The End of the Road XI

28. INT. TR CORRIDORS (DAY)

Vargos, Jobel, Takis, Lilt and the guards are moving down a corridor.

JOBEL
Our business, is of course, death. La mort, tod, morte, muerte... and that’s just in the cultures on Old Mother Earth. And yet despite the fact it is the core of all organic motivation and progress, it is taboo.

TAKIS
Our DJ is an expert in ancient Earth colloquialisms, especially those for death. To pass on. To pass away. To kick the bucket. To cash in your chips. To push up daises. To part your company. To take that long, final sleep. To undertake... tranquil repose.

They pause at a corner as Vogel looks around, interested.

JOBEL
Death is the ending of life. Death is followed by biological decomposition of the body and psychological and emotional mourning for those left behind. It can be sudden or drawn-out, violent or peaceful.

For a moment it sounds like emotion is creeping into his voice. He controls himself.

JOBEL
It is a natural phenomenon. Algor mortis and rigor mortis. Cardiac arrest, no breathing or pulse. No brain activity. Gone. And because of its mystery, it has been woven into myths and folklore across the universe. What happens next? Heaven or hell? Bright lights, visiting those who have died before you, or returning to haunt the living?

VARGOS
A profound philosophical conundrum, but one I have not had time for.

JOBEL
On the Planet of the Deceased, President Vargos, we have time for naught else.

VARGOS
Yet surely Tranquil Repose’s primary purpose is to prevent it. These caskets freeze the bodies of those with incurable diseases and will be revived once the cure is found. That is how you described it, is it not, Mr. Takis?

Jobel is annoyed, but almost hides it.


29. INT. CHAPEL (DAY)

Davros watches this through the screen.

JOBEL
You have spoken to Mr. Takis?

VARGOS
Only on one occasion. A mere rechecking of schedules I was sure you were too busy to be distracted with. Tell me, Mr. Takis, were the preparations carried out?

TAKIS
Some days are better than others, President Vargos.

VARGOS
But the objective was achieved?

TAKIS
Not entirely. My worst fears were confirmed.

Vargos nods slightly, understanding.

JOBEL
Worst fears?

VARGOS
Mr. Takis was something of a pessimist, certain that all sorts of catastrophe would occur today just to spoil things.

DAVROS
Have Takis brought to me.


30. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

As before.

JOBEL
Well, everything is under control as you can see.

VARGOS
Indeed.

TAKIS
Perhaps the President would like to meet with another prospective customer?

VARGOS
I’d be delighted.

JOBEL
Bookings for the current season alone are the greatest they have ever been but the weather outside makes visitors scarce. Do we have another client here?

TAKIS
Yes, Mr. Jobel, indeed we do. Ms. Peri.

JOBEL
Ah yes, that radiant silhouette of estrogenic magnificence. As newfound widower, President Vargos, I’m sure her company would illuminate this gloomy day.

Vargos shoots him an angry look.

VARGOS
We are here to bury my wife, not to interview prospective consorts!

TAKIS
I still feel it would be beneficial, President Vargos.

VARGOS
Very well, Mr. Takis, please collect her.

TAKIS
Come along, Lilt.

They head off down the corridor.

VARGOS
Two of them are needed to escort a woman here?

JOBEL
You know Mr. Takis. Ever since his sister died, he’s been on a bit of a downward social spiral. He can hardly cope with other people nowadays, it’s really rather sad.

Further down a corridor, a Dalek emerges from the shadows. It stares at the group as it glides down the tunnel after Takis and Lilt.

VARGOS
What was that?

JOBEL
Oh, just one of the new security robots. A visit like this, it’s always best to have added precautions against assassins, terrorists and the like.

VARGOS
But that’s... that’s one of those robot creatures that attacked the galaxy a few centuries ago. I recognize the design. A... Dalek, is it?

JOBEL
The Great Healer is very open-minded. The Daleks chose that design for its practicality, I assume and he has modified it. The white color denotes its loyalty to your authority, not like the grey and black and silver ones out there.

VARGOS
I see.

They move on.


31. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

Takis and Lilt hurry down another corridor.

LILT
What was that all about?

TAKIS
It would take far too long to explain. Suffice it to say, we have to get to Vargos’s ship and contact Earth, get a galaxy wide all-frequency alert. Those things aren’t Dalek-shaped robots, they’re actual Daleks.

LILT
What about that Peri woman?

TAKIS
Lilt, there’s a time and a place and this is neither...

They reach a junction and stop. Daleks glide into view from in front, left and right.

DALEK 1
YOU ARE OUR PRISONERS.

DALEK 2
YOU WILL NOT RESIST.

Lilt turns to run but the Dalek that was following them appears at the end of the corridor and glides towards them.

DALEK 3
THE GREAT HEALER HAS ORDERED YOUR CAPTURE. RESISTANCE WILL BE PUNISHED.

Takis looks around, growling as he realizes he doesn’t have a chance.


32. INT. STOREROOM (DAY)

Peri looks up. So do Natasha and Grigory. There are footsteps.

PERI
Someone’s coming.

NATASHA
Not a Dalek, either.

PERI
So, we jump them and run for it.

NATASHA
Where to?

PERI
Outside!

GRIGORY
You’re joking, it’ll be so cold even the weed plants will die!

PERI
We don’t have to be out there long, just enough to get the Doctor.

GRIGORY
If he’s not dead already, he’ll be frozen solid! Assuming he’s there at all!

PERI
Then we head for the TARDIS. Behind the door.

GRIGORY
TARDIS?!

NATASHA & PERI
Grigory, shut up!

The doors open. The prisoners stand on either side. The Doctor enters, looking around cautiously. Natasha leaps onto the Doctor and they collapse in a heap.

PERI
Natasha! Stop it!

The Doctor shrugs her away.

DOCTOR
Peri...

Peri embraces him tightly.

PERI
You’re all right!

DOCTOR
Of course I’m all right. I haven’t been to Netora yet, have I? History says so, and just this once, I’ll let history take the lead on this occasion.

GRIGORY
You were crushed by that statue, I saw you!

NATASHA
Yes, you should be dead!

DOCTOR
Yes, it was a bit close for comfort. Any denser material for that statue and I guarantee you wouldn’t recognize what was left of me.

PERI
What’s with the white suit?

DOCTOR
It’s a disguise. Luckily he carried two for luck.

PERI
He?

Lytton leans in the doorway, gun in hand.

LYTTON
Afternoon, Miss Brown.

PERI
What are you doing here?!

LYTTON
I’m here to kill the person building those Daleks.

GRIGORY
The Great Healer.

LYTTON
We know him as Davros.


33. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

Takis and Lilt are marching down the corridor, hands raised. Daleks behind them.


34. INT. STOREROOM (DAY)

The occupants look up. Natasha heads for the door.

LYTTON
Someone’s coming.

NATASHA
It’s Takis and his friend... Daleks!

LYTTON
What do you suppose is the coolant used by the cryogenic stasis units?

DOCTOR
Freeon, paraflame five with a dash of nitrogen.

LYTTON
Perfect.

Lytton locks and loads his gun, and moves to the doorway.


35. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

The procession moves past the double doors leading into the storeroom. Lytton emerges. He lets out a whistle. The Dalek spins to face him.

LYTTON
Get down!

He fires a volley at the casket hatch nearest, which explodes.

DALEK 2
EXTERMINA--

Flame gushes out of the cracked casket hatch and engulfs the Dalek. It screams and explodes. Takis and Lilt dive for cover as the fireball expands.


36. INT. DJ’S RECORDING SUITE (DAY)

The DJ watches, now dressed in a top hat, tuxedo and lots of glitter.

DJ
How absolutely lampshade!


37. INT. CHAPEL (DAY)

An alarm sounds. A Dalek approaches Davros.

DALEK 1
ALERT! ALERT! THE DALEK ESCORTING TAKIS AND LILT HAS BEEN DESTROYED!

DAVROS
Daleks are to converge on that section immediately!

DALEK 1
I OBEY.

It turns aside.


38. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

There is a lot of smoke and the blackened skirt section of the Dalek. Everyone is present, hurrying away from the scene.

DOCTOR
More Daleks are on the way. We’ve got to move.

PERI
Where to?

LILT
We can head for the President’s ship?

TAKIS
No, Lilt, they’re bound to be guarding it by now. We’ll have to try the communications section next to the reception area and call for help.

DOCTOR
I doubt that will do any good. ‘The Great Healer’ is tapping into your DJ’s observation system to spy on everything that happens in Tranquil Repose.


39. INT. DJ’S RECORDING SUITE (DAY)

The DJ looks up from constructing a vaguely-cannon shaped device.

DJ
Bloody cheek!


40. INT. TR CORRIDOR (DAY)

As before.

DOCTOR
He’s no doubt able to exert the same control on the communications. No messages will be sent unless he wants them sent. There’s only one possible course of action.

PERI
Which is?

DOCTOR
The President’s ship. Takis is right, the ship will be guarded but the odds are unpredictable. The communications room on the ship will definitely be guarded, but they don’t know the TARDIS is aboard so they won’t be guarding it. If we were to attempt to enter the ship, they might let us in believing they already have a trap set up already and while they are waiting for us to go to them, we go into the TARDIS. Its communicator can reach every planet in the galaxy and soon they will know that Nekros and Tranquil Repose is the core of a new Dalek army.

LILT
But what can they do? There are no war fleets or armies – the plagues have decimated most of the population and the rest are still half-starved.

DOCTOR
I can’t think of any handy military force equipped to attack a Dalek stronghold. Can you?

LYTTON
Yes. The Daleks. The other Daleks, the original ones. If we send a message to Dalek space that Davros is here, they will drop everything to come here.

TAKIS
Daleks? They’ll wipe us all out!

LYTTON
They don’t have the resources for that. They are xenophobic psychopaths but they can be ruthlessly pragmatic. Destroying Tranquil Repose will merely cause the galactic powers to turn against them and they won’t want that, at least not for a few more years. They’ll head here, collect Davros and leave. If we keep out of their way, we should be all right.

NATASHA
It makes sense. Send a Dalek to catch a Dalek.

DOCTOR
Daleks cannot be trusted or relied upon, Lytton. Surely you can’t believe that!

PERI
Do you have any alternatives?

DOCTOR
There is absolutely no guarantee they won’t exterminate the lot of us whether they feel particularly rational or not!

LYTTON
We can only send the signal once we’re in your TARDIS. We simply take off and let the Daleks clear this mess up for us.

DOCTOR
That means endangering every human being in Tranquil Repose, if not on Nekros!

LYTTON
We’re not here to play games, Doctor. Warning the rest of the galaxy won’t do any good – Davros will simply stop wasting time covering up his activities and complete them in the open. And do you think anyone on Nekros will be safe then? They’re dead either way.

DOCTOR
No. We’re going to warn the galaxy and then... improvise. Besides, how else are you going to assassinate Davros and collect your fee?

GIRGORY
He’s going to assassinate the Great Healer? I’m confused.

NATASHA
Shut up, Grigory.

LYTTON
Do you really think you’ll achieve anything here, Doctor?

DOCTOR
To be honest? No. In fact, I arrived here in the belief I was doomed.

LILT
If you don't think you can achieve anything, why keep on fighting?

DOCTOR
How can I NOT?

LYTTON
We all have blood on our hands.

DOCTOR
Yes. Now, let’s move. Once we’re in the TARDIS we can discuss this further.

They hurry off. Daleks appear at the end of the corridor.

LYTTON
Duck!

The Daleks open fire. Peri, Takis and Lilt get around the corner. The others flee back the way the way they came. The Daleks fire again. The red beam strikes the smoke ahead and there is another explosion. The others run through the smoke.

GRIGORY
We’re heading deeper!

LYTTON
We’re heading away from the Daleks, now accept that or stay here!

Daleks move through the smoke.

DALEK 3
ALL FUGITIVES WILL BE RECAPTURED. ESCAPE IS IMPOSSIBLE. RESISTANCE IS USELESS!

The Daleks glide down the corridor after them.


41. INT. KARA’S OFFICE (DAY)

Vogel enters.

VOGEL
Madam, the Great Healer’s drones have arrived. They refuse to stand down. They want to take over the entire factory. Two security guards have been heavy-stunned.

KARA
Than that is the last mistake of the Great Healer. Are they in the entrance way?

VOGEL
Yes, madam but they won’t be held back for long – they’re cutting through the doors!

KARA
Then activate the microwave network. Liquefy their circuits.

Vogel smirks.

VOGEL
Yes, madam.

He turns to leave.

KARA
That will no doubt so infuriate the Great Healer he won’t even hear Lytton’s final approach. A pity. It would so nice for him to know the truth just before he dies.


42. INT. CHAPEL (DAY)

The screen shows the Doctor, Lytton, Natasha and Grigory running through the tunnels.

DAVROS
And one by one they come to me.

DALEK 1
ALERT. THE TASKFORCE SEND TO KARA WADRAS’ FACTORY IS SUFFERING SEVERE MALFUNCTION IN CIRCUIT PULSES. ANALYSIS SHOWS MICROWAVE IRRADIATION.

DAVROS
Kara is destroying them!

DALEK 1
TWO UNITS STILL AT FULL FUNCTION.

DAVROS
No. Tell them to deactivate. Let Kara think them all dead.

Davros revolves to face the screen.

DAVROS
We shall send a full invasion force. That treacherous hag has outlived her usefulness!

DALEK 1
REVIVIFICATION PROGRAM BEING COMPUTED.


43. INT. KARA’S OFFICE (DAY)

Vogel and Kara are talking. They are very close, looking into each other’s eyes.

KARA
Is it well met, Vogel?

VOGEL
All ten Dalek machines have been reduced to scrap. They’re already on their way to the reactor for recycling.

KARA
And the guards?

VOGEL
Recovering. It’s curious – those weapons could easily have been used to kill.

KARA
Obviously the Great Healer fears severing our relationship. That caution shall cost him dearly. The Long Cold has sunk its claws into Nekros – travel will be impossible on the surface for the next few days. And long before it clears, Lytton will have completed his mission. I think we should have a bottle of Moranian champagne.

VOGEL
Expensive, madam?

KARA
Very expensive.

VOGEL
Are you sure you’re not placing too must trust in Lytton, madam?

KARA
Lytton will succeed. And when he does, not only will I be rid of that troublesome Great Healer, the galaxy will be left leaderless. I will control the food supply for the whole galaxy. It is only a matter of time now. Nothing will stand in my way! I will be a queen of the galaxy, the leader, the monarch that all shall obey! I, KARA WARDAS, WILL BE THE EMPRESS OF THE UNIVERSE ITSELF!

A long, long pause.

KARA
There’s definitely a movie in that, somewhere.

- to be continued...