Doctor Who - American Version - Serial

by RevolutionMan

Doctor Who - Presented as a re-imagining of the show Doctor Who for American audiences. It presumes NO connection to the continuity established by the long running British television series, but absolutely WILL borrow heavily from that awesome/amazing show. Some characters will be re-named. Some "laws" will be broken. A serial adaptation, in script form.

3. Chapter 3 - One Little Explosion

INT. CLASSROOM – MOFFAT BUILDING

Rose screams and throws Professor Lowenstein's head into the hall. It bounces a couple of times and hits the far wall, where it lands on its side. Eight mechanical legs, like spider legs, burst from the base of the head and turn it upright. It looks at Rose, hisses, and then scurries away down the dark hall.

Meanwhile, the Doctor fights Professor Lowenstein's headless robot body. They exchange several body blows before the Doctor manages to pin the body against a wall with the teacher's desk. He then climbs up on the desk, pulls out his sonic screwdriver, and drives it into the neck hole of the robot. The robot powers down, with all the lights inside of it turning off except one red blinking light. The Doctor notices the light and his eyes widen.

DOCTOR
Oh, that's not good.

The Doctor hops down from the desk and helps Rose up off the ground.

ROSE
That's... she... Robot!

DOCTOR
Yes, good, those are words. Let's try a sentence next. Where's the head?

ROSE
The what?

DOCTOR
I did say not to let it go, didn't I? I swear, I remember saying that. Anyway, we should probably get going, before the body explodes.

ROSE
Explodes?

DOCTOR
Yes, boom, you know. Pakow!

He takes her by the hand and they run.

At the desk, the red blinking light blinks faster... faster... faster...

EXT. MOFFAT BUILDING – NIGHT

The Doctor and Rose run outside and away from the building.

DOCTOR
Jump!

They both leap away from the building, anticipating a massive explosion... but nothing happens. On the ground, the Doctor waits. Rose waits.

DOCTOR
Huh. That's weird.

ROSE
I thought you said there was going to be an...

BOOOOOOOM! A massive explosion blows out windows and the doors of the Moffat Building. Rose screams. The Doctor smiles.

DOCTOR
There it is.

The Doctor stands up. He offers Rose his hand, but she slaps it away.

ROSE
Get away from me.

DOCTOR
Now, I need you to think. Where did the head go?

ROSE
I'm fine, thank you very much for asking.

DOCTOR
Oh, try not to be dramatic about it. I need you to remember. It's imperative I find that head. Did you see which way it went?

The Doctor looks in all directions.

ROSE
No, I didn't see which way it went. Who the hell are you? What was that thing in there? Was that really a robot?

DOCTOR
Do you know of anything else that blows up when you pull its head off?

ROSE
No, I just wanted to know what to say to the cops when they get here.

Rose pulls out her cell phone and dials 9-1-1. The Doctor notices the phone, grabs it, and smashes it on the ground.

ROSE
That's my phone!

DOCTOR
You mustn't tell anyone about this, you understand me? If you do, you'll get them killed. Even the police. You mustn't tell anyone about me, or the robot, or anything.

ROSE
Really? Or I'll get them killed?

DOCTOR
Killed dead, yes.

ROSE
And you couldn't have given me that warning without smashing my phone to bits?

The Doctor looks down at the smashed cell phone.

DOCTOR
Oh, right, sorry. Anyway, no need to worry. Look around you.

Rose sees a large crowd gathering around the building, spying the scene. Sirens can be heard in the distance.

DOCTOR
I'd wager half of Philly heard that boom. No need to call in the fuzzy fuzz. Now, it's not going to be safe for you, here. My advice to you is to get off campus, quick as you can. Tell no one what you saw. I'm the Doctor, by the way. What's your name?

ROSE
Rose.

DOCTOR
Pleased to meet your acquaintance.

The Doctor smiles happily, then runs off.

ROSE
Wait, Doctor! Who are you?

DOCTOR
I'm just a man trying to get a head.

He disappears around a corner.

EXT. THE BIRD'S NEST – NIGHT

Professor Lowenstein's disembodied head sneaks around in the shadows to avoid being spotted by a crowd of students rushing to the scene of the explosion. She sneaks around the back of the building.

INT. STORAGE ROOM - THE BIRD'S NEST

Lowenstein's Spider-head sneaks around in the dark until a single light flickers on to reveal Mr. Little.

LITTLE
You idiot. We were told to avoid detection at all costs. Now, they've sent the police.

He throws a pencil at her.

LOWENSTEIN
There was nothing I could do. A man, he called himself "The Doctor", he knew who I was.

LITTLE
How is that possible?

LOWENSTEIN
I don't know, but he had technology not of this Earth. And there was a girl with him, Rose Taylor, from my class.

Little thinks.

LITTLE
Yes, she works for Little. We'll have to push up the timetable. In the meantime, sister, you'll have to stay hidden. Come here.

Lowenstein's Spider-head crawls up Little's leg and onto his chest. His mouth opens impossibly wide, like a snake, and he swallows her whole.

EXT. TENNANT APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT

Rose exits a bus outside her mother's apartment building in Philadelphia. It's four story building, nothing too lavish, but not a dive either. She steps up to the front entrance and rings the buzzer.

JACKIE (V.O.)
Hello? Rose?!

ROSE
Yeah, it's me.

JACKIE (V.O.)
Oh, my god! You had me worried sick, you little brat. Get in here!

The door buzzes, and Rose steps inside.

INT. LIVING ROOM – JACKIE'S APARTMENT

On the television, reporter GWENDOLYN MAUVE (30's) reports from just outside St. Joseph's University campus. Jackie, her hair and makeup a disaster, watches from by her open door.

MAUVE (V.O.)
The campus has been closed off as police investigate the cause of the explosion. Early reports indicate it may not have been an accident. There are no serious injuries reported, but one professor is reported missing.

Jackie sees Rose exit the elevator.

JACKIE
Thank god. My baby! I was worried sick. Why don't you pick up your damn phone? You're always on that thing and the one day I need you to answer, you can't be bothered?

ROSE
It broke. My phone's broke.

JACKIE
What? Your brand new phone? I just bought you that phone.

Rose steps inside and Jackie closes the door.

ROSE
Not now, Mom.

Rose collapses on Jackie's couch, face first. She buries her head in a pillow.

JACKIE
Mark called. Had me worried sick. He said you went into that building to get your grad kit or something. Thought you were inside when it happened, then I couldn't get a hold of you. Is your shirt burned?

Rose unburies herself and looks at the spot on her shirt. It's charred from the explosion fire.

ROSE
Yeah, I guess it is.

Jackie dials her cell phone, waits.

JACKIE
Hello, Mark? Yeah, she's here. She's okay.

Jackie offers Rose the phone.

JACKIE
He wants to talk to you, see how you are. I'll make you something to eat. You want a sandwich.

Rose takes the phone as her mother retreats into the kitchen.

ROSE
I don't want a sandwich.

JACKIE (O.S.)
I have a leftover pork chop. Or I can boil you up some pasta.

ROSE
I'm not hungry!

JACKIE (O.S.)
I'm putting on the pot.

Rose rolls her eyes and presses the phone to her ear.

ROSE
Hello? …. Yeah, I'm fine... No... You don't have to come over, no. No, my mom's making me pasta. Or a pork chop. I don't really know. I'm not hungry. You don't have to come over. You don't have to come over... Okay.

Rose hangs up the phone and puts it on the coffee table.

ROSE
Mom, Mark's coming over.

JACKIE (O.S.)
I can make a ham.

Rose buries herself in the pillow again.

INT. JACKIE'S APARTMENT – LATER

Rose, Jackie, and Mark are all sitting at Jackie's kitchen table. Mark is still wearing his Bluetooth headset. There's ham, instant potatoes, and a salad laid out. Mark and Jackie eat like it's their last meal. Rose just sort of sits there, zoning out.

MARK
This is good ham, Mrs. T.

JACKIE
I was savin' it for an occasion, but what with Rose not being dead and all, I thought that an occasion.

ROSE
Have you been drinking?

JACKIE
What? No, I'm just happy you're alive, is all.

Jackie coughs into her hand, all sly-like, and then sniffs her hand for alcohol.

MARK
So, were you in the building when it blew?

ROSE
Just outside.

MARK
Was anyone with you?

JACKIE
With her? Who would be with her?

ROSE
No, I was alone. It all just happened so fast. I was lucky I was outside when it blew.

Mark eats a few more bites.

JACKIE
You know, you could get money.

ROSE
Mom.

JACKIE
I'm serious. From the school. Or something. You almost died.

ROSE
I'm not gonna sue.

MARK
Where's your grad kit?

ROSE
What?

MARK
Your grad kit. You went back to get it. Where is it?

ROSE
Oh, I didn't get it. It blew up before I went in.

JACKIE
That's just lucky you weren't there a little sooner.

A knock can be heard at the door. Jackie gets up to head to the door.

JACKIE
Don't worry. It's probably just Arthur.

ROSE
Arthur? At this hour?

MARK
Well, I mean, what were you just standing outside?

ROSE
What's with the third degree?

MARK
No, I'm just saying, we didn't get far when you turned around, but the explosion happened a bit later. How'd you never make it inside unless you were just standing outside?

ROSE
You know what? I don't need this. All right? I almost died tonight. I don't need to be interrogated by...

JACKIE (O.S.)
Who are you?

DOCTOR (O.S.)
I'm the Doctor. Who are you?

MARK
I'm not interrogating you. I just don't understand why you're lying to me.

ROSE
I'm not... Wait, is that...?

Rose gets up and heads to the door.

JACKIE
What a strange question to ask. You knocked on my door.

DOCTOR
So I did. Must've been a mistake.

Rose rushes over. He sees her.

DOCTOR
Or not. What are you doing here?

ROSE
This is my mom's place.

JACKIE
You know this man?

ROSE
Yeah, he's... a cop. He was at the scene and questioned me. You have more questions? Come inside.

She pulls him inside and closes the door.

JACKIE
But he just said he was a Doctor.

ROSE
Right, cop doctor.

DOCTOR
Cop doctor, I like that.

Mark sees the Doctor and stands up.

MARK
You.

DOCTOR
(waves)
Hello.

MARK
This is the guy from the class. The auditor.

JACKIE
He's a tax collector?

ROSE
No, Mom. Please.

JACKIE
Because I settled with the IRS. I'm clean with them.

DOCTOR
Is that ham?

The Doctor happily walks over and eats some ham.

MARK
What's he doing here?

JACKIE
Besides eating my ham?

ROSE
He just has some questions for me.

DOCTOR
No, I don't.

ROSE
It'll just take ten minutes.

DOCTOR
No, it won't.

ROSE
You're not helping.

DOCTOR
No, I'm not.

He smiles.

ROSE
Why are you here?

The Doctor reads something off his sonic screwdriver and then points it at Mark.

DOCTOR
For him, apparently.

Everyone looks at Mark, who immediately reacts by vaulting the kitchen table and attacking the Doctor. Jackie screams. They crash into a cabinet and the sonic screwdriver is thrown into a corner.

ROSE
Stop it, Mark! Stop, he's all right.

Rose moves to intervene, but Mark punches her across the face. She falls onto the floor. Seeing this, Jackie attacks Mark, but she gets a kick to the stomach for her trouble.

DOCTOR
Oh, yeah, this brings back memories.

The Doctor and Mark fight some more, knocking over the television. It's sparks and the screen breaks.

JACKIE
My television!

Rose shakes the cobwebs from her head and sees the sonic screwdriver in the corner of the room. She crawls across the carpet and grabs it.

ROSE
Mark, stop!

She points the screwdriver at Mark, cringes, and presses the button. It does nothing.

DOCTOR
Nice try, Rose, dear, but that's a screwdriver.

The Doctor and Mark roll around on the ground some more.

ROSE
Well, how was I supposed to know that?

DOCTOR
Get closer and point it at his ear piece.

ROSE
What?

DOCTOR
His ear piece!

Rose jumps on Mark's back as he pounds away at the Doctor. She points the sonic screwdriver at Mark's Bluetooth headset. A light on the piece blinks off and Mark immediately responds as if he's just woken up from a dream.

MARK
What? What's going-

Out of nowhere, Jackie smashes Mark over the head with a vase. It cracks into a million pieces and he is knocked unconscious.

ROSE
Mom!

JACKIE
Oh, that was a gift from Aunt Bootsie.

The Doctor gets up, grabs the sonic screwdriver from Rose, and picks up Mark's Bluetooth ear piece. Rose tends to Mark.

JACKIE
He's not dead, is he?

DOCTOR
This is a fascinating bit of tech.

ROSE
He's not moving, Doctor.

The Doctor turns around, bends over Mark, and touches the boy's head a bit.

DOCTOR
Eh-eh, he's fine.

ROSE
Eh-eh, he's fine? That's it?

DOCTOR
Which one of us is the Doctor? He has a concussion. He'll wake up with a wicked headache and thinking he's Napoleon. Should wear off in a couple of days. But this bit of tech... this is trouble.

He holds up the Bluetooth.

ROSE
Was it controlling his mind?

DOCTOR
Ah. Very good. Outside of everyone, I'm not sure many could've picked up on that one.

ROSE
Are you being cruel? Because I was just almost blown up an hour ago.

DOCTOR
Still whining on about that, are you? It was just one little explosion.

The Doctor heads for the door.

ROSE
What? Where are you going?

DOCTOR
Work to be done.

Rose heads out after him.

JACKIE
Where and- are you going with him?

Jackie follows them.

INT. STAIRWELL – TENNANT APARTMENT BUILDING

The Doctor descends rapidly with Rose behind him and Jackie behind her.

ROSE
Wait a minute. I think I deserve an explanation. Are you a terrorist or something?

DOCTOR
(rolls eyes)
Americans. A bomb goes off and it's gotta be terrorists. Wasn't I who blew up the building. If you'll recall, I was the one trying to stop it.

ROSE
Homeland Security, then?

JACKIE
Are you like Jack Bauer?

DOCTOR
Rather prefer James Bond, myself.

ROSE
So, that's it, then?

The Doctor stops to look at her.

ROSE
You're a secret agent? Fighting, like, a secret war against things and creatures we aren't supposed to know about?

DOCTOR
In a way. It's like when you were a kid. The first time they tell you the world's turning and you just can't quite wrap your head around it because everything around you looks like it's just standing still. But it's not. Everything around us is spinning at a thousand miles an hour. We're falling through space, clinging to the skin of this tiny little pebble, and if we let go for even an instant. Wouldn't that be a trip? Now, go back upstairs, Rose. Don't follow me. You'll be better off.

The Doctor runs downstairs. For a second, Rose considers heading back up, but only a second. She follows.

JACKIE
Now, he told you not to follow him!

Jackie chases after her.

EXT. TENNANT APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT

The Doctor stands outside the apartment building, unmoving. This enables Rose and Jackie to catch him rather easily, but perhaps they didn't want to, as they find themselves completely surrounded by brainwashed co-eds from the University, all with their Bluetooth headsets on.

ROSE
Does danger follow you everywhere?

DOCTOR
What's that make you?

Rose and Jackie cower behind him.

-To be Continued...-