The Orkas is hurtling through space. Up ahead is the Ghaleen, swimming as fast as it can. Slowly but surely, the Orkas is catching up.
46. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
All systems are go, and everyone is running around. The Doctor sits to one side in a relatively quiet area, under guard by the two guards. One is drinking, the other rubbing his face and scowling. Stennar moves over to him, sympathetic.
STENNAR
For what it’s worth, I believe you, Doctor.
DOCTOR
Do you?
STENNAR
Yes. And I’m also curious as to how your capsule survived the Termination Bay.
DOCTOR
It was more by luck than judgement. Well, once you’ve slaughtered the poor Ghaleen, what happens to me? Presumably, I’ll be given similar treatment. In fact, I have already undergone it.
STENNAR
An accident, Doctor.
DOCTOR
Please, Mrs. Stennar. Don’t insult my vast intelligence.
STENNAR
All right. It wasn’t an accident. But you’re right, Multi-Global is no supporter of industrial murder. In fact, it isn’t company policy to prosecute conservationists like the Ecos and we definitely don’t murder them.
DOCTOR
Don’t you think they’re criminals?
STENNAR
Well, few of them have ever done any damage. They’re idealists. Misguided idealists. No, keep out of the Captain’s way and you’ll be fine. Once the Ghaleen heard has been dealt with, you’ll be free to do.
DOCTOR
And your Captain Queeg is happy to allow that?
Not getting the reference, Stennar assumes it’s a mistake.
STENNAR
Captain Greeg, Doctor. Once we’ve finished, he’ll relax. He’s a very high strung man.
DOCTOR
He’s a would be murderer – and you lot aren’t much better.
STENNAR
Doctor, please...
DOCTOR
The Ghaleen are an intelligent and compassionate life form – three separate intergalactic treaties have banned their hunting. Yet here you are.
STENNAR
Those treaties were voided during the mass famines two years ago.
DOCTOR
But the Ghaleen are a unique species. Oh yes, in appearance there are plenty of sea mammals that look identical on the outside, but they are intelligent as you or I. Probably just I, though. There aren’t many of them to start with and your corporation has decided to start hunting them down!
STENNAR
The galaxy need food. It’s either the space-whales who get the chop or us. I know which I’d choose.
DOCTOR
How many have you butchered?
STENNAR
Just the one. It was killed in a meteor storm. Its carcass was found and fed the whole of Orion’s Belt. Multi-Global patched up the Orkas from several planet-bound whaling vessels and we’re here to supply the new demand.
DOCTOR
Mrs. Stennar...
STENNAR
If we don’t supply the demand, a minimum of fifteen planets will starve to death within the month!
The Doctor doesn’t have an answer.
47. MODEL SHOT
The Ghaleen twirls away from the Orkas.
48. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
Nurreg punches a series of controls. This is shown on the screen.
GREEG
What’s the stupid thing doing now?
NURREG
It’s weaving... in some kind of helical pattern.
GREEG
A helical pattern means its sensed us already. I thought the cloak was up?
Nurreg smiles and squirms.
NURREG
Sorry, my Captain, sah. I forgot.
GREEG
You moron-shaped fool. Prime the neuron torpedoes.
NURREG
Yes, my Captain, sah.
He starts flipping switches. The Doctor stands up.
DOCTOR
Neuron WHAT?
49. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)
Peri backs away down the corridor, managing to rise. Before her stands Juras, just as freaked and just as ready for trouble.
PERI
Who are you?
JURAS
Who am I? Who are you? You’re not part of the crew.
PERI
And you are?
JURAS
You came from the Termination Bay. But I didn’t see you go in.
PERI
Not my fault. Look, as fascinating as this is, I do not want to meet whatever is down that pipe, all right? So, just let me pass. I need to find my friend. He’s already in trouble with your security men.
JURAS
The one in that coat? The Eco from the blue pod?! You’re with him, aren’t you?
PERI
For what it’s worth.
JURAS
You saved the space-whale!
PERI
You wanted him saved?
JURAS
Very much. And the people aboard.
PERI
Aboard? You mean aboard the whale?!
JURAS
Forget it. Let’s just get away from here.
Juras hurries down the corridor. Peri follows, casting a glance back at the exposed pipe.
PERI
You’re not from around here, either, are you?
JURAS
So? I’m a stowaway – you’re an Eco. I know which one the Captain will be more angry about. We have to stop them getting the whale.
PERI
I already did that. The Ghaleen’s free and happy.
JURAS
We’re back on Catch Stations which means it won’t be free and happy for much longer. And whatever caused that screaming is here as well.
PERI
Do you know what it is?
JURAS
Lethal.
PERI
Is that all?
JURAS
Isn’t that enough? Look, you can’t go wandering around the ship in those clothes. You’ll be caught straight away. Come with me, I can find you a uniform.
PERI
I don’t need a uniform, I need to find my friend!
As they turn out of sight, a black claw emerges from the pipe, feeling the edges of the hatch. Then it withdraws once more.
50. MODEL SHOT
The Orkas is right on top of the Ghaleen.
51. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
The place is quiet now, all eyes focuses on the displays and images of the Ghaleen, either through windows or scanners. Greeg is exuberant. Grinning, he strides back and forth. The Doctor turns to Stennar, urgent.
DOCTOR
What are these neuron torpedoes?
GREEG
They’re ready to fire, Eco, that’s what they are!
DOCTOR
Mrs. Stennar?
STENNAR
The torpedoes lock onto the whale and home in on its neural impulses.
DOCTOR
That's horrible.
STENNAR
Not at all. Death is instantaneous so there’s no possibility of pain or suffering. What’s more, product loss is minimal. Everything will be used, Doctor.
The Doctor looks sadly at the image of the Ghaleen.
DOCTOR
Everything except the song.
52. MODEL SHOT
The space whale sings desperately. The Orkas is now very close.
53. INT. CAPTAIN’S CABIN (NIGHT)
A redressed version of the crew room. It’s grubby and ill-kept. Clothes are scattered here and there, and there is cigar smoke hanging in the air. There are a few portraits and sculptures. Juras and Peri creep in through the door.
PERI
Captain’s quarters? You’re a stowaway and you’re stealing clothes from the captain? Do you even understand the concept of chutzpah!?
JURAS
Do you understand the concept of silence?
PERI
You won’t even tell me your name!
JURAS
You won’t tell me yours.
PERI
I’m Peri.
JURAS
Well, Peri, you can stay here. The Captain’s busy on the flight deck, so no one else will enter here for a while. In the meantime, I’ll get you a uniform, we can free your Eco Doctor friend and stop them killing the whale.
PERI
Do you have a plan?
JURAS
We sabotage the Termination Bay.
PERI
How do we do that?
JURAS
You’re the Eco-Terrorists, you tell me! Now stay here.
Juras leaves. Peri runs to the doorway.
PERI
Hey! You still haven’t told me your name!
We pan across to a patch of flooring which is a grilled mesh. A familiar scratching noise is heard. A dark shape appears under the mesh.
54. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (DAY)
Juras hurries down the corridor and hangs a left.
55. MODEL SHOT
The Orkas is poised above the whale. Hatches slide back to reveal torpedo nozzles which start to angle downwards – aiming down at the Ghaleen, which sings plaintively.
56. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
The air is tense. A special cross-hairs is overlaid on the image of the whale on the forward screen. Greeg sits down at his controls, grinning happily.
GREEG
What’s the status, Production Controller?
STENNAR
All crew standing by. Termination Bay should be being prepared now.
57. MODEL SHOT
In the termination bay, the huge doors are sliding shut. The TARDIS is left on the outside.
55. INT. TERMINATION BAY – SAFE SIDE (NIGHT)
The Chief and Jackson are present. Jackson is operating the controls on the console.
JACKSON
Radiation doors closed.
CHIEF
How’s the pressure in duct 3?
JACKSON
A bit better. Still some mild blockage.
CHIEF
Manus should have cleared it up by now. That woman is useless. Come on, Jackson, we better go and give her a hand. She’s probably had some claustrophobic attack or something, I shouldn’t wonder.
They turn and head for the exit.
58. INT. PIPE (NIGHT)
Manus body is sprawled in the pipe. The torch on her forehead illuminates her face, a mask of horror. A hideous scar is across her throat.
59. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
Everyone is studying the forward screen. Stennar is listening to headphones. The Doctor looks down at the clutter on the captain’s console. A wrench-like tool is under an empty chip packet. The Doctor, not looking, easily palms it and slides it up his sleeve.
STENNAR
That was the Chief. Termination Bay prepared. We may proceed.
GREEG
May we, indeed? That reprobate is next on my list...
NURREG
My captain, sah?
GREEG
...after you, of course, Nurreg. What is it?
NURREG
Neuron torpedoes aimed and ready to fire on your command.
GREEG
Brilliant!
The cross hairs focus on the head of the space whale.
60. INT. CAPTAIN’S CABIN (NIGHT)
Peri is pacing, bored. She moves to a port hole. Through it we can see space and the whale swimming frantically through the blackness. As Peri stares at it we concentrate on the grille. One of screws securing it to the floor begins to turn, rising out of the metal. Then another begins to unscrew. We hear the scratching again.
61. MODEL SHOT
The Ghaleen flaps its tail, but the Orkas is keeping up with it.
62. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
As before. The Doctor looks unwell. He’s perspiring.
GREEG
Right! On your marks! Ready!
Nurreg’s hand creeps to the firing stud marked DANGER.
GREEG
Aim!
The Doctor sways uncertainly. Stennar notices.
GREEG
F...
The Doctor lets out a horrible moan and falls against his guard, knocking him over. The Doctor crashes to the ground, letting out an agonized panting grunt. His hands claw at his chest as he convulses. Stennar reaches him first, but all attention is now on the Doctor who seems to be having an epileptic fit.
GREEG
What’s wrong with him?
STENNAR
He’s having some kind of a seizure, sir!
NURREG
He’s faking!
STENNAR
I don’t think so – maybe it’s the radiation exposure he underwent. He wasn’t as protected as we thought...
GREEG
Oh good. Get him to the medical section where he can expire without distracting us.
Greeg turns his attention to the screen.
GREEG
Now, where we were we? Nurreg. Lock onto the Pilot!
NURREG
Done, my Captain, sah.
Stennar touches the Doctor’s cheek and he slumps, apparently unconscious. The guard underneath him struggles to rise.
GREEG
Well, fire.
NURREG
Was that a command, my Captain, sah?
GREEG
Of course it was a bloody command! Now...
The Doctor’s eyes snap open. He leaps up, sending Sennar reeling. She spins into Greeg and they both fall onto Nurreg, causing him to fall off his seat. The Doctor ducks as the guard tries to tackle him and instead ends up attacking the other guard. The Doctor runs over to the firing control. The wrench slides down into his hand.
DOCTOR
Sorry about this, but I blame society, myself.
He raises the wrench... A click.
GREEG
Not. So. Fast.
Greeg is aiming a tri-barreled blaster at the Doctor. The Doctor freezes, arm still in the air, wrench still visible.
GREEG
One move. Just ONE MOVE... and you’re dog meat!
The Doctor looks at Stennar.
DOCTOR
If it’s a choice between me or the Ghaleen...
63. INT. CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS (NIGHT)
All the screws are up now. Peri crosses to the internal door and opens it. The loose floor grille rises. Peri looks up at the noise. The grille is now next to the hole in the floor. There is no sign of anything that caused it. Peri continues to slide towards the door, keeping her eyes on the grating.
64. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
The Doctor slowly turns around from the console, wrench in hand. Greeg is now standing with his gun aimed. The two guards are also covering him with their blasters.
STENNAR
Give it up, Doctor! It’s not worth dying for.
DOCTOR
Isn’t it?
STENNAR
Of course it isn’t!
DOCTOR
Oh, well, in the face of such a convincing argument.
Greeg cocks his blaster. The Doctor sighs, beaten.
DOCTOR
Yes, I suppose you’re right.
The Doctor lowers the wrench. Greeg doesn’t lower the blaster.
65. INT. CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS (NIGHT)
Peri is beside the door. She stares at the hatchway. Nothing. Taking a deep breath, she spin around, grabs the door and opens it. At that second the claw emerges from the hatch, reaches out and grabs her leg. Peri screams as she is dragged to the ground and hauled straight towards the grille.
The creature rises into view – a wrinkled, black oily goblin with glowing, slanted eyes, a mouth full of needle-like teeth and large, pointed ears. It roars and reaches out to grab Peri with its other arm. She screams again.
63. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)
As before. The Doctor moves out of the way of the console.
GREEG
Nurreg! Fire the torpedoes!
Nurreg rises and moves past him to reach the terminal. The Doctor hangs his head. Suddenly, he turns on his heels and hurls the wrench with all his might. It misses Nurreg by inches and strikes the console. The screens shatters and there is a cacophony of explosions as the controls burst into flames. The screen turns to static. More explosions at the Captain’s console. The Doctor drops the wrench and grins at Greeg.
DOCTOR
Oh dear. What a pity. Never mind.
Greeg grins back.
GREEG
That was – to say the least – a mistake.
Suddenly, he fires his blaster twice. Six bolts smash into the Doctor’s chest. He is flung against the wall and he slides lifelessly to the floor. Greeg turns away dismissively and heads for the burning console. The Doctor lies as still as death.
(END OF EPISODE ONE)
(NEXT EPISODE: CASTAWAYS & STOWAWAYS)
(ROLL END CREDITS)
(ROLL END CREDITS)
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