Bid Time Return VIII

56. EXT. OUTER EDGE (DAY)

Danstrop smacks a claw on the door control. The doors start to close but a Movellan steps in between them and effortlessly holds the doors closed. Lytton aims his rifle at the Movellan’s belt and fires. The power packs explodes. The Movellan’s gaze unfocusses as she staggers back, sways and collapses, allowing the doors to shut.

DANSTROP
Come on, come on, come on...

Another Movellan steps into the narrowing gap and tries to push the doors further apart. Lytton fires his rifle, but it does not activate. The Movellan enters and Danstrop shoots him down. Six more Movellans charge through. Lytton turns and runs for it. Danstrop looks at him disbelievingly, and is knocked over as a salvo causes an explosion. His blaster goes skidding across the floor.


57. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

The Movellan continues to rip the weakened door apart. The Doctor and Peri watch on in horror as the Movellan clears a hole large enough for it to step through.

DOCTOR
Shall we try the other method I mentioned?

PERI
Just this once!

The Doctor turns and grabs the main lever and wrenches it downwards.


58. MONTAGE

The casino light display ignites like a mass of magnesium flares with a low roar of energy.

Several streets are lit up similarly.

Naraleen’s chamber has its own display, as does the White Heart bar, now each one blazing like a sun.

The Movellans looming over Danstrop whirl around as the glare washes over them.

The glare silhouettes the Movellan in the doorway of the Power Core.

Danstrop covers his eyes.

Silver City is now lit up like a Christmas Tree, a blazing glow cascading over the Movellan craft and the distorion.

The Doctor wrenches the main lever again.

The various light displays turn negative.

The Movellan ship starts to pulse positive and negative.

The crew inside are thrown to the floor.

Silver City continues to glow.

The displays explode, causing people to scream and run for cover.

The pulsing, shimmer Movellan ship simply evaporates.

The city goes dark.

The casino is plunged into darkness. The patrons continue to scream in the dark.

The Movellans collapse in a heap beside Danstrop.

In the docking bay, more Movellans collapse. Lian is the last to fall, a look of surprise on her synthetic face.

We slowly pan across the desert outside the city. There is no sign of the Movellan ship.


59. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

The Movellan is slumped in the ruins of the door, blocking the doorway. The Doctor returns the lever to its former position and lets out a sigh. He takes out his hip flask and unscrews the top.

DOCTOR
There. That should do it.

PERI
We did it?

DOCTOR
Yes. I was only hoping to slow the expansion down, somewhere to region of a milimetre every few aeons, so the distortion wouldn’t reach the city before the universe ran out of hydrogen. But this... this good. As we intended, we cancelled out the distortion entirely – and everything in the immediate vacininity of the Drive and the Drive itself. Which means the Movellan ship no longer exists. Canceled out. Gone. Kaput.

He swigs from the flask.

PERI
So... so that’s the Movellans dead?

DOCTOR
Yes. Without the ship, they are totally cut off from the Network. Thus, their auto destruct programs have kicked in.

The Doctor crosses to the Movellan and pokes his padded shoulder. It caves in.

PERI
Nasty.

DOCTOR
Oh, not really. They won’t feel a thing. They never could. Which is part of the problem.

He takes another swig and then closes and pockets the flask.

DOCTOR
No, in a few hours, they’ll be a few puddles of non-toxic waste.

PERI
In the meantime, he’s still blocking the door. How do we get out?

DOCTOR
Use the other door of course.

The Doctor crosses the gantry and comes to an indentical doorway on the other side. Pressing the door control, it opens to reveal an identical staircase. Peri joins him.

PERI
So... we did it?

DOCTOR
Yes. We did it. But so many people are still dead, Peri.

PERI
Yeah. But so many people are still alive, remember? We saved the whole universe!

DOCTOR
Hmm. Is that supposed to balance it out?

Peri looks at him seriously.

PERI
No.

The Doctor smiles.

DOCTOR
Right answer. So, how does it feel to have rescued all of creation?

PERI
It’s getting predictable.

DOCTOR
Predictable? PREDICTABLE? How many times have we actually saved the entire universe?

PERI
Well, we stopped Mestor? And the Cyberman time invasion? And this makes three. And that’s not including all the things we stopped BEFORE they could endanger the universe. You don’t remember?

They start to climb the stairs out of view.

DOCTOR
Like you say, after a while it all gets very predictable...


60. INT. BAR (DAY)

All the decorations have blown up. Smoke wafts over the room. The patrons are wandering around, not sure what to do. The barman looks around, blinking hir huge eye.

PATRON
What just happened?

Alpha Centauri gives a trilling sigh and shrugs with all six arms.

ALPHA CENTAURI
Beats me. Who wants a drink? It’s the Festival, after all, isn’t it?


61. EXT. OUTER EDGE (DAY)

The Doctor and Peri emerge onto the concourse where the TARDIS is parked.

PERI
What about all the Movellan technology though?

DOCTOR
Oh, it’ll go the same way as the owners. In a few hours they’ll be useless as anything other as paperweights and doorstops. Danstrop and the others can help sort things out now, I’m sure.

They turn the corner and approach the TARDIS.

PERI
Where we heading to next?

The Doctor takes his key from his pocket and Lytton steps from behind the TARDIS, holding Danstrop’s Terileptil blaster.

LYTTON
It looks like I got here just in time. As ever.

DOCTOR
Lytton, my patience has worn rather thin this week. Now Peri and I are leaving and if you refuse to let her go, I will be forced to take VERY serious measures.

LYTTON
The idealistic drunk is willing to hurt me? I’m terrified.

He steps forward, grabs Peri’s arm and wrenches her towards him. He flips her round and holds her in front of him, in a headlock and with the blaster at her temple. He jabs the barrel into Peri’s forehead, making her cry out. The Doctor speaks chillingly softly, not taking his eyes from Lytton’s face.

DOCTOR
Release her, alive and intact, now. Or you won't live to regret it.

LYTTON
You don’t have the courage for that, Doctor.

DOCTOR
Don’t I?

LYTTON
No. No matter what face you wear, or planet you visit, it’s always the same. Your lack of courage, your crippling morality gets in the way. Blame me for the slaughter the Daleks and Cybermen carried out – but you’re the one who didn’t stop them. Now, I’ve got your companion, I’ve got your TARDIS and I’ve got you.

The Doctor looks aghast.

DOCTOR
But, Commander Lytton, I have the one thing you never have.

LYTTON
And what might that be?

DOCTOR
Friends.

The Doctor smiles triumphantly and there is the loud buzz of a Movellan sidearm. Lyttons eyes widen, then roll up into his head. His grip slackens, releasing Peri and the bayonet as he sprawls, lifeless to the ground. Behind him stands Danstrop, holding a Movellan sidearm trained on Lytton.

DOCTOR
Thank you, Danstrop.

DANSTROP
No hassle.

Peri rubs her neck and looks down at Lytton’s body.

PERI
Is he alive?

DANSTROP
Fraid so. I don’t know how to set this higher than stun. I can kill him if you like.

The Doctor rubs his eyes, tired.

DOCTOR
Don’t. He’s not worth it.

DANSTROP
OK.

Peri turns and kicks Lytton in the gut.

DOCTOR
Peri!

PERI
I’m not perfect, Doctor. I get angry when people try to kill me. Deal with it. What now?

DOCTOR
We leave. I’ve had enough of Silver City hospitality to last me several regenerations.

DANSTROP
And him?

The Doctor looks down at Lytton’s body.

DOCTOR
I have one or two ideas.

We stay on Lytton’s unconscious face. Dissolve to:


62. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

Lytton lying in the same position. We hear the distant sound of the TARDIS landing then the console chiming. The Doctor nudges Lytton’s body with his shoe.

DOCTOR
Welcome back from the abyss, Commander.

Lytton looks around. The Doctor stands beside him, aiming the Movellan side arm at his head. Peri stands to one side of the console. The time rotor is at rest.

LYTTON
You should have killed me.

DOCTOR
Who says I won’t? Get up. Now.

Lytton does so.

LYTTON
Do you want me to beg for my life?

DOCTOR
It isn’t worth begging for.

LYTTON
I disagree. However, I doubt there’s anything I can offer you in return.

DOCTOR
No.

LYTTON
I didn’t think so. But if you were going to kill me... not that I believe you are... why drag me aboard your TARDIS to do it.

DOCTOR
Maybe I’m insane?

LYTTON
Maybe you are. I heard it was impossible to harmed while in a TARDIS.

DOCTOR
It is. But then, my TARDIS is an old model. Do you want to risk it?

LYTTON
What’s the alternative?

The Doctor, keeping the gun trained on Lytton, reaches out and hauls the door control. They whirr open. The Doctor waves to the portal with the gun.

DOCTOR
Move.

LYTTON
Or you’ll overcome your notorious repugnance of violence and fire?

DOCTOR
That sums it up rather well.

Lytton has a look of resignation on his face but he turns and walks through the doors. The Doctor follows him, while Peri stays where she is.


63. INT. CAVE BASE (DAY)

As it was in the flashback, but it is deserted bar the TARDIS standing in the corner. The doors open and Lytton emerges, hands raised, followed by the Doctor, still holding the sidearm. Lytton looks round, suspicious.

DOCTOR
Well. Here we are. Where you’ve been struggling to get to for the past two years. All those lives you’ve snuffed out, the ruination, was it all worth it?

LYTTON
Yes.

He says it knowing how much it will annoy the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Well, now you’re here. It’s precisely the spot according to the coordinates you fed into the SlipBack Drive. Good thing I remembered them, isn’t it?

LYTTON
How do I know this isn’t some trap?

DOCTOR
What? Dump you on some out of the way planet millennia from anyone? Is that what you think? If I did that, you’d just try and get home again. More death for the unfortunates who get in the way. No, this is the genuine oyster. Star system 6-9-0, the fifth satellite of Vita 15. Riften 5, Home of the Charnel House.

LYTTON
Your TARDIS is not exactly a reliable form of transport.

The Doctor waves to the computer with the sidearm.

DOCTOR
Best check for yourself then.

Keeping a cautious eye on the Doctor, Lytton crosses to the computer.

LYTTON
Computer. State precise current time and date and verify identity.

COMPUTER
Time is fifty six minutes past the thirteenth hour, thirteenth day, fourth month, year 4595. Voice and face print recognized as Junior Warrior Gustave Lytton.

DOCTOR
There. Two years after you left, keeping you in sych with your timestream. Satisfied?

LYTTON
Completely.

He turns to face the Doctor and spreads his hands.

LYTTON
I suppose you expect gratitude, Doctor?

DOCTOR
I’m not THAT naïve. Goodbye and good riddance, Lytton. It hasn’t been pleasant.

The Doctor, not taking his eyes on Lytton, steps back into the TARDIS.

DOCTOR
Souvenir.

He throws the sidearm onto the floor and closes the door. Moments later it dematerializes. Lytton smiles dryly, crossing to the sidearm to pick it up. He looks it over for a moment then turns to the computer as the sound fades away.

LYTTON
Computer, current status of Charnel House League?

COMPUTER
Status negative.

LYTTON
Negative? Explain.

COMPUTER
Charnel League no longer in existence as of forty five minutes past the sixth hour, first day, fourth month, year 4595.

Lytton is totally shocked at the idea. It’s ridiculous.

LYTTON
Two weeks ago?! What happened?

COMPUTER
Intense internal conflict caused by unknown alien pathogen in atmosphere. Airborne pathogen self eliminated as of fourteenth hour, first day, fourth month, year 4955. Virus symptoms include psychotic violence, suicidal insanity and fatal neural collapse.

Lytton’s expression darkens.

LYTTON
Who sent the virus? What caused it?

COMPUTER
No knowledge, cannot answer.

LYTTON
How many survivors?

COMPUTER
One.

Lytton’s face falls.

LYTTON
Just one?

COMPUTER
Confirmed.

Lytton collects himself.

LYTTON
Well, who is it?

COMPUTER
Junior Warrior Gustave Lytton...

Lytton sways, as if unsteady on his feet. He shakes his head, closing his eyes.

COMPUTER
...last recorded trace in year 4593, seconded to mercenary Dalek Taskforce under command of Overseer Loathos Kiston...

He turns and looks at the spot the TARDIS stood. Lytton sighs.

COMPUTER
...presumed killed the destruction of prison barge Cassius Four at twenty-nine minutes past the nineteenth hour, fifteenth day, second month, year 4593.

He turns and unhurriedly stumbles for the exit.

COMPUTER
Details of posthumous honors to Junior Warrior Gustave Lytton available in archive...


64. EXT. HILLSIDE (DAY)

It’s just like in the flashbacks, except silent bar the sound of the wind. Lytton steps wearily into the sunshine and looks around sadly.


65. MODEL SHOT

We see the Charnal House and the surrounding woods. But the trees are dead twigs with no vegetation. The clock tower is fractured and lies sprawled on its side next to the shattered remains of the complex. The bridges and walkways are shattered and end abruptly, and the rusted hulks of the League Ships are dumped randomly around the landing pad. We see the clock tower has stopped.


66. EXT. HILLSIDE (DAY)

We zoom back from the weary Lytton standing in the ashes. His voice carries and echoes.

LYTTON
No survivors. No anything...

We zoom out further, until he is just a dot against the barren landscape. We can still hear him quite well.

LYTTON
Just me.

We zoom out further, dissolving to:


67. MODEL SHOT

The moon dwindling against the gas giant. The TARDIS slowly rotates as it drifts away from the planetoid.


68. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

Peri looks at the scanner as shrinks into the distance. The Doctor leans against the console, looking sad.

PERI
So we won’t be seeing him again?

DOCTOR
He’s in his home time zone now, it’s all he wanted.

He reaches into his pocket for his hip flask and stares at it for a while.

DOCTOR
You’re right. This isn’t doing me any good.

PERI
You OK?

DOCTOR
I’m not sure any more.

He wanders over to a waste paper bin by the external doors.

DOCTOR
900 years and I’m not sure. What does that say about me, hmmm? And can you tell me, Peri, why I still can’t get to sleep? I just see him, that hatred, it chills me to my feet. He was a mass-murdering psychopathic dictator... but he never betrayed his friends. I can still hear him screaming at me.

He drops the flask in the bin.

DOCTOR
Can you tell me what that means?

PERI
You miss him, don’t you?

DOCTOR
I just keep wondering... if he had stayed on Gallifrey, if we hadn’t both left, where would we be now. If I gave him a chance back then, when it counted, things would have turned out different, maybe even better. Back on Gallifrey, before Azmael, before Morbius, back before people accepted TARDIS as an acronym...

PERI
What was it like?

DOCTOR
Oh, dull, boring, tedious, you don’t need to hear it.

He wanders over to the console.

PERI
Try me.

DOCTOR
It was quiet. A lazy Sunday afternoon of childhood that went on for centuries. We spent days just looking into the space time vortex or going for walks in the countryside, fields and forests, looking up at the stars. First time we really spoke to each other, he helped me out – I had a pet hidden under my dormitory bed, very secret, except it got lonely and started singing a mating song. I helped him out with his telepathy homework, and he taught me a few tips on hypnosis. One time, we played truant and went to a Shoboogan tavern, we got totally drunk and he picked a fight with the barman and the barman’s six biggest friends. He was so confident, he’d finally come top of the class the day before, came out ahead of the rest of the class, even me. He thought he could do anything, even take on some of the most violent beings on the planet!

Peri starts to smile at the Doctor’s more cheerful tone.

PERI
So what did you do?

DOCTOR
We ran for our lives, Peri, and eventually handed over all our drinking money when they finally caught us! We were penniless for weeks and couldn’t tell anyone!

The Doctor laughs and moves around the console, adjusting controls.

DOCTOR
Hah! Those were the days, Peri! We actually managed to put one of our teachers into a time loop – the poor chap taught the same lesson all day and never noticed it! And we formed a band, Peri, a real band! The Gallifrey Academy Hot Five... dissolved due to creative differences the next day, but for those few hours we were bigger than Omega! I played lead perigosto stick, the Master played drums and the Rani was the vocals!


69. MODEL SHOT

The TARDIS spins away, we heard the voices of the Doctor and Peri echoing, getting fainter and fainter as the police box dwindles off into the depths of space.

DOCTOR (VO)
He tried to cheer us up by holding the end of term party, second worst party I’d ever experienced.

PERI (VO)
What was the worst?

DOCTOR (VO)
The one I threw the next week to show him how it was done! And one time...

(END OF BID TIME RETURN)
(NEXT EPISODE: THE TOMB IN SPACE)
(ROLL END CREDITS)

Bid Time Return VII

39. INT. MOVELLAN FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

Two Movellans are carrying the dead Ruxel out of sight as Olu watches. Information starts to scroll up the main screen.

JALDA
Commander. Massive sub-space energy disturbance detected.

Olu turns to face the screen.

OLU
Scan main airlock!

The image behind the information changes to:


40. EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE (DAY)

As before. The group stare at the Drive. An angry crackling black spot appears at the heart of the white glow, very small at the moment. Distant, hollow noises can be heard, as if at the heart of a whirlpool.

DOCTOR
Are you happy now, Loki? You’ve just become death, the destroyer of all worlds!

LOKI
Yes I have!

Loki flings out his arms and screams happily at the sky.

LOKI
I HAVE ACHIEVED APOTHEOSIS!

LYTTON
Good for you.

Lytton grabs him, punches him in the stomach, then in the face. He is sent, reeling into the glow. He strikes the black spot and convulses, screaming. Brilliant spark course up and down him for a moment. The crackling gets louder. He screams. The Doctor sighs.

DOCTOR
Sound and fury drowns my heart
Every nerve is torn apart...

LOKI
No! Help me!

Peri moves forward to help, but the Doctor holds her back.

DOCTOR
No, don’t touch him! Affect the field and it will consume you as well! We can’t do anything for him now.

He looks at the convulsing Loki.

DOCTOR
Sorry. Honestly, I am.

He runs up the ramp to peer at the rest of the Drive. Loki struggles to focus on him.

LOKI
Doctor...

DOCTOR
I can’t help you. Apart from anything else, Loki gets caught in his own net – I said you were tempting fate with that name. Now, excuse me, I have a universe to save.

Loki cries out and turns to Lytton.

LOKI
Help me! Please!

Lytton half-smiles.

LYTTON
Why? You wanted this!

LOKI
But I want to see the rest of you die first! PLEASE!

The Doctor checks the connections to the ship.

PERI
Not much encouragement.

DOCTOR
We can’t disconnect anyway, he’s fused the power lines!

DANSTROP
But we can cut them, surely?

DOCTOR
If we do that, anything might happen. Remember?

The crackling gets louder and louder. Loki screams and jerks again.

LOKI
It’s tearing me apart! I... I’m AFRAID! I...

He lets out a loud scream and goes limp. The crackling gets louder still. Black spots start to dance over his corpse, faster and larger.

PERI
I-is he dead?

LYTTON
The distortion’s wearing his internal organs thin.

DANSTROP
And we’re next.

The Doctor blinks.

DOCTOR
Not necessarily. Come on, back to the city! Quickly!

He turns to run across the sand. Peri, Danstrop and Lytton hurry after him.

LYTTON
I hope you have an idea, Doctor!

DOCTOR
Half an idea, and that’s better than none!


41. INT. MOVELLAN FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

The screen shows their retreating shapes. Olu turns to address the other Movellans who stand in formation before him. Jalda is checking the control panels.

OLU
The Doctor has shown considerable intelligence in temporal engineering. If anyone on this planet is capable of reversing the damage Loki has unleashed it is he.

LIAN
Then why is he retreating?

OLU
His animal instinct for self-preservation. All organics are similarly illogical. Lian, you will take a strike force to locate and return the Doctor here at any cost.

LIAN
And those with him?

OLU
There is no time to be wasted. Eliminate them.

LIAN
Yes, Commander.

The Movellans turn and start to leave, collecting their side-arms as they go. Olu turns to face Jalda again.

OLU
What is the status of the disturbance?

JALDA
Sensors are not fully calibrated to measure the effect, Commander. All signs indicate that it is growing in a geometric way. This vessel shall be compromised in approximately six point eight minutes.

OLU
Do the battle computers offer any theories?

JALDA
None with high probabilities of success. This situation by its very nature is hypothetical.

Olu turns away from the controls. The last of the Movellans is leaving.

OLU
Then there is nothing to be done.


42. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

The Doctor runs through the ships towards the area under the gantries. He starts to check the wall panels as the other catch up.

DOCTOR
There’s always something to be done. But we need to get to the power core of the colony, and there should be an access hatch somewhere in here – assuming the designs haven’t been changed. Now do any of you know anything about iso-geometrics?

The others shake their heads.

DOCTOR
Plasma-geotonics?

They shake their heads.

DOCTOR
Tri-sidial theostetrics?

They shake their heads.

DOCTOR
SlipBack Drive Maintenance 101?

They shake their heads.

DOCTOR
Oh, my kingdom for a computer programmer.

LYTTON
What exactly are you planning to do?

DOCTOR
The SlipBack Process works by stirring up causality in the immediate vacinity – cause and effect, the flow of history, all of it gets jumbled up until the barriers dividing time streams temporarily implode and allow a hyperspatial tunnel from here to wherever we happen to heading for, understand? Ah, this is it. Danstrop help me.

Danstrop joins the Doctor by a panel and they struggle to shift it.

DOCTOR
Now, pay attention. Loki has programmed the Drive to do the first part but not the second – the distortion without the reparation. It will get worse and worse until the fabric of matter falls apart altogether. But we haven’t reached that point yet. All it’s doing, fundamentally is generating noise.

LYTTON
So generate a counter wave to cancel it out.

DOCTOR
My very intention, Commander.

He and Danstrop lift the hatch revealing a short corridor and steps leading downwards. The Doctor hurries down it and the others follow.

PERI
What’s a counter wave?


43. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

A rather cramped area of screens, control panels and junction boxes beside a walkway overlooking the depths of the generators – a mass of pipes and machinery purring loudly. To the left is a doorway with steps leading upwards. A screen shows the docking bay. The Doctor runs down them and into the control area, looking around and taking in everything. He talks all the while as Peri, Danstrop and Lytton arrive behind him.

DOCTOR
Sound is a specific vibration, a pattern of peaks and troughs. If you get the exact opposite pattern of peaks and troughs, you get the opposite noise. Play it over the noise, it cancels it out. One plus negative one equals zero. Silence!

The Doctor tugs down a keyboard on flexible cables and begins to adjust the displays.

PERI
Like anti-sound?

LYTTON
In principle, yes. Generate the right vibration and the effect is nullified.

PERI
But how do you know what vibration to use?

DOCTOR
It’s easy enough to work out when you know how.

LYTTON
It’s not just the frequency but the amplitude. Can you generate something that powerful?

The Doctor snatches some wires and connects them to a different set of sockets.

DOCTOR
Oh easily.

DANSTROP
There’s nothing in the city that can do that – not any more, now they Movellans have totalled the plasma canons!

DOCTOR
The whole is more than the sum of its parts, Danstrop. Generating a counter wave through one amplifier wouldn’t be enough, but a thousand amplifiers...

PERI
Where are you going to get a thousand amplifiers?

The Doctor slows as realization dawns.

DOCTOR
Ah. Point.


44. EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE (DAY)

The squads of Movellans are leaving the saucer. The white glow is very large and starting to spill out over onto the landing ramp. The last few Movellans stagger and sway as the light spills over them. They stumble and nearly fall. Further along, Lian turns back to see one stumble and topple onto the ground. Black sparks start to dance over the Movellan. Lian turns to see the mummified shape of Loki sprawled over the Drive.

LIAN
The distortion has now sealed off the saucer.


45. INT. MOVELLAN FLIGHT DECK (DAY)

Lian’s face fills the screen. Olu, Jalda and the remaining Movellans watch on.

OLU
We shall determine a safe way to re enter the craft. Continue to the objective.

LIAN (DIST)
Understood Commander.

She turns and moves off after the others. The screen starts to distort.

JALDA
Commander. The distortion now completely covers the origin point of the Drive. It is now impossible to physically interface with the Drive systems without suffering total systems malfunction.

OLU
Recompute. There must be a solution.

Olu turns as a faint crackling is heard. The white light is starting to seep through the airlock. The glow gets stronger and the crackling gets outer.

OLU
Evacuate that section.

The remaining Movellans calmly leave the section.


46. EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE (DAY)

Black static dances over the crumbling remains of Loki which finally slide to the ground and shatter in dust. More black static is enveloping the bodies of the Movellans. One’s face starts to rot away, revealing circuits and metal underneath. The edges of the ramp are melting and corroding. The crackling is getting louder. The Drive is lost under the vortex of black sparks. The white glow is engulfing the lower half of the saucer.


47. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

The Doctor, more subdued, holds a keyboard and is desperately punching commands into them. The others look on.

DOCTOR
There must be something. Some kind of wave emitters throughout the city, it is a CITY isn’t it? Tele-screens? Holo-vids...

LYTTON
You’d have to modify each individual wave.

DOCTOR
So I would. And there is quite literally no time.

DANSTROP
Some Festival of Light this is turning out to be.

The Doctor turns and stares at him.

DOCTOR
The Festival of Light! Of course! That’s it!

With renewed enthusiasm, he starts to reprogram the controls.

DOCTOR
Peri, switch off every green light you can see – and if you can, make them turn red! Danstrop, haul down all those levers by the stairs.

They go to their tasks. The Doctor finishes with the keyboard and opens an inspection hatch. He hauls out a static of circuit boards and starts looking through them.

LYTTON
What are you planning, Doctor? What EXACTLY are you planning?

DOCTOR
You should keep an eye out for local customs. This city is celebrating its equivalent of Christmas, by having lots of lights! Candles, lightbulbs, holograms, sprites, if it makes light, it’s in the festival! And since light is its own wave form, the decorations will not just be generators but BOOSTERS and...

LYTTON
...you’d have a cumulative effect that would cancel out the Drive.

DOCTOR
Exactly! And all those light sources are powered from this very chamber!

DANSTROP
Uh, how long do you think you’ll need, Doctor?

DOCTOR
Half an hour at most. Why?

Danstrop points at the screen above their heads. It shows Movellans marching.

PERI
What do they want?

LYTTON
Probably to drag us back to the ship and make us fix this.

PERI
But we’re fixing it!

LYTTON
They don’t know that.

DOCTOR
And by the time we convince them otherwise, the damage will be irreversible.

PERI
So what do we do?

DOCTOR
Well, we send out the most battle hardened and bloodthirsty members of the team to slow them down while the less bloodthirsty and more technical minded members continue to work on the counter wave.

The Doctor picks out a particular circuit board and drops the others on a table. He examines the remainder, then places it on the table and Peri hands him the sonic screwdriver to work with. Beat.

LYTTON
I think I understand the subtextual request, Doctor.

Lytton turns and runs out. Danstrop grins toothily.

DANSTROP
A bloodbath! Take back what I said, Doctor, this is gonna be a great Festival!

He scurries after Lytton. Peri watches him go.

PERI
He seemed so nice.

DOCTOR
He is nice – for a Terileptil. They have psychotic tempers to match their artistic skills. Now, Peri, put those other circuit boards back into place. No time to dawdle!


48. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

Lytton closes the hatch behind him. Running across the bay, Lytton picks up his discarded Cyber rifle as three Movellans strides out of the gloom and behind them, two more. Lytton calmly raises the rifle and fires. Three Movellans sway and collpase. Lytton fires again and two more Movellans fall as they try to draw their weapons. He fires again.

LYTTON
Danstrop!

DANSTROP (VO)
I have to get a weapon! Hold them for a minute!

Lytton looks down at the dead Movellans.

LYTTON
Easier said than done.

One of the Movellans’ hands starts to flex and twitch.


49. EXT. DESERT OUTSIDE (DAY)

The saucer is almost lost in the white glow, underside shaded by the crackling black spots. The twisted slab that was once the ramp falls heavily to the ground.


50. INT. MOVELLAN FLIGHT-DECK (DAY)

The Movellans are now crowded in the pilot section. One lies sprawled in the white glow which now fills the couch section. Olu and the others watch on impassively.

OLU
There is no strategy to undertake. Though we shall cease to function it is concievable that Lian and the others will force the Doctor cooperate and reverse the distortion.

Black sparks engulf the Movellan in the glow.


51. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

Most of the floored Movellans are now twitching slightly. Lytton turns and shouts back down the hatchway.

LYTTON
I’ve bought you some breathing space.

He turns. One of the Movellans is jerking to life.

MOVELLAN
Systems...

Lytton shoots it in the face. It falls back. Another starts to move. He shoots that one as well. Suddenly at the back, two Movellans rise to their feet. Danstrop runs out of Hyranto’s spaceship with a Terileptil blaster and fires twice. The two Movellans collapse. Lytton shoots another Movellan as it starts to revive, but as it falls another two start to twitch. Danstrop shoots them frantically.

DANSTROP
How many times must we kill these things?!

LYTTON
I’ll let you know.

Lytton picks up a Movellan side-arm and sweeps it back and forth, firing. There is the loud buzzing as all the Movellans fall back lifeless... to reveal another ten Movellans marching into view. Lian is at their head.

DANSTROP
This is just not fair.

Danstrop shoots Lian, who falls. The other Movellans have their weapons aimed. Lytton shoots the nearest and has to duck as there is an explosion behind him. One of the fallen Movellans sits upright.

MOVELLAN
Systems restored to full function.

Danstrop shoots the revived Movellan. The other squad open fire. Another explosion.


52. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

Peri looks up nervously as she hears the explosion. The Doctor has opened an inspection hatch and is half buried inside, working.

DOCTOR
There! Peri, slide in the last circuit board into place.

Peri does so, closing the cover. She flips down a blue control. A screen lights up and Peri peers at the display.

PERI
Frequencies are matched. Doctor, we’re all set!

The Doctor climbs from under the console and pulls down another control. The computers come to life and hum loudly. He adjusts a few more controls.

DOCTOR
There! Done! We are now generating the perfect counter wave to the SlipBack Drive. In a few seconds, the effect will spread out from Silver City in all directions.

PERI
What if it’s not quick enough?

DOCTOR
Well...

The Doctor presses a switch. A monitor glows brightly.

DOCTOR
The Movellan ship’s nearly consumed... the disturbance is growing all the time!

PERI
Is the counter wave growing fast enough to stop it?

DOCTOR
Delay it? Yes. Stop it? No. If we don’t close it down before reality itself is breached... Things are not looking good.

There is a volley of gunfire and another explosion.

DOCTOR
Any ideas, Peri?

PERI
Me?!

DOCTOR
Why not? You’re intelligent, aren’t you? Think!

Peri shrugs, lost.

PERI
Uh, give me a minute.

DOCTOR
Normally I’d be happy to. Come on, Peri! Think! Humans always see the little things, it’s what makes you so special! I’ve missed something, so what is it?

PERI
How should I know? Um... wait. How come the distortion’s growing in the first place?

DOCTOR
It’s receiving energy from all the matter it consumes. More it feeds, the more it grows, in direct proportion. How can that help?

PERI
Does our counter wave work the same way?

DOCTOR
Yes, but the energy output would have to be... Peri. You are an absolute genius.

The Doctor hugs her and then starts adjusting controls frantically.

PERI
Takes one to know one.

DOCTOR
Now, the best way would be to maximize all energy output to the transmitters in a gentle build-up, but we could always...

Peri grabs his hand as he moves to pull down a massive lever.

PERI
No, no, just keep it simple.

The Doctor looks at her, eyebrow arched.

DOCTOR
Well, you ARE the genius.

He adjusts more controls.

DOCTOR
I just hope Lytton can give us the time needed to stitch up... well, time.


53. MODEL SHOT

The glow continues to swell brighter, creeping out in all directions.


54. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

All the Movellans are on their feet and closing in on Lytton and Danstrop. Danstrop shoots three Movellans down, but they instantly rise to their feet, not even disabled by the injuries received.

LYTTON
They’re reactivating too fast! Fall back!

DANSTROP
There are too many!

LIAN
Your weapons are no longer effective. We have adapted systems sheilding.

Danstrop whimpers and shoots her in the face. She collapses.

DANSTROP
Hah! LIAR!

LYTTON
Movellans don’t boast, Danstrop. We’ve got to leave!

DANSTROP
Sure. After you.

Lytton looks around. The Movellans are still close for either of them to make a break for it. Danstrop fires and misses. Lytton fires his rifle but it takes a second before the sonic blast emerges. Another Movellan topples as three of the first salvo revive.

DANSTROP
Run for it!

Lytton and Danstrop run for the exit as Lian staggers to her feet.

LIAN
Eliminate them. We shall take the power core.

The duo reach the door as the Movellans split into two groups. Lian leads the group after Lytton and Danstrop, while the others all aim their weapons at the hatchway. There is a loud, shrill buzz and the hatch explodes.


55. INT. POWER CORE (DAY)

The Doctor and Peri look up from the console.

DOCTOR
They’re onto us already.

He holds his sonic screwdriver over the lock. It explodes.

PERI
Well... guess they can’t get in now.

There is a muffled buzzing whine. Steam is rising off the closed door as the whining gets louder and louder. Their faces fall.

PERI
Unless they start burning down the door.

DOCTOR
The program’s working... just not fast enough!

PERI
It has to!

DOCTOR
It should be matching the distortion, but the Movellans might shut it down before...

The door warps and buckles. A Movellan fist punches through it like wet paper.

- to be continued

Bid Time Return II

11. EXT. OUTSIDE THE BAR (DAY)

Another alleyway. Lytton and Gamsool emerge from a doorway with bright white glyphs on the walls around the door. Several figures are milling around, some sitting against the wall with other, non cultist, drunks. The duo head off.


12. INT. THE BAR (DAY)

The trio are now swaying beside the bar. The Doctor downs an entire flask.

DOCTOR
I remember now...

RUXEL
Remember what?

DOCTOR
The Festival of Light. It’s all about freedom, isn’t it?

DANSTROP
Yeah, freedom for opiates.

DOCTOR
Yes, freedom for... NO! No, not that! Its about blessing everyone in the universe, since everyone needs a spot of luck, and you know, acknowledgement that there’s probably some kind of point to it all! That’s right, isn’t it?

DANSTROP
Yep.

DOCTOR
Good! I mean, the big bang was set off by SOMEONE... there must be a point. Right?

DANSTROP
You bet.

DOCTOR
I thought so. So, what do we do apart from getting drunk?

DANSTROP
Light candles, mainly. Basically, a thousand years ago, the whole galactic disc was ruled by an evil empire that made us worship them instead of... whoever you worship. Anyway, this mighty army of the people overthrew the empire and sorted it out all the temples. Anyway, they lit a candle to dedicate to the real gods, but the candle burned for eleven days longer than it should have done.

RUXEL
That’s the miracle, is it?

DOCTOR
It’s not about miracles, Reepicheep!

RUXEL
Ruxel.

DOCTOR
Whatever! It’s about the good guys winning. Being free. Absolute moral victory.

The Doctor sighs and looks sadly at his drink.

RUXEL
For more superstitions, just swapping sets. If that’s freedom?

DOCTOR
It is.

RUXEL
You don’t believe in that, do you?

DANSTROP
Who cares? It’s fun!

RUXEL
Fun? This entire city is decked out for a pagan ritual for the superstitious. You think if we didn’t have the Festival, we’ll have bad luck next year? It’s this kind of crude occult practices that are stopping this galaxy from getting anywhere.

DOCTOR
It’s the highlight of the year! What’s wrong with celebrating warmth and hope and fun and affection and... and belonging?

RUXEL
What’s good about it?

DANSTROP
It makes us feel happy.

Ruxel laughs.

RUXEL
I’ll drink to that!


13. INT. THE CASINO (DAY)

Naraleen leads Peri over to a large ovoid table with cones made out of coiled springs arranged in a pyramid. Several more sophisticated and intelligent-looking patrons stand around the table. Naraleen takes another drink from a passing waitress as she talks.

NARALEEN
Now, this game is a new import – and I’m certain you’ll find it to your liking.

PERI
I don’t have any chips to play.

NARALEEN
Which is why this is perfect game. No bids needed, no stake limit. It is called Spiral Rune and I think you’ll pick up the rules very quickly, my delightful, er...

PERI
Peri.

NARALEEN
“Peri”? That is such a delightful name.

PERI
It’s short for Perpugilliam.

NARALEEN
Oh, how exotic! Perpugilliam!

PERI
Please, just “Peri”.

NARALEEN
But of course. I can tell that you and I will be the most... compatible of companions.

PERI
I already have a companion.

NARALEEN
The more the merrier. Now, the rules of this game are tiresomely simple...

The lights suddenly blaze brightly. Peri looks around, confused as the light increases in intensity. Everything distorts slightly, then the room seems to shake as the light becomes blinding.


14. INT. CHELLAK’S QUARTERS (DAY) B&W

The glow just as quickly vanishes. A grubby, cramped cabin with a bed. Peri sits on it, looking unwell. She snaps out of it as SALATEEN reaches down and helps her up. MAJOR CHELLAK stands by the door.

CHELLAK
...if anything happens to you, Salateen, she will guide the men to Jek’s base. Give her another shot of sulphadione before we set out.

SALATEEN
Sir.

Peri struggles to focus. Salateen helps her stand.

PERI
That stuff you gave me...

SALATEEN
It’ll keep you on your feet for the moment.

PERI
Don’t you have a cure? Some bat milk supply?

CHELLAK
No. It’s almost impossible to obtain and not worth it.

SALATEEN
We have too few spectrox casualties to justify a supply.

PERI
How few?

SALATEEN
Only dozens.

PERI
“Dozens”?

SALATEEN
In terms of percentages, very few.

PERI
Oh, I like that philosophy. But, surely you help them...

Chellak picks up the belt-plate and looks it over.

CHELLAK
My troops are all warned about the dangers of raw spectrox – if they touch it, it is a self-inflicted injury.

PERI
Do you put that on the recruitment posters?

CHELLAK
Life in the army is better than being in any of Trau Morgus’ construction camps. Right, Salateen, your idea of duplicating these things. You better take it down to the artificers. If these work we can have a bloodless victory.

Half-smiling, Salateen takes the belt-plate.

SALATEEN
Except for Sharaz Jek’s blood, of course.

Chellak snarls happily.

CHELLAK
That goes without saying, Major.

Peri holds her head in her hands as there is another blinding burst of light.


15. INT. THE CASINO (DAY)

The light reduces to its normal level as a vibration runs through the room. Only Peri seems to have registered it and looks around in a daze. Naraleen is still talking to the crowd as if nothing has happened.

NARALEEN
Now, gentle beings, gather round. I am certain that the superb Perpugilliam will amaze us all yet again with her amazing skills. She is truly a champion of chance! Aren’t you?

Peri blinks in confusion.

PERI
Yeah. Sure. You bet.

NARALEEN
You see? Now, let us all drink, let us all play and let us all be merry!

A mild cheer. Naraleen slides an arm around Peri’s waist.

NARALEEN
As this beautiful young woman has so rightly agreed, “Life is but a game”!

Another, louder cheer.


16. INT. THE BAR (DAY)

The Doctor looks up sharply from the empty bottle in his hands.

DOCTOR
What on Earth was that?

The others look round, foggy-eyed.

DANSTROP
What was that?

RUXEL
It was whatever it was, and whatever it was...

DOCTOR
A noise, like... like something falling... falling and breaking. Or someone standing in front of my tombstone. An echo.

Ruxel considers the aftertaste of her drink.

RUXEL
An echo of something falling?

DOCTOR
No... not falling. GOING to fall.

DANSTROP
You’re hearing an echo... of something... that hasn’t HAPPENED yet?

DOCTOR
Yes. Something so powerful, it might have been just now. But it’s echoing backwards. The crash before the fall happens.

RUXEL
What do you mean?

DOCTOR
Something’s coming. Something very big, something very scary and...

RUXEL
Yes?

DOCTOR
Oh, I desperately need a drink! Alpha Centauri? Another, er, Sirian Panther Sweat, please?

ALPHA CENTAURI
It’ll make your teeth fall out.

DOCTOR
I’ll grow a new set!

DANSTROP
Seriously, can you do that?

DOCTOR
If not, I’ll get dentures.

They laugh. Ruxel finishes her drink.

RUXEL
So, what was that noise, then, Doctor? The sound of the world ending?

The Doctor looks at her with a drunken seriousness.

DOCTOR
You know, I think it probably was.

He beams at her and accepts another drink. As his fingers brush it there is a brilliant building flash. The Doctor opens his mouth to speak as the light blots him out.


17. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY) B&W

The glare fades to show the time rotor is rising and falling. The Doctor is leaning over the console, brooding darkly, eyes fixed on the time rotor but clearly not seeing it. Peri is leaning on one of the pillars opposite the scanner. She’s changed her clothes and has been talking for a while.

PERI
...that too. Yeah, I mean, I’ve had a bit of a traumatic night too. But, well, if the teenage botanist who doesn’t know how to swim can pull herself together, then surely the 900 year old adventurer in time and space can do it? Huh?

The Doctor does not react. Frowning, she approaches him.

PERI
Doctor?

Peri waves a hand in front of his face. The Doctor looks up at her vacantly, then turns to staring into the time rotor.

PERI
Snap out of it, Doctor! You haven’t spoken since we left Earth. You look so pale, almost... haunted.

DOCTOR
Maybe I am.

PERI
Ah, ah, but we exorcised the ghost.

She smiles broadly. He doesn’t seem to have heard her.

PERI
Come on, crack a smile, can’t you? You’re not flaking out again, are you?

DOCTOR
No. Not this time. It’s just... I won’t see him ever again. Outside nightmares.

PERI
You were OK the last time you thought you killed him.

The Doctor winces and looks at her. She squirms slightly.

PERI
Sorry, but you were.

DOCTOR
I was a different person then, Peri. At the time, I... I expected he’d survived. Somehow. I... I can’t remember why. Maybe it was just some kind of denial?

He sighs.

DOCTOR
Wouldn’t be the first time.

PERI
Look, you did what you had to. I mean, would he feel this bad if things were reversed?

DOCTOR
No. But it’s no excuse, is it?

PERI
At least you need one. I mean, I get what you’re feeling.

DOCTOR
Do you?

PERI
The Master was the nastiest guy in the universe, OK? But that doesn’t mean him dying is any less important than Flast or Azmael or, well, anyone. I mean, if we didn’t care about people dying, then we might as well not care about being alive. We wouldn’t be human!

DOCTOR
I’m not human, Peri. Neither was he.

Peri looks at him, deadpan.

PERI
You know what I mean.

The Doctor laughs weakly and nods.

DOCTOR
Hmm. His arrogance cost us both. Now I’ll never be free of him.

PERI
Yeah, and standing there for the last six hours, that’s really helped. Not eating, sleeping or talking, that’s the icing on the cake. You know what you need? Cheering up! Let’s go somewhere fun!

The Doctor doesn’t seem to be paying attention.

DOCTOR
Don’t dwell on nightmares. Concentrate on dreams.

PERI
Hello?

The Doctor does not react at all to her voice.

DOCTOR
“Somewhere fun”. I heard.

PERI
Yeah, that’s what I said. Somewhere fun.

DOCTOR
Yes. A holiday. Why not? We both need a rest. And recreation.

He straightens up and starts adjusting controls on the console.

PERI
Where to? Vesta 95? Your coat can finally fit in!

DOCTOR
Assuming the TARDIS can get us there.

PERI
Why? What’s wrong?

The Doctor shrugs, uninterested, as he moves around the console, programming the console.

DOCTOR
Systems aren’t fully re-calibrated yet. Resetting the coordinates probably won’t help. I really should get the TARDIS back up to snuff. I’ve been letting it slide, lately. I never did get round to finish the modifications... The TARDIS isn’t getting any younger. Neither am I, come to think of it.

He gives a sad sigh and recommences adjusting the controls.

DOCTOR
Still... Onward, ever onward.

PERI
We could end up anywhere then?

The Doctor shakes his head to clear it of fatigue.

DOCTOR
Not ANYwhere. Just most places. One particular place in one particular time.

PERI
And where’s that, pray?

He hauls down the slide control and the time rotor slides to a halt with a chime.

DOCTOR
Let’s find out.

Another building flash of bright white.


18. INT. THE BAR (DAY)

The glare fades, leaving the Doctor holding the glass, looking baffled.

DANSTROP
Doctor? You all right?

The Doctor blinks. He speaks distantly.

DOCTOR
Yes. Yes, I’m fine.

Danstrop shrugs.

DANSTROP
Suit yourself. Any plans for the Festival, Ruxel?

RUXEL
No plans whatsoever.

DANSTROP
Just take things as they come, eh?

Ruxel gives Danstrop a knowing look, leaning past the Doctor to do so.

RUXEL
Things are going to change soon.

DANSTROP
They say change is inevitable.

RUXEL
Not for long.

Danstrop frowns his crested brow.

DANSTROP
What do you mean by that?

Ruxel grins and sips her drink.

RUXEL
You’ll find out, Danstrop. You’ll find out.

The Doctor lowers his gaze to fall on Ruxel, suspicious.


19. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

Lytton and Gamsool are moving through the walkways down to the ground. A few Rocinante figures mill about but do nothing as they pass. Gamsool is bitching to himself because Lytton isn’t listening.

GAMSOOL
It is so stupid, it beggars belief. This is Celeste! The biggest commercial outpost this side of Draconia! You can buy anything in the known universe here if you can front the price – everything that’s legal, most things that aren’t! A trader’s haven!

LYTTON
A gambler’s paradise. Playground for the degenerate.

GAMSOOL
Yeah, well, that’s as maybe. Silver City is big place, even discounting the Casino – all the clubs and bars and drug dens... It would make sense, business sense to encourage traders, wouldn’t it?

LYTTON
Yet the Governor thinks otherwise, which is why she put the taxes on trading.

GAMSOOL
Governor Naraleen! Now all trade has to go through her! No more free trade, it’s criminal.

LYTTON
Free trade IS criminal. It’s a polite way of saying smuggling.

GAMSOOL
Do you know what the tax would be on the three hundred chips you gave me?

LYTTON
Around fifty per cent.

GAMSOOL
Precisely! That’s me down to a hundred and fifty. It’ll drive the traders out...

LYTTON
You’re still here.

GAMSOOL
For the moment.

They start to cross the landing pads.

LYTTON
Others are too. I’m not remotely interested in your sob stories, Gamsool. You’re not the first dealer I contacted. The Governor is only concerned with trading profits above the fixed level, nothing else is penalized. It just limits the money you earn. If you can call it earning.

GAMSOOL
What about the Business Tax? Got to be paid annually!

LYTTON
That tax pays for the right to render all trading legal and above board no matter who or what you are concerned with. A small price to have all dealings rendered above board.

GAMSOOL
Well, I can’t afford it!

LYTTON
My heart bleeds. And yours will too if you don’t hand over the goods.

GAMSOOL
I’ll barely get the price of dinner at Lucan’s for this thing! I could charge enough to buy this whole planetoid, fixtures and fittings and still not get the full value!

LYTTON
But no one is willing to buy it, except me.

GAMSOOL
You’re not buying it, you’re stealing it!

LYTTON
Be grateful. The black market penalty tax Naraleen introduced will be far more than one hundred and fifty credits.

GAMSOOL
Typical. The only person that believes the merchandise is genuine is psychotic crook.

LYTTON
Why did the others think it wasn’t genuine?

GAMSOOL
They didn’t believe that I was capable of finding the genuine Drive.

LYTTON
I wonder why. Now if you want to live to complain about this, get a move on.

Gamsool crosses over to the Sidayzhet, stopping as he sees the main hatch has been slashed open. His face falls and he sprints over to it.

GAMSOOL
Lynella! Hyranto! LYNELLA!

Lytton moves to follow, then, frowns, blinks, sways. Light builds up around him.

- to be continued...

Bid Time Return I

(RUN OPENING CREDITS)

1. MODEL SHOT B&W

A futuristic city at dusk. Fires are burning between the buildings and there are several explosions.


2. EXT. OUTER WALL (DAY) B&W

There is a lot of smoke and the sounds of burning. A column of TROOPERS in familiar Charnel House armor are approaching the foot of a wall. The Leader, ARVNEX, has his visor raised to reveal that he is an older man with graying hair. He indicates to the others with his rifle.

ARVNEX
Keep down. You have your orders. Head out into sector seven, and attack. Take no prisoners, execute all targets. Return to the cruiser once all insurgents have been terminated.

A MAN emerges from the smoke slowly, holding a gun. He spots the troopers and hisses in surprise. Arvnex spins and fires. The man ducks and returns fire. The beam bounces harmlessly off Arvnex’s armor. The other troopers open fire. The man screams as he is shot three times in the chest and collapses flailing. One of the troopers crosses to the corpse and kicks it. There is a cruel laugh from the helmet, the voice of KISTON.

KISTON
Twelve down and we haven’t even set the charges yet.

TROOPER
Why bother? The city’s alight, the base is already on fire.

ARVNEX
Our mission is clear. Move out. The other phalanx will seal off the city.

The troopers start to split up and head off through the smoke. Several of them start opening fire and various VICTIMS – human and alien collapse, most unarmed. Several large explosions go off in the distance.

KISTON
With the buildings sealed up, those inside will burn.

TROOPER
Will their deaths be noted?

KISTON
Of course. They are all insurgents. Officially. Even the loyal citizens.

TROOPER
And the ones who try to get off planet?

KISTON
The cruiser will shoot them down.

Another ALIEN lurches out of the shadows and fires at the trio. Kiston casually shoots it down, blood spurting from the wound on its chest. It struggles to raise its own weapon, but the other trooper shoots it dead.

TROOPER
They really will fight to the death.

KISTON
I doubt we’ll take any alive.

TROOPER
Why would we want to take any alive?

He fires at the corpse once more. They turn and move off. The last trooper stays, looking at the dead alien. He lifts his visor. It is LYTTON. There is a low coughing sound from a WOUNDED MAN lying sprawled in a doorway. He sobs. Lytton turns to look at him, then shrugs, shoots him dead and heads off after the others. A shrill beeping fills the air, getting louder and louder.


3. INT. CYBER SHIP (DAY)

The lights are dim but there are lights flashing in time with the beeping. Lytton is heaped in a corner, having made a bed out of some bubbled packing material. He has a stubbly beard. His eyes crack open and he leaps to his feet, instantly wide awake and alert. He crosses to the consoles and checks the displays. A screen illuminates showing a dusty brown world on the scanner. Lytton presses a control. The screen shows a grounded space station against a rather barren landscape. Lytton’s reaction does not change.

PA
Celleste Traffic Control contacting unidentified craft. Respond please.

Lytton presses a control.

LYTTON
Celleste Control this is civilian transporter Star Wanderer. I request permission to land, my ship is suffering from meteorite damage and needs spare parts.

PA
Permission granted. Align vectors to signal Beta Five Two One Gamma.

LYTTON
Aligning.

PA
Enjoy your stay at Celleste and please visit the Casino. Traffic Control out.

Lytton adjusts the system controls in front of him. The background whir builds up.

LYTTON
Civilization. At last.


4. MODEL SHOT

The stolen Cybership swoops down towards the planet.

(FINISH OPENING CREDITS)
(BID TIME RETURN)
(EPISODE ONE: IN THE BEGINNING...)

1. MODEL SHOT

We see the grounded space station which has been partially converted into a city. There is the distant sound of music and lights behind the windows. A jolly atmosphere.


2. INT. THE CASINO (DAY)

The chamber is subdivided into hexagonal cells the same pattern as is repeated throughout the space craft. There are lots of bright lights and neon signs with alien hieroglyphics. The major colours are bright yellow and purple. There are long tables with various strange gambling games on it – a giant version of chess with silver cylindrical places; a multi-story version of a trilogic game; a circular table decked out like a monopoly board. The PATRONS are of various alien species, including Terileptils and other stock aliens. Exotic alien potplants and cactii stand in corners, with the occasional statuette. Beside most of these linger a CLOAKED FIGURE no one pays any attention to.

We pan across to see PERI is standing at one such gambling table, holding a mass of hexagonal dice-like chips that stuck up together. She’s enjoying herself immensely and wearing a fancy dress, with her hair up. A small crowd is gathered around her.

PERI
I say... four priestesses!

The CROUPIER moves several of the cylinders to different parts of the table, which then illuminates randomly. The four cylinders are all illuminated, but none of the others are.

CROUPIER
Four priestesses down, no bids until new game.

He starts rearranging the cylinders. The two other patrons give Peri grudging looks while the small crowd cheers. Peri punches the air happily as the croupier collects more chips and neatly arranges them in front of her.

PERI
Oh yeah! Peri Brown breaks the bank at Celleste Casino!

A flamboyantly dressed but beautiful woman with long blonde hair approaches. This is NARALEEN, and holding a yard of alcohol. She seems another excited gambeler, dripping with emeralds.

NARALEEN
How do you do it?

PERI
Oh, that’d be telling!

NARALEEN
Go on! It’s uncanny!

PERI
I’m just riding my luck and enjoying my vacation. It’s not Los Vegas, but it’ll do!

CROUPIER
New game!

PERI
You here on your own then?

PERI
Oh, no, my friend’s here too. He’s just unwinding in the... White Heart, I think it was? He just needs some time to relax, but I’m here to party! Three empresses, please!

The others give their bids. Naraleen shakes her head in disbelief.

NARALEEN
I can’t believe anyone would willingly miss THIS display!

PERI
Oh, my friend’s very shy. He likes to blend into the background. This place is way to garish for him.


3. INT. BAR (DAY)

The Doctor, eyes wild and gesturing dramatically while holding a mostly-empty glass, is booming with the passion of an Olde Testament Profit. As we pull out we see he is standing on the bar, shouting at the rest of the establishment. It’s a fairly quiet room of undesirable-looking patrons. There are lots of empty flasks lying around the place, a few wilted pot plants and ambient music being piped from the smoky booths. Behind the bar is an ALPHA CENTAURIAN with two of its arms folded as it blinks dispassionately. Other patrons are half-paying attention to the screaming Time Lord.

DOCTOR
“The whole island, you know, was one ENORMOUS hotel, complex beyond explaining! And on the other side, there were... miles of floating hotels! And huge floating stages to which the flying machines came. And THEY called it a pleasure city!” A Dream of Armageddon, Herbert George Wells, 1901, Earth!

ALPHA CENTAURI
Very nice, Doctor. But you’re not getting any more Voxnic until you pay up.

The Doctor blows out his cheeks and agilely jumps off the table onto the stool, then from the stool to the floor, then falls onto the stool.

DOCTOR
So I’m reduced to this, am I? Nine centuries and this is all I’ve got to show for it – an unappreciated sartorial sense, a broken time machine and a dangerously high blood alcohol level. What’s the reckoning, then?

ALPHA CENTAURI
Twelve credits twenty.

The Doctor boggles.

DOCTOR
That’s... daylight robbery!

ALPHA CENTAURI
You DID buy everyone a round. Twice.

DOCTOR
Fine. Live for the moment, take your pleasure where you can. We’re all dust and we’ll all be dust again...

The Doctor fumbles in his pocket and takes out a snow globe.

DOCTOR
Youth... YOUTH... is a BLUNDER!

He stares at it as if trying to understand it, shakes it and frowns at the snow, and drops the globe on the table.

DOCTOR
Manhood a STRUGGLE!

He pulls out a paperback, two fir cones, an alarm clock, a candy bar and a teddy bear. He stares at the pile of junk.

DOCTOR
OLD AGE A REGRET!

He opens the book and takes out some currency.

DOCTOR
Take my advice, end it all on your eight hundredth birthday. Saves so much trouble in the long run. Another round please.

He hands the currency to the barman. Enthusiasm bleeds out of him.

DOCTOR
Anything for a quiet life.


4. EXT. OUTER EDGE (DAY)

A dingy, run-down area on the outskirts of the city. Bright sunshine comes from several distant open hatches leading out to the desert outside. Streamers flap in the breeze and some garbage blows past the pavement. A tough-looking woman in her fifties, LYNELLA, walks down the alley. Three cloaked figures stand at points on the alleyway, not even hiding. LYNELLA passes them, clearly seeing them with disapproval. They make no move as she hurries towards the end of the alleyway. A moment after she is gone, they turn in unison and quietly follow her.


5. MODEL SHOT

We see the docking bay in all its glory. There are half a dozen space craft of different design on circular landing pads – on one is Lytton’s second-hand Cybership. The left half of the bay is open to the outside world, the right half a warehouse with various gantries and walkways.


6. EXT. DOCKING BAY (DAY)

Lynella is running along one of the walkways and then down some steps. Further behind her, three of the cloaked figures follow unhuriedly. Lynella casts a worried look over her shoulder as she increases her speed. She reaches ground level. There is a cloaked figure waiting by the steps. She starts. The figure makes no move towards her. She turns and sprints off across the bay. The hooded head turns to watch her.

The other three descend the steps and march off with more speed after Lynella. The fourth figure silently joins them as they head after her. Lynella is hurrying up a ramp connecting the lower body of a space craft to the floor. She turns to see the cloaked figures are silently striding towards her. Lynella enters and presses a control on the wall beside the door. The hatch closes and the ramp retracts.

It finishes just as the cloaked figures arrive. They stay where they are, staring up at the craft in silence. In unison, they draw identical stiletto blades.


7. INT. COCKPIT (DAY)

A sparsely furnished hemispherical room with three pilot seats with steering columns and monitor screens lining the walls between the view ports. A Terileptil HYRANTO in an Elizabethan ruff and finery, is adjusting some controls. He whirls as Lynella runs in.

HYRANTO
What’s wrong?

LYNELLA
Are all the main hatches locked?

HYRANTO
If you closed the one after you, yes. Lynella, what...

LYNELLA
Let’s just leave, OK?

HYRANTO
We can’t leave without Gamsool. What’s wrong?

LYNELLA
Those freaks outside.

HYRANTO
Freaks? Oh, the Rocinante?

LYNELLA
Yes! They’ve been following me all day!

HYRANTO
Have they? Which ones?

LYNELLA
How should I know, Hyranto? They all look the same, stupid robes and hoods...

She sits down in a seat and checks over the controls.

HYRANTO
They’re harmless. They’re just here for the Festival.

LYNELLA
They arrived months early.

HYRANTO
And they haven’t been doing anything except skulking in the shadows. Probably embarrassed about getting here early. Why start now, just before the Festival?

LYNELLA
I don’t know. But three of them followed me here.

HYRANTO
They were just going in the same direction.

LYNELLA
Another one was waiting for me when I got there!

HYRANTO
That was probably the one they were looking for. You really ought to learn to relax, Lynella. Now, where’s Gamsool?

LYNELLA
Oh, he’s still up drowning the last of his credit.

HYRANTO
I thought he lost it all at the casino?

LYNELLA
All except the emergency Voxnic money.

HYRANTO
We better wait for him. He’s probably doing another deal before he comes back.

LYNELLA
Like any sane humanoid is going to buy that heap of scrap ironmongery...

HYRANTO
There’s always a queer customer.

A distant metal clang. The rending of metal. The pilots exchange looks. The clangs repeat.

HYRANTO
That’s the outer hatch...

LYNELLA
The Rocinante! They’re...

HYRANTO
Nonsense. You talk to traffic control. I’ll deal with this.

He snatches up a Terileptil blaster and jogs out. Lynella watches him go.

LYNELLA
Hyranto! Be careful! Hyranto!

She turns and taps at a terminal. A screen lights up flickering.

LYNELLA
This is private freighter Sidayzhet HG5 to Celleste Traffic Control – request scan of outer hull integrity and docking bay please. Traffic Control? Traffic Control this is Sidayzhet HG5. Respond. Hello? Is anyone there?

A distorted, reverberating and sillibant whisper is heard.

FIGURE 1 (VO)
Eclipse...

LYNELLA
What?

FIGURE 1 (VO)
The Eclipse... of Time...

She frowns and taps a control. The screen shows another hooded figure, incongruous in front of the displays and read outs of traffic control.

FIGURE 1 (DIST)
Eclipse. The Eclipse. The Eclipse of Time.

Swallowing, Lynella reaches out and shuts off the screen. Snatching up a futuristic dipstick, she turns and moves towards the exit. The voice is heard again.

FIGURE 1 (VO)
The Eclipse of Time is at hand and we shall all be freed!

Lynella whirls back. Sudden silence.

LYNELLA
Hyranto? Hyranto! Are you there?

Silence. She moves further and stops. There is blood splattered on the wall beside her. She looks at it in horror, covering her mouth.

LYNELLA
Oh, Hyranto...

Suddenly a cloaked figure steps out of the dark and grabs her from behind. She cries and struggles, dropping the dipstick. Her screams are muffled as the second figure steps in front of her and slashes out with its blade – the edges illuminate blue. The others stride past the grisly display and they enter the room. One sits at the console and starts changing control settings. The other crosses to Lynella’s console and re-connects the link to traffic control. Behind them, the other figures enter and start to demolish the chamber, wrenching open panels and ripping out cables, shutting panels down.

FIGURE 2
It is done. The Sidayzhet now belongs to us.


6. INT. TRAFFIC CONTROL (DAY)

One wall is a window beyond which is the docking bay. A bank of computers is placed before it, and the hooded figure stands before a console showing the interior of the Sidayshet and the other cloaked figures.

FIGURE 2 (DIST)
The Eclipse of Time is at hand.

FIGURE 1
And we shall all be freed.

We pan across to show another cloaked figure standing over a heap of corpses – those who once ran the traffic control. Bloody wounds show they were all stabbed.


7. INT. THE CASINO (DAY)

Peri looks horrified as the crowd behind her moan unhappily.

PERI
Oh no, not here, not now!!

CROUPIER
I am sorry madam. But house wins. No bids until new game.

The croupier starts rearranging the cylinders. None of them are illuminated. Another attendant takes all of Peri’s chips. The other two patrons laugh cruelly at Peri. She sneers at them. The crowd is dispersing.

NARALEEN
Perhaps it was unwise to put all your money on the gladiator.

PERI
It would have got me pay dirt.

NARALEEN
If it had succeeded. But it didn’t.

Peri sighs and drains her glass of water.

PERI
Ah well. It’s only money.

NARALEEN
Life is but a game.

PERI
Pretty tough one, but a game none the less.

NARALEEN
Well said, my dear. You are indeed a noble lady.

Naraleen speaks in a louder voice, turning to address the other patrons, in particular the former member of the crowd. All turn to listen to her, but not all with friendly respect on their faces.

NARALEEN
This woman understands the rules of life – not only in Celleste but in the rest of the known galaxy! I suggest, my treasured clientelle, you watch her closely.

PERI
Great. I never get enough of that.

NARALEEN
She will undoubtedly go far in this humble pleasure dome.

Naraleen turns to one of the WAITRESSES who walk back and forth with drinks.

NARALEEN
A drink, please for my special friend.

PERI
Oh, don’t put yourself out...

NARALEEN
But I insist. I am always generous to such esteemed acquaintances as yourself.

PERI
I kinda just lost all my spending money.

NARALEEN
No matter, my darling, it’s all on the house.

PERI
Oh, cool.

She addresses the waitress.

PERI
Another glass of water, please.

NARALEEN
You don’t want anything stronger?

PERI
I have a feeling that my friend is probably drinking enough for the two of us.

NARALEEN
Over fond of the bottle, is he?

PERI
He’s uh just coming to terms with, er, a death in the family.

NARALEEN
I’m sure he would be having much more fun here.

Peri is given a drink.

PERI
Maybe. Maybe not. You never know your luck in a big city.

Naraleen gives a musical laugh and drapes her arm around Peri’s shoulders. Peri is slightly taken aback as she sips her drink.

NARALEEN
Well said, my beauty! Well said! Your arrival truly heralds the Festival of Light!


8. INT. BAR (DAY)

As before. The Doctor and the other patrons are drinking, one on side of him a Terileptil called Danstrop, on the other a brunette woman called RUXEl, wearing a cloak identical to the Rocinante wear. Although she does not have her hood on, making it less obvious. The Doctor acts as though he’s just heard Naraleen.

DOCTOR
Festival of what?!

DANSTROP
Festival of Light, Doc.

DOCTOR
Doctor! I did not spend two hundred evening classes in thermodynamic theostatistics to be called “Doc”! In fact, I did not spend two hundred evening classes in thermodynamic theostatistics AT ALL! Which is why I failed the course – but that is beside the point! DON’T CALL ME “DOC!”

DANSTROP
Sorry. Anyway, it starts tonight.

DOCTOR
What does?

DANSTROP
The Festival.

DOCTOR
What festival?

RUXEL
The Festival of Light.

The Doctor closes his eyes and nods.

DOCTOR
Oh, THAT! What is it then?

RUXEL
Twelve day excuse to get drunk.

The Doctor laughs.

DOCTOR
You need an excuse? Get on the wagon already!

DANSTROP
Oh, it’s all about propitiating gods during mid-winter so they bring back the sun and warmth.

DOCTOR
We’re in desert – it’s fiftty degrees centigrade outside!

DANSTROP
Thought that counts, Doctor.

RUXEL
Thought? Superstition, more like. And ignorance!

DOCTOR
Do you mind? Almost every culture has something along those lines!

RUXEL
Only primitive ones with secular religions!

DOCTOR
An opiate for the masses?

ALPHA CENTAURI
Coming up!

DANSTROP
Yeah, make that two, would you, Alpha?

As they chat to the barman, another cloaked figure enters. We can clearly see, however, the cloaked figure is Lytton and his cloak is not like the Rocinante. He sweeps past the bar, heading for a booth. As the Doctor is not wearing his colorful coat and facing the wrong way, neither registers the other’s presence. In a booth is GAMSOOL, a pale, balding figure with tentacle-like dreadlocks.He does not look up from a book he reads.

GAMSOOL
That’s seat taken no matter if you’re buying, selling, armed or the police.

LYTTON
The seat is taken by ME.

Gamsool looks up.

GAMSOOL
Ah. Gustave. You’re early.

LYTTON
That’s because the Sidayzhet is due to lift off in three hours.

GAMSOOL
I would have got you the merchandise first.

LYTTON
Have you got it for me now?

GAMSOOL
Maybe.

LYTTON
Maybe?

GAMSOOL
I might forget where it is... if I can’t afford to remember it.

LYTTON
Is that your incredibly subtle attempts to extort more money out me?

GAMSOOL
Exortion?! It’s called payment for purchased goods, Gustave!

LYTTON
I have already paid you three hundred chips for it.

GAMSOOL
It’s worth more than that.

LYTTON
Is it worth your life?

Lytton opens his cloak to show he is cradling a Cyberman rifle in his arms. He aims it at Gamsool who folds his arm, clearly taking the threat easily.

GAMSOOL
Two thousand was my initial estimate. It stays there and at that, you’d get it cheap.

LYTTON
I’d only get it cheap if it were free, Gamsool.

GAMSOOL
It’s my property, I can charge whatever I like.

LYTTON
Of course. But don’t expect me to pay. Not while I’M the one with the gun.

GAMSOOL
Four hundred. Final offer.

LYTTON
No deal.

Lytton presses the barrel of the Cybergun into Gamsool’s throat.

GAMSOOL
All right, pay for the drinks and you can have it?

LYTTON
How about I let you keep your heart beating and you give it to me right now?

GAMSOOL
I can’t. It’s in the Sidayzhet cargo hold.

LYTTON
I know.

GAMSOOL
I can get you in there.

LYTTON
And I can let you live.

GAMSOOL
I’ll be being very generous.

LYTTON
And I might not. It depends whether its more trouble taking the merchandise by force than restraining myself from ventilating your skull. What do you say, Gamsool?

A beat. Gamsool is sweating. He shrugs.

GAMSOOL
You’re sure you can’t get the tab?

LYTTON
Quite sure.

GAMSOOL
Oh well. Let’s take a stroll down to the docking bay then, eh? Gustave? My friend?

Lytton jabs the barrel hard into Gamsool’s throat, forcing him to bang his head against the wall.

LYTTON
Why not, “my friend”?

He stands, drawing his cloak around him. Gamsool rubs his head.

LYTTON
Now move.

GAMSOOL
This city used to be a lot nicer before Naraleen’s trade laws came into play.

LYTTON
I’ve heard it said. Move.

- to be continued...

DWM Preview! Bid Time Return

Following their crippling defeat at the hands of the Movellan Network, the last survivors of the Daleks scattered across the galaxy, realizing that they would again have to rely on humanoid races to assist them in the task of rebuilding. But instead of Robomen, Ogrons or the prisoners they took as slaves, the Supreme Dalek turned its attention to the Charnel House - an ancient order of the most viscious and competent warriors in existence, whose only loyalties were to themselves and their current paymasters. The Daleks tricked a platoon lead by Commander Gustave Lytton into becoming their elite Dalek Task Force and brainwashing them to become mindless Dalek slaves. But Lytton's superb grasp of strategy and tactics were needed badly by the Daleks, and his conditioning was only partial - and the warrior's cunning brain was able to break it entirely.

The attack on Cassius Four succeedly solely down to Lytton's planning and, although no amount of planning could have predicted the arrival of the Doctor and his effect on subsequence events, it is obvious the outcome would have been very different if Lytton had been given free reign by his increasingly paranoid and insane Dalek Masters. Realizing the increasing danger of Davros' private army and that the Daleks were determined to get rid of him Lytton used his intelligence and managed to escape the slaughter of the warehouse (a feat only the TARDIS crew also managed), and took mental command over the two remaining, masterless, Kamelion androids. Although marooned in 1984 London, Lytton was quick to adapt and despite having no official existence soon became a profitable blue collar criminal, his gift strategy easily allowing himself and three loyal if unintelligent comrades to become wealthy. He also had the skill to construct a complicated artificial intelligence with only rudimentary twentieth century components.

Lytton once again found himself caught up in a massive alien invasion through time - only on this occasion it was the Cybermen and they had their own enemies to deal with before the newly regenerated Doctor and Peri turned up. Lytton's risky plan to use the time invasion in order to escape back to his own era was once again compromised by the Doctor's chaotic arrival. However, Lytton's sense of self-preservation was finely tuned and he not only escaped with his life, but also a Cyber scout ship capable of taking him, if not home, than to the more civilized parts of the universe.

Tracking Lytton down would be a time-consuming and frustration process for the peripatic Doctor, though it is clear that of all his human enemies it is Lytton he despises most - from his brutal murder of an unarmed and defenceless woman in Warhead of the Daleks to selling out his only human friends in The Attack of the Cybermen, Lytton's calm ruthlessness and sheer brutality make him a dangerous opponent. It is quite clear that he is capable of returning to his home time and place, but the question is what will the consequences be to the innocent bystanders when he does it?

However, Commander Gustave Lytton is far from the thoughts of the Doctor and Peri at present, which is ironic, as he, like them, is currently visiting the barren desert planet of Celleste which boasts the gambler's paradise, Silver City - a haven of entreprenours, black market traders, wanders, aliens, and many more simply passing through. After the exhausting events of The Enemy Within, the Doctor is drowning his sorrows and trying to think of anything else. Peri, finally giving up on her mentor, is off enjoying herself at Silver City's opulent casino and spending some time with the Governor of Celleste, the philosophical Naraleen. However, there are others visiting Silver City - the Rocinante, a literal doomsday cult lead by the dangerously unstable Archon Tesku (or, as he liked to be called, Loki) who intend to end the universe and everything in it.

Assuming the Doctor can tear himself away from the luxury of his voxnic bar, will even he be able to stop Loki when not only Lytton is there to impede him but also the menagerie of chaos that engulfs Silver City as a side effect of his armageddon device?

These answers are to be found in the fifth story of the new season, Bid Time Return, which is chalk to the previous story's cheese. While The Enemy Within was a small scale, horrific, character based story Bid Time Return is a large, colourful extravaganza of casinos and alien cultists yet both are focussed on bases under siege and how the Doctor and Peri cope with encountering some of the most evil beings they've ever encountered. The title is as much about the desire for the time travellers (even Lytton) to get back the fun times they once had as it is about the extra-dimensional chaos Loki intends to unleash, and like all the best comedy has incredibly dark subject matter at its core.

To balance out the expensive nighttime location filming of the previous story, Bid Time Return is entirely studio bound, with the models and special effects team working wonders to create flying saucers, ruined castles and the vitally important Silver City, itself a parked space station on an asteroid. Also, scenes cut for timing reasons from last year's spectacular The Caves of Androzani have been cunningly woven into the narrative, as have some from the legendary Shada. With its big concepts and characters hiding the fact this is the one of the year's "cheap" stories, producer John Nathan-Turner swear that it will not let up the pace between the heavyweights of The Enemy Within and the six-episode epic The Androgum Inheritance as Lytton is not the only returning enemy in this story.

Joining Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Maurice Colbourne as Lytton in Bid Time Return are main cast members Stephen Pacey as Loki, Sabina Franklin as Naraleen, Ben Howard as Gamsool, and Ric Young as Commander Zihra. Considering the impressive list of ingredients and the high standard of stories so far, this unobtrusive two-parter might have the potential to be the winner of the season.