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DR WHO - THE GLASS HEART
by Gavin Paul Carter
DOCTOR WHO
THE GLASS HEART
BY
GAVIN PAUL CARTER
FADE IN
INT. ROBERT’S BEDROOM - 1894
Piles of bound books are stacked upon a bedside cabinet. The titles are obscured in the dim light. A candle stands in a holder, and it burns slowly, the wax dripping down onto the books.
A man’s hand reaches across and picks up a bloodied handkerchief resting beside the books, and coughing and wheezing ROBERT places it across his mouth. Robert is frail, and his skin is ashen, sweat is running from his brow. He is dressed in a white nightshirt that is speckled with droplets of blood. His hair is thick and matted, and as he lowers his handkerchief the sweet hangs upon his moustache in beads.
Moonlight shines in from the window, and a man stands in front of it in silhouette. He appears in shadow, a long coat hanging down to his ankles.
Robert squints through the darkness, he can see the man’s shape through his failing vision.
ROBERT
It’s you…
(Scottish accent)
Always in my dreams.
The shadowy figure steps forward, it is the Doctor, he does not smile, his expression is grim, empty.
THE DOCTOR
Robert.
ROBERT
Still questioning your
choice? Won’t leave a sick
man in peace?…
THE DOCTOR
It’s about life and death…
ROBERT
About…
(Coughs and draws up blood)
About my life Doctor?
Robert lowers the handkerchief and the blood has stained the material more deeply.
THE DOCTOR
(Coldly)
A decision had to made.
ROBERT
(Sternly)
Were you right Doctor?
THE DOCTOR
Was I right? What do
you think Robert?
ROBERT
Only you can answer that…
It’s so long ago Doctor…
Only you know really…
THE DOCTOR
(Sadly)
It’s yesterday to me
Robert… That’s the
trouble… Sometimes
it’s only yesterday.
INT. THE TARDIS – 1861
A flashing purple light blazes inside the Tardis. An alarm is also sounding. The Doctor stands at the controls. He is pressing buttons and pulling levers. His Assistant is holding on to the control panel, she looks very worried.
THE DOCTOR
It’s a purple alert.
ASSISTANT
Purple… That’s not red
right?
THE DOCTOR
Red? Red’s nothing…
Purple is three times
as bad as red.
ASSISTANT
Purples a nice colour.
THE DOCTOR
We’re making planet fall.
EXT – THE DEAD PLANET – LATER
The Tardis materialises on the dead planet, where the sky is rolling with red and yellow fire.
The door of the blue box swings open and the Doctor steps out. He is wearing a pair of tinted goggles. His Assistant follows behind, and she is fumbling with her own pair of goggles. She steps forward and fails to shut the Tardis door, and it remains ajar.
ASSISTANT
Do I have to wear these?
The Doctor ignores her, and gazes out over the endless plains of sand. In the distance he can see a Grandfather Clock sticking sideways out of the sand.
The Doctor slides a silver box from his overcoat and a purple light flashes upon it.
THE DOCTOR
Follow me and stay close.
EXT. THE DEAD PLANET -LATER
The Doctor’s Assistant looks down at her arm and she can see that it is going red.
The Doctor stares at the Grandfather Clock, its hands stopped at one second to twelve. He feels something solid beneath his trainers, and bends down and brushes away the sand.
ASSISTANT
My arms burning.
The Doctor lifts a glass cylinder from the sand, and stands up. He gazes inside at the swirling black mist. He reads a name inscribed in silver letters at its base. ‘JAN LOUDEN’.
THE DOCTOR
That’s because the planet
is falling into the sun.
ASSISTANT
That’s not good…
Should’ve brought
some suntan lotion.
What’s that?
Gazing at the glass container…
THE DOCTOR
Our purple alert.
In the distance a strange black mass is rolling across the sand towards the Tardis.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
Still contained, so
the warning came in
time… But…
ASSISTANT
But what?
The Doctor crouches down and finds more containers buried in the sand. He lifts out another, but it has a hole at its centre, and the dark energy is no longer contained inside. The name at its base reads ‘VERON SKAR’.
The Doctor’s expression drops.
THE DOCTOR
Veron Skar… This is not
good news…
The Assistant taps the Doctor on the shoulder…
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
What?
The dark entity has consumed the Tardis, a black snaking cloud has rolled around it and the machine is beginning to shudder, the Doctor drops the container and runs back to the blue box, his assistant follows swiftly behind him. They are too late and the Tardis vanishes from the surface of the dying planet.
The Doctor falls to his knees, and clutches at the sand, raising it up it slips through his fingers.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
What have I done?
ASSISTANT
It’s gone Doctor… The
Tardis has gone.
THE DOCTOR
Worse than that… It’s
in the hands of Skar.
ASSISTANT
Skar?
THE DOCTOR
A prisoner, but now
free… Free to kill
again…
INT. THE FOREST – SCOTLAND - 1861 – NIGHT
The Tardis materialises in a forest clearing, and the door creaks open, and the dark mass of energy seeps through the door. It drifts passed tall skeletal trees and moves purposely through the night.
INT. THE CEMETERY – LATER
Moonlight passes shadows across the vast plains of stone. A shovel digs deep into the soil behind a gravestone, and the dirt is lifted from its place, and scattered to one side. The spade makes another hole and the digging continues.
The moon passes behind a cloud and darkness sweeps rapidly across the cemetery.
In the distance there is a glowing lamplight moving amongst the graves, and JACK MURPHY a stocky man dressed in a long grey military coat slumps down behind the tombstone. His battered black boots scrape away at the dirt, as he pulls his knees to his chest and drags a large sack to his side. The man’s face is scarred and burned and one eye is white and sightless. His skin is unshaven and his long black hair is dirty and matted. He remains silent, and closes his eyes.
INT. THE CEMETARY – LATER
The lantern passes from left to right, throwing shadows over the graves. JIM THE NIGHT WATCHMAN continues his search of the grounds. He is a young man, not far past twenty, he is tall, pale and somewhat malnourished, and he wears a long cape around his shoulders.
The moon moves from behind the clouds, and the black shape oozes across the ground towards him. Jim spins around and shines his lantern. He can see a shadowy torso, its head and shoulders cast over a nearby tombstone, but the carved inscription has faded.
JIM
Anyone there?
The moon falls behind the clouds once again, and Jim spins around, the boy is sweating. He can sense a presence.
He turns once more and gazes down at his feet, something black and twisted is rolling around them, and he steps backwards.
The dark entity begins to rise in front of him, and Jim stands motionless, in awe. Head and shoulders black as pitch form before him, and the being stands tall, a giant in the dark. The Night Watchman raises his lantern towards a featureless face.
Two white eyes open wide in front of him, and a large mouth lined with blood red teeth tears open. Jim drops his lantern as the entity surges toward him. The glass shatters and the gaslight goes out.
INT. THE CEMETARY – LATER
A bloodcurdling scream echoes across the graveyard, Murphy hugs his knees and bows his head. Silence falls all is quiet. He raises his head and gazes over the top of the tombstone.
The moon passes through the clouds once more, and bathes the cemetery in eerie light.
The man stands up slowly and picking up his sack and shovel, he moves carefully through the sea of stone.
EXT. THE DEAD PLANET – LATER
The Assistant gazes at her arm, it is starting to blister, and the Doctor is nowhere in sight. She is standing in front of the Grandfather Clock. She looks at her own watch, and shakes her head.
ASSISTANT
Doctor? You in there?
The hands on the clock move to twelve and it begins to chime. The Assistant steps back.
ASSISTANT (Cont’d)
It’s still the wrong
time.
The Doctor steps out from inside the clock.
THE DOCTOR
Fixed.
ASSISTANT
Needs adjusting.
The Doctor runs his Sonic Screwdriver over the hands of the clock.
THE DOCTOR
(Ignoring her)
Yes. I’m sure it does.
ASSISTANT
So the clock works.
THE DOCTOR
(Irritated)
Think ahead, if you can.
ASSISTANT
It’s a clock.
THE DOCTOR
No, it’s not just a clock.
It’s a time travel machine,
once broken, now repaired.
ASSISTANT
So we can leave? Go home?
THE DOCTOR
If home is 1861.
ASSISTANT
Not really, but at least we
can leave this dust bowl.
THE DOCTOR
And I can chase down the
enemy.
ASSISTANT
Who’s the enemy?
THE DOCTOR
Veron Skar… A mass murderer,
a Time Lord... Taken to the
furthest point of regeneration
and trapped in mind, inside
a time cell... Blasted out
into the furthest reaches of
space.
ASSISTANT
(Confused)
Oh. I see… So lets go,
I’m not working on my
tan you know.
THE DOCTOR
The clock will only carry one.
ASSISTANT
Oh, so that means what?
THE DOCTOR
That means… That means
simply that I have to come
back for you.
ASSISTANT
Brilliant... How long will
I have?
THE DOCTOR
Estimated time, before this
planet falls into the sun,
roughly put, at a guess,
four or five days at most.
ASSISTANT
That’s not looking very
good for me is it?
The Doctor shrugs his shoulders, and frowns. The Assistant rubs the blister on her arm.
THE DOCTOR
Well, let’s not worry too
much... I will come back.
ASSISTANT
Can I have a hug?
THE DOCTOR
Yes… If it helps…
The Doctor looks uncomfortable, and gives the young woman a hug.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY – LATER
The walls are lined with shelves, jars of medicine and brightly coloured liquids. Books on anatomy are stacked upon the wooden panels of a high cabinet. Jars containing fungi, and mould stand separately on another shelf, and human organs in sterile liquid are hidden away from the gaslight. A large plinth stands in one corner, inside the glass container that is resting upon it is a GLASS HEART, intricately designed, sculpted with the deepest knowledge of how the organ functions, there are valves, arteries and veins that are interwoven in a maze of twisting vessels.
The body of Jim the Night Watchman is laid out upon a slab, he has been stripped to the waist, and the man’s eyes are closed.
Murphy stands in the background, his head bowed, his hands crossed in front of him.
DR BALTHUS CRAWLEY is a young man, late thirties and he has deep blue eyes, and long blond hair. A stethoscope hangs around his neck. He is dressed in a white high collared shirt, a black cravat, with a diamond pin pressed into the material and a dark waistcoat, and grey pin striped trousers.
Dr Crawley raises the dead man’s eyelids, and sighs.
DR CRAWLEY
(Sadly)
What happened Jack?
MURPHY
Don’t know Dr Crawley…
He cried out… Died.
DR CRAWLEY
A young man, like this?
His heart must’ve failed
him, I need to know why…
MURPHY
You going to butcher him?
DR CRAWLEY
Dissect Mr Murphy,
I’m not a butcher.
MURPHY
What did him in?
Dr Crawley looks sad, and lifts a handkerchief from his waistcoat, and wipes his eyes.
MURPHY (Cont’d)
He’s got no next of kin.
DR CRAWLEY
That does not devalue him.
I don’t enter into a body
without respect for who
they are…
MURPHY
You’re near to family. He’s
yours near enough.
DR CRAWLEY
So young… In a few years time
I could’ve saved him… Life is
cruel… (Frowning)
Jim is not a sacrifice Jack…
MURPHY
Never said he were.
But you’re the local
butcher, you do them
autopsy things.
DR CRAWLEY
Those autopsy things
Jack?… Please…
(Lowers his eyes)
I look for the meaning
of death… I don’t cut
and scar the flesh for
pleasure.
MURPHY
Death is death… Seen it,
lived in them trenches
with it, used to it by now…
DR CRAWLEY
The war ways heavy on you…
MURPHY
Soldiers serve their leaders,
we trust them, no matter,
that’s duty… You’re educated,
you know best.
DR CRAWLEY
You’re a good man Jack Murphy.
We’ll let him rest tonight,
we all deserve a rest.
INT. THE FOREST – DAWN - LATER
The Grandfather Clock materialises in the forest, and penetrates the ground, the dust rises and falls, and the door swings open.
The Doctor steps out through the door, and walks slowly through the towering skeletal trees. He approaches a clearing, and he can see the vast cemetery sweeping out in front of him.
INT. THE CEMETERY – LATER
ROBERT is eleven years old, and he is seated upon a gravestone, he is dressed in grey shorts and a jumper, and he is sketching in a book. The initials on the front of the book are ‘R L B S’. The boy is drawing a pirate ship, in the background he has already sketched a large lighthouse.
The Doctor strolls casually into the graveyard, and ignores the boy. He sees pieces of broken glass at the base of a tombstone and crouches down to examine it.
The boy colours in the Jolly Roger on the flag of his pirate ship, leaving the skull and crossbones white, and the flag behind it black.
The Doctor looks up at the boy.
THE DOCTOR
(Smiling broadly)
Strange place for a young
boy to be. A graveyard?
ROBERT
(Scottish accent)
Is it? I look out of place?
Looking at your shoes. You
don’t look right either.
The Doctor smiles and gazes down at his trainers.
THE DOCTOR
You’ve got a sharp eye.
The Doctor stands up, and walks over to the young boy and stands behind him.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
And a sharp imagination.
ROBERT
Just drawing stuff.
(Pauses)
It’s very early morning…
What’re you doing here?
THE DOCTOR
Pirates and lighthouses?
ROBERT
Two sides of the same coin…
One good, one bad... All
connected by the sea. Didn’t
answer my question.
THE DOCTOR
I’m passing through, I’m
looking for someone. You?
ROBERT
Jim, he’s the Night
Watchman, I was supposed
to meet up with him. I’m
Robert who are you?
The Doctor walks back to the tombstone where the broken glass has fallen. He crouches down again.
THE DOCTOR
Broken glass? Someone's
been here… Did Jim carry
a lantern?
ROBERT
He watches over the
dead… He always does.
THE DOCTOR
Grave robbers?
ROBERT We’re near Edinburgh, yes… But not since 1832, that
don’t happen no more.
THE DOCTOR
Burke and Hare?
ROBERT
Long time ago that.
THE DOCTOR
I know… Long before the
broken glass.
CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY – LATER
The body upon the slab begins to sprout white hairs. It grows out from Jim’s lifeless flesh, and starts to envelope him. Bursting upwards in silken strands it falls down upon his body and crawls like wire across his lifeless flesh.
OPEN GROUNDS - LATER
The Doctor and Robert stroll across a wide open plain, in the distance is a large country mansion.
THE DOCTOR
So tell me more about
Jim.
ROBERT
He has no family. He
stays with Dr Balthus
Crawley most of the time.
THE DOCTOR
Dr Balthus Crawley?…
ROBERT
Creepy Crawley the villagers
call him, he’s odd. Think
he’s from London, if not God
knows where? No one likes him
that much. He’s rich though,
and he’s always been kind to me.
THE DOCTOR
Why is he odd?
ROBERT
He’s different. He doesn’t
belong somehow…
Robert looks the Doctor up and down, and his eyes are strongly focused on the Doctor’s trainers.
ROBERT (Cont’d)
Where did you get those
Shoes from?
(Stares unblinking at the Doctor)
Are you looking for something?
THE DOCTOR
Something odd is a good
start Robert, and I’m
always somewhere amidst
things that don’t belong.
(Grins oddly)
I normally fit right in…
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY - LATER
Crawley descends the staircase and Murphy follows behind carrying a gas lantern. Once they have reached the bottom of the stairs their expressions change to shock and awe.
Crawley walks towards the slab on which the body of young Jim has been placed. Murphy follows slowly behind, his eyes fixed and unblinking.
The corpse is encased in a silk like substance and it has woven itself around the body over and over again.
Murphy looks into the face of Dr Crawley and his expression is vague, and confused.
Crawley gazes down at the wrapped corpse and slides a stethoscope from his jacket. He leans forward and places it against the chest of the dead man and listens.
MURPHY
What’s going on?
DR CRAWLEY
I don’t know, but
he’s alive again…
MURPHY
Jim’s dead.
Murphy steps nervously back, and Dr Crawley stares up at his colleague his blue eyes are watering.
DR CRAWLEY
His heart’s beating.
MURPHY
He’s dead though…
DR CRAWLEY
He was… Yes… He was…
But not now…
MURPHY
You’re the doctor…
You got the answers.
DR CRAWLEY
I’m sure I’ll find
the answer… It just
needs thinking about.
The doorbell begins to ring. Dr Crawley looks up his companion, and Murphy nods his head.
EXT, DR CRAWLEY’S MANSION – DAY – LATER
Robert and the Doctor are standing upon the doorstep of Dr Crawley’s mansion. Robert pulls the rope once more, and the bell rings again.
The door opens and Murphy appears in the archway.
MURPHY
Morning Robert.
Murphy looks the Doctor up and down suspiciously, but the Doctor simply smiles goofily at the man.
ROBERT
You seen him? I'm looking
for Jim.
MURPHY
Who’s your friend?
The Doctor reaches forward and shakes Murphy’s hand.
THE DOCTOR
I’m the Doctor.
MURPHY
Doctor of what?
THE DOCTOR
(Grinning)
Just the Doctor.
MURPHY
(Mumbles)
Jim’s not well.
ROBERT
Where is he?
THE DOCTOR
Can we come in? Have a cup
of tea?
MURPHY
We’re busy…
THE DOCTOR
Busy doing what?
MURPHY
(Aggressively)
That’s none of your
business.
Dr Crawley calls out from behind Murphy.
DR CRAWLEY
Jack, let them in,
and send them to my
study…
Murphy looks annoyed, and glares at the Doctor.
MURPHY
(Grumpily)
Looks like he’ll see
you after all.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S STUDY – LATER
A large oak desk stands at the centre of the room. Bookcases line the walls, a vast library of medical science, and literature. Gas lamps bathe the room with a subtle light.
The Doctor stands with his hands behind his back, his eyes scanning the many different titles.
Robert is seated in front of the desk, and he is drawing in his book. The Doctor slides out a book on human anatomy, and flicks quickly through the pages.
THE DOCTOR
It seems our host
is quite a scholar.
The door opens and Dr Crawley walks into the room. He smiles at the Doctor, and the Doctor returns the smiles, and then slips the book back onto the shelf.
Dr Crawley sits down behind his desk, and Robert closes his initialled sketchbook and looks up at the man seated opposite.
DR CRAWLEY
Good day to you both… Now
is there a problem?
The Doctor remains gazing up at the books upon the shelf, his hands held behind his back.
THE DOCTOR
What’s your field? If you
don’t mind me asking.
DR CRAWLEY
I’m an anatomist,
a virologist, and
you’re the Doctor?
You don’t have a name?
Robert looks over at the Doctor, who has his back to both Dr Crawley and the boy.
THE DOCTOR
None to speak of…
DR CRAWLEY
What brings you here Doctor?
Where are you from?
THE DOCTOR
(Flippantly)
Oh, from here and there.
(Frowns)
You live here alone? No
Housekeeper? Wife?
DR CRAWLEY
Murphy assists me… Wife?
(Chuckles)
Good Lord no… Who would
have me?
THE DOCTOR
What makes you say that?
DR CRAWLEY
My time is dedicated to
my journey, my cause. I’m
on a path of discovery Doctor…
not easily explained and
not easily accepted by
others… Hence my isolation
here, away from the world.
(Sighs)
Excuse me for sounding
melancholy, I’m not at all.
I’m just a seeker that’s all…
THE DOCTOR
Oh… That’s all is it?…
ROBERT
(Interrupting)
I’m looking for Jim…
Murphy said he was sick.
DR CRAWLEY
Sorry Robert… Very sick.
THE DOCTOR
What’s his symptoms?
DR CRAWLEY
Hard to say…
THE DOCTOR
Do you need a second
opinion?
DR CRAWLEY
My opinion is enough…
Would you like some tea?
The Doctor turns around quickly and glares at Dr Crawley.
THE DOCTOR
No thank you…
DR CRAWLEY
He’s isolated, to avoid
contagion… Murphy found him lying in
the graveyard, naturally he
brought him to me…
THE DOCTOR
Why was Murphy in
the graveyard?
DR CRAWLEY
Why all these questions
Doctor? Are you a policeman?
THE DOCTOR
Is this a police matter?
Robert bites his lip, and looks nervous.
DR CRAWLEY
I’m a very busy man Doctor.
I came to this isolated place
to avoid prying eyes.
THE DOCTOR
What’re you researching?
DR CRAWLEY
Anthrax, Tuberculosis Bassilus.
Connection between cattle hair and
milk temperature for transmission
of the Viruses. I’m also working
on enzymes and the curative components
of mould. I’m isolating bacterium that can
be adapted to cure all number of ailments.
THE DOCTOR
Extraordinary. It sounds like you’re
ahead of your time. Dr Balthus
Crawley? I’ve not heard of you…
DR CRAWLEY
My findings have not yet been
released to the world Doctor, and
that is only a fragment of my
research. I’m also experimenting
with artificial hearts and
electricity… I can say no more.
THE DOCTOR
In 1861? What do you know
about the human heart?
DR CRAWLEY
It’s a very delicate, but
complex organ. I believe
that I’m constructing a device
that may replace, or even could
be implanted into a failing heart…
Stimulating it by electricity,
thus helping to keep the organ pumping.
THE DOCTOR
(Sincerely)
It’s a brilliant idea… I
am genuinely impressed by
your scientific knowledge…
DR CRAWLEY
Thank you Doctor…
THE DOCTOR
(Smiles uneasily)
Then logically you should
have a place in history?
DR CRAWLEY
(Sighs heavily)
Outside interference does not
help me Doctor. Your presence
for example, slows me down. I
need to be alone… I’m unknown at present and wish to work in
peace… When my findings are
confirmed then please do ask me
questions, but only then…
ROBERT
What about Jim?
DR CRAWLEY
(Softly)
As soon as there is any
change in his condition
I will inform you. Now,
please allow Mr Murphy to
escort you to the door.
Dr Crawley stares into the Doctor’s wide bulging eyes, but no smiles are exchanged between the two men.
EXT. DR CRAWLEY’S MANISON - LATER
The door is slammed shut, and the Doctor and Robert stroll away from the building. The sun has fallen behind black rain clouds, and the sky has darkened.
ROBERT
Storms coming…
THE DOCTOR
Something bad will
happen here… It has to.
ROBERT
What do you think is
wrong with Jim?
THE DOCTOR
(To himself)
There might be a connection…
I just have to find out.
ROBERT
Connection to what?
THE DOCTOR
Dr Balthus Crawley appears
to be a genius. His ideas
are way beyond his time…
ROBERT
(Confused)
But this is his time…
THE DOCTOR
I need to get back inside…
I think he’s in danger…
ROBERT
(Grins)
I can help you with that.
EXT. THE MANSION’S WOODEN CELLAR DOOR - LATER
There are two panelled wooden doors at the back of the mansion and they are set horizontally above ground and are blocking the entrance to the cellar.
A large padlock fastens the cellars two doors together at its centre. Leaning against the wall beside the cellar door is Murphy’s shovel, and Jim’s broken glass gas lamp.
The Doctor narrows his eyes, and gazes at the dried mud and grass hanging from the shovel.
THE DOCTOR
Someone’s been digging,
and Murphy was in the
graveyard when he found
young Jim.
The Doctor slides his Sonic Screwdriver from inside his overcoat, and passes it over the padlock.
ROBERT
Do you think that they’re
grave robbing?
Robert gazes down at the strange device, he looks fascinated.
ROBERT (Cont’d)
What’s that?
THE DOCTOR
A Sonic Screwdriver.
ROBERT
Oh…
(Vaguely)
What’s sonic mean?
The lock clicks open, and the Doctor slides the screwdriver back into his coat.
THE DOCTOR
Eureka.
The Doctor lifts open the doors, and gazes down into the darkness. He looks back at Robert and smiles.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
Wait here Robert…
If I don’t return
within an hour go
to the police.
ROBERT
(Enthusiastically)
I’ll come and look
for you…
THE DOCTOR
No…
(Angrily)
Do as I say, go for
help… Otherwise we
might both be lost.
(Firmly)
Shut the doors behind me.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S CELLAR - LATER
A stepladder leads downwards, and the Doctor descends each wooden rung extremely cautiously.
He finds himself standing in a small room. A large wine rack stands in the corner, filled with vintage red. He approaches the rack and slides out a bottle. The Doctor blows the dust from the label.
THE DOCTOR
French Vintage… 1814…
(Smiles)
Very good year… I think I
shared a glass of this with
Napoleon… Or was that
Wellington?
The Doctor slides the wine back onto the rack, and looks down at his feet. There is a large wooden box resting against the wall.
The Doctor bends down and removes the lid. His eyes flicker uneasily as he lifts a human skull from inside it.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S STUDY - LATER
Dr Crawley is leaning back in his chair and he is resting his polished shoes upon the desk. The man is drinking from a large brandy glass. Murphy is standing in front of him, his back to Dr Crawley, leaning against the desk his arms folded.
MURPHY
That Doctor was trouble.
DR CRAWLEY
We’ve done nothing wrong.
MURPHY
Only dug up a body or two
when it suited you.
DR CRAWLEY
The discoveries I’m
making justify that.
MURPHY
If you say so… All a bit
ghoulish though…
DR CRAWLEY
It has to be done… I need
those bodies for my work…
I will save lives Jack, mend
broken hearts, cure diseases.
MURPHY
Hope I’m there to see it… If
it’s not for fame and fortune…
DR CRAWLEY
Saving life is worth more
than money Jack… But we all
need money, without it I
can’t continue my research…
(Smiles)
Can you go and check our
patient please?
Murphy opens his overcoat and two pistols are sticking out of his trousers.
DR CRAWLEY (Cont’d)
Guns Jack?
MURPHY
I’m an old soldier,
always known when
it’s time to carry
a weapon or two…
DR CRAWLEY
I don’t approve of guns…
(Harshly)
You know that…
MURPHY
Only use them in defence…
Even you can’t be against
that…
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY - LATER
The Doctor pushes open a side door, and walks into the dimly lit laboratory. His eyes scan the contents of the room. He observes the Glass Heart, and the body lying wrapped in silk upon the slab.
He takes a deep breath and approaches the mummified corpse.
THE DOCTOR
I was right… I knew
I was right…
The Doctor is struck over the back of the head with the handle of a gun, and he collapses twitching to the floor.
EXT. THE MANSION’S WOODEN CELLAR DOOR – LATER
Robert is seated beside the door. He looks at his watch, and hugs his knees to his chest.
ROBERT
(Whispers)
It’s been an hour.
He stands up and lifts the doors of the cellar and looks down into the dark.
ROBERT (Cont’d)
(Nervously)
Doctor? You there?
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY – LATER
The body inside the silk like woven hair begins to wriggle slowly like a maggot, and two splits form at its shoulders.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S SPARE ROOM – LATER
The Doctor wakes up and discovers that he is tied to a chair. His ankles bound to each leg, and his wrists fastened to the chair’s arms.
Dr Crawley is standing in front of him, and Murphy is leaning against the wall behind him polishing his pistol with an old rag.
DR CRAWLEY
Breaking into someone’s
house is against the
law Doctor.
THE DOCTOR
(Grimaces)
Did you have to hit
me quite so hard?
Murphy shrugs his shoulders and grins.
DR CRAWLEY
So you’ve seen young Jim?
THE DOCTOR
That thing in your cellar
isn’t Jim. You need to untie
me and allow me to dispose of it.
DR CRAWLEY
Certainly not. I’m more
likely to turn you over
to the police. Why shouldn’t
I?
THE DOCTOR
Because you’re still
digging up bodies.
A pretty grim hobby
don’t you think?
Murphy stops polishing his pistol, and briefly points it at the Doctor.
DR CRAWLEY
I’ve never approved of
grave robbing… The dead
should be left in peace.
THE DOCTOR
But you’re still doing it…
DR CRAWLEY
What about you Doctor?
Breaking into my house,
hardly honourable behaviour.
Are you seeking to steal
my work?
THE DOCTOR
(Dismissively)
Oh don’t be so naïve.
DR CRAWLEY
Then tell us the truth…
THE DOCTOR
Are you familiar with
the works of H G Wells?…
(Firmly)
The Time Machine? The War
Of the Worlds?
DR CRAWLEY
No Doctor… I’ve never heard
of any of that… So what can
you tell me that I don’t
already know?
THE DOCTOR
You’re an educated man?…
(Puzzled)
Of course it’s 1861…
H G wells won’t be born
for another five years…
Dr Crawley looks back at Murphy, and the old soldier looks baffled and shakes his head. Dr Crawley looks back at the Doctor.
DR CRAWLEY
You’re a strange man Doctor…
Possibly a lunatic, but I’ve been
called that myself… So I’m no judge.
THE DOCTOR
What you have in your cellar is
an alien life form.
DR CRAWLEY
Alien? Alien in what way?
THE DOCTOR
If you prefer, it’s a large and
highly dangerous bacteria. What’s
growing inside that cocoon is
more dangerous than Anthrax, or
any other virus you can think of…
DR CRAWLEY
I see.
THE DOCTOR
(Angrily)
No you don’t see. You
won’t have your place in
history Dr Crawley if
you don’t let me destroy it.
DR CRAWLEY
You could be trying to
trick me Doctor. If
Jim is carrying a new
plague I would like to be
the one who discovers it.
THE DOCTOR
(Angrily)
You’re thinking backwards
rather than forwards.
DR CRAWLEY
Perhaps I know too much… But
I still have more to learn
Doctor.
EXT. THE OPEN FIELDS – EVENING - LATER
The sun is beginning to descend. Robert and CONSTABLE BILL JACKSON are moving quickly down a country lane lined with tall trees on either side.
Bill Jackson is a large framed man, with a big bushy black moustache and a round belly. His uniform is immaculate, and the Silver Star on his helmet is highly polished.
CONSTABLE JACKSON
(Wheezing)
Why he wants to live
so far out, I just
don’t know. Some mad
scientist… I’d of used
my bicycle, but you
wouldn’t of kept up.
ROBERT
You don’t know the way.
CONSTABLE JACKSON
No, that might’ve posed
a problem. My wife knows the
way, and it’s stew tonight… So
this Doctor broke into Crawley’s
house?
ROBERT
He said he had good reason.
I’m worried about Jim,
something isn’t right.
CONSTABLE JACKSON
Never good reason for that
lad, a man’s house is his
own private kingdom. No man
has a right to enter there
without permission. No woman
neither… Although my wife would
thinking about it…
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S SPARE ROOM - LATER
The Doctor is leaning back and looking up at the ceiling. He lowers his head and looks across the room.
Murphy is eating an apple and his one good eye is staring at the prisoner.
MURPHY
You like fruit?
Murphy offers the Doctor his half eaten apple.
THE DOCTOR
Not especially.
MURPHY
Fruit is good.
Murphy continues to eat the apple.
THE DOCTOR
Aren’t you worried that
what I’m saying might
be true?
MURPHY
I’m just an old soldier.
(Smiles)
Never argue with your
superiors Doctor. I just
do as I’m told.
THE DOCTOR
You fought in the Crimean
War?
MURPHY
Back in fifty four. Got
through it… The leaders
always know best.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, so you’re not familiar
with the Charge of the Light
Brigade?
MURPHY
(Irritated)
I’ll go check on the patient.
THE DOCTOR
You do that, but be careful
Murphy. If Jim wakes up, get
out and lock up that cellar.
MURPHY
I’ll do that, and I’ll be first to the front door.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S CELLAR – LATER
Murphy descends the staircase, and raising his gas lamp, he passes the Glass Heart on the plinth, and cautiously approaches the wrapped body upon the slab.
The body starts to wriggle once more, and the white substance starts to tear away from the corpse.
Murphy draws a pistol from his belt, and steps back. Jim’s gaunt body is revealed through the dim light. Jim’s skin is covered in blisters his sunken face is pockmarked, and his entire body is tinged with shades of yellow and black.
Jim turns his head slowly towards Murphy and opens his eyes, and they have turned completely white. Jim opens his mouth and smiles unnaturally. The man’s teeth are dark and discoloured.
Murphy points his gun at Jim.
MURPHY
In God’s name… What’s
become of you?
Jim leaps forward his arms outstretched. Murphy fires his pistol.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S STUDY
A second gunshot echoes through the study door. Dr Crawley, gulps down his brandy and stands up slowly. He slides open the desk drawer and slides out a small silver pistol, and quickly loads the weapon.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY – LATER
Murphy staggers up the staircase into the open arms of Dr Crawley.
MURPHY
(Breathlessly)
Jim… It’s not him
no more… I killed
it… Got to get out…
He pushes past Dr Crawley, and flees up the stairs. Dr Crawley draws his silver pistol and strolls down the steps.
He finds Jim’s corpse lying face down upon the floor, and he gives it a gentle shove with the tip of his shoe.
Dr Crawley is unaware of the dark entity rising from the floor behind him. The being’s eyes flick open, lifeless and marble white.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S SPARE ROOM
The door flies open, and Murphy rushes inside. In the distance Dr Crawley screams out in pain…
The Doctor is still tied to the chair, and he looks up into Murphy’s frightened face.
Murphy draws a large knife from his coat and holds it up in front of the Doctor. The old soldier bends down and starts to cut through the ropes that have bound the Doctor’s ankles to the chair legs.
MURPHY
We have to get out…
He slices free one of the Doctor’s legs.
MURPHY (Cont’d)
The Devil’s come for us.
The Doctor gazes up over Murphy’s head.
THE DOCTOR
Murphy, I think he’s
behind you…
Murphy stands up and turns around. Dr Crawley is standing in the door arch. He looks very pale and the man’s eyes are closed. Dr Crawley smiles oddly, and his eyes flick open. They are completely white.
MURPHY
Dr Crawley… Are you ill?
Dr Crawley draws a black leather gloved hand from behind his back. He is holding a black cane with a bulbous silver handle.
Dr Crawley starts to giggle, and laugh in a rather demented way. He screams hideously. Mad eyed, he charges forward with the cane held high.
The Doctor looks away, but he hears a sickening thud, and when he opens his eyes again, he observes Murphy lying face down upon the floor, eyes bulging, the man is dead.
EXT. DR CRAWLEY’S MANSION – NIGHT - LATER
Robert and Constable Jackson have arrived at the door to Dr Crawley’s mansion. The policeman rings the doorbell, and steps back gazing up at the buildings high windows.
CONSTABLE JACKSON
Nobody in… I’m hungry now…
ROBERT
There must be. Ring again…
Constable Jackson pulls the chain a second time.
ROBERT (Cont’d)
The cellar door is
still open…
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S SPARE ROOM – LATER
The bell outside rings again. The Doctor remains tied to the chair, he looks down at Murphy’s body, and then gazes up at Dr Crawley who has his back to him and is gazing out through the window at the moonlight.
THE DOCTOR
Didn’t take much time for
you to go back to your old ways did it Skar?
DR CRAWLEY - SKAR
(His voice changed)
Time is never an issue.
THE DOCTOR
The man your controlling
is not an insect… He’s greater
than the people you like to
crush…
DR CRAWLEY - SKAR
But nothing to me?… He means
nothing to me…
THE DOCTOR
You’re intelligent Skar…
Brilliant even… But you’re
right, you and he, are nothing
like each other.
DR CRAWLEY - SKAR
I’ve been imprisoned for
centuries… Now I have the
Tardis, I can travel through
time and select my victims
anywhere I choose…
THE DOCTOR
No wonder the Time Lords took
away your body.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
But I have another one,
and allies for my cause…
I shall return to the
dead planet and release
the other captives…
THE DOCTOR
Your cause?…
(Disgusted)
Why Veron? What do you gain
from murder?…
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
That’s fairly simple
Doctor…
Dr Crawley - Skar turns around, and his white eyes glare at the Doctor. He smiles grotesquely.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
I enjoy it… Destroying
simplistic organisms…
It’s mere sport to me…
THE DOCTOR
Humanity is a valuable
species, far greater in
mind than you’ll ever be.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
So I make sport of them?
They’re nothing Doctor. I
don’t understand why you
always took such interest
in them.
THE DOCTOR
You’re not an individual
who has a desire to understand
anything Skar. Do you intend
to kill me?
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
Oh no… You and your assistant
will play host to the other
entites. We can be one big
happy family, and Share our
lives together… How human…
EXT. THE MANSION’S WOODEN CELLAR DOOR - LATER
Robert and Constable Jackson walk towards the cellar door. As they approach, the wooden panels lift up, and Dr Dr Crawley – Skar ascends the ladder. He is wearing a large top hat, and a black cape hangs around his suited shoulders. He is carrying his black silver handled cane.
Dr Crawley – Skar stands motionless beside the cellar door. His expression is odd and his skin looks even paler in the moonlight. His white eyes glare at Robert and the policeman.
Constable Jackson pats the boy on the stomach with the palm of his hand.
CONSTABLE JACKSON
Wait here Robert, I’ll
address the gentleman.
Constable Jackson strides forward and stands face to face with Dr Crawley – Skar.
CONSTABLE JACKSON (Cont’d)
This lad has concerns about
two friends of his…
Constable Jackson stares into the man’s ghastly white eyes.
CONSTABLE JACKSON (Cont’d)
What’s wrong with your eyes?
Dr Crawley – Skar looks across at Robert, and he begins to giggle and chuckle. Robert steps back.
The cane is raised and Constable Jackson has no time to react as he is struck heavily against the side of the head.
Robert watches the man fall, and gazes fearfully at the smiling murderer. The boy shakes his head and runs away.
EXT. THE CEMETARY - LATER
Robert flees into the graveyard and crouches down behind a tombstone, he is breathing heavily, and the sweat is pouring from his forehead, he tucks his knees into his chest and hugs them tightly.
Dr Crawley – Skar strolls into the graveyard. His pale skin and white eyes glow in the moonlight. He grins evilly and gazes about himself.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
Robert? Where are you
my boy?
Dr Crawley - Skar continues to search the graveyard.
Robert presses his lips together and tries to stop his body from shaking.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR (Cont’d)
Don’t be shy… It’s
your turn to die
Robert…
Robert closes his eyes tightly, as the moon passes behind a cloud and the graveyard falls into darkness.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR (Cont’d)
I’ll be in your dreams boy…
I’ll be back for you.
Robert remains as still as he can be, and slowly he opens his eyes, and the tears run down his cheeks.
Nervously he pushes himself back on to his feet, and keeping his body low, he runs back through the graveyard.
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S SPARE ROOM – LATER
The Doctor is still seated in the chair. His wrists remain bound and he looks down at Murphy’s knife, and tries to avoid gazing into Murphy’s lifeless face.
THE DOCTOR
This isn’t going well.
The door bursts open, and Robert runs into the room. He is sweating and tearful. He shakes his head in horror when he sees Murphy’s body.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
Robert, thank goodness.
Robert picks up the knife and begins to cut through the ropes.
ROBERT
He’s killed Constable
Jackson too, and Jim
I should reckon.
He slices the Doctor free of his bonds.
ROBERT (Cont’d)
Why didn’t he kill you?
The Doctor stands up and shakes his arms and legs in an attempt to regain his circulation.
THE DOCTOR
Do you know where he is?
The Doctor bends down and rolls Murphy onto his back, and slides a pistol out of his belt.
ROBERT
He chased me across
the cemetery.
THE DOCTOR
He’s going back to the
dead planet. I need
to mix up a little
cocktail before I go.
EXT. THE FOREST – TARDIS - LATER
Dr Crawley – Skar opens the Tardis door and smiles, he steps inside.
The blue box begins to vanish from sight…
INT. DR CRAWLEY’S LABORATORY – LATER
The Doctor mixes two colourful liquids together inside a test tube. He then tilts the tube sideways and slides the needle of a syringe into the substance and draws it inside the cylinder.
Robert is standing beside the Doctor, and he watches the process carefully.
ROBERT
What’s that?
THE DOCTOR
It’ll force that demon
out of Dr Crawley… If
I can inject it.
ROBERT
It isn’t poison then?…
THE DOCTOR
A chemical drug… Some
drugs are very powerful
Robert… You remember that…
EXT. THE DEAD PLANET – LATER
The Tardis appears gradually upon the surface of the dead planet.
The Doctor’s Assistant is seated upon the sand next to the glass cylinders. Her head is bowed and her arms are covered in small red blisters. She hears the Tardis arriving and looks up. Her lips are dry and her face is bright red.
ASSISTANT
Doctor.
She stands up and watches as the door swings open, and a rather strange Victorian gentleman wearing a black top hat, black suit and cape steps out onto the steaming sand.
ASSISTANT (Cont’d)
Doctor have you regenerated?
Dr Crawley – Skar strides forward, sliding his cane from behind his back, he starts to walk towards the young woman.
As the man gets closer she can see him smiling coldly, and the oddness of his eyes. She bends down and begins to pick up the remaining cylinders and starts to run with them across the desert.
EXT. THE FOREST – THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK – LATER
The Doctor opens the door to the Grandfather Clock and begins to slide inside. Robert watches as the man slips in through the panel. The Doctor smiles and looks back at the boy.
THE DOCTOR
There’s only room for
one Robert… Don’t try
to follow…
The Doctor slides his whole body inside, and Robert watches as the clock hands begin to rotate rapidly.
Robert watches as the clock begins to disappear.
ROBERT
No you don’t…
Robert grabs the handle of the virtually transparent wooden door and pulls it open, and literally dives inside the clock.
The Grandfather clock vanishes from the forest clearing…
EXT. THE DEAD PLANET - LATER
The Assistant slips on the sand and the glass cylinders tumble into the dust. She attempts to gather them up once more, but a dark shadow falls over her.
She gazes back over her shoulder into the shadowed face of Dr Crawley – Skar. He smiles at her, his cold white eyes glaring down at her.
The man raises his cane and brings it crashing down. It cracks the container marked with the name ‘JAN LOUDEN’ He raises his cane again and shatters the cylinder completely.
The dark entity rises from inside, and hovers like a cloud of rippling darkness behind Dr Crawley – Skar…
It gradually merges together and begins to take on a human shape…
The young woman drags her body backwards through the sand.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
Take off the glasses
so she may enter…
The dark entities eyes open wide, they are white, and lifeless, cold and unwelcoming.
The Grandfather Clock begins to materialise behind Dr Crawley – Skar and the dark entity. So they turn their attention away from the helpless young woman.
Smoke is rising from the Grandfather Clock, and the hands are still spinning around rapidly. The Doctor climbs out through the panel, smoke billowing around him, he reaches inside and drags Robert to safety.
They run clear and dive face down into the sand, behind them the Grandfather Clock explodes into a billion pieces.
The Doctor looks up, he can see Dr Crawley – Skar, the dark entity and his Assistant a short distance away. Sliding his hand inside his overcoat he slips out his goggles and places them over his eyes.
The Doctor stands up and lifts Robert from the sand, the young boy looks around. He looks completely bewildered by his new surroundings.
THE DOCTOR
I told you it could only
carry one…
The Doctor slips his syringe from his coat, and slides out the gun from his belt.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
Now it’s a matter of
life or death.
Robert looks back at the Tardis, and the Doctor slips out a key and hands it to the boy. Robert looks baffled.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
It’s a key to the blue
box, now go…
The boy breaks into a run…
Dr Crawley – Skar and the dark entity observe the boy, and forgetting the Doctor’s Assistant, they surge forward towards the Doctor.
The Doctor grips the syringe tightly, and stands his ground.
The Assistant gathers up the remaining cylinders and starts to arc around, her intention also to reach the Tardis.
Dr Crawley – Skar screams at the Doctor, and raises his cane striking the Doctor across the right shoulder and knocking him to the floor. The Doctor drops his syringe and loses his grip upon his pistol as he falls clumsily into the sand.
Robert is fumbling with the Tardis key and attempting to unlock the door. In his haste to get inside, he drops it into the sand.
The Doctor sits up and reaches for the syringe. He can see that Dr Crawley – Skar and the dark entity are almost upon the boy.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
Robert cover your eyes
and don’t look at them!
Dr Crawley – Skar looks back at the Doctor and smiles horribly. Robert is on his knees the palms of his hands held tightly over his eyes. The dark entity is rolling around the boy.
DR CRAWLEY – SKAR
Caring… That was always
your weakness Doctor.
Dr Crawley – Skar raises his cane high above Robert’s head.
The Doctor grabs his pistol, and standing up he fires, striking Dr Crawley – Skar squarely in the back. The man drops his cane and falls to his knees.
The Doctor tosses the gun into the sand with a look of disgust on his face.
The entity possessing Dr Crawley, escapes through the man’s eyes. On leaving the mortally wounded man Dr Crawley falls sideways into the sand.
The two dark entities surge towards the Doctor and they both swirl angrily around him. The Doctor is simply staring at Dr Crawley’s lifeless body lying in the dust.
The Doctor opens his palm and drops the syringe by his feet.
Robert scrambles for the Tardis key and slips it into the keyhole. The Doctor’s Assistant reaches Robert’s side, and as the door is opened she bundles the boy through.
She looks back at the Doctor. The entities are still swirling around him, but he appears to be in a trance.
ASSISTANT
Doctor run!
The Doctor snaps out of his trance and breaks into a run. The entities move swiftly behind him, but he seems to be keeping ahead of them.
The Doctor dives over Dr Crawley’s body, and through the open Tardis doors.
The Assistant slams the doors shut, only seconds before the entities have reached it.
INT. THE TARDIS
The Doctor scrambles to his feet and moves swiftly to the control panel, he pulls several levers to activate the machine.
Robert is crouched in the corner, and the Doctor’s Assistant drapes a jacket around the shaking boy’s shoulders.
THE DOCTOR
Brace yourselves… We’re
going forward in time.
The Assistant sits down beside the boy and wraps her arms around him.
EXT. THE DEAD PLANET – LATER
The Tardis begins to vanish and the entities swirling around the blue box begin to fall away. The sky begins to blaze with churning flame, and the desert sand seems to roll with flaming embers, the dark entities and Dr Crawley’s body disintegrate, as a sea of molten fire consumes the dead planet.
EXT. THE TARDIS – THE SUN’S ORBIT
The Tardis spins through belching jets of churning fire, as the dead planet becomes a ball of burning light and evaporates into the Sun.
INT. THE TARDIS – LATER
The Doctor bows his head over the controls, and looks back at Robert and his Assistant. The Doctor’s expression is uncomfortably grim.
ASSISTANT
Are they dead?
THE DOCTOR
(Slowly)
No… Although it may take
them a few thousand years
to break free of the Sun.
ASSISTANT
Well that’s OK then…
THE DOCTOR
(Angrily)
A few thousand years is
nothing in my time.
ASSISTANT
Still I saved a few cylinders
from the planet.
THE DOCTOR
But no one saved Dr Crawley.
The Doctor looks down at Robert, the boy looks uncomfortable in his new surroundings.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
He couldn’t regenerate.
Humans have glass hearts.
So fragile… I’ve never killed
a good man before…
ASSISTANT
He didn’t look good to me…
THE DOCTOR
(Angrily)
What do you know? You
didn’t know who he was
and you never will. I
sacrificed him to save
you Robert…
ROBERT
(Trembling)
I’m sorry Doctor.
THE DOCTOR
This story goes no further…
Keep me secret… Promise me
that…
ROBERT
I promise Doctor.
The Doctor jabs his finger towards Robert…
THE DOCTOR
You make something of
yourself Robert… You
owe it to me and you
owe it to Dr Balthus
Crawley…
EXT. THE CEMETARY – NIGHT – LATER
The Tardis materialises in the graveyard. The door is opened and Robert steps out. The Doctor leans through the door, and looks glumly at the boy.
THE DOCTOR
I’ll be watching you Robert…
Take care… Go home… Leave
everything to the authorities.
The Doctor shuts the door and the Tardis begins to vanish into the ether.
Robert is left standing alone in the silent graveyard.
INT. ROBERT’S BEDROOM - 1894
The candle flame has burned down, and the wax has formed solid patches on the back of the stacked books.
The Doctor stands at the foot of the sick man’s bed, and smiles sadly at his friend.
ROBERT
(Coughing)
I did my best Doctor…
Although, had Crawley
lived he might have cured
my Tuberculosis.
THE DOCTOR
He would’ve done so much
more than that…
ROBERT
You seem so sad.
THE DOCTOR
I saved you Robert, but
maybe I changed history…
If I’d never gone to that
dead planet, then Dr Balthus
Crawley would’ve lived.
ROBERT
If you hadn’t shot him… He
would’ve killed me…
THE DOCTOR
I know… It’s been on my mind.
ROBERT
My death wasn’t meant to be…
THE DOCTOR
If I could’ve injected
him with the serum… I
could’ve released him
from Skar’s control…
Saved his life…
ROBERT
(Breathing heavily)
Have I disappointed
you Doctor? I promise to
do more…
THE DOCTOR
Of course not Robert… How
could you?
ROBERT
(Smiles)
I’m only forty four Doctor…
(Wheezing)
When I get better… You’ll
see my best work is yet to
come… So much more to do…
(Breathing laboured)
So little time perhaps?…
THE DOCTOR
Dr Crawley never completed
his best work…
(Lowers his eyes)
But your name will live
forever Robert…
The Doctor walks slowly to the bedside cabinet, and gazes down at the stacked books.
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
But no one will ever
know who I am… Or who
Dr Balthus Crawley was…
He’s simply forgotten.
He reaches down and lifts one of the books from the pile and turns it around and reads the title.
‘THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE’
THE DOCTOR (Cont’d)
But you Robert Louis Stevenson…
(Smiles)
Your name will live forever…
FADE OUT
END