PART ONE

1. THE RUINS OF POMPEII, 1980

WE HEAR THE OCCASIONAL CRIES OF SEAGULLS, THROUGHOUT THIS AND ALL OTHER DAYTIME EXTERIOR SCENES UNTIL NOTED. PROFESSOR SCALINI, A (MALE) ARCHAEOLOGIST AND CAPTAIN MORAN, A (FEMALE) UNIT OFFICER APPROACH US ACROSS RUBBLE, IN MID-CONVERSATION.

SCALINI: …walls and columns came tumbling down. Tumbling down, I tell you! Some buildings lost whole storeys. Our people are working to prop up what’s left of Pompeii, but the damage, the damage!

MORAN: (BORED) I can see it must be frustrating for you, Professor.

SCALINI: Frustrating? It’s disastrous! An archaeological disaster! Pompeii is our window on the Roman world, you know, Captain. A window! Thanks to the eruption of Vesuvius, this city was preserved like no other, just waiting for us to learn its secrets. It has survived looters, tourists, vandals… and now, for nature itself to do this…

MORAN: I’m sure you’re doing everything you can, Professor.

THEY COME TO A HALT.

	But this, I assume, is what we’re here for.

SCALINI: Yes, yes, this is the artefact. We haven’t completed our excavations of this region, you see. The artefact was uncovered by the earthquake. It –

MORAN: Could somebody have put it here? As some sort of prank?

SCALINI: Oh, goodness, no. As you can see, it is still partially buried under volcanic ash. No, the only way it could have arrived in its present position is if it was placed there before Mount Vesuvius erupted.

MORAN: Which was when, exactly?

SCALINI: AD 79. Almost two thousand years ago – which, as you can see, is impossible. Quite impossible.

MORAN: Indeed. OK, Professor, I’m taking custody of this artefact. I’ll have men down here within the hour.

SCALINI: You intend to dig it out? But –

MORAN: I have to ask you not to speak to anyone about this. You will be required to sign a declaration to that effect. A representative of your government will be in touch shortly.

SCALINI: I don’t understand. Is the artefact dangerous?

MORAN: I’m sorry, Professor Scalini, but this is UNIT business now. If I were you, I’d forget I ever saw anything.

SHE MARCHES AWAY.

SCALINI: But… but…

MORAN: (CALLS BACK TO HIM) Thank you, Professor!

SCALINI: (FORLORNLY) But what’s so special about an English police telephone box?

2. A POMPEIAN BACK STREET

THE TARDIS MATERIALISES. THE DOCTOR AND MEL EMERGE. MEL STEPS HEAVILY INTO A PUDDLE.

MEL: (DISGUSTED) Oh, Doctor! I’ve just soaked my best shoes.

DOCTOR: Our first clue, Mel. Wherever we’ve landed, the drainage system isn’t as advanced as you’re used to. I think we should keep to the pavements.

MEL: I think you’re right. It smells awful.

DOCTOR: You’ll get used to it. We’re on Earth, I think.

MEL: It certainly looks like it. Those buildings are Roman, aren’t they?

DOCTOR: Roman or Greek.

MEL: We must have come a long way into the past.

DOCTOR: Millennia, from your point of view. (THOUGHTFULLY, TO SELF) This could be one of the older, residential parts of the city…

MEL: City? What city, Doctor? You said you didn’t know where we were.

DOCTOR: I don’t. The old girl wouldn’t tell me where we’ve landed.

MEL: Oh, Doctor, you don’t need to make it sound so sinister. The TARDIS malfunctioned, that’s all. It’s always happening. I don’t know why you don’t –

DOCTOR: Ssh.

SILENCE FOR A FEW SECONDS.

MEL: (WHISPERS) What is it, Doctor?

DOCTOR: (SAME) I don’t think we’re alone.

A SCRAPING SOUND, AS A SLAVE TRIES TO SLIP AWAY QUIETLY.

(CALLS) It’s all right, don’t worry, we aren’t going to hurt you.

SLAVE: (TERRIFIED) My lord, my lady, I beg your forgiveness, I did not mean to intrude upon your conference.

MEL: You weren’t intruding.

DOCTOR: You, ah, saw us arriving?

SLAVE: Take my eyes if you wish, lord, but I witnessed the arrival of your chariot from the heavens. I was fetching material for my owner and… and a sound, like a hundred elephants…

MEL: You mean somebody “owns” you?

DOCTOR: He’s a slave, Mel. See that belt he’s wearing? It’s inscribed with the name of his mistress.

MEL: (READING) Eu-mach-ia.

DOCTOR: (TO SLAVE) We aren’t going to punish you.

MEL: No, we certainly are not.

DOCTOR: We are simply, ah, messengers.

SLAVE: Is Isis then displeased with our offerings?

DOCTOR: Oh, no, no, nothing like that. However, we would like to keep our presence here a secret – if you could perhaps…?

SLAVE: I swear, lord, I will speak of this to nobody.

DOCTOR: Splendid. Well, run along now... No, wait! One more thing... We’ve been travelling for some time, and… (AN EMBARRASSED LAUGH) it’s silly I know, but we seem to have lost track of the date…?

SLAVE: Why, it is the day of the Vulcanalia, my lord. The tenth before the Calends of September.

DOCTOR: (SUDDENLY DISTRACTED) I see. Thank you.

THE SLAVE SCURRIES AWAY.

MEL: What did he mean, Doctor?

DOCTOR: (SOMBRELY) He said it’s the twenty-third of August.

MEL: You should have asked him the year.

DOCTOR: I’m afraid I already know. 

HE WALKS AWAY QUICKLY. MEL HURRIES TO KEEP UP WITH HIM.

MEL: What are you talking about, Doctor? Doctor! How can you know?

DOCTOR: We can cross the road on these stepping stones. Be careful.

MEL: Where are we going?
DOCTOR: Do you want to explore or don’t you?

MEL: What’s wrong, Doctor? Where are we? (HE PULLS AWAY FROM HER; SHE CALLS AFTER HIM, FRUSTRATED) Doctor!

3. A POMPEIAN STREET

THE DOCTOR WALKS ON, WITH MEL A SHORT WAY BEHIND HIM. THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE AROUND; WE HEAR THEM WALKING AND SOMETIMES TALKING. AT SOME POINT, AN IRON-WHEELED CART MIGHT TRUNDLE PAST, DRAWN BY TWO HORSES.

DOCTOR: (MUTTERS SADLY TO SELF, AS IF CONFUSED) So, this is it. The final journey. I had hoped for a while longer. Time to prepare. Time, slipping away from me. Only just arriving, but we’ve already stayed a  lifetime. Too many lifetimes. Withering like roses.

MEL CATCHES UP TO HIM.

MEL: (DETERMINED) All right, Doctor, what’s going on?

DOCTOR: I’m sorry, Mel.

MEL: (FRUSTRATED) What for?

THEY STOP WALKING.

Tell me, Doctor!

DOCTOR: (SIGHS, COMPOSES HIMSELF) The year is AD 79. The Roman Empire is under the short-lived rule of Titus. We are in the city of Pompeii, a prosperous trading centre on the Bay of Naples. If you look between the buildings over there, you can see a mountain by the name of Vesuvius.

MEL: The volcano!

DOCTOR: Yes. The volcano.

MEL: I’ve never seen a real volcano before. (LAUGHS NOSTALGICALLY) I remember, we made a model of that particular one in primary school, out of papier mache. We had red liquid pouring out of the top like lava.

DOCTOR: (MUTTERS) Actually, that’s not quite what will happen.

MEL: (SUDDENLY WORRIED) When will Vesuvius erupt, Doctor?

DOCTOR: I think it might be better if we just leave.

MEL: What?

DOCTOR: Leave. Go back to the TARDIS.

MEL: Why?

DOCTOR: Because you aren’t dressed for this time and place. Because, beneath their sophisticated veneer, the Romans are a quite barbarous people. Because we have a habit of attracting trouble. And because this is your history, and no good can come of our meddling in it.

MEL: (SIGHS) It’s all right, Doctor. I get the idea. You want to go.

DOCTOR: No. It’s your decision, Mel. It has to be your choice.

MEL: Well… can’t we at least have a quick look round first? I mean, there’s no reason why we should go rushing straight off, is there?

DOCTOR: None whatsoever.

MEL: I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.

DOCTOR: Nothing’s wrong, Mel. Quite the opposite. Events are proceeding precisely as I expect they should.

MEL: And Mount Vesuvius?

THE DOCTOR SETS OFF WALKING AGAIN.

DOCTOR: (DOURLY) Will erupt, burying Pompeii and killing thousands of its people, at approximately midday tomorrow.

4. THE STREET OF PLENTY

A FEW MINUTES LATER. THE DOCTOR AND MEL WALK INTO A BUSY SHOPPING CENTRE. WE HEAR LOTS OF VOICES AND LAUGHTER.

DOCTOR: (CHEERFULLY) The Via dell’Abbondanza. The Street of Plenty.

MEL: There are certainly plenty of people about.

DOCTOR: They’re celebrating, Mel. If I remember my history – or rather, yours – correctly, we’ve arrived during the Festival of the Divine Augustus.

MEL: I see they’ve invented graffiti by now. It’s everywhere! Now, let me see. I did a bit of Latin at school. That one says… ‘Polycarbus runs from… (CORRECTS HERSELF) ran from… his opponent…’

DOCTOR: ‘In shameful fashion.’

MEL: Referring to a gladiator, I assume.

DOCTOR: You can learn a great deal about a culture from its writings.

MEL: (DISTASTEFULLY) On walls, though!

DOCTOR: There’s a time and a place for everything, Mel.

MEL: So long as we don’t have to see any of these gladiators.

DOCTOR: The Amphitheatre will be closed for the festival. Thankfully. We could take in a poetry recital, if you’d like.

MEL: Yes, that could be quite interesting. (BEAT) Doctor? Do you see that man behind us? Quite young, dark hair... Do you think he’s following us? It’s just that he keeps looking over here and…

HER VOICE TRAILS OFF, AND THE SOUND OF THE CROWD GROWS LOUDER. SHE HAS LOST HIM.

(WORRIED) Doctor?

BEGGAR WOMAN: Spare some asses, dear?

MEL: (A STARTLED GASP) 

BEGGAR WOMAN: Some coins for a homeless old woman?

MEL: Oh. Oh, I see. I’m sorry, I don’t have any money.

BEGGAR WOMAN: (ANGRILY) What? You dare claim poverty? You, with your clean face and your neat hair and your clothing of strange fabrics?

MEL: I don’t. Really, I just –

BEGGAR WOMAN: You think yourself better than me, but you are no more than a base dissembler!

MEL: I’d help you if I could. But I’ve only just arrived here. I… I’m a messenger. From Isis. I’m here to –

DOCTOR:  To honour the Divine Augustus with a quiet drink.

MEL: (RELIEVED) Doctor!

DOCTOR: So, if you’d excuse us…?

MEL: Where were you?

THE DOCTOR CHIVVIES MEL AWAY. WE STAY WITH THEM.

BEGGAR WOMAN: (SHOUTS AFTER THEM)You have not even the decency to cover your head. You are shameless, woman. Shameless!

DOCTOR: I don’t think it’s a good idea to encourage that particular rumour.

MEL: I don’t like lying, obviously – but I didn’t know what else to say. We can’t tell the people of the first century AD about the TARDIS, can we?

DOCTOR: You should leave the talking to me in future.

MEL: (OFFENDED) Oh, Doctor! I only repeated what you told that slave – or rather, what you let him believe.

DOCTOR: He saw the TARDIS materialising. I had no choice. Believe me, Mel, making claims of that nature can be very unwise indeed. You’re drawing enough attention to us already.

MEL: I’m drawing attention?

DOCTOR: Your clothing is anachronistic. Women should keep their heads covered, and pink stripes are definitely out of season.

MEL: Whereas question mark pullovers are the height of discretion, I suppose.

DOCTOR: I think we should find somewhere a bit more private.

THEY WALK AWAY FROM US, AND WE RETURN TO THE BEGGAR WOMAN. SHE IS APPROACHED BY POPIDIUS CELSINUS; HE IS TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD; A WEAK MAN IN A POSITION OF POWER.

CELSINUS: Well? What have you learned?

BEGGAR WOMAN: That you must like the aspect of this stranger a good deal that you, (WITH MOCKING GRANDEUR) Popidius Celsinus of the municipal council, would pay for the favour of such as I.

CELSINUS: You try my patience, woman. What did she tell you?

BEGGAR WOMAN: A more precious secret, perhaps, than can be bought with the few coins you have promised.

CELSINUS: I offer fair recompense for a simple deed, hag! Would you have me talk to the aediles and have you run out of this city?

BEGGAR WOMAN: (AMUSED, TAUNTINGLY) I merely find it strange that you know not the answer to your question already.

CELSINUS: Why say you that?

BEGGAR WOMAN: The woman comes from Isis, decurione. She is a messenger of the goddess. Now, how can it be that you, of all in Pompeii, were not aware of that fact?

5. VALERIA HEDONE’S INN

A SMALL BAR CROWDED WITH REVELLERS, SOME OF THEM DRUNK AND QUITE ROWDY. ITS FRONT IS OPEN TO THE STREET, SO THE SOUNDS FROM OUTSIDE CAN STILL BE HEARD. THE BAR IS RUN BY VALERIA HEDONE, A TOUGH, FORTHRIGHT GREEK WOMAN.

VALERIA (CALLS INTO THE STREET): Come, handsome stranger, feast here with your chambermaid. Valeria offers the lowest prices for hot food and the finest garum in all Rome.

DOCTOR: Yes, yes, thank you, I think we will.

THE DOCTOR, MEL AND VALERIA MOVE INTO THE BAR TOGETHER.

MEL: Thank you. But I’m not his –

DOCTOR: You keep an interesting establishment here, er…?

VALERIA: Valeria Hedone at your service. You are a stranger to Pompeii, but a man of good standing I can see. It will be Falernian wine for you, I’d wager. I ask but four asses for the drink of the emperors.

DOCTOR: Very reasonable… Ah. But not just yet, I’m afraid. I appear to have left my coins at home.

MEL: (EMBARRASSED) Oh, Doctor!

VALERIA: (ICILY) Then perhaps you should fetch them, stranger, before you waste any more of my time.

SHE WALKS OFF.

MEL: What was that you said about drawing attention?

DOCTOR: (BITTERLY) Why are you humans so obsessed with money? (MUTTERS THOUGHTFULLY) Money, money, money…

MEL: I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat here anyway. Those fish aren’t even cooked. They’re rotting!

DOCTOR: They’re not for eating, Mel.

MEL: So, what are they for?

DOCTOR: Throwing back into the river.

MEL: I think it’s a bit late for that.

DOCTOR: It’s a ritual, Mel. Remember what that slave told us? Today is the Vulcanalia. The fish are an offering to Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire and Furnaces. (MUTTERS THOUGHTFULLY) I always did wonder how that particular custom originated. 

MEL: You mean it’s Vulcan’s feast day as well as the Festival of the Divine Augustus? I knew the Romans had a lot of holidays, but two at once!

DOCTOR: They treat their gods very seriously.

MEL: As a serious excuse to get drunk, from what I can see.

DOCTOR: (HAPPILY) Ah! I think I’ve just seen the answer to our problem.

HE LEADS MEL OVER TO A TABLE AT WHICH FOUR PEOPLE ARE PLAYING WITH DICE MADE OUT OF BONE. ONE IS MURRANUS, A GLADIATOR: LOUD, ARROGANT AND QUICK TO ANGER.
		
MEL: (LOWERS HER VOICE, UNEASILY) Are you sure, Doctor? They don’t look very friendly.

DOCTOR: (AT NORMAL SPEAKING VOLUME) Gladiators, I expect. But don’t worry, Mel, they’re only wielding dice, not swords. Excuse me, gentlemen, I wonder if you might be able to accommodate one more player?

MURRANUS: You have coins to stake?

DOCTOR: Ah, no. But I thought you might have a use for… (HE ELONGATES ‘FOR’ AS HE RUMMAGES THROUGH HIS POCKETS)  this silver, er… (DISAPPOINTED) yo-yo. No, no, that won’t do at all, will it?

MURRANUS: We play for coins or nought. Now, leave. You disturb us.

MEL: I think he means it, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Yes, yes, but there must be something I can interest you in.

MURRANUS: (LAUGHS) I am Murranus, stranger, the greatest mirmillo ever to do battle in Pompeii’s Amphitheatre. What could you offer to me?

DOCTOR: (FEIGNING DELIGHT) Ah, Murranus! Delighted to meet you. I’ve heard your name spoken, of course. The most courageous swordsman in the whole of the Empire, they tell me.

MEL: Much braver than Polycarbus.

MURRANUS: You hear right. Why, in the latest games, I vanquished my opponents with ease. Even Crescens, ‘the people’s darling’ could not withstand my sword.

THE DOCTOR PULLS BACK A CHAIR AND SITS DOWN.

DOCTOR:  Indeed. And it would be a great honour to dice with the renowned Murranus. I’m the Doctor, by the way.

MURRANUS: (THREATENINGLY) I did not give you leave to sit.

DOCTOR: (HE’S SUDDENLY THOUGHT OF SOMETHING) My maidservant!

MURRANUS: What madness afflicts you now?

DOCTOR: My maidservant. She must be worth… oh, two thousand sesterces at least, wouldn’t you say?

MURRANUS: The girl?

MEL: (HALF-LAUGHING, NOT SURE IF HE’S JOKING) Doctor!

DOCTOR: The girl! What’s wrong, Murranus? My wager too rich for Pompeii's finest warrior? I will stake the girl against just thirty sesterces.

MURRANUS: Then you are a fool, Doctor. You must know the gods will favour he who fights and wins in their name.

DOCTOR: Then you accept?

MEL: (IN AN URGENT WHISPER) I hope you know what you’re doing.

MURRANUS: Aye, Doctor. I accept!

DOCTOR: Splendid, splendid. Well, then… perhaps you’d like to make the first roll?

6. THE HOUSE OF EUMACHIA

EUMACHIA, AN ARROGANT NOBLEWOMAN, REMONSTRATES WITH HER SLAVE.
 
EUMACHIA: (ANGRILY) Speak, slave! I require an answer. I would know how it is that you should take so long about a simple errand.

SLAVE: (AFRAID) Forgive me, Mistress Eumachia, I am pledged not to say.

EUMACHIA: To whom? To whom would you show greater fealty than to your mistress; to she who feeds and clothes and houses you?

SLAVE: Only to the gods, I swear it.

EUMACHIA: Ah! Then ’twas the Gods who obstructed your work. Were my husband still alive, he would flog you for such lies!

SLAVE: It was… (MUMBLES, ALMOST INAUDIBLY) their messengers.

EUMACHIA: Do not mumble so! 

SLAVE: Their messengers, mistress. It is the truth, I swear it. I would scarce have believed it myself, and yet I saw their temple as it descended from the heavens.

EUMACHIA: What temple is this, that a priestess of the true religion knows nought of it?

SLAVE: It was sent to us by Isis, mistress. 

EUMACHIA: Ha! The foreign goddess! Then these messengers be false prophets indeed.

SLAVE: My lady?

EUMACHIA: Their deceptions may fool one such as you – but they will not long stand in the light of the true faith.

7. VALERIA HEDONE’S INN

A CROWD OF ONLOOKERS HAS GATHERED, AND THE BAR IS QUIETER THAN BEFORE. TWO BONE DICE ROLL ACROSS A TABLE, AND A COLLECTIVE GASP IS RAISED.

DOCTOR: I believe we agreed on thirty sesterces?

MURRANUS: (BITTERLY) By Jupiter, Doctor, the Lares smile upon you today.

DOCTOR: Apparently so.

HE PULLS A NUMBER OF COINS ACROSS THE TABLE. THE ONLOOKERS BEGIN TO RESUME THEIR CONVERSATIONS.

	And now, if you’ll excuse me…?

MURRANUS: What is this? Surely you will not take your gains and leave so soon?

DOCTOR: Well, time is pressing.

MURRANUS: (THREATENINGLY) That is not the way of a sportsman, Doctor. I would test your fortune further. You will agree, I feel sure, that I should have the opportunity to recover what I have lost?

DOCTOR: Oh, very well then, just a little longer… (CALLS) Valeria? Valeria, I wonder if you could do me a small favour? I’m sure you’ve noticed how my, ah, maidservant here is dressed. Most inappropriate. I wonder if you could, ah…?

HE HANDS SOME COINS OVER.

VALERIA: For this price, Doctor, I will clothe the girl in the finest robes.

WE FOLLOW VALERIA AS SHE MOVES THROUGH THE CROWD TO AGLAE, A SHY GREEK TEENAGER.

I have one more task for you, Aglae. Take these coins to Vesonius and purchase a stola for the Doctor’s maidservant. I would say she has your build.

AGLAE: But, my lady, it is the Festival. My mistress expects my return.

VALERIA: You will do as I say, girl. Asellina will not miss you for a few minutes more.
 
AGLAE: (COWED) As you wish.

VALERIA MOVES AWAY. AGLAE MAKES FOR THE DOOR, BUT MEL INTERCEPTS HER.

MEL: Hello. You’re Aglae, aren’t you? I’m Melanie Bush – Mel to my friends. I’d like to come with you, if I may.

AGLAE: (SURPRISED) Will your master allow you to leave his side?

MEL: You must be joking! Anyway, he seems to have other things on his mind at the moment – and I’m attracting just as much attention here as I would be outside. So, let’s go!

MEL HEADS FOR THE STREET, AND AGLAE FOLLOWS.

AGLAE: (GIGGLING) I will enjoy your company, Mel.

MEL: Well, there’s nothing like a bit of shopping to relax, is there?

8. THE STREET OF PLENTY/ THE LUPANAR

MEL AND AGLAE APPROACH US IN MID-CONVERSATION.

AGLAE: And you say this Doctor has… changed since you met him?

MEL: (LAUGHING) Oh Aglae, you don’t know the half of it. (WISTFULLY) I was beginning to think he didn’t need me any more – but, since we arrived in Pompeii, he’s been acting very strangely. All quiet and brooding. It’s not like him at all. I wish he’d tell me what’s wrong.

AGLAE: You are a very compassionate woman, Mel.

MEL: (TOUCHED) Oh, I just try to help when I can.

THEY STOP OUTSIDE A BUILDING.

So, this is where you live, is it?

AGLAE: Yes, this is the Lupanar.

MEL: It’s nice and central – right on the Street of Plenty.

AGLAE: We do good trade. Come inside, Mel. You may change in my room. With luck, my lady Asellina will have no need of me for a time yet.

MEL: Thanks, Aglae. What did you call this toga thing again – a stola? (BEAT) Hey, just a minute!

AGLAE: What is it, Mel?

MEL: Those… those things up there. On the sign. They can’t be what I think they are… (UNCERTAINLY) can they?

AGLAE: (PUZZLED) As you say, Mel, it is a sign. It bespeaks the nature of the Lupanar.

MEL: But they look like… (WITH AN EMBARRASSED LAUGH) well, I don’t really like to say… they… (REALISES) Oh. Oh, does that mean you’re a…? Oh.

AGLAE: Do you not also serve your master in this manner?

MEL: I most certainly do not! And you shouldn’t – (BEAT, THEN GROANS) Oh no! Don’t look now, Aglae, but there’s that man again: the one who was watching me before. I think he’s coming over here.

AGLAE: (GASPS) Mel, that is Popidius Celsinus. He is a decurione: a member of the municipal council.

MEL: I don’t really care, actually. Let’s just get inside.

AGLAE: But Mel, you should be honoured that he seeks you out.

MEL: I can do without that particular honour, thank you.

MEL PULLS AGLAE INTO THE LUPANAR AND SLAMS THE DOOR.

(LAUGHS HOLLOWLY) Oh, wonderful! Just wonderful!

AGLAE: Does something vex you?

MEL: (SIGHS) No, Aglae, not really. It’s just that the local creep makes a beeline for me, so what do I do? Run straight into the nearest brothel! Talk about giving somebody the wrong idea!

9. VALERIA HEDONE’S INN

THE DICE ROLL. MURRANUS’S THREE FRIENDS LAUGH UNKINDLY.

MURRANUS: (MOCKINGLY) Once more, Doctor, you throw the caniculae. The fates have truly deserted you.

DOCTOR: As you said, Murranus, the gods favour those who honour them in battle.

MURRANUS GATHERS UP HIS COINS. THE DOCTOR PUSHES BACK HIS CHAIR AND STANDS.

And now, I really must bid you good day.

MURRANUS: Hold!

DOCTOR: You have won all my coins, Murranus.

MURRANUS: Thirty sesterces did you take from me. A mere ten have you staked in return.

DOCTOR: Ah, yes. Well, I had to buy clothes for my companion, you see.

MURRANUS: (THREATENINGLY) You will find something to wager! If you have nought else, then the clothes from your back may fetch an as or two.

DOCTOR: Perhaps they would. But –

MURRANUS: (EAGERLY) Better yet, I should like another chance at winning your servant.

DOCTOR: I’m afraid that was a one-time-only offer, Murranus. And, as you said, my luck really isn’t holding out. Your, ah, skill with the dice is a little too great for my liking.

MURRANUS JUMPS TO HIS FEET AND UNSHEATHES HIS SWORD.

MURRANUS: (LOUDLY AND ANGRILY) Do you accuse Murranus of cheating? I will run you through where you stand!

SILENCE FALLS.

DOCTOR: (UNFLUSTERED) It’s all in the wrist action, of course. No point in having a loaded die if you don’t know how to roll it properly. But don’t worry, I shan’t hold a grudge. I just wish to find my companion –

MURRANUS HURLS THE TABLE ASIDE TO GET TO THE DOCTOR. THE SILENCE IS BROKEN, AS ONLOOKERS REACT WITH FEAR AND ASTONISHMENT.

MURRANUS: You seem well versed in the ways of the cheat, Doctor. Could it be that it is you who have won your coins unfairly?

VALERIA INTERCEDES.

VALERIA: (FORCEFULLY, AFRAID) Stop this, gentlemen!

MURRANUS: It will stop when I have satisfaction, not before!

THE DOCTOR PUSHES A CHAIR OVER AND RUNS. MURRANUS LEAPS ON HIM, SNARLING. WE HEAR GRUNTS AND GROANS FROM BOTH AS A SCUFFLE ENSUES.

VALERIA: (SHOUTS) I will not have this brawling in my inn, do you hear?

THE DOCTOR GASPS AS MURRANUS GETS AN ARM AROUND HIS NECK.

MURRANUS: Worry not, Valeria. This imp will trouble us no more – not once I have crushed the life from his body!

A STRANGULATED CRY FROM THE DOCTOR.

10. THE LUPANAR/THE STREET OF PLENTY

MEL AND AGLAE CLATTER DOWN A FLIGHT OF WOODEN STAIRS.

MEL: Am I wearing this the right way round? It’s not very comfortable.

AGLAE: You should not wear your old garments beneath the stola, Mel.

MEL: I don’t want to lose them.

AGLAE: At least you will draw less attention now. If fortune favours you, then Popidius Celsinus will not spy you again.

AGLAE OPENS THE DOOR ONTO THE STREET OF PLENTY. THEY EMERGE TO FIND THE CROWD SILENT, APART FROM A FEW AWE-STRUCK GASPS AND MURMURS.

MEL: What’s happening out here?

AGLAE: I do not…(EXCITEDLY) Oh! Oh, look Mel! Look over there!

MEL: (IN A HORRIFIED WHISPER) Vesuvius!

AGLAE: Is it not magnificent? Smoke rises from the very mountain. It can only have come from the furnace of Vulcan himself.

MEL: (TO HERSELF, NUMBLY) The God of Fire and Furnaces. Oh no…

A DISTANT RUMBLING STARTS UP. IT GROWS LOUDER.

AGLAE: He acknowledges Pompeii’s offerings to him. Perhaps we are not so out of favour with the gods as we have feared.

MEL: No. No, it can’t be. Not yet. (BEAT; THEN, WORRIED) Aglae… Aglae, something’s happening.

THE CROWD REACTS AS THE RUMBLING GROWS LOUDER STILL AND THE EARTH BEGINS TO SHAKE.

Aglae! (SCREAMS)

11. VALERIA HEDONE’S INN

THE TREMOR CONTINUES. POTS SMASH ON THE FLOOR. PEOPLE REACT FEARFULLY, AS ON THE STREET. THE DOCTOR BREAKS FREE.

MURRANUS: (A GRUNT OF PAIN AND SURPRISE)

DOCTOR: (A GASP OF RELIEF)

MURRANUS FALLS ONTO A TABLE AND BREAKS IT.

DOCTOR: (A LITTLE SHAKILY) Oh dear, you seem to have slipped.

VALERIA: Enough, I say! Is it not trial enough that the earth betrays us, without that you continue this behaviour?

MURRANUS: (FURIOUSLY) Confound you, cheat! The gods themselves keep me from snapping your neck – but they will not save you twice.

VALERIA: You! Get out of here, now!

DOCTOR: Delighted to.

VALERIA: Go on, run! (WARNINGLY) No, Murranus, I care not about your reputation. If you wish to settle your differences, then you will find a place other than mine in which to do it, or you will settle them with me!

12. THE STREET OF PLENTY

THE TREMOR CONTINUES, PROBABLY FRIGHTENING A HORSE OR TWO.

AGLAE: (SHOUTS, IN A STRAINED VOICE) Be not afraid, Mel. Hold on to me. This tremor is not such a bad one, I think. It will soon end.

MEL: (SAME) You mean this happens a lot?

AGLAE: It is the gods’ way of showing us their displeasure.

THE QUAKE SUBSIDES. PEOPLE PICK THEMSELVES UP, WITH A GENERAL OUTPOURING OF RELIEF.

You see? There has been no real damage. This was but a warning. We shall have to honour our gods more diligently.

MEL: You’re not making sense, Aglae. A minute ago, you were telling me how pleased Vulcan was with you. Now you’re saying the gods are angry?

AGLAE: It is true, I fear, that the earth shakes more often and more violently these past weeks. None can remember such ill omens since the upheaval of seventeen years since.

MEL: Then why doesn’t somebody do something? Doesn’t anyone realise what’s happening?

AGLAE: We observe the rituals, we make offerings, we pray to be forgiven. What else can we do?

MEL IS DUMBFOUNDED. THEN THE DOCTOR BREEZES PAST.

DOCTOR: Ah, there you are, Mel. Yes, very fetching. Thank you for your help, Aglae. Come along, Mel.

MEL: Doctor?

DOCTOR: (HE HAS PASSED HER NOW; HE CALLS BACK) There are at least two very good reasons why we ought to be somewhere else.

MEL: (CALLS BACK) Wait for me then. (TO AGLAE) Well, er… thank you for everything, Aglae. It’s been lovely meeting you, but it really does look like I’ve got to go.

AGLAE: I understand, Mel. Your master has need of you.

MEL: (SIGHS) Something like that.

13. A POMPEIAN STREET

IN A QUIETER AREA, MEL CATCHES UP WITH THE DOCTOR.

MEL: It’s the volcano, isn’t it, Doctor? Causing the tremors? (HE DOESN’T ANSWER) It’s horrible! This city… these people… Aglae! Valeria! They’re all going to die, aren’t they?

DOCTOR: Many of them, yes.

MEL: Can’t we do something?

DOCTOR: Against Nature? No. Against Time? Certainly not. This happened a long time ago, Mel. We can’t change it.

MEL: It doesn’t seem fair.

DOCTOR: Time never is.

THEY COME TO A HALT.

(GENTLY) Are you ready to leave now?

MEL: (THINKS CAREFULLY, THEN) Yes. Yes, I think I am.

14. VALERIA HEDONE’S INN

VALERIA GREETS MURRANUS AS HE RETURNS.

VALERIA: Murranus! So, you did not find your foe?

MURRANUS: (BITTERLY) I did not. This is your fault, Valeria. You should not have kept me from him.

VALERIA: You have caused enough damage here – you and the gods between you. I hope you have returned to help put things aright.

MURRANUS: I will do that, Valeria. And I will put things right with this ‘Doctor’ also. If he has any wit about him, he will leave Pompeii before I can find him – for I swear he will not have the chance after.

15. A POMPEIAN BACK STREET

A FEW PEOPLE MILL ABOUT AND TALK IN CONCERNED TONES. HEAVY STONES ARE BEING SHIFTED. THE DOCTOR AND MEL APPROACH.

MEL: …so, you did cheat, then?

DOCTOR: Only on that first roll. I observed our gladiator friend’s technique and used it – and his own dice – against him.

MEL: (WITH MOCK DISAPPROVAL) Well, it sounds like cheating to me.

DOCTOR: It’s only cheating if you get caught.

MEL: Whereas you got clean away with it, I suppose. Well, if you want to know what I think – (SEES SOMETHING AND IS SUDDENLY WORRIED) Doctor… Doctor, what’s going on?

DOCTOR: (MURMURS, UPSET) No. No, this can’t be how it ends.

THEY RUN FORWARDS TOGETHER.

MEL: We are in the right place. I know we’re in the right place.

DOCTOR: I should have known. We should have turned back as soon as I realised…

MEL: It was the earthquake, wasn’t it? It brought that building down, and the TARDIS… the TARDIS was right underneath it!

DOCTOR: …but how could I? Time marching on. The future laid out before me. We’ve already stayed a lifetime.

MEL: Doctor, tell me we can get the TARDIS back. I mean, it’s just a bit of concrete, right? Look – those slaves are already clearing the wreckage. We can dig it out, can’t we? We can get away before… before…

DOCTOR: I’m sorry, Mel.

HE WALKS AWAY SLOWLY. MEL HESITATES FOR A SECOND, STUNNED, THEN RUNS AFTER HIM.

MEL: Now wait a minute! What do you mean, you’re ‘sorry’? Doctor!

DOCTOR: It’s Time, don’t you see? Time, working against us.

MEL: No. No, I don’t see. What’s wrong with you?

DOCTOR: I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Mel. I should have known. I did know. I found out a long time ago.

MEL: Found out what? (HE DOESN’T ANSWER) Doctor!

DOCTOR: I’ve seen the future, Mel. I know what will happen. What must happen. (HE COLLECTS HIMSELF AND EXPLAINS) In the year 1980, the TARDIS will be discovered. Dug out of the ash that will rain upon this city tomorrow.

MEL: (SHOCKED) You don’t mean…?

DOCTOR: We can’t escape it, Mel. No matter what we do, Time already knows. We’ve already lost this time.

MEL: But –

DOCTOR: We won’t see the TARDIS again. Nobody will see it. Not for almost two thousand years.

END PART ONE