The Apocalypse II

17. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

The screen showing that corridor turns to static.

SPENCER
Christ, not again!


18. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

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


14. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

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

SPENCER
Bizarre.

Andrew re enters.

ANDREWS
What is it?

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

TITO
Brown out?

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

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

Beat.

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


19. INT. APARTMENT (DAY)

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

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

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

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

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

Nigel rolls his eyes and twirls like a prima donna.

NIGEL
Of course I'd win it.

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

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

Andrew looks at camera and sighs.

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

Dave rolls his eyes.

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

NIGEL
Nine!

ANDREW
Nope.

Nigel remains pleasant.

NIGEL
It bloody is, you ignoramus.

ANDREW
Nope. It’s ten.

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

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

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

ANDREW
Yes.

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

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

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

Nigel sneers.

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

ANDREW
What is it now?

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

He speaks with awe. The others exchange weary looks.

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

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

NIGEL
As good as the Big N?

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

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

Andrew speaks patronizingly to camera.

ANDREW
The tenth planet’s official name is Nibiru.

Nigel looks disgusted.

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

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

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

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

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


20. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

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

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

Tito doesn’t move.

TITO
Aw, what is it?

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

TITO
Probably.

SPENCER
...or we have intruders.

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

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

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

Spencer gnaws his fist.

SPENCER
At the edge of the section.

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

SPENCER
Uh-oh.

Tito pauses in the doorway.

TITO
Don’t say uh-oh.

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


21. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

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

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

BEN
Come on, Poll, it’ll all be...

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

BEN
...all right.

She pulls the pistol from her shoulder holster.

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

The Doctor smiles as Andrews aims the gun at them.

DOCTOR
Ah, madam, I...

ANDREWS
HANDS UP!

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

POLLY
Sorry if we’re intruding...

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

BEN
Uh, the entrance bay.

Andrews is even more incredulous.

ANDREWS
What? You just WALKED in?

DOCTOR
Not quite...

ANDREWS
Any more of you?

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

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

ANDREWS
I said hands up, Goldilocks!

POLLY
But that noise...

ANDREWS
Deal with it!

BEN
Hey, leave her alone...

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

BEN
We’ll come quietly.

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

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

ANDREWS
What took you people so long?

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

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

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

ANDREWS
Take them to security and I want them searched.

TITO
Got you, Sarge.

ANDREWS
And then give them a quick check for radiation.

BEN
Eh? Radiation? What radiation?

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

POLLY
The Zee Bomb?

DOCTOR
Zed. Yes, I remember now.

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

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

ANDREWS
And keep quiet while you’re at it!

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

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

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

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

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

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


22. MODEL SHOT

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

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


23. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

As before. Bluey checks the instruments above his head.

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

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

BLUEY
No sign of civilization.

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

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

TERRI
But if there are people down there...

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

The light inside the capsule increases for a moment.

BLUEY
What’s that light?


24. MODEL SHOT

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


25. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

The astronauts check their displays frantically.

BLUEY
It’s something on the surface.

GLYN
Probably just a reflection.

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

The light inside the capsule dims to normal again.

GLYN
Whatever it is, it’s gone now.


26. MODEL SHOT

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


27. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

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

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

DOCTOR
Please, stop that!

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

Tito doesn’t look keen.

TITO
You sure they’re not radioactive?

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

SPENCER
Get on with it, Tito!

Tito frisks Ben, then the Doctor.

SPENCER
How did you people get out here, anyway?

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

Tito laughs.

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

BEN
She’s not joking.

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

Tito frisks Polly awkwardly, then stands up.

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

The Doctor stares at him.

DOCTOR
I think he likes you, my dear.

POLLY
Yes, I got that impression, thanks.

SPENCER
Well, private?

TITO
No weapons, nothing, sir.

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

DOCTOR
Thank you.

They step away from the wall and look around.

SPENCER
Why are you lot even here, anyway?

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

TITO
Eh? We work here!

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

SPENCER
Eh?

POLLY
He means everyone owns the South Pole.

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

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

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

DOCTOR
Some sort of doomsday weapon?

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANDREWS
That’s why we’re here.

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

BEN
And what if YOU crack?

Andrews steps closer, her voice threatening.

ANDREWS
You really want to find out, sailor boy?

She turns to face the others.

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

SPENCER
Someone new to talk to, Sarge.

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

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

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

DOCTOR
Is it Christmas?

Andrews rolls her eyes.

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

The Doctor frowns and shakes his head.

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

SPENCER
In Antarctica, yeah.

The Doctor indicates the monitor showing snow.

DOCTOR
But there’s a blizzard outside!

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

DOCTOR/BEN/POLLY
New planet?!

The security guards exchange disbelieving looks.


28. INT. TV STUDIO (DAY)

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

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

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

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

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

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

WAKEFIELD
If you like.

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

Wakefield leans in, interrupting.

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

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

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

Halderman arches an eyebrow.

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

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

HALDERAN
Zed Bomb.

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

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

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

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

Wakefield sours.

- to be continued...

The Apocalypse I

(ROLL CREDITS)

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(THE APOCALYPSE)

(EPISODE ONE)

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1. MODEL SHOT

The mountainous landscape is covered with snow. Through the thick blizzard we can make out the shape of a rocket rising out of the ground. There is a sudden roar and glow as it blasts off up into the dark sky and out of view.


2. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

A screen shows the rocket leaving Earth. Pull back to show it is beneath a radar screen and surrounded by monitors. It is the far wall of a large chamber containing various consoles and displays. A stairway leads to a landing which leads to the exit. The air is tense. GENERAL CUTLER, a tough American in his fifties and an immaculate uniform, is pacing. TECHNICIANS rush back and forth. Two men are staying at consoles, working grimly. One is DYSON, a balding Englishman with a frown. The other is BARCLAY, a stressed Australian man with a beard, glasses and tie which he fiddles with.

DYSON
Launch complete.

TECHNICIAN (VO)
Handing Zeus Five control over to Snowcap Polar Base.

Cutler nods grimly. Barclay speaks into a mike.

BARCLAY
Thank you, Geneva. Dyson?

DYSON
Will do.

Dyson presses a control. A screen lights up. It shows a crammed vessel full of controls. There are two seats and one behind them, with three astronauts – GLYN (Bermudan), BLUEY (Australian) and TERRI (American) – reclining in the seats.

BARCLAY
Snowcap to Zeus Five. Zeus Five, how do you read me?

BLUEY (VO)
Loud and clear, Snowcap, loud and clear.

DYSON
Snowcap to Zeus Five. Over to local control channel. J for Jimmy.

GLYN (DIST)
Over to J for Jimmy now.

BARCLAY
Dyson, give Texas tracking the next orbital pattern will you?

DYSON
Right, will do, Barclay.

Cutler takes the mike.

CUTLER
Snowcap to Zeus Five – any signs you’re not alone up there?

Terri grins sarcastically to the others.

TERRI (DIST)
Hey, that voice sounds familiar!

Cutler clears his throat, awkward.

CUTLER
Zeus Five, any other traces?

TERRI (DIST)
None at our end. Anything at yours?


3. INT. ZEUS FIVE (NIGHT)

The astronauts are reclining beneath rows of instruments. Sunlight continually changes position through the portholes on either side of the craft as it rotates. A screen shows Cutler’s face.

CUTLER (DIST)
Nothing yet. Seems to have gone quiet.

GLYN
Don’t worry, General. Any sign of a little green man, you’ll be the first to know. How’s the operation going?

CUTLER (DIST)
The warhead’s nearly ready.

BLUEY
As long as we’re safely down before the fireworks start.

CUTLER (DIST)
No fear on that.

TERRI
Course not, we got the best insurance against that.

Glyn and Bluey exchange a look, confused.


4. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Cutler glares at the screen.

CUTLER
Back to work, you three. This isn't a holiday!

BLUEY (DIST)
Back to work, huh? And on Christmas Eve of all days...

Annoyed, Cutler turns and crosses the room.

CUTLER
Take over, will you Barclay?

Barclay nods and takes the mine.

BARCLAY
Morning Bluey, morning Glyn, morning Terri. Repeat your velocity for ground check please.

A tough-looking, thick-set American woman enters the gallery. She wears a uniform and a stern expression. This is SERGEANT ANDREWS.

ANDREWS
All three security teams are ready, General.

CUTLER
Good, Sergeant. Keep alert. They might appear any minute.

ANDREWS
No worries, sir, we can deal with anything.

CUTLER
You better be right, Sergeant. If the enemy do arrive, I want them pegged before they come within yards of the entrance.

ANDREWS
Sir. It’s an eight force wind and a blizzard out there. It’s going to be damn difficult to get to the door in any case.

CUTLER
Then make it even more difficult. Once you’ve done that, I want the security camera systems checked again.

ANDREWS
They haven’t played up for over 48 hours.

Cutler heads back to the others.

CUTLER
"48 hours" is good. "Never again" is better.

Andrews rounds on him, annoyed.

ANDREWS
Nothing can get into this base. It’s impossible!

CUTLER
Impossible is not in my vocabulary, Andrews – I suggest you remove it from yours.


5. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

A dark chamber, lit by a few screens. Shadowy figures duck in and out of view, light glinting off their hides. They are SILVER CREATURES. A screen lights up with computer talk and then an image of a space shuttle appears over it. Words are superimposed over the image.

}}SPACE CRAFT NOW OVER ISLAND “NEW ZEALAND”
}}HEIGHT OF 980 METRONS...
}}INTERCEPTION AT 1100 METRONS...


6. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

The time rotor is rising and falling as the wheezing and groaning of the engines fills the air. THE DOCTOR moves from one panel to another, looking slightly disheveled – as are BEN and POLLY, standing by the doors.

POLLY
Where will we got to now, Doctor? Will we go forward or back in time?

The Doctor shrugs as he adjusts some controls.

DOCTOR
I have no idea – I have no control over such matters.

Ben scowls.

BEN
Well, it better be 1966 or I’m in dead trouble, Doctor!

He sighs. The time rotor slows to a halt as the engine noises fade.

BEN
Well, anyway, wherever it is, it can’t be as bad as going back to them days.

The Doctor chuckles. Polly shivers and rubs her bare arm.

POLLY
What’s happened, Doctor? I’m freezing!

Ben looks around, surprised.

BEN
Yeah – it’s getting right parky in here.

Frowning, the Doctor pulls a lever and points to the monitor below the ceiling.

DOCTOR
Just look up at that scanner. We have arrived at the coldest place in the world – the South Pole!

The trio look at the image: a metal sign says:

Snowcap Tracking Station
International Space Command
SOUTH POLE BASE

7. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

A warning light flashes.

}}ALERT... ALERT... ALERT
}}CHRONOLOGICAL DISTORTION DETECTED...

We see a human hand press a control.

{{INVESTIGATING...

The screen changes to show the TARDIS. The hand presses another control.

{{ANALYZING...

Computer talk fills the screen again.


8. INT. TARDIS CONTROL ROOM (DAY)

The Doctor is operating controls. Ben is still rubbing his arms.

BEN
Hurry up, Pol!

No reply.

DOCTOR
There, there, Ben. There we go.

He pulls a lever and there is a low buzz.

DOCTOR
Heating exchange restored. The last time it broke down, we were on the roof of the world, you know. Good thing I put in that back up system.

BEN
Any idea where we are then, eh, Doctor? In time, I mean.

DOCTOR
Well, I tried to aim for a specific time track, but anything more specific than one century in one planet is, er, extremely difficult.

BEN
So it’s Earth, the South Pole... 1966?

DOCTOR
No idea, but it must be after the twentieth century – no installations were constructed there before. And, since we’re inside it, we can go out and investigate.

BEN
What? Find out the date and try again?

DOCTOR
Perhaps. Unless something happens. And in my experience something always happens. Come along, Polly, my child!

POLLY (VO)
Coming, Doctor.

A cheerful Polly re-enters. She wears a white fur coat and a white hat and over her arm is a cloak and another fur coat.

BEN
How come she listens to you?

The Doctor waves a hand modestly.

DOCTOR
Live with a young granddaughter, Ben, and you learn these things.

Polly hands over the clothes.

POLLY
Hey Doctor, you've got the most fantastic wardrobe!

DOCTOR
Yes, well, I'm glad you approve my child.

POLLY
These are gorgeous. Where do you shop, Carnaby street?! Ha ha!

Ben pulls on his fur coat.

BEN
Nice muff, Duchess.

POLLY
What?!

BEN
Who do you think you are, Nanook of the North or something?

POLLY
Oh. Right. That Eskimo chap...

The Doctor glares at them sternly.

DOCTOR
Oh now, stop being so flippant, you two! Now come along.

POLLY
Are you sure you're going to be warm enough?

DOCTOR
Oh, like toast my dear. Now, did you find everything you want?

POLLY
Yes thanks!

DOCTOR
Then let us face our destiny, hmmm?

He pulls a switch and the doors open. They head out through the doors.


9. INT. ENTRANCE BAY (DAY)

A wide, hangar like chamber. Several vehicles under tarpaulins are ranged against the walls. In one of the unoccupied spaces now stands the TARDIS. The Doctor, Polly and Ben emerge and look around. The Doctor pulls the TARDIS door closed behind him and locks the door before pocketing the key.

BEN
It’s not too cold.

DOCTOR
Of course not. But this chamber must be colder than the rest, so the temperature difference with the outside world is not to extreme.

POLLY
Why should it?

BEN
Don’t want these snow mobiles or whatever freezing up, do they, Duchess?

POLLY
I suppose not. Why build a base at the South Pole, anyway?

DOCTOR
My dear Polly, this part of the Earth allows unique opportunities to study the weather, the stars, the planets and develop medicine and a dozen other subjects in peace and quiet. And this, er, International Space Command, must have constructed some sort of rocket testing site out here for some reason. Yes. Which means we must be after your time, I’m afraid.

BEN
By how much?

DOCTOR
Well, there is a simple way to find out.

Polly rolls her eyes.

POLLY
Go and ask someone, I know.

Ben crosses to the hatch behind them. It is set into a larger, garage-like door that takes up most of the wall.

DOCTOR
I wouldn’t open that door if I were you.

BEN
Why not?

DOCTOR
Because it leads to the surface. Look – there’s a sensor plate there.

The Doctor points to a set of displays next to the hatch.

POLLY
What does it say?

DOCTOR
It says you can’t go out.

Polly laughs.

POLLY
Anything else?

DOCTOR
There’s a gale force wind out there, force sixteen I think, and an ice blizzard too. The temperature, is, er, around the mean of thirty below zero.

BEN
So... we stay inside?

DOCTOR
Yes. Come along, we just have to find out the year and then we can try again.

The Doctor heads down towards the other exit. Ben and Polly follow.

BEN
But if we have overshot, can we get back without bumping to the dinosaurs?

DOCTOR
You’re perfectly welcome to stay here if you please, Ben. I’m sure that being away without leave is not particularly important after the first five years...

The Doctor opens the door and peers through. Ben glares at Polly.

BEN
Charming geezer, ain’t he?

POLLY
He takes tips from you.

She ruffles his hair.

BEN
Leave it out, Duchess!

They follow the Doctor out of the bay. The door closes behind them.


10. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

This is shown on the screen. Computer talk is superimposed.

}}CROSS-CHECK INFORMATION WITH HISTORY COMPUTER...
}}IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED}}

The image changes to show a shot of the TARDIS against some railings.

}}ANALYZING FLESHMEN PHYSIOGNOMY...

Images of the Doctor, Ben and Polly appear, then a different image of the Doctor appears.

}}IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED}}
}}FLESHMAN DOCTOR KNOWN THREAT
}}NO ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN
}}NEW STRATEGY TO BE COMPUTED
}}REINFORCEMENTS TO ARRIVE IN FIFTY-FOUR STANDARD TIME UNITS
}}NEW INSTRUCTIONS WILL FOLLOW
}}ONCE INTERCEPTION IS COMPLETE

The hand presses a control.

{{UNDERSTOOD
{{THE SENTINEL WILL OBSERVE THEIR MOVEMENTS

More computer talk fills the screen.


11. INT. NEWSROOM (DAY)

Strident music begins. Lights come on over a stern-looking female NEWSREADER. Strident music ends.

NEWSREADER
Good morning, and today on Christmas Eve of 1986, the International Space Command have launched Zeus Five into orbit on its mission to Nibiru. The launch took place at the Snowcap Polar Base in Antartica fifty-two minutes ago. Now in orbit around the Earth, the crew consists of Major Dan Schultz, Glyn Williams and Terri Roberts, three experienced astronauts still available for this vital mission even with the festive season well underway. We will keep you updated with all news from Zeus Five as it occurs. In other news, the box office taking of the new Captain Marvel movie have broken all records, even though the plot was released in comic book form earlier this year. Anti-violence protestors, however think the film, Battle With The Robot People, not only encourages violence but shows distinct luddite tendencies with the wholesale rejection of technology. A spokesman for Captain Marvel industries, went on record as saying...


12. INT. GUARD ROOM (DAY)

We see a comic book entitled CAPTAIN MARVEL # 197 showing a silver robot grappling with a square-jawed superhero in a combat uniform and a Union Jack cape. It is being read by a short, cheerful, curly haired security guard called TITO, who has an Italian accent. He hums ‘Paint it Black’ to himself as he lies on the top bunk. On the wall behind him is a neat arrangement of bikini girl posters. The bunk below boasts posters of male bodybuilders. Another security guard, a Welshman named SPENCER, is sitting at a desk with five monitors, occasionally humming as well. One shows the tracking gallery, another snow, and the rest corridors. Three other GUARDS sit at a table, playing poker. Andrews enters, holding two cups.

ANDREWS
I got your coffee, Tito.

TITO
Thanks Sarge.

Still reading the comic, he goes to collect the cup.

ANDREWS
Anything yet, Spencer?

SPENCER
Not yet. The weather out there is so bad an army could be out there and we couldn’t see it through the snow. I mean, why should we be targeted any more than the other launch sites? Are they all on red alert as well?

ANDREWS
Yes. And until all this over, we are going to stay on red alert.

She rounds on Tito.

ANDREWS
So I suggest you get some sleep while you still get a chance!

TITO
Aw, come on, Sarge. It’s my Christmas present!

ANDREWS
They’ll rot ya brains and I’ll shoot them out, Tito.

TITO
You sound like my mother!

Andrews chuckles.

ANDREWS
You know how to hurt a girl.

SPENCER
Ah, let him go, Sarge. This place is as quiet as the night before Christmas.


13. INT. ENTRANCE BAY (DAY)

On the opposite side to the TARDIS, a segment of wall slides back. Darkness is beyond. Then, a red circle can be made out in the gloom – near head height. It glows closer and brighter. There is a crunch of footsteps on ice.


14. INT. CAVERN (DAY)

Words type themselves across the screen.

}}SPACE CRAFT NOW OVER ISLAND “AMERICA”
}}HEIGHT OF 1100 METRONS
}}PREPARING TO INTERCEPT...

We see a close up of two black, silver-lined holes in a silver plastic surface, positioned like eyeholes in a covered face.


15. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

The three astronauts are working, checking illuminated dials. Glyn has arranged a telescopic unit before his eyes.

GLYN
Mars reading... 4-2-0.

TERRI
That’s 12 down! It’s closer than before!

BLUEY
We are definitely running out of time. I thought it had slowed down.

TERRI
Not enough for comfort.

GLYN
Hello Snowcap. Hello Snowcap. We're now in dawn over San Francisco. Nibiru is sighted.

CUTLER (VO)
Snowcap to Zeus Five. Snowcap to Zeus Five. General Cutler here. We received data, and are correcting the coordinates. Proceed with new orbit.

TERRI
Roger, Snowcap. Corrected coordinates?

Barclay is on the screen.

BARCLAY (DIST)
0-0-4-8-2-0 and 8-2-3.

GLYN
Right. We're now correct, out. Ready to for the altitude thrust, Bluey?

BLUEY
Ready. Terri?

TERRI
Try and stop me.

Glyn starts operating controls. Engine noises build.

GLYN
OK... go.

On the screen, a planet appears.

BLUEY
Look on the bright side, Terri – you may not be the first woman on the Moon, but you might be the first woman on Nibiru!

TERRI
Yeah! Tenth planet, here we come!

The planet is now fully visible. It looks like Earth, except with more clouds and no moon. Glyn slams down a lever. It begins to grow larger.


16. INT. CORRIDOR (DAY)

Bland, identical passages, occasionally marked with a flashing security camera. Ben peers around the corner carefully, before the Doctor and Polly casually stroll past and head down it. Rolling his eyes, Ben heads after them.

POLLY
I’m beginning to think this place is deserted.

DOCTOR
Oh? Why?

POLLY
We’ve been wandering about for ages and we haven’t even been stopped by anyone.

DOCTOR
All things come to those that wait, my dear.

The Doctor pauses as they reach a junction. He looks behind him, frowning. The others notice and return for him.

BEN
Doctor? What is it?

DOCTOR
Hmmm? Oh, nothing. Nothing. I just could have sworn I saw movement down there.

Polly follows his gaze. There’s nothing there. She pats his arm reassuringly.

POLLY
Probably just a trick of the light.

DOCTOR
Yes. No doubt. No doubt.

They move off down the corridor. At the far end of the corridor, a shrouded FIGURE steps out of the shadows. It is a tall shape almost completely hidden in a heavy black cloak whose hem touches the floor. The hood of the cloak does not reveal the face, just a single red disc of light like a Cyclops’ eye. It seems to stare after the retreating shapes, then crosses to the other corridor and out of sight. On the wall nearby, the security camera’s flashing light stays switched on.


- to be continued...