diff --git a/Help/command/ctest_run_script.rst b/Help/command/ctest_run_script.rst
index 145bd90959..0d94eb0802 100644
--- a/Help/command/ctest_run_script.rst
+++ b/Help/command/ctest_run_script.rst
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ runs a :option:`ctest -S` script
               script_file_name2 ... [RETURN_VALUE var])
 
 Runs a script or scripts much like if it was run from :option:`ctest -S`.
-If no argument is provided then the current script is run using the current
-settings of the variables.  If ``NEW_PROCESS`` is specified then each
-script will be run in a separate process.If ``RETURN_VALUE`` is specified
-the return value of the last script run will be put into ``var``.
+If ``NEW_PROCESS`` is specified then each script will be run in a separate
+process.  If ``RETURN_VALUE`` is specified the return value of the last script
+run will be put into ``var``.
diff --git a/Help/release/dev/ctest-remove-declarative-script-mode.rst b/Help/release/dev/ctest-remove-declarative-script-mode.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c346abeab1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/release/dev/ctest-remove-declarative-script-mode.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+ctest-remove-declarative-script-mode
+------------------------------------
+
+* CTest's declarative scripting mode has been removed.  This mode used to be
+  triggered by a :option:`ctest -S` script which did not call any
+  :ref:`CTest Commands` unless :variable:`CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT` was
+  explicitly set to ``OFF``.  This feature was undocumented and was not covered
+  by any unit tests.
+
+* The :variable:`CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT` variable no longer has any special
+  meaning.
+
+* The :command:`ctest_run_script` command may no longer be called without any
+  arguments.
diff --git a/Help/variable/CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT.rst b/Help/variable/CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT.rst
index 8cb6eaaac2..616324e9fa 100644
--- a/Help/variable/CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT.rst
+++ b/Help/variable/CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT
 ------------------------
 
-.. versionadded:: 3.11
-
-Setting this to 0 prevents :manual:`ctest(1)` from being run again when it
-reaches the end of a script run by calling :option:`ctest -S`.
+Removed.  This variable once supported an undocumented feature that has since
+been removed.
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunScriptCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunScriptCommand.cxx
index 7661d4dd64..d11f96619a 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunScriptCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestRunScriptCommand.cxx
@@ -3,16 +3,15 @@
 #include "cmCTestRunScriptCommand.h"
 
 #include "cmCTestScriptHandler.h"
+#include "cmExecutionStatus.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 
-class cmExecutionStatus;
-
 bool cmCTestRunScriptCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& args,
-                                          cmExecutionStatus& /*unused*/)
+                                          cmExecutionStatus& status)
 {
   if (args.empty()) {
-    this->CTestScriptHandler->RunCurrentScript();
-    return true;
+    status.SetError("called with incorrect number of arguments");
+    return false;
   }
 
   bool np = false;
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
index ed567d4482..a0865dafea 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.cxx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
    file Copyright.txt or https://cmake.org/licensing for details.  */
 #include "cmCTestScriptHandler.h"
 
-#include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <map>
 #include <ratio>
@@ -32,9 +31,7 @@
 #include "cmCTestUploadCommand.h"
 #include "cmCommand.h"
 #include "cmDuration.h"
-#include "cmGeneratedFileStream.h"
 #include "cmGlobalGenerator.h"
-#include "cmList.h"
 #include "cmMakefile.h"
 #include "cmState.h"
 #include "cmStateDirectory.h"
@@ -57,26 +54,6 @@ cmCTestScriptHandler::cmCTestScriptHandler() = default;
 void cmCTestScriptHandler::Initialize()
 {
   this->Superclass::Initialize();
-  this->Backup = false;
-  this->EmptyBinDir = false;
-  this->EmptyBinDirOnce = false;
-
-  this->SourceDir.clear();
-  this->BinaryDir.clear();
-  this->BackupSourceDir.clear();
-  this->BackupBinaryDir.clear();
-  this->CTestRoot.clear();
-  this->CVSCheckOut.clear();
-  this->CTestCmd.clear();
-  this->UpdateCmd.clear();
-  this->CTestEnv.clear();
-  this->InitialCache.clear();
-  this->CMakeCmd.clear();
-  this->CMOutFile.clear();
-  this->ExtraUpdates.clear();
-
-  this->MinimumInterval = 20 * 60;
-  this->ContinuousDuration = -1;
 
   // what time in seconds did this script start running
   this->ScriptStartTime = std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point();
@@ -314,8 +291,6 @@ int cmCTestScriptHandler::ReadInScript(const std::string& total_script_arg)
                                 cmSystemTools::GetCTestCommand());
   this->Makefile->AddDefinition("CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_NAME",
                                 cmSystemTools::GetCMakeCommand());
-  this->Makefile->AddDefinitionBool("CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT", true);
-  this->SetRunCurrentScript(true);
   this->UpdateElapsedTime();
 
   // set the CTEST_CONFIGURATION_TYPE variable to the current value of the
@@ -366,104 +341,6 @@ int cmCTestScriptHandler::ReadInScript(const std::string& total_script_arg)
   return 0;
 }
 
-// extract variables from the script to set ivars
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::ExtractVariables()
-{
-  // Temporary variables
-  cmValue minInterval;
-  cmValue contDuration;
-
-  this->SourceDir =
-    this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY");
-  this->BinaryDir =
-    this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY");
-
-  // add in translations for src and bin
-  cmSystemTools::AddKeepPath(this->SourceDir);
-  cmSystemTools::AddKeepPath(this->BinaryDir);
-
-  this->CTestCmd = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_COMMAND");
-  this->CVSCheckOut = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT");
-  this->CTestRoot = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_DASHBOARD_ROOT");
-  this->UpdateCmd = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_UPDATE_COMMAND");
-  if (this->UpdateCmd.empty()) {
-    this->UpdateCmd = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_CVS_COMMAND");
-  }
-  this->CTestEnv = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_ENVIRONMENT");
-  this->InitialCache =
-    this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_INITIAL_CACHE");
-  this->CMakeCmd = this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_CMAKE_COMMAND");
-  this->CMOutFile =
-    this->Makefile->GetSafeDefinition("CTEST_CMAKE_OUTPUT_FILE_NAME");
-
-  this->Backup = this->Makefile->IsOn("CTEST_BACKUP_AND_RESTORE");
-  this->EmptyBinDir =
-    this->Makefile->IsOn("CTEST_START_WITH_EMPTY_BINARY_DIRECTORY");
-  this->EmptyBinDirOnce =
-    this->Makefile->IsOn("CTEST_START_WITH_EMPTY_BINARY_DIRECTORY_ONCE");
-
-  minInterval =
-    this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CONTINUOUS_MINIMUM_INTERVAL");
-  contDuration = this->Makefile->GetDefinition("CTEST_CONTINUOUS_DURATION");
-
-  char updateVar[40];
-  int i;
-  for (i = 1; i < 10; ++i) {
-    snprintf(updateVar, sizeof(updateVar), "CTEST_EXTRA_UPDATES_%i", i);
-    cmValue updateVal = this->Makefile->GetDefinition(updateVar);
-    if (updateVal) {
-      if (this->UpdateCmd.empty()) {
-        cmSystemTools::Error(
-          std::string(updateVar) +
-          " specified without specifying CTEST_CVS_COMMAND.");
-        return 12;
-      }
-      this->ExtraUpdates.emplace_back(*updateVal);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // in order to backup and restore we also must have the cvs root
-  if (this->Backup && this->CVSCheckOut.empty()) {
-    cmSystemTools::Error(
-      "Backup was requested without specifying CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT.");
-    return 3;
-  }
-
-  // make sure the required info is here
-  if (this->SourceDir.empty() || this->BinaryDir.empty() ||
-      this->CTestCmd.empty()) {
-    std::string msg =
-      cmStrCat("CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY = ",
-               (!this->SourceDir.empty()) ? this->SourceDir.c_str() : "(Null)",
-               "\nCTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY = ",
-               (!this->BinaryDir.empty()) ? this->BinaryDir.c_str() : "(Null)",
-               "\nCTEST_COMMAND = ",
-               (!this->CTestCmd.empty()) ? this->CTestCmd.c_str() : "(Null)");
-    cmSystemTools::Error(
-      "Some required settings in the configuration file were missing:\n" +
-      msg);
-    return 4;
-  }
-
-  // if the dashboard root isn't specified then we can compute it from the
-  // this->SourceDir
-  if (this->CTestRoot.empty()) {
-    this->CTestRoot = cmSystemTools::GetFilenamePath(this->SourceDir);
-  }
-
-  // the script may override the minimum continuous interval
-  if (minInterval) {
-    this->MinimumInterval = 60 * atof(minInterval->c_str());
-  }
-  if (contDuration) {
-    this->ContinuousDuration = 60.0 * atof(contDuration->c_str());
-  }
-
-  this->UpdateElapsedTime();
-
-  return 0;
-}
-
 void cmCTestScriptHandler::SleepInSeconds(unsigned int secondsToWait)
 {
 #if defined(_WIN32)
@@ -495,355 +372,10 @@ int cmCTestScriptHandler::RunConfigurationScript(
                "Executing Script: " << total_script_arg << std::endl);
     result = this->ExecuteScript(total_script_arg);
   }
-  if (result) {
-    return result;
-  }
-
-  // only run the current script if we should
-  if (this->Makefile && this->Makefile->IsOn("CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT") &&
-      this->ShouldRunCurrentScript) {
-    return this->RunCurrentScript();
-  }
-  return result;
-}
-
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::RunCurrentScript()
-{
-  int result;
-
-  // do not run twice
-  this->SetRunCurrentScript(false);
-
-  // no popup widows
-  cmSystemTools::SetRunCommandHideConsole(true);
-
-  // extract the vars from the cache and store in ivars
-  result = this->ExtractVariables();
-  if (result) {
-    return result;
-  }
-
-  // set any environment variables
-  if (!this->CTestEnv.empty()) {
-    cmList envArgs{ this->CTestEnv };
-    cmSystemTools::AppendEnv(envArgs);
-  }
-
-  // now that we have done most of the error checking finally run the
-  // dashboard, we may be asked to repeatedly run this dashboard, such as
-  // for a continuous, do we need to run it more than once?
-  if (this->ContinuousDuration >= 0) {
-    this->UpdateElapsedTime();
-    auto ending_time =
-      std::chrono::steady_clock::now() + cmDuration(this->ContinuousDuration);
-    if (this->EmptyBinDirOnce) {
-      this->EmptyBinDir = true;
-    }
-    do {
-      auto startOfInterval = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
-      result = this->RunConfigurationDashboard();
-      auto interval = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - startOfInterval;
-      auto minimumInterval = cmDuration(this->MinimumInterval);
-      if (interval < minimumInterval) {
-        auto sleepTime =
-          cmDurationTo<unsigned int>(minimumInterval - interval);
-        this->SleepInSeconds(sleepTime);
-      }
-      if (this->EmptyBinDirOnce) {
-        this->EmptyBinDir = false;
-      }
-    } while (std::chrono::steady_clock::now() < ending_time);
-  }
-  // otherwise just run it once
-  else {
-    result = this->RunConfigurationDashboard();
-  }
 
   return result;
 }
 
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::CheckOutSourceDir()
-{
-  std::string output;
-  int retVal;
-
-  if (!cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->SourceDir) &&
-      !this->CVSCheckOut.empty()) {
-    // we must now checkout the src dir
-    output.clear();
-    cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-               "Run cvs: " << this->CVSCheckOut << std::endl);
-    bool res = cmSystemTools::RunSingleCommand(
-      this->CVSCheckOut, &output, &output, &retVal, this->CTestRoot.c_str(),
-      this->HandlerVerbose, cmDuration::zero() /*this->TimeOut*/);
-    if (!res || retVal != 0) {
-      cmSystemTools::Error("Unable to perform cvs checkout:\n" + output);
-      return 6;
-    }
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::BackupDirectories()
-{
-  // compute the backup names
-  this->BackupSourceDir = cmStrCat(this->SourceDir, "_CMakeBackup");
-  this->BackupBinaryDir = cmStrCat(this->BinaryDir, "_CMakeBackup");
-
-  // backup the binary and src directories if requested
-  if (this->Backup) {
-    // if for some reason those directories exist then first delete them
-    if (cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->BackupSourceDir)) {
-      cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->BackupSourceDir);
-    }
-    if (cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->BackupBinaryDir)) {
-      cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->BackupBinaryDir);
-    }
-
-    // first rename the src and binary directories
-    rename(this->SourceDir.c_str(), this->BackupSourceDir.c_str());
-    rename(this->BinaryDir.c_str(), this->BackupBinaryDir.c_str());
-
-    // we must now checkout the src dir
-    int retVal = this->CheckOutSourceDir();
-    if (retVal) {
-      this->RestoreBackupDirectories();
-      return retVal;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return 0;
-}
-
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::PerformExtraUpdates()
-{
-  std::string command;
-  std::string output;
-  int retVal;
-  bool res;
-
-  // do an initial cvs update as required
-  command = this->UpdateCmd;
-  for (std::string const& eu : this->ExtraUpdates) {
-    cmList cvsArgs{ eu };
-    if (cvsArgs.size() == 2) {
-      std::string fullCommand = cmStrCat(command, " update ", cvsArgs[1]);
-      output.clear();
-      retVal = 0;
-      cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-                 "Run Update: " << fullCommand << std::endl);
-      res = cmSystemTools::RunSingleCommand(
-        fullCommand, &output, &output, &retVal, cvsArgs[0].c_str(),
-        this->HandlerVerbose, cmDuration::zero() /*this->TimeOut*/);
-      if (!res || retVal != 0) {
-        cmSystemTools::Error(cmStrCat("Unable to perform extra updates:\n", eu,
-                                      "\nWith output:\n", output));
-        return 0;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
-
-// run a single dashboard entry
-int cmCTestScriptHandler::RunConfigurationDashboard()
-{
-  // local variables
-  std::string command;
-  std::string output;
-  int retVal;
-  bool res;
-
-  // make sure the src directory is there, if it isn't then we might be able
-  // to check it out from cvs
-  retVal = this->CheckOutSourceDir();
-  if (retVal) {
-    return retVal;
-  }
-
-  // backup the dirs if requested
-  retVal = this->BackupDirectories();
-  if (retVal) {
-    return retVal;
-  }
-
-  // clear the binary directory?
-  if (this->EmptyBinDir) {
-    std::string err;
-    if (!cmCTestScriptHandler::EmptyBinaryDirectory(this->BinaryDir, err)) {
-      cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE,
-                 "Problem removing the binary directory ("
-                   << err << "): " << this->BinaryDir << std::endl);
-    }
-  }
-
-  // make sure the binary directory exists if it isn't the srcdir
-  if (!cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->BinaryDir) &&
-      this->SourceDir != this->BinaryDir) {
-    if (!cmSystemTools::MakeDirectory(this->BinaryDir)) {
-      cmSystemTools::Error("Unable to create the binary directory:\n" +
-                           this->BinaryDir);
-      this->RestoreBackupDirectories();
-      return 7;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // if the binary directory and the source directory are the same,
-  // and we are starting with an empty binary directory, then that means
-  // we must check out the source tree
-  if (this->EmptyBinDir && this->SourceDir == this->BinaryDir) {
-    // make sure we have the required info
-    if (this->CVSCheckOut.empty()) {
-      cmSystemTools::Error(
-        "You have specified the source and binary "
-        "directories to be the same (an in source build). You have also "
-        "specified that the binary directory is to be erased. This means "
-        "that the source will have to be checked out from CVS. But you have "
-        "not specified CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT");
-      return 8;
-    }
-
-    // we must now checkout the src dir
-    retVal = this->CheckOutSourceDir();
-    if (retVal) {
-      this->RestoreBackupDirectories();
-      return retVal;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // backup the dirs if requested
-  retVal = this->PerformExtraUpdates();
-  if (retVal) {
-    return retVal;
-  }
-
-  // put the initial cache into the bin dir
-  if (!this->InitialCache.empty()) {
-    if (!cmCTestScriptHandler::WriteInitialCache(this->BinaryDir,
-                                                 this->InitialCache)) {
-      this->RestoreBackupDirectories();
-      return 9;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // do an initial cmake to setup the DartConfig file
-  int cmakeFailed = 0;
-  std::string cmakeFailedOuput;
-  if (!this->CMakeCmd.empty()) {
-    command = cmStrCat(this->CMakeCmd, " \"", this->SourceDir);
-    output.clear();
-    command += "\"";
-    retVal = 0;
-    cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-               "Run cmake command: " << command << std::endl);
-    res = cmSystemTools::RunSingleCommand(
-      command, &output, &output, &retVal, this->BinaryDir.c_str(),
-      this->HandlerVerbose, cmDuration::zero() /*this->TimeOut*/);
-
-    if (!this->CMOutFile.empty()) {
-      std::string cmakeOutputFile = this->CMOutFile;
-      if (!cmSystemTools::FileIsFullPath(cmakeOutputFile)) {
-        cmakeOutputFile = this->BinaryDir + "/" + cmakeOutputFile;
-      }
-
-      cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-                 "Write CMake output to file: " << cmakeOutputFile
-                                                << std::endl);
-      cmGeneratedFileStream fout(cmakeOutputFile);
-      if (fout) {
-        fout << output.c_str();
-      } else {
-        cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE,
-                   "Cannot open CMake output file: "
-                     << cmakeOutputFile << " for writing" << std::endl);
-      }
-    }
-    if (!res || retVal != 0) {
-      // even if this fails continue to the next step
-      cmakeFailed = 1;
-      cmakeFailedOuput = output;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // run ctest, it may be more than one command in here
-  cmList ctestCommands{ this->CTestCmd };
-  // for each variable/argument do a putenv
-  for (std::string const& ctestCommand : ctestCommands) {
-    command = ctestCommand;
-    output.clear();
-    retVal = 0;
-    cmCTestLog(this->CTest, HANDLER_VERBOSE_OUTPUT,
-               "Run ctest command: " << command << std::endl);
-    res = cmSystemTools::RunSingleCommand(
-      command, &output, &output, &retVal, this->BinaryDir.c_str(),
-      this->HandlerVerbose, cmDuration::zero() /*this->TimeOut*/);
-
-    // did something critical fail in ctest
-    if (!res || cmakeFailed || retVal & cmCTest::BUILD_ERRORS) {
-      this->RestoreBackupDirectories();
-      if (cmakeFailed) {
-        cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE,
-                   "Unable to run cmake:" << std::endl
-                                          << cmakeFailedOuput << std::endl);
-        return 10;
-      }
-      cmCTestLog(this->CTest, ERROR_MESSAGE,
-                 "Unable to run ctest:" << std::endl
-                                        << "command: " << command << std::endl
-                                        << "output: " << output << std::endl);
-      if (!res) {
-        return 11;
-      }
-      return retVal * 100;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // if all was successful, delete the backup dirs to free up disk space
-  if (this->Backup) {
-    cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->BackupSourceDir);
-    cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->BackupBinaryDir);
-  }
-
-  return 0;
-}
-
-bool cmCTestScriptHandler::WriteInitialCache(const std::string& directory,
-                                             const std::string& text)
-{
-  std::string cacheFile = cmStrCat(directory, "/CMakeCache.txt");
-  cmGeneratedFileStream fout(cacheFile);
-  if (!fout) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  fout.write(text.data(), text.size());
-
-  // Make sure the operating system has finished writing the file
-  // before closing it.  This will ensure the file is finished before
-  // the check below.
-  fout.flush();
-  fout.close();
-  return true;
-}
-
-void cmCTestScriptHandler::RestoreBackupDirectories()
-{
-  // if we backed up the dirs and the build failed, then restore
-  // the backed up dirs
-  if (this->Backup) {
-    // if for some reason those directories exist then first delete them
-    if (cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->SourceDir)) {
-      cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->SourceDir);
-    }
-    if (cmSystemTools::FileExists(this->BinaryDir)) {
-      cmSystemTools::RemoveADirectory(this->BinaryDir);
-    }
-    // rename the src and binary directories
-    rename(this->BackupSourceDir.c_str(), this->SourceDir.c_str());
-    rename(this->BackupBinaryDir.c_str(), this->BinaryDir.c_str());
-  }
-}
-
 bool cmCTestScriptHandler::RunScript(cmCTest* ctest, cmMakefile* mf,
                                      const std::string& sname, bool InProcess,
                                      int* returnValue)
@@ -944,8 +476,3 @@ cmDuration cmCTestScriptHandler::GetRemainingTimeAllowed()
     std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - this->ScriptStartTime);
   return (timelimit - duration);
 }
-
-void cmCTestScriptHandler::SetRunCurrentScript(bool value)
-{
-  this->ShouldRunCurrentScript = value;
-}
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.h b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.h
index 8aa07e7342..8f4a57ae96 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.h
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestScriptHandler.h
@@ -22,39 +22,6 @@ class cmake;
 
 /** \class cmCTestScriptHandler
  * \brief A class that handles ctest -S invocations
- *
- * CTest script is controlled using several variables that script has to
- * specify and some optional ones. Required ones are:
- *   CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY - Source directory of the project
- *   CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY - Binary directory of the project
- *   CTEST_COMMAND          - Testing commands
- *
- * Optional variables are:
- *   CTEST_BACKUP_AND_RESTORE
- *   CTEST_CMAKE_COMMAND
- *   CTEST_CMAKE_OUTPUT_FILE_NAME
- *   CTEST_CONTINUOUS_DURATION
- *   CTEST_CONTINUOUS_MINIMUM_INTERVAL
- *   CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT
- *   CTEST_CVS_COMMAND
- *   CTEST_UPDATE_COMMAND
- *   CTEST_DASHBOARD_ROOT
- *   CTEST_ENVIRONMENT
- *   CTEST_INITIAL_CACHE
- *   CTEST_START_WITH_EMPTY_BINARY_DIRECTORY
- *   CTEST_START_WITH_EMPTY_BINARY_DIRECTORY_ONCE
- *
- * In addition the following variables can be used. The number can be 1-10.
- *   CTEST_EXTRA_UPDATES_1
- *   CTEST_EXTRA_UPDATES_2
- *   ...
- *   CTEST_EXTRA_UPDATES_10
- *
- * CTest script can use the following arguments CTest provides:
- *   CTEST_SCRIPT_ARG
- *   CTEST_SCRIPT_DIRECTORY
- *   CTEST_SCRIPT_NAME
- *
  */
 class cmCTestScriptHandler : public cmCTestGenericHandler
 {
@@ -77,19 +44,12 @@ public:
   static bool RunScript(cmCTest* ctest, cmMakefile* mf,
                         const std::string& script, bool InProcess,
                         int* returnValue);
-  int RunCurrentScript();
 
   /*
    * Empty Binary Directory
    */
   static bool EmptyBinaryDirectory(const std::string& dir, std::string& err);
 
-  /*
-   * Write an initial CMakeCache.txt from the given contents.
-   */
-  static bool WriteInitialCache(const std::string& directory,
-                                const std::string& text);
-
   /*
    * Some elapsed time handling functions
    */
@@ -113,28 +73,12 @@ public:
   void CreateCMake();
   cmake* GetCMake() { return this->CMake.get(); }
 
-  void SetRunCurrentScript(bool value);
-
 private:
   // reads in a script
   int ReadInScript(const std::string& total_script_arg);
   int ExecuteScript(const std::string& total_script_arg);
 
-  // extract vars from the script to set ivars
-  int ExtractVariables();
-
-  // perform a CVS checkout of the source dir
-  int CheckOutSourceDir();
-
-  // perform any extra cvs updates that were requested
-  int PerformExtraUpdates();
-
-  // backup and restore dirs
-  int BackupDirectories();
-  void RestoreBackupDirectories();
-
   int RunConfigurationScript(const std::string& script, bool pscope);
-  int RunConfigurationDashboard();
 
   // Add ctest command
   void AddCTestCommand(std::string const& name,
@@ -147,30 +91,6 @@ private:
   std::vector<std::string> ConfigurationScripts;
   std::vector<bool> ScriptProcessScope;
 
-  bool ShouldRunCurrentScript;
-
-  bool Backup = false;
-  bool EmptyBinDir = false;
-  bool EmptyBinDirOnce = false;
-
-  std::string SourceDir;
-  std::string BinaryDir;
-  std::string BackupSourceDir;
-  std::string BackupBinaryDir;
-  std::string CTestRoot;
-  std::string CVSCheckOut;
-  std::string CTestCmd;
-  std::string UpdateCmd;
-  std::string CTestEnv;
-  std::string InitialCache;
-  std::string CMakeCmd;
-  std::string CMOutFile;
-  std::vector<std::string> ExtraUpdates;
-
-  // the *60 is because the settings are in minutes but GetTime is seconds
-  double MinimumInterval = 30 * 60;
-  double ContinuousDuration = -1;
-
   // what time in seconds did this script start running
   std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point ScriptStartTime =
     std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point();
diff --git a/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx b/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
index 84d12d77b0..17cb99c497 100644
--- a/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/CTest/cmCTestStartCommand.cxx
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ bool cmCTestStartCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& args,
     return false;
   }
 
-  this->CTest->SetRunCurrentScript(false);
   this->CTest->SetSuppressUpdatingCTestConfiguration(true);
   int model;
   if (smodel) {
diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.cxx b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
index 829fbf9238..fd5077d172 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.cxx
@@ -3805,11 +3805,6 @@ cmDuration cmCTest::MaxDuration()
   return cmDuration(1.0e7);
 }
 
-void cmCTest::SetRunCurrentScript(bool value)
-{
-  this->GetScriptHandler()->SetRunCurrentScript(value);
-}
-
 void cmCTest::OutputTestErrors(std::vector<char> const& process_output)
 {
   std::string test_outputs("\n*** Test Failed:\n");
diff --git a/Source/cmCTest.h b/Source/cmCTest.h
index 85f75fd766..edf3dc8e02 100644
--- a/Source/cmCTest.h
+++ b/Source/cmCTest.h
@@ -462,8 +462,6 @@ public:
   void GenerateSubprojectsOutput(cmXMLWriter& xml);
   std::vector<std::string> GetLabelsForSubprojects();
 
-  void SetRunCurrentScript(bool value);
-
 private:
   void SetPersistentOptionIfNotEmpty(const std::string& value,
                                      const std::string& optionName);
diff --git a/Tests/CMakeLists.txt b/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 428ec8be1a..b329b983bb 100644
--- a/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2589,9 +2589,9 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
   # A simple test for ctest in script mode
   configure_file("${CMake_SOURCE_DIR}/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake.in"
           "${CMake_BINARY_DIR}/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake" @ONLY)
-#  add_test(CTest.ScriptMode ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND}
-#        -S "${CMake_BINARY_DIR}/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake"
-#        )
+  add_test(CTest.ScriptMode ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND}
+    -S "${CMake_BINARY_DIR}/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake"
+    )
 
   # Test CTest Update with Subversion
   if(NOT DEFINED CMake_TEST_CTestUpdate_SVN OR CMake_TEST_CTestUpdate_SVN)
diff --git a/Tests/CTestConfig/ScriptWithArgs.cmake b/Tests/CTestConfig/ScriptWithArgs.cmake
index 79896a7fcc..4d63e228ab 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestConfig/ScriptWithArgs.cmake
+++ b/Tests/CTestConfig/ScriptWithArgs.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
-
 macro(check_arg name expected_value)
   message("${name}='${${name}}'")
   if(NOT "${${name}}" STREQUAL "${expected_value}")
diff --git a/Tests/CTestLimitDashJ/CreateSleepDelete.cmake b/Tests/CTestLimitDashJ/CreateSleepDelete.cmake
index b09307feb6..f16deaa8f1 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestLimitDashJ/CreateSleepDelete.cmake
+++ b/Tests/CTestLimitDashJ/CreateSleepDelete.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
-
 if(NOT DEFINED basefilename)
   message(FATAL_ERROR "pass -Dbasefilename=f1")
 endif()
diff --git a/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake.in b/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake.in
index 45f0e3710d..5ff1bf282c 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CTestScriptMode/CTestTestScriptMode.cmake.in
@@ -6,9 +6,3 @@ set(CMAKE_CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME "@CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME@")
 if (NOT "${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}" STREQUAL "${CMAKE_CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}")
    message(FATAL_ERROR "Error: CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME is \"${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}\", but should be \"@CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME@\"")
 endif()
-
-# this seems to be necessary, otherwise ctest complains that these
-# variables are not set:
-set(CTEST_COMMAND "\"@CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND@\"")
-set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "@CMake_SOURCE_DIR@/Tests/CTestScriptMode/")
-set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "@CMake_BINARY_DIR@/Tests/CTestScriptMode/")
diff --git a/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory/test.cmake.in b/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory/test.cmake.in
index 3f8437c1b7..e71d514a01 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory/test.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory/test.cmake.in
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
 
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
-
 set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "@CMake_SOURCE_DIR@/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory")
 set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "@CMake_BINARY_DIR@/Tests/CTestTestEmptyBinaryDirectory")
 
diff --git a/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/hello.cmake.in b/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/hello.cmake.in
index 37905e3c41..4fa64461e7 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/hello.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/hello.cmake.in
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
 message("hello world")
diff --git a/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/test.cmake.in b/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/test.cmake.in
index 3074a5156e..9e50f7f18a 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/test.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CTestTestRunScript/test.cmake.in
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
 CTEST_RUN_SCRIPT("CTestTestRunScript/hello.cmake" RETURN_VALUE res RETURN_VALUE)
diff --git a/Tests/CTestTestSerialInDepends/test.ctest b/Tests/CTestTestSerialInDepends/test.ctest
index cf0d314fbf..71c6da25d4 100644
--- a/Tests/CTestTestSerialInDepends/test.ctest
+++ b/Tests/CTestTestSerialInDepends/test.ctest
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
-
 set(LOCK_FILE "${TEST_NAME}.lock")
 
 # Delete the old lock file in case it's lingering from a previous failed test run
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CMakeRoleGlobalProperty/test.cmake.in b/Tests/RunCMake/CMakeRoleGlobalProperty/test.cmake.in
index 4e2c0859e8..d8f2e7b9ef 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CMakeRoleGlobalProperty/test.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CMakeRoleGlobalProperty/test.cmake.in
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
 
 get_property(role GLOBAL PROPERTY CMAKE_ROLE)
 if(NOT role STREQUAL "CTEST")
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env-stderr.txt
index b664fa04f9..01d446cbb7 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env-stderr.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env-stderr.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
-  .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env/test\.cmake:10 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
+  .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-env/test\.cmake:5 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
 
 
 Problem reading custom configuration: .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var-stderr.txt
index bc89703a07..2e81bcb2f0 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var-stderr.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var-stderr.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Call Stack \(most recent call first\):
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
   .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake:3 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
-  .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var/test\.cmake:10 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
+  .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_read_custom_files-var/test\.cmake:5 \(ctest_read_custom_files\)
 
 
 Problem reading custom configuration: .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/CTestCustom\.cmake
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var-stderr.txt
index b10b26d32c..0586d4f5d5 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var-stderr.txt
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var-stderr.txt
@@ -11,41 +11,41 @@ CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_11\.cmake:1
   Maximum recursion depth of 10 exceeded
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_10\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_10\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_9\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_9\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_8\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_8\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_7\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_7\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_6\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_6\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_5\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_5\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_4\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_4\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_3\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_3\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_2\.cmake:13 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script_2\.cmake:8 \(message\):
   Nested script failed
 
 
-CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var/test\.cmake:19 \(message\):
+CMake Error at .*/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script-var/test\.cmake:14 \(message\):
   Nested script failed$
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script.cmake.in b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script.cmake.in
index d4f28c4562..5646a00353 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/ctest_run_script.cmake.in
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
 
 message("@LEVEL_CURRENT@")
 
-set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "@CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY@")
-set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "@CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY@")
-set(CTEST_COMMAND "@CTEST_COMMAND@")
-
 ctest_run_script("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/ctest_run_script_@LEVEL_NEXT@.cmake" RETURN_VALUE val)
 
 if(NOT val EQUAL 0)
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/test.cmake.in b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/test.cmake.in
index fd1fc10a5d..62c8e41cc4 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/test.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/MaxRecursionDepth/test.cmake.in
@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
-set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)
-
-set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "@RunCMake_SOURCE_DIR@")
-set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "@RunCMake_BINARY_DIR@")
-set(CTEST_COMMAND "${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND}")
 
 if(TEST_NAME STREQUAL "ctest_read_custom_files")
   set(x 2)