Episode 10: A Study in the Straw Part 5

Conner pulled himself up, and ran into the clearing where the Doctor was about to kill Georgia. He ran at the Doctor, and jumped on him. The Doctor staggered backwards.

“I was going to enjoy that kill,” he snarled.
“Not anymore!” Conner said.

Joan ran into the clearing.

“Doctor?” Joan asked.
“He’s evil- he tried to kill Georgia!” Conner cried.
“But why?” Joan asked.
“Because I made him do it,” a Voice said.

Everyone (except Georgia) turned around. They saw an amazing sight: a man covered in crows! They couldn’t see his face, which was the whole point of the man’s plan.

“Doctor! He’s the bad guy! We need you to get back to normal- Georgia’s time is running out. Save her!” Conner cried.

Martha turned to John Smith.

“Save us!” Martha said.
“I am not the Doctor!” John Smith declared.

Joan stepped forward.

“Conner’s right! Georgia needs you!” she said “we all need you.”
“Yes… You’re right… I need…” the Doctor said.

He gasped, and fell over backwards.

“Ha!” Conner grinned.
“It doesn’t matter,” the Voice said “Scarecrows!”

Suddenly over 100 Scarecrows step out behind trees, surrounding Conner and the others. Conner looked amazed.

“Oh crap.”

The Doctor sat up, feeling dizzy. He grabbed Georgia’s hand, reassuring her. Georgia gave him a sideways glance, and attempted a smile. He reached up and handed her the Sonic Screwdriver. Georgia glanced at Conner, and he nodded. Conner ran forwards suddenly, and one or Georgia’s branches threw Conner the Sonic Screwdriver. He ran forward into a smaller bunch of Scarecrows, and escaped.

“Follow him!” the Voice roared.

The Scarecrows began their march after Conner.

Conner ducked inside a barn for a breather. He had been running for his life, trying to get away before the Scarecrows saw him. He climbed up a small ladder, and hid in a mound of hay. He breathed in the dust, and gave a small sneeze as a Scarecrow walked past. The Scarecrow held up a hand to stop all the other Scarecrows following it. It led the way into the barn.

The Doctor and Joan ran from the clearing leaving Georgia stood there helplessly. The Voice followed them angrily, his plan falling apart around his ears.

Conner stood up, surrounded by the straw. He raised the Sonic Screwdriver. He pressed the button, and the hay was set alight. Fire surrounded Conner, who stared down at the Scarecrows. He leapt off of the hay stack, and crashed into the floor. He slams the door shut, trapping himself and the Scarecrows in the burning barn.

Joan and the Doctor ran into the area of the village with the barn in. They saw it on fire, and the Doctor ran towards the door, and let Conner fall out of it, coughing and spluttering.

The Voice ran back to his ship. His plan had failed; the Doctor’s friends were too strong. Even the tree girl wasn’t transforming anymore, her will was too strong. The only option now was to escape.

The Doctor and Joan picked Conner up together, and carried him to where Georgia was stood waiting. The Doctor spat some of the evil water out from his stomach, into a cup, and Sonicked it.

Georgia reluctantly drank it, and she felt the bark withdrawing from her face. She smiled, knowing the Doctor had saved everyone.

The next day, Joan Redfern walked up to the TARDIS. The Doctor stepped out of it, smiling.

“Are you sure you won’t come?” the Doctor asked.
“No,” Joan smiled “I couldn’t. Not after all that.”
“Oh, OK,” the Doctor said, disappointedly.
“Doctor, what happened to that man?” Conner asked, peering out of the TARDIS doors.
“I dunno, but I think we’ll see him again,” the Doctor replied.
“And what about the Crows?” Conner persisted.
“You didn’t see did you- they left with the Voice. He doesn’t need them anymore- they’ll probably be killed or released,” the Doctor said.
“Well, goodbye Doctor,” Joan said.

The Doctor nodded. Conner stepped out of the TARDIS, and hugged Joan.

“Remember what I told you: do anything you want to,” Conner told her.
“I will,” Joan smiled.

Georgia bounded out of the TARDIS, and embraced Joan.

“Thanks for everything,” she smiled.

Conner, Georgia and the Doctor walked back into the TARDIS. Joan stepped back in awe as it vanished. She hoped she would see the Doctor again, but didn’t bet on anything.

She walked slowly back to the village and her house. She looked down at the Fob Watch the Doctor had given her. She opened it.

“Joan! I will always love you,” John Smith whispered.

Joan smiled, and began to walk through the golden fields.



Credits.