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Original 'Sloth' Transcription from http://www.hwcn.org/~an933
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This file was created without the consent or knowledge of the
Audio/Visuals team.
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AUDIO ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE
TRANSCRIPTION: "CONGLOMERATE" (AV4)
PART: 1 OF 2
DURATION: 21:00
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THIS IS A ROUGH VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS
PLAY, IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU LISTEN WHILE READING THIS TRANSCRIPT
AT LEAST ONCE, NOTING ANY ERRORS WHICH YOU MAY COME ACROSS.
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MUSIC: THEME 1
SCENE 1: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - PLATFORM THREE
MUSIC2: OMINOUS
SFX: A TRAIN DEPARTS
TANNOY VOICE: The next train to arrive at this platform - platform
three - will be the twenty-three thirty Trans-Urban Line
service to Seldist. This service will run, non-stop, to
Rugdian Square. The twenty-three thirty Trans-Urban
Line service to Seldist will leave from platform three,
and Rugdian will be the next stop.
SFX: THE TRAIN ARRIVES
SFX2: ITS DOORS OPEN
SFX3: ITS DOORS CLOSE
SFX4: IT DEPARTS
SFX5: THE TARDIS MATERIALIZES
SFX6: GREG OPENS THE DOOR, AND WALKS OUT ONTO THE PLATFORM
GREG: Ahhh. This looks, riveting.
DOCTOR: [FROM INSIDE THE TARDIS] What? Listen. Greg, you
haven't seen that astral sextant thingy, have you?
GREG: Hmmm, you were polishing it earlier on.
DOCTOR: [FROM INSIDE THE TARDIS] I know. Ah!
SFX: THE DOCTOR EMERGES FROM THE TARDIS
SFX2: A CRUMPLING OF PAPER
DOCTOR: There we are. Now, hold the corner of this map, would
you?
GREG: What are you going to do? That thing doesn't actually
work, does it?
DOCTOR: It may appear somewhat antiquated...
GREG: What? Like the TARDIS, you mean?
DOCTOR: Uh, ha ha, Master Holmes. But it's sturdy and reliable.
GREG: Ah, nothing like the TARDIS, then.
DOCTOR: Uh, just hold the map. Now, I just look through here,
and... oh the focusing's gone a bit wonky. Hold on a
minute.
GREG: I'm not surprised you can't see much.
DOCTOR: You see, Greg, the TARDIS is apt to be a little dodgey on
the navigational side of things, so it never hurts to
stop and get out, take a peek at the stars with this.
GREG: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Must have some dust on the lens. Uh...
GREG: I was trying to tell you, Doctor. We're in some sort of
tunnel.
DOCTOR: Oh yes. Oh.
GREG: It's an underground station. Look. Ruford Square
Station. Trans-Urban Line Network. Hmm. [Don't know
it.] Can't be the London underground.
DOCTOR: No. Lucky we didn't land on the line.
TANNOY VOICE: Twenty-three forty Trans-Urban Line service to Rudgian
Square will leave from platform three and Steel Centre
will be the next stop.
DOCTOR: Ah good! We can follow the passengers to the surface.
GREG: We don't want to get lost, do we?
DOCTOR: [STARTS TO WHISTLE A TUNE]
GREG: Why do we want to get to the surface, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Uh-m... well, we can't see the sky down here, can we?
GREG: Oh.
DOCTOR: [STARTS TO WHISTLE AGAIN]
GREG: Oh, come on. We could be waiting for ages.
SFX: THE TRAIN ARRIVES
GREG: There's no one in it!
DOCTOR: Automated driver, I expect.
GREG: No. No. No. I mean, no passengers.
SFX: THE TRAIN DOORS OPEN
SFX2: THE DOCTOR BEGINS TO GATHER UP HIS MAP
DOCTOR: Well, we'll have to make our own way to the surface.
Come on! This looks like the way out.
SFX: THE TRAIN DOORS CLOSE
GREG: Don't you find it worrying?
DOCTOR: What?
GREG: There being no people.
DOCTOR: No, it's probably late at night.
GREG: Yes, but even so.
DOCTOR: Oh, stop fussing. Come on.
SFX: THE TRAIN DEPARTS
MUSIC: SWIRLS
SCENE 2: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - ESCALATORS
GREG: Ah! Escalators!
DOCTOR: Oh, yes. 'Tis rather like the London underground,
isn't it?
GREG: Hm, without the pinstripe brigade, though.
DOCTOR: Oh, no.
GREG: Well, I shan't miss them.
DOCTOR: No, no! We haven't got a ticket.
GREG: We can pay at the barrier.
DOCTOR: But we haven't got any money! Oh, we'll just have to
act stupid.
GREG: Ha, well, I'll leave the talking to you, then.
DOCTOR: Thank you.
SCENE 3: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - PLATFORM THREE
MUSIC: OMINOUS
TANNOY VOICE: Arrival imminent. Arrival imminent. Arrival imminent.
SFX: A TRAIN ARRIVES
SFX2: THE DOORS OPEN
SFX3: AS THEY DO, SOMETHING OOZES OUT
SCENE 4: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - TICKET BARRIER
GREG: I can't see any ticket collectors.
DOCTOR: Judging by the automated trains, I assume the ticket
collection is automatic as well.
GREG: Well, that's the way out. Over there. Hmmm... through
that gateway.
DOCTOR: Maybe they don't have tickets here. Come on!
SFX: THE BARRIER ZAPS THE DOCTOR
MUSIC: STING
DOCTOR: Owwwww!!
GREG: Doctor? Doctor!
DOCTOR: Oooh! Oooh! Uh, what? What happened? I...
GREG: I don't know. It seems that just as soon as you got to
the gateway, well there was a sort of a... well, I
suppose you'd call it laser beam between those two
posts. Can you walk?
DOCTOR: Uhhhh... uh. Uh. Uh. No. Uh. Uh. Hooph. Couldn't
have been a laser. There's no sign of burns. Ooh,
dear.
GREG: Not much chance of fare dodging here, is there?
DOCTOR: No. Rather an unpleasant method, though.
GREG: You know, I'm beginning not to like this place. Let's
go back to the TARDIS. It's obvious that we can't get
to the surface.
DOCTOR: Don't give up so easily. Uh, a..ah. That's better.
Now I can.... The feeling's coming back to my legs
already. Ehh. Uh. There we are.
GREG: You don't look too steady. Do you want a hand?
DOCTOR: Umn... Thanks. I should be all right in a minute. It
must have been some kind of a molecular agitator. I
expect I can deactivate it.
GREG: Hm. Vandal.
DOCTOR: Well, there's no one about.
GREG: You're *looking* for trouble, aren't you? For once, we
should just give up and go and find somewhere altogether
more pleasant.
DOCTOR: We haven't seen the surface yet. It's probably a
gleeming technological edifice. Ah. I see how this
thing works. Greg? Could you just give it a swift
boot, about here?
GREG: No?
DOCTOR: Oh, go on. I'm not steady enough yet.
GREG: Too bad. I'm not getting my feet blown off, thank you
very much.
SFX: SOMETHING BRIEFLY OOZES UNDERNEATH HIS WORDS
DOCTOR: What was that?
GREG: What?
DOCTOR: Oh, nothing. Just the escalator.
GREG: Are you sure?
DOCTOR: Yes! Now, come on. Give this thing a kick.
GREG: Oh, all right. If it'll make you happy.
SFX: HE KICKS IT
SFX2: THERE IS A BRIEF, LOW BEEPING SOUND AS THE DOCTOR TESTS
THE BARRIER.
DOCTOR: Success! Come on.
GREG: After you.
SFX: THE BEEPING SOUND REPEATS AS THE DOCTOR PASSES THROUGH
THE GATEWAY
DOCTOR: There. Perfectly safe.
SFX: THE BEEPING SOUND REPEATS AS GREG PASSES THROUGH THE
GATEWAY
DOCTOR: Oh, now give me a hand up these stairs.
GREG: Greg Holmes, male nurse.
DOCTOR: Well, you've discovered your true vocation, then.
Haven't you? Now. Up we go.
SFX: THEY WALK UP THE STAIRS, JUST AS....
SFX2: THE OOZE BEGINS ITS ASCENT UP THE ESCALATOR
SCENE 5: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - ENTRANCE
GREG: You were right. It is late.
DOCTOR: Nighttime in the big city.
GREG: So, where's the nightlife? There aren't even any street
lights on.
DOCTOR: Hm. You know? We could be anywhere.
GREG: Well, it's a modern city. They look like skyscrapers to
me.
DOCTOR: Mmmmmm...
GREG: We should have brought a torch.
DOCTOR: Well, never mind. I'll just take those readings, and
we'll be on our way. Hand me the sextant, will you? Oh
no. I must have dropped it by that ticket barrier.
GREG: Don't worry. I'll get it.
DOCTOR: Oh, thanks. I'm still a bit shaky.
GREG: [WALKING OFF] Invalid.
DOCTOR: Now, then. Pity this chart isn't fluorescent. Ah. I
think that's Orion. And that... [FADE]
SCENE 6: THE TICKET BARRIER
GREG: There we are. One sextant.
SFX: THE SOUND OF THE OOZE BEGINS TO APPEAR.
GREG: What's that?!?
SFX: THE OOZE ARRIVES AT THE TOP OF THE ESCALATOR.
GREG: Euuh! Doctor?
SCENE 7: RUFORD SQUARE STATION - ENTRANCE
DOCTOR: So. If that's Orion, this must be... no I...
GREG: [WALKING ON] Doctor?
DOCTOR: Greg? Yes?
GREG: Doctor, there's something coming up the escalators.
DOCTOR: What do you mean?
GREG: I don't know. It's a sort of mass or something.
DOCTOR: Mass?!?
GREG: It's just there's loads of it. It must have filled up
all the lower level.
DOCTOR: Show me.
GREG: No way. It's probably at the bottom of those stairs by
now.
DOCTOR: I wonder where it's from?
GREG: I don't much care about that. All I know is it's coming
this way.
SFX: THE OOZE BEGINS TO BECOME VISIBLE
GREG: There it is.
DOCTOR: Mmmm! I see what you mean!
GREG: Oh, Doctor.
DOCTOR: I wonder what it is.
GREG: Doctor!
DOCTOR: Uh. Oh, you'd better give me a hand, Greg.
MUSIC: BIRDGE
SCENE 8: NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO STEEL CENTRE STATION
[BOTH THE DOCTOR AND GREG ARE WINDED FROM THEIR
EXERTIONS.]
DOCTOR: Are we safe yet?
GREG: Yes. Yes. I think so.
DOCTOR: Oh, good. My legs are still playing up. That disruption
field must have been more [literal?] than I thought.
Phoo! Do you think that stuff's still following us,
Greg?
GREG: Well, it wasn't showing any signs of stopping. Mind
you, I can't hear it anymore.
DOCTOR: No. I wonder what it is?
GREG: I wonder what it's done to the TARDIS.
DOCTOR: Oh, I don't think there's any cause for worry there.
For all it's faults, the TARDIS is pretty well
indestructible. Well, it was last time it was put to
the test.
GREG: Hm, that's *very* encouraging. Anyway, even if it is
all right, *how* are we going to get to it?
DOCTOR: Good point. That stuff had a rather acidic smell about
it.
GREG: So, we can't just go wading through it.
DOCTOR: Precisely. Hmm.... First things first. Let's take
that sextant reading.
SFX: A CRUMPLING OF PAPER AS THE ASTRAL CHART IS UNFURLED
ONCE AGAIN.
GREG: Here you are.
DOCTOR: Thank you.
SFX: A LOW MOTOR-LIKE NOISE APPEARS IN THE DISTANCE, GROWING
MORE APPARENT.
DOCTOR: Now let's hope it's still working. Ah, yes. Now.
[NOTICING THE NOISE] Wait a minute.
GREG: What can you see?
DOCTOR: Well, I don't need a sextant to see *that*. Look!
GREG: Aircraft of some sort?
DOCTOR: [Or spaceships.] About a mile away, I'd say.
SFX: DISTANT THUMPING SOUNDS [SEVERAL, UNDER]
GREG: They're dropping bombs!
DOCTOR: What?!?
GREG: They're bombing the city! Look!
DOCTOR: Oh no. We've got to find some shelter.
GREG: There's another underground station - Steel Centre -
over there.
DOCTOR: Right. Come on.
GREG: What if that stuff's down there?
DOCTOR: We'll just have to hope it isn't.
SFX: THE EXPLOSIONS GROW CLOSER.
SCENE 9: STEEL CENTRE STATION - TICKET BARRIER
SFX: THE BOMBING CONTINUES OUTSIDE.
SFX2: GREG COMES RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS.
GREG: Hurry up, Doctor!
SFX: THE DOCTOR COMES RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS.
DOCTOR: Greg! Mind the ticket barrier!
GREG: What?
SFX: GREG HITS THE TICKET BARRIER.
GREG: AHHHHHH!!!
DOCTOR: Greg? Greg, are you all right?
GREG: Oh, my legs. I'd forgot about the...
DOCTOR: Yeah. I, I know. Now, can you walk?
GREG: [HE TRIES, GRUNTING WITH EXERTION] No.
DOCTOR: You took the full force of it. Y...your momentum took
you right through the beam to the other side.
[WE SWITCH TO THE DOCTOR'S PERSPECTIVE.]
DOCTOR: At least we seem to be safe down here.
GREG: There's none of that yellow stuff, either.
DOCTOR: Well, let's not count our blessings before they hatch.
Now, you just sit tight over your side, while I try to
deactivate this barrier and get through to you. It's a
little difficult, because I'm on the wrong side of it.
Now, it shouldn't take long, though.
GREG: Then what?
[WE SWITCH TO GREG'S PERSPECTIVE.]
DOCTOR: One thing at a time, Greg.
GREG: I suppose we could go down into the tunnel. See if we
could get into that other station. Ruford Square.
Hmmm.... That gungey stuff might have moved on by now.
DOCTOR: It's a possibility. How are your legs now?
GREG: It's like I've got chronic pins and needles.
DOCTOR: Now don't worry. They'll soon get better. Look, mine
are almost back to normal now.
[WE SWITCH TO THE DOCTOR'S PERSPECTIVE.]
SFX: A PIECE OF METAL BEING FLUNG ASIDE.
DOCTOR: Ah... Now that's that bit out of the way.
SFX: HE BEGINS PLAYING WITH THE ELECTRONICS INSIDE.
DOCTOR: Now, let me see....
GREG: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Euh?
GREG: What's going on in this place?
DOCTOR: Uh, yes. Uh, t'is a little strange, isn't it?
GREG: I don't think we're on Earth. Do you?
DOCTOR: No. Uh, well, it might be your future. With time
travel, you never can tell.
GREG: Hm.
DOCTOR: Hm.
GREG: Any luck?
DOCTOR: Uh, no, I'm afraid not. You see this is an altogether
different mechanism. Look around you. This station has
undergone considerable mordernization.
GREG: As has that thing, I suppose. Just my luck!
DOCTOR: What is?
GREG: Boring through a Doctor-proof barrier.
DOCTOR: Hmm-mm. Nothing is Doctor-proof, Greg.
SFX: THE MECHANISM DISAGREES, SENDING OUT A JOLT.
DOCTOR: Ahhh, ow!!!
[WE SWITCH TO GREG'S PERSPECTIVE.]
GREG: Ha!Hah! Are you sure, Doctor?
[THE AV TEAM GIVE UP ON THE IDEA OF SWITCHING
PERSPECTIVES AS A BAD IDEA FOR THE MOMENT.]
DOCTOR: Now, I think I'll have to do a bit of lateral thinking.
GREG: The bombing seems to have stopped.
DOCTOR: Yes.
GREG: I wonder why they were bombing an empty city? Maybe
they didn't know it was empty.
DOCTOR: Well, it isn't empty. We're here.
GREG: I can think of more efficient ways of killing two
people.
DOCTOR: And what about our gurgling friend?
GREG: Of course! Yes. That must be it. The city was
evacuated because that stuff got into the underground.
DOCTOR: How?
GREG: I don't know! It probably just started eating
commuters, so the city authorities decided to evacuate
first and ask questions later.
DOCTOR: What? After they'd flattened their own city.
Interesting theory, Greg. Can you walk yet?
GREG: [GREG TRIES WALKING, AGAIN WITH GREAT EXERTION.] No.
Not really.
DOCTOR: Pity.
GREG: Why?
DOCTOR: Well, this thing's proving somewhat obstructive.
GREG: Oh, you mean it's got you beat?
DOCTOR: I'm afraid so. Yeah, I can see what *needs* to be done,
but I need to get to the other side to do it, and I
can't get my hand round without activating the
disrupter beam. It's a tricky situation, isn't it?
SFX: A FAMILIAR SQUELCHING SOUND BEGINS TO MAKE ITSELF
APPARENT.
GREG: Doctor? Look!
DOCTOR: Oh dear.
GREG: It must have got through the tunnel.
DOCTOR: Perhaps it knew we were here?
GREG: What?
DOCTOR: I don't know. I... I sensed something before. But it's
stronger this time.
GREG: Doctor, it's getting closer. Can't you switch that
barrier thing off? I'm trapped.
[GREG'S PERSPECTIVE]
DOCTOR: Try and make your way over here. Perhaps you can
deactivate it.
GREG: I can't!
DOCTOR: [HURRIEDLY] If I tell you what to do! Come on, Greg.
Look, we can *make* it!
GREG: I can *hardly* move!
SFX: THE BLOB GROWS EVER CLOSER!!!
DOCTOR: You've got to! It's catching up!
GREG: I *can't*, Doctor!
DOCTOR: [MUTTERING TO HIMSELF.] I won't. No. No. I won't. I
won't.
GREG: Doctor? Doctor, what are you talking about?
DOCTOR: It... it... it wants to absorb us, Greg. Make us part
of it.
GREG: I can't *move*!
SFX: THE BLOB DISAPPEARS.
GREG: It's gone!
DOCTOR: I... I don't understand.
GREG: Where did it go?
DOCTOR: It wanted to absorb us. I could... I could *see* its
thoughts.
GREG: You don't look very well.
DOCTOR: It's still here.
GREG: No. It... It's gone, Doctor. One second, I was about
to be covered in gunge, the next... well, never mind
that, now. Everything's all *right*.
DOCTOR: No. It's still here. In my mind. I can... *feel* it.
What's happening?
GREG: Oh, don't ask me. I thought *you* were the genius.
Well, that stuff seems to have done me one favour. I
think it's shocked my legs back into life. [HE GRUNTS A
LITTLE WITH EXERTION AS HE GETS UP.] Not bad, eh? I'm
walking, Doctor. Doctor? What's the matter with you?
DOCTOR: We'll have to get some fresh air.
GREG: Fresh air?!? Doctor, I'm still stuck on the wrong side
of the bar... Doctor?!? Come back! Oh, no. What is
the matter with him?
TANNOY VOICE: All trains will be converging. All trains will be
converging. Passengers for the Centre must join the
Trans-Urban Network at Steel Centre. All trains will be
converging. Passengers for the Centre must join the
Trans-Urban Network.
GREG: Steel Centre? That's *this* station.
TANNOY VOICE: Passengers for the Centre must join the Trans-Urban
Network.
DOCTOR: [INSPIRED] Converging! That's it! All trains
converging!
GREG: I'm glad it makes sense to you.
DOCTOR: We must join the train at this station.
GREG: Why? What is the Centre anyway? Um, Doctor, look
out!
SFX: THE DOCTOR WALKS THROUGH THE TICKET BARRIER.
DOCTOR: [SCREAMS IN PAIN]
GREG: What's the matter with you? You walked straight through
that barrier!
DOCTOR: [GRUNTS IN PAIN] My legs. Help me Greg. We must get
down the escalators to the trains.
GREG: Why?
DOCTOR: All the trains are converging at the Centre. Isn't it
obvious? Hm? You idiot?
GREG: I'm not going anywhere until you start behaving
normally.
DOCTOR: What could be more normal than catching the train? We
can't be late, can we?
GREG: To tell you the truth, I don't really care.
DOCTOR: You're so irresponsible! [WITH ANGER-TINTED URGENCY]
Now help me get to the escalators.
GREG: All right. All right. But *I'm* getting off at the
next stop.
DOCTOR: Why?
GREG: Because that's where the TARDIS is.
DOCTOR: And what do you want the TARDIS for?
GREG: So that we can *go*.
DOCTOR: Go!?! We can't just go. We've got to face up to our
responsibilities. Come on!
TANNOY VOICE: Trains imminent. Trains imminent. Trains imminent.
SCENE 10: STEEL CENTRE STATION - PLATFORM
DOCTOR: [AGITATED] Huh! The train is overdue. I'm sure the
train is overdue. Typical! Typical Trans-Urban line!
If the city authorities spent less money on socially
responsive campaigns, and more on getting the trains to
arrive on time, well, we would all be a lot better off!
GREG: Will you stop gabbling?!?
SFX: THE TRAIN COMMENCES ITS ARRIVAL
GREG: What has happened to you?!?
DOCTOR: Ah, at last. Come on. Come on.
GREG: Still no passengers around.
DOCTOR: Come on!!!
SFX: THE TRAIN ARRIVES
SCENE 11: ON THE TRAIN
SFX: THE TRAIN PULLS AWAY FROM THE STATION [INTERIOR
PERSPECTIVE]
GREG: Look, Doctor. We don't really want to go to this Centre
place, or wherever it is, do we?
DOCTOR: Morning, Charles! Difficult crossword today. Have you
seen the headline?
GREG: You're talking to an empty seat.
SFX: THE TRAIN SPEEDS THROUGH THE TUNNEL...
GREG: Ruford Square! It's that station! There's the TARDIS.
TANNOY VOICE: This train does not stop at Ruford Square.
GREG: What? Oh no.
DOCTOR: This train does not stop at Ruford Square.
GREG: I know that.
DOCTOR: This train goes straight to the Centre.
GREG: The Centre of what? What do you mean?
DOCTOR: Russell! How are you, old man? Good! New car?
Excellent!
GREG: Doctor, stop it!
DOCTOR: I see Hardwick is up for promotion.
GREG: Stop it! It's that stuff, isn't it? You said it was in
your mind - that it wanted to absorb us. It's done
something to your mind.
DOCTOR: What?
GREG: I don't know. But you've got to snap out of it. We've
got to leave this place.
DOCTOR: [TALKING OVER GREG'S LAST SENTENCE] Profit margins up!
Labour costs down! Six new cars on the way.
Redecoration for the boardroom!
GREG: Remember that stuff, Doctor? It smells of acid. It'll
burn if you touch it.
DOCTOR: Protective garments are supplied for the benefit of the
workforce to ensure high productivity.
GREG: And those planes bombing the city!
DOCTOR: The city is the centre of the financial world!
GREG: It's been flattened!
DOCTOR: Massive redevelopment programme required! Estimate
low-cost, high-rise housing...
GREG: The city has been bombed!
DOCTOR: War is the continuation of business by other means.
Redecorate the boardroom.
SFX: THE TRAIN SPEEDS ON...
TANNOY VOICE: We are nearing the Centre. Arrival is imminent. We are
nearing the Centre. Arrival is imminent.
MUSIC: [DISSOLVE INTO] THEME 1
- end of part one -