The Song of the Space-Whale I

(ROLL OPENING CREDITS)

1. MODEL

A giant industrial spaceship moves through the depths of space, straight towards us. Slightly run-down and showing off many ill-fitting repairs, the words THE ORKAS is printed across the hull in a pleasant neon green colour.


2. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)

A large semi-circular chamber with screens and port windows in the curving wall. A washing line has been set up, with several sets of overalls dripping. Several CREWMEN in tatty suits which mingle worn material with metallic joists and shoulder pads operate controls – as well as playing cards, reading, smoking or simply having crafty kip. A red light illuminates, and a TECH turns to face a woman in her thirties with dreadlocks. This is STENNAR.

TECH
Production Controller?

STENNAR
Yes, Honan, what is it?

TECH
There’s more movement registering on the scanners.

STENNAR
Specify.

TECH
Specifically, a large object floating through deep space is registering on the scanners.

STENNAR
Another one? Shock.

Stennar rises from his chair and crosses to the tech. Data and images scroll up and down the screen. Stennar, clearly understanding what it means, nods and turns.

STENNAR
Definitely a Ghaleen. Crest markings... identified!

She starts to climb the steps to the Captain’s area. It is a semi-circular console covered in displays and keyboards – mostly inactive and in various states of disrepair. There are several old magazines and empty bottles scattered around. The hard-bitten captain, GREEG, in his forties, balding, with a bushy ginger moustache, is sipping some cold coffee from a cardboard square cup. Stennar takes a deep breath – the man stinks.

STENNAR
Captain?

GREEG
What do you want now, “Number One”?

STENNAR
It’s the scanners, sir. In our local vicinity, we’ve registered a Ghaleen.

GREEG
So?

Stennar tries to smile convincingly. Well, it was worth a try.

STENNAR
We’ve found the Pilot, sir.

Greeg looks up, surprised.

GREEG
And I was just getting comfortable. Are you sure?

STENNAR
Definitely. There’s a clear match on the crest.

GREEG
Sir.

STENNAR
What?

GREEG
No, you’re supposed to call me ‘sir’!

STENNAR
I did!

GREEG
You didn’t!

STENNAR
I did!

GREEG
You mean “You did, sir!”

STENNAR
Yes, sir, I knew you’d agree with me, sir.

GREEG
Exactly.

Greeg blinks as he realizes he just lost the argument.

GREEG
Well, don’t just stand there acting smug, Stennar!

STENNAR
How else would you like me to act smug, sir?

Greeg leans forwards. Jokes are over.

GREEG
Make preparations – or I’ll throw you in with the Ghaleen!

Stennar nods and turns away. Greeg peers at the junk on his console.

GREEG
Oh, God, where’s it gone to NOW?!

He moves some junk away and presses a button. Nothing.

GREEG
No, er, this one?

Again nothing. Annoyed, he bangs his fist against the console. A telephone microscope expands. Greeg double takes.

GREEG
Brilliant! Right!

He presses a button under his mike and speaks into it unnecessarily loudly.

GREEG
Hallo!! This is your Captain speaking!!


3. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)

An industrial-looking corridor, dark but with strip lighting vaguely reminiscent of a Death Star. Bored CREWMEMBERS are wandering up and down. There are also SECURITY GUARDS. These ones wear overalls and metallic exoskeletons of shoulder pads, knee pads, elbow pads, thick gloves... They also wear helmets with goggles and built-in radios. One or two carry large, three-barreled blasters on their waist-belts, as well as a power pack to which the blasters are connected by a thick, insulated wire. A few stop as Greeg’s voice echoes harshly down the corridor. Others ignore it.

GREEG (VO)
We have spotted the pilot! I’ll repeat that. That. Hah! So, all crewmembers go to Catch Stations. Repeat: we have spotted the pilot. Go to Catch Stations NOW!

The bored crew spring into life and part, running off in different directions. A klaxon sounds in the background as more crewmembers start running back and forth.


4. MODEL SHOT

We see the whole of the Termination Bay, A huge industrial space, the size of a hangar. The ribbed walls are lined with curled up machinery. There are ugly stains and moisture and fluid drip. The klaxon sounds. There is the sound of hydraulics activated. Two massive doors emerge from the walls and creep towards each other, closing a portal that divided the last third (a studio set).


5. INT. TERMINATION BAY – SAFE SIDE (NIGHT)

The doors are not quite closed. The words DANGER! RADIATION SHIELDING! Are printed on the doors. This chamber is connected to the rest of the ship. There is a pack of crewmembers hurrying for the exits. One, MANUS, a young woman without a helmet and less armor, is operating a control console. She frowns.

MANUS
Oh, not now of all times! Stupid, ancient pieces of sh...

CHIEF
What’s wrong now, Manus?!

Manus whirls around. The CHIEF ENGINEER – an older man with a headband holding back his ragged grey hair, dressed similarly but with a red vest, runs down the steps towards Manus as the doors finally slam shut.

MANUS
Finally go to Catch Stations and the gremlins come out of hiding.

CHIEF
Oh, be concise, Manus. Just for a change!

MANUS
There’s a blockage in the system, chief, see for yourself.

CHIEF
I don’t need to twiddle those valves, woman, I know you’re right. So get on with tracing the fault before Greeg snaps again, all right?

Manus is more irritated.

MANUS
Aye, aye, sir!

She strides up the steps to the way out. The Chief yells after her.

CHIEF
That was funny the first time, funny the second time and mildly amusing the seventeenth time! SO GIVE IT A REST, WORK EXPERIENCER!

The Chief turns and checks the controls.

CHIEF
How that girl ever got a job with Multi-Global with an attitude like that, I just don’t know! I just do not know...

He presses a communicator.

CHIEF
Termination Bay Gallery here, sir. Partial malfunction being investigated. Confirm.

STENNAR (VO)
Confirmed, Chief. We need to stabilize ASAP, you understand?

CHIEF
Oh, acronyms rarely give me trouble, Mr. Stennar.

STENNAR (VO)
MISS Stennar! Is everyone on this ship a failed stand-up comedian?

CHIEF
No, sir, we just told you that so you wouldn’t be bitter.


6. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TERMINATION BAY (NIGHT)

The klaxon is heard here as well. Manus emerges and strides past, out of view. Another young woman with long red hair, JURAS, steps out of the shadows. She is dressed in the ship’s uniform (sans protection) but is acting very furtive and suspicious. She starts to follow Manus down the corridor.


7. MODEL

The Orkas ploughs through deep space.


8. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)

The klaxon is still sounding. Crewmembers are running back and forth. The main screen shows a radar-style display. One of the crew members, NURREG, is adjusting controls on the control panels before him. He changes the image and it become a blob-like heat trace. He smiles in triumph – some of his teeth are missing.

NURREG
My captain, sah!

Greeg sighs miserably. He rolls his eyes.

GREEG
Bloody hell, not again...

He speaks louder.

GREEG
Yes, what is it, Nurreg you slimeball?

Nurreg is not the least bit offended.

NURREG
Scanners confirm that the target is indeed the pilot we’ve been looking for!

There is a vague, half-hearted cheer from the crewmen.

STENNAR
I already told him that.

NURREG
Did you? Damn.

Greeg laughs childishly and makes a vulgar-looking gesture at Nurreg. Nurreg is too busy focussing his attention on the scanner.

NURREG
Odd.

STENNAR
What is it, Nurreg?

NURREG
The pilot’s on his own!

GREEG
He can’t be. Scan local space again!

NURREG
I have, Captain – no sign of the following herd whatsoever.

Greeg frowns, thinking.

GREEG
Oh well. Might as well pack this whole business in, then.

STENNAR
What about the bait, sir?

GREEG
What about it? Oh, I see! Yeah, use it!

NURREG
It won’t work, my captain sah.

GREEG
I’d ask you if you have any better ideas, but lost causes depress me Nurreg. Get on with it, Stennar. Use the bait.

Stennar nods and snaps her fingers at Nurreg. Nurreg looks confused and snaps his fingers back. Stennar points at the control. Embarrassed, Nurreg lifts a hatch and presses a button underneath. A persistent beeping signal suddenly fills the chamber.


9. MODEL SHOT

The Orkas cruises past, the signal audible. Suddenly, the TARDIS slowly becomes visible against space. It is fading and reappearing, and the materialization noise seems slurred and unhealthy.

(FINISH OPENING CREDITS)
(THE SONG OF THE SPACE-WHALE)
(EPISODE ONE: A SPANNER IN THE WORKS)

1. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)

The DOCTOR is operating controls at the console. The time rotor has jammed, and it is from this that the odd noises are coming from. He looks up at the scanner as the image of a starscape blurs in and out of focus. Tutting, he crosses to another panel.

DOCTOR
Here we go again. The first chance I get this ship is getting a thorough overhaul!

He starts operating more controls and bangs his fist against the console violently. The time rotor immediately un freezes and starts to sink into the console. The Doctor looks amazed, then smiles.

DOCTOR
Splendid - movement!


2. MODEL SHOT

The TARDIS evaporates and then materializes normally. It slowly starts to rotate, overlooking the Orkas.


3. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)

The Doctor is flipping switches. Something isn’t working with the console. Finally, he bangs the console with his fist – this time to no avail. The first signs of panic start to creep into his face.

DOCTOR
Oh, no.

PERI enters, rubbing her eyes. She has just been woken up.

PERI
I thought you were going to bed.

DOCTOR
I will! Just after I’ve checked the time sensors. The rotor’s started jamming.

PERI
Was that you making that banging noise that woke me up?

DOCTOR
For all the good it did.

Peri yawns.

PERI
What’s wrong?

DOCTOR
The time sensors are all jammed – we’ve been pulled out of the space time vortex and on top of that...

Peri leans forward, anxious at the Doctor’s grave tone.

PERI
What?

The Doctor sighs, and shrugs.

DOCTOR
It won’t work!

He bangs the console again, and immediately signal stares to blare from a loud-speaker on the console. Peri clamps her hands to their ears, nearly deafened. The Doctor, mildly irritated by the volume, turns the speaker down.

DOCTOR
Ah-hah! Do you know what that is?

PERI
An alarm telling us someone is punching the console too much?

DOCTOR
No, it’s a general mayday signal. Someone’s in trouble.

PERI
Who?

DOCTOR
I’ve no idea. They’re practically on our doorstep. Let’s hear just what they’re so worried about, exactly, shall we?

He turns the volume up slightly. The signal fills the air, and the Doctor switches on a monitor on the console. Data scrolls up the screen and the Doctor’s eyes flicker, reading and understanding it all. Suddenly, it is drowned out by an eerie, haunting set of sounds. It is like whale song, but very different and alien.

PERI
What’s that? Another signal?

DOCTOR
No, listen... It’s a song, Peri!

PERI
A song?

DOCTOR
Without a doubt!

PERI
Who’s singing, and why?

The Doctor shrugs and adjusts the displays. The scanner pans around, and then suddenly goes dark. The Doctor frowns and makes more adjustments, but to no avail.

PERI
Oh, Doctor, now you’ve lost the picture!

DOCTOR
No, I haven’t - something’s blocking it. Look.

The image brightens to show a grey surface encrusted with matter.

DOCTOR
Let’s see what’s out there. Zooming out...

The Doctor turns a dial and the image zooms out. Peri’s jaw drops. The Doctor smiles.


10. MODEL SHOT

We have a close up shot on the TARDIS spinning. We zoom out to show something grey and organic is slowly sailing past. We zoom out further to show how huge the creature is, as a huge fin passes the TARDIS. We pull out even further to see it in its entirety. It is a gigantic version of a blue whale, swimming through space as if underwater. We can hear the strange noise emanating from the creature as it passes the police box.


11. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)

The creature is shown on the scanner.

DOCTOR
A Ghaleen. I haven’t seen one of them for over, oh 56 of your years.

PERI
A Ghaleen?

DOCTOR
A space whale. That’s who’s singing the song.

PERI
Is it safe here? I mean, that thing, is it dangerous?

DOCTOR
Quite the reverse, Peri. There are countless reports of them helping ships in distress. He’s probably answering that mayday.

They continue to watch, the whale song filling the air.


12. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)

The main screen now shows the mammoth Ghaleen. A few watch it, but none are surprised or even interested. The klaxons are still going, mingling with the distress signal. Greeg is toying with an antique dagger, bored.

NURREG
You’d almost think it was sentient...

GREEG
More than you. Right, you lot. Fire tractor cannons on my command.

STENNAR
All cannons ready, sir.

GREEG
Good, good.

There is a tense pause as the whale song slowly becomes audible, over the alarms and the beeping distress signal. The screen changes to a radar view of the whale. Greeg doesn’t seem to be paying attention, so we are startled when he abruptly screams:

GREEG
FIRE!


13. MODEL SHOT

As the Ghaleen rolls towards the Orkas, a pale blow glow shoots from several small hatches on the hull of the ship. The beams strike the space-whale and it undulates unsteadily. Suddenly, it is slowly dragged forward. The Ghaleen starts to thrash its tail as it is hauled by the energy beams towards the rear of the ship.


14. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)

The Doctor frowns. The Ghaleen continues to approach the Orkas on the scanner. The whale song, which plays in the background all the while, is becoming plaintive and distressed.

PERI
What are those rays? Some sort of guidance patterns for the whale?

DOCTOR
Possibly. They seem to be tractor beams.

PERI
Who’d what to capture a whale that size?

DOCTOR
Someone who needed them, obviously.

The Doctor’s eyes widen.

DOCTOR
Of course! The mayday signal’s a trick to attract the Ghaleen.

He’s angry now.

DOCTOR
That ship isn’t in distress, it’s waiting in ambush! It’s a whaling ship!

The Doctor turns and starts to activate controls furiously.

DOCTOR
Well, not today!


15. MODEL SHOT

The Ghaleen is now at the rear of the ship. It is trapped.

- to be continued...