Episode 7: Be Civil Part 5

The doctor was running past a hundred tents back towards the hill. He was with Zac, the Doctor and Cromwell.

“Remind me how we got out of there”, Zac asked annoyed.
“Well I told you all to run into the tent”, the doctor explained as they ran along, “I ran in after you and reversed the polarity of the… I always used to say that”.
“I’ve never heard you say that”, Zac replied.
“Well, in my third self”, the doctor said, “Well I reversed the teleport and we were saved”.
“What about the plague carriers?” Cromwell asked.
“Well I didn’t have time”, the doctor muttered, “There wasn’t enough room”.
“We’ve got to get back and save them”, Zac said.
“They believed you were going to save them”, Cromwell said, “But in fact you killed them”.
“No”, the doctor exclaimed, “I am going to save them, I can still save them, but we need bait”. The doctor looked at Zac and Cromwell waiting for one of them to volunteer.
“So I take it you’re volunteering”, Zac said looking at the doctor.


Back in the camp Georgia and Miss Williams were nursing Conner. Sergeant Jones was watching nearby.
“So, this Conner”, Miss Williams asked, “I hope I’m not speaking out of term but you like him don’t you”.
“Not in that way”, Georgia said, “He really isn’t my- he’s far too young-only 15”.
“Fair enough Miss”, Miss Williams said, “Your other friend seems nice though. He saved us all”.
“Yes, that’s the doctor”, Georgia replied, “He saves everyone”.
“Some of the men here, meanwhile, are horrible”, Miss Williams said, “If you don’t mind me saying, miss”.
“No, I don’t”, Georgia said lowering her voice, “I don’t like Cromwell”.
“Neither do I miss”, Miss Williams replied quickly, “He is really horrible to us women”.
“The Doctor seems to like him though, and I don’t think its because we’re women but because we’re well just maids”, Georgia said, “So is there anyone who you’ve got your eye on?”
“No, miss”, Miss Williams said lowering her voice and her head.
“I won’t tell anyone”, Georgia said.
“Its Captain Placard”, Miss Williams whispered, “He is really nice, he said once this war is over he’ll take me all around the world”.

“By the way the world isn’t flat”, Georgia said wondering whether they still thought the Earth was flat.
“Of course not miss”, Miss Williams replied, “There are hills, mountains and waterfalls. Anyway I’d better go wash these things, bye”. Miss Williams walked past Sergeant Jones as she left. Suddenly Conner stirred.

“Conner are you OK?” Georgia asked quickly running to his side.
“Georgia, I must tell you something”, Conner began in a croaky voice.
“Come on then what is it?” Georgia asked.
“I- I”, Conner croaked but then fell silent as Sergeant Jones ran in.
“Georgia, it’s the doctor”, Sergeant Jones explained, “The green plague zombies have got out of the hill”.
“Oh no, we must evacuate the whole camp”, Georgia said.
“It’s worse then that”, Sergeant Jones said. Just then Private Williams and Captain Placard entered the tent.

“Have you seen my sister”, Private Williams blurted out, “Those monsters are emerging from the hill”.
“The good thing is”, Captain Placard explained, pretending not to be interested in the whereabouts of miss Williams, “Is that King Charles army has appeared on the horizon”.
“How’s that a good thing?” Georgia asked.
“It means we don’t have to tell the men”, Placard answered, “That those foul disease carriers are pouring out from the mountain”.
“Well then arrange the troops, no evacuation needed”, Georgia ordered. They left the tent, Georgia and Sergeant Jones went to the entrance of the tent to see soldiers rushing past carrying muskets and putting on helmets.

“Georgia, where are you going to go?” Sergeant Jones asked.
“I must stay here with Conner”, Georgia replied.
“Then, I’ll stay here too”, Sergeant Jones said.
“No, you don’t have too”, Georgia said.
“But I must protect you”, Sergeant Jones said.
“You don’t need too, I can protect myself”, Georgia replied.
“But Georgia, what if I never see you again”, Sergeant Jones said.
“Stop worrying I’ll be here when you get back”, Georgia said.
“Well I need to say something first”, Sergeant Jones said bending down on one knee. Georgia’s jaw dropped.
“It’s too early to propose isn’t it”, Georgia said, “I mean we’ve kissed but…”
“I wasn’t going to propose…yet”, Sergeant Jones said, “I was just going to straighten my boots, they hurt”.
“Not that I wanted to but…erm…well”, Georgia stuttered.

“I’ll see you when I get back”, Sergeant Jones said, “And if I asked, would you?”
“Yes I think I would”, Georgia replied and Sergeant Jones and Georgia ran together and kissed for a long time. Sergeant Jones ran away backwards shouting, “See you when I get back”.
“Not if I see you first”, Georgia said, Sergeant Jones, who was not sure what she meant, ran normally in the direction of the assembling army. Georgia turned and went back inside the tent to look after Conner.


Meanwhile on the edge of the camp a group of plague carrier troopers including Cerone and Rally had formed a group.
“Where is that doctor?” Rally asked.
“He’s just coming”, Cerone replied.
“But so are the green plague zombies”, Rally shouted. Just then the doctor, Zac and Cromwell came into view.
“The army has left to fight another battle”, the doctor said as they approached.
“Where’s Chief Warlo?” Zac asked.
“He-he-he’s dead”, Cerone said.
“We’ll be able to bring him back once we’ve fixed the machine”, the doctor said, “It’s a bit like a washing machine actually”.
“A what machine”, Cromwell asked, “A washing machine, how ingenious”.
“Well doctor do you have any Calgon?” Zac asked jokingly.
“Nope, we’ve used up the TARDIS store just a couple of hours ago”, the doctor said, “Our silvery suits are washed and dry”.
“Doctor it’s nearly dawn”, Cerone said, “If the villagers see us, then we’ll have changed history and we aren’t allowed to do that”. The doctor thought for a moment.
“Well then Cerone you’re gonna have to be bait”, the doctor said, Cerone raised her non-existent eyebrows.
“I thought we decided you were going to be bait”, Zac said.
“Yes well plans change”, the doctor said, “Now I want, Cerone and the rest of you to distract as many green plague zombies as possible. These zombies aren’t intelligent so they won’t be guarding doors”.
“Lets guess we get inside and you fix the machine”, Zac said.
“Right!” the doctor said, “Lets put our plan into operation”.
“Good luck everyone”, Cerone said, “It’s nice to have met another time lord in our travels”. Cerone and the plague carriers wandered off.
“This way”, the doctor beckoned to Cromwell and Zac and they followed him up the hill.


Meanwhile on top of the hill, Mrs. Runny was waking up to feed her chickens. It was getting lighter.
“Come on me dearies”, Mrs. Runny said to the chickens in her dusty garden. She looked up to see an army approaching nearby.
“Villagers, awake”, Mrs. Runny shouted. Several men and women appeared out of small wooden houses.
“What’s going on Mrs. Runny”, one female villager asked.
“It’s the King and his army”, Mrs. Runny explained as more villagers appeared, “They’ve arrived to fight our troops with Cromwell”.
“Is Oliver Cromwell really there”, a small child asked his father.
“Come on lets go down the hill and cheer on our men”, Mrs. Runny said. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a green plague zombie, not that she knew what it was. However she knew it was dangerous.
“All of us should go an’ cheer ‘em on”, a male villager said.
“Yes, everyone lets move out of the village”, Mrs. Runny said. Her plan had worked, the entire village, now fully awake, walked in the direction of the armies.


Cerone was standing with five other plague carrier troopers when they saw a group of green plague zombies approaching.
“Hey, you lot over here!” Cerone shouted.
“Yeah all of you look”, Rally who was standing next to Cerone shouted. The green plague zombies stirred slightly and looked at Cerone, Rally and the plague carrier troopers.
“I was the one that gave you the plague, now come on that’s it”, Cerone said, the green plague zombies began to approach her, “Come on all of you!” Cerone was now shouting as loud as she could. Other green plague zombies appeared.
“What do we do now?” Rally asked.
“Run!” Cerone ordered.


Meanwhile, King Charles was on the battlefield with his aide.
“No sign of Cromwell sir”, King Charles’s aide was saying, “He probably decided to stay right at the back, out of sight”. King Charles was not listening.
“Erm, carry on”, Charles said absent-mindedly.
“Begin the attack”, Charles’s aide shouted to the other commanders, “I wonder where Prince Rupert has got to, Sir? SIR?”
“Eh? What?” Charles said peering through his periscope. He was not paying attention to the charging royalists but was looking at Cromwell’s camp, there were strange soldiers waddling into it.


Back in the camp, Miss Williams had finished washing the blankets. She went outside her tent to hang out the sheets on a line going across the tents. She had just finished putting up the sheets when she smelt a funny smell. It was mouldy and disgusting. She turned in the direction of the hill to see several green plague zombies walking towards her. Miss Williams screamed and ran off.


On the battlefield Captain Placard was charging at the front of his men. Private Williams was firing his musket nearby. Sergeant Jones was checking for any casualties. There was a volley of muskets firing on the royalist side and Sergeant Jones ducked. Three royalist soldiers ran towards him, Private Williams and two other Privates fired their muskets and hit the three royalists.

“Thanks Williams”, Sergeant Jones said smiling.
“No problem, Sir”, Private Williams replied loading his musket once more.


Back inside the hill, the doctor, Cromwell and Zac had got into the ship without being noticed. They ran along the silvery corridor through the huge dome and into the room with the cage.
“Right then, all I need to do now is fix this”, the Doctor said soldering two wires together with his sonic screwdriver and let the green plague zombies know we’re here”. The doctor beeped his sonic loudly setting off some sort of alarm in the ship.
“Doctor, how are you supposed to get all the green plague zombies inside the cage?” Zac asked.
“Well, you’ll have to press that red button when they come in here after me”, the doctor said.
“You mean you’re going to be bait?” Zac asked.
“Yes I am”, the doctor said, “Now when they are all in here, you press the green button and they’ll be cured of the plague and alive”.
“But what if it doesn’t work”, Cromwell asked.
“Well there is a group of wires next to the console there and if you pull them out then it should cure them too”, the doctor said, “But with a cost”.
“What cost?” Cromwell asked.
“The person who pulls out the wires will most surely die!” the doctor replied. Zac clapped his hands in front of his mouth and Cromwell gasped.
“Doctor, they’re here”, Zac said as the zombies entered the dome.


Back in the camp Miss Williams ran into the tent where Georgia was still nursing Conner.
“Miss, the green plague zombies are after me”, Miss Williams said as she entered.
Georgia left the tent and looked around, it was morning and the sun had risen. There was not a green plague zombie.
“It looks like the doctor’s plan has worked”, Georgia said, “But I hope it works faster”. Georgia walked back into the tent.
“Why’s that miss?” Miss Williams asked.
“Because Conner is very close to death”, Georgia replied sadly beginning to cry. The tears welled up in her eyes. Suddenly Georgia’s brother Richard appeared in her head and she cried even more. Miss Williams comforted her.


Back inside the hill the doctor was now standing at the back of the cage.
“Come on all of you in here”, the doctor was shouting, he’d been doing this for quite a few minutes using words like Cerone had used earlier. As the green plague zombies entered the doctor used his sonic screwdriver to knock them out. Five minutes later all the green plague zombies were slumped on the floor except a few which the doctor could not get to. Cromwell closed the door behind the last few zombies and Zac pressed the green button.

“Doctor nothing’s happening”, Zac said, Cromwell gasped, “Wait something’s happening”. Suddenly red flashing lights appeared everywhere.
“The ships going into self destruct mode”, the doctor said.
“Is that my fault?” Zac asked.
“No it’s mine, but I’ll have to get out and…” the doctor began.
“You can’t get out or those green plague zombies will escape”, Cromwell said, “I must pull out the wires”.
“No, you are the great Oliver Cromwell”, Zac said, “He’s famous, he doesn’t die for at least another ten years. He is a great brave leader, if you pull those wires out then history is changed”.
“Then history is changed”, Cromwell said pulling up his sleeves.
“No is anyone’s going to pull out any wires then it’ll be…” Zac began.
“ME!” Cromwell shouted as he grabbed the wires, Zac lunged but he was too late. The red lights halted, there was a flash of blue, and the parliamentarian soldiers, including Private Jeroke, woke out of their trance. The soldiers were cured.

“Where are we?” Private Jeroke asked as he stepped from the cage.
“Nowhere”, Zac replied in a croaky voice, “There’s a battle outside between you and the royalists”.
“A battle?” Private Jeroke asked, “Quick men, we don’t want to miss any battle”.
Private Jeroke leapt up and followed by all the soldiers (around 50!) ran for the exit. They did not notice who was lying on the floor. The doctor stepped out of the cage last and got out his sonic screwdriver again.
“Come on Cromwell, wake up”, the Doctor said, “You’ve got a very strong will power remember”.
“Why don’t you give him the kiss of life?” Zac suggested.
“I don’t need to”, the doctor said, “The electronics weren’t as bad as I thought he’ll wake up in a few minutes, by which time he’ll be in the camp”. Zac nodded and lifted Cromwell’s feet.


It was a couple of hours later when Conner, Georgia, Zac and the Doctor returned to the TARDIS. Cerone, Rally and newly-revived Chief Warlo were waiting for the TARDIS to lift the ship back into space. The villagers meanwhile were watching the battle from a taller hill nearby. Georgia was waiting outside the TARDIS when the doctor arrived.
“Georgia, you’ve got out of your peasant clothes I see”, the doctor remarked.
“I can’t come doctor”, Georgia replied, “I’m staying here”.
“You can’t”, the doctor replied.
“I can settle down here doctor”, Georgia said, “But I can’t in the TARDIS”.
“Georgia’s in love”, Zac said as he came into view talking to Cerone.
“Thank you doctor”, Cerone shouted as she ran off, “I’ll be waiting in the ship”.
“Who are you in love with then Georgia?” the Doctor asked.
“Sergeant Jones”, Georgia replied, “We’re basically engaged”.
“But”, the doctor said trying to persuade her.
“No”, Georgia answered back. Conner appeared by the TARDIS door.

“I’ll speak to her”, Conner said and the Doctor and Zac entered the TARDIS.
“Georgia listen”, Conner said, “If you go now then you’ll never see your family ever again, you’ve lost Richard, you don’t want to loose your parents”.
“Conner you’re so sweet”, Georgia said, “But can’t I just say goodbye”.
“No you can’t Georgia”, Conner said pushing her into the TARDIS, “Because you’ll just say you want to stay more!” The TARDIS door shut and the TARDIS slowly lifted into the air, the circular ship dangling beneath it.


On the battlefield 1 hour earlier the royalists had been winning easily, Captain Placard had been injured and Private Williams was surrounded. Suddenly around 50 new troops raced onto the battlefield led by Cromwell and Private Jeroke.

Cromwell had completely forgotten about the doctor and the plague, the electric shock had wiped everything that happened in the last 24 hours out of his mind. The reinforcements gave hope to the remaining parliamentarians and they battled on. Up on the hill, King Charles was wondering whether they should go. Prince Rupert’s cavalry had failed to turn up and this battle could not be won. So the royalists retreated.

On the edge of the camp after the victory Miss Williams saw Captain Placard injured.
“Mr. Placard, are you OK?” she asked running up to him.
“I’m better now you’re here”, Placard replied and they kissed. Private Williams smiled nervously nearby and realised that Miss Williams and Captain Placard were meant to be together.

“Georgia?” shouted Sergeant Jones who was nearby. The entire crowd gasped in shock as the hill was pulled out of the ground by a small blue box. The metallic, muddy sphere that was the hill flew off into space with its crew alive and well.


Inside the TARDIS the doctor and Conner were talking about spaniels.
“I hate some dogs especially the King Charles’ spaniels”, Conner said.
“Well you shouldn’t trust those dogs”, the doctor said, “They are aliens”.
“Doctor!” Georgia shouted, “Can I see him please”. The doctor looked at her and nodded.

A man is sitting on a chair in a dark room. “The marching began, the guns began to fire”, the man is sitting near a musket, “We stopped marching at the village of Marchet en Tomson. It was perched on a hill so we camped below the hill. We stayed there for a week on the third day that wonderful girl arrived, Georgia I still love and remember her. I wish I had found her, when the civil war was over, now the great Oliver Cromwell is dead”. The man breathes heavily and dies on that seat. But then another hand appears and grasps hold of the dying mans hand. The dying man wakes up with a start.

“You aren’t ready to die yet”, the doctor said, “Sergeant Jones, I think a well-deserved retirement is in order”. Sergeant Jones, the old man smiled as he walked out of the house and saw the TARDIS parked outside his house.
“How does the planet Marshmallow sound?” Georgia asked as she linked arms with Sergeant Jones and they walked into the TARDIS. Georgia and Sergeant Jones were crying.


THE END