do this all the time?

DOCTOR
Well, not ALL the time...

Carver is back on her feet and has picked up the rifle. She brandishes it at the Doctor.

CARVER
Stop! You're a prisoner, an alien, a walking fashion crime, and I'm not afraid to shoot!

The Doctor resignedly puts his hands up.

DOCTOR
There's no need for that, I can see the game's up. Nice to see you again, Captain!

Carver turns around to see who the Doctor was addressing. The Doctor's raised hands are now conveniently placed to pluck a frying pan from its hook, and brings it down over the back of Carver's head. She crumples unconscious to the ground as the Doctor replaces the pan.

DOCTOR
Dear dear. Makes you wonder what they teach them in basic training these days...

PERI
Hey! She was nice.

DOCTOR
So are we, Peri, but they still used high current to knock us unconscious!

PERI
You can't go round bashing people with frying pans!

DOCTOR
She’s military, Peri. They’re trained for this sort of thing! Anyway, work to be done! Raus!

Peri holds up her hands placatingly.

PERI
OK. OK. We'll go. But you stay calm. Don't go off the deep end.

DOCTOR
I'm not going off the deep end!

He glances at Carver's body.

DOCTOR
Still, might be sensible to take things slowly...

They hurry out. Carver groans once but doesn't move.


58. INT. SEWERS (DAY)

The gang are trudging through - Lytton in the lead followed by Griffiths, Payne, and finally Russell. Russell stops suddenly.

RUSSELL
Hey, hold up!

They stop. Payne leans against the wall for a rest and instinctively reaches for his cigarette pack, but Lytton angrily pushes him back upright and rounds on Russell.

LYTTON
What is it now?

RUSSELL
Thought I heard something.

GRIFFITHS
Like, someone following us?

RUSSELL
No, something strange...

There is a moment of silence where the gang, save Lytton, all listen carefully. Lytton breaks the silence.

LYTTON
I can't hear anything.

RUSSELL
Yeah, well, it's gone now.

Lytton looks distinctly unimpressed.

LYTTON
Then what's there to worry about? We keep moving.

They move on but Russell continues to look nervous. The camera settles on one of the nearby tunnels, which emits a low flash ominously. The silhouette of a Cyberman appears briefly in the flash.

CYBERMAN (VO)
Target humans sighted. Intercept?

CYBERLEADER (VO)
No. Interception will occur at specified time. Maintain covert surveillance.


59. INT. MORTIMER’S OFFICE (DAY)

The Doctor comes through the door, looking slightly disappointed.

DOCTOR
He didn’t even lock the door! Amateurs! What is the galaxy coming to these days? He's probably left his passwords written under his stationary...

The Doctor begins dumping items from his pockets on the Professor’s desk. Peri comes in after him.

PERI
Doctor, what are we doing here? Shouldn’t we be getting out?

DOCTOR
If we leave now, we’ll still be a step behind Lytton!

PERI
Who is Lytton?

DOCTOR
A murderer.

PERI
Oh.

DOCTOR
You wouldn’t like him. And now he seems to be doing a line in alien invasions.

PERI
Invasions? Doctor this is all so confusing… And what was Kamelion doing outside the TARDIS?

DOCTOR
It wasn't Kamelion. Just another machine like him. Except instead of responding to the minds of those around him, that robot was slaved to one particular brain. Lytton. Last time I saw Lytton, his forces were being slaughtered in an English warehouse a few hours before I met you. I was sure he was dead.

The Doctor has finished unloading items. There is a pile of strange devices and computer chips and cables on Mortimer’s desk. As well as a teddy bear, an oil can, a few books and other novelties he starts re-packing into his pockets.

DOCTOR
But, I was wrong. So I want some answers. Now I have here the items from the inventory of Lytton’s robberies…

PERI
You're kidding. You've got matching stuff from your pockets?!

DOCTOR
My dear girl, what do you have in your pockets? No, I always keep a few knick-knacks handy. So, these items are what Lytton has stolen. Well, save some Tarradanium isotopes recovered from one of the Mars probes and they aren’t exactly easy to get on this planet. Or any planet come to that.

PERI
So, what does these heap of transistors and circuits tell us?

DOCTOR
Nothing. So, what I want to do is a little experiment to see just what I can do with these…

The Doctor points to Mortimer’s computer - a huge clunky thing with a large blue screened monitor.

DOCTOR
And that.

PERI
So, you're trying to work out what he's cooking by using the same ingredients.

DOCTOR
And you criticise my use of metaphors... Yes, that's what I'm doing. Soon we’ll know just what Lytton has to use against us.


60. INT. SEWERS (DAY)

The gang have come to a long wall.

RUSSELL
That’s the wall, then?

LYTTON
Your powers of observation are remarkable, Mr Russell.

Russell peers at a map using a torch and points up the tunnel.

RUSSELL
And… that would be the bearing up there?

LYTTON
Yes.

Russell unhitches his backpack and lowers it onto the ground, before leaning up against the wall behind him. Lytton glares at him.

LYTTON
What are you waiting for?

RUSSELL
Breather.

Lytton picks the backpack up and thrusts it into Russell’s arms.

LYTTON
You can breathe and work.

Russell looks nervous once again. He clearly doesn’t want to lay the explosives.

RUSSELL
Right you are, boss.

Russell moves to the wall and unloads the plastique from the backpack, and begins setting it up on the centre of the wall.


61. INT. MORTIMER'S OFFICE (DAY)

The Doctor is making his attachments to Mortimer's Computer. It now has a tangle of wires and gadgets sprouting from the back, looking like an abstract piece of art itself. Peri hands him the various junk like a nurse in an operation passing instruments. The Doctor mumbles a song to himself and Peri hums along.

DOCTOR
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald!

Peri holds a wire-frame component in place as the Doctor affixes it to the monitor.

DOCTOR
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call 'Gitche Gumee'.
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early!

He finishes up.

DOCTOR
There!

PERI
And... what have we got?

DOCTOR
Well, unless I'm wrong and you know how unlikely that is, we have a temporal phase relay transponder!

PERI
And that is what exactly?

DOCTOR
Erm... not sure. I've never used one before.

Peri gives him a long-suffering look and speaks as if to a child.

PERI
Doctor. You just built it.

DOCTOR
The people who built armoured tanks thought they were for carrying water! The means and the ends are two totally different things. Now... what does Lytton's box of tricks do, exactly?

The Doctor goes to activate it. Nothing happens. Peri folds her arms. The Doctor smiles sheepishly and tries again. Nothing. He points over Peri's shoulder. Peri turns around and, while distracted, the Doctor thumps the device with the side of his fist. It starts to hum as Peri turns back.

DOCTOR
Ah! Now, it's working!


62. INT. SEWERS (DAY)

Russell is setting the explosives by the wall. The rest of the gang stand further down the tunnel, watching him from around a corner. Payne is weighing his rifle carefully.

LYTTON
Have you ever fired one before, Mr Payne?

PAYNE
No. But I'm a fast learner.

GRIFFITHS
Everyone's a fast learner for this kinda dosh.

LYTTON
Indeed.

PAYNE
We stick together, right?

LYTTON
Of course.

PAYNE
Course.

Russell has finished setting the charge and runs back to the rest of the gang, speaking to Lytton.

RUSSELL
Don't what anyone behind your back, is that it?

LYTTON
I don't think that's really my concern, Mr Russell. Nor yours... while you have work to do.


63. INT. MORTIMER'S OFFICE (DAY)

The Doctor has activated the devices and is peering at the monitor, which is a hazy and chaotic mess of light. Peri is checking the wires on the back.

DOCTOR
A visualizer? No, probably more.

PERI
A visualizer for what?

DOCTOR
What do you think dragged the TARDIS here?

Peri calls over the desk.

PERI
You did. Remember?

DOCTOR
I meant the time rift, Peri! This device is able to detect it, perhaps even penetrate it.

PERI
You can see through the rift?

DOCTOR
Not very well. The reception is less than impressive. Are all those wires fitted securely?

PERI
Yep.

DOCTOR
Then I should be able to alter the frequency...

The Doctor adjusts some of the make-shift controls. Suddenly the air is filled with a strange wailing noise, and we see the same blue crystalline figures that called out to Lytton earlier - through a haze of interference.

DOCTOR
Well, well, well. Someone's on the other side of the rift - and we're looking straight at them.

Peri joins him as the figures seem to chant and dance.

PERI
Blue people?

DOCTOR
As you say. Blue people.

PERI
That's the big threat? Blue people?!

DOCTOR
Possibly...


64. INT. SEWERS (DAY)

Russel has the remote-control switch in his hand, his thumb hovering over the button. He spares a glance at Lytton, who glares at him impatiently.

LYTTON
I'm not giving you my written invitation, Russel.


65. INT. MORTIMER'S OFFICE (DAY)

As the Doctor alters the frequency, the picture begins to phase out, becoming darker.

PERI
You're losing it, Doctor...

DOCTOR
Nonsense! I'm fine in body and soul!

PERI
Talking about the picture.

DOCTOR
Oh. Actually, I don't think so. Yes, it's dark - but there's less interference! Which suggests we're at a closer frame of reference, this end of the rift! Where we should see... oh no.

PERI
What?

DOCTOR
Not them. Please.

PERI
Not who?

On the screen, glints of silver can be made through the gloom, catching off handlebars.


66. INT. SEWERS (DAY)

Russel finally presses the switch.


67. INT. BASEMENT (DAY)

Two UNIT soldiers who are sitting on a pair of crates and playing cards are suddenly knocked off by a massive explosion. Alarm bells start echoing around them. One of the soldiers, dishevelled and bloodied, crawls across the floor and picks up a rifle thrown by the blast. As he turns around to take aim, he is met by heavy machine guy fire.


68. INT. MORTIMER'S OFFICE (DAY)

The monitor turns to static as the alarm bells ring continuously in the background for the rest of the episode. The Doctor jumps up, hearing the alarms.

DOCTOR
Peri! WHAT DID YOU DO?

PERI
You're the one messing with his machine!

DOCTOR
That can't be it! I disconnected it from the security system I never make those sort of-

The door is barged down, Larkhill, Scott and Mortimer all come through - Larkhill and Scott both have guns out. Peri and the Doctor immediately put their hands up at the sight.

LARKHILL
What's going on here?!

Mortimor stares in horror at the jumble of circuits.

MORTIMER
What have you done to my computer?!

DOCTOR
Two very good questions- -

SCOTT
Shut it!

Larkhill pulls out a pair of handcuffs and moves towards them.

LARKHILL
Due to Sergeantt Scott's previous example, I'll be putting you both in my own custody. Now, maybe you can tell me -

She stops dead when she sees the monitor. Peri follows her gaze.

PERI
Yeah... By the way, do you know how to deal with those?

For the first time the camera shows the monitor. In an area clearly part of the sewers there is a large metal frame, containing a man-sized blue void. And out of it is marching a steady stream of familiar metal warriors. Slightly sleeker and more polished than the last time we saw them in The Five Doctors, and with those tear drops by their eye-holes, and an evil green light glowing in their chest units. Larkhill stares at the marching figures in shock.

PERI
What are they?

LARKHILL
Cybermen...

SCOTT
The Cybermen?!

DOCTOR
I'm afraid so.

PERI
That's bad, isn't it?

Horrified, Larkhill turns to look at the Doctor.

LARKHILL
You're working for the Cybermen!

DOCTOR
What?! I've never heard anything so ridiculous!

Some more UNIT soldiers arrive in the doorway. Larkhill points to the Doctor.

LARKHILL
He's a traitor!

The soldiers nod, and aim their rifles.

(END OF EPISODE ONE)
(ROLL END CREDITS)

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