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.

12. Chapter 12 - Who's Worthy

INT. DOCKING PORT 212 – THE DOCTOR'S "SHIP"

Jethro has Rose pinned against the window with her right arm extended. The majestic blue Earth surrounds her head in the background like a holy halo. She struggles, but the man's grasp is much too strong.

Filipa holds Rose's right hand and peels back the index finger like an onion layer. She wraps her own fingers around Rose's and makes eye contact as she slowly, deliberately, bends it backwards.

ROSE
Please... there's no bomb on board! I'm telling the truth. Please, don't! Pleeeeeeease...

Filipa says nothing. She just keeps bending Rose's finger back until... it SNAPS! Rose lets out a cry so loud the floating crystals above vibrate and sway. Filipa lets Rose feel that pain for a moment, lets her suffer, then grabs hold of another finger.

FILIPA
If there's nothing on board, you have nothing to hide. You have ten fingers, Rose. Do you have any idea how many bones I can break after that? Just let us inside. There's no reason for you to suffer for him.

Rose winces as her second finger bends to its breaking point. She cries, shakes her head no.

ROSE
Okay! Okay, I'll let you in. Just stop.

Filipa releases Rose's finger and hand. Jethro backs away. Rose holds her hand close to her chest, her heart still racing. Reluctantly, she walks over to the Tardis door and grabs the handle with her good hand. A latch release engages and the door opens.

JETHRO
Hm. It must be specifically coded to recognize her DNA. Advanced.

Jethro pushes by Rose on his way inside. Filipa motions for Rose to follow him.

FILIPA
You next.

Rose follows Jethro into the Tardis.

INT. TARDIS

Jethro approaches the central core and investigates the controls. Filipa lowers her weapon at the sight of the flesh-colored walls and bone-like support structures, practically forgetting about Rose in the process.

FILIPA
What in the-? This is a Sek Sek Lux Cruiser?

ROSE
Never been onboard one?

FILIPA
No.

ROSE
Then this is a Sek Sek Lux Cruiser.

JETHRO
Don't listen to her.

FILIPA
Ya think?

Jethro navigates the console carefully. Filipa helps. Still nursing her hand, Rose finds a place to sit as far away from them as she can get away with.

JETHRO
I've never seen anything like this. The technology is incredibly advanced, but ancient at the same time.

FILIPA
If I'm reading this right, it's only six rooms, including this one. It's actually smaller on the inside.

Filipa turns her rifle back on Rose.

FILIPA
This isn't a luxury vessel, and your Doctor friend isn't from The Net. Who the hell are you people?

JETHRO
Filipa, look at this.

Jethro motions to a four by four panel attached to the control board of the cylindrical core. It hums with bright orange energy.

JETHRO
I've never seen an energy matrix like this before. It's off the scale.

FILIPA
Is it dangerous?

JETHRO
It's contained. It should be safe to open the panel.

He tries to open the panel, but it doesn't budge.

FILIPA
(to Rose)
Is it a bomb?

ROSE
What?

Filipa points the gun at Rose again.

FILIPA
If there's a bomb in this panel, you're a dead woman, just so we're clear.

ROSE
It's not a bomb.

FILIPA
Prove it. Open the panel.

Rose hesitates, which only angers Filipa.

FILIPA
Rose, you're up. Now! Come on! We don't have a lot of time, here.

Filipa drags Rose over. Rose stares at the panel, unsure of what's beyond it.

FILIPA
What are you waiting for?

Rose fidgets, bites her lip.

ROSE
I don't know if this is such a good idea.

FILIPA
I didn't ask for your opinion.

ROSE
But what if it is a bomb?

FILIPA
Suddenly, you're not sure? I thought you said you trusted the Doctor, that he'd never do anything to hurt anyone.

ROSE
He wouldn't... I don't think. I don't know. I only just met him.

FILIPA
Open the panel, now!

Rose takes a deep breath to settle her nerves, then slowly reaches for the release latch. She stops.

ROSE
I'm scared.

FILIPA
You either trust the Doctor or you don't.

Rose thinks another second, then grabs the handle and pulls the latch open.

Fiery light explodes from the open panel. Beams of gold slither outward and attach themselves to the retinas of Jethro, Filipa, and Rose. Their bodies spasm in mid-air. Filipa and Jethro scream in agony, but Rose's experience is different. As if taking in the scent of a fresh spring flower, she smiles. Her shoulders relax. She is calm.

And then, suddenly, the panel slams itself shut. The light dissipates. Jethro and Filipa are shaken and each collapse to their knees. Rose is gently let down and turns, standing over them as they each look up at her with tears streaming down their cheeks.

FILIPA
I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I... I didn't know.

Rose caresses Filipa's face.

ROSE
Neither did I.

She helps Jethro and Filipa to their feet.

FILIPA
Let's go.

All three leave the Tardis together.

INT. DOCKING PORT 212 – THE DOCTOR'S "SHIP"

Filipa, Jethro, and Rose exit the Tardis. They're met in the hall by Virgil.

VIRGIL
Filipa!

FILIPA
Did you find the bomb?

VIRGIL
We found it.

FILIPA
Which ship was it on?

They wait for the answer.

INT. GRAND OBSERVATORY

The auction for Cassandra and her fortunes continues.

DOCTOR
Thirteen trillion.

CYBERMEN LEADER
Four. Teen.

DOCTOR
Eighteen.

CYBERMEN LEADER
Twen. Tee.

Rex laughs like a lunatic on stage.

REX
Twenty trillion for the Lady of Olefew! Isn't it wonderful?

Helga nods. Rex's men share in his amusement.

JABE
(to the Doctor)
Doctor, please tell me you're not going to do what I think you're going to do.

DOCTOR
You mean kill Cassandra? Twenty-two!

JABE
You can't stoop to her level. Life is more important than that.

DOCTOR
I most certainly can. Quite capable, actually.

CYBERMEN LEADER
Thir. Tee.

DOCTOR
Forty-five! Time to end this. That woman is an evil and disgusting troll and she deserves the same fate as those who've had the misfortune of ending up under her heel.

JABE
And you're the one to make that decision?

DOCTOR
I'm the Doctor!

The elevator returns. When the door opens, Filipa and Rose step out and head immediately for the stage.

REX
And with that all-in bid, the Doctor has shut out all other competition, which means he is the winner! Congratulations, Doctor.

Satisfied with his victory, the Doctor pumps his fist. Then, he sees Rose and his confidence disappears.

DOCTOR
Rose.

REX
Come on, let's get the Doctor on up here.

Rex's men grab the Doctor and bring him up on stage. Rex sees Filipa and walks over.

REX
(to Filipa)
Tell me you found it.

FILIPA
We've got it.

REX
Yes.

He kisses her, relieved.

FILIPA
On the Cybermen's ship.

Rex glances in the direction of the Cybermen, vitriol in his eyes.

The Doctor looks at Rose from across the stage. Something is different about her. He notices.

DOCTOR
Rose, are you all right? You look...

ROSE
I'm fine.

He appraises her smile. A thought occurs to him.

DOCTOR
You opened the panel?

ROSE
They forced me.

The Doctor sees Rose's swollen broken finger for the first time.

DOCTOR
You're sure you're okay?

She nods.

Composing himself, Rex attends to the task at hand. He moves over to Cassandra and rubs her shoulders.

REX
Well, Cassandra, the moment of truth has arrived. You've worked all your life toward this moment and you are now officially the wealthiest woman in the known universe, but there's just one little problem, because all the money in the galaxy won't save you, now. Your fate is entirely in the hands of someone else, the Doctor, man of fortune and fame, but what of his conscience? Tell us, Doctor, do you consider yourself an honorable man?

The Doctor hesitates, so Rex addresses Rose.

REX
Better yet, what about you, miss Rose? The Doctor's sweet, lovely, young... companion, was it? Do you consider the Doctor to be an honorable man?

ROSE
I do.

REX
Then, the question remains. What does an honorable man do when faced with the impossible choice? Cassandra is a vile, despicable, creature...

CASSANDRA
Look who's talking, gutter flotsam.

REX
She just killed Mobbles and The Head, for money! By all accounts, she's vain, sadistic, greedy, and a slave driver to boot. But now her fate is in the Doctor's hands. He can choose to take that wealth from her, everything she holds dear, and also end her life... or he can be the better man, give up his own wealth, and set her free. The universe would truly be better off without her, but is that enough to clear a conscience? Is that enough for an honorable man? What do you say, Doctor? Make your choice.

The Doctor looks at Cassandra. She holds her chin up high.

CASSANDRA
Well? Do it. You know you want me dead.

He next looks to Rose. There's indecision on his face, like he's being tugged from both sides.

ROSE
I trust you.

Her vote of confidence sets him at ease. The Doctor turns to Rex.

DOCTOR
Let her have her money.

Jabe smiles, relieved, proud of him. Cassandra exhales a breath we didn't even realize she was holding in. She can't help but laugh.

CASSANDRA
Oh. I'm going to get laugh lines. Oh, how awful.

Stunned, Rex can't believe it.

REX
A truly righteous gesture. You, Doctor, really are an amazing man. You see a murderer standing before you, by all accounts an evil being to her core, and still you hold true to your moral foundation. If all were like you, the universe would be a better place. But it's not a better place.

Rex pulls out his gun and shoots the Cybermen and their leader one by one until they are all vaporized. Everyone looks on in total shock.

The Doctor faces Rex. They stare at each other, rivals.

REX
Fortunately, I am not handicapped like you are by things such as honor and virtue. The Cybermen brought with them a terrible weapon, one they intended to use to eat our planet, and kill every human on it. I am now in possession of that weapon and I intend to use it on anyone who threatens our world with a declaration, invasion, or prissy damned attitude.

Rex steps closer to the Doctor.

REX
We are independent. We are here. And we are not going anywhere. When the Tonades arrive, you tell them what happened here. You tell them, if they come looking for me, Galaxy Eradon, four-four-eight-six, three-four-nine-nine, eight-eight-zero-eight. Understand?

DOCTOR
I comprehend... but I will never understand people like you.

Rex smiles.

REX
We're out, everybody. Have a peaceful rest of your evening.

Rex and his crew exit by way of the elevator shaft. Everyone else watches, giving Rex a wide berth. Rose moves to the Doctor's side.

ROSE
I'm confused. What's Galaxy Eradon and all those numbers?

DOCTOR
Coordinates.

ROSE
But, why would he want you to tell the Tonades where he's gone?

DOCTOR
Those coordinates aren't where he's going. Those are the coordinates of the Tonades' homeworld. He wants them to know, if they come for him, he intends to blow it up.

The elevator closes on Rex, Filipa, and their crew.

INT. TARDIS

In a quiet moment, the Doctor and Rose sit together inside the Tardis. He holds her right hand in his and inspects it with an eyepiece he has strapped to his head. A light from the piece moves over the swollen purple hand.

ROSE
Ow.

DOCTOR
Easy, I haven't done anything yet. I'm just looking.

ROSE
Sorry.

DOCTOR
She did some damage. It's dislocated, fractured, and there's some tendon damage. Nothing I can't fix.

Next to him is an old-fashioned leather case like the one's small town prairie doctors used to carry with them with all of their medical supplies and equipment. He reaches into the bag and pulls out a regenerator, a small device no larger than a computer mouse.

DOCTOR
This might hurt a bit.

She closes her eyes and cringes as he applies the regenerator directly to her hand. She winces at the touch.

ROSE
You're sure you know what you're doing?

DOCTOR
I thought you said you trust me.

ROSE
I do.

DOCTOR
Well, I don't just go around calling myself the Doctor for giggles and ego, ya know.

ROSE
I know.

A beat.

DOCTOR
I'm sorry she hurt you. I thought you'd be safer with her. I never meant to put you in harm's way. I hope you believe me. The Independence from Declaration didn't happen like that the first time. It was a peaceful protest. There were no bombs, no terrorists.

ROSE
Just us being there didn't make all that happen.

DOCTOR
No. No, it couldn't have. Something's changed in time and not for the better.

ROSE
And now we need to fix it.

He looks at her, caught off guard.

ROSE
That's what you do, isn't it? That's why all hell breaks loose everywhere you go. The Tardis seeks it out. When I opened that panel, I felt it. It's alive.

DOCTOR
You should feel honored. The Tardis is a being of perfected morality, goodness incarnate. That panel would only open for someone it deems worthy. Otherwise, you could have chained up a tow truck, and it wouldn't have budged.

ROSE
When I felt the Tardis, it was like this wave of warmth, of clarity, but also sadness. There's a beginning and end to everything, but not for you two. No matter how much good you do, there's always more to be done.

The regenerator beeps. She looks down.

DOCTOR
There.

He pulls the regenerator from her hand. The swelling and bruising are gone. He touches it to make sure, caresses it a moment, then realizes what he's doing and pulls back.

DOCTOR
Good as new.

She flexes her fingers. It's completely healed. He removes the eyepiece and puts it and the regenerator back in his bag.

DOCTOR
A doctor knows when he's treating a patient, their hand for instance, that somewhere down the line that patient is going to die. It might not be from a hand injury. In fact, it probably won't be from a hand injury. It might be something totally unrelated to what you're treating in that moment. Time is the same way. There's a big bang, things happen, and then they stop happening. I can't do anything about that, but maybe I can make everyone's life a little happier along the way. I can make the story a good one.

She smiles.

DOCTOR
Well, I think, before we go anywhere else, maybe we should get some rest. I'll show you to your room.

ROSE
I have a room?

He stands, helps her up.

DOCTOR
You have a room.

He escorts her to...

INT. ROSE'S ROOM – TARDIS

No larger than a typical college student's dorm, there's a round half-sack and half-pouch in the corner for a bed and a holo-screen on the wall across from it. The walls are flesh-colored, like in the rest of the ship, and there's a Victorian wooden desk in the corner with a quill pen and ink on top. A door on the side leads to what passes for a bathroom.

The Doctor enters first, then steps aside so Rose can follow.

DOCTOR
It's not much, but you can catch a few zig-zags over on the liver pouch. Don't worry, you won't hurt it. Bath's through there, holo-screen here's got programs downloaded from over five hundred worlds. Just talk to it. Smut lock's four-rango-rango-chizzle if you get a little randy, later.

She smacks him.

DOCTOR
Just sayin'. And if you need me, there's a wee little button right over there.

ROSE
If I need you, hm?

Embarrassed, the Doctor blushes.

DOCTOR
Need me for something else, not if you're randy, I mean. Oh, you know what I mean.

She laughs.

He points to a purple button embedded in the wall by the liver pouch bed.

DOCTOR
Anyway, that's the comm. I can hear you from anywhere on the ship when you press that button. Desk over there if you want to diary or something, heard you Earth gals like to pour out about everything you heart in there.

ROSE
Don't be fresh.

DOCTOR
And that's about it. You know about the closet, if you want a change. Sweet good night.

The Doctor heads for the door.

ROSE
Doctor...

He stops, turns back around.

DOCTOR
Yes?

She sits down on the bed, stalling for time to think first on how she wants to word herself.

ROSE
Filipa asked me something back on the station, and I didn't know how to answer her. You can go anywhere in the universe, anywhen even. I'm sure you've met all sorts of amazing people and I'm sure any number of those would have loved to come with you on your journey through time. Why me? Of all the people you could have brought with you, why did you pick me?

DOCTOR
I told you already... You have a good heart.

She blushes.

DOCTOR
Sweet night, Rose Taylor.

ROSE
Good night, Doctor.

He leaves, shutting the door behind him.

She lays down on the bed and bounces a few times, testing it for comfort.

INT. TARDIS

With his arms folded behind his back, the Doctor takes a quiet stroll around the cylindrical core, checking it up and down, possibly for damage. After a complete survey, he finds himself standing in front of the same four by four panel Rose opened previously. He puts his hand up in front of it, like one might do when warming their hands by a roaring campfire. He takes his hand back, breathes in... and out.

He looks at the panel.

Orange light pulsates behind it.

He reaches for the release latch... tugs.

It doesn't move.

He gives it another tug.

Nothing.

The Doctor closes his eyes and lowers his head in shame.

DOCTOR
Sweet night, then.

He walks away.

END CREDITS ROLL

- End Episode 2 - Serial, To be Continued...-