Castrovalva

by Christopher H. Bidmead

Part Three

Original Air Date: 11 January 1982
Running time: 23:35

1, EXT: FOREST

(Tegan and Nyssa walk through the forest, looing for a way in to Castrovalva. Unbeknownst to them, there is a figure hiding nearby in the ferns. It is some sort of warrior, with a red helmet and a spear. Nyssa and Tegan head off to find a way up, and the warrior sets off after them.

2, EXT: FOREST

(The girls are at the foot of the cliff, with no sign of a clear entrance or way up.)

NYSSA: Still no way in.

(Nearby, the red helmeted warrior is with another in a purple helmet with a feathered headdress, he is Ruther.)

RUTHER: Here is where you saw them. Mergrave must be told this.

(They leave.)

(We see the zero cabinet open and the Doctor is conscious.)

3, EXT: CLIFFS

(With no other option, Nyssa and Tegan are attempting to climb the cliffs.)

TEGAN: Castrovalva's harder to get into than the Doctor's cabinet.

NYSSA: Well perhaps we should get back there, we might be able to wake him.

TEGAN: How? We can't get into him.

NYSSA: Well, we'll have to think of something. It does seem the only way.

(They go back down the way they came.)

4, EXT: FOREST

(Back in the forest, they find the Zero Cabinet out from the ferns.)

NYSSA: Doctor?

(Tegan has found what looks like blood nearby.)

TEGAN: Blood ...

NYSSA:  ... He's gone! The Doctor's gone!

(The cabinet is empty.)

NYSSA: The cabinet was secure.

TEGAN: So he had to have opened it himself.

NYSSA: It must have worked - the Zero effect. He was feeling better.

TEGAN: Until whatever happened ... happened. We've gotta find him.

(They walk away from the cabinet, but stop again a short way away.)

NYSSA: There's more blood here ... and there ... and there.

(They look at one another, and run off.)

5, EXT: FOREST

(They are looking up at the city on the clifftops.)

TEGAN: Castrovalva.

(Suddenly a warrior jumps out in front of them, and then more emerge from the bushes, surrounding them.)

TEGAN: RUN!

(They run off in the only available direction. They run until they think they are out of sight, then duck down to hide. After a while they both look out and around.)

NYSSA: We've got to find the Doctor. Until he's properly regenerated he's terribly vulnerable.

5, EXT: PATH

(There is a trail of blood, and the Doctor is lying on the ground. The trail of blood continues past him though. He opens his eyes and tries to sit up.)

DOCTOR: Hmm. Twelve of them at least. w*r party, maybe ...

6, EXT: FOREST

(Tegan and Nyssa walk through the forest and spot the Doctor a way ahead of them on a section of the cliff.)

NYSSA: There he is.

TEGAN: Perhaps he's found a way in.

(They follow him.)

7, EXT: CLIFF

(The Doctor climbs up the cliff.)

NYSSA (oov): DOCTOR!

(He gets on top of a high rock, then looks down to the voice he heard. The height of the drop beneath him makes him unsteady and he leans against the rock behind him.)

NYSSA (oov): DOCTOR!

DOCTOR: Doctor. Everyone's looking for him.

8, EXT: FOREST

(At another place in the forest, the main party of warriors is seemingly having a rest. The leader, Mergrave, wears a much bigger and fancier mask than the rest of the warriors.)

MERGRAVE: Once again we wait for Ruther. Was there ever a man with such capacity to lose both his quarry and himself?

(The rest of them laugh. The Doctor pops his head out to have a look, then goes straight down again.)

9, EXT: FOREST

(Nyssa and Tegan have reached the edge of the city. One of the groups of warriors walk straight towards them but don't see them because of a tree in the way. Nyssa and Tegan hurry out of sight as the warriors continue past them – carrying the Zero Cabinet.)

10, EXT: FOREST

(The Doctor watches the party, but Ruther's group comes up behind him unnoticed. He is taken between a few of the warriors.)

RUTHER: This is another stranger?!

MERGRAVE: Who are you, stranger?!

DOCTOR: That's the strangest thing of all ... I'm not entirely sure.

11, EXT: CLIFF

(Nyssa and Tegan climb up the cliff, following Ruther's group. A loud horn sounds and they hurry to catch up with the Doctor.)

12, EXT: ENTRANCE

(The hunting party are entering the city. Mergrave points to the Doctor.)

MERGRAVE: Bring him.

(They enter the city through a sliding door cave in the cliff. The door closes just as Nyssa and Tegan run up to it.)

NYSSA: Doctor! Come back!

TEGAN: Doctor!

13, INT: SQUARE

(The Doctor is marched into the city square, bustling with people. He is dumped onto a bench.)

RUTHER: We will give orders for the f*re to be lit.

MERGRAVE: We will wait for Shardovan.

(The warriors walk over to a spit where an animal is cooking.)

MERGRAVE: Well sirs. Today has been a good adventure in the Wilds beyond the Walls – and a quarry worth the name.

RUTHER: Fair k*ll, though I have seen better ...

SHARDOVAN: If we could cook your memories, Ruther, we would feast indeed.

(Shardovan, a tall man wearing black has entered walking down the steps in the middle of the square. There is laughter at his joke. Shardovan heads straight towards the Doctor.)

SHARDOVAN: I trust, Mergrave, that you have brought us something more edible than this ... lifeless unfortunate?

14, EXT: ENTRANCE

(Nyssa and Tegan are trying to open the door.)

NYSSA: Closed without a trace. If we had a three-micron beam wedge though ...

TEGAN: Well we haven't.

NYSSA: I said 'if'. You taught me about
'if', remember?

TEGAN: It's not that sort of 'if'. It's what we can do, with what we've got! If only we used a bit of iniative. Come on.

(She indicates to Nyssa to give her a hand to climb onto a rock near the door.)

15, INT: SQUARE

(People mill around chatting, others carry out their duties. A woman brings a large plate of food over to a table where Shardovan, Mergrave and Ruther prepare to sit. The Doctor looks on, confused.)

MERGRAVE: We should inform the Portreeve of this man's arrival.

SHARDOVAN: That has been done. But not his purpose here ...  May one know that?

(He beckons for the Doctor to be brought over to the table.)

RUTHER: He says he doesn't know who he is, or why he has come.

SHARDOVAN: Oh I admire a man with an open mind. My own is closed upon the opinion that I am Shardovan. I have the honour to be librarian for the dwellings of Castrovalva.

DOCTOR: Librarian? Books and stuff ... ?

SHARDOVAN: Books are the principle business of a library, sir.

DOCTOR:  ... Then you read?  ... You all read?

(Mergrave and Ruther finally remove their hunting masks.)

MERGRAVE: Far too much, in my opinion. There is in this town of  Castrovalva , sir, a general dedication to bodily inertia...that quite defies description.

DOCTOR: Castrovalva ... Yes, the place to rest...

RUTHER: Yes, and rest you shall sir. Some refreshment, and then we must show you to your quarters.

(They all sit at the table. The Doctor seems very excited by the presence of celery on the table. He picks up a piece.)

DOCTOR: Definitely civilisation.

(He takes a bite.)

16, EXT: CLIFF

(It is now dark. Tegan and Nyssa are attempting to climb a steep part of the cliff.)

NYSSA: We'll never get up there!

TEGAN: Do you want to go back then?

NYSSA: We seem to be comitted.

17, INT: LIVING AREA

(The Doctor walks with Shardovan and Ruther to the living quarters.)

SHARDOVAN: I understand your natural puzzlement in the matter of our outdoor garments, sir. Mergrave has devised a new religion – he calls 'exercise'.

RUTHER: Yes, in pursuit of which belief, he drives us to hunt animals in the Wilds beyond the Walls.

DOCTOR: The hunt ... yes it's all coming back to me. (to Shardovan.) You weren't at the hunt.

SHARDOVAN: Alas, no.

RUTHER: Shardovan was detained by being longer in the body than the available habiliments could match.

(As they talk they enter the Doctor's room.)

18, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(Mergrave, dressed in white is preparing a drink on a nearby bench.)

SHARDOVAN: The garments with which we stir our courage to the hunt, sir, are relics of our ancestors. A smaller breed of men, who, as I believe wore down their stature with too much hunting. You will notice I am tall.

DOCTOR: I suppose that's why they made you librarian.

SHARDOVAN: Hmm?

DOCTOR: Reaching down the books from the top shelf.

(They laugh, although the Doctor's confused expression indicates he probably wasn't trying to be funny.)

MERGRAVE: The stranger is recovering his wits.

(He has finished preparing the drink, a small glass of dark liquid.)

MERGRAVE: A mild medicament – distilled from herbs.

DOCTOR: You're a doctor?

MERGRAVE: A master of physic, yes.

DOCTOR: Not ... the Doctor, I suppose? I came here to find him. I think.

RUTHER: It must be the Portreeve the stranger is in search of.

SHARDOVAN: The Portreeve certainly. No one of us else is of the least importance.

DOCTOR: The Portreeve? A sort of magistrate?

SHARDOVAN: A man of great wisdom, sir. He reads thoroughly the books I merely rearrange. I'm sorry you will not dine with us tonight – but sleep. The meat served cold tomorrow will taste the better for it.

(They all start to leave.)

MERGRAVE: Good night, sir.

RUTHER: Good night.

DOCTOR: Yes, good night.

(The Doctor starts to look around, and especially at the potion given to him. He holds it up and stares, then sniffs it. Suddenly he hears a voice nearby.)

PORTREEVE: Drink. It's a simple ... to promote healing sleep.

(The Portreeve is an elderly man, dressed all in white, with a large white hat. He leans on a stick.)

DOCTOR: You're the Portreeve.

PORTREEVE: Ssh. It's past my bed time. If they knew I was abroad, they would press me to this feast. For me, as for you sir, sleep is sometimes better nourishment than good red meat. Please drink, sir.

(The Doctor downs the drink.)

DOCTOR: Yes, that is good.

PORTREEVE: Excellent. You'll very soon find the Doctor ...

DOCTOR: You overheard?

PORTREEVE: I ... know these things.

DOCTOR: Oh?

PORTREEVE: By the simplest of means. When you visit breakfast with me tomorrow, you will see the source of what my friends are pleased to call my 'great wisdom'. Now sir, sleep.

DOCTOR (lying back): Yes, it has been a long journey. Tell me Portreeve, off the record, will I find the Doctor here?

PORTREEVE: Oh yes, Doctor, very soon.

DOCTOR: Good.

PORTREEVE: Good night, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Good night.

(The Portreeve leaves. The Doctors eyes reopen. )

DOCTOR:  ... Doctor?

(Unable to get his confused mind around the Portreeve's final words, he laughs and turns over onto his side and tries to make himself comfortable.)

DOCTOR: Doctor.

19, EXT: CLIFFS

(Tegan and Nyssa are still climbing about on the rocks.)

NYSSA: We should have told the Doctor about Adric.

TEGAN: You said it was dangerous. He would have gone after him.

NYSSA: There might have been a chance but ... now anything might have happened to the Doctor.

(Suddenly a rope ladder flys over a nearby rock. They look at one another, then back at the ladder.)

NYSSA: A rope ladder ... ?!

20, INT: SQUARE

(The Portreeve stands on a platform over the square watching the people below. Directly beneath him, Shardovan walks through an archway towards the group of people.)

MERGRAVE: Shardovan! More strangers have arrived. They scaled the walls!

SHARDOVAN: A new sport to replace hunting! Where are these super men?

MERGRAVE: They're coming. I must tell the Portreeve.

SHARDOVAN: No wait. They're women.

(Tegan and Nyssa are brought over by Ruther. Tegan is yelling at Ruther.)

TEGAN: We know he's here! We saw him brought in!

NYSSA: We're looking for the Doctor.

RUTHER: This is most strange. The other visitor told us the same thing!

NYSSA: Other visitor? That must be ...

TEGAN: The Doctor! I demand to see him!

SHARDOVAN: Very well.

MERGRAVE: But you ...

SHARDOVAN: Then show them to their quarters. We will not disturb the Portreeve with this news. Old men need their sleep.

(The girls are led away as Shardovan notices the Portreeve above him.)

PORTREEVE: Some old men seldom sleep Shardovan.

(Shardovan stares back at him.)

21, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(The Doctor is sleeping. Mergrave opens the door to show Nyssa and Tegan.)

NYSSA: Is he alright?

MERGRAVE: Tomorrow, he will be recovered.

(They leave.)

22, INT: LIVING AREA

NYSSA: We have to tell him about Adric.

TEGAN: Are you sure? He's still not very strong.

NYSSA: We must! We have to think of Adric too! I know so little about telebiogenesis. If only there were some books here.

MERGRAVE (impatiently): Come along!

(They follow him.)

23, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(In the Doctor's room, Adric comes out of the shadows. He walks over to the Doctor who remains asleep, then he moves over and opens the door to look out.)

24, INT: LIVING QUARTERS

(Tegan is sleeping while Nyssa looks out the window. Women below chatter as they clear away the remains of the feast. Nyssa quietly checks Tegan is asleep, and then walks out the door.)

25, INT: CITY

(Nyssa walks around the city, when she suddenly sees two men carrying the Zero cabinet away.)

NYSSA: Wait! That belongs to the Doctor!

26, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(Nyssa brings the men in and indicates to put the Zero cabinet down. The Doctor is still asleep. She sends them away and closes the door. Suddenly she looks in the mirror and sees Adric behind her in the reflection.)

NYSSA: Adric!

ADRIC: No, don't turn around. Just listen, and listen quickly – the Master musn't find me here.

NYSSA: He's in Castrovalva?

ADRIC: He can find me anywhere because I'm still in his power. But you musn't let the Doctor know.

NYSSA: We have to tell him.

ADRIC: No, rescuing me can wait. Just listen. The Doctor must remain in Castrovalva until his regeneration is complete.

NYSSA: Wait, I must get Tegan.

ADRIC: No, you mustn't tell anybody you saw me. Nobody, you understand.

(Nyssa turns around and the image of Adric in the mirror disappears with a sort of electric crackle. The Doctor stirs and wakes up.)

NYSSA: Doctor?

DOCTOR: Nyssa! Lovely morning. I'm beginning to feel quite my old self ... or rather my new self.

27, INT: MASTER'S TARDIS

ADRIC: No ... No I won't do it! I won't!

MASTER: But you've done it, boy. The perfect impersonation of yourself. Now we will remain untroubled by the Doctor's meddling, while our plans ... mature. Hehehehe ...

28, INT: PORTREEVE'S CHAMBER

(On a long table, women tidy up remains of breakfast. The Portreeve is at the table's head, with the Doctor to his right and Nyssa and Tegan to his left.)

DOCTOR: I like your Castrovalva, Portreeve. Very clever of them to have brought me here.

PORTREEVE: I fear we must be a little dull, after the habitual excitements you describe.

DOCTOR: Oh, the Ogrons and the Daleks and that ... no, no, I think it does us good to be reminded the universe isn't entirely people with nasty creatures out for themselves.

(Shardovan enters with a woman carrying some books.)

SHARDOVAN: The volumes you asked for, Portreeve.

PORTREEVE: Ah, thank you Shardovan. I've finished with those.

(He points to three more books at the other end of the table, which the woman collects.)

SHARDOVAN: Ah, very well.

PORTREEVE: Let me introduce, Tegan and Nyssa; Shardovan the librarian.

NYSSA: There is a library.

SHARDOVAN: Which I hope you will visit.

NYSSA: I'd love to see it now.

PORTREEVE: Then you shall. There is something that I want to show the Doctor.

(The Portreeve stands up and sees Nyssa and Tegan out with Shardovan. The Doctor stands to join the Portreeve. They both walk across and look at a giant tapestry, of various plantlife, leafs and bushes.)

DOCTOR: Whoever did this certainly has a way with needle and thread.

PORTREEVE: Remarkable, isn't it?

DOCTOR: This device you mentioned ...

PORTREEVE: It stands before you Doctor. I've returned it to its state of yesterday, by way of demonstration.

(In the middle of the trees and bushes, the tapestry shows a picture from the previous day – Nyssa and Tegan sitting over the Zero cabinet out in the forest.)

29, INT: OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY

(Shardovan is leading Nyssa and Tegan up some stairs to the library.)

NYSSA: Do you have any books on telebiogenesis?

SHARDOVAN: The technical section is not large, you will find, but you are welcome to browse.

(They enter the library.)

30, INT: PORTREEVE'S CHAMBER

DOCTOR: Fascinating demonstration, Portreeve. How often do the pictures renew themselves?

PORTREEVE: Life here in the main is very slow and unremarkable. Only an occasion like your visit disturbs the cycles enough to register on the tapestry.

(The tapestry now shows Nyssa and Tegan carrying the Zero cabinet through the forest.)

DOCTOR: Some form of fast-particle projection, I suppose?

PORTREEVE: Our forbears had many skills, now forgotten.

DOCTOR: Indeed.

(The Doctor begins to move over to the tapestry, but the Portreeve stops him from doing so.)

PORTREEVE: Oh, there's no doubt some complexity behind it, but in view of what you told me you had better avoid such things until you are restored.

(The Doctor laughs and looks back at the tapestry, and the picture of Nyssa and Tegan.)

DOCTOR: You know I had no idea I was putting them to so much trouble. It's a very long way for three young people to carry me.

PORTREEVE: Three, Doctor?

DOCTOR: Yes ... er ... Tegan, Nyssa and err ... .Tegan.

(The Portreeve laughs. The Doctor looks very confused.)

DOCTOR: No, that's silly. Er ... Nyssa, Tegan and ...   ... and Nyssa ...   ... Nyssa, Tegan  ... you know I'm sure there's someone missing.

31, INT: OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY

(Tegan and Nyssa come out from the library, each with a big stack of books.)

TEGAN: These aren't gonna help us much with Adric.

NYSSA: Small technical section ... there weren't any technical books at all.

TEGAN: Well let's read the history of Castrovalva – might tell us why.

NYSSA: Let's take them back to the Doctor's room.

(As they leave, Shardovan comes out and watches them go.)

32, INT: SQUARE

(Women are washing linen in the fountain, and a girl is bouncing a ball. The Doctor enters, deep in thought.)

DOCTOR: One ... Two ...  Good day ... .One ... Two ...

(He can't get past two. He sighs and sits down on the stairs. The girl walks over to him.)

DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. One!  ... Two!...

CHILD: Three, sir.

DOCTOR: What?

CHILD: Three, sir, is what comes after two.

DOCTOR: Do you know that's exactly what I thought?

CHILD: And then four, and then five, and then six, and then seven ...

DOCTOR: Stop! Please, you're making me dizzy. We'll have to give you a badge for mathematical excellence.

(Something ticks over in his mind.)

DOCTOR: Adric. Adric!

(He runs off.)

33, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(Nyssa and Tegan are reading the books. The Doctor bursts in and stares at them furiously.)

TEGAN: The history of Castrovalva's fascinating.

DOCTOR: No time for that. Where is he?!

TEGAN: Sorry?

DOCTOR: Adric!

TEGAN (to Nyssa): You told him!

NYSSA: No, Adric told me not to!

DOCTOR: Adric told you?

TEGAN: Adric?

NYSSA: I'm ... I'm so sorry Doctor but ...

DOCTOR: Please ... never mind about the apologies. I think it's time I heard all about this.

34, INT: OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY

(Mergrave is talking to Shardovan on the balcony.)

SHARDOVAN: What? Going so soon?

MERGRAVE: Whether for some offense we've given ... or just a sudden fancy, I cannot say.

SHARDOVAN: He cannot leave, he must not.

MERGRAVE: He seems firm in his intent.

SHARDOVAN: Then we must intervene!

(They hurry off.)

35, INT: BALCONY

(The Doctor and the girls are running around on the balconies.)

DOCTOR: The TARDIS!

NYSSA: Doctor, the Zero cabinet!

DOCTOR: We can't go through all that again!

TEGAN: But once you get outside the walls ...

DOCTOR: Well we'll just have to hope, won't we?!

36, INT: SQUARE

(They reach the square. The large group of women are there washing linen. The Doctor stops to ask them a question.)

DOCTOR: Which is the quickest way out of here?

(All the women point immediately in different directions.)

DOCTOR: Yes, well that's democracy for you. Come on.

(He chooses a direction and they leave.)

37, INT: CITY

(They go down some stairs and between an archway.)

NYSSA: I don't remember this!

DOCTOR: Never mind, come on!

(They keep going.)

38, INT: BALCONY

(They are going down some more steps.)

DOCTOR: I always did have a terrible sense of direction. Still as long we keep going down ...

(Suddenly they stop and look down. The square is beneath them.)

TEGAN: It's impossible!

39, INT: SQUARE

(The Doctor runs into the square, past Ruther and Mergrave who call him back.)

RUTHER: Oh I beg you, Doctor, reconsider this hasty departure!

MERGRAVE: For reasons of health, if not of courtesy.

DOCTOR: Sorry, no time, must dash, come back later.

(He runs off but comes back quickly.)

DOCTOR: Where does this lead?

RUTHER: Out, sir, if you insist.

DOCTOR: Thank you.

(They run off again.)

40, INT: BALCONY

(They are back on the same balcony again. Below them is the square.)

TEGAN: That wretched square again!
Doctor, what's happening!?

DOCTOR: Shush. Concentrate. This could be serious.

(He runs down a few of the stairs, then turns around and runs back the other way.)

NYSSA: It's as if space had folded in on itself.

DOCTOR: Very like it, quick! There may still be time to reverse the sense!

41, INT: SQUARE

(The Doctor runs through the square again, and up some stairs ... straight into Shardovan, who bars the way.)

SHARDOVAN: Doctor, what is the occasion of this ... haste?!

(The Doctor falls back and just about collapses. Tegan and Nyssa take either side of him and lead him away.)

42, INT: LIVING AREA

NYSSA: It's affecting him, some very complex spatial disturbance.

TEGAN: What is it, Doctor?

DOCTOR: Castrovalva ... folding in on itself deliberately.

NYSSA: Come on, this way.

TEGAN: The Doctor's room!

NYSSA: Oh, thank goodness. We must get him back in the Zero cabinet immediately.

43, INT: DOCTOR'S ROOM

(They come in and stop.)

TEGAN: The Zero cabinet ... it's gone!

(The Doctor goes over to the window and stares painfully out.)

DOCTOR: Recursive Occlusion! Someone's manipulating Castrovalva! We're caught in a space/time trap!

(Outside, the whole of Castrovalva appears as a crooked jigsaw puzzle of what it was before. Everything seems impossibly out of place and yet the Castrovalvan people themselves carry on heedless of the illogical geography. Looking at the city is like looking through a kaleidoscope ... )
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who", "episode": "19x03 - Castrovalva - part 3"}