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DOCTOR WHO
MEGLOS

Written by
John Flanagan and Andrew McCulloch

Part Three

(Overlap from 'So, that's what caused the burning')

[EXT. Jungle]

GRUGGER: (grabbing ROMANA's neck from behind) Ha-ha ha. Who is she?
BROTADAC: I found her here.
GRUGGER: She's not a Tigellan. Where are you from?
ROMANA: If I told you, you wouldn't understand.
GRUGGER: Ha-ha. Try.
ROMANA: Let go, and I'll tell you. Thank you. My ship landed here by mistake.
BROTADAC: Ah, let's kill her. Meglos won't like it.
GRUGGER: I'm handling this, not Meglos. What ship?
ROMANA: I'll show you if I can find it.
GRUGGER: All right. Move. Go on.
(She does, and they follow.)

[INT. Power room]

CARIS: And then we waited outside. We saw the Doctor leave, and when we came in here the Dodecahedron was gone.
DEEDRIX: But how long was he here?
CARIS: Moments. Hardly any time.
(They look around the room.)
DEEDRIX: It's incomprehensible. There's no way that I know of single-handedly moving an object like that.
CARIS: An object like what?
DEEDRIX: The Dodecahedron, of course.
CARIS: What was it like? Oh yes, we can define its shape and size and colour, and from up there we could estimate its output, but what do we really know about it?
DEEDRIX: Over the years, we've formed theories about how it works.
CARIS: The source of all our energy, the heart of our civilisation, a device we've become totally dependent upon, and all we know about its internal structure are a few vague theories.
(Several DEONS enter.)
DEEDRIX: Yes, and all because of these Deons. When the Doctor came in here, you're certain he was alone?
CARIS: Completely.
DEEDRIX: So how?
MAN [OC]: Central Control to Deedrix. Central Control to Deedrix. Power drain is reaching critical.
CARIS: Critical! The whole city will collapse. How many times have I told the Chamber-
DEEDRIX: We should be on the surface. Yes, yes, I know. Come along. I'll need you too.
(They push their way between DEONS to leave.)

[EXT. Jungle]

(ROMANA leads the PIRATES through the carnivorous plants.)
GRUGGER: That's our spacecraft! You've been leading us round in circles.

[INT. Central Control]

DEEDRIX: Essential services only. Close down all other sections. (to CARIS) I'm reducing lighting and cutting thermostat temperature to minimum.
CARIS: And giving us?
DEEDRIX: About two hours, but hurry!
(CARIS runs out.)
DOCTOR: What, you mean completely disappeared? Evaporated?
LEXA: What did you do?
DOCTOR: Well, as I recall the Dodecahedron, it was much too large to move.
ZASTOR: Can't you see you've paralysed our city?
DOCTOR: I'm so sorry.
LEXA: Answer me. What happened to the Dodecahedron?
DOCTOR: I keep telling you, I don't know. I've only just arrived.
LEXA: But I saw you.
DEEDRIX: Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes.
DEEDRIX: Whatever reasons you had for doing this, the fact remains that without the Dodecahedron's energy, in two hours' time this city will be dead.
DOCTOR: In two hours' t- (to LEXA, pointing) You saw me? You saw me?

[INT. Grugger's spaceship]

GRUGGER: Now, you tried to trick us. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you now.
ROMANA: Anti-clockwise rotation.
BROTADAC: What?
ROMANA: I forgot that the planet rotates in an anti-clockwise direction.
BROTADAC: What's she talking about?
GRUGGER: Rotating, direction, revolving.
BROTADAC: Oh.
GRUGGER: Well, what difference does that make?
ROMANA: Don't you see? If we'd gone the other way, we wouldn't have come back to the same point.
GRUGGER: Ah. No. Well, I'll give you one last chance, and you'd better get it right. Move!

[INT. Area with pot plants]

(From the spiky, green Doctor figure, the EARTHLING attempts an escape. MEGLOS pulls the body back toward his own.)
MEGLOS: I need you back in.
EARTHLING: Let go of me! You've no right!
MEGLOS: Quite right, but academic.
(He has succeeded, though still spiny and green.)

[INT. Central Control]

LEXA: Even if this girl exists, it will prove nothing.
ZASTOR: And he won't even admit he took the Deon oath and entered the power room.
DOCTOR: I think I see the problem.
DEEDRIX: I'm going to seal off the city. We'll search every area.
DOCTOR: No, no, no, no, wait! Wait! Wait. There are three possibilities.
ZASTOR: What do you mean?
DOCTOR: One, the chronic hysteresis. I've never been in one before, but it just might have projected a time image of me. It's theoretically possible, isn't it?
LEXA: You'll have to do better than that, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Ah.
LEXA: I think you're a fraud and a liar.
DOCTOR: Well, that makes even less sense.
LEXA: Oh? Why?
DOCTOR: Well, you see, I just don't do that sort of thing.
ZASTOR: And the third possibility?
DOCTOR: (placing his hand on ZASTOR's shoulder) I think what we've got here is a good old-fashioned doppelganger.

[INT. Walkway]

(CARIS and another SAVANT run through the corridor.)
CARIS: I'll deal with this. Go to Section 4 food bays, and turn off the ray lamps.
(The SAVANT runs further. CARIS heads for an open panel and begins working. A spiny hand grabs her shoulder and turns her. She is petrified as he pulls her into the area where he has been hiding.)

[INT. Central Control]

DEEDRIX: Ice forming in the sub-corridors. I can't keep essential services running, Zastor. We'll have to evacuate.
ZASTOR: One moment. I want to trust you, Doctor, but how can I doubt my own eyes?
DOCTOR: Well, that's the problem with doppelgangers, you see. You never know who's who.
LEXA: Confine him. He must not be permitted down there again.
ZASTOR: No, Lexa. Very well, Doctor. This time we will go to the power room together.
DOCTOR: Right, and let's hope that many hands will make the lights work.
(The DOCTOR, ZASTOR, and the GUARDS leave the room.)
LEXA: No, Zastor. There is another way.

[INT. Hiding place]

CARIS: But why should I lead you out of the city, Doctor?
MEGLOS: (no longer green and spiny) Well, precisely because I'm not the Doctor.
CARIS: Then who are you?
MEGLOS: I am Meglos! The last Zolfa-Thuran.
CARIS: The dead planet?
MEGLOS: Yes!
CARIS: But why should that make me obey you?
MEGLOS: Because of this.
(He opens his palm, and she reacts with panicked disbelief.)
CARIS: That's impossible!
MEGLOS: Yes, the ultimate impossibility.

[INT. Outside the power room]

LEXA: It is not in anger, believers. Although we have cause for anger, we will act in justice. Ezrith, come with me. The rest of you, do nothing until I give the word.

[EXT. Jungle]

(ROMANA leads the pirates to the area of more active plant life where the bell plant attacked her earlier.)
BROTADAC: How much more of this, General?
BROTADAC: Look at this jacket.
GRUGGER: Shut up.
GRUGGER: Girl, how much longer is there of this?
ROMANA: I don't know. It is extremely hard to navigate on a planet that rotates anti-clockwise. However, I'm pretty certain that it's this way. Or is it, uh, that way? No, no, no, no. It's definitely this way.

[INT. Outside the power room]

(DEEDRIX descends the staircase, where the DEONS have congregated.)
DEEDRIX: Deons. What are they up to?
(He leads the DOCTOR, ZASTOR, and a GUARD into the power room.)

[INT. Walkway]

LEXA: (with DEONS) Follow us.
(Two more DEONS do so.)

[INT. Power room]

DOCTOR: It would have to be solid, assuming some process like baryon multiplication.
DEEDRIX: Well, yes, we always presumed it would be heavy.
DOCTOR: Hah! Heavy? Assuming an atomic weight of two hundred, not even a dozen Tigellans could have carried it away.
(LEXA enters.)
DEEDRIX: So where is it?
LEXA: There's no question about where it is. It's been taken back by the god.
ZASTOR: What is this, Lexa?
LEXA: We are taking over. In order to pacify the god, all non-believers will be collected and exiled to the surface.
ZASTOR: But they won't survive out there, Lexa. You can't-
LEXA: Take him away.
ZASTOR: No, Lexa, you need me as an adviser. I've been a, a believer all my life. You can't do this.
(DEONS remove him and DEEDRIX from the room.)
LEXA: Faith dwells in the deeds, Zastor, not in the words.
DEEDRIX [OC]: He's an old man, Lexa. The plants will kill him!
DOCTOR: Just how dangerous are the plants?
LEXA: Ultimately? Lethal.
DOCTOR: Ah. In that case, I must hurry. I've got a friend on the surface.
LEXA: No, Doctor.
DOCTOR: No?
LEXA: You are going to bring back the Dodecahedron.
DOCTOR: I am? Well, Well, I'd be delighted to help in the ordinary way.
LEXA: No, Doctor, not in the ordinary way.
DOCTOR: Not in the ordinary way.
LEXA: No. Prepare him for sacrifice.

[EXT. Jungle]

ROMANA: Wait.
BROTADAC: We said we'd wait for Meglos.
GRUGGER: He'll be back. Stop panicking.
BROTADAC: How do we know there is a ship?
GRUGGER: If she's lying, she dies.
(He yanks on ROMANA's hair.)
ROMANA: Ow! Don't keep doing that. I know I landed very close to here!
(She tromps on the root of a bell plant, then runs. The PIRATES are attacked by the plants.)

[EXT. City entrance]

WOMAN [OC]: Closing the city exit. Closing the city exit.
(The GUARDS enter the city. ROMANA runs on and hears electronic noises in the underbrush.)
ROMANA: K9? K9! Do something.
K9: Mistress. (The dog's eyes go dim.)
ROMANA: Oh, come on. I can't just leave you there.
(She lifts K9 and heads for the city while the PIRATES extricate themselves from the bell plants and follow her.
The doors close just behind ROMANA. She sets K9 down. However, a second doors lowers in front of her. She pounds on it with her fists.)
BROTADAC: What do we do now?
GRUGGER: We're going in.
(He fires his gun at the outer doors. He can see the flailing ROMANA through the glass.)

[INT. Walkway]

CARIS: You can't get out now. They've sealed the exit.
MEGLOS: No, there's been a change of plan. There's a ventilation shaft on the second landing.
CARIS: That's no good to you now. We've closed them all down to preserve the heat.
MEGLOS: You're lying, of course.
CARIS: You're trapped. We're all trapped. Lexa's in control.
MEGLOS: No, we'll make for the main entrance. No-one can stop me now. (He reaches for her.)
EARTHLING [OC]: Are you sure?
MEGLOS: What! Earthling? You again?
(An appalled CARIS watches MEGLOS turn spiny and grapple with the EARTHLING.)
MEGLOS: It's no use struggling. You can't escape. No, Earthling, no. It will kill you.
EARTHLING: Nothing could be worse than this.
MEGLOS: What, a hero and a fool? You're a very dangerous combination, Earthling.
(When the EARTHLING is subdued, MEGLOS turns to CARIS, who holds out the thermal lance.)
CARIS: Whoever or whatever you are, you're coming with me.

[INT. Just inside the city's entrance]

(The PIRATES are trying to batter down the door as ROMANA continues pounding on the inner door with her fists.)
GUARD: Urgent, urgent. (there is no reply) Where are they? (trying again) Come in, Central Control. (again, no reply) Into position. Ready to fire.
(The PIRATES' battering ram breaks through the glass of the outer door. ROMANA screams and jumps back. The inner door rises a moment later, and she carries K9 through into the city.)
GUARD: Out of the way! Pull her clear!
ROMANA: Stay there. I'll find someone to recharge you.
(The GUARDS fire energy weapons at the PIRATES, who fire back. They run in, still carrying the battering ram. Some of the PIRATES fall.)

[INT. Walkway]

(Running along, ROMANA sees CARIS and a non-spiny MEGLOS.)
ROMANA: The Doctor?
(ROMANA hides, and as the two pass, she hits CARIS and grabs the thermal lance. ROMANA runs after MEGLOS.
CARIS slowly comes to her feet.)

[INT. Just inside the city's entrance]

(The PIRATES have overcome the guards. GRUGGER picks up K9, shakes him, and throws him back onto the ground.)
GRUGGER: Bah, you're useless.
(He kicks K9, who lets out a series of jumbled electronic noises.)
MEGLOS: Come on. Let's go.
(The PIRATES and MEGLOS leave the city just as ROMANA runs in.)
ROMANA: Doctor? What is he doing?
(CARIS runs in at full pelt.)
CARIS: That wasn't the Doctor.
(She grabs ROMANA by the arm and drags her back the way she came.)

[EXT. City entrance]

MEGLOS: Well, General?
GRUGGER: Well? We waited one hour.
BROTADAC: Precisely!
GRUGGER: Shut up. And what's happened? Nothing. It's a catastrophe. You've failed.
(MEGLOS grabs GRUGGER's palm and places a miniature Dodecahedron in it.)
GRUGGER: The Dodecahedron!
BROTADAC: I knew he could do that. How did you do that?
GRUGGER: We told him how to do it.
MEGLOS: Gentlemen, gentlemen. This is only the beginning.
(The PIRATES look at each other.)

[INT. Power room]

(From the ceiling hangs a large slab. From the top, it is attached via a pulley system or similar to the three pillars surrounding it, by ropes.
On the base vacated by the Dodecahedron, the DOCTOR is tied down. DEONS place torches on the walls and wait.)
LEXA: Faith, Deons. We can restore the Dodecahedron by offering the angry god an exchange for its return - his life for the great light that illuminates us all.

[INT. Grugger's spaceship]

(The PIRATES enter their ship and start taking their seats.)
BROTADAC: We've done it! We've done it! A complete success!
GRUGGER: We're taking off, Brotadac. If you want to come with us, I suggest you close the doors.
BROTADAC: Oh. Yeah.
MEGLOS: Well done, Brotadac. Destination Zolfa-Thura, I think, General.
GRUGGER: I hope it was all worth it, Meglos.
MEGLOS: Oh, I think you'll find this (he holds up the mini Dodecahedron) will replace the odd torn jacket, hmm?

[INT. Walkway]

MAN [OC]: The Doctor has escaped. The doors are breached. All guards to the gate immediately.
ROMANA: But if that was Meglos, what about the Doctor?
CARIS: You're sure he's here?
ROMANA: Positive. (She hands the lance back to CARIS.)
CARIS: Then where is he?

[INT. Power room]

LEXA: Oh great gods of Ti, we offer you this sacrifice and beseech you to restore the Dodecahedron once more to shine in Tigella. (sung) Thanks be to Ti.
OTHER DEONS: Thanks be to Ti.
(LEXA swings her arm, pointing. This signals a DEON to set light to one of the ropes to the slab. The fire eats through the rope, and the slab rocks back and forth. The DOCTOR is relieved that the slab hasn't fallen. The DEON applies his torch to the second rope. It burns through, and the slab sways more. The DEON raises the torch to the final rope.)

The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl

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