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DOCTOR WHO
NIGHTMARE OF EDEN
Written by
Bob Baker
Part Two
(Overlap from Romana approaching the Eden projection)
[INT. Corridor]
DOCTOR: (running away from the hole and toward RIGG, standing off to the side) Quick! K9! K9!
(K9 fires at the creature, and it backs away, returning to the mist behind the panel.)
RIGG: What the devil was that?
DOCTOR: I don't know.
RIGG: And what in the name of the suns is it doing on board the ship? First a collision, then a dead navigator, and now a monster roaming about my ship! It's totally inexplicable.
DOCTOR: Nothing's inexplicable!
RIGG: Then explain it!
DOCTOR: It's inexplicable. We'd better put it back.
(He returns the section of bulkhead to its hole. K9 seals it in place with his blue beam.)
RIGG: It must have been that that got Secker.
DOCTOR: Maybe, but Secker was a dead man already.
RIGG: What do you mean?
DOCTOR: He was taking Vraxoin.
RIGG: Oh, no.
[INT. First-class corridor]
(After we see ROMANA tossing from side to side on the lounge floor, we are with the DOCTOR and RIGG.)
RIGG: None of my passengers could have brought it on board the ship.
DOCTOR: Dymond's ship?
RIGG: No. I've scanned it. Still, I'll scan the Empress again.
DOCTOR: Yes, the Vraxoin must be found.
RIGG: Yes, it's bad stuff.
DOCTOR: Bad stuff? It's the worst. I've seen whole planets ravaged by it while the merchants made fortunes.
RIGG: Your people knew it would be on board, did they?
DOCTOR: What, my people?
RIGG: Well, you're an agent, aren't you?
DOCTOR: No! I'm the Doctor. I keep telling you that.
RIGG: Yes, but who do you work for?
DOCTOR: Work for? I don't work for anybody. I'm just having fun.
RIGG: Everybody works for somebody.
[INT. Bridge of the Empress]
RIGG: If there's any Vrax on board, it'll show up on the scan.
(He presses buttons, bringing up a schematic of the Empress. A pair of vertical lines slowly passes from bow to stern over the image in time with bipping sounds.)
DOCTOR: Can you check the whole ship with this?
RIGG: Every nook and cranny. Nothing in the forward section.
(The scan resumes.)
DOCTOR: Secker kept his in the luggage area. I took what was left, then someone took it from me. After stunning me, that is.
RIGG: Who?
DOCTOR: Yes, who indeed.
RIGG: Nothing. (He turns off the scanner.)
DOCTOR: Is there any possible shield against that scan?
RIGG: No, no, no.
DOCTOR: Really?
RIGG: Well, any shield would be too small to hide any useful quantity of the stuff.
DOCTOR: Yes, a small, thick tube. Very mysterious.
RIGG: But this drug is hardly our most pressing problem.
DOCTOR: Yes, I know, I know. We've got to get the ships separated.
RIGG: Yes, but how to get through to the power unit?
DOCTOR: Yes. You know, there might be a way we can do it, using my ship.
RIGG: Your ship?
DOCTOR: Yes.
RIGG: Yes, where is your ship, by the way?
DOCTOR: Oh, around.
RIGG: Well there you go again. How do I know I can trust you?
DOCTOR: Yes. Or I you, Captain.
RIGG: Oh, that's hardly the point.
DOCTOR: Yes, but who's helping whom?
RIGG: All right, what do you want me to do?
DOCTOR: Right, when I give the word, I want Dymond to put his ship on full power. Trust me, Captain.
[INT. Lounge]
(We see chunky boots standing next to the supine ROMANA. The boots run off.)
DELLA: (entering) Romana! Are you all right?
ROMANA: I don't know. I think so.
DELLA: What happened?
ROMANA: Oh. I must have fainted.
DELLA: Was it anything to do with the machine?
ROMANA: Yes. I was watching the projection, and then I-. Oh. It isn't on anymore. I just felt hot. I must have fainted.
DELLA: I asked you not to put that particular image on.
ROMANA: Yes, I know, but as I was on my own I thought I'd just have another look. Besides, you assured me that it was perfectly safe, didn't you?
DELLA: Of course. I'll tell you what. I'll get you something to drink. You look quite pale.
[INT. Vending area]
(She arrives in the vending area, at the opposite end of the lounge from the projection. She presses buttons on the dispenser unit and waits.)
RIGG: Ah, Della.
DELLA: Oh, hello, Captain.
RIGG: That's just what I was after.
(While they aren't watching, a hand pours a small bottle full of something into the drink that has just appeared.)
DELLA: Oh, it's for Romana. She's fainted. I'll get one for you.
(She places the glass on a side table.)
RIGG: Fainted, you say? It wasn't something she saw, was it?
DELLA: No, I think she just felt hot.
RIGG: Oh, why don't I just take this one? (He picks up the glass and starts walking away.)
DELLA: Help yourself.
RIGG: Thanks.
(DELLA has a fresh glass of drink. She returns to the main body of the lounge with it.)
[INT. B deck]
(The DOCTOR emerges from the TARDIS with a piece of equipment that involves a purple tube. The power cord is attached from within the TARDIS.)
DOCTOR: I want to get as close as possible.
K9: (as the DOCTOR folds out the device's collapsible stand) Predict only sixty per cent chance of success, Master.
DOCTOR: Tell me, K9, how is it that, how is it you always look on the black side of things?
DOCTOR: Here am I, trying a little lateral thinking, and what do you do? You trample all over it with logic.
K9: It is a question of the localised power available, Master. I predict-
DOCTOR: Sixty per cent. I heard you, I heard you. But it's worth a try. Now, come on. Let's go and find your mistress. Come on. Come on.
[INT. Bridge of the Empress]
DYMOND: I've got to be away soon, or I'll lose my contract. A year's work for nothing. Do you realise that? It's all your fault, Captain. You were off course.
RIGG: And you shouldn't have been in that sector.
TRYST: Gentlemen, please. Blaming each other won't help anything. The only person who seems to be able to do anything constructive is the Doctor, and we must support him.
RIGG: Yes, yes. I just wish we knew more about him. You know he's got some bee in his bonnet about drug smuggling on the ship.
TRYST: Drug smuggling?
RIGG: (holding his almost-empty drink) Yes. There isn't any evidence to back up his suspicions. There isn't a trace of any drug anywhere on the ship at all. Still, I think that's the least of our worries.
(He finishes the drink.)
[INT. Lounge]
DOCTOR: Are you sure about that? That creature came through the picture?
ROMANA: Yes.
DOCTOR: You were right about this machine. It is unstable, and that creature's escaped from its electric zoo. I wonder where it came from.
ROMANA: A planet called Eden.
DOCTOR: Eden?
ROMANA: Do you know it?
DOCTOR: Well, it rings a bell.
TRYST: (entering) Ah, Doctor. I have a message for you. Oh, I'm so delighted that you are taking an interest in my CET machine.
DOCTOR: I'm absolutely amazed.
TRYST: Yes. Well, it is rather impressive, isn't it?
DOCTOR: No, I mean I'm amazed at you, Tryst, using a machine like this when it's still so primitive. The whole thing's utterly unstable.
TRYST: Well, I value your opinion, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Good, good. I value my life, and this machine makes me feel for it.
TRYST: It does?
DOCTOR: Yes.
TRYST: Well, what do you think is so wrong?
DOCTOR: Well, at a rough guess I'd say the spatial integrator, transmutation oscillator, hologistic retention circuit. Shall I go on?
TRYST: Yes.
DOCTOR: Dimensional osmosis damper?
TRYST: Uh, the what?
DOCTOR: You mean you haven't even got a dimensional osmosis damper? Professor, you don't realise how unstable this machine is.
TRYST: Yes, yes, all right, Doctor. In spite of your interest, I have decided to shut it off until I've had a chance to make some adjustments.
DOCTOR: Well, I'm delighted to hear it-
TRYST: Yes, no, no, and it doesn't matter what you are saying, I'm going to switch it off.
DOCTOR: Good!
TRYST: Yes. Oh, I nearly forgot.
DOCTOR: What?
TRYST: The message. The separation of the ships. Dymond is waiting for you.
DOCTOR: I'm on my way. Romana, off to the TARDIS. I'll give you details later. Tryst! Don't you forget to switch that off.
(They leave, and he does switch it off.)
[INT. Bridge of the Empress]
(RIGG has his head tilted back and is revelling in something we can't see.)
RIGG: You know what, Dymond? The Empress has eaten your ship. Ha ha! Eaten it.
DYMOND [on a monitor]: I don't see why you find it so funny. After all, you stand to lose your captaincy over this.
RIGG: Yeah, I know, I know, I know. I mean, that's funny in itself, isn't it?
DOCTOR: (entering) Stay there, K9. Stay there. Right then, Dymond. Ready for another try? I want you to put your ship on full power. Not now. When I tell you.
DYMOND [on monitor]: Right, Doctor.
RIGG: Where are you going to be, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Here, if it's all right with you. Romana's in my ship. I can keep an eye on things from here.
RIGG: Oh, be my guest.
DOCTOR: Thank you. Romana?
ROMANA: (as she enters the monitor view in the console room) All ready, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Good, good. We're just waiting on Dymond. K9?
K9: Yes, Master?
DOCTOR: Just in case your prediction is correct, go along to one of the blurred areas and take a reading for me.
K9: Affirmative.
DOCTOR: Good dog.
K9: Success only sixty per cent, sir, owing to factors of localised energy.
DYMOND [on monitor]: Ready when you are, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Good. Start building up power.
RIGG: Well, I'll leave you to it, Doctor. I'm thirsty. (He stands and leaves the scene.)
DOCTOR: Romana, get ready. What did you say? Romana, get ready.
(K9 arrives at an interface point and stops. When it clears, he moves toward a door within, marked 'POWER UNIT'. The area becomes blurred again. We've lost K9.)
DYMOND [on monitor]: I'll have to switch off, Doctor. My ship's breaking up.
DOCTOR: No, no. Come on, Dymond, now. Don't lose your nerve. We're almost there. Just a bit longer.
DYMOND [on monitor]: No, she won't take it!
DOCTOR: Romana, switch off. Something's wrong. I'll go and find K9. He's taking a reading for me.
[INT. Beside the interface zone]
(K9 has reached the door of the power unit. The DOCTOR reaches the edge of the interface zone.)
DOCTOR: K9? K9, where are you? K9? He must have slipped through. Good boy, K9!
(The DOCTOR turns round and sees a figure dressed as a passenger, dark glasses and all, standing next to a door.)
DOCTOR: Ah, could I have a word with you, please? I just... Ah-
(The MAN runs away from the door, past the interface zone, with the DOCTOR following. The MAN enters the lift, and the door closes. So the DOCTOR takes the stairs down, checking at one level before continuing further. The MAN emerges just before the DOCTOR reaches the bottom of the stairs. When the DOCTOR sees the lift door open, he knows to enter 'PASSENGERS PALLETS 67-90'.)
[INT. Passenger area]
(Everyone is wearing coveralls and dark glasses.)
WOMAN: What's going on?
DOCTOR: I'm looking for a man dressed just like you.
MAN: When are we going to land? We've been stuck for ages. How much longer?
DOCTOR: Which way did he go? This way?
MAN 2: Maybe that's the entertainment?
(The DOCTOR continues the chase through the rear door of the compartment, into another.)
DOCTOR: Excuse me.
(And another.)
DOCTOR: Excuse me.
(And another. A couple of people rise to their feet.)
WOMAN 2: What's the meaning of this? Why aren't we going down to Azure?
DOCTOR: I promise you, everything possible is being done.
WOMAN 2: But what are they doing about it?
DOCTOR: Here, have a jelly baby, and don't forget to brush your teeth.
(The MAN in passenger garb enters the lift again, going up again. The DOCTOR again reaches the lift just a little too late. He decides not to take the stairs back up.)
[INT. Beside the interface zone]
(The MAN is standing at the top of the stairs when the lift arrives with the DOCTOR. He pulls out a gun and backs away from the DOCTOR, then runs toward an interface area.)
DOCTOR: I only wanted a word with you, whoever you are. You took something from me, old chap. I'd rather like to have it back.
(The MAN disappears into the mist, with the DOCTOR following.)
[INT. Lounge]
(RIGG is still blissful, laughing.)
RIGG: Little ships in big ships. Ships in bottles. Russian dolls, that's what it's like. You remember those?
(TRYST, standing at a distance, shakes his head.)
ROMANA: (sitting on the table beside TRYST) Yes, I do. I wonder if the people who made them realised they were making a model of the universe.
RIGG: A what? Eh? (He laughs.)
ROMANA: As a primitive concept, you know.
TRYST: I don't think the captain is in a mood to discuss philosophy. Can I get you anything, Rigg? A caffedine capsule, perhaps?
RIGG: No, let's talk about life while I await my dismissal and eventual execution for dereliction of duty, and I really couldn't care less.
TRYST: Oh, come on, Captain. The, uh, Doctor may still come up with something.
RIGG: The Doctor. The enigmatic, almighty Mister Fix-It. He's failed again, and I don't care about that either.
ROMANA: Not yet. I'd better go and see what he's doing.
TRYST: Oh, please.
(She leaves.)
RIGG: (standing up and getting right in TRYST's face over his shoulder) Hey. Hey, it's them. They're the ones who are doing the drug smuggling, you know? So the Doctor isn't going to do anything at all, right?
[INT. Interface zone, cycling through colours in the mist]
(The chase seems to be through molasses.)
DOCTOR: I just want to talk to you. I promise you, you'll enjoy it. Stop!
[INT. Lounge]
RIGG: (examining a crystal) Okay, so the Doctor's an agent. Yes, that's it. He's a narcotics agent.
TRYST: And we must give him all the help that we can. Here, drink this. It'll make you feel better. There. And Romana, is she an agent too?
RIGG: What if she is? I mean, I don't care. What does it matter? I mean, nothing matters at all.
(TRYST shakes his head.)
[INT. Beside the lift]
ROMANA: Doctor?
[INT. Interface zone]
(The MAN in passenger garb jumps onto the DOCTOR's back.)
DOCTOR: What are you doing?
(As the MAN wrestles the DOCTOR to the floor, the creature appears.)
[INT. Beside the interface zone]
ROMANA: Doctor? Where are you?
(We hear growling, then see the green-eyed creature waddle out of the mist. ROMANA backs against the wall. We then see several shots being fired at the creature, which backs away into the interface. The DOCTOR crawls out of the mist.)
ROMANA: Doctor! Are you all right? There's a creature in there. It's horrible. We've got to get away. What were you doing in there? Come on!
DOCTOR: Romana, stop. Do you know I've just come through an interface? That's no mean feat. I'm not even sure I'm all here.
ROMANA: You mean you've been right through to the other side?
DOCTOR: Yes, I have, I have. Did you see anyone while I was in there? Coveralls, dark glasses.
ROMANA: Well, someone shot at that creature and drove it off.
DOCTOR: It must have been the chap I was chasing, the fellow who jumped me in the luggage section. Still, I know something about him now. He dropped his radiation band in the struggle just now. Look. Volante.
ROMANA: Tryst's ship?
DOCTOR: Yes.
[INT. Lounge]
(TRYST switches the CET machine back on. The dial is still set to Eden. DELLA enters.)
DELLA: What's the matter with Captain Rigg?
TRYST: Oh, I think he found the whole thing a little too much, but he'll be all right.
DELLA: Good. I thought you told the Doctor you wouldn't use the CET again?
TRYST: Ah, yes, but I'm using for his benefit, Della.
DELLA: Oh?
TRYST: Yes. The Doctor is looking for someone on his [sic] ship who is carrying Vraxoin.
DELLA: Vrax?
TRYST: Yes, Vrax. The Doctor is probably a narcotics agent, which means that we are all under suspicion. So I thought perhaps that we might put our own house in order, as it were.
DELLA: How do you mean?
TRYST: Well, Della, I've been thinking about Stott, our sadly lamented crewman - and your close friend - and his strange behaviour on Eden. Might it be him who discovered a new source of Vrax? But he died, of course, didn't he?
DELLA: What are you suggesting?
TRYST: No, no, Della, I'm sorry to do this, but, uh, I must be certain about a few things, not the least to eliminate the possibility that the Volante and my expedition was used to transport this detestable substance. Now let us assume, for a moment, that it was Stott. He must have had an accomplice. Someone who would take over from him when he died.
DELLA: Are you accusing me?
TRYST: No, no, no, I'm not accusing you, Della. I'm just asking you. Was it Stott?
DELLA: Of course not. I knew him. He wouldn't do anything like that.
TRYST: Then why did he disappear for two hours on Eden, the day before he was killed?
DELLA: I don't know. I don't know anything about that.
TRYST: Of course. (He smiles.)
[INT. First-class corridor]
DOCTOR: Rigg said Tryst and Della were the only ones from the expedition to come aboard.
ROMANA: A stowaway?
DOCTOR: Well, we have to ask Rigg.
ROMANA: He's hit the bottle.
DOCTOR: What?
ROMANA: He doesn't care about anything anymore. He just laughs and giggles the whole time, sick grin on his face.
DOCTOR: Well, that doesn't sound like drunkenness to me.
ROMANA: Vraxoin? Where from?
DOCTOR: Well, inside the projection set. It's the only place. Romana, we've got no choice.
ROMANA: What do you want to do?
DOCTOR: What we have to do. We've got to get inside that machine. Come on.
(TRYST rounds the corner and attracts their attention.)
TRYST: Ah, Doctor. Doctor, Rigg has told me about the drugs.
DOCTOR: Oh, really.
TRYST: Yes. Doctor, I believe I can help you over this problem.
DOCTOR: You can?
TRYST: Yes. Er.
DOCTOR: Romana, please. (She leaves with a smirk.)
TRYST: Doctor, I'm very sad to say that I think the drugs were smuggled on board my ship, and I'm pretty certain I know who it was.
DOCTOR: You are?
TRYST: Yes. One of my crew. But he was killed. But I think he passed the drugs on before he died.
DOCTOR: Yes.
TRYST: Yes. To Della.
DOCTOR: What?!
TRYST: I questioned her, of course, but she wouldn't admit it.
DOCTOR: Well, maybe it's because she's innocent. How'd you know she did it?
TRYST: But, well, Doctor-
(An alarm warbles, interrupting.)
DYMOND [OC]: Calling the Doctor. Would the Doctor please report to the bridge immediately.
DOCTOR: (not happy) Thank you, Tryst.
(TRYST leaves the way he came, while the DOCTOR rounds the next corner, where ROMANA is waiting.)
DOCTOR: Did you hear that?
ROMANA: Della, indeed.
[INT. Power unit]
K9: (with the silhouettes of two growling creatures between him and us) Have located power unit. Awaiting instructions, Master.
(His laser protuberance extends.)
[INT. Bridge]
(The DOCTOR and ROMANA rush in. DYMOND is waiting, with two trim young men in caps and black leather outfits.)
DYMOND: Ah, Doctor. This is Waterguard Fisk and Landing Officer Costa of the Azurian Excise. I've been telling them-
DOCTOR: Good, good. Now listen.
FISK: Can I see your ident plaque?
DOCTOR: Can I just tell you something, please?
FISK: Let me see it. Now.
DOCTOR: On this ship-
FISK: The plaque, please, sir.
COSTA: (to ROMANA) And yours, please.
ROMANA: I haven't got one.
DOCTOR: Neither have I.
FISK: That's extremely serious.
DOCTOR: Drugs. Vraxoin.
FISK: Names and dates of birth. Come on, come on.
ROMANA: Romana.
FISK: Romana who?
DOCTOR: Will you please listen? Someone aboard this ship is smuggling drugs.
COSTA: Name and date of birth.
DOCTOR: Well how would I know? I don't even know who he is yet.
COSTA: Your name and date of birth.
DOCTOR: Oh, well, well, I'm called the Doctor. Date of birth difficult to remember. Sometime quite soon, I think.
FISK: I would advise you not to play the fool with us.
ROMANA: We wouldn't want to.
DOCTOR: Would you please listen? Vraxoin is the biggest killer drug in existence, and it's on this ship!
FISK: All in good time.
DOCTOR: There's no good time. The criminals must be caught.
FISK: Costa.
COSTA: Right. I'll start with you.
(He walks around ROMANA with an electronic wand.)
COSTA: She's clean. (He approaches the DOCTOR with the wand.)
DOCTOR: You're wasting your time.
(It begins beeping.)
FISK: What is it?
COSTA: Vraxoin. Traces of it in his pocket.
FISK: So, the criminals must be caught, eh, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, for heaven's sake, Fisk-
FISK: You're under arrest.
DOCTOR: All right. Can I just say one thing at this moment?
FISK: Well?
DOCTOR: It's simply that-. Look!
(When he points at the monitor, the two men turn, and the Time Lords run out the door.)
DOCTOR: We've only got a few seconds.
(He hits a button to close the doors, which stalls FISK, COSTA, and DYMOND. The DOCTOR and ROMANA race through the corridors.)
[INT. Lounge]
DOCTOR: (closing the door) Quick, Romana. CET machine, quickly.
ROMANA: (turning it on) It's running.
DOCTOR: Get me Eden.
(As she turns the dial, the DOCTOR uses his sonic screwdriver to render the lock less operational. ROMANA jumps.)
ROMANA: Now what do we do?
DOCTOR: (removing a bit from the machine) Test that theory of mine. Come on.
ROMANA: But we can't. It's unstable!
DOCTOR: Come on, Romana. We must, we must.
ROMANA: We'll get torn apart.
DOCTOR: We've got no alternative. Come on. Come on.
(He grabs her hand, and they run toward the projection.)
The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl
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