Doctor
Who:
The
Olympian Experiment
by Robin
Gordon
Episode 1: The Olympos
- Auksford 2008 -
Index
to Doctor Who: The Olympian
Experiment.
-- Index to
Robin Gordon's works
SCENE 1
A mountain-side overlooking plain and sea. The sun is shining, there is
no wind. The heat is oppressive. On a level surface, close to a
flat-topped stone resembling an altar, the Tardis materialises
* * *
SCENE 2
Inside the Tardis. The DOCTOR and SARAH
SARAH: Have we
arrived?
DOCTOR: Mmh? Oh,
yes.
The Doctor peers anxiously at various dials
SARAH: Well?
DOCTOR: Well what?
SARAH: Aren't you
going to open the door?
DOCTOR: Not just
yet. There's a slight
problem.
SARAH: Another
malfunction!
DOCTOR: Not exactly
a malfunction.
SARAH: Honestly
Doctor, you ought to trade this
thing in for
a new one.
The central control-panel emits a sound like a sigh
DOCTOR: I
wish you wouldn't say such
things,
Sarah. You'll hurt the old girl's feelings.
SARAH: Oh come on!
Sarah switches on the viewing screen
SARAH: It is
Earth, I suppose?
DOCTOR [still
checking controls]:
Oh yes, it is
Earth all
right.
SARAH: Are you
sure? Look at the
temperature
reading.
DOCTOR: Well it
gets hot in Greece at this time
of the year.
SARAH:
Greece? Oh, well that's alright
then. We'll take a train to Athens and fly back...
The Doctor is shaking his head
SARAH: …
not fly back to London?
DOCTOR: At the time
of the Trojan war?
SARAH: That's all
we need! Soldiers
running all
over the
place with swords and spears and bows and arrows and wooden horses and
things!
DOCTOR: Don't
worry, you'll be all
right. A woman's
worth five oxen in any market nowadays.
SARAH: Oh very
funny. How about trying
to get us
back to UNIT HQ?
DOCTOR: I think
that's going to be rather more
difficult than
it sounds.
SARAH: I knew it:
the Tardis has conked out.
DOCTOR: Wrong again.
SARAH: Well?
DOCTOR [still
adjusting controls]:
Well, the problem is,
we're in
a forbidden zone. I don't think they can have been on the
watch
when we landed, but as soon as we try to take off we'll simply be
reflected back by the force-field, to land, with all the alarm systems
going full blast, in a very unpleasant situation.
SARAH: What are we
going to do?
DOCTOR: Stay here,
and hope the camouflage still
works.
He pulls a switch. The Tardis protests, whirrs and shudders
slightly
* *
*
SCENE 3
Outside the Tardis. The Tardis creaks and whirrs for a moment, then
shimmers into invisibility without the noise of a take-off
* *
*
SCENE 4
Inside the Tardis
SARAH: Nothing's
happened.
DOCTOR: Oh yes it
has: we're invisible.
SARAH: How do you
know it's worked?
DOCTOR: Look at the
screen, Sarah. Don't you
notice anything
different?
SARAH: No.
DOCTOR: What about
the Tardis's shadow?
SARAH: It's gone.
DOCTOR: That's how
I know we're invisible.
SARAH : So what do
we do now? We can't
just stay
here for ever.
DOCTOR: No more
than a couple of
hours. This sort
of
juggling with light waves represents quite a strain on our energy
banks. And don't forget the Tardis hasn't been properly
serviced
for two or three centuries. I must remember to do something
about
that.
SARAH: Yes but what
about getting us out of here
before we're
caught. And you still haven't told me who we're hiding from.
DOCTOR: Never mind
that now, Sarah.
I've got to do
some thinking, that's all. Ah!
SARAH: You've got
an idea?
DOCTOR: No. But
while you've been chattering,
I've been
finding out our exact position, and theirs.
SARAH: Does that help?
DOCTOR [playing
with his yo-yo]:
Probably not.
SARAH: I thought
you said you were going to
think.
DOCTOR [playing
with his yo-yo]: I
used to have a
flute. I wonder what happened to it.
SARAH: On no, you
stick with your
yo-yo. At least
it's
quiet. Anyway, you still haven’t told me who these
people
are.
DOCTOR: Just leave
all that to me, Sarah. The
less you know
about
it the better. Why don't you go and find a nice ancient Greek
dress from the wardrobe. It might come in useful.
SARAH [going]:
You're impossible.
The Doctor smiles and continues playing with his yo-yo.
* *
*
SCENE 5
Outside the Tardis. A sad procession comes up the hill:
Kalchas,
priest of Artemis and his assistants, Iphigeneia, drugged and supported
by her maidens, Agamemnon, Odysseus, and other commanders of the
Achaians. All find the heat oppressive. Iphigeneia
is
almost unconscious, and smiling. She stumbles from, time to
time
and would fall but for her weeping maidens. Agamemnon is
tense,
trying not to break down. Odysseus is grim.
The procession halts at the stone altar. The priests sprinkle it with
sacred unguents, while the maidens remove the garlands of flowers from
Iphigeneia’s neck.
The priests intone a sacred hymn as Iphigeneia is laid on the altar.
* *
*
SCENE 6
Inside the Tardis. The Doctor lounging on a
bunk. Enter Sarah wearing a Grecian dress.
SARAH:
How’s this, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Very nice,
Sarah. Turn round.
Sarah whirls to show the back and stops facing the viewing screen.
SARAH:
Doctor! Look!
DOCTOR: What?
SARAH:
People. Outside.
DOCTOR:
Where? [He
leaps up]
Oh,
it’s all
right, Sarah, they’re only humans. They
can’t do us
any harm. They can’t even see us.
SARAH: What are
they doing?
DOCTOR: It seems to
be some kind of religious
ceremony. I
shouldn’t look too close. These things usually
involve
blood.
SARAH: Look!
* *
*
SCENE 7
Through the viewing screen and so outside the Tardis. The
maidens
have moved aside to show Iphigeneia lying on the rock. The
priests sprinkle her with unguents. An attendant presents a
knife
to the chief priest, Kalchas, who tests it with his thumb, then steps
up to the altar and raises it to present it to the gods and ask their
blessing on it.
* *
*
SCENE 8
Inside the Tardis.
SARAH:
We’ve got to stop them, Doctor!
DOCTOR: We
can’t interfere.
SARAH:
We’ve got to do something!
* *
*
SCENE 9
Outside the Tardis. The chief priest presents the knife to
Agamemnon. The threnody of the priests ceases. In
absolute
silence Agamemnon takes the knife, looks at it, then at Iphigeneia,
then presents the knife to the heavens.
AGAMEMNON: Artemis,
the sacrifice you desire is
yours.
Agamemnon turns the knife and holds it poised above Iphigeneia, ready
to strike.
AGAMEMNON [temporizing]:
Great goddess, thou whose
anger
has kept our fleet becalmed these long, weary weeks, have mercy.
Agamemnon prepares to strike, then pauses again.
AGAMEMNON: Grant us
a wind!
Agamemnon glances despairingly around him. There is no sign
of
any change in the weather. The commanders are murmuring
ominously
among themselves. Agamemnon squares his shoulders and
prepares to
strike. Again his nerve fails. He lowers the
knife.
The commanders begin to murmur again. Kalchas the priest
grins
craftily. Odysseus steps to Agamemnon’s side.
ODYSSEUS:
You’ve got
to do it.
AGAMEMNON: I
thought I felt a breeze.
ODYSSEUS: Stop
deceiving yourself.
There’s no way out.
AGAMEMNON: Are you
sure? The gods
can’t
expect
… [he
gestures towards Iphigeneia]
… my
daughter!
ODYSSEUS: What the
gods expect no man knows, but
Kalchas has
convinced the army they expect the sacrifice of Iphigeneia.
AGAMEMNON: I should
never have agreed!
ODYSSEUS: No, but
having once agreed you
can’t go
back on
your word – not if you want to remain commander in chief.
AGAMEMNON: I
don’t care …
ODYSSEUS [angrily]:
High King of Mykenai, you have
mobilised the whole of Greece to fight a quarrel that concerned only
your brother, Menelaos. By the Olympian gods,
you’ve staked
the honour of our nation on the recovery of Helen from Troy.
We’ve left our harvests, our lands, our homes, our
wives.
How many of us do you think will see them again? And you
–
you meet one set-back, and look at you! Do you suppose this
is
kingship? You must stick to your decision. Even if
it is
wrong, you must stick to it. Strike now!
AGAMEMNON: I
can’t.
ODYSSEUS: If you
don’t,
you’ve lost the
army.
They’ll flock to Palamedes. You’ll be
lucky to keep
Mykenai – and don’t expect any help from
me.
I’ll be off back to Ithaca at the earliest opportunity.
–
You must strike now. Iphigeneia has agreed to
die.
She won't suffer. Look!
Odysseus moves his hand in front of Iphigeneia’s
eyes. She does not respond.
ODYSSEUS: She's one
of the lucky
ones.
No
lingering, painful death for her. None of the grief of seeing
her
loved ones butchered before her eyes. All she'll know of this
senseless war is a, young girl's dream. Strike now, before
the
drug wears off.
Agamemnon shakes his head.
ODYSSEUS: Look at
that crafty smirk on Kalchas'
greasy chops.
How
much do you suppose he was paid for his prophecy? What do you
think he's been promised if Palamedes becomes King of Men?
Kalchas steps forward and raises his hands for silence. The angry
muttering of the commanders dies away.
ODYSSEUS:
Aha! Be ready!
Odysseus leaves Agammemnon's side, moves rapidly to Kalchas, takes him
by the arm and firmly moves him aside.
ODYSSEUS: Thank you
Kalchas.
Odysseus holds up his arms and stills the murmur of surprise.
ODYSSEUS: Achaians!
Lords and princes of the
Argive
hosts!
Warriors who have crossed the wine-dark sea to retrieve the honour of
our nation and avenge the insult offered by the Trojans! Look
now
upon the noble brow of Agamemnon, King of Men. The gods who
reign
on Olympus demand but little from mean souls. Only from the
great
do they claim great sacrifices! We have offended against the
laws
of Artemis, and she claims from our commander-in-chief the sacrifice of
a life dearer to him than his own – his daughter
Iphigeneia. The anguish in his heart and the salt tears that
flow
from his eyes are a measure of his sacrifice. Yet he will
make
it. And when it is made, no god can turn aside from his
prayer. We are assured a fair wind to Troy and the favour of
the
gods to lead us on to victory. [He
gestures towards the
altar]:
Receive, Artemis, thy sacrifice!
Agamemnon, grimly determined, takes hold of Iphigeneia's hair, tips her
head back and is about to cut her throat, when the Tardis shimmers into
view. The Greeks gasp. The door opens and Sarah
comes out.
Kalchas falls face down or the ground and grovels. The
commanders and priests drop to their knees, and, all
except Odysseus, cover their faces. He watches as
Sarah goes up to
Agamemnon.
SARAH: Excuse me,
please.
Agamemnon drops his knife and falls to his knees behind the
altar. Sarah bends over Iphigeneia and tries to rouse her.
Finding the girl is unconscious Sarah tries to lift her, but cannot
manage. She moves to a different position to try again and
finds
herself looking straight into the eyes of Odysseus.
SARAH: Doctor!
The Doctor comes out. He lifts Iphigeneia and carries her
into
the Tardis. Sarah follows. The doors close and the
Tardis
shimmers into invisibility. Odysseus scratches his beard
thoughtfully. The other Greeks begin to stir and to mutter
uneasily. Odysseus rises.
ODYSSEUS: Friends!
See how the gods have
honoured
Agamemnon! He was prepared to sacrifice his daughter,
Iphigeneia...
* *
*
SCENE 10
Inside the Tardis. The Doctor and Sarah lay Iphigeneia on the
bunk and watch the scene outside on the viewing screen as
Odysseus continues his speech.
ODYSSEUS: ...his knife was at
her tender throat. You all
saw what
happened next. You all saw how the divine Artemis descended from the
skies and with a sweet, mysterious smile bade him lay aside the
knife. Then she raised the girl from the altar, placed her in
her
chariot, and sped with her to high Olympos faster than any eye could
follow. Achaians! Victory is promised by this
token.
Agamemnon has the favour of the gods. Let
Ilion’s walls and lofty towers
tremble, for
Agamemnon leads us on to victory!
Odysseus seizes Agamemnon's hand and raises it in a victory
salute. The Greeks cheer. Odysseus leads Agamemnon,
who is
dazed but exultant, through their midst. They crowd around to
clap him on the back and congratulate him, then follow him down the
hill. The priests follow in puzzlement, avoiding Kalchas, who
walks alone.
SARAH: He's got
them eating out of his hand.
DOCTOR: He's
certainly, got his wits about
him. I
wonder...
Sarah switches off the screen and goes to look at the unconscious
Iphigeneia lying on the bunk.
SARAH: How could
they do anything so evil?
DOCTOR: Not evil,
Sarah.
SARAH: Human
sacrifice not evil?
DOCTOR: Well they
think it's the will of the
gods.
SARAH [scornfully]:
Gods!
DOCTOR: Don't mock,
Sarah, there are things here
you may not
understand. [He
examines Iphigeneia]:
Iphigeneia!
Hmmm. She’ll sleep for quite a while yet.
In the
meantime I think we ought to get out of here.
SARAH: I thought
you said...
DOCTOR: Ah, but our friend
out there has given me an
idea.
There's one place they won’t think of looking for us.
SARAH:
Where? Who won't?
DOCTOR: No more
questions Sarah. Let's
just say: if
you want to hide from the gods, where better than Olympos?
He sets the co-ordinates.
* *
*
SCENE 12
The hillside where the Tardis landed. The Tardis shimmers into
visibility, then takes off. Scarcely has it disappeared than
a
ferocious-looking sea-monster appears on the hillside. A door
in
its chest opens and Poseidon and Leukothea come out.
POSEIDON: A Tardis!
LEUKOTHEA: Yes.
POSEIDON: Back to
the Olympos. I want
a full-scale
investigation.
They re-enter the sea-monster, which dematerialises with a noise not
unlike that of a Tardis.
* *
*
SCENE 13
Inside
the
Tardis. Landing takes place.
DOCTOR: Well here
we are, Sarah. What
about a
little stroll?
SARAH: I thought
you said it was
forbidden. What
about the gods?
DOCTOR: Well, it is
a crime that carries the
death penalty
– for a Time Lord.
SARAH: Then why go?
DOCTOR: You know me
Sarah. You, know I
can never
control my curiosity. Besides, we can't sit here for ever.
He opens the doors.
SARAH: But what if
we get caught?
DOCTOR: Then you
just play the dumb Human who
doesn't know
where she is or what she's done wrong.
SARAH: But I don't
know.
DOCTOR: Shouldn't
be difficult then.
He goes out. She follows.
* *
*
SCENE 14
The Olympos: the docking bay, a magnificent hall with marble floor and
walls and a lofty ceiling. Around the edges of the hall are a
number of space-time craft disguised in various ways: a gigantic
chariot drawn by golden horses, a thunder cloud, the sea-monster, a
rock covered in seaweed, and the head of the Gorgon Medusa, with large
teeth, protruding tongue and snakes for hair.
The Doctor and Sarah: come out of the Tardis. Sarah is filled
with wonder at the magnificence of the hall and the strange beauty of
the craft.
SARAH: Where are
we, Doctor?
DOCTOR: The docking
bay of the Olympos.
SARAH: What
marvellous statues.
– Look at
that, it's just an old piece of rock.
DOCTOR: Things are
not always what they seem,
Sarah. Ah, that's what I was looking for.
He indicates the Gorgon's head.
SARAH:
Ugh! It's... horrible!
DOCTOR: Well, yes,
she does have that effect on
some
people. But I'm very glad to see the old Aegis –
she’s our one hope of getting out of here alive.
SARAH: That?
DOCTOR: That's
right. Come on!
He rushes off. She follows.
SARAH: Aren't you
going to make the Tardis
invisible?
DOCTOR:
We’d never find her
again. I wish
I could
give her a less conspicuous shape, but it can't be helped.
Ah,
this way, I think.
* *
*
SCENE 15
The Olympos: a corridor. The Doctor and Sarah dodge back and
flatten themselves against the wall as a couple of gods pass
by.
They escape detection and move on cautiously.
* *
*
SCENE 16
The Olympos: a marble corridor. The Doctor stops
outside a
pair of bronze doors. Sarah almost collides with him.
DOCTOR: Look,
Sarah. The gallery of
the conference
room. I wonder if the gods are in session. Come on.
SARAH: But...
DOCTOR:
Sh! Quietly now.
He opens the door cautiously and slips inside.
* *
*
SCENE 17
The gallery of the conference room. The Doctor and Sarah
enter
cautiously and peep down into the conference room, where the
gods
are meeting.
* *
*
SCENE 18
The Olympos: the council of the gods. ZEUS is in the
chair. POSEIDON is concluding his speech.
POSEIDON:
… and for those reasons I
propose that
we
recommend to Council the establishment of a permanent research station
on Earth.
ZEUS: Thank you,
Poseidon. Athene?
ATHENE: Mr
Chairman, it would impossible for me
to disagree
with
anything more heartily then I disagree with Poseidon’s
recommendation. Hitherto the most basic principle covering,
our
dealings with the rest of the Universe has been non-intervention in the
affairs of less-developed peoples, except in those rare instances when
we have been able to avert a catastrophe caused by other outside
interference. Even then we have intervened only after the most careful
consideration and limited our presence to the minimum.
Poseidon’s recommendations, if accepted by Council, would
lower
us to the level of those imperialistic aliens who regard the existence,
of other life forms as an opportunity for conquest and piracy!
Some of the gods nod assent or murmur approval. Poseidon's
supporter growl in disagreement.
POSEIDON: Mr
Chairman, we are talking about
science!
ATHENE: Mr Chairman!
ZEUS:
Please! Please!
The hubbub dies away.
ZEUS: Thank
you. Athene?
ATHENE: Thank you,
Mr Chairman.
Ahem. We
cannot
foresee, even with our science, the full consequences of altering the
history of even the most minor planet in the most minor solar
system. Furthermore, there are strong indications to suggest
that
Humans have considerable potential, if they are able to achieve
self-discipline...
POSEIDON: That is
precisely why we ought to take
control of
them.
Zeus waves him into silence
ATHENE: I should
like you to consider what might
have
happened to
us if we had been used as experimental guinea-pigs in the early stages
of our development.
POSEIDON: Nonsense!
Poseidon's supporters mutter jeeringly. Zeus bangs his staff
on the ground for order.
ATHENE: It is far
from
impossible. The
Osirians, to
name only one race, had the power.
Athene’s supporters nod and mutter approval.
Poseidon and
his supporters feel that that this is not only unscientific fantasy but
an insult to their race.
POSEIDON:
This is not just
unscientific
fantasy, it is an insult to our race!
Hubbub. Zeus bangs his staff to restore order.
ZEUS: I think it
would be as well for us to
remember that
what we
say here will have a considerable bearing on the ultimate decision of
Council. This is not the time to allow ourselves to be
carried
away by passion. Council has established this temporary
research
station on Earth, and expects from us a balanced and rational
recommendation on whether experimentation should be discontinued or
established on a permanent basis.
ATHENE: I agree
that this is a tremendously
important
decision. We must
recommend non-intervention. As I was
saying, if
the Osirians, or any other of the powerful ones of old, had interfered
with our
development, it is certain that we should not now be what we
are. We should not be Time Lords.
* *
*
SCENE 19
The Olympos: gallery of the conference room.
SARAH: Time Lords!
DOCTOR: Sh!
* *
*
SCENE 20
The Olympus: conference room.
POSEIDON [angrily]:
There is someone in the gallery!
ATHENE: Out of the
question!
POSEIDON: You know
very well who it
is. Well this
time he's
gone too far. This is a matter for Proctorial
action.
Excuse me, Mr Chairman.
Poseidon rushes out.
ATHENE:
… Mr Chairman
She rushes after Poseidon.
ZEUS: I think we
must adjourn the meeting until
such time as
…
* *
*
SCENE
21
The Olympos: gallery of the conference room. From
below comes the noise of the Time Lords leaving the meeting.
DOCTOR: I think
it's time we left too.
SARAH: But
… they’re Time
Lords.
DOCTOR: Yes, and,
like Humans, Time Lords can be
quite
dangerous when they're roused.
He peeps out of the door.
DOCTOR: All clear.
Come on.
He ushers her out ahead of him.
* *
*
SCENE 22
The Olympos: corridor outside the door to the gallery of the conference
room. Sarah comes out. As she appears, the door opposite
opens
and a young, man comes out with almost equal caution. He and
Sarah both start with shock and freeze looking at each other.
* *
*
SCENE 23
The Olympus: gallery of the conference room. The Doctor jerks
back from the door and flattens himself against the wall behind it.
DOCTOR: Oh dear.
The one person I can't possibly
show myself
to.
The door opens. Sarah retreats through it. The
Doctor stops her.
DOCTOR: No
Sarah! Go out. He
won’t hurt you. I promise. But he must
not know about me.
He pushes her through the door. She goes reluctantly.
* *
*
SCENE 24
The Olympos: the corridor outside the gallery of the conference
room. Sarah stumbles out of the door into the arms of the
Young
Time Lord.
YOUNG TIME LORD:
Who are you?
I’ve never
seen you before.
SARAH: Well, I'm a
sort of a traveller.
YTL: You're not one
of us.
SARAH:
No. I’m human.
At this moment the voices of Athene and Poseidon are heard down the
corridor.
ATHENE [shouting
as loudly as possible]:
I tell you
it is
quite impossible that there should be anybody in the gallery.
POSEIDON: I know
who you’re trying to
warn.
YTL: Quick!
He bundles Sarah through the door from which he came and disappears
after her just as Poseidon and Athene come round the corner.
POSEIDON:
There! Just as I
thought! Your
son!
ATHENE: I didn't
see anyone.
POSEIDON: I
don’t suppose you
did. Well
he won't get
away with spying on the Research Committee. You can tell him
from
me he'll be up before the Proctors.
Poseidon storms off.
ATHENE: Oh
dear. He never could
control his
curiosity.
Athene approaches the gallery door, opens it, looks in and gives a gasp
of surprise. The Doctor comes out with his hands casually
raised
in a gesture of surrendering without fuss.
