Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley.
Today, to celebrate seven years of ‘Bradley’s Basement’, I’m sharing the prologue to the upcoming Christmas Special in ‘The Fifth Doctor by Tim Bradley’ series called ‘Return to Christmas’, which will be released in its entirety in December 2022. Hopefully by the time you read this post, the story will have been uploaded and scheduled for release on Sarah Sutton’s birthday in December this year.
This is an exciting ‘Doctor Who’ adventure you don’t want to miss out on. 😀 I don’t know if this will be a regular thing where I share a preview or the first episode of one of my brand-new ‘Doctor Who’ stories, like I did with ‘The Coins of Deno’ and its first episode called ‘The Map to Time’ in 2021. If this should happen to be a regular thing, I’m okay with that. 🙂
Here’s a brief summary of what ‘Return to Christmas’ is all about.
Billy returns home to his parents in 1965 with the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa. But it turns out the Daleks are waiting for them and are about to begin their Christmas invasion of Earth.
Check out the prologue of ‘Return to Christmas’ below.
WARNING: If you haven’t read ‘The Coins of Deno’ yet, check it out first before reading this special preview of ‘Return to Christmas’ by clicking the above link. Read further on in this post and you do so at your own risk. This blog post contains SPOILERS!
Otherwise, enjoy! 🙂
Prologue: Coming Home
SCENE #1 – EXT – CHURCHWOOD STREET, CARDIFF – DAY, AFTERNOON
The TARDIS materialises, landing in Churchwood Street, Cardiff on the 15th of November 1965. The TARDIS makes a loud thump as it lands. Soon, the TARDIS doors open and the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy step out.
BILLY
(amazed) “Home! You’ve brought me home, Doctor! Just in time before Christmas, right?”
DOCTOR
“As requested, Billy. November the fifteenth, nineteen sixty-five.”
NYSSA
“Are you feeling alright, Billy? When we came back to your home the last time, [we’d…”]
BILLY
(interjects; reassuringly) “I’m alright, Nyssa. Honest. It’s just feels so strange to be back here again. It feels like I’ve been away for a long time.”
DOCTOR
“In a way, you have, Billy. There’s no knowing how much time has passed in the TARDIS.”
NYSSA
“There’s your house, Billy. Over there. Your mum and dad are bound to be inside.”
BILLY
“Yes.” (Pause) “How do you think they’ll react when we tell them our news?”
NYSSA
“Are you sure you want to go through with this, Billy? If you’re nervous about telling them our news…?”
BILLY
(interjects) “No, no. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to bits about it. Perhaps a little shocked at first, but they’ll come to like our news in the end. I said I’d back home for Christmas. This is the best time to tell them what we have to tell them.”
NYSSA
(knowingly) “But you are nervous about it, aren’t you?”
BILLY
(gradually) “Yes. Yes, I am a bit nervous. And slightly afraid.”
DOCTOR
“Well, if you two will excuse me, I have things to attend to. Hope you don’t mind. I’ll leave you two to attend with what you have to do.”
BILLY
“You’re not going, are you, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“You’ll do fine without me, I’m sure, Billy. I’ll let you and Nyssa settle back and reconnect with your family. You don’t need me. I’d only be in the way.”
NYSSA
(curious) “What are you going to do whilst we’re busy with Billy’s parents, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Oh, I’ll find something…interesting. I always do. Check up on the latest cricket around this time perhaps. See you then.”
BILLY
“Yeah. See you then, Doctor. Don’t get into too much trouble.”
DOCTOR
“Oh Billy! As if I would.” (to Nyssa) “See you, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
“Goodbye, Doctor. Take care.”
With that, the Doctor heads off, leaving Nyssa and Billy.
BILLY
“Look, Nyssa dear. If you’d rather we didn’t do this, we can always go somewhere else. That little café over there…”
NYSSA
(interjects; reassuringly) “No, Billy. I’d like to do this with you. I’d like to be there when you tell your parents about us.”
BILLY
“Are you sure?”
NYSSA
“I’m certain.”
A moment of silence ensues.
BILLY
(gradually) “Yes, of course. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” (Pause; nervously) “I’m a little excited about this too,”
Nyssa comforts Billy, stroking his hand gently.
NYSSA
“Don’t worry, Billy. I’m here with you.”
A moment of tender silence ensues.
BILLY
(breathes deep) “Ready?”
NYSSA
“Yes. Ready.”
Another moment of silence ensues.
BILLY
“Number eight, Churchwood Street, here we come.”
With that, Nyssa and Billy make their way to No. 8, Churchwood Street where Billy’s parents are.
SCENE #2 – INT – LIVING ROOM, NO. 8 – DAY, AFTERNOON
Enid Walker is sitting in the living room, watching TV, Just then, the doorbell rings.
ENID
(calls) “Fred! Answer that, will you? It’ll probably be your catalogue.”
FRED
(calls back) “Or possibly my latest box of Christmas chocolates. I’ll go and see…”
Whilst Enid watches the TV, her husband Fred Walker goes to answer the door. On the TV, Enid watches the news.
NEWSREADER (V’O)
“…And details of the Beatles’ upcoming festival taking place in Liverpool will be given tomorrow before the weekend. In other news, the latest on ‘Briggs and Shearman’s success, as their toy company sells millions of merchandise across the world, featuring the alien meanies who have come to invade the Earth. The [dreaded…”]
At that moment, Fred bursts into the living room, interrupting Enid.
FRED
“Enid, switch that telly off!”
ENID
“Fred, what is it? What’s the matter?”
FRED
“Enid, switch off the television now!”
With that, Enid switches off the TV to hear Fred.
FRED
(happily) “Guess who’s come home, Enid? Look!”
Fred allows Nyssa and Billy to enter. Once she sees Billy, Enid gets up and goes over to him in an instant.
ENID
(overjoyed) “Billy! You’re home! You’ve come home! Oh my precious boy has come home!”
Enid gives Billy a hug.
BILLY
(happily) “Hello, Mum! It’s good to see you again! And you, Dad!”
ENID
“Oh you’ve been gone for so long!”
BILLY
“I said I’d come back for Christmas. This is nineteen sixty-five, isn’t it?”
FRED
“It certainly is. It’s good to see you, my boy. And you, Nyssa. Thank you for looking after our son.”
NYSSA
“Oh he’s been looking after me, Fred. It’s good to see you too. And you, Enid.”
ENID
“Yes, yes. It’s good to see you too, Nyssa.” (Pause) “Come! Come, Billy! Sit down! Sit on this sofa. And you, Nyssa.”
FRED
“Yes. Take the weight off your feet, you two.”
NYSSA
“Thank you. It’s very kind of you two.”
BILLY
“Yeah, thanks Mum; thanks Dad.”
They all sit down in the living room.
ENID
“But what happened to you, Billy? You’ve been away for so long. Not as long as two years, but still…”
BILLY
(interjects; reassuringly) “Mum I’m fine. I’ve been having the time of my life. We all have. Me, Nyssa and the Doctor.” (to Nyssa) “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
NYSSA
“Yes. We’ve had many adventures. Sontarans in Stockbridge; our toy dog Cuddles coming to life; Drashigs on Teruvada Sixteen; searching for the Coins of Deno. We’ve braved through them all.”
ENID
“You’ve been in danger then.”
BILLY
“We’ve had fun as well, Mum. It’s not as bad as it all sounds.”
NYSSA
“Billy promised we’d come back safely before Christmas. And here we are.”
FRED
“Yes. And I’m glad Billy kept his word.”
A moment of silence ensues.
BILLY
“We’ve also got some news to tell you. Happy news in fact.”
FRED
(intrigued) “Oh? Please tell us. We’re intrigued. Aren’t we, Enid?”
ENID
“What is it? Tell us what the news is.”
BILLY
(to Nyssa) “Shall I tell them, sweetheart, or will you?”
NYSSA
“I think it’s best that you tell them, Billy.”
Another moment of silence ensues, as Billy takes a deep breath.
BILLY
(gradually) “Mum; Dad. Nyssa and I are going to be married!”
ENID
“What?”
FRED
“Married?! I don’t believe it!”
NYSSA
“Billy proposed to me when we were in Cannes in the year two thousand and thirteen.”
BILLY
“In the south of France! It was the happiest day of my life!”
A ripple of happy laughter ensues between Nyssa and Billy. Another moment of silence ensues.
BILLY
(gradually; anxiously) “Well, Mum; Dad? Aren’t you pleased?”
FRED
(gradually) “Billy, we’re absolutely thrilled. Aren’t we, Enid?” (Pause) “Enid?”
ENID
(half-heartedly) “Yes. Yes, Billy. I’m very pleased for you. For you and Nyssa. It’s just… It’s rather astonishing to hear.”
FRED
“And you came back to tell us this before Christmas.”
BILLY
“More than that.” (to Nyssa) “Tell them, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
(gradually) “Billy and I would like to have the wedding here. In Churchwood. We want to get married in the New Year once Christmas is over. And…we were wondering…if you could help us with the arrangements.”
BILLY
“The wedding plans. You know, help us to get our wedding sorted.”
Another moment of silence ensues.
FRED
(gradually) “I think we should only be too happy to help you two out. Wouldn’t we, Enid? That would be splendid, wouldn’t it? Helping our son and his fiancée getting their wedding sorted.”
ENID
(gradually; half-heartedly) “Yes, Fred. Very splendid indeed.”
BILLY
(pleased) “Well, that’s good to hear. Isn’t it, Nyssa?”
NYSSA
“Yes it is! Thank you so much, you two. We really appreciate it.”
FRED
(gradually) “Well, Christmas has certainly come at last!”
As Nyssa, Billy, Enid and Fred sit in the living room, they don’t realise they’re being watched…by a toy Dalek. It watches in hiding, raising its eyestalk and hearing the conversation take place.
SCENE #3 – INT – DALEK CONTROL ROOM, BRIGGS AND SHEARMAN’S TOY FACTORY – DAY, AFTERNOON
Images are relayed to the Daleks in their control room at a toy factory in the Breacon Beacons, as they watch Nyssa, Billy, Enid and Fred. There are three Daleks – a Black Dalek, a Red Dalek and a Blue Dalek. The Black Dalek is in command.
RED DALEK
“THESE ARE THE HUMANOIDS WE HAVE FOUND, ACCORDING TO THEIR PROFILE IDENTIFICATION.”
BLUE DALEK
“YES. THEY MATCH ACCORDING TO THEIR PROFILES. THESE TWO – THE BOY AND THE GIRL – ARE ENEMIES OF THE DALEKS!”
RED DALEK
“HAS THE DOC-TOR BEEN LOCATED? WAS HE NOT AMONG HIS COMPANIONS UPON ARRIVAL?”
BLUE DALEK
“SCANNING.”
The Blue Dalek scans the area for the Doctor. Soon, a result comes up on their control screen.
BLUE DALEK
“THE DOC-TOR HAS BEEN LOCATED IN CHURCHWOOD STREET. HE HAS WALKED PAST HIS TARDIS. HE IS HEADING INTO THE CENTRE OF CARDIFF CITY.”
RED DALEK
“THEN WE ARE READY FOR HIM. HE IS AN ENEMY OF THE DALEKS! AS ARE HIS TWO COMPANIONS. THEY WILL BE EXTERMINATED!”
BLACK DALEK
“NO! WE SHALL REPORT OUR FINDINGS TO THE GOLD DALEK SUPREME. HE WILL NOTIFY OUR HUMAN ALLY. SHE WILL CARRY FORWARD OUR PLANS. SHE WILL DISTRIBUTE OUR STOCK TO THE WORLD’S COMMUNITIES. IN THE MEANTIME, WE THREE WILL CONTINUE OUR FUNCTION.”
RED DALEK
“YOU WILL INFORM THE GOLD DALEK SUPREME NOW?”
BLACK DALEK
“YES! ONCE I’VE INFORMED THE GOLD DALEK SUPREME, WE CAN ADVANCE WITH OUR PLANS. THE DALEK CHRISTMAS WILL SOON COMMENCE SOON! THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED!”
BLACK DALEK/RED DALEK/BLUE DALEK
(chant) “THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED! THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED! THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED! THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED! [THE DOC-TOR WILL BE DEFEATED AND EXTERMINATED…”]
Roll original 1982 Peter Davison opening credits
© Tim Bradley, 2022
TO BE CONTINUED…
Stay tuned for ‘Return to Christmas’ this December. 🙂
Also please feel free to check out other stories in ‘The Fifth Doctor by Tim Bradley’ series, including ‘The Railway of Time’, ‘The Space Hotel’, ‘Doom of the Daleks’, ‘The Tree of Riverloth’, ‘The Austen Code’, ‘Junglos 4198’, ‘Chieftain’s Caves’, ‘Dawn of the Dwaxi’, ‘The Stockbridge Terror’, ‘City of Monsters’, ‘The Prime Factor’ and ‘The Coins of Deno’.
Thanks for reading!
Bye for now!
Tim. 🙂
Bradley's Basement 