SCENE 1
THE DOCTOR
Relax Adam, just relax. The creature is controlling your
mind.
ADAM
I’ll kill you all…
THE DOCTOR
Listen to me, fight your fears, overcome your worst instincts.
YARVIN
No, don’t do that. I command you, I control you,
I am you, you will not harm me…
ADAM
Nooooooo!
YARVIN
Urgh…
The body hits the floor
RANLIN
(anxious) The Holy Father, he’s losing, we must kill the infidel now…
HUGO
(stalling for time) No, wait…
ADAM
(screaming) Nooooooo!
RANLIN
(resolute) I know my duty. I must kill the impure beast,
to release the pure soul of our beloved brother trapped within this stinking carcass, this terrible prison of the flesh, it
must transcend into you Hugo…
HUGO
(cautious) We dare not kill the Doctor yet, killing him may harm the Holy Father. We cannot risk doing that. We must not risk doing anything
that might bring harm to the Holy Father…
RANLIN
(angry) No, he is hurting the Holy Father, (beat) for that sacrilege alone he must be put to a swift
and sadly painless death, it’s the only way.
HUGO
No…
RANLIN
(shocked) You stabbed me
HUGO
My only regret is that the innocent must perish with the guilty
RANLIN
No, I won’t, I can’t…thank you my son for your mercy
HUGO
(saddened) Farewell, father.
Footsteps rush into the room
CULTIST
What have you done?
HUGO
What I had to do, the life of the Holy Father is the primary concern, the only concern.
CULTIST
Bishop Ranlin’s death does not bode well, especially at the hand’s of a novice.
HUGO
I am not a novice
CULTIST
I sense no Ascension.
HUGO
We don’t have time for this, attend the Holy Father
SCENE TWO
DOCTOR
(Gasps) Adam?
HUGO
The Holy Father is unhurt
DOCTOR
You were playing me all along? Pretending to be a
fellow inmate to try and empathise with me. I suppose you had a good laugh?
HUGO
(rustle of clothing) I lost my eye!
DOCTOR
if they dropped it in a glass of milk, they might put it back.
CULTIST
How does this creature control one of our kind, especially Varn?
DOCTOR
No questions from the audience, please.
HUGO
I’d like to know that too.
DOCTOR
I bet you would Hugo. You want all the answers, don’t
you? But you’re not prepared to ask the right questions now, are you? The difficult questions that only an intelligent being would ask.
CULTIST
You dare to presume that a mere host has intelligence? We
are eternal, we are wisdom, we are legion.
HUGO
Unhand me.
DOCTOR
I just need to borrow this.
CULTIST
Urgh!
DOCTOR
Like a hot knife through butter. Was that good for you? (beat) Don’t get up, there’s a good chap.
HUGO
The others are just outside this room, are you going to kill all them too?
DOCTOR
Hmmm, now that you mention it…
HUGO
You’re a bigger monster than Varn ever was.
DOCTOR
Monster? What makes a man into a monster? Is it murder? Is it meat?
You’re not even the same species as me, you’re all nothing but meat, prey to be played with before the
kill.
HUGO
You’re insane!
DOCTOR
No, but I should be. The thoughts running though my head
are not my own, but they’re so deep and warm and blood red.
HUGO
You can’t kill, killing is a sin, it taints the soul.
DOCTOR
It’s a little late in the day for morality now, don’t you think?
HUGO
My morality is all that I have left. I’m a member
of the Star Chamber, we’re supposed to make sure nothing like this happens, but they got to most of my superiors first. I had to go along with them, there wasn’t a way to stand up against them, at
least not until you arrived. I don’t know what’s virtue and what’s
sin anymore. All I know is that killing is wrong, it’s a sin.
DOCTOR
Then do the right thing, help me release Adam.
HUGO
Adam is already free.
DOCTOR
So he is, why couldn’t I sense it?
HUGO
Perhaps you need to sit down?
DOCTOR
I never sit down in a crisis, at least not without a cup of tea.
HUGO
Your companion is very weak.
DOCTOR
He’s surprisingly strong actually.
HUGO
Perhaps this blessed water will comfort him and heal his wounds.
DOCTOR
He’s not injured. Not in the conventional sense.
HUGO
His spiritual wounds.
DOCTOR
Very well, I’ll go and deal with my fan club waiting outside.
HUGO
You promised not to kill them.
DOCTOR
I gave you no such promise. However I never said I wouldn’t
incapacitate them either.
HUGO
Violence is not the way.
DOCTOR
Very well, but I have more tricks up my sleeves than you’ve said prayers.
HUGO
What are you doing?
DOCTOR
Concentrating.
HUGO
What for?
DOCTOR
This thing in my head, I’m going to get rid of it.
HUGO
Can you do that?
DOCTOR
If you stop interrupting me then yes, perhaps.
HUGO
What if it tries to take possession of me?
DOCTOR
That’s a chance you’ll have to be willing to take.
The angry sound returns, only in reverse
Door opens ominously
HUGO
The door, it’s opening.
CULTIST
Kill the infidels
Rushing feet then they stop in their tracks
DOCTOR
Right on time, for a change.
The sound increases.
HUGO
My head, it’s like it’s on fire.
DOCTOR
Almost there
Cries of a dozen people being stunned
A dozen priests collapse on the floor with a thud
HUGO
What happened?
DOCTOR
Feedback. You wouldn’t understand of course.
HUGO
They’re alive
DOCTOR
Drink this Adam, it might help.
ADAM
(splutters) Putting some scotch in it would be more helpful, Doctor
HUGO
He’s awake
DOCTOR
I told you he was strong. Adam?
HUGO
He is fatigued in spirit. You should get him out of here.
SCENE THREE
Crash of someone
walking through a dense forest
DOCTOR
Must have made a wrong turn somewhere.
Footsteps on the
forest floor
Babble of a small
stream
DOCTOR
I don’t recognise any of this at all
Footsteps on the
forest floor
Call of a woodland
animal
DOCTOR
I hope we’re not on the menu
Footsteps on the
forest floor
ADAM
(Groans) Oh my head.
DOCTOR
Relax Adam, I’ve got you.
ADAM
I think I’m going to be sick
Footsteps on the
forest floor
DOCTOR
Not on the jacket, please, it is an Armani original.
ADAM
Urgh
DOCTOR
That’s right sleep it off.
Splashy sounds
DOCTOR
That’s these shoes ruined
Hoot of an owl
Footsteps on the
forest floor
DOCTOR
*oof* Once we’re back in the TARDIS I think it’s
time we had a long talk about a diet.
SCENE FOUR
HUGO
Thou shalt worship no other god but me.
CULTIST
(gagged) Mmmm mmmm mmmm
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
HUGO
I think not. The
Church has certain checks and balances set up for times such as these. No amount
of prayer can atone for your sins and yet you wouldn’t even if you could.
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
CULTIST (gagged) Mmmm mmmm
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
HUGO
You see there is no way I can force you to release the
poor unfortunate souls you’ve imprisoned in their own minds. I’m
not a miracle worker, I’ve prayed for their souls and I’ve prayed for yours.
There is only one way to grant true and complete justice, I am but the hand of God.
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
CULTISTS
(gagged) Mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmm mmmm
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
HUGO
Be
kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
CULTISTS
(gagged) Mmmmm mmmm mmmm mmm mmmm
HUGO
Brother Targon, blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.
CULTIST
(screams through gag) Mnnnrggghhh!
HUGO
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free my brother.
Cultist falls to the floor, dead
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
HUGO
Brother Garrol, blessed
is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's
keeper and the finder of lost children.
CULTIST
(screams through gag) Mnnnrggghhh!
HUGO
Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.
Cultist falls to the floor, dead
Footsteps as Hugo
paces about
HUGO
Brother Pozzux, the
work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
CULTIST
(screams through gag) Mnnnrggghhh!
HUGO
Thanks be to God
The last Cultist falls to the floor, dead
HUGO
Amen
SCENE FIVE
Footsteps across a field
DOCTOR
Here we are. The forbidden fruit are in bloom.
The TARDIS is unlocked
Home sweet home.
The doors open
Just rest here on the sofa, get your strength back
ADAM
(mostly dazed) My head hurts
DOCTOR
Keep an eye on him Kitty, while I dematerialize.
ADAM
It’s raining, my face is wet
DOCTOR
Stop licking Kitty! Adam needs his rest.
Kitty meows
Adam snores
The central column rises and falls
DOCTOR
We’re on our way now.
Kitty purrs
Fine, but only a little bit more you’ve already eaten most of it.
I’ll have to have a yoghurt or something instead.
SCENE SIX
HUGO
No, I am unworthy.
DEACON
(chuckles) My son you have fought a most perilous and insidious
evil. To think such blasphemy could exist in our order.
HUGO
I am just a novice.
DEACON
No, my son, you have revealed your true calling.
HUGO
But I don’t want to be Holy Father.
DEACON
We serve the roles God would have us serve, do we not?
SCENE SEVEN
The soft bubbling
of a dozen fountains
The gentle sway of
a dozen palm trees
The plink plink of
gravel grains falling onto the floor
DOCTOR
There, doesn’t that feel better?
Kitty purrs
Sometimes I envy you, all you need is a fish supper and
someone rubbing your tummy to make you happy.
Kitty meows
I always liked this room. They said one water feature was
enough, but I don’t think you can have too many.
Kitty purrs
I saw things, before, when I was inside Adam’s mind. I always thought I knew who the enemy was. Now
I’m not so sure Kitty. The real enemy may not be out there after all, it
may be in this room, with you.
Kitty meaows
SCENE EIGHT
ADAM
(Wakes up) Doctor?
Closing Theme Music
THE END
