EXT. ZIRA CLINIC – EARLY MORNING

Tonades Arc Wings and GROUND PATROLMEN have the road and airways outside the Zira Clinic cut off to regular traffic. All non-emergency vehicles and pedestrians heading anywhere near the clinic are herded towards checkpoints where their identity can be confirmed.

At one such ground checkpoint, we see an unmasked Golden Monkey and Silver Humanoid anxiously awaiting their turn inside of a construction truck (different from the hovervan).

INT. CONSTRUCTION TRUCK

In the back of the truck, we see a work crew wearing one piece blue jumpsuit uniforms. The crew consists of an unmasked Bronze Cyberman, the Honcho, as well as Rose and Doctor Two, who are wearing life-like masks that make them look like Cybermen. They ALL wear watches.

Through the windshield, we see the vehicle ahead of clear the checkpoint. The Tonades officer on duty waves them forward.

GOLDEN MONKEY
Here we go.

They move forward.

As they draw closer, we see that the officer on duty is Leegrall. Golden Monkey rolls down the window.

LEEGRALL
Identification and purpose for the visit.

Golden Monkey hands over identification.

GOLDEN MONKEY
We're from Tackard Construction. The hospital called us about some damage to an exterior wall.

Leegrall studies Golden Monkey's identification and enters information about it into a handheld pad.

GOLDEN MONKEY
You wouldn't happen to know what that's about, would you? Some drunk smash into the building or something?

LEEGRALL
Just a moment while I verify this upstairs.

Leegrall steps away from the truck and motions to a pair of patrolmen. They begin scanning the exterior of the truck as he radios in.

Silver Humanoid looks back at Bronze Cyberman.

SILVER HUMANOID
You're up.

Bronze Cyberman looks out the window and estimates the distance between Leegrall and the truck.

BRONZE CYBERMAN
About ten kents...

He enters this information into a communication interceptor he has hidden under a tarp.

BRONZE CYBERMAN
(to Doctor Two)
Relaying the signal to you now, Doctor.

Doctor Two's Cyberman mask lights up. He nods confirmation.

LEEGRALL (V.O.)
Checkpoint three to main scheduling. This is Leegrall. Requesting confirmation on a service visit by Tackard Construction.

DOCTOR TWO
That's affirmative, Leegrall. We called them.

LEEGRALL (V.O.)
You do know that entire area is still an active crime scene, right?

The Honcho swallows a lump in his throat.

DOCTOR TWO
Obviously, we're just getting estimates for now. We'll wait for official approval before proceeding with the repair.

LEEGRALL (V.O.)
Does Lieutenant Valor know about this?

DOCTOR TWO
Can I be honest with you? That guy sucks.

Everyone in the van looks at Doctor Two, appalled and terrified.

ROSE
(whispers)
Are you out of your mind?

Doctor Two holds out his hand to calm her down.

DOCTOR TWO
I mean, we've got proctologists on staff who are trained to deal with whatever he's got stuck up there.

Silence over the radio...

Silence.

Leegrall laughs. Once.

LEEGRALL (V.O.)
Yeah.

DOCTOR TWO
So, if I'm being honest, no. He doesn't know, because I didn't tell him, because I didn't want to have to deal with him or see his face. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Please do send the crew in, though. It's so hard to find a good contractor these days and management really wants that hole patched up. Nobody wants their body fixed by people who can't even fix a hole in their own building.

LEEGRALL (V.O.)
Once I verify their identity, I'll send them in. Leegrall out.

Everyone exhales, as if for the first time in over a minute.

BRONZE CYBERMAN
Now, we just have to hope the owner of the truck hasn't reported it stolen yet.

THE HONCHO
We should have kidnapped him, at least until this is over.

ROSE
Someone would have reported him missing. Besides, someone could've gotten hurt.

DOCTOR TWO
Even if the truck was reported stolen, the forged plates will throw them off long enough. They won't check the vehicle serial code.

BRONZE CYBERMAN
You hope.

ROSE
We all hope.

One of Legrall's men signals he wants to show him something. Leegrall walks to the rear of the truck.

GOLDEN MONKEY
Skud.

SILVER HUMANOID
Uh oh.

DOCTOR TWO
Relax. He couldn't have found anything because we don't have any energy weapons.

THE HONCHO
Another wonderful idea, by the way.

DOCTOR TWO
Is this why you don't usually go on missions?

BRONZE CYBERMAN
Shhh. Everyone. Isn't that where they stamp the serial code on trucks?

He motions to where Leegrall and his man inspect the area around the truck's exhaust.

Everyone holds their breath.

SILVER HUMANOID
I think we might be blown here, folks.

GOLDEN MONKEY
Just relax. We're not getting away in a ground vehicle, anyway.

Leegrall nods to his man and walks back up to the driver's window with a stern expression on his face.

GOLDEN MONKEY
There a problem, officer?

LEEGRALL
Yeah, there is, actually. Something smells real funny.

In the back, Rose watches Bronze Cyberman wrap his hand tightly around the handle of a long knife.

LEEGRALL
Probably because your catalytic converter is shot.

Everyone relaxes. Leegrall hands Golden Monkey back her forged identification.

LEEGRALL
I should nail you to the wall for an emissions violation, especially in a hospital clean zone. What are you thinking?

GOLDEN MONKEY
I am so sorry, officer. I'm getting it fixed this afternoon. Seriously, it's my next stop.

LEEGRALL
Sure it is. Don't try to sneak through here again until it's fixed. Next time, I won't be so nice.

GOLDEN MONKEY
Thank you so much. You got it. Have a great day.

Golden Monkey navigates through the checkpoint.

INT. GROUND VEHICLE SERVICE PARKING LOT – ZIRA CLINIC

Golden Monkey parks the truck near a massive service freight elevator. Everyone gets out. The Honcho carries with him two large "equipment cases" he pulls from the back.

They walk over to the elevator. Rose notices a security camera pointed at them from the upper left. She avoids staring at it. When the doors open, two Tonades officers step out, leaving the lift empty. The crew enters.

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

Everyone huddles close together and stares straight forward.

DOCTOR TWO
Level forty-two.

The lift starts moving.

ROSE
I thought you said you moved the Tardis so no one would find it.

DOCTOR TWO
I did. Three feet to the left.

Rose slowly turns her head ninety degrees to look at Doctor Two. He continues to stare forward, ignoring her.

INT. FLOOR 42 - ZIRA CLINIC

The elevator doors open. The Honcho takes one step out of the elevator, plants his foot firmly on the ground, and freezes.

From inside the elevator we look out and see what spooked the Honcho... about thirty Tonades officers working the renovation site like a crime scene, including Sergeant Kale. They all turn their attention on the elevator.

THE HONCHO
Uh... hi.

KALE
This area is off limits.

THE HONCHO
Right.

KALE
State your purpose.

THE HONCHO
We were just... um... looking for the... um... plumbing.

Kale squints, confused.

GOLDEN MONKEY
He means we got a call there's a problem with the water reserve tanks up on the roof. Thought there was an access stairwell on this level.

KALE
Two floors up.

GOLDEN MONKEY
Our mistake. Level forty-four.

The elevator doors close. She waves.

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

Everyone exhales.

SILVER HUMANOID
There goes the easy way.

ROSE
(to Doctor Two)
Maybe you should have moved it three feet to the right. I'm sure that would have really thrown them off.

DOCTOR TWO
I reconfigured the camouflage to make it look like a waste disposal bin. I honestly didn't think they'd find it.

ROSE
How the hell is that guy even still alive? You guys shot him, like, a thousand times.

GOLDEN MONKEY
On stun.

ROSE
Even so.

Doctor Two pulls an actual screwdriver from his pocket and uses it to open a panel inside the elevator. Once inside, he manually turns a switch that holds the elevator in place.

DOCTOR TWO
The Tonades have incredibly thick skin, highly resistant to physical trauma. Most conventional weapons, even on max setting, don't do much against them. It's like trying to kill Bugs Bunny. You really have to get inside to put them down.

He motions to the Honcho.

DOCTOR TWO
Cases. The rest of you, strip.

Doctor Two opens the case handed to him by the Honcho. Inside is a portable computer. While he works on the computer, Golden Monkey, Silver Humanoid, and Bronze Cyberman strip off their jumpsuits. Underneath, they're wearing nurse scrubs. They put the jumpsuits in the Honcho's other case, which also contains handheld scanning equipment, six tranquilizer dart handguns, and six gas masks.

DOCTOR TWO
I'm logged in to the Tardis's operating wave. Prepare to synchronize watches.

They all hold their watches. Simultaneously, Doctor Two reactivates the elevator.

DOCTOR TWO
Reception.

The lifts heads down. He hands Rose the screwdriver and she replaces the panel. He closes the computer case.

INT. RECEPTION – ZIRA CLINIC

The elevator doors open and everyone activates their watches. Golden Monkey, Silver Humanoid, and Bronze Cyberman exit the elevator and walk over to a hallway labeled "CAFETERIA". Doctor Two, Rose, and the Honcho stay on the elevator as the doors close again.

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

Doctor Two and Rose remove their Cyberman masks. For a second time, Doctor Two opens the computer case.

DOCTOR TWO
Override initialization to sub-level.

VOICE (V.O.)
Please state project authorization.

DOCTOR TWO
Project codename "regeneration".

VOICE (V.O.)
Access granted.

The lift descends beyond the lowest floor listed and keeps going. The Honcho loads three dart guns, pockets one, hands another to Rose, and gives the last one to the Doctor. He also distributes three of the handheld scanners. Rose keeps an eye on her watch.

ROSE
Twenty seconds.

Doctor Two pockets the dart gun and continues his work at the computer.

The lift comes to a stop.

DOCTOR TWO
Disabling clinic security feed. Get ready.

He clicks a button.

INT. SURVEILLANCE ROOM – SECURITY OFFICE – ZIRA CLINIC

Chief watchdog Bupkis, and a few other watchdogs on duty, watch helplessly as all of the security monitors in front of them blink to static. Bupkis grabs a comm unit.

BUPKIS
Chief Bupkis to Lieutenant Valor. Our system just went dead again. We've got nothing.

He waits for a response.

INT. SECURED HOSPITAL ROOM - ZIRA CLINIC

Lieutenant Valor steps away from the CSI CREW investigating the damage to the Doctor's former hospital room in order to answer Bupkis on his own personal comm unit.

VALOR
Say again?

BUPKIS (V.O.)
I repeat, our entire surveillance network is down. I don't know how he's doing it, but we're totally blind up here.

Valor's eyes widen, excited.

VALOR
They're in the damn building. Lock it down. This is Valor to all checkpoints, patrols, and exit monitors. We are putting the clinic on lockdown. We have reason to believe that the Doctor and his allies have returned and are inside the building. Suspects are to be assumed armed and dangerous, to be apprehended with extreme prejudice. I knew he'd be back.

Valor marches off into the hall.

INT. CAFETERIA - ZIRA CLINIC

An alarm sounds that takes everyone in the massive cafeteria by surprise. There's a mix of shock, curiosity, and fright on everyone's faces.

Golden Monkey, Bronze Cyberman, and Silver Humanoid are holding trays and waiting in line to get food when the alarm sounds. They feign surprise. Tonades officers seal off all exits.

SILVER HUMANOID
Oh. No. How scary and totally unexpected.

While everyone else freaks out, Silver Humanoid cuts the line and snaps his fingers to get the attention of a startled SERVER.

SILVER HUMANOID
Yeah, I'd like some of those potatoes, please.

BRONZE CYBERMAN
Yeah, me too.

Golden Monkey holds her tray up in front of her face to hide a smile.

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

Doctor Two reads a last piece of information from the computer before closing the case.

DOCTOR TWO
The hospital's officially on lockdown. No one in or out.

Doctor Two, Rose, and the Honcho ready their weapons.

DOCTOR TWO
(to Rose)
Remember, you only have six shots. There's only going to be a small staff down here, but shoot only when you have a shot. This isn't Star Wars and these aren't energy weapons. Limited ammo.

ROSE
Really? So I don't have enough to shoot you right now? In the face?

The Honcho reads from his handheld scanner.

THE HONCHO
There's someone waiting on the other side of the door. Scanner says they're Canine.

DOCTOR TWO
Probably a doctor or nurse.

Doctor Two takes aim. The Honcho reaches his hand inside the open elevator panel.

THE HONCHO
Opening the door in three... two...

He mouths the word "one", then opens the doors. Standing immediately on the other side is Nurse Bormi. She is shocked when she sees them, especially Doctor Two.

BORMI
You? But you're-

Doctor Two shoots her in the neck with a tranquilizer dart. She drops immediately. The Honcho and Rose drag her inside the elevator.

DOCTOR TWO
Let's go.

They exit into...

INT. FIRST ROW - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Multiple levels are visible with silver metal walkways leading to row after row of igloo-shaped cryogenic stasis chambers. There are hundreds of them, each hooked into glowing blue cable bundles that climb the walls like vines on brick. From a distance, it's almost pretty to look at, like lights on a Christmas tree.

Doctor Two runs forward. Despite an impressive pace, and running on metal, he keeps his footsteps remarkably quiet as he makes his way to a central hub laboratory and monitoring station overlooking the different sub-levels. Inside the hub, TWIN DACHSHUND DOCTORS are oblivious to his approach, making it easy for him to stun both by shooting them in the neck from the open doorway. They each let out a muffled yelp before falling over in their chairs. He enters.

Meanwhile, Rose and the Honcho trail behind, in awe of the facility around them. They each take time to investigate one of the stasis chambers up close. Through the small port hole on the front door, we see the unmistakable frozen face of an actual Cyberman.

INT. HUB - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Inside the control center lab, Doctor Two pushes one of the unconscious Dachsunds onto the floor and steals her chair. He accesses the computer system and works furiously as Rose and The Honcho enter in after him.

DOCTOR TWO
They're keeping the humans one row down, slots thirty, thirty-six, and thirty-seven. Take the auto-rail. It's on the left. Go quickly.

ROSE
What about you?

DOCTOR TWO
There's something I need to check first. I'll be right behind you.

Rose hesitates. The Honcho notices and grabs her arm.

THE HONCHO
You heard him. Let's go!

Doctor Two looks at her with urgency in his eyes.

DOCTOR TWO
(to Rose)
Trust me.

She goes with the Honcho.

Once he's confirmed she's gone, Doctor Two gets back to work at the hub computer.

DOCTOR TWO
Come on... where are you? Tell me you're as clever as I think I am.

Some piece of information pops up on the screen that makes him smile a devious grin.

DOCTOR TWO
Really? That is interesting.

He holds up his dart gun and makes his way out.

INT. SECOND ROW - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Rose and the Honcho ride the auto-rail (a mechanical platform on a rail) down to the second row of stasis chambers. They run down the row, using handheld scanners to keep track of where they are.

THE HONCHO
Twenty, twenty-one...

A BULLDOG jumps out from behind one of the chambers, knocks Rose over, and tackles the Honcho. The two men fight over the dart gun as the bulldog wraps his meaty paw around the Honcho's throat.

Dazed, Rose shakes the cobwebs from her head. She sees the Honcho struggling with the man and points her dart gun at the bulldog. She pulls the trigger over and over in rapid succession until she's used up every last dart. The bulldog drops like a stone on top of the Honcho.

THE HONCHO
Little help?

Rose crawls over and pulls the bulldog's body off of the Honcho. They both observe the six darts in the man's chest, neck, and cheek. She looks sheepish.

ROSE
Whatever you do, don't tell him I did that.

THE HONCHO
Right.

They get to their feet and make their way over to the stasis chambers holding humans. The Honcho presses a series of buttons on the console next to the first one, which activates the quick-thaw process. Inside is a stunning human woman, RAYLENE (26), wearing white pants and a t-shirt. Her skin quickly changes from cold blue to warm and rosy. Her eyes flutter open at the same time as the Honcho pulls open the stasis chamber door.

RAYLENE
Oh my...

She slips forward, as if she's forgotten how to walk. The Honcho and Rose each reach for her as she falls. The Honcho catches her and their eyes meet. Naturally, he instantly falls in love with her.

THE HONCHO
It's all right. I have you. What's your name?

RAYLENE
Raylene. How long have I been trapped in there?

THE HONCHO
I'm afraid I don't know, but I promise you'll never have to go back in there again.

She smiles, perhaps a bit lovestruck herself in the face of her hero.

Rose opens the equipment case and throws one of the blue jumpsuits at them.

ROSE
Put that on, then help me with the other two.

Rose makes her way to the other two chambers.

INT. FOURTH ROW - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Doctor Two rides the auto-rail to the fourth row of chambers, then strolls to the middle of the aisle. He faces one of the chambers and smiles wryly at it. We can't see who or what is inside.

DOCTOR TWO
I was really hoping you were still here, but this is just too perfect.

Doctor Two presses the same series of buttons the Honcho used to open Raylene's chamber, but unlike the Honcho, he doesn't open the chamber door. He just stands outside, looking through the glass.

DOCTOR TWO
'Allo. I would ask you how it feels to be trapped inside a small cage; confused, alone, and defeated. But I already know exactly what that feels like, because of you. I have her with me... Rose. And I'm taking your Tardis. This is your fault, by the way. You broke the unbreakable law of time travel and your selfishness has damaged the entire universe. Well, don't worry. I plan to fix it. I'm going to set it right. And when I'm done, you will never have existed. You stupid fool

Doctor Two walks away. As he does, we finally see inside the stasis chamber to who is inside. It is...

The Doctor!

He pounds on the glass and screams, but his voice barely carries at all through the thick door.

INT. SECOND ROW - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Doctor Two rides the auto-rail to the second row. The Honcho and Rose lead Raylene and two human males, ZACHARIAH (16) and DERRON (24), the three of them wearing Tackard Construction blue jumpsuits, over to the auto-rail. They board and ride it back up to...

INT. FIRST ROW - THE VAULT - ZIRA CLINIC

Doctor Two, Rose, the Honcho, Raylene, Zachariah, and Derron run to...

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

The elevator moves up. The rescued humans lean on each other for support, dizzy from the affects of the cryogenic freeze.

DERRON
What year is it?

DOCTOR TWO
Sixty-thousand, four-hundred, sixty-one.

THE HONCHO
No, it isn't. That's not even close.

ROSE
He's bad with dates.

THE HONCHO
A Time Lord that's bad with dates? How does that even work?

DOCTOR TWO
If I were you, I'd be much more concerned with whether or not our escape plan is going to work.

RAYLENE
What exactly is our escape plan? What good are these costumes if the building is on lockdown?

DOCTOR TWO
They're not costumes. We sprayed them with Yuth to be resistant against hempozine gas, which can be very dangerous to those without thick skin.

The Honcho opens the case with the gas masks and starts passing them around.

INT. FLOOR 42 - ZIRA CLINIC - FLASHBACK TO A FEW MINUTES EARLIER

The elevator doors open. The Honcho takes one step out of the elevator, plants his foot firmly on the ground, and freezes.

From inside the elevator we look out and see what spooked the Honcho... about thirty Tonades officers working the renovation site like a crime scene, including Sergeant Kale. They all turn their attention on the elevator, but none of them notice the two small metal spiders that sneak their way down the Honcho's pant leg and scurry out of sight.

INT. SERVICE FREIGHT ELEVATOR – ZIRA CLINIC

Rose helps Raylene put on her gas mask as Doctor Two finishes explaining.

DOCTOR TWO
They're basically HAZMAT suits now.

The lift comes to a stop.

INT. FLOOR 42 - ZIRA CLINIC

As the elevator doors open, we hear loud coughing and moaning from Tonades officers blinded and choking on a thick yellow gas that has filled the area. It pours down on them from the ceiling, where the spiders that crawled from the Honcho's leg have settled in nicely.

DOCTOR TWO
Come on!

The six of them push through the gas. There's such little visibility, they frequently bump into the Tonades, walls, and equipment. Derron panics and tries to run too quickly. This causes him to bump into one of the Tonades. The man immediately recognizes Derron as someone who doesn't belong there, grabs him, and drags him to the ground. Zachariah tries to help, but in the ensuing struggle, his mask is pulled off. He chokes and gags on the toxic air.

Raylene makes a move to help them, but the Honcho pulls her forward.

THE HONCHO
We have to get to the Tardis.

Emerging from the yellow cloud, Sergeant Kale screams and races towards them. He grabs Raylene's arm. The Honcho shoots him with his dart gun, but the darts bounce off the man's thick skin.

KALE
(choking)
You're not going anywhere!

Rose squints from behind her mask to see through the cloud. She sees Kale throw the Honcho into a wall and repeatedly punch him in the gut. Raylene tries to help, but he throws her to one of his men.

ROSE
Doctor, wait!

Doctor Two has almost made it to the Tardis when he hears Rose shout after him. He sees what's happening and runs over to Rose. He grabs her and pulls her along.

ROSE
Wait, what are you doing? We have to help them!

DOCTOR
What we have to do is leave. Now!

Rose hears Zachariah scream in agony. She watches helplessly as Kale beats the tar out of the Honcho. She tries to help, but Doctor Two drags her outside to...

EXT. RENOVATION SITE - SOLUDEN CITY – DAY

Yellow hempozine gas spills out over the railing and down the side of the building. Doctor Two kicks a doubled over Tonades officer out of the way while simultaneously dragging Rose along.

ROSE
Let me go! We have to go back!

Doctor Two opens the lid to the "waste disposal bin", which is really the Tardis. He throws Rose inside, then gets in himself and closes the lid.

INT. TARDIS

Doctor Two stands in front of the door and blocks it so Rose can't leave.

ROSE
We have to get back out there. Get out of my way. Get out of my way!

DOCTOR TWO
No, Rose. We made it back to the Tardis. That's what matters. That's all that ever mattered.

ROSE
You promised we were going to help them.

DOCTOR TWO
I am helping them.

ROSE
By getting them killed?!

DOCTOR TWO
Don't you get it? None of this is going to happen. This is all nonsense, this whole bloody timeline; the war, the genocides, and all the death. It shouldn't be. It can't be.

ROSE
(crying)
You promised. You promised.

DOCTOR TWO
Rose, listen. Listen to me! Something happened in the past that brought about all this, something that you and I are going to change. When that happens, when we fix it, those people out there will have totally different lives, or maybe won't even be born at all. They fought every day of their lives to atone for humanity's sins, but I can stop those sins from ever happening, and isn't that even better? I can make it so none of what happened is going to stick, because we're going to fix it. You and me.

Rose breathes in, catches her breath, wipes the tears from her face. She can barely even look at him, she's so furious.

ROSE
And what happens if we can't? If we fail, and this timeline does stick, then you just abandoned those people to die horrible deaths at the hands of the Tonades. How can you live with yourself if we fail?

He straightens up, looks her square in the eyes.

DOCTOR TWO
If we fail, it will be because somebody killed us. So, I guess either way, I'll have gotten what I deserve.

He nods matter-of-factly, then walks around her on his way to the Tardis controls. He activates it. We hear the ethereal gears turn. They stare at each other, neither of them saying word.

END CREDITS ROLL

- End Episode 7 - Serial, To be Continued...-

* As always, feedback/reviews are appreciated. *