======================================================================= Original 'Sloth' Transcription from http://www.hwcn.org/~an933 ======================================================================= This file was created without the consent or knowledge of the Audio/Visuals team. ======================================================================= /\ / \UDIO \ / ISUALS \/ AUDIO ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE TRANSCRIPTION: "THE SPACE WAIL" (AV1) PART: 1 OF 2 DURATION: 23:10 ======================================================================= THIS FILE WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED FOR MY OWN USE AS A RESEARCH DOCUMENT. WHILE I FEEL THE WORDS ARE ACCURATE ENOUGH FOR THIS PURPOSE, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT ISN'T PERFECT - THOUGH SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME. ======================================================================= SCENE 1: A COURTROOM (ON HOMEWORLD?) MUSIC: ATMOSPHERIC SWIRLS [THE JUDGE'S VOICE WANDERS ALL AROUND THE SOUNDSCAPE, AND HAS VARIOUS EFFECTS APPLIED TO IT. PERHAPS THE INTENTION WAS TO SHOW THAT EVERY TV ON HOMEWORLD AND BEYOND WAS TUNED-IN TO THIS MOST SENSATIONAL TRIAL.] JUDGE: You, and your accomplices have been found guilty of crimes against the domains and citizens of Homeworld. Grievous crimes too numerous to recount after such a long trial. Crimes that have shocked - disgusted - the people of our domains, both on Homeworld, and the Outer Colonies. The price of your crime is execution. Three hours from now, Niton. You, your family, and cohorts will be taken from here and placed aboard a prison ship, where you will be transported to the outer galaxies, and executed. For your trip, you will be under some of our Special Execution Crews, and a computer, which will guide you to your place of execution. Be gone from this courtroom, and prepare to face destruction. [BOUNCING AND OVER-LAPPING FROM CHANNEL TO CHANNEL] Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Destruction. [DISSOLVE INTO] MUSIC: THEME 1 SCENE 2: THE PRISONERS' CELL NITON: So here we are. All nine of us. And I suppose we're going to wait until we die? SUKKI: No, my love, we are not. I refuse to meekly accept the findings of a court that I cannot acknowledge as just or fair. I suggest we escape now. NADIA: Mother! Father! Hush! The guards will hear you! ALANA: Hush yourself, sister. Let the guards hear. They believe we cannot escape, but our father has a plan - a good plan. And, like all his plans, it will succeed. Yes, Father? NITON: You always were so bright, my eldest daughter. Your mother and I are proud of you. But my other daughter, Nadia, you are right to warn us. We must keep together and share ideas. We have but three hours in which to live. Otherwise, we are surely doomed. Now here's what we'll do. Gather closely, my family. Gather round my partners as well. The nine of us must prepare. MUSIC: BRIDGE [IN AND OUT] SCENE 3: OUTSIDE THE CELL SFX: VARIOUS BACKGROUND NOISES, ALONG WITH A SERIES OF BLEEPS AND BLOOPS, WHICH SO OFTEN ACCOMPANY SCI-FI WORKPLACES. GUARD: Not long now, Drakker. Are you going on board the craft for this journey? DRAKKER: Indeed, not. Joba is, however, and Commander Gryc. Time for a few games of hydra, my friend.... For the next *two* weeks. GUARD: Ha! Certainly a good few hands. You know, I still find myself feeling sorry for these prisoners. I mean, not even Niton is as vicious as the Commander's new second, Lotin. DRAKKER: Personally, I would rather line them up before our guns - for target practice. GUARD: Maybe, my friend, we should persuade them to escape. I doubt they realize the potential of our new weaponry. SCENE 4: THE PRISONERS' CELL NITON: You see? The weapons are not of the highest quality. Not like the S-E-C's machine pistols. Now, if we could overpower the guards for a few seconds alone, that would be enough time. Then we must separate and meet in position four in one hour. Is that doubt in your eye, Solomon? SOLOMON: I admire your optimism, Niton. But what if the guards are too powerful? Is there not a danger of failure? SUKKI: My husband has yet to fail us, Dag Solomon! You would do well to remember that. ALANA: Father? Shall my sister and I start the diversion? NITON: Certainly Alana. Go now. SCENE 5: OUTSIDE THE PRISONERS' CELL. [ALANA AND NADIA SCREAM SHRILLY FROM WITHIN] GUARD: What's going on, Drakker? DRAKKER: I don't know. Let's find out! SFX: CELL DOOR OPENING. DRAKKER: Fire! SFX: MACHINE GUNS FIRING RANDOM BURSTS SF2: FOOTSTEPS NITON: This way, my family. Solomon! Quickly! With me! SOLOMON: So, their new weapons will be easily overpowered, my leader. They didn't have a chance! NITON: They will be avenged, partner. Let's go... GUARD: ...Nowhere, Niton. You and your family, and Dag Solomon have just had their time shortened. Your ship is ready for departure. A ship called `Despair'. MUSIC: STING [DISSOLVES INTO] SCENE 6: A FIELD NEAR COURT'S FIELD SCHOOL SFX: DISTANT CHURCH BELLS PEELING MUSIC: PLEASANT AND CHEERY, BEFITTING THE DAY SFX: THE TARDIS MATERIALIZES SF2: ATMOSPHERE: A PLEASANT AFTERNOON GREG: [WALKING ON] Here bally, bally. Where are you? Come to Greg. He wants to *kick* you. DOCTOR: It's amazingly difficult to get a response out of a plastic sphere. Besides, if I was your ball, I certainly wouldn't want to be found and promised a kick as a greeting. GREG: Ahhhh, but that's what footballs are for. Especially round plastic ones. Who knows? Maybe he likes being kicked around. DOCTOR: Having never asked a football's opinion on the subject, I bow to your superior knowledge. GREG: You never know. Maybe somewhere out there, there's a race of aliens; but instead of little green men with two heads from Mars, they're little round footballs from Saturn. For the moment though I'd be grateful for finding a white and black one from Court's Field Sports Hall. DOCTOR: Is that the name of your school? GREG: Yes. Don't you know that? Oh, you're not staff then. You see, I'm new this term - well, this month, actually - so I haven't seen all the staff yet. DOCTOR: No. I don't work here at all. But I could be looking for a job soon; teaching science. GREG: Oh, perhaps you'd better see Mr. Lewis, then. He'll be in the labs now with one of the junior classes. Um, it's over there. DOCTOR: Thanks. Oh, and your ball, by the way, is by that tree stump. GREG: Ah. AH, Great! [ALTHOUGH `FATTY' IS DESCRIBED AS A `SIR', THE VOICE SOUNDS DISTINCTLY FEMALE TO MY EARS.] FATTY: [OFF] Holmes! Greg Holmes! Have you found that ball yet? GREG: [UNDER HIS BREATH] Shut up, Fatty. FATTY: [OFF] Hurry up! GREG: [TO FATTY] Got it, Sir! Just coming! DOCTOR: Thanks for the talk. And don't be too rough on your poor football. GREG: Fine. SCENE 7: ON-BOARD `DESPAIR' JOBA: Prisoners are all aboard, sir. For the moment, I've put the family in the largest cell, and Solomon in one of the others. GRYC: Good. I think they ought to remain as such for the duration of the trip. They haven't got much time left together, so maybe it'll keep them quiet. JOBA: How many Special Execution Crew on-board, Sir? GRYC: Just yourself, Junior Commander Lotin, and I. JOBA: Is that enough, sir? They are dangerous. They did plan that escape from the cell. SFX: ELECTRONIC DOOR OPENS LOTIN: Fixed. GRYC: Welcome aboard, Junior Commander Lotin. What was fixed? SFX: ELECTRONIC DOOR CLOSES LOTIN: Their attempted breakout. The judge wanted to be rid of them. It's been proving too costly to keep ships like `Despair' going. JOBA: `Going' is hardly the appropriate term. GRYC: I suppose the judges know best. But mass murder is hardly justified. LOTIN: It seems quite just to me, sir, considering what Niton's gang have done. GRYC: Junior Commander Lotin, would I be right in thinking that you and Joba took part in the massacre of the prisoners? LOTIN: Just obeying orders, sir. JOBA: That's true, sir. GRYC: Obey. Yes. I suppose so. LOTIN: Don't worry, Commander. If there are any further massacres to be created, Joba and I will handle them. GRYC: Sarcasm is neither your position, nor your strong point Lotin. Resume duties. You too, Joba. JOBA: Sir LOTIN: [IN UNISON] Sir. SCENE 8: NEAR COURT'S FIELD, LATER THAT AFTERNOON SFX: BG: BIRDS CHIRPING DOCTOR: Greg, isn't it? GREG: Hel-lo, sir! Any luck with Mr. Lewis? DOCTOR: Hmmm? Lewis? Oh. No. Greg, you haven't seen a police box, have you? I'm afraid I've mislaid mine. GREG: Noooo, not since I was about six, actually. DOCTOR: Ahhh, and that would have been about ten years ago. Yes? GREG: Eleven [and/in] eight months to be exact. DOCTOR: Well, mine vanished a little more recently than that, I'm afraid. GREG: How recently? DOCTOR: Approximately thirty minutes. Give or take the odd second. I left it where I found your football. GREG: Oh, and what were you doing with a police box half an hour ago in our playing fields? DOCTOR: Losing it. GREG: Ask a silly question. DOCTOR: It's rather a special one, you see. It moves on its own. It... well it seems. GREG: Tractor wheels? Those things must weigh a tonne. DOCTOR: It sort of flies. GREG: That I have just got to see. DOCTOR: You can, if I ever find it. Trouble is, what I've actually lost is my sense of direction. I can't find your wretched playing fields. GREG: Come on, Sir. They're down here. SCENE 9: THE CENTRAL COMPUTER ROOM LOTIN: Here you are, Joba. This is BABE, our computer. BABE: Good day, gentlemen. I hope this trip is pleasant for you. A pleasure to welcome you aboard. JOBA: It seems very advanced. What a shame to waste it on this ship. BABE: Allow me to assure you, Guard Joba, that nothing is wasted here. I am linked with Central Base on Homeworld, where my original is located. I am but a minute extension. There is one of me in every ship on Homeworld's fleet. Can I help you, gentlemen? LOTIN: I'll leave you to it, Joba. We'll have a drink later. JOBA: By all means. See you. SFX: THE DOOR CLOSES JOBA: [TO BABE] Right my new friend. Can you put me through to Control at Central Base, please? BABE: I can, Guard Joba. JOBA: Then, please do... NOW. [PAUSE] Oh, come on BABE. Do as you're told. I haven't got very long before we're out of range. [PAUSE] BABE? What's going on? Please put me through as you said. What's that noise? SFX: BG: A PULSING, ELECTRONIC SQUELCH, BECOMING MORE AND MORE OBVIOUS DURING THE COMING EXCHANGE BABE: I am sorry, Guard Joba, but I cannot help you just now. JOBA: Look. You just said... BABE: I said I *can* put you in contact with Homeworld, but I'm afraid just now that I will not. And please do not try to contact Commander Gryc. SFX: HE DOES SO. SF2: THERE IS A ZAP. BABE: I did ask you not to. JOBA: You've just blown out the communications! What is going on? And what's that horrendous row? BABE: You are going to be very useful to me, Joba. Us. Very useful to us, indeed. Your mind is trained. It knows things that, as yet, have not been programmed into my superior at Central Base. I'm sure you understand my need to use you. This might cause you pain. For that, I apologize in advance. Goodbye, Joba. SFX: THE SQUELCH DEVELOPS INTO A SECONDS-LONG ZAP SF2: THE DOOR OPENS LOTIN: Oh, Joba, I.... Joba? SCENE 10: DESPAIR'S CELL AREA GRYC: I hope you are comfortable here. I'm only sorry that your last few hours together are not as comfortable as they ought to have been. SUKKI: I suppose you are here to deliver a sermon to my family, concerning the stupidity of trying to upset the system of Homeworld. GRYC: That is neither my job, nor my intention. I'm here purely to guide this ship to the detonation sector, and then take my men and leave in the pod. I don't like being on board a prison ship any more than you do, Madam. NITON: Then help us to escape. We won't return to Homeworld. We'll go to a colony. Assume a new life. No one will know. The computer will continue with the plan. GRYC: That's more than my life's worth. SFX: COMMUNICATOR BEEPS GRYC: Yes. What is it Lotin? LOTIN: [OVER COMMUNICATOR] Joba's dead. Electrocuted. And it seems to have damaged BABE. GRYC: I'm on my way. SUKKI: We know nothing of this. GRYC: Really? We'll see. NITON: But how could we? SFX: DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES NADIA: Father. What is happening? NITON: I have no idea. But it's an opportune moment for us. I have a plan. MUSIC: SWIRLING BRIDGE SCENE 11: COURT'S FIELDS SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS GREG: One police box. Now, I've just walked all round it, and I see no wheels, no wings, and no engines. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this obviously isn't yours. DOCTOR: Young man, I detect a certain note of cynicism in your voice. Would you care to look inside? GREG: Umm, No thanks, uh, I'd better get back to the school, or I'll be shot. Um, goodbye, mister. DOCTOR: Just Doctor. I'm a scientist, remember. GREG: Oh, yes. Uh, right. Bye, then! DOCTOR: Just a quick look? The door's open. I'm hardly going to kidnap you in a police box, am I? GREG: I s'pose not. All right. If it makes you happy. DOCTOR: It certainly does. MUSIC: A MIX OF WONDER AND VERTIGO (CONTINUING UNDER) GREG: Oh, my! DOCTOR: Impressive. Yes? GREG: Yes. Look. I know this seems daft, but... DOCTOR: It's bigger on the inside than the out? I know! GREG: That wasn't what I was going to say. DOCTOR: [DISAPPOINTED] Oh. GREG: But now you mention it, it is bigger in he.... And I walked around the outside. Impossible! DOCTOR: Can't be impossible. You're here! You can see it! GREG: Look. I'm no Einstein, but I don't believe in this at all. DOCTOR: Transcendental engineering. Clever, isn't it? GREG: You could say that. DOCTOR: Now. What were you going to say? GREG: What? Oh just, well, who *are* you? I *didn't* and *don't* believe that rubbish about looking for a job. MUSIC: [OUT] SFX: TARDIS INTERIOR - AT REST [UP AND UNDER] DOCTOR: I travel in space and time. And I'm usually referred to as The Doctor. I actually *came* because someone told me, *years* ago, that I could see some good cricket here. But I must have mis-set the coordinates a little, and ended up a few months early. First thing I knew about it was getting hit by a flying football - of white and black plastic. GREG: Ohhh, really, heh. That's nice. Can I go now? DOCTOR: Must you? The universe has some wonderful sights. Ever been to the Eye of Orion? Or seen the floating seas of Cassiopeia? You'd like them. But, no. Of course, you must go. [MOCKING] Mustn't miss your lessons. Have fun in the labs. And don't eat the litmus paper. SFX: TARDIS DOORS CLOSING GREG: Okay. I won't. Bye, Doctor. Nice seeing your, uh, police box. DOCTOR: Goodbye. [A PAUSE] GREG: Does it really fly? DOCTOR: Sort of. GREG: I've never flown before. Could you take me to the courtyard? DOCTOR: Probably not. But let's have a try, shall we? SFX: THE TARDIS DEMATERIALIZES SCENE 12: STORAGE BAY 4 OF DESPAIR. SFX: THE TARDIS REMATERIALIZES SF2: TARDIS SCANNER OPENS - THOUGH THEY MIGHT HAVE MEANT FOR IT TO BE THE DOORS OPENING AS THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGE CLEARLY TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THE TARDIS. GREG: Well, this isn't the courtyard at Courtfield's, is it? DOCTOR: Ah. Actually, it isn't even the playing fields. GREG: I had noticed. Distinct lack of trees. And games' masters. *Fat* games' masters. Every cloud has a silver lining. DOCTOR: Fancy finding out where we are? GREG: Well, standing here isn't going to take me to any floating seas, is it? DOCTOR: Jolly good! Let's go...that way. MUSIC: BRIDGE SCENE 13: THE CENTRAL COMPUTER ROOM SFX: LOTIN MOVES A COUPLE OF THINGS LOTIN: I can't see for the life of me *what* caused it. GRYC: Any noises from BABE? LOTIN: Nothing, sir. It's totally dead. BABE: Intru...I... ALERT!!! Intrud....I...I CANNOT! MUSIC: PULSATING [IN AND UNDER] LOTIN: Sir? GRYC: I heard. BABE? What are you trying to say? What killed Guard Joba? Why did [?]? BABE: Intruders! Storage bay... FOUR! Int.... LOTIN: Sabotage. It must be! GRYC: Locate them. SFX: DOOR OPENS GRYC: But, Lotin. LOTIN: Yes, sir? GRYC: Don't get over-enthusiastic. I'd like to question [? ?]. We're not going to learn too much about what's happened if you fry them, or gun them down. LOTIN: I won't *touch* them, sir.... much. MUSIC: [OUT] SCENE 14: STORAGE BAY FOUR DOCTOR: Where shall we go now? GREG: I heard something cry! DOCTOR: I didn't. Whereabouts? GREG: Down that corridor. To the left. Shall we take a look? DOCTOR: Why not? It's not Cassiopeia, but anywhere's better than an English football pitch. GREG: I think I'd go along with that. There it was again! That cry! DOCTOR: Well, I just didn't hear it. I suppose it's just a creaking door. LOTIN: It wasn't. It was the prisoners. Probably trying to escape. DOCTOR: [WARMLY] Hel-lo there! LOTIN: Shut up. DOCTOR: Charming. I am The Doctor, and this is... GREG: Greg Holmes. Hi. LOTIN: I'm sorry. I thought you might speak my language. DOCTOR: We do. LOTIN: Could have fooled me. I said `shut up'. Where I come from, that means do not make a sound. GREG: Oh, sorry. DOCTOR: Greg, this gentleman asked us to be quiet. So, as this is *his* place, I think we ought to do as he says, don't you? GREG: You're the one making all the noise. LOTIN: I *won't* tell you again. DOCTOR: I'm sorry. I've forgotten what you were going to tell us. LOTIN: SHUT UP! DOCTOR: AH YES! I remember! That's a nice gun. Pump action bullets, eh? A bit primitive. LOTIN: But effective. Lasers kill permanently. These maim. Very useful for questioning people. Now, shut up. GREG: *You* were talking. DOCTOR: Greg! LOTIN: You have been found on board prison ship Despair. You are suspected of sabotage to her main computer, resulting in the death of Guard Joba through electrocution. What do you have to say? GREG: But, we've only just.... DOCTOR: Impossible. I refuse to accept your claim. My friend and I are innocent travellers, and are guilty of nothing. I *demand* to see your commanding officer. SFX: A LASER POWERING UP GRYC: Then turn around. He's behind you. And I have a laser. Permanent, or not, it's effective. DOCTOR: Hello! I'm the Doctor! And..... GRYC: I heard the first time. I'm Commander Gryc. The gentleman with the bullet gun is Junior Commander Lotin. DOCTOR: Nice to meet you. Lotin, you informed me that there's been a death. How sad. I can assure you that we had nothing to do with it. GREG: Maybe one of your prisoners.... LOTIN: The Commander was with them when Joba was murdered. DOCTOR: `Killed'. Let's keep the debate open, please. LOTIN: `Murdered'. DOCTOR: So pedantic in one so young. Murdered, it is. But leave us out. Yourselves. And the prisoners? Who does that leave? GRYC: No one. LOTIN: And *why* should we leave out you two? DOCTOR: Because we're innocent! LOTIN: Silly me! Well! On your way then. DOCTOR: Not just pedantic, but sarcastic! Now then, Commander Gryc, what's the picture? I'm here to help you. GRYC: Really? Who sent you? GREG: Homeworld Central Base. GRYC: What? Why? DOCTOR: To check up on your abilities as... uh... a commander. Rumour has it back at Base that Lotin is more suited to prison duty than you. Certain officials would rather have you behind a computer bank, than on board a ship. GRYC: Councillor White, I suppose. GREG: And others! LOTIN: Why were you sent to help? Help with what? DOCTOR: Ah! Well, Uh, you see Central Base thought that this prison ship might be attacked, so that [sic] we were stowed away to observe what was going on. GRYC: Really? How nice. I had no idea Central Base cared so much about us. Funny how there isn't a Councillor White. Now who are you, really? DOCTOR: I don't think you'd believe me if I told you. LOTIN: Commander? Maybe BABE's repaired itself. Maybe it can get these people to talk. GRYC: How? LOTIN: We could use the mind drain. GRYC: No. That's for the prisoners only. GREG: What's a mind drain? DOCTOR: Greg, I don't think you really want to know. GREG: Yes I do! LOTIN: Yes he does. Tell him. DOCTOR: It's rather as the name suggests. Drains your mind of all its knowledge and stores it in a central computer. Primitive, but effective. GRYC: You know an awful lot about our technology, Doctor. DOCTOR: It's hardly a unique system, Commander. I've seen them all over the galaxies. Dreadful things. Devices of psychopaths. You see, Greg they don't return the stolen knowledge. And the victim is left a cabbage for the rest of his life. GRYC: We don't use it very often. It's a deterrent to prisoners. They would rather be executed than drained. It stops escape attempts. SCENE 15: THE CENTRAL COMPUTER ROOM NITON: Well, this must be the central computer room. We've got this far. Now let's see what we can do to escape. NADIA: Father. See this? It must operate the computer. `system on-line', it says. BABE: Good day citizens. How can I be of service? NITON: Tell us of a way to escape this spacecraft. BABE: I am so sorry, but I can not help you. My optical circuits, in conjunction with my memory wafers, inform me that you are Niton, Sukki, Alana, and Nadia; the criminals sent to be executed on this ship. It is my job to stop you escaping. How did you leave the cell? SUKKI: That was easy! ALANA: Mother! Be Silent! I do not trust this computer. It seeks to trick us! NADIA: She is right. Maybe it will inform Commander Gryc that we have escaped. BABE: Commander Gryc was informed as soon as you entered this room. MUSIC: MYSTERIOUS AND TENSE; BUILDING. SFX: THE MIND DRAIN EFFECT STARTS TO BECOME OBVIOUS, AND BUILDS UNDER THE SCENE. BABE: But he can not help you now. No one can ever help you. Your minds will be absorbed into my central consciousness. NADIA: Father! What is... happening?!? SUKKI: Husband! I... can not! NITON: Nadia! Try to get out! BABE: You can not escape. Please do not try. ALANA: I must reach the door! NADIA: Alana! No! BABE: No escape. SFX: A LASER BLAST ALANA: [SCREAMS] SFX: THE DOOR BEGINS TO OPEN NADIA: Alana! [PAUSE] The door is... uh...uh... Father! NITON: Go! Daughter! Escape! SCENE 16: STORAGE BAY FOUR SFX: A FLURRY OF ELECTRONIC SOUND [PRESUMABLY THE SOUND OF THE MIND DRAIN, ESCAPING THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR] GRYC: What's that noise? DOCTOR: I don't know. It's quite penetrating. This way. LOTIN: Stop, or I'll shoot! DOCTOR: Shoot then, but it won't achieve much. SFX: GRYC FIRES OFF TWO SHOTS (SOUNDING REMARKABLY LIKE A GALLIFREYAN STASER). GRYC: Well done, Lotin. That's both of them escaped. *And* a young boy takes your gun. Very good. Let's go. LOTIN: You'll pay for this, Doctor! [UNDER HIS BREATH] And so, Commander, will you. MUSIC: DISSOLVE INTO THEME 1 [END OF SIDE ONE] =======================================================================synchronize