The random witterings of Jonathan Morris, writer.

Monday 13 January 2014

Can't Speak French


Continuing from yesterday’s blog, deleted scenes from The Curse of Davros part two. Once again, I should remind you that these scenes may contain ‘spoilers’ so if you haven’t heard the story yet, I suggest you buy it from here!


First of all, sections cut from the first draft (which was initially 1200 words too long), mostly because they were explaining things that don’t need explaining (I find that including too many explanations makes things confusing, rather than too few):

Cut from scene 23:

FLIP:
Oh my God, I can’t breathe. I feel like I’ve got an elephant sitting on top of me...

DOCTOR:
It’s the g-force due to the ship accelerating out of the Earth’s gravity well. Don’t worry, it should only be for a few more seconds...

FLIP:
I hope so... I’m surprised the Daleks put up with this, don’t they feel the effects of gravity?

DOCTOR:
My dear, the Daleks don’t feel anything at all.

Cut from scene 25:

JARED:
Yeah. Like I could scream. You know like when you’re a kid, you have a temper tantrum? It felt like that, but all the time. It was like a sort of never-ending rage.

DOCTOR:
And that’s what it’s like to be a Dalek. That’s what Davros did to his own people.

FLIP:
And that’s what he plans to do to us? Stick us all in Daleks?

DOCTOR:
Oh no. The mind exchange is merely a means to an end.

Cut from scene 26:

DAVROS:
Take care. If I know the Doctor, he will already be planning his escape.

DALEK:
He would not dare. Any attempt and we will exterminate him and his companion. 

Fun with the telepathic translator cut from scene 30:

FLIP:
No, French is like ‘hong-i-hong-i-hong’. You’re speaking English, just like me.

PASCAL:
You thinking we are speaking English? And yet you are the one speaking perfect French!

FLIP:
Er, don’t think so, mate. I can’t speak French.

PASCAL
But you just said that. In French.

Cut from scene 31:

PASCAL:
Do not worry. She will come to no harm. And your turn will be next!

(HE GRABS FLIP)

FLIP:
Hey, no need to pull my arm out of its socket, I’m coming, alright? Ow! Ow! I thought French blokes were meant to be considerate...

(FLIP IS DRAGGED AWAY. FLAP SHUT)

JARED: (CALLNG AFTER)
Flip! Flip! (BEAT) Doctor. We’ve gotta do something.

DOCTOR:
I’m glad you agree, Jared. But, as you said, first we have to find a means of escape...

Cut from scene 33:

DOCTOR:
You’re going to lead us out of here. As prisoner and escort.

BOUVIER:
So you can scurry back to the Duke Of Wellington?

JARED:
Listen, mate, when will you get it into your head, we’re not spies.

DOCTOR:
Corporal. You will lead us to the Chateau Le Caillou. Or you will leave me no choice but to shoot you.

BOUVIER:
The Chateau Le Caillou?

DOCTOR:
Yes.

BOUVIER:
(LAUGHS)

JARED:
What’s so hilarious, laughing-boy?

BOUVIER:
The Chateau La Caillou. That is where I was about to take you! Orders direct from the Emperor himself!

Cut from scene 35:

FLIP:
Doctor, the guy you shot... I think he’s dead.

DOCTOR:
No, he’s just unconscious. I aimed the weapon to give him nothing more than a flesh wound. He’ll make a full recovery given time.

FLIP:
Oh. Well, I suppose that’s alright then.

PASCAL:
(SHOUTING) Over here! English spies! English spies!

DOCTOR:
I warned you –

FLIP:
Doctor, you can’t shoot him.

JARED:
It wouldn’t make any difference, he’s already raised the alarm. Look...

Cut from scene 37:

FLIP:
Jared! Doctor, we’ve lost Jared!

DOCTOR:
What?

FLIP:
We’ll have to go back for him.

DOCTOR:
Then if he has any sense, he’ll stay out of trouble. And if he’s been captured, well, then there’s nothing we can do.

FLIP:
What? I don’t believe you. I’m going back for him.

And cut from scene 41:

DOCTOR:
It may be a Dalek mothership, but it’s also a French chateau.

FLIP:
This is like being on a school trip. Except there isn’t a teacher constantly telling you not to step into the roped-off areas. Cos there aren’t any roped-off areas.

The following sections were cut from the second draft, starting with the end of scene 22 and a whole scene that was removed (which is a pity as it features some violent deaths!):

JARED:
And then he used this machine on me and...

FLIP
And then?

JARED:
And then I wasn’t me anymore.

SCENE 23. INT. DALEK SHIP. DAY.

(THE AREA WITH THE DALEK CONTAINMENT UNITS)

DALEK ONE:
You have re-exchanged all the humans’ minds?

DALEK TWO:
Yes.

DALEK ONE:
Then restore the Dalek containment units’ sight, mobility and weapons.

DALEK TWO:
I obey.

(DALEKS WAKING UP, MOVING)

FINCH:
I am Captain Finch of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce, and I have to warn you – (that what you have)

DALEK ONE: (OVER FINCH’S LINE)
Exterminate. Exterminate them all!

(DALEK GUNS FIRE)

FINCH & FOUR OTHER HUMAN PRISONERS:
(SCREAMS)

DALEK ONE:
Place them in the waste chute. Eject their remains into space.

DALEK TWO:
I obey.

(WASTE CHUTE ACTIVATED)

Cut from scene 26:

JARED:
So what happens to us now? We get taken to meet this Stavros fella?

DOCTOR:
Davros. And no, not if I can help it. When I come face to face with Davros I want it to be on my terms.

Cut from the beginning of scene 30:

(STORM RAGING OUTSIDE.)

BOUVIER:
Captain, there are men drenched to the skin out here, and you propose giving one of our tents to British spies?

PASCAL:
You will not question orders, Corporal Bouvier.

BOUVIER:
Very good, sir.

And cut from scene 31, my favourite scene in the play where Flip meets Napoleon and tells him what she knows about his future:

BONAPARTE:
Everything I have achieved, everything I have fought for, and all I am remembered for is introducing the metric system?