BRILLIG - EPISODE THREE By Nic Ford A story from Johnstone's ...

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BRILLIG SCRUBLAND, with mountains behind, leading up to a jet black sky, with a ... itself, and she starts to raise the
BRILLIG - EPISODE THREE By Nic Ford

A story from Johnstone’s and Predator’s fan-fiction Eighth Doctor series, ’Hunted - series two’. The Eighth Doctor is travelling alone through time and space, all his previous companions having died, been destroyed or mysteriously disappeared.

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EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY

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A similar scene to that from the first episode: the BRILLIG SCRUBLAND, with mountains behind, leading up to a jet black sky, with a quadrant of the PURPLE-GREEN PLANET to the upper right. We follow the COLONISTS’ MOB as it thunders from right to left across this scene. Closely behind, the DOCTOR on the PENNY-FARTHING. He has all but caught the mob now - indeed, as he pedals he is slowly but surely catching the tail end of the hunting party. Sometimes he slips back, but, while dodging rifle butts and sideswipes, he is generally managing to overtake. THE DOCTOR (V/O) ’Twas Brillig, and the slithy toves... He passes the tail... the middle... 2

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY

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POV the FLEEING JABBERWOCK. Strange, alien squeals of panic as it flees its persecutors. And having to deal with the struggling EMILY. And then, all at once, it rounds the corner into the face of the MOB - all raths, and bristling anger, and raised rifles in the face. At the front, JACQUES with his rigle raised, pointing straight at the Jabberwock, and so also we the viewer. Beside him, RAELIN. A look of grim determination on her face, she raises her rifle too. THE DOCTOR (V/O) ...did gyre and gimble in the wabe. 3

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

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The DOCTOR, on the PENNY FARTHING, has reached the front of the MOB and raced up beside it. He throws the penny-farthing down, and runs to RAELIN. Sees her pointing her rifle at the JABBERWOCK, which is still holding onto a terrified EMILY. It, too, is terrified, trying to find a way out of the deathtrap. THE DOCTOR (V/O) All mimsy were the borogoves...

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2) The Doctor steps in between Raelin and the Jabberwock, spreads his arms to cover as much of the monster as possible. THE DOCTOR Don’t do it, Raelin! This is not the way! RAELIN Then what other way there be, Doctor? Raelin aims the rifle at the Jabberwock, behind and through the Doctor. Her men raise their rifles also. Raelin squeezes... 4

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

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POV the JABBERWOCK once more. Now in the field of vision, alongside EMILY, is the DOCTOR, his back to the Jabberwock/viewer. Beyond him, the MOB, rifles raised. And at their front, RAELIN, squeezing the trigger of her rifle. EMILY Please Raelin! Please! THE DOCTOR You really don’t have to do this! Alien squeals of panic. The scene fades with the Jabberwock, as it screws up its eyes in terror. And as it fades... THE DOCTOR (V/O) ...and the mome raths... Blackout. Gunshots. Silence. MAIN TITLES 5

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. CONTINUOUS.

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Continuous from the pre-sig: the wilderness, from the POV of the JABBERWOCK. In front, EMILY and the DOCTOR, both facing beyond them RAELIN and the COLONISTS. It is the instant of Raelin’s gunshot. The crack of the shot splits the air, as smoke billows from the barrel of her rifle. And immediately into slo-mo: the bullet flying through the air, past the Doctor’s ear, towards the terrified Jabberwock. And then... stopping. (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2) The bullet hangs in mid-air, an inch from the Jabberwock’s nose, and thus also from the viewer. Silence. Stillness. No motion at all. And then, the events reverse. 6

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. CONTINUOUS. We see the bullet fly back from and the DOCTOR’s ear, back into rifle. A little further back in the raising of her rifle... and itself, and she starts to raise

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the JABBERWOCK, past EMILY the barrel of RAELIN’s time, as Raelin rewinds then time reasserts the weapon again.

RAELIN (REALISING SHE IS REPEATING HER ACTIONS) What the...? She tries firing at the Jabberwock again - but again, the bullet slows and stops inches from the creature; and then time reverses, pulling it back into the rifle, and taking Raelin’s arms down. As the arrow of time reasserts itself once more, Raelin throws the rifle to the ground with a gasp of fear and anger. RAELIN (CONT’D) The Doom! The Doom’s a-witched it! THE DOCTOR I was afraid that would happen. EMILY Afraid! That we’d survive a fatal shooting! THE DOCTOR And hopeful of it, obviously. Raelin, you can’t shoot. Time is in a terribly fragile state. And as if to prove the point, the Doctor again gasps in pain. EMILY What on Earth is going on? THE DOCTOR (THROUGH GRITTED TEETH) The time knot. Raelin can’t shoot... because these events can’t happen yet. There’s something I need to do... something I need to work out... (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

EMILY And what? The universe isn’t letting anything get in the way of you doing that? For goodness sake, get some perspective! THE No, honestly! that. (WINCES maybe it just itself.

DOCTOR Something like... FROM THE PAIN) Or wants to kill me

EMILY That’s what I love about you: fighting each and every crisis using only an ego the size of a planet. THE DOCTOR I’m just confident... in my abilities... that’s all. EMILY Two planets. RAELIN You two! Shut your jabberin’ an’ answer my question! I shot the Doom - why ain’t it dead? THE DOCTOR Raelin, something’s happening. To time. And I need to work out how to stop it... what I need to do... Suddenly there’s an earthquake, enough to knock some of the colonists from their feet. Emily and the Doctor only manage to stand by holding each other. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) ...before it destroys this moon, its planet... Another quake, stronger than the last. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) ...and possibly the universe! 7

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY

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The FIRST DOCTOR is kneeling on the console room floor, leaning over SUSAN, who is starting to come round. She is holding something tight to her chest: an old, battered book.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

SUSAN Ooh! My head! What happened? Grandfather? THE FIRST DOCTOR Hush, child. You’re safe. Just rest, hm? SUSAN I... I was in my room. Just reading my poetry book. You know, ’January’, that poem I like. "’Twas chilly, and the slimy roads, did shine and shimmer in the rain. All misty were the birds abodes, and the cold grassy plain. Beware of January, my son..." THE FIRST DOCTOR Yes, yes yes. I know the verse. Although... SUSAN And then... nothing. Just space, all around me. (BEAT) It was so calm... THE FIRST DOCTOR Hah! Calm! Of course it was, my dear, of course it was! SUSAN I wanted to stay there forever... THE FIRST DOCTOR Well, you couldn’t. You were kidnapped. I couldn’t let you stay there, now could I? Suddenly, the First Doctor is wracked with pain again. THE FIRST DOCTOR (CONT’D) Gah! Now what’s causing that? Is it something I’ve eaten? Or is it you, spectre? Hm? UNSEEN BEING It is not I. SUSAN (AFRAID) Who’s that?! Who is it, grandfather?

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (3)

THE FIRST DOCTOR Don’t worry, Susan, don’t worry. It’s just... a visitor. UNSEEN BEING It is not I causing your pain, Doctor. THE FIRST DOCTOR Really? Hm? You invade my spaceship, kidnap my granddaughter? And it’s not you, hm? UNSEEN BEING Not I. You. THE FIRST DOCTOR Me? Hah! Now I know you are mistaken! I’ve enough to be doing, dealing with unseen ghosts, to be giving myself the heebie-jeebies too! UNSEEN BEING You. SUSAN What does it mean, grandfather? THE FIRST DOCTOR I don’t know, and neither does it. Unless... (REALISATION DAWMS) ...it’s the other one, isn’t it? Is that what you mean, spectre? The other me? He’s caused a time knot, hasn’t he? Oh, the fool! SUSAN A time knot? They taught us about those. At the academy. Inter- and intra-causality! Wouldn’t that be terribly dangerous? THE FIRST DOCTOR Two events, separated in time but each reliant on the other’s completion for their own nativity. Yes, my dear, it would be very dangerous indeed. SUSAN Could it hurt us, then?

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (4) THE FIRST DOCTOR Us... this creature that invades Tardis... possibly the entire universe. Yes, Susan, it could be quite the most dangerous thing we’ve ever faced! 8

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY

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The COLONISTS’ guns are still raised at the JABBERWOCK. The DOCTOR is still writhing in pain, attended by EMILY. RAELIN continues to watch, uncomprehending, and determined to maintain control. The quakes continue. With each quake, the Jabberwock roars in fear and anger. RAELIN What does it want? What you want, Jabberwock? The Jabberwock roars louder. EMILY Good question. What’d it want with a load of peaceniks like this lot? THE DOCTOR What... indeed? (BEAT) Oh, of course! Once again, Emily...! (OFF RAELIN’S BLANK STARE) What? You haven’t guessed, Raelin? Raelin looks at him, quizzically. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) This creature’s killed your comrades! Your children! And yet, it’s taken this long to raise the merest of reactions from you? RAELIN We’s pacifists. S’why we’s come here. THE DOCTOR Yes, but all that anger, all that rage! It doesn’t go away, does it? It just gets subsumed. And expressed later. RAELIN For someone that close to a monster you seen kill, you sure spout some nonsense! (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2) EMILY And ain’t that the truth! THE DOCTOR But I’m right, though, aren’t I? You hide your anger, but you can’t destroy it! It has to come out! EMILY Thank you, Sigmund... THE DOCTOR Every civilisation’s done it! The ancient greeks gave up warfare and produced the Parthenon! The Mayans ritualised their anger into choreographed war and a rather unsavoury precursor to basketball. And the British Empire? Built on repressed anger! And porridge. But mainly anger. (BEAT) And your people, Raelin, your people... RAELIN Us? What about us? THE DOCTOR You... (ANOTHER SPASM) ...you created the Jabberwocks! 9

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY

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The FIRST DOCTOR stands at the console, examining readouts. SUSAN stares around the console room, looking for some clue as to the provenance of the UNSEEN BEING SUSAN So who... who are you, then? THE FIRST DOCTOR An invader! That’s all! Taking what doesn’t belong to it! UNSEEN BEING It is mine. It is all mine... SUSAN But that’s what I don’t understand. How can Tardis belong to you? UNSEEN BEING Not the craft. You. You are mine. My prize.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

THE FIRST DOCTOR Yes! And so you keep saying! But why, hm? Why? Answer me that, spectre. UNSEEN BEING As the price for what you did so long ago... THE FIRST DOCTOR (INTERRUPTING) Yes, yes, yes! But that doesn’t tell me anything, does it? What is it that I am supposed to have done, hm? That’s the question! SUSAN It seems to think that we’ve been here before, grandfather. THE FIRST DOCTOR And so we have, my dear. So we have, I am of little doubt. Or at least, so we shall. SUSAN And we’ll do something to hurt it? Oh, the poor thing! It seems so pitiful! THE FIRST DOCTOR Pitiful, my foot! It’s kidnapped us, no less! We cannot go anywhere, any time: Tardis is trapped, and so are we! SUSAN But I’m sure, if we tried to help it... THE FIRST DOCTOR ...it would be of no use whatsoever. Isn’t that the case, spectre? UNSEEN BEING Nothing you do can undo the things you have done. THE FIRST DOCTOR Ha! Non-temporals! So linear! Listen, spectre, and listen well! My people are well acquainted with the laws of time, and we know how they work! This thing my future self has done, well, that’s set in stone. But my end (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (3)

THE FIRST DOCTOR (CONT’D) of the knot, now, that’s a very different kettle of fish! My actions are not so decided, are they? UNSEEN BEING You cannot undo... THE FIRST DOCTOR Fiddlesticks! I can do, or undo, whatsoever I choose! Yes! And so I shall! SUSAN Whatever do you mean, grandfather? THE FIRST DOCTOR Well, take the invader. The spectre. I can... help it. If I choose. Or hinder it. Or destroy it. SUSAN Or, talk to it. THE FIRST DOCTOR Hm? And why should I choose to do that? SUSAN Well, if we can find out what we’re supposed to have done... THE FIRST DOCTOR ...what we’re supposed to do at some point, my dear... SUSAN ...yes, that. Well, if we can work that out, maybe we can help it, and go. THE FIRST DOCTOR Hm. Yes. Spectre, you heard my granddaughter. So what is it to be? Shall things continue is this uninformative and annoying manner? Or shall we discuss my future crimes? Hm? UNSEEN BEING It is simple. You are my prize.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (4)

SUSAN Yes, but why? Why?! UNSEEN BEING To replace the prize you took... 10

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY

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Earthquakes continue around THE DOCTOR, EMILY, RAELIN and the COLONISTS. The JABBERWOCK rages to one side. RAELIN Us? We created the Doom? You want to be careful, Doctor... THE DOCTOR Yes! Don’t you see? All your anger, your aggression, the things you won’t let out... where do they go? EMILY They become a monster? Come on, Doctor - that’s not even really plausible as a metaphor! THE DOCTOR Oh, it’s more than plausible. All you need is a group of repressed idealists, a remote location, and... RAELIN And? THE DOCTOR All right, and a planet with low-level subconscious psychic sensitivites. EMILY Hang on, you just made that up! THE DOCTOR Yes, I did. But it’s not beyond possibility. Given the evolution of the right complexity of biological systems, it’s not inconceivable that a planetary body such as this moon might develop a rudimentary intelligence. EMILY Seriously?!

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

THE DOCTOR Well, you managed it, didn’t you? And you’re titchy! RAELIN So you sayin’, we landed ourselves on a clever planet, which becomes a monster when we gets mad? THE DOCTOR In a nutshell. RAELIN So it’s us? It’s us what took our children? (BEAT) You know what the people here goin’ to do to you, if’n this gets out, Doctor? THE DOCTOR Well... But suddenly the Doctor is again in great pain. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) The knot! It’s tightening! EMILY What can we do? There must be something! THE DOCTOR Nothing! I just have to remember... RAELIN Remember? Remember what? THE DOCTOR I don’t know... it hasn’t happened yet... EMILY Again with the timey-wimey bollocks. What is it with you Timelords? THE DOCTOR It really is... very simple. Something in the past... has yet to happen... to my past self. EMILY So far, so unclear.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (3)

THE DOCTOR And as soon as it does... I’ll be able to remember it. RAELIN But there’s a knot? Somethin’ tying itself up? EMILY It can’t happen till you’ve done something here! Is that it? THE DOCTOR Exactly. EMILY And you can’t do that thing till you’ve remembered! But... isn’t that a paradox? THE DOCTOR Ten out of ten... to the waitress from Neasden. EMILY Is that such a problem? Can’t you just become your own grandfather and split off a parallel universe or something? THE DOCTOR Time... won’t let me. It finds a paradox... less preferable... than the universe going fwoom. EMILY Oh, great. Come back the Dreffen, all is forgiven. The Doctor turns towards the Jabberwock. THE DOCTOR So, what is it... I need to remember? It’s to do with you... isn’t it? What is it... I do to you? 11

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY

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The FIRST DOCTOR and SUSAN are standing by the console, still conversing with the UNSEEN BEING. THE FIRST DOCTOR I took something? From you? Are you certain, spectre? Hm?

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

UNSEEN BEING You took my lives... SUSAN What does it mean, grandfather? THE FIRST DOCTOR I don’t know child. I took... 12

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS EIGHTH DOCTOR SCENE)

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THE DOCTOR I... I’m beginning to remember! I... I took... something... 13

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS FIRST DOCTOR SCENE)

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THE FIRST DOCTOR ...your lives? Howso? UNSEEN BEING I had lives. Many lives. They made me. THE FIRST DOCTOR And I took them from you? UNSEEN BEING Yes. THE FIRST DOCTOR Hm. What could this mean? What? UNSEEN BEING You took my lives. THE FIRST DOCTOR I took... 14

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS EIGHTH DOCTOR SCENE)

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THE DOCTOR ...your lives! Yes! I’ve remembered! EMILY Its lives? What lives? THE DOCTOR I don’t know! Gah, so close!

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INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS FIRST DOCTOR SCENE)

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SUSAN Its lives? What lives? THE FIRST DOCTOR Really, child! Don’t interrupt! What lives, spectre? UNSEEN BEING The lives that defined me. THE FIRST DOCTOR But what does that mean? Do you have multiple lives, as do my people? No, that cannot be it. (SUDDEN REALISATION) So, you must mean lives that... 16

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS EIGHTH DOCTOR SCENE)

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THE DOCTOR ...that you have absorbed! Yes! And now I understand! Raelin! RAELIN Yes? THE DOCTOR Your people! Make them drop their weapons! RAELIN With the Jabberwock here? Ain’t goin’ to happen, Doctor. EMILY Just do it, Raelin! I’ve seen that face before - he has a plan! Raelin looks dubious; then proceeds to persuade her people to throw their guns into the bushes around them. EMILY (CONT’D) (SOTTO VOCE; TO THE DOCTOR) You’d better have a plan... 17

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS FIRST DOCTOR SCENE)

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SUSAN I’ve seen that face before, grandfather! You know what’s happening, don’t you? (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2) THE FIRST DOCTOR Yes, my dear, I believe I do. (TO THE UNSEEN BEING) It’s you, isn’t it, spectre? You were created from something. Something that belonged to somebody else... UNSEEN BEING Yes... yes... THE FIRST DOCTOR And my future self took that away from you? UNSEEN BEING Yes... SUSAN Which is why it requires retribution from us! THE FIRST Well, it shan’t get thing! Whatever you spectre... whatever want back... you’ll thing here!

DOCTOR any such had, it is you find no such

UNSEEN BEING You are my prize... I shall find your anger... 18

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS EIGHTH DOCTOR SCENE)

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RAELIN’S PEOPLE have discarded their weapons. They all turn, expectantly, to the DOCTOR and EMILY. EMILY (CONT’D) That plan? Now would be a great time... THE DOCTOR Don’t worry, I’ve got everything worked out. (TO RAELIN’S PEOPLE) All right... fight! The colonists, and Raelin, look at the Doctor. Look at each other. Look at the Doctor. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) Go on! Fight! EMILY Fight? Is that really it? Raelin, especially, looks peeved. (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

RAELIN We dropped our guns for this, Doctor? THE DOCTOR Listen. The Jabberwocks, they’re your repressed rage, yes? JACQUES So you says... THE DOCTOR So, to get rid of them, all you have to do is express your rage. Right? JACQUES Again, so you says... THE DOCTOR Look, just trust me on this. Fight each other! Now! And nobody moves. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) Emily, help me out. I’ve never been very good with confrontation. EMILY Are you sure about this? THE DOCTOR Absolutely. EMILY This really is a plan? THE DOCTOR Close as I’ll ever get. Promise. EMILY Okaaaaaaay. (WALKS UP TO JACQUES) Do you know what Philimore said (WHISPERS IN HIS EAR) about your (WHISPERS AGAIN) mother? Twice! Jacques looks at Emily in shock. At Philimore. Back at Emily. And then, with a single punch, he decks Philimore. And then he looks at his own fist in shock.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (3) JACQUES Philimore! I’m sorry! I’m so... And with that, Philimore kicks Jacques’s legs from under him. An all-out fight ensues between the colonists. EMILY There you go. (EXTRACTING HERSELF, AND GOING TO THE DOCTOR) Great. The only planet entirely populated by pacifists, and you’ve started a fight. THE DOCTOR Play to your strengths, that’s what I say. EMILY Really? Was this really what you meant? THE DOCTOR Well, in extremis. Repression just feeds the demons literally, in this case. Now they’re letting it all out. It’s healthy. EMILY Sort of. THE DOCTOR Sort of healthy. Exactly. And unless I’m very much mistaken, look... And they turn to look at the Jabberwock. It is bellowing in rage - but shrinking. With each shriek it loses mass, its multicoloured body lessening by the moment. And as it shrinks, it flickers in and out of existence, as it did earlier with Spelm. But this time there are multiple bodies sharing space with it: four adults and eight children. Soon it has shrunk to nothing. In its place, the calmly sleeping bodies of the taken colonsists. Including Chitin. EMILY Look! Raelin! Your people! And the fight - unnaturally, except perhaps to pacifists immediately stops. (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (4)

The colonists look at the bodies. And then run to them. And slowly the earthquakes cease. 19

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY. (CONTINUOUS FROM PREVIOUS FIRST DOCTOR SCENE)

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THE FIRST DOCTOR Anger? My dear spectre, no no no! UNSEEN BEING No? I shall have my prize... THE FIRST DOCTOR But there is no anger here! SUSAN A little irritation sometimes... (OFF THE FIRST DOCTOR’S LOOK; HURRIEDLY) ...but never any actual anger! UNSEEN BEING But it defines me! THE FIRST DOCTOR My dear fellow! The only people here now are myself, and my granddaughter. Now, you tell me. What possible anger could there be between us? UNSEEN BEING But I am here. You shall be afraid. And enraged. And I shall feed. SUSAN Well, we’re.. I am... a little afraid. But not enraged. Why would I be? You poor thing! UNSEEN BEING (BECOMING MORE AGITATED) I shall have your anger! I shall have it! It is my prize! Feed me! (MORE HIGH PITCHED AS IT CONTINUES) Feed me! Feed me! Feed me!!!! A wind whips around the room with the being’s rising voice. All of a sudden it strikes the poetry book from Susan’s hand and throws it to the floor. She shrieks. And then... silence.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

SUSAN Has it... has it gone? THE FIRST DOCTOR Yes, child. I rather think it has. SUSAN And look what it’s done to my book! (SHE PICKS IT UP) All the pages are raggedy! And... and it’s changed the words! Into... nonsense! THE FIRST DOCTOR Hm? Come now! (TAKES THE BOOK) Well, bless my soul, so it has. Some remnant, no doubt, transmuting the work in a final act of rage. SUSAN Oh, the poor thing! So desperate to live! THE FIRST DOCTOR Ah, my dear. Compassion. How could it survive against that? Susan, a little saddened, hugs her grandfather. FADE OUT. 20

EXT. THE BRILLIG WILDERNESS. SOME TIME LATER.

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EMILY and THE DOCTOR are climbing a steep, diamond-strewn hill to its apex. At the foot of the hill, in the distance, is the Tardis. EMILY We did it then. Raelin and her people can leave. THE DOCTOR I suppose so. Their technology’s been restored. EMILY And no more Jabberwocks. THE DOCTOR No. No more Jabberwocks. (BEAT) Still, the moon’s still here, isn’t it?

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2) EMILY Oh, come on! A sentient moon? That was just a story you span for Raelin. THE DOCTOR Not just the moon: this whole corner of space! And there’s no outlet for it’s sentience now, of course... EMILY Well, if you say so. But even so, so what? What’s it going to do? THE DOCTOR Nothing. What can it do? EMILY Exactly. Nothing except wait. (BEAT) So, why all the Alice in Wonderland stuff? THE DOCTOR I really couldn’t say. Maybe an echo back and forth through time. Maybe a causality of which we’re not yet aware. EMILY I think one of the colonists just liked the book. THE DOCTOR You know, that does seem more likely. Emily trudges on ahead. The Doctor looks after her, thinking about what she’s just said. A little concerned. EMILY So, anyway, why are we here? THE DOCTOR (CATCHING UP) Ah. Well. You remember, when you first came on board the Tardis? EMILY Just about... THE DOCTOR What did I say I’d do? EMILY You said... you said you’d show me the universe. Is that why we’re here? (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (3) THE DOCTOR Exactly. What better place to start than at the end? EMILY The end? Of the universe? It’s going to blow up? THE DOCTOR No. At least, not today. I mean, the extremity. The universe is perpetually expanding. But, at its edge there’s a small, untidy little galaxy. And at the far edge of that, a final stellar system. EMILY And orbiting that star... this planet? And it’s moon? THE DOCTOR Exactly. And in precisely... three... no, two minutes and seventeen seconds, the moon will be at its apoapsis. Just as the planet is at its own. And both will be facing away from galactic, and universal, centre. EMILY The very end of the universe. And we’re here. THE DOCTOR Well, I did say I’d show it to you. Who am I to break a promise? They both turn to look at the sky. One half is empty; the other, full of stars. EMILY Doctor, it’s beautiful! So much more than I could ever have imagined! Thank you! THE DOCTOR You’re welcome, Emily. EMILY (TURNING TO HIM) No, really. I mean it. Thank... THE DOCTOR (INTERRUPTING) Freeze simulation. And Emily, just like that, freezes. (CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (4)

The Doctor slowly, sadly, walks around her. Looking at her. At length he stops. THE DOCTOR (CONT’D) I’m so sorry, Emily. I wish I could have shown you for real. (BEAT) End simulation. And Emily disappears. The Doctor takes a final look at where Emily used to be. And then a final look at the whole of the universe. And then he walks back to the Tardis. 21

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THE DOCTOR arrives at the Tardis. Looks at it sadly, pats its flanks. THE DOCTOR Thank you, old girl. For helping Emily with this last adventure. And he opens the doors, and enters. 22

INT. OLD TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM. DAY

22

SUSAN dejectedly looks at her poetry book, while the FIRST DOCTOR busies himself at the console. SUSAN It’s not the same now, with the words changed. Not my beautiful ’January’ any more. THE FIRST DOCTOR Don’t fret, my dear. It may still be of some worth. Some may consider it a classic! But he has not consoled her. THE FIRST DOCTOR (CONT’D) What say we take a little trip, hm? Swap your book for another? SUSAN (BRIGHTENING) Oxford! The Bodleian Library! Oh, you’ve always said you’d take me there!

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

THE FIRST DOCTOR Why not? Yes, why not?! A punt on the Isis, the very thing! 1870, I think, was a delightfully warm summer... And the time rotor starts to churn... 23

INT. TARDIS CONSOLE ROOM

23

THE DOCTOR enters the Tardis, closes the doors, and turns towards the console... to see EMILY standing there. THE DOCTOR What the...? Emily is glowing slightly. A serene smile on her face. EMILY ...you. THE DOCTOR I’m sorry? EMILY Thank you. I wanted to say it. You didn’t let me finish. THE DOCTOR But... but you’re a simulation. Created by the Tardis. The real Emily’s dead. EMILY Yes, she is. Sensitive as ever, I see. THE DOCTOR But I... I told the Tardis to stop the simulation. EMILY Exactly. And how many other beings in the universe disobey you so readily? THE DOCTOR Well, you have a point. But why? EMILY I wanted to give you something. This. A small, round mass of pulsating flesh and electronics materialises in the Doctor’s hand.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED: (2)

EMILY (CONT’D) I didn’t think you should be on your own again. It doesn’t agree with you. THE DOCTOR Is this what I think it is? EMILY A new bio-neural data cluster. For K9. Well, his old one got cybered, didn’t it? THE DOCTOR That’s... impossible! EMILY One of the advantages of being a mere simulation - I’m part Tardis. Loads of hidden potential. I made it for you. THE DOCTOR Made it? EMILY Yup. Hand-crafted, positronic neuron by positronic neuron. THE DOCTOR What? You can’t have! That’s like... that’s like building a life-size model of the universe! Out of matchsticks! EMILY And me the non-smoker. See? Not all super-geniuses come from Gallifrey - some you find working in cafes in Neasden. THE DOCTOR Emily... I... EMILY Goodbye, Doctor. And thank you. End simulation. And Emily disappears. The Doctor looks at the console. Pats it appreciatively. Looks at the module in his hand. Pulls out a cardboard box from under the console, marked "K9: spares". And starts to construct...

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26.

24

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The Tardis dematerialises. Wind whips round. And then... UNSEEN BEING Don’t leave me... Doctor... (PAUSE) I shall wait... END TITLES

Nic Ford (C) 2009