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Doctor Who:
The Doctor's Graveyard
by
tswheaton
FIRST DRAFT, DECEMBER 2015
© TRAVIS S WHEATON, DECEMBER 2015
Australian Writers Guild Assoc Member No.12444
Geelong, AU
END of Hell Bent...
.
INT. Gallifreyan corridor
The corridor is in ruins, large chunks of masonry on the floor, layers of still settling dust.
Amidst the ruins, THE DOCTOR and ELIZA are arguing.
THE DOCTOR
What? You, come with me?
ELIZA
Yes.
THE DOCTOR
Don't you think that maybe, just maybe,
I've had enough of Time Lord company
by now?
Eliza attempts an infectious smile.
ELIZA
I am not a Time Lord. I am a Time Lady.
THE DOCTOR
Ohhh the worst kind - a politically correct
Time Lord!
ELIZA
Lady!
The Doctor glares at Eliza, narrowing his eyes, breaks off to stare off down the corridor, before raising a finger pointedly at Eliza.
THE DOCTOR
Ok, but there are three rules. One, -
ELIZA
I've read all your files, remember.
I already know your rules.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, right. Well in that case, Four - Don't
be presumptuous.
ELIZA
Doctor, I think we'd better be going...
A squad of Chancellery guards appear at the end of the corridor.
THE DOCTOR
And Five - Always run, don't walk down
corridors.
The two run to the end of the corridor, where the TARDIS quietly waits, and moments later as the guards appear, the blue box disappears.
.
INT. TARDIS Control Room
The Doctor is slowly walking around the control console, making adjustments. Eliza follows, correcting his handiwork.
THE DOCTOR
Seventeen - Always eat your celery.
He pauses, and stares at Eliza.
THE DOCTOR con't
Are you sure this is what you want? It's
not all defeating deadly diabolical
dictatorships, you know. Sometimes there's
exciting bits, too. I can always drop you
back home before anyone notices...
ELIZA
I was afraid too, Doctor.
She places a hand on his.
ELIZA con't
But now, I'm not.
THE DOCTOR
In that case, before we go a step further,
there is something I need to do.
Alone.
Eliza looks curiously at the Doctor, but he gives back nothing.
THE DOCTOR
Why don't you go clean up, find something
less appropriate to wear. Clothes cupboard
is down that way, fifth door on left, turn
right at the fountain, keep going til you
reach a hat stand; can't miss it.
Giving the Doctor one last curious glance, Eliza turns and heads off through an interior doorway.
The Doctor returns to the console, waiting until she is out of sight, before crossing to the telepathic circuits.
His fingers gingerly trace over the delicate controls.
.
EXT. TRAP STREET
The TARDIS materialises in an alcove, just metres from CLARA OSWALD's body. Standing helplessly nearby, the Doctor - the younger version of himself, stares at his fallen friend. The blue double doors of the TARDIS open, and the Doctor peers out, just in time to see his younger self walking back inside the house to face Ashildr.
Just as he is about to disappear inside, the younger Doctor turns his head, and stares at his older self. With a subtle nod of understanding, he walks inside, and closes the door.
The Doctor moves from the safety of the TARDIS, and delicately, lovingly, sadly slips his arms around Clara's body, lifting her up as a tear falls down his cheek.
THE DOCTOR
I tried, Clara. I tried.
He carries her into the TARDIS.
.
EXT. A barren rocky planetoid
Hanging desolate in space, the planetoid appears devoid of life, with only a thin, cold atmosphere.
The Doctor, shovel in hand, is digging a deep hole in the ground. Clara's carefully wrapped body lays waiting near the hole.
He speaks to her as he digs.
THE DOCTOR
I did. I did show restraint. They were
amazed at how much restraint I showed.
[pause]
It seems my lot in life; to dig holes.
The Doctor stops. He puts the shovel down on the opposite side of the hole, then turns, resting his head near Clara's.
THE DOCTOR
You gave your life for mine without a thought
for yourself, and when you needed me most...
[pause]
Even when I changed, even when I became
so strange to you, you stood by my side.
And now...
[pause]
I know I will see you again. It's inevitable.
And for once, at last, I'll be the one wanting
a hug, but...
(wiping his face)
But you wont be you. All the Clara's in the
universe; but there's only one to me.
He lifts Clara's body one last time, hugging her close, never more than now wanting to feel her arms hold him tight like she always did, even when he didn't want her to.
Slowly he lowers her down, before lifting himself out.
THE DOCTOR
Farewell, my impossible girl.
He picks up the shovel.
...Some time later...
The Doctor stands, looking out over the barren rock... A small stone slab stands at the head of Clara's grave.
ELIZA
Where are we?
The Doctor doesn't turn.
THE DOCTOR
(angry)
I told you I want to be alone!
ELIZA
Who are all of these graves for?
The Doctor turns to her, his face fierce.
THE DOCTOR
What part of alone do you not understand?
ELIZA
(reading names off tombstones)
Clara... Clara... Clara...
She pauses, looking curiously at the Doctor. He continues to glare angrily into the distance.
ELIZA con't
Rory... Brian... Amy... Donna...
She stops, her hand raising to her mouth as she turns to the Doctor, remembering the names from his records.
ELIZA con't
I'm sorry.
THE DOCTOR
Welcome to my graveyard. My own personal
graveyard, for my own personal friends,
whom were all very personal to me.
ELIZA
I'm sorry, Doctor. I didn't -
THE DOCTOR
No, of course you didn't. No one ever does.
He stares out over the graveyard.
THE DOCTOR con't
Do you really want to earn a place, here?
He waves his arm in front of him, at the rows of graves.
THE DOCTOR con't
Each and every one, a friend, someone I
trusted, someone I cared about. All dead.
They're all dead! And now...
ELIZA
They didn't all died whilst travelling
with you.
THE DOCTOR
You think me that careless?
ELIZA
But, then - you've collected them, all?
THE DOCTOR
I can't just leave them. I can't leave them
where they fall. Even -
He stares at the grave labelled Adric.
THE DOCTOR con't
When there isn't a body to bury, I bury
them here.
ELIZA
But, why here? It's so...
THE DOCTOR
Cheery?
ELIZA
Not quite where I was going.
THE DOCTOR
Wait. Just... wait here.
The two Time Lords stand side by side on the barren rock. Time passes. Seconds, minutes, an hour...
Suddenly, starlight starts to creep up over the horizon. As the light travels over the rocky grainy sand, the landscape erupts, transforming. Greys turn green as a coverage of grass grows, with fields of flowers cropping up between graves. The previously lifeless rock is now flourishing with colour and vibrancy.
Eliza watches in shock as the light illuminates more of the planetoid they are standing on - revealing just how extensive the graveyard really is.
ELIZA
All those graves! You knew them all?
THE DOCTOR
No. Some, not yet. But I will. And then
I'll lose them all.
Eliza is shocked.
ELIZA
Is this what it is like, to live off-world?
THE DOCTOR
This is what it is like to live. People come
into your life. Change it. Change you.
Make you better. Make you worse? And
then they go. Sometimes they crop up
again, but most the time...
He again gestures to the graves.
ELIZA
Doctor, I am a Time Lady.
THE DOCTOR
Lord.
ELIZA
I wont die on you. I might regenerate,
but I wont die. I promise.
She reaches out a hand.
The Doctor stares at it, at Eliza, then flahes his fierce face again.
THE DOCTOR
No.
ELIZA
No?
THE DOCTOR
No.
[pause]
Just remind me not to take you anywhere
near a CVE.
ELIZA
Well, if you'd let me retrofit the TARDIS
before we left, I could have plotted all of
the known Charged Vacuum Emboitments.
THE DOCTOR
Eighty-four! Do not retrofit my TARDIS.
The Doctor and Eliza turn and walk back toward the TARDIS.
ELIZA
Imagine having a working chameleon circuit.
THE DOCTOR
Where's the fun in that? After today's events,
all the little boys and girls on Gallifrey will
want to have their own little police box to go
with their Doctor action figures.
ELIZA
You practically destroyed half the capitol!
THE DOCTOR
The other half is fine.
ELIZA
Maybe I should go home.
THE DOCTOR
Too late now, you're stuck with me.
THE END