(Deep in Antarctica, in the midst of a heavy blizzard, sits a police box. Or, as some know it, the Tardis. Inside this box, is a room that should not fit. A spacious white room, with a hexagonal console in the centre. On that console, switches flick back and forth, buttons keep pressing themselves and lights are flashing. The glass column in the centre of the console is also moving up and down, as a wheezing noise echoes all around. On the floor, next to the console, is an old man. He has thinning white hair and is dressed in an almost Edwardian fashion. Not too far away, an old woman is sat in a reading chair. She is slouched forward, her red hair partially covering her wrinkled granny like features. She wears a red and black dress, with blue belt around her waist, and a black shall to fight off the cold. But in a flash of golden light, these two begin to change. The old man's wrinkles recede, his skin darkening, his white hair thickening as it miraculously begins to grow again. As for the old woman, her wrinkles also smooth over, her face becoming rounder. Even her red hair changes, growing darker at the roots and spreading out like a wave of dye across the rest of her hair. It also begins to tangle, in itself, growing longer and more wild. These two, once old, are now renewed. They were once the Doctor and the Princess, but who are they now…?)
Episode One
(Inside the console room of the Tardis, Polly and Ben stare in awe, at the two new bodies in the room. One is sprawled out on the floor on his back. The other is sat in a reading chair, slouched over.)
POLLY: (Shocked) Their…Their faces…their hair, look at it.
(Ben takes a step closer towards both the Doctor and the Princess, looking at them both from a distance.)
BEN: (Shocked) They…They seem to be breathing. (Looks over to the console) And the Tardis seems to be normal.
POLLY: Ben, what are we going to do? We can't just leave them like this.
BEN: We don't even know who they are!
POLLY: It's the Doctor and Princess, Ben.
BEN: What, them?! The Doctor and the Princess?!
POLLY: Well that's who was there when we came in. And then there was that light…
(Polly and Ben continue to stare at the Doctor and Princess, both breathing but seemingly unconscious.)
POLLY: Ben, do you remember what the Doctor said back in that base? Something about, 'This old body of mine. Wearing about thin,' that's what he said.
BEN: So, he and the Princess just get themselves a pair of new bodies?!
POLLY: Well, yes…
BEN: Oh, do me a favour.
POLLY: Well, the Doctor was unwell, remember.
BEN: Yeah, but the Princess wasn't. Why would she up and change?
POLLY: I don't know. But it makes sense. She and the Doctor were arguing a lot. Maybe it was about this.
BEN: Leave off.
POLLY: Well, whatever happened, it happened in here.
BEN: But it's impossible.
POLLY: Not so long ago we'd have been saying that about a lot of things.
(The Doctor begins to stir, moaning as he opens his blue eyes.)
POLLY: Ben, he's awake.
(The Doctor sits up, immediately clutching his head as his groans amplify. Inside his head, he can hear the beating of his hearts, pounding away. There is a ringing noise all around, and the room is spinning. He looks up at Ben and Polly, but he's seeing double, all swaying around like the room.)
DOCTOR: Stop… Stop…! Concentrate on one thing. One thing…
(The Doctor stares at the console, and slowly, the room stops spinning. His vision focuses, the ringing dies down, and his beating hearts fade away too. And as his mind calms, the Doctor leans forward, his cloak coming up over his head and shrouding his face, blocking out the light as he adjusts. Polly and Ben stare at the man, before he then lifts off the hood, revealing a cheekily grinning face.)
DOCTOR: It's over… (Chuckles) It's over.
(Another groan, this one feminine. Polly and Ben, look to see the Princess lifting her head and rubbing at her neck. Her dark hair parts around her face naturally, as if by intention, and when she opens her green-blue eyes, she looks up at the ceiling.)
PRINCESS: I should…I should…
POLLY: Princess?
(Polly takes a step closer, but Ben stops her going further. The Princess looks over to them, squinting her eyes at them.)
PRINCESS: Barbara? Ian?
(Before the Princess' eyes, Ben and Polly shift back and forth between Ian and Barbara.)
PRINCESS: You're…younger… No… am I…?
(The Princess goes to stand up and falls straight to the floor.)
POLLY: Princess!
(The Doctor laughs. However, when he tries to get up, he to slips and fall back down, the oversized cloak falling off his shoulders.)
PRINCESS: I feel funny…
(The Princess sits up on her knees, head in her hands.)
PRINCESS: Not good funny… Bad funny…
(The Tardis engines wheeze extra loudly, catching the attention of the Princess who looks up.)
PRINCESS: Hello…? I know you, don't I?
POLLY: Yes. I'm–
PRINCESS: (Finger to her lips) Shh! (Quietly) She's speaking now. You'll get your turn later.
(The Princess switches to sitting cross-legged, which isn't easy with her dress on, and proceeds to look at the console, as if listening.)
BEN: (To Polly) What's she on about?
POLLY: (To Princess) Who's talking–?
PRINCESS: Shh!
(While Ben and Polly share bewildered looks, and the Princess continue to stare at the console, the Doctor has gotten up to his feet. As he does, a ring on his finger drops, catching the attention of Polly as it rings out. The Doctor, however, doesn't notice as he approaches the console, looking it over.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor, cheekily) She likes you.
(The Doctor drops down behind the console, as if hiding. He then leans around, peering across to the Princess who smiles and waves back to him.)
PRINCESS: Hello!
(The Doctor stares suspiciously at the Princess, before his eyes light up. He goes to stand, only to bang his head off the console above. This makes the Princess laugh. The Doctor smiles, rubbing his sore head as he stands up. The Princess then gets up and joins him, with the console in between them. The Doctor presses a button. The Princess flicks a switch. The Doctor turns a dial. The Princess pushes a lever. Back and forth they go, using various controls, before the ship suddenly tilts to one side. The Doctor and the Princess grab onto the console before they can fall, but Polly and Ben hit the floor before the room corrects itself. The Doctor and Princess laugh hysterically.)
BEN: Look just what are you two playing at?!
(Polly, seeing the ring before her, takes the opportunity to pick it up.)
DOCTOR: (To Princess) Maybe we should leave her to it.
PRINCESS: She knows what she's doing.
BEN: Who knows what they're doing?
(The Doctor and Princess ignore Ben, looking instead to each other.)
PRINCESS: Are you shorter, or am I taller?
DOCTOR: Both. In fact, you're taller than me!
PRINCESS: I don't know if I like that.
DOCTOR: I think it'll be fun! Oh. Muscles are still a bit tight.
PRINCESS: They don't look it.
DOCTOR: What's that supposed to mean?
PRINCESS: Did your hair always look like that?
DOCTOR: I know yours didn't.
(The Princess pulls at strands of her hair and looks at them.)
PRINCESS: This has always been my hair colour…hasn't it?
(The Doctor is feeling his face with his hands. The Princess then copies him.)
PRINCESS: It feels smooth.
DOCTOR: It looks round.
PRINCESS: I don't see the difference on you.
DOCTOR: Really? It feels different. Much firmer.
PRINCESS: I know what the problem is!
DOCTOR: Problem, what problem, what are you talking about?
PRINCESS: The clothes! These aren't our clothes.
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) No, these are far too big for me.
PRINCESS: We need our clothes.
(The Princess awkwardly walks out of the console room in her dress, while the Doctor stumbles after her in his Edwardian outfit. Ben and Polly watch them go deeper into the Tardis, before looking to one another.)
BEN: What are we going to do?
POLLY: He's the Doctor, and she's the Princess. I'm certain of it… I think.
BEN: It's not only their faces that've changed. They don't even act like the Doctor and the Princess.
POLLY: Not the ones we knew anyway.
(After a short, but awkward walk, the Princess falls face first into her bedroom. With a grumble of annoyance, she pushes herself back up and decides to crawl the rest of the way.)
PRINCESS: Right, that does it. No dresses. My legs can't work properly in them. I need something flexible.
(The Princess crawls past her bed and into the cupboard. Inside the cupboard many versions of her red and black dress are hung up, as well as some of the other outfits she has previously worn, and some other styles of dresses. But the Princess pushes them all aside, instead opening up a chest hidden behind the dresses. She pulls out a pair of trousers first. She looks at them, studies them, then throws them aside.)
PRINCESS: No.
(Next, she pulls out a pair of shorts.)
PRINCESS: To long.
(She throws the shorts aside, then pulls out dog cone.)
PRINCESS: Maybe.
(She puts the dog cone aside then pulls out a set of fishnet stockings.)
PRINCESS: Oh! These would be flexible.
(Proving her point, the Princess pulls them sharply and they stretch but don't rip.)
PRINCESS: Yes, I like these. Wonder why I never wore them before? Oh, well. Now, what else could I wear with these?
(The Princess pushes aside the first chest and pulls another closer. She opens that up and begins to rummage.)
PINCESS: No. No. No. No. No.
(As she expresses her views, she throws various things out of the chest. A white shall, a t-shirt, a bikini, a jacket, a vest, a cummerbund, a corset, a dress shirt, a leather jacket, a jumper. Finally, though, the Princess pulls herself out, frowning disappointedly.)
PRINCESS: Hmm…
(The Princess stares at the clothes she's pulled out. Then…)
PRINCESS: Hold on.
(The Princess picks out the dress shirt and the cummerbund, then goes back into her chest and pulls out a tux jacket.)
PRINCESS: Yes… That could work, couldn't it? Oh, why not! Well, I want to wear it. Well, it's my choice not yours! (Blows a raspberry) Now, what I need is shoes.
(Once more the Princess crawls across the cupboard and into a shoe rack.)
PRINCESS: No. No. No. No. No–Oh, wait a minute.
(The Princess had been waving her finger past serval pairs of shoes but stops on a set of black boots with a high heel.)
PRINCESS: I like you. You I like.
(The Princess grabs the shoes and begins to replace them with the ones she has on.)
PRINCESS: I will not break my neck! You're worse than my mother… Wait a minute, did I just compare myself to my mother. That's bad, isn't? It feels like it is. Note to self, never compare self to mother again.
(The Princess goes to stand up in her new shoes but falls down again.)
PRINCESS: No, that was the dress, not the shoes! Stupid thing!
(The Princess angrily begins to remove the dress, practically tearing it as she does so.)
(A short while later, the Princess is stood in front of her bedroom mirror. On her feet, she's wearing the black high heeled boots she picked out, which come up to her knees. After that, she has on the fishnet stockings, which vanish into a very short and tight black skirt. Then comes the red cummerbund, with the white shirt tucked in. Over that she has on her black tuxedo jacket with its single button done up. At first, the Princess smiles at her reflection…but after a moment begins to frown.)
PRINCESS: It's missing something… Oh, what's it missing! (Thinks for a moment) I know, I'll go and ask him.
(The Princess strides out of her bedroom and into the Tardis corridor, where she finds the Doctor coming out of his bedroom. The Doctor has abandoned his Edwardian inspired outfit, now dressed in baggy tartan trousers, with a loose shirt, squint dicky bow held together by a paper click and a ragged jacket. The two spot each other, stare for a moment, then grin as they point to one another and chuckle enthusiastically.)
PRINCESS: I love it!
DOCTOR: I like yours too… But it's missing something.
PRINCESS: Yes, and now I know, thanks to you!
DOCTOR: (Modestly) Oh, well. What is it?
(The Princess, rather than answer, runs back into her bedroom. The Doctor remains outside in the corridor, but while he waits, he inches closer to the Princess' bedroom. He's about to peek inside when the Princess comes back out, now wearing a white bowtie. The Princess stands, waiting for the Doctor to notice…but he doesn't.)
PRINCESS: Well?
DOCTOR: Well, what? I don't see anything new.
PRINCESS: The bowtie!
DOCTOR: Oh, the bowtie! Yes, yes, it is rather nice. It still doesn't seem complete though.
PRINCESS: Really, I thought it came together quite nicely. (Grinning) Unlike you, you cosmic hobo.
DOCTOR: You're one to talk, you look like a cosmic magician dressed in that.
PRINCESS: I'm a princess not a magician! Actually, can we swap? You be the magician and I'll be the hobo?
DOCTOR: Maybe later.
PRINCESS: Oh, come on!
(The Princess tries to snatch the Doctor's clothes but he sidesteps and begins to quick step away from the Princess as she follows.)
DOCTOR: These are my clothes.
PRINCESS: I just want to try them on.
DOCTOR: No, now get off!
PRINCESS: Please, just show me where you got them.
DOCTOR: I said no.
(The Doctor hurries back into the console room, with the Princess chasing him. Ben and Polly stand up and stare in bewilderment as the two run around the console.)
PRINCESS: Come on!
DOCTOR: No!
PRINCESS: Just show me!
DOCTOR: No, leave me alone!
POLLY: What's going on?
BEN: Oh, how should I know?
(Abruptly the Princess stops chasing the Doctor and looks towards a chest in the corner of the console room. She goes to it, opening it up and looks inside.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor) Come and see this.
(The Doctor comes over to the chest, where the Princess is holding a mirror. The Doctor leans over the Princess' shoulder, both looking into the mirror. At first, they see themselves, but the imagine then changes and they then see what they used to look like. In the mirror is the old Doctor with the white hair and Edwardian dress sense, leaning over the Princess, who is also old in the mirror, with red hair and dress. The Princess tilts the mirror though, and it shifts back to showing a proper reflection.)
PRINCESS: Funny…
DOCTOR: Good funny, or bad funny?
PRINCESS: Just funny.
DOCTOR: Oh, I like the look of that.
(As the Doctor reaches into the chest, Ben and Polly come over to join them.)
BEN: Now, look here, we want to know what's going–
DOCTOR: Ah ha!
(The Doctor suddenly spins around, wielding a curved dagger. At the sight of which, Ben jumps back.)
DOCTOR: The Crusades, from Saladin. The Doctor was a great collector, wasn't he?
POLLY: But you're the Doctor.
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't look like him.
BEN: Who are we?
DOCTOR: Don't you know?
BEN: Of course, we do, the question here is do you two?
PRINCESS: (Distant) Extermination.
POLLY: I'm sorry.
PRINCESS: Extermination.
(The Princess begins rummaging through the chest, before pulling out a piece of strange metal. She stares at it as if in a trance.)
PRINCESS: They're coming… No. They've been? Or are we heading towards them…
(The Princess continues to stare in worry at the piece of metal. However, after a moment, she spots something more interesting as she drops the piece of metal on the floor.)
PRINCESS: Yes!
POLLY: Yes, what?
PRINCESS: This is exactly what we need!
(The Princess practically dives into the chest before pulling out two top hats.)
PRINCESS: This will complete it!
BEN: Complete what?
PRINCESS: Our look!
(The Princess stands up, putting one of the top hats on the Doctor, the taller of the two, while putting the other on her own head.)
PRINCESS: What do you think?!
(The Doctor seems to literally chew on the thought, before smiling.)
DOCTOR: Oh, yes, I like it very much.
PRINCESS: I love it, I think it's perfect!
BEN: It's a blooming hat!
PRINCESS: It's not just a hat, it's my hat! (To Polly) Dodo, what do you think?
POLLY: Dodo? No, I'm–
BEN: Well, that proves it, you have no idea who we are, do you?
PRINCESS: Of course, we do, Steven.
(The Doctor has gone back to rummaging through the chest.)
BEN: My name's not Steven, or Ian!
PRINCESS: Are you sure?
BEN: Of course, I am!
PRINCESS: Huh? Sorry…head still a bit…
POLLY: Are you, all right?
(The Doctor has a magnifying glass and is examining his hands with it.)
DOCTOR: Ah. Very good. Nails need growing.
(The Princess notices.)
PRINCESS: (Squealing) Oh, do me, do me!
(The Doctor chortles, before using the magnifying glass on the Princess' hands.)
DOCTOR: Oh, your nails might need cut.
PRINCESS: But I don't want to cut them.
DOCTOR: Well, what do you want to do with them?
PRINCESS: I want to paint them!
DOCTOR: Really? What colour?
PRINCESS: Purple. No, yellow. No, blue. No, red. This is trickery than I thought.
BEN: Right, that does it.
(Ben takes the Doctor's ring from Polly and marches up to the Doctor and Princess.)
BEN: Now look, the Doctor always wore this. So, if you're him, it should fit now, shouldn't it?
PRINCESS: (Astonished) Ben, you're not proposing, are you?!
(Polly laughs.)
BEN: No, you… (To Doctor) Just give me your hand.
(Ben snatches the Doctor's hand and tries to put the ring on. When he lets go the ring slides off and bounces off the floor.)
BEN: There. That settles it.
DOCTOR: Try to see a butterfly fit into a chrysalis case after it's spread its wings.
POLLY: Then you did change!
PRINCESS: Yes, we did change our clothes, thank you for noticing.
BEN: Not your clothes, your faces!
PRINCESS: Faces? (Quickly touches her face) No, this has always been my face.
POLLY: But you used to both be old?
DOCTOR: Perhaps we've been renewed?
BEN: Oh, so that's it! You've been renewed, have you?
PRINCESS: We've been renewed, have we?
DOCTOR: Yes, that sounds about right. (Sharply) Come here!
(Ben and Polly jump back at the Doctor's sharp tone.)
DOCTOR: (Gently) Come here.
(Polly, despite Ben's wishes, steps closer towards the Doctor.)
DOCTOR: The Doctor kept a diary, didn't he?
POLLY: Yes.
DOCTOR: I thought so. I wonder where. I wonder where.
PRINCESS: I know where!
(The Princess goes back into the chest, while the Doctor follows her, picking up the piece of metal the Princess previously removed from the chest. He too stares at it, as if remembering it, before putting it in his inner coat pocket.)
POLLY: They're very different to our Doctor and Princess, aren't they, Ben?
BEN: Yeah, maybe. Just where do we stand, though?
(The Doctor has now joined the Princess in rummaging through chest, only to find a recorder.)
PRINCESS: Can you play?
DOCTOR: Let's find out.
(The Doctor stands up and begins tapping his foot to set the beat. He then begins to play a merry tune on the recorder. One that has the Princess jump up and start dancing to the beat. Ben watches, still suspiciously, while Polly smiles at the two. The Doctor begins hopping around to the tune he plays, and the Princess continue to dance around too, before…)
PRINCESS: Those are mine!
(The Doctor stops playing the recorder as the Princess dives back towards the chest, pulling out a deck of playing cards.)
PRINCESS: I remember these.
POLLY: Those are the Princess' cards, Ben.
(The Princess tries to flick the cards between her hands but only ends up scattering the cards everywhere.)
PRINCESS: Hmm. Fingers aren't quite up to scratch.
(The Princess gets down on her knees and begins crawling around the room, picking up the cards. Meanwhile, the Doctor has spotted his diary in the chest and has picked it out, flicking through it curiously. Ben is still keeping his distance, but Polly bends down to help the Princess pick up the cards.)
POLLY: Here you are.
PRINCESS: Oh, thank you, Polly.
(The Princess accepts the cards Polly offers her.)
POLLY: You…You remember my name.
PRINCESS: Did I forget? I hope I'm not forgetful. That could get me into all sorts of trouble.
(The Princess begins shuffling the cards in her hands, sat cross-legged on the floor. Ben comes over to join Polly, who is knelt down next to the Princess.)
POLLY: Princess? What's going to happen to us?
PRINCESS: Why should anything happen to you?
POLLY: Well, things have changed, haven't they?
(The Princess looks around the room in confusion.)
PRINCESS: No. The Tardis is the same as its always been.
POLLY: No, I mean, us.
PRINCESS: What, have you and Vicki changed?
BEN: Who's Vicki?
PRINCESS: That's not you?
BEN: No!
PRINCESS: Rats.
DOCTOR: We've been materialised for some time now. I think it's time we went for a stroll.
PRINCESS: Oh, yes, that sounds like fun!
(The Princess eagerly gets up, and activates the door controls, the wall to the console room opening up to reveal the outside world. Without thinking, the Doctor – who's still reading his diary – and the Princess go to leave.)
POLLY: But you don't know where we've landed!
BEN: No, you haven't checked the oxygen or the temperature or anything!
PRINCESS: Well, we can always find out the old-fashioned way.
BEN: And how's that?
(The Princess jumps out the doors and onto the surface of an alien world. She then quickly jumps back inside the Tardis.)
PRINCESS: Well, I'm not dead, so that's a start. Seems rather warm, however. And I think the air was breathable.
(The Doctor sniffs the air near the door. He then sticks his finger in his mouth, turns it around and holds it out the door before licking his finger once more.)
DOCTOR: Oxygen density one-seven-two, radiation nil, temperature 86. Strong suggestion of mercury deposits. Satisfied, Ben? Now, are you two coming or are you not?
(The Doctor walks out, back to reading his diary as the Princess skips after him. Outside the Tardis is a rocky environment. Pools of bubbling liquid are scattered around, and there's a dense mist all around, yet one can still see the looming rock formations all around. The Doctor walks off, reading his diary as he goes, with the Princess following and attempting to read over his shoulder.)
PRINCESS: Anything interesting?
DOCTOR: Yes.
PRINCESS: Like what?
DOCTOR: It's personal.
PRINCESS: Oh, come on.
DOCTOR: You want to reflect on your accounts, then keep your own diary.
PRINCESS: I'm not sure I like the idea of all that writing. Don't think I could be bothered reading it all again either. (Calling back) Are you two coming?!
POLLY: Yes!
DOCTOR: Remind them to close the door.
PRINCESS: Remember to close the door!
POLLY: Will do!
(The Doctor and Princess continue on, coming to a small boulder.)
PRINCESS: Oh, hello.
(The boulder does not respond.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor, whisper) I don't think he can speak.
DOCTOR: (Chuckling) Well, of course he can't, he hasn't got a mouth.
(The Doctor takes out a marker and draws a face on the boulder. The Princess giggles.)
DOCTOR: There we are!
PRINCESS: There's just one thing.
(The Princess snatches the Doctor's top hat off him and puts it on the boulder.)
PRINCESS: What'd ya think?
DOCTOR: (Moodily) I think it looks better on me.
(The Princess giggles again as the Doctor takes back his hat. The Doctor then takes out a measuring tape and begins to measure the boulder.)
DOCTOR: Interesting… Rock formation is slightly different on this planet, compared to Earth. (Grinning) Care to help me with a few more tests?
PRINCESS: How would I do that?
(The Doctor grins mischievously, before he leaps over the boulder. The Princess, smiling widely, then does the same. The two begin to play around the boulder, chasing each other around and jumping over it and hiding behind it like they're children. But then, from within the mist…)
MAN: Hello?
(The Doctor and Princess look at each other, curiously frowning. They approach a rock formation and peer over it, seeing a man on the other side. He's dressed in a suit and looking around, unable to make anything out through the mist.)
MAN: Hello? Is there anyone there?
PRINCESS: Yes… (Quietly) Oops.
MAN: Who was that?
PRINCESS: Us.
(The Princess climbs, not so eloquently, over the rock formation along with the Doctor. Dusting themselves off, the Doctor and Princess approach the man.)
MAN: Ah, so you've come at last. I'm from Earth. I'm the Examiner–
(A gun is fired from within the mist and the man collapses to the ground, dead. The Doctor pulls the Princess down, who yelps as both hit the ground next to the dead man.)
PRINCESS: (Hissing) What are you doing?!
DOCTOR: (Hissing) Shh!
(From the ground, the Doctor peers through the mist, but can't see anyone.)
DOCTOR: Whoever fired that shot might still be around.
PRINCESS: Yes, but that's no excuse to lie on top of me, get off!
(The Princess pushes the Doctor off her, before she then gets up on her knees. She crawls over to the dead man and checks for a pulse.)
PRINCESS: He's dead.
DOCTOR: I wonder who he was?
(The Princess removes a badge from the man's lapel.)
PRINCESS: According to this, he was a, 'Earth Examiner,' and he's was, 'Accorded every access.' Why would you need a man to examine the Earth? And how's he going to do it all the way out here?
(The Princess hands the Doctor the badge. He puts on his glasses but cannot read the badge as it is blurry. After removing his glasses, he sees fine however.)
DOCTOR: He must be from Earth.
PRINCESS: Ah, an examiner from Earth. That makes more sense.
DOCTOR: Vulcan.
PRINCESS: I'm sorry.
DOCTOR: That's what the badge says.
PRINCESS: Could that be where we are?
(The Princess searches through the man's pockets.)
DOCTOR: Perhaps.
PRINCESS: Oh, look, he's got another badge.
DOCTOR: Twinsies.
(The Doctor chuckles and the Princess' giggles at the joke, both putting on the badges they've acquired. Neither of them aware of the man sneaking up behind them, with a pistol in hand.)
BEN: (In the distance, alarmed) Hey, Doctor, Princess wherever you are! Quick, there's something happening to Polly!
(The Doctor and Princess look up, as the man with the pistol comes closer.)
PRINCESS: He sounds worried. We'd better see what's happened.
(The Princess stands up, but before the Doctor can, he's hit on the head by the man with the pistol. Hearing the Doctor hit the ground, the Princess looks down and sees the Doctor unconscious. But before she can see his attacker, she too is knocked out.)
QUINN: (Distant) Hello? Hello? Can you hear me.
(The Princess groans, coming too. Someone is knelt over her, but they're too distorted to make out. The Princess reaches up to touch her forehead.)
PRINCESS: Oh…my head…
QUINN: You're awake. Good. How do you feel?
(The Princess' hand moves up her head. She can now see the man with her more clearly. The man – Quinn – is dressed in white overalls that resemble a hazmat suit, with a tight hood pulls up around his head. Only his face is exposed to the elements, and he has a pair of goggles resting on his forehead.)
PRINCESS: Wh… Wh…
QUINN: Water? I've got some–
(The Princess shakes her head.)
PRINCESS: Wh…Where…Where's my hat?
QUINN: (Surprised) It…uh… It's here.
(Quinn hands the Princess her top hat, which fell off.)
PRINCESS: Thank you.
(The Princess puts her top hat back on.)
PRINCESS: What happened?
QUINN: I found you and your friend just a moment ago.
(Another man comes out of the mist behind Quinn, dressed in the same attire.)
PRINCESS: Look out!
(Quinn looks back but relaxes.)
QUINN: Oh, don't worry, he's with me.
(The man – Bragen – approaches them.)
BRAGEN: Ah, Quinn, there you are. What have you got there?
QUINN: Two examiners.
PRINCESS: Examiners…? Oh, yes!
BRAGEN: My people have found two more bodies by one of the pools.
PRINCESS: Oh, that'll be our friends, Ben and Polly.
BRAGEN: You brought friends?
PRINCESS: Of course, it wouldn't be as fun otherwise.
BRAGEN: (To Quinn) Is she, all right?
(Quinn is examining the Doctor for injuries.)
QUINN: She got a nasty bump on the back of the head, same as this one.
BRAGEN: Well, that explains it.
PRINCESS: Does it? Oh, I am glad.
QUINN: Probably fell over their feet and knocked themselves out.
PRINCESS: No, that's not what happened.
BRAGEN: Then what did happen?
PRINCESS: I'm not sure. One minute I'm getting up to go and help my friends, the next…poof!
BRAGEN: Poof?
PRINCESS: It's a technician term. For lights out.
QUINN: And you have no idea what caused this?
PRINCESS: Well…
(The Princess sees the Doctor is conscious, his eyes open. However, Bragen and Quinn don't see this. The Doctor, while playing possum, subtly shakes his head at the Princess.)
PRINCESS: I'm not sure. Like I said, I can't remember anything after hearing my friends call out for help.
QUINN: Maybe you got up too fast and slipped.
BRAGEN: I suppose so.
QUINN: There is a reason we send you kits for these things, you know.
PRINCESS: I don't see how a magic kit is going to help with this.
QUINN: Magic kit, what are you–
PRINCESS: (To Bragen) You mentioned my friends, how are they?
BRAGEN: They've both been hit with a bad dose of fumes from the pools. The girl's unconscious, the boy's not far behind her.
PRINCESS: Will they be all right?
BRAGEN: Yes, they'll recover. Here come my men now.
(From out of the mist, step two guards. One his carrying Polly bridal style while Ben walks, supported by the other, hunched over and coughing.)
PRINCESS: (Playful scolding) Ben, have you been breathing in something you should?
(Ben has a coughing fit.)
PRINCESS: I'll take that as a yes.
QUINN: (To Bragen) These comic opera guards of yours do have some uses after all.
BRAGEN: I pick them for their physical fitness.
QUINN: I thought it wasn't for their IQ. (To Princess) Do you need a hand, that bump–
PRINCESS: Oh, that, it'll be gone now.
QUINN: Don't be silly, it can't…
(The Princess removes her hat and allows Quinn to look at the back over her head.)
QUINN: (Astonished) But…But it's gone. But how could–
(The Princess puts her top hat back on.)
PRINCESS: Magic. (Muttering) And a little leftover energy.
QUINN: What was that?
PRINCESS: I said, aren't you going to help my friend here?
QUINN: Yes, of course. (To guard) You give the girl to me, then you can both carry the examiner there.
PRINCESS: I don't think it'll take two of them to carry me, I'm more than willing to walk.
QUINN: Not you, (Pointing to Doctor) the other examiner.
PRINCESS: The other examiner? Oh, him! Yes, that makes sense.
(Quinn and Bragen share bewildered looks. Quinn then takes Polly, and the two guards go to pick up the Doctor, the Princess goes to Ben, who is no longer coughing as badly.)
PRINCESS: How do you feel, Ben?
BEN: (Coughing) Oh… My throat…
QUINN: Don't worry, we'll get you something to drink once we get back. That should help relax your throat.
BEN: Cheers… But who are you…?
QUINN: Apologises. I'm Quinn, Deputy Governor.
BRAGEN: Bragen, Head of Security.
QUINN: Right, let's get a move on.
(Quinn begins to lead the way, carrying Polly, with the two guards following, carrying the Doctor in between them.)
BRAGEN: (To Princess & Ben) I suppose you Earth people can't wait to examine Lesterson's space capsule?
PRINCESS: Oh, yes, very excited, aren't we, Ben?
BEN: Eh…?
PRINCESS: Yes, good point, Ben. (To Bragen) What space capsule would that be?
BRAGEN: …The one Lesterson found.
PRINCESS: Ah, so it's finders keepers?
QUINN: (Calling) Come on, Bragen.
BRAGEN: We should get going.
(Bragen goes to move, but the Princess puts her arm out in front of him.)
PRINCESS: Can you feel it?
BRAGEN: (Annoyed) Feel what?
PRINCESS: That overwhelming sense of evil. I felt it before back in the…
BRAGEN: Look, I haven't time for this nonsense, either come with us now or stay out here, either way, I'm leaving.
(Bragen storms off after Quinn and the others.)
PRINCESS: (Distant) Extermination.
BEN: Here, we best get after them. We don't want to lose Polly and…
PRINCESS: No, quite right, Ben, quite right. Come on.
(The Princess skips off after the others, with Ben coughing once again as he follows from behind.)
(Later on, in comfortable room with chairs, a table and beds, the Doctor is sat cross-legged on the bed playing his recorder. The Princess, Polly and Ben are sat at the table, with the Princess holding a deck of cards.)
PRINCESS: (To Polly) Is…this your card?
(The Princess takes the top card off the deck and shows it to Polly.)
POLLY: No.
PRINCESS: Huh? (Draws another card) What about this one?
POLLY: Still no.
(The Princess taps on the deck of cards with her knuckles.)
PRINCESS: Is there something wrong with these?
BEN: Can we get back to what happened in that swamp?
PRINCESS: If you like.
BEN: So, you took those badges off the man that you met.
POLLY: Only after he'd been murdered.
(The Doctor stops playing his tune and plays two notes in quick succession – yes.)
BEN: And you didn't see who shot him?
(The Princess cuts the deck in half and picks another card.)
PRINCESS: (To Polly) What about this, is this your card?
BEN: Will you stop asking her about those stupid cards.
PRINCESS: You keep asking about what happened in the swamp.
BEN: That's different, this is serious.
PRINCESS: And I'm serious about getting this trick right. What was your card, Polly?
POLLY: Two of hearts.
(The Princess begins looking through the deck for the two of hearts.)
BEN: Oh, what's the point.
POLLY: (Holding out a button) The Doctor did wake up to find this button in his hand though.
PRINCESS: That wasn't your card was it?
BEN: Oh, for crying out loud!
PRINCESS: It's just I can't find the two of hearts anywhere.
BEN: I don't know why we don't just go back to the Tardis.
PRINCESS: But we've only just got here, Ben. We haven't had a proper look around yet.
POLLY: Does that mean you're going to let them think you're the real Examiner?
(The Doctor plays the same two notes as before.)
POLLY: Won't that be dangerous?
(The Doctor plays the same two notes again.)
BEN: Look, why don't you stop blowing that thing and talk to us properly?!
POLLY: Ben!
BEN: Now don't you start. It's bad enough with the two of them.
POLLY: They haven't done anything.
BEN: No, that's just the trouble!
(Ben snatches the recorder from the Doctor, who scowls like an angry child at him.)
BEN: They both know what happened back at the Tardis, yet will either of them tell us? Will either of them come out and say? Will they admit to being the Doctor and the Princess?
(Ben blows angrily into the recorder, making a horrible noise.)
PRINCESS: Are you really that interested in what happened?
BEN: Why else would we keep asking about it?!
PRINCESS: But didn't we already explain all this?
BEN: No, you didn't.
POLLY: It wasn't very clear, Princess, no.
PRINCESS: Well, you seem to understand, Polly.
(The Princess gets up and goes to Ben.)
PRINCESS: Would it make you feel better if I said I was the Princess and that that man there is the Doctor, Ben?
BEN: Well…yeah, I suppose.
PRINCESS: All right. I'm the Princess and that man there is the Doctor. Happy.
(With a smile, the Princess takes the recorder from Ben and plays a merry tune.)
BEN: Hold on a minute, that doesn't explain–
(There's a knock at the door. The Princess stops playing the recorder, as a guard enters the room. Following the guard is a large man – Hensell – Bragen, and another guard.)
HENSELL: I am Hensell, the Governor. I trust you're all feeling much better.
PRINCESS: Oh, yes, much better, thank you.
HENSELL: If Earth had seen fit to warn us you were coming, we might possibly have been able to guide you down to the landing area.
(The Doctor gets up off the bed and stands alongside the Princess.)
DOCTOR: If Earth didn't warn you we were coming, Governor, they must have had a very good reason. I wonder what it was. (To Princess) Do you know?
PRINCESS: Can't say I do.
HENSELL: Now look here, I run this Colony. I'm entitled to know why you have come to Vulcan. What is your brief?
DOCTOR: We are the Examiners.
HENSELL: Both of you?
PRINCESS: That is why we both have badges.
HENSELL: Very well. Why are you both here?
DOCTOR: To examine. And we intend to start our examination at once.
(The Doctor steps forward and begins to examine Bragen's shirt.)
HENSELL: Someone's leaked reports about these Rebel groups. That's it, isn't it?
PRINCESS: It could be. On the other hand, it might be something else.
(The Doctor is now examining Hensell's shirt.)
BRAGEN: Like Lesterson's capsule.
HENSELL: Internal affairs are my business, Bragen. Please don't interfere.
PRINCESS: (To Bragen) Yes, you mentioned that before.
(The Doctor steps back, and watches Bragen.)
DOCTOR: Please go on, Governor.
HENSELL: Oh, very well. It was found in a mercury swamp. It must have been here for centuries.
DOCTOR: Interesting. Continue.
HENSELL: For centuries before the Earth colony arrived. I felt it might be dangerous. It might contain bacteria.
DOCTOR: We shall examine the capsule later. You may leave us.
(The Doctor goes back to sit on the bed, taking his recorder from the Princess as he does.)
HENSELL: I shall look forward to your report. Bragen, see that the Examiner and his party get some proper clothes, will you?
PRINCESS: (Frowning) We are wearing proper clothes.
HENSELL: Yes, well…
POLLY: Actually, I wouldn't mind a change.
BEN: Aye, I'll go for some too if your offering.
PRINCESS: All right, two sets of your finest clothes.
HENSELL: See to it, Bragen.
(Hensell, Bragen, and the guards leave the room, the door shutting behind them. With them gone, the Doctor starts playing his recorder again.)
BEN: (Muttering) Oh, how did he get that thing back again. (To Doctor) That was a bit of a cheek, wasn't it, seeing if the Governor was the guy you got the button off?
PRINCESS: Well, we had to be sure, however unlikely.
POLLY: Doctor? When he was talking to you, you were staring at the other man.
DOCTOR: Yes, very rude of me, wasn't it? Terrible manners.
PRINCESS: I hope you're not rude now.
DOCTOR: As do I.
(The Doctor leans in, and the others do the same.)
DOCTOR: (Quietly) To tell you the truth, I was studying his reaction, seeing if he agreed with the story.
BEN: Did he?
DOCTOR: Yes.
PRINCESS: We must have a look at that capsule.
DOCTOR: Why do you say that?
BEN: Now, you two want to watch you don't take this Examiner stuff a bit too far.
PRINCESS: It's just…a feeling.
DOCTOR: A premonition?
BEN: 'Cause at least one bloke ain't going to be fooled.
PRINCESS: Maybe. It's itching at the back of my head. Has done ever since–
BEN: Look, you're not going to fool the guy that did the real Examiner in!
DOCTOR: Yes, but he can't reveal that information without explaining what happened to the real examiner, can he?
BEN: Well…I suppose not…
PRINCESS: Cheer up, Ben. We've got a whole planet to explore.
POLLY: The whole planet?!
PRINCESS: Oh, all right, maybe just this colony then. And that capsule…
(The Doctor starts playing a merry tune once again.)
(Later on, the Doctor, Princess, Polly and Ben have been taken to a laboratory. Polly and Ben are stood with others present – Hensell, Bragen, Lesterson, who is a scientist in a lab coat, and his assistant Janley. The Doctor and Princess at stood a bit way from the group, next to a strange alien ship. One so big, it takes up half the laboratory and seems to go through the wall into another room. The Doctor is looking over the capsule with his magnifying glass, while the Princess has put on a set of white gloves and is running her hands over the surface. Both are focused, with hard thinking frowns on their features.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor, quietly) Does it seem…familiar.
DOCTOR: (Quietly) Yes. Yes, it does.
(The Princess looks back to those watching from across the room, all with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion. The Princess' eyes then drift however, and spot something on one of the desks. Without hesitation, she hurries over to it and picks it up. It's an identical piece of metal to the one the Princess found in the Tardis before.)
PRINCESS: (To Lesterson) Where did you get this?
(Lesterson comes over to join the Princess, as does the Doctor, who also takes note of the piece of metal.)
LESTERSON: It dropped form the capsule.
DOCTOR: Dropped?
LESTERSON: Yes, when it was being hauled into the laboratory. It was a rather clumsy job, had to have walls knock down and then rebuilt around it to keep it sheltered. At the moment we only see this section of the capsule, but it's far bigger than you might think, I can assure you.
PRINCESS: (Staring at the piece of metal) We believe you.
LESTERSON: You see it, don't you?
DOCTOR: See what?
LESTERSON: That this metal could revolutionise space travel. That's why I'm insisting that we open up the capsule. Well, who knows what other marvels there may be inside?
HENSELL: But, Lesterson, I didn't think you could open it.
(Lesterson leaves the Princess and Doctor and goes over to the capsule. As he then speaks, Polly and Ben step over to join the Doctor and Princess, noticing their fixation on the piece of metal.)
LESTERSON: (To Hensell) Well, I have a theory. I'm convinced that the opening mechanism on the other side is either here, or here.
PRINCESS: (To herself) Extermination.
DOCTOR: (Quietly) It's here, isn't it?
PRINCESS: (Quietly) Yes. This is what I foresaw.
POLLY: (Quietly) You mean you knew all this–!
DOCTOR: Shh, Polly. We'll explain later.
LESTERSON: (Continuing) Now, my theory is that I can insert a laser ray in this ridge here. The ray spreads, fuses the opening device and gets us in.
HENSELL: Examiners, I shall have to make it your responsibility.
PRINCESS: Absolutely not.
LESTERSON: But…But…
PRINCESS: You said it yourself, Governor. There's no telling what kind of dangers might be in there. If you ask me, we should leave it locked up and throw it back where you found it.
LESTERSON: That's out of the question!
DOCTOR: Yes, I do think you're being a bit rash, my dear. Let's just see if he can get it open first.
LESTERSON: Thank you. At least one of you is reasonable.
(Lesterson begins setting up his laser device.)
PRINCESS: (To Doctor, hissing) We know what's in there, we can't–
DOCTOR: (Hissing) We don't know for certain.
PRINCESS: Yes, we do! My premonition.
DOCTOR: We have to be certain, Princess. And if they are in there, then we need to get in and find out if they're still alive. And if they are–
PRINCESS: If they are, they'll try and exterminate us all!
DOCTOR: They'll try. But if they are in there plotting something, then we must know what, if we are to stop them.
PRINCESS: Oh…Fine. You win.
DOCTOR: Thank you. (To Lesterson) Whenever you're ready.
(Lesterson holds the laser up to the side of the capsule and activates it, letting out a wave of rippling light towards the wall. Nothing happens.)
LESTERSON: Well, we'll try the other side.
(Lesterson uses the laser on the other side. And this time there's an audible click, before the door begins to slide open.)
PRINCESS: Keep back, everyone!
LESTERSON: What on Earth for?
DOCTOR: She's right, we don't know what's in there. I'll go in, the rest of you stay back.
(The Doctor begins walking towards the capsule.)
LESTERSON: Not without me, you won't.
(Lesterson storms past the Doctor, bumping him in the shoulder as he does and strides into the capsule with the Doctor behind him. They both enter a small room, containing another door leading further into the capsule, but it's closed.)
LESTERSON: Hmm… It's a bit disappointing.
DOCTOR: Not really. This is just an entry bay, isn't it.
LESTERSON: Yes…I suppose so.
DOCTOR: It's all right. Nothing in here.
(The Princess pokes her head through, before then entering and looking around. She shivers, as everyone else gathers by the door into the capsule to see inside.)
HENSELL: Well, this doesn't get us very far, does it?
PRINCESS: Nonsense, you could spend decades examining this room alone. No need to go any further.
LESTERSON: Don't be preposterous, the real mystery lies beyond this door.
HENSELL: Well, shall we proceed, Lesterson?
LESTERSON: Getting into the rest of the capsule will take time, Governor.
BEN: Well, can't you use that torch thing again?
LESTERSON: I should have to measure it up and find out where the lock mechanism is.
(The Princess eyes Lesterson suspiciously.)
DOCTOR: I think we'll leave if for tonight.
PRINCESS: Yes, that seems wise.
DOCTOR: As the examiner said, you have plenty in here to occupy you for tonight.
HENSELL: Leave it for tonight? But what did we come here for?
PRINCESS: Have you forgotten? We came to examine this capsule. And we have.
HENSELL: But you've barely done anything.
DOCTOR: This is our decision, Governor.
HENSELL: But good heavens above, man–
DOCTOR: (To Lesterson) A hundred years you say this has been buried?
LESTERSON: Oh, at least. Now, there must be something in the inner compartment. We shall be able to find out where it came from originally.
(The Princess, Doctor and Lesterson step out of the capsule and back into the laboratory with the rest of the group.)
PRINCESS: It didn't come from this planet Vulcan.
LESTERSON: Oh no, no, no. The metal is quite alien.
DOCTOR: (Quietly) Alien, yes. Very alien.
PRINCESS: (Quietly) You have no idea how alien.
LESTERSON: I'm sorry?
DOCTOR: She's tired, it's been a long day, if you'd excuse us.
PRINCESS: Goodnight.
(The Doctor and Princess exist the laboratory, with Polly and Ben following them out.)
(That night, while Ben and Polly are sleeping on the beds in the room provided for them, the Doctor is sat on his bed cross-legged. The Princess is sat on her bed, also cross-legged, but her eyes are closed, and her top hat sits between her legs. As the Doctor stares across at her, fingers moving on the recorder, but without actually playing it, the Princess' eyes open. The Doctor nods, and the Princess nods back. Donning her hat, the Princess stands up, while the Doctor pockets his recorder and does the same. The Doctor goes towards the door and the Princess follows, but before the Doctor can open the door, the Princess grabs him by the arm. She then points to Ben and Polly who are sleeping. The Doctor shakes his head. The Princess frowns, stamps her foot and continues to point at Ben and Polly. The Doctor continues to shake his head, before opening the door and stepping out. When the Princess doesn't follow, he waves his hand for her to do so, before continuing on down the corridor. The Princess remains in the room, looking back at Ben and Polly. She then has an idea, pulling out her deck of cards from her jacket pocket. With a flick of the wrist she sends one card flying over to Polly, bouncing it off her face.)
POLLY: (Sleepily) Wha…?
(The Princess is already gone. But she has left behind a card in the doorframe which keeps it jammed open. As the Princess goes down the corridor to join a waiting Doctor, she drops a card, leaving a trail.)
DOCTOR: You woke them up, didn't you?
PRINCESS: They should know. They're our friends.
DOCTOR: Are they?
PRINCESS: Yes, they are.
(The Doctor is silent for a moment.)
DOCTOR: Come on.
(The Doctor and Princess continue on, and as they go, the Princes drops the occasional card on the floor, marking a trail for Polly and Ben to follow. And they do follow it, with Polly picking up the cards as they do. Before long, the Doctor and Princess reach their destination. Lesterson's laboratory. They both peak their heads in through the door. There's no one there, the lights are off. But light comes from the open door leading into the capsule. The Doctor and Princess enter the laboratory, and then cross the room to the capsule.)
PRINCESS: Do you have that piece of metal?
DOCTOR: I have both of them.
(The Doctor holds up the two identical pieces of metal. From behind, they hear the door to the laboratory open, but they don't look back, knowing it's Polly and Ben. Instead, the Doctor enters the capsule, with the Princess following. Inside, the Doctor approaches the door leading further into the capsule. Polly and Ben approach, lingering in the door way as they watch. The Doctor then pushes the piece of metal form the laboratory into a hidden opening next to the door. With a click, the door slides open. Polly goes to step into the capsule–)
PRINCESS: No, Polly. Stay back until we say otherwise.
(Polly backs up, as the Doctor steps through the door, into a dusty and dark room. But within the dark room, two shapes are very clear. Tall like metal structures, with domes for heads, and lowered eyestalks. With deadly weapons and strange suckers for hands. Two lifeless Daleks are in the room, with cobwebs covering and joining them together.)
PRINCESS: Are they?
DOCTOR: It's all right. Polly, Ben, come in and meet the Daleks.
BEN: What?
DOCTOR: The Daleks.
(The Princess leads Polly and Ben into the dusty room. Unable to see clearly, Polly steps closer towards to the two lifeless Daleks.)
PRINCESS: Not to close, Polly.
(Suddenly one of the Dalek's suckers drops, making Polly yelp. But after catching her breath, she realises something.)
POLLY: (To Doctor & Princess) You could have opened this door before.
PRINCESS: True, but then Lesterson would have been buzzing like a bee all over the Daleks. We can't let that happen.
POLLY: But how did you know how to open the door?
DOCTOR: (Holding up the two pieces of metal) These two pieces of metal are identical. The Doctor got one of them from the Daleks himself.
BEN: Why do you keep saying the Doctor if you mean you?
POLLY: So…you've met these things before?
DOCTOR: Many times now.
PRINCESS: And we knew we'd find them here. Well, I knew. I foresaw it.
(Ben approaches the Daleks for a closer look.)
BEN: Ah, they look harmless. Not very lively.
PRINCESS: Ben, keep back from them.
(Ben backs up, as told.)
POLLY: (To Ben) Well, two hundred years in a swamp and you wouldn't look very lively either. Nothing could live through that, could it?
BEN: No, guess not.
DOCTOR: Nothing human, no.
PRINCESS: Stop, no body move.
BEN: What are you–
PRINCESS: I said no body move!
(Everyone stands still, as the Princess looks down at the floor.)
PRINCESS: There's a Dalek missing.
BEN: What are you talking about–
PRINCESS: (Pointing to the floor) Look!
(They look down, seeing an outline for the base of a Dalek in the dust.)
DOCTOR: She's right. There were three Daleks in here.
PRINCESS: But does that mean this one was alive?
DOCTOR: No. No, I'm certain it was–
BEN: Doctor!
(Ben has spotted something. Polly, seeing it too, yelps, covering her mouth. The Doctor and Princess turn to look, catching sight of some mutated creature scurrying across the floor, slithering around in the shadows, before vanishing from sight…)