2. Hysteria
Do you remember the Doctor? Ten-part drama starring Charlie Craggs, with Jodie Whittaker.
Following an ominous message from Rani Chandra, Cleo drags her brother Jordan to the creepiest hotel in London to find out what the hell 蝉丑别鈥檚 talking about. Meanwhile, Abby meets Dr Oliver Morgenstern to ask him about what happened at Royal Hope Hospital in 2008.
Click through to our programme page for episode transcripts.
Credits:
Cleo Proctor - Charlie Craggs
Abby McPhail - Lois Chimimba
Shawna Thompson - Holly Quin-Ankrah
Rani Chandra - Anjli Mohindra
Jordan Proctor - Jacob Hawley
Dr Oliver Morgenstern - Kieran Hodgson
The Receptionist - Natasha Hodgson
The Ravulox - Juno Dawson
Additional Voices - Ken Cheng and Siena Kelly
Written by Juno Dawson
Produced by Ella Watts
Directed by Ella Watts and James Robinson
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Sound Engineer: Paul Clark
Studio Assistant: Jacob Tombling
Sound Design: David Thomas
Additional Sound Design: Arlie Adlington
Original Composition: David Devereux
Production Co-ordinators: Sarah Sharpe and Sarah Nicholls
Recorded at Sonica Studios, Clapham.
A 成人论坛 Studios Production for 成人论坛 Sounds.
#DoctorWhoRedacted
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2. HYSTERIA
DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED
PART 2
听
Written by
Juno Dawson
1.听 ZOOM CALL 鈥 DAY
听
The Velcro-glitch and humming synth of the 成人论坛 Sounds ident.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 成人论坛 SOUNDS IDENT
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 成人论坛 Sounds: Music, Radio, Podcasts
听
A slow ticking-clock type music track comes in, with various glitching glass-like synths.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CREDITS
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Two. By Juno 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Dawson.
听
The ticking clock music goes on, with soft percussion and synths under Abby鈥檚 opening speech. 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
The saying goes, 鈥渢rust me, I鈥檓 a doctor,鈥 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 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 their bedside manner...
听
The ticking clock music comes to a decisive stop. From now on, Abby and Shawna鈥檚 audio is slightly muffled and distorted, clearly showing they鈥檙e being heard through a laptop speaker.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY (CONT鈥橠)
(Beat)
Is that OK? It鈥檚 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鈥檚 talk this through before we record. What have we actually got so far?
CLEO
Oh you know, just a mysterious journalist calling me 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 up out of literally nowhere.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 SHAWNA
Oh God yeah
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
First of all: who gave her my number? RUDE. And second of all, who CALLS? It鈥檚 2022, slide into my DMs 听like a normal person!
(Beat)
Ugh, anyway, she said we have to find 听听听听听 someone called 鈥榯he Doctor鈥?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
Yes, ok
SHAWNA
Sheffield police are looking for some doctor in connection to those two blokes going missing round here.
听
ABBY
Yep. And, of course, the rumours about听听听 the blue box. Some records mention听 a doctor too.
SHAWNA
What records?
听
ABBY
Well that鈥檚 the thing...all the forums are down, so I can鈥檛 check. (SHAWNA makes a surprised and intrigued noise)
CLEO
Girl, you have pages and pages of notes!
听
ABBY
(Huffing) Yeah, that鈥檚 the other thing. (Beat)
All my files are鈥 corrupted. I-I don鈥檛 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 know what happened.
FX - police sirens, getting louder.
SHAWNA
I can probably recover them, but I鈥檇 need your laptop. You want 听me to come up to Glasgow? A little visit?
听
ABBY
Oh! Yeah! Maybe, that鈥檇 be nice. Who has 听got the police cars?
SHAWNA
Sorry that鈥檚 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鈥檚 a load of coppers over at the next block, talking to Mr Khan.
ABBY
Who?
SHAWNA
The Khans! Najia and Hakim. They鈥檙e nice. Their daughter鈥檚 a cop...or she was...that鈥檚 weird. I hope they鈥檙e 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鈥檚 a pause.
ABBY
(Sighing, indulgent) What did she actually say, Cleo?
听
CLEO
Just that it was like 鈥渧ital we met鈥 and 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 she couldn鈥檛 say anything over the phone because it wasn鈥檛 a 鈥榮ecure line鈥, whatever that means. Then she started going on about how like the Doctor is killing us? I was like girl that鈥檚 like, the biggest red flag of all the red flags. Absolutely not.
ABBY
Obviously I can鈥檛 check right now but I thought the blue box doctor was a man.
听
SHAWNA
Sexist.
ABBY
True. But most serial killers are male, Cleo, you are probably safe. 听You could ask Jordan to go with you?
CLEO
Ugh, no. I鈥檓 sulking with him right now鈥 I guess it would be safer. Yeah
听
We hear the sound of someone tapping a keyboard in the background.
听
SHAWNA
The Doctor. Wonder if he鈥檚 some sort of modern-day Jack-the-Ripper?
CLEO
Oh thanks a lot, Shawna.
ABBY
(Cutting in) I 鈥 I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l be fine. Rani Chandra isn鈥檛 a doctor. She鈥檚 from 听London. Or at least she was...she 听works all over the world now.
Bylines for Time, Vice, New Statesman. She seems legit.
CLEO
Fine, fine, I鈥檒l go. But if I die, I鈥檓 coming back to haunt you so bad.
听
SHAWNA and ABBY laugh warmly.
ABBY
(Very warm) Please do.
(Beat)
Oh! I found us a doctor who might be able 听to help us, anyway.
SHAWNA
You did? Who?
ABBY
Er- you know what? Let me start recording.
听
There鈥檚 a beep, followed by the Blue Box Files theme.
听
Blue Box Files theme plays
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 SHAWNA
听听听听听听听听听听听 (Singing RnB style)
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Blue Box, The Blue Box
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 MAN
听听听听听听听听听听听 (Ominous laugh)
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥Files
There鈥檚 an electric zap sound, the Wilhelm scream, and an orchestral Dun Dun Dunn.
CLEO, SHAWNA and ABBY鈥檚 audio now changes into slightly echoe-y but much clearer sound, they鈥檙e obviously on their podcast now.
ABBY听(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鈥檙e listening to Abby MacPhail...
CLEO
I鈥檓 Cleo Proctor...
SHAWNA
This is your girl Shawna Thompson. How are we all this week?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
Yeah! Not bad!
听
CLEO and ABBY talk over each other, loudly and happily answering Shawna at the same time.
听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
Yes! I鈥檓 good...as we were discussing off-air, I am very
caught up in podcast drama. We love it when other boxspotters send us messages.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
We do
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
Please
SHAWNA
Yeah, yeah, but let鈥檚 keep 鈥榚m sane guys...
ABBY
But there鈥檚 been none at all this week.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
(Raising her voice) Yeah, come on guys! Like, share, subscribe, tell your Nan, you know
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
Yes! Please! (CLEO hmms approvingly) If you鈥檙e a regular listener, do get 听in touch with us. What鈥檚 going on 听out there, guys? But anyway, let鈥檚 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 crack on...
SHAWNA
What have you got for us, this week, Abz?
听
ABBY
Oh this week is a goodie. What do we know 听听听听听听听听听 about mass hysteria?
SHAWNA
Girl, I was a One Direction fan. Harry Styles is an honorary lesbian as far as I鈥檓 concerned. You haven鈥檛 seen mass hysteria unless you were at Sheffield Arena in 2015.
听
听
听
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听
听
听
听
听
听
听
听
听
听
听
Laughter.
CLEO
Wait but, wasn鈥檛 hysteria like a Victorian 听thing for women?
ABBY
(Excited) Yes, yes! Well now you mention it, hystera is 听 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.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 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 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 of witnesses report seeing London鈥檚 Royal Hope hospital vanish.
SHAWNA
(Deeply skeptical) Vanish?
ABBY
(With relish) The whole hospital simply听听听 disappeared, leaving a great whopping hole in the ground.
CLEO
Can鈥檛 take that David Blaine anywhere. Such a stunt queen. (SHAWNA laughs)
ABBY
Amazingly that was one theory! Here鈥檚 the thing - to this day, some people swear they saw bulletins about this on the 成人论坛, although no footage of such an incident exists and the 成人论坛 denies all knowledge.
SHAWNA
Well, naturally, who controls the media?
听
CLEO
We know Shawna, 听the Illuminati...ok (ABBY laughs)
SHAWNA
I was gonna say the Murdochs, (CLEO laughs) but I 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 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)
听
CLEO
Sure, Jan.
ABBY
No no no! We are talking dozens of witnesses.
SHAWNA
OK, I鈥檓 gonna go with gas leak? Pesticides? Or meds in the water? Like it鈥檚 a hospital...one time the dentist gave me laughing gas and I thought I was on the moon to be fair.
听
CLEO
Wait wait wait. Girls, they didn鈥檛 actually go to the moon.
ABBY
Well clearly not but...wait for it.
Play Abby鈥檚 Blue Box jingle.
ABBY听(CONT'D)
A number of witnesses also report seeing...
听
SHAWNA
(Exasperated) Blue box?
听
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.
听
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 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 a certain doctor...
听
The music comes up, getting louder with a steady percussion beat like a ticking clock to end the scene.
听
听
听
2. INT. TESCO EXPRESS. DAY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 2听
FX 鈥 people, machines, tinny pop music through speakers, 鈥榰nexpected item in the bagging area 听alert鈥.
听
CLEO
(Under her breath)
Yes, I know, I鈥檓 trying to steal some onions you little...
Her phone rings.
听
Hello?
CLEO听(CONT'D)
听
ABBY
Hey it鈥檚 me!
CLEO
Hey, you OK babe?
ABBY
Yes. I鈥檓 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鈥ou were the one who reached out to 听her though.
ABBY
I know, but I thought you met her so she might be more inclined.
听
CLEO
I dunno, Abs. You鈥檙e the boss. I just make sassy comments.
ABBY
Exactly! You鈥檙e the charm. Please. if anyone can convince her, it鈥檚 you.
听
CLEO
OK, I鈥檒l call her now.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
(Squeaking with excitement) Thank you!
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听Let me just 听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鈥ee? Receipt! I paid for my onions!
听
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 鈥 (REDACTED DISTORTION 鈥 a singing, hissing, almost living static)
CLEO
Well that鈥檚 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?
听
听
The Redaction cuts off abruptly, and the podcast falls silence.
听
听
3. INT. CLEO FLAT. LONDON听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 3House 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听(CONT'D)
There. You happy?
CLEO
Thank you. Do you want a cup of tea?
听
JORDAN
Nah I鈥檓 OK, got a protein shake.
CLEO
It might be that that stinks of feet to be honest.
(Beat)
So. Did you talk to Mum?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
Yeah, I did
听
Sound of CLEO aggressively stirring her tea with a teaspoon.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
And?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
And鈥鈥檓 gonna see her Sunday
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
There鈥檚 a long silence.
JORDAN听(CONT'D)
What? You telling me you ain鈥檛 got an 听听听听听 opinion on that?
CLEO
(Huffing) The police never even questioned 听听听听听 her!
听
JORDAN
Come on Cleo, don鈥檛 with all that again. Mum didn鈥檛 听听听听听听听听听听 kill Dad.
听
听
听
CLEO
Jordan - how is it a 39 year old man can just vanish off the face of the earth? Our dad ain鈥檛 no Lord Lucan is he? He couldn鈥檛 work the tumble dryer!
JORDAN
He was just obviously having an affair or something.
Cleo starts to interrupt, saying 鈥淣o, no鈥
JORDAN听(CONT'D)
You called me a Mummy鈥檚 Boy but as if you鈥檙e not the ultimate daddy鈥檚 girl (CLEO gasps, offended)- before you even was a girl, you was his favourite.
Cleo doesn鈥檛 deny that.
JORDAN听(CONT'D)
He鈥檚 just off with some bird in Marbella or somewhere innit? You鈥檝e been doing your podcast too long, you鈥檝e听听 started believing all them mad conspiracy theories.
听
CLEO
OK. Whatever, fair. Mum and Dad both had 听their听 favourites.
JORDAN
(Sarcastic) You think?
听
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鈥檚 a long pause.
JORDAN
(Sighing, solemn) Yeah well, we ain鈥檛 ever gonna know are we. He鈥檚 not comin鈥 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鈥o, tonight I鈥檓 gonna 听听听听听听听听听听听听 stay home and epilate my sensual gorilla legs. I got a hot date tomorrow.
听
JOE
What? Who are you dating with your gorilla legs? Don鈥檛 tell me 听it鈥檚 another poshboi banker from Surrey again.
CLEO
You鈥檙e one to talk! Your last two girlfriends literally went to the same guy for fillers and botox.
(Beat)
And I鈥檒l have you know 蝉丑别鈥s a beautiful journalist.
JORDAN
She?!
CLEO
Yes!
JORDAN
Does that make you a lesbian now? How does that work? I don鈥檛 think trans people can be lesbians Cleo (CLEO starts laughing)
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
Yes they can!
(Beat)
But I鈥檓 winding you up. It鈥檚 for the podcast you muppet. Strictly profesh.
听
JORDAN
She another conspiracy nutter?
CLEO
More than likely.
JORDAN
Just text me where you鈥檙e going yeah? If 听she gives off dodgy vibes, I鈥檒l rescue you.
CLEO
Aw thanks babe鈥ut actually - what you got on tomorrow?
听
JORDAN
Gym. Why?
听
The scene ends with the chugging, metal rattling sound of a train.
听
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4. INT. TRAIN. DAY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 4FX - train announcement.
TRAIN
We are now arriving at Edinburgh Waverley, our final destination on this service. All change. All change.
听
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.
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5. EXT. EDINBURGH. DAY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 5The pop music ends sharply with the sound of a door opening.
We hear people in a cafe. Abby approaches a 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 table.
听
ABBY
Hello? Doctor? (Big pause)
Dr Morgenstern?
Ah, not that Doctor this time.
OLIVER
(Flustered) Abby? Hello there! Please call me Oliver.
听
ABBY
Oliver, I鈥檓 so sorry I鈥檓 late...my train 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 was delayed...
听
OLIVER
It鈥檚 OK, you鈥檙e 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鈥檙e still happy for me to record all this?
OLIVER
Absolutely. I want to set the record straight.
听
ABBY
Brilliant.
(Beat)
听
All sound in the caf茅 cuts off for a moment, including the people and machines. Then there鈥檚 a beep.
听
听听听听 ABBY (CONT鈥橠)
Welcome back to the Blue Box Files. Today I鈥檓 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鈥檛 know where to...
ABBY
You were a doctor?
OLIVER
Uh, yeah, I am. Still practicing, although 听听听听听 I鈥檓 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.
听
OLIVER
Uh, no! That鈥檚 quite all right. I did indeed write that book, although I 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 think I鈥檝e since reevaluated my stance.
听
ABBY
How so?
OLIVER
I don鈥檛 believe in regrets, but I wish I鈥檇 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鈥檛 doubt that something took place on that date in the hospital. 听(ABBY starts to uh-huh enthusiastically)It was traumatic. The trauma was real. But what I think happened now听 was more akin to some form of mass hallucination or mass hysteria.
ABBY
(Tutting) Internal vapours.
OLIVER
What?
ABBY
Hysteria. That鈥檚 what Victorians thought it was.
OLIVER
(Polite laughter)
I see. I鈥檝e researched it extensively for a new book I鈥檓 working on. It鈥檚 a real phenomenon.
ABBY
But how could so many people believe they were on the moon?
听
OLIVER
Oh an idea can spread like a virus. Truly. In North Carolina in 2002, this group of cheerleaders all suffered 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 identical seizures with no obvious physiological cause.
ABBY
Seriously?
OLIVER
In Portugal in 2006, girls started experiencing symptoms of a fictional virus they鈥檇 seen in a teen soap. There are hundreds of other cases all throughout history.
听
Slowly soft, ominous music comes in very quietly. It鈥檚 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 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 it!
听
OLIVER
Ah鈥ut did I? I don鈥檛 know what I saw. It鈥檚 hazy now. It was a long time听听 ago. I remember the panic, the fear. I remember people saying we 听听听听听听听 were on the moon. But鈥 I just don鈥檛 remember being on the moon.
There鈥檚 a pause.
ABBY
So what do you think happened?
OLIVER
I don鈥檛 know. But I think, perhaps, it鈥檚 better if I move on from that chapter in my life. (ABBY sighs, fiercely disappointed as OLIVER goes on) I鈥檓 safe, I鈥檓 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听 over my life, Abby. I lost my girlfriend over it; friends; my 听family thought I鈥檇 lost it. It 听听听听听听听听听 wasn鈥檛 worth it.
(Beat)
Look at what happened to my friend Martha Jones. She became obsessed with this chap, 鈥榯he Doctor鈥, and vanished off the face of the earth.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 ABBY
Sorry, did you say 鈥榯he Doctor鈥?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 OLIVER
(Getting worried) Yeah, I 鈥 he was there that day. Can鈥檛鈥eally remember him. But he was dangerous.
听
ABBY鈥檚 breathing quickens and she gets to her feet with a scrape of her chair.
ABBY
Dr...Oliver. I need to go I鈥檓 so sorry...
听
OLIVER
Is everything OK?
ABBY
I think my friend 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 might be in trouble...
听
The ominous music continues 鈥 an alien humming buzz at a low tone with scraping synths glittering over the top.
听
听
听听听听 EXT. LONDON. DAY听听听 6
听
The music is cut off by the sound of a passing car. We鈥檙e outside on the street.
听
General city noise. CLEO meets JORDAN.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Calls) Cleo!
听
Cleo runs over.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hey babe! Thanks for doing this.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No worries.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Beat)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I just got off the phone with Mum...
听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh God, don鈥檛 start, I鈥檝e not had any听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 breakfast and I鈥檓 hangry.
听
Cleo鈥檚 phone rings.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO (CONT'D)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Not now, Abby. God, 蝉丑别鈥檚 stressing me out too.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Mum really wants to see you. She can鈥檛 put it 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 right if you don鈥檛 give her a chance.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Look Jordan, if this is听 gonna be some big 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 intervention or something, I can go meet Rani by听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 myself. It鈥檚 not big deal.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What to a creepy hotel on your own听 to meet some 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 strange woman? I don鈥檛 think so. I鈥檓 your 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 brother innit,听 so shut up.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ok, ok.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Beat) Thanks.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (beat)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wait how you know it鈥檚 creepy?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, cos...we鈥檙e here.
听
They both look up at the hotel.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh God that is creepy.
听
听
听
听
6. PHONECALL.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 7FX - dial tone.
We stay in Abby鈥檚 perspective in this scene, hearing her clearly, whilst Shawna鈥檚 voice is slightly muffled and distorted by the phone. There鈥檚 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 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 think this Rani woman might be dangerous.
听
听
What?
SHAWNA
听
ABBY
Oliver confirmed it. There鈥檚 a person called 鈥楾he Doctor鈥. And he might be trouble.
SHAWNA
Oh. OK. Look, I鈥檓 at college...I could get in the car but it鈥檇 be hours until I got to London...
ABBY
Should I call the police?
SHAWNA
And tell them what?
ABBY
Damn it! I鈥檓 meant to be meeting Craig at the cinema. I can鈥檛 just leave Cleo. God, he鈥檚 听 gonna be so mad at me.
(Beat)
Shawna? Are you there?
听
SHAWNA
I鈥檓 here. Abz. I don鈥檛 know what to say. This is messed up.
ABBY
This podcast is getting a bit real.
听
SHAWNA
Right? Abz, I don鈥檛 wanna be the subject of a Blue Box File...
听
The music keeps playing softly in the background, soft slow synths and electric keyboard.
8听听听 INT. HOTEL ONYX. DAY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8
听
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.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听 Ok鈥
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听 Why鈥檚 there no one here?
听
听
FX 鈥 A desk bell. The RECEPTIONIST, who speaks with a slightly reptilian lisp
听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 RECEPTIONIST
听 Hello there鈥
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听 Hello鈥s Receptionist, we鈥檙e here to see Rani Chandra?听听听听听 听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 RECEPTIONIST
听听 Ah yes. You鈥檙e in Suite 13. Fourth floor.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
Wait, she wants me to go to her room?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 RECEPTIONIST
I鈥檓 a receptionist at a hotel where we charge by the hour, my policy is not to ask.
听
FX 鈥 They head for the stairs.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You know when I used to work on that building 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 site on Tottenham Court Road? I used to walk 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 past here all the time. I never saw a hotel 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 here.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
听
听
鈥
9听听听 INT. HOTEL ONYX. DAY听听听听 9
听
We hear another heavier door opening, JORDAN and CLEO鈥檚 voices echo against a concrete staircase, with JORDAN at the top and CLEO further away, out of breath.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hurry UP Cleo, just pretend there鈥檚 a frappucino at 听听听听听听听听听听听听 the top of the stairs or something.
听
Out of breath, CLEO and JORDAN arrive at the Room 13.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Huffing, out of breath) My god. Is your gym trans 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 friendly? I鈥檓 so unfit. (She stops to catch her 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 breath) Oh finally.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 this one. Room 13.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wait, look at the key...What the hell? Have you ever 听听听听听听听听听听听 seen anything like that?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Come on, just try it in the door...
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ok鈥ut wait wait wait - If she wants to get 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 weird...just run OK?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You told me she was hot! I鈥檓 not running anywhere, 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 you can run.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shut up Jordan, this is serious. Look, let me try.
听
An alien series of beeps and digital sounds chirp from the key.
听
FX 鈥 the door clicks open.
听
They enter the suite.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hello?
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (beat)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Rani?
The door shuts behind them.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO (CONT鈥橠)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (beat)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Jordan, there鈥檚 no-one here...
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This is so weird. Maybe we should do one...
听
There鈥檚 a loud bleep following by an electronic whirring sound.
听
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 鈥 not the Redaction, just whatever technology 蝉丑别鈥檚 using to communicate. There鈥檚 a gusting, freezing wind in the background of her side of the call.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 There you are. You took your time.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Softly) Oh wow!
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What the Hell? How are you doing that?
听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I inherited some tech from an old
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 friend of mine. Holographic projection
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 courtesy of Mr Smith.
听
The line should sound a little glitchy.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That is so Princess Leia, I鈥檓 obsessed.
听
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 Rani Chandra.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, I seen your pictures. Where are
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 you?
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I can鈥檛 say.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What are you doing?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Classified
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Who are you?
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 better you don鈥檛 know.
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Exasperated) Well this is gonna be fun then, innit?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Sorry. Er, I said to come alone.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 JORDAN
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Trying it on) Easy Rani. Heard you were a 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 journalist. That is fascinating.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shut up Jordan. That鈥檚 my brother, Jordan.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ok. (Beat)
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I need your help.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What can I do? I鈥檓 a theatre usher.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Your podcast. We鈥檝e been tracking it.
听
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wait wait wait, who鈥檚 we?
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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I can鈥檛 divulge that information
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听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
(Getting annoyed) I鈥檝e come to the scariest hotel in London for this?
You gotta give me something babe, or I鈥檓 outta here and getting a frappuccino.
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RANI
Wait! A few of us have come together to try figure this out; people who knew him. We鈥檙e the only ones left.
(Beat)
I can鈥檛 risk being with you in the room. It seems to be contagious.
People are vanishing and I can鈥檛 risk you too.
CLEO
For the love of god babe, please start 听making sense.
RANI
听(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鈥檚 vital you don鈥檛 forget. Tattoo this now. The Doctor in their TARDIS. That鈥檚 it. You need to find him. Or her.
CLEO
Er, I don鈥檛 think so. That鈥檚 worse than Live, Laugh, Love.
FX - we hear explosions. Gunfire.
There鈥檚 a huge distant explosion over Rani鈥檚 end of the line, rattling metal and breaking glass.
CLEO听(CONT'D)
What was that?
RANI
We鈥檙e under attack. They know the Doctor鈥檚 gone, and they鈥檙e starting to seize the advantage.
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The sound of metal and breaking glass continues, it becomes clear there鈥檚 a huge fight happening in the background where Rani is.
CLEO
Who is they?
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RANI
Listen. I don鈥檛 have long. You and your鈥riend, need to keep searching 听for the Doctor. But please be careful.
CLEO
You said the Doctor was killing us!
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 RANI
(Resolute) I know the Doctor and this doesn鈥檛 make any sense. He would never hurt us鈥 not intentionally.
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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鈥檙e all gone. There are three of us left and we are doing everything we can...
ROBOT VOICE
(Distant)
FREEZE. STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
FX 鈥 RANI gasps, there鈥檚 a rapid fire of an alien gun
RANI
I need to go. I need to help the others.
听
CLEO
What do you want me to do? I don鈥檛 understand.
RANI
Find the Doctor. Only the Doctor can save us now. For god鈥檚 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.
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Pause.
CLEO
Look. Rani, love. You鈥檝e got the wrong girl! I work front-of-house at the听听听听 Queen Vic Theatre. I sell bags of sweets, I can鈥檛 help you!
RANI
You can. I have heard your podcast. It鈥檚 good! OK, it鈥檚 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鈥檛 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?
听
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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.
听
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.
听
We continue to hear explosions, fire and people screaming throughout the rest of the episode.
CLEO
What the hell? Rani! Rani?!
JORDAN
Where鈥檚 she gone?
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Heavy footsteps stomp ever closer.
CLEO
Oh my god. Jord, what is that..?
ROBOT VOICE HUMANS DETECTED.
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The Robot鈥檚 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..?
听
听听听听听听听听听听听 CLEO
It鈥檚 a hologram, isn鈥檛 it?
ROBOT VOICE CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. TRIANGULATING LOCATION.
CLEO
(Nervous) Jordan...
听
ROBOT VOICE
LONDON, ENGLAND. TARGET FIXED. TELEPORT IMMINENT.
JORDAN
No way...
ROBOT VOICE
ALL HUMANS MUST DIE.
听
END OF EPISODE听
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.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CREDITS听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Two, by Juno Dawson.听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.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CREDITS听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Starring: Charlie Craggs, Lois Chimimba, Holly 听听听听听听听听听听听听 Quin-Ankrah, Jacob Hawley, Kieran Hodgson and 听听听听听听听听听听听听 Anjili Mohindra.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Directed by Ella Watts and James Robinson, 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 produced by Ella Watts. Sound design by David 听听听听听听听听听听 Thomas and Arlie Adlington. Original composition 听听听听听听听听听 by David Devereux.听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A 成人论坛 Studios production.听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.听Podcast
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Doctor Who: Redacted
The return of the audio drama series, set in the worlds of Doctor Who.