4. A Ritual Is Performed
SCENE #27 – INT – MAIN HALL, CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT
Meanwhile Lord Frederick Tottinghill marches the procession of the Doctor, Bergo, MacDougall and Rogers into the main hall with Mabel taking the rear. The bells continue to toll in the chapel, as Nyssa and Billy in the main hall with Lady Angela.
LORD FREDERICK
(sharply) “You all enter here!”
DOCTOR
(agitated) “Alright, alright! No need to be so rough, Lord Tottinghill.”
NYSSA
(cries) “Doctor! Is that you?”
BILLY
(cries) “Doctor, over here!”
Hearing Nyssa and Billy, the Doctor runs towards them.
DOCTOR
(relieved) “Nyssa; Billy! There you are, thank goodness! How come you’re both tied up back-to-back in chairs?”
BILLY
“Long story, Doctor. What’s going on here? We’ve been whisked here to this cold church…”
DOCTOR
“Chapel, Billy. It’s a chapel we’re in!”
BILLY
“Alright, chapel it is then. And we’ve no idea why and what for.”
NYSSA
“Doctor? Something’s happened to Lady Tottinghill!”
DOCTOR
“Yes. To Lord Frederick and Lady Angela, Nyssa. They’re both responsible for bringing all of us here.”
BILLY
“Oh no! There’s that Professor Rogers again. He probably knows I damaged his diamond.”
NYSSA
“I’m afraid he does, Billy.”
BILLY
(despairingly) “Oh dear.”
DOCTOR
“Don’t worry. Professor Rogers will have too much to worry about. With his sister Mabel pointing a gun at him.”
NYSSA
“Mabel?! But she’s so fragile.”
DOCTOR
“Apparently not. Anyway…it’ll all be forgotten now.”
BILLY
“It’ll all be forgotten, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes, of course. Trust me!”
Just then, Professor Rogers approaches Billy.
PROF. ROGERS
(to Billy) “Well, well, well! Do you think I’ve forgotten what you’ve done, boy?!”
BILLY
“Oh. Hello.”
PROF. ROGERS
(accusingly) “Yeah you broke the diamond! That’s right! That’s what you did to me! You betrayed me and I feel like hitting you in the face! I’ll never forget what you did to me! YOU HEAR ME?! NEVER!!!”
DOCTOR
(intervenes) “Professor Rogers…”
PROF. ROGERS
(repeatedly) “You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond! You broke the…”
Meanwhile…
MACDOUGALL
(puzzled) “What’s happening?”
BERGO
“Well apparently, he broke the diamond!”
MACDOUGALL
“Oh! That’s why he’s pointing at him like that saying it over and over again!”
BERGO
“Yep! Let’s keep watching!”
Meanwhile…
PROF. ROGERS
(repeatedly) “You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond…”
NYSSA
(interrupts) “Professor Rogers…”
PROF. ROGERS
“Don’t interrupt me!” (at Billy) “You broke the diamond! You broke the diamond! You broke…”
NYSSA
(shouts) “Professor Rogers, please! Isn’t it enough that your sister’s turned on you?”
PROF. ROGERS
(puzzled) “Who?”
DOCTOR
“Your sister! Mabel, Professor Rogers!”
PROF. ROGERS
(thinks) “Oh her! I forgot about her…”
Lord Tottinghill meanwhile stands on the parapet and speaks to everyone.
LORD FREDERICK
“If I could have your attention please! The ceremony’s about to begin!”
DOCTOR
(interrupts) “Yes I believe we all deserve an explanation, your lordship. On what this is about.”
LADY ANGELA
“Please Doctor! My husband’s speaking!”
DOCTOR
“I find it very intrusive and abusive for a lord and a lady of a fine manor hall to kidnap their fellow house guests in a cold chapel of all things. With snow falling in and the wind blowing hard outside.”
LORD FREDERICK
“If you don’t mind please, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Could it be that you’re using technology to emit high levels of neutrino energy?! In turn causing the haunting traps and illusions you’ve created.”
NYSSA
“The Doctor’s right. Neutrino oscillations are generated by the atmosphere via a nuclear reactor; solar panels; radioactive entropy or electronic beams. You can’t have done all of this by yourself.”
DOCTOR
“Frankly it wouldn’t be achievable, considering his lordship and ladyship lack the skills required to accumulate such knowledge in twentieth century terms. You’re right, they must have had help.”
LADY ANGELA
“You don’t understand Doctor! The Ghost of Leckwick Hall is real! He has haunted us all and has been waiting for you…Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(shrewdly) “Oh please!” (realises) “Waiting for me, you say?”
LORD FREDERICK
“For you…and your other friends, Doctor! It has all been pre-arranged you see!”
PROF. ROGERS
“Ghosts, my foot! You don’t mean to say…”
Mabel trains her gun on Professor Rogers.
MABEL
(screams) “Will you please shut up brother?! Or else I shoot you dead!” (to everyone, shrieks) “And that goes for everyone else!”
Professor Rogers clears his throat, feeling nervous and restraining himself.
DOCTOR
“You should have taken more care of your sister, Professor.”
Just then, the bells stop tolling. There is now silence.
BILLY
“Nyssa? The bells have stopped!”
NYSSA
“I know. Perhaps we’ll get who’s emitting the neutrinos soon, Billy.”
SCENE #28 – INT – MAIN LOBBY, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT
Meanwhile, back at Leckwick Hall, the phone rings in the main lobby. Beeston the butler goes over to answer it as he picks it up.
BEESTON
“Leckwick Hall; Lord and Lady Tottinghill’s residence.”
Moment of silence.
BEESTON
“Good morning, sir. Happy Christmas to you too sir.”
Moment of silence again.
BEESTON
“Yes sir.” (Pause) “I understand, sir.” (Pause) “I’m on my way now, sir.” (Pause) “Very good, sir.” (Pause) “Goodbye, sir.”
Beeston puts the phone down, just as the lights flicker vibrantly again.
BEESTON
“Oh dear. The lights again. Lord Tottinghill did tell me to sort out them out, didn’t he?”
Beeston chuckles away, as he leaves the lobby.
SCENE #29 – INT – MAIN HALL, CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT
Back in the chapel, everyone is apprehensive whilst the wind blows outside.
PROF. ROGERS
(impatiently) “What’s keeping them?! I’m fed up with having to wait like this!”
Just then, there is a loud mocking laughter echoing in the chapel, putting everyone on edge.
NYSSA
(disturbed) “Oh no. I’ve heard that laugh before!”
BILLY
“Me too. Was it in those cloisters when I heard it?”
DOCTOR
“I’ve heard that laugh as well. And I’ve met the person whose laugh it belongs to. Sort of.”
The laughter goes on, until the dark robed figure appears before them.
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Ah…here he is!”
The figure keeps laughing, before he suddenly stops. He speaks in that distorted voice again.
BEESTON
(disguised; proudly) “Well, Doctor. This is where it begins for me! The honour of my power. I’m gratified that you and your friends are here to witness this!”
BILLY
“That voice gives me the creeps!”
NYSSA
“If it makes you feel better Billy…it does the same to me too!”
BEESTON
(disguised) “Do you fear me now, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“I would appreciate it if I could see who it is that’s trying to scare us! To see your face.”
BEESTON
(disguised; laughs) “Very well, Doctor. You shall see…my physical form!”
The figure unveils his hood and unravels his cloak, revealing his identity.
BEESTON
(politely) “Does that satisfy you, sir?”
Everyone gasps horrified.
LADY ANGELA
(shocked) “Beeston! Beeston it’s you!”
LORD FREDERICK
(shocked) “Beeston? What are you doing here, man?”
BILLY
(realises) “So…he’s the one then.”
NYSSA
“Yes, Billy. Beeston is…”
BEESTON
(chuckles) “Yes, my dear. I, Beeston, am the ghost of Leckwick Hall…at Christmas time.” (laughs mockingly) “Soon, I shall ascend into to my heaven!”
MACDOUGALL
(realises) “Yes. I remember now. It’s coming back to me. When Beeston came, he knocked us out in the reading room.”
BERGO
“Oh yeah! I remember! I remember!”
DOCTOR
“Well Beeston. You certainly kept your identity well covered. The Ghost of Leckwick Hall?”
LORD FREDERICK
“I don’t understand this. How come you are the ghost? You don’t have that creepy voice?”
BEESTON
“That was the only way for me to obtain your obedience, your lordship. It was essential that I put on this synchronised voice in order to persuade you and your ladyship.” (to Doctor) “And to lure you here, Doctor. The result has been most satisfying.”
DOCTOR
“Yes, I’m sure it has.”
BEESTON
“Now my ascension is assured, I need to deceive no longer!”
BILLY
(laughs nervously) “But…you’re not a ghost really! Are you?” (to Doctor) “Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“It depends on how you look at it, Billy. Depending what Beeston is.”
NYSSA
“Is Beeston…one of a race of translucent beings in this universe, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Yes Nyssa, I’m afraid he is. Aren’t you Beeston?”
BEESTON
“Quite correct, Doctor. I am known as Lord Mimsci of the Fanto Order, a hundred light-years from your galaxy.”
BILLY
“So he’s an alien after all.”
DOCTOR
“Fanto, hey?! Well, well, well, fancy that.”
PROF. ROGERS
(irritated) “I’ve had enough of this!” (to Lord Frederick) “Can’t you keep your staff in order, Lord Tottinghill?”
BEESTON
“Not anymore. I am not Lord and Lady Tottinghill’s butler, Professor.”
LORD FREDERICK
“But you served us well, Beeston. Loyal and reliable! Highly recommended, they said!”
BEESTON
(to Lord Frederick) “And you both have served me well, including your wife, your lordship.” (to Lady Angela) “I’m impressed with how you Lady Tottinghill used my ‘ghosting’ technology to bring the boy and the girl here. You pick things well for a less advanced species.”
LADY ANGELA
“I had no idea it was you, Beeston. Frederick and I would never have dreamed…”
BEESTON
(continues) “I, my lord and lady, have been serving residents all my life at Leckwick Hall. I have lived in Leckwick for a thousand years.”
LORD FREDERICK
“A thousand years?!”
NYSSA
“You’re looking good for a thousand years, Mr. Beeston!”
BEESTON
“Thank you, my dear.”
LADY ANGELA
(quivers) “Frederick! I don’t like this!”
PROF. ROGERS
(frustrated) “I’m getting out of here! This has gone too far.”
DOCTOR
“No! Professor Rogers, don’t!”
Professor Rogers attempts to leave but is then fired upon by Mabel who screams.
PROF. ROGERS
(shocked) “Mabel?! What do you think, you’re doing?!”
MABEL
(shrieks) “I warned you, brother. Next time, I shoot to kill!”
PROF. ROGERS
“Have you gone mad?!”
MABEL
(shrieks) “I mean it! Take me seriously!”
Professor Rogers becomes agitated before he rejoins the others.
PROF. ROGERS
(to Beeston) “Cut this out, butler! No more pranks!”
BEESTON
“This is no prank, sir. This is the beginning of my ascension. My bride-to-be and I will embark to the stars!”
NYSSA
“Your bride? Who’s that to be?”
MABEL
“That’s me!” (cackles with laughter) “I am to be his bride.”
PROF. ROGERS
(aghast) “You?! Mabel?! My sister?! Marrying him?!”
BILLY
(disturbed) “Gives me the chills thinking of you two together.”
PROF. ROGERS
(appalled) “You don’t mean to say you’re marrying that loser, Mabel!”
MABEL
“Shut up, brother! You don’t own me! I’m not your dog, you know! I’m not your dog!”
Moment of silence.
LADY ANGELA
“Why Beeston? Why do all this?! We’ve never done you any harm! Never!”
BEESTON
(retorts) “I’ve had to tolerate you and your husband, Lady Tottinghill for as long as I could stand. I remember clearly grumbling in the kitchen about it…”
SCENE #30 – INT – KITCHEN, LECKWICK HALL – DAY, EVENING (FLASHBACK)
A flashback occurs on Christmas Eve, the evening before dinner, Beeston is in the kitchen before the guests arrive.
BEESTON
(to himself, grumbles) “I can’t…stand the friends of his lordship and ladyship! The American, the Scotsman, the Irishman….and the Siberian.”
Beeston shudders, just as the doorbell rings in the background.
LADY ANGELA
(calls) “Beeston? Could you get that?
BEESTON
(to himself) “I’ll make them pay for this. I’ll put something in their food.”
The doorbell rings again.
LADY ANGELA
(calls) “Beeston?!”
BEESTON
(shouts; agitated) “Alright!”
LADY ANGELA
“Pardon?”
BEESTON
(corrects himself) “Oh sorry. Err-uh…I mean…yes, I’ll be there!”
Beeston walks out of the kitchen to attend to the door.
SCENE #31 – INT – MAIN HALL, CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT
Back in the chapel now on Christmas Day…
BEESTON
“Now I don’t have to worry about serving you anyone. Especially your lordship and ladyship.”
LADY ANGELA
(pleads) “Beeston, please…”
BEESTON
(dismissively) “Don’t plead with me, your ladyship. All that matters to me is my safe journey home. My transference has been delayed. My people and I were expected to return eighteen years ago. But a political nuisance got in the way. Not all members of the Order survived!”
BILLY
(thinks) “The First World War, by any chance?”
BEESTON
“Exactly! The First World War.” (to Doctor) “I’m glad you’ve been able to teach your protégées about historical facts of this puny planet’s history, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“On the contrary, Lord Mimsci. I make it my business to keep history on the right track and see that it’s not disturbed.”
BEESTON
“Nothing can stop my ascension back to the Order now. It is assured! All I need is the diamond provided by Professor Rogers and the union of a group of humans to fulfil my transference. His lordship and ladyship have been most helpful in gathering the guests.”
NYSSA
“So you’re responsible for generating the neutrinos. The energy from your translucent anatomy emits particles of neutrino energy.”
BEESTON
“Precisely, miss. And I shall use all you puny people to fulfil my return journey.”
MABEL
(quietly) “And me, my love.”
BEESTON
“Of course, my love! And you!”
PROF. ROGERS
(mockingly) “Very clever, I’m sure Mr. English man! But there’s one snag.”
BEESTON
“What’s that, Professor?”
PROF. ROGERS
(accusingly, at Billy) “He broke the diamond! He broke the diamond! He broke the diamond! He broke the…”
NYSSA
(annoyed, interrupts) “Oh don’t start that again, Professor.”
BEESTON
“That is of no consequence, Professor Rogers.”
PROF. ROGERS
(shrewdly) “Oh? Isn’t it, is it?”
BEESTON
“No. I have tied these two together in chairs back to back as you can see. I did this as I sensed the diamond halves they have in their possession. I shall use them both.”
BILLY
“But you can’t have a broken diamond to help you, Beeston.”
BEESTON
“Think how you both got into the cloisters, children? Think how I managed to find you.”
NYSSA
(realises) “The diamond. It’s a teleport unit, isn’t it? And a homing device. When Billy and I had our half of the diamond each, you apprehended us at the best opportunity. And activated them to transfer us to the cloisters.”
BEESTON
“Couldn’t have put it better myself, miss. Now I can use both halves of the diamond and unify them to achieve my ambition. Of course it’ll mean the death of you both from the tremendous energy emitting from those diamond halves.”
DOCTOR
(pleads) “There’s no need for this, Beeston. Not at this time of joyful festivities and jubilation.”
BEESTON
“My affairs are more important than the affairs of human beings.”
Suddenly, the Doctor, Lord Frederick, Lady Angela, Rogers, MacDougall and Bergo are forced into the centre of the church hall. Some struggle to break free as this happens.
NYSSA
“Doctor! What’s happening? I can’t see from where I’m sitting!”
DOCTOR
We’re being pushed into the centre of the hall by some…force of psychic energy, Nyssa. Projected by Beeston of course.
BEESTON
“You will stand together in the centre of the hall around the boy and the girl. You Doctor; Professor Rogers; your lordship; your ladyship; Mr. MacDougall and Mr. Bergo.”
PROF. ROGERS
(agitated) “Stop this, you buffoon! Stop all this mumbo jumbo! I’m an American!”
MACDOUGALL
(shrieks) “Help me! Help me for the sake of Scotland!”
BERGO
(cheers) “This fun!!!”
LADY ANGELA
(cries) “Frederick, my dear! I can’t stop walking! Help me!”
LORD FREDERICK
“Here, darling! Hold onto my hand!”
LADY ANGELA
(cries) “I…I can’t reach your hand!”
BEESTON
“Don’t worry your ladyship. You’ll be holding your husband’s hand soon!”
The Doctor; Lord Frederick; Lady Angela; Rogers; MacDougall and Bergo stand in the centre of the chapel hall, forming a circle around Nyssa and Billy. Moment of silence.
NYSSA
“Doctor! You’ve formed a circle around us. You; the Professor; Mr. MacDougall; Mr. Bergo and his lordship and ladyship. I don’t like this!”
DOCTOR
“How do you think I feel, Nyssa? Holding each other’s hand-in-hand in the circle against my will. It’s very disturbing.”
BEESTON
(triumphantly) “Now! With the diamond halves in place and the circle complete, my transference can now…commence!”
Suddenly, everyone gasps in pain, including Nyssa and Billy in the chairs and the Doctor; Lord Frederick; Lady Angela; Professor Rogers; MacDougall and Bergo in the circle around them. Soon they begin to lose their breath, as a great wind breezes through the chapel walls. Snow falls heavily through the roof and a gust of wind storms through. This culminates into a whirlwind in the centre of the chapel and bursting through the roof. Beeston is heard chuckling and before laughing in glory.
NYSSA
(breathlessly) “Doctor. The wind’s stronger and snow’s falling in heavily! I can barely breathe”
BILLY
(breathlessly) “It’s like…it’s like there’s a tornado here!”
DOCTOR
(breathlessly) “Very like it, Billy. A whirlwind of snow is in here with us!”
Beeston laughs away whilst the transference and snow storm occurs with the Doctor and the others in peril.
SCENE #32 – EXT – CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT/DAY
Outside, a bolt of snow bursts through the tower-roof of the chapel as the whirlwind occurs. The tornado charged bolt of snow causes the clouds in the sky to collide and crack with thunder and lightning.
SCENE #33 – INT – MAIN HALL, CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT/DAY
Back inside the chapel, Beeston laughs gloriously whilst the whirlwind goes on.
NYSSA
(pleads) “Stop it, Beeston! Stop this at once please! You’re hurting them!”
BILLY
(pleads) “Leave us alone! You’re hurting us!”
BEESTON
(triumphantly) “The diamond is already forming between you two! You cannot resist the power in the halves you have. It will soon be complete!” (Pause) “My state of consciousness will advance! I shall now be rid of this corporal existence and join my brothers again!”
Beeston laughs, whilst everyone is suffering during the ritual. Suddenly, without warning…
MABEL
(shrieks) “My brother!!! MY BROTHER!!!”
Mabel rushes towards the circle and pushes Professor Rogers to one side. This breaks the circle, causing everyone to fall and saving Nyssa and Billy in the process whilst tied back-to-back in chairs.
BEESTON
(enraged) “What are you doing, you little pipsqueak?! You broke the chain!”
MABEL
(screams) “I didn’t agree to this! I did not agree to this! You said my brother wouldn’t be harmed! You broke your promise!”
Mabel screams loudly, whilst Professor Rogers still in a daze, gets up.
PROF. ROGERS
(startled) “W-What just happened? Someone tell me what’s going on!”
MABEL
“Albert! He’s hurting me! He tried to hurt me by hurting you!”
PROF. ROGERS
(approaches Beeston) “What?! You upset my little sister?!”
Before Beeston can answer, Professor Rogers punches him in the face. Beeston falls to the floor in a daze.
PROF. ROGERS
“There! That sorted him!”
Meanwhile the others, including the Doctor, rouse from their trance.
DOCTOR
(bewildered) “Whoa. That was a trance.” (to everyone) “Is everyone alright?! Nyssa; Billy?”
NYSSA
(to Billy) “Billy, are you alright?”
BILLY
“Yes I’m fine, thank you Doctor.” (to Doctor) “We’re both fine, thank you Doctor. How about yourself though?”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “I’ll be alright. Nothing overcomes me so easily.”
NYSSA
“Doctor, please free us from these chairs we’re in!”
DOCTOR
(realises) “Oh, yes right. I’m on it!”
The Doctor runs over to Nyssa and Billy and begins to free them. Meanwhile Lord Frederick; Lady Angela; Bergo and MacDougall recover.
LORD FREDERICK
“Angela? Angela, my dear? Are you alright?”
Angela groans as she’s still un-awake.
LORD FREDERICK
(to MacDougall) “Mr. MacDougall? Mr. Bergo?”
MACDOUGALL
“Yes. Help me with Bergo, please your lordship. I think he went dizzy when that séance we had abruptly ended.”
LORD FREDERICK
“Righty-ho!”
Frederick and MacDougall help Bergo as he recovers.
BERGO
(delirious) “Snow! Snow! Snow! I love snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Oh yeah!”
Meanwhile, Nyssa and Billy are free as they join the Doctor.
DOCTOR
“There you are, Nyssa; Billy. You’re free now!”
NYSSA
“Thank you Doctor. You rescued us in the end.”
BILLY
(feeling stiff) “Ooh, one thing I should remember. Never stand up immediately after sitting down for so long. I’m so stiff.”
NYSSA
“Me too. My legs are so wobbly.”
DOCTOR
(urgently) “Nyssa; Billy! Get his lordship and ladyship and the others out of this chapel! Including Professor Rogers and Mabel.”
BILLY
“What are you going to do, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Sort out, Mr. Beeston.”
NYSSA
(shocked) “Doctor…”
DOCTOR
“Don’t argue with me Nyssa. Leave Beeston to me, please. Get the others out of here quickly now! Go on, out now!”
BILLY
“Come on, let’s do it Nyssa!”
NYSSA
(protests) “But Billy…”
BILLY
“No buts, Nyssa. Let’s just go and get everyone else out!”
NYSSA
“Alright.”
They do as the Doctor says, as Nyssa attends to the Tottinghills…
NYSSA
(urgently) “Lord and Lady Tottinghill! We must leave now!”
LORD FREDERICK
“Right! Come on Angela my dear!”
…whilst Billy attends to Rogers; Mabel; MacDougall and Bergo.
BILLY
“Come on, Professor Rogers!”
PROF. ROGERS
“Don’t touch me, young man! I bought this gown for Christmas! My wife bought it for me! I mean my sister…no wife…no sister…oh what’s the point!”
BILLY
“Professor, we have to go now!”
PROF. ROGERS
“Not until I bring Mabel with me!”
Mabel screams.
BILLY
“Come on. Mr. MacDougall; Mr. Bergo. We have to leave! Come on!”
They all leave whilst the wind and the snow rages on. Meanwhile, the Doctor confronts Beeston as he gets up from the floor.
BEESTON
“You…Doctor! You have ruined this for me!”
DOCTOR
“You ruined it yourself, Beeston. For once I had no part in it!”
BEESTON
“You shall pay for your insolence, Doctor. Fortunately I still have enough power to ensure my transference. You shall be my extra supply.”
DOCTOR
“That’s all we are to you, isn’t it Beeston. Humans merely providing energy that you need for you transference to make it successful.”
BEESTON
“Enough of this talk, Doctor. My time is short.”
DOCTOR
“I can help you Beeston, if you will just listen…”
BEESTON
“I do not need your help, Doctor. All I want…is your power.”
Beeston suddenly strikes at the Doctor. The Doctor gasps for breath as streams of energy are plucked out from him. The Doctor inhales breathlessly, as Beeston chuckles away before laughing menacingly absorbing the Doctor’s life-force.
BEESTON
“Your life-force shall be mine. I…will return home without any hindrances.”
DOCTOR
(gasps) “Beeston! If you value your own life, please stop…”
BEESTON
“The transference is nearly complete. Nothing can stop me now!”
The Doctor gasps breathlessly as Beeston laughs triumphantly.
SCENE #34 – EXT – CEMETERY GARDENS, LECKWICK HALL – NIGHT/DAY
Outside the chapel, Nyssa and Billy help Professor Rogers, Mabel, Bergo, MacDougall and the Tottinghills escape. They stand in the cemetery gardens at the gate entrance. They look back to see the whirlwind swirling round and round out from the roof of the chapel.
LADY ANGELA
“Frederick! I’m scared seeing that tornado shooting up from our chapel?”
LORD FREDERICK
(comfortingly) “Don’t fret Angela, darling. It’ll soon be over!”
PROF. ROGERS
(accusingly; to Nyssa and Billy) “Well girl; boy? Where is he? Where’s your Doctor? What does he think he’s doing? Thinks he’s going to save us?!”
MABEL
(squirms) “Stop it Albert! You’re making me nervous!”
PROF. ROGERS
“The Doctor’s still in there! What can he do to save us from this madman, Beeston?!”
NYSSA
“Professor, please! I don’t know what’s happening more than you do!”
PROF. ROGERS
(dismissively) “Well that’s pathetic! All this nonsense and rushing around got me out of bed with no sleep, and here I am standing here chilled to the bone at the entrance to this church…chapel…no church…in the middle of the night…”
BILLY
“Actually it’s day, Professor.”
PROF. ROGERS
“Don’t interrupt me, boy. I say…”
MACDOUGALL
“Och aye, is it day already? Great Scott!”
BILLY
“Well, it’s going to be daybreak anyway. The sky’s getting a little lighter here.”
BERGO
(excited) “Se se! Sky! Sky ! Brighter! Brighter!”
Nyssa then rushes forward before Billy stops her.
BILLY
(anxious) “Nyssa? Where do you think you’re going?”
NYSSA
“I have to go back inside, Billy. I have to find out what’s happened to the Doctor.”
BILLY
“But Nyssa…”
NYSSA
“You stay here and look after the others. Please do as I say, Billy!”
BILLY
(gradually) “Alright then.”
NYSSA
“Thank you. I won’t be long.”
Nyssa runs off as she heads back for the chapel. Once gone, Billy turns to Lord Frederick.
BILLY
(to Frederick) “Excuse me, your lordship? Look after the others. I’m going after Nyssa.”
LORD FREDERICK
“Going after her?! But Miss Nyssa just told you to…”
BILLY
“I won’t be long. Thank you, Lord Frederick. See you!”
LORD FREDERICK
(cries) “But young man!”
It’s already too late, as Billy has gone off after Nyssa.
SCENE #35 – INT – MAIN HALL, CHAPEL, LECKWICK HALL – DAY. MORNING
Back in the chapel, the Doctor struggles to maintain his strength as the force of Beeston draining his energy is too much.
BEESTON
(mocks) “Can’t cope, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
(pleads) “Beeston, please. Listen to me. If you don’t stop this now, you’re going cause damage to yourself. You’ve no idea what you’re dealing with.”
BEESTON
“Oh merely an absorption of your own life-force, Doctor. I didn’t realise that a species like you had such a capacity of withstanding such tremendous energy.”
DOCTOR
“I’m more than just a mere species, Beeston.”
BEESTON
“Just the sort of thing I’d expect you to say to save your own skin.”
At that moment, Nyssa bursts in.
NYSSA
(aghast) “Doctor?!” (to Beeston) “Beeston, stop it!”
BEESTON
“Ah, Miss Nyssa. How are you today? I’m draining the life force out of your friend. Then I can return to my home.”
NYSSA
“You can’t! You’re going to kill him!”
BEESTON
“Precisely! A small sacrifice needed to be made. I thought I needed the diamond. But your Doctor friend seems more suitable to this transference that I needed than I thought.”
DOCTOR
(cries) “Nyssa, please! Get out of here quickly, before…”
NYSSA
(shouts) “No! Beeston, leave the Doctor alone! Take me in his place! Take my life-force instead of the Doctor’s!”
DOCTOR
“No, Nyssa!”
BEESTON
“Ah! Now you make a tempting offer, my dear. Especially since you have half the diamond.”
At that moment, Billy runs in.
BILLY
(shouts; defiantly) “Oh no, Beeston! Don’t touch Nyssa!”
BEESTON
“Ah and here is the other half. How gratifying to see this.”
NYSSA
(agitated) “Billy, I told you to stay outside!”
BILLY
(to Beeston) “You dare harm Nyssa, Beeston and you won’t hear the last of it!”
BEESTON
“That’s hardly likely, young man. Since I have you in my grasp again and merge the pair of you together with the diamond halves inside of you.”
NYSSA
“You see, Billy. You see why I told you to stay outside. I wanted to avoid this since he’ll take the diamonds from us again and kill us both.”
BILLY
(realises) “Oh. Yes. Sorry, Nyssa.”
Suddenly, Beeston cries out in pain as he stumbles forward.
BEESTON
(groans) “W-What’s…what’s happening? I feel…I feel…so weak. Like I’m…bursting!”
DOCTOR
(calmly) “It’s alright, Nyssa; Billy. It’s alright. You won’t be sacrificed today. It seems that Beeston’s taken too much of me.”
BEESTON
“What…what…Doctor…what have you…what have you done to me?!”
DOCTOR
“Quick Nyssa; Billy. The diamond halves you have. Smash them into pieces!”
NYSSA
“Yes Doctor.”
BILLY
“Gladly.”
Nyssa and Billy take out and throw their diamond halves to the floor, stamping them with their feet. They smash like glass.
BEESTON
(cries) “No! The diamond halves! NO!”
DOCTOR
(mocks) “Oh dear, Beeston! My friends have broken your diamond into pieces, haven’t they?”
BEESTON
“What have you done, Doctor? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
DOCTOR
“It’s not me, Beeston. You drained my energy. The energy of my species. I warned you to be careful. But you wouldn’t listen!”
BEESTON
(struggles) “What…what are you?!”
DOCTOR
“It depends whether you want to know or not.” (Pause) “Would…Gallifrey and Time Lords ring a bell?”
Beeston then lets out an enraged cry as he crumbles to the floor.
DOCTOR
“Ah. I thought you had.” (Pause) “Thank you for stopping the drain. I feel so much better.”
BEESTON
(shrieks) “You bring ruin and chaos to my people, Doctor! You have destroyed us!” (gasps) “Please save me!”
NYSSA
“Doctor? Surely you can save him.”
DOCTOR
“I only wish I could, Nyssa. The Fanto Order has no consideration of tidings and great joy. His people wouldn’t understand it. They’re old ‘scrooges’ you might say.”
BILLY
“So, what are we going to do?”
They all watch as Beeston groans in pain and rolls about on the floor with the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy watching him.
SCENE #36 – EXT – CEMETERY GARDENS, LECKWICK HALL – DAY, MORNING
A while later outside, the chapel blows up and a loud explosion occurs. Everyone gasps in horror, as bits of falling timber fall on them.
MACDOUGALL
(shocked) “Did you see that, Bergo man?”
BERGO
“Oh yeah, yeah! Me see! Me see, yeah!”
MACDOUGALL
“The chapel just blew up! With the Doctor and his friends inside.”
PROF. ROGERS
(gloats) “See! What did I tell you?! What did I tell you?!”
Mabel screams.
LADY ANGELA
(distressed) “No! They can’t be dead! They can’t!”
LORD FREDERICK
(comfortingly) “I’m sorry, my dear. I’m afraid it’s the end of them.”
Lady Angela hides her face, bursting into tears. Lord Frederick gently comforts her. The whirlwind slowly dies and there is now a gentle breeze. The snow also falls lightly to the ground now.
LORD FREDERICK
“The whirlwind’s gone. And the wind’s died!”
MACDOUGALL
“Aye! But it’s still snowing! Not as bad though. It’s light now.”
BERGO
“Oh yeah! Snow! Snow!”
LADY ANGELA
“What about the Doctor; Miss Nyssa and Mr. Billy? What could have happened to them?!”
PROF. ROGERS
“Shucks to them! It serves them right.”
MABEL
(cries) “No, wait! Look!”
Everyone looks, as they see three people coming out of the crumbling chapel. They meet up with everyone else at the gate entrance.
DOCTOR
(shouts) “It’s alright! It’s alright, everyone! The nightmare’s over!”
NYSSA
(assuredly) “We’ve dealt with it!”
BILLY
(cheerily) “Yes, we’ve certainly dealt with it! The Doctor, Nyssa and me!”
Everyone else cheers for them with excitement.
LORD FREDERICK
(pleased) “Doctor; Miss Nyssa; Mr. Billy! Thank goodness you’re still alive!”
DOCTOR
(cheerily) “Yes well, I’m glad Nyssa and Billy are alive when I told them to stay outside!”
NYSSA
“I was afraid we were going to get blown up!”
BILLY
(coolly) “I wasn’t.”
NYSSA
(scolds Billy) “When are you going to learn to do as you’re told, Billy?!”
BILLY
“Sorry, Nyssa.”
NYSSA
(sentimentally) “Come here.”
Nyssa embraces Billy in a hug.
DOCTOR
(to everyone else) “Sorry about that, everyone. I had to blow up my neutrino detector whilst inside the chapel. I gave Beeston a safe journey home! And torn my best coat in the process!”
LADY ANGELA
“But what happened, Doctor?”
PROF. ROGERS
“Yeah! What did you do to make that mad butler go away? Did you kill him?”
DOCTOR
“I certainly did not kill him, Professor.” (Pause) “I used my neutrino detector to generate the neutrino levels to a greater degree and opened a portal. Beeston tried to suck the life-force out of me, which was a very dangerous thing to do. Considering I’m not human.”
PROF. ROGERS
“Huh?”
DOCTOR
“My neutrino detector stabilised his life patterns, despite the side effects of my own Time Lord energy in him. It boosted the eternal power and sent Beeston back across space.”
NYSSA
“And across the astral plane. Will it be a direct transference Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Oh I made sure my feat of engineering enabled Beeston to return home accordingly to the temporal coordinates and the particle density he required.”
BILLY
“But what caused that explosion after we managed to escape, Doctor?”
DOCTOR
“Ah yes, well the detector was overloading. Unable to contain the power sending Beeston back home. Beeston was able to get through just in time. Thus we got out when we did.”
NYSSA
“And that’s it. Problem solved.”
DOCTOR
(uneasily) “Yes.” (Pause) “At least for now.”
PROF. ROGERS
“You know what, Doctor? For the life of me, I do not know what has been going this Christmas night. I’ve been out of my bed for nearly six…no seven hours…no six hours…and I have absolutely, completely no idea what you’re talking about.”
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “Good for you Professor Rogers. That shows a sign of improvement.”
BERGO
“Jul! Jul! Jul, Lord Tottinghill!”
LORD FREDERICK
“Yes Mr. Bergo. You’re right! It’s Christmas, Doctor!”
DOCTOR
(cheerfully) “So it is, Lord Frederick. Merry Christmas!”
Everyone responds joyously, as they greet each other with ‘seasons greeting’.
SCENE #37 – INT – DINING ROOM, LECKWICK HALL – DAY, AFTERNOON
Later that Christmas Day, crackers are pulled as everyone has gathered for Christmas dinner. There is joyous laughter and jubilation around the table. Lord Frederick; Lady Angela; Professor Rogers; Mabel; MacDougall; Berg and the Doctor, Nyssa and Billy enjoy the day with Christmas carol music in the background.
LADY ANGELA
“Oh look! I’ve got a whistle.”
Lady Angela blows the whistle, whilst MacDougall and Bergo laugh out loud.
NYSSA
(puzzled) “What’s so funny, Mr. MacDougall?”
BILLY
(amused) “Yeah? What’s the joke?”
MACDOUGALL
(laughs) “This.”
MacDougall gives his ‘joke’ to Nyssa and Billy. They take it and they read it. Billy laughs whilst Nyssa is puzzled.
BILLY
(laughs) “Listen to this – ‘How does Good King Wenceslas like his fish and chips?’”
PROF. ROGERS
(drearily) “I don’t know. How does Good King Wenceslas like his fish and chips?”
BILLY
“Deep and crisp and even.”
There is a murmur of laughter in response, except for Professor Rogers and Mabel.
PROF. ROGERS
“Don’t get it. Do you get it, sister darling?”
Mabel screams.
NYSSA
(realises) “Oh, yes.” (laughs weakly) “Very good…punch line.”
BILLY
(amused) “Deary me, Nyssa. I’ll have to tell you some more jokes so that you can get the punch lines quicker.”
Both Nyssa and Billy giggle whilst the Doctor chats to Lord Frederick and Lady Angela.
LADY ANGELA
“Thank you so much for everything, Doctor.”
DOCTOR
“Thank you so much for your hospitality, Lady Angela Tottinghill. This Christmas dinner is absolutely splendid.”
LORD FREDERICK
“So Doctor. I expect you’ll be arresting us. My wife and I! Due to the circumstances preceding these festive tidings.”
DOCTOR
(confused) “Pardon, your lordship?”
LORD FREDERICK
“I understand that is your profession. Being a policeman after all. With your investigative skills and cunning tactics in solving a mystery. I spotted it the moment you were determined to search for your young friend, Mr. Billy.”
DOCTOR
(reassuringly) “Believe me Lord Frederick. I’m neither a judge nor a policeman. Just a Doctor.” (Pause) “I won’t be laying charges on you.”
LORD FREDERICK
“You won’t?!”
DOCTOR
“You were victims of your own butler. Beeston manipulated you to follow his ways.”
NYSSA
“The neutrino levels dissipated immediately as soon as Beeston transferred to the astral realm, your lordship. You don’t have to worry now. You’re free of his influence.”
LADY ANGELA
(chuckles) “Well, I certainly hope not to impinge any more phantoms and poltergeists on our guests. I’ve had enough scares for one day.”
BILLY
“Sorry you lost your butler, your lordship; ladyship.”
NYSSA
“Yes. We hope this won’t make you short-staffed.”
LORD FREDERICK
(realises) “Yes. Dash it, we’ll have to find a new butler darling.”
LADY ANGELA
“Oh dear. I hadn’t thought of that.”
PROF. ROGERS
(interrupts) “I’m looking forward to going back to America. I still have that Florentine Diamond to give back.”
NYSSA
“The diamond got destroyed, Professor.”
PROF. ROGERS
“Oh yeah. So it did.” (despairingly) “What am I going to do now?” (bitterly; to Mabel) “This is your fault, Mabel!”
MABEL
(screams) “Leave me alone!”
Meanwhile MacDougall and Bergo munch at their Christmas dinner.
MACDOUGALL
(with a mouthful) “This turkey’s so good, your ladyship!”
LADY ANGELA
(bewildered) “Oh. Thank you, Mr. MacDougall!”
BERGO
(mumbles) “Stuffing!”
DOCTOR
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Bergo?”
BERGO
(with mouthful) “Stuffing is very good! I love it! Stood it all in my teeth! Oh yeah!”
Bergo munches in a wild and rude manner.
NYSSA
(wryly) “Charming.”
Frederick then taps his glass with a spoon.
LORD FREDERICK
(raises his voice) “Excuse me everyone? May I have your attention, please?”
Everyone stops chatting.
LORD FREDERICK
“Thank you.” (Pause) “Sorry this Christmas has had mishaps at Leckwick Hall. But thank you all for coming.” (Pause) “Good health to you all and Merry Christmas!”
Frederick raises his glass and everybody else does the same.
DOCTOR
“Thank you, Lord and Lady Tottinghill. Merry Christmas!”
NYSSA
“Merry Christmas, Lord and Lady Tottinghill.”
BILLY
“Yes Merry Christmas!”
EVERYONE
Merry Christmas!
LORD FREDERICK
And happy new year to you all.
EVERYONE
Happy New Year!
Everyone toasts cheerfully as they continue to celebrate Christmas for the rest of the day at Leckwick Hall.
Sting music. Roll original 1982 Peter Davison end credits.
© Tim Bradley, 2016
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Bradley's Basement 
Fantastic conclusion, you wrapped everything up neatly & wrote a dramatic conclusion as the doctor outsmarted beeston, that is very much the fifth doctor sending beeston back home, the seventh doctor would’ve watched him die said ashes to ashes, dust to dust or something lol.
Great characters, cracking fast paced plot & a brilliant Christmas special, nice one Tim you hit gold once again.
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Hi Simon.
Glad you enjoyed the conclusion to ‘The Ghost of Leckwick’ in Chapter 4.
I’m very pleased you found I wrapped up everything neatly in this story and wrote a dramatic conclusion. The first draft of the story was pretty bad, so I’m pleased I managed to re-write it with a stronger conclusion to the story.
I’m pleased you enjoyed the Doctor outsmarting Beeston and that it was in character with the Fifth Doctor sending Beeston back home. Yes, it would have been very different had it been the Seventh Doctor with Ace in this story instead of the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Billy. I can imagine how cruel the Seventh Doctor could be with watching Beeston die in the words you’ve used. 😀
Very pleased you enjoyed the characters and the plot and found it an enjoyable Christmas episode. But is it better than ‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio’ though? 😀
Stay tuned for the new year, Simon. ‘The Salvador Trilogy’ begins in January with ‘The Austen Code’. I’m getting it ready as we speak. 🙂
Thanks for your comments, Simon. Very pleased you enjoyed ‘The Ghost of Leckwick’.
Tim. 🙂
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Yes its wayyyy better than Dr Mysterio, your writing hooks in the reader, the characters are well written & you capture the fifth doctor, nyssa brilliantly as well as creating a warm likeable character in Billy.
Your stories are easy visual, I can picture the scene in my imagination & feel the sense of atmosphere like the snowy scenes in this story.
I’m not a fan of moffats era to be honest I prefered RTD & David Tennant as Russell wrote wonderful characters & emotion that had feeling & depth & your writing is similar in creating wonderful rich characters.
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Hi Simon.
I love the RTD era of ‘Doctor Who’ and David Tennant is great as the Tenth Doctor from that era. I take my cue of writing ‘Doctor Who’ stories from being inspired by both the Peter Davison and David Tennant eras of ‘Doctor Who’, as I feel they’re both fantastic eras of the show.
I’m pleased you can easily visualise my ‘Doctor Who’ stories and that you enjoyed the action, drama, humour and tension throughout my stories. I am to please! 😀 Glad you could feel the snowy scenes and the sense of atmosphere in ‘The Ghost of Leckwick’.
Also very pleased you like how I’ve captured the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa in my stories as well as liking Billy as a companion in my series of ‘Doctor Who’ stories. I hope you’ll enjoy next year’s stories.
Tim. 🙂
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