Martha was about to get ready to go out, wondering where Jenny had got to and thinking someone else had deserted her but didn't want to waste the ticket Jenny had given her and she still needed to keep a close eye on the Doctor. She heard someone coming upstairs and opened the door to see Jenny standing on the landing, sniffing the air.
"Hey Jenny, wondered where you'd got to. Something wrong? Have you caught a cold?"
Jenny sniffed again. "Yeah I must have done. Where's Rose? Is she with Doctor Smith?"
Martha laughed, putting her coat on. "Where do you think she is? Honestly, she might as well go around with a sign on her. Are you coming to the dance?"
"You go ahead, I'll catch up. What you were saying the other night, about the stars, what did you mean?"
"Oh I wish I could tell you Jenny but I can't."
"I need you to tell me Martha, tell me now and tell me more about this Doctor Smith and Rose."
"You know Rose, she's your friend."
"Yes but Doctor Smith, you came with him, didn't you?"
Martha was getting just a bit suspicious.
"Jenny, where did you get to when Rose said you'd gone missing?"
"Nowhere, now tell me."
Martha had only one chance at getting past Jenny.
"Jenny, Rose is in our room, come inside."
Jenny brushed past her and Martha ran for the short staircase down on to the main landing, hearing Jenny behind her but the main staircase was at the other end so she chanced no-one would be coming back to their rooms and hurried down. Now she had to go find the Doctor and warn him and she didn't have time to see if he'd already given Rose the watch.
Timothy had seen the teacher go out with Rose, assuming he was taking her to the dance so he made sure no-one was looking and sneaked into John's room and picked up the watch, getting messages of 'Keep me safe' and 'Danger is coming' so he put it in his pocket and retreated to the corner under the stairs to decide what to do.
Jenny had leaned out of an upstairs window and was firing a strange looking weapon at her, Martha running towards the gate to warn Rose and John. Jenny then went to join the others, telling them the teacher had gone to the village dance and she had a ticket. They sent a message to Lucy, to watch for the teacher and she informed them he was already there.
John escorted Rose into the village hall, matron was already there despite her initial distaste for watching them dance together all evening, she'd found she couldn't stay away so as John found them a table, Rose sat down and Joan crossed over to sit with her after the first dance, Rose remarking how good a dancer he was.
"Why are you doing this Rose?"
"What?"
"Letting him show you off to the entire village."
"I'm sorry matron but that's his business if he wants to show me off."
"He's a lot older than you are Rose, he'll just hurt you."
John could see her talking to Rose but the woman who was serving the drinks didn't seem in a rush to get his as she was still talking to the woman in front of him so he was hopping up and down on one foot then the other.
Rose was about to answer and risk losing her job by telling her to keep out their business and back off but she saw Martha at the door, who'd had a run-in with an old soldier outside. Rose waved to her but then saw the look on her friends face.
"Martha, what's wrong?"
"Where is he?" she asked, looking around then spying him at the drinks table.
"Martha, should you even be here?" Joan asked indignantly, already annoyed Rose was even there and had dared to actually sit in public with John and already had one dance with him before getting a table.
John approached the table, seeing the other two women had joined Rose.
"Martha, matron, what are you doing?"
"Listen to me Doctor Smith, there is someone on their way here, they found us."
"Who has found us? What are you talking about Martha?"
She took the sonic screwdriver out of her pocket that she'd picked up from the Tardis earlier.
"You're not John Smith, you're called the Doctor."
"Yeah, he's Doctor Smith Martha, who else do ya think he is then?"
"Rose, you shouldn't even be here."
"Says you, what's the matter with you?"
"Yes Martha, like Rose said, she's every right to be here, just as much as you or matron have."
"I don't mean at the dance. Matron, have you noticed anything odd about them?"
"Whatever do you mean Martha?" Joan asked.
Martha knew she was wasting time here, Jenny would have known where she was heading and would have others with her.
"Doctor, you're not John Smith, you're just called the Doctor and you're from the future as is Rose. I'm sorry but don't you recognise this?"
John took the sonic from her and looked at it. "Rose, what is she talking about my love?"
"I've got no idea but whatever it is, Martha, I never thought you'd be this jealous of the fact he loves me, I think you'd better have a good excuse for this."
"You have to snap out of this Doctor, I'm sorry." She reached her hand out and slapped his face, making him gasp and Rose got up.
"What the hell you do that for?"
"You have to change back, where's the watch? Do you have it with you?"
Timothy had sneaked in and was sitting in the corner and had seen Martha slap the teacher and heard something about the watch, safely tucked in his pocket and thankfully staying quiet when all of a sudden, Jenny, Baines and Mr Clarke all burst into the hall and Mr Clarke fired a weapon.
"There will be silence!" he demanded.
Martha panicked. "Doctor, what I just said, forget about it."
"Forget what?" he asked, confused and taking Rose's hand.
Martha hid the sonic in her coat pocket quickly and hoped he would get the message to not reveal to them what she'd just told him.
"Mr Clarke, what is the meaning of this?" the host asked.
"I said there will be silence," he repeated as the other man disintegrated in front of everyone, to gasps from around the room.
Lucy had remained unnoticed in the far corner. It was Baines who spoke next.
"Where's Mr Smith?"
"Better than that," Lucy proclaimed, standing up. "He's the Doctor, I heard them talking."
"Oh but this is wonderful, he's hiding as a human with his little human girlfriend. Grab them both."
"No, wait, what about matron? Rose was jealous of her," Jenny added, grabbing hold of Rose, who was trying to keep hold of John's hand.
"Jenny, Mr Clarke, what's going on here? Let them go," John demanded as Rose's hand was torn away from him.
"We will, when you change back," Baines replied, his weapon pointed at John as Jenny and Mr Clarke held similar weapons at Rose and Joan.
"What about her?" Jenny asked.
"What happened to Jenny?" Martha asked.
"She is consumed, her body is mine though she went with precious little dignity, all that screaming, I should have chosen your form, you have spirit."
"Baines, what is the meaning of this?" John asked.
"He's no good to us like this, we need the Timelord." Jenny added, pushing Rose back into John's arms and him trying to catch her, then grabbing Martha.
"Change back or we will kill one of these."
"I have no idea what you are talking about Baines, change back to what, I'm as human as you are."
"They're not human," Martha informed him.
"What? Whoever you are, just what exactly do you want me to change into?"
"He's made himself an idiot," Jenny laughed.
"Same difference. We'll make it simple so even he can understand, change back to a Timelord or choose which one dies, your lover or one of your friends, your choice."
Timothy remained where he was after going to the window and seeing a bunch of scarecrows staring back at him. Everyone in the room was staring at the group of people, too scared to move after just seeing someone vanish in front of their eyes and people they knew being held hostage.
"I literally have no idea what you are talking about Baines."
"You have a decision to make, perhaps if we make the choice for you and kill your lover, it will break your heart enough for you to change back."
"Leave her alone."
Timothy could hear the watch calling to him and took it from his pocket and Baines turned around. It also distracted Jenny and Martha grabbed the weapon from her and fired it into the air, now holding onto her former captor.
"One more move and I kill her."
"She's too scared to do that," Baines scoffed.
"You wanna bet?" Martha replied.
"Be careful son of mine, this is all so you can live forever," Mr Clarke reminded him.
"Yeah, scared and holding a gun is a good combination," Rose butted in.
"Doctor, get Rose out of here and take the matron with you back to the school."
"What?"
"I mean you Doctor Smith, now. Get everyone out of the side door over there, do it now. You're rubbish as a human."
Rose decided to take charge, since they'd just ruined the biggest night of her life and she'd only had one dance with the man she loved.
"Everyone, out now, quickly," Rose reminded them, looking at John and wondering what they had meant.
Some began to move and others stayed where they were. Joan had released herself and began ushering people out.
Rose turned to John. "You too Doctor Smith, Rose, get him out of here," Martha urged her.
"Come on John, let's get out of here."
"But all I wanted to do was dance with you all night and to show everyone what you mean to me."
"I know John it doesn't matter, I know you love me."
She pulled him away and he followed, joining matron outside. Timothy saw his chance and headed for the front door and was about to head back to the school as Martha got away when she shot into the air again and joined Rose, Joan and John.
"Don't just stand there Doctor, get them back to the school."
"What about you Martha?" Rose asked.
"Don't worry about me, Rose, just get him back and find the watch."
"The fobwatch? What's that to do with all this?"
"I'll tell you when we get back to the school Rose now move, all of you." John hesitated. "I think you should escort Rose back to the school, don't you?"
Suddenly, John snapped out of it. What had he been thinking? He was so wrapped up because he'd wanted to show Rose off to everyone and now he was putting her in danger and all the whisperings he'd heard coming from the watch were coming true. Rose was smiling at him.
"Come on you, am I gonna have to start looking after you?"
They heard noises behind them and everyone ran, Martha colliding with Timothy.
"Where are you going?" she asked as he was running in the opposite direction.
"Anywhere except the school."
"Don't be daft, where will you go?"
He supposed she did have a point and if the watch had something to do with all this, maybe it could help but the watch was telling him the time was not yet right and to keep it safe. He ran after them and they burst into the school, John grabbing the bell at the bottom of the banister and began ringing it.
"Take arms, take arms!" he repeated, ringing the bell and the boys that were in their dorms running out and hanging over the railings and those who were roaming around running down the stairs.
"I say Sir, what's going on?" Hutchinson asked him as he reached the bottom step.
"Enemy at the door Hutchinson, enemy at the door, gather the boys and assemble in the courtyard and barricade the gate."
The headmaster came out to see what all the commotion was, saying they would all regret it and receive punishment.
"Doctor Smith, would you care to explain yourself?"
"Headmaster, all you need to know is there is an enemy about to invade the school. Baines and others from the village, they've gone mad and they have guns, they've already killed people."
The headmaster looked at matron and Rose, who he thought matron should know better than to get mixed up in this as he'd heard she was a rival for her assistant's object of affection but he'd chosen to let them just get on with it as long as it didn't interfere with their duties.
"Is this true matron, Rose?"
Joan spoke up first. "Yes sir, I'm afraid it is, I saw it myself, Mr Clarke from the village and Baines, they threatened Doctor Smith, said they'd follow him back to the school, it's all true, Rose was there."
"They threatened to kill us, if Doctor Smith didn't go with them," Rose agreed, wanting to just go to him.
"Very well, secure the school, Mr Snell, telephone for the police, we will build our defences. Boys, take up your positions in the courtyard. We will stand against them in the name of the king."
They hadn't seen Lucy sneak in before the boys had barricaded the inner courtyard gate and who was sending information back to the rest of the family.
"Sir they're just boys," Martha interrupted. "They don't stand a chance."
"They are doing what they are trained to do. Doctor Smith, keep your servant in place if you will. Mr Philips, come with me, we will investigate."
"But it's not safe out there," Martha pointed out. "I've got to find the watch. Rose, where is it? He said he was going to give it to you."
"How do you know that?"
"Never mind, we have to find it now. Are you going to help me or not?"
Rose looked at John and ran to his arms, she didn't care any longer who was watching them.
"How is all this happening John? It was supposed to be our night, the night we've been talking about."
"I know. I have to go with them my love, I'm sorry. Go with Martha and take the watch and keep it with you, stay out of harms way because I could never forgive myself if something were to happen to you. I know I should never have waited so long to tell you but I love you Rose, remember that."
She reached up and kissed him as boys ran around gathering all the rifles they could find and Martha could only watch, knowing it would all soon be over and he'd lose her again. She could at least let them have this private moment as she turned to the main staircase, no longer bothering she wasn't supposed to use it, it didn't matter now anyway.
John kissed Rose long and fiercely, Rose melting into him then finally released her.
"Be careful John and when this is over, it won't matter if anyone saw us. I love you."
Joan had also seen John kissing Rose, passionately and knew she could never mean that much to him now. She was going back to the infirmary but saw Martha running up the main staircase and followed her. John let Rose go after another brief kiss and she went to find Martha.
When John went out to the courtyard, the headmaster had come back on his own, claiming Baines had just killed his deputy.
"They've disconnected the telephone, we're on our own," John said quietly when told the deputy head had been killed by Baines.
He was even more worried now about Rose and for her safety but as far as he knew, no-one was in the school now though they had been earlier. Timothy had been dragged by Hutchison from his hiding place under the stairs but as he was about to feed ammunition into the 'Vickers' gun, he ran off, Hutchinson calling him a coward.
Baines and the others had been in the school, hauling boys in front of Lucy as she said one of them had the watch when she'd been roaming the corridors and he'd scared her away with the images from it when she'd asked what he was hiding. Timothy ran upstairs then suddenly opened the watch again and Baines dashed upstairs followed by the rest of the family but Timothy ran down the servants staircase and tried to hide again which was when Hutchinson had found him.
After the headmaster tried to reason with Baines and the rest of the family, the boys opened fire on the army of scarecrows until they were all on the ground. Mr Rocastle soon discovered they were not alive and Baines ordered him to send John out. While they had been in the courtyard, John not being able to bring himself to fire despite it could cost him and Rose their lives, Martha had been searching John's room for the watch, Rose looking at her.
They were joined by Joan.
"What are you two looking for?"
"His fobwatch."
"Well neither of you two should be in here, what is so important about it?"
Martha tried to explain the significance of the watch but Rose stared in disbelief.
"So, he's not really John Smith?"
"I'm sorry Rose, I did try to warn you he would be leaving but you didn't want to listen."
"He told me he loved me and he's not even a human?"
"We don't have time for this Rose, if you've got the watch, we have to get him to open it up and change back."
"I don't want him to change back, I want him."
"I'm sorry Rose but if he doesn't, we're all finished as the family will kill us all. If they get their hands on that watch, well I don't need to explain what will happen."
Joan had picked up his journal, seeing the last drawing he had made of Rose before they had gone out.
"He did love you Rose, we know that but he's not who you think he is, is he Martha? He found you employment here but it was to keep a close eye on him, wasn't it?"
"Yes, he became human to hide from the family and now, he's the only one who can stop them but he needs to change back."
"Why did he come here?" Rose asked, still not believing the man she loved wasn't even from this planet, let alone human.
"It was just random, he has this ship and the ship arranged it all. You should know that Rose."
"How would I know Martha?"
"I can't tell you, ask Doctor Smith when he changes back because I have no idea how you got here and I'm sorry Rose but you don't belong here."