The Premise: This is a re-imagining of the show Doctor Who for American audiences. It presumes NO connection to the continuity established by the long running British television series, but absolutely WILL borrow heavily from that awesome/amazing show. Some characters will be re-named. Some "laws" will be broken. Creatures, aliens, and tech might be represented differently. I consider it an adaptation, written for fun. I hope you enjoy.
EXT. PARKING LOT – ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY – DAY
SUPER: EARTH – MAY 2013
The late spring sun reflects off the hood of a mini-van inefficiently packed with dirty laundry, small furniture, and a television. The sticker on the rear window reads: ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY. It is one of many as college students and their parents load up their belongings, bound for home over summer break.
There's a breeze in the air. It blows a few wisps of blonde hair across the face of a recent graduate, ROSE TAYLOR (22), as she steps out into the sun from the gray stone dormitory. She drags a red suitcase behind her, the tassel from a graduation cap tied to one of its buckles. Dried tears streak her cheeks even as her warm and genuine smile threatens to overwhelm her kind face.
Nearby, a chapel bell lets out a series of rings the same as it has for over a century. Rose looks back and up and laughs at the sound, as if it's told some sort of joke. She turns from it and sets out for the parking lot without noticing the two people staring at her from the ivy cloaked corner of the chapel.
One of them is a man like no other, tall and striking, wearing brown jeans and a leather jacket over a collared shirt. He is the DOCTOR (33), and he observes Rose with pursed lips and forlorn eyes. He turns to his companion, the woman with him, and sees the same face, the same features, but not the same youthful exuberance. His companion is also Rose Taylor, a FUTURE ROSE (23), not much older than the one in the parking lot loading her suitcase into a car, but certainly less vibrant.
DOCTOR
As promised. Let it never be said I'm not a man of my word.
FUTURE ROSE
No one ever said that.
DOCTOR
Right. Well, they're about to be off. Then, you and me will be off. When that's done, just give your mom a quick buzz on your little gadget there and she can pick you right up as if you never left.
Future Rose holds up her cell phone and shows it to him.
FUTURE ROSE
It's a cell phone. You know it's a cell phone, and you still call it a gadget.
The Doctor pulls out a small metal device around the size and shape of a screwdriver.
DOCTOR
And you still call the sonic screwdriver a "thing", even though you know damn well...
FUTURE ROSE
It is a thing.
DOCTOR
And that is a gadget.
They avoid looking at each other and each turn their attention on the Rose in the parking lot. The young Rose hugs her mother, JACKIE TAYLOR (40's), by the car. It's a long embrace, perpetuated by Jackie's refusal to let go each time Rose tries to pull away. Eventually, the older woman relents so Rose can also hug a young man, MARK (22). He looks about her age, somewhat unremarkable in build, and wears glasses. They kiss.
Both the Doctor and Future Rose look away from the kiss.
DOCTOR
You could warn her. Tell her not to go with me.
Future Rose looks at him, startled, maybe even a bit horrified.
FUTURE ROSE
Won't that damage the time stream? Create a paradox or something?
DOCTOR
Oh, it'd rip the universe a new one, all right. But what good would I be as a Doctor, or a Time Lord for that matter, if I couldn't repair a simple thing like a paradox?
Future Rose smiles for the first time. It lasts half a second, but it's infectious.
DOCTOR
I'm serious. You could start over new from the day you graduated college. You could tell her of monsters, and homicidal robots, and brain possessing shrieks... and me. You could convince her to take the normal life.
FUTURE ROSE
What about all those things we did together?
DOCTOR
Won't ever have happened. At least not the way they happened. They'll have to happen. It'll just happen to happen differently than they happened. You asked me for an end to your nightmare. You asked to go home. I can do better than that. I can make the nightmare never happen. If that's what you want, go to her. Go to her, now, and tell her to stay away from me.
Future Rose thinks hard, looks to the parking lot. The Doctor offers her a reassuring smile, nods. She cries, visibly hurt by this for some reason.
FUTURE ROSE
I won't remember you at all?
The Doctor shakes his head 'no'.
DOCTOR
If anyone asks you about the Doctor, all you'll be able to say is... "Doctor Who?"
Future Rose continues to cry.
FUTURE ROSE
Will you remember me?
As Future Rose cries, the Doctor looks back at the younger Rose in the parking lot. She smiles, laughs. She's so full of life compared to the sobbing and disheveled mess in front of him waiting for an answer.
-OPENING CREDITS ROLL-
-To be Continued...-