Sunday, March 25, 2007

The Enemy Within IV

30. INT. SALOON (NIGHT)

Daniel is sitting upright now. The Doctor crouches beside him, holding his hand. A faint noise is building up in the background, like the wind blowing, but clearly not. As it gets noticeable it becomes more ethereal.

DANIEL
He knew you’d do this. He knew you’d bring me back. That’s why he let you. He knows this is the last time I’ll be in control.

DOCTOR
Not if I have anything to do with it.

Peri reacts as the noise changes and gets slightly louder.

PERI
Doctor...

DOCTOR
Shush, Peri.

DANIEL
He’s waiting. When he comes back, I’ll be gone, for good.

DOCTOR
But what is it? Does it have a sort of shape?

DANIEL
Shape... A man. So still. Never moves. Just... just stares at you. Just standing in the dark, staring straight at you. So angry. And burning. Shimmering. Burning. Flames. Hot. So hot, and that smell, that noise... Like pigs. Pigs at an abattoir.

Daniel giggles in a hysterical manner for a manner for a moment, then swallows.

DANIEL
It’s evil. Pure evil. The purest evil.

Peri looks up at the Doctor, nervous.

PERI
T-the Devil?

DANIEL
No! No, worse! Worse the Devil. So much worse.

DOCTOR
A discarnate entity.

PERI
A ghost?

DOCTOR
That’s a bit of a generalization.

PERI
It’s not alive, it’s not physically here. It must be a ghost!

DOCTOR
By that logic anything in water must be a goldfish! There are plenty of lifeforms that evolve naturally into non-corporeal forms of intelligence, light, sound, gases... And this one has taken up residence inside Daniel’s mind. Seemingly deliberate.

PERI
OK. So... we do an exorcism.

DOCTOR
Exorcism? Peri, please, be serious.

PERI
There must be something we can do. The TARDIS?

DOCTOR
What about it?

PERI
The telepathic circuitry, maybe that could help.

DOCTOR
No. Not this time. Whatever it is, it’s sunk its claws in. I can’t think of anyway of removing it without wiping Daniel’s entire brain clean as well. Worse, it’s gathering its strength all the time.

PERI
How? What’s it feeding on?

DOCTOR
Mainly Daniel’s alpha waves. Changing, consuming his thought patterns. Occasionally getting the upper hand, and soon it will win for good.

PERI
And then what will it do?

Daniel looks at them, bemused. The noise changes to a gently building roar.

DANIEL
He’ll hurt you. It’s what he does.

PERI
We got that.

DANIEL
And he chose me. He chose ME! I didn’t do anything wrong. But I must have. I must have. Otherwise. Just not fair. Not fair. Not fair. Not fair. He’s wrecked everything. He wants to wreck everything. He wants to hurt everything. Everyone. Not fair. Not fair.

PERI
What’s happening?

DOCTOR
Sympathetic vibration.

Peri rolls her eyes at the lack of explanation.

PERI
Oh, come on!

DOCTOR
This... ‘spirit’, whatever it is, obvious feels angry about injustice. Now Daniel’s thinking similar thoughts, it’s trying to rise to the surface again.

PERI
But it can’t, can it?

DOCTOR
Not just yet.

PERI
Will it?

DOCTOR
Eventually. It’s burning him up, taking him over.

PERI
He doesn’t seem too bad.

DOCTOR
The candle always burns brightest before it goes out.


31. INT. HALLWAY (NIGHT)

Maurice is scowling as he thumps noisily down the steps.

MAURICE
Stupid, miserable stockbrocker... Oh, why’s it so damn cold in here?

There is another rasping laugh. Very loud and very close, enough for Maurice to spin around to the source of the noise – right behind him. At that moment the noise in the background suddenly implodes into a feedback like howl.


32. INT. DRAWING ROOM (NIGHT)

The Colonel and the others look up, surprised. Emily grabs the Colonel’s chair in fright while Tracey bunches her fists as if ready for a fight.

COLONEL
What the deuce is that noise?!

We can barely hear him over the rumble.


33. INT. HALLWAY (NIGHT)

Maurice loses his balance, falls back onto the stairs and slides roughly to the ground. The moment he hits the floor, silence falls.


34. INT. SALOON (NIGHT)

The Doctor and Peri are standing, looking around. Total silence.


35. INT. HALLWAY (NIGHT)

The silence is broken by Maurice’s groans and grunts, but it’s still quiet. He lays there for a moment, in unaccustomed agony. He clutches his sore hands with which he tried to block his floor. One is dark with blood. Maurice grimaces in annoyance.

MAURICE
Oh, no...

He flexes his hand and realizes the blood is cold and certainly not his. He looks around and screams as he realizes he has landed in the pool of blood spreading from the cupboard. Maurice tries to get up, but his clothes stick to the floor. He topples over and falls against the stairs again. Gasping for breath, his vision clears enough to focus on the wall directly in front of him. Scrawled on the wall in crude finger smears in the blood is:

a=Bx4
Maurice screams.


36. INT. SALOON (NIGHT)

Peri is trying to stay calm. The Doctor strides to the door.

PERI
What was that noise?

DOCTOR
Maurice screaming.

PERI
But...

The Doctor turns, sensing movement behind them. Now freaked, Peri bites down a cry as she spins around as well. Daniel is no longer on the couch. He’s standing by the French windows, pushing them open. Now perspiring and pale, his eyes are closed.

DANIEL
Not fair...

DOCTOR
Daniel. Daniel?

He turns and looks at them and manages a pained smile.

DANIEL
Doctor. Tell, tell Tracey... just tell her.

He turns and sways on the threshold.

DANIEL
It’s getting colder.

He fails to hide a grimace at some inner pain, then turn and staggers out.

DOCTOR
Come on, we’ve got to get after him!

Peri triple takes.

PERI
Out there?

DOCTOR
If that’s where he’s going, yes!

He grabs her hand and runs for the exit, pulling Peri after him. The noise returns, growing out of the night atmos outside. As it grows louder, the closed door begins to open as if of its own accord. We pan to see it swing open. Standing there is Pascoe, staring right at us, expressionless. Then, very slowly, he smiles. We hear the voice chuckle and gurgle loudly.


37. THE BEYOND

A close up, unfocussed of the warped face laughing.


38. EXT. OUTSIDE THE MANNER (NIGHT)

The Doctor and Peri are running. It is pitch dark around them, and we can barely make them out. The Doctor pauses for a moment, listening.

DOCTOR
DANIEL?!

Just the wind.

DOCTOR
Come on.

They hurry off. Peri mumbles under her breath as they go, her teeth chattering in the intense cold.

PERI
Hold your head up
Movin' on
Keep your head up
Movin' on...

It’s not helping her spirits this time. They move off into the dark.


39. THE BEYOND

That thing is still laughing.


40. EXT. HILLOCK (NIGHT)

The Doctor and Peri are making their way down the hill. We catch a glimpse of Peri’s boot squelching a ribbon of bloody meat. She retches.

PERI
Oh, God, that smell...

DOCTOR
Not now, Peri! DANIEL! CAN YOU HEAR ME?

They reach a level moment and pause. Silence.

DOCTOR
He went this way. I know he did. I gave Baden-Powell tips on this sort of thing.

Silence. The wind picks up. Peri freezes.

PERI
Doctor.

The Doctor speaks quietly, deadly serious.

DOCTOR
What can you hear?

PERI
That... breathing. Like before.

DOCTOR
I can’t hear anything except us. I can’t hear Daniel. He must have...

PERI
I can hear it. Very close.

A gust of wind shakes a tree overhead. Both flinch. The Doctor’s expression hardens.

DOCTOR
That does it. I’ve lost enough hearts’ beats tonight and those are all I intend to lose.

No longer even the slightest apprehensive, he strides forwards. The silhouettes of the woods seem to close in on all sides.

DOCTOR
My mental defenses aren’t what they used to be. Maybe you’re playing with my perception threshold, blocking out noises? Or are you making Peri hear them? Either way, yes, we’re apprehensive. Well done. Satisfied? Pat yourself on your ectoplasmic back and call it a night. You’ve had your fun with Daniel and it ends tonight! DO YOU HEAR ME?!

Absolute silence. The evening wind has stopped. Then, a creaking noise. A beat. Another. Peri’s eyes widen and she holds onto the Doctor’s coat tightly as she forces herself to look upwards. She chokes out a cry. The Doctor instantly follows her gaze.

DOCTOR
No...

We pan up to see the booted feet of Daniel, swaying slightly in time with the creaking. The Doctor is trying to control the sheer fury in his face.

DOCTOR
Well. You’ve lost your hook in this mortal coil, haven’t you? Daniel’s stopped you, and now he’s free. I won’t lie – I couldn’t have helped him. But now you’re just an impotent wraith with nothing to torment. And when I finish with you, you won’t even be that.

Peri’s eyes are still fixed on the swinging corpse. The Doctor gently slides an arm around her, carefully pulling her away.

DOCTOR
Don’t, Peri. Don’t let that be how you remember him. Come on, we’re going.

Peri mumbles numbly.

PERI
B-back to the TARDIS?

DOCTOR
Back to the TARDIS. Come on.

They move off into the trees. We pan up the body. Daniel’s head lies at a crooked angle, but otherwise he could be asleep. He looks peaceful. A long beat then... nothing happens. The body sways slightly in the breeze. Nothing else.


41. EXT. BRIDGE (DAY)

The Doctor is moving through the misty woods, leading Peri who is still shaken. They are approaching the path to the bridge. The Doctor is humming ‘Sweet Dreams’ and smiling cheerfully, but to no avail as Peri looks crestfallen.

DOCTOR
Nearly there. Did I ever tell you about Metabelis Three, Peri? No? Fascinating place there, and it’s quite famous in some circles...

He looks ahead and stops. Frowning, he takes a torch from his pocket and switches on. Peri starts to come out of her daze.

PERI
What is it? What’s wrong?

DOCTOR
I think I’ve been slightly too optimistic.

He lets her go and moves up the path. Peri hastily keeps close to him. The Doctor shines the torch and we can see two stumps that made up the entrance to the bridge. They have splintered near to powder, torn up. The other side is similarly devastated. The bridge in between has disappeared.

DOCTOR
Our not so friendly ghost doesn’t want anyone to leave just yet.

Peri now looks on the verge of panic.

PERI
We can get across, can’t we? Somehow? It can’t take the TARDIS?

DOCTOR
Of course it can’t. If it could, why take the bridge away as well?

PERI
You heard what Daniel said, that thing is sick! It’s evil!

DOCTOR
Evil? IT’S NOT EVEN A NUISANCE!

The Doctor directs the shout at the night.

DOCTOR
It’s not a Dalek, not a Cyberman, not even Lytton. It’s barely a hotch-potch of three or four other ‘ghosts’ I’ve had to deal with. Now, come on.

PERI
Where?

DOCTOR
Back to the manor house.

PERI
They’ll think we killed Daniel! That Colonel might shoot us!

DOCTOR
You’d rather spend the night out here?

There is a creaking noise in the distance.

PERI
That’s not fair.

DOCTOR
I know. Come on. Where was I? Oh yes, Metabelis Three...

They turn and head back up the hill.

DOCTOR
It’s in the Acteon Group, which is on the other side of Orion’s Belt...

They move out of sight. The noise begins to return.


42. EXT. HILLOCK (NIGHT)

The noise grows louder and strange, taking on the rasping, throaty noise we now know so well. Gently zoom in on Daniel’s corpse. The distant sound of the thing in the tunnel screaming can be heard and instantly Daniel’s eyes pop open.


43. THE BEYOND

The creature is running at breakneck speed down the tunnel as we struggle to keep out. The scream gets louder and louder, a wail of the restless dead. The thing runs into the darkness and is lost. A moment of total darkness perforated by the scream.


44. EXT. BRIDGE (NIGHT)

An establishing shot of the swampy area as we hear the muffled scream. Then, suddenly, the surface of the bog warps, splits and cascades to reveal the hideous face. As it clears the muddy surface, its scream is a deafening segue into...
(END OF EPISODE ONE)
(NEXT EXPISODE: SHADOWS)
(ROLL END CREDITS)

4 comments:

Jared "No Nickname" Hansen said...

PERI
There must be something we can do. The TARDIS?

DOCTOR
What about it?

PERI
The telepathic circuitry, maybe that could help.

DOCTOR
No. Not this time.


I like that. Kind of a gleeful screaming out of: "THIS IS NOT A BEN CHATHAM STORY!!"

Daniel's death was a real shock, though. Not only is it, I think, the first suicide since Image of the Fendahk, but I was under the impression that Daniel was the actual villain rather than just a vessel.

Also, props for the sense of mystery. When I have no frigging idea what's going on by the end of Ep One I know it's a good story.

Youth of Australia said...

I like that. Kind of a gleeful screaming out of: "THIS IS NOT A BEN CHATHAM STORY!!"

Of course not. A BC story would have ended with Ben taking credit for Daniel's sacrifice while his family sing, "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow".

But mainly it was expedience. If they had tried to use the TARDIS to clear his mind, win or lose, the entire plot would be different.

Daniel's death was a real shock, though.
Yeah, I thought it was a bit out of the blue. Normally in sci fi, they only attempt suicide to discover they are immortal or mutating into a clock or something like that.

Not only is it, I think, the first suicide since Image of the Fendahk,"
I instinctively move to prove you wrong, but I can only think of the Fourth Doctor (and that's not successful, if you think about it), and Mawdryn and his mates. It's definitely the first time since Image the story hasn't ended after the main villain kills themselves...

but I was under the impression that Daniel was the actual villain rather than just a vessel.
That's me deliberately muddying the waters, but Daniel was a nice, sweet bloke who did not want to revel in chaos and destruction.

And he paid the price.

Also, props for the sense of mystery. When I have no frigging idea what's going on by the end of Ep One I know it's a good story.
Well, I hoped it made a KIND of sense. Basically, the evil monster inside Daniel's mind is now out in the real world...

Course this sense of mystery will radically decrease around the end of ep two...

Jared "No Nickname" Hansen said...

Congrats on using italics in your comments - now you can be as cool as me!

Yeah, I thought it was a bit out of the blue. Normally in sci fi, they only attempt suicide to discover they are immortal or mutating into a clock or something like that.

What? You mean it doesn't work that way in real life?

Well, I hoped it made a KIND of sense. Basically, the evil monster inside Daniel's mind is now out in the real world...

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got all that. It was more the "Wtf are Theo and Maurice doing and why are the clocks all dead" stuff...

Youth of Australia said...

Congrats on using italics in your comments - now you can be as cool as me!
Only when I remember to put them in.

What? You mean it doesn't work that way in real life?
Well, if it was in Astro Boy, it's good enough for me. (Yet more disturbing material in kid's TV, with a main character slashing his wrists in the sink)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got all that. It was more the "Wtf are Theo and Maurice doing and why are the clocks all dead" stuff...
Theo and Maurice's plan will be revealed to much wailing and nashing of teeth in the final episode. The clock malfunction was explained by the Doctor at the start of the episode.