Forum:The Man with the Rosette: Difference between revisions

:::::DOCTOR: Have we met? I’m sorry, my memory isn’t what it was.<br />I shed most of it a long time ago.<br />THE MAN: Met? Oh, I’d say so. Believe it or not, we used to know<br />each other quite well.<br />DOCTOR [with recognition?]: Good grief.<br />THE MAN: Ah. Spoken like the man I used to know.<br />DOCTOR: You’ve lost that terrible beard, then.<br />THE MAN: But of course. I have whatever it is you lack. And vice<br />versa. Have you forgotten? Oh, I’m so sorry. You’ve forgotten<br />everything, haven’t you? [Irony?]<br />DOCTOR: You’re behind all this? No, of course you’re not. Not<br />your style at all.<br />THE MAN: Here, Doctor, I’m simply a guest. Thank you for the<br />invitation, by the way. Most touching. Admittedly, I would have<br />preferred something more personal. . .<br />DOCTOR: And would you mind telling me what that rosette’s<br />meant to be?<br />THE MAN: A sign of my allegiance to the great Whig cause. I’ve<br />become an exponent of democracy.<br />DOCTOR: Why does that not sound convincing?<br />THE MAN: My dear Doctor, I’m telling you the truth. I told you. I<br />have to offer the universe whatever you can’t. If you’ve decided to<br />take on the colours of your new sweetheart, then it’s up to me to<br />side with the Opposition. Perhaps one day you’ll consider destroying<br />the universe. Then I’ll be in the awkward position of saving<br />it.<br />DOCTOR: You don’t expect me to believe that, surely?<br />THE MAN: Your friend in red came closest to the truth. What does<br />she call you, again? Her ‘elemental champion’? Very perceptive of<br />her. There are only four of us left now, you know. Four of us in all<br />of the universe. We have certain standards to uphold.<br />DOCTOR: Then I suppose you’re going to say that you don’t want<br />to kill me.<br />THE MAN: It’s hardly the time for that any more, wouldn’t you<br />agree? While our kind still walked tall, we had the whole of space<br />215<br />and time as our battlefield. These days, I’m afraid our little duels<br />would be utterly meaningless. You’ve met Sabbath, of course.<br />DOCTOR: Yes. He reminds me of you. I think.<br />THE MAN: How interesting. He reminds me of you. Our replacement,<br />Doctor. The new breed. All our kind in one, and a mere<br />human being, too. We can hardly return to our old routines, with<br />his kind in charge. Can we?<br />DOCTOR: I’m sick. I’m helpless. You must know that.<br />THE MAN: I rather think that’s my point. Do your duty Doctor.<br />However tedious it may be. Save the universe. Become King of<br />Time. Go after that irritating black object in the sky. Whatever<br />you think is necessary. Once you’ve done that. . . well, perhaps<br />the universe will be ready for us again, who can say? Then we can<br />set about destroying each other properly. Otherwise, I’m afraid<br />this is hardly our arena any more.