‘The Railway of Time’, Part Two, Chapter 5

5. Return to the TARDIS

Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits

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REPRISE:
Nyssa takes out the item she’s being carrying in her pocket which is apparently making a loud beeping. She observes the device carefully as it carries on beeping.

NYSSA
“Hello? Is anyone there?”

Suddenly a loud beeping is heard and Nyssa becomes startled.

NYSSA
“What was that?”

She then takes out the item she’s being carrying in her pocket. The beeping apparently is coming from this device. Nyssa observes the device carefully as it carries on beeping.

NYSSA
“This medallion! There’s a red bulb on the back! It’s glowing! But why is it beeping all of a…?”

As Nyssa ponders on this mystery, she then hears a faint growling from behind her. She turns round to see the creature that has been following her. She gives a nervous yelp as she sees the creature. The creature growls slowly as it approaches Nyssa. It is then heard whining like some lost puppy. Nyssa starts to show concern towards this strange being as she steps closer to it.

NYSSA
(concerned) “Are…are you alright?”

The creature whines a bit whilst Nyssa steps up to it.

NYSSA
(concerned) “Who are you?”

The creature whines for a while longer. The beeping from the medallion grows louder. Suddenly the monster roars out loud as it then leaps up at Nyssa. Nyssa falls back on the ground and lets out a startled cry. The monster, still growling, moves forward as it’s about to make an attack on Nyssa.

(CONTINUES INTO:)

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SCENE #47B – EXT – ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE – DAY – AUTUMN 2063

NYSSA
(cries) “Stop! Get off me!”

The monster doesn’t comply with Nyssa’s wishes as it roars fiercely. But Nyssa is determined as she remains calm and fumbles for something in her pockets.

NYSSA
“Get off me at once before I’ll…”

Nyssa then uses the medallion-like device as she presses a button and a click is heard. The beeping noise gradually turns into a high-pitch ultra-sonic sound. It causes the creature to retreat rather pathetically away from. Once the creature’s off her, Nyssa gets up to her feet. Nyssa uses the medallion-device as she approaches to tame the creature. The creature whines away like a baby, getting away from Nyssa.

NYSSA
(shaken; calmly) “That’s better! Now…why did you attack me?”

The creature doesn’t initially respond.

NYSSA
(gradually) “What is it you want? Why did you follow me to…?”

Nyssa then gasps. Even though the creature is still whining without making any sense in answering to Nyssa, there seems to be an empathic link between it and Nyssa.

NYSSA
(in pain) “My head’s still aching.” (Pause; realises) “I can feel your anxiety. Your fear. And anger.” (Pause) “That’s why I sensed a presence earlier. It was you all along.” (Pause) “And this device. The medallion. It connects you. Your brain patterns are being transferred neuro-surgically! That bulb on your collar. It’s similar to one on this medallion”

The creature slowly growls.

DOCTOR
(calls) “Nyssa? Nyssa where are you?”

The beast howls in terror, as it is heard running off across the plains.

NYSSA
(cries) “No! Wait! Come back!”

But the beast is far away as it heads off into the distance. The Doctor and Billy turn up to see Nyssa by herself.

DOCTOR
(relieved) “Nyssa! Thank goodness we’ve found you!”

BILLY
“Are you alright Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“I’m fine! Doctor…”

DOCTOR
“What were you thinking wandering off like that without giving us any warning? You could have told us you were going for a stroll by yourself.”

NYSSA
“Doctor…”

DOCTOR
“In any case you shouldn’t go off by yourself since there’s a likelihood that we might lose you altogether!”

NYSSA
“Doctor! If you will just listen to me! I was trying to…”

BILLY
(interrupts) “What’s that thing running off in the distance?”

The trio see the creature running off as it disappears in the distance.

DOCTOR
(astonished) “What indeed? And at great speed!”

NYSSA
“That’s what I was going to tell you about! That creature was what I sensed earlier. And it was from this device I was sensing its brainwaves communicating with my own latent telepathic abilities. Have a look!”

The Doctor takes the device from Nyssa and looks at it himself, fascinated by it.

DOCTOR
“Hmm. How very interesting!”

BILLY
(concerned) “Did that creature hurt you at all Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“No. It was about to attack but I was able to use that device to tame it.”

BILLY
“What was it anyway?”

NYSSA
“I don’t know. It looked like some kind of canine species.”

BILLY
“A dog!”

NYSSA
“Yes. But it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. It was large, had huge fangs and red eyes. And it seemed to have dark fur and was wearing a chain with a red bulb similar to the one on the device I found.”

BILLY
“Well it’s not a creature I’ve heard or seen of that description.”

DOCTOR
“I should think you haven’t, Billy. Zegors are not the common sorts of animals you would expect living on a planet with an atmosphere like this.”

NYSSA
(amazed) “You know what they are then Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“Yes. They’re from the planet Zeg. Though why they should happen to be here I’m not quite sure.”

NYSSA
“Then you’ve seen a device like that before!”

DOCTOR
“Yes. Though it’s not from the planet Zeg. And the Zegors certainly don’t wear them. But it does look vaguely familiar, but…I can’t quite remember where it comes from.” (Pause) “But you’re right Nyssa. It does happen to generate nerve induction patterns for controlling its victims.”

BILLY
I’m not following all of this. Zegors?

NYSSA
And it happens to generate forty kilohertz of cyclic sound pressure.

DOCTOR
Really?

The Doctor clicks a button which radiates a high ultra-sound. The sound blares which causes the three of them to be slightly deterred by the sound effect. The Doctor immediately switches it off.

DOCTOR
Oh yes. Definitely ultrasound!

BILLY
(startled) You’re telling me! It had me ears off!

DOCTOR
Hmm! I better put this medallion in my pocket for the time being.

The Doctor slips the device in his coat pocket, patting on it.

NYSSA
“Doctor. That’s hardly the device for a nineteen sixty-three society.”

DOCTOR
“We’re no longer in nineteen sixty-three, Nyssa. We’re in twenty sixty-three! This one pound coin that Billy found confirms it.”

NYSSA
“What?”

BILLY
“How can we be in twenty sixty-three? It’s just not possible!”

DOCTOR
“Oh it is. With the right type of trans-dimensional and translucent technology.”

NYSSA
“That explains the train jerks we had on our journey from Huttle to Kelton. Those must have been the disruptions in the time-tracks. The source of the temporal anomaly.”

DOCTOR
“Yes. Or at least part of the source. Temporal anomalies can stretch as far as elastic bands can stretch to a degree around a bundle of paper.”

BILLY
(confused) “Sorry. Still not following this.”

DOCTOR
“No time to explain. We must get to Kelton immediately before something terrible happens.”

BILLY
“Like what?”

DOCTOR
“I don’t know! We’re in a different time-zone to the one we just left! And I want to know why that is! So come on!”

The Doctor immediately heads off back on the road to Kelton whilst Billy and Nyssa follow after him.

BILLY
“I’m at a loss!”

NYSSA
“Come on. If I know the Doctor he’ll want to get things clear for himself before he can explain anything!”

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SCENE #48 – EXT – LUTTON STREET, KELTON  – DAY – AUTUMN 2063
Minutes later, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy eventually arrive in Kelton . As they arrive, the place is not all as it seems.

DOCTOR
(triumphantly) “Here we are! Kelton! Walking through Lutton Street according to the sign.”

NYSSA
“It’s so cold and damp here! What time is it?”

DOCTOR
“No idea! Let’s explore and see what we can find!” (to Billy) “Are you alright Billy?”

BILLY
“It’s just seeing Kelton like this. It certainly is run down as Kelton station is.”

NYSSA
“It’s abandoned. Like nobody’s lived here in years.”

DOCTOR
“And we still haven’t found Mr. Adams, yet.”

NYSSA
“Yes. I wonder where he is.”

BILLY
“How come it’s so different to when I last saw it back in nineteen sixty-three?”

DOCTOR
“Well that’s what you get when you travel in time, Billy. Things change over the course of a number of decades. Things never stay the same.”

BILLY
“You’re telling me. I still can’t understand how we got to time travel on a train. It just seems ludicrous.”

DOCTOR
“Yes, well never mind about that.” (Pause) “Ah! There’s the village hall clock up ahead. It says half past eleven on there.”

BILLY
“So it does.”

DOCTOR
“And now I know why it feels so cold here! It’s because it’s autumn!”

NYSSA
“Autumn? But when we left in Huttle it was spring.”

DOCTOR
“Spring! Summer! Autumn! Winter! What’s the difference?”

NYSSA
“Anyway how can you tell its Autumn?”

DOCTOR
“Well…because…I can taste the air with my tongue.” (Pause) “And also because of the date underneath the clock on the clock tower confirming my claim.”

NYSSA
(gaily) “Oh yes. 19th October 2063. Must have been the first thing you spotted on the clock.”

DOCTOR
“I did taste the air first before looking at the clock!”

NYSSA
“Of course.”

BILLY
(interrupts) “Doctor? Why don’t we ask for help on where Mr. Adams is? Or about what’s going on here?”

DOCTOR
“I’m very happy to make inquires, Billy. But who would you suggest?”

BILLY
“The police. Why don’t we go over to that police box in the street corner and phone for help?”

DOCTOR
(astonished) “What did you say?”

BILLY
“The police box! In that corner. Why don’t we go to it to get some help?”

The three of them look to see what happens to be a police box in the street corner as Billy implies.

NYSSA
(amazed) “The TARDIS!”

BILLY
(baffled) “Sorry, what did you say?”

DOCTOR
“It can’t be!”

The Doctor makes his way over to the police box with Nyssa and Billy following him.

BILLY
“Yes, that’s what I thought when I saw it. A London police box in a village like Kelton?”

They soon arrive at the blue object, as the Doctor observes it carefully.

DOCTOR
“It just can’t be!”

NYSSA
“Is it the TARDIS?”

DOCTOR
(puzzled) “Well I don’t know. It could just be an ordinary police box.”

The Doctor fumbles in his coat pocket and takes out the TARDIS key to see if he can try and open the lock of the door.

BILLY
“You’ve got a key?”

The Doctor turns the key of the police box over the lock slowly, thinking it won’t open. The box door eventually opens inward, and the Doctor staggers back. We can hear the vibrations coming from within.

DOCTOR
(amazed) “It is the TARDIS!”

NYSSA
(astonished) “Are you sure?”

DOCTOR
“Positive! Come on! Let’s go in!”

The Doctor goes into the TARDIS followed by Nyssa, whilst Billy remains baffled.

BILLY
“Why are we going inside a police box?”

Seeing his friends go inside, Billy follows after them as he enters the TARDIS. None of the trio realise that as they just entered, a mysterious presence passes by in the street-ways, as he has with him a ferocious creature growling on a chain.

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SCENE #49 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor and Nyssa make their way over to the console to check the systems.

NYSSA
“It is the TARDIS! Our TARDIS!”

DOCTOR
“Yes!”

NYSSA
“But how can that be so? When we left the TARDIS, it was at Huttle in 1963.”

The Doctor hums to himself checking the TARDIS systems, as he presses a number of buttons on one of the panels.

DOCTOR
“All systems check. The chromo-dimensional drones are still functioning. So are the flux capacitors! And the fluid links. Nothing seems to be tampered. Everything’s as it should be!”

NYSSA
“Doctor? It couldn’t be…you know…”

DOCTOR
“Oh I do hope not. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he was the one behind everything that’s going on!”

NYSSA
(realises) “Oh of course it isn’t. Look! Your table’s still broken up on the floor from where we played ‘snap’.”

DOCTOR
(relieved) “Oh yes! So it is! That’s a relief!”

NYSSA
“Maybe there’s something in the TARDIS flight database that might tell us how it’s ended up here in Kelton 2063.”

DOCTOR
“Yes. I’ll just open the database up on the monitor.”

Whilst the Doctor does that, Nyssa looks around.

NYSSA
“Where’s Billy?”

DOCTOR
(looks around) “I don’t know.”

NYSSA
“Was he in here?”

DOCTOR
(calls) “Billy? Billy?”

BILLY
“Yes?”

The Doctor and Nyssa see Billy come back in.

NYSSA
“Oh thank goodness. I thought you were inside here with us?”

BILLY
(bewildered) “I-I was…but I went outside again and…” (amazed) “This police box! It’s huge!” (Pause) “I…I just can’t fathom it out! It’s…it’s…”

DOCTOR
(tetchy) “…bigger on the inside than it is on the outside! Yes I would love to introduce you to the theories of transcendentalism and the fourth dimension, but I really need to check up on something!”

The Doctor activates the monitors to access the TARDIS flight database.

BILLY
(flabbergasted) “But…it’s amazing! How can this be?”

NYSSA
(gaily) “You’ve just entered the Doctor’s TARDIS, Billy.”

BILLY
“TARDIS? That’s what you call it!”

NYSSA
“It’s the Doctor’s mode of transport. And unlike trains, it does travel in time and space.”

BILLY
(takes it in) “This is a time machine?”

NYSSA
“That’s why it’s called the TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimensions In Space.”

Billy continues to take in the whole interior of the TARDIS.

BILLY
(mesmerised) “It’s an awfully big police box!”

Moment of silence.

NYSSA
(gradually; to Doctor) “Have you found out more about how the TARDIS came to Kelton, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
(focused) “Just checking…” (Pause) “Ah ha! Found it!”

NYSSA
“What does it say?”

The Doctor reads the information off from the monitors.

DOCTOR
(absorbed) “Hmm. Yes.” (Pause) “The TARDIS apparently did leave from Huttle village at around two o’clock on the fourth of March, nineteen sixty-three…”

NYSSA
(astonished) “That’s the day when we left Huttle on the train journey.”

DOCTOR
“…and arrived in Kelton at eleven o’clock on nineteenth of October, twenty sixty-three.”

BILLY
“But that’s today.”

NYSSA
“The TARDIS has only been in Kelton for half an hour!”

DOCTOR
“So at some point the TARDIS will be travelling from Huttle nineteen sixty-three, to be taken to twenty sixty-three to arrive in Kelton.”

NYSSA
“That’s seems fairly logical, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“It’s only a theory. We don’t know who will take the TARDIS from nineteen sixty-three to twenty sixty-three. It could be anyone!”

NYSSA
“Only you can control the TARDIS!”

DOCTOR
“That may not always be the case, Nyssa.”

The three of them become silent as they ponder on this current mystery.

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SCENE #50 – EXT – LUTTON STREET, KELTON – DAY – AUTUMN 2063
Outside in Lutton Street, we hear a crowd of fairly drunk people outside a pub as they throw somebody out. The person happens to be Mr. Adams, and he lands on the pavement in a muddy state. Adams is bruised and flustered but unharmed as he spits the pieces of mud out that have hit him on his mouth.

ADAMS
(splutters) “Mud.”

The crowd who threw Mr. Adams out make their way to go back inside the pub. Some of the crowd jeer at him.

MALE LOCAL
(jeers) “Have a nice trip back to funny farm, mate!”

FEMALE LOCAL
(mocks) “Yeah. Get on your bike, old man!”

As the crowd head back into the pub, Adams is agitated by his rough experience.

ADAMS
(shouts angrily) “Philistines! I’ll find somebody else who can help me! At least they’ll have some sense.”

The locals ignore him dismissively, as they are back inside the pub. Adams is still frustrated and anxious. He gets on his feet as he makes to leave.

ADAMS
(angrily) “Yes. That’s what I’ll do! I’ll show them!”

Adams then heads off in the distance to find help and walks down the street.

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SCENE #51 – EXT – LUTTON STREET, KELTON – DAY – AUTUMN 2063
A while later, Adams is strolling about as he is uncertain and concerned about everything that is happening here. He finds it hard to come to terms with everything that has changed in Kelton. He soon stops as he ponders on what to do next.

ADAMS
“Oh I don’t know.” (Pause) “This is madness. The people are unfriendly. The climate’s changed. The whole place stinks! What’s happened to Kelton?”

He then turns round as he looks up.

ADAMS
“Even the clock’s not right! Fancy the clock workmanship degrading!” (sighs) “And where’s that cricket-man of a Doctor? I suppose he and his young friends managed to find some help and not bother to come after me. Including that boy. I would have thought he would have some consideration for his elders!”

Still contemplating on what to do, Adams continues walking on as he tries to find some help.

ADAMS
(quietly) “It’s at times like this when I miss my Alice. I wonder what she’s doing now.” (chuckles) “Probably making those Danish pastries she makes for me!”

Adams continues walking, until eventually he comes to a stop as he spots something out of the corner of his eye.

ADAMS
(thrilled) “A police box! Oh thank God! Now I can get some real help!”

Adams makes his way over to the police box, as he’s about to make a phone call. He stops in his tracks.

ADAMS
“What’s a metropolitan police box doing in a place like this?”

Pondering on this for a while, Adams dismisses the notion and carries on making his way toward the police box. Adams eventually reaches the police box.

ADAMS
“Ah! Excellent! Now…” (reads aloud) “‘Police Telephone. Free For Use Of Public…”

Whilst Adams reaches the police box, the mysterious presence with the ferocious creature nearby watches. The agent who watches speaks into a communicator which has the same sounds as the device used by Jeffries in ‘Part One’. The voice of the agent is cold and sinister with a harsh hissing rasping sound, almost lizard-like.

VEGRON AGENT #1
“There are suspects in the area. What do you want me to do?”

The agent listens in as he receives contact with whoever he is communicating with. A few minutes later…

VEGRON AGENT #2
“Very well.” (to his pet) “They said it will be dealt with.”

The ferocious creature responds barking very loudly, whilst the agent looks on to see Adams about to make a call as he finishes reading the sign on the police box.

ADAMS
(finishes) “…Officers and Cars Respond To Urgent Calls. Pull To Open.’ Right!”

Adams pulls the telephone out of the box as he seemingly is about to make a phone call.

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SCENE #52 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor enters the console room carrying some items whilst Nyssa and Billy have been waiting.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Here we are. Sorry to keep you two waiting.”

NYSSA
“What were you doing in there?”

DOCTOR
“Collecting these. A new frequency modulator, which I’ll keep to myself. And a temporal balance diode thryistor. These will help us to measure readings better with the time disturbances.”

NYSSA
(concerned) “Are you sure you should take them out of the TARDIS, Doctor? Would we be disturbing the temporal balance if we move anything?”

DOCTOR
“Oh surely the rules can bend a bit, Nyssa.”

NYSSA
“You can’t take the risk.”

BILLY
“Do we need the gadgets?”

NYSSA
“The frequency modulator and the diode thryistor can help with tracking the time barriers that occur on this railway, Billy. The information in the TARDIS banks will be limited to provide us with answers we require.”

DOCTOR
“And since there are very odd disturbances in the time track already regarding the train jerks and the coincidence of the TARDIS being here in Kelton, I’m not surprised. On the subject of getting more information I suggest we try to be a bit local to start.” (thinks; to Billy) “Billy? Is there a library in Kelton?”

BILLY
“Uh, yes. There should be.”

DOCTOR
“Well you and Nyssa can go there to see if there’s anything more about the train disappearances in 1963 up to the present day. If there’s a pattern with these train disappearances by this point, then we should be getting somewhere.”

NYSSA
“What about you, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Oh I’ll see if I can chat up some of the locals in Kelton. Try some of the shops. Newsagents and such. I’m sure it won’t do any harm to make a few enquires?”

NYSSA
“Will we need to come back to the TARDIS, Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“I don’t think so. Beside I doubt that the TARDIS will even be here when we get back.”

NYSSA
“Then we should be on our way, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
“Of course. Come on. Let’s go.”

As they are about to make their way out, the Doctor pulls the door-level on the console, which opens the doors.

BILLY
“Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Yes Billy.”

BILLY
(hesitant) “May I ask you a personal question?”

DOCTOR
“Of course.”

BILLY
(gradually) “Well, I don’t want to sound rude. But…are you an alien?”

DOCTOR
(gradually) “Yes Billy. I am.” (Pause) “Come on.”

The Doctor heads out of the TARDIS with Nyssa following behind her. Billy remains silent for a moment, as he ponders on the answer the Doctor gave to his question.

BILLY
“Thought so.”

Billy then follows after the Doctor and Nyssa as they head out of the TARDIS.

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SCENE #53 – EXT – LUTTON STREET, KELTON  – DAY – AUTUMN 2063
Outside, Adams is getting frustrated with the telephone he is using in the police box, as it’s not working.

ADAMS
“Work! Work you stupid thing!”

Adams bangs the phone on the police box door.

ADAMS
“Why won’t you work?”

Adams keeps on banging at the door, before the Doctor steps out.

DOCTOR
(annoyed) “Would you mind not banging against the door, please!?”

ADAMS
(surprised) “Doctor?”

DOCTOR
“Mr. Adams!”

ADAMS
“But…?”

DOCTOR
“And by the way! That phone doesn’t work! So put it back where you found it!”

ADAMS
(confused) “Err…?”

The Doctor steps out of the police box, whilst Nyssa and Billy follow.

NYSSA
“Oh. Mr. Adams!”

BILLY
“Thank goodness you’re alright!”

ADAMS
(surprised) “I…”

DOCTOR
“Now! You two know what to do?”

NYSSA
“Yes Doctor.”

BILLY
“Oh. Where shall we meet up after we’re finished our set tasks?”

DOCTOR
“Do you know where we can meet up, Billy?”

BILLY
“Well there is a nice café on Howard’s Road that we can meet up. Mr. Adams will know it too.”

DOCTOR
(to Adams) “Mr. Adams. Would you help me in some investigating?”

ADAMS
(baffled) “I…err…”

DOCTOR
“Splendid.” (to Nyssa; Billy) “See you two later at…what’s the cafe called?”

BILLY
“Oh yes. Um, it’s called Jack’s Corner.”

DOCTOR
“Well I’ll meet you there then.”

NYSSA
“Come on, Billy. Take me to this library. I certainly would like to see what information resources they have.”

BILLY
“Yes Nyssa. We should get there in ten minutes. It isn’t really far from where we are…”

Nyssa and Billy head off for the library, whilst the Doctor attends to Mr. Adams.

DOCTOR
“Come on, Mr. Adams. We’ve got some work to do.”

The Doctor leads on. Adams is left baffled and bewildered before he eventually follows the Doctor.

ADAMS
(calls) Oy! Wait for me!

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  © Tim Bradley, 2016

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