Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Warhead of the Daleks VI

23. INT. QUARANTINE CHAMBER (NIGHT)

The Dalek turns back from the displays.

DALEK 2
THE DALEK IN THE WAREHOUSE HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

SUPREME DALEK
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

DALEK 2
HUMAN WITNESSES DEFINED AS EARTH SOLDIERS. THEIR CRUDE EXPLOSIVES CRITICALLY DAMAGED THE DALEK. IT TRIGGERED SELF-DESTRUCT BUT SIX HUMANDOIDS STILL ACTIVE AND UNDER ANDROID SURVEILLANCE.

SUPREME DALEK
SEND THE REMAINING THREE ANDROIDS DOWN THE TIME CORRIDOR. THE HUMANS WILL BE BROUGHT HERE FOR MENTAL CONDITIONING, AND THE ANDROIDS WILL REPLACE THEM FOR THE DURATION.

DALEK 2
THERE ARE ONLY FIVE ANDROIDS AND SIX HUMANS.

SUPREME DALEK
DO NOT QUESTION!!! OBEY! OBEY!

DALEK 2
I OBEY!

The Dalek turns back to the controls.

DALEK 2
THE DALEK BATTALION IS STILL LOCATED IN THE TERMINAL CHAMBER.

SUPREME DALEK
THEN REVIVE IT!

24. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CORRIDORS (NIGHT)

STYLES and OSBORN run down the corridor and stop by a blank wall/door.

STYLES
Do you know the code?

OSBORN
I think so.

Osborn taps in a code into the door control.

OSBORN
4 – 7 – 5 – 7.

Nothing happens.

STYLES
If you’ve forgotten what it is, I’ll be less than cheerful!

OSBORN
It’s the right code, I know it is!

She taps it in again. Nothing. Osborn glares at Styles.

OSBORN
Come on, come on!

STYLES
Let me.

She kicks the wall and suddenly it rises, allowing them to enter.

25. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CRYOGENIC CHAMBER (NIGHT)

A large, mostly empty chamber. Against one wall is a glass-panneled cylindrical unit surrounded by simple controls. The cylinder is filled with frozen white fog. Osborn crosses the controls to the right of the console. She tugs at a panel.

OSBORN
Doesn’t anything work properly here?!

STYLES
Is that supposed to be a serious question, Aliza? Get on with it!

OSBORN
I’m trying!

Osborn tugs at the panel. Styles glances at the cylinder.

STYLES
I almost envy him being safe and sound in there. I remember when the Captain first took me down here... on those infrequent checks. I always wondered if you could be consciously aware of the passing of time, even in cryogenics.

OSBORN
Styles, help me!

STYLES
Do you think he knows how long he’s been in there?

OSBORN
Styles you stupid woman, help me!

Styles shakes her head to clear it and joins Aliza.

STYLES
First thing to do is prime the explosive charges.

She crosses to the console and snaps down some switches.

STYLES
Assuming they’re still working.

OSBORN
I thought it was just the remote that was worn out?

STYLES
This is Cassius Four – EVERYTHING’S worn out!

OSBORN
And if the manual won’t work?

STYLES
You’ve got a gun, don’t you? We’ll do it the old fashioned way.

Osborn nods and draws her blaster.

26. INT. CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK (NIGHT)

MERCER, PHIN, ZENA and half a dozen CREWMEN huddle behind a crude barricade facing the closed airlock.

ZENA
How long do you think we’ve got?

MERCER
No idea. Maybe they’re waiting for us to die of old age?

PHIN
Maybe we could try and board? Get them while they’re distracted?

MERCER
You remember those rioters on Earth we had to deal with back in 24?

PHIN
The ones with that sort of ‘battle-lust-bitten’ expression on their faces?

MERCER
That’s the one. Now, do you feel capable of generating that expression with any hope of being convincing?

Phin thinks about it.

PHIN
No.

MERCER
No. So shut up.

Phin sighs.

27. INT. RECEPTION AREA (NIGHT)

The Doctor is working at the door while Kamelion keeps watch.

DOCTOR
Since the stalemate began, I’ve encountered them twice, on little missions to expand their imagination. They were trying to reengineer their species in the New Earth system, and then that business on Skaro...

Suddenly frustrated, he bangs his fist against the wall.

KAMELION
Is something wrong, Doctor?

DOCTOR
None of the controls respond. We’ll have to find some other...

The Doctor gives up at the console and heads for the corridor Kamelion stands in.

KAMELION
Doctor!

There is the sudden march of footsteps. The Doctor and Kamelion run to the other side of the chamber and hide in the corridor. A squad of troopers lead by KISTON enters, passes through the chamber and down the corridor. The duo watches them march past, talking in whispers.

KAMELION
Who are they?

DOCTOR
Not Daleks. Not Robomen either. They look like Vanir... Mercenaries, perhaps? I wonder where they’re going.

The Doctor slowly emerges from the corridor and starts to follow.

KAMELION
Doctor, this is not wise.

DOCTOR
Isn’t it? No I suppose not. Kamelion, you stay here and look for any kind of secondary controls for the time corridor terminal. I’ll be back soon. You can look after yourself, can’t you?

Kamelion grins slyly.

KAMELION
Am I not all things to all other things?

DOCTOR
Good chap.

The Doctor pats him on the shoulder and strides off down the corridor. Kamelion rubs his forehead as if suffering a headache. His good humor is gone.

28. INT. QUARANTINE CHAMBER (NIGHT)

The Dalek is adjusting the systems.

DALEK 2
REVIVAL PROGRAM NOW COMPLETE. ACTIVATING.

29. INT. RECEPTION AREA (NIGHT)

Kamelion is holding his head in his hands. Suddenly he turns and look up at the shutter, turns and runs for it. The moment he has left the shutter glides up and first one Dalek, then another, then another. An endless stream of them, gliding out silently.

30. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

DORAN paces. The other crewmembers are huddles by their consoles.

DORAN
Is the distress signal prepared?

A crewmember nods.

DORAN
Right. Open all hailing frequencies.

The crewmembers adjusts some controls. There is a painful feedback noise.

DORAN
Right... This is Cassius Four to the Dalek ship. I am Captain Doran White, in charge of this station. I know why you’re here. You want the prisoner. We have the prisoner. And if you are very, very well behaved I might let you have him. But as you just killed sixteen of my very close friends including one hell of a nudist snooker champion, I’m not in a good mood. You will stand down your attack or I will detonate the charges around the prisoner and reduce him to so much charcoal. Standing orders, you see.

Doran broods over the destruct control.

DORAN
You need him more than I do. Besides, I can’t guarantee you wouldn’t exterminate the lot of us once you had him. You’ll probably exterminate the lot of us if I do have him destroyed. So, really, only you have something to lose. Especially if I choose send out a distress call to Earth which will contain more than enough information about the attack to send the entire galaxy after you.

31. INT. QUARANTINE CHAMBER (NIGHT)

The Daleks are silent, watching the crystal sphere. It shows Doran’s face.

DORAN
I give you my word – assuming that’s worth anything in this increasingly complicated age – that when you and your cruddy little warship have left, I’ll defrost the prisoner and jettison him in an escape pod in your general direction. It’ll save an awful lot of tears and volatizers in the long run. So, what do you say?

Silence.

DORAN
Well? Don’t you have anything to say?

A beat. The Supreme Dalek screams incredibly loudly.

SUPREME DALEK
EXTERMINATE!!!

32. INT. CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK (NIGHT)

Everyone looks around them as the Dalek scream echoes and re-echoes. Suddenly the hatch explodes, sending blazing fragments in all directions. Everyone ducks as the debris clear enough to reveal a gaping hole in the shutter. Everyone is coughing from the smoke.

The DALEK TROOPERS – including Lytton, Kiston and GROGAN - stride through the smoke, and suddenly all the crewmembers open fire. The shots slam into the armor, generating a few sparks but nothing else. For a moment the troopers stand there, taking the volley and then Lytton raises his rifle and fires a single shot through the smoke.

Phin lets out a hideous scream and is thrown against the wall, arms spread, blood spreading from the wound in his chest. Mercer whirls to watch, stunned, as his friend’s bleeding corpse slides, forgotten, to the ground. Beside him, Zena fires another round at the troopers, who are starting to return fire. Each shot kills a crewman.

ZENA
Mercer! Mercer! Now!

Mercer tears his gaze from Phin’s body, staring at Zena, not comprehending the situation. Then, suddenly alert once more, slams his hand down on the detonator. There are two deafening explosions. The troopers are flung to the ground by the blast, as flames erupt. Zena and Mercer duck as the explosion clears. Two troopers lie dead, but the others are getting up. Reinforcements arrive, marching into the criss-crossing blasts. Lytton shoots down two more crewmen.

MERCER
Come on, while there’s still time!

Mercer grabs Zena’s arm as another crewman collapses, wounded but alive.

ZENA
We’ve got to help him!

MERCER
I need you to fire your gun, not tend the dying!

Mercer fires a volley at the troopers and then runs across the room to the corridor of danger. Zena follows,
firing uselessly at Lytton, who fires back – but the smoke from the explosion spoils his aim. Zena runs for it and is soon out of danger.

LYTTON
Grogan! Secure the bridge! Kiston, with me!

They head in opposite directions, ignoring the bodies of both sides. As Kiston follows Lytton he stops, blinks, and then turns to face the injured crewman Zena wanted to help. He’s still alive. Kiston shoots him dead and then heads off.

33. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

The screen is blank. A crewman is struggling to work at a console.

DORAN
Anything?

CREWMAN
A stray shot’s taken out the surveillance camera!

DORAN
Right.

Doran punches the destruct button. A bleeping noise. He is exasperated.

DORAN
Malfunction, what else? Osborn better finish it. Send out the distress signal!

A crewman activates a control. Doran turns to address them.

DORAN
We’re finished – it’s everyone for themselves.

The crewmembers mumble and look worried. Doran rolls his eyes and runs for the door, snatching up a blaster. He crosses to the door and waves.

DORAN
See you lot on the other side!

He leaves, shooting the door control. The wall slides shut after he’s gone. The others continue to panic.

34. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CRYOGENIC CHAMBER (NIGHT)

Styles abandons the console, snatches up her blaster and crosses to the door.

OSBORN
Hey, where are you going?

STYLES
Somewhere far, far away. You heard the Captain, it’s everyone for themselves!

OSBORN
We can’t let those things get the Prisoner!

STYLES
Can’t we? What good can he be? He doesn’t know a thing about their technology, otherwise they would have defrosted him and set him to work before now! This is the one place we know they will head, so let’s move!

OSBORN
No chance. I’m not letting those murdering filth get away with this!

Styles smiles brightly and insincerely.

STYLES
Good luck. Meanwhile, I’m in the real world. Goodbye!

She runs off. Osborn looks hurt and continues to haul at the panel before giving up, closing the door and trying again.

35. MODEL SHOT

We see the stricken space station, closing in on the uppermost point.

36. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

Gloomy and tense. The crewmembers are huddled behind chairs, all looking anxious and worried. Suddenly there is a sparking and crackling noise. The damaged lock explodes again and the door jerkily slides back. A squad of troopers stand there. Slowly they enter, guns raised and aimed at the crewmembers who rise and hold their hands up.

CREWMEMBER
We surrender.

The first trooper stares at him for a long moment. Then he fires. Struck in the chest, the crewmember drops dead to the ground. The others panic and scatter. The troopers open fire and after a few moments stop. All the crewmembers lie dead. The trooper lifts its visor to reveal it is Grogan.

GROGAN
The bridge has been secured, Commander.

37. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CRYOGENICS SECTION (NIGHT)

Osborn finally manages to snap off the hatch to reveal another red button marked TERMINATION. Pausing to catch her breath, she raises her arm to press the button when the door opens behind her to reveal Lytton and the others. Osborn spins round, raises her blaster and fires. Sparks burst on Lytton’s breast-plate and helmet as he leisurely strides forward and raises his rifle.

OSBORN
Keep back!

Lytton aims at her as she drops the gun and moves to the left. He follows her, keeping the gun aimed at her heart. She doubles back, Lytton getting closer.

OSBORN
Keep back!

Lytton smiles and moves to pull the trigger. With a scream, Osborn charges him. Lytton steps aside and fires simultaneously. Osborn screams and her momentum carries her forward onto the ground. She lies still, eyes rolled up in her head. Lytton removes his helmet and crosses to the cylinder.

LYTTON
This is what we’re here for. Kiston?

KISTON
Commander.

LYTTON
Begin revivification.

Kiston crosses to the control on the opposite side to the termination control and activates it. There is a hum of power. The tube is now filled with coiling white steam that slowly begins to swirl and clear. We can now see a huddled shape inside, a figure in a wheelchair resembling the lower half of a Dalek. The glass fogs up.

KISTON
Temperature now at optimum.

LYTTON
Then release him.

Kiston presses another control. The glass cylinder slides upwards into the ceiling revealing the prisoner surrounded by cloud of gasses that clear to show it is DAVROS. He does not move, as if still frozen. Kiston and Lytton approach.

LYTTON
Davros, the progenitor of evil. How appropriate.

38. EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (NIGHT)

The policemen stand outside the doors to the warehouse. To their left is the body of Mellor, to the right, the remnants of the Dalek.

39. INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE (NIGHT)

Turlough is lying in an army kit bag under a blanket. Calder is brewing a pot of tea on a portable gas stove beside the office. Archer and Galloway are guarding the door while Tegan and Laird are beside the fake wall.

LAIRD
Well, whatever mechanism inside is fused. We won’t be able to shift it.

ARCHER
That might be for the best.

TEGAN
But the Doctor’s in there!

ARCHER
And so are more of those machine things. At least they can’t get out.

LAIRD
Can we?

GALLOWAY
The radio’s packed up and those two policemen are outside.

LAIRD
I suppose it’s too much to hope they are genuine policemen?

ARCHER
I don’t want to risk it. I’ve got a nasty feeling what happened to Mellor and Parsons happened to the builders here.

TEGAN
So what do we do now?

CALDER
Tea’s nearly ready.

LAIRD
We could all do with something stronger.

ARCHER
We need clear heads. That’s what army tea is designed for. Do you have any idea what those things are, Professor?

LAIRD
I’ve seen a few photos of things like them. I can’t remember the name, it was before my time. Marlocks or something like that.

TEGAN
Daleks?

LAIRD
It sounds right. Did the Doctor mention them?

Tegan nods. Turlough groans as he starts to come round. Tegan heads over to him.

ARCHER
We’ll need reinforcements. And to do that we’ll need a telephone.

GALLOWAY
There’s a box just in Curlew Street, just a block away.

Calder approaches holding cups of tea. Archer and Galloway take it and thank him.

GALLOWAY
But those two policemen could kill us before we got there.

ARCHER
Yes, always assuming the phone will even work in this ‘interference’. It’s late at night, we won’t be able to attract any attention from the docks.

GALLOWAY
The traffic keeps to north bank these days.

CALDER
What about Tower Bridge?

ARCHER
At that distance? At night?

CALDER
So, should we wait for morning?

LAIRD
Assuming we survive that long.

40. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CORRIDORS (NIGHT)

Styles run down a corridor and pauses as she hears marching footsteps. She turns and runs back down the corridor. Troopers file past, not seeing her. Styles turns a corner and bumps into Doran. They are startled and draws their weapons.

DORAN
Styles! Where’s Osborn?

STYLES
Determined to blow up the prisoner.

DORAN
You didn’t stay with her?

STYLES
I didn’t get up this morning intending to die.

DORAN
How do you plan to avoid it?

STYLES
I have an escape pod.

DORAN
They’d shoot it down.

STYLES
You’ve got a better offer?

More footsteps. They whirl as Mercer and Zena turn around a corner.

ZENA
Korin!

STYLES
Zena! Where are the others?

MERCER
Dead. The troopers, they’ve taken the bridge. We’re trying to find somewhere to hide – this place is a maze!

DORAN
If the bridge is taken and the others dead... we’re the only four left.

ZENA
Aliza?

STYLES
Even if she does manage to destroy the Prisoner, they’ll kill her.

MERCER
So what do we do now?

DORAN
You’re the one whose studied the regulation manuals, Roylan. Aren’t you supposed to fight to the bitter end?

MERCER
I’ve lost enough friends tonight, ‘Captain’! We might be able to fight the Daleks, but those are Charnel Warriors, we don’t stand a chance!

DORAN
Oh yes we do.

Determined, Doran heads further down the corridor.

STYLES
Where are you going?

DORAN
Self-destruct system.

MERCER
You can’t mean to operate it! It’s suicide!

DORAN
Oh, I don’t think it will come to that. Either the troopers quit Cassius Four or Cassius Four is blown into fifteen million, billion pieces, and each one of those pieces blown into a billion million pieces, and each one of those will be blown into... Look, stop me if I’m getting too technical.

ZENA
And what if the troopers don’t back down?

DORAN
Well, then we won’t get off Cassius Four alive, will we? So we might as well detonate.

He moves out of sight. The others exchange looks.

STYLES
I still favor my plan.

MERCER
What? The escape pod? You think you can even find it in this light?

STYLES
I have lived here for several years.

MERCER
Then go on.

Mercer and Zena head off. Styles shakes her head and follows.

41. INT. CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK (NIGHT)

The Doctor carefully emerges through the hole blasted in the airlock. He pauses by the sign marked CASSIUS FOUR AIRLOCK THREE, then notices the bodies. He crouches over the dead troopers then examines the dead crewman Kiston killed. He sighs.

DOCTOR
So. We’re on a space station. And the Daleks probably control both.

He moves to the corridor and, peering round the corner, leaves.

42. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CRYOGENICS SECTION (NIGHT)

As before. Kiston and Lytton stand beside Davros.

KISTON
He’s very still. Is he dead?

The blue third eye on Davros’ forehead glows brighter. His hand twitches and he takes a raspy breath.

LYTTON
I think not.

DAVROS
Doctor...? Are you... there?

Kiston and Lytton exchanges glances.

LYTTON
You are released, Davros.

Davros gurgles again. His voice is stronger.

DAVROS
I expected the Doctor to be here to witness my resurrection... Like last time. No matter. Who are you?

LYTTON
Commander Gustave Lytton of the Charnel League.

DAVROS
You are not of the Earth Empire, Commander.

LYTTON
No.

DAVROS
Why have you revived me?

LYTTON
My orders.

KISTON
We are the Dalek Task Force.

DAVROS
Daleks should not need troops.

LYTTON
And yet they do. You would be dead without my men – at best, still a prisoner.

DAVROS
The Daleks are capable of war, are they not? Why did they not rescue me themselves?

KISTON
He doesn’t know.

LYTTON
Unsurprising, as he has been frozen for almost a century.

KISTON
Then choose your words with care.

DAVROS
I am quite resilient, Commander. What has happened during my imprisonment? Is the war with the Movellans over?

LYTTON
Yes. Casualties were quite high.

DAVROS
In war, that is to be expected.

LYTTON
I’m talking about Dalek casualties.

A pause. Kiston, looking almost worried, steps forward.

KISTON
Davros?

DAVROS
Dalek casualties?

LYTTON
Yes.

DAVROS
The Movellans won the war.

LYTTON
More the point, the Daleks lost the war, Davros. They were totally defeated.

Davros lets out a strange gurgle on pain. His arm spasms.

KISTON
I told you to choose your words with care!

LYTTON
So you did, I must have ignored you. Are you all right?

Davros rasps with pain. With difficulty, he jerks out of the unit, as if the chair is unable to be steered properly.

DAVROS
There are... minor... malfunctions... in my... life support system! Systems... are slow from... disuse! Optic circuits barely on-line... Computer net unable to process anything... bar... priority commands...

LYTTON
Unsurprising. This system was never meant to preserve bodies for this long.

DAVROS
If you are finished... being... unsurprised... I require... an... engineer!

LYTTON
Kiston, get the chair systems working.

Kiston nods, bends down on a knee and opens a panel in the side of the chair. Inside are a few wires and circuits. Kiston studies this for a moment and then takes a tool from his belt and begins using it.

KISTON
This should ease the pain.

DAVROS
You think... I am... unused to pain? Look at me!

LYTTON
Kiston, it only has to work until we board the ship.

DAVROS
No. I should... stay here...

LYTTON
Why?

DAVROS
It may be... necessary... for me to be re-frozen... I must remain... close... to the cryogenic... chamber...

LYTTON
There is a time factor, Davros.

DAVROS
Why?

LYTTON
The crew managed to send out a distress call. If the transmission is detected...

DAVROS
It will be... the purview... of the Earth authorities... It will take days... for a task force to reach here.

LYTTON
If a patrol ship intercepted it, they could be here any moment.

Davros seems to sigh. As Kiston works, he speaks easier.

DAVROS
My Daleks... destined to conquer the whole universe... Now they aren’t capable of controlling a space station.

Lytton rolls his eyes.

LYTTON
Yes, it’s very disappointing, I can imagine. We should leave at once.

DAVROS
I cannot be moved.

KISTON
And if the Earth forces arrive?

Davros’ anger surfaces.

DAVROS
Then you will have to shoot them down!

Lytton looks at him, clearly suspicious.

LYTTON
As you wish.

to be continued...

No comments: