(ROLL OPENING CREDITS)
1. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)
The DOCTOR and PERI are crouching over the semi-conscious HUGO LANG, who is aiming his gun at the Doctor’s face.
HUGO
Talk!
DOCTOR
About what? You can't do a thing. Your very life depends on my generosity so I suggest you lower the gun and start showing some respect.
He's getting angrier and angrier.
HUGO
I am... going to count to three...
DOCTOR
You have no power over me. All you can do is pull the trigger and hope I die. Hope that the fear of death will suddenly make me want to bow down to your whims.
PERI
Doctor, don't, he's serious.
DOCTOR
So am I, Peri. So am I.
He is now focussed on Hugo, who looks sick and pale.
DOCTOR
Today's probably the closest you've ever come to dying, isn't it? I died on that bit of floor a few hours ago. I've died more times than I care to remember – you think a half-dead thug with tunnel vision scares me. Drop the gun.
PERI
Doctor...
HUGO
I'm w-warning...
DOCTOR
DROP IT!!
Hugo closes his eyes and pulls the trigger. We hear the gunshot and Peri's scream.
PERI
DOCTOR!!!
(FINISH OPENING CREDITS)
(THE TWIN DILEMMA)
(EPISODE TWO: MESTOR THE MAGNIFICENT)
2. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (CON’T)
As before. Hugo is aiming his gun at the Doctor while Peri watches on terrified. We see there is a small smudge of soot on the Doctor’s forehead. Slowly and deliberately he wipes it clear with a fingertip.
DOCTOR
Now we’ve established how useful your weapon is, can we talk like civilized beings?
HUGO
You... you can’t...
DOCTOR
I’m afraid I can.
Hugo’s eyes roll up in his head. In a quick move the Doctor snatches the weapon out of his hand and catches Hugo, lowering him gently to the floor.
DOCTOR
I’m sick of guns.
He angrily hurls the pistol into the corner.
DOCTOR
And you, my murderous friend, I’ve got half a mind to let your bleeding hide rot!
Peri approaches him, awestruck.
PERI
You.. you...
He glares at her impatiently.
DOCTOR
Peri, I’m sorry but that stutter is not endearing in moments such as these!
PERI
You’re alive... He shot you, how did... well, how...?
The Doctor twigs for the first time she’s shaking with anxiety.
DOCTOR
Oh, that! Nothing complicated. You think I didn’t notice that spare handgun in his boot? Honestly, Peri, where’s your faith in Time Lord nature? No, look.
He snatches up the pistol. A piece of wire is jammed in the butt.
DOCTOR
Bent paper-clip. Diffused the plasma build up – end result, a glorified cap gun with more smoke than fire. Couldn’t harm a fly with it?
Peri takes the gun unbelievably. The Doctor pulls the laser scalpel from his pocket and starts fiddling with it, chatting amiably all the time.
DOCTOR
Of course, if the State of Grace circuitry had been working, I wouldn’t have bothered. As a rule it’s very difficult to kill some one aboard a TARDIS if the engines are running, but the old girl’s not quite as complete as she once was.
Peri looks at him in disgust and storms out. The Doctor looks up.
DOCTOR
Peri? What’s wrong? Peri!
She slams the internal door behind her. The Doctor sighs.
DOCTOR
Just a guess, Doctor, but I think I might have said something to upset her. And so the question is to I go to all the trouble of reviving a man who has every intention of murdering me or let him die, or do I go after Peri and try and make things up but risk making things worse. Dilemmas, debates, decisions...
Hugo groans.
DOCTOR
I suppose it’ll all make sense when we grow up.
He switches on the beam and aims it over Hugo’s chest.
3. MODEL SHOT
Azmael’s TARDIS, a plain white cube similar in size to a police box, hurtles through space. Not very far behind it, the TARDIS spins after it.
4. INT. AZMAEL’S TARDIS (DAY)
A red light on the console is flashing regularly. AZMAEL and DRAK are crouched over the corpses of the rest of their squad. NOMA, arms folded, stands guard over ROMULUS and REMUS, who are sitting at the table, slowly but surely coming out of their daze.
DRAK
Is there nothing you can do for them Master Azmael?
AZMAEL
No. I wish there was. What’s more, the deterioration of their brain tissue increased exponentially when our... ruler... made his presence felt.
NOMA
They were already dead.
Azmael rolls his eyes and speaks with mock cheery politeness.
AZMAEL
Yes, thank you, Noma that’s incredibly helpful.
NOMA
We all knew the risks.
Azmael rounds on Noma, furious. Some of those corpses were his friends.
AZMAEL
Risks? RISKS?! The risks were negligible! If they had simply followed ordered and not used their weapons, this massacre would never have happened.
Drak speaks placatingly.
DRAK
We don’t know there wasn’t cause.
AZMAEL
Don’t we?
DRAK
Imon was left behind. Maybe something attacked him?
Noma looks up, troubled at the thought.
NOMA
That ‘feline’ creature, perhaps? You should have let me kill it.
AZMAEL
There is no point crying over spilt bovine lactose, Noma. How are the boys?
NOMA
The delta wave is starting to disperse. They’re still docile.
Drak sighs and looks at the console. He notes the flashing lamp.
DRAK
Master Azmael?
Azmael glances in his direction, clearly seeing the lamp. He keeps his face neutral.
AZMAEL
Hmm? What is it?
DRAK
The detector grid is active.
Noma crosses over to the console, alarmed.
NOMA
How long has it been flashing?
DRAK
I just noticed it.
NOMA
Then someone or something is following us.
Azmael takes a deep breath and crosses to the console.
AZMAEL
Let me have a look. The control circuitry on this ship is ancient, it could easily be a malfunction. Drak, set up a telemetric band sweep.
Drak nods and turns to the nearest computer bank. He flips down two switches.
NOMA
Don’t treat me like a fool, Azmael.
AZMAEL
I don’t. I have respect for fools.
NOMA
We are being followed. Don’t deny it.
AZMAEL
I can’t deny it because I don’t know. I’ll patch through to visual.
Azmael adjusts a series of controls. A roundel fills with an image of the police box TARDIS spinning against space.
NOMA
What is that?
DRAK
Some sort of shack... Do you recognize it, Master Azmael?
AZMAEL
No. I’ve never seen it before.
He’s telling the truth and as baffled as the others.
DRAK
Is it a machine like this?
AZMAEL
I think so, yes. Another TARDIS.
NOMA
A Time Lord?
AZMAEL
No one else can pilot Gallifreyan technology. But why it looks like that, I don’t know.
NOMA
Is it following us?
AZMAEL
No, I doubt that. We’re on the same time track, that’s all. We should re-materialize now and the other TARDIS will continue on its journey.
NOMA
Do it.
Azmael glares at him, but starts adjusting controls. As the materialization bellow beings to build up around them, the image of the Doctor’s TARDIS blurs completely out of focus. Noma steps closer to Azmael.
NOMA
If you are conspiring with your people, our Master WILL prove merciless!
AZMAEL
If the Time Lord were going to interfere – which they can’t – do you think they would have waited this long before doing something? That is just another traveler in vortex mode, that’s all. It doesn’t pose any sort of threat.
5. INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM (DAY)
We see the white cuboid TARDIS dissapear, leaving the police box behind. The fish-eyed hologram hangs before the huddled silhouette of the MASTER OF JACONDA (“MASTER”). It is dark but a few zombified JACONDANS stand guard.
MASTER
This is the greatest treachery against me you are able to commit?
A long pause. The Doctor’s TARDIS hangs inside the image.
MASTER
Pathetic.
The image changes to a part of the palace corridors the thief was dragged through in part one. A group of JACONDANS are present. Azmael’s TARDIS materializes.
6. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)
Hugo now looks healthy and his clean skin contrasts with his grubby, blood spattered clothing. The Doctor is idly aiming the beam at his arms and legs. Suddenly, a regular beeping emerges from the console as the room begins to tremble.
DOCTOR
Oh, cursed spite that I were e’er born to set it right!
He abandons Hugo and reset controls.
DOCTOR
Gone... to Jaconda? Well, easy enough to follow them.
The room bucks violently and then is still. The Doctor picks himself up, thoroughly annoyed at how decrepit his time machine has become. He growls to himself.
DOCTOR
One of these days, old girl, one of these days...
He blinks.
DOCTOR
Peri!!!
He sprints for the internal door.
7. INT. SPECIAL INCIDENTS ROOM (NIGHT)
FABIAN, ELENA and SYLVEST are present – the latter slumped in a chair, unconscious after his binge drinking. Other OFFICERS are hurrying around. A cool, collected man is present, pacing calmly with his hands behind his back. This is the MINISTER. His soft voice carries no real emotion.
MINISTER
13 SI troopers murdered. One missing in action. The Sylvest Twins kidnapped. All under your very nose by Jacondan insurgents. The penetrated the planetary defense system and entered the Eastern complex without setting off a single alarm.
FABIAN
What about the weapons fire in the garden? If they were so determined to be stealthy, it seems an odd mistake to make!
MINISTER
Does it matter? If they had not been so careless, you would never have realized anything was wrong.
FABIAN
Minister, we have no proof whatsoever the kindappers were Jacondan.
MINISTER
The corpse found by the eastern perimeter suggests otherwise.
FABIAN
A single Jacondan does not mean the attackers were all from his planet!
MINISTER
There are no Jacondans living on Earth. None are registered as even visiting the Solar System – they stay at home. The Jacondan was either a mercenary or part of a stealth force sent here to kidnap the Twins.
FABIAN
But how did they even find out about it? All information about them is heavily sensored. Anyone trying to kidnap them would first head for the safe house, 25 Lydall Street!
MINISTER
Maybe they did. Does it matter?
Fabian is trying to keep calm, but is getting irritated by the Minister’s calm.
FABIAN
It might. All computer predictions agree that some third party interrupted the kidnap and alerted us to the situation by tricking the attackers into firing their weapons. That Jacondan might have been one of them.
MINISTER
Then where are the others? The attackers took their fallen comrades, but left our dead behind. Why take the third party and leave the Jacondan? No, it’s quite clear. Jaconda has sent a stealth squad to kidnap the Twins. In the confusion, one of their dead was left behind. The President has given me full authority in this matter.
FABIAN
Minister, there are still anomalies in the data! The whereabouts of Lieutenant Lang, how the intruders reached Earth and left again without a single trace being detected by the orbital defense grid, why all the forensic reports indicate our troopers were shot dead, got up, walked around and then fell dead again... This information is vital!
MINISTER
No doubt, but research wastes time.
FABIAN
Jaconda is only a level four civilization! How can they have developed technology superior to ours?
MINISTER
I take that is a rhetorical question – or did you really expect an answer? From the evidence so far and the delicate political situation, we only have one course of action left open to us.
FABIAN
What political situation?
The Minister ignores her.
MINISTER
The Intergalactic Task Force to scramble a squadron of star fighters to head for the planet Jaconda – V formation, prepared for planetary assault. Baston torpedoes are to be fitted to the pursuit craft.
Elena looks up in horror and leaves her place.
FABIAN
Those are outlawed!
MINISTER
Not in time of war.
ELENA
If we attack Jaconda with Baston torpedoes, millions will die...
FABIAN
Are they acceptable casualties, Minister? We don’t even know the attackers have gone to Jaconda, let alone came from there in the first place!
MINISTER
I have full authority in this matter, General. Jaconda is to be cordoned off and contained within the next day. If the Twins are not returned immediately, then we will be forced to... deal with Jaconda.
FABIAN
You are starting an interplanetary war on the flimsiest of excuses!
MINISTER
I am doing so on all the evidence to hand. The Earth Empire is about to go through its most turbulent times recorded. At this moment, absolute unity and total loyalty is essential. Anyone who disobeys direct orders or obstructs will be executed.
ELENA
You’ve placed Earth under Martial Law?
MINISTER
No.
Fabian and Elena look helpful.
MINISTER
The entire Empire is now under Martial Law.
He heads for the exit.
MINISTER
I will be on the flagship leader. Departure will occur within the next hour.
He leads.
ELENA
He must be confident about war if he’s prepared to risk his neck.
FABIAN
That’s insubordination, Elena.
Fabian doesn’t sound too hurt.
FABIAN
This isn’t war, it’s wholesale slaughter. And if...
A chiming. On a monitor appears a close-up of GRAY, another lieutenant.
FABIAN
Yes, Gray?
GREY (ON SCREEN)
We’ve searched the entire compound twice.
FABIAN
No sign of Lang?
8. EXT. GARDENS (NIGHT)
Continued. Three SI troopers are standing near where the TARDIS took off. One holds a sensor, the main one speaking into a communicator.
SQUADDIE 3
None whatsoever. There’s a trace of his bio-data in quadrant two, near where Pargeter saw that blue box vanish...
FABIAN (VO)
That was a Voxnic-induced hallucination, he said.
SQUADDIE 3
Yeah, but I’m not so sure. All the signs are a box of that size and shape was sitting there – flattened grass and the like.
FABIAN (VO)
Could it have teleported?
SQUADDIE 3
Possibly. The sensors haven’t detected extra-particle activity, but it would have cleared up by now anyway.
FABIAN (VO)
Any zanium in evidence?
SQUADDIE 3
None. No nistron carbonise trace elements consistent with known teleport beams.
9. INT. SPECIAL INCIDENTS ROOM (NIGHT)
Fabian sighs, tired in more ways than just having been up all night.
FABIAN
I doubt fresh evidence would stop the Minister anyway.
He looks up at the image, louder and more assertive.
FABIAN
Return to control immediately and prepare to board the squadron. ETD in fifty five minutes and counting.
He turns to Elena.
FABIAN
Confirm Security Protocol 6/1/2. Red alert.
Elena grimly activates controls. A red light begins to flash and the alarm rings, being joined by a new klaxon. Fabian turns and points to the comatose Sylvest, letting his annoyance and frustration enter his voice.
FABIAN
Get him to the flagship. Beat him conscious on the way and then throw him into a revitalizer. Wing him if he shows any sign of resistance!
Two guard exchange looks but do so immediately.
ELENA
Isn’t that a bit harsh?
Fabian glares at her icily.
FABIAN
Compared what his neglect has unleashed, I’d call a few bruises a cheap price.
10. INT. TARDIS WARDROBE (DAY)
The room is messier than before – the turbulence has knocked over several racks of clothes, chests over tuned. Peri sits on a pile of clothes, holding a grubby jacket in her hand. It was the Old Doctor's. The New Doctor sticks his head around the door. Spotting Peri, he knocks politely.
DOCTOR
Do you mind if I come in?
Peri chuckles humorlessly.
PERI
It’s your wardrobe. On your time-travelling space ship that’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, stuck in the shape of a blue box because a fuse blew.
The Doctor enters cautiously.
DOCTOR
You know, when you say it like that it begins to sound a little unlikely, doesn’t it?
PERI
Yesterday I would have said it was nonsense. Then again, yesterday I was in Lanzarote. The biggest problem I’d thought I’d need to deal with was that German nudist who thought I was drowning. Now I deal with maniacs with gun, alien poisons, human chameleons...
DOCTOR
You DID say you wanted to travel.
The Doctor sits down on the pile next to her.
DOCTOR
Sorry about the turbulence. Our quarry jumped a time track and we’re doubling back. To the planet Jaconda. Nice place, Jaconda. Jaconda the Beautiful, most people call it. Lots of lush meadows, wooded countryside and the people are friendly, easy-going and not the sort of people you’d expect to be used as terrorist stooges by some irresponsible time meddler. Might have something to do with their curious practice of making sure only aliens can run for government. Of course...
He blinks and shakes his head as if to clear it.
DOCTOR
Why did you run away, Peri?
PERI
I’m worried about you.
The Doctor stares at her, taken aback.
DOCTOR
Worried? About me? Peri, that’s flattering but I am nearly 900 years old. I got this far without even knowing you...
Peri rounds on him angrily.
PERI
And how far are you going to get if you keep pushing your luck?!
The Doctor shrugs and arches an eyebrow.
DOCTOR
What is luck for if not to push?
PERI
You know what I mean! That madman could have blown your head off!
DOCTOR
I sabotaged the gun, Peri, we were in no danger!
PERI
You didn’t tell me!
DOCTOR
I was distracted!
PERI
No, you forgot! That’s what you did. You got caught up in yourself all over again, like with that bird man – you were going to kill him with his knife.
The Doctor clearly has no idea what she’s on about.
DOCTOR
No I didn’t. I was bluffing. Definitely.
PERI
You held a knife to his throat!
DOCTOR
Did I? Yes, yes, I did – but I wasn’t going to use it!
PERI
You fooled me!
DOCTOR
And I fooled him, that’s the point. The Jacondans are proud, Peri, and they’re not fools. I had to be utterly convincing. Did I stab him? No. I even threw the knife away.
PERI
You can’t remember, can you?
The Doctor doesn’t reply.
PERI
Can you?
DOCTOR
Not clearly.
PERI
I think you’re sick.
DOCTOR
I’m as fit as a fiddle, Peri.
PERI
What if your change thing went wrong?
DOCTOR
You’d know about it, Peri.
PERI
Would I?
DOCTOR
Of course you would. Regeneration isn’t a get out free clause for sticky situations. Well, it’s not meant to be. It’s part of our life cycle. When did you last see a caterpillar change into a butterfly just because it ran into a predator?
PERI
So you could be ill!
DOCTOR
Maybe. But regeneration trauma takes spectacular forms. There’s a massive release of hormones with flood through the body at lightning speed. Even after all these years of genetic engineering, rather erratic...
The Doctor, as he speaks, takes Hugo’s gun from his pocket and turns it over with his hands. He blinks and throws it into the corner.
DOCTOR
Look, did I ever tell you the story about Verne the Beautiful?
Peri shakes her head.
DOCTOR
Well, it was a long time ago. Just before I decided to leave Gallifrey. Verne regenerated like I did, but his new body was widely considered to be the most beautiful person ever to be seen. Now, as a rule, Time Lords don’t hold much on external appearances, but Verne was very much the exception that proved the rule. People wanted simply to be seen around his good looks, and soon he got a place on the High Council itself because of all his rich and powerful admirers – which was a pity because there wasn’t a profession Verne was less suited to than politics...
As the Doctor tells the story, Peri relaxes and listens to it – she even smiles. For a moment, they have forgotten their troubles. For a moment.
11. INT. PALACE CORRIDORS (DAY)
The CHAMBERLAIN is waiting with GUARDS outside Azmael’s TARDIS. The door swings open and Drak and Noma emerge with the Twins – who are now looking around curiously. Azmael emerges. The Chamberlain tuts.
CHAMBERLAIN
For a Time Lord, Azmael, you show intense tardiness.
AZMAEL
If I even bothered to give a scintilla of thought to your opinions, I might be offended. The Sylvest Twins, as requested. Now get out of my way. I need to speak to your Master.
CHAMBERLAIN
OUR Master, I think you’ll find.
AZMAEL
Not mine. I haven’t surrendered my loyalty.
The Chamberlain chuckles.
CHAMBERLAIN
You’ve surrendered everything else. Now please leave the area, Azmael and don’t cause a scene. Your time ship is required by the Master of Jaconda on urgent business.
AZMAEL
No doubt. Did he tell you that all our fellows were slaughtered in this mission. No doubt their families want the bodies for repatriation – or maybe just for food! How many have starved to death since we’ve been away?
Azmael is furious, the Chamberlain shrugs, unconcerned.
CHAMBERLAIN
More will be saved if you get on with your work.
Drak watches all this, disturbed.
DRAK
But the others were killed!
CHAMBERLAIN
And we are still alive. I at least intend to remain that way. Your life is your own business, Drak. Take these twins to central control. The quicker we start, the quicker we finish.
AZMAEL
Assuming we finish at all!
CHAMBERLAIN
What do you mean?
AZMAEL
Didn’t your lord and master tell you Imon is back on Earth? And once the authorities identify the body, they will attack Jaconda in force.
The Chamberlain swallows.
CHAMBERLAIN
They can’t. The Androzani War...
AZMAEL
Is over, chamberlain! We have no protection. Now take me to the Throne Room!
Azmael storms off, ignoring the others. The Chamberlain watches him go, lost in her own, panicking thoughts. She waves frantically at the others and hurries after Azmael. Noma follows, Drak leads the Twins off and the guard move towards the TARDIS.
to be continued...
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