Shareen vs the Universe
The Shakespeare Code
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The Doctor sprinted around the console operating controls as Martha and Shareen both held on for dear life. "But how d'you travel time?" Martha asked, "What makes it go?"
"Oh, let's take the fun an' mystery out of everything." the Doctor huffed, "Martha, ya don't wanna know. It just does."
"Oi, she was only askin'." Shareen scolded. "Anyway, you can talk, Mr 'Oh, this isn't snow, it's ash'."
"Hold on tight!" the Doctor warned, turning a wheeled control.
The TARDIS landed with a tremendous jolt, sending everyone to the floor. "Another bruise for the collection." Shareen grumbled as she picked herself up.
"Blimey! D'ya have to pass a test to fly this thing?" Martha asked the Doctor as they picked themselves up too.
"Yes, and I failed it." the Doctor replied, grabbing his coat off the Y-beam. "Now, make the most of it." he said as Shareen handed Martha her leather jacket. "I promised you one trip and one trip only." Outside this door..." He stopped at the door and faced Martha. "Brave new world."
"Where are we?" Martha asked
"Take a look." the Doctor encouraged, opening the door for her. "After you."
Martha ventured outside to find herself on a London street in Elizabethan times. It was straight out of a period drama, with half-timbered buildings and street urchins milling about. "Oh, you're kidding me." Martha breathed. "You are so kidding me. Oh, my God! We did we travelled in time. Where are we?" she asked the Doctor as he and Shareen joined her. "No, sorry. I gotta get used to this whole new language. When are we?"
"Mind the loo!" a voice called from above, and the Doctor looked up to see a man preparing to empty the contents of his slop bucket from the window above them.
"Mind out!" the Doctor hollered, pulling Martha and Shareen back just in time.
"Whoo! Somewhere before they invented the khazi." Shareen remarked, wafting the stench from the slop away.
"Sorry about that." the Doctor conceded
"I've seen worse." Martha waved him off, "I've worked the night shift at A&E. But are we safe?" she asked as the Doctor began to walk away, "I mean, can we move around and stuff?"
"Of course we can." the Doctor replied, "Why d'ya ask?"
"It's like in the films. You step on a butterfly; you change the future of the Human race."
"Hmm, good point, Martha." Shareen said, "What d'ya have to say to that, Peacock?"
"Well, tell ya what, then, don't step on any butterflies." the Doctor replied dryly, "What have butterflies ever done to you?" And he began to walk away again.
"What if, I dunno, what if I kill my grandfather?" Martha continued as she and Shareen followed him.
"You planning to?" the Doctor asked
"No."
"Well, then." the Doctor shrugged
"So this is London, then?" Shareen probed, "Like Martha asked, when about are we?"
"Right about 1599." the Doctor answered
"Oh, but hold on. Am I alright? I'm not gonna get carted off as a slave, am I?" Martha asked anxiously
"Don't worry, Martha. If anyone even thinks of doing that, I'll give 'em what for." Shareen reassured her, "And trust me, I'll make 'em regret it!"
"Just walk about like ya own the place." the Doctor advised Martha, "Works for me. Besides, you'd be surprised. Elizabethan England, not so different from your time. Look over there. They've got recycling." He pointed to a man shovelling manure into a bucket. "Water cooler moment." He indicated two men chatting next to a water barrel.
Just then, a preacher walked past. "... and the world shall be consumed be flame." he ranted
"And they've even got global warming." Shareen joked
"Oh, yes, and entertainment." the Doctor continued, "Popular entertainment for the masses. If I'm right, we're just down by the river by Southwark right next to..."
"The site of my future home." Shareen interrupted cheekily
"Ok, that." the Doctor conceded, "But more to the point..." They turned a corner, and there, standing proudly before them was the Globe Theatre. "Ah, yes, the Globe Theatre!" the Doctor grinned, "Brand new. Just opened. Through, strictly speakin', it's not a globe; it's a tetradecagon."
"See? Now you're the one takin' the fun out of everything." Shareen teased
"Just statin' a fact." the Doctor replied. "14 sides." he explained to Martha, "containing the man himself."
"Whoa, ya don't mean... is Shakespeare in there?" Martha gawped
"Oh, yes." the Doctor nodded and held out his arm. "Miss Jones, would you accompany me and Miss Costello to the theatre?"
"Yes, Mr Smith, I will!" Martha grinned, linking arms with the Doctor
"When you get home, you can tell everyone you've seen Shakespeare." the Doctor said as they set off towards the Globe.
"Then I could get sectioned!" Martha retorted
"Haw-haw, good one, Martha!" Shareen laughed as she brought up the rear.
~8~
It was a packed house in the Globe, with everyone cheering and applauding as actors finished a performance of Love's Labours Lost. The Doctor, Shareen and Martha were amongst the audience. "That's amazing! That's just amazing." Martha said. "It's worth putting up with the smell."
"And those are men dressed as women, yeah?" Shareen asked, gesturing to some actors in drag.
"London never changes." the Doctor shrugged
"Where's Shakespeare? I wanna see Shakespeare." Martha said. "Author! Author!" she chanted with her fist in the air. "Do people shout that?" she asked the Doctor, "Do they shout 'Author'?"
"Author!" a man in the crowd shouted, and others followed suit.
"Well... they do now." the Doctor said to Martha
"You've started a trend!" Shareen laughed
The chanting seemed to do the trick and a rather dashing man with well-combed brown hair and a neatly styled beard came running onstage and took a rather exaggerated bow and blew kisses, clearly relishing the attention. This was William Shakespeare himself.
"He's a bit different to his portraits." Martha replied
"Hmm, he's quite a hunk." Shareen said appreciatively.
"Genius!" the Doctor said, awestruck at seeing the famous playwriter. "He's a genius, the genius. The most Human Human there's ever been. An' now we're gonna hear him speak! Always he chooses the best words. New, beautiful, brilliant words."
"Ha! Shut your big fat mouths!" Shakespeare said, causing the audience to howl with laughter.
The Doctor looked crestfallen. Shareen promptly burst out laughing at the look on his face. "Ya should never meet ya heroes." Martha chuckled
"You've got excellent tastes, I'll give you that." Shakespeare said to the audience. "Oh, that's a wig!" He pointed to a man in the front row. "But I know what you're all saying. 'Love's Labours Lost, that's a funny ending, isn't it?' It just stops. Will the boys get the girls? Well, don't get your hose in a tangle. You'll find out soon!"
"When?" people in the audience shouted
"Yeah, yeah. All in good time, you don't rush a genius." Shakespeare answered
Shareen raised an eyebrow. "Huh, he's just as vain as you are." she said to the Doctor
Shakespeare meanwhile bowed, then suddenly jerked upright. "When? Tomorrow night." he said, causing some of the actors to look at each other in surprise. "The premiere of my brand-new play." Shakespeare announced, "A sequel, no less. And I call it Love's Labours Won."
The audience cheered and applauded. Martha and Shareen did too but stopped when they saw the Doctor frowning.
~8~
Soon, everyone began to filter out of the theatre. "I'm not an expect, but I've never heard of Love's Labours Won." Martha said.
"Exactly." the Doctor replied, "The lost play. It doesn't exist, only in rumours. It's mentioned in lists of his plays, but it never, ever turns up. An' no one knows why."
"Hey, I could record it." Shareen said brightly, "We could sell it back home and make a fortune!"
"No." the Doctor told her pointedly
"I was joking." Shareen rolled her eyes, "Huh, I bet if Rose had said that, you'd be laughing with her."
"But how come it disappeared in the first place?" Martha wandered
"Well, I was gonna give you a quick little trip in the TARDIS but I suppose we could stay a bit longer." the Doctor replied.
~8~
Presently, Shakespeare was in his room at The Elephant inn, working on his play with two actors named Dick and Kempe. "Here ya go, Will." the barmaid said, dropping off a tankard of beer on his desk, "Drink up. There's enough beer in this lodgings house to sink the Spanish."
"Dolly Bailey, you've saved my life." Shakespeare grinned
"I'll do more than that, later tonight." Dolly replied flirtingly. "And you girl, 'urry up with those tasks." she ordered a maid, "The talk of gentlemen's best not overheard."
"Yes, ma'am, sorry, ma'am." the maid grunted
"But you must be mad, Will!" Dick said "Love's Labours Won? We're not ready! It's supposed to be next week. What made you say that?"
"You haven't even finished it yet." Kempe added
"I've just got the final scene to go, you'll get it by morning." Shakespeare waved them off
At that moment, the Doctor poked his head though the doorway. "Hello!" he said cheerfully, "Excuse me, not interrupting, am I? Mr Shakespeare, isn't it?"
"Oh, no, no, no. Who let you in?" Shakespeare groaned, "No autographs. No, you can't have yourself sketched with me. And, please, don't ask where I get my ideas from. Thanks for the interest. Now be a good boy and shove..." Then he saw Martha and Shareen standing behind the Doctor and his face promptly lit up at the sight of the two beauties. "Hey nonny, nonny." he smirked, "You ladies sit down here right next to me." He turned to the actors. "You two get sewing on them costumes, off you go."
"Come on, lads." Dolly said as she came back in, "I think our William's found himself his new muses." And she and the actors left.
"Sweet ladies." Shakespeare gestured and Martha and Shareen came over. "Such unusual clothes." Shakespeare observed, noticing Martha's leather jacket and jeans and Shareen's hoodie and leggings, "So fitted."
"Um, verily, forsooth, egads." Martha answered, trying to copy Elizabethan dialect.
"No, no, don't do that." the Doctor whispered as he sat down on the other side of the table, "Don't." He produced his psychic paper and showed it to Shakespeare. "I'm Sir Doctor of TARDIS and these are my companions, Miss Martha Jones and Miss Shareen Costello."
Shakespeare eyed the paper. "Interesting. That bit of paper, it's blank." he said
The Doctor was impressed. "Oh, that's... very clever. That proves it. Absolute genius."
Martha peered at the paper. "No, it says so right there. Sir Doctor, Martha Jones and Shareen Costello. It says so."
"And I say it's blank." Shakespeare replied
"Psychic paper, long story." the Doctor waved the matter off, "Oh, I hate starting from scratch." he grumbled
"Psychic?" Shakespeare questioned, "Never heard that before, and words are my trade. Who are you exactly? And more's to the point, who is your beautiful maiden with the fire in her eyes and who's your delicious Blackamore lady?"
"What did you say?" Martha glared
"Whoops. Isn't that a word we use nowadays? An Ethiop girl, a swarth, a Queen of the Afric?"
"It's political correctness gone mad." the Doctor said to Shakespeare. "Em, Martha's from a far-off land, Freedonia."
Shakespeare clearly wasn't fooled but decided to accept that for now.
"Freedonia? Really?" Shareen asked the Doctor quietly
"Best I could come up with." the Doctor waved her off
At that moment, a rather stern-looking man barged in. "Excuse me! Hold hard a moment! This is abominable behaviour, a new play, with no warning! I demand to see a script, Mr Shakespeare. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office, and examined by me, before it can be performed." he complained
"Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'll send it round." Shakespeare waved him off
"I don't work to your schedule; you work to mine! The script, now!" the man demanded
"I can't." Shakespeare answered back
"Then tomorrow's performance is cancelled."
"It's all go round here, isn't it?" Martha remarked to the Doctor
"I am returning to my office for a banning order." the man continued, "If it's the last thing I do, Love's Labours Won will never be played!" And with that, he strode pompously away.
"Who's the Henry VIII wannabe?" Shareen asked Shakespeare
"That's Lynley, the Master of Revels." Shakespeare answered, "I'll buy him a drink tomorrow, butter him up. He'll come round. And now, fair ladies, will you both share a drink with me?"
"Oh, go on, then." Shareen smirked, picking up one of the tankards that Dick and Kempe had left.
~8~
Martha, Shareen and Shakespeare were soon enjoying drinks together while the Doctor sat pensively. "Well then, mystery solved." Martha remarked. "That's Love's Labours Won over and done with. Thought it might be something more, ya know... more mysterious."
As soon as those words left her mouth, they heard the sound of a man groaning from outside followed by a woman screaming. They rushed outside to see Lynley staggering around, clutching his throat and spitting water out of his mouth. "Hey, it that's Lynley bloke." Shareen recognised, "What's wrong with him?"
"Leave it to me, I'm a doctor." the Doctor said, rushing forward to help the man.
"Me too, almost." Martha said, she and Shareen rushing forward too. They all grabbed Lynley, who continued to spew water out of his mouth. Suddenly, he clutched his chest and fell to the ground, dead. Martha immediately began CPR. "Got to get the heart going." she muttered. "Mr Lynley, come on, can you hear me?" She opened his mouth ready to administer air, but more water just gushed out. "What the hell is that?" Martha questioned
"I've never seen a death like it." the Doctor replied. "His lungs are full of water, he drowned and then... I dunno, like a blow to the heart, an invisible blow." He stood up and turned to Dolly. "Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humours. A natural, if unfortunate demise. Call a constable, have him taken away."
"Yes, sir." Dolly acknowledged
"I'll do it, ma'am." a maid, the same one that was in the room earlier, piped in then walked off.
"And why are you telling them that?" Martha asked the Doctor
"This lot have still got one foot in the Dark Ages." the Doctor replied, "If I tell them the truth, they'll panic an' think it was witchcraft."
"Ok, so what was it, then?" Shareen asked
"Witchcraft." the Doctor replied darkly.
~8~
The group soon returned to Shakespeare's room. "I've got you a room, Sir Doctor." Dolly said, "You, Miss Jones and Miss Costello are just across the landing."
The Doctor nodded his thanks and Dolly left.
"Poor Lynley." Shakespeare remarked, slumping down into his chair, "So many strange events. "Not least of all, this land of Freedonia, where a woman can be a doctor."
"Where a woman can do what she likes." Martha retorted
"And you, Sir Doctor. How can a man so young have eyes so old?" Shakespeare continued
"I do a lot of reading." the Doctor waved him off.
"A trite reply, yeah, that's what I'd do." Shakespeare replied, then turned to Shareen. "And you... you have fire and spirit, yet you're troubled, as if you feel like an outcast." he observed
"Yeah, well, I'm gonna call it a night." Shareen shifted uncomfortably, "You coming, Martha?"
"Yeah." Martha replied, and both women left the room.
"I must work, I have a play to complete." Shakespeare told the Doctor, "But I'll get my answers tomorrow, Doctor, and I'll discover more about you. And why this constant performance of yours."
"All the world's a stage." the Doctor quoted as he turned to leave.
"Hmm, I might use that." Shakespeare pondered, "Good night, Doctor."
"Nighty-night, Shakespeare." the Doctor replied, and he left the room.
~8~
Martha and Shareen were examining the room they'd been given when the Doctor arrived. "It's not exactly five-star, is it?" Martha remarked. The room was a tad small, with one bed and a bench by the window.
"Oh, it'll do. I've seen worse." the Doctor said
"Why can't we go back to the TARDIS?" Shareen asked, "Plenty of nice comfy rooms in there."
"Better to stay close to the action." the Doctor replied
"I haven't even got a toothbrush." Martha said. She'd gone into the TARDIS as a spur of the moment. All she had on her were the clothes she was wearing.
The Doctor began patting his pockets and produced a toothbrush. "Contains Venusian spearmint." he said, handing the toothbrush to Martha. "You want one?" he asked Shareen.
"No point without a sink." Shareen replied. "Heck, I'm not gonna even bother taking my shoes off with all the squalor round here."
"So, who's going where?" Martha asked, "I mean, there's only one bed."
"Easy. We get the bed, he gets the bench." Shareen said, flopping down on the bed.
"Aw, that's not fair." the Doctor moaned
"Oh, come off it, Peacock. You don't need the bed." Shareen told him, "I've never seen ya go to bed in the TARDIS, so why would ya need this one?"
"So, magic and stuff, that's a surprise." Martha said, joining Shareen on the bed. "It's all a bit Harry Potter."
"Or Hocus Pocus." Shareen added, "Loved that film when I was a kid."
"Wait till ya see the sequel." the Doctor told her, sitting down on the bench.
"But is it real, though?" Martha wandered. "I mean, witches, black magic and all that, it's real?"
"Course it isn't!" the Doctor snorted
"Oi, leave off, Peacock." Shareen scolded, "You said earlier that it was witchcraft."
"Looks like witchcraft, but it isn't." the Doctor clarified, "Can't be."
"Ok, so what is it, then?" Martha asked
"I did think psychic energy." the Doctor said thoughtfully, "But a Human couldn't channel it like that. Not without a generator the size of Taunton, anyway, and we'd have spotted it. No." He lay down on the bench. "There's something I'm missin'." he sighed, "Something really close, starin' me right in the face an' I can't see it. Rose would know. Right now, she'd say exactly the same thing. Still, can't be helped. You're both novices, never mind."
Shareen balled her fists in annoyance. "I know I'm not as good as Rose, Doctor." she bit out. "Ya don't have to keep shoving it down my throat every chance you get!" she finished angrily
The Doctor realised his mistake. "I-I wasn't..." he began meekly, but he'd already dug himself into too deep of a hole.
"Honestly, Martha. He's been like this for months." Shareen grumbled to Martha, "Bloody comparing me to Rose at every opportunity. It's like livin' with my parents again!"
"Maybe we should say goodnight." Martha said tactfully. She could see that Shareen was getting agitated and felt that it was best to intervene before something could give.
"Good idea." the Doctor said, "I'll take ya back home tomorrow."
Now it was Martha's turn to be annoyed. "Great." she huffed, blowing out the candle.
"Alien git." Shareen muttered, giving the Doctor a rude gesture with two fingers in the darkness.
~8~
Martha and Shareen were soon fast asleep while the Doctor lay on the bench gazing absent-mindedly at the ceiling. Suddenly, he heard a woman screaming, so he leapt to his feet and raced out of the room. Martha and Shareen followed, both having been woken by the scream.
The scream had come from Shakespeare's room, so the trio raced to it. They arrived to see Shakespeare just waking up from where he was slumped over his desk. "What..." he mumbled.
The Doctor then noticed a body on the floor. It was Dolly Bailey. The Doctor and Martha rushed over to examine the body while Shareen went to the window and saw the silhouette of a figure flying away on a broomstick.
"Her heart gave out." the Doctor observed, checking Dolly's body.
"The poor woman died of fright." Martha added
"Doctor, Martha..." Shareen called, and the other two time travellers joined her by the window.
"What did ya see?" the Doctor asked
"I've just seen a witch." Shareen breathed.
~8~
As dawn broke over London, Shakespeare and the time travellers were gathered in the room, contemplating what was happening. "Oh, sweet Dolly Bailey." Shakespeare sighed. "She sat out three bouts of the plague in this place. We all ran like rats. But what could have scared her so? She had such enormous spirit."
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light." the Doctor quoted
"I might use that."
"You can't. It's someone else's." the Doctor told him
"But the thing is, Lynley died on dry land, Dolly died of fright, and they were both connected to you." Martha said
"You're accusing me?"
"No, but she does have a point." Shareen said, "That Lynley bloke was gonna stop ya play, then he drops dead the next minute. It's as if someone really wants this play to go ahead. An' then I saw a witch. A real witch. All wrinkled hag, flyin' on a broom an' cackling like a lunatic, and you've written about witches."
"I have? When was that?" Shakespeare wandered
"Not quite yet." the Doctor quietly told Shareen
"Peter Streete spoke of witches." Shakespeare said thoughtfully
"Who's Peter Streete?" Martha asked
"Our builder." Shakespeare replied, "He sketched the plans for the Globe."
"The architect." the Doctor said thoughtfully. "Hold on. The architect! The architect!" he exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table, "The Globe! C'mon!" He jumped to his feet and rushed off, followed by Shakespeare and the women.
~8~
The Doctor stood in the pit at the Globe Theatre while Martha and Shakespeare stood on stage and Shareen sat on the edge of the stage, her legs dangling down. "The columns there, right?" the Doctor muttered as he looked around, "14 sides. I've always wandered but I never asked... tell me, Will, why 14 sides?"
"It was the shape Peter Streete thought best, that's all." Shakespeare replied. "He said it carried the sound well."
"But 14?" the Doctor pondered. "Why does that ring a bell? 14."
"There's 14 lines in a sonnet." Martha suggested
"So there is." the Doctor nodded, "Good point! Words an' shapes followin' the same design. 14 lines, 14 sides, 14 facets. Oh, my head. Tetra-decagon. Think, think, think! Words, letters, numbers, lines..."
"But this is just a theatre." Shakespeare pointed out
"Yeah, but a theatre's magic, isn't it?" the Doctor replied, "You should know. Stand on stage, say the right word, with the right emphasis, at the right time... Oh, ya can make men weep. Or cry with joy. Change them..." He tailed off as a thought stuck him. "You can change people's minds, just with words in this place! And if you exaggerate that..."
"It's like your police box." Martha said, "Small wooden box, but with all that power inside."
"Oh. Oh, Martha Jones, I like you." the Doctor said in appreciation. "Tell ya what, though. Peter Streete would know. Can I talk to him?"
"You won't get an answer." Shakespeare said, "Month after finishing this place, he lost his mind."
"Why? What happened?" Shareen asked
"He started raving about witches, hearing voices, babbling. His mind was addled."
"Where is he now?" the Doctor asked
"Bedlam." Shakespeare replied
"The nuthouse?" Shareen asked
"Yes." Shakespeare replied grimly
"We've gotta go there, right now, c'mon." the Doctor said, and he began to lead the way out of the theatre.
"Wait, I'm coming with you." Shakespeare said, "I want to witness this first hand."
As they began to leave, two actors arrived to rehearse.
"Ralph, the last scene, as promised." Shakespeare said, handing one a script, "Copy it, hand it round, learn it, speak it. Back before curtain-up, and remember, kid, project, eyes and teeth. You never know, the Queen might turn up." He turned began to walk after the time travellers. "As if. She never does." he muttered to himself.
~8~
"So, tell me of Freedonia." Shakespeare said to Martha as the quartet made their way through the streets, "Where women can be doctors, writers and actors?"
"This country's ruled by a woman." Martha reminded him
"Ah, she's royal. That's God's business. Though you are a royal beauty." Shakespeare purred, flashing Martha a winning smile
Martha stopped abruptly. "Woah, nelly. I know for a fact you've got a wife in the country."
"Oh, Martha, this is town." Shakespeare countered
"Huh, quite the ladies' man, aren't ya?" Shareen snorted, "Got several bits on the side, have ya?"
"Come on." the Doctor said impatiently, "We can all have a good flirt later."
"Is that a promise, Doctor?" Shakespeare smirked
"Oh, 57 academics just punched the air." the Doctor groaned, "Now move!"
~8~
It was dusk by the time the quartet reached Bedlam. Loud screams and moans sounded as the Doctor, Martha, Shareen and Shakespeare were led through the halls by a jailer. "Does my Lord Doctor wish some entertainment while he waits?" the jailer asked, "I can whip these mad men, they'll put on a good show for you. Bandog an' Bedlam."
"No, I do not!" the Doctor answered angrily. One thing he hated about this period in history was the zero regard for mental health. Over the centuries, it would improve, but these were dark times.
"Wait 'ere m'lords." the jailer said, "While I make 'im decent for the ladies."
"So, this is what you call a hospital, yeah?" Martha said to Shakespeare, looking around the place in disgust, "Where the patients are whipped to entertain the gentry. And you put your friend in there?"
"Oh, it's all so different in Freedonia." Shakespeare rolled his eyes
"But you're clever! D'ya honestly think this place does any good?"
"I've been mad, I've lost my mind." Shakespeare replied. "The fear of this place set me right again, it serves it's purpose."
"Mad in what way?"
"You lost ya son." the Doctor said softly
"My only boy." Shakespeare sighed, "The Black Death took him. I wasn't even there."
"I didn't know, I'm sorry." Martha said
"It made me question everything." Shakespeare said. "The futility of this fleeting existence. To be or not to be..." He tailed off. "Oh, that's quite good."
"You should write that down." the Doctor remarked
"Hmm, maybe not, bit pretentious."
At that moment, the jailer returned. "This way mi'lord." And so, the quartet headed over to him. He unlocked a cell where Peter Streete was sitting there, hunched over. "They can be dangerous, mi'lord." the jailer said, "Don't know their own strength."
"Maybe it would help if ya didn't keep whipping 'em all the time!" Shareen said angrily, "Now shove off!"
The jailer left, and the Doctor turned to Peter. "Peter?" he called gently, "Peter Streete?"
"He's the same as he was." Shakespeare said, "You'll get nothing out of him."
The Doctor laid a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Peter?"
Peter's head whipped up and he looked up with wild, glassy eyes.
The Doctor placed his fingertips on Peter's temples. "Peter, I'm the Doctor. Go into the past, one year ago." he coaxed, "Let your mind go back, back when everything was fine an' shining. Everything that happened in this year since happened to somebody else. It was just a story. A winter's tale. Let go. Listen. That's it, just let go..." He gently laid Peter down in his cot. Tell me the story, Peter. Tell me about the witches."
"The witches... spoke to Peter." Peter began. "In the night, they whispered. Whispered... Got Peter to build the Globe to their design. Their design!" he spat, "The 14 walls. Always 14. When the work was done, they snapped poor Peter's wits."
"But where did Peter see the witches?" the Doctor asked, "Where in the city?" He crouched beside Peter. "Peter, tell me. You've got to tell me where they are."
"All Hallows Street." Peter answered
"Too many words." a voice from behind spoke up, and everyone spun round to see a wizened old woman standing there, the very stereotypical image if a witch.
"What the hell?" Martha gasped as they all jumped back.
"Just one touch of the heart." the witch gloated and reached out towards Peter's chest with a bony finger.
"Noooo!" the Doctor yelled as the witch prodded Peter's chest, and he abruptly died.
"How did she do that?!" Shareen stared
"Witch! I'm seeing a witch!" Shakespeare goggled in horror
"Who would be next, hmm?" the witch crowed, turning to the quartet, "Just one touch... Oh, I'll stop your frantic hearts. Poor fragile mortals!"
"Let us out!" Martha shrieked, banging on the cell bars, "Let us out!"
"Yeah, I don't think that's gonna work in this place." Shareen muttered. "Peacock, use that new screwdriver of yours and get this bloody door open!" she hollered
"Who would die first?" the witch cackled
"Well, if ya looking for volunteers..." the Doctor said, stepping forward.
"Oh, for God's sake... have you got a death wish?!" Shareen stared
"Doctor, can you stop her? Shakespeare asked
"No mortal has power over me!" the witch gloated
"Oh, but there's a power in words." the Doctor retorted, "If I can find the right one, if I could just know you..." He had seen creatures exactly like this once before in his past, he just needed to jog his memory.
"None on Earth has knowledge of us."
"Then it's a good thing I'm here." the Doctor retorted, "Now, think, think, think... Humanoid, female, uses shapes an' words to channel energy... Ah! 14! That's it, 14! The 14 stars of the Rexel planetary configuration. Creature, I name you... Carrionite!" he announced, pointing a finger at the witch, who promptly screamed and vanished.
"What did ya do?" Martha asked
"I named her." the Doctor replied. "The power of a name, that's old magic."
"First ya say magic exits, then it does, now it does. Make ya bloody mind up, mate!" Shareen grumbled, "Tell us, in plain and simple English, what the hell is going on!"
"Well, magic is just a different form of science." the Doctor said, "You lot, you chose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can split the atom. Carrionites use words instead."
"Use them for what?" Shakespeare asked
"The End of the World." the Doctor replied grimly
~8~
The quartet were soon back at the Elephant Inn, discussing the situation. "The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe." the Doctor explained, "Nobody was sure if they were real or legend."
"I'm going for real." Shakespeare remarked
"I faced 'em once before." the Doctor said
"When was that?" Shareen asked
"In 80's Birmingham." the Doctor replied
"But what do they want?" Martha asked
"A new empire on Earth." the Doctor replied, "A world of bones and blood an' witchcraft."
"But how?"
"I'm looking at the man with the words." the Doctor said, turning to Shakespeare.
"Me?" Shakespeare frowned, "But I've done nothing."
"Hold on, though. What were you doing last night, when that Carrionite was in the room?" Martha asked him
"Finishing the play."
"What happens on the last page?" the Doctor asked
"The boys get the girls, they have a bit of a dance, it's all as funny and thought-provoking as usual." Shakespeare replied, then something occurred to him. "Except those last few lines. Funny thing is, I don't actually remember writing them."
"That's it!" the Doctor realised, "They used you! They gave you the final words, like a spell, like a code. Love's Labours Won, it's a weapon! The right combination of words, spoken in the right place, with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! An' yes, you can have that."
They were soon studying a map. "Well, there's All Hallows Street." Shareen said, pointing to a particular spot.
"Right, you, me an' Martha'll track them down." the Doctor said, "Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop that play!"
"I'll do it." Shakespeare said confidently, "All these years, I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you, I know nothing." he remarked
"Oh, don't complain!" Martha laughed
"I'm not, it's marvellous!" Shakespeare replied. "Good luck, Doctor."
"Good luck, Shakespeare." the Doctor replied as he and the women moved to the door, "Once more unto the breach!"
"I like that." Shakespeare noted, "Wait a minute, that's one of mine!"
"Oh, get on with it!" Shareen rolled her eyes.
~8~
The Doctor and his companions had soon arrived at the street they were aiming for. "All Hallows Street, but which house?" the Doctor wandered
"Thing is, though... am I missing something here?" Martha asked, "The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me and Shareen, we're living proof."
"Oh, how to explain the mechanics of the infinite temporal flux?" the Doctor muttered. "I know! Back to the Future, it's like Back to the Future."
"Never seen it." Shareen said
"Well, Marty McFly goes back and changes history." the Doctor explained
"And he starts fading away." Martha nodded, then realised what the Doctor was saying. "Oh my God, are we gonna fade?!"
"You an' the entire future of the Human race." the Doctor said grimly. "It ends now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?"
At that moment, the front door to one of the houses opened by itself. "Well, I'd guess it's that one." Shareen said
"Ah, make that witch house." the Doctor joked
"Not funny, Peacock." Shareen rolled her eyes. "Ya realise it's probably a trap."
"Then let's spring it!" the Doctor grinned and led the way into the house. They found a young woman waiting for. It was the same maid who had been at the inn when Lynley had threatened to cancel the play. It all came together now for the Doctor. This maid was in fact a Carrionite in disguise. "I take it we're expected." the Doctor said
"Oh, I think death has been waiting for you a very long time." the Carrionite replied smugly
"Right then, it's my turn." Martha said, stepping forward. "I know how to do this." She pointed a finger at the Carrionite. "I name thee, Carrionite!"
The Carrionite pretended to panic, then laughed.
"What did I do wrong?" Martha wandered, "Was it the finger?"
"The power of a name works only once." the Carrionite smirked. "Observed." She pointed a finger at Martha. "I gaze upon this bag of bones and now I name thee Martha Jones.
Martha's eyes rolled into her head, and she collapsed. "Martha!" Shareen hollered as she and the Doctor managed to catch Martha before she could hit the ground.
"What have ya done?!" the Doctor demanded angrily as he and Shareen carefully lowered Martha to the floor.
"Only sleeping, alas." the Carrionite said. "Curious, the name has less impact. She's somehow out of her time. And as for you two, Sir Doctor and Shareen Costello..." She pointed a finger at the two time travellers but nothing happened.
"Nice try, Sarah Sanderson." Shareen snarked
"Fascinating. You are not who you claim to be." the Carrionite remarked. "And as for you, Doctor, there is no name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair? Oh, but look. There's still one word with the power that aches for both of you."
"The naming won't work on me." the Doctor said dryly
"But your heart grows cold." the Carrionite smirked. "The north wind blows and carries down the distant... Rose."
"Oh, big mistake." the Doctor said as he stood, "cos that name keeps me fightin'. The Carrionites vanished. Where did you go?"
"The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness."
"An' how did you escape?"
"New words." the Carrionite answered with a malicious smile. "New and glittering from a mind like no other."
"Shakespeare." the Doctor realised
"His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure, madness enough to allow us entrance."
"How many of you?"
"Just the three." the Carrionite answered bitterly
"Huh, it's always just three with witches, isn't it?" Shareen remarked
"But the play tonight shall restore the rest." the Carrionite announced. "Then the Human race shall be purged as pestilence. And from this world, we shall led the universe back into the old ways of blood and magic."
"Hmm, busy schedule..." the Doctor commented, walking past the Carrionite, "but first you've gotta get past me."
"Oh, that should be a pleasure considering my enemy has such a handsome shape." the Carrionite said seductively, running her fingers along the Doctor's face.
"Now, that's one form of magic that's definitely not gonna work on me." the Doctor said flatly
"Oh, we'll see." the Carrionite smirked, then she yanked out a lock of the Doctor's hair and backed away.
"What was that for? What did ya do?" the Doctor frowned
"A souvenir." the Carrionite smirked, moving back to the window.
"Well, give it back!" the Doctor snorted and lunged forward, only for the Carrionite to leap back out of the window and hover in mid-air. "Well, that's just cheating." the Doctor huffed
"Witches never play fair." Shareen remarked
"Behold, Doctor. Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets." the Carrionite smirked, pulling out a voodoo doll and wrapping the hair around it.
"Now, ya call that magic... I'd call that a DNA replication module." the Doctor retorted
"And I take it she used that thing to kill Lynley and get Shakespeare to write for her?" Shareen probed
"So clever." the Carrionite sneered, "But what use is your science now?" And she promptly thrust a pin into the doll's chest.
The Doctor yelled and fell to the floor while the Carrionite cackled and flew off. Martha awoke at that moment and saw the Doctor on the floor with Shareen checking him. "Oh my God, Doctor!" Martha cried, rushing over, "Don't worry. I've got you."
"Aahh! I've only got one heart working!" the Doctor groaned. "How'd you people cope? I've gotta get the other one started. Hit me! Hit me on the chest!"
"With pleasure." Shareen said and gave the Doctor an almighty whack on the chest.
"Aahh! Other side!" the Doctor groaned, and Shareen hit him on the other side of the chest. "On the back, on the back." the Doctor instructed, and Martha obliged this time. "Left a bit." Martha gave him another whack on the back. "Argh!" the Doctor grunted, jumping to his feet. "Lovely. There we go! Ba-da-boom! Well, what're we standin' here for? Come on, the Globe!" And he sped away.
"Huh, ungrateful git." Shareen grunted as she and Martha followed him.
~8~
The trio were soon running through the streets. "We're going the wrong way!" Martha warned
"No, we're not!" the Doctor said and ran down another street before suddenly doubling back. "We're goin' the wrong way!" he said as he led them back the way they came.
"Like Martha told ya." Shareen remarked, "Should've brought that map with us."
Presently, they heard screaming, and they turned a corner to see an ominous red maelstrom pouring out of the Globe Theatre. "I told thee so! I told thee!" the preacher from last night said smugly as he passed the trio.
"Stage door!" the Doctor urged and led the way.
~8~
When the trio reached backstage, they found Shakespeare slumped in a chair nursing his head. "Stop the play, I think that was it. Yeah, I said, 'stop the play!'" the Doctor huffed
"I hit my head." Shakespeare groaned
"Yeah, don't rub it, you'll go bald." the Doctor grunted, then he heard a commotion from on stage. "I think that's our cue." he said, and they all rushed off to see what was happening.
They went onstage to see three Carrionites sitting in a box, with the one from the inn holding up a crystal ball. "Now begins the millennium of blood!" they crowed in triumph. Then they spotted the quartet.
"The Doctor, he lives!" the maid Carrionite snarled, "Then watch this world become a blasted heath! They come! They come!"
Black shapes came out of a vortex and swirled around the red energy emitting from the theatre. The Doctor knew that the shapes were other Carrionites."Come on, Will! History needs ya!" he urged Shakespeare
"But what can I do?" Shakespeare protested
"Reverse it!"
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"The shape of the Globe gives words power." the Doctor replied, "But you're the wordsmith, the one true genius, the only man clever enough to do it.
"But what words? I have none ready!"
"Then make some up!" Shareen hollered
"But these Carrionite phrases, they need such precision." Shakespeare blustered
"Trust yourself." the Doctor encouraged. "When you're locked away in ya room, the words just come, don't they? Like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm, words that last forever! That's what you do, Will, ya choose perfect words, do it, improvise!"
So Shakespeare bravely stepped forward. "Close up this din of hateful dire decay!" he shouted, "Decomposition of your witches' plot. You thieve my brains, consider me your toy, my doting Doctor tells me I am not!"
"No! Words of power!" the Carrionite from the inn shrieked
"Foul, Carrionite spectres, cease your show between the points..." Shakespeare tailed off and looked to the time travellers for help.
"7-6-1-3-9-0!" the Doctor suggested
"7-6-1-3-9-0!" Shakespeare continued. "And banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee..."
He looked to the Doctor again, but the Time Lord was at a loss this time and he looked his companions for help. "Don't look at me." Shareen said, "The best I've got is 'Izzy whizzy let's get busy'."
"Expelliarmus!" Martha suggested
"Expalliarmus!" the Doctor urged Shakespeare.
"Expelliarmus!" Shakespeare crowed
"Good old JK." the Doctor grinned.
Shakespeare's words did the trick and the Carrionites began to be pulled back into the vortex. "The deep darkness!" the one from the inn wailed, "They are consumed!"
Then, the play's script pages began to be pulled in too. "Love's Labour's Won." the Doctor remarked "There it goes!"
The clouds dissipated and the audience sighed in relief then began applauding. The Doctor ducked out as the actors took their bows. "They think it was all special effects." Martha remarked
"Your effect is special indeed." Shakespeare said flirtingly
"Bet ya say that to all the girls." Shareen smirked, then she, Martha and Shakespeare took their bows as well.
The Doctor meanwhile went to the Carrionites' box and found the crystal ball on the floor. He picked it up to see the three Carrionites trapped inside. He stuffed it into his pocket and walked away.
~8~
Next morning at the Globe, Martha and Shakespeare were sitting at the edge of the stage. "And I say, a heart for a hart and a dear for a deer." Shakespeare joked
"I don't get it." Martha shook her head.
"Then give me a joke from Freedonia."
"Ok, Shakespeare walks into a pub and the landlord says, 'Oi mate, you're Bard'."
"It's brilliant." Shakespeare laughed politely. "Doesn't make sense, mind you, but never mind that." He wrapped his hand around Martha's waist. Come here."
"I've only just met you." Martha protested
"The Doctor might not kiss you." Shakespeare said simply, "Why not entertain a man who will?"
"I don't know how to tell you this, oh great genius... but your breath doesn't half stink." Martha laughed, pushing away from him.
Just then, the Doctor and Shareen emerged from backstage. The Doctor was wearing a ruff and carrying a skull while Shareen was holding a pike. "Good props store back there!" the Doctor remarked, "I'm not sure about this though." He eyed the skull. "Reminds me of a Sycorax."
"Sycorax. Nice word." Shakespeare observed, "I'll have that off you as well."
"I should be on 10%" the Doctor grumbled
"Mind if I keep this?" Shareen asked Shakespeare, gesturing to her pike, "When Peacock's being a dick, I can give him a good poke up the arse with it!"
"How's your head?" the Doctor asked Shakespeare
"Still aching." Shakespeare replied, rubbing his forehead.
"Here, I got you this." the Doctor said, taking his ruff off and putting it on Shakespeare's neck. "Neck brace. Wear that for a few days till it's better, although you might wanna keep it. It suits you."
"What about the play?" Martha asked
"Gone." the Doctor replied. "I looked all over, every single copy of Love's Labours Won went up in the sky."
"My lost masterpiece." Shakespeare lamented
"Well, you could always rewrite." Shareen suggested
"Yeah, better not, Will." the Doctor advised, "There's still power in those words. Maybe it should stay forgotten."
"Oh, but I've got new ideas." Shakespeare said brightly "Perhaps it's time I wrote about fathers and sons. In memory of my boy. My precious Hamnet."
"Hamnet?" Martha questioned
"That's him."
"Ham-net?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Anyway." the Doctor cut in, "Time we were off. We've got a nice attic in the TARDIS, where this lot can scream for eternity." He showed them the crystal ball where the Carrionites were trapped. "An' I've gotta take Martha back to Freedonia."
"You mean travel on through time and space." Shakespeare said knowingly
"Ya what?" the Doctor stared
"You're from another world like the Carrionites." Shakespeare said, "And Martha and Shareen are from the future. It's not that hard to work out."
"That's... incredible." an impressed Doctor said, "You are incredible."
"We're alike in many ways, Doctor." Shakespeare said, "I sense your loss, your grief, your madness. But we both go on living, go on talking, go on hoping. We must. What else we fit for? But I don't need to travel. This is where I belong. This is the whole Earth: The Globe. Give me a pen and ink, give me my mind's eye and I can go wherever I want." He turned to the women. "Fair Shareen, I bid thee farewell. Martha, let me say goodbye to you in a new verse. A sonnet for my Dark Lady. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate..."
Suddenly, Kempe came running in excitedly. "Will! Will! You'll never believe it! She's here! She's turned up!"
"We're the talk of the town." Dick added, "She's heard about last night! She wants us to perform it again."
"Who?" Martha asked
"Her Majesty! She's here!" Dick replied excitedly
A bugle played a fanfare and the regal form of Queen Elizabeth I walked into the theatre. "Blimey!" Shareen exclaimed
"Queen Elizabeth I!" the Doctor grinned
The Queen's face went red in anger at the sight of the Time Lord. "Doctor!" she spat furiously
"What?" the Doctor spluttered in surprise
"My sworn enemy!" the Queen snarled
"What?"
"Off with his head!" the Queen ordered her guards
"What?" the Doctor repeated
"Never mind 'What', just run!" Martha hollered, "See ya, Will! And thanks!"
"See ya, Will!" Shareen said as she, Martha and the Doctor legged it.
"Stop that pernicious Doctor!" the Queen bellowed, and a few guards gave chase, passing an amused Shakespeare.
~8~
The Doctor, Martha and Shareen raced through the streets towards the TARDIS. "Stop in the name of the Queen!" a guard demanded as he gave chase.
"What did ya do to piss her off?!" Sharen demanded to the Doctor. First he'd been declared an enemy of the Crown by Queen Victoria, now Elizabeth I wanted his head.
"How should I know?" the Doctor replied, "Haven't even met her yet. That's time travel for ya. Still, can't wait to find out." He unlocked the TARDIS and the women dashed inside to safety. "That's something to look forward to." the Doctor continued, then he ducked inside as an archer opened fire, the arrow thudding into the door just a split second after the Doctor had closed it.
Author's notes: And that's this Shakesperean romp completed. It was fun incorporating Shareen into this episode as she gets to show her spunky and flirty sides. I've had a go at addressing the Doctor's Rose bias in this chapter, with Shareen being on the receiving end of it and not taking kindly to it at all. The Doctor's Rose bias really drags down the otherwise excellent series 3. There'll be another confrontation about it next chapter, I can promise you that. Shareen is turning out to be a fun character to write as she serves as an opportunity to address the character flaws with the 10th Doctor. As much as we all love him, we can't deny that he was arrogant, self-centred, self-righteous and tended to treat people he didn't fancy like dirt. All that can be addressed in fanfiction, where we can have people stand up to him and call him out on his bad ways. So, hope you like this chapter and hope to see you next time for a return to New Earth. Bye for now!
