[London - New Year celebrations]

(Crowd singing Auld Lang Syne as the TARDIS materialises in an alleyway.)

DOCTOR: Ha-ha, ha-ha! Okay.

(He sets up the Vindicator.)

BELINDA: Did we make it?
DOCTOR: Definitely Earth. Definitely London.
BELINDA: Yeah, got that. But definitely when?
DOCTOR: I am working it out. Bel, look! Look! I have found 50p. We are winning!
BELINDA: Can you try and focus, please? We need to get home. Oh, hello.

(A young lad is standing nearby.)

DOCTOR: What is your name?
YOUNG CONRAD: Conrad.
DOCTOR: Conrad, I am the Doctor, and this is Belinda Chandra.
BELINDA: Er, weird question. What year is this? Please say it's 2025. 2024? Does the year start with a 20?
YOUNG CONRAD: It's 2007.

(The Vindicator pings.)

DOCTOR: Oh, New Year's. Oh, I love it! All those hopes and possibilities, huh? Conrad, I think this is meant for you.

(The Doctor holds out the 50p piece.)

YOUNG CONRAD: Why?
DOCTOR: Cos it is your lucky day!
BELINDA: Hey, where are your parents?
YOUNG CONRAD: Mum's watching the fireworks.
BELINDA: Shall we get you to her?

(But Conrad has already snatched the coin and fled.)

BELINDA: Or not.
DOCTOR: Happy New Year!

(Conrad pushes through the crowd on the Embankment.)

YOUNG CONRAD: Mum! Mum, Mum, come and see! There's a box, a blue box that came out of nowhere, with a Doctor and a Belinda Chandra.
MOIRA: How many times, Conrad? Enough with the lies.
YOUNG CONRAD: It's not a lie. Look!

(He holds up the 50p and she boxes his ear.)

MOIRA: You're spoiling my night!
ADULT CONRAD [OC]: I was eight years old when I first saw that police box, and I've followed stories of that box ever since. Interviewed eyewitnesses right across the globe.

[Conrad's offices]

(At a table set up with two decent microphones and a laptop doing the recording.)

CONRAD: But this week, I've found someone who knows its secrets. In fact, she's even been inside it. And I'm going to ask her to introduce herself.
RUBY: Hello, everyone. My name is Ruby Sunday.

[Street]

CONRAD [OC]: 2007 was the first time I saw that blue box. But fast-forward 17 years, and it happened again. Last year.

(The TARDIS is parked down an alley amongst the wheelie bins.)

CONRAD [OC]: Only this time, things got crazier.

(As Conrad reaches for the door, he hears a screeching sound and goes to investigate.)

[Empty shop]

(Mannequins draped in plastic sheeting, posters on the shop windows. Screech! Something whooshes past him, leaving slime on his neck. A mannequin is standing at the top of the in-store elevator, then a four-legged creature with glowing eyes appears. Conrad decides to hide as the sonic whirrs.)

DOCTOR [OC]: Pow!
RUBY [OC]: Where's the Shreek?
DOCTOR [OC]: Zapped it back into its hive. Man, that was lucky.

(They come down the steps.)

RUBY: No, disgusting is what it was. Please, please, tell me I wasn't just peed on.
DOCTOR: No. No, no, no, no, no. Don't worry. It's er... it's more like vomit. The pheromone get absorbed into your blood and marks you as future prey. RUBY: Wait. What?
DOCTOR: Cool, right? But this... neutralises the pheromone.

(A vial of glowing red stuff.)

RUBY: Oh. Do I drink it?
DOCTOR: Tastes like candyfloss.

(Ruby drinks. It is revolting. The Doctor laughs.)

RUBY: You are such a liar!
DOCTOR: But at least you can't get tracked by the Shreek any more.
RUBY: Yeah, but anyone else can track me. This green stuff stinks!
DOCTOR: Honey, you are reeking. You are Shreeking!

(The Doctor and Ruby leave the store, and Conrad comes out of hiding.)

[Alleyway]

RUBY: (wiping off slime) Urgh! Don't look.
DOCTOR: Oh, babes, take a lie down. That antidote is going to knock you out for about eight hours.
RUBY: Yeah, I could do with a rest cos life with you is mad. I mean, half an hour ago, we were hanging out with The Beatles.
DOCTOR: I know, right?
RUBY: I miss them.

(The Doctor goes into the TARDIS. Ruby turns when she hears a click. Conrad has taken a sneaky photo of her on his phone.)

RUBY: Hello? Oh, and John Lennon owes me a piano lesson.

(The TARDIS dematerialises. Conrad labels the photo 'have you seen this woman' and shares it online.)

CONRAD [OC]: And I've been looking for you ever since. For a whole year.

(Ruby turns up on his doorstep with that photo on her phone.)

[Conrad's offices]

CONRAD: So the last thing I expected was to land you on my podcast this morning. I have so many questions.
RUBY: Well, I'm 20 years old. I'm from Manchester. I live in London with my mum and gran. And I've got another mum now, Louise, but that's a... long story. And also a new dad, but that's an even longer one. Christmas just gone, that was mad. That was... a lot.

(Various people are listening to this live. Including UNIT personnel. It is also being streamed on Podcast Cam.)

CONRAD: So how did you end up in that shop last year, with this Doctor and his police box? Cos I am such a fan. I mean, who is he?
RUBY: Look, I can't go into specifics.
CONRAD: Oh.
RUBY: But the Doctor's my best friend. We used to travel together. And that day in the shop, we were looking for... something.
CONRAD: Yes! Aliens!

(He knocks over his cup.)

CONRAD: Oh! Sorry! But er... Yes, er... Aliens, right?
RUBY: Aliens are real. We all know that.
CONRAD: But some trolls online say UNIT, all this talk of monsters, is just a cover story for something else.
RUBY: Well, maybe they're afraid of the truth. And there's no reason to be scared. I mean, the people at UNIT are amazing, doing good work. Keeping us safe.
CONRAD: Like the Doctor?
RUBY: Like the Doctor.

(After they've finished.)

CONRAD: I've been trying to get UNIT on the podcast for years. No one ever returns my calls.
RUBY: Oh look, it's not you. They're just... busy.
CONRAD: So, do you live round here, or...
RUBY: West. Notting Hill.
CONRAD: Cos there's a great little cafe round the corner, if you have time for a quick one.
RUBY: Oh!
CONRAD: I mean...
RUBY: Now? No...
CONRAD: Coffee, obviously.
RUBY: Coffee?
CONRAD: Or...
RUBY: Well...
CONRAD: Or tea. Or just...

(He drops his paperwork. They both pick it up.)

RUBY: Coffee sounds great.

[Cafe]

(A recording of the Shreek on Ruby's phone.)

CONRAD: The teeth on that.
RUBY: Mmm. The Shreek live in a pocket dimension, and once a year they leave their hive to hunt, and somehow one of them made it to Earth.
CONRAD: That day I first saw you.
RUBY: Yeah, but this is the footage from last night. So it came back to the same location one year later. Which means a year ago, it marked its prey. And now it's hunting you. And if UNIT hadn't captured it, it'd be here by now.
CONRAD: And then what?
RUBY: It'd wait till night. First thing you'd notice is the lights. The Shreek's background radiation messes with electricity. Then it'd show itself. Just a glimpse. Just enough to get your heart racing. It'd have you trapped. Take its time breaking in. It enjoys the hunt. Feeds off fear. It wants you scared, and running. Pumping with adrenaline.
CONRAD: Why?
RUBY: Because it likes the taste.

(All through this, Conrad has been experiencing what Ruby has been describing. The spell is broken when someone comes into the cafe, making the bell ring.)

CONRAD: You tell a good story.
RUBY: Yeah, well, lucky for you, there's a happy ending. This is the antidote. Drink it tonight, and it blocks the Shreek from tracking you.
CONRAD: So that day I saw you, the Doctor saved your life?
RUBY: Yeah, well, he did that a lot. To be fair, I saved his a few times.
CONRAD: When I was a kid, meeting him's what got me into strange tech and UFOs. It inspired the podcast. Oh, and he gave me this. I've kept it all these years.

(The 50p piece made into a pendant.)

RUBY: Oh, wow.
CONRAD: He said it was my lucky day. But I think he was wrong. I think that's today.
RUBY: Er... Take the antidote before bed, because it'll make you sleepy.
CONRAD: On one condition. You let me buy you dinner.
RUBY: Ah...
CONRAD: Or we both buy dinner.
RUBY: I wasn't...
CONRAD: If that's too old-fashioned. Just we... We, you know, we, eat it...
RUBY: Okay, cool.
CONRAD: ..together.
RUBY: Right. Yeah, okay.

[Ruby's home]

RUBY: Ta-ra, then.
CARLA: Hold on. I promised Louise a photo.
RUBY: Why?
CARLA: Let me be excited. You haven't had a boyfriend for ages. Smile.
RUBY: Okay, just not the... flash.

(Too late.)

CARLA: Yeah. Maybe not. Let's try again.
RUBY: And he's not my boyfriend, it's just a date.
CARLA: Smile! Yeah, but you're getting on with your life, that's what's important. Moving on.
CHERRY: Conrad Clark. How unuh spell him name?

(They go into Cherry's bedroom.)

CHERRY: Conrad Clark. I wonder if him on de Instagram.
RUBY: Gran, he's nice and he's normal. And it's no big deal, okay?
CARLA: Clark with no E. And if you scroll down, he's got his shirt off.
RUBY: Mum!
CARLA: Oh, don't pretend you haven't looked.
RUBY: Okay, I'm going to be late. Bye!

[Restaurant]

CONRAD: Your gran sounds hilarious.
RUBY: Oh, my family is mad. I asked you about yours last week and you changed the subject.
CONRAD: It was just me and my mum, growing up. She died. Liver cancer. I've never really talked about it.
RUBY: You can talk to me.
CONRAD: Sorry. I'm sorry I'm not as cool as the Doctor.
RUBY: No. No, you... you're nice. You're... lovely. And that's what I need right now.
CONRAD: Was he your boyfriend?
RUBY: No! God, no. If he was here, he'd be flirting with you.
CONRAD: Oh. Don't think I'd notice. You know, I was eight when I first saw that police box.
RUBY: The TARDIS.
CONRAD: TARDIS?
RUBY: Oh, it's the most incredible thing you'll ever see in your entire life, and I've seen incredible things. Stuff I never really get to talk about, so I sometimes feel like I'm about to explode.
CONRAD: Well, please don't, I'm... I'm enjoying this.

[Street]

(Walking Ruby home, past a taxi dropping a passenger off.)

PASSENGER: Thanks.
DRIVER: Bye. Take care.
RUBY: You know, I've told you things that I haven't told anyone. I mean, I've tried, but my friends all think I'm mad. Like, properly having a breakdown.
CONRAD: Well, I don't think that. I think... you're amazing.

(And they kiss.)

[Ruby's home]

LOUISE: Rubes? How many dates is this now?
RUBY [OC]: I'm not counting.
CARLA: Five. It's five.
LOUISE: Is it?
RUBY: Why are you making such a fuss?
CARLA: We're just pleased. We think you need this.
RUBY: Okay, right. I will see you...

(Kisses all round.)

RUBY: ..Monday.
LOUISE: Have a lovely weekend, sweetheart.
RUBY: Okay.
CHERRY: Ah, ah! And be very careful. I have been to English villages. I got looks.
RUBY: I don't think Conrad's friends are like that, Gran.
CARLA: She just watched The Wicker Man.
RUBY: Okay, I can't be doing this right now. I love you. Bye.
CHERRY: Love you.
CARLA: Do you know, she's not mentioned the Doctor in weeks. Not for weeks.

[Village street]

(Having got off a bus. The time is 15:13.)
RUBY: Oh! I tell you what, you'd think I'd never had a relationship the way they're carrying on. What?
CONRAD: You said relationship. Am I your boyfriend?
RUBY: Well, let's just see how this weekend goes.
CONRAD: I'm your boyfriend.
(Ruby notices the bus stop arrivals board going haywire. 15:21 2 Exeter on time at Lyme Regis, Axminster, Clyst Honiton, Huxham... a very strange route.)
CONRAD: Come on, we'll miss happy hour. And I am happy!
RUBY: Are you now?

[Village green]

(They've met up with Conrad's friends.)

CONRAD: I met Sparky when he rewired my kitchen.
JACK: Before he moved to the middle of nowhere.
RUBY: Oh, but it's gorgeous.

[Village pub]

SPARKY: The best thing about this village, Alfie's home brew. Your round, Rubes.
CONRAD: Oh no, I'll er...
RUBY: No, no, no, it's fine, I'll get it.
ELSA: I'll give you a hand.
RUBY: Oh, thanks.
ELSA: Conrad's been keeping us apart, didn't want us to embarrass him. That means he really likes you. He talks about you all the time.
RUBY: Really? Tell me everything.
ALFIE: Er, what you having, girls?
RUBY: Er, hiya, yeah, just the same again, please.

(The lights flicker.)

ELSA: Urgh, not again.
RUBY: This happened at the bus stop.
ALFIE: Oh, the generator's supposed to kick in. That's weird.
RUBY: Er, I'm just going to make a quick call, okay?

[UNIT HQ / Outside the pub]

KATE: There's no quantum echo at that location. Hang on, I'll check the National Grid.
RUBY: Sorry, Kate, I didn't even mean to bother you, I was after Mel.
KATE: Oh, no bother. Always got time for you. Mel's on her way to Sydney. There's something strange happening in the harbour.
RUBY: Oh, are you on your own?
KATE: Yeah. I like working late.

(With Colonel Ibrahim.)

RUBY: Have you... heard from him recently?
KATE: The Doctor? No, not for ages. Okay, there's no faults showing. Must be a localised issue. If you're still worried, I can have a team there in 30 minutes.
RUBY: No, no, it's okay.
KATE: Ruby, we've got the Shreek locked away, and if your friend took the antidote, he's fine. Do you think, maybe, with everything you've been through...
RUBY: That I'm paranoid?
KATE: That you're on alert all the time. Trust me, I know what that's like.
RUBY: Yeah. Yeah, maybe you're right.
KATE: Try and relax. Enjoy your night.
RUBY: Okay. Thanks, Kate. And sorry again. Bye.

[UNIT Asset Containment]

(Kate keys 9102 into the pad by the Shreek's cell.)

KATE: Just checking you're still with us.

(There is flickering light inside. She taps on the viewing panel.)

KATE: Hello?

(The Shreek rages at the door. Kate nods.)

[Village pub]

RUBY: Hey.
CONRAD: Everything okay?
RUBY: Yeah, yeah, all good.
CONRAD: Hey. Boyfriend, remember?
RUBY: I think I'm in shock. Like... ..PTSD? Because what happened last year was just not... normal. I mean, I fought gods. Like, actual gods. And I was eaten by a double bass, and kidnapped by goblins. I dangled on a rope ladder above London. And I watched the world turn to dust. And it's just like... every day is, like, fight or flight, and I'm just waiting for something to go wrong.
CONRAD: Nothing's going wrong while I'm here, all right?
RUBY: Mmm-hmm.

(Elsa brings a drink.)

CONRAD: Thanks.
ELSA: So, tell us about UNIT. All the stuff you couldn't say on the podcast.
CONRAD: Just leave it, Elsa.

(The lights flicker and go out.)

ELSA: Alfie!
ALFIE: Sorry. Don't know what's going on.
DEREK? [OC]: Free drinks till they're back on.
ALFIE: Not my fault. Where's Sparky?
ELSA: I think he's in the loo.
CONRAD: Oh, well, er, I'll check.

(A scream outside.)

DEREK: What was that?
MICHELLE?: What the hell was that?

(An older woman comes in carrying her dog.)

AUDREY: Lock the door, lock the door! There's something out there, like the devil himself. All teeth! Biscuit got the fright of his life.

(They look out of the window. It's a Shreek.)

RUBY: Oh, my God.
ELSA: There's another one!
ALFIE: I'll call the police.
CONRAD: Sparky's not there.
ELSA: So where is he?
CONRAD: I don't know. Ruby, I didn't take the antidote. I'm so sorry. I wanted to be brave, like the Doctor.
RUBY: You have no idea what you've done.
CONRAD: Everything he was, I can be. I'm not afraid.
RUBY: You should be.

[UNIT Operations]

SHIRLEY: But the Shreek's here.
RUBY [OC]: Well, then there's more of them. They're in the village right now.
KATE: We're on our way. Divert the nearest ground crew to Colson village. We'll take the helicopter.
SHIRLEY: I need an analyst. Jordan, with me.

[Village pub]

RUBY: Everyone, just stay inside. Call your friends, your family, and just tell them to stay indoors, all right?
DEREK?: Sorry, love, who put you in charge?
RUBY: Or go and get some fresh air, big man, see what happens.
ELSA: Sparky's not answering. What if he was out there? What if that thing's got him?
RUBY: Okay. Lock the door behind me.
CONRAD: I'm coming. This is my fault.
RUBY: No, they're after you! And once they're done tearing you to pieces, the Shreek could wipe out this entire village. Just stay here.

[Village green]

(Under a full moon, and clutching a fire iron.)

RUBY: Okay. Just me this time. Talking to myself. That's very Doctor. Oh, and right about now I'd be telling him to shut up. Okay...

(The light in the red phone box flickers. Something touches her and she jumps.)

RUBY: Wha..? You...! Oh! Get back inside!

(Conrad has acquired a cricket bat.)

CONRAD: No. It's gone wrong and it's my fault and I don't want you dealing with this on your own.
RUBY: No, no, no. This isn't a game, Conrad. We're in serious danger. You are in danger!
CONRAD: Look, we're a team. Like you and the Doctor. We can fix this. How do we find Sparky?

(A Shreek shrieks. Sparky's baseball cap is by the base of a tree. And one boot.)

CONRAD: We're too late. This is all because of me.

(A Shreek jumps onto a car.)

RUBY: Come on, come on!

(Ruby and Conrad run back to the pub as a convoy of vehicles and a helicopter arrive.)

OFFICER: Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!

(The UNIT top brass walk through the village.)

OFFICER: Go, go, go! Stay with me!
SHIRLEY: Where are they?
JORDAN: I don't know. Their readings are cloaked.
KATE: Get those civilians inside.
RUBY: Kate, there's two of them, at least.
CONRAD: They've got my friend.
KATE: I want the Shreek alive. We need to understand how they got here.
JORDAN: Quantum ghosting's at zero. None of this makes sense.
SHIRLEY: Oh, just give me that.
OFFICER: On me! Now, go.

(Ibrahim spots a claw on a headlight.)

IBRAHIM: Eyes on! Set weapons to stun!
RUBY: Get behind us, now!
IBRAHIM: Prepare to fire!

(The Shreek stand up.)

RUBY: Wait a minute. They're not Shreek.

(Two blokes take their Shreek heads off.)

SPARKY: Ha! Got you.

(He plays a recorded Shreek sound.)

SPARKY: You idiots.
JACK: How'd we do, boss?
CONRAD: Nailed it.
RUBY: Conrad, what's he talking about?

(Elsa is laughing and filming it all on her phone. Conrad unzips his jacket to show the slogan 'Think Tank' on his t-shirt. See 'Robot'.)

RUBY: Conrad, what are they talking about? What the hell is going on?
CONRAD: We are Think Tank. Exposing the lies perpetuated by UNIT. By you. And we're live streaming, so don't get trigger-happy.
RUBY: This isn't funny.
CONRAD: (laughs) I've had to listen to your stories for weeks now. Put up with your insecurity and vanity, listen to your tedious piano solos, and get smothered in lip gloss. It has been a chore getting to know you. But now it's all worth it.
KATE: Put that phone down.
ELSA: Or what? Going to arrest me, eh? This is censorship. Touch us and we'll sue. We will bankrupt you.
SPARKY: Boo!
KATE: You've made a very big, very dangerous mistake tonight, Conrad.
CONRAD: You don't even remember me, do you? The only monsters out here are UNIT. Lying to the public. Spending our money. Hiding in your tower, and doing what? Huh? Doing what?
RUBY: Protecting people like you.
CONRAD: Oh, they can't stop lying! There are no Shreek. No Cybermen, no Sycorax, no Yetis in the Underground. Here, look! Look! They're stooges and actors, and special effects paid for using taxpayers' money, to keep us scared, to hide their real agenda!

(Hashtags UNITlies, DemandTheTruth, NoMoreMonsters. 95.8K viewers.)

SHIRLEY: The threat to this planet is real. If you want evidence, I've got plenty of it, so you can...
CONRAD: This one's collecting benefits, stealing our taxes while she lies to us. But the lies stop today. There are people all over the world watching this. Sharing, reposting. Demanding the truth. They're using you! All of you. For her dirty work.
RUBY: Do you think UNIT can't handle a few reject cosplayers? Because that's all you are, Conrad.
CONRAD: You've gifted me this moment, Ruby Sunday. Is that even your name, by the way? Cos it's ridiculous.
KATE: Arrest them.
IBRAHIM: Right, let's go. Move them out.
SPARKY: Don't touch me! They're spying on us and lying about it!
ELSA: Yeah, go on. Arrest us! Cowards!
CONRAD: Are you getting this on camera? See you round, Ruby.

TRINITY WELLS: Fascism on the streets of Britain tonight. An innocent podcaster is in custody after a harmless stunt in the British village of Colson...
REETA CHAKRABARTI: Clark was held for 24 hours on charges of civil unrest, but released after public protests and a social media backlash.
JOEL DOMMETT: Everyone is taking their masks off. I mean, who's next? Jonathan Ross? Apparently, that is not a mask.

(On the One Show.)

ALEX JONES: You took a big risk. We can see on the video, there are soldiers literally pointing their guns at you.
CONRAD: That's how they suppress us.

[Ruby's home]

(Ruby is being consoled by Carla and Louise.)

CONRAD [on TV]: With fear. Meanwhile, they're working against us.

[UNIT Operations]

(On the big screen.)

CONRAD [livestream]: So, today, I am naming and shaming every person employed by UNIT. Their names and addresses are on the screen right now. Every one of them is spying on you and lying about it. So let's turn the tables. It's time to act.

(Rhys Cook, 31 Museum Court, Kensington; Caroline Moon, 1 Brockwell Drive, Walthamstow; Depesh Singh, 4a Thomas Street, Staines; Dipika Patel, 31 Manor Park View, Basingstoke; Elizabeth Dennis, 37 Riverside Place, Brentwood, Henry Stewart, 4 Clockwork Place, Woking; Mollie Vickers, 73 Acer Gardens, Northampton; Julian Winters, 4 Dryden Gardens, Wickford...)

[UNIT vehicle]

(Ruby is rescued from a crowd outside her home.)

PROTESTOR ONE: Liar! You people should be ashamed!
PROTESTOR TWO: Where's your mum, Ruby? Abandoned you again, has she?
DRIVER: Your family are en route to the safe house. HQ want you at the tower.

(An egg is thrown at the window.)

TRINITY WELLS: Conrad Clark has hit a nerve. He's appealing to the disaffected youth and they are listening.
INFLUENCER 2: Guys, they are wasting our taxes...
INFLUENCER 3: Have you seen this? Conrad Clark takes down the establishment using a plot twist from Scooby-Doo.
INFLUENCER 2: ..12 helicopters...
SELORM ADONU: Yo, this guy is a legend!
INFLUENCER 2: ..and machineguns...
INFLUENCER 3: He's my hero.
SELORM ADONU: Taking on the Army?
INFLUENCER 2: ..and for what?
SELORM ADONU: That's a choice.

[Road]

SPARKY: There she is! UNIT lies! UNIT spies!
TRINITY WELLS [OC]: People are now questioning the UK Government's contributions to UNIT's overheads. I mean, they are debating it in Parliament.

[UNIT Operations]

SHIRLEY: Eight years ago, Conrad applied to work here. Kate even interviewed him. This is a grudge dressed up as a youth movement.
RUBY: No, it's more than that. It's about power. And this is giving him a voice, right? I mean, he's been craving attention his whole life and his mum practically ignored him till the day she died.
SHIRLEY: His mother's not dead. Moira Clark lives in the South of France. Nice villa, paid for by Conrad. Meanwhile, he's raking it in. 80,000 paid subscribers, he owns three properties, and, of course, he's a tax dodger.
KATE: Why is that containment cube outside?
IBRAHIM: Orders to have the payload transferred to Geneva. Our security status has been downgraded.
KATE: Oh, this is getting way out of hand. I'm glad you're okay.
SHIRLEY: How was Whitehall?
KATE: Cabinet only care about their jobs. If there's enough pressure, they'll fold, support a full inventory of UNIT premises.
RUBY: But if your tech goes public...
KATE: Yeah, imagine what happens when a dictator gets access to a time window, or a transduction drive. Our technology would tear the world apart.

(Jordan is downstairs in reception, messing with the security doors.)

KATE: Are local agents all safe?
IBRAHIM: Everyone accounted for.
RUBY: How did Conrad get a staff list?
KATE: We're working on the assumption he has someone on the inside.

[UNIT ground floor]

(Jordan has tasered a guard and is accessing an external door.)

JORDAN: I've cleared a path to the lift, but we need to move quick.

[UNIT Operations]

SHIRLEY: The Vlinx is running live intercept on all personnel. Phone, emails, the works, looking for any links to Conrad Clark.
VLINX: Deep scan at 90 percent.
KATE: Encode the results, this screen only.
IBRAHIM: We've got a problem.

[Staircase]

(Conrad takes the semi-automatic gun from the fallen guard.)

JORDAN: What are you doing? This is a stunt, we don't need weapons.

(They struggle, the gun goes off.)

[UNIT Operations]

KATE: That's confirmation. I need those results.
VLINX: Results collated. Two subjects identified. Subject one, Ruby Sunday.
RUBY: Yeah, well, skip that.
VLINX: Subject two, Jordan Lang.
SHIRLEY: Jordan? There's layers of bounced VPNs, shadow accounts, false identities.
KATE: Follows dozens of radical blogs. Subscription to Albion TV, revisionist podcasts... It's an echo chamber of disinformation.
RUBY: Well, where is he now?
IBRAHIM: Attention all units. Does anyone have eyes on Jordan Lang? All units, locate Jordan Lang.

[Staircase]

IBRAHIM [OC]: All units, all units...

(Jordan's hand twitches. The lift ascends.)

[UNIT Operations]

SHIRLEY: Ground staff report shots fired. And someone's in the lifts.
IBRAHIM: I need you to authorise a deadlock seal of this level immediately.
RUBY: Kate!
KATE: How many? Are they armed?
SHIRLEY: Cams are down, but scans indicate one male, aged 20-25.
RUBY: Yeah, it's Conrad.
IBRAHIM: Stop the lift.
KATE: No, wait. Let him come.
RUBY: What?
IBRAHIM: He might be armed. That man has singlehandedly undermined everything we work for. We need to finish this. Defensive positions!
SOLDIER: Yes, ma'am.

(The lift opens. Conrad still has the gun and his webcam transmit light is flashing.)

KATE: Hold your fire. Do not shoot.
CONRAD: Wise words. Cos the world is watching you right now.
KATE: Drop the gun, Conrad.
CONRAD: That's a lot of weapons pointing at one man. I'm just defending myself.
IBRAHIM: Drop it, now!
CONRAD: I don't take orders from traitors! And that's what you are. All of you.
RUBY: Conrad, this has to stop.
CONRAD: Go play with your imaginary goblins. I'm exposing the truth.
RUBY: You're not, though. This isn't about a cause. It's grandstanding, and ego. You're a lying little boy that can't bear to be called out.
KATE: Don't you dare point a gun at her! You were right, Conrad. I didn't remember you. So I checked my notes from that interview eight years ago, and do you know what I wrote?
SHIRLEY: (sotto) I'd throw in a compliment.
KATE: The three words that summed you up? Don't trust him.
CONRAD: Mmm. Ha. You think you're so superior. Up in your tower, looking down on us.
KATE: Keeping you safe.
CONRAD: I want a confession. On camera. Admit to the lies. Show us the monster costumes. Show us the tech that you're hiding, that we paid for.
RUBY: You're deluded.
CONRAD: The grown-ups are talking! Come on, Commander-in-chief. Admit. Or are you a coward, like your father was?
KATE: You should be very careful what you say about my father.
CONRAD: His only legacy was a pack of lies.
KATE: He was a hundred times the man you are. And that gun is UNIT issue. So where's Jordan Lang?
CONRAD: Who?
IBRAHIM: He's been shot. Ground team are rushing him to the infirmary.
KATE: You shot someone to get in here?
CONRAD: It's nothing to do with me.
KATE: A man's life is hanging in the balance and you're not even sorry.
CONRAD: Maybe you shot him. Or he was an actor. Or he never existed. So come on. Confess! All right. Let's start with your best friend. Where is the Doctor and his box of tricks?
RUBY: Oh, you're so lucky he's not here.
KATE: She's telling the truth. And, actually, I'm glad he's not here. Because he would've stopped me.
CONRAD: Oh. From what?
KATE: From showing you and your followers what we're protecting them from.

(Kate opens the doors to the helipad and that containment cube.)

KATE: The truth, Conrad. As requested.
CONRAD: What's that?
RUBY: Conrad, get out. It's hunting you!
CONRAD: What's in there?

(Containment cube S-47 opens.)

KATE: Everyone, stay well back. It's coming, Conrad. And it's after you.
CONRAD: You're bluffing!
KATE: It can feel your heartbeat. Smell the blood in your veins. So I'm wondering, how committed are you to the lies you've told?

(Power shutdown.)

KATE: What do you truly believe?
VLINX: Alert! Alert! Power instability. Emergency mode activated.

(The Shreek is out of the cube. Conrad runs for the lift.)

KATE: Leave him. Stay back.
CONRAD: Let me out! Let me out!
VLINX: Ops Room compromised.
IBRAHIM: It's in the vent space.
VLINX: Evacuate. Evacuate.

(The Vlinx sinks down into the floor on its hydraulic station.)

RUBY: Where's it gone?
CONRAD: How do I get out? Tell me how to get out!
KATE: You don't. All cameras, live transmission to Conrad's social media. We're locked down, Conrad.
IBRAHIM: Those vents lead outside.
KATE: It won't leave. Not while he's here.
RUBY: We've got to get him out.

(Conrad starts shooting at shadows in the ceiling.)

IBRAHIM: Everyone, get back!
RUBY: Kate, we have to help him.

(The Shreek breaks into the ops room. Conrad shoots at it, and runs out of bullets.)

CONRAD: Shoot it! Help me! Help me!

(The Shreek knocks the gun out of Conrad's hands.)

CONRAD: Please! Please, stop it!
KATE: You told us it's not real.
SHIRLEY: Kate, do something.
KATE: What's behind your mask, Conrad? An angry little man who put the safety of this country at risk, everything my father ever worked for, for personal gain. For a lie.

(Conrad and the Shreek are face to face, like Ripley and the Alien.)

CONRAD: All right! Okay, I lied! I lied about everything! Just make it stop, please! Please! Help me!

(Ruby tasers the Shreek.)

CONRAD: Thank you.
RUBY: Go to hell.

(Conrad stands up and laughs.)

CONRAD: Least your special effects are improving.
(The Shreek bites into Conrad's arm. He screams.
Next morning. A helicopter takes the containment cube away.)
VLINX: Shreek transfer now in progress.
IBRAHIM: Latest from the hospital. Conrad will live. And Jordan Lang's out of ICU.
KATE: Good.
IBRAHIM: Last night went way too far. Geneva will want...
KATE: Like you said, he'll live.
SHIRLEY: Hmm. Things are looking up. "I Stand With UNIT" is a hashtag. So is "Hot Taser Lady". Do they mean you or me?
KATE: You okay?
RUBY: No, I don't think I am. Cos I see it now. I've just been stuck in limbo, waiting for... ..the Doctor, for the end of the world. And I just don't know how to get any better. It's like everything I've seen, the good and the bad... I just need some time to get my head around it. Away from everyone. Somewhere new. On my own.
KATE: Of course you do. And when you're ready, if you're ready to talk... you call me.
RUBY: Yeah.
SHIRLEY: You've already got two mums. What, do you collect 'em?

[TARDIS]

(The TARDIS materialises around Conrad in his cell. Conrad has a metal band round his arm, where the lower part has been reattached, I presume.)

DOCTOR: The Shreek is back in its hive. No need to thank me. You have to be invited into my TARDIS, Conrad. To be special. But you? You're special... for all the wrong reasons. You see, I am fighting a battle on behalf of everyday people, who just want to get through their day, and feel safe, and warm, and fed. And then along comes this... noise. All day long, this relentless noise. Cowards like you, weaponising lies, taking people's insecurity and fear and making it currency. You are exhausting. You stamp on the truth, choke our bandwidth and shred our patience. Because the only strategy you have is to wear us down. But the thing is, Conrad, I have energy to burn and all the time in the universe.
CONRAD: (laughs) What is this? An intervention? Are you here to save my soul?
DOCTOR: You betrayed my friend.
CONRAD: You've had plenty of... friends. Have you met Belinda Chandra yet?
DOCTOR: Who? You want spoilers? I'll tell you your future. You die in a prison cell, boiling in anger and poison until your heart packs in at age 49, alone and unloved. Forgotten. The world carries on, the world gets better. You aren't even a footnote, just ashes on the wind.
CONRAD: I don't accept your reality, Doctor. I reject it. So put me back in my prison, and get off my world.

(The Doctor clicks his fingers.)

[Conrad's cell]

CONRAD: Did I imagine that?
MRS FLOOD: No, sweetheart. It's ever so big, innit?
CONRAD: Who are you?
MRS FLOOD: Oh, I'm the Governor. And it's your lucky day.

(She holds up a metal hoop with an old-fashioned set of cell keys on it.)

Transcript originally provided by Chrissie. Adapted by TARDIS.guide. The transcripts are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All other copyrights property of their respective holders.