大象传媒

2.2 鈥� APEX

by Juno Dawson

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FX: 大象传媒 Sounds Sting

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ANNO听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e about to listen to series two of Doctor Who: Redacted. New episodes will be released weekly, wherever you get your podcasts. But if you鈥檙e in the UK, you can listen to the full series right now, first, on 大象传媒 Sounds.

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Scene 2.1 鈥� INT. DOCKLAND HUT

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh my god what the hell? No way鈥�this can鈥檛 be real.

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The squeaking, rasping intensifies.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Please , please stop! Stop! Stay away!

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More and more rats pour into the cellar.

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I said get back!

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She flails around with the garden fork. Rats shriek.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Just leave me alone鈥�

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The rats swarm around her. Cleo screams as they bear down on her.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 HELP ME! Doctor!

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She screams. Suddenly we hear a new voice 鈥� male, assured.

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APEX (distant)听听听 Hello? You OK down there?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Frantic) What? No! I鈥檓 about to get eaten by rats so what do you think?

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APEX (distant)听听听 One sec.

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Boom! He teleports down in a noisy whoosh. Now he鈥檚 right next to Cleo.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 How did you do that?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Teleporter. Hold tight.

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She clutches him and they teleport out with another whoosh. They are now upstairs and out of immediate danger.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 There. That gets us out of harm鈥檚 way for the time being. CLEO听听听听 Doctor? Is that you? Did you transition again?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What? No. Man, I wish. My name鈥檚 Apex. Apex Costa. I鈥檓 from ICBA.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The IC鈥�what?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The Intergalactic Census Bureau Agency. CLEO听听听 Oh my god, you鈥檙e serious?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Deadly serious. I鈥檓 looking for the Doctor鈥�they鈥檙e in grave danger.

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Slight fizzle transitions into solemn piano music.

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ANNO 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Doctor Who Redacted, Episode Two. Apex. By Juno Dawson.听听

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SCENE 2.2 鈥� APEX MONTAGE

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We hear some plinky plonky uplifting music 鈥� the sort you鈥檇 hear on TikTok all the time.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Welcome to a day in the life of an Intergalactic Census Bureau Agent. I start the day with mindful meditation while I listen to space whale song.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hm, centering. Then, I fuel with a vegan cranial dew smoothie with chia seeds and anti-radiation flax. On days when I鈥檓 not fasting, that is, obviously.

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We hear a blender whirring.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Delicious. Then it鈥檚 quick hyperbike ride to the office in Origin City

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His hyperbike whizzes through the galaxy. Next we hear a shower running.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I shower at work before the daily team synergy meeting. That鈥檚 my coach, Cadence. We don鈥檛 call her a manager, because she doesn鈥檛 manage me, she coaches me to be the best agent I can be. Then it鈥檚 down to work. It isn鈥檛 easy keeping track of every sentient being in the cosmos. It takes focus, skill and dedication. Sometimes you have to follow a trail.

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We hear a doorbell.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hi, is it Lord Gargamod? I鈥檓 Apex Costa from ICBA. Can I ask if you鈥檝e seen this man? He might look like this, or this, or this, with a scarf, or could actually look like a woman, like this?

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LORD GARGAMOD

Flergalorgalorgalllalla.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Great, thanks for your time anyway. (To us) It isn鈥檛 an easy job, but you can鈥檛 thrive without strive. The best bit? My career takes me all over the universe, and beyond. I鈥檝e been everywhere, some of it great, some of it鈥�not so great. Like today, Sol 3, known locally as Planet Earth. You never know what you鈥檙e going to find, but it鈥檚 worth remembering that this job is all about WHO you鈥檙e going to find.

Scene 2.3 鈥� INT. BOATHOUSE. DAY

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What? You鈥檙e with who? And did I just teleport? APEX听听 You did.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Why do my legs feel wet?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Side effect. It鈥檒l pass in just a minute. Disconcerting at first, I understand.

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We hear the rats snarl down below. They scurry up from the cellar. We hear little paws scratching on wood.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 They鈥檙e hungry. We鈥檙e not meant to intervene, but I need to stop them.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 How?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 First things first; my Space Manipulator has maybe one trip left in it before I need to charge it. (Beat) Question is: do you want to stay and help me fight these things or not? Last chance. I can get us out, but maybe not back.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well鈥�we can鈥檛 just leave them here! APEX听听听听听听听 We could. But it鈥檚 up to you. Stay or go?

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥�I, I don鈥檛 know鈥�(beat) You said you know the Doctor?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 They are a legend where I come from.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 OK. Then I鈥檒l stay. It鈥檚 what the Doctor would do.

The rats burst through some crack in the wall. They squeal hungrily.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Look out!

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh my god! Run!

Scene 2.4 鈥� INT. ABBIE/SHAWNA CAR. DAY

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FX: General traffic noise as they drive back towards Glasgow after their trip to Torchwood house. Abby tries to call Cleo.

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CLEO VOICEMAIL听听听 Hi, this is Cleo, don鈥檛 leave me a message, it鈥檚 2023.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Shall we stop at the services?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, I鈥檇 rather keep going if you don鈥檛 mind? [beat] It just keeps going to voicemail.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Maybe she鈥檚 in a workshop at college.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Bless you for thinking I don鈥檛 know her timetable inside and out. She has Tuesday afternoons off. Anyway, she messaged the group chat 鈥� which you would know if you hadn鈥檛 muted it. Something about investigating those rats. She said she made contact with one of the victims.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What and you think she got mauled to death by mutant rats?

Come on, Abs, that鈥檚 high concept, even for us.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 She鈥檚 fine, I鈥檓 fine, I cannot control the universe. I am not Cleo鈥檚 keeper. We move.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Excellent work there, MacPhail. ABBY I found something, by the way.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Inner peace?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, you goon! The guy Morag mentioned. SHAWNA听听听听听听听听 (SALTY) Oh aye?

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Archie Bell. Hard to pin down, and clearly something鈥檚 wrong because I found one record of him living at Torchwood House as far back as 1897. If anyone knows anything about Torchwood, it鈥檚 him.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 And that鈥檇 make him鈥� ABBY听听听听听听 A hundred and twenty-six. SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听 Morag did say he was old.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No kidding. He鈥檚 actually in hospital.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What? What happened?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 According to the police report 鈥�

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e welcome 鈥�

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yes, thank you, excellent hacking. According to the police report, there was some sort of an incident in a supermarket three days ago.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 So what do we do?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I think we pay him a wee visit鈥�

Scene 2.5 鈥� EXT. LONDON DOCKLANDS. EVE

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APEX and CLEO escape from the boathouse and slam the door behind them.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Urgent) Is that gonna hold them?

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We hear their little paws scratch on the door.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Not for long鈥�

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Please tell me you have a plan?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I do. Of course. You didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 come here without any sort of means to contain them, do you?

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Pause.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I did. (beat) Well, what is it, then?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檝e got this!

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He pulls out a Wave Distorter. Yep. We鈥檒l learn just how he got it later鈥�

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The hell is that?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wave Distorter. Works like this.

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He plays a short melody.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You have got to be kidding me. That鈥檚 a Magic Flute. What are you gonna do, Lizzo, play them a tune?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Exactly that. You just have to know the right words to say.

And the right frequency to transmit them in. Every species has a unique hypnotic resonance.

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The rats snarl as one tears through the rotten old doors. Cleo yelps.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Quick! They鈥檙e getting through!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Here goes鈥�

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He presses some buttons on the flute and a strange, pre-programmed lullaby begins. The snarling abates.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No way 鈥� are they chilling out?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 There鈥檚 a subliminal suggestion in the waveform. Only they can hear it. It should make them compliant.

The tune continues throughout.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 insane. Look at them. God, they鈥檙e ugly. What are they?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A brand-new sub-species. According to our census data, a few years back there was a similar case on Earth with spiders. This area was long used as a dumping ground and I suspect some chemicals of an extra-terrestrial origin may have infected the local rodent population.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So mutant, alien, rats?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That will be my report, yes.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And that鈥檚 what you do? Catalogue alien life? APEX听 Something like that.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Come through, Attenborough. But I thought you were here for the Doctor?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I am! And wherever they go, trouble always seems to follow. CLEO听听 So what now?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Can you open the door? Carefully?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And let them out? Are you sure you wanna do that?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Trust me. I鈥檝e got a plan. I just need to get them to the river.

They鈥檒l follow me now they鈥檙e in a heightened state of suggestibility.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e gonna drown them?!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No! See that old ship? The rusty one? It鈥檚 still floating isn鈥檛 it?

I鈥檓 thinking it鈥檇 be a perfectly serviceable rat trap.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Got you. OK, here goes.

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Cleo opens the door and the rats shuffle out, sniffing the air.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 right鈥�nice rats鈥�follow me鈥�

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With some growling, the rats follow Apex. Cleo takes a big step back.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Gross鈥� 鈥�it鈥檚 working! It鈥檚 actually working!

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A rat snarls at Cleo and she lets out a shrill cry.

Scene 2.6 鈥� EXT. HOSPITAL. DAY

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We hear some sirens as an ambulance arrives. A bus also hisses to a halt and Abby and Shawna disembark.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 For the record, I want to state I do not think this is our best idea.

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The women walk towards the entrance.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What? It鈥檚 fine. We鈥檒l just pretend to be his relatives.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 not what I meant! The man鈥檚 in hospital, maybe we should just leave him be?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But he鈥檚 the only one who knows what Torchwood is.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 So what was it? He was found in Lidl?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Totally catatonic. Couldn鈥檛 speak, couldn鈥檛 move. SHAWNA听听听 You really do find all sorts in that middle aisle.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Cute.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 And what鈥檚 not cute is bursting into his hospital room and interrogating him. The guy is obviously sick.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Another virus? Only one way to find out. Come on.

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We hear automatic doors slide open and she enters the hospital.

Scene 2.7 鈥� EXT. LONDON DOCKLANDS. EVE

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We hear Apex鈥檚 rat lullaby as the rats follow him through the junkyard and towards the Thames. They growl and drool as they follow.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I think that鈥檚 all of them! I can鈥檛 believe you did that. APEX听听听 How many did you count?

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Maybe twenty? Twenty-five.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Good. Let鈥檚 get them on that boat.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex was it?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Uh-huh.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex, they look really hungry鈥�there鈥檚 a lot of drool going on鈥�

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 quite all right. So long as they can hear this music, they won鈥檛 attack. They鈥檙e under my spell. It鈥檚 said the Doctor once used this trick in a town in Germany.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hamelin?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 How did you know?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wild guess.

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The sonic flute starts to stutter. A rat hisses. Cleo gasps and recoils.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex! What was that?

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The tune resumes.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know. It鈥檚 charged by Metabilic crystals, it can鈥檛 run out of power.

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It stutters again 鈥� going on and off. The rats growl more loudly, lashing out at each other. Cleo gasps.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Maybe鈥�let鈥檚鈥�retreat.

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The tune dies altogether.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Cleo, run! Run!

FX: Action action action as Cleo and Apex leg it through the junkyard. The rats turn on them, scurrying over rusty old cars. Metal clatters and falls, the heaps collapsing as the rats clamber over things.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (RUNNING) This way! Quick!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (RUNNING) Down here!

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Cleo screams as a rat leaps down at her..

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Get off her!

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He yanks it off and the rat screeches.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Run! Are you OK?

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They run, panting for breath.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 fine, but we can鈥檛 outrun them. Fix the flute! APEX听听 I don鈥檛 know if I can.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Give it here! Hurry!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Do you know how to use it?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No! Obviously not! But鈥�you know鈥�turn it off and on again.

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The flute powers down with a beep-boop. Apex grabs it back.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檒l restart it.

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The rats come pelting at them.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Please, go slower!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 doing it!

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We hear the flute restart with a boop-beep. The rats are very close now.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex! Now!

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The tune starts up once more. The frenzied rats chill out. Apex and Cleo get their breath back.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Panting) Oh my days. My heart. I鈥檓 gonna die. APEX Onto the boat. Quickly.

Scene 2.8 鈥� INT. HOSPITAL. DAY

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The hustle and bustle of an NHS hospital. Abby and Shawna approach an ICU bed. Monitor bleeping etc.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 (Whisper) Do you think they believed I was his granddaughter?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The nurse didn鈥檛 seem too suspicious. She said the poor guy didn鈥檛 have any other visitors. [beat] It鈥檚 this room here鈥�

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They enter this room. It鈥檚 quieter in here.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Quietly) Mr Bell? Mr Bell, can you hear me? My name鈥檚 Abby.

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A man groans.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 think he knows what鈥檚 going on. He鈥檚 not looking too cracking.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Mr Bell? What happened to you? (PAUSE) Mr Bell, we know all about Torchwood. We can help.

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More groans.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Abz, this is hopeless. He鈥檚 really sick. ABBY What did this to him?

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 There鈥檚 his bag. Shall I have a look?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No! Shawna! [beat] anyway, the police will have taken anything important.

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FX 鈥� From inside Mr Bell we hear a hideous alien gurgle. Both women gasp in horror.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What the hell was that?

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FX 鈥� Mr Bell convulses on the bed. Rattles again.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shawna鈥�There鈥檚 something inside him.

Scene 2.9. EXT. LONDON. DAY

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Apex and Cleo walk and talk on a busy London street. Traffic and commuters.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 fine, I promise. I鈥檝e got some friends who can take care of them.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Take care of mutant rats? What? Like as pets?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Something like that. Apparently they can rehome them in Bradford, whatever that is.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 where Gareth Gates comes from.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 OK, I will use context clues to derive that is a place and a person respectively.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Bingo. (Beat) You sure they can鈥檛 get off that boat? APEX Certain. They鈥檙e sealed inside.

FX 鈥� Traffic horns.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Earth is not what I expected. I was warned that Sol 3 was basically a planet of savages.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Sol 3? You might wanna call it earth unless you wanna get looks. (Beat) And don鈥檛 let the suits and ties fool you, the human race is a mess. Savages might not be too far wrong.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And is this how people on Sol鈥�Earth live?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Nah, that鈥檚 just round here. This is where all the very worst people live: bankers. This isn鈥檛 real London. (Beat) Here we are! This is what we need: a good, honest-to-god greasy spoon.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A what?

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Come on, in. You owe me one hell of an explanation.

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Scene 2.10 鈥� INT. HOSPITAL. DAY

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Abby and Shawna panic as the horrid gurgle inside Archie intensifies.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shawna! I鈥檝e pushed the bell.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Push it again.

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Abby pushes a buzzer.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No-one鈥檚 coming.

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Archie gives another gurgle

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What do we do?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know!

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Archie groans. He鈥檚 very sick.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What? Did he say something? ABBY听听听 I don鈥檛 think so.

He groans again, more loudly.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 He鈥檚 trying to tell us something. (LEANING IN) Archie, we can鈥檛 hear you. Could you speak up a bit?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 His bag 鈥� he鈥檚 pointing at his bag.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Archie 鈥� what is it?

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FX 鈥� he groans again, but the groan becomes a choke

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 There鈥檚 something 鈥� in his throat. What 鈥� is that?

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FX And it slithers out of his throat

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Get back.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 NOT THIS!

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shawna, get back for crying out loud.

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Moist squelch as the alien slithers out of Archie.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh my

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Alien baby shrieking.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Abby! Abby what is that?

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Gnashing teeth as the alien stirs on the bed. Shawna cries out.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Get out! Shawna just run!

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 No. We can鈥檛 let it into the hospital! And we can鈥檛 leave Archie. ABBY听 Er. It鈥檚 looking at us. Why鈥檚 it looking at us?

Sinister hiss from the alien.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What do we do?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know. [beat] Wait!

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Abby smashes a fire alarm. As the alarm sounds the alien squeals like it鈥檚 in pain. It dives for the window. Glass shatters and it leaps out.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 It got out the window!

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They run to the window. Street sounds below. Fire alarm recedes so they no longer need to pitch up.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Where did it go?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I can鈥檛 see it.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Abby, what just happened? That thing鈥�it came out of him鈥�it was鈥�it was alien. Like Alien alien.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I know, I know.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 You were right. Cleo was right. ALIENS.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 out there and it鈥檚 on the loose. We鈥檝e got to stop it. SHAWNA听 How?! How do we stop something like that?

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know!

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FX 鈥� feet running towards them down the corridor

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SHAWNA听听听听听听 听听听 We鈥檝e gotta get out of here.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听 Shawna, we can鈥檛!

SHAWNA听听听听听 Do you wanna explain THIS to the police?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听 We need to work out how to stop that thing before it eats Glasgow.

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FX: And they duck back into the room. Alarm loud.

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SHAWNA听听听听听 Archie. Help鈥檚 coming. You鈥檙e going to be okay. Sorry.

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FX: She grabs bag.

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SHAWNA 听 I鈥檝e got his bag. ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What? Shawna! SHAWNA听 Let鈥檚 go!

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Scene 2.11 - INT. COFFEE SHOP. EVE

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We hear a milk steamer and light background music.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 They鈥檙e open til 7, we鈥檝e got time. Here; tea. Try it. It鈥檒l change your life. Leaves, water and milk. Fit.

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Apex takes a sip.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚, um鈥�different.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e in England now, get used to it. (Pause) Right; no more messing around. In the words of Cilla Black, what鈥檚 your name and where do you come from?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Like I said. My name is Apex, and I鈥檓 from a planet called The Origin. (Beat) Are you okay with that?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Not my first rodeo.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I know. I鈥檝e listened to every episode of your podcast. CLEO听听 (TOUCHED) Really?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yes! Very informative 鈥� you鈥檙e really funny.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shucks, well thanks. I try. (Is Cleo flirting?) Am I your fave?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, I鈥檓 Team Abby. [Beat] Of course you are! And I鈥檇 say you guys are about 15% accurate.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wow, OK, how did you find me 鈥� not that I鈥檓 not grateful for the intervention back there obviously.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檝e been uploading messages for the Doctor. I had alerts out across universal channels and was able to track your location.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Um. Stalker much?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 my job. Every hundred years ICBA log every sentient organism in the universe. There are thousands of agents, working full-time. Finding the Doctor is especially vital because they鈥檙e a Time Lord. A highly endangered species. If they are dead, the species is technically extinct.

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CLEO (Panicked)听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What? You think the Doctor鈥檚 dead? Really?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 what I need to find out. Urgently. There鈥檚 an issue with their time-line.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But the Doctor can travel in time. They could be anywhere, in any era. Wait, can you time travel?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No. Absolutely not. My birth planet is called the Origin because it was the first planet formed at the dawn of creation. Time started on Origin and must strictly follow in one direction only. One minute must follow the next. Without us, time is meaningless, even for Time Lords. We take it very, very seriously. My father and my father鈥檚 father and all the fathers before that were agents. We are now in the year 17,112,432,201.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 2023.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ha! (Pause) Oh you鈥檙e serious, sorry. It really isn鈥檛. CLEO Then why do you look like us?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 wanna be that guy, but I expect you look like us. CLEO听听 What?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 highly likely some Originals settled here eons ago, and the rest is history.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You literally just rewrote history in three sentences, but go off.

So if you don鈥檛 have a TARDIS, how did you get here?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I have this.

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He shows her.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Space Vortex Manipulator 鈥� connected to my ship, idling in orbit.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh. I thought it was a hipster watch.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 a hipster?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You, my friend, look exactly like a hipster. Nose ring, beanie hat, Vans. Where did you get the look?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 my job to blend in. I did my research. CLEO听 Did you google Dalston by any chance?

Scene 2.12. EXT. TORCHWOOD. DAY

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FX: City street atmos, Abby and Shawna explore what looks like a derelict building.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Babe, this can鈥檛 be right.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Archie kept looking at his bag. Set of keys. Labelled 鈥淪alt Studios.鈥�

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FX: Jangle of keys.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Only one Salt Studios in Glasgow.

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FX: She bangs shutters.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 a recording studio. Why would a 120 year old have keys to a recording studio?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 They鈥檙e not going to have a great big sign saying 鈥楾op Secret Alien Hunters鈥� out front are they? Or he鈥檚 a musician on the side, I guess?

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 God, that poor guy Abby. ABBY I know.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 How long do you think that thing had been inside him? Will he be okay?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I 鈥� don鈥檛 know. (SIGHS) I am gonna need so much therapy.

What are we doing? Seriously?

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Isn鈥檛 this what we do? ABBY听听听听 Track down alien worms?

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Looks that way. Who else is gonna do it? ABBY听听听听听听听 Sometimes I miss just being a random carer.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 fine. We鈥檙e fine. I think we鈥檙e safe. I don鈥檛 think anyone鈥檚 been here in years. The shutters are all rusty. Keys!?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Aye. One of them鈥檒l fit hopefully.

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FX 鈥� Jangling keys. Abby inserts the keys into the lock.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (GRUNTING) Bit of help.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 (EFFORT)

FX: The shutter slowly creaks up.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 (PHEW) Yep. Not been opened in ages.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Do we just go in?

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Best lead we鈥檝e got.

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They both take a deep breath.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 OK, here goes鈥�

Scene 2.13 鈥� INT. GREASY SPOON

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So you do know of the Doctor?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 a long story.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I have time.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 OK. (Pause) This sounds a bit like an Instagram meme but I really think we鈥檙e destiny, you know? I first met him when I was a kid. It was the day my dad died, but he saved my life.

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She sips her tea.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Then, last year, the Doctor accidentally unleashed a psychic virus across all of time and space. Very drama. Very camp. We all thought we were being teleported to a parallel dimension, but it was literally all in our heads. She came back to fix it. Although I stress it was like 90% me. She helped though.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You saw them in two different bodies?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. Do you know what that鈥檚 about?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 a Time Lord thing. Total cellular regeneration. CLEO Uh, jealous.

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 When did you last make contact with the Doctor, please?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This time last year. Off she went in her TARDIS and that was the last I heard from her. Ghosted. Brutal.

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APEX (Very interested)听听听听听听听 You saw the TARDIS?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, we got a tour and everything. Smelled like my primary school; chalk and rock buns. Bit weird to be honest.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And it was in working order?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah 鈥� she came and left in it.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Interesting. Great. That鈥檚 really helpful.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Why is that helpful?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, I suppose it鈥檚 the last of its sort really. And, of course, that means we now have an eyewitness account that the Doctor is still active up until 12 months ago.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I really thought she might rock up to investigate the rats but鈥�(pause) So what now? I think this place is about to shut for the night.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh I have some other contacts to speak to in London. The Doctor鈥檚 here a lot so it seems.

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Distantly we now hear a bleeping noise. A drone hovers outside the window.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You know you said you came in a spaceship? APEX听听听 Yeah?

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is that a part of it?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is what a part of it?

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The metal thing hovering outside the window?

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The bleeping gets louder鈥�

Scene 2.14 鈥� INT. TORCHWOOD. EVE

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Abby and Shawna investigate. They pick their way carefully through a mountain of junk.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This place is a dump. Is this Torchwood? SHAWNA听听听听听听 Well, there鈥檚 a massive T on the wall. So鈥�.

FX: they kick through the trash.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Look at all this stuff: 鈥楧ormant Auton Hand鈥�. What? Abby!

Werewolf tooth! As if.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What happened here? It鈥檚 been ransacked. SHAWNA听听听听听听听听 That creature?

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 see any blood, or a body.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Well amen to that.

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FX: they sort through the trash

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Burglars?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Maybe 鈥� but the computers are still here so they鈥檙e really bad at their job if they are.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Wait! That鈥檚 what Morag said back at Torchwood House 鈥� nothing was taken from there. So what are they looking for?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That filing cabinet has been wrenched open. (Beat) I guess we鈥檙e not the only ones to figure out what this place really is. Whoever this guy is knew what they were looking for. It鈥檚 not random.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 How did they even get in here? Those shutters haven鈥檛 moved since Coldplay were a thing.

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FX: She pushes open a filing cabinet.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 This is a needle in a haystack job. Like, what am I even looking for?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What else? Blue Box Files.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Got it.

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The pair rummage around through folders and papers all over the floor.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Abby, look.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What?

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Like ten folders labelled 鈥楳isc Doctor Activity鈥�. And they鈥檙e all empty.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Cleo鈥檚 mysterious Doctor. Like Doctor what?

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Looks like she鈥檚 right, though. There really is a person called the Doctor.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is there anything left?

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Just the folders. Someone鈥檚 taken everything.

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I guess we鈥檙e not the only ones looking for this Doctor. SHAWNA听听听听 And there鈥檚 still an alien on the loose. This is a dead end. ABBY听听听 Is there anything else in Archie鈥檚 bag?

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Nothing weird.

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FX 鈥� Shawna rustles through his bag.

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SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 the Lennot Library?

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ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That old building in town. Why? SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 Archie Bell has a library card.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So? What would a terrifying alien worm want with a library? SHAWNA听 His library card has that Torchwood logo on it.

ABBY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh.

SHAWNA听听听听听听听听听听 If this place isn鈥檛 really a recording studio鈥� ABBY听听听 Maybe that place isn鈥檛 a library鈥�

Scene 2.15 鈥� INT. GREASY SPOON. EVE

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Apex and Cleo investigate the strange drone 鈥� whining noise as it approaches

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A-Apex? W-What is it?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know. (Beat) It鈥檚 nothing to do with me. CLEO听听 Is it a drone?

APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I guess鈥�

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The drone now speaks.

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Scanning lifeforms.

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We hear a sci-fi scanning noise.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh my god! Is that safe? Rude!

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Cleo, maybe we ought to make a swift exit鈥�

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Identified: Apex Costa. You are summoned by the Right Honourable Lady Honour Bray.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Who? What does it mean?

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 know, but I don鈥檛 like it. Let鈥檚 go. I need to contact the ICBA urgently.

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They start to leave.

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Freeze. Do not attempt to evade contact. Measures will be taken.

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 like the sound of that鈥�

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is there a back way out?

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Through the kitchen maybe. DRONE听 Halt! Implementing intercept mode.

The drone fires a laser blast at the caf茅 window and it explodes inwards, scattering glass across the caf茅. Cleo screams.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Run!

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Halt! You will be incapacitated.

Apex and Cleo race into the kitchen.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fire escape! Quick!

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He tugs on the door but it鈥檚 sealed shut.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Struggle) What the?

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Exits have been magnetically sealed to prevent avoidant tactics. Please submit to questioning or face the consequences.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This way 鈥� out the front.

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The drone fires another laser bolt. Cleo yelps. Apex is hit 鈥� he cries out in pain.

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APEX听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ugh

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CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex! Apex are you OK? Oh my god鈥� DRONE听听听 Submit or face the consequences.

CLEO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Apex get up!

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It fires again. Cleo screams.

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DRONE听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Submit, submit, submit鈥�

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The music builds into a threatening synth and ends abruptly with a distortion. Before building into a gleefully Whovian, alien symphony of synths and electric keyboard that cuts off into piano that continues under the rest of the credits.

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END CREDITS 听听 Doctor Who: Redacted. Episode Two. Apex by Juno Dawson. Starring Charlie Craggs as Cleo Proctor, Lois Chimimba Abby Mcphail, Holly Quin-Ankrah Shawna Thompson, Freddy Carter Apex Costa and Wilf Scolding as Drone. Directed by Bethany Weimers, Producer James Goss, Sound design by Rob Harvey, Original Composition by David Devereux. A 大象传媒 Studios Production for 大象传媒 Sounds.

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