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...