04x10 - Midnight

Episode transcripts for the 2005 TV show "Doctor Who". (Ninth to Twelfth Doctor)*

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Time and Space traveling adventures of a Gallifreyan Time Lord only known as "the Doctor" and his companions.

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04x10 - Midnight

Post by bunniefuu »

We see the glittering crystal landscape of the planet Midnight. In the centre rests the Leisure Palace.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA is lounging poolside as a waiter brings her a telephone. DONNA picks up the receiver.

DONNA
I said no.

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

The DOCTOR is at a pay phone.

DOCTOR
A sapphire waterfall-it's a waterfall made of sapphires.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA smiles indulgently.

DOCTOR
(on phone) This enormous jewel the size of a glacier...

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

DOCTOR
Reaches the Cliffs of Oblivion and then shatters into sapphires at the edge. They fall 100,000 feet into a crystal ravine.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA
I bet you say that to all the girls.

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

The passengers walk past the DOCTOR as they begin to board.

DOCTOR
Oh, come on, they're boarding now. It's no fun if I see it on me own. Four hours. That's all it'll take.

DONNA
(on phone) No, that's four hours there and four hours back. That's like a school trip.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA
I'd rather go sunbathing.

DOCTOR
(on phone) You be careful. That's X-tonic sunlight.

DONNA
Oh, I'm safe. It says in the brochure this glass is 15 feet thick.

DOCTOR
(on phone) All right, I give up.

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

DOCTOR
I'll be back for dinner. We'll try that anti-gravity restaurant-with bibs.

DONNA
(on phone) That's a date.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA
Well, not a date. Oh, you know what I mean. Oh, get off.

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

DOCTOR
See you later.

DONNA
(on phone) Oi!

INT. LEISURE PALACE

DONNA
And you be careful. All right?

DOCTOR
(on phone) Nah!

INT. CRUSADER TERMINAL

DOCTOR
Taking a big space truck with a bunch of strangers across a diamond planet called Midnight-what could possibly go wrong? (hangs up phone)

David Tennant
Catherine Tate

DOCTOR WHO
"MIDNIGHT"
by Russell T. Davies

Producer
Phil Collinson

Director
Alice Troughton

INT. CRUSADER "TRUCK", CABIN

The DOCTOR is in his seat and watches the rest of the passengers board. The HOSTESS is passing out items to a woman across the aisle from the DOCTOR, SKY SILVESTRY.

HOSTESS
Complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts.

SKY
Just the headphones, please.

HOSTESS
(hands SKY headphones) There you go. (moves over to the DOCTOR and begins to hand him items) That's the headphones for channels 1-36, modem link for 3-D vid games, complimentary earplugs, complimentary slippers, complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts. I must warn you, some products may contain nuts.

DOCTOR
That'll be the peanuts.

HOSTESS
Enjoy your trip.

DOCTOR
Oh, I can't wait. Allons-y!

HOSTESS
I'm sorry?

DOCTOR
It's French for "Let's go".

HOSTESS
Fascinating. (moves on to the people behind him) Headphones for channels-

The older man is PROFESSOR HOBBES and the young woman is his research assistant, DEE DEE.

HOBBES
Oh, no, thank you, not for us. (sits)

DEE DEE
Ear plugs, please.

HOBBES
They call it a sapphire waterfall, but it's no such thing. Sapphire's an aluminium oxide but the glacier is just compound silica with iron pigmentation.

The HOSTESS has moved on to a middle-aged couple, BIFF and VAL.

HOSTESS
...Complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts.

VAL
Thank you.

HOBBES
...And the pills?

DEE DEE
All measured out for you.

HOBBES leans forward and introduces himself to the DOCTOR.

HOBBES
Hobbes, Professor Winfold Hobbes. (shakes the DOCTOR'S hand)

DOCTOR
I'm the Doctor. Hello.

HOBBES
It's my fourteenth time.

DOCTOR
Oh, my first.

DEE DEE
(stands) And I'm Dee Dee. (shakes his hand) Dee Dee Blasco.

HOBBES
Don't bother the man! Where's my water bottle?

The DOCTOR nods and smiles at SKY but she just buries her head in a book. The HOSTESS has moved down the aisle and is passing complimentary items to JETHRO, a young man dressed in semi-Goth style, the son of VAL and BIFF.

HOSTESS
...complimentary slippers, complimentary juice pack and complimentary peanuts. I must warn you, some products may contain nuts.

VAL and BIFF are sitting across the aisle from him.

VAL
Don't be silly! Come sit with us. Look! We get slippers!

BIFF
Jethro, do what your mother says.

JETHRO
I'm sitting here.

BIFF
He's ashamed of us but he doesn't mind us paying, does he?

VAL
Now, don't you two start. Should I save the juice pack or have it now? Look, it's peach and clementine.

HOSTESS
(walks to front of cabin) Ladies and gentlemen and variations thereupon, welcome onboard the Crusader 50. If you would fasten your seatbelts, we'll be leaving any moment. Doors. (the pneumatic doors slide closed) Shields down. (shields block the windows) I'm afraid the view is shielded until we reach the Waterfall Palace. Also, a reminder: Midnight has no air so please don't touch the exterior door seals. Fire exit at the rear, and, should we need to use it, you first. (chuckles) Now, I will hand you over to Driver Joe.

DRIVER JOE
(over intercom) Driver Joe at the wheel. There's been a diamond fall at the Winter Witch Canyon so we'll be taking a slight detour, as you'll see on the map. (a map appears on the passenger screen) The journey covers 500 kliks to the Multifaceted Coast; duration is estimated at four hours. Thank you fro travelling with us, and, as they used to say in the olden days, wagons roll!

The engines start and the shuttle begins to move.

HOSTESS
For your entertainment, we have the music channel playing retrovids of Earth Classics. (uses the remote and screens lower from the ceiling showing Raffaello Cara singing "Do It Again") Also, the latest artistic installations from Ludovic Klein. (hits another button on the remote and a hologram appears, encompassing the cabin) Just for the youngsters, a rare treat-the Animation Archives. (a black and white Betty Boop cartoon starts) Four hours of fun time. Enjoy!

All the media blares at once, a cacophony of sound. The DOCTOR discretely takes out the sonic screwdriver and uses it, shutting everything down.

HOBBES
Well, that's a mercy.

HOSTESS
I do apologize, ladies and gentlemen, and variations thereupon. We seem to have had a failure of the entertainment system.

DOCTOR
Ooh.

VAL
What do we do?

BIFF
We've got four hours of this? Four hours of just...sitting here?

DOCTOR
(gets up and looks over seat) Tell you what...we'll have to talk to each other instead. (grins cheekily)

98 KLIKS LATER

SKY is still reading while the DOCTOR is kneeling on a seat in front of VAL and BIFF, facing them as they relate a funny story.

VAL
So Biff said, "I'm going swimming"...

BIFF
Oh, I was all ready, trunks and everything! Nose plug.

VAL
(laughing) And his little nose plug. You should have seen it.

BIFF
And I went marching up to the lifeguard, and he was a Shamboni, you know, those big foreheads...

VAL
Great, big forehead!

BIFF
And I said, "Where's the pool" and he said...

VAL and BIFF
"The pool is abstract"!

JETHRO mouths the words, bored, having heard the story over and over. Everyone laughs.

BIFF
It was a concept.

DOCTOR
And you were wearing a nose plug?

BIFF
Oh, it was like this. (pinches nose) Where's the pool?

150 KLIKS LATER...

The DOCTOR is standing in the galley, chatting with Dee Dee.

DEE DEE
I'm just a second-year student, but I wrote a paper on the Lost Moon of Poosh. Professor Hobbes read it, liked it, took me on as researcher, just for the holidays. I say "researcher"-most of the time he's got me fetching and carrying, but it's all good experience.

DOCTOR
And did they ever find it?

DEE DEE
Find what?

DOCTOR
The Lost Moon of Poosh.

DEE DEE
(laughs) No, not yet.

DOCTOR
Well, maybe that'll be your great discovery one day. (lifts cup) Here's to Poosh.

DEE DEE
(raises cup) Poosh.

209 KLIKS LATER...

The DOCTOR is sitting next to SKY as they prepare to eat.

DOCTOR
No, no. I'm with this friend of mine, Donna. She stayed behind in the Leisure Palace. You?

SKY
No, it's just me.

DOCTOR
Oh, I've done plenty of that, travelling on my own. I love it. Do what you want, go anywhere.

SKY
I'm still getting used to it. I found myself single rather recently, not by choice.

DOCTOR
What happened?

SKY
Oh, the usual. She needed her own space, as they say. A different galaxy, in fact. I reckon that's enough space, don't you?

DOCTOR
Yeah. I had a friend who went to a different universe.

SKY
(looks at food) Oh. What's this? Chicken or beef?

DOCTOR
I think it's both.

251 KLIKS LATER...

HOBBES is giving a lecture on the planet's background. Everyone is listening.

HOBBES
So, this is Midnight, d'you see? Bombarded by the sun-Xtonic rays, raw galvanic radiation. Dee Dee, next slide! It's my pet project. Actually, I'm the first person to research this. Because, you see...this history is fascinating...because there is no history! There's no life in this entire system! There couldn't be. Before the Leisure Palace Company moved in. no one had come here in all eternity! No. Living. Thing.

JETHRO
But how do you know? I mean, if no one can go outside?

VAL
Oh, his imagination. Here we go.

DOCTOR
He's got a point, though.

HOBBES
Exactly! We look upon this world through glass. Safe inside our metal box. Even the Leisure Palace was lowered down from orbit. And here we are now, crossing Midnight... but never touching it.

There is a banging and whirring and the engines go silent.

VAL
We've stopped. Have we stopped?

BIFF
Are we there?

DEE DEE
We can't be. It's too soon.

HOBBES
They don't stop. Crusader vehicles never stop.

HOSTESS
If you could just return to your seats. It's just a small delay. (heads to intercom)

BIFF
Maybe it's just a pit stop.

HOBBES
There's no pit to stop in. I've been on this expedition fourteen times. They never stop.

SKY
Well, evidently we have stopped, so there's no point in denying it.

JETHRO
(laughs) We've broken down.

VAL
Thanks, Jethro.

JETHRO
In the middle of nowhere.

BIFF
That's enough, now stop it.

HOSTESS
Ladies and gentlemen and variations thereupon, we're just experiencing a short...delay. The driver needs to stabilize the engine feeds. It's perfectly routine. So if you could just stay in your seats-

The DOCTOR approaches the door to the cockpit.

HOSTESS
I'm sorry, sir, I-

DOCTOR
(shows psychic paper) There you go. Engine expert. Two ticks. (opens door and enters)

INT. CRUSADER "TRUCK", COCKPIT

HOSTESS
Sorry, sir, if you could just sit down! You're not supposed to be in there...

The DOCTOR rests his arms on the backs of the seats occupied by two men.

DRIVER JOE
Sorry, if you could return to your seat, sir.

DOCTOR
(shows psychic paper) Company insurance. Let's see if we can get an early assessment. So, what's the problem, Driver Joe?

DRIVER JOE
We're stabilizing the engine feeds. Won't take long.

DOCTOR
Um, no, 'cause that's the engine feed, that line there, and it's fine. And it's a micro-petrol engine, so stabilizing doesn't really make sense, does it? Sorry! I'm the Doctor, I'm very clever. So, what's wrong?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
We just stopped. Look, all systems fine, everything's working, but we're not moving.

DOCTOR
(checks panels with sonic screwdriver) You're right. No faults. And who are you?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
I'm Claude. I'm the mechanic. Trainee.

DOCTOR
Nice to meet you.

DRIVER JOE
I've sent a distress signal. They should dispatch a rescue truck, top speed.

DOCTOR
How long till they get here?

DRIVER JOE
About an hour.

DOCTOR
Well, since we're waiting, shall we take a look outside?

DRIVER JOE
Uh...

DOCTOR
Just...lift the screens a bit?

DRIVER JOE
It's 100% Xtonic out there. We'd be vaporised.

DOCTOR
Nah, those windows are Finitoglass. They'd give you a couple minutes. Go on. Live a little.

DRIVER JOE
Well... (raises the shields)

They all laugh in amazement at the sight in front of them, crystals glittering in the sun.

DOCTOR
That is beautiful.

MECHANIC CLAUDE
Look at all those diamonds! Poisoned by the sun-no one can ever touch 'em.

DOCTOR
Joe, you said we took a detour.

DRIVER JOE
Just about 40 kliks to the west.

DOCTOR
Is that a recognized path?

DRIVER JOE
No, it's a new one. The computer worked it out on a*t*matic.

DOCTOR
So we're the first. This piece of ground, no one's ever been here before...not in the whole of recorded history.

CLAUDE looks out the window as if he's seen something.

MECHANIC CLAUDE
Did you just-

DOCTOR
What?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
No, sorry, it's nothing.

DOCTOR
What did you see?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
(points) Just there, that ridge. Like-like a shadow. Just for a second.

DOCTOR
What sort of shadow?

An alarm sounds.

DRIVER JOE
Xtonic rising. Shields down.

The shields begin to lower.

MECHANIC CLAUDE
Look! Look! There it is! Look there!

DOCTOR
Where?

The shields close.

DOCTOR
What was it?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
Like, just something shifting, something sort of dark, like it was...running.

DOCTOR
Running which way?

MECHANIC CLAUDE
Towards us.

DRIVER JOE
Right, Doctor, back to your seat and not a word, rescue's on its way. If you could close the door, thank you.

The DOCTOR leaves the cockpit.

INT. CRUSADER "TRUCK", CABIN

SKY speaks to the DOCTOR the moment he enters.

SKY
What did they say? Did they tell you? What is it? What's wrong?

DOCTOR
Oh, just stabilizing. Happens all the time.

SKY
I don't need this. I'm on a schedule. This is completely unnecessary!

HOSTESS
Back to your seats, thank you. (enters cockpit)

The DOCTOR and SKY resume their seats.

DEE DEE
(leans forward) Excuse me, Doctor. They're micro-petrol engines, aren't they?

HOBBES
Don't bother the man.

DEE DEE
My father was a mechanic. Micro-petrol doesn't stabilize. What does "stabilize" mean?

JETHRO leans forward to catch some of the conversation.

DOCTOR
Well, bit of flim-flam. Don't worry, they're sorting it out.

HOBBES
So it's not the engine?

DOCTOR
It's just a little pause, that's all.

VAL and BIFF are listening.

HOBBES
How much air have we got?

DOCTOR
Professor, it's fine.

VAL
What did he say?

DOCTOR
Nothing.

VAL
Are we running out of air?

HOBBES
I was just speculating.

The HOSTESS returns to be bombarded with questions.

BIFF
Is that right, miss? Are we running out of air?

VAL
Is that what the captain said?

HOSTESS
If you could all just remain calm.

VAL
How much air have we got?

JETHRO
Mum, just stop it.

HOSTESS
I assure you, everything is under control.

BIFF
Well, doesn't look like it to me.

VAL
Well, he said it.

DEE DEE
...it's fine, the air is on a circular filter...

VAL
...he started it...

Everyone begins talking at once.

DOCTOR
(stands) Everyone... shhh, shhh, shhh... (they ignore him) Quiet! (they all stop and look at him) Thank you. Now, if you'd care to listen to my good friend Dee Dee... (nods to her)

DEE DEE
Oh. (stands) Um, it's just that, well, the air's on a circular filter, so we could stay breathing for ten years.

DOCTOR
There you go. And I've spoken to the captain, I can guarantee you everything's fine.

There's a loud metallic double knock. Everyone looks around trying to find the source.

VAL
What was that?

HOBBES
Must be the metal. We're cooling down. It's just settling.

DEE DEE
Rocks. Could be rocks falling.

BIFF
What I want to know is how long do we have to sit here?

There is a second double knock.

SKY
What is that?

VAL
There's something out there.

HOBBES
Don't be ridiculous.

DEE DEE
Like I said, it could be rocks.

HOSTESS
We're out in the open. Nothing could fall against the sides.

There is another double knock.

DOCTOR
Knock knock.

JETHRO
Who's there?

SKY
Is there something out there? Well? Anyone?

The knocking is repeated.

SKY
What the hell is making that noise?

HOBBES
I'm sorry, but the light out there is Xtonic, that means it would destroy any living thing in a split second. It is impossible for someone to be outside.

Two more knocks from yet another section of the truck.

SKY
So what is that, then?

The DOCTOR goes to the wall and pulls out his stethoscope.

HOSTESS
Sir, you should really get back to your seat!

The DOCTOR put the stethoscope against the wall and listens.

DOCTOR
Hello...

The banging now comes from the back of the cabin.

JETHRO
It's moving.

The DOCTOR walks towards the back as there is a clattering sound.

VAL
(points) It's trying the door!

HOBBES
There is no "it". There's nothing out there. Can't be.

The mysterious "thing" tries the door again then goes onto the roof and to the side door where it knocks again.

VAL
That's the entrance. Can it get in?

DEE DEE
No, that door's on 200-weight hydraulics.

HOBBES
Stop it! Don't encourage them.

DEE DEE
What do you think it is?

BIFF approaches the door.

VAL
Biff, don't!

DOCTOR
Mr Cane, better not.

BIFF
It's cast iron, that door. (knocks three times. Three knocks are repeated)

VAL
Three times. Did you hear that? It did it three times!

JETHRO
It answered.

VAL
It did it three times!

DOCTOR
All right, all right, all right, everyone, calm down.

SKY
No, but it answered, it...answered. Don't tell me that thing's not alive. It answered him!

There are three more knocks.

HOSTESS
I must insist you get back to your seats!

SKY
No! Don't just stand there telling us the rules! You're the hostess! You're supposed to do something!

The DOCTOR knocks four times on the door and it is repeated back.

SKY
(panicked) What the hell's making that noise? She said she'd get me. Stop it. Make it stop. Somebody make it stop. Don't just stand there looking at me! It's not my fault! He started it with his stories...

DEE DEE
Calm down!

SKY
...and he made it worse...

VAL
You're not helping!

SKY
...Why couldn't you leave it alone? Stop staring at me! Just tell me what the hell it is!

DEE DEE
Calm down!

The knocking becomes continuous. SKY backs away towards the cockpit door.

SKY
It's-it's coming for me. Oh, it's coming for me. It's coming for me! It's coming for me! It's coming for me! Oh! Oh! (screams)

DOCTOR
(rushes to her) Get out of there!

The truck is thrown about, the lights go out and sparks fall from the ceiling as everyone is knocked off their feet. It stops and everyone catches their breath.

BIFF
(holds VAL) Are you all right? Look at me.

DOCTOR
(clambers up) Arms, legs, neck, head, nose. I'm fine. Everyone else?

Behind the DOCTOR, the video still plays. For a moment, there is static then ROSE appears, calling for him mutely)

DOCTOR
How are we? Everyone all right?

HOBBES
Earthquake. Must be.

DEE DEE
That's impossible. The ground is fixed. It's solid.

HOSTESS
We've got torches. Everyone take a torch. They're in the back of the seats.

Everyone takes a torch. JETHRO walks towards the front of the cabin.

VAL
Oh, Jethro. Sweetheart, come here.

JETHRO
Never mind me. What about her?

SKY is sitting on the floor, her back to them, head between her hands.

VAL
What happened to the seats?

BIFF
Who did that?

VAL
They've been ripped up.

DOCTOR
(speaks soothingly to SKY) It's all right. It's all right. It's over. We're still alive. The wall's still intact. D'you see?

HOSTESS
(into intercom) Joe? Claude?

DOCTOR
(to SKY) We're safe.

HOSTESS
Driver Joe, can you hear me? I'm not getting any response. The intercom must be down.

The HOSTESS opens the door to the cockpit and a blinding white light is all that there is on the other side. Everyone screams and she quickly closes the door.

VAL
What happened? What was that?

BIFF
Have we lost the driver?

The DOCTOR kneels by a panel in the wall.

HOSTESS
The cabin's gone.

HOBBES
Don't be ridiculous. It can't be gone. How can it be gone?

DEE DEE
Well, you saw it.

HOSTESS
There's nothing there...like it was ripped away.

BIFF
(What are you doing? (points his torch at the DOCTOR)

DOCTOR
That's better. Little bit of light. (uses sonic screwdriver on the panel) Thank you. Molto bene.

VAL
Do you know what you're doing?

BIFF
The cabin's gone, you better leave that wall alone!

HOBBES
The cabin can't be gone!

DOCTOR
No, not, it's safe. Any rupture would automatically seal itself. (removes the panel to expose its inner workings) Unless something sliced it off. You're right, the cabin's gone.

HOSTESS
But if it gets separated...

DOCTOR
It loses integrity. (stands) I'm sorry, they've been reduced to dust...

HOSTESS
No-

DOCTOR
The driver and the mechanic. But they sent a distress signal. Help is on the way. They saved our lives. We are gonna get out of here, I promise. We're still alive, and they're gonna find us.

JETHRO
(looking at SKY) Doctor, look at her.

DOCTOR
(sees SKY hasn't moved) Right, yes, sorry. Have we got a medical kit?

JETHRO
Why won't she turn around?

HOBBES
What's her name?

HOSTESS
Silvestry. Mrs Sky Silvestry.

DOCTOR
(stands behind SKY) Sky? Can you hear me? (squats) Are you all right? Can you move, Sky? Just look at me.

JETHRO
That noise from outside...it's stopped.

VAL
Well, that God for that!

JETHRO
But what if it's not outside anymore? What if it's inside?

VAL
Inside? Where?

JETHRO
(looks at SKY)It was heading for her.

DOCTOR
Sky...it's all right, Sky. I just want you to turn around, face me.

SKY slowly lowers her hands and turns around, eyes wide, and stares at the DOCTOR. She jerks her head, animal-like, to observe the others. The DOCTOR kneels beside her and she faces him. He tilts his head to the left and she mirrors him. He goes to the right and she mirrors him again.

DOCTOR
Sky?

SKY
Sky?

DOCTOR
Are you all right?

SKY
Are you all right?

DOCTOR
Are you hurt?

SKY
Are you hurt?

DOCTOR
You don't have to talk.

SKY
You don't have to talk.

DOCTOR
I'm trying to help.

SKY
I'm trying to help.

DOCTOR
My name's the Doctor.

SKY
My name's the Doctor.

DOCTOR
OK, can you stop?

SKY
OK, can you stop?

DOCTOR
I'd like you to stop.

SKY
I'd like you to stop.

HOBBES
Why's she doing that?

SKY
(turns to HOBBES) Why's she doing that?

BIFF
She's gone mad.

SKY
She's gone mad.

VAL
Stop it.

SKY
Stop it.

VAL
I said stop it!

SKY
I said stop it!

DEE DEE
I don't think she can.

SKY
I don't think she can.

HOBBES
All right, now stop it, this isn't funny.

SKY
All right, now stop it, this isn't funny.

DOCTOR
Sh, sh, sh, all of you.

SKY
Sh, sh, sh, all of you.

JETHRO
My name's Jethro!

SKY
My name's Jethro!

DOCTOR
Jethro, leave it, just shut up!

SKY
Jethro, leave it, just shut up!

DOCTOR
Why are you repeating?

SKY
Why are you repeating?

DOCTOR
What is that, learning?

SKY
What is that, learning?

DOCTOR
Copying?

SKY
Copying?

DOCTOR
Absorbing?

SKY
Absorbing?

DOCTOR
The square root of pi is 1.77245385090551602729816748...

SKY
The square root of pi is 1.77245385090551602729816748...

DOCTOR
...3341. Wow!

SKY
...3341. Wow!

HOBBES
But that's impossible.

SKY
But that's impossible.

DEE DEE
She couldn't repeat all that.

SKY
She couldn't repeat all that.

VAL
Tell her to stop!

SKY
Tell her to stop!

VAL
She's driving me mad.

SKY
She's driving me mad.

VAL
Just make her stop!

SKY
Just make her stop!

Everyone begins talking at once but SKY still mimics them, right down to tone and rhythm.

VAL
...stop her staring at me, shut her up...

SKY
...stop her staring at me, shut her up...

HOSTESS
...a trick...

SKY
...a trick...

DEE DEE
...that's impossible...

SKY
...that's impossible...

BIFF
...I'm telling you, whatever your name is...

SKY
...I'm telling you, whatever your name is...

DOCTOR
Now, just stop it, all of...

SKY
Now, just stop it all of...

HOBBES
...her eyes, what's wrong with her eyes?

SKY
...her eyes, what's wrong with her eyes?

JETHRO
...copy anything...

SKY
...copy anything...

VAL
...Biff don't just stand her, do something, make her stop...

SKY
...Biff don't just stand her, do something, make her stop...

BIFF
...you're scaring my wife...

SKY
...you're scaring my wife...

HOSTESS
...Mrs Silvestry...

SKY
...Mrs Silvestry...

JETHRO
Six, six, six.

SKY
Six, six, six.

VAL
...make her stop...

SKY
...make her stop...

The lights in the cabin come back on with a hum and everyone stops talking.

HOSTESS
(sighs) Oh! That's the backup system.

BIFF
Well, that's a bit better.

VAL
What about the rescue? How long's it gonna take?

HOSTESS
About sixty minutes, that's all...

HOBBES
Then I suggest we all calm down. This panic isn't helping.

SKY is now speaking simultaneously with everyone.

HOBBES
That poor woman is evidently in a state of self-induced hysteria. We should leave her alone.

JETHRO
Doctor.

DOCTOR
I know.

HOBBES
Doctor, now, step back... I think you should leave her-alone. What is she doing?

VAL
How can she do that? She's talking with you...and with me. Oh, my God! Biff, what's she doing?

JETHRO
She's repeating...at exactly the same time.

DEE DEE
That's impossible.

HOBBES
There's not even a delay.

JETHRO
Oh, man, that is weird.

DOCTOR
I think you should all be very, very quiet. Have you got that?

VAL
How's she doing it?

DOCTOR
Mrs Cane, please be quiet.

VAL
How can she do that? She's got my voice! She's got my words!

BIFF
Sweetheart, be quiet. Hush now. Hush. She's doing it to me.

DOCTOR
Just stop it. All of you, stop it, please! (crouches face-to-face with SKY) Now then, Sky-Are you sky? Is Sky still in there? Mrs Silvestry? You know exactly what I'm going to say. How are you doing that? (pulls away a bit and so does she) Roast beef. Bananas. The Medusa Cascade. (both lean forward) Bang! Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, TARDIS! Shamble bobble, dibble dooble. Oh Doctor, you're so handsome. Yes, I am, thank you. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O-(smiles and stands) First she repeats then she catches up. What's the next stage?

DEE DEE
Next stage of what?
JETHRO
That's not her, is it? That's not Mrs Silvestry anymore.

SKY turns her head from JETHRO to the DOCTOR.

DOCTOR
I don't think so, no.

VAL sobs and BIFF comforts her.

DOCTOR
I think...the more we talk, the more she learns. Now, I'm all for education, but in this case... Maybe not. Let's just move back. Come on, come with me. (ushers everyone to the back of the cabin) Everyone, get back, all of you, as far as you can.

VAL
Doctor, make her stop.

DOCTOR
Val, come with me, come to the back. Stop looking at her. Come on. Jethro, you too. Everyone, come on. Fifty minutes, that's all we need. Fifty minutes till the rescue arrives. And (glances quickly at SKY) she's not exactly strong. Look at her. All she's got is our voices.

VAL
I can't look at her. It's those eyes.

DEE DEE
"We must not look at goblin men."

Everyone looks at DEE DEE.

BIFF
What's that supposed to mean?

DOCTOR
It's a poem, Christina Rossetti.

DEE DEE
"We must not look at goblin men.
We must not buy their fruit.
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots."

DOCTOR
I don't think that's helping.

HOBBES
She's not a goblin or a monster. She's just a very sick woman.

JETHRO
Maybe that's why it went for her.

HOBBES
There is no "it".

JETHRO
Think about it, though. That knocking, it went all the way around the bus until it found her. And she was the most scared out of all of us. Maybe that's what it needed... That's how it got in.

HOBBES
For the last time...nothing can live on the surface of Midnight!

DOCTOR
Professor, I'm glad you've got an absolute definition of life in the universe, but perhaps the universe has got ideas of its own. Now, trust me, I've got previous. I think there might well be some...consciousness inside Mrs Silvestry. But maybe she's still in there, and it's our job to help her.

BIFF
Look, you can help. I'm not going near.

DOCTOR
No, I've gotta stay back, 'cause if she's copying us, maybe the final stage is becoming us. I don't want her becoming me, or things could go a whole lot worse.

VAL
Like you're so special.

DOCTOR
As it happens, yes, I am. So, that's decided. We stay back and we wait. When the rescue ship comes, we can get her to hospital.

HOSTESS
We should throw her out.

HOBBES
(shocked) I beg your pardon.

VAL
Could we do that?

DOCTOR
Don't be ridiculous.

HOSTESS
That thing, whatever it is, k*lled the driver and the mechanic. And I don't think she's finished yet.

DOCTOR
She can't even move.

HOSTESS
Look at her eyes! She k*lled Joe and she k*lled Claude and we're next!

BIFF
She's still doing it. (moves forward) Just stop it! Stop talking! Stop it!

VAL
Biff, don't sweetheart!

BIFF
But she won't stop! We can't throw her out, though. We can't even open the doors.

DOCTOR
No one is getting thrown out. (stares at BIFF until he backs down)

DEE DEE
Yes, we can. 'Cause there's an air pressure seal. Like when you opened the cabin door, you weren't pulled out-you have a couple of seconds. 'Cause it takes the pressure wall about six seconds to collapse. Well, six seconds exactly. That's enough time to throw someone out.

DOCTOR
Thanks, Dee Dee. Just what we needed.

VAL
Would it k*ll her? Outside?

DEE DEE
I don't know. But she's got a body now, it would certainly k*ll the physical form--

DOCTOR
No one is k*lling anyone!

HOSTESS
I wouldn't risk the cabin door twice, but we've got that one. (points to door at the back) All we need to do is grab hold of her and throw her out.

DOCTOR
Now listen, all of you. For all we know, that's a brand-new lifeform over there, and if it's come inside to discover us, then what's it found? This little bunch of humans... What do you amount to? m*rder? 'Cause this is where you decide. You decide who you are. Could you actually m*rder her? Any of you? Really? Or are you better than that?

They all look at each other.

HOSTESS
I'd do it.

BIFF
So would I.

VAL
And me.

DEE DEE
I think we should.

DOCTOR
What?

DEE DEE
I want her out.

DOCTOR
You can't say that!

DEE DEE
I'm sorry, but you said it yourself, Doctor-she's growing in strength!

DOCTOR
That's not what I said!

DEE DEE
I want to go home. I'm sorry. I want to be safe.

DOCTOR
You'll be safe any minute now. The rescue truck is on its way.

HOSTESS
But what happens then, Doctor? If it takes that thing back to the Leisure Palace, if that thing reaches civilization-what if it spreads?

DOCTOR
'Cause when we get back to the base, I'll be there to contain it.

VAL
You haven't doe much so far!

BIFF
You're just standing in the back with the rest of us.

HOSTESS
She's dangerous. It's my job to see that this vessel is safe. And we should get rid of her.

HOBBES
Now hang on. I think perhaps we're all going a little bit too far.

DOCTOR
At last. Thank you.

HOSTESS
Two people are dead!

DOCTOR
Don't make it a third! (pause) Jethro, what do you say?

JETHRO
I'm not k*lling anyone.

DOCTOR
Thank you.

VAL
He's just a boy.

JETHRO
What? So I don't get a vote?

DOCTOR
There isn't a vote! It isn't happening! Ever! If you try to throw her out that door, you'll have to get past me first. (looks at them challengingly)

HOSTESS
Okay.

BIFF
Fine by me.

DOCTOR
Oh, now you're just being stupid! Just think about it-could you actually take hold of someone and throw them out that door?

BIFF
Calling me a coward?

VAL
Who put you in charge anyway?

HOBBES
I'm sorry, but you're a doctor of what, exactly?

HOSTESS
He wasn't even booked in. The rest of you, tickets in advance. He just turned up out of the blue.

DEE DEE
Where from?

DOCTOR
I'm just...travelling. I'm a traveller, that's all.

VAL
Like an immigrant?

HOSTESS
Who were you talking to? Before you got onboard, you were talking to someone, who was that?

DOCTOR
Just Donna. Just my friend.

BIFF
And what were you saying to her?

VAL
He hasn't even told us his name.

JETHRO
Thing is, though, Doctor, you've been loving this.

DOCTOR
Oh, Jethro, not you.

JETHRO
Ever since all this trouble started, you've been loving it.

HOBBES
It has to be said, you do seem to have a certain...glee.

DOCTOR
All right, I'm interested. Yes. I can't help it, 'cause whatever's inside her, it's brand-new and that's fascinating.

VAL
What, you wanted this to happen?

DOCTOR
No!

BIFF
And you were talking to her. All on your own, before all the trouble, right at the front, you were talking to that Sky woman. The two of you together. I saw you!

VAL
We all did!

HOSTESS
And you went into the cabin!

BIFF
What were you saying to her?

DOCTOR
I was just talking!

BIFF
Saying what?

JETHRO
You called us "humans", like you're not one of us.

VAL
He did! That's what he said!

DEE DEE
And the wiring. He went into that panel and opened up the wiring!

DOCTOR
That was after!

BIFF
How did you know what to do?

DOCTOR
Because I'm clever!

There is silence at this declaration.

HOBBES
I see. Well, that makes things clear.

BIFF
And what are we, then? Idiots?

DOCTOR
That's not what I meant.

DEE DEE
If you're clever, then what are we?

VAL
You've been looking down on us from the moment we walked in.

HOSTESS
Even if he goes, he's practically volunteered.

DOCTOR
Oh, come on! Just listen to yourselves, please!

BIFF
Do you mean...we throw him out as well?

The DOCTOR looks at them, stunned.

HOSTESS
If we have to.

DOCTOR
Look, just-right, sorry, yes. Hold on. Just-I know you're scared. And so am I. Look at me-I am. But we have all got to calm down and cool off and think!

HOBBES
Perhaps you could tell us your name.

DOCTOR
What does it matter?

HOSTESS
Then tell us.

DOCTOR
John Smith.

VAL
(scoffs) Oh!

HOBBES
Your real name.

BIFF
He's lying, look at his face.

VAL
His eyes are the same as hers.

JETHRO
Why won't you tell us?

They all begin to talk at once.

VAL
He's been lying to us right from the start!

HOSTESS
Your name!

JETHRO
Just say it!

BIFF
No one's called John Smith!

DOCTOR
Now listen to me!

BIFF
Come off this.

DOCTOR
Listen to me right now, because you need me! All of you! If we are gonna get out of this, then you need me!

HOBBES
(speaks alone) So you keep saying. You've been repeating yourself more than her.

VAL
(speaks alone) If anyone's in charge, it should be the professor! He's the expert!

JETHRO
(speaks alone) Mum, stop. Just look.

VAL
(speaks alone) You keep out of this, Jethro!

JETHRO
(speaks alone) Look at her!

They all turn to face SKY, still sitting on the floor.

DEE DEE
She's stopped.

DOCTOR & SKY
When did she-No, she hasn't. She's still doing it.

VAL
She looks the same to me... No, she's stopped! Look, I'm talking, and she's not!

The DOCTOR walks towards SKY.

BIFF
But what about me? Is she-? Look! Look at that! She's not doing me! She let me go!

HOSTESS
Mrs Silvestry? Nor me.

DOCTOR & SKY
Sky? What are you doing?

DEE DEE
She's still doing him.

HOBBES
Doctor, it's you. She's only copying you.

DOCTOR & SKY
Why me? Why are you doing this?

DEE DEE
She won't leave him alone. Do you see?

VAL
Do you see? I said so. She's with him!

BIFF
They're together.

HOBBES
How do you explain it, Doctor? If you're so clever!

DOCTOR & SKY
I don't know! Sky, stop it. I said, stop it. Just stop it!

VAL
Look at the two of them!

The DOCTOR crouches in front of SKY, once more face-to-face.

DOCTOR & SKY
Mrs Silvestry, I'm trying to understand. You captured my speech-what for? What do you need? You need my voice in particular-the cleverest voice in the room. Why? 'Cause I'm the only one who can help? Oh. I'd love that to be true, but your eyes...they're saying something else. Listen to me-whatever you want, of it's life or form or consciousness or voice, you don't have to steal it. You can find it without hurting anyone. And I'll help you-that's a promise. So, what do you think? (SKY speaks slightly ahead of the DOCTOR) Do we have a deal?

The other stare, astonished at what has just happened.

DEE DEE
Hold on. Did she just-

JETHRO
She spoke first.

VAL
But she can't have.

HOBBES
She did.

JETHRO
She spoke first.

The DOCTOR is now staring straight ahead, unable to move.

SKY
Oh, look at that, I'm ahead of you.

DOCTOR
Oh, look at that, I'm ahead of you.

HOBBES
Did you see? She spoke before he did, definitely!

JETHRO
He's copying her.

HOBBES
Doctor, what's happening?

SKY
I think it's moved.

DOCTOR
I think it's moved.

SKY
I think it's letting me go.

DOCTOR
I think it's letting me go.

DEE DEE
What do you mean? Letting you go from what?

BIFF
He's repeating now. He's the one doing it. It's him.

JETHRO
They're separating.

HOBBES
Mrs Silvestry, is that you?

SKY
Yes, yes, it's me

DOCTOR
Yes, yes, it's me

SKY
I'm coming back.

DOCTOR
I'm coming back.

SKY
Listen...it's me!

DOCTOR
Listen...it's me!

SKY slowly begins to move her head and arms.

JETHRO
It's passed into the Doctor. It's transferred. Whatever it is, it's gone inside him.

DEE DEE
No, that's not what happened.

VAL
But look at her!

SKY
Look at me. I can move.

DOCTOR
Look at me. I can move.

SKY
I can feel again.

DOCTOR
I can feel again.

SKY
I'm coming back to life.

DOCTOR
I'm coming back to life.

SKY
And look at him. He can't move.

DOCTOR
And look at him. He can't move.

SKY
(looks to others) Help me.

DOCTOR
Help me.

SKY
Professor...

DOCTOR
Professor...

SKY
Get me away from him.

DOCTOR
Get me away from him.

SKY
Please.

DOCTOR
Please.

HOBBES walks over and cautiously takes SKY'S outstretched hands, helping her to stand.

SKY
(relieved sigh) Oh, thank you.

DOCTOR
(relieved sigh) Oh, thank you.

JETHRO
They've completely separated.

BIFF
It's in him, d'you see? I said it was him all the time.

VAL
She's free! She's been saved!

SKY
Oh, it was so cold.

DOCTOR
Oh, it was so cold.

SKY
I couldn't breathe.

DOCTOR
I couldn't breathe.

SKY
I'm sorry.

DOCTOR
I'm sorry.

SKY
I must have scared you so much.

DOCTOR
I must have scared you so much.

VAL
(hugs SKY) No, it's all right. I've got you. There you are, my love. It's gone. Everything's all right.

DEE DEE
I wouldn't touch her.

BIFF
But it's gone. She's clean. It passed into him.

DEE DEE
That's not what happened!

HOBBES
Thank you for your opinion, Dee. But clearly Mrs Silvestry has been released.

DEE DEE
No!

VAL
Just leave her alone. She's safe, isn't she? Jethro, it's let her go, hasn't it?

JETHRO
I think so, yeah. Looks like it. Professor?

HOBBES
I'd say, from observation...the Doctor can't move, and when she was possessed, she couldn't move, so-

BIFF
Well, there we are, then. Now the only problem we've got is this Doctor.

SKY
It's inside his head.

DOCTOR
It's inside his head.

SKY
It k*lled the driver...

DOCTOR
It k*lled the driver...

SKY
...And the mechanic...

DOCTOR
...And the mechanic...

SKY
...And now it wants us.

DOCTOR
...And now it wants us.

HOSTESS
I said so.

SKY
He's waited so long...

DOCTOR
He's waited so long...

SKY
...In the dark...

DOCTOR
...In the dark...

SKY
...And the cold...

DOCTOR
...And the cold...

SKY
...And the diamonds...

DOCTOR
...And the diamonds...

SKY
...Until you came.

DOCTOR
...Until you came.

SKY
Bodies so hot...

DOCTOR
Bodies so hot...

SKY
...With blood...

DOCTOR
...With blood...

SKY
...And pain...

DOCTOR
...And pain...

VAL
Stop! Oh, my God, make him stop! Someone make him stop!

DEE DEE
But she's saying it!

VAL
And you can shut up!

DEE DEE
But it's not him, it's her! He's just repeating!

BIFF
But that's what they thing does. It repeats!

HOSTESS
Just let her talk.

BIFF
What do you know? Fat lot of good you've been!

HOSTESS
Just let her explain!

DEE DEE
Well, I think-I mean, from what I've seen...it repeats, then it synchronizes, then it goes on to the next stage and that's exactly what the Doctor said would happen!

BIFF
What, and you're on his side?

DEE DEE
No!

JETHRO
The voice is the thing!

DEE DEE
And she's the voice! She stole it! Look at her! It's not possessing him, it's draining him!

HOSTESS
(softly) She's got his voice.

VAL
But that's not true 'cause it can't be. I saw it pass into him. I saw it with my own eyes!

BIFF
So did I!

DEE DEE
You didn't!

VAL
It went from her to him. (looks at JETHRO) You saw it, didn't you?

JETHRO
I don't know.

VAL
Oh, don't be stupid, Jethro! Of course you did!

JETHRO
I suppose. He was right next to her-

BIFF
Everyone saw it! Everyone!

DEE DEE
You didn't. You're just making it up! I know what I saw! And I saw her stealing his voice!

VAL
She's as bad as him. Someone shut her up!

HOBBES
I think you should be quiet, Dee.

DEE DEE
Well, I'm only saying...

HOBBES
And that's an order! You're making a fool of yourself pretending you're an expert in mechanics and hydraulics when I can tell you, you are nothing more than average, at best! Now shut up!

No one notices the self-satisfied smirk on SKY'S face.

SKY
That's how he does it.

DOCTOR
That's how he does it.

SKY
He makes you fight...

DOCTOR
He makes you fight...

SKY
...Creeps into your head...

DOCTOR
...Creeps into your head...

SKY
...And whispers...

DOCTOR
...And whispers...

SKY
..."Listen. Just listen."

DOCTOR
..."Listen. Just listen."

SKY
That's him...

DOCTOR
That's him...

SKY
...Inside.

DOCTOR
...Inside.

BIFF
Throw him out!

VAL
Get him out of my head!

BIFF
Yeah, we should throw him out!

VAL
Well, don't just talk about it! Just-you're useless! Do something!

BIFF
I will! You watch me! I'm gonna throw him out!

SKY
Yes!

DOCTOR
Yes!

SKY
Throw him out!

DOCTOR
Throw him out!

SKY
Get rid of him!

DOCTOR
Get rid of him!

SKY
Now!

DOCTOR
Now!

BIFF grabs the DOCTOR around the waist and begins to drag him towards the rear door. The DOCTOR'S eyes show both his fear and his fight against the thing possessing him.

DEE DEE
Don't!

VAL
It'll be you next!

HOSTESS
Don't think we should do this!

BIFF
It was your idea! Professor, help me.

HOBBES
I can't. I'm not-

BIFF
What sort of a man are you? Come on!

VAL
Throw him out!

BIFF
Come one!

VAL
Just do it! Throw him out!

BIFF
Professor, help me!

One of the DOCTOR'S shoes catches on one of the overturned chairs.

VAL
Get him out!

BIFF
(to HOBBES) Grab hold of him! (HOBBES grabs the DOCTOR'S arm) Not like that! Are you stupid?!

SKY
Cast him out!

DOCTOR
Cast him out!

SKY
Into the sun...

DOCTOR
Into the sun...

VAL
I want him out!

SKY
And the night...

DOCTOR
And the night...

HOBBES and BIFF argue while VAL shouts at them both.

BIFF
What sort of a man are you? Come on!

JETHRO is on the verge of tears.

VAL
Get him out!

SKY
Do it.

DOCTOR
Do it.

SKY
Do it now!

DOCTOR
Do it now!

SKY
Faster!

DOCTOR
Faster!

VAL
Just do it!

SKY
That's the way.

DOCTOR
That's the way.

SKY
You can do it.

DOCTOR
You can do it.

JETHRO joins BIFF and HOBBES as they move the DOCTOR.

SKY
Molto bene.

DOCTOR
Molto bene.

VAL
Throw him out!

SKY
Allons-y...

DOCTOR
Allons-y...

The HOSTESS remembers the DOCTOR saying that when he first boarded.

HOSTESS
That's his voice.

SKY
The starlight waits.

HOSTESS
It's taken his voice!

DOCTOR
The starlight waits.

SKY
The emptiness...

DOCTOR
The emptiness...

VAL
Get him out!

SKY
The Midnight sky!

SKY
The Midnight sky!

HOSTESS
It's her. She's taken his voice!

The HOSTESS grabs SKY and hits the emergency button, opening the door. The blinding light streams in causing everyone to scream.

HOSTESS
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

The HOSTESS and SKY are sucked out. The door slides shut. The men let go and the DOCTOR falls to the floor, panting.

DOCTOR
It's gone, it's gone... It's gone, it's gone, it's gone... It's gone. It's gone... It's gone, it's gone, it's gone... It's gone, it's gone, it's gone...

Everyone sits alone, realizing what they almost did-and what finally happened. The DOCTOR sits up slowly, still breathing heavily.

VAL
I said it was her.

The DOCTOR can only look at her.

20 MINUTES LATER

FEMALE VOICE ON RADIO
Repeat, Crusader 50, rescue vehicle coming alongside in three minutes. Door seals set to a*t*matic. Prepare for boarding. Repeat, prepare for boarding.

DOCTOR
(to no one in particular) The Hostess...what was her name?

They all just shake their heads, embarrassed.

HOBBES
I don't know.

INT. LEISURE PALACE

The DOCTOR enters the pool area and DONNA hugs him without a word. They sit at a table.

DONNA
What do you think it was?

DOCTOR
No idea.

DONNA
Do you think it's still out there? (The DOCTOR doesn't answer) Well, you'd better tell 'em, this lot.

DOCTOR
Yeah, they can build a Leisure Palace somewhere else. Let this planet keep on turning 'round an Xtonic star...in silence.

DONNA
I can't imagine you without a voice.

DOCTOR
(small smile) Molto bene.

DONNA
Molto bene.

DOCTOR
No, don't do that. Don't. Don't.
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