EXT. DELTA MAGNA. NIGHT.
The SWAMPIE ritual is in full flow. There are twenty of
them, jogging on the spot, waving spears, thumping chests. Blazing torches.
SWAMPIES:
(ENERGETIC CHANT) Kroll! Kroll! Kroll! Kroll!
VOICE:
(EMBARRASSED COUGH)
SWAMPIES halt, mid-chant, and turn to see COLONY SARFF
gliding towards them like one of the Gentlemen out of Buffy. He halts.
The SWAMPIES stare at him in astonishment.
SARFF:
Where... is... the... Doctor?
SWAMPIES look at each other, then back to SARFF.
SARFF:
Where... is... the... Doctor?
SWAMPIES shake their heads, shrug.
SWAMPIE LEADER:
No idea, sorry.
No idea, sorry.
SARFF narrows his eyes.
SARFF:
Are... you... sure... about that?
Are... you... sure... about that?
SWAMPIE LEADER:
Yep.
Yep.
SARFF:
You’re... not... lying to me, by any chance, are you?
SWAMPIE LEADER:
Nope.
SWAMPIES try to avoid SARFF’s gaze. They glance around. One
of them picks his fingernails. Another silently whistles. Another pretends
to check his watch even though he isn’t wearing a watch.
SWAMPIE LEADER:
We haven’t seen him for ages. Sorry.
We haven’t seen him for ages. Sorry.
SARFF:
Can... you.. take a message?
Can... you.. take a message?
The SWAMPIE LEADER shakes his head.
SARFF:
(WEARY SIGH) Fine. Fine. I can see I’m wasting my time here.
(WEARY SIGH) Fine. Fine. I can see I’m wasting my time here.
SARFF takes out a small clipboard and ticks off a name on a
list.
SARFF:
(TO HIMSELF) ...Delta... Mag...na. Right... what’s next? Atrios. Right. Atrios.
(TO HIMSELF) ...Delta... Mag...na. Right... what’s next? Atrios. Right. Atrios.
SARFF revolves on the spot and heads off. The SWAMPIES
resume their chant.
SWAMPIES:
Kroll! Kroll! Kroll!
Kroll! Kroll! Kroll!
SARFF:
(EMBARRASSED COUGH)
(EMBARRASSED COUGH)
The SWAMPIES halt, to see SARFF has only moved about one yard.
SARFF:
Sorry. My Segway’s got stuck. Would one of you mind giving me a push?
Sorry. My Segway’s got stuck. Would one of you mind giving me a push?