Fragments of Shadow

INT. CONTROL ROOM – DIM

A series of panels gives the room a somehow surreal, not-quite industrial look. All the instruments and surfaces are covered with clear plastic tarps. BRIAN is bound to a table by plastic wrap. His mouth is covered by the wrap. A SHADOWY FIGURE stands a few feet away.

BRIAN

mmmfff

SHADOWY FIGURE

Oh, you’re awake. Good, we can get started.

The SHADOWY FIGURE pulls a strange cylinder out of his pocket and points it at the ceiling. Its tip glows red and it buzzes, activating dramatic spot lighting that shines down on BRIAN and illuminates a series of photographs. The photos depict young, beautiful girls of approximately high school age.

BRIAN

MMMFFF MUH MMFFF

The SHADOWY FIGURE leans into the light, and we see him clearly for the first time. He’s a handsome man in his forties, with ginger hair and soulless eyes. He’s wearing a thick black apron and elbow-length gloves over an olive shirt and green pants. He raises his right hand and flips the cylindrical object, and we see the gleam of a scalpel just before it cuts BRIAN’s cheek. The SHADOWY FIGURE takes a quick sample of BRIAN’s blood.

BRIAN

MMMMFFFF MMFFMFMFFF

SHADOWY FIGURE

What was that? I’m sorry. I’m very, very sorry. Of course, you can’t talk through the gag. Let me help you with that.

The SHADOWY FIGURE cuts the plastic covering BRIAN’s mouth, cutting BRIAN again in the process.

BRIAN

What the fuck, man? Who the hell ARE you?  What have I ever done to you?

SHADOWY FIGURE

You’re right, you’re right. Please, allow me to introduce myself. I’m THE PASSENGER, and it’s not what you’ve done to me, but what you’ll do to these girls.

BRIAN

I don’t know what you’re talking about, I don’t even KNOW those girls!

THE PASSENGER

You don’t, no. Not yet. But the things you’ll do to them if I let you live... You become a monster, Brian. I can’t let that happen.

BRIAN

What? You can’t know that!

THE PASSENGER

Oh, but I can, Brian. If you don’t believe me... I can show you.

THE PASSENGER raises his sonic scalpel and activates something. The room begins to shake and a light begins to pulse in the center of the console. The entire structure begins to make a noise like a broken vacuum cleaner. We slide away from the pair, out through a pair of doors that reveal we were inside the TARDIS all along.