Main content

Do you remember The Doctor? Ten-part drama starring Charlie Craggs, with Jodie Whittaker.

Its the end of the world. Terrifying static ghosts have taken over every major city on the planet. Cleo and Shawna are running for their lives, Abby is entangled with UNIT, and Madame Vastra wants them to meet her oracle an individual with extensive knowledge of both space and time.

Credits:

Cleo Proctor - Charlie Craggs
Abby McPhail - Lois Chimimba
Shawna Thompson - Holly Quin-Ankrah
Madame Vastra - Doon Mackichan
The Floater - Alasdair Beckett-King
Captain Chopra - Ambika Mod
Jordan Proctor - Jacob Hawley

Written by David K. Barnes
Additional Writing by Juno Dawson
Produced and Directed by Ella Watts
Executive Producer: James Robinson

Sound Engineer: Paul Clark
Studio Assistant: Jacob Tombling
Sound Design: David Thomas
Additional Sound Design: Arlie Adlington
Original Composition: David Devereux
Production Co-ordinators: Sarah Sharpe and Sarah Nicholls
Script Editor: Tasha Dhanraj
Recorded at Sonica Studios, Clapham.

A 傖佪壖 Studios Production for 傖佪壖 Sounds.

Release date:

Available now

23 minutes

9. RESCUE

傖佪壖 SOUNDS STING

RECAP FROM LAST WEEKS EPISODE

FX: CHAIR SMASHING WINDOW

REQUIEM

Ill admit that the drop is severe, but if you want to escape then youre going to have to trust me with your lives.

SHAWNA

Trust you? 泭We still cant even see your face!

REQUIEM

I have my reasons for this veil. Your kind tend to recoil from my visage.

CLEO

Who the hell are you?

REQUIEM WHIPS OFF THE VEIL. SHAWNA AND CLEO GASP

VASTRA

My name is Madame Vastra

CLEO

That is a green face!

VASTRA

Astutely observed. The world is much bigger than your tiny mammalian brain has ever imagined. Now JUMP!

Piano tune plays as credits are read.

DOCTOR WHO REDACTED: EPISODE NINE,

By David K. Barnes

SCENE 1

EXT. POWELL ESTATE, TOP OF A BUILDING - EVENING

Powerful electronic bass plays throughout this scene as they make their escape. Loud bangs are intermittently heard throughout.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

Did you just tell me to JUMP out of a tenth storey window? Sorry spiderman, I dont have a death wish.

FX. GHOST HURRICANE

VASTRA

USE THIS LADDER!

FX. VASTRA TOSSES THEM A LADDER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

Im sorry?!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

SHAWNA

Cleo come on!!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

WHAT is happening right now?

FX. VASTRA FIGHTING GHOSTS. WHIZZES, POPS, BANGS, STATIC ROAR.

SHAWNA

Its this or them! Alright, this should hold us. Lets go!

FX. SHAWNA CLAMBERING OUT OF THE WINDOW

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Im gonna die

FX. RELCUTANTLY CLEO FOLLOWS, SLOWLY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

VASTRA

(Distracted by ghostbusting)

I urge you to use HASTE Miss Proctor!

FX. GHOSTS GETTING CLOSER

CLEO

Why me?

FX. WIND BLOWING, DISTANT TRAFFIC

FX. SHAWNA CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER. LOTS OF EFFORT.泭

SHAWNA

(climbing, calls up) Cleo! Are you alright up there?

CLEO

(calls down to her)

Im trying not to look down!

SHAWNA

(climbing calls up)

Were nearly at the ground! Just dont let go of the ladder!

CLEO

(calls down, sarcastic) Oh thank you! I never have thought of that!

FX. SHAWNA JUMPS OFF LADDER.

SHAWNA

(lands)

There! OK. Now you!

CLEO

(off)

Hold up a minute! This is harder than it looks!

SHAWNA

Didnt you do your Duke of Edinburgh?

CLEO

(off)

Not in a skirt, I didnt!

FX. CLEO JUMPS, LANDS.

CLEO

What about whatsername - Vastra?

FX. VASTRA LANDS HEAVILY BUT EXPERTLY NEXT TO THEM, HAVING JUMPED FROM THE WINDOW.

VASTRA

(Jumps)

Tally ho!

SHAWNA

(yell of surprise)

FX: Vastra lands.

CLEO

Oh my god.

VASTRA

You called?

FX. SHE STANDS, DUSTING HERSELF OFF.

CLEO

Did... did you just jump from a tenth storey window?

泭泭

VASTRA

(matter of fact)

Yes.

SHAWNA

But thats amazing.

VASTRA

I know. Shall we go?

FX. SHE BEGINS TO WALK AWAY.

CLEO

Wait! Where are you taking us? Why did you make The Requiem Group?

Where did all the other people go?

SHAWNA

Never mind that! Shes a freakin DINOSAUR.

CLEO

Oh my god. Dinosaur people

SHAWNA

Episode 4 of the podcast. Abby will never let us hear the end of this.

CLEO (CONTD)

(To Vastra)

Whats your deal? Youre clearly not a therapist.

VASTRA

I cannot abide unnecessary exposition.

FX. GHOSTLY MURMURING FROM NOT FAR OFF.

VASTRA泭(CONT'D)

Also: ghosts.

CLEO

Oh god.

VASTRA

We must leave, now!

FX. GHOSTS GETTING LOUDER

CLEO

Youd better have a plan, Vastra.

VASTRA

Yes. Run.

FX. THEY ALL RUN, AS THE TERRIFYING, DISTRESSING GHOST MURMURING FILLS OUR EARS. THE BASS BUILDS INTO THE NEXT SCENE.

SCENE 2

EXT. STREETS EVENING泭

FX. SOME PEDESTRIANS AND CARS. OUR HEROES RUNNING, UNDER:

SHAWNA

So where are we heading?

VASTRA

A safe place.

CLEO

Oh great. Definitely not a murder bunker then.

FX. CLEOS PHONE RINGS.

SHAWNA

Whos that?

CLEO

Its Abz. Should I answer?

Shawna hesitates.

SHAWNA

Yeah go on. Do it.

泭泭

SCENE 3

INT. UNIT HQ

FX. ABBY CALLING FROM UNIT HQ. ACTIVITY IN BACKGROUND: SOLDIERS MOVING OUT, BARKED ORDERS, GENERAL FRANTIC HUBBUB.

ABBY

Cleo, Ive got so much to tell you - and Shawna. So first of all, theres ghosts.

You need to be careful look out for

anyone whos sort of see-through.

FX. WE CAN HEAR CLEO RUNNING UNDER HER VOICE.

CLEO

(phone)

Yeah, I know. Weve figured out a lot without UNIT. Now listen -

ABBY

Cleo, please! Theyre appearing everywhere, reports all over the country. UNIT says its classified but I had to tell you guys -

CLEO

(on phone)

Better late than never but-

ABBY

And you cant let them touch you! Whatever you do, stay away from them!

CLEO

(on phone)

Girl, we KNOW! Not going to lie, I really thought youd have a bit more helpful information for us.

ABBY

What?

CAPTAIN

(OFF)

Miss MacPhail!

ABBY

Urgh...

(CALLS OFF)

Im on the phone!

CAPTAIN

(OFF)

Were moving out - including you!

ABBY

Oh for... yes Im coming!

FX: ABBY WALKING QUICKLY DOWN CORRIDORS.

CLEO

(on phone)

Abby? Where are you?

ABBY

... Im still at UNIT.

FX: ABBY PUSHES OPEN DOOR. SHES NOW WALKING OUT INTO THE COURTYARD ACROSS GRAVEL. BACKGROUND TROOP ACTIVITY.


ABBY泭(CONT'D)

Mate, things are getting really weird around here. Like, this isnt what I expected when we started a podcast, you know what I mean-?

SCENE 4

EXT. STREETS - EVENING

FX. CLEO SLOWING TO A STOP.

VASTRA

We must keep moving.

CLEO

Its not exactly been a holiday for me and Shawna since you left.

(sighs)

We went back to the flat I grew up in. My mum -

CAPTAIN

(phone, off) MacPhail!

ABBY

(phone, yells) I said Im coming!

(on phone)

Sorry, sorry. What happened at the flat?

CLEO

Abby. We really need your help right now...

CAPTAIN

(phone, off)

MacPhail! For the last time-!

THE LINE GOES DEAD.

Downbeat music begins to play as the girls realise Abby isnt there for them.

CLEO

Abby? The lines dead.

SHAWNA

Well. I guess theres our answer.

CLEO

(crushed) Yeah. Guess it is.

VASTRA

I must insist we proceed at once. Follow me.

CLEO

No! You want a safe place to talk? Then you follow me.

Music builds then fades into:

SCENE 5

EXT. CLEOS FLAT - EVENING

FX. CLEO SLAMS DOOR.

VASTRA

This is a fools errand - there are no answers here.

FX: CLEO LOCKS THE DOOR.

VASTRA泭(CONT'D)

Furthermore, those locks are

useless against them.

CLEO

Yeah all right, calm down Medusa.

SHAWNA

Cleo! Rude!

VASTRA

Im quite used to homosapiens

reacting to my face with alarm.

The stares, the whispers. Hence

the veil.

CLEO

No sorry. That was rude. I know what thats like. I should know better. Im sorry, I mean it.

VASTRA

I accept your apology. Now, Id be grateful if we left this unsecured environment.

CLEO

Wait, let me leave a message for Jordan.

FX. CLEO CLATTERING ABOUT FOR PEN AND PAPER

VASTRA

Who is Jordan?

SHAWNA

Her brother. Hes missing.

VASTRA

Then this is a fruitless exercise. Your brother is not here; we must proceed with all haste.

CLEO

Yeah, well, call me crazy. But if泭the world is ending then I need my little brother to know where I am.

FX. CLEO PHONE NOTIFICATION.

VASTRA

(annoyed)

Do not answer that.

CLEO

It could be Abby.

SHAWNA

Block her ass.

泭泭泭泭泭泭

MONICA

(phone)

You are coming home at some point,

arent you? Youre not going to be staying out all day?

CLEO

More ghosts.

SHAWNA

I dont get it. Where are they coming from?

VASTRA

Look outside...

Shawna crosses to the window, pulls back the curtain.

SHAWNA

... Oh no. No, this is bad... Theres so many of them.

VASTRA

(worried)

Most of the city has now crossed over. At this rate, the last of us will be overwhelmed...

Slow, sad music plays faintly in the background.

SHAWNA

Theyre just sort of... I dont know, what are they doing?

VASTRA

Existing. As best they can.

CLEO

Theyre not dead are they?

VASTRA

No, not dead. Trapped. Between two

planes of existence: the now, and the never-was. They are the lost. Not dead, yet scarcely living.

FX. PHONE NOTIFICATION

SHAWNA

Cleo. Dont.

FX. CLEO PLAYS MESSAGE

JORDAN

(phone)

Hi Cleo. Got your message. Of course you can stay here, you can stay as long as you like. Dont worry about rent, Im not gonna charge my sister am I? Tell you what, pay me in chocolate biscuits.

Beat.

CLEO

That would have been 18 months ago.

(pained sigh)

... So thats it then. My whole family,

ghosted.

(suddenly angry)

泭They are lost - what the Hell does

that mean?

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 Cleo-

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Your relatives have succumbed to

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 the same affliction as the others.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I am truly sorry.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 So what can we do for them?

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 Nothing. At least not yet.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Well we cant give up!

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 Er, Vastra?

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 What is it?

SHAWNA

The ghosts. Theyre not wandering around anymore. Theyve stopped.

(beat, scared)

And theyre looking up. At us.

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Ah.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 Its like they know somethings wrong.

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 And that is a problem.

SHAWNA

Why?

VASTRA

If you were in distress, what would you do?

SHAWNA

Id look for help.

VASTRA

Exactly.

FX. LOW GHOSTLY MURMURS BEGIN, GETTING CLOSER.

CLEO

You mean theyre coming for us?!

VASTRA

Is there another way out of this building?

CLEO

Downstairs and out the back.

VASTRA

Then go, now, both of you. I will catch up.

SHAWNA

What? We cant leave you! Thats bad, bad karma after you saved us.

VASTRA

I will be unencumbered without you. My species is far more agile.

SHAWNA

Wait, what are you? Seriously.

VASTRA

I am a Silurian - and yes, I like to wear dresses.

CLEO

Good for you girl!

FX. GHOST MURMURS GETTING MUCH LOUDER IN THE STREET.

VASTRA

Now quickly! I will distract the ghosts and you will run like Hell is at your heels. Are we agreed?

CLEO

How can you distract ghosts?

VASTRA

Like this.

FX. VASTRA TAKES A RUN AND - SMASH! - DIVES THROUGH THE WINDOW.

CLEO

Oh well Im not getting my deposit back.

Electronic music is back as they make a run for it.

SHAWNA

Cleo! Unlock the door!!

CLEO

Oh yeah.

FX. UNLOCKING THE DOOR FRANTICALLY.

CLEO泭(CONT'D)

Downstairs... out the back... over the wall...

FX. YANKS DOOR OPEN.

CLEO泭(CONT'D)

... and run like Hell Shawna!

FX. FOOTSTEPS RUNNING.

SCENE 6

EXT. BUSY MAIN ROAD - EVENING

A BUSY SOUTH LONDON STREET (LIKE BRIXTON ROAD). PANIC AND CHAOS. PEOPLE RUNNING AND SCREAMING.

DRIVERS ABANDONING THEIR VEHICLES AND POLICE SIRENS.

FX. CLEO AND SHAWNA RUN UP AND HALT IN THEIR TRACKS.

FX: GHOSTS APPEARING, TOUCHING 泭PEOPLE - WHO CRY OUT IN AGONY AND VANISH WITH A ZAPPING SOUND.

CLEO

Oh my god. Shawna, oh my god. Where have they come from? Why here, why now?

SHAWNA

The last of us will be overwhelmed - thats what Vastra said.

CLEO

Oh my god, and then what?

SHAWNA

I dont want to find out.

FX. A CAR SCREECHES TOWARDS THEM.

SHAWNA泭(CONT'D)

Cleo!!

FX. SHAWNA PULLS CLEO OUT OF THE WAY OF THE CAR, WHICH CARRIES ON AND CRASHES INTO A SHOP.

CLEO

Seriously, this is Mad Max stuff right here.

SHAWNA

Right come on, lets make for the tube.

CLEO

What-? Theres no way the Hammersmith and City line is still running during a ghost invasion! It can barely handle a strong wind.

SHAWNA

Were too exposed out here. If we get underground at least we can hide, we can work things out.

CLEO

And then what?!

SHAWNA

We improvise! Quick, through here!

FX. THEY DART DOWN A SIDE STREET AND KEEP RUNNING. SOUNDS OF CARNAGE CONTINUES DISTANTLY.

CLEO

Shawna! Stop

(Beat)

Abby said these ghosts were appearing everywhere, all over the country! Maybe the whole world!

SHAWNA

So?

CLEO

So what if... what if this is it? Like, the end? We always think theres gonna be a next time, a later. But what if this really is it?

SHAWNA

I dont know. But youre not leaving my side for a second, you hear me?

唬m棗紳.

FX. THEY TURN A CORNER - SLAP BANG INTO GHOSTS. THEY SKID TO A HALT; LOUD, GHOSTLY MURMURING.

CLEO

Oh come on thats not fair!

SHAWNA

Back the way we came!

FX. THEY TURN - BUT MORE GHOSTS; CONFUSED, DISTRESSED.

INTENSE MUSIC SUDDENLY BEGINS AS THEY LOOK FOR A WAY OUT.

CLEO

We cant! Look!

SHAWNA

Theyre everywhere... (yells at the ghosts)

Keep back! Please! Can any of you hear me? Please just let us go! We cant help you! We dont know how!

CLEO

(yells)

We would if we could, really!

SHAWNA

(yells)

If you touch us, well die alright!

FX. GHOSTS CONTINUE MOVING TOWARDS THEM.

CLEO

Theyre not listening...

SHAWNA

Were going to become like them...

CLEO

A living death...

SHAWNA

Take my hand. Close your eyes.

CLEO

(trying to believe)

No, no! Were not going to die like this. Say it with me.

SHAWNA

(terrified) I cant.

CLEO

(crying, yell)

Shawna, say it! Were not going to die like this!

SHAWNA

(yell)

I wish wed never done that bloody podcast!

FX: GHOSTS NEARLY UPON THEM, WHEN A COUPLE OF UNIT JEEPS SKID TO A HALT NEARBY.

FX: UNIT SOLDIERS JUMP OUT. CAPTAIN SPEAKS VIA MEGAPHONE.

CAPTAIN

(off, megaphone)

Please everyone remain calm!

CLEO

Shawna... Open your eyes!

SHAWNA

Why, whats...?

CAPTAIN

(off, megaphone)

This is Captain Chopra of UNIT. I say again, this is Captain Chopra of UNIT-

ABBY

(off, megaphone)

Never mind you, pal. Cleo! Shawna! Its me!

SHAWNA

Abby?

CLEO

Talk about cavalry...

ABBY

(off, megaphone)

Were going to use this siren-

CAPTAIN

(off, megaphone)

Yes, thank you MacPhail. Squad, spread out.

FX. SOLDIERS FANNING OUT, UNDER.

CAPTAIN泭(CONT'D)

(off, megaphone)

You two - get down on the ground and cover your ears!

SHAWNA

You what?! But-

CLEO

Dont argue, get down!

FX. A WARPED SIREN BLARES OUT

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

Oh my god!

SHAWNA

Oh my days, what is that?

CLEO

Racket is what it is!

ABBY RUNS OVER TO CLEO AND SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

ABBY

Cleo! Shawna! Are yous ok?

SHAWNA

Whats that siren?

ABBY

Back at UNIT we found a frequency the ghosts seem to respond to. We dont know why, but it seems to work. Theyll follow the truck for now.

CLEO

Dear God am I glad to see you. That, my girl, was timing.

ABBY

Theyre sending everyone theyve got.

SHAWNA

So this is you rescuing us, is it?

ABBY

Yeah. What do you reckon?

SHAWNA

Better late than never.

FX. SIREN GETTING DISTANT

More soothing music plays as theyre saved.

SHAWNA泭(CONT'D)

Come on. We should get to the tube station while we still can.

CLEO

No, we have to find Vastra. Shes the only one who has any idea whats going on around here.

SHAWNA

She said shed find us

ABBY

Vastra? Whos Vastra?

FX. FROM A SEWER NEARBY, VASTRAS VOICE ECHOES OUT.

VASTRA

(off, echo)

Come down here and find out!

CLEO

Vastra? ... Where are you?

VASTRA

(Off, echo) Beneath your feet!

SHAWNA

Uh... maybe shes in the sewer?

CLEO

Oh youre joking. Come on youve gotta be

joking.

FX. THE SCRAPE OF A MANHOLE COVER

VASTRA

Would you care to join me?

SHAWNA

Safer than being up here. If the ghosts dont get us, Abbys friends will probably shoot us by mistake.

ABBY

Shawna, do you really think -

CLEO

Oi! No fighting girls. (beat)

A sewer though. Come on!

VASTRA

(off, echoey)

I will count to ten! One, two...

CLEO

Alright, alright! When weve saved the world, I am having such a long bath.

Music fades into:

泭泭

SCENE 7

INT. SEWER - EVENING

FX. A DANK, WET SEWER TUNNEL. CLEO, SHAWNA AND ABBY COMING DOWN LADDER. EVERYONES VOICES SOUND ECHOEY.

VASTRA

(echoey)

We have a long journey to make, so we will be down here for a while. A word of warning: it smells.

SHAWNA

(descending)

We kind of got that, thanks.

CLEO

Yeah, dont want to sound ungrateful, but this is exactly as foul as I thought itd be.

VASTRA

If you will need rescuing quite so often, you must accept the rough with the smooth. I see we have picked up another friend?

CLEO

Oh yeah sorry. Abby, meet Madame Vastra. Shes a Silurian.

ABBY

Oh. Er. Gosh. Hello. Does this mean...

SHAWNA

Yes. Episode 4.

ABBY

Told you.

Shawna chuckles.

VASTRA

Hello.

ABBY

Its a pleasure to meet you Madame

Vastra.

VASTRA

Pleasure might be a stretch given the circumstances.

SHAWNA

Vastra, how the Hell can we beat those things up there? People are disappearing right in front of us - one touch, zap, and theyre gone.

VASTRA

And so the contagion is accelerated.

SHAWNA

Contagion? Like a virus?

CLEO

Oh my god, ew.

VASTRA

The sickness infecting our planet is indiscriminate, and the ghosts are only a symptom of it.

CLEO

Look, not being funny or anything, but how do you even know all this?

SHAWNA

Yeah, could you show your working?

VASTRA

I am merely repeating what my oracle tells me.

CLEO

Your... oracle?

VASTRA

A friend. Someone who has lived for millennia. An individual with extensive knowledge of both space and time.

CLEO

... Sorry, space and time? And thats helpful, is it?

VASTRA

The calamity we face is not a physical one. As my oracle says, it is all a matter of time...

FX: SHE BEGINS TO MOVE AWAY.

VASTRA泭(CONT'D)

Follow me if you please.

Soft piano beigns as the girls take in this new information.

ABBY

I picked up a few things at UNIT. I read about Silurians.

VASTRA

I imagine your superiors failed to mention how they once murderered a whole colony of my people, as they lay sleeping and defenceless.

ABBY

(stunned)

They didnt tell me that, no.

VASTRA

(a terrible beat)

It is a long walk. Shall we continue?

FX. VASTRA WALKS ON, THE OTHERS FOLLOW AT A SHORT DISTANCE.

SHAWNA

Nice one, Abby.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

The piano gets louder and then quickly fades into:

INT. SEWER. LATER

FX. THEY WADE THROUGH THE TUNNELS

CLEO

So, has UNIT figured out anything else about the ghosts yet?

ABBY

Theyre here and they cant be destroyed. Thats about it...And every wheres getting a lot quieter.

CLEO

Quieter? Its like every January sale come at once up there!

ABBY

Yeah Londons becoming abandoned. Like all the big cities. Manchester, Liverpool...

(catch in the throat) Glasgow... We dont know where the people have gone. Mum and Craig are gone.

CLEO

Abby, those ghosts are the people.

ABBY

How can they be?

CLEO

... I heard a message, from my Mum. She said she was trapped, dont know where.

ABBY

... Cleo, Im sorry-

CLEO

(powering through)

What can we do about it?

ABBY

Theres nothing that UNIT can do, thats for sure.

SHAWNA

What about your new girlfriend?

CLEO

Shawna...

ABBY

(irritated)

Osgoods gone. Its so weird, I can hardly remember her.

SHAWNA

Thats convenient -

ABBY

Look. I turned my back on you! I know that! Ok.

(beat, calmer) I know that.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Abby, we dont have time...

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 No.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (Beat)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I didnt want to be the person telling

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 the story any more. I wanted to be the

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 story. (Beat) But it wasnt any fun without

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 you two.

Pause. Dripping of the sewer.

Consoling music plays as the girls are open with one another.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 You hurt me. You hurt Cleo.

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I know.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 And honestly Im not sure I trust you.

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Fair. Ill earn it back. Or at least

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 try.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Cleo?

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I think youre both idiots.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (BEAT)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 But I dont know what Id do without

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 you.

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 (calling from a way off)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Any problems back there?

SHAWNA / ABBY/ CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 (call back)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 No.

FX. AFTER A BEAT, SHAWNA WALKS ON.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (walking off)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Come on.

FX. SHAWNA WALKS OFF. ABBY LEFT WITH CLEO.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 Hey, Abby?

ABBY

Hmm?

CLEO

Thanks for coming home.

Consoling music gets louder then fades into:

SCENE 8

INT. VASTRAS DEN IN THE SEWERS泭

FX. VASTRAS MAKESHIFT HOME; A WOODEN DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN. OFF, SEWER ATMOS. THEYVE BEEN WALKING FOR SOME TIME.

VASTRA

Come in, all of you.

SHAWNA

Where are we?

VASTRA

傖佪壖. Wipe your feet.

FX. THEY ENTER, WALKING ACROSS RAGGEDY CARPET ON STONE. OFF, FAINT SEWER ATMOS.

ABBY

Well... this is, er...

CLEO

Cosy. For, yknow. A sewer.

40s style jazz piano plays in the background, as if on a record player.

VASTRA

You need not spare my feelings. I used to own a house in the shadow of St Pauls. There my late wife and I shared many years together... Your species have such short lives compared to mine.

A sad beat, but Vastra soldiers on.

VASTRA泭(CONT'D)

With the phenomena spreading

throughout the city, it felt prudent to relocate. There are no ghosts in these sewers - except those I carry with me.

ABBY

Alright, so were safe down here?

VASTRA

Hardly that... You must be wondering what part you have to play in all this.

SHAWNA

Who says we have a part to play at all?

CLEO

Yeah, were just stumbling around trying to get through the week.

VASTRA

UNIT were sufficiently interested in you to seek your counsel. And, as it happens, so was I.

ABBY

Why?

VASTRA

I listened to your... podcast is it? Your progress has been commendable.

CLEO

(joke)

Do you want to buy some merch babe?

ABBY

When can we meet them?

VASTRA

Who?

ABBY

Your oracle.

VASTRA

Immediately. I did promise you answers.

The record player stops.

FX. A CABINET OPENS.

VASTRA

Meet...

CLEO

Oh my god...

SHAWNA

Cleo!

ABBY

梆喧s...

CLEO

AN ALIEN FOETUS IN A JAR!

(Beat) Finally!

ALIEN

Greetings, Earthlings.

THE ALIENS VOICE TRAVELS DIRECTLY INTO OUR BRAINS.

SHAWNA

This has got to be a stitch-up.

ABBY

What - who are you?

ALIEN

My race communicate telepathically, as such, we have no names, only a sense of other and a sense of self.

ABBY

Does your race have a name?

ALIEN

We have no call for one.

VASTRA

Their species exist in the transitory spaces betwixt dimensions. I call him Floater.

CLEO LAUGHS ALOUD.

CLEO

Are you for real?!

FLOATER

What amuses you, earthling?

Pause.

CLEO

Like, you know, floater? Were in a

sewer?

SHAWNA

What?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

Just my family then, OK.

FLOATER

My race exists in the psychic realm: the realm of thoughts and ideas. For millennia we have watched your kind, the ways you have evolved, your rise and descent. Sometimes we cross the veil between the worlds.

ABBY

You can cross into our reality? Area 51, Roswell?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Yes.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I met one before, many centuries ago.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 They spoke to me, told me how to sustain

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 them in the tank until they were able to

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 return.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (In awe)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 An alien foetus in a jar...

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I am 6 thousand years old.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Really old alien foetus in a jar...

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I can survive in your world quite well,

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 but the reverse is not true. Our realm

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 will not support human life for long.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 The ghosts?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Will perish unless you find the Doctor.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 The Doctor? Whos that?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Ugh Abby. The Doctor? Blue Box?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 Makeover queen?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 You have heard of the Doctor many times,

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 if only you could remember.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 A time-traveller stood out on the primitive

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 planet known as Earth.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (Under breath)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Primitive. At least were dressed in the

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 morning.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Time and again they appeared. Come and go,

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 go and come泭again to save the day. An alien

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 to泭this planet in their craft, their TARDIS

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 The blue box?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Once a symbol of hope, it is now quite the

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 opposite. Time is out of joint. The world

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 hangs by a thread.

FLOATER

My race saw it all. The mistake. The Doctors great error.

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 What did they do?

FX: RUMBLING, LIKE GROUND IS SHAKING.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 What is that?

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Earthquake in London. What the hell?

Solemn music faintly in the background.

VASTRA

Areas of London are falling into the

Redaction. Within hours, the whole city

will be lost, then the country, then the

world.

FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Its not just here. All the peoples and

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 all the planets graced by the Doctor.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 What?

VASTRA

Were it not for the longevity of my species,

I too would have faded already.

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 And youre saying... the Doctor did this?

FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 泭Oh yes.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 How?

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭 泭 But what can we do?

VASTRA

Whatever their reason, and however they did it, the Doctor has unravelled reality itself. If left unchecked, their own hubris will wreak devastation on a scale never witnessed before

in the universe.

SHAWNA

Ri-i-ight. So where do the three of us

come in then?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭 You? Why, you are going to stop it from

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭 happening, of course.

SHAWNA

What?

CLEO

What?

ABBY

Hang on a minute-!

VASTRA

We cannot hang on! I fear I am not泭泭泭

long for this world - but you still泭

have time to act!

FLOATER

You must locate the Doctor. They will not

be far.

VASTRA

The Doctor is drawn to catastrophe like a

moth to a flame.

SHAWNA

So what do we do when we find them?

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 Yeah, we cant just say Would you mind

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 not destroying the universe?

FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 You misunderstand your mission. The 泭

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 Doctor is the cause of all this chaos.

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 Which means our only option is... (anguish)

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭 I dare not say the words...

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭Well someone has to. What?

CLEO

Yeah come on Vastra?

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

FLOATER

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 The only remaining course of action is

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 to remove the Doctor.

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Remove?

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 You want us to kill them?

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 We need you to kill them.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

Oh, do you know what, thats it. Ive had enough of this. Girls, lets bounce.

FX. CLEO MAKES TO LEAVE.

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (seemingly cuts her off) We cant murder

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 someone!

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Vastra, you are mad if you think -

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Dont feed the trolls, just leave-

VASTRA

My task was to find those who saw the danger, but had never met the Doctor. In short, to find you. You are the only people with a chance of carrying out this act before you disappear yourselves!

FLOATER

The Doctor is the black hole into which all human life is being pulled. You must find and kill the Doctor.

FX: EVERYONES VOICES BECOME GLITCHY APART FROM CLEO.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 (feeling odd) Abby...

ABBY

Were not going to kill anyone no matter what theyve done, so youd better think of something else!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Shawna, babe Im feeling pretty weird.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Come on Abby lets go!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Guys? Whats...

FX. THE WORLD IS DISAPPEARING AROUND CLEO, THE VOICES OF THE OTHERS GETTING DISTANT UNTIL NOTHING.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Shawna - Abby! ... can you even hear me?...

VASTRA

I would not ask unless it were imperative. It grieves my soul.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Please! Can you hear me?!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 But look at us! Were not killers!

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Stop talking! Vastra, whats

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 happening - please!

SHAWNA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 She just works for them.

CLEO

I need someone to hear me! Hello!

Why cant you hear me!

泭(realising)

Its got me, hasnt it? ...

Oh my god, its got me.

VASTRA

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I admit it will not be easy.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I have seen the Doctor stand

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 alone against the armies of

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 whole galaxies and emerge

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 without a scratch.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Oh God. Oh my God, Abby,

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Shawna, dont leave me alone.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 I cant be alone. Please, I

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 need you. I... Im going...

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Im...

ABBY

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Were not going to do this -

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 even if we wanted to, we

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 wouldnt know how. You need

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 another plan...

FX. THE WORLD WE KNEW HAS GONE. CLEO IS SURROUNDED BY NOTHING.

CLEO

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Im gone.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 泭泭泭泭 END OF EPISODE.

No music, just eerie sounds reflecting Cleo on her own in the darkness.

CREDITS

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Nine,

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 by David K. Barnes.

CREDITS

Starring: Charlie Craggs, Lois Chimimba, Holly Quin-Ankrah, Doon Mackichan, Ambika Mod and Alasdair 泭Beckett-King.

泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Directed and produced by Ella Watts.

Sound design by David Thomas and Arlie Adlington. Original composition by David Devereux.

A 傖佪壖 Studios production.

泭Eerie music fades into silence.

Podcast