We climb out of the moped, leaving our helmets inside the side car.
"Looks like we're about in central London. I can't quite get the year…" the Doctor trails off as we look around. We see a van and an older, heavyset man throws open the doors to his van. Two errand boys take out a television and carry it into a house. The house owner looks on.
"There you go, sir, all wired up for the great occasion." The older man says, proudly
"The great occasion? What d'you mean?" The Doctor asks, curious as we walk closer
"Where've you been living, out in the Colonies? Coronation, of course." Answers the man
"What Coronation's that, then?" The Doctor continues, still not sure where in time we are
"What d'you mean? The Coronation." The man answers, scathingly, as if it should be obvious.
The Doctor looks blank, turns to Rose for help.
"The Queen's." Rose answers, like it's obvious "Queen Elizabeth!"
"Oh! Oh, is this 1953?" The Doctor gasps
"Last time I looked. Time for a lovely bit of pomp and circumstance, what we do best." The man says, somewhat rudely
"Look at all the TV aerials... looks like everyone's got one." I say, pointing to the chimneys nearby
"That's weird, my nan said tellies were so rare they all had to pile into one house." Rose tells us with a frown
"Not round here, love. Magpie's Marvellous Tellies, only five quid a box." The man boasts, gesturing to his van
The Doctor has wandered a short way round the street, thinking. He suddenly cuts in, all smiles and energy.
"Oh but this is a brilliant year! Classic! Technicolour, Everest climbed, everything off the ration!" he pauses, before continuing with a typically BBC English accent "The Nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!"
Rose and I laugh. Suddenly, a woman's shouts are heard.
"Someone help me, please! Ted!" we look over and a man with a blanket over his head is being bundled into a black police car by two suited men. The Doctor, Rose and I run over.
"Leave him alone, it's my husband!" The woman continues, distressed
"What's going on?" The Doctor asks her
The blanketed man is pushed into the back seat as a young boy runs out of a house across the street. He's about 13, maybe 14.
"Oi, what are you doing?" he cries
One of the suited men addresses the Doctor.
"Police business, now get out of the way, sir!"
"Who did they take, do you know him?" Rose asks the boy
"Must be Mr Gallagher..." he answers, looking despairingly as the car drives off, leaving Mrs Gallagher in despair.
"It's happening all over the place. They're turning into monsters..." Tommy continues
A heavyset, mustached man storms out of the house the boy came from. "Tommy! Not one word!" he yells
Rose and the Doctor look at the man.
"Get inside now!" continues the man
"Sorry, I'd better do as he says..." apologizes the boy, Tommy, before running back to his house.
Mrs Gallagher is still sobbing, but the Doctor puts on his sunglasses again and runs over to the moped and kicks it into life.
"All aboard!" He yells and we pile in.
The black car hurtles round a corner. We come round the corner on the moped and stop short of the market stall.
"Lost 'em! How'd they get away from us?" The Doctor asks, confused
"Surprised they didn't turn back and arrest you for reckless driving, have you actually passed your test?" Rose pants, and I am still catching my breath from The Doctor's driving skills.
"Men in black? Vanishing police cars? This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia!" The Doctor snorts, not listening to Rose
"Monsters, that boy said..." I murmured, picturing him. "Tommy."
The Doctor and Rose both turn to look at me.
Rose's eyes gleam with something, perhaps amusement.
"Maybe we should go and ask the neighbors." Rose suggests
"That's what I like about you. The domestic approach." The Doctor sweetly compliments
"Thank you..."smiles Rose. She thinks about it as the Doctor kicks the moped back into life "Hold on, was that an insult...?"
But we're off again.
We speed back to the street where Tommy lives and park.
"Doctor, perhaps we should decide on what our covers are before we knock on anyone's door?" Suggests Rose
"It's fine as I said I make it up brilliantly!"
"but-" he rings the doorbell to Tommy's house
Tommy's father answers the door.
"Hiiiiii!" The three of us chorus
The man regards us suspiciously, as Tommy lurks in the background. "Who are you, then?" he asks, gruffly
"Let's see then, judging by the look of you, family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war, therefore, I represent Queen and country!" The Doctor holds up the psychic paper with a flourish. "Just doing a little check of Her Majesty's forthcoming subjects for the great day. Don't mind if I come in? Nah, didn't think you did, thank you!" He barges past the man before he can protest while Rose and I follow suit. We all go into the living room.
"Not bad, very nice! Very well kept! I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs...?" The Doctor continues his loud act
"Connolly." Murmurs the mousy woman
"Now then Rita, I can handle this. This gentleman's a proper representative!" grins the man
The Doctor gives Rita, who looks terrified, a wink. Rose perches herself on the arm of a chair. I keep trying to get to Tommy to ask him about the 'mosnters' but the man keeps blocking my path.
"Don't mind the wife, she rattles on a bit." He dismisses Rita
"Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more." The Doctor responds, slightly rudely.
Tommy and Eddie both look shocked. The Doctor continues, unfazed.
"I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty." He glances briefly at the flags around the room, waiting to be put up. "Nice flags. Why are they not flying?"
"There we are Rita, I told you, get them up, Queen and country!" the man chastises his wife
The Doctor looks skeptical, and begins to move over to the man.
"I'm sorry..." Rita murmurs, looking scared
"Get it done! Do it now." The man yells and I glare at him
"Hold on a minute..." The Doctor starts
"Like the gentleman says." The man continues at his cowering wife
"Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mr Connolly. Two big hands! Why is that your wife's job?" The Doctor asks
"It's housework, innit?" Mr. Connolly responds, eyes narrowed
"And that's a woman's job?" Rose double checks
"Course it is!" admonishes Mr. Connolly
"Mr Connolly, what gender is the Queen?" The Doctor asks him
"She's a female." Answers Mr. Connolly, growing increasingly defensive
"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" finishes the Doctor
A small smile grows on Tommy's face as he watches the Doctor win the confrontation, as Mr. Connolly inevitably gives in to logic after a hesitation. Even Rita seems a little heartened by her husband's humiliation.
"No! Not at all!" gasps Mr. Connolly.
The Doctor hands Eddie a string of flags, giving him an insistent stare. "Then get busy." The Doctor growls
"Right, yes sir." Mr. Connolly sets about hanging the flags, feigning enthusiasm. Neither the Doctor, Tommy or Rose seem fooled.
"You'll be proud of us, sir! We'll have Union Jacks left, right and center!" he exclaims
Rose suddenly rises, hands on hips, as the Doctor slowly paces back across the room. I use this excuse to edge towards Tommy
"'Scuse me, Mr Connolly, hang on a minute! Union Jacks?" Rose questions
Mr. Connolly, pausing in his work to look at her, responds "Yes, that's right, isn't it?"
"That's the Union Flag. It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea." Rose says, sounding quite annoyed
Tommy's smile grows into a grin, causing his dimples to show, as Mr. Connolly tries to humble himself.
"Oh... oh, I'm sorry, I do apologize!"
"Well, don't get it wrong again, there's a good man." She grins widely "Now get to it!" she adds
Eddie hastily gets back to work, and Rose gives the Doctor a coy smile. Even he looks slightly bewildered. Rose and the Doctor both sit on the sofa, making themselves comfortable and grinning.
"Right then! Nice and comfy, at Her Majesty's leisure!" The Doctor announces, motioning forme to come sit between them and as I to, he leans over to Rose "Union Flag?" he whispers
"Mum went out with a sailor." Hisses Rose
"Oohohohoo! I bet she did!" chortles the Doctor, quietly
"Anyway, I'm the Doctor, this is Rose, this is Wolfe and you are?" He looks at Tommy, who seems surprised to be noticed.
"Tommy." He answers and we shift aside, making a space for Tommy to sit in between The Doctor and I.
"Well, sit yourself down, Tommy."
The Doctor the other chair, motioning for Rita to sit too. They all look at the television.
"Have a look at this. I love telly, don't you?" I smile at Tommy,
"Yeah, I think it's brilliant!" Tommy grins
"Good man!" The Doctor says
We watch the programme, apparently about fossils, silently for a few moments before the Doctor turns around to check on Mr. Connolly, who is still hanging the flags.
"Keep working Mr C!"
Suddenly, he turns to Rita, dropping the cheerful act and speaking quietly, so that Mr. Connolly does not hear.
"Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong?" he murmurs
"Did you say you were a doctor?" Rita asks, worried
"Yes I am." He answers
"Can you help her?" asks Rita, tears in her voice "Oh please, can you help her, Doctor?" Mr. Connolly overhears this last part of the conversation, and interrupts.
"Now then Rita, I don't think the gentleman needs to know..." he starts
"No, the gentleman does!" The Doctor interrupts him
Rita begins to cry, and Rose moves forward on her seat to address her.
"Tell us what's wrong, and we can help."
Rita's sobs grow louder, and she just shakes her head helplessly. Rose goes over and wraps a comforting arm around her, and the Doctor watches with a concerned frown.
"I'm sorry, come on, come on..." Murmurs Rose
"Hold on a minute!" cries Mr. Connolly "Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house!" He looks down at the flags in his hands, chucking them down. The Doctor props his head on his forearm and balled fist, appearing calm but giving the distinct impression that he's restraining himself.
"What the... what the hell am I doing? Now you listen here, Doctor! You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business!" Mr. Connolly yells
"All the people are being bundled into..." The Doctor starts
"I am talking!" Shouts Mr. Connolly
The Doctor stands, raising his voice even louder than Mr. Connolly's and literally spitting in his face as he looms over him.
"And I'm not listening! Now you, Mr Connolly, are staring into a deep, dark PIT of trouble if you don't let me help."
I have never seen the Doctor so angry, and Mr. Connolly is clearly shaken, and both Tommy and Rita look scared again, unsure how to react. Rose still holds onto Rita, giving her reassurance.
"So I'm ordering you, sir, to tell me what's going on!" Continues the Doctor, still yelling
Mr. Connolly tries to think of something to say, but is stopped by the sound of banging coming from upstairs. His eyes and the Doctor's roll upwards, Tommy looks around nervously, and Rita sighs and shakes her head. I look up in confusion
"She won't stop." Mr. Connolly says, sounding scared
The banging continues, louder this time.
"She never stops."
Tommy looks terrified so I go over and gently put my hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, Tommy finds the confidence to explain in a slightly shaky voice, and the Doctor turns to regard him. As he speaks, Rita looks upset and embarrassed, and Eddie guiltily tries to regain some composure.
"We started hearing stories, all round the place. People who've... changed. Families keeping it secret 'cause they were scared. The police started finding out. We don't know how, no one does. They just... turn up, come to the door and take 'em. Any time of the day or night." Tommy swallows awkwardly
"Show us." The Doctor tells him
Tommy leads Rose, The Doctor and I upstairs. He goes to an old wooden door and opens it, the door creaking loudly as he does. Tommy peeks around it cautiously.
"Gran? It's Tommy." He opens the door wider, allowing us see inside the darkened room. "'S all right Gran, I've brought help."
His Gran is standing by the window, a silhouette moving slowly towards them. Tommy steps a little further inside the room. He turns on the light, and we see that she has no face, all the features are gone, and it is smoothed over. Rose gulps, and the Doctor simply stares with a furrowed brow. The Doctor peers at the blank face. Rose stands near him, Tommy and Rita are close together behind the Doctor, and Mr. Connolly remains completely outside of the room with a grim expression.