Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Warhead of the Daleks XIV

21. INT. WAREHOUSE – LOWER LEVEL (NIGHT)

The air turns red and with a wheezing, groaning sound, the TARDIS materializes.


22. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (NIGHT)

The Kamelion duplicates of ‘ARCHER’, ‘MELLOR’ and ‘GALLOWAY’ stand to attention, staring blankly into the middle distance.

‘ARCHER’
The time machine has arrived on the level below.

‘GALLOWAY’
Others are coming.

‘CALDER’
What shall we do?

‘ARCHER’
The Daleks will instruct us. Take cover.

In unison they move behind the various pillars and are lost in the dark.


23. INT. WAREHOUSE – LOWER LEVEL (NIGHT)

Archer emerges from the TARDIS, slightly unsteady.

ARCHER
There’s no sign of them... No sign of anyone.

The others file out of the TARDIS.

KAMELION
What do we do now?

TEGAN
We’ve got to think. Work out some way to help the Doctor.

ARCHER
I hate to say it, but I think the Doctor’s beyond our help. This isn’t just an investigation. I need to contact UNIT HQ, work out something with the Ministry of Defense. If the Daleks use this bridgehead, nothing short of massive troop movements will stop them. We’ll try and find a telephone.

TURLOUGH
This is lunacy! Those killers are still out there!

ARCHER
We have to take that chance. All it needs is for one of us to reach a phone. Code word: ‘Penumbra’. That will give you authority. Are you with me, you two?

Galloway and Calder exchange looks then nod grimly.

LAIRD
I’m coming too.

ARCHER
You’re a civilian, Professor. You stay here with the others – we can’t risk putting all our eggs in one basket. If the Doctor gets back, maybe some other opportunities might arise, but you need to stay out of sight, is that understood?

TURLOUGH
He’s right.

TEGAN
Shut up, Turlough!

ARCHER
Both of you shut up! Those bodysnatchers might hear you! Now the Doctor is UNIT’s scientific adivisor, I outrank him and you and I’m ordering you into that thing!

He points to the TARDIS. After a moment, Kamelion, Turlough then Laird turn. Tegan stands her ground. Archer draws his pistol.

ARCHER
Tegan, we don’t have time for this.


13. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (NIGHT)

The group of Daleks and troopers rematerialize in the red glow.

DALEK 1
WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

KISTON
Our arrival has been distorted by the TARDIS. We have undershot the terminal.

DALEK 2
THE TARDIS IS NOT ON THIS LEVEL. WE MUST SEARCH ELSEWHERE.

The Fake Soldiers emerge from the shadows, their guns raised.

‘ARCHER’
Can I help you gentlemen? This is private property.

DALEK 1
WE ARE YOUR MASTERS! STAND ASIDE!

‘ARCHER’
The Supreme Dalek gave no order for your arrival.

DALEK 2
WE WERE SENT BY DAVROS.

DALEK 1
HE IS OUR CREATOR.

KISTON
We shall all obey him.

‘CALDER’
They are rogue units.

‘GALLOWAY’
All rogue units are to be exterminated.

‘ARCHER’
By order of the Supreme Dalek.

DALEK 1
ENOUGH!

The lead Dalek fires a blast at ‘Archer’. He is transfixed in the light, shimmering, flickering and gradually breaking up to reveal the Kamelion android beneath. It lets out a scream that begins with Archer’s voice and ends in a roar of static. The Dalek continues firing.

DALEK 2
EXTERMINATE!

The android glows brightly then explodes spectacularly in a fireball. Circuits and shards of metal fly in all directions. ‘Galloway’ and ‘Calder’ open fire, but the bullets are useless on the Daleks and the troopers. They advance.

DALEKS
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

They open fire.


24. EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (NIGHT)

The POLICEMEN have abandoned their beat and stare up at the warehouse as we hear two more explosions and then silence. A pause. The policemen remove their helmets solemnly, as if in respect.


25. INT. WAREHOUSE – LOWER LEVEL (NIGHT)

The three soldiers and Tegan look upwards.

TEGAN
What was that?

GALLOWAY
I don’t know. Not grenades...

TEGAN
Grenades! I left that ammunition box up there...

CALDER
Sir, that worked against the Dalek. It might give us a chance!

GALLOWAY
Those things are up there as well!

TEGAN
If we used the whole box against them...

ARCHER
It’s worth a try. Good work, Tegan, now get inside!

Tegan’s face falls.

TEGAN
I preferred the Brigadier!

She storms into the police box.

ARCHER
I’ve got a horrible feeling she meant that.

Calder laughs. Archer glares at him.

ARCHER
Come on, you two.

They move out.


26. INT. STYLES’ LABORATORY (NIGHT)

As before. Davros is under guard. The Doctor primes the gun with painful care. Davros seems to swallow with nervousness.

DAVROS
Doctor. We have both been here before. When we first met, on Skaro, you could not bring yourself to kill me, to deactivate my life support system. Could you?

DOCTOR
And when we next met I primed a grenade and clamped it to your wheelchair. I detonated it.

DAVROS
You hesitated! You could not pull the trigger, even from afar! Why should I now believe you have the courage to carry out your action?

The Doctor finishes with the gun.

DOCTOR
I don’t care what you believe Davros. A lot’s happened to me since we last met.

He aims it at Davros’ head.

DOCTOR
He
spared you. I won’t.

Some of Davros’ confidence leaves him. But he speaks calmly.

DAVROS
Listen to me. In your way, you are an ambition man. I know that. We are both renegades...

DOCTOR
Save – your – breath.


27. INT. RECEPTION AREA (NIGHT)

The troopers are all standing outside the terminal. Lytton enters and crosses to the locker to take out a back pack which he slings on. Grogan approaches.

GROGAN
All troopers accounted for – the rest must be with the rogue units on Earth.

LYTTON
Then prepare to move out.

GROGAN
Why have they gone rogue?

LYTTON
We’re being sent to our deaths, Grogan. Maybe the question you should be asking is why haven’t you gone rogue? Into the time corridor!

They move into the doorway.


28. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL

The Daleks and the troopers loom over the blackened metal remains of the android.

KISTON
The TARDIS must be on the level below.

DALEK 1
WE MUST CAPTURE IT AND RETURN TO DAVROS. MOVE!

They head for the doorway. Suddenly there is a familiar humming and Lytton and his troopers materialize at the far end of the room. Kiston turns to face them.

GROGAN
Kiston, what are you doing here?

Kiston raises his gun and fires. The blast causes Grogan’s helmet to explode outwards and his body staggers before falling over. The three Daleks emerge from the shadows.

LYTTON
Take cover!

The Daleks open fire.

DALEKS
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

The troopers scatter, but two are unlucky and are blasted down. The others start opening fire on the Daleks, but the weapons have no real effect on the approaching Daleks. Finally, the combined fire causes one to explode. One of Davros’ troopers is shot down.


29. INT. STYLES LABORATORY (NIGHT)

As before. The Doctor is tense. Taking a deep breath, he moves to the trigger.

DAVROS
You hesitate again, Doctor? If our positions were reversed, you would be dead.

DOCTOR
I lack your practice in killing, Davros.

DAVROS
Yes. You are the Doctor. Just as then, you are soft!

DOCTOR
Am I? If I kill you, Davros, if I kill you that’s it. The Daleks are finished. Killing you isn’t just murder. It’s genocide.

DAVROS
Yet you came here, knowing that?

The Doctor’s not quite keeping himself calm.

DOCTOR
Back at the beginning, on Skaro, I held back from destroying the Daleks. It was a mistake, and millions have died because of it. I am not going to make it again. I can’t let you save the Daleks. So, I’m sorry.

DAVROS
Are you?

DOCTOR
More than you can imagine. Goodbye, Davros.

DAVROS
Kill me and you will regret it, Doctor. The Daleks have failed, they are doomed to extinction. But what will replace them? I believe that I can completely redesign the Daleks. You will of course agree that no technology, no species is inherently evil.

STYLES
Doctor, don’t...

DOCTOR
Shut up. I agree, Davros. What’s your point?

DAVROS
On Skaro, we discussed making the Daleks different. You argued that making them totally ruthless was a mistake. You... were right. They became reliant only on logic, but their ability to cope with creatures who relied on instinct and intuition was restricted! The decision was justified at the times. But not now. I see that. The extant Daleks will be eradicated and we can begin again.

DOCTOR
These new Daleks... they’ll have compassion programmed in, will they?

He’s lowering his gun ever so slightly. If Davros had a face he’d be beaming smugly.

DAVROS
They will recognize the strength that can be drawn from such an emotion.

The Doctor’s face hardens.

DOCTOR
They’ll know what pity is.

DAVROS
Of course.

DOCTOR
Which means they’ll know how to use it against others. You’re just going to make the Daleks more efficient killing machines.

DAVROS
Doctor, if you join me you will have total power at the head of a new Dalek army!

There is no emotion in the Doctor’s voice.

DOCTOR
To be honest, Davros, I wouldn’t know what to do with an army.

He takes aim. Davros is now almost babbling.

DAVROS
The New Daleks will be made a more positive force!

DOCTOR
FOR DESTRUCTION!

DAVROS
THE UNIVERSE IS AT WAR, DOCTOR! Name one planet, one species whose history is not LITTERED with atrocities and ambition for empire.

DOCTOR
You wouldn’t have heard of them.

DAVROS
IT IS A UNIVERSAL WAY OF LIFE!

Davros is screaming. The Doctor is whispering.

DOCTOR
Which I do not accept.

He lowers the gun. Davros still sounds worried.

DAVROS
Then you deny what is real.

DOCTOR
Yes, well, you’ll have plenty of time to think about that and about whether or not this universal war is only kept going by people like you. And if the only way out of the circle of violence is refusal to participate. Mercer, Styles – you can have your prisoner back. Perpetual instatement, I believe it’s called.

DAVROS
No! You can’t!

DOCTOR
The humans sentenced you to it. And you don’t really want to be executed, so what other solution is there?

DAVROS
More cowardice! Your ‘humane’ treatment is in itself a crime!

Mercer places the gun at Davros’ neck.

MERCER
If you want to be shot dead, just ask!

Davros raises the injector and stabs at Mercer. The Doctor fires the gun he carries and the injector explodes. Davros growls, shaking his burnt hand.

STYLES
Try that again and I’ll blow your head off!


30. INT. RECEPTION AREA (NIGHT)

A squad of Daleks is gliding through into the terminal.

DALEK 1
WE ARE READY TO DESCEND.

SUPREME DALEK (VO)
EVERYTHING IN THE WAREHOUSE IS TO BE EXTERMINATED!

DALEK 1
LYTTON AND HIS TROOPERS?

SUPREME DALEK (VO)
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!

DALEKS
WE OBEY!

The shutter slides closed.


31. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (NIGHT)

Kiston and another of Davros’ troopers are the only ones still standing. Together with the two remaining Daleks they approach the remainder of Lytton’s troops.

DALEK 1
EXTERMINATE THEM! EXTERMINATE!

The Daleks open fire. The crate explodes, flinging troopers everywhere. Two of them manage to rise and move, but the Daleks open fire and cut them down. Suddenly, the squad of Daleks materialize before them.

DALEK 4
ALL ENEMIES OF THE DALEKS ARE TO BE EXTERMINATED! ALL TRAITORS WILL BE DESTROYED!

DALEK 2
WE ARE NOT TRAITORS!

DALEK 1
WE SERVE OUR CREATOR, DAVROS!

DALEK 4
THE SUPREME DALEK IS THE RULER OF THE DALEK RACE AND MUST BE OBEYED AT ALL TIMES!

On the far side of the room, the soldiers enter and immediately duck under cover. They listen onwards as the Daleks scream at each other.

DALEK 1
DAVROS MUST BE HONOURED!

DALEK 4
HE MUST BE EXTERMINATED!

DALEK 2
IF THE SUPREME DALEK WISHES OUR EXTERMINATION, THEN WE SHALL EXTERMINATE THE SUPREME DALEK FIRST!

DALEK 4
NOTHING MUST INTERFERE WITH THE TRUE DESTINY OF THE DALEKS!

DALEK 2
THE INVADING DALEKS MUST BE EXTERMINATED!

DALEK 4
THE TRAITORS WILL BE EXTERMINATED FIRST!

DALEK 1
WE ARE NOT TRAITORS!

The Dalek fires once. The leader Dalek is struck and explodes. Carnage breaks out. The other trooper is exterminated, but Kiston runs for it. Beams of blue light flash back and forth as another Dalek is struck and explodes. A beam slams into the wall just behind Galloway and causes another explosion.

CALDER
We’re trapped, Colonel! There’s no way out.

Archer pulls open the box to reveal the explosives.

ARCHER
Then let’s go out with a bang!


32. INT. STYLES’ LABORATORY (NIGHT)

The Doctor drops the rifle on the floor and wipes his hands with a handkerchief. Kamelion, Styles and Mercer are aiming their weapons at Davros.

DOCTOR
Somehow I don’t think you can be rehabilitated Davros. Maybe another few centuries in suspended animation might make you grow up. In the meantime, sweet dreams.

The Doctor turns and strides for the door. He takes out his hat and unfurls it.

DAVROS
And what about the Daleks?

DOCTOR
Oh I’ll stop them. But I’m not going to wipe them out. Ironic, isn’t it – because that’s what you were going to do, wasn’t it? Goodbye Davros. It hasn’t been pleasant.

Putting on his hat, he opens the door. A Dalek stands there.

DALEK
EXTERMINATE!

The Doctor dives for cover. The Dalek fires. The bolt strikes the dome containing the canister and it shatters, with a cloud of smoke. Kamelion gasps in pain and clutches his head. Mercer fires a volley of shots at the Dalek, to no avail.

DALEK
EXTERMINATE ALL HUMANS!

Kamelion is shimmering. He returns to his human form. With a howl of pain, Kamelion tackles the Dalek, which spins and throws him across the room. Kamelion manages to roll out of the way before the Dalek fires and there is another explosion. The Dalek spins again, then swings back, as if dizzy.

DALEK
EXTERMINATE ALL HUMANS! WHAT... WHAT IS... HAP-HAP-HAPPENING?! MALFUNCTION!

DOCTOR
It’s the virus!

DALEK
ALERT! EM-EM-EMERGEN-GENCY! ARGH! MALFUNCTION! MALFUNCTION! ARRGGHHH!

The Dalek is juddering and convulsing. Davros sounds intrigued.

DAVROS
The Movellan Warhead unleashed.

The Dalek twitches, jerks, letting out a choking, gurgling gasp. The smoke drifts out of it and with a final scream its eye stalk jams upwards and it goes still. The Doctor carefully rises and approaches the Dalek.

DOCTOR
It’s dead. Now that virus has been released it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the Daleks on the station are wiped out.

STYLES
Their troopers are immune, though. And they could leave the station and shoot us down!

KAMELION
Then we’ve got to get out of here.

DOCTOR
The time corridor, it’s our only chance!

MERCER
You can go if you like.

STYLES
Mercer, don’t be an idiot.

MERCER
Standing orders! The Prisoner cannot be allowed to fall into enemy hands.

STYLES
So shoot him and be done with it!

The group has moved to the far side of the room. Davros flips a switch. The lab door slides down, shutting them out. He gurgles, now alone in the room with the mist.


33. INT. CASSIUS FOUR CORRIDORS (NIGHT)

Mercer bangs his fist against the wall, furious.

MERCER
I’m an imbecile.

STYLES
We’ll never get through there.

KAMELION
And there are bound to be more Daleks on their way here.

STYLES
Won’t the virus affect them?

DOCTOR
Most of it is trapped behind the door. It must be self-eliminating.

MERCER
Then there’s only one thing we can do.

STYLES
What?

MERCER
The self-destruct. It’s still primed, isn’t it?

The Doctor’s anger starts to show.

DOCTOR
No one is going to thank you for throwing your life away!

MERCER
I’m not in this for glory! Thirty people are dead because he was here – how many more are going to die if he escapes? I’m not letting that on my conscience. Doctor, you go and get out of here while you can.

DOCTOR
Roylan, please...

MERCER
Do it.

The Doctor sighs, beaten. He holds out his hand.

DOCTOR
If you find some way out, then take it. Please.

MERCER
I will.

DOCTOR
... Good luck.

STYLES
I’m staying.

DOCTOR
What? This is suicidal!

STYLES
Even so, I have security clearance. Mercer won’t manage it without my help. This way I’ll get to leave this place early.

MERCER
Thanks.

STYLES
Don’t mention it.

They turn and hurry off. The Doctor watches them, helpless.

DOCTOR
No, there’s been enough killing today! Mercer! Styles!

STYLES
Get out while you can, Doctor!

The Doctor turns and looks at Kamelion.

DOCTOR
This used to be such fun. Was it always this nasty?

Kamelion shrugs. The Doctor turns and shouts up at the communicator.


34. INT. STYLES’ LABORATORY (NIGHT)

The screen shows the Doctor and Kamelion.

DOCTOR
Well, Davros. It looks like we’ve both lost. Your little time war can’t happen now!

They turn and walk off. Davros turns away.

DAVROS
If that were true, Doctor, you would not sound so disturbed. Once the Daleks are aware of the situation, the crewmembers will be exterminated. And when I open this hatch to release the Movellan virus, I shall have sole control of the time corridor! The New Order begins here!

He glides past the Dalek. It is now hideously melted and distorted, as if dipped in acid.

DAVROS
The Daleks will die! Long live the new Daleks!

to be continued...

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