Track 1: Ep7 Preview (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 2: Blake and Schofield (1917 OST)
Track 3: Governors Revealed (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 4: Femi (The Last Tree OST)
Track 5: 1917 (1917 OST)
Track 6: Routine Checks (The Last Tree OST)
Track 7: London (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 8: Cleaner Skin (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 9: April's Theme (Class Series 1 OST)
Track 10: The Crystal and the TARDIS (Doctor Who The Edge of Time OST)
Track 11: Doctor, The Doctor 0:26 - 1:02 (Doctor Who Series 12 OST)
Track 12: Tournament of Shadows 0:00 - 1:13 (Ripper Street OST)
Track 13: You've Heard Our Decision (An Inspector Calls OST)
Track 14: You Really Need To Get Out Of Those Clothes (Doctor Who Series 11 OST)
Track 15: Superior Minds 0:00 - 1:56 (Doctor Who Series 12 OST)
1 INT. TARDIS
[Track 1: Ep7 Preview] The orange wall lights are throbbing, the wires pulsating and shivering over them. Zach is struggling to find a safe place to stand, but the TARDIS seems to be buffeted randomly. The Doctor is hanging onto the console whilst trying to press, turn, push and pull buttons, knobs and switches.
ZACH
Are we under attack?
DOCTOR
Not us. Not really. Earth… Maybe.
ZACH
A bit more information. And is there something safe I can hang onto?
DOCTOR
There are belts that pull from the console. If you can help me into one first I might be able…
Zach is good on his feet. He gets over to the Doctor as she gropes under the console. It seems to have a fitting like a seat belt. Zach wraps himself around the Doctor, almost like a parent to a child, as he secures her. Once he has, he lets go and moves to buckle himself to the console, but at a bit of a distance from the Doctor. The noise and the burning, arcing and buffeting of the TARDIS comes back into focus.
DOCTOR
It's a paradox embolism. An alternative Earth future trying to bootstrap itself into existence. The TARDIS, she's against it.
Zach is looking pale and uncomfortable. He is being shook around, his sense of balance hopelessly lost.
ZACH
I feel sick. Where's the toilet again?
DOCTOR
Bit of an emergency going on, right now. This paradox seeks to be, to want to live, really strongly. Your own timeline could cease to exist.
He looks a bit uncomfortable, shifting from side to side. [Track 1 ends]
2 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
[Track 2: Blake and Schofield] The TARDIS shudders intermittently into existence roaring like elephants in distress. The sound is uncomfortable. The TARDIS is in pain. The Doctor steps out first. She is fully dressed for the harsh cold: darkest blue, full length coat, full length trousers and stout boots. Zach has also dressed in clothes that are, at least a costume designer's nod at the era and practical for the conditions. However, he's still shivering in the snow that has fallen upon a damaged city street - deserted, with rubble and fallen structures littering it.
DOCTOR
The usual brief is an anomaly hunt. Split up and quickly cover the ground.
The Doctor gives Zach a device which seems to be magnifying glass with a thicker handle. The lens rotates flashing violet and green as the Doctor hands it to Zach.
ZACH
I think we should stick together.
DOCTOR
You could be right. That whole splitting up thing never seems to go well. You can use the Focus Anachronistic Reality Tester.
He chuckles.
ZACH
You realise what the acronym for that is?
Zach holds the device up to his nose.
ZACH
Ooh, smells of almonds.
The Doctor is not listening. Zach physically relaxes, the Doctor is a mate. You can have a laugh.
DOCTOR
We need to just move in any direction and the FAR… The device should construct triangulation from accumulated signals.
They huddle a bit closer as they walk down the streets. He finds a damp newspaper resting on what used to be a window, now reduced to shards of glass and brick. He picks it up.
ZACH
Oh, here. 1854. Sevastopol Times.
DOCTOR
That's not encouraging. 1854… This time, this location, puts us roughly in the Crimean War. Not great when we're looking for temporal anomalies.
He glances around.
ZACH
So this is the Crimean War. I've heard the name, but never learned anything about it at school.
DOCTOR
History records it as "notoriously incompetent international butchery". One of the first wars to use more modern weaponry. Sevastopol's under siege. There's a lack of food, lack of fuel. Suffering as much for those in the city as outside. The war was considered an iconic symbol of logistical, medical, and tactical failures - and mismanagement.
ZACH
Did they lose?
DOCTOR
Fortunately not, but really the Russian losses inspired them to rationalise and modernise. By losing they became more Nationalistic. It's a point where modern warfare, modern medicine and the status of European powers all changed.
ZACH
But what can we do? The two of us. You say the whole city is under siege.
DOCTOR
It depends on who and how the alternate future is reaching into the past. Into the now… Since this is a conflict zone I'm guessing it's a military force, perhaps targeted assaination or a big bomb. It can only be a couple of people; one trying to alter something, one trying to keep something the same.
ZACH
How do you know?
DOCTOR
It's the Blinovitch Double Jeopardy..
ZACH
Okay. You need to unpack that spiel into straight talk.
Snow begins to fall. Pale faces ghost behind upstairs windows. The wind is light, but twisty the windows of half boarded up shops rattle and scratch. Zach moves close to the Doctor, gradually sweeping the device back and forth.
DOCTOR
What happens is someone develops simple backwards time travel. Fortunately sentience is required for time travel. You can't just send back a bomb, a disease or a murdering unstoppable robot.
ZACH
Why not?
DOCTOR
Good question. Top of the class. Very good question as no one really knows why. I call the TARDIS she. Not out of affection. Though I love the TARDIS, don't get me wrong. The TARDIS is sentient, like the Hand of Omega, the Silver Nemesis and the Moment.
Zach frowns at these names.
DOCTOR
Only sentience can travel through time. That's partly why time travel is hard to achieve, you can't send an object, a robot or an animal to test it - someone has to risk themselves.
ZACH
What about the Blino double thingy?
DOCTOR
The Blinovitch Double Jeopardy? She was a smart lady, Blinovitch, loads of time travel terms defined by her. Basically, someone goes back in time to prevent something usually this is the Destiny Paradox - you become part of history, because you always were part of history and nothing is changed. This is mostly what happens when we arrive somewhere in the TARDIS.
ZACH
So we always do what we did in the past or the future?
DOCTOR
Yep.
The Doctor stops. Zach stops too, lowering the device, and takes some deep frosty breath. His face shows he is not happy with what he sees around him.
ZACH
No. I choose what I do. You only live once. The situation never means I have no choice. You only get one chance that's all.
The Doctor looks intently at Zach with eyes that, briefly, seem to be the gateway to infinity.
DOCTOR
Most philosophers and theologians tie themselves in knots with that question.
Zach squirms uncomfortably under the Doctor's gaze.
ZACH
So Blino, what's her face. Blino…
DOCTOR
Blinovitch.
ZACH
Her Double Jeopardy.
DOCTOR
Right. When someone goes back to change something, someone else goes back to stop them. The double jeopardy thing is that the ones who want to change something are nearly always locked in a Destiny Trap, but the double jeopardy bit is that the ones who go back to stop a change being made can cause the change they went back to stop.
Zach brushes some snow off the device and sweeps it about again as they resume walking.
ZACH
You think two sets of time travellers are here, because you said in the TARDIS that a new timeline strongly wants to live?
DOCTOR
Well usually I pop up in the TARDIS and it becomes a fixed point. I, or we, me and you in this case, sort things out and make things right. However many time travellers are trying to do whatever they are trying to do.
ZACH
But this time the TARDIS did not want to come here.
DOCTOR
Exactly. This time the TARDIS does not think we can fix this.
The Doctor's eyes are really bright. A bone deep grin is on her face.
ZACH
You are really pumped about this!
DOCTOR
Sorry. Can't help myself. Actually I can. Like you said I can choose. I don't know if we can do it right here. We should leave.
At that moment the device in Zach's hand starts spinning and chirping. The Doctor pulls out her sonic and confirms the reading.
DOCTOR
This way.
She runs off and Zach follows. He catches her quite easily.
DOCTOR
You're… athletic!
The Doctor seems slightly out of breath.
ZACH
School run, you know. I literally run home. You know what it's like walking with little kids. Actually, maybe you don't.
DOCTOR
Oh, no. I do.
She wanders off. [Track 2 ends]
ZACH
What, are you a parent?
DOCTOR
I think it's in the next street.
[Track 3: Governors Revealed 0:00 - 0:53] The Doctor seems to recover her breath and puts a spurt on. Zach slips a bit on the ice as he ups the pace to catch up. Right in the middle of the next street is a crouched figure hazing in and out of existence in a bubble of energy. The snow is heavier, but where it touches the energy bubble it becomes steam.
ZACH
What the hell is that?
DOCTOR
Careful, let me...
The Doctor holds out her arm to slow him as they get nearer. There is a young woman inside, only a young girl, she is writhing in agony. Her flailing, gloved hand touches the energy and smokes. She screams trying to get it off her hand.
There is a large flash of light, and once Zach's vision has readjusted, he notices the bubble has stopped steaming, snow is going through now, but the hazing and arcing is more violent. The girl starts rocking, her pain seems worse.
ZACH
We have to get her out now.
The Doctor is looking around desperately.
DOCTOR
We need something metal. Anything metal.
Without thought or hesitation Zach steps forward and puts the Doctor's F.A.R.T device into the bubble.
DOCTOR
No…!
The bubble disappears. But the hazing is now everywhere. Time seems to stream out away from Zach and the girl frozen. The Doctor still manages to move trying to reach Zach.
FADE TO WHITE:
3 INT. ZACH AND SHONA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The lighting is warm. This is a memory. Zach has his arms about his wife Shona. They are both so young looking down into the cot on their daughter.
ZACH
Sleeping at last.
SHONA
She's a fighter. She wants this life. I don't want to go back to the hospital.
ZACH
You must. Get well for our daughter. Get strong for her. For us.
SHONA
Are you happy? None of this was planned.
Zach gently holds Shona's face to his own. There is so much love in his eyes.
ZACH
This is the best thing that has happened in my life. Our daughter, Deisha lives.
She smiles gently. [Track 3 ends]
FADE TO WHITE:
4 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
The beds are narrow and close together, the sheets are grey. The blankets are coarse and inadequate. Zach wakes from a fevered dream. His eyes open and he is staring. A lady holding a lamp is gently walking from patient to patient. Her light falls across Zach's terrified face.
ROLL TITLES
5 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - DAY
[Track 4: Femi] Young nurses rush about the rough and damp hospital ward. Despite the squalor that they are in, the nurses are relatively clean. Zach is mumbling and turning, sweating.
ZACH
I, Deisha…
The young nurse pulls Zach into the center of the narrow bed, straightens the sheets and plumps his pillow. Another nurse joins her, she holds an earthen jug and hands her a sponge which she dips in and mops Zach's brow.
MARY
He seems cooler.
Zach jerks upright, grabbing the sister's arm.
MARY
That's fine. Just relax. Please let go.
Zach does, his eyes pulling into focus.
ZACH
Where am I?
MARY
You are at Selimiye Barracks in Scutari.
ZACH
But I was in... Sevastopol. The Doctor…
ALISON
You were very lucky they smuggled you out.
The nurses both look to sheets hung round on a makeshift frame isolating the next bed.
ZACH
Is it the girl?
MARY
Lie back now and rest. Nightingale will want to see you now you are awake.
ZACH
Have I been asleep long?
MARY
Nearly a month.
ZACH
No. I can't just be in bed a month.
Zach holds Mary's arm struggling to sit up again.
MARY
Please. You are weak, but your grip is quite strong.
Zach lets go and sits back. Mary mops his brow again.
ZACH
Is the Doctor here?
MARY
The doctors are very busy.
ALISON
Nightingale has taken special interest in you and...
Both nurses look superstitiously at the curtained off bed. Suddenly there's a flash and for a second the bed is visible through the thin curtaining sheets. The two nurses jolt away. Mary makes a clumsy 'sign of the cross' accidently dampening her uniform with the sponge she is still holding. [Track 4 ends]
ZACH
Hang on. Did you say Nightingale?
He raises an eyebrow.
6 INT. SPARSE, TINY, LOFT ROOM - NIGHT
[Track 5: 1917] The camera sweeps over the frozen empty streets, lit by a full moon. It goes to a small blacked out roof window and in towards the Doctor on a mattress on the attic floor, swaddled in blankets, a candle is nearly burnt out - it is wonky - clearly a candle made with wax salvaged from other candles. Despite her wrappings it looks like there's frost on the Doctor's face.
7 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
The TARDIS begins to roar like a tortured elephant. The blue box shakes off the snow almost angrily. Ice cracks off an explosion of glittering shards.
8 INT. SPARSE, TINY, LOFT ROOM - NIGHT
The Doctor jerks awake. She tries to writhe out of her blankets, then stands, trips and falls.
9 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
A young family is huddled round the dying embers of a tiny fire, all on the floor. Mother, Father and three young children, wrapped in whatever they could find. There is a blackened metal saucepan of weak broth right on the embers, but not able to boil. They look up at the noise from above… Fear in all their eyes.
10 INT. SPARSE, TINY, LOFT ROOM - NIGHT
The Doctor is still fully dressed, except her boots, as she gets to her feet, but her clothes are dishevelled, she looks thinner and pale, a scarecrow in the clothes. She flexes her fingers and slaps her own face, tries running on the spot, but her balance is all over the place. The hatch is pushed carefully open and the mother, Bronya, climbs cautiously up.
BRONYA
Careful please, quiet please.
The Doctor tries to speak, her mouth gurns and struggles, she slaps her own face again - hard this time briefly stunning herself .
DOCTOR
Ah, thas dunnnit. Hang ons owonce mer…
She smacks herself one final time, then shakes her head.
DOCTOR
That's okay. I'm okay now.
BRONYA
Please be quiet.
Curiously the head of one of the children peaks through the hatch, carefully passing an enamel cup of the weak broth upto her mother.
BRONYA
Drink.
Quiet and respectfully the Doctor takes it in her shaking hands and drinks. It dribbles down her chin, but she catches every precious drop with her fingers and licks them. The Doctor's left boot starts to vibrate and emits and emits orange glow.
DOCTOR
I can't thank you enough.
She hastily hands the mug back to Bronya, sits on the bare boards, pulls out her sonic.
DOCTOR
No. No. How long have I been unconscious? Hang on.
The Doctor licks her finger and moves her hand round as if searching for a breeze.
DOCTOR
2 weeks! I am so sorry. I have to go straightaway.
She heads down the ladder.
11 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
The Doctor comes into the room. The father and two children step back warily. Bronya and the other child follow the Doctor in.
DOCTOR
You must be the man of the house.
She shakes the dad's hand. He is nervous and looks to his wife for guidance. She nods it's all okay. The Doctor grabs the bent, rusty, poker and swings it in arcs like a sword. The dad steps back defensively and then notices that his wife and children are smiling, almost laughing, at the Doctor's antics. He smiles too and his face comes alive.
DOCTOR
I need to borrow this. I say borrow, but I mean, when I say borrow…
The elephantine roar of the TARDIS can now be heard, powerful low frequencies felt by all in their empty stomachs. The Doctor goes to Bronya frantically searching her pockets.
DOCTOR
Ah, take this. Thank you!
She rushes out, leaving a pack of custard creams in Bronya's hand. [Track 5 ends]
12INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
[Track 6: Routine Checks] Zach is out of bed, he has the sheets wrapped around him for warmth, so he can only shuffle. He is reaching out for the curtained off bed next to his. There is another spark from inside. Zach hesitates briefly, then steps through the curtain.
FADE TO WHITE:
13 INT. DEISHA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Deisha is in bed sitting up. Her Disney Princess dolls are on the bed. Zach is sitting beside the bed.
DEISHA
You know, I'm getting a little old for bedtime stories.
ZACH
You're never too old for bedtime stories.
Deisha looks at him with an exasperated expression, then smiles a little.
FADE TO WHITE:
14 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
Zach is studying the face of the girl from the time bubble. She is a child, not quite an adult, but her face is set hard - she has no peace even in unconsciousness. Behind Zach, a small slim nurse enters the curtained area.
NIGHTINGALE
You should stay in bed, sir.
ZACH
I wanted to see how she was.
NIGHTINGALE
Agents in Sevastopol got both of you out. A miracle really. But the bigger miracle is the both of you.
Florence turns down the sheet to show the girl's, Bela's, hand is a tracery of glittering electricity.
ZACH
Why do you think I am a miracle too?
Florence hands him something ironed and folded. Zach doesn't recognise it straight away.
ZACH
My T-Shirt?
NIGHTINGALE
The rest of your clothes were normal, but this undergarment is a strange design. It has a label; 85% Cotton, 15%... Viscose. What is Viscose?
ZACH
Some kind of plastic thread? I don't know.
NIGHTINGALE
You two are not from the same place. Her clothes were all of strange threads.
ZACH
I don't suppose they would use cotton in the future.
NIGHTINGALE
Do they have names in the 'future'?
ZACH
I'm Zach and you must be…
NIGHTINGALE
Florence. Florence Nightingale, sir.
Zach forms a big grin, as if in awe at the woman standing before her. He shakes her hand. [Track 6 ends]
15 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
The Doctor is running. It is quite awkward to run with a poker in your hand. As she runs via a junction, a couple of Russian soldiers, dressed in long beige trench coats and winter boots, see her. They are already nervous, because the roaring of the TARDIS is filling the streets. They do a double take and then unshoulder their rifles and give chase.
16 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - DAY
[Track 7: London] Florence and Zach have got some folding wood and canvas chairs. They are sitting at Bela's bedside.
NIGHTINGALE
This is the safest place to talk. The nurses are disturbed by this young lady's condition.
ZACH
And of course you aren't. You are a legend.
NIGHTINGALE
You flatter me. I'd like to know a bit more about my patient, sir, if that's okay? Where did you come from? That's a British accent, am I right?
ZACH
Yes. I can't believe I'm talking to you, this is mad.
NIGHTINGALE
Hm, perhaps you are.
ZACH
No, no. Promise I'm not.
NIGHTINGALE
You mention the future as if you have some knowledge about it… either you are mad or some heavenly creature.
ZACH
You're religious?
Florence is smiling though. Speaking gently, not taking or giving offence.
NIGHTINGALE
"God called me one morning and asked if I could do good for him, alone, without reputation." So I have dedicated myself to nursing.
ZACH
But you do have a reputation! The most famous nurse ever.
NIGHTINGALE
Do you know any stories about me?
ZACH
Errr. Well...
Florence is rocking on her chair in amusement.
NIGHTINGALE
Ah. I am humbled after all. Nothing, but an empty name.
ZACH
No you must have done lots of good to have your name remembered.
NIGHTINGALE
I do not know how to 'nurse' this young lady though.
ZACH
The Doctor, she said she needed….
NIGHTINGALE
You say she? A woman doctor?
ZACH
I don't think she's a medical doctor.
NIGHTINGALE
Are there women doctors in the future?
ZACH
Yes, though I don't think they're paid as much.
NIGHTINGALE
Do you know any famous women doctors?
ZACH
Er.. Not really. Doctor Finlay. There're reruns on Morning TV.
NIGHTINGALE
TV?
ZACH
You don't have TV yet? I'm really screwing up today. It's like a radio with pictures. Doctor Finlay is played by an actress, but there are thousands of real women doctors.
NIGHTINGALE
Sorry, I interrupted. You say there might be a cure?
ZACH
The Doctor. She calls herself the Doctor. She said we needed metal to get her out of the time bubble. I'm starting to remember, last time I tried that, didn't go so well. Maybe something from this time zone might work, though.
He glances around, then grins as his eyes lock onto something. [Track 7 ends]
17 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
[Track 8: Cleaner Skin] Beside the roaring TARDIS another small energy bubble is steaming in the snow. Inside are a man and woman curled tightly round each other to keep from touching the arcing burning sides. The Doctor runs up, and as she gets closer, the heat disperses, but the arcing of the time bubble gets worse. The soldiers come up behind the Doctor.
SOLDIER
Drop your weapon and identify yourself!
DOCTOR
Seriously? With all this stuff going on?
SOLDIER
Drop the weapon or we'll fire. Last warning.
The Doctor casually raises her hands and tosses the poker over her shoulder. It spins gracefully through the air and pierces the side of the time bubble. The arcing spreads everywhere, time streams out from the centre where the two people, Gedeon and Marya, are now frozen.
DOCTOR
Down!
The Doctor turns. Everyone else is frozen, but the whole city is afire with raw time energy. As if moving through treacle the Doctor moves towards Gedeon and Marya, grabs them, drags them past the poker which is frozen in the air, spitting like a sparkler with its whole length burning at once. Once past the sparkling poker, time reasserts itself. The poker falls to the ground smashing into black dust. The TARDIS noise stops. Two shots ring out as the soldiers reflexively fire. The sounds echo in the sudden silence.
SOLDIER
Where did she-?
The two soldiers locate the Doctor and aim again. The Doctor is raising her hands. Gedeon and Marya are groaning. The second soldier shifts his aim to them.
DOCTOR
Please. They're hurt. They're unarmed! Even someone like you wouldn't hurt a civilian!
The two soldiers turn to the Doctor reacting to her natural authority. Unseen, Gedeon pulls a golf ball sized perfect sphere, it looks like a giant ball bearing, and throws it at the soldiers. They turn at the movement, but too late, the sphere lands at their feet and the soldiers age to death - wrinkles, to rotting flesh, to skulls, to falling black dust. Gedeon laughs.
GEDEON
Everything works.
DOCTOR
Hey. You didn't have to do that!
Gedeon ignores the Doctor and hauls Marya to her feet.
DOCTOR
They gave you pity! They had the chance to shoot you and they didn't!
GEDEON
They're idiots, then. Can you walk?
MARYA
Yeah.
Marya is not weak, just her face is full of hope and wonder as she looks around. She crouches down, feeling the black dust, her head bowing. [Track 8 ends]
18 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - DAY
[Track 9: April's Theme] The timid nurse, Alison, passes a coil of tarnished copper wire through the curtain to Florence.
NIGHTINGALE
We might start with this. You steady her arm and I shall bind it.
ZACH
Perhaps one of us should stay back.
NIGHTINGALE
Please, I normally wouldn't require a helper, but… here-
ZACH
I meant you step back.
NIGHTINGALE
I'm the nurse here, sir. I hope to be someone remembered for always stepping forward.
ZACH
Of course.
NIGHTINGALE
Hold her wrist and lower her arm.
ZACH
My history teacher said some guff about "Those who did not know history were doomed to repeat it." If you don't learn from your mistakes you repeat them.
Florence brings a tip of the copper into contact with Bela's hand. It glows white, but not too intense, like a 60W light filament.
ZACH
But history seemed more about getting away with, covering up and denying mistakes.
NIGHTINGALE
This war, the Crimean War, is a horrible inept mistake. What does history say about it?
ZACH
Nothing I can really remember.
NIGHTINGALE
The wire is bright, but there is very little heat.
Florence begins to wrap the wire, carefully like a bandage, around the 'time infected hand'.
NIGHTINGALE
Nurse! This seems to be doing something useful, Zach. Nurse, where are you?
Nurse Alison steps nervously back through the curtain.
NIGHTINGALE
Keep binding the injury, reasonably firmly, but do not constrict circulation.
She bobs her head in acknowledgement.
NIGHTINGALE
I would like to stay, but I have other duties.
Zach gives Alison a big smile. The girl obviously needs this. Her eyes are big with fear. [Track 9 ends]
19 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
[Track 10: The Crystal and the TARDIS] The Doctor is nose to nose with Gedeon.
GEDEON
Who are you?
DOCTOR
The Doctor.
GEDEON
Doctor who?
DOCTOR
You know it still makes me smile when that happens!
Gedeon is angry. He unsheaths a knife and raises it to the Doctor's throat. The Doctor ignores it totally.
MARYA
You don't wanna mess with Gedeon, he's, you know...
She whistles, and spins her finger, gesturing "nutter".
DOCTOR
I'm good with time travelling psychos. I married a time travelling psycho. You don't scare me.
MARYA
You're a time traveller too?
GEDEON
Shut up, Marya.
She brushes his knife aside and turns a beaming smile to Marya.
DOCTOR
Yes! An amazing deduction.
GEDEON
Where are you from? Did the Overlord send you?
MARYA
And have you seen my daughter?
DOCTOR
I'm assuming she's with my friend. She was the one in that other time slip, right? You came after her?
GEDEON
I won't ask again.
DOCTOR
Good! What is your plan?
With hardly any warning Gedeon pulls back and stabs viciously at the Doctor. The Doctor pivots gracefully, catches it, twists his hand and the knife flies through the air to land with the black dust remains of the two soldiers - it sparks, rusts, and becomes dust itself.
DOCTOR
I don't like bullies and only idiots carry knives.
The Doctor releases Gedeon who tries to hide his embarrassment. Marya seems almost unaware of the conflict. Her attention is focused on the dust where the knife had fallen.
MARYA
Ooh! That was good.
DOCTOR
Told you. I'm an expert. Now, what are you doing with time bombs in this period? Too advanced and too deadly.
MARYA
She is right, Gedeon. This already is a weak nexus point, that's why we were able to transfer. The instability so close…
GEDEON
Whose side are you on?
DOCTOR
Yes, everything could have unraveled. So give me the pouch.
The Doctor turns to Gedeon and holds out her hand. Gedeon stares back angrily.
GEDEON
We brought them to destroy things. I'm not handing them over to some random stranger.
MARYA
A random stranger who disarmed you.
GEDEON
Yes, thank you!
He glowers.
20 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - DAY
Alison has nearly finished completely wrapping Bela's hand in copper wire. There is still some gentle sparking from within. The copper is greening with Verdigris, the natural aging of exposed copper.
ZACH
You're very brave to become a nurse in a war zone.
ALISON
I was a foundling left on Abbey steps.
Alison has a soft Irish accent.
ALISON
The sisters cared for me. The abbey decided to send us- The Sisters of Mercy, to aid Miss Nightingale. We have little formal training, but we practice 'cleanliness is next to godliness'. Florence Nightingale says this is what the men need. She is right. So many are recovering.
ZACH
Still brave.
ALISON
I follow God's will.
Bela's eyes begin to flicker.
ZACH
I think she's coming round. Could you get Miss Nightingale?
ALISON
I think she's in her tent.
Alison speaks quietly like she is telling a secret or saying something she shouldn't.
ALISON
She writes notes and numbers on all the patients, the doctors do not even know the men's names. She walks at night, with her lamp, but then she sits with her lamp in her tent writing information on the men's health. Her methods are… strange, but effective.
ZACH
Good ideas often are.
Alison heads out.
21 EXT. RUINS - NIGHT
The trio have taken refuge in the rubbled remnants of a building - not too dissimilar to an old pub of some sort. The Doctor has her arm round Marya's shoulder and they are quietly talking their backs to Gedeon. His face is angry, but then his expression becomes crafty. Gedeon removes one of the timebombs, the golf ball sized, polished silver spheres, from the pouch and conceals it in his jacket. He moves around to be included in the conversation.
MARYA
The Overlord controls everything. She was a businesswoman, then she built a cult about her personality, followers who read the tiniest thing she wrote. She modelled herself on Hitler, building on nationalism, nostalgia for good times in the past. She put the young, who had no jobs because of robotics and who did poorly with computer aided learning, into a uniformed force with zero tolerance community reinforcement. She led a spiritual revival, but she used all the misrepresentation and abuse of religion, ripped out its heart message of universal love - just made it another tool for in grouping and out grouping.
GEDEON
I believed in her to start with.
DOCTOR
That doesn't surprise me. What changed?
GEDEON
I found myself in an out group.
MARYA
I turned a blind eye, too, at the start. I mean, how couldn't I? She was sexy, advantageous… I worked in a science group, she gave us funding, allowed us to decide the ethics of our own experiments...
Marya is trembling a little.
MARYA
I did some things I'm not proud of, but everything's all good now.
She grins now, but it's obvious that it's not genuine.
MARYA
Actually, maybe not.
GEDEON
The Overlord has all the power of technology, computer eyes and ears always watching and listening. There is no way to fight her power, her fist is tightening. We see no way to fight her in the future. So we decided to fight her in the past.
There are sounds of whistles and the movement of many booted feet. Soldiers are drawing close.
DOCTOR
That sounds like it's time to go!
MARYA
Too late.
A yell goes up as soldiers catch sight of them and close in. [Track 10 ends]
22 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - DAY
Bela is sitting up in bed. Zach has pulled his chair close.
ZACH
I told you, my name is Zach. I'm from 2020. Where are you from?
BELA
My name is Bela. This is 1854?
Zach nods confirmation.
ZACH
But you're not.
BELA
There was no time travel in 2020, the robot unrest had not even begun.
ZACH
I don't know about that.
BELA
You were sent by the Overlord to stop us.
ZACH
To be honest, I think the Doctor does want to stop you.
BELA
Who is the Doctor?
ZACH
Tell me about the robot unrest and I will tell you about the Doctor.
BELA
I do not trust you.
ZACH
I rescued you from your bubble and ended in hospital here for a month. I got your hand bound with wire. That revived you. I don't ask you to trust me. Let's just talk.
BELA
Okay. Robots were used to replace humans rather than do work for humans. Your turn.
ZACH
The Doctor and I are travellers, we found something wrong with time. You.
BELA
You're not from the Overlord?
ZACH
Not even from your time period. Honest. Look.
He holds out his shirt label.
ZACH
Cotton, see?
[Track 11: Doctor, The Doctor 0:26 - 1:02] Bela frowns, but smiles at the same time, lost in Zach's words but excited.
23 INT. TARDIS
Gedeon is the first through the door in a crouching run. Marya is next, jumping at the sound of each gunshot, then the Doctor. A couple of bullets ricochet off the console, as the Doctor crouches, slamming the door. A bullet cracks one of the small window panes in the TARDIS door. The Doctors face twists in displeasure. The cloister bell is tolling.
DOCTOR
Oi! Don't touch anything, mate.
Gedeon is by the controls. He steps back. Marya is looking in round open wonder.
MARYA
Are the space dimensions relative to time?
DOCTOR
Close enough.
GEDEON
Are we safe in here?
DOCTOR
Yes, if you don't touch anything.
The Doctor goes to the console and starts the takeoff sequence. She notices a mark on the console from a bullet strike. She gently touches the damage.
DOCTOR
Sorry old girl, that's gotta sting. Here we go!
Once again, she throws herself around the console, haphazardly throwing levers and randomly pushing buttons.
24 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
The TARDIS is surrounded by soldiers. Slowly it starts to rise. Everyone falls back and then it accelerates high into the sky. A few soldiers fire pointlessly up at it. It goes high enough to be lost in the darkness of the starry sky. [Track 11 ends]
25 INT. TARDIS
The Doctor goes to the TARDIS doors. She watches as the small cracked window heals itself.
DOCTOR
That's better. You two come here.
[Track 12: Tournament of Shadows 0:00 - 1:13] The Doctor opens the TARDIS door and the two join her. Sevastopol is like a big dark cancer - the city under blackout. Surrounding it is a constellation of faint lights where the siege forces are encamped.
DOCTOR
Those time bombs. Give them to me now.
Gedeon unclips the pouch, goes to pass them and then dangles the bag out of the door instead, grinning a little.
GEDEON
What if I drop them?
MARYA
It could destroy the Earth.
GEDEON
That's the point, sweetheart. We'd be changing the future, exactly what we came here to do.
MARYA
That's what you came to do. I came here to rescue my daughter.
GEDEON
Who has the same objective. You signed up for this, you're on my side.
DOCTOR
Even so, I'm not letting you.
GEDEON
How can you stop me?
DOCTOR
By telling you what would happen. I'm a Time Lord, I can sense shifts in temporal lines. You drop those, all of those, it'll feed back in time - Crimea won't have ever existed. It plays a big role in World War 2, delayed to the 21st Century because everything is shifted back 50 years in technology - German forces were held at bay, right in this city, a second siege. Without that, they would've saved many resources and gone straight for Berlin. The war ends even faster than before.
GEDEON
That's not good?
DOCTOR
No. Russia wins and becomes even more powerful, the Soviet Union takes over half the globe in a decade. You're replacing one tyranny with another. Not to mention you'll be murdering millions of innocent people in the process. Gedeon. The bag. Pass me the bombs please.
Slowly Gedeon complies.
DOCTOR
Thank you. At least you are not totally insane.
Whilst the Doctor takes the pouch to the console, Gedeon takes out the timebomb he had hidden in his jacket. He offers it to Marya.
GEDEON
Prove your worth. For your daughter.
Marya looks startled, but she takes it. She glances at the Doctor. Gedeon shakes his head. Marya drops hers in a reluctant nod hiding the bomb in her jacket pocket. The Doctor opens a little rubbish chute on the side of the TARDIS console and empties the bag of bombs into it. She shuts and opens it. There is a gentle burp.
DOCTOR
Sorry. A bit rich for you.
She pats the time rotor. [Track 12 ends]
26 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - NIGHT
[Track 13: You've Heard Our Decision] Night has fallen. Oil lamps have been lit, their soft smell and flickering light seeping everywhere. The patients occasionsionally moan. A lamp is hung from the corner of the bed frame. Bela is sitting up now wrapped in blankets for warmth as Zach is.
ZACH
I suppose Florence Nightingale is still busy
BELA
I have heard of her. The first modern nurse, establishing hygiene measures before germs were understood. She invented ways of showing data as graphics.
ZACH
You would think she would come to us straight away.
BELA
There are sick people here. We are a curiosity, not a priority.
ZACH
Shame. I'm hungry and cold.
BELA
Me too. That's healthy. It is cold, we haven't been fed and we have been in bed for nearly a month. We are not sick, just unfed and spent too long in bed. We need to get out of bed for people who really need it.
ZACH
Florence has only given me my T-Shirt back so far.
BELA
Let me look at it again.
Zach passes it over.
BELA
I've seen these in a fashion museum. It seems odd that people ever deliberately branded themselves with their choice of clothes. You wear this voluntarily?
ZACH
Heh! That's one of my favourites.
Bela laughs. Zach smiles back.
ZACH
We need help from the Doctor. She travels in time, understands it I think. She'll know how to help.
BELA
Can she find us?
ZACH
The Doctor will find a way.
He rests his hand on Bela's shoulder, comfortingly.
BELA
I'm so tired.
ZACH
Must be being surrounded by death.
She starts to doze off. [Track 13 ends]
27 INT. TARDIS
[Track 14: You Really Need To Get Out Of Those Clothes] The console is smoking. The Doctor is running rings around it, desperately adjusting controls.
DOCTOR
Hopefully, I can find your daughter and Zach - There's a point in relative time nearby where the TARDIS is avoiding!
The Cloister Bell is tolling loudly again. The room is shaking.
MARYA
It is not a very intelligent machine! If it doesn't want to go there, why draw your attention to the location?
DOCTOR
Because she knows we have to go to places and do things we don't want to.
She dodges a stream of smoke shooting out of the console.
DOCTOR
I'm losing track, getting the timing a little out!
She throws a lever forward.
26 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
The sound of the TARDIS materializing is loud. Blue light fades in and out behind the curtained area. Blue light, brighter than the oil lamps bleeds beneath the curtain. Unconscious patients groan in their beds. Those awake cower in fear beneath their blankets.
27 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - NIGHT
The TARDIS materialises at the bottom of the bed. Zach is grinning. Bela is watching in fascination. The sound stops, but the TARDIS steams slightly. The door opens and the Doctor steps out. She puts a comforting hand on the TARDIS which is trembling.
DOCTOR
It's okay, we won't stay long.
Gedeon steps out then Marya. Marya sees Bela and rushes to her.
MARYA
Bela! Are you okay, are you hurt?
Bela holds up her copper wrapped hand. The green verdigris is shifting like a living infection.
BELA
Only this. It doesn't hurt.
ZACH
You found us. I knew you would.
Whilst the Doctor and Zach are greeting each other. Marya passes the timebomb to Bela, whispering.
MARYA
It's the last one. It's not quite stable.
BELA
You're good for something.
MARYA
You're welcome.
Bela hides it under her blanket, just before the Doctor comes up to her.
DOCTOR
Let me see your hand. Bela, isn't it? Your mum's been telling me all about you.
BELA
Oh, whoop de do.
Bela pokes her empty copper bound hand out through the blanket and the Doctor buzzes it with the sonic.
DOCTOR
Seems stable for now. Your mother said that travelling back in time was your idea.
BELA
My mum killed many people experiments with time shifts for the Overlord. She was trying to send people back an hour into a sealed room, then unseal the room to see if they had survived.
DOCTOR
That wouldn't work. Jumps back into a nearby location in the near past hit the Blinovitch Limitation… Existing twice in one time usually requires powers like that of the Weeping Angels.
MARYA
Bela's a Mathematician and Physics Enhance.
BELA
The Overlord has experimental 'forced learning machines', my loving mother volunteered me for it.
Marya meets her daughter's eyes.
BELA
In other words, torture-
MARYA
Not torture, mental improvement!
BELA
Have you seriously travelled a millenia just to continue this argument with me?
MARYA
The alternative is forced citizenship that destroys free will.
BELA
It destroyed my will anyway! And when I was assigned to help in your lab, whatever was left of my "free will" allowed me to be sick at the results of your experiments.
MARYA
I worked so you could be free. I blotted stuff out. I'm ashamed, but guess what? I would make the same choices again to protect you.
Both are emotional, confused emotions.
BELA
Like I said, so loving.
ZACH
Can I ask? What's going on?
DOCTOR
They're from the future.
ZACH
Worked that out for myself, thanks. Why're they here?
DOCTOR
Trying to stop a tyrannical future from ever coming.
BELA
I worked out that we needed to send someone back before their own lifetime. I volunteered as the test subject.
MARYA
You just set up the machine one night and jumped in.
BELA
I left plans for the timebombs. And hoped you would follow.
MARYA
Of course I would follow.
BELA
Yeah, well. At least you helped. I dunno why you brought him though.
Bela glares at Gedeon.
GEDEON
I came because no one else would.
She confronts him.
BELA
Don't think for a second I don't know your face. I'm betting everyone in Eastern Europe recognises you. On all those recruitment posters. What happened to you? Overlord realise you're a waste of space? Just a PR fool?
GEDEON
Out group.
BELA
Thought so.
DOCTOR
Does it matter? You're all here, so you can all go home.
BELA
We've still got a mission.
An odd silence. The patients have stopped moaning. A light moves up and the curtain is parted. Enter Florence Nightingale with her lamp held high. She looks round at each person carefully. [Track 14 ends]
NIGHTINGALE
You are disturbing my patients.
DOCTOR
Is that-?
ZACH
Doctor, this is Florence Nightingale.
DOCTOR
Wow! Huge fan.
The Doctor reaches out to shake her hand. Florence passes her lamp to Gedeon, who takes it looking confused and slightly irritated and the menial task. The Doctor pumps her hand.
NIGHTINGALE
You know me too?
ZACH
Told you I weren't mad.
DOCTOR
What have you been saying?
ZACH
No spoilers, don't worry.
DOCTOR
But… what you've done, what you achieved. What you are going to achieve... Sorry, I can't be specific. You make…. Well, just keep doing what you're doing!
NIGHTINGALE
Thank you, Doctor. I must say, I'm surprised to see someone like you in your profession.
Bela gets up from the bed.
BELA
Don't discount your achievements, though. Everyone from the future knows of you.
GEDEON
I don't.
Everyone ignores him.
DOCTOR
History is written by the winners. Your history.
Bela stands, bringing out her green copper bound hand from the concealing sheets she is wrapped in. She is grasping the silver sphere that is the time bomb, but cleverly angles her hand so it is hidden from the Doctor's view, but not Zach's.
NIGHTINGALE
Your wounded hand. Thank you.
Florence's face is full of fascination and concern. As she reaches forward Bela turns and opens her hand revealing the Time Bomb.
ZACH
What's that?
BELA
Please take it.
The sphere starts to shine, casting angelic light on Florence's face. [Track 15: Superior Minds 0:00 - 1:56]
DOCTOR
No!
The pained elephantine roar of the TARDIS begins again. Everything becomes a ghostly outline except the TARDIS, the Doctor, Bela and Florence. A time wind blows in, the sphere at the focus. Once again, the Doctor whips out the sonic and holds the orb in stasis.
DOCTOR
Time's ruptured! What have you done?
BELA
I'm sorry!
DOCTOR
Florence, drop it now!
The orb rolls to the floor, with the Doctor still fixing on it.
DOCTOR
I've caught it in a temporal loop, but it won't last long!
NIGHTINGALE
What is going on?
DOCTOR
It's like a grenade. But it'll wear out everything in here! Everyone will age to death in an instant!
NIGHTINGALE
My patients, they are not healthy enough to evacuate!
DOCTOR
Get who you can out! I'll buy you time! Zach, help her!
ZACH
On it!
Zach and Nightingale rush out.
MARYA
Wait for me!
Marya heads after them.
GEDEON
Marya! Oh, that woman...!
He scowls.
28 INT. HOSPITAL WARD - NIGHT
Zach, Florence and Marya are helping injured and sick soldiers to their feet, wrapping blankets and coats around them, and allowing them to rest on their shoulders as they limp to the doors.
NIGHTINGALE
Come on, just like we've practiced, just like the drills. You two keep working here, I'll call the sisters.
ZACH
Please hurry, we don't know how long the Doctor can hold it.
NIGHTINGALE
We're in a war zone, I know the importance of time, sir.
Florence speeds out the ward and down the corridor.
ZACH
Why are you helping?
MARYA
I agreed to change the future. I didn't agree to murder it.
Zach nods.
29 INT. HOSPITAL WARD CURTAINED AREA - NIGHT
The Doctor tries to get closer but with each step she loses her aim on the time bomb.
DOCTOR
I've got to stop it!
GEDEON
Doctor, release the bomb.
He points an advanced pistol at her.
DOCTOR
Why do you have so many weapons?
GEDEON
I'm prepared. I've trained to fight in the Right Group. The Overlord did some good for me after all.
BELA
It has to be this way.
DOCTOR
You'll die here too.
GEDEON
But like you said, innocent lives will be saved.
DOCTOR
So you're not a rebel, you're a martyr. That programming from the Overlord is still there, finish the job, whatever the cost.
GEDEON
I said, release the bomb.
DOCTOR
No.
GEDEON
So be it.
Gedeon fires a bolt, and the Doctor is hit in the arm. She wails, dropping the sonic onto the floor. As she falls, the sonic rolls away from her, and the bomb begins to fluctuate, raw time energy streaming out. Still, she continues to crawl towards the sonic, grunting in agony.
GEDEON
The eruption pattern has delayed. Still got a few seconds before detonation. Come on, Bela. We still might be able to escape.
He runs towards the TARDIS and tries the doors.
GEDEON
Locked. Get the key!
The Doctor reaches for the sonic, but she fumbles about, it slips out of her hands and rolls away again. She groans. Instead, she goes for the time bomb, holding it close to her chest and fiddling with it.
DOCTOR
Gotta… contain it…
GEDEON
What are you waiting for?
Bela clams up. Zach bursts back in.
ZACH
Doctor!
DOCTOR
Zach… sonic! Sonic!
Zach throws the Doctor the sonic, and she opens up a panel, which is fizzing.
DOCTOR
I can't stop it! Get out of here!
ZACH
Florence! Florence!
Florence and Marya dart back in.
ZACH
The Doctor's been shot!
NIGHTINGALE
Come here, quickly.
DOCTOR
No, have to… stop…
MARYA
Leave that to me!
Marya snatches the time bomb off the Doctor as Florence tends to the Doctor's wound.
GEDEON
What are you doing? Get away from that, you stupid girl.
MARYA
I'm a science nerd, I know what I'm doing!
GEDEON
You're ruining everything!
ZACH
Oi, bruv.
Zach trips Gedeon up and he stumbles onto the floor, splintering the wood.
ZACH
Sit down, shut up.
Zach kicks the gun out of his hand.
NIGHTINGALE
Ooh, ooh, ooh, we're losing a lot of blood. Zach, I need the bandages quickly.
ZACH
Shouldn't we be getting out of here?
MARYA
You have such little faith in me!
GEDEON
Cos you're a traitor.
ZACH
I said shut up!
MARYA
Alright, I've got it! It's trapped in a feedback point, it's eating its own potential energy, cannibalising time.
NIGHTINGALE
Are we supposed to understand what you're saying?
MARYA
To stop it from imploding, we need to splice it across the time vortex.
DOCTOR
The… the weak nexus… where you arrived. Detonating it there should re-open it. You can go home.
GEDEON
I don't think so.
DOCTOR
If you do this… if you save them… I promise I will help you stop the Overlord.
ZACH
Doctor, we can't-!
DOCTOR
We've got no choice.
She pants. [Track 15 ends]
30 EXT. SEVASTOPOL STREET - NIGHT
The TARDIS materialises, where the street is warping. She's limping.
DOCTOR
The fabric of reality is weaker here. That's why we can pass through timezones easier.
ZACH
I wish we could've said goodbye to Florence properly… we didn't get much time with her.
DOCTOR
You're right, she bandaged me up well, but in this war, she's a busy woman. We were lucky to have what we had with her. Besides, we don't have much time ourselves.
The group all stands in the middle of the street, Marya gripping onto the time bomb.
DOCTOR
We ready?
BELA
You're sure this will work?
She raises up her arm, which has some strong electrical wiring wrapped around it.
DOCTOR
It should protect you. Now… let's go!
Marya throws the bomb into the street, and they're all sucked in towards a wormhole - the street is left silent, save for the warfare in the background.
ROLL CREDITS
TO BE CONTINUED IN: She Who Rules The World