2. Sinking to the very bottom.
Ommera is not pleased to know in advance that the ship they are going on will sink.
The boat is much smaller than the previous ship they had dined on. It is a fully enclosed glass-bottomed boat, so the tourists can see the marine wildlife while being fully protected from whatever the weather might throw at them. The Doctor points out just how strong the hull is.
"The boat could sink with everyone safe inside it without breaching the fibre-glass hull, it's SO strong," the Doctor says, as if this helps. It isn't a submersible!
"So, what's all this about it sinking?" Ommera asks.
"Ah, yes, if it sinks, we get an incredible, unbeatable view of marine life from right under the sea."
Ommera is now left feeling that this is all planned and included in the trip.
Ommera has heard a lot about the Caribbean and has longed to go back to a time when it was thronging with people. Here she is at last. The sun is shining. She inhales the beautiful warm fresh sea air. It is so refreshing! She smiles. It was never half as good on her home planet, Slint. Humans had populated it, and carved out a reasonably good existence, but it still felt like they were pioneering sometimes, not fully embraced by the planet.
This is Earth, in its prime. This could be its finest hour, she thinks. But above all, this is what humans were made for.
Other sightseers begin to join a queue behind them.
The ship's Captain arrives with his sole crew member. The Captain has been on many voyages and captained most of his recent voyages. He is looking forward to retiring. He enjoys showing tourists the marine life around here, it is so abundant and flamboyant. "Captain Steve Turner at your service," the Captain says, giving a short smart salute to the sightseers. "Are we all booked on the Marine Life Glass Bottomed Boat tour?"
A general murmur of assent is heard from the queue.
"Anyone for the Island Hopping tour, please go to the other boat along the jetty," the Captain says. No-one moves. "Nice to know we are all well informed by the signage." It is true; a large sign says Glass Bottomed Boat Tour in huge red lettering just by the boat. "Paid for that myself," the Captain says. "So many folk queue by any old boat and you'd never know what they wanted!"
The other crew man has opened the hatchway on board the ship and prepared the gangway for the passengers to go on board safely. "All ready for boarding, Captain Turner," he says.
"Thank you Adam," the Captain says. He addresses the prospective passengers. "Adam is your crew man, able seaman, steersman – helmsman as we call it. Anything you want, you ask me. As Captain on this ship whatever I say goes. You must understand that before you get on board. Anyone who gets on board totally accepts my command while they're on board!"
"Hierarchy confirmed," Ommera says to the Doctor under her breath.
"It has to be like that," the Doctor says casually. "If there are any problems, you must have just one person to say what goes."
"Is it like that on the Tardis?" Ommera asks.
"Sorry, but yes," the Doctor confirms. "But I much prefer never to override anyone, though." He smiles at Ommera. "And I've never needed to override you." The Doctor gives Ommera a peck.
"So, we're under his command when the boat sinks?" Ommera asks.
"Yes," the Doctor says.
The next person in the queue, Wayne, overheard what Ommera said about the boat sinking. "Does that include if the boat sinks?" Wayne asks the Captain.
The Captain would rather not discuss that at this time. "I'm in charge, but I have never known a boat like this to sink, never! The hull is unsinkable."
That's what they said about the Titanic!