Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Warhead of the Daleks IV

39. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

The Doctor approaches a pair of loading doors and tries to shift them. No luck.

DOCTOR
This should give us a good view of the street if I can just open them...

He tries again. Tegan joins him.

TEGAN
If you know where the time corridor is and who the soldiers are, why not talk to them?

DOCTOR
I think the people in charge of the corridor haven’t left this place unguarded. Now the signs of executions Kamelion mentioned... I want to know what’s going on before we jump in feet first. Now help me with these.

Kamelion approaches. They all try to shift the doors. No luck.

TEGAN
The wood’s swollen with the rain. This place probably hasn’t been used for years – it sure smells like it.

DOCTOR
Such neglect. A hundred years ago, this place would have been bustling with activity.

TEGAN
Yeah, right.

The Doctor sighs and gives her a sideways look.

DOCTOR
Where’s your sense of imagination, Tegan?

TEGAN
Just because I can’t get worked up about a load crumbling brickwork?

DOCTOR
Tegan, Tegan, Tegan. Not that long ago, every single one of London’s sea-borne imports would have been unloaded at the wharves like the one the TARDIS landed in...

KAMELION
Doctor.

DOCTOR
...and then reloaded in here. Your economy depended on it before and during the collapse of the empire...

Kamelion speaks more firmly.

KAMELION
Doctor.

The Doctor and Tegan finally turn to look at him. In the entrance stands Archer and Calder, guns at the ready. The Doctor and Tegan raise their hands. Kamelion glances at them, then follows suit. Archer speaks in a frostily polite tone.

ARCHER
May I help you people?

TEGAN
Why isn’t anyone ever pleased to see us?

The Doctor smiles disarmingly.

DOCTOR
Ah, yes, I’m so sorry about this. The doors weren’t locked.

ARCHER
So you just strolled in?

DOCTOR
As is our want. May we...?

Archer nods. They lower their hands.

ARCHER
I am Colonel David Archer of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Who are you?

Laird enters, stopping as she stops them.

LAIRD
What’s going on, Colonel?

Archer doesn’t take his eyes – or his gun - off the Doctor.

ARCHER
Precisely what I am trying to find out. What are you three doing here?

DOCTOR
You really wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

ARCHER
Try me.

The Doctor shrugs.

DOCTOR
I just suspect that this warehouse is the termination point for a time corridor most likely operated by alien beings for purposes unknown. But the classic military mind is unlikely to accept that explanation.

CALDER
Time corridors? Alien beings?

DOCTOR
What did I tell you.

KAMELION
The entrance to the time corridor is on the level below, somewhere.

LAIRD
They’re not with the builders?

TEGAN
Builders?

LAIRD
Thought not.

ARCHER
Are you from the press?

DOCTOR
No. Like I said, we’re investigating this place. You may have heard of me – I’m UNIT’s unpaid scientific advisor and these are my assistants, Tegan Jovanka and... well, we call him Kamelion.

LAIRD
Is that some sort of joke?

DOCTOR
Certainly not!

LAIRD
I
am UNIT’s scientific advisor. Professor Annie Laird.

DOCTOR
That is as may be, but I am Doctor John Smith. The Doctor John Smith.

Laird’s eyes widen. She speaks cautiously.

LAIRD
You don’t look anything like the photograph.

The Doctor approaches her slowly, speaking with the same caution.

DOCTOR
It obviously wasn’t my best side.

ARCHER
What are you talking about? Professor Laird has been advisor for UNIT for years!

DOCTOR
There’s a way to prove what I’m saying is the truth.

ARCHER
Of course there is. Sergeant, get onto HQ and run a check on this man’s identity.

CALDER
Sir.

Calder nods and leaves.

DOCTOR
Well, that wasn’t what I was thinking of, but...

ARCHER
If you are part of UNIT, why weren’t we informed of your presence?

LAIRD
We weren’t informed about the builders either, Colonel.

ARCHER
That doesn’t confirm or deny his identity, Professor. Why didn’t they reveal themselves at once if there was nothing to hide?

TEGAN
I could ask you the same question.

DOCTOR
There is another, very simple way – and if the Professor knows who I claim to be, she’ll know what to look for.

Archer glances at Laird. She’s still confused.

TEGAN
I hope you know where you’re going with this, Doctor...

DOCTOR
Brave heart, Tegan.


40. MODEL SHOT

The battle cruiser is now parked next to the space station.


41. INT. CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK (NIGHT)

An open chamber with corridors leading away. A large doorway is half-covered by a black grey shield which has dropped down half-way to block the doorway but not seal it. A number of crewmembers are present, either trying to haul the hatch down or setting up boxes as shelter. Mercer and Phin run into view, followed by Zena.

MERCER
The cruiser’s docked! Get that shield down!

ZENA
They haven’t fixed the door malfunction...

MERCER
Then we’ll use brute force! Come on!

They all rush over to the door and haul down on it, dragging towards the floor.


42. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

This is shown on the main screen. Doran slides a card into a slot next to a box on the console. He presses a sequence of buttons with intense care. There is a clicking noise and the box slides open to reveal a red button beneath the safety catch.

OSBORN
Our very survival depends on that duranium shield. Comforting thought, isn’t it?

STYLES
How long until they get into the airlock?

OSBORN
If we’re lucky, I don’t know... three minutes? Mercer was right. We better break out the battle kits.

Osborn hurries over to the open hatch and starts handing out the contents to the other guards. Styles concentrates on Doran.

STYLES
What are you doing?

DORAN
If we’re boarded, then this switch will destroy the prisoner.

STYLES
What good will that do?

Doran looks at her, sneering.

DORAN
What do you think they’re here for?


43. INT. CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK (NIGHT)

The group finally manage to close the door. They are all out of breath.

ZENA
Now what?

MERCER
Phin, you’re the engineer. Help me. The rest of you, get under cover.

Phin and Mercer head for a groove between two floor panels not very far from the closed airlock. Mercer puts down two of the explosives on the floor. Phin pulls out a small hand-held control and begins adjusting it.

PHIN
I’m not dressed for battle, Roylan.

MERCER
None of us are. But it’s too late to do anything about it now.

OSBORN
Not even an ‘I told you so’?

MERCER
When we’ve gotten out of this alive, trust me, you won’t hear the end of it.

Phin chuckles, reassured.


44. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

Laird is studying the bullet Kamelion has handed over.

LAIRD
You found this outside?

KAMELION
Yes. In the alcove two doors down in the direction of the river.

Laird sniffs it.

LAIRD
Recently fired.

ARCHER
You still haven’t said why were you trying to open the loading doors?

DOCTOR
I wanted to get a clear view of the street. The windows aren’t very clean.

ARCHER
Why not go through the front door?

The Doctor doesn’t reply. Tegan glances at him.

TEGAN
Doctor?

DOCTOR
I think we’re not alone here.

LAIRD
You mean the builders?

DOCTOR
No. Well, I don’t think so. I don’t know what happened to those builders of yours. Maybe they were sucked up the time corridor, I don’t know. But I am certain that whoever constructed it left some kind of guard to watch over it...

Calder re-enters. Galloway and another soldier enter, rifles slung over their shoulders.

ARCHER
Calder?

CALDER
The R/T won’t work, sir, we can’t get through to UNIT HQ. Heavy static – even on that old trannie radio we found.

DOCTOR
It’s a side effect of the time corridor. It probably covers the docklands.

ARCHER
Be quiet!

DOCTOR
Sorry.

Archer glares at him.

ARCHER
As we haven’t been able to verify or discredit your identity...

DOCTOR
There is another way.

ARCHER
So you said.

LAIRD
Colonel, did you notice a police telephone box around when we arrived?

Archer stares at her, taken aback at this left-field idea.

ARCHER
What? No! Not at all.

DOCTOR
That doesn’t mean a thing. There’s one now, at the wharf at the end of the street.

ARCHER
And that is supposed to prove his identity?

Laird looks at the Doctor doubtfully.

LAIRD
If he is who he says he is, then it might.

ARCHER
Very well. Mellor, head down the street. If there is a police box then head to the nearest pay phone and confirm with the police. Then come back.

MELLOR
Sir.

He turns and leaves.

TEGAN
If you think the time corridor isn’t real, why are you here, anyway?

DOCTOR
UNIT has a lot of specialized equipment, Tegan. A time corridor smashing into a 1984 warehouse was bound to be detected, even if they had no idea what it was.

Archer and Laird exchange looks. Laird shrugs.

LAIRD
You might as well tell them, Colonel. They’ve guessed most of it already.


45. INT. TARDIS ROOM – TURLOUGH’S ROOM (NIGHT)

Turlough groans and opens his eyes. He looks around, sounding weak.

TURLOUGH
Norna? Doctor?

Wincing, he manages to sit up in bed, rubbing his head.

TURLOUGH
Doctor? Tegan? Where have they got to now?


46. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

Everyone looks up at the screen, anxious. Doran looks at the others.

DORAN
Osborn, Styles, head down to the cryogenics unit and make sure all the explosive charges are primed. I want to know this will work.

STYLES
We should stay here.

DORAN
Why? What have you got to lose?

Styles can’t think of an argument. She scowls and turns with Osborn to the exit. Doran turns to look up at the screen once more.


47. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CORRIDORS (NIGHT)

Styles and Osborn run around a corner at top speed.


48. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)

As before. All the troopers present are heading for the doorway.

LYTTON
On my order, blow the airlock and attack.

GROGAN
Commander.

Kiston enters, barring their way. All bar Lytton back off, but all stop their advance.

KISTON
The Supreme demands your presence, Commander Lytton.

LYTTON
We are about to carry out the attack! This isn’t the time for a committee meeting!

KISTON
You will obey our masters. You will obey.

Lytton glances around him. The troopers are all staring at him with dead eyes. Lytton suddenly gives a lazy smile. Kiston is ever-so-slightly disconcerted.

LYTTON
Well now, all they have to do is ask.

Lytton strides off.

LYTTON
Continue the attack while I’m gone!


49. EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (DAY)

Mellor is moving through the streets. He brightens as he spots a phone box on the corner and hurries over to it. Fumbling in his pocket, he produces a coin. He enters the box, slides in a coin and lifts the receiver. He blinks, holding the receiver to his ear – nothing. Not even a dial tone. Silence. Mellor taps the cradle, but there is nothing. Angrily, he slams down the receiver... and notices for the first time the cord has been cut through. Mellor rolls his eyes.

MELLOR
Typical! Typical, bloody vandals...

With a growl of annoyance he emerges from the booth. He starts as he registers the presence of the two policemen down the street, having appeared from nowhere. They stare impassively down the street, as if he is invisible. Mellor is still relieved.

MELLOR
Ah, that’s lucky. Eh, lads, do you know anything about the police box down the road? I mean, has that been there long? Stupid place to put it but...

He trails off. They still don’t seemed to have noticed him.

MELLOR
Hello?

The continue to stand rigidly to attention, hands behind their backs, like waxwork dummies. Mellor, confused waves a hand in front of their eyes. Nothing. He snaps his fingers rapidly. Nothing. Unnerved, he shakes and hurries past them towards the entrance to the warehouse. The policemen turn. One of them raises his handgun, fitted with a silencer and takes aim at the oblivious Mellor’s back. The policeman fires one shot.


50. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

The Doctor and Tegan are sitting on some crates. Kamelion, Laird, Calder and the soldiers are standing around and Archer is pacing up and down.

ARCHER
Mellor’s taking his time.

DOCTOR
Maybe we could pop downstairs and have a cup of tea until he gets back?

ARCHER
No. Five people went missing who were working on that level, and you say a time corridor or something ends there. It’s off limits from now on.

TEGAN
So you believe us, then?

ARCHER
I don’t disbelieve you. UNIT doesn’t need troops with closed minds.

The Doctor smiles, delighted.

DOCTOR
I wanted that to be the company motto, but they never took it up.

Calder rolls his eyes.

CALDER
I wonder why.

LAIRD
If you are the Doctor, why are you here, now?

DOCTOR
My... instruments detected the time corridor. From what I can tell, it’s a particularly crude form of travel – linking two fixed points in different times and spaces. One end is here, 1984 London. The other is, well, who knows where? The point is, I don’t believe the people who constructed the corridor were aiming for this warehouse.

ARCHER
What were they aiming for?

DOCTOR
I’m not sure they were aiming for anything. They opened their end and it was pure chance that the other opened here. The question is what they intend to do now they have effectively free passage from their own era into twentieth century Earth.

KAMELION
Could be some kind of invasion attempt?

LAIRD
How could it if they didn’t intend to come here? Sounds more like an escape attempt.

KAMELION
But now that they have escaped, could they be attempting to invade?

TEGAN
By killing builders?

DOCTOR
No, no, no, no. We’re going about this the wrong way. We need to know more about the people who built this. And the best way to do that is find whoever was ordered to watch over this warehouse.

ARCHER
But we don’t know who that is, so we’re back to square one.


51. INT. RECEPTION AREA (NIGHT)

Relaxed, Lytton moves through the area. He crosses to a corridor directly opposite the time corridor terminal. It ends in a closed door. He places his hand on a glowing blue square beside the door. The door slides back. Lytton enters.


52. INT. QUARANTINE CHAMBER (NIGHT)

A redressed version of the flight deck. It is dimmer, lit by reds and there is a familiar electronic heartbeat noise in the background. Lytton enters and the door slides closed. Lytton stands with his hands behind his back, legs apart.

LYTTON
You wished to speak with me.

SUPREME DALEK (VO)
THE HOSTILES ARE STILL AT LIBERTY! THEY MUST BE EXTERMINATED!

LYTTON
The stratagem will be completed.

SUPREME DALEK (VO)
IF YOU FAIL, YOU WILL EXTERMINATED!

Lytton is unimpressed.

LYTTON
So you keep saying.


53. EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (DAY)

Mellor lies on his side on the ground. Blood trickles from his open mouth. He is quite, quite dead. Standing over him is the policeman that fired, still holding the gun. We pan across to see that a man identical in every respect to Mellor – except being very much alive – is also standing there. He nods to the policeman and walks towards the building. The remaining policeman takes out a yellow control similar to the one Lytton used. He slides it and the corpse of the real Mellor fades away in a ruby glow. The fake Mellor strides into the warehouse. The policeman pockets the yellow control and marches towards the open doorway.


54. INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE (DAY)

‘Mellor’ runs up the steps towards the upper level.


55. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

As before. Everyone is milling about.

LAIRD
Perhaps we should get out of here, Colonel. If there is some kind of danger...

ARCHER
We’ll wait for Mellor to return. We’re a level up from the builders with at least three escape routes and we know something’s up. Until we find out for sure who that man is we’re not risking anything. Understood, Professor?

Laird sighs and nods.

LAIRD
Understood, sir.

Sitting on the crate, Tegan wrinkles her nose. The Doctor is still trying to shift the doors. Kamelion is staring at the grubby window beside it.

TEGAN
That smell is getting worse. It’s like rising damp...

DOCTOR
Probably is. The rain is seeping through the old brickwork.

TEGAN
Do you think getting Kamelion to turn into the Brigadier would help?

DOCTOR
Maybe. But we’d have to find an excuse for Kamelion to leave and then come up for an excuse for a retired maths master suddenly coming to our aid from the other side of the country. By that time their friend will probably be back and...

KAMELION
They are coming.

The other two look at Kamelion in surprise.

DOCTOR
Who? Kamelion, who are you talking about?

‘Mellor’ enters. They all look up.

ARCHER
Ah, Mellor, any luck?

MELLOR
None sir. There is no police box anywhere and never has been.

Archer turns angrily to face the Doctor. Behind him, Mellor draws his pistol.

ARCHER
As I thought...

DOCTOR
Behind you! Get down!

Archer glances behind him as ‘Mellor’ aims the gun at his head. Archer ducks as Mellor fires. Laird screams and everyone scatters. Calder whirls as the bullet digs into the wall beside his head.

CALDER
Mellor, what the hell are you doing?

‘Mellor’ aims the gun at him when the Doctor shoulder charges him, sending him reeling and his shot wild. Tegan and Kamelion rush over to the Doctor as ‘Mellor’ whirls and knocks him over. ‘Mellor’ moves to shoot the Doctor as Calder raises his gun.

CALDER
You two, down!

Kamelion and Tegan duck. ‘Mellor’ whirls back to face Calder as he fires a round of machine gun fire. ‘Mellor’ is slammed against a column with the force, but shows no real sign of injury. In the confusion, the time travellers run down it as ‘Mellor’ straightens up, unharmed and aims the gun at Calder, who, amazed, fires another round. ‘Mellor’ staggers, but the holes in his uniform simply fix themselves. Smiling, he takes aim as Calder empties his gun uselessly...


56. INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE (DAY)

Tegan and Kamelion run down the stairs, followed by the Doctor.

TEGAN
What about the others?

DOCTOR
Archer has numbers on his side, let’s just hope...

KAMELION
Doctor!

The doors are wrenched open by the policeman, who reaches immediately for his gun. Kamelion kicks him in the stomach, causing him to stagger back.

DOCTOR
RUN!

They ran back through the doorway into the lower level. The policeman regains his balance and fires a shot at Kamelion – blasting into the stone of the doorway. Kamelion runs though and slams the door. The policeman fires again.


76. INT. WAREHOUSE – LOWER LEVEL (DAY)

They move out of the firing line as bullets punch through the door. The machine gun fire can still be heard. The Doctor, Tegan and Kamelion run around a corner and move away from the entrance.

DOCTOR
They’ve got the stairs covered. Kamelion, could you run past him for the TARDIS and pilot it here?

KAMELION
Interference from the time corridor makes that maneuver dangerous, Doctor.

DOCTOR
No, you’ve got a point... Perhaps you can just run for help? That phone box we saw...

TEGAN
Help wouldn’t get here in time, we need a way out!

DOCTOR
Yes, you’re right, Tegan. Let’s try this way.

They move on past the foreman’s office and turn another corner. In front of them is a wall, filling the archway and blocking off further escape.

TEGAN
There’s no way out. It’s a dead end!

DOCTOR
It can’t be...

The Doctor steps forward and runs his hands over the wall.

DOCTOR
There should be another six metres of space. And it’s new... But why would the builders wall it up?

TEGAN
Who cares, we’ve got to get out of here!

KAMELION
The Colonel is holding the attackers at bay.

TEGAN
For how long, though?

KAMELION
I do not have that information, Miss Jovanka.

DOCTOR
Of course! This isn’t a real wall – just a partition!

The Doctor moves to the archway and opens a segment of brick to reveal a control.

DOCTOR
Someone wants to keep this area off limits.

KAMELION
Maybe that is wise, Doctor.

TEGAN
He’s right, we don’t know what’s on the other side.

DOCTOR
You’d rather face those killers?

He twists the control. There is a whirring noise and wall slides upwards.

DOCTOR
Quickly, let’s...

He trails off as the wall rises enough to reveal a DALEK standing behind it. There are four or five other Daleks behind it, deactivated and lifeless. More importantly, the Dalek in front is alive and angry. As it spots the trio it begins to scream:

DALEK
EXTERMINATE!

DOCTOR
Take cover!

He, Tegan and Kamelion scramble back as the Dalek glides past the doorway.

DALEK
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!!!!!


(END OF PART ONE)
(ROLL END CREDITS)

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