DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED
Episode 7
Written by
Ajoke Ibironke & Juno Dawson
BBC SOUNDS STING
We hear an eerie Spanish Riff play as the credits are read.
CREDITS
Doctor Who: Redacted. Episode 7.
Ajoke Ibironke & Juno Dawson
SCENE 1
A MYSTERIOUS ADVERT
We hear curious, mystical sounding music.
REQUIEM
Are you lost? Confused? Searching for answers? “Requiem” might offer the
answers you seek.
(Beat)
Something is very wrong with modern life. Loss, grief, missing people and alienation. A plague of loneliness.
(Beat)
Have you lost someone special? Fear no longer. I have the answers you seek. the Requiem Group. Our online group for those who’ve lost somebody. Thursdays, 7pm, GMT.
(Beat)
10% discount for anyone with information about ‘The Doctor’.
INT.CLEO FLAT. DAY
CLEO and SHAWNA listen to the advert on Cleo’s laptop. The advert abruptly stops with a click.
CLEO
She mentioned the Doctor! Play it again!
SHAWNA
Who?
CLEO
(Sighs)
Never mind. Where’d you get that?
SHAWNA
I recovered it from corrupted files on Abbie’s laptop.
CLEO
So weird. What do you think it is?
SHAWNA
Well there’s only one way to find out.
And you heard what she said. It’s for
lost people and you lost someone...
CLEO
(Uneasy)
Come on Shawna - I appreciate it,
but babe -
SHAWNA
Look at this, “For when you lose those
whom everyone else has forgotten.”
CLEO
Shawna “Whom.” Who says “Whom”?
That’s some Bridgerton nonsense.
SHAWNA
The point is - I think this is a real
lead. UNIT didn’t know anything; the
police weren’t interested; we’ve lost Abby...what else can we do?
CLEO
Babe, if I take any more time off work...
I told Jill I have shingles on my face.
How much time does that buy me?
SHAWNA
I dunno. Like a week?
CLEO
Fine. Though what am I gonna say to
this group? I think my brother got
kidnapped by government agents? They’ll
have me on a psych ward before you can
say Alien Foetus in a Jar.
SHAWNA
I dunno, Joe Rogan got a Spotify deal.
Purposeful music fades into:
PHONECALL
FX – a phone ringing.
CLEO
(Affectionately)
Oh hey Nana Thompson!
NANA
Hello, Cleo?
CLEO
Oh Shawna’s just in the bath -
NANA
That girl never answers her ruddy phone.
CLEO
(Laughs) Do you want me to get her?
NANA
Leave her be. Tell her to call me. I
was going out of my mind. Tell me Cleo,
is my granddaughter OK? Running off to Glasgow like that.
CLEO
Oh she’ll be fine.
NANA
What’s wrong, love? I can tell something’s off with her.
CLEO
She’s had a bit of a falling out with Abby...
NANA
Oh I wish she’d find a nice lesbian
and settle down.
CLEO
Yeah you and me both.
NANA
And what about you? Have you got a nice
man?
CLEO
Not quite Mrs Thompson, the only man I’m looking for right now is my brother. He’s gone missing.
NANA
All these people going missing. Awful business isn’t it? And how’s your mum
doing?
CLEO
I don’t really talk to my mum, Mrs
Thompson.
NANA
Whyever not?
CLEO
It’s complicated.
SCENE 3
INT. CLEO BATHROOM. EVE
We hear water dripping as SHAWNA is in the bath. Reminiscing, she plays a voicemail from Abby.
VOICEMAIL
You have 1 saved message.
ABBY
So!! Hi!! It’s Abby. Abby Mhail.
We met earlier today? The alien girl?
Not like, a literal alien. Just, the
one that was talking to you about aliens?
Oh my god this is embarrassing. ANYWAY.
I was wondering if you maybe wanted to
get coffee some time? Call me back or
give me a knock; I’m in 5F.
SFX: Voicemail cuts off. Beep as Shawna hits a button.
VOICEMAIL
End of messages.
SHAWNA
(To self)
What happened to us, Abz?
VOICEMAIL
To listen again, press 1. To save this message, press 2. To delete, press 3.
SFX: Beep key tone.
VOICEMAIL
Message saved.
Music begins and fades into next scene:
SCENE 4
EXT. BUSY LONDON STREET. DAY
CLEO calls ABBY.
ABBY
Oh my god, Cleo. Thank god! Why aren’t
you returning my calls?
CLEO
After what you did are you surprised?
ABBY
I know...I -
CLEO
No I don’t want to hear it, Abz. You don’t do things like this to people you love. People who love you.
ABBY
I just...
CLEO
You chose those UNIT psychos over us.
How could you?!
ABBY
Well if we’re gonna get to the bottom of this mystery, we need them, Cleo.
CLEO
You hurt me. You and Shawna are literally the only family I have. I don’t want an explanation or apology. I want changed behaviour or nothing. Because we can’t be friends – we can’t be family if this is what you’re choosing.
ABBY
(Sighs) Do you really mean that?
CLEO
What do you think?
She hangs up.
Sombre music builds momentum and continues into:
SCENE 5
INT. CLEO FLAT. EVE
SHAWNA waits for CLEO.
SFX: Rustle of crisp packets and sweets.
SHAWNA
You’re utting it fine...
CLEO
I’m on British Cleo Time. Take it or
leave it babe.
SHAWNA
Are you alright? You been crying?
CLEO
No. Just life allergies. Come on, I don’t wanna miss the start.
The music stops. They log on to the Zoom call. We hear the mysterious music from the ad.
SHAWNA
Is this it..? We’re in a waiting room.
CLEO
Looks like it. Give us the chocolate.
SHAWNA
There’s 20 people here.
CLEO
Yeah makes sense. There’s a lot of people going missing aren’t there.
SHAWNA
There she is: Requiem. She’s got her
camera off, shall I message her?
SFX: Cleo opening chocolate and taking a bite.
CLEO
It’s starting!
REQUIEM
Welcome new . What are your names?
CLEO
Hi, I’m Cleo.
SHAWNA
Shawna.
REQUIEM
Everyone, say hello to our new .
GROUP
(Terribly out of sync, varying signal qualities)
Hi Cleo! Hi Shawna!
REQUIEM
Excellent. Let us begin. As ever, I shall remain anonymous but understand, like you,
I have experienced loss. It is the price
we pay for the beauty of mortality.
CLEO
(Whisper)
Babe are we sure this isn’t a cult? It’s giving me very culty vibes.
SHAWNA
(Whisper)
She can still see us talking even if we’re on mute.
REQUIEM
You’ve lost someone.
SHAWNA
There’s only 18 people now.
REQUIEM
Perhaps you have lost many people.
CLEO
People bailing already. Good sign.
REQUIEM
And you have told yourself that it will be easier if you ignore the pain. If you press on as if it were no great injury. If you simply pretend the wound was never there until it feels as if it wasn’t. I understand. But I can tell you from experience that that will not stop this pain. You will not escape your grief. She - it will be a part of you, always. A scar that will ache when it gets cold in the dark.
(Beat)
I am here to help you lance the wound. To those we’ve lost. To never let them disappear.
She takes a significant pause.
REQUIEM
Which of you has the courage to speak first?
(Beat)
Peter.
We now hear a montage of the groups’ tales of woe. High pitched, melancholy yet creepy music plays throughout the montage.
PETER
Yeah so, my wife uh, well she’s gone missing. It’s been hard...
CHRISTINA
...Because – and it feels awful to it this but, I feel like I’m forgetting her. She’s only been missing for a few weeks but I’ve forgotten the sound of her voice, the way she smiled, even the colour of her eyes....
ELLIE
...Ellie here. I just wanted to say that I feel like I’m going a bit nuts actually. Like I’m seeing things…hearing things. I’m even having nightmares. But I can’t what’s causing them. And when I tell people I think something absolutely terrible has happened they don’t believe me.
REQUIEM
I believe you.
RACHEL
I’m Rachel. I know this sounds crazy, I do, but I just know deep down in my heart that I have a son. I can’t tell you his name, or what he looks like, but I just know I’m a –
Rachel stops abruptly. We hear static.
CLEO
Wait what happened there? Did she get cut off? This Zoom man.
SHAWNA
Shhhh!
CLEO
But where’d she go though?
MOHAMMED
There are pictures in my house of people I don’t recognise. I’m in the pictures too - how can that be? It doesn’t make any sense!
REQUIEM
Let us pause. Thank you, Mohammed. There
are all number of reasons that the mind might take it upon itself to protect you from its darkest corners. Our mind can
build a powerful shield around the past, keep us from the memories that wish us harm. I think it is important to that. It’s a reflex of survival. It’s your brain’s way of keeping you alive.
There’s a murmur of agreement. Cleo mutes the video call.
CLEO
What do you make of this? (Pause) It’s ok, we’re on mute.
SHAWNA
I hope Abby’s alright. Wherever she is...
SCENE 6
INT. UNIT LAB. EVE
FX - hear a howl of the Redacted Distortion, only this a very definite scream in the mix.
OSGOOD
Cut it off.
FX - a machine powers down.
ABBY
What is that?! It’s awful!
OSGOOD
We don’t know. Using Joel’s Dimensional Bridging Stabliser, we’ve isolated and amplified the disturbance. That’s what you’re hearing now. Glimpses from a parallel reality.
ABBY
Incredible. But it sounds like...
OSGOOD
Screaming. Yes, I know.
ABBY
Well then stop! You’re hurting it!
OSGOOD
We don’t know that. Metaphysically speaking, there’s nothing to hurt. All our monitors are very clear - there’s nothing there.
ABBY
But I can see...something. A shape. It looks like...a person.
SFX: Background noise of computers whirring and beeping.
OSGOOD
There’s a word for things you can see and hear but that aren’t really there.
ABBY
Ghosts.
OSGOOD
Whatever they are, we need to find what’s causing this and how it’s connected to thousands of missing people.
ABBY
Thousands?
OSGOOD
It’s an epidemic. A plague. And it’s
getting worse. At this rate, London
itself will disappear. And every other
major city on the planet. Paris, Rio,
Hong Kong…
ABBY
So what do we do?
OSGOOD
We find out what’s doing this. Resume the tests.
ABBY
No, no, no. Please wait...
OSGOOD
This is UNIT, Abby. Sometimes, we’re forced to make the hard choices. The choices no
one else can make. The choices no one else should have to make.
FX - the machine starts up again. The distorted scream gets louder.
ABBY
Osgood?
OSGOOD
Keep going.
The scream increases and suddenly stops.
SCENE 7
INT.DAY The Zoom session continues.
REQUIEM
Perhaps it is time for our newest
to contribute. Shawna?
SHAWNA
No thanks, not really the sharing kind.
REQUIEM
I understand. But I would encourage
you to try.
SHAWNA
We’re just trying to work out why people
are going missing.
REQUIEM
Who are you searching for?
SHAWNA
Well, Cleo’s lost her brother
REQUIEM
And who have you lost?
SHAWNA
No-one.
REQUIEM
There’s loss in your eyes.
SHAWNA
Oh god, I don’t even - you all have
real problems. I’m just upset about a
girl.
CLEO
Babe, that’s a real problem.
REQUIEM
I feel that we are missing context.
SHAWNA
Right. Sorry. There’s this girl –
woman, Abby.
Soft, heartwarming music plays as Shawna speaks fondly of Abby.
SHAWNA
She’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. Like, real deal, superhero, gonna-win-a-Nobel- prize level smart. But she’s also a carer for her Mum, so instead of I don’t know, ing the UN, she makes a podcast with me. With us.
REQUIEM
And what is the nature of this podcast?
SHAWNA
(Embarassed)
Mostly we talk about aliens. And Russian bots. QAnon, ATMOS, Saxon Truthers, you know.
REQUIEM
I see.
SHAWNA
The point is. I’m seriously head over
heels, Kristen Stewart rom-com actually in love with her. And I don’t want to be.
REQUIEM
Why?
SHAWNA
Well, first, she’s got this absolute waste of space of a boyfriend -
CLEO
(Interrupting)
Oh Shawna he’s fine come on.
(Shawna gives her a look).
Alright, I mean not as good as you obviously. Come on he’s fine.
SHAWNA
And more importantly, she just chose a bunch of space cops over her two best friends.
MOHAMMED
Space cops?
CLEO
Yes Mohammed, space cops. Keep up please.
SHAWNA
And I’m so angry with her. Because like, yes, I get it, she wants to go out and be a big damn hero. But just because they’ve got shiny uniforms doesn’t mean they’re the good guys.
REQUIEM
Are they the ‘bad guys’ then?
SHAWNA
Yes! No. I don’t know. All I actually know is that they lied to us. And they hurt Cleo. And I asked her to choose me and she didn’t.
And I really thought she would.
CLEO
Shawna, we’ll get her back.
REQUIEM
And what about you Cleo – what’s your story?
CLEO
Nah, it’s alright, someone else go.
REQUIEM
Cleo. Isn’t there anything you’d like to share? Shawna mentioned your brother.
The same high pitched music from before starts again.
CLEO
Uh, no, no. I wanna hear about the people
in these pictures in Mohammed’s house.
REQUIEM
Sorry, who’s house?
CLEO
Mohammed’s – you know the guy who was talking earlier.
SHAWNA
Babe, there is no Mohammed...
CLEO
Where’s he gone?
REQUIEM
No one has gone anywhere.
CLEO
Did he get cut off too? But his cameras still on though. Look, he’s right there! Kind of blurry...
SHAWNA
Who are you talking about?
CLEO
Mohammed. Look, look where I’m pointing!
ELLIE
Are you ok?
SHAWNA
Cleo, there’s nothing there.
CLEO
Yes there is! Look at him!
All fuzzy and… translucent.
SHAWNA
(UNSETTLED)
Cleo, this isn’t funny.
CLEO
I’m not joking Shawna!
SHAWNA
Ok so I’m starting to think the late-night coffee was a bad idea.
CLEO
(Thinking aloud)
Why am I different to you? I and you don’t.
SHAWNA
who?! Cleo, seriously, you’re scaring me
CLEO
(Beat)
Alright. Look, I’ll show you.
That box. Top right.
(Beat)
See, look? He’s gone.
SHAWNA
There wasn’t anyone there, Cleo.
CLEO
Shawna think about it. Why would someone
set up a Zoom to an empty room?
SFX: Cleo scribbling down a list.
REQUIEM
What are you doing?
CLEO
I’m writing down everyone who’s still here. Ellie, Peter, Dave...
REQUIEM
But why? Do you want to talk about it?
CLEO
Well there’s no point is there? If they
disappear you’re going to forget
they existed. Just like everyone does,
all the time.
REQUIEM
You sound frustrated. Is this about your family?
CLEO
Give the girl a prize!
(Deep breath)
I don’t have a family.
REQUIEM
Did they disappear as well? Tell me.
CLEO
(sighs)
My brother has. My Mum didn’t.
It’d be easier if she’d been magicked away or taken by aliens. But with her it’s just good old fashioned rejection.
SHAWNA
And she’s an idiot.
CLEO
Thanks hun.
REQUIEM
What of your father?
CLEO
(choking up)
He’s dead.
(Long pause)
When I was a kid. There was some kind of...I don’t know. I don’t . Mum always said he just left. Packed up in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye,and left me alone with her. I never believed her. Now I don’t know if she was lying or if she didn’t even know.
Soft, sad music begins as Cleo tells her story.
CLEO
The point is he’s gone, and he’s never coming back. There’s no magic vanishing act, no aliens. Just me and my brother growing up with a single Mum in Peckham.
A single Mum who put up with me failing my GCSEs, but seriously couldn’t handle finding out she had a daughter.
REQUIEM
(Thoughtful pause)
I do not have children. It has always been my belief that such a choice, taken wisely, is the result of a kind of courage and comion which I know I do not have. Raising a child requires a kind of limitless selflessness. An understanding that your world will only ever be a shadow of that of your progeny. That if you succeed, they will go on to find far greater
horizons than you had ever dreamt of. That they will, in a word, outgrow you. That your mother resists this is not, as I understand it, uncommon in your culture. But it is nonetheless a tragedy.
Still. Her narrow-mindedness will only ever be a reflection of her failure. It does not tarnish the courage and wisdom that moved you to go where she could not.
CLEO
Thanks, I guess.
REQUIEM
Knowledge of the self is the deepest mystery of all. For that, Cleo Proctor, you have my respect.
CLEO
That’s me. Halfway up the hill to enlightenment. Alright! Time for someone else to bare their soul now.
REQUIEM
Someone else?
CLEO
Yeah.
(Beat)
Wait, where’d everyone go?
SHAWNA
What do you mean?
REQUIEM
We’re the only ones here Cleo.
CLEO
What?
SHAWNA
You know. In the group.
CLEO
There were 20 of us at the start.
SHAWNA
What are you on about? It’s literally just us.
CLEO
Look, I wrote all their names down.
(Beat)
That’s not possible.
High pitched music suddenly comes back again.
CLEO
(Beat)
Shawna, did you do this?
SHAWNA
Did I do what?
CLEO
It’s like someone’s ripped through the paper. I can’t even read the names on my list.
SHAWNA
Why did you have a list of names?
(Cleo angrily turns on Requiem, her tone dark.)
CLEO
Who the hell are you, Requiem? What’s your real name?
REQUIEM
I’m sorry?
CLEO
No you will be. Turn your camera on now!
The music intensifies as Cleo demands answers.
REQUIEM
I cannot.
CLEO
Is it you? Are you the Doctor? Tell me now!
Faint Redaction effect in the background.
SHAWNA
Cleo, will you please stop! What are you talking about?
CLEO
It’s her! She’s doing it.
Redaction effect builds. Requiem’s voice is glitchy, hard to understand.
REQUIEM
Shawna, Cleo you’re in danger. You have to listen to me.
CLEO
Why? We don’t even know who you are.
Redacted Distortion begins.
REQUIEM
It’s coming. It’s coming for you.
It’s coming for all of us.
SHAWNA
What is?
CLEO
Are you the Doctor?
REQUIEM
The Doctor can’t help you now.
(Beat)
I’m coming for you.
Redacted Distortion builds.
CLEO & SHAWNA
(Scream)
SFX: Explosion sound and the laptop clatters to the ground, hot chocolate spills, mugs break.
Intense double bass plays a series of four notes in quick succession, emulating Cleo and Shawna’s fear and confusion.
CLEO
Oh my god! What the?!
SHAWNA
What the hell was that? She’s coming for us?
SFX: Buffering, glitching sound
RADIO PRESENTER #1
And now it’s time for Sounds of the 70s…
SFX: Buffering, glitching sound
RADIO PRESENTER #2
N’import quel problème, peu importe l’envergure, appelez juste…
SFX: Buffering, glitching sound
THE DOCTOR
(Distant)
I’m looking for Cleo Proctor.
Hopeful music lightly plays, as Cleo hears the Doctor’s voice. At the same time, the intense music builds.
CLEO
Hello?
THE DOCTOR
My name is The Doctor, time is running out...
CLEO
Doctor?
THE DOCTOR
The ghosts.
(Beat)
Whatever you do, don’t touch the ghosts.
The intense music suddenly stops.
END OF EPISODE
The low bassy surge of the Redacted Main Theme comes in, with its distinctive siren-like synths, rushing into a sudden glitch that dips into a slow, soft piano tune.
CREDITS
Doctor Who Redacted: Episode Seven,
by Ajoke Ibironke and Juno Dawson.
The piano tune keeps going for a moment before picking up the with a big beat of drums, strings and synths that turns into the Main Theme tune, a symphony of synths and strings revelling in alien weirdness.
CREDITS
Starring: Charlie Craggs, Lois Chimimba, Holly Quin-Ankrah, Jodie Whittaker and Doon Mackichan.
Directed and produced by Ella Watts.
Sound design by David Thomas and Arlie Adlington. Original composition by David Devereux.
A BBC Studios production.
With a rush like the TARDIS, the main theme music gets even bigger and louder, turning into a big, bright, fast paced melody that plays to the end of the episode, when it stops abruptly with a sharp glitch which ends with a beep.
