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Script to Screen: Remembrance of the DaleksBy Jon PreddleAs with most Seventh Doctor era stories Remembrance of the Daleks over-ran its time limits and had to be edited down. This article details what was lost; both in pre- and post-production. The TV episodes have been compared with two earlier versions of the serial: the rehearsal scripts and a videotape recording of the first production edit. BackgroundBen Aaronovitch had been submitting material freelance to the BBC for several years when he came to the attention of the Doctor Who production office. In early 1987 he sent in a storyline for a three-part, all-location story called Storm over Avallion (later to become Battlefield). It was on the strength of this that he was given the 25th season Dalek adventure. The story was officially commissioned in late 1987. The initial drafts underwent several revisions as Aaronovitch had overwritten the scripts to the effect that each episode ran to nearly 45 minutes. Cut were extended scenes of Dalek combat, a subplot where the Daleks threatened to destroy London with a full nuclear strike, extended scenes with Reverend Parkinson and Harry's murder by the Daleks. The final rehearsal scripts were completed in February 1988, in time for director Andrew Morgan to join the production. The story was recorded on location in London, 4-9 and 11-13 April, and in BBC Studio TC8, 27-29 April 1988. The ScriptsThe scripts used in the following analysis are the final 'revised' rehearsal scripts. Parts One and Two are dated 22 February 1988, Parts Three and Four are dated 25 February. Part Four also has some later revised pages, dated 21 March 1988. The scripts are mostly very faithful to the televised version, but there are a number of scenes that were cut for timing and cost reasons. There are also a number of cosmetic changes between the scripts and TV, some scenes are set at night, but as night-time filming is very expensive these and other scenes that were either transferred to interior settings, amended to day-time scenes or dropped altogether. One notable alteration is that Ratcliffe is called Gummer, but this was changed to avoid confusion with Gilmore. For his novelisation, published in 1990, Aaronovitch used this rehearsal script, the final broadcast script, and sequences created for the book. I have noted page numbers where relevant. For this 2006 revision of this article, I have also noted which cut scenes have been included as an extra on the DVD release. The TapeAfter the first edit of the story was completed, each episode over-ran by two minutes (on average) necessitating severe trimming. The 'tape' referred to in this article contains this first edit, before the necessary trimming was performed. Duration Timings:
PART ONEThe script describes the pre-credit sequence as featuring a montage of radio and TV broadcasts from 1963. The sequence on the tape is longer than on TV featuring more quotes and a few (unidentified) songs before the Dalek ship zooms in... The first scene outside the school was to have The Hollies song 'Stay' playing as a theme. The script sets the date as December 1963. The opening shot on TV is of the Coal Hill School sign, which cuts to Rachel as she walks towards the van. On the tape, the opening shot is a longer version of Rachel, as she passes the TARDIS eating what appear to be chips. The school sign does not feature. Ace complains about being hungry. The script contains extra dialogue, including a reference to Delta and the Bannermen: ACE: Professor, I'm starving to death. When Ace enters the café, the script specifies the song playing on the jukebox as Dion's 'Runaround Sue'. The scene ends when Ace crosses to the machine, but the scene continues on the tape with Ace crossing to the counter and calling out 'Hello?' Mike watches her from the table. After Ace and Mike return to the waiting van, the script features an extra scene set in the back of the vehicle: (THE DOCTOR AND ACE BRACE THEMSELVES AS THE VAN SWERVES) {This scene appears in the novel, page 17} Some of the dialogue during the first scene at the junkyard is different in the script: (THE VAN CARRYING RACHEL, MIKE, ACE AND THE DOCTOR PULLS UP) As the soldiers prepare to open fire on the hidden Dalek, the Doctor shows his disrespect for the military by simply cursing 'Humans...' The script has a different curse: 'You misbegotten military masochistic morons'. When Rachel and Allison inspect the burnt remains of the Dalek blown up by Nitro-9, the script has more dialogue: RACHEL: This must be the sensory apparatus The last two lines were retained. When Ace and the Doctor take the van, the Doctor simply asks Ace if she can drive, but in the script he quizzes her further: DOCTOR: How old are you? When Mike challenges them the script features some extra lines: MIKE: What are you doing? The removal of this scene created an anomaly in that both Rachel and Allison refer to the creature as a Dalek even though the Doctor has never told them what it is called (perhaps though they heard him shouting 'Oi, Dalek!' just before he blew it up?) Rachel and Allison's discussion of the Doctor back at Army HQ is not in the script, and also continues on the tape beyond Rachel's line 'I'll set you onto him': ALLISON: He certainly seems to have a detailed knowledge of the
Daleks. And given that they are definitely not terrestrial it is possible that
he isn't. {This scene appears on the DVD} Prior to the Doctor and Ace arriving at the school gates, the tape has a short addition to the scene, which incidentally features the Coal Hill School sign mentioned earlier: (THE VAN PULLS UP AND THEY JUMP OUT) {This scene appears on the DVD} The sequence in the science lab where Ace finds the French Revolution book is not in the script, and was probably added in rehearsals. Prior to Ratcliffe pulling the tarpaulin off the remains of the Dalek, the tape has a short addition to the scene: (RATCLIFFE STANDS AT THE DOOR OF THE WAREHOUSE) PART TWOThe first change in the script occurs when the Doctor and Ace emerge from the school and meet the soldiers in the truck: (THE DOCTOR IS ARGUING WITH KAUFMAN) The scene continues as on TV. {The scene appears in a truncated form in the novel. page 40-41} Just after Ace has blown up the Dalek and the soldiers storm in, some scripted dialogue is cut: MIKE: (TO ACE) Did you do that? The scene continues as on TV. The scene where the Doctor returns to the cafe is set at an outside teastall at night in the script. This was changed to an interior location to reduce the need to film at night. In order to explain the absence of the cafe proprietor Harry, the TV scene has an added line about Harry being at the hospital visiting 'the twins' which is not in the script. The scene ends on John's line 'Best thing is just to get on with it'. The script continues: (The strange girl watches from the shadows. The Doctor twists his head
around) The portion of this scene involving Rev Parkinson was cut in rehearsal. The
rest of the scene appears on the tape. At Mike's house, where the Doctor orders Ace to stay behind, the scene ends with the Doctor's line 'Trust me', but the tape and script continue: ACE: Doctor. {This appears on page 60 of the novel}. The very next scene on the tape was cut in its entirety: (THE DOCTOR IS SEEN ENTERING THE TARDIS. THE SHOT CUTS TO AN INTERIOR VIEW
OF THE PARKED VAN, WHERE MIKE, RACHEL AND ALLISON ARE SEATED. THE TARDIS CAN BE
SEEN IN THE DISTANCE THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOW) {This scene appears on the DVD} In the script, the Doctor is carrying a tool case. This is not apparent on screen. The case contains the components for the disruptor device he later builds from supplies obtained from the Army on TV. {This appears on page 60-61 of the novel} The tape features an extra bit which does not appear in the script, suggesting that it that it was added in rehearsals. The short segment follows the Doctor's speech about there being others better versed in death than humans. He fiddles with the device he has just put together. There is a flash and the device explodes. The Doctor looks sheepishly at the others, who only stare in bewilderment. {This scene appears on the DVD} PART THREEAce has been rescued by the Doctor and the soldiers. The scene continues on the tape: (THE DOCTOR INSPECTS HER LEG. HE TWEAKS HER EAR-LOBE) {This appears on page 79 of the novel}. The Doctor smashes the transmat with the baseball bat and says 'Who's for lunch?', but the script contains three scenes between the action and the line: CELLAR {This appears on page 50 of the novel} WAREHOUSE SCHOOL HALL {This appears in part on page 80-81 of the novel} In the cafe the script has extra lines: MIKE: Cheers, Harry. Why haven't you been shifted out yet? In the script, Ratcliffe uses the silver cane like a divining rod to locate the Omega grave. On the tape, the shot of the Omega gravestone is a full close-up, but on TV it is an over-shoulder shot. On the tape this shot dissolves into a view of the Dalek mothership in orbit. {This extended sequence appears on the DVD} Ratcliffe pulls an iron
bar from a nearby grave, but in the script, he pulls a sword blade from the
silver cane, and plunges that into the ground by the Omega grave, producing a
sudden power surge. The tape cuts to a two-second shot of the Doctor smiling,
which is also in the script. When the Doctor and Ace return to the school the Doctor's line about Gilmore's nickname 'Chunky' is an ad-lib. The script does however have some extra lines: (THE DOCTOR AND ACE WALK PAST) {This appears on page 90 of the novel} An extra script scene at the warehouse: RATCLIFFE: It's been a long a difficult struggle, for my men and for
myself. But now we can relax and begin to reap our rewards. When the Doctor tells Ace about the Hand of Omega the script does not have the line 'And didn't we have trouble with the prototype'. The line was relocated from a slightly later unused scene in the script. After the girl is revealed to be the battle computer, the script features an extra scene: STREET {This appears in a condensed form on page 93 of the novel} The Doctor and Ace find the Hand of Omega at Ratcliffe's warehouse. Beyond the end of the scene the script features extra dialogue, including the relocated line about the prototype: ACE: It's alive? {This appears on page 98-99 of the novel} During the sequence where Ace and the Doctor are being chased by the Daleks, the Doctor pulls Ace behind a small workman's tent. The script features the following lines, but no tent: DOCTOR: They'll get suspicious. Interestingly, Aaronovitch included a similar line in Battlefield. Later, the Doctor and Ace appear from behind a wall: ACE: I thought you said the coast was clear. (A DALEK APPEARS AND
BLOWS A CHUNK OFF THE WALL) I don't think that thing is working anymore. The script continues for several pages with the Doctor and Ace avoiding Daleks which are amassing on the school. Ace uses her gelignite to blow a few up: BOMBSITE These scenes were cut down to a few shots of the Doctor and Ace running, and Mike's offer to take Ace to the pictures. The shot of the Dalek shuttle approaching Earth runs for an extra 17 seconds on the tape. It features the hangar doors opening and the shuttle emerging from the mothership. PART FOURIn the script the Special Weapons Dalek is described as a large floating platform with a large howitzer weapon on its back. Following the Doctor's proposal to indulge in a bit of piracy, the script features four additional scenes: CLASSROOM {This appears on page 116 of the novel} MOTHERSHIP SCHOOL STAIRWELL {This appears on page 118 of the novel} WAREHOUSE In the Dalek Shuttle, the Doctor learns that the Daleks are operating from Skaro. The script continues: GILMORE: Shouldn't we plant explosives or something. Try and sabotage
this ship. {Part of this scene appears on page 130 of the novel} At the warehouse, Mike and Ratcliffe watch as the Daleks prepare to leave. Beyond the end of this scene the script continues: RATCLIFFE: That's what separates us from animals and the sub-human. We never
give up. But we must move soon, or they'll be away. {This appears on pl34 of the novel} In the cellar, the Doctor rigs up the communication link to the transmat. Beyond the end of this scene the script continues: DOCTOR: The Daleks got themselves embroiled in a war with the
Movellans. Who are a race of androids. Just as nasty as the Daleks but more
attractive to look at. The Movellans decimated the Dalek Battle Order with a
selective virus. Am I boring you? The Movellans' virus left the Daleks
fragmented into isolated factions. One of which has resettled Skaro. This
imperial faction seems in conflict with a separate force of renegade Daleks. This continues as on TV with Ace's speech about 'bionic blobs' and 'blobbiness'. {This appears on page 133-134 of the novel} An extra script scene in the cellar: (THE FIELD TELEPHONE RINGS. ALLISON ANSWERS IT) After Ace sets off to follow Mike, the scene continues on tape with the school girl emerging from hiding and. seeing that the coast is clear, skipping off down the road after Mike and Ace humming the nursery rhyme. {This scene appears on the DVD} An interesting line is cut from the Doctor's confrontation with Davros. The Doctor comments that he has defeated him 'every time our paths have crossed', and Davros laughs. The tape continues: DAVROS: You flatter yourself, Doctor. In the end you are merely
another Time Lord. {This extended scene appears on the DVD} Ace confronts Mike at his house. Beyond the end of the scene the script continues: ACE: I don't see anyone twisting your arm. (SHE REACHES INTO HER RUCKSACK) The Doctor announces that the Hand has returned to Gallifrey, and the script continues: RACHEL: You planned this all along. Right from the start. It was all a trap. {This appears on page 153 of the novel} In the final scene at the church, the script suggests 'Runaround Sue' played in a sad slow reprise which then builds into a crescendo to merge in with the closing theme... This item appeared in TSV 39 (May 1994). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||