13. Signal Box Trouble
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
REPRISE:
BILLY
(shocked) “Doctor! She’s got a gun!”
SINCLAIR
“That’s right! And as you’ll see it is pointing straight at the Doctor’s head!”
NYSSA
(cries) “Doctor! Get down!”
SINCLAIR
(jeers) “Goodbye, Doctor!”
But before Sinroth opens fire on the Doctor and friends, there is the shimmering and whooshing sound in the Vegron throne room. All four are astonished and amazed as they see the TARDIS arriving.
DOCTOR
(amazed) “Look!”
NYSSA
(amazed) “The TARDIS! The TARDIS is here!”
BILLY
(baffled) “Where did that come from?”
SINCLAIR
(irritated) “What is this…intrusion?”
They watch as the TARDIS materialises, making a thumping sound as it lands. Moment of silence.
NYSSA
(astonished) “There can’t be someone in there surely!”
Just then, the door opens.
BILLY
(anticipates) “No wait! Look! There’s someone coming out!” (Pause) “Hey..?”
DOCTOR
(disbelieving) “What the…?”
They look as three people step out of the TARDIS. It is the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy.
SINCLAIR
(irritated) “What is this meaning of this?”
DOCTOR (2)
(cheerfully; to Sinroth) “Hello Sinroth! Been quite a while hasn’t it!” (concerned) “Oh dear. This is a problem.”
DOCTOR
(puzzled) “I agree!”
NYSSA (2)
“Doctor, that’s me!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “And that’s me!”
BILLY
(shocked) “I must be going mad!”
BILLY (2)
“Me too! I’m seeing double!”
DOCTOR; DOCTOR (2)
“This is going to get very confusing!”
NYSSA; NYSSA (2)
“Oh no!”
BILLY; BILLY (2)
“Oh dear!”
(CONTINUES INTO:)
SCENE #126B – INT – THRONE ROOM, VEGRON BASE – DAY – SUMMER 2163
SINCLAIR
(angrily) “Is this some kind of trick?”
DOCTOR (2)
(insistently) “Nyssa! Billy! Move away from the TARDIS!”
NYSSA (2)
(confused) “But Doctor…?”
DOCTOR (2)
(shouts) “Just do it!!”
BILLY (2)
(realises) “I see what you mean now!”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy who have just arrived move quickly away from the TARDIS, whilst the other Doctor, Nyssa and Billy look astonished.
DOCTOR
“What in great Gallifrey is going on…?”
DOCTOR (2)
(interrupts) “No time to explain! You get yourself and your Nyssa and Billy into the TARDIS right now!”
DOCTOR
“Why…?”
DOCTOR (2)
(raises voice) “Please! Time is short! You must get into the TARDIS!”
BILLY
“What do we do, Doctor?”
NYSSA
“I’m not sure we should trust them!”
NYSSA (2)
“Never mind about trusting us! Just get into the TARDIS now!”
BILLY (2)
“Yeah! Otherwise I won’t get here!”
DOCTOR (2)
“Billy, don’t make it worse!”
BILLY (2)
“Sorry.”
SINCLAIR
(shouts) “Enough of this madness!” (to Clag and Vegrons) “Excellency! Soldiers! Arrest all of them!”
DOMUS CLAG
“As you command, dear.”
Clag and the Vegrons move forward.
BILLY (2)
(wryly) “Here we go again.”
NYSSA
“Doctor?!”
DOCTOR
(determined) “Come on! We go in! Mustn’t argue with ourselves!”
The first Doctor, Nyssa and Billy run towards the TARDIS as they make to go in.
SINCLAIR
(cries) “No! Shoot them! Fire! Fire I say!”
The Vegrons raise their guns and fire at the first Doctor, Nyssa and Billy as they go into the TARDIS. The scene ends with an array of shots firing all over the place.
SCENE #127 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Fortunately, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy manage to get into the TARDIS barely without a shot or a scratch on them. The Doctor pushes the lever of the TARDIS interior door once they’re inside.
BILLY
(relieved) “Cripes! Thank goodness we escaped that one!” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa, are you alright?”
NYSSA
“I’m fine! And you?”
BILLY
“Yeah not so bad! Bit shaken though.” (to Doctor) “Doctor…?”
DOCTOR
(agitated) I’m fine, Billy! Don’t spoil my concentration now!
NYSSA
We’re taking off?
DOCTOR
What else can we do?
The Doctor presses a number of switches on the console as he makes for the TARDIS to dematerialise and take off. There is a loud thump and a slow whirring begins followed by a loud whooshing. As the TARDIS takes off, it jerks slightly as the trio fall forward onto the console. They regain their balance once the TARDIS is in flight.
DOCTOR
Sorry, Billy. Should have warned you about the turbulence.
BILLY
That’s alright, Doctor. I’m quite ready for anything really. (Pause) What was all that about back there? Did I just see another me; another you Doctor and another you Nyssa?
NYSSA
We all did, Billy. (thinks) Perhaps it’s androidisation.
BILLY
“Androids? Well who could be capable of creating androids like us?”
DOCTOR
“No. Not androids?”
NYSSA
“Then clones? It must something to do with cloning!”
DOCTOR
“You’re forgetting relevant facts about all this, Nyssa?”
BILLY
“Facts about what?”
DOCTOR
“Well…the fact that we’ve travelled in time on a train and the TARDIS is a time machine!”
NYSSA
(thinks) “Of course! Temporal paradox! Where one or more people are the cause of an event in the past that becomes their own future!”
DOCTOR
Precisely!
NYSSA
But, how come we didn’t destroy the universe? If we encountered versions of ourselves from the future, wouldn’t that cause a temporal implosion?
DOCTOR
Ah well never mind, Nyssa. Time for explaining later.
The Doctor works hard at the console pressing switches.
BILLY
(to Nyssa) I’m finding it really strange to see you and the Doctor talking about things which are completely beyond me.
NYSSA
You’ve been able to accept the fact we’re now travelling in time and space in the TARDIS.
BILLY
Yes! I still find it amazing that we’re actually flying! If ‘flying’ is the right word.
NYSSA
(gradually) Where are we going, Doctor?
DOCTOR
“Huttle, nineteen sixty-three!”
BILLY
“Oh home!” (Pause) “Why go there Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(firm; seriously) Because it’s the first place where Sinroth plans to plant one of her bombs on the railway line from Huttle to Kelton in order for the time-space balance to collapse!
NYSSA
And one of her agents will plant it next to the tunnel when the train enters!
DOCTOR
Precisely! (apprehensively) Hold on tight, you two! We’re on our way!
The trio hold onto the TARDIS again, as the Doctor presses a few switches to initiate the journey.
SCENE #128 – EXT – TIME VORTEX – N/A
The TARDIS swiftly makes it journey down the time vortex as it travels back in time to 1963 to arrive in Huttle. It crashes from side to side in the time vortex as it zooms quickly to finish its journey.
SCENE #129 – EXT – HUTTLE VILLAGE – DAY – SPRING 1963
Eventually, the TARDIS materialises in Huttle village in exactly the same place where they last left the TARDIS before in ‘Part One’. The TARDIS makes a loud thump as she lands in Huttle. The TARDIS doors open as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy immediately step out into the open.
BILLY
“This agent who’s planting the bomb in Huttle maybe anywhere at any time! How are we going to catch him?”
NYSSA
(disturbed) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“What is it, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“There’s another police box opposite us! That’s our TARDIS isn’t it?”
DOCTOR
“Yes Nyssa!”
NYSSA
“The one we left in Huttle when we first arrived!”
DOCTOR
“Yes! It’s still got the ‘DO NOT ENTER’ sign on the door!”
NYSSA
“There are now two TARDISes!” (bewildered) “How come we’ve travelled in the TARDIS and the TARDIS is still here in Huttle?”
BILLY
“That doesn’t make any sense!”
A train whistles not far away, as it begins to chug close to where they are.
BILLY
“Doctor. That train!”
DOCTOR
(concerned) “Yes. I wonder if that’s…”
Just then Mrs. Greenford, the post lady walks up to meet the trio.
MRS GREENFORD
“Why Billy, my dear!”
BILLY
“Mrs. Greenford! How are you?”
MRS GREENFORD
“I’m very well, thanks.”
BILLY
(to Doctor; Nyssa) “Oh. This is Mrs. Greenford the post lady! Mrs. Greenford, this is the Doctor and Nyssa.”
DOCTOR
“How do you do?”
NYSSA
“Yes. Hello.”
MRS GREENFORD
“Pleased to meet you I’m sure!” (to Billy) “So you decided not to go on the train after all, Billy! Well I’m glad you took my advice!”
BILLY
“Sorry Mrs. Greenford? What do you mean I decided not to go on the train?”
MRS GREENFORD
“Well the eleven thirty! I presumed seeing you here you decided not to go on it in the end!”.”
NYSSA
“Eleven thirty!”
DOCTOR
“That means that we…”
In the distance, there are shouts and calls as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy run on the platform at Huttle station. This is a reprisal of Scene #23 from ‘Part One’ as Nyssa attempts to board the train with the Doctor and Billy helping her.
DOCTOR
(calls) “Nyssa, come on!” (Pause) “Come on Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(breathlessly) “Doctor! I can’t go on! I’m not going to make it!”
BILLY
(calls) “Yes you are, Nyssa! You can do it!”
DOCTOR
(calls) “Yes Nyssa, just run a bit further and we’ll bring you aboard!”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy ‘in Huttle village’ are astonished to see and hear their own past repeating before them.
NYSSA
“Doctor, those are our voices!”
DOCTOR
“Yes Nyssa!”
BILLY
(flabbergasted) “We’ve arrived at when we got Nyssa onto the train at Huttle station!”
DOCTOR
“Yes! And the train’s making its journey towards the tunnel to Kelton 2063!” (determined) “We must get to that tunnel at once!”
MRS GREENFORD
(confused) “Sorry Billy. What is this young gentleman saying here?”
BILLY
“I’ll explain later Mrs. Greenford” (to Doctor) “But how are we going to get to the tunnel Doctor? We don’t even have any proper transport!”
NYSSA
“We don’t even know how we’re going to handle the problem to stop the bombs exploding!”
DOCTOR
(frustrated) “Stop creating problems, you two! I want solutions! Solutions to solve the problems!”
MRS GREENFORD
(interrupts) “Did you say you needed transport?”
DOCTOR
“Yes! Do you have any, Mrs. Greenford?”
MRS GREENFORD
“Well there’s the post van if you need it? It’s around the back of the post office! Eddie the postman usually has it, but it’s his day off! So you should be able to use it! Provided you can return it!”
DOCTOR
(apprehensive) “Come on Nyssa! Billy! After that train!”
BILLY
(worried) “Do you know how to drive a post van, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Of course I do! I have a knack with cars!”
NYSSA
“But Doctor! It might not get us to the tunnel before Kelton fast enough!”
DOCTOR
“Nonsense! Come on!”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy run on as they make to find the post office van.
SCENE #130 – EXT – COUNTRY ROAD – DAY – SPRING 1963
A while later, the train express chugs on the railway track making its journey to Kelton, whistling on the way. A fair distance away on the country road, the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy driving alongside the train express at top speed in the post van. The Doctor is determined as he drives the van, attempting to overtake the train alongside.
NYSSA
(anxiously) “Doctor, slow down! You’re driving too fast!”
BILLY
“Yes Doctor! Save the Earth by all means! But please spare Nyssa and me!”
DOCTOR
(determined) “We’ve got to get to the tunnel at once! We must prevent Sinroth from gaining power with the time-space balance disturbed!”
NYSSA
“But even if we did get to the tunnel, we’ll be too late to stop the train from entering the tunnel once that agent of Sinroth’s sets off the bomb!”
DOCTOR
“I’m well aware of that, Nyssa!”
NYSSA
“So there’s little chance of achieving what we’ve set out to do!”
DOCTOR
“We’ve got to try though Nyssa! That’s all, we’ve got to try!”
NYSSA
(reasonably) “But trying might not be enough Doctor! We’ve got to think through this one step at a time!”
DOCTOR
(agitated) “Alright! What is it you suggest we do Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“We first need to find a way to stop the train in order to give us time!”
Moment of silence.
BILLY
“What about the signal box!”
DOCTOR
“Pardon?”
BILLY
“There’s a signal box on the way to the tunnel before Kelton! Why don’t we get the signalman to stop the train for us?”
DOCTOR
“Good thinking Billy!”
NYSSA
“Is the signal box far?”
BILLY
“No it shouldn’t be! We’re nearly approaching it as we speak!”
DOCTOR
“Good!” (to Nyssa) “Nyssa! You and Billy go to the signal box and see if you can stop the train!”
NYSSA
“What about you though?”
DOCTOR
“I’ll sort out the agent!” (reassuringly) “Don’t worry! I’ll pick you and Billy up once I’ve finished with him…or her. In the meantime, you two stop that train!”
BILLY
“Works for me!”
NYSSA
“Yes!”
DOCTOR
“Right! Now we know what we’re doing! Should be easy!”
The van zooms down the road ahead of the train, whilst the train chugs on making its way to the tunnel.
SCENE #131 – INT – SIGNAL BOX – DAY – SPRING 1963
Meanwhile, in the signal box, the signalman has come back in for his shift as he has a round of sandwiches to eat for lunch. He shuts the door of the signal box behind him when going in. He sits down in a chair and munches away at his sandwich.
SIGNALMAN
(munching) “Hmm! Cheese and tomato!” (Pause) “Lovely stuff!”
There is a loud ding in the room and the signalman splutters some of his sandwich. He’s irritated once he hears the sound and stands up slowly from his chair. He moves grudgingly over to the signals.
SIGNALMAN
(groans) “Just when I’m about to relax a stinking train comes!” (Pause) “Probably the eleven thirty that’s just come from Huttle already! Bah!”
The signalman approaches the levers to pull the signals at the railway track in order for the train to go by. He grabs one of the levers.
SIGNALMAN
(groans) “What a life this is, huh!”
Just then, the door opens as someone has just walked in. The signalman looks up to see.
SIGNALMAN
(shouts) “Now hang on! Hang on! You can’t be up here, you’re…” (changes tune) “Oh…err…hello there! Nice to see you!”
It is the 1963 version of Miss Sinclair as she is young and beautiful.
SINCLAIR
(charmingly) “Nice to see you too…Mr Signal Man!”
SCENE #132 – EXT – RAILWAY TRACK – DAY – SPRING 1963
Outside the signal box, Nyssa and Billy are heard running on the railway track heading for the signal box. They huff and puff as they run to the box.
BILLY
“There it is! The signal box!”
NYSSA
“Let’s hope no-one’s in there! It would be inefficient if someone interrupted us!”
BILLY
“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, Nyssa! Someone’s just left the door open!”
NYSSA
(sighs) “Ah that’s a shame! Unless the signalman’s co-operative we may have a problem!”
BILLY
“Well in any case we’ll need him Nyssa! We can’t stop the train with the signal levers by ourselves?”
NYSSA
“Don’t you know anything about signal boxes?”
BILLY
(glumly) “Not as much as I know about time travel boxes!”
NYSSA
(wryly) “Oh that’s great!”
BILLY
“I’d thought you’d be able to handle technical stuff!”
NYSSA
“I analyse the technology before putting it to use! Since this technology would be primitive it’d take time for me to assess it!”
BILLY
“Let’s go in!”
Billy and Nyssa climb up the steps to the signal box, as they make to go inside.
SCENE #133 – INT – SIGNAL BOX – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back inside the signal box, the signalman warmly greets Sinclair who’s just entered.
SIGNALMAN
“And err…what can I do for you Miss Sinclair? This is a pleasure for me seeing you in my…little signal box!”
SINCLAIR
“Oh don’t mind me, sir. Just carry on with whatever it is you’re doing! I want to see that you’re sending the train to Kelton!”
SIGNALMAN
“Miss Sinclair, you can watch any train any time you like!”
Just then, Billy and Nyssa burst into the signal box out of breath. The signalman is flabbergasted once he sees the two newcomers in his signal box.
SIGNALMAN
(irritated) “What are you two doing here? Get out of my box at once! You’re not allowed up here!”
NYSSA
“What a state this place is! Such a mess!”
SIGNALMAN
“Oi! Watch it girl!”
BILLY
(horrified) “Oh no, Nyssa! It’s her!”
NYSSA
“Sinclair!”
Sinclar raises her gun at Nyssa; Billy and the signalman.
SINCLAIR
“Stay where you both are!”
SIGNALMAN
“What in heaven’s name is this?”
SINCLAIR
“And that includes you too, signalman!”
SIGNALMAN
“But…but…”
SINCLAIR
(threateningly) “And if anyone moves, I’ll shoot to kill!”
Nyssa and Billy remain where they are, whilst the signalman is flabbergasted by what’s happening with Sinclair pointing a gun at them.
SCENE #134 – EXT – RAILWAY TRACK – DAY – SPRING 1963
At the entrance to the tunnel where the train for Kelton is to enter, the first Vegron agent is about to plant his bomb as ordered by Sinroth. A Zegor beast is chained nearby to the arch of the tunnel. barking and growling as it is seemingly impatient. The agent places the bomb-like device onto the railway track as he presses some switches to charge it. The bomb makes beeping sounds as it is being fully charged. The agent then gets up from the ground, as he takes out his temporal communicator from his pocket. As he speaks, the Zegor growls ferociously.
VEGRON AGENT #1
(through communicator) I have planted the bomb directly on the railway track that leads into the tunnel.
Moment of silence as the Vegron agent listens to the person communicating with him.
VEGRON AGENT #1
(through communicator) Very well. I’ll wait until the train passes!
The Vegron agent stops talking into his communicator, as he attends to the Zegor beast to release its chain from the arch. The Zegor barks profusely once it’s released.
VEGRON AGENT #1
“Down smut! The master says for us to wait until the train enters the tunnel and close off the transfer point via detonating the bomb!”
They are both interrupted as the Doctor arrives.
DOCTOR
“Oh I really hate bombs and explosions! They’re not as spectacular as life itself! Of course I suppose you don’t care about life! Only money! A shame to see in a Vegron!”
VEGRON AGENT #1
(hisses) “Your timing is expected Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Is it? I’m flattered!”
VEGRON AGENT #1
“And you’re now about to attempt to dispose of the bomb as my master commands!”
DOCTOR
“Which one? The Clag or the Roth?”
VEGRON AGENT #1
(hisses) “I’ve anticipated your arrival, Doctor! And I won’t let you get in my way!”
DOCTOR
“Well I’d like to see you try!”
VEGRON AGENT #1
“Well I won’t have to!” (to Zegor) “You! Zegor! Seize him! And kill him!””
The Zegor growls, as the agent drops the chain and the animal charges at the Doctor. The Doctor is staggered as he falls back giving a cry as the Zegor jumps onto him and attacks him.
SCENE #135 – INT – SIGNAL BOX – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back in the signal box, Sinclair still threatens Nyssa and Billy with a gun, whilst the signalman looks on in astonishment. Nyssa slowly moves forward.
SINCLAIR
“Don’t move!”
NYSSA
(casually) “What did you say?”
SINCLAIR
(shouts) “I said, don’t move!”
BILLY
“Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(reassuring) “It’s alright Billy!” (to Sinclair) “I really would put down that gun, Miss Sinclair!”
SINCLAIR
Don’t bother with pleasantries! You know who I already am! I’m Sinroth! And you will stay right where you are girl!
NYSSA
I really wouldn’t…
SINCLAIR
(yells) Stay right where you are!
Nyssa then takes out the medallion device from her pocket and switches it on. It emits a loud ultra-sonic sound. All four are irritated and in pain by the blaring sound. Nyssa and Billy manage to hold his ears, but Sinclair and the signalman can’t stand the sound.
SINCLAIR
(shrieks) That noise.
SIGNALMAN
(moans) It’s not my day!
Both collapse to the floor unconscious, before Nyssa eventually switches off the device. Both Nyssa and Billy sigh of relief.
NYSSA
(pleased) “That’s dealt with her and the signalman! Should have them out for a while!”
BILLY
(irritated) “You could have warned me Nyssa you were going to use that medallion! It really hurts my ears!”
Nyssa approaches the signal levers.
NYSSA
“Never mind about that Billy! We must stop that train to give the Doctor time!”
BILLY
“Yes, but how are we going to do that? We’ve knocked the signalman out! He could have given us a helping hand with stopping the train!”
NYSSA
“I don’t think Billy that he’s the co-operative type! He certainly wasn’t welcoming when we first entered in here!”
BILLY
“You could have given him a chance!”
NYSSA
“There just isn’t time! We’ll have to manage ourselves!” (Pause) “Now do you know anything about how to operate signal boxes?”
BILLY
(agitated) How can I? I’m not a signalman!
NYSSA
Surely Billy there must be something, you know!
BILLY
(thinks) Well…I do remember seeing something about…how to work signal boxes at a school boy’s expedition! I believe you press these switches and they make dinging noises before you pull a lever. But that was years ago when I was a boy.
NYSSA
Well, maybe it’s enough! Your memory of how to pull these levers will have to do.
BILLY
(panics) But, Nyssa! I might pull the wrong lever! I may get it wrong!
NYSSA
(encouragingly) You’re our only hope, Billy. Our only hope of stopping Sinroth and her plans. (Pause) And our only hope of stopping that train. You must do it.
The train whistles, as it approaches in the distance.
BILLY
(nervously) Alright! (Pause) Err, now let me see!
Billy approaches the levers, thinking as he raises his hand to the number of switches on top of the levers, whilst the train whistles nearby.
NYSSA
Hurry, Billy!
BILLY
I’m going as fast as I can! (Pause) Right…uh…now this switch here!
Billy presses a switch.
BILLY
And this switch…here!
Billy presses another switch. There is a loud ding once Billy presses the switches and attempts to pull the right lever.
SCENE #136 – EXT – RAILWAY TRACK – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back at the entrance to the tunnel, the Doctor struggles with a Zegor as it growls and makes threatening gestures to attacks its prey. The first Vegron agent observes the struggle, as the train whistling echoes in the distance.
VEGRON AGENT #1
(to Zegor) “Dog! Kill him!”
The Zegor roars fiercely as it attempts to gnaw at the Doctor with its fangs. But the Doctor becomes resilient as it manages to evade the Zegor’s close attacks.
VEGRON AGENT #1
(agitated) “I said kill him!”
DOCTOR
“You know something?”
VEGRON AGENT #1
“What?”
DOCTOR
“Your Zegor pet certainly has bad breath!”
VEGRON AGENT #1
“Shut up!” (to Zegor) “Finish him, dog!”
DOCTOR
“And you know what! I have just the thing for him! Take this!”
The Doctor takes out a sprayer from his pocket as he sprays some gas into the Zegor’s mouth. The Zegor howls and whines as it inhales the gas and makes coughing, spluttering noises. The Zegor falls to the ground unconscious. The agent is obviously shocked as he raises his gun at the Doctor.
VEGRON AGENT #1
“You…you killed my pet!”
DOCTOR
“No I wouldn’t do such a thing! I just used Promixis gas! Very effective stuff! Knocks out a victim for at least eight hours. Just like sleep!”
VEGRON AGENT #1
(angrily) “You fiend!”
DOCTOR
“Oh don’t worry! I’ve got some here for you!”
The Doctor sprays the gas at the Vegron agent, who inhales; coughs and splutters just like the Zegor. The Vegron agent falls to the ground unconscious.
DOCTOR
(relieved) “Well that’s sorted those two out!” (to bomb) “Now! Let’s sort out you now!”
The Doctor kneels down on the railway track, as he attends to disabling the bomb.
SCENE #137 – INT – STEAM ENGINE CAB, TRAIN EXPRESS – DAY – SPRING 1963
Meanwhile the train makes its journey to Kelton with the train drivers Thomas and Percy driving it. Both work hard before Thomas spots something up ahead with the signal. This is a reprisal of the end of Scene #27 in “Part One”.
THOMAS
“Hang on Percy. Signal’s changing. We’ve got to stop.”
Thomas makes ready to put on the brake, as the train is about to halt at the signal.
PERCY
“Fine time for the signal man to change his levers at his box, hey?”
Thomas doesn’t answer as the train slows down. There is a moment of tense silence between them.
(CONTINUES INTO:)
PERCY
(gradually; bewildered) “Hey do you know what, Thomas!”
THOMAS
What, Percy?
PERCY
I thought I saw two kids in that signal box pulling the levers!
SCENE #138 – INT – SIGNAL BOX – DAY – SPRING 1963
In the signal box, Billy finally manages to pull the right levers and switches to stop the train. Both he and Nyssa see the train stop at the signal and are relieved.
BILLY
(cheers; relieved) I’ve done it! I’ve done it! I’ve stopped the train!
NYSSA
(pleased) Well done, Billy! I knew you could do it!
BILLY
Do you think we’ve given the Doctor enough time?
NYSSA
Well, let’s hope so. Come on. We’d better go and find him. He’ll probably have sorted out the bomb once we stopped the train for him.
BILLY
(worried) “Nyssa! Sinclair’s gone!” (Pause) “She was here a minute ago lying on the floor! But now she’s gone!”
NYSSA
“I wish I can say I’m relieved! It’s making me worried thinking what she’ll do now!” (Pause) “Anyway! We can’t stay here! We need to find the Doctor! Come on!”
BILLY
Right behind you!
Nyssa and Billy make their way out of the signal box as they go to find the Doctor. The signalman still lies on the floor unconscious before he groans and slowly wakes up.
SCENE #139 – EXT – RAILWAY TRACK – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back at the entrance to the tunnel, the Doctor still works hard at attempting to disable the bomb as he presses a number of switches in order to de-charge it. Eventually, he manages to switch the bomb’s system functions off before a loud downward whirring sound indicates the power supply is dying.
DOCTOR
(sighs with relief) Well, that’s got you sorted out, hey? Nothing but a little bit of help from bombardment training in World War Two to help on the way.
A train whistle then echoes in the distance.
DOCTOR
Ah! Thankfully I’ve got the bomb sorted before the train even arrived! Hopefully Nyssa and Billy are okay. (to bomb) Come on, little chap! I’m going to give you a ride in my post van away from those two. (to Zegor; Vegron Agent #1) Bye, you two! A dog really is a man’s best friend, you know.
The Doctor immediately gets up from the ground as he embarks on his way back to the post van, leaving the Zegor beast and its master lying unconscious.
SCENE #140 – INT – SIGNAL BOX – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back in the signal box, the signalman rises to his feet slowly. He’s agitated and angry as as he makes his way to the signal levers and reverses the process achieved by Billy to set the signal down and let the train go.
SIGNALMAN
(mumbles) I shall complain to head office about this! (Pause) Interfering kids! What do they mean interfering with a signalman’s life? (Pause) Especially since I was getting on so well with Miss Sinclair.
The signalman presses a number of switches atop the levers, which make dinging sounds as they go. He then pulls some levers as he makes them work to get the signal down.
SIGNALMAN
There! That should get the train on the move now!
The signalman watches as the train then whistles loudly, continuing its journey to Kelton.
SCENE #141 – INT – STEAM ENGINE CAB, TRAIN EXPRESS – DAY – SPRING 1963
As the steam train moves forward, Thomas and Percy work hard shoving coal into the train as they carry on the journey to Kelton.
THOMAS
“We’re on the move again!”
PERCY
“Good thing that signalman got the signal down when he should have done!”
THOMAS
“So it wasn’t kids you saw then?”
PERCY
(matter of factually) “Oh it was kids! A boy and a girl! But they’ve gone now! I wonder where they’ve gone!”
Thomas, baffled by Percy’s comments, keeps focused on the job at hand as the train makes its way forward to Kelton.
SCENE #142 – EXT – COUNTRY ROAD – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back on the country road, Nyssa and Billy have been running from the signal box to meet up with the Doctor. A van drives up before it screeches to a halt beside Nyssa and Billy. The Doctor gets out to meet them.
NYSSA
“Doctor! Did you manage to disable the bomb?”
DOCTOR
(relieved) “Nyssa! Billy! You two are alright!” (Pause) “Yes I did manage to stop the bomb from detonating! Did you stop the train at the signal box?”
BILLY
“Yes we did! Though we did have a bit of trouble!”
DOCTOR
“Trouble?”
NYSSA
“Sinclair was there in the signal box! Thankfully I was able to use this medallion to put her out with the ultra-sonic sound!”
DOCTOR
“Oh Nyssa, that’s really good thinking!”
BILLY
“But she managed to leave the signal box whilst we were sorting out the signals. She could be anywhere now!”
NYSSA
“I don’t understand how she could have anticipated when to expect us? I mean she already met us before we knew she was an alien!”
DOCTOR
“Oh species like the Macorinroth have found themselves splitting themselves to various selves communicating across the time waves!”
NYSSA
“Jeffries had that interocitor, didn’t he?! He was communicating to her nineteen sixty-three self!”
DOCTOR
“The agents who were planting bombs also had interocitor devices on them. The one I dealt with at the tunnel had one on his person!” (anxiously) “Anyway come on you two! Get in the van! We must get back to Huttle!”
BILLY
“What do you plan to do now?”
DOCTOR
“Go back to the TARDIS and get to Kelton in 2063!”
NYSSA
“To dispose the bomb in that time period!”
DOCTOR
“Right! Come on!”
All three get back in the van, as they step inside and close the doors behind them. Once they’re in, the Doctor turns the engine on and the van gears up to go. The Doctor drives the van and zooms back to Huttle.
SCENE #143 – EXT – HUTTLE VILLAGE – DAY – SPRING 1963
Back in Huttle, the van returns screeching to a halt with Mrs. Greenford waiting for them. She is rather startled as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy get out of the van, slamming the doors behind them. The Doctor runs on ahead as he makes to return to the TARDIS.
DOCTOR
(to Mrs. Greenford) “Sorry about your van, Mrs. Greenford! Thanks for lending it!”
NYSSA
“Yes thank you, Mrs. Greenford!”
Nyssa follows after the Doctor.
MRS GREENFORD
(bewildered) “Oh that’s quite alright!” (to Billy) “Billy, those friends of yours? Who are they? And what exactly is going on here?”
BILLY
“Sorry Mrs. Greenford! I’ll explain when I get back! At least I hope to get back soon!”
MRS GREENFORD
“Get back? What do you mean…?”
BILLY
“Sorry! Must go!”
Billy runs after the Doctor and Nyssa whilst Mrs. Greenford remains behind. Meanwhile, the Doctor is puzzled and confused as Nyssa understands his predicament.
NYSSA
“Doctor! Which TARDIS?”
DOCTOR
(puzzled) “I don’t know, Nyssa.”
BILLY
“Have we got a problem here?”
NYSSA
“Yes. There are two TARDISes now! We just came out of one when we arrived from 2163!”
DOCTOR
“And the other TARDIS is the one Nyssa and I arrived in when we first came here in Huttle!” (Pause) “Which TARDIS should we go into? Left or right?”
NYSSA
(concerned) “We have to avoid causing a disturbance in the space-time balance!”
DOCTOR
“Yes Nyssa.”
BILLY
“Can’t we just pick one?”
DOCTOR
“Um…yes. Yes we can” (to Nyssa) “Err…Nyssa, you pick!”
NYSSA
“No, Doctor! You pick!”
DOCTOR
“I said you first!”
NYSSA
“Okay err…left!”
DOCTOR
“Right!”
NYSSA
“I’m sure it’s left!”
DOCTOR
“No, it’s right!”
BILLY
(anxiously) “Come on! We’ll be here all day!”
DOCTOR
“Wait! Wait!” (thinks; realises) “Of course! Come on!”
BILLY
“Where?”
DOCTOR
“Left!”
NYSSA
“But I suggested…”
DOCTOR
(raises voice) “Come on!”
BILLY
“Doctor…”
DOCTOR
(impatiently) “Don’t ask questions! Let’s get inside!”
The Doctor takes out the key from his pocket and fits it into the lock of the police box exterior of the TARDIS on the left. After turning the lock, the TARDIS door opens inwards and the Doctor goes inside with Nyssa and Billy behind him. Mrs. Greenford watches as she sees them go in.
MRS GREENFORD
(baffled) “Strange? What are Billy and his friend doing walking into…?”
She’s interrupted as she sees the TARDIS dematerialising. The loud whooshing echoes in the air as Mrs. Greenford watches amazed. Everything soon becomes quiet again, with the birds singing and a cool breeze in the air.
MRS GREENFORD
(awed) “Now I’ve seen everything!”
Mrs. Greenford then turns round and walks off down the village road.
© Tim Bradley, 2016
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Bradley's Basement 
The dialogue between the two Doctor’s, Nyssa’s & Billys (Billy 2 lol) was hilarious & added great humour to the story, i like how Billys getting more involved & helping with the signal boxes putting faith in himself.
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again this is one of the best Doctor Who stories I’ve read.
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Thanks Simon. I’m very pleased you’re enjoying this story.
Glad you liked the dialogue between the two Doctors; two Nyssas and two Billys interacting with each other. Yeah Billy2. I get the pun. 😀 I’m pleased you like how Billy’s getting involved with helping the Doctor and Nyssa, especially with the signal boxes.
Really?! Oh that’s good to hear. I’m glad you find this as one of the best ‘Doctor Who’ stories. That’s made my day. Hearing that from you means a lot to me. Tim. 🙂
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Great characters, well paced, shocks, great cliffhangers, well written dialogue, excellent plot, this story has all this & more.
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