. Peiriannydd Episode 4: Purpose 6/13
. by Barbara Goldstein PhD
.
. TEASER
EXT. JUNGLE - DAY
Perianne and Gordon run at top speed through thick, jungle.
They crash through plants, hanging vines and jump over
rotting logs. Perianne carries something, but she's moving so
fast, it's never clear what it is.
Loud, pounding steps are heard O.S. behind them.
Gordon turns as he runs and sends a beam out from the defense
ring Perianne gave him. The steps don't falter one jot, but
the roar of a pissed-off dinosaur is heard (O.S.).
Gordon and Perianne zigzag around a swarm of flies the size
of golf balls, and the shadow of a t-rex begins to hover over
them.
Perianne and Gordon break out of the jungle onto -
EXT. BEACH - DAY
The only thing besides sand and ocean is a grass shack.
Perianne and Gordon pursued by a 25 foot tall t-rex sprint
toward the shack.
The t-rex gets so close it lowers its head to take a bite of
Gordon, steps from the grass shack.
Gordon and Perianne slip into the grass shack. The t-rex rams
into the shack, but instead of the shack going over, the t
rex takes a nasty blow to the head and is knocked over.
The grass shack, actually the Mini-T, disappears abruptly -
hum.
INT. MINI-T
Gordon and Perianne huff and puff, barely able to talk -
PERIANNE
How angry are you?
GORDON
(barely gets the word out)
Angry?
PERIANNE
(more able to talk)
It was only last week you talked
about not getting ourselves killed.
GORDON
This is an exception! Being chased
by a t-rex will be one of my most
cherished memories!
Perianne looks utterly confused.
GORDON (CONT'D)
What did you find?
Perianne picks up a tasteful saber sheath with metal work and
jewels from the floor, and Gordon is suitably impressed.
PERIANNE
It's a half billion years old
Gallifreyian ceremonial sword
sheath.
GORDON
Billion?! How did it get to Earth?
Perianne passes the sheath to Gordon who examines it with
great interest.
PERIANNE
Clueless. But this would be a find
even if Gallifrey still existed.
This is from our ancient history.
GORDON
Do you want to go back and look for
the sword?
PERIANNE
No. I scanned the area, and it
wasn't within one hundred miles.
GORDON
Then it's time to get ready for the
party.
PERIANNE
(with mixed feelings)
The party! - to meet your friends.
GORDON
Do you want to back out?
PERIANNE
Yes, but I won't. I haven't been to
a social engagement in decades.
GORDON
All the more reason to get your
feet wet.
EXT. I-LIFE CAFE - NIGHT
The expensive cars and the option for valet parking connote
an upscale club. An "i-Life" sign brightens the night.
Although well dressed, most of the people seen entering and
leaving are a decade-plus younger than Gordon.
Gordon's convertible pulls up before the club. Perianne is
seen in the passenger seat.
INT. I-LIFE CAFE - NIGHT
The music is modern rock and too loud. The men are in sports
coats, the women in modern "cocktail" dresses. The decor is
ultra-modern with a lot of chrome and glass. There's a dance
floor with a light show playing on the floor and ceiling.
However, in one large nook there's an older motif of rough
hewn beams, wood tables and a fireplace. A group of eight
people around Gordon's age take up several tables. Two men
play darts, have large steins of ale aside them and are quite
boisterous in their inebriation after every attempt at the
target. Two women and two men play cards; another man and
woman are kibitzing.
Gordon and Perianne enter, and she has unconsciously taken
his arm. He's in the requisite sports coat, and she's wearing
a simple but effectively draped dress similar to one Romana I
wore. She winces at the loudness of the music.
PERIANNE
Do you really like music this loud?
GORDON
(considering a beat)
Not as much as I used to. We've
been meeting here since my
university days.
PERIANNE
(more to herself)
Long standing friends.
Gordon nods. Perianne considers. Gordon pulls her out of her
reverie and guides her to a table as far from the music as
possible; it's adjacent to the table with the card players
and kibitzers.
Perianne's bracelet transforms into her watch. She makes an
adjustment with her watch, and for a brief moment a salmon
tinged field is seen around her head. Her wincing stops. The
watch disappears, replaced by the bracelet.
The whole group of eight erupts at the sight of Gordon.
DART PLAYER #1
Look who the cat dragged in! Where
the hell have you been, boyo?
The male Kibitzer is Wynn Connelly - a thin bearded
intellectual around Gordon's age - one of Gordon's friends
going back to childhood. He leaves the card game and comes
over.
WYNN
Over two months and not a word -
The group spies Perianne and laughs.
CARD PLAYER #1
Oh, you found a filly! Been busy
have you?
Gordon ignores the connotation,. Perianne becomes a little
confused. Under her breath -
PERIANNE
Have I done something funny?
GORDON
(also under his breath)
No. They're giving me a hard time
because you're attractive.
Perianne is at a loss.
WYNN
Aren't you going to introduce us?
Gordon introduces the group, starting with Wynn.
GORDON
Wynn Connelly, my childhood friend
and best handball competitor. This
is Perianne.
Wynn shakes Perianne's hand. Gordon points to Card Player #1
and the Female Player across from him.
GORDON (CONT'D)
School mates Jack Hardin and his
wife Cherry Martin Hardin.
The Hardin's acknowledge the introduction non-verbally.
Gordon directs Perianne's gaze to the female kibitzer.
GORDON (CONT'D)
That's Elaine Rose; we dated before
I went to the university, more
years ago than I want to admit to.
We're just friends now.
Elaine comes up to Gordon, Perianne and Wynn.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Perianne, Elaine.
Elaine momentarily acknowledges Perianne with a hint of
dislike, then turns back to Gordon. She tries to keep it
light but a little edge slips into her voice.
ELAINE
It would have been nice if you had
let someone know you were alive.
GORDON
You're right, I should have. Life
got busy.
ELAINE
(drolly)
I see.
Perianne is uncomfortable enough, she has placed herself
partially behind Gordon. Elaine sizes up Perianne.
ELAINE (CONT'D)
(touch of disdain)
And what do you do, dear?
PERIANNE
I'm an Engineer.
It clearly wasn't an answer Elaine was expecting, and she
shuts up, surprised. Wynn becomes animated.
WYNN
I'm an Engineer. What type do you
do?
PERIANNE
Aeronautics.
WYNN
Wow! Bridges. I design bridges.
Perianne comes out from behind Gordon and orients herself to
talk with Wynn. Gordon smiles. Elaine sees it.
ELAINE
(quietly to Gordon)
You? With an Engineer? I would have
guessed an alien from outer space
first.
Gordon bursts into hearty laughter.
.
. END OF TEASER
. ACT I
INT. MINI-T
Perianne reads data at the main console. Gordon is at another
section in one of the fishtails studying a map of the solar
system. They talk as they work.
GORDON
Did you have a good time last
night?
Perianne makes a face that suggests so-so.
PERIANNE
It's been decades since I've had to
deal with social nuance. And in a
culture I barely know?
GORDON
I know Wynn loved talking with you.
PERIANNE
Talking shop gave me a comfort
zone. He's nice.
(more wistfully)
It stirred up something I can't get
a handle on. I hadn't thought about
Gallifreyian social events since
the start of the war.
GORDON
I remember having to work at
reconnecting with my full self
after the war in Iraq.
The comment doesn't seem to register with Perianne who is
trying to sort out her reaction.
PERIANNE
Until now, I thought I was just
adjusting to Earth. But maybe I'm
homesick.
GORDON
Wouldn't the Mini-T - Perianne, I
have a signal.
PERIANNE
What are you scanning for?
GORDON
You were so excited about the
scabbard, I wanted to find the
signal of another Gallifreyian
object.
Perianne hurries to the station Gordon is using and looks at
the signal and map.
PERIANNE
You're right! Somewhere in the
Kuiper Belt several centuries in
the future.
To her surprise, Perianne tears up a little.
GORDON
I didn't mean to upset you.
Perianne squeezes one of Gordon's hands.
PERIANNE
I'm touched. It's been a long time
since someone had the time to show
consideration.
GORDON
Then shall we go?
Perianne flies back to the main console, sets dials, types
and pulls a lever.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, THE KUIPER BELT
At a distance, it's nearly pitch black and so cold that you
can sense the atoms moving sluggishly. Rocky and frozen
gaseous objects reflect the barely noticeable sun to varying
degrees. The Sun stands out only a little from the black,
star-studded background, albeit larger than any other star in
the sky.
However, as the view zooms in on Pluto, the sky starts to
brighten, and suddenly tiny suns are seen orbiting what used
to be our ninth planet!
The Mini-T, in it's teardrop form, materializes above Pluto
and its sunlettes.
INT. MINI-T
The scene in outer space is on the main screen. Perianne
simply takes it in, but Gordon reacts.
GORDON
Someone created artificial suns
around Pluto?!
PERIANNE
A clever engineering feat. Looks
Euzarian.
GORDON
Euzarian?
PERIANNE
Intelligent seaweed obsessed with
making a profit and economic
domination. But the planet seems
deserted.
GORDON
Wonder why? This shows there was a
sizable human population at one
time. Six cities, one for each
sunlette.
PERIANNE
The little suns are running out of
fuel; all those cities are froz-.
Wait. There's one on the far side
that's burning strong.
GORDON
Is the artifact there?
PERIANNE
No, nowhere near there.
GORDON
Great!
PERIANNE
I want to check out that city.
Unlike the others, that little sun
has Gallifreyian engineering!
EXT. BUILDING TOP, PLUTONIAN CITY - DAY
The Mini-T in the form of a utility shack suddenly
materializes next to the hub with roof access. Perianne and
Gordon step out of the shack. His first steps look like his
feet pull away from glue each step then normalize.
GORDON
Artificial gravity?
Perianne nods.
PERIANNE
There are still a little over three
hundred humans living here.
GORDON
And this little sun has at least a
forty thousand years of life.
PERIANNE
No sign of any Time Lords. Ready to
meet the locals?
Gordon nods, and he and Perianne head toward the hub door.
They are steps from the door when it opens.
A very wan, mildly delirious, clearly sick teenage human Girl
stumbles out the door. She takes a couple steps and
collapses. Perianne holds Gordon back from going to the Girl.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Your star!
Perianne hits the star on her belt, the same ones they used
on Mars, and Gordon follows suit. They go to the girl who is
unconscious, but moving feverishly.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
It'll stop contagion.
GORDON
Can we touch her?
PERIANNE
Better not.
Perianne fishes inside her jacket. For a moment her tool belt
appears, but she feels behind that and pulls out a thin,
metallic "space" blanket. The tool belt disappears even
before her jacket closes. She unfolds the blanket.
Gordon helps her flatten the blanket aside the Girl's torso.
He grabs the other end of the blanket, and carefully uses it
to roll the girl onto the nearer end of the blanket. Once
fully on the blanket, Gordon scoops her up, careful to have
no physical contact.
Perianne leads Gordon, carrying the Girl, though the hub
door.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
The hall is utilitarian - plain doors at regular intervals.
Perianne holds opens a door from a stairwell into the hall,
and Gordon carries in the Girl. Perianne and Gordon look
around; no one is in sight. They head down the silent
hallway. Perianne checks her watch.
PERIANNE
There's no one on this floor. Life
signs start a few floors below
this.
Gordon with the unconscious Girl and Perianne get to the end
of the hall and a lift. Perianne uses her watch to set off
the call button.
GORDON
Do we dare take her into a
populated area?
Perianne shrugs. The lift arrives.
INT. LIFT
Gordon with the Girl and Perianne enter. Gordon spies the
door to the emergency call box. He tries to point, but is
hampered by his load.
GORDON
Open that door.
Perianne complies, and inside the compartment is a handset
and a red emergency button. Perianne pushes the red button
and loud ringing starts. She picks up the handset.
PERIANNE
Hello?... No, we're not stuck. We
found a very sick girl heading onto
the roof. We need emergency
services...
Perianne hangs up, and the ringing stops. She pushes one of
the floor buttons, and the lift starts to descend
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
They're on their way.
Moments later, the lift stops and the doors open.
INT. DIFFERENT HALLWAY - DAY
Looks like the last hall, just better lit. Four Medical Staff
in white garb, gloves and surgical masks are waiting with a
gurney. Perianne and Gordon, holding the Girl, exit the lift.
Two of the Medical Staff take the Girl and place her on the
gurney. They look strangely at the blanket.
MEDICAL STAFF #1
You two: if you were on the roof,
you've been exposed.
PERIANNE
If you mean physical contact, no.
Perianne touches her star and briefly, the force field around
her is seen as a blue glow. She points to Gordon's star.
MEDICAL STAFF #1
Who are you?!
The question goes unanswered as the Girl has a seizure. She
trembles, shakes and then thrashes. Two Medical Staff hold
her down as Another gives her an injection from a tubular
device which makes a quiet pneumatic sound. The shot takes
hold, and the Girl quiets.
The Medical Staff race the gurney down the hall that ends
with a patient Day Room with large windows. The gurney turns
right though two swinging doors. Perianne and Gordon follow
them into -
INT. LARGE MEDICAL WARD - DAY
It looks like something out of war movie - bed after bed
after bed on both sides of the walls with a lane down the
middle, all containing people who look as pale and sick as
the Girl, many unconscious, the rest disoriented.
The gurney with the Girl, the four Medical staff and Perianne
and Gordon enter. With practiced precision the Medical Staff
move the Girl to a bed and disperse except for Medical Staff
#1.
An angry Doctor - as seen by her stethoscope and white jacket
- hurries up to Medical Staff #1, Gordon and Perianne. She is
Dr. Chaykin - the no-nonsense Medical Director of the
facility.
DR. CHAYKIN
(to Medical Staff #1)
Why are you letting in people
without protection?
Perianne lights the force field briefly. Dr. Chaykin is
surprised and calms down.
MEDICAL STAFF #1
They found her.
Medical Staff #1 points to the bed the Girl was placed in.
Dr. Chaykin doesn't understand until she takes a look at the
Girl.
DR. CHAYKIN
The Chief Scientist's daughter,
Sirianna? How did she get exposed?
GORDON
Exposed to what?
DR. CHAYKIN
How can you not know? The mutation
plague. When the asteroid hit the
sunlette eight months ago.
PERIANNE
What happened?
DR. CHAYKIN
(getting testy)
Are you from another planet?
PERIANNE
Yes.
Dr. Chaykin is momentarily shocked then composes herself.
DR. CHAYKIN
The meteor changed something in the
sunlette's energy spectrum. It now
gives off a lethal wavelength of
radiation.
MEDICAL STAFF #1
It mutates genes.
DR. CHAYKIN
Worse, bodily fluids can set off
the mutating in people not exposed
to the radiation.
MEDICAL STAFF #1
The evacuation ship is still two
months out.
DR. CHAYKIN
As long as we stay below level
thirty, we seem to be okay. But how
did Sirianna Ashmore end up sick?
The rhetorical question hangs in the air as Chief Scientist
Ashmore - mid-40's, distinguished male with the touch of
silver at the temples, brilliant and narcissistic - with a
mask, gloves and a paper cover bursts into the room.
ASHMORE
How in the hell did MY daughter get
the mutation plague?!!
DR. CHAYKIN
I was going to ask you the same
question. Do you have any idea if
she's been sneaking to the higher
levels?
MEDICAL STAFF #1
I've heard some of the teenagers go
to level thirty-one to make out.
ASHMORE
That damn punk she sees! -
Terrington.
DR. CHAYKIN
(to Medical Staff #1)
You better check the Terrington
house. Full protection.
Medical Staff #1 exits, signalling another Medical Staff
member still in protective garb like his to follow.
Dr. Chaykin and Chief Scientist Ashmore stare at Gordon and
Perianne.
ASHMORE
Who are you? What are you doing
here?
PERIANNE
We're travelers; we became curious
seeing your - sunlette. I'm
Perianne, an Engineer.
GORDON
Dr. Gordon Chinowydd, Geologist.
ASHMORE
Then come with me! Perhaps you can
help with our problem.
Without so much as a by your leave or another thought to his
daughter, Ashmore ushers Perianne and Gordon out of the
Medical Ward.
INT. MAIN SCIENCE LAB - DAY
No one wears protective garb, other than scientific, and
everyone is very busy: a half dozen Scientists, a dozen
Assistants and a smattering of Students. Chief Scientist
Ashmore, Perianne and Gordon enter.
ASHMORE
We have mountains of data, but we
haven't come up with a realistic
plan.
PERIANNE
May I access your data?
Chief Scientist Ashmore takes Perianne to a station and shows
her several types of connectors. Perianne puts her bracelet
which transforms into the watch against the connectors. After
only a couple seconds, it signals that it's finished. Chief
Scientist Ashmore is amazed.
ASHMORE
It already?...
Perianne looks at the data and the watch's analysis for a
couple beats.
PERIANNE
The remnant of a Ia supernova in
Bšotes sent the unusual little
bolide that hit your sunlette.
Perianne shows data on her watch to Gordon.
GORDON
No wonder you're getting lethal
radiation; your little rock has a
vein of plutonium.
A female scientist in her 30's, Dr. Ashley Frere, gets up
defiantly.
DR. FRERE
We already know that! But the rock
doesn't account for the lethal
wavelengths.
ASHMORE
For heavens sake, Ashley, let them
get up to speed.
GORDON
(pointing to the watch)
And there's something weird going
on there.
PERIANNE
You're right. Something's deforming
the fuel in the sunlette. Look!
That's the real culprit!
DR. FRERE
(more respectfully)
You're saying you've pinpointed the
exact area where the lethal
radiation is being produced?
PERIANNE
Yes.
Perianne puts her watch against the computer, and the screen
shows the intersection of the meteorite and the sunlette in
3D. Gordon points again to the area.
GORDON
This area is your fuel converted by
something in the meteor, and when
it burns, you get the radiation.
DR. FRERE
Up until now, we'd been thinking
the sunlette as a whole!
ASHMORE
Does that mean the sunlette might
be saved?
Perianne looks at different views of the sunlette - all also
seen on the 3D screen.
PERIANNE
Yes. But the sunlette would have to
be turned off.
Chief Scientist Ashmore, Dr. Frere and the whole room of
scientists halt in unison and gasp.
.
. END OF ACT I
. ACT II
RESUME
The lab goes from frozen to a hubbub.
ASHMORE
You can't turn off the sunlette!
We'll die.
DR. FRERE
It can be turned off?
PERIANNE
Yes; someone from my culture built
it.
The uproar which had started to subside bursts forth again.
DR. FRERE
You know Dr. Renknyne?! No one here
ever met him.
ASHMORE
The returning colonists stories
became legend. We're just a
research station now.
PERIANNE
No, I haven't had the pleasure of
meeting Dr. Renknyne, but I do know
the technology.
ASHMORE
How can you turn off the sunlette?
PERIANNE
There's a shielded control room in
the middle.
The room looks uniformly flabbergasted.
GORDON
How long could you survive with the
sunlette turned off?
ASHMORE
Three hours and twenty-seven
minutes using reserve power.
PERIANNE
That's not enough time.
GORDON
Could we somehow move the five
dying sunlettes?
PERIANNE
Maybe...
Perianne runs figures, but they no longer show on the main
screen.
DR. FRERE
Move the other sunlettes? How?
PERIANNE
Seven hours and three minutes. I
think I can work with that - with
help.
INT. MONTAGE - DAY
Perianne meets with Engineers and Construction Workers as
seen by the latter's garb and the construction plan on the 3D
screen... Gordon confers with Chemists and Physicists as they
examine a chemical formula of the created substance...
Construction Workers weld two three foot by one hundred yard
metal beams at an angle.
INT. MINI-T
A hundred yard metal beam is being manufactured by the Mini
T. The beam comes out from under the console and goes out the
main door and out of sight, still growing steadily. Perianne
and Gordon oversee.
Construction Workers keep arriving at the door to ferry the
latest extension of the piece.
The end of the piece appears, and it disappears out the door
of the Mini-T. Perianne closes the doors from the console.
PERIANNE
That was the last replacement beam.
GORDON
For her first manufacturing
operation, our baby did great.
PERIANNE
She's going to get quite a work out
today. Next we need to collect the
dying sunlettes and set them up
here.
GORDON
Mushed together or sequential?
Perianne looks unsure and runs figures on the console.
PERIANNE
'Mushed together' would work
better; they're gaseous!
GORDON
Is the Mini-T equipped for this?
PERIANNE
Certainly.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, OTHER SIDE OF PLUTO
The Mini-T is in its milky flat teardrop form. A beam
emanates from and "eye" above the door, envelopes one of the
fizzling, gaseous sunlettes and drags it toward another seen
on the horizon.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE, OTHER SIDE OF PLUTO
The Mini-T gets to the second sunlette and using a force
field - briefly seen shimmering around the two - "bangs" the
two gas balls together. Suddenly, there is a larger, brighter
sunlette.
The beam from above the door of the Mini-T brightens to
envelope the larger object.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE, OTHER SIDE OF PLUTO
When the Mini-T integrates the third sunlette, with the first
two, a brief waver is seen in the beam surrounding the again
grown sunlette, before it strengthens and holds.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and Gordon concentrate on the console panels.
Without taking his eyes off the gauges -
GORDON
You saw that, didn't you?
PERIANNE
Yes, let's take this next one
carefully.
GORDON
Mini-T, you can do it.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, OTHER SIDE OF PLUTO
Indeed, the integration of the fourth gaseous sunlette with
the larger ball is done more gradually, and the even larger
combined sunlette glows even more brightly. However, not only
does the beam waver in adjusting to the larger load, it
fritzes several times around the load before settling down to
a strong field.
INT. MINI-T
Gordon stops working at the console and faces Perianne.
GORDON
Do you think she's hit her limit?
We can't afford to break down.
PERIANNE
She's learning, and just like us,
doing is the best way. The final
sun is well within her specs.
GORDON
All right, baby; I believe in you!
EXT. OUTER SPACE, OTHER SIDE OF PLUTO
The Mini-T combines the final dying sunlette without a hitch
and accommodates the greater load.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN
The combined gaseous sunlette has barely forty percent the
output of the artificial star of Gallifreyian origin.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and Gordon look at their handiwork on the screen.
PERIANNE
We'll have seven hours and twenty
nine minutes!
Gordon gets on a communicator at one of the console stations.
GORDON
Ground station, we're about to
materialize in the sun control
room. If we can't communicate
directly, look for standard code on
every wavelength.
DR. FRERE
(over com system)
We're scanning fully. Out.
Perianne runs figures at the console.
PERIANNE
We're as ready as we're going to
be.
GORDON
Mini-T has always had pinpoint
spacial accuracy.
PERIANNE
Ten by twelve represents a new
level. Here goes...
Perianne pushes a button, and the central console starts it's
colorful blips. Hum.
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
The control room is mostly a console that takes up two walls,
leaving maybe four square feet free.
Unlike its normal abrupt appearance, the Mini-T, disguised as
a Greek column (one of the Master's Tardis guises) - semi
phases in, in a ghostly way. The Mini-T overlaps the edge of
a console by a few inches and phases out. Then she abruptly
appears in the open space.
Perianne and Gordon exit the column and look around.
PERIANNE
Wow!
GORDON
The middle of an artificial sun -
mind boggling.
PERIANNE
Indeed; this is a rather clever but
jury-rigged contraption.
GORDON
Meaning?
PERIANNE
Turning it off will be easy, but
turning it back on?...
Gordon turns on a communicator.
GORDON
Dr. Frere, calling Dr. Frere.
Gordon only gets static as a response.
PERIANNE
I'll signal.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN
The Sunlette,itself, starts to blink in a Morse-like code.
INT. MAIN SCIENCE LAB - DAY
Dr. Frere and the other scientists are so focused on gauges,
they initially miss the blinking through the windows.
DR. FRERE
C'mon Perianne, where's the signal?
Chief Scientist Ashmore enters and immediately sees it.
ASHMORE
Wake up people, she's blinking the
whole sunlette.
Everyone orients to the windows and see the flashes. Dr.
Frere types furiously, then sees what the screen says.
DR. FRERE
It's a count down: eighteen,
seventeen...
ASHMORE
(through a communicator)
Engineering crews, prepare to blast
off! Ground crews, ready the
heaters.
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
Perianne flips switches and turns dials.
GORDON
Seven, six, five, four...
PERIANNE
Here goes...
Perianne hits a button.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN
The sunlette's flames sputter and go out. It slowly dims and
goes to a glowing white structure of v-shaped beams emanating
from a globe in the center. An entrance is seen.
Ships from the planet are seen approaching in the glow of the
combined gas sunlette.
The cold of space rapidly turns the glowing white to a cooler
glowing red.
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
Perianne and Gordon watch a temperature gauge fall at a
steady pace. They are both shocked into momentary immobility
as a very loud alien scream rocks the sunlette!
GORDON
What was that?
PERIANNE
No idea -
(looks at temperature)
It's cool enough to investigate.
Perianne pushes on the star on her belt; Gordon follows suit.
They exit into -
INT. CIRCULAR CORRIDOR
- which goes to the six "engines" within the globe that
produce the light and heat.
Perianne and Gordon enter. Perianne looks at her watch.
PERIANNE
This way.
They head along the walkway. Another wail is heard.
GORDON
To the meteor impact?
PERIANNE
Oh, yes.
As Gordon and Perianne move on, the area where the meteor
impacted becomes visible through huge "glass" windows - right
into one of the engines. They peer down into the broken
engine. Fuel and something darker in it are seen.
Perianne focuses her watch on it, and suddenly multiple
Voices in unison are heard.
VOICES
It's so cold. Where did the warmth
go? We're dying.
Gordon is shocked, Perianne surprised.
.
. END OF ACT II
. ACT III
RESUME
Gordon goes from shocked to horrified.
GORDON
That goo is intelligent?!
PERIANNE
It appears so.
GORDON
Can we save it?
In response, Perianne makes adjustments to her watch, then
types.
PERIANNE
I wonder if they can read my
signal?
VOICES
Who is that?
PERIANNE
We'll try and save you.
VOICES
We have very little time.
PERIANNE
Are you all in the gel or are some
of you still on the rock.
VOICES
We're all in the gel.
PERIANNE
(to Gordon)
That makes your task easy.
GORDON
My task?
PERIANNE
Yes. I'm going to be busy fixing
this sunlette - seven hours and
nine minutes. You're going to scoop
up the darker matter with some
extra fuel and fly it to the Sun.
GORDON
Sure. - I'm going to what?
Dr. Frere and a team of Engineers and Construction Workers
round the curve in spacesuits.
PERIANNE
Take Dr. Frere with you. For help.
(to the others)
Come with me.
Gordon and Dr. Frere look at each other with confusion as
Perianne and the others depart.
DR. FRERE
Help with what?
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
Gordon and Dr. Frere enter. Dr. Frere is surprised by the
column in the middle.
DR. FRERE
Why would I want to help a life
form that's responsible for killing
my people?
GORDON
Because it's intelligent. And,
removing them is part of how we get
your sunlette back to working
normally.
DR. FRERE
Okay. How do you plan to do it?
GORDON
We use the help of the Mini-T. This
way...
With a smile Gordon leads Dr. Frere into the Greek column -
INT. MINI-T
Of course, Dr. Frere is astonished to find herself inside the
large control room.
DR. FRERE
What?... How?...
GORDON
Dr. Frere, please focus. Can you
think of a way to extract the
infested fuel which is in a gel
state at this temperature. I've
ruled out suction - too damaging.
DR. FRERE
You need to think Jello parfait. A
warm knife.
GORDON
Brilliant! I can do that!
Gordon inputs data into the Mini-T console.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Then we have to carry it to the
Sun. Can we use the tractor beam?
A red light flashes on the console; data streams. Gordon
frowns.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Not during a jump! How do we
transport it?
DR. FRERE
Bring them into your ship?
GORDON
Not enough room - and messy.
DR. FRERE
Any way to chill the storage?
Gordon types at the console, then looks at what comes up on
the small screen in front of him.
GORDON
The Mini-T can do that!
He continues to type.
DR. FRERE
But you said too small.
GORDON
Who says we have to ferry them all
at once?
DR. FRERE
How many loads?
GORDON
Three.
DR. FRERE
Won't loads two and three have much
higher death rates?
GORDON
If the Mini-T is on her game, we
should be able to arrive back here
seconds after we left, each time.
A green light comes up on the console.
DR. FRERE
Is this thing alive? Who are you
people?
GORDON
Just travelers.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
Light comes from the combined gas sunlette and artificial
lights on the ships. Four ships are at the site of the meteor
damage. Closer, it's seen that the meteor is tethered to the
ships. The ships turn up their drives and slowly pull the
meteor out of the sunlette's structure.
INT. CIRCULAR WALKWAY
There is a bustle of activity beyond the "glass" windows, all
focused on the meteor's extraction. Some workers in
spacesuits help guide the meteor out of the structure; others
work to reinforce the area around the extraction, so that
more damage doesn't happen to the sunlette. In the
background, a clock ticks down: 6 hours and 31 minutes.
Perianne and Chief Scientist Ashmore confer.
ASHMORE
I've got crews with repair
materials ready to go.
PERIANNE
Gordon and the Mini-T are ready to
extract the aliens.
The meteor continues to slowly "back out."
ASHMORE
I hope we have enough metal to
repair everything.
Chief Scientist Ashmore and Perianne are distracted as the
meteor leaves the sunlette, shaking the sunlette. Perianne
gets on her watch.
PERIANNE
Gordon, we're ready.
The Mini-T, in teardrop form, appears over the broken fuel
tank, and a beam from above the door, indeed does the warm
knife trick and extracts the infected fuel with a margin of
safety. A second beam of a different color then envelopes
what had been cut out, and the Mini-T slowly ferries out the
gelatinous load.
EXT. OUTER SPACE
The Mini-T ferries the load near the gaseous combined
sunlette, then releases it. An energy beam slices part of the
gel, envelopes that and directs the "energy bag" into the
open storage door beneath the Mini-T (the underside of the
flat rain drop.)
INT. MINI-T
Dr. Frere intently watches a screen along the main console.
Gordon is where Perianne usually is, flying the Mini-T.
DR. FRERE
Eighty-nine percent... Ninety two
percent... Ninety six... They're
all in.
The sound of the storage door closing is heard (O.S.).
GORDON
Good. Okay, Mini-T.
(running numbers)
How close can we get to the Sun
without getting hurt?
Figures fill the screen.
DR. FRERE
And how much thrust must the energy
net have to eject our load?
A second set of figures run beneath the first line. Then a
diagram shows an orbital zone inside Mercury's orbit.
The countdown clock in the corner of the main screen shows
six hours and eighteen minutes.
EXT. OUTER SPACE
The Mini-T abruptly disappears.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR SUN
The Sun creates a dazzling brilliant light show, blotting out
the darkness of space.
The Mini-T appears in teardrop form, the storage doors open,
and the energy net expels the gelatinous contents toward the
sun. The doors re-close, and the Mini-T disappears in a
blink.
INT. MINI-T
The Sun disappears from the Main screen and is replaced by
the now dark sunlette. The count down clock says six hours
and seventeen minutes. Dr. Frere is surprised.
DR. FRERE
But we took more than a minute!
GORDON
You're complaining?
DR. FRERE
No. I feel like Alice in
Wonderland, if that means anything
to you.
The Main screen shows the remaining gel being cut in half.
GORDON
I understand. I'm from Earth's
past.
DR. FRERE
Really! And Perianne is from the
same planet as Dr. Renknyne.
The screen shows the envelopment of the piece by the force
field.
GORDON
Okay, we're up! Focus...
INT. CIRCULAR WALKWAY
Construction crews hurriedly work to fix the damage done by
the meteor and chemical reaction of the beings and the fuel.
In specific, a "V" of two long beams, seen being manufactured
earlier, is being attached.
A Construction Worker finishes up welding behind two who are
riveting one end to the existing structure. The Construction
Worker signals for the other end to begin riveting and
welding.
The Construction Workers at the other end no sooner start
riveting and welding when the stress breaks off the first
end! Its release hits two Construction Workers. One gets
crushed between the beam and the original structure for a
moment as the V bumps the edge.
The other end, despite less connectors, holds.
Chief Scientist Ashmore and Perianne race down to -
INT. DAMAGED AREA
Medical Personnel in spacesuits, including Dr. Chaykin,
descend on the two injured Construction Workers. Perianne
scans the area with her watch, then the other end.
ASHMORE
What happened?
PERIANNE
I told you there were signs of
degraded metal. That end is fine,
but this end -
(scans the wall, points)
We'll need to replace about one
hundred square feet here.
ASHMORE
We haven't that much metal left.
PERIANNE
Cannibalize a building if need be,
but that area has to be reinforced.
Whatever you can do.
Dr. Chaykin comes up to them, space helmet in hand. B.g Other
side of the glass, her Medical Personnel take away the
injured Construction Worker on s stretcher.
DR. CHAYKIN
One Worker is fine, but the other
is being rushed to surgery for
broken ribs and internal bleeding.
ASHMORE
Good. We only lost one worker.
Dr. Chaykin looks taken aback.
DR. CHAYKIN
And Siriana is holding stable.
Chief Scientist Ashmore barely acknowledges the information.
Dr. Chaykin shakes her head and leaves to catch up with the
departing patient.
ASHMORE
Removing metal from buildings may
take more time than we have, but a
crew has started.
PERIANNE
When Gordon returns, my ship will
be able to manufacture more metal.
He and Dr. Frere should have been
back by now.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR SUN
The Mini-T moves toward the sun slowly, hugely b.g.
INT. MINI-T
Knocking is heard. Both Gordon and Dr. Frere look below.
DR. FRERE
What is going on down there?
GORDON
I don't know, but it forced the
Mini T to materialize outside the
orbit of Mercury.
DR. FRERE
It has to be our passengers.
GORDON
It was the piece nearest the gas
sunlette and seemed a little less
gel-like than the first two loads.
DR. FRERE
Meaning they're more alive.
GORDON
Maybe we can communicate. That
banging isn't doing the force field
any good. And we're losing time.
Gordon types and makes other adjustments to the console.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Baby, can we do this?
A green light comes on, followed by a clearing of static to -
VOICES
(angrily)
Where are we? What the mother-star
is happening?
GORDON
We're doing as we agreed, taking
you to a new sun.
VOICES
What agreement?
DR. FRERE
You are the third load of -
passengers we have taken from the
sunlette near Pluto to the proper
Sun of this galaxy.
GORDON
We're about to eject you to join
them.
VOICES
Prove it. Prove our brethren are
here!
Gordon and Dr. Frere look at each other aghast and uncertain.
GORDON
I don't know if we can. Please give
us a few quiet minutes to see if we
have the ability to reach them.
Gordon turns off the communication to the storage hold. The
banging stops. He types, then waits. He reads a small screen.
DR. FRERE
And?
GORDON
And the answer is maybe.
Gordon makes adjustments to various dials, toggles and knobs.
DR. FRERE
This raises things we never
considered: maybe life in our sun
ate them. Maybe our sun has
something poison to them.
GORDON
You're right. We assumed hot is
hot.
Gordon hits a button.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR SUN
The teardrop Mini-T sends a circular signal (like old
depictions of radio waves) from the eye above the door toward
the sun.
INT. MINI-T - RESUME
GORDON
I'm sending on all frequencies.
DR. FRERE
And?
GORDON
Nothing.
VOICES
Where are our people?!
GORDON
We're trying!
VOICES
We don't believe you! We're
prisoners.
GORDON
Until you stopped us, we were about
to expel you into the Sun!
DR. FRERE
(very quietly)
Maybe we still should!
VOICES
To dispose of us!
GORDON
Look! Instead of fighting us, help
us help you. Is there something in
this sun that could be poison to
you? Is there a special frequency
to try and reach your people?
DR. FRERE
We're trying to help!
There is a long silence.
VOICES
Send us the composition of this
Sun.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
The intended repairs are more or less done, except the need
for a support wall. The bad metal has been cut away, leaving
a gaping hole.
INT. CIRCULAR CORRIDOR
Perianne and Chief Scientist Ashmore confer. The clock says 2
hours and 14 minutes. B.g. workers attach what metal they
have - a couple pieces, 24 feet by 3 feet. They are small
given the size of the gap which needs many times as much.
ASHMORE
It's as I feared: we are not
extracting enough metal fast enough
from the buildings.
PERIANNE
I'm worried about Gordon and my
ship. Fudging the time a little,
their three trips should have taken
no more than ten minutes.
Perianne checks her watch.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
They were two minutes behind
leaving for the third run, but that
was hours ago.
ASHMORE
You have no way to communicate?
PERIANNE
No... Maybe.
ASHMORE
For God's sake, woman, why haven't
you at least tried?
Perianne pulls out her cell phone, dials and raises the phone
in the direction of Sol.
PERIANNE
The ship is new, and all her
functions haven't been tried.
C'mon, baby. Are you listening for
Mommy?
INT. MINI-T
Gordon checks dials and readings. Dr. Frere watches.
GORDON
The Mini-T is now at our desired
distance from the Sun.
DR. FRERE
Why do you seem so happy about it?
GORDON
Because the Mini-T is new and doing
a lot of things for the first time.
And she's doing great.
Gordon jumps as his phone rings. He answers.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Yes?... Perianne! We're at a
standoff with this last load.
Gordon places the phone on the console and Perianne is heard
over the com system.
PERIANNE
Over what?
GORDON
The edges are awake, paranoid and
threatening.
DR. FRERE
They want proof their kindred are
alive.
PERIANNE
They are. Amplify the lowest
frequencies.
Gordon moves two switches and turns down a dial.
DR. FRERE
Can't we just eject them and let
them find out for themselves?
PERIANNE
All planets want to be on good
terms with the beings in their sun.
Helping these scared beings will be
remembered when Earth eventually
negotiates.
Both Gordon and Dr. Frere look surprised.
GORDON
I'll try and keep that in mind.
PERIANNE
I need you back here as soon as
possible. Out.
Perianne no sooner signs off when a red light on the console
starts to beep. Gordon looks.
GORDON
Damn! They've been stringing us
along. They've been using the time
to erode the energy net! I don't
think it has enough power to eject
them!
.
. END OF ACT III
. ACT IV
RESUME
Gordon turns on the internal Com line, and he's angry.
GORDON
Listen, buggers, if you don't stop
messing with the net, I'll return
to deepest space and freeze your
asses.
The red light on the console stops beeping.
DR. FRERE
So much for diplomacy.
(into Com)
Did you look at the Sun's
composition?
VOICES
(over Com)
There is nothing wrong with this
star.
GORDON
Then why don't you let us release
you?
VOICES
Because the last we knew is it was
beings like you who turned off the
little star.
DR. FRERE
You changed the sunlette's fuel so
when it burned, it emitted a
frequency that killed my people!
GORDON
When we found you, we could have
let you freeze. So why think you're
prisoners?
There's a long silence. Insight grows on Gordon's face.
GORDON (CONT'D)
You knew! You knew you were making
the people on the planet sick.
The silence continues for another beat, then -
VOICES
Yes. We knew, but there was nothing
we could do about it. What killed
your people was our people dying.
The little star was not our natural
environment.
Dr. Frere takes a moment to process the revelation.
DR. FRERE
I will make sure our people know
your side of the story.
A rumbling on the Com line precedes -
DIFFERENT VOICES
(over Com)
Rock dwellers, why do you signal
us? We have accepted the refugees.
GORDON
The final group feared for their
comrads' safety.
VOICES
Our apologies.
DIFFERENT VOICES
Then join us...
VOICES
Ready for ejection. - We'll share
the story of your great gift in
bringing us here. Thank you.
Gordon and Dr. Frere are floored.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR SUN
The Mini-T is a tiny drop against the huge Sun, but the blast
off of the gel load is seen hurling into the sun. Then, the
Mini-T abruptly disappears.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
Orienting.
INT. CIRCULAR CORRIDOR
The Mini-T appears as the Greek column. Perianne rushes over,
Ashmore in tow. Gordon and Dr. Frere exit the column.
The clock shows 1 hour and 58 minutes.
ASHMORE
(to Dr. Frere and Gordon)
Where the hell have you been?
DR. FRERE
Depositing the aliens.
ASHMORE
They weren't important. We needed
you here!
DR. FRERE
For what?
ASHMORE
We need more metal to finish the
Sunlette.
GORDON
Is that why you called?
PERIANNE
Yes.
Perianne ushers Gordon back into the column.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne goes to the console and types at blinding speed
while talking with Gordon.
PERIANNE
Now, I'm concerned we're asking too
much of the Mini-T.
GORDON
Why?
PERIANNE
We've asked so much more of her
today than I originally envisioned.
GORDON
Then why are you willing to make
more materials for them?
Perianne stops typing. A beat later a metal beam begins to
emerge from beneath the console, then steadily extends.
PERIANNE
Because this Sunlette was created
by a Time Lord - a Dr. Renknyne.
GORDON
Speaking of Gallifrey: have you
tracked the artifact we came for?
PERIANNE
Yes; it's a third of the way around
the planet in the middle of
nowhere.
GORDON
Maybe it's something Dr. Renknyne
left.
PERIANNE
We'll see when we finish here.
The beam has progressed out the door of the Mini-T.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
Construction Workers attach the metal beam to anchor the V
that disconnected earlier. Other pieces of metal are in place
to reinforce the new beam.
INT. CIRCULAR CORRIDOR
The clock says 32 minutes. Chief Scientist Ashmore confers
with Perianne as they walk along and inspect what's going on
in the work areas.
ASHMORE
It looks like we'll finish with a
couple minutes to spare.
PERIANNE
I'll check the control room to be
sure we're ready to re-ignite.
Perianne and Chief Scientist Ashmore come across a pile of
damaged metal with holes and curled, crumpled edges
ASHMORE
I'll signal as soon as all staff
are safely away.
PERIANNE
I hope your daughter recovers soon.
Chief Scientist Ashmore's disoriented by the reference, nods
and exits. Perianne lights up with an idea with a lingering
look at Ashmore.
Then as she moves on, her foot clips one of the metal pieces.
The clatter gets her to look down, and she sees the piece has
painted words. She turns it and reads, "Doctor & K9."
Perianne laughs.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Doctor Renknyne, indeed!
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
Perianne and Gordon work at the control panels, the Greek
column (Mini-T) in the middle of the space. Perianne turns on
various switches. Gordon checks gauges. Then suddenly, she
stops and gives Gordon a horrified look.
PERIANNE
We totally forgot about the loss of
fuel!
GORDON
Can the Mini-T make it?
Perianne has already resumed typing.
PERIANNE
Not enough in the time we have.
GORDON
Have the Sunlette burn correctly
for a shorter life span?
PERIANNE
It needs more fuel to set off the
reaction to burn throughout the
whole structure.
GORDON
Block parts of the structure, and
ignite the rest in a closer orbit?
Perianne runs figures at lightening speed.
PERIANNE
No. It would have to be closer than
it could be in orbit. Further out -
too weak.
GORDON
Weak! What about the gaseous
sunlette?
Perianne runs figures even faster.
PERIANNE
Yes! Between the Mini-T and
converting the gaseous sunlette,
there will be sufficient fuel. But
we'll be cutting it very close.
GORDON
Can we really ask the Mini-T to
produce fuel and convert the
gaseous sunlette at the same time?
PERIANNE
We'll ask.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and Gordon watch the light on the console. It comes
on green but wavers.
GORDON
That seems like, 'I'm not sure.'
PERIANNE
I'm taking it that way, too.
(to the Mini-T)
Do you want to try?
The light on the console becomes solid green, and Perianne
types again at super speed.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
(to Gordon)
Take over the tractor beam. I had a
brainstorm on how to help the sick
people below.
Gordon hastens to the station. Perianne types again.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
The Mini-T is the teardrop. The "eye" above the door sends a
beam that surrounds the gaseous sunlette and draws it to the
Mini-T and the malfunctioning Sunlette. Suddenly, there is an
energy and matter stream from the gaseous sunlette to the
Mini-T, and a couple beats after that, the Mini-T emits a
different stream to the center of the reconstructed Sunlette.
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
There is banging on the door from outside of the empty room.
ASHMORE (O.S.)
Engineer! Engineer! Where are you?
Turn on the star. We're down to two
minutes!
INT. MINI-T
Both Perianne and Gordon studiously work at the main console.
PERIANNE
Gaseous sunlette - ninety-three
percent converted.
GORDON
Containment net holding and
shrinking at scheduled rate.
Perianne looks at another section on the console.
PERIANNE
The Mini-T is creating thirty
kiloliters per second of additional
fuel.
GORDON
Sunlette fuel capacity is at ninety
one point six percent.
PERIANNE
We're not going to make it. We have
barely a minute left.
Perianne turns on her watch, makes adjustments and speaks
into it.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Ashmore? Can you read me?
ASHMORE
(over Perianne's watch)
Engineer? Where are you?
PERIANNE
Has everyone cleared?
ASHMORE
Yes, we're all out of range. Light
the Sunlette!
PERIANNE
I will - at the very last second to
maximize fuel intake. Out.
GORDON
Perianne, run the figures with
ninety-two percent. We must have
crossed the critical threshold for
a reaction by now.
Perianne lights up and runs figures a blinding speed.
PERIANNE
You're right! And this is actually
two percent more fuel than what was
onboard when the meteor hit.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
The Mini-T disengages from the remaining wafts the gaseous
sunlette and disappears from space.
INT. SUNLETTE CONTROL ROOM
The Mini-T appears as the Greek column, and Perianne rushes
out and to the console. She hits buttons with blinding speed.
Gauges light up, and a hum with a mild vibration is heard and
felt. Gordon watches from the entrance to the Greek column.
Perianne stops and looks at Gordon.
PERIANNE
Here goes...
Gordon crosses his fingers, and Perianne presses a button.
The hum and mild vibration don't alter, and Perianne looks
concerned. Then the sunlette shudders, alarming her further.
The spirit of the 4th Doctor (who built the Sunlette) takes
over Perianne (figuratively), and she gives the unit a good
knock with the outside of her fist. The shuddering stops and
a stoking sound is heard. She smiles.
EXT. OUTER SPACE, NEAR MALFUNCTIONING SUN, NOW DARK
At first, nothing seems to change, and then the Sunlette
starts to glow. The glow brightens and moves from reddish to
more yellow. The yellow glow bursts into flame, and the
flames get larger and larger and larger.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Chief Scientist Ashmore, Dr. Frere, Engineers and
Construction Workers still in spacesuits hurry. They carry
large heat lanterns. Their walking has the sound of breaking
thin ice. Ashmore looks at a watch embedded in the suit.
ASHMORE
She's got thirty seconds!
DR. FRERE
This is cutting it so close!
The black of night gradually becomes darkest of gray in the
Day Room window at the far end of the hall, but no one
discerns it.
ASHMORE
The heat lanterns are hardly
affecting anything.
Chief Scientist Ashmore and Dr. Frere lead everyone into -
INT. LARGE MEDICAL WARD - NIGHT
Darkest grey is giving way to dark grey through the windows,
but again no one sees.
The ward is crowded with Medical Staff, Patients and Other
People seeking refuge. There are large heat lanterns
everywhere, but everyone is in coats covered by blankets and
huddled together. A wan Sirianna Ashmore is enveloped by a
boy her age, young Terrington.
There isn't much room left for Chief Scientist Ashmore, Dr.
Frere, the Engineers and the Construction Workers who pour
in. There is jostling as people find family and reunite.
Dr. Chaykin, in a hooded coat with a blanket over it, breaks
away from the movement and comes over.
DR. CHAYKIN
When will it turn on? Our heat
lamps are quickly failing. We can't
take much more.
ASHMORE
The Engineer said the last second
to maximize the fuel. That's any
time now.
DR. FRERE
No. It's already started!
Dr. Frere points to the now gray sky through one of windows.
There is a hubbub as everyone orients to look, and they see
the growing light. A cheer goes up.
EXT. BUILDING TOP, PLUTONIAN CITY - DAY
And a glorious day it is with the Sunlette shining brightly.
All over the roof are patients in the company of medical
staff, all looking better. Sirianna Ashmore walks almost
normally with young Terrington.
Chief Scientist Ashmore, Drs. Chaykin and Frere stand
opposite Perianne and Gordon. The Mini-T as the storage shed
is behind the latter two.
DR. CHAYKIN
I don't know how to thank you; the
recovery rate is astonishing.
PERIANNE
I added a frequency that heals
genetic lesions.
ASHMORE
We'll pass that knowledge on to the
next research crew.
DR. FRERE
(to Gordon)
Thanks for the trip to the Sun in
your amazing ship.
GORDON
I couldn't have pulled it off
without you.
DR. FRERE
If I may ask, what brought you so
luckily our way?
PERIANNE
I'm after an artifact the Doctor -
Gordon gives Perianne a strange look.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Or some person from my planet left
here.
ASHMORE
In one of the cities?
PERIANNE
In the middle of nowhere.
Perianne and Gordon go into the shed, and a couple beats
later it disappears. Dr. Frere takes it in stride, but Chief
Scientist Ashmore and Dr. Chaykin are agape.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne and Gordon are at the console.
PERIANNE
Next stop, middle of nowhere,
Pluto.
GORDON
Was that a slip of the tongue when
you said the Doctor instead of Dr.
Renknyne?
PERIANNE
No. It was the Doctor, and someone
called K9.
GORDON
That's a dog!
PERIANNE
(shrugs)
Let's find what we came for.
Perianne checks several screens. Gordon scans others.
GORDON
Our quarry is a couple hundred feet
below the surface.
PERIANNE
That's too far to dig, even with
the Mini-T - Wait! There's an
underground area.
GORDON
And it has heat and power!
PERIANNE
No life signs. Security easy to
override. Plenty of room to land.
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE COMPLEX
Someone has constructed a single room in an underground
pocket. It has nicely-appointed, humanoid living quarters, a
well stocked recreational area and a storage area. It's well
lit.
The Mini-T as the Greek column appears in the living area. A
beat later, Perianne and Gordon emerge.
GORDON
How can this be here?
PERIANNE
(checking her watch)
Cobalt ion generator - runs for
ever...
(scans around)
No one's been here in - at least a
year... Signals from objects from
all over the universe!
Gordon examines a few of the object d'art in the living area.
GORDON
Are any of these what we're after?
PERIANNE
No.
(checking her watch)
Over here.
Perianne and Gordon walk from the living area through the
recreational area to the storage area, demarcated by a
curtain. Gordon pulls the curtain back.
Both Gordon and Perianne become wide eyed.
Behind the curtain is a stash of gems, jewelry, object d'art
and coins that would make a pirate blush. It goes on for
nearly fifty yards, dwarfing the living area.
.
. END OF ACT IV
. ACT V
RESUME
Perianne scans the treasure trove as Gordon continues to
stare agape.
GORDON
Is a lot it Gallifreyian?
PERIANNE
Almost none of it. We're looking
for a single object.
Gordon examines shining jewels and golden artifacts. He picks
up a large, shiny blue gem and plays with it.
GORDON
If it's at the level of this...
PERIANNE
Gold and jewels have no meaning to
Time Lords other than their
aesthetic and practical value.
Perianne's watch flashes.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Over here!
Perianne wends her way through open crates of goods,
sculptures and pieces of ornate furniture toward the signal.
Gordon follows, still playing with the blue jewel. They round
a pile of crates, and Perianne stops so short, Gordon bumps
into her. Perianne doesn't react to being bumped into and
stares jaw dropped. Gordon follows her line of sight to
- the gaudiest item of all! It's a platinum with gold
appointments "wall decoration" four feet high and eight feet
long with a gorgeous sweeping pattern in huge, colored jewels
showing a gradual gradation from one color to the next,
perpendicular to normal rainbow.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
The Shatravargon!
Perianne leans against Gordon in shock.
GORDON
I thought you just said that gold
and jewels weren't important.
PERIANNE
They aren't in and of themselves.
That's the Central Library of
Gallifrey.
Gordon's surprised. Perianne arights and goes to the
Shatravargon. Gordon follows still playing with the jewel.
GORDON
Bet whoever stole it wasn't after
the reading material.
Perianne goes to the hanging piece to lift it off the wall.
PERIANNE
This shouldn't be hanging but at an
ang -
As Perianne touches the Shatravargon, she's electrically
shocked and thrown several feet back. Gordon rushes to her,
and without thinking slips the blue jewel into his pocket.
GORDON
Perianne!
Gordon checks for breathing and a pulse. Perianne comes to.
PERIANNE
What happened?
GORDON
The Shatravargon shocked you.
Gordon helps Perianne stand.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Are you all right?
Perianne shakes off the shock and fall, then nods.
PERIANNE
My error. It knows it's been stolen
and is in defense mode.
GORDON
Then how do we take it?
PERIANNE
Communicate with it.
GORDON
Your watch?
PERIANNE
Maybe. It's not meant for this kind
of interface.
Perianne makes adjustments to her watch. Suddenly there is a
ripple of light in the jewels in the Shatravargon. It then
goes quiescent.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
It acknowledges that this is
another Gallifreyian device and
that I'm Gallifreyian, but it's not
sufficient to lower its defences.
GORDON
Can it identify you? Then it would
know you have a clean record.
Perianne communicates via her watch, then waits. There is
another lighting of some of the jewels in rippling pattern.
Perianne looks exasperated.
PERIANNE
It acknowledges I'm an upright
citizen but wants me to find a
qualified Librarian!
GORDON
How do you explain a Time War?
Perianne lights up and types on her watch.
PERIANNE
It has record of the Time War until
a few years before the end. - And
my watch has the rest!
Perianne again makes adjustments on her watch.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Offering the data...
The jewels flash, then darken again. Perianne looks
frustrated.
GORDON
It wants more proof?
PERIANNE
Yes.
GORDON
Tell the persnickety thing that
we'll leave, and it can sit and
rot.
PERIANNE
Gordon, this is everything to me.
It has every play, concert, book,
piece of art, great lecture my
culture ever produced over eons.
GORDON
Sorry. Could the Mini-T communicate
more proof?
PERIANNE
It knows what other Tardis' know.
But we're talking about systems
with little intended compatibility.
Perianne communicates via her watch, and shakes her head.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
They're not compatible without some
real work.
GORDON
Then ask it how it would like us to
give it more proof.
Gordon was being sarcastic, but Perianne does ask through the
watch, the jewels light and ripple, and she is suddenly very
surprised.
PERIANNE
It says it will take down its
defenses and let us take it if we
become Librarians.
Gordon joins her in looking floored.
GORDON
How do we become Librarians?
Perianne doesn't answer and types furiously on the watch.
PERIANNE
I can't become a Librarian; I'm
already imprinted as an Engineer.
GORDON
You can't double major?
Perianne continues to communicate via her watch.
PERIANNE
It's asking if you're imprinted; I
explained you're not Gallifreyian. -
No one's been a double major, as
you put it, in multiple millennia.
Too much information.
Perianne is taken aback.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
It's response is, 'Both of you.'
GORDON
What do we risk?
PERIANNE
Me - an information overload that
could result in a catatonic state.
You - overload or incompatibility.
GORDON
Could I die?
PERIANNE
I don't know. I think your
connection to the Mini-T has
prepared your mind to take in
information directly.
GORDON
So I might only end up a vegetable?
PERIANNE
Yes - too much information too
fast.
GORDON
Your odds?
PERIANNE
I don't know. It might overwrite my
Engineering knowledge. No one's
ever done this.
GORDON
Then you don't know what you're
risking.
PERIANNE
Correct. And if I lose being an
Engineer, I won't be me.
GORDON
Then, is this important enough to
risk that?
PERIANNE
I don't know...
Tears stream down Perianne's face as she grapples with the
choice. After many beats, she looks at the Shatravargon
miserably. With resignation -
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
I can't have my bumpernit and eat
it too.
Perianne bolts and runs from the area.
The Shatravargon sends out a beam that momentarily
immobilizes Perianne's flight, but her hand ends up close
enough to her star that she sets it off. Her shield goes up,
and she slips out of the beam and continues running.
Gordon turns on his star.
GORDON
I don't know if you can hear me,
but you blew it. Some day, even
you'll need the help of an
Engineer!
Gordon sprints after Perianne, oblivious to the Scrooge
McDuck wealth around him.
CUT TO:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE COMPLEX
Gordon catches up with Perianne in the recreational area in
sight of the Mini-T. She's openly crying. He wraps an arm
firmly around her shoulders and walks her to the Mini-T. She
puts her head against his shoulder.
GORDON
I'm so sorry...
PERIANNE
The Shatravargon! It would have
been such an incredible save!
Nothing like finding a purpose and
being rejected.
GORDON
It didn't know a good offer when it
had one. Your plan to gather
artifacts from Gallifrey is noble.
PERIANNE
I was thinking selfishly. The
Shatravargon would have let me
visit the Gallifrey from before the
war. Do have any idea how hard it
is to be a stranger ALL the time?
GORDON
Not all the time, but every trip
off Earth.
PERIANNE
Then you know how great it is when
you get home. The Mini-T is such a
tiny slice.
Gordon nods thoughtfully. He and Perianne enter the Mini-T.
INT. MINI-T
Perianne breaks from Gordon.
PERIANNE
I'm going to lie down.
GORDON
Wait.
Perianne turns and looks at Gordon with irritation.
GORDON (CONT'D)
I know she's not a puppy, but is
there something we can do to reward
the Mini-T for all she did for us
today?
Perianne smiles tiredly, nods and goes to the console.
PERIANNE
Yes, we can lower the equivalent of
her idle for awhile. You're right;
she performed like a seasoned
Tardis. Thank you, Mini-T.
Perianne makes adjustments on the console.
GORDON
Our baby is growing up.
Perianne nods, then heads up the stairs to her room.
Gordon ponders, then clearly gets a bright idea. He goes to
the Mini-T console and types semi-clumsily. He doesn't like
what he gets back, and types again briefly. This time Gordon
smiles. He leaves the console with a sense of eager purpose.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MONTAGE - MINI-T
Gordon checks one screen while inputting in another at the
console... He goes to a food dispenser on the wall of the
Sitting Room, and a pitcher of a pink liquid appears...
Gordon sets up the large divan in the Sitting Room... Gordon
arranges a large tray with snacks in the Sitting Room...
Gordon materializes a bouquet of alien looking flowers in the
console room, with other strange flowers b.g.
INT. MINI-T, UPPER LEVEL
Gordon has an air of excitement as he knocks quietly on
Perianne's door.
GORDON
(also quietly)
Perianne, are you up?
Gordon waits to the point he's about to turn away when
Perianne opens her door. She's no longer crying but looks
profoundly sad.
PERIANNE
What?
GORDON
I have something to cheer you up.
PERIANNE
There's nothing that will cheer me
up.
GORDON
This will. Trust me. - Please?
Perianne acquiesces out of curiosity as much as anything.
Gordon leads her to the door to the Sitting Room. He steps
aside so Perianne can enter.
INT. MINI-T SITTING ROOM
The room has many scattered vases with alien flowers. Unusual
music is playing quietly. The far wall opposite the divan is
lit like a screen waiting to go.
Perianne enters and stops. She takes in the room and is
dumbfounded.
PERIANNE
Gallifreyian flowers! - and
Irdisi's concerto!! Gordon!
Gordon escorts her to the divan and gestures her to sit; she
complies, still a little shocked.
Gordon goes to a side counter and returns with the large
tray. It has odd foods: including something that looks like a
tiny rolled up very thin taco with a paste inside, something
that looks like chunks of glazed bread, two sauces and the
pitcher with something pink.
GORDON I
According to the data banks, these
are appropriate Gallifreyian foods
for watching a performance.
Perianne's residual funk is replaced by excitement.
PERIANNE
Bumpernit!
Perianne takes one of the glazed breads and dips it in one of
the sauces. Gordon pours them each a glass of the pink drink.
Perianne takes a bite and savors.
PERIANNE (CONT'D)
Ummm! I haven't had this since
before the war! I never even
thought to...
(sips the drink)
Guarnay! I can't believe it!
(bites a tiny taco)
Oo-oo! Dalya! Try one!
Gordon takes a tiny taco, bites it and clearly likes what he
tastes as he pops the rest into his mouth.
GORDON
I'm glad m'lady is pleased with the
snacks. Now, your viewing choices.
Gordon uses a remote, and the screen becomes a three
dimensional "box" 8 feet high, 12 feet long and 6 feet deep.
Gallifreyian writing gradually scrolls by. Perianne is at
first stunned, then increasingly excited.
PERIANNE
The Six Galaxy concert! The Opera
of the Weeping Angel!! Lectures on
great literature!!! Where did you
get this?!
GORDON
Mostly the Doctor's Tardis: the
first, third, seventh and eighth
Doctors had extensive libraries of
Gallifreyian works. I know it's not
the Shatravargon, but there's a lot
here.
PERIANNE
I never considered looking.
GORDON
Perianne, you're not just adjusting
to Earth; you're adapting to
civilian life. I went through it
after the war I was in.
PERIANNE
(considers a beat)
You're right. Except for my new pre
war bedroom, I still live like I'm
in the service. I always wear my
Engineering Service jacket.
GORDON
Your meals look like military food.
PERIANNE
Pre-war cuisine never crossed my
mind. None of this.
Perianne sweeps her hand encompassing the screen, flowers and
food.
GORDON
Now, bit by bit you need to re
explores and reclaim as much of
your pre-war self as you can. It's
part of figuring out who you are
now.
PERIANNE
Guidance appreciated. I feel like
I'm waking up.
GORDON
(nods)
And watching something on that list
(points to the scrolling)
will be another step.
PERIANNE
(tearing up)
I don't know how to thank you!
Gordon hands Perianne the remote control.
GORDON
Easy. Pick something I'll
understand for our first showing.
Perianne and Gordon laugh as he plops down on the divan next
to her.
.
. THE END