Charge

More deleted scenes, now from part three of The Curse of Davros. We are now into serious spoiler territory, so be warned, and do not allow your pupils to descend a millimetre lower if you have not already heard the story, available for purchase here.

First of all, material cut/trimmed from the first draft. This part of scene 46 was cut/tightened to half its length:

WELLINGTON:

We know they are the Emperor’s new allies. We know that two days ago the Emperor was in poor health, distracted, looking old beyond his years, but that ever since these ‘Daleks’ came on the scene, he has been a changed man.

JARED:

Well, I don’t know that much. I know they’re aliens...

WELLINGTON:

Aliens? You mean Spanish mercenaries?

JARED:

No, a bit more alien than that.

WELLINGTON:

Their origins are not important. What are their numbers? Where are they deployed? How are they armed?

JARED:

I don’t know how many of them are. They’re disguised, it’s like they’re invisible. As far as their weapons go, they’ve got laser guns.

This section was heavily cut down:

SCENE 49. ENGLISH CAMP. DAY.

(ENGLISH ARTILLERY FIRING IN B/G)

MERCER:

(BREATHLESS) I’m sorry, your grace.

WELLINGTON:

What is it? Report, Captain Mercer, Report.

MERCER:

Our artillery, sir. I ordered them to fire on the French infantry in Hougemont wood, but when French began to return fire on our positions, they disobeyed their orders, and began to fire on the French artillery.

WELLINGTON:

The idiots. That will simply draw more fire. And the range of the French artillery is greater than ours; they are trying to make us waste our ammunition, while they pick off our batteries, one by one. And meanwhile their infantry continue to advance towards us through the wood.

MERCER:

I shall order the men to resume their bombardment of Hougemont, your grace...

JARED:

Woah. This is just like playing Command and Conquer.

WELLINGTON:

Why is this French spy still here?

DICKSON:

I’m sorry, sir, in the confusion –

The cut beginning of scene 53 (spoilers ahoy!)

SCENE 53. INT. DAVROS CHAMBER. DAY.

FLIP:

So you exchanged bodies with this Davros guy?

DAVROS:

Yes. And given the choice, it’s not hard to understand why he’d prefer to remain in my body.

FLIP:

What do you mean?

DAVROS:

“Try walking in another man’s shoes.” I know now what it feels like to be Davros. To be unable to taste, to smell, only able to see through an artificial eye. To be devoid of all physical contact, strapped into a machine, a machine wired directly into my nervous system. I am in constant pain. Every movement is an effort. I have the mind of a genius, trapped inside a breathing corpse.

Pretty much all of the following was cut, as it was bit ‘look at me, I’ve done my research!’

SCENE 59. EXT. BATTLEFIELD. DAY.

(THE BARRAGE HAS ENDED. HORSES SNORT)

BONAPARTE:

The ground has dried, our army is in position, our cavalry is mounted, and our cannons have weakened the enemy’s resolve. The time has come for us to attack.

(GENERALS CHEER)

BONAPARTE:

We shall begin with an infantry strike at the centre of the British line, at the farmhouse at La Haye Saint. We will divide the allied army along the road to Waterloo. Marshal Ney, the defences at La Haye Saint?

NEY:

Our scouts estimate over four thousand men, your grace, maybe more.

BONAPARTE:

Against D’Erlon’s first corps. Order him to send in two brigades on the stroke of one o’clock. Let the skirmishers engage the enemy while the infantry surrounds the farmhouse to cut off any line of retreat or reinforcement. Then, when we have captured it, we shall use it as though to drive a wedge in the British defences; and let the rest of the first corps advance through La Saint and onto the ridge.

NEY:

I shall pass on your instructions at once.

Another scene where I cut the first few lines and came in later:

SCENE 60. INT. DUNGEONS. DAY.

(DOOR SLAMS)

FLIP:

So that’s it? We’re stuck here.

DAVROS:

It appears so. I’m sorry, my dear.

FLIP:

Hey, don’t apologise, you weren’t the one who got my flat blown up. And I met Napoleon earlier.

Going into the second draft, more material was cut, again, showing off research for its own sake:

SCENE 46. INT. ENGLISH CAMP. DAY.

(DISTANT SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE, CANNON)

MERCER:

Napoleon’s army are still gathering at La Belle Alliance, your grace.

WELLINGTON:

He is clearly waiting until his force is at its greatest before mounting an attack.

This rather good speech from scene 53 was revised extensively:

DAVROS:

This is not the same thing. This is not life. This body has no capacity for empathy, for joy, for hope. It is a vessel of bitterness and decay, of loneliness and dread. Let me tell you, if there was a switch on this chair, a switch that would turn off the life-support, that would bring an end to the agony, I would press that switch in an instant. Even if it meant the death of those I cared for, even if it meant the end of everything I held dear, I would not have the strength to resist it. Such is the torture of living in this twisted frame. I crave death.

And this entire scene, the original cliffhanger to episode three, was entirely cut save for the first line, which was moved to episode four:

SCENE 61. EXT. BATTLEFIELD . DAY.

(BATTLE RAGES IN THE B/G, CANNONS, EXPLOSIONS, SHOUTS)

BONAPARTE:

The first corp has captured La Haye Sainte and is advancing towards the ridge. The British defence is crumbling and this time the Prussians will not be coming to their rescue!

DOCTOR:
You have done well, my friend. A flawless strategy. To victory!

(GLASSES CLINKED)

BONAPARTE:

To victory! Because I promise you this; by the end of the day, there will not be a single Englishman left alive.

DOCTOR:

Excellent. There is something so gratifying about watching the death throes of one’s enemies.

NEY:

Emperor! Your majesty, the British line -

BONAPARTE:
My telescope, man, hand me my telescope! (BEAT, AMUSED) Oh my. The heavy cavalry. The British are going to attempt to charge us.

DOCTOR:

You know what to do, Emperor Bonaparte?

BONAPARTE:

Of course. If the Duke of Wellington desires a battle, then a battle he shall have. Let him face the might of the entire French cavalry. Marshal Ney, give the order to charge!

NEY:

As your majesty commands. (BEAT, SHOUTS) Ready men! On my signal! One. Two. Charge!

(WITH A DRUMROLL, TRUMPETS PLAYING THE MARSEILLES, SHOUTS OF ‘VIVE L’EMPEREUR’, AND HORSES SNORTING, WE HEAR THE FRENCH CAVALRY LAUNCHING ITSELF DOWN THE HILL!)

END OF EPISODE THREE

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?

The Girl I Knew Somewhere

Deleted scenes time again! Hooray. This time from The Curse of Davros, released in 2012. Or, as it was called during the drafts and the recording, Waterloo of the Daleks (the reason for the name change is not particularly interesting so I won’t tell you). As usual, deleted scenes may contain spoilers so if you haven’t heard the story, stop reading and click here to buy it! 

I always aim to over-write every script I do (by over-write, I mean write too much, word-count-wise) and Curse was no exception. Every episode was at least 1000 words over length, about one fifth too long, which is pretty much ideal as it means a 6000-word script tends to have enough ‘good bits’ for a 5000-word script. It’s then just a process of cutting everything else, over successive drafts, wielding the pruning shears with increasing ruthlessness.

So, before I even delivered the first draft, I’d already cut the following from part one:

Cut from scene 2:

(DURING THIS, BUS PULLS OFF)

JARED:

But what can you do? You don’t know any first aid. Shouldn’t we just leave it to the authorities?

FLIP:

You might want to be boring but I’m gonna check it out.

JARED:

But there might be, you know, aliens and stuff.

FLIP:

Well duh. Bit of excitement. Well, are you coming or not?

JARED:

I don’t know. Could be dangerous.

Cut from scene 5:

SCENE 5. EXT. WASTEGROUND. DAY.

(THE SITE OF THE CRASHED FLYING SAUCER. POLICE AND MILITARY RUNNING ABOUT, SHOUTING ORDERS. VEHICLES DRIVING PAST. SERGEANT ASH IS KEEPING THE PUBLIC AT BAY.)

ASH:

For the last time. This is a military exclusion zone. No members of the public or press beyond this point.

WOMAN:

We saw it come down last night.

ASH:

There’s been an accident with a privately-owned aircraft, that’s all. Now, go home. There’s nothing to see here.

MAN:

Then why are you here? Why all the soldiers and lorries? Why all the police with guns?

ASH:

Security. That’s all you need to know. Security.

WOMAN:

What is it, radiation or something?

ASH:

No radiation.

MAN:

No, it was some sort of experimental aircraft, something they’re trying to keep quiet.

ASH:

Listen. There’s just been an accident. If you want more information, go home and watch the local news or check the BBC website.

WOMAN:

It’s a cover up, that’s what it is. I saw a space ship crash. You’ve got aliens in there.

ASH:

Really. Just go home, please, some of us have a job to do.

MAN:

What are you, anyway? You’re not a regular. What is UNIT anyway?

WOMAN:

Unified Nations Intelligence Taskforce.

MAN:

What’s that, special ops?

ASH:

I’m not going to warn you again. If you don’t vacate the area, I can have you placed under arrest.

Cut from scene 8 (the information being moved to a scene later on):

DOCTOR:

The Daleks. The most terrible creations the universe has ever known.

FLIP:

The Daleks?

DOCTOR:

Creatures of pure hatred. Of absolute evil. And my greatest enemies.

FLIP:

Okay. You’re not making them sound good.

DOCTOR:

They’re probably already here, on Earth. How long has it been since you found me?

Cut from scene 13:

DOCTOR:

Something like that. Allowing us to make our escape!

FLIP:

Doctor. What about Jared?

DOCTOR:

What?

FLIP:

You forgot about him. You were going to have us leave with him still walking around with the brain of a Dalek.

DOCTOR:

Not at all. When the Daleks swapped his mind, they placed his mind into a Dalek’s body. Which presumably is -

FLIP:

On board their space craft?

DOCTOR:

Exactly. They’d want to keep it safe.

FLIP:

So when we get there, we can swap his mind back?

DOCTOR:

Of course.

FLIP:

Thank god. You had me worried for a minute there. So how do we find the Dalek’s space craft?

DOCTOR:

I’m working on it. Ha!

...along with a great deal else. And then, following notes from script editor Alan Barnes and director Nicholas Briggs, the following scenes were cut/reworked for the second draft.

This opening was cut/reworked because it was a bit too rude!

SCENE 1. EXT. STREET/BUS/STREET. NIGHT.

(CHUCKING OUT TIME AT A NIGHTCLUB. LAUGHTER, LOW THUMP OF MUSIC, TRAFFIC, MINICAB TOUTS, CLICK OF HIGH-HEELS.)

JARED: (CHASING AFTER HER)

Flip. Flip! What have I done wrong this time?

FLIP:

Does the name Kelly Parker ring any bells?

JARED:
What?

FLIP:

I saw you. The whole night. Staring at her with your tongue hanging out, just cos she looked like she was gonna fall out of her top at any second.

JARED:

Hey, I just wanted to be there when it finally happened.

FLIP:

Not funny, Jared. I’ve had enough.

SCENE 2. INT. BUS. NIGHT

(THE BUS IS MOVING. PASSENGERS CHATTER)

JARED:

Look, about Kelly Packer, I’m not interested. You’re the only girl for me, darling.

FLIP:

Don’t call me that, makes you sound like you’re in JLS.

JARED:

I’m sorry, alright? You want to do something different, we’ll do something different. What is it you want?

FLIP:

I don’t know. Just.

JARED:

Just what?

FLIP:

I’m bored of all this. Working in Freshgoods all week and watching your mates make fools of themselves every Saturday night. I just wish, I just wish something interesting would happen to me for once.

The following was cut to remove the character ‘Archer’ (formerly known as ‘Ash’):

SCENE 5. EXT. WASTEGROUND. DAY.

(POLICE AND MILITARY, SHOUTING ORDERS. VEHICLES DRIVING PAST. SERGEANT ARCHER KEEPING THE PUBLIC AT BAY.)

ARCHER:

This is a military exclusion zone. No members of the public beyond this point! There’s nothing to see here.

MAN:

Then why are you here? You’re not a regular soldier. What is ‘UNIT’ anyway?

ARCHER:

I’m not going to warn you again. If you don’t vacate the area I can have you placed under arrest.

(THE PUBLIC MOVE AWAY, PROTESTING)

ARCHER:

And that includes you.

JARED:

No, mate, you’ve gotta hear me out.

ARCHER:

I’m not interested.

JARED:

You will be. That thing that came down last night, that wasn’t all of it. There was an escape capsule, we found it in the park. I can show you.

ARCHER:

What?

JARED:

And that’s not all. There was a bloke inside it. Guy called the Doctor.

ARCHER:

Step under the barrier. (SHOUTS) Captain Finch. Captain!

(CAPTAIN FINCH APPROACHES. HE HAS A STIFF, FORMAL MANNER)

FINCH:

Yes, sergeant?

ARCHER:

This man claims to have found an escape pod. And someone called –

JARED:

The Doctor.

FINCH:

Very good, Sergeant. I will take it from here.

From scene 14, this was cut/revised as ‘perception filters’ are from the New Series so I had to call them ‘prismatic fields’ instead.

DOCTOR:

That’s where the Dalek pursuit ship is. It’s shielded by a perception filter, so you can’t see it unless you know what you’re looking for.

FLIP:

Oh, right, like the monkey dancing in the basketball match.

DOCTOR:

I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. Quick, get down!

And the following was cut to remove the character of the bus driver:

SCENE 15. INT. BUS. DAY.

(BUS SCREECHES TO A HALT, DOOR OPENS)

BUS DRIVER:

Hey, what’s going on, who are you?

FINCH:

I am Captain Finch, of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. I have reason to believe there are two dangerous fugitives on board this vehicle.

BUS DRIVER:

Only two?

FINCH:

You will co-operate or you will be exterminated.

BUS DRIVER:

Look, mate, if it’s all the same to you, (I) – (SCREAMS)

(DRIVER KILLED BY DALEK GUN. PASSENGERS SCREAM IN ALARM)

FINCH:

Detecting source of command network interference.

WOMAN:

Get away from me! You shot the driver!

It’s amazing, some of these scenes seem important and yet, cut them out, and you’d never miss them and everything happens much more quickly and tightly. Deleted scenes from part two will follow in due course...