PART ONE

Written by Kevin Clarke

Original air date: 23 November, 1988
Run time: 24:31

De Flores's villa

Karl: Herr De Flores. Herr De Flores. Wonderful news.

Lady Peinforte's home

Richard: Very good, my lady.

Peinforte: How much longer?

Richard: He cannot hear you, my lady. Shall I...

Peinforte: Leave him. There'll be time enough to punish his impertinence when he's finished.

Peinforte: Put this with the others. Are you so very feeble? The poison cannot harm unless the arrow's tip should break the skin. Let who will steal my gold.

Richard: And the silver arrow, my lady?

Peinforte: Leave that to me. You're sure the potion is well mixed?

Richard: On my life, ma'am. I guarantee it.

Peinforte: Good. We await but the calculation. Perhaps the fee will speed matters.

De Flores's villa

De Flores: Gentlemen. I wonder if even you can fully appreciate what this moment means. You're standing now at the turning point of history. The day of fulfillment of our mighty destiny is about to dawn. Fifty years ago, I stood at the side of the Fuehrer himself when he ordered the first giant step to greatness, just as now the moment approaches for the second and final one. It will be decisive, for this time, this time we must not fail. Gentlemen, I give you the Fourth Reich.

All: The Fourth Reich.

Karl: Herr De Flores, the aircraft is ready.

De Flores: We leave at once.

Lady Peinforte's home

Richard: My lady, there is but the final ingredient for the liquid wanting. For that I was thinking...

Mathematician: My lady? Lady Peinforte? I've finished.

Peinforte: You have the answer?

Mathematician: Yes, my lady.

Peinforte: Quickly, then. Tell me.

Mathematician: The comet Nemesis will circle the heavens once every twenty five years.

Peinforte: Yes.

Mathematician: It's trajectory, however, is decaying. This...

Peinforte: When will it land?

Mathematician: It will circle ever closer until finally it once again strikes the Earth at the point from which it originally departed, the meadow outside.

Peinforte: When?

Mathematician: When. Oh, yes. Yes, of course. On the twenty third day of November in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty eight.

Black Jack's Mill - garden

Ace: I could listen to them all afternoon.

The Doctor: And so we shall.

Ace: Have you seen this? Charlton picked up three points.

The Doctor: This is my favourite kind of jazz, straight bl*wing.

Ace: I hate people whose alarms go off during gigs.

The Doctor: What's this? It's a reminder.

Ace: Well, go on, then.

The Doctor: Well, obviously, at this precise moment it's a reminder to change course for another destination.

Ace: Where's that?

The Doctor: I've forgotten. Oh, we'll have to go back and find out.

Ace: Oh, Professor.

Ace: Excuse me, would you mind signing my tape?

Courtney: Not at all.

Ace: Thanks.

Courtney: Okay.

Ace: Bye.

The Doctor: Don't you find it embarrassing asking for autographs?

Ace: Not as embarrassing as forgetting what you set your alarm for.

The Doctor: Well, I probably arranged it centuries ago.

Ace: Doctor!

The Doctor: Get down!

Ace: Who are they?

The Doctor: Couldn't see. Quick, the TARDIS.

Ace: Hope my tape's all right.

The Doctor: Welcome home.

Lady Peinforte's home

Mathematician: I could build a flying machine. Imagine that, my lady. Human beings flying about like birds.

Peinforte: Bring the cups of potion. We leave at once.

Richard: The final ingredient, my lady? Human blood?

Mathematician: Why, I can change the world.

Peinforte: Ah, yes.

Riverside

The Doctor (O.C.): Ace!

Ace: Yeah?

The Doctor (O.C.): Duck.

The Doctor: No, duck.

Ace: Oh, great. Now I can play my tape.

The Doctor: Afraid not.

Ace: Why not? It's my tape deck. You built it for me.

The Doctor: Yes, I know I built it for you to replace the one that was destroyed by the Daleks, but...

Ace: So? It's my tape deck and I want to play this.

The Doctor: This is more than just a tape deck. And besides, we've more to worry about than just listening to your tape.

Ace: Yeah. So who were they, anyway? Who'd want to k*ll us?

The Doctor: I'm afraid there's an infinite number of possibilities. What concerns me more is my alarm. Got to find out what it was supposed to be.

Ace: Can't you remember anything about it?

The Doctor: I'm afraid not. Obviously the arrangements were made in rather a hurry. They are important. I've given them a terminal rating.

Ace: Sounds nice.

The Doctor: It means that some planet somewhere faces imminent destruction.

Ace: Crikey.

The Doctor: Quite.

The Doctor: That looks familiar. Earth.

Lady Peinforte's home

Peinforte: Afraid?

Richard: Yes, my lady.

Peinforte: When I employed you, you lead me to believe you were a hardened criminal.

Richard: As my lady knows, before I entered your service I was found guilty of a large number of offences.

Peinforte: Then have the courage of your convictions. Drink. Drink!

Richard: What's happening, my lady?

Peinforte: We are leaving, Richard. Destiny beckons. We ride the back of time.

Richard: No. No! No!

Peinforte: Come back, you fool. You'll break the aura.

Richard: I can't! Please, my lady. I must stay.

Peinforte: It's too late.

Black Jack's Mill

Richard: Where are we, my lady?

Peinforte: Why, the very place we left, of course. My house in Windsor.

Riverside

Ace: You mean the world's going to end and you've forgotten about it?

The Doctor: I've been busy.

Ace: How long have you known?

The Doctor: Well, in strictly linear terms, as the chronometer flies, I've known since November the twenty third, 1638.

Cellar

The Doctor: Hello. Ow!

Ace: Look at all this stuff.

The Doctor: Yes, that's exactly what we've got to do, look at all this stuff. You take that aisle.

Ace: What's it all for?

The Doctor: Presents.

Ace: Nobody gets this many presents.

The Doctor: Well, if you were a lady who travelled.

Ace: I am.

The Doctor: Yes, you're not always invited, but you are, you get presents, and then you need somewhere to store them.

Ace: Who does it all belong to? I mean, where are we?

The Doctor: Windsor.

Ace: Windsor? We're in the castle?

The Doctor: This is new.

Ace: I thought it'd be a lot posher than this.

The Doctor: It probably is, upstairs, but we're in the vault.

The Doctor: I'm looking for a silver bow we want to borrow.

Ace: We can't go nicking stuff in here.

The Doctor: It's only temporary.

Ace: It's probably treason. I'm too young to go to the Tower.

The Doctor: Listen, Ace, do I have to remind you that the safety of the world is at stake?

Ace: It might make a difference if you'd let me know what was going on, Professor, but I suppose there's no time.

The Doctor: Precisely.

The Doctor: There's even less time than I thought. Please, let's hurry.

Black Jack's Mill

Peinforte: Nemesis. She arrives.

Cellar

Ace: Was that a b*mb?

The Doctor: No, that was the return to Earth of a comet called Nemesis that has been in orbit for exactly three hundred and fifty years.

Ace: You're amazing, Professor, being able to tell all that just from the noise.

The Doctor: Wasn't difficult, really. It was me who launched it into space in the first place. This may qualify as the worst miscalculation since life crawled out of the seas on this sad planet.

Ace: Nobody's perfect. Hey, is this the bow?

Van

Karl: We're almost at Windsor, Herr De Flores. Shall I let the men walk around a little?

De Flores: No, Karl. We must not keep history waiting.

Black Jack's Mill

Richard: My lady, what carriage is that?

Peinforte: Hurry. The rogues will have the Nemesis.

Richard: I've not seen the like of it before. We must take care.

Peinforte: Oh, fie.

Van

De Flores: Nemesis has come to Earth on that piece of ground. In the new era, all this will be a shrine.

Karl: The men are ready in two as*ault groups. I will remain with you. We await only your order.

De Flores: Very good. Let's drive to the best hotel and refresh ourselves.

Karl: But Herr De Flores, there are only three policemen. We can take them now. You young people, always in such a hurry. Well, we were the same. Now, the statue is inside the meteor, which has just travelled through space. Have you any idea how hot it will be? How can we handle it? Since the British Government is completely unaware of its power, I'm sure we can rely on the police force to guard it safely until we're ready to collect it. I have every confidence in them.

Cellar

The Doctor: The bow was in the case.

Ace: Ah. This case contained the bow of Nemesis, property of the Crown, which disappeared mysteriously in 1788. Legend has it that unless a place is kept for the bow in the Castle, the entire silver statue will return to destroy the world.

The Doctor: For once legend is absolutely correct. It has just returned.

The Doctor: Oh, now this.

Ace: It's just the electricity.

Ace: It does that sometimes, even in the 1980s. What I want to know is, how can a statue destroy the world?

The Doctor: I'll tell you three hundred and fifty years ago.

Lady Peinforte's home

The Doctor: Shush.

Ace: Sorry, Professor.

The Doctor: There might be someone at home.

Ace: Okay, Professor. So where are we now?

The Doctor: Windsor, of course. Only a few hundred yards from the Castle.

Ace: And is it really 1638?

The Doctor: It certainly is. And furthermore, don't move.

Ace: What?

The Doctor: Stay where you are.

Ace: What is it?

The Doctor: Something you don't want to see.

Ace: Who does this house belong to, anyway?

The Doctor: A lady.

Ace: She's got funny ideas about home furnishings.

The Doctor: Lady Peinforte's nothing if not original. I'm afraid this poor man was employed for his useful rather than his ornamental qualities. He's a scholar. He's done remarkably well. In a matter of months since I was last here, he's calculated the exact time and date when a comet called Nemesis will land on this planet. The twenty third of November.

Ace: 1988.

The Doctor: And Lady Peinforte's rewarded him with her usual generosity.

Ace: So the bow belonged to her?

The Doctor: Hmm? Oh, no, no. Not to her. To a statue of her. She made the statue from the silver metal that fell out of the sky into that meadow out there.

The Doctor: Hmm, this game is going rather badly.

Ace: Professor.

The Doctor: Don't worry. There's no one here now, apart from our late friend. Lady Peinforte's around all right, in Windsor, but three hundred and fifty years in the future.

Crash site

Richard: What means yon fellows? One speaks into his hand.

Peinforte: He summons guards. Oh, this cannot be.

Richard: Why so upset, my lady?

Peinforte: Because, fool, they will protect the Nemesis, and we know not their strength and w*apon.

Richard: But, my lady, they know not what the comet is. Without the arrow, it is nothing. We must but watch and wait our chance to seize it.

Peinforte: Thou art not in all wise so useless, Richard.

Richard: My lady is too kind.

Peinforte: We shall withdraw and conceal ourselves.

Policeman: Three one eight to base. Hey look, there's someone inside.

Lady Peinforte's home

Ace: How can she get to 1988?

The Doctor: She uses the silver arrow, of course, and she had some basic rudimentary knowledge about time travel. Black magic, mostly.

Ace: Black magic?

The Doctor: Mmm, and what you might call a nose for secrets.

The Doctor: Oh, dear.

Ace: So it wasn't just silver, this stuff that fell from the sky?

The Doctor: Unfortunately, Lady Peinforte discovered it was something rather more unusual. A living metal. Validium.

Ace: Living metal?

The Doctor: Yes, with just one purpose. Destruction.

Ace: But if you launched it into space, how come it's capable of destruction?

The Doctor: Later, Ace.

Crash site

Policeman: Don't bother trying again, it looks like the battery's d*ad.

Policeman: Hello? Hello?

Windsor Castle

Guide: You see here the guard. They're changed quite regularly. Of course, they're only changed in winter time. They normally stand here all the time in summer time. Now, will you follow me, please, ladies and gentlemen?

Ace: I've been here before.

The Doctor: Déjà vu?

Ace: No, with the school.

The Doctor: Oh, very droll. I haven't been here since they were building the place. You remember the way around?

Ace: Not really. Windsor Castle's a big place.

The Doctor: Quite right. What we need's a guide. Come on.

Guide: Tower, and also further over there is the Mary Tudor Tower. Those gargoyles have been there for about five hundred years. They were built in 1509 originally, and the...

Courtyard

Ace: I really don't think we should be doing this.

The Doctor: This way? What do you think?

Ace: I don't know. I might be able to tell if I actually knew where we were going. We didn't actually cover the Royal residential areas on the school trip. There's someone coming.

The Doctor: Act as if you own the place.

Ace: Do what?

The Doctor: It always works. We own the place.

Ace: Doctor!

The Doctor: How annoying. I can't place that woman for the life of me.

Ace: Doctor!

The Doctor: It's all right, Ace. I know that woman from somewhere.

The Doctor (O.C.): What! Why didn't you say something?

Ace (O.C.): You wouldn't let me.

The Doctor: She's just the woman we need. Quick, after her. Ah ha!

Landing

The Doctor: It'll be very useful to have the armed forces and the police on our side, and can you suggest a better person to ask?

Ace: Come on.

The Doctor: There's no alternative.

Crash site

Richard: I am in a nightmare, or mad.

Peinforte: This is no madness. Tis England.

Richard: But the noise, lady. The foul air.

Richard: Yes, my lady. What will my lady do when you possess the Nemesis?

Peinforte: Why, first have revenge on that predictable little man. He will soon arrive, Richard. Oh yes, I expect him. This time there'll be a reckoning with the nameless Doctor whose power is so secret, for I have found his secret out. In good time, I will speak it. I shall be his downfall.

Landing

The Doctor: I've got to speak to her.

Security: Be quiet. We'll have a doctor here soon.

The Doctor: But I am a doctor!

Security: Don't get excited. How did you get in here?

The Doctor: I could tell you, but you won't believe me.

Security: Try me.

The Doctor: I travelled through time and space.

Security: Oh dear, oh dear.

The Doctor: Oh yes, very well, then. Let's forget about the armed forces.

Ace: But the Queen?

Security: Are you a patient with him?

Ace: Now, you'd better listen to him, weasel features, 'cos he's the Doctor.

Security: Oh, is he?

The Doctor: Listen, the fate of every living creature on this planet hangs in the balance.

Security: I don't believe you.

The Doctor: You will believe me. You will let us go. You will not move. You will move.

Ace: How did you do that?

The Doctor: It's easy once you know how. You have to make a spectacle of yourself.

Security: Hey!

The Doctor: Only trouble is, it doesn't last long.

Gallery

The Doctor: Oh look, a Van Dyck.

Ace: Not now, Doctor.

Ace: Pardon me, pardon me, pardon me.

Security: Excuse me.

Staircase

Ace: What now?

The Doctor: Back to the TARDIS. We're obviously not going to get any help here.

Ace: Professor, that's me.

The Doctor: What? Gosh, so it is. My goodness, what a good likeness.

Ace: How come I ended up here?

The Doctor: Well, it hasn't happened yet.

Ace: But it's two hundred years ago.

The Doctor: I know. We haven't done it. That's why you don't remember it.

Ace: It doesn't make sense.

The Doctor: Well, it did to Louis Armstrong, but then he really understood time.

Security: There they are. Come on.

Crash site

Karl: Herr De Flores, I don't understand how the police have already been overcome.

De Flores: That is of no importance. All that matters is the Nemesis is safe.

De Flores: Your strength returns. Soon you will be completely restored. But where's the arrow? The arrow, where is it?

De Flores: Find it. Find it!

The Doctor: I only hope we're not to late.

The Doctor: Er, don't be afraid. We won't harm you.

Karl: How did you get here? I searched that section, there was no one there.

De Flores: Never mind, Karl. You will see many signs and wonders in the days to come. Give me the arrow of Nemesis.

The Doctor: Fortunately, I haven't seen it since 1638, when it disappeared along with the good Lady Peinforte.

De Flores: Rubbish. You. Where is the arrow?

Ace: I don't know anything about it.

The Doctor: She really doesn't. Allow me to explain, Ace.

The Doctor: For the validium to become active, it must have a sufficient quantity of critical mass. The statue alone is no good without the bow.

De Flores: I have the bow.

The Doctor: And the arrow. Now, if someone could put the bow and arrow into the statue's hands...

De Flores: They have the power of life and death, not only over this Earth but any planet in existence. You seem remarkably well-informed for someone who claims to know nothing.

The Doctor: I simply notice what is obvious. You, apparently, don't.

De Flores: What do you mean?

The Doctor: You see those policemen there? They've been att*cked by technology more advanced and more terrible than you could imagine.

Karl: What technology?

The Doctor: And you might also have observed the electricity supply being drained over the last few days.

Ace: Like at the Castle?

The Doctor: Yes.

De Flores: Tell me where the arrow is. I want you to tell me where to find the arrow!

The Doctor: I'm glad to say I can't.

De Flores: Then we will sh**t her.

Ace: Doctor.

De Flores: Wait.

The Doctor: Don't move!

Ace: They saved my life.

The Doctor: Don't thank them yet. We might live to regret it.

Ace: What are they?

The Doctor: Cybermen.
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who", "episode": "25x08 - Silver Nemesis - part 1"}