Dalek, I love You - SCENE TWO

(Five minutes later: In the kitchen.)

MAGGIE: Nigel, I’m worried about how much time you spend on that computer. You’re getting what we used to call a moon tan! And we need to go and buy you some new clothes. You’ve had that sweater for donkeys’ years.

NIGEL: What do you mean? This is my favourite sweater.

MAGGIE: Your only sweater. And as for those slippers: They’re old men’s slippers.

NIGEL: Have we got any Green tea?

MAGGIE: Green tea? Since when did you drink Green tea?

NIGEL: It aids digestion.

MAGGIE: Does it.

NIGEL: The third Doctor was partial to herbal teas.

MAGGIE: Was he.

NIGEL: No, he wasn’t. I was testing.

MAGGIE: Nigel, we need to talk about this weekend. The convention. Let’s go and sit down…

NIGEL: What’s this chocolate cake?

              I don’t like this type.

              I’m allergic to it.

MAGGIE: You are not allergic to it. You’ve had this type of chocolate cake hundreds of times: Thousands.

NIGEL: The second doctor suffered from allergies. And he was asthmatic.

MAGGIE: No, he wasn’t….I’m surprised you don’t have trouble breathing. You never get out and you’re up to all hours on that thing…

NIGEL: I’ve got a present for you.

MAGGIE: Have you?

NIGEL: Yes. I thought you would like it, to go with your collection.

MAGGIE: It’s a miniature Dalek.

NIGEL: Made of glass. They’re very rare. I had to order it over the Internet. It took three weeks to arrive; I gave the company a ‘Poor’ rating on Feedback. I won’t be using them again in a hurry, mark my words. I kept on sneaking down to catch the mail before you did. Didn’t you notice?

MAGGIE: Well, no, I didn’t…It’s very…thoughtful of you Nigel. It’s very kind indeed.

NIGEL: You don’t like it.

MAGGIE: I do like it.

NIGEL: You only like glass animals. Not even real animals. You never let me have a dog.

MAGGIE: It’s not that. Anyway, it’s the thought that counts.

NIGEL: I’LL SEND IT BACK. They’re an awful company. It cost me twenty nine pounds. It was a rip off.

MAGGIE: Nigel, I like it. I want to keep it. Thank you very much. Perhaps I could expand into the world of glass miniature figures! What do you think?

(They move through into the sitting room.)

NIGEL: I don’t want any cake.

MAGGIE: Don’t be silly.

NIGEL:  I’m allergic to it. It contains trace elements.

MAGGIE:  We need to talk about this weekend.

                   About your trip: To the Dr.Who convention.

NIGEL: Everything is arranged. It’s all booked. I’ve got my itinerary. I know exactly which discussion groups I’m in: The Ice Warriors Forum, the Exxilon Seminar, that sounds fascinating, what displays I want to visit….

MAGGIE: You know how upset you got last time.

                   The one you went to in Sheffield.

                    That’s all I’m concerned about, pet.

NIGEL: Birmingham.

MAGGIE: Birmingham. So do you really think it’s a good idea to upset yourself again? (No reply).  I’m only trying to help. I’m not the enemy. I’m not some cosmic adversary. I’m not….a Dalek!

NIGEL: NO. Clearly you’re not. Nor a Menoptera or a Silurian.

MAGGIE:  All I know is that you were extremely distraught when you came back from Sheffield….

NIGEL: Birm…

MAGGIE: (simultaneously) Birmingham. It took you days to get over it….weeks.

NIGEL: I don’t want to talk about it. I do not wish to discuss it, thank you very much.

MAGGIE: I wasn’t expecting you to talk about it, pet.

I was just hoping we could avoid a similar….upset.

NIGEL: It’s not a matter for discussion. I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! (Pause, then change in rhythm/ tone)  Episode One: An unearthly child. Ep two: The Daleks, Epthree: Edge of destruction, Epfourmarco polo, epfivethekeysofmarinus, epsix….

MAGGIE: Stop it. That’s enough.

NIGEL:…THEAZTECS, THE SENSORITES, THE REIGN OF TERROR!

MAGGIE: STOP IT. Stop torturing yourself.

(Nigel collapses. His mother soothes him.)

 It’s okay. It’s alright. Everything’s going to be all right. (Starts to sing) “Little darling, It’s been a long, cold lonely winter, Little darling, It seems like years since it’s been here. Here comes the sun….”

NIGEL: (automatically) dee-dee-dee-dee…

MAGGIE: “Here comes the sun. I said…it’s alright.”

NIGEL: So it’s okay if I go? It’s ‘alright’?

MAGGIE: Okay. Alright.

Useful Downloads:
- Writing Biography
- Dalek, I love you - Radio Extract
- Dalek, I love you - Script Extract
- Who killed Martin Hannett - Extract (PDF)

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