‘City of Monsters’, Part Four, Chapter 14

14. Chasm 35 Control Centre

SCENE #161 – INT – THRONE ROOM, CITADEL OF GRONDOR – NIGHT
It is now night-time on Teruvada 16. In the king’s throne room, the Doctor, Billy, Darby and Bork hear a ship taking off and see it zooming across the sky outside, traversing over the city and breaking the sound barriers. The Nargdu guards still keep watch on the Doctor, Billy, Darby and Bork in the throne room as they confer.

BILLY
“Doctor, I’m so worried about Nyssa and Jo.”

DOCTOR
“So am I. I’m determined to save them. And that’s a fact! Just not sure how to save them though.”

BILLY
“That ship! The one we just saw flying off. Nyssa and Jo must be on there!”

BORK
“And Tulu my assistant! With his majesty the king and his son the prince.”

DOCTOR
And they’re heading for a destination in the central zone of the city. To see to the annihilation of humanity. And all because of prejudice.

BILLY
Doctor?

DOCTOR
It’s at times like this I wish there wasn’t any civilisation I encountered that didn’t have prejudicial grudges. Especially abominable ones like the Nargdu.

BILLY
Doctor?!

DOCTOR
I’m just so frustrated at how relative evil is and I can’t seem to grasp around how to stop it. And I promised, Billy! I did promise to Nyssa and Jo I’d save them! You heard me say it!

BILLY
Doctor, there must be some way we can follow them! We can’t just give up! They travelled in a ship! Surely they haven’t got far to get to wherever it is they’re going.

DOCTOR
“I think the same as you, Billy. But at the moment we don’t know where they’re going, do we?”

BORK
“What about that teleport system? Surely we can use that.”

DOCTOR
I imagine the king and the prince disabled the teleport system as soon as they got onto that ship of theirs.

BILLY
And we have a problem trying to get out through these guards keeping watch on us.

DOCTOR
Yes. That is an obstacle we have to overcome.

DARBY
(muses) The vault of power.

BORK
What was that, Mr. James?

DARBY
(to Bork) It’s Corporal James to you! (continues) The vault of power! They were heading for the vault of power!

BILLY
Is that any good to us then?

DARBY
From what I remember from my previous visits to this planet, the vault of power is housed within the core of the planet. If my thinking is correct, the king and the prince will be heading for the chasms that are the control centres controlling that vault.

DOCTOR
What’s the nearest chasm then, Darby?

DARBY
(thinks) Let me think. Err…the nearest chasm would be…Chasm Thirty-Five, I’m sure of it! That’s probably where they’re heading! Chasm Thirty-Five Control Centre in the heart of Grondor!

BILLY
You seem pretty sure of that, Corporal.

DARBY
The guides on previous exhibitions told us about the chasms. They pointed them out to me as well as other alien ambassadors on a map of Teruvada Sixteen.

DOCTOR
If you had one on you now James, I’d very much like to see it. Then we can be sure that King Garnik and Prince Ernpic are going there and taking Nyssa, Jo and Tulu with them.

NARGDU GUARD #1
(barks) Silence! Enough talking! Say one more word and we’ll…

But as the Nargdu guards are about to threaten the Doctor, Billy, Darby and Bork, the Ogrons and the Autons charge in and attack. They fire their weapons and the Nargdu guards get shot down one by one. As this happens, the Doctor and the others make their escape.

BILLY
(cries) Doctor! Ogrons; Autons! They’ve burst in!

BORK
“That’s certainly a bit of luck for us!”

DARBY
I wouldn’t count on luck. They’ll soon likely kill us!

DOCTOR
“Everyone! Inside the TARDIS! Quick!”

They make a run for the Doctor’s TARDIS just as the Ogrons and the Autons spot them and turn to open fire on them.

KHARSHAK
(barks) “Stop! You four shall not escape! Not from us Ogrons and Autons!”

BILLY
(cries) “Doctor! They’ve seen us!”

DARBY
“They won’t get us that easily! I’ll show them!”

Darby picks up a weapon from a fallen Nargdu guard on the floor and fires it at the Ogrons and the Autons.

DARBY
Here! Take that, you jerks!

Some of the Ogrons groan and fall over and some of the Autons somersault in the air as they get shot and end up on the floor by Darby.

BORK
Well shot, Darby!

Meanwhile, the Doctor manages to get the TARDIS door open.

DOCTOR
Quick, you three! Inside!

Bork and Darby enter inside the TARDIS whilst Billy lingers on for the Doctor.

BILLY
Doctor, what about your equipment? Before the king’s son smashed it up. If we’re to send these monsters back [then…]

DOCTOR
(interrupts; reassuringly) Don’t worry about it, Billy. I always have spare phase one and two switches equipment in my TARDIS storage cupboards. Just like I have spare sonic screwdrivers in my drawers.

BILLY
But Doctor…

DOCTOR
(insistently) Don’t argue with me, Billy! Get inside quickly.

The Doctor pushes Billy into the TARDIS and follows in behind him, shutting the door on the Ogrons and the Autons before they can barge in.

AUTON LEADER
They have entered inside this blue container. Destroy it.

KHARSHAK
Yes! Destroy it! We shall smash it down now!

The Ogrons and the Autons fire their weapons at the TARDIS. But the TARDIS manages to escape as it dematerialises, whooshing and chuffing away with the Doctor, Billy, Darby and Bork inside. Once the TARDIS is gone, the Ogrons are in disbelief whilst the Autons are impassive.

KHARSHAK
I…I do not understand. They go. Where did they go?

AUTON LEADER
They escaped in the blue container. A space craft.

The Ogrons and the Autons soon depart from the king’s throne room.

---

SCENE #162 – INT – BRIG, GARNIK’S SHIP – NIGHT
Back on Garnik’s ship, Nyssa; Jo and Tulu are now in the brig, held as hostages.

JO
(to Nyssa) What do you think is going to happen to us? We won’t be of much use to them. (realises) They’re not thinking of killing us surely.

NYSSA
“I don’t know, Jo. I honestly don’t know. I’m very worried about what’s happening and why it’s happening.”

TULU
“I wish Bork hadn’t accepted that offer of the king’s to come to this planet. Hoped he’d gain a new audience on this planet, he said. Not the audience he had in mind now, was it?”

NYSSA
“It’s a shame you can’t use your escapology skills to good use, Jo.”

JO
“How could I? These barred doors are made out of electricity. And I don’t happen to have the electronic key to fit into that lock.”

NYSSA
“Exactly. The computer-chip key is on the other side of this barred door.”

TULU
“Seems like it’s the end of us.”

JO
“Oh I hope it isn’t.” (sighs) “I hate it when adventures come to this.” (Pause; giggles) “It’s at times like this the Doctor would eventually come to my rescue when I was caught by an Ogron; a Draconian or an Ice Warrior.”

NYSSA
“I wish he could save us all. I have such fond memories of travelling with the Doctor. I can’t bear the thought of it ending so abruptly.”

JO
Me neither. Though in my case, I’m old enough not to be having any more adventures. And I miss my Cliff and family. I long to see them again.

NYSSA
I long to see Billy again too, Jo. And the Doctor. I miss them both so much at this moment. I wonder what’s become of them.

JO
Oh I do hope you’ll get to see Billy and the Doctor again. Especially Billy. I must say I’ve really missed seeing you after all these years.

NYSSA
I’m glad we’ve seen you again, Jo. I’m sorry it turned out like this.

JO
That’s alright. As long as I’m with a friend, that’s all that matters.

NYSSA
Me too.

Nyssa and Jo hug each other for comfort.

JO
“Oh I wish there was something I could do rather just sit here in this prison.”

NYSSA
“Likewise. I can’t think of any form of strategy at the moment.”

Moment of silence.

TULU
“Now come on, you girls. Don’t sit around moping.”

JO
“We’re not moping. We’re just trying to work out [what…]”

TULU
(interjects) “It’s time we thought of a plan to get us out of here and get you girls back to your men! We’re not beaten yet!”

NYSSA
“Very inspired of you, Tulu. What do you suggest we do?”

TULU
“Well, I know how we can sort out that king and the prince by using the miniscope to our advantage!”

JO
“The miniscope? How?”

TULU
“One step at a time, my dears. One step at a time.” (to Jo) “Jo! You mentioned you had escapology skills.”

JO
“Yes. I’m very well trained.”

TULU
“And you Nyssa! You have scientific and technical skills.”

NYSSA
“I like to handle technology and understand its uses, yes.”

TULU
“Then with both your escapology skills Jo and your scientific and technical skills Nyssa, we can put a spanner in the works in the king and the prince’s plans.”

JO
(realises) “Oh I see! When we’re out there with them and when they’re not looking, we can think of a way to escape!”

NYSSA
“And get to the miniscope to disrupt their operations by disabling the machine or any other component parts that make it work.”

TULU
“I think you girls have got it! It’s going to be risky, but I could certainly do with your help on an escape.”

JO
(to Tulu) “We’ll do all we can. We’re happy to help out!” (to Nyssa) “Aren’t we, Nyssa?”

NYSSA
“Yes, definitely!”

TULU
Splendid! Now, here’s what we do.

They whisper in low voices as Tulu, Nyssa and Jo discuss a plan to stop King Garnik and Prince Ernpic whilst in the brig.

---

SCENE #163 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Aboard the TARDIS, in the console room, the Doctor presses switches and buttons at the console with Billy, Darby and Bork beside him.

BILLY
Doctor?

DOCTOR
Don’t interrupt me, Billy. I’m concentrating.

DARBY
This is unbelievable! A massive ship like this housed inside a box!

BORK
(awed) This would surely raise the audience figures if people saw this sight.

DOCTOR
(agitated; to Bork; Darby) And you two don’t interrupt me either! I’d rather do without your wonder of the TARDIS distracting me.

BILLY
(amused; to Bork; Darby) I know it’s hard to believe, you two. But it is true. This ship is bigger on the inside. It is amazing. It found it hard to believe too when I first entered the TARDIS.

BORK
(awed) The things you could do with a craft as magnificent as this! I guess this cost a fortune where you come from!

BILLY
(amused) “Hardly.”

DARBY
So Doctor? Have you managed to locate the Chasm Control Centre I mentioned to you?

DOCTOR
Yes Corporal, I have. I set the controls for Grondor’s Chasm Thirty-Five Control Centre and we should be there within minutes.

BILLY
“Doctor, what are we going to do when we get there? How are we going to stop that mad king and his son?”

DOCTOR
“Ah! I’m glad you asked me that, Billy. In order to stop Garnik carrying out his plans, we have to put a spanner in the works of his operation. More accurately, if the king can’t be reasoned with, we destroy the miniscope.”

BILLY
What? Destroy the miniscope?

DARBY
Do you think that’s wise, Doctor?

BORK
(protests) “I protest at having my machine being destroyed! I won’t allow it! It’s my property and I’d like to keep it!”

DOCTOR
“From now on Mr. Bork, it is the property of King Garnik. And I don’t think he’ll use his purchase from you very wisely.”

BORK
(protests) “But Doctor…”

DOCTOR
Besides that abominable machine shouldn’t exist. It’s a crime to use miniscope sideshows. And I have very little time to see you arrested by the authorities, Mr. Bork.

BILLY
Will we find them though? Nyssa and Jo? And Mr. Bork’s assistant, Tulu? Will we find them, Doctor?

DOCTOR
I hope so. If my inkling is correct, they should be heading for the control room at the control centre. They’ll link up the power to the miniscope from this vault of theirs and boost the absorption grid to not only absorb Nargdu but also the human race when they infiltrate the Earth Empire.

DARBY
They mustn’t do that, Doctor. They must be stopped!

DOCTOR
Obviously. And I hope we’ll be able to sort it out. And save Nyssa, Jo and Tulu too. If I know them, they’ll be thinking of a plan to stop King Garnik and Prince Ernpic anyway.

BILLY
Doctor? What about the Drashigs; the Ogrons; the Autons and the other monsters? How are we going to sort them out? How do we get them off this planet?

DOCTOR
“Ah, yes. The monsters.” (Pause) “Don’t worry, Billy. I’ll work on it.”

BILLY
(sighs) “Let me know when you have the answer, Doctor.”

DOCTOR
(insistently) “Hold on tight, you three! We’re soon to arrive any minute now!”

The Doctor, Billy, Darby and Bork hold on, as they watch the time rotor going up and down with the TARDIS heading for their destination.

---

SCENE #164 – EXT – LANDING PADS, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
Meanwhile, Garnik’s ship arrives at the Chasm 35 Control Centre in Grondor. It makes to touch down on the landing pads next to the building. Its thrusters die down as the ship gradually makes its descent before reaching the ground. The landing is complete and the engines die down once Garnik’s ship is parked.

---

SCENE #165 – EXT – ENTRANCE, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
King Garnik and Prince Ernpic exit their ship and make their way to the entrance of Chasm 35 Control Centre. They bring the miniscope with them as well as Nyssa, Jo and Tulu under escort by their Nargdu guards.

ERNPIC
(to Nyssa; Jo; Tulu) “Come on; come on! You people lag behind! We must get to the control centre at once!”

TULU
“Like we care! We’re not keen as you are!”

Garnik and Ernpic ignore Tulu as they reach and approach the entrance doors. The roars and howls from various monsters echo nearby. Nyssa, Jo and Tulu shudder in fear.

JO
(whispers) “Nyssa. Those monsters. They’ll soon come and attack this place.”

NYSSA
(whispers) “Let’s hope we’ll be alive after this madness is over.”

Meanwhile, Garnik accesses the control panel of the door as he presses buttons to open it.

ERNPIC
(impatiently) “Come on, father! What’s keeping you?! The doors should be open by now!”

GARNIK
(snaps) “This is a complicated procedure, my son! Give it time!”

Ernpic gets agitated whilst Garnik continues working to open the door. Eventually, the door swing open electronically allowing Garnik and the others to enter.

TULU
(sardonically) “Well; well. The doors are open. How happy we all are.”

ERNPIC
(to Tulu) “Shut up, you woman!” (to Garnik) “Right father! Now the doors are open, let’s go inside!”

Suddenly, a Drashig howl echoes nearby. Nyssa, Jo and Tulu turn and gasp to see a Drashig slithering towards them from a distance.

NYSSA
(dismayed) Oh no! Not another Drashig!

JO
(anxiously) It can see us! It knows we’re here! It senses our trail!

TULU
We should get out of here!” (to Garnik) “Please, your majesty! Let us leave [this…]

ERNPIC
(interrupts; angrily) Do not insult my father! We Nargdu never retreat! We’re warriors! We say what we do and we’ll do it!

GARNIK
Inside, everyone! Inside before the monsters get us!

ERNPIC
(shouts; to Nargdu guards) Guards! Take the women in!

The Nargdu guards obey as they drag Nyssa, Jo and Tulu into the control centre building. Garnik and Ernpic linger on behind a bit, seeing the Drashig howling in the distance.

GARNIK
You’re agitated, my son. You’re stressed.

ERNPIC
They roam everywhere, father. All sorts of monsters.” (Pause) “Do you believe we will succeed?

GARNIK
We can’t turn back now. Let’s go in whilst the getting’s good.

With that, Garnik and Ernpic enter the building, bringing the miniscope with them. They close the entrance doors behind them whilst the Drashig is joined by a few more Drashigs as they approach from a distance.

---

SCENE #166 – INT – MAIN CONTROL ROOM, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
Inside the building, King Garnik and Prince Ernpic enter the main control room. Nyssa, Jo and Tulu accompany them as they’re escorted by the Nargdu guards. The miniscope is carried into the main control room by Garnik and Ernpic before they place it onto the floor. The doors close once they’re all inside.

TULU
(relieved) “Thank goodness! We got inside before those Drashigs got us!”

NYSSA
“I wouldn’t count on them avoiding us, Tulu. They hunt by scent.”

TULU
“Yes, I know. And through blood. But these titanium walls should be able to prevent them smelling us from inside this building.”

JO
“They can’t smell through titanium?”

TULU
“That’s lucky for us. Or unlucky however you want to put it since we’re in the custody of these goons.”

GARNIK
“We’re very grateful to you for providing us with that information, Miss Tulu. We shall expect nothing from the Drashigs now. Or any other monsters.”

ERNPIC
We should continue, father. We have so much to do.

GARNIK
(to Nargdu guards) Guards! Put the women in one corner! Tie them up! They’re still our hostages!

The Nargdu guards take Nyssa, Jo and Tulu to one corner of the room where they’re about to be tied up.

JO
(in pain; protests) Oww! You guards really don’t know how to handle an old woman! Especially one as dotty as me!

NYSSA
(pleads; to Garnik; Ernpic) Please, your majesties! What good are we to you now? You don’t need us! We’re useless to you as far as we’re concerned.

ERNPIC
You say these things in the hope that we’ll set you free. But you shall never be freed! You shall never leave!

GARNIK
We wish you to see what we do when we absorb every human and have them humiliated before every Teruvadan Nargdu on this planet!

TULU
“I won’t watch this ghastly entertainment of yours! I wont!”

ERNPIC
“You have no choice in the matter! You shall see what we do to the human race! We will make you suffer!”

JO
“You can’t force us to watch human beings being tortured for your sake! It’s too much for us to bear!”

NYSSA
(pleads; to Garnik; Ernpic) “Please think about what you’re doing, your majesties! Your actions will cause an outrage across the galaxy! Other species and civilisations [will…”]

ERNPIC
(interrupts) “We do not care about other species and civilisations! We are Nargdu! We have our own way! And our way is right and correct! You shall witness this before your very eyes!”

TULU
“I would rather rot in a dungeon cell!”

JO
“So would I.”

NYSSA
And so would I.

GARNIK
(to Ernpic) Ignore them, son! We have work to do!

ERNPIC
Father, we can let these people insult us!

GARNIK
(interjects) Connect the vault of power to the miniscope! You know how to connect the miniscope to the vault, don’t you?

ERNPIC
Of course, father.

GARNIK
Then do it! Now please!

Ernpic grudgingly goes to connect the miniscope to the vault of power. Garnik attends to Nyssa, Jo and Tulu.

GARNIK
“Soon, very soon, you three women shall see the glory of our victory! The glory of our Nargdu Empire! Glory to Empire!”

ERNPIC
(from a distance) Glory to Empire, father!

Nyssa, Jo and Tulu watch, disgusted with Garnik and Ernpic’s actions.

---

SCENE #167 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Meanwhile, the TARDIS arrives inside the Chasm 35 Control Centre building. Whooshing, chuffing and grinding, the TARDIS comes to a stop, making a loud thump as it lands. The Doctor presses buttons and switches in the console room before he turns to Billy, Darby and Bork.

DOCTOR
We’ve arrived.

BILLY
In the building?

DOCTOR
In the building, yes! Somewhere on the lower levels of the control centre. Hopefully the TARDIS shouldn’t be detected.

DARBY
What had you mind to do then, Doctor?

DOCTOR
Well, firstly, I’m going to fetch some spare phase one and phase two switches I mentioned. Then we can start cracking on with getting up to the upper levels.

BILLY
Doctor, is there something I can do?

DOCTOR
(enthused) Yes!

BILLY
Good.

DOCTOR
Stay here.

BILLY
(slightly annoyed) “Oh Doctor…”

DOCTOR
(interjects) “Now listen! I don’t want anyone going out of the TARDIS and taking any unnecessary risks! There’s too much at stake!”

BILLY
(objects) “Nyssa, Jo and Tulu are being held prisoner by that king and the prince! They could already be dead by now!”

DARBY
I agree with Billy, Doctor. I suggest we look around [and…]

DOCTOR
(interrupts; insistently) No! Stay put! Stay put, all of you! I want no one to leave the TARDIS until I get back!

BILLY
(protests) But Doctor…

DOCTOR
(insistently) That is final! For you, Billy, for you, Corporal James and even you, Bork!

BORK
(obligingly) Oh yes! Yes Doctor! I’ll stay here! I don’t want to run into the king and his son, the prince, by myself! They’ll get angry when I meet them.

DOCTOR
(satisfied; to Bork) Good man. (to everyone) I won’t be long. Just give me a few ticks and I’ll be back as soon as I can.

With that, the Doctor goes off; opens the door into a TARDIS corridor and heads off deeper into the ship, leaving the console room. Once gone, Billy, Darby and Bork stand about in the console room.

BILLY
(anxiously) He’s going to take forever! I know he is!

BORK
(reassuringly) Now Billy, calm down. I’m sure the Doctor won’t be long. You should know if you’ve been with him.

BILLY
“I’m just worried about Nyssa and Jo. I want to make sure they’re okay.” (to Bork) “Aren’t you worried about your friend Tulu, Bork?”

BORK
“I’m deeply distressed about Tulu, my friend. But I think it’s best we do as the Doctor says.”

BILLY
“Well I don’t. I think we ought to go out there and rescue the girls.”

DARBY
My feelings exactly! Shall we go out and find your friends Nyssa and Jo, Billy? As well as Mr. Bork’s assistant.

BORK
What? Do you think we can? Without the Doctor knowing?

DARBY
The Doctor needn’t know! We can just slip away without telling him!

BILLY
Slip away?

DARBY
You’re not bound hand and foot to the man are you, Billy boy? You don’t do everything that the Doctor tells you, do you?

BILLY
(gradually) No, of course not. Unless it’s absolutely necessary that is.

DARBY
Then why don’t you accompany me and we can search for the three ladies together? I have this Nargdu pistol with me at the ready if need be.

Moment of silence.

BILLY
(thinks; gradually) “I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm.” (Pause) “Alright, Corporal! Let’s go out!”

BORK
(objects) “You can’t go out there! What about what the Doctor said?”

DARBY
(shrewdly; to Bork) You can join us all you like! Unless you want to stay cooped up here.

BORK
(gradually) I…I think it’s best that I stay here. Give the Doctor the update on your whereabouts when he comes back, you see.

BILLY
Yes. Tell the Doctor that Corporal James and I have gone out, Bork. I know he’ll be mad about it but at least we’ll be saving Nyssa, Jo and Tulu’s lives for it.

DARBY
(insistently) “Come on, Billy! Let’s go out there and find the girls!”

BILLY
Tell him Bork, will you?

Billy pulls the door lever and the TARDIS interior doors open. With that, Darby and Billy head out of the TARDIS in search for Nyssa, Jo and Tulu. Bork remains in the TARDIS, standing about in the console room as he watches Darby and Billy leave.

BORK
(apprehensively) Oh yes. I’ll tell him alright. I’ll tell the Doctor. (Pause) Just hope he won’t be too mad at me for letting you two go.

---

SCENE #168 – INT – MAIN CONTROL ROOM, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
Back in the main control room of the Chasm 35 Control Centre building, Tulu whispers to Nyssa and Jo about their plan whilst they’re tied up. Elsewhere, King Garnik and Prince Ernpic attend to working with the miniscope and building power for it.

TULU
(whispers) Right, Jo! Now it’s time for you to put your escapology skills to good use!

JO
(whispers) Yes! I first free myself, then I get you two free. I hope it’ll be easier to loosen these metal cuffs off me to get free. Mind you, I’ve had the experience to do it.

TULU
(whispers) And you, Nyssa! You give a distraction for them to look at you whilst Jo’s untying the ropes!

NYSSA
(whispers) Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.

TULU
Good luck to you both.

JO
And you Tulu. And you.

Nyssa, Jo and Tulu stop whispering. Jo begins to untie her ropes off her hands whilst Nyssa addresses Garnik and Ernpic.

NYSSA
Your majesty! King Garnik! We want to know what you intend to do when you absorb the whole of humanity into that machine.

ERNPIC
You know already! The abolition of all humans! So shut up and let us carry on with our work!

NYSSA
I find your work very far-fetched. It doesn’t seem to have any plausibility to it. No logic. You mentioned something about the vault of power. What is its use? Why do you use it?

ERNPIC
I said shut up!

GARNIK
(interjects; to Ernpic) Please, son. They deserve to know about our Nargdu Empire and Teruvada Sixteen. Glory to Empire!

ERNPIC
(cheers) Glory to Empire!

Moment of silence.

GARNIK
(to Nyssa) The kings of Nargdu on Teruvada Sixteen have always kept a hidden vault within the centre of the planet. It contains power! Power beyond anyone’s imaginination! Power that can even stretch the imagination of one so minute to something greater!

NYSSA
You’re saying you keep a store of power within the core of your planet? A massive generator of power?

ERNPIC
(laughs) She lacks the incompetence to understand. So much for a female.

GARNIK
(to Nyssa) The vault of power is not simply a storage chamber. It houses warriors; weapons and armoury that gives the Nargdu strength! With the power from that vault, we Nargdu shall enhance the miniscope with its new adaptations to its circuitry and hardware in order to absorb the humans at a speedy rate!

TULU
So that’s why you wanted Bork to place those advancements on the miniscope when your son complained about it.

GARNIK
Yes. That is why I gave Bork the enhancements to the machine, yes.

ERNPIC
“I did not understand what my father was doing at first. But now I know! With the enhancements on Bork’s machine…my father’s machine I should say, we shall accomplish the absorption of all human life! At a quick and speedy rate!”

NYSSA
“And torture and execution of each human will be definite. That’s horrible! Barbaric! You can’t do this!”

GARNIK
“Think what you will, girl. It matters not to you since you and your friends shall surely die.”

ERNPIC
“As for ‘can’t do this’, we can do it! For we are king and prince of the Nargdu! We can do whatever we want!”

TULU
“Now you’re just being childish!”

ERNPIC
(enraged) “Childish?! Childish?! You consider the Nargdu childish?!”

GARNIK
“We intend to win through glory and victory! We do not need you three to dictate our methods in our annihilation of the human race! The universe will thank us once we clean it of rotten humans and their corpses!”

NYSSA
(angrily) “I feel like the Doctor. I find you disgusting.”

ERNPIC
(bitterly) Your compassion for humanity disgusts us even more!

GARNIK
Enough, my son! They cannot harm us now.

A humming noise comes from the miniscope. Garnik and Ernpic turn to see and check the machine.

ERNPIC
(gradually) The connection is working, father. Power is being fed into the miniscope with the enhancements made on it.

GARNIK
Good. The matrix computer should do its work. We need time for it to load up. (to Ernpic) Son! We shall take a break. Let’s fetch ourselves some Juranill-Co, shall we?

NYSSA
Juranill-Co?

GARNIK
(to Nyssa) In your terms, that would be the equivalent of… human coffee.

ERNPIC
“Only much better.” (to Garnik) “Yes father. We deserve a break. Let’s go!”

GARNIK
(to guards) “Guards, keep watch on our three guests! Don’t let them escape!”

TULU
(scornfully) “Oh don’t worry. We won’t go anywhere.”

GARNIK
(ignores Tulu; to Ernpic) “Come, son. Let’s go!”

Garnik and Ernpic ignore Nyssa, Jo and Tulu as they head out, leaving the control room to have a coffee break. Once they’ve gone, Tulu turns to Nyssa and Jo, keeping in mind that the guards are watching them. They whisper to each other.

TULU
(whispers) “It seems we’ve been given a chance now that those two have gone.”

NYSSA
(whispers) “Let’s hope we won’t get caught by the guards watching us.”

TULU
(whispers) “Jo? Have you managed to free yourself?”

JO
(whispers) “Yes Tulu, I have. I’ve got my wrists free and the metal cuffs off me, thank goodness. Now I need to get the keys for you and Nyssa. I hope I’ll be able to reach them.”

NYSSA
(whispers) “Be careful, Jo. And take your time. Don’t let the guards see you.”

With that, Jo gets started on freeing Nyssa and Tulu as she goes for reaching the keys for the metal cuffs near her. She struggles to reach the keys as they seem far away.

JO
(whispers; struggles) “I…I can’t reach them. They’re too far from me on the table.”

NYSSA
(whispers; encouragingly) “Keep trying Jo! Don’t give up! I know you can do it!”

JO
(gradually; whispers) “Yes of course. We’re not beaten yet.”

Jo tries again. Eventually, she manages to grab the keys and take them from the table.

JO
(cheers quietly; triumphantly) “Got them! Thank goodness.”

NYSSA
(whispers) “Well done, Jo! Now, help getting me and Tulu free from our bonds!”

TULU
“Let’s hope our guards won’t see us.”

Jo begins to set Nyssa and Tulu free whilst a group of droopy Nargdu guards pace about on patrol. They watching but don’t realise Jo’s managed to set herself free.

---

SCENE #169 – INT – TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM – N/A
Back in the TARDIS console room, the Doctor re-enters and meets Bork there.

DOCTOR
(cheerfully) Here we are, Bork. I found them.

BORK
Found them, Doctor?

DOCTOR
The spare phase one and phase two switches.

BORK
Oh. Have you really?

DOCTOR
I should be able to install these and connect them to the miniscope without any problem. The thing about these switches though is that there’s an extra feature added to them.

BORK
Is there really? How interesting. And what’s that, Doctor?

DOCTOR
Well, Bork. Since you asked, I shall tell you. There’s a mobile micro-processing chip at the back of these switches. It makes the switches more manageable and easier to handle. I can install the main unit and operate the switches without a connection to the TARDIS.

BORK
(realises) I see. It’s like a remote control for the switches. Without a connection lead to the TARDIS.

DOCTOR
Exactly! I can send your livestock – the Drashigs. the Ogrons, the Autons, the robots and the dinosaurs – back to their space-time coordinates without having to connect to the TARDIS.

BORK
I say, Doctor! It’s most ingenious! I’m impressed!

DOCTOR
It is ingenious, isn’t it? I worked on these switches in the light of any encounter with a miniscope again should the time be called for, but I’ve never actually tested them. I think now is the best time to test them out, wouldn’t you say?

BORK
Oh? Is that wise, Doctor? With the Drashigs, the Ogrons and the Autons…

DOCTOR
(interjects) Don’t worry, Bork. I’ll be careful. Besides, little time is against us. And I know that you Billy would want to… (realises) Billy? Darby? They’re not here!

BORK;
(apprehensively) Ah. You’ve noticed.

DOCTOR
Where have they gone, Bork? You saw them! Where did they go?

BORK
(hesitantly) They… they’ve gone to rescue Nyssa; Jo and my Tulu.

DOCTOR
(shocked) What?!

BORK
Billy told me to tell you, so I did.

DOCTOR
(dismayed) And you let them go?! You let Billy and Corporal James go just like that?!

BORK
They were insistent on going out! They couldn’t wait to go out and look for the three women.

DOCTOR
(annoyed) I told them to wait!

BORK
I stayed behind because I didn’t want you to be on your own when you came back in here.

DOCTOR
(determined) I’ve got to go and find them. See that they don’t get into any trouble.

BORK
“Doctor! It’s not a big deal that Billy and Corporal Jones are out there, is it? They said they wouldn’t be out for very long!”

DOCTOR
Bork? How long do you think Billy and Darby have been out there?

BORK
(thinks) “I…I don’t know. Err…about quarter of an hour.”

DOCTOR
“Really, Bork?”

BORK
“No. Half an hour I think it’s been.”

DOCTOR
“And do you or they know what lies out there in that control centre?”

BORK
“No, I don’t. And I don’t suppose they do too now you come to mention it.”

DOCTOR
Exactly! That’s why I told them to stay put! But they wouldn’t listen! (Pause; sighs) Come on, Bork! Let’s go out and find them!

With that, the Doctor pulls the door lever on the TARDIS console. Both he and Bork leave the TARDIS console room to look for Billy and Darby as well as Nyssa, Jo and Tulu.

---

SCENE #170 – INT – MAIN CONTROL ROOM, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
Back in the main control room, Jo manages to get Nyssa and Tulu free, using the keys to get the metal cuffs off their wrists.

JO
(quietly; relieved; triumphantly) “Done it! And no guards saw us!”

NYSSA
(whispers) “We haven’t got to the hard bit yet. But well done, Jo. We certainly managed to get through the tricky bit.”

JO
(whispers) “We have to get rid of these guards or put them to sleep. How does one manage to do that I wonder.”

TULU
(whispers; reassuringly) “Leave it to me. You two just watch my moves.”

With that, Tulu gradually and casually makes her way over towards the Nargdu guards. At this point, the Nargdu guards have looked away from Tulu, Nyssa and Jo for a moment.

TULU
(seductively; to guards) “Hey, you boys! Ever seen a pretty Lurman girl before?”

The Nargdu guards become shocked as they train their weapons at Tulu.

NARGDU GUARD #2
(barks) “Stay where you are! Do not move!”

TULU
(ruefully) “Oh really, boys! That’s no way to treat a lady! You’re going to have to be seriously punished.”

NARGDU GUARD #2
(barks) “Do not move or my men and I will seriously gun you down!”

TULU
“And you’ve all been so terribly naughty looking at me!”

The Nargdu guards are then suddenly knocked out one by one by Nyssa and Jo, as they hit them on the back. The Nargdu Guard #2 turns to see his fellow guards knocked out and fallen to the ground unconscious by Nyssa and Jo.

NARGDU GUARD #2
“What in the name of Nargdu [is…?”]

But the Nargdu Guard #2 gets knocked out by Tulu, as she hits him on the back and he falls to the ground unconscious. Moment of silence. Nyssa, Jo and Tulu breathe sighs of relief.

NYSSA
(relieved) “Well, that was close.”

JO
Thank goodness there were only three of them. Good of you Tulu to knock the leader out.

TULU
(cheekily) I knew those boys would find me alluring. Every boy does when it comes to me.

NYSSA
Let’s put your plan into action, Tulu. Now the miniscope.

Nyssa, Jo and Tulu make their way towards the miniscope. Once at it, Tulu begins to access the switches and the knobs on the machine.

TULU
Good. They haven’t tampered with anything yet. The miniscope’s still being charged up with power.

JO
Doesn’t that affect our little plan though if the miniscope’s building power?

TULU
I shouldn’t think so. Though I wouldn’t like to disconnect the power cable so abruptly from the machine.

NYSSA
It’ll drain power for what we’re doing anyway. It shouldn’t cause harm to keep the power cable connected to the machine. At least, I’m hoping it won’t cause harm.

JO
“Then we’d better get on with it! There’s no time to lose!”

NYSSA
“Can you send the signal, Tulu? To summon the monsters here.”

TULU
I should be able to. Though it’s a complicated and delicate process. If Bork were here, he’d be able to help out with some of the delicate technical operations.

NYSSA
I am technically gifted in these sorts of areas, Tulu. Perhaps I can help. Show me what I have to do.

TULU
Very well. See this circuit board? Follow what I say and press the switch numbers as I tell you to.

NYSSA
Right.

TULU
Now if I just access the memory core.

Nyssa and Tulu set about to work with accessing the miniscope. Jo meanwhile stands around, feeling left out.

JO
Well, err…I’ll just stand around here, shall I? Check to see no-one else comes? Like the king or the prince. (Pause; to herself) Let’s hope we won’t get caught in the crossfire when the monsters come here.

Nyssa and Tulu pay little attention to Jo as they work on the machine.

---

SCENE #171 – INT – LOWER LEVELS, CHASM 35 CONTROL CENTRE – NIGHT
On the lower levels of the control centre, Darby and Billy walk along the corridors in search for Nyssa, Jo and Tulu.

DARBY
We must be getting somewhere through this dark tunnel. I hope the battery on this beacon of mine will last.

BILLY
I’m starting to wonder whether going out and leaving the Doctor and Bork behind in the TARDIS was a good idea.

DARBY
Well, I couldn’t stand being in that console room forever. It’s so stark and bright!

BILLY
I haven’t really noticed it was like that before.

DARBY
You still want to save your friends Nyssa and Jo, don’t you? And that girl of Bork’s named Tulu?

BILLY
Yes of course! Nyssa’s dear to me and Jo is a great friend! How could I not want to go out and rescue them?

DARBY
Well then, stop complaining and let’s get on with it!

BILLY
I just think we’re jumping the gun ahead too fast here. As you indicated, we’ve no way of knowing where we’re going.

DARBY
I just said ‘we must be getting somewhere through this dark tunnel’. It can’t go on like this forever. I don’t like us to be lost.

BILLY
It would be easier if we had a map…

DARBY
(interrupts) Ssh!

BILLY
What is it?

DARBY
(urgently) Quick! Hide behind this archway! Quick, quick! Hide! You and me!

Darby and Billy quickly hide behind an archway, just as King Garnik and Prince Ernpic come down the corridor and walk past their hiding place.

GARNIK
“Our plans are coming together, my son! It’ll be the end of the war and the Nargdu shall be victorious!”

ERNPIC
“It makes me happy, father! To think that we get to wipe humanity off the map of their galaxy before we take over! The Nargdu are the master race!”

Billy keeps hiding with Darby behind the archway.

BILLY
(mutters; angrily) Fascist scoundrels!

DARBY
(hushes) Quiet, Billy, quiet.

Billy keeps quiet whilst he and Darby keep listening to Garnik and Ernpic nearby.

ERNPIC
How long will it be before the miniscope’s fully powered up, father?

GARNIK
Thirty minutes. You’re not having any doubts about this are you, my son?

ERNPIC
Not doubts, father. But concerns. Those three women seem to possess certain knowledge and skills. They can use those skills to oppose us.

Billy whispers to Darby.

BILLY
(whispers) They must mean Nyssa, Jo and Tulu. They’ve still got them as hostages, haven’t they?

DARBY
(hisses; quietly) Obviously.

Darby and Billy continue listening to Garnik and Ernpic.

GARNIK
Do not fret, my son! They’re humans! They do not know the Nargdu superiority we possess!

ERNPIC
That Tulu. She’s no human. And the young girl certainly seems to have an aristocratic heritage of noble birth that’s not of Earth.

GARNIK
There is nothing to fear, my son. No threat. All is in hand.

ERNPIC
I doubt that most sincerely, father.

GARNIK
Very well. If you’re so concerned, why don’t you go back and check on how the women are doing. See if they are still held as hostages and check that the guards are doing their job.

ERNPIC
Very well, father. I will.

GARNIK
“Then be off with you.”

Ernpic makes to leave before he turns back to his father.

ERNPIC
“What will you be doing whilst I head back to the control room, father?”

GARNIK
(gradually) “Taking my Juranill-Co like I said and drinking it in a lounge area. Don’t worry. I shall save one for you, my son.”

ERNPIC
“Thank you, father. I’ll join you soon.”

With that, Ernpic heads off back to the control room. Meanwhile, Garnik heads off in the direction of the nearest lounge area, chuckling to himself.

GARNIK
(chuckles) “My son. Not sure how great a king he’ll turn out to be.”

As soon as Garnik and Ernpic have gone, Billy and Darby come out of their hiding place. They check to make sure all is clear for them to move out.

DARBY
One wonders how those two were able to see through the dark. They must have bats’ eyes.

BILLY
Didn’t you hear though, Corporal? They’ve got Nyssa, Jo and Tulu in the control room! And now the prince Ernpic is heading back there!

DARBY
Then that’s where we’ve got to go! Come on, Billy! We’ll follow Prince Ernpic!

BILLY
Aren’t you going to use that beacon of yours?

DARBY
Of course. I’ll set it on a low light though. Don’t want Ernpic to see us coming behind him.

With that, Billy and Darby head off down the corridor to follow Ernpic. Darby has his beacon on a low light setting as they follow him.

---

© Tim Bradley, 2019

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