Transcript: Fires of Pompeii

[jpgr]

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE
The DOCTOR steps out of the TARDIS and pushes aside a rough curtain, a broad smile on his face. DONNA stands beside him.

DOCTOR: Ancient Rome. (steps put into the street with market stalls set up) Well, not to them, obviously. To all intents and purposes right now...this is brand new Rome.

DONNA: (enthusiastically) Oh my God, it's...it's so Roman. This is fantastic! (hugs him) I'm here...in Rome. Donna Noble in Rome. (walks along street) This is just weird. I mean, everyone here is dead.

DOCTOR: Well, don't go telling them that.

DONNA: (notices something behind him) Hold on a minute. That sign over there is in English. Are you having me on? Are we in Epcot?

DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. That's the TARDIS translation circuits. Just makes it look like English...speech as well. You're talking Latin right now.

DONNA: Seriously?

DOCTOR: Mmm.

DONNA: I just said 'seriously' in Latin.

DOCTOR: Oh yeah.

DONNA: (laughs) What if I said something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici'? My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?

DOCTOR: I'm not sure-you have to think of difficult questions, don't you?

DONNA: I'm gonna try it. (walks up to stallholder)

STALLHOLDER: Hello, sweetheart. What can I get for you, my love?

DONNA: Veni, vidi, vici.

STALLHOLDER: Hunh? Sorry? Me no speak Celtic. No can do, missy.

DONNA: Yeah. (walks back to the DOCTOR) What does he mean 'Celtic'?

DOCTOR: Welsh. You sound Welsh. There we are. That's something.

The DOCTOR and DONNA keep walking through the streets unaware that a red-robed young woman is watching them.

DONNA: Won't our clothes look a bit odd?

DOCTOR: Nah. Ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho...but bigger.

DONNA: You've been here before then?

The woman follows them.

DOCTOR: Hm, ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me. Well, a little bit, but I hadn't gotten the chance top look around properly. Coliseum...Pantheon... Circus Maximus...You'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything? (stops and looks around) Try this way.

They walk on, the woman still following. They come to a wider street and DONNA looks about.

DONNA: I'm not an expert, but there are Seven Hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they only got one? (looks to one mountain in the distance)

The ground shakes.

MAN: Here we go again.

The vendors do what they can to save their stalls and merchandise.

DONNA: Wait a minute! One mountain...with smoke...which makes this...

DOCTOR: Pompeii. We're in Pompeii...and it's Volcano Day!

David Tennant
Catherine Tate

DOCTOR WHO
"FIRES OF POMPEII"
by James Moran

Producer
Phil Collinson

Director
Colin Teague

INT. TEMPLE OF SIBYL
The young woman runs into what turns out to be a temple. Inside are other women in red. She prostrates herself in front of a contained fire.

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER: I beg audience with the High Priestess of the Sibylline.

SISTER SPURRINA: The High Priestess cannot be seen. What would you tell her, sister?

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER: It has come...as foretold in the prophecy. The box...the blue box.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE
The DOCTOR and DONNA race through the streets of Pompeii. They arrive back where they started only to find the TARDIS gone.

DONNA: You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone.

DOCTOR: OK.

DONNA: Where is it then?

DOCTOR: You told me not to tell you.

DONNA: Don't get clever in Latin.

DOCTOR: Um...excuse me! Excuse me! (runs to same stallholder) There was a box-big, blue box. Big, blue, wooden box...just over there. Where's it gone?

STALLHOLDER: (smugly)Sold it, didn't I?

DOCTOR: But...it wasn't yours to sell.

STALLHOLDER: It was on my patch, wasn't it? I got 15 sesterce for it. Lovely jubbly (rubs hands together)

DOCTOR: Who did you sell it to?

STALLHOLDER: Old Caecilius. Look...if you want to argue, why don't you take it up with him? He's on Foss Street. Big villa can't miss it.

DOCTOR: Thanks. (He and DONNA run off but he comes back, slightly bemused) What did he buy a big, blue wooden box for?

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA
The TARDIS has just been placed in a corner of the main room of the villa and the servants are now scurrying away.

CAECILIUS: (joyfully) Modern art! Out of the way, that's it! (shoos his servants out of the way. Stops one of them) Oh Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some ants in honey, there's a good man. Ooh, maybe a dormouse!

CAECILUS' wife, METALLA, is looking on. She clearly does not approve of this so-called modern art.

CAECILIUS: What do you think?

METELLA: You call it modern art. I call it a bloody great waste of space.

CAECILIUS: But we're going up in the world, my love. Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What, with that and our Evelina about to be elevated...

EVELINA, their daughter enters the room, seemingly bored with CAECILUS going on about her.

EVELINA: Oh, don't go on about it, Dad.

METELLA: If we had moved to Rome like I said, she could have been a Vestal Virgin.

Their teenage son, QUINTUS enters the room, seemingly just have woken up from a night on the town.

QUINTUS: Someone mention Vestal Virgins?

METELLA: Quintus, don't be so rude. You apologize to the household gods.

QUINTUS: Get off.

METELLA: Apologize right now. The gods are always watching.

The ground rumbles.

CAECILIUS: Positions!

The family run to their "positions" around the villa to keep valuables from falling and breaking. When the rumbling stops, Caecilius kisses the head of a male bust.

METELLA: There, now you've made the household gods angry. Just say sorry.

QUINTUS goes to the shrine of the household gods.

METELLA: I tell you, Caecilius, that boy will come to no good.

QUINTUS: (puts fingers in chalice and sprinkles water on a marble frieze) Sorry, household gods.

CAECILIUS: So where were you last night? Down the thelopolium, I bet, cavorting with Etruscans, Christians and all sorts. How's your head, sunshine? How's your head? (emphasizes words with claps at QUINTUS' ears)

QUINTUS: All right, Dad. Give us a break.

METELLA: You want to smarten yourself up, Quintus, before Lucius Dextrus gets her. Look at your sister. She is giving us...status.

QUINTUS: Oh, yeah, 'cause it's all about Evelina.

METELLA: She has the gift. (holds up EVELINA'S hand with an eye painted on it) Be proud of your sister for once. (to EVELINA) Have you been consuming?

EVELINA: Not this morning.

METELLA: Well, come on, sweetheart. Practice. It's hot today. (leads EVELINA to the hypocaust in the centre of the room) The hypocaust is on full blast. (they sit on the ledge around it) The mountain god must be happy. Breathe deeply. Remember what the sisterhood said.

EVELINA leans over and breathes deep.

EVELINA: It hurts.

METELLA: Oh, my love, is it too hot?

EVELINA: (shakes head) Sometimes in the smoke...I see the most terrible things.

METELLA: Like what?

EVELINA: A face. A face of stone.

METELLA: It'll make sense...one day...Sister Spurrina promised it. The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer.

METELLA leaves EVELINA sitting by the hypocaust. She breathes and looks down into the heat. Below a creature of stone looks up and growls.

EVELINA: (leans back) Who are you?

EXT. DAY, POMPEII STREETS

The DOCTOR runs through the streets back to DONNA.

DOCTOR: Ha! I've got it! Foss Street, this way!

DONNA: No, I've found this big sort of amphitheatre I think... We can start there. We can get everyone together. Then maybe they've got a great, big bell or something we could ring. Have they invented bells yet?

DOCTOR: (puzzled) What do you want a bell for?

DONNA: To warn everyone! To start the evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt? When's it due?

DOCTOR: (serious)It's 79 AD, 23 of August which makes Volcano Day tomorrow.

DONNA: Plenty of time. We can get everyone out easy.

DOCTOR: Except we're not going to. (grabs her by the hand)

DONNA: (doesn't budge) But that's what you do. You're the Doctor. You save people.

DOCTOR: But not this time. Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it. (tries to get her to move)

DONNA: Says who?

DOCTOR: Says me.

DONNA: What, and you're in charge?

DOCTOR: TARIDS, Time Lord...yeah.

DONNA: Donna, human...no! I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself.

DOCTOR: You stand in the marketplace and announce the end of the world, they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer. Now, come on. TARDIS, we are getting out of here. (storms off)

DONNA: Well, I just might have something to say about that, spaceman!

DOCTOR: Oh, I bet you will!

DONNA follows. The YOUNG SOOTHSAYER watches them leave. She places her hands-which have eyes painted on the back-over her eyes and communicates with the other sisters.

YOUNG SOOTHSAYER: The tall one, he calls us mad.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SISTER SPURRINA is in the temple, hands over her eyes.

SISTER SPURRINA: Then he is a stranger to Pompeii. Soon he will learn.

SISTER THALINA arrives with two others. She is carrying a scroll.

SISTER THALINA: We have found it, Sister Spurrina. In the 13th book of the Sybiline oracle. The blue box. (unrolls scroll to reveal a drawing of the TARDIS) A temple made of wood...and yet the Sibyl foretold the box would appear at a time of storms and fire and betrayal.

HIGH PRIESTESS: (strained) Sisters...

The sisters move to stand in front of a gauze curtain.

SPURRINA: Reverend Mother, you should sleep.

HIGH PRIESTESS: The Sibylline oracles are wrong.

SPURRINA: But we have venerated her words for generations.

HIGH PRIESTESS: This is a new age. Heed my words. I predict a future of prosperity and might...and endless empire of Pompeii, reaching out from this city to topple Rome itself and encompass the whole wide world. If the disciples of the blue box defy this prophecy, their blood will run on the temple floor.

The ground rumbles and the sisters gasp and look up.

SPURRINA: The gods approve!

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS: Positions!

CAECILIUS, METELLA and EVELINA run to their appointed places. The DOCTOR saves the bust from falling before CAECILIUS gets there.

DOCTOR: Whoa! (slaps its cheeks) There you go.

CAECILIUS: Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor.

DOCTOR: Oh, that's me. (leans forward to shake CAECILIUS' hand) I'm a visitor. Hello.

CAECILIUS: Who are you?

DOCTOR: I am...Spartacus.

DONNA: And so am I.

CAECILIUS: Mr and Mrs Spartacus?

DOCTOR: Oh no, we're not married.

DONNA: Not together.

CAECILIUS: Oh, then brother and sister? Yes, of course. You look very much alike.

DOCTOR & DONNA: Really?

CAECILIUS: I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trade.

DOCTOR: And that trade would be?

CAECILIUS: Marble. Lucius Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man.

DOCTOR: That's good. That's good, 'cause I'm the marble inspector. (holds up psychic paper)

METELLA: By the gods of commerce, an inspection. (takes cup of wine from QUINTUS) I'm sorry, sir. I do apologize for my son. (pours wine into pool)

QUINTUS: Oi!

CAECILIUS: This is my good wife, Metella. I-I must confess, we're not prepared for a-

DOCTOR: Nothing to worry about. I-I'm sure you've got nothing to hide. Although, frankly, that...(spots TARDIS) object...rather looks like wood to me. (he and DONNA walk towards it)

METELLA: (hisses) I told you to get rid of it!

CAECILIUS: I only bought it today.

DOCTOR: Ah, well. Caveat Emptor.

CAECILIUS: Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely.

DOCTOR: I'm sure it's fine but I might have to take it off your hands for a proper inspection.

DONNA: Although, while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?

DOCTOR: I don't know what you mean, Spartacus.

DONNA: Oh, this lovely family, mother and father and son... Don't you think they should get out of town?

CAECILIUS: Why should we do that?

The DOCTOR rubs his eye as DONNA tries to explain.

DONNA: Well, the volcano for starters.

CAECILIUS: (puzzled) What?

DONNA: Volcano.

CAECILIUS: What-ano?

DONNA: That great big volcano right on your doorstep.

DOCTOR: Oh, Spartacus, for shame. We haven't even greeted the household gods yet. (pulls her away towards the shrine) They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them. The top hasn't blown off yet. (sprinkles frieze with water) The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow.

DONNA: (sarcastic) Oh great. They can learn a new word...when they die.

DOCTOR: Donna, stop it.

DONNA: Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flyin' around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up. That boy...(points to QUINTUS) how old is he, sixteen? And tomorrow he burns to death.

DOCTOR: And that's my fault?

DONNA: Right now, yes!

The servant, Rhombus, enters the room.

RHOMBUS: Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the city government.

An older man strides in, a man who knows his position. He wears his cloak so it drapes over his right side.

CAECILIUS: Lucius, my pleasure as always.

The DOCTOR and DONNA leave the shrine, curious to see the visitor.

METELLA: Quintus, stand up.

QUINTUS stands with a long-suffering sigh.

CAECILIUS: A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house. (holds out hand but LUCIUS ignores it)

LUCIUS: The birds are flying north...and the wind is in the west.

CAECILIUS: (puzzled) Right. Absolutely. That's good, is it?

LUCIUS: Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow.

CAECILIUS: There now, Metella, have you ever heard such wisdom?

METELLA: Never. It's an honour.

CAECILIUS: Pardon me, sir, I have guests. This is Spartacus, and, uh, Spartacus.

The DOCTOR and DONNA both wave.

LUCIUS: A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind.

DOCTOR: But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark.

LUCIUS: Ah! What is the dark other than an omen of the sun?

DOCTOR: I concede that every sun must set...

LUCIUS: Ha!

DOCTOR: ...and yet the son of the father must also rise.

LUCIUS: Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently a man of learning.

DOCTOR: Oh yes, but don't mind me. Don't want to disturb the status quo.

CAECILIUS: (whispers) He's Celtic.

DOCTOR: We'll be off in a minute. (takes DONNA and heads for the TARDIS)

DONNA: (subdued) I'm not going.

CAECILIUS: (to Lucius) It's ready, sir.

DOCTOR: You've got to.

DONNA: Well I'm not.

CAECILIUS: The moment of revelation. (unveils a square piece of marble) And here it is...

The DOCTOR looks back over his shoulder. The design on the marble is familiar.

CAECILIUS: Exactly as you specified. It pleases you, sir?

The DOCTOR and DONNA stop.

LUCIUS: As the rain pleases the soil.

Curiosity aroused, the DOCTOR rejoins them.

DOCTOR: Oh now that's...different. Who designed that then?

CAECILIUS: My lord Lucius was very specific.

DOCTOR: Where'd you get the pattern?

LUCIUS: On the rain and mist and wind.

DONNA: Well that looks like a circuit.

DOCTOR: Made of stone.

DONNA: Do you mean you just dreamt that up?

LUCIUS: That is my job...as City Augur.

DONNA: What's that then, like the mayor?

DOCTOR: Oh, ah, you must excuse my friend. She's from...Barcelona. (aside to DONNA) This is an age of superstition...of official superstition. The augur is paid by the city to tell the future. "The wind will blow from the west." That's the equivalent of the 10:00 news.

EVELINA joins them looking pale and drawn, barley able to stand.

EVELINA: They're laughing at us. Those two, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us.

DOCTOR: No, no. I meant no offence.

METELLA: I'm sorry. My daughter's been consuming the vapours. (walks to EVELINA)

QUINTUS: By the gods, Mother! What have you been doing to her?

CAECILIUS: Not now, Quintus.

QUINTUS: But she's sick. Just look at her.

LUCIUS: I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift.

METELLA: (proudly) Oh, she's been promised to the Sybiline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions.

LUCIUS: The prophecies of women are limited and dull. Only the men folk have the capacity for true perception.

DONNA: I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate.

The ground quakes.

LUCIUS: The mountain god marks your words. I'd be careful if I were you.

DOCTOR: Consuming the vapours, you say?

EVELINA: They give me strength.

DOCTOR: It doesn't look like it to me.

EVELINA: Is that your opinion...as a doctor?

DOCTOR: I beg your pardon?

EVELINA: Doctor. That's your name.

DOCTOR: (bewildered) How did you know that?

EVELINA: And you, you call yourself noble.

METELLA: Now then Evelina, don't be rude.

DOCTOR: No, no, no. Let her talk.

EVELINA: You both come from so far away.

LUCIUS: A female soothsayer in inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries.

DOCTOR: Oh, not this time, Lucius. I reckon you've been out-soothsaid.

LUCIUS: Is that so...man from Gallifrey?

DOCTOR: What?

LUCIUS: Strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?

DONNA: Doctor, what are they doing?

LUCIUS: And you, daughter of...London.

DONNA: How does he know that?

LUCIUS: This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth.

DONNA: But that's impossible.

LUCIUS: Doctor, she is returning.

DOCTOR: Who is? Who's she?

LUCIUS: And you, Daughter of London...you have something on your back.

DONNA: (scared) What's that mean?

EVELINA: Even the word "Doctor" is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord...of time (faints)

METELLA: Evelina!

The DOCTOR and METELLA rush to EVELINA'S prone figure.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

EVELINA is unconscious on the bed and METELLA is caring for her as DONNA approaches.

METELLA: She didn't mean to be rude. She's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her... (unwraps a cloth from EVELINA'S arm)

DONNA: What's wrong with her arm?

METELLA: An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night.

DONNA: What is it? (walks closer)

METELLA: Evelina said you'd come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it?

DONNA runs her fingers along EVELINA'S arm.

DONNA: It's stone.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The DOCTOR and CAECILIUS are at the hypocaust. The DOCTOR removes the grille.

DOCTOR: Ah! Different sort of hypocaust.

CAECILIUS: Oh yes, we're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces, but we've got hot springs...leading from Vesuvius itself.

DOCTOR: Who thought of that?

CAECILIUS: The soothsayers after the great earthquake 17 years ago. An awful lot of damage but we rebuilt.

DOCTOR: Didn't you think of moving away? Oh, no, then again, San Francisco.

CAECILIUS: That's a new restaurant in Naples, isn't it?

The DOCTOR looks down into the Earth where there is a loud grating and rumbling.

DOCTOR: What's that noise?

CAECILIUS: Don't know. Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring.

DOCTOR: But after the earthquake...let me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?

CAECILIUS: Oh yes, very much so. I mean, they'd always been...shall we say "imprecise"? But then...the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex-all of them, they saw the truth again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision.

DOCTOR: Have they said anything about tomorrow?

CAECILIUS: No. Why should they? Why do you ask?

DOCTOR: No, no, no reason. Just asking. But the soothsayers...they all consume the vapours?

CAECILIUS: That's how they see.

DOCTOR: (puts on glasses) Ipso facto...(leans into hypocaust)

CAECILIUS: Look, you...

DOCTOR: (straightens) They're all consuming this. (pinches rock particles)

CAECILIUS: Dust?

DOCTOR: Tiny particles of rock. (sprinkles them before tasting) They're breathing in Vesuvius.

QUINTUS is lounging, sipping wine when the DOCTOR walks up

DOCTOR: Quintus, me old son...this Lucius Petrus Dextrus, where does he live?

QUINTUS: Nothing to do with me.

DOCTOR: (walks up beside lounge) This Lucius Petrus Dextrus...(pulls coin from behind QUINTUS' ear) where does he live?

EXT. NIGHT, STREETS OF POMPEII

QUINTUS, holding a torch, leads the DOCTOR through the streets. He stops outside LUCIUS'.

QUINTUS: Don't tell my dad.

DOCTOR: (leaps onto a barrel before climbing onto the windowsill) Only if you don't tell mine. (enters villa)

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

Inside it's dark except for the light from the hypocaust.

DOCTOR: Pass me that torch.

The DOCTOR checks that no one is around. Outside, QUINTUS nervously looks about before climbing through the window. The DOCTOR looks behind a curtain then hands QUINTUS the torch. With both hands free, he pulls down the curtain to reveal more "circuits".

QUINTUS: The liar. He told my father it was the only one.

DOCTOR: (slips on glasses) Well...plenty of marble merchants in this town. Tell them all the same thing; get all the components from different places so no one can see what you're building.

QUINTUS: Which is what?

LUCIUS: The future...Doctor. (the DOCTOR and QUINTUS turn around) We are building the future as dictated by the gods.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

EVELINA is laughing as DONNA gets used to her new gown.

DONNA: You're not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think? (strikes a pose) The goddess Venus.

EVELINA: (laughing) Oh, that's sacrilege.

DONNA: Nice to see you laugh, though. (sits beside her on the bed) What do you do in old Pompeii, then...girls your age? You got...mates? Do you go hangin' about 'round the shops? T.K. Maximus?

EVELINA: (shakes head) I'm promised to the sisterhood for the rest of my life.

DONNA: You get any choice in that?

EVELINA: It's not my decision. I have the gift of sight. The sisters chose for me.

DONNA: Then...what can you see happening tomorrow?

EVELINA: Is tomorrow special?

DONNA: You tell me. What do you see?

EVELINA: (closes eyes) The sun will rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all. (opens eyes)

DONNA: Look...don't tell the Doctor I said anything 'cause he'll kill me...but I've got a prophecy too.

EVELINA covers her eyes with her hands thus creating a link with the sisterhood. They can hear everything DONNA says.

DONNA: Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out...

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA: Sisters...(they all cover their eyes)

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

DONNA: Evelina, can you hear me? Listen.

EVELINA: There is only one prophecy.

DONNA: But everything I'm about to say to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks...tons and tons of it and...this whole town is gonna get buried.

EVELINA: That's not true.

DONNA: I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but everyone's gonna die.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA:
A new prophecy.

THALINA: Impossible. There is only one.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, EVELINA'S ROOM

DONNA: Even if you don't believe me, just tell your family to get out of town...just for one day, just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out! Just leave Pompeii!

EVELINA: (upset) This is false prophecy! (breaks contact wit the sisters)

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

The sisters kneel in front of the High Priestess

SPURRINA: The Noble woman, she spoke of a new prophecy...the fall of Pompeii.

HIGH PRIESTESS: Pompeii will last forever.

SPURRINA: Then what must we do?

HIGH PRIESTESS: The false prophet must die. Sacrifice her.

The sisters bow their heads.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

The DOCTOR is arranging the marble slabs.

DOCTOR: Put this one...there. (takes another from QUINTUS) This one...there. Uh...I'll keep that one upside down. What have you got?

LUCIUS: Enlighten me.

DOCTOR: What? The soothsayer doesn't know?

LUCIUS: The seed may float on the breeze in any direction.

DOCTOR: Yeah, I knew you were gonna say that. But...it's an energy converter.

LUCIUS: An energy converter of what?

DOCTOR: I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing, keeps me on my toes. (moves to stand beside LUCIUS) It must be awful, being a prophet. Waking up every morning, "Is it raining? Yes, it is. I said so." Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius? Hmm? Who gave you these instructions?

LUCIUS: I think you've babbled long enough.

DOCTOR: Lucius, really, tell me honestly. I'm on your side. I can help.

LUCIUS: You insult the gods! There can be only one sentence. At arms!

LUCIUS' guards enter and the DOCTOR backs away, removing his glasses.

DOCTOR: Oh, morituri te salutant.

LUCIUS: Celtic prayers won't help you now.

QUINTUS: But it was him, sir. He made me do it. Sir Dextrus, please don't.

DOCTOR: Come on now, Quintus...dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. Shake on it? (holds out hand) Come on. (wiggles fingers of extended hand) Dying man's wish?

The DOCTOR lunges and grabs LUCIUS' hand and yanks. LUCIUS' forearm comes off)

QUINTUS: But he's...

DOCTOR: Show me.

LUCIUS throws back his cloak to reveal the stump of a stone arm.

LUCIUS: The work of the gods.

QUINTUS: He's stone!

DOCTOR: 'Armless enough, though. Whoop! (throws arm back to LUCIUS and runs) Quintus!

QUINTUS throws the torch at one of the guards and clambers out the window while the DOCTOR uses the sonic screwdriver on the circuits.

DOCTOR: Out! Out! Out! Hurry!

LUCIUS: The carvings!

EXT. NIGHT, STREETS OF POMPEII

The DOCTOR jumps onto the street.

DOCTOR: Run!

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

LUCIUS: (examines circuits) My carvings! The work is unbroken.

EXT. NIGHT, STREETS OF POMPEII

The DOCTOR and QUINTUS run through the streets.

LUCIUS: (v.o.)Oh, lord of the mountain, I beseech you.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

LUCIUS: (into hypocaust) This man would prevent the rise of Pompeii. (a snarling sound comes from below) Lord, I beg of you, show yourself! (the snarling becomes louder) Show yourself!

Below is the same creature EVELINA saw.

EXT. NIGHT, STREETS OF POMPEII

The DOCTOR and QUINTUS stop for a moment.

DOCTOR: No sign of 'em. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right.

QUINTUS: But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?

A loud booming echoes.

DOCTOR: What's that?

The DOCTOR and QUINTUS turn around as the sound continues.

QUINTUS: The mountain?

DOCTOR: No, it's closer.

The thudding continues and stalls and baskets fall over even though nothing is there.

DOCTOR: They're footsteps.

QUINTUS: It can't be.

DOCTOR: Footsteps underground!

QUINTUS: What is it? What is it?

The DOCTOR turns QUINTUS around and they continue running. As they pass vents, steam blows up like geysers.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

METELLA: What is it? What's that noise?

CAECILIUS: Doesn't sound like Vesuvius.

The DOCTOR comes running in.

DOCTOR: Caecilius! All of you, get out!

DONNA: Doctor, what is it?

DOCTOR: I think we're being followed.

The grille over the hypocaust is blown into the air.

DOCTOR: Just get out! (tries to herd them out the door)

The ground beneath the hypocaust cracks and a loud growling is heard. No one moves. A creature made of stone and magma forces its way through.

EVELINA: The gods are with us.

DOCTOR: Water! We need water! Quintus, all of you, get water! Donna!

DONNA, QUINTUS and one of the servants run out of the room. RHOMBUS steps towards the creature.

RHOMBUS: Blessed are we to see the gods.

The creature breathes fire and RHOMBUS is burned to ash. The DOCTOR approaches, hands out.

DOCTOR: Talk to me! That's all I want! Talk to me. Tell me who you are. Don't hurt these people.

On her way back with water, the sisterhood takes DONNA. EVELINA witnesses it.

DONNA: (muffled) Doctor! Doctor!

DOCTOR: Talk to me. I'm the Doctor. Tell me who you are.

The creature prepares to breath on the DOCTOR just as QUINTUS and the servant return with urns. QUINTUS dips it in the pool.

QUINTUS: Doctor!

They throw the water at the creature and it seems to freeze before falling and crumbling to pieces.

CAECILIUS: What was it?

DOCTOR: Carapace of stone...held together by internal magma. Not too difficult to stop. But I reckon that's just a foot soldier.

METELLA: Doctor...or whatever your name is...you bring bad luck in this house.

DOCTOR: I thought your son was brilliant. Aren't you going to thank him?

QUINTUS looks at the DOCTOR amazed that he would say something. METELLA hugs him.

DOCTOR: Still...guess there are aliens at work in Pompeii and it's a good thing we stayed. Donna! (turns around) Donna? Donna?!

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

DONNA: You have got to be kidding me.

DONNA is lying on a sacrificial altar and SPURRINA is holding a dagger above her.

SPURRINA: The false prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath.

DONNA: I'll surrender you in a minute. Don't you dare!

SPURRINA: You will be silent.

DONNA: You might have eyes on the back of your hands but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I finish with you! Let me...go!

SPURRINA
This prattling will cease...forever. (raises dagger above her head in preparation to strike)

DOCTOR: Oh, that'll be the day.

SPURRINA: No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sybil.

DOCTOR: Oh, that's all right, just us girls. (starts to walk towards them) Do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance a tarantella. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, "I know". Well, she wood. (stops in front of altar) You all right there?

DONNA: (sarcastic) Oh, never better.

DOCTOR: I like the toga. (reaches into pocket and takes out the sonic screwdriver)

DONNA: Thank you. And the ropes?

DOCTOR: Eh, not so much. (uses screwdriver on ropes)

SPURRINA: What magic is this?

DOCTOR: (flips the sonic screwdriver and puts it away) Let me tell you about the Sibyl...the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. IS that how you spread the word, eh? On the blade of a knife?

SPURRINA: Yes...a knife that now welcomes you! (raises knife)

HIGH PRIESTESS: Show me this man.

They all turn towards the curtain and the sisters kneel.

SPURRINA: High Priestess, the stranger would defy us!

HIGH PRIESTESS: Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake.

The DOCTOR and DONNA approach the curtain.

DOCTOR: Ah, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?

HIGH PRIESTESS: The gods whisper to me.

DOCTOR: Oh, they've done far more than that. Ah, might I beg audience, look upon the High Priestess?

The curtains part.

DONNA: (gasps) Oh my God! What's happened to you?

The HIGH PRIESTESS sits upon a bed, her body nearly converted completely to stone.

HIGH PRIESTESS: The heavens have blessed me.

DOCTOR: If I might... (motions that he'd like to step closer. She raises her arm and the DOCTOR kneels and touches it) Does it hurt?

HIGH PRIESTESS: It is necessary.

DOCTOR: Who told you that?

HIGH PRIESTESS: The voices.

DONNA: Is that what's happening to Evelina? (turns to sisters) Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?

SPURRINA: (approaches, sleeve pulled back) The blessings are manifold.

DONNA: (touches SPURRINA'S arm) They're stone.

DOCTOR: Exactly. (stands and walks back to DONNA) The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?

HIGH PRIESTESS: This word...this image in your mind, this "volcano", what is that?

DOCTOR: More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?

HIGH PRIESTESS: High Priestess of the Sibyline.

DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust in the lungs...taking over the flesh and turning it into...what?

HIGH PRIESTESS: Your knowledge is impossible.

DOCTOR: Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are!

HIGH PRIESTESS: (echoing) We...are...awakening!

SPURRINA: The voice of the gods!

SISTERS: (chanting) Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power. (keep repeating)

DOCTOR: Name yourself! Planet of origin, galactic coordinates, species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation.

HIGH PRIESTESS: (echoing) We...are...rising!

DOCTOR: Tell me your name!

HIGH PRIESTESS: (throws back her hood) Pyrovile!

SISTERS: (chanting) Pyrovile. Pyrovile. (keep repeating)

DONNA: What's a Pyrovile?

DOCTOR: Well, that's a Pyrovile...growing inside her. She's at the halfway stage.

DONNA: Well, and that turns into?

DOCTOR: That thing in the villa, that was an adult Pyrovile.

HIGH PRIESTESS: And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you, Doctor.

DOCTOR: I warn you...I'm armed. (pulls out water pistol) Donna, get that grille open.

DONNA: What are...?

DOCTOR: Just...(jerks head and DONNA goes to hypocaust) What are the Pyrovile doing here?

HIGH PRIESTESS: We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast we were rendered into dust.

DOCTOR: Right. Creatures of stone shatter on impact. When was that, 17 years ago?

HIGH PRIESTESS: We have slept beneath for thousands of years.

DOCTOR: Okay, so 17 years ago woke you up and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic powers?

HIGH PRIESTESS: We opened their minds and found such gifts.

DOCTOR: Yeah, okay, fine. You force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that. I get that. Yeah, but... seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?

SPURRINA watches the DOCTOR as the HIGH PRIESTESS moans.

DONNA: I got it!

DOCTOR: Now get down. (moves towards her, water pistol still aimed at the HIGH PRIESTESS)

DONNA: What, down there?

DOCTOR: Yes, down there! Why can't this lot predict the volcano? Why is it being hidden?

SPURRINA: Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless.

DOCTOR: Yeah, but it's got a sting! (shoots water and the HIGH PRIESTESS who moans in pain) Get down there! (DONNA drops through the opening and the DOCTOR follows)

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

DONNA: You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you.

DOCTOR: (gets up) This way.

DONNA: Where are we going now?

DOCTOR: Into the volcano.

DONNA: No way.

DOCTOR: Yes way. (twirls pistol) Appian way.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

HIGH PRIESTESS: The stranger would threaten our great endeavour. The time has come. The prophecy must advance.

INT. LUCIUS' VILLA

LUCIUS is staring into the hypocaust.

LUCIUS: The prophecy must advance. They will be done. (to guard) Summon the cult of Vulcan.

GUARD: Yes, sir.

LUCIUS: We must go to the mountain. Vesuvius awaits.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS: Sunrise, my love. A new day. Even the longest night must end.

QUINTUS: The mountain's worse than ever.

METELLA: We killed a messenger of the gods in our own house. (to Evelina) Sweetheart, can you see? Tell us. What's going to happen?

QUINTUS: Just... leave her alone.

EVELINA: I can see...

METELLA: What is it?

EVELINA: A choice. Someone must make a choice. (in tears) The most terrible choice.

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

The DOCTOR and DONNA walk through the tunnels toward Vesuvius.

DONNA: But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right? For you to stop it?

DOCTOR: Still part of history.

DONNA: Well, I'm history too. You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?

DOCTOR: Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.

DONNA: How do you know which is which?

DOCTOR: (stops) Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was...what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left. (walks on)

DONNA: How many people died?

DOCTOR: Stop it!

DONNA: Doctor! (he stops and turns) How many people died?

DOCTOR: Twenty thousand.

DONNA: Is that what you can see, Doctor? All 20,000? And you think that's all right, do you?

They hear the screech of a Pyrovile.

DOCTOR: They know we're here! Come on.

EXT. DAY, OUTSIDE MT VESUVIUS

LUCIUS approaches Vesuvius with the Cult of Vulcan, bringing the circuits.

INT. VOLCANIC TUNNELS

The DOCTOR and DONNA run through the tunnels avoiding pockets of flame.

EXT. DAY, OUTSIDE MT VESUVIUS

LUCIUS: Oh, mighty Vesuvius accept these offerings in Vulcan's design and show unto us, I beseech you, the gods of the Underworld.

The members of the cult kneel as a Pyrovile steps out of a cave.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

The DOCTOR and DONNA arrive at a great cavern.

DOCTOR: It's the heart of Vesuvius. (Pyroviles are walking about) We're right inside the mountain.

DONNA: There's tons of 'em.

DOCTOR: What's that thing? (takes out small collapsible telescope)

DONNA: Well, you'd better hurry up and think of something. Rocky IV's on its way.

The DOCTOR sees the interior of a ship.

DOCTOR: That's how they arrived...or what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank? (collapses telescope)

DONNA: But why do they need a volcano? Maybe...it erupts and they launch themselves back in space or something.

DOCTOR: No, it's worse that that.

DONNA: How can it be worse? (A Pyrovile roars.) Doctor, it's getting closer.

LUCIUS: Heathens! (he is higher up in the cavern) Defilers! They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods!

DOCTOR: Come on!

The DOCTOR and DONNA run across the cavern floor.

DONNA: We can't go in!

DOCTOR: We can't go back!

LUCIUS: Crush them! Burn them!

The DOCTOR and DONNA stop suddenly as a Pyrovile rises in front of them. The DOCTOR takes out the water pistol and uses it on the Pyrovile who shies away. With a look up at LUCIUS, they continue running.

LUCIUS: There is nowhere to run, Doctor...and Daughter of London.

DOCTOR: (stands in front of pod) Now then, Lucius. My lord Pyrovillian...don't get yourselves in a lava. (looks at DONNA) In a lava...no?

DONNA: No.

DOCTOR: No. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish...once this new race of creatures is complete...then what?

A Pyrovile walks towards them, crushing boulders in its path.

LUCIUS: My masters will follow the example of Rome itself, an almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilization.

DONNA: But if you've crashed...and you've got all this technology, why don't you just go home?

LUCIUS: The heaven of Pyrovillia is gone.

DOCTOR: What do you mean "gone"? Where's it gone?

LUCIUS: It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost. But there is heat enough in this world for our new species to rise.

DOCTOR: Yeah, I should warn you, it's 70% water out there.

LUCIUS: Water can boil and everything will burn, Doctor!

DOCTOR: (puts water pistol away) Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know. Donna! (pushes her into the pod and follows using the sonic screwdriver on the door)

LUCIUS: You have them, my lords.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA: Could we be any more trapped?

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

A Pyrovile breathes flames at the pod.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA: Little bit hot.

DOCTOR: See, the energy converted takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix which wields Pyrovile to human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions.

DONNA: Well, can you change it...with these controls?

DOCTOR: 'Course I can, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world.

DONNA: But you can change it back.

DOCTOR: Well, I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but...that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world.

DONNA: (shocked) Oh my God.

DOCTOR: If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

The Pyrovile is still breathing fire.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

DONNA: But the Pyrovile are made of rock. Maybe they can't be blown up.

DOCTOR: (working on machinery) Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. (looks at DONNA) Certainly not us.

DONNA: Never mind us.

DOCTOR: (puts his hands on the lever) Push this lever and it's all over. 20,000 people.

The DOCTOR seems unwilling to be responsible for so many deaths even in the course of saving the planet. DONNA puts her hands on the lever with his. The look at each other before pressing down.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

EVELINA senses the change in the future with a gasp.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

SPURRINA and the other sisters also feel the change.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

LUCIUS: Nooooo! Noooooo!

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

HIGH PRIESTESS: Nooooo!

SPURRINA: A new prophesy!

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

EVELINA : The future is changing.

INT. VOLCANIC CAVERN

LUCIUS screams as the flames of the volcano burn him. The Pyroviles shriek.

EXT. DAY, MOUNT VESUVIUS

The mountain erupts sending ash-and the pod-into the air.

INT. PYROVILE SHIP

The DOCTOR and DONNA are thrown about.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS: (looking up) The sky is falling!

EVELINA: Death. Only death!

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

Stunned, the townspeople don't know what to do as they watch the mountain.

EXT. DAY, MOUNT VESUVIUS

The DOCTOR and DONNA climb out of the escape pod, a little shaken.

DOCTOR: It was an escape pod. (He looks behind them and sees the volcano. He grabs DONNA'S hand and they run.)

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The people watch as the cloud of ash turns day into night, blotting out the sun.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The quake shakes the villa, dust and furniture falling.

CAECILIUS: Out! Out, everybody out! Quickly!

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The people begin to panic and scream as they run to escape the town.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

They try to make their way out as the ceiling falls in around them.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The ash begins to fall. The DOCTOR and DONNA run through the streets.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The family finds their exit blocked.

INT, TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL

The HIGH PRIESTESS wails as the temple falls around them. SPURRINA and THALINA are on the floor, the YOUNG SOOTHSAYER lying across their laps.

SPURRINA: You lied to us! And yet this was meant to be.

EXT. DAY, MARKETPLACE

The DOCTOR and DONNA try to make their way back to the TARDIS amidst the chaos in the streets. DONNA tries to help whoever will listen.

DONNA: Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't go to the beach, go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go to the beach, it's not safe! Listen to me...! (She sees a little boy crying, alone, and goes to him.) Come here.

WOMAN: (The mother snatches him) Give him to me!

DONNA just stands there crying, devastated, until the DOCTOR grabs her hand.

THE DOCTOR: Come on.

The DOCTOR and DONNA continue on to CAECILIUS' villa.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

The DOCTOR and DONNA arrive at CAECILIUS' villa. The family is huddled together.

CAECILIUS: Gods save us, Doctor!

The DOCTOR stares at them before heading for the TARDIS.

DONNA: You can't! Doctor, you can't! (follows him inside the TARDIS)

INT. TARDIS

The DOCTOR is at the console, preparing to dematerialise.

DONNA: You can't just leave them!

DOCTOR: Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies.

DONNA: You've got to go back! Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back!

The DOCTOR releases the brake and the TARDIS starts to dematerialise. His face shows no emotion, whereas DONNA has tears streaming down her cheeks.

DONNA: It's not fair.

DOCTOR: No, it's not.

DONNA: But your own planet, it burned.

DOCTOR: (looks at her) That's just it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand? If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just...can't! (softer) I can't.

DONNA: Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone.

The DOCTOR just looks at her.

INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, MAIN ROOM

CAECILIUS and his family huddle together as ashes fall. They hear the sound of the TARDIS and a bright light fills the room as it materialises. The door opens and the figure of the DOCTOR is silhouetted against a white light. He reaches out his hand.

DOCTOR: Come with me.

CAECILIUS reaches out his hand and grasps the DOCTOR'S.

EXT, HILL OVERLOOKING POMPEII

A cloud of ash and smoke flows over the town. The DOCTOR, DONNA, CAECILIUS, and his family watch from the hills.

DOCTOR: It is never forgotten, Caecilius. Oh time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade, but one day...Pompeii will be found again...in thousands of years...and everyone will remember you.

DONNA: What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?

EVELINA: The visions have gone.

DOCTOR: The explosion was so powerful, it cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not anymore. You're free.

METELLA: But tell me...who are you, Doctor...with your words...and your temple containing such size within?

DOCTOR: Oh, I was never here. Don't tell anyone.

CAECILIUS: The great go Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of...volcano. (voice breaks) All those people... (hugs METELLA)

QUINTUS takes EVELINA'S hand. The DOCTOR and DONNA slip back into the TARDIS.

INT. TARDIS

DONNA: Thank you.

DOCTOR: Yeah. (pauses) You were right. Sometimes I need someone. Welcome aboard.

DONNA: Yeah.

They smile.

SIX MONTHS LATER, INT. CAECILIUS' VILLA, ROME

CAECILIUS: (searching) Metella, my love, have you seen that clasp? The beetle one. The Egyptians do love a scarab.

METELLA: (arrives with clasp) Here we are, I was giving it a polish. (hands it to him) Now calm down.

CAECILIUS: If I get that contract, for the marble granaries of Alexandria, we'll be rich, you'll see... (EVELINA walks by wearing short tunic) Hold on there, Evelina. You are not going out wearing that!

EVELINA: Don't start, Dad, it's what all the girls in Rome are wearing. (she kisses her dad) See you later.

CAECILIUS: Are you seeing that boy again?

QUINTUS walks by carrying scrolls and looking more "together" than when we first saw him in Pompeii

METELLA: (so proud) Oh, look at Quintus. My son, the doctor.

QUINTUS: Mum, I've told you, I'm not a doctor, not yet. I'm just a student of the physical sciences.

METELLA: Well, that's a doctor to me. (she kisses his forehead) Give thanks to the household gods before you go. There's a good boy. (to Caecilius) Come here, let me fix it. You've got that folded all wrong...

QUINTUS: (walks and kneels before the shrine then sprinkles it with water) Thank you, household gods. Thank you for everything.

We see the new carving in the shrine: the Doctor, Donna, and the TARDIS as their temple.