The Pride of Sontar

7/31/2019 The Pride of Sontar

1/39

The Pride of Sontar

By

Kieron Moore


2/39

1 EXT. VILLAGE

An alien village. Huts made of a rough red wood, patchesof pale green grass. A stream powers a wooden water wheel.It looks inhabited - but there are no people.

Except for THE DOCTOR, who is exploring curiously.

THE DOCTORAmazing people, the Shocau. Abeautiful culture. Living at onewith nature, entirely peaceful,great tiramisu!

So where are they?

And to whom am I talking?

He approaches a hut larger than all the others, withornate wood sculptures of some exotic cat outside thedoor, a first-floor balcony with clothes hung up on aline, and a windmill-like contraption jutting out of theroof. He looks at it as if familiar; the home of an oldfriend.

2 INT. HUT

THE DOCTOR enters the hut, looks around.

THE DOCTOR

Lady LeStrii? Guess who! Whatscooking?

No answer.No one in?

The sudden pounding rhythm of military stomping fromoutside.

Uh-oh.

The Doctor quietly climbs up a ladder.

3 EXT. VILLAGE

THE DOCTOR pokes his head out of a hatch on the roof ofthe hut, to see a squad of SONTARAN TROOPERS marchingthrough the village.

He clambers down the side of the hut and sneaks off downan alley.

A Sontaran warrior sees movement in the corner of his eye- the Doctor running down the alley.

(CONTINUED)


3/39

CONTINUED: 2.

SONTARAN WARRIORMovement. In the alley.

SONTARAN WARRIOR 2Ill have a look with you. Thegeneral warned us about facing it

alone.

The two soldiers head down the alley, checking itcarefully; professional soldiers clearing a potentiallyhostile location.

After they have passed a wooden cart, the Doctor peeksout, then climbs out and runs off down a side street.

At the next corner, he turns to see a bridge crossing thestream, wider than in the centre of the village. On theother side is the TARDIS.

He jogs over to the bridge and starts to cross...

SONTARAN COMMANDERHalt!

The Doctor looks behind him. Three Sontarans are at theend of the bridge, guns pointed.

When he looks back toward the TARDIS, more troops haveemerged from the nearby trees.

He is surrounded.

SONTARAN COMMANDERThe fabled blue box. So we have aTime Lord too. General Vaarshwill be pleased.

4 EXT. PRIDE OF SONTAR

A SONTARAN BATTLESHIP in orbit over a green and blueplanet.

SONTARAN COMMANDER (O.S.)We found him in the village,General.

5 INT. BRIDGE

THE DOCTOR, handcuffed, is being presented by theCOMMANDER to GENERAL VAARSH, a stern, powerful lookingSontaran who is standing in front of the main windows ofthe bridge.

(CONTINUED)


4/39

CONTINUED: 3.

VAARSHA long time enemy of the Sontaranrace, captured at last. TheDoctor in the TARDIS. You havehis ship too, Commander Strax?

STRAXYes, General, secured in thehold.

VAARSHExcellent. I look forward topresenting you to the SontaranHigh Command. Allow me tointroduce myself. I am GeneralVaarsh the Triumphant, this is mygreat warship, the Pride ofSontar, of the Twelfth Sontaran

Battle Fleet, and your capture ismy second major victory of theday.

Strax looks slightly offended at the suggestion that thevictories are entirely Vaarshs, but doesnt challenge theclaim verbally. The Doctor notices his reaction.

THE DOCTORCharmed to meet you. Im yoursecond today, did you say?

VAARSH

Take him to the cells.

THE DOCTORAh, as talkative as ever! If Iwasnt so clever Id assume youhave something to hide.

As the Doctor is taken away, Vaarsh turns to look out ofthe window, the planet receding as the ship acceleratesaway.

VAARSH

Two of the most powerful beingsin the universe in my captivity.Soon Vaarsh the Triumphant trulyshall be revered as the pride ofSontar.

6 MAIN TITLES


5/39

4.

7 INT. CELL

THE DOCTOR, minus his coat, is thrown into a cell. Its atight space, two and a half meters cubed, with a bed tooshort for the Doctors tall frame, dark blue walls and nodecor except for a small barred window on the door.

THE DOCTOROw! Careful! Have you not heardof prisoners rights?

(looking around the room)Well, I have had worse. Whensdinner?

No reply. The Doctor sits down. Cut between him sitting,lying and pacing at different points in the room. Not verygood at sitting still.

The Doctor is pacing next to the wall opposite his bed. Hebecomes aware of a strange, quiet sound coming through thewall and puts his ear against it to investigate.

A grainy voice, a creature so very old, like a lady whosbeen on sixty cigarettes a day for a hundred years. Nowords, just... breathing? weeping?

THE DOCTORHello there! This is a fine messweve got ourselves into here,isnt it?

Is that... are you... crying?

Hey, Im sure youll be alright.They cant hate you as much asthey hate me. How about a JammyDodger?

The Doctor attempts to put a hand into his coat pocketbefore remembering that hes not wearing it.

OK, maybe not. No coat. Andtheres a bit of a, err, wallshaped problem. Bad idea.

Look. Theyre not going to hurtyou. I wont let them. It mayseem like Im a prisoner too,and, well, that would be a verygood assessment of the situation,but I usually think of something.

Im the Doctor.

The sound becomes more grating, scratching almost.

Then the banging begins. Harsh, systematic banging againstthe wall.

(CONTINUED)


6/39

CONTINUED: 5.

The Doctor steps back, surprised.

More time passes and the banging subsides, leavingsilence.

The Doctor is lying on his bed, the first night in the

cell. The banging comes back, louder. The Doctor opens hiseyes and looks towards the wall separating him from themysterious sound source.

Then he jumps up and heads to the door of the cell,peeking out to see a Sontaran soldier in the corridor,guarding his cell.

THE DOCTOROi! Sorry to be nosey, but -whos my neighbour?

No response.Oh come on, someone talk to me!Im most dangerous when Imlonely, you know!

A montage of shots of the Doctor in his cell. Weeks pass,then months. His hair and beard grow. The banging,scratching and weeping can be heard sporadically.


The PRIDE OF SONTAR speeds through the emptiness of space.

Ahead of it is a bright red nebula.

9 INT. CELL BLOCK

A SONTARAN marches down the cell block corridor, passing aline of empty cells.

It is COMMANDER STRAX. He is holding a rod-shaped weapon -a Sontaran RHEON CARBINE.

10 INT. CELL

The Doctor is balancing on his head when he hearsfootsteps outside. He looks at his watch. Not the usualtime for the changing of the guard. He gets up and looksthrough the door window. COMMANDER STRAX is approaching.

STRAXGuards, dismissed.

The guards exit the cell block. Strax enters the Doctorscell.

(CONTINUED)


7/39

CONTINUED: 6.

THE DOCTORHello, Commander. I was wonderingwhen I was going to have somecompany.

STRAXTime Lord. Where is the key?

THE DOCTORThe key? What key?

STRAXThe key to your ship.

THE DOCTOROh, that key. I sort of gave itaway.

STRAX

You gave it away?

THE DOCTORA wedding present. Now, why dontyou tell me who that is?

The Doctor points to the wall from which the scratching iscurrently emanating.

STRAXYou are a prisoner of theSontarans and you will not ask

questions!

Strax points the rod at the Doctor and it fires a streamof electricity, causing great pain.

THE DOCTOR(recoiling in pain)

The Sontarans...

STRAXWhere is the key, Time Lord?

Strax fires the weapon again.

THE DOCTORA noble, proud race.

and again...

STRAXThe key!

THE DOCTORBut I guess even the Sontaranshave their weak links, eh? The

not-so-noble. Strax theNot-so-proud.

(CONTINUED)


8/39

CONTINUED: 7.

STRAXWhat do you mean, Time Lord?

THE DOCTORI saw the way General Vaarshclaimed all your achievements for

himself. But you couldnt bringyourself to challenge him, couldyou?

Were you scared, Commander Strax?

STRAXYou dare accuse me of weakness,Time Lord! Look at you, so weakand puny compared to the Sontaranmight!

THE DOCTORIs that a challenge, Strax?

STRAXYes! A duel! Then you will seethat I am the true warrior here.No weapons.

THE DOCTOROh, I wish I could hear that moreoften.

Strax tosses his weapon aside and adopts a fighting

stance. The Doctor manages a poor impression of thestance.

Strax comes at the Doctor, who steps nimbly out of theway, and crashes into his bed.

The Doctor lifts up the mattress and smashes it intoStrax, sending the Sontaran flying into the opposite wall.

Pinned behind the mattress, Strax cant see what hesdoing and tries to attack forwards blindly.

But the Doctor has moved around and gently elbows Strax inthe probic vent. Strax falls to the ground, stunned.

He looks up to see the Doctor standing over him.

Tries to get up, but cant muster the energy.

Its over.

STRAXAlright, Doctor. You have provenyourself.

(CONTINUED)


9/39

CONTINUED: 8.

THE DOCTORAnd my fellow prisoner is...

STRAXis... an angel.

THE DOCTORNo. No no no.

The Doctor opens the unlocked cell door and runs out intothe corridor, picking up Straxs carbine rod as he leaves.

He looks through the little window on the next door downto see...

A stone statue. An Angel, locked in place scratching atthe walls. Dents and scratch marks litter the metal allaround the cell, especially on the side that joins with

the Doctors cell.

Strax exits the cell and joins the Doctor in the corridor,moving slowly as if injured.

THE DOCTORI need to talk to General Vaarsh.

STRAXInsolence! Youve had what youwant. Back in your cell,prisoner! And tomorrow, you willhelp my replacement to utilise

your ship.

THE DOCTORYour replacement?

STRAXI am discredited. Today must bemy last.

THE DOCTORYou can be un-discredited.Re-credited. You have to listen

to me. You have to make yourgeneral see sense. In that cellis one of the most dangerouscreatures in the whole universe,and trusting me is the onlychance you have of defendingyourself against it.

STRAXIt is our prisoner, Time Lord!

The Doctor looks back into the cell. The Angel has movedand is now at the door, staring at him.

(CONTINUED)


10/39

CONTINUED: 9.

THE DOCTOROh yeah? Well, so am I and youredoing a rubbish job ofrestraining me!

The Doctor takes his coat from a shelf and strolls out of

the cell block.Are you coming?

8 INT. CORRIDOR

The ship corridor has a long window to the depths ofspace, moving by fast.

THE DOCTOR strolls down at a brisk pace, using the sonicscrewdriver on Straxs carbine. STRAX follows behind,struggling to keep up.

STRAXYou cant do this! Where are yougoing?

THE DOCTORThe bridge, didnt I make thatclear?

He passes the carbine back to Strax.There, much nicer.

STRAX

How do you expect to find it?This ship holds a battalion ofSontaran warriors!

THE DOCTOROh, believe me, Ive been arounda few ships in my time, not allfriendly. I know where Im going.


The battleship speeds through space. Track in to the largewindows surrounding the bridge. GENERAL VAARSH looks outonto space.

10 INT. BRIDGE

GENERAL VAARSH stands at the front of the bridge,surveying space as it flies by. The ship is approachingthe dense red nebula.

The sudden sound of laser rifle fire. Vaarsh turns roundabruptly.

(CONTINUED)


11/39

CONTINUED: 10.

THE DOCTOR runs into the bridge through the rear doors, ahole singed through his coat. A squad of five troopersfollow him, guns aimed.

THE DOCTORTold you I knew where I wasgoing, Commander! Just one littledetour into the spa, but Illdefinitely know the exact routenext time.

STRAX staggers in; still not fully recovered.

VAARSHMy prisoner! Commander Strax, howhas this happened?

THE DOCTORAh, Vaarshy, we need a word, you

and I! Its about the WeepingAngel in your cell block. Now, ifyou believe me, and I think youshould, then that is a very, verydangerous creature which wont beheld by that cell for very, verylong.

Youve made a big mistake,General, and Im the only chanceyouve got at living through it.

Now, I need to know where youfound the angel, although Iveactually worked that one out, sonot that, but how you captured itand what you intend to do withthe Angel!

VAARSHHa! The Time Lord thinks he cantell a Sontaran General what todo! Take him back to the cells!As for you, Commander Strax,

STRAXIm sorry, General, I have failedthe Empire and I will accept myexecution gladly.

THE DOCTORNo, Strax, you will not; do younever listen? You do not have todie today, and neither do you,General Vaarsh.

A pause as everyone on the bridge considers their next

move.

(CONTINUED)


12/39

CONTINUED: 11.

THE DOCTORJust answer me one question,General. Just one simplequestion.

VAARSH

And what is that question, TimeLord?

THE DOCTORWhy have we stopped?

Everyone looks to the window behind Vaarsh. The starfieldshave become still and clouds of red surround the staticbattleship.

VAARSHWhat? Captain Scoll, what is

this?

A Sontaran officer at the head of a bank of consolessurveys his displays disbelievingly.

SCOLLTheres a large mass in front ofus, Captain.

VAARSHA ship?

SCOLL

The readings are unclear. Werepicking up things all around us,but the bulk of it seems to be 50kilometres away and approachingfast.

SONTARAN OFFICERTheres something much closer.Its small, but its about to hitus.

VAARSH

A projectile? Forward shields tomaximum!

SONTARAN OFFICERNo, its... I dont know.

VAARSHI see it. What is that?

STRAXIt looks like...

(CONTINUED)


13/39

CONTINUED: 12.

THE DOCTOROh, no. Thats not good at all.Very not good.

They all stand in disbelief as an armoured Sontaranwarrior hits the outside of the window.


A small spherical Sontaran scout ship skirts the outsideof its mothership.

A mechanical arm emerges and grabs the body as it floatsin space.

The ship turns around and heads back into the battleshipsdocking bay.

12 INT. MEDICAL BAY

A round operating theatre. At the edge is a staircaseleading to a second floor, which consists of a walkwayaround the theatre.

A group of Sontarans rush the body into the theatre andput it onto the central table. VAARSH, STRAX, and THEDOCTOR watch from the walkway above.

Two green-armoured Medical Corps Sontarans attend to the

trooper, attaching various wires and tubes to his armour,leading to a bank of equipment and monitors.

MEDIC 1Hes breathing.

VAARSHAlive?

MEDIC 1Barely. This type of armour canstand limited exposure to vacuum.

The trooper starts mumbling incomprehensibly.

TROOPERmnnn... Angel... the power...stop it... kill the Angel

The Doctor jogs down the stairs.

VAARSHStay back, prisoner!

(CONTINUED)


14/39

CONTINUED: 13.

STRAXLet him, General. He may be ableto help.

VAARSHAnd you can be quiet. Youd be

executed by now if not for thisdistraction.

The Doctor scans the trooper with his sonic screwdriverand looks at the readings. He then opens up the troopershelmet, to reveal a Sontaran identical to Vaarsh.

VAARSHA vat brother!

TROOPERNo, no, no...

VAARSHYou do not speak like a Sontaran.What happened to you?

Vaarsh descends the stairs. As he approaches the table,the medical equipment begins to flicker.

TROOPERGo away! Go away! Go away!

VAARSHIdentify yourself, coward!

The trooper starts thrashing madly.

As Vaarsh joins the medics in trying to restrain him, aflurry of electrical sparks erupts from the point wherethey touch.

The medical equipment makes a series of beeps and flickersmadly. The lights flicker on and off.

When the lights and equipment return to normal, Vaarsh hasbeen thrown into the nearest wall and the trooper is dead.

VAARSHWhat does this mean?

THE DOCTORIt means youre doomed.

VAARSHHow could one of my brothers turninto such a raving coward?

THE DOCTOROh, that wasnt your brother,General. Those sparks, that was

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


15/39

CONTINUED: 14.

THE DOCTOR (contd)the Blinovitch Limitation Effect.Which can only mean one thing.That -

(pointing to the body)- is you.

VAARSHWhat imprudent rubbish! Youraccusations make no sense!

THE DOCTOR(angry, shouting)

Oh, they do, Vaarsh. When youhave a Weeping Angel soon tobreak out of your cell block,they make perfect sense.

Now, if you want any of your crewto survive, I suggest that youstart LISTENING TO ME!

VAARSHCommander Strax, escort myprisoner back to his cell.

STRAXGeneral, I really think that youshould consider what the TimeLord is saying.

VAARSHAnd so the failure becomes atraitor. I have worse punishmentsin store for you than execution,you know.

Right now, you will escort myprisoner back to his cell.

STRAX(giving in)

As you wish, sir.

Strax leaves with the Doctor, Vaarsh heads back to thebridge.

13 INT. CELL BLOCK

STRAX and a GUARD are returning THE DOCTOR to his cell.

THE DOCTORYou know Vaarsh is doing thewrong thing, Strax. Hell get usall killed.

(CONTINUED)


16/39

CONTINUED: 15.

STRAXI suspect that, Time Lord, but Iam a discredited officer and Imust obey the orders of mysuperior. It is the only way Ican serve the greater glory of

the Sontaran Empire.

They reach the door of the Doctors cell.

THE DOCTOR(to the Guard)

Just you and me again, eh? If itwas you before. Which it probablywasnt. You and me and ourpsychopathic murderer next doorand... him...

The Doctor is looking at ANOTHER SONTARAN, lying on thefloor across the corridor.

STRAXHow did he get there?

The Guard approaches it.

THE DOCTORNo, dont go close!

But its too late. Sparks fly. The lights go out.

More sparks, from all the electrical equipment - inparticular the door panel to the angels cell.

Darkness.

A loud crash.

THE DOCTORStrax, use your carbine!

STRAXI cant see!

The lights flicker on to show THE ANGEL, out of its cell,approaching the three. The Guard is closest.

The lights go off again.

THE DOCTORJust use it!

A scream.

Strax activates his carbine rod. Rather than a thinelectrical stream, a broad array of light is emitted.

(CONTINUED)


17/39

CONTINUED: 16.

The Guard is gone. The Angel has turned towards the Doctorand Strax.

STRAXWhered he go? Whos the body?

THE DOCTORThose questions answer eachother.

STRAXBut how?

THE DOCTORIll explain later. Now, we needto get out of this block. Keepthat light pointed at the Angel,move back with me, and do not

blink.

The Doctor and Strax back off. The Angel does not move.

10 metres down, the lights come back on. Strax turns hislight off.

15 metres down, the corridor turns.

STRAXAre we safe now?

He turns away and walks down the new corridor.

THE DOCTORNo!

Strax turns around again. The Angel has caught up withthem and is within a metre.

THE DOCTORKeep going, do not turn yourback.

Another 15 metres.

14 INT. CORRIDOR INTERSECTION

THE DOCTOR and STRAX reach the end of this corridor andenter a corridor intersection. On one wall is an elevator,two opposing walls have doors to corridors, and the lasthas a window looking out in front of the ship.

Strax presses a button on the wall and a heavy door slidesclosed.

(CONTINUED)


18/39

CONTINUED: 17.

THE DOCTORCan we contact the General?

Strax takes a communicator device from his belt, presses afew buttons and holds it to his mouth.

STRAXCommander Strax to bridge, do youread me?

VAARSH (O.S.)General Vaarsh here, Commander.What is it now?

The Doctor takes the communicator off Strax.

THE DOCTORMe again, Vaarshy, you cant keep

me locked up for long. Nor canyou keep an Angel locked up. Idmock you a bit more, but thingsare a bit extremely serious here.

The Angels loose in the cellblock and has already killed oneof your soldiers. You need tolock down the block. You need tofind the Angel and contain it.

15 INT. BRIDGE

VAARSH stands on the bridge, talking into a console.CAPTAIN SMOLL is trying to keep control of everyone on thebridge, while watching the monitors and the space outsidethe window carefully.

VAARSHAnd why should I listen to you,prisoner?

SMOLLGeneral, you should look at this.

Vaarsh looks up. Something is approaching.

Another Sontaran soldier.

It hits the window.

And another.

And another.

They keep coming.

(CONTINUED)


19/39

CONTINUED: 18.

THE DOCTOR (O.S.)Swallow your pride, general.

VAARSHLock down the cell block. Send intwo squads of my best soldiers.


Many SONTARAN SOLDIERS, helmeted and armed with laserrifles, march past STRAX and THE DOCTOR, who is lookingout of a window.

THE DOCTORHow many soldiers has he sent in?

STRAX

Twenty. Two squads of ten.

Theyll be able to stop it...

... right?

The Doctor silently looks out of the window. He can seethe Sontarans bouncing off the front of the ship.

There seem to be about twenty.

17 INT. CELL BLOCK

Sontaran troopers storm into the cell block and startsearching all the cells.


A scout ship picks up one of the floating Sontarans.

19 INT. BRIDGE

Vaarsh and the crew watch as the last few Sontaran bodiesfrom this group hit the window.

SMOLLThey look... older. Decrepid.Like theyve been out there for along time.


20/39

19.

20 INT. CELL BLOCK

Sontaran troopers burst into the cell that once belongedto the Angel, rifles raised.

Its empty; the only sign anyone had ever been in is the

deep scratch marks on the wall.

21 INT. MEDICAL BAY

One of the Sontarans is brought to the operating table.


THE DOCTOR paces, trying to think of a plan.

23 INT. CELL BLOCK

The SOLDIERS continue to search. To no avail. A scratchingsound from the ceiling.

24 INT. MEDICAL BAY

The MEDICS are looking at the displays on the monitors.

MEDIC 1This cant be correct.

The medic opens up the soldiers helmet. A dried, deadhusk, frozen by space, all fluids long evaporated, whichwas once a Sontaran.

This soldier is dead...

25 INT. BRIDGE

The Medics voice can be heard over the speakers inVaarshs console -

MEDIC 1 (O.S.)...and has been for at least ahundred years.

26 INT. CELL BLOCK

The soldiers have searched all the cells. They assemble inthe corridor. A LIEUTENANT talks into his communicator.

SONTARAN LIEUTENANTGeneral Vaarsh, we have searchedthe cell block. Theres no signof the target.

(CONTINUED)


21/39

CONTINUED: 20.

The lights go out.

A Sontaran screaming is an unusual and rare sound, but itis heard more than once.


The lights have gone out here too.

The Doctor grabs Straxs carbine rod and lights up theroom as best he can, heading for the door back to the cellblock.

It wont open.

THE DOCTOROpen this door, quick!

28 INT. BRIDGE

SONTARAN OFFICERGeneral, the entire Deck D justlost power!

29 INT. CELL BLOCK

Laser fire lights up the corridor sporadically, givingbrief glimpses of the Angel as it pounces on the soldiers,

one at a time.


STRAX tries the panel too, but no response.

STRAXWhat? It wont respond!

THE DOCTORThe Angel must have drained thepower. Which means those troops

are in the dark...

THE DOCTOR gets his sonic screwdriver out.

31 INT. CELL BLOCK

One of the soldiers is hit by friendly fire. Hes lucky.The Angel takes him anyway.

One soldier fires a barrage of laser fire.

In the moments when it lights up the corridor, he seesthat hes the only one left.


22/39

21.

And that the Angel is looking at him.

32 INT. BRIDGE

SONTARAN OFFICER

What are your orders, General?

GENERAL VAARSH stands staring into space, thinking.


THE DOCTOR manically using the sonic screwdriver settingon the door panel, flicking between different settings.

Something works. Sparks. The door slides halfway openbefore making a pained squeal and giving up again.

The Doctor runs through. STRAX follows.

34 INT. CELL BLOCK

THE DOCTOR and STRAX arrive in the cell block corridor.

Except for the one dead Guard, its empty.

THE DOCTORToo late.

STRAXAre they all... ?

THE DOCTORWe need to get back to thebridge.


THE DOCTOR and STRAX exit the cell block, back to back,using the carbine rod to light the way.

Strax presses a button on the wall next to the elevator.

STRAXExcellent, it has power.

THE DOCTORDont you have stairs?

STRAXWhy would a Sontaran battleshiphave stairs?

(CONTINUED)


23/39

CONTINUED: 22.

THE DOCTORI hope that doesnt getexplained.

36 INT. ELEVATOR

A confined, dark blue space, reminiscent of the Doctorscell.

THE DOCTOR and STRAX stand back to back in the centre.

THE DOCTORTry to keep as much of the spacein your vision as you can. Andnot to blink.

The elevator starts moving upwards.

The Doctor and Strax are on their guard; nervouslywatching the corners of the elevator.

THE DOCTORScared?

STRAXI am a Sontaran warrior.

THE DOCTORWere dealing with a WeepingAngel - the most powerful, most

evil creatures that evolution hasproduced. Its draining the powerof your battleship, can displaceanyone in space and time with asingle touch, and you didnt giveit any breakfast.

Scared now?

Strax doesnt reply.

THE DOCTORGood. Youre scared, thats the

sensible emotion, thatmeansyoure not as utterlyapathetic as your General wantsyou to be.

Thats something to be proud of.

And then - a banging from outside the elevator.

The banging turns to creaking.

The elevator stops and the lights go down.

Strax turns his light on.

(CONTINUED)


24/39

CONTINUED: 23.

THE DOCTORCommander Strax - if I turn tolook at what youre looking at,Im not going to like what I see,am I?

STRAX

You are not, Doctor.

The Doctor turns around.

They are both staring at the Angel, which has rippedthrough the corner of the elevator and has started toclimb through.

STRAXCan I shoot it?

THE DOCTOR

Its the strongest, hardest stonein the universe. You can try.

Well, you cant, because Iveknackered the gun bit of yourcarbine to make way for the torchbit. As I said, much nicer.

STRAXThen what should we do?

THE DOCTORRight. Well. Dont panic. Thelast thing you want to do ispanic. No. The last thing youwant to do is blink. Thenpanicking. The second last thingyou want to do is panic. Thespeed at which Im talking meansIm panicking, and - aha! Youlook at the Angel, Ill justwibble this hatch a bit.

STRAXYoull wha-

THE DOCTORLook at the Angel!

Using his sonic screwdriver, the Doctor manages to openthe hatch on the ceiling. He starts to haul himselfthrough.

THE DOCTOROK, pass me the light.

Strax passes the rod up and the Doctor angles it so that

its illuminating the whole elevator.

(CONTINUED)


25/39

CONTINUED: 24.

THE DOCTORNow let me pull you up, but dontlet the Angel out of sight.

Strax reaches up and the Doctor struggles to get himthrough the hatch.

THE DOCTORWow, youre heavy for a littleguy.

The two of them get to the top of the elevator. The Angelhasnt moved. The Doctor spots a ladder going up the sideof the shaft.

THE DOCTORAha! A ladder! Perfect!

Even Sontarans have ladders!

As they start climbing, The Doctor pulls Straxscommunicator out of his coat pocket. Strax reacts as if hedidnt realise that the Doctor still had it.

The Doctor to the bridge. We needyou to get the nearest elevatordoor open, and dont even thinkof questioning my authority onthis.

SCOLL (O.S.)We read you, Doctor.

The Doctor and Strax start climbing the ladder.

Theyre fifteen metres up. The door hasnt opened yet. TheAngel has not moved.

Straxs light flickers out.

THE DOCTORNo, no , no!

The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to cast some light.

The Angel is directly below them, less than a metre away.

They begin climbing again, carefully.We need that door open, now!

The door opens, ten metres above them.

The Doctor and Strax, looking down, climb up -

- the carbine flickers, the Angel advances -

- and again. It is very close now, but the Doctor andStrax are scrambling quickly upwards -

(CONTINUED)


26/39

CONTINUED: 25.

- they climb through the door, leaving the Angel twometres away down te ladder.

The Doctor leans back in to the shaft and, careful not totake his eyes off the Angel, uses the sonic screwdriver toundo the bolts at the top of the ladder.

He kicks the top rungs and the top section of the laddertopples, sending the Angel falling down the shaft.

37 INT. BRIDGE

THE DOCTOR makes sure the door closes securely behind him,then forcefully strolls down the length of the bridge,followed by STRAX. All eyes are on the Doctor.

THE DOCTOR

General Vaarsh! Im takingcontrol of this situation.

VAARSHStand down, Time Lord! You remainmy prisoner!

THE DOCTORCaptain Scoll, hows the shipdoing?

SCOLLWere struggling to get power

back to Deck D, Decks E and F arealso losing power. We may be ableto get the engines running again.

THE DOCTORDont, we need to concentrate theships power on keeping theonboard systems going until wevecontained the Angel.

Besides, were in the middle ofthe Candellica Nebula. Thats

what, another four weeks toSontar?

Although I have a feeling thatsnot this ships destination, am Iright?

SCOLLGeneral...

THE DOCTORIf you want something doingproperly...

(CONTINUED)


27/39

CONTINUED: 26.

The Doctor jumps down to Scolls console and presses a fewkeys.

A hologram of a planet is emitted.

THE DOCTOR

Shallacatop? But thats a frozenwasteland, barely inhabitable.Why would you go there? Goodquestion, Doctor. Well, Doctor,Id speculate that it must haverecently become occupied by theRutans. Now, the temperatures,the gravity, the atmosphere ofShallacatop, that would be greatif youre a Rutan, but no use foryou lot. Plus, its on theoutskirts of Sontaran territory -

the perfect place for them to setup base and prepare for anoffense. Am I doing well so far?Now, you want to put an end tothis. Youll be massacred if youtry to land troops there; noteven Sontarans are that stupid. Abombardment? Theyll probably beexpecting that, theyll havedefenses up.

(pointing at elevator door)No, you want to send that guy infirst. For such powerful

creatures, the Rutans vision ispretty naff. Itll wipe the floorwith them, ready for you tofinish the job with yourmissiles.

Not normal Sontaran militarystrategem, but, hey, early 41stcentury, the war isnt going toowell, is it?

VAARSH

And I suppose you know everythingabout our war, Time Lord?

THE DOCTOROh, yes. Well, nearly everything.Cant say Ive heard too muchabout you.

So, that was the plan. But its asilly plan. Keeping a WeepingAngel contained? Never works. Andnow its loose, and its fedenough recently on the Shocauvillage, so its playing with

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


28/39

CONTINUED: 27.

THE DOCTOR (contd)you. Teasing you. Hence - righton cue.

Another four Sontaran bodies hit the window.

THE DOCTORWe need to find that Angel.

The Doctor runs over to the elevator shaft, looks in andaround.

THE DOCTORIts gone. Where could it havegone?

SONTARAN OFFICERIncoming communication!

LORR (O.S.)This is Lietenant Lorr. The Angelis in the service ducts, headingtowards the hold. Were trying toflush it out.

The Doctor patches in on Straxs communicator.

THE DOCTORLietenant Lorr, can youphysically see the Angel?

LORR (O.S.)Negative, but we can hear it.

A distant scream comes through the communicator.

LORR (O.S.)What was that? Trax? Vant?

I have the Angel in sight.Engaging.

VAARSH

Blast it like a true Sontaran,Lietenant!

THE DOCTORThats not going to do any good.

The sound of laser fire.

Silence.

LORR (O.S.)Time Lord...

(CONTINUED)


29/39

CONTINUED: 28.

THE DOCTORI can hear you, Lorr.

LORR (O.S.)You said I was playing.

THE DOCTOR

Not Lorr. Hello. How long haveyou been listening in?

LORR (O.S.)Well, guess what? Im getting anew toy.

The line goes silent.

VAARSHWhat was that, Time Lord? Whatwas Lieutenant Lorr saying?

STRAXWere you talking to the Angel?

THE DOCTORI was.

How many soldiers were in Lorrssquad?

SCOLLFour, why?

They notice that the Doctor is looking at the four bodiesoutside the window.

THE DOCTORPlaying with us.

A new toy? What could that mean?On the way to the... Whats inthe hold?

Oh.

Vaarsh, order all your soldiersto convene in the hold. Liftsknackered, no stairs, is thereany way we can get there?

SCOLLI can set up a teleport link.

THE DOCTORMarvellous.

The Doctor steps into a circular teleport pod at the side

of the bridge.

(CONTINUED)


30/39

CONTINUED: 29.

THE DOCTORWell, Im off to save theuniverse.

STRAXNot so fast. I shall be honouredto fight by your side.

THE DOCTORWho said anything about fighting?

VAARSHI am coming too, Time Lord. I ameager to taste battle with thisformidable foe!

Strax and Vaarsh join the exasperated Doctor in theSontaran teleporter.

The trio disappear in a flash of purple light.

38 INT. HOLD

THE DOCTOR, STRAX and VAARSH arrive in an identicalteleporter at the edge of a large room. On one side wallare two Sontaran scout ships, docked in airlocks. Aroundthe other sides are crates and boxes of various sizes. Inthe centre is the TARDIS.

Standing two metres from the TARDIS is THE ANGEL.

THE DOCTOROi! Get off my motor!

39 INT. CORRIDOR

A troop of SONTARAN WARRIORS jog down the corridor towardsthe hold.

40 INT. HOLD

THE DOCTOR is pacing around THE ANGEL.

THE DOCTORSo what are we going to do withyou, eh?

41 INT. CORRIDOR

The WARRIORS reach the doors to the hold -

- which dont open.

They try the hand panels by the doors. Nothing happens.


31/39

30.

42 INT. HOLD

THE DOCTOR, VAARSH and STRAX hear the troops on the otherside of the doors.

Vaarsh picks up their voices on his communicator device.

SONTARAN (O.S.)The hold doors wont open, wecannot get in.

VAARSHImpossible!

THE DOCTORIts draining the power from thedoors.

Which means -

The Doctor grabs Straxs carbine.

The lights flicker out.

So does the carbine.

The Doctor is frantically fiddling with his sonicscrewdriver, trying to light up the angel.

The Angel has turned its head and is looking angrily atthe group.

The sonic screwdriver dies.

Chaos.

The Doctor clicks his fingers.

The TARDIS doors swing open, bathing the hold with lightfrom within.

The Angel has Strax cornered and was centimetres fromkilling him - but is now stone once more.

STRAXBy Sontar! Youve saved me!

The doors open and Sontaran troops file in.

VAARSHSurround both of the prisoners!

With guns pointed at him from all directions, the Doctorfinds himself once again a prisoner.

At least the Weeping Angel is being watched closely by thesimilr group of warriors flanking it.

(CONTINUED)


32/39

CONTINUED: 31.

Vaarshs attention has turned to the opened TARDIS.

VAARSHThis has played right into myhands. The secrets of the TimeLords are open for the glory ofthe Sontaran Empire!

Vaarsh enters the TARDIS.

46 INT. TARDIS

VAARSH strolls up to the central console.

Hes followed by THE DOCTOR, flanked by STRAX and twoother armed Sontaran warriors, and, for a reason theDoctor isnt sure about, THE ANGEL, being carried by morewarriors.

VAARSHGlorious! Glorious! The TARDISunder my command!

Vaarsh paces around the console, excited and full ofhimself.

THE DOCTORYoure forgetting something,Vaarshy - only I can pilot theTARDIS. Under Sontaran control?

Ha! Thats like giving a baby ajet plane; I bet you cant evenfind the air con!

Now where are you going? Given upalready?

Vaarsh has left the console platform and is heading downthe stairs.

No, you dont want to go there.

VAARSHThe Heart of the TARDIS!

THE DOCTOR(sternly)

No, really. You dont want to gothere.

Vaarsh is admiring the glass bubble underneath the centralconsole which contains the Heart.

VAARSH(to his soldiers)

Open it.

Sontaran warriors try to pull off the glass sheath.

(CONTINUED)


33/39

CONTINUED: 32.

THE DOCTORYoure unleashing an enormouslydangerous power!

It wont budge.

VAARSHA power that will be soon bemine. Vaarsh the Triumphant hasfought on hundreds ofbattlefields but never before hasa Sontaran successfullycontrolled the power of the TimeLords!

I shall be legend.

You underestimated me, Doctor.

(indicating to the Angel)I shall fly my superweapon rightinto the heart of Rutanterritory.

THE DOCTORAnd wreak havoc on their racethroughout history!

More troops enter with circular devices which they attachto the glass bubble.

The Doctor can only watch helplessly as the bubble slowly

raises and a mysterious light emerges.

VAARSHUltimate victory for theSontarans!

THE DOCTORAnd an ultimate defeat for thespace-time continuum!

This has to STOP NOW, General,you cant possibly fathom how

much damage youre about tocause!

VAARSHSilence! I have no need for thisprisoner any more! Execute him!

STRAXGeneral, hes right, this isagainst all rules of Sontaramstrategem!

(CONTINUED)


34/39

CONTINUED: 33.

VAARSHAnd you too are still to beexecuted!

Vaarsh is increasingly distracted by the opening Heart,from which bright light is emanating.

VAARSHWarriors - Kill them... both...now

STRAXNo!

Strax grabs a rifle out of the hands of one of the guardsand points it at the Generals head.

The other guards turn their weapons towards Strax.

SONTARAN WARRIORStand down, Commander!

STRAXThis battallion has for too longbeen led on foolhardy missions toplease the ego of General Vaarsh.

General, I challenge yourauthority!

VAARSH

Youre too late. The power of agod is mine...

The light grows brighter and starts to envelop everything.

VAARSHSo much power, so bright...

THE DOCTORVaarsh, you have to look awaynow!

The TARDIS is being filled with a bright haze. Vaarshcannot pull himself away from the Heart.

SONTARAN (O.S.)By Sontar, where did it go?

In the brightness and confusion, the Doctor breaks free ofhis captors and jumps at Vaarsh, pulling him away from histrance.

A glimpse of stone arm - the Weeping Angel is alsoabsorbing the TARDIS energies.

(CONTINUED)


35/39

CONTINUED: 34.

VAARSHNo! No! It hurts!

Vaarsh runs.

The guards start shooting at the Angel.

The Angel turns towards them. It has absorbed some of thepower of the vrtex and tuens towards them -

- wiping out every guard shooting at it in one glance.

STRAXDoctor, the Angel!

The disarmed guard thinks hes snuck up on it -

- but is suddenly blinded by a glare of light -

- the Angel has turned and is looking right at him -

another glare.

The guards are all gone.

Vaarsh is stumbling towards the doors.

The Angel has turned to face Vaarsh.

VAARSHStop it! Get me out of here!

THE DOCTORIt doesnt care about us now.Dont shoot it and itll ignoreyou.

(shouting, to Vaarsh)Youve filled yourself with thepower the angel wants. Not a wisemove, General.

47 INT. HOLD

VAARSH stumbles out of the TARDIS and for the first timewe see clearly that bright white energy is flowing out ofhis skin. He is crazed and in pain.

VAARSHNo! Get it away from me!

Vaarsh runs. Into one of the docked scout ships.

THE DOCTOR jumps out of the TARDIS, flanked by STRAX, justin time to see the airlock slam shut.


36/39

35.

43 INT. SCOUT SHIP

VAARSH launches the scout ship.

Hes panicking, pushing all sorts of buttons on theconsole, but hes got away. Or so he thinks.

In the screen of the console - a reflection of A STONEANGEL.

Its behind him.

44 INT. HOLD

THE DOCTOR and STRAX watch through a window as the scoutship speeds away.

45 INT. SCOUT SHIP

VAARSHNo, no, no, keep away from me,argh!

VAARSH has turned and is staring into the eyes of THEANGEL, pressing several buttons on the console behind hisback.

SCOUT SHIP CONSOLESelf-destruct in five, four,

three...

Vaarsh covers his face with his arm, cowering away fromthe Angel.


The scout ship explodes as it speeds through space.

47 INT. HOLD

THE DOCTOR and STRAX watch the explosion.

THE DOCTORGoodnight, sweet Angel.

STRAXIs it dead?

THE DOCTORLooks like it. It wont have beenin stone form when - boom.

(CONTINUED)


37/39

CONTINUED: 36.

STRAXAnd Vaarsh?

THE DOCTORRight now, hes about an hourago.

Anyway, since Im not hisprisoner any more, Ill be offthen.

STRAXYoure leaving?

The Doctor pulls a TARDIS key from behind his ear.

THE DOCTORWell, I do always keep a spare.

STRAXYou thought it was the Angelwhich drove General Vaarsh mad,didnt you Doctor? But it wasyou. The Doctor in the TARDIS.Youre a dangerous adversary.

You come to our war, knowingeverything about it, with weaponsmore powerful than any of uscould handle. You must know whathappens next for the Sontaran

race. How the war develops. If Iam to be put to death, tell me -do we win?

THE DOCTOR(contemplative)

I cant. No spoilers.

You know, Strax, in any sensiblesociety, youd go far.

STRAXThe Twelfth Sontaran Battle Fleet

is the only society I belong to,and I have failed it. I am stillto be executed, Doctor.

THE DOCTOROh, I wouldnt worry about that.Come with me. Theres nothing butdeath for you here. Ever wantedto see other worlds, othercultures, other wonderful,marvellous, brilliant...marvels... without having to

shoot at them?

(CONTINUED)


38/39

CONTINUED: 37.

STRAXNo, Doctor. My duties must remainwith the Sontaran Empire, even ifthat be my execution.

THE DOCTOR

Youre a stubborn lot, arentyou?

But, you know what, so am I. AndI wont let you die. Not you, nottoday.

Ill have a word with SontaranHigh Command - well, the ones Ican get on with, which isnt manyof them, but youd be surprised -Ill get you transferred to a new

post instead.

STRAXWhat will my new duties be?

THE DOCTOROh, dont worry, Ill think ofsomething appropriate.

STRAXThen I am indebted to you,Doctor. One day we shall meetagain and I shall repay that debt

on the fields of battle.

THE DOCTORHow many times do I have to - Buyme an ice cream one day, thatllcover it.

STRAXSontarans pay their debts inblood.

THE DOCTOR

Well, Id prefer strawberry, tobe honest. Make it a double, ifyou must, with sprinkles.

Ooh - feels like the Pridesmoving again. So should I.

He steps into the TARDIS doors.

STRAXMay fortune favour you on thebattlefield, Time Lord.

(CONTINUED)


39/39

CONTINUED: 38.

THE DOCTORThanks, oh and by the way, Im anescaping prisoner, try to stopme.

The Doctor closes the door.

STRAXWhat? Oh.

A group of Sontaran warriors, alerted by the sound of theTARDIS dematerialising, enter the hold to see Straxapparently trying to shoot at it as the Doctor leaves.

The hold seems empty as the warriors join Strax.


The battleship travels away from us, once again speedinginto the depths of space.

A piece of debris from the scout ship flies towards us.

Clinging on to it is a stone hand.

END OF EPISODE

The Pride of Sontar

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