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DOCTOR WHO
THE KEEPER OF TRAKEN

Written by
Johnny Byrne

Part Three

(Overlap from 'Hurry, Doctor')

[INT. Dungeon]

(FOSTERS place the DOCTOR, ADRIC, and TREMAS on benches along the wall in a disused-looking basement area and then leave.
A beep is heard when they close the doors. KASSIA and NEMAN arrive and peer through the door, which is of cross-hatched metal.)
KASSIA: They are to be closely watched, and no contact with anyone without my express authority.
NEMAN: Yes, Consul.
KASSIA: My husband and his friends have betrayed the Keeper. A full confession to satisfy the Traken people and then... You understand? (he nods) These services will not be overlooked, Neman.

[INT. Corridor]

KATURA: Where could she be?
LUVIC: Here she comes now. Kassia. Kassia, where are the strangers?
KASSIA: Closely guarded.
KATURA: And the Keeper?
KASSIA: It is our duty to propose a new successor. Tremas has forfeited his right.
KATURA: Seron is dead.
LUVIC: Then it's got to be one of us.
KATURA: Well, we shall have to decide the issue formally.
KASSIA: But later.

[INT. Dungeons]

(All three prisoners are now awake.)
DOCTOR: Well, quite a little home from home.
TREMAS: It's the penal wing, Doctor. We haven't had much use for these cells for some time now.
DOCTOR: Not till we came along, that is.
ADRIC: (as the DOCTOR examines the door) Can you open it?
DOCTOR: Some sort of electron lock. Still, sonic screwdriver should do it.
ADRIC: What's the matter?
DOCTOR: Seems a bit far along. Be a good chap, will you, and nip outside and unlock it for me. I'm not a magician, you know.
(Two FOSTERS walk past.)
DOCTOR: Lovely day. (He puts a finger to his lips.)

[EXT. Grove]

KASSIA: All is as you predicted, Melkur. Seron is dead. Tremas is in disgrace. He cannot become Keeper now. You've saved him.
MELKUR: And he may continue to live if you continue to obey.
KASSIA: (standing) What? Can there be more to be done?
MELKUR: Oh yes, my servant. Much more. The Doctor - he is a great and cunning enemy. While he lives, the cause of Melkur is in doubt.
KASSIA: The Doctor and his young friend.
MELKUR: With them, you must finish the job you have begun. (she turns away) And one more thing. You have interfered with the succession. Order must be restored.
KASSIA: A successor is to be chosen.
MELKUR: Will this successor serve us as you do?
KASSIA: I do not know.
MELKUR: But we must know, Kassia. These things must be ensured. I can think of no better Keeper than yourself.
KASSIA: No! No!

[INT. Melkur]

KASSIA [on the monitors]: Release me!
MELKUR: Not until the work is done, Kassia.
(And the hand switches the monitors off.)

[INT. Dungeons]

DOCTOR: The Keeper's not dead yet, so we still have a little time.
TREMAS: Not much, Doctor. Seron's murder proves the Keeper's power is at an end. His death can't be far off.
DOCTOR: Whatever happens, Melkur must not be allowed to make contact with the Source.
TREMAS: How could he, Doctor? The bioelectronics only permit a Traken to succeed to the Keepership.
DOCTOR: Exactly.
TREMAS: (whispers) Kassia.

[EXT. Grove]

KASSIA: (kneeling in front of the statue) Melkur, I implore you. Answer me!
(NYSSA is carrying flowers into the grove when she sees KASSIA kneeling before the statue there. KASSIA detects that someone else is around, so she gets up. She walks along and, as she passes NYSSA's hiding place, reaches to the side and pulls her out.)
KASSIA: Ah, spying, eh? My Fosters will deal with you.
NYSSA: Your Fosters?
KASSIA: Yes, mine, bought and paid for.
NYSSA: But you haven't bought my father or Adric and the Doctor.
KASSIA: No need. They're under lock and key.
NYSSA: He's no criminal! Nor are the strangers. This Melkur has made you mad.
KASSIA: Don't interfere with what you don't understand. Now go home! This will all come to good in time.
(NYSSA turns around and hastens away. KASSIA, alone again, bursts into tears.
NYSSA enters her father's rooms. She heads for Tremas's desk and opens a blue box with velvet look. Then, she enters the area of the rooms with the computers in and removes a small, rod-like object from a bank of computers. She removes an attachment from the box and screws the two together. She places this item back in the box, which she carries out of the rooms with her.)

[INT. Sanctum]

KASSIA: Consuls of Traken. Recent events have proved that a great evil threatens our Traken Union. It is our clear duty to unite and strive to defeat it. Are we agreed?
KATURA: Yes, Kassia. We're all proud of our liberal tradition, but this superstitious mania, this cult of Melkur, is growing.
KASSIA: Fostered by my husband and the strangers.
LUVIC: It must be stopped.
KASSIA: It will, consuls, but only if we demonstrate our intention to oppose it. And to do that, we need a Keeper Nominate who will not shirk what must be done.
KATURA: That's certainly true, but I'm far too old, and Luvic-
LUVIC: Oh, I do not have such greatness in me.
KATURA: So there's no great dilemma about the choice.
(They both look toward KASSIA.)

[INT. Outside the sanctum doors]

NYSSA: Proctor Neman, please take me to my father.
NEMAN: I am sorry, Lady. That is impossible.
NYSSA: My father is still a consul of Traken. I demand to see him.
NEMAN: Your father and the strangers are condemned criminals. No-one may see them.
NYSSA: By whose orders?
NEMAN: Consul Kassia. Forgive me. I have my instructions.
(Nyssa holds up the blue box.)

[INT. Sanctum]

KATURA: So be it. Consul Kassia, we appoint you Keeper Nominate. Do you accept or reject?
KASSIA: I accept.
KATURA: Well, that's that.
LUVIC: First, the matter of Tremas and the strangers. Kassia?
KASSIA: The strangers must die. Tremas will be of use.
LUVIC: Yes. His contribution to the state has been outstanding.
KASSIA: Their deaths will serve to deter others.
KATURA: Yes. Sadly, we must show that our intentions are firm.
LUVIC: Sadly.

[INT. Outside the sanctum doors]

NEMAN: I cannot accept payment. The honour of the Traken Union is at stake. There is a limit to the power of money, Lady Nyssa.
NYSSA: I think this is powerful enough.
(She holds out the rod and points it at him. The FOSTER in the background is also still.)
NEMAN: I see.
NYSSA: Please do as I ask. I will use it if I must.
NEMAN: You will die for this, Lady.
NYSSA: I know what I am doing. Now, the key to the cell, please. (he holds it out) Down there.
(NEMAN throws the keycard to the ground in front of NYSSA. When she bends to pick it up, the two men run toward her. But she hasn't lowered the rod. She shoots them both. They fall with a cry, and NYSSA picks up the keycard, leaving with it.)

[INT. Dungeons]

DOCTOR: (to the passing patrol) Lovely day! Hmpf. They're not a very talkative lot, your Fosters, Tremas.
TREMAS: I suspect Kassia's bribed them. She daren't risk losing us now.
DOCTOR: Why? Why should she, anyway? Ah, a friendly face. (He heads back toward the door.)
NYSSA: Doctor.
DOCTOR: Nyssa. Nyssa, the lock.
(He passes the sonic screwdriver to her, and she gives him the keycard.)
DOCTOR: Ah.
(He hands the card back to her, and she heads down the corridor to deactivate the lock.)
DOCTOR: (looking at his sonic screwdriver) New technology dates so quickly these days.
TREMAS: (as NYSSA returns) Well done, daughter.

[INT. Dungeon corridor]

DOCTOR: Which way, Nyssa? This way or that?
NYSSA: Follow me, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Right.
(He closes the cell door while the others head down the corridor. Catching up with them, he grabs NYSSA by the waist and pulls her back across the corridor just before a pair of FOSTERS cross their path.)

[INT. Outside the sanctum doors]

(The group stop next to the FOSTERS on the floor.)
NYSSA: The ion bonder. I stepped up the ion rate. They'll sleep for quite a bit yet. (TREMAS pats her on the shoulder.)
DOCTOR: What? I must remember never to fall out with your daughter, Tremas. May I look at that? Yes, very clever. No self-respecting fugitive should be without one. (pocketing it) Now.
TREMAS: Where to, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Back to the TARDIS. Much the safest place if we can get there.
NYSSA: We must hurry.
TREMAS: The grove. We can't use the sanctum entrance; they've taken my ring.
ADRIC: And the main gate's guarded all the time.
DOCTOR: It's the only way in. Just stay calm, eh? I'll think of something.
(An alarm is sounded.)
DOCTOR: (not staying calm) Come on, back.
(They head back the way they've come.)
LUVIC: A painful duty, Consul Kassia.
KATURA: Not really our way, this judicial blood-letting. Still, if it must be, it must.
(KASSIA sees NEMAN on the floor and rushes to him.)
KASSIA: The prisoners?
NEMAN: Oh, we were attacked. The lady Nyssa-
KASSIA: Search the court. They can't be far away. Now find them! Or you, Neman, will wish you had never been born.
NEMAN: Yes, Consul.
KASSIA: No, wait. Have the court sealed. Double the guard on the sanctum and the grove, and search everywhere, including the residential quarter.
NEMAN: Yes, yes.
(He leaves, and KASSIA turns back to the other CONSULS.)

[INT. Corridor]

DOCTOR: Come on.
(They eventually encounter two FOSTERS holding weapons.)
DOCTOR: Ah, good morning, or afternoon, or is it evening? It's very difficult to keep track of time around here.
FOSTER: Up against the wall.
DOCTOR: Ah.
NYSSA: Doctor, the ion bonder.
DOCTOR: Ah, yes.
FOSTER: That's enough. Kill them!
(The DOCTOR gets to his weapon first, and both FOSTERS are stunned.)
DOCTOR: Tremas, we've got to get out of these corridors and lie low somewhere.
NYSSA: We're close to our quarters, Father.
TREMAS: Too risky.
ADRIC: Not if they've already searched there.
DOCTOR: Good thinking, Adric. Come on, Tremas, lead on.
TREMAS: Come on.

[EXT. Grove]

MELKUR: I'm disappointed, Kassia. You have failed me.
KASSIA: We will find them. The court is sealed. They cannot escape.
MELKUR: I warned you about the Doctor, but you chose to ignore me. Now you suffer!
(KASSIA's collar glows red, and she squeezes her eyes shut, falling to her knees in pain.)
MELKUR: Rise, Consul. Were you not necessary to our purpose, you would die.

[INT. Melkur]

KASSIA [on monitors]: Tell me what I should do, Melkur.
MELKUR: First, the Doctor. It is clear now he must be destroyed.
KASSIA [on monitors]: I shall not rest till it is done.
MELKUR: Time presses, Consul. The power of the Keeper is almost ours. Only the Doctor can destroy all that we have planned. He must be found. Must, you hear?

[INT. Tremas's rooms]

(TREMAS groans as he enters the ransacked rooms.)
DOCTOR: Well, the new regime seems to be making rather a mess of things. Tremas. Tremas.
TREMAS: (busy picking things up from the floor) Hmm?
DOCTOR: Blueprints. Master plans. Do you happen to keep them here?
TREMAS: What plans in particular?
DOCTOR: Well, the master plans to the Source Manipulator, of course.
TREMAS: Yes, in the atmosphere safe. The secrecy of the Source Manipulator is a sacred trust.
DOCTOR: Tremas, we must stop Kassia becoming the Keeper, and for that we need the master plans.
TREMAS: But I swore on oath, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Well of course you swore on oath! Now you have to choose - your personal honour against the safety of the whole of Traken.
NYSSA: Yes, Father.
TREMAS: I can't, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Well, that's fine. That's fine, Tremas. I mean, when this thing has taken over the entire Source, you'll have the consolation of knowing that you kept your honour intact.
(TREMAS thinks for a moment, then touches a section of the wall, which begins glowing white. He reaches in and pulls out a rolled-up paper.)
TREMAS: (holding the paper with reverence) The original design of the Source Manipulator. The means that gave power to our Keepers.
DOCTOR: Good. (He clears some debris from the table and unrolls the plans.)

[INT. Corridor]

NEMAN: Consul, there's no sign of them. Some of my men made contact, but they got away.
KASSIA: Oh, where could they be?
NEMAN: Well, they were last seen headed towards the grove.
KASSIA: Yes. Obviously trying to get to the Doctor's craft. Very well - we'll help them. Call off the search.
NEMAN: Call it off, Consul?
KASSIA: Have the Fosters withdrawn. All of them.
NEMAN: What, including those covering the entrance to the grove?
KASSIA: Especially those. I want it left clear.
NEMAN: May I ask what you have in mind, Consul?
KASSIA: Same as before, Neman. The death of the prisoners.

[INT. Tremas's rooms]

DOCTOR: Now, Nyssa, you stand on guard. It's magnificent. Magnificent. It's a pity about that poor chap having to sit for thousands of years in a chair, but it is magnificent.
TREMAS: It's a small price to pay for harmony throughout the Union, Doctor. Thousands of years of peace and prosperity for all our people.
DOCTOR: Yes, I can see there's something in that. Adric, put your mind to that.
ADRIC: Erm-
TREMAS: That could be the crucial circuit.
DOCTOR: Agreed, yes. I wonder... could it be tripped?
ADRIC: Well, I wouldn't like to be around if it was.
TREMAS: What are you thinking, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, dangerous thoughts, Tremas, dangerous thoughts. Look, Adric. Warp crossover connected there, shutdown element there and...
ADRIC: Disaster.
DOCTOR: Well, only if the servo blew.
ADRIC: You aren't serious, are you?
DOCTOR: Well, it could be done. Tricky, and I hope not necessary. Yes. Thank you, Tremas. Put that away safely, will you? Nyssa, how are the fun and games over there?
NYSSA: No movement, nothing.
DOCTOR: Good. Let's get back to the TARDIS. Off you go. Come on.

[INT. Sanctum]

(The fire behind the Keeper's chamber consists of only a few flames and now ebbs further.)
LUVIC: The signs are unmistakable, Katura.
KATURA: Yes, Consul. It's happening at last. Fosters, find Consul Kassia. Bring her here immediately. Tell her... Tell her the Keeper is dying.
(The flames sink lower.)

[INT. Corridor]

(NYSSA returns from checking the area.)
DOCTOR: Well?
NYSSA: No Fosters anywhere.
ADRIC: But they can't have given up the search.
TREMAS: It's not like Kassia to give up so easily. I don't like it.
DOCTOR: Neither do I. Still, what can't be cured must be endured.
ADRIC: That's the silliest thing you ever said.
DOCTOR: Yes, yes, don't listen to me. I never do. Come on. [unintelligible syllable] Come on.

[INT. Sanctum]

LUVIC: The texts say it is an agonising death, Katura.
KATURA: Yes. For his sake and ours, may it be swift. With the Source out of control, nature, they say, reverts to destructive chaos. I dread that anything should go wrong, Luvic.
LUVIC: Yes, yes. Kassia must be here the instant the moment comes.
KATURA: Then let her hurry. Time runs out.

[EXT. Courtyard]

ADRIC: I don't like it, Doctor.
DOCTOR: No, it is very quiet. Wait, wait. Come on, quickly.

[EXT. Grove]

DOCTOR: Now remember, we come to the statue presently. No funny business. Off you go.
ADRIC: Wait.
DOCTOR: What is it?
ADRIC: Listen.
DOCTOR: What? Pfft. Imagination. Come on.
(There are several FOSTERS waiting for them.)
DOCTOR: Well, Neman. Neman, you've made a splendid recovery.
NEMAN: Unfortunately for you, yes. Now stand still!
TREMAS: Neman, I'm Tremas, your consul. What's happened to you people?
NEMAN: Enough, Consul. There is nothing to be said. As far as you are concerned, our instructions are clear.
DOCTOR: Well, clarity is the soul of knowing what the other chap's going to do. What are you going to do?
NEMAN: By order of the Keeper Nominate, you are all sentenced to death.
DOCTOR: What?
NEMAN: Sentence to be carried out immediately. Fosters.
(We hear a peal of thunder, and the frightened FOSTERS look to the skies. Winds begin to howl.)
NEMAN: Fire! Fire!
(The FOSTERS choose to run off, so NEMAN goes for one of their discarded weapons. But not before the DOCTOR can activate the ion bonder.)
TREMAS: The Keeper, Doctor. The Keeper's dying!
DOCTOR: Yes, and Kassia will be the next Keeper unless we make the sanctum.
TREMAS: He dies, Doctor. The Keeper dies!
NYSSA: Father! (She struggles the most against the wind as the group head for the sanctum.)

[INT. Sanctum]

(LUVIC and KATURA wait anxiously. as the winds howl. We can see lightning through the windows. KASSIA enters between two FOSTERS.)
LUVIC: Quick, Kassia, quickly!
KASSIA: (raising her hands and approaching the steps) Yes, Melkur, the time has come.

[INT. Melkur]

MELKUR: Do what must be done. I am impatient, Kassia.

[INT. Sanctum]

KASSIA: Keeper of Traken, your work is done. Go swiftly in gratitude for all you have accomplished. She who will succeed is present. Relinquish the Source and die.
(The flames flare slightly and then go out.)
KATURA: He is gone!
(The etched-glass doors open. KASSIA seats herself on the Keeper's chair.)

[EXT. Grove]

(The sun comes out, and the winds die down. The group rise to their feet.)
TREMAS: The Keeper is dead.

[INT. Sanctum]

(The glass doors close.)
LUVIC: The Source. Has it survived?
KATURA: All will be well, Consul. All will be as it should be.
KASSIA: Consuls, you are witness to my acceptance. Instruct the Source that transition may be completed.

[EXT. Grove]

DOCTOR: Come on.
MELKUR: Doctor. So you survive after all.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes. Yes, we're still here. Don't write us off yet, will you?
MELKUR: Look into my eyes, all of you. There is nothing more that you can do, Doctor, so look, and you will die swiftly.

[INT. Melkur]

MELKUR: A merciful death. Refuse, and you will regret it.
DOCTOR [on monitors]: Oh, no. We know what you're up to, Melkur, and we'll stop you. That's a promise.
MELKUR: But it's too late, Doctor. The Source is mine! (the group leave the monitors' range) And soon, very soon, you will feel its power. (The creature laughs.)
(The flames in the Keeper's chamber roar into life.
Back in the grove, the creature within the statue turns off the monitors.)
MELKUR: Now this Traken web of harmony is broken. I am free!
(His chair turns, and we see the MASTER, the end-of-life decaying creature we last witnessed trying to extend his life on Gallifrey. With the sound of a TARDIS wheezing, the statue disappears from the grove.)

[INT. Sanctum]

KATURA: By this act, Kassia, you are physically confirmed as Keeper. Prepare for access to the Source.
(She activates controls from beside the steps.)
KATURA: May you bring peace and blessing for all your time, Keeper.
DOCTOR: Consul, don't do it!
KATURA: You again!
LUVIC: (approaching them as they enter) Fosters, these traitors have no business here.
DOCTOR: Consul Kassia has betrayed you all. Don't complete the transition.
KASSIA: Do your duty, Katura. Complete transition!
DOCTOR: Don't listen to her, Consul.
KASSIA: Complete transition!
TREMAS: No, Katura!
KATURA: (flipping a switch) Transition complete. You now have access to the Source, Keeper.
(She joins LUVIC at the foot of the stairs. As the two bow, KASSIA screams. The CONSULS look up and see her writhing in agony in the chair. Her colours become blurred and fade.)
LUVIC: The Keeper!
TREMAS: We warned you, consuls.
DOCTOR: (to ADRIC as we start to hear a TARDIS materialise) It's our only chance. Secure the TARDIS. Take Nyssa with you, and wait.
(ADRIC and NYSSA leave.)
DOCTOR: (holding TREMAS back) It's too late, Tremas, far too late.
(A familiar statue takes Kassia's place on the chair of the Keeper.)

The above notes, transcription, etc. by Anna Shefl

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