Self-Induced Cataleptic

 

 

 

 

LEELA: 

Doctor! Doctor! 


 

(Leela runs forward and tries to remove the circlet.) 


 

BORUSA: 

The Matrix rejects The Candidate.

Guards, seize him! 


 

GOLD USHER: 

No! No one may lay hands on The President. 


 

BORUSA: 

The Matrix has rejected him. 


 

GOLD USHER: 

He is The Matrix now. 

It cannot reject him.

 

 Surgeon General. 


 

(Gomer goes to the Doctor.) 


 

LEELA: 

Will he be all right? 


 

BORUSA: 

This is unheard of. 

For a candidate to be attacked by The Matrix. 


 

GOLD USHER: 

There's no longer a candidate.

There's only The President.

 

After his official induction,

The Matrix can only be worn by The President.

Therefore This is The President. 


 

GOMER:

If you continue to argue legal niceties,

we may well have to go through

this whole boring business again

in the very near future. 


 

LEELA:

Is he going to die? 


 

GOMER:

He has retreated. 


 

LEELA:

Never! The Doctor is no coward. 


 

GOMER: 

A self-induced cataleptic. 

 

A simple defense reaction brought about

by a sudden unexpected attack upon his consciousness. 


 

BORUSA: 

There! Do you hear? 

An Attack. 


 

GOMER: 

Have the kindness to be quiet, Borusa.

The President needs peace, rest and medical attention

which I shall supervise myself. 


 

 

BORUSA:

Take him to the Chancellory. 


 

GOMER:

Indeed, that would be perfect. 


 

Guards half-carry the Doctor away.

 

GOMER:

And Borusa, I suggest you

cut off your communications, prohibit visitors

and keep all your tedious bureaucratic problems

to yourself. 


 

Gomer leaves.

 

BORUSA:

Impertinent!

 


KELNER:

He is Young yet, Chancellor.

Impetuous, I know, but I still believe

his hearts are in the right places.

 

[Vardan spacecruiser]

 

LEADER:

Very close. He has little strength. 


 

VARDAN:

It will take a long time to replace him. 


 

LEADER:

Too long.

Signal all commanders to increase speed

and evaluate implementation Plan Three.

 

[Panopticon]

 

BORUSA:

High Lords, we have taken the President to the Chancellory.

Please remain calm. Bring the girl. 


 

Leela touches Borusa's arm.

 

BORUSA:

What? 


 

LEELA:

I didn't hurt him. I saved him. 


 

BORUSA:

The enquiry can determine that. Bring her.

 


ANDRED:

Sir. 


 

Leela pulls her knife on Andred,

and another guard puts his gun to her head.

She puts the knife away.

[Chancellory]

 

BORUSA:

Well, Lord Gomer? 


 

GOMER:

He has suffered a severe sub-mental shock.

I've given him a massive deranger dose,

but even that will take hours to 
--

 

(The Doctor opens his eyes.) 


 

GOMER:

Incredible. 


 

LEELA:

Are you all right?

 


BORUSA:

Quietly, now. 


 

DOCTOR:

Lord Chancellor, What Happened? 


 

 

BORUSA:

Your alien friend almost killed you.

She openly attacked you. 


 

LEELA:

No, it was The Crown!

The Crown almost killed him! 


 

 

DOCTOR:

What's she doing here? 


 

 

LEELA:

Well, you brought me. 


 

DOCTOR:

Impossible. No aliens are allowed in here.

Get rid of her.

 

 

 


LEELA:

Doctor, What's Happened to You? 


 

BORUSA:

Put her out, Commander. 


 

ANDRED:

Where, sir? 


 

DOCTOR:

Outside The Citadel, of course. 


 

 

ANDRED:

In The Outer World? 


 

 

DOCTOR:

Yes, expel her. 


 

LEELA:

No! I will not go! 


 

BORUSA: 

Take her! 


 

Leela pushes Andred aside, kicks another guard below the belt and runs out.

 

BORUSA: 

Stop her, before she does any more damage!