The End of the Road X

11. INT. STOREROOM (DAY)

Peri, Natasha and Grigory are escorted into the chamber. The Daleks stay in the doorway.

DALEK 2
YOU WILL REMAIN HERE. ANY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE WILL BE PUNISHED.

NATASHA
How long do we have to stay here?

DALEK 1
UNTIL THE GREAT HEALER ORDERS YOUR TRANSFORMATION.

GRIGORY
Our what?

DALEK 2
YOU WILL SERVE THE NEW ORDER.

The Daleks retreat and the doors swing shut. Peri immediately begins a recce of the room, checking the doors, walls and shelves.

NATASHA
What are you doing?

PERI
Getting out.

GRIGORY
How?

PERI
No idea, I haven’t found a way yet. So either shut up or help me. Ideally, do both.

NATASHA
Look, I’m sorry about your friend...

PERI
Don’t be. He’s not dead.

GRIGORY
Yes he is, that whacking great statue reduced him to paste!

NATASHA
Grigory, are you always this insensitive or is it a special effort?

GRIGORY
You want to sugar-coat the truth, go ahead.

PERI
He can’t be dead. It’s impossible – and I mean that in every way. He has to go to this Netora place first, otherwise the statue was never put up.

Natasha stares at Peri. Totally bamboozled.

NATASHA
Riiiiiiiight. And let’s just say, for example, that he’s died anyway?

Peri smiles insincerely at Natasha.

PERI
Then it means the Web of Time’s fractured and the universe will fall apart.


12. INT. CHAPEL (DAY)

Davros is brooding. A Dalek circles the console.

DAVROS
The Doctor survived. But one Dalek did not. Another was blinded.

DALEK 1
DATA SUGGESTS WEAPONS FIRE WAS USED. ANALYSIS SHOWS BASTIC-HEADED PLASMA ROUNDS.

DAVROS
The Doctor does not such carry weapons. So he is not alone. Therefore someone else was in the Garden of Fond Memories. Someone carrying weapons powerful enough to damage a Dalek. An unknown element at work on Nekros.

The head revolves to face the scanner wall.

DAVROS
Perhaps not so unknown after all. Get me Kara immediately.

DALEK 1
I OBEY.

DAVROS
Status of flotillas?

DALEK 1
STILL IN PURSUIT OF THE DOCTOR. THEY HAVE LEFT THE COMPOUND. DECREASING TEMPERATURES BEGINNING TO AFFECT MOVEMENT.

DAVROS
Continue the chase! I want that Time Lord’s head brought to me...

DALEK 1
I OBEY.


13. EXT. HILLSIDE (DAY)

The Doctor and Lytton are struggling through the snow towards the TARDIS. The Doctor reaches the TARDIS and unlocks the doors. Suddenly, a Dalek flies upwards out of the thicket beyond the police box and up into the sky.

DALEK 2
DO NOT ENTER THE TIME CRAFT OR YOU WILL BE EXTER—-

Lytton fires his blaster. The Dalek is knocked out of the sky and plummets into a frozen-over lake. The Doctor and Lytton scramble inside as the Dalek hits and there is the sound of shattering ice. The TARDIS doors swing shut as a red blast bounces off them, followed by another. We see the Dalek is half-submerged and surrounded by broken ice.

DALEK 2
FUGITIVES HAVE ENTERED TIME CRAFT. CRITICAL MALFUNCTION. ASSISTANCE... RE... QUIRED...

The eyestalk and sucker arm droop.


14. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

This is shown on the scanner. The Doctor and Lytton are present, the doors closing. They are shivering.

LYTTON
I never thought you’d let me inside your TARDIS of your own free will.

DOCTOR
I might just throw you back out again, so don’t get comfortable.

They look at the scanner as the Dalek sinks further into the icy waters.

DOCTOR
Good. The intense cold still affects their system. That one’s already shutting down.

LYTTON
There are more on the way.

DOCTOR
But there shouldn’t be any on this planet! It’s the 47th century, they should be all but extinct! The Movellan virus should have wiped them out.

LYTTON
The last faction discovered the cure. It’s like the cure to Lazar’s disease; one massive burst of radiation. The faction retreated back to Azorius Minor in Andromeda over nine years ago and haven’t been seen since. Probably building up their forces.

DOCTOR
And humanity never got round to attacking them, because that’s when the plagues struck. Everyone became far too busy fighting them to eradicate the last Daleks.

LYTTON
Yes, Lazar’s Disease, Beck’s Syndrome, the Phobon Plague, Tyrrenic poisoning, not to mention the blights and the famines they caused... The galaxy survived but civilization wasn’t quite as lucky. All the systems quarantined themselves and are still suspicious of outsiders.

DOCTOR
There’s still a galactic President, isn’t there?

LYTTON
You mean the Time Lord is unsure of his history?

DOCTOR
This isn’t my history, ‘Commander’. It’s very different.

LYTTON
Ah yes, the Time Lord approved history. Where the Daleks are powerless.

DOCTOR
Those ones outside weren’t. They were a new model.

LYTTON
The Great Healer’s Daleks.

DOCTOR
Who is this Great Healer, anyway?

Lytton smiles, amused.

LYTTON
You mean you haven’t already guessed?

The Doctor moves to retort and then a look of dread crosses his face.

DOCTOR
He’s still alive, isn’t he?

The Doctor seems to sag with shock.

DOCTOR
Davros is alive.


15. MODEL SHOT

The factory is caught in the snow storm.


16. INT. KARA’S OFFICE (DAY)

KARA and VOGEL are present.

VOGEL
The President’s ship is entering the atmosphere Madam.

KARA
Good, Vogel. But Lytton penetrated the outer boundary of the complex ages ago but not yet sent the signal!

VOGEL
Surely we can afford to be patient? Once the signal is sent then surely all our problems will disappear?

KARA
I hope so, Vogel. If not, our lives will not be worth your service medallion.

VOGEL
My service medallion is of untold wealth, Madam.

KARA
It cost three credits in a flea market.

VOGEL
I wasn’t speaking of material cost, Madam.

They share a shy smile. Kara opens her mouth to speak, when there is a chime.

DAVROS (VO)
Ah. My dear Kara. I wish to communicate with you and this will be my last chance for some time. The President’s ship is landing now.

KARA
It is always a pleasure to speak to you, Great Healer...

VOGEL
Indeed.

DAVROS (VO)
There has been a series of hostile events here at Tranquil Repose. Several guards have been found dead, one of my drones recently destroyed...

Kara smiles, amused. Vogel smirks, but sounds sincere.

VOGEL
Outrageous.

DAVROS (VO)
Indeed, Mr. Vogel. I believe that assassins are attempting to infiltrate my base. And at the time of the Presidential visit, when the climate is at its harshest – this can not be a coincidence. Someone intends to start the Long Cold by ending the lives of myself, the President... and, presumably, you yourself, Kara.

KARA
That would be quite a conspiracy, Great Healer.

DAVROS (VO)
It would. But these are uncertain times. A disaster like this could end the tentative communication between the colony systems – the borders could close forever if there is a belief there is terrorism as well as plague. Are you truly confident in your security measures, Kara?

KARA
I am, Great Healer. I have every faith in my guards – a fine body of men.

DAVROS (VO)
No doubt you selected each and every one of them personally?

Kara scowls. That was her next line.

KARA
Yes.

DAVROS (VO)
You have mentioned it before.

KARA
It’s still true, Great Healer.

DAVROS (VO)
Of course. But experience has shown me that humanoid life-forms can be susceptible, vulnerable and predictable. My battle drones are incapable of this and are also indestructible. There are several flotillas of them on the surface and they will now be directed towards your factory. They will protect you until the emergency is over and the President has left Nekros.

Vogel and Kara exchange worried looks.

KARA
You are correct as always, Great Healer. We thank you for the offer and accept.

DAVROS (VO)
Very wise, Kara. Goodbye.

A beat.

KARA
Close off all exits! Maximum security alert! I don’t want one of those white-gold Dalek-shaped robots anywhere inside the factory!

VOGEL
Madam! If we resist them the Great Healer will become suspicious!

KARA
Not for long. It will provide a distraction to allow Lytton to do his work – assuming the Great Healer is still alive when his precious drones reach the door.


17. MODEL SHOT

A space craft is landing through the snow next two the Pyramids of Tranquil Repose.


18. INT. RECEPTION AREA (DAY)

The Daleks have gone. Most of the attendants are milling about, a few finishing replacing the peacock feather displays. Takis and Jobel stand to one side.

TAKIS
There must be something that can be done.

JOBEL
He has eyes everywhere, Takis, so guard your tongue!

TAKIS
I’ve got a plan, but I need your security code.

JOBEL
Do you?

Jobel turns and examines a peacock display with interest. His voice is icy.

JOBEL
Do you indeed?

TAKIS
Are you interested, Mr. Jobel?

JOBEL
I’m not keen on Daleks. They are aesthetically... unpleasing.

TAKIS
I need your pass code.

JOBEL
Selrin.

Takis double takes. He can’t think of anything to say.

TAKIS
J-Jobel...

At that moment Tasambeker enters. She has taken off her skull cap, removed her makeup and let her hair done. It does something for her appearance. But not much.

TASAMBEKER
Mr. Lilt is trying to dury-rig another death mask. The rest of you, stand to attention.

The attendants move into line. Jobel sneers.

JOBEL
You think Vargos will believe for a moment that you are in charge?

TASAMBEKER
Any further unnecessary comments, Jobel...

JOBEL
Mr. Jobel you third-rate student hack!

TASAMBEKER
...and you will be given a dose of your own embalming fluid.

Jobel looks at her with disgust.

JOBEL
You wretched little toad. Do your worst.

Tasambeker’s resolve falters somewhat. She takes a second to compose herself.

TASAMBEKER
I might... just do that. So be careful!

She strides away.

JOBEL
I will! How else should you treat something so unspeakably foul...


19. INT. DJ’S RECORDING SUITE (DAY)

The DJ looks up at this. This is shown on the screen.

JOBEL
...even a speelsnape wouldn’t use it as a host for its offspring?!

DJ
Oh, Jobel. You shouldn’t have said that! She’s on the brink! Even the listeners could tell that! Why don’t office romances ever work out anymore?

He punches a control and the Beatles You’re Gonna Lose That Girl plays. He turns his attention to the large collection of parts on the floor before him and begins to assemble them, working feverishly.


20. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

The Doctor paces the room.

DOCTOR
How did you discover Davros was here?

LYTTON
I was hired to assassinate the Great Healer. I heard one of his communications and identified the voice.

DOCTOR
I’m surprised he hasn’t changed that. He’s a notorious war criminal!

LYTTON
A notorious DEAD war criminal. Everyone assumed he was destroyed when Cassius Four exploded, ten years ago. Following the plagues and the collapse of the Empire, no one considered checking up on the galaxy’s most reclusive philanthropist in case.

DOCTOR
But how did he get from Earth’s star system to the Pherran colonies?

LYTTON
No idea. I’ll be sure to ask him before I kill him.

DOCTOR
And how do you intend to get past his private Dalek army?

LYTTON
I always have a plan.

DOCTOR
Do you? Would you be so kind as to share it?

LYTTON
You need my help?

DOCTOR
You need mine. Can you think of a better person to help you enter a Dalek stronghold?

LYTTON
And you trust me?

DOCTOR
I could make you give your word. But it wouldn’t be enough. Peri is in there and I am getting her out safe and sound. And I can do that more quickly and efficiently if I know precisely what you are doing here.

LYTTON
Can you? If we are to work together you will have to lose that insolent tone.

DOCTOR
If we are to work together I will have to avoid throwing you outside and leaving you to the Daleks’ tender mercies. At the moment even that is proving difficult. Do you have a squire or something? Back up?

LYTTON
Assassins work alone. It’s just us.

DOCTOR
In that case...

The Doctor turns and begins operating controls.

LYTTON
What are you doing?

DOCTOR
I want to keep Davros guessing. Let’s see what he makes of this.

The time rotor starts to move.


21. EXT. HILLSIDE (DAY)

The TARDIS fades away, leaving a hole in the snow which is slowly filled. The Dalek below slowly lifts its eye stalk to watch it go.

DALEK 2
TIME CRAFT DEMATERIALIZING.

DAVROS (VO)
Return to base.


22. INT. CHAPEL (DAY)

Davros is listening.

DAVROS
So... the Doctor has gone. But for how long?

He revolves and the screen activates to show Peri, Natasha and Grigory in a cell.

DAVROS
To leave his companion behind? Never. Have all TR sensors placed on maximum alert – any temporal anomalies or extra-particle activity is to be investigated immediately.

DALEK 1
I OBEY.


23. INT. STOREROOM (DAY)

Peri is studying the locking device. Grigory is leaning against the wall nearby, looking at her longingly. Natasha sits on the floor, hugging her knees.

NATASHA
He was trying to manufacture of artificial plants to alleviate the famines. The farmers revered him. And then he caught a new disease and was in this place. The cure was found, but they wouldn’t give him back. I found this group trying to get TR closed on moral grounds... We were sure they were leaving the bodies to rot and tricking us out of the annual fees.

PERI
They are.

NATASHA
But all the caskets are empty. There are no bodies here!

PERI
Yeah, that too. Someone else is using this place for their own ends. You’re the cat burglar body-snatchers! Don’t you have a lock pick?

GRIGORY
I did, but Mr. Takis took it off me.

PERI
Lucky he stopped that Lilt guy from ventilating your faces.

GRIGORY
He should have got us out!

PERI
OK, I think that is asking a bit much.

NATASHA
Is it? He’s the one who got us in here! Gave us the map, the codes, the information on my father’s casket, he wanted us to get all the proof he couldn’t!

PERI
You’re working for Takis?

NATASHA
With Takis.

GRIGORY
Well, I thought we were. But he seems happy enough to let us hang!

PERI
Are there only you two here of this gang?

GRIGORY
The rest are a bunch of bone idle space niks on Talok.

Natasha looks up slowly, clearly having thought of something.

NATASHA
We have other allies on the planet...

GRIGORY
Oh yes, Mr. Takis who will no doubt decide to risk his life and career all of a sudden to try and rescue two convicted body-snatcher murdering voxnic addicts.

NATASHA
I am not a voxnic addict!

GRIGORY
You were happy enough to scull from my flask.

NATASHA
We were freezing to death!

GRIGORY
There’s always some excuse! That’s three credits ninety-nine you owe me, Stengos!

Natasha rolls her eyes.

NATASHA
Yes, I’m sure they’ll let me visit the cash point on the way to the gallows!

PERI
Oh for God’s sake, no wonder you two were caught! You’re worse than useless! Now is there anyone else in your gang of incompetents who might help us out of this broom closet!

NATASHA
Well, let’s just say we have help at the very highest level.

PERI
Oh, cryptic! That’ll help!

NATASHA
But it doesn’t matter. Like Takis, they can’t be seen to act.

Grigory is shocked and finally understands.

GRIGORY
You don’t mean...?


24. INT. RECEPTION AREA (DAY)

The double doors out of the reception area swing open. There is a fan fair as four or five armed PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS enter – wearing bright white combat suits and visored helmets. Behind them is VARGOS, a man with a goatee beard, his long dark hair in a pony-tail and his voice clear and deep. Two more armed guards enter behind him. We see a line of attendants, including Jobel, Takis and Lilt, and in front of them is Tasambeker who smiles warmly.

TASAMBEKER
President Vargos! Welcome to Tranquil Repose!

VARGOS
It is gratifying to finally visit the Planet of the Deceased. Forgive me for asking, my dear, but we have not met before. Who are you?

Tasambeker’s smiles wilts visibly.

TASAMBEKER
I... am new Chief Directive of Tranquil Repose...


25. INT. DJ’S RECORDING STUDIO (DAY)

The DJ has constructed a podium with his spare parts. He looks up – his screen is trained on the reception area and thus can hear every word being said.

TASAMBEKER
...and personal aide to the Great Healer himself, in charge of all Resting Operations and Perpetual Instatements on Nekros...

DJ
Hang on, Tasambeker, you’re just making that up!!


26. INT. RECEPTION AREA (DAY)

As before.

TASAMBEKER
I control Tranquil Repose on his behalf.

VARGOS
Yes, I assumed that you controlled things, but what is your name?

TASAMBEKER
Oh, sorry. I’m Tasambeker, sir. Annabel Tasambeker.

He shakes her hand warmly.

VARGOS
It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Tasambeker. But I was lead to believe that Chief Embalmer Jobel would be greeting me on my arrival.

TASAMBEKER
Ah. Yes. Well, he’s here for you to greet.

VARGOS
He did mention on more than one occasion his importance in Tranquil Repose was second only to the Great Healer himself.

TASAMBEKER
No doubt he did, President Vargos. However, the Great Healer has of late restructured the business, so his duties are now more... centred on his skills as an embalmer.

She stands aside to reveal Jobel, who stares blankly ahead, emotionless.

VARGOS
Mr. Jobel, after all these weeks of intersystem communications, it is an honor to finally meet you in person.

Jobel smoothly comes to life and smiles charmingly.

JOBEL
Tranquil Repose is honoured by your visit and we will ensure the perpetual instatement of the First Lady shall do your beloved Ronya the utmost justice.

VARGOS
I could ask for no more, Mr. Jobel.

He shakes hands firmly.

JOBEL
Shall I send the attendants into the craft to collect... your wife?

VARGOS
Ah, of course. They shall be afforded every facility. In the meantime, you promised me a tour of this fine establishment whose reputation is one of the few things keeping the galactic village in mutual contact.

JOBEL
I’m sure your enlightened regime deserves more credit.

VARGOS
You humility is refreshing, Mr. Jobel.

Tasambeker’s starting to get upset. They’ve forgotten she’s there! She speaks loudly.

TASAMBEKER
Yes, if you would like a tour of the facilities, I would be more than happy to provide you with one.

VARGOS
I’m sure Mr. Jobel is capable of that, Ms. Tasambeker. As Chief Directive of Tranquil Repose, you have many responsibilities and I would be wasting valuable time. Unless you have any objections?

Tasambeker can’t think of any.

TASAMBEKER
No, please. Give the President the guided tour, Mr. Jobel.

Jobel smiles at her. It changes from a smile to a grimace.

JOBEL
Yes. Madam.

Tasambeker turns aside to avoid his gaze. She looks at the other attendants. She doesn’t quite keep the distress out of her voice.

TASAMBEKER
Get on with your work!

Lilt, the attendants and a guard head out the exit. Jobel, Takis, and Vargos head to the inner doorway and out of sight. All bar the last two guards follow.

JOBEL
Of course, it was Mr. Takis who first proposed the idea of Tranquil Repose, some ten years previously. It really was one of those ideas so simple yet revolutionary you begin to feel inadequate that you didn’t think of it yourself. I of course, have never had any problems with inadequacy...

Upset, Tasambeker hurries away. The two guards are left behind. One nods further down the reception area. They stride over to another set of double doors.


27. INT. OUTSIDE RECEPTION AREA (DAY)

A redressed set, on the other side of the reception area. The guards enter and the doors close. One guard holds up a familiar looking control and activates it. We see a security camera’s light goes out. The guard nods and pockets the control. They remove their helmets – it is the Doctor and Lytton.

DOCTOR
Very effective plan.

LYTTON
I thought so.

DOCTOR
But impractical. It’s a good thing we had the TARDIS to help us. How were you intending to join the Presidential Escort without attracting attention?

LYTTON
I wouldn’t want to tell you. You’d only squirm.

The Doctor glares at him.

DOCTOR
We need to keep death to an absolute minimum. I don’t want a bloodbath this time.

LYTTON
That doesn’t concern me, Doctor, it’s your problem.

DOCTOR
No, it DOES concern you, Commander, it is very much OUR problem. And either you follow orders or this ends here and now.

LYTTON
Oh, threats – and we were getting on so well, too.

DOCTOR
First thing first is to find out where they’ve taken Peri and the others. Assuming these Daleks are as imaginative as their distant cousins, it will probably be that supplies store room on Level Six. Come on.

They exit at a run.

- to be continued...