Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The Apocalypse V

(ROLL CREDITS)


1. INT. NEWSROOM (DAY)

Fade up. The NEWSREADER sits at her desk.

NEWSREADER
We have interrupted regular festive programming for an update on the Nibiru situation. Disaster has seeming struck the tenth planet operation. The shuttle Zeus Five was sent up this morning to perform an aerial survey of the new planet Nibiru to determine whether or not there is any intelligent life on the planet that might be controlling the planet’s journey through space. However, mere hours into the mission, Zeus Five has disappeared off all tracking monitors and detectors. ISC astronauts Major Dan Schultz, Glyn Williams and Terri Roberts are missing with the craft and at present declared missing in action. Some reports suggest Zeus Five has been destroyed by the natives of Nibiru, but International Space Command in Geneva have issued the following statement.


2. INT. ISC COMMAND (DAY)

WIGNER stands before a podium with the ISC logo behind him. A caption reads: ROBERT WIGNER, SECRETARY GENERAL - INTERNATIONAL SPACE COMMAND.

WIGNER
Contact was lost with Zeus Five approximately eighteen minutes ago and the shuttle can no longer be detected by any observatory in or out of the ISC. We believe at present that an unexpected gravitational anomaly from Nibiru has caused the craft to crash into the new planet, which, it seems has not ended its journey. The Zee Bomb operation will commence once it is clear to use that Zeus Five is beyond recovery. We have no concrete evidence of intelligent life existing on Niribu at present, and thus the Earth must come first. Our thoughts and hopes go out to the friends and family of astronauts Schutlz, Williams and Roberts, who were willing to sacrifice their lives to extend the boundaries of human knowledge. The ISC is proud to have employed such fine men and women.


3. INT. NEWSROOM (DAY)

As before.

NEWSREADER
The Zed Bomb project, involving an unprecedented level of international cooperation, will take place at one am on Christmas Day, as three warheads are simultaneously fired into the new planet triggering an explosion the world’s top scientists are convinced will have no long lasting effect on the Earth or its people. We will keep you updated on the situation throughout the night and return you to your normal viewing.


4. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

KRAIL, LOKTAR and VERAN loom over the humans – THE DOCTOR, BEN, POLLY, GENERAL CUTLER, DYSON, BARCLAY, SPENCER and some TECHNICIANSS. Other CYBERMEN stand to one side. Krail advances towards Cutler, who does not back away.

KRAIL
We are called Cybermen. This facility is now under our control.

Cutler grins disarmingly.

CUTLER
Not in this lifetime.

Cutler raises the pistol, but Krail’s arm snaps out in a flash and clamps around the general’s wrist. Cutler growls, shakes, and then drops the gun. Krail shoves outwards and releases Cutler, slamming over the console. He slumps, dazed.

KRAIL
Defiance will not be tolerated.

The Cyberleader turns to address the other humans.

KRAIL
Now this base belongs to us. All of you belong to us.

Ben and Polly look at the Doctor, but his eyes are fixed on Krail’s expressionless face.

KRAIL
All of you will BE like us.

---

N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
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O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX

(THE APOCALYPSE)

(EPISODE TWO)

---


The Cybermen move down into the main tracking gallery. The humans try to keep out of the way as several Cybermen check the control consoles. The others wordlessly take the weapons from the few guards present. No one speaks until Barclay whispers to the Doctor.

BARCLAY
They’re not aggressive. They would have killed us all right away otherwise.

DOCTOR
They may still do so. And we certainly cannot stop them if that is what they decide.

Krail turns to address the humans.

KRAIL
We have observed you and analyzed your weaponry. You cannot withstand the might of the Cybermen. It is useless to resist us. Defiance will not be tolerated.

Krail turns to the shaken Cutler.

KRAIL
General Jack Cutler, you and your forces will surrender. If you do not cooperate, we will take this base by force.

CUTLER
We outnumber you...

KRAIL
Others are coming. Varen.

Varen hits a control on the console. The radar screen shows an image of the flying saucer, growing larger and closer.

KRAIL
That ship contains a phalanx of one hundred Cybermen units. Do you surrender?

Cutler doesn’t move.

KRAIL
We do not intend to destroy you, but we are capable of eradicating every fleshman in this installation.

CUTLER
Surely we can talk about this...

Krail raises the device under its chest unit.

KRAIL
There will be no negotiation. Surrender.

The Doctor steps up onto the landing, behind Cutler.

DOCTOR
General, please!

Cutler rounds angrily on him.

CUTLER
Get away old man! You have no say here.

DOCTOR
You heard him! They will take Snowcap one way or another. Killing you won’t make it any more difficult for them!

BEN
He’s right, General! While there’s life there’s hope!

BARCLAY
General, please.

Cutler glares at them, then straightens up in front of Krail. Cutler nods.

CUTLER
I surrender this base. You give me your word none of my staff will be harmed?

Krail seems slightly baffled.

KRAIL
I give you my... ‘word’. We do not wish to eradicate you. We have come to save you.

POLLY
Save us?

Krail ignores her, turning to the other Cybermen.

KRAIL
Loktar. Establish contact with Cyberleader Krang.


5. MODEL SHOT

Through the thick blizzard, the Cyberman saucer descends through the murky storm. The humming noise is makes fades out and lights flash on the outer hull of the craft.


6. INT. FLIGHT DECK – KRANG’S SHIP (DAY)

A semi-circular chamber, bland and utilitarian. There are shallow hemispherical domes scattered around the walls, which are subdivided into hexagonal panels. Diagonal steel rods support the ceiling. Above the doorways leading off are embossed stencil shapes – an impression of the head and shoulders of a Cyberman. Two Cybermen stand at the control panels laid against the outer hull on a high console running the outskirts of the room. Before their heads are two trapezoid portholes showing the swirling snow outside. Behind them stands KRANG, a Cyberman different from the others – the skull cap, side handles and lantern are black rather than silver, and its chest unit is dark red.

PILOT
The Scout force is attempting contact, Leader.

KRAIL (VO)
Unit Alpha plus calling. Unit Alpha plus calling. Unit Alpha plus calling.

KRANG
Receiving you, Cyberleader Krail. Report.

KRAIL (VO)
Snowcap base is now under our control. All fleshmen personnel are our prisoners.

KRANG
And the secondary objective?


7. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Krail and Varen stand by an upright square framework of machinery small enough to carry. In the centre of the framework is a valve that flashes with light.

KRAIL
Achieved. The machine is in our possession.

BEN
What machine?

DOCTOR
Shush, boy, I’m trying to listen!

KRANG (VO)
Satisfactory. Continue with the operation. The Controller is waiting.

KRAIL
Understood. Snowcap out.

Varen adjusts the controls and the communicator stops flashing.

BARCLAY
Are you... are you from the new planet?

KRAIL
That is where we come from. It is not called Nibiru as your astronomers refer it.

BARCLAY
Then what IS it called?

KRAIL
Mondas.

CUTLER
How did you things get into this base? Did he help you?

He indicates the Doctor with a nod of his head.

KRAIL
Mondas has been travelling through space for many years. We sent an advance scout to this planet and landed on this continent. The conditions prove too harsh for fleshmen to exist here unaided. Our ship moved beneath the snow and we excavated a path into this base.

CUTLER
When was this?

KRAIL
Eight standard months ago. We have infiltrated this base. Now Mondas has arrived and reinforcements are at hand, we have no further need for secrecy.

CUTLER
But we would have seen your ship land!

KRAIL
Our technology is advanced enough to suppress your detectors.

Cutler frowns, thinking.

CUTLER
What did you do to Zeus Five? Does it still exist?

KRAIL
That craft is not part of our mission. Its fate is irrelevant to us.

CUTLER
But the astronauts? Are they still alive?


8. MODEL SHOT

We pan down from Earth to look at the other planet.


9. INT. TRANSFORMATION CENTRE (NIGHT)

A large circular chamber, with an archway leading into another, identical chamber. In the centre of the chamber is a fat circular console stuffed with controls. The wall are lined with transparent cylindrical booths slanted back towards the walls. Inside there are circuits and machinery. Our focus are on two adjacent cubicles. Lying in a human-outlined recess are BLUEY and GLYN. Clamps restrain their wrists, thighs and ankles. A bright light shines down on them. They are regaining consciousness.

RAVEN (VO)
Orders have been received from the Controller. We are to proceed with the conversion process on the fleshmen astronauts.

KORVING (VO)
These ape creatures are not like us. They still feel fear. We must eliminate fear from their brains. Their minds must be modified. Their bodies processed.

RAVEN (VO)
The Conversion Units are dormant through lack of use. We must reactivate them.

BLUEY
Hey... hey, what’s going on?

GLYN
Bluey? Is that you?

BLUEY
Glyn! What’s going on... I’m clamped down or something.

GLYN
Terri? Terri?

Two Cybermen loom over Bluey.

KORVING
The fleshmen have regained consciousness.

GLYN
You... you’re the ones that broke into the ship...

BLUEY
Where are we? What have you done with our colleague?

RAVEN
Your questions are unimportant.

KORVING
Your fate has been decided. The time has come.

It turns to the console and starts to power it up.

GLYN
What are you doing? HEY! Listen to me! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!

Bluey swallows, pale.

BLUEY
Please, don’t kill us.

RAVEN
We do not kill. To kill would be wasteful.

BLUEY
Then what are you going to do to us?

The whole room is now brighter and mechanisms whirring. Korving moves around the console adjusting more settings.

KORVING
You are inferior to us.

RAVEN
You are weak. Cyberfrication will make you strong.

GLYN
How?

KORVING
You will become like us. The machinery you are inside will change you from fleshmen and make you into Cybermen. It is logical. Do not struggle.

RAVEN
The transformation process will not take long.

In unison, the Cybermen swing the glass covers over the booths, closing them and making cylinders. The voices of the astronauts are muffled.

BLUEY
No, please, wait a minute...

KORVING
You will become like us.

Korving crosses over to the main console. Its human hands operate the controls.

GLYN
No, you can’t! You mustn’t! Please!

BLUEY
Think what you’re doing, we’re human beings --

As Korving moves two slide controls to full, there is a nasty sound of electrical discharge. Both astronauts scream as machinery grinds into life, the sound of buzzing saws, grating of drills, and the shrill pulsing of laser beams. The screams are drowned out. Raven watches on, impassive and emotionless.

RAVEN
You will join us. We are the future.

Korving finishes at the console. The astronauts are no longer screaming.

KORVING
And the future is now.

The sound of machinery steps up a pitch.


10. MODEL SHOT

We pan from Mondas down to Earth.


11. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

A group of guards, lead by ANDREWS and TITO enter, hands behind their heads. A Cyberman follows them as they move down into the main gallery. Loktar holds its weapon aimed, guarding the main crowd, while Varen and Krail use the communicator.

KRAIL
Initial resistance quelled. Remaining defenses have been eliminated by the Cybermats. This structure is now secured.

Meanwhile, the TARDIS crew exchange whispers.

BEN
So that’s what ODIN wanted to do to us.

DOCTOR
Yes, in the end.

POLLY
It’s not a man or a woman, just... human shaped... it’s like...

BEN
The walking dead.

DOCTOR
Yes. Fascinating. A mixture of flesh and machine. It must have taken centuries to develop that sort of technology. Thousands of centuries...

BEN
You’re saying we’re out of our league?

DOCTOR
Yes, I’m rather afraid I am. You know, it is at times like this I begin to think I should have stayed back where I belonged.

The Doctor sighs and rubs his eyes, as if tired.

DOCTOR
But doubts and if onlys won’t help us now. So...

Krail turns to address the humans.

KRAIL
All non essential personnel will be removed from this facility at once.

Cutler looks up sharply.

CUTLER
Why?

KRAIL
They will not be harmed, merely relocated.

CUTLER
Relocated? Where?

KRAIL
Mondas.

CUTLER
You want to take them to the tenth planet?

KRAIL
Yes. Humanity will relocate there.

BARCLAY
What? Why?

KRAIL
This information is irrelevant. Your missile is aimed at Mondas. It must --

Cutler steps right in front of Krail, interrupting it.

CUTLER
How do you know all this?

KRAIL
We are the advance scout. We landed here on Earth many months before and infiltrated this establishment. All relevant information has been recorded and computed. Now the Cybermen have arrived in force. General Cutler, you will lead the skeleton staff to continue running Snowcap. Your security teams and shift workers are no longer needed.

Veran suddenly grabs Cutler and shoves him to one side.


12. EXT. POLAR LANDSCAPE (DAY)

The curved hull of the saucer sits, almost lost in the swirling snow. A doorway marked with the Cyberman logo slides up revealing the bright interior within. A Cyberman strides out unhesitatingly into the freezing snowstorm, followed by six more, who march across the landscape, being lost in the swirling ice.


13. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Barclay now stands with Cutler on the other side of the room, along with a handful of technicians and guards. Loktar is moving through the remaining crowd. Krail strides over to the TARDIS crew and stops before the Doctor.

KRAIL
You are the Doctor?

DOCTOR
I am. And who might you be?

KRAIL
I am Cyberleader Krail. Infra red scans indicate you are not like the other fleshmen.

DOCTOR
There is more to anyone that meets the eye.

KRAIL
You are known to us. We observed you with these two other fleshmen leaving the blue box in the entrance bay. That object materialized of its own accord. Earth fleshmen do not possess the technology to transmit matter. Who are you?

DOCTOR
A simple traveler, sir, nothing more.

KRAIL
The Cybermen do not possess matter transmission technology. You will explain its function to Cyberleader Krang when the phalanx arrives.

DOCTOR
Oh? Will I?

KRAIL
Yes. You will.

Krail turns and moves away.

KRAIL
The rest of you fleshmen will head to the surface and from there enter our Cybership.

CUTLER
You can’t be serious.

BARCLAY
It’ll be freezing out there.

VERAN
Current status is minus 28 degrees Celsius.

The Doctor arches an eyebrow.

DOCTOR
Ah, bracing too. We best get some goggles. We don’t want to be snow-blind, do we?

KRAIL
The distance to the main entrance is twenty of your yards. You fleshmen should withstand the atmospheric conditions without serious harm. We, however, can survive in any environment. We are superior to you.

CUTLER
I am not letting any of my people out into that blizzard, and that is final!

Krail turns and picks up one of the rifles which have been heaped on a console.

KRAIL
We are stronger and more efficient than you Earth fleshmen.

Krail turns to face Cutler, holding the rifle. Effortlessly, he bends it in half, the metal of the rifle squeaking in protest.

KRAIL
We must be obeyed.

Krail throws the useless gun to the feet of the astonished general.

KRAIL
Resistance is useless. Is this understood?

Cutler nods, not trusting himself to speak. Ben and Polly are just as pale.

BEN
Blimey...

POLLY
He just... bent it in half.

DOCTOR
Artificial arms and hydraulic muscles, I shouldn’t wonder.

They stare at Krail who looms over the rest of the tracking gallery.


14. INT. APARTMENT (DAY)

We are back to the cheap sitcom of earlier. DAVE and ANDREW crouch beside the fallen Christmas tree, which covers NIGEL’S middle. His left leg emerges from under the Christmas tree and, flamingo-like, points upwards to the ceiling.

NIGEL
Oh, God, the pain!

DAVE
Oh, fantastic. I warned you about this, Nigel!

NIGEL
Yes, yes, now can we sort out my leg before you start acting so damn self-righteous. If you were SO good, you wouldn’t have let this happen, would you?

DAVE
What are we gonna do, Andrew?

ANDREW
Well, I suppose we could do what the Spartans did in these situations.

NIGEL
What did they do in these situations?

ANDREW
Well, there was this fella they called... Hegisistratus of Elis!

An incredibly drammatic moment. A pause.

NIGEL
“Hedge-ee-sister-traitors of Elvis”?!

Andrew shrugs philosophically.

ANDREW
Pretty close. Well, Hegisistratus got stuck in a situation like this. Was locked in a cell by the Spartans with a manacle round his ankle, and that was what stopped him escape, a bit like you in the Christmas tree.

NIGEL
Well what did he do?

Andrew seems lost in thought.

ANDREW
Hmmm? Who?

NIGEL
Hedge-ee-sister-traitors of Elvis!

ANDREW
Oh him?! I’d completely forgotten about him!

Nigel moans unhappily.

DAVE
How did he escape?

ANDREW
Oh, easy. He chopped his foot off.

Nigel frowns, trying to understand the logic there.

NIGEL
And that helped... how?

ANDREW
He chopped his foot off, so the manacle no longer held him and he escaped to Tegea.

DAVE
They didn’t catch him hopping then, did they?

ANDREW
No, that was the clever bit, Dave. He had a wooden foot he prepared earlier, and he had that ready before the foot removal business.

NIGEL
So he survived?

ANDREW
No, he ended up hacked to pieces at Zacynthus when he bumped into the Spartans again.

NIGEL
Andrew, how in the name of all that is sane, does this help me?!

ANDREW
Help you? You don’t think broadening your miniscule education won’t help you? You now know one of the most famous anecdotes of the Greco-Persian Wars of 5th century BC, one of the wittiest chronicles of Herodotus AND the very first artificial limb transplant! You’re enriched, Nigel. En-riched!

NIGEL
I’m also trapped under a Christmas tree so what do you intend to do about it?

DAVE
Dunno about you, Drew, but I’m in favor of amputation.

NIGEL
WHAT?

ANDREW
Don’t worry, Nigel, this is the 1980s. No wooden peg legs for the people of today. Prosthetics have moved on along from those American metal things with a rubber glove on the end. Haven’t moved THAT far along them, of course, but distance is relative.

NIGEL
Can’t we just call an ambulance?

DAVE
You ever read Bernard Wolfe’s “Limbo 90”?

NIGEL
What? No! Should I have?

DAVE
I always loved that bit where they go – “demobilization through immobilization”!

NIGEL
What’s that mean?

DAVE
If we chop off someone’s arms and legs, they can’t really hurt anyone, so life becomes a lot more peaceful.

Andrew turns to Dave.

ANDREW
Should we try it?

Nigel opens his mouth wide and screams.

- to be continued...

The Apocalypse IV

42. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Everyone is busy working out figures and computations. People are muttering in the background. Cutler’s glare sweeps over the room.

CUTLER
All right, all right. Don't sit there like a lot of frustrated penguins. Get on with it. How’s the splash down preparations going?

DYSON
All helicopters are in area six.

BARCLAY
Good. Get the Rome computer base to compute the final descent path and report back. It looks like they’re going to have to abandon the survey.

CUTLER
If anyone finds out about this, we’ll never be able to use the Zee Bomb!

DYSON
Those astronauts’ lives are our priority, General, are they not?

CUTLER
Don’t tell me my job, Dyson, just do YOURS!

BARCLAY
Snowcap to Zeus Five. Transmitting correct flight path back to Earth for splash down.


43. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

Terri looks in disbelief at the others.

TERRI
We can’t abandon now!

BARCLAY (DIST)
That will be your call for the moment, Zeus Five, but you now have the coordinates for the best escape route back to Earth.

TERRI
But there’s life on Nibiru! We have to make contact with it, find out why they’ve come here, we can’t just nuke the planet if it’s inhabited.

BARCLAY (DIST)
Terri, that is not your decision.

TERRI
Is it General Cutler’s?

Glynn glances at Bluey.

GLYN
This is no time for arguing, Roberts! I don’t know why you two are at each other’s throats, or how you managed to get on this mission if you’ve got a problem, but right here and right now, I’m in command. Snowcap, we will continue until we are in the dawn light again and then set course for Hawaii splash down. Barring any further...

A flickering blue light fills the chamber.


44. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Everyone looks up. There is a sudden building noise of whistles and mechanical sounds. The picture flares and flickers between the cockpit and static. The sound drops in and out.

BLUEY (VO-DIST)
...look at that...

Cutler turns to Barclay who adjusts the controls on the communications panel.

CUTLER
What is it?

BARCLAY
Some kind of electromagnetic interference.

CUTLER
From the aliens?

TERRI (VO-DIST)
...I’m telling you there are OTHER spacecraft out there, lined up against the...

GLYN (VO-DIST)
...God! I thought we’d been hit by a, by a...

The screen turns to static for a long moment then rapidly clears. They are in the same position, but the chamber is now brightly lit from its portholes.

GLYN (DIST)
Snowcap? Zeus Five to Snowcap.


45. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM (DAY)

Ben and the Doctor look up at the monitor.

BEN
It’s cleared up.

DOCTOR
They want us to hear what’s happening.

BEN
What do you mean?

DOCTOR
That interference is obviously being caused by the alien ship. They might have jammed the channels by accident, but they have deliberately cleared it now. Because they want us to see what is going to happen.

POLLY
But what is going to happen?

The Doctor looks at her gravely.

DOCTOR
Something terrible.


46. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Cutler, Dyson, Barclay and the technicians are looking at the radar screen. The astronauts, almost hysterical are talking over each other.

BLUEY (DIST)
It’s like a disc, and there are others, hovering...

TERRI (DIST)
There are portholes, there are things at the portholes!

GLYN (DIST)
It’s some kind of mothership and it’s closing in!

CUTLER
Snowcap to Zeus Five, can you confirm it’s not some kind of reflection of yourselves?


47. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

A strange radiophonic burbling is now heard.

TERRI
It’s no reflection! It’s directly overhead, it’s blocking out all the stars!


48. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Cutler, Dyson and Barclay watch with other technicians. The noise crackles over the speakers, getting deeper and louder as if the source is descending towards us.

GLYN (DIST)
They’re watching us!

There is a distant metal clanging over the burbling. The astronauts look upwards.

TERRI (DIST)
It’s right on top of us! It’s some kind of flying saucer!

The clanging gets louder. There is the sound of metal buckling.

TERRI (DIST)
It’s on the hull!

There is a massive wrenching noise and bright light shines down on the astronauts, flaring almost to whiteout. An arm seems to reach from the opening in the ceiling down towards Glyn.

BLUEY (DIST)
Snowcap, we--

Suddenly, the burbling becomes a loud metallic roar and the screen goes blank.

DYSON
Zeus Five? Snowcap to Zeus Five, do you respond? Zeus Five!

CUTLER
Zeus Five? Terri? Glyn? TERRI!

The noise is starting to fade. It leaves total silence. The screen remains blank. There is a long moment and then Spencer enters, slightly worried at the silence.

SPENCER
Did I miss something?


49. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

The screen shows Andrews and Tito outside the TARDIS. This is replaced by computer talk.

}}INTERCEPTION OF SPACE CRAFT COMPLETE
}}CONTINUE PREVIOUS STRATEGY
}}ACTIVATE THE CYBERMATS
}}SEIZE CONTROL OF POLAR BASE
}}REINFORCEMENTS UNDERWAY


The hand types at the controls.

{{INSTRUCTIONS UNDERSTOOD


50. INT. ENTRANCE BAY (DAY)

Tito is struggling to use a crowbar on the lock of the police box. Andrews angrily brings her gun butt down on the windows of the TARDIS to no avail.

ANDREWS
The glass won’t even break!

TITO
We’ll need a drill, Sarge. Or maybe some kind of welding torch?

Tito gives up on the crowbar and looks around. The spectral figure is standing behind the TARDIS. Tito turns, hearing something, and the figure looms over him, cloaked hands reaching for his throat.

TITO
SARGE!

Andrews turns, as Tito draws his gun and fires a volley of shots. Holes are ripped in the thick shroud, but the figure continues to advance. Tito screams as the hands close around his throat. Andrews turns and runs for the exit. A shrill beeping noise heard.


51. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

Andrew emerges out into the corridor. Four or five silverfish-shaped creatures with a metal carapace are shuffling down the corridor towards her. About the size of a hamster, they have antennae and travel on a mess of thick bristles. Andrews stares at them for a moment, then draws her gun and opens fire. On the second shot, one of the creatures jolts and curls up, smoke pouring from it. Andrew turns and runs in the opposite direction. More creatures are coming towards her. She turns back the way she came as the Figure looms through the hatchway.


52. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

It seems everyone is arguing. The Doctor strides out of the observation room.

CUTLER
You’ve got to get contact with the shuttle!

BARCLAY
The shuttle’s no longer registering on the detectors, General, it’s useless!

DYSON
Sir, Geneva are trying to contact us, we’ve got to...

CUTLER
I’ll talk to Geneva when we know the facts and not before.

DOCTOR
I suggest you talk to them now, sir.

CUTLER
Oh, get him back over there!

Spencer, trying to be helpful, grabs the Doctor’s arms.

DOCTOR
Take your hands off me please! The shuttle is beyond all help now! It is the rest of us who are in danger!

CUTLER
Get away, old man, we have to make contact with Zeus Five!

The Doctor shakes free, furious.

DOCTOR
And what can you do, General? Hmm? All you know is that Zeus Five is in the middle of at least three alien spacecraft superior in both size and technology – is there anything you could possibly do that wouldn’t endanger your astronauts as well?

CUTLER
They’re already in danger!

DOCTOR
You cannot help them! The creatures up there will be heading for Earth right this minute!

CUTLER
And we’ve got enough on our plates without having to worry about madmen like you. Private, take the three of them down to one of the cabins. Get someone to give you a hand! The rest of you tune all the detectors to Niribu, I want to know exactly what happened to the ship and whether or not it is still in one piece!

The Doctor is dragged out by Spencer, the old man glaring at Cutler as he is forced to leave. Dyson crosses over to Cutler.

DYSON
Secretary General Wigner is still on the communications link, General.

CUTLER
All right, all right, put him through!


53. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

Andrews sprints down a corridor, followed in short order by the silver insects. Their droning beeping noise gets louder and louder. Andrews spots an alarm button on the wall and runs to it. One of the insects suddenly leaps from the ground, flies through the air and lands on her arm as it reaches for the control. Andrew cries out and tries to shake off the creature. The others are closing in. Suddenly, the shrouded figure moves out of the shadows and advances and Andrews finally throws the creature away.

ANDREWS
Who ARE you?

The Figure does not reply but closes in on her, the red Cyclops eye burning.

ANDREWS (VO)
No! Stay away! No! NOOO!


54. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

As before on The Year of the Lame Dog.

WAKEFIELD
But there’s still one thing I don’t understand.

HALDERAN
Nonsense, I’m sure there are countless things you don’t understand.

WAKEFIELD
What about the claims that the landmasses on the tenth planet mirror those of Earth?

HALDERAN
I doubt it is much cause for concern. After all, if this planet was formed in a solar system with the same conditions as our own, why shouldn’t it develop like Earth? After all, we all hear about doppelgangers – two people, with no contact or connection, yet somehow they end up looking identical to outside world.


55. MODEL SHOT

We pan down from the foggy sphere of Nibiru, to see Earth below. There is no sign of Zeus Five. We zoom in on the planet. The burbling noise is heard as a space craft sweeps past us, heading for the Earth. It is round and flat, the bottom half is white and the middle black, with a white top part that spins. It hurtles towards Earth.


56. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

As before. Halderan starts to rise.

HALDERAN
Well, Mr... I’m sorry, I forget your name. But if that is it...

WAKEFIELD
One last question, Sir Gene.

HALDERAN
Well?

WAKEFIELD
Even if Nibiru is being driven by friendly aliens, shouldn’t the Zee Bomb...

HALDERAN
Zed Bomb.

WAKEFIELD
Zee Bomb!

HALDERAN
It’s pronounced Zed.

WAKEFIELD
The alphabet song wouldn’t rhyme if it was zed!

HALDERAN
Yes, well, unlike you, English schoolchildren don’t need rhymes to understand things.

WAKEFIELD
Shouldn’t the project to destroy Nibiru continue anyway? Better safe than sorry, surely?

HALDERAN
The project is being kept back to the last moment.

WAKEFIELD
Why?

HALDERAN
To establish once and fall whether the tenth planet is inhabited! Do pay attention.

WAKEFIELD
And if it is?

HALDERAN
We shall take things as they come. But while I don’t think the inhabitants have come to us to spoil for a fight, it would be unwise to detonate nuclear weapons in their atmosphere. They might just take offence.

WAKEFIELD
And just how large is the window?

HALDERAN
What window?

WAKEFIELD
The window of opportunity! How late can we leave nuking this planet?

HALDERAN
Ideally forever. But if Nibiru does cross a certain point and no contact is made, well, I suggest you stay indoors.

WAKEFIELD
It’ll be a big flash will it?

HALDERAN
No, no, I was just giving general advice.

He tears off his mike and turns and stalks out, his words muffled and now inaudible.

WAKEFIELD
Well, eh, that’s the end for The Year of the Lame Dog, which will return next week at the same time, same channel. Coming up next a very different take on the tenth planet situation in the festive edition of The Body Electric. On behalf of the studio, we’d like to wish you all a very merry --


57. INT. CORRIDORS (DAY)

Spencer is escorting the Doctor, Ben and Polly down a corridor, along with the other guard. The security camera above their head stops flashing.

BEN
Some Christmas this is turning out to be. They just won’t listen to us, will they?

POLLY
Ben, it’s been twenty years. We’re probably the only people who knew about ODIN.

BEN
That means they, they’ve had two decades to get ready and done nothing!

DOCTOR
My boy, there is no point in such thoughts. We simply have to... Did you hear that?

BEN
No. What?

DOCTOR
A sort of beeping. Coming from over there.

He indicates a side corridor.

SPENCER
What are on about, old fellow?

The Doctor frowns and crosses to a grille in the wall and listens.

DOCTOR
Now, now, all of you, shush.

POLLY
Anything?

DOCTOR
It must be some kind of mouse or something in ducting. Ah yes, there it is.

He peers into the vent and taps the grille. Spencer crosses and nudges the Doctor.

SPENCER
Come on, come on.

DOCTOR
Do you mind? I thought I saw something.

Spencer steers him back to the others.

SPENCER
Don’t tell me. The grim reaper.

DOCTOR
What? No, no, a mouse. Or something like a mouse.

SPENCER
There aren’t any mice on this base, friend. Health and safety regs.

POLLY
Did it look like a mouse?

DOCTOR
It’s hard to tell, it was shining rather. A bit like an, an insect of some sort..

BEN
Maybe it glows in the dark. There IS a nuclear reactor downstairs...

DOCTOR
Radioactive insects... a dangerous combination. Yes.

SPENCER
Insects. Great. Moving planets, flying saucers, why not insect mice? After this stuff about ghosts...

DOCTOR
Ghosts. Yes, yes, your little friend mentioned that.

SPENCER
Just the others going stir-crazy. Seeing grim reapers in every shadow. There’s no one on the base, nothing picked up by the security cameras...

DOCTOR
But surely if there was such a spectre, a camera would not record it?

SPENCER
Don’t you start and all! They’d pick up mice or bugs or anything else.

The faint beeping noise is heard.

DOCTOR
There it is again. Do you hear it?

The noise gets louder and louder.


58. INT. ISC COMMAND (NIGHT)

WIGNER, a short, pudgy dark-haired man of about forty sits at a desk at the centre of a large room in a country house. In the background, three or four DELEGATES in their national dress are chatting and going about their business. The rear wall has a map of the world, and there are several monitors on the desk. The monitor shows Cutler.

WIGNER
General, we have checked with Jodrell Bank and Mount Paloma – there is no trace of Zeus Five whatsoever, and no other space craft are visible in orbit. Checks are continuing, but we must conclude that it has been destroyed.

CUTLER (DIST)
And if that is the case? What should we do now?

WIGNER
We are holding an emergency session. All the evidence shows that Zeus Five was attacked by a hostile force that did not attempt to communicate. It is more than likely the Zee Bombs will have to be used after all. Military bases are already on alert.

CUTLER (DIST)
But there is no way of knowing the global defense system can stop them.

WIGNER
The situation is clear – these Nibirian space creatures are hostile. The defense system will at worst slow them down long enough for the Zee Bomb.

CUTLER (DIST)
If we do that, there is no chance of survival for Zeus Five.

WIGNER
If we miss the window, the radiation effects on Earth’s atmosphere will be disastrous. The side of Earth facing the explosion would suffer considerably loss of life, and all vegetation would wither and die. We will not take the chance. If necessary, those astronauts must be sacrificed. And to be honest General, I doubt they are still alive.


59. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

The Doctor, Ben, Polly, Spencer and the guard back away down the corridor as a wave of the silver insects glide across the floor towards them. Spencer shoots the foremost of the creatures, and it seems to roll over and curl up, burning out. Spencer shoots another two of them.

SPENCER
Quick, you lot, back to the tracking gallery! Quick!

The others run for a T-junction as Spencer shoots another two of the silver insects. He runs after the others, and they turn a corner and head up the right-hand corridor. Spencer glances down the left-hand passage and sees the shrouded Figure standing there. The bullet holes in the cloak make it seem more spectral than before.

SPENCER
Saints preserve us, it’s real.

The Figure starts to glide up the corridor towards them. The beeping is still continuing in the background. Spencer stares at the Figure, realizing how tall it is. Terrified, he raises his gun and fires twice, tearing through the cloak. The Figure closes in.

SPENCER
WHAT are you?!

Spencer turns and runs for it. The Figure glides after them.


60. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Cutler turns away from the communicator and crosses to the main console as Dyson sips from a mug of coffee.

CUTLER
All right, Dyson, this isn't a convalescent home!

Dyson glumly puts down the cup and checks the display. Cutler sits down beside him, clearly regretting the insult.

CUTLER
You all ready?

DYSON
Ready.

Barclay is sitting by the microphone. He speaks into it.

BARCLAY
May I have your attention, everybody?

Everyone listens to him. Pan across their troubled, attentive faces.

BARCLAY
This is very important so please listen carefully. Right. Now, we've got a very difficult job on our hands and I want everybody to be on their toes all the time. We all know the drill. Mount the Zee Bomb warhead in the Demeter rocket, fire it at Nibiru at the appointed hour and boom. Right, Dyson get your men, and some protective clothing, we’ll start fusing the warhead now.

Just then, the TARDIS crew and the soldier burst into the room.

DOCTOR
Quickly, we must close the door!

CUTLER
What the? What the hell is going on here?

He turns to the assembled crowd of technicians.

CUTLER
Back to your places! What is going on?

POLLY
The Ghost is in the corridor!

BEN
Spencer’s still out there!


60. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

The Figure is closing on Spencer, who is backed up against the wall. The hooded figure looms over him, lifting up its arms. There is a blinding pulse of light – like a flashbulb. Spencer screams, jerking back and slides to a heap on the floor. The Figure turns to face the doorway where Ben, Cutler and Polly stand.

CUTLER
Close the door!

The door slides shut as the Figure moves towards it.


61. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Everyone moves away from the door. Cutler stabs an alarm control on the wall and the red lights start flashing in time with a general alarm.

CUTLER
Dyson, I want this gallery sealed off and put the base on red alert. Andrews will be lucky to keep her job after this screw up.

DYSON
But what is it?

CUTLER
A hostile intruder and a dead one if I get the chance.

POLLY
But how did that thing get inside the base?

The Doctor grips his lapels, thinking.

DOCTOR
It was inside all the time. Hiding and waiting.


62. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

The figure is shown on the screen. The hands withdraw from the keyboard. We see the silver figures are moving out of the chamber.


63. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Several guards are moving towards the door. Everyone is talking animatedly.

BEN
You mean, its from Nibiru? I mean, Mandos or whatever it is?

DOCTOR
Yes. The advance guard. Just as Zeus Five was sent ahead by the humans, that creature was send ahead by the people of Mondas! And now they’re not even bothering to hide.

Cutler takes a gun from his holster and turns to Barclay.

CUTLER
Punch up the security view outside the corridor. I want to get a good look at that thing.

The screen shows the hooded Figure standing over Spencer’s body. Polly screams.


64. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

The Figure reaches up, the sleeves falling away from normal, human hands. It pulls back the hood to reveal its true face.


65. INT. ENTRANCE BAY (DAY)

A segment of wall slides back. Six of the SILVER CREATURES emerge. We finally see the figures clearly. They are tall humanoids – it is impossible to tell if they are male or female. They were a silver suit that covers their bodies, arms and legs marked with black piping. Over this is a baggy, transparent plastic material. There are metal rings on the upper arms, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. The feet are silver boots, the hands human and normal – although very pale and connected to the wrist rings by small cables. The front of the creatures is a glass-sided square unit with lights flashing on either side of a grilled ventilator. Hanging from this is a parabolic dish mounted in a concave rectangular frame. The faces are unseen under the silver material, but the eyes are mouth are black gauze circles. There is a metal skull cap, ridged to give an impression of hair, and above it is a large lamp like that of a red flash bulb – this was the source of the Figure’s Cyclops eye. It is balanced by two pipes that curve and connect to the head, in place of ears. They march in perfect formation towards the exit.


66. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

The Figure discards the heavy cloak, revealing itself identical to the other creatures. It presses the door control, then effortlessly tugs at the door.


67. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

The silver figures march through the metal insect creatures, who seem to ignore the newcomers.


68. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

The door is wrenched open. The lead creature – KRAIL – strides along the aisle and turns to face the room. It moves down the steps. The reinforcements follow silently. The humans back away. Cutler lowers his weapon, turning to face the intruder. Krail opens its mouth, the gauze forming an O shape that does not change. An electronically synthesized voice emerges – but the emphasis and pronunciation is wrong, giving the voice a bizarre electronic singsong quality.

KRAIL
Defiance will not be tolerated. Resistance is useless.

The creature’s mouth closes. They advance on the humans, who have nowhere to run.

DOCTOR
I would listen to him, everyone. I doubt bullets can harm them, and you’re more likely to hit someone with a ricochet than scratch their bodywork.

CUTLER
Shut up, old man!

Two other creatures – LOKTAR and VERAN – move on either side of the gallery. The speak in the same way, with the same voice.

LOKTAR
Do not move.

VERAN
Do not move.

Barclay backs away to join the TARDIS crew.

BARCLAY
Wh-what are they?

The Doctor beams at Barclay.

DOCTOR
I’ve no idea. Why not ask them?

The last of the silver figures presses a control and the alarms stop blaring. Krail advances towards Cutler, who does not back away.

KRAIL
We are called Cybermen. This facility is now under our control.

Cutler grins disarmingly.

CUTLER
Not in this lifetime.

Cutler raises the pistol, but Krail’s arm snaps out in a flash and clamps around the general’s wrist. Cutler growls, shakes, and then drops the gun. Krail shoves outwards and releases Cutler, slamming over the console. He slumps, dazed.

KRAIL
Defiance will not be tolerated.

The Cyberleader turns to address the other humans.

KRAIL
Now this base belongs to us. All of you belong to us.

Ben and Polly look at the Doctor, but his eyes are fixed on Krail’s expressionless face.

KRAIL
All of you will BE like us.



N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ ZZ
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX


(ROLL END CREDITS)
(END OF EPISODE ONE)

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

The Apocalypse III

29. MODEL SHOT

The Zeus Five shuttle hangs in the darkness. We zoom in on them.


30. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

The astronauts are working, clearly less enthusiastic than before.

BLUEY
There goes the local Africa. Probably fully defrosted by now. Anything on the scanners.

GLYN
There’s some signs of civilizations. Check latitude 34.

TERRI
What is it?

GLYN
Pretty big, like a sort of arch. Made out of stone. Two pillars linked at the top.

BLUEY
If we can see it from here, it must be colossal...

TERRI
Anything else?

GLYN
Could be a city behind it. It’s still frozen over. And nothing’s moving. Those early readings must have been wrong.

TERRI
But this means there WAS life on Nibiru. Intelligent life.

GLYN
Not any more. The surface is still 77 below freezing in the sunshine.

BLUEY
Still no movement detected on the surface. I don’t know, this is just some big mistake. There’s nothing alive down there. It got knocked towards us by a supernova or something and anything that was living here died millennia ago. It’s not going to slow down if there’s nothing down there to...

Terri looks up sharply and turns to face the porthole.

TERRI
What was that?

GLYN
What?

Terri looks out the other porthole.

TERRI
There’s something else out here!

BLUEY
What do you mean?

TERRI
What do you think I mean? There’s something out there, another ship!

Glyn checks a display above him.

GLYN
Nothing on the radar. Other detectors?

BLUEY
Checking...

TERRI
It was below us. I saw it, just for a moment.

GLYN
There are no other space craft up here, it’d ruin the whole operation!

TERRI
Then it has to be something else. Something from Nibiru.

Glyn speaks firmly.

GLYN
Nibiru is dead.

Terri looks at the screen. It shows the foggy landscape below. A Pi-shape is dimly visible through the mist, moving down the screen.

TERRI
Is it?


31. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

As before. The Doctor is brooding in thought.

TITO
I dunno. Maybe all those doomsayers are right. Maybe this is the end.

SPENCER
Oh, keep it together, Tito. You’ll spoil Christmas.

TITO
First the brownouts and the ghost, and now this.

POLLY
Ghost?

TITO
Some of the men have seen this thing, moving in the shadows, but we never catch it. It always just disappears and the security cameras never pick it up. It wears this cloak...

ANDREWS
Tito!

Tito stands to attention.

TITO
Sorry, Sarge.

ANDREWS
We’re all tense. Just keep it together. Right. The General should be here by now. Spencer, contact the tracking gallery.

Spencer doesn’t look keen, but heads for the phone on the wall.

SPENCER
And if he’s not there?

Behind them, Cutler enters the guard room.

ANDREWS
Then find out where he is!

CUTLER
Right here, Private.

They turn to face him. Ben and Polly look up, but the Doctor is still lost in thought.

ANDREWS
Ah. Intruders under guard.

CUTLER
They’re the only ones I trust?

SPENCER
Sir. But we’ve sent out the duty guard to search, just in case.

Cutler rolls his eyes and turns his attention to the trio.

CUTLER
Who are these people?

ANDREWS
Not 100 per cent sure, sir. The sailor’s named Ben Jackson, his girlfriend there is Polly Wright, and the old guy is a doctor – he won’t give us a name.

CUTLER
No authorization. No proper identification. And they just happen to arrive at a military installation in the middle of the most complex operation ever... on YOUR watch, Andrews, just in case you thought I’d forgotten all your assurances this base is watertight!

He turns to Ben, who stands to attention.

CUTLER
Well? Who are you?

BEN
Able seaman Ben Jackson sir, Royal Navy.

CUTLER
Then why aren’t you with your ship?

BEN
That’s a bit difficult to explain, sir...

CUTLER
Yeah, I'll bet my sweet life it is.

The Doctor finally looks up.

DOCTOR
We don't intend you any harm, General, I can assure you of that.

CUTLER
You can assure me of what you like but whether I'll believe you or not is another question.

The Doctor gives a disbelieving look at Polly.


32. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Dyson approaches the console with a mug of coffee.

BARCLAY
Hawaii have confirmed readiness for the Zeus Five splash down. All the data’s gone straight to Geneva. Chances are, the Zed Bomb will be fired before midnight.

DYSON
Tis the season to be jolly, eh?

BLUEY (DIST)
Zeus Five to Snowcap, Zeus Five to Snowcap.

Dyson gets the mike. The main screen shows an image of the Zeus Five interior.

DYSON
Snowcap to Zeus Five. We are receiving you. Go ahead.

TERRI (DIST)
We might have company up here.

Glyn indicates Terri with his head.

GLYN (DIST)
Roberts says she saw something outside, possibly a ship. Detectors read nothing.

Barclay crosses from the front of the chamber where the various radar screens are, and joins Dyson behind the console. He takes the mike.

BARCLAY
Snowcap to Zeus Five, we can confirm. No unidentified objects on any scanners. Just you and the planet.

BLUEY (DIST)
Should we continue the survey?

BARCLAY
Ah. Yes, I’ll have to check with the CO.

Terri frowns and turns to face the camera.

TERRI (DIST)
Check? Why isn’t he there?

Dyson steps in.

DYSON
Nothing important, Zeus Five. Everything is in order.


33. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

As before. Cutler is moving in front of Ben, Polly and the Doctor who stand before him. Spencer, Andrews, Tito and a soldier stand to one side.

CUTLER
Now. Maybe you can explain to me how in the name of all that is sane did you three civilians arrive at the North Pole on Christmas Eve during the middle of the most important space shot in history? And while you’re at it, you can explain how you three got into this base – especially considering you had to get through an arctic blizzard to reach the entrance bay? Coz you don’t look so much as chilled.

POLLY
You see, we didn’t walk in through the front door.

ANDREWS
You smuggled yourselves in?

DOCTOR
Of course not. We arrived in the entrance bay with our own transport.

CUTLER
How did you get in? Really?

DOCTOR
It’s rather difficult to explain...

CUTLER
Anything new in the bay, Sergeant?

ANDREWS
Spencer?

SPENCER
Yeah, Sarge, I checked. There’s a kind of hut or something standing in the middle of the bay. Wasn’t there the last security check.

ANDREWS
Which was an hour ago.

CUTLER
You searched it yet?

Andrews can see where this is going.

ANDREWS
Not yet, sir.

CUTLER
Well, why not? I don’t want any excuses, so get down there.

Andrews sighs.

ANDREWS
Immediately, General. We’ll get to the bottom of it. Come on you two.

Andrews, Spencer and Tito head for the exit.

DOCTOR
Then it’s best I go with them...

The Doctor moves to follow but Cutler slams a hand down on the old man’s shoulder.

CUTLER
You’re not going anywhere, old man. You haven’t answered any of my questions and frankly, I’m starting to get impatient.

The Doctor steps forward, unafraid.

DOCTOR
I don’t like your tone, sir.

CUTLER
And I don’t your face, granddad. NOR your hair!

The Doctor looks like he’s going to snap when the phone on the wall blares. Cutler picks it up and listens.

CUTLER
Yes? On my way.

He hangs up, and turns to the remaining guard.

CUTLER
Bring them into the observation room. Keep them under guard. Now, you three, I’ve got no time to deal with you three now – but by thunder you’d better have a good explanation when I do. Or else.

Cutler sweeps out and the others follow. The guard is last. As they leave, one of the monitors showing the corridors turns to static.


34. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

The security camera outside the guard room is no longer flashing. The group move down the corridor. The cloaked Figure detaches itself from the shadows and watches the party turn the corner and move out of sight. The Figure glides over to the corner, the hem of the cloak silently sliding over the floor. The others are oblivious to its presence. The Figure retreats into the shadows again and the security camera starts flashing again.

POLLY
I do wish someone would explain what all this is about.


35. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

As before. The conversation is slightly more strained.

WAKEFIELD
Perhaps you’d like to answer my first question?

HALDERAN
You mean, what sent Nibiru hurtling through space?

WAKEFIELD
Yes.

HALDERAN
Well, one must remember that things do not happen instantaneously. The stars at night are thousands of years old – because we see their light is no evidence those stars even still exist. Whatever sent this planet in motion occurred a long time ago, and since we have no real way of telling exactly where it was originally, well, that distance renders all calculations meaningless. It could have happened before the birth of Christ or maybe even before the dinosaurs. There is no way of telling.

WAKEFIELD
Yes, but WHAT do you THINK caused it?

HALDERAN
Some kind of galactic accident, a supernova of sorts, is the likely description. An explosion that sent Nibiru hurtling off into space. Of course, the forces required to knock a planet out of orbit would, naturally, send all sorts of space matter in our direction as well...

WAKEFIELD
So, this could be the harbinger of some greater threat? More planets and asteroids?

HALDERAN
If you WOULD let me finish. The force of the hypothetical explosion would have incinerated any smaller objects, and objects larger than the tenth planet could conceivably have the mass to stay where they were.

WAKEFIELD
What you’re saying is that there is nothing to worry about?

HALDERAN
What I’m saying is there is no point worrying. Any other drifting planetoids will take many years to even endanger us. Assuming another planet left right after Nibiru, it will be centuries before we even detect it, let alone are in a position to do anything about it. Worrying about it now won’t help.

WAKEFIELD
So the matter is open and shut?

HALDERAN
Rather like your head.


36. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

The screen shows Barclay’s face.

BARCLAY (DIST)
Can you describe what you saw, please?

Terri’s face appears on the screen.

TERRI (DIST)
It was only for a flash. Sort of like four bright... seems to me like landing lights? Below us, at least five thousand clicks.

The human hand touches a control. The screen changes to show a shot of Zeus Five in space. The image grows larger and larger, filling the screen.


37. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

A light shines through the porthole for a moment. Bluey frowns and checks a control.

BLUEY
No, wait a minute...

DYSON (DIST)
Zeus Five? What’s happening?

TERRI
It just passed over us.

GLYN
I confirm that, Snowcap. Too fast to make out what it was, four lights and something else, a sort of starfish shape... Hang on.


38. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

This is shown on the main screen. Cutler, the TARDIS crew and the guard enter the gallery via the rear entrance and move down the landing.

CUTLER
They were sent up there to scan the planet for any signs of life. Now, they say they’re being buzzed by a UFO...

The bright light fills the screen again.

BLUEY (DIST)
It’s right in front of us!

Cutler turns to the guard.

CUTLER
Get them out of here.

The guard urges the Doctor, Ben and Polly through a doorway at the back of the gallery.

TERRI (DIST)
Some kind of huge, silver...

She trails off and the brightness cuts out. Cutler frowns and takes the mike from Dyson.

CUTLER
Zeus Five?

GLYN (DIST)
It’s just... vanished!

CUTLER
Barclay?

Barclay shrugs helplessly.

BARCLAY
There’s still nothing on any of the scans!

CUTLER
Well, either Santa Claus exists or there’s life on Nibiru and it’s capable of space flight. What do you think?

DYSON
It IS Christmas Eve...


39. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM (DAY)

A curtained off area with a few chairs and a monitor hanging from the ceiling which shows the cockpit of Zeus Five. There is a calendar on the wall marked DECEMBER. Ben and Polly sit down while the guard moves to the door.

BEN
It’s all go here, isn’t it? The CO’s a nasty piece of work, isn’t he?

DOCTOR
CO?

BEN
Commanding Officer, the boss.

DOCTOR
Mm.

POLLY
I don’t think he’d give us a lift back to England, even if we are in the right time.

DOCTOR
I’m afraid not, my child. I don’t want to depress you both, but have a peek at that.

He takes down the calendar and hands it to Polly.

POLLY
What do you mean?

She closes the calendar to reveal the year.

POLLY
“1986”? Oh no. I thought for a moment we’d be able to get home.

Sadly she hands it over to Ben, who regards the calendar.

BEN
We’re still at sea, then. Still, it wouldn’t have been clear sailing anyway, Duchess. We’re at the South Pole, remember. It’s not easy to get here any way bar police box... 1986, eh? We’re actually in the future! And we’re not any older!

He turns to the guard.

BEN
Eh, mate, you sent people to the moon yet?

DOCTOR
This is disturbing. Most disturbing.

POLLY
Why? You’re looking terribly worried, Doctor.

DOCTOR
Am I, my dear? Yes, I'm afraid I am rather worried.

BEN
What is it, Doctor? What's up?

DOCTOR
Well, you see Ben, I know what this planet is and what it means to Earth.

BEN
And what DOES it mean to Earth?

DOCTOR
Don’t you remember? The people that created the ODIN computer and sent it to Earth, they wanted it to clear the way for their invasion.

POLLY
In 1966.

DOCTOR
Yes! Because it would be another twenty years before their main force arrived! Twenty years after 1966. 1986.

BEN
You mean, they’ve finally got here.

DOCTOR
Yes. That planet is not Nibiru, it is called Mondas. A twin world to Earth, that’s why all the landmasses look the same. And pretty soon the creatures living there will make their presence felt.

Polly rests her chin on her hands glumly.

POLLY
I still don’t see how people could survive on a planet flying through space. How can a planet fly through space anyway?


40. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

The Year of the Lame Dog continues. Wakefield is now talking through gritted teeth.

WAKEFIELD
Sir Gene, what about rumors that Nibiru is decelerating?

Halderan falls quiet. Wakefield is surprised.

WAKEFIELD
Sir Gene?

HALDERAN
All the signs are is that the planet is slowing down. It has manifestly not been caught in the gravity of any of the other planets, so it isn’t slowing down naturally. If anything, it should be speeding up. But the fact remains our top ships would take years to tour the solar system, and this planet has traversed two thirds in ten months.

WAKEFIELD
So some outside force is controlling this?

HALDERAN
Yes. It seems so.

WAKEFIELD
A sort of game of planetary billiards?

Halderan looks at him in undisguised disgust.

HALDERAN
Was that supposed to be humorous?

WAKEFIELD
Gallows humor.

HALDERAN
I’d prefer you dropped the latter and kept the former. Signs are that Nibiru is being directed by an outside agency, quite possibly a force inhabiting Nibiru itself.

WAKEFIELD
So the aliens living there have turned the planet into a spaceship?

HALDERAN
If that’s how your infantile mind can comprehend the subject, yes. What’s more, we have detected signs of movement on the surface – and for many reasons, both in terms of accuracy and security, I can go no further. But it would be wrong for the human race to annihilate its first visitors.

WAKEFIELD
You mean, the aliens don’t intend to crash into us?

HALDERAN
It would seem unlikely. They may stop completely, or pass us by. Certainly, if they have the technology to steer a planet, they would have the abilities to annihilate mankind – more to the point, they would have done it by now.

WAKEFIELD
So you don’t think the aliens are hostile?

HALDERAN
I don’t know there are aliens there at all. If there are, I doubt they are hostile.


41. INT. ENTRANCE BAY (DAY)

Spencer is tapping out at the sensor control. Behind him, Tito and Andrews are replacing a tarpaulin over a snowmobile.

SPENCER
Checks clear. This door hasn’t been opened since the lock down. No tampering, no malfunctions, it’s all in perfect order. They didn’t get in that way.

ANDREWS
They have to. You don’t really believe they came here in THIS, do you?

She indicates the TARDIS.

TITO
They must have brought it with them, Sarge. And why dump it here otherwise?

SPENCER
Tito’s right, Sarge. Why come up with such a crazy story?

ANDREW
Ever heard of the double bluff, Spencer? They come up with a deliberately stupid story because they think WE will believe them on that logic.

She moves around the TARDIS, noticing the information panel on the front.

ANDREWS
Police Public Call Box”. “Free for use of public. Officers and cars respond to urgent calls. Pull to open.” Never seen one of these before.

SPENCER
But it’s in English. Maybe those three are with the police?

ANDREWS
So? They’d use a helicopter. Not a phone box.

To emphasize her statement, Andrews smacks the TARDIS.

ANDREWS
Ow. Odd.

TITO
What?

ANDREWS
It’s not cold. It’s warm. And humming... kinda like a fridge.

She tries the door.

ANDREWS
Locked. What would those three be hiding in here?

Tito glances at the shadowy area in the corner of the room.

ANDREWS
What is it, Tito?

TITO
Ah, nothin, Sarge.

He turns away. We see the Figure is moving through the gloom towards them.

- to be continued...

Monday, June 11, 2007

The Apocalypse II

17. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

The screen showing that corridor turns to static.

SPENCER
Christ, not again!


18. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

The Figure moves out of view. The security camera starts flashing again.


14. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

The picture rapidly returns to normal – showing the now empty corridor.

SPENCER
Bizarre.

Andrew re enters.

ANDREWS
What is it?

SPENCER
They blanked out again, but came back on line straight away.

TITO
Brown out?

ANDREWS
Maybe. Maybe the storm’s taken down a power line?

SPENCER
There aren’t any power lines up there, Sarge.

Beat.

ANDREWS
Spencer, remind me to explain the concept of humor to you one day.


19. INT. APARTMENT (DAY)

An art deco apartment with lots of couches and rugs. The wall paper clashes with the carpets, the carpets with the furniture, the furniture with ceiling, and everything is tacky. An idiotic looking man in a dressing gown, NIGEL, is pacing up and down. Sitting on the sofa is DAVE, a man in a trenchcoat drinking from a bottle of port. Nearby is a wide-eyed blond man in a singlet, ANDREW. Canned laughter is heard.

NIGEL
Christmas. Another year gone. Fan-freaking-tastic. I should be out there, living life, doing things - I should be frolicking on a beach with girls just turned to women, eating foreign foods, riding camels, taking part in diabolic black magic ceremonies... And what am I doing? Huh? Nothing. Stuck here in this miserable rat trap with the two biggest idiots since King Havoc the Imbecile and his inbred half-cousin. It's not fair.

ANDREW
Well, since you've done absolutely nothing to leave here, it does make a kind of sense, cosmically speaking.

NIGEL
I have done things, Andrew... it's just all of them to a man have collapsed with sickeningly unpredictable irony into a mess of comic misunderstandings. And that was just yesterday... no, I know what I'll do. I'll go onto a gameshow, get a fortune and become rich and famous.

DAVE
You'd have to win at the gameshow, surely.

Nigel rolls his eyes and twirls like a prima donna.

NIGEL
Of course I'd win it.

DAVE
How? You can't even spell 'general knowledge'.

NIGEL
Honestly, Dave, spelling is nothing. My cunning is... beyond cunning!

Andrew looks at camera and sighs.

NIGEL
Belay that irritating sighing, Andrew, because I can prove how amazing I am easily. Go on, Dave. Test my general knowledge. Ask my any question.

Dave rolls his eyes.

DAVE
All right then, Nige. How many planets are there in the solar system?

NIGEL
Nine!

ANDREW
Nope.

Nigel remains pleasant.

NIGEL
It bloody is, you ignoramus.

ANDREW
Nope. It’s ten.

NIGEL
Restal! Kindly explain to Brain Donor here HOW many planets there are?

DAVE
There are ten, Nigel. Don’t you watch the news?

NIGEL
No, I’m far too busy basking in my own magnificence. You mean, we’ve got an extra planet?

ANDREW
Yes.

NIGEL
Where did it come from? Was it something to do with a recession or something?

DAVE
No idea, man. Just came flying into the neighborhood one day.

ANDREW
It’s probably your ego got loose again. Couldn’t fit on one planet so it needed another.

Nigel sneers.

NIGEL
Oh, very amusing, Andrew... actually.... that is a BRILLIANT idea!

ANDREW
What is it now?

NIGEL
My uncle had a star named after him, all you need to do is make a ludicrously-huge cash donation to ISC and they'll do that! That is what I will do! Forget Christmas, forget gameshows, who cares? I shall have a whole planet named after me. The planet... Nigel!

He speaks with awe. The others exchange weary looks.

NIGEL
No, even better, the planet... Verkoff! No, dare I even to dream... The Big N! Think of it! A handle into the public consciousness like no other - a whole planet named after me. Jupiter, Saturn... er, the One After Saturn, the One After The One After Saturn, Pluto and most amazing of all... the Big N! What mortal mind may comprehend such incredibility!

DAVE
I think I've found the one fatal flaw in your plan, Nige. The new planet has already got a name.

NIGEL
As good as the Big N?

ANDREW
Your definition of good slips further down into a black hole every time you breathe in, Nigella.

NIGEL
And what is the name of this tenth planet, hmm? Yuggoth? Kalki? Hestia? Ultra Meta? Lucifer? Vulcan? Hmm? And what could be better than for the planet past Pluto to be called Mickey?

Andrew speaks patronizingly to camera.

ANDREW
The tenth planet’s official name is Nibiru.

Nigel looks disgusted.

NIGEL
“Nibiru”?! “Ni-beh-roooh”?! THAT is the best they can come up with?!

ANDREW
Well, as they didn’t choose your retarded name for it, we can only applaud.

NIGEL
I'm storing all this up, you know, Andy. All of it. And one day, completely out of the blue, I'm just going to snap and do to you something so spectacularly unpleasant it'll make Wagner's Ring Cycle sound like bubblegum music! AND NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN STOP ME NOW!!!

With a loud creak, the plastic Christmas tree in the corner suddenly falls over on top of Nigel, crushing him and dragging the Christmas lights with it. That, in turn, knocks over everything in the room that was upright. Andrew and Dave do not react in any way at all. A long pause before Nigel's muffled voice is heard.

NIGEL (VO)
Uh, a little help here? Hello?


20. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

The other three guards have left. Tito is dozing as he rests the open comic over his eyes. Spencer is checking through the monitors, showing different sets of corridors. Finally, one picture shows Polly in the corridor, followed by Ben and the Doctor. Spencer stares, at a loss for words.

SPENCER
Saints preserve us... Tito! Wake up!

Tito doesn’t move.

TITO
Aw, what is it?

SPENCER
Get up! Either I’m going crazy...

TITO
Probably.

SPENCER
...or we have intruders.

TITO
Aw, no, you gotta be kidding with me!

Nevertheless, he jumps up from the bed, shaking himself awake.

TITO
They’re not near the silo, are they?

Spencer gnaws his fist.

SPENCER
At the edge of the section.

TITO
We gotta tell the Sarge. You get the small arms and tell the others...

SPENCER
Uh-oh.

Tito pauses in the doorway.

TITO
Don’t say uh-oh.

Spencer points to another monitor. Andrews is shown walking down a corridor.


21. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

The trio move down a corridor. Polly looks around warily.

POLLY
Still no sign of anyone. Maybe we should go back to the TARDIS?

BEN
Come on, Poll, it’ll all be...

Andrews turns a corner and starts as she sees them. The others are mildly shocked at her sudden appearance.

BEN
...all right.

She pulls the pistol from her shoulder holster.

ANDREWS
You three! Don’t move! Hands in the air!

The Doctor smiles as Andrews aims the gun at them.

DOCTOR
Ah, madam, I...

ANDREWS
HANDS UP!

The Doctor sniffs, but complies. Ben and Polly do also.

POLLY
Sorry if we’re intruding...

ANDREWS
“Intruding”? Where the hell did you three come from?

BEN
Uh, the entrance bay.

Andrews is even more incredulous.

ANDREWS
What? You just WALKED in?

DOCTOR
Not quite...

ANDREWS
Any more of you?

DOCTOR
There are only the three of us, madam, and may I...

Andrews, keeping her gun trained on the trio, reaches out to a control on the wall – one of many on walls in the base – and presses it. It pulses red and a harsh klaxon starts grating in the background. Polly moves to cover her ears.

ANDREWS
I said hands up, Goldilocks!

POLLY
But that noise...

ANDREWS
Deal with it!

BEN
Hey, leave her alone...

Andrews moves closer, training the gun on Ben. He realizes she’s serious and looks her in the eye.

BEN
We’ll come quietly.

ANDREWS
You will if you know what’s good for you.

Spencer, Tito and three other guards run down the corridor towards the group. They are all armed. Andrews moves aside to let them surround the TARDIS crew.

ANDREWS
What took you people so long?

SPENCER
I was checking the circuit, they just appeared out of nowhere...

ANDREWS
You want to explain that to Cutler? Go ahead!

She stabs the control again and while the light flashes continue the siren cuts out.

ANDREWS
Take them to security and I want them searched.

TITO
Got you, Sarge.

ANDREWS
And then give them a quick check for radiation.

BEN
Eh? Radiation? What radiation?

ANDREWS
You’re standing above the Zee Bomb, sailor! You people like walking around nuclear warheads dressed for a picnic? Now get moving!

POLLY
The Zee Bomb?

DOCTOR
Zed. Yes, I remember now.

Polly, unused to having guns pointed at her, glares at him.

POLLY
Oh do you? Better late than never...

ANDREWS
And keep quiet while you’re at it!

The guards shuffle the party off. Spencer turns to Andrews.

SPENCER
I checked the whole system. No break ins, no faults, nothing! We are secure!

ANDREWS
Three weirdoes turn up out of nowhere, and they’re not even frostbitten!

SPENCER
I can’t explain it, Sarge! All I know is what the computer says, and it says this place it locked up tighter than Fort Knox!

ANDREWS
Good. Then you CAN explain to the CO why one of the three most secure installation on the entire Earth has been compromised by two teenagers and their granddad! Move!

Spencer swallows and moves off. Andrews follows. A few moments later, we see a shape – clearly a hand beneath a cloak – move around the corner of the corridor behind them. The hooded head and the glowing red eye emerge for a moment, then the Figure shuffles into the shadows.


22. MODEL SHOT

We see the blunt-shaped space capsule high above the Earth. We pan upwards, isolating the capsule. Then above it, we see another planet, that looks like Earth.

BLUEY (VO)
Zeus Five to Snowcap. All survey systems now activated.


23. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

As before. Bluey checks the instruments above his head.

BLUEY
It’s just like Earth. I mean, JUST like it.

TERRI
Not exactly, Bluey. See down there? The Nibiru Atlantic is still frozen over, and half the planet is buried in ice.

BLUEY
No sign of civilization.

TERRI
Maybe it’s under the ice? Nibiru froze over one day and everything was preserved?

GLYN
Won’t be preserved much longer. Chances are, tomorrow it’ll be a handful of crumbly rock and a hunk of vapor.

TERRI
But if there are people down there...

GLYN
Then they’re frozen solid. Nothing remotely human could survive on that rock.

The light inside the capsule increases for a moment.

BLUEY
What’s that light?


24. MODEL SHOT

The capsule is hovering over the other planet. A shining glow illuminates a patch of the continent directly below/above it.


25. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

The astronauts check their displays frantically.

BLUEY
It’s something on the surface.

GLYN
Probably just a reflection.

TERRI
No. He’s right. Somewhere down there, the country that looks like America. Beams of light, they’re shining...

The light inside the capsule dims to normal again.

GLYN
Whatever it is, it’s gone now.


26. MODEL SHOT

The capsule is closer to the planet. There is no light.


27. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

Tito, Spencer and another guard usher the Doctor, Ben and Polly inside.

TITO
OK, come on, move, ivante, ivante, svarro.

DOCTOR
Please, stop that!

SPENCER
Right. Against the wall. Tito, check them over.

Tito doesn’t look keen.

TITO
You sure they’re not radioactive?

POLLY
We went through that decontamination place of yours, didn’t we?

SPENCER
Get on with it, Tito!

Tito frisks Ben, then the Doctor.

SPENCER
How did you people get out here, anyway?

POLLY
Well, we just landed in a sort of... spaceship, actually.

Tito laughs.

SPENCER
Very funny, lass, but this is not the time for jokes.

BEN
She’s not joking.

SPENCER
Now, now, boyo. You start telling the truth now, things will be a lot nicer in the long run. You’re in serious trouble, trespassing out here. And there’s no way you could have got in here by accident.

Tito frisks Polly awkwardly, then stands up.

TITO
Mama Mia, bellissima! Oh, Dio, ho bisogno di una doccia fredda proprio ora...

The Doctor stares at him.

DOCTOR
I think he likes you, my dear.

POLLY
Yes, I got that impression, thanks.

SPENCER
Well, private?

TITO
No weapons, nothing, sir.

SPENCER
All right, you three. At ease, now.

DOCTOR
Thank you.

They step away from the wall and look around.

SPENCER
Why are you lot even here, anyway?

DOCTOR
We arrived entirely by accident. Erm, why are you here, sir?

TITO
Eh? We work here!

DOCTOR
Why are there armed security guards in Antarctica, hmmm? If I remember rightly, the Treaty of 1959 established this continent is terra communis?

SPENCER
Eh?

POLLY
He means everyone owns the South Pole.

TITO
Normally, Snowcap wouldn’t need guards, but now the Zed Bomb is here...

BEN
What is this Zed Bomb everyone’s talking on about?

SPENCER
The Zed Bomb! You know! The only thing worse than the A Bomb?

DOCTOR
Some sort of doomsday weapon?

TITO
Used right, a Zed Bomb could crack a planet in half. There are three of them, one is here, the others... for security reasons, you understand.

BEN
Great. Why put a huge bomb at the South Pole? I thought this is a rocking testing place, like the one in America. But half the people here are guards. It’s not like what you see on the telly, is it?

TITO
I don’t know what you see on your TV, friend. We’ve got the double the amount of the standard station personnel.

POLLY
I suppose the computers do all the work now? I can’t stand computers. How long have you been here?

SPENCER
Since October. We’ll swap shifts at the end of January, and after that the Antarctic Winter starts. Six months when it’s too dangerous to land a plane.

BEN
That’s just daft – it means if anyone cracks out here, it’d be six months before they could be replaced. What if they go crazy and try and set off the bomb?

ANDREWS
That’s why we’re here.

The others look up to see her standing in the doorway, gun still drawn.

BEN
And what if YOU crack?

Andrews steps closer, her voice threatening.

ANDREWS
You really want to find out, sailor boy?

She turns to face the others.

ANDREWS
I suppose you have a really good reason for telling three total strangers about the staffing of this secure installation.

SPENCER
Someone new to talk to, Sarge.

TITO
Besides, they’re here now. They can’t do any harm.

ANDREWS
They got in here, didn’t they? The one place on the planet it shouldn’t be possible to break into? Now, you can help me explain it to Cutler, we’re taking these losers up there

The Doctor crosses to the corner of the room where a small plastic Christmas tree sits. The old man frowns and turns to address the guards.

DOCTOR
Is it Christmas?

Andrews rolls her eyes.

ANDREWS
Where have you been? Of course it’s Christmas! December 24!

The Doctor frowns and shakes his head.

DOCTOR
December? But that means it’s high summer!

SPENCER
In Antarctica, yeah.

The Doctor indicates the monitor showing snow.

DOCTOR
But there’s a blizzard outside!

TITO
I know. Weird, huh? Still, there’s a new planet up there – all bets are off.

DOCTOR/BEN/POLLY
New planet?!

The security guards exchange disbelieving looks.


28. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

We see JOHN WAKEFIELD, an irritating soft-voiced presenter with a beard and spectacles, sitting in a groovy leather-backed chair. The set is minimalist with square spiral patterns and some pot plants. A logo says THE YEAR OF THE LAME DOG.

WAKEFIELD
...of 1985. Though Halley’s Comet did not bring either death or destruction last year, perhaps it was nothing but an omen for our new neighbor in space – named Nibiru, after the mythical Sumerian world that is the dead twin to Earth. Now, in the studio, we have Sir Gene Halderman – self-confessed ISC spin doctor and one of Austria’s finest minds in all matters non-terrestrial.

Wakefield turns his seat to face an identical seat. Sitting in it, uncomfortable, is an intelligent looking middle-aged man in a suit. This, as a caption notes, is SIR GENE HALDERMAN (ISC SPOKESMAN).

WAKEFIELD
Sir Gene, perhaps you can sum up the current situation in regards to ISC’s activities?

HALDERAN
You mean, what have we actually been doing about it?

Wakefield laughs sickeningly, taken aback at Halderman’s bluntness.

WAKEFIELD
If you like.

HALDERAN
The situation isn’t particularly difficult, in fact, most of the fear it generates is down to the sheer simplicity of it all. There are nine planets that we know of in our solar system. What we call Nibiru is a tenth planet, a rogue world, has entered our solar system and is hurtling through space straight towards us...

Wakefield leans in, interrupting.

WAKEFIELD
And, so, have ISC determined the precise cause of the planet’s movement?

HALDERAN
I rather think we should be focussing on the effects rather than cause.

WAKEFIELD
Surely that isn’t wise? What is this is the first swallow of spring, for example? What about other such rogue planets hurtling into the solar system? It is, after all, widely assumed that such an event wiped out the dinosaurs.

Halderman arches an eyebrow.

HALDERAN
The destruction of the dinosaurs, whatever its cause, occurred over sixty five million years ago. We have not been inundated with out of control planets in the intervening millennia and I feel it safe to say it’s not going to happen. Besides, even if that theory about the dinosaurs is correct, the object from space was an asteroid of some description. Certainly not an object the exact same size of Earth. If Nibiru were to strike, we have got more than an ice age to worry about.

WAKEFIELD
Which is presumably why the Zee Bomb Operation is starting?

HALDERAN
Zed Bomb.

WAKEFIELD
Sir Gene, please, this is no time to quibble over terminology. What are you intending to do about the tenth planet?

HALDERAN
The actual mechanics of the operation are well in public domain. Three Zed-class atomic devices fired, in series at Nibiru will trigger its total disintegration. If the tenth planet is annihilated at a certain point, not only will Earth be spared any radioactive fallout, but any debris will be so lacking in mass that they will harmlessly burn up in our atmosphere. The technical details and terminology I will spare you.

WAKEFIELD
For the viewers, eh, Sir Gene? Or security reasons?

HALDERAN
No, not really, it’s that I just can’t be bothered to explain it to an intellectual vacuum like you.

Wakefield sours.

- to be continued...