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The first half is here
[The Master’s voice speaks into the ship.]
M: A star fell from the sky.
[Wilf gasps in shock. The Doctor looks at the roof above, although he doesn’t seem surprised to hear the voice.
The Master is standing in front of the Immortality Gate, his arms folded.]
M: Don’t you want to know where from?
[Addams and Rossiter, who are working on the ship, straighten up at the sound of the voice.]
M: Because now it makes sense, Doctor.
A: It’s an open broadcast. [reaches out a hand to point warningly at Rossiter] Don’t reply or they’ll know where we are!
M: The whole of my life, my destiny. The star was a diamond. And the diamond is a white point star!
[The Doctor moves suddenly, deeply distressed by the news.]
M: And I have worked all night to sanctify that gift. Now the star is mine. I can increase the signal. And use it as a lifeline!
[Two scientists!Masters are working on a machine that holds the white point star.]
M: D’you get it now? D’you see? Keep watching, Doctor. This should be spectacular! Over and out.
[The Doctor is breathing heavily, strain on his face, his eyes wide with fear.]
WM: Wh-what’s he on about? Wh-what’s he doing? D-Doctor, what does that mean?!
D: The white point star is only found on one planet – Gallifrey! Which means… It’s the Time Lords. The Time Lords are returning.
WM [eagerly]: Well, I mean that’s good, isn’t it? I mean, that’s your people!
[The Doctor suddenly lunges forward and grabs the gun, his finger sliding around the trigger, the weapon sitting comfortably in his hand. He stares at it as if it brings back nightmares before suddenly leaping to his feet.]
M: Open up the nuclear bolt and fuse the power lines to maximum.
[He eyes the white point star as one scientist!Master enters the glass cubicle and releases the other.]
Scientist!Master: Nuclear bolt accelerating, sir!
M: Send the signal back and the link becomes a pathway!
[He places the diamond in the machine, which immediately powers up.
He listens to the sound of power and the echo of the four beats and stretches out his arms, waiting for something to happen.]
M: Come home!
[The Doctor arrives at the flight deck of the Vinvocci ship just in time to hear the same noise as the Master – the four knocks, but very high-pitched. Addams hears it too.]
A: What’s that?
[Rossiter checks the computers.]
R: Coming from Earth. It’s on every single wavelength.
[The Vinvocci turn to stare at Earth below them. The Doctor is also staring at the Earth, breathing heavily, clearly afraid.]
[On Gallifrey, the Lord President looks satisfied.]
LP [satisfied]: Contact! At last!
[The Master closes his eyes as if hearing the words.]
M: We have contact.
LP [marching up to the podium in front of the High Council]: Now the High Council of Time Lords must vote: whether we die here today or return to the waking world and complete the ultimate sanction. For this is hour when either Gallifrey falls or Gallifrey rises!
[The last word is a roar, echoed by the members of the High Council.]
High Council: Gallifrey rises!
LP: Gallifrey rises!
[On the Vinvocci ship, the Doctor is running around, desperately trying to fix everything he destroyed.]
WM: But you said your people were dead! Past tense!
D: Inside the Time War. But the whole war was Time Locked. Like sealed in a time bubble. It’s not a bubble, but just think of a bubble. Nothing can get in or get out of the Time Lock. Don’t you see – nothing can get in or get out. Except – something that was already there!
WM [pointing at him in realisation]: The signal! Since he was a kid!
D [frantic]: If they can throw the signal, they can escape! Before they die!
WM: Well, then, big reunion! We’ll have a party!
D [grimly]: There will be no party!
WM: But I’ve heard you talk about your people like they’re wonderful!
D: That’s how I choose to remember them! The Time Lords of old. But then they went to war! And endless war! And it changed them. Right to the core. You’ve seen my enemies, Wilf. The Time Lords are more dangerous than any of them!
A [dismissively]: Time Lords. What Lords? Anyone want to explain?
D [pointing at her]: Right, yes, you, [Addams turns to face him] this is a salvage ship, yes? You’re trawling the asteroid field for junk?
A: Yeah, what about it?
D [realisation]: So you’ve got asteroid lasers!
R [stating the blindingly obvious]: Yeah, but they’re all frazzled.
D [flipping a switch]: Consider them unfrazzled!
[The doors of the ship suddenly fly open. The Doctor points at Addams.]
D: You there – what’s your name? I’m going to need you on navigation! And you [at Rossiter] get in the laser pod!
[Rossiter does as he’s told, but Addams doesn’t move. The Doctor lunges at Wilf, who leans back, clearly startled.]
D [softly, leaning over him]: Laser number two. The old soldier’s got one more battle.
[Wilf taps his arm and moves to get up, a faint hint of a smile on his face.]
A [slowly, trying to state the obvious]: This ship can’t move. It’s dead.
D [scornfully]: Fixed the ‘heating’!
[He throws forward two massive switches and the lights turn on with an electronic hum.]
A [annoyed and perhaps a bit scared]: But now they can see us!
D [in satisfaction]: Oh, yes!
Head of Unit!Master: Sir, we’ve got a fix. A hundred and five thousand miles in orbit.
A [firmly]: This is my ship and you’re not moving it! Step away from the wheel!
D: There’s an old Earth saying, Captain. A phrase of great power and wisdom and consolation to the soul in times of need.
A [uncaring]: What’s that then?
D [determined]: Allons-y!
[He pulls back on the controls and the ship suddenly takes off, throwing Addams, Rossiter and Wilf back. The ship heads towards Earth.]
Unit soldier!Master: He’s moving, sir.
Head of Unit!Master: Get a fix on him!
Unit soldier!Master [hesitantly]: He’s moving very fast.
[The Doctor fights with the controls.]
D [through clenched teeth, urging the ship forward]: Come on!
[The world around the ship glows gold as they begin to enter the atmosphere.]
R: Oh, no.
A: Look at what you’ve done! You’re… flipping mad!
D [glancing back at the others]: You two, what’d I say? Lasers!
R: What for?
D [as if speaking to an idiot]: Because of the missiles!
[Rossiter suddenly leaps forward and heads for the lasers.]
D: We’ve got to fight off the entire planet!
Head of Unit!Master: All NATO unit defences co-ordinated, sir. Awaiting your command.
M [impatiently]: I don’t need him! Any second now we’ll have Time Lords to spare! [waves his hand] Take him out! Launch missiles!
Head of Unit!Master: Launch missiles!
Unit soldiers!Master: Missiles launching in three… two… one… zero.
[The missiles launch as the Vinvocci ship swoops in over the sea. Wilf struggles into a laser pod and sits down as Rossiter does the same.]
WM: Hey! [whistles to get Rossiter’s attention] How does this thing work?
R: The tracking’s automatic, just deploy the trigger on the joystick!
[Wilf starts violently as the machine begins moving beneath him!]
WM: Whoa! Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa! Wha-
[Missiles zoom in on the Vinvocci ship.]
A: We’ve got incoming!
R [wide-eyed and gibbering with fear]: Look at them, oh my God!
D: You two, open fire!
[The Doctor turns the ship wildly from left to right to avoid the missiles. Wilf exclaims as the controls move of their own accord.]
D [as they only just avoid being hit]: Open fire! [as Wilf begins firing] Come on, Wilf!
[One of Wilf’s shots hits a missile.]
WM: What? What?! Woo-hoo! Oh, I wish Donna could see me now!
Head of Unit!Master: Second wave, launch missiles!
Unit soldiers!Master: Yes, sir!
[A massive wave of missiles chases after the Vinvocci ship.]
D: Oh!
A: And there’s more! Sixteen of them!
[As the Doctor grimaces, Addams waves a hand in the air.]
A: Oh! And another sixteen!
D: Then go to the red gun lasers!
[Addams runs out of the room to do as he says.]
D: You two, open fire! [as Rossiter stares, open-mouthed] Now!
[Rossiter and Wilf begin shooting desperately as the Doctor veers the ship from side to side.
Addams is thrown from one side of the room to the other.]
D: No you don’t!
[He turns the ship upside down in a full circle as Addams screams. Wilf and Rossiter yell as they continue to fire. Rossiter remains terrified, while Wilf seems to be getting into the spirit of the moment.]
WM: Come on!
D: Come on! Fire!
[Two missiles crash into each other in front of the ship and the windows smash. Glass flies through the room and the Doctor tries to protect himself behind the steering mechanism.
Wilf and Rossiter, however, only notice that they have destroyed all of the missiles]
WM: Wow!
R: Yes!
D: Lock the navigation!
A: On to what?
D: England! The Naismith mansion!
Head of Unit!Master: He’s heading straight for you!
M: But too late! [stretching out his arms] They are coming!
[The Lord President walks up to the Time Lord who told him about the prophecy.]
LP: The vote is taken. Only two stand against – and will stand as monument to their shame like the weeping angels of old!
[Two Time Lords have their faces in their hands.]
LP: Now the vanguard stands prepared as the children of Gallifrey return to the Universe! To Earth!
[A bright white light envelops them and they are dragged through time and space. The space in front of the Immortality Gate also glows white and the Master laughs victoriously and in delight.
The Doctor is struggling to control the spaceship. ]
D: Destination?
A: Fifty clicks and rising. We’ve locked onto the house! We are going to stop, though? [and when he doesn’t reply] Doctor?! We are going to stop?
[The determined expression on his face suggests that he has no intention of stopping.
The Master is still laughing with joy as blurred figures come into view.]
M: Closer! And closer! And closer!
[Wilf struggles back into the control room of the ship.]
WM: Doctor? Doctor, you said you were gonna die!
A [horrified]: He said what?!
WM: But is that all of us! I won’t stop you, sir, but is this it?
[The Doctor doesn’t look as if he even heard, his expression bitter and sad as he flies the shaking ship. He looks as if he might be willing to fly the ship into the building in order to kill the Master and the Time Lords.
The Master stares into the white light, trying to make out the figures that are forming out of the brilliance.]
Joshua!Master [peering out of the window to see the Vinvocci ship approaching]: I think I should warn you…
M [waving at him impatiently]: Not now!
[At the very last second, the Doctor pulls the ship up out of the steep dive, so much so that Joshua!Master actually ducks for cover. The Doctor pulls up a covering from an exit to the ship and gets out the gun.
Then he looks at Wilf for a long moment before leaping out. He crashes through the glass. domed ceiling of the Naismith mansion and lands heavily on the floor between the Master and the Time Lords.
The Master had been covering his face, but looks down at the Doctor in utter disbelief and confusion.
The Doctor curls his fingers around the gun, wincing in agony, and then opens his eyes, raising his arm to aim at the Lord President, before the gun drops again and he almost faints, gasping for breath.]
LP [scornfully as he walks forward]: My Lord Doctor. [more lightly] My Lord Master. [as the Master looks from the Doctor to the President] We are gathered for the end.
[The Doctor is still panting for breath, looking up at him in obvious and utter agony and misery.
Meanwhile Addams has managed to grab hold of the controls and pulls the ship out of its steep climb. Wilf reaches for her hands, yelling over the sound of rushing air from the smashed windshield.]
WM: Just… just… turn it ‘round! Land it!
A [shaking head]: We are not going in there!
WM [desperately]: I am not leaving that man on his own – not today!
[Addams glances at him and he glares at her.]
WM: Land it!
[Addams looks at him once or twice before sharply jerking the controls to the right. Wilf closes his eyes as the engines whine.
Still breathing heavily, the Doctor struggles to get up. His face is cut and bleeding, and his suit is in tatters.]
D [desperately]: Listen to me! You can’t!
LP [spitting the words out]: It is a fitting paradox that our salvation comes at the hand of our most infamous child!
D [as the Master smiles in satisfaction]: Oh, he’s not saving you! Don’t you realize what he’s doing?
M [pointing accusingly at him, not wanting someone else to reveal his secret]: Hey, no, hey! That’s mine! Hush! [holds his index finger to his lips before spreading his hands out wide] Look around you. I’ve transplanted myself into every single human being. [as the various Masters turn to smile] Who wants a mongrel little species like them? Because now I can transplant myself into every single Time Lord.
[The Lord President takes a deep, unsteady breath.]
M [scornfully]: Oh, yes, Mr President, sir! Standing there all noble and resplendent and decrepit. Think how much better you’re gonna look as me!
[The President raises his left hand and the glove clicks loudly before staring to glow.
The smile vanishes from the Master’s face. The Lord President opens his hand, which glows blue, and all of the humans begin flicking their heads from side to side, as they did when they all became the Master.]
M [almost as if he’s having a childish temper tantrum]: No, don’t! No, no, no, stop it, no! No! No, no, no, don’t!
[He turns to glare at the Lord President, who is watching him calmly. In the Noble house, Sylvia and Shaun are also changing back, as are the members of Unit, the Chinese soldiers, and the President of the United States. Everyone stands and looks around them as they regain their normal appearances, clearly confused. The Doctor, still half-lying on the ground, looks around.]
LP [grimly]: On your knees, mankind!
[Everyone obediently drops to their knees, including Joshua and Abigail Naismith, who are holding on to each other in obvious fear.]
M [desperately]: That-that’s fine, that’s good, because you said salvation. I still saved you! Don’t forget that!
LP [as the world begins to shake]: The approach begins!
M [to the Doctor, almost like a small boy cheating in class]: The approach of what?
D [grimly, frightened, through clenched teeth]: Something is returning - don’t you ever listen? [as the Master looks from the Time Lords to the Doctor] That was the prophecy – not someone, something!
M [urgently]: What is it?
D [furious]: They’re not just bringing back the species. It’s Gallifrey! [as the Master’s eyes widen] Right here, right now!
[And in the space beside the Earth, the faint flickering of an orange planet begins, strengthening quickly into a massive solid ball, dwarfing its new neighbour.
The Earth shakes as a result, including the Noble home, where Shaun and Sylvia are standing.]
ST: Donna! Where’s Donna?
[As things begin to fall around them, Shaun grabs Sylvia’s hand and they rush out of the house to find that everyone else is doing the same, running and screaming and staring at the sky. Gallifrey is so close that it almost looks as if they could touch it. Shaun heads down the street.]
ST [anxiously]: Donna? Donna! Donna!
[Sylvia stands staring at the sky in fear.]
SN [murmuring as she brings her hands together almost in prayer]: Oh, Doctor, please!
[Wilf runs along the halls of the Naismith mansion as things begin to fall around him.
A [briskly moving to the controls of the ship]: We’re getting out of here! This whole planet’s gonna be knocked out of orbit!
R [shocked]: What about the Doctor?
A [sighing and shrugging]: Well, he said he was dying!
[She pulls the switch so that they can take off.
In the Naismith mansion, everyone is panicking and starting to run as the Lord President watches them. The Doctor is still sitting on the floor in pain, and the Master has fallen to his knees, although his face is alight with victory.]
M: Aha! I did this! I get the credit! I’m on your side!
[Everyone including the Naismiths run outside screaming and staring up at Gallifrey in the sky. Joshua drops to his knees, terror on his face, as Abigail clings to him for a moment before running away.
Wilf fights to get into the room where the Doctor is.]
WM: Go on, get out of the way, get out of the way!
[Someone is pounding loudly, trying to attract attention. The Doctor is on the floor and Wilf is about to go to him when he looks over to find a scientists in one of the radiation booths.]
Scientist: Let me out of here! Quick! Somebody, please!
WM: All right! I’ve got you, mate! I’ve got you!
D [looking up]: Wilf, don’t! Don’t!
[But Wilf doesn’t listen, stepping in to the box and hitting the button, which locks his door and frees the scientists, who runs out of the room. The Doctor drops his head helplessly, almost in tears.]
WM: I’ve got ya. Yeah.
[The world around them continues to shake violently. The Master turns his eyes to the Lord President, who is focusing on the sky they can see through the glass ceiling.]
M [attempting to be positive]: But this is fantastic, isn’t it?
[He looks down at the Doctor, who glares at him.]
M: The Time Lords restored!
D [bitterly]: You weren’t there in the final days of the war. You never saw what was born. But if the Time Lock’s broken then everything’s coming through, not just the Daleks, but the Star of Degradations, the Horde of Travesties, the Nightmare child, [the Master glances at the Lord President, who is breathing heavily as he looks at him] the Could-Have-Been-King with his Army of Meanwhiles and Never Weres – the war turning to Hell!
[As the Master stands staring at him, the Doctor raises his eyebrows.]
D: And that’s what you’ve opened. Right above the Earth. Hell is descending.
M [gladly]: My kind of world!
D [desperately]: Just listen! ‘Cause even the Time Lords can’t survive that!
LP: We will initiate the final sanction!
[The Doctor drops his head, as if starting to sob, despairing.]
LP [victoriously]: The end of time will come at my hand! The rupture will continue until it rips the time vortex apart!
M [sharply]: That’s suicide!
LP [his hands spread wide]: We will ascend! To become creatures of consciousness alone. Free of these bodies. [as the Doctor looks up at him bitterly, all of his hard work wasted] Free of time and cause and effect. And where creation itself ceases to be!
D [to the Master]: You see now? That’s what they planning in the final days of the war. [furiously] I had to stop them!
M [stepping forward, spreading his arms as he blinks tears out of his eyes]: Then – take me with you! Lord President, let me ascend into glory! [starts to fall to his knees]
LP [sneering]: You are diseased! Albeit a disease of our own making. No more!
[The Lord President raises his left hand and the glove in a gesture of threat as if he is about to destroy the Master.
A loud click breaks the silence as the Doctor releases the safety on the gun, his finger on the trigger, pointing the weapon at the Lord President.
Wilf stares at him through the glass wall of the chamber, his face horrified.]
LP [threateningly]: Choose your enemy well. We are many. The Master is but one.
M [smirking]: But he’s the President! Kill him and Gallifrey could be yours!
[The Doctor suddenly turns, aiming instead at the Master. The Lord President slowly lowers the glove.]
M [panicking, waving a hand]: He’s to blame, not me! Oh! [realising] The link is inside my head! Kill me, the link gets broken, they go back.
[The Doctor’s face tenses as if in agreement, as if about to pull the trigger. The Master shifts slightly, meeting his gaze.]
M: You never would, you coward!
[They stare at each other. The certainty on the Master’s face begins to falter. For the first time, he begins to look afraid.]
M [taunting]: Go on then. Do it!
[The Doctor’s finger shifts on the trigger. The Master’s frown relaxes and he swallows hard before suddenly shaking his head in a tiny subconscious act of fear.
The Doctor turns the gun back on the Lord President, who suddenly looks afraid.]
M [triumphantly]: Exactly! It’s not just me, it’s him! He’s the link! Kill him!
LP [sneering]: The final act of your life is murder! But of which one of us?
[The Doctor begins to fight for breath, clearly indecisive. Wilf watches helplessly through the glass. Then he glances to the side of where the Lord President is standing to one of the figures covering their faces in shame for having dissented. The woman slowly begins to reveal her face.
It is the same woman who has been talking to Wilf. The Doctor’s mask of anger and bitterness fades to one of sadness and regret as a tear slips down the woman’s face and her eyes travel between the Doctor and the Master.
The Doctor spins around again, the gun now aiming at the Master, who looks suddenly lost and terrified, shaking his head as if about to beg for his life. The Lord President’s eyes light up as if waiting for the shot. The woman behind him has her eyes fixed on the Doctor.]
D [growling angrily]: Get out of the way.
[The Master, tears in his eyes, glances behind him before suddenly realising what the Doctor is about to do. He half-smiles and then dives away to the left. The Doctor fires a shot into the machine that produces the link that brought the Time Lords to Earth, and the machine explodes in a ball of fire.]
D [triumphantly]: The link is broken! Back into the Time War, Rassilon! Back into Hell!
Visionary [echo]: Gallifrey falling! Gallifrey falls!
LP [bitter]: You die with me, Doctor!
[He raises the glove to destroy the man who has ruined his chance at immortality.]
D [calmly, waiting for the end]: I know.
[As the planet is pulled away, the wind begins to roar. The Doctor stares at the glove as the woman who made him change his mind once more covers her face. However even as power builds up in the glove, the Master stands up behind the Doctor.]
M [calmly, as he begins rubbing his hands together]: Get out of the way!
[The Doctor looks sharply over his shoulder and then, as the Master fires his first bolt of power, dives off to the right. The power hits the Lord President in the chest, just as it had done to the Doctor in the wasteland. The Lord President staggers back as the Master speaks.]
M [roaring]: You did this to me! All of my life! [as he fires another bolt of power] You made me! One! [his skeleton flickers into view and he fires off another bolt with each number he counts off] Two! Three! Four!
[The Doctor squints into the bright light as the Time Lords and the Master are dragged away into the whiteness and Gallifrey flickers and disappears.
Sylvia smiles in relief as it disappears, almost in tears.
Earth is alone and peaceful.
In the large room of the Naismith mansion, the Doctor lies on the floor, gasping for breath. He stares at the space where the Time Lords were in confusion.]
D: I’m alive! [struggles up onto his haunches, sobbing in disbelief] I’m still alive!
[Four knocks break the silence.
Devastation crosses the Doctor’s face as understanding finally hits.
The knocks, a hand on glass, are repeated, and, tears in his eyes, he sinks onto his haunches as Wilf knocks again before looking up at the man who will cause him to die.
Wilf waves weakly.]
WM: They gone then? Yeah, good-o. If you could, er, let me out.
[The Doctor nods sadly.]
D [softly]: Yeah.
WM [anxiously]: I mean, this thing seems to be making a bit of a noise.
D [hesitantly]: The Master… left the nuclear bolt running. It’s gone into overload.
WM: And that’s bad, is it?
D [lightly]: No. ‘Cause all the excess radiation gets vented [nods at the glass booth] inside there. [eyeing the boxes] Vinvocci glass contains it. All 500,000 rads about to flood that thing.
WM: Oh. Well, you’d better let me out then.
D: Except it’s gone critical.
[Wilf’s face falls.]
D: Touch one control and its floods. [takes out sonic screwdriver] Even this would set it off.
WM [helpessly]: I’m sorry. Look, just leave me.
D [smiling bitterly]: Okay, right then, I will. 'Cause you had to go in there, didn't you? You had to go and get stuck, oh yes! [realisation] 'Cause that's who you are, Wilfred. You were always this. Waiting for me, all this time.
WM: No, really, just leave me. I'm an old man, Doctor. I've had my time.
D [raging at fate]: Well, exactly, look at you. Not remotely important! But me? I could do so much more! So much more! But this is what I get. My reward. And it’s not fair!
[He shoves paper off the desk as he begins to cry, gasping for breath. His eyes fill with tears and he shakes his head and sighs.]
D: Oh… [heartbreakingly soft] Live too long.
WM [understanding what he’s going to do and desperate to prevent it]: No. No, no, please! Please don't. No! Don't! Don't! Please. Don't. Please.
[The Doctor has slowly crossed the floor to the box and now places his hand on the silver handle, gazing at Wilf.]
D: Wilfred, it's my honour. [looks up, wanting to get it over with] Better be quick! Three, two…]
[He opens the door and steps inside the booth, pressing the button that will release Wilf.]
D: One.
[Wilf rushes out as the light in the box holding the Doctor turns red and he groans, his eyes and jaw clenched with pain as he falls to his knees, one hand on the glass wall. He hisses and grunts with agony, slowly collapsing to the floor and covering his head with hands if he could ward it all off. He convulses with every sobbing breath.
Then suddenly the lights go off and the power dies. Wilf looks around him for a moment before turning his attention back to the Doctor, who remains motionless.
Then his fingers move, reaching for the floor.]
WM: Oh!
[As Wilf stares, the Doctor gradually pulls himself up into a sitting position.]
WM: What? [and then, as the familiar face of the Doctor turns to him] Hello.
D [hoarsely]: Hi.
WM [anxiously]: Still with us?
D [tiredly, as he gets to his feet]: System’s dead. I absorbed it all. Whole thing’s kaput. [presses door, which opens; he tilts head to the side in aggravation] Oh! Now it opens, yeah!
WM [hugely relieved]: Well, there we are then. Safe and sound. Mind you, you’re in a hell of a state. You’ve got some battle scars there.
[The Doctor buries his face in his hands, wiping his fingers down his skin, seeming to wipe himself clean of the injuries.]
WM: But they’ve… Your face! How did you do that?
[The Doctor studies his hands, which are now unmarked.]
D [softly]: It’s started.
[Wilf walks over and hugs him, beginning to sob. The Doctor merely looks helpless and so very sad and lonely.
Back at the Noble residence, Donna is unconscious, lying on the couch, covered with a blanket. Shaun is trying to wake her up.]
ST [frantically]: It’s no good. She’s freezing! How long was she lying out there? It’s like hypothermia. [takes a cup of tea from Sylvia] Try ‘em again.
SN: I did! Everyone’s dialling 9-9-9. I can’t get through!
ST [so worried]: But… we’ve gotta do something! We’ve gotta wake her up! [to Donna, anxiously] Donna? Can you hear me?
[The sound of the TARDIS materialisation sequence becomes audible in the background.]
ST: Donna?
[Sylvia looks around as the sound gets stronger, and Donna’s eyes open and she looks up. Shaun glances at Sylvia before looking back at his fiancée.]
ST: Donna? It’s me. I’m here. [smiles, so relieved] You’re safe. You’re home!
DN [faintly]: But… I was… What happened?
[Shaun and Sylvia exchange tiny, secretive smiles.]
DN [annoyed]: Did I miss something? Again?!
[Sylvia’s smile forms into a huge grin and she dashes out of the room. Shaun kisses Donna’s fingers, his love for her visible in his eyes.
Sylvia stops on the doorstep, staring at the spot where the TARDIS disappeared from several hours earlier. A dog barks in the background as she watches the door of the blue box open.
Wilf steps out into the street, followed by the Doctor. Wilf manages a wave at Sylvia, but they both look distinctly nervous.]
D [worried]: Oh. She’s smiling. As if today wasn’t bad enough…
WM [half-laugh]: Oh.
D [lightly]: Anyway… Don’t go thinking this is goodbye, Wilf. I’ll see you again. One more time.
WM [shaking head]: What do you mean? When’s that?
D [unable to bring himself to explain]: Just… keep looking. I’ll be there.
WM: Where’re you going?
[The Doctor swallows hard, glancing around before looking back at Wilf.]
D [faintly]: To get my reward.
[He steps into the TARDIS and closes the door.
A gun shoots sparks at a figure in black, who is running across a stretch of open ground. It’s Martha Jones, carrying a large gun, her hair in dreadlocks, clearly running for her life. She crosses a stretch of dirt, finally throwing herself behind a concrete block. Mickey Smith, also in black, loads a new cartridge into his gun as she appears.]
MS: I told you to stay behind!
MJ: Well, you looked like you needed help. [as Mickey scoffs] Besides, you’re the one who persuaded me to go freelance.
MS [scoffing]: Yeah, but… we’re being fired at by a Sontaran. A dumpling with a gun! And this is no place for a married woman!
MJ [laughing]: Well then… you shouldn’t have married me!
[They grin at each other, unaware that Sontaran Skorr, is watching them from a balcony behind them.
Skorr trains his gun on them and runs his tongue over his teeth in eager anticipation – before a metallic ‘whang’ sound heralds the arrival of a knock to his probic vent and he collapses.
The Doctor straightens up, the mallet from the TARDIS in his hand and an expression of extreme satisfaction on his face.
Unaware of the danger they have been saved from, Mickey and Martha are looking at a map.]
MS: If we go in here, and down to the factory floor, and down past that corridor, then it won’t know that we’re here.
[Meanwhile Martha has looked up in the direction of where the Sontaran had been standing.]
MJ [faintly]: Mickey. [seeing the Doctor standing there, staring at them] Mickey!
[He glances at her, then follows the direction of her gaze to the Doctor.
The Doctor is standing, watching them, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the mallet.]
MS [delighted]: Hey!
[They take several steps in his direction, but the Doctor simply nods a little and then turns, walking away. As the TARDIS is heard, Mickey pulls Martha into his arms. It is clear that, although they may not realize the full impact of what the sight of him means, they are both upset by it. Martha closes her eyes and Mickey presses a kiss to her head.
Luke Smith is strolling down the street, talking to Clyde on his mobile phone.]
LS: That was the maddest Christmas ever, Clyde! Mum still doesn’t know what happened! She got Mr Smith to put out this story saying that WiFi went mad all across the world, giving everyone hallucinations. I mean, how else are you going to explain it? Every one with a different face…
[He has begun to cross the road without looking and a car is barrelling down on him. Suddenly the Doctor swoops out of nowhere, dragging him back, out of danger.
Luke catches his breath and stares as the Doctor frowns at him.]
LS [shocked]: It’s you!
[The Doctor nods, looking as if there’s so much he wants to say, but he can’t make himself speak.]
LS: You’re…
[The Doctor walks away. Bags are visible under his eyes and he looks terribly tired and suddenly quite old, as well as desperately unhappy.]
LS: Mum.
[Luke carefully looks both ways before running across the street to where his mother is standing.]
LS: Mum!
SJS: What? What is it?
LS [gesturing back at the Doctor]: It’s him! It’s the Doctor!
[Sarah Jane does a double take, staring when she sees the TARDIS. The Doctor has walked over to it and unlocks the door, glancing back at her before he goes inside. She watches with tears in her eyes as he waves before stepping over the threshold.
A variety of creatures are gathered in a bar. The song playing is “My Angel Put The Devil In Me,” which was also heard in Daleks in Manhattan.
A Raxicoricofallipatorian strolls past two Hath having a conversation. A Judoon is sitting on one side of the bar and a Graske on the other. A Sycorax wanders past. An Adipose climbs up onto the bar itself and begins to wander along it, jumping over a glass.
The man sitting at the bar, Captain Jack Harkness, doesn’t look too surprised when the Adipose falls off, merely peering over at the sound of shattering glass to make sure it’s all right. A variety of other individuals chatting means that there is an undercurrent of noise when the bartender crosses to Jack and passes him a note.]
Bartender [tossing a thumb back over his shoulder]: From the man over there.
[The bartender moves aside so that Jack can see the Doctor standing at the far end of the bar.
Jack stares in obvious surprise. The Doctor nods at the note and Jack, still clearly confused, opens it. It reads: ‘His name is Alonso.’ Jack looks up again, totally bewildered now, and the Doctor nods at the space beside Jack. A man puts his hat on the bar and slumps onto the stool, looking as if he’s had enough.
Jack glances at the newcomer before looking back at the Doctor. The Doctor gives him a salute, which Jack returns, and then the Doctor wanders off. Jack turns to his new neighbour.]
JH: So, Alonzo…
[Alonzo stares at him in obvious astonishment.]
JH: Goin’ my way?
AF [flatly]: How d’you know my name?
JH [smiling, desperately trying to come up with a good explanation]: I’m kinda psychic.
AF [as Jack laughs]: Really? [after a pause while he eyes Jack] And what am I thinking right now?
JH [nods, still smiling]: Oh, yeah!
[Alonzo nods, a slow smile forming on his face. Jack laughs, perhaps in relief at his story being believed, and drains his glass.
A woman is sitting at a table in a bookshop, talking to someone as she signs a copy of her book for him.]
VN: No, it’s not just a story, no. Every word of it’s true. I found my great-grandmother’s diary in the loft. And she was a nurse in 1913 and she fell in love with this man called John Smith. Except he was a visitor from another world. [as the man in line endeavours to hide a smile] She fell in love with a man from the stars. And she… wrote it all down.
[She closes the signed copy of A Journal of Impossible Things and passes it across the table to him.]
Man: Thank you.
[Verity gets herself ready to sign the next book, which is put in front of her by a man in a brown coat.]
VN: And who’s it for?
D: The Doctor.
VN [as she signs]: ‘To the Doctor.’ Funny, that’s the name he used.
[She suddenly stops signing as she finishes her signature and realisation hits. She slowly looks up.
He is looking down at her, that terrible sadness still in his eyes.]
D [desperately]: Was she happy? In the end?
VN [after taking in a deep breath, as if unable to believe who she’s talking to]: Yes! [nodding] Yes, she was.
[They stare at each other for a moment. Perhaps the Doctor is seeing the features of the woman he loved in Verity’s face. Maybe she is wondering what it was about this man that made her great-grandmother fall in love with him.]
VN: Were you?
[The Doctor smiles sadly, his lower lip trembling a little, and he picks up the book without answering, walking away.
Church bells ring out and the camera pans down to show a group of people waiting on the church steps. Donna and Shaun come out, arm in arm, and Donna holds up her hand to show her wedding ring. Wilf kisses her cheek and then, laughing, also kisses Shaun, which makes everyone else laugh. Sylvia leans in to embrace her daughter, kissing her on both cheeks.]
WM: Everybody, three cheers! Hip hip…
All: Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
[Donna pulls the flower girl over as the photographer takes pictures.]
DN: Right then, come on then, you lot, this… [waving towards Nerys] Get in! This photo is just with friends! Come on [waving] and I want all of you in it. Come on, that’s it! Well, friends – and Nerys!
[She grins at Nerys, who is looking miserable, as everyone laughs.]
DN: Oh, I’m only joking! Oh, look at her!
Nerys [waving arm]: Well, you made me wear peach!
DN: That’s ‘cause you are a peach! Furry skin, stone inside, going off!
Photographer: Okay, smile!
[Everyone laughs and throws confetti. Wilf is standing beside Minnie, who turns to him.]
MH [hopefully]: How about it, Wilfred?
WM: Eh?
MH [sprinkling confetti in his hair, flirtingly, as Sylvia laughs]: Well, it’s never too late!
WM: Will you behave, Minnie? Honestly!
MH [cheekily]: I’m going to catch that bouquet!
WM [chuckling]: Dear, dear.
[Sylvia turns away and something catches her eye. The Doctor is standing in front of the TARDIS on the other side of the gate leading in to the churchyard.]
SN [whispering]: Dad.
[Wilf leads Sylvia across the short stretch of ground to where the Doctor is waiting.]
WM: Eh, here you are, hey? Same old face. Didn’t I tell you you’d be all right? Oh, they’ve arrested Mr Naismith. It was on the news. Crimes undisclosed. And his daughter. Both of ‘em locked up. Yep… but… I keep thinking, Doctor, there’s one thing you never told me. That woman – who was she?
[The Doctor looks from Wilf to Sylvia before swallowing hard as he glances at Donna, who is chatting to Nerys.]
D [as he reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket]: I just wanted to give you this. Wedding present. Thing is, I never carry money, so I just popped back in time. Borrowed a quid off a really lovely man. [looks at Sylvia] Geoffrey Noble, his name was.
[Sylvia’s eyes widen and then her hand goes to her mouth and she looks upset.]
D: Have it, he said. [smiling understandingly as he tears up] Have that on me.
[Wilf comforts her as she begins to tear up, mouthing ‘thank you’ at the Doctor, who gives them both a sympathetic look.]
Photographer: Smile!
[Sylvia and Wilf come over and give Donna the envelope the Doctor had given them.]
DN [taking envelope]: Oh, don’t tell me, it’s a bill! Just what I need right now! [looking up at them in scorn] A lottery ticket?
[Wilf and Sylvia look at each other in shock. Sylvia looks down at the ticket as if it’s going to attack them.]
DN: What a cheap present! Who was that? Still, you never know! It’s triple rollover this week. I might get lucky!
[She shoves the ticket down her front since there are clearly no pockets in her dress.]
DN: Oi, Shaun! Come on, we’re on a tight schedule. I was told soup at 2.30.
[Sylvia laughs silently and almost collapses into Wilf’s arms.
They both look excited as they turn back to where the Doctor is standing. They walk in his direction and, as Sylvia smiles sadly, Wilf stiffens to a salute and then the Doctor turns away. Wilf blows a half-kiss towards the TARDIS as he begins to tear up, realising that he’s not going to see the Doctor again.
Jackie and Rose Tyler are walking through falling snow in a square on the Powell Estate.]
RT: Too late now, I’ve missed it. Midnight. Mickey’s going to be calling me every minute. This is your fault!
JT [indignantly]: No, it is not! It’s Jimbo! He said he was gonna give us a lift and then he said his axle’s broke! I can’t help it!
RT: Get rid of him, Mum! He’s useless!
JT: Listen to you! With a mechanic! Be fair though. In my time of life, I’m not gonna do much better.
RT [rubbing her shoulder]: Don’t be like that. Never know, there could be someone out there.
JT [looking up into the sky]: Maybe. One day. [with a half smile, before suddenly smiling properly as she realises] Happy New Year!
RT: Happy New Year!
[They embrace warmly and then Rose pulls away.]
RT [pointing at her]: Don’t stay out all night!
JT [hurrying away]: Try and stop me!
[Rose strides through the snow, passing a shadowed area, where the Doctor is standing, watching her. He suddenly grimaces, a hand pressed to his head, and Rose turns.]
RT [concerned]: You all right, mate?
D [with an effort at sounding normal]: Yeah.
RT: Too much to drink?
D: Something like that.
RT: Maybe it’s time you went home.
D [dismissively]: Yeah.
RT [cheerfully]: Anyway, Happy New Year!
D: And you!
[She turns away to go inside. However he can’t completely let her go and calls after her.]
D: What year is this?
RT: Blimey, how much have you had?
[The Doctor shrugs dismissively.]
RT: 2005. January the first.
D [thoughtfully]: 2005. [as Rose nods impatiently, clearly feeling cold] Tell you what. [tearfully] I bet you’re gonna have a really great year!
RT [amused]: Yeah?
[He smiles.]
RT: See ya!
[She runs inside through the falling snow. The Doctor watches her go, still smiling, although tears are glistening in his eyes.
However he suddenly groans in pain and leans against the nearby wall. He staggers out of the shadow into the area beneath one of the lights, one hand on the wall as he tries to walk and get back to the TARDIS on the far side of the square. He sobs with pain as the world whirls around him, and finally collapses to the ground, his eyes clenched shut in agony. A song becomes audible and he looks up to see Ood Sigma standing in the snow.]
OS: We will sing to you, Doctor. The Universe will sing you to your sleep.
[The Doctor looks up at Ood Sigma, who replaces his translator ball, and the Ood song becomes even clearer. The Doctor struggles back to his feet and, with a visible effort, as the Ood back in the Elder’s cave raise their hands, struggles onwards to the TARDIS.]
OS: This song is ending, but the story never ends.
[His teeth clenched, the Doctor manages to get to the door of the TARDIS and unlocks it, stepping inside and leaning against the door he closes behind him. He gets up the ramp, supporting himself on the rails, and removes his duster, throwing it over a beam before looking at his right hand, which is glowing with the energy of regeneration.
He looks at it almost in wonder, his eyes filling with tears, before moving around, holding on to the console, as, for the last time, he sends the TARDIS off, staring up at the central core.
Looking like a lost child, he walks around the console.]
D [fearful, tears welling in his eyes]: I don’t wanna go.
[The regenerative energy intensifies, burning his face as he fights for breath, and as it increases, he begins to cry, before finally throwing his head back as the process of regeneration takes full effect. However the force of the change shoots flames through the TARDIS, which begins to break apart and burn. The Doctor finally closes his eyes, only to open them with a scream to greet his new face.
A massive explosion makes him spin around to stare at the interior of the TARDIS.]
D [grabbing his left thigh]: Legs! I’ve still got legs!
[He kisses his knee in thankfulness.]
D: Good. [as he frantically pats his chest] Arms! Hands! Ooh, fingers! Lots of fingers! [grabs his head and begins feeling all over his face] Ears! Yes, eyes, two. Nose. Ooh, I’ve had worse. Chin! Blimey! [as he grabs his hair] Hair! [as he grabs the hair at the nape of his neck, his voice rising to a squeak] I’m a girl!
D: [looking horrified] No! No! [as he feels his Adam’s apple] I’m not a girl!
[He pulls his forelock down so that he can see it.]
D: Oh, and still not ginger!
[He begins to look around in a hurried state.]
D: Something else – there was something else! Something – important I’m [beginning to tap his temples with his fingers] I’m – I’m –
[A massive explosion shakes the TARDIS. The Doctor looks up at the core of the ship with a delighted grin.]
D: Ha-ha! Crashing!
[As the burning TARDIS hurtles through space towards the Earth, the Doctor runs around wildly.]
D: Ha-ha! Wa-hoo! Woo hoo hoo! Ha! Geronimo!
[The Master’s voice speaks into the ship.]
M: A star fell from the sky.
[Wilf gasps in shock. The Doctor looks at the roof above, although he doesn’t seem surprised to hear the voice.
The Master is standing in front of the Immortality Gate, his arms folded.]
M: Don’t you want to know where from?
[Addams and Rossiter, who are working on the ship, straighten up at the sound of the voice.]
M: Because now it makes sense, Doctor.
A: It’s an open broadcast. [reaches out a hand to point warningly at Rossiter] Don’t reply or they’ll know where we are!
M: The whole of my life, my destiny. The star was a diamond. And the diamond is a white point star!
[The Doctor moves suddenly, deeply distressed by the news.]
M: And I have worked all night to sanctify that gift. Now the star is mine. I can increase the signal. And use it as a lifeline!
[Two scientists!Masters are working on a machine that holds the white point star.]
M: D’you get it now? D’you see? Keep watching, Doctor. This should be spectacular! Over and out.
[The Doctor is breathing heavily, strain on his face, his eyes wide with fear.]
WM: Wh-what’s he on about? Wh-what’s he doing? D-Doctor, what does that mean?!
D: The white point star is only found on one planet – Gallifrey! Which means… It’s the Time Lords. The Time Lords are returning.
WM [eagerly]: Well, I mean that’s good, isn’t it? I mean, that’s your people!
[The Doctor suddenly lunges forward and grabs the gun, his finger sliding around the trigger, the weapon sitting comfortably in his hand. He stares at it as if it brings back nightmares before suddenly leaping to his feet.]
M: Open up the nuclear bolt and fuse the power lines to maximum.
[He eyes the white point star as one scientist!Master enters the glass cubicle and releases the other.]
Scientist!Master: Nuclear bolt accelerating, sir!
M: Send the signal back and the link becomes a pathway!
[He places the diamond in the machine, which immediately powers up.
He listens to the sound of power and the echo of the four beats and stretches out his arms, waiting for something to happen.]
M: Come home!
[The Doctor arrives at the flight deck of the Vinvocci ship just in time to hear the same noise as the Master – the four knocks, but very high-pitched. Addams hears it too.]
A: What’s that?
[Rossiter checks the computers.]
R: Coming from Earth. It’s on every single wavelength.
[The Vinvocci turn to stare at Earth below them. The Doctor is also staring at the Earth, breathing heavily, clearly afraid.]
[On Gallifrey, the Lord President looks satisfied.]
LP [satisfied]: Contact! At last!
[The Master closes his eyes as if hearing the words.]
M: We have contact.
LP [marching up to the podium in front of the High Council]: Now the High Council of Time Lords must vote: whether we die here today or return to the waking world and complete the ultimate sanction. For this is hour when either Gallifrey falls or Gallifrey rises!
[The last word is a roar, echoed by the members of the High Council.]
High Council: Gallifrey rises!
LP: Gallifrey rises!
[On the Vinvocci ship, the Doctor is running around, desperately trying to fix everything he destroyed.]
WM: But you said your people were dead! Past tense!
D: Inside the Time War. But the whole war was Time Locked. Like sealed in a time bubble. It’s not a bubble, but just think of a bubble. Nothing can get in or get out of the Time Lock. Don’t you see – nothing can get in or get out. Except – something that was already there!
WM [pointing at him in realisation]: The signal! Since he was a kid!
D [frantic]: If they can throw the signal, they can escape! Before they die!
WM: Well, then, big reunion! We’ll have a party!
D [grimly]: There will be no party!
WM: But I’ve heard you talk about your people like they’re wonderful!
D: That’s how I choose to remember them! The Time Lords of old. But then they went to war! And endless war! And it changed them. Right to the core. You’ve seen my enemies, Wilf. The Time Lords are more dangerous than any of them!
A [dismissively]: Time Lords. What Lords? Anyone want to explain?
D [pointing at her]: Right, yes, you, [Addams turns to face him] this is a salvage ship, yes? You’re trawling the asteroid field for junk?
A: Yeah, what about it?
D [realisation]: So you’ve got asteroid lasers!
R [stating the blindingly obvious]: Yeah, but they’re all frazzled.
D [flipping a switch]: Consider them unfrazzled!
[The doors of the ship suddenly fly open. The Doctor points at Addams.]
D: You there – what’s your name? I’m going to need you on navigation! And you [at Rossiter] get in the laser pod!
[Rossiter does as he’s told, but Addams doesn’t move. The Doctor lunges at Wilf, who leans back, clearly startled.]
D [softly, leaning over him]: Laser number two. The old soldier’s got one more battle.
[Wilf taps his arm and moves to get up, a faint hint of a smile on his face.]
A [slowly, trying to state the obvious]: This ship can’t move. It’s dead.
D [scornfully]: Fixed the ‘heating’!
[He throws forward two massive switches and the lights turn on with an electronic hum.]
A [annoyed and perhaps a bit scared]: But now they can see us!
D [in satisfaction]: Oh, yes!
Head of Unit!Master: Sir, we’ve got a fix. A hundred and five thousand miles in orbit.
A [firmly]: This is my ship and you’re not moving it! Step away from the wheel!
D: There’s an old Earth saying, Captain. A phrase of great power and wisdom and consolation to the soul in times of need.
A [uncaring]: What’s that then?
D [determined]: Allons-y!
[He pulls back on the controls and the ship suddenly takes off, throwing Addams, Rossiter and Wilf back. The ship heads towards Earth.]
Unit soldier!Master: He’s moving, sir.
Head of Unit!Master: Get a fix on him!
Unit soldier!Master [hesitantly]: He’s moving very fast.
[The Doctor fights with the controls.]
D [through clenched teeth, urging the ship forward]: Come on!
[The world around the ship glows gold as they begin to enter the atmosphere.]
R: Oh, no.
A: Look at what you’ve done! You’re… flipping mad!
D [glancing back at the others]: You two, what’d I say? Lasers!
R: What for?
D [as if speaking to an idiot]: Because of the missiles!
[Rossiter suddenly leaps forward and heads for the lasers.]
D: We’ve got to fight off the entire planet!
Head of Unit!Master: All NATO unit defences co-ordinated, sir. Awaiting your command.
M [impatiently]: I don’t need him! Any second now we’ll have Time Lords to spare! [waves his hand] Take him out! Launch missiles!
Head of Unit!Master: Launch missiles!
Unit soldiers!Master: Missiles launching in three… two… one… zero.
[The missiles launch as the Vinvocci ship swoops in over the sea. Wilf struggles into a laser pod and sits down as Rossiter does the same.]
WM: Hey! [whistles to get Rossiter’s attention] How does this thing work?
R: The tracking’s automatic, just deploy the trigger on the joystick!
[Wilf starts violently as the machine begins moving beneath him!]
WM: Whoa! Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa! Wha-
[Missiles zoom in on the Vinvocci ship.]
A: We’ve got incoming!
R [wide-eyed and gibbering with fear]: Look at them, oh my God!
D: You two, open fire!
[The Doctor turns the ship wildly from left to right to avoid the missiles. Wilf exclaims as the controls move of their own accord.]
D [as they only just avoid being hit]: Open fire! [as Wilf begins firing] Come on, Wilf!
[One of Wilf’s shots hits a missile.]
WM: What? What?! Woo-hoo! Oh, I wish Donna could see me now!
Head of Unit!Master: Second wave, launch missiles!
Unit soldiers!Master: Yes, sir!
[A massive wave of missiles chases after the Vinvocci ship.]
D: Oh!
A: And there’s more! Sixteen of them!
[As the Doctor grimaces, Addams waves a hand in the air.]
A: Oh! And another sixteen!
D: Then go to the red gun lasers!
[Addams runs out of the room to do as he says.]
D: You two, open fire! [as Rossiter stares, open-mouthed] Now!
[Rossiter and Wilf begin shooting desperately as the Doctor veers the ship from side to side.
Addams is thrown from one side of the room to the other.]
D: No you don’t!
[He turns the ship upside down in a full circle as Addams screams. Wilf and Rossiter yell as they continue to fire. Rossiter remains terrified, while Wilf seems to be getting into the spirit of the moment.]
WM: Come on!
D: Come on! Fire!
[Two missiles crash into each other in front of the ship and the windows smash. Glass flies through the room and the Doctor tries to protect himself behind the steering mechanism.
Wilf and Rossiter, however, only notice that they have destroyed all of the missiles]
WM: Wow!
R: Yes!
D: Lock the navigation!
A: On to what?
D: England! The Naismith mansion!
Head of Unit!Master: He’s heading straight for you!
M: But too late! [stretching out his arms] They are coming!
[The Lord President walks up to the Time Lord who told him about the prophecy.]
LP: The vote is taken. Only two stand against – and will stand as monument to their shame like the weeping angels of old!
[Two Time Lords have their faces in their hands.]
LP: Now the vanguard stands prepared as the children of Gallifrey return to the Universe! To Earth!
[A bright white light envelops them and they are dragged through time and space. The space in front of the Immortality Gate also glows white and the Master laughs victoriously and in delight.
The Doctor is struggling to control the spaceship. ]
D: Destination?
A: Fifty clicks and rising. We’ve locked onto the house! We are going to stop, though? [and when he doesn’t reply] Doctor?! We are going to stop?
[The determined expression on his face suggests that he has no intention of stopping.
The Master is still laughing with joy as blurred figures come into view.]
M: Closer! And closer! And closer!
[Wilf struggles back into the control room of the ship.]
WM: Doctor? Doctor, you said you were gonna die!
A [horrified]: He said what?!
WM: But is that all of us! I won’t stop you, sir, but is this it?
[The Doctor doesn’t look as if he even heard, his expression bitter and sad as he flies the shaking ship. He looks as if he might be willing to fly the ship into the building in order to kill the Master and the Time Lords.
The Master stares into the white light, trying to make out the figures that are forming out of the brilliance.]
Joshua!Master [peering out of the window to see the Vinvocci ship approaching]: I think I should warn you…
M [waving at him impatiently]: Not now!
[At the very last second, the Doctor pulls the ship up out of the steep dive, so much so that Joshua!Master actually ducks for cover. The Doctor pulls up a covering from an exit to the ship and gets out the gun.
Then he looks at Wilf for a long moment before leaping out. He crashes through the glass. domed ceiling of the Naismith mansion and lands heavily on the floor between the Master and the Time Lords.
The Master had been covering his face, but looks down at the Doctor in utter disbelief and confusion.
The Doctor curls his fingers around the gun, wincing in agony, and then opens his eyes, raising his arm to aim at the Lord President, before the gun drops again and he almost faints, gasping for breath.]
LP [scornfully as he walks forward]: My Lord Doctor. [more lightly] My Lord Master. [as the Master looks from the Doctor to the President] We are gathered for the end.
[The Doctor is still panting for breath, looking up at him in obvious and utter agony and misery.
Meanwhile Addams has managed to grab hold of the controls and pulls the ship out of its steep climb. Wilf reaches for her hands, yelling over the sound of rushing air from the smashed windshield.]
WM: Just… just… turn it ‘round! Land it!
A [shaking head]: We are not going in there!
WM [desperately]: I am not leaving that man on his own – not today!
[Addams glances at him and he glares at her.]
WM: Land it!
[Addams looks at him once or twice before sharply jerking the controls to the right. Wilf closes his eyes as the engines whine.
Still breathing heavily, the Doctor struggles to get up. His face is cut and bleeding, and his suit is in tatters.]
D [desperately]: Listen to me! You can’t!
LP [spitting the words out]: It is a fitting paradox that our salvation comes at the hand of our most infamous child!
D [as the Master smiles in satisfaction]: Oh, he’s not saving you! Don’t you realize what he’s doing?
M [pointing accusingly at him, not wanting someone else to reveal his secret]: Hey, no, hey! That’s mine! Hush! [holds his index finger to his lips before spreading his hands out wide] Look around you. I’ve transplanted myself into every single human being. [as the various Masters turn to smile] Who wants a mongrel little species like them? Because now I can transplant myself into every single Time Lord.
[The Lord President takes a deep, unsteady breath.]
M [scornfully]: Oh, yes, Mr President, sir! Standing there all noble and resplendent and decrepit. Think how much better you’re gonna look as me!
[The President raises his left hand and the glove clicks loudly before staring to glow.
The smile vanishes from the Master’s face. The Lord President opens his hand, which glows blue, and all of the humans begin flicking their heads from side to side, as they did when they all became the Master.]
M [almost as if he’s having a childish temper tantrum]: No, don’t! No, no, no, stop it, no! No! No, no, no, don’t!
[He turns to glare at the Lord President, who is watching him calmly. In the Noble house, Sylvia and Shaun are also changing back, as are the members of Unit, the Chinese soldiers, and the President of the United States. Everyone stands and looks around them as they regain their normal appearances, clearly confused. The Doctor, still half-lying on the ground, looks around.]
LP [grimly]: On your knees, mankind!
[Everyone obediently drops to their knees, including Joshua and Abigail Naismith, who are holding on to each other in obvious fear.]
M [desperately]: That-that’s fine, that’s good, because you said salvation. I still saved you! Don’t forget that!
LP [as the world begins to shake]: The approach begins!
M [to the Doctor, almost like a small boy cheating in class]: The approach of what?
D [grimly, frightened, through clenched teeth]: Something is returning - don’t you ever listen? [as the Master looks from the Time Lords to the Doctor] That was the prophecy – not someone, something!
M [urgently]: What is it?
D [furious]: They’re not just bringing back the species. It’s Gallifrey! [as the Master’s eyes widen] Right here, right now!
[And in the space beside the Earth, the faint flickering of an orange planet begins, strengthening quickly into a massive solid ball, dwarfing its new neighbour.
The Earth shakes as a result, including the Noble home, where Shaun and Sylvia are standing.]
ST: Donna! Where’s Donna?
[As things begin to fall around them, Shaun grabs Sylvia’s hand and they rush out of the house to find that everyone else is doing the same, running and screaming and staring at the sky. Gallifrey is so close that it almost looks as if they could touch it. Shaun heads down the street.]
ST [anxiously]: Donna? Donna! Donna!
[Sylvia stands staring at the sky in fear.]
SN [murmuring as she brings her hands together almost in prayer]: Oh, Doctor, please!
[Wilf runs along the halls of the Naismith mansion as things begin to fall around him.
A [briskly moving to the controls of the ship]: We’re getting out of here! This whole planet’s gonna be knocked out of orbit!
R [shocked]: What about the Doctor?
A [sighing and shrugging]: Well, he said he was dying!
[She pulls the switch so that they can take off.
In the Naismith mansion, everyone is panicking and starting to run as the Lord President watches them. The Doctor is still sitting on the floor in pain, and the Master has fallen to his knees, although his face is alight with victory.]
M: Aha! I did this! I get the credit! I’m on your side!
[Everyone including the Naismiths run outside screaming and staring up at Gallifrey in the sky. Joshua drops to his knees, terror on his face, as Abigail clings to him for a moment before running away.
Wilf fights to get into the room where the Doctor is.]
WM: Go on, get out of the way, get out of the way!
[Someone is pounding loudly, trying to attract attention. The Doctor is on the floor and Wilf is about to go to him when he looks over to find a scientists in one of the radiation booths.]
Scientist: Let me out of here! Quick! Somebody, please!
WM: All right! I’ve got you, mate! I’ve got you!
D [looking up]: Wilf, don’t! Don’t!
[But Wilf doesn’t listen, stepping in to the box and hitting the button, which locks his door and frees the scientists, who runs out of the room. The Doctor drops his head helplessly, almost in tears.]
WM: I’ve got ya. Yeah.
[The world around them continues to shake violently. The Master turns his eyes to the Lord President, who is focusing on the sky they can see through the glass ceiling.]
M [attempting to be positive]: But this is fantastic, isn’t it?
[He looks down at the Doctor, who glares at him.]
M: The Time Lords restored!
D [bitterly]: You weren’t there in the final days of the war. You never saw what was born. But if the Time Lock’s broken then everything’s coming through, not just the Daleks, but the Star of Degradations, the Horde of Travesties, the Nightmare child, [the Master glances at the Lord President, who is breathing heavily as he looks at him] the Could-Have-Been-King with his Army of Meanwhiles and Never Weres – the war turning to Hell!
[As the Master stands staring at him, the Doctor raises his eyebrows.]
D: And that’s what you’ve opened. Right above the Earth. Hell is descending.
M [gladly]: My kind of world!
D [desperately]: Just listen! ‘Cause even the Time Lords can’t survive that!
LP: We will initiate the final sanction!
[The Doctor drops his head, as if starting to sob, despairing.]
LP [victoriously]: The end of time will come at my hand! The rupture will continue until it rips the time vortex apart!
M [sharply]: That’s suicide!
LP [his hands spread wide]: We will ascend! To become creatures of consciousness alone. Free of these bodies. [as the Doctor looks up at him bitterly, all of his hard work wasted] Free of time and cause and effect. And where creation itself ceases to be!
D [to the Master]: You see now? That’s what they planning in the final days of the war. [furiously] I had to stop them!
M [stepping forward, spreading his arms as he blinks tears out of his eyes]: Then – take me with you! Lord President, let me ascend into glory! [starts to fall to his knees]
LP [sneering]: You are diseased! Albeit a disease of our own making. No more!
[The Lord President raises his left hand and the glove in a gesture of threat as if he is about to destroy the Master.
A loud click breaks the silence as the Doctor releases the safety on the gun, his finger on the trigger, pointing the weapon at the Lord President.
Wilf stares at him through the glass wall of the chamber, his face horrified.]
LP [threateningly]: Choose your enemy well. We are many. The Master is but one.
M [smirking]: But he’s the President! Kill him and Gallifrey could be yours!
[The Doctor suddenly turns, aiming instead at the Master. The Lord President slowly lowers the glove.]
M [panicking, waving a hand]: He’s to blame, not me! Oh! [realising] The link is inside my head! Kill me, the link gets broken, they go back.
[The Doctor’s face tenses as if in agreement, as if about to pull the trigger. The Master shifts slightly, meeting his gaze.]
M: You never would, you coward!
[They stare at each other. The certainty on the Master’s face begins to falter. For the first time, he begins to look afraid.]
M [taunting]: Go on then. Do it!
[The Doctor’s finger shifts on the trigger. The Master’s frown relaxes and he swallows hard before suddenly shaking his head in a tiny subconscious act of fear.
The Doctor turns the gun back on the Lord President, who suddenly looks afraid.]
M [triumphantly]: Exactly! It’s not just me, it’s him! He’s the link! Kill him!
LP [sneering]: The final act of your life is murder! But of which one of us?
[The Doctor begins to fight for breath, clearly indecisive. Wilf watches helplessly through the glass. Then he glances to the side of where the Lord President is standing to one of the figures covering their faces in shame for having dissented. The woman slowly begins to reveal her face.
It is the same woman who has been talking to Wilf. The Doctor’s mask of anger and bitterness fades to one of sadness and regret as a tear slips down the woman’s face and her eyes travel between the Doctor and the Master.
The Doctor spins around again, the gun now aiming at the Master, who looks suddenly lost and terrified, shaking his head as if about to beg for his life. The Lord President’s eyes light up as if waiting for the shot. The woman behind him has her eyes fixed on the Doctor.]
D [growling angrily]: Get out of the way.
[The Master, tears in his eyes, glances behind him before suddenly realising what the Doctor is about to do. He half-smiles and then dives away to the left. The Doctor fires a shot into the machine that produces the link that brought the Time Lords to Earth, and the machine explodes in a ball of fire.]
D [triumphantly]: The link is broken! Back into the Time War, Rassilon! Back into Hell!
Visionary [echo]: Gallifrey falling! Gallifrey falls!
LP [bitter]: You die with me, Doctor!
[He raises the glove to destroy the man who has ruined his chance at immortality.]
D [calmly, waiting for the end]: I know.
[As the planet is pulled away, the wind begins to roar. The Doctor stares at the glove as the woman who made him change his mind once more covers her face. However even as power builds up in the glove, the Master stands up behind the Doctor.]
M [calmly, as he begins rubbing his hands together]: Get out of the way!
[The Doctor looks sharply over his shoulder and then, as the Master fires his first bolt of power, dives off to the right. The power hits the Lord President in the chest, just as it had done to the Doctor in the wasteland. The Lord President staggers back as the Master speaks.]
M [roaring]: You did this to me! All of my life! [as he fires another bolt of power] You made me! One! [his skeleton flickers into view and he fires off another bolt with each number he counts off] Two! Three! Four!
[The Doctor squints into the bright light as the Time Lords and the Master are dragged away into the whiteness and Gallifrey flickers and disappears.
Sylvia smiles in relief as it disappears, almost in tears.
Earth is alone and peaceful.
In the large room of the Naismith mansion, the Doctor lies on the floor, gasping for breath. He stares at the space where the Time Lords were in confusion.]
D: I’m alive! [struggles up onto his haunches, sobbing in disbelief] I’m still alive!
[Four knocks break the silence.
Devastation crosses the Doctor’s face as understanding finally hits.
The knocks, a hand on glass, are repeated, and, tears in his eyes, he sinks onto his haunches as Wilf knocks again before looking up at the man who will cause him to die.
Wilf waves weakly.]
WM: They gone then? Yeah, good-o. If you could, er, let me out.
[The Doctor nods sadly.]
D [softly]: Yeah.
WM [anxiously]: I mean, this thing seems to be making a bit of a noise.
D [hesitantly]: The Master… left the nuclear bolt running. It’s gone into overload.
WM: And that’s bad, is it?
D [lightly]: No. ‘Cause all the excess radiation gets vented [nods at the glass booth] inside there. [eyeing the boxes] Vinvocci glass contains it. All 500,000 rads about to flood that thing.
WM: Oh. Well, you’d better let me out then.
D: Except it’s gone critical.
[Wilf’s face falls.]
D: Touch one control and its floods. [takes out sonic screwdriver] Even this would set it off.
WM [helpessly]: I’m sorry. Look, just leave me.
D [smiling bitterly]: Okay, right then, I will. 'Cause you had to go in there, didn't you? You had to go and get stuck, oh yes! [realisation] 'Cause that's who you are, Wilfred. You were always this. Waiting for me, all this time.
WM: No, really, just leave me. I'm an old man, Doctor. I've had my time.
D [raging at fate]: Well, exactly, look at you. Not remotely important! But me? I could do so much more! So much more! But this is what I get. My reward. And it’s not fair!
[He shoves paper off the desk as he begins to cry, gasping for breath. His eyes fill with tears and he shakes his head and sighs.]
D: Oh… [heartbreakingly soft] Live too long.
WM [understanding what he’s going to do and desperate to prevent it]: No. No, no, please! Please don't. No! Don't! Don't! Please. Don't. Please.
[The Doctor has slowly crossed the floor to the box and now places his hand on the silver handle, gazing at Wilf.]
D: Wilfred, it's my honour. [looks up, wanting to get it over with] Better be quick! Three, two…]
[He opens the door and steps inside the booth, pressing the button that will release Wilf.]
D: One.
[Wilf rushes out as the light in the box holding the Doctor turns red and he groans, his eyes and jaw clenched with pain as he falls to his knees, one hand on the glass wall. He hisses and grunts with agony, slowly collapsing to the floor and covering his head with hands if he could ward it all off. He convulses with every sobbing breath.
Then suddenly the lights go off and the power dies. Wilf looks around him for a moment before turning his attention back to the Doctor, who remains motionless.
Then his fingers move, reaching for the floor.]
WM: Oh!
[As Wilf stares, the Doctor gradually pulls himself up into a sitting position.]
WM: What? [and then, as the familiar face of the Doctor turns to him] Hello.
D [hoarsely]: Hi.
WM [anxiously]: Still with us?
D [tiredly, as he gets to his feet]: System’s dead. I absorbed it all. Whole thing’s kaput. [presses door, which opens; he tilts head to the side in aggravation] Oh! Now it opens, yeah!
WM [hugely relieved]: Well, there we are then. Safe and sound. Mind you, you’re in a hell of a state. You’ve got some battle scars there.
[The Doctor buries his face in his hands, wiping his fingers down his skin, seeming to wipe himself clean of the injuries.]
WM: But they’ve… Your face! How did you do that?
[The Doctor studies his hands, which are now unmarked.]
D [softly]: It’s started.
[Wilf walks over and hugs him, beginning to sob. The Doctor merely looks helpless and so very sad and lonely.
Back at the Noble residence, Donna is unconscious, lying on the couch, covered with a blanket. Shaun is trying to wake her up.]
ST [frantically]: It’s no good. She’s freezing! How long was she lying out there? It’s like hypothermia. [takes a cup of tea from Sylvia] Try ‘em again.
SN: I did! Everyone’s dialling 9-9-9. I can’t get through!
ST [so worried]: But… we’ve gotta do something! We’ve gotta wake her up! [to Donna, anxiously] Donna? Can you hear me?
[The sound of the TARDIS materialisation sequence becomes audible in the background.]
ST: Donna?
[Sylvia looks around as the sound gets stronger, and Donna’s eyes open and she looks up. Shaun glances at Sylvia before looking back at his fiancée.]
ST: Donna? It’s me. I’m here. [smiles, so relieved] You’re safe. You’re home!
DN [faintly]: But… I was… What happened?
[Shaun and Sylvia exchange tiny, secretive smiles.]
DN [annoyed]: Did I miss something? Again?!
[Sylvia’s smile forms into a huge grin and she dashes out of the room. Shaun kisses Donna’s fingers, his love for her visible in his eyes.
Sylvia stops on the doorstep, staring at the spot where the TARDIS disappeared from several hours earlier. A dog barks in the background as she watches the door of the blue box open.
Wilf steps out into the street, followed by the Doctor. Wilf manages a wave at Sylvia, but they both look distinctly nervous.]
D [worried]: Oh. She’s smiling. As if today wasn’t bad enough…
WM [half-laugh]: Oh.
D [lightly]: Anyway… Don’t go thinking this is goodbye, Wilf. I’ll see you again. One more time.
WM [shaking head]: What do you mean? When’s that?
D [unable to bring himself to explain]: Just… keep looking. I’ll be there.
WM: Where’re you going?
[The Doctor swallows hard, glancing around before looking back at Wilf.]
D [faintly]: To get my reward.
[He steps into the TARDIS and closes the door.
A gun shoots sparks at a figure in black, who is running across a stretch of open ground. It’s Martha Jones, carrying a large gun, her hair in dreadlocks, clearly running for her life. She crosses a stretch of dirt, finally throwing herself behind a concrete block. Mickey Smith, also in black, loads a new cartridge into his gun as she appears.]
MS: I told you to stay behind!
MJ: Well, you looked like you needed help. [as Mickey scoffs] Besides, you’re the one who persuaded me to go freelance.
MS [scoffing]: Yeah, but… we’re being fired at by a Sontaran. A dumpling with a gun! And this is no place for a married woman!
MJ [laughing]: Well then… you shouldn’t have married me!
[They grin at each other, unaware that Sontaran Skorr, is watching them from a balcony behind them.
Skorr trains his gun on them and runs his tongue over his teeth in eager anticipation – before a metallic ‘whang’ sound heralds the arrival of a knock to his probic vent and he collapses.
The Doctor straightens up, the mallet from the TARDIS in his hand and an expression of extreme satisfaction on his face.
Unaware of the danger they have been saved from, Mickey and Martha are looking at a map.]
MS: If we go in here, and down to the factory floor, and down past that corridor, then it won’t know that we’re here.
[Meanwhile Martha has looked up in the direction of where the Sontaran had been standing.]
MJ [faintly]: Mickey. [seeing the Doctor standing there, staring at them] Mickey!
[He glances at her, then follows the direction of her gaze to the Doctor.
The Doctor is standing, watching them, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the mallet.]
MS [delighted]: Hey!
[They take several steps in his direction, but the Doctor simply nods a little and then turns, walking away. As the TARDIS is heard, Mickey pulls Martha into his arms. It is clear that, although they may not realize the full impact of what the sight of him means, they are both upset by it. Martha closes her eyes and Mickey presses a kiss to her head.
Luke Smith is strolling down the street, talking to Clyde on his mobile phone.]
LS: That was the maddest Christmas ever, Clyde! Mum still doesn’t know what happened! She got Mr Smith to put out this story saying that WiFi went mad all across the world, giving everyone hallucinations. I mean, how else are you going to explain it? Every one with a different face…
[He has begun to cross the road without looking and a car is barrelling down on him. Suddenly the Doctor swoops out of nowhere, dragging him back, out of danger.
Luke catches his breath and stares as the Doctor frowns at him.]
LS [shocked]: It’s you!
[The Doctor nods, looking as if there’s so much he wants to say, but he can’t make himself speak.]
LS: You’re…
[The Doctor walks away. Bags are visible under his eyes and he looks terribly tired and suddenly quite old, as well as desperately unhappy.]
LS: Mum.
[Luke carefully looks both ways before running across the street to where his mother is standing.]
LS: Mum!
SJS: What? What is it?
LS [gesturing back at the Doctor]: It’s him! It’s the Doctor!
[Sarah Jane does a double take, staring when she sees the TARDIS. The Doctor has walked over to it and unlocks the door, glancing back at her before he goes inside. She watches with tears in her eyes as he waves before stepping over the threshold.
A variety of creatures are gathered in a bar. The song playing is “My Angel Put The Devil In Me,” which was also heard in Daleks in Manhattan.
A Raxicoricofallipatorian strolls past two Hath having a conversation. A Judoon is sitting on one side of the bar and a Graske on the other. A Sycorax wanders past. An Adipose climbs up onto the bar itself and begins to wander along it, jumping over a glass.
The man sitting at the bar, Captain Jack Harkness, doesn’t look too surprised when the Adipose falls off, merely peering over at the sound of shattering glass to make sure it’s all right. A variety of other individuals chatting means that there is an undercurrent of noise when the bartender crosses to Jack and passes him a note.]
Bartender [tossing a thumb back over his shoulder]: From the man over there.
[The bartender moves aside so that Jack can see the Doctor standing at the far end of the bar.
Jack stares in obvious surprise. The Doctor nods at the note and Jack, still clearly confused, opens it. It reads: ‘His name is Alonso.’ Jack looks up again, totally bewildered now, and the Doctor nods at the space beside Jack. A man puts his hat on the bar and slumps onto the stool, looking as if he’s had enough.
Jack glances at the newcomer before looking back at the Doctor. The Doctor gives him a salute, which Jack returns, and then the Doctor wanders off. Jack turns to his new neighbour.]
JH: So, Alonzo…
[Alonzo stares at him in obvious astonishment.]
JH: Goin’ my way?
AF [flatly]: How d’you know my name?
JH [smiling, desperately trying to come up with a good explanation]: I’m kinda psychic.
AF [as Jack laughs]: Really? [after a pause while he eyes Jack] And what am I thinking right now?
JH [nods, still smiling]: Oh, yeah!
[Alonzo nods, a slow smile forming on his face. Jack laughs, perhaps in relief at his story being believed, and drains his glass.
A woman is sitting at a table in a bookshop, talking to someone as she signs a copy of her book for him.]
VN: No, it’s not just a story, no. Every word of it’s true. I found my great-grandmother’s diary in the loft. And she was a nurse in 1913 and she fell in love with this man called John Smith. Except he was a visitor from another world. [as the man in line endeavours to hide a smile] She fell in love with a man from the stars. And she… wrote it all down.
[She closes the signed copy of A Journal of Impossible Things and passes it across the table to him.]
Man: Thank you.
[Verity gets herself ready to sign the next book, which is put in front of her by a man in a brown coat.]
VN: And who’s it for?
D: The Doctor.
VN [as she signs]: ‘To the Doctor.’ Funny, that’s the name he used.
[She suddenly stops signing as she finishes her signature and realisation hits. She slowly looks up.
He is looking down at her, that terrible sadness still in his eyes.]
D [desperately]: Was she happy? In the end?
VN [after taking in a deep breath, as if unable to believe who she’s talking to]: Yes! [nodding] Yes, she was.
[They stare at each other for a moment. Perhaps the Doctor is seeing the features of the woman he loved in Verity’s face. Maybe she is wondering what it was about this man that made her great-grandmother fall in love with him.]
VN: Were you?
[The Doctor smiles sadly, his lower lip trembling a little, and he picks up the book without answering, walking away.
Church bells ring out and the camera pans down to show a group of people waiting on the church steps. Donna and Shaun come out, arm in arm, and Donna holds up her hand to show her wedding ring. Wilf kisses her cheek and then, laughing, also kisses Shaun, which makes everyone else laugh. Sylvia leans in to embrace her daughter, kissing her on both cheeks.]
WM: Everybody, three cheers! Hip hip…
All: Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
[Donna pulls the flower girl over as the photographer takes pictures.]
DN: Right then, come on then, you lot, this… [waving towards Nerys] Get in! This photo is just with friends! Come on [waving] and I want all of you in it. Come on, that’s it! Well, friends – and Nerys!
[She grins at Nerys, who is looking miserable, as everyone laughs.]
DN: Oh, I’m only joking! Oh, look at her!
Nerys [waving arm]: Well, you made me wear peach!
DN: That’s ‘cause you are a peach! Furry skin, stone inside, going off!
Photographer: Okay, smile!
[Everyone laughs and throws confetti. Wilf is standing beside Minnie, who turns to him.]
MH [hopefully]: How about it, Wilfred?
WM: Eh?
MH [sprinkling confetti in his hair, flirtingly, as Sylvia laughs]: Well, it’s never too late!
WM: Will you behave, Minnie? Honestly!
MH [cheekily]: I’m going to catch that bouquet!
WM [chuckling]: Dear, dear.
[Sylvia turns away and something catches her eye. The Doctor is standing in front of the TARDIS on the other side of the gate leading in to the churchyard.]
SN [whispering]: Dad.
[Wilf leads Sylvia across the short stretch of ground to where the Doctor is waiting.]
WM: Eh, here you are, hey? Same old face. Didn’t I tell you you’d be all right? Oh, they’ve arrested Mr Naismith. It was on the news. Crimes undisclosed. And his daughter. Both of ‘em locked up. Yep… but… I keep thinking, Doctor, there’s one thing you never told me. That woman – who was she?
[The Doctor looks from Wilf to Sylvia before swallowing hard as he glances at Donna, who is chatting to Nerys.]
D [as he reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket]: I just wanted to give you this. Wedding present. Thing is, I never carry money, so I just popped back in time. Borrowed a quid off a really lovely man. [looks at Sylvia] Geoffrey Noble, his name was.
[Sylvia’s eyes widen and then her hand goes to her mouth and she looks upset.]
D: Have it, he said. [smiling understandingly as he tears up] Have that on me.
[Wilf comforts her as she begins to tear up, mouthing ‘thank you’ at the Doctor, who gives them both a sympathetic look.]
Photographer: Smile!
[Sylvia and Wilf come over and give Donna the envelope the Doctor had given them.]
DN [taking envelope]: Oh, don’t tell me, it’s a bill! Just what I need right now! [looking up at them in scorn] A lottery ticket?
[Wilf and Sylvia look at each other in shock. Sylvia looks down at the ticket as if it’s going to attack them.]
DN: What a cheap present! Who was that? Still, you never know! It’s triple rollover this week. I might get lucky!
[She shoves the ticket down her front since there are clearly no pockets in her dress.]
DN: Oi, Shaun! Come on, we’re on a tight schedule. I was told soup at 2.30.
[Sylvia laughs silently and almost collapses into Wilf’s arms.
They both look excited as they turn back to where the Doctor is standing. They walk in his direction and, as Sylvia smiles sadly, Wilf stiffens to a salute and then the Doctor turns away. Wilf blows a half-kiss towards the TARDIS as he begins to tear up, realising that he’s not going to see the Doctor again.
Jackie and Rose Tyler are walking through falling snow in a square on the Powell Estate.]
RT: Too late now, I’ve missed it. Midnight. Mickey’s going to be calling me every minute. This is your fault!
JT [indignantly]: No, it is not! It’s Jimbo! He said he was gonna give us a lift and then he said his axle’s broke! I can’t help it!
RT: Get rid of him, Mum! He’s useless!
JT: Listen to you! With a mechanic! Be fair though. In my time of life, I’m not gonna do much better.
RT [rubbing her shoulder]: Don’t be like that. Never know, there could be someone out there.
JT [looking up into the sky]: Maybe. One day. [with a half smile, before suddenly smiling properly as she realises] Happy New Year!
RT: Happy New Year!
[They embrace warmly and then Rose pulls away.]
RT [pointing at her]: Don’t stay out all night!
JT [hurrying away]: Try and stop me!
[Rose strides through the snow, passing a shadowed area, where the Doctor is standing, watching her. He suddenly grimaces, a hand pressed to his head, and Rose turns.]
RT [concerned]: You all right, mate?
D [with an effort at sounding normal]: Yeah.
RT: Too much to drink?
D: Something like that.
RT: Maybe it’s time you went home.
D [dismissively]: Yeah.
RT [cheerfully]: Anyway, Happy New Year!
D: And you!
[She turns away to go inside. However he can’t completely let her go and calls after her.]
D: What year is this?
RT: Blimey, how much have you had?
[The Doctor shrugs dismissively.]
RT: 2005. January the first.
D [thoughtfully]: 2005. [as Rose nods impatiently, clearly feeling cold] Tell you what. [tearfully] I bet you’re gonna have a really great year!
RT [amused]: Yeah?
[He smiles.]
RT: See ya!
[She runs inside through the falling snow. The Doctor watches her go, still smiling, although tears are glistening in his eyes.
However he suddenly groans in pain and leans against the nearby wall. He staggers out of the shadow into the area beneath one of the lights, one hand on the wall as he tries to walk and get back to the TARDIS on the far side of the square. He sobs with pain as the world whirls around him, and finally collapses to the ground, his eyes clenched shut in agony. A song becomes audible and he looks up to see Ood Sigma standing in the snow.]
OS: We will sing to you, Doctor. The Universe will sing you to your sleep.
[The Doctor looks up at Ood Sigma, who replaces his translator ball, and the Ood song becomes even clearer. The Doctor struggles back to his feet and, with a visible effort, as the Ood back in the Elder’s cave raise their hands, struggles onwards to the TARDIS.]
OS: This song is ending, but the story never ends.
[His teeth clenched, the Doctor manages to get to the door of the TARDIS and unlocks it, stepping inside and leaning against the door he closes behind him. He gets up the ramp, supporting himself on the rails, and removes his duster, throwing it over a beam before looking at his right hand, which is glowing with the energy of regeneration.
He looks at it almost in wonder, his eyes filling with tears, before moving around, holding on to the console, as, for the last time, he sends the TARDIS off, staring up at the central core.
Looking like a lost child, he walks around the console.]
D [fearful, tears welling in his eyes]: I don’t wanna go.
[The regenerative energy intensifies, burning his face as he fights for breath, and as it increases, he begins to cry, before finally throwing his head back as the process of regeneration takes full effect. However the force of the change shoots flames through the TARDIS, which begins to break apart and burn. The Doctor finally closes his eyes, only to open them with a scream to greet his new face.
A massive explosion makes him spin around to stare at the interior of the TARDIS.]
D [grabbing his left thigh]: Legs! I’ve still got legs!
[He kisses his knee in thankfulness.]
D: Good. [as he frantically pats his chest] Arms! Hands! Ooh, fingers! Lots of fingers! [grabs his head and begins feeling all over his face] Ears! Yes, eyes, two. Nose. Ooh, I’ve had worse. Chin! Blimey! [as he grabs his hair] Hair! [as he grabs the hair at the nape of his neck, his voice rising to a squeak] I’m a girl!
D: [looking horrified] No! No! [as he feels his Adam’s apple] I’m not a girl!
[He pulls his forelock down so that he can see it.]
D: Oh, and still not ginger!
[He begins to look around in a hurried state.]
D: Something else – there was something else! Something – important I’m [beginning to tap his temples with his fingers] I’m – I’m –
[A massive explosion shakes the TARDIS. The Doctor looks up at the core of the ship with a delighted grin.]
D: Ha-ha! Crashing!
[As the burning TARDIS hurtles through space towards the Earth, the Doctor runs around wildly.]
D: Ha-ha! Wa-hoo! Woo hoo hoo! Ha! Geronimo!
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