I'm not sure when I will be able to update next, as I'm moving all this week and am spending most of my time packing and driving boxes of stuff to the new place right now. And I think I will also be without internet for a day or two but I'm not sure. So, In the meantime, I hope you guys enjoy this.
THAW: I'm going to do all of the Christmas Specials except Time of The Doctor.
TW: Glad to hear it.
The viewers watched curiously as the next started, wondering what this set would bring.
A shot of an unknown planet covered in storm clouds is seen. Alarms blare as it's revealed the shot is from the cockpit of a spaceship that is falling towards the planet. A woman's voice tells the passengers to remain calm over the intercom as the captain enters the cockpit, announcing that the engines are failing. "The ship is going down. Christmas is cancelled," she declares.
"So it's Christmas then," Martha noted.
"At least wherever there is. It's a Galaxy Class ship," Jack noted as his eyes narrowed. "So this is some point in the future."
"Looks like it's going down to," Mickey pointed out uneasily.
"The Doctor will save it," Wilf said with certainly.
"Would be a really down Christmas if he didn't," Donna noted.
The ship enters the planet's atmosphere and the pilot struggles to keep it level. The pilot wonders what kind of clouds there are as the captain receives notice of a distress signal being sent. After a moment, it's determined the signal was sent from the honeymoon suite. The door open and Amy walks in, wearing her police officer costume.
"Well if didn't have to save it before, The Doctor definitely does now," Martha said as Jack raised an eyebrow.
"And apparently she and Rory were making use of Amy's costumes," Jack noted.
"I'm not sure that's the thing to be focusing on Jack," Donna said as she looked at him oddly.
"Only you would focus on that," Martha said as she looked at Jack in exasperation.
Amy explains she has a friend that can help and the captain asks what she's wearing. Embarrassed, Amy pulls down her skirt as much as possible and says it doesn't matter. The captain asks if she's from the honeymoon suite before Rory enters, dressed in his Centurion suit and holding a device that resembles a walkie talkie.
"And apparently that's not all their making use of," Mickey muttered as everyone but Jack looked uncomfortable as they realized Amy and Rory had been interrupted on their honeymoon.
"I like the way you two think," Jack said flirtatiously.
"You would," Martha muttered, resisting the urge to smack him on the head again.
Rory asks if The Doctor is coming as the light has stopped flashing. The pilot makes a comment on the honeymoon suit and Rory explains the costumes are 'just a bit of fun', to Amy's annoyance.
"My kind of fun," Jack said with a grin.
"I'm starting to think it was a mistake to bring you alone," Jane mused.
"Let's just keep him far away from Amy and Rory and call it a day," Martha sighed.
As the crew tries to stabilize the ship, Rory and Amy bicker about whether The Doctor is coming with Rory noting he's cutting it close. The Captain says they're finished if they can't stabilize the orbit and Amy and Rory exchange a worried glance. Amy prays for The Doctor not to be late as the TARDIS begins flying up alongside the ship. The ship receives a message from it and the captain orders it on screen. The message is 'come along Pond', to Amy and Rory's relief. The captain asks what the means and Amy says it's Christmas.
"Always the tone of surprise," Jack said with a grin.
"Given his track record, it's kind of warranted," Wilf noted.
"The thing about The Doctor is he's not always there when you want him to be," Martha told him.
"But he's always there when you need him Gramps," Donna finished with certainty and Martha nodded in agreement.
On the planet below, a beam of energy is shooting out from a tall building into the sky.
"What is that?" Mickey asked as the past viewers looked at the screen in bewilderment.
All except Jack.
"The beam controls the atmosphere," he explained and the other past viewers looked at him incredulously. "I've seen it on other planets; the beam manipulates certain patterns in the clouds."
"They can really control the weather?" Martha asked in disbelief.
"With technology, just about anything is possible," Jack said with a shrug.
A boy walks to an adult, giving him money in exchange for a newspaper. "On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter at the exact midpoint, everybody stops and turns and hugs, as if to say 'well done. Well done everybody! We're halfway out of the dark'," a man's voice narrates as shots of people in the street are seen; all of them going about their day. "Back on Earth, we call this Christmas or the Winter Solstice." Some people stoop to turn to the building as the light shooting out of it flashes. Inside the building, an old man dressed in high class clothes is looking down at the people from a window. "On this world, the first settlers called it the Crystal Feast. You know what I call it?" he asks as he turns around. "I call it expecting something for nothing!"
"Well he's a pleasant man," Mickey said sarcastically.
"A real Scrooge," Martha agreed and Jane disguised a laugh as a cough.
"You have no idea," Jane said with an amused smile.
The man walks further into the room, passing a family. The father pleads with him, addressing him as Mr. Sardick to 'let her out for Christmas'. Sardick walks over to a cryo-chamber with a young woman inside. The father says she loves Christmas and Sardick mockingly taps on the glass, but receiving no response; cruelly say she's a bit cool about it. He laughs and tells his employees that was funny and they laugh. A boy bravely stands up to Sardick, saying she can't hear him as she's frozen. Sardick walks over to him, calling him a clever boy, ruffling his hair and telling the parents they must be so irritated. Sardick asks how much and an employee says they have a loan of 4,500 gideons. Sardick calls the woman his security.
"Oi! She's a person, not security you twit!" Donna snapped as the past viewers all looked disgusted.
"You'd be surprised by how often the two are not mutually exclusive in the universe," Jack said as he looked interested. "Since Sardick uses Ice Boxes, we're in in some point before the 51st century. They were outlawed before then."
"What's an Ice Box?" Wilf asked confused.
"The Cryo-Chamber. They changed the name when people, usually those in high society, began taking people and freezing them in exchange for money for their families," Jack said to the horror of the other past viewers. "The practice was outlawed by the time I was born, but you hear things."
"That's horrible," Martha said horrified.
"It was voluntary and it allowed your families to live. It probably saved a lot of lives, prevented people from going hungry. The line between cruelty and necessary evil is a lot blurrier than you'd think," Jack pointed out.
"Whatever you say Immortal Man," Donna said sarcastically.
A phone rings as the father pleads with Sardick to let the out for Christmas only. One of Sardick's employees answers the phone and tells him the president is calling him. Sardick says to tell the president he's busy. He then walks up to the woman, noting how pretty she and says he might keep her.
"She's not a possession you monster," Mickey said darkly as even Jack felt disgust at this.
"Men like him don't see it that way," Jack said darkly.
The mother then reveals the woman is her sister, who volunteered for the ice many years ago when the family was in financial trouble. His employee passes along the president's message about the ship, saying they need to let it land or it will crash. Sardick indifferently calls this a kind of landing before his employee informs him there are over 4,000 lives on the ship. Sardick laughs, noting not if they wait.
"He'd honestly let all those people die, just like that?" Martha asked as the past viewers all stared at the screen in horror.
"Some people need no reason to be cruel. Some people just get a kick out of seeing others suffer," Jack said darkly.
"Well I think Sardick is such a man," Wilf said in disgust.
"What gave it away?" Mickey asked sarcastically.
The employee argues they can't let it crash as the boy looks up at the ceiling, hearing the sound of the TARDIS materializing. Sardick grabs the phone, declaring there are no more people allowed on this planet. As Sardick continues to refuse, the boy looks over at the fireplace, seeing soot falling onto the fire. The boy is confused as Sardick hangs up, callously refusing to wake the girl and telling them to go home. The family begins to leave when the fires on the fireplace flare. They all turn to it as the flames go out and The Doctor then rolls out of the chimney and into the room, covered in soot.
"Well that's one way to make an entrance," Mickey said with a laugh. "Only you Boss."
The Doctor stands up, coughing before beginning to ramble. He says the 'fat fella' will be around later as he walks over, shaking the hands of the confused family. The Doctor walks over to the fireplace, complimenting the chimney as he places a hand on it before quickly taking it away, as its still hot. None of them have any idea what's talking about and The Doctor explains he means Santa. "Or as I've always known him, Jeff," The Doctor adds.
"Santa is real? Seriously?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Yeah, I even met him once. He is grateful about all the gifts though, takes some of the workload off him," Jane said with a smile.
"I'll be a Silurian's Uncle," Jack muttered.
"Okay, now I've seen everything," Donna declared in utter disbelief.
"What's next, the tooth fairy?" Martha wondered.
"Oh don't be ridiculous. The tooth fairy only comes on Wednesdays," Jane said before laughing at their expressions. "Oh you should have seen your faces just now!"
"Cute. Bloody cute," Donna grumbled looking cross.
The boy believes Santa doesn't exist and so The Doctor pulls out an old photo of him with Santa and Albert Einstein. He then pockets it, telling the boy to keep the faith and stay out of trouble. The Doctor then walks over to a console he calls a 'big, flashy lighty thing', which is what brought him here. Realizing the console is connected to the power above them and controls the sky, The Doctor realizes the clouds are actually particles of ice. Seeing the frozen woman, The Doctor asks about her and Sardick dismisses her as unimportant. The Doctor walks up to the Ice Box, noting he's never met an unimportant person before. The Doctor then heads back to the console, noting it's the key to saving the ship. The Doctor rambles about eating a hat as he tries to access the console but isn't able to do so. Sardick explains the controls are isomorphic and only respond to him.
"Of bloody course. He would do that," Donna said looking venomous.
"So only he can control it. And he's obviously not going to be easy to convince," Jack mused.
"The Doctor has his work cut out for him this time," Wilf mentioned and no one disagreed.
The Doctor doesn't believe him and Sardick pointedly walks over, turning the console off and on. The Doctor tries to access them but fails. Using his screwdriver, he realizes Sardick is right. Sardick declares the skies of this world belong to him, tamed by his family. The Doctor asks what that means and Sardick introduces himself as Kazran Sardick, walking away as he wonders how The Doctor hasn't heard of him.
"Certainly thinks highly of himself, doesn't he?" Martha noted.
"Men like him always do," Wilf said with a sigh.
The Doctor says he needs Kazran's help but Kazran coolly tells him to make an appointment. The Doctor argues that the people on the ship are going to die without his help but Kazran is unmoved. Kazran orders the family and The Doctor thrown out. His guards begin to escort them out when The Doctor breaks away. Kazran mocks him as he sits down and The Doctor says he won't allow 4,003 to die. He then asks if Kazran knows where that puts him. "4, 004," The Doctor says.
"Did he just threaten Kazran?" Martha asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"He's still the man who won the Time War. He keeps that part of him locked away but, when the situation calls for it, he is willing to let it out. You guys have all seen it at one point," Jane said, pausing as the words sunk it. "Thankfully, this didn't."
Kazran asks amused if that's a threat and The Doctor says he brought whatever happens tonight on himself. Kazran demands The Doctor be thrown out and two of his guards escort The Doctor out with the family as he tells the guards to find him some 'funny poor people' next time. As they are escorted out, the boy picks up a piece of coal off the floor and throws it as Kazran. It strikes Kazran across the face and he gets to his feet, enraged. He rushes towards the boy, moving to strike him.
"Oi! You better not touch him!" Donna snapped angrily.
Mickey winced on instinct, the scene bringing back many similar incidents with his grandmother. As if sensing his turmoil, Martha reached over and took his hand, looking at him reassuringly. Mickey smiled at her weakly, his eyes saying it all. The scene was missed by all but Jack, who raised an eyebrow, wondering what that was about.
The Doctor and the father both shout for Kazran to leave him alone as the boy looks up at Kazran fearfully. For a moment, Kazran simply stands still before lowering his hand, ordering his guards to get them out of his house.
"Well, at least he didn't hit the boy," Donna admitted begrudgingly.
"Why though?" Jack wondered as he narrowed his eyes. "He's willing to let over 4,000 people die, yet he can't bring himself to strike one boy?"
"It is odd," Wilf agreed.
"Kazran is complicated, his life is a sad tale," Jane mused, feeling sad for Karan in spite of everything he'd done.
The family is escorted out and Kazran turns away. Sensing someone behind him, he turns to see The Doctor standing in the doorway. Kazran demands to know what The Doctor wants. "A simple life," The Doctor says.
"Right," Mickey said as they all scoffed.
"Spaceman, what you meant is far from simple," Donna said, unable to help but laugh.
"Who do you think you're fooling Doctor?" Jack asked with a grin.
The Doctor notes Kazran didn't hit the boy. Kazran coldly says he will next time but The Doctor sees through him, wondering why. Kazran demands The Doctor leave and The Doctor says it's the chairs. Kazran is confused as The Doctor points to a portrait of a man that resembles Kazran. It's his father, Elliot Sardick and all the chairs in the room are turned away from the portrait, as Kazran can't get comfortable around it. The Doctor then points to a Christmas tree in the portrait but notes there are none in the house, because Kazran is scared of his father and of being just like him. The Doctor then assures Kazran he's not like his father, because he didn't hit the boy. Kazran seems stunned by this.
"So Kazran's father was abusive then," Jack said, looking curious now. "Guess that explains a lot about Kazran."
"Lot of people have abusive parents or guardians, I've dealt with some. They don't turn out like Kazran," Martha said firmly, looking over at Mickey who remained silent.
"But some do," Jack pointed out and Martha sighed.
"But some do," Martha admitted.
The Doctor wishes Kazran a Merry Christmas and Kazran angrily says he despises Christmas. The Doctor begins to walk out of the room, telling Kazran he shouldn't as it's 'very him'. Kazran is confused as The Doctor says he's halfway out of the dark. Kazran stares after The Doctor in confusion as he walks passed four workers. Kazran orders the workers to clean up the room and take the Ice Box downstairs before walking out of the room.
"Well that could have gone better," Martha noted.
"It could not have gone worse," Donna declared and Martha didn't disagree.
"Wonder what The Doctor's plan is now," Wilf said curiously.
The ship is being struck by lightning as the crew try desperately to keep flying. Amy is on the phone with The Doctor, asking if he has a plan. The Doctor says he does and Amy if he's lying. He confirms he is. Amy snaps not to treat her like an idiot as Rory asks her if he's lying. Amy lies, saying no as she pats him on the shoulder.
"She tries to protect Rory the way The Doctor tries to protect her. Pretty ironic," Martha noted.
"Both are very protective of the people they love. I can see why they get on so well," Jack noted.
As he walks the street, The Doctor explains to Amy about Kazran. She asks if he was 'extra charming' and he asks how she knew. She dryly tells him it was a lucky guess. The Doctor is suddenly stopped by the father, who thanks him for standing up to Kazran. They wish each other a Merry Christmas and the father tells The Doctor to get inside, as there's a fog tonight and a fish warning.
"Uh, fish warning?" Mickey asked as everyone but Jane looked confused.
"Even I'm a bit lost," Jack said confused.
"It'll make sense later," Jane promised.
The Doctor is confused as the father points to the tower, explaining Kazran always lets a few fish in when he's in a bad mood. The father shakes his hand before walking off. The Doctor is perplexed by this before Amy tells him they have less an hour before the ship crashes. But The Doctor is distracted as he looks up, seeing a school of fish swimming in the air, surrounding a street light.
"There are fish in the air," Mickey said dumbly as the past viewers all stared at the screen in disbelief.
"I had heard that there was a planet where a whole ocean was in the sky. But I thought it was just a rumor," Jack said in a bit of disbelief.
"You should know Jack that all rumors have some basis of truth to them," Jane pointed out.
"Guess so. This one just seemed really farfetched," Jack muttered.
"So not only does he control a planet, but an entire ocean. He really does own the skies," Donna muttered.
The Doctor realizes the fish can swim in fog and Amy tells him not to get distracted. The Doctor wonders why anyone would be scared of fish, beginning to play with them before they swim off. The Doctor has a realization, telling Amy to be careful. She gives a sarcastic response before shouting they have less than an hour. The Doctor looks behind him as a clock strikes 11. A Christmas carol begins playing and Amy asks how The Doctor is getting them down there. The Doctor begins thinking out loud, noting he can't land the ship in the TARDIS and can't land the ship on the planet unless a very bad man becomes good before Christmas Day. Amy can't hear him over the carol, asking what the singing is. The Doctor says it's a Christmas Carol, having to repeat it twice so Amy can hear. The Doctor then gets a look of dawning realization before he looks up at the tower, wishing Kazran a Merry Christmas.
"Is he about to do what I think he is?" Donna realized as they caught onto The Doctor's plan.
"He's Dad, what do you think?" Jane asked with a grin.
"Interesting plan Doctor. Let's hope it works," Jack said, interested to see the results of this particular plan.
Sometime later that night, Kazran is sitting in front of his fireplace, having fallen asleep. Kazran is dreaming of himself as a little boy, recording a video. Kazran is awakened when his father yells. Kazran opens his eyes to see the video being projected onto his wall. In the video, His father storms into the room, berating the young Kazran that fish are dangerous. Kazran watches the video in shock as Elliot scoffs at young Kazran's desire to see the fish. Young Kazran tries to tell his father that people say they don't need to be afraid of the fish only for Elliot to angrily strike him across the face.
Mickey flinched, once again reminded of similar incidents with his grandmother. Martha took his hand, trying to silently offer his comfort as the other past viewers looked horrified.
"Oi," Donna whispered softly.
"I think that sums it up Donna," Jack muttered.
Kazran winces at the video, feeling his face as The Doctor walks up behind him. The Doctor places a hand on his shoulder and Kazran jumps, whirling around. Kazran demands to know what this is and The Doctor explains he found the clip on an old drive. The Doctor sits down as Kazran goes to call his servants. The Doctor then reveals they all quit, as they won the lottery at the same time.
"You and the lottery Boss," Mickey laughed, although it sounded weak even to his ears.
"Well, when you have a time machine, winning the lottery is a pretty easy task," Jane shrugged.
The Doctor notes how lucky this is as Kazran angrily says there is no lottery. In the video, Elliot tells the sobbing Young Kazran to keep the windows closed as Kazran asks who The Doctor is. "Tonight, I'm the ghost of Christmas past," The Doctor says vaguely. In the video, Elliot leaves after telling young Kazran his babysitting will be there later. The Doctor asks Kazran if he ever got to see a fish as a kid and Kazran asks why it matters. The Doctor points out it mattered to Kazran as they watch his younger self sob. Kazran reveals he cried all night, as he learned life's most invaluable lesson: nobody comes.
"Abusive father mixed with loneness, it's no wonder Kazran turned out the way he did," Jack noted.
"No one is born cruel or evil. People are not inherently awful. More often than not, hatred and cruelty is nurtured," Jane noted as they all stared at the screen silently.
"Doesn't change what he's done though," Donna noted.
"No, but it explains it a lot more. Like Jack said, it's hard to blame Kazran for being the way he is," Martha sighed.
Kazran demands The Doctor get out of his house. The Doctor agrees but promises he'll be back. "Way, way back," he says as he heads into the TARDIS. In the video, young Kazran looks up as he hears the sound of the TARDIS materializing. Young Kazran looks at his window to see it open, The Doctor standing on the other side.
"So what's his plan here exactly? Be Kazran's babysitter in the hope that he'll be a kinder man for it?" Mickey asked skeptically.
"Come on Mickey, you know The Doctor better than that. I'm sure he's got a better plan than that," Martha said certainly.
"Let's hope so," Jack muttered.
Young Kazran asks who The Doctor is and The Doctor says he's Kazran's new babysitter. Young Kazran is confused about what happened to his old one as The Doctor bounces on the bed, revealing she won the lottery. Kazran shouts there isn't any lottery, a statement echoed by his younger self. Young Kazran is confused as The Doctor suddenly leans into the camera, declaring that times change. Young Kazran asks who The Doctor is talking to and The Doctor says him before telling adult Kazran his past will start to change, along with his memories. Young Kazran is confused as Kazran declares that this never happened. "But it did," Kazran says shocked as he turns away.
"I think I get it, The Doctor plans to give Kazran a happier life," Donna realized.
"So he won't be so cruel and will help," Wilf said hopefully.
"Well, The Doctor has his work cut out for him then. Changing someone's nature isn't that easy," Jack noted darkly, thinking of Grey.
In the past, The Doctor opens a cupboard in Kazran's room, telling him about face spiders, which evolve to get into bedroom cupboards. Closing the cupboard, The Doctor realizes he shouldn't have mentioned that. The Doctor asks what they should do and Kazran asks if The Doctor is really a babysitter. The Doctor pulls out his psychic paper, trying to pass himself off as a mature and responsible adult. But Kazran points out it's just a bunch of wavy lines. Doctor says it's shorted out due to trying to tell a lie too big.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna said as she, Jack, Mickey and Martha all laughed.
"Guess even the psychic paper has limits," Jack said with a grin.
The Doctor admits he's not a real babysitter but says Kazran wants him anyway. The Doctor asks if Kazran has seen Mary Poppins and Kazran says he hasn't, which The Doctor notes is for the best as that comparison would have been rubbish. The Doctor rambles, wondering about how boredom got invented. Kazran tells him about the console that can control the cloud belt and The Doctor says he's seen it. Kazran is confused as The Doctor notes how humans always try to find the boring alternatives. The Doctor then offers to show Kazran a fish and Kazran asks if he's going to tell him it's dangerous. The Doctor merely laughs, saying they're boys, asking him if Kazran know what boys say in the face of danger. Kazan doesn't. "Mummy," The Doctor says as he walks off.
"Oi!" Mickey said looking offended.
"He's clearly joking Mickey. Don't get so offended," Jane said with a grin and Mickey flushed as everyone else snickered.
"I'll just…be quiet now," Mickey said awkwardly.
Sometime later, the sonic screwdriver hands from a string attached to the ceiling, which leads into the cupboard and is tied around The Doctor's finger while he and Kazran wait.
"Using the sonic screwdriver as bait. I'm sure the Time Lords are rolling over in their graves. If they had any," Jack noted absently. "Only you Doctor."
Kazran asks about face spiders and The Doctor tells him they'd be in his mattress at this time of night. The Doctor asks why Kazran is so interested in fish and Kazran says because they're scary before asking about The Doctor's bowtie. The Doctor says it's cool, to Kazran's confusion as The Doctor asks why Kazran is really interested in fish. Kazran explains that the nets broke at the last fog belt and a shoul of fish attacked. No one was hurt but it was most fish anyone had seen below the mountain. The Doctor asks if Kazran was scared but Kazran explains he wasn't there, as he was sick. The Doctor calls him lucky but Kazran looks away, revealing it's all anyone at school talks about and everyone has a story. Everyone but Kazran, The Doctor notes.
"Well that explains the fascination with fish," Jack noted.
"Odd thing to feel left out of, not being in danger," Wilf noted.
"Kids will be kids, they're stupid and brag about strange things," Jane shrugged.
"They really do," Martha muttered, remembering similar instances with Tish and Leo growing up.
Back in the future, the adult Kazran watches as The Doctor turns to the camera. Young Kazran asks why he's recording this and The Doctor asks if he pays attention at school. Young Kazran is confused as The Doctor points to the string, which is moving. Adult Kazran is shocked, remembering this as The Doctor moves to open the door. Kazran shouts at him not to as his younger self uncertainly asks if he's sure. The Doctor tells young Kazran to trust him, pointing to his bowtie and saying he doesn't care, which is why it's cool. Adult Kazran puts a hand to his shirt, surprised to find a bowtie there.
"Well apparently Kazran has picked up some of The Doctor questionable fashion choices," Jack noted.
"Let's hope he picked up a lot more," Martha said uneasily.
The Doctor opens the door and slowly walks into the bedroom, finding a small fish nibbling on the screwdriver. The Doctor wonders if the crystalline fog is how the fish flies as Young Kazran asks about the fish. The Doctor tells him to stay in the cupboard, as it's only a little one. The Doctor wonders what it eats when a shark suddenly flies in, biting down on the fish and swallowing the screwdriver.
"Bloody Hell!" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers started.
"There is a bloody shark in the air!" Donna shouted.
"I said this planet had a whole ocean in the air. What did you think I meant?" Jack pointed out as he eyed the screen uneasily.
"Well we didn't think a shark would come flying through the window," Martha said sarcastically as they eyed the screen, worried for The Doctor.
The Doctor steps back as Kazran wonders how little. The Doctor tells Kazran to stay there for a moment as he slowly inches back towards the cupboard. Reaching the door, The Doctor quickly jumps inside, slamming the door as the shark slams against it. Kazran asks what's happening and The Doctor tells him he'll have a story and he now understands how the fog works, which will help him land the ship in the future and he'll get some readings on the screwdriver once he gets It back.
"Well on the plus side, he has a way to hopefully figure out how to save Amy, Rory and everyone else on the ship," Martha muttered.
"If he can get the screwdriver back," Mickey pointed out.
"Very big if," Jack agreed.
"Things are never simple with him, are they?" Wilf asked.
"Never," Jane said with a slight smile.
Kazran is shocked there's a shark in his bedroom. "Oh fine, focus on that!" The Doctor snaps before the shark slams against the door again. The slamming stops and Kazran wonders where the shark has done. The Doctor asks what you call it when you don't have any legs and you do a run up. The Doctor then tackles Kazran away from the door as the shark's head slams into the door, smashing through it.
"And now we know wood is no use against a shark," Mickey muttered as they all eyed the screen uneasily.
"Not the time Mickey," Martha told him eyes not leaving the screen.
Adult Kazran is alarmed at this as the video cuts out. "It's going to eat us," Kazran says as, in the past, his younger self says the same thing while The Doctor holds him, the shark trying to get further into the cupboard but its small for it to enter. The Doctor notes if he had his screwdriver he could stun the shark and Young Kazran asks where it is. The Doctor says within reach as he looks up at the shark. The Doctor realizes the way the shark is wedged in the doorway could also be keeping its mouth open. Kazran is uncertainly and The Doctor tells him to agree with him, because he only has two goes before its Kazran's turn. "Geronimo!" The Doctor declares before moving towards the shark.
"Blimey. He really is mad," Mickey muttered.
"His only other choice was to let the shark keep trying to eat them," Jack pointed out.
"Jack's right, not doing anything would have just increased the chance of the shark getting into the room eventually. Only chance they have to survive is to take the risk of losing an arm," Martha agreed.
"Only you could get in a situation where reaching a shark's mouth would be the less dangerous option Doctor," Donna muttered.
Sometime later, The Doctor stands on the edge of the building outside Kazran's room, examining his screwdriver, which was bitten in half. Behind him, Kazran kneels next to the shark. Kazran tells The Doctor the shark is dying. The Doctor walks over to the shark, unable to examine it due to half his screwdriver still inside the shark but doubting the shark can survive for long outside the cloud belt. Kazran begins to cry, asking if they can get it back up there, as he didn't want to kill the shark. The Doctor gently points out she was trying to eat him and Kazran argues she was hungry.
"He was such a sweet boy. How could he turn into such a heartless man?" Wilf wondered.
"Like Jack said; loneliness and abuse. It can turn even the kindest child into the cruelest adult," Jane said with a sigh.
"Poor Kazran," Donna muttered softly, hardly able to believe she was feeling sorry for him.
There's brief shot of adult Kazran, remembering this, a tear running down his face as The Doctor tells his younger self he can't save the shark, as she'd never survive the trip. The Doctor notes they'd need fully functioning life support and Kazran realizes they need an Ice Box. Kazran leads The Doctor down into the sitting room, The Doctor becoming excited by seeing a Christmas tree while Kazran grabs a light. Kazran leads The Doctor down into the basement and The Doctor sees a door to a vault. Looking inside the window, he sees various Ice Boxes lining the walls. Kazran explains it's the Surplus population while he struggles to open the door but the knob won't budge. The Doctor walks over to a panel, trying to use his screwdriver to unlock it but failing. The Doctor asks Kazran the combination. Adult Kazran gives it but neither of them can hear as his younger self doesn't know.
"Looks like he's starting to change," Wilf said hopefully.
"Or he's reliving his memories as he's seeing them," Jack noted, not as optimistic. "Either way, only time will tell. Literally."
The Doctor tries various combinations but notes there are various alarms and stops. Walking over to the door, The Doctor says he needs the number and Kazran says he's not allowed to know until he's older. Adult Kazran says the combination again and blinks when the door opens. The Doctor pokes his head in, thanking him before closing the door.
"Very clever Spaceman," Donna said amused as they all chuckled at The Doctor's antics.
The Doctor rushes back down the stairs, telling young Kazran the combination. Kazran puts it in and the door unlocks. The Doctor opens it and they enter the vault. The Doctor sees fish and Kazran explains the house is built on a fog lake, which is what allows his father to freeze people. Kazran says they merely need to borrow one of the Ice Boxes, pointing to one. The Doctor shines the light in the glass of the Ice Box, revealing whose inside. It's the girl from the beginning of the recording.
"Well, fate has a sense of humor after all," Wilf noted.
"So the very girl he didn't let out at the beginning is now the one he'll let out to do a good deed. There's an irony there," Martha noted.
"The universe is laughing at him," Jack agreed with a tight smile.
Kazran asks if The Doctor knows her but The Doctor doesn't answer, asking if she's important. Kazran says she loves the fish and pushes some buttons. A video message begins playing. The woman introduces herself as Abigail Pettigrew. She thanks Elliot Sardick for his kindness and generosity as The Doctor walks down the corridor, looking at all the Ice Boxes. He asks Kazran why all these people are here and Kazran explains his father loans money, taking family members as security.
"A business Kazran takes over one day," Jack noted.
"In a way, he's just doing what he learned. Kazran was as much a victim of his father as anyone else," Jane said sadly.
"Not everyone who has a parent like Kazran turns out like him," Mickey said, once more thinking of his Gran. "At a point, we're responsible for our own choices."
"I don't disagree," Jane said, looking at Mickey with kind eyes. "It doesn't justify what Kazran did, but it does explain it a bit more, doesn't it?"
Mickey didn't answer, looking like he'd swallowed something sour as he looked back at the screen. Martha took his hand as the other past viewers looked confused by the exchange, feeling they were missing something but possessing enough tact not to pry.
The Doctor notes his father is a hard man to love as Abigail's message ends, saying she is not alone and at peace. Kazran begins to wake her up when they hear a humming sound. The Doctor reveals it's his screwdriver trying to repair itself by signaling the other half. Kazran realizes the other half is inside the shark. The Doctor and Kazran turn around as the shark flies in with a roar.
"Ah bloody Hell," Mickey groaned as they all paled.
"Run Doctor," Wilf said worriedly.
The Doctor is knocked into some Ice Boxes as Kazran takes off running, his adult self-shouting at him to run. Kazran hides between some Ice Boxes as he hears the beeping of the screwdriver and the shark snarls. The shark's dorsal fin is seen behind him. Kazran turns around when they begin to hear singing, to their confusion. Adult Kazran wakes up as he hears the signing. Young Kazran walks out from his hiding spot and sees Abigail's Ice Box opened. Walking down the corridor, Kazran sees Abigail singing to the shark, putting it back to sleep.
"Okay, wasn't expecting that," Donna muttered as the past viewers looked surprised.
"The singing resonates with something. It's like a snake charmer," Jack noted.
"They are beyond lucky they chose to wake her," Mickey said and no one disagreed.
The Doctor walks up behind Kazran as they watch Abigail sing, The Doctor beginning to explain it's not the singing but Kazran tell him to shut up, insisting the fish like singing. The Doctor realizes the machine controls the cloud belt the same way Abigail's voice puts the shark to sleep before slapping a fish away, wondering why they keep biting him. Kazran tells The Doctor to shut up. The Doctor grumbles but does and they watch Abigail sing. Kazran smiles as, in the present, adult Kazran also smiles. He turns his head, seeing a portrait of Abigail on the wall.
"Really wasn't expecting that," Mickey said as the past viewers were even more surprise.
"The Doctor's changing Kazran's history. In this new timeline, Abigail is someone important to Kazran," Jack noted. "This should be interesting."
Adult Kazran then remembers The Doctor showing him and Abigail the TARDIS, young Kazran noting its bigger on the inside. The Doctor has put the shark in the Ice Box. In the present, Adult Kazran walks up to Abigail's portrait, emotionally saying her name as Abigail marvels at the TARDIS in the past. The Doctor tells Abigail it's merely transport before leading her and Kazran over to the doors. He opens them, showing they are now in the cloud belt. Schools of fish are flying through the air as Abigail and Kazran look in wonder.
"Blimey," Mickey said as the past viewers looked in awe at what they were seeing, even Jack.
"It really is beautiful," Wilf muttered in a bit of awe.
"I've seen some amazing things, but few are as amazing as this," Jack said softly.
"Yeah," Martha agreed her voice no more than a whisper.
In the present, Adult Kazran takes a box off a shelf. The Doctor begins to let out the shark as Kazran takes out a futuristic camera, taking a picture of Abigail. In the present, Adult Kazran opens the box, revealing various photographs. He smiles as he picks up a picture of Abigail. Young Kazran and Abigail watch the shark fly away as The Doctor closes the Ice Box. Noting that the numbers on the box are all zeros save one eight, The Doctor asks Abigail about it. She says it pertains to her not the fish. The Doctor asks how and she avoids the question, asking if he's one of her doctors.
Jack frowned, narrowing his eyes. Jack had been around long enough to know when someone was dodging the question. She was hiding something. And from the look on Donna and Martha's faces, they had caught onto it to.
The Doctor asks if she needs one before a timer goes off. The Doctor rushes back to the console, saying time is up. Kazran asks why and The Doctor says it's nearly Christmas Day. Adult Kazran remembers he and The Doctor returning Abigail to her Ice Box, Abigail saying The Doctor is more than welcome to visit again. Kazran says he comes every Christmas Eve. The door closes as The Doctor tries to protest. It opens again to reveal The Doctor and Kazran wearing Santa hats, wishing Abigail a Merry Christmas.
"Well looks like The Doctor and Kazran are going to be spending their Christmases with Abigail," Jack said interested.
"Christmas with The Doctor is always interesting," Donna noted remembering meeting The Doctor on Christmas. "Wonder what kind of things they'll get up to."
"Knowing Boss, it'll be fun," Mickey said with a grin.
The three of them run down the corridor, Abigail wondering what they're going to do. Kazran promises her they have a great plan as Abigail's Ice Box is shown. The 8 moves, turning into a 7.
"Okay, what was that?" Mickey asked as he and Wilf looked confused.
"It's counting down to something," Donna noted.
Martha frowned, remembering how Abigail had asked if The Doctor was one of hers. A pit of dread began to form in her stomach.
The trio is now on the street, Abigail saying The Doctor's plan will never work as he and Kazran ready a sleigh. The Doctor and Abigail bicker about the difference between a dolphin and a shark as The Doctor turns his screwdriver towards the sky. Kazran asks if it will really come and The Doctor says no chance, it's impossible…except at Christmas. They hear the sound of the screwdriver homing beacon and smile.
"Is he going to do what I think he is?" Martha asked, forgetting the pit of dread in her stomach as she stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Only he could come up with an idea so insane," Jack said with a grin.
They are then shown flying through the cloud belt, the shark pulling the sleigh. Abigail asks how they get it back and The Doctor says he doesn't know. She asks if he has a plan. "Not at all!" The Doctor says before grabbing the reins. Abigail and Kazran laugh joyfully as the shark pulls the sleigh. They pass a man on the ground with goggles, who looks up at the sleigh in disbelief. They pass by a girl's window and she gets up excitedly, disappointed to find nothing there.
"To be a child at Christmas," Wilf said fondly.
"Never gets old," Jack muttered, fondly thinking of Christmases spend with Alice back when she was a child.
"Waiting up for Santa, listening for Reindeer," Martha giggled as she remembered many Christmases she had done just that with Leo and Tish.
"It was the best," Donna said with a grin.
Mickey remained silent, thinking back on Christmases spent with the Tyler family. Jackie would always invite him over, he and Rose would eat cookies as the adults talked and later, he'd be allowed to sleep over. It had been the best part of his childhood, Mickey mused.
The three of them laugh happily as they soar through the sky, passing a laundry line. A piece of clothing is caught on Kazran's head and he throws it off as The Doctor continues flying, heading towards the tower. As they drop her off at her Ice Box, Abigail says this was the best Christmas ever. Kazran says until the next one before closing the icebox, freezing her again. Adult Kazran is shown sitting on the floor, looking at photographs, wondering how he can have new memories.
"The wonders of time travel," Donna mused.
"Let's just hope it's enough to change Kazran," Jack said grimly and the mood plummeted as they were reminded of what was at stake.
The Doctor and Kazran greet Abigail as they open her Ice Box. She wonders where they'll go this time and The Doctor tells her all of time and space as they run down the corridor. Adult Kazran is shown looking at photos of his Christmases with The Doctor and Abigail, which show them at various locations, including the pyramids. The dial on Abigail's Ice Box is shown moving again, counting down to 4.
"It keeps counting down every time they take her out of the Ice Box," Donna said uneasily.
"Abigail said the counter was about her," Martha remembered, a feeling of unease filling the room.
"I really hope we're wrong. Otherwise this could blow up in The Doctor's face," Jack said grimly.
The Doctor and Kazran open Abigail's Ice Box and she is shocked to see Kazran is now a young man as the dial turns to a 3.
"Well he grew up nicely," Martha noted and saw Mickey's look. "Oh not like that! I'm just saying he grew up into a handsome young man."
"Abigail certainly seems to think so," Jack noted.
"Which could be really good or really bad," Donna said, remembering their fears about Abigail.
It was a bit of both, Jane mused silently. But she'd let them see that for themselves.
The Doctor leads Kazran and Abigail onto the TARDIS, Abigail noting he's grown and teasing him about blushing. Awkwardly, Kazran asks The Doctor where to this time and Abigail asks if she can make a request. The Doctor says she can. "This one," Abigail says.
"Wasn't expecting that," Jack said as the past viewers looked surprised at this.
"I wonder what she has planned," Wilf said as he looked at the screen curiously.
Abigail is then shown standing outside a small house, crying as she watching a family through the window. A few feet away, Kazran asks The Doctor who they are and The Doctor says her family, explaining the lady is her sister, who he had met when she was older.
"Yeah, when you were refusing to let Abigail out," Mickey muttered.
"Probably best not to mention that to Kazran though," Martha noted.
Noting Abigail is crying, Kazran awkwardly asks if you're supposed to talk to crying girls. After some encouragement from The Doctor, Kazran walks over to Abigail, who introduces her sister's family, noting they look happily. Kazran notes they look poor and Abigail says that doesn't mean they can't be happy. Kazran asks why she isn't as the husband closes the curtain. Abigail sadly says this is the life she can never have.
"Abigail," Donna muttered softly, the past viewers staring at the screen in a mix of sadness and unease.
"Please don't be going where I think this is going," Martha pleaded, not wanting to see the effects on Kazran if they were right about Abigail's condition.
Kazran asks why not and instead of answering, she takes his hand, teasing him about blushing again. He laughs before the curtain pulls back, revealing The Doctor inside. He gestures them to come inside and Abigail smiles.
"He has no boundaries, does he?" Martha asked with a smile.
"Nope. But he's giving Abigail the Christmas she wants, so I don't care right now," Donna smiled. "Good one Spaceman."
Sometime later, The Doctor is trying to show the son a card trick as Abigail explains her Christmases to her surprised sister. Kazran is helping the father put up Christmas lights, exchanging a smile with Abigail as her sister bickers with her husband and he decides to do the whole thing over to make it like last year. Abigail's sister realizes that Kazran is Elliot's son. Abigail says that he's not like his father but her sister warns her he'll turn out just like him.
"Wish I could say she was wrong," Wilf said sadly.
"How would she know him though? If she was this old when Kazran was a teenager, then she'd be as old as Kazran at the beginning of the recording," Martha said confused.1
"Because Dad gave Abigail what she wanted, just not when she wanted," Jane said and they looked at him in confusion. "This is actually a few years before the beginning of the recording. Dad explained the situation to them before he let Kazran and Abigail in."
"Always one step ahead of everyone else, aren't you old friend?" Jack muttered with a slight smile.
Abigail insists Kazran is different and The Doctor once again fails at the card trick. Abigail's sister notes Kazran doesn't have any friends but Abigail firmly says he has her. Her sister notes Abigail never came to see her and Abigail points out she's here now. Her sister pleads with her to stay but Abigail sadly says she can't. Her sister then stands up; declaring Christmas dinner tomorrow is canceled as Abigail refuses to attend. "Isabella!" Abigail protests. Isabella then says they'll have it tonight.
"Making the most of the time they have together. Wish more people were as understanding as her," Martha said, thinking of her mother's reaction to her traveling with The Doctor.
"If they were, the universe would be a better place," Jack noted.
They are then shown having Christmas dinner, The Doctor once more trying to perform the card trick only for the boy to inform him that it's still the wrong card.
"He is really bad at card tricks," Mickey noted.
"Yeah, not one of Dad's skills," Jane shrugged.
"Looks like we've finally found something he's bad at though," Donna pointed out.
Kazran toasts a Merry Christmas, which is echoed by the others as they click theirs drinks. Under the table, Kazran and Abigail hold hands. As they return her to the Ice Box, Abigail hugs The Doctor goodbye, saying this was the best Christmas ever. The Doctor promises to see her next Christmas and she looks forward to it before asking to say goodbye to Kazran. The Doctor stands there for a moment before getting the hint when they both give him pointed looks.
"First Amy and Rory, now Abigail and Kazran. The Spaceman seems to be a third wheel lately," Donna said amused.
"I'm just relieved he's not breaking couples up anymore," Mickey shrugged and Martha shot him an amused look. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do," Martha said amused before kissing him on the cheek.
The Doctor leaves them alone, wishing Kazran good luck, bumping into an Ice Box on his way. Kazran runs after The Doctor, believing Abigail is going to kiss him. The Doctor agrees and Kazran awkwardly asks what he's supposed to do. The Doctor tells him to nervous and a bit shaky because he'll be that way anyway before steering Kazran back towards Abigail. The Doctor walks up off as Kazran nervously walks back towards Abigail. He reaches her and she grabs him and kisses him.
"Atta girl," Martha said as she and Donna laughed.
Wilf chuckled, Abigail reminding him of his wife, his beloved Eileen. How he missed her, he thought with a pang.
Jack was silent though. Considering their fears about Abigail's condition, a romance with Kazran might reverse all the progress The Doctor was making. And doom the lives aboard the ship.
As Abigail and Kazran kiss, the scene flashes back to Adult Kazran looking at the photographs of his Christmases with Abigail. Finding a picture with '1952' written on the back, he turns it around to see himself, Abigail and The Doctor standing in front of the Hollywood sign. The scene then flashes to Abigail standing at a pool, looking sad. Kazran then runs up to her, asking if she's coming back to the party. Sensing something's wrong, he asks if she's alright. She turns to him, saying she needs to tell him something. Kazran asks if it's a bad thing and she says it's a very bad thing. He asks what it is and she says the truth.
"Here we go then," Mickey muttered as the past viewers looked at the screen curiously.
"Not yet. But soon," Jane promised.
Shortly after, The Doctor runs up to them with a lipstick mark on his cheek, saying they need to leave as he accidentally got engaged to Marilyn Monroe.
"How the bloody Hell do you accidentally get engaged Spaceman!?" Donna exclaimed as they all stared at the screen in disbelief.
"You know what, I don't want to know," Martha decided.
"Only The Doctor could accidently get engaged," Jack said with a laugh.
"And it's not his first time doing so either," Jane said with a grin and five pairs of eyes looked at her in disbelief.
"You mean this is a regular occurrence?" Wilf asked stunned.
"Not really regular, but it does happen twice. You'll see," Jane promised.
"I almost don't want to," Mickey muttered.
Kazran and Abigail are oblivious as they kiss. The Doctor pleads with them but they don't hear him as Marilyn calls to him. The Doctor sighs, grumbling that he'll just go get married. He walks off, telling Marilyn to grab her coat as Kazran and Abigail finally pull back. Kazran asks what they'll do and Abigail tearfully says there's nothing to be done.
The room was silent, a feeling of unease filling it. It appeared their suspicions about Abigail were true. Which could ruin The Doctor's plan.
As they return her to the Ice Box, Abigail and Kazran emotionally say goodbye while The Doctor allows a fish to nibble on his screwdriver. Abigail steps inside and Kazran closed the door, the pair not looking away from each other until Abigail is frozen once more. The Doctor prepares to head into the TARDIS when Kazran says they should leave it. Kazran claims its getting a bit old, as Christmas is for kids and he's got to work with his father now. The Doctor sadly apologizes for boring him and Kazran says times change. The Doctor sadly says not as much as he'd hoped while Kazran begins heading out. The Doctor stops Kazran, gifting him the other half of his screwdriver, noting he'll need a new one anyway. The Doctor says if Kazran ever needs him all he needs to do is activate the screwdriver. Kazran says he won't need him and The Doctor realizes something's happened, asking what Kazran isn't telling him. Kazran walks off and The Doctor asks about Abigail. Kazran notes he knows where to find her. The dial on Abigail's Ice Box is shown to have reached 1.
"Well there goes that plan," Jack muttered.
"So what can The Doctor do now?" Wilf wondered and silence was his answer.
Kazran walks out of the room and closes the door, looking devastated as his adult self is shown looking sad. Adult Kazran looks over his shoulder, seeing a portrait of his father. Kazran then remembers sharing a drink with his father a few years after his last Christmas with Abigail, celebrating the completion of the console. Elliot notes they can control the people and the fish and Kazran wonders why they would want to control the fish. Elliot calls people cattle and says if you want to control cattle, you need to control the predators.
"Oi! People are not cattle you monster," Donna snapped as she glared at the screen.
"To men like Elliot they are," Jack noted as they all looked disgusted. "He unfortunately just has the power to make them feel like it."
"What a God Complex," Martha muttered darkly.
Kazran seems displeased by this, angering Elliot, who declares the planet is now theirs, as only they can control the console. Kazran puts down his drink and walks away. Entering his room, Kazran open a door, revealing the half a screwdriver given to him by The Doctor. Kazran turns around, seeing The Doctor standing outside the window. Kazran walks over to the window and The Doctor smiles. But Kazran closes the blinds.
"Kazran," Martha said sadly as they stared at the screen in dismay.
"Looks like The Doctor didn't make a difference after all," Wilf said sadly.
"I wouldn't say that," Jack said and they looked at him in disbelief. "Kazran nearly reached out for help. He has a conscience, it's just buried. The Doctor just needs to find a way to reach it."
"Good luck with that," Mickey said sarcastically.
Kazran puts the screwdriver back in his drawer before closing it. In the present, Kazran opens the drawer and takes out the screwdriver. He puts it to his face when the phone rings. Answering it, Kazran finds it's the president, once again requesting Kazran help the ship land. Kazran still refuses, citing that a very old friend once explained to him that life isn't fair before hanging up.
"So now he's not heartless, he's bitter," Martha noted.
"Which could end up making him even crueler," Donna said uneasily.
"Lovely," Mickey said dryly.
Kazran looks down, seeing the pictures of Abigail thrown about on the floor. He's saddened when Amy suddenly appears in the room, startling him.
"Okay, wasn't expecting that," Mickey said as the past viewers looked at the screen in surprise.
He demands to know who she is and Amy declares she's the ghost of Christmas present. Kazran is skeptical a ghost would dress like that. The hologram fizzles as Rory pushes Amy aside, warning Kazran to keep his eyes off the skirt.
"Not the time to be worrying about Amy's modesty Rory," Donna said nearly face palming.
Amy pushes Rory out of the hologram as Kazran says shocked she turned into a Roman. "Yeah, I do that. I also do this," Amy said before the hologram vanished. Kazran is confused until, to his bewilderment, he begins to hear singing. Making his way into the basement, Kazran looks into the vault, where he looks through the door and sees carolers. Kazran unlocks the door and enters the vault, staring at them as Amy appears behind him, explaining they're holograms. Kazran asks who they are and Amy explains they're the people on the ship. Kazran asks why they're singing. "For their lives," Amy says.
"Forcing Kazran to face the people he's going to let die. It's actually not a bad plan," Jack mused.
"But with someone as bitter as Kazran, I don't think it's going to work," Martha said uneasily.
"Really hope you've got a backup plan Boss," Mickey muttered.
Amy asks which Ice Box is Abigail, explaining The Doctor told her when Kazran turns to her. Kazran is annoyed by this as Amy says The Doctor doesn't hold back. Kazran notes he's never met The Doctor before tonight but now seems to have known him all his life. Amy explains The Doctor was trying to turn him into a nicer person, albeit kindly, as Kazran is the only one who can land the ship. Kazran grumbles The Doctor has changed his entire life but Amy points out time can be rewritten. "You tell The Doctor, tell him from me people can't!" Kazran snarls. Kazran walks forward and all the holograms fizzle out. Kazran makes his way over to Abigail's Ice Box and Amy's hologram reappears, realizing that's Abigail. Kazran notes he would never have known her if The Doctor hadn't changed his life to suit himself. Amy asks if that's good but Kazran coldly says it's not. Amy points out Kazran could let Abigail out if he wanted. Kazran agrees, placing a hand on Abigail's box as he notes he could let her out anytime he chooses. Amy asks why he doesn't. Kazran reveals the truth: Abigail was ill when she went into the ice, near death. And now, she's used up her time during each Christmas. He could release her but she would live but a single day.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as the past viewers stared at the screen in dismay and sadness.
"I really hate being right," Jack said with a heavy sigh.
Kazran then turns to the shocked Amy, demanding to know how he chooses which day. Amy apologizes but notes Abigail still has more time than anyone on the ship. "Good!" Kazran says bitterly. Amy orders Rory to widen the beam and Kazran suddenly finds himself on the ship. Kazran looks around in bewilderment, wondering how he got there and Amy explains he's the hologram, getting a front row seat to the lives he's going to let die.
"Making him get up close and personal with it. Not sure it will do anything with Kazran though," Martha noted.
"He seems beyond reach," Wilf agreed with a sigh.
"No one is beyond reach. They just have to want it badly enough," Jane said firmly.
"Well, if I can change, I guess anyone can," Jack said with a shrug.
"Let's just hope Kazran can," Mickey muttered.
Hearing the singing, Kazran sees an image of the passenger singing. He wonders what it is and Rory reveals it was The Doctor's idea, as the fish like it due to the harmonies resonating with the ice crystals. The ship rocks as Rory adds The Doctor believed it would stabilize the ship but it failed. Kazran wonders why the passengers are still singing and the captain reveals they haven't told them yet. She pleads with him to use his machine to help them land as no one has to die. Kazran coldly says everyone has to die.
"Well, so far doesn't seem like it," Donna said as they all looked at the screen in disgust.
"Just wait. Dad's not done yet," Jane assured them, smiling slightly.
Amy argues that it doesn't have to be tonight but Kazran notes it's as good as any, coldly asking her how to choose. Amy looks at him in disgust as she brings up the communicator, asking if The Doctor can hear this. He says he can and Kazran looks around, wondering where The Doctor is. Rory pushes a button and Kazran finds himself back in the vault. The Doctor is standing a few feet away. The Doctor apologizes, saying he didn't know about Abigail. Kazran says he's been called heartless all his life until The Doctor rewrote it. "Now look at me," Kazran says as he looks at Abigail. The Doctor argues better a broken heart than no heart but Kazran scoffs, asking why he's there. The Doctor says he's not finished with Kazran. "You've seen the past, present, and now you need to see the future," The Doctor says.
"The past just made Kazran bitter and the present hasn't made much of a difference. So what exactly does The Doctor think showing the future will accomplish?" Jack wondered and Jane smiled.
"Wait for it Jack," Jane said, confusing the past viewers. "You'll love it."
Kazran dares The Doctor to show him; believing he will die cold and alone and it won't make a difference. Kazran explains he's going to let those people die because he just doesn't care, not because he gets anything out of it. "I'm not like you; I don't even want to be like you. I don't and never, ever will care!" Kazran declares. The Doctor says he doesn't believe him and Kazran dares him to prove him wrong and show him the future. The Doctor reveals he already is. "So what do you think?" he asks. Confused, Kazran turns around, shocked to see his child self standing behind him, the TARDIS doors adjure from Young Kazran exiting them.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey said as they all stared at the screen in disbelief.
"He brought Kazran from the past to show him the future in order to change Kazran in the present. That is brilliant," Martha said impressed.
"But shouldn't this cause a paradox because of Kazran crossing his own timeline?" Donna asked in confusion.
"I asked the TARDIS interface about that once, it gave me some long winded explanation about why it was possible that I really didn't understand," Jane admitted, still a little confused.
"Whatever the case, let's just hope it works," Jack said as they all eyed the screen in anticipation.
The Doctor asks Young Kazran if this is what he wants to become as the two Kazrans approach each other. Young Kazran mistakes his future self for his father and Kazran angrily moves to strike him. But he pauses as he flashes back to his father beating his child self and his father declaring the planet is theirs is seen. Kazran remembers his unwillingness to harm the boy at the beginning of the recording and thinks of Abigail. Kazran buries his face in his hands, breaking down.
"It's working. It's actually working," Jack said in disbelief.
"Seeing how everyone else viewed him didn't move him. But seeing the same fear of himself that he once had of his father made him realize what he'd become," Jane noted.
Kazran tearfully apologizes to his younger self, putting his hands on his shoulder and telling him it's okay to be frightened. The two hug, sobbing as Kazran apologizes. The Doctor reminds Kazran they don't have much time. Back on the ship, the crew is struggling to keep the ship from crashing as the captain says they have only five minutes. The screen is suddenly filled with an image of The Doctor's face and he tells them to lock onto his signal. Amy asks what's happening and The Doctor says he's saved Christmas before cutting the call.
"He actually did it," Martha said in a bit of disbelief.
"Only he could pull something like this off," Jack mused with a bit of a grin. "Well done Doctor. Well done."
"Christmas is the time of miracles after all," Wilf chuckled.
Back at Kazran's house, Kazran is trying to access the machine but, to his bewilderment, it's not responding. The Doctor is confused until he realizes he's changed Kazran too much, his father would never have programed it for the man Kazran is now.
"Are you kidding me? All that and it won't work because Kazran's not a bitter old man now?" Donna asked in utter disbelief.
"Well, the ship in Craig's flat was able to scan the desires of people to search for a pilot. It makes as much sense as any of this," Jack said with a grimace.
"So where does that leave all those people on the ship?" Martha asked uneasily.
"The Doctor will think of something," Wilf said with certainty.
Kazran asks what they do and The Doctor doesn't know. Kazran gives The Doctor his screwdriver but The Doctor dismisses it as half a screwdriver. However, The Doctor realizes the other half is still in the sky, up in the stomach of a shark swimming in the cloud belt. The Doctor plans to use Kazran's aerial to boost the signal, explaining to the confused Kazrans that the two halves are trying to signal themselves. The Doctor plans to use the screwdriver but send something else. The Doctor looks at Kazran regretfully, apologizing as he explains they need to send something into the cloud belt, something they know works. "We need her to sing," The Doctor says.
"Abigail. He plans to send her singing," Donna said as the realization hit them all.
"It makes sense. It's the only thing they know works," Jack mused.
"But she'll die," Wilf said sadly.
"One life for over four thousand. Which would you choose Wilf?" Jack pointed out and Wilf was silent, realizing Jack was right. "It's a sad situation, but it's the only way."
"I just wish there was another," Martha said sadly and Jack smiled tightly.
"Me to."
Shortly after, the three of them are in the vault, Kazran standing in front of Abigail's Ice Box. The Doctor explains her voice calmed the shark, so it will clam the skies as well. "Could you do it? Think about it Doctor. One last day with your beloved. Which day would you choose?" Kazran asks.
Jane flinched. Kazran had no idea how right he was. Her father had already chosen his last day with River, it had been chosen by his future self. And her father couldn't do anything without changing the timeline, potentially making it so he would never meet River. In a way, it was worse than what Kazran was going through.
The Ice Box opens and Abigail steps out, saying Christmas would be the day. She smiles, placing a hand on Kazran's face, noting how old he looks and saying he waited too long to let her out. Kazran despairs over what happens if she leaves the ice now but Abigail notes they've had so many Christmas Eves, it's time for Christmas Day.
"Poor Abigail," Donna muttered, feeling sad for her and Kazran both.
"It's a sad situation. But nothing anyone can do about it," Martha said sadly. "Doesn't mean we have to like it though."
On the ship, Amy is frantically calling for The Doctor into the communicator as the captain announces the ship is going down. To everyone's disbelief, a melody becomes coming over the intercom. A member of the crew notes its coming from outside before realizing its coming from the clouds. The clouds begin clearing as everyone listens to the melody. On the street, The Doctor and the Kazrans stand with Abigail as she sings into the screwdriver. The Doctor explains the singing resonates with the crystals and the two halves of the screwdriver make one song filling the sky. This will allow the clouds to unlock. Young Kazran asks what happens then and The Doctor says something that hasn't happened in a very long time. They all look up as it begins to snow.
"Snow. It really is Christmas now," Mickey noted with a slight smile.
"Yeah," Martha said softly as they all just watched and listened to Abigail singing.
They all smile as, on the ship, the pilot says they're flying normally. The captain asks if he can land and he says he can land well. Amy and Rory hug in relief as Amy notes The Doctor did it. Rory grumbles about The Doctor getting all the credit before realizing that's fair. Amy laughs before they kiss.
"He really did it. I honestly wasn't sure he'd be able to pull this off," Martha admitted, in a bit of disbelief that The Doctor had done it.
"I think we all had a moment where we doubted it," Wilf mused.
"We should know better than to doubt The Doctor at this point," Jack said with a grin. "Well done old friend."
On the streets, Young Kazran looks at the snow in amazement as Kazran walks up to Abigail. He grabs her hand as she continues to sing, the pair looking at each other intimately. The Doctor smiles as kids run down the streets, looking at the snow in amazement. People lift their hands up, catching snowflakes as Abigail continues singing, placing her free hand on Kazran's face. The Doctor and Young Kazran head towards the TARDIS when they hear the sound of the screwdriver's two halves homing each other. They look up at the sky, seeing the shadow of the shark flying through the sky. "Hello my old friend," Kazran says. The Doctor smiles, gesturing Young Kazran inside the TARDIS. After Young Kazran heads inside, The Doctor looks back at Abigail and Kazran one more time before entering the TARDIS. Abigail and Kazran turn towards the TARDIS as it begin taking off, Kazran waving goodbye before it dematerializes. Kazran smiles sadly as he stares at the spot where it had vanished.
"It may have been difficult, but Kazran is a better now because of The Doctor," Jack noted. "I thought the name sounded familiar. Kazran is the one who led the charge on getting the Ice Boxes outlawed after letting everyone out of them. He died a few years after seeing the practice banned."
"So then The Doctor did change him then," Donna noted happily.
"Yeah. Just took him longer than expected," Jane agreed.
Sometime later, The Doctor is standing in front of a snowman he had built when Amy and Rory approach him, Amy making a joke about the snowman. The Doctor asks why they're dressed like that and Rory admits they lost their luggage in the crash landing but The Doctor wants to know why they're dressed like at all.
"Oh come on Doctor, I'm sure you can figure it out," Jack joked as everyone else looked uncomfortable.
Amy changes the subject, mentioning she's seen twenty snowmen so far and The Doctor says he's been busy. Amy says he has, hugging him grateful and Rory awkwardly punches his shoulder. The Doctor leads them towards the TARDIS and Rory asks if The Doctor has anymore honeymoon ideas. The Doctor mentions a moon made of actual honey.
"Seriously?" Mickey asked in surprise.
"I've heard of it. Thought it was just a rumor," Jack mused.
"Well I'll be," Wilf muttered as the past viewers looked surprised.
Rory gives a sarcastic response before heading into the TARDIS. Amy asks if The Doctor is okay and he says he is. Amy realizes this will be Kazran and Abigail's last day together. "Everything's got to end sometime. Otherwise nothing would ever get started," The Doctor points out. Rory opens the doors, saying The Doctor received a call from someone named Marilyn. Amy looks at The Doctor for an explanation and he tells Rory to say he'll phone her back and it was never a real chapel.
"Of course it wasn't Spaceman," Donna said with a laugh.
"Oh he is never living this down," Jack said with a grin.
"Blackmail material," Mickey said gleefully as they all laughed.
Rory heads back inside and Amy asks where Kazran and Abigail are. The Doctor says on a little trip: Christmas. Amy laughs before following Rory inside. The Doctor looks up at the sky and smiles. "Halfway out of the dark," he notes before following Amy. The recording's angle moves up. Above the streets, Kazran and Abigail are on a sleigh, pulled by the shark. Abigail laughs as it flies overhead and the screen goes black.
"So that's the end of that one then," Martha noted.
"Interesting start to this set," Jack mentioned.
"They almost always do start with what seems to be a Christmas Special," Jane noted before getting to her feet. "Well, think it's time for a break. Who's hungry?"
Confession time: I have never been a big fan of the Christmas Specials. But this one was decent, the Christmas Carol references were a bit on the nose but enjoyable in spite of the two glaring plotholes.
1: Really not sure what the writers were thinking with the timeline of Abigail's family. Because if Kazran is a young man by the time of that Christmas dinner, then by the present day events of the episode, Isabella would either be an old woman or dead.