The TARDIS landed with a thud, and the Doctor checked the monitor
"London, England, 1453, right next to the Blackfriars theater. Lovely!", he said with glee.
"OMG! Is Shakespeare alive? Can we go see him?", Donna asked.
"Not yet. But there's still plenty of entertainment. the Blackfriars theater actually preceded the Globe as the popular venue for actors. Shakespeare will perform some of his very first plays here in a couple decades."
"Alright, then let's go! I have always wanted to see Elizabethan England, with there funny collars and baggy trousers", Donna said with a laugh.
"Well then, Allons-y!"
"Oh hold on a sec. Mum always told me to pop to the loo before going anywhere. Do you need to go?"
-"Nope, not yet. Big Time Lord bladder. Only need the loo every few days, depending on how much I drink. You go on, I'll wait"
"K, thanks", Donna said hurrying down a corridor. She came back a bit later.
Excited to explore, Donna then walked to the door, ahead of the Doctor, but found the TARDIS door locked, with the ship giving a small shudder. Neither noticed.
"Doctor, the door's locked."
"What do you mean it's locked? It's never locked." The Doctor tried the handle, to no avail.
the TARDIS shuddered again this time strong enough for Donna to feel it. the TARDIS spoke telepathically to the Doctor: Aren't you forgetting something?
What'd you mean? Got my sonic, psychic paper, toothbrush, glasses. Everything. I'm all ready to go.' he thought back to her.
The TARDIS replied: That's not what I mean, and you know it.
The Doctor did know. I'm fine, he replied back to his ship.
'No you're not'
The Doctor replied back with more emphasis: 'I said, I'm fine.'
'You won't be later. You may have fooled Donna, but you're not fooling me.'
'I'll be fine, it's just a couple hours.'
'In Elizabethan England..', the TARDIS said as a counterargument
At this, the Doctor rolled his eyes in frustration.
By now, Donna knew all about the Doctor's telepathic link with the TARDIS. At this point, however, she wanted to know what was being said.
"What'd she say?"
"Nothing. She's just being stubborn". At this, the TARDIS shook indignantly.
"Why isn't she letting us out?", Donna asked.
The Doctor replied: "It's not you, it's me. She thinks I'm not ready to leave."
"Which I am!", the Doctor yelled at the TARDIS.
The TARDIS once again said 'no you're not.'
The Doctor crossed his arms in defiance.
"Why does she think you're not ready?"
"Doesn't matter."
' Really? It doesn't matter? I seem to recall it mattering quite a bit, last time you were in this era.', the TARDIS said.
She was referring to his trip to 1599 with Martha. He'd been needing to go back then too, quite badly, as well.
The Doctor remembered the discomfort well. He sighed in resignation.
'So? That was different. There were witches.', he spoke back to the TARDIS.
'Point is, you can't know how long you'll stay, and then you'll regret it. Again.', the TARDIS shot back at the Doctor.
'Come on. I'm not a child. I've got this, I promise. Only a quick wander, I'll make sure of it.' , The Doctor replied to the TARDIS. The TARDIS shook to show its skepticism
He really hated that the TARDIS was extorting him this way. He really didn't want Donna to know he needed the loo unless it was an emergency, which this wasn't even close to. He stood his ground.
"What's the problem? What does she want you to do?", Donna asked.
"Nothing."
Donna didn't fall for that again. "Doctor. What does she want?", she said, with a serious look on her face.
The Doctor blushed and proceeded to answer.
"She wants me to go to the loo. I've told her I don't need to go, but she doesn't believe me."
This made Donna curious. She wondered why the TARDIS didn't believe him.
She tried communicating with the TARDIS.
'why don't you believe him?', Donna asked.
' Because it's not true.' , the ship replied
Now Donna understood why the TARDIS was keeping the door locked. The Doctor didn't need it that bad and wanted to wait until after exploring 15th century London. She had to agree with the TARDIS, The Doctor was making a mistake.
"You know what Doctor? I don't believe you either", Donna said to the Doctor
The Doctor realized what the TARDIS must have told her. He still wouldn't give in. His pride was still more important.
"As I've already told the TARDIS, I'll be fine"
"No, you won't be. I'm starting to see why that song works on you. Come on Doctor, exploring on a full bladder won't be fun. There's no need to be embarrassed, it's a completely natural thing to do. It's alright Doctor, just go.", Donna said with her hands on his shoulders, looking at him with friendly eyes.
"It's not full… oh, nevermind. Alright then. Back in two ticks", The Doctor said, running towards a corridor.
"Don't forget to wash your hands!", Donna yelled jokingly after him.
"Always!", he yelled back with a giggle.
They both enjoyed an extra comfortable afternoon in old London, ending with dinner and a night at the newly opened inn, The Elephant.