CHAPTER 7: CHARLIE CHAPLIN
A being with curly, blonde hair and a monstrosity of colours for a coat walked out of what appeared to be a 1950s London police telephone box, stepping onto the set of a film. He was quickly followed by a short girl with curly red hair, a pink top and black skirt.
"Where are we, Doctor?" the girl asked the man in the mismatched coat.
"I'm afraid, Mel, it appears we've stumbled onto the set of a film, while it's being recorded." The Doctor responded.
"A film? What year is it, Doctor?" Mel enquired
"Not too sure, the TARDIS navigation circuit has stopped giving me readings recently. However, that face over there should give you an idea." The Doctor stated, nodding his head towards a man in a bowler hat, with a sophisticated moustache and suit.
"Charlie Chaplin?" Mel questioned, awaiting The Doctor's confirmation.
"Indeed, Mel. We're currently off camera so the film roll will not be affected if we sneak off to the side when they change the angle, come on." He began to walk away from the film set, before noticing a small shimmer on Charlie, like the shine from recently applied nail varnish. The shine quickly disappeared, though, this puzzled The Doctor's mind.
"Did you see that?" The Doctor asked Mel, hoping she caught it, too.
"See what?" Mel questioned, unsure of what The Doctor had noticed.
"Charlie Chaplin." The Doctor began. "He had a shimmer for a split second, like a shine. You know when you apply nail varnish and your nails reflect light easier than usual?" The Doctor continued. "It was like that shine, but just for a split second. I have absolutely no idea what could have caused it. A time scoop would have been far more obvious."
Mel simply nodded; confused by what The Doctor was explaining, but unsure she wanted to hear him muttering on about time scoops and shimmers.
At that moment there was a loud gasp from the cast and crew of the film.
"John's gone missing, sir!" called one of the cameramen. "Charlie, did you notice that?" He asked the film star.
Meanwhile, in a room, dimly lit with red lights, that seemed to not fit into any time period, a voice yelled "Drat! I missed the target! At least I have the companion in my grasp; that should convince The Doctor to find me."
Back on Earth The Doctor had noticed both disappearances, unsure of how significant John was, but he knew his companion was important to him.
"Oh no, you don't!" The Timelord called to the sky "I've already felt the loss of Peri, albeit fake, however, I shall not let loss happen again!" He stepped back into his machine, and attempted to track his companion. "Whoever you may be." The TARDIS began to wheeze and groan, as it drifted into the cosmos, in search of the two that had vanished.
