Loose Threads

The

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“Hello. My name is Terra Song. I’m gonna save your life today.” I smiled at the woman.

Cass glare lessened. She pleaded with me. “Can you get me off this ship?”

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Cass: “Help me, please. Can anybody hear me?”

The computer: “Please state the nature of your ailment or injury.”

Cass: “I’m not injured, I’m crashing. I don’t need a doctor.”

The computer: “A clear statement of your symptoms will help us provide the medical practitioner appropriate to your individual needs.”

Cass: “I’m trying to send a distress signal. Stop talking about doctors.”

The Doctor: “I’m a doctor. But probably not the one you’re expecting. Where are the rest of the crew?”

(This Doctor is Paul McGann.)

Cass: “Teleported off.”

The Doctor: “But you’re still here.”

Cass: “I teleported them.”

The Doctor: “Why you?”

Cass: “Everyone else was screaming.”

The Doctor: “Welcome aboard.”

Cass: “Aboard what?”

The Doctor: “I’ll show you.”

(He leads her along the corridor away from the bridge.)

Cass: “Where are we going?”

The Doctor: “Back of the ship.”

Cass: “Why?”

The Doctor: “Because the front crashes first. Think it though. Oh!”

(The bulkhead seals itself.)

The Doctor: “Why did you do that?”

Cass: “Emergency protocols.”

(Out comes the sonic screwdriver.)

The Doctor: “What’s your name?”

Cass: “Cass.”

The Doctor: “You’re young to be crewing a gunship, Cass.”

Cass: “I wanted to see the universe. Is it always like this?”

The Doctor: “If you’re lucky.”

(The bulkhead door opens to reveal the TARDIS.)

The Doctor: “Don’t worry, it’s bigger on the inside.”

Cass: “What did you say? Bigger on the inside, is that what you said?”

The Doctor: “Yes. Come on, you’ll love it.”

Cass: “Is this a TARDIS?”

The Doctor: “Yes, but you’ll be perfectly safe, I promise you.”

Cass: “Don’t touch me!”

The Doctor: “I’m not part of the war. I swear to you, I never was.”

Cass: “You’re a Time Lord.”

The Doctor: “Yes, I’m a Time Lord, but I’m one of the nice ones.”

Cass: “Get away from me!”

The Doctor: “Well, look on the bright side. I’m not a Dalek.”

Cass: “Who can tell the difference any more?”

(She closes the bulkhead door between herself and the Doctor.)

The Doctor: “Cass!”

Cass: “It’s deadlocked. Don’t even try.”

The Doctor: “Cass, just open the door. I’m trying to help.”

Cass: “Go back to your battlefield. You haven’t finished yet. Some of the universe is still standing.”

The Doctor: “I’m not leaving this ship without you.”

Cass: “Well, you’re going to die right here. Best news all day.”

The Doctor: “Cass, Cass. Cass! Cass! Cass!”

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==LT==

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(The Doctor wakes with a start.) The Doctor: “Cass!”

Ohila: “If you refer to your companion, we are still attempting to extract her from the wreckage.”

The Doctor: “She wasn’t my companion.”

Ohila: “She’s almost certainly dead. No one could survive that crash.”

The Doctor: “I did. Terra did.”

Ohila: “No. We restored you to life, but it’s a temporary measure. You have a little under four minutes.”

The Doctor: “Four minutes? That’s ages. What if I get bored, or need a television, couple of books? Anyone for chess? Bring me knitting.”

Ohila: “You have so little breath left. Spend it wisely.”

The Doctor: “Hang on. Is it you? Am I back on Karn? You’re the Sisterhood of Karn, Keepers of the Flame of utter boredom.”

Ohila: “Eternal life.”

The Doctor: “That’s the one.”

Ohila: “Mock us if you will, but our elixir can trigger your regeneration, bring you back. Time Lord science is elevated here on Karn. The change doesn’t have to be random. Fat or thin, young or old, man or woman?”

The Doctor: “Why would you do this for me?”

Ohila: “You have helped us in the past.”

The Doctor: “You were never big on gratitude.”

Ohila: “The war between the Daleks and the Time Lords threatens all reality. You are the only hope left.”

The Doctor: “It’s not my war. I will have no part of it.”

Ohila: “You can’t ignore it forever.”

The Doctor: “I help where I can. I will not fight.”

Ohila: “Because you are the good man, as you call yourself?”

The Doctor: “I call myself the Doctor.”

Ohila: “It’s the same thing in your mind.”

The Doctor: “I’d like to think so.”

Ohila: “In that case, Doctor, attend your patientsz”

(Cass and Terra is brought in and laid on the altar stone. The Doctor scans her with his screwdriver.)

Ohila: “You’re wasting your time. The child is beyond even our help.”

The Doctor: “She wanted to see the universe.”

Ohila: “She didn’t miss much. It’s very nearly over.”

The Doctor: “I could have saved her. I could have got her off, but she wouldn’t listen.”

“Maybe because some idiot dressed like a cowboy was telling her too.” A pained voice told the Doctor.

Ohila: “Then she was wiser than you. She understood there was no escaping the Time War. You are a part of this, Doctor, whether you like it or not.”

The Doctor: “I would rather die.”

Ohila: “You’re dead already. How many more will you let join you? If she could speak, what would she say?”

The Doctor: “To me? Nothing. I’m a Time Lord. Everything she despised.”

Ohila: “She would beg your help, as we beg your help now. The universe stands on the brink. Will you let it fall? Fast or strong, wise or angry. What do you need now?”

(The Doctor fingers Cass’ baldric.)

The Doctor: “Warrior.”

Ohila: “Warrior?”

The Doctor: “I don’t suppose there’s a need for a doctor any more. Make me a warrior now.”

Ohila: “I took the liberty of preparing this one myself.”

(She hands him a steaming chalice.)

The Doctor: “Get out. Get out! All of you. Will it hurt?”

Ohila: “Yes.”

The Doctor: “Good. Charley, C’rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, Molly, friends, companions I’ve known, I salute you. And Cass, Terra, I apologise.”

“Physician, heal thyself.”

(The Doctor drinks the elixir and staggers, dropping the chalice. Regeneration energy starts to surge through his body. He doubles over. White out.)

Ohila: “Is it done?”

(A figure takes Cass’s baldric and put it on.)

The War The Doctor: “Doctor no more.”

(We are shown the reflection of a young John Hurt.)

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I held my hand out to him. “Theta.”

The Doctor paused in his footing. He didn’t turn back to me, he just stood.

“Don’t leave me.” I begged.

The man turned his head back, talking over his shoulder. “Terra, I have to go.” He walked out of the room.

I sank to my knees, cradling my arms to my chest. “I meant...don’t leave my Doctor behind.”

But he was already gone.