Chapter 1: Space Oddity
Chapter Text
1 INT. TARDIS - DAY
He wakes up. His clothes feel… baggy. That happened sometimes. But now, they were, quite, quite baggy.
DOCTOR
Ouch, that really hurt.
He gets up. His hands try to touch the floor, but his sleeves are on the way. His coat is on the floor, but his body is no longer in it. He pats himself down, looking for something. Not finding it, he frowns.
DOCTOR
Well then, I guess I'm not a woman anymore. That’s a shame.
He stands up. He is small, the smallest he’s ever been, his shoes don’t fit anymore, so he leaves them behind, socks on the ground. His suspenders are the only thing keeping his pants up. He trips on them, almost falling, but holding onto the console of the TARDIS. Seeing it, he lets out a smile, but it soon turns into another frown.
DOCTOR
Oh! I redecorated… I used to like this… But not anymore.
He reaches beneath the console. A sudden “CLICK” is heard and the world around him melts down into whiteness.
DOCTOR
Since I basically have all the time in the universe… Old girl! It’s time for a big change!
He smiles once more and sits down, legs crossed, in the middle of nowhere. He then closes his eyes slowly.
DOCTOR
Now let’s see… What should we do… Ah! Show me the first you… the original, you might say.
“VWORP”! He opens his eyes again, and a console room has materialised all around him. It is the First Doctor’s TARDIS, the original Type 40 Mark III space-time ship.
DOCTOR
Well, isn’t this nice… The good old days… I miss Susan…
He stands up and looks into his old mirror. Standing before him is a child. A boy, to be precise. His hair is short and spiky, a dark tone of black, with eyes greener than the apple-grass of New New York. Looking no older than fifteen, but in reality, thousands of years old. He grins, happily, pulling and twisting his face with his hands. He puts them in his pockets, and twirls around.
DOCTOR
Would you look at that! I haven’t had a face this young since I was ninety years old!
He touches the sides of the mirror, fondly chuckling.
DOCTOR
I think I'm going to keep this… And the round things of course! Who doesn’t love the round things? (laughs)
He looks around, nostalgia in his eyes. Another smile.
DOCTOR
Such a great time… Next, please!
The TARDIS roars a second time, the console room shifting again. In a selection of slightly different models of the room, each time he picks an object from his past selves. From his second incarnation, a recorder. From his third, a coat hanger, with a beautiful velvet red jacket still hanging from it. From number four, a long and dark red scarf. From five, a summery hat. From six, another coat, in bright blue colour. From seven, a question-marked umbrella. From eight, a pocket watch with gallifreyan markings. When he reaches his ninth incarnation’s TARDIS he realises it was never really called that.
DOCTOR
War. I don’t think I want something from this time in my life. Unless…
He looks onto the console screen. Circular coordinates of some sort appear on it and he smiles sadly at them.
DOCTOR
Well, there’s no time like the present… or past. Or future! Anyway! There’s no place like home… I hope…
He moves around the console, meddling with it. The TARDIS “vworps” again. Upon the screen, the words “DESTINATION SET TO GALLIFREY”. Continuing through his work, he takes from his so-called “ninth” body a wallet with a piece of psychic paper on it. From his “tenth” incarnation he takes 3-D glasses. From the eleventh, he takes a fez. From twelve, a pair of sonic glasses. And from his thirteenth regeneration…
DOCTOR
I really like these pants, they’re comfy. I guess I'm gonna keep them.
He pulls at the suspenders and lets them go, which makes them slap his chest. He groans.
DOCTOR
Ouch… again. Okay now, let's see… What should you look like, my trusty TARDIS?
Yet again, he sits on the floor and the world goes blank. His eyes close and flutter around, darting all over.
DOCTOR
I never really did ask you, have I? I probably should have… Millenia ago. Now tell me, what do you actually wanna look like?
“VWORP”! The Doctor opens his eyes… They first close again because of the brightness, and then go as wide as plates. We zoom back and see a large smile as well.
DOCTOR
Wow! You really went for it, huh?! Amazing!
We cut to his point of view, looking around. The TARDIS’ interior has become incredibly bright, lights of all different colours roam around the console room. Yellow, golden, orange. As they finally set inside the time rotor we can see the surroundings. Indeed, the round things are still there, only as large as the old console itself, creating a large hall of golden circles that curve upwards towards the centre, smaller and smaller, making a dome that connects above the console. The Doctor looks up. He sees something that reminds him of the Sistine Chapel on Earth. A large circular painting. No. Is it a painting? The Doctor laughs out loud as he realises:
DOCTOR
--OH YES! Hee-hee-hee!
(notices his weird laugh)
Okay, I might be a little self-conscious about that, but still. Look at that! It is what I think it is, right?
The TARDIS lighting changes from white to green.
DOCTOR
Oh you actually answer me now, do you? Where’s that been for the last thousand years? Haha. No worries. So there it is. I always wondered if you had one. You being such an old model and all… (smirks)
The TARDIS shakes around making its regular noises, in a way that is enough for the Doctor to fall to the floor.
DOCTOR
Hey! I was joshing, alright?
He tries to stand up but then realises the floor is far from his feet. He is sitting on the time rotor, which appears to be going upwards. He looks down to see the console itself is no longer there. He looks up. The “painting” feeling closer and closer than ever. But in a weird dolly zoom sort of effect, it looks further away from the floor than before. The Doctor holds his stomach.
DOCTOR
Oh… I think I’m gonna be sick. Oh no, do you think I have vertigo now? That’d be a shame--
He is interrupted by his own sickness, his cheeks puff up and he turns around, as we can hear him retching. We see his back and then a puff of golden smoke and energy starts going up. He turns back, his face in distress, a glimmering gold bit of drool in the side of his mouth. Regeneration energy flickering through his eyes.
DOCTOR
Aw… Regeneration… It's a… lottery? More like roulette.
He doesn’t notice he’s reached his destination until the rotor stops moving and we see the background around him.
DOCTOR
Oh hellooo… Universe!
We see the Milky Way swirling all around him. Just in front of the Doctor’s line of sight sits the supermassive black hole that makes the whole galaxy go round.
DOCTOR
Right at the middle of the Galactic Centre of the Milky Way, as close to the Event Horizon as you can be! The supermassive black hole… Sagittarius A-Star!
He basks in its greatness for a couple seconds, smiling softly. Then he snaps his fingers and pulls a polaroid sort of camera from his bigger on the inside coat.
DOCTOR
I should take a photo, right?
He snaps the picture and the camera spits out a dark sheet of photographic paper which he starts to flick around with his hand to make it dry.
DOCTOR
Ah… My old friend Einstein, eat your heart out! Maybe I’ll mail this to him…
The Doctor looks around, up and down, to all sides. This… observation deck is completely transparent, save for its massive blue columns and ceiling. It looks like…
DOCTOR
Your light! Lantern? Whatchamacallit! It’s your observation deck isn’t it? Amazing!
He stands up on the rotor carefully.
DOCTOR
I guess you’ve been wanting to show off your dimensional transcendentalism, huh? Sorry, old girl. I’ll leave the decoration up to you from here on out. Just don’t make me walk down some--
The long rotor below him grows stair steps of white crystalline plastic. He frowns at it.
DOCTOR
Stairs. Haha. Very funny. Making me go down them then… You great big hunk of scrap lovely ship…
He grumbles and complains softly as he goes down, tucking the photo inside his coat and putting his hands into its pockets. We see from various angles his descent below. From above, from the sides in 360° degrees, from under the stairs. We can notice that the rotor descends by itself as well, making the steps behind the Doctor vanish as he goes further down. The walk ends faster than expected. The Doctor reaches the floor and turns around, the rotor now at about his own height. He puts his lower lip forward, seeming impressed, then confused.
DOCTOR
Where’s the console…?
(pouts)
Is it not ready yet?
The TARDIS lighting flashes yellow. The Doctor clicks his tongue in disappointment. Then turns to the doors beyond.
DOCTOR
Well, I’m gonna go outside then, while you’re updating…
We see the large white and golden doors open at the snap of his fingers. The TARDIS flicks to yellow once more.
DOCTOR
You know how to reach me… Mum!
(laughs boisterously)
He pulls the TARDIS key from his pocket and lifts it over his head, without looking back. It glows and shines.
DOCTOR
We’re in the middle of the busiest place in the galaxy, right on the corner of a black hole… what could go wrong?
He turns his head around, at a close-up to the camera, looking right into it, smiling like a maniac.
CUT TO:
2 EXT. VOID - NIGHT
And so the Doctor enters the lightless void of space itself. In the background, the black hole roars quietly. He looks down to his feet, and there is nothing holding them to an invisible floor. He chuckles slightly.
DOCTOR
Well, well, well. I wonder where we are.
(taps the invisible floor)
I feel gravity and yet do not see it, I breathe in oxygen in what appears to be the pure vacuum of space… Aha!
He pulls his old sonic screwdriver from a pocket inside his coat and turns it on, giving off a buzzing sound.
DOCTOR
Let’s see now… what sort of silly little hologramatic room you’ve put ourselves in, eh?
He looks back to the TARDIS, and the ship grumbles like a refrigerator. He adjusts a couple settings on his device.
DOCTOR
Here… goes… nothing!
The sonic gives off a loud screeching sound, and the vacuum of space dissipates around the Doctor and the TARDIS. It gives way to a warped metallic structure, a sort of corridor with geometric sides. A hexagon. He looks forward and sees nothing but dimly illuminating lights on the floor. No. Not the floor…
DOCTOR
Oh.
(he looks up)
I know there’s no up or down in space but this is ridiculous.
We see the actual floor above him. A street of metal, with stands on the sides. Several BYSTANDERS and VENDORS look up to him, surprised by the disappearance of space.
VENDOR
Oi! Get off the ceiling!
The Doctor tries to open his mouth, flabbergasted.
BYSTANDER
It’s a stowaway, that’s what it is! Hidden in the hologram, very clever, kid! Very clever!
A red-skinned BUYER of a side stand that appears to sell some sort of ice cream laughs and points at the Doctor.
BUYER
You’ll see when the fuzz gets here, boy! They’re gonna make spaghetti out of you!
The Doctor looks at them all, first with embarrassment and then extremely upset by what they say to him.
DOCTOR
(huffing and puffing)
I’m not a stowaway, sir! Nor a boy, kid or a pasta dish!
In the middle of his apparent tantrum the old sonic screwdriver slips from his left hand and falls above from his perspective right into the buyer’s ice cream cone.
BUYER
Ey! My freeze-brainer!
The sonic fritz and flashes making him drop the cone on the floor. The Doctor looks exasperated.
DOCTOR
My sonic screwdriver!
BUYER
Right, I’m not paying for that!
VENDOR
You have to!
BUYER
He ruined it!
VENDOR
Harumph…
(starts shouting)
Police! Police!
DOCTOR
Alright, that’s our cue, old girl! Get us down!
The Doctor turns to the TARDIS and opens the little hatch that leads to its telephone stand. We see his hand enter it and find a switch, which he clicks with his finger. Suddenly everything on the Doctor starts to change direction, his coat goes upwards behind him, the red scarf covers his eyes, and when he lifts it from there, his pocket watch goes up and hits him in the nose. Then it's his turn to bow down to gravity, at which point he holds the handle of the TARDIS hatch with all the strength he has. His legs dangling far from the floor.
DOCTOR
Oh, so you’re staying, are you?
(ironic)
Good, good, gotta wait for the update in a safe spot, of course! But did it have to be… UPSIDE DOWN!?
The camera finally changes position, rotating to look up to the Doctor, as gravity reverts to normal. The Doctor struggles to go back inside the TARDIS but loses his grip when the handle itself disappears into the door!
DOCTOR
No, not now, seriously! Not again…!!!
His last words drag on when he falls down to a seemingly fatal fate. He screams as we see his body go down about ten metres below right into the metal floor. THUNK.
BYSTANDER
(screams in horror)
Oh my Ragg, Nah and Rok!! He’s dead! We… we killed him!
BUYER
I didn’t do nothing! He just fell on his own!
VENDOR
(agonising)
POLICE! GET THE COPPERS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
A beat COP in a future-like UK police outfit, full with moustache, helmet and electric baton finally arrives at the scene. He looks at the body of the Doctor, then looks up at the TARDIS, and it is no longer there, the space hologram finally restored, showing the Milky Way beyond.
COP
What in blazes is going on here?!
Most of the bystanders and buyers start to leave the scene hurriedly, except for the two from before.
VENDOR
That kid was hiding in the hologram window up there! He fell down by himself, I tell you!
He says this while quickly closing up shop at the stand.
COP
Oh drat, not another one! These mice are all over the place!
He kneels down before the body and shakes it with his baton. He clicks his tongue and appears sad and upset.
COP
Blast it, this one’s young. That’s a shame--
As he speaks this a yellow golden light starts to flow from under the Doctor’s unconscious body. It engulfs his whole body from head to toe. The others watching are aghast when seeing this, the cop lights up his baton.
BUYER
It’s a bomber! He’s gonna kill us all! Let’s get out of here!
BYSTANDER
No, you idiot, look! It’s over, I think! That’s… amazing!
She gets closer to him, the regeneration energy subsiding. The cop puts his hand in front of her, preventing her from passing.
COP
You two get out of here, I’ll deal with this…
(picks up walkie and talks into it)
GBC Central Central, we got a situation on Major Tom Lane, I repeat, we have a situation on--
The Doctor’s eyes open wide, his irises golden and then back to green, his whole torso shooting up to sit down.
DOCTOR
(singing rapidly)
Ground control to Major Tom, ground control to Major Tom, lock your TARDIS hatch and put your helmet on!
The beat cop is startled by this and instinctively hits him with the electric baton, which sends blue sparks into the Doctor’s body, only to make his hair stand on end with energy and make him look creepily to his attacker.
DOCTOR
(laughingly singing)
Ground control to Major Tom, commencing countdown engines on…!
He starts to close his eyes, regeneration energy surrounding him again. The cop releases the grip on his baton and it falls to the ground. The sparks and golden hue leave the Doctor and he faints again, falling to the floor, breathing, but fast asleep. The cop’s walkie-talkie finally responds to the previous call.
WALKIE
KRRZT--Officer Roberts, what’s going on out there? Over.
ROBERTS
Uhm… What… Oh.
(picks up walkie, upset)
Central Centre… Please send in the ambulance unit, we got a stowaway, not sure how he’s still alive, but he needs help… I think. Please, send it quick!
WALKIE
(clearly serious)
KRRZT--Alright, officer, a medical unit will be there with you in a jiffy. Hold your ground.
The bystander and buyer share a look and start dispersing quickly. The vendor finishes closing. The sonic screwdriver lies inside the ice cream cone on the floor.
CUT TO:
3 INT. GALACTIC CENTRE POLICE CENTRAL - NIGHT
Within an apparent jail cell bench, lies a dormant Doctor, his head against the wall and his jacket over his shoulders. We hear footsteps coming close to the camera.
MCKENNA
Is this him?
ROBERTS
Yeah, fell eight metres off the ceiling, got zapped by ten million volts and still sat up long enough to sing classical music. Scared the Bee Gees out of me.
The two finally reach beyond the camera. We see officer Roberts come into the cell alongside a new face, OFFICER MCKENNA, a dark-haired woman with bright green eyes.
MCKENNA
(chuckling)
Classical music? What was it?
ROBERTS
Hmm… Dowie-- No, Bowie, yeah.
MCKENNA
So… We got our very own Ziggy Stardust here, eh? Fun…
She sits down alongside the Doctor to feel his pulse.
MCKENNA
Interesting…
ROBERTS
What?
MCKENNA
His heart rate is mighty elevated for someone who's asleep. Hey kid.
She gently slaps the Doctor's right cheek. No response. The Doctor sleeps profoundly, his mouth agape, a little bit of drool with a golden hue coming out of it.
MCKENNA
Yep. Out like a light.
ROBERTS
I'm sure you would too after a shocking fall and a falling shock.
MCKENNA
Good one. Have you been saving that?
ROBERTS
Yes… I need to joke about these sorts of tragedies, otherwise I'd go mad at a job like this.
MCKENNA
Right… Well, not much I can do with him in a nap… Unless you want me to wake him up by force.
Unbeknownst to the two officers, the Doctor's left eye starts to twitch at the mention of the word force.
ROBERTS
I mean, no, come on, there's no need for that, right? He's just another stowaway… we already got plenty of them on board, why should a small fry like him be anything more?
MCKENNA
You said he self-combusted in the middle of the street.
ROBERTS
(stares blankly)
…Point taken. I stand corrected.
McKenna scoffs at Roberts and opens the small white bag she had been carrying since she entered the room. It has the words MED KIT written in red on the side. She fumbles around inside and pulls out a small glass bottle.
MCKENNA
This oughta do the trick.
She opens up the cap and holds it under the Doctor’s nose. His face starts to twitch, slowly but surely.
ROBERTS
(holds his nose)
Those stinking smelling salts? If he’s not up in five minutes I’ll go down with that reek.
We move the camera from the angle of McKenna’s hand with the bottle, to the Doctor’s twitching nose, and then his closed but steadily moving eyes. We start to hear an echo of a deep, female voice, their words thundering in his ears. The Doctor’s eyebrows demonstrate worry at this.
ECHO
(reverberating)
Doctor… Doctor… Come to me, my Child. It has come. Time… Time… to begin the feast. All is as it should be. Awaken, NOW!!!
The Doctor’s eyes flicker open, his head going forward to stand up. In this movement he makes McKenna let go of the bottle, which goes upwards with the momentum of his head. The Doctor notices and in a flash, catches it with his right hand, without noticing, and finally realises it.
DOCTOR
Oh. I’m sorry.
(closes the cap on the bottle)
And… Thank you. I was beginning to have quite, uhm… quite the scarifying nightmare…
He finally notices both officers are pointing their electric batons up to him, their points zapping with blue energy. The Doctor’s eyes go wide and he smiles.
DOCTOR
Ah. Should I… not be thankful?
MCKENNA
Who the heck are you, kid?
DOCTOR
I, madam, am not a kid.
He looks up to her, clearly shorter. He scoffs and gets up on the bench to match her height.
DOCTOR
Yes, right. I might… appear as one, but nay, I am no… child.
ROBERTS
Who are you then?
The Doctor smiles, the camera prepares for a triumphant close-up, with music to beat. He opens his mouth, gasping for air, but just as we reach him, he frowns and blows a raspberry involuntarily.
DOCTOR
(shrugging)
I dunno.
MCKENNA
How do you not know who you are?
DOCTOR
I know, right? And I was just having a dream about it. But that’s what happens when people wake you up. You forget about your dreams. And sometimes yourself…
He starts to ponder his last sentence, walking all over the metal bench that goes from wall to wall of the cell. Roberts and McKenna look at eachother and turn off their batons. Roberts shrugs and starts to scratch his head.
ROBERTS
I mean… It was a long fall.
MCKENNA
(slightly dazed)
And you did zap him pretty bad.
DOCTOR
(looks to Roberts, annoyed)
You zapped me? Ha! That’s right, you did. I forgot about that. Bad manners, Chesterfield. Not very becoming of a P.E. teacher. Or was it… science?
MCKENNA
Chesterfield?
DOCTOR
(unfocused, stroking his chin)
Oh, Chesterton, Barbara’s calling you.
The officers trade glances, concerned. McKenna goes to the Doctor and puts her hand on his shoulder to make him stop walking around. He still doesn't meet her gaze.
MCKENNA
(gently)
Who’s… Chesterton and Barbara… honey?
DOCTOR
(laughs and locks eyes with her)
Oh, you know Ian, B-Barbara… you two lovebirds are this close to marrying… wait. Didn’t I go to that already…? Oh. Oh dear. That. That was quite a fall, wasn’t it? Hah.
The Doctor looks worried and finally sits down on the bench, his hand combing his hair down slowly. McKenna holds his shoulder behind him and sits alongside the boy. Roberts steps closer and sits on the other side.
MCKENNA
Must have been… You’ve got some sort of amnesia.
DOCTOR
Oh, I always get those. One way or another. But no need to fret.
ROBERTS
You always get amnesia… when you fall?
DOCTOR
Fall, get shocked, shot, die of old age, get blasted with radiation… the list goes on. But whenever my body’s wearing a bit thin, I do this thing… What was it called again…?
(snaps his fingers repeatedly to remember)
Renewal! No… that’s not it. Re… re… re…
His breath lets out another flow of energy…
DOCTOR
Regeneration! That’s it!
Roberts and McKenna look at the light coming from the Doctor’s mouth in awe. McKenna stands up, exasperated.
MCKENNA
(nervous)
Ok… Ok, alright. Well, clearly, you’re not… well, you know…
ROBERTS
Human. That is. And you know, it’s fine. We’ve met, uh… aliens before here on the station. Not unusual, at all. I’ve got a friend who’s an alien--
DOCTOR
Well, of course I’m not human. And sure, if you wanna be rude, yes, I am an alien. An… illegal alien.
MCKENNA
That looks like a human teen and keeps quoting classical music for some reason!
DOCTOR
(embarrassed)
Oh. Sorry.
MCKENNA
(apologetic)
No, it’s fine, it’s just not something we see everyday here on the station, you know?
DOCTOR
No… I don’t. You keep talking about the station… Oh, ho-ho!
(puts his ear to the floor)
This is a station! A space station! Of course, that would explain… Oh boy, where am I?
ROBERTS
Don’t you know where you stowed away to? We’re on the GCB!
DOCTOR
The GCB?
MCKENNA
The Galactic Centre Bazaar.
The angle of the camera finally gives enough room to see the only window in the room, a small square on the wall that shows colourful lights outside. As it is too high up for the Doctor, he goes up to the bench and stretches his body so his hands reach the metal bars on the opening.
DOCTOR
Amazing!
We go over his head outside the window onto the large square beyond. We see enormous trees and buildings, both wrapped around each other, all over the central plaza of the Bazaar. Here and there we see little flying cars in the distance, buzzing around like flies. All the massive buildings show some sign of advertisement on them, most with gigantic holographic banners of beverages, fast food, and technology. Others, smaller, show news programs of some sort or another, their anchormen and women wearing colourful shirts and suits of all different palettes visible to the human eye. The Doctor focuses on one of the bulletins being shown and we can finally focus from the cacophony to a single stream of sound: The News.
ANCHORWOMAN
Welcome back ladies and gentleman of the GCB, it’s a fine day or night as usual and as usual we come to you with the latest news about our beloved home, the Galactic Centre!
ANNOUNCER
(sing-songy)
Gee Cee Bee! The News, coming right around the bend of Sagittarius A-Star and back to you!
ANCHORMAN
The latest bit of information coming to us relatively live would appear to be a new course for our station going around the black hole, and, as you can see…
She’s not happy!
The fake sky atop the ceiling turns back into space. We see the halo of light bending around… Sagittarius A-Star.
DOCTOR
Something’s wrong.
The Doctor squints his eyes at the black hole above.
MCKENNA
What is it?
ROBERTS
They’re announcing a new route, that’s all, same as every day really.
He says this as he looks at his futuristic telephone, which shows a hologram similar to the one outside.
MCKENNA
Been here almost all my life and I never get used to it. Whenever they open up the windows, it's just… a lot to take in.
DOCTOR
Literally! A black hole has so much mass in a single point in space and time it has turned into a singularity, nothing like the rest of our Universe. It's…
ROBERTS
Amazing?
DOCTOR
Daunting. Scary. Especially now, not good at all. In all my thousands of years alive, I've seen my good share of black holes, almost been spaghettified many times, more than I care to remember. But what is happening up there right now is not normal. Even for the abnormality that is a black hole… He's right… She's not happy at all.
MCKENNA
What do you mean by that? It's just a black hole. A region in space. It isn't alive.
The Doctor fumbles with his hair for a bit, pensative.
ROBERTS
Wait, hold on, did he just say he's been alive for thousands of years?
The Doctor steps away from the bench, almost slipping down from it, before McKenna grabs him by the arms to lower him to the floor safely. He looks embarrassed by it but lets it go to look them straight in the eyes, making the most serious face his new face can muster to make.
DOCTOR
Look, I know this face might not be the most reliable right now, given the fact it looks like it hasn't seen much.
ROBERTS
You could say that again.
DOCTOR
Why would I? Anyway… What I am telling you, right now, is the truth. I am…
(trying to remember)
I am… a Time… Monarch? No, that isn't it. I'm very smart, and clever and kind, and… I know what I'm doing here. Or at the very least, there's some reason I am. I wasn't even planning on coming here…
MCKENNA
You're not making much sense right now, kiddo.
DOCTOR
(pleading)
Look, look into my eyes, okay?
He gives her a deep stare, we focus on his bright green eyes, twinkling with the light that surrounds the black hole outside. We see her eyes, she becomes entranced by them. His next words echo inside her head, but softly.
DOCTOR
(echoed)
Contact.
We hear a sound reminiscent of that of The Three Doctors.
MCKENNA
(stammering)
C-Contact?
(beat)
Woah.
We go into the Doctor’s eyes, past his pupils and into the void of space, going beyond the black hole reflection and to the stars. We see the Doctor. No, not the Doctor, but the Doctors. All of them. Before and after his “first” face, the old man with long white hair, we see the Doctor in all their forms past and present. We see his last face, whichever that may be at this time, and finally back to the boy with bright green eyes.
DOCTOR
This is me. Who I was, who I am. Hopefully, who I will be. Kind.
MCKENNA
You’re certainly very versatile… Mister… What is that?
DOCTOR
Oh, careful there. I might have gone a bit too far with the recap.
He smirks and stops the mental process of contacting.
DOCTOR
Mustn't tell anyone your real name. I know that one, it’s just… Who I am, always gets jumbled up when I die, and come back, again and again…
ROBERTS
Are you some sort of zombie then? The walking dead?
DOCTOR
I’m sure you wouldn't understand, nevermind. But you saw, didn’t you?
MCKENNA
I dunno how you did that… mental telepathy thingamajig, but yeah. You’re… You’ve been around for a while.
DOCTOR
As far as I know, yes I have. Which means I’ve got a lot of experience with stuff like that!
He points to the black hole outside, its accretion disk moving ever faster, and finally, turning off-kilter, into a new direction, which makes the whole station and its inhabitants shake and tumble around. After a few seconds of this spacequake, the Doctor and company settle down.
ROBERTS
Alright, that’s… unusual.
DOCTOR
Told ya. Something’s going on up there, but I can help. I’m the…
(snaps fingers)
Drat, almost had it!
MCKENNA
How? How can you help?
DOCTOR
Simple. Say what I’ve been saying for centuries…
(smirks)
Take me to your leader.
He rubs his hands together, similar to the Second Doctor.
ROBERTS
Great. He knows pop culture too.
McKenna looks at him, rolls her eyes and sighs.
MCKENNA
Come on, it won’t hurt. At the very worst we get fired.
ROBERTS
(wryly)
Oh, sure. Nothing much then-- Hey! What the heck are you doing?
The Doctor takes the sonic glasses out of his pocket, puts them on, opens the cell, turns around and smiles.
DOCTOR
We’ve got work to do! Hurry up!
CUT TO:
4 INT. BRIDGE OF THE GCB - DAY
We see the black hole fill up the screen of the bridge of the space station, which could remind someone of the ones in Star Trek, but only dressed with foliage, bushes and trees covering the consoles and chairs in one way or another. Everyone, contrary to the police officers, wears tunic-like outfits, instead of clear uniforms. The only way to differentiate them is by the colour of each robe, and hats similar to french berets, clearly decorational.
CAPTAIN
Alright everyone, she’s steady again. Hold on and wait for the next star chart to come in, right Navcom?
We move from behind the Captain’s chair onto its front to see CAPTAIN WISEAU. A man in his 30s, wearing a blue tunic and a red beret. He seems too relaxed when compared to the situation at hand. He moves his head to the left, meeting eyes with another human, NAVCOM, a woman in her 20s, with a large headset draping over her hair.
NAVCOM
Gotcha, Cap. Mission Control will be receiving a new star path in approximately…
(moves a mouse and clicks)
Five-- Seven minutes and thirty-- fifty five seconds!
CAPTAIN
(surprised then calm again)
Oh. Well, nothing we can do but wait then, anyone want some carrot juice?
The crew all around look at eachother and shrug. The Captain laughs a boisterous laugh and snaps his fingers. All of the control panels rotate inwards to reveal a bar-like table set on every station, each with a cylinder of glass with an orange liquid inside. The Captain’s chair does the same on its arm and he sips from it.
CAPTAIN
Ah… Nothing better than a drink after a good day’s work!
The Doctor comes in through the revolving door that leads to the bridge and punches a big red button on the wall to revert the station consoles back to normal. We see many disappointed faces that didn’t get to drink in time. The Captain manages to keep his cup, but looks very annoyed.
DOCTOR
I would agree, if it weren’t for the carrot juice!
CAPTAIN
Who… are you?
DOCTOR
…To be determined.
CAPTAIN
What? Security!
At this moment Roberts and McKenna barge in, with Roberts out of breath, stopping at the door, and McKenna coming to join the Doctor next to the Captain’s chair.
MCKENNA
Captain Wiseau, I’m so sorry but…
CAPTAIN
Officer McKenna, what is the meaning of this?
DOCTOR
Forget about the meaning of me, that’s as hard to understand as the Meaning of Life! You and all of the passengers of this facility are in grave danger… probably!
ROBERTS
Way to infatuate how certain we are about this, bud!
CAPTAIN
What the blazes are you talking about? This is just a regular path change, everything is normal around here.
NAVCOM
All systems are nominal.
DOCTOR
I’m sure your station must be clever enough to sustain a whole population around the most dangerous place in your galaxy…
CAPTAIN
It's strategically positioned here for better marketing percentages.
DOCTOR
Right, it’s all about the money, sure. Forget about the dangers and troubles with time dilation, we need to get all the clientele we possibly can!
CAPTAIN
How dare you speak like that about the Galactic Centre Bazaar to me… Child?!
DOCTOR
(tries to ignore the word)
Look outside! Stop navel-gazing and see! A black hole is as uncertain as the Big Bang and Entropy, you can never be too careful with it, and especially not this one!
CAPTAIN
(annoyed)
Why?
DOCTOR
Because a few minutes ago it spoke to me…
Roberts, McKenna and the whole crew look at him, confused and worried. The Doctor points to the screen.
DOCTOR
…She knows we’re here. She’s alive. And she’s hungry.
Everyone else looks to where the Doctor is pointing, the very middle of the screen, which is only a fraction of the black hole. We leave the bridge and go outside, to see the whole of the space station of the GCB.
CUT TO:
5 EXT. SAGITTARIUS A*
To the sound of Dream A Little Dream of Me by Doris Day, we see the space station in full, a circular shape, with a middle covered by glass, showing the forest city within, like a giant metal jammie dodger in space. It is a large construction, we follow its movement around the black hole. We zoom out from the bridge and beyond, trying our best to fit the entirety of the black hole on screen. The station becomes smaller and smaller on screen, at first covering the whole frame, it now gets to the size of a twinkle of silver light in the middle of a whole space of pure darkness. We see slimmers of the accretion disk, but the rest is complete pitch black.
DORIS DAY
“Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"… Birds singing in the sycamore tree… Dream a little dream of me… Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me… Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me. While I'm alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me… Stars fading but I linger on, dear. Still craving your kiss… I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear, just saying this… Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you, Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you… But in your dreams whatever they be… Dream a little dream of me…
We continue until the very end, the credits rolling over the black hole shot, and then, when it's over, for both the song and credits, silence. But then, we start to see something on the black hole. A shape starts to form, an eye with a pupil that is as dark as can be? A mouth with millions of teeth as big as the space station? A Strange and unusual sound starts to reverberate, the sound of a real black hole, as Nasa demonstrated. And then, a familiar voice returns alongside the odd noise.
ECHO
Feast… I must… feast…
FADE OUT:
Chapter 2: Section Two: Under Pressure
Summary:
The black hole in the centre of our galaxy is alive... and hungry!
Chapter Text
FADE IN:
6 EXT. GALACTIC CENTRE BAZAAR
We look into the glass panel that forms around the bridge of the GCB, and its crew, aghast by what they are seeing. While Roberts and McKenna look at eachother, scared, the Doctor smiles defiantly at the black hole.
DOCTOR
It's the only living black hole in the universe, slap bang in the middle of the Milky Way, making it all go round… oh how lucky you humans are… Amazing!
Everyone on deck looks at him, astonished.
ROBERTS
I'm not sure this is what you would consider lucky!
The Doctor looks back at him, his face shaped in disgust.
DOCTOR
(scoffs)
How dare you, sir--
ROBERTS
--Roberts.
DOCTOR
How dare you, sir Roberts. This is just not something you see every day, week, month, year, decade, century and millennium! And I should know, because I lived through every single one of them!
The crew looks to each other and then to the Captain.
CAPTAIN
Does that mean you’re a time traveller or thousands of years old?
DOCTOR
(starts running around)
Both!
He goes onto every member of the crew's control panels and makes slight alterations, such as flicking switches, pressing buttons, rotating dials and clicking mouses.
NAVCOM
Don't touch my controls-- H-hey, what are you doing to it… Ooh…
Navcom looks at the new and improved adjusted settings, her eyes widening slowly, her headset lights blinking.
DOCTOR
I've improved your calibration systems by fifty-five percent, give or take. Don't ask me how, it's extremely complicated and painstakingly boring. I only remember how to do it so I can surprise people by looking super smart.
(beat)
Oh. Why did I say that? I'm not supposed to tell the truth about… Rule Number One: Don't wander off-- No… I lie… Should I lie…?
The Doctor hiccups and another small drop of regeneration energy drips from his lip, steaming upwards in a golden glow before hitting the floor. McKenna gets close to him.
MCKENNA
You alright?
DOCTOR
(Like the Fourth Doctor)
Well, of course I'm alright but suppose I wasn't alright… This makes me feel in such a way I'd be very worried if I felt like that about someone else feeling like this about that. Do you understand?
MCKENNA
Not a word.
DOCTOR
You should, Romana. I mean, Barbara, Victoria, Liz, Sarah…
He pulls out his pocket watch and stares at it intently.
DOCTOR
Scratch that. I'm not going anywhere just yet.
While he starts to walk around the bridge looking for something, Roberts goes to the Captain's chair to talk.
ROBERTS
Captain, did your crew not notice that weird shift on the disk?
CAPTAIN
What? The accretion disk? It's fine… right, Nav?
He turns to the navigator, who looks perplexed.
NAVCOM
Hm… Yes, sir, all systems are nominal. Parameters have not changed since the latest update.
The Doctor looks at her intently. We see his eyes narrow and move the camera to his point of view. We see Navcom's face up close, her right eye twitching slightly under the red visor that covers the top part of her face.
DOCTOR
Hm… Oh, gee, is that so, Miss Navigation and Communication? And when was this latest update might I inquire?
She stares at him blankly, gulping for a microsecond.
NAVCOM
Well… You can see the data files from yesterday… here.
She moves her mouse around, clicking several times, and with one last click a new image appears on the screen where the black hole was being shown previously.
CAPTAIN
Well, there you have it, folks.
We move the camera over his chair to focus on the image.
MCKENNA
Alright, I know I'm no genius, but I can't understand any of that.
We see a giant graphic chart similar in some ways to Time Lord design, several concentric circles revolving around bigger and smaller designs of similar appearance.
DOCTOR
Well, I am a genius and am still trying to figure it out. That's the whole of the starpath projected for today, correct?
NAVCOM
Yes… Correlated with near-live data from Sagittarius A-Star. This is it…
She moves her mouse around and the image focuses on the larger circle on screen. A small blue dot is next to it.
DOCTOR
That pale blue dot is the station I take it…
NAVCOM
Affirmative.
CAPTAIN
We're always looking into the projections and studying them to chart our path. This isn't rocket science. It's, what… Ninety-seven percent correct most of the time?
NAVCOM
Ninety-seven point two zero eight five. In summary, for us to have not perceived a shift in the accretion disc… the odds against it are extremely small.
DOCTOR
Oh, my lovely human slash cybernetic friend. Never… ever, tell me the odds.
He runs down the steps to the screen towering over him.
DOCTOR
Alright. Let's get in on this.
He puts his left hand on his coat's left pocket. He moves it around looking for something. His eyes start to dart around desperately. He then proceeds to take off his jacket and put his whole arm inside the pocket, which makes it look like a magic trick, as his arm does not show from the other side. Everyone on the bridge looks at this, astonished.
CAPTAIN
How is he doing that?
McKenna and Roberts shrug, as the camera pans back to him, shaking the coat up and down, with several trinkets such as yo-yos, cards, rubber ducks and glass cups starting to fall down from it. As the last one clutters to the ground the Doctor lets out a whimper as he looks back to his new found friends, the police officers.
DOCTOR
(babbling)
Where's my screwdriver?
MCKENNA
Your screwdriver? Do you need a screwdriver to do this? I mean, we can get you a screwdriver, right?
NAVCOM
I've got a screwdriver if you need one.
She lifts her index finger and it opens up to show a regular screwdriver. The Doctor scoffs.
DOCTOR
That's not even a Phillips-head. I need my sonic screwdriver. I remember… I came here with it. I'm pretty sure about that…
ROBERTS
You didn’t have it when you came into the precinct, we patted you down and well, found nothing… Which begs the question, are you a magician? The whole thing with the pockets?
DOCTOR
No… bigger on the inside pockets. I could be a magician though! Harry keeps telling me to be his apprentice. Insufferable man. Then again I think it’s because of all the upside down hanging…
(beat)
Oh! O-ho-ho-ho! That’s it! Upside down!
MCKENNA
What’s upside down?
CAPTAIN
His noggin’ probably.
DOCTOR
It’s on ice… cream! My screwdriver fell on someone's ice-cream cone when I was upside down!
ROBERTS
Ice-cream…? Oh you mean the freeze-brainer shop! That’s where I found you! I guess it shouldn’t be hard to miss, I doubt someone’s mopping the floor where someone “died”.
CUT TO:
7 INT. MAJOR TOM LANE - DAY
A wet mop comes into frame from above, making a sploshing sound when it hits the metal floor below. A JANITOR wearing blue overalls and a matching hat sonters through the street, unaware of every and anything around him, given his large headphones blasting Toxic by Britney Spears. In front of him, on the ground, the melted freeze-brainer cone, with what’s left of the sonic on top. It gives off a small spark then its light dies.
JANITOR
(mouthing to the song)
I'm addicted to you… Don't you know that you're toxic? And I love what you do… Don't you know that you're toxic?
From an overhead shot, something approaches the janitor. In its POV, several fractal-like mirrored images of him are seen, bathed in a dark red colour. Back to the regular shot, we see a liquid drip and fizz onto the janitor’s headset, making the music stop, immediately.
JANITOR
(singing poorly)
Intoxicate me now, with your lovin' now… I think I'm ready now, I think I'm ready now…
(beat)
Oi…? Ey, what happened?
He takes off the headphones and looks at them. Up close we can see that its wires are melted by acid. The janitor scratches his head. He then looks above, annoyed.
JANITOR
Don’t tell me the fuel pipes are leaking again… Oh.
He then realises he’s looking at something. From the monster’s POV we see his eyes bulge out. His mouth trembling. He starts to back away slowly, almost weeping. The monster’s POV shifts closer, which makes the janitor start to run away screaming, only for the monster to reach him with incredible speed, as we see his face full of dread fill the screen. From another angle, we see his bucket tilt and fall from the wind the creature made. Water fills the street, making the metal reflective, in which we can see a large winged shadow move away from where the janitor was. The camera shifts that way to see the only remaining sign that he was there: headphones.
CUT TO:
8 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
The Doctor’s foot taps away on the metal grate below him, agitated. The camera goes up and back again to frame the Doctor’s face, teeth grinding uneasily.
DOCTOR
We have to go back. I have to get back there.
ROBERTS
We can take you, I guess. If you need that thing so much.
CAPTAIN
Yes, good. Take the kid away to play with their toy. I’ve had enough shenanigans on my bridge for the day… the week even!
DOCTOR
Humpf! I could say the same to you, Captain! Except I like shenanigans! Even though the one I’m smelling right now is just one big question mark…
He sniffs and rubs his nose, looking directly at Navcom.
CAPTAIN
What’s that supposed to mean?
The Doctor turns around and takes the hands of Roberts and McKenna, pulling them towards the exit, which opens.
DOCTOR
Oh, Who knows…
(turns his head back)
Maybe if you actually did your job you’d notice!
MCKENNA AND ROBERTS
(apologetic)
So sorry, Captain Wiseau--!
They say as the Doctor tugs a final tug and pulls them out of the bridge, making the door close back again.
CAPTAIN
(beat)
What just happened?
NAVCOM
Maybe it’s “take your child to work day”.
The Captain turns around slowly, to face her, annoyed.
NAVCOM
(exasperated)
Uhm… carrot juice, sir?
She clicks her mouse and the glass appears on the Captain’s chair armrest. He takes the straw and sips. Behind Navcom, her pinky finger opens to reveal an USB drive that connects to the station. She smiles calmly.
CUT TO:
9 INT. AVENUE - DAY
Inside a very small, yellow, Fiat 500-like hovercraft, waiting for the traffic light to turn green, sits McKenna and Roberts, with the Doctor in between both, smushed against the adults, arms crossed, glasses on his hair.
DOCTOR
Oi! Enough, you hear? I’m not sitting on anyone’s lap. Perfectly comfortable here.
MCKENNA
(lifts her hands, sighing)
Alright, alright. I give up. Rob, are you taking Lennon Road?
ROBERTS
(upset)
Course I am, d’you really think I wouldn’t?
He clicks a button and the car signals left.
MCKENNA
So, Hardy Boy, what’s your deal, really?
DOCTOR
(fidgety)
What? I’m… not a seller or anything, there’s no deal.
McKenna hits his shoulder with her fist, gently.
MCKENNA
Come on, you know what I mean. The thing you did, I saw, amazing stuff. And you, right at the centre of it all.
DOCTOR
Ah, that. Yeah, mental contact. It’s a thing we do. The Time… Politicians? No…
MCKENNA
…Time Lords.
DOCTOR
(surprised)
Yeah… that sounds right. The Time Lords… of Gallifrey.
MCKENNA
I’m guessing that’s not in Ireland.
DOCTOR
(smiling)
Only in my head.
He touches his index fingers together, deep in thought.
MCKENNA
I saw a lot of faces… They were you?
DOCTOR
I seem to be devolving, don't you think? The older I get, the stronger the need to feel younger. I suppose that’s what happens to humans too, right?
MCKENNA
Maybe. Though I don’t think it really becomes a problem… We don’t live long.
DOCTOR
Believe me, when you live this long, it takes a lot of effort to maintain your spirits.
ROBERTS
I wouldn’t mind living forever.
DOCTOR AND MCKENNA
Oh, come on.
ROBERTS
What? I’d love to find out what happens to the galaxy in the next thousand years.
DOCTOR
Been there, done that. I could show you if you really wanted it though.
MCKENNA
(SCOFFS)
Really? You can take us… to the future?
DOCTOR
Sure, I've got a time machine-ship thing, that's also alive. But it’s boring from here on out, at least on Earth anyway.
The light turns green, and he sighs. Roberts puts his foot on the pedal. The car moves forward. The Doctor opens the roof hatch, nonchalantly, stands up on the seat, to McKenna’s amusement and Roberts’ horror, as he tries to maintain control on the wheel.
DOCTOR
(screaming over the wind)
It was so boring! Life never ends or begins when you’re stuck in the same place! It’s the figure-eight of life!
MCKENNA
Are we still talking about Earth?
DOCTOR
No! Of course not. Earth is amazing! Even at its worst, humanity never ceases to amaze me. But Gallifrey…! It was so dull, you see? As beautiful as a painting, and just as still. It was a painting for a while too…
ROBERTS
…Not even gonna ask.
DOCTOR
(beat, mopey)
Good.
He sits down again, closing the hatch. Clearly upset.
MCKENNA
Are you feeling homesick?
DOCTOR
What? No. Of course not… I ran away from that place. I stole a ship and just… scattered away. With Susan…
MCKENNA
And that is…?
DOCTOR
My granddaughter.
Roberts blows a raspberry and starts laughing out loud.
ROBERTS
Okay, that’s where I draw the line.
MCKENNA
Rob!
ROBERTS
(mocking her tone)
Kay…!
(looking at them, normal)
I mean, come off it! Sure, I can believe he’s an alien from another world with a time machine, that has multiple faces, three brains and the works… but there’s no way this kid’s a grandfather--
MCKENNA
No, you nitwit! The road! Look!
We see the worry in her and the Doctor’s face, then move to Roberts, who moves his face back to the road and screams! From their point of view something has just landed in the patch of road ahead of them. A large dark grey matter of a winged being. Roberts pulls on the wheel as much as he can and the hovercraft spins away, slowing down. Its wheel-like boosters give off a screeching sound as they are put to a halt. We come back to its interior and see the dishevelled faces of the trio, each with a blank, bug-eyed look, their hair all messed up.
ROBERTS
(stammering)
I-- I didn’t hit anyone… Did I?
DOCTOR
(out of breath)
In these circumstances I wouldn’t mind it if you did!
He slowly points beyond their windscreen and the camera pans to reveal the large monster sat atop another car.
MCKENNA
Is that… a dinosaur?
DOCTOR
I wish! Those are easy to handle! Now these are… time consuming, literally speaking!
The camera revolves around a dark grey-scaled Reaper from Father’s Day. It screeches, opening its wings and revealing a mouth full of jagged teeth and an endless void. The windows of the cars around it start to crack and shatter. McKenna and Roberts cover their ears and eyes in pain. The Doctor rides it out, his eyes wincing but focused. Their windscreen starts to crack as well.
ECHO
(clear over the screech)
My Child. Come to me.
The Doctor, unknowingly, puts his hand on the windscreen and it breaks completely, which makes him blink and shrug off the strange influence. His eyebrows furrow.
DOCTOR
Did you hear that?
ROBERTS
The glass-shattering scream? Well, yeah!
DOCTOR
No. The Reaper. It was… calling to me.
We see the Reaper’s red eyes glint and squeeze, staring daggers at the Doctor. It opens its mouth once again, but no screeching sound comes forth. Instead, the Echo.
ECHO
We are nearly ready. Preparations have been set, aeons ago. It is time.
DOCTOR
What preparations?
ECHO
The dinner table must be filled with the delicacies of this universe… The Feast is nearly about to begin. And the guests… our family, must be entertained.
The Doctor’s face scrunches. Absolutely puzzled, but slightly entertained. He chuckles.
DOCTOR
Alright… Not too bad for a first speech. Not very revealing, but definitely gave me some answers.
The Reaper’s eyes try to roll around but fail miserably.
ECHO
(scoffs, then speaks)
This is what I get for trying to be reasonable with a toddler.
DOCTOR
(hurt)
Oi! Hurtful.
(back to normal)
But I suppose that’s what a villain’s supposed to do.
The Reaper turns around over the car it sat on, and turns its head like an owl, back to the police car.
ECHO
I am not the villain here. At least, not yet. This is my formal invitation to you. Which comes with a gift as well. The name you chose to bear upon yourself. Do--
DOCTOR
--My name…? No thanks. I'd rather remember on my own.
He smiles and pulls the sonic glasses down from his hair to his eyes. The Reaper frowns at the Doctor.
ECHO
(with disdain)
Fool. If I could uninvite you, I would. If they allowed me to kill you once again, no regeneration… Oh, the very thought of turning you into infinitesimal specs of dust… Alas, I have no time for this. You are hereby invited to the Feast of the Seven. The main course: Humanity. (laughs)
Her terrifying laughs send a chill through the Doctor’s spine, as he takes off the glasses, his eyes widen and he looks to the two humans by his side. The Reaper’s head turns back and it begins to take flight, with its long wings giving off a strong wind that sends shards of glass all over. His face goes into a very upset frown.
DOCTOR
(angry)
Follow that oversized bat.
ROBERTS
What?! Are you crazy?
DOCTOR
(sullen)
No. I’m mad. Follow her… now!
Roberts looks at the child’s furrowed brow, looks to his mate, who nods. Then pulls on the gear lever and the little car starts up again, picking up speed.
MCKENNA
So… what’s the plan, boss baby?
DOCTOR
(upset, but continues)
Humph… I’m tired of letting them get away this early in the game. It’s time for action!
He goes back up on the hatch, on top of the car, legs crossed, and looks on to the speeding Reaper, dodging cars, flying low through the corridors of the station.
DOCTOR
Where are you going…?
He then notices what’s coming up in front and puts his head upside down into the hatch, startling Roberts.
DOCTOR
Can ya’ slow down for just a second?
And his head goes back outside. Rob sighs and slows down, marginally. The Doctor fumbles with his pockets and pulls out his yo-yo and a comically large magnet, wraps them together with a knot and creates a makeshift lasso.
DOCTOR
Sorry buddy… But I really need your help!
He closes his eyes, breathes in and out, the space around him getting slower, time seems slower to him, like in The End of the World. The wings on the Reaper slow down, and it turns around, sensing what is happening. The humans are just bickering in slow motion inside the car, which goes past the puddle of ice cream and the sonic, but the Doctor throws the yo-yo magnet over his shoulder, nonchalantly. It goes right into the puddle, alongside the screwdriver, fritzing into a new spark. Time goes back to normal from his perspective, he opens his eyes.
DOCTOR
Oh… please work.
He tugs the yo-yo and pulls it all up like a fishing line. It latches onto the sonic screwdriver and both of them fly off in the direction of the running car, right into… SPLAT! The Doctor’s face! The screwdriver right in the middle of the magnet. He falls backwards from the impact right into the hatch and lands on McKenna’s lap.
DOCTOR
Argh… It worked.
He notices where he landed and quickly moves back into his seat, blushing, melted ice cream in his face. The sonic screwdriver buzzes and fritzes on the Doctor's face, and finally falls in his hands, sullied.
DOCTOR
Ugh… gross…
He pulls a ridiculously long handkerchief from his pocket and cleans the ice cream from his face and the sonic screwdriver.
MCKENNA
What's all that junk?
DOCTOR
Oi! This is more advanced than anything in this space station of yours, alright?
MCKENNA
Looks like a kid's toy.
DOCTOR
(through his teeth)
No… it is a sonic screwdriver. My sonic. My weapon of choice for this battle.
He finishes cleaning and holds it up to his face. With the light flicking back on, he smiles. The sonic buzzes.
DOCTOR
(mournful)
Hey buddy… One last job.
He takes his glasses from his head, tying the screwdriver and glasses together with the yo-yo.
MCKENNA
Ok, now that's a literal kid's toy. What are you doing?
DOCTOR
D'you know what happens if you put two identical sonic devices against each other?
MCKENNA & ROBERTS
No.
DOCTOR
Well I do! Geronimo…
He jumps back up on the seat, arms over the hatch, he presses a button on the sonic and throws the tangled mess of screwdriver, glasses and yo-yo up in the air, with a long thread still in his hand. He starts spinning it around like a lasso, the sonic devices starting to buzz.
SONIC SCREWDRIVER
(repeating the Doctor's words)
Geronimo-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!
A blast of sonic waves is released from the bundle of gizmos in the air, glasses shatter all around them. The people in the streets that were at first startled by the Reaper now cling to their ears protecting them from the loud frequencies, Roberts and McKenna alongside them, the Doctor struggling with the yo-yo cord.
DOCTOR
You're not getting away from me, sunshine!
The Doctor lets go of the yo-yo cord for a bit, making the sonic bundle fly off into the distance, wrapping onto the Reaper's leg, who shrieks in despair from the noise.
ROBERTS
(holding the wheel)
It's-- it’s slowing down!
The Reaper bumbles up and around the corridor, hitting cars and setting off alarms. The Doctor holds on tight.
MCKENNA
(head outside the car)
What do we do now, then!?
The Doctor, hands on the string, opens his mouth.
DOCTOR
(no clue what to do)
Uhm…
MCKENNA
(screaming)
Are you kidding me!?
The Doctor looks around, and then… up. He snaps his finger suddenly, smiling, almost losing the string.
DOCTOR
Ah! …Eureka!
We see the Reapers wing brush up against the fake ceiling, a hologramatic projection of space outside. The wings go through and we see the blank void space between the hull and inside of the station where the TARDIS was in Scene 2. The Doctor looks up at the black hole.
DOCTOR
Ooh, this is gonna be tricky. Oi, 'stache.
Beat.
MCKENNA
(to Roberts)
He's talking to you, Rob.
ROBERTS
Oh. What is it?
DOCTOR
The ceiling you got here in the station. It's a fake right?
ROBERTS
Well, yeah. We're too close to the black hole to have skylights made of glass, tempered or not, they wouldn't last at all.
DOCTOR
Therefore, to make sure civilization doesn't crumble in the dark, holograms! Best glass ceiling in the…
(licks his finger and points it up)
…twenty-sixth century! Gotta love 'em!
While the Doctor is talking, the Reaper hits the hologram again, going through it with difficulty, sparks joining in with the sonic bundle to annoy the creature. Given the pain it gets from the hardlight, it goes down again, dodging another passing car and turning on a street corner, Roberts' car making sure to keep track of it.
ROBERTS
Get to the point will you? Five more minutes we're either gonna be out of battery or fuming scrap in the middle of the road!
Roberts yelps and turns the wheel quickly, with a car hitting the side of their own, scraping metal on metal.
DOCTOR
The point is… we can use it!
We see the Doctor put his hands inside his sleeves as he tries to hold on to the yo-yo string. McKenna and Roberts look at him, flabbergasted. He lets go for just a second and his arm is immediately pulled up and forwards. McKenna gets her head back inside and holds onto the Doctor’s legs, just as he’s about to be shunted out!
MCKENNA
HEY!
DOCTOR
Don’t worry! This is just like flying a kite on Venusssssssss…!
The Reaper notices the release of the Doctor’s grasp, and pulls on the cord suddenly, making the boy jump out, McKenna lets go unwillingly, and all that is left is his boots! Astérix style. The two cops are left alone, staring into the blank space between them.
CUT TO:
10 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
The Doctor is flying through the air! Grasping the string with his sleeves over his hands. His bare feet hit and run over the roofs of several cars passing by, honking their horns. The Doctor sighs after this, only to see a large hovercraft semi truck coming his way. He screams for his life! The Reaper tugs on the wire and the Doctor spins around and goes right onto the windshield of the truck, his face smushing up against it.
DOCTOR
(to the driver, face on the glass)
Drive… safely!
And he goes up, scraping against the windshield. He is above the traffic now. He starts to climb the wire, little by little. The Reaper stares daggers at him.
ECHO
You…! You’re not supposed to be here!
DOCTOR
Here where? This street? The station, this galaxy, universe?! I’m here to stop you, just like every last evil everywhere else.
ECHO
(ignoring the Doctor)
Reaper mine, it is time. Your way back to me, is open.
CUT TO:
11 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
We see a familiar console and a familiar female cyborg hand open its finger like an USB drive and connect to the system. The screen flashes over and over, green text over black appears and the other hand moves the mouse and CLICKS! “DISABLING HOLO LIGHT WINDOW BAY 64”
CUT TO:
12 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
A section of the ceiling skylight vanishes. A square of darkness amongst the star-filled sky. The Doctor notices this as the Reaper flies up, picking up speed.
CUT TO:
13 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
We see the Captain in his chair, from behind, complaining to an ENSIGN about his carrot juice. Then we see Navcom, eyes of pure blackness under her glasses, while typing away furiously at the keyboard with one hand, and clicking the mouse with another, completely unnoticed by the crew. Her screen now shows security footage of the avenue, where we can see the Doctor held aloft in the sky, passing by, as she switches from camera to camera.
CUT TO:
14 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
The Reaper enters the opening, screeching, and vanishes in the dark. The Doctor is still rapidly approaching it when suddenly--
CUT TO:
15 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
Another CLICK of the mouse. We see the words on the computer screen: “ENABLING HOLO LIGHT WINDOW BAY 64”.
CUT TO:
16 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
BZZT! The skylight closes back up, just as the Doctor is in the middle of it! It surrounds him, clothes tearing and starting to burn.
DOCTOR
(in pain)
AARGH! This… was… my… plan!!
He screams in pain as he lifts himself upward. From above we see the police car arrive below the scene. McKenna and Roberts leave it and look up, from their POV, only the Doctor’s frantic legs moving around.
MCKENNA
(panicking)
What-- what do we do?!
ROBERTS
(nervous)
Ah…! Uhm… Okay, okay…
(turns on walkie-talkie)
I’m not seeing this kid die… again!
(to walkie)
Bridge, this is Officer Roberts!
(beat)
Bridge, come in!
(no response)
Bridge!
CUT TO:
17 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
The reprimanded ensign leaves the Captain’s chair, taking the cup of carrot juice with him, and passes behind Navcom, in her focused hacking mode. He notices the camera live footage, lifts his finger and opens his mouth, only to have it shut by a THIRD ARM from behind Navcom! Her head turns around 180° degrees, like an owl, and using one of the regular arms, shushes the ensign. The Captain only hears this, and looks behind him…
CUT TO:
18 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
The hard light hologram fritzes through the Doctor’s whole body, his hair sparkling with electricity.
DOCTOR
I’m not letting you… go!
His face lifts up and we see regeneration energy in his eyes, furious. The blue electricity is engulfed by a blast of energy, as the Doctor tears open the hologram with his bare, illuminated hands. His brow fills with golden sweat, as he forces his way through, opening the hole just enough for his legs to pass through. On the street outside, McKenna and Roberts cheer as they see his legs disappear into the hologram.
MCKENNA
Yes! He’s not dead… again!
She hugs Roberts tight, and after a beat, both of them realise how close they are and let go, embarrassed.
ROBERTS
(blushing, scratching his moustache)
Uhm… Let’s just hope he doesn’t get in even more trouble up there!
MCKENNA
(smirks)
From what I saw in his head, that’s the first thing he’ll do!
CUT TO:
19 INT. VOID - NIGHT
The gap in the hologram closes back, and gravity reasserts itself, making the Doctor go up. The camera turns upside down just as he falls onto the hull of the ship. THUNK. Flat on his back, he just sighs in pain and relief. His regeneration energy illuminates the dark.
DOCTOR
(in pain)
Ugh… That could’ve gone better.
The energy subsides and he is now in pitch black.
DOCTOR
Ah… that's… that's fair… better than regenerating one more time.
We see his outline in the dark, looking around.
DOCTOR
Too quiet… Ooh… I do not like too quiet.
He sits up and pulls his hair back, smoothing it out.
DOCTOR
(Jamie McCrimmon style)
Oi… beastie!
(mocking Echo's voice)
…Where art thou?
His voice reverberates through the chamber, until…
ECHO
(repeating the Doctor's words)
…Where art thou manners, little man?
He turns around. A shadow moves out of screen behind him.
DOCTOR
(determined)
There ya’ are. Wherever you are, really.
A WOOSH and the voice comes from a different side.
ECHO
I am everywhere, everywhen. Simply, I am.
DOCTOR
Oh, clever, clever… I’m guessing you’re the cause of all this mess?
(gestures to his burned clothes)
…The navigation commander? She had a little twinkle in her eye.
ECHO
How receptive. But yes. Her. Amongst others. Many others.
CUT TO:
20 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
The Captain's gun is close-up to the camera. We pan to his face, in horror, with a tinge of sunrise and anger.
CAPTAIN
You… Let go of him, now!
On the other side of the room, Navcom holds the ensign above her head with her biomechanical third arm, stretching long. This makes the ensign hit his head on the ceiling, going unconscious, at which point, she drops him to the ground. The crew are all alert, standing.
CAPTAIN
Navcom, get a hold of yourself. What do you think you're doing?
NAVCOM
(with Echo’s voice)
I am doing what must be done, for I am one, but I am not alone.
CAPTAIN
(ignoring)
Navcom, hands on your head… all three of them.
CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. Another three or more people on the bridge lift their guns towards the Captain. Their eyes are black, just like Navcom’s.
BLACK EYES
(all in sync)
Pitiful humans, their flesh, their souls, ever so delectable…
CUT TO:
21 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
Some of the people in the street are now completely still. Their friends, family, or just onlookers try to talk to them, make them move, but to no avail.
BLACK EYES
Their minds, so easy to pick apart, to play with as though they are puppets in strings…
Most of the people chant in unison as their eyes turn black. McKenna looks around, scared, worried, angry.
MCKENNA
What the hell…? Rob, are you seeing this… Rob? Rob!
She looks back at him, only to see that his eyes are also a dark black void, just like the black hole above them.
ROBERTS
(with Echo’s voice)
Love. Hate. Fear.
McKenna slaps Roberts, shakes him up, to no effect. Her eyes start to tear up, as she holds on to him again.
MCKENNA
(crying in anger)
Roberts! Rob! God damnit! What the hell is happening… Doctor?!
CUT TO:
22 INT. VOID - NIGHT
The Doctor gets up, his face in disarray, looking around, not yet discovering the source of the voice.
DOCTOR
No… no… no… Ah!
He sees his sonic bundle, far in the distance. The screwdriver’s light is still on. A torch in the middle of complete darkness… The Doctor grinds his teeth.
ECHO
All of these emotions…
He runs to it, as fast as he can. His steps on metal echo through the room. Alongside that, WOOSH. Wind picks up from several different places, with the occasional ROAR.
DOCTOR
I’m not letting you…
He jumps onto the sonic bundle, tackling it. He sits up, holding it in his hands… the light grows brighter…
ECHO
Oh… our feast is going to be most appetising…
…To reveal the TARDIS behind the Doctor, surrounded by dozens of Reapers, their eyes red, against the yellow light of his sonic. The Doctor looks into the camera, determined, with a tinge of fright, gritting his teeth.
FADE OUT:
Chapter 3: Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family
Summary:
The Doctor meets...
Notes:
only took me two years to get back to this
Chapter Text
FADE IN:
23 INT. VOID - NIGHT
The Doctor’s eyes up close, darting around, his brow in a sweat. The guttural growls of the Reapers revolve around him. The Echo begins to ring in his ears, all around.
ECHO
So… shall we?
The camera PANS down to see the Doctor smile widely.
DOCTOR
(grinning)
Of course.
He throws the sonic bundle into the air just after pressing the sonic screwdriver’s button one last time.
ECHO
Wait…
(shocked)
Really?
Beat.
BZZT-BZZT-BZZT-BZZT… BLAM! The sonic bundle explodes in a magnificent ball of yellow and blue sparkles, fritzing all around in a loud screech of electric noise.
DOCTOR
(mocking)
Of course not!
The Reapers scatter across the screen, leaving a wide enough gap for the Doctor to open the Tardis doors and jump inside. Once he shuts and locks it, he sighs deeply.
ECHO
(screams in anger)
Aargh!! You can’t hide away forever… child! Your precious little humans are about to be served!
The Echo sounds distant inside the Tardis, and the Doctor slips to the ground, back against the doors, and plops to the floor, with his legs crossed.
DOCTOR
You’re right…
The camera turns around to display the brand new console. It is a multicoloured base, filled with buttons, keyboards and levers, technicolour lights flashing all around in a circle. The time rotor comes down from the ceiling to meet the centre of the console, where another regular time rotor connects as well. The piston inside them flashing yellow, golden, orange. The steps around the time rotor open and close as it all moves, like a carousel, moving up and down. The Doctor smiles once again, this time with joy and defiance in his eyes.
DOCTOR
Oh, old girl, that’s a nice new fresh coat of paint, isn’t it?
The whole console burns a bright green light all around.
DOCTOR
(giggles)
Oh-ho-ho… Finally, communication.
The Doctor stands up and goes to the console, passing his fingers on it, running all around the circular base. He laughs out loud, and finally grips a lever, pulling himself back, just as he pushes it down, hard. THUNK… VWORP-VWORP…! The time rotor connects over and over again, with jolts of light and electricity running across the two halves. The Doctor stops laughing, serious.
DOCTOR
(serious)
I’m coming to get you, McKenna.
From the outside of the Tardis, which is absolutely covered in Reapers, the flashing rotation of the blue light starts. VWORP-VWORP! The Reapers scream in disarray, clawing away at the wood, and then, nothing at all, as the Tardis dematerialises away.
CUT TO:
24 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
The Echo fills the streets, as most people outside are speaking in unison. McKenna is right in the middle of it all, with the few people still conscious running, screaming, crying. But she doesn’t budge, holding onto Roberts, his eyes a deep black, and his mouth agape.
MCKENNA
Rob! Goddamn it, snap out of it!
A passerby runs into her, bumping her shoulder.
MCKENNA
Hey, watch it, you--! What…?
The passerby turns around and it’s Navcom, distressed, the visor covering her eyes. She stops for a second. The nearby DARK EYES point to her, Invasion of the Body Snatchers-style, and screech a horrifying squeal.
DARK EYES
Get her! The betrayer! After her! Seize her! …Kill her!
We see Navcom’s terrified eyes under the visor, and different from earlier, her sclera is no longer black.
MCKENNA
Navcom?
NAVCOM
(in tears)
I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…
She runs away, dodging the crowd as best she can, with most people trying to grapple her, even if slowly.
MCKENNA
Hey! What the hell…
(turns back to Roberts)
Rob, we gotta get out of here, come on!
McKenna pulls on Roberts arm, but he does not budge an inch, like he’s bolted to the floor. She looks at him, just as his face turns to hers, slowly.
ROBERTS
(alongside Echo)
You poor soul. So fond of this one, and yet, never had the strength to tell him… not until it was too late… You humans really are weak! (laughs maniacally)
Roberts’ black eyes stare as his mouth opens wide in a terrifying laugh. The camera spins while zooming into McKenna’s face, absolutely terrified. VWORP…
ROBERTS & ECHO
And now… we feast!
Wind picks up. VWORP… McKenna looks around. VWORP… VWORP! The Tardis materialises around McKenna and Roberts.
CUT TO:
25 INT. TARDIS - DAY
From the perspective of the Tardis interior, McKenna and Roberts materialise in front of the door. The Doctor’s at the controls, looking worried. Up close, we see McKenna’s eyes blink, both her and Roberts frozen in place, stunned by what just happened. The Doctor runs up to them.
DOCTOR
Oh! Hey! Stick around! Just a sec--
He goes back to the console and pulls another lever. Meanwhile, McKenna starts to turn around, slowly.
MCKENNA
…What. The. Hell.
The Doctor comes back and pries Roberts’ hands from McKenna’s arms.
DOCTOR
Okey-dokey. Now, you in there.
Robert’s POV is shaded with a tint of black. The Doctor looks right into his eyes, the fish eye lens distorting everything around him. He snaps his fingers twice.
DOCTOR
Yeah, you. I see you… lurking around inside his noggin’.
He pulls a small lantern from his pocket. He turns it on and makes Roberts open his mouth, pulling his chin down.
DOCTOR
Say “Ahhh…”
ROBERTS
(possessed)
Aaargh!
The Doctor yelps and takes his hand out just in time, as Roberts tries to bite him, snarling like a dog.
ROBERTS & ECHO
I will end you… pest!
DOCTOR
Yeaow! We have got a rabid boyfriend here! Am I right?
He nudges McKenna with his shoulder. We see her marvel at the immenseness of space around her. She smiles.
MCKENNA
(smiles)
How…?
The Doctor looks at her and grins.
DOCTOR
Dimensionally transcendental.
MCKENNA
Hah! It’s bigger on the inside!!
DOCTOR
Yep--Woah, Nelly!
Roberts lunges at the Doctor, screeching. He throws himself onto him, bringing both to the floor. McKenna turns back around to see this and goes to help.
MCKENNA
Oi! Roberts! Stop this!
Roberts bites the air in front of the Doctor’s face a couple times. CLACK. CLACK. It seems he can’t go further.
DOCTOR
No need to worry. State of temporal grace. The Echo cannot hurt us in here. I think.
Roberts stands up, and grinds his teeth.
ROBERTS & ECHO
Damn you, Time Lord!
DOCTOR
Not so powerful now, are ya? Then again…
(steps closer)
I don’t think you were that powerful in the first place, were you?
He once again goes to the console and opens up a little metal drawer on the side of it. He takes something small.
DOCTOR
Here we go. This oughta do the trick.
He runs up to Roberts and holds up his hand, fist closed.
ROBERTS & ECHO
What is this foolishness?
DOCTOR
A little goodbye present.
He opens his hand, palm up. There, a small silver pill.
DOCTOR
Bottoms up!
He does a venusian chop on Roberts’ throat, who gasps for air, leaving just enough time for the Doctor to force it down his gullet. Roberts swallows and blinks twice.
ROBERTS/ECHO
(growling)
What have you done… Aaaaaargh!!!
In the style of Neo coming out of The Matrix, he screams in low fidelity, his eyes are shut and then open, no longer black. The Doctor grins and McKenna sighs happily.
ROBERTS
(no longer possessed)
Blimey! What happened… I think I’m gonna be sick…
He retches and gags and we see something come up instead.
MCKENNA
Oh God, Roberts…! What the…?
Roberts slowly spits up an ice cube, filled with black ink inside the crystalized form. The Doctor quickly puts his hand under his mouth, palm up, motioning to him.
DOCTOR
I’ll be taking that, thank you very much.
Rob slowly spits it onto the Doctor’s hands, who groans.
DOCTOR
It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it!
Close-up of the Doctor’s face holding the ice cube up.
ROBERTS
(nauseous)
Oh… what just happened…?
McKenna goes up to Roberts and side hugs him before tapping his shoulder in a dismissive, friendly way.
MCKENNA
Oh Rob… I’m so glad you’re ok, you nonce, you really scared me!
ROBERTS
Ow, what did I do?
(beat, looking around)
Also, where the hell are we? Is this some kind of fancy kitchen?
DOCTOR
No! Why do you humans always think that, honestly… It’s my spaceship, space and timeship, thingy, thingamabob… Don’t you worry about it! Also, he’s not at fault for his actions, McKenna. It was this little thing here.
He taps the ice cube. The small blot of black ink jolts in all directions, moving inside it like a sea urchin.
ROBERTS
(pointing)
Ok, what the heck is that and why did it come out of me?
DOCTOR
I slipped you a little cure-all.
He points to the small box on the console drawer. McKenna closes it and we can see the logo on the top that says…
DOCTOR
Vomit-O-Matic. Little souvenir I got back in Satellite Five, you remember, right, Rose? That guy Adam, your little boyfriend…
(beat)
He tried to kill me once.
McKenna and Roberts look at eachother again, worried.
MCKENNA
You just called me Rose, kid.
The Doctor blinks and looks back at them, blinking again.
DOCTOR
Oh. I really am in trouble aren’t I? It’s been a while since regeneration has been so scrambled for me… I’m… I’m seeing things from my past. Don’t worry about it though, put it on the back burner. We need to fix this problem first.
He holds up the ice cube, as the other two approach him.
MCKENNA
What is it?
DOCTOR
A micro black hole… would you believe it?
ROBERTS
Not really, no.
DOCTOR
(sniffles, annoyed)
Well. It is. It’s even smaller than micro really. Nano… pico… femto, atto, zepto, yocto, ronto, quecto? Are you still using quecto? It’s just such a silly word…
MCKENNA
(sighs, worried smiling)
Oy, buddy… Focus?
DOCTOR
Oh? Oh yeah, right. Anyway, this is what we’d call a microscopic black hole, it’s undetectable, moves through atoms… and… oh. Oh no, I forgot about that bit.
The tiny black hole starts to pour through the ice cube.
DOCTOR
I need tachyons! Tachyons, tachyons, tachyons! Where--?!
He starts fumbling around, as the ice cube plops to the floor and the micro black hole stays in place in the air.
MCKENNA
Hey… What the heck even is a tachyon?!
DOCTOR
(in between shuffling)
A tachyon is… a particle that travels faster… than light! It can nullify singularities!
The black hole starts shifting around erratically.
ECHO
Tiiiime… Loooord!!!
DOCTOR
Alright, alright! Keep your event horizon on! Geez… Aha!
The Doctor produces a small box from the console drawer.
DOCTOR
(presenting the box)
Presenting… the wedding ring box made with tachyon particles!
He opens it, showing a silk cushioned interior.
DOCTOR
I… I lost the ring. When my wife finds out she’s gonna kill me… again.
MCKENNA
Wife… wha--
(looks at Roberts)
ROBERTS
I don’t even… I can’t anymore.
(shrugs)
DOCTOR
(moving closer)
I know what you’re doing… Singularity. You can’t move around like other sentient beings, so you make yourself a backseat driver on people’s heads! The nerve!
The tiny Black Hole roars with anger, distorting the space around it.
ECHO/SINGULARITY
How dare you judge me, you… you and your people, so called high and mighty Lords of Time. Gallifreyans are nothing compared to us… the Great Vampires you battled in the Dark Times run away from us like stray dogs. We… are Eternal!
DOCTOR
Eternals, eh? Talk about a blast from the past! I’ve had a scuffle with a couple of you recently. D’you know what I did?
SINGULARITY
What?
DOCTOR
(serious)
I trapped them in a nightmare prison for eternity. Would you like that?
The Doctor glares menacingly. The black hole diminishes.
SINGULARITY
You… you would not do such a thing… The tales tell the D--
DOCTOR
Oh the tales tell time and time tells tall tales… I’ve done it before and I can do it again. But I don’t want to. I never do. All I ask is for you to stop threatening the human race. Simply put, leave. Them. Be.
The black hole fires up again, with its mavity growing.
SINGULARITY
(deep, screeching)
The Ephemerals are nothing but amoebas compared to us! They are worthless! Their feeble little brains can’t take on a planet, let alone the universe! They are not worthy of life!
DOCTOR
Oh they are more than worthy! They were born here! Good or bad, this universe is theirs, not yours. Everyone has their time, and yours is coming to an end. I’m done with you.
The Doctor moves closer to the black hole, with the ring box open. The black hole roars once again. One of the round things lights up red, with a sign inside it that reads: ARTIFICIAL MAVITY COMPROMISED. Just as the Doctor and companions turn to look at it, McKenna’s hair starts to stand on end. Then her clothes, and her whole body.
MCKENNA
Uhm, kid, what’s going on?
DOCTOR
She’s destabilising the Tardis’ gravitational field! It’s trying to suck up the whole pocket dimension we’re in!
The CLOISTER BELL sounds up top, as the characters look up and see an actual bell, with Gallifreyan writings.
DOCTOR
Oh great, put it closer to my ears to make it louder, why don’tcha?!
The black hole’s mavity well seems to grow bigger, distorting everything around it. Roberts’ hat starts to float away. And then him, more annoyed than anything.
ROBERTS
(tries to catch his hat)
Oh bugger, come here!
DOCTOR
Wait, Rob, no!
The hat is sucked into the black hole, spaghettified, orbiting it and then gone. The black hole burps.
ROBERTS
Hey! I just had that cleaned!
DOCTOR
We can’t feed it! The more mass the bigger it gets, the more difficult it is to put inside the box!
SINGULARITY
(laughs)
I’d like to see you try.
DOCTOR
(shrugs, stone-faced)
Alright then.
He runs into the event horizon, only to be thrown all the way around the black hole, up and over it. For a moment, we see the inside, in a fish-eye lens-like distortion. The Doctor’s clothes rapidly ageing away. He throws something through the event horizon, upwards. Coming out the other side, his scarf starts unwrapping thread by thread, all going in the direction of the black hole, tugging away like a fish on a rod. The Doctor yelps.
DOCTOR
Oh come on, not the scarf!
He floats on air, holding the thread. He crosses his legs, defeated. McKenna and Roberts go to him, worried.
SINGULARITY
Ha! Pathetic.
DOCTOR
(calm)
Right…
He tugs on the thread. The camera follows it, going into the event horizon and looking up through it. We see the thread of the scarf tied around the open ring box, which itself is roped around the rotor, as it comes off the other side, falling right on top of the black hole. It moves through the event horizon, slowly.
SINGULARITY
(screeching)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo--
The event horizon dissipates, as the black hole is shut inside the ring box, which falls to the ground, bouncing a bit, before closing completely. The three people fall, first Roberts, then McKenna falls on his lap, making him blush. And then the Doctor falls on her lap, making Roberts feel the weight and yelp silently.
DOCTOR
You guys alright?
MCKENNA
Yeah. You ok, Rob?
ROBERTS
Sure… This is nothing compared to the mavity of a black hole.
The Doctor looks back at him and giggles, standing up.
DOCTOR
A positive attitude! I like that. You’re in!
ROBERTS
In? In where?
DOCTOR
Well, travelling through time and space! Right here!
(gestures around them)
If you want to, of course.
He starts fumbling with his fingers. Roberts sighs.
ROBERTS
(looking around)
Well… I dunno. I could do with a laugh. And a holiday…
(stands, rubbing his back)
What do you think, Miss McKenna?
He says while lifting McKenna up.
MCKENNA
Oh, I’d already said yes.
ROBERTS
(beat)
You… You were already going on without me?
The Doctor sucks air through his teeth, walking away.
MCKENNA
Well, uhm… I was gonna ask for you to come too, y’know… Of course I was.
DOCTOR
(not looking back)
I just wasn’t so sure about him… But now I am and that’s what matters! Come, come!
The Doctor picks up the ring box and then ushers them closer to the console where he places the box on it.
DOCTOR
Ooh, I didn’t get a good look before, but-- this is exciting!
We finally get a good look of the console, as the Doctor walks all around it, pressing buttons and turning knobs.
DOCTOR
All in perfect working order! I knew you could pull it off, old girl. After all, this is what you wanted, isn’t that right?
The Tardis lights glow green. The Doctor smiles.
DOCTOR
Alright. Let’s do this. But first--!
(he turns to the others)
We have to save your people!
ROBERTS
Right, yes! What do we have to save them from?
MCKENNA
Oh right… you were possessed by that thing!
(she points to the box)
Everyone in the station had them! Those terrible black eyes!
DOCTOR
(messing with the console)
Is that so?
(beat and giggle)
Oh-hee-hee-hee! That’s very very interesting. Anything else?
MCKENNA
Oh, that cyborg girl from the bridge… Navcom! She was running away from the black eyed people, but she didn’t look possessed.
ROBERTS
Oh my Lord, is this the zombie apocalypse?
DOCTOR
(dismissive)
No, no, no! In space? No, that’s already happened once. Or has it not happened yet, what year is this?
MCKENNA
It’s--
DOCTOR
No, no, hold on, hang on, I think I’ve got it.
(licks his thumb and points it up)
4.6/Pear/37. Ugh, pears. Wait. I might like pears now, remind me to remind you to buy me a pear. I haven’t got any money.
MCKENNA
Alright bud, we’ll see to it, I’m sure.
DOCTOR
Anyway, the point is. This is bigger than a zombie apocalypse. It’s the food stepping up to the plate, serving itself… for that!
He clicks a key on the console keyboard and a screen pops up from the console, showing the black hole. ZOOM IN…
FADE IN:
26 EXT. SPACE - DAY
…Into the screen until it becomes the real black hole. Hungry. Bellowing. AND THEN ANGLES AROUND to show the space station. ZOOM IN…
FADE OUT:
27 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
…CLOSE-UP to the thousands of people running away from each other. Black-eyed people grabbing others, holding their heads, as the darkness passes through their eyes into their new hosts. In the middle of them, frantic, running as fast as they can, Navcom dodges a man with black eyes and pivots into an alleyway.
NAVCOM
(crying)
Leave me alone! I’m sorry! Let me go! Let me… GO!
The camera TRAVELS alongside her running, with black eyed people coming to grab her. She kicks one in the head, and scratches a second. Her bionic third arm punches another in the stomach. The Tardis appears in the background, as she enters it, walking backwards, unknowingly.
DOCTOR
I’d say you need a hand, but I think you’ve got enough of them.
CUT TO:
28 INT. TARDIS - DAY
Navcom’s back is turned, as we see the outside of the Tardis, with the running people, and then the door is SHUT. They bang on it. The camera PANS as she turns around, to see the Doctor, leaning against the console, waving. McKenna and Roberts have their arms crossed.
DOCTOR
Hiya. Looks like a real storm’s brewing out there, why don’t you come in, sit down, have some tea. No coffee though. That gives her a bit of a bellyache.
Navcom’s wide eyes turn into an angry stare, as she pulls her gun to point at the Doctor, who lifts his hands.
ROBERTS
Hey Navcom, come on, put that down, now.
NAVCOM
(looking around)
This… is a ship, right? Ok, you need to get me out of here. Now.
DOCTOR
Ok, fair.
The Doctor shrugs and pulls the take-off lever again.
DOCTOR
(stepping closer)
But first, you need to tell me… What. Is. Your. Deal?
He puts his index finger right inside the gun’s barrel. She clicks and clicks, but it doesn’t shoot. She throws it away, upset. The Doctor’s finger still points at her.
MCKENNA
Why aren’t you possessed like everyone else outside?
She closes in. Roberts follows, cracking his knuckles.
ROBERTS
You better have a good answer for that. The station’s going crazy out there.
MCKENNA
And you’re fine. You left your post. Why?
Navcom panics and her third arm appears, flying in McKenna’s direction. Roberts blocks it, with his face.
NAVCOM
I… I’m sorry! But I plead the fifty-fifth!
CUT TO:
29 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
She opens the Tardis doors and runs off, right into a wall. The Doctor’s head pops out as she falls to the ground. He winces. Roberts and McKenna pop out too.
DOCTOR
Ooh… That’s gotta hurt.
MCKENNA
(looking at the Tardis)
It’s a teleporter too huh?
The Doctor’s head flips back to look at her, mouth agape.
DOCTOR
Ah! She’s not a teleporter! This isn’t Star Trek.
(hugs the Tardis)
Don’t listen to her.
(looks at McKenna)
The Tardis travels through Time… And Relative Dimensions In Space. Oh! I remembered that, must be getting better.
He closes the doors as Roberts and McKenna get out.
ROBERTS
It’s the bridge, but…
DOCTOR
Not a person in sight.
The camera PANS to show the deserted bridge. The Doctor runs around it and sits on the captain’s chair.
DOCTOR (CONT’D)
Good, no one to bother me, now I can just make this station back the heck away from the black hole and you’ll all be safe, I’m sure.
MCKENNA
You don’t sound sure.
DOCTOR
(grinding his teeth)
Because it’s not usually this easy.
Navcom starts to stand back up, just as McKenna holds her arm, on the back pulling her towards the chair.
MCKENNA
You, spill it.
Navcom’s third arm springs forth and Roberts holds it and twists her wrist. She groans with pain.
ROBERTS
(tutting with his finger)
Ah-ah-ah. Fool me once…
The cyborg sighs, tired, tears start rolling down her cheeks.
NAVCOM
I didn’t mean to-- It wasn’t my fault… it just, it just happened…
DOCTOR
And what was it that just happened, uhm…?
NAVCOM
The darkness… it grew across my visor, from a dead pixel… It… filled my mind.
Close-up on her face. Her eyes behind the visor. Her POV. The lonely dead pixel in the corner, growing larger and larger. The screen flickers. The past. The Captain’s face, held aloft by her bionic arm. He tries to remove her hands from his neck. He screams. Back to the present.
MCKENNA
Where’s the Captain, Navcom?
A tear crosses down Navcom’s cheeks from under the visor.
NAVCOM
I’m sorry. She told me to--
The Doctor looks sombre. He puts his legs on the chair, hugging them. Then he places his chin on his knees.
DOCTOR
I know where he is. Where the crew is.
He points ahead and then above. Into the skylight. He presses a button on the chair with the other hand. CLICK.
MCKENNA
Oh my God.
She hugs Roberts, to look away. He stares for another second, and then turns his head down as well. Navcom cries in the corner, like a child who’s done bad.
ROBERTS
(distraught)
What’s happened to them?
DOCTOR
Spaghettification.
The camera PANS upwards. The black hole in the distance, with lines across it. The screen magnifies the view. 10x. The lines become colourful patterns. 100x. The patterns become drawings. 1000x. The patterns are people. The crew, distorted into oblivion. Into the black hole. Eyes still blinking, terrified. Their bodies…
DOCTOR
Stretched across infinity. Ooh… You’ve made me angry now. Oh, no. No, no, no… You’ve made me…
(clenches jaw)
Mad.
The camera goes over the chair and shows his face, eyes burning with regeneration energy. Contorted with anger.
DOCTOR
(looks up at the camera)
I know that I might not look like much at the moment, but you’ve got to remember I’m just as old as you and possibly older… A black hole? You’re nothing. We used one of you as horsepower for time travel… Hell, if I know my history, the Time Lords invented you. So whatever consciousness that’s living inside there, you’re just a little itty bitty parasite sucking up all the life and matter in this galaxy.
He stares up above, at the black hole, flaring.
DOCTOR
(screaming)
LISTEN TO ME! I will not stop until you’re done. Because I’m only just beginning. And I will never, ever, stop.
(beat, embarrassed)
Well. Saying it twice makes it real.
The Doctor’s eyes narrow. Defiant. He looks to Navcom.
DOCTOR (CONT’D)
You, crying in the corner. Stop that, it won’t do you any good, not anymore. And I know…
He sighs. Navcom still doesn’t look at him.
DOCTOR (CONT’D)
I know it’s not your fault, okay? Don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it.
Navcom looks up, to see the Doctor smiling softly at her.
NAVCOM
You will? How?
DOCTOR
Hm… I don’t know yet. But I’m sure I’m gonna figure something out anyway. After all, I’m the…
(beat, snaps his fingers)
Tsk, dang it, missed it again. Ok, that doesn’t matter right now. Let’s get to work.
Cue Hanging on the Tablaphone. The Doctor gets up and runs across the bridge to Navcom’s console.
MCKENNA
What’s the plan, boss?
ROBERTS
How the hell can you fix them? Or that?
He points to one console screen that shows security camera footage of thousands running away from the black eyed people, the group slowly growing in numbers.
DOCTOR
Oh right, Night of the Living Dead… Uhm… Kinda impractical to get everyone a pill like I did to you so… Two birds, one stone?
Roberts and McKenna nod. The Doctor slaps his hands together and rubs them against each other.
DOCTOR
Alrighty then. I’ll have to bypass a bunch of automatic controls for this whole station! More specifically, the mavity field. Nav?
The girl looks up at him. He smiles.
DOCTOR
Can you help me do that?
She perks up, standing, and nodding.
NAVCOM
Yes!
DOCTOR
Good! I want controls for the mavity field and the steering of the station, A.S.A.P!
The camera runs across the bridge as Navcom sits back at her station. Both her and the Doctor tapping away at their consoles excitedly. The officers in the background.
ROBERTS
Is this supposed to be exciting?
The music stops. The Doctor and Navcom stare at their screens, their tapping at them being the only sound.
MCKENNA
(shrugs)
I guess it must be for them.
The music cues up again, louder! The Doctor yelps.
DOCTOR
Aha! Very well done, Nav! You’ve reversed the polarity of the mavity field!
She looks back at him, confused.
NAVCOM
No I haven’t.
DOCTOR
Oh come on, let me have this!
Suddenly all the screens and lights in the bridge glow a bright red. A KLAXON rings and everyone plugs their ears.
KLAXON
ALERT. ALERT. MAVITY CONTROLS COMPROMISED. ALERT. ALERT. STEERING COMPROMISED.
CUT TO:
30 EXT. AVENUE - DAY
The day turns into a red night when the lights of the station sky go a dark crimson. The black-eyed people stop running after the remaining humans and all stare at the sky. Reapers fly across it, screeching.
SINGULARITY
The Time Lord! He and his friends must have something to do with this. Find them… and… fetch me their souls!
All the Reapers point in the direction of the bridge, a large tower that connects to the top of the dome, right in the middle of the station. All the black-eyed people turn their heads, following the Reapers’ fingers, and look at the tower as well. Suddenly all of them screech and start running towards it at full sprint.
CUT TO:
31 INT. BRIDGE - DAY
NAVCOM
It’s fine, I can fix this!
DOCTOR
Good! I don’t wanna have tinnitus this early on in the regeneration!
The sound soon subsides and everyone sighs loudly.
MCKENNA
Oh thank gods.
ROBERTS
What do we do now?
DOCTOR
Well, a good question must receive a good answer, I always say!
The Doctor types away at the keyboard, finishing touches.
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
You know how you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?
Roberts and McKenna nod, confused.
MCKENNA
Yeah?
ROBERTS
(mumbling)
You catch more flies with manure than anything…
The Doctor looks annoyed at Roberts.
DOCTOR
Well…! Regardless of the science lesson… we’re about to get a big catch!
The Doctor punches a big red button next to the keyboard. The computer signs show “MAVITY FIELD - UP UP UP”! With a bunch of arrows pointing up.
CUT TO:
32 EXT. AVENUE - NIGHT
The “Underwater Theme” of Super Mario Bros. starts to play, as everyone in the square, black-eyed people and not, start floating up into the ceiling. Right onto the window to the black hole.
ECHO
TIME LORD! What are you doing?! What have you done?!
CUT TO:
33 INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT
The Doctor grins as he messes about with the mavity controls on the Captain’s chair.
DOCTOR
Well... you know how you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?
ROBERTS
Manure!
MCKENNA
Not this again!
DOCTOR
Well, he’s right.
The Doctor clicks another button on the console.
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
I’m gonna give you what you want! You wanted your food to be served, right?! The entirety of the human race at the tip of your fingers! SO COME AND GET IT!
(under his breath)
…If you can…
The screens in the bridge fill with hundreds of camera feeds showing thousands if not millions of people floating up into the black hole, to its surprised, yet delectable smirk. The station shakes as it laughs.
ECHO
Oh Time Lord! It seems you’ve finally learned your lesson and listened to your elders, have you not?! HAHAHA! Good! Send them in! The SEVEN await their FEAST!
CUT TO:
34 INT. DINING HALL - NO TIME
The black hole opens its mouth, only to reveal that its innards are not black, but pure white. Shadows curl and dance inside it, lit by a single crystal candelabra dangling in the ceiling of this nothingless of a room. Colossal beings made of laughter can be heard inside.
CUT TO:
35 INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT
DOCTOR
Look away everyone! You’re not gonna like what you see!
McKenna and Roberts look for a fraction of a second, their eyes reflecting the shadow of SEVEN people sitting at a table, but finally close their eyes and can see this abomination no longer. Not Navcom. Navcom keeps looking. Her bio-implants flicker and shudder, as the reflection upon her visor gives more detail. It might be seven people, but in the most broad approach of the word.
CUT TO:
36 INT. DINING HALL - NO TIME
They are all connected in some way or another, their fingers might hold one anothers, intertwined amongst themselves, but one look closer and the Doctor knows what he sees now, for they are fused together. If anything, one could say they are well dressed in tuxedos and black dresses respectfully. The Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family by David Bowie starts playing.
CUT TO:
37 INT. BRIDGE - NIGHT
The Doctor’s bright green eyes tear up, but he is smiling. McKenna cries out to him amongst the cacophony of laughter and noise.
MCKENNA
Who are they?!
DOCTOR
(gulps)
I suppose I didn’t let you look that back into my past.
They smile back at him. His family. His family of old.
THE SEVEN
(all together now)
My child. My sibling. My love. My darling dear. My friend. My enemy… My self…
The Doctor’s double heartbeat pounds in his ears.
DOCTOR
Everyone. Meet my family.
THE SEVEN
RUN-RUN-RUN-RUN-RUN-RUN-RUN!!!
And so he does. The Doctor runs away. He opens his TARDIS, closes the door, and leaves. He leaves his friends behind. McKenna and Roberts, eyes shut, the only sound piercing through the cacophony being the TARDIS leaving. They scream “NO!” to no avail. Navcom’s bionic eyes go blind staring at the beauty of the Doctor’s family. VVORP. VVORP. VVORP. Just as he did before, time and time again, the Doctor ran. Like the coward he is.
CUT TO:
rahchan on Chapter 1 Sun 15 Oct 2023 07:26AM UTC
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MatheusFlores on Chapter 1 Sun 15 Oct 2023 09:33AM UTC
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