Doctor Who Adventures Across the Universe: Series 2

by TimeReaper2021

A new threat rises for the Thirteenth Doctor! On an adventure that takes her through Earth's history, a look into another dimension and out to the far reaches of space, an ancient threat is coming... but she's not alone, for her friend, Zach Ellis, is ready. But can he balance the safety of the ones he loves with the safety of the Universe? THIS WILL SOON BE TITLED SERIES 5.

1. Man in the Mirror

Track 1: Where's Sam? (Humans Series 2 & 3 OST)
Track 2: I've Got An Idea… (An Adventure In Space And Time OST)
Track 3: The Daleks Are Here 0:00 – 0:27 [fadeout needed] (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 4: London (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 5: A Place By The Sea (An Inspector Calls OST)
Track 6: Do What They Want (Time OST)
Track 7: Superior Minds 0:00 – 1:38 (Doctor Who Series 12 OST)
Track 8: Should They Be Born? (Humans Series 2 & 3 OST)
Track 9: The Production Line 5:49 – 7:34 (Doctor Who Revolution of the Daleks OST)
Track 10: The Mystery of the Anomalies (Primeval OST)
Track 11: Guardian Angels 1:13 – 4:22 (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 12: Dalek Interruption (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 13: A Cuppa (Doctor Who Revolution of the Daleks OST)
Track 14: Hayloft 0:00 – 1:59 (O My Heart Album)
Track 15: Hayloft 2:00 – 3:01 (O My Heart Album)
Track 16: Emer-Gency Exit (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 17: Ram Saves The Day (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 18: Scooby Gang Skype Sesh (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 19: Tanya (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 20: Where's Isaac? (Dark Money OST)
Track 21: Look into the Camera (Time OST)
Track 22: The Crystal and the TARDIS (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 23: Activate (Doctor Who Revolution of the Daleks OST)
Track 24: The Governors (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 25: Missing You (Doctor Who Series 11 OST)
Track 26: Kiss Goodbye (An Adventure In Space and Time OST)
Track 27: The Doctor Triumphant (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 28: Reflections 0:00 – 1:01 (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 29: Charlie Lives With Quill (Class Series 1 OST)

1 INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
A black screen. Echoing faintly comes the cries of a baby, bouncing around the nothingness, before it fades away, and in its place comes…

ZACH (oc)
Deisha.

CUT TO:

Deisha Ellis opens her eyes – A teenage girl, around 14/15, with her hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing green, dirty overalls. A few hairbands are wrapped around her arm, as is a rather advanced wristwatch. She's tucked up against a stack of metallic, sturdy and robust crates next to her father, Zach Ellis, a man wearing similar overalls and panting heavily. A dull, grey light illuminates their faces.

ZACH
Are you alright? You… you sort of zoned out there.

DEISHA
I'm good, I'm good.

ZACH
We're okay, yeah?

He grabs her hand, clutching it tightly, and she smiles.

DEISHA
Yeah.

She sighs.

DEISHA
Actually… I need to tell you something.

ZACH
Is it important?

DEISHA
Yeah, kinda.

Zach pokes his head over the crate, and ducks back down.

ZACH
What's wrong?

DEISHA
I just… I wanted you to know something. If we don't get out of this.

[Track 1: Where's Sam?] Zach now looks over the crates once again – It's a large warehouse, full of strange, advanced equipment and weapons. The room is decorated in strong metal panels, with a distinctive dirty wash over them.

ZACH
Hey. We will.

DEISHA
Okay, even so…

Zach tenses up as he sees a shadow cast in the doorway to a corridor.

ZACH
Sshh!

DEISHA
Hey, I'm kinda opening up here.

ZACH
No, seriously.

Footsteps thud, echoing through the corridor, as a shadow is cast in the doorway to the warehouse.

ZACH (whispering)
Something's coming.

DEISHA (whispering)
What?

ZACH (whispering)
Oh, no.

DEISHA (whispering)
Is it-?

The shadow gets larger, as the footsteps speed up, getting louder and louder.

ZACH (whispering)
No, no, no, no, no.

DEISHA (whispering)
Okay, what do we do? Do we run?

ZACH (whispering)
No, no. Don't, don't… Oh, god.

DEISHA (whispering)
Dad?

ZACH
Oh… Oh, Deisha…

He looks down to her, his eyes welling up.

ZACH (whispering)
I'm sorry…

Deisha's mouth opens, taken aback by his apology. They both look to the door, as a figure storms in. An alarm blares, and both widen their eyes, as- [Track 1 ends]

CUT TO:

ROLL TITLES

2 INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
The sound of a school bell rings out – quite modern, as the pips sound across the school.

3 EXT. PLAYGROUND – DAY
[Track 2: I've Got An Idea] Schoolkids flock out of school, conversing, running out of the school, fixed to their phones. Some are in smart suits – Sixth formers, whereas others are in baggy, untidy uniforms.

ONE YEAR EARLIER…

Deisha and three other students are chatting away as they walk to the gates. Deisha's hair is rather elegantly draped over her blazer. The other girls have very different styles - Lily's hair is brown and in bangs, brushed back slightly by her thick glasses, her blazer is slung over her shoulder, revealing her school uniform, which seems to be more geared towards the boys – tie, trousers, and a smartly tucked in shirt; Rachel's hair is auburn, with pink streaks running down the front, and sunglasses are parked on the top; finally, Kieran's hair is rugged and dyed black, slicked back and neat, much like the rest of his uniform, which is tightly pressed, showing off his silver jewellery and nails which have been painted the same colour as his hair.

LILY
Oh, come on, it's obvious!

DEISHA
No! It's not him!

LILY
Look at the handwriting.

The teenagers are obsessing over a piece of scrap paper with messy handwriting scrawled onto it.

LILY
Who else would write something like that?

RACHEL
For once, Lily's right. James likes you.

LILY
See? Rachel never agrees with me.

RACHEL
It's kind of embarrassing, really. He keeps looking over at you.

DEISHA
No! Just no!

KIERAN
Even if it is - which it isn't – He's definitely not your type. You can do better than him.

DEISHA
Yeah…

Deisha throws a quiet glance at Lily, not saying anything more on the subject.

DEISHA
How long's the bus?

KIERAN
Uh-

Kieran takes out his phone and checks as they finally walk out of the gates and start heading down the road, where lots of students are being picked up by parents, causing a bit of a traffic jam.

KIERAN
Two minutes.

LILY
Wanna run it?

RACHEL
Are you kidding?

They turn the corner, and Deisha hesitates as she sees a familiar blue box, and a blonde woman stood by it in a dark blue jumper, yellow braces and a long grey coat.

DEISHA
Oh, come on.

LILY
What?

DEISHA
I, uh… You go on ahead.

KIERAN
Huh?

DEISHA
Got something to do first.

LILY
She's gonna go talk to him.

DEISHA
Am not!

KIERAN
Don't. Not your type. Don't settle!

LILY
Yeah, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?

KIERAN
What was wrong with Noah?

LILY
I was thinking more Jess.

KIERAN
Oh, yeah. I have bad taste in partners.

LILY
You really do.

DEISHA
See you guys later.

RACHEL
Bye.

Kieran looks back at Deisha as they continue down the pavement.

KIERAN
You alright?

DEISHA
Yeah. See you tomorrow?

KIERAN
Yep, laters.

Kieran runs to catch up with the girls, while Deisha sighs.

DEISHA
For god's sake.

She approaches the TARDIS, and the Doctor stands there, smiling sheepishly.

DOCTOR
Do your mates want a lift?

DEISHA
You realise you can't say that like it's normal when a lift is a spaceship?

She storms into the TARDIS, and the Doctor hurries in after her.

4 EXT. MARSH COURT – DAY
The Doctor walks out of the blue box along the green towards the Ellis' apartment, Deisha dawdling behind. From above, they hear a shout.

SAV
Alright, Doc?!

The Doctor gives a warm grin, throwing a wave up to him.

DOCTOR
Hiya, Sav! What are you doing?

SAV
Just cleaning up!

DOCTOR
Really?

SAV
Got a date tonight!

DOCTOR
Ooh, sounds like fun! Stay out of trouble!

SAV
Feel like I should be saying that to you! Still on for Saturday?

DOCTOR
Depends on if the world needs saving!

SAV
Ah, gotcha.

DOCTOR
See ya!

The Doctor opens the door to the stairwell and bounds up the steps, and Deisha slowly ambles up them. [Track 2 ends]

5 INT. ELLIS' LIVING ROOM – DAY
Zach and Shona Ellis are busy doing chores, flitting about anxiously as they carry washing and do ironing, but the TV distracts them slightly.

NEWS REPORTER (oc)
Last night, Cory Gifford was found dead with severe mental trauma. While it is suggested that his death was not self-inflicted, scientists suggest that his depression had some role in-

The door slams, and Deisha marches in, with the Doctor behind her, still grinning like an idiot. Shona mutes the TV.

DEISHA
Dad. I can't believe I even have to say this, but do not ask the Doctor to pick me up from school in the TARDIS!

ZACH
Why?

DEISHA
Because it's weird! Normal kids do not travel to school by disappearing police boxes!

ZACH
You know the rules. No travelling on your own without the tracker.

She gets out her phone.

DEISHA
The tracker's…

She taps the screen.

DEISHA
On.

SHONA
Come on, this isn't a joke. We need to know you're safe.

Rolling her eyes, she storms out of the room.

DEISHA
God, you get kidnapped and get held hostage by an evil alien mastermind one time…

Shona shakes her head.

SHONA
Sorry about that, Doctor. Thank you.

DOCTOR
It's no problem. Everything okay down at the shop?

ZACH
Oh, uh, yeah, just had a small argument with a pensioner. Closed up early, but couldn't get over to the school in time, you know.

DOCTOR
Alright. While I'm on my feet, want a drink?

Zach raises an eyebrow.

SHONA
Oh, you're our guest.

DOCTOR
No, it's my pleasure, really. Tea?

SHONA
Uh… yes, please.

DOCTOR
Sure.

The Doctor bounces out of the room, and the married couple look at each other. She gestures to the doorway, and Zach nods, getting up and walking after her.

6 EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY
[Track 3: The Daleks Are Here 0:00 – 0:27 (fadeout needed)] In a grimy part of London, a drunk man teeters to and fro down an alley. He chugs down a bottle, his distorted reflection showing his eyes fall to the back of his head, as if out of it, falling against a fire escape stairway to secure himself. Something scurries across the alley at lightning speed, and the man tumbles around to have a look. He furrows his brow as a strange vworping emerges from behind a bin, and then staggers away as the bin falls over. A figure emerges from the rubbish, and the drunk man's eyes widen in horror.

BRYAN
Erhhh? Ayy? Aaah!

He screams as the figure grows, hulking, the shadow looming over the man…

The bottle drops to the pavement, shattering into a million tiny pieces.

7 INT. ELLIS' KITCHEN – DAY
The Doctor spins on the chair at the counter, as Zach walks in, staring at her, bemused.

ZACH
I really admire how focused you are.

DOCTOR
Oh, right, sorry.

She stands up, going to the kettle, and turning it on.

ZACH
Let me.

DOCTOR
Oh-

[Track 3 ends] Zach takes the kettle and fills it up with water, before turning it back on again. Slowly, the water begins to heat up, and Zach leans against the counter, facing his friend. [Track 4: London]

ZACH
So.

DOCTOR
So?

ZACH
Are we going to talk about it?

DOCTOR
Talk about what?

ZACH
Two weeks. You've been here two weeks.

DOCTOR
Yeah?

ZACH
You can't stay anywhere for more than five minutes. You know I'm cool with you staying here, I'm not even going to question how there's a spare room in the back that never existed before. But my daughter is here. Please, you need to tell me what's going on.

DOCTOR
Nothing! I'm just taking a break.

ZACH
Doctor…

DOCTOR
Alright, alright.

She sighs.

DOCTOR
Something's wrong.

ZACH
Got that, but what?

She picks up the newspaper on the counter and presents it to Zach. One of the articles has the headline:

IS DEPRESSION BECOMING A PHYSICAL ILLNESS?

ZACH
I… I don't get it.

DOCTOR
Recently, there's been a spate of deaths, all related to mental health.

ZACH
What, like- Like suicide?

DOCTOR
No. It's like people have been feeling so distressed that their mind just… gave up. Their brain has been… emptied.

ZACH
What? How?

DOCTOR
I don't know.

ZACH
But that's impossible. That's physically impossible.

DOCTOR
Evidently not.

ZACH
What is it? Alien?

The kettle boils, and Zach plops one tea bag each into three mugs, pouring the hot water in, then the milk.

DOCTOR
Well, it's not contemporary, that's for sure. If it is human, the ability to just empty your mind at will won't be developed for centuries.

The Doctor goes for the sugar, but Zach casually pulls it out of her reach.

ZACH
And you haven't encountered it before?

DOCTOR
No.

ZACH
God. So, so, so, what are you looking for?

DOCTOR
Mainly… a pattern.

The Doctor unfolds a map of England from her pocket, with lots of red dots stuck on, mainly around London.

ZACH
What's this?

DOCTOR
A movement of cases. It started in Stratford. Then, deaths started occurring in Bermondsey, Hackney, then…

ZACH
The City.

DOCTOR
From there, cases spiked. All over the Capital.

ZACH
Is it some kind of plague?

DOCTOR
Plagues leave traces in the body. This… this is something else. This is a clear out. Wiping the hard drive.

Zach grimaces.

ZACH
…For what?

[Track 4 ends] Both are caught off-guard by a raucous knock at the front door. They jump, then sigh, now alleviated from their intimate, concerning discussion.

ZACH
I'll get it.

Zach quickly jogs out of the kitchen and towards the front door, with the Doctor ever so nervously following behind.

8 INT. ELLIS' HALLWAY – DAY
He paces over to the front door, and turns the latch to unlock it. Deisha's head pops around her bedroom door, tentatively waiting alongside the Doctor. He swings open the front door, and as he does, he freezes up, processing a figure in front of him; a stout, older woman, with her hair tied up in a bun and a vivid, flowing traditional sari being worn. She beams foolishly upon seeing him, her arms raised.

DEEPA
Zacky! How have you been?

ZACH
…Mum?

[Track 5: A Place By The Sea] The Doctor and Deisha share a look with each other, eyes wide, while Zach just stares on in shock.

9 INT. ELLIS' LIVING ROOM – DAY
Deepa sits herself comfortably on the sofa, the cushions sort of parting way as she wriggles around. On the other side of the room, in a small armchair, sits the Doctor and Deisha, watching Zach pace back and forth uneasily, with Shona by his side. A tense silence ensues, with the sound of a clock ticking rhythmically, passing the minutes by without a word said, before-

DEEPA
…Bit grey today, isn't it-?

ZACH
Okay, what- what- what are you doing here?

DEEPA
Am I not allowed to visit my son?

ZACH
Not when you abandoned me fifteen years ago!

SHONA
Zach.

DEEPA
No, no. He's right.

ZACH
What is it you need this time? Money? Hmm? You only ever show up for money.

DEEPA
If you gave me a chance, you might actually know that I've changed.

ZACH
Oh! Oh, okay. You've changed. Heard that one before. Like- like when you changed for Deisha's christening, and ran off before the ceremony?

DEEPA
Zach…

ZACH
Or… when you changed for "Happy New Year, 2013!", then you just needed a loan.

DEEPA
Zacky…

ZACH
Or how about-

DEEPA
Okay, okay, okay! I get it.

The Doctor clears her throat, and Zach's head jerks towards her in one sharp movement, his eyes shooting daggers.

DOCTOR
Deisha and I will, uh… give you a little space.

He relaxes up a bit, nodding.

ZACH
Thanks.

DEEPA
Who are you?

DOCTOR
I'm the Doctor.

DEEPA
A doctor? Why do you have a Doctor?

ZACH
She's my friend.

DOCTOR
And might I say, your son is brilliant. You did the wrong thing by leaving him. Come on, Deisha.

DEISHA
Mhm.

DEEPA
Good to see you, sweetheart.

Deisha uncomfortably shuffles out of the room after the Doctor.

DEEPA
She's grown.

ZACH
Yeah, we all have. That's what happens when you leave for years at a time.

She guiltily fidgets. Shona finally perks up.

SHONA
Deepa, would you like a drink?

DEEPA
Ooh, just a water for me, thanks, dear.

SHONA
Zach?

ZACH
No, thanks.

Shona rushes out, leaving Zach and Deepa alone, resuming the awkward, confrontational silence.

DEEPA
Look, Zach. I know how this all must be, I know you're surprised to see me-

Zach now explodes into an outburst of anger.

ZACH
Oh, surprised doesn't even BEGIN to explain how I'm feeling!

DEEPA
…No need to get cross.

ZACH
No need-! No need? You can't just show up without probable cause after six years of nothing!

DEEPA
I want another chance. I want to make things better between us.

ZACH
You've had your "another chance". You've had too many chances.

DEEPA
Are you not even going to listen to what I have to say?

ZACH
No. I'm not.

DEEPA
Please! Just… just hear me out.

[Track 5 ends] Zach's nostrils flare, his fist clenched, before sighing, his face falling.

10 EXT. FLAT BLOCK ROOFTOP – DAY
[Track 6: Do What They Want] The Doctor and Deisha wander about the rooftop, watching the air of a grey Autumnal afternoon set in, as a cool blue hue instils itself into the cloudy sky.

DOCTOR
Getting cold. Not even Winter yet.

DEISHA
Yeah, been like this for months. Summer didn't wanna come out this year.

DOCTOR
Hmm…

The Doctor glances over to Deisha, who obviously has something preying on her mind, but is hiding it with an awkward posture.

DOCTOR
So. Your grandma.

DEISHA
Yeah… Dad and gran never got along. I suppose I didn't either… Maybe because whenever she came over, there was arguing, shouting. Rubbed off on me, I guess.

DOCTOR
When was the last time you saw her?

DEISHA
…Six years ago.

She crashes onto a stained deck chair, kicking her feet out.

DEISHA
They just kept… fighting and fighting.

DOCTOR
I'm sorry.

DEISHA
Yeah, well. I don't blame him. If my parent left…

And with that, she falls silent.

DOCTOR
Are you okay?

DEISHA
I'm fine.

Discreetly, she wipes away a tear, and while the Doctor notices, she pretends she hadn't, slowly lowering her hands into her trouser pockets, and towering over her with a sympathetic look on her face.

DEISHA
Really. I'm fine.

DOCTOR
I believe you. But why be fine when you could be better, right?

[Track 6 ends] Deisha raises an eyebrow at this, when suddenly, a rhythmic, mechanical pulsating emits from the Doctor's coat pocket. She shoves her hand inside and quickly whips out the sonic screwdriver, flashing slowly, intermittently. [Track 7: Superior Minds 0:00 – 1:38]

DOCTOR
Oh!

DEISHA
Oh? What's oh?

DOCTOR
A signal. There's been another death.

DEISHA
Another what?

DOCTOR
Come on, before we lose the trace!

The Doctor grabs Deisha's hand and drags her off the rooftop and back down the stairs.

11 EXT. MARSH COURT – DAY
They sprint out of the stairwell and bound across the grass. The Doctor flings herself into the police box, and Deisha isn't far behind, throwing open the doors as they begin to close, and running into-

12 INT. TARDIS – DAY
-the console room. As the doors slide close behind Deisha, the Doctor is already at the controls, bouncing around from panel to panel as the TARDIS breathes into life, whispering as the hum echoes around the chamber, as she reroutes wires into different slots, flicks a few switches, types things into the monitor and finally, throws the lever forward, jolting the pair to the side, before she can even admire the majesty of the space around her once more.

DEISHA
Woah!

DOCTOR
Hold on tight!

DEISHA
Couldn't you… have given… an earlier warning?!

She trips forward, grabbing onto one of the cables dangling down from the ceiling, before finally securing herself against the wall.

13 EXT. MARSH COURT – DAY
The TARDIS is consumed by a blaze of a harsh white light, then flickers of blue and black dance in the aura, as the engines roar, the windows lighting up and illuminating the space around them, before all the lights dissipate, and with it, the police box.

14 INT. ELLIS' KITCHEN – DAY
The reverberations of the dematerialisation flow through the kitchen window, pricking Shona's ears. Instinctively, she picks up her phone, scrolling through her contacts to find Deisha, then finally hovering her thumb over the CALL button. Hesitating, she eventually manoeuvres her finger over to the TEXT button, and types:

Are you with the Doctor?

She taps her foot, before receiving a quick reply:

Yh, bbl

She fiddles with her nails, before finally texting:

Okay. Tracker ON.

Then she pockets her phone, taking with her a glass of water as she leaves the kitchen.

15 INT. TARDIS – DAY
The console room rocks back and forth as the Doctor continues to play with the various knobs and mechanisms in front of her. A slot opens up, and the Doctor plugs the sonic in, as the ship finally settles, allowing Deisha to brush her hair back.

DOCTOR
Sorry about that, bit of turbulence.

DEISHA
A bit?

She rolls her eyes.

DEISHA
So- let me get this straight. There's been a bunch of people… losing their minds, and you think it's alien?

DOCTOR
Pretty much the gist of it, yeah. But it doesn't strictly have to be alien, just non-human.

DEISHA
Yeah, that's alien?

DOCTOR
What about dogs?

DEISHA
Okay, tell you what, if the world gets invaded by dogs, I'll give you a tenner.

DOCTOR
You're on. Coming into land now.

DEISHA
Where?

The Doctor reads off the scanner.

DOCTOR
Bow.

DEISHA
Bow? We could've gotten a bus there!

DOCTOR
Don't have a bus pass.

DEISHA
What, seriously?

DOCTOR
I dunno what qualifies as state pension age on Gallifrey. Besides, what's more interesting; a crowded, linear-moving London hopper or a cross-temporal, trans-dimensionally engineered spaceship?

DEISHA
Well, buses have windows you can see out of.

DOCTOR
Oh, you're easily pleased(!)

She tugs on the lever and with a quick bump, the time rotor freezes, and the cacophony of flight has receded into a quiet, atmospheric purr. [Track 7 ends] Deisha nervously looks over at the doors, then back at the Doctor, who gives a reassuring grin.

16 INT. ALLEYWAY – DAY
[Track 8: Should They Be Born?] The alleyway is now swarming with police officers, forensic tents and police tape, all centred around Bryan's vacant corpse on the cobbles. At the top of the fire escape is the Doctor and Deisha, crouched down, observing the crime scene below.

DEISHA
I take it all back. You've got Fast Travel. Literal Fast Travel. That wins.

DOCTOR
Sometimes the journey's more fun than the destination.

DEISHA
Not always though. Sometimes I wish I was already…

DOCTOR
Already what?

DEISHA
Never mind. What's going on down there?

A Detective Inspector walks along, scribbling things in her notepad and reading them aloud in a thick Scottish accent to her partner.

MCKINNEY
Victim's name is Bryan Gibson, 38 years old. Mind the glass.

She points to the splintered remnants of glass littering the floor without looking up from her notepad, which causes Jackson to hesitate for a second and evade the danger, then catches up to her.

JACKSON
Any family?

MCKINNEY
Not sure yet, still trying to access his phone. But, from initial scans, it seems like… the cause of death is the same as the others. No visible external trauma except from when he hit his head on the pavement, but the brain just… stopped.

JACKSON
Christ.

MCKINNEY
Two in one day. Our murderer's getting more confident.

JACKSON
Any bystanders?

MCKINNEY
Just one. Civvy saw him entering the alley from down the road, looked quite intoxicated. When he went to check on him a minute later, he was already dead. He called 999 immediately afterwards, and CCTV confirmed this.

JACKSON
Any CCTV down the alley?

MCKINNEY
Do you see any?

JACKSON
No. So this was a planned attack.

MCKINNEY
Come on, let's get onto the Chief.

The two walk into a makeshift tent.

DOCTOR
I was hoping to get a closer look at the body, but doesn't seem possible with that lot nearby.

DEISHA
I could distract them!

Deisha jumps up, but the Doctor pulls her back down.

DOCTOR
I don't think that's necessary. We've got a different lead.

DEISHA
We do?

DOCTOR
They seem to think that there's someone behind this, that he was murdered.

DEISHA
Was he?

DOCTOR
No idea, but it's possible. It'd explain why the deaths seemed to move linearly. So, you're an alien murderer, you've just killed two innocent, unarmed people, and the police are on the way. What do you do?

DEISHA
Kill the police?

DOCTOR
Violent option.

DEISHA
Violent creature.

DOCTOR
It could've killed the witness, but it didn't. Why's that?

DEISHA
Didn't want to have too much heat on them? …So they didn't want to be caught. They're hiding.

DOCTOR
Exactly. But where?

Deisha gets out her phone, swiping and typing as the Doctor rambles to herself.

DOCTOR
Has to be somewhere nearby – It escaped the scene in the time it took for them to murder the man down there and the witness to cross the road. Unless it looks human, it can't go anywhere far without being seen. Can't still be in the alley, the police would've seen, but-

DEISHA
Old Fort Wharf.

[Track 8 ends] Deisha holds up her phone, presenting it to the Doctor – Google Maps, with a pin on a canal and an abandoned shipyard.

DEISHA
No-one's been there for years.

DOCTOR
Oh, you're good at this.

DEISHA
I know.

The pair smirk, then clamber back up the fire escape.

17 INT. ELLIS' LIVING ROOM – DAY
Zach drums his fingers against his jeans subconsciously as he sits in the armchair opposite Deepa.

ZACH
You have one chance. Make it good.

DEEPA
I don't know where to start.

ZACH
I do. Adam's funeral. Where the hell were you?

DEEPA
Well- I thought…

ZACH
Hmm?

DEEPA
Well, well, I assumed… You were just saying that for… you know.

ZACH
What, attention? You thought I was lying?

DEEPA
No, no, but-

ZACH
No, wow, thanks for that.

[Track 9: The Production Line 5:49 – 7:34] He jumps up, stomping towards the window and looks out.

DEEPA
A mother feels these things, Zacky. They know when their children are lost, or hurt, or need saving. And I… didn't.

Zach bows his head, remembering Adam, visibly older, with flecks of grey within his beard, and a long, harsh scar stretching down his cheek, before dispelling that memory from his mind.

ZACH
Obviously not.

He grimaces, turning back to Deepa.

DEEPA
Yes, yes- I know. I know. I think… I think I just… I didn't want to believe it. He was my son. My first born. I watched him grow up. His first steps… his first day at school…

She stands, slowly approaching him and taking his hands.

DEEPA
The day I told him he'd be an older brother. Twice over.

He yanks his hands away, but she grabs them again, her eyes tearing up.

DEEPA
Me and your dad shared those experiences together. With Adam… With Ashley… and with you. We loved you so very much, and we wanted to spend the rest of our lives loving you together, watching you become the brilliant, independent, beautiful adults you were supposed to be.

His eyes shift to the ground.

DEEPA
When I lost him… it was like… a boulder had crushed my heart. I could see him in you. All of you. All of the things he missed out on. All of the things we shared together. And the things we never would. I couldn't cope. I didn't want a family if he wasn't there.

ZACH
But you did have one. You had a responsibility. Thank god we were over sixteen when you left, because if I had to lose my brother and sister too…

DEEPA
Oh, god… I didn't think.

He pulls away again, pointing at her accusatorily.

ZACH
That's the thing, Mum, you never do. The second it gets bad, you turn to alcohol or gambling. That's the way it's always been. Now, tell me, why is this time different?

DEEPA
…Because I know. I know what I did, and I want to… I want to do better.

ZACH
See, it's all good saying that, but how do I know?

DEEPA
How do you want me to prove it?

ZACH
I don't know! I don't know.

DEEPA
Then what am I supposed to do? What do you want from me?

ZACH
I want you to have been my mum! I wanted you to fix my tie on my first day of college. I wanted you to drop me off at uni. I wanted you to be there on my wedding day.

DEEPA
Well, I can't do that now.

ZACH
Yeah, exactly. It's too late.

DEEPA
So tell me what I can do NOW.

They stare into each other's eyes, confronting each other, watching the resentment and regret grow.

ZACH
Let's go for a walk.

DEEPA
Now?

ZACH
Yep. Get your coat.

Zach storms out, and Deepa waddles along behind him.

18 INT. ELLIS' HALLWAY – DAY
Zach throws on his leather jacket, while Deepa puts on her puffer coat. He swings open the door and she passes him outside. Shona emerges from the bathroom, and gives him a cautious look.

ZACH
Thank you.

SHONA
Be careful.

He smiles, closing the door behind him, and Shona frowns nervously, worriedly… [Track 9 ends]

19 EXT. CANAL – DAY
[Track 10: The Mystery of the Anomalies] The Doctor and Deisha walk down the canal – mostly dried up, save for a small trench in the middle, lined with soaked and squelchy mud, rotting and splintered wood planks and trash bags. In the distance is an abandoned brick building, with part of the roof caved in, missing windows and smashed walls.

20 INT. SHIPYARD GROUND FLOOR RUINS – DAY
They clamber through a hole in the wall, stumbling over the bricks as they enter a dusty, derelict space – While some columns are still propping up a second more, many of them are decaying; lots of poles and scaffolding have been discarded on the floor, next to a few ladders and tarpaulins. They see that some of the railings have been bent and twisted, and the plastic sheets dangling from what is left of the ceiling has been ripped up. In the centre of the room, a circle of mirrors have been formed, and other mirrors placed strategically around the building.

DOCTOR
Watch your step.

A few of the floorboards creak as they edge through the building. Deisha avoids a few wires and cables hanging down, and steps onto a sign that reads DANGER – CONSTRUCTION SITE.

DEISHA
Are you sure this is a good idea?

DOCTOR
You can go if you want.

DEISHA
No chance.

DOCTOR
Probably be'd safer.

DEISHA
So?

DOCTOR
I don't want you to get hurt. Not again.

The Doctor hesitates for a moment.

DOCTOR
How's therapy going?

DEISHA
Alright. I mean, it wasn't… it's not… Nevermind.

DOCTOR
Do you still remember it?

DEISHA
What sort of question is that?

DOCTOR
Sorry.

DEISHA
For what?

DOCTOR
Everything. If… If I hadn't met your dad-

DEISHA
If you hadn't met my dad, the world would've been invaded by plastic dummies a year ago. The 28th Century would still be enslaved. He wouldn't have uncovered zombies under the Sistene Chapel.

DOCTOR
He told you?

DEISHA
I think he slightly bigged up his importance to sound impressive.

DOCTOR
That sounds like him.

They hear a distant metal clang, and then a clatter.

DOCTOR
And that sounds like someone else. Stay close.

The pair sneak across the floor, pressing themselves against a bare wall, with a few exposed wires buried inside a hole. They listen intently for a second, before hearing the sound of a resentful, slurred grunt.

DEISHA (whispering)
Oh, my god.

DOCTOR (whispering)
Deep breaths.

DEISHA (whispering)
I have a question.

DOCTOR (whispering)
Now?

DEISHA (whispering)
If we've found the alien-

DOCTOR (whispering)
Yes?

DEISHA (whispering)
What are we going to do with it?

The Doctor stammers.

DOCTOR (whispering)
We'll work that out when we come to it.

DEISHA
We HAVE come to it!

DOCTOR (whispering)
Shhh!

Another clatter and a snarl, and through a gap in the ceiling onto the next floor, Deisha spots a bulky shadow cast against the wall. Deisha points to it, then the Doctor guides her along past the wall into the next room.

DOCTOR (whispering)
We need to find a way upstairs.

DEISHA (whispering)
Seriously though, then what?

DOCTOR (whispering)
Then… we talk to it.

DEISHA (whispering)
Talk? It's killed eight people!

DOCTOR (whispering)
And I'd like to know why, wouldn't you?

The Doctor gestures to a splintered, collapsed staircase wedged between another wall and a lift. The Doctor helps Deisha climb the stairs slowly, as the floorboards creak and dust settles.

21 INT. SHIPYARD SECOND FLOOR RUINS – DAY
They finally scramble up onto the second floor, creeping along the floor, and seeing more mirrors lined across the broken walls.

DEISHA (whispering)
Are they there?

DOCTOR (whispering)
Let's find out, shall we?

They edge towards an empty doorframe, and peer around the corner.

DOCTOR
Oh.

Once again, they come across a ring of mirrors, which is surrounded by another, larger ring. [Track 10 ends]

DEISHA
Okay, seriously, what's with all the mirrors?

DOCTOR
No-one here.

DEISHA
It's not like that game, is it?

DOCTOR
What game?

DEISHA
Where someone can disguise themselves as like an object, and then someone has to work out what's an actual object and what isn't. Prop hunt! Prop hunt.

DOCTOR
I don't think it's prop hunt.

DEISHA
You never know. Are there aliens that can shapeshift into objects?

DOCTOR
Probably.

DEISHA
You've never met any?

DOCTOR
Well, what would be the evolutionary advantage?

DEISHA
You'd win prop hunt.

They step into the outer ring of mirrors, then the inner one.

DEISHA
Okay, so there's no-one else around here. Where'd they go, out the window?

Deisha looks at her reflection, and waves goofily. She then starts to look at her hair, brushing it back, considering the Doctor to think. She stares at Deisha, then her reflection mimicking her, then she gasps. [Track 11: Guardian Angels 1:13 – 4:22]

DOCTOR
Deisha, don't move!

DEISHA
What?

DOCTOR
Stay still, stay absolutely still!

The pair both freeze in place, with Deisha now becoming very scared, as the Doctor's eyes flicker about, calculating.

DEISHA
What's going on?

DOCTOR
You said there's no-one else here. You're wrong.

DEISHA
You're scaring me now.

DOCTOR
Good. Scared is good. Don't let any of the mirrors touch you. I'm closer to the outside, so I think I can get out.

DEISHA
Get out? Get out of what?

Deisha throws her hands up.

DOCTOR
Don't move!

She drops them again, suddenly.

DEISHA
Okay… Wanna tell me what's going on?

DOCTOR
Not just yet. Need to be out of the circle first. Okay. Slowly, move away from the mirror into the centre. Slowly!

The Doctor, nervously, creeps away, retreating out from the circle, and then hiding out of the mirrors' perceptions. Meanwhile, Deisha dawdles back into the centre of the ring, focusing all of the reflections are on her.

DEISHA
What now?

DOCTOR
Deisha, I'm really sorry, but you're in grave danger.

DEISHA
That's not helping!

DOCTOR
No sudden movements. None at all, got that? Keep everything slow and as still as possible. Slow, shallow breaths. It's caught your print now.

DEISHA
What has?

DOCTOR
I don't know. But I've seen this before.

DEISHA
Where?

DOCTOR
A bedtime story. A myth from my world. It's said that not every mirror is a reflection. More… a gateway.

DEISHA
A gateway into what?

DOCTOR
No-one knows, but somewhere horrible. It's suggested we can't reach it because your reflection is another you. Protecting you, stopping you from passing through into this other world.

DEISHA
Okay.

DOCTOR
The Time Lords, my people, they monitored these gateways, but they never knew what was on the other side. No-one did. But it didn't stop people from trying. There were… creatures who were devoted to science, to uncovering the truths of the Universe, and beyond. They wanted to know what was on the other side, and worked to enter. They made a circle, a ring of mirrors. The Time Lords ensured that their methods were lost to time because… they made it through. And never came back.

DEISHA
So why can't I move?

DOCTOR
There's a theory that… not all of your mirrored selves want to protect you. Some of them want to escape this world and put you in their place. But they can only do so if they break the pattern of the mirror. It's just waiting for the opportunity. Any sudden movements, anything it doesn't reflect, and it can break out.

DEISHA
I think I'm gonna be sick. What happens if it gets me?

DOCTOR
I won't let it.

DEISHA
What happens?

DOCTOR
I don't know. Really, I don't. I'm sorry, Deisha. I'll get you out of there, I promise.

DEISHA
Smash the mirror?

DOCTOR
Too dangerous.

DEISHA
Doctor… There's another shadow in the mirror.

DOCTOR
What?

Behind Deisha's reflection, is a dark, shifting, shadow against the wall – One that isn't there in the real world.

DOCTOR
Describe it.

DEISHA
Sort of… unstable, black. Shadow-y.

DOCTOR
And it's only in the reflection?

DEISHA
Yeah.

DOCTOR
All of them?

Deisha slowly moves her head to look at the mirrors, before refocusing on the first.

DEISHA
No. Just one. And I think it's getting closer.

DOCTOR
Maybe there's something else trying to get out with it.

DEISHA
The thing that killed all those people?

DOCTOR
Maybe.

DEISHA
Should I be saying any last words?

DOCTOR
Not if I can help it. Don't give up hope, Deisha.

DEISHA
I'm only about to die, I'm allowed a few tears.

DOCTOR
Cry, yes. Die, no. We're going to try and get you out now. Make sure none of the reflections follow you! Keep telling me things about yourself, your own history, things from this Universe.

DEISHA
Like what?

DOCTOR
Anything! When were you born?

DEISHA
12th September 2008.

DOCTOR
What school do you go to?

DEISHA
Blackstone Secondary, Year 8.

DOCTOR
Got any friends?

DEISHA
Personal question.

DOCTOR
Personal answer – I can't see you. I need to know that you're you. Are you moving towards me?

Deisha starts edging backwards towards the Doctor and out of the circle, very slowly, very gradually.

DEISHA
Am now.

DOCTOR
Friends, tell me about them. Got a best friend?

DEISHA
Lily White. Known her since primary. Very pretty, loud spoken, doesn't really care what others think about her. Really brilliant at guitar, she… she's one of the coolest people I've ever met.

DOCTOR
Nearly there. How'd you meet?

DEISHA
It was the first day of school, and this really mean guy, George Monk, tried to act really cool by mocking her and she just shut him up. Simple as that. Immediately after, I went to go talk to her and looked like an idiot, stumbling over my words and that.

[Track 11 ends]

DOCTOR
Keep thinking about Lily. When are you gonna see her next?

[Track 12: Dalek Interruption]

DEISHA
Monday. Period 2, English. I think she's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

DOCTOR
Good, that's good.

She smiles softly.

DEISHA
I… just want to-

A loud crash, and a flood of heavily armoured police officers come swarming in downstairs, yelling.

POLICE OFFICERS
Police! Come out with your hands up!

Deisha throws her head down, distracted by the sound – and it's something her reflection doesn't mimick. Instead, it launches out of the mirror towards her.

DOCTOR
Deisha!

The Doctor spins around the mirror, grabbing Deisha and throwing her out of the way of the reflection's trajectory – and it bounds against another mirror, falling back. It jumps up, staring at Deisha and the Doctor menacingly.

DEISHA
Oh, my god.

DOCTOR
You need to go back to your world. Now!

The alternate Deisha cripples, screeching as the light outside pierces its skin, dissolving into nothing.

DOCTOR
Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

DEISHA
What? It's gone, that's good, right?

DOCTOR
No. It can't survive for a prolonged time if you're here, too. That's why it replaces you. Now, it's gone, there's nothing guarding the gateway. Anything can come through!

The mirror convulses, lights dancing in the reflection, before it dies down, and in the centre of the ring of mirrors, is the shadow. For a second, a moment of silence, as the shadow adjusts to its new world, staring at the Doctor and Deisha – and the pair stare back, locked in a moment of confrontation. Finally, the shadow shifts, growing, transforming into an Ozell Hunter -

DEISHA
It can't be… Ozell!

DOCTOR
No. No, it's mirroring you, Deisha. Replicating your fears. Get away from it!

Deisha runs back, but the Ozell slinks after her.

JACKSON (oc)
Who's up there?!

DOCTOR
You lot, stay down there! Don't come any closer!

JACKSON (oc)
We're police!

DOCTOR
And there's a threat here! Stay down there!

JACKSON (oc)
Moving in now.

DOCTOR
No-! Agh!

The police continue to make a racket downstairs, slowly trying to navigate upstairs, as the Doctor yells to the "Ozell".

DOCTOR
Hey! If you're gonna try and scare someone, don't pick on a child! That's boring! Go for a bit of variety, why don't you?

It ignores the Doctor, continuing to advance towards Deisha.

DOCTOR
Or… novel idea – How about a chat? First time in a new world, you must feel pretty disoriented, am I right? Just as scared as your victims. Is that why you killed them?

The creature now jolts its head to the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Yeah, I know about that. You've been moving up the South East of England over the past month, murdering innocent people. What'd they do, attack you? Threaten you? Or did you just want to kill?

The mimicking creature snarls.

JACKSON (oc)
We're coming towards you, come out with your hands up and weapons down!

DOCTOR
Oh, come on… Deisha, hold them back for a bit.

DEISHA
What am I supposed to do?

DOCTOR
Think of something!

Deisha edges around the room, avoiding the creature, as it focuses on the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Just you and me know. Let's start somewhere else. What's your name?

[Track 12 ends]

SINDAA
…Sindaa.

DOCTOR
Sindaa. Lovely name. Is that your own or your species?

[Track 13: A Cuppa]

SINDAA
The Other. Sindaa.

DOCTOR
The other? Other what? Other option? Other species? Or… other world?

She looks over to the mirror, then back at Sindaa.

DOCTOR
Okay. Hello, Sindaa of the planet Sindaa. I'm the Doctor. You've been looking into this world, so I'm sure you know, but I'm the sheriff around these parts. So why don't you tell me what you're doing here?

SINDAA
Knowledge.

DOCTOR
Well, how about this? I tell you what you want to know, then you go back to your own world, safe and sound, home in time for a cup of tea and custard cream. Does that sound fair?

The "Ozell" skin starts to ripple, retreating back into Sindaa's true misty, shadowy form.

DOCTOR
Good. You don't need to hurt anyone.

CUT TO:

The police officers finally scale up the stairs, finding Deisha at the top.

DEISHA
Hey, hey, stop.

JACKSON
Little girl, we've had reports of something unknown making its way into this building. For your own safety-

DEISHA
First of all, I'm thirteen. Secondly, it's being handled.

JACKSON
Not by professionals.

DEISHA
She's more professional than you.

JACKSON
I don't think so.

DEISHA
Well, she doesn't need to resort to guns to solve a situation.

JACKSON
Out of the way. Don't make us restrain you.

DEISHA
No.

JACKSON
Hayes.

HAYES
Yes, sir.

One of the uniformed officers grabs Deisha, forcing her into a police hold.

DEISHA
Oi- Get off!

JACKSON
Safeties off, we have a hostile, possibly armed and dangerous. We think they've murdered fourteen people over two months, so be vigilant. Move it.

DEISHA
No! Stop it!

The police advance through the building, flashing their guns about with a hefty atmosphere of authority.

CUT TO:

The officers turn the corner and encounter the Doctor, reaching out to the Sindaa.

JACKSON
Holy mother of…

The Sindaa spins around, and Jackson raises his pistol.

DOCTOR
No!

The Doctor dives to the floor, as the police fire on the Sindaa. It's black gaseous form twists and evades the spray of bullets across the warehouse.

DOCTOR
Stop!

The Sindaa's shadow becomes a dark red, as it transforms into a tangible, physical giant, slobbering clumsily over its slimy, blood-red skin, in which bones are sticking out of it, like spikes.

DOCTOR
No, no, no!

The Sindaa roars, battering the officers and pouncing on one, absorbing his face – leaving him lifeless and empty inside, much like the other victims. It gallops away. [Track 13 ends]

DOCTOR
Come back, stop!

The Sindaa charges towards the wall and punches through it, the brick crumbling away like sand. [Track 14: Hayloft 0:00 – 1:59]

DOCTOR
No!

JACKSON
Augh…

DOCTOR
What have you done?!

Deisha finally comes running through.

DOCTOR
Come on, we've got to get after it!

DEISHA
You what-? Aah!

The Doctor takes Deisha's hand, darting towards the hole that the Sindaa left and jumping, as the rest of the police officers slowly regain consciousness, obviously heavily bruised and beaten by the monster.

22 EXT. CANAL – DAY
They flop onto the pavement overseeing the canal inelegantly, as the Sindaa bolts away down the road.

DOCTOR
Don't run! We can help you!

DEISHA
It's not listening. Where's it going?

DOCTOR
I don't know, but we can't let it get away! Quickly, over here!

The Doctor and Deisha sprint over to a police motorbike. She uses the sonic on it, and the engine whirrs.

DEISHA
I don't think this is a good id-EEEAAAaaaa!

And the motorbike races off down the street after the Sindaa.

23 EXT. SIDE ROAD – DAY
The chase ensues down a small lane, down the back of a few flats and a block of offices, all seemingly quite modern in their architecture, but dirtied and grey in actual appearance. The Sindaa sees the Doctor and Deisha pursuing and launches itself against the wall, digging its claws into the concrete and running along the side of the building.

DEISHA
Woah!

DOCTOR
Hold on!

The Doctor holds her foot down on the accelerator, and the bike zooms after the creature. Deisha screams, clutching onto the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Deisha, you're gonna have to stop screaming in my ear!

DEISHA
Sorry!

The Sindaa snarls, ripping off chunks of concrete from the building by the claws in its feet and hurling it back towards the Doctor and Deisha. She narrowly avoids each chunk, swerving down the lane as the concrete crashes to the floor. The Doctor quickly glances over her shoulder.

DOCTOR
Are you okay?

DEISHA
Yeah.

DOCTOR
Are you sure?

DEISHA
No! Watch out!

One more time, the Doctor veers to the left to avoid a chunk of grey concrete as it explodes into rubble, then finally taking a sharp right as the Sindaa pounces onto the main road and bounds down the street.

24 EXT. MAIN ROAD – DAY
The Sindaa races down the street, terrifying bystanders, with the Doctor finally managing to gain control back over the bike and driving straight down the middle of the road past busy traffic, all beeping their horns.

Some way down the road is a junction, where all the traffic lights turn red, and the green man flashes, allowing pedestrians to cross the road. An old lady totters along, as the Sindaa speedily approaches her. The Doctor's eyes widen as she sees the innocent woman ahead. Panting, she tries to speed up, and the engine roars ferociously, now being tested to its limit.

The Sindaa gets closer and closer to the woman, as-

It barely scrapes behind her as she continues dawdling across the road. Immediately after, the Doctor zooms after it- and the old lady drowsily turns her head around, a bit dazed, before shrugging and resuming her crossing.

CUT TO:

The Sindaa starts leaping onto the oncoming traffic, crashing on the roof of cars to escape, as the Doctor and Deisha continue to follow from the motorbike. The Doctor manoeuvres her left hand into her pocket, now only controlling the bike with her right, before wrangling out the sonic screwdriver. She tries to point it at the creature, but then has to grab hold of the bike again as it starts to veer off to the side.

DOCTOR
Take this!

She passes the sonic screwdriver back to Deisha.

DEISHA
What am I supposed to do?!

DOCTOR
Point and think!

DEISHA
Think what? Point where?!

DOCTOR
It's already calibrated, just aim it at the Sindaa and try to stun it!

Deisha points the sonic towards the Sindaa, and it flashes a deep gold. The Sindaa dives forward, and rather a window smashes. She tries again, but this time, part of the wall of a shop comes crumbling down.

DEISHA
Aah, I keep missing!

DOCTOR
Keep trying, we can't keep letting it rampage over London! The more scared people are, the more it's going to mirror!

The Doctor sees a few construction workers off to the side, and in front, a lorry carrying a collection of mattresses.

DOCTOR
Hold on!

She takes a sharp left, moving towards a ramp the workers have installed.

DEISHA
What are you-?! AAAGGHHH!

She drives up the ramp, launching over the workers, then bouncing off the mattresses atop the lorry. There are quite a few beeps and screeches as the Doctor and Deisha launch off the motorbike onto the back of rickshaw heading down the road, with an older, black gentleman driving it.

UBO
Hey-

DOCTOR
Drive after that creature!

The Doctor gestures to the Sindaa.

UBO
That's gonna cost you, love.

DEISHA
Here's a tenner, and I'll give you another tenner afterwards, now drive!

Ubo takes the tenner of Deisha and starts pedalling, the rickshaw shooting forward as the Sindaa barrels down the street. [Track 14 ends]

25 EXT. RIDLEY ROAD MARKET – DAY
Zach and Deepa shuffle down the high street, getting caught up in the busy foot traffic of the afternoon market vendors, excited shoppers and tourists.

ZACH
So… I got a question.

DEEPA
Oh. Oh, go ahead.

ZACH
Where have you been all this time?

DEEPA
Oh, it's not-

ZACH
Don't say it's not important. You always do this!

DEEPA
Do what?

ZACH
Avoid questions, avoid any blame or responsibility for your actions in the past. If you've really changed, I want to know the truth for once. Please. Where did you go?

DEEPA
You'll hate me.

ZACH
Things can only get better from here, then.

She squirms.

DEEPA
I, uh… Before your dad passed, we were saving up for us all to… go on holiday. For your 18th. But… when he did, I wanted to get out, so-

ZACH
You used the money. What for?

DEEPA
Yes, uh… uh… I went back to Bristol. Where I grew up.

ZACH
Really? Would've thought it would've driven you away, with gran and grandpa not being around anymore.

DEEPA
So… So did I… The thing about grief, Zach, it needs time.

ZACH
Yeah, I know.

DEEPA
I know what I did wasn't right, but you gotta understand where I'm coming from.

ZACH
Oh, my god! Can you stop making excuses?

DEEPA
Don't shout-

ZACH
No! Every time you come into my life, it's always "oh, me, me, me, poor me!" Believe it or not, Mum, the world doesn't actually revolve around you. There is stuff that goes on when you're not around. When you ran off, we still had to live our lives. Adam had to get three jobs just to look after us. He couldn't go to University. He ended up working at a factory for the rest of his life, which he shouldn't have done, because he was one of the smartest and most caring people I ever knew!

He clears his throat, choking up with tears a little.

ZACH
And it hurts that you don't realise that.

Deepa's face falls to the floor, avoiding Zach's accusatory stares.

ZACH
If you had a second chance, would you have stayed?

DEEPA
Yes. Yes, of course I would.

ZACH
Really?

DEEPA
You're my son.

ZACH
That's not an answer. Would you really have stayed?

DEEPA
…I don't know. I don't think I would've ever gotten over the loss of your father if I did.

ZACH
I guess we'll never know, will we?

DEEPA
I know how much he meant to you. And I know that both of us going away ended your childhood too early.

ZACH
You got that right… You have no idea what I've seen. I've experienced things that… no-one should ever have to.

DEEPA
Like what?

[Track 15: Hayloft 2:00 – 3:01] A high pitched scream draws Zach and Deepa's attention away as the Sindaa comes barrelling around the corner, still clambering over the cars.

DEEPA
What the-?

And not soon after comes the rickshaw, honking as it rattles along in pursuit.

ZACH
You've got to be kidding me.

Zach sprints after the rickshaw.

DEEPA
What- Zach!

He clambers onto one of the Santander Cycles and speeds away after the chase in progress, as sirens blare in the distance.

CUT TO:

Deisha passes the sonic back to the Doctor.

DOCTOR
Ubo, keep it steady!

The Doctor starts climbing onto the side of the rickshaw, hanging off to the side like a spider, keeping clear of the perils of the traffic next to her. She points the sonic at the Sindaa, now trying to stun it herself. The creature notices, and picks up a pedestrian with its claws, lobbing him towards the rickshaw. He screams, but Zach cycles past, grabbing onto him and letting him down easily.

DOCTOR
Zach!

ZACH
We need to get it out of harm's way!

DOCTOR
Yeah, thanks!

The Doctor now points the sonic again and presses down on it hard. It scrapes against the Sindaa and their arm goes limp, screeching. It dives to the left.

DOCTOR
Turn!

The Doctor swings around as Ubo takes a sharp left after the creature towards a bridge overlooking a train track. The Sindaa leaps over the side of the bridge, landing onto the train racing past.

The rickshaw and the bike stop, and the Doctor jumps after it.

ZACH
You stay here.

DEISHA
Sure.

And Deisha follows after the Doctor.

ZACH
D-Deisha!

Zach and Ubo finally jump.

26 EXT. TRAIN TRACK – DAY
They all land on top of the train as it hurtles along at a breakneck speed.

DOCTOR
We can't let it get away!

They stand up, steadying themselves against the unsteady movement of the train, before sprinting down after the Sindaa.

ZACH
What is that thing?!

DEISHA
Priorities, Dad!

DOCTOR
Don't run! We want to help you!

The Sindaa turns, seeing the group still chasing after them. It snarls, reaching down to steal a signal box and heaving it towards them. They duck, and jump up again- But another box is coming their way!

DOCTOR
Aagh!

Zach grabs Deisha's hand, pushing Ubo and the Doctor off the train, and finally jumping off themselves to avoid the signal box smacking into them. [Track 15 ends]

They land onto the gravel stones by the side of the track, rolling against it with a lot of force, before finally slowing down, panting as the Sindaa escapes on the train.

DOCTOR
No!

She thumps the ground in defeat, her knuckles getting scratched by the pebbles.

27 INT. ELLIS' LIVING ROOM – DAY
Shona's eyes are wide open, her nostrils flaring.

SHONA
A train?!

The Doctor, Zach, Deisha and Ubo are all sat on the sofa, covered in dirt and gravel, staring at Shona's feet and staying silent – like naughty schoolchildren.

SHONA
You're telling me you chased a murdering creature from another dimension by jumping onto – AND THEN OFF – a moving train?!

DOCTOR
That would be… the final chapter of events, yes.

SHONA
Zach, where the hell is your mum?

ZACH
Oh, I sort of… ran off.

SHONA
So when the last thing I said to you before you left this apartment was "be careful", you took that to mean abandon your mother to chase after a monster and jump onto a moving train?!

ZACH
Yeah.

UBO
I'm so sorry, Mrs Ellis.

SHONA
Get out of my house!

UBO
Yep.

Deisha passes Ubo a tenner as he scurries out of the room, closing the front door behind him. Shona now stares down at the Doctor. [Track 16: Emer-Gency Exit]

SHONA
How could you be so irresponsible, Doctor? You have a child with you!

DEISHA
I'm thirteen!

SHONA
Button it!

DOCTOR
Your mum's right, Deisha. I'm sorry. To all of you. I've been so inconsiderate. This isn't the first time. I'm going to go.

ZACH
Doctor-

DOCTOR
No. I'm sorry.

She runs out, and Deisha scowls, which causes Shona to raise an eyebrow.

SHONA
And what's that look for?

DEISHA
Did you really have to scare her off like that?

SHONA
She-

DEISHA
She saved my life! And I don't think it's fair that you keep treating me like a child.

SHONA
You are a child.

ZACH
Okay, both of you-

DEISHA
No! I've gone through a lot recently, but you keep seeing me as a little girl. Well, I'm more than that!

SHONA
You shouldn't-

DEISHA
No, but I am! Alright? I am!

She jumps up and storms off, before hearing a door slam.

SHONA
Deisha!

Zach sighs, looking behind him and seeing the Doctor out on the balcony, watching the Estate below.

SHONA
God…

ZACH
I'm sorry, Shona. Really, I- I should've stopped her.

SHONA
Yeah, you should.

ZACH
She's safe though. She's safe and sound with us.

SHONA
But what if she wasn't? What if she got hurt? There's been nothing but trouble since the Doctor came into our lives.

ZACH
Hey, hold on-

SHONA
I want her out. By tonight.

ZACH
This wasn't her fault!

SHONA
No. It's ours. Last time the Doctor got involved in our lives, things got… messy. We nearly didn't make it out. Adam didn't.

ZACH
Adam's dead. That man we saw wasn't him. It was some twisted, perverted creature with Adam's face.

SHONA
Yeah, and? Would we have even been in that situation if it wasn't for her?

ZACH
No- Yes- It would've happened to someone else.

SHONA
Yeah, but it was us.

ZACH
Don't blame her for that! It was because of the Master, and the Master only.

SHONA
When did you start being so careless?

ZACH
I'm not being careless! I trust the Doctor. And I trust Deisha.

Zach takes Shona's hands.

ZACH
And I need you to trust me. What happened wasn't the Doctor's fault, it wasn't our fault. We are not bad parents, I promise. I have good authority on the bad parent front.

SHONA
Yeah. So much so you ran away from your mum.

They giggle a little.

ZACH
Come on.

SHONA
Yeah, alright.

She gives a small smile.

ZACH
I'll go talk to the Doctor, okay?

Shona nods, and Zach heads out, with Shona giving a deep sigh. [Track 16 ends] A faint flutter passes Shona, and she looks over her shoulder, a little concerned.

28 INT. ELLIS' HALLWAY – DAY
Zach walks into the hallway, wiping some rubble off his jacket, before noticing a slight shimmer in the reflection. He frowns, and then stumbles back – his reflection is smirking.

ZACH
What the-? Aack!

Zach's reflection shoots out of the mirror, his top half reaching out and grabbing onto him. [Track 17: Ram Saves The Day]

ZACH
Hey! Get… off… Doctor! DOCTOR!

The Doctor bursts through the front door, hearing Zach's cries. She sees the struggle between Zach and his reflection, putting on a determined expression.

DOCTOR
Oh, no you don't!

The Doctor sprints over and tries to pull him away, but even she struggles to fight against Zach's reflection. Shona and Deisha also exit their rooms to see the fight, and rush to join in – But none of their reflections appear in the mirror.

DEISHA
It's just like the mirror in the shipyard!

DOCTOR
That reality's fracturing, they're trying to escape!

ZACH
How are… we all weaker than me?!

DOCTOR
It's… got a hold over you! Sucking you in like a whirlpool!

They all grunt and heave, but slowly and gradually Zach gets closer and closer to the mirror.

ZACH
No, no, no, no, no!

DOCTOR
Don't let him make contact with the surface of the mirror! If he does, he'll be replaced!

They yell and scream, their grip weakening as Zach gets pulled further in.

ZACH
I can't…!

DOCTOR
Keep fighting!

Deepa knocks on the door and peers her head in.

DEEPA
Hello-? Oh, my god!

She watches in awe at the spectacle – Zach's reflection reaching out to him, pulling him in, with the Doctor, Shona and Deisha fighting to keep him away, like a tug of war!

ZACH
Mum! Help!

DEEPA
Uh- I-

SHONA
Deepa, DO SOMETHING!

Deepa's eyes flash around, looking for anything- Then picks up an umbrella from the corner, running forward and whacking it repeatedly against the arms of Zach's reflection with an almighty thump!

Eventually, Zach is freed from his reflection's grip, and they all come crashing back against the wall as the mirror glows, convulsing, before resetting back to its normal state. They pant heavily. [Track 17 ends]

ZACH
It's gone… It's gone, it's gone, it's gone…

DEEPA
What the… Does someone want to tell me what on Earth is going on?!

DOCTOR
What just happened, Mrs Ellis… You just saved your son's life…

The Doctor smiles contentedly, as Deepa's eyes boggle and Zach's head rests against the wall, exhausted.

ZACH
Thank you, Mum… Thank you.

DEISHA
Doctor…

DOCTOR
Are you okay?

DEISHA
No… I don't have a reflection.

The Doctor glances up at the mirror – Everyone except Deisha can be seen in the mirror.

29 INT. TARDIS – DAY
[Track 18: Scooby Gang Skype Sesh] The Doctor, Zach, Shona and Deisha all run inside the police box up to the console.

DOCTOR
Okay, opening telepathic circuits. There's got to be some residue left over from that transfer, that's why your reflection was so strong, Zach – It was using so much energy to drag you in.

ZACH
Like a whirlpool, you said.

DOCTOR
Yeah.

She dives under the console, pulling out some cables and attaching them to the controls.

DOCTOR
The threshold was already weakened from Deisha's reflection and the Sindaa finding a way through, so all it needed to do was channel all that energy into one space, and-

She makes a sucking sound. [Track 18 ends]

DOCTOR
Easy peasy.

DEISHA
Is this my fault?

[Track 19: Tanya] The Doctor stops rambling on, then looks over to Deisha sympathetically.

DEISHA
It's here because of me, isn't it?

DOCTOR
We'll put it right.

DEISHA
So it was.

DOCTOR
No. It would've found a way out somehow. We were just lucky enough to know that it did happen before it was too late.

DEISHA
Will I ever be able to see myself again?

DOCTOR
Course you will! As soon as everything goes back to where it belongs.

DEISHA
Don't lie to me, Doctor. Will I?

The Doctor guiltily shifts her eyes to the floor.

DOCTOR
…I don't know.

Deisha sighs.

DOCTOR
But I'll try my hardest, okay?

DEISHA
At least I can still touch things and feel, you know? I'm not a ghost. Not yet, anyway.

DOCTOR
That's the spirit. Oh, unintentional pun.

[Track 19 ends]

DEEPA
Oh… my… word!

[Track 20: Where's Isaac?] They all spin around, and see Deepa staring in from outside.

DEEPA
What the… What is this?

DOCTOR
Ah! Welcome to the TARDIS. Basically, it's a complicated vessel that transcends the spatial-temporal boundaries.

ZACH
Do you have to make the explanation so confusing?

DOCTOR
Yeah, it's one of the few things that makes me laugh.

ZACH
Of course it is.

DOCTOR
Normally, I'd tell you to take your time to adjust, but we've got work to do.

DEEPA
…Work?

DOCTOR
Now we've got an energy signature off Zach, I can trace the Sindaa, find out where it went.

SHONA
But what does it want? Invasion?

ZACH
Bit of an odd way to invade, killing everyone it comes into contact with.

Deepa starts to hyperventilate, leaning against the wall.

DOCTOR
The stories suggest that our reflections are protecting us from another world, full of atrocities and pure terror. Maybe it's trying to escape that.

DEISHA
Why would anyone set that up in the first place?

DOCTOR
What do you mean?

DEISHA
Well, in the shipyard. You said your people made sure that something like this could never happen.

DOCTOR
You're right, so how did it? Mirrors don't just pop up naturally. Someone placed them there.

DEISHA
I could go investigate, if you want.

SHONA
I don't think that's a good idea.

DEISHA
Oh, come on, are you kidding?

SHONA
If you're going, I'm going with you.

DEISHA
I can do it myself.

SHONA
I don't care.

DOCTOR
I think it's good to have backup, Deisha. I'll drop you off back at the docks, then head off after this trace.

ZACH
Won't it have just disappeared back into the mirror again?

DOCTOR
Not this time. Without Deisha's reflection guarding the gateway, it can pass through to and from our world if and when it pleases. Continuing the whirlpool analogy, imagine an anchor at the centre, keeping the two worlds secure and safe. Lose the anchor, and-

SHONA
You fall in.

DOCTOR
Like I said, reality is fracturing.

DEEPA
This is all getting a bit much for me… I think I need a lie down.

ZACH
Come on, Mum.

He guides her to the little library in the side room next to the console, placing her in a leather chair. The Doctor faces Deisha and ShonA
DOCTOR
Are you sure you'll be okay?

DEISHA
Better than going monster-hunting.

DOCTOR
Watch each other's backs, be careful!

DEISHA
You know us Ellises.

DOCTOR
Exactly.

They grin at each other, and the TARDIS dematerialises, causing Deepa to groan, almost as if she's going to throw up. [Track 20 ends]

30 EXT. CANAL – EVENING
[Track 21: Look into the Camera] Shona and Deisha quickly hop out of the police box, and it quickly dematerialises again, the light disappearing, abandoning the two women within a dark, foggy evening as the dilapidated brick building looms above, now with a large hole carved inside, constructed by the Sindaa.

31 INT. SHIPYARD GROUND FLOOR RUINS – EVENING
Shona and Deisha timidly make their way through the ruins of the shipyard, once again vacant of police officers.

DEISHA
This way.

SHONA
You're saying it was a ring of mirrors?

DEISHA
Yeah. I don't know how it works, probably some physics angling thing. It was just up here.

Deisha points to the rickety, collapsing staircase.

SHONA
This doesn't seem safe- Maybe we should let the authorities-

DEISHA
Mum! The police don't know what they're dealing with. We do. It's our responsibility.

SHONA
It's my responsibility to keep you safe!

DEISHA
I never asked you for that.

SHONA
You shouldn't have to.

Deisha sighs, shaking her head and wandering towards the stairs.

SHONA
What?

DEISHA
Nothing.

SHONA
No. You've had so much attitude lately.

DEISHA
Maybe cos I'm growing up? I can do things myself, you know.

Deisha parkours easily up the walls, using ridges, peeling plaster and splintered wood beams as footholes, and Shona stares up, astonished.

DEISHA
See?

SHONA
I don't care whether you can do it or not. It's dangerous.

DEISHA
Yeah, well, so's everything! You can't police me all the time. I have to grow up some day.

Shona edges up the staircase, steadying herself as, with each step up, the floorboards creak and lament under the pressure.

32 INT. SHIPYARD SECOND FLOOR RUINS – EVENING
Shona finally joins Deisha at the top of the stairs.

SHONA
Where is it?

DEISHA
Round here.

She leads her mum towards the rings of mirrors, still perfectly intact as they were before.

SHONA
This is it? It's sort of creepy.

DEISHA
Yeah.

Deisha tries to look into the mirror from outside of the ring, but still her reflection is missing.

DEISHA
Still nothing. It's like one of those weird tricks at the circus.

SHONA
I don't know what we're looking for, exactly.

DEISHA
Neither, but… maybe there's something someone left behind when these were put here.

SHONA
Who?

DEISHA
I don't know. Guess we should just start looking.

Shona starts scouring the area, whilst Deisha's eyes narrow onto the ring of mirrors. [Track 21 ends]

33 EXT. TRAIN YARD – EVENING
[Track 22: The Crystal and the TARDIS] The Doctor, Zach and Deepa jump across the tracks towards an upturned train – obviously the one that they were in before – Part of the chassis has crumpled up and the windows have been smashed.

DOCTOR
The link brought us here.

ZACH
It's the train.

DEEPA
What's the train?

ZACH
An interdimensional creature escaped on this train. Catch up.

DEEPA
Oh.

The Doctor clambers up onto the side of the train and spies through the window – there are countless bodies strewn about of everyday people; a few business men, a family, a ticket inspector… but all adorning the same vacant expression.

DOCTOR
No… It's all of them. A whole train. They're all dead.

ZACH
That's obscene. Why would it do that?

DOCTOR
Because it's scared. That's what people do when they're scared, they lash out. All it's doing is stealing people's minds and mirroring… But they're scared of the Sindaa, and so it attacks them.

ZACH
God… Is there nothing we can do for them?

DOCTOR
It's too late, I'm sorry.

DEEPA
Is it still here? Are we safe?

DOCTOR
It's got to be close by. The police haven't arrived yet so this was recent. Do you know where we are?

ZACH
Sorry, I've not caught up on my trainspotting recently.

DEEPA
Thankfully, your father did. He used to work on train engines in his 20s.

ZACH
What, really?

DEEPA
That building there's the engine shed.

She gestures to a concrete structure at the bottom of the hill, with a few trains poking out.

DOCTOR
A railway depot? Brilliant! Come on, you two. Before the police catch us for trespassing.

ZACH
I think the Sindaa getting away is the more pressing issue.

They start off down the hill towards the depot.

34 INT. RAILWAY DEPOT – EVENING
The sonic whirrs, and the Doctor barges through the door into a very derelict space – dust has settled, old steam locomotives are broken down in the centre of the room and scraps of train engines and construction work is littered about.

DOCTOR
This place hasn't been used in yonks.

ZACH
No… Do you think it came here? Door was locked.

DOCTOR
It can travel through reflections, and it's scared. A locked shed seems like a good place to hide, wouldn't you agree?

ZACH
Guess so.

DEEPA
How are we supposed to kill it?

DOCTOR
Woah, hold on. Who said anything about killing it?

DEEPA
What are we doing?

DOCTOR
It's mirroring fear. If we show it that we're not scared, we might be able to calm it down.

DEEPA
I am scared, though.

DOCTOR
Don't be. It's only scared if you're scared.

DEEPA
…but I am scared-

DOCTOR
Just don't be scared.

DEEPA
Alright, but that's easier said than done.

ZACH
I'll check out the back.

DOCTOR
Be careful. Even if the Sindaa isn't dangerous, this place hasn't been used in ages.

DEEPA
Can I come?

ZACH
Fine, just don't be too loud.

Zach and Deepa start heading past the train into the back room. The Doctor starts looking around at the train engine which has been busted open on the table.

CUT TO:

Zach tries a door, but finds it locked. He picks up a screwdriver from a desk and starts picking the lock.

DEEPA
So this is what you've been up to since I've been away?

ZACH
Among other things, yeah. I visit other planets with the Doctor sometimes. And we can sort of… travel through time.

DEEPA
You have a time machine? Where did you get a time machine from?

ZACH
It's the Doctor's, she's from the future.

DEEPA
I've been talking to someone from the future?

Zach laughs slightly at Deepa's awe.

ZACH
Yeah. Yeah, you have.

DEEPA
But… if you have a time machine, couldn't you save Adam?

ZACH
Nah, it doesn't work like that. We can't change time. Well, sometimes we can. It's kind of confusing.

DEEPA
Do Deisha and Shona come with you?

ZACH
No, it's just me. Just to get a bit of a break from the real world every now and again.

The door unlocks and he peers his head in, before coming back out and continuing along.

DEEPA
Guess you're just a bit like me, then.

ZACH
No. No, no. I'm not abandoning my family. I'm just-

DEEPA
Wanting to escape reality? Searching for something greater? Did they suffer cos you left them behind?

Zach hesitates, thinking on this.

DEEPA
Don't waste the chance you have with them. Before you know it, your child will have all grown up and be off seeing the world by themselves, and you'll hate yourself for missing out on so much of their life.

ZACH
We're not the same, Mum.

DEEPA
No. Because you've still got a chance to make things better.

Deepa puts her arm on Zach's shoulder, comforting him. [Track 22 ends]

ZACH
I look after my daughter fine. I don't need you judging me.

[Track 23: Activate] Deepa sees something shifting at the end of the room, and tenses up.

DEEPA
Shh.

ZACH
What?

She grabs Zach, covering his mouth and pointing. The Sindaa appears, now back to its shadowy form, as it slithers around a corner. Deepa drags her son under the table, shaking.

ZACH (whispering)
It's fine… As long as we're not scared, it's fine.

DEEPA (whispering)
I don't think I can't not be scared… We're going to die…

ZACH (whispering)
No, we're not. No, we're not. It hasn't seen us yet, so it's not going to attack. If we stay out of its way, we're safe.

DEEPA (whispering)
Zacky… It's going to find us… I'm sorry.

ZACH (whispering)
Mum, stop. We're not going to die here.

DEEPA (whispering)
Why did we come here?

ZACH (whispering)
Stop it, seriously.

DEEPA (whispering)
This was a bad idea…

ZACH (whispering)
The Sindaa will hear you if you keep talking!

DEEPA (whispering)
I need to get out of here.

ZACH (whispering)
I?

DEEPA (whispering)
…We. I meant we.

He throws her an exasperated scowl, then glances over to the Sindaa, shuffling about.

ZACH (whispering)
Look. It's heading the other way. Follow me.

DEEPA (whispering)
What? No, no, no. It'll see us.

ZACH (whispering)
Now's our chance, Mum.

DEEPA (whispering)
I can't…

ZACH (whispering)
Ugh… okay, fine. I'll go around the other side and distract it. You get back to the Doctor.

He takes the screwdriver out of his pocket and flips it into her hands.

ZACH (whispering)
If you get lost.

She takes it, and Zach darts off, keeping low to the ground. He takes shelter behind a train carriage, poking his head around the corner to the Sindaa moving up and down, the silhouette almost jittering.

ZACH (whispering)
Okay… Just stay there.

Zach glances down the hall.

ZACH (whispering)
Don't have time to get to the Doctor. Guess it's up to me, then.

Zach watches his mother, giving her a reassuring thumbs up, then starts making his way around to the other side of the train.

CUT TO:

The Doctor looks up from the engine.

DOCTOR
Where have they got to?

She closes the lid and heads towards the back, but then stops, seeing her reflection in the window of the train – except the edges of alternative self are shimmering. As the Doctor speaks, her reflection doesn't mimic her, but rather gets increasingly more frantic.

DOCTOR
Oh. Hello. I know you can hear me. Don't be alarmed.

ALT DOCTOR
What's happening?

DOCTOR
The walls of the world are breaking down, people are escaping into my reality.

ALT DOCTOR
No… They can't. They can't!

DOCTOR
Can you get them back? If the worlds coalesce, we're both dead.

ALT DOCTOR
I know! Our Universe has different rules to yours. We made sure that nothing can come through the mirrors.

DOCTOR
Why?

ALT DOCTOR
It's dangerous here, there's… We call it The Nightmare Event. Our Universe has fallen into darkness, you don't know what it's like.

DOCTOR
Then tell me. I have to know. I've got to stop it happening here.

ALT DOCTOR
There's a being… It maintains our Universe, acts as the soul of it, caters to our needs. But something came through from another world, through the mirrors.

DOCTOR
What did?

ALT DOCTOR
They twisted Sindaa's abilities, turned it against us, torturing us. I couldn't stop them, but I could make sure other worlds were safe. I'm sorry.

DOCTOR
The Sindaa's escaped to our Universe.

ALT DOCTOR
It's in your world? That explains things over here.

DOCTOR
Don't blame yourself. I know you do that from time to time, but we don't give up. You'll stop it. We will.

ALT DOCTOR
How?

DOCTOR
We're brilliant, we'll think of something.

ALT DOCTOR
If we have Sindaa on our side… we might be able to defeat them.

DOCTOR
Who are they? Who are you fighting?

ALT DOCTOR
I can't say, they're coming… I've broken the rules, they're coming for me! I need to get out of here!

DOCTOR
Why are they coming for you?

ALT DOCTOR
Because they're looking for a doorway without a guardian. If they find one, they'll be able to break through into your dimension.

DOCTOR
We're missing a guardian. Zach Ellis' daughter.

ALT DOCTOR
You need to get her back.

DOCTOR
I'm working on it. Here's some homework for you – If any of your people are trying to replace our people, stop them.

ALT DOCTOR
On it. How do we stop them breaking through this gate though?

DOCTOR
We need to reset the reflection. If we transmit the same frequency from the sonic, it should strengthen the connection for long enough.

They both take out their sonic screwdrivers, a little out of sync with each other.

DOCTOR
And, Doctor?

ALT DOCTOR
Yes?

DOCTOR
Thank you. We can save the Universe as we've always done. Together.

Her reflection smiles, and the pair use the sonic screwdrivers, before the reflection resets itself and they sync up again.

DOCTOR
Goodbye, Doctor. Nice meeting you. Now I'm getting the Sindaa back.

She runs off.

CUT TO:

Zach sneaks around behind the Sindaa, waiting for a moment, slowly building the courage. His foot taps nervously, before finally he clenches his fist.

ZACH (whispering)
Alright, Zach… Time to go be a hero. Why is it always me that has to do these things?

He stops tapping his foot, and takes a deep breath.

ZACH (whispering)
Don't be scared. Only scared if you are. Only scared if you are.

He sneaks towards the Sindaa, and stands.

ZACH
Hi! Hi.

The Sindaa spins around, shifting. Zach freezes in place, slightly sweaty.

ZACH
Uh… You don't need to hurt anyone. You can just get to safety.

He glances over to Deepa, and she nods, starting to sneak away.

ZACH
You know? Now's the time!

His gaze refocuses on the Sindaa.

ZACH
We're all here to protect you, but not if you're going to kill anyone.

She bolts to the back door, picking the lock with the screwdriver.

ZACH
Mum, stop!

The Sindaa turns around, seeing Deepa, prompting her to give a shrill scream.

ZACH
No!

The Sindaa starts to transform again, and Deepa bolts out of the shed, kicking her way through the door and fleeing.

ZACH
Mum! Come back!

He groans.

ZACH
Every time!

The Sindaa starts stomping after her, as the Doctor sprints in.

DOCTOR
Zach!

ZACH
Doctor! Sonic screwdriver, quickly!

The Doctor throws the sonic into the air, zooming across the room, before Zach jumps and catches it, immediately whipping it towards the Sindaa, the device lighting up with a fierce golden glow-

But the Sindaa matches it, its arm reaching out to mirror the frequency, emitting a similar golden glow back.

ZACH
What's it doing?

DOCTOR
Matching the frequency, sending it back… Get down!

Zach ducks, as a blast of energy shoots back at him, hitting the wall behind.

ZACH
Argh!

DOCTOR
Where's your mum?

ZACH
Run off, like always.

DOCTOR
I'm sorry.

ZACH
Yeah, later!

The Doctor pushes Zach out of the way as the Sindaa fires another blast, smashing into the train. It jumps into the reflection of a mirror leant up against the wall and emerges from a window behind the Doctor.

ZACH
Watch out!

The Doctor dives out of the way as the Sindaa charges towards her. The Sindaa slides to a halt, and then gets hit over the head by a paint pot. Snarling, it looks over, seeing Zach lobbing two more towards it.

DOCTOR
Stop!

ZACH
What else do you want me to do?!

DOCTOR
Into the train, quickly!

Zach chucks the sonic back to the Doctor as she uses it to unlock the door to the train carriage, flinging it open and barrelling inside alongside her companion.

35 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE – EVENING
Zach slams the door as the Sindaa thumps against it.

ZACH
What now?!

DOCTOR
Let's just wait until it calms down!

It's arm crashes through the window as the train shakes violently.

ZACH
Yeah, sounds like it's gonna calm down!

DOCTOR
Woah!

The Sindaa continues to rock the train.

36 INT. SHIPYARD SECOND FLOOR RUINS – EVENING
Shona wanders around aimlessly, before returning to the ring of mirrors.

SHONA
I can't find anything- Deisha!

Deisha has entered the ring of mirrors, looking around. Shona sprints towards her, but Deisha holds her hand out.

DEISHA
Mum, don't get any closer! You can't come in, it's not safe!

SHONA
Then get out of there!

DEISHA
I can't be hurt - I don't have a reflection…

SHONA
Really?

DEISHA
I don't know, it's a guess.

SHONA
Get out of there. I'm not playing around. Now!

DEISHA
I'm fine, I'm fine…

Suddenly, the mirrors are all consumed in a black, overwhelming void.

DEISHA
Woah, woah… What's that?

SHONA
What's what?

DEISHA
The mirrors, they've stopped reflecting! They're just… black.

Suddenly, a small, wavering tendril starts to poke out of one of the mirrors, like a dagger.

DEISHA
Something else is coming through. It's not the Sindaa, it's… it's something else!

Deisha's eyes widen.

DEISHA
We have to stop it.

SHONA
What?

DEISHA
Stay there!

Deisha runs forward, grabbing the tendril – it has a strange, smokey texture – as if it's not solidified yet. Screaming, she starts to force it back.

SHONA
Deisha!

Helpless, she watches on from outside the mirror as she continues to hold back the oncoming darkness emerging.

37 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE – EVENING
The train continues to get pummelled, as the Doctor and Zach hold onto each other.

38 INT. RAILWAY DEPOT – EVENING
The Sindaa goes for one, final, lethal whack, which would send the carriage spinning off the jack, but then…

Deisha's screams echo around it, causing it to stagger back.

SINDAA
Aargh!

39 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE – EVENING
The Doctor and Zach realise the assault has stopped.

ZACH
What's happening?

DOCTOR
I don't know.

The Doctor slowly peers her head over to the Sindaa, which seems to be wrestling with itself.

DOCTOR
Come on, now might be our chance.

40 INT. RAILWAY DEPOT – EVENING
The pair clamber out of the train towards the Sindaa.

DOCTOR
What's wrong? How can we help?

SINDAA
Gate… closing. Gate closing!

Again, Deisha's screams fill its head.

DOCTOR
The gate… It means the mirrors. Deisha and Shona are there.

ZACH
Oh, no. What's happened to them?

The Sindaa starts to transform again, shrinking and screeching – but this time, not into its natural state… but rather into Deisha.

ZACH
Deisha? Oh, my god. Deisha!

DOCTOR
Zach, stop! It's still the Sindaa. What's happening to Deisha?

SINDAA
She's… fighting. She is the Guardian.

DOCTOR
Oh, no.

ZACH
Oh, no what?

DOCTOR
The Sindaa could come through because Deisha's reflection wasn't holding it back. Now something else is trying to come through… She must be holding it back herself. It'll kill her.

SINDAA
My Universe is dying.

DOCTOR
Then save it. Save her. You're the lifeblood of that Universe. You've got to fight to keep it alive. It's up to you. Your people are depending on you.

SINDAA
Yes… Yes. I shall return.

The Doctor grins. [Track 23 ends]

DOCTOR
Thank you… Thank you. We need a mirror.

Zach hastens across the room, remove a shiny rod from a broken engine. [Track 24: The Governors]

ZACH
Will that do?

DOCTOR
That'll do. One last thing… Before you go back. Someone's been manipulating you. They brought the Nightmare Event to your world, and I don't think they're done. Who are they?

SINDAA
…They…

The Sindaa, still appearing as Deisha, starts to glow as it starts to sink into the rod.

DOCTOR
Who are they? Who are they?

SINDAA
Ler…arr…zi…

And it vanishes, with a final hiss, leaving the Doctor shocked at this statement. [Track 24 ends]

DOCTOR
What?

She takes a moment to process it.

41 INT. SHIPYARD SECOND FLOOR RUINS – DAY
Deisha is still forcing the darkness back through the mirror, screaming, tears rolling down her face. Shona finally darts into the centre of the ring to pull her daughter away, but it's too late-

A large blast knocks the both of them away, and with a bright flash, the mirrors return to normal.

DEISHA
Aagh!

[Track 25: Missing You]

SHONA
Aah… Deisha, are you okay?

DEISHA
Yeah. What was that?

Deisha and Shona look to their left, crawling back in shock – An old man is crumpled up on the floor, fumbling about, obviously seconds from death.

SHONA
Who are you?

GEORGE
George… George Henderson. I'm sorry… I had no choice.

SHONA
Did you do this?

GEORGE
They forced me… It's been so long… Trapped. When is this?

DEISHA
October 2021.

GEORGE
…It's been 100 years, tortured… Am I really free?

DEISHA
Yeah. Yeah, George. You're free.

GEORGE
Thank you… Thank you.

Deisha holds George's hand, and tears well up in his eyes, before his head drops to the floor.

DEISHA
He's… He's dead.

She stays, sat on the floor, holding his hand. [Track 25 ends]

FADE TO:

42 EXT. WALKWAY – DAWN
[Track 26: Kiss Goodbye] The Sun slowly rises over the London skyline, bringing a breath of fresh air to the violet clouds. The Doctor and Shona watch the sunrise, taking a moment of silence as they ponder the events of the previous few days. Shona gets an alert on her phone, and takes it out.

SHONA
News update. "In a shocking turn of events, a number of people across the South East of England recently declared dead have come back to life, claiming that their 'souls' were stolen by a strange animal." They're alive? All of them?

DOCTOR
Guess fear wasn't the only thing the Sindaa learned from humanity.

SHONA
How do you mean?

DOCTOR
Mirrors don't only reflect one aspect of you. They exhibit every single part. The bad… and the good.

DEISHA (oc)
Doctor! Doctor, Mum!

DOCTOR
And I think the Sindaa decided to stick with the good.

She heads into the apartment, but Shona grabs her.

SHONA
What I said earlier…

DOCTOR
I know.

SHONA
It's not that I don't appreciate what you do for us. I'm just scared.

DEISHA (oc)
Mum, come on! Doctor!

DOCTOR
I know you are. Deisha and Zach are so important to you. I'd never want to put them in danger if I didn't think they could handle it. But from what I've seen, they're very bright people. They're more than capable of dealing with what life can throw at them. And they always know the right thing to do. And sometimes, you have to step up and do the right thing, even if it means that you might not benefit from it.

Shona nods. [Track 26 ends]

DEISHA (oc)
Doctor!

DOCTOR
But in this case, I think she absolutely did.

[Track 27: The Doctor Triumphant] The Doctor smirks, as Shona raises an eyebrow.

43 INT. ELLIS' HALLWAY – DAWN
Deisha is stood in front of the mirror, watching her reflection as she moves back and forth, admiring it. The Doctor and Shona enter.

DEISHA
It's back… My reflection's back. What did you do?

DOCTOR
The Sindaa recognised your fight in the Mirrors. You did exactly what it wanted to do in their Universe. Keep everyone safe.

DEISHA
So it's the Sindaa?

DOCTOR
Yeah.

DEISHA
So… every time I look in my reflection, I'll be reminded of the terrible things it did.

DOCTOR
No. No, no, no. That's just one small part of it. When the Sindaa arrived, all it found was fear. That's all it knew. But it decided to return out of love. Your love. Your love for the people around you. It's mirroring you because you're the best person it knows. And that Universe could do with a lot more of Deisha Ellis' love.

Deisha blushes.

DEISHA
So nothing can come back through?

DOCTOR
Not unless another guardian goes missing. But the Sindaa wanted to take the place of your reflection. It chose to return to the Nightmare Event to stop it from spreading here.

DEISHA
What's the Nightmare Event, though? And… who was George Henderson?

DOCTOR
A Torchwood Operative from 1917.

SHONA
He said someone had been torturing him for 100 years.

DOCTOR
Well, last time I met him, he sacrificed himself to save the Earth. We all assumed he died. Obviously, we were wrong. But how did he survive?

She sighs.

44 EXT. MARSH COURT – DAWN
The Doctor, Zach, Shona and Deisha stride across the green to the blue police box.

DOCTOR
The Lerazi are playing a long game. They've been working in the background for a while now, pulling strings. They've attempted to take the planet before, and they're going to again, and I don't know what for. Something's coming for us. I don't know what The Nightmare Event is, but they're on their way, and whatever they want…

The Doctor reaches the TARDIS and spins around, now looking very determined.

DOCTOR
We'll be ready for them.

Deisha smiles confidently.

DOCTOR
We better prepare. It's not going to be an easy fight. I'm going to look for answers.

DEISHA
On your own?

DOCTOR
For now. I'll see you soon, okay? Next time your dad wants to go on a trip.

DEISHA
Sure.

The Doctor smiles.

DOCTOR
Zach, if you need me-

ZACH
I'll call.

DOCTOR
We'll get to the bottom of this. I promise.

She steps into the police box, and immediately after it starts to disappear with a hefty groan, the light fading away to the vortex. [Track 27 ends]

45 INT. ELLIS' KITCHEN - DAY
[Track 28: Reflections 0:00 – 1:01] Zach sits at the kitchen table, very silent, his hands grasping onto a photo of him as a child – his brother, sister, mother and father all stand beside him, gleaming proudly. The doorbell rings, and Zach looks up.

46 INT. ELLIS' HALLWAY – DAY
Zach walks to the door and opens it, revealing Deepa.

DEEPA
Hi. I… I was just going to write a letter, but I thought it'd be better to… to say this in person.

ZACH
No.

He tries to slam the door, but Deepa holds it open.

DEEPA
No, Zach, wait. I, uh… I have some stuff.

She picks up a shoddy, cardboard box which she's left just out of sight of the doorway.

ZACH
What is it?

DEEPA
Just some old stuff from your grandparents' house. I don't know what to do with it, but I thought it might be nice for you to have some family history.

ZACH
Yeah, I'll take it. Thanks.

DEEPA
And… I want to apologise. I know no apologies in the world can ever make up for what I did. By this point, they're just empty words. I know you must think that I was just lying, but I wasn't. I did want to make things better. This… this life of yours, it just scares me-

ZACH
Look, just stop. I'm done with your excuses. Maybe Ashley will still take you back, but I don't care anymore.

DEEPA
But I saved you.

ZACH
Alright, thanks, but that doesn't change anything. I don't care if you've changed. If you have, well done. You've become a decent human being. But you had your second chance. You've had way more than two chances. It's too late. This is my life now. If you want to be part of my family, you have to accept this too. Nothing's going to change that. And it's obvious that you can't, so… I think it's best if you go.

DEEPA
Yeah. Yeah, okay. You're right. I… No apology in the world can ever express my regret. So, I'll just go. Bye, Zach.

Deepa dawdles away, like a sad clown, and Zach closes the door, his head falling back as he takes a sigh of relief. [Track 28 ends]

ZACH
Bye, Mum.

[Track 29: Charlie Lives With Quill] He opens a cupboard and stuffs the box away – Inside, is an envelope, which looks quite stained and old, with the words:

FOR ZACH ELLIS, OCTOBER 2021.

47 INT. DEISHA'S BEDROOM – DAY
Deisha lies on her twin bed, dressed in a navy bedsheet with black splodges across it, as she stares at the ceiling, just thinking for a moment. Her room is still coated in a bold yellow, but after time it seems worn, older. The pictures drawn seem a lot more mature, being placed in neat frames. On the windowsill, plants and flowers brighten the room, organised to efficiently showcase the colour palettes of each one. Her bookshelves have been systematically ordered by author – books read for pleasure sit on one shelf, school books on another. She sits up, facing her mirror.

DEISHA
Okay.

She stands up, walking over to the mirror and staring into her eyes.

DEISHA
You listen to me. If you're reflecting me, then you know everything about me, am I right? Then you know our secret. I'm sure you won't, but… you don't tell anyone, okay? It's not the time. If we stick together, then it'll all be okay. But you don't tell anyone, least of all Dad. Got it?

Deisha stares into the mirror, then finally says:

DEISHA
That's what I thought.

She smirks, flopping back to her bed and taking a deep breath. [Track 29 ends]

ROLL CREDITS