6. Redemption

2.6 – REDEMPTION

by Juno Dawson

FX BBC Sounds Sting

Scene 6.1 – INT. UNDERGROUND. DAY

FX Cleo is menaced by the Cobot in an echoing disused rail tunnel.

COBOT Step aside or you will be eliminated.

CLEO Just leave them alone.

COBOT Step aside human female.

CLEO No, I’m not letting you into that camp.

COBOT Step aside. Final warning.

CLEO They aren’t hurting anyone. (BEAT) Honour? Honour, can youhear me? Just leave them alone!

COBOT Obstructions will be destroyed.

FX The cobot grabs Cleo, who screams.

CLEO No! Let go!

COBOT Fatal force permitted.

Cleo screams in pain.

CLEO(Struggle) Get off me! Let go! (Pause) Help! Someone help!

ANNO Doctor Who: Redacted, Episode Six. Redemption by Juno Dawson.

Scene 6.2 – INT. SARAH JANE’S ATTIC. DAY

Abby, Shawna and Rani wait for news.

RANI Attention to anyone out there who can help: The Doctor is missing, I repeat, the Doctor is missing.

Rani hits some buttons. Bleeps and bloops from Mr Smith.

MR SMITHMessage sent.

RANIOK – Abby, Shawna – someone will help. The Doctor has a lot of friends out there. Plus, there’s every chance the TARDIS will pick it up.

ABBYWow.

RANIWith a bit of luck we’ll find the Doctor.

SHAWNA(In awe) This tech is next level.

ABBY Yeah…

RANIWhich is exactly why we have to keep it secret. Wrong hands and all that.

ABBYSo what now?

RANII guess we wait. (She takes a breath) The Doctor can’t be gone. We’d know. Somehow we’dknow. The sky would be collapsing on our heads.

ABBYWell then let’s hope the Doctor’s OK.

An electronic alarm sounds.

RANIWhat is it, Mr Smith?

MR SMITHI have detected alien weaponry active in London.

RANIWhat? Where?

MR SMITHThe Bakerloo Line on the London Underground. Identifying…Model VI Cobot Technology.Origin: The Origin.

RANI Huh?

MR SMITHHigh probability of lethal force. Civilian casualties and fatalities likely.

SHAWNAIs it the Blue Box?

RANINo. The TARDIS isn’t a weapon.

ABBYThen what is it?

RANINever mind that now. What can we do?

Scene 6.3 – INT. UNDERGROUND. DAY

Cleo continues to battle the Cobot. She kicks and hits at it.

CLEO(Frantic) Put me down!

COBOTFatal force permitted.

CLEOPlease! Please, I can’t breathe…please…you’re crushing me…

The fight ebbs out of Cleo.

CLEO (weak)I can’t…Help someone…

Scene 6.4 – INT. ATTIC. DAY

Rani operates Mr Smith – pushing buttons and levers - as Abby and Shawna lookon in horror. An alarm sounds.

SHAWNA(Urgent) What’s happening?

ABBY(Urgent) Is Mr Smith meant to be making that noise? It’s not a good noise.

RANII don’t know! (Pause) Mr Smith, are you able to hack into the Cobot remotely?

MR SMITHScanning all wavelengths.

Electronic scanning noise.

MR SMITHRani, I have audio-visual access. Do you want me to display?

RANIYes.

Over Mr Smith, we hear Cleo struggling.

CLEO (over comms)

(In peril) Help! Someone!

ABBYNo! That’s Cleo!

SHAWNAHelp her!

RANIMr Smith, can you override?

MR SMITHRunning security checks…acquiring access…

Scene 6. 5 – INT. TUNNELS. DAY

Cleo continues to struggle.

CLEOSomeone…someone please…I can’t breathe…

Cleo gasps. She sounds weak.

CLEO(Very faint) I can’t…

COBOTSignal received.

Then we hear a ‘power-off ’tone and a mechanical whirr.

COBOTPowering down.

The machine shuts down.

CLEO (weak, confused)

Wait! Don’t you dare drop – ah!

With a yell, the Cobot drops her and she plummets down into a heap.

CLEOOw! Ouch!

She picks herself up and dusts herself down.

CLEOOw. Rude. I knew inheriting my mum’s bum would come in handy. (TO COBOT) What’s wrongwith you?

The cobot powers up once more.

COBOTCobot online.

CLEOOh here we go again…

FX Now the Cobot transmits Rani, who sounds slightly robotic via the Cobot’s built-in speaker

COBOT RANICleo, don’t run, it’s us.

CLEOWhat? Who is that?

COBOT RANIIt’s Rani! I’m with Shawna and Abby! Mr Smith hacked into the…whatever it is, and overrode its controls.

CLEOOk, I didn’t follow the last bit, but hi Rani! How’s it going?

COBOT RANIYeah not bad thanks, you?

CLEOWell this is surreal. I’ve been better to tell you the truth. Have you heard from the Doctor?

COBOT RANINo, but I’ve put word out.

Abby gets on the mic.

COBOT ABBYCleo, I’m so sorry we doubted you. The Doctor is real. Rani’s told us about them. We shouldhave believed you.

CLEOAbby! Abby! Abby! It’s OK. While we’re levelling – you were right about Apex.

COBOT SHAWNA

I’m so sorry, Cleo.

CLEOShawna! We don’t have time for a big group hug now – Apex’s ex is about to wipe out anentire refugee camp.

COBOT ABBYIs Apex there?

CLEO (awkward)

No. I don’t know. (Long pause) He left.

Silence on the other end.

CLEOGo on. You can say ‘I told you so’.

COBOT ABBY (tender)

I would never. I’m so sorry darling. Are you OK?

CLEOYou know me. I’ll be all right. (Pause) I don’t know why I thought this one was any different.

COBOT ABBY

Where are you?

CLEOLondon Underground. Someone’s got to stop Honour from tearing up thecamp.

COBOT SHAWNA

How are you gonna do that?

CLEOI don’t know yet. But I can’t do nothing. The Doctor would march in there are say NO, STOP, NOT THIS TIME, so that’s what I’m gonna do.

Scene 6. 6 – INT. ATTIC. DAY

We return to Rani, Abby and Shawna.

RANIThat’s exactly what the Doctor would do to be fair. (Pause) But the Doctor does have a plan. Usually. Or at least the illusion of a plan.

CLEO (over intercom)

Can I use Optimus Prime here?

RANIMr Smith – do we have full access to the Cobot?

MR SMITHNegative, Rani. Security protocols adapting. Access denied.

SHAWNA So hack it again?

MR SMITHAccess denied.

SHAWNAGreat.

RANICleo, you might want to get out of there; if the Cobot reboots…

CLEOGot it. Thanks, you guys. It was worth a shot.

ABBYCleo, what are you going to do?

CLEOI think it’s time for some female solidarity. We got dumped by the same guy, maybe I canget through to her.

RANIBe careful.

CLEO Careful is my middle name. Actually, it’s Rosemary after my Nan, but she was a very careful lady. Gotta run.

Cleo sprints away

FX footsteps.

ABBYWe’re gonna help you, Cleo!

There’s no response.

ABBYI think she’s gone.

SHAWNARunning into a massacre…what is she thinking?

RANIThat’s the problem with the Doctor, they make it look so easy. You start thinking you’re asuperhero. Mr Smith: Triangulate the location of the alien tech and find us a route in.

ABBYWe need to find this Refugee Camp.

RANIWait – you’re not going down there are you?

ABBYCleo is all alone down there; she needs back-up.

RANIWe have no weapons, and they have what Cleo just called Optimus Prime…

SHAWNAWait. Rani – you know how our last coding project went so well -

RANIWell-

SHAWNAI’ve had an idea….

Scene 6.7– INT. TUNNELS. DAY

Cleo runs down the echoing tunnels, panting as she goes.

CLEO(Effort) Absolutely no better at running. I’m gonna die.

She gets her breath back. As she reaches the encampment, we hear a panicked hustle and bustle. It grows louder as she approaches. We hear kids crying, people shouting.

WILDTRACK(worried refugees)

CLEO(Calls) Rume! Rume! Hey!

RUMECleo! Honour Bray is on her way to the Underground.

CLEOYeahh. She’s got a pet Terminator and she’s going to clear you all out.

WILDTRACK(alarm and fear)

CLEOMy friends and I – we shut it down. We’ve bought you some time I hope.

RUMETo do what ? (PAUSE) Cleo ?

CLEORight. Fair. Just - Give me a second, okay ?

RUMETime is not on our side. (CALLS) Everyone! We have to get out of here. Right now!

CLEOAnd go where?

RUMEI…I don’t know.

WILDTRACK Abrupt laser-fire and everyone screams, running for cover.

CLEOWhat the hell?!

RUMETake cover!

WILDTRACK Everyone scrambles for cover. Drones sweep into the camp

DRONESurrender and prepare to welcome the Right Honourable Lady Honour Bray! Surrender andWelcome!

WILDTRACK(PANIC, FALLING SILENT)

RUME (to Cleo)

Stay hidden…

A hush falls over the camp as HONOUR enters. Wildtrack whispers and sniffles as people cower.

HONOURCalm down, please. (pause) I said calm down.

She commands silence.

HONOURThat’s better. (She clears her throat) I’m Honour Bray. If you aren’t familiar, I own the London Underground. I’m sorry to say I’m serving you eviction notice for rent arrears. (Pause) That sounded better in my head. Look, I know it’s a cliché, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The hard way, um, obviously, is these drones kill you all.

WILDTRACK(HORROR)

HONOURThen just pick the easy way!

Rume breaks cover.

RUMEWhat’s the easy way?

HONOUROK. Fine. A ship is waiting to transport you all to the tinclavic [Tin-klavik] mines of Raaga[Rah-ga].

RUMEWhat?

WILDTRACK(HORROR)

HONOURIn short, I sold you to settle your bills. I’ve had a better offer for this place. There’s a pod of Radusians [Rad-oo-see-ans] just off Saturn who’ll pay double what you agreed to. Six months up front in cash. It’s not personal, it’s just business.

Cleo now breaks out from her hiding place

CLEO(Runs over) Oi! You can’t do that!

HONOUROh good. You.

CLEOYou can’t just ship people into space.

HONOURI’m afraid I can. They’re alien. They have no right to remain on this planet. After the Flux,anti-alien sentiment is higher than it’s ever been.

CLEOWhatever you say, we – humans – we care. We do. Sometimes it’s hard because life kicksyour butt like 90% of the time, but we won’t stand for this.

HONOUR(Deadpan) Rousing. (To the camp) Come along, your new life digging tinclavic awaits. Fun!

CLEONo. No way.

HONOURLook, I could honestly do without this. I don’t want this to get messy, but it will.

CLEOHonour. Let’s discuss what this is really about. You got dumped and you’re salty about it. Apex… he’s trash but he really cares about these people and that’s why you’re ebaying them. Out of spite.

HONOURIs that so? (Beat) You don’t know Apex Costa … whose spaceship do you think I’m shippingthem out in? (CALLS) Oh Apex!

CLEO (SOFT) No.

Apex returns, footsteps crunching in gravel.

WILDTRACK

(Gasps and whispers from the refugees.)

HONOURGuess who slithered into my DMs.

APEXI’m sorry, Cleo.

CLEOYou have got to be kidding.

APEXI owe her. I couldn’t run any more.

CLEOWell done, Apex, truly my opinion of men has never been lower.

HONOURI knew he’d come back. My Apex likes the finer things in life too much to rough it on a planet like Earth with a lowborn like you. (Pause) The trick to men, Cleo, is to stop expecting them to be anything other than what they are. You make peace with it.

CLEOIs that what you are, Apex? Her pet?

Apex says nothing.

CLEOCoward.

Scene 6. 8 – INT. SARAH JANE’S ATTIC. DAY

Shawna works frantically at Mr Smith. We hear an ugly beeping noise.

SHAWNACome on, you ruddy thing.

RANI(Urgent) Mr Smith! What’s happening?

MR SMITHAccess denied. Port connection not made. Node disallowal. Node refusal.

SHAWNAOh come on!

She types away.

MR SMITHAccess denied.

ABBYShawna, are you sure you can do this?

SHAWNA What? Don’t you trust me?

ABBY Of course I do…but this is alien tech…

SHAWNALook, I never met a computer I couldn’t hack.

RANIPlease don’t break Mr Smith. Not after we nearly lost him.

SHAWNASeriously you lot need to chill. Just give me a minute…

Scene 6.9 – INT. TUNNELS. DAY

HONOURSo. Cleo. I’ve got Apex. I’ve got a shipful of alien refugees. Now what’s the one thing I don’thave?

CLEOEr, a soul?

HONOURMy TARDIS! The last TARDIS. And you’ve a direct line to the Doctor.

CLEOYou think I’m phoning the Doctor for you?

HONOURWhy else do you think Apex repaired your phone?

CLEO (HEARTBROKEN)

Oh.

APEXHonour, don’t do this.

HONOURI’m so close, Apex. Just give me this one thing.

APEXI came back to you, didn’t I? (Beat) You promised me she’d be safe.

CLEO (to Apex)

You traded for me? That’s cute.

HONOURCleo, you’re going to phone the Doctor. I had hoped – unleashing my Cobot on you wouldbring the Doctor running. But no. So. Let’s be more direct.

FX HONOUR PULLS A SPACE GUN. IT POWERS UP.

HONOURThis gun’s the last surviving weapon from Balen’s Gate. One charge left. Almost a waste touse it on you. But I will.

APEXHonour, stop!

HONOURQuiet! [BEAT] Phone the Doctor, Cleo. One last time. Beg. If everything I’ve heard about the Doctor is true, they’ll do it. They’ll give it all up to save a friend.

CLEONo.

HONOURGo on.

CLEOIt’s not like the Batsignal.

HONOURAh now it kind of is - if you mean as much to the Doctor as you keep saying you do. Unless… were you fibbing? Is that it? Cleo? Are you not so special after all.

CLEOI – I don’t even know if it’s the right number. (SIGH) If I do this for you, you’ll let these people stay?

HONOURIf? No. You will do this. These people are off to the mines whatever. But maybe they won’thave to step over your body on the way out. Phone. The. Doctor.

FX AND THE WEAPON POWERS UP MORE. FIZZING.

CLEOThat’s the deal; take it or leave it. If I phone the Doctor, you let them go. All of them.

HONOURVery well. Deal.

FX CLEO PULLS OUT PHONE. DIALS CLEO

(BROKEN) Doctor. It’s me. Cleo. Again. I hope you’re okay. Sorry about all the messages – I was just – going through some stuff. (BRIGHT) I just want you to know – no matter what’s happening in your life – I’m doing great. Amazing. Let’s do drag brunch in Clapham sometime. See ya.

FX SHE HANGS UP CLEO

Sue me, Suella.

Scene 6.10 – INT. SARAH JANE’S ATTIC. DAY

MR SMITH makes a noise that sounds like an old modem loading.

MR SMITHPortal connection refused – re – re – re - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ABBYWhat is Mr Smith doing?

RANIShawna? That doesn’t sound good.

SHAWNACan you give it a break?

ABBYWe need to get to Cleo! Shawna!

Scene 6.11 – INT. CAMP

CLEOThe Doctor’s not coming.

HONOURPhone them again.

CLEONo point. The Doctor just isn’t that into mimosas.

HONOURFine.

FX GUN CRACKLES

APEXNo!

RUME[Shout] Leave her alone!

HONOURGet out of the way, Rume.

RUMENo! Cleo Proctor has shown us nothing but kindness. The people of London Undergroundstand with her.

CLEOAw, you guys…

RUMEYou’ll have to go through us.

HONOURThis is such a waste of time! Whatever, fine! Step aside, or I call in the Cobot.

RUMEWe ain’t going anywhere.

APEXYou can’t hurt them, Honour. You sold them.

HONOURThey’re mine. (CALLS) Cobot! Cobot!

FX We hear a mechanical stomping coming down the tunnels.

HONOUR(CALLS) Clear the camp. You’re authorised to use lethal force.

WILDTRACK:(spreading panic)

FX Cobot comes closer.

COBOTFatal force permitted.

HONOUR What a dreadful waste. [beat] Ah well.

Scene 6.12 – INT. SARAH JANE’S ATTIC. DAY

FX Gurning from Mr Smith. Wildtrack repeats. Dangerous noises.

ABBYShawna – how’s it going?

SHAWNAMr Smith?

MR SMITHG-g-g-g-g - J’avais prendre la stylo de ma tante – Bu-bu-bu – Fahren zi mit der strassenbahm– Po-po-po-

The noise persists. We hear a bunch of foreign languages and beeps and alarms.

RANI(OVER THIS) What have you done to Mr Smith?

We then hear a more optimistic loading noise.

MR SMITHConnection established, Rani.

SHAWNAGirls, I’m in.

Scene 6.13 – INT. TUNNELS. DAY

FX The mechanical footsteps grow louder and louder. Cobot powering up.

WILDTRACK(growing panic)

HONOURCobot! Attack!

FX And the Cobot raises its weapons – dangerous powering up of guns and drills.

COBOT SHAWNA

Stick ‘em up, punks.

HONOURWhat?! Cobot? Power down.

COBOT ABBYNice try, lady, we’re in control now! You’re so hacked.

CLEOOh my god.

COBOT SHAWNA

Abs! I’m doing it! Everybody get down. We’ve got you covered.

FX We hear robotic arms jerking around wildly as A and S grapple for control.

COBOT ABBY

Shawna! Will you get off?

FX The Cobot’s blaster goes off accidentally.

COBOT ABBY

Shawna! Careful!

COBOT SHAWNA

That was you! Backseat driver!

FX The blaster goes off again, rubble falls. More screaming.

WILDTRACK (Panicking and alarm)

COBOT SHAWNA

Freeze! We’ll shoot! We will!

HONOURDrones – Destroy that Cobot!

FX Drones powering up DRONE

DRONES On the orders of the Right Honourable Lady Honour Bray – Destroy the Cobot!

DRONES Attack Cobot! Destroy Cobot! Attack Cobot!

FX Drones whizzing into battle against the Cobot. Firing. Blasts pinging off the Cobot.

COBOT ABBY

Shawna! We’re under attack! Shawna, there! Shoot that one!

COBOT SHAWNA

What do you think I’m doing?!

Scene 6.14 – INT. CAMP

FX At a slight remove, the battle continues.

APEXCleo! Down here! [beat] Are you OK?

CLEOWhat do you think?

APEXLook, you need to run. Just go.

CLEORun, your answer to literally everything. I’m staying put. Clearing up your mess.

APEXI tried to do good here. I really did.

CLEOHow’d you say that’s going?

APEX(SMILES) Meh.

CLEOYour life story is a stream of women tidying up after you.

FX More blaster shots. Explosions.

CLEOTypical

APEXDo you still have my magic flute?

CLEOOh my god. You’re asking for your stuff back now?!?

APEXDo you have it?

CLEOYes, no. I don’t know. I must have dropped it when the Cobot grabbed me.

APEXWhere?

CLEOI don’t know, back in the tunnels. Near the light corridor thing. God, if you’re that bothered,come to mine later, I’ve got a Metallica hoodie that some guy never came back for too.

APEXI gotta go.

FX He turns in the ground.

CLEOWhat? Where are you going now?

APEXGotta run.

CLEOJust this once. Don’t.

APEXI’m sorry. Keep her busy for like two minutes.

FX And Apex runs away.

CLEO(SOFT) Apex.

FX A new blast of gunfire.

COBOTDamage sustained. Error. Error. Error. Attend unit. Attend unit.

FX There’s an almighty blast as the Cobot explodes.

Scene 6.15 – INT. SARAH JANE’S ATTIC. DAY

Shawna and Abby are trying to operate the Cobot with Rani. An alarm sounds.

ABBYWhat’s it doing?

RANIMr Smith, status update!

MR SMITHThe Cobot unit has sustained critical damage. Motor control is lost. Feedback surge!Feedback surge!

FX ALARMS GROW

RANIMr Smith!

MR SMITHRani Chandra - I have failed you… (DIES)

FX THE POWER GOES DOWN

RANIYou never failed me, Mr Smith. (TO SHAWNA) What happened?

FX TYPING

SHAWNA(TYPING) The Cobot systems fought back – and he held them off for so long… I can get himback on line. Hold on. (PAUSE) Abby, if you’d just let me handle it!

ABBYIt wasn’t my fault we got hit!

SHAWNAI had it under control. (Beat) Why do you always act like I’m incompetent?

ABBYWhat? When did I ever say that?

SHAWNAYou don’t have to say it – you don’t even trust me to use the toastie machine. Everything you do tells me I’m no good.

Abby is silenced.

ABBYWell…I’m sorry you feel that way.

SHAWNASorry you feel that way is not an apology.

Rani clears her throat.

RANISorry. I don’t want to get involved but… what about Cleo?

Scene 6.16 – INT. TUNNELS. DAY

As the Cobot falls, there’s more screaming and panic.

COBOTCobot offline. Cobot offline.

DRONESIn the name of the Right Honourable Lady Honour Bray surrender and prepare to be destroyed.

WILDTRACK (whimpering, fear)

RUMEWe surrender.

CLEONo.

RUMESorry, Cleo. We’ve all been here before. There’s a time to pack up and move on. Just acceptit.

CLEONo way.

FX Honour marches through the rubble.

HONOURI offered you an easy way. Do you remember that bit? This was all on you.

FX She raises gun.

CLEOAnd now what, you gonna kill me?

HONOURYou know what – it’s your choice, Cleo. Life in the Tinclavic mines or be on the receiving end of the most expensive death ray in the universe. (BEAT) Wait. Where’s Apex?

CLEORan away.

HONOURFigures. (SHRUGS) He’ll come back. He always does. So. What’s it to be?

CLEODo these nails look ready for mining to you?

HONOURThought not.

FX She powers up gun.

CLEOKill me if you want, but it won’t make Apex love you any more. You’ll still be the worst thingin the world…alone.

HONOURWe’re all alone.

CLEONo that’s where you’re wrong. Look around. I had all of London Underground on my side. I hadmy best friends. And Rani. I had Apex Costa. And I had…

FX Stop. From nowhere we hear it – the oldest, most beautiful sound in the universe. A TARDIS begins to pull itself out of space and time.

CLEONot now…

HONOURWhat is that -

CLEODoctor! Doctor, no! Get away! It’s a trap! Doctor!

WILDTRACK(Amazed excitement)

HONOURA TARDIS. I’ve finally got a TARDIS.

FX Thunk. The TARDIS finishes materializing.

CLEO(CALLS) Doctor! Crazy lady big gun! Get out of here!

HONOURIt’s beautiful. A bit – weathered – but that adds to the patina. The last time machine in the universe. You know what? I guess a girl can have everything. I’ll never be alone again. [beat] Knock knock! Anyone home?

FX Honour reaches out to knock on the door – but there is a fizz.

HONOURWhat? Is that right?

CLEOWell, your hand just went through it. Didn’t do that last time.

FX Fizz! The TARDIS vanishes. Apex runs forward.

HONOURWhat?

APEXSorry, Honour! Just a hologram.

HONOURApex!

CLEOFor once in your life – you came back.

APEXI needed a distraction…

HONOURDrones! Kill everyone!

FX Drones power up.

APEXWhile I rebooted this…

HONOURWhat is that? A magic flute? Cute.

APEXSure. Why not.

CLEOHa ha! You’re so done, Honour. You’re cancelled.

APEX Activating

FX Apex activates the Magic Flute. Massive sonic wave.

WILDTRACK(wincing)

HONOUR(over) What is that?

FX The sound dies. We hear an electric burbling.

CLEOIt’s not a magic flute. It’s a wave disruptor!

FX Bin lid clangs as a dozen drones malfunction. Echoing of a long tunnel.

HONOURWhat’s happening? What’s-

FX And the soundscape melts under the disruption wave

CLEOIt’s over Honour.

HONOURI’ve still got this!

FX gun charges up again

CLEONo. Let’s settle this woman to woman. My way.

Scene 6.17 – INT. CHICKEN SHOP. EVE.

Melting noise resolves - Musak plays. We hear a deep fat fryer.

CHICKEN MAN

Got a vegan bucket for Claire? Vegan bucket for Claire?

CLEOIt’s Cleo, thanks.

FX Chair scrape. Cleo goes, comes back with the feast to the table.

HONOURWhat is this place?

CLEOHeaven. It’s a restaurant. Sort of.

HONOURThey serve nothing but deep fried fake poultry?

CLEOYep. Get stuck in. It’s really good. (EATING) mmmm.

HONOURI…won’t.

CLEOSuit yourself. Apex?

APEXWhy not. And this brown fluid is..?

CLEOGravy. My man, you are in for a treat. (EATS)

HONOURStop this torture, I beg. Just let me go.

CLEO(LOOKS UP FROM EATING) You ain’t a prisoner. Go.

APEXAnd leave me alone.

HONOURYou owe me a TARDIS.

APEXYou know I can’t do that. Take everything I’ve got. I just want this over with.

There’s a pause.

HONOURBut…but what about us?

APEXWhat about us? You can’t buy me.

HONOURYou owe me – so much more than money. Time. Dignity.

APEXI don’t love you, Honour. I’m sorry. If I made you think I did, that was cruel. I didn’t mean toif it makes any difference.

CLEOThat’s what this is about, isn’t it? You loved him and he humiliated you.

HONOURYeah thanks, I have a therapist, I don’t need another.

CLEOOh grow up.

HONOURI beg your pardon?

CLEOOh boo, haven’t you ever been dumped before? God, can you imagine if I threw a massive hissy-fit every time some wasteman ghosted me? It’d be a full- time job, babes. You just get back on the apps and hope the next one might be Tom Hardy. What I’m saying is, erect a bridge and get over it.

HONOURHow dare you –

CLEONo. Not being funny, but why are you letting some man erode your chic? No offence Apex…

APEXNone taken –

CLEOBut look at him. Is he really worth it?

APEXThanks for that.

CLEOHe’s a liar; a scam artist; he’s a fully grown man wearing dungarees for pity’s sake. Are you really going full supervillain for this?

APEXHey!

HONOURYou make a valid point.

CLEODon’t let some man be the thing that defines you.

There’s a long pause.

CLEOHonour?

HONOURI want your ship.

APEXAnd you’ll give the camp to Rume?

HONOURIf it means I never have to come back to this tawdry planet, then yes.

APEXDone.

They shake on it and she goes to leave.

FX chair scraping.

HONOURGoodbye and good luck, Cleo. You’ll need it. (Pause) And never text me again, Apex, even ifit’s Christmas and you’re lonely.

She struts away and the doorbell sound goes as she leaves. Apex breathes a sigh of relief.

APEXSo what now? (Pause) Cleo?

CLEOSorry. Nothing. I can’t stop thinking about the Doctor. Why they didn’t come.

Scene 6.18 ALT SCENE – EXT. LONDON STREET. DAY

FX A London Street

CLEORani! Look at you! Thanks for coming!

RANI Hi

RANIIn the flesh at last, you did so good. You all did. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid – but you lot –

CLEOHit the ground running? When we weren’t hitting the ground.

RANISometimes, that’s the fun bit. (SMILES) Right, quite a clear-up operation to organize. I’ll put in a few calls. Clyde, Luke, Maria and Sky – you’ll like them. But that’s not the important thing – Cleo. Did the Doctor come?

CLEONo show.The Doctor’s still out there,somewhere. And I think they’re in trouble…

Scene 6.19 – PODCAST - INT. LONDON AND GLASGOW. DAY

We join the friends mid-episode. They are laughing a lot.

ABBYStop! Stop, I’m not kidding! (beat) But I think it’s a warning. When you consider what happened with both the rats in London and the spiders in Sheffield, it’s clear to me we have to examine our impact on the environment.

CLEOOr nature will, quite literally, bite you on the bum.

ABBY Yeah

SHAWNAAnd don’t forget the maggots in Wales.

CLEOHow could we?! Favourite episode ever.

ABBYSame. But anyway, this is the last episode of the Blue Box Files for a wee while. We’re taking a break, but rest assured, we’ll still be looking out for weird and wonderful stories so do get in touch with your blue box sightings.

SHAWNA Remember to like and subscribe.

CLEOAnd merch! Buy a tote bag!

ABBYAlways buy a tote bag. Bye for now! Bye!

They sign off.

CLEOThanks, Ab. Sending my audio file now before I don’t forget.

ABBYAnd thank you. This was one of the best episodes yet – mutant space rats in the docklands.Iconic.

SHAWNAI’m so sorry Cleo. We should have listened. We were a right pair of –

CLEOStop! I was sulking. We’ve changed. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just different now.

ABBYIt was very poor form. I guess we were in the honeymoon period.

CLEOIt’s fine. London Underground is safe now. That’s all that matters. Thanks to all of us.Another job well done for the Blue Box Files.

ABBYNext time you predict an extra-terrestrial threat, we’ve got your back 100%.

CLEOThanks. (Pause) And speaking of extra-terrestrial threat, I better go. (Pause) I’m meeting Apex in a bit.

There’s a silence.

CLEOWell? Are you telling me you ain’t got an opinion?

SHAWNANope. Never had an opinion in my life.

ABBYI offer only support and love.

CLEOCome on! Tell me what to do! That’s what you’re there for!

SHAWNANot this time, you’re on your own.

CLEOWhatever. Don’t choke on herbal tea and cat fur.

ABBYGood luck, darling.

Scene 6.20 – EXT. ROOF. NIGHT

We hear feet running upstairs. A fire door opens and Apex and Cleo step out onto the roof.

APEXYou ready? OK, here we are.

CLEOI’m not sure we’re supposed to be up here, Apex. What even is this building?

APEXIt’s fine, I paid the security guy. Now: look at that view.

She takes it all in.

CLEOThat is spectacular to be fair. Hi London Town. It looks like a painting.

Pause.

APEXAre you cold?

CLEONo.

APEXYou are. Have my coat.

He hands it over.

CLEOThanks. Keeping this by the way.

APEX It’s yours. (Pause) It’s quite beautiful isn’t it?

CLEOWhat? The coat? It’s alright.

APEXI meant London. But you, too.

CLEOShut up. Cringe.

Pause.

APEX Hey look: you can see all the way down Camden to the river.

CLEOCheck you out with your knowledge. We’ll make a Londoner of you yet.

The breeze blows. We hear some distant sirens, a plane overhead.

CLEOSorry, can we do this quickly? Normally I don’t even get a goodbye, I just get left on read, soI don’t really know how to handle this.

APEXHandle what?

CLEOWell this is goodbye isn’t it? I’ve met men like you before. You can summon the illusion ofthe boyfriend experience for about three days and then it’s splitsville.

APEXSplitsville?

CLEOSo long, farewell, auf weidersehen, adieu?

Pause.

APEXIt doesn’t have to be. Honour took my ship, but I still have the teleporter. I could get us bothto Cirtes VI. We could get a new ship or –

CLEONo. I’m staying here. I’ll be me wherever I go, and I’ll take all my baggage with me. I’ve got to figure out how to…live in this world, and be happy as I am.

APEXWell…what if I stuck around too?

Cleo considers this.

CLEOWell as long as it’s for you and not me.

APEXWhy else would I stay if it weren’t for you? Fried chicken and gravy?

CLEOI can’t promise you anything, Apex.

APEXWait: who’s ghosting who?

CLEOStop. (Pause) You really messed with my head.

APEXI know. I’m sorry. And normally when things get heavy, I go. So this…this must be somethingnew, because I don’t want to run right now. I know it’s mad but I wanna stay.

CLEOApex…

APEXI want to change. You make me want to be better.

Cleo wants to believe this, she really does.

CLEOYou’re an alien.

APEXUm, so are you, to me.

CLEOOh. Fair.

APEXI think we could make each other happy. Maybe briefly, but even that’s worth something,right? I think it’s worth finding out. Don’t you?

Pause.

CLEOYou’re right. Sod it. It’s always worth finding out.

Pause.

APEXCan I kiss you now? Kissing is good.

CLEOOn a roof, at night, overlooking London? Bit much maybe. But yeah, go for it.

They kiss.

FX: A distant spaceship roars through the sky and lands. Boom. They break off.

CLEOWhat was that?

APEXI think a spaceship just crashed.

CLEOWe should do something –

Apex kisses her. In the distance we hear sirens.

CLEOWe absolutely should – (SHE KISSES APEX BACK) In a minute…. Yeah?

They kiss.

The music builds into a gleefully Whovian, alien symphony of synths and electric keyboard that cuts off into piano that continues under the rest of the credits.

END CREDITS

Doctor Who: Redacted. Episode Six. Redemption by Juno Dawson. Starring Charlie Craggs as Cleo Proctor, Lois Chimimba Abby Mcphail, Holly Quin-Ankrah Shawna Thompson, Freddy Carter Apex Costa, Dervla Kirwan Honour Bray, Anji Mohindra Rani Chandra, Alexander Armstrong Mr Smith, Teri Ann Bobby-Baxter Rume and Wilf Scolding as Drone. Directed by Bethany Weimers, Producer James Goss, Sound design by Rob Harvey, Original Composition by David Devereux. A BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.