Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!
It’s the last week of the repeat of one of my favourite ‘Doctor Who’ fan-fiction stories from ‘The Fifth Doctor by Tim Bradley’ series – ‘The Space Hotel’! Check out in ‘Part Four’ whether the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy will discover who the murderer is, as we venture into Chapter 13 of this exciting tale.
Here is a brief summary of what ‘The Space Hotel’ is all about.
The TARDIS takes the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy to Rotenhend Hotel 360 in the 37th century. They meet a rude hotel manager and murders take place.
Enjoy!
Tim. 🙂
13. Facts about Murder
REPRISE
GORDON
[“That’s very simple.] Underneath your feet, is a floor board! That is where the airlock is. Bruce will decompress and set it open. You will all then be sucked out into the space. Drifting across the stars. Dead!”
DOCTOR
(shocked) “You can’t be serious!”
NYSSA
(pleads) “Please! Don’t do it!”
BILLY
(cries) “Let us explain!”
GORDON
(shouts) “Bruce! Open the airlocks! Let them rot in space!”
DOCTOR
“Mr. Rotenhend! No!”
GORDON
“DIE!!!!”
The floor underneath is soon opened. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy fall before they hold onto the floorboards for dear life, as they’re being sucked out into space.
NYSSA
“Doctor! We’ve grabbed onto the floorboards!”
DOCTOR
“Hold on, you two! Hold on….”
The Doctor’s voice echoes, as he’s sucked out into space.
GORDON
(yells) “DIE, all of you! DIE!!!”
Nyssa and Billy try to hold on.
NYSSA
“He’s gone, Billy! The Doctor’s been sucked out!”
BILLY
(cries) “Nyssa!”
NYSSA
“Yes, Billy?”
BILLY
(cries) “I…I…”
Nyssa and Billy cry for dear life, as they too get sucked out into space. The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy are gone as Bruce closes the air lock. Gordon then laughs out loud; then Elizabeth; then Bruce (though put-on); then Enuji (though confused and puzzled) as well as everyone else in the lobby at the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy’s demise.
(CONTINUES INTO:)
SCENE #109B – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Their laughter then dies out, as it gets drowned out by the grinding whooshing sound of a TARDIS. Everyone is astonished and baffled as they see Lady Mite’s red phone box TARDIS materialise in the lobby on Level #1. The hotel staff and guests see the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy cheerfully step out of Lady Mite’s TARDIS.
DOCTOR #2
(cheerfully) “Hello everybody!”
BILLY #2
(cheerfully) “We hope you haven’t missed us too badly!”
NYSSA #2
(cheerfully) “We’re really glad to see you all again!”
Moment of silence.
GORDON
(shouts) “What is the meaning of this?!”
DOCTOR #2
“Oh. Do you wish for an explanation Mr. Rotenhend?”
GORDON
(shouts) “Do I wish for an explanation? We’ve just sucked you out into space!”
NYSSA #2
“That’s right. And now we’ve just come back!”
ELIZABETH
“How is that possible?”
BILLY #2
“Oh that’s plain. The TARDIS rescued us!”
DOCTOR #2
“Or at least Lady Mite’s TARDIS saved us! You remember Lady Mite don’t you, Mr. Rotenhend? Or may I call you Gordon?”
GORDON
(angrily) “Explain yourself, Doctor!”
NYSSA #2
“I thought that was obvious! We’re the murderers!”
DOCTOR #2
“Yes, that’s right. Nyssa; Billy and I are the murderers!”
GORDON
(shouts; angrily) “Exactly! So get off my hotel…”
Gordon is interruped, as just then, another Doctor; Nyssa and Billy step out of the TARDIS.
DOCTOR
“They’re the murderers, Mr. Rotenhend. But we’re not!”
NYSSA
“Yes, Mr. Rotenhend! We’re not the murderers!”
BILLY
“Indeed, we’re not.”
Everyone gasps, shocked at what they see.
ENUJI
“Coo waa?”
BRUCE
“Are my optical sensors containing errors?”
NYSSA
“Don’t worry, Bruce. The perceptual filters in your optical sensors are functioning properly.”
GORDON
(shocked) “But…but…there are six of you. Or two of you. Which is which?”
BILLY
“Yes! I’m seeing double again!”
ELIZABETH
(surprised) “There are two of you, Doctor; two of you, Miss Nyssa; and two of you, Mr. Walker!”
SCENE #110 – INT – OPERATIONS ROOM (STATION) – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Back on the space station with Larry;,Bob and Lady Mite, they watch the monitors in the operations room. They see the progress of the two Doctors, two Nyssas and two Billys in the lobby of Level #1 of the space hotel.
BOB
(excited) “They seem to be doing rather well, aren’t they?”
LARRY
“Yes, but for how long? I want to know how long they’re going to keep this up!”
LADY MITE
(agitated) “Well I hope the Doctor will give me back my TARDIS once he’s finished with it. I hate to think I’m giving my TARDIS to someone like the Doctor! It’s very embarrassing!”
BOB
“Well whatever the Doctor has in mind, I can’t understand it. I hope he knows what he’s doing!”
LARRY
(to Bob) “Can you read, Bob?”
BOB
(to Larry) “Of course I can read, Larry!”
LARRY
(to Bob) “Well, that’s good. But I can’t see a thing in these monitors!”
LARRY #2
(cheerfully) “I can!”
Moment of silence.
LARRY
(to Lady Mite) “My lady?”
LADY MITE
(to Larry) “Yes, Mr Cooper.”
LARRY
(to Lady Mite) “Why are there two of me all of a sudden?”
BOB #2
(cheerfully; to Larry) “Hello, there!”
LARRY
(to Lady Mite) “And two of Bob!”
LADY MITE #2
(cheerfully) “And two of me apparently!”
LADY MITE
(to Lady Mite #2) “Yes, I know.”
LARRY
(to Bob) “Has your voice changed, Bob?”
BOB
(to Larry) “No, Larry.”
LARRY
(to Bob) “I could have sworn I heard your voice change!”
LADY MITE
(to Larry) “There happens to be two of me too, Mr. Cooper!”
LADY MITE #2
“That’s right!”
LARRY
(astonished) “Oh.”
BOB
(to Lady Mite) “But why, Lady Mite? Why are there two versions of us now on this space station?”
LADY MITE
(to Bob) “I don’t know, Mr. Hill. Ask her!”
BOB
(to Lady Mite #2) “Why?”
LADY MITE #2
(to Bob) “I don’t know. Ask him!”
BOB
(to Larry #2) “Why?”
LARRY #2
(to Bob) “I don’t know. Ask…”
BOB #2
(interrupts; to Bob) “Don’t think of asking me! I know nothing!”
BOB
(to Bob #2) “That makes two of us!”
SCENE #111 – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Back in the lobby on Level #1 at the space hotel…
DOCTOR
(to Doctor #2) “Hello, Doctor!”
DOCTOR #2
(to Doctor) “Hello, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(to Doctor #2) “How are you?”
DOCTOR #2
(to Doctor) “Oh not so bad! And you?”
DOCTOR
(to Doctor #2) “Yes. Keeping well. You know my friend Nyssa, don’t you?”
DOCTOR #2
(to Doctor) “Indeed I do.” (to Nyssa) “Hello, Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(to Doctor #2) “Hello, Doctor.”
DOCTOR #2
(to Nyssa) “You know my friend Nyssa, don’t you?”
NYSSA
“Uh, yes.”
DOCTOR #2
(to Nyssa #2) “Say hello to your counterpart, Nyssa?”
NYSSA #2
(cheerfully; to Nyssa) “How do you do!”
NYSSA
(to Nyssa# 2) “How do you do.”
BILLY
“What about me?”
DOCTOR
(to Doctor #2) “Oh yes and my young friend Billy!”
DOCTOR #2
(to Doctor) “Yes.” (to Billy) “Hello, Billy!”
BILLY
(baffled; to Doctor #2) “Uh. Hello, Doctor.”
BILLY #2
(to Billy) “It’s so confusing when you’re with him, isn’t it?”
BILLY
(to Billy #2) “Yes it is!”
GORDON
(shrieks) “Cease nattering!” (Pause) “I demand an explanation!”
DOCTOR
“Ah! Right!” (Pause) “Well, this Doctor; Nyssa and Billy happen to be the ones who killed the Weerd Chancellor and the Weerd Elder.”
BILLY
“And Admiral Brown?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. And Admiral Brown. Except he’s alive and well as you can see.”
ADMIRAL
“Am I? Oh yes, so I am!”
Everybody’s flabbergasted, as they see the Admiral sitting upright on the floor.
JANET
“What?”
LORRAINE
“Have my eyes gone funny?”
ELIZABETH
(astonished) “But…but…how…how did…?”
NYSSA
“Except they’re not us! This Doctor; Nyssa and Billy”
ENUJI
“Coo?”
DOCTOR
(matter-of-factually) “No. They’re not us! They’re androids!”
ELIZABETH
“Androids?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. Just like Mr. Bruce here!”
BRUCE
(drearily; annoyed) “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
DOCTOR
(to Doctor #2) “Excuse me, Doctor? Do you mind if I took your arm off?”
DOCTOR #2
“No. By all means, go ahead!”
DOCTOR
“Thank you!”
The Doctor rips the Doctor #2’s arm off. Everyone gasps at this, and see the mechanics whir inside the android Doctor #2.
DOCTOR
“Did that hurt?”
DOCTOR #2
“No, no. That’s fine. Didn’t hurt a bit!”
DOCTOR
“Well it wouldn’t, would it?!” (to everyone) “As you can see! I the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy, didn’t kill anyone, except these nice androids! And that’s the point of all this!”
DOCTOR #2
“Do you need us anymore?”
DOCTOR
“No, that’s fine. You can sleep now!”
DOCTOR #2
“Okay. Goodbye.”
DOCTOR
“Goodbye.”
NYSSA #2
“Goodbye.”
NYSSA
“Goodbye.”
BILLY #2
“Bye.”
BILLY
“Bye.”
The androids then deactivate, as they crumble to the floor.
DOCTOR
(to audience) “So there you have it. Those three were unreal. They deactivated themselves. And we’re the real ones. And we’re not murderers in the end.”
NYSSA
“Thankfully.”
DOCTOR
(to Admiral) “And as for you, Admiral. The reason why your double was dead in that swimming pool complex outside the women’s changing room…was because…he was the real Admiral Brown after all.”
ADMIRAL
(confused) “Oh! Was he really?”
DOCTOR
(to Admiral) “Yes. Whereas you…Admiral…are an android too.”
The Doctor then rips the Admiral’s head off his body. Everyone gasps, once they’ve seen the Doctor do this.
GORDON
(shocked) “Doctor?! You’ve ripped the Admiral’s head off!”
The Doctor holds the Admiral’s head in his hands. He shows the mechanics inside the Admiral’s head, as he holds it.
DOCTOR
“Yes I did, didn’t I?!” (to Admiral) “Sorry I deceived you Admiral, when I said you were real. But I had to be sure, you see.”
ADMIRAL
(to Doctor) “That’s quite alright, old chap.” (Pause) “But could I have my head back on, please?”
DOCTOR
“Oh yes. Sorry, just a minute.”
The Doctor then places the Admiral’s head back onto his body, tugging as best as he can.
DOCTOR
“Is that better?”
ADMIRAL
“Yes, thank you.”
DOCTOR
“Good.”
ADMIRAL
“Even though my head’s back to front.”
BRUCE
“I know the feeling.”
NYSSA
“I’ll fix it.”
BILLY
“Doctor, I think you’d better explain what you’ve told me and Nyssa to everyone else here.”
NYSSA
“Yes. Otherwise you’ll have us all in an information overload!”
DOCTOR
(puzzled) “Hmm?” (realises) “Oh, right! Yes! Sorry, Nyssa! Explanations required, yes!”
The Doctor then turns to the staff and the hotel guests in the lobby.
DOCTOR
(to everyone) “Now, everyone! You see, not far from here, there is a small space station containing a bunch of disabled androids and knocked-out bodies. There is also a simi-suite on the top level of that space station.”
SCENE #112 – INT – OPERATIONS ROOM (STATION) – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Meanwhile on the space station, Larry; Bob and Lady Mite continue watching and listening to what’s happening in the lobby on Level #1 of the space hotel. They watch on the monitors in the operations room.
GORDON (V’O)
“That space station hasn’t been used in centuries!”
DOCTOR (V’O)
“That’s where you’re wrong, Mr. Rotenhend. Because at this moment, three people are on board that space station watching everything that’s going on. And they can even hear me talking at this moment.” (calls; out loud) “Lady Mite? Mr. Cooper; Mr. Hill? Hope you can hear the sound of my elegant, distinguished voice!”
LADY MITE
(quietly) “Don’t try getting clever with me, Doctor.”
DOCTOR (V’O)
(calls; out loud) “Now, now, Mite. Don’t try to answer back. I may not hear you, but I know what you’re thinking.”
Lady Mite sighs annoyed, whilst Larry and Bob seem puzzled.
SCENE #113 – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Meanwhile in the lobby on Level #1 of the space hotel, the Doctor continues his explanation…
DOCTOR
(continues) “You see, everyone. There is someone who happens to be the murderer, playing a game of ‘murder’ – real murder, I mean – with guests by killing them and replacing them with androids. For what reason, I hazard to guess. “
NYSSA
“When any guest arrives at this hotel, their data records and body scans are recorded and scanned for transmission to a mainframe aboard the space station.”
DOCTOR
“Yes, Nyssa. I was going to explain that.”
NYSSA
“Sorry.”
DOCTOR
(to everyone) “You see…” (Pause; to Nyssa) “Go on, Nyssa!”
NYSSA
“Well the data of that particular guest is processed and android duplicates of that guest or guests are made.”
BILLY
“Then the hotel guests are killed and replaced by the androids.”
DOCTOR
“Which then recreates the scenario of a happy hotel…or a grumpy hotel since Mr. Rotenhend creates that atmosphere!”
GORDON
(protests) “I’m not grumpy!”
BRUCE
“I’m an android that might have been a duplicate of someone? I wonder if there’s a real Bruce then. Perhaps he’s moody as I am.”
ADMIRAL
“But what about the other murders? Mr. Stedman? And the young couple Joseph and Josephine?”
JANET
“Yes and what’s it all for?”
LORRAINE
“Exactly. What’s it all for?”
DOCTOR
“Exactly what I was going to come onto. This will eventually lead to us to the actual murderer.”
Moment of silence.
BILLY
“Aren’t you going to show them, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Show them what?”
BILLY
“The scene of the crime?”
DOCTOR
“What for?”
BILLY
“To explain!”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Oh yes!” (to everyone) “If anyone wants me to explain about the murders of Stedman and the young couple, then come with me right now! So who’s coming?”
GORDON
“Well, you’re not leaving me behind. I still demand an explanation, Doctor.”
NYSSA
“Considering you were about to execute us!”
GORDON
(to Nyssa) “That thought is still there in my head, girl!”
DOCTOR
“Good. Mr. Rotenhend’s coming. Anybody else?”
BILLY
“Me!”
NYSSA
“Yes! Billy and I will come!”
DOCTOR
“Good. Anyone?”
ADMIRAL
“Me.”
LORRAINE
“Me!”
JANET
“I will.”
BRUCE
“I’m interested. For a change.”
ENUJI
“Coo?”
DOCTOR
“Excellent. Come on.”
Nyssa, Billy, Gordon, the Admiral, Lorraine, Janet, Bruce and Enuji follow the Doctor, as they enter the turbo-lift with the doors sliding open and close for them.
SCENE #114 – INT – ROOM #88, LEVEL #23 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
In Room #88 on Level #23 (what used to be Mr. Stedman’s room), Gordon, Bruce, Enuji, the Admiral, Lorraine and Janet join the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy. The Doctor is about to continue with his explanation.
DOCTOR
“That’s right, everyone. Come in!”
NYSSA
“How’s your head, Admiral?”
ADMIRAL
“Oh it’s fine, dear. Thank you for fixing it.”
NYSSA
“It’s the best I could do.”
Everyone gasps.
DOCTOR
“Sorry about the mess. Thankfully a blanket’s over the dearly departed Mr. Stedman.”
BILLY
“It’s callous leaving Mr. Stedman lying there, Doctor.”
NYSSA
“It is, Billy. But we can’t remove the evidence yet.”
DOCTOR
“True, Nyssa. Very true.”
LORRAINE
“So, Doctor?”
JANET
“What about Mr. Stedman? The dead man?”
DOCTOR
“Well. Mr. Stedman was found lying dead on the floor with blood all over him. Right?”
GORDON
“Duh! Obvious!”
DOCTOR
“And in this room, we found a knife.” (Pause) “With no blood on it.”
ADMIRAL
“Get to the point, sir.”
DOCTOR
“Well, Mr. Truk – the chef…”
ENUJI
“Wee, wee! Truk, Truk!”
DOCTOR
(continues) “Yes. Well, he was found dead…or at least his android counterpart was found dead…with oil spilling out. Stedman was found with blood.”
NYSSA
(interjects) “By the way, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Must you interrupt, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Sorry, Doctor. But what happened to the real version of Truk?”
DOCTOR
“Well…according to records found on the space station regarding to Truk’s data files, he arrived and left the first day.”
BILLY
“What? Did he ever become chef?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. For three minutes.”
NYSSA
“Three minutes.”
DOCTOR
“Yes! According to records found by Lady Mite in the computer, Mr. Truk and Mr. Rotenhend argued over the food he prepared for the evening meal.”
GORDON
“His food was stinking vomit! I hated it!”
DOCTOR
(triumphantly) “See! Your memory’s coming back!”
GORDON
“What?”
DOCTOR
“Anyway, he then left the hotel and went away never to be seen again.” (ponders) “I wonder what’s he doing right now”
SCENE #115 – INT – TRUK’S ROOM, ASTARIE HOTEL 6 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Far away in deep space, Truk relaxes in his room as he sips his drink whilst staying at the Astaire Hotel.
TRUK
(sighs; contented) “Ah, this is the life! A nice stay at the Astaire Hotel drinking wine. Much better than that hotel run by the stupid, fat, horrible, ugly, disgusting, smelly, bald…”
SCENE #116 – INT – ROOM #88, LEVEL #23 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Back at the space hotel, in Room #88 on Level #23…
DOCTOR
“Mr. Truk’s records however were intact and they were recorded to create the android copy of him.”
GORDON
“Can we get back to Mr. Stedman, please?”
NYSSA
“Yes can we get back to Mr. Stedman please, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Me? You wanted me to explain…oh never mind.” (Pause) “Anyway, Mr. Stedman was found with blood and not oil like Mr. Truk.”
ADMIRAL
“Why’s that relevant?”
DOCTOR
“Even though his records were compiled, the android duplicate of Mr. Stedman was never made in time to be transferred from the space station to this hotel. So poor Stedman – the real one – had to be killed anyway.”
NYSSA
“Presumably to avoid causing a contradiction with the recent death of the real Mr. Stedman.”
BILLY
“And therefore the murderer wouldn’t be caught.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you, Nyssa; Billy.”
LORRAINE
“But if the knife didn’t kill him, then what did?”
JANET
“How do you explain the blood?”
DOCTOR
“Ah. I was coming to that. No, the knife didn’t kill him.”
The Doctor then kneels down, touches the blood from the knife and sniffs it.
DOCTOR
“And the blood on the knife isn’t Mr. Stedman’s.”
ADMIRAL
“What do you say, man?”
NYSSA
“The blood’s not Mr. Stedman’s, Admiral.”
ADMIRAL
“Not Stedman’s?”
GORDON
“How can you tell, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Because this blood is faked!”
ENUJI
“Faked?”
DOCTOR
“Faked? It’s not Mr. Stedman’s blood, because it’s not real blood. It contains no plasma; glucose; carbon dioxide; protein and more importantly…no water! It’s just plain red liquid. And it was provided by…”
Moment of silence.
BRUCE
“No need to point. I was the one who provided it.”
NYSSA
(shocked) “You provided it?!”
BRUCE
“Yes. I did. I sprayed it all over the floor and slumped Mr. Stedman’s body all over it to make it look like he was shot. Not a convincing set up I thought, but it was the required specifications?”
DOCTOR
“Why did you do it, Bruce?”
BRUCE
“I was following orders.”
DOCTOR
“From whom, Bruce?”
BRUCE
“I’m not programmed to answer that question.”
BILLY
“So is he the murderer? Is Bruce the murderer?”
BRUCE
“I may be capable, young man. But as I said before, I’m not a murderer.”
NYSSA
“And like I said before Bruce, your programming can be altered.”
BRUCE
“Logical, but untrue.”
BILLY
(to Doctor) “Did he kill him, Doctor?”
Moment of silence.
GORDON
(anxious) “Well, did he?”
Everybody waits, anticipating the Doctor’s answer.
DOCTOR
(gradually) “No.”
Everyone sighs with relief. Gordon groans, annoyed.
NYSSA
(surprised) “He didn’t?”
DOCTOR
(gradually) “No. Bruce did not kill Mr. Stedman.”
BRUCE
(drearily) “Yippee. That’s a relief. Best news I’ve heard in years.”
DOCTOR
“But somebody did kill him. Somebody very dangerous!”
GORDON
(mockingly) “And who is that?”
Moment of silence.
DOCTOR
“But I can tell you what did kill him.”
NYSSA
“What?”
JANET
“Yes, Doctor? What, what?”
LORRAINE
(excitedly) “This is so exciting! What did kill him? Tell us, tell us!”
ADMIRAL
“Calm yourself, ladies.”
Moment of silence, as the Doctor picks something up to show everyone.
DOCTOR
(gradually) “This killed him apparently.”
Everyone gasps, as they see what the Doctor holds in his hand.
SCENE #117 – INT – KITCHEN, LEVEL #44 – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING
Later on, Gordon, Bruce, Enuji, the Admiral, Janet and Lorraine join the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy in the kitchen on Level #44.
DOCTOR
“Now, let’s just explain something about the kitchen. Is everyone listening?”
GORDON
“Get on with it!”
DOCTOR
“Right!” (Pause; gradually) “Well, in a kitchen, food is prepared for meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner time! Are you with me so far?”
GORDON
(wryly) “We didn’t know that, Doctor! But thanks for telling us now!”
DOCTOR
“Except this place can also be a deadly opportunity for someone to experiment with implementing poison into the food of those who require three meals a day.”
The Doctor moves some plates and cutlery across the kitchen table.
DOCTOR
“You see these plates?”
Everyone responds affirmatively.
DOCTOR
“Now, Billy. Fetch some meat out of that fridge.”
BILLY
“Yes, Doctor.”
Billy goes to the fridge; opens it and takes out a slice of meat.
BILLY
“Will a slice of veal do, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. That will do fine.” (to Nyssa) “Now, Nyssa. Pass me that amalgamation-separation retractor next to you on that table, please?”
Nyssa picks the amalgamation-separation retractor from the table and hands it to the Doctor.
NYSSA
“Here you are, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you.”
GORDON
(frustrated) “I don’t see how this is all relevant. How does a half pill kill Mr. Stedman?”
DOCTOR
“Not a half pill, Mr. Rotenhend. A bitten half pill.”
BILLY
“Here’s the slice of veal!”
DOCTOR
“Good. I’ll take that!”
The Doctor places the slide veal onto a plate on the table. He then picks up a knife.
DOCTOR
“Now. If I just trim the slice of veal meat wide open…”
The Doctor places the knife on the slice of veal and trims it carefully.
DOCTOR
(continues) “…And place a clean uncut pill, similar to the one that’s been halved, into the slice of veal.”
The Doctor places the pill in the slice of veal.
DOCTOR
“Then I just close it up with a amalgamation-separation retractor.”
The Doctor switches on the amalgamation-separation retractor to repair the lining of the slice of veal that’s cut. This covers up the pill inside.
DOCTOR
“And that covers the pill inside the slice of veal.”
ADMIRAL
“I’m not following this.”
DOCTOR
“Well, it’s quite straightforward.”
BRUCE
(drearily) “Is it?”
DOCTOR
“You see the murderer responsible had poisoned the guests’ food with a pill meant to kill them.
NYSSA
“And that’s how the young couple were killed when they had their meals served to them, according to Mr. Truk. The android Mr. Truk before he…’died’.”
BILLY
“And that was how Mr. Stedman died. The pill – the half eaten pill – was found in his room.”
DOCTOR
“Yes. Just before he went straight to bed, the pill killed him.”
GORDON
“But this doesn’t make sense. Mr. Stedman didn’t have those croissants when they were sent up to him for breakfast.”
BRUCE
“Of course he didn’t. He was dead before he had them.”
GORDON
“No, no. I mean…if Stedman didn’t have those croissants, what else did he have to eat to kill him?”
NYSSA
“He didn’t eat anything.”
GORDON
“What?”
DOCTOR
“Exactly, Nyssa! Mr. Stedman had the pill before he went to bed, and didn’t eat anything whilst he was having it.”
BILLY
“Of course. He ate the pill clean as it was before he went to bed.”
DOCTOR
“And according to the evidence you saw in his bedroom, he was about to have a glass of water with that pill before going to bed.”
BILLY
“But hold on, Doctor? Where did the pills come from?”
DOCTOR
“Ah! Exactly what I hoped you would ask me? And I definitely know who can provide the answer!”
SCENE #118 – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – MORNING
It’s now the morning. Back in the lobby on Level #1, Elizabeth hums a little tune whilst standing behind the reception desk. She presses some button at a keyboard, whilst accessing a database on the hotel computer. She then looks up and is startled to see the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Gordon, the Admiral, Bruce, Enuji, Janet and Lorraine standing there.
ELIZABETH
(startles; sighs with relief) “You lot gave me a scare!” (Pause; puzzled) “What’s the matter? Why are you all staring at me?”
DOCTOR
“Lovely morning isn’t it, Mrs. Rotenhend. And the whole place is clean and tidy. Though when it was last seen, it was all rubble and dust after the supernova impact. But obviously you made sure things were clean and tidy before we came back, didn’t you?”
ELIZABETH
“Sorry?”
DOCTOR
“Oh please don’t be. Although I did switch off the secondary inducers in the back of the necks of your guests. So you needn’t think of erasing any of the memory cells in your androids because it won’t work. How I worked all that out was all elementary!”
NYSSA
“It explains how you Doctor; Billy and me lost our memories when we were in simi-suite five on level fifty-nine. Mrs. Rotenhend put a block on our memories in order to make us forget we were caught in the fire and about our murder investigations. It gave her the opportunity to scan our bodies and make android duplicates of us.”
BILLY
“I’m amazed I managed to remember the fire. Even when we were in our actual bodies at the time and the android duplicates were on the space station.”
NYSSA
“That’s because the Doctor and I have higher brain functions compared to you, Billy. We were able to help you remember events when we remembered them.”
BILLY
(baffled) “Oh. Oh, I see.”
ELIZABETH
(puzzled) “What’s going on here?” (to Gordon) “Gordon?”
GORDON
(appalled) “How could you, Elizabeth?”
ELIZABETH
“How could I what? I don’t know what anyone of you is talking about?”
DOCTOR
“Of course you do.” (Pause) “Because you’re the murderer, Mrs. Rotenhend.”
ELIZABETH
“What?”
DOCTOR
“You were the one that gave Mr. Stedman the sleeping pill before he died.”
ELIZABETH
“Yes. So that he could sleep better.”
DOCTOR
“Except he didn’t, Mrs. Rotenhend. He died when biting into the pill. Just as you intended. And just as you intended when you poisoned Joseph Fielding and Josephine Waterhouse, the young couple, who ate that meal before going into the simi-suite!”
NYSSA
“And they were found hanged up on that castle wall.”
ELIZABETH
“I don’t understand.”
DOCTOR
“Oh, that’s okay. Why don’t I just reconfigure your algorithms for you to help you remember?”
BILLY
“Is that the gadget you found on the space station?”
DOCTOR
“Yes it is, Billy. And I’m going to use it on Mrs. Rotenhend, right now!”
The Doctor switches the gadget on at Elizabeth. This emits a fuzzing, rasping sound as Elizabeth phases in and out. Everyone gasps once they see Elizabeth phasing in and out.
DOCTOR
“It’s alright, everyone! It’s alright! Mrs. Rotenhend’s only shifting! Just a normal occurrence when an update is made on a computer program or holographic projection. Isn’t it, Mrs. Rotenhend?”
Elizabeth’s voice has now changed, as she’s now menacing, cold and sinister.
ELIZABETH
“So Doctor, you found me out!”
DOCTOR
“Took some time. But I found you out, yes.”
ELIZABETH
“How exactly did you find out?”
DOCTOR
“Well it was on the space station actually.”
A flashback scene begins…
SCENE #119 – INT – GALLERY (STATION) – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING (FLASHBACK)
DOCTOR (V’O)
(narration) “We discovered your little secret when we found your portrait in the gallery close to the docking port. That’s Nyssa, Billy, Lady Mite, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Hill and me. We discovered the portrait and recognised the face.”
On the space station, in the gallery close to the docking port, the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Lady Mite, Larry and Bob observe the portrait of the woman they found.
BOB
“I knew that woman reminded me of somebody else other than my mother!”
NYSSA
“How could Mrs. Rotenhend be related to all of this?”
BILLY
“She seemed so nice and friendly when we met at reception!”
DOCTOR
(realises) “That’s it, of course! She never leaves her desk! Why does she never leave her desk?”
This flasback scene ends.
SCENE #120 – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – MORNING
Back at the space hotel, the Doctor answers that question to Elizabeth Rotenhend in the lobby on Level #1.
DOCTOR
(to Elizabeth) “…Because you can never enter a room where there aren’t any holographic projectors. The only places that contain holographic projectors are reception and the simi-suites.”
ELIZABETH
“Correct, Doctor. I can never leave this lobby without causing a loss of my sub-atomic structure!”
GORDON
“So that’s why you never went to bed with me!”
BILLY
“But hang on a minute. There must be a real Mrs. Rotenhend surely?”
NYSSA
“Yes, Doctor. The holographic image of her can’t think for herself!”
ELIZABETH
“How very charming, dear girl!”
DOCTOR
“Remember the brain, you two?”
BILLY
“Oh yes. The brain.”
NYSSA
(disgusted) “Ugh! The brain.”
A second flashback scene begins…
SCENE #121 – INT – GALLERY (STATION) – 37TH CENTURY – EVENING (FLASHBACK)
On the space station, in the gallery close to the docking port, with the Doctor, Nyssa, Billy, Lady Mite, Larry and Bob…
BOB
“This picture frame. I wonder if there’s something on the other side. A safe maybe.”
DOCTOR
(sharply) “Don’t touch anything, Mr. Hill!”
BOB
“I’ll move the picture frame right now!”
DOCTOR
“Don’t!”
Bob moves the picture frame aside from the wall and something falls out.
LARRY
(cries) “Hey! Something’s fallen out!”
LADY MITE
(cries) “Quick, catch it!”
BILLY
“I’ll catch it!”
Billy catches what’s fallen out of the wall of the picture in his hands.
BILLY
“What is it?”
NYSSA
“It’s a brain!”
Billy cries out shocked, as he juggles the brain in his hands.
DOCTOR
“Don’t juggle the brain about! Let me take it! I’ll hold…”
The Doctor takes the brain from Billy, before he cries out in shocked, juggling it in his hands.
DOCTOR
“Here, Nyssa! Take it!”
The Doctor then passes the brain to Nyssa. Nyssa cries out shocked, once she’s given the brain by the Doctor.
NYSSA
(wryly) “Oh thanks!”
Nyssa juggles the brain in her hands before Lady Mite comes to take it from her.
LADY MITE
“Hang on, hang on! I’ll take it!”
Lady Mite then cries out shocked, as she juggles the brain in her hands. Larry then comes to take the brain from Lady Mite.
LARRY
“Don’t, I’ll do it” (howls) “This is so good!”
Larry juggles the brain in his hands, before he passes to Bob. Bob cries out shocked, once he’s given the brain by Larry and juggles it.
BOB
“Hang on! Let’s give it back to Billy!”
Bob then passes the brain back to Billy. Billy cries out, once he’s given the brain back by Bob and juggles it.
BILLY
(annoyed) “Don’t give it back to me!”
DOCTOR
(anxiously) “Just put it back in! Put it back! Put it back!”
Billy puts the brain back where it was inside the wall of the picture frame.
NYSSA
“Quick! Put the picture frame back!”
Billy also puts the picture frame of Elizabeth Rotenhend back to where it was. This flashback scene ends.
SCENE #122 – INT – LOBBY, LEVEL #1 – 37TH CENTURY – MORNING
Back at the space hotel, in the lobby on Level #1…
DOCTOR
“That brain is all that is left of you, Mrs. Rotenhend.”
BILLY
“Not to mention squishy!”
NYSSA
“And very uncomfortable to hold!”
DOCTOR
“And it’s from there Mrs. Rotenhend that you were able to carry out your callous acts and use those who work for you to your advantage. The only question left to all of this though is…why?”
Moment of silence.
ELIZABETH
(laughs) “You’re very well informed, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Yes I am, aren’t I?”
ELIZABETH
“But nothing you can say will prevent me from achieving my ultimate ambition.”
DOCTOR
“And what ambition is that?”
ELIZABETH
“The ambition I’ve always had. To have everyone…at my party!”
Elizabeth laughs, as she presses a button at the reception desk before she vanishes in a puff of logic.
BILLY
“Doctor, she’s gone!”
NYSSA
“Where do you think she’s gone?”
DOCTOR
“She said something about…achieving her ultimate ambition. I wonder what she meant by that?”
GORDON
(fumes) “You caused this, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“Oh. Nyssa; Billy! It’s just as I predicted!”
NYSSA
“You mean when we were on the station thinking about those bodies and androids.”
DOCTOR
“Yes.”
BILLY
“Do you mean when we were pondering about the amount of space?”
GORDON
“You caused this chaos!”
DOCTOR
“And why that simi-suite was in use! She’s gone back to the station to arrange more guests to come here.”
BILLY
“She’s going to transport guests from the simi-suites to the space station!”
DOCTOR
“Exactly!”
NYSSA
“And when she does that…”
DOCTOR
“More murders will be committed!”
GORDON
(roars) “You shall die for this!”
BILLY
“Doctor? Are we likely threats?”
DOCTOR
“Yes we are.” (to Gordon) “Got your memories back hey, Mr. Rotenhend? After all, you are her ‘toy boy’! That’s why you asked her in the private office back in reception to recharge your cells.” (Pause) “You’re an android too aren’t you, Mr. Rotenhend?! Fancy that. Your wife made you!”
GORDON
“Prepare to execute!”
Gordon, as the android, raises his arm, to train the in-built weapon inside on the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy.
BILLY
(astonished) “Hey?! He’s got a gun in his arm!”
The other hotel guests raise their arms too, training their in-built weapons on the Doctor; Nyssa and Billy.
NYSSA
“And so have all the other hotel guests! They’re androids too!”
BILLY
(shocked) “What?! I can’t believe this is happening!”
DOCTOR
(calls; insistently) “Mr. Rotenhend, you’ve got to listen to me! All of you! You’re all being used!”
GORDON
(roars) “Shoot them!”
DOCTOR
“Ah well! It was worth a try!” (to Nyssa; Billy) “Nyssa; Billy! Come on! Turbo-lift!”
Shots are fired, as the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy duck down. They then run off into the turbo-lift, as the doors slide open for them. They manage to get inside.
GORDON
(roars) “After them, you idiots!”
But it’s too late, as the lift doors slide shut on the TARDIS trio inside before the shots are fired on them. As soon as this happens, everyone reverts back to normal, muttering and chatting to each other. They act as if nothing has happened. But Gordon is still aware of what’s just happened.
GORDON
(upset) “My son is dead! My hotel’s finished! And now my wife’s a hologram! What’s the universe coming to?” (sobs; Pause; realises) “My son! My son?” (Pause) “Bruce?”
BRUCE
“Yes?”
GORDON
(roars) “Bring wood and oil!”
SCENE #123 – INT – TURBO-LIFT #3 – 37TH CENTURY – MORNING
Inside the turbo-lift, the TARDIS trio sigh with relief. The Doctor presses a few buttons on the turbo-lift control panel, as the lift goes up.
BILLY
“Well, that was a close one!”
NYSSA
(to Doctor) “You have some plan in mind I hope, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
“We must get to the simi-suites and warn any guests inside them!
BILLY
“What if there aren’t any guests?”
DOCTOR
“Then we’ll just have to keep on guessing where they are!”
NYSSA
“Then what next, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“One thing at a time, Nyssa! One thing at a time!”
The Doctor, Nyssa and Billy wait anxiously, as they make for their destination in the turbo-lift.
TO BE CONTINUED…
© Tim Bradley, 2016
Bradley's Basement 