Time to continue ‘Doom of the Daleks’ with ‘Part One, Chapter 4’…
Enjoy!
Tim. 🙂
4. A Deadly Enemy
SCENE #37 – INT – TELEPORT ROOM, MOONRAKER – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Back aboard the Moonraker, the Away Team; the Doctor and Billy materialise as they beam back and stand on the pads of the teleport room. With the teleport successful, Elaine and her Away Team step off the transporter pad, taking the Doctor and Billy with them.
ELAINE
(to Gregory) “Gregory! See that blue box we found is stored securely in cargo bay one.”
GREGORY
“Yes, mam.”
Gregory leaves for the cargo bay, as the Doctor begins to protest.
DOCTOR
(to Elaine) “Excuse me, Commander…”
COLIN
(to Gavin) “Take these two to the bridge, Mr. Frakes.”
GAVIN
“Aye, sir.”
But before Gavin can grab hold of them, Billy breaks free.
BILLY
“Oh no, you don’t!”
Billy makes his way back to the teleport pads. Colin aims and trains a phaser rifle on Billy.
COLIN
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
BILLY
(insistently) “Put me back on the planet!”
COLIN
“Get off that teleport pad!”
BILLY
(protests) “But Nyssa’s down there! With those ruffians…”
COLIN
(shouts) “I don’t care about your friend! You two are going to see the Captain this instant!”
BILLY
(upset) “Don’t you understand? It’s my fault she’s down there! I’ve got to rescue her!”
COLIN
“You’ve been accused as enemy spies. If you don’t get off that teleport pad now, I shall shoot you on the spot!”
DOCTOR
“Please, Billy. Do as he says.”
BILLY
“But Doctor…”
DOCTOR
(sympathetic) “Yes Billy, I know. I’m worried about Nyssa too. But there’s nothing we can do for her now. We’ll rescue her later.”
GAVIN
(to Doctor; Billy) “Come on!”
Gavin takes the Doctor with him, as Wilson drags Billy off the teleport pad. He pushes Billy forwards as they leave the teleport room.
BILLY
(uptight) “Alright, alright! There’s no need to push!”
But Wilson trains his rifle threateningly on Billy. Billy joins the Doctor with Gavin escorting them out of the teleport room.
ELAINE
“Mr. Wilson?”
COLIN
(to Elaine) “Yes, Commander?”
ELAINE
“We report to the Captain. We need to tell him about these strange soldiers that attacked us.”
COLIN
“And the enemy spies?”
ELAINE
(matter-of-factually) “We don’t know they’re enemy spies yet!”
Elaine briskly walks out of the teleport room, with Colin following her.
SCENE #38 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, MOONRAKER – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
On the main bridge of the Moonraker, Captain Sulley watches the strange Dwaxi flagship approaching them.
CAPTAIN
(to Ensign) “Any response, Ensign?”
ENSIGN
“Negative, sir. It’s just sitting there. Doing nothing.”
CAPTAIN
“Still no registration on what this alien vessel is yet?”
ENSIGN
”No, sir. The scanner can’t identify it according to database.”
CAPTAIN
(grimaces) “Well, keep on sending messages. Whoever is aboard that ship must want to talk to us sometime.”
The turbo-lift doors slide open, as Gavin escorts the Doctor and Billy onto the bridge. He moves them to one side.
GAVIN
(firmly) “Stand there. And don’t move!”
DOCTOR
(agitated) “There’s no need to be rough!”
The Doctor and Billy stand where they’re told to stand. Captain Sulley sees them on the bridge and goes to inspect them.
CAPTAIN
(perplexed; to Gavin) “Who are these two, Mr. Frakes?”
GAVIN
“They were on the planet. These two…and a girl was with them.”
CAPTAIN
“Where is the girl?”
GAVIN
“We left her on the planet!”
Just then, the turbo-lift doors slide open as Elaine and Colin enter.
CAPTAIN
“Miss Thomas; Mr. Wilson. What happened down there?”
COLIN
“We were under attack, Captain.”
ELAINE
“It’s true, sir.”
CAPTAIN
“Attacked? By whom?”
Before Elaine can answer; the Doctor steps forward.
DOCTOR
“May I assume you’re the captain of this ship?”
COLIN
“How dare you speak to the captain in that manner…”
DOCTOR
(ignores Colin; continues) “Because if you are the captain, I wish to lay a complaint!”
CAPTAIN
“And what complaint is that, Mr…?”
DOCTOR
“Doctor!”
CAPTAIN
“Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(heatedly) “The complaint is that we’ve been treated very unfairly since we arrived on the planet! And one of my dear friends is left on the planet in the midst of some rampaging war force. To which my young friend feels responsible.”
BILLY
“That’s right.”
CAPTAIN
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you. And now we’ve been accused of being enemy spies, for which we haven’t been given a chance to explain ourselves! And Billy is terribly injured!” (to Billy) “Are you alright, Billy?”
BILLY
“I’ll be fine, Doctor.”
ELAINE
(to Billy) “We’ll have some medical supplies to sort you out. Don’t worry.”
BILLY
(to Elaine) “Thank you.”
DOCTOR
(to Captain) “I protest and demand that my young friend, a woman, be rescued in the circumstances of this misunderstanding.”
CAPTAIN
“I’m sorry to hear about your friend, Doctor. But I’m afraid we have more pressing issues to deal with.”
BILLY
“Nothing more pressing than saving the life of Nyssa…”
CAPTAIN
(interrupts) “Your young friend is better off dead. And my officers say that you are enemy spies. So for the moment, you are not in a position to make any demands to me.” (to Elaine) “Now Miss Thomas! Tell me what happened!”
ELAINE
“We found these two along with their friend on the planet. They had a blue box which is now being stored in the cargo bay.”
CAPTAIN
“Blue box?”
ELAINE
“Yes. They claim it is the ship they arrived in. We haven’t made a proper analysis of it yet.”
CAPTAIN
“Then see to it that an operations team investigate it.”
DOCTOR
“I can assure you, Captain. You won’t find anything worth…”
COLIN
(sharply) “Do not interrupt the Captain again!”
CAPTAIN
“Go ahead, Miss Thomas.”
ELAINE
“Then we found ourselves under attack by some shock troopers that came out of nowhere. They were fast, vicious and totally merciless.”
A whining noise suddenly echoes from the pilot controls.
ENSIGN
“Captain? Scanners are picking some more ships coming off the port bow.”
Captain Sulley looks see the viewer screen with Elaine and Colin.
CAPTAIN
“Are they like the first vessel we found?”
ENSIGN
“Yes. Except there seems to be a multitude of design and formation. That first ship must have been a scout.”
ELAINE
“Maybe those ships belong to the shock troops we encountered on the planet.”
COLIN
“There are more of them coming this way!”
ELAINE
“But why Yondamus Four?”
Whilst the Moonraker bridge crew debate this, the Doctor and Billy confer quietly to each other.
BILLY
(quietly) “What are they, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “I don’t know. There’s quite a fleet coming isn’t there?”
BILLY
(quietly) “Those ruffians that attacked us. That attacked me and Nyssa. Do you know who they are?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “No. They were very unfamiliar. And that’s just what worries me.”
BILLY
(quietly) “But what’s going on, Doctor? Why are we being accused for being enemy spies?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “Well presumably Earth is at war with some force that threatens their empire. This ship we’re on is part of the battle fleet. But what enemy they’re up against, I wonder.”
As the Doctor and Billy confer quietly, the Captain gives orders to the Ensign at the pilot controls.
CAPTAIN
“Keep tracking those vessels, Ensign. And keep on sending repeated standard greetings messages on all frequencies.”
ENSIGN
“Aye sir.”
As the Ensign does as instructed, Billy confers quietly with the Doctor again.
BILLY
“What about Nyssa, Doctor? What’s happened to her?”
DOCTOR
“I wish I knew.”
BILLY
“I shouldn’t have let my curiosity get the better of me. If I’d got to her immediately then we’d all be together and not left…”
DOCTOR
“Billy, please. Don’t get so worked up about it.
BILLY
“But it’s my fault she’s left behind.”
DOCTOR
“It’s no good worrying about her. She can look after herself. We’re in too much trouble as it is.”
BILLY
“Trouble?”
DOCTOR
“First the rift emissions and now these rough shock troopers. It all seems so hell bent on something larger. And this starship crew happens to be in the centre of events.”
SCENE #39 – INT – MICROS WAREHOUSE #5 – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Meanwhile back on Yondaus IV, Nyssa is still alive. She slowly wakes up, groaning in pain, to find herself inside Micros Warehouse #5. She’s tended to someone close by.
NINA
(softly) “Easy, easy. You’ve had a bit of a shock. You’ve been struck by one of those Dwaxi troopers.”
JACK
(grunts, from a distance) “Yeah. And a big creep he was too.”
Nyssa manages to sit up, as she rubs her head.
NYSSA
“Where…where am I? Where’s the Doctor? Where’s Billy?”
NINA
(reassuringly) “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m a doctor.” (Pause) “Here. Take this.”
Nina hands a cup of water to Nyssa.
NYSSA
“What is it?”
NINA
“It’s water. Please take it. It’ll purify you and give you strength.”
Nyssa takes the cup of water from Nyssa. She begins to drink it. Nyssa almost splutters before drinking the water properly. She wipes her lips after finishing the drink.
NYSSA
“Thank you. That was refreshing.”
NINA
“It’s a good thing we had this given to us. But for what reason they give us water I can’t guess. They’re heartless and treacherous.”
NYSSA
“They?”
JACK
“The brutes that captured us!”
Nyssa breathes deeply to catch her breath.
NINA
(enquiringly) “Are you feeling better?”
NYSSA
“Yes, I am. Thank you.”
NINA
“I’m Dr. Nina Cole. Chief medical officer of the starship Moonraker.” (to Jack) “And this is Jack Kelly.”
JACK
(proudly) “Ensign Jack Kelly. Pilot and Navigator.”
NYSSA
“I’m Nyssa of Traken.” (Pause) “Where are we?”
NINA
“In a warehouse of some kind. We’re held prisoners; that’s clear enough.”
NYSSA
“Yes. We’re in the same warehouse. We’re still on Yondamus Four!”
NINA
“Yondamus Four? Well that’s a novelty. Why would our captors keep us here?”
NYSSA
“You don’t know who your captors are?”
JACK
“We’ve seen them. Sometimes they just sit there, glare or laugh at us. Like we’re nothing.”
NINA
“How did you get here, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Well…I was with my friends – the Doctor and Billy. We were found by a team led by a Commander Elaine Thomas.”
JACK
(thrilled) “Elaine? You’ve seen Elaine.”
NYSSA
“She had other officers with her including a rough man named Mr. Wilson. My friend Billy was suddenly attacked by a callous man in armour and I was knocked out when I tried to save him. After that, I find myself here.”
Moment of silence.
NINA
“We were on a mission in response to a distress call received by our Captain. We approached the coordinates but found nobody there. Then we got captured by these…bullies.”
JACK
“Protected by a force-field.”
Nyssa slowly gets to her feet. She steps forward to touch the air. Nyssa touches a force-field lets off an electronic sizzle. It startles Nyssa, as she backs away from the impact of the force-field on her hand.
NYSSA
“Yes. I see. The field density’s high.”
JACK
(agitated) “Why are we kept here? What do they want? They don’t simply want to gloat at us or make us feel low-level, do they?”
NINA
“Jack, calm down!”
JACK
(uptight) “Calm down? They are ruffians that have bashed and beaten us up and we’re getting no reception.” (shouts) “What is it that they want?”
NINA
“Jack!”
NYSSA
“Ssh, you two.”
Stomping footsteps approach.
NYSSA
“Someone’s coming.”
Just then, a number of Dwaxi troopers turn the corner, led by the Blockade. As they approach, one of the troopers shuts down the force-field. The Blockade steps into the prisoners’ cell. The force-field gets switched back on again once he’s in with them.
BLOCKADE
(indicating Jack) “IF THAT ONE DOESN’T SHUT HIS MOUTH, HE’LL BE STUFFED DOWN A SANDPIT!”
Nyssa steps forward to address the Blockade.
NYSSA
“I’m Nyssa of Traken. I want to know why we’re being held here…”
BLOCKADE
“SHUT UP!”
NINA
(protests) “How dare you speak to her like that…”
The Blockade strikes Nina in the face. Nina reacts in pain, as Jack tends to her.
JACK
“Nina, are you alright?”
Nina responds affirmatively, but is quite clearly shaken up.
NYSSA
(protests) “Why are you keeping us here? We haven’t done you any harm?”
BLOCKADE
“OH WE KNOW THAT!”
NYSSA
(protests) “Then why won’t you let us go?”
BLOCKADE
“BECAUSE! WE LOVE TO SEE YOU SUFFER; BEG FOR MERCY AND ROT LIKE RATS!”
NYSSA
(shocked) “Who are you?”
BLOCKADE
“WE ARE THE DWAXI! WE SHALL RULE HERE!”
NYSSA
“But this is Yondamon territory!”
BLOCKADE
“THOSE YONDIES CAN BUZZ OFF!!” (Pause) “WE SHALL SMACK THOSE WHO BLOCK OUR EXISTENCE!”
JACK
(cries; angrily) “You vicious fiend!”
Jack attempts to strike the Blockade. But the Blockade grabs hold of his chest and lifts him up in the air. Jack writhes in pain, as the Blockade holds him by the chest.
BLOCKADE
“THERE! LET THE BLOOD FIZZLE OUT OF YOUR BODY!”
Jack suffocates, as he’s held in the Blockade’s grasp.
NYSSA
(cries) “Let him go!”
The Blockade doesn’t do as Nyssa says.
NINA
(pleads) “Please! Let him go!”
Nyssa then steps forward to push the Blockade out of the way.
NYSSA
(cries; angrily) “Stop it! That’s enough!”
The Blockade eventually lets go of Jack, as he falls on the floor. Jack coughs, as Nina kneels down to help him.
NYSSA
(angrily) “How dare you!”
But the Blockade smacks Nyssa savagely in the face.
BLOCKADE
“YOU DARE TO DEFY ME!”
NYSSA
(angrily) “There was no need for that! Why are you humiliating us…?”
BLOCKADE
“SHUT UP, YOU PATHETIC PUNY GIRL! YOU ALL HAVE NO RIGHTS! YOU WILL GET NO HELP FROM ANYONE! YOU WILL SUFFER AS WE SHALL HAVE YOU SUFFER UNTIL THE BONES ROT IN YOUR BODY!”
The Blockade turns and grunts to one of his Dwaxi troopers, who switches off the force-field to let him out. Once the Blockade is out, the force-field gets switched back on again imprisoning Nyssa; Nina and Jack inside. The Dwaxi troopers leave them to it. Jack is still in agonising pain, with Nina tending to him. Nyssa kneels to join Nina tending to Jack and his injuries.
NYSSA
“Are you both alright?”
NINA
“I’m fine. I’m not sure about Jack.” (to Jack) “Jack? Can you hear me?”
JACK
(groans heavily) “My chest.” (Pause) “My chest.”
NINA
(to Nyssa; appalled) “I can’t believe they did that to him? Who do they think they are?”
NYSSA
(gradually) “I don’t know, Nina. I just hope we’ll be able to find a way to escape.”
SCENE #40 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, DWAXI FLAGSHIP – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Aboard the bridge of the Dwaxi flagship, Gabrog enters. He approaches and salutes Dwaxi Commander Targah.
GABROG
“Hail Commander!”
TARGAH
“Give me the report, you twerp! What of the prisoners?”
GABROG
“Pathetic useless bunch! The Blockade says they complain!”
TARGAH
“Did he bash them?”
GABROG
“He did! The iron fist is stronger than theirs!”
TARGAH
“We shall tear their blood apart! NOTHING CAN STOP US!”
GABROG
“The Blockade and his troops are setting our stronghold!”
TARGAH
“Excellent. Once we’ve finished with the Moonraker, we shall deal with the barren planet below.”
GABROG
“What of the Moonraker?”
TARGAH
“Half the fleet has gathered to confront it!”
GABROG
“One puny ship against the armada of our empire!” (laughs) “How hilarious is that?!”
TARGAH
“They don’t realise the power we have in our grasp! BUT THEY SOON SHALL!”
Just then, a terrible whine echoes from a bridge computer terminal.
DWAXI OFFICER
“Commander! The scanners have picked up a squadron of ships off the starboard bow, ten miles away from the Moonraker and our position. They’re coming fast.”
TARGAH
“That would be them, wouldn’t it?”
Moment of silence.
DWAXI OFFICER
“Yes.”
TARGAH
“Just as was foretold!” (laughs out loud; to Dwaxi Pilot) “Pilot! Move us in forwards to meet the Moonraker!”
DWAXI PILOT
“Yes, Commander.”
Targah laughs menacingly, as the Dwaxi pilot drives the flagship forward to meet the Moonraker.
SCENE #41 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, MOONRAKER – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Meanwhile aboard the Moonraker, on the bridge, the Doctor and Billy are being interrogated by Captain Sulley.
CAPTAIN
(unimpressed) “You fail to give good account of yourselves, Doctor. My officers find you on the planet, where human life is not commonly found within this sector of the galaxy, and you claim some petty story about travelling in your own ship the size of a box.”
DOCTOR
“As hard as it sounds, Captain…”
CAPTAIN
“Sulley. Captain Kevin Sulley.”
DOCTOR
“…Captain Kevin Sulley, it’s true. And we came here the moment we found the dead corpses on the floor of that warehouse…” (Pause; realises) “Excuse me; did you say…Captain Kevin Sulley?”
CAPTAIN
“Yes?” (Pause) “Why?”
DOCTOR
(thinks) “Forgive me I…I seem to know that name.”
ELAINE
“You said you travelled in a blue box?”
DOCTOR
“Yes. So I keep saying.”
ELAINE
“How can three of you, including the girl, manage to fit into such a small space as that?”
BILLY
“Oh that’s easy. The TARDIS is smaller outside but bigger inside.
CAPTAIN
“TARDIS? What is this TARDIS?”
BILLY
“It’s the name of the Doctor’s ship.” (Pause) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(quietly; to himself) “Captain Kevin Sulley? Why do I know that name?”
COLIN
“Why are we wasting time with these criminals, Captain? We should throw them in the brig!”
BILLY
(protests) “We keep telling you, we’re not…”
Just then, the turbo-lift doors slide open as Yondamus Ambassador Togal enters the bridge.
TOGAL
“Captain Kevin Sulley. My people are waiting an explanation for the travesties that have occurred! They are impatient! Not that I’m surprised since your crew…” (stops; realises) “Who are these two?”
DOCTOR
(astonished) “Well, well, well. A Yondamon. And in elegant attire!”
TOGAL
“I am the Yondamus Ambassador. Togal, if you please sir. And you will address me with the proper respect.”
DOCTOR
“Sorry. I just find it fascinating to see…”
Just then, Gavin receives a signal at his workstation that beeps loudly.
GAVIN
(interrupts) “Captain. The unidentified fleet. It’s moving towards us.”
ENSIGN
“Confirmed. Vessels approaching at trajectory of four point one four seven mark five.”
CAPTAIN
“Are we receiving hails?”
GAVIN
“Negative, sir.” (Pause) “Their shields are going up. They’re powering up their weapon systems. They’re about to fire!”
COLIN
(shocked) “What?”
ELAINE
(shouts; urgently) “Shields up! Red alert!”
The red alert siren goes off loudly, as the Moonraker gets pounded upon with heavy firepower by the Dwaxi. The ship rocks from side to side and everybody falls over. The attack is phenomenal as the blasts of firepower on the Moonraker happens so suddenly. The Ensign piloting the helm cries and falls off her chair. Elaine runs forward down to help her her up.
ELAINE
“Are you alright?”
ENSIGN
(affirmatively) “Hmm! I’ll be alright, Commander.”
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Billy recover after they’ve fallen to the floor.
BILLY
“Doctor, Are you alright?”
DOCTOR
(in pain; reassuringly) “I’m fine. Just knocked my arm on this railing.”
The Doctor tends to his wound, grinding his teeth.
BILLY
(bewildered) “That was incredible! Those ships knocked us down!”
DOCTOR
“Yes. I’ve never known a ship to have that kind of firepower before.”
Captain Sulley gets back to his captain chair, as he regains control of the ship.
CAPTAIN
(barks) “Report?”
Colin goes to a workstation to check the ship’s status.
COLIN
(cries) “Forward shields are weakening. Casualties are coming all over the ship!”
GAVIN
(shouts) “Main shields still holding.” (Pause) “They’re firing again.”
Another set of firepower pounds onto the Moonraker by the Dwaxi ships.
SCENE #42 – EXT – YONDAMUS SPACE – 26TH CENTURY – N/A
In outer space, the Dwaxi fleet fires continuously at the Moonraker with furious firepower. The Moonraker still has its shield in intact despite these attacks.
SCENE #43 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, DWAXI FLAGSHIP – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Aboard the Dwaxi flagship, troopers laugh and taunt as the Moonraker suffers the heavy pressure of firepower in outer space.
DWAXI
(taunts; chants) “Again! Again! Again!”
The Dwaxi keep chanting, a Targah watches the Moonraker on the flagship’s view-screen. He laughs out loud mockingly.
GABROG
“Their shields are weakening!”
TARGAH
(laughs) “Fire again!”
GABROG
(at Moonraker) “Why don’t you fight back, you puny whimps! Weak! Pathetic!”
TARGAH
“Keep firing! Do not stop! DO NOT STOP!”
Targah and Gabrog join in the hyper chant of…
TARGAH; GABROG; DWAXI
(taunts; chants) “Again! Again! Again!”
SCENE #44 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, MOONRAKER – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
Meanwhile, the Moonraker crew struggle to maintain their balance aboard the starship. They get thrown about the place. Elaine Thomas soon gets to her feet to gets to the Captain.
ELAINE
“Why won’t they respond to hails?”
CAPTAIN
(confidently) “We’ll just have to fire back at them!” (to Gavin) “Mr Frakes! Prepare to fire lasers and open missile bays!”
GAVIN
“Aye, sir! Missiles launched! Lasers ready!”
Moment of silence, as the Dwaxi stop firing at the Moonraker for a moment.
COLIN
“Captain. Shields are still holding. But barely.”
CAPTAIN
(to Gavin) “Mr. Frakes! Fire at will!”
GAVIN
“Yes, sir.”
Gavin presses the firing button at his workstation.
SCENE #45 – EXT – YONDAMUS SPACE – 26TH CENTURY – N/A
The Moonraker fires all its weapons including lasers and missiles on the Dwaxi fleet. But the Moonraker’s firepower is no match to what the Dwaxi fleet are capable of. The Dwaxi fleet fires back with heavy shot pounding onto the Moonraker.
SCENE #46 – INT – MAIN BRIDGE, MOONRAKER – 26TH CENTURY – MORNING
The crew members; Togal; the Doctor and Billy fall about on the bridge of the Moonraker. Explosions occur everywhere on the bridge, terrifying and startling everyone.
TOGAL
“They’re beating us down!”
The Doctor steps forward to address the Captain.
DOCTOR
“This is pointless, Captain. You’re no match for whoever they are. Let me help. I might be able to find a weakness in their weapons array…”
CAPTAIN
“You stay where you are. I don’t trust you yet!”
The ship gets fired upon again. The Captain and Elaine manage to hold on. The Doctor nearly falls on top of Captain Sulley before he regains his balance.
ELAINE
“We can’t keep this up, Kevin! The shields will soon collapse and we’ll be defenceless!”
DOCTOR
(to Captain) “Miss Thomas is right, Captain. You must take evasive action before…”
CAPTAIN
“I am in command of this vessel and I will decide…”
COLIN
(cries) “Captain, sir! The shields are down!”
Moment of tense silence.
TOGAL
(challengingly) “Well? What now, Captain?!”
Another moment of tense silence.
CAPTAIN
(gradually) “Signal our surrender! Tell them we wish to…”
ENSIGN
(interrupts) “Captain?!” (Pause) “They’ve stopped firing!”
Moment of silence, as everyone looks to see the Dwaxi fleet on the view-screen.
BILLY
“Why have they stopped?”
COLIN
“Why don’t they destroy us now? They know they’ve beaten us!”
CAPTAIN
“Quiet, Mr. Wilson.”
A beep echoes from Gavin’s workstation.
GAVIN
“Captain! We’re being hailed by the main ship!”
BILLY
(wryly) “Now they want to talk!”
CAPTAIN
“Open a channel.”
ELAINE
“Captain?”
CAPTAIN
(to Gavin) “Do it, Mr. Frakes.”
GAVIN
(reluctantly) “Aye, sir.”
Gavin activates a communications channel at his workstation. The face of Dwaxi Commander Targah appears on the view screen. He cackles away hideously with cruel laughter before he speaks.
TARGAH (V’O)
(cruelly) “Attention Earth ship Moonraker. That attack we just made. That was a warning! A warning of the worst yet to come!”
CAPTAIN
(calmly) “I’m Captain Kevin Sulley of the Earth ship Moonraker…”
TARGAH (V’O)
“I know who you are, stupid captain! I don’t care about your credentials!”
CAPTAIN
“Excuse me, sir! But we haven’t met…”
TARGAH (V’O)
“We know you! Now you waste of spaces will listen only to me! You will not make terms for we won’t accept any!”
CAPTAIN
“You have committed an act of aggression in this sector…”
TARGAH (V’O)
(harshly) “Do not lecture me on human principles, you apes! We’re not interested!”
Everyone on the bridge gasps, astonished by the harsh words by Targah. Captain Sulley tries to restrain himself before addressing Targah.
CAPTAIN
(calmly) “Who are you?”
TARGAH (V’O)
“I am Targah! We are the Dwaxi! And we’re going to beat you up!”
Whilst Captain Sulley speaks to Targah on the view-screen, Billy confers quietly with the Doctor.
DOCTOR
(quietly) “The Dwaxi?”
BILLY
(quietly) “Have you seen them before, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “No.”
BILLY
(quietly) “Have you heard of them before?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “No.”
BILLY
(quietly) “Did you know this was going to happen?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “No.”
BILLY
(quietly; wryly) “Glad you know everything.”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “This is not right. This is just not right.”
BILLY
(quietly) “What do you mean?”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “Well I mean…back where I come from on Gallifrey, we’re meant to know every species or every form of life that exists within this space time continuum. But how come I don’t know these creatures?”
BILLY
(quietly) “You can’t remember everything Doctor. Nobody’s perfect.”
DOCTOR
(quietly) “But they’re here. And I should know these creatures. So why don’t I know them?”
Whilst the Doctor ponders on this, Billy sees Captain Sulley continue his conversation with Targah. Elaine goes to stand next to the Captain.
CAPTAIN
“What is it you want? Why did you attack my ship?”
TARGAH (V’O)
“Simply to give you a demonstration!”
ELAINE
“Demonstration of what?”
TARGAH (V’O)
“Demonstration of our power. Particularly our firepower! So that we can show that we’re better than you! That we’re more powerful than you!”
ELAINE
“Well you’ve made your point!”
TARGAH (V’O)
(cruelly) “Good! I’m happy to hear that.”
ELAINE
(shocked) “Have you gone completely bonkers?”
TARGAH (V’O)
(chuckles; cruelly) “Yes.”
Targah laughs out loud, as the crew watch disgusted.
CAPTAIN
(angrily) “You’ve attacked my ship without reason! Causing the casualties of many of my people…”
TARGAH (V’O)
“Oh shut up! I don’t want to hear your complaints!”
CAPTAIN
“If you wish to make an enemy of us, so be it. But I insist…”
TARGAH (V’O)
“Oh but you are our enemy! That’s the whole point!”
CAPTAIN
“I must insist you stop these attacks! Spare my crew!”
TARGAH (V’O)
“What? And prevent us from carrying on with our demonstration?”
Just then, another signal beeps at Gavin’s workstation. Gavin accesses his workstation to check on the signal.
GAVIN
“Captain? There’s squadron of ships approaching this way. It’s the enemy!”
CAPTAIN
(anxiously) “Oh no!”
DOCTOR
“The enemy?”
On the view-screen, Targah claps his hand together.
TARGAH (V’O)
(delightedly) “Ah! Right on cue!” (Pause) “Now, Captain! Take a look at the starboard bow of your ship! See for yourselves, the deadliness of our power!”
Targah ends his communication with Captain Sulley, as the view-screen goes off.
ENSIGN
“He’s broken communications, sir.”
TOGAL
“What does he mean? Deadliness of their power?”
A red alert siren goes off. Frequent signals bleep at Gavin’s workstation.
GAVIN
“Captain? Those ships! They’re within visual range.”
DOCTOR
(to himself) “I don’t like the sound of this.”
BILLY
“What is it, Doctor?”
CAPTAIN
(grimly) “Mr. Frakes.” (Pause) “On screen.”
GAVIN
“Aye, sir.”
Gavin complies as he presses a button to activate the view-screen again. A squadron of Dalek ships appear on the view-screen. Everyone reacts horrified once they see the ships. No one is more horrified however than the Doctor.
DOCTOR
(horrified) “Oh no!”
BILLY
“Doctor, what is it? What are they?”
Moment of silence.
DOCTOR
(gradually) “Daleks!”
SCENE #47 – EXT – YONDAMUS SPACE – 26TH CENTURY – N/A
The squadron of Dalek ships approach the Dwaxi fleet and the Moonraker, before they grind to a halt. The Daleks’ tannoy is switched on. The voice of the Daleks echoes out into space. They grate their announcement to both the Dwaxi fleet and the Moonraker.
DALEKS (V’O)
“ATTENTION! ATTENTION! WE ARE THE DALEKS! YOU WILL SURRENDER! YOU WILL OBEY AND SURRENDER TO US! OBEY! OBEY!…OR YOU WILL BE EX…”
But the Daleks are rudely interrupted, as the Dwaxi fire furiously on their ships. The Daleks’ screams of pain and agony echo out into space from their tannoy. Eventually, the squadron of Dalek ships blow up and explode into smithereens. Fragments of the Daleks ships scatter across into space. The Daleks have been destroyed by the Dwaxi.
Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.
© Tim Bradley, 2016
Bradley's Basement 