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DOCTOR WHO
THE HORNS OF NIMON

Written by
Anthony Read

Part Three

(Overlap from 'Are they dead?')

[INT. 'Deep freeze']

(The DOCTOR interrupts as the NIMON advances on ROMANA and the SACRIFICES.)
DOCTOR: Hello, is this a private party? Or can anyone join in?
(He produces a red kerchief, which he waves, catching the NIMON's attention.)
DOCTOR: So you're the mighty Nimon, eh?
(The NIMON follows him from the nuclear furnace area into the 'deep freeze'.)
DOCTOR: Tell me, Nimon. Tell me, are you really terribly fierce? Hmm? Is it true that you're very, very, very fierce?
(While he is speaking, ROMANA fetches the CO-PILOT's gun. The DOCTOR holds his kerchief out in the style of a toreador's cape. It is in front of one of the sacrifices stored on the wall, and the NIMON zaps it with his horns. The youth in the storage unit falls to the floor. Shooting at the floor, ROMANA creates a bunch of smoke, then fires at a panel on the wall.)
ROMANA: Get out, everybody!
(SETH and TEKA run, hand in hand, but the other stand still.)
ROMANA: Go, go!
(She runs out. The NIMON emerges from the other area and heads for the door as if to follow them but then turns back to ROMANA and the SACRIFICES. The DOCTOR runs. While he is in the corridors, the NIMON surveys the damage to his equipment.)
NIMON: The fools. Did they think they could change the course of the great journey of life like this? These can be replaced very simply. The programme will continue. So, you bring me a mere five crystals? It will suffice.

[INT. Corridors in the complex]

ROMANA: Doctor? Doctor?
TEKA: Perhaps he went a different way, with the others.
SETH: Perhaps the Nimon got him.
ROMANA: Thank you for that thought. The Doctor will make for the TARDIS. Let's find the way out.

[EXT. Entrance to the complex]

(SOLDEED contemplates the TARDIS.)
SORAK: Have you any idea where it came from?
SOLDEED: It is very strange. It has the external appearance of something from a fairly primitive society, and yet, quite obviously, it is some form of travel-space capsule.
SORAK: If we could dismantle it, strip it down...
SOLDEED: No, Sorak, no. It may be a booby trap. You can never tell with mysterious contraptions such as this.
(They look toward the TARDIS. Within, K9 watches on the scanner.)

[INT. Corridor in the complex]

(The group are running at full pelt and stop.)
SETH: Oh, dead end!
TEKA: We'll never find our way out, even if there is one.
ROMANA: There must be. Soldeed can come and go.
TEKA: Won't be long before the Nimon finds us and kills us.
(Footfalls approach.)
SETH: He's coming. Give me the blaster, quick!
ROMANA: It's no use. It had no effect on the Nimon.
DOCTOR: Hello. What are you doing skulking down here.
TEKA: It's a dead end.
DOCTOR: Oh yes, of course, yes.
ROMANA: What about the way you've just come?
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't know. You call this a maze? It's a cheat!
ROMANA: Shhhh!
DOCTOR: Well, the walls keep changing.
ROMANA: There must be some sort of-
DOCTOR: Just a minute. I saw this place from above before I landed. It reminded me of something.
ROMANA: What?
DOCTOR: I can't think what.
TEKA: If the Nimon comes along, we're trapped.
DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. He'll be too busy repairing his furnace.
SETH: Furnace?
TEKA: What's that for? Burning the bodies?
DOCTOR: No, no - he has another use for those altogether.
ROMANA: Sustenance.
DOCTOR: Yes.
SETH: What's the furnace for, then?
DOCTOR: Looked like a nuclear reactor to me.
ROMANA: Fuelled by your crystals.
DOCTOR: Yes, your tribute had a very practical purpose. I think there's something horribly evil going on here. Let's go, shall we? Where are the others? Well?
ROMANA: They're with the Nimon.
DOCTOR: What? Come on, come on!

[INT. Nuclear furnace]

(The NIMON pulls some levers on the wall, then slowly turns.)
NIMON: You may approach with your tribute. (roars impatiently) Come. You do not wish me to destroy Aneth.
(One YOUTH steps forward and places his hymetusite sphere on the ledge protruding from the wall just under the levers. The platform rotates it out of view. A young woman does the same, and the rest follow.
When all of the crystals are within the machinery, the needles on the gauges of the bank of equipment the NIMON watches make dramatic swings. The NIMON surveys the equipment. A red light pulses near the ceiling.)

[INT. Corridor in the complex]

DOCTOR: It's this way, I think.
ROMANA: Oh, surely not.
DOCTOR: Why not?
ROMANA: That must lead deeper into the complex.
DOCTOR: That's right.
SETH: We'll never get out that way.
DOCTOR: Well, of course not. Whatever gave you that idea?
SETH: What idea?
DOCTOR: That I was trying to find a way out. Oh no, we've got to go deeper into the complex.
ROMANA: We've got to find the others.
DOCTOR: Right. Come on, this way.
(He turns the other way. This is a dead end, so he turns round again.)
DOCTOR: Maybe it's this way.

[INT. Nuclear furnace]

NIMON: We have achieved operational power level. The next step in the great journey of life will soon be accomplished.
(He uses his horns to zap the YOUTH at the end of the line of sacrifices.)

[INT. Nimon's laboratory]

DOCTOR: Aha! This is more like it.
ROMANA: Doctor, look at this. (She is examining equipment.)
DOCTOR: Just as I thought.
ROMANA: It's quite a powerhouse, isn't it?
DOCTOR: It certainly is. What do you make of it?
ROMANA: Well, it seems to be some form of transmitter.
DOCTOR: Yes, of course, with the horns on the top as the antennae.
ROMANA: But transmitting what?
DOCTOR: Energy.
ROMANA: Of course! That would account for the hymetusite in the nuclear furnace. It's immensely powerful, an amazing bit of engineering.
DOCTOR: Yes, but for what purpose?
ROMANA: Only the Nimon knows that.
DOCTOR: Yes. I think it's about time someone else found out.
(We see that the new SACRIFICES are now in storage spaces on the walls of the 'deep freeze'. The NIMON is satisfied and leaves that area.)
DOCTOR: Give me that. (taking the blaster) Seth and Teka, come here. (he ushers them away from ROMANA) Take that. I want you to guard the door and look out for the Nimon, hmm?
SETH: Right. What do we do if he comes?
DOCTOR: Tell me and then run, in that order.
SETH: Right-o.
(SETH has the blaster and takes up his post.)
TEKA: Don't worry, Doctor. If the Nimon comes, Seth will deal with him.
SETH [OC]: Teka, come on!
(She does.)
DOCTOR: Got it!
ROMANA: What?
DOCTOR: Now I know what this place reminded me of when I saw it from the TARDIS.
ROMANA: What?
DOCTOR: A giant positronic circuit.
ROMANA: Of course.
DOCTOR: And the reason why the walls keep changing is when the circuit's in operation-
ROMANA: They keep switching.
DOCTOR: Exactly.
ROMANA: But why? We still don't know what it's transmitting or where to.
DOCTOR: Need a computer to find that out.
ROMANA: K9?
DOCTOR: Got it! K9.
ROMANA: But will he be able to find us?
DOCTOR: Certainly, certainly. Well, I should think so. I mean, he could follow our psychospores, couldn't he?
(He blows the whistle.)

[INT. TARDIS console room]

K9: Master.

[EXT. Entrance to complex]

SOLDEED: It is very strange. It resists everything. It is totally impossible to open.
(He punctuates this by hitting the door with his fist as he turns away. The door opens.)
SORAK: You did it!
SOLDEED: Yes.
SORAK: Look out!
K9: Master?
SORAK: What is it?
SOLDEED: Some kind of machine.
(The door closes behind K9.)
SORAK: It's alive! Stop it.
(A GUARD fires at K9. Electricity crackles over his casing. K9 stuns the person responsible. SOLDEED's staff makes K9 glow orange for a moment.)
SOLDEED: As I thought - some form of electronic device. Go and see if there are any more inside that mysterious contraption.
SORAK: The door appears to be closed again, Soldeed.
SOLDEED: Very well. Leave the guards to watch that, and bring this machine to my laboratory and have it guarded.

[INT. Nimon's laboratory]

DOCTOR: Got it! No, I haven't.
ROMANA: I've never seen anything quite like this before.
DOCTOR: No. I thought for a moment it was a giant transmat.
ROMANA: No transmat pad.
DOCTOR: That's right. It's a direction beam of some kind, though.
ROMANA: Hmm. It seems to be pumping out energy over vast distances.
DOCTOR: Yes. Wait a minute. That's some kind of bearing. Of course! It's focused on the black hole.
ROMANA: Our black hole?
DOCTOR: Well, we said it was artificially created.
ROMANA: From here?
DOCTOR: Yes.
ROMANA: But why? What good is a black hole to anyone?
DOCTOR: It could be a gateway towards hyperspace.
ROMANA: With an exit somewhere else?
DOCTOR: Yes.
ROMANA: Where?
DOCTOR: I don't know, but I'll tell you something interesting. When I mentioned the black hole to Soldeed, he didn't seem to know what I was talking about.
ROMANA: Ah, well, people often don't know what you're talking about.
DOCTOR: Exactly. If Soldeed doesn't know about the black hole, what does he think all this is for, hmm?

[INT. Council chamber]

SOLDEED: Power, drawn from the distant stars themselves, to power the new generation of Skonnon ships with which we shall conquer these stars! This is what the Nimon gives us.
COUNCIL: Hail Nimon!
SOLDEED: Each of you shall command your own fleet, and I, Soldeed, shall lead you into battle.
COUNCIL: Soldeed!
SOLDEED: Skonnos shall rule the heavens!
COUNCIL: Skonnos!
SOLDEED: Go now, and await your orders.
COUNCIL: (in a sort of rote greeting as they exit) Skonnos.
(The MEMBERS take their leave as SOLDEED almost offers his benediction.)
SOLDEED: To the Second Empire.

[INT. Outside the Council chamber]

SORAK: Soldeed, it sometimes occurs to me to wonder exactly why the Nimon is doing this for us. I mean, to be blunt, what's in it for him?
SOLDEED: Sorak, you dare to question?
SORAK: Well, to speculate, Soldeed. Not to question, merely to speculate.
SOLDEED: Sorak, you must understand the Nimon. The Nimon is as a god to us. It pleases him to be god-like, to receive tribute, and to grant us power. We want that power, so we give him the tribute he asks, or, rather, we get Aneth to do it for us.

[INT. Soldeed's laboratory]

(K9 is sitting on a table. The two men enter.)
SORAK: Something for nothing, in fact. That always makes me feel uneasy.
SOLDEED: Sorak, you are too scrupulous. You get what you want by giving people what they want. If there happens to be a little imbalance, make sure it's in your favour. The Nimon is simple. Powerful, brutal, yes. Scientifically advanced, yes. But simple in his desires. I fawn to him a little. That satisfies his bestial ego, and he gives us what I ask. I play the Nimon on a long string.

[INT. Corridor outside Nimon's laboratory]

(The NIMON walks through the corridors, growling a bit.)
TEKA: What was that? I think I heard something.
SETH: No. No, I didn't hear anything.
TEKA: Seth, what are we going to do?
SETH: I'll think of something.
TEKA: You'll get us out of this, won't you?
SETH: If I can think of a way.
(There is a growl.)
TEKA: Listen. That was something. It's coming this way.
SETH: Go and warn the Doctor. Go and warn the Doctor now!
TEKA: Aren't you going to fight the Nimon?
SETH: Yes, but not now. Go on!

[INT. Nimon's laboratory]

DOCTOR: Come on, K9.
(He blows the whistle again. TEKA comes running inside.)
TEKA: Doctor, there's something coming.
DOCTOR: That was quick. Good old K9.
TEKA: No, I think it's the Nimon.
(They hear a growl.)
ROMANA: Come on - let's get out of here.
SETH: It's too late. It's coming.
DOCTOR: Quick, come on. Hide! Hide!
(They all hide behind various racks of equipment, with ROMANA nearest the door. The DOCTOR's spot is further into the room, and SETH and TEKA are on the far end. The NIMON enters as soon as they've hidden themselves. He checks some things on the machine that has ROMANA behind it, then tends to other machines. He finally starts pushing a heavy lever near the centre of the room.)
ROMANA: (as the DOCTOR starts to approach the NIMON from the side) Doctor, don't.
DOCTOR: I want to find out what he's doing.
(He motions SETH to hide again. He then takes a closer look at the equipment from behind the NIMON. As the creature turns round, he takes cover again.)
ROMANA: (leaning sideways from her hiding place to confer with the DOCTOR as he does the same) Well? What is he doing?
DOCTOR: I don't know what he's doing. Whatever it is he's doing, I think we're too late to stop him doing it.

[INT. Soldeed's laboratory]

SOLDEED: So, you see, Sorak, I have used the Anethans, I have used the Nimon, and I'd use this creature too if I knew how the infernal thing worked. There is power in this, Sorak, power. It is a monumental piece of electronic engineering.
SORAK: But surely, Soldeed, with your skills...?
SOLDEED: My skills, yes.
(A red light pulses from outside the room.)
SORAK: Soldeed, look! The complex.
(He gestures to the window, where we can see the two horns pulsing yellow. The air around them glows red for a moment on each pulse.)
SOLDEED: Sorak, the time has come. From this moment, mark the beginning of the Second Skonnon Empire. (he fetches his staff) With that power, let the onslaught begin!

[EXT. Entrance to the complex]

SOLDEED: (to the agitated people who have gathered) Calm yourselves, you craven fools. I shall speak to the Nimon.
SORAK: Take care, Soldeed.
SOLDEED: Sorak, you know I have nothing to fear. In the name of the Second Skonnon Empire!
(He enters the complex.)

[INT. Nimon's laboratory]

ROMANA: Look!
DOCTOR: What?
(The NIMON pushes the large lever further.)
TEKA: What's happening?
SETH: I don't know.
TEKA: Why don't you know?
SETH: I don't know.
(A portion of the wall slides open. Behind it is a transmat pad, where an egg-shaped grey capsule with almond-shaped hatch appears. Those hiding creep forward and watch as the NIMON approaches it and opens the hatch. A set of horns emerges.)
NIMON: Welcome to Skonnos, my friends. Welcome to the new home of the Nimon race, the next step in the great journey of life.
(There are now three NIMONS in the room.)
NIMON 2: You have done well, but you're only just in time. Crinoth is finished.
NIMON: Now that you're here, come. We can begin the migration with all speed.
(All three NIMONS exit the lab. ROMANA peers from the doorway, and the others head toward the capsule. ROMANA then joins the others.)
ROMANA: It's a space capsule.
DOCTOR: Yes.
SETH: I don't understand. There's no engines.
DOCTOR: It wouldn't need engines, would it, Romana?
ROMANA: The energy beam. The black hole.
DOCTOR: Two black holes. One at the beginning of the journey and one at the end, and a hyperspatial tunnel in between.
ROMANA: And that beam providing the motive power.
DOCTOR: Yes.
TEKA: I don't understand.
ROMANA: The Nimons have found a way of leaping across the universe as far as they want, instantaneously.
DOCTOR: That's right.
TEKA: I thought there was only one Nimon.
DOCTOR: So did Soldeed. They've been terribly clever. Fiendishly clever.
(They leave the transmat area.)
TEKA: Seth, what's happening?
DOCTOR: Invasion.
SETH: Invasion?
DOCTOR: Yes, it happens all the time. When a race runs out of space or destroys its home, it has to find somewhere else to live.
SETH: Skonnos?
DOCTOR: Yes.
SETH: But it's already inhabited.
DOCTOR: Yes.
TEKA: Then how many more are coming?
DOCTOR: Well-
ROMANA: To make all this worthwhile, there must be thousands.
DOCTOR: Millions.
TEKA: What, two at a time?
DOCTOR: Well, as more arrive, they'll build more transmats and increase exponentially. You don't imagine this is the only planet that's been tricked, do you? We've got to stop them.
SETH: How?
DOCTOR: Seth and Teka-
SETH: On guard again.
DOCTOR: Right. (the two leave) We're going to have to be very clever. Power on this scale could blow the whole planet to bits if I touch the wrong thing. Romana?
ROMANA: Yes?
DOCTOR: I want to know everything about that capsule.
ROMANA: Everything?
DOCTOR: Everything.
(She takes the sonic screwdriver he holds out to her. After a shot of SOLDEED making his way through the corridors, we see her working inside the capsule. An alarm sounds. She re-joins the DOCTOR in rather a hurry.)
ROMANA: Doctor?
DOCTOR: It's all right.
ROMANA: Oh, I wish you wouldn't do that.
DOCTOR: I think I've found the main power control.
ROMANA: Really?
DOCTOR: Yes. If I can reverse the flow, the energy will go back to where the space-time tunnel begins.
ROMANA: Crinoth.
DOCTOR: Yes. I might even be able to send the Nimons back again.
ROMANA: Brilliant. (She heads back toward the capsule.)

[INT. Corridor in the complex]

SOLDEED: Lord Nimon? Lord Nimon? It is I, Soldeed.

[INT. Corridor outside Nimon's laboratory]

SOLDEED [OC]: Lord Nimon?
SETH: Listen.
SOLDEED [OC]: Lord Nimon, are you there?
SETH: Come on. (They run into the lab.)

[INT. Nimon's laboratory]

SETH: Doctor, there's someone coming.
DOCTOR: (making some adjustments) There, that should do it.
SETH: I said there's someone coming!
DOCTOR: I said that should do it.
(He pulls the central lever the full way.)
DOCTOR: Come on. Aha. Romana? You're-
(The transmat capsule is no longer on the pad.)
SETH: Where is she?
DOCTOR: She must have been inside the capsule.
TEKA: What are you going to do?
DOCTOR: Well, I'll have to switch the whole thing back. Let's hope we've got time.
(He runs for the lever and pushes it away from himself.)
SOLDEED: (entering and shaking his staff in rage) You, Doctor.
DOCTOR: It's all right, I can explain everything. (He keeps working.)
SOLDEED: Leave that alone!
DOCTOR: No, when you see what happens-
(He doesn't want to see what happens. SOLDEED fires his staff at the equipment behind which the DOCTOR is twiddling a knob. There is a flash and bang, and alarms sound.)
DOCTOR: (standing and whispering) Romana.
SOLDEED: (in a crazed tone) You meddling fool. You shall die.
(SOLDEED's staff is now right in the DOCTOR's face.)

The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl

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