Episode 2: Maids, Myths and Monsters Part 2

Conner and Georgia are being watched by a shadowy figure as they walk through Sherwood Forest.

“Hmm… They are somehow out of time. Careful observation is required.”

The shadowy figure walks around the trees, and leaves the Forest, heading for the Castle. The Doctor makes short work of the chains, and walks out of the cell whistling merrily. And straight into the arms of the Guard.

“Doctor, you’re just in time for your hanging!” the Guard grinned toothily.
“Brilliant,” the Doctor sighed.

Conner stops walking.

“Did you hear something?” Conner asked “there was a rustle, and something brushed past me.”
“It was a tree. It’s perfectly normal, in a Forest,” Georgia replied in an exasperated voice.

Then the trees around them reach out their branches, whir menacingly and try and attack the two friends.

“Yeah, perfectly normal!” Conner shouted over the saw-like whir of the trees.
“Well, now it’s a normal day for us. Happy?” Georgia shouted back.
“Not really,” Conner shouted “can’t think why.”

The noose is placed around the Doctor’s neck. A door opens, and the Sheriff of Nottingham appears on the scene.

“Gisbourne, what is this man’s name?” the Sheriff demands to know.
“He didn’t say,” Gisbourne muttered back.
“I’d love to stay and be interrogated,” the Doctor said “but I have better things to do. Frankly, I’m tired of hanging around.”

He grabs the Guard’s sword, cuts the rope that is about to hang him, and runs to the Castle gates, just as Maid Marian walks in.

“MARIAN!” Guy shouted.
“Maid Marian?” the Doctor asked “sorry about this.”

He grabs Marian, spins her round and puts the sword to her neck as Gisbourne runs at them.

“Not today boys!” the Doctor cried.

He shoves Marian forward, into Guy, blows her a kiss and runs out. He throws the sword behind him, where it thuds into the ground.

“Ahh!” Georgia screamed, holding her hand in front of her face.

Conner and Georgia have been forced onto the Forest floor, and are surrounded by fierce branches.

“They’re gonna tear us apart!” Conner cried “and there ain’t anything we can do about it!”

Marian excuses herself from Guy and the Sheriff’s presence, and walks into Nottingham. There is a market going on and Marian slips past the stalls, and heads for Locksley. Reaching it, she veers over to-

“Locksley Manor,” Marian muttered.

She walks in. Inside is an old and metal spaceship. She walks inside. There is a huge control panel, including a monitor. An eerie luminous light fills the air.

“That’s weird,” Marian muttered “things in the local area are drawing off power. There’s one particular amount in Sherwood Forest.”

She presses a few buttons, and a light goes out.

“There, all better now,” Marian said, stroking a control panel.

The trees suddenly stop attacking Georgia and Conner, and become trees again.

“Phew,” Conner muttered.
“Let’s get back to the TARDIS,” Georgia said, shaking.

They run, and meet the Doctor back at the TARDIS.

“Found your way home then?” the Doctor asked, leaning on the TARDIS.
“Ha ha,” Georgia said sarcastically “the trees are evil!”
“They attacked us!” Conner cried.
“Sherwood?” the Doctor asked surprised “rubbish. Nicest wood I know, except the Forest of Cheem.”
“Huh?” Georgia asked, confused.
“Something’s wrong,” the Doctor said “Guy of Gisbourne used the word interrogated! That doesn’t exist yet. And I should know, I invented it!”

“Maybe he’s an alien.” Conner suggested “and the trees work for him.”
“There are no aliens around here,” the Doctor said “I’m sure of it. There can’t be, can there?”

Georgia shrugs. Then the woman who helped them earlier returns. Georgia’s mobile rings, so she wonders off to answer it.

“Sorry,” Georgia muttered.
“Excuse me,” the Woman asked “have you any money to spare?”
“I don’t…” the Doctor said “but the Guard who tried to hang me did!”

He takes a small purse out of his pocket. Conner grins.

“Oh, thank you!” the Woman cried “what was your name again?”
“Him?” Conner asked “he’s Robin Hood!”

Marion watches from afar.

“I had better go and meet this man,” Marian said.

Georgia returns to the scene, and the Woman has gone.

“I think I just became Robin Hood!” the Doctor tells Georgia, grinning.
“And what?” Georgia grinned back “I’m your Maid Marian?”
“No,” the real Marian said “I am.”

The Sheriff and Gisbourne are stood in a courtyard.

“And what do you propose we do?” Guy asked.
“Oh, I don’t know,” the Sheriff replied, annoyed.
“He threatened Marian,” Guy spat.
“If I see him,” the Sheriff smiled “I’ll tell him off, the naughty boy.”
“I’ll do more than that. I’ll kill him if I get the chance,” Guy said angrily.
“Yes, you do that,” the Sheriff said “and why don’t you sell your story to the Sun while you’re at it?”
“The Sun?” Guy asked “what’s that?”
“It’s a Newspaper.”
“Pardon?” Guy asked.
“I don’t know myself,” the Sheriff muttered “it just came out.”
“Maybe you should get some rest,” Guy said darkly.

He drew his sword, and left. Georgia looks surprised.

“You’re Maid Marian?” Georgia asked.
“Indeed I am.”
“But you don’t exist!” Georgia protested.
“Err- about earlier,” the Doctor said, embarrassed.
“Don’t exist?” Marian asked “but I’m here, now, just as you are. I’m sorry erm-“
“Hood. Robin Hood.”
“Robin,” Marian tasted the word in her mouth “I’m sorry I was under the impression that your friend possessed more intellect.”
“She is a bit ditzy,” Conner piped up “bless her. Too much time with the nail polish fumes.”

Georgia glared at him. Conner smirked.

“Ah, but I disagree,” Marian disagreed “all that time texting on your mobile would chip your nail polish too. Oh, excuse me; I seem to have had a funny turn. I don’t know where all these words come from.”

She walks away, and smirks.

“Oh yeah,” Georgia mentioned “talking of mobile phones, mines playing up. Interference probably.”

The Doctor takes it off of her, and Sonics it.

“I’m detecting a signal. It’s from that-a-way,” the Doctor said.

He points towards the Manor, where Marian’s ship is hidden.

“Alien?” Georgia asked.
“Oh yes.”
“But you said-” Conner began.
“-Something wrong and unreliable,” the Doctor finished.

They follow the signal to the outside of Locksley Manor. Conner lags behind, taking in all the wonders of the past.

“To the Manor Born,” the Doctor muttered.

Then a Soldier appears behind Conner, and grabs him silently, as he goes to catch up with the Doctor and Georgia. A straw bag is placed over his head.

“Whoa,” Georgia muttered.
“Where’s Conner?” the Doctor asked.
“Probably meeting people. It takes a while getting used to. So, what’s the verdict?” Georgia asked.
“He seems nice, and I reckon he fancies you,” the Doctor replied with a completely straight face.
“I meant about the Spaceship,” Georgia blushed.

The bag is removed from over Conner’s head. Guy of Gisbourne is glaring at Conner.

“You were seen,” Guy said “heading over to an outlaw, who threatened Lady Marian today.”
“I was unaware of him being an outlaw,” Conner said “sort of.”
“And you know who he is?” Guy asked.
“Robin Hood,” Conner replied “an’ tha’s all I’m sayin’.”
“Then we are free to class you as an outlaw, which is punishable by death,” Guy said, smiling “are you going to talk?”
“Never.”
“Very well,” Guy said, smiling further.

He pulls out his sword, and plunges it straight into Conner’s stomach. The Doctor and Georgia enter the ship. The Doctor points to a screen.

“Look,” the Doctor pointed “bursts of power. That’s what’s happening to your phone, that’s why Marian and the others knew words from the future!”
“That’s what made the trees come alive!” Georgia cried.

They walk outside.

“Exactly,” the Doctor said “but who’s behind it?”
“Me again, sorry,” Marian said.

And she raised her gun. Conner drops to the floor, off of his chair.

“Ak!” Conner cried.

He glares at Gisbourne on the floor, and turns his head. A tear rolls down his cheek, as life leaves him, and he dies…

To be continued…