16. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
More activity. Crewmembers are working at consoles. Nurreg presses the distress call button and the noise cuts out. He closes the hatch. The klaxon is now the main background noise. Greeg grabs the mike, roughly.
GREEG
Open the bow gates right now and bring the Pilot into the Termination Bay. Got that?
The Chief enters and, navigating his way past the rushing crewmembers, approaches Stennar, trying to be heard.
CHIEF
Controller? Controller? Oi! Stennar!
STENNAR
What is it?! Oh, Chief. There you are. Blockage fixed yet?
CHIEF
Yes. And yet... no. The blockage is no longer being detected but, wouldn’t you know it, duct 3 is losing all its suction. No idea why.
He shakes his head philosophically. Stennar rolls her eyes.
STENNAR
Well hadn’t you better fix it then? Go on! Sort it now!
CHIEF
I’ll already sent Manus. She’s in a right mood tonight...
STENNAR
Then you better make sure she does her job! Go! Immediately!
Mildly taken aback, the Chief heads off again, not in any real hurry.
CHIEF
You should have kept to Production Control, Stennar. All this new authority is stressing you out, getting your knickers in a twist...
STENNAR
MOVE IT, CHIEF!
The Chief moves off.
CHIEF
All right, all right, no need to get nasty...
17. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)
Manus is crouched by the floor, removing a section of deck.
MANUS
You adjust one thing on this rust bucket and two more things are put out of alignment. It’s like some thermodynamics lesson in three D! Why is it every time that we get close to Catch Stations, I always miss out on the action?
She places it to one side, exposing a length of broad pipe. She takes out a hand-held device and checks the pipe. It soon starts bleeping. Manus pockets the device and heads for the inspection hatch.
MANUS
Typical. Just typical.
In the shadows, Juras watches on. As Manus removes the bolts holding down the inspection hatch, Juras’s expression grows afraid, and she backs away. Manus lifts the hatch and immediately, a hollow, scratching sound becomes audible.
MANUS
That’s suspiciously unusual... I wonder what it is?
We peer into the darkness, hearing the scratching noises get louder.
18. MODEL
Spinning like a top, the TARDIS ploughs through space towards the trapped Ghaleen, who is being drawn steadily towards the termination bay. The TARDIS starts to descend.
19. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)
The Doctor is furiously adjusting controls. Peri clings to the console. The whole room is swaying with the motion of the engines.
PERI
Er, Doctor? What are you doing?
The Doctor moves around the console, pressing buttons as he replies.
DOCTOR
Moving directly into the tractor beam, thereby severing the ship’s link with the Ghaleen.
PERI
So we’re rescuing the whale?
DOCTOR
Did you have anything better planned for this evening?
PERI
Not really. Let's do it!
The Doctor slams down more controls.
20. MODEL SHOT
The TARDIS drops through the beam, which warps and buckles around the foreign object. The remaining beam holding the whale splutters and starts to cut out.
21. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
The scene is shown out on the monitor. Everyone watches, stunned, as the beam locks onto the TARDIS and the space-whale breaks away. Greeg splutters with anger. The Catch Stations klaxon stops.
GREEG
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!?
NURREG
No idea my captain sah, but the beam’s attaching itself to it and letting the Pilot go!
GREEG
Stop them! Stop them now!
NURREG
I can’t sir! The pilot’s free!
STENNAR
That box... could it be some kind of space capsule?
NURREG
But who’d want to stop us getting the Ghaleen?
Greeg bangs his fist on the console.
GREEG
The Ecos! This is just their kind of insanity!
STENNAR
In a craft like that? It’s pathetic!
GREEG
Don’t be a complete brain-void, Stennar – it’s fighting the traction beam well enough, isn’t it? Probably just camouflaged... Oh, I’ll have someone’s head for this! And the rest of them to go!
22. MODEL
Singing happily, the Ghaleen moves off into space. The TARDIS is now caught in the beam and is slowly being drawn backward towards the whaler.
23. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)
The room is lit by the blue glow from the scanner. The Doctor finishes at the console with a flourish. The scanner shows the Ghaleen swimming away into space.
PERI
We’ve done it! He’s free!
DOCTOR
Another blow for universal rights!
Suddenly the room lurches slightly.
PERI
What’s happening?
DOCTOR
Ah. Yes. We’ve been in the energy flux too long - the beam’s starting to drag US into the whaler ship.
PERI
Where there are probably whale-dismembering devices?
DOCTOR
Of a sort.
PERI
Great.
DOCTOR
Oh, stop fretting, Peri. There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll just dematerialize.
He starts flicking controls. Nothing happens. When the Doctor notices, he bangs the console, and tries the sequence again. Ditto. The room lurches again.
PERI
Just take off, Doctor!
DOCTOR
I’m trying!
PERI
Try again!
DOCTOR
The interference which dragged us here is affecting the temporal drives.
Peri rolls her eyes and reaches around the console.
PERI
Oh, let me do it...
DOCTOR
Peri, we can’t dematerialize! I’ll try setting the temporal motors into reverse.
He scrambles to another panel and hits more controls. The room lurches again.
24. MODEL SHOT
The TARDIS is drawn into the Orkas with gathering speed.
25. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
Stennar re-enters and crossing over to Greeg.
NURREG
Well, whatever that thing is, it’s being dragged into the termination bay.
STENNAR
Sir, should I order an emergency shutdown?
GREEG
Nah, don’t bother.
STENNAR
‘Nah’?
GREEG
Nah. Let the program complete itself, Stennar.
NURREG
You sure, my captain sah? They’ll be utterly destroyed!
Greeg is unimpressed.
GREEG
Boo-hoo.
STENNAR
Sir, please...
GREEG
They lost us a pilot. Let them take the consequences. It’s an accident, Stennar. An unfortunate accident.
He grins a feral grin.
26. MODEL SHOT
The TARDIS is drawn inside the Orkas.
27. MODEL SHOT
The TARDIS is hauled inside the termination bay and the bow gates slowly close, trapping the police box in mid air. Segments of wall slide back to show half a dozen sets of what appear to be solar panels. The lighting turns red.
28. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)
The red glare floods the room. The Doctor snaps down a switch and the scanner closes. He looks around. Peri has gone. There is another lurch. He ducks under the console – Peri is hiding there, looking slightly apprehensive.
PERI
No luck?
DOCTOR
None. Every system’s jammed!
PERI
The TARDIS can survive whatever they throw at us, can’t it?
The Doctor smiles reassuringly.
DOCTOR
She’s virtually indestructible.
PERI
VIRTUALLY? Either it is, or it isn’t!
Before they can continue, the room is buffeted violently. There is the sound of laser beams, rending metal and explosions. The lights flicker and both cry out.
29. MODEL SHOT
Rectangular rays of red light blast from the solar panels, blasting the TARDIS from all sides. The tractor beam struggles to hold it steady as the exterior starts to blacken and blister under the continual bombardment. Explosions rake across the police box.
30. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)
The room is shaking and buffeting. Peri covers the Doctor protectively and he in turn tries to cover her with his coat. The buffeting and flashing continues and then rapidly dies off. There is just the normal hum of the TARDIS. The lights return to normal. Peri looks up, then around. She whispers softly.
PERI
I think we’re through.
The Doctor keeps his head covered.
DOCTOR
Are you sure?
Peri checks, still whispering.
PERI
...yes.
The Doctor emerges, and looks around. He nods.
DOCTOR
Come on.
He scrambles to his feat and turns back to the console. As Peri starts to rise there is another jolt that throws her back to the floor.
31. MODEL SHOT TERMINATION BAY
The red lights have gone. The tractor beam slowly lowers the TARDIS to the floor. Patches of its exterior covered in black soot and ashes. The beam cuts out.
32. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (NIGHT)
The Doctor is kneeling beside the console, hanging onto it. Peri is getting to her feet, rubbing her sore arm. The scanner opens to show the Termination Bay outside.
PERI
Are we safe?
DOCTOR
Not quite.
PERI
So we’re still in the woods?
DOCTOR
As you say.
The Doctor rises and points at a flashing display.
DOCTOR
Look at that. The radiation level is sky-high!
The display stops flashing. The Doctor checks the console.
PERI
That's not good, is it?
DOCTOR
Possibly. The level’s dropping rapidly. In another few moments, it’ll be safe to go outside.
PERI
Outside?
DOCTOR
Perfectly safe. It’s reached the levels of Aberdeen and it’s still plummeting. Clearly, this is how they cleanse and cook the Ghaleen before the slicing and dicing commences.
PERI
Why do we want to go outside? We aren’t exactly on good terms with these people.
DOCTOR
Oh, I’m sure they’ll understand.
PERI
We stopped them getting the space whale so they tried to microwave us!
DOCTOR
We still have to go outside, Peri. Unless we find the source of the temporal jamming, the TARDIS is stuck here and now. And as has already been proven, this is not a nice place to be, now, is it?
PERI
But what are we going to do about being terrorists caught inside a whaling ship full of people who will be ticked off about how we’ve just let their bonus fly off unscathed?
DOCTOR
Well, I’ll just go and explain the situation. Stay here.
He turns and opens the doors. He is about to exit when he stops, taps the radiation meter, nods, and leaves. Peri sighs and smiles.
PERI
Always so professional, Doctor.
She closes the doors.
33. INT. TERMINATION BAY – UNSAFE SIDE (NIGHT)
We are just in front of the radiation doors, on a set. The TARDIS stands before it. Insert appropriate model shots for perspective. The TARDIS doors creak open, spreading soot onto the floor. The Doctor winces at the sighs of the devastation done to his ship. He steps from the TARDIS and starts to wipe the ashes and soot from the police box.
DOCTOR
Maybe I shouldn’t have broken the chameleon circuit... a quick disguise would do wonders. Still, I doubt it’ll be repairable after all this.
The Doctor dusts one of the windows. Behind him the radiation doors open and two guards enter. The Doctor turns to face them, raising his hands and smiling pleasantly.
DOCTOR
Good evening. I’m the Doctor, how do you do.
GUARD 1
Stand still!
GUARD 2
You’re guilty of acts of Eco-Terrorism. Don’t try anything, because we’re both quite prepared to –
The Doctor lazily raises his hands.
DOCTOR
To kill me if I don’t co-operate? We can do this easy way or the hard way? Yes, I know the routine. May I ask, who are you and where am I?
GUARD 2
You’re on the whaler ship Orkas, a subsidiary of Multi-Global.
GUARD 1
We are part of the Multi-Global security teams.
The Doctor smiles broadly.
DOCTOR
I’ve never been held at gunpoint by Multi-Global whaler ship security guards before.
He waves.
GUARD 2
You put that blue pod of yours in the way of the tractor beam to let the Pilot escape, didn’t you?
DOCTOR
Yes.
GUARD 1
He doesn’t deny it.
DOCTOR
Of course, I don’t deny it. I dare say, however, you’ll accuse me of plenty of other things that I will happy to deny.
GUARD 2
All right, ‘Doctor’, you’re under arrest for crimes of terrorism and sabotage resulting in grievous collateral damage.
GUARD 1
And you’re a walking fashion nightmare.
GUARD 2
Yeah, that too.
The Doctor lowers his hands in exasperation, then raises them when the guards raise their guns and aim them at him.
DOCTOR
Oh, no, look, honestly – this suit is the height of sartorial elegance on Vesta 95.
The guards snigger.
GUARD 2
He’s trying to get off with insanity.
GUARD 1
Come with us, please, ‘Doctor’.
DOCTOR
I’d be delighted.
He does not resist as they take him away. The TARDIS door opens and Peri peers out.
34. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE TERMINATION BAY (DAY)
Juras is creeping down the passage. The door opens and she runs back and out of sight as the Doctor steps through, followed by the guards.
DOCTOR
Is this how Multi-Global treats all its guests? I might complain.
GUARD 1
Good luck, Eco. Do you know a good lawyer?
DOCTOR
One or two, but I generally have to represent myself.
GUARD 2
The Ecos get nuttier every week.
DOCTOR
Nuttier? Is this another reference to my amazing technicolour dreamcoat?
GUARD 2
Shut up.
The Doctor laughs.
DOCTOR
Call me Joseph! No, there’s a space whale. Call me Jonah! Call me Ishmael!
They nudge him down the corridor with their guns.
DOCTOR
No one can take masterful literary witticisms these days...
They move out of sight. Juras peers around the corner, watching them go. Then she turns and moves out of view. Peri steps through the door, and looks around. No sign of anyone and two directions. As she makes up her mind, the doors swing shut. Peri turns and bangs on the door, but there is no obvious opening device. She glares at the door and runs off... in the opposite direction to the Doctor and his guards.
35. INT. CREW ROOM (NIGHT)
A bright, warm, lived-in room. There are posters, another washing line, a flat TV screen and a lot of comfortable cushions. One crewman is dozing on the bed, others generally relaxing. The Chief stands over a ridiculously ramshackle and incredibly complicated machine. It hums, whirs, clicks and then a hatch opens to reveal a Perspex popper with a straw. The Chief chuckles and takes it happily.
CHIEF
Nectar. Who needs Ghaleen when we’ve got voxnic?
JACKSON, a young man dressed similar to Manus, lounges on a chair, making a pyramid of playing cards.
JACKSON
I remember saying that before we joined up.
CHIEF
Well, I’m glad we did, Jackson. Stay long in one place you start to take root. I hadn’t been off world for sixteen years. Sixteen! And to think when I was a lad I was terrified of being planet side. Always worried the atmosphere would just drift away without some good reinforced hull between it an hard vacuum.
JACKSON
And that, ladies and gents, is the man keeping this vessel together.
CHIEF
If this Ghaleen whaling hunt takes off, Jackson, we all stand to make a fortune. A fortune. Not only will we be rich enough to buy food, there’ll be food enough for us to buy. All they want in return is this bucket of bolts to keep integrity during the job.
JACKSON
It’s a deep sea vessel with warp engines bolted on!
CHIEF
So? Just different propulsion. The only difference is there’s space outside instead of water. And the fish we’re after are actually there are not just skeletons!
JACKSON
Ghaleen aren’t fish.
CHIEF
Then what are they? Not many mammals live like that.
JACKSON
But you’ve heard the stories. Those things save people’s lives.
CHIEF
Do they? You ever met someone whose been saved by a Ghaleen? Neither have I. Everyone says those times when the Ghaleen turn up and they swallow the ships, they’re rescuing it. Just PR bull twang put about by Ecos who’ve never seen a speelsnape!
JACKSON
It’s still not right.
CHIEF
Jackson, your father spent all his cash on your education.
Jackson frowns and looks up.
JACKSON
What education?
CHIEF
That’s what I said. But even you should have learned that civilization only needs to miss three meals and its anarchy. So when your stomach is full you can have the strength to feel guilty and sad. And cheer up! No Ghaleen’s killed yet. Remember what I always say...
They recite it in unison.
JACKSON/CHIEF
Never worry, never analyze and never cry unless you have to.
CHIEF
Exactly. Waste of damned good adrenaline and that’s what we need out here.
The door opens and Manus enters.
MANUS
Chief... It’s about duct 3...
CHIEF
Oh, don’t worry about it. Didn’t you hear? We lost the Pilot. Ecos, I expect.
MANUS
But the obstruction we detected before...
CHIEF
Relax, Manus. It’ll be ages before they find the Pilot again.
MANUS
But if we do, the herd will be coming. And look, I went to the pipe... the obstruction, I think it’s alive. It’s some kind of creature trapped in there!
The Chief drains his popper.
CHIEF
You ever suffer from Space Fatigue?
MANUS
Chief, it’s in the pipes and scratching like mad! I’ll leave it if you like... And you can tell the Captain precisely why half the herd escaped.
CHIEF
With an attitude like that, woman, you’ve got a future at Multi-Global.
He throws the popper aside and turns address the crew room.
CHIEF
Anyone else want to sacrifice their Friday Night Off to help clear a pipe obstruction?
No reaction. Jackson grins and returns to his pyramid.
CHIEF
Thought not. Come on, Manus.
They leave. No one seems to notice.
- to be continued...
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