Peiriannydd Ep.5: Friends 3/2015
. by Barbara Goldstein PhD
.
. TEASER
EXT. THIRD DIMENSION UPPERWORLD - DAY
It bears a notable resemblance to heaven as depicted in
cartoons: it seems to be a world made of and resting on
clouds, verging on all white but washed-out colors are seen.
Pale beings in sleeveless robes lounge on cloud chaises and
peer down on a full-color planet. Two pale beings, a mature,
aristocratic-looking, couple, Rumat, female, and Tsorkin,
male, converse as they look down.
RUMAT
Little Fimmer has tried so hard to
add onto the dwelling, I sent him
an insight.
TSORKIN
He's always been one of your
favorites. You softie.
RUMAT
Look who's talking! You did the
intercessional rain in the five
year drought.
TSORKIN
Hold on, young Faala is too near
the river. I'm sending a
distraction.
RUMAT
Proves my point.
TSORKIN
I have a friend in the First
Dimension I promised to contact.
RUMAT
How did that happen?
TSORKIN
She's a Time Lord, a student I met
before the Time War when I lectured
there. She looked me up recently.
RUMAT
I didn't know any of them were
left! Still, is it really a good
idea?
TSORKIN
I enjoy her unique intellect.
(pointing down))
Keep an eye out for me?
RUMAT
As you do for me.
Tsorkin kisses Rumat on the forehead and walks a short
distance to a cloud-made dwelling. His walking gives the
appearance of normal walking on a solid surface. Like the
walking, the door opens too much like a real one.
INT. CLOUD DWELLING - DAY
Tsorkin sits down in front of a cloud-like screen, and
suddenly in full color is Perianne.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne is at the console and looks at ghostly Tsorkin on
the screen.
PERIANNE
Hold on, I'm not fully tuned.
Perianne makes a couple adjustments on the console, and
suddenly Tsorkin is full color on the screen without the
cloudy, fuzzy aspects. There is alien furniture and decor in
rich colors not seen in the earlier state, and in the b.g. is
a rather normal door.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Tsorkin, how good to see your
multidimensional self!
TSORKIN
(via screen)
How's the first dimension?
PERIANNE
Good. I want to pick your brain on
a multidimensional math problem
that came up with our engine.
TSORKIN
Then, I'm your guy.
Perianne hits some buttons on the console.
PERIANNE
Here's the equation. I circled
where it falls apart.
Tsorkin looks intently as he's clearly studying the equation,
but we don't see it. Suddenly, he lights up.
TSORKIN
You didn't account for the
translation of sound waves across
dimensions.
Gordon comes down the stairs from his room.
PERIANNE
Of course! This frequency
translates into something
disharmonic!
TSORKIN
I'm sending you the conversion
equation. Keep me informed; you
always liked a challenge...
Tsorkin fades into the background as Perianne has a
flashback:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. STELLAR PLATFORM #129
The stellar platform in orbit over Gallifrey seen through a
window - huge and red-orange. It's a departure point for
Gallifreyian "youth" leaving for the Time War. They're all in
uniforms that are variations of Perianne's.
A young Ondonella/Perianne talks to a woman her age who is
not in uniform, Sarella, her dearest childhood friend.
SARELLA
Onda, how do I talk you out of
doing this? I don't want to lose my
best friend.
PERIANNE
You're married, Sarella. You have
protected status. What would I do?
SARELLA
Be an Engineer here. Between your
family's name and my husband, you
know we would make it happen.
PERIANNE
But where's the challenge in that?
BACK TO:
RESUME
Perianne is pulled out of her memory by -
TSORKIN
Perianne?
PERIANNE
Sorry. How's the multi-dimensional
shielding you're working on?
TSORKIN
I have a very crude prototype I'll
try soon.
Gordon joins Perianne and notices a blinking light on the
console. He catches Perianne's attention non-verbally and
points to the light. She starts.
PERIANNE
Tsorkin, I hate to pick your brain
and run, but I've got an emergency
light blinking.
TSORKIN
I look forward to our next
conversation, my friend.
Tsorkin gives Perianne a cute salute, and the screen blanks.
Perianne goes to the blinking light and hits some buttons.
GORDON
Do we have a problem?
PERIANNE
No, it says there's a distress
call.
GORDON
From whom?
PERIANNE
The Doctor's Tardis! The message
is: a time traveller is about to
die at listed coordinates. It wants
us to intervene as it's tied up
elsewhere.
GORDON
Rescue someone? From whom or what?
PERIANNE
I don't know. You can stay back if
you like; this might not be safe.
But I have to go.
GORDON
Let you go alone? Not a chance.
Where are we going?
PERIANNE
The Library Planet.
.
. END OF TEASER
. ACT I
RESUME
Perianne sends the Mini-T into flight, hum, and a large
planet is on suddenly on the screen.
GORDON
Why didn't we land?
PERIANNE
There's a planetary warning. The
planet is infested with the Vashta
Narata.
GORDON
What?
PERIANNE
Microscopic, voracious meat eaters
with a hive intelligence.
GORDON
Ugh! How can there be someone down
there to save?
PERIANNE
Let's see; I'll do a seven-level
scan.
Perianne types, moves levers, turns dials and presses
buttons. Then she stands back and waits. A beat later, data
streams across the main screen. She watches it intently until
it finishes. She looks puzzled.
GORDON
What?
PERIANNE
There isn't a Vashta Narata on the
planet - not one! That's not
normal; every inhabited planet has
some.
GORDON
But what about the person we're
supposed to save?
PERIANNE
That's even more puzzling. The only
'life' I find is on the library
computer's drive.
Perianne types, pushes more buttons and a lever, and more
data streams.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Oh! This computer once stored
thousands of people and later
restored them!
GORDON
And the group left?
PERIANNE
They were saved as they died.
GORDON
I don't get it. Why didn't the
computer extrapolate new bodies for
them.
PERIANNE
Maybe it couldn't - but we can!
Perianne guns up the Mini-T - hum.
INT. HUMAN BEDROOM - NIGHT
Everything is normal except the computer on the desk has jury
rigged attachments made of hangers, foil and cutlery. It's
attached to a lamp and the television. A Female Figure in
shadow is seen from the back working on the television
connection.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
A large case of books materializes next to a statue near the
Librarian's desk. The Library is deserted.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne looks at readings and shows Gordon.
PERIANNE
Again, not a Vashta Narata on the
planet.
GORDON
Could they have developed -
cloaking abilities?
PERIANNE
They have no technology.
Gordon shrugs.
GORDON
So how do you get the last group
out of the computer?
PERIANNE
Reprogram it.
INT. LIBRARY
Perianne and Gordon exit the side of the bookcase opposite
the statue.
GORDON
Look at how the Mini-T's improved
her disguise!
PERIANNE
To the point it could be hard to
recognize her.
Gordon looks at the bookshelves and grins.
GORDON
Our books don't have titles.
Perianne acknowledges with a smile then goes to the
Librarian's desk. The back wall is flanked by identical
decorative statues reaching for the heavens. She tries to
turn on the computer. It doesn't respond, but the mechanized
head turns with Charlotte's face - the little girl who is the
mainframe.
CHARLOTTE'S FACE
Danger! Danger! You must leave.
Your lives are in danger. Leave as
quickly as you can.
PERIANNE
Do you mean the Vashta Narata?
They're gone.
Charlotte's Face looks puzzled.
CHARLOTTE'S FACE
My library is safe?
PERIANNE
Yes, and now I'd like to remove you
and five other beings in your
drive.
CHARLOTTE'S FACE
That's not possible. We would re
materialize dying or
disintegrating.
PERIANNE
Do you have original physical and
genetic data?
CHARLOTTE'S FACE
Of course.
PERIANNE
Then, I can program the rest.
Charlotte's Face looks very doubtful.
INT. HUMAN BEDROOM - NIGHT
The Female Figure turns on the computer, the lamp and the
television. She then takes a wire with a live end from each;
she touches them together, resulting in sparks. She turns
into the light and is revealed as River Song!
River begins to put the frayed ends of the wires to her body
when -
DR. MOON (O.S.)
(greatly disappointed)
River...
River starts from the sound of Dr. Moon's voice, the
computerized back-up system. He has appeared from nowhere.
DR. MOON (CONT'D)
Why would you want to disrupt your
program? Don't you have a good life
here?
River doesn't make eye contact and focuses on creating sparks
from the wire ends.
RIVER
Too good! The only challenges here
are intellectual, and I need more.
DR. MOON
Such as?
River makes full, blunt eye contact.
RIVER
The dangers and unpredictability of
real life. I'm suffocating! You
have to let me end my program.
DR. MOON
We've given you every terrain and
environment in the universe.
RIVER
And I thank you for some of the
most incredible places I've ever
seen, but never once was I in any
danger. It was just a computer
game.
DR. MOON
I can stop you.
RIVER
Don't. I've said my goodbye's.
River places the wire ends against herself and disappears.
INT. LIBRARY
River finds herself materialized without the wires, standing
next to the Librarian's desk along with Ms. Evangelista, the
two Daves, Anita and Charlotte. River is very disoriented.
The others feel their physical selves then clasp each other
in excitement. River accepts hugs from the others in a dazed
state. Opposite, Perianne and Gordon watch.
RIVER
What? How?
CHARLOTTE
My library; I'm here! Who's
maintaining the system?
RIVER
(mostly to herself)
I'm alive?
PERIANNE
Dr. Moon is running the computer
system with a new back-up.
The rescued group orients to Perianne and Gordon.
RIVER
We have to leave quickly; the
Vashta Narata are here.
PERIANNE
They're gone.
CHARLOTTE
Then people can come back to the
Library!
RIVER
How are the Vashta Narata gone?
GORDON
We don't know.
PERIANNE
Which of you is the time traveler?
RIVER
(surprised)
I am. River Song.
PERIANNE
We'll get you all home, but I was
sent to rescue you.
RIVER
By whom?
PERIANNE
The Doctor's Tardis told mine.
RIVER
Dr. Moon snitched. You're a Time
Lord??!!
PERIANNE
Yes. Ondonella Veray PrandOmega. I
now go by Peiriannydd, Perianne for
short.
RIVER
An Engineer!
(to Gordon)
And you?
GORDON
Dr. Gordon Chinowydd - a Geologist
from Wales - human - 2015.
RIVER
What is it with Time Lords and
planet Earth?
PERIANNE
Are you a Time Lord?
RIVER
A little; I'm the child of the
Tardis - the Doctor's Tardis - and
am in my third incarnation.
Perianne bares her watch and scans River.
PERIANNE
You have a full count again.
River isn't sure how to feel about that.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
(to Gordon)
Will you take these good people
home? I want to be sure the
computer is fully functioning.
GORDON
Sure. I can do that.
RIVER
I'd like to stay and talk.
Perianne nods. Gordon leads the others to the bookcase/Mini-T
and takes them in.
Perianne types on the now-functioning computer at the
Librarian's station. Her busy-ness also hides social
awkwardness.
The Mini-T disappears.
RIVER (CONT'D)
Where have you been hiding? I
thought I knew every Time Lord
left.
PERIANNE
Buried in a mine in Wales. I've
been awake about six Earth months.
RIVER
Have you met the Doctor?
Perianne continues to make adjustments on the computer, also
an excuse to avoid eye contact.
PERIANNE
No. The only Time Lord I've met is
K'anpo, and he went back to the
Time War.
RIVER
I don't know him either, but unless
he knows a way around a time lock,
he may still be around. - The
Tardis told you to come?
PERIANNE
Yes. It said you were about to die.
RIVER
I was, and I had really accepted
death. Now, I have a brand new life
- lives. What a one-eighty!
Perianne makes stops and finally makes eye contact.
PERIANNE
Give yourself time to adapt.
(moment of hesitation)
I made my peace with dying in the
Time War, and now...
River scrutinizes Perianne a beat.
RIVER
How long did you serve?
PERIANNE
Gordon got me to convert it: four
years, three months and eighteen
days.
RIVER
And you suddenly woke up in Wales?
Perianne nods.
RIVER (CONT'D)
Gordon seems like a good guide to
humanity.
PERIANNE
And living outside of a war.
RIVER
Aren't we the pair?
The two women laugh together lightly. Then Perianne flashes
back.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. STELLAR PLATFORM #129
Young Ondonella/Perianne and Sarella walk slowly to the
embarkment area. Among the other new recruits around them is
a mixture of ones hurrying to get on board and others
lingering like Young Ondonella/Perianne and Sarella.
YOUNG ONDA
In seven years, I'll get a year of
shore leave. If I've had my fill,
we can pull strings and get me out
then.
SARELLA
I'll have three children by then -
Sarella tears up. Young Ondonella/Perianne is distressed by
her tears, not wanting to cry, herself, and she tries to
lighten things.
PERIANNE
You? With three children? Now
that'll be something!
Sarella is too deep into her sorrow to take the bait.
SARELLA
It'll never be the same again!
YOUNG ONDA
No. It won't, but think of all the
wonderful memories we have
together, and nothing will change
how we feel about our friendship.
Young Ondonella/Perianne starts to tear up. Sarella cries
fully.
SARELLA
Look at us! Aren't we the pair.
The two friends laugh through their tears.
BACK TO:
RESUME
The sound of the Mini-T returning re-orients Perianne. The
Mini-T reappears as the bookcase where it was next to the
statue. Gordon exits.
GORDON
Wow, have we made a lot of people
joyous. I've never seen so many
happy tears.
PERIANNE
Just about done.
Perianne types more, then hits a key with finality.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
This computer is good for a
millennia.
Perianne, River and Gordon turn to go to the Mini-T and
another statue blocks the side with the door, and the two
that matched at the back of the Librarian's station are now
in differing positions!
GORDON
Where did that come from?
River gets a look of horror.
RIVER
Weeping Angels!
.
. END OF ACT I
. ACT II
RESUME
RIVER
Don't take your eyes off of them!
Perianne swings around to stare down the two from the back of
the Librarian's station; they are now closer and in attack
position. River and Gordon stare at the two flanking the Mini
T/bookcase.
GORDON
Or what?
PERIANNE
They'll eat your temporal energy
and send you to the past.
Gordon stares in more earnest.
GORDON
There's four of them and three of
us!
PERIANNE
If one of you can take over looking
at these two, I can get us out of
here.
River swings around to face the rear Angels, then Perianne
swings around and aids Gordon with the two by the Mini-T. She
exposes her watch. Perianne aims at the Mini-T, presses and -
Suddenly the bookcase is at ninety degrees from where it was,
the door open.
Gordon, Perianne and River make their way to the open door of
the Mini T, keeping the four Angels frozen.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and Gordon get inside easily, but River barely
escapes the arm of one of the Angels. The Angel's arm in
stuck in the closing Mini-T door. Reflexively River rubs her
wrist that was broken by a previous Angel only to realize
this one has never been broken.
Perianne uses - of all things - the sonic function of her
engineering watch, and suddenly a heavenly note is heard.
The Angel's arm breaks into many pieces! And by the
clattering (O.S.) outside the door of the Mini-T, it's clear
the whole Angel disintegrated. The Mini-T's door closes.
Perianne hurriedly fires up the Mini-T. The Mini-T shakes
from the three Angels outside.
INT. LIBRARY
The three remaining Weeping Angels try to break into the Mini
T. As the Mini T disappears, two Angels get stuck
permanently, staring at each other. But the third somehow
grabs on in a way that he disappears with the Mini-T!
EXT. TIME VORTEX
The Mini-T travels through time-space. The Weeping Angel
holding on grows from the time stream's energy: it bulks up
more and more not growing but a bit taller. It gets so bulked
up, it can barely move its limbs.
INT. WALES WAREHOUSE - DAY
As the Mini-T appears in the empty warehouse in the teardrop
form, the bulked up Weeping Angel lets go and monstrous wings
appear. Even with all the bulk, the wings carry the Angel out
a window two and a half stories up in the warehouse.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne opens the doors. River comes to her.
RIVER
I can't thank you enough for this
fresh lease on life. But one more
favor?
River raises her arm and points with the other hand to her
time vortex manipulator.
RIVER (CONT'D)
Is this in working condition?
Perianne puts her watch against the time vortex manipulator
and reads the output.
PERIANNE
It's in new condition, but wait...
Perianne adjusts her watch and points it at the time
manipulator: a quick "zap."
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Now it's safer and more accurate.
RIVER
Do let the Doctor's Tardis know
that I'm okay?
Perianne nods. River hugs Perianne, winks at Gordon, and with
the touch of her wrist disappears.
EXT. LOCAL PARK - DAY
A large number of people are walking and biking the main path
through the park. Among the people are Boyfriend and
Girlfriend.
GIRLFRIEND
And so I told her no.
BOYFRIEND
I love your willingness to take the
bull by the horns.
Girlfriend is distracted by the beyond-Hulk statue/Angel next
to a pond.
GIRLFRIEND
When was that put in?
BOYFRIEND
I don't know, but it's gross!
Girlfriend and Boyfriend pass the statue without more
thought, and a moment later Girlfriend disappears right
before Boyfriend's eyes.
BOYFRIEND (CONT'D)
What the...?
Boyfriend turns and finds the grotesque statue inches from
himself, arms reaching toward him what little it can.
BOYFRIEND (CONT'D)
Help! Help!!
Boyfriend takes his eyes off the bulked-up Angel to see if
help is coming, and he disappears, too.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne works on her equation as seen on the monitor. Gordon
enters, worried look on his face.
PERIANNE
What's wrong?
GORDON
One my most reliable foremen has
disappeared - not just from work.
His wife hasn't seen him either.
Gordon paces a couple beats.
GORDON (CONT'D)
I've got to get out of here. Do you
want to take a break and go to the
club?
PERIANNE
No; sorry. I think I'm getting
somewhere with this equation.
GORDON
Then, good luck with it.
Gordon exits the Mini-T.
Perianne makes some changes to the equation and hits a
button. Gallifreyian symbols race across the screen, and
Perianne become increasingly frustrated. Then symbols stop.
Perianne dials out.
Tsorkin comes on the screen in full color.
PERIANNE
Got a couple of minutes?
TSORKIN
(via screen)
Just a couple. I'm readying for my
sleep cycle.
PERIANNE
Tell me where I went wrong, this
time - equation transmitting.
Tsorkin studies the equation, but then clearly becomes
distracted.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Tsorkin?
TSORKIN
(reorienting)
I'm sorry; there's been a huge
disruption in my neighborhood. One
of the neighbors died in his sleep
and another's in a coma.
PERIANNE
I'm so sorry. I thought the Pasch
were nearly immortal.
TSORKIN
'Nearly' being the operative word.
PERIANNE
Do you know the cause?
TSORKIN
No. We're in the process of ruling
out illness, and so far -
Rumat enters in the background and interrupts.
RUMAT
Have you given report to - ? Oh,
I'm sorry. I didn't realize you
were on the communicator. Do hurry;
it's almost your sleep time.
TSORKIN
(to Rumat)
Yes, my dear.
(to Perianne)
Your equation is accurate - there
will be gravitational flux. What
you're going for is ingenious. Keep
at it.
PERIANNE
Thank you; I'll start over!
TSORKIN
Contact me with your next attempt.
I look forward to what you'll come
up with next.
PERIANNE
When will you be available again?
TSORKIN
Four stellar days.
Tsorkin gives his cute salute and signs off hurriedly.
PERIANNE
I should have gone with Gordon!
INT. I-CAFE - NIGHT
Gordon throws back a drink with Jack and Cherry Hardin, the
married couple from his social group.
JACK
Your foreman isn't the only person
missing. The assistant Pastor at
the church disappeared without a
word.
CHERRY
Enough of the bad news. I want to
hear the dish.
GORDON
The 'dish?' About what?
CHERRY
You and Perianne. Are you still
seeing her?
GORDON
(with "but" heard)
Yes...?
CHERRY
This must be serious. The same
woman for - what? Six months?
GORDON
It's not like that. It's different.
JACK
"Different?' You're in trouble,
man. Different how?
GORDON
I don't know. I never thought about
it. I'm letting it be what it is.
CHERRY
Will she?
GORDON
Oh, yes!
JACK
Then you have time to figure it
out.
Gordon considers and nods.
EXT. PARKING LOT OUTSIDE I-CAFE - NIGHT
A nearly identical sports car to Gordon's materializes next
to Gordon's. Problem is there is no driver visible in the
Mini-T version. It's even weirder when the car door opens,
and Perianne exits as if walking out a room door. She is out
of her Engineers outfit and wears a simple top and mid-calf
length skirt and a touch of make-up.
Perianne's bracelet with a touch turns into her watch, and
she uses it to put a "glitch" in the security cameras, then
turns it back into a bracelet.
As she walks to the club, she notices a wall with a lot of
pictures. She pauses to look. She finds that they're all
missing people bulletins requesting information. The more she
looks at the wall, the more she frowns.
Perianne takes off at a fast pace toward the club.
INT. I-CAFE - NIGHT
Gordon, Cherry and Jack are all lightly roasted.
JACK
Wanna hear something weird?
Remember that Assistant Pastor I
told you about? I saw this very,
very old man try and tell the Head
Pastor that he was the Assistant!
CHERRY
He got upset when the Pastor
implied he was senile and got so
worked up, they had to call an
ambulance.
GORDON
He claimed he was the Assistant
Pastor?! I've got to go!
Gordon jumps up and turns to find Perianne hurrying toward
him.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Thank goodness you're here! I think
we have a problem!
PERIANNE
I was coming to tell you the same
thing.
Gordon and Perianne hurry out.
CHERRY
Well, something really binds those
two together.
Jack nods. They clank mugs and take another swig.
EXT. I-CAFE - NIGHT
Perianne and Gordon hasten to the "cars."
GORDON
...So, somehow, one of the Angels
traveled back with us!
PERIANNE
It must be mutated from going
though the time vortex! Who knows
what condition it's in.
GORDON
You mean something like that Hulk
like thing at the edge of the
parking lot?
PERIANNE
That has to be it!!
Proof positive: two People heading toward the club pass the
grotesque statue, and as their backs are turned, they blink
out of existence before Perianne or Gordon can react.
With each touch of a human the statue loses bulk with more
hints of the original Weeping Angel form, e.g. wings start to
emerge.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
(working on her watch)
Calculating the right frequency.
Thank you Tsorkin! Got it.
GORDON
Keeping an eye on - it.
Perianne and Gordon approach the misshapen statue.
PERIANNE
This is an act of mercy!
Perianne fires the watch, a different sonic heavenly note
sounds, and the statue explodes to bits.
GORDON
Do you think it's the only one?
PERIANNE
I hope so!
GORDON
Well, you sure made it an
interesting evening out.
INT. MINI-T
The lighting is dimmed with everything in "sleep mode." The
room is empty. Suddenly alarms go off everywhere on the
console. Simultaneously the room brightens to normal.
River Song materializes out of breath near the console. She
carries a large gun.
Perianne flies out of her door and is half way down the
stairs when she sees who the disturbance is. Gordon in robe
an pj's rushes out from the other side only half awake.
Perianne and then Gordon confront River who is still catching
her breath.
RIVER
Angels... I'm being pursued by
Weeping Angels.
.
. END OF ACT II
. ACT III
RESUME
River continues to catch her breath.
PERIANNE
We took out a mutated one who
clung to the Mini-T coming back
from the Library.
RIVER
Then you need to expect more.
They're on a warpath.
GORDON
How did they find you?
RIVER
(surprised a beat)
I don't know.
PERIANNE
I might. They deal in time and each
of us leaves a track through time.
RIVER
You think they can in some way
sense or track it?
PERIANNE
Theoretically.
GORDON
Why am I getting the feeling you
don't much about these Weeping
Angels?
RIVER
Other than their feeding habits, we
don't. I know they laugh; they
communicate among themselves but
not with us directly.
PERIANNE
They're a race as old or older than
the Time Lords.
GORDON
Sorry to sound like my mother, but
I think it's time to hit the books
and learn everything we can.
Neither Perianne nor River argues.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MINI-T LIBRARY
Aisles of books and flasks with colored waters flank a main
walkway to a large curved desk where Perianne, River and
Gordon each read various screens. A few books are also open
and scattered on the desk.
PERIANNE
I'm amazed at how little
information there is on the Weeping
Angels!
RIVER
Here's a tidbit: some Angels don't
have to cover their eyes but simply
avert their gaze.
PERIANNE
That explains the statues in the
Library. Otherwise, I would have
known them immediately.
GORDON
Here's something: there's a long
standing controversy - whether the
Weeping Angels are the statues or
inhabit them.
RIVER
Inhabit. - I saw the Statue of
Liberty come ashore, and it's not
even stone.
PERIANNE
But there's a catalogue here of
well known Weeping Angels, some
going back millennia - always the
same statue.
Perianne flashes several statue faces on the main screen.
River points to one.
RIVER
I've seen him!
GORDON
This also says there is no known
record of a Weeping Angel dying!
PERIANNE
And I've killed two! No wonder
they're on the warpath. I don't
know how to stop this.
RIVER
(wags her large gun)
We may have to fight.
Perianne looks unhappy.
At that moment the Mini-T starts to shake. Perianne puts the
outside view on the main screen, and the Mini-T is surrounded
by Weeping Angels trying to break in.
RIVER (CONT'D)
I have an idea. Will you let me fly
your Tardis?
Perianne nods, and River goes to the controls and programs
with dials, buttons and typing.
RIVER (CONT'D)
Ready?
River fires up the Mini-T, hum, and the shaking stops.
GORDON
Where are we going?
RIVER
Krakatoa!
Gordon looks at River strangely.
EXT. LAVA FIELD - DAY
And indeed the Mini-T materializes, hovering barely over
active, roiling lava, and two beats later, the army of
Weeping Angels arrives. Most of them end up stuck or sink in
the lava, melting. The remaining few Angels are more
concerned with the dying Angels than the Mini-T, and the Mini
T disappears from it's hovering position.
INT. WALES WAREHOUSE - DAY
The Mini-T re-materializes.
INT. MINI-T
River steps away from the Mini-T controls.
RIVER
That should keep them busy for
awhile.
GORDON
Then we have to use this time and
move the Mini-T.
PERIANNE
Move her?
GORDON
Tow her. They can follow us through
time, but maybe they can't follow
us through space if the Mini-T
isn't in operation.
PERIANNE
Okay. But take her where?
GORDON
How about the mine?
(to River)
I work there.
Perianne nods in agreement.
EXT. WELSH ROAD - DAY
A SUV ferrying a twenty foot boat comes down the road, and as
it passes, we see it's Gordon at the wheel of the SUV.
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT - DAY
The SUV pulls into the lot, which is full, and pulls aside
the storage building on the edge of the lot. The boat
transforms into a shed, the same metal shed it was the
previous time there. It's even more realistic as there are
picks, pile drivers and other tools propped up against the
building. The SUV looks simply parked against the building.
Perianne, River and Gordon cautiously exit the shed/Mini-T
and look around. No Angels are anywhere in sight.
GORDON
Could we really be out of the
woods?
RIVER
I doubt it. We just bought
ourselves time to think.
PERIANNE
Agreed. How do we permanently shake
them off our trail?
GORDON
If moving in time or space isn't
sufficient, what about a
dimensional shift?
RIVER
The Tardis has the calculations to
e-space.
PERIANNE
I've been working on the
calculations to the third and a
half dimension where my friend
Tsorkin lives.
RIVER
Then we have a plan.
GORDON
While I'm here, I'm going to check
in with the office.
Perianne nods. Gordon exits. River watches him leave.
RIVER
Platonic or...
Perianne looks at River not comprehending.
RIVER (CONT'D)
You and Gordon.
PERIANNE
Oh! Platonic. He's rapidly becoming
the best friend I've ever had.
River laughs gently at Perianne.
INT. GORDON'S OFFICE AT THE MINE - DAY
The office is small, old, plain and bereft of much
personalization.
Gordon enters hurriedly and more upset than previously seen.
He makes sure the door is closed and paces.
GORDON
What the hell is wrong with me?
That woman is going to get me
killed!... Why do I revolve my life
around her?
Gordon plops into his chair.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Because she shares time and space.
Maybe that's it: how can there not
be some danger venturing into time
and space?
Gordon slumps.
GORDON (CONT'D)
How the hell are we going to get
out of this mess?
Gordon looks out the window and starts. He sees -
INTERCUT:
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT - DAY
A single Weeping Angel has landed among the cars.
RESUME
Gordon jumps up and runs from his office.
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT
Perianne and River lounge against SUV.
PERIANNE
What about you, River? Where do you
fit into all of this?
RIVER
I was married to the twelfth
Doctor, and while I have refound a
zest for life, this rebirth raises
a lot of questions.
PERIANNE
About contacting him?
RIVER
Yes. He's regenerated.
PERIANNE
Oh! The custom on Gallifrey has
been that the new incarnation
chooses how much of their previous
lives they continue.
RIVER
I can choose too - to not seek him
out.
PERIANNE
We wouldn't be having this
conversation if you didn't want to.
River considers and nods.
RIVER
You're right. But I'm going to take
my time. I'm not quite sure who I
am in this new life.
PERIANNE
That's what I'm doing, trying to
give myself time to re-find me
before any other choices.
RIVER
No small feat?
PERIANNE
No small feat.
The two women briefly hug.
Gordon races around the side of the building.
GORDON
We've got company!
Perianne and River look around.
There are statues now in several places in the parking lot
aside them, and anywhere they don't look, more arrive. More
and more Angels arrive and get closer and closer with each
look away to a new direction. Twelve, twenty-four, thirty
six!
Perianne and River back toward the shed/Mini-T, but Gordon
stands firm. In fact, he takes out his phone and makes a
call.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Sam? Tell the night janitorial
staff, that I have an extra project
for them. I'll call back with the
details in a few minutes.
Perianne and River are so stunned they stop in the doorway of
the shed and look at Gordon like he's crazy.
PERIANNE
What are you doing?
GORDON
Playing bait.
RIVER
You're surely that!
There are sixty Angels amassing in the parking lot.
GORDON
Do you have enough juice in your
watch to bust up all of them?
Perianne nods but continues to look confused.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Then hang tight, Ladies. Five,
four, three, two... One!
It's actually a beat later, and the closing whistle at the
factory sounds, and hundreds of Mine Workers pour out of the
mine and adjacent buildings heading to their cars and now
arriving buses. 60-70 Angels freeze, like some bizarre statue
display.
River pulls out a sonic screwdriver.
RIVER
What frequency?
Instead Perianne places her watch next to the sonic
screwdriver, pushes a button, then nods.
Perianne and Gordon go right, River goes left, and they
reduce to rubble each Angel as they move across the parking
lot amidst the crowd. The heavenly note repeatedly sounds
followed by crumbling noises.
Gordon makes another phone call as he and Perianne go.
GORDON
Sam? Tell the night janitorial
crew, the parking lot will need to
be swept out... Thanks.
Perianne and Gordon intersect a Worker arriving at his car.
WORKER
Hey, Gordon. What's with all the
statues in the way of the cars?
Perianne destroys the statue in the way of Worker's car.
GORDON
A prank. We're cleaning it up.
WORKER
If I didn't see you so easily
destroy it, I'd've sworn it was
real stone.
Worker gets into his car. Gordon and Perianne continue on,
decommissioning many more Angels as they work their way to
the end of the lot and meet up with River.
RIVER
Now, that was some fun, but we had
better get going while the getting
is good.
There is still plenty of traffic and Workers leaving the mine
as Perianne, River and Gordon head back to the shed/Mini-T.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne double-checks her calculations, gets a green light
from the Mini-T and fires up the Mini-T - hum. Gordon and
River observe.
PERIANNE
Next stop: third and a half
dimension.
The main screen suddenly shows -
EXT. ALIEN CITY - DAY
Lovely alien architecture creates a shining city, but the
city is in chaos. Emergency vehicles - albeit flying - with
emergency sounds are seen and heard going everywhere.
GORDON
How beautiful.
RIVER
How chaotic. What's going on?
PERIANNE
When I last spoke to Tsorkin, he
said they thought they had the
start of an epidemic.
RIVER
Looks like they have a rollicking
one!
Perianne runs readings on the Mini-T console.
PERIANNE
Their media says several hundred
have died in a matter of days!
GORDON
Any chance the Weeping Angels could
get sick if they followed us?
PERIANNE
Probably not.
RIVER
Do we want to risk the Angels
finding us here? - put these beings
at risk?
PERIANNE
No, the Pasch are considered one of
the nicest races in the multiverse.
If the Angels can follow
dimensional shifts, we need to go.
Perianne turns on the Mini-T.
EXT. MOON - DAY
The Mini-T materializes.
INT. MINI-T
The moonscape is on the view screen.
GORDON
The moon! Why'd we come here?
PERIANNE
I want to know if they could follow
the dimensional shift.
RIVER
It will also confirm whether they
can live in an airless vacuum.
Gordon's phone rings, and he pulls out the phone to answer.
RIVER (CONT'D)
Don't answer! You'll give away our
location.
Gordon looks at who the caller is.
GORDON
Unknown caller!
Gordon's phone comes on any ways! Boyfriend's voice is heard.
Gordon almost drops the phone in surprise.
BOYFRIEND
(over phone)
I am speaking for the Weeping
Angels. They want to know who is
killing them.
PERIANNE
Beings they tried to feed on who
fought back.
BOYFRIEND
How are you killing them?
RIVER
We're not telling you! You keep
attacking us.
BOYFRIEND
The Angels are not used to dying;
they want you to stop killing them.
PERIANNE
Then agree to leave us alone.
BOYFRIEND
They want you to pay a price for
the many you have killed; they want
you to die.
RIVER
Then we'll keep on fighting and
kill many more. You shouldn't prey
upon intelligent beings.
It is a couple beats before Boyfriend answers.
BOYFRIEND
These are their feeding grounds.
The phone turns off.
RIVER
That's a line the Vashta Narata
use!
GORDON
You mean the Angels ate all the
Vashta Narata on the Library
planet?
RIVER
Seems so.
PERIANNE
The call also suggests they can't
come here.
GORDON
But what do we do next?
RIVER
Prepare for continued war.
GORDON
What do you suggest?
RIVER
Plan a trap.
PERIANNE
Like?
RIVER
I do have an idea. Is there a
second way out of the Mini-T?
GORDON
The storage areas below us.
River shakes her head no.
PERIANNE
Gordon's room.
GORDON
What about my room?
PERIANNE
You're room is your room - your
real room from home. Hadn't you
noticed?
GORDON
I wondered a couple times, but
fully, no. Wait! Are you saying I
could go out the front door and get
the mail?
PERIANNE
Yes.
River picks up her huge gun.
RIVER
Then we have a plan...
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT - DAWN
The Mini-T materializes as the shed next to the small
building, and almost immediately Angels begin to appear. More
and more appear. They converge on the Mini-T and start trying
to tear into it.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne hits buttons on the console as the whole room
shakes.
PERIANNE
Baby, stay strong.
A green light shines on the console.
The shaking gets worse.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Hang in, Baby.
The green light wavers.
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT - DAWN
Hundreds of Angels try to tear at the Mini-T, having
difficulty with a force field, so mostly just shaking it.
Gordon's car, top down silently drives up. River with her
large gun, and Gordon with River's sonic screwdriver exit the
car. They immediately fire. Gordon takes Angels out one at a
time, but River's first blast with her big gun takes out a
half dozen with one loud heavenly note.
It takes several shots for the Angels to realize they are
being attacked from behind, but of course as they turn and
are seen, they freeze. But because there are still at least
60 or so Angels left at this point, River and Gordon are in a
race with time, taking out still Angels and freezing others
that are advancing by looking in a new direction.
But even though the rubble grows and grows, River and Gordon
are outnumbered.
Perianne comes out of the Mini-T and starts blasting with her
watch - loud heavenly note - from behind the advancing
Angels. Again it takes a few shots for the Angels to become
aware, and some turn and are frozen by Perianne's gaze. She
adopts the strategy of River and Gordon, and takes out the
frozen Angels, then shifts her gaze to stop others.
Slowly but surely, River and Gordon and Perianne converge,
not an Angel left standing and rubble everywhere.
GORDON
Now, is this over?
RIVER
That's up to the Angels.
PERIANNE
Let's go back to the warehouse and
see.
INT. WALES WAREHOUSE - DAY
The Mini-T materializes as the raindrop on its side.
Perianne, River and Gordon emerge carefully. However,
immediately, out of nowhere, an Angel grabs Perianne by the
arm but freezes in that position as seen. Perianne turns and
looks at the Angel and is shocked.
PERIANNE
Tsorkin???!!!
Indeed the Weeping Angel holding Perianne's arm is Tsorkin.
.
. END OF ACT III
. ACT IV
RESUME
Perianne looks in shock at her friend frozen, holding her
arm.
RIVER
You know him?!!
PERIANNE
Yes, he's Tsorkin, a mathematical
genius from the third and a half
dimension. He's supposed to be in
his sleep cycle.
GORDON
How can Tsorkin be a Weeping Angel?
PERIANNE
He - all the Pasch must become
Angels when they sleep. They must
feed while asleep - feed in other
dimensions!
GORDON
Then we're the cause of the chaos
in their city?
PERIANNE
Yes.
RIVER
What do we do about him? If I
disintegrate him, you'll be safe,
but if we let him re-aminate,
you're going to pop out of time.
PERIANNE
Tsorkin, can you hear me?
Of course, frozen Tsorkin can't answer, but a couple beats
later Gordon's phone rings. It's Boyfriend.
BOYFRIEND
(over phone speaker)
Tsorkin can hear you and is shocked
as you are that you have met under
these circumstances. He is
embarrassed.
PERIANNE
Embarrassed?
BOYFRIEND
The Pasch are not proud they must
feed on sentient beings in other
dimensions. Like humans, they have
little recollection of their time
asleep.
RIVER
How convenient. Then you never have
to feel guilty.
BOYFRIEND
There's guilt, because every person
fed on leaves a small memory. It's
why the Pasch are so good to the
beings in the third dimension.
GORDON
Why must you feed on sentient
beings?
BOYFRIEND
Only sentient beings have time
energy.
PERIANNE
(pointing to her arm)
And how do you and I resolve this?
BOYFRIEND
I am saddened to lose such an
intelligent friend.
RIVER
(waving her large gun)
I can say the same for Perianne.
For a second time there is a delay in Boyfriend's response.
BOYFRIEND
I cannot undo what has been done.
GORDON
What happens if we let him send
Perianne back in time and pick her
up in the Mini-T?
RIVER
The tenth Doctor did that when he
and Martha got stuck in 1969.
BOYFRIEND
1969? Tsorkin remembers that Angel.
No one ever knew why he exploded in
the middle of a business meeting.
RIVER
(to Perianne)
You're not really going to try and
find a way to save both of you?
PERIANNE
Yes.
RIVER
I thought it was just the Doctor.
GORDON
What do you have in mind?
PERIANNE
Find the set of frequencies that
separates us safely.
RIVER
Then what? They still want our
lives.
BOYFRIEND
Sparing one of the Angels' greatest
minds will end this.
RIVER
Until the next group comes to feed.
BOYFRIEND
Tsorkin assures me the Angels will
find elsewhere in the First
Dimension to feed.
River shakes her head, but Perianne starts calculating on her
watch, albeit awkwardly with her arm restrained. Gordon and
River keep eyes on Tsorkin.
PERIANNE
How much of this will you remember
when you wake up?
BOYFRIEND
At most, some of it as a dream.
PERIANNE
If I reminded you of specifics?
BOYFRIEND
I delight in your intellectual
curiosity.
GORDON
That sounds like an avoided 'yes.'
River nods. Perianne stops calculating.
PERIANNE
I'm ready to do this.
Keeping an eye on Tsorkin, River and Gordon move to the door
of the Mini-T, gun and sonic screwdriver aimed respectively.
Perianne pushes the button on her watch and three Gregorian
chant-like notes sound. Only Tsorkin's hand grasping her
opens abruptly and freezes that way. Perianne rubs her upper
arm as she backs her way to the door of the Mini-T.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
I'm glad we could part amicably.
GORDON
Famous last words! He's been
playing us for time. Look!
Again, Angels are amassing around them.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne, Gordon and River hasten in. Perianne goes straight
to the console and programs. She pushes a button and (O.S.)
outside the Mini-T, the heavenly note is heard loudly -
INT. WALES WAREHOUSE - DAY
The end of the note is heard, followed by nearly every Angel -
some 30-40 - in the warehouse clattering as they fall to
pieces. However, there is an unexplained red flash not far
from the Mini-T.
INT. MINI-T
The piles of rubble are seen on the screen.
GORDON
I'm sorry about Tsorkin.
PERIANNE
This war's tame compared to the
Time War.
RIVER
I'm glad you think so. That last
bit was so good!
Perianne acknowledges non-verbally.
GORDON
For our next trick?...
PERIANNE
Tracker dots.
RIVER
You mean chip ourselves?
PERIANNE
If that means injecting something
the Mini-T can track through time
and space - yes.
Perianne goes to one of the cupboards and extracts a pen-like
devise and presses it against her wrist. She then goes to
Gordon and then River and does the same.
RIVER
The trouble is they want to kill
us, not eat our time energy.
PERIANNE
Just covering bases.
River nods.
GORDON
What do we know about how they
kill?
RIVER
There was a guy like that one on
the phone at the Byzantium. He told
us his neck had been broken, his
brain stripped and reconstituted
for communication.
Gordon makes a "yuck" face.
PERIANNE
And now we go back to the mine.
Perianne turns on the Mini-T and prepares to leave.
GORDON
Why the mine?
PERIANNE
Because of the waves of people.
(looks at her watch)
Day shift's coming on very soon. We
need to re-group.
Hum. The Mini-T takes off and lands, the mine parking lot now
on the main screen.
RIVER
We need a strategy for the bigger
picture!
PERIANNE
What? Genocide? Other than that, it
seems they will keep coming -
(voice drops)
just like the Daleks...
RIVER
We need to think outside the box,
come at this a new way.
A steady stream of cars pours into the lot on the view
screen.
PERIANNE
I have one more thought!
Perianne starts calculating with blinding speed on the Mini-T
console.
GORDON
So do I! You -
(looks at River)
want something outside the box for
the bigger picture?
RIVER
Yes?
GORDON
We contact the Pasch - the awake
ones in the third and half
dimension. We tell them we will
broadcast to everyone in the known
dimensions who they are and how to
kill them.
RIVER
We've developed quite a list.
Perianne hits a button with finality and streaming figures
replace the view of the parking lot on the main screen.
PERIANNE
And I have one more thing to add to
that list! Gordon, call back that
voice the Angel's are using.
Perianne hits buttons, the screen fritzes into focus and
Rumat comes on.
RUMAT
(over screen)
Hello Perianne. You've called too
soon. Tsorkin is still in his sleep
cycle.
PERIANNE
I didn't call for that reason. I
need to speak to someone high up in
your government.
RUMAT
I'm on the Ruling Council, but this
is a horrible time. Our society is
in crisis.
PERIANNE
That's what I'm calling about.
Rumat looks perplexedly at Perianne.
RUMAT
You couldn't possibly -
RIVER
Know that you're secretly the
Weeping Angels?
Rumat looks horrified, embarrassed and alarmed.
RUMAT
If you know, does that mean you
have something to do with -
PERIANNE
All of it.
Rumat looks terrified. Gordon holds out the phone.
GORDON
Got him.
PERIANNE
Do you hear me?
BOYFRIEND
(over phone)
The Angels hear you.
PERIANNE
I want you to send me one Angel. I
will not hurt him, but I will
convince you to leave us alone.
O.S. The mine whistle blows signaling the start of the work
day.
BOYFRIEND
After the human influx.
GORDON
That is over.
Part of the screen shows Rumat and part shows the area
outside the Mini-T. Suddenly an Angel materializes.
Rumat turns away in shame.
PERIANNE
Can you both see?
BOYFRIEND
Yes.
RUMAT
(tearfully)
Yes.
A melody of sorts starts to play, and the Angel outside the
Mini-T dances like a ballerina for about 12 beats. The sonic
rendering stops and so does the Angel's dancing.
PERIANNE
Leave me and my friends alone, or I
will transmit how to do this to
everyone in every dimension, along
with a lengthy list of ways to kill
Weeping Angels.
RIVER
And if anything happens to any of
us, it will automatically transmit
from multiple places to all the
dimensions.
RUMAT
I'm sure I can convince the
council.
BOYFRIEND
The Angels agree.
PERIANNE
Then this is over. Your Angel is
free to go.
Rumat hangs up and blanks from the main monitor. The Angel
disappears from outside the Mini-T on screen as well.
Gordon's phone shows the Angels have hung up.
INT. THIRD AND HALF DIMENSION COUNCIL ROOM - DAY
A distraught Rumat talks to the Pasch Ruling Council of six
other Members.
RUMAT
She knows and is threatening to
tell everyone in the known
multiverse. So I agreed.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Will she really keep the truth to
herself if we leave them alone.
RUMAT
She's a Time Lord.
There's an undercurrent of comments with the tone that a lot
is explained with that comment.
DISSENTING MEMBER
We agree, wait a little and then
take her out.
RUMAT
She's an Engineer, so when she says
all the ways to kill us will be
broadcast if anything happens to
any of them, I believe her.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Then send a clarion call to all
sleepers to leave her and her
people alone. We do not want the
multiverse to know who we really
are.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne, River and Gordon confer.
RIVER
Do we really believe the Angels
will honor Rumat's agreement?
PERIANNE
I'd like to think so. That was no
idle threat.
Perianne, Gordon and River head to the Mini-T's exit.
EXT. PARYS MOUNTAIN MINE PARKING LOT - DAY
The Mini-T is the shed against small building as before.
Perianne, Gordon and River exit the shed door.
RIVER
This has been -
Suddenly River is knocked over and disappears in a flash, her
gun sent flying some distance. Then Gordon is bowled over,
but fixes his gaze on a battered Angel with divots all over
just prior to it touching him. Perianne finds an arm around
her neck, her head twisted and her neck almost snapped, but
her gaze freezes - Tsorkin! Tsorkin is horribly pitted on one
side.
.
. END OF ACT IV
. ACT V
RESUME
Gordon backs away from the Battered Angel and finds himself
against the small building. He grabs one of the sledge
hammers, but the Battered Angel disintegrates on his own as
River reappears, hand on her Time Vortex Manipulator.
Gordon runs over to Perianne, and before she can protest,
Gordon mimics Tsorkin's salute to him, then hits the statue's
elbow with the sledge hammer with all his might. As the arm
breaks, Tsorkin crumbles. Gordon pulls Perianne away from the
falling rubble.
Then the Mini-T gives off a blaring, almost foghorn sound and
brilliant flash.
Before Perianne, Gordon or River can fully process the last
minute, Gordon's phone rings.
BOYFRIEND
Why did you break the agreement?
Gordon is so concerned with Perianne who is having trouble
breathing, River takes the phone.
RIVER
We were attacked by Angels the
minute we walked out the Tardis.
Perianne who is breathing better comes over and takes the
phone.
PERIANNE
You will hunt - and at times be
hunted. You will no longer graze on
intelligent beings.
Perianne turns off the phone. She sees a light flashing on
her watch. She looks reluctant, then resolute.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
This must be Rumat.
Perianne heads back into the Mini-T.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne is already answering the communication as River and
Gordon fully arrive at the console. A sobbing Rumat comes on
the screen; she is still in the Council meeting room.
RUMAT
(via screen)
Why?... Why?
Perianne transmits the clip of Tsorkin almost breaking her
neck, and again Rumat's revulsion at the Angel form is so
palpable that it momentarily outweighs her grief at seeing
her husband moments before his death. Her sobbing subsides.
RUMAT (CONT'D)
His prototype shield must have
blocked the clarion call!
Rumat moves away as her grief overtakes her again, and
Council President comes on.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
We have long known the day would
come when the multiverse would find
out that the peaceful Pasch are in
fact also the Weeping Angels. But
we are who we are. I pray we don't
meet again.
The Council President signs off.
There is a moment of silence as Perianne, Gordon and River
process everything that happened.
GORDON
Now, is this over?
RIVER
For the moment, but I, for one,
intend to keep their disintegration
frequency handy.
PERIANNE
Agreed.
GORDON
What about me?
PERIANNE
I'll program your defense ri-
A light starts blinking on the console.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Now what?!
Perianne reads the screen. Gordon and River look expectantly.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
The computer at the Library Planet
says we have one more passenger to
pick up.
RIVER
Who?
PERIANNE
It doesn't say. Do you want to
come?
RIVER
My curiosity's peaked.
GORDON
Mine isn't. I've had my fill of
action for some time to come. Good
night, ladies.
Gordon exits to his room.
Perianne fires up the Mini-T - hum.
RIVER
I'm glad for the chance for more
girl talk. I can't remember when I
last felt there was a woman I could
talk to.
PERIANNE
I can't remember when I last did
girl talk.
The two women laugh.
RIVER
I've made a decision. Everything
we've been through has reminded me
clearly of who I am.
The Mini-T lands, and the humming stops.
PERIANNE
Does that mean you'll seek out the
Doctor?
RIVER
No. I will do as before, live life
where it takes me, and if he and I
cross paths again...
PERIANNE
Then it's only a matter of time.
RIVER
And you have a gem in Gordon.
PERIANNE
I don't really 'have' Gordon.
RIVER
Oh, yes you do. I'm not saying he
knows it yet, but that man would
have torn the world apart to keep
you safe.
PERIANNE
I feel a similar loyalty to him,
but more than that? I've got a long
way to go before I'll be ready
for... Shall we see why the Library
Planet called?
River gives a small laugh.
INT. GORDON'S ROOM - DAY
Gordon has changed into sweats and is pacing again.
GORDON
Should I really have let her go
back to the Library alone? Yes,
she's safe with River - safer than
with me... Safe! What is the right
level of safe? To venture out is to
not be safe even on Earth. It's
just more noticeable when you go to
different planets and times. I
think I'd rather die having an
interesting life than live long
with a boring one!
Suddenly, Gordon plops onto the bed, more at peace with
himself.
INT. LIBRARY
The Mini-T has landed where it previously had and is again
the bookcase. River, with her gun and Perianne with her watch
ready exit from one side of the bookcase as before. They move
out tentatively, but there are no statues anywhere in sight.
They both jump when -
LIBRARIAN
Can I help you?
At that point they see further from themselves patrons and
other Librarians at the desk. Perianne and River relax.
PERIANNE
I got a message from your computer
that I needed pick up one more
passenger.
LIBRARIAN
Are you Ondonella?
PERIANNE
(confused)
Yes, but who would know that?
The Librarian leads Perianne and River to the Librarian's
desk, and as two other Librarians and several Patrons part,
the Shatravargon, the Main Library of Gallifrey, stands
gleaming. It's a platinum with gold appointments "wall
decoration" four feet high and eight feet long with a
gorgeous sweeping pattern in huge, variously colored jewels.
RIVER
What is it?
PERIANNE
It's the Shatravargon, the main
Library of Gallifrey!
LIBRARIAN
It bequeathed this Library with a
new section of Gallifreyian lit-
Five armed people, not all human, materialize. The Patrons
and some of the Librarians scream. Perianne and River subtly
back away from the desk, so as not to be front and center.
River keeps her gun out of sight.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Give us back the jeweled thing, and
no one will get hurt.
Librarian turns to where the Shatravargon was, and it's gone.
She's stunned.
LIBRARIAN
It was here. Now...?
One of the other Smugglers, Instrument Smuggler, looks at an
instrument and shakes his head no. Smuggler Leader is
incensed.
SMUGGLER LEADER
You said we had a reading!
LIBRARIAN
It popped in, and now it's popped
out. Check our security cameras if
you don't believe me.
Instrument Smuggler scans the security camera and nods.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Then where did it go?! I am not
leaving without my jewels! I robbed
powerful people at great risk for
them!
INSTRUMENT SMUGGLER
Technically, they're not your-
The look from Smuggler Leader makes Instrument Smuggler re
think finishing his sentence.
INSTRUMENT SMUGGLER (CONT'D)
If the thing can teleport itself,
it could be anywhere. I never did
understand how you knew to check
here.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Our bickering financiers. They said
the thing liked libraries.
(bellows)
I want my jewels!!!
Perianne notices a light blinking on her watch and makes a
surreptitious adjustment to see what it's about. She steps
behind River ever so slightly shifting her weight. She has a
moment of surprise which she quickly hides.
INSTRUMENT SMUGGLER
Pulling up other libraries in this
sector...
LIBRARIAN
Then would you please leave this
library?
SMUGGLER LEADER
(considers a couple beats)
Yeah. We'll go.
INSTRUMENT SMUGGLER
Wait! It looks like the thing
communicated with... her!
The Smuggler with the Instrument points to Perianne.
PERIANNE
What communicated with me?
Smuggler Leader nudges Perianne with his gun.
SMUGGLER LEADER
You're coming with us.
Perianne mouths "follow" as she and the five Smugglers
disappear. River hastens to the Mini-T.
INT. SMUGGLERS' SHIP
Perianne and the five Smugglers materialize in a dilapidated
space ship. Perianne quickly does something to her watch.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Look, lady, I don't want to hurt
you. I just want my jewels back.
What did the thing communicate to
you?
PERIANNE
Communicate how? I don't have a
communicator.
Perianne throws her arms open. The Smuggler with the
instrument scans Perianne focusing on the torso and ignoring
her, now, bracelet.
INSTRUMENT SMUGGLER
Nothing, boss.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Did we grab the wrong person?
Review the footage!
The Smuggler with the instrument does something with it, and
it flashes on the wall the scene in the Library.
SMUGGLER LEADER (CONT'D)
Freeze it.
The action on the wall freezes. Smuggler Leader scans the
group in the Library, and points to River, next to Perianne
in the picture.
SMUGGLER LEADER (CONT'D)
Her! She must be the one; she looks
like trouble. Go back before she
can get away!
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Perianne and the five Smugglers re-materialize near the
Librarian's desk to screams from the Patrons and Librarians.
Smuggler Leader pushes Perianne to the side with other
Patrons and looks around the room.
SMUGGLER LEADER
Where is she? The one with all the
curls?
LIBRARIAN
She left just after you did.
SMUGGLER LEADER
No, no, NO!
(to Instrument Smuggler)
Do we have the frequency it
communicated on to Curls?
The Smuggler with the instrument checks it and nods.
SMUGGLER LEADER (CONT'D)
Send out a message telling it to
return, or I will kill all these
people.
LIBRARIAN
What makes you think that will
phase a logical machine?
SMUGGLER LEADER
For your sake, you'd better hope it
does!
Instead River materializes via her Time Vortex manipulator.
She gives Perianne a big smile and wink.
SMUGGLER LEADER (CONT'D)
There's Curls. Grab her!
As the three Smugglers who have been guarding the Library
Patrons and Librarians converge on River, putting all of them
in a much smaller area, Six Shadow Proclamation Officers
materialize around them. In short order, the five Smugglers
are taken into Custody.
All the Officers except the Lead Officer teleport out with
the Smugglers. Lead Officer approaches Perianne and River.
LEAD SP OFFICER
Based on what we found on Pluto,
there will be a sizable reward for
you.
RIVER
Her, not me.
PERIANNE
Split it in two.
(to River)
I couldn't have done it without
you. Seed money to start your new
life.
The Lead SP Officer nods and vanishes. The two women hug and
laugh.
A yelp from Librarian orients Perianne and River; the
Shatravargon has re-materialized behind the Librarian's desk.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
(tearing up)
I never thought I'd see this again.
The jewels in the Shatravargon make a rippling pattern, and
Perianne gets a signal on her watch; she looks and tears
stream down her face.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
She now knows what I said is true
and would very much like to be with
that which has also survived the
end of Gallifrey.
RIVER
(surprised)
You don't know?! Gallifrey wasn't
destroyed; it's frozen in a bubble
universe.
PERIANNE
What!?
RIVER
The Doctors did it - all thirteen.
PERIANNE
I really have to meet that man one
of these days.
The Shatravargon jewels ripple again.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
She's asking permission to board.
Perianne moves something on her watch.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Mini-T, are you willing to bond
with the Shatravargon?
A green light lights on Perianne's watch, and the
Shatravargon brightens and disappears.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and River enter; the console area hasn't changed.
Perianne leads River down the -
INT. U-SHAPED HALLWAY
- to the back to Library door -
INT. MINI-T LIBRARY
The curved desk now has the Shatravargon installed behind it
at a 30 degree angle.
RIVER
She looks like she's always
belonged there.
The Shatravargon ripples.
PERIANNE
She agrees. This will be a homey
space for her until I can return
her to the Gallifreyian people. Do
you know where the bubble universe
is?
RIVER
No, but I'm sure the Doctor is
looking.
PERIANNE
I hope you run into him sooner
rather than later.
RIVER
Can we stay in touch?
PERIANNE
I'd be broken hearted if we didn't.
I feel like I have my first girl
friend in my new life.
RIVER
Me too.
The two women hug, then River hits her Time Vortex
Manipulator and disappears.
Perianne flashes back -
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. STELLAR PLATFORM #129 - DAY
Young Onda/Perianne hugs a tearful Sarella and boards her
space cruiser. Sarella watches until Perianne disappears from
view. The engines turn on even as the door to the ship
closes, and moments later Sarella watches the Cruiser takes
off.
INT. SPACE CRUISER - DAY
Young Onda/Perianne watches out a window as the Cruiser works
to reach escape velocity, and below her.
EXT. OUTER SPACE
Suddenly a round Dalek cruiser materializes below and with a
single prolonged beam, the stellar platform explodes.
Moments later, the Space Cruiser takes out the Dalek cruiser.
INT. SPACE CRUISER
Young Onda/Perianne reacts in horror.
YOUNG ONDA
Sarella!!...
As she starts to cry, she is tapped on the back, and she
jumps, negating the urge to cry. She turns trying to hide any
tears. It's an Officer.
OFFICER
This isn't a cruise Junior
Engineer. Stow your gear and get to
Engineering.
Young Onda/Perianne stuffs her feelings and hurries along.
BACK TO:
INT. U-SHAPED HALLWAY
Perianne is crying as she comes out of the memory.
PERIANNE
Dear, dear Sarella. And you thought
I was the one in danger...
INT. MINI-T
Perianne emerges from the U-shaped hallway, wiping her eyes,
as Gordon comes down the stairs from his room.
GORDON
River?
PERIANNE
Gone.
GORDON
What did I miss?
PERIANNE
River and I had an encounter with
smugglers, the Shatravargon is
installed in our library, and
Gallifrey still exists somewhere in
a bubble universe.
GORDON
Really?!! How long was I asleep?
PERIANNE
About six Earth hours.
GORDON
All that? Tell me.
Perianne sits down.
PERIANNE
After you went to your room...
.
. THE END