TW: Yes.
Guest 1 and 2: It was a temporary thing.
An apartment complex is shown as the recording opens. Inside, a group of teenage boys are shown walking down a corridor and an elderly woman pushes the lift button. It opens and she gets inside. In one of the flats, a young boy, George is frightened by the sound of the lift. He argues with his mother, who tells him to go to bed as she will be late for work. George tells her he doesn't like it and his mother asks what they do with things they don't like. They say together to put them in the cupboard.
"Cute kid," Mickey mentioned.
"But knowing these recordings, something's about to happen to that kid," Jack noted and Martha and Donna both looked concerned.
"Not exactly," Jane mentioned and they all looked at her in confusion. "Just keeping watching."
George says his mother has to do the thing. Exasperated, she walks over to the light switch and turns it off and on four times. He says she has to do it five times and, with a smile, she does it once more. George then begins whispering 'please save me from the monsters'.
"Monsters?" Wilf asked wearily.
"I'd say it's a child's imagination, but knowing these recordings…" Martha trailed off uneasily.
"Children see more than we think," Jack said as he narrowed his eyes.
"So there are monsters," Mickey said as a statement rather than a question.
"Brilliant," Donna muttered as they watched, worried for George.
A shot of a planetary system is shown before George opens his eyes. His mother asks him if he was alright and he lies down in bed. She tells him there's nothing to be scared of as she tucks him in. She kisses him goodnight before heading out of the room, leaving the door cracked. In the sitting room, a man asks how George is and George's mother says he's in bed. George fearfully turns on a flashlight, which he shines on the cupboard. The man says he's worried about George being terrified all the time and George's mother says he needs help. The father says he has them but his wife argues that he needs a doctor. George is listening and gets a terrified look on his face.
"He seems oddly terrified by the talk of a doctor," Jack noted.
"And apparently he's scared all the time, of everything. Maybe that has something to do with these monsters," Martha mused.
"Always seems to be the case," Donna muttered.
George's prayer is heard as flashes of various galaxies are seen until the TARDIS is shown in space. Inside, The Doctor is standing at the console while Amy and Rory are drinking hot coca. The Doctor turns around and pulls out his psychic paper, repeating George's prayer. Amy and Rory look at him oddly as The Doctor dances around the console, saying he hasn't done this in a while. Amy asks what he's doing as The Doctor fiddles with the console and says making a house call.
"Did The Doctor just get a message from George on his psychic paper?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"That shouldn't be possible," Jack said in shock.
"I know we joke about impossible not mattering when it comes to The Doctor but…" Martha trailed off, not having the words.
"Perhaps George is no ordinary boy," Wilf mused.
"Maybe," Mickey muttered, not sure what to make of this.
The TARDIS materializes on a street. Amy and Rory get out, looking around and Rory mentions that they can get a bus somewhere like this. The Doctor steps out as Amy mentions they can't all be planets and history. The Doctor disagrees, saying that's what they do as the walk up to the apartment complex. The Doctor pulls out his screwdriver, turning it on as he explains they're answering a call for help from the scariest place in the universe: a child's bedroom. In George's room, he fearfully shines the light on the cupboard, panting fearfully. Outside his window, a woman walks by with a bin, the wheels squeaking. George puts his blanket over his face as the woman passes. The Doctor, Amy and Rory walked through the gate of the complex.
"Well, they're here now to help," Wilf muttered.
"Yeah, but what are they walking into?" Mickey wondered and no one had an answer.
Later, The Doctor explains he received a message on his psychic paper. Amy says it's like something a kid would say and The Doctor agrees, noting it was sent by 'a very scared kid' that's cry for help somehow got through to them on the TARDIS. Amy asks if he traced it there and he says he did before the lift opens up. The Doctor walks onto it and, exchanging a glance, Amy and Rory follow. In George's apartment, his father is sitting in the sitting room, the TV on as he looks at photos of George, who looks much happier. George fearfully shines his light on the cupboard.
"So he wasn't always this scared," Donna mused.
"Judging by that last picture, whatever's making him scared happened recently," Jack noted.
"Could it be some kind of alien?" Wilf wondered.
"There are a few aliens I know that feed off fear, but causing it? That's a new one," Jack muttered, still not sure what was going on.
Amy, Rory and The Doctor all knock on a different apartment. The doors open, Amy gets a little girl, The Doctor the old woman from earlier, and Rory a man. Amy asks if the girl's parents are open and the girl opens the door wider, revealing a second, identical girl. The old woman asks if this about the bins, confusing The Doctor. Rory tells the man he's from community support as the girl's mother walks up, asking if she can help Amy. Amy and Rory inquire if there have been any problems as The old woman clarifies to The Doctor she uses bins to get up and down the stairs for her knees. The woman asks what Amy means as Rory asks if the neighbors are nice. But the man he's disturbed is the landlord as the woman asks Amy if 'he' sent her.
"And just Rory's luck that he gets the landlord," Jack said, not certain whether to laugh or feel pity for Rory.
"Those kids, what is this, a horror movie?" Donna asked. "And who's he?"
"I guess we'll find out," Martha muttered as the recording continued.
The old woman introduces herself as Mrs. Rossiter as the landlord becomes suspicious of Rory. The Doctor asks Mrs. Rossiter if he can come in as the Landlord's bulldog growls at Rory, making him jump. Mrs. Rossiter refuses to let The Doctor in and he, Amy and Rory all have the doors slammed in their faces.
"Well that could have gone better," Mickey mentioned.
"Considering their luck, it went as well as expected," Jack said with a shrug.
George has managed to fall asleep when he hears a metal clang from outside his window. He gets up, opening his curtains slightly as Amy and Rory walk passed his window. Amy says they need to find the kid and Rory jokes about letting the monsters eat him. George fearfully closes the curtains.
"Not the time to joke Rory," Martha said in exasperation as Donna groaned.
"Given everything that's happened recently, you'd think Rory wouldn't joke about that," Wilf said appalled.1
"Yeah, that was weird," Jane agreed.
George opens his curtains again, fearfully looking outside. On a higher level, The Doctor is walking by when he looks down, seeing George as Amy and Rory pass by. George closes the curtain again as The Doctor eyes the window curiously. The Doctor meets up with Amy and Rory, saying he's had no luck. Rory asks what they're looking for and The Doctor says a scared skid. Amy says she found scary kids but The Doctor dismisses this. He tells them to try the next floor down before walking off, to Amy and Rory's disbelief.
"He's going after George," Donna noted unsurprised.
"It was pure luck that he saw George at that moment. But it helps, so here we are," Jack shrugged.
As they head onto the lift, Rory suggests the message was junk mail. In his room, George is still shining the light on the cupboard when he sees a shadow, terrifying him. As Rory pushes the button to go down, the door slams shut and the lift begins heading down at high speed. They scream before the lift stops. The doors open and the lights come on, revealing it's empty.
"What the bloody Hell just happened?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared, not quite sure what they just saw.
"My best guess, Amy and Rory were teleported somewhere," Jack noted.
"At the same time George was shown getting scared. Is it possible that George is connected to these monsters?" Martha wondered.
"There are more than a few aliens throughout the universe that can develop a psychic link with a human like Prisoner Zero, but what could cause that, I don't know," Jack said, really wishing things would start to make sense soon.
The Doctor is walking down the hall where he saw George and knocks on the door. George's father opens the door and The Doctor takes out his psychic paper to pass himself off as a social worker. George's father makes a remark that it was quick as his wife, Claire, had said she was planning on phoning social services. George's father notes it's not easy to admit when your kid has a problem.
"He's not wrong," Jack mused, thinking of similar instances when Alice had been growing up and arguing with Lucia on how to handle it.
"Being a parent, the hardest thing to do is admitting when you don't have all the answers," Wilf said wisely.
The Doctor introduces himself, asking for George's father's name and he introduces himself as Alex. They shake hands before The Doctor enters the apartment, asking to be told about George as he looks at a door with a tag that reads 'George's room'. George is still shining a light on his cupboard as, outside the building, Mrs. Rossiter limps towards a dumpster, holding a trash bag. She throws it next to the other trash bags outside the dumpster, complaining about the mess before beginning to head back into the building. Hearing a rustle of the trash bags, she turns back around, thinking it's someone trying to scare her. Thinking its George, she threatens to tell his parents as she puts her hands on top the trash bag. Something seems to grab her and Mrs. Rossiter screams as she's dragged into the trash bags.
"I'm guessing those were George's monsters," Jack mused as the other past viewers stared, startled.
"Did you notice it took her only after she threatened George? Maybe whatever it is has grown attached to George," Martha mused.
"Wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened," Jack mentioned.
"So what's doing this is a guard dog for George and whatever makes him scared?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"Brilliant," Mickey said sarcastically.
In the apartment, Alex is telling The Doctor about George as The Doctor looks through family photos. The Doctor asks how old George is and Alex says he'll be 8 in January. Alex asks if George should have grown out of this by now and The Doctor closes the scrapbook, asking if it's gotten worse lately. Alex explains George started getting a nervous tick when he and Claire started talking about sending him somewhere to get help and it's gotten out of control since then and now George is scared of everything. The Doctor explains this is called pantophobia, which he clarifies means fear of everything, not fear of pants. Alex explains everything George is scared of before sighing, saying he's not an expert and hopes The Doctor can help George. The Doctor promises to do his best.
"Your best is good enough Doctor," Wilf said certainly.
"Usually. But there are things even The Doctor can't handle. Let's just hope this isn't one of them," Jack said as they all watched the screen uneasily.
Rory wakes up to find himself in a dark room with little light in it. He calls out to Amy, who is a few feet away, stirring. They sit up and Rory turns on a flashlight so they can see each other. Rory asks if Amy is oaky and she says she is. They both agree they were in the lift and Rory groans, thinking the lift fell and they're dead. Amy tells him to shut up, grabbing him by the hand and making him stand up, suggesting they find where they were. They begin walking and Rory suggests the TARDIS may have 'gone funny' again. Rory believes they're stuck in the past, suggesting this is the 1700s. Amy sarcastically cheers, calling it her favorite year. Unnoticed by them, a dark figure walks further back.
"On the bright side, they're alive," Mickey noted.
"On the down side, they're trapped somewhere with no light and something is there with them," Donna grumbled as the unease grew in the room.
"Be careful you two," Wilf almost whispered.
In George's room, George is still shining a light on his cupboard when he hears a noise that scares him. His bed seems to rock and a lamp on George's nightstand falls to the floor. Alex rushes in at the sound, worried. Seeing the lamp, Alex picks it up and places it back on the nightstand, asking if George had a nightmare. George argues that he didn't have a nightmare because he wasn't sleep. The Doctor walks into the room and George asks who he is. The Doctor introduces himself and George fearfully asks if he's come to take him away. The Doctor assures him he just wants to talk about the monsters. George stares at him in surprise.
"He somehow always knows the right thing to say to kids," Donna said with a smile.
"Well, he was a father before all this," Jack noted and the mood plummeted as they all took a moment to realize what The Doctor had lost in the Time War.
"If only he had that skill with adults," Martha said with a slight smile.
Amy and Rory enter a dark room. They look around, realizing it's a flat. Rory is startled by a noise behind him but its only Amy, who has accidently knocked over a fireplace poker. She awkwardly says the place is a bit neglected. Rory suggests they find the front door so they can find where and when they are. Amy finds something on the kitchen table, calling Rory's attention to it. Rory turns, shinning the light to find Amy holding a copper pan. But Amy knocks on it and it makes a hollow sound. Amy reveals it's not copper, but wood painted to look copper. Rory calls this stupid and they look around with the light when Amy sees something. She walks over to a lantern on the counter. She flips a switch and it lights up.
"Well at least they have light now," Martha noted. "Although they're clearly not back in time."
"So where are they?" Mickey wondered.
"Can we go back to the wooden pan?" Donna asked.
"It's a bit odd. Why would someone paint a wooden pan to look copper?" Wilf mused but no one had an answer.
"It is very strange," Jack agreed as he narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of it.
Rory notes they're not in the 1700s and they continue looking around, now with a greater light source. Amy opens a drawer and the two jump back as they see a large human eye inside.
"Bloody Hell!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers all stare horrified.
"Relax, it's not what you think," Jane quickly assures them.
Amy hesitantly reaches inside and feels it. A squeaking sound is heard and they realize it's a glass eye. Amy and Rory look down at the light, which is flashing. Rory says it's not him doing it before it stops. They look down at the light before agreeing to keep moving, Amy grabbing the lantern. Before they head out, Amy grabs the wooden pan.
"A glass eye, lights flickering and something following them. Oi, this has horror movie written all over it," Mickey groaned.
"Hate to say you're right, but you just might be," Jack narrowed his eyes, wondering what on earth was going on.
In George's room, Alex explains he and Claire thought George might have become frightened from things he saw on the telly or things he was reading as The Doctor toys with a Rubik Cube. The Doctor says it was a bad idea to not let George watch the Telly and asks George if he likes reading. George nods and The Doctor begins telling him some of his favorite bedtime stories. George and Alex look at The Doctor oddly as he tosses the Rubik Cube away, calling it broken.
"I don't think they've ever heard of those stories Spaceman," Donna said her lips twitching in amusement.
"He doesn't even try to blend in anymore," Mickey said with a laugh.
Alex picks it up as The Doctor suggests they put it away. He asks George if they should put it in the cupboard and George quickly becomes terrified. The Doctor takes note of this and Alex explains anything that frightens George they put in the cupboard. The Doctor asks if that's where the monsters go and George stares up at him. The Doctor moves towards the cupboard, telling George he doesn't need to be scared of it. George buries his face in his blankets as The Doctor moves to open the cupboard. Just before he can, there's a knock at the front door.
"Blimey!" Mickey exclaimed as they all jumped, startled at the unexpected noise.
"The great defender of earth everyone," Jack said sarcastically.
"Oh like you didn't get startled," Mickey shot back and Jack shrugged.
They all jump and Alex sighs, saying it's the front door before going to answer it. Elsewhere, Amy and Rory are making their way down a dark corridor. Rory proposes they go right and Amy agrees. As they head right, neither notices a dark figure watching them.
"And that thing is still after them," Martha muttered as they all watched, worried for Amy and Rory.
At the flat, Alex opens the front door to reveal the landlord standing outside with his bulldog. He enters the flat and he and Alex make some small talk. The Doctor and George listen from George's room as George sits up in bed. Alex tries to tell the landlord it's not a good time but the landlord says rent is due. From his bed, George stares out the cracked door at the bulldog uneasily. Seeing George is frightened, The Doctor pulls out his screwdriver and turns it on. Curious by the noise it makes, George asks if it's a torch. The Doctor explains it's a screwdriver, sitting down next to George as Alex tries to bargain with the landlord. The Doctor says it can do other stuff to and George asks if he can see some of the other stuff. The Doctor says he can, using it to make some of George's toys move of their own accord, to George's awe.
"He really is great with kids," Martha said with a smile, beginning to get a picture of what The Doctor had been like as a father.
Outside, the bulldog growls at the noise and the landlord reprimands him; pointedly looking at Alex as he says he doesn't meant to upset him. Alex agrees, looking back at George's room. The landlord says he knows about his reputation but he's not as daft as he looks.
"No, you're just a bully," Donna said in disgust.
"Men like him always are," Martha said, likewise disgusted.
"He was probably one of those jock types who thought he'd make it big but didn't. Now he gets his kicks out of bullying his tenants," Mickey said, knowing the type all too well.
In George's room, The Doctor notes pleased that George has calmed down. The Doctor asks if George can give him a smile but George is too occupied with his toys. The Doctor then gets up and walks over to the cupboard, assuring George there is nothing to be scared of before scanning it with his screwdriver. The Doctor is shocked to find the readings on the cupboard are off the scale.
"What?" Mickey asked as the past viewers looked at the screen in bewilderment.
"What's doing this…it's in the cupboard," Martha breathed.
"It makes sense. George was afraid of Mrs. Rossiter and got scared when Amy and Rory rode the lift. We suspected George might be connected, looks like we were right," Jack mused.
"Whatever it is has full access to him because it lives in his cupboard. Perfect place to set up a psychic link with George," Donna added.
The Doctor stares at the cupboard in shock as the landlord tells George he merely wants his rent before heading out with his dog. Alex looks helpless as the door closes behind them. Alex heads back into George's room, apologizing for the landlord. He moves to open the cupboard when The Doctor frantically shouts for him to stop, surprising Alex. He tells Alex he doesn't want to do that, telling him George's monsters are real when Alex asks.
"Which Alex will take well," Martha said dryly.
"They never do at first," Donna agreed, remembering her own reaction to first finding out about The Doctor.
To be fair though, she had been transported from her wedding to the TARDIS.
Amy and Rory walk into a room and Rory sees a door. He goes to open it when he suddenly groans. Amy asks what's wrong and Rory says there's no door knob. Rory complains about all the weird things they've seen when Amy points to the clock. Rory is confused as Amy points out the hands are painted on. They suddenly hear the sounds of a child's laugh.
"Did anyone else hear the laugh of a child?" Wilf asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in bewilderment.
"We heard it Gramps," Donna muttered.
"What the bloody Hell is going on?" Mickey wondered but again, no one had an answer.
They look around but don't see anyone. Rory gestures for Amy to be quiet as they begin trying to locate the child. In the flat, The Doctor is in the kitchen, going through the cupboards as Alex berates him for frightening Alex, saying he'll never get him to sleep now. He calls The Doctor irresponsible as the Doctor pulls out two cups. The Doctor says that the cupboard is not bare and to stay away from it. The Doctor realizes he's missed something that's staring him in the face. Alex tells The Doctor to leave, thinking he's making things worse but The Doctor starts making tea instead. Alex snaps that he wants him to leave but The Doctor refuses, to Alex's disbelief.
"Trust me, the only time you can get Boss to leave is when he wants you to," Mickey said with a laugh as he remembered his early irritation with The Doctor.
"And whether you like it or not Alex, you need The Doctor to solve this problem," Wilf said wisely.
The Doctor opens the fridge but Alex slams it shut, telling The Doctor to get out. The Doctor refuses, opening the fridge again but Alex once more closes it. The two have a stare down, The Doctor putting his arm over the fridge before Alex sighs, believing he and Claire should sort out George themselves. The Doctor tells him they can't, opening the fridge and taking something out. The Doctor begins mixing something as Alex snaps he can't tell them how to run their lives. The Doctor says he's The Doctor, confusing Alex. The Doctor says he's come a long way to get here, explaining George sent him a message and whatever is in the cupboard is very powerful, enough to amplify the fears of an ordinary boy through all of time and space. Alex stares at him in bewilderment as The Doctor rambles about the universe before telling him that monsters are real. Alex stares at him for a moment before saying The Doctor isn't from social services. The Doctor asks if he has any jammie dodgers.
"Him and jammie dodgers," Martha said with a smile.
"At least Alex seems willing to listen," Jack noted. "It makes things a lot easier."
"The Doctor can figure things out quicker if Alex isn't fighting him," Donna agreed, hoping The Doctor would be able to put everything together with Alex's cooperation.
In a dark corridor like the one Amy and Rory walked down earlier, Mrs. Rossiter wonders around blindly, calling out for help. As she turns her back, a dark figure passes by and she hears the sound of a child laughing. Mrs. Rossiter turns around, looking down the corridor but doesn't see anyone.
"And she's there to, being stalked by whatever it is," Donna muttered uneasily.
"Let's just hope whatever this is doesn't get to her," Martha said gently although she didn't have much hope of that.
Elsewhere, Amy and Rory open a door, walking into a room as they hear the child's laughter again. Amy moves to walk further into the room when Rory makes her wait. They pause as the laughter gets louder. Amy realizes they're getting closer and Rory uses the light to look around the room, seeing a door. Amy and Rory exchange a look before they begin to approach the door as they hear the laughter again. The laughter growing louder as they get reach the door. They exchange a look before Rory grabs the door knob and opens the door. They scream as they see a childlike doll.
"Oi!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers all jump.
"Not again," Mickey grumbled.
"All this tension is making us jumpy," Martha said as she placed a hand to her chest.
"I'm not sure how much more my heart can take," Wilf said tiredly.
"Nothing too bad happens in this recording," Jane promised as she checked her watch. "We'll finish this, watch one more and then call it a day."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Jack agreed.
They relax as they realize what it is, Amy laughing while Rory calls it weird. Amy points out he's a time traveling nurse and they look at the doll wearily. Rory reaches out; touching its face and Amy tells him to come on. They turn around, heading for the stairs as they hear a child singing. With their back turned, Amy and Rory don't see the doll raise its head.
"You all saw that right?" Mickey asked as they stared at the screen in disbelief.
"The doll moving its head? Yeah, we saw it," Jack said in a bit of disbelief.
"This really is a bloody horror movie," Donna muttered.
Back in the flat, The Doctor is looking through the scrap book again, wondering what he's missed about the photos. Closing it, The Doctor puts it down, complimenting the tea before wondering out loud if they should open the cupboard. Alex spits out the tea he was drinking as The Doctor asks him if they should. The Doctor then decides they should, as it's the only way they'll find out what's inside. Alex stands up, arguing The Doctor said there were monsters but The Doctor says it's what he does, calling this an average day at the office for him. Alex agrees before The Doctor backtracks, wondering if maybe they shouldn't.
"Just make up your mind Spaceman," Donna said in exasperation.
"Is it really wise to open it?" Wilf asked uncertainly.
"Maybe not, but they won't solve this problem until they know what's in the cupboard. Opening it might be the only way to stop all this," Jack said, not liking that but knowing it was true.
"I was afraid you were gonna say that," Martha sighed.
The Doctor then says they have no idea what might be in there. Alex is dumbfounded at The Doctor's change as The Doctor calls him crazy for considering it. Alex agrees with him and The Doctor says it settled. Alex asks what's settled and The Doctor takes a drink of tea before saying he's going to open the cupboard. The Doctor heads towards George's room as Alex looks at him in disbelief.
"So…at least he made up his mind?" Mickey said but it came out as a question rather than a statement.
"Doctor, I really don't understand your thought process sometimes," Martha admitted.
"I still have bits of him in my head and I don't understand it," Donna said in exasperation.
In his flat, the landlord is flipping through channels on the TV before deciding to watch a movie. He puts down the remote before getting to his feet. He takes a step forward when his foot becomes stuck. The landlord looks down and is shocked to see his foot disappearing into the floor.
"What the bloody Hell?!" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen in shock.
"George is afraid of him. I guess whatever's in the cupboard is dragging him inside as well," Jack realized.
"So now they have to save him as well. Lovely," Donna said sarcastically.
The landlord tries to use his free foot to get out but it is also sucked down and his waist soon vanishes beneath the floor, leaving him struggling to get out. He calls to the bulldog for help but it merely raises its head, watching curiously as he vanishes beneath the floor.
"So much for man's best friend," Donna said sarcastically.
"Dog's sometimes take after their owners," Martha noted. "I think this says more about him than the dog."
"Probably," Mickey shrugged.
In George's room, The Doctor and Alex stare at George's cupboard. The Doctor cracks his knuckles before tilting his head for side to side. He smiles at Alex before walking up to the cupboard. The Doctor grabs onto the cupboard and Alex takes a step back as they hear the sound of the lift. George's breathing grows heavier as The Doctor's hands travel up and down the cupboard's door. He unlocks it before pulling it open. Seeing clothes hanging inside, The Doctor pushes them aside, seeing an assortment of toys, including a dollhouse.
"Huh?" Martha asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"I don't understand," Mickey said in confusion.
"But those readings," Wilf said in shock.
"Might be a Perception Filter," Jack mused.
"Really hate those bloody things," Donna muttered.
"Either way, something is going on. And The Doctor's not going to rest until he gets to the bottom of it," Martha said with certainty.
The Doctor is confused, given the readings on the screwdriver. Realizing something, The Doctor runs out of the room. Heading into the living room, he picks up the scrapbook and heads back into George's room. The Doctor asks Alex how old George is. Although confused, Alex tells him. The Doctor asks if he remembers when George was born and Alex says he does. As George watches, The Doctor opens the book, pointing to a picture of Alex and Claire taken on Christmas Eve, a few weeks before George was born. The Doctor asks Alex to tell him about the day George was born and Alex calls it the best day of his life before pausing, suddenly sounding unsure. Alex demands to know what The Doctor is trying to say before storming over to the door, demanding The Doctor leave. The Doctor calmly asks what's wrong and Alex seems to have a realization, calling this scary. The Doctor disagrees, pointing to a photo of Claire with baby George, calling that scary. The Doctor asks if this is less than month after Christmas. Alex asks so and The Doctor points out Claire wasn't pregnant at Christmas. Alex shouts that Claire can't have kids.
"What?" Martha gapped as the past viewers looked startled by this turn of events.
"Claire can't have kids," Mickey repeated dumbly.
"We heard that the first time," Jack muttered. "But if Claire can't have kids-"
"Then who or what the bloody Hell is George?!" Donna blurted out.
Wilf was silent, looking as lost as the others as they continued watching.
Alex pauses, shocked as The Doctor closes the scrapbook. The Doctor tells him to say that again and Alex says they tried everything, multiple IV treatments but nothing worked. Alex repeats Claire can't have kids and wonders how he could have forgotten that. The Doctor and Alex then look back to George, who is watching them. The Doctor asks George who he is as Alex struggles to process this. The Doctor calls out to George before they hear the sound of the lift. The room begins to shake and George's lamp glows brightly. The door to the cupboard swings open, a bright light filling the room.
"What's happening?!" Mickey asked as they looked at the screen startled.
"George," Jack said as the realization hit him. "It was never something causing this…it was George the whole time."
"But how? What is he?" Martha asked in bewilderment and Jack shrugged helplessly.
"I honestly do not know," Jack admitted.
The Doctor and Alex begin to be sucked inside the cupboard. The Doctor asks if George is doing this as Alex fearfully asks what's happening. George fearfully cries for someone to save him from the monsters, curling into a ball and The Doctor and Alex are sucked into the cupboard. Alex cries out to George before the door slams shut on them.
"I don't think he knows what's happening," Donna realized.
"No, it doesn't seem like it," Jack agreed as he narrowed his eyes. "Whatever he is, he can't control his abilities. Whenever something scares him, it gets sucked into the cupboard."
"He puts everything that scares him into the cupboard, just like Claire taught him," Martha realized.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered.
Amy and Rory are walking down the corridor, Rory wondering where the lights are. Rory rambles a bit about lights before Amy stops him, telling him he's panicking a bit. Rory calms down and apologizes. The landlord suddenly runs to them, begging them to 'keep them away'. The landlord is suddenly grabbed by a doll. The Landlord screams as Amy and Rory back away in fear. They watched in horrified shock as the landlord slowly turns into a doll, identical to the one who grabbed him.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey whispered as the past viewers stared at the screen in shock. "This is a bloody horror movie."
"Jack?" Martha asked, hoping he had some idea.
"Don't look at me. I've never seen anything like this," Jack said, having no clue what was going on.
His head turns to look at them, standing up and Amy tells Rory to panic now. Rory nods and they run in the opposite direction of the dolls, screaming the whole way. The dolls go after them, saying they want to play. Amy and Rory head into a room, slamming the door behind them. The dolls claw on the other side of the door and Rory shins his light to the ground, seeing the shadows of the dolls under the doors. The dolls turn and walk away, to Amy and Rory's relief.
"Okay, well at least they're safe," Martha sighed in relief.
"For how long?" Mickey muttered and no one had an answer.
"Doctor, hurry up. They need you," Wilf said softly.
The Doctor and Alex come to in a dining room. The Doctor jumps to his feet, calling out to George as he says they want to help him. George is still in a ball, panting fearfully. Alex sits up, trying to process that they're in the cupboard as The Doctor begins looking around the room. Alex asks how it can bigger inside and The Doctor says it's more common than you think. The Doctor asks Alex if he's alright and Alex asks where they are. The Doctor asks if it's obvious and Alex says no. The Doctor explains they're in the dollhouse, to Alex's disbelief. Alex tells him to slow down and The Doctor tosses him a wooden chicken along with plastic utensils, saying they're either in the doll house or this is a refugee for people who eat wooden food or termites. The Doctor briefly wonders if that's possible before grabbing a wooden squash and shoving it into Alex's arms.
"The dollhouse. I guess that makes sense, as much as any of this does," Jack mused.
"But that still doesn't explain George," Martha pointed.
"Does our guide feel like sharing?" Donna asked sarcastically as she looked over at Jane.
"Why bother when it's explained in a few minutes anyway," Jane shrugged.
"You are very unhelpful," Mickey deadpanned and Jane smiled.
The Doctor walks off and Alex drops everything, running after him. Alex grabs The Doctor by his shirt, asking what George is and how he can forget that Claire can't have kids. The Doctor says it's a Perception Filter, one so powerful it changed the memories of Alex, Claire and everyone around them.
"Must be one Hell of a Perception Filter," Jack mused.
"What could have one so powerful, and why?" Donna wondered and Jack shrugged.
"I'm not an expert on every species in the universe. How should I know?"
The Doctor wonders what could do that before walking off. Alex looks in a mirror before following after The Doctor. Neither sees the doll in the mirror. Its head turns in their direction.
"And now a doll is after them to. Brilliant," Martha groaned.
"This could not get worse," Mickey declared.
"And now it will," Donna grumbled.
Amy and Rory are still using their bodies to hold the door closed when they hear the laughter of the dolls again. The dolls begin slamming against the door, trying to open it. Amy shouts for Rory to lock the door but Rory says there isn't a lock.
"Oh brilliant!" Martha snapped in annoyance.
"See? It always gets worse when you say it," Donna snapped at Mickey.
"It gets worse no matter what," Mickey shot back.
"Would you stop arguing like a couple of kids!?" Wilf snapped and it was the sight of the usually calm man snapping that caused them to stop. "Now is not the time."
"You're right," Donna sighed as they looked back at the screen, worried for Amy and Rory.
They try their best to hold it closed but a doll begins to push the door open. Together, Amy and Rory push it closed. Rory tries to drag a bookshelf over to the door but it's too heavy. Seeing a barrel nearby, Rory grabs it and places it in front of the door, blocking the dolls.
"That won't hold them for long," Mickey said uneasily.
"The Doctor needs to figure out what George is and get them all out of there," Donna said as they all watched, tense.
The Doctor and Alex walk the dollhouse, The Doctor noting something responded to Claire's need to have a child. He wonders what could do that and Alex says he thought The Doctor was the expert, as he's around monsters all day. The Doctor rambles he's been around the block a few times and can't remember everything. Alex hears the sound of the lift as The Doctor continues to ramble. He tries to get The Doctor's attention but he is caught up in his rambling. Alex shouts for The Doctor to listen but The Doctor shushes him, asking what that is.
"What he was trying to tell you Boss," Mickey muttered.
No one else made a comment as they watched tense, waiting to see what would happen next.
Alex says it's the lift, revealing George is terrified of it. Alex looks over his shoulder and sees electric candles lit. One by one, they go out. In the complex, the lift doors close. In his room, George listens terrified before standing up, turning to face the cupboard.
"Is Georgw about to open it?" Martha wondered.
"Makes sense. He didn't know what was happening until just now, he might want to stop it as much as The Doctor," Jack mused,
Amy tells Rory they can't stay there and have to get out. Rory asks how and she grabs him by his shirt, telling him they have to take control of the only thing they can. Amy says they have to let the dolls in.
"Is she bloody mad!?" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen in disbelief.
"No, she's smart," Martha disagreed.
"They'll get in eventually. At least this way, there's a chance they can get out in time. There are no good options here," Jack added.
"Doesn't mean it's not mad," Donna muttered.
"Never said it wasn't," Martha sighed.
Rory is in disbelief as Amy says they need to surprise them, open the doors and push passed the dolls by any means necessary. A doll calls out its time to play. Rory looks back at the door before looking back at Amy, agreeing. Rory grabs a mop while Amy removes the barrel. The door open and a doll falls in. Rory and Amy rush out but a doll grabs Amy. Amy calls out to Rory and he turns back, horrified. Rory can only watch helplessly as Amy turns into a doll.
"No!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers stared at the screen in horror.
"Amy," Martha said horrified.
"This cannot be happing," Mickey said in disbelief.
"Apparently it is. The Doctor needs to figure a way out and then hopefully he can find a way to turn Amy and the others back," Jack said grimly, hoping that was possible.
The now doll Amy turns to face Rory as they approach him. Rory snaps out of his shock and runs up the stairs. Alex watches as the candles go out, mentioning to The Doctor its happening five times. He explains to The Doctor about their habit of switching off the lights five times. The Doctor says now he's getting it, asking what they tell George to do with everything that scares him. Alex says to put it in the cupboard, the truth hitting him. The Doctor explains now that they now George isn't an ordinary child, they know he puts anything that scares him inside here, even George's rituals have become part of it. The Doctor notes it's a psychic repository for his fears, wondering in frustration what George is.
"That's what we'd like to know," Mickey muttered.
"They've figured it out now, so it's a start," Jack pointed out.
"They're still trapped in a dollhouse. Not much they can do from inside," Donna pointed out miserably.
"Don't count The Doctor out," Martha said with certainty.
Hearing a laugh, The Doctor and Alex turn around to see a doll approaching them. They turn back to see the lights have gone out and share an alarmed look. They look back at the doll, who laughs at them.
"And now a doll has found them. Brilliant," Mickey said sarcastically as they all tensed.
They jump to their feet, The Doctor pulls out his screwdriver to scan the doll. Alex mistakes the screwdriver for a gun but The Doctor says it's not a gun. The Doctor says he needs to invent a setting for wood before he and Alex run. The Doctor opens a door and sees a pair of safety scissors; The Doctor picks them up, telling Alex to run before using them to stick the doll. The Doctor and Alex run out the door as the doll says it wants to play.
"He really needs to invent a bloody wood setting for that thing," Donna grumbled.
"If he hasn't by now, he probably never will," Jack noted not sure whether to be amused or disappointed.
In the flat, George moves towards the cupboard, staring at it fearfully as he breathes heavily. Inside the dollhouse, The Doctor is rambling as Alex is using the safety scissors to fight off the doll. The Doctor explains that George is a Tenza, essentially a Cuckoo in the nest. A door starts to open and The Doctor pushes it shut, keeping the dolls out as he explains to Alex about the Tenzas.
"A Tenza. I thought they were just a myth," Jack said in disbelief.
"All myths have some basis in reality Jack. You know that better than anyone," Jane pointed out.
"It makes sense now. George doesn't even know what he is, he's as in the dark as everyone else,' Jack mused.
"So George doesn't even know he's doing this, he doesn't know about his abilities," Donna realized and Jack shook his head.
"Most Tenzas, according to the stories, assimilate at an early age. He's really just a little boy from another planet," Jack said.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered.
Alex is stunned by George being an alien, insisting he's their child before using the scissors to push back a doll. The Doctor agrees, saying George is the child he and Claire always wanted and George sensed that, seeking them out. The Doctor notes something scared George and started the cycle of fear. The Doctor explains George isn't even aware he's doing it as Alex continues fighting off the dolls. The Doctor realizes they need to make George aware and calls out for him. In his room, George hears The Doctor as he says he can stop this as long as he believes he's safe. George plugs his ears; shaking his head as The Doctor says only George can save himself from the monsters. The Doctor shouts for George to listen to him and George takes his hands off his ears. Rory comes running down the stairs, fighting off the dolls and he and The Doctor greet each other in relief. The Doctor asks where Amy is as two dolls come down the stairs. Seeing the red hair of the Amy doll, The Doctor realizes what has happened in horror. The Doctor shouts frantically that George needs to face his fears.
"So this all comes down to a little boy being brave enough to face his fears?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"Apparently," Jack shrugged.
"This is ridiculous," Martha muttered as she put a hand to her forehead.
"You're telling me," Mickey said tiredly.
The Doctor tells George to open the cupboard as George slowly approaches the cupboard. The Doctor, Alex and Rory stand back to back, trying to fight off the dolls as The Doctor continues calling out to George. George reaches up, unlocks the cupboard before opening it. The dolls all stop moving, to the relief of The Doctor, Rory and Alex.
"Thank God," Martha said as they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"They stopped it. Now they just need to figure out how to get Amy and the others back to normal," Jack noted.
The Doctor looks down and sees George staring up at them. The Doctor tells him it's going to be okay before the dolls turns their heads. They start to sing as they start walking again.
"Or not," Jack amended as the past viewers stared startled.
"Good Lord," Wilf breathed.
"If George opening the cupboard won't stop them, what will?" Martha wondered fearfully but no one had an answer.
"It'll take a miracle," Donna muttered.
The Doctor tells George he created this world and so he can destroy it. George shakes his head and The Doctor realizes something is holding him back. The Doctor remembers when they first met; George asked if he had come to take him away. The Doctor realizes that when Alex and Claire talked about sending him away, he thought they didn't want him as their son. Alex remembers they talked about sending George away and The Doctor explains George thought they were rejecting him. George backs up as the dolls near him while Alex protests they merely needed help but The Doctor says George didn't know that and still doesn't.
"So all this was because George thought they didn't want him?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"Tenzas are very powerful, but they can't control their abilities. Mix the fears of an ordinary child with powerful psychic abilities and you get this," Jane explained to the disbelief of the past viewers.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey muttered.
"I think that sums it up," Martha agreed with a sigh.
As the dolls surround George, Alex asks how they can keep him, as he's not human. The Doctor agrees as George looks on afraid. George calls out to Alex for help and Alex rushes down the stairs. Alex pushes the dolls in his way aside as George becomes surrounded by two dolls. Alex shoves them all aside and grabs George. The dolls all stop as Alex and George hug, Alex telling George that whatever he is, George is his son and he will never send George away. The Doctor and Rory watch the scene before the cupboard opens, a bright light shining inside as Alex and George hug.
"Not the miracle I was expecting, but I'll take it," Donna said.
"So, everything goes back to normal now?" Wilf wondered.
"More or less. Nothing is ever so simple as normal with Tenzas," Jane shrugged.
"Or The Doctor," Martha noted.
The scene changes to the apartment complex the next morning. Mrs. Rossiter wakes up, buried by the trash bags. Inside the building, Amy and Rory get off the lift. Amy starts to ask if she was a doll and Rory confirms she was. The landlord wakes up in his flat, his dog licking his hand. He hugs the dog in relief.
"Hopefully this'll teach him to be a little nicer to people," Donna grumbled.
"Knowing people like him, I doubt it," Mickey noted.
"In any case, Amy and the others are safe and back to themselves. I call that a happy ending, or as close to one as The Doctor can get," Jack shrugged.
Claire walks up to her flat, unlocking the door. She walks in to see Alex and George playing, George laughing happily. Claire walks in, stunned as The Doctor helps make breakfast. The Doctor greets her and asks how she feels about kippers. Claire is confused as Alex lies, saying social services sent someone about George. He promises her it's all sorted. Claire is surprised it's fixed just like that and The Doctor tells her to trust him. Looking at George happily eating toast, Claire smiles as Alex kisses her on the cheek.
"He's not going to tell her?" Wilf asked in surprise.
"What, that they're son is actually an alien that messed with their memories so he could be the child they've always wanted?" Mickey asked dryly and Wilf paused.
"I see your point," Wilf conceded.
"She'd probably think he was crazy anyway, considering Alex didn't want to believe The Doctor at first either," Martha noted.
"Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss," Jack mused.
After breakfast, The Doctor walks out of the flat when Alex rushes after him. The Doctor wishes him goodbye but Alex says he can't just leave. The Doctor assures Alex he sorted it and Alex asks if that's it. The Doctor says it is and Alex asks if George will develop alien like features. The Doctor says George is a Tenza and will adapt perfectly and be whatever they want him to be. The Doctor walks off as Alex looks behind him, seeing George standing behind him. Alex ruffles his hair as The Doctor promises to come back around puberty, which is 'always a funny time'. Alex looks down at George as Claire calls from inside that the kippers are getting cold. George and Alex head back inside.
"If this was a scared Tenza as a child, I really don't think I want to know what one will be like as a teenager," Martha said, all of them shuttering at the thought.
"Let's not," Donna suggested and no one disagreed.
Amy and Rory are sitting by a playground when The Doctor finds them. He sits down between them, saying it's time to, as they have places and things to see .He asks if they're feeling alright and Amy says she thinks so. The Doctor wraps his around them saying it's good to be back together again. They laugh as The Doctor gets up, saying it's time to go. The Doctor leads them back into the TARDIS and heads over to the console, asking where they want to go next. Amy can't think of anything and The Doctor notes her mind is a blank. Amy argues she was just turned into a doll and The Doctor calls this an excuse. Rory notes asking where they want to go is like being given three wishes, which Amy agrees. The Doctor suggests Ali Baba. As they debate where to go next, the song the dolls were singing is heard again. "Tick-tock goes the clock, even for The Doctor," the song ends as the recording focuses on the scanner, showing it is on the page about his death again before the screen goes black.
The room was filled with a grim tension at this reminder of The Doctor's death. No more words are spoken before the next recording starts.
I don't hate this episode. I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I do appreciate the horror movie theme it had going on, but some of the actions of the characters feel off and the entire episode really feels out of place. Which is probably due to the fact that this was originally going to be part of the first half of the season.
1: A great example of something feeling off is Rory joking about letting George get eaten. Given the events of the last few episodes, it feels pretty OOC for Rory to be making a joke like that, and even weirder than Amy doesn't have a reaction to it.