2. Hysteria

DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED

PART 2

Written by

Juno Dawson

1. ZOOM CALL – DAY

The Velcro-glitch and humming synth of the BBC Sounds ident.

BBC SOUNDS IDENT

BBC Sounds: Music, Radio, Podcasts

A slow ticking-clock type music track comes in, with various glitching glass-like synths.

CREDITS

Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Two. By Juno Dawson.

The ticking clock music goes on, with soft percussion and synths under Abby’s opening speech.

ABBY

The saying goes, “trust me, I’m a doctor,” but history shows time and again that not all doctors are here to cure us. From Dr Crippen to Dr Jekyll, there are some doctors who really need to work on their bedside manner...

The ticking clock music comes to a decisive stop. From now on, Abby and Shawna’s audio is slightly muffled and distorted, clearly showing they’re being heard through a laptop speaker.

ABBY (CONT’D)

(Beat)

Is that OK? It’s too cheesy? (SHAWNA softly immediately saying no, reassuring Abby)

CLEO

No, no! Strong pun game, I like it.

Abby, speaking over Zoom, turns off the recording.

ABBY

OK, let’s talk this through before we record. What have we actually got so far?

CLEO

Oh you know, just a mysterious journalist calling me up out of literally nowhere.

SHAWNA

Oh God yeah

CLEO

First of all: who gave her my number? RUDE. And second of all, who CALLS? It’s 2022, slide into my DMs like a normal person!

(Beat)

Ugh, anyway, she said we have to find someone called ‘the Doctor’?

ABBY

Yes, ok

SHAWNA

Sheffield police are looking for some doctor in connection to those two blokes going missing round here.

ABBY

Yep. And, of course, the rumours about the blue box. Some records mention a doctor too.

SHAWNA

What records?

ABBY

Well that’s the thing...all the forums are down, so I can’t check. (SHAWNA makes a surprised and intrigued noise)

CLEO

Girl, you have pages and pages of notes!

ABBY

(Huffing) Yeah, that’s the other thing. (Beat)

All my files are… corrupted. I-I don’t know what happened.

FX - police sirens, getting louder.

SHAWNA

I can probably recover them, but I’d need your laptop. You want me to come up to Glasgow? A little visit?

ABBY

Oh! Yeah! Maybe, that’d be nice. Who has got the police cars?

SHAWNA

Sorry that’s me. Let me go look... (Beat, SHAWNA walks to the window, her voice getting distant and muffled as we hear it bouncing off glass)

There’s a load of coppers over at the next block, talking to Mr Khan.

ABBY

Who?

SHAWNA

The Khans! Najia and Hakim. They’re nice. Their daughter’s a cop...or she was...that’s weird. I hope they’re OK...

CLEO

Guys! Sorry to be all about me for a minute but am I about to go meet a serial killer? This Rani woman could literally be anyone.

There’s a pause.

ABBY

(Sighing, indulgent) What did she actually say, Cleo?

CLEO

Just that it was like “vital we met” and she couldn’t say anything over the phone because it wasn’t a ‘secure line’, whatever that means. Then she started going on about how like the Doctor is killing us? I was like girl that’s like, the biggest red flag of all the red flags. Absolutely not.

ABBY

Obviously I can’t check right now but I thought the blue box doctor was a man.

SHAWNA

Sexist.

ABBY

True. But most serial killers are male, Cleo, you are probably safe. You could ask Jordan to go with you?

CLEO

Ugh, no. I’m sulking with him right now… I guess it would be safer. Yeah

We hear the sound of someone tapping a keyboard in the background.

SHAWNA

The Doctor. Wonder if he’s some sort of modern-day Jack-the-Ripper?

CLEO

Oh thanks a lot, Shawna.

ABBY

(Cutting in) I – I’m sure you’ll be fine. Rani Chandra isn’t a doctor. She’s from London. Or at least she was...she works all over the world now.

Bylines for Time, Vice, New Statesman. She seems legit.

CLEO

Fine, fine, I’ll go. But if I die, I’m coming back to haunt you so bad.

SHAWNA and ABBY laugh warmly.

ABBY

(Very warm) Please do.

(Beat)

Oh! I found us a doctor who might be able to help us, anyway.

SHAWNA

You did? Who?

ABBY

Er- you know what? Let me start recording.

There’s a beep, followed by the Blue Box Files theme.

Blue Box Files theme plays

SHAWNA

(Singing RnB style)

The Blue Box, The Blue Box

MAN

(Ominous laugh)

…Files

There’s an electric zap sound, the Wilhelm scream, and an orchestral Dun Dun Dunn.

CLEO, SHAWNA and ABBY’s audio now changes into slightly echoe-y but much clearer sound, they’re obviously on their podcast now.

ABBY (CONT'D)

Hello and welcome to the Blue Box Files, a podcast dedicated to the weird and wonderful sightings of that mysterious blue box throughout history. As ever, you’re listening to Abby MacPhail...

CLEO

I’m Cleo Proctor...

SHAWNA

This is your girl Shawna Thompson. How are we all this week?

CLEO

Yeah! Not bad!

CLEO and ABBY talk over each other, loudly and happily answering Shawna at the same time.

ABBY

Yes! I’m good...as we were discussing off-air, I am very

caught up in podcast drama. We love it when other boxspotters send us messages.

CLEO

We do

ABBY

Please

SHAWNA

Yeah, yeah, but let’s keep ‘em sane guys...

ABBY

But there’s been none at all this week.

CLEO

(Raising her voice) Yeah, come on guys! Like, share, subscribe, tell your Nan, you know

ABBY

Yes! Please! (CLEO hmms approvingly) If you’re a regular listener, do get in touch with us. What’s going on out there, guys? But anyway, let’s crack on...

SHAWNA

What have you got for us, this week, Abz?

ABBY

Oh this week is a goodie. What do we know about mass hysteria?

SHAWNA

Girl, I was a One Direction fan. Harry Styles is an honorary lesbian as far as I’m concerned. You haven’t seen mass hysteria unless you were at Sheffield Arena in 2015.

Laughter.

CLEO

Wait but, wasn’t hysteria like a Victorian thing for women?

ABBY

(Excited) Yes, yes! Well now you mention it, hystera is the Greek word for uterus, hence hysterectomy. And you are quite right, in the 19th century, doctors literally believed lady parts were driving women crazy.

SHAWNA

I hear that.

CLEO

(Loud, amused) Oh keep it PG, Shawna.

SHAWNA

(Faux innocent) What? What?

ABBY

(Grinning) Mass hysteria refers to a shared madness if you like. And this one is mad. In 2008, literally hundreds of witnesses report seeing London’s Royal Hope hospital vanish.

SHAWNA

(Deeply skeptical) Vanish?

ABBY

(With relish) The whole hospital simply disappeared, leaving a great whopping hole in the ground.

CLEO

Can’t take that David Blaine anywhere. Such a stunt queen. (SHAWNA laughs)

ABBY

Amazingly that was one theory! Here’s the thing - to this day, some people swear they saw bulletins about this on the BBC, although no footage of such an incident exists and the BBC denies all knowledge.

SHAWNA

Well, naturally, who controls the media?

CLEO

We know Shawna, the Illuminati...ok (ABBY laughs)

SHAWNA

I was gonna say the Murdochs, (CLEO laughs) but I can roll with Illuminati.

ABBY

The hospital returned - according to bystanders - after a couple of hours. Witnesses inside the Royal Hope - and this is where it gets even more bizarre - claim the hospital was teleported to the moon. (SHAWNA huffs a disgusted sigh)

CLEO

Sure, Jan.

ABBY

No no no! We are talking dozens of witnesses.

SHAWNA

OK, I’m gonna go with gas leak? Pesticides? Or meds in the water? Like it’s a hospital...one time the dentist gave me laughing gas and I thought I was on the moon to be fair.

CLEO

Wait wait wait. Girls, they didn’t actually go to the moon.

ABBY

Well clearly not but...wait for it.

Play Abby’s Blue Box jingle.

ABBY (CONT'D)

A number of witnesses also report seeing...

SHAWNA

(Exasperated) Blue box?

Slow mysterious piano music comes in softly here, building a sense of tension and mystery.

ABBY

Jackpot! This time, specifically, the vintage police call box which is a recurring theme in about 60% of sightings.

SHAWNA

Or 100% of sightings of actual police call boxes all over the UK.

ABBY

Yes, well, regardless, with it being a hospital there were, obviously, a bunch of doctors inside, including a certain doctor...

The music comes up, getting louder with a steady percussion beat like a ticking clock to end the scene.

2. INT. TESCO EXPRESS. DAY 2

FX – people, machines, tinny pop music through speakers, ‘unexpected item in the bagging area alert’.

CLEO

(Under her breath)

Yes, I know, I’m trying to steal some onions you little...

Her phone rings.

Hello?

CLEO (CONT'D)

ABBY

Hey it’s me!

CLEO

Hey, you OK babe?

ABBY

Yes. I’m editing your interview with Penny Carter. Is there any way you think you could convince her to let us use her name? Having a journalist from The Observer on the podcast would be a big deal.

CLEO

Ugh, Abby…You were the one who reached out to her though.

ABBY

I know, but I thought you met her so she might be more inclined.

CLEO

I dunno, Abs. You’re the boss. I just make sassy comments.

ABBY

Exactly! You’re the charm. Please. if anyone can convince her, it’s you.

CLEO

OK, I’ll call her now.

ABBY

(Squeaking with excitement) Thank you!

CLEO

Let me just get out of the supermarket. The security guard is staring at me.

ABBY

Legend. Call me right back!

We hear Cleo go to exit the store.

CLEO

(At security guard)

Ok…See? Receipt! I paid for my onions!

FX - The automatic doors slide open. Street noise. Car horns etc. Cleo dials Penny. We hear a dial tone and then...

PENNY VOICEMAIL

Hi this is Penny Carter at The Observer, please – (REDACTED DISTORTION – a singing, hissing, almost living static)

CLEO

Well that’s weird. Maybe I got the wrong...

She tries again. The Redacted sound gets even louder: high pitched tones and panning static that sweeps across our ears, glitching.

CLEO

Oh my God! What the hell is that noise?

The Redaction cuts off abruptly, and the podcast falls silence.

3. INT. CLEO FLAT. LONDON 3

House music playing in the background, drum and bass. Cleo enters the kitchen and flips the kettle on. JORDAN is playing X-Box loudly - Call of Duty.

CLEO

(Annoyed) Can you turn that down please? (Beat)

And can you take your trainers out on the balcony? They stink

JORDAN

Alright alright, chill out.

He pause his game and puts his trainers outside.

JORDAN (CONT'D)

There. You happy?

CLEO

Thank you. Do you want a cup of tea?

JORDAN

Nah I’m OK, got a protein shake.

CLEO

It might be that that stinks of feet to be honest.

(Beat)

So. Did you talk to Mum?

JORDAN

Yeah, I did

Sound of CLEO aggressively stirring her tea with a teaspoon.

CLEO

And?

JORDAN

And…I’m gonna see her Sunday

There’s a long silence.

JORDAN (CONT'D)

What? You telling me you ain’t got an opinion on that?

CLEO

(Huffing) The police never even questioned her!

JORDAN

Come on Cleo, don’t with all that again. Mum didn’t kill Dad.

CLEO

Jordan - how is it a 39 year old man can just vanish off the face of the earth? Our dad ain’t no Lord Lucan is he? He couldn’t work the tumble dryer!

JORDAN

He was just obviously having an affair or something.

Cleo starts to interrupt, saying “No, no”

JORDAN (CONT'D)

You called me a Mummy’s Boy but as if you’re not the ultimate daddy’s girl (CLEO gasps, offended)- before you even was a girl, you was his favourite.

Cleo doesn’t deny that.

JORDAN (CONT'D)

He’s just off with some bird in Marbella or somewhere innit? You’ve been doing your podcast too long, you’ve started believing all them mad conspiracy theories.

CLEO

OK. Whatever, fair. Mum and Dad both had their favourites.

JORDAN

(Sarcastic) You think?

CLEO

But there is no way, no way on earth, that Dad would have left me alone with that woman Jordan. Not with everything I was going through.

There’s a long pause.

JORDAN

(Sighing, solemn) Yeah well, we ain’t ever gonna know are we. He’s not comin’ back. Not after all these years.

(Beat)

Jeez well this is a buzzkill, I was just trying to play Call of Duty! (CLEO heaves a big sigh, JORDAN speaks gently). What, do you want a pizza or something? Something to cheer us up?

CLEO

Tempting, but…no, tonight I’m gonna stay home and epilate my sensual gorilla legs. I got a hot date tomorrow.

JOE

What? Who are you dating with your gorilla legs? Don’t tell me it’s another poshboi banker from Surrey again.

CLEO

You’re one to talk! Your last two girlfriends literally went to the same guy for fillers and botox.

(Beat)

And I’ll have you know she’s a beautiful journalist.

JORDAN

She?!

CLEO

Yes!

JORDAN

Does that make you a lesbian now? How does that work? I don’t think trans people can be lesbians Cleo (CLEO starts laughing)

CLEO

Yes they can!

(Beat)

But I’m winding you up. It’s for the podcast you muppet. Strictly profesh.

JORDAN

She another conspiracy nutter?

CLEO

More than likely.

JORDAN

Just text me where you’re going yeah? If she gives off dodgy vibes, I’ll rescue you.

CLEO

Aw thanks babe…But actually - what you got on tomorrow?

JORDAN

Gym. Why?

The scene ends with the chugging, metal rattling sound of a train.

4. INT. TRAIN. DAY 4

FX - train announcement.

TRAIN

We are now arriving at Edinburgh Waverley, our final destination on this service. All change. All change.

Upbeat pop music comes in, a track with a fast beat in a major key that gives us a sense of movement and gathering speed.

5. EXT. EDINBURGH. DAY 5

The pop music ends sharply with the sound of a door opening.

We hear people in a cafe. Abby approaches a table.

ABBY

Hello? Doctor? (Big pause)

Dr Morgenstern?

Ah, not that Doctor this time.

OLIVER

(Flustered) Abby? Hello there! Please call me Oliver.

ABBY

Oliver, I’m so sorry I’m late...my train was delayed...

OLIVER

It’s OK, you’re here now. (Soft laugh)

ABBY

Let me get my stuff ready.

She sets up her recording equipment.

OLIVER

You want a coffee or something?

ABBY

Aye, an oat latte would be great. (Beat)

And you’re still happy for me to record all this?

OLIVER

Absolutely. I want to set the record straight.

ABBY

Brilliant.

(Beat)

All sound in the café cuts off for a moment, including the people and machines. Then there’s a beep.

ABBY (CONT’D)

Welcome back to the Blue Box Files. Today I’m joined by Dr Oliver Morgenstern. Thank you so much for doing this, doctor...Oliver. (OLIVER laughs bashfully) Shall we start at the beginning?

OLIVER

(Self conscious) The whole thing was insane. I don’t know where to...

ABBY

You were a doctor?

OLIVER

Uh, yeah, I am. Still practicing, although I’m a psychiatrist now.

ABBY

I read your novel last night.

OLIVER

(Embarrassed) You did?

ABBY

Aye. You talk about how giant rhino aliens transported the Royal Hope to the moon..? Again, sorry.

OLIVER

Uh, no! That’s quite all right. I did indeed write that book, although I think I’ve since reevaluated my stance.

ABBY

How so?

OLIVER

I don’t believe in regrets, but I wish I’d taken more time to...process before I self- published my novel. I see things differently now.

ABBY

In what way?

OLIVER

Well for one thing, people made fun of me online.

ABBY

Try being a woman online.

OLIVER

I dread to think. I suppose...I don’t doubt that something took place on that date in the hospital. (ABBY starts to uh-huh enthusiastically)It was traumatic. The trauma was real. But what I think happened now was more akin to some form of mass hallucination or mass hysteria.

ABBY

(Tutting) Internal vapours.

OLIVER

What?

ABBY

Hysteria. That’s what Victorians thought it was.

OLIVER

(Polite laughter)

I see. I’ve researched it extensively for a new book I’m working on. It’s a real phenomenon.

ABBY

But how could so many people believe they were on the moon?

OLIVER

Oh an idea can spread like a virus. Truly. In North Carolina in 2002, this group of cheerleaders all suffered identical seizures with no obvious physiological cause.

ABBY

Seriously?

OLIVER

In Portugal in 2006, girls started experiencing symptoms of a fictional virus they’d seen in a teen soap. There are hundreds of other cases all throughout history.

Slowly soft, ominous music comes in very quietly. It’s a low drone, with high scraping synths glittering over the top of a low fuzzy pulse like broken glass.

ABBY

Still, please...for so many people to see the surface of the moon? You saw it!

OLIVER

Ah…but did I? I don’t know what I saw. It’s hazy now. It was a long time ago. I remember the panic, the fear. I remember people saying we were on the moon. But… I just don’t remember being on the moon.

There’s a pause.

ABBY

So what do you think happened?

OLIVER

I don’t know. But I think, perhaps, it’s better if I move on from that chapter in my life. (ABBY sighs, fiercely disappointed as OLIVER goes on) I’m safe, I’m well, and digging for answers has only brought misery.

ABBY

You sound like my boyfriend.

OLIVER

(Gently) He might have a point? This - obsession - with the truth took over my life, Abby. I lost my girlfriend over it; friends; my family thought I’d lost it. It wasn’t worth it.

(Beat)

Look at what happened to my friend Martha Jones. She became obsessed with this chap, ‘the Doctor’, and vanished off the face of the earth.

ABBY

Sorry, did you say ‘the Doctor’?

OLIVER

(Getting worried) Yeah, I – he was there that day. Can’t…really remember him. But he was dangerous.

ABBY’s breathing quickens and she gets to her feet with a scrape of her chair.

ABBY

Dr...Oliver. I need to go I’m so sorry...

OLIVER

Is everything OK?

ABBY

I think my friend might be in trouble...

The ominous music continues – an alien humming buzz at a low tone with scraping synths glittering over the top.

EXT. LONDON. DAY 6

The music is cut off by the sound of a passing car. We’re outside on the street.

General city noise. CLEO meets JORDAN.

JORDAN

(Calls) Cleo!

Cleo runs over.

CLEO

Hey babe! Thanks for doing this.

JORDAN

No worries.

(Beat)

I just got off the phone with Mum...

CLEO

Oh God, don’t start, I’ve not had any breakfast and I’m hangry.

Cleo’s phone rings.

CLEO (CONT'D)

Not now, Abby. God, she’s stressing me out too.

JORDAN

Mum really wants to see you. She can’t put it right if you don’t give her a chance.

CLEO

Look Jordan, if this is gonna be some big intervention or something, I can go meet Rani by myself. It’s not big deal.

JORDAN

What to a creepy hotel on your own to meet some strange woman? I don’t think so. I’m your brother innit, so shut up.

CLEO

Ok, ok.

(Beat) Thanks.

(beat)

Wait how you know it’s creepy?

JORDAN

Well, cos...we’re here.

They both look up at the hotel.

CLEO

Oh God that is creepy.

6. PHONECALL. 7

FX - dial tone.

We stay in Abby’s perspective in this scene, hearing her clearly, whilst Shawna’s voice is slightly muffled and distorted by the phone. There’s the sound of people in the background.

A slow synth and piano piece of mysterious music plays quietly under this scene, invoking a sense of quiet wonder

SHAWNA

Hey, hey, hey.

ABBY

(Worried)

Shawna, have you heard from Cleo?

SHAWNA

No. Why? Are you OK?

ABBY

Ooooh, I am so very not OK. I just finished with the Oliver guy and I think this Rani woman might be dangerous.

What?

SHAWNA

ABBY

Oliver confirmed it. There’s a person called ‘The Doctor’. And he might be trouble.

SHAWNA

Oh. OK. Look, I’m at college...I could get in the car but it’d be hours until I got to London...

ABBY

Should I call the police?

SHAWNA

And tell them what?

ABBY

Damn it! I’m meant to be meeting Craig at the cinema. I can’t just leave Cleo. God, he’s gonna be so mad at me.

(Beat)

Shawna? Are you there?

SHAWNA

I’m here. Abz. I don’t know what to say. This is messed up.

ABBY

This podcast is getting a bit real.

SHAWNA

Right? Abz, I don’t wanna be the subject of a Blue Box File...

The music keeps playing softly in the background, soft slow synths and electric keyboard.

8 INT. HOTEL ONYX. DAY 8

We hear the rattle of a door opening, and traffic from inside. The music from the previous scene stops. Inside sounds plush and fairly quiet, with very soft music playing in the room.

CLEO

Ok…

JORDAN

Why’s there no one here?

FX – A desk bell. The RECEPTIONIST, who speaks with a slightly reptilian lisp

RECEPTIONIST

Hello there…

CLEO

Hello…Ms Receptionist, we’re here to see Rani Chandra?

RECEPTIONIST

Ah yes. You’re in Suite 13. Fourth floor.

CLEO

Wait, she wants me to go to her room?

RECEPTIONIST

I’m a receptionist at a hotel where we charge by the hour, my policy is not to ask.

FX – They head for the stairs.

JORDAN

You know when I used to work on that building site on Tottenham Court Road? I used to walk past here all the time. I never saw a hotel here.

9 INT. HOTEL ONYX. DAY 9

We hear another heavier door opening, JORDAN and CLEO’s voices echo against a concrete staircase, with JORDAN at the top and CLEO further away, out of breath.

JORDAN

Hurry UP Cleo, just pretend there’s a frappucino at the top of the stairs or something.

Out of breath, CLEO and JORDAN arrive at the Room 13.

CLEO

(Huffing, out of breath) My god. Is your gym trans friendly? I’m so unfit. (She stops to catch her breath) Oh finally.

JORDAN

It’s this one. Room 13.

CLEO

Wait, look at the key...What the hell? Have you ever seen anything like that?

JORDAN

Come on, just try it in the door...

CLEO

Ok…But wait wait wait - If she wants to get weird...just run OK?

JORDAN

You told me she was hot! I’m not running anywhere, you can run.

CLEO

Shut up Jordan, this is serious. Look, let me try.

An alien series of beeps and digital sounds chirp from the key.

FX – the door clicks open.

They enter the suite.

CLEO

Hello?

(beat)

Rani?

The door shuts behind them.

CLEO (CONT’D)

(beat)

Jordan, there’s no-one here...

JORDAN

This is so weird. Maybe we should do one...

There’s a loud bleep following by an electronic whirring sound.

This sound fills the room, a huge hum that washes over everything in a digital wave. When RANI speaks her voice is accompanied by a fluid digital glitch – not the Redaction, just whatever technology she’s using to communicate. There’s a gusting, freezing wind in the background of her side of the call.

RANI

There you are. You took your time.

JORDAN

(Softly) Oh wow!

CLEO

What the Hell? How are you doing that?

RANI

I inherited some tech from an old

friend of mine. Holographic projection

courtesy of Mr Smith.

The line should sound a little glitchy.

CLEO

That is so Princess Leia, I’m obsessed.

RANI

I’m Rani Chandra.

CLEO

Yeah, I seen your pictures. Where are

you?

RANI

I can’t say.

CLEO

What are you doing?

RANI

Classified

CLEO

Who are you?

RANI

It’s better you don’t know.

CLEO

(Exasperated) Well this is gonna be fun then, innit?

RANI

Sorry. Er, I said to come alone.

JORDAN

(Trying it on) Easy Rani. Heard you were a journalist. That is fascinating.

CLEO

Shut up Jordan. That’s my brother, Jordan.

RANI

Ok. (Beat)

I need your help.

CLEO

What can I do? I’m a theatre usher.

RANI

Your podcast. We’ve been tracking it.

CLEO

Wait wait wait, who’s we?

RANI

I can’t divulge that information

CLEO

(Getting annoyed) I’ve come to the scariest hotel in London for this?

You gotta give me something babe, or I’m outta here and getting a frappuccino.

RANI

Wait! A few of us have come together to try figure this out; people who knew him. We’re the only ones left.

(Beat)

I can’t risk being with you in the room. It seems to be contagious.

People are vanishing and I can’t risk you too.

CLEO

For the love of god babe, please start making sense.

RANI

(Beat)

Ok, I need you to tattoo yourself with the following information.

CLEO

Am I on TV right now?

RANI

No, I really mean it! It’s vital you don’t forget. Tattoo this now. The Doctor in their TARDIS. That’s it. You need to find him. Or her.

CLEO

Er, I don’t think so. That’s worse than Live, Laugh, Love.

FX - we hear explosions. Gunfire.

There’s a huge distant explosion over Rani’s end of the line, rattling metal and breaking glass.

CLEO (CONT'D)

What was that?

RANI

We’re under attack. They know the Doctor’s gone, and they’re starting to seize the advantage.

The sound of metal and breaking glass continues, it becomes clear there’s a huge fight happening in the background where Rani is.

CLEO

Who is they?

RANI

Listen. I don’t have long. You and your…friend, need to keep searching for the Doctor. But please be careful.

CLEO

You said the Doctor was killing us!

RANI

(Resolute) I know the Doctor and this doesn’t make any sense. He would never hurt us… not intentionally.

But those of us who knew him are going missing. Vanishing. And I might be next. Everyone else has been erased: Luke, Clyde, Martha, Jo... they’re all gone. There are three of us left and we are doing everything we can...

ROBOT VOICE

(Distant)

FREEZE. STAY WHERE YOU ARE.

FX – RANI gasps, there’s a rapid fire of an alien gun

RANI

I need to go. I need to help the others.

CLEO

What do you want me to do? I don’t understand.

RANI

Find the Doctor. Only the Doctor can save us now. For god’s sake, tattoo their name somewhere you can see it all the time. The Doctor and the TARDIS. A blue box...

CLEO

The blue box?!

RANI Yes! The TARDIS.

(Beat)

I can literally see you not writing this down.

Pause.

CLEO

Look. Rani, love. You’ve got the wrong girl! I work front-of-house at the Queen Vic Theatre. I sell bags of sweets, I can’t help you!

RANI

You can. I have heard your podcast. It’s good! OK, it’s fine and you all need better mics but listen!

(Beat)

So many people are so willfully blind to the truth about our planet. They don’t want to see the darkness. You and Abby and Shawna believe. Cleo, I need you to believe that amazing things are possible. Can you do that?

CLEO

Babe, I turned myself into a woman from scratch, what do you think?

RANI

(Laughs fondly)

I like you, Cleo Proctor. And so will the Doctor. We need you. Find them.

FX - explosion. People start screaming.

ROBOT VOICE

(Louder this time) SURRENDER, HUMAN.

RANI

(Shouts) Everybody get dow -

FX - a crash and explosion, people screaming in the distance.

We continue to hear explosions, fire and people screaming throughout the rest of the episode.

CLEO

What the hell? Rani! Rani?!

JORDAN

Where’s she gone?

Heavy footsteps stomp ever closer.

CLEO

Oh my god. Jord, what is that..?

ROBOT VOICE HUMANS DETECTED.

The Robot’s voice is heavily distorted and digital. Occasionally as it speaks, there are bubbles of beeps in a little trill, and higher pitched digital loading and processing sounds.

JORDAN

Can that see us..?

CLEO

It’s a hologram, isn’t it?

ROBOT VOICE CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. TRIANGULATING LOCATION.

CLEO

(Nervous) Jordan...

ROBOT VOICE

LONDON, ENGLAND. TARGET FIXED. TELEPORT IMMINENT.

JORDAN

No way...

ROBOT VOICE

ALL HUMANS MUST DIE.

END OF EPISODE

The low bassy surge of the Redacted Main Theme comes in, with its distinctive siren-like synths, rushing into a sudden glitch that dips into a slow, soft piano tune.

CREDITS

Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Two, by Juno Dawson.

The piano tune keeps going for a moment before picking up the pass with a big beat of drums, strings and synths that turns into the Main Theme tune, a symphony of synths and strings revelling in alien weirdness.

CREDITS

Starring: Charlie Craggs, Lois Chimimba, Holly Quin-Ankrah, Jacob Hawley, Kieran Hodgson and Anjili Mohindra.

Directed by Ella Watts and James Robinson, produced by Ella Watts. Sound design by David Thomas and Arlie Adlington. Original composition by David Devereux.

A BBC Studios production.

With a rush like the TARDIS, the main theme music gets even bigger and louder, turning into a big, bright, fast paced melody that plays to the end of the episode, when it stops abruptly with a sharp glitch which ends with a beep.