Screw Loose: Honestly, I'm a lot more ticked by the fact that River's relationship with her parents was never truly explored.
The viewers were silent, watching as the next recording started.
In Cwmtaff, South Wales in 2020, a man is trying to teach his son how to read a book in front of their house. The son tells him he can't do it and he'll just listen to his audiobook. The father tells his son to keep trying as a woman, obviously the wife and mother, walks up behind them. She tells the man, Mo, that he's late for his shift. Mo takes the lunch she's packed for him and jokes with his son that no one loves him more his Mo. He then gets on his bike and begins riding to work.
"So normal family on an ordinary day. If it's anything like the other recordings, this'll tie into The Doctor somehow," Jack noted.
"Seems to be how these are going," Donna agreed as they all paid close attention.
Mo arrives at a sight of a drill. Inside, an old man is sitting with a woman when they receive word that they've achieved new drill depth. The man cheers, hugging the woman, Nasreen, as she's on the phone, keeping her supervisor in the loop. The man announces their success over an intercom and giving the rest the weekend off. The man, who Nasreen calls Mack and Nasreen talk excitedly about the project when Mo walks in joking about the 'real worker being here'. They tell him about the progress and he hugs them both happily before telling them to go home.
"So Mo is a night watchman for this drilling site," Wilf mused.
"Yeah," Jack said a feeling of unease washing over him. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"You're not the only one. If this ties into The Doctor, I don't think the drilling is a good idea," Martha said in a matching tone to Jack.
"Every horror movie I've even seen with a drill starts exactly like this," Mickey muttered.
"This isn't a horror movie Mickey," Donna pointed out.
"Isn't it? The Doctor made these recording to operate like a show. Mickey might be onto something," Jack said as they all began to watch the screen uneasily.
That night, Mo is on shift, reading the book he was reading his son when he hears his mug starts vibrating. Before long, the entire building is shaking as an earthquake hits. Almost as soon as it began, it stops but Mo notices the security feed for the storeroom is gone.
"And now's usually the part where the monster begins stalking its first victim," Mickey muttered.
"Mickey, would you please stop talking about horror films?" Martha grumbled, not in the mood.
"Either way, something is messing with the feed," Jack pointed out, wondering what could do that.
Mo tries to get it back but then loses all the feeds. Mo goes to investigate, using a light to find his way as the lights flicker from tremors. Heading into the storeroom, Mo finds a hole broken through the floor, a thick mist of steam coming out of it.
"Got to admit, wasn't expecting that," Mickey said as they all looked at the screen in bewilderment.
"Something just dug a hole up through the ground," Martha said in utter disbelief.
"No. The hole is too neat to have been dug. It's like something smashed through it," Donna noted, her brain analyzing the shape and pattern of the hole. "Plus there's that steam."
"If something did smash through it, it would explain the tremors. Only question is what could smash through the ground from underneath?" Jack wondered.
Walking over to inspect it, Mo keels down, shinning his light inside the hole, seeing dirt beneath the steam. He places his light on the edge of the hole before reaching inside but his light falls in. It falls through the dirt and Mo reaches inside, looking around for it. Something seems to be trying to yank him down into the dirt. Mo struggles against it before managing to pull his hand out of the dirt. He turns himself around but his foot lands in the dirt and he is dragged down into it despite his struggles.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as they looked at the screen startled.
"Whatever dug that hole, I think Mo just met it," Jack said grimly.
"Not yet," Jane said simply but didn't elaborate.
"What could do that?" Wilf wondered as they looked at Jack for an idea, having long ago come to the realization Jane would tell them nothing.
"I'm not sure," Jack admitted, an idea that unnerved him.
The next day, The Doctor emerges from the TARDIS welcoming Amy and Rory to Rio. Amy and Rory immediately realize this isn't Rio as they step into a graveyard.
"So once again, the Spaceman's bad driving brings him to the one place he needs to be," Donna muttered.
"Seems that way," Martha agreed.
The Doctor, sensing something off, walks forward before jumping up and down, noting the ground feels strange. Rory and Amy don't feel anything off as The Doctor seems to sense something. The Doctor walks over to a patch of grass as Amy complains about the weather, thinking he's trying to distract them. The Doctor notices the grass is blue and sees its all around the graveyard before declaring they're in 2020, ten years into Amy and Rory's future. Amy the noticing two people waving at them from across the graveyard. The Doctor takes out his binoculars and is shocked to find it's another Amy and Rory.
"Huh?" Martha said as they past viewers looked confused.
"It's the Amy and Rory from 2020, they were on a trip I guess revisiting past memories," Jane said, barely managing to keep the grimace off her face.
Sadly, Amy and Rory would never take that trip and stand across from their future selves in this timeline. But hopefully they would in the one she was trying to create.
"But aren't they crossing their own timeline? Shouldn't this be a paradox or something?" Mickey wondered.
"Only if they touch. Besides, it might be fixed," Jack mused.
"Huh?" Martha asked confused.
"They saw their future selves while traveling with The Doctor. So because they did, to prevent a paradox they would've needed to make this trip to preserve the timeline in the future," Donna explained and Jack nodded in agree.
"Okay, now you're just showing off how smart you are," Martha said dryly and Donna smiled.
Rory is confused as The Doctor explains it's their future selves, having come back to revisit past glories. "Humans, you're so nostalgic," The Doctor notes. Amy is surprised they're still together in ten years, annoying Rory.
"She didn't think they would be?" Wilf asked.
"She probably hoped, but you saw how Amy grew up. Very few things in her life were permanent," Jane pointed out.
"Plus, abandonment issues," Martha noted.
"That to," Jane agreed.
Amy suggests they go say hi but The Doctor immediately stops her before noticing the drilling sight. Despite Amy's pleas, The Doctor declares they need to have a look, heading towards the drill. Rory asks how The Doctor can get them home if he can't get them to Rio and Amy points out they were on the hill in ten years. Rory wonders if they can drop back into their old lives after traveling with The Doctor.
"We all do at some point," Martha noted.
"But it's never easy," Mickey mused.
"At least you got to walk away," Jack scoffed.
"At least you got to remember it," Donna shot back.
"Good point. I think Donna wins this round," Jack noted.
"I didn't know it was a competition," Donna muttered. "Is this what it's like when you usually hang out, you compare notes about The Doctor?"
"Pretty much," Mickey shrugged.
Amy moves to follow The Doctor but Rory stops her, insisting she not wear her ring. Amy is confused as Rory points out she could lose the ring and it cost 'a lot of money'. Amy gives him back the ring, calling him a spoilsport before heading after The Doctor. Rory heads back to the TARDIS to put the ring away, promising to catch up. At the drilling site, Mack and Nasreen are inspecting the hole and trying to figure out what happened to Mo. At the TARDIS, Rory puts Amy's ring back in the box before heading back outside. As he exits the TARDIS, he runs into Mo's wife and son. The wife says that was quick, thinking Rory is the police.
"Well, Rory picked the wrong time to go back to the TARDIS," Martha said dryly.
"Maybe, or maybe the right time," Jack mused as they all turned to him. "The best way to figure out a problem like this is to talk to people in town. They notice things they might seem insignificant at the time."
"But might be connected to what's going on," Donna realized and Jack nodded.
"Rory might have an opportunity here to help The Doctor put things together," Jack said, interested to see what would happen now.
The son asks if the TARDIS is a portable crime lab and Rory awkwardly says sort of. The wife introduces herself as Ambrose Northover and the one who called for the police. She introduces her son Elliot, asks why Rory isn't dressed in uniform and Ambrose saves Rory from answering, thinking he's CID. They then begin to lead the awkward Rory through the graveyard. The Doctor and Amy walk up to the drilling site. The Doctor ignores the restricted access sign, using his screwdriver to unlock the gate, to Amy's alarm. He then opens the gate and Amy reluctantly heads inside. The Doctor then looks back, wondering what is taking Rory so long.
"He's doing what's usually your job," Martha said dryly.
At the graveyard, Ambrose and Elliot have brought Rory to a grave without a coffin. Ambrose explains this is her family plot and, when they went to bury her Uncle Allen, her Aunt Gladys's body was no longer there. Rory listens in disbelief as Ambrose explains that the body and coffin both vanished, despite the ground around it not being touched.
"Mysterious holes in the ground, dirt that drags things down. What is this?" Martha wondered.
Jack narrowed his eyes, a thought occurring to him. But he'd have to wait to see if he was right.
Amy and The Doctor walk through the drilling site, Amy still having no clue what The Doctor is so concerned about. The Doctor says the ground doesn't feel right. Amy suggests this might be how it feels in the future but The Doctor dismisses this. They hear a sound and The Doctor says the drill is getting started, explaining the blue grass is a result of the recent drilling in the area. The Doctor puts a piece of grass in his mouth and Amy laughs when he spits it out, asking if he's always been this disgusting. The Doctor says it's recent.
"If that's what you say," Martha scoffed.
"This Regeneration does seem more hands on, more willing to put his hands in the dirt though," Jack pointed out and Martha nodded, conceding his point.
"Why is The Doctor so fascinated by the grass?" Wilf wondered.
"Because it's unnatural. And that's a red flag," Donna told him, curious about the grass herself.
They enter the storeroom, finding Nasreen at her computer. She is surprised to see them, along with Amy's attire. Amy grumbles about dressing for Rio. The Doctor uses his psychic paper to pass themselves off as members of 'Ministry of Drills, Earth and Science'.
"Does such a thing even exist?" Wilf wondered.
"Honestly, Dad makes up half of these things just to get information," Jane told him.
The Doctor asks what she's doing and she tells him none of his business. Still, she steps away, allowing him access to her computer. The Doctor looks at the readings on the computer, asking where they're from and she says under the soil. Mack then walks in, declaring the drill is running before seeing Amy and The Doctor, asking who they are. The Doctor inspects the soil as Amy introduces them, promising they're leaving. The Doctor inspects the dirt, asking why it's there. Nasreen says it just appeared overnight and The Doctor gets to his feet, telling them to get out very fast. Nasreen asks why and he asks her name. Nasreen introduces herself and The Doctor tells her to look at her readings as Amy inspects the dirt behind them. Mack walks over to The Doctor, telling him its specialized equipment as Amy asks The Doctor about the steam. The Doctor walks over, explaining that the ground shouldn't be shifting. Suddenly, the room begins to shake.
"Oh no," Mickey groaned as they all tensed.
"The dirt is attacking again. Why is the dirt attacking? And how?" Donna asked in bewilderment and worry.
"Not sure, but Mickey might be onto something with his horror film theory," Jack muttered.
Everyone backs away from the hole as The Doctor explains the ground under the soil is moving but he doesn't understand why. Amy suggests an earthquake but The Doctor dismisses this, as it's only happening under this room. Cracks start appearing in the ground. The Doctor says the ground is attacking because it knows they're there, which Nasreen claims is impossible. The Doctor orders them all to run. They begin to flee the room but Mack's foot catches in one of the holes. Everyone pauses as Nasreen calls him by his first name, Tony. The Doctor warns Amy to stay back but she ignores his order, jumping over the cracks to help Tony. As she begins to help him, the ground beneath Amy's feet cracks and she falls down, her feet getting trapped in the soil.
"Oh Bloody Hell!" Donna exclaimed with a groan.
"Of course one of them would get trapped in this thing. Like a bloody show indeed," Martha grumbled.
"Honestly, kind of expected it," Jack said as they all watched, worried for Amy.
The Doctor and Nasreen run towards the pair as Amy begins to get dragged down. Nasreen helps Tony out of the hole as The Doctor frantically tries to pull Amy out. She tells him not to let go and The Doctor says never. Amy asks why the dirt is doing this and he tells to keep holding on and stay calm, ordering Nasreen and Tony to shut down the drill.
"I don't think that'll work," Jack sad as he narrowed his eyes.
"You know what's going on, don't you?" Wilf realized.
"Do I know what's causing this? No. But I have a pretty good guess as to why the ground is going berserk," Jack said, eyes not leaving the screen. "Let's see if I'm right."
Nasreen and Tony run out of the room to do as Amy asks if The Doctor can get her out. He tells her to stay calm, as struggling might make things worse. Tony and Nasreen begin shutting down the drill as the dirt pulls Amy in so far The Doctor loses his grip on her hand. The Doctor frantically grabs on, pleading with her to hold on. But Amy says she can't. Tony and Nasreen frantically try to shut down the drill as quickly as they can as Amy frantically worries about suffocating under the dirt. The Doctor tells her to concentrate as she begins to give him her final message to Rory. He refuses to listen though, trying futilely to stop her being sucked down until her head is submerged in the dirt. The Doctor frantically tries to hold onto her hand but it is soon sucked under as well.
"Amy," Martha muttered, Mickey putting his arm around her as they all worried about the redhead.
"If I'm right, she's still alive. Captured, in danger, but alive," Jack said as he narrowed his eyes.
"Feel like sharing your theory then Immortal Man?" Donna asked sarcastically.
"Dad explains it in a minute," Jane assured. "You'll see if Jack is right then."
The Doctor frantically searches through the dirt but can find no trace of Amy. He tries to use his screwdriver on the dirt but it does nothing. The Doctor stands there, in a state of shock and grief as Tony and Nasreen return. Nasreen asks where Amy is and The Doctor sadly informs them the ground took her. At the graveyard, Rory is standing in the open grave, appearing to inspect it when Elliot asks if he wants sugar. Rory is confused and Elliot clarifies Ambrose is asking if he wants sugar in his tea. Rory declines and Elliot gives him his theory about what happened: the graves eat people.
"Clever boy," Jack noted, impressed.
"How can a child figure out what a group of adults can't?" Mickey said in disbelief.
"Adults are a lot more jaded and cynical than children, who see endless possibilities in the world around them. What seems impossible to us might not seem so to children," Jane pointed out and Donna and Martha looked at her with unreadable looks on their faces. "What?"
"You just…you sounded so much like him just then," Martha muttered.
Rory is skeptical but Elliot points the body wasn't taken from above and they can't get in from the sides, which leaves underneath. Rory points out the unlikeliness of this. "When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth," Elliot says.
"Smart kid," Martha said, all of them growing impressed with Elliot.
Elliot says he got it from his Sherlock Holmes audiobook, declaring that the graves eat people before walking off. At the drilling site, Tony asks if what happened to Amy also happened to Mo and if they're dead. The Doctor is pacing back and forth, noting it's not quicksand as Amy was pulled in rather than sinking. The Doctor says Something wanted Amy before pointing out the ground was dormant when they first saw it, just a patch of dirt. The drill had been stopped. But once the drill had been started, the ground fought back. Nasreen incredulous asks if the ground wants them to stop drilling, calling it ridiculous. The Doctor uses his screwdriver on the dirt again, this time the dirt trembles. The Doctor agrees with Nasreen, saying he doesn't think it's right. The Doctor slaps his forehead, realizing its bio-programing.
"Just like I thought then," Jack muttered.
"What is Bio-Programing?" Wilf wondered.
"Basically, by using bio signals, you can control the earth. It's used by advanced civilizations," Jack said as he narrowed his eyes.
"So there's some kind of alien race living under the earth?" Donna asked skeptically.
"After everything we've seen is it that farfetched?" Martha pointed out and Donna paused, not really having a response.
The Doctor explains bio-programing to Tony and Nasreen, wondering what it's doing here. Nasreen though is caught up on jungle planets as Tony accuses him of not making any sense. "Excuse me, I'm making perfect sense. You're just not keeping up," The Doctor says offended.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna said in exasperation.
"It probably does make sense to him, but he forgets sometimes he's so smart it makes us look daft," Martha mused.
"Curse of living this long, you forget not everyone has the same experience as you," Jack said, understanding The Doctor all too well.
The Doctor explains that the ground was bio-programed to attack. Nasreen demands if that was even possible, why and The Doctor explains to stop their drilling. If they find whoever bio-programed the ground, they find Amy. The Doctor then realizes he's gone mad.
"Well, at least he admits it," Martha noted amused.
"But if he is, then it must really be bad what's happening there," Donna said and all amusement vanished.
Nasreen starts to speak but The Doctor demands silence. He walks over to them, making sure they've stopped the drill and only have one. His suspicions confirmed, The Doctor walks over to the dirt, lying down next to it and putting his ear to the ground. "So, if you've shut the drill down, why can I still hear drilling?" The Doctor asked.
"Just like you said Donna, the hole was too neat to have been dug," Jack said as they looked at the screen startled.
"What could be driving under the earth's crust? There shouldn't be anything under there," Martha said in disbelief.
"The earth is a lot bigger than you realize Martha," Jane said but didn't elaborate.
"We'll probably find out either way," Mickey said as they paid close attention to what's happening.
The Doctor realizes the drilling is coming from under the ground, which Tony says isn't possible. The Doctor gets to his feet, using his screwdriver on their equipment to gain access to their records. The Doctor then determines the drill has drilled 21.009 kilometers. He compliments them before asking why they've chosen to drill here. Nasreen mentions the blue grass around this area contains minerals that hasn't been seen in millions of years. The Doctor then explains that the blue grass was a warning to stay away. While they've been drilling down, someone else has been drilling up.
"And like moths to a flame, they ignored the warnings and started drilling," Jack said darkly.
"It's not like they could know," Donna said in defense of Nasreen and the other workers.
"Why is it whenever humans see something we don't understand, our instinct is to give it a kick and see what happens?" Jack sighed tiredly.
"It's the nature of pretty much every species in the universe unfortunately. You should know that better than anyone Jack," Jane pointed out and Jack nodded, conceding her point.
The computer then brings up a digital map of the underground, revealing a network of tunnels. Tony says shocked they surveyed that area but The Doctor says they only found what they were looking for. Seeing three dots, Nasreen asks what they are. The Doctor notes they're heat signals, realizing the signals read both hot and cold. Seeing the heat signals beginning to move, The Doctor asks how many people live nearby. Mack reveals Ambrose is his daughter and only she and her family live nearby.
"So Mo is his son in law then. Explains the way they greeted each other," Jack mused.
"And he probably hasn't told her about Mo," Wilf realized, none of them envying Tony.
"And looks like we're about to have another invasion," Mickey said grimly.
"Not exactly," Jane said and they looked at her oddly. "It's complicated. Just keep watching."
The Doctor orders them to grab the equipment and follow him, revealing the noise isn't a drill at all. It's a transport, three of them and they'll be in twelve minutes. "Whatever bio-programed the earth, it's on its way up," The Doctor said as he grabbed some equipment and began to head out of the room. "Now." Tony and Nasreen quickly began grabbing some equipment. The three of them move outside, Tony asking how the transport can come up with only the earth's crust down there. The Doctor points out he saw the readings and Nasreen asks who he is, how he knows all this. Before The Doctor can answer, they see red lights flash across the sky. Having a suspicion, The Doctor picks up a rock and uses a slingshot to throw it up into the sky. The rock is incinerated in the sky by the red lights.
"An energy barricade," Jack said as he paled. "They've been locked in. Whatever they're facing, it's an extremely advanced race."
"Advanced technology, tactical skill. They're ready for battle," Donna said uneasily.
"And all Boss has is some scientists, technicians, Rory and some civilians," Mickey said uneasily.
"He's come out on top with less," Martha said with certainty.
Using his screwdriver, The Doctor realizes an energy barricade has generated under the earth around the village, trapping them. Rory then walks up behind them with Elliot, explaining about the graves. The Doctor tells him not now, focused on the energy barricade, which he notes is invisible to the naked eye. They can't get out and no one can get in.
"They're cut off from getting out, and no one can get in to help them. Whatever they're facing is good," Jack said grimly.
"Just wish we knew what it was they were facing," Martha muttered.
Rory asks about the TARDIS and The Doctor says the energy patterns would interfere with the circuits. The Doctor notes they only have nine and a half minutes. Rory asks what and Nasreen explains the situation. Rory then notices that Amy is missing, asking about her.
"Well Rory won't take this well," Mickey noted.
"Would any of us?" Jack pointed out and Mickey nodded, conceding his point.
"Still, don't envy Boss here," Mickey grimaced.
The Doctor looks at Rory and tells him to get everyone inside the church. Grabbing some equipment, The Doctor promises Rory he'll get Amy back as everyone heads into the church. Rory demands to know where Amy is and The Doctor explains what happened. Rory demands to know why The Doctor didn't save her and he says he tried. "Then you should have tried harder!" Rory snaps angrily.
"Oi! He did the best he could!" Donna snapped angrily.
"Rory's just upset and lashing out. Like Amy did in the last recording when Rory died in the dream," Jane pointed out. "You can't take anything hurtful someone says in this kind of situation seriously. Dad understands that."
"I'm sure you remember how your mother was after your father died. People react to these things in strange ways sometimes," Wilf reminded Donna and Donna nodded with a grimace, realizing her grandfather had a point.
The Doctor promises that he'll find Amy and keep everyone safe, but he needs Rory's help. The Doctor heads into the church, Rory staring after him. Down below, Amy is unconscious as she's seen through the eye of a scanner, which examines her body and vitals.
"She's alive, but the enemy has her now," Mickey muttered lowly as they all worried for Amy.
"That's a good sign though. They have her captured rather than just killing her, and they could have killed them all at the site. It means whatever their intentions are, they don't want Amy dead," Jack pointed out.
"Which means Mo might still be alive as well," Wilf realized.
"Maybe," Martha muttered, not wanting to get her hopes up.
At the Church, Tony and Nasreen are bringing the equipment inside when Ambrose walks up to her father, asking about Mo. Tony doesn't answer, trying to open the door but its jammed. Ambrose calls out to Tony as Elliot realizes something has happened.
"Damn," Mickey muttered, all of them feeling sympathy for Tony.
"No one should ever have to tell a child their father has been taken like this," Wilf muttered as well.
"Unfortunately, it happens to often," Martha said sadly, remembering many moments, both as a doctor and working with UNIT that she'd had to break the news to families.
Inside, Ambrose is processing the situation as The Doctor tries to get everything ready with Tony and Nasreen. Ambrose refuses to believe it but Nasreen tells her she has seen the impossible today and The Doctor is the only one who has been able to make any sense of it. Elliot asks if he can get Mo back and everyone stops, turning to The Doctor as they wait for his answer. "Yes. But I need you to trust me and do exactly as I say from this second onwards, because we are running out time," The Doctor said as he walked over to Ambrose, looking at her pointedly. After a moment, she tells him to tell them what to do.
"Well, atb least they're working with him. This would be a lot harder if they didn't listen to him," Martha said optimistically.
"Let's just hope he can keep his promise. Making a promise you can't keep is a sure fire way to lose someone's trust," Jack said uneasily.
The Doctor says they have eight minutes to set up a defense, ordering them to bring him every camera, phone, every recording and transmitting equipment they can find. Outside, Rory and Ambrose gather up every device they can find as The Doctor says he wants the whole area covered with sensors. As Rory and Ambrose set everything up outside, The Doctor heads inside, where Tony is monitoring the transports. The Doctor tells Elliot to draw him a map of where the cameras are going but Elliot reveals he's dyslexic, so he can't do the words. The Doctor assures him it's alright; he just needs him to draw a picture. Elliot runs off to draw as Tony says they have six minutes and forty seconds until they arrive.
"For someone who hates violence so much, Boss sure plays the general really well," Mickey noted.
"He's still the man who fought in the Time War. He never seeks out violence, but he's always prepared for it," Jack pointed out. "Which is probably a smart philosophy, given his line of work."
Outside, Elliot draws a map as Rory continues to set up the cameras. Inside, Nasreen continues monitoring the transports, which are now five minutes until arrival. Tony shows The Doctor their network of scanners and The Doctor claps him on the shoulder before waking off. They now have four minutes remaining.
"Just four minutes. Can they really be prepared for an attack with such a small window?" Donna asked uneasily.
"Four minutes can mean the difference between life and death. It all depends on how you use those minutes," Jack told her.
The Doctor heads outside to a van, opening the door as Ambrose asks what he's doing, holding various weapons in her arms. The Doctor explains he's looking for resources, moving to the back after finding nothing in front. Ambrose puts the weapons in the front as The Doctor spots them.
"And Boss won't like that," Mickey said with a grimace.
"Probably a good thing. In this kind of situation, the last thing they need is for someone to get spooked or trigger happy," Jack pointed out.
"Massacres have happened for less," Jane agreed with a grimace.
The Doctor tells her no weapons, as it's not how he does things. Ambrose protests, saying he told them to defend themselves. The Doctor tells her she's better than this, and he's asking nicely for her to put them away. The Doctor then walks back inside as Ambrose looks back at the weapons.
"And something tells me she's not going to listen," Martha said dryly.
"Those afraid for their loved ones are always the loose cannons. That's what makes them dangerous," Jack said uneasily, feeling Ambrose was going to be a problem.
The Doctor is at the computer, monitoring the transports when Elliot runs up to him, handing him the map he has drawn. The Doctor takes it, complimenting Elliot's work as Elliot says he doesn't understand what The Doctor is planning. The Doctor explains his two step plan: the sensors and cameras will let them know when something arrives. And if something does, The Doctor uses his screwdriver to send a sonic pulse through their newly created network that will incapacitate them, which Elliot calls 'cool'.
"Not a bad plan, given he's only had about twenty minutes to work on it," Martha said impressed.
"Let's just hope it works," Mickey muttered, not as confident in the plan as The Doctor or his wife.
The Doctor looks at a 3D model of the church, beginning a conversation with Elliot about what it's like to live around here. Elliot wants to move away to the city once he's old enough. The Doctor notes he was the same way where he grew up. Elliot asks if he got away and The Doctor says he did. Elliot then asks if he misses it. "So much," The Doctor said after a moment.
"Spaceman," Donna said softly as they all looked at the screen sadly.
"We all dream of getting away from home as children. But once we do, we just want to go back," Jack said wistfully, thinking of his own home.
It was hard at times, but he still missed it every day, especially since becoming trapped in the past.
Elliot then asks if there are monsters coming and The Doctor doesn't answer. Elliot asks if he's met monsters before and The Doctor admits he has. Elliot asks if monsters scare him. "No, monsters are scared of me," The Doctor assures him.
Jane grimaced. He was right about that, but that hadn't been a good thing. Jane thought of Kovarian and what the monsters had done in their fear of her father.
Elliot asks if The Doctor can really get Mo back and The Doctor assures him he can. Elliot realizes he left his headphones at home and, distracted by the transport readings, The Doctor gestures for him to go get them.
"You dumbo," Donna snapped as they all groaned.
"Doctor, you need to pay attention when someone is talking to you," Martha said about to face palm.
"Yeah, that was definitely a mistake on Dad's part," Jane grimaced, knowing where said mistake had led.
"I'll say. Let's just hope he can correct it before it's too late," Jack said uneasily.
Elliot runs out of the church as The Doctor monitors the readings, one minute until arrival. The Doctor walks outside, where Rory is still setting things up. The sky begins to grow dark and Rory is confused on how it can get dark so quickly. The Doctor explains 'they' are shutting out light to isolate them in the barricade. Once it appears like it's night, there is a rumbling and The Doctor declares that it's here.
"And here we go," Jack muttered as they all tensed.
Inside the church, Tony and Nasreen are monitoring the transports as Nasreen says they are close to the surface. Tony grabs her and they then share a kiss. Nasreen is surprised but not displeased before they kiss again.
"I guess even in times of crisis, love finds a way," Wilf mused.
"I'm sure there's someone out there for you gramps," Donna said lightly and Wilf chuckled.
"I love you for that Donna, but there was only one woman for me. And she's gone," Wilf said as he thought of his wife. "I know I will see her again though, one day."
They then look back as the countdown reaches 0. The area begins to shake as The Doctor, Ambrose and Rory try to enter the church, finding the door jammed. Rory asks if The Doctor can 'sonic' it and The Doctor says it doesn't do wood.
"Would you make a bloody wood setting for that thing already!" Donna snapped.
"If he hasn't yet, he probably never will," Jack noted, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed.
Rory calls that rubbish, causing The Doctor to get defensive. Together, the three of them push the door open and rush inside. The Doctor immediately starts trying to 'get a fix' as things begin falling off the shelves. Suddenly, the lights spark as everyone jumps back, all the power going out.
"Well so much for that plan," Martha said as they all groaned.
"Whoever they are, they knew they might try this. They used a power surge to take out their equipment," Jack realized. "This is far beyond alien. This is an intelligence that comes with experience. They know what they're dealing with."
"Just wish we did," Mickey muttered.
The Doctor realizes this was their plan as Rory asks what they do. The Doctor says they can't do anything, as they sent an energy surge to wreck their systems. Rory makes sure everyone is okay when the ground begins to tremble. Rory uneasily asks The Doctor what that was. The Doctor puts his ear to the ground, declaring the transports are coming through the final layer of earth.
"And now they're here," Mickey muttered in the unusually quiet room, everyone paying undivided attention to the screen.
The Doctor gets up and suddenly there is silence. Ambrose realizes Elliot is missing. Horrified, The Doctor remembers Elliot going to get his headphones. Ambrose is angry at The Doctor for letting him leave. Outside, Elliot runs towards the church when he hears something behind him. Elliot looks over his shoulder, seeing nothing there.
"Elliot's out there with that thing," Donna said horrified, the mother in her worrying for the boy.
"This might be one of The Doctor's bigger blunders," Jack said darkly, worried for Elliot.
Elliot then begins running towards the church, hearing something and seeing something behind him over his shoulder.
"Don't stop to look at it, just run!" Mickey snapped, unable to help imagining Matthew in such a scenario.
"He's a child. They can't help it," Jane said with a sigh.
Elliot runs to the door, banging on it as he tells the others to let him in. Everyone frantically tries to get the door open as whatever was following Elliot approached him. Elliot turns his head as whatever it was scanned him like they had Amy. The others manage to get the door open and run out. Elliott is gone.
"Elliot," Martha said lowly.
Mickey wrapped an arm around her, both of them affected. Tears began falling from Donna's eyes as Wilf took her hand, similarly affected.
"I don't think Elliot's dead," Jack said, narrowing his eyes as the others turned to him. "Like Amy and Mo, he was taken when they could have killed them there. Whatever their motives, it seems to be capture rather than kill."
"But why?" Wilf wondered.
"Could be a number of reasons. Leverage, fear, spite. Only one way to know for sure," Jack said as they turned back to the recording.
Ambrose runs off, despite The Doctor's protests and Tony runs after her. Ambrose frantically calls for Elliot before she finds his headphone. She grabs them, wailing in despair.
Everyone watched the screen sadly. As parents themselves, this hit them all hard as they imagined themselves in Ambrose's position.
Ambrose is then tackled to the ground, scanned as she stares up a reptile looking creature with a humanoid body, wearing a lizard like mask. Tony rushes over, tackling it off Ambrose. As Ambrose runs behind her father, the creature displays a ling whip like tongue, whipping Tony in the neck before rushing off.
"Well, now we've seen what we're facing. Any ideas what it is?" Martha asked as she looked at Jack.
"None yet," Jack said as he frowned. "It's not something I've ever seen."
"Great," Mickey said sarcastically. "This just gets better and better."
The Doctor and Rory rushed over, The Doctor ordering Ambrose to get Tony into the church. Ambrose fearfully asks if they've killed Elliot but The Doctor doesn't think so. They've taken three people when it would have been easier to kill them up here. The Doctor encourages Ambrose not to lose hope just yet. Ambrose asks why they've taken Elliot and The Doctor says he doesn't know. He promises he'll find Elliot but he needs to stop the attack, ordering her to go back to the church. Ambrose reluctantly begins taking Tony back towards the church and Rory asks what they do now.
"Knowing The Doctor, he's already got a plan on how to stop them," Martha noted.
"Not yet, but he does have an idea on what to do next," Jane told them and they watched the screen closely, curious about The Doctor's next move.
The Doctor, wearing thermal imaging sunglasses, walks through the woods. He spots the creature, which flees once it realizes it's being watched. The Doctor, realizing the glasses don't register the creature, realizes its coldblooded. "I know who they are," The Doctor sang gleefully.
"So he's encountered them before then," Martha realized.
"That might give The Doctor an advantage, if he knows what exactly they're dealing with," Jack noted.
Not long after, The Doctor stood by the van from earlier, whistling before pulling out a fire extinguisher from the front. As he closes the door, he sees the creature's reflection in the window. It rushes towards him and The Doctor jumps out of the way. It crashes into the side of the van, wailing as The Doctor shoots the extinguisher at them. Rory then opens the back door, jumping out and he and The Doctor throw the creature in the back before closing the doors.
"They did it," Mickey said happily.
"But what now?" Wilf wondered.
"Now they have leverage," Jack mused.
The two briefly celebrate, about to high five when they hear a noise. The Doctor realizes the other creatures are leaving before the energy barricade vanishes. Rory thinks they've scared them off but The Doctor disagrees, noting both sides have hostages now.
"So they can open negotiations now," Wilf said hopefully.
"Or the creatures might retaliate. This could go really well or really bad," Mickey noted uneasily.
"It all depends on how The Doctor plays this," Donna noted.
Down below, Amy wakes up in a coffin like container. She bangs her hands against the glass, shouting to be let out. Through the glass, she sees a burred figure and pleads with them to be let out. It shushes her, angering Amy before gas fills the container and Amy coughs, breathing it in. She almost instantly loses consciousness.
"Well, she's still alive at least. Looks like you were right about that," Martha told Jack.
"But with one of their own captured, they might be less inclined to keep her safe now. Fear might become their motivation, fear for Amy to leverage the release of their own," Jack said uneasily.
"How well this goes depends on who has a cool head and who lets their emotions do the thinking," Jane said quietly as they all watched the screen uncertainly.
At the church, The Doctor explains to Rory that he's met these creatures before as they head down into the basement. Rory asks uncertainly if The Doctor is sure about speaking to it alone and The Doctor says he is. Rory points out the sting and The Doctor says it takes at least 24 hours to recharge. "Am I right?" The Doctor asks and the creature snarls at him. The Doctor tells Rory he knows what he's doing and he'll be fine. Rory reluctantly heads back upstairs while The Doctor heads down into the basement. The Doctor introduces himself, saying he's there to talk. He cautiously approaches the creature, saying he's going to remove their mask. Kneeling down, The Doctor carefully removes the creatures mask, revealing her true face.
"It's a giant lizard," Mickey said bluntly as they all stared.
"Lizard with a human body more like," Donna muttered.
"Any species of alien you've ever encountered?" Martha asked Jack and he shook his head.
"Not in my lifetime. Although there is something familiar about it," Jack said as he eyed the creature, feeling he'd seen it somewhere before.
The Doctor calls her beautiful. The Doctor reveals she's a remnant of a bygone era in Earth's history, complimenting their mode of travel.
"Of course. It's a Silurian," Jack nearly face palmed as he realized where he had seen it before. "They ruled the earth before humans came around."
"How are they still alive then?" Donna wondered. "And why haven't they been seen before?"
"When the moon came into existence, they thought the earth doomed, so they retreated underground and went into hibernation," Jack explained.
"How do you know this?" Wilf asked in confusion.
"I read about it in the history books. When the earth was solar flared, not everyone made it onto the starships. The remaining humans had to retreat to parts of the world with lower temperatures to survive. A century after, the Silurians came back. They helped the remaining humans survive, adapt to their new environment. They were brought down below, to safety. And there was peace between the two species," Jack explained.
"So if they didn't come back to earth until the solar flare raised temperatures, how are they awake now?" Mickey wondered and Jack didn't have an answer.
The Doctor then pulls out a chair, sitting down in front of the creature. He says they have his friend, and he wants her back. He asks why they came to the surface and what they want. She remains silent so The Doctor asks how many of them there are. She claims to be the last of her species.
"Well we know that's a lie," Martha said dryly.
"She thinks she can trick The Doctor, make him think there are less of them so he'll be caught off guard. She's in for a rude awakening," Jack said grimly.
The Doctor immediately sees through this, calling the tactic 'a bit old hat'. She repeats that she's the last of her species. "No, you're really not. Because I'm the last of my species and I know how it sits in a heart. So don't insult me," The Doctor tells her. The Doctor suggests they start again, asking her name. She introduces herself as Alaya and The Doctor asks how long her tribe has been sleeping under the earth. She is surprised as The Doctor notes she's three hundred million years out of her comfort zone, asking what woke her. Alaya says they were attacked and The Doctor realizes she means the drill.
"It always comes back to the drill," Donna muttered.
"Makes sense though. The drill probably got too close to the Silurian nest and they thought it was a threat," Jack mused.
"So we know the how and the why. Now let's see how The Doctor handles this," Martha muttered, eager to see how The Doctor played his part in this.
The drill registered as a threat to their life support systems and the warrior class was activated to prevent the assault Alaya explains. "We will wipe the vermin from the surface and reclaim our planet," Alaya declared.
"Of course. There always has to be some interspecies conflict," Donna said sarcastically.
"It's the nature of things unfortunately. Plus, from their perspective, their home has been taken away by a creature they hunted back in the day. They wouldn't let that stand," Jane pointed out.
"Which is what worries me. They see humans as vermin. What will they do to reclaim what they see as rightfully theirs?" Jack asked uneasily as they eyed the screen.
The Doctor tells her not to call humans vermin, as they're 'actually quite nice'. Alaya sneers they are primitive apps but The Doctor says they will fight back if attacked. The Doctor offers to help broker a peace but Alaya argues they were here long before the humans. But The Doctor points out that doesn't give them automatic rights to the earth and humans won't give up the planet. Alaya declares they will wipe out the humans but The Doctor points out the humans outnumber them greatly. "We did not initiate combat! But we can still win," Alaya declares as she gets to her feet. The Doctor orders her to tell him where Amy is and give back the hostages but Alaya refuses.
"Well, she's definitely determined to wipe us all out," Martha muttered as they eyed the screen uneasily.
"Exactly what I was afraid of," Jack said with a grimace. "The Doctor is going to have to play this very carefully if he wants to prevent an all-out war."
The Doctor gets to his feet, declaring he won't let Alaya provoke a war as he puts the chair back. He says there will be no battle today. "The fire of war is already lit. A massacre is due," Alaya says. "Not while I'm here," The Doctor says. Alaya says she will die for her cause, demanding what he will sacrifice for his. Without answering, The Doctor walks up the steps.
"You have no idea what he has sacrificed," Donna said angrily as she glared at the screen.
"These kinds of people never do," Jane noted.
"Even in captivity, she has all the leverage," Jack muttered and they all looked at him bewildered.
"What do you mean?" Martha asked.
"You heard her; she's willing to die for her cause. She wants to start a war. What's the easiest way to do so?" Jack asked.
"If she were to die," Martha realized and Jack nodded.
"She's definitely determined enough to kill herself for her cause. They need to keep her alive at all cost," Jack said as they all eyed the screen uneasily.
The Doctor explains to the others he plans to go down below and talk to Alaya's tribe. Ambrose is incredulous that he plans to negotiate with them as The Doctor explains they're not aliens, they are the Silurian race, the previous owners of the planet. The Doctor points out from their perspective, the humans are the invaders, as the drill threatened their settlement. The Doctor then explains that Alaya is their best bargaining chip, if she lives so do the others, promising to find them. The Doctor tells them while he's gone; they need to be the best of humanity.
"Even the best of humanity has their off days," Martha said, not able to shake the pit of dread from her stomach.
"Even the kindest people can be turned cruel and savage by fear and desperation," Jack said as he thought of Angelo. "The human race can be the finest species in the universe, but it can also be just as savage as any other species."
"It all depends on how much they can stay true to themselves. Everything is riding on this," Mickey muttered, all of them feeling uneasy at the situation.
Tony suggests they examine Alaya, finding her weak points but The Doctor immediately shuts down this idea. "We return their hostage, they return ours. No one gets harmed. We can land this, together, if you are the best you can be," The Doctor declares. The Doctor calls them 'decent, brilliant people' and says no one dies today. They all agree and Nasreen begins to clap before stopping when no one joins in.
"I like her," Martha said as she smiled.
"Me to. Maybe she might be able to keep everyone level headed," Donna said optimistically.
The Doctor heads towards the TARDIS when he notices Nasreen following him. She plans on going with him. The Doctor tells her she's not coming as Tony runs out, adding his agreement. "I've spent all my life excavating the layers of this planet. And now you want me to head stand back while you head own into it? I don't think so!" she declares.
"Or not," Donna said lamely.
"I understand why she wants to go, but she'd probably be more use above ground," Jack noted.
Jane fought a grimace. Jack was certainly right about that. But what's done is done.
The Doctor snaps he doesn't have time to argue and Nasreen says they're in a rush. The Doctor says it will be dangerous but Nasreen is unmoved. Reluctantly, The Doctor agrees, heading inside the TARDIS. Nasreen moves to follow after him when Tony stops her, telling her to come back. She tells him she will before heading into the TARDIS. Nasreen looks around in shock and awe at the inside of the TARDIS as The Doctor tells her not to touch anything. Nasreen is in disbelief before becoming extremely excited. The Doctor puts the TARDIS into drive, hoping if they go down the barricade won't interfere. Before the words even leave his mouth, the TARDIS trembles, the two nearly falling off the console.
"Well that can't be good," Mickey noted as Donna groaned.
"Bloody brilliant. What else can go wrong?" Donna grumbled and Mickey fought the urge to point out she was the one who said not to say that.
Nasreen asks what's going on as The Doctor realizes the TARDIS has been hijacked. The Doctor quickly heads over to the scanner, realizing they're being pulled down like Amy was.
"So either someone knows what they're planning or they're being pulled down to be captured," Jack mused.
"Either way, neither option is particularly appealing," Martha said uneasily.
At the church, Rory, Tony and Ambrose stand in the basement, a few feet from Alaya. She mocks them about coming to see her as Rory assures her they will keep her safe. Ambrose says Alaya's tribe will them their people back in exchange for her. Alaya says no, approaching them until the chains around her arms stop her from getting any closer. Rory backs Ambrose and Tony away as Alaya declares one of them will kill her, her death igniting a war that will result in the extinction of humanity. Tony says they won't allow that to happen but Alaya says she knows them better than they know themselves. "I know which one of you will kill me. Do you?" she taunts them.
"Please, please don't give into your baser instincts. Be the people you know you are," Donna pleaded with them.
No one else said a word, the tension in the room thick. It was up to them now to be the best humanity could be.
Tony leaves the basement, sitting down in front of a mirror. He unbuttons the top half of his shirt, opening it. He is horrified to see his veins are starting to turn a sickly green.
"Blimey. What is that?" Mickey exclaimed as they all looked at the screen startled.
"The tongue," Martha said as she remembered Tony getting attacked by Alaya. "It's coated with some kind of venom."
"So does that mean Tony is going to die?" Wilf asked, worried for the other man.
"I don't know," Martha admitted.
"But it's the last thing this kind of situation needs," Jack said darkly, hoping it would not tip Tony over the edge.
"You have no idea," Jane muttered, thinking of Ambrose.
In the TARDIS, The Doctor and Nasreen hold onto the console as best they can as. They fall onto the floor as the TARDIS stops. Nasreen asks where they are and The Doctor gets to his feet, rushing to the door. He opens it and steps out, Nasreen close behind him. The Doctor looks around, realizing they fell through their tunnel system. Nasreen asks how far down they are and he notes a lot further than 21 kilometers. She asks why they aren't burning alive and The Doctor says he doesn't know. He calls this interesting and she laughs.
"Impressive," Jack said as he noted the architecture. "The skill needed to craft those tunnels…"
"And it's beneath Wales. The Silurians are geniuses," Martha said impressed.
"That's what worries me," Mickey said with a grimace.
She says it's like this is every day for him and he corrects her, saying its every other day. The Doctor walks off and, after taking a moment to examine the vines hanging above, Nasreen follows after him. Elsewhere, Amy comes to, finding herself restrained to a chair. As she struggles against the straps, someone tells her not to struggle. She looks over, seeing Mo next to her in an identical chair.
"Mo, he's alive," Wilf said in relief.
"Well, looks like your theory was right Jack," Martha said and he nodded, a slight smile on his face.
"They're all still alive then. Which means Elliot is to somewhere," Donna realized happily.
"Now if they can all just have a cool head, they just might get out of this alive," Jack muttered, hoping The Doctor could pull it off.
Mo warns her to close her eyes and not to struggle. Amy asks where she is and why she can't move. Mo explains it's called decontamination and that they did it to him while he was conscious. Amy asks what they did. "Dissected me," Mo said as he looks down and Amy sees a fresh, red scar on his chest.
"Blimey," Mickey said as they all looked horrified.
"So that's why they took Amy and Mo," Martha muttered.
"To do as Tony suggest. Experiment on them, find their weak points," Jack said, having come to the same conclusion.
"Doesn't seem like they have the same ethical code as The Doctor," Donna noted.
"Which is why it's so important The Doctor abide by his," Jack mused. "If they can prove they come in peace…maybe that's how there can be peace one day between the species.
Amy is terrified as they hear footsteps. Mo warns her 'he's coming' and apologizes that he can't help her. Amy sees a Silurian with a surgeon mask walking over to her with a kind of scalpel. She struggles against her restrains fearfully as he approaches.
"Amy," Donna said fearfully as they all worried about her.
"Hurry Doctor," Martha said softly.
The Doctor leads Nasreen through the underground, explaining they're looking for a small settlement with about a dozen or so Homo Reptilian. Walking away from him, Nasreen sees something. "One small tribe?" she asks. The Doctor confirms this as he walks up behind her. The pair look on in disbelief as they see an entire city below them. "Maybe more than a dozen. Maybe more like an entire civilization living beneath the earth," The Doctor says lamely before the screen goes black.
"There's an entire city under there," Donna said in disbelief as they all stared at the screen in shock.
"I think Boss might've bitten off more than he can chew this time," Mickey muttered.
Jane grimaced. Mickey wasn't wrong. While her father had been perfect, too much had gone wrong. Her father's best intentions had been nothing but a fool's dream.
"Let's hope not. Otherwise, we may be in for a war we can't win in a few years' time," Jack said grimly.
"If there's one thing I've learned, never count out The Doctor," Martha said.
"I do hope you are right Martha," Wilf said, hoping The Doctor could broker some kind of peace.
And that's the end of that one. I'm honestly not crazy about this two parter, and it probably shows, so I hope the reactions were okay. Although I will give this episode credit in that it did set up the Silurian threat nicely.