Friday, March 9, 2007

The Twin Dilemma X

43. INT. PALACE CORRIDORS (DAY)

The Chamberlain sweeps down the corridor, followed by Peri (who has a guard aiming a gun at her back) and the Doctor (who is being supported by the other two guards.

PERI
Are you all right?

The Doctor glares at her, with barely any strength to speak.

DOCTOR
Well of course I’m not all right, you stupid girl... you could have got both of us killed!

PERI
I didn’t know you’d be here!

DOCTOR
Where’s Wingco Lang, anyway?

PERI
I don’t know. The guards split us up.

DOCTOR
I told him to look after you.

PERI
You trusted him to do that? Really?

The Doctor shakes his head, as if he’s forgotten what he’s talking about.

DOCTOR
I suppose I must have...

PERI
Were you always that trusting? Or did that change too?

The Doctor stares at her, eyes barely focussed. He’s breathless and horrified.

DOCTOR
Change? There is no change. No rhyme.

He shoves her away from him, shaking off the guards who are taken by surprise at the abrupt resistance. But before they can even aim their guns, the Doctor backs away into the shadpws as if suddenly agrophobic. There is rising hysteria in his voice as, wide eyed, he slumps against the wall and slides down it.

DOCTOR
No time, nor place for space, nothing. Nothing but the grinding engines of the universe and the crushing boredom of eternity...

He screws his eye up and opens his mouth to scream. Instead, a peal of insane laughter emerges. Peri, about to help him up, freezes. The Doctor’s laughter becomes miserable sobs and the two guards grab him and drag him onwards. Peri follows, worried. The Chamberlain didn’t stop for this and is thus far ahead.


44. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

As before. Dark with occasional sparks. Fabian, Sylvest and a PILOT stand over the controls. The Minister is with THREE TROOPERS – the only others to survive the crash.

MINISTER
Any luck so far?

FABIAN
Only one of the exterior sensors is intact. Trying to patch in the signal.

PILOT
There are hundreds of life signs in the immediate area.

MINISTER
Jocondan?

SYLVEST
As far as we can tell.

The Minister nods, thinking.

MINISTER
All right. We were in contact with Earth until the last moment. They know we are in trouble and will contact the fleet and get them to increase speed.

SYLVEST
They might think we’re dead.

MINISTER
Even so, the fleet will be in a maximum of five hours. If structural integrity hasn’t been compromised, we can sweat it out in here until the fleet arrives. Concentrate on repairing the communications net.

The monitor sparks and crackles with static.

PILOT
Ah. Nearly patched in. The camera’s damaged, we can’t move it.

The picture clears enough to show the dunes and the wrecked shanty town.

SYLVEST
You’re sure we didn’t hit anything?

PILOT
Positive.

SYLVEST
But look at it. It’s like a war zone out there!

MINISTER
And no sign of the Jocondans. They must have left the town to come here. Any idea of the specific concentration outside the ship?

The pilot checks several controls. The picture begins to break up.

PILOT
No... The sensors are packing up already.

MINISTER
Suggestions?

SYLVEST
They had one of the most powerful and controlled tractor beams in the known universe – I don’t think the airlocks will stop them if they decide to come in.

MINISTER
You’re suggesting we surrender?

FABIAN
We’re not in a bargaining position at the moment, are we?

MINISTER
Bargaining... Very well. One of us will go and speak to the Jocondans. We know they want us alive or else they would have let us crash and die. The spokesperson can delay them until the fleet arrives.

FABIAN
Or negotiate some kind of treaty?

The Minister smiles. The idea is low on his priorities.

MINISTER
Naturally.

FABIAN
Who will be then?

MINISTER
The most senior and most expendable among us.

A beat.

SYLVEST
Fat chance. You need me for the Twins. You can’t guarantee they’ll trust anyone else.

MINISTER
And I am needed for possible coordinations with the fleet.

FABIAN
You could pass that information onto me.

MINISTER
It is aural-only classification, General. Are you afraid?

FABIAN
Less than you are.

MINISTER
Well. Go and speak to them. Give them warning before you emerge.

Fabian glares at them and crosses the room to a closed door and punches a control next to the door.


45. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

The outside of the flagship, a hatchway set into the hull, on the rubble. The hatchway suddenly slides back to reveal the cramped, gloomy and empty airlock. Nothing else stirrs.


46. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

Fabian checks his gun, nods at the others, and presses the internal control. As Fabian opens the door, we see a Jocondan standing there. He lunges forward, but Fabian is too quick and fires the gun. The Jocondan spins, reels into the doorway and collapses.

SYLVEST
There goes the negotiation angle!

The pilot approaches Fabian when two more Jocondans run into the airlock, reach past the doorway and grab the pilot, dragging him out of view. She screams.

PILOT
No! Let me go! Let me go, no...

Fabian turns and shoots one of the Jocondans in the back and he falls.

MINISTER
Close the door!

FABIAN
No, wait, they’ve got Bettany!

Sylvest slams down both controls. The door slams shut.

MINISTER
We don’t have time to waste on the dead. It seems we’re under siege after all.

Fabian glares at him, furious.


47. INT. AZMAEL’S LAB (DAY)

Azmael and the twins are talking.

ROMULUS
It’s mass murder.

AZMAEL
I agree with you. But I have no influence. All we can do is complete the experiment as soon as possible, before reinforcements arrive. When they do, we can hand you over and conclude things amicably.

REMUS
And if you can’t?

DRAK
Then the Lord Mestor will destroy the war fleets.

ROMULUS
But even if we could help the time shift, the moment we leave it would have to end.

REMUS
Or else run completely out of control.

Azmael avoids their gaze.

AZMAEL
There is a way. Just... just trust me.

ROMULUS & REMUS
Why should we?

AZMAEL
It will make it much easier.

The door opens and the Chamberlain enters.

AZMAEL
Oh, what is it now?

CHAMBERLAIN
The Lord Mestor needs your services.

AZMAEL
Then find a lackey who cares!

CHAMBERLAIN
You are the only one who can help him.

AZMAEL
Oh, for Rassilon’s sake, help WHO?

The Chamberlain drammatically snaps her fingers. The guard enter carrying the Doctor, now unconscious. Peri is escorted in behind them.

PERI
Yeah, brilliant move, bird woman. When quick and decisive action is needed, the Lord Mestor can count on you to chew the scenery.

The Chamberlain shrugs it off. The guards lay the Doctor out on the table.

AZMAEL
Who is this?

PERI
He’s the Doctor, he’s very ill. He’s a Time Lord, do you know what that it is?

Azmael’s face brightens slightly.

AZMAEL
A Time Lord?

PERI
Yeah, we’ve been following you.

AZMAEL
You’re not a Time Lord. You’re a human.

PERI
Yes, but HE is a Time Lord and he’s sick.

AZMAEL
I am not a doctor!

PERI
He’s the Doctor! You must know some kind of first aide!

AZMAEL
I have not been to Gallifrey for over six centuries, young woman! And I never had much time for Doctors... What’s wrong with him, anyway?

CHAMBERLAIN
Lord Mestor taught him a lesson in respect.

AZMAEL
Nonsense. Any Time Lord’s mental barriers could keep out Mestor.

CHAMBERLAIN
Keep telling yourself that, Azmael.

PERI
The Doctor’s not been well, he couldn’t take Mestor. Ever since he changed...

AZMAEL
Changed? His face? His body, you mean? He’s regenerated recently?

PERI
Yeah. That’s what he said.

AZMAEL
Did you see it happen?

PERI
Sort of. It was a flash and he changed.

AZMAEL
Was he in his TARDIS?

PERI
Yes.

Azmael examines the Doctor briefly.

AZMAEL
What triggered regeneration?

PERI
Oh, uh...

CHAMBERLAIN
Lord Mestor wants him restored to health immediately.

AZMAEL
Oh, get out, Slarn! This is talk for higher beings!

CHAMBERLAIN
Of course.

AZMAEL
Now, girl, what was the cause of his regeneration?

The Chamberlain passes Peri on the way out. She stops by Peri and taps her on the shoulder. Peri turns and gets a smack in the face. Without another word, the Chamberlain strides out. Azmael rolls his eyes and helps her up.

AZMAEL
Young woman, this is important: why did he change?

Peri glares at him. She doesn’t need this crap.

PERI
Poison! Spectrox poisoning!

AZMAEL
Spectrox toxaemia?

PERI
Yeah.

AZMAEL
Well, if the toxins are still in his system... I’ll try a lindos purge.

Azmael crosses to a small distillery-cum-chemistry set in the corner and begins to work on it, frowning as he remembers what he’s doing. Drak looks around, awkwardly and hurries over to Azmael. The Twins approach Peri.

ROMULUS & REMUS
Are you all right?

PERI
Oh, Ms. Slarn hasn’t got much on cheerleaders I know. Unless of course I’m seeing double.

ROMULUS
I am Romulus Sylvest.

REMUS
I am Remus Sylvest.

PERI
Babes in the wood, huh?

ROMULUS & REMUS
We do not know.

PERI
What’s going on?

As they explain to her we focus on Drak and Azmael.

DRAK
Master Azmael?

AZMAEL
Hmmm?

DRAK
Things are stretching out. We should concentrate on the time shift!

AZMAEL
I know, Drak, but... He’s one of my people. I must help. Besides, we don’t need to annoy Mestor after that slaughter he committed.

DRAK
Then give me permission. I can take the twins to Operations Control. We can at least set up the preliminary programs?

Azmael looks up at Drak with new respect.

AZMAEL
Oh, how I wished I had someone like you earlier in my life. You’re right, Drak. I give you full authority. You understand the programs necessary.

DRAK
Once... once they are ready, yes. But how can we get them ready?

AZMAEL
There are mechanisms in my TARDIS, but... No. Go there, make ready everything you can. I’ll be across as soon as possible. Whoever this colour-blind fool is, he should recover shortly. Now go.

DRAK
Thank you, Master Azmael.

AZMAEL
Thank you, Drak.

Drak nods and crosses to the Twins. Azmael returns to the set.

AZMAEL
Borusa always made this look so easy... and medicine wasn’t even his field!


48. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

The hoardes of Jocondans stand by the hatch, beating their fists against it. Not one of them says a word. Dumped aside, ignored even by the Jocondans milling around, too far from the ship to help, is the body of the pilot. Quite, quite, dead.


49. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

The sinister thumping noise can be heard all around. Sylvest stands near the airlock.

SYLVEST
How long before they get in?

MINISTER
No idea.

FABIAN
The shields will hold out until the fleet arrives.

SYLVEST
Unless the Master of Joconda decides to help the natives.

On the floor, the dead Jocondan’s eyes snap open.

MINISTER
There’s no noise coming from the secondary airlock. It’s just possible that all available Jocondans are around the front. In which case we could escape.

FABIAN
Where to?

MINISTER
Shelter. Where else do you search for aliens but their spacecraft? That shanty town over the hill could hide us for hours while the rest of them continue to bash their way in. Communications are dead, life support on its last legs, structural integrity at best yet to be compromised. Can you think of a good reason for staying?

The Jocondan grabs Sylvest’s ankle. He lets out a wimpy cry. Fabian turns and shoots the Jocondan in the arm and Sylvest lunges out of the way.

SYLVEST
I thought you killed him!

FABIAN
So did I. The gun’s set to ‘kill’.

MINISTER
Obviously the Master of Joconda has some way of remotely influencing circuitry.

SYLVEST
Or maybe he just can animate the dead.

MINISTER
You’re a fool.

FABIAN
Is he?


50. INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM (DAY)

Mestor sits before another hologram, showing the Minister and Fabian.

FABIAN
If this Master can bring back the dead, it easily explains the forensic reports in the complex.

MINISTER
The dead don’t walk. No matter how much Spectrox they take.

The image changes to the outside of the ship. Mestor’s tendrils wave.


51. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

The Jocondans step back away from the hatch. A purple glow bathes the door. There is a harsh, metal scraping noise. The hatch slides back a fraction. Then a bit more. And a bit more. Then the hatch slams open and the purple glow vanishes. The Jacondans advance straight towards the hatch like soldiers on march.


52. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

Fabian is bent over the controls. Sylvest checks another display.

SYLVEST
It’s open! They’re in the air lock.

FABIAN
It’s impossible. All the hydraulics have broken down... It’s like they’ve been crushed.

The Minister is staring at the door, gun in hand. A purple glow appears.

MINISTER
By all means let’s stand around and discuss it. Anyone have any better ideas?

The internal door begins to inch open. Jocondan fingers curl around the edges, putting their weight to it. The Minister, Fabian, Sylvest and the remaining troopers retreat to the identical hatch on the other side of the room. It opens and they scramble inside, watched from the floor by the paralyzed but still animated Jocondan corpse. The other Jocondans have got their arms through the gap. They claw at the air.


53. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

The other side of the ship (reversed). Tight shot. The hatch slides back. The first trooper pauses in the doorway, looking ahead. No sign of life. He steps forward and we see for the first time the hoard of zombie Jocondans standing on either side of the door, outside the trooper’s immediate vision. They attack him and drag him to the ground screaming. Fabian emerges.

FABIAN
Leave him!

They ignore him. Fabian starts shooting at the mob when a Jocondan drops onto his back, having climbed up over the hatch. They fall and wrestle and then a gunshot. The Jocondan falls back but no sooner does Fabian start to rise then the Jocondan lunges again, now a genuine zombie. A second gun shot hurls it to the ground long enough for Fabian to escape. The Minister, Sylvest and the others stay in the doorway, not eager to move.


54. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

The purple glow drags the door open and the Jocondans enter, making their way for the second airlock. One of the troopers stares at them in horror, especially when the ‘dead’ one on the floor starts to rise. The trooper ducks inside the airlock and the hatch closes just as the Jocondans arrive. Immediately, the door glows purple.


55. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

More Jocondans are coming from both directions. There is a small heap of bodies – Jocondans so badly injured they cannot attack even though they are undead. Fabian shoots down an advancing Jocondan on his right, his left, and then in front of him. The other trooper appears.

TROOPER
They’re coming!

FABIAN
And we’re rapidly running out of ammunition.

SYLVEST
They’re going to kill us all!

MINISTER
No they’re not.

FABIAN
No, I’m fairly certain he’s right, they’re going to kill us all.

TROOPER
Move!

The quintet struggle from the airlock.


56. INT. FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

The hatch slides back and purple glow vanishes. The undead Jocondan stiffly leads the others through the secondary airlock.


57. EXT. WASTELANDS (DAY)

The Jocondans are coming from all sides. The group stand back to back.

SYLVEST
Now what?

FABIAN
This is the time you do something clever, Minister.

MINISTER
I’m thinking.

SYLVEST
Think faster!

The Minister’s doing just that.

MINISTER
On my order fire a horizontal sweep, maximum intensity for five seconds, then we run to the right with the smallest concentration of Jocondans.

SYLVEST
And then what?

MINISTER
I’ll let you know... NOW!

The five humans open fire.


58. INT. OPERATIONS CONTROL (DAY)

A redressed version of Azmael’s lab. It is brightly lit and stark white. Azmael’s TARDIS sits in the corner, a mess of cables and wires emerge from the open doorway. It is guarded. Most of the room is occupied by a tubular, titled device that stretches from floor to ceiling, vaguely like a telescope. Jocondans are present, adjusting displays and read outs. The Twins have been placed on a sofa, under guard. Drak is conversing with another Jocondan, nods and crosses over to the Twins. NOMA approaches.

DRAK
All is prepared. We require only you to begin the time shift.

ROMULUS & REMUS
It’s impossible.

ROMULUS
It won’t work.

REMUS
We can’t help.

ROMULUS
Even if we wanted to.

ROMULUS & REMUS
Which we don’t.

Drak shrugs.

DRAK
It is not for me to say.

NOMA
The Lord Mestor has forseen it all.

The door opens. Azmael and Peri enter, carrying the Doctor between them.

DRAK
Master Azmael...

AZMAEL
I know, Drak, I know. But this fool needs my help, I need to revitalize him in my TARDIS.

NOMA
You are under no circumstances to enter your time machine without Lord Mestor’s express permission.

AZMAEL
The revitalizer cannot be removed from the ship. He wants the Time Lord to recouperate, he will let me through. See?

Noma turns to see the guards have stepped aside. He doesn’t hide his annoyance.

NOMA
Very well.

Azmael is already moving and knocks him to one side as he and Peri take the Doctor inside.

NOMA
Lord Mestor...


59. INT. PALACE THRONE ROOM (DAY)

Noma’s face fills the hologram.

MESTOR
I have taken everyone and everything into consideration in this plan. It is all working as predicted. In a few hours, it will be all over.


60. EXT. WASTELAND (DAY)

Just over the rise behind the crashed ship. Sylvest sprints down the slope, followed by the Minister. Fabian and the trooper pause as the other trooper is mobbed, Jocondan arms enveloping him like tentacles. He cries out and struggles as he is dragged out of sight, still screaming.

FABIAN
We can’t help him. Come on.

Fabian runs off, raising his gun to shoot a Jocondan as it rises from a hillock. The trooper is about to follow when the screams stop. She whirls around to see the Jocondans beginning to climb the hill after them once more. In the distance, Fabian turns and sees she is not following.

FABIAN
Come on!

The trooper shoots down the closest Jocondan and starts to run, then stops. She looks up and sees another Jocondan looming over her. She fires the gun... nothing. It’s empty. The trooper shakes the gun hopefully, but nothing. The Jocondan, face impassive, lunges forward, knocking the trooper down. The other Jocondans swarm over her. Fabian grimaces, then turns to flee. The trooper doesn’t scream as she is lost under the claws.


61. INT. AZMAEL’S TARDIS (DAY)

Lots of cables are linked to the console, leading out the doors. Azmael and Peri are placing the unconscious Doctor inside a glass cabinet clearly separate from the TARDIS. Azmael closes the cabinet and presses a button. A green glow fills the cabinet for a moment. A display saying CLEANSING COMPLETE flashes.

PERI
What is this thing, anyway?

Azmael crosses to the console and begins adjusting it.

AZMAEL
A revitalizaing modulator – like a matter transporter it breaks down the molecular structure of the body and then puts it back together again. However, it does not move the body to another location, but while the body is reduced to its base atoms, bombards it with Ferrail rays.

PERI
And that will help?

AZMAEL
In the normal subject it induces a feeling of well being an contentment. No substitute for natural sleep, but it does allow those without time for such thing to work longer at peak efficiency. It was first developed by the gifted molecular engineer, Professor James Zarn around ten years ago, mainly to cure his hangovers...

PERI
Don’t take this wrong way, but I – don’t – care. Will it FIX him?

Azmael glares at her and presses a button. In the cabinet, the Doctor’s body dissloves into dancing red and white sparks that flow cyclically around inside. There are a few streaks of lightning at first, which then vanish.

AZMAEL
I’ve modified the Ferrail rays. The bombardment will burn out any of the poison in the system as well as massaging his tired molecules. Once it is finished he should be fully stabilized.

PERI
“Should be”?

AZMAEL
Whatever damaged Mestor inflicted will be unlikely to be reversed. We can only hope that this young fool's problem was only in his body, not his mind.

Peri looks at the cabinet, concern etched on her face. The shimmering light show coalesces back into the form of the Doctor.

PERI
Guess we’re about to find out.

The process completes itself.


62. EXT. SHANTY TOWN (DAY)

Seemingly deserted, but there is the rapid sound of footsteps getting louder. The bedraggled trio burst into view through an alleyway, look around and sprint across the main road. They pause to catch their breath – Fabian is in better shape than the Minister and they are both better than Sylvest, who is on the point of collapse.

SYLVEST
My gun’s... out... of juice...

MINISTER
I’ve down to one charge. You?

FABIAN
A single round... We’re the only ones left, Minister.

MINISTER
I’m not sure.

FABIAN
No, we’re definitely the only ones left. Between zombies, neutron bounceback and impact damage, that nearly a hundred dead for this publicity campaign of yours.

MINISTER
I don’t think they’re going to kill us.

Sylvest can barely breathe.

SYLVEST
Why?

MINISTER
Let us say this neutrotic little belief of yours that the Master of Joconda has god-like powers is true. Why bring the ship safely into land? Why not smash it to pieces? He wants us alive.

SYLVEST
Not necessarily.

MINISTER
If we surrender now, we can tie up their people. The war fleet will arrive in over four hours. If this Master wants to keep this rock intact, he will need to contact them and for that he needs us if he wants to either negotiate a truce or use as hostages.

FABIAN
You hope.

MINISTER
I’m open to any better suggestions.

SYLVEST
How does... ‘hands up’... grab you?

Sylvest points at the other end of the alley. Three Jocondans lumber down the narrow street towards them. Fabian scrambles past the others to the other end of the alleyway, but the mob has reached them. The Jocondans move in. Sylvest raises his hands.

MINISTER
Well, General?

Fabian throws the gun to the ground and raises his hands.

FABIAN
Take us to your leader.

to be continued...

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