The Meeting

This script came about because Keith Barnfather from Reeltime Pictures was producing a video called The Megeve Experiment which, as far as I recall, was about an acting workshop that was being run in a place called Megeve.  As part of the workshop, he wanted actresses Sophie Aldred and Deborah Watling to act out a scene with some of the students there, and needed therefore a script to use.

Here's the promotional text from the video:

In July 2002, an experiment took place…

Two DOCTOR WHO actors, SOPHIE ALDRED and DEBORAH WATLING, travelled to France with Director CHRISTOPHER BARRY and tutor BEVERLEY CRESSMAN, on a trip to educate, instruct and entertain a group of fans. During the following week, six DOCTOR WHO fans learnt how to use their own talents to act for the theatre and screen… and during the process they had a great deal of fun!

The culmination was a dramatised rehearsal, directed by CHRISTOPHER, where everyone got to perform in front of the camera and for the first time VICTORIA and ACE met!

Is this indeed FULL CIRCLE? DOCTOR WHO professionals teaching fans how to act? Was this a successful experiment? You bet it was!

I boldly stepped into the breach, and produced a short piece which hopefully suited the bill for all concerned. And here it is!


THE MEETING
By David J Howe

CHARACTERS

ACE - Streetwise tomboy from the late 20th Century
VICTORIA - Orphan from Victorian London
CAPTAIN LANGTON - In charge of operations
SOLDIER 1 - Perkins
SOLDIER 2


WE OPEN IN A GLOOMY AND DINGY UNDERGROUND TUNNEL. PERHAPS A LONDON UNDERGROUND TRAIN TUNNEL. IT IS DARK AND DAMP AND ECHOEY. WE ARE AT A BEND IN THE TUNNEL. ON THE FLOOR IS A PILE OF LEFT-OVER EQUIPMENT: A LAMP, A LENGTH OF PIPING AND A COIL OF WIRE.

WE HEAR FOOTSTEPS. RUNNING.

ACE COMES INTO VIEW AND STOPS AT THE BEND. SHE IS OUT OF BREATH.

ACE: Well that’s about it for me for the moment. This had better be worth it …

ACE FREEZES AS SHE HEARS TENTATIVE FOOTFALLS COMING THE OTHER WAY DOWN THE TUNNEL. SHE PUSHES HERSELF BACK AGAINST THE WALL AS VICTORIA COMES INTO VIEW.

VICTORIA IS NERVOUS AND IS MOVING AS QUIETLY AS SHE CAN. SHE DOES NOT SEE ACE AT FIRST.

ACE CIRCLES BEHIND VICTORIA AND GRABS HER, HAND OVER MOUTH TO PREVENT HER FROM SCREAMING.

ACE: (WHISPERING LOUDLY IN VICTORIA’S EAR) Make one sound and it won’t be me that hurts you …

VICTORIA NODS, WIDE EYED. ACE LETS HER GO.

ACE: So what brings you down here (SHE LOOKS VICTORIA UP AND DOWN) Bit fancy for this aren’t you?

VICTORIA: (CASTS A DISPARAGING LOOK AT ACE’S ATTIRE) At least I’m better dressed for this period than you.

ACE: Listen sister … how I dress is my business. Understand? If the Doctor wanted me to doll up, then he’d tell me.

VICTORIA: Doctor? You … you know the Doctor?

ACE: (SUSPICIOUS) Yeah. What about it?

THEY FREEZE AS A SOUND ECHOES DOWN THE PASSAGE TOWARDS THEM. SOMETHING IS COMING CLOSER

VICTORIA: (WHISPERING) What was that?

ACE: (LOOKING BACK AND FORTH) Dunno.

THEY LISTEN FOR A MOMENT BUT THERE IS NO MORE SOUND.

ACE: So you know the Doctor?

VICTORIA: Well … yes. (HESITANT) Time traveller? Blue Box?

ACE: (ENTHUSIASTIC) Wicked! You’re one of his companions as well … What’s your name?

VICTORIA: Victoria Waterfield.

ACE: (TO HERSELF) Victoria … Victoria … Victoria Waterfield … Yea. (SHE PUNCHES VICTORIA ON THE SHOULDER, AND SHE RUBS THE SPOT) Yea! I know you! The Professor’s mentioned you.

VICTORIA: Well I’m sure that’s very nice, but who are you?

ACE: Ace.

VICTORIA: Ace.

ACE: Ace.

THEY ARE INTERRUPTED BY A SOLDIER WHO RUNS UP. THIS IS CAPTAIN LANGTON
LANGTON: (SLIGHTLY OUT OF BREATH) Thank goodness I’ve caught up with you … we have to go back the other way.

ACE: What’s up Sherlock?

LANGTON: It’s the Yeti … they’re on the move again.

VICTORIA: (WORRIED) Oh dear. Oh no …

ACE: (TO VICTORIA, CALMING) Don’t worry. (TO LANGFORD) But the Professor’s got it all worked out … you see the Yeti won’t be able to …

LANGTON: That’s all very well, miss … but there seem to be two Doctors now? I think they want to capture a Yeti …

VICTORIA: Capture one? We tried that in Tibet …

LANGTON: (NOTICING VICTORIA) More civilians …?

HE IS INTERRUPTED BY TWO SOLDIERS WHO COME RUNNING DOWN THE TUNNEL.

SOLDIER 1: Sorry Captain … followed as fast as we could.

LANGTON: Ah, Perkins, would you be so kind as to escort our friends here back to the base. And arrange transport out of here for … (GLANCES AT VICTORIA) the lady.

SOLDIER 1: (SALUTES) Yessir.

VICTORIA: Oh no. I’m staying here with the Doctor.

LANGTON: You know the Doctor?

(VICTORIA NODS)

LANGTON: (cont) (THOUGHTFULLY) Well you’d better come back with us then.

ACE: (GRINNING) No rest for the wicked!

SHE PICKS UP THE IRON BAR AND HEFTS IT EXPERIMENTALLY. SHE HEADS AWAY FROM WHERE THE SOLDIERS APPEARED FROM.

SOLDER 2: Miss … miss … The other way … we’re going the other way!

ACE: (CRESTFALLEN) Are we? Oh well. (SHE SLAPS THE BAR AGAINST HER HAND) Another time then.

ACE AND THE SOLDIERS MOVE OFF ALONG THE PASSAGE. ACE STOPS AND LOOKS BACK AT VICTORIA WHO IS STANDING THERE LOOKING VERY WORRIED

ACE: Are you coming or what?

VICTORIA: (LOOKING BACK INTO THE TUNNEL) Yes … yes I am.

SHE PICKS UP THE LAMP AND FOLLOWS ACE. AS SHE LEAVES, SHE LOOKS BACK AGAIN ALONG THE TUNNEL

VICTORIA: What has the Doctor got us into this time?

THEY ALL EXIT


David J Howe
2002