Abominable Script
Michele Firmasyah
When a ferocious blizzard hits a Midwestern town without warning, a young teacher and her students are left trapped in a one-room schoolhouse. Miss Blake arrives in the morning concerned with controlling her rambunctious charges and keeping her courtship out of the town gossip, but when the storm hits, it's the rapidly dwindling fuel for the stove that becomes crucial. Unlikely students rise to the occasion as they all face a life-and-death decision: should they stay in the schoolhouse and risk freezing, or venture out into a storm so brutal that they've seen locals lose their bearings--and even their sanity? A heartrending drama based on the events of the 1888 "Children's Blizzard."
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(High on a mountainside, sheltered by a rockyoutcrop, a camp fire glimmers fitfully in the night air. A man criesout. Edward Travers, woken by the cry, sits up quickly.)
TRAVERS: John?
(Noticing his companion's empty sleeping bag, Travers takes his rifleand moves towards the sound.)
TRAVERS: John, where are you?
(Another scream. Travers back away in fear then turns and stumbles intothe night. An enormous shadow falls across the campsite and an objectis tossed to the ground - Travers' rifle, twisted beyond recognition.)
(The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria are gathered infront of the scanner screen.)
DOCTOR: I don't believe it. Marvellous. After all this time.
JAMIE: Oh, what's so marvellous about that?
DOCTOR: Well, don't you see, Jamie? It's the Himalayas. And I dobelieve we're in exactly the right.Now, wait a minute.
JAMIE: The Hima - what?
DOCTOR: Shush. Shush.
VICTORIA: The Himalayas, Jamie. They're mountains.
JAMIE: Aye, I can see that. Hey, is it the Earth, Doctor? I don't fancyanother tangle down the Cybermen's tomb.
DOCTOR: Shush, Jamie, shush. Yes, of course it's the Earth. Yes, yes, Ithink I'm right. Yes.
JAMIE: Where are these mountains?
VICTORIA: Don't you know where the Himalayas are? They're in India.Well, at least I think so.
DOCTOR: Yes, that's it! I knew it, I knew it. It's incredible. Right.Oh no. No, not India. This is Tibet. That's where we are, Tibet. Now,there's no time to be lost. Come along, Jamie, we must find the ghanta.
JAMIE: The what?
DOCTOR: The ghanta, the ghanta. I put it here somewhere. Come along,Jamie, help me.
(The Doctor rummages in a large chest.)
JAMIE: Hey, what am I supposed to be looking for?
DOCTOR: I told you it's. Good Lord, I haven't seen that for years.
JAMIE: Oh, that's the ghanta then?
DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. It's a. Well, whatever it is, it's nice to seeit again.
VICTORIA: Oh.
(Jamie has found a set of bagpipes.)
DOCTOR: Thank you. Come along, Victoria.
JAMIE: Hey, Doctor, would you look at these? You never told me you hadthese.
DOCTOR: No, Jamie.
JAMIE: Hey. Oh, I could fix those easily.
DOCTOR: Yes, I was afraid of that.
VICTORIA: Jamie, you're getting as bad as the Doctor.
DOCTOR: Come along, help me find the ghanta.
VICTORIA: It would help us considerably if we knew what we were lookingfor.
DOCTOR: Ghanta!
VICTORIA: But what is it?
DOCTOR: Oh, what is it? You don't know? Oh, it's a bell.
VICTORIA: Oh, it's a bell, Jamie.
JAMIE: Oh, a bell. Oh, well now we know what we're looking for.
DOCTOR: Yes, it's a Tibetan bell, actually. A holy relic. This one isquite small. It has a dragon on it. As a matter of fact, it has ratheran interesting history. It was. Oh. Ah ha, yes, I'll have that.
The Doctor takes out a huge fur coat.)
DOCTOR: Yes, it's just the thing for this climate. Now, you might aswell find yourselves something while you're about it. How do I look?
VICTORIA: Doctor, you look beautiful.
DOCTOR: Yes, I thought I might. I think I'll go and have a scoutaround. Now, you two find the bell. It's very important.
VICTORIA: Oh, but why do you want it?
DOCTOR: Because down there it's going to guarantee us the welcome of alifetime.
VICTORIA: Down there?
(The Doctor goes outside.)
JAMIE: Oh, don't ask me. When you've been with the Doctor as long as Ihave, you begin to realise you don't know what he's talking about. We'dbetter find this bell of his.
VICTORIA: Oh, wait a minute, Jamie.
JAMIE: Hey, come and give us a hand.
VICTORIA: I want to see where the Doctor's gone. Now if I turn this tothe left it should. Ah ha that's it.
(Jamie takes a scimitar from the chest.)
JAMIE: Hey, now would you look at this. Oh, that's marvellous. What.Hey, what's that?
VICTORIA: Where?
JAMIE: A great sort of hairy beastie. Turn the thing back.
VICTORIA: Oh.
JAMIE: No, to the right.
VICTORIA: I am.
JAMIE: Downwards. That's it, there.
(A large fur covered figure looms up on the screen.)
JAMIE: Oh no, my mistake. The great hairy beastie, it's the Doctor.
(Jamie has found a drawstring bag labelled Ghantaof Detsen Monastery.)
VICTORIA: A monastery.
JAMIE: Aye, that'll be where he's gone.
VICTORIA: I wonder why he wouldn't take us?
JAMIE: You can never tell with the Doctor. Hey, just thought. Do theylet lasses into monasteries?
VICTORIA: I don't know. Oh, don't say that.
JAMIE: Oh, never mind. I suppose he'll manage somehow.
VICTORIA: Hey, shall we open it?
JAMIE: I don't think so. The Doctor might not like it.
(Making his way back to the Tardis, the Doctornotices something on the ground. He bends down to examine a vastfootprint. From some way off, a shaggy figure is watching from behind atree. It disappears as the Doctor stands up again.)
VICTORIA: Apart from climbing boots, I really thinkyou ought to wear something warm.
JAMIE: I tell you, I'm a Highlander. The cold doesn't affect me.
VICTORIA: There's a great deal of difference between the Highlands andthe Himalayas, Jamie.
JAMIE: Aye, they're bigger.
(The Doctor enters.)
VICTORIA: Oh, there you are, Doctor. I found this bell thing you werelooking for.
DOCTOR: Oh, splendid, splendid.
VICTORIA: Is the monastery far? Can we come too?
DOCTOR: Yes. No. One thing at a time, Victoria. We must find thisghanta.
VICTORIA: Oh, here.
DOCTOR: Hmm? Ah. Hmm.
VICTORIA: Is this where we're going, Detsen?
DOCTOR: Detsen, yes, that's the name of the monastery, but I'm afraidyou're not going. Well, not yet a while anyway.
VICTORIA: Doctor.
DOCTOR: No, I think it'd be better if I went alone.
JAMIE: You've seen something haven't you? Would it not be better I wentwith you?
VICTORIA: Is there something dangerous then, Doctor?
DOCTOR: Oh, good heavens, no. No, there's nothing for you to worryabout. Now, you stay here with Jamie, inside, and I'll be as quick as Ican.
VICTORIA: Oh, er, Doctor?
(Victoria holds out the bag.)
DOCTOR: Oh. I nearly forgot it.
(A trail of large footprints leads across the rockyterrain and into the trees where the same large hairy figure standsstaring down onto the path. The Doctor approaches. He stops and looksaround him, then carries on.)
(The Doctor finds Travers' deserted campsite.)
DOCTOR: Anybody here?
(He finds the mangled rifle, then behind a rock, a dead man.)
(Outside the Tardis, Victoria is sight-seeing whilst wearing plus-foursand a tweed jacket.)
JAMIE: What can you see?
VICTORIA: Come on, it's a marvellous view.
JAMIE: Aye, so it is. Now, come away back.
VICTORIA: Why?
JAMIE: Because the Doctor said that, Well if you must know, I am cold.
VICTORIA: Didn't I tell you? Now why don't you go and get that coat?
JAMIE: Because I'm not leaving you out here on your own, and that'sfinal.
VICTORIA: Jamie, look.
JAMIE: What is it?
VICTORIA: Footprints. Look at the size of them. Something's beenwalking round the Tardis. What could it be, Jamie, a bear?
JAMIE: Whatever it is, it's pretty big. We'd better get inside.
VICTORIA: I'd like to find out what it is first. Wouldn't you?
JAMIE: Look, we must be careful. This could be dangerous. Wait while Iget that sword.
(The Doctor approaches the gate set in themonastery wall. He is carrying Travers' rucksack. He knocks. He knocksagain.)
DOCTOR: Hello there?
(No sound but the wind. The Doctor knocks again then pushes at thesmall wicket gate, which creaks open.)
(It is deserted. Cloisters run down one side anddoors leading to the interior. At the far end is a statue of Buddha, ona plinth. The Doctor walks over to it. Then he tries one of the doors,but it is locked.)
DOCTOR: Hello? Where is everybody?
(He turns around to see a small band of warrior monks with swordsdrawn. The gate is closing behind them. A bearded European withbandaged head is with them.)
DOCTOR: Oh, there you are. I thought, I thought for one moment.
KHRISONG: (warrior leader) What do you want here?
DOCTOR: I've come to
TRAVERS: Look! He's got my rucksack.
DOCTOR: Oh, that. Oh.
TRAVERS: You murderous devil.
KHRISONG: Who is this man?
TRAVERS: I don't know, but this is mine all right.
THOMNI: (young monk) But you said it was
KHRISONG: Be silent. You said it was a beast that attacked you.
TRAVERS: Yes, but it was dark, remember. All I could see was a vagueshape, but I felt its hair. Well it's quite obvious now it's this coathe's wearing.
KHRISONG: Why did you attack this man?
DOCTOR: Me? I haven't attacked anyone. I found the haversack on themountain.
TRAVERS: He's lying.
DOCTOR: I also found a dead man.
TRAVERS: Yes, and you killed him.
KHRISONG: Enough. Seize him.
DOCTOR: But you can't possibly
KHRISONG: Silence. This man accuses you of one crime, but there havebeen many others. If you are responsible, be sure you will be punished.Take him away.
DOCTOR: But this is ridiculous. Why don't you listen to me? Where areyou taking me?
TRAVERS: Watch him carefully, Khrisong. He's dangerous.
KHRISONG: This is possible.
THOMNI: We do not know he is the attacker.
TRAVERS: Of course he is. I've just said he's so.
THOMNI: Why then did he come here?
KHRISONG: That also we shall discover.